[00:00:10]
>> GOOD MORNING. IT IS NOW 9:01. I'D LIKE TO CALL THE OCTOBER 30, 2025 MEETING OF THE HARRIS COUNTY COMMISSIONERS COURT TO ORDER. AND I'LL GIVE YOU A LITTLE SENSE OF THE FORMAT TODAY. WE'LL FIRST HEAR FROM THE SPEAKERS INVOLVING HARRIS HILLS AND THEN WE WILL HAVE A REPORT FROM THE PEOPLE HERE TO SPEAK ON THE PAY EQUITY STUDY AND THEN WE'LL FOLLOW THE REST OF THE AGENDA.
JUDGE HIDALGO IS OUT ON OFFICIAL BUSINESS TODAY, SO I'LL BE PRESIDING.
COMMISSIONER RAMSEY, WOULD YOU PLEASE INTRODUCE OUR GUEST
[Pastor James Clark of First Baptist Church in Tomball introduced by the Commissioner of Precinct 3.]
THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER. WE ARE FORTUNATE TO HAVE WITH US PASTOR MIKE MARTIN. PASTOR, STEP UP.
HE'S THE PASTOR AT FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH SINCE 2007. HE'S HAPPILY MARRIED TO KATHY. I NOTICE YOU LISTED YOUR GRANDCHILDREN'S NAMES. WHICH IS APPROPRIATE.
I DON'T KNOW WHO YOUR CHILDREN ARE, BUT YOU LIST YOUR GRANDCHILDREN. LIAM, OLIVIA, AND ANNIKAN. A PROUD GRADUATE, RECEIVED HIS DEGREE IN BIBLICAL LANGUAGES FROM SOUTHWESTERN BAPTIST THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY.
SIDE NOTE, MY GRANDFATHER GRADUATED IN 1954.
I WAS BORN IN '52 WHILE HE WAS IN SEMINARY THERE.
SO THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU DO. THANK YOU FOR YOUR 30 YEARS OF MAKING A DIFFERENCE IN EAST HARRIS COUNTY.
>> THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME TO BE HERE, AND JUST A PERSONAL NOTE. I LIKE MY GRANDCHILDREN BETTER THAN I LIKE MY CHILDREN, SO SHOULD HAVE HAD THEM FIRST, BUT, AGAIN, THANK YOU.
THANK YOU, ALSO, A COUPLE OF YOU I'VE ACTUALLY HAD PERSONAL DEALINGS WITH, AND YOU HAVE BEEN GREAT. SO LET'S PRAY.
FATHER, THANK YOU FOR TODAY. THANK YOU THAT WE CAN COME TOGETHER INTO THIS PLACE.
THANK YOU FOR THESE WHO ARE CALLED UPON TO MAKE GREAT DECISIONS, WHO ARE CALLED UPON TO GOVERN, TO LEAD.
LORD, THANK YOU. I PRAY TODAY YOU WOULD GIVE THEM WISDOM. YOU WOULD WALK WITH THEM, THEY WOULD SEEK YOU. AND, LORD, I WOULD PRAY YOU HONOR THE TEXAS FLAG. I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THEE, TEXAS, ONE STATE UNDER GOD, ONE AND INDIVISIBLE. WE WILL TAKE UP SPEAKERS ON 29
[Appearances Before Court (Part 1 of 2)]
AS THE HARRIS HEALTH MATTER FIRST AND, TIFFANY, IF YOU COULD CALL THOSE SPEAKERS UP.>> YES, SIR. FIRST IS AND JOY.
>> IF YOU SAY YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD FIRST, PLEASE.
>> CAROL LAMBRIGHT OF THE NONPROFIT STEWARDS.
THANK YOU FOR TAKING THIS IMPORTANT STEP OF CALLING FOR A PROPER CHAPTER 26 HEARING, A DECISION THAT REFLECTS YOUR COMMITMENT TO TRANSPARENCY AND TO PROTECTING THE PUBLIC TRUST.
HERMAN PARK ANDAND TAUB SERVES THROUGH MEDICINE AND THE OTHER THROUGH NATURE AND OPEN SPACE.
AS YOU MOVE FORWARD, I URGE THE COURT TO ENSURE NO PARKLAND IS TAKEN WITHOUT A FULL AND GENUINE ALTERNATIVES ANALYSIS AS CHAPTER 26 REQUIRES AND ANY PROCEEDS NOT OWED TO HEIRS APPLIED TO HERMAN
[00:05:01]
PARK'S PUBLICLY INFORMED MASTER PLAN SO THE PARK USERS DIRECTLY BENEFIT BY WHAT THEY ARE GIVING UP. FOR TOO LONG PIECES OF PARKLAND HAVE BEEN CEDED TO THE MEDICAL CENTER AND HERMAN PARK IS TOO CENTRAL TO THE PUBLIC LIFE -->> YOUR TIME IS UP. >> THANK YOU.
>> HI, I'M ON THE BOARD OF THE HERMAN PARK CONSERVANCY FOR ITEM 229, A REQUEST BY HARRIS HEALTH TO HAVE A PUBLIC HEARING AS SOON AS DECEMBER 11 UNDER TEXAS PARKS AND WILDLIFE CODE REGARDING THE PROPOSED CONDEMNATION OF ALMOST NINE ACRES OF PARKLAND. I URGE THE COURT TO DELAY THIS HEARING UNTIL IT HAS CONSIDERED ALL ALTERNATIVES TO IMPROVE BEN TAUB. THE CONSERVANCY REQUESTS DONATIONS FROM ACROSS HARRIS COUNTY.
THE PLANS FOR THESE NINE ACRES INCLUDE ADDING MUCH- NEEDED PARKING, WHILE PRESERVING TREE CANOPY.
TO TAKE THEM WITHOUT CONSIDERING BETTER ALTERP IF I WAS VIOLATES CHAPTER 26 OR AT LEAST THE SPIRIT AND IGNORES THE PARK'S VALUE TO THE COMMUNITY. WE CAN DO THIS WITHOUT TAKING VALUABLE PARKLAND.
>> THANK YOU, YOUR TIME IS UP.
>> GOOD MORNING. MY NAME IS JOY KLEINEBERG.
OVER 30 YEARS AGO I WAS A STUDENT AT RICE, HERMAN PARK WAS SOMEWHERE YOU DID NOT GO, A PLACE ONE COULD GET MUGGED AT BEST, RAPED AT WORST.
FAST FORWARD, I'M HERE TODAY SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF THE PARK. HERMAN PARK IS MY FRONT YARD AND FUNCTIONS LIKE MY BACKYARD. HE VISIT MULTIPLE TIMES A DAY AS I WALK DOGS. I REPRESENT SOME OF THE PARK USERS WHO FULLY EMBODY OUR CITY AND THE BEST OF HOUSTON.
I ENJOY GOSSIPING WITH SENIOR CITIZENS AT THEIR PREFERRED BENCHES OR WATCHING THE YOUNGER RUNNERS REPEATEDLY LAP US AS THEY TRAIN FOR CROSS- COUNTRY SEASON. THE PARK IS A PLACE WHERE EVERYONE FEELS WELCOME.
I WATCHED IT THRIVE WITH THE INSTALLATION OF THE COMMONS AND I'VE SEEN ITS RESILIENCE UP CLOSE WITH STAFF WORKING OVERTIME TO CLEAN UP AFTER BARREL. I'VE ALSO SEEN ITS DEMISE WHEN IT RAINS AND THE TRAILS BECOME UNWALKABLE OR THE EXERCISE AREA LITERALLY FALLS APART INTO PIECES. LET'S NOT GO BACKWARDS IN TIME.
PLEASE SUPPORT OUR PARK AND FUND IT WITH THESE PROCEEDS.
>> THANK YOU. TIFFANY, I KNOW WE HAVE SOME FOLKS ON THE MEDICAL STAFF FROM HARRIS HEALTH. IF YOU CAN, LET'S TRY TO BRING THEM UP SO THEY CAN GET BACK TO DEALING WITH THE FOLKS AT HARRIS HEALTH.
>> YES, SIR. >> SANDEEP, KATHERINE SEGER.
>> GOOD MORNING. I'M VERY HONORED TO BE HERE IN SUPPORT OF THE MISSION OF THE BAYLOR COLLEGE OF MEDICINE AND BEN TAUB.
I COULD ASK THIS HONORABLE COURT, I WOULD CALL TO YOUR HEART AND CONSCIENCE TO KNOW I REPRESENT AS THE CHIEF OF STAFF EVERY NURSE, EVERY TECHNICIAN, EVERY PHYSICIAN WHO HAS EVER CARED FOR GENERATIONS FOR THE LAST 60 YEARS AND THE NEXT 60 WE HOPE TO COME.
THE BEN TAUB COULD NOT BE MORE ACUTE. I'M HERE TO APPEAL FOR THAT.
EVERY HUMAN LIFE MATTERS. AND IN THAT TRADITION, WE ARE SWORN TO SERVICE, AND I IMPLORE THIS COURT'S CONSIDERATION FOR THE EXPANSION OF RESOURCES THAT ARE SO SORELY NEEDED AT THE BEN TAUB WITHIN HARRIS COUNTY. THANK YOU.
>> GOOD MORNING, COMMISSIONERS. I'M THE PRESIDENT AND CEO BAYLOR COLLEGE OF MEDICINE AND WE'RE PROUD OF THE PROGRAMS AT BEN TAUB.
INTERNATIONALLY RENOWNED IN CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASE, STROKE, CANCER. IT'S AN IMPORTANT THING TO KNOW IF YOU'RE A PATIENT OF BEN TAUB YOU GET THE SAME CARE OF ANY BAYLOR PATIENT.
ABOUT A DECADE AGO THE DECISION WAS MADE TO CONVERT BEDS FROMFROM BEDROOMS TO TWO BEDROOMS CUTTING THE CAPACITY IN HALF BUT THE EMERGENCY ROOM DIDN'T STOP BEING BUSY. WE HAVE OVER 100,000 EMERGENCY ROOM VISITS. BY ANY METRIC, ANY STANDARDIZED METRIC YOU WOULD NEED 500- 550 BEDS TO CARE FOR THAT MANY PATIENTS. WE HAVE 400 NOW. WE NEED 100 OR SO, 150 BEDS.
IT'S REQUIRED FOR SAFETY. PATIENTS WITH EXPECTED
[00:10:02]
SURGERY GET BUMPED ROUTINELY BECAUSE PEOPLE COME IN EMERGENTLY. WE NEED IT AND WE REALLY APPEAL TO YOU TO HELP US BUILD THE CAPACITY. THANK YOU.>> GOOD MORNING. I'M KATHERINE SEGER, THE CHIEF OF TRAUMA AT BEN TAUB HOSPITAL. THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK TODAY. BEN TAUB IS ONE OF ONLY TWO LEVEL ONE TRAUMA CENTERS IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON, WHICH MEANS WE ARE ONE OF ONLY TWO PLACES THAT PROVIDE THE HIGHEST LEVEL OF TRAUMA CARE TO OUR PATIENTS. GENERALLY SPEAKING IT IS THE RECOMMENDATION THAT CITIES HAVE ONE PERFECT MILLION RESIDENTS, SO BY DEFINITION WE'RE A VERY BUSY TRAUMA CENTER.
WE HAVE ABOUT 8,500 PRESENTATIONS A YEAR OF TRUE MATCALLY INJURED PATIENTS, 3,000 ADMISSIONS. I'M PROUD OF THE TRAUMA CARE PROVIDED TO THESE PATIENTS.
AND, YOU KNOW, THAT THEY DO IT AT A HOSPITAL THAT'S ROUTINELY OPERATING ABOVE CAPACITY. WE DO IT WITH PATIENTS IN HALLWAYS.
WE DO IT WITH PATIENTS BOARDING IN ANY FREE SPACE WE HAVE IN THE THAT REASON I IMPLORE YOU TO APPROVE THE EXPANSION OF BEN TAUB INTO THE HERMANN PARK LAND. IT'S IMPORTANT FOR EVERYONE IN OUR CITY. THANK YOU.
THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU, CHAIR.
THANK YOU ALL FOR COMING DOWN. AND I'M IN A WEIRD PLACE ON THIS THING BECAUSE I HAVE A PARK THAT IS INTENDED FOR PEOPLE OF ALL ABILITIES BUT IN PARTICULAR CHILDREN OF DISABILITIES -- WITH DISABILITIES, AND THERE'S A CONCRETE BATCH PLANT GOING UP RIGHT NEXT DOOR TO THIS PLACE.
I'VE TRIED EVERYTHING TO KEEP THAT FROM HAPPENING, BECAUSE IT WOULD BRING ADVERSE HEALTH CONDITIONS TO THE THE IN PARTICULAR THE PEOPLE USING THE PARK. ONE OF THE THINGS WE HAVE EXPLORED IS IMMINENT DOMAIN. CAN'T DO IT.
SO I'M A LITTLE FRUSTRATED THAT POTENTIALLY WE COULD TAKE A PARK BUT NOT A BATCH PLANT THAT HAS WORSE EFFECTS ON A COMMUNITY. SECONDLY, JUST AS A MATTER OF NODDING HEADS, DOES THE COMMUNITY FEEL THAT THEY WERE ADEQUATELY ENGAGED? AND I'VE SEEN THE LIST THE DOCK TOSH -- DOCTOR HAS PROVIDED WITH A LIST OF NAMES AND IT LOOKS IMPRESSIVE. THE ONE THING THAT STRIKES ME, THE POINT OF EMINENT DOMAIN HAS COME UP REAL LATE IN THE CONVERSATION.
I KNOW WE HAD TALKED ABOUT IT, THAT THIS WAS A COMPLICATED TRANSACTION THAT HAS HAPPENED. BUT EMINENT DOMAIN WASN'T DISCUSSED EARLY ON, AND SO I HAVE SOME CONCERNS WITH THAT. TO THE STAFF, GOD BLESS YOU.
I LOVE YOU. THANK YOU FOR ALL YOU DO.
AND I AM ABSOLUTELY COMMITTED TO MAKING SURE, AS WE'RE DOING WITH LBJ, THAT YOU HAVE THE FACILITIES THAT YOU NEED, BUT THESE ARE PROCESSES WE HAVE TO WORK THROUGH, SO THANK YOU FOR ALL YOU DO.
>> THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER. AND THERE ARE MORE SPEAKERS AND THEN WE'LL HAVE SOME DIALOGUE ON IT. IF YOU WANT TO CALL UP ALL THE SPEAKERS.
>> GERALD SCOTT OF BEN TAUB, LISA, DEREK CURTIS OF HARRIS HEALTH. YOU EACH HAVE ONE MINUTE.
>> COMMISSIONERS, THANK YOU FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK.
MY NAME IS DR. LISA WOFFORD AND ITCH THE PRIVILEGE OF SERVING AS CHIEF OF ANESTHESIOLOGY AT BEN TAUB HOSPITAL.
I'VE BEEN A HOUSTONIAN MY ENTIRE LIFE AND MY CONNECTION TO BEN TAUB IS DEEPLY PERSONAL. MY MOTHER-IN- LAW, AND FRIENDS WERE TREAT THERE HAD AFTER DEVASTATING ILLNESSES AND RECEIVED EXTRAORDINARY, PASSIONATE CARE.
THAT SAME COMMITMENT TO CARING FOR EVERY PATIENT CONTINUES TODAY, BUT WE'VE BEEN OUT OF SPACE FOR WAY TOO LONG. OUR TEAMS REPURPOSE HALLWAYS, DOUBLE UP CLINICAL AREAS AND AT TIME EVEN BOARD PATIENTS SICK ENOUGH FOR ADMISSION IN CHAIRS IN THE WAITING ROOM BECAUSE THERE ARE SIMPLY NO MORE BEDS AVAILABLE. THE SPACE AND STRUCTURE WE HAVE TODAY ARE NO LONGER ENOUGH TO TREAT AND REACH ALL OF THE PEOPLE IN HOUSTON WHO RELY ON BEN TAUB.
APPROVING THIS LAND ACQUISITION IS MORE THAN A CONSTRUCTION DECISION. IT'S A COMMITMENT TO ACCESS, EQUITY AND SAFETY
[00:15:01]
FOR HOUSTONIANS WHO NEED IT.>> THANK YOU. YOUR TIME IS UP.
>> GOOD MORNING. I'M DEREK CURTIS, CHIEF NURSING OFFICER AT BEN TAUB HOSPITAL.
AS A NURSE SERVING WITHIN HARRIS HEALTH, I SPEAK ON THE TOLL OF DELIVERING CARE IN A SYSTEM STRETCHED BEYOND ITS LIMITS AND PHYSICAL CAPACITY. BEN TAUB NURSES SUPPORT THE LAND EXPANSION PROJECT BECAUSE IT FULFILLS OUR PROMISE TO THE COMMUNITY TO CARE FOR THE UNDERSERVED AND WITH DIGNITY AND COMPASSION. THE HOSPITAL'S OVERCAPACITY CREATES STRAIN ON SERVICES. WE ADMIT 16 PATIENTS TO HALLWAY BEDS, 50 TO 70 ARE ADMITTED PATIENTS WAITING ON HOSPITAL BEDS IN THE EMERGENCY CENTER.
THE LAND IT WAS DONATED OVER A CENTURY AGO TO THE PEOPLE OF HOUSTON, ACQUISITION IS AN INVESTMENT THAT WOULD PROFOUNDLY IMPACT THE PEOPLE'S HOSPITAL. IT ALLOWS FOR EXPANSION OF ESSENTIAL SERVICES FOR ALL SOULS WHO CROSS OUR THRESHOLD AS WE CONTINUE TO DELIVER SAFE QUALITY CARE.
WE REFUSE TO UNDERSERVE THE UNDERSERVED AND URGE YOUR SUPPORT IN THIS INITIATIVE. THANK YOU.
>> BLESS THIS DAY, EVERYBODY. OCTOBER 24, 2018, NOT ONLY WAS I THROWN OFF A FREEWAY, NOT ONLY WAS MY LEG RIPPED OFF MY BODY, NOT ONLY WAS MY ARM SHATTERED, BUT I BLED OUT FOR THREE HOURS. THAT WAS THE DAY MY LIFE CHANGED. AND NOT ONLY DID BEN TAUB SAVE MY LIFE ALONG WITH GOD, BUT THEY ALSO PROVIDED ME A HOME TO BE MYSELF THERE, YOU KNOW. AND I FEEL IF I WASN'T ABLE TO HAVE A BED AND BE TREATED THE WAY I WAS SUPPOSED TO BE TREATED, I WOULD NOT BE STANDING HERE TODAY IN FRONT OF YOU FOR THIS EXPANSION.
SO I OWE MY NEW LIFE, MY NEW FORMED LIFE, TO BEN TAUB AND THE SURGEONS AND EVEN THE PATIENTS THERE. THE HOME THAT YOU GET AT BEN TAUB, EVEN THOUGH IT'S A TRAUMA CENTER, IT'S LIKE A FAMILY.
SO THEY REALLY SAVED MY LIFE. THEY REALLY DID SOMETHING FOR ME THAT I'M ABLE TO GIVE BACK TO OTHER PEOPLE AND INSPIRE OTHER PEOPLE TO BE BETTER AND TO JUST PUSH FORWARD THROUGH ANYTHING. SO I OWE BEN TAUBTAUB MY LIFE.
>> CAN YOU STATE YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD?
>> NEXT IS ROSALYNN MITCHELL, LORI UPTON, JOHN BISHOP, PETER SAHN. YOU EACH HAVE ONE MINUTE.
>> GOOD MORNING. I'M ROSALYNN MITCHELL, BOARD CHAIR FOR HERMANN PARK CONSERVANCY. FOR OVER A CENTURY IT HAS BEEN HOUSTON'S HEART. AS STEWARDS OF THIS MISSION IT IS CLEAR IT IS TO THRIVE FOR GENERATIONS TO COME.
THE TEXAS MEDICAL CENTER SPANS OVER 1,345 ACRES, YET TAKING PARKLAND HAS BEEN PRESENTED AS ONE OF THE ONLY OPTIONS. BEFORE YOU BRING THIS MATTER TO A VOTE, THE PUBLIC DESERVES A FULL AND OPEN PROCESS, ONE THAT INCLUDES A THOROUGH ANALYSIS OF ALL OPTIONS, A CHANCE FOR COMMUNITY FEEDBACK AND A COMPLETE IMPACT ASSESSMENT. TAKING PARKLAND MUST BE THE ABSOLUTE LAST RESORT. HARRIS COUNTY MUST MAKE THAT DETERMINATION CAREFULLY.
THEREFORE, I'M ASKING THAT YOU NOT VOTE IN FAVOR OF THE PROPOSAL AT THIS TIME. IF A TAKING BECOMES UNAVLADABLE, COMPENSATION MUST REFLECT WHAT'S NEEDED TO RESTORE AND STRENGTHEN THE PARK BECAUSE REPLACEMENT OF LAND OR MONEY ALONE CANNOT REPLACE WHAT MIGHT BE LOST. THIS DECISION WILL SHAPE HOUSTON'S FUTURE. THANK YOU.
>> GOOD MORNING, COMMISSIONERS. MY NAME IS LORI UPTON.
I'M A REGISTERED NURSE AND NOW SERVE AS A CEO OF THE RECOMMENDING NAL REGIONAL COUNCIL. I WITNESSED THE EXTRAORDINARY CARE HARRIS HEALTH HAS SAVED LIVES EVERY DAY BUT THE DEMAND FOR SERVICES FAR OUTPACED THE CAPACITY OF OUR FACILITIES BACK THEN. THE HARRIS HEALTH TEAMS CONTINUE DOING INCREDIBLE WORK UNDER IMMENSE PRESSURE AND CAPACITY ISSUES WHILE THE NEEDS IN OUR COMMUNITY CONTINUES TO GROW. FROM A REGIONAL PERSPECTIVE THE SERVICES PROVIDED BY HARRIS HEALTH ARE ESSENTIAL TO STABILIZING THE MEDICAL INFRASTRUCTURE.
THE PROPOSED HARRIS HEALTH EXPANSION IS NOT JUST ABOUT ADDING BUILDINGS. IT'S ABOUT ENSURING ACCESS TO TIMELY, HIGH-QUALITY CARE FOR EVERY RESIDENT OF HARRIS COUNTY, ABOUT STRENGTHENING OUR TRAUMA SYSTEM, PROVIDING A SAFETY NET AND PREPARING OUR REGION FOR THE FUTURE. I URGE THIS COURT TO SUPPORT AND THE EXPANSION OF HARRIS HEALTH.
OUR PATIENTS AND HEALTH CARE WORKERS IN OUR ENTIRE COUNTY DEPEND ON IT. THANK YOU.
>> COMMISSIONERS, FIRST, THANK YOU FOR YOUR STEWARDSHIP. MY NAME IS JOHN BISHOP AND I'VE BEEN ON THE BOARD OF HERMANN PARK CON SERVANCYCONSERVANCY. MY OBJECTIVE TODAY IS TO CLARIFY
[00:20:02]
HPC'S LONG- ESTABLISHED TRACT IN QUESTION. A MASTER PLAN WAS FORMED IN 2017 VERY PUBLIC AND VERY EXTENSIVE PROCESS. OUT OF THAT FEEDBACK WE EMBARKED ON A 20- YEAR METHODICAL APPROACH TO FULLY DEVELOP EVERY ACRE OF HERMANN PARK THROUGH CAREFULLY COORDINATED PROJECTS, EACH STEP DEPENDENT ON THE PREVIOUS ONE.IT IS A KEY PART OF OUR MASTER PLAN EXECUTION ENABLING FUTURE PRODUCTS THAT IS A KEY AND PROBABLY ONE OF THE BIGGEST CHALLENGES FACING THE PARK AND THE ZOO TODAY. THE PAST FEW YEARS WE'VE DEVOTED HUNDREDS OF HOURS TO THE DEVELOPMENT AND SPENT OVER $500,000 ON CONSULTANTS AND ARCHITECTS. TAKING THIS LAND CHANGES THE MASTER PLAN WE PROMISED TO HOUSTON AND HAVE BEEN FUNDING WITH DONOR CAPITAL. WITHOUT THE TRACT, WE SQUANDER OUR INVESTMENTS TO DATE.
>> GOOD MORNING, COMMISSIONERS. MY NAME IS PETER SAND.
I'M A FREQUENT VISITOR OF HERMANN PARK.
I VOLUNTEER IN THE GARDENS FOR OVER A DECADE.
I LEAD A MONTHLY BIRD SURVEY GROUP AND SERVE ON THE ADVISORY PARK OF THE HERMANN PARK CONSERVANCY. I BELIEVE CITIZENS DESERVE MODERN HEALTH CARE FACILITIES, AND, IN A PERFECT WORLD, WE'D BE ABLE TO EXPAND AND REDEVELOP WITHOUT TAKING ANY LAND FROM HERMANN PARK. BUT SINCE THERE IS DISCUSSION OF REPURPOSING PARKLAND FOR THE HOSPITAL I URGE THE COUNTY TO DISCUSS WAYS TO MAKE SURE THAT THE PARK ISN'T DIMINISHED AT THE END OF THE DAY, TO MAKE SURE THAT THE PARK CAN GET BACK AT LEAST THE SAME AMOUNT OF LAND IN THE LONG RUN AND THE PARK GETS AN APPROPRIATE SHARESHARE THE JUST COMPENSATION.
SO THAT BOTH BEN TAUB AND HERMANN PARK CONTINUE TO SUPPORT, CAN CONTINUE TO SUPPORT THE GROWING NEEDS OF OUR GROWING COMMUNITY. THANK YOU FOR EXPLORING WAYS TO EXPAND THE HOSPITAL AND PROTECTING THE PARK, TOO.
>> NEXT IS BRIAN LOPEZ, BETH ROBERTSON, BARBARA DAVIS, ROBIN STILLWELL. YOU EACH HAVE ONE MINUTE.
>> I'D BETTER PUT MY GLASSES ON.
HELLO, COMMISSIONERS. I'M BETH ROBERTSON, THE CHAIR OF THE HARRIS HEALTH STRATEGIC FUND WHICH RAISES PRIVATE DOLLARS TO MATCH THE $2. 5 BILLION THAT YOU AND THE VOTERS APPROVED THREE YEARS AGO FOR THE EXPANSION OF THE HARRIS HEALTH FACILITIES.
WE'RE DOING REALLY WELL, BUT I'M HERE TO SUPPORT THE NOTICE OF THE MEETING.
AND I LOVE PARKS, AND MY FAMILY HAS BEEN INVOLVED SINCE THE THE CREATION OF HERMANN PARK, YOU KNOW, BACK -- MY PEOPLE. WE'VE PARTICIPATED IN EVERY ONEONE OF THE UPGRADES AND ARE VERY EXCITED ABOUT THAT. BUT THIS PARTICULAR NINE ACRES, OR UNDER NINE ACRES, IS REALLY, LOOKS TO ME, LIKE PART OF THE TMC AND IT IS THE PERFECT PLACE EXPAND BEN TAUB, MORE COST EFFECTIVE AND REALLY ALLOW US TO REALLY USE THE FACILITY LIKE IT USED TO BE.
>> THANK YOU, YOUR TIME IS UP.
>> PLEASE LOOK AT THE PUBLIC'S BENEFIT.
>> HELLO, COMMISSIONERS. MY NAME IS BRIAN LOPEZ.
I'M A MEMBER OF THE CHURCH REPRESENTING TMO AND WE ARE HERE TO SAY WE STRONGLY SUPPORT THE EXPANSION OF BEN TAUB INTO THIS SMALL PARKLAND.
IT'S NOT JUST A WANT. IT'S A NEED.
EVERYDAY HARD- WORKING FAMILIES ARE STRUGGLING TO FIND AFFORDABLE HEALTH CARE. WHEN EVERY DOOR IS CLOSED, BEN TAUB IS OPEN AND OFFERS US ACCESS TO HEALTH CARE AND SAVING LIVES, AND NOT ONLY SAVING LIVES, BRINGING NEW LIVES TO THIS EARTH.
SO THIS PARK, THIS EXPANSION, CAN BECOME A SACRED GROUND AND A STRONG HOLD FOR OUR COMMUNITY TO BRING SUPPORT AND ALSO WE HAVE OVER 30 CONGREGATIONS THAT SUPPORT THIS INITIATIVE WITH TMO.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH. >> THANK YOU.
>> I HAVE A REQUEST. IS IT POSSIBLE TO HAVE TWO MINUTES?
>> MAKE SURE YOU SAY YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD.
WE HAVE SO MANY SPEAKERS. THE RULE IS ONE.
>> I'M BARBARA DAVIDSON AND I HAVE BRAIN DAMAGE AND WHEN I'M STRESSED AND THE WEATHER IS CHANGING, I HAVE TROUBLE SOMETIMES COMMUNICATING THE WORDS I WANT TO SPEAK,
[00:25:01]
SO THAT WAS THE REASON. HELLO, ADRIENNE.>> EVEN AFTER YOU SPEAK, YOU CAN STILL SUBMIT A STATEMENT AND WE'LL ALL HAVE IT.
IF YOU NEED SOME HELP TYPING IT UP, JUST DON'T ASK ME TO DO IT.
>> I HAVE IT WRITTEN UP. THANK YOU.
MY NAME IS BARBARA DAVIS. I'M A SURVIVOR OF A DRUNK DRIVER THANKSGIVING '96, A DRUNK DRIVER KILLED MY HUSBAND AND FRIEND, AND I WAS DECLARED D.O. BY THE PARAMEDICS. FORTUNATELY BEN TAUB, WHO TOLD MY FAMILY WAS BRAIN DEAD, THEY STILL WORKED ON ME AND HERE I AM TODAY TALKING TOO MUCH. VERY BLESSED TO BE HERE.
THE AREA IN QUESTION IS ON THE SIDE WHERE THE AMBULANCES ARE.
IT IS A VERY UNUSED AREA, BECAUSE I PERSONALLY DROVE AROUND AND OBSERVED FOR QUITE A WHILE THE PARK SPACE IS NOT UTILIZED BY ANYONE, BUT, UNFORTUNATELY, HOMELESS PEOPLE, IT LOOKS LIKE, AND EMPLOYEES CUTTING ACROSS FROM THE ABANDONED BUILDING OWNED BY THE CITY ACROSS THE GRASS.
I THINK IF I WERE THE PERSON THAT DONATED OVER 100 YEARS AGO AND SEEN THAT IT'S NOT BEING USED TO WHAT I WOULD HAVE
WANTED -- >> THANK YOU, YOUR TIME IS UP.
>> TO BE ABLE TO USE IT IN SAVING LIVES WOULD MAKE A BIG DIFFERENCE. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. AND DON'T FORGET TO SUBMIT THE
STATEMENT. >> THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.
>> YOUR BRAIN IS VERY MUCH ALIVE.
YOUR BRAIN IS COMPLETELY ALIVE. YOU DID A GOOD JOB.
>> AND BLESSED, YES. THANK YOU.
>> HELLO, I'M ROBIN STILLWELL AND REPRESENTING TMO AND FIRST CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH. I WANT TO SHARE AN EXPERIENCE AT BEN TAUB RECENTLY. JENNIFER WORKED AS A TEACHER AND MIDDLE SCHOOL COUNSELOR AND SHE TURNED 50 SIX YEARS AGO AND WAS UNABLE TO WORK, NO LONGER ABLE TO WORK FULL TIME. SHE WENT TO DOCTORS IN HOUSTON AND IN DALLAS TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT WAS GOING ON WITH HER HEALTH.
LAST SUMMER '24, SHE SPENT THREE DAYS IN THE BEN TAUB EMERGENCY CENTER NEVER HAD A BED, WAS IN THE HALLWAY IN HER CHAIR.
DESPITE THAT, JENNIFER HAS HIGH PRAISE FOR THE CARE AND ATTENTION SHE RECEIVED AT BEN TAUB. MORE IMPORTANTLY, SHE WAS REFERRED TO SPECIALISTS WHO WERE FINALLY ABLE TO DIAGNOSE HER CONDITION AS EARLY ONSET ALZHEIMER'S. A DEVASTATING DIAGNOSIS BUT FINALLY THERE'S A PATH FORWARD TO PREPARE FOR THE NEXT PHASE OF HER LIFE AND THIS IS JUST ONE EXAMPLE OF THE INVALUABLE AND LIFE-CHANGING SUPPORT THAT BEN TAUB PROVIDES OUR COMMUNITY. THANK YOU SO
AS WE CALL THE NEXT STUDENTS UP, COLLEAGUES, WE HAVE SOME STUDENTS HERE. WE HAVE THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF ACRES HOME COMMUNITY ADVOCACY GROUP. COMMISSIONER GARCIA, FROM BOTH YOUR PRECINCT AND PRECINCT. I KNOW YOU HAVE TO GO BACK TO WORK.
SEE HOW WE'RE CIVIL ALL THE TIME. JUST LIKE THIS. THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.
>> AND, COMMISSIONER, THEY'RE ACTUALLY GOING TO GO VOTE TODAY.
>> COMMISSIONER, THAT'S ALL FOR ITEM 229.
[Departments (Part 1 of 3)]
COLLEAGUES, WOULD YOU LIKE TO DISCUSS THIS ITEM NOW?>> IF I MIGHT, SINCE IT HAPPENS TO BE IN MY PRECINCT BUT IT IMPACTS ALL OF US.
PRECINCT BUT IT IMPACTS ALL OF US.
I KNOW THERE'S A BATCH PLAN OVER THERE NEXT TO THE NEW LBJ SITE. AND COMMISSIONER RAMSEY, I WAS TRYING OVER THE WEEKEND TO REMEMBER -- I CAN REMEMBER WHEN YOUR PREDECESSOR CAME UP THAT BEAT UP ON ME ONE TIME, AND, COMMISSIONER, MY PREDECESSOR CAME UP TO SEE ME. IT WAS SOMETHING ABOUT A DUSCHANE ACADEMY AND WAS TRYING TO GET THE LAW CHANGED, AND HE GOT IT, ALTHOUGH I DIDN'T VOTE WITH HIM. I THINK TO MAKE IT MORE DIFFICULT FOR THE COUNTY TO TAKE SOME LAND.
IT SEEMS LIKE THE BILL HAD SOMETHING TO DO WITH FORUM SHOPPING, WHICH A LOT OF MY COLLEAGUES WERE AGAINST IT.
I REMEMBER THAT'S THE FIRST TIME HE KIND OF WENT OFF ON ME A LITTLE BIT AND THE COMMISSIONER WAS WORKING ME PRETTY HARD. WHY IS IT SO DIFFICULT TO DO A PUBLIC CONDEMNATION OF A CONCRETE BATCH PLANT? I'M THINKING THERE'S ONE OVEROVER TO LBJ?
>> THE ISSUE IN THAT CASE WAS -- IT WASN'T SPECIFIC TO THE LAND.
THERE WERE ISSUES WITH THE PROCEDURE THAT HAPPENED BEFORE WE COULD GO THERE.
IF WE REALLY WANT TO DISCUSS WHAT HAPPENED IN THAT CASE, WE SHOULD GO TO EXECUTIVE SESSION.
IT'S PENDING LITIGATION AND WE'VE SETTLED
[00:30:03]
IT. >> DOCTOR, YOU PROBABLY OUGHT TO COME UP AND DO YOUR PRESENTATION, DOES THAT MAKE SENSE, ON THIS ITEM. WE'LL TAKE UP THAT ITEM NOW, WHICH IS ITEM NUMBER 229.
DO I HAVE CONTROL OF THE PRESENTATION OR IS SOMEBODY GOING TO BE PULLING IT UP?
>> IT'S UP. I THINK YOU DO HAVE CONTROL.
>> DOCTOR, LET ME KNOW WHEN TO MOVE TO THE NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE.
THANK YOU. ONE MORE TIME, COMMISSIONERS, THANK YOU FOR THIS COMMUNITY. I'M EXCITED TO BE HERE TODAY TO DISCUSS IN MORE DETAIL THE PROPOSED EXPANSION OF THE BEN TAUB HOSPITAL. MY GOAL TODAY IS TO EXPLAIN AS CLEARLY AS POSSIBLE AS I HAVE SO, COMMISSIONER GARCIA, AS YOU MENTIONED, ON MORE THAN 50 OCCASIONS DATING BACK TO AUGUST OF 2024. NOW ALMOST 14 MONTHS AGO.
THAT INCLUDED INDIVIDUAL MEETINGS, SMALL GROUP MEETINGS, LARGE GROUP GATHERINGS, TOWN HALL MEETINGS, SEVERAL RADIO INTERVIEWS, SEVERAL TV INTERVIEWS, SEVERAL NEWSPAPER AND MAGAZINE ARTICLES AND MUCH, MUCH MORE.
TO EXPLAIN, THE REASONS BEHIND HARRIS HEALTH'S EFFORT TO PURCHASE THROUGH EMINENT DOMAIN NEXT TO BEN TAUB HOSPITAL AND LITERALLY ININ OF THE BEN TAUB HOSPITAL'S EMERGENCY ROOM ENTRANCE. IN DOING SO I SINCERELY HOPE THAT I MAY BEBE TO PUT TO REST AT LEAST SOME OF THETHE MISINFORMATION THAT HAS BEEN CIRCULATING IN SOCIAL MEDIA ABOUT THIS EFFORT. THE FACTS ARE THAT THIS EXPANSION IS NEEDED TO ADDRESS AN URGENT PUBLIC HEALTH NECESSITY BY PROVIDING THE DESPERATELY NEEDED ADDITIONAL CAPACITY FOR BEN TAUB HOSPITAL. IT IS ALSO A FACT THAT THIS IS THE ONLY VIABLE OPTION FOR THIS EXPANSION THAT IS FISCALLY RESPONSIBLE AND OPERATIONALLY FEASIBLE. THIS EXPANSION IS ALSO NEEDED, AS YOU HEARD, TO DELIVER ON OUR PROMISE TO HARRIS COUNTY RESIDENTS WHO OVERWHELMINGLY SUPPORTED THE $2. 5 BILLION BOND IN NOVEMBER OF 2023. THIS PROPOSED PURCHASE OF THE NINE ACRES OF LAND IS THE ONLY FISCALLY RESPONSIBLE AND IS VIABLE.
THIS EXPANSION IS MEANT TO SERVE AS THE FIRST PHASE OF THE FUTURE AND EVENTUAL REPLACEMENT OF BEN TAUB HOSPITAL INTO A MUCH LARGER, MUCH MORE CAPABLE LEVEL ONE TRAUMA CENTER HOSPITAL.
AND HARRIS HEALTH, REALLY IMPORTANT, REMAINS COMMITTED TO CONTINUE OUR COLLABORATION, OUR ENGAGEMENT AND CONVERSATION WITH ALL STAKEHOLDERS AND TO DO EVERYTHING POSSIBLE TO MINIMIZE IMPACT TO OUR GREEN SPACES AND MAXIMIZE THE BENEFITS TO THE PUBLIC. IF I COULD GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE.
VERY BRIEFLY, COMMISSIONERS, I KNOW THAT YOU ARE FAMILIAR WITH HARRIS HEALTH, BUT FOR THE MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC WHO MAY NOT, IT IS TRUE THAT HARRIS HEALTH IS THE ONLY PUBLIC SAFETY NET HOSPITAL SYSTEM IN HARRIS COUNTY. WE HAVE A STATUTORY MANDATE TO TAKE CARE OF THE INDIGENT, THE UNINSURED AND UNDERINSURED, A MISSION THAT WE ARE PROUD OF.
HOWEVER, THROUGH OUR LEVEL ONE TRAUMA HOSPITAL AT BEN TAUB, LEVEL THREE HOSPITAL AT LBJ AND MORE THAN 40 LOCATIONS ACROSS HARRIS COUNTY PROVIDING PRIMARY CARE, SPECIALTY SERVICES, DENTAL SERVICES, CHRONIC DIALYSIS, OUTPATIENT SERVICES, AND MUCH, MUCH MORE SERVING THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY. WE TRAIN THE NEXT GENERATION OF HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS. EVERY YEAR MORE THAN 2,500 MEDICAL STUDENTS, RESIDENTS AND FELLOWS TRAIN AT OUR HOSPITALS.
WE ARE IN PARTNERSHIP WITH 40 PLUS NURSING SCHOOLS.
WE HAVE OUR OWN PHYSICAL THERAPY RESIDENCY PROGRAM, NURSING RESIDENCY PROGRAM, PHARMACY SCHOOL OF RADIOLOGY, TRAINING THE FUTURE OF RADIOLOGY, CT SCAN, MRI AND RADIOLOGY TECHS.
ACCORDING TO THE TEXAS MEDICAL BOARD, ALMOST HALF OF ALL THE DOCTORS WHO PRACTICE MEDICINE IN HOUSTON DID THEIR TRAINING AT HARRIS HEALTH, AND THAT INCLUDES ME.
WE DRIVE THE ECONOMY OF HARRIS COUNTY AND THE STATE
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OF TEXAS. THROUGH AN ECONOMIC IMPACT STUDY THAT WE DID IN 2022 WE WERE ABLE TO SHOW WITH MORE THAN 10,000 EMPLOYEES AND MORE THAN 400 CONTRACTS THAN LOCAL BUSINESSES, MANY OF WHOM ARE MWBE BE RETURNED BACK TO THE COUNTY ALMOST $6 FOR EVERY DOLLAR TAX REPORT THAT WE RECEIVE. IN 2022 THAT AMOUNTED TO $5 BILLION. ACCORDING TO THAT STUDY ONE OUT OF EVERY 70 JOBS IN HARRIS COUNTY EITHER DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY IS RELATED TO HARRIS HEALTH. AND, YES, WE ARE A SAFETY NET HOSPITAL BUT WE RANK AMONG THE BEST HEALTH CARE SYSTEMS IN THE COUNTRY NOT JUST HEALTH SAFETY NET SYSTEMS. BOTH OF OUR HOSPITALS NOW ENJOY MAGNUM STATUS IN NURSING, THE HIGHEST POSSIBLE RECOGNITION FOR NURSING IN ANY HEALTH SYSTEM.JUST LAST MONTH BEN TAUB BECAME THE FIRST HOSPITAL IN THE TEXAS MEDICAL CENTER TO RECEIVE MAGNET STATUS WITH DISTINCTION. ONLY A HANDFUL OF HOSPITALS IN THE COUNTRY ENJOY THAT DESIGNATION.
THIS MONTH WE LEARN THAT LBJ HAS RECEIVED THE HIGHEST POSSIBLEPOSSIBLE AND PATIENT SAFETY RECOGNITION, AGAIN, POSSIBLE, IN THE COUNTRY.
NOT JUST AMONG SAFETY NET HOSPITAL BUT ALL HOSPITALS.
AND WE ARE RESOURCEFUL. WE ARE DOING ALL OF THESE THINGS WHILE ON AVERAGE SAFETY NET HOSPITALS IN THIS COUNTRY SPEND ABOUT $60 MILLION TO $70 MILLION ON INDIGENT CARE.
LAST YEAR HARRIS HEALTH SPENT THAT WITH ONLY A THIRD THROUGH OUR PROPERTY TAX SUPPORT.
WE CAN GO THROUGH THE NEXT SLIDE.
THIS IS WHAT IS AT STAKE, COMMISSIONERS.
BEN TAUB HOSPITAL IS CURRENTLY OPERATING ALMOST 97% OF THE TIME IN A SATURATION STATUS, AND MANY TIMES OVER 100% CAPACITY.
BUT THAT MEANS THAT PEOPLE HAVE TO WAIT IN THE EMERGENCY ROOM, SOMETIMES MORE THAN 24 HOURS, BEFORE THEY CAN SEE A PROVIDER. THAT MEANS THAT PEOPLE ADMITTED TO THE HOSPITAL HAVE TO SIT IN THE WAITING ROOM OR THE EMERGENCY ROOM BEFORE THEY CAN GET A PATIENT ROOM. THIS OVERCROWDED SPACE IMPACTS NEGATIVELY OUR EFFICIENCY AND CREATES QUALITY AND PATIENT SAFETY ISSUES THAT WE HAVE TO GRAPPLE WITH ON A DAILY BASIS AND NOT TO MENTION THE STRESS THAT IT PRODUCES ON OUR PATIENTS, OUR EMPLOYEES AND MEDICAL STAFF THAT ARE DOING MIRACULOUS WORK OF THEIR BACKS LITERALLY AGAINST THE WALL DOING THE GREAT WORK THAT THEY ARE DOING TO RECEIVE ALL THE RECOGNITIONS THAT I JUST MENTIONED.
IF WE COULD GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE.
WHAT THAT MEANS, COMMISSIONERS, IN REAL LIFE IS WHAT YOU SEE IN THIS PICTURE. WE LITERALLY HAVE PATIENT BEDS PLACED IN OUR HALLWAYS AND CORRIDORS BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE ANY SPACE. LAST WEEK DURING ONE OF OUR SAFETY HUDDLES THAT OUT OF THE 98 POSSIBLE ER BAYS 80 OF THEM WERE TAKEN UP BY PATIENTS ADMITTED TO THE HOSPITAL BUT HAD NO PLACE TO GO TO. THE QUESTION THAT I ASK THE PUBLIC IN MY CONVERSATIONS SO FAR IS THAT, WOULD YOU WANT TO BE TREATED THIS WAY? WOULD YOU WANT YOUR LOVED ONES TO BE CARED FOR IN THIS WAY? AND I KNOW THE ANSWER ISIS NO.
AND IF THE ANSWER IS NO, THEN WHY SHOULD PEOPLE WHO ARE COMING TO BEN TAUB HOSPITAL BE EXPOSED TO THIS? YOUR ABBOTT TO ACCESS HEALTH INSURANCE SHOULD HAVE ABSOLUTELY NO IMPACT ON THE RESPECT AND THE DIGNITY AND THE CARE YOU RECEIVE IN THE HOSPITAL.
IF WE COULD GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE. AS YOU HEARD ALREADY FROM OUR DOCTORS AND OTHERS, BEN TAUB HOSPITAL HAS FACED A CAPACITY ISSUE THAT IS GETTING WORSE ON A DAILY BASIS. WHEN WE LOOKED INTO THIS ISSUE A COUPLE YEARS AGO, WE FULLY ANTICIPATE THAT IN ABOUT FIVE YEARS WE CAN EXPECT ANOTHER 18,000 ADDITIONAL ER VISITS AMOUNTING TO MORE THAN 3,000 ADDITIONAL HOSPITAL ADMISSIONS TO A HOSPITAL THAT EVEN TODAY DOES NOT HAVE ENOUGH ROOM TO TAKE CARE OF THE PATIENTS. THIS SITUATION IS ONLY GOING TO ESCALATE BECAUSE OF WHAT HAS HAPPENED OVER THE RECENT FEW MONTHS. ABOUT A BILLION- DOLLAR CUT TO MEDICAID THROUGH THE ONE BIG BEAUTIFUL BILL ACT, ADDITIONAL $800 MILLION CUT JUST TO THE STATE OF TEXASTEXAS FUNDING THROUGH THE DISAPPEARANCE OF THE DISPROPORTIONATE HOSPITAL FUNDING AND EVERYTHING THAT
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IS GOING TO COME UPON US BECAUSE OF THE CHANGES TO THE AFFORDABLE CARE ACT PUTTING ACCESS TO HEALTH INSURANCE OUT OF REACH FOR AT LEAST A MILLION TEXANS AND THOUSANDS UPON THOUSANDS OF HOUSTONIANS, THE NEED FOR OUR SERVICES WILL ESCALATE DRAMATICALLY IN THE COMING MONTHS. THE TIME TO ACT IS NOW. NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE. TO REITERATE WHAT I SAID AT THE BEGINNING, THIS EXPANSION IS TO ADDRESS AN URGENT PUBLIC HEALTH NECESSITY FOR OUR COMMUNITY AND FULFILL OUR PROMISE TO OUROUR WHO VOTED TO DESIGNATE $400 MILLION TO THIS EXPANSION BUT ALSO TO PROVIDE THEM WITH THE SERVICES THAT THEY HAVE COME TO EXPECT FROM BEN TAUB HOSPITAL WHEN THEIR LIVES LITERALLY HANG IN THE BALANCE. IF WE GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE. SO THE PROMISE THAT WE MADE WAS THAT BEWERE GOING TO INCREASE THE CAPACITY OF BEN TAUB HOSPITAL TO, AGAIN, ADDRESS THE DESPERATELY NEEDED CAPACITY ISSUE AT BEN TAUB BY ADDING THE 100 OR MORE PATIENT BEDS THROUGH THIS EXPANSION PROJECT AND SOME PROCEDURE AREAS EQUATE TO GO ABOUT 25% INCREASE IN THE CAPACITY OF BEN TAUB HOSPITAL THAT CURRENTLY OPERATES WITH 402 LICENSED BEDS.WE WILL LITERALLY BE ABLE TO SAVE THOUSANDS OF LIVES IN THE COMING YEARS BY PROVIDING TIME-SENSITIVE LEVEL ONE TRAUMA AND CRITICAL CARE TO OUR COMMUNITY WHEN THEY NEED IT THE MOST.
IT WILL REDUCE WAIT TIMES IN OUR EMERGENCY ROOM AND WILL UNDOUBTEDLY REDUCE OR ELIMINATE THE USE OF HALLWAY BEDS.
CAN WE GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE? WE HAVE LOOKED AT THIS ISSUE EVERY POSSIBLE WAY.
WE CONSIDERED BUILDING THIS ADDITIONAL CAPACITY ON TOP OF BEN TAUB HOSPITAL.
UNFORTUNATELY, THIS OPTION IS NOT FISCALLY RESPONSIBLE NOR OPERATIONALLY FEASIBLE.
BEN TAUB HOSPITAL IS NOT A SECRET IT'S FACING DRAMATIC AND SIGNIFICANT INFRASTRUCTURE ISSUES.
TO BUILD ON TOP OF A STRUCTURE THAT IS LITERALLY FALLING APART IS NOT A GOOD USE OF $400 MILLION OF TAXPAYERS' MONEY.
IN ADDITION TO THAT, ANY CONSTRUCTION ON THE CURRENT BEN TAUB HOSPITAL WILL REQUIRE THE CLOSED PARTS OF THE HOSPITAL TO ALLOW FOR THE CONSTRUCTION, AND AS I'VE JUST EXPLAINED, THAT IS SIMPLY NOT POSSIBLE OPERATIONALLY FOR A HOSPITAL THAT IS INUNDATED WITH PATIENTS AND LACKS CAPACITY EVEN TODAY.
IF WE COULD GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE.
BEN TAUB IS LANDLOCKED. THERE IS NO SPACE IN THE CURRENT FOOTPRINT OF BEN TAUB HOSPITAL TO ALLOW FOR THE CREATION OF EXPANSION FACILITY, PLAIN AND SIMPLE. WE CAN GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE. THERE HAVE BEEN COMMENTS ABOUT WHY CAN'T AN EXPANSION FACILITY BE BUILT SOMEWHERE ELSE . SEVERAL REASONS WHY NOT.
BUILDING A FACILITY SOMEWHERE DISTANT TO BEN TAUB HOSPITAL WILL DO ABSOLUTELY NOTHING TO ADDRESS THE CURRENT CAPACITY ISSUE AT BEN TAUB HOSPITAL.
IN ADDITION TO THAT, IT WOULD DRAMATICALLY INCREASE THE COST OF WHAT WE ARE TALKING ABOUT BECAUSE IT WOULD REQUIRE TO US DUPLICATE ALL THE SERVICES AND THE STAFF THAT ARE CURRENTLY AVAILABLE AT BEN TAUB HOSPITAL INCLUDING THINGS SUCH AS EMERGENCY ROOM, OPERATING ROOM, RADIOLOGY SERVICES, PATHOLOGY, SPECIALTY SERVICES AND MANY MORE. BUILDING A FACILITY SOMEWHERE DISTANT TO BEN TAUB HOSPITAL IS BUILDING ANOTHER HOSPITAL WHICH, AGAIN, FISCALLY IS NOT POSSIBLE. GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE.
AS I HAVE EXPLAINED AND, AGAIN, NUMEROUS MEETINGS AND INTERVIEWS, THE USE OF THE NINE ACRES OF PARK LAND ADJACENT TO BEN TAUB HOSPITAL, LITERALLY ACROSS THE FRONT DOOR OF THE EMERGENCY ROOM OF BEN TAUB HOSPITAL IS THE ONLY FISCALLY RESPONSIBLE, OPERATIONALLY VIABLE OPTION FOR CREATION OF THIS EXPANSION. THIS FACILITY IS CLOSE ENOUGH TO THE BEN TAUB HOSPITAL THAT IT CAN LITERALLY BE CONNECTED TO IT BY A SKY BRIDGE MAKING IT PART OF BEN TAUB HOSPITAL NEGATING THE NEED FOR A NEW HOSPITAL LICENSE OR ANY REGULATORY ISSUES OR, MORE IMPORTANTLY, NEGATING THE NEED TO DUPLICATE OUR SERVICES OR STAFF, BECAUSE IT WILL BE PARTICIPATE
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OF THE HOSPITAL. THIS IS PART OF THE MISINFORMATION THAT IS, UNFORTUNATELY, CIRCULATING ON SOCIAL MEDIA. AS YOU CAN SEE ON THIS MAP VERY CLEARLY, AND I INVITE COMMISSIONERS, THEIR STAFF AND THE MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC TO VISIT OUR PUBLIC- FACING WEBSITE WWW.HARRISHEALTH.ORG, BECAUSE THIS IS THE FIRST THING THAT POPS UP, TO LOOK AT THE MAP AND REVIEW SEVERAL PAGES OF FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS THAT COVERS EVERYTHING THAT I'VE JUST EXPLAINED. AS YOU CAN SEE THIS LAND, IT IS OWNED BY THE CITY OF HOUSTON. IT IS UNDER MANAGEMENT BY HERMANN PARK. AS YOU CAN SEE CLEARLY ON THIS MAP, IT IS SEPARATED FROM HERMANN PARK BY CAMBRIDGE STREET. IT HAS NO IMPACT ON THE HOUSTON ZOO, AND IT HAS NO IMPACT ON THE HERMANN PARK GOLF COURSE.IF WE CAN GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE.
SO, AGAIN, IN CONTRAST TO THE MISINFORMATION THAT IS CIRCULATING IN SOCIAL MEDIA, THIS PARKLAND, IT IS TRUE, IT HAS GRASS, IT HAS TREES, IT HAS A FEW BENCHES, AND IT HAS A PATHWAY. OTHER THAN THAT, IT HAS NO SIGNIFICANT PARK AMENITIES. AND I WANT TO REITERATE THIS.
CREATING THIS FACILITY ON THIS NINE ACRES OF LAND WILL HAVE NO IMPACT ON THE GOLF COURSE AND NO AFFECT ON THE HOUSTON ZOO. REALLY IMPORTANT, AND THIS IS ANOTHER ONE OF THOSE MISINFORMATION CIRCULATING IN SOCIAL MEDIA THAT THIS IN NO WAYWAY IMPACTS THE ATTRACTIONS WE ALL HAVE COME TO ENJOY AND EXPECT FROM OUR BELOVED HERMANN PARK INCLUDING THE MILLER OUTDOOR THEATRE OR ANY OTHER PUBLIC ATTRACTIONS OF HERMANN PARK. GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE. REALLY IMPORTANT, COMMISSIONERS, AND THIS IS SOMETHING I HAVE SAID IN EVERY OPPORTUNITY IN THE PAST 14 MONTHS THAT HARRIS HEALTH IS COMMITTED AND REMAINS COMMITTED TO MINIMIZING ANY IMPACT TO PEDESTRIAN ACCESS TO HERMANN PARK DURING OR AFTER THE CONSTRUCTION PHASE. THEY COMMIT TO BEAUTIFYING THE LAND BY DEVELOPING A HEALING GARDEN, WALKING PATHS, AND ENHANCED PUBLIC AREAS. AS MANY OF YOU HAVE WHO HAVE SEEN WHAT WE'RE DOING ON THE LBJ CAMPUS, I THINK IT GOES WITHOUT SAYING HARRIS HEALTH IS COMMITTED TO DOING WHATEVER STEPS NECESSARY TO MITIGATE RISK AND ANY NEGATIVE IMPACT TO OUR ENVIRONMENT. AND ONE MORE TIME, I WANT TO SAY THAT WE ARE COMMITTED TO CONTINUE OUR ENGAGEMENT WITH THE COMMUNITY AND COLLABORATION WITH ALL STAKEHOLDERS TO ENSURE THERE IS MINIMAL IMPACT TO OUR PRECIOUS PARKLAND AND MAXIMUM BENEFIT TO THE PUBLIC.
IF YOU COULD GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE WHICH I HAVE SUMMARIZED HERE AS THE FACT THAT THIS EXPANSION FACILITY THROUGH THIS PROPOSAL WILL BE ATTACHED TO BEN TAUB HOSPITAL BY A SKY BRIDGE MAKING IT BASICALLY PART OF BEN TAUB HOSPITAL, ELIMINATING ANY ADDITIONAL REGULATORY BURDENS OR COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH THE DUPLICATION OF SERVICES AND STAFF.
IT WOULD ALLOW BEN TAUB HOSPITAL TO CONTINUE SERVING OUR COMMUNITY WHILE THE EXPANSION PROJECT IS ON GOING. IT WOULD CREATE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR BEN TAUB TO REMAIN AS PART OF THE TEXAS MEDICAL CENTER MAKING OUR PATIENTS THE RICH EDUCATION, TRAINING AND RESOURCES THAT EXIST IN A TEXAS MEDICAL CENTER, WHICH II WHOLEHEARTEDLY SHOULD REMAIN AVAILABLE TO OUR PATIENTS.
OUR PATIENTS ARE DIFFERENT THAN PATIENTS TREATED ELSEWHERE IN THE TEXAS MEDICAL CENTER AND, AGAIN, I BELIEVE WHOLEHEARTEDLY THEY SHOULD NOT BE DEPRIVED OF ACCESS TO THE RICH TRAINING, EDUCATION AND RESEARCH OPPORTUNITIES THAT EXIST IN THE TEXAS MEDICAL CENTER AND, AGAIN, THIS EXPANSION FACILITY WILL SERVE AS THE FIRST PHASE OF THE FUTURE BEN TAUB HOSPITAL REPLACEMENT.
IF WE COULD GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE.
THE MAIN POINTS, TAKE HOME MESSAGE -- THE PRE POSED BEN TAUB EXPANSION WILL ADDRESS THE URGENT PUBLIC HEALTH NECESSITY OF THE DESPERATELY NEEDED ADDITIONAL CAPACITY TO BEN TAUB HOSPITAL.
AND AS I HAVE ALREADY MENTIONED, IT IS THE ONLY FISCALLY RESPONSIBLE AND OPERATIONALLY VIABLE OPTION FOR THIS EXPANSION. IT WILL CREATE A VIABLE FUTURE FOR OUR NATIONALLY RECOGNIZED ADULT LEVEL ONE TRAUMA CENTER AT BEN TAUB SO THAT IT CAN MEET THE GROWING NEEDS AND EXPECTATIONS OF OUR COMMUNITY ESPECIALLY WHEN LIVES LITERALLY HANG IN THE
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BALANCE. IT WOULD PROVIDE A CONTINUED ABILITY FOR US TO TRAIN THE FUTURE HEALTH CARE WORKFORCE FOR OUR COMMUNITY AND, AS I MENTIONED, PROVIDES THE FIRST STEP FOR THE FUTURE REPLACEMENT OF BEN TAUB HOSPITAL.IF WE GO TO MY LAST SLIDE, PLEASE.
THERE WAS ONE LAST SLIDE, IF YOU COULD GO BACK.
>> IT'S THE LIST OF THE LETTERS OF SUPPORT THAT WE HAVE RECEIVED.
AS YOU CAN SEE, COMMISSIONERS, AGAIN, AS I MENTIONED PREVIOUSLY, OVER THE LAST 14 MONTHS, I HAVE HAD MORE THAN THAN INDIVIDUAL, GROUP, ENCOUNTERS, TOWN HALL MEETINGS, RADIO, TV INTERVIEWS. YOU HEARD FROM THE TMO AND OTHERS AS WELL. WE HAVE RECEIVED THIS AND MORE LETTERS OF SUPPORT AND WE CONTINUE TO RECEIVE LETTERS OF SUPPORT EVERY DAY FOR THIS EXPANSION PROJECT.
WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO DO IS READ ONLY THREE PARAGRAPHS FROM DIFFERENT LETTERS OF SUPPORT THAT WE HAVE RECEIVED AS AN EXAMPLE OF WHAT PEOPLE AND ORGANIZATIONS ARE THINKING. THE TEXAS MEDICAL CENTER WROTE, AND THESE LETTERS ARE ALSO LISTED ON OUR WEBSITE WWW.HARRISHEALTH.ORG. TMC WROTE BEN TAUB HOSPITAL IS A LIFE LINE TO HOUSTON'S MOST VULNERABLE POPULATIONS.
AND A NATIONAL LEADER IN TRAUMA CARE AND MEDICALMEDICAL EDUCATION. WITH OUR CITY'S RAPID GROWTH, THE HOSPITAL IS OPERATING BEYOND CAPACITY PUTTING ACCESS TO LIFE-SAVING CARE AND TRAINING OF OUR FUTURE HEALTH CARE PROFESSIONALS AT RISK.
EXPANSION OF BEN TAUB HOSPITAL IS NOT JUST A DESIRE, IT IS AN URGENT PUBLIC HEALTH NECESSITY. SHERIFF GONZALEZ WROTE, THERE IS A SIMPLE QUESTION I ASK MYSELF BEFORE MAKING ANY MAJOR DECISION AS SHERIFF OF HARRIS COUNTY.
WILL THIS ACTION MAKE THE PEOPLE I SERVE SAFER? IF THE ANSWER IS A CLEAR YES, THEN I MOVE FORWARD WITH CONFIDENCE. IT IS WITH GREAT CONFIDENCE, THEREFORE, THAT I FULLY ENDORSE HARRIS HEALTH'S THOUGHTFUL PROPOSAL TO EXPAND BEN TAUB HOSPITAL TO KEEP THE PEOPLE OF HARRIS COUNTY SAFE AND HEALTHY.
REPRESENTATIVE ARMANDO WALLE WROTE, I FULLY SUPPORT THE PARKLAND OF TEXAS. HOWEVER, IT IS EQUALLY IMPORTANT TO ENSURE SUCH INVESTMENTS ARE BALANCED WITH THE REGION'S CRITICAL NEED FOR ACCESSIBLE HEALTH CARE SERVICES. THE PROPOSED PLAN IS A THOUGHTFUL WAY TO ADDRESS THE CRITICAL NEED IN A MANNER THAT MINIMIZES THE IMPACT TO ADJACENT PARCELS OF LAND.
COMMISSIONERS, THAT'S THE END OF MY PRESENTATION. I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY
QUESTIONS. >> SO, COLLEAGUES, IN THIS ORDER, WE HAVE COMMISSIONER BRIONES, COMMISSIONER RAMSEY, COMMISSIONER GARCIA AND THEN ME.
WHAT IS THIS ITEM? WHAT'S THE PROCESS? SO WHAT ARE WE BEING ASKED TO
DO? >> ALL THAT YOU'RE BEING ASKED TO APPROVE TODAY IS TO SET A HEARING FOR DECEMBER 11TH OR LATER UNDER CHAPTER 26 AND THAT'S BECAUSE WHEN THERE'S A TAKING OF PARKLAND THERE'S AN ADDITIONAL STEP YOU HAVE TO DO A HEARING. YOU'RE NOT AUTHORIZING THE CONDEMNATION TODAY.
>> AND WHEN YOU SAY DECEMBER THE 11TH, WE HAVE TO WAIT 30 DAYS UNDER THE STATUTE. AND FOR WHAT IT'S WORTH, IF I MIGHT, TOM, OBVIOUSLY GOING INTO CHRISTMAS, SO WHY WOULD WE PICK DECEMBER 11TH INSTEAD OF JANUARY THE 5TH OR 10TH?
>> THAT'S A QUESTION FOR HARRIS
I NORMALLY DON'T SCHEDULE MY TOWN HALL MEETINGS RIGHT BEFORE
CHRISTMAS. >> COMMISSIONER, I WOULD SAY TWO THINGS. ONE, AS I HAVE TRIED TO IMPRESS UPON THIS COMMISSION AND THE PUBLIC IS THAT THE NEED FOR THE EXPANSION IS URGENT.
THIS IS SOMETHING THAT SHOULD HAVE HAPPENED MANY YEARS AGO.
IT HASN'T. BUT IT IS UPON US NOW.
>> OKAY. SO WE PICK THE DATE, IS THAT RIGHT? IN A MOTION, WE PICK THE DATE.
FOR ME -- HOWEVER, IT COULD HAVE COME TO US SOONER.
OBVIOUSLY YOU PUT IT ON THE AGENDA. YOU JUST DON'T GO DO IT DURING THE HOLIDAY SEASON, FOR WHAT IT'S WORTH. I JUST PREFER WE, AT LEAST FOR ME, IT HAPPENS TO BE IN MY PRECINCT. I WILL MAKE THE CASE.
>> THE OTHER THING I WOULD SAY, COMMISSIONER, THE PRICE OF CONSTRUCTION IS NOT GETTING ANY CHEAPER.
>> I'VE GOT YOU. BUT WE COULD HAVE STARTED A
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YEAR AGO. COMMISSIONER BRIONES, RAMSEY, GARCIA AND THEN ME.>> THE COMMENT WAS MADE WE COULD HAVE DONE THIS A YEAR AGO. I STARTED THIS IN AUGUST OF 2024. BUT GOING BACK TO THE COMMENT COMMISSIONER GARCIA MADE, WHICH ARE ABSOLUTELY CORRECT, IS THAT THIS IS SOMETHING THAT REQUIRED A LOT OF ENGAGEMENT, COMMUNICATION, MEETINGS, EXPLANATIONS AND EVEN THEN 14 MONTHS LATER I'M HERE, AND WE ARE STILL DISCUSSING ADDITIONAL COMMUNICATION, WHICH IS FINE.
>> I'M NOT BEING CRITICAL OF IT.
>> FROM MY EXPERIENCE, USUALLY IF SOMEBODY IS AGAINST SOMETHING, THEY DON'T ALWAYS SAY WHY THEY'RE AGAINST IT.
THEY'LL COMPLAIN ABOUT THE PROCESS. SO YOU NORMALLY DON'T JUST GIVE THEM A CHRISTMAS GIFT. SO THAT'S WHY I WOULD SAY DO IT IN JANUARY.
>> SO, DOCTOR, THANK YOU FOR THE PRESENTATION AND THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING THAT YOU AND YOUR TEAM DO ACROSS HARRIS COUNTY AND BEYOND TO DELIVER EXCELLENT QUALITY CARE TO THE MOST VULNERABLE AND FOR TRAINING SO MANY OF THE PHYSICIANS THAT ALL OF US GO TO. I SUPPORT IT TREMENDOUSLY.
THIS EXPANSION IS CRITICAL. IT IS URGENT.
I COULD NOT AGREE MORE. WE DO NOT NEED PEOPLE WAITING 24 HOURS TO BE SEEN IN AN EMERGENCY ROOM.
WE DON'T NEED TREATMENT IN HALLWAYS.
I COULD NOT AGREE MORE ABOUT AS FIDUCIARIES WE NEED TO DO IT AND THIS IS NECESSARY AND CRITICAL, PERIOD. AND I SEE IT AS A BOTH/AND.
YOU HAVE HAD MEETINGS BEFORE THE BOND WAS PASSED AND AFTER THE BOND WAS PASSED AND I'VE BEEN WITH YOU AT MANY OF THEM AND I APPRECIATE, AND MORE WORK IS STILL NEEDED. I WILL BE SUPPORTIVE OF REQUESTING ADDITIONAL COMMUNITY MEETINGS AND SUPPORT AS WELL AS NOT ONLY IN PERSON BUT ONLINE PORTALS. SO FOR THOSE WHO ARE WORKING AND CAN'T MAKE IT TO A MEETING, THEY HAVE THEIR ABILITY TO MAKE THEIR VOICE HEARD.
AND I ESPECIALLY LOVE HERMANN PARK.
I HAVE SPENT COUNTLESS HOURS WITH MY THREE LITTLE GIRLS AT THAT PARK. IT IS A JEWEL OF HARRIS COUNTY AND OF TEXAS. THIS IS A BOTH/AND.
WE MUST, MR. ROBERTS PUT IT BEAUTIFULLY, A BALANCE OF PUBLIC NEED, PUBLIC PRIORITIES.
WE NEED TO WORK AS CLOSELY TOGETHER ON THIS AS COLLABORATIVELY AS POSSIBLE SO WE'RE MINIMIZING THE IMPACT TO THE PARKLAND WHILE MAXIMIZING THE BENEFIT IN TERMS OF ADDING THE CAPACITY IN A WAY THAT WE'RE GOOD STEWARDS OF TAXPAYER RESOURCES.
I KNOW THERE HAVE BEEN CONVERSATIONS AND THERE NEED TO BE MORE SO WE CAN BE A SOLUTIONS ORIENTED AND CREATIVE AS POSSIBLE.
I RECOGNIZE THAT TIME IS OF THE ESSENCE, AND I ALSO AGREE THAT OVER THE HOLIDAYS THIS IS NOT THE BEST WAY TO GET ADDITIONAL FEEDBACK FROM THE COMMUNITY.
AND SO I, AT LEAST, WOULD WANT TO KEEP A VERY TIGHT TIME LINE RECOGNIZING THAT WE WILL NEED JANUARY, AS FAR AS I'M CONCERNED, FOR THESE ADDITIONAL MEETINGS, AND CREATING DIFFERENT FORUMS FOR THIS TO HAPPEN. AND TO BE ABLE TO DO IT IN A WAY WHERE WE HAVE LANGUAGE ACCESS FOR THOSE -- SO THAT EVERYONE'S VOICE IS HEARD. SO I AM JUST EAGER TO MOVE THIS FORWARD. AND SO MY QUESTION TO YOU IS -- WELL, I WOULD LOVE TO DESIGN AS MUCH PARK- LIKE DESIGN.
YOU TALKED ABOUT THE MEDICATION GARDEN AND PATHWAYS SO THAT'S IMPORTANT. I WOULD LOVE TO HEAR ANY IDEAS YOU MAY HAVE HOW TO MINIMIZE THE IMPACT TO THE PARK WHILE MAXIMIZING THE BENEFIT TO THE COMMUNITY, AND THEN I ALSO WANTED TO HEAR, KIND OF T BIG PICTURE, WHAT IS THE TIME LINE GIVEN THAT THERE'S A LOT OF DIFFERENT STEPS IN THIS PROCESS?
>> THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER. I APPRECIATE YOUR CONTINUED SUPPORT. AND I ABSOLUTELY AGREE THAT HERMANN PARK IS A JEWEL AND A TREASURE FOR THE CITY AND COUNTY OF HARRIS COUNTY. I HOPE THAT BY NOW COMMISSIONERS KNOW THIS ABOUT ME.
I HAVE NOW BEEN HERE FOR FIVE AND A HALF YEARS AND I HAVE NEVER, EVER, TO MY RECOLLECTION SAID NO TO AN INVITATION TO ENGAGE WITH THE COMMUNITY.
AND I FULL HEARTEDLY, 100%, COMMIT TO AND AGREE WITH DOING ADDITIONAL COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENTS FROM NOW UNTIL WHENEVER THIS ITEM COMES BACK TO THE COMMISSIONER'S COURT FOR CONSIDERATION. I STRONGLY BELIEVE, AND I'VE SAID THIS MANY TIMES, THAT I BELIEVE COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT, BEING ABLE TO COMMUNICATE
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AND LEARN FROM OUR COMMUNITY IS THE ONLY WAY FOR US TO BE SUCCESSFUL IN OUR MISSION OF IMPROVING THE HEALTH OF OUR COMMUNITIES. SO COMMISSIONER BRIONES, YOU HAVE MY SUPPORT AND MY SUBMISSION TO DO WHATEVER IT IS GOING TO BE REQUIRED BETWEEN NOW AND WHATEVER THE DATE THAT THIS ITEM IS BACK TO THE COMMISSIONERS COURT TO DO MORE, DIFFERENT, WHATEVER -- WHATEVER IT'S GOING TO TAKE TO BETTER INFORM THETHE COMMUNITY.>> THANK YOU FOR THAT COMMITMENT. AND I'VE SEEN YOU IN THE COMMUNITY MANY TIMES, AND I KNOW HOW IMPORTANT IT IS TO YOU.
SO THANK YOU FOR BEING WILLING TO DO EVEN MORE ON THAT FRONT. IN TERMS OF THE TIME LINE, JUST TO LEVEL --
>> TWO THINGS ACTUALLY. YOU TALKED ABOUT THE PARK AND, COMMISSIONER, WE CAN'T GET INTO A WHOLE BUNCH OF DETAILS WHAT THE FUTURE IS GOING TO LOOK LIKE BECAUSE, AS YOU KNOW, WE FOLLOW THE COUNTY PROCUREMENT PROCESS. UNTIL AND UNLESS WE ACTUALLY HAVE LEGAL POSSESSION OF THE LAND, WHICH IS SOONER THAN ACTUALLY ALL THE LEGAL PROCESSES OCCUR, WE CANNOT ENGAGE WITH A DESIGN FIRM, WHICH HAS ALWAYS BEEN MY COMMITMENT THAT WE WILL DO THAT AND WE WILL DO THAT JOINTLY WITH THE PARKS TO MAKE SURE THAT WE CAN DO WHATEVER WE NEED TO DO TO ENSURE MINIMUM IMPACT TO THE PARK AND MAXIMUM BENEFIT TO THE PUBLIC.
>> AND I RECOGNIZE THERE'S A LOT OF CONTINGENCIES, AND I USED TO HAVE EMINENT DOMAIN CASES IN MY COURT, SO PUTTING ASIDE A MYRIAD OF CONTINGENCIES, BIG PICTURE, WHEN WE WERE OUT IN THE PUBLIC EXPLAINING THE BOND AND THE GENERAL TIME LINE, CAN YOU JUST WALK US THROUGH THE BEN TAUB EXPANSION AND WHEN WE ANTICIPATE DELIVERING --
>> ABSOLUTELY. LET'S SAY, COMMISSIONER BRIONES, THIS COMES BACK TO JANUARY OF THIS YEAR -- NEXT YEAR AND IT PASSES.
MY UNDERSTANDING IS IT WILL TAKE A FEW MONTHS, SOMEWHERE BETWEEN FOUR TO SIX MONTHS, TO ACTUALLY DO THE FOLLOW- UP LEGAL PROCESS BEFORE WE CAN TAKE LEGAL POSSESSION OF THE LAND, WHICH IS, AGAIN, NOT THE END OF THE CONVERSATION. AT THAT POINT WE CAN ACTUALLY ENGAGE WITH A DESIGN FIRM TO ESTABLISH WHAT THE FACILITY WILL LOOK LIKE.
LET'S SAY MIDDLE OF NEXT YEAR, WE HAVE LEGAL POSSESSION THAT WILL TAKE US THE REST OF THE YEAR TO ACTUALLY ENGAGE WITH THE DESIGN FIRM AND ACTUALLY DESIGN. BEST CASE SCENARIO IN 2027 WE BREAK GROUND. BY 2030- 20 31 WE CAN CELEBRATE THE OPENINGS OF THE EXPANSION FACILITY. A YEAR AFTER THE HOSPITAL AND THE LBJ CAMPUS OPENS.
>> THANK YOU, DOCTOR. THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORK.
I KNOW THIS IS CRITICAL, URGENT, AND WE WANT TO SAVE MORE LIVES, REDUCE WAIT TIMES. SO I'M ALL IN AND I'M ALL IN IN MAKING SURE ALL COMMUNITY VOICES ARE HEARD AND WE DO THIS AS COLLABORATIVELY AND CREATIVELY TO FIND THE WIN- WINS TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT AS POSSIBLE.
>> THE REASONS FOR ADDRESSING THE NEEDS OF BEN TAUB ARE COMPELLING.
>> YES, SIR. >> CLEARLY THERE'S THE NEEDS THAT HAVE BEEN THERE FOR MANY, MANY YEARS.
LET ME JUST GO THROUGH A SERIES OF QUESTIONS.
SO WE HAD A $2. 5 BILLION BOND ISSUE.
AND IN THAT BOND ISSUE WE SET ASIDE 410 MILLION --
>> -- FOR BEN TAUB. YOU'RE GOING TO -- YOU BELIEVE YOU CAN DO PHASE ONE OF THE EXPANSION FOR $410 MILLION?
>> NO, SIR. THE EXPANSION WILL BE THE PHASE ONE OF THE FUTURE REPLACEMENT OF BEN TAUB HOSPITAL.
>> OKAY. I'M GOING TO GET -- WE HAD A BOND ISSUE.
>> THERE'S 410 MILLION IN THE BOND ISSUE. I'LL MAKE IT A SIMPLER QUESTION.
>> WHAT IS YOUR EXPECTATION FOR THAT 410 MILLION IN THE BOND ISSUE?
>> TO CREATE AN EXPANSION FACILITY ADJACENT TO BEN TAUB HOSPITAL WITH AROUND 100 IN-PATIENT BEDS AND PROCEDURE AREAS.
>> THAT'S YOUR 80,000- FOOT LOOK AT WHAT THIS 410 MILLION WILL BE?
>> NOW, CLEARLY, YOU HAVE TO GO THROUGH DESIGN, CLEARLY GO THROUGH COST ESTIMATES. WILL LBJ AND THE COMPLETION OF LBJ TAKE PRESSURE OFF OF BEN TAUB?
>> IT WILL. SO THE IMMEDIATE POINT OF RELIEF IN TERMS OF LEVEL ONE TRAUMA IN THIS COUNTY IS THE 2 BILLION WE'RE SPENDING TODAY OUT AT LBJ?
>> NOT QUITE, NOT QUITE. I SEE WHAT YOU'RE GETTING AT,
[01:05:02]
COMMISSIONER, BUT LET ME GET A LITTLE MORE DETAIL, IF I MAY.WHEN THE NEW HOSPITAL AND THE LBJ CAMPUS OPENS, IT WILL BE LEVEL ONE TRAUMA CAPABLE. IT WILL NOT BE DESIGNATED AS LEVEL ONE TRAUMA BECAUSE IT TAKES SEVERAL YERLS YEARS OF PRACTICE IN THE HOSPITAL BEFORE IT CAN BECOME DESIGNATED. IT DOES IMPACT THE PRESSURE ON THE BEN TAUB HOSPITAL BECAUSE TODAY WE ARE NOT ABLE TO PROVIDE SOME OF THE SERVICES ON THE LBJ CAMPUS, FOR EXAMPLE, CARDIOLOGY. THOSE WITH A HEART ATTACK OR STROKE, WE STABILIZE THEM AND TRANSFER TO BEN TAUB HOSPITAL.
THAT'S THE PRESSURE THAT WOULD GO AWAY.
>> WELL, CLEARLY YOU IDENTIFIED LBJ AS A HIGH ER PRIORITY THAN BEN TAUB SINCE YOU ALREADY STARTED WORK ON IT.
>> THERE WAS A REASON FOR THAT.
>> WE UNDERSTAND THAT AND IN TERMS OF YOUR PRIORITIES, SO I ONLY MENTION THAT IN TERMS OF THERE ARE NEEDS IN THE COMMUNITY. WE'RE NOT IGNORING THOSE NEEDS.
IN FACT, THROUGH THE HOSPITAL DISTRICT, WE'RE INVESTING 2 BILLION IN THAT EFFORT. AS I UNDERSTAND IT'S 400 MILLION OVER BUDGET RIGHT NOW.
>> IT IS 400 MILLION OVER THE INITIAL ESTIMATE.
>> 400 MILLION OVER INITIAL ESTIMATE.
HOW IS IT BEING OVER INITIAL ESTIMATE NOT IMPACT THE BUDGET?
>> THE INITIAL ESTIMATE WAS MADE IN 2021.
>> YEAH, I GET THE TIME AND WHATEVER, BUT WE'VE GOT X NUMBER OF DOLLARS, 2 BILLION.
CAN YOU STILL DO LBJ FOR 2 BILLION?
>> EVEN THOUGH IT'S OVER ESTIMATE, YOU'RE FINE WITH THE 2 BILLION? AND THE REASON I MENTION THAT, THE 410 MILLION IS A PART OF THE 2.5 BILLION.
>> SO ONCE -- AND LBJ IS UNDER CONSTRUCTION -- WHAT I DON'T WANT TO EXPERIENCE IS WE GET THROUGH WITH LBJ AND, MAN, THERE'S NO MONEY LEFT FOR BEN TAUB. YOU DON'T THINK THAT'S PROBLEM?
>> THAT IS NOT GOING TO HAPPEN, COMMISSIONER.
>> THAT IS NOT GOING TO HAPPEN. OKAY, DULY RECORDED.
GIVE ME SOMETHING TO SIGN. >> OKAY.
YOU'VE SAID IT. IT'S IN A COURT AND MR. FINEBAUM WAS HERE TO HEAR IT.
>> ALL RIGHT. I'M HAPPY TO SIGN IT IN BLOOD IF THAT MAKES ANY DIFFERENCE.
>> THE CONVERSATION IS SIMPLY MEANT FOR TRANSPARENCY.
>> OF COURSE. I APPRECIATE THAT.
>> THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF CONVERSATION AROUND WHAT WE'RE DOING AND WHAT WE'RE NOT DOING. THAT'S WHAT WE ARE DOING. HOW TEN HAVE YOU METMET THE CONSERVANCY BOARD? HOW MANY TIMES HAVE YOU MET WITH THE PEOPLE HERE TODAY?
>> I HAVE NOT WITH THE BOARD. I HAVE MET WITH THE CURRENT AND PREVIOUS EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR.
>> AND THAT IS NOT BECAUSE OF LACK OF INTEREST ON MY PART, COMMISSIONER. I JUST WANT TO SAY IT FOR THE
RECORD. >> IN TERMS OF HAVE YOU LOOKED AT THEIR PLAN? OBVIOUSLY THEY'VE HAD THAT PROPERTY FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS. HAVE YOU SEEN WHAT THEIR PLAN
I SAW THAT FROM THE PREVIOUS EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, YES, IN AUGUST OF 2024.
>> SO THEY CLEARLY WERE THINKING PARKING --
>> THE PLAN THAT WAS SHOWN TO ME, COMMISSIONER, DID NOT INCLUDE PARKING. THERE WAS A CONVERSATION ABOUT PARKING, BUT THE PLAN THAT I SAW DID NOT HAVE PARKING ON IT.
>> AND, AGAIN, I THINK THE PROCESS MATTERS.
>> AND I THINK THAT'S MUCH OF WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT.
WE'RE BEING ASKED, HARRIS COUNTY COMMISSIONERS' COURT TO CONDEMN THIS PROPERTY ON BEHALF OF THE HOSPITAL DISTRICT.
>> I THINK WHAT WE JUST WANT TO KNOW IS THAT THERE'S A PROCESS TO BE RESPECTED.
I'VE ONLY WORKED FOR 50 CITIES AND 20 COUNTIES AND EVERY STATE AGENCY YOU CAN'T NAME --
>> BUT THIS IS THE BEST COUNTY, COMMISSIONER. THIS IS THE BEST.
>> ND MY WORK AND EFFORTS THERE, NUMEROUS TIMES I'VE HAD THE PLEASURE OF DEALING WITH PARK-RELATED ISSUES.
AND JUST SO YOU KNOW IN THE STATE OF TEXAS, I DON'T KNOW ANY PLACE ELSE, PARKS ARE SACRED.
>> AND THE DIFFICULTY -- AND THEY MAKE IT DIFFICULT FOR A REASON. WE HAVE COMPELLING REASONS ON WHAT BEN TAUB WANTS TO DO.
THIS IS VERY LOGICAL IN TERMS OF WHAT YOU'RE PUTTING OUT THERE, BUT I CAN TELL YOU MY THREE ADULT CHILDREN WHEN THEY WERE LITTLE, WE WENT TO HERMANN PARK.
MY SEVEN GRANDCHILDREN, WHEN WE WENT TO HERMANN PARK, WE WENT -- WE HAD GREAT TIMES THERE. DO YOU KNOW WHAT I
[01:10:03]
EXPERIENCED EVERY TIME I WENT THERE FOR THE LAST 40 YEARS? PARKING PROBLEMS.>> SO THAT IS THEIR NUMBER ONE ISSUE.
IT WOULD SEEM TO ME IN THE CATEGORY OF WIN- WIN, WHETHER YOU'RE WORKING THROUGH THE CITY OF HOUSTON OR YOU'RE WORKING DIRECTLY WITH HERMANN, YOU WOULD SAY, HEY, THE WIN- WIN HERE IS WE'RE GOING TO HELP HERMANN PARK DEAL WITH THEIR PARKING. CLEARLY IT COULD BE DONE IN A WAY -- IN FACT, THEY MAY EVEN HAVE A PLAN OR TWO IN TERMS OF HOW YOU COULD IMPROVE THE PARKING FOR THEM.
IT WOULD SEEM TO ME AT THIS STAGE IN THE PROCESS WE WOULD ALREADY SAY, YEAH, WE'VE GOT A PLAN FOR THAT. WE'VE BEEN TALKING TO THE CONSERVANCY AND THE MONEY THAT WILL COME OUT OF THIS CONDEMNATION WILL BE DEDICATED TO THAT SPECIFIC THING. I WILL NOT SUPPORT ANYTHING UNLESS IT'S CLEARLY UNDERSTOOD THAT THE MONEY THAT'S GOING TO COME OUT OF THIS IS GOING TO BE INVESTED IN SPECIFICALLY, FROM WHAT I UNDERSTAND TALKING TO THE PEOPLE, PARKING AT HERMANN PARK.
AND THAT'S NOT COMPLICATED. THAT'S A PRETTY EASY THING.
WE KNOW THERE'S GOING TO BE DOLLARS COMING OUT.
I SUSPECT THEY HAVE COST ESTIMATES RELATED TO THAT. SO, AS WE MOVE FORWARD WITH CONDEMNATION, WE OUGHT TO CLEARLY DEFINE WHAT THE DOLLARS THAT ARE GOING TO COME OUT OF THIS AND THE CITY OF HOUSTON WILL HAVE AND, TO ME, WE OUGHT TO REQUIRE THAT BE INVESTED. SO I AGREE WITH COMMISSIONER ELLIS AND CERTAINLY WITHIN YOUR PRECINCT THAT WE DO FOLLOW A GOOD, TRANSPARENT PROCESS SO THESE KINDS OF DETAILS -- THERE ARE STILL A LOT OF UNANSWERED QUESTIONS -- EVEN THE FOUR OF US THAT ARE GOING TO BE ASKED TO VOTE, WE'VE GOT QUESTIONS.
WE DON'T KNOW. AND IF WE'RE GOING TO VOTE AND SUPPORT AND DEAL WITH SOMETHING, WE NEED TO KNOW AS MUCH AS YOU KNOW.
AND TODAY I KNOW MORE AFTER THIS CONVERSATION, BUT WE NEED TO KNOW EXACTLY WHAT WILL BE THE SCHEDULE AND DETAILS. YOU GAVE AN 80,000- FOOT SUMMARY AND THAT WAS HELPFUL.
I THINK AT THIS POINT THERE NEEDS TO BE A COMMITMENT FROM THE CITY OF HOUSTON AND WHAT THEY WILL DO WITH THOSE DOLLARS SPECIFICALLY IN TERMS OF INVESTING WITHIN THE CONSERVANCY. THANK YOU.
>> COMMISSIONER, THANK YOU. IF I MAY, A COUPLE OF THINGS.
YOU KNOW, TO YOUR POINT ABOUTABOUT ESCALATION OF COSTS AND THE 400 MILLION, $410 MILLION TOWARDS THIS EXPANSION, THAT IS PRECISELY THE REASON WHY THIS EXPANSION NEEDS TO HAPPEN NEXT TO BEN TAUB HOSPITAL BECAUSE, OTHERWISE, WE ARE TALKING ABOUT A COUPLE BILLION DOLLARS INSTEAD OF $410 MILLION. NUMBER TWO, COMMISSIONER, YOU ARE ABSOLUTELY RIGHT.
IN OUR CONVERSATION WITH THE CITY PARKING SPECIFICALLY TO ADDRESS PARKING ISSUES FOR HERMANN PARK, THE ZOO AND PERHAPS EVEN THE GOLF COURSE HAS BEEN FRONT AND CENTER. SO THOSE CONVERSATIONS ARE ARE HAPPENING. A COUPLE OF THINGS. ONE, I KNOW YOU CAN APPRECIATE THAT, COMMISSIONER, BUT I THINK I SHOULD JUST SAY IT, IT IS NOT MY POSITION TO TELL THE CITY WHAT THEY SHOULD OR SHOULD NOT DO.
HOWEVER, IT HAS BEEN OUR COMMITMENT THAT WE AREARE TO DO OUR PART THAT THIS IS A WIN, WIN, WIN SITUATION FOR EVERYONE. IF I CAN JUST LEAVE IT AT THAT.
>> I SIMPLY THINK THERE'S NOT AN UNDERSTANDING TODAY AND OBVIOUSLY WE'D HAVE TO HAVE THE CONVERSATIONS WITH THE CITY OF HOUSTON, THOSE NEED TO BE -- THAT NEEDS TO BE CLEARLY UNDERSTOOD. BUT I THINK IN TERMS OF GOING FORWARD, GETTING THOSE DETAILS WORKED OUT AND IF THIS IS SO URGENT I DON'T KNOW WHY WE DIDN'T START THIS FIRST. THE DAY AFTER THE BOND WAS PASSED, WE CAN WORK ON LBJ, AND IF YOU NEED TO GET THIS THING MOVING EARLY, TOO, IT SHOULD HAVE STARTED EARLIER. BUT WE'RE NOT GOING TO RUSH IT TODAY --
>> -- BECAUSE YOU DIDN'T START EARLY ENOUGH.
>> OKAY, COMMISSIONER. THERE IS A BANDWIDTH, ONLY 24 HOURS IN A DAY AND THERE IS THE WE CAN'T DO EVERYTHING ALL AT ONCE, BUT I APPRECIATE IT.
YES, SIR. YES, SIR, OF COURSE.
>> THANK YOU. THANK YOU, DOCTOR, FOR YOUR PRESENTATION. AND, YOU KNOW, I'VE MADE MY POINTS EARLIER. THE POINT THAT COMMISSIONER RAMSEY BRINGS ABOUT PARKING
[01:15:01]
IS -- AND TRAFFIC -- IS ONE THAT I'VE GOTTEN A COUPLE EARS FULL OF, SO I THINK THAT'S IMPORTANT.AND YOU REFERENCED THAT THIS MUST BE DONE NEXT TO THE EXISTING LOCATION. SAY WHY AGAIN THAT IS A MUST.
ONE, BY CREATING THIS -- I THINK THE MAIN REASON -- IS THAT IT WOULD ALLOW THIS FACILITY TO ACTUALLY BE PART OF BEN TAUB HOSPITAL, BECAUSE IT WOULD BE CONNECTED TO IT, SO THERE IS NO ADDITIONAL LICENSE, FIRST AND FOREMOST, AND REGULATORY MORE IMPORTANT THAN THAT, IT WOULD ELIMINATE DUPLICATING A LOT OF THE SERVICES INCLUDINGINCLUDING ROOMS, OPERATING ROOMS, RADIOLOGY AND ALL OF THOSE THINGS. IF THIS FACILITY WERE TO BE CREATED SOMEWHERE ELSE, WE WOULD HAVE TO DUPLICATE ALL THOSE SERVICES.
THEN, AGAIN, INSTEAD OF $400 MILLION, WE'RE LOOKING AT $1. 5 BILLION TO $2 BILLION WHICH WE CURRENTLY DO NOT HAVE.
>> GOT YOU. AND EARLY ON WHEN WE TALKED ABOUT THIS, YOU MENTIONED THAT THERE WAS SOME REVERTING CLAUSE ON THIS.
>> AND THAT'S REALLY THE REASON I THINK YOU ASKED ME PREVIOUSLY WHY THE EMINENT DOMAIN PROCESS, WHY CAN'T THIS BE A PURCHASE FROM THE CITY, AND THE REASON FOR THAT, NOT BEING A LAWYER, BUT WE HAVE LAWYERS HERE, MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT FWAUS THERE IS THIS PARK WAS GIVEN TO THE CITY OF HOUSTON, IT WAS RESTRICTED TO PARK USE ONLY. THE WAY TO CIRCUMVENT THAT OR TO OVERCOME THAT IS THROUGH THE EMINENT DOMAIN.
THAT'S REALLY THE REASON FOR THE PURCHASE THROUGH EMINENT DOMAIN TO SHOW TWO THINGS.
ONE, THAT THERE'S A PUBLIC NECESSITY, WHICH I HOPE I'VE BEEN ABLE TO INDICATE AND, NUMBER TWO, THAT WE HAVE A LOOK AT OTHER OPTIONS AND THIS IS THE ONLY VIABLE OPTION. ONCE YOU -- AGAIN, I FELT SILLY TALKING ABOUT THIS LEGAL TERM WITHOUT BEING A LAWYER BUT ONCE YOU QUALIFY THOSE TWO THINGS GOING BACK TO I THINK IT WAS MENTIONED CHAPTER 26 OF THE TEXAS PARKS AND WILDLIFE, YOU NEED TO QUALIFY THOSE ITEMS BEFORE YOU CAN PROCEED WITH THE EMINENT DOMAIN PROCESS.
I HOPE THAT ANSWERS YOUR QUESTION, COMMISSIONER.
>> A BIT. AND THEN EARLY ON WHEN WE TALKED ABOUT THIS AND THERE WAS SOME CONVERSATION, I THINK, MAYBE MOST OF US ENGAGED YOU ON IT, WHEN YOU FIRST STARTED TALKING ABOUT THIS WITH THE CITY OF HOUSTON, WE WERE CURIOUS WHY YOU HADN'T STARTED WITH US BEING THAT WE'RE MORE RELATED THAN THE CITY OF HOUSTON IS WITH YOU.
>> AND YOU USED THE PHRASE, IT'S A COMPLICATED PROCESS.
PEOPLE DON'T UNDER WHY IT HAS TO BE DONE THIS WAY, AND SO YOU MENTIONED THAT SEVERAL TIMES, BUT YOU NEVER MENTIONED EMINENT DOMAIN. WHY?
>> I NEVER MENTIONED EMINENT DOMAIN. I DON'T RECALL NOT MENTIONING IT, COMMISSIONER, BUT LET ME GO
BACK -- >> I'LL JUST TELL YOU ALL THE CALLS YOU AND MY TEAM HAVE BEEN ON, EMINENT DOMAIN WAS NEVER REFERRED TO.
>> COMMISSIONER, AGAIN, REMEMBER THAT I'M NOT A LAWYER. THROUGH ALL OF THIS PROCESS, I HAVE BEEN FOLLOWING LEGAL ADVICE FROM HARRIS COUNTY LEGAL TEAM, OUR EXTERNAL LEGAL TEAM, AND ALL THE DIFFERENT LAWYERS THAT ARE INVOLVED.
BUT THE STATEMENT THAT YOU MADE WHY THE CITY BEFORE THE COMMISSIONERS, THAT'S NOT QUITE ACCURATE BECAUSE, COMMISSIONER, YOU KNEW ABOUT THIS WAY BEFORE THE CITY DID. AT THE END OF THE DAY, THE CITY OWNS THE LAND. WITHOUT THE CITY'S SUPPORT OF THIS TRANSACTION, THERE'S REALLY VERY LITTLE CONVERSATION TO HAVE.
I HAVE LEARNED ABOUT THIS PROCESS SLOWLY OVER THE LAST YEAR AND A HALF. THIS WAS NOT ON MY RADAR. THIS WAS NOT EVEN ON MY RADAR AS A POSSIBILITY GOING BACK TO WHAT COMMISSIONER RAMSEY SAID, WHY DIDN'T WE START THIS AFTER THE BOND. I DIDN'T EVEN KNOW THIS WAS A POSSIBILITY. SO I HAVE LEARNED THROUGH THIS PROCESS ALL THE NUANCES ABOUT THE EMINENT DOMAIN, IF IT WAS NOT MENTIONED, IT WAS PROBABLY BECAUSE I WAS NOT AWARE OF IT. REGARDLESS, IT'S BECAUSE IT WAS IMPORTANT, ACCORDING TO THE ADVICE THAT I HAD RECEIVED THAT THE CITY HAD TO BE ONBOARD DIRECTIONALLY, NOT THAT THEY HAVE AGREED WITH THIS, BUT AT LEAST DIRECTIONALLY THEY ARE
[01:20:03]
IN SUPPORT OF THIS TRANSACTION BEFORE WE COULD EVEN ENGAGE IN THIS CONVERSATION.IT WAS NOT DISRESPECT. >> I HOPE IT WASN'T.
>> I TOTALLY SUPPORT THE ENTIRE SYSTEM AND TO YOUR COMMENTS OF THIS SHOULD HAVE BEEN DONE YEARS AGO. IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN DONE DECADES AGO. AS A YOUNG COP I THINK I WAS ON PROBATION AND I WAS AT BEN TAUB AND IT WAS CRAZY, CHAOTIC, CONTROLLED MESS. I SAW OPEN HEART SURGERIES TAKING÷÷ PLACE IN THE HALLWAYS.
THERE'S PROBABLY NOBODY HERE BETTER INFORMED AS TO HOW DELAYED THIS IMPROVEMENT WAS. SO I GET IT.
BUT I'M ALSO -- I ALSO LIKE TO BE UP FRONT WITH PEOPLE. I DO HAVE A MOTION I'D LIKE TO WORK THROUGH AND SEE IF THERE'S ALIGNMENT AND SO MY MOTION WOULD READ, COORDINATE WITH COURT OFFICES TO HOLD ONE COMMUNITY MEETING IN EACH COMMISSIONER PRECINCT PRIOR TO THIS COMING BACK TO COURT AND I WOULD SAY PRIOR TO COURT IN JANUARY TO COMMISSIONER ELLIS' POINT. ALL OF THIS WAS TAKEN FROM THE WAY WE DID COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT THROUGH THE TOLL ROAD ON A MAJOR PROJECT.
THERE'S A LOT OF INITIAL PUSHBACK BUT ONCE THE TOLL ROAD WENT THROUGH WHAT I'M GOING TO LAY OUT, THERE ARE -- THERE'S ALMOST AN INCREDIBLE UNANIMITY IN TERMS OF ALIGNMENT WITH THE COMMUNITY AND WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO GET DONE THERE.
IT MUST BE ON HARRIS HEALTH WEBSITES AND MEDIA CHANNELS, ADVERTISED VIA FLYERS DISTRIBUTED AT HARRIS HEALTH SERVICE LOCATIONS.
HOPEFULLY PEOPLE WILL PICK IT UP.
I HOPE THERE'S MORE EFFORT IN THAT.
AND ADVERTISEMENTS OF THE MEETINGS MUST BE CLEARLY AND PROMINENTLY -- MUST CLEARLY AND PROMINENTLY STATE THAT THE SUBJECT OF THE MEETINGS IS THE USE OF EMINENT DOMAIN TO TAKE A PORTION OF HERMANN PARK FOR CONSTRUCTION OF BEN TAUB HOSPITAL FACILITIES AND NO OTHER SUBJECT MAY BE LISTED.
HARRIS HEALTH WILL ADVERTISE THE MEETINGS AT LEAST SEVEN DAYS BEFORE THEY OCCUR. HARRIS HEALTH WILL PROVIDE ADVERTISEMENTS TO COURT OFFICES TO DISTRIBUTE AND PROMOTE, THE MEETINGS WILL OCCUR ON A WEEKDAY EVENING OTHER THAN FRIDAY BEGINNING AFTER 6:30 P.M. THE MEETING WILL BE IN A PUBLICLY ACCESSIBLE LOCATION COMPLIANT WITH ADA, SPANISH INTERPRETATION MUST BE PROVIDED AT THESE MEETINGS ALONG WITH ANY OTHER LANGUAGE THE COMMISSIONERS' OFFICE DEEMS APPROPRIATE, INFORMATIONAL MATERIALS PROVIDED AT THE MEETING MUST BE PROVIDED IN ENGLISH, SPANISH AND ANY OTHER LANGUAGE THE COMMISSIONERS' OFFICE DEEMS APPROPRIATE.
SIGNAGE SUCH AS YARD SIGNS SHOULD BE PLACED NEAR THE MEETING AREA. THE MEETINGS SHALL BE PLANNED SO THAT MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC CAN PROVIDE THEIR FEEDBACK FOR AT HOURS.
IF A COMMISSIONER DECLINES TO PARTICIPATE HARRIS HEALTH WILL NOT HOST A MEETING FOR THAT PRECINCT.
[01:25:02]
HARRIS HEALTH WILL PROVIDE A MECHANISM TO PROVIDE COMMENTS ONLINE EITHER BY A PORTAL OR THROUGH EMAIL THAT MUST BE MADE AVAILABLE BY DECEMBER 10 .PRIOR TO DECEMBER 10TH, TRANSMIT TO COURT OFFICES A REPORT OF THE MEETINGS DETAILING ATTENDANCE, OPINIONS AND CONCERNS OFFERED BY COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND ANY OTHER RELEVANT OBSERVATIONS AS WELL AS A SUMMARY OF COMMENTS RECEIVED ONLINE. I TOOK THIS FROM THE -- BECAUSE THEY HAD HUNDREDS -- HUNDREDS -- OF PEOPLE WHO PARTICIPATED --
>> I THINK IT'S FINE. IS IT ONLINE, BY THE WAY?
>> I WOULD BE HAPPY TO SUPPORT IT ABSOLUTELY, 100%.
AND I HAVE A FEW RECOMMENDED FROM THE AMENDMENTS.
I WOULD ALSO LOVE TO ADD TO DIRECT THE HARRIS HEALTH LEADERSHIP TEAM TO MEET WITH THE HERMANN PARK CONSERVANCY BOARD AT LEAST TWICE BEFORE THIS RETURNS TO COURT.
>> AND THEN ON AN ONGOING REGULAR BASIS AS THE PROJECT PROGRESSES AND THEN, SECONDLY, DEPENDING ON WHAT DATE OUR TEAM THINKS IS APPROPRIATE, THERE'S A JANUARY 29TH COURT DATE OR A FEBRUARY 12TH. SO I THINK WE SHOULD ALIGN THOSE DATES.
>> DEPENDING ON WHAT YOU THINK.
>> WE HAVE THE 12TH AND THE 29TH.
>> WE HAVE JANUARY 29TH AND FEBRUARY 12TH .
SO THAT WOULD BE MY OTHER AMENDMENT TO MAKE THE DATES ALIGN.
>> WE OBVIOUSLY DO NEED TO MOVE ON IT. ANY OTHERS? I HAVE A FEW QUESTIONS BUT I'M FINE. I'LL SECOND.
>> WE WILL VOTE ON THE PUBLIC HEARING.
I WANT TO RESERVE THE RIGHT AND MAKE IT PUBLIC ON HOW I'M GOING TO VOTE UNTIL WE GET THERE AND HERE IS WHY. YOU'RE NOT A LAWYER OR A POLITICIAN. I WAS GOING TO SAY, I'M NOT A DOCTOR, BUT I AM. IT'S JUST CALLED
YOU DON'T HAVE TO REFER TO ME AS DOCTOR.
THEY DID CALL IT. WHEN YOU CALLED ME ABOUT IT , I WANT BEN TAUB IN THE MEDICAL CENTER AND I WILL VOTE VIGOROUSLY AGAINST ANYBODY WHO DIDN'T WANT IT IN A MEDICAL CENTER TO THE POINT OF SAYING THE BEST MEDICAL CENTER IN THE WORLD IS A GREAT PLACE FOR THOSE OF US WHO CAN AFFORD IT, BUT THEN WE WOULD DECIDE FOR PEOPLE TO GET THE EARLY BUS, BUT I WON'T GO INTO THAT SPEECH, THEY CAN'T GO THERE.
AND, LOOK, I GREW UP KNOWING BOTH PLACES THE SO- CALLED CHARITY, THE PUBLIC HOSPITAL, IS WHERE YOU GO. THE JOKE USED TO BE WHEN I WAS GROWING UP DURING CHALLENGING CIRCUMSTANCES, IF YOU GET SHOT, WE NEED TO GET YOU TO BEN TAUB.
AND, LOOK, EVEN IN THE NEIGHBORHOODS WHERE WE WORKED, WHEN I WORKED AS A KID, I WOULD HEAR AFFLUENT NEIGHBORHOODS LIKE THE ONES THAT WE LIVE IN NOW SAY IF YOU GET SHOT GET TO BEN TAUB BECAUSE THEY DEAL WITH TRAUMA CARE OR MY MENTOR'S CHILDREN WHEN THEY WERE BORN IN ORLANDO AS PREEMIES WE TOOK THEM TO GRADY AND I DIDN'T KNOW -- I JUST KNEW GRADY BECAUSE I WAS TRYING TO DO FINANCING. I WAS TRYING TO DO A BOND DEAL OVER THERE. I WENT TO GRADY AND THE DOCTOR AND THE MAYOR OF THE CITY THE NEXT DAY SAID IF YOU HADN'T BROUGHT HER HERE SHE AND THE TWINS WOULD NOT HAVE SURVIVED BUT THAT OUGHT TO BE IN A MEDICAL CENTER BECAUSE IN CASE THERE'S SOMETHING ELSE THAT'S DISCOVERED, IF YOU HAVE CANCER OR WHATEVER ELSE AFTER SOME TRAUMA, IT OUGHT TO BE THERE SO WHEN YOU EXPLAINED IT TO ME, OF COURSE BEN TAUB IS CRUMBLING.
[01:30:05]
>> ANOTHER PARK. I JUST MENTIONED A CONVERSATION. AND THE FRIEND SAID, ALL HELL IS GOING TO BREAK LOOSE. I AGREE, BUT IT OUGHT TO BE A WIN, WIN. AND LEVERAGE MATTERS. YOU MADE REFERENCE TO THE MWBE NUMBERS. PRETTY GOOD AT POLITICS, BY THE WAY. I JUST WANT TO STRESS THAT WAS THE RESULT OF LEVERAGE. AND THAT'S WHAT THE PARKS PEOPLE HERE. THEY'RE TRYING TO LEVERAGE IT. MOST OF THIS MONEY IS GOING TO GO TO THE WARNAKEY FAMILY. IF THEY CHOOSE TO DONATE IT, THAT'LL BE THEIR CALL. MOST OF IT WILL GO THROUGH. FOR THIS TO BE A WIN, WIN, I KNOW THE CITY CONTROLS THE LAND. BUT EVEN THE CITY AGREES. IF ANY OF OUR FRIENDS OVER ON CITY COUNCIL AT CITY HALL HAVE A TRAUMATIC EXPERIENCE, IF THEY KNOW WHAT THEY'RE DOING, THEY'RE GOING TO GET TO BEN TOP QUICK AS WELL. SO TO MAKE IT A WIN, WIN, THE CITY DOES HAVE TO GIVE SOMETHING AS WELL. IT WON'T BE THAT MUCH MONEY ANYWAY. A BULK OF IT IS GOING TO GO TO THE FAMILY. I KNOW THAT MUCH FROM TALKING TO THE JUDGE OVER THERE. THAT'S WHERE THE MONEY IS GOING TO GO. SO IT OUGHT TO NOT BE A WAY TO GO AND FIGURE OUT HOW TO FILL OTHER HOLES. FOR IT TO BE A WIN, WIN, THAT'S WHAT SOME VERSION OF A COMMUNITY BENEFITS COMES IN. WHEN RICE UNIVERSITY WANTED TO GO DO ITS EXPANSION, IT MATTERS TO OUR, EVERYBODY IN THE REGION. BUT THEY DID A COMMUNITY BENEFITS AGREEMENT. SO FOR ME AT LEAST, FOR ME TO VOTE TO ACTUALLY DO IT, I PLAN TO USE THAT LEVERAGE. I WANT TO HELP THEM. THEY CAN'T BE UNREASONABLE. BECAUSE IT IS PARKLAND. THESE NINE ACRES. I DON'T RIDE BY IT. I WALK BY IT.
I RIDE MY BIKE BY IT. SOMETIMES ROLL THROUGH. SOMETIMES GET MAD WONDERING WHEN ARE THEY GOING TO PUT SOMETHING HERE? JUST STICK A PIECE OF ART OR SOMETHING OVER HERE. I GET THAT. DON'T GO OVERBOARD. BUT THERE OUGHT TO BE SOME STRUCTURE THERE. PARKING IS A PROBLEM. IT WOULD BE GOOD IF MORE OF US WALKED TO THE PARK.
IF WE PARK SOMEWHERE ELSE. IT DOESN'T HAVE TO BE SO CLOSE.
PARK SOMEWHERE ELSE AND GET TO THE ZOO, YOU KNOW. YOU'RE GOING TO BE WITH NATURE. WALK LIKE THE ANIMALS. THE OTHERS. SO THERE OUGHT TO BE A WIN, WIN IN THIS. BUT LOOK, I AM WONDERING, WHY DIDN'T YOU TALK TO THE HEIRS? THEY WERE GOING TO FIND OUT.
WHEN I SAW SOME OF THE NEWS ACCOUNTS, I'M JUST SAYING. IF IT WAS IN MY SHOES AND THE LAWYERS SAY DON'T DO IT, THEN YOU GO TALK TO THEM. SOMEBODY OUGHT TO TALK TO THEM. JUST CERTAIN THINGS WITH HINDSIGHT I WOULD SUGGEST YOU SORT OF SORT THROUGH. WHEN THEY WILL GET THE MONEY, YOU GOT ME? YOU'RE SO UPSET YOU WANT TO MAKE SURE THERE'S PARKLAND. IF YOU GET IT, WILL YOU DONATE IT BACK? I'LL LAY IT OUT. BUT IT OUGHT TO HAPPEN, BUT IT OUGHT TO BE DONE IN A WAY THAT IT'S A WIN,
WIN. >> COMMISSIONER, IF I MAY. YOU TOUCHED SOMETHING I SHOULD HAVE TOUCHED ON. I'M GLAD YOU BROUGHT IT UP. THE ISSUE OF INFORMING THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE INHERITED THE LAND. AGAIN, GOING BACK TO THE LAW AND THE CHAPTER 26 OF TEXAS PARKS AND WILDLIFE, IT IS VERY CLEAR AND PRESCRIPTIVE OF WHEN AND HOW THAT HAPPENS. THAT INFORMING OF THE FOLKS WHO HAVE INHERITED AND HAVE RIGHTS TO THIS LAND HAPPENS ONLY AFTER THIS COMMISSION HAS VOTED TO ACTUALLY PROCEED WITH
IMMINENT DONATION. >> IS THAT YOUR UNDERSTANDING? I WOULD SEND THEM A SMOKE SIGNAL. IF IT WAS ME, THEY'D FIND OUT.
>> THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE NOTICE OF THE ACTUAL TAKING AND ENGAGING WITH THE HEIRS, IT'S NOT AGAINST THE LAW TO ENGAGE WITH LANDOWNERS BEFORE TAKINGS. THERE'S REASONS YOU MIGHT NOT WANT TO DO IT, BUT IT'S NOT ILLEGAL.
>> SO DOCTOR, LOOK. >> UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN. IT'S
PRETTY GOOD, TOO. >> IT RATED SLIGHTLY ABOVE THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS, BUT WE UNDERSTAND THE SPIRIT OF THE LAW. THAT'S WHY WE BECOME PRESIDENTS COMING OUT OF THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS MIGHT I ADD. BUT, YOU KNOW, I'M JUST SAYING I WOULD FIND A WAY. I WOULD HAVE WALKED AROUND THAT. WHEN YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT YOU NEED TO BE IN A MEDICAL CENTER, YOU GOT 400 MILLION, YOU HOPE, WILL PAY FOR IT.
[01:35:04]
>> YES, SIR. >> I'M WELL AWARE. WE HAD A HARVARD BOND ISSUE BUT WE DIDN'T HAVE ENOUGH MONEY.
THINGS HAPPEN BEYOND YOUR CONTROL. I'M ASSUMING, AT SOME POINT, YOU'LL HAVE TO COME BACK TO US AND ASK TO GO AND GET MORE MONEY. IN FACT, WILL $400 MILLION DO THIS AND DO REHAB? WHY WOULD YOU DO THIS AND BEN TOP IS FALLING APART? AT SOME
POINT YOU'LL NEED TO DO THAT. >> WE HAVE TO HAVE THE EXTENSION
TO ACTUALLY BUY US TIME. >> THE POINT I'M MAKING IS YOU'LL HAVE TO COME BACK AND ASK. WE'LL HAVE TO ASK THE
VOTERS FOR MORE MONEY. >> ABSOLUTELY.
>> THAT'S PARTIALLY WHY IT TOOK SO LONG TO GET HERE. SOMETIMES PEOPLE HAVE RELUCTANCE TO SAY YOU GOT TO PAY FOR IT. YOU DON'T GET. WE GET QUALITY HEALTH CARE BECAUSE WE PAY FOR
IT. >> THE REPLACE OF BEN TAUB
HOSPITAL WILL COST $2 MILLION. >> DID YOU LOOK AT AN OPTION? I THINK DR. CLOCKMAN MAY HAVE LEFT. I KNOW THEY HAD TO GET BACK TO WORK. I WAS IN SAN ANTONIO. WHY CAN'T WE THINK OUTSIDE THE BOX? COULD YOU GO ON TOP OF SOMEONE ELSE'S BUILDING? I'M JUST LAYING IT OUT. I KNOW I'M JUST A COUNTRY LAWYER.
ANYBODY TALK ABOUT THAT OPTION? >> THERE'S A LOT OF LEGAL ISSUES WITH THAT. ESPECIALLY FOR A HOSPITAL.
>> COULD IT BE ON SOME OF THAT LAND?
>> IT WOULD NOT BE NEXT TO BEN TAUB HOSPITAL. INSTEAD OF $400 MILLION, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT $2.4 BILLION.
>> YOU DIDN'T WALK THROUGH THOSE OPTIONS. I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE ALL OF THEM ARE EXPOSED.
>> I ACTUALLY TOUCHED ON IT, COMMISSIONER. THE REASON THIS FACILITY HAS TO BE NEXT TO BEN TAUB HOSPITAL IS BECAUSE OTHERWISE IT WOULD BE COST PROHIBITED. WE WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO CREATE THIS ANYWHERE ELSE FOR $400 MILLION. NOT TO MENTION THE FACT THAT IT WILL DO NOTHING TO ADDRESS THE URGENT PUBLIC HEALTH
NECESSITY THIS IS ADDRESSING. >> IF WE GET THESE NINE ACRES.
>> YES, SIR. >> HYPOTHETICALLY IF THIS HAPPENS, WHAT RESTRICTIONS WOULD THERE BE? EVERYBODY IN THE MEDICAL CENTER IS TRYING TO EXPAND. IT'S LIKE GOTHAM CITY.
EVERYBODY IS GOING UP. ARE THERE ANY RESTRICTIONS ON US STRUCTURING SOME ARRANGEMENT TO HELP US FUND WHAT WE HAVE TO DO SO THEY GO ON TOP OF WHAT WE WILL GET?
>> I'M SORRY. >> COULD SOME OTHER HOSPITAL GO ON TOP OF THE EXTENSION YOU'RE DOING FOR BEN TAUB?
>> NOT TO MY KNOWLEDGE. I DON'T BELIEVE THAT EXISTS.
>> IT CAN BE DESIGNED WITH THE POSSIBILITY.
>> BECAUSE WHEN YOU BUILD A BUILDING.
>> IT CAN BE DESIGNED TO GO UP HIGHER, CORRECT. THIS IS
SOMETHING WE WILL DEFINITELY. >> IT OBVIOUSLY COSTS MONEY. WE BOUGHT THE BUILDING DOWNTOWN AND ROBERT SACKLES SAID HIS FATHER BUILT IT WITH THE INTENTION OF GOING UP. IF WE EVER WANTED TO DO IT, WE COULD BUILD MORE COURTROOMS ON TOP. IF YOU SPEND THE MONEY. I'M NOT AN ARCHITECT EITHER, JUST A DOCTOR.
>> COMMISSIONER, THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS UNFORTUNATELY THAT WAS NOT TAKEN INTO ACCOUNT WHEN BEN TAUB WAS BEING BUILT IS EXACTLY WHAT YOU'RE SAYING. THE OPPORTUNITY AND THE NEED FOR THE
EXPANSION IN THE FUTURE. >> YOU'VE DONE A GOOD JOB. IT IS IMPORTANT. BUT I WOULD SAY, ONE THING I THINK I'M GOOD AT IS I KNOW WHAT I DON'T KNOW. IF I DON'T KNOW SOMETHING, YOU KNOW, IF I GET SICK, I GET ON AI AND IT TELLS ME A WHOLE LOT OF STUFF. THEN THE DOCTOR POINTS OUT IT'S JUST SPITTING OUT WHAT SOMEBODY SAID. AND IT DOESN'T HAVE THE ABILITY TO ETHICALLY GO THROUGH AND DECIDE WHO IS LYING. THEY JUST SPIT OUT EVERYTHING SOMEBODY WROTE SOMEWHERE. AND YOU GOT IT ONLINE. SO, I WOULD JUST SAY ON THE POLITICS, I KNOW YOU GOT SOME GOOD FOLKS. YOU SHOULD, I JUST THINK IT WOULD HELP WITH THE MISSION THAT YOU WANT TO DO. AND THAT IS PROVIDE HEALTHCARE TO THE UNDERSERVED, IN PARTICULAR. TO ASK SOME OF US A LITTLE BIT MORE ON THE POLITICS. WE ALL WANT TO GET TO THE SAME PLACE. IT'S JUST HOW WE GET THERE. THERE OUGHT TO BE SOME COMMUNITY BENEFITS TIED TO THIS. NOT, AS I UNDERSTAND IT, SOME COMMITMENT FROM THE CITY SINCE THEY CONTROL THE LAND. WITH ALL DUE RESPECT, NOT THE BOARD. NOT THE CONSERVANCY. THE CITY CONTROLS IT. THERE OUGHT TO BE SOME PRESSURE ON THEM. SOME OF THEM TO OUR MEETINGS, DO THAT AT THE CITY. WE ALL OUGHT TO. WITH ALL THE CITY, COUNTY PARTNERSHIPS, NOBODY OTHER UNITS OF GOVERNMENT ARE STEPPING UP TO HELP US PICK UP THE TAB FOR HEALTHCARE. THAT ALL FALLS ON THE COUNTY. BUT IT'S SO IMPORTANT TO THE WHOLE REGION. I
[01:40:02]
COULD GO ON AND ON. NOBODY IS SHOWING UP TO HELP US PAY FOR THE JAIL. THEY GOT A LOT OF IDEAS ON HOW TO GET PEOPLE IN IT. WE HAVE TO PAY FOR IT. PARTNERSHIPS MATTER. THERE OUGHT TO BE SOME COMMUNITY BENEFITS. THIS IS A WIN, WIN. WITH THAT, I'M PREPARED TO SECOND. ARE WE GOING BACK DOWN THE LIST?GARCIA? BRIONES? RAMSEY? >> JUST TO VOTE. JUST TO CLARIFY, THE EXACT WORDS, I ASKED MY TEAM TO WORK ON THE TIMING GIVEN I KNOW THERE'S A PERIOD STATUTORILY. THE FRIENDLY AMENDMENTS TO AMEND TO RETURN TO COMMISSIONERS COURT ON JANUARY 29TH FOR PRESENTATION OF COMMUNITY INPUT AND REQUEST A PUBLIC HEARING FOR MARCH 19TH. AND THEN THE OTHER LANGUAGE WOULD YOU SAY AMEND TO DIRECT THE HARRIS HEALTH LEADERSHIP TEAM TO MEET WITH THE HERMANN PARK BOARD TWICE BEFORE JANUARY 29TH AND MEET REGULARLY THEREAFTER.
>> COMMISSIONER, DID YOU SAY MARCH 19TH? ABOUT THE HEARING?
>> MARCH. BECAUSE THE JANUARY 29TH MEETING AND THEN WE NEED TO
ALLOW. I'LL ASK. >> I WAS GOING TO ASK CLARIFICATION ON THE MOTION IF YOU WANTED TO APPROVE THE NOTICING OF THE HEARING TODAY BUT STILL AND GO FORWARD WITH THE HEARING ON JANUARY 29TH. OR IF IT WAS WHAT YOU WERE ASKING
COMMISSIONER BRIONES. >> JUST TO CLARIFY THE QUESTION.
TO ME, HAVING A PUBLIC HEARING, WE SHOULD POISE THAT FOR SUCCESS BECAUSE WE HAVE EXPLAINED THE CASE EVEN MORE CLEARLY AND COMPELLINGLY AND COLLABORATIVELY. TO ME, PERSONALLY, IT DOESN'T MAKE SENSE TO HAVE A PUBLIC HEARING BEFORE WE DEEPEN THE ROBUST COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT PIECE. THAT
WOULD BE MY PREFERRED TIMING. >> THE ENGAGEMENT NEEDS TO
BECOME THE HEARING. >> IS THERE A PROBLEM TO WAIT
UNTIL MARCH UNTIL JANUARY 29TH? >> JUST THE TIME, COMMISSIONER.
>> SO, IT WOULD BE. IF THERE'S A PUBLIC HEARING ON THE 29TH, THAT'S WHERE WE WOULD MAKE THE DECISION ON WHETHER OR NOT WE'RE
GOING TO LET YOU CONDEMN OR NOT? >> SO YOU'RE SAYING WE'RE GOING TO MAKE THE DECISION ON THE 29TH?
>> THAT'S WHAT I AM HOPING FOR. >> THE PART I DON'T UNDERSTAND, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE ALL THESE MEETINGS AND CONVERSATIONS AND COMMENTS. SHOULDN'T THERE BE SOME POINT THAT WE HEAR THE COMMENTS, HEAR THE GOOD SUGGESTIONS. HERE'S OUR REACTIONS TO THE COMMENTS. I AGREE WITH THE MARCH DATE. IF THE 29TH IS US TAKING ALL THOSE GOOD COMMENTS, THAT GOOD INPUT THAT WE'RE GOING TO RECEIVE BETWEEN NOW AND THEN, SOMEBODY WRITE THAT DOWN AND SAY THANK YOU FOR SHARING THAT PERSPECTIVE. AND HERE'S HOW WE'RE DEALING WITH IT. AND CALL THE, AND THEN IN MARCH, WE WOULD CALL FOR TO CONDEMN THE LAND OR
NOT CONDEMN THE LAND. >> JANUARY 29TH IS WHEN YOU WOULD BRING BACK THE ADDITIONAL COMMUNITY FEEDBACK PLUS THE PARTNERSHIP AND THOUGHT PARTNERSHIP WITH THE CONSERVANCY TEAM. WE NEED THE CITY OF HOUSTON STEPPING UP. THIS IS AN ALL OF US PROJECT AND ALL OF US NEED TO BE WORKING AS COLLABORATIVELY AND CREATIVITY TOGETHER.
>> IF WE VOTE TO CONDEMN IN MARCH AND NOT KNOW WHAT THE CITY OF HOUSTON'S POSITION IS GOING TO BE.
>> LIKE IF THEY FIGHT US, IS THAT WHAT YOU'RE SAYING?
>> I DON'T KNOW THEY'LL BE ANY FIGHT ON IT. I THINK DR. FORCE HAS RUN THAT TRAP. TO YOUR POINT, COMMISSIONER, THE, WHAT WILL THE CITY OF HOUSTON PUBLICLY COMMIT TO BEFORE CONDEMNATION TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE?
>> THAT'S THE COMMUNITY BENEFITS PART.
>> THAT'S THE BENEFITS. WE NEED TO UNDERSTAND THAT AND UNDERSTAND IT FROM THE CITY. SO, AGAIN, IN MARCH, WHEN WE VOTE, THEY'LL ALL BE ON THE TABLE. WE'LL UNDERSTAND IT, AND AT LEAST WE CAN VOTE WITH CLARITY ON WHERE WE'RE GOING.
>> I THINK THAT MAKES SENSE. I FEEL GOOD ABOUT THAT. FOR THE PARKS PEOPLE THAT ARE HERE. I DON'T WANT TO JUMP AHEAD OF YOU. COMMISSIONER RAMSEY. THEY NEED TO GO MAKE THEIR CASE OVER THERE. THE CITY CONTROLS THE LAND. IF WE CONTROLLED THE LAND, YOU KNOW, IF THE CITY FIGHTS US ON CONDEMNATION, BY THE WAY, IT'S AN UPHILL BATTLE. THE PROVISION AND STATUTE IS, IT HAS TO BE SOMETHING, WE WANT TO DO IT. LEGALLY WE SAY WE WANT TO CONDEMN. IF THEY SAY WE DON'T WANT -- IT'LL BE WHATEVER THAT DUSHAM THING IS. CALL ME AND TELL ME LATER.
>> I WILL. TO YOUR POINT, WE COULD LIST A WHOLE LOT OF OTHER POINTS. WE'RE MAKING HARRIS COUNTY AND THROUGH THE HOSPITAL DISTRICT IS INVESTING OVER $2.5 BILLION IN HEALTHCARE. CAN YOU
[01:45:06]
AT LEAST LOOK AT THE PARKING IN HERMANN PARK AS WE DEAL WITH THE SIGNIFICANT CARE THAT WAS COMMUNICATED? CAN YOU TAKE FIVE MINUTES AND FIND MONEY TO DEAL WITH THE PARKING AT HERMANN PARK? THAT IS VERY LITTLE TO ASK.>> AND THE COMMUNITY BENEFIT GOES THERE BECAUSE THE CITY CONTROLS THE LAND. WE'RE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT PARKING FOR THEIR
>> THERE ARE CERTAIN TIMES OF THE WEEK, LIKE MOST WEEKENDS, UNLESS WE GOT A SERIES OF ACCIDENTS. UNLESS IT'S MEMORIAL DAY, LABOR DAY, NEW YEAR'S EVE. YOU GOT A LOT OF EMPTY PARKING LOTS ON THE WEEKEND, ABSENT SOMETHING GOING ON.
>> JUST TO. I ACCEPT THE FRIENDLY AMENDMENTS AS PROPOSED BY COMMISSIONER BRIONES AND JUST TO CONFIRM THE DATES. THAT WERE
LAID OUT. >> ONE MORE THING. YOU MENTIONED IN YOUR MOTION ABOUT CONSTRUCTION OF BEN TAUB HOSPITAL, WHICH IS DIFFERENT THAN WHAT WE'RE DOING. WE'RE CREATING AN EXPANSION FACILITY FOR BEN TAUB HOSPITAL.
>> WE SHOULD SAY EXPANSION INSTEAD.
>> JUST TO CONFIRM THE DATES I PROPOSED.
>> HERE IT GOES AGAIN. TO RETURN TO COMMISSIONERS COURT ON JANUARY 29TH FOR PRESENTATION OF COMMUNITY INPUT AND REQUEST A PUBLIC HEARING FOR MARCH 19TH. COORDINATE WITH COURT OFFICES TO HOLD ONE COMMUNITY MEETING IN EACH COMMISSIONER PRECINCT.
PRIOR TO JANUARY 20TH. WITH THE FOLLOWING SPECIFICATIONS. THE MEETINGS MUST BE ADVERTISED ON HARRIS HEALTH'S WEBSITE AND SOCIAL MEDIA CHANNELS. THE MEETINGS MUST BE ADVERTISED VIA FLYERS, DISTRIBUTED AT HARRIS HEALTH SERVICE LOCATIONS AND AT OTHER PUBLIC LOCATIONS. ANY ADVERTISEMENT OF THE MEETINGS MUST CLEARLY AND PROMINENTLY STATE THAT THE SUBJECT OF THE MEETINGS IS THE USE OF IMMINENT DOMAIN TO TAKE A PORTION OF HERMANN PARK FOR EXPANSION OF BEN TAUB HOSPITAL FACILITIES AND NO OTHER SUBJECT MAY BE LISTED. HARRIS HEALTH WILL ADVERTISE THE MEETINGS AT LEAST SEVEN DAYS BEFORE THEY OCCUR. HARRIS HEALTH WILL PROVIDE ADVERTISEMENT TO COURT OFFICES TO DISTRIBUTE AND PROMOTE. THE MEETINGS WILL OCCUR ON A WEEKDAY EVENING OTHER THAN FRIDAY AND BEGIN AFTER 6:30 P.M. THE MEETINGS SHALL BE IN A PUBLICLY ACCESSIBLE LOCATION THAT IS COMPLIANT WITH ADA.
SPANISH INTERPRETATION MUST BE PROVIDED AT THESE MEETINGS, ALONG WITH ANY OTHER LANGUAGE THE COMMISSIONERS' OFFICE DEEMS APPROPRIATE. INFORMATIONAL MATERIALS PROVIDED AT THE MEETING MUST BE PROVIDED IN ENGLISH, SPANISH AND ANY OTHER LANGUAGE THE COMMISSIONERS' OFFICE DEEMS APPROPRIATE.
SIGNAGE SUCH AS YARD SIGNS SHOULD BE PLACED NEAR THE MEETING AREA. THE MEETINGS SHALL BE PLANNED SO THAT MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC CAN PROVIDE THEIR FEEDBACK FOR AT LEAST ONE AND A HALF HOURS. IF A COMMISSIONER DECLINES TO PARTICIPANT, HARRIS HEALTH WILL NOT HOST A MEETING FOR THAT PRECINCT. A COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT REPORT IS TO BE PROVIDED TO COMMISSIONERS COURT BY JANUARY 23RD. FOR THE HARRIS HEALTH LEADERSHIP TEAM TO MEET WITH THE HERMANN PARK CONSERVANCY BOARD AT LEAST TWICE PRIOR TO JANUARY 20TH AND CONDUCT REGULAR MEETINGS THEREAFTER. DO YOU WANT TO SAY MONTHLY MEETINGS? SO REGULAR
MEETINGS THEREAFTER. >> I'LL SECOND IT.
>> THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER GARCIA.
>> IS THERE ANY OBJECTION? OKAY. MOTION IS ADOPTED UNANIMOUSLY.
>> JUST ONE THING, COMMISSIONER. WHAT I ASK IN RETURN IS FOR YOUR OFFICES TO WORK WITH OUR STAFF TO.
>> ALWAYS HAVE. >> I'LL DO MINE AT HERMANN
PARK. YOU ALL PAY FOR IT. >> WHATEVER YOU ALL DECIDE,
COMMISSIONER, I'LL BE THERE. >> THANK YOU.
>> THIS DOCTOR NEEDS A BREAK. I NEED TO TAKE A TEN MINUTE BREAK.
[Emergency/Supplemental Items (Part 1 of 3)]
>> WE WILL TAKE UP ITEM 266 NOW. I WANT TO LET HUMAN RESOURCES MAKE THE BRIEF PRESENTATIONS. WE'LL HEAR THE SPEAKERS ON THAT AND HEAR THE OTHER SPEAKERS AND GO BACK TO THAT ITEM. SO AT THIS
[01:50:05]
TIME, WE'LL GET BACK IN SESSION. ITEM 266. HUMAN RESOURCES, IF YOU'RE READY, I THINK YOU HAVE A BRIEF PRESENTATION.WE READY? OH, WE'LL GIVE YOU A FEW MINUTES.
>> COMMISSIONER, THERE ARE TWO SPEAKERS ON THAT ITEM AS WELL.
>> WE'LL LET THEM DO THE BRIEF PRESENTATION OF THE REPORT, AND THEN WE'LL HEAR FROM THE SPEAKERS. DID I GIVE YOU A
SECOND TO CATCH YOUR BREATH? >> I SHOULD HAVE TOLD YOU
BEFORE. >> NO WORRIES. GOOD MORNING.
GOOD MORNING. COMMISSIONERS. THANK YOU FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY.
TODAY MARKS A TRULY HISTORIC MILESTONE FOR THE FIRST TIME IN HARRIS COUNTY'S HISTORY. WE'VE COMPLETED A COME PRESENCIVE COUNTY WIDE PAY EQUITY STUDY. THIS WAS NOT MERELY A PAPERWORK EXERCISE. IT WAS A DIRECT RESPONSE TO LONG STANDING CONCERNS AND ISSUES FROM EMPLOYEES, DEPARTMENT LEADERS AND THIS COURT. ABOUT PAY DISPARITIES, OUTDATED SALARY STRUCTURES AND INCONSISTENT COMPENSATION PRACTICES ACROSS OUR NEARLY 20,000 WORK FORCE. THIS PROJECT REFLECTS A BOLD COMMITMENT TO FAIRNESS, TRANSPARENCY AND MODERNIZATION AND HOW WE RECRUIT, RETAIN AND REWARD COUNTY EMPLOYEES. IN JUST A MOMENT OUR PARTNERS FROM GALLAGHER BENEFIT SERVICES WILL WALK YOU THROUGH THE STUDY. RESULTS THAT ARE EYE OPENING AND ACTIONABLE. YOU WILL HEAR HOW WE STARTED WITH MORE THAN 4,000 UNIQUE JOB TITLES ACROSS THE COUNTY AND STREAMLINED THEM INTO A MODERN, EASY TO UNDERSTAND SYSTEM WITH PAY RANGES BUILT ON REAL MARKET DATA. WE'LL TALK ABOUT MARKET BENCHMARKING, HIGHLIGHTING AREAS WHERE WE LEAD AND WHERE WE LAG. YOU'LL SEE COMPRESSION CHARTS THAT UNDERSCORE THE NEED TO REWARD LONGEVITY AND WE'LL SHARE THE RESULTS OF AERUGOS PAY EQUITY ANALYSIS IDENTIFYING DISPARITIES BY GENDER AND RACE AND WHAT IT WILL TAKE TO FIX THEM. GAGER WILL OUTLINE THREE IMPLEMENTATION OPTIONS. EACH ONE CAREFULLY MODELED TO GIVE THIS COURT A CLEAR PICTURE OF COST IMPACT AND EQUITY OUTCOMES. EACH SCENARIO IS ROOTED IN DATA AND BUILT TO SUPPORT EQUITY AND FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY. THIS IS MORE THAN A STUDY. IT IS A RARE OPPORTUNITY TO RESHAPE OUR COMPENSATION SYSTEM FOR OUR FUTURE. SO, AGAIN, WE RESPECTFULLY ASK THAT YOU CONSIDER THE RECOMMENDED CHANGES AND THE FUNDING OPTIONS THAT WILL ALLOW US TO PUT THEM INTO ACTION. ON BEHALF OF THE OFFICE OF HUMAN RESOURCES AND TALENT AND ALL EMPLOYEES THAT CONTRIBUTED TO THIS EFFORT, I WANT TO THANK YOU AND YOUR COMMITMENT TO INVESTING IN THE PEOPLE THAT SERVE HARRIS COUNTY DAY IN AND DAY OUT. NOW WE'LL HAVE OUR PARTNERS FROM
>> THANK YOU, COMMISSIONERS, FOR YOUR TIME TODAY. WE APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO FOLLOW UP ON A STUDY WE'VE BEEN DOING OVER THE LAST 12 MONTHS IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE COUNTY. IF WE CAN PROCEED TO THE NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE. WE'LL BE TALKING ABOUT A HANDFUL OF THINGS TODAY. AS YOU CAN SEE ON THE SCREEN.
MISS DOUGLAS TALKED ABOUT. THE COMPONENTS OF THE STUDY AND THE RECOMMENDATIONS. WE CAN MOVE TO THE NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE. WITH ME TODAY, YOU HAD A CHANCE TO HEAR ME OVER SEVERAL QUARTERS, BUT I BROUGHT WITH ME THE PROJECT LEADERS WHO WORK THE VARIOUS PROJECT COMPONENTS OF THIS ENGAGEMENT. WITH ME I HAVE SHARRIE FALLEN, CATHERINE SHARP AND ZACHRY WHO LED THIS. WE CAN GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE. FOR BACKGROUND AND CONTEXT. WHEN WE ENGAGED IN THE STUDY, THERE WERE A HANDFUL OF THINGS OUTLINED THAT WE RESPONDED TO. LOOKING AT THE STRUCTURE AND THE ABILITY TO ALLOW THE COUNTY TO RECRUIT, RETAIN AND HIRE EMPLOYEES. HAVING RECOMMENDATIONS TIED AROUND PAY STRUCTURES, MECHANISMS FOR EMPLOYEES TO MOVE THROUGH THE RANGES. THE NEXT PART OF THAT THAT WE LOOKED AT WAS ELIMINATING THE PAY DISPARITIES AS WE LOOKED AT THE PAY EQUITY STUDY AND THE COMPONENTS OF THAT. GENDER, ETHNICITY AND AGE.
WE CONDUCTED A PAY EQUITY STUDY AND LOOKED AT EMPLOYEES ACROSS THE COUNTY AND HOW THEY STACKED UP SIDE BY SIDE AND RELATIVE TO
[01:55:02]
THEIR PAY RANGES THEMSELVES AND THEN UNDERSTAND WHAT DOES THAT MEAN? WHAT IS THE DATA? WHAT ARE THE OUTLIE YARRS AND HELP DEVELOP REMEDIES. ALL THE WHILE RECOGNIZING THAT THERE IS A COMPLICATED AND COMPLEX AND RICH OVERALL TOTAL REWARDS PACKAGE HERE AT THE COUNTY THAT INCLUDES A STRONG BENEFITS' COMPONENT.ALSO RECOGNIZE THAT THE LABOR MARKET IS EVER EVOLVING AND MOVING. IN ORDER TO RETAIN OR RECRUIT THE TALENT, YOU HAVE TO CONSIDER BOTH FACETS. NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE. AND THAT SAID, AS WE WENT INTO THE STUDY ITSELF, THREE MAJOR COMPONENTS AND WE'LL TALK ABOUT THESE IN A LITTLE BIT MORE DETAIL OVER THE HANDFUL OF FOLLOWING SLIDES. THE CLASSIFICATION STUDY AND WE LOOKED AT THE EXEMPTION AND NONEXEMPTION STUDY AND THE STRUCTURE OF TITLES AND TALKING ABOUT THE VAST NUMBER OF TITLES AND HOW DO WE DISTILL THAT TO SOMETHING MEANINGFUL AND CAREER PATHS AND HAVING JOB DESCRIPTIONS THAT ARTICULATE WHAT JOBS ARE DOING. THE COMPENSATION STUDY ITSELF THAT BUILDS THE STRUCTURE AND TALKS ABOUT THE BENCHMARKING AND WHERE THE IS THE COUNTY TODAY AND GO FORWARD AND HOW DO YOU STAY COMPETITIVE ON A GOING FORWARD BASIS? THEN THE PAY EQUITY STUDY. AS WE TALKED ABOUT THIS RECOGNIZING THEY HAD TO BE DONE IN AN ORDER TO ENSURE EACH WAS DONE APPROPRIATELY. IT ENSURES WE KNOW THE STRUCTURE AND HOW THE ROLES ARE PERFORMING AND WHAT IS THE MARKET PAYING AND LOOK AND FEEL LIKE AND BE ABLE TO TAKE THE INFORMATION INTO THE PAY EQUITY STUDY TO INFORM THAT TO UNDERSTAND WHEN WE TALK ABOUT EQUITY ITSELF AND LOOKING AT THOSE DIFFERENT CLASSES OF EMPLOYEES AND SORT OF LOOKING ACROSS KEY DEMOGRAPHICS TO UNDERSTAND WHAT THE DISPARITIES AND WHAT ARE LEGITIMATE AND WHAT REQUIRES FURTHER INVESTIGATION WITH THAT. THAT SAID, IF WE CAN MOVE TO THE NEXT SLIDE, I'LL HAND IT OVER TO MISS FALLEN WHO WILL TALK ABOUT THE CLASSIFICATION STUDY AND THE RESULTS OF THAT COMPONENT OF THE
ENGAGEMENT. >> GOOD MORNING, COMMISSIONERS.
NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE. SO THROUGHOUT THE CLASSIFICATION STUDY RESULTS, WE READ NUMEROUS, OVER 6,000 CLOSE TO 7,000 POSITION DESCRIPTION QUESTIONNAIRES THAT CAME DIRECTLY FROM YOUR STAFF AND SUPERVISORS AND MANAGEMENT.
ALONG WITH 1200 JOB DESCRIPTIONS. FROM THERE, WE REVIEWED THEM ALL AND LOOKED AT CONDENSING THE TITLES INTO SOMETHING MORE MANAGEABLE FOR THE COUNTY AND CAN BE USED COUNTY WIDE AND CONSISTENTLY. AND WITH THAT, WE DEVELOPED 30 JOB FAMILIES TO DESCRIBE ALL THE WORK ACROSS THE COUNTY. WITH 166 CLASSIFICATION SERIES FOR PROGRESSION AND GROWTH. AND WITH THAT, UNDERNEATH THAT 758 UNIQUE TITLES TO DESCRIBE ALL THE RELEVANT WORK DONE IN THE COUNTY. THIS PROPOSED CLASSIFICATION STRUCTURE HELPS FACILITATE CAREER GROWTH AND CAREER PATHS, ALONG WITH PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT FOR EMPLOYEES, COUNTY WIDE. NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE. SO, DURING THE CLASSIFICATION REVIEW, WE EVALUATED JOB DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF EVERY JOB DESCRIPTION TO DETERMINE PROPER CLASSIFICATION UNDER THE FAIR LABOR STANDARDS ACT. ENSURING COMPLIANCE WITH THE FEDERAL WAGE AND HOUR GUIDELINES. THERE ARE POTENTIAL ADJUSTMENTS TO FSLA STATUS AND CLASSIFICATION THAT MAY RESULT AFTER A DEPARTMENT REVIEW OF THE DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES WITH EACH DEPARTMENT. DEPARTMENT MANAGER.
A COME PRESENCIVE REVIEW OF THE POSITION DESCRIPTION QUESTIONNAIRES, JOB DESCRIPTIONS. WE ALSO DID INTERVIEWS. JOB SHADOWING AND FOCUS PANELS. WHICH DID REVEAL SOME INCORRECT CLASSIFICATIONS UNDER THE FAIR LABOR STANDARDS ACT. IT CURRENTLY IS EFFECTING 200 EMPLOYEES ACROSS 36 DEPARTMENTS. THIS STUDY REVEALED ADDITIONAL AREAS OF CLASSIFICATIONS AS WELL THAT NEED FURTHER INVESTIGATION. NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE. SO WE JUST WANTED TO GIVE YOU AN EXAMPLE OF UNDER ONE CURRENT CLASSIFICATION HERE AT THE COUNTY CLERK TWO, THERE ARE MANY DIFFERENT DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES AND WORK THAT IS BEING PERFORMED. AND WHAT THIS CLASSIFICATION STRUCTURE DOES IS TO MORE RELEVANTLY DEFINE THE TYPE OF WORK BEING DONE. FOR EXAMPLE, UNDER CLERK TWO WE HAD AN ACCOUNTING ASSISTANT. THAT WILL BE THE NEW CLASSIFICATION TITLE FOR EMPLOYEES TO SEE THEIR CAREER GROWTH AND PATH AT THE COUNTY.
WE ALSO HAD AN ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT. OF COURSE A COURT CLERK AND A LIBRARY ASSISTANT UNDER ONE CLASSIFICATION. THEY WILL HAVE THEIR OWN WITH THEIR OWN CAREER PATH. NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE. SORRY. WE ALSO WANTED TO SHOW AN EXAMPLE OF A CAREER PROGRESSION HERE. WITH PAYROLL. SO AS YOU CAN SEE, WE HAVE PAYROLL ADMINISTRATOR ONE AND TWO. PAYROLL CLERK ONE, TWO, THREE TO SHOW THAT CAREER PATH. FOR PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT FOR EMPLOYEES AND CURRENTLY, YOU CAN SEE THE PREVIOUS CLASSIFICATION TITLES WHERE YOU HAD EMPLOYEES IN ALL DIFFERENT TYPES OF ROLES,
[02:00:02]
SUCH AS ANALYSIS, COORDINATOR, SPECIALISTS AND CLERKS AS WELL.AND BY THIS NEW CLASSIFICATION TITLE SERIES, IT WILL SHOW EMPLOYEES AND BE MORE DESCRIPTIVE OF THE WORK THEY'RE PERFORMING AND SHOW THEIR CAREER PATH. NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE. I'M NOW GOING TO TURN THIS OVER TO MY COLLEAGUE, CATHERINE THORPE.
THANK YOU. >> GOOD MORNING, COMMISSIONERS.
WE WANTED TO DISCUSS THE COMPENSATION STUDY RESULTS. SO NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE. THE FIRST THING THAT WE DID WHEN ENGAGING WITH THE COUNTY WAS TO ESTABLISH FROM THE RFP WHAT ORGANIZATIONS WOULD BE INCORPORATED AND INVITED TO PARTICIPANT IN CUSTOM SURVEYS TO GATHER SALARY INFORMATION, ACTUAL SALARY DATA AS WELL AS STRUCTURE INFORMATION. FOR THE LAW ENFORCEMENT SURVEY, 21 ORGANIZATIONS WERE IDENTIFIED IN THE RFP. AND THEY'RE LISTED HERE. THE ONES ON THE LEFT DID PROVIDE THEIR DATA DIRECTLY THROUGH THE RESPONSE OF THE CUSTOM SURVEY, WHICH WAS A 52% RESPONSE RATE. WHICH IS VERY SIGNIFICANT. ANYTHING BEYOND 25% IS CONSIDERED A SUCCESSFUL RESPONSE RATE. SO THIS WAS VERY HIGH. ON THE NEXT SLIDE. THIS WAS THE GROUPING THAT WAS ASKED TO PARTICIPATE IN THE GENERAL AND DEPARTMENT HEAD SURVEY. THAT WAS FOR ALL OTHER EMPLOYEES WITH THE COUNTY. IT WAS THE 10 LARGEST CITIES AND COUNTIES IN THE UNITED STATES. AND THAT IS A JULY 2024 CENSUS DATA. ON THE LEFT ARE THE ONES THAT PARTICIPATED DIRECTLY. IN THE CENTER THE STATES DO PROVIDE A WEBSITE WHERE YOU CAN GAIN ACTUAL SALARY DATA AND STRUCTURE INFORMATION. WE DATA MIND THAT AS WELL. SO WE COULD INCORPORATE THAT INTO THE RESPONSES. THE ONES IN THE CENTER, YOU CAN SEE THERE, ARE THE ONES THAT DID NOT PROVIDE THEIR DATA DIRECTLY. ALL OF THE DATA IS TREATED EQUALLY.
SO IT'S ALL AGED FORWARD TO A SINGLE POINT IN TIME. THERE COULD BE VARIANCES IN INCREASES AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE. AND THEN ALSO, A GEOGRAPHIC ADJUSTMENT WAS APPLIED TO EACH DATA SET TO MAKE SURE IT WAS A COMPARABLE COMPARISON TO HARRIS COUNTY. IF THE COST OF LABOR IN ONE OF THESE ORGANIZATIONS WAS HIGHER, IT WOULD HAVE BEEN ADJUSTED DOWN. IF THEIR COST OF LABOR WAS LESS THAN HARRIS COUNTY, IT WOULD BE ADJUSTED UP TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE AN APPLES TO APPLES COMPARISON. NEXT SLIDE. SO WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE MARKET POSITIONING AND WE WANTED TO SHOW HERE THAT THE GROUPINGS THAT WERE ASKED TO PARTICIPATE, OR I'M SORRY, ASKED TO BE IDENTIFIED IN THIS EMPLOYEE SEGMENTS WERE THE FIRST WHERE THE DEPARTMENT HEAD AND ELECTED OFFICIALS OF THAT. THERE WERE 35 JOBS THAT WERE BENCHMARKED AND 10 OF THOSE SHOWED TO BE EITHER ABOVE OR BELOW 10% OF THE MARKET. SO THAT GREATER THAN 10% IS THAT GROUP THERE. THE GENERAL WORK FORCE WAS 427 JOBS AND YOU CAN SEE THERE BETWEEN THE TWO CATEGORIES OF ABOVE AND BELOW, THERE ARE 170 JOBS THAT ARE OUTSIDE OF THAT COMPETITIVE POSITION WE LOOK FOR IN THE MARKET. AND THEN WE HAVE ALSO ANOTHER GROUPING OF THE CIVILIAN LAW ENFORCEMENT, CIVILIAN EMPLOYEES ON THE LAW ENFORCEMENT PLAN. YOU CAN SEE THERE THEY HAVE THREE THAT ARE MORE THAN 10% BELOW MARKET AND SEVEN THAT ARE 10% ABOVE. THOSE WERE THE POSITIONS WE LOOK FOR AS FAR AS DISPARITY AND LOOKING FOR TRYING TO ALIGN MORE COMPETITIVELY TO THE MARKET WHEN THEY'RE OUTSIDE OF THOSE FACTORS. WE DO WANT TO CALL OUT THAT EFFECTIVE OCTOBER 4TH, HARRIS COUNTY DID APPROVE AND IMPLEMENT AN INCREASE FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS. WITH THAT, THEY GAINED A 21% IN THE MARKET POSITIONING. IT WENT FROM BEING 23% BELOW MARKET TO RIGHT HIGHLY COMPETITIVE AT 2% BELOW MARKET. THAT IS A SIGNIFICANT INCREASE ON BEHALF OF THE LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS. NEXT SLIDE. OKAY. SO WE WANTED TO TALK ABOUT THE SALARY RECOMMENDATIONS AND THE COSTING. AND I KNOW WE HAVE HAD MANY DISCUSSIONS ON THE BENEFITS HERE AT HARRIS COUNTY. IT IS A ROBUST AND ATTRACTIVE PACKAGE. THE BENEFITS ARE IMPORTANT BECAUSE THEY DO SUSTAIN LONG-TERM SUCCESS. BASE PAY IS IMPORTANT FOR BEING ABLE TO SUPPORT DAILY LIVING. ALTHOUGH THEY'RE BOTH VERY IMPORTANT, THEY HAVE TO BOTH BE COMPETITIVE TO MOST EFFECTIVE FOR THE EMPLOYEES OF HARRIS COUNTY. NEXT SLIDE. OKAY.
THIS IS A FIRST RECOMMENDATIONS AND THEN WE'LL HAVE SOME EXAMPLES AS WELL. WHAT WE'RE RECOMMENDING IS THAT HARRIS COUNTY ADOPT A 20 GRADE MARKET ALIGNED STRUCTURE ACROSS THE COUNTY. CURRENTLY THE COUNTY HAS 127 DIFFERENT GRADES ACROSS SEVEN DIFFERENT SALARY PLANS. THE POSITIONS ARE GROUPED STRATEGICALLY BASED ON THEIR PAY GRADE. BASED ON THE DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES AND WHERE THEY ALIGN TO THE MARKET MEDIAN OR THAT 50TH PERCENTILE. WE DO HAVE THE RECOMMENDATION OF IT BEING AN OPEN RANGE, WHICH WILL HAVE A MINIMUM, A MIDPOINT AND MAXIMUM.
[02:05:04]
THAT'S TO BE ABLE TO ESTABLISH STRUCTURE AND ALSO GUIDANCE AND MOVEMENT FOR MOVING THROUGH THE RANGE FOR THE EMPLOYEES. YOU CAN SEE IN THE BLUE BOXES IT JUST KIND OF SHOWS WHAT GROUPS SHOULD BE WITHIN EACH ONE OF THOSE SECTIONS. OF COURSE THE MINIMUM ARE FOLKS THAT ARE NEW TO THEIR CAREER, NEW TO THE ROLE. THOSE WOULD BE THE ONES CLOSER TO THE ENTRY LEVEL. THE MIDPOINT IS FOR INDIVIDUALS PROFICIENT IN THE WORK THEY DO. THE MAXIMUM IS SET TO BE ABLE TO PUT A CAP ON PAY FOR FAIRNESS AND ALSO FOR COST CONTROL FOR THE COUNTY. WE DO RECOMMENDATION THAT THE STEP BASED STRUCTURE FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT REMAIN AS IT IS, AS THAT'S CURRENTLY BEST PRACTICE IN WHAT'S SEEN IN THE INDUSTRY.NEXT SLIDE. THIS IS THE STRUCTURE THAT WE'RE RECOMMENDING. YOU CAN SEE THERE ARE THE PAY GRADES ON THE LEFT AND ON THE FAR RIGHT WE HAVE THE NUMBER OF EMPLOYEES THAT ARE IN EACH ONE OF THE PROPOSED STRUCTURES. YOU CAN SEE THERE'S THE ANNUAL REPRESENTATION AS WELL AS HOURLY, AND IT SHOWS THE MINIMUM, MIDPOINT AND MAXIMUM. NOW THE CURRENT STRUCTURE WILL NOT HAVE THE MINIMUM RATE BELOW THE $20. A MINIMUM WAGE SET FORTH BY THE COUNTY EARLIER THIS SUMMER. NEXT SLIDE. ADDITIONALLY WE HAVE RECOMMENDATIONS THAT NO PAY CUTS WOULD OCCUR. WE DO RECOMMEND EMPLOYEES BE HELD HARMLESS FOR ANY DISPARITIES FOUND. ALL EMPLOYEES SHOULD BE PLACED WITHIN A STRUCTURE.
ANYONE BELOW THE CURRENT MINIMUM OF THE NEW GRADE, PROPOSED GRADE WOULD BE MOVED UP TO THE MINIMUM. EMPLOYEES AT OR ABOVE THE MAXIMUM WOULD HAVE THEIR PAY FROZEN AT THAT RATE OR THE MAXIMUM, WHICHEVER IS HIGHER. WE DO, TO ADDRESS COMPRESSION, HAVE MODELED A ONE AND A HALF PER CENT PER YEAR INCREASE FOR EACH YEAR THE EMPLOYEE HAS BEEN IN THEIR CURRENT POSITION. THIS IS TO ADDRESS INTERNAL COMPRESSION AND TO MOVE PEOPLE THROUGH THE RANGE IN ACCORDANCE WITH THEIR TENURE WITH THE COUNTY AND THEIR ROLE. OF COURSE ALL OF THESE RECOMMENDATIONS AND CHANGES ARE PENDING THE APPROVAL OF THE COURT. NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE. I WANTED TO SHOW YOU AN EXAMPLE OF WHAT THE TIME AND POSITION ADJUSTMENTS LOOK LIKE AND HOW THEY'RE CALCULATED. FOR EXAMPLE, THESE ARE THREE ACTUAL EMPLOYEES IN THE MODEL. THEY ALL HAVE THE SAME JOB TITLE WE'RE RECOMMENDING THEY MOVE TO. SO THE FIRST ONE YOU CAN SEE. THE SECOND COLUMN IS THE PROPOSED MINIMUM OF THE NEW RANGE. YOU CAN SEE THE FIRST LINE THAT INDIVIDUAL IS BELOW. THEY HAVE AN ADJUSTMENT TO MINIMUM FIRSTLY. TO BRING THEM INTO THE STRUCTURE AS WE RECOMMEND. THEY ALSO HAVE TWO YEARS IN THEIR CURRENT ROLES. WE HAVE APPLIED ONE AND A HALF PERCENT INCREASE. IT'S A COMPOUNDING CALCULATION FOR EACH YEAR IN THAT ROLE. YOU CAN SEE THEIR NEW RATE ON THE FAR RIGHT. THE SECOND INDIVIDUAL IS A NEW HIRE. THEY CURRENTLY ARE ABOVE THE MINIMUM. THERE'S NO ADJUSTMENT THERE. THEY ALSO DON'T HAVE A TENURE CALCULATION BECAUSE THEY'RE NEW TO THE ROLE. SO THERE'S NO CHANGE RECOMMENDED FOR THEIR RATE OF PAY. THE THIRD ONE THE INDIVIDUAL IS ABOVE THE MINIMUM BUT FIVE YEARS WITH THE COUNTY. WE HAVE THE CALCULATION THERE TO MOVE THEM FORWARDED. WHAT'S REFLECTED ON THE FAR RIGHT, THE INDIVIDUAL WITH THE MOST TENURE DOES HAVE THE HIGHEST RATE OF PAY AND SO FORTH. THESE ARE STRICTLY TIME BASED. WE DON'T HAVE PERFORMANCE INDICATORS TO TAKE INTO CONSIDERATION AT THIS TIME. SO THAT'S WHAT WE'RE LOOKING AT HERE. NEXT SLIDE.
OKAY. SO HERE IS THE COST. THIS IS THE COST TO MOVE ALL EMPLOYEES. THEY ARE SEPARATED INTO TWO SEPARATE BUCKETS.
CURRENTLY THE CIVILIAN EMPLOYEES ON THE LAW ENFORCEMENT SALARY PLAN, WE ARE RECOMMENDING THAT DUE TO THE NATURE OF THE WORK THEY'D BE MOVED INTO THE COUNTY WIDE STRUCTURE THAT WE'RE RECOMMENDING. THAT'S WHY YOU HAVE THE TWO GROUPS BROKEN OUT SEPARATELY. YOU CAN SEE THE TIME AND POSITION ADJUSTMENTS AND THE ADJUSTMENTS TO MINIMUM ARE LISTED THERE. IT WOULD TOTAL $66 MILLION FOR THE COUNTY TO IMPLEMENT FOR ALL EMPLOYEES COUNTY WIDE. THIS DOES NOT INCLUDE THE COST FOR ANY PAY EQUITY INVESTIGATION RESULTS AND THE REMEDIES THAT MAY COME FROM THAT. AND OF COURSE THE TIME AND POSITION ADJUSTMENTS ARE SEPARATE FROM THE MERIT PROCESS OR ANY KIND OF PROMOTIONAL ACTIVITY THERE. NEXT SLIDE. SO, RECOMMENDATIONS, ADDITIONALLY.
WE RECOMMEND THAT THE INCREASES BE DETERMINED ANNUALLY BASED ON AVAILABLE REVENUE AND ALIGNED WITH CURRENT MARKET TRENDS. THAT INDIVIDUAL SALARY ADVANCEMENT THROUGH THE RANGE SHOULD BE BASED ON PERFORMANCE WITHIN THEIR JOB CLASS. WE DO RECOMMEND THAT THE STRUCTURE IS REVIEWED ANNUALLY TO MAINTAIN ALIGNMENT WITH THE MARKET TRENDS. SO IT'S SALARY STRUCTURE UPDATES AND BASE PAY INCREASES SHOULD FOLLOW THE SAME CADENCE WHEN THE ADJUSTMENTS ARE BEING MADE. WE DO RECOMMEND THAT A COMPREHENSIVE STUDY BE CONDUCTED EVERY THREE TO FIVE YEARS AND THE JOB CLASSIFICATION IS REVIEWED ANNUALLY TO MAKE SURE
[02:10:01]
THE JOB CLASSIFICATIONS ARE BEING MAINTAINED PROPERLY AND THE REVEL IS REMAINING CONSISTENT ACROSS THE ORGANIZATION. NEXT SLIDE. AND NOW ZACH IS GOING TO SPEAK TOYOU ABOUT PAY EQUITY RESULTS. >> THANK YOU, CAT. GOOD MORNING, COMMISSIONERS. NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE. THE PAY EQUITY PHASE OF THIS STUDY IS DEFINITELY AN IMPORTANT ONE. THIS NOT ONLY SEEKS TO AFFIRM THE COUNTY'S COMMITMENT TO EQUITABLE PAY BUT MAKE SURE WE'RE OKAY FROM A LEGAL COMPLIANCE PERSPECTIVE.
THERE'S A BIG FOCUS ON PROTECTED CLASSES HERE. ONE THING TO NOTE AS FAR AS TIMING. ERIC ELUDED TO THIS EARLIER. THE CLASSIFICATION PHASE WAS IMPORTANT TO GET DONE BEFORE WE GET TO THIS PHASE. ONE OF THE OUTCOMES OF THE CLASSIFICATION PHASE THAT SHERRY YELLEDDED TO IS THE WORK GROUPS. THAT'S THE BEST WAY TO MEASURE PAY EQUITY AND THE CLASSIFICATION SERIES PUT TOGETHER EMPLOYEES WHO ARE DOING THAT KIND OF WORK. SO IT SORT OF IS FOUNDATIONAL. THIS IS LAST BUT NOT LEAST SITUATION. WE WERE ABLE TO DO A GOOD PAY EQUITY STUDY BECAUSE WE HAD GOOD INFORMATION STUDY. THE GOALS OF THE STUDY WERE TO ASSESS IF THERE WAS DIFFERENCES IN COMPENSATION. THAT INCLUDES GENDER, AGE AND ETHNICITY. WE'RE GOING TO EVALUATE WHETHER THE DIFFERENCES CAN BE ATTRIBUTED TO FACTORS. IF WE CAN'T FIND THE JOB RELATED FACTORS, WE WOULD RECOMMENDATION IMMEDIATE CORRECTIVE ACTION. USUALLY ALONG THE LINES OF INCREASING THE PAY OF THOSE WHO ARE ADVERSELY EFFECTED. NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE. SO THE WAY WE IDENTIFY THE SITUATIONS WHERE WE HAVE A LEGAL AND COMPLIANCE RISK IS BY DOING A REGRESSION ANALYSIS. THIS IS THE FIRST TIME YOU'RE SEEING NUMBERS REGARDING THE PAY EQUITY. I'LL TALK ABOUT THAT IN A SECOND. I WANT TO EXPLAIN HOW IT WORKS. BASICALLY IT TELLS US IS A WAY TO FIGURE OUT HOW MUCH EACH ATTRIBUTE AFFECTS ONE'S PAY. WHETHER THAT'S A PROTECTED CLASS THAT I MENTIONED EARLIER OR ACTUAL OTHER THINGS LIKE HOW LONG YOU'VE BEEN AT THE COMPANY OR AT THE ORGANIZATION, SORRY.
AND THINGS LIKE THAT. SO, WHAT THE REGRESSION ULTIMATELY TELLS US IS A WAY TO PREDICT WHAT ONE'S PAY SHOULD BE ON AVERAGE FOR A CLASSIFICATION SERIES. WHAT WE DO THEN IS BASICALLY RUN THAT FOR EVERY SINGLE EMPLOYEE AND FOR AREAS WHERE WE HAVE STATISTICALLY SIGNIFICANT NEGATIVE COEFFICIENT. FOR EXAMPLE, THERE MAY HAVE BEEN A CLASSIFICATION SERIES WHERE BEING A WOMAN WAS WORTH NEGATIVE $4,000. IF THAT WERE THE CASE, WE WOULD BASICALLY ZERO THAT OUT AND ESTIMATE FOR EVERY SINGLE INDIVIDUAL EMPLOYEE AS OF JUNE 2025, WHAT WOULD THEY MAKE IF THAT NEGATIVE THING DIDN'T EXIST? AND THEN IF THEIR ACTUAL SALARY WAS LESS THAN THE PREDICTED SALARY, THAT IS THE NUMBER THAT YOU SEE HERE. SO THIS NUMBER ACTUALLY MOST LIKELY, 99.9% OVERESTIMATES WHAT THE COST WILL BE. IN SOME OF THE SITUATIONS, THERE'S JOB RELATED REASONS. IT'S POSSIBLE AN EMPLOYEE MAY BE BRAND NEW. IT'S POSSIBLE THEY MAY BE A LOW PERFORMER AND THAT'S WHY THEY'RE BEING PAID LEFT. WE'LL DO INFORMATIONS TO FIGURE THAT OUT BASED ON THE DATA. AGAIN, THIS IS STRICTLY DATA DRIVEN. THIS HAS NO EMOTION IN IT AT ALL AND NO ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. WE'LL DO THE INVESTIGATIONS IN COLLABORATION WITH HR AND THE DEPARTMENTS TO GET THAT INFORMATION AND FIND OUT WHERE WE ARE FROM A LEGAL COMPLIANCE PERSPECTIVE. NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE. SO THE REGRESSION ANNALIST BASICALLY IDENTIFIED THAT THERE'S EIGHT CLASSIFICATION SERIES, WHICH IS 5.3% OF ALL CLASSIFICATION SERIES WHERE THERE'S POTENTIAL GENDER BASED ISSUES. THERE'S 13 SERIES WHERE THERE'S ETHNICITY BASED ISSUES. THAT'S 7.4. THREE CLASSIFICATION SERIES HAVE BOTH POTENTIALLY. AND AGAIN, IF YOU SUM TOTAL EVERY SINGLE POSSIBLE SITUATION OF THAT AT THE COUNTY AS OF JUNE, THAT WOULD ADD UP TO A MAXIMUM REMEDY COST OF $7.44 MILLION. THE ACTUAL NUMBER WILL MOST LIKELY BE LOWER THAN THAT.
WE DON'T YET KNOW TO WHAT DEGREE. WHEN WE DO THE INVESTIGATIONS WE'LL CONFIRM BASED ON THE JOB RELATED FACTORS. ANOTHER THING WE DO AS PART OF THE STUDY. BACK TO REAFFIRMING THE COMMITMENT TO EQUITABLE PAY. NOT NECESSARILY FROM LEGAL COMPLIANCE BUT GENERAL ANALYSIS. IT TELLS US TRENDS ABOUT WHAT'S HAPPENING AS FAR AS PAY GOES AND WHAT YOU DO WITH THAT INFORMATION IS UP TO YOU. THIS IS WHAT THE NUMBERS ARE TELLING US. WE FOUND ACROSS ALL EMPLOYEES THE FEMALE TO MALE MEDIAN SALARY RATIO IS 94%. IF YOU TAKE THE MEDIAN FEMALE AND THE MALE MEDIAN PAY AND DIVIDE THEM, IT'S 94%. THAT'S ABOVE THE NATIONAL AVERAGE. ACCORDING TO THE BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS. THERE'S 35 CLASSIFICATIONS, WHICH ARE BASICALLY JOB TITLES IN THE NEW STRUCTURE. THAT'S ABOUT 5.1%
[02:15:04]
THAT HAVE A FEMALE TO MALE RATIO BELOW 80%. THAT MAY BE AREAS YOU WOULD CONSIDER FURTHER INVESTIGATION. THE MEDIAN FOR THREE PROTECTED ETHNICITY WERE 80% AND 51 CLASSIFICATIONS, WHICH IS 7.5% OF ALL JOB TITLES HAD A NONWHITE TO WHITE SALARY RATIO BELOW 80%. WHICH, AGAIN, MIGHT BE SOME AREAS THAT YOU ARE INTERESTED IN LOOKING IN FURTHER. THANK YOU.>> WE'RE GOING TO TALK ABOUT IMPLEMENTATION RECOMMENDATION AND THE TIMELINE FOR THOSE. NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE. SO ONE OF THE FIRST THINGS IN A STUDY OF THIS MAGNITUDE, OF COURSE, WHEN IMPLEMENTING THE CLASSIFICATION AND COMPENSATION RECOMMENDATIONS IS TO FIRST TALK TO EACH OF THE DEPARTMENTS TO REVIEW THE NEW CLASSIFICATIONS FOR CLARITY AND ACCURACY. TO MAKE SURE, BASED ON WHAT WAS WRITTEN IN THE POSITION DESCRIPTION AND THE JOB DESCRIPTIONS WERE ACCURATE. AND WE'VE ACCURATELY TITLED AND LEVELED IT. THAT MEANS MEETING WITH DEPARTMENT HEADS AND OR THEIR DESIGNEES TO MAKE SURE IT'S ACCURATE AND, OF COURSE, IMPLEMENT A PROCESS FOR JOB REVIEWS. ALL OF THIS WILL BE IN PARTNERSHIP WITH HARRIS COUNTY HRT AND THE DEPARTMENT HEADS.
AGAIN, IMPLEMENT THE SALARY STRUCTURE AND PAY ADJUSTMENTS BASED ON COMMISSIONERS COURT APPROVAL AND DEVELOP A COMMUNICATION PLAN FOR COUNTY WIDE FOR ANY EMPLOYEES RELATIVE TO THE APPROVED ADJUSTMENTS. WITH PAY EQUITY, CONTINUE ON WITH THE INVESTIGATIONS. FOR THOSE THAT HAVE BEEN DEFINED WHERE THERE MAY BE AN AREA OF CONCERN TO SEE IF WE FIND ANY LEGITIMATE BUSINESS REASON. IF NOT, MOVE FORWARD WITH ANY REMEDY. ALSO, REVIEWING THE PROMOTION, SALARY PROGRESSION POLICIES TO ENSURE FAIRNESS BOTH ACROSS THE COUNTY AND IN ADDITION TO GENDER AND ETHNICITY. NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE.
SO ON THE SCREEN, YOU'LL SEE A TIMELINE. OF COURSE, ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT THINGS THAT WILL BE YEAR LONG IS BOTH THE COMMUNICATION PLAN AND CHANGE MANAGEMENT AS THIS WILL BE A SHIFT IN THE CULTURE. AND THAT WILL BE WORKING WITH THE HARRIS COUNTY HRT TEAM ALONG WITH ANY STAKE HOLDER. ANY AND ALL STAKE HOLDERS HERE. FOR THE CLASSIFICATION, COMPENSATION AND PAY EQUITY BEGINNING IN NOVEMBER OF 2025, WE'LL START HAVING AND HOLDING THE DEPARTMENT HEAD MEETINGS AND LOOKING AT CLASSIFICATION COMPENSATION AND MAKE SURE THEY'RE ACCURATE AND OF COURSE LOOKING AT THE FLSA REVIEWS AS WELL AND THE PROTECTED CLASSES. THE INVESTIGATIONS WILL BEGIN. AND THEN IN OR AROUND FEBRUARY, BASED ON COURT APPROVAL OF 2025, APPROVING AND IMPLEMENTING ANY OF THE PAY INCREASES. OF COURSE, THEY'LL BE AN APPEALS' PROCESS DURING ALL OF THIS FOR THOSE CLASSIFICATIONS. AND THEN, OF COURSE, WORKING WITH UNIVERSAL SERVICES TO BE ABLE TO IMPLEMENT THIS INTO YOUR IT HRIS SYSTEM.
NOVEMBER THROUGH APRIL OF 2026, OF COURSE, LOOKING AT POLICIES AND PROCESSES. REVIEW AND OR DEVELOP ANY POLICIES THAT YOU MAY NEED HERE AT THE COUNTY TO MAKE SURE YOU MOVE FORWARD IN A FAIR AND CONSISTENT WAY. NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE. SO THIS IS JUST AN OVERALL CHART. WE WANTED TO SHARE WITH YOU AS A QUICK SUMMARY OF THE STUDY AND THE RESULTS. FOR THE CLASSIFICATION, OF COURSE WE READ OVER 6700PDQ'S AND 1200 JOB DESCRIPTIONS. WE HAD DEPARTMENT HEADS AND ELECTED INTERVIEWS.
THE FOCUSED GROUPS TO BE MORE INFORMED OF THE WORK BEING DONE HERE AT HARRIS COUNTY. OF COURSE, WE NOW HAVE DEVELOPED THE JOB STRUCTURE AROUND ALL THAT. THEN WE HAVE COMPENSATION, WHERE WE ARE RECOMMENDING A 20 GRADE STRUCTURE. FOR MORE CONSISTENCY. THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY AND FOR EMPLOYEES TO BE ABLE TO GROW THEIR CAREERS AND MOVE THROUGH A PAY RANGE. OF COURSE, THE PAY EQUITY WILL BE GOING THROUGH A RECOMMENDATION IS TO CONTINUE FORWARD WITH THE INVESTIGATIONS TO SEE IF THERE'S ANY LEGITIMATE BUSINESS REASONS FOR THE PAY DISCREPANCIES THERE. NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE. WE HAVE AN APPENDIX.
WE'RE NOT GOING TO GO THROUGH THERE. THE APPENDIX IS JUST ADDITIONAL INFORMATION FOR YOUR REVIEW IN YOUR PACKETS MOVING
FORWARD. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. I THINK THIS STUDY COSTS ABOUT $1 MILLION?
>> $1.2, COMMISSIONER. >> JUST A COUPLE OF QUICK POINTS. JUST TO REMIND MY COLLEAGUES. IN 2019, WE RAISED
[02:20:02]
THE FLOOR TO A MINIMUM OF $15 AN HOUR. I THINK THAT WAS UNANIMOUS. COMMISSIONER GARCIA, YOU MADE IT THE MOTION. I DID IT FOR ME EMPLOYEES IN 2017. ONCE I FIGURED OUT WHAT WAS GOING ON HERE. 2017 OR 2018 WHEN I GOT HERE. IN 2023 WE INCLUDED 7% COST OF LIVING ADJUSTMENT WITH HIGHER TARGETED INCREASES FOR THE HARDEST TO FILL POSITIONS. 2024, $2500 SALARY INCREASE TO EMPLOYEES MAKING LESS THAN $75,000. COMMISSIONER RAMSEY, I CAN'T REMEMBER WHICH ONE YOU AND I DID TOGETHER. WE SHOCKED THEM. IT WAS AN ELLIS RAMSEY MOTION. WE DID THAT TOGETHER.$30MILLION? YOU REMEMBER? >> 33.
>> THANK YOU, DANIEL. IN MARCH OF 2025, WE PASSED A LIVING WAGE POLICY TO RAISE EVERY COUNTY'S EMPLOYEES HOURLY WAGE TO $200 AN HOUR. AND MORE FOR CONTRACTORS. I THINK COMMISSIONER BRIONES, YOU AND I DID THAT TOGETHER. AND THEN '26 BUDGET THE COURT VOTED TO INCREASE PAY FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT AT A COST OF $100 MILLION WHICH OBVIOUSLY DEALT WITH THE EQUITY ISSUES YOU MADE REFERENCE TO. I'VE SENT AROUND A MOTION. I WON'T MAKE IT NOW.
I WANT MEMBERS TO STAY A BIT. AFTER WE HEAR FROM THE SPEAKERS.
NOT JUST ON THIS ITEM. THE ONE THING I LEFT OUT. COMMISSIONER RAMSEY, WAS A NOD TO YOU. IN THE MOTION THEY PROPOSED, I DIDN'T PUT THE PART IN ABOUT NO EMPLOYEES SALARY WILL BE REDUCED AS A RESULT OF THESE CHANGES. THE REASON IS BECAUSE YOU'VE ASKED FOR AND WE'RE PAYING FOR AN EXECUTIVE PAY ISSUE. BUT IN NO WAY WOULD I EXPECT US TO GO AND PENALIZE SOME OF THE THREE-FOURTHS OF OUR EMPLOYEES THAT ARE NOT LAW ENFORCEMENT BECAUSE OF DISCRIMINATORY PRACTICES. THEY HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH. I DIDN'T KNOW HOW TO PHRASE THAT, COMMISSIONER BRIONES. IF WE THINK ABOUT IT. THERE MAY BE A WAY TO DO IT SO WE DON'T GET INTO ENDING THE STUDY HE'S HAVING. FOUR HIGHLIGHTS THAT I SAW IN THE STUDY THAT I THINK ARE WORTH MENTIONING. ONE, MOST HARRIS COUNTY DEPARTMENTS PAY THE MALE EMPLOYEES MORE ON AVERAGE THAN THE FEMALE EMPLOYEES. THIS IS 2025. ON AVERAGE, HISPANIC WOMEN ARE THE LOWEST PAID HARRIS COUNTY EMPLOYEES FOLLOWED BY AFRICAN AMERICAN WOMEN. THE MEDIAN SALARY FOR HISPANIC AND AFRICAN AMERICAN EMPLOYEES IS 20% LOWER THAN THAT FOR WHITE EMPLOYEES. AND THE FOURTH POINT.
THE MEDIAN SALARY OF BLACK AND HISPANIC WOMEN WORK IN HARRIS COUNTY IS $59,000 COMPARED TO $76K FOR WHITE MEN. 29% MORE. I THINK WHAT THIS DOES IS HELP US LEVEL THE PLAYING FIELD. THE INTENT IS NOT TO GO AND REDUCE ANYBODY'S SALARY BUT TO BRING PEOPLE UP. AT THE APPROPRIATE TIME, I'LL MAKE THAT MOTION AND HOPE THAT IT PASSES. IF WE GOT TO MAKE CHANGES WE HAVE TIME TO SPEAK ABOUT IT AFTER WE HEAR FROM THE COMMISSIONERS.
COMMISSIONER BRIONES. >> THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER ELLIS. I'M SO HAPPY WE HAVE THE RESULTS OF THE PAY EQUITY STUDY.
THANK YOU, DR. DOUGLAS FOR QUARTERBACKING THIS AND THE GAL BAER TEAM AND THE DEPARTMENTS THAT WORKED ON THIS. MY TOP PRIORITIES ARE PUTTING THIS INTO ACTION AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. I KNOW WE'VE RESERVED $50 MILLION AS SACRED SO THAT WE CAN MAKE THESE IMPLEMENTATION CHALLENGES. MY TOP PRIORITY WOULD BE TO ADDRESS THE PAY EQUITY DISPARITIES AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.
TWO, TO MAKE SURE WE'RE PRIORITIZING THE $75,000 AND UNDER. AND THREE, MAKING SURE WE'RE IN COMPLIANCE WITH ALL FEDERAL AND STATE LAWS. THAT WOULD BE MY -- I'M ALL IN. I WANT TO DO ALL OF IT AS SOON AS POSSIBLE, PERIOD. BECAUSE WE'VE BEEN WAITING TOO LONG. I'M HAPPY THAT WE'VE RAISED THE MINIMUM RAISE TO $20 AN HOUR FOR COUNTY EMPLOYEES. WE DID THAT $2500 ADJUSTMENT FOR THOSE $75,000 AND UNDER. I'M PROUD OF THE STEPS WE'VE TAKEN. AND WE NEED TO WORK WITH THE UTMOST PURPOSE AND HASTE IN IMPLEMENTING IT. I AM COMFORTABLE WITH MAKING A FRIENDLY AMENDMENT. I LOVE THE LANGUAGE THAT YOU SENT AROUND. COMMISSIONER ELLIS AND TEAM AS WELL AS HR TEAM. I DO, JUST FOR LEVEL SETTING FOR OUR TEAM, UNLESS THERE'S CIRCUMSTANCES MAKING IT VERY CLEAR THAT NO EMPLOYEE'S SALARY WILL BE REDUCED AS A RESULT OF THESE CHANGES. JUST SO THAT WE'RE BEING VERY CLEAR WITH OUR TEAM MEMBERS. BUT MY QUESTION TO YOU IS, AND THIS IS BOTH FROM, THIS IS A QUESTION FOR BOTH MR. DICKERMAN AND FOR MR. RAMOS. I I
[02:25:07]
BELIEVE, HOPEFULLY UNANIMOUSLY. AT LEAST THE MAJORITY OF THE COURT IS ALL IN IN MAKING THIS A REALITY. CAN YOU WALK US THROUGH THE RECOMMENDATIONS AND HOW THEY COMPLIMENT HR TEAM?>> OMB'S OFFICIAL RECOMMENDATION WOULD BE TO FULLY IMPLEMENT THE STUDY IN FEBRUARY. THE TOTAL PRORATING THAT THROUGH THE REST OF THE YEAR WOULD COST $48 MILLION.
>> SO FEBRUARY 1ST. >> THE FIRST PAY PERIOD IN
FEBRUARY. >> FIRST PAY PERIOD IN FEBRUARY.
THE ANNUALIZED. >> THE ANNUALIZED COST WOULD BE
$48 MILLION. >> OCA, MR. DICKERMAN, DO YOU
WANT TO ADD ANYTHING? >> THE PRORATED COST FOR THE FISCAL YEAR '26 WOULD BE $48 MILLION. THE TOTAL ANNUAL IMPACT
WOULD BE 73. >> MR. DICKERMAN DO YOU WANT TO
ADD ANYTHING TO THAT? >> NO. I AGREE. I THINK WE SHOULD FULLY IMPLEMENT THE STUDY. I THINK, YOU KNOW, THERE IS IN THE STUDY ABOUT $457,000 THAT IS FOR DEPARTMENT HEADS AND ELECTED OFFICIALS. THAT NEEDS TO BE FURTHER, THERE'S SOME LEGISLATIVE ISSUES. WE CAN'T RAISE DEPARTMENT HEAD SALARIES.
ELECTED OFFICIAL SALARIES ANY TIME WE WANT. OTHER THAN THOSE, I THINK WE SHOULD FULLY IMPLEMENT THE SALARIES.
>> DIRECTOR DOUGLAS, DID YOU WANT TO ADD ANY FURTHER
RECOMMENDATIONS? >> WE'RE IN AGREEMENT.
>> IN SUM, WE CAN BE ALL IN, FULL IMPLEMENTATION, FIRST PAY
PERIOD IN FEBRUARY? >> THAT IS CORRECT.
>> IS THAT THE SOONEST? >> THAT IS THE SOONEST KNOWING THE COMPLEXITY OF THIS PARTICULAR PROJECT AND HAVING JUST RECENTLY COMPLETING THE LAW ENFORCEMENT SALARY INCREASES, THIS IS MUCH MORE COMPLEX THAN THAT. WE BELIEVE THE FIRST PAY PERIOD, WE'RE CONFIDENT THE FIRST PAY PERIOD IN FEBRUARY,
THIS COULD BE FULLY IMPLEMENTED. >> COMMISSIONER, TO PROVIDE MORE COMPLEX, WHEN WE WERE DOING THE NEGOTIATIONS, WE LET HRT KNOW AND UNIVERSAL SERVICE KNOW 10 WEEKS IN ADVANCE. THEY WERE WORKING UNTIL THE LAST SECOND TO GET THIS IMPLEMENTED. THAT WAS WHILE IT WAS 4,000 EMPLOYEES, IT WAS ONLY I THINK SEVEN CLASSIFICATIONS THAT WE WERE WORKING ON. SO THIS IS ORDERS OF MAGNITUDE MORE WORK. I WANT TO SHOUT OUT, WHEN THE HRT TEAM, I WAS FULLY EXPECTING TO GET MY PHONE BLOWN UP BY ALL THE LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS SAYING THEIR PAY WAS WRONG. I DID NOT EXPERIENCE THAT AT ALL. I'M NOT SURE IF OTHER FOLKS GOT CALLS.
IN TERMS OF THAT LARGE SCALE OF A CHANGE THAT WE MADE, THAT WAS AN INCREDIBLE IMMATERIAL POLICEMENNATION. THANK YOU BOTH AND YOUR TEAM THAT WERE ABLE TO DO IT. FEBRUARY IS NOT JUST THE FINANCIAL REASON. WE HAVE $50 MILLION SO WE CAN AFFORD $48 IN FEBRUARY. IT IS AN IMPLEMENTATION ISSUE. RIGHT NOW, WE ARE GOING THROUGH OPEN ENROLLMENT, WHICH REQUIRES UNIVERSAL SERVICES TO BE ALL HANDS ON DECK TO GET THAT
CORRECT. >> THANK YOU. DIRECTOR DOUGLAS AND DIRECTOR RAMOS AND TEAM AND GALLAGHER. I APPRECIATE IT. SO WE'RE VERY CLEAR FOR OUR TEAM MEMBERS LISTENING. WE'RE ALL IN SUBJECT TO THE VOTE, OF COURSE. I BELIEVE IT WILL PASS AND FEBRUARY 2026 THIS IS WHEN WE'LL BE IMPLEMENTING THE ACTION WE'VE BEEN WAITING. TAKING A STEP BACK TO THIS PHILOSOPHY WE'RE SAYING. THE WAY I SEE IT, WE MUST KEEP RECRUITING AND RETAINING THE BEST TALENT IF WE'RE GOING TO DELIVER THE BEST SERVICES AND BETTER SERVICES TO THE PEOPLE OF HARRIS COUNTY.
FUNDAMENTALLY THAT'S THE NORTH STAR AS FAR AS I'M CONCERNED.
AND MAKING SURE THAT WE ARE ELIMINATING ANY OF THE INEQUITIES AND WE'RE 100% COMPLIANCE WITH STATE AND FEDERAL LAW. I'M SO HAPPY THAT WE ARE WITHIN WEEKS OF IMPLEMENTING THESE CHANGES. WITH THAT, JUST TO THE APPROXIMATELY 20,000 HARRIS COUNTY TEAM MEMBERS, THANK YOU FOR THE SERVICE YOU PROVIDE EVERY DAY. IT IS A CALLING TO COME WORK IN GOVERNMENT AND I JUST, I'M SO THANKFUL FOR THIS SERVICE AND ESPECIALLY MY PRECINCT FOUR TEAM AND I. THANK YOU, BRITTANY, DANIEL, BLAKE, HEART, HUSTLE, HIGHER STANDARDS. IF WE WANT THE HIGHER STANDARDS, WE NEED TO RECRUIT AND RETAIN THE BEST TALENT. THIS IS PARAMOUNT FROM A SERVICE, JUSTICE, OPPORTUNITY PERSPECTIVE. I'M SO THANKFUL WE HAVE THIS DATA, AND WE'RE GOING TO TAKE DECISIVE ACTION. WITH THAT, I APPRECIATE IT SO MUCH,
DIRECTOR DOUGLAS. >> THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER.
>> COMMISSIONER RAMSEY. >> DR. DOUGLAS, GOOD JOB.
>> THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER. >> YOU TOOK A VERY CHALLENGING
[02:30:02]
DIRECTION FROM THIS COURT AND WORKED WITH CONSULTANTS, AND YOU DELIVERED ON WHAT YOU WERE ASKED TO DO. I FUNDAMENTALLY HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THE WHOLE PROCESS. HAVING BEEN ACTIVE IN THE CORPORATE WORLD. HAVING WORKED FOR 50 CITIES, 20 COUNTIES AND MOST STATE AGENCIES. AGAIN, I CAN APPRECIATE HOW COMPLICATED THIS IS. AND SO WE GET A REPORT DELIVERED TODAY THAT WE'RE GOING TO CONSIDER AND POSSIBLY ADOPT. AND IT'S $48 MILLION IS THE FINANCIAL IMPACT. THAT'S JUST FOR THIS REMAINDER OF THE YEAR. THE TOTAL IMPACT IS 70 SOMETHING.>> $23 MILLION ABOVE THE BASE. >> THAT'S BASED ON A CLEAR UNDERSTANDING OF 758 CLASSIFICATIONS. MAYBE YOU ALL UNDERSTAND THE 758 CLASSIFICATIONS. I'LL ASSURE YOU MOST OF THE SUPERVISORS THAT WORK IN HARRIS COUNTY DO NOT. TO ME, IT MAKES A LOT OF SENSE TO TAKE TIME TO DISCUSS THESE CLASSIFICATIONS. AS WE IMPLEMENT. I DON'T THINK THE FIRST THING WE DO IS GO AHEAD AND JUMP TO THE SALARY INCREASES WITHOUT FULLY UNDERSTANDING THE CLASSIFICATIONS. BECAUSE BELIEVE ME, THERE'S A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT WOULD HAVE A LOT OF INPUT.
MORE INPUT THAN YOU'VE GOTTEN TODAY. I KNOW THAT BECAUSE I TALKED TO PEOPLE. SO, THIS IS A VERY CURSORY ASSESSMENT ON YOU ALL. YOU'RE PAID $1.2 MILLION. THERE'S A LIMITATION TO HOW MANY PEOPLE YOU CAN TALK TO. I GET THAT. I DO NOT THINK YOU CAN FULLY IMPLEMENT THIS CLASSIFICATION BASED SYSTEM IN SUCH A SHORT ORDER. I DO NOT THINK THAT YOU FULLY UNDERSTAND WHAT A POSITION IS WORTH BY THE PROCESS THAT YOU TOOK. NOW, YOU SAY YOU DO. YOU SAID YOU COMPARED IT. YOU DIDN'T EVEN COMPARE IT TO THE CITY OF HOUSTON. IF YOU'RE GOING TO DO A MARKET BASED STUDY, YOU REALLY DO NEED TO GO TALK TO THE CITY OF HOUSTON. THAT IS OUR NUMBER ONE COMPARISON WHEN YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT DIFFERENT POSITIONS AND DIFFERENT PEOPLE THAT DO SIMILAR ASSIGNMENTS. TRUST ME, 80% OF THE PEOPLE THAT WORK IN PRECINCT THREE MAKE LESS THAN $75,000. I KNOW THAT THAT IS A TARGETED OBJECTIVE, AND I APPRECIATE THAT AS COMMISSIONER ELLIS AND I FOCUSED ON THAT DAY ONE. WE'RE GOING TO MAKE SURE WE START THERE. BUT IT SEEMS TO ME THAT THIS WHOLE DEAL IS BASED ON THE POSITION AND NOT THE PERSON. IT SEEMS TO ME THAT PERFORMANCE IS NOT EVEN HARDLY CONSIDERED. AT LEAST IN THIS INITIAL STEP. LOOKS LIKE WE'RE GOING TO BE MAKING A RECOMMENDATION BASED ON KNOWING NOTHING ABOUT PERFORMANCE WITHIN POSITIONS. SEEMS TO BE LIMITED TO GENERIC JOB DESCRIPTION. I THINK WHAT YOU'RE GOING TO END UP DOING, AND I KNOW THIS BECAUSE I WORK WITH PEOPLE. RECRUITED PEOPLE. AND OBJECTIVELY, REVIEWED PEOPLE. BUT YOU'RE GOING TO LIMIT THEIR GROWTH. YOU'RE GOING TO LIMIT THEIR PERSONAL GOALS. BECAUSE NOW THEY'RE IN A GENERIC POSITION. IT WASN'T BASED ON ANYTHING MERIT WISE. IT WAS BASED ON THEY'RE IN SOME KIND OF CLASSIFICATION THAT YOU ALL CAME UP WITH. THEY DIDN'T COME UP WITH THAT. YOU ALL CAME UP WITH THAT. SO IT'S PROBLEMATIC.
I THINK THE TERM WAS NO EMOTION WAS USED IN THIS. BUT REALLY, THERE'S NO UNDERSTANDING OF THE UNIQUE PERFORMANCE THAT OUR PEOPLE ARE MAKING. WE GOT GREAT, GREAT PEOPLE AT THE COUNTY.
THEY'RE OUT THERE SUPERVISING, MAKING DECISIONS EVERY DAY. I PROMISE YOU, WHAT HAPPENS IN ONE POSITION BY A PERSON AND THE NUMBER OF THINGS THAT THEY GET INVOLVED WITH IN THAT POSITION, YOU CAN'T PUT THAT INTO SPECIFIC DETAILS. PARTICULARLY, YOU CAN'T DETERMINE, I DON'T THINK, LEGITIMATELY DETERMINE WHAT THAT POSITION SHOULD BE PAID. PARTICULARLY, YOU DID NOT EVEN TAKE INTO ACCOUNT BENEFITS. AND I JUST FIND THAT SHOCKING.
WE'VE HAD THIS CONVERSATION BEFORE. IN THE CORN FERRY
[02:35:05]
DEBACLE. WE TOOK A RECOMMENDATION FROM CORN FERRY.WE DID SOME THINGS. AND IT WAS WRONG. AND NOW WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO GO BACK AND FIX IT. I DON'T WANT TO HAVE TO GO BACK AND FIX ANYTHING ONCE WE IMPLEMENT SOMETHING TOO EARLY.
SO I WOULD RECOMMEND WE SLOW IT DOWN. I WOULD SAY, COMMISSIONER, THAT THE PAY DISPARITIES RELATED TO ETHNICITY AND AGE, I THINK THAT WAS ROUGHLY $7.5 MILLION. IF I REMEMBER THE REFERENCE.
>> 7.4. >> ADDRESS THAT. BUT THE OTHER 40 SOMETHING MILLION DOLLARS THAT YOU'RE LOOKING AT DOING, MAN, SLOW THIS THING DOWN. LET'S GET IT RIGHT. I PROMISE YOU THE PEOPLE THAT ARE GOING TO HAVE TO IMPLEMENT THIS AREN'T SITTING IN THIS ROOM. THE PEOPLE THAT ARE GOING TO IMPLEMENT THIS ARE OUT THERE MAKING A DIFFERENCE IN THE COUNTY DAY IN AND DAY OUT. SO, TAKE A YEAR. TAKE A YEAR AND SEE IF YOU GOT THE CLASSIFICATIONS RIGHT. DON'T JUMP TO THE CONCLUSION THAT WELL, THIS IS A CLASSIFICATION AND IT'S CLEAR THAT WE HAVE A PROBLEM BETWEEN THIS GROUP AND THAT GROUP. TAKE THE TIME AND LISTEN TO OUR PEOPLE. TALK TO OUR PEOPLE. WHEN YOU IMPLEMENT THE CLASSIFICATIONS. IMPLEMENT THE CLASSIFICATIONS. JUST PUT A PAUSE ON PUTTING THE DOLLARS OUT THERE UNTIL WE UNDERSTAND IT AND WE GET IT RIGHT. SO I'M, I'LL HAVE A MOTION TO BE MADE AT SOME POINT THAT WE IMPLEMENT THE CLASSIFICATIONS BUT LET'S TAKE THE TIME AND LISTEN TO OUR PEOPLE. I DON'T THINK WE'VE LISTENED TO OUR PEOPLE AND OUR SUPERVISORS AND THOSE PEOPLE THAT ARE GOING TO HAVE TO
IMPLEMENT IT. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER
GARCIA. >> THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER.
THANK YOU FOR THE PRESENTATION. THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORK ON THIS.
YOU KNOW, WHILE THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IS MAKING THINGS DIFFICULT ON WORKING FAMILIES, I'M GLAD THAT WE ARE AT LEAST DOING OUR PART TO TRY TO HELP OUR LOCAL WORKING FAMILIES. AND PROUD OF THE WORK, COMMISSIONER, THAT WE'RE DOING HERE. A COUPLE OF THINGS. COMMISSIONER RAMSEY JUST SAID SOME OF THE CLASSIFICATION WAS DONE IN TERMS OF ETHNICITY OR SOME OF THE IDENTIFYING OF OUR EMPLOYEES. WAS THE HISPANIC COMMUNITY OR HISPANIC EMPLOYEES IDENTIFIED IN THIS REGARD?
>> I WILL LET THEM SPEAK SPECIFICALLY, BUT ALL EMPLOYEES WERE EVALUATED IN REGARD TO PAY INEQUITIES. THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN INCLUSIVE OF THE HISPANIC AND LATINO EMPLOYEES AS WELL.
>> GOOD DEAL. >> IT'S A GOOD QUESTION. I THINK THE PHRASING JUST TO CLARIFY. YOU MENTIONED THE CLASSIFICATION PART. WHEN WE WERE LOOKING AT CLASSIFICATIONS WE WERE DOING THE JOB SHADOWING AND THE OCCUPATIONAL PANELS AND READING THE JOB DESCRIPTIONS AND ALL THE DESCRIPTION QUESTIONNAIRES. FOR THE PAY EQUITY STUDY I SPOKE ABOUT, THAT'S NOT AGNOSTIC. THAT'S WHAT WE CARE ABOUT AND CARE
ABOUT. THAT'S 100% INCLUDED. >> GOOD DEAL. GOING BACK TO THE CLASSIFICATION, SOME OF THE JOBS DO INDICATE A PREFERENCE OF A SECOND LANGUAGE. HOW IS THAT BEING WORKED INTO THIS?
>> SO, IN ADDITION, WHEN YOU'RE LOOKING AT THE CLASSIFICATION THAT WILL BE PART OF THE JOB DESCRIPTION NOW SHOULD IT BE REQUIRED FOR BILINGUAL, REGARDLESS OF THE LANGUAGE. AND THEN FROM THERE, WE WILL ALSO FACTOR IN, I BELIEVE, CURRENTLY THERE IS AN ALLOWANCE FOR BILINGUAL IF IT'S REQUIRED OR NEEDED FOR THE JOB. THAT WILL BE FACTORED IN AS WELL. TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU ARE ABLE TO RECRUIT AND EVEN RETAIN THE TALENT WITH THE SKILL SET OF BILINGUAL LANGUAGE.
>> GOOD DEAL. THANK YOU. >> THEY SHOULD HAVE HAD ME TAKE
SPANISH INSTEAD OF FRENCH. >> IF YOU LEARNED SPANISH FIRST, YOU WOULD HAVE HELD ON TO THE FRENCH. AND THEN IN TERMS OF THE CLASSIFICATIONS, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT GOVERNMENT IS ABSOLUTELY NOTORIOUS ABOUT AND DANIEL, I'M NOT SURE IF IT'S YOU OR THE OCA, BUT WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO WORK TO CONTROL THE EITHER FROM THE DIRECTOR'S LEVEL OR FROM OUR LEVEL. THE FREEDOM TO CONSTRUCT CLASSIFICATIONS. SOMETIMES JUST BECAUSE. WE DON'T WANT TO DISPLACE SOMEONE. WE WANT TO
[02:40:03]
TAKE CARE OF SOMEBODY. A LOT OF THAT TENDS TO HAPPEN. WE CREATE SPECIAL ASSISTANT TO THE SPECIAL ASSISTANT TO THE ASSISTANT OF THE DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS. AND SO, THERE'S, JUST TO BE TRANSPARENT, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO MAKE SURE TO CONTROL THAT. OTHERWISE, WE'LL FIND OURSELVES DOING MORE OF THESE STUDIES MORE FREQUENTLY THAN WE NEED TO.>> 100%, COMMISSIONER. MUSIC TO MY EARS. THAT WAS ONE OF THE THINGS THAT PLAGUED US. EVERY TIME THERE WAS A SPECIAL, A DEPARTMENT HAD A RECRUITING, THEY CREATED A SEPARATE JOB TITLE CLASSIFICATION WHICH MEANT THERE WAS NO NORMALIZING HOW THAT PERSON FIT IN COMPARED TO DOING THE SAME JOB OR FUNCTIONALLY THE SAME JOB IN ANOTHER. I BELIEVE WE'LL BE WORKING ON POLICIES TO COME ALONG WITH THIS. IN ADVANCE OF THE FIRST PAYCHECK TO ENSURE WE'RE NOT IN THE SAME SPOT
AGAIN. >> COMMISSIONER, I JUST WANT TO ADD TO THAT. AS WE IMPLEMENT THIS, WE MAY NEED TO FREEZE SOME OF THE MOVEMENT AROUND. AGAIN, IF WE DON'T CHANGE OUR POLICIES ON HOW CLASSIFICATIONS AND PAY DECISIONS ARE MADE, THEN WE'LL BE RIGHT BACK IN THIS PLACE IN TWO YEARS. IF WE RERUN THE STUDY IT'LL SHOW SIMILAR INEQUITIES. WE DON'T WANT TO SEE THAT.
>> RIGHT NOW, WHILE WE HAVE A HIRING FREEZE, MAYBE THIS IS THE
PERFECT TIME TO DO THAT. >> ABSOLUTELY. COMMISSIONER, I'LL JUST ADD TITLE INFLATION IS ALSO AN ISSUE AS WELL. AS WE THINK ABOUT POLICY AND TRULY CREATING THE STRUCTURE AROUND THIS, WE'LL HAVE TO ORGANIZATIONALLY, WE'LL HAVE TO
TIGHTEN THAT UP AS WELL. >> YEAH. WE TEND TO CREATE NEW TITLES SO THAT SOME MONEY CAN COME WITH IT. AGAIN, THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORK ON THIS. JUST GOING FORWARD, IF YOU CAN MAKE SURE TO BE EMPHASIZE THOSE EMPLOYEES WITH BILINGUAL SKILLS AND HOW THAT PLAYS INTO THE CLASSIFICATION PROCESS.
>> IT'S A VERY IMPORTANT ISSUE. I KNOW WE'RE GOING TO GET TO SPEAKERS. IT IS SUCH AN IMPORTANT ISSUE. JUST WANT TO LET YOU ALL KNOW WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT. I WANT TO STRESS TO MY COLLEAGUES I CALLED FOR THIS IN 2022. AND THEN A DECISION WAS MADE LATER AT SOME POINT WE NEEDED TO GO GET OUTSIDE CONSULTANT TO DO A STUDY. SO THIS IS ALMOST THREE YEARS. OBVIOUSLY WE MOVE MUCH MORE RAPIDLY WITH EXECUTIVE PAY, WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT PAY. THEY'RE ALL IMPORTANT. EVERY ONE OF THEM. BUT THIS IS THREE-FOURTHS OF OUR WORK FORCE.
AND REVEREND JESSE JACKSON USED TO TALK ABOUT THE EARLY BUS IN THE SPEECH IN '84 AND '88. THESE PEOPLE ARE THE BACKBONE.
THEY'RE THE ONES DURING THE PANDEMIC. IF THEY DON'T DO THEIR PART, THOSE OF US WHO ARE EXECUTIVES, NO NEED FOR US TO COME IN. THEY ALWAYS HAVE TO WORK. MANY OF THESE PEOPLE ARE NOT THE ONES WHO GET THE BENEFIT OF A FLEX SCHEDULE, BY THE WAY.
THEY'RE NOT THE ONES THAT WE'RE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO LURE BACK IN TO THE OFFICE. THEY HAVE TO WORK EARLY DAY. EVERY DAY AND GET IN VERY EARLY. THAT'S WHY I HOPE THAT WE'LL ACT NOW. I GET IT. ON THE $23 MILLION, BUT WE GOT TO START SOMEWHERE. WE'VE WAITED SO LONG. I JUST THINK WE LOSE THOSE VALUABLE EMPLOYEES AT A TIME WHEN WITH THE FREEZE WE'RE ASKING PEOPLE WHO ARE HERE TO DO MORE WITH LESS. AND I ALSO WOULD SUGGEST TO YOU THAT THERE IS SOME POTENTIAL OF LEGAL LIABILITY. BECAUSE NOW WE KNOW THAT THE SYSTEM WE HAVE IN PLACE HAS BEEN DISCRIMINATORY AGAINST CERTAIN GROUPS. REGARDLESS OF WHETHER THERE'S LEGAL LIABILITY OR NOT, IT'S JUST THE RIGHT THING TO DO. SO I WANT TO READ THE MOTION. I'LL DO IT LATER. BUT I WANT THE PUBLIC TO HAVE SOME SENSE OF WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT. I WOULD HOPE WE MOVE TODAY. WE'VE ASKED THESE PEOPLE TO WAIT FOR JUST FAR TOO LONG IN MY JUDGMENT. COMMISSIONER BRIONES.
>> I COULDN'T AGREE MORE WITH YOU. IT'S THREE YEARS IN PROGRESS, AND I'M READY TO MOVE FORWARD. A FEW CLARIFYING QUESTIONS. ONE, WITH REGARD TO PEER ORGANIZATIONS AND THE CUSTOMIZED SURVEY, WHO WAS INVITED AND I'M SEEING THAT THE CITY OF HOUSTON DID RESPOND. IS THAT RIGHT?
>> THE CITY OF HOUSTON I BELIEVE DID NOT RESPOND.
>> I'M SEEING IT IN THE DATA PROVIDED COLUMN.
>> SORRY. I DON'T HAVE THAT SLIDE HANDY.
>> THAT'S FOR THE LAW ENFORCEMENT.
>> THEY DID NOT. >> THE OTHER QUESTION IS IN REGARD TO BENEFITS. CAN YOU PLEASE GO INTO DETAIL INTO HOW BENEFITS AND THE TOTAL COMPENSATION PACKAGE WAS
[02:45:01]
ANALYZED. >> IN THIS THE STUDY WAS FOCUSED ON BASE PAY. BENEFITS WERE NOT. A DEEP DIVE INTO BENEFITS WERE NOT A PART OF THE STUDY. YOU'LL SEE THERE WERE SOME QUESTIONS ABOUT PAY PRACTICES AND PAY ADMINISTRATION TO THE CUSTOM ORGANIZATIONS THAT THEY DID PROVIDE. WE HAVE THAT IN THE APPENDIX FOR YOU. IT WAS NOT A DEEP DIVE INTO THE BENEFITS OF THE COUNTY. IT WAS MORE JUST THE CONCERN WITH THE BASE PAY.
>> CAN YOU PLEASE ADD TO THAT AND DANIEL, I KNOW YOU WANT TO.
>> SURE. WE'VE DONE THE BASELINING. WHAT I WOULD SAY IS WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE ORGANIZATIONS ON LEAVE. WE ARE RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE. RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE IN TERMS OF HOW THE AMOUNT OF BENEFITS WE GIVE. IN TERMS OF PENSION, WE ARE ROUGHLY THE SAME AS OTHER PEER COUNTIES IN TEXAS. THERE'S A LOT OF RANGE IN TERMS OF PENSIONS AND OUTSIDE OF TEXAS. IT'S REALLY THE HEALTHCARE WHERE WE SEE KIND OF THE BIG DISPARITY. I'VE REPORTED HERE, OUR TWO HEALTH PLANS ARE THE FIRST, SECOND MOST EXPENSIVE IN THE STATE. SO THAT'S WHERE WE SEE A LITTLE BIT OF DISPARITY. IN TERMS OF THE REST OF THE BENEFITS, IN TERMS OF PEER ORGANIZATIONS, WE'RE RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE.
>> THANK YOU. >> I WOULD HAVE TO DISAGREE WITH
THAT. >> THANK YOU, DIRECTOR RAMOS.
DID YOU WANT TO ADD TO THAT. >> HE STOLE MY THUNDER.
>> THANK YOU. WITH REGARD TO THE PAY EQUITY DISPARITIES, THE ESTIMATED $7.4 MILLION. OBVIOUSLY AS A WOMAN, AS A MINORITY, AS A LATINA, I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT ESTIMATED CALCULATION ADDRESSES NOT ONLY THE 94 CENTS MAKE TO A'S DOLLAR BUT ALSO THE 80% NUMBER THAT WAS DISCUSSED TO THE THREE ETHNIC GROUPS IN COMPARISON TO THE WHITE GROUPS? WILL THAT FULLY
100% ADDRESS THE ISSUE? >> TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION, YES.
IT WILL REQUIRE INVESTIGATIONS TO UNDERSTAND WHY THESE ARE IN PLACE AND WHETHER OR NOT THERE'S A LEGITIMATE AND VALID BUSINESS REASON FOR THESE. AND SO WE DO EXPECT THAT THERE WILL BE IN TERMS OF THE TOTAL COST THAT $7.4 MILLION. WE EXPECT THAT TO BE REDUCED. TO WHAT EXTENT, I'M UNABLE TO GIVE YOU.
ABSOLUTELY. WE WILL LIFT THE HOOD IN THESE INVESTIGATIONS AND WORKING WITH DEPARTMENTS TO UNDERSTAND WHY THESE DISPARITIES EXIST. AND WHAT WE NEED TO DO TO ADDRESS THEM.
>> PERFECT. I'M VERY EXCITED. I KNOW THE MOTION. DANIEL, DID YOU
WANT TO ADD? >> I DID WANT TO SAY WE DIDN'T TALK DEEPLY ABOUT IT. THE NEXT STEPS, DEPARTMENTS ARE GOING TO SEE THE ACTUAL MAPPINGS TO CLASSIFICATIONS AND THEY'LL BE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR IF FOLKS FEEL LIKE THEY'RE MISCLASSIFIED TO COME BACK AND MAKE THEIR CASE IF THEY WEREN'T TREATED CORRECTLY.
>> ALL THAT HAS TO HAPPEN BEFORE FEBRUARY?
>> YES. BUT WE CAN DO IT. >> I'M TALKING ABOUT EVERYBODY ELSE. THE 20,000 PEOPLE OUT THERE, JESSE. NOT JUST YOU.
>> I UNDERSTAND, COMMISSIONER. WE THINK IT'S FEASIBLE.
>> DIRECTOR DOUGLAS, SORRY. ONE OTHER THING. YOU AGREE WITH WHAT
JESSE JUST SAID? >> I DO AGREE. I DO AGREE.
>> SO, I'M THRILLED. THANK YOU, AGAIN. I BELIEVE SO PASSIONATELY WE NEED TO BE PAYING FAIRLY, COMPETITIVELY AND ABSOLUTELY EQUITABLY. THIS IS OF PAIR MOUNT IMPORTANCE. ON THE CORRESPONDING TO THE HEART, HUSTLE AND HIGHER STANDARDS, I KNOW WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THIS OVER THE LAST THREE YEARS. PART OF THE NORTH STAR FOR RECRUITING AND RETAINING THE BEST TALENT AND SOMETHING, BECAUSE WE DID OUR OWN PAY DISPARITY AND COME UP WITH A WHOLE PERFORMANCE EVALUATION SYSTEM. WE HAVE KPI'S FOR EVERY TEAM MEMBER. WE HAVE PERFORMANCE REVIEWS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR.
SELF-EVALUATION, MANAGER EVALUATION. WE HAVE, AGAIN, AS A CHIEF TALENT OFFICER THIS MEANS SO MUCH. THIS IS NOT ONLY ABOUT FAIRNESS AND AFFORDABILITY, BUT IT'S ALSO TO DELIVER EXCELLENCE. WE ARE DEMANDING EXCELLENCE. WE NEED TO RECRUIT AND RETAIN EXCELLENCE. SO, I KNOW RIGHT NOW AS WE GEAR AND ARE LASER FOCUSED TO IMPLEMENTATION TO THE PAY PERIOD IN FEBRUARY, MY ASK. MY MACRO ASK IS WE DRIVE TO MAKING SURE WE'RE BEING TRANSPARENT AND HOLDING EVERYONE ACCOUNTABLE TO THE HIGHEST OF STANDARDS. THIS WILL BE A WORK OF PROGRESSION.
THIS IS A STEP. IN ORDER TO DELIVER EXCELLENCE TO THE PEOPLE AND THERE IS MORE TO COME ON THIS JOURNEY AS WE MAXIMIZE THE WAY WE APPROACH TALENT HERE. I JUST WANT TO THANK MY TEAM BEING ON THE JOURNEY WITH ME. I LOOK FORWARD TO IT RATING TOGETHER AS
[02:50:03]
THE COUNTY SO WE'RE DOING THE BEST. COMMISSIONER ELLIS, I'M HAPPY WITH THE MOTIONS AND READY TO SECOND THEM WHEN YOU'REREADY. >> COMMISSIONER RAMSEY.
>> QUICKLY. A COUPLE OF POINTS. I KNOW MR. RAMOS, YOU DID A DEEP DIVE INTO THE BENEFITS OF HARRIS COUNTY COMPARED TO THE CITY OF HOUSTON. YOUR FINDINGS THERE WERE OUR BENEFITS WERE SIGNIFICANTLY MORE THAN THE CITY OF HOUSTON. IS THAT ACCURATE?
>> ON HEALTHCARE. IT WAS ABOUT $20 MILLION DISPARITY BETWEEN THE LAW ENFORCEMENT IN TERMS OF PREMIUMS PAID.
>> RIGHT. AND UPON INVESTING HARRIS COUNTY GUARANTEES A 225% MATCH ON EMPLOYEE CONTRIBUTIONS. THAT'S PRETTY TYPICAL? YOU'RE
SAYING THAT'S TYPICAL? >> THAT'S INCREDIBLY GENEROUS COMPARED TO THE PRIVATE SECTOR. SPECIFIC TO THE ANALYSIS WE DID FOR THE CITY OF HOUSTON, WE HAVE A DIFFERENT STRUCTURE. OURS IS MORE OF A DEFINED CONTRIBUTION THAT TURNS INTO A DEFINED BENEFIT. THERE'S IS A TRUE DEFINED PENSION. WHEN YOU FACTOR IN THE DROP, WE'RE ROUGHLY IN TERMS OF TOTAL VALUE WE'RE
SIMILAR. >> THERE'S 254 COUNTIES IN TEXAS. AND YOU'RE SAYING MOST OF THOSE COUNTIES, PARTICULARLY MAYBE THE ONES THAT COMPARE MORE TO US, THEY DO THE 225%.
>> OF THE BIG COUNTIES. I THINK THE LOWEST IS 200%.
>> SO, AGAIN, I AM ADVOCATING THAT WE CAN DO THE DISPARITIES, WHICH IS PARTICULARLY RELATED TO ETHNICITY AND AGE. I'M SAYING THAT'S A $7 MILLION INVESTMENT. WE'RE NOT TALKING ABOUT DOING JUST THAT. WE'RE TALKING ABOUT DOING THAT AND WE KEEP REFERENCING WHAT WE NEED TO ADDRESS THE PROBLEMS IN THESE ISSUES AND THESE DISPARITIES. I'M SAYING LET'S DO THAT.
ADDRESS THE DISPARITIES. THAT'S $7 MILLION. I'M SAYING WE SHOULD GET MORE INFORMATION ON THE CLASSIFICATIONS. THAT'S GOING TO BE THE 40 SOMETHING MILLION THIS YEAR. WE DON'T KNOW ENOUGH TO KNOW THAT RIGHT NOW. I DON'T THINK.
>> I'M FOR DOING IT ALL AND FOR DOING IT NOW. DANIEL, I WILL ALWAYS FIGHT REDUCING THE BENEFITS. NOW I MAY LOSE, BUT IT'LL BE WITH MY COLD DEAD HANDS. WE'RE NOT REDUCING.
THAT'S WHY THESE PEOPLE HAVE WAITED ALL THESE TIMES. BECAUSE OF THE BENEFITS. THANK YOU, ALL. LET'S GO TO PUBLIC SPEAKERS ON THIS ITEM, AND WE'LL HEAR FROM THE OTHER PUBLIC SPEARS AND VOTE ON THIS ITEM AND MAYBE THE CONSENT AGENDA.
[Appearances Before Court (Part 2 of 2)]
>> THANKS, AGAIN. >> SO THESE WILL BE SPEAKERS ON
THIS ITEM FIRST. >> FOR ITEM 266, GERMO VASQUEZ AND ELSA IT HAS FLORES. YOU EACH HAVE ONE MINUTE.
>> GOOD MORNING, COMMISSIONERS. MY NAME IS GERO VAZQUEZ AND I'M THE ADMINISTRATOR -- IT'S PROUDLY REPRESENTED HARRIS COUNTY EMPLOYEES NOW FOR OVER 50 YEARS. I'M HERE TODAY TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT. FOR THE PAY EQUITY STUDY THAT'S BEING CONDUCTED. THIS STUDY PROVIDES VALUABLE INSIGHTS INTO WHAT IS NEEDED TO IMPROVE THE PAY SYSTEM FOR OVER 7,000 CIVILIAN EMPLOYEES. YOUR CONTINUED LEADERSHIP WILL ENSURE THAT ANY NEW OR FUTURE PAY SYSTEMS WILL ADDRESS LONGEVITY, PAY EQUITY, COMPRESSION AND A REAL LIVING WAGE. OUR MEMBERSHIP LOOKS FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU AND THE HARRIS COUNTY TEAM TO SHARE ADDITIONAL SUGGESTIONS THAT WE WORK TOGETHER TO KEEP HARRIS COUNTY A TOP EMPLOYER IN OUR COMMUNITY. YOUR SUPPORT IN ADOPTING THESE RECOMMENDATIONS AND THE PAY PLAN WILL LET COUNTY EMPLOYEES KNOW THAT THEY MATTER, TOO. IT SENDS A STRONG, STRONG MESSAGE THAT YOU SEE THEM AND RECOGNIZE THE ESSENTIAL SERVICES
THEY PROVIDE TO THEIR COMMUNITY. >> THANK YOU. YOUR TIME IS UP.
>> THANK YOU, MR. VASQUEZ. >> GOOD MORNING, EVERYBODY. MY NAME IS ELSA FLORES. I'M THE PRESIDENT OF SCIU HERE IN TEXAS.
I'M HERE TO SPEAK ABOUT THE PAY INEQUITIES. LET ME JUST SAY HOW MUCH I APPRECIATE THIS WAS LOOKED INTO. I WOULD LOVE TO SAY THAT LOOKING AT THAT DATA WAS SURPRISING TO ME, BUT UNFORTUNATELY, PAY INEQUITY IS SOMETHING PREVAILING. WHETHER IT'S IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR AND SADLY IN THE PUBLIC SECTOR. I
[02:55:02]
THINK IT'S NOT ONLY WRONG, BUT IT'S UNJUSTIFIABLE TO HAVE PAY INEQUITY. TO HAVE SOMEONE, BASED ON THEIR ETHNICITY OR EVEN BASED ON THEIR GENDER GET PAID LESS FOR DOING THE SAME AMOUNT OF WORK, IT'S A DEMORALIZING IMPACT ON THE WORK FORCE. THESE ARE, HARRIS COUNTY HAS WITHIN OF THE MOST DIVERSE COMMUNITIES.AND I KNOW THAT IT'S NOT THE VALUES THAT THIS COURT HAS LIVED FOR. SO I COMMEND THEM FOR THE STUDY. BUT IT'S NOT JUST DOING THE STUDY. THE IMPORTANT THING IS ACTUALLY TAKING ACTION.
>> THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR WORK
ON THIS. >> MOVING ON TO THE REST OF THE SPEAKERS.
>> HELLO. GOOD AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS OLU PETERS, AND I'M A JUNIOR. I'M A FELLOW AND PROUD TO HELP ENSURE OUR COMMUNITY'S VOICE IS HEARD. IT'S ONE OF THE MOST DIVERSE AREAS IN THE COUNTY WITH 53% HISPANIC, 29% BLACK AND 12% ASIAN. MANY ARE IMMIGRANTS WORKING TIRELESSLY TO HELP BUILD A BETTER FUTURE. ONE OF THE BIGGEST CHALLENGES THAT WE FACE IS THE DIGITAL DIVIDE. MANY FAMILIES SIMPLY CAN'T AFFORD LAPTOPS THEIR CHILDREN NEED FOR SCHOOL AND WORK. BECAUSE SINCE COVID, MOST SCHOOL WORK HAS MOVED ONLINE. ACCESS TO A CHROME BOOK OPENS DOORS TO JOB OPPORTUNITIES AND LET'S TAKE A MOMENT TO LOOK AROUND. WE SEE MOST OF THE PEOPLE IN THIS ROOM HAVE A LAPTOP IN THEIR HAND AND ABLE TO WORK MORE EFFICIENTLY. IN 2025, HAVING A CHROME BOOK IS A NECESSITY. AND ALSO I WANT TO SAY 2025 COMMISSIONERS AND
EVERYONE. >> WE'RE SO PROUD OF YOU. THANK
YOU FOR BEING HERE. >> YES. THANK YOU. YOU DID VERY, VERY WELL
>> GOOD AFTERNOON, COMMISSIONERS. MY NAME IS STEPHANIE TO REST. RECEIVING MY CHROME BOOK COMPLETELY CHANGED MY SCHOOL EXPERIENCE. IT WAS ABOUT THE DOORS OF OPPORTUNITIES OPENED UP TO ME. WITH IT, I CAN TAKE ONLINE CLASSES AND COMPLETE MY WORK ON TIME AFTER SCHOOL. BEFORE THIS PROGRAM, I COULDN'T DO ANY OF THAT. NOW I CAN LEARN AND GROW BEYOND THE CLASSROOM.
WE USE TECHNOLOGY FOR RESEARCH IN OUR SCHOOL ASSIGNMENTS AND AS A SOCIETY, WE RELY ON ACCESS TO SUCCEED, ON INTERNET ACCESS TO SUCCEED. IT'S NOT ABOUT GIVING STUDENTS DEVICES, IT'S ABOUT OPPORTUNITIES. IN A WORLD WHERE 92% OF JOBS REQUIRE DIGITAL SKILLS. CONTINUE THE CHROME BOOK DISTRIBUTION PROGRAM WILL EMPOWER STUDENTS, FAMILIES AND STUDENTS ACROSS HOUSTON. DON'T LET OUR PROGRESS FADE. THANK YOU, COMMISSIONERS FOR
SUPPORTING OUR FUTURE. >> THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE AND
ADVOCATING FOR YOUR COMMUNITY. >> GOOD MORNING. GOOD AFTERNOON, COMMISSIONERS. MY NAME IS ERICA AND I'M A JUNIOR AS WELL AS A FELLOW. I LIVE IN HARRIS COUNTY DISTRICT FOUR AND I'M PROUD TO REPRESENT YOUTH VOICES WHO CARE DEEPLY ABOUT EQUITY AND OPPORTUNITY IN OUR COMMUNITY. THREE YEARS AGO, ALEF DISTRIBUTED 300 CHROME BOOKS TO HELP STUDENTS BRIDGE THE DIGITAL DIVIDE. THAT EFFORT MADE A DIFFERENCE, BUT THE NEED HAS ONLY GROWN. MANY FAMILIES IN MY DISTRICT STILL LACK LAPTOPS OR STABLE WIFI AT HOME. WITHOUT THEM, STUDENTS STRUGGLE TO COMPLETE ASSIGNMENTS, APPLY FOR SCHOLARSHIPS OR ATTEND VIRTUAL.
THE DIGITAL DIVIDE IS MORE THAN A TECHNOLOGY GAP. IT'S AN OPPORTUNITY GAP. IT DETERMINES WHO CAN FULLY PARTICIPATE IN MODERN EDUCATION AND WHO CAN, WHO GETS LEFT BEHIND. PROGRAMS THAT FIND BROAD BAND ACCESS DEVICE AND DIGITAL LITERACY TRAINING HELP CLOSE THE GAP AND CREATE REAL INCLUSION. BY
CONTINUING TO SUPPORT. >> THANK YOU. YOUR TIME IS UP.
>> THANK YOU. >> GOOD MORNING, COMMISSIONERS COURT. MY NAME IS CINDY AND I'M A JUNIOR, AND I'M HERE AS AN EVENTS ASSOCIATES. I WOULD LIKE TO THANK YOU PRECINCT FOUR FOR GIVING ME THE OPPORTUNITY TO ADVOCATE. SINCE COVID, OUR SOCIETY SIGNIFICANTLY BECOME MORE DEPENDENT ON TECHNOLOGY.
EDUCATION HAS BEEN HEAVILY AFFECTED BY THIS AS THE MAJORITY OF ASSIGNMENTS AND OPPORTUNITIES ARE FOUND ONLINE. DUE TO ALL THE CHANGES, DIGITAL LITERACY HAS PROVEN TO BE A HARD SKILL AND CONTINUE TO BECOME RELEVANT AS WE DEVELOP AS SOCIETY. IT ALLOWS
[03:00:01]
STUDENTS TO PRACTICE THE DIGITAL SKILLS AT HOME AS THEY DON'T HAVE THE RESOURCES TO GET A LAPTOP THEMSELVES. ESPECIALLY AT MY SCHOOL, A LOT OF STUDENTS USE THE LAPTOPS TO GO TO RESOURCES LIKE CANVAS, GOOGLE, MICROSOFT AND OTHER DIGITAL PLATFORMS BEYOND THE CLASSROOM. THE LOSS OF THE CHROME BOOK DISTRIBUTION PROGRAM TENDS TO WIDEN THE DIVIDE BETWEEN REVERSE AND REVERSE PROGRESS MADE BY HELPING UNDERSERVED STUDENTS.>> THANK YOU. YOUR TIME IS UP. >> THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.
>> THANK YOU, GUYS. >> NEXT IS JACOB ON ITEM 201 OF PRECINCT ONE. AMANDA ROSE ON ITEM 223 OF PRECINCT FOUR.
SHANNON DAVIS-HUNTER ON 226 AND 227. YOU EACH HAVE ONE MINUTE.
>> YES, SIR. >> YOU'VE GOT THIS.
>> HAPPY HALLOWEEN TIME. TO THE SPANISH SPEAKERS. NOW, WE BEGIN
WITH THIS. >> THANK YOU. YOUR TIME IS UP.
>> DON'T FORGET TO TURN YOUR MUSIC OFF THERE, JACOB.
>> I'LL BE DANCING FOR THE REST OF COURT.
JUST HIT THE VOLUME THERE, MAYBE. WE'LL JUST LET YOU THRILL ON OUT IN THE HALL. YOU CAN JUST TAKE IT IN THE HALL.
THAT WILL WORK OUT. >> THANK YOU, ANN.
>> THANK YOU. >> THAT'S A TOUGH ONE TO BEAT, I HAVE TO SAY. GOOD AFTERNOON, COMMISSIONERS. MY NAME IS AMANDA ROSE, PRESIDENT OF KATY PRIDE AND MY PRONOUNS ARE THEY THEM. I WANT TO TAKE A MOMENT TO EXPRESS MY GRATITUDE TO COMMISSIONER BRIONES AND HER TEAM. MANY OF US WERE HEARTBROKEN. AND COMMISSIONER BRIONES DIDN'T HESITATE TO STEP UP. SHE OPENED UP HER ARMS, MADE IT CLEAR THROUGH HER WORDS AND ACTIONS THAT EVERYONE IS WELCOME IN PRECINCT FOUR. COMMISSIONER BRIONES SHOWED WHAT EXCEPTIONAL LEADERSHIP TRULY LOOKS LIKE.
LEADERSHIP GROUNDED IN COURAGE, INTEGRITY AND COMPAGES. SHE STOOD FIRM IN HER DECISION AND SHE STOOD FIRM IN HER DECISION, PROUD AND CONFIDENT IN DOING WHAT WAS RIGHT WHEN IT WASN'T EASY. SHE MADE SPACE FOR OUR CELEBRATION TO CONTINUE AND REMINDED US WHAT INCLUSION IN ACTION LOOKED LIKE. WHEN SHE ARRIVED, IT WAS LIKE JOY WENT THROUGH THE CROWD. I WANT MY PICTURE WITH HER. IN THAT MOMENT, SHE BECAME A REAL LIFE SUPER HERO TO SO MANY WHO HAVE LONGED TO FEEL SEEN AND VALUED.
BECAUSE OF HER. >> THANK YOU. YOUR TIME IS UP.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH. YOU'RE ALWAYS WELCOME.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON. I AM SHANNON DAVIS-HUNTER. VIA ITEMS 226 AND 227, WE ARE REQUESTING APPROVAL FOR THE BOND ISSUANCES RELATED TO THE APARTMENTS RESPECTIVELY. BOTH PROJECTS PREVIOUSLY BEEN
[03:05:03]
APPROVED FOR THE RESOLUTION OF NO OBJECTION. THAT WAS BACK IN JUNE. BOTH PROJECTS ARE 100% AFFORDABLE TO FAMILIES EARNING LESS THAN 60% OF THE AREA MEDIAN INCOME. AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, BOTH PROJECTS ARE ALREADY CONSTRUCTED AND INHABITED. THEY ARE TO BE REHABILITATED WITH LOW INCOME HOUSING TAX CREDITS RETURNING HARRIS COUNTY TAX DOLLARS TO OUR WONDERFUL COUNTY FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO PRESERVE AND IMPROVE EXISTING AFFORDABLE HOUSING. APPROXIMATELY 250 UNITS EACH.NEITHER PROJECT, NEITHER PROJECT IS A PFC DEAL. THANK YOU FOR
YOUR TIME AND CONSIDERATION. >> THANK YOU.
>> NEXT ARE NONAGENDA SPEAKERS DR. RAY FIELD. ADALFA SQUARE.
MICHELLE BLACK WELL. YOU EACH HAVE ONE MINUTE.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON, COMMISSIONERS. COMMISSIONER BRIONES AND COMMISSIONER GARCIA ESPECIALLY. I HAVE A VOLUNTEER GROUP. WE'VE BEEN HERE FOR OVER 16 YEARS. I HAVE 53 AND A HALF YEARS IN DISASTER RESPONSE WHEN I FIRST STARTED OUT AS A MILITARY POLICE. I BROUGHT THAT FORWARD. I HAVE A DOUBLE DOCK RAT IN EMERGENCY RESPONSE, TRAUMA AND TRIAGE. I NEED YOU TO CONTINUE TO SUPPORT OUR SOUTHWEST TEAM. IT'S IMPORTANT THAT I CAN LEAN BACK ON YOU TWO THAT'S BEEN SUPPORTING US AND WE APPRECIATE THAT. IN 2010 I WENT TO TEXAS A&M WITH MARK SLOAN. SAME MASTER CERTIFICATION HE HAS. I'M EQUAL TO HIM. WE DON'T TAKE PUBLIC FUNDS. WE'RE PRIVATELY FUNDED. WE NEED YOUR SUPPORT, AND I'M LOOKING FOR A NEW HOME TO PUT OUR TEAM OF 235 GUYS. I'VE GOT A $10 MILLION CORPORATION I'M BRINGING BACK INTO HARRIS COUNTY. I'M GOING TO FIND A HOME. THANK YOU FOR
YOUR TIME. >> SIR, CAN YOU PLEASE STATE
YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD. >> SAY YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD,
SIR. >> THANK YOU. THANK YOU SO MUCH.
THANK YOU FOR SPEAKING UP FOR CERT. WE GO ALONG ALL TOO LONG WITHOUT MAKING REFERENCE TO CERT AND WHY THEY WERE CREATED.
>> WE APPRECIATE YOU ALL. CONTINUE TO REMEMBER US.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON, COMMISSIONERS. I'D JUST LIKE TO SAY FIRST THANK GOD, AND IT'S GOOD TO BE HERE. MY NAME IS ADALFA SQUARE WITH HOUSTON HOMELESS HOTEL. THIS MIC IS
WORKING GOOD? >> YES. WE CAN HEAR YOU.
>> HE WAS SINGING HIS. I WAS ABOUT TO RAP MINE. I'M NOT GOING TO DO THAT. I JUST WANT TO SEND APPRECIATIONS TO LESLEY BRIONES, TOM RAMSEY. TOM, I HAVEN'T SEEN HIM IN YEARS.
ADRIAN GARCIA. RODNEY ELLIS. LENA THAT'S MISSING. I PRAY SHE'S OKAY, AND I PRAY EVERYONE IS OKAY. WE WANT TO TALK ABOUT TEMPORARY EMERGENCY HOUSING. I KNOW I AIN'T GOT A MINUTE.
DOUGHTY FRESH GOT SIX MINUTES. I ONLY GOT ONE. I'VE ALREADY MET WITH COMMISSIONER GARCIA AND I WANT TO TALK TO THEM ON THE
PRIVATE. >> THANK YOU. YOUR TIME IS UP.
>> CAN I GET ONE MORE MINUTE? >> WE'LL HAVE OUR STAFF TALK TO
YOU. >> I'M JUST MESSING WITH YOU.
>> YES, MA'AM. YOU'RE GOOD. JUST SAY YOUR NAME FOR THE
RECORD. >> MY NAME IS MISS BLACK WELL AND I LIVE IN PRECINCT TWO. I AM PART OF THE EARLY LEARNING ADVISORY COMMITTEE. SOON, THAT PROGRAM IS GOING TO BE ENDING, AND I WOULD LOVE TO SEE IT CONTINUE. THAT PROGRAM HAS BENEFITED THE FAMILIES, THE CHILDREN, AND THEN THOSE THAT HAVE THE SPECIAL NEEDS. AND I FEEL LIKE I WOULD LOVE TO SEE THE PROGRAM CONTINUE. THE FUNDING TO CONTINUE, AND ALSO I WOULD LIKE TO SEE MORE ZIP CODES GRAFTED IN. I JUST FEEL LIKE SOME OF THE ZIP CODES NEED TO BE A PART OF THIS. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, MISS BLACK WELL. >> NEXT ARE NONAGENDA SPEAKERS.
[03:10:09]
>> GOOD AFTERNOON, COMMISSIONERS. MY NAME IS MISS BOOKER. I'M HERE TO RESPECTFULLY APPEAL MY PROBATION ON AUGUST 2025. I PROUDLY SERVED THE DEPARTMENT FOR SEVEN YEARS STARTING AS A SUPERVISION OFFICER. MOST RECENTLY A UNIT SUPERVISOR. ON MARCH 30TH, I WAS INVOLVED IN A PHYSICAL RESTRAINT THAT LEFT A BRUISE. I ADMITTED TO IT. IT WAS UNINTENTIONAL AND COOPERATED FULLY WITH THE INVESTIGATION. I RETURNED TO A NORMAL WORK DUTIES ON APRIL 10TH WITHOUT ANY DISCIPLINARY ACTIONS. HOWEVER, FOUR MONTHS LATER, WITHOUT ANY NOTICE, THE OPPORTUNITY TO RESPOND I WAS RE, THE CASE WAS REOPENED DUE TO A PARENT COMPLAINT. I WAS SERVED WITH TERMINATION LETTER FOR VIOLATING THE COUNTY'S DISCIPLINARY RESIDENT PLAN. I AM AWARE IT TAKES IS AN AT WILL STATE. HOWEVER, I RESPECTFULLY ASK THIS COURT TO REVIEW WHETHER DUE PROCESS WAS FOLLOWED AND TO CONSIDER MY REINSTATEMENT. THANK YOU.
>> MY NAME IS LEXI AND I LIVE IN PRECINCT THREE. I'M PLEASED TO SEE THE SERIOUS ISSUE OF ROADSIDE VENDING AND PANHANDLING ON TODAY'S AGENDA. IT CAN BE DANGEROUS. I'VE HAD ONE BANG ON MY HOOD AND CUSS ME OUT WHEN I WOULDN'T GIVE HIM MONEY. THAT WAS SCARY. ANOTHER BEGGAR USED TO LIVE, NOT LIVE BUT HE ROAD HIS WHEELCHAIR IN BETWEEN THE TWO RIGHT LANES OF AN INTERSECTION THAT WASN'T AN ISLAND FOR HIM TO PARK HIS VEHICLE ON. OR HIS WHEELCHAIR ON. AND IT WAS DANGEROUS BECAUSE I WOULD HAVE TO SWERVE TO NOT HIT HIM AND I WOULD ALMOST HIT ANOTHER CAR OR PUTTING HIMSELF IN DANGER BECAUSE HE COULD BE HIT BY A CAR. SOMETIMES WE NEED TO PROTECT PEOPLE FROM THEMSELVES. THERE ARE LAWS AGAINST THE ACTION AND OTHER CITIES, COUNTIES AND STATE AND WE NEED SUCH A THING IN HARRIS COUNTY. PROTECTING THE SAFETY OF THE PUBLIC IS ONE OF THE PRIORITIES IN HARRIS COUNTY. MY RIGHT TO SAFETY SUPER CEDES THESE ACTIONS AND THE DESIRES TO MAKE A LIVING BY ACCOSTING
STRANGERS. >> THANK YOU. YOUR TIME IS UP.
>> THANK YOU. ARE THERE ANY OTHER SPEAKERS?
>> THOSE ARE ALL THE SPEAKERS. >> LET'S GO BACK TO ITEM 266
[Emergency/Supplemental Items (Part 2 of 3)]
AND I WANT TO READ THE MOTION. I THINK WE DISCUSSED IT PRETTY THOROUGHLY. MOVE THAT COMMISSIONERS COURT ACCEPT AND ADOPT THE FOLLOWING REGIESES FROM THE COUNTY WIDE COMPENSATION AND PAY EQUITY STUDY CONDUCTED BY GALLAGHER.REAFFIRMING THE COUNTY'S COMMITMENT TO INTERNAL PAY EQUITY, EXTERNAL MARKET AND FRAMEWORK AS FOLLOWS. ADOPT A 20 GRADE MARKET ALIGNED PAY STRUCTURE FOR ALL CIVILIAN EMPLOYEES, INCLUDING ALL 758 CLASSIFICATIONS SLASH TITLES. B, ADJUST THE SALARIES OF ALL CIVILIAN EMPLOYEES CURRENTLY BELOW THE RANGE MINIMUM TO THE MINH OF THEIR RESPECTIVE RANGE, AND ALSO INCLUDE TIME AND POSITION ADJUSTMENTS FOR ALL CIVILIAN EMPLOYEES EFFECTIVE THE FIRST FULL PAY PERIOD OF FEBRUARY OF 2026. C, ADDRESS THE PAY EQUITY STUDY FINDINGS AND MAKE APPROPRIATE ADJUSTMENTS TO EMPLOYEE SALARIES. TWO, DIRECT HUMAN RESOURCES AND TALENT HRT, THE OFFICE OF COUNTY ADMINISTRATION AND OFFICE OF MANAGEMENT.
>> BUDGET, UNIVERSAL SERVICES, THE COUNTY OFFICE TO RETURN TO THE COURT DECEMBER 11, 2025, WITH A DETAILED IMPLEMENTATION PROJECT PLAN, TIME LINE AND COMPENSATION, VELOCITY RECOMMENDATION FOR THE COURT'S CONSIDERATION. HRT SHALL ALSO PROVIDE A STATUS UPDATE TO THE COURT ON JANUARY 29, 2026. IN ADDITION TO MONTHLY WRITTEN PROGRESS UPDATES VIA E-MAIL.
I'LL MAKE THAT MOTION. >> DANIEL, JUST WANT TO CONFIRM.
WHAT'S THE COST TO THIS? >> IT WOULD BE $73 MILLION ANNUALIZED. $23MILLION ABOVE WHAT WE HAVE BUDGETED IN THE
>> 23 ABOVE WHAT WE HAVE IN THE BASELINE. WE HAD 50 BUDGETED
THIS YEAR. >> I THOUGHT WE WERE AT.
>> SORRY, THE ANNUAL LOSED. THE PRORATED FROM FEBRUARY THROUGH THE REST OF THE YEAR IS ROUGHLY $48.
>> AND THEN ANNUALIZED IT GOES UP TO 73.
>> I HAVE ONE QUESTION. ONE BRIEF QUESTION. KNOWING, I GUESS I'M LOOKING AT THE CONSULTANTS' DIRECTOR. IS THERE ANOTHER EXAMPLE, SUCCESSFUL EXAMPLE OF AN IMPLEMENTATION OF SOMETHING OF THIS SCOPE AND THIS TIME FRAME? IS THERE ANOTHER EXAMPLE WHERE SOME OTHER ENTITY HAS DONE THIS?
[03:15:11]
>> IN SHORT TO YOUR QUESTION, COMMISSIONER, YES. IN LARGE CITIES AND COUNTIES AND OTHER RELATED ORGANIZATIONS.
>> YOU'VE DONE THIS BEFORE? >> YES. WE WORK.
>> IN THIS SHORT OF PERIOD? >> YES. YEAH. IT IS FAIRLY TYPICAL THAT ONCE THIS HAS BEEN ADOPTED, THE WINDOW FOR IMPLEMENTATION, DEPENDING ON THE PARTICULAR OF THE ORGANIZATION AND HOW THEY LIKE TO APPROACH IT RUNS ANYWHERE FROM 60 DAYS TO
SIX MONTHS. >> OKAY. THANK YOU.
>> YES, SIR. >> COMMISSIONER GARCIA.
>> DANIEL, MY STAFF WAS JUST REMINDING ME THAT I THOUGHT THE CONVERSATION IS THAT IT WOULD BE ANNUALIZED TO 63.
>> I'M SORRY, COMMISSIONER. >> THAT THE ANNUALIZED COST
WOULD GO UP TO 63, NOT 73. >> IT'S $66 MILLION FOR THE ADJUSTMENTS AND THE $7 MILLION FOR THE PAY INEQUITIES THAT
THEY'RE PROJECTING. >> THAT'S THE CEILING COST, RIGHT? THEY'LL TAKE A CLOSER LOOK. IT COULD BE LOWER. THAT'S
THE MAX NUMBER. >> WE WANT TO BE PREPARED TO BE ABLE TO IMPLEMENT IT EXPEDITIOUSLY.
>> I'M GETTING MIXED SIGNALS. I THOUGHT THAT WAS AN ADJUSTMENT THAT WOULD TAKE PLACE. ISN'T THAT WHAT I HEARD EARLIER? THIS
WOULD ACTUALLY GO DOWN? >> IT WILL LIKELY. THAT'S A MAX COST, COMMISSIONER. WE WANT TO PROJECT FOR THE WORST.
>> YOU'RE PUTTING IN WIGGLE ROOM.
>> WE'RE PUTTING IN WIGGLE ROOM. ESPECIALLY AS THE APPEALS
COME IN. >> CORRECT. WE EXPECT THE $7.4 MILLION FOR THE PAY INEQUITIES TO BE, ONCE THE INVESTIGATIONS BEGIN, AND WE'RE WORKING WITH DEPARTMENTS TO KIND OF UNDERSTAND WHAT IS HAPPENING WITHIN INDIVIDUALS THAT ARE WITHIN THIS CATEGORY, WE DO EXPECT THAT $7.4 TO DECREASE. AT WHAT PERCENTAGE, AT THIS TIME I WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO GIVE YOU A RANGE. BUT WE DO EXPECT THAT NUMBER TO GO DOWN.
>> THERE'S A MOTION. IS THERE A SECOND.
>> SECOND. >> COMMISSIONER BRIONES. THREE AYE'S AND ONE NO. MOTION MADE BY ELLIS, SECOND BY BRIONES. ANY
[Departments (Part 2 of 3)]
OTHER DISCUSSION? IF NOT, WE STILL HAVE THE FINANCIAL ADVISERS HERE? IT WAS CUTTING IT CLOSE. IF THEY'RE HERE, WE'LL BRING YOU UP. IF NOT, WE'LL WAIT. I KNOW YOU HAVE A 1:00.I'M SORRY. WE HAD SOME VERY HEAVY ISSUES. BUT THANK YOU FOR
BEING HERE. >> HI. GOOD AFTERNOON.
>> THIS IS ITEM NUMBER 4. >> THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE HERE BEFORE YOU TODAY AND VISIT ON THIS CRITICAL TOPIC. MY NAME IS TINA, AND BEFORE WE BEGIN, I WANT TO THANK MR. RAMOS AND MISS PEREZ AND THEIR TEAM FOR ALL THE COLLABORATIVE WORK WE'VE BEEN DOING TOGETHER. THEIR TEAMS MAKE OUR JOBS MUCH
EASIER. >> TIFFANY, COULD YOU GET THE
PRESENTATION UP, PLEASE. >> OH, YEAH.
>> SO WHILE THEY'RE DOING THAT, I'VE WORKED WITH HARRIS COUNTY FOR MORE THAN TWO DECADES. I'M A NATIVE HOUSTON. GREW UP IN LYNDALE PARK. FOR ME, THIS IS A LOT MORE THAN NUMBERS AND RATIOS. IT'S REALLY PERSONAL. WE CALL, MY HUSBAND AND I CALL HARRIS COUNTY HOME. AND WE'RE RAISING OUR TWO CHILDREN HERE AS WELL. SO, THANK YOU. FOR ALL THAT YOU ALL DO FOR HARRIS COUNTY. SO, NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE. SO WE ARE THE COUNTY'S MUNICIPAL ADVISER. AND WHAT THAT MEANS IS ANY TIME THE COUNTY IS ISSUING DEBT, ISSUING BONDS, WE ARE SITTING ON THE SAME SIDE OF THE TABLE HELP STRUCTURING THE TRANSACTION, SERVING AS THE COUNTY'S FOUR DISH AREA ALONG THE WAY. ABOUT THE FIRM ALSO.
WE'RE HEADQUARTERED HERE IN HOUSTON. WE'RE 30 EMPLOYEES.
WE'RE 100% EMPLOYEE OWNED, AND BY THAT NATURE, WE ALSO HAPPEN TO BE MAJORITY WOMEN OWNED BUSINESS. WE HAVE 20 OF THOSE 30 EMPLOYEES. 22 ARE LOCATED HERE IN HOUSTON. NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE.
SO WHAT DOES THAT MEAN TO BE A MUNICIPAL ADVISER? AS I MENTIONED, WE ADVISE THE COUNTY ON ALL MATTERS REGARDING THE BOND ISSUANCE PROCESS. AND ALSO, AS I MENTIONED, WE HAVE A
[03:20:05]
FUDICIARY TO THE COUNTY. WE SEE A RANGE OF ACTIVITIES THAT WE PERFORM IN THE BOND ISSUANCE PROCESS, INCLUDING DETERMINING FINANCIAL FEASIBILITY, COORDINATING A TIMELINE OF EVENTS. COMMISSIONER ELLIS COULD PROBABLY GIVE THIS CLASS.PREPARE FOR PRICING AND FINALLY, THE PRICING ENCLOSING. PROBABLY WHERE WE SPEND THE MOST TIME IS IN THE FIRST BOX. THE ONGOING DIALOGUE. WE WORK, AS I MENTIONED WE WORK COLLABORATIVELY WITH OMB. ON YOUR COMMERCIAL PAPER PROGRAMS. WE'VE DONE TAX RATE IMPACT ANALYSIS, DEBT CAPACITY ANALYSIS. AND SO REALLY, I THINK OF OURSELVES OR HOPEFULLY YOU DO, TOO. THINK OF US AS AN EXTENSION OF YOUR STAFF. NEXT
SLIDE, PLEASE. >> REALLY QUICKLY FOR ME TO JUST CUT IN. WHAT THEY DON'T DO FOR US, I KNOW THIS QUESTION HAS COME UP. THEY DON'T ADVISE US ON ANY OPERATIONAL OR OPERATING BUDGET DECISIONS. AND THEY DO NOT ADVISE US ON INVESTMENTS.
>> SO WE CAN'T BLAME THAT ON THEM. GO AHEAD.
>> IT'S NOT IN OUR WHEEL HOUSE, COMMISSIONER. IT'S NOT WHAT WE DO. SO, OUR TOPIC TODAY IS TALKING ABOUT THE RATING AGENCIES AND HOW THEY VIEW HARRIS COUNTY. SPECIFICALLY. BUT THEN ALSO SOME OF THE MORE MACRO TRENDS WE'RE SEEING IN OUR SPACE. SO, RATING AGENTS, YOUR CREDIT RATING. IT'S MUCH LIKE YOUR PERSONAL CREDIT SCORE. AND IT REALLY ALL BEGINS WITH THE REVENUE. ON THE REVENUE SIDE. SO, LOOKING AT YOUR TAX RATE COMPONENTS, THERE ARE TWO COMPONENTS. THE INTEREST AND SINKING, USED TO PAY YOUR BONDS. AND THE MNO, MAINTENANCE AND OPERATIONS, WHICH PAYS THE ONGOING OPERATING COSTS OF THE COUNTY. AND SO HERE BEFORE YOU, YOU HAVE THE LAST FIVE YEARS OF THE TAX RATE COMPONENTS. A COUPLE OF THINGS TO MENTION IS YOU HAVE AMPLE, WHAT WE CALL HEAD ROOM OR ABILITY TO RAISE THE INTEREST AND SINKING PART OF THE TAX RATE. FOR YOUR ROAD BONDS, THAT TAX RATE COMPONENT IS NOT, HAS ZERO LIMITATION. ON YOUR PERMANENT IMPROVEMENT OR YOUR LIMITED TAX BONDS, THAT TAX RATE LIMITATION IS 80 CENTS. IN 2024, THAT PART OF YOUR TAX RATE WAS ALMOST FOUR CENTS. WHEN WE SAY AMPLE HEAD ROOM, THAT'S PURELY FROM A NUMBERS' STANDPOINT. YOU ARE NOT CONSTRAINED. THE REALITY IS THERE'S A QUESTION OF AFFORDABILITY. WE'LL TALK ABOUT THAT HERE IN A SECOND. ON THE MNO SIDE, SENATE BILL TWO DOES LIMIT THE INCREASE TO THE MNO SIDE OF THE TAX RATE BY THREE AND A HALF PERCENT WITHOUT VOTER APPROVAL. YOU CAN GO ABOVE THAT, BUT YOU NEED THE VOTERS' APPROVAL TO DO THAT. THAT'S A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE REVENUE SIDE. OH, THE OTHER THING I WANTED TO MENTION IS WHILE YOU ARE NOT CONSTRAINED ON THE INTEREST AND SINKING SIDE OF THE TAX RATE, AS YOU ALL KNOW, WHEN WE ADD ON MORE DEBT, IF YOU'RE KEEPING THE TAX RATE FLAT, THAT MEANS THAT WE'RE CONSTRAINING EVEN MORE THAT MNO SIDE. AND THERE'S A POTENTIAL FOR A CROWDING OUT AFFECT. WE'LL TALK ABOUT THAT HERE IN JUST A MOMENT. NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE. SO, WHAT'S A BOND RATING AND WHY DOES IT MATTER? AS I MENTIONED, IT'S VERY MUCH LIKE YOUR PERSONAL CREDIT SCORE. IT REFLECTS AN ISSUER'S ABILITY TO REPAY PRINCIPAL AND INTEREST WHEN IT BECOMES DUE. THERE ARE FOUR RATING AGENCIES. ALL FOUR RATE THE COUNTY'S DEBT. MOODIES SNP, FITCH AND KROLE. THE COUNTY HAS $3.2 BILLION OF DEBT OUTSTANDING THAT'S SUPPORTED BY PROPERTY TAXES. SO, THE GOOD NEWS IS ALL FOUR CREDIT RATING AGENCIES RATE HARRIS COUNTY AS TRIPLE-A. THE BAD NEWS IS IT'S A DOUBLE EDGED SWORD. THERE'S ONLY ONE DIRECTION TO GO. AND THAT'S DOWN.
>> CAN I INTERJECT QUICKLY. I ALSO WANT TO MENTION OUR TOLL ROAD IS DOUBLE A PLUS, WHICH IS THE HIGHEST RATED TOLL ROAD IN
THE COUNTRY. >> THAT'S RIGHT. SO, AGAIN, JUST LIKE YOUR OWN PERSONAL CREDIT SCORE, THEY'RE TRYING TO MEASURE IS HARRIS COUNTY A GOOD CREDIT RISK? ARE YOU GOING TO PAY BACK YOUR DEBT? ARE YOU PAYING YOUR BILLS? NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE. SO, AS I MENTIONED, FOUR RATING AGENCIES. THEY ALL HAVE
[03:25:02]
THEIR DIFFERENT CRITERIA, METHODS, SCORE CARD, HOWEVER YOU WANT TO LOOK AT IT. THERE ARE FOUR COMMON FACTORS. 4.5 COMMON FACTORS. THE TOP THREE THAT ARE SHOWN THERE, THE ECONOMY, FINANCIAL PERFORMANCE AND LEVERAGE. THOSE EACH REPRESENT 30% OF THE WEIGHTED SCORE. AND SO COMBINED, THAT'S 90% OF YOUR CREDIT. OF THE CRITERIA THAT GOES INTO RATING YOUR CREDIT.AND SO YOU'LL SEE THAT BUDGET SPECIFICALLY ISN'T IN, LISTED AS A CRITERIA. HOWEVER, WE SEE IT SHOWING UP IN THREE PLACES.
UNDER FINANCIAL PERFORMANCE AND WHAT THEY'RE LOOKING FOR IS THE FLEXIBILITY TO ADJUST TO NEW NEEDS OR UNEXPECTED CONTINGENCIES. THE OTHER PLACE IT SHOWS UP IS IN INSTITUTIONAL FRAMEWORK. THAT'S ONLY WORTH 10% OF THE WAITING. AND WHAT THEY'RE LOOKING FOR THERE IS DO YOU HAVE THE ABILITY TO MATCH RECURRING REVENUES WITH EXPENDITURES OR SAID ANOTHER WAY, ARE YOU RUNNING A BALANCED BUDGET? THAT'S ESSENTIALLY WHAT THEY'RE SAYING. THEN THE LAST COMPONENT THERE IS STRENGTH OF MANAGEMENT. AND AGAIN, WHAT THEY'RE LOOKING FOR. AND I'LL ALSO SAY THIS IS OVER A LONG TREND. A LONG PERIOD OF TIME.
RIGHT? THEY'RE NOT LOOKING AT WHAT DID YOU DO IN THE LAST 12 MONTHS. IT TAKES A LONGER. THEY TAKE A LONGER APPROACH. BUT DO YOU HAVE THE ABILITY TO DEVELOP AND ADHERE TO BUDGETS? SO THAT'S THE CRITERIA. NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE.
>> AND REALLY QUICKLY BEFORE WE GET TO THE NEXT SLIDE. WHEN WE TALK ABOUT FINANCIAL PERFORMANCE AND BUDGET, THE CREDIT RATING ANALYST IS NOT MAKING VALUE JUDGMENTS ON HOW THE BUDGET IS BALANCED. WHETHER WE SELL PROPERTY IN A YEAR OR WHETHER WE RAISE A FEE, THEY'RE AGNOSTIC TO IF WE SPEND MORE ON PUBLIC HEALTH AND LESS ON ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES. THEY'RE NOT MAKING THOSE VALUE JUDGMENTS. WHAT THEY'RE REALLY LOOKING AT IS AT THE END OF THE YEAR IN THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS, ARE RESERVES GOING UP OR DOWN? ARE WE TAKING OUT RESERVES TO BE ABLE TO DO OUR BUDGET? WHICH WE HAVEN'T DONE IN MY TENURE HERE. I DON'T BELIEVE IN THE RECENT HISTORY OF
THIS COUNTY. >> YEAH. I WOULD AGREE WITH THAT AND I WOULD ALSO SAY THAT THEY'RE ALSO LOOKING TO SEE ARE YOU MAKING THE NECESSARY INFRASTRUCTURE AND CRITICAL INVESTMENTS IN THE COUNTY TO ENSURE THAT IT IS THRIVING AND IT IS A THRIVING ENVIRONMENT AND COMMUNITY. SO ON THE HARRIS COUNTY WAS LAST IN THE MARKET SUMMER OF THIS YEAR. FOR THAT TRANSACTION, WE ASKED MOODY'S AND KRAL TO RATE THAT SPECIFIC BOND ISSUE. THIS IS WHAT THEY HAD TO SAY ABOUT HARRIS COUNTY SPECIFICALLY. SO, YOUR CREDIT STRENGTHS. REGIONALLY AND GLOBALLY IMPORTANT ECONOMY, AMPLE RESERVED AND EXPERIENCE MANAGEMENT TEAM THAT DRIVES SOLID AND CONSISTENT OPERATING RESULTS. YOUR CREDIT CHALLENGES. WE HAVE STORMS IN HOUSTON.
THEY'RE CONCERNED WITH THE AMOUNT AND NUMBER OF STORM RELATED ACTIVITY WE'VE HAD IN THE NEAR TERM. OR IN THE RECENT PAST. AND THEN, YOU KNOW, WE'VE GOT A FAIR AMOUNT OF AUTHORIZED BUT UNISSUED DEBT OUTSTANDING. THEY KNOW AT SOME POINT THE COUNTY WILL CONTINUE TO ISSUE THOSE FLOOD CONTROL BONDS AND THE OTHER VOTED DEBT THAT WAS PASSED IN 2022. SO THAT'S WHAT, THEY'RE JUST TELLING YOU. THESE ARE THINGS WE'RE WATCHING. IN THE NEXT GROUPING THERE, I JUST WANTED TO POINT OUT THAT, YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE PIECES OF COMMENTARY THEY TALKED ABOUT IS YOUR HISTORY OF FINANCIAL OPERATIONS. FINANCIAL HISTORY HAS LONG RECORD OF STRONG OPERATING PERFORMANCE. AGAIN, THEY'RE NOT, THEY TAKE A LONG TREND APPROACH. WHEN THEY'RE LOOKING AT CREDIT QUALITY. THE OTHER THING I'LL POINT OUT IN THAT SAME SECTION IS THEY'RE SAYING AS OF THE APRIL 2025 MONTHLY REPORTING, REVENUE SURPASSED EXPENDITURES AT THAT POINT IN TIME BY ALMOST $675 MILLION ACROSS GOVERNMENTAL FUNDS. THAT'S THE OTHER THING ABOUT MOODIES, THEY ACTUALLY LOOK AT YOUR GOVERNMENTAL FUNDS AS WELL AS YOUR BUSINESS AND ENTERPRISE FUNDS. SO THE TOLL ROAD GETS THROWN IN THERE. WHICH THAT IS, THAT HELPS. IN A LARGE PART. WHILE THIS PERFORMANCE IS IMPRESSIVE, EXPECTED COSTS WILL REDUCE THE POSITIVE VARIANCE BUT YEAR END RESULTS WILL LIKELY KEEP RESERVES RELATIVELY STABLE
[03:30:03]
COMPARED TO THE PRIOR YEAR. SO, THEY'RE KIND OF GIVING US HEY, WE'RE WATCHING THESE THINGS. AND THEN DOWN THE NEXT SECTION THERE IS WHAT ARE THE FACTORS THAT COULD LEAD TO A DOWNGRADE? AS I SAID, YOU'RE TRIPLE-A RATED. THERE'S ONLY ONE WAY YOU CAN GO. YOU CAN'T GET UPGRADED. THERE'S THREE BULLET POINTS THERE. UNCONTROLLED EXPENDITURES THAT SIGNIFICANTLY SURPASS REVENUES PUSHING RESERVES TO WELL BELOW 35%. RIGHT NOW YOU'RE AT 38.4%. SO YOU'VE GOT SOME ROOM. THEY'RE WATCHING IT.ECONOMIC WEAKNESS. AGAIN, IF YOU THINK ABOUT THAT ECONOMY OR THE STRENGTH OF ECONOMY, THAT'S 30% OF THE WAITING. THE REASON WHY THIS MATTERS SO MUCH IS IF YOU HAVE A HEALTHY, VIBRANT COMMUNITY AND ECONOMY, THAT IS YOUR PRIMARY SOURCE OF REVENUE.
THEY WANT TO MAKE SURE. I MEAN, HARRIS COUNTY, WE'VE GOT A HUGE TAX BASE THAT CONTINUES TO GROW. SO ALL OF THAT IS A POSITIVE.
NEXT SLIDE. YEAH. I APOLOGIZE. THESE SLIDES ARE A LITTLE BIT DENSE, BUT I REALLY WANTED TO GIVE YOU. I WANTED TO GIVE YOU THE INFORMATION FROM THE SOURCE. SO APOLOGIES IN ADVANCE. WHAT DID KARAL HAVE TO SAY ABOUT THE COUNTY? THEY EXPECT THAT THE UNDERLYING ECONOMY WILL CONTINUE TO SUSTAIN LARGE STABLE DIVERSE PROPERTY TAX BASE. AND THAT THE COUNTY WILL MAINTAIN AMPLE HEAD ROOM. AGAIN, FROM THE DEBT SIDE, YOU'VE GOT A TON OF ROOM. TO INCREASE THE TAX RATE. THE QUESTION IS, FROM AN OVERALL, IF YOU'RE KEEPING THE OVERALL TAX RATE CONSTANT AND INCREASING THE DEBT, THAT MEANING THE MNO PIECE HAS TO COME DOWN. WE HAVE WHAT WE CALL A CROWDING OUT. OR, YOU KNOW, IT'S LIKE MAXING OUT YOUR CREDIT CARD. THAT'S A BAD EXAMPLE. IF YOU'RE FIXED COSTS ARE TOO HIGH, THAT MEANS YOU HAVE TO CUT YOUR BUDGET ON YOUR FLOATING OR YOUR VARIABLE COSTS. SO THEY POINT OUT YOUR CREDIT POSITIVES. AGAIN, CALLING OUT THAT SIZABLE AND DIVERSE ECONOMY. THAT IS ONE OF THE KEY STRENGTHS FOR HARRIS COUNTY.
ROBUST FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT PRACTICES, INCLUDING COMPREHENSIVE BUDGETING AND MONITORING. THAT'S THE OTHER THING IMPORTANT TO THEM. IS THE ABILITY TO MAKE MID YEAR ADJUSTMENTS, WHICH THE COUNTY DOES. SO THAT'S A GOOD THING.
SO WHAT ARE YOUR CREDIT CHALLENGES? IN THAT SECOND BULLET POINT, KBRA SPEAKS TO THE FLEXIBLE TO INCREASE THE OMNO TAX LEVY WITHOUT VOTER APPROVAL IS CONSTRAINED BY SENATE BILL 2.
SO, AGAIN, THEY'RE KIND OF GIVING US A CAUTIONARY WARNING, WHICH IS ALSO LAID OUT IN THAT VERY, VERY BOTTOM GROUPING WITH THE YELLOW HIGHLIGHTS. THEY ARE CONCERNED THAT THE ONE TIME 8% TAX RATE INCREASE THAT WE HAD LAST YEAR, WE CAN'T, UNLESS WE HAVE ANOTHER DISASTER AND WE CAN'T DO THAT AGAIN. SO THE CONCERN IS THAT WILL APPLY DOWNWARD PRESSURE IN OPERATING, IN THE OPERATING LEVY IN FUTURE YEARS. SO, IN THE INTEREST OF TIME, I'M GOING TO JUST SLIDE NINE REALLY, REALLY QUICKLY. HOW DO THEY GRADE MANAGEMENT IN THIS PROCESS? AGAIN, DO YOU HAVE STRONG BUDGETING PRACTICES, FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT POLICIES? DO YOU HAVE AN ABILITY AND A WILLINGNESS TO, OF THE MANAGEMENT AND GOVERNING BODY TO MAKE THE NECESSARY DECISIONS AND TAKE CLEAR ACTION TO MAINTAIN FINANCIAL STABILITY? THAT'S A STRONG CREDIT FACTOR. I THOUGHT IT MIGHT BE USEFUL. WE COULD GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE.. I THOUGHT IT MIGHT BE HELPFUL TO SEE HOW YOU MEASURE UP IN THE KEY MEASURABLE. SLIDE 10 AS HARRIS COUNTY HISTORICAL INFORMATION. WE HAVE A DASHBOARD THAT WE'VE PREPARED WITH INPUT FROM OMB. SO WE'RE LOOKING AT YOUR INTEREST, YOUR TAX RATE COMPONENTS, THE OUTSTANDING DEBT AS A PERCENTAGE OF TAXABLE ASSESSED VALUE. IF YOU THINK ABOUT YOUR MORTGAGE. THAT'S YOUR LOAN TO VALUE NUMBER. DEBT AS A PERCENTAGE OF GENERAL FUND REVENUES. AND THEN PER CAPITA
[03:35:04]
DEBT TO PER CAPITA PERSONAL INCOME. ARE WE OVER BURDENINGOUR CONSTITUENTS? >> YOU CAN CONTINUE.
>> OKAY, THANK YOU. IT DIDN'T LIKE WHAT I HAD TO SAY THERE. SO THIS GIVES YOU A SENSE FOR. AGAIN, LONG TERM TRENDS. THAT'S HOW THE RATING AGENCIES ARE LOOKING AT IT. I THINK WHAT MIGHT BE EVEN MORE MEANINGFUL TO YOU ALL IS THE NEXT SLIDE, WHICH PUTS YOU WHERE WE COMPARE YOU AGAINST OTHER TEXAS COUNTIES.
ALL OF THE COUNTIES THAT WE'VE COMPARED YOU TO ARE TRIPLE-A BY AT LEAST ONE RATING AGENCY. I THINK FORT BEND AND MONTGOMERY HAVE A SPLIT RATING. MEANING THEY'RE NOT TRIPLE-A BY.
THEY'VE GOT ONE RATING THAT'S NOT TRIPLE-A. SO LOOKING AT HARRIS COUNTY AS ALL THE WAY ON THE LEFT, THE GREEN HATCHED LINE IS THE MEDIAN ACROSS ALL THE COUNTIES. AND SO, WHAT YOU'LL SEE IS THAT I MEAN HARRIS COUNTY, YOU'RE RIGHT THERE IN LINE WITH THE MEDIANS. ONE THING I'LL JUST CALL YOUR ATTENTION TO AND YOU ALL KNOW THIS WAY BETTER THAN I DO. HARRIS COUNTY IS A LITTLE BIT OF AN OUTLIER IN THE SENSE THAT YOU HAVE SO MUCH OF THE COUNTY POPULATION THAT LIES IN AN E T.J. THE COUNTY DOESN'T HAVE CITY POWERS. IT GOES BACK TO THE INSTITUTIONAL FRAMEWORK. YOUR STATUTES TELLS YOU HOW TO RAISE REVENUE BUT IT TELLS YOU WHAT SERVICES YOU HAVE TO PROVIDE. HARRIS COUNTY IS A LITTLE BIT OF A HYBRID. YOU'RE PROVIDING SOME CITY SERVICES BUT PROVIDING COUNTY SERVICES BUT YOU CAN ONLY RAISE REVENUE LIKE A COUNTY. IT'S A UNIQUE SITUATION. I WOULD SAY THAT I DON'T THINK ANY OF YOUR PEERS ARE ON THIS SLIDE. BECAUSE YOU DON'T HAVE PEERS. SO, THIS JUST GIVES YOU A SENSE FOR WHERE YOU STACK UP AGAINST OTHER TEXAS COUNTIES. AND THEN THE LAST SLIDE THAT I WANTED TO TOUCH ON IS HOW IS HARRIS COUNTY PERFORMING AGAINST SOME OF ITS PEERS? AND THIS SOURCE DATA COMES FROM MOODY'S. IT'S THE MEDIANS, CITIES AND COUNTIES FOR MEDIANS. IT WAS ISSUED IN 2025 BUT THE DATA IS AS OF 2024. SO, AGAIN, YOU CAN SEE FOR TEXAS COUNTIES, THE MEDIAN AVAILABLE FUND VALUE BALANCE WAS 38%. IF YOU REMEMBER BACK TO THE MOODY'S SLIDE, HARRIS COUNTY WAS 38.4. RIGHT IN LINE WITH YOUR MEDIANS. WHY THAT IS IMPORTANT IS THESE STABLE RESERVE POSITIONS REFLECT THE COUNTY'S ABILITY AND THEIR CAPACITY TO EFFECTIVELY MANAGE RESOURCES TO SUPPORT ONGOING OPERATIONS. IT'S YOUR SAVINGS' ACCOUNT. RIGHT? IF SOMETHING DOESN'T GO ACCORDING TO PLAN, WHERE ARE YOU GOING TO GO? YOU'RE GOING TO GO TO YOUR SAVINGS. AND THEN I'LL JUST CALL OUT THE OTHER THING THAT WE CONTINUE TO SEE IN VARIOUS RATING PIECES. IS, AND WE'VE HEARD SOME OF THAT DISCUSSION TODAY. THIS PARADOX BETWEEN MAINTAINING OPERATING STABILITY IN THE FACE OF EITHER DECLINING REVENUES OR FEWER REVENUES OR WHAT HAVE YOU. HARRIS COUNTY IS NOT ALONE. PRETTY MUCH EVERY CLIENT THAT I WORK WITH HAS TOO MANY NEEDS AND NOT ENOUGH REVENUE. SO THAT'S WHERE THAT STRONG MANAGEMENT AND POLICYMAKING AND DECISION MAKING COMES IN AND PRIORITIZING, COMES INTO PLAY. SO, THOSE ARE THE PREPARED REMARKS OR SLIDES THAT WE HAD. AGAIN, THANK YOU FOR ALL THE WORK THAT YOU ALL DO. AND THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME TO BE HERE TODAY.
>> TINA, THANK YOU. SORRY WE KEPT YOU.
>> YEAH, NO PROBLEM. >> COMMISSIONER RAMSEY AND THEN
GARCIA AND BRIONES. >> THANK YOU FOR PUTTING THIS ON. THIS IS EXCELLENT INFORMATION. A LOT OF TIMES OUR CONSTITUENTS WILL ASK US QUESTIONS BECAUSE THEY HEAR CONCERNS, AND IT'S OUT THERE. ONE, YOU HAVE A REALLY GOOD REPUTATION AS WELL. IN THE COMMUNITY. I'VE WORKED WITH A LOT OF DIFFERENT ENTITIES THAT YOU ALL HELP AND ADVISE.
COMMISSIONER GARCIA AND I HEARD A STUNNING REPORT FROM THE PORT OF HOUSTON. I WISH WE COULD TAKE SOME TIME ABOUT ONCE A QUARTER
[03:40:05]
AND COMMUNICATE CLEARLY THE EXTRAORDINARY THINGS THAT ARE HAPPENING OUT AT THE PORT. HOW IT'S REALLY THE NUMBER ONE PORT IN THE UNIVERSE AS FAR AS I'M CONCERNED. AND BASED ON REAL DATA. SO, IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE PAY ATTENTION TO THOSE KINDS OF THINGS. I READ, AS YOU WENT THROUGH THOSE DETAILS, THE INFRASTRUCTURE. YOU TALKED ABOUT THE TOLL ROAD. AS DANIEL CLEARLY POINTED OUT. THE HIGHEST RATED TOLL ROAD IN THE STATE.>> IN THE COUNTRY. >> IN THE COUNTRY.
>> WHEN THEY LOOK AT EVEN TEX-DOT, OUR STATEWIDE, PROBABLY THE MOST RESPECTED DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION IN THE STATE.
THEY THINK THE HARRIS COUNTY TOLL ROAD IS EQUALLY WELL. I THINK THOSE KINDS OF METRICS, THOSE KINDS OF FACTORS, I THINK THERE'S A LOT TO BE SAID ABOUT THE HOSPITAL DISTRICT AND WHAT IT'S DOING. STORMS. SOUNDS LIKE IS A HUGE CONCERN. THE FACT THAT WE'RE INVESTING IN THE NEXT THREE TO FIVE YEARS $3.5 BILLION TO MAKE OUR COUNTY MUCH MORE RESILIENT GOING FORWARD, I THINK SHOULD SPEAK TO THAT. AND I'M JUST SIMPLY GOING TO SAY. I'M GOING TO ACKNOWLEDGE COMMISSIONER ELLIS, COMMISSIONER GARCIA AND COMMISSIONER BRIONES, FOR YOUR DECORUM IN COURT AS WE GO THROUGH SOME VERY DIFFICULT ISSUES. AND OUR ABILITY TO TELL THE FACTS IN TERMS OF A BUDGET AND WHEN DISTORTIONS ARE MADE RELATED TO THE BUDGET AS IN WE'RE UNDER WATER, THERE'S A PROBLEM. THERE'S A DETAIL, WE WORK THROUGH A BUDGET. IT WAS A TOUGH BUDGET SEASON. YOU KNOW WHAT, WE SAT AT THE TABLE. WE FIGURED IT OUT. WE HAVE A BALANCED BUDGET. BUT WHAT YOU SAY AND HOW YOU SAY WHAT YOU SAY MATTERS. I THINK YOU VERY CLEARLY TOLD US WHY IT MATTERS. SO, THANK YOU FOR POINTING OUT.
I'M GOING TO KEEP THIS BY MY DESK. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. COMMISSIONER GARCIA.
>> THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER. TINA, THANK YOU FOR THE PRESENTATION. AND THANK YOU FOR ACKNOWLEDGING THE GOOD WORK OF THE TOLL ROAD. I REMEMBER ONE OF OUR COUNTY ADMINISTRATORS WAS LIKE, WE'RE DEBATING ON HOW TO DEAL WITH THE TOLL ROAD, AND HE WAS LIKE IF WE TAKE A DOWN RATE, IT'S NO BIG DEAL. AND SO, I APPRECIATE THE WORK THAT'S BEING DONE TO KEEP HARRIS COUNTY ON, IN THE POSITIVE LIGHT REGARDING TO OUR FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT. AND LIKE COMMISSIONER RAMSEY MENTIONED, YOU KNOW, IT WAS A TOUGH BUDGET YEAR. BUT WE GOT THROUGH IT.
EXPERIENCE MATTERS. BUT IT ALSO HELPS TO UNDERSTAND THAT THERE ARE PARAMETERS TO THE WAY WE APPROACH OUR WORK HERE. AS IT RELATES TO SETTING OUR BUDGET. I BROUGHT THIS UP BEFORE. AND IN TERMS OF OUR INVESTMENTS, IS THERE ANYTHING REGARDING OUR INVESTMENTS THAT IMPACTS OUR CREDIT RATING? I MEAN, IF WE
>> IF WE DON'T, IF WE CHANGE SLIGHTLY THE AMOUNT THAT WE INVEST, IS THERE ANY DIRECT IMPACT TO OUR CREDIT RATING?
>> THEY'RE DEFINITELY FOCUSED ON THEIR RESERVES.
>> NOT RESERVES. INVESTMENTS. >> SO THE COUNTY'S RESTRICTED BY THE TEXAS WHAT'S IT CALLED? PUBLIC FUNDS INVESTMENT ACT.
YOU'RE ALREADY PRETTY LIMITED AS TO HOW YOU CAN INVEST.
>> I'M SAYING AMOUNT. IF WE WERE TO REDUCE THE AMOUNT WE INVEST, IS THERE ANY DIRECT AMOUNT, IMPACT TO OUR CREDIT
RATING? >> SO, YES. BECAUSE THAT, THE RESERVES, I'M ASSUMING THE INVESTMENTS ARE PART OF THE
>> WHERE THE METRIC THEY USE IS UNRESTRICTED CASH. AND MY GUESS IS THAT THE UNRESTRICTED CASH, SOME OF YOUR INVESTMENTS IS UNRESTRICTED CASH. I THINK ONE, YOUR INVESTMENTS FITS IN ONE OF THE BUCKETS IS THE RESERVES. SO YES. BECAUSE YOUR RESERVES ARE NOT JUST SITTING IN CASH. THEY'RE PROBABLY INVESTED.
>> THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER
GARCIA. COMMISSIONER BRIONES. >> THANK YOU, TINA, FOR BEING HERE. I LOVE HOW CLEARLY YOU EXPLAIN THINGS. I APPRECIATE YOU VERY MUCH AND WE APPRECIATE THE PARTNERSHIP OF MASTERS AND ADVISERS. I WANTED TO ECHO THE POINT COMMISSIONER RAMSEY MADE.
[03:45:04]
I'M VERY PROUD THAT HARRIS COUNTY CONTINUES TO MAINTAIN THE CREDIT RATINGS WITH STABLE OUTLOOKS FROM ALL MAJOR RATING AGENCIES. THAT IS A FACT, AND THANK YOU FOR PRESENTING THE FACTS. MY QUESTION IS ABOUT RESERVES. AND I KNOW WE TALKED A LOT ABOUT THIS BUT FOR AGAIN, FOR THE PUBLIC RECORD, COULD YOU PLEASE STATE THE CURRENT LEVEL OF OUR RESERVES. I HAVE A QUESTION FOR YOU, TINA, IN A SECOND.>> ARE YOU REFERRING TO OUR PICK OR FUND BALANCE?
>> OUR RESERVES. IF YOU WANT TO SAY PICK.
>> THE PICK ONE I HAVE OFF THE TOP OF MY HEAD. IT'S 197 IN CASH AND INVESTMENTS AND THEN 190 FROM FEMA. IN TERMS OF THE CASH RESERVES WE GO ANYWHERE FROM DEPENDING ON WHERE WE ARE IN THE YEAR. SO MUCH OF THE REVENUE IS CONCENTRATED FROM DECEMBER TO FEBRUARY, WE'RE UPWARDS OF A BILLION AND WE GO DOWN TO AROUND 500, GIVE OR TAKE.
>> SO WE HAVE OUR RESERVES, WE HAVE OUR PICK. MY QUESTION TO YOU, ONE OF THE POSITIVES IS OUR STABLE RESERVES AND OUR HEALTHY RESERVES. THE NEGATIVES, THE THEME IS ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS, HURRICANES. WHERE I'M VERY PROUD OF THE $3.5 BILLION OF HARRIS COUNTY FLOOD CONTROL DISTRICT INVESTMENTS TO MAKE US SAFER AND MORE RESILIENT. WE'RE NOT GOD AND CANNOT STOP CLIMATE CHANGE. THAT IS ONE THAT'S A CHALLENGE. ALSO SB2, THE REVENUE CAP SEEMED TO BE THE OTHER NEGATIVE FACTOR. WE CANNOT CHANGE STATE LAW AT THIS TIME. SO THOSE ARE IRRECONCILABLE.
WE'LL DO OUR BEST. THEY ARE WHAT THEY ARE. MY QUESTION TO YOU, TO CONTINUE DOUBLING DOWN ON OUR STRENGTHS, WOULD YOU RECAP YOUR ADVICE IN TERMS OF CONTINUING TO MAINTAIN THIS HEALTHY FINANCIAL OUTLOOK FOR HARRIS COUNTY?
>> YES. I MEAN, SO AS YOU ALL MENTIONED, IT WAS A DIFFICULT BUDGET SEASON. WE KNOW THAT THE COUNTY IS PULLING DOWN SOME RESERVES. IN ORDER TO MAKE THE NECESSARY INVESTMENTS IN THE BUDGET. I THINK, MY UNDERSTANDING OF THAT BUDGET WAS THE NEW INVESTMENTS WERE IN SAFETY. POLICE OR PUBLIC SAFETY.
I THINK WHILE THAT IS NOT A CAPITAL ASSET, IT IS STILL AN INVESTMENT IN THE COMMUNITY. IF PEOPLE DON'T FEEL SAFE, THEY'RE NOT GOING, PEOPLE AREN'T GOING TO LIVE WHERE THEY DON'T FEEL SAFE. SO I THINK THAT IT'S ABOUT REPRIORITIZING. YOU ALL ARE MAKING THE NECESSARY INVESTMENTS IN THE INFRASTRUCTURE. I MEAN, HARRIS COUNTY HAS OVER A THOUSAND LANE MILES THAT IT'S RESPONSIBLE FOR.
>> YOU'VE PUSHED MY BUTTON. >> 6,800.
>> THE FOUR OF US TAKE CARE OF ABOUT 7,000 MILES OF ROAD.
>> I HAD MY DATA POINT WRONG. MY RECOMMENDATION WOULD BE U TO
KEEP INVESTING IN IN. >> INFRASTRUCTURE. NOT NECESSARILY NEW, BUT MAINTAINING. THAT IS GOING TO CONTINUE TO AUGMENT THAT BASE OF ECONOMIC VITALITY AND VIBRANCY.
WE'RE NOT GOING TO HAVE PEOPLE LEAVING HARRIS COUNTY TO GO TO FORT BOND OR MONTGOMERY OR WHATEVER THE FLASHY NEW DEVELOPMENT IS OUTSIDE OF HARRIS COUNTY. THAT'S GOING TO KEEP PEOPLE HERE. IT'S GOING TO BRING NEW BUSINESSES HERE. YOU ALL SAW ELI LILLY IS COMING TO GENERATION PARK. THAT'S THE STUFF THAT WE NEED. THAT'S THE KIND OF THINGS. THE THINGS THAT ARE HAPPENING AT TMC PARK THAT'S BRINGING IN NEW BIO TECHNOLOGY. THOSE INFRASTRUCTURE IMPROVEMENTS IS GOING TO BE WHAT'S ATTRACTING BUSINESSES, PEOPLE, FAMILIES, COMMUNITIES.
>> THANK YOU FOR YOUR PARTNERSHIP AND YOUR GUIDANCE.
THANKS, TINA. >> YES, OF COURSE.
>> SO, TINA PETERMAN, I KNOW YOU FAR BETTER THAN YOU KNOW ME,
OBVIOUSLY. >> THAT'S A SCARY THING.
>> I WAS IN THE BUSINESS BUT WHAT YOU PROBABLY DON'T KNOW IS TOM MASTESON LOANED US MONEY TO HELP START THE FIRM THAT I PUT TOGETHER WITH JODI GILES. THEY INTRODUCED ME TO RICHARD RAMEREZ WHO IS IN THE BUSINESS. THE FIRST DEAL WE DID WAS A HARRIS
[03:50:05]
COUNTY DEAL. IT WAS THE REFURBISHING OF THE ASTRO DOME.WHAT TOM, NOT DREW, TOM WOULD ALWAYS TELL ME THOSE SCHOOL DISTRICTS IN PARTICULAR WERE CO-FA. THE BIGGEST PROBLEM HE SAW WAS WHEN A GOVERNING BOARD WANTED TO SPEND MONEY BUT DIDN'T WANT TO TAKE THE HEAT FOR TAKING IT IN. WHEN I WAS ON THE CITY COUNCIL IN HOUSTON, WE DID HAVE A DOWNGRADE. HE WAS ADVISER TO THE CITY OF HOUSTON, BUT I WAS NOT INVOLVED IN THAT BECAUSE I WAS ON THE COUNCIL. OBVIOUSLY IT WAS A BIG POLITICAL LAND MINE. I GOT REELECTED. SO DID THE MAYOR. I DON'T THINK ANYBODY LOSS BUT A DOWNGRADE IS A BIG PSYCHOLOGICAL BLOW. IT'S NOT THE END OF THE WORLD, BUT IT'S A BIG PSYCHOLOGICAL BLOW TO THE GOVERNING BOARD. TO THE CITIZENS. AND TO THE PEOPLE WHO ARE THINKING ABOUT MOVING INTO AN AREA. BECAUSE WE ARE UNIQUE BEASTS. A MODEL WITH HARRIS COUNTY. IN ADDITION TO THE TRADITIONAL INFRASTRUCTURE, WE GET A LOT OF PRESSURE ON US. IN ADDITION TO CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS FOR THOSE HUMAN IMPROVEMENT AREAS AS WELL. TOO BIGGEST DEVELOPMENTS WE HAVE JUST HAPPEN TO FALL IN THE PRECINCT I REPRESENT. GENERATION PARK AND ALSO NVIDIA. THEY ARE IN AN INCORPORATED AREA I REPRESENT.
WHEN THEY WERE TRYING TO MAKE THE DECISION ON BRINGING IN THE FIRST FARM PHARMACEUTICAL MANUFACTURING WE DIDN'T GET, ONE OF THE BIG CONCERNS WAS PARKS, MANAGEMENT AT A PARK.
WHETHER YOU KEPT THEM UP. THEY WERE TALKING ABOUT DECENT PARK WAY OUT THERE AT THE EDGE OF OUR TWO PRECINCTS. BUT THERE WERE A HOST OF OTHER ISSUES THEY THOUGHT ABOUT. THEY WERE WORRIED ABOUT THE ONE WHEN WE WERE SUCCESSFUL WITH ELI LILLY THE BIG CONCERN WAS UTILITY. WHICH OBVIOUSLY WE DON'T CONTROL. AND THEN OBVIOUSLY ROADS. AS MY COLLEAGUES POINT OUT. HOW THEY HAVE ROAD MILES. BUT THEY WANT ROADS. THEY WANT THEM IN. THEY KNEW THE ROADS WEREN'T THERE WHEN THEY PICKED THE SITE.
WON'T GO INTO THAT ISSUE NOW. HAVE TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO PAY FOR THEM TO GET THEM TO COME. MY CONCERN IS WHEN THE CITY GOT ITS DOWNGRADE YEARS AGO AND A BIG PSYCHOLOGICAL BLOW, THE STATE DIDN'T PUT REVENUE CAP REQUIREMENTS ON US. AND DIDN'T PUT RESTRICTIONS ON WHETHER WE COULD REDUCE ANY AREAS OF THE BUDGET BACK THEN. AND WITH ALL DUE RESPECT TO WHAT'S HAPPENING ON THE FEDERAL LEVEL, WE HOPE WE'RE GOING TO GET REIMBURSED.
LIKE WE HOPE WE'RE GOING TO GET ALL THE MONEY THAT SOME OF WHICH WE PLANNED ON SPENDING ON INFRASTRUCTURE RIGHT NOW. BUT IN THIS ENVIRONMENT, NOT CASTING POLITICAL DISPERSIONS, BUT JUST MENTIONING THE REALITY. WE DON'T KNOW WHAT MAY GET SWOOPED UP AND TAKEN OUT OF HERE. SO THE REASON I PUT IT ON THE AGENDA WAS FIRST, I THOUGHT I WAS TOLD AT LEAST WHEN WE WERE IN COMBAT OVER BUDGET ISSUES ON THE HOUSTON CITY COUNCIL WITH THE MAYOR. AND OUR PROBLEM WAS ONE OF THE LEAD INSTIGATORS GIVING POOR MISS CATHY HECK ON A REGULAR BASIS. I WAS TOLD THAT SOME OF THE THINGS I SAID ENDED UP IN PRINT COULD IMPACT WHAT RATING AGENCIES THOUGHT ABOUT THE REGION. I DON'T KNOW IF YOU CAN EXPLAIN THAT TO ME BECAUSE THE MAYOR ASKED HIM TO SAY IT TO ME TO CALM ME DOWN. THAT'S WHY I PUT THE ITEM ON THE AGENDA.
JUST MY FEAR OF SO MANY UNANTICIPATED FACTORS. WE DON'T KNOW THE INDIGENT DEFENSE COSTS ARE GOING TO GO DOWN. THE WAY THE LAW WORKS, WE CAN'T CONTROL THAT. WE GET THE BILL, AND WE COULD CHALLENGE WHETHER OR NOT WE PAY IT. THAT'S MY CONCERN.
ANY REACTION? THAT'S WHY I ASKED FOR IT TO GO ON. I KNOW A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE BUSINESS. I DIDN'T LISTEN TO TOM AS MUCH AS JODI AND RICHARD. WHICH IS WHY THEY GOT OUT AND LEFT ME WITH THE FIRM. BUT I SOLD IT TO A HARVARD MBA AND GOT SOME GOOD
MONEY FOR IT. >> NO. I MEAN, I THINK YOU ALL ARE TAKING THE RIGHT APPROACH. BEING THOUGHTFUL. FOCUSING ON THE DATA. I GUESS ONE THING I WOULD SAY IS THE COUNTY JUST FINISHED THE FY2025. SO WHEN THE AUDIT COMES. ALL THE RATING AGENCIES WILL UPDATE THEIR METRICS WITH AUDITED FINANCIAL
[03:55:02]
STATEMENTS. SO, BUT I DON'T THINK THE COUNTY IS ALONE. I THINK THE NEXT ROUND OF FINANCIAL RESULTS ARE GOING TO BE WEAKER ACROSS THE BOARD. BECAUSE WE'VE SEEN, YOU KNOW, ENTITIES HAVE HAD TO WEAN THEMSELVES OFF THE ARPA DOLLARS.I DON'T WANT THE AUDIT TO COME OUT AND I DON'T THINK YOU'RE GOING TO GET A DOWNGRADE. I DON'T WANT THERE TO BE DISCUSSION AROUND FY 2025 PERFORMANCE AND SAY TINA, YOU WERE JUST HERE IN OCTOBER AND YOU SAID NOTHING. YOU KNOW, IT TAKES US. I MEAN, WE WON'T GET THE AUDIT UNTIL MARCH. WHICH IS SIX MONTHS AFTER THE CONCLUSION OF THE FISCAL YEAR. SO THESE THINGS JUST TAKE TIME TO WORK THEIR WAY THROUGH. I MEAN, THE KEY TAKE AWAYS ARE STRONG, VERY DIVERSE TAX BASE AND ECONOMY AND IT CONTINUES TO GROW. I MEAN, I'M A CUP HALF FULL KIND OF PERSON. THOSE ARE THE THINGS I'M FOCUSED ON. WHENEVER WE HAVE A CONVERSATION WITH THE RATING AGENCIES, WE'RE NOT PUTTING OUR HEAD IN THE SAND. WE'RE SAYING LOOK, THESE ARE THE THINGS WE SHOULD BE FOCUSED ON. THESE ARE THE AREAS THAT WE
MAKE SURE WE HIGHLIGHT. >> THANK YOU. THANKS FOR YOUR WORK ON THE HOMELESS. I KNOW YOU HANDLED THE FINANCIAL ISSUES OF
THE HERMANN PARK AS WELL. >> A LITTLE BIT.
>> ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
>> COLLEAGUES, WOULD YOU ALL LIKE TO KNOCK OUT THE CONSENT CALENDAR? WE CAN DO THAT QUICKLY BEFORE WE GET OUT OF HERE.
>> ITEM FOUR NO ACTION? >> YOU WANT TO RUN THROUGH THE
CORRECTIONS? >> SURE, COMMISSIONER. SO, CORRECTIONS OR NO ACTION REVIEW ITEM 9 PAGE TWO, NO ACTION. ITEM 48 PAGE SIX, INSERT MARKED STREET FROM. SHOULD READ AS FOLLOWS. REQUEST FOR APPROVAL OF A STUDY REPORT PREPARED BY CONCEPT ENGINEERS INCORPORATED FOR MARKET STREET FROM EAST BELTWAY 8 TO SOUTH SHELDON STREET.
AND PRECINCT TWO. ITEM 72 PAGE NINE. CHANGE TO DEPUTY TOMMY BERRY POCKET PARK. INSTEAD OF RIMWOOD PARK. ITEM 100, PAGE 12, NO ACTION. ITEM 108, PAGE 13. REMOVE AND POSSIBLE ACTION.
SHOULD READ AS FOLLOWS. REQUEST FOR DISCUSSION REGARDING THE HARRIS COUNTY CODE. ITEM 114, LINE 15, PAGE 15. CHANGE FERTILITY TO INFERTILITY. PAGE 128, I'M SORRY ITEM 128 PAGE 17, NO ACTION. ITEM 183, PAGE 25. SHOULD READ AS FOLLOWS.
REQUEST FOR APPROVAL OF A SOURCE WELL CORPORATED PURCHASING PROGRAM AWARD ON THE BASIS OF LOW QUOTE TWO. MUSTANG MACHINERY COMPANY LLC. DBA MUSTANG CAT IN THE AMOUNT OF $277,881 FOR DIESEL BOOM LIFT PRECINCT FOUR. JUSTIFICATION PARTICIPATION GOAL EXEMPT CORPORATE AGREEMENT. ITEM 258 PAGE 33 NO ACTION. ITEM 266, PAGE 36. AGENDA CAPTION REVISED AS FOLLOWS. REQUEST BY HUMAN RESOURCES AND TALENT FOR DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION ON THE COMPENSATION AND PAY EQUITY PROJECT RESULTS PRESENTED BY GALLAGHER BENEFIT SERVICES. ITEM 312, PAGE 39. CORRECT THE SPELLING OF THE LAST NAME TO ARNIM.
>> ITEM 99 THERE'S NO ACTION. >> YES. ITEM 99, NO ACTION.
>> ITEM 281, NO ACTION? >> YES. ITEM 281, NO ACTION.
>> THANK YOU. >> ITEM 9, PLEASE.
>> YES. I READ THAT ALREADY. ITEM 9 IS NO ACTION.
>> OKAY. ANY OTHERS? WE'RE GOOD? AND LET'S GO TO THE ITEMS THAT WERE PULLED. YOU WANT TO RUN THROUGH THEM AND SEE IF
COLLEAGUES WANT TO ADD ANY? >> SURE. COMMISSIONER, YOU WANT ME TO READ THE ITEMS PULLED? AS OF THIS TIME, ITEM 1, FLAGGED BY PRECINCT THREE, ITEM 2 FLAGGED BY PRECINCT THREE. ITEM 4 FLAGGED BY PRECINCTS ONE AND THREE. 90 FLAGGED BY PRECINCTS TWO AND FOUR. 92 FLAGGED BY PRECINCT THREE. ITEM 99 WAS FLAGGED BUT IT'S NO ACTION. 101 FLAGGED BY PRECINCT THREE. 113
[04:00:03]
FLAGGED BY PRECINCT THREE. 157 BY PRECINCT THREE. 169 PRECINCT THREE. 210, PRECINCT THREE. 211 PRECINCT THREE. 212 PRECINCT THREE. 219 PRECINCT THREE. 229 PRECINCT TWO. ITEM 230 IS A PUBLIC HEARING. 231 WAS FLAGGED BY PRECINCT THREE. 238 FLAGGED BY PRECINCT FOUR. 266 IS FLAGGED BY PRECINCT ONE, TWO, THREE AND FOUR. 269 FLAGGED BY PRECINCT TWO. 270 FLAGGED BY PRECINCT THREE. 285 FLAGGED BY PRECINCT THREE. AND 306 FLAGGED BYPRECINCT THREE. >> COLLEAGUES, ANY ADDITIONS OR
CHANGES? >> UNDER THE JUST VOTE CATEGORY,
I NEED TO ADD 307. >> 307. OKAY. AND COMMISSIONER RAMSEY, IF WHEN WE GO TO LUNCH, MAYBE IF JAY WORKS WITH YOU AND THERE'S SOME, WE COULD EXPEDITE IT.
>> I CAN GIVE YOU THAT LIST RIGHT NOW IF YOU WANT TO VOTE ON
IT. 101. 157, 169, 285, AND 307. >> AND I'LL SECOND IT. THAT MAKE SENSE, JAY? YOU MOVE THEM. GARCIA MAKES A MOTION AND I'LL SECOND. EVERYONE IN FAVOR VOTE AYE. EVERYONE OPPOSED NO. THREE
AYE'S AND ONE NO. >> FOR THE RECORD, I WANT TO SAY VOTE FOUR, THE COURT TOOK NO ACTION ON. WE'LL TAKE THAT ON
DISCUSSION. >> WE DID ITEM FOUR. NO ACTION.
>> CORRECT. ITEM 229 AND 266 HAVE ALREADY BEEN TAKEN CARE OF.
>> OKAY. IS THERE A MOTION FOR THE CONSENT AGENDA?
>> COMMISSIONER, WE ALSO HAVE THE EXECUTIVE SESSION TO REVIEW.
>> DO YOU HAVE QUESTIONS ON THE CONSENT AGENDA? GO AHEAD.
>> JAY, YOU WANT TO GO AHEAD WITH THE EXECUTIVE SESSION.
>> THERE ARE ITEMS 258, 259, 250 WAS PULLED FOR NO ACTION. THE EXECUTIVE SESSION ITEMS ARE 259, 260, 261, 262, 263, 264 AND THEN 281 HAS ALREADY BEEN REQUESTED FOR NO ACTION.
>> DO WE NEED TO GO COLLEAGUES ON EXECUTIVE SESSION ON 259?
>> OKAY. THAT ONE IS OKAY. WHAT WAS THE NEXT ONE?
>> 260. >> 260. FLOOD CONTROL.
>> DO WE NEED TO GO INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION ON THAT?
>> NO. >> WHAT'S YOUR NEXT ONE? 262?
>> NO. CYBERSECURITY. >> THAT ONE WE DO.
>> I UNDERSTAND SHE HAS A BRIEF PRESENTATION AND DOES.
>> WHAT ABOUT 263? DID WE PULL 263 OR NOT? WE NEED TO GO BACK
TO EXECUTIVE SESSION ON THAT? >> NO.
>> MISS MILES. OKAY. AM I SKIPPING ANY?
>> MY QUESTION IS ITEM FIVE. WHAT ACTION IS BEING HAPPENING?
>> YES, SIR. ITEM 86, THAT'S FOR THE LEGISLATIVE PLATFORM.
>> NO ACTION. ANYTHING ON LEGISLATIVE AFFAIRS?
>> ITEM 108, THAT'S THE DISCUSSION REGARDING THE HARRIS
COUNTY CODE. >> COMMISSIONER RAMSEY?
>> IT'S NOT AN ACTION ITEM. DISCUSSION ONLY. I JUST SHOWED
NO ACTION. >> OKAY. IS THERE NO ACTION OR
DISCUSSION? >> DISCUSSION ON IT.
>> WE'LL ADD IT TO THE DISCUSSION.
>> OKAY. ANY OTHERS? IS THERE A MOTION FOR THE CONSENT AGENDA?
>> SO MOVED. >> MOTION MADE BY COMMISSIONER RAMSEY. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER BRIONES. ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. IT
PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. >> THAT'S ALL THROUGH THE WHOLE
AGENDA? EXCEPT THE RESOLUTIONS. >> ANY PROBLEMS ON THE
RESOLUTIONS? >> WE'VE ALREADY VOTED ON ONE
OF THEM. >> ANY OF THE OTHERS? ANY YOU WANT TO VOTE AGAINST? OKAY. WE'LL PUT ALL OF THE CONSENT.
>> ALL THE RESOLUTIONS ON THE CONSENT.
>> ALL THE RESOLUTIONS ON THE CONSENT AGENDA.
>> COMMISSIONER, WE HAVE SPEAKERS ON THE RESOLUTIONS SO WE CAN'T. WHAT I SUGGEST IS GO ITEMS 1 THROUGH 308 AND WE'LL HANDLE THE RESOLUTIONS AFTERWARDS.
>> OKAY. SO THE MOTION IS THAT WE VOTED ON IS 1 THROUGH 308.
>> UNDERSTOOD. THAT'S 4-0 UNANIMOUS.
>> 4-0. ANY OTHER BUSINESS? >> NO, SIR. JUST LUNCH AT 1:00.
>> 1:16. LET'S COME BACK AT 2:16. 2:00? 2:16. WE'LL ADJOURN
[04:05:04]
>>> WE ARE BACK IN SESSION, COMMISSIONER RAMSEY I UNDERSTAND TO 19 YOU ARE OKAY WITH THAT? THIS IS ON THE BOX LUNCHES? SO, COMMISSIONER BRIONES ANY OBJECTION TO APPROVAL OF ITEM TO 19? HEARING AND NONE IT PASSES UNANIMOUSLY.
>> MOTION AND SECOND? >> COMMISSIONER BRIONES MADE, GARCIA SECOND. AND COMMISSIONER BRIONES IF WE MOVE QUICKLY WE CAN FINISH UP BEFORE WE GET TO THE RESOLUTION TO HAVE ITEM 238 COMMISSIONER? HARRIS COUNTY PUBLIC HEALTH AND HOUSTON HEALTH
DEPARTMENT COLLABORATION. >> FIRST MAY I PLEASE CALL UP THE TEAM FOR THE BRIEF PRESENTATION BEFORE I JUMP INTO
THE QUESTIONS? THANK YOU. >> SURE, ITEM 238. YES.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON. CLEAR BARTON DIRECTOR PUBLIC HERE WITH TERESA TRAN HOUSTON HEALTH DEPARTMENT DIRECTOR NEWLY APPOINTED. AND WE ARE EXTREMELY APPRECIATIVE, OF ALL THE SUPPORT WE GOT FROM DR.
STEPHEN WILLIAMS DURING HIS MORE THAN 20 YEARS WITH HOUSTON HEALTH DEPARTMENT, HE IS ON SPEED DIAL ADVISING US BOTH, BUT WANTED TO MAKE SURE YOU ALL HAD A CHANCE TO HEAR HOW WE ARE COLLABORATING AND EVEN JUST TO SEE PHYSICALLY WE ARE COLLABORATING. DR. TRAN WOULD YOU LIKE TO SAY A BIT ABOUT YOUR FIRST IMPRESSIONS AND WE WILL GO QUICKLY THROUGH THE
PRESENTATION. >> SURE, YES, HAPPY TO BE THE NEW HEALTH DIRECTOR AT THE CITY OF HOUSTON AND I HAVE LEARNED IN MY SHORT SEVEN WEEKS HERE SO FAR THAT WE HAVE DONE SO MUCH GREAT WORK WITH THE COUNTY AND I ANTICIPATE BUILDING UPON THAT.
>> THANK YOU. TIFFANY COULD YOU HELP US THROUGH THE SLIDES? AND TWO YEARS AGO IN 2023 AN AGREEMENT WAS ESTABLISHED BETWEEN THE CITY AND COUNTY AND PART OF THAT WAS AN ASKED TO BRING PROGRESS BACK TO COURT SO WE WANTED TO SHARE PROGRESS ON A FEW OF THE ITEMS WITHIN THE ILA , HOW WE ARE WORKING TOGETHER, SHARING DATA, HOW WE ARE COLLABORATING ON EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS, HOW CALMS TEAMS ARE TALKING TO EACH OTHER AND HOW WE ARE WORKING TOGETHER. THERE IS PLENTY OF OTHER COORDINATION HAPPENING AND WE HAVE SOME INITIAL THOUGHTS ON LONG-TERM ASPIRATIONS AND OF COURSE WE ALWAYS NEED YOUR SUPPORT. MOVING FORWARD. FROM A COLLABORATION PERSPECTIVE THERE WAS A ASK IN THE INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT THAT WE ALIGN ON COMMUNITYWIDE PLANNING WITH A FEW VEHICLES THROUGH WHICH THAT IS HAPPENING NOW. LEADERSHIP TEAMS MEET TOGETHER EVERY QUARTER. WE MEET TOGETHER REGULARLY. INDIVIDUAL FUNCTIONAL TEAMS MEET TOGETHER I.T. AND I.T., HR AND HR, WITHIN OUR PLAN STEERING COMMITTEE THE HOUSTON HEALTH DEPARTMENT IS A ACTIVE PARTICIPANT AND ONE OF THE FIRST PROJECTS WE WORKING ON TOGETHER IS ACCESS TO CARE REPORT THAT SHOULD SHOW WHERE WE MAY HAVE OVERLAPPING SERVICES, WHERE WE HAVE SERVICE GAPS AND BY FIRST QUARTER NEXT YEAR THAT SHOULD GIVE VISIBILITY INTO ADDITIONAL OPPORTUNITIES TO OPTIMIZE. THE INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT DID ASK US TO CREATE A DATA SHARING MECHANISM AND COMMISSIONERS COURT APPROVED AN INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT DATA SHARING IN MARCH AND WE ACTUALLY HAVE ANOTHER DATA SHARING AGREEMENT FOR THE PROGRAM APPROVED TODAY SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT IN THAT REGARD. NEXT SLIDE. OF COURSE EMERGENCY RESPONSE IS PARAMOUNT.
OUR TEAMS PARTICIPATE IN MANY OF THE SAME WORKING GROUPS REGIONAL GROUPS SUPPORTING THE STRATEGIC NATIONAL STOCKPILE, MEDICAL COUNTERMEASURES, THE CARE COALITION, WE WORK TOGETHER ON TRAINING OUR TEAMS PRESENTED AT A ADMINISTERED A PREPAREDNESS WORKSHOP THE HOUSTON HEALTH DEPARTMENT ATTENDED THE FAMILY ASSISTANCE CENTER EXERCISE THAT WE COORDINATED FRIDAY WITH MORE THAN 20 OTHER AGENCIES AND ONE OF OUR PRIMARY AREAS OF COVERAGE IS PLANNING FOR FEE FOR SO THAT REMAINS A PRIORITY NOW THROUGH NEXT JUNE. NEXT . NEXT SLIDE. COMMUNICATIONS. PUBLIC
[04:10:02]
INFORMATION OFFICERS MEET REGULARLY NOT ONLY HOUSTON AND HARRIS COUNTY, BUT FORT BEND AS WELL, LOCAL HEALTH AUTHORITIES TO DETERMINE WHAT IS THE CRITICAL HEALTH ISSUES THAT MAY BE FACING THE REGION AND ALIGN ON RESPONSES, WE HAVE ALIGNED ON JOINT COMMUNICATIONS AFTER HURRICANE, NOW WITH MORE RECENTLY MEASLES EVEN NOW IN RESPONSE TO OUR SNAP SEE STATION OR TEMPORARY STOPPAGE SO WE CAN TALK ABOUT HOW WE SHARE MESSAGING THERE. WE HAVE NEXT CLOSE ALIGNMENT ACROSS OUR CLINICAL TEAMS AND SOME OF WHAT THIS LOOKS LIKE IS POTENTIALLY COLLABORATING ON GRANTS AND DECIDING WITHIN SPECIFIC FEDERAL OPPORTUNITIES WHICH SERVICES ONE DEPARTMENT MAY PROVIDE VERSUS THE OTHER. WE HAVE GOOD REFERRAL PATHWAYS BETWEEN EACH TEAM AND MOBILE HELP SERVICES OPERATE WITHIN THE CITY AND WE ARE EXCITED TO BE LAUNCHING THE THIRD WARD CENTER SO PART OF THAT REPORT SHOULD HELP US SEE WHERE ELSE WE NEED TO OPTIMIZE THOSE HEALTH LOCATIONS. THOSE WERE JUST A FEW OF OUR AREAS OF COLLABORATION. WE ARE CERTAINLY DOING MORE BEYOND WHAT WAS IN THE INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT. ENVIRONMENTAL PUBLIC HEALTH TEAMS WORKED CLOSELY TOGETHER WITH INTERGOVERNMENTAL AFFAIRS ON VARIOUS FOOD PERMITTING BILLS , THERE ARE SOME THINGS WE DO COUNTYWIDE LIKE MOSQUITO AND VECTOR CONTROL BUT THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT DOES NOT DO IT ALL WITH THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT DOES FOR ALL OF US LIKE RABIES TESTING, ONE AREA WE KNOW WE NEED TO DO MORE IS COLLABORATE ON VIOLENCE PREVENTION SO WE STARTED TO WORK WITH HOUSTON HEALTH DEPARTMENT AND DEPARTMENT OF NEIGHBORHOODS, THE MAYOR'S OFFICE OF GANG VIOLENCE PREVENTION AND TEAMS ARE READY TO SUPPORT EACH OTHER WHEN AN OUTBREAK OCCURS WHEN WE NEED SURGE CAPACITIES TO INVESTIGATE A PARTICULAR INSTANCE OF DISEASE, FOODBORNE ILLNESS AND NOT HOUSTON HEALTH, BUT DPH IS WORKING CLOSELY . IN TERMS OF NEXT STEPS YOU HAVE SEEN SOME VERY SPECIFIC IF WE MOVE TO THE NEXT SLIDE VERY SPECIFIC NEXT STEPS BUILDING THE ACCESS TO CARE REPORT, FIGURING OUT JOINTLY HOW WE WILL APPROACH THE COLLABORATIVE AGREEMENTS WITH THE STATE ON FOOD TRUCK INSPECTION COMING OUT OF THE RECENT LEGISLATIVE SESSION, PREPARING FOR FEE FOR, VIOLENCE PREVENTION , BUT THESE ARE LONGER-TERM OPPORTUNITIES WE SEE, CERTAINLY THERE ARE OPPORTUNITIES TO DIVERSIFY REVENUE. HOW WE LEVERAGE ELECTRONIC MEDICAL RECORDS SYSTEMS TO BE ABLE TO INFORM THE WORK MORE AND CONTINUING TO WORK TOGETHER ON LEGISLATIVE ENGAGEMENT IN PARTNERSHIP WITH ENTITIES LIKE THE TEXAS ASSOCIATION OF CITY AND COUNTY HEALTH OFFICIALS AND INTERGOVERNMENTAL AFFAIRS. TO CLOSE OUT WE ARE GRATEFUL FOR YOUR HELP , AS ALWAYS WE APPRECIATE YOUR ADVOCACY HELPING US SECURE FUNDING, SPREAD OUR MESSAGES, SEND REFERRALS, SENDING COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND WE ARE EXCITED TO KEEP WORKINGTOGETHER AS WE MOVE FORWARD. >> THANK YOU, DIRECTOR AND CONGRATULATIONS AGAIN. IT MAKES ME HAPPY TO LISTEN TO THE PRESENTATION TO SEE THAT THERE IS ACTIVE COMMUNICATION AND COLLABORATION THAT WE ARE CONTINUING TO GROW TOGETHER SO THE REPORT YOU REFERENCED KEY 2026 WITHOUT FURTHER FLESH OUT AND PRIORITIZE KEY AREAS FOR POTENTIAL COORDINATED SERVICE DELIVERY OR A DEEPER COLLABORATION?
>> THE ACCESS TO CARE IS AROUND CLINICAL SERVICES AND WE ARE ENGAGING EACH OTHER AND SEVERAL LIKE HARRIS HEALTH SO IT IS KIND OF SPECIFIC TO THE CLINICAL CARE UNIVERSE, WE ARE EXPLORING
ADDITIONAL COLLABORATION. >> I LOVE THAT SO THAT IS EVEN BROADER. WITH REGARDS TO CITY OF HOUSTON AND HARRIS COUNTY WE HAVE A DEEP COMMITMENT TO ENSURE THE COMMUNITY IS AS HEALTHY AS POSSIBLE REMAINING PROACTIVE SHARING DATA AND I KNOW THERE ARE SO MANY AREAS IN WHICH WE WORK. IMMUNIZATIONS TO ANIMAL WELFARE TO DISASTERS, SO I AM CURIOUS IN WHAT ARE THE TOP THREE WAYS WE WILL TRY TO EVEN BETTER PARTNER WITH THE CITY OF HOUSTON TO REALLY SHOW MEANINGFUL IMPACT, IMPROVED
OUTCOMES ET CETERA? >> THERE'S MANY MORE THAN
[04:15:01]
THREE, BUT I THINK IN THE NEAR-TERM WE HAVE A STRONG FOCUS ON DATA THROUGH ACCESS TO CARE REPORT, THINKING ABOUT WAYS TO SHARE WITH DASHBOARDS DEVELOPED TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE ALIGNED STRATEGIES, UPCOMING QUARTERLY MEETING WITH A FOCUS ON DATA HOUSTON IS REFRESHING HOUSTON STATE OF HEALTH REPORT, WE ARE DEVELOPING A HEALTHY COMMUNITIES FRAMEWORK. WE WANT TO MAKE SURE WE ARE ALIGNED BEHIND THE SAME OUTCOMES, THOSE ARE DIFFERENT REPORTS WITH DIFFERENT AUDIENCES BUT WE WANT TO MAKE SURE WE FIGURE OUT THE MOST CRITICAL AREAS TO PULL TOGETHER. I THINK SEEKING ADDITIONAL FUNDING IS A PRIORITY, A PRIORITY FOR PUBLIC HEALTH BROADLY NATIONALLY AT THE STATE LEVEL AND LOCALLY.STARTING NOW TO THINK ABOUT HOW WE APPROACH THE 2027 LEGISLATIVE SESSION. WE MAKE SURE WE HAVE CONTINUITY OF CHARITY CARE FUNDING. HOW WE SEEK NEW OPPORTUNITIES FOR FUNDING. WE ARE IN EARLY DISCUSSIONS WITH HARRIS HEALTH AND THE HARRIS CENTER ABOUT SOME WAYS TO DEMONSTRATE THE ROI OF PROGRAMS, GET PAID FOR PREVENTION, WE KNOW WE CAN DO MORE TO SUPPORT CLAIMS AND NEAR-TERM ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH IS FOCUSED ON MAKING SURE WE HAVE CONTINUED FOOD INSPECTION.
>> THOSE ARE AMAZING AND I CANNOT WAIT TO DIVE IN TOGETHER, TWO FINAL QUICK QUESTIONS. ONE, LESSONS LEARNED FROM THE PANDEMIC AND HOW WE ARE BETTER POSITIONED, HOPEFULLY WE DON'T HAVE ANOTHER PANDEMIC ANYTIME SOON BUT HOW ARE WE BETTER POSITIONED TO WORK TOGETHER FROM WHEN WE WERE TO WHERE WE ARE
NOW? >> NEITHER ONE OF US WAS IN OUR ROLE DURING THE PANDEMIC, BUT THE TEAMS WORKED CLOSELY TOGETHER AT THAT TIME COORDINATING ON VACCINATION LOCATIONS, MESSAGING, I THINK THAT WAS SOME OF THE MOST CRITICAL AREAS OF COLLABORATION. WE ALSO HEARD FEEDBACK LIKE JUST YESTERDAY I HEARD SOMEONE SAY DURING COVID YOU HAD A COVID DASHBOARD , THE CITY HAD A COVID DASHBOARD DID NOT KNOW WHERE TO GO FOR COVID INFORMATION ISN'T THAT SOMETHING YOU COULD HAVE DONE TOGETHER? SO THAT'S WHERE WE WOULD WANT TO BE WORKING
TOGETHER GOING FORWARD. >> UNANIMOUS CONTENT TO CONTINUE
DISCUSSION. >> I KNOW THIS IS A BROAD CONVERSATION BUT IT IS EASIER IF WE PLAN NOW WHICH I KNOW WE ARE PLANNING BUT I'LL BE TAKING ACTION BETWEEN NOW BETWEEN THE NEXT PANDEMIC OR THE NEXT FREEZE, WHATEVER THE NEXT SITUATION MAY BE THANK YOU. WITH YOU AT THE HELM I HAVE TREMENDOUS CONFIDENCE AND LASTLY WE GET SO MANY CONCERNS CALLS, EMAILS FROM OUR CONSTITUENTS ABOUT ANIMAL WELFARE AND WHAT MORE COULD THE CITY OF HOUSTON AND HARRIS COUNTY BE DOING TO WORK TOGETHER TO IMPROVE THE AREA? CAN YOU SPEAK OF EXAMPLES WHAT YOU ARE CURRENTLY DOING AND PLANNING ON DOING PLEASE?
>> SURE, WE HAVE WORKED TOGETHER TO LINE A NUMBER OF POLICIES SUCH AS ALIGNING REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS. WE HAVE COMMON REQUIREMENTS FOR MICRO-CHIPPING OTHER REGISTRATION COMPONENTS.
WE HAVE DONE JOINT SWEEPS WITH AREAS LIKE IN CLOVERLEAF WHERE WE HAVE A CITY AND COUNTY BOUNDARY AND RATHER THAN WORRY ABOUT AT ONE POINT THE DOG IS ON ONE SIDE OF THE BORDER OR THE OTHER WE HAVE SENT TEAMS OUT TOGETHER TO DO SWEEPS IN AREAS WHERE WE SEE HIGH RATES OF ANIMAL BITES BOTH PARTICIPATE ON THE 927 PAUSE CRUELTY TASK FORCE MEETING WITH RESCUE TEAMS. CERTAINLY THERE'S MORE WE CAN BE DOING.
>> THANK YOU. >> COMMISSIONER RAMSEY.
>> THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU DO AND WHAT YOU'RE GOING TO DO. A GOOD JOB IN TERMS OF STAYING FOCUSED. MY SPECIFIC QUESTION RELATED TO COLLABORATION HAD TO DO WITH ANIMAL CONTROL AND OTHERS AND I THINK YOU ANSWERED THAT. THERE IS MUCH WORK TO DO IN THAT PARTICULAR AREA. VERY CLEARLY WE CAN LEVERAGE SOME OF OUR RESOURCES IN BOTH GROUPS SO I KNOW THAT IS A ONGOING CONVERSATION. HOW CAN YOU LEVERAGE LIMITED RESOURCES IN THE COUNTY AND IN THE CITY TO MAKE A BIGGER DIFFERENCE IN COMMUNITY SO, CONTINUE TO DO THAT THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU DO.
>> OKAY, THANK YOU BOTH. THAT IS TRANSMITTAL WITH NO ACTION.
THANK YOU COMMISSIONER. NEXT WE WILL GO BACK TO PAGE 2 ITEM 1, COUNTY ADMINISTRATION AND DISCUSSION ON HARRIS COUNTY PAY ACT POLICY COMMISSIONER RAMSEY YOU PULLED THAT ONE.
>> YES, THE QUESTION HERE IS WE ARE GOING TO FULLY WE'RE GOING
[04:20:05]
TO START PAYING INTEREST ON THIS , JULY, JANUARY 12, 2026. MY ONLY CONCERN AGAIN JUST AS I WAS ON THE PAY EQUITY , I WANT TO BE SURE WE ARE READY FOR IT BECAUSE WHEN YOU IMPLEMENT SOMETHING YOU'VE GOT TO BE READY. THIS IS A SIGNIFICANT CHANGE THE INTEREST WILL BE CHARGED DIRECTLY TO THE DEPARTMENT.OBVIOUSLY YOU BUDGETED FOR THIS, DANIEL. GOING FORWARD. ANY
INTEREST WE HAVE TO PAY. >> THE IDEA IS IT WILL COME OUT OF EXISTING RESOURCES IF THE DEPARTMENT IS LIABLE.
>> SO IT IS NOT BUDGETED? AND DO YOU THINK WE CAN PAY FOR THAT
OUT OF OTHER RESOURCES? >> WE WILL HAVE TO REASSESS TO SEE, THE LAST NUMBER I SAW WAS A LITTLE OVER 1 MILLION. IF IT HAD BEEN ANNUAL , IT'S NOT GOING TO BREAK ONE WAY IN THE OTHER.
>> LATE INVOICES CAN BE DISPUTED BUT IT IS UNCLEAR IN THE POLICY WILL MAKE THE DETERMINATION? ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT THE POLICY YES. DISPUTED THERE IS CLEAR GUIDELINES BASED ON STATE LAW ON WHAT IS DISPUTED AND WHAT IS NOT, THE IDEA IS IF THE INVOICE MEETS THOSE CRITERIA IT IS DISPUTABLE THEN WE SHOULD
DISPUTE IT. >> OKAY AGAIN, WE , THIS IS AN ISSUE IN TERMS OF PROMPT PAYMENT. SOMETIMES WHEN WE CAN MEET WHEN WE CAN'T MEET WE IMPACT THAT ABILITY FOR INVOICE.
THAT WILL BE A DECISION MADE ON WHO WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE INVOICE BEING LATE. JUST I ENCOURAGE A QUALITY SET OF PARAMETERS AND POLICIES ON HOW YOU IMPLEMENT.
>> I WOULD SAY COMMISSIONER RIGHT NOW WE START TESTING IN NOVEMBER ON WHAT IS REALLY GOING TO BE THE MOST COMPLICATED PART WHICH IS THE PRE-INVOICE ON CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS SO WE WILL HAVE IN THE DECEMBER COURT A MONTH OF TESTING ON THAT AND I THINK THE TEAM FEELS GOOD ABOUT BEING ABLE TO INTEGRATE THINGS LIKE FLOOD CONTROL WITH AIP AND THAT IS HOW WE WILL TRACK WHO IS RESPONSIBLE. WE WILL SET PARAMETERS ON WHAT IS A REASONABLE TIME FOR THOSE INVOICES TO BE SITTING WITH THE DEPARTMENT, THE ENGINEERING DEPARTMENTS AND THE CONTRACT. I HAVE SAID BEFORE IF WE HAVE A RED FLAG WE ARE NOT GOING TO BE READY FROM A TECHNICAL OR BUSINESS PROCESS STANDPOINT, THEN I WILL THROW IT. UNIVERSAL SERVICES I WANT TO THANK THEIR TEAM, HAVE DONE A LOT OF WORK. WE ARE IN GOOD SHAPE TO IMPLEMENT. THE GOAL IS TO BE COMPLIANT AND NOT PAY INTEREST.
ONE OF THE PROBLEMS WE HAVE HAD AS WE CANNOT MATCH OR MEASURE.
UNTIL WE ARE ABLE TO KNOW WHAT ALL THE PARTS A PROCESS HOW LONG IT IS TAKING THEN IT IS HARD TO FIX IT AND I BELIEVE I DON'T WANT TO SPEAK FOR COMMISSIONER GARCIA, BUT A BIG REASON WE ARE GOING DOWN THIS ROAD IS WE NEED TO HAVE SOME CONSEQUENCES TO PUT OUR PROCESSES IN PLACE SO WE CAN TRACK AND MAKE SURE WE ARE
ACTING EXPEDITIOUSLY. >> YOU ARE TALKING TO OTHER COUNTIES WITH EQUAL VOLUME OF ISSUES ?
>> TRAVIS HAS IMPLEMENTED, THEY ARE SMALLER, BUT THERE IS NO REASON WE SHOULD NOT HAVE BUSINESS PRACTICES THAT SUPPORT PAYMENT WITHIN 30 DAYS OF INVOICE.
>> THE MAIN MESSAGE YOU ARE READY.
>> WE WILL BE READY. >> OKAY THANK YOU.
>> A COUPLE OF CONCERNS. COMMISSIONER PRECINCTS WILL NOT BE ALLOWED TO TEST FUNCTIONALITY OF CONSTRUCTION INVOICE UNTIL 11/12 EXPECTED GO LIVE OF JANUARY 12 AND I FEEL THIS IS INADEQUATE TIME TO TEST CODING DEFICIENCIES IDENTIFIED DURING TESTING OTHER CONCERN IS THE FUNDING DEPARTMENT COMMISSIONER PRECINCTS HAVE TO PAY LATE INTEREST NO MATTER THE LENGTH OF TIME OR CONSTRUCTION INVOICE AT THE OFFICE OF COUNTY ENGINEERING PUTTING THE BURDEN ON COMMISSIONER PRECINCTS TO ENSURE THE OFFICE OF COUNTY ENGINEER CONSTRUCTION INVOICES ARE
[04:25:03]
PROCESSED IN A TIME PERIOD. IS UNDERSTANDABLY COMPLIES WITH THE LAW BUT TRAVIS COUNTY AND I'M GLAD THEY DO IT. DALLAS DOESN'T, TARRANT COUNTY DOESN'T SO HERE'S MY SUGGESTION. THE PROPOSED POLICY BE DELAYED TO GO LIVE UNTIL FEBRUARY 9 DIRECTING OCA AND THE AUDITOR TO RETURN TO COMMISSIONERS COURT IN DECEMBER WITH A PROPOSED AMENDMENT TO BETTER ALIGN INCENTIVE STRUCTURE FOR CITIZENS REQUIRING REVIEW BY OTHER DEPARTMENTS THE AMENDMENT MUST DEFINE REASONABLE DAYS TO COMPLETE THE REVIEWS PRIOR TO ASSUMING PARTIAL RESPONSIBILITY FOR ANY RESULTING INTEREST PAYMENTS AND REQUIRE A QUARTERLY TRUE OF INVOICES TO DETERMINE WHAT DEPARTMENT IS RESPONSIBLE FOR INTEREST PAYMENTS BASED ON WORKDAYS THE INVOICE REMAIN IN THE DEPARTMENT. I'M TRYING TO FIGURE OUT COME I DON'T KNOW IF I SENT IT OUT I MEANT TO.COMMISSIONER GARCIA. THAT GIVE YOU TIME AND US TIME.
>> COMMISSIONER I THINK THE TRUE UP IS REASONABLE AND THAT IS A GREAT AD. I THINK TESTING FROM STARTING MID-NOVEMBER IT'S ENOUGH TIME TO GET US TO THE DECEMBER AND TO KNOW IF WE HAVE BIG ISSUES IN MEASURING THAT PRE-INVOICE TIME BECAUSE THAT'S THE KEY IF WE CAN MEASURE HOW LONG THAT TAKES THEN IF IT IS THE COUNTY ENGINEER'S TEAM AT THE PRECINCT TEAM THEN WE ASSOCIATE THE COST WITH THE COUNTY ENGINEER AND WE CAN TRUE IT UP AT THE END OF THE MONTH OR QUARTER AND I THINK THAT'S REASONABLE. I WOULD ASK WE CAN DELAY IN FERMENTATION BUT I THINK THE TEAM IS WORKING HARD TO HIT THE JANUARY DATE.
>> I DON'T WANT TO PAY EQUITY ISSUE, THIS ISSUE I DON'T WANT SOMETHING TO BLOW UP AND ALTHOUGH FOR THE DEPARTMENT I AM TOLD FOR THE LAST PERIOD, MAY 25 , MAY 2025 INDICATED POTENTIAL FUTURE COST DURING THE PERIOD WOULD HAVE BEEN $638,000. IT WOULD NOT BE MUCH TO YOU ALL BUT IT WOULD PUT ME IN A BAD MOOD.
OKAY, I WILL MAKE THE MOTION, COMMISSIONER GARCIA SECONDS?
>> THANK YOU, I AM LOOKING AT YOUR MOTIONS. DO ANY OF THESE NEED TO BE WORKING INTO WHAT COMMISSIONER ELLIS PROPOSED?
>> MY MOTION DOES NOT INCLUDE PUSHING THE GO LIVE DATE INTO FEBRUARY SO I THINK EVERYTHING ELSE IN MY MOTION IS SIMILAR SO I THINK HIS CAN REPLACE WHAT I SENT AROUND.
>> GOOD DEAL. AS COMMISSIONER ELLIS SAID TRAVIS COUNTY IS COMPLIANT. I'VE GOT TO CHECK THE RECORD WHEN I MADE THE MOTION TO BE COMPLIANT I THINK WE ARE GOING ON THREE YEARS.
THREE YEARS. AND I JUST , HAVE WE EVER HAD A CONVERSATION WITH TRAVIS COUNTY TO SEE HOW THEY ARE DOING IT AND WHY IT IS SO
HARD FOR US? >> I BELIEVE SO, THE CHALLENGE ON OUR PART IS THE BUSINESS PRACTICES AND PROCESSES, IT HAS BEEN LONG DISCUSSED, THE INVOICES COME IN AND WE ARE NOT TRACKING THEM IN A COMMON SYSTEM AND THAT'S THE HEART OF OUR
ISSUES. >> I SECOND YOUR MOTION.
>> I READ IT. SOMEBODY ELSE ? >> MY COMMENTS WERE SIMILAR TO COMMISSIONER GARCIA'S. I KNOW THIS HAS BEEN YEARS IN THE MAKING SO I AM HAPPY WE ARE CREATING A CLEAR PROCESS AND INCENTIVE STRUCTURE FOR DEPARTMENTS TO COMPLY WITH THE PROMPT PAY ACT TO MAKE SURE WE GET THE PAYMENTS I AGREE WITH MY COLLEAGUES IF WE HAVE THIS GO LIVE WE NEED TO POSITION FOR SUCCESS AND CLARITY AND MAKE SURE ALL DEPARTMENTS ESPECIALLY WHERE THERE IS INTERPLAY BETWEEN MULTIPLE DEPARTMENTS THAT WE EACH KNOW WHO IS ON FIRST AND WE GET IT DONE WITHIN 30 DAYS BUT I AM HAPPY WE ARE DOING THIS BECAUSE I KNOW IT DISPROPORTIONATELY HURTS SMALL BUSINESSES, LOCAL BUSINESSES WHEN THEY ARE NOT GETTING PAID ON TIME AND WE WANT IT TO BE EASY TO DO BUSINESS WITH THE COUNTY AND WE WANT TO COMPLY WITH TEXAS LAW SO THANK YOU JESSE, DANIEL AND ALL OF THE DEPARTMENTS THANK YOU. I AM IN FAVOR COMMISSIONER ELLIS AND
GARCIA. >> I SENT HIM A COPY AND THANK YOU FOR BRINGING IT UP, IT'S SOMETHING YOUR OFFICE OUGHT TO TAKE THE LEAD ON BLOWING UP AND WE WILL ENCOURAGE FORT BEND
[04:30:02]
COUNTY AND OTHERS TO DO IT BUT WE WANT TO MAKE SURE BEING AS BIG AS WE ARE WE ROLL IT OUT DIRECTLY. I WILL SECOND MISSION ARE GARCIA'S MOTION ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? ANY OPPOSED? THE ITEM PASSES. THANK YOU JESSE AND YOUR TEAM. NEXT IS ITEM 2 . YEAH.REQUEST DISCUSSING POSSIBLE ACTION HIRING FREEZE EXEMPTIONS
COMMISSIONER RAMSEY. >> MY COMMENT IS THE TERMINOLOGY USED. DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION HIRING FREEZE EXEMPTIONS AND I WILL ASK ONE MORE TIME IF WE CAN USE THE WORD OF AND HIRING FREEZE . IN MY OPINION WE DON'T HAVE A HIRING FREEZE. WE HAVE A STRATEGIC HIRING INITIATIVE IF YOU NEED TO HIRE SOMEONE YOU COME TO COURT AND WE HAVE A CONVERSATION. SO IT DOES CREATE SOME CONFUSION TO SOME DEGREE, SOME MAY EVEN AFFECT OUR BOND RATING WHEN THEY SAY WE HAVE A HIRING FREEZE. IN ANY CASE THAT'S MY SIMPLE REQUEST. I HAVE NO , I HAVE NO MOTIONS RELATED TO THIS PARTICULAR ITEM.
>> COMMISSIONER GARCIA. >> I WANT TO ECHO THAT. BECAUSE COMMISSIONER RAMSEY IS ABSOLUTELY RIGHT. WE ARE GOING TO BE VERY REASONABLE WITH DIRECTORS AS THEY PROPOSE THEIR ITEMS, WHERE THEY MAKE SENSE AND OFFER CONTINUITY. ESPECIALLY WHEN SOMEONE VACATES A POSITION IN MID FISCAL YEAR. IS THERE ANOTHER TERM THAT WORKS, EMPLOYMENT CONTROL , YOU KNOW?
>> WE WILL TAKE GUIDANCE FROM COURT. HOWEVER COURT WANTS TO
REFER TO THE HIRING PRACTICES. >> I HAVE BEEN THROUGH A HIRING
FREEZE AND THIS IS NOT ONE. >> I WOULD SAY NO MATTER WHAT WE CALL IT, SINCE WE CALLED IT A HIRING FREEZE FOR A WHILE GUESS WHAT IT IS STILL GOING TO BE CALLED A HIRING FREEZE. WHATEVER TERM IF I FORGET REMIND ME. I WANT TO HEAR FROM SOME DEPARTMENTS ABOUT WHAT IMPACT THE DENIAL OF AN ADDITIONAL PERSON IN THE PROCESS HAS WITH I'M THINKING JUST A SECOND AGO PART OF THE RATIONALE TO IMPLEMENT PROMPT PAY POLICY WHICH IS A GOOD THING THREE YEARS LATE WAS IT HELPS SMALL MINORITY WOMEN OWNED BUSINESSES. WE KNOW IT'S GOING ON AT A NATIONAL LEVEL , EVERY DAY AND WE DO NOT HAVE A PROGRAM. UNTIL THE LEADERSHIP AROUND YOUR CHANGED, BY THE WAY, THIS FTE FOR VENDOR DIVERSITY I WANT TO HAVE SOME YOU DO NOT RECOMMEND I WANT TO HEAR FROM THE DEPARTMENT WHAT IMPACT IT HAS ON YOUR.
PARTICULARLY WHAT'S GOING ON NOW WITH THE STATE AND I JUST THOUGHT OF THAT WHEN I SAW. AND THEN I WANT TO HEAR FROM THE ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT IN PARTICULAR OF ANY IMPACT THAT IT
MAY HAVE ON THEIR SHOP. >> SHE WAS HERE BEFORE.
>> I WOULD'VE TOLD YOU I WOULD CALL ON YOU BUT I SAW FROM THE PREVIOUS COMMENT SOMETIMES THIS STUFF IS SPONTANEOUS. I KNOW IT'S HARD FOR YOU ALL TO BELIEVE.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON COMMISSIONERS I'M GOING TO DEFER .
>> HI GOOD AFTERNOON COMMISSIONERS. MANAGING DIRECTOR INCLUSIVE PROCUREMENT SO THE POSITION IS THE SENIOR MANAGER VENDOR DIVERSITY SO WHAT THAT POSITION DOES, THEY MANAGE COMPLIANCE SO CURRENTLY NOW THE CONTRACT HAS 1000 PLUS CONTRACTS AS IT PERTAINS TO COMPLAINTS , THAT MANAGER WHO LEADS THAT PARTICULAR TEAM AND THOSE MONITORS ADDITIONALLY, WHEN COURT OR DEPARTMENTS REQUIRE RENEWAL RECOMMENDATIONS FOR CONTRACT RENEWAL THE SENIOR MANAGER PROVES CONTRACT RENEWALS AND ANY DEVIATIONS TO CONTRACTS IT DOES AFFECT OUR TEAM, BUT WE WILL BE GOOD STEWARDS AND TRUDGE THROUGH IT BUT IT DOES HAVE AN
IMPACT. >> SO I KNOW WE EXPECT YOU TO DO MORE WITH LESS. I JUST DON'T WANT SOMETHING TO BE DELAYED. I DON'T WANT THE CONTRACT DELAYED ALL OF THIS STUFF HAS A RIPPLE EFFECT AND I WANT TO GET SOME SENSE IF YOU DON'T GET IT I KNOW THEY WILL REVIEW AGAIN LATER. WE LOSE A PERSON I MEAN
[04:35:07]
GIVE ME SOME SENSE. THIS IS YOUR CHANCE TO MAKE THE CASE TO GET IT. I KNOW WHERE WE ALL WANT TO BE REAL CONGENIAL. I'M A REALLY NICE GUY, I KEEP TELLING PEOPLE ALL OF THAT ALL THE TIME SOMETHING BLOWS UP THEN WE ARE NOT SO NICE. YES IT COULD CAUSE DELAYS WHEN WE TALK ABOUT COMPLAINTS WORK, I KNOW COMMISSIONER GARCIA YOU ARE HONEST ABOUT ASSURING THOSE CONTRACTS ARE MONITORED OPERABLY WITHOUT THE SENIOR PROJECT MONITOR ROLL ESPECIALLY WITH THE 1000 CONTRACTS THAT CURRENTLY HAVE GOALS , THERE WILL NOT BE ABLE TO BE THE ADDITIONAL OVERSIGHT REQUIRED BY THE COURT AND I WILL SAY THAT POSITION YOU KNOW IT WAS FIVE DAYS RIGHT AFTER THE COURT MADE ITS DECISION SO IT IS NOT A NEW ROLE AT ALL.>> IF YOU HAD KNOWN IT WAS COMING YOU MIGHT HAVE SPED IT
>> JESSE HOW DO YOU ALL DECIDE THIS? I'VE NEVER BEEN IN YOUR POSITION, BUT I ASSUME WHEN I'M TELLING STAFF WHAT THEY OUGHT TO DO THEY COME BACK AND WORK THREE OR FOUR WAYS I AM LOOKING AT IT FROM PRETTY HIGH UP DOING FIVE OR SIX OTHER THINGS WHAT IS THE
GIVE AND TAKE, HOW DO YOU ALL? >> THIS ONE IS THE TIME OF YEAR.
IT IS AND WHERE WE ARE IN THE PROCESS. THE POSITION DOES HAVE A LOT OF MERIT. YOU ASKED LAST COURT AND WILL COME BACK ON THE NEXT COURT TO LOOK AT WHERE WE ARE WITH THE BUDGET ESPECIALLY WITH SLOWER HIRING AND WE CIRCLED 25 BILLION, WE WANT TO MAKE SURE WE ARE ON TRACK WITH THAT AND WE WANT TO MAKE SURE WE DID NOT MAKE ATTRITION INTO THE NUMBERS. WE WANT TO SEE IF ATTRITION IS HAPPENING WHAT WE HAVE TO DO. PURELY IT WAS THE HIGH LEVEL FINANCIAL DEMANDS , THE COURT SAID 25 MILLION IS THE
TARGET. >> DO YOU ALL DIGGING WITH THEM LIKE OUR OFFICES BUT IF I WAS TALKING TO SOMEBODY AND I THOUGHT I COULD GET THEM AND THEN THIS HAPPENS AND I HAVE NO IDEA OF KNOWING WHETHER OR NOT A MONTH LATER IT WILL CHANGE , THEN I LOSE THAT PERSON, DO YOU ALL GET DOWN TO THAT GRANULAR
LEVEL? >> OUR TEAMS WORK CLOSELY WITH THE DEPARTMENT'S AND ARE FAMILIAR WITH OPERATIONS. DEEO HAS WORKED WELL WITH THE OFFICE .
>> I WANTED TO TELL SOMEBODY DON'T TAKE THE OTHER JOB, YOU KNOW DID I GET A WINK OR A NOD OR DO I LOSE THE PERSON? DO I GIVE THEM FALSE HOPE AND THEN I DENY THEM THE OPPORTUNITY? TO
TAKE ANOTHER. >> EVERY MANAGER HANDLES THAT SITUATION DIFFERENTLY. WE HAVE A PERSON PLANNING TO MOVE TO ANOTHER PART OF THE COUNTY THE POSITION WILL BE FROZEN IN OUR OFFICE, BUT IF THAT'S THEIR DECISION WHAT THEY WANT TO DO
THAN I WOULD NOT ASK THEM. >> I WILL GO TO THE NEXT PERSON JUST MAKING A POINT WHATEVER YOU CALL THESE, THERE IS AN IMPACT AND HAVE LIVED THROUGH IT IN OTHER PLACES AND I HAVE BEEN ON THE GOVERNING BOARD. A LOT OF UNANTICIPATED CONSEQUENCES COME UP. NEXT IS YOU COMMISSIONER RAMSEY?
>> COME BACK QUICK QUESTION. I KNOW THAT DR.
ALL THE CONTRACTS YOUR MONITORING. IS THERE ANYTHING TO BE LEVERAGED BETWEEN THE MANAGING GOING ON IN THE COUNTY ENGINEER'S OFFICE AND THE MONITORING GOING ON IN THE DEEO? THERE MAY BE SOME RESOURCES THAT COULD BE LEVERAGED TO GET US THROUGH, TO BUY SOME TIME, IF YOU WILL. DOES THAT MAKE ANY
SENSE AT ALL? >> I DO APPRECIATE WHAT YOU SUGGESTED, HOWEVER WE DO MANAGE A LEVEL OF COMPLIANCE SO WHEN WE TALK ABOUT POSTAL WORK COMPLAINTS WE LOOK AT THE PAYMENTS MADE BY PROMPT CONTRACTORS AND WE'RE LOOKING AT THE PAYMENTS THAT THOSE CONTRACTORS ARE SUPPOSED TO MAKE SUBCONTRACTORS WITHIN THE MONITORING PLATFORM. AT THAT TIME OF THE DON'T ALIGN WITH THE COUNTY CONTRACT THEN WE ARE ABLE TO STEP IN TO MAKE SURE THEY ARE WITHIN THE COUNTY'S COMPLIANCE AND POLICY AND THEN ALSO SHOULD THERE BE ISSUE BETWEEN PAYMENTS BETWEEN THE SUBCONTRACTOR AND THE PRIME CONTRACTOR THE SUBCONTRACTOR IS THERE WITHIN THE PLATFORM AND CAN ALERT THE COUNTY WE ARE HAVING CHALLENGES AND ISSUES.
THIS IS WHERE THE COLLABORATION WITH THE DEPARTMENT COMES IN.
ARE NOW ABLE TO GO TO JENNING AND SAY THERE HAS BEEN AN ISSUE WITH THE CONTRACT SO THAT'S HOW WE PARTNER. AS FAR AS THE COMPLAINTS THAT IS SOLELY THE RESPONSIBILITY OF DEEO.
[04:40:02]
>> ALSO THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE PERSON HOLDING THE CONTRACT.
HAVING BEEN ONE OF THOSE PEOPLE THAT HELD THE CONTRACT DOING WORK FOR THE COUNTY I SIGNED A CONTRACT THAT SAID I WILL DO CERTAIN THINGS AND I FELT KIND OF OBLIGATED TO DO THOSE CERTAIN
THINGS. >> I WISH EVERYBODY WAS LIKE
YOU. >> ALL THE MONITORING. HITTING 40% OF THEM DON'T DO IT, 20% OF THEM DON'T, WHAT PERCENTAGE OF THE CONTRACTS THAT YOU MONITOR DO NOT COMPLY?
>> I WILL HAVE TO GET BACK WITH YOU . I WILL SAY THIS BECAUSE OF OUR GREAT WORK A LOT OF THEM TO COMPLY, BUT WITHOUT US IN THE BACKGROUND WE WOULD HAVE CHALLENGES AND THAT'S WHAT YOU SEE A SIGNIFICANT INCREASE IN THE COUNTY'S UTILIZATION AS FAR AS CONTRACT AWARDS AND EXPENDITURES.
>> OKAY WELL SOUNDS LIKE THEY'RE FINALLY GETTING UP TO THE RAMSEY
CODE. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER
RAMSEY. >> COMMISSIONER GARCIA AND THEN
COMMISSIONER BRIONES. >> FIRST OF ALL DIRECTOR, SO GOOD TO SEE YOU AND CONGRATULATIONS ON TAKING ON THIS RESPONSIBILITY. WENDED THIS POSITION GET VACATED?
>> OH, GOSH. FIVE DAYS BEFORE THE FREEZE. MAYBE LAST MONTH MAYBE LITERALLY FIVE DAYS BEFORE THE FREEZE. WE DID HAVE THE EXTENSION FORM VACATED BY THE TIME WE FILLED OUT THE FORM.
>> WHAT'S THE COST? >> I DON'T HAVE THE CURRENT
COST I'M SO SORRY. >> IF YOU CAN I WOULD APPRECIATE THAT. THEN WE CAN FIGURE SOMETHING OUT.
>> THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER BRIONES.
>> THANK YOU BOTH AND CONGRATULATIONS AGAIN DIRECTOR.
VERY EXCITED. MY TEAM GIVE ME THE ANSWER THE ANNUAL COST $129,839 COMMISSIONER GARCIA. $129,839. DOES THAT MATCH? SO, TREVOR YOU ARE AWESOME THANK YOU. MY QUESTION TO YOU I UNDERSTAND THE HIRING FREEZE WITH STRATEGIC HIRING. THE TARGET WAS STRATEGIC SAVINGS OF APPROXIMATELY 25 MILLION. I KNOW THERE WAS SUBSTANTIAL HIRING BEFORE IT TOOK EFFECT CAN YOU PLEASE STATE THE NUMBER OF PCN'S AND AMOUNT OF MONEY?
>> DANIEL, THE NUMBER WAS APPROXIMATELY 13 MILLION WORTH OF PCNS THAT CAME IN OR HAD A PREVIOUSLY SIGNED OFFER LETTER
EXEMPTION IN THE POLICY. >> OKAY WE HAD THAT.
>> THAT WAS SOMETHING WE TRIED TO BE GENEROUS WITH GIVEN WE HAD
FOLKS. >> THAT IS A RELIANCE ISSUE ABSOLUTELY. I'M JUST LAYING THE GROUNDWORK. MY QUESTION TO THE NEXT PART, LAST COURT I REMEMBER NUMEROUS EXEMPTIONS BEING REQUESTED. 87 WERE NOT RECOMMENDED, BUT 61 WERE RECOMMENDED BY YOU ALL CORRECT? SO WE GRANTED 61 EXEMPTIONS LAST
QUARTER CORRECT? >> THAT I BELIEVE WAS ALL THE EXEMPTIONS WE ROLLED UP THERE WHEN THE COURT PASSED THE POLICY AND WE WERE LOOKING AT WHAT QUALIFIED UNDER THOSE EXEMPTIONS WHICH INCLUDED I BELIEVE THAT 13 MILLION WORTH OF POSITIONS WE
>> THANK YOU DANIEL THANK YOU JESSE. SO TODAY WE HAVE ONE AND CAN YOU BE A LITTLE MORE CLEAR WHY THE 61 WERE RECOMMENDED FOR
APPROVAL BUT THIS ONE WAS NOT? >> SO THE VAST MAJORITY WAS RECOMMENDED LAST COURT , WERE EITHER CORE COURT OPERATIONS OR PUBLIC SAFETY , COURT REPORTERS AND THE DISTRICT AND COUNTY COURTS AND SOME DISTRICT CLERK , IT WAS ALMOST ALL JUSTICE SYSTEM OPERATION , OPERATIONAL THAT WE MADE EXEMPTIONS FOR, OR ONES THAT HAD A VERIFIED OFFER LETTER PRIOR TO THE DATE IN THE POLICY.
THIS ONE WAS A ONE-OFF IN ADDITION TO THAT WHICH FOLLOWS POLICY SUBMITTING EXEMPTION, GETS REVIEWED BY OCA AND OMB THEN A RECOMMENDATION IS TRANSMITTED TO COURT. THIS ONE AGAIN WE ARE SO EARLY IN THE YEAR I THINK OUR HOPE IS WE HIT 25 MILLION MUCH SOONER AND WE CAN LIVE THE HIRING FREEZE AND GO BACK TO NORMAL OPERATIONS, BUT AS OF NOW WE HAVE TO BE INCREDIBLY STRICT IN ORDER TO MAKE SURE WE ARE NOT DIGGING OURSELVES OUT OF A HOLE AND HAVE TO BE MORE DRACONIAN LATER ON IN
THE YEAR. DISCIPLINED. >> COMMISSIONER I WOULD SAY THE LAST COURT WAS THE HOLDOVER THE COMMISSIONERS COURT PASSED THE POLICY AND WE WERE APPLYING THAT TO THE NUMEROUS REQUESTS THAT
[04:45:04]
CAME IN AT THE END OF THE LAST FISCAL YEAR AND THIS IS THE FIRST WE ARE DEALING WITH ESSENTIALLY NO EXEMPTIONREQUESTS ALL FROM FY 26. >> THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU BOTH AND CONGRATULATIONS. YOU HAVE A GOOD NAME FOR A CANDIDATE IT'S HARD TO REMEMBER THE LAST NAME BUT THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE CONGRATULATIONS. NEXT I WANT TO GET SOME SENSE OF WHAT IMPACT IT HAS.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON RECEIVED EMAIL FROM THE BUDGET OFFICE THAT 21 POSITIONS WILL BE
>> YES. THOSE POSITIONS WILL IMPACT THREE KEY AREAS OF BUSINESS. DISASTER RECOVERY IN CRITICAL MAINTENANCE, INVOICE PROCESSING AND PROCUREMENT AND LASTLY, PROJECT DELIVERY AND SOME OF THE TITLE OF THE POSITION SPECIALIST PO DOING PROCESSING. FIELD TECH, ENVIRONMENTAL, AGAIN THESE ARE PEOPLE WHO GO IN THE FIELD SO WE HAVE INSPECTORS, TECHNICIAN, PROJECT MANAGER, VERTICAL CONSTRUCTION. SO, THERE WILL BE SOME IMPACT IF YOU ARE UNABLE TO FILL THE POSITION, ESPECIALLY CONCERNED ABOUT DISASTER RECOVERY POSITION THAT HAS BEEN EXEMPTED BY THE COURT. WHEN WE ARE LOOKING INTO INITIALLY , WE REQUESTED SEVERAL CATEGORY POSITIONS BEING EXEMPT. THAT INCLUDES CONTRACT PROCUREMENT, DISASTER RECOVERY, PERMITTING AND COLD EXEMPT DISASTER RECOVERY PERMITTING. THERE IS A UNDERSTANDING ISSUE HERE BECAUSE WE DO NOT HAVE A TEAM OF DISASTER RECOVERY FOLKS THAT ARE SITTING NOT DOING ANYTHING. THE SAME FOLKS ARE THE FIELD TECHNICIAN PROJECT MANAGER INSPECTORS, THEY ALSO BECOME PART OF DISASTER RECOVERY ORGANIZATION WHEN IT HITS SO THE CONVERSATION I HAD WITH THE BUDGET DIRECTOR EARLIER IS THOSE POSITIONS WOULD BE EXEMPT SO IT WAS KIND OF A SURPRISE AND HENCE WE WILL SEE THE IMPACT IF WE
HAVE A DISASTER. >> SO, THE HURRICANE DID NOT HIT US, UNFORTUNATELY IT DID SOME OF OUR NEIGHBORS. IF IT HAD COME HERE, THE SEASON LASTS LONGER NOW USUALLY WE WAIT FOR A CERTAIN TIME OF YEAR AND YOU DO NOT WORRY AS MUCH, SO WHAT IMPACT WOULD IT HAVE IF YOU DID NOT HAVE THE PERSON IN PLACE, THESE PEOPLE IN PLACE DOING SOMETHING WHEN A HURRICANE IS
NOT HERE WHAT DOES COME? >> I WILL GIVE YOU A SHORT EXAMPLE. LET'S SAY THE PROJECT MANAGER VERTICAL , IF A DISASTER HITS WE DEPLOY THEM TO DO PRIVATE DAMAGE ASSESSMENT, PUBLIC ASSESSOR OF THE BUILDING WHAT KIND OF DAMAGE HAPPENED HERE AND THERE. THEN IT WILL BE SLOW DOWN AND WE WILL NOT HAVE THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE IN 21 POSITIONS WITH THAT WE LOST IN TOTAL ELIMINATING 70 THAT'S ABOUT 37 TOTAL LESS THAN LAST YEAR SO IT'S ALMOST HALF OF A SMALLER DEPARTMENT SO WE WILL
HAVE SOME IMPACT. >> COMMISSIONER BRIONES.
>> THANK YOU FOR FLAGGING WHAT COULD BE. MY QUESTION IS DO YOU HAVE ANY EXEMPTION REQUESTS TODAY?
>> TODAY I DON'T. >> TO THE EXTENT YOU DO AROUND DISASTER PREPAREDNESS WE URGE YOU TO PLEASE FOLLOW THE PROCESS. WE THINK IT IS FAIR, FACT AND CIRCUMSTANCE IF YOU CAN MAKE A COMPELLING CASE AS TO THE NEED THEN THERE IS A PROCESS LAID OUT. IT WILL BE CONSIDERED. THANK YOU.
>> OKAY THANK YOU. I'M SORRY COMMISSIONER GARCIA.
>> THANK YOU AND APPRECIATE THE WORK YOU ARE DOING. SIMILAR TO COMMISSIONER BRIONES, WORK UP THAT THE DATA . I WOULD ASK FOR SOME STRATEGIC THINKING ON HOW THEY MAY BE ABLE TO SUPPORT TO THE EXTENT YOU CAN. WHETHER TO ACKNOWLEDGE YOU CAN SUPPORT SOME AREAS. THE THING THAT JESSE MENTIONED FOR EXAMPLE ON PROMPT PAYMENT, A LOT OF OUR WORK HAS BEEN COME TO GET IT BECAUSE WE DID NOT IMPLEMENT PEOPLE SOFT RIGHT. SO A LOT OF TOOLS THAT COULD HAVE BEEN USED TO AUTOMATE SOME OF THESE PROCESSES WERE PURCHASED, BUT NEVER IMPLEMENTED. AND SO , SO ASSUMING THAT THERE COULD'VE BEEN A TECHNOLOGY APPROACH I WANT TO SEE IF THERE IS SOME ABILITY TO PURSUE THAT AND MAYBE
[04:50:06]
WE CAN HELP RESOLVE SOME OF THIS PRESSURE. THANK YOU.>> NO ACTION. NEXT IS ITEM 90 , UNIVERSAL SERVICES, COMMISSIONER GARCIA AND COMMISSIONER BRIONES, HARRIS COUNTY BROADBAND TASK FORCE PAGE 11. NUMBER 90.
YES. >> GOOD AFTERNOON COMMISSIONERS.
THANK YOU FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY TO TALK ABOUT THIS CRITICAL ITEM . WE ARE GRATEFUL TO YOU AND YOUR TEAM MEMBERS AS WELL AS THE DEPARTMENTS THAT WORKED WITH US DILIGENTLY IN DEVELOPING THIS TASK FORCE STRUCTURE. WE LOOKED AT THE NATIONAL MODELS, WORKED WITH SEVERAL, TALKED TO SEVERAL OF THOSE AGENCIES THAT HAVE STOOD UP THIS KIND OF STRUCTURE TO ADDRESS THE BROADBAND AND DIVIDE ISSUES, THROUGH THOSE RESEARCH WE HAVE COME UP WITH THIS BEST PRACTICE MODEL RECOMMENDATION FOR THE COMMISSIONERS COURT TO ADOPT.
ON JUNE 26, COMMISSIONERS COURT, WE PRESENTED TO COMMISSIONERS COURT THE BROADBAND ROADMAP AND THEN WE WORKED IN COLLABORATION WITH THE HARRIS COUNTY COMMISSION'S OFFICE, COUNTY ATTORNEY OFFICE TO CREATE THE 16 MEMBER TASK FORCE BASED UPON THE BEST PRACTICES AND REPRESENTING , THEIR REPRESENTATION FROM COUNTY DEPARTMENTS AND COMMUNITY, ACADEMY AND PRIVATE SECTOR IN THIS TASK FORCE. I WOULD LIKE TO REEMPHASIZE THAT THERE WILL BE NO ADDITIONAL FUNDING REQUESTED FOR ESTABLISHMENT OF THE TASK FORCE. WE INTEND TO USE EXISTING RESOURCES WITHIN THE OFFICE OF BROADBAND TO MOBILIZE THE TASK FORCE AT THIS TIME. THE GOAL OF THE BROADBAND TASK FORCES FOR THE COUNTY DEPARTMENTS TO WORK IN COLLABORATION WITH THE COMMISSIONERS COURT OFFICES AND THE COMMUNITY ON PROJECTS THAT WILL HELP TO CLOSE THE DIGITAL DIVIDE FOR HARRIS COUNTY. AGAIN WE ARE THANKFUL FOR THE SUPPORT RECEIVED FROM THE COMMISSIONERS COURT ON THIS CRITICAL TOPIC EVERY TIME WE HAVE BROUGHT TO THE COURT, THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, DIRECTOR. APPRECIATE YOUR WORK. AND HAD GIVEN ME AN UPDATE AS TO YOU BRINGING IN FLOOD CONTROL IS AN OFFICIAL MEMBER FOR LACK OF A BETTER WORD. I APPRECIATE YOUR, YOUR ABILITY TO CONTROL THE GROWTH OF THIS THING. I WANT TO GET THINGS DONE AND IF IT BECOMES TOO UNWIELDY WE DON'T GET THINGS DONE SO THANK YOU FOR CONTINUING TO KEEP IT IN A PLACE WHERE THINGS CAN GET DONE. THAT IS OF UTMOST IMPORTANCE. AND THANK YOU FOR CONTINUED ADVOCACY TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR COUNTY RESIDENTS HAVE THE CONNECTIVITY THEY SO RIGHTLY DESERVE, BUT ABSOLUTELY NEED ESPECIALLY IN THIS ECONOMY. SO THERE IS SOME LOW HANGING FRUIT THAT I SUGGESTED YOU GUYS TAKE A LOOK AT. BUT, YOU KNOW WITH THE FACT THERE'S OVER 155,000 HOMES THAT THE LACK BROADBAND SUBSCRIPTIONS AND 220,000 THAT ONLY USE SMART PHONES TO NAVIGATE THE WEB IS INCREDIBLE THAT THIS TOWN WITH NASA IN OUR BACKYARD, THE SPACEPORT IN OUR BACKYARD , THE FOLKS ARE RELYING ON THEIR PHONES. THINK YOU AND YOUR TEAM FOR THE WORK YOU ARE DOING, I DO HAVE A COUPLE OF MOTIONS HERE COME I HOPE TO GET THESE MOVING FORWARD. THESE ARE COST NEUTRAL.
MY FIRST MOTION IS TO MOVE TO SUBMIT UPDATES AND RECOMMENDATIONS FROM THE BROADBAND TASK FORCE TEARS COUNTY COMMISSIONERS COURT ON A BIANNUAL BASIS. THESE TRANSMITTALS SHALL OCCUR EVERY SIX MONTHS AND INCLUDE PROGRESS ON BROADBAND PROJECTS , COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT, OUTCOMES AND STAKEHOLDER FEEDBACK. MY SECOND MOTION IS TO MOVE TO DIRECT UNIVERSAL SERVICES TO WORK WITH THE OFFICE OF MANAGEMENT AND BUDGET TO SECURE SERVICES FROM MS-IAS AC , FOR AN AMOUNT NOT MORE THAN $30,000 ANNUALLY AND I ALSO DIRECT
[04:55:02]
UNIVERSAL SERVICES TO ADD GENERATIVE A.I. INFORMATION SECURITY ASSESSMENT TO THE EXISTING CYBER SECURITY AND RISK MANAGEMENT FRAMEWORK AND WORK WITH OFFICE OF MANAGEMENT AND BUDGET TO BRING BACK TO COMMISSIONERS COURT ANY ADDITIONAL FUNDING THAT MAY BE NEEDED TO ADDRESS THIS.>> THE FIRST ONE WE ARE GOOD TO GO. THE SECOND ONE WHAT I WOULD RECOMMEND IS THAT THE FIRST PART THAT RELATES SHOULD PROBABLY BE BROUGHT BACK BECAUSE IT DOES NOT REALLY APPLY HERE AND THEN THE SECOND PART OF THE SENTENCE SHOULD GO IT APPLIES TO ITEM 262. YOU CAN MAKE THAT MOTION APPLYING TO 262. THE FIRST IS
GOOD TO GO. >> I HEAR YOU, I WILL TAKE THAT
>> COMMISSIONER BRIONES YOU HAVE A QUESTION?
>> BRIEF COMMENTS. THANK YOU AND YOUR TEAM I CANNOT AGREE MORE WITH COMMISSIONER GARCIA PLEASE MAKE THIS AS ACTION ORIENTED AS POSSIBLE, WE DON'T NEED ANOTHER COMMITTEE TO TALK, WE NEED TO DO AND IT IS STAGGERING TO SEE 10% IN ONE OF THE MOST PROSPEROUS AREAS IN THE COUNTRY AND WORLD 10% OF OUR BROTHERS AND SISTERS AND NEIGHBORS DO NOT HAVE BROADBAND ACCESS AND ESPECIALLY NOW WITH AFFORDABILITY BEING A PRESSING ISSUE IS LIKE $72 A MONTH FOR A HOME TO HAVE INTERNET SERVICE. WAS SO PROUD OF OUR STUDENTS WHO CAME EARLIER ADVOCATING FOR THEM IN THEIR COMMUNITY BUT THE MORE ACTION WE CAN TAKE TO ADDRESS THIS BECAUSE IT AFFECTS OPPORTUNITY AND EDUCATION AND WE HAVE SUCH CHARITABLY REMINDED FOR PROFIT PARTNERS AND CREATIVE THINKERS THAT I'M SURE THERE'S A WAY WE CAN MAKE MARKET PROGRESS SO WITH THAT THANK YOU AND THANK YOU FOR SHINING A LIGHT ON THIS
IMPORTANT ISSUE. >> I APOLOGIZE, COMMISSIONER GARCIA IF YOU CAN ADD ANOTHER MOTION TO APPROVE BYLAWS AS
PRESENTED. >> WILL THAT WE ADOPT THE BYLAWS
>> THANK YOU COUNTY ATTORNEY FOR DRAFTING THEM.
>> I WAS SUPPOSED TO VOTE NO. ITEM PASSES UNANIMOUSLY.
>> MR. CHAIR ITEM TO 62 TAKE CARE OF THAT NOW. I MOVE WE TAKE TO 62 OUT OF ORDER AND I MOVE TO DIRECT UNIVERSAL SERVICES TO ADD GENERATIVE A.I. PERMISSION SECURITY ASSESSMENT TO THE RISK MANAGEMENT FRAMEWORK AND WORK WITH THE OFFICE OF MANAGEMENT AND BUDGET TO BRING BACK TO COMMISSIONERS COURT FUNDING
NEEDED TO ADDRESS THIS. >> WE WILL BRING IT BACK UP BECAUSE WE PASSED IT ON CONSENT.
>> THAT IS EXECUTIVE SESSION BUT YOU CAN PASS THIS NOW.
>> COMMISSIONER BRIONES WITH THE SECOND? IS THAT ALL RIGHT?
>> WHAT HE SAID WAS ITEM TO 62. MOTION AND SECOND MOVE FOR
APPROVAL. >> MOTION MADE BY COMMISSIONER GARCIA, SECOND BY COMMISSIONER BRIONES. ANY OBJECTION? HEARING
NONE APPROVED UNANIMOUSLY. >> THANK YOU I WOULD LIKE TO SHOUT OUT GIVE A SHOUT OUT TO MY DEPARTMENTS LIKE PUBLIC LIBRARY OFFICE OF COUNTY FLOOD CONTROL DISTRICT ALONG WITH THE COUNTY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE, WE WORK CLOSELY DEVELOPING THE TASK FORCE IT'S NOT ALL DONE BY US THEY JUMPED IN. THANK YOU.
>> I AM RUSHING US ALONG. THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING YOU DO. NEXT
ITEM IS 92. COMMISSIONER RAMSEY. >> I WANT TO ASK I GUESS I WILL ASK YOU MAYBE DIRECTOR? IS THIS THE LAST PAYMENT , THE LAST
REQUEST ? >> I WISH I COULD SAY YES. IT IS SIMILAR TO A CONSTRUCTION PROJECT WHERE WE ARE IN THE DESIGN PHASE AND THERE WILL BE THE DEVELOPMENT PHASE DEPENDING ON WHAT KIND OF DEVELOPMENT WE ARE DOING .
>> ROUGHLY WE SPENT 2.5 MILLION ?
>> YES SIR THERE WERE SEVERAL ACTIVITIES AS PART OF THAT, SOME OF THEM WERE RELATED TO FINDING OUT IF YOU RECALL THE INCIDENT THAT PROMPTED THE ACTION, IT WAS A LOT OF UNKNOWNS SO WE HAD TO UNCOVER A LOT OF THOSE UNKNOWNS, DOCUMENT AND THAT'S THE PROCESS WE ARE GOING THROUGH WITH THIS REQUEST.
>> HALFWAY THERE? >> WE ARE MORE THAN HALFWAY.
[05:00:01]
>> GETTING GOOD COOPERATION? >> YES, THIS HAS BEEN ONE OF THOSE INITIATIVES THAT HAS BEEN GREAT COLLABORATION WOULD
JUSTICE AND LAW ENFORCEMENT. >> MAKE MOTION TO APPROVE.
>> SECOND BY COMMISSIONER GARCIA ADOPTED UNANIMOUSLY, NEXT IS ITEM 108. 108 THAT IS THE LEGAL DEPARTMENT?
>> YES I THINK IT WAS PUT ON IN ERROR.
>> THAT'S FINE. >> NO ACTION. ITEM 113 COMMISSIONER RANDY TRAVEL AND TRAINING?
>> JUST VOTE. IDENTIFY MOTION TO APPROVE ALL ITEMS EXCEPT EIGHT
AND NINE. >> MOTION MADE BY RAMSEY SECOND BY GARCIA. THE ITEM PASSES. AND I WILL SECOND. MOTION MADE BY GARCIA, SECOND BY ELLIS TO APPROVE REMAINING ITEMS. COMMISSIONER RAMSEY VOTES NO IT PASSES. NEXT COMMISSIONER RAMSEY 210. PANHANDLING.
>> STATE LEGISLATURE , IN THE LAST SESSION GAVE A COUNTY THE ABILITY TO PASS ORDINANCES RELATED TO PANHANDLING. AS YOU KNOW WE DO NOT HAVE MANY ORDINANCE MAKING CAPABILITIES.
THIS IS ONE OF THEM. I THINK THE MERIT OF THIS IS REALLY SAFETY, THOSE FOLKS AT THE INTERSECTIONS PARTICULARLY IN THE UNINCORPORATED HARRIS COUNTY THEY ARE IN THE MEDIAN. HAVE SEEN CHILDREN WITH THEIR PARENTS IN THE MEDIAN AS CARS RACE BY AT SPEEDS THAT MAKE NO SENSE TO ME. I HAVE SEEN CHILDREN IN CARRIERS THERE. HAVE SEEN PEOPLE STANDING IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD THAT REALLY DO NEED HELP BUT THEY DO NOT NEED TO BE ABLE TO STAND IN THE ROAD AND COLLECT SO I THINK MY MOTION IS SIMPLY TO ASK THE COUNTY ATTORNEY TO WORK WITH THE COURT OFFICES TO DRAFT ORDINANCE REGULATING ROADSIDE PANHANDLING AND PENDING ACTIVITIES IN UNINCORPORATED HARRIS COUNTY. WHICH MAY INCLUDE CLEAR PROHIBITION ON PANHANDLING AND VENDING WITHIN TRAFFIC LANES AND OTHER AREAS THAT POSE A SAFETY RISK INCREASING QUALITY OF LIFE BY CREATING DESIGNATED SAFE ZONES AWAY FROM BUSY TRAFFIC TO MINIMIZE DISRUPTION TO DAILY COMMUTES TO ENHANCE THE OVERALL COMMUNITY ENVIRONMENT IN UNINCORPORATED AREAS FOSTERING A MORE ORDERLY AND ENJOYABLE SPACE WITHOUT IMPEDING INDIVIDUAL RIGHTS WITH PROVISIONS THAT PRIORITIZE WARNINGS AND REFERRALS TO SOCIAL SERVICES, FOR INDIVIDUALS EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS OR ECONOMIC HARDSHIP EMPHASIZING COMPASSIONATE SOLUTIONS, COLLABORATION WITH HARRIS COUNTY FLOOD CONTROL DISTRICT, HARRIS COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE AND LOCAL COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS TO SUPPORT OUTREACH AND ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS AND REGULAR REVIEW AND REPORTING ORDINANCES WITH EFFECTIVENESS AND COMMUNITY IMPACT AGAIN. AGAIN THIS IS ANOTHER TOOL IN OUR ABILITY TO CONTROL WHAT GOES ON WITHIN CERTAINLY THE TRAVELING ROADWAYS , WE ADOPTED A VISION ZERO PLAN WHICH MEANS WE ARE OPPOSED TO DEATH ON ROADWAYS I CANNOT THINK OF A MORE VULNERABLE POSITION THAN TO SEE FOLKS WHERE THEY ARE DOING THOSE KINDS OF ACTIVITIES IT CREATES A BIG PROBLEM OBVIOUSLY THIS IS TO SEND TO THE COUNTY ATTORNEY TO HAVE THE COUNTY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE LOOK AT IT, ALL COURT OFFICES CAN WEIGH IN AND MODIFY, BUT I THINK TO DO NOTHING WOULD NOT BE APPROPRIATE SO THAT IS MY MOTION.
>> COMMISSIONER GARCIA HAS COMMENTS.
>> TO BE CLEAR THIS IS AN ITEM TO SEND TO THE COUNTY ATTORNEY TO BE DRAFTED AND THEN WE CAN DEBATE AT THAT TIME. THEN WE CAN DEBATE THE ORDINANCE I WILL SECOND AS THE CHAIR OF THE PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE THIS IS ALMOST IDENTICAL TO WHAT I CREATED IN 2004 2005 AND I THINK IT DOES SPEAK TO YOUR CONCERN OF SAFETY WHERE THERE WILL BE DEBATE ABOUT ENFORCEMENT AND WHO MIGHT GET CAUGHT UP IN IT. THE ENFORCEMENT ISSUE WILL BE A CHALLENGE, HOWEVER IT HAS CREATED SOME OPPORTUNITY FOR YOU
[05:05:04]
KNOW SOFTBALL LITTLE LEAGUE , SCHOOL CARWASHES AND EVEN FIELD THE BOOT BY THE FIRE DEPARTMENT GOT SNAGGED UP. WE WERE ABLE TO GENERATE EXEMPTIONS FOR SOME DIFFERENT GROUPS IN DIFFERENT SITUATIONS. I WOULD BE WILLING TO SUPPORT THE CREATION OF A POLICY AND WE CAN DEBATE THE POLICY AT ANOTHER TIME.>> BEFORE WE VOTE, FROM MY STANDPOINT OF A POLICY COMES BACK UP A LOOK AT IT BUT I'M NOT INCLINED TO SUPPORT I DON'T THINK WE OUGHT TO CRIMINALIZE PEOPLE BEING POOR AND STUDIES I HAVE SEEN FROM SAN FRANCISCO AND FAIRFAX FOUND NO SIGNIFICANT EVIDENCE THAT PANHANDLING ENDANGERS PUBLIC SAFETY AND THE ENFORCEMENT PANHANDLING REGULATIONS PRIMARILY DISPLACES POOR PEOPLE AND RATHER THAN REDUCING PANHANDLING CONNECT THEM TO THE HELP THEY NEED ESSENTIALLY YOU END UP PUNISHING THEM AND TAKING PEOPLE FOR PANHANDLING CREATING A CYCLE OF POVERTY AND IT CREATES PROBLEMS FINDING HOUSING AND EMPLOYMENT WHEN THERE IS SOME RECORD OF OFFENSE OF IT MAYBE I CAN BE CONVINCED AT SOME POINT, BUT AT LEAST NOW I KNOW IT JUST PASSED I HAVE HEARD FROM TWO OTHER COUNTY COMMISSIONERS IN OTHER COUNTIES WHEN THEY SAW IT AND THEY SAY WHEN THEY SAW THE PRESS ACCOUNT PEOPLE WOULD CALL IN. I DON'T KNOW WITH 3300 PEOPLE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS EVERY NIGHT IN HOUSTON I DON'T KNOW IF THAT'S HARRIS COUNTY I DON'T THINK IT'S QUITE COUNTYWIDE I WOULD LIKE FOR SOMEBODY ELSE TO BE THE PILOT FIRST BEFORE WE DO IT. FOR THAT REASON I CANNOT VOTE TODAY BECAUSE THEY COULD PULL IT TOGETHER BUT I DON'T WANT TO GO OUT AND CREATE THAT ONLY BECAUSE I HEARD FROM TWO COLLEAGUES. ONE IN THE REGION AND ONE FROM ANOTHER PART OF THE STATE AND ONE OF THEM SAID TO ME I HOPE YOU ALL DON'T DO IT AND THEN WE HAVE PRESSURE ON US TO DO IT AND LESS PRESSURE TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT THE PEOPLE SO FOR THAT REASON I WON'T VOTE FOR IT.
>> I HAVE CONSTITUENTS ASKING FOR IT.
>> SO DO I. I MAY HAVE MORE THAN YOU BECAUSE I HAVE MORE TO SAY.
THINKING OF THE THINGS WE HAVE NOT DONE TO HELP THE UNHOUSED AND NOT IN A POSITION TO DO NOW SO FOR THAT REASON I CAN'T, BUT
A MOTION. >> COMMISSIONER ELLIS. I WAS BASICALLY GOING TO SAY VERY SIMILAR TO WHAT YOU JUST SAID I SHARE YOUR SENTIMENTS ON THIS AND YES WE CARE ABOUT SAFETY AND THIS WE CARE ABOUT THE UNHOUSED BUT I DON'T WANT TO CREATE A REGIME WHERE WE ARE CRIMINALIZING OR CREATING MORE SUB OPTIMAL OUTCOMES FOR THESE INDIVIDUALS AND AS A MACRO POINT I LOOK FORWARD TO THE COUNTY CONTINUING TO WORK WITH THE CITY AND ALL CITIES SO WE CAN BE DOING MORE ESPECIALLY AS THE ARPA DOLLARS ARE WANING AND I LOVE HOW YOU PUT COMPASSIONATE SOLUTIONS COMMISSIONER RAMSEY I LOVE HOW YOU PHRASE IT AND I THINK THAT IS A POTENTIAL SLIPPERY SLOPE SO FOR THE REASONS STATED I WILL NOT BE SUPPORTING THIS TODAY.
>> A SUGGESTION WE CAN VOTE, BUT MAYBE THE TWO OF YOU WORK UP SOME POLICY AND AT SOME POINT BRING IT BACK OR WE CAN DO IT IF
YOU WANT ME TO. >> AS A POINT OF REFERENCE 150 PEOPLE DIED LAST YEAR AS PEDESTRIANS. SO THAT IS THE IMPETUS FOR DOING THIS. SPOT ANY SENSE HOW MANY WERE PANHANDLING?
>> AGAIN THEY WERE PEDESTRIANS. >> I LIKE THE REFERENCE TO MISSION ZERO AND WE DO AS MUCH AS WE CAN AND WE HAVE TALKED
ABOUT THAT. >> THAT WAS THE OTHER COMMENT I WAS GOING TO SAY. WE DO NOT WANT PEDESTRIAN DEATHS IN HARRIS COUNTY NOR DEATHS OF ANYONE IN A VEHICLE OR ANY OTHER MODE OF TRANSPORTATION AND I KNOW WE ARE GETTING PERIODIC UPDATES ON VISION ZERO AND I HAVE ASKED MY TEAM TO INCORPORATE THAT PARADIGM INTO ALL IN PERSPECTIVE PROJECTS BUT IF YOU CAN PLEASE KEEP US LASER FOCUSED ON WHAT PROGRESS WE ARE MAKING BECAUSE I KNOW ROADSIDE SAFETY FOR PEDESTRIANS AND THOSE IN VEHICLES AND ALL MODES OF TRANSPORTATION IS VERY
IMPORTANT. >> LET'S JUST VOTE.
>> MOTION MADE BY COMMISSIONER RAMSEY, SECOND BY COMMISSIONER GARCIA ALL THOSE IN FAVOR BY AYE, ALTHOUGH SUPPOSED VOTE NO.
THE ITEM DOES NOT PASS TODAY, THE NEXT ITEM IS COMMISSIONER
[05:10:03]
RAMSEY, 212 DISCUSSION PREVAILING WAGE RATE WITHINSPECTOR REPORT. 212. >> QUICKLY WE ADOPTED THE PREVAILING WAGE RATE AS YOU LOOK AT THAT AND WE IMPLEMENT IT THIS IS SOMETHING WE PUT TOGETHER IT WAS WELL-MEANING BUT THERE ARE A LOT OF DETAILS ASSOCIATED WITH IT. THE EMOTIONS I HAD RELATED TO THAT WE USE PREVAILING WAGE GUIDANCE DOCUMENT HARRIS COUNTY MINIMUM WAGE CREATES CONFLICT, CONTRACTORS NEED TO KNOW WHICH HAS PRECEDENCE THE WARES HARRIS COUNTY WAGE RATE, THEIR COMMUNICATION. RELATED ISSUES DAILY REPORTS WHICH WE HAVE HAD MANY CONVERSATIONS ON AS INSPECTORS ARE IN THE FIELD AND ARE DOCUMENTING I DON'T WANT CONTRACTORS DOCUMENTING WHAT PROGRESS THEY ARE MAKING ON THE JOB IN OTHER WORDS WRITING THEMSELVES THEIR OWN CHECK I DON'T WANT THEM FILLING OUT THE E BUILDER , THAT SHOULD BE DONE BY THE COUNTY, COUNTY FOLKS THESE ARE ISSUES WE NEED TO LOOK AT THE PAY ESTIMATES ASSOCIATED WITH IT. SO I HAD TWO MOTIONS. ONE AT THE PREVAILING WAGE RATE TABLE CLARIFICATION THAT THE WAGE RATE OF THE EMPLOYEE IS LOWER THAN THAT OF THE HARRIS COUNTY LIVING WAGE THE LIVING WAGE RATE SHALL BE UTILIZED. THERE IS CONFUSION AMONGST THE CONTRACTING WORLD ON THAT ONE MOTION NUMBER TWO TO MANDATE RESPONSIBILITY OF ENTERING HORIZONTAL CONSTRUCTION NOT VERTICAL BUT HORIZONTAL CONSTRUCTION QUANTITIES ON PAY ITEMS DOCUMENTING DAILY WORK AT SITE CONDITIONS ON DAILY REPORTS AND E BUILDER STAYS WITH HARRIS COUNTY INSPECTORS. THOSE ARE MY
>> I WANT TO DOUBLE CHECK. ANY CONCERNS ABOUT THESE MOTIONS?
>> ABSOLUTELY NOT. WE HAVE BEEN TALKING TO THE NEW PURCHASING DIRECTOR TO ADD CONTRACTING LANGUAGE IN THE CONTRACT AND AT THE SAME TIME INSPECTOR DAILY REPORTS WILL CONTINUE TO DO THE SAME WAY OUR COUNTY INSPECTORS OVERVIEW THE QUANTITY , CHECK THE QUALITY OF THE WORK, ENTER INTO E BUILDER AND IT GOES TO
THE CONTRACTOR FOR APPROVAL . >> I MIGHT SAY DID YOU HAVE
SOMETHING YOU WANT TO SAY? >> UNFORTUNATELY, THIS ITEM IS A DISCUSSION ONLY, BUT THE COUNTY ENGINEER -- AT LEAST YOU CAN.
I'M SORRY? EXACTLY, THANK YOU COMMISSIONER.
>> YOU KNOW MILTON I THINK IT WOULD BE A REALLY GOOD IDEA. IF YOU WOULD WORK THIS UP AND WE WILL ADOPT IT.
>> I GUESS WE CAN DEBATE IT BECAUSE I JUST SEEN IT AND AS A PERSON WORKING WITH COMMISSIONER BRIONES WANT TO MAKE SURE THERE ARE NO UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES. I'M TRYING MY BEST TO GET US
OUT OF HERE BEFORE 4:00. >> MAY I JUMP IN PLEASE? TO LEVEL SET, ONE I AGREE WITH THE DIRECTION WE SHOULD NEVER HAVE CONTRACTORS GRADING THEIR OWN WORK IT SHOULD BE THE COUNTY ENGINEER, WHOLEHEARTEDLY AGREE WITH THAT SO THANK YOU, THE PREVAILING WAGE FOR EVERYONE'S SAKE WHATEVER WAGE WILL BE HIGHER IS THE ONE THAT IS APPLICABLE. BECAUSE OF THEIR SOME INSTANCES WHERE THE PREVAILING WAGE IS HIGHER THAN THE 2165 THAT WE PASSED IN THOSE INSTANCES THAT WINS. HOWEVER, IF 2165 IS HIGHER THAN 2165 THE 2165 IS THE FLOOR THAT SHALL NEVER GO BELOW THAT IS MY UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT YOU WERE SAYING . I DON'T WANT ANYONE TO THINK WE'RE TRYING I DON'T WANT ANYONE TO THINK WE'RE TRYING TO ERODE IT ON THE CONTRARY WE ARE CREATING CLARITY. IF WE CAN GO HIGHER THAN 2165 BECAUSE THE PREVAILING WAGE BY LAW OR POLICY OR REGULATION APPLIES SO BE IT AND THAT IS WONDERFUL IF NOT 2165 IS THE FLOOR PASSED. THAT'S WHAT WE ARE SAYING.
>> ERECTING YOU TO MAKE SURE YOU VISIT WITH STAKEHOLDERS THAT HELP US COME UP WITH A POLICY SO THAT WOULD BE THE DIRECTOR'S
[05:15:01]
OFFICE AND LABOR AND CONTRACTORS. I WANT TO MAKE SURE THERE ARE NO UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES. CONTRACTORS. I WANT TO MAKE SURE THE LABOR CALLS YOU THE CONTRACTORS CALL YOU. YOU CALL LABOR. MAKE SURE WE HEAR BOTH SIDES.>> NO ACTION. >> NO ACTION ON THAT ONE.
>> WE SKIPPED 211. >> WHAT IS THAT? IT WILL BE QUICK. WE HAVE THIS IS A SIMPLE REQUEST THAT QUARTERLY.
>> I THOUGHT YOU PULLED THAT ONE.
>> REQUEST , WE REQUESTED HARRIS COUNTY ATTORNEY PROVIDE QUARTERLY UPDATES ON THE TOLL ROAD OUTSTANDING COLLECTIONS AND AGAIN THIS IS SIMPLY THE AREA OF TRANSPARENCY, I HAVE TALKED WITH ROBERTO AND WE TALKED ABOUT COLLECTIONS. I WANT TO BE SURE WE ARE MONITORING THAT NUMBER. WE KNOW THAT BECAUSE CONDITIONS CHANGE HAVE ELIMINATED TOLLBOOTHS. WE ARE COLLECTING STATEWIDE, A LOT OF THINGS ARE HAPPENING AND THAT NUMBER AT SOME POINT WILL STABILIZE AND IF WE HAVE A REPORT ON A QUARTERLY BASIS YOU WILL BE ABLE TO MONITOR THAT IN TERMS OF IT IS A PROBLEM, NOT A PROBLEM, MAKING DECISIONS ON COLLECTIONS AND HOW WE DO THAT, HOW WE BRING IN SOME HELP FOR THAT SO MY ONLY REQUEST HERE IS SIMPLY TO KNOW WHAT THE NUMBER IS SO WE CAN GET SOME SENSE OF WHERE THAT IS AND WHERE IS IT GOING UP AND DOWN.
>> IS THAT A MOTION TO REQUEST? >> IT IS A MOTION.
>> MOTION MADE AND SECONDED. A LITTLE DISCUSSION IF WE MIGHT. I THOUGHT YOU PULLED IT FOR NO ACTION BY THE WAY. I DID NOT KNOW YOU MEANT TO PULL TO DISCUSS IT. YOU WERE THERE AND I WANT TO MAKE SURE SOMEHOW WE ARE PULLING DATA ON OTHER PLACES IN THE COUNTRY WHERE TOLLBOOTHS WERE REMOVED TO KNOW WHAT IMPACT THAT HAS AND DISCUSSIONS ARE BEING HELD ABOUT FORMING IT OUT I THINK WE HAVE BEEN VERY FIRM WE WOULD NOT HAVE SOME PREDATORY PRACTICE WITH THE LAW FOR WHAT IT PERMITS. AS I TOLD YOU. THAT WAS THE ERRATIC MOTION THE ONLY THING HE AND I AGREED ON TO BRING THAT IN-HOUSE BECAUSE OF THE PREDATORY NATURE. DO YOU WANT TO SAY SOMETHING GIVE US YOUR SENSE BEFORE WE GO.
>> HAPPY TO WORK, HAPPY TO WORK WITH TO MAKE SURE THE REPORT IS PROVIDED QUARTERLY FOR REALISTIC COLLECTION RATES AND WHAT IS OUTSTANDING AND WE WILL TRY TO DO SOME RESEARCH TO SEE WHAT THOSE RATES LOOK LIKE ACROSS THE COUNTRY.
>> WHEN THE TOLLBOOTHS HAVE BEEN REMOVED. WHAT THE PRACTICE IS AROUND THE COUNTRY WHERE THEY DON'T HAVE THE LAW WE HAVE IN TEXAS THAT SAYS YOU HAVE OUTSIDE, MAYBE YOU CAN HAVE SOMEBODY ELSE I WANT TO MAKE SURE WE GET AWAY FROM THAT
PREDATORY PRACTICE. MOTION MADE. >> SORRY WHAT WE ARE GOING TO
SAY? >> I BELIEVE TO PUT TOGETHER RFP FOR DIFFERENT COLLECTIONS SOLUTIONS BEYOND LAW FIRMS SO WE ARE NOT USING LAW FIRMS THAT MAY USE SOME OF THE HEAVY PENALTIES AND EXCESSIVE COSTS.
>> COMMISSIONER BRIONES. >> I WAS GOING TO EMPHASIZE THE POINT MADE IN THE RF BE, TO ME IT IS OF PARAMOUNT IMPORTANCE IT BE SO CLEAR THAT THE COLLECTION WOULD BE SUBJECT TO THE POLICY PASSED BY THIS COURT, FAIR AND NON-PREDATORY THAT WILL ALWAYS BE THE FRAMEWORK WITH WHICH WE PURSUE TOLL COLLECTIONS AND I COULD NOT AGREE MORE WE NEED THE UPDATES. IT IS VERY IMPORTANT WE MOVE AS FAIRLY AND EXPEDITIOUSLY AS POSSIBLE.
>> THANK YOU, MOTION MADE BY COMMISSIONER RAMSEY SECOND BY COMMISSIONER GARCIA ALL THOSE IN FAVOR ? PASSES UNANIMOUS NOW PAGE 30 ITEM 230 REQUEST OFFICE OF COUNTY ENGINEER TO ALLOW PROCESS FOR VISION OF THE SUBDIVISION PLAT ENTITLED HIGHLAND FARMS PARTIAL RE-PLAT NUMBER ONE TO PROCEED AND COURT HOLD PUBLIC HEARING FOR THE PLANT WITH LOCAL GOVERNMENT CODE 232-009 232-009C1 PRECINCT 3. NEXT WE HAVE A PUBLIC HEARING ITEM 230 I KNOW OPEN PUBLIC HEARING TO CONSIDER APPROVAL TO ALLOW THE PROCESS FOR THE REVISION OF SUBDIVISION PLAT ENTITLED HIGHLAND FARMS PARTIAL REPLY NUMBER ONE TO PROCEED
[05:20:09]
COMMISSIONERS COAT HOLD PUBLIC HEARING FOR PROPOSED PLAT UNDER 232009 C1 PRECINCT 3 ANYONE WHO WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK FOR OR AGAINST THE ITEM? SINCE THERE ARE NO SPEAKERS ANY DISCUSSION? SINCE THERE IS NO DISCUSSION THANK YOU SPEAKERS AND MEMBERS I WILL NOW CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING IS THERE A MOTION ON THE ITEM? MOVED AND SECONDED. ALL IN FAVOR? FOR THE REVISION OF THE SUBDIVISION PLAT ENTITLED HIGHLAND FARMS PARTIAL RE-PLAT NUMBER ONE TO PROCEED COMMISSIONERS COURT HOLD PUBLIC HEARING OPPOSED PLAT LOCAL GOVERNMENT CODE 232-009 C1 PRECINCT 3. VOTE HAS PASSED UNANIMOUSLY MOTION PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. NOW LET'S GO BACK TO THE AGENDA. WHAT'S MY NEXTONE I AM MOVING SO FAST. >> ITEM TO 19.
>> 231 TRANSMIT YOU PULLED THAT ONE.
>> THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR WOULD FEEL LIKE I DO NOT THINK IF I DID NOT ASK ONE QUESTION. SO, THIS IS MY NUMBER OF MEETINGS QUESTIONS.'S WERE GOING TO THE STATUS OF GOAL SETTING PROCESS 15 LCA REPORTING DEPARTMENT HEADS, THE LAST CHECK WE HAD 83 GOALS THAT YOU'RE GOING TO MEET WITH 15 DIRECT REPORTS ON SETTING GOALS SO AS YOU GO THROUGH THE STRATEGIC PLAN AND GOAL SETTING, I GUESS I AM ENCOURAGING EFFICIENCY AND MAYBE WE CAN EVEN HAVE A CONVERSATION WITH THEM ON THE NUMBER OF GOALS , MAYBE MORE SPECIFIC IN TERMS OF , TO THEIR INTEREST AND I THINK THAT WOULD BE FAIRLY STRATEGIC. AND PROBABLY STATING WHAT YOU WILL DO ANYWAY.
>> WE HAVE FOUND OPPORTUNITIES AS WE LOOK AT THE STRATEGIC PLAN DEPARTMENT BY DEPARTMENT THERE'S SOME REPETITION ON SOME OF THE GOALS AND WE CAN COLLAPSE SOME OF THEM INTO FEWER GOALS LIKE VISION ZERO, THERE'S PROBABLY FOUR SEPARATE GOALS IN THE TRANSITION PLAN THAT ROLE INTO VISION ZERO. WE TALKED ABOUT IT DOES NOT NEED TO HAVE FOUR, IT CAN AT ONCE OF THE PROCESS HAPPENED WITH A GREAT OPPORTUNITY FOR DEPARTMENT HEADS TO LOOK AT THOSE AND WE ARE FEEDING BACK TO ALEX AND THE TEAM ON THE STRATEGIC PLAN. I THINK IT IS A STEP IN THAT
[Emergency/Supplemental Items (Part 3 of 2)]
DIRECTION. >> THANK YOU. NO ACTION ON ITEM NEXT ITEM TO 69 FLOOD CONTROL DISTRICT PROFESSIONAL SERVICES
PROCUREMENT POLICY. >> THANK YOU. IS DR. PETERSON HERE? THERE SHE IS, WONDERFUL.
IF THE AUDITOR IS AVAILABLE I WILL HAVE A COUPLE QUESTIONS FOR
HIM AS WELL. >> COLLEAGUES THREE MORE ITEMS.
>> DR. PETERSON THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE AND JUST GOT QUESTIONS REGARDING THIS PARTICULAR ITEM. AND, THIS IS THE TRANSMITTAL OF THE , OF THE , OF YOUR PROFESSIONAL SERVICES PROCUREMENT POLICY. THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORK ON THIS. WALK ME THROUGH THE TIMELINE OF THE PROCESS OF CREATING THIS DOCUMENT MY UNDERSTANDING IS THE INITIAL AUDIT WAS CONDUCTED IN 2023 AND THEN THERE WAS ANOTHER REVIEW LATER THIS SUMMER SO GIVE US AN IDEA OF WHAT THE TIMELINE LOOK LIKE.
>> I WOULD BE HAPPY TO DO THAT COMMISSIONER GARCIA. THERE WAS AN AUDIT IN 2023, THE FLOOD CONTROL DISTRICT BEGAN IMMEDIATELY DEVELOPING A POLICY TO IMPLEMENT THE FINDINGS AND ADDRESS FINDINGS IDENTIFIED. EARLIER THIS YEAR, THERE WAS A REVIEW CONDUCTED BY THE AUDITOR, LOOKING AT THE PERIOD THAT WAS REALLY THE INTERIM PERIOD BETWEEN WHEN THAT AUDIT WAS INITIATED AND A NEW POLICY WAS IMPLEMENTED. SO AS A RESULT THE AUDIT WAS ASSESSING COMPLIANCE WITH A POLICY THAT WAS NOT FULLY YET IN PLACE NOW WHAT I DO WANT TO BE CLEAR COMMISSIONER IS WE TAKE THE FINDINGS OF THE 2023 AUDIT VERY SERIOUSLY AND MUCH PROGRESS HAS BEEN MADE, THERE IS A NEW POLICY THAT HAS BEEN IN PLACE FOR MANY MONTHS THAT WE BELIEVE ADDRESSES ALL OF THE FINDINGS IN BOTH THE 2023 AUDIT AS WELL AS THE ITEMS THAT WERE IDENTIFIED IN THE REVIEW BY THE AUDITOR.
[05:25:02]
>> GOOD DEAL. THE AUDITOR TRANSMITS ALL THE AUDITS HE DOES EVERY ONE OF US GETS AN EMAIL WITH THE AUDITS IN THEM. I TEND TO LOOK AT MOST OF THEM. EVERY ONE OF THEM HAS SOME RECOMMENDATION HAVE YOU EVER DEALT WITH AN AUDIT THAT DID NOT
HAVE ANY RECOMMENDATIONS? >> I CANNOT RECALL ANY OFF THE
TOP OF MY HEAD. >> SO I HAVE ALSO HEARD STATEMENTS HAVE BEEN MADE THAT THERE WAS NO CONFLICT OF INTEREST FORM , THERE WAS NO SELECTION COMMITTEE DOCUMENTATION , THAT THERE WAS NO PROCUREMENT PROCESS. ARE ANY
OF THOSE ACCURATE TODAY? >> WHAT I WILL SAY IS AT FACE VALUE THAT STATEMENT IS NOT CORRECT, HOWEVER THE AUDITOR DID IDENTIFY THAT THERE WAS DOCUMENTATION NOT FULLY IN PLACE SO I NEED TO BE CLEAR ABOUT THAT, BUT THERE WERE CONFLICT OF INTEREST FORMS THAT WERE COMPLETED, BUT THEY DID IDENTIFY SOME WERE NOT IN THE FILE. HOWEVER, THERE WERE COMPLETED ANNUAL CONFLICT OF INTEREST FORMS. THERE WERE ALSO DEBARMENT AND CHECKS AND VERIFICATIONS IN PLACE. AGAIN, WHAT I WOULD HIGHLIGHT NOW THERE IS A POLICY IN PLACE THAT IS VERY CLEAR ABOUT THE DOCUMENTATION. ONE OF THE KEY AREAS THAT OUR POLICY STRENGTHENED WAS AROUND DOCUMENTATION. WE ARE NOW USING THE PROCUREMENT SYSTEM THAT THE COUNTY USES TO COLLECT ALL OF THAT DOCUMENTATION WHICH WAS A KEY ASPECT OF THE NEW POLICY THAT WE THOUGHT WAS VERY IMPORTANT?
>> GOOD DEAL, HAD THE POLICY BEEN IMPLEMENT IT OR RATHER HAD THE POLICY BEEN IMPLEMENTED WHEN THE PREVIOUS AUDIT HAD BEEN
CONDUCTED? >> THE NEW POLICY, NO. FOLLOWING THE 2023 AUDIT WE BEGAN TO DEVELOP THIS NEW POLICY AND THE REVIEW CONDUCTED BY THE AUDITOR WAS REALLY FOCUSED LARGELY ON THE PERIOD THAT WAS INTERIM, WHERE IT WAS ASSESSING COMPLIANCE WITH THE POLICY NOT YET FULLY IN PLACE.
>> I APPRECIATE YOUR WORK GETTING IT IMPLEMENTED BUT HAVING BEEN A DIRECTOR MYSELF YOU JUST CANNOT DEVELOP A POLICY OVERNIGHT. SO, THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORK ON THAT. IS THIS NEW POLICY COVERING ALL CONTRACTS THAT COME THROUGH YOUR SHOP?
>> ACTUALLY, NO AND THAT IS A REALLY IMPORTANT POINT. THE POLICY WE DEVELOPED IS FOCUSED ON PROFESSIONAL SERVICES. THAT POLICY WAS DEVELOPED IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE AUDITOR WITH THE COUNTY ATTORNEY WITH THE PURCHASING AGENT. THERE ARE OTHER TYPES OF PROCUREMENT THAT THE FLOOD CONTROL DISTRICT PARTICIPATES IN, BUT NONE OF THE PROCUREMENT WE DO CAN BE COMPLETED WITHOUT OTHER PARTNERS AND THERE ARE THINGS LIKE NONPROFESSIONAL SERVICES THAT WE SOLICIT THROUGH REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL PROCESS. WE USE AND WORK CLOSELY WITH COUNTY PURCHASING ON CONSTRUCTION BIDDING PROCESSES SO THIS POLICY IS NOT COMPREHENSIVE ACROSS ALL THE WORK , IT IS FOCUSED ON
PROFESSIONAL SERVICES. >> VERY GOOD AND HOW DOES THIS PROCESS DIFFER FROM WHAT HAS BEEN IN PLACE PREVIOUSLY AND IF THERE IS A DIFFERENCE WHAT DOES THIS MEAN FOR THE PROCUREMENT
PROCESS MOVING FORWARD? >> THAT IS A GOOD QUESTION. THE POLICY IS MONUMENTAL A LOT OF THE PROCESSES THAT WERE ALREADY HAPPENING. THE THINGS I WOULD HIGHLIGHT THAT ARE DIFFERENT ARE THE STRENGTHENED DOCUMENTATION. USING THE NEW E PROCUREMENT SYSTEM COUNTY HAS, BONFIRE THAT IS ONE OF THE MAJOR IMPROVEMENTS
IN THE PROCESS. >> GOOD DEAL. LAST TO LEAVE FOR YOU. THE ISSUES THAT THE AUDIT IDENTIFIED, HAVE THEY BEEN
ADDRESSED? >> WE BELIEVE THE NEW POLICY DEVELOPED AND IMPLEMENTED FOR MANY MONTHS IS ADDRESSING THE
ISSUES IDENTIFIED SO YES. >> THANK YOU. MR. POST ARE YOU AROUND? ANYBODY? THERE YOU ARE. VERY GOOD, YOU ARE LIVE. QUICK
[05:30:03]
QUESTION. HAVE YOU REVIEWED OR HAS THE AUDITOR'S OFFICE REVIEWED THE NEW POLICY THAT THE FLOOD CONTROL DISTRICT HAS DEVELOPED AND DOES IT ADDRESS THE ISSUES IDENTIFIED IN THEAUDITS? >> I BELIEVE MR. POST HAS REVIEWED IT AND HE SHOULD BE AVAILABLE LATER IF YOU WANT TO CIRCLE BACK. TO MY KNOWLEDGE YES HE HAS.
>> HE HAS ADDRESSED THE ISSUES THAT THE AUDIT HAS IDENTIFIED.
GOOD DEAL. AND THEN SO I UNDERSTAND YOU MAY HAVE INITIATED A NEW REVIEW LOOKING AT COMPLIANCE FOR THE NEW POLICY. SO WHAT IS THE INTENT AND CAN YOU PROVIDE A TIMELINE FOR HOW THAT'S GOING, HOW THE EFFORT IS GOING TO BE DONE?
>> I WILL CONFIRM WITH MR. POST. MY UNDERSTANDING IS IN FEBRUARY WE WILL BE LOOKING AT PROCUREMENTS PERFORMED DURING THIS TIME WHEN THE NEW POLICY IS IMPLEMENTED SPECIFICALLY LOOKING FOR ITEMS MENTIONED THAT WERE ADDED TO THE POLICY AROUND THE
DOCUMENTATION. >> ESSENTIALLY YOU'RE CONFIRMING DR. PETERSON HAS IMPLEMENTED NUMBER ONE HAS THE NEW POLICY AND NUMBER TWO THE NEW POLICY IS BEING FOLLOWED.
GOOD DEAL THANK YOU VERY MUCH, THANK YOU BOTH.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. COMMISSIONER.
>> QUICK COMMENT. HAVING PARTICIPATED IN THIS PROCESS FOR DECADES, I CAN TELL YOU THAT KNOWING WHAT WE DID 20 OR 30 YEARS AGO DIFFERENT THAN WHAT WE DO NOW THE DIFFERENCE IS THAT THERE IS SOME MORE LEVEL OF DOCUMENTATION WHICH DOCUMENTATION IS ALWAYS GOOD BUT THERE'S NEVER BEEN A REAL ISSUE OF ANY KIND CONFLICT OR OTHERWISE IN ANYTHING FLOOD CONTROL THAT I CAN REMEMBER GOING THROUGH THE DECADES. SO THE OVERRIDING CONTROL OVER PROFESSIONAL SERVICES IS THE STATE BOARD OF REGISTRATION. THEY HAVE VERY SPECIFIC THINGS YOU NEED TO COMPLY WITH. IT WOULD MAKE OUR AUDIT LOOK LIKE A ELEMENTARY SCHOOL AUDIT COMPARED TO THE STATE BOARD OF REGISTRATION. WE ARE IN FULL COMPLIANCE WITH THE STATE BOARD AND THAT GOVERNS NOT ONLY THE COUNTY BUT THOSE PEOPLE THAT WILL BE SUBMITTING PROPOSALS TO THE COUNTY. SO I FEEL CONFIDENT.
I THINK THERE HAS BEEN SOME REPORTING DONE BY MEDIA THAT DISTORTS TO MAYBE SELL NEWSPAPERS. I CAN TELL YOU THERE ARE NOT THESE PROBLEMS AND THERE HAS NOT BEEN DOCUMENTED ISSUE RELATED TO ANY CONFLICTS RELATED TO ANY PROJECTS. THERE IS SOME PAPERWORK WE ARE GETTING CLEANED UP AND DR. PETERSON THANK YOU AND POST THANK YOU FOR ALL YOU ARE DOING.
>> THANK YOU COMMISSIONER. YOU BRING UP A GOOD POINT IN TERMS OF AUDIT YOU HAVE CONTROL AND COMPLIANCE AND THESE RECOMMENDATIONS ARE AROUND CONTROL AND DOCUMENTATION.
>> SAME QUESTION I ASKED DR. PETERSON. HOW OFTEN ARE ANY AUDITS THAT THE OFFICE DOES HOW OFTEN THEY COME WITH NO
RECOMMENDATIONS? >> MOST OF THEM DO COME WITH
RECOMMENDATIONS. >> THAT'S WHAT I THOUGHT.
>> THANK YOU . >> TWO MORE ITEMS COMMISSIONER RAMSEY THE NEXT. THE NEXT ONE IS ALSO TRANSMITTAL ON PAGE 34 ITEM
270. >> QUICKLY I WILL SPEAK ON BEHALF OF DR. PETERSON BECAUSE WE TALKED ABOUT THIS AND YOU DON'T HAVE TO RUN BACK DOWN HERE, BUT DR. PETERSON HAS COMMUNICATED WITH OUR OFFICES. I HOPE YOU ALL GOT THAT BUT IDENTIFYING ROUGHLY 400 MILLION IN PROJECTS THAT WILL BE BID IN THE NEXT 12 MONTHS THAT IS ENCOURAGING. WE ARE SHOOTING FOR 600 MILLION. JUST TO PUT IT ON THE TABLE WE HAVE 3.5 BILLION WORTH OF PROJECTS TO BID IN THE NEXT 3 TO 5 YEARS. JUST FOR US , AT THIS LEVEL TO MONITOR WE ARE GETTING PROJECTS IN THE STREETS SOME OF THEM DO HAVE PARTICULARLY CBG MONEY AND FEDERAL MONEY THEY HAVE SOME PRETTY TIGHT GUIDELINES SO DR.
PETERSON THANK YOU FOR PUTTING THIS TOGETHER. I THINK WE HAVE COMMUNICATED THAT WITH OTHER COURT MEMBERS BUT AGAIN RIGHT NOW PUBLICLY COMMUNICATING $400 MILLION OF PROJECTS ARE GOING TO BE BID IN THE NEXT 12 MONTHS. IF YOU NEED NAMES NUMBERS AND
ADDRESSES CALL DR. PETERSON. >> THANK YOU FOR PUTTING THIS
[05:35:03]
IN. >> NEXT ITEM IS ITEM 306 COLLEAGUES THAT IS COMMISSIONER RAMSEY. SUPPLEMENTAL DISCUSSION POSSIBLE ACTION REGARDING CONTRACT.
>> 270, NO ACTION. >> JUST TRANSMITTAL.
>> THE CONTRACTOR SAFETY RECORD POLICY. SIMPLE CONTRACT. THERE IS A TASK FORCE WORKING AND GOOD JOB PULLING THAT TOGETHER. YOU ALL ARE MAKING SOME GOOD PROGRESS. I THINK THEY MET YESTERDAY AND THEY ARE MEETING RIGHT NOW. THE GOOD PROGRESS THAT IS GOING TO BE MADE RELATED TO THAT, THEY ARE PULLING TOGETHER POLICY THAT IS GOING TO BE, THAT IS A CHALLENGE IN ONE SENSE, BUT THEY ARE HARD AT IT WORKING HARD, MY SIMPLE COMMENT FOR THE RECORD IS WE WANT THE SAFETY RESPONSIBILITY ON THOSE CONSTRUCTION JOB SITES TO REMAIN WITH THE CONTRACTOR. WE ARE GOING TO MONITOR AND MANAGE. WE ARE GOING TO BE INVOLVED BUT THE MINUTE WE START REMOVING THAT RESPONSIBILITY FROM THE CONTRACTOR WE ARE CREATING SOME RISK AND PROBLEMS WE DON'T WANT TO GET INTO. THAT IS MY GENERAL COMMENT GOING FORWARD. THEY KNOW THEY ARE WORKING THROUGH A LOT OF ISSUES AND GETTING A LOT OF GOOD FEEDBACK, BUT THAT SPECIFICALLY I AM CONCERNED
ABOUT. >> ANY ACTION? NO ACTION ON ITEM. THAT IS EVERYTHING ON THE AGENDA. UNDER RULES A MEMBER IS PERMITTED TO BE SHOWN VOTING AYE ON THE RESOLUTION AS LONG AS IT DOES NOT CHANGE THE VOTE. I HAD A SMALL HAND IN GETTING THE TECHNOLOGY CONFERENCE THIS YEAR. 35,000 PEOPLE CHECKING IN HOTELS SPENDING MONEY AT RESTAURANTS, THE STATE MORE THAN THE CITY , THE CITY MORE THAN THE COUNTY BUT WE APPRECIATE EVERYTHING COMING IN I WOULD LIKE TO ASK UNANIMOUS CONSENT TO BE SHOWN VOTING FOR ALL RESOLUTIONS. ANY OBJECTIONS ? I MAKE THE MOTION, COMMISSIONER GARCIA SECONDS, I WILL VOTE FOR ALL OF THEM. FIVE MINUTE BREAK AND THEN GO TO RESOLUTIONS. I'M SORRY I WON'T
[Executive Session]
BE HERE FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE HERE. >> IF WE TAKE A FIVE-MINUTE BREAK CAN WE JUST GO TO EXECUTIVE SESSION? I BELIEVE THERE IS A FIVE MINUTE PRESENTATION. ITEM TO 62.
>> 352 OKAY WE WILL GO TO EXECUTIVE SESSION
>> IT IS NOW 4: 06 AND WE'RE BACK FROM EXECUTIVE SESSION. 262 WAS THE ITEM, NO ACTION. WE ARE GOING TO CALL MY COLLEAGUES WILL
[Departments (Part 3 of 3)]
ALLOW BECAUSE WE HAVE SOME SPECIAL GUESTS, 313 THIS RESOLUTION WILL BE CALLED OUT OF ORDER BECAUSE WE HAVE TO GIVE FOLKS TO THE LIFT SO THANK YOU FOR COMING DOWN, THIS RESOLUTION HAS TO DO WITH RECOGNIZING THE MEMBERS OF THE WILTSHIRE ASSOCIATION OR , WE HAVE MANY SERVICES THEY PROVIDE SUCH AS VISITING THE SICK, DISTRIBUTING SUPPLEMENTS AND MEDICAL EQUIPMENT TO PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES. TODAY WE RECOGNIZE NATIONAL DISABILITY EMPLOYMENT AWARENESS MONTH SUPPORTING DIGNITY AND FAIRNESS ON THE JOB.YOU WANT THE COMMUNITIES TO KNOW WHEN WORKERS OF ALL ABILITIES SUCCEED SO DOES HARRIS COUNTY. THANK YOU FOR COMING DOWN AND COLLEAGUES FOR JOINING YOU AND WE WELCOME YOU TO HARRIS COUNTY COMMISSIONERS COURT.
THEY ARE WORKING , GIVE THEM , THERE YOU GO.
>> THANK YOU MR. GARCIA. IT IS A PLEASURE TO BE HERE. THANK YOU EVERYONE, THANK YOU MY FRIENDS. WE ARE GOING TO TALK ABOUT WHAT WE DO. AN ORGANIZATION DEDICATED TO IMPROVING THE LIVES OF PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES BY PROVIDING EMOTIONAL SUPPORT , MOTIVATION AND ESSENTIAL RESOURCES DURING CHALLENGING TIMES. OUR MISSION
[05:40:04]
IS TO ENHANCE THE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR PEOPLE WITH PHYSICAL DISABILITIES. THOSE WHO HAVE SUFFERED ACCIDENTS, VICTIMS OF CRIMES WERE INDIVIDUALS USING WHEELCHAIRS. DUE TO ILLNESS OR AMPUTATION. WE ALSO SUPPORT VISUALLY IMPAIRED INDIVIDUALS AND THOSE FACING DIFFICULT TIMES SUCH AS LONELINESS, DEPRESSION OR HEALTH CHALLENGES. OUR MAIN FOCUS IS TO VISIT AND SUPPORT THESE INDIVIDUALS, WHETHER IN HOSPITALS OR AT THEIR HOMES.OFFERING THEM MOTIVATION, HOPE AND REMINDING THEM THAT GOD IS WITH US EVEN IN THE TOUGHEST TIMES. WE ARE A UNITED GROUP.
COMMITTED TO HELPING EACH OTHER THROUGH GOOD AND CHALLENGING MOMENTS ALIKE. WE PROVIDE EMOTIONAL SUPPORT AND VISIT SICK INDIVIDUALS. WEATHER IN HOSPITALS, AT HOME, OFFERING COMPANIONSHIP, HOPE AND MOTIVATION DURING DIFFICULT TIMES. ONE OF OUR MAIN GOALS IS TO PROVIDE SUPPLEMENTS AND MEDICAL EQUIPMENT FOR PEOPLE WITH PHYSICAL OR VISUAL DISABILITIES. MADE POSSIBLE BY GENEROUS DONATIONS OF THE COMMUNITY. WE ALSO SUPPORT TRANSPORTATION NEEDS AND BASIC SERVICES. IMPROVING THE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR ALL MEMBERS AND OFFERING ASSISTANCE AT EVERY STAGE OF THE JOURNEY. WE ALSO OFFER FREE GUITAR LESSONS TO PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES.
PROVIDING AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THEM TO ENJOY AND CONNECT THROUGH MUSIC. WE HOLD A MONTHLY MEETING WHERE EVERYONE HAS THE OPPORTUNITY TO SHARE THEIR FEELINGS, LIFE STORIES AND PARTICIPATE IN MOTIVATIONAL TALKS THAT ENCOURAGE PERSONAL GROWTH. EVERY MONTH, WE CELEBRATE OUR MEMBER BIRTHDAYS WITH JOYFUL SINGING AND SHARING A CAKE IN THEIR OWNER. THE LAST , I WANT TO SAY IT IS AN HONOR FOR US TO RECEIVE THIS PROCLAMATION WHICH MOTIVATES US TO CONTINUE FIGHTING FOR THOSE WHO NEED IT MOST. THANK YOU VERY MUCH AND MAY GOD BLESS YOU.
>> THANK YOU, GOD BLESS YOU AND THANK YOU FOR ALL YOU DO FOR SO MANY AND HAVING AN IMPACT AND I HAVE SEEN YOU AT JAMES RIVER PARK ON MANY OCCASIONS. I THANK YOU FOR REPRESENTING THE COMMUNITY WELL AND HELPING US REMEMBER THAT WE HAVE TO BE THOUGHTFUL OF PEOPLE OF ALL ABILITIES SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR INCREDIBLE WORK AND SUPPORTING OTHERS THAT NEED YOUR SUPPORT AS
WELL. >> THANK YOU COMMISSIONER GARCIA FOR ALL THE SUPPORT THROUGH THE YEARS YOU GAVE TO OUR ORGANIZATION AND PEOPLE AND OUR COMMUNITY.
>> I WILL ASK MY COLLEAGUES , UNFORTUNATELY, THEY NEED TO BE READY FOR METRO LEFT SO CAN WE SUSPEND THE RULES BRIEFLY TO TAKE THEIR PICTURE? AND THEN WE CAN GET ON WITH BUSINESS.
[05:51:32]
>> THANK YOU, COLLEAGUES THIS NEXT RESOLUTION WE HAVE SOME
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SPECIAL GUEST FROM THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE AS WELL AS FROM THE HARRIS COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE FOUNDATION. IF YOU GUYS COULD MAKE YOUR WAY.AND CECIL, GOOD TO SEE YOU PLEASE MAKE YOUR WAY. WHEN I WAS SHERIFF, I HAD THE HONOR OF HELPING TO PRESIDE OVER THE CREATION OF THE HARRIS COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE FOUNDATION.
REALLY THROUGH THE HARD WORK OF FRANCO AND A FEW OTHERS AND THIS FOUNDATION HAS ENABLED US TO DO SOME INCREDIBLE THINGS WITH THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE, WITH THE SUPPORT OF THE OFFICE FOR MEMBERS OF THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE. AND IT HAS DONE SOME INCREDIBLE WORK. SO, BUT YOU KNOW THERE ARE THOSE WHO CAN SHARE WITH THEIR TREASURER AND THOSE WHO SERVE AND GIVE WITH THEIR HEART. I WAS SO HONORED TO WORK ALONGSIDE KATRINA THE ONE CHARGED TO KEEP CORRALLING ALL THE CATS AND THAT WAS A HECKUVA CHARGE. SO, SHE BECAME THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE FOUNDATION AND UNFORTUNATELY, SHE LEFT US, BUT SHE IS STILL WITH US BECAUSE LIKE LAW ENFORCEMENT SHE WAS SO CLOSE TO US, SHE WILL ALSO BE A PART OF THE, OF THE MANTRA THAT GONE , BUT NEVER FORGOTTEN. IN 2017 IS WHEN WE STARTED THE FOUNDATION AND WE BEGAN TO DO THE WORK ON CREATING THE HARRIS COUNTY A FALLEN PEACE OFFICER MEMORIAL GARDEN WHICH IS CRIMESTOPPERS AND SHE REALLY TOOK THE HORNS, TOOK CONTROL OF THE HORNS AND REALLY MADE EVERYTHING HAPPEN, BUT SHE ALSO WORKED TO PROVIDE EQUIPMENT AND TRAINING FOR DEPUTIES, DEPUTIES FROM THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE AND FROM THE VARIOUS CONSTABLE OFFICES AS WELL. SO TODAY, WE ARE HERE, CECIL JUST TO LET YOU KNOW SHE IS PART OF LAW ENFORCEMENT FAMILY AND WHEN FOLKS STEP FORWARD AND SUPPORT US, WE SUPPORT THEM, AS WELL. WE ARE ALWAYS GRATEFUL , I DON'T KNOW HOW SHE DEALT WITH FRANCO.
THAT WAS A FULL-TIME JOB ITSELF. SHE DID IT WITH CLASS, SHE DID IT WITH DIGNITY. SHE DID IT WITH LOVE AND SHE DID IT WITH RESPECT TO THOSE WHO WEAR A UNIFORM HERE IN HARRIS COUNTY AND AGAIN WE CANNOT BE MORE GRATEFUL FOR ALL THAT HAS BEEN DONE AND WERE JOINED BY CHIEF DIAZ, CHIEF SUAREZ AND RAYMOND GARZA AND I KNOW YOU WILL WORK CLOSELY WITH HER. WITH THAT WE HAVE AN
[05:55:02]
INCREDIBLE RESOLUTION THAT THE COURT WILL OFFICIATE AND IT READS SHE FOUND HER TRUE CALLING IN SERVING THE MEN AND WOMEN IN LAW ENFORCEMENT. BORN ON JUNE 20, SHE WON'T WANT ME TO SAY THE YEAR BUT SHE EARNED A BACHELORS OF ARTS IN PHILOSOPHY FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS. AND HER DOCTORATE FROM SOUTH TEXAS COLLEGE OF LAW AND LATER MARRIED THE LOVE OF HER LIFE .YOU ALL WORK TOGETHER FOR 29 YEARS, KATRINA'S LEADERSHIP WAS INSTRUMENTAL IN DEVELOPING AND DEDICATING THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE MEMORIAL GARDEN IN 2017 THEN OVERSAW THE FUNDRAISING TO PROVIDE SPECIALIZED EQUIPMENT AND TRAINING FOR DEPUTIES OF THE HARRIS COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE. BEYOND HER WORK WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT KATRINA WAS A PASSIONATE SUPPORTER OF THE ARTS AND COMMUNITY SERVICE SERVING THE HOUSTON BALLET FOUNDATION.
THAT I DID NOT KNOW. SHE WAS ON THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES AND AS THE PAST PRESIDENT OF THE HOUSTON GUILD AND ALSO THE NUTCRACKER MARKET CHAIRMAN AND PAST BOARD PRESIDENT OF THE CITY ART WALK.
MAN SHE STAYED BUSY AND SHE'S GOT YOU BUSY TOO, RIGHT CECIL? SO INDUCTED INTO THE GREATER HOUSTON CHAMBER OF COMMERCE WOMEN'S HALL OF FAME, VERY APPROPRIATE, VERY APPROPRIATE.
IN 2018 KATRINA'S LEGACY REFLECTS A LIFE OF SERVICE, LEADERSHIP AND COMPASSION. AND CECIL LET IT BE KNOWN ON THIS DAY IT WILL ALWAYS BE KNOWN AS WOULD YOU LIKE TO SHARE A FEW WORDS?
>> THANK YOU COMMISSIONER GARCIA. MY THINGS TO THE COMMISSIONERS COURT FOR THE RECOGNITION OF AN EXTRAORDINARY WOMAN. KATRINA. YOU KNOW, HER MANTRA WAS , AND HER BELIEF WITH THE FOUNDATION WAS THAT EVERY DEPUTY GOES HOME TO THEIR FAMILIES EVERY DAY AFTER THEIR SHIFT. AND THAT EVERY DAY , THAT THERE WAS NOT AN END OF WATCH DAY WAS A GREAT DAY. AND SO ON BEHALF OF OUR FAMILY , THE HARRIS COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE FOUNDATION AND THE HARRIS COUNTY SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT I SAY TO
YOU ALL, THANK YOU. >> THE THANKS IS TO YOU AND YOUR FAMILY, GOD BLESS YOU. CHIEF , ANYBODY? CHIEF DIAZ?
>> COMMISSIONERS, THANK YOU FOR THIS INCREDIBLE HONOR. I KNEW KATRINA PERSONALLY FOR MANY YEARS. IF IT'S OKAY I WOULD LIKE TO TELL A QUICK STORY. AS SHE WAS BATTLING HER ILLNESS AND WE WERE STILL PLANNING EVENTS FOR THE FOUNDATION FOR THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE SHE WAS CALLING ME, CHECKING IN, CALLING MY ADMIN MAKING SURE THINGS WERE GETTING DONE. SO JUST REMINDED OF A ABRAHAM LINCOLN QUOTE. NOT THE YEARS IN YOUR LIFE BUT THE LIFE IN YOUR YEARS AND SHE PACKED IT ACCORDINGLY WITH RESOLUTION. SHE WOULD CALL OR TEXT, EMAIL, SEND A SMOKE SIGNAL TO GET THINGS DONE SO WE DEFINITELY MISS HER. I AM APPRECIATIVE OF CECIL, WE GO TO LUNCH TOGETHER WE ARE FRIENDS ALL OUT OF THE RELATIONSHIP WITH KATRINA. WE MISS HER, INCREDIBLE PERSON AN INCREDIBLE WOMAN AND GLAD SHE IS IN THE HALL OF FAME.
THANK YOU FOR HONORING HER. >> CHIEF, PLEASE.
>> ON BEHALF OF HARRIS COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE FOUNDATION WE ARE INCREDIBLY GRATEFUL YOU DECIDED TO HONOR KATRINA.
INSTRUMENTAL IN FINDING FUNDING, FINDING PROJECTS THAT NEEDED TO BE COMPLETED AT THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE, LIKE THE HOMELESS OUTREACH TEAM , THE BALLISTIC WIND CHILL PROGRAM, THE BULLETPROOF VEST FOR CANINES. SHE WAS INSTRUMENTAL IN LOCATING ALL THE NEEDS AND SHE WAS AN INCREDIBLE WOMAN AND WE DEFINITELY MISS HER. THANK YOU GUYS, THANK YOU COMMISSIONERS.
>> THANK YOU AND I AM JUST A COMMISSIONER THESE DAYS ALL I CAN DO IS JUST BUT GIVE THOUGHT TO MAY BE HOW WE CAN COMMEMORATE
[06:00:02]
HER AT THE GARDEN SO FOLKS KNOW WHO HELPED US START IT AND SHE WAS A INTEGRAL PART OF IT. I KNOW THAT WILL BE IN GOOD HANDSWITH YOU GUYS. >> HI I HAVE TAKEN KATRINA , TRYING HARD TO FILL HER SHOES AS THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR. SHE AND I WERE GOOD FRIENDS WORKING TOGETHER ON THE BALLET FOUNDATION AND NUTCRACKER MARKET AND I'M WORKING HARD TO FILL HER SHOES. WE HAVE DONE SOME GOOD THINKING ABOUT HOW TO COMMEMORATE HER ROLE IN THE GARDEN. IF THERE IS EVER ANYTHING I CAN DO FOR YOU ALL TO HELP CARRY ON HER TRADITION OF MAKING SURE EVERYBODY GETS HOME AT THE END OF THE DAY , KEEPING THE COMMUNITY SAFE THROUGH HELPING DEPUTIES GET HOME SAFELY AT THE END OF THE DAY THAT IS MINE. SHE WAS A WONDERFUL WOMAN AND THERE IS NO WAY TO FILL THOSE SHOES BUT I WILL WORK HARD
EVERY DAY TO DO IT. >> THANK YOU AND TO MY RIGHT SOME OF HARRIS COUNTY'S MOST STAUNCH SUPPORTERS OF LAW ENFORCEMENT IN HARRIS COUNTY AND I KNOW YOU GUYS AND GALS ARE ALWAYS ON OUR FRONT OF MIND THINKING ABOUT YOUR. CECIL, TO YOUR POINT OF KATRINA NEVER WANTING TO SEE A END OF WATCH DAY. FOR FOLKS WHO MAY NOT UNDERSTAND WHAT THAT MEANS. SHE DID NOT WANT TO SEE OR BE PART OF A DAY WHERE A LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER LOST THEIR LIFE. BECAUSE OF THEIR WORK ON THE STREETS.
AND, FOR A BEAUTIFUL LADY , I CAN SAY THIS, WHO HAD I DON'T THINK ANY CONNECTION BEFORE THE FOUNDATION WAS CREATED TO LAW ENFORCEMENT. SHE REALLY EMBRACED US. I MEAN I THINK EVERYBODY WHO WEARS A UNIFORM IS HER KID IN SOME WAY. BUT SHE REALLY EMBRACED THE MISSION , THE CAUSE, AND THE GOAL. SHE REALLY DID. SO AGAIN, THANK YOU, CECIL, THANK YOU FOR SHARING HER WITH US AND TO THE FOUNDATION, THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING YOU GUYS DO.
THANK YOU SO MUCH NOW I ORGANIZE MY COLLEAGUES. COMMISSIONER
BRIONES. >> THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THIS AND HONORING KATRINA. CECIL, THANK YOU FOR SHARING KATRINA WITH HARRIS COUNTY. HER LEGACY LIVES ON AND ALL THE LIVES SHE TOUCHED AND THE BACK SHE HAS MADE ON THE HARRIS COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE AND THE WHOLE COUNTY SO THANK YOU. I KNOW IT IS A FAMILY AFFAIR AND EVERYONE HERE TODAY FROM THE FOUNDATION AND OUR OFFICERS AND LEADERS THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE, MAY SHE REST IN PEACE. SMILING DOWN FROM HEAVEN AND MAY THE WORK CONTINUE IN HER NAME. DEEPEST CONDOLENCES.
>> THANK YOU ALL FOR COMING. I SAW YOU ALL OUT THERE TODAY SO PATIENTLY LISTENED AS WE WENT THROUGH MANY DIFFERENT THINGS, BUT THIS IS A REAL IMPORTANT THING WE ARE DOING TODAY BECAUSE SCRIPTURE CALLS US TO REMEMBER AND I THINK IT DOES THAT SO WE KNOW HOW TO GO FORWARD. REMEMBERING NOT ONLY OUR FALLEN OFFICERS, BUT REMEMBERING KATRINA AND HER EFFORTS ON BEHALF OF THE COMMUNITY. WE NEED TO REMEMBER AND NOT FORGET SO THANK YOU FOR SHARING HER AND THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE TODAY.
WE WILL REMEMBER AND AS COMMISSIONER GARCIA HAS CLEARLY AND SAID, WE WILL THINK OF A GOOD WAY TO REMEMBER HER SO THAT WE CAN KNOW THE PATH FORWARD. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU WELL, GOD BLESS YOU. DAVID GOOD TO SEE YOU, ROXANNE GOOD TO SEE YOU. ALL RIGHT OUR NEXT RESOLUTION WILL BE BY COMMISSIONER RAMSEY. RECOGNIZING SOMEONE JUST LIKE THE HARRIS COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE. COMMISSIONER RAMSEY.
>> THIS IS, I WAS IN WASHINGTON A FEW WEEKS BACK A COUPLE OF, THREE WEEKS AGO. I MADE IT OUT TO MOUNT VERNON WHERE THERE CELEBRATING THE 250TH ANNIVERSARY OF GEORGE WASHINGTON BEING NAMED OUR FIRST COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF. SO I PUT THAT INTO CONTEXT THAT JUST A FEW SHORT MONTHS AFTER THAT, THE MARINE CORPS CAME INTO BEING SO IT WAS SO VERY IMPORTANT IN THAT INITIAL FOUNDING OF OUR COUNTRY AND IT REMAINS IMPORTANT TODAY.
I SEE MANY OF OUR GOOD MARINE FRIENDS. I WILL ASK YOU IF YOU WILL AND CAN TO COME STAND DOWN HERE AND I KNOW A COUPLE OF YOU
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HAVE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK. YOU ALL GET STRATEGICALLY POSITIONED AS I GO THROUGH THE RESOLUTION. WHEREAS THE SECOND CONTINENTAL CONGRESS ON NOVEMBER 10, 1775 AUTHORIZED CAPTAIN NICHOLS TO RAISE TWO BATTALIONS OF MARINES AT TAVERN , I DON'T WANT TO GET THAT TAVERN MIXED UP WITH ANY OTHER TAVERNS. IN PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA. WHEREAS THE FIRST CONTINENTAL MARINE COMPANY WAS COMPRISED OF 100 RHODE ISLAND COMMANDED BY CAPTAIN NICHOLS WHEREAS MARCH 1776 CAPTAIN NICHOLS LED MARINES ON THEIR FIRST AMPHIBIOUS LANDING AT NEW PROVIDENCE ISLAND, BAHAMAS AGAINST THE BRITISH EMPIRE WHEREAS JULY 11 AGAINST THE BRITISH EMPIRE WHEREAS JULY 11, 1798 PRESIDENT JOHN ADAMS OFFICIALLY SIGNED LEGISLATION CREATING THE UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS AND WHEREAS SINCE FOUNDED THE UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS AS DISTINGUISHED THEMSELVES AS DEFENDER OF LIBERTY, DURING THE BARBARY WARS, WAR OF 1812, THE BOARD TO ANNEX TEXAS AND THE FIRST BATTLE OF BULL RUN IN 1861 DURING THE CIVIL WAR WHEREAS MODERN-DAY MARINES WERE NAMED DEVIL DOGS .BY THE GERMANS FOR THEIR BRAVERY AND FIERCE COMBAT SKILLS DURING WORLD WAR I AT THE BATTLE OF BELLEAU WOOD. SPOKE TO SEND YOU.
>> I DON'T WANT TO GET ON YOU ALL BAD SITE. I REALLY LIKE YOU A LOT. WHEREAS SINCE FELLOW WOOD UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS HAS BEEN THE TIP OF THE SPEAR IN ADVANCING AMERICA'S INTEREST IN FREEDOM IN EVERY PLACE FROM IWO JIMA .
>> BOOT CAMP FOR YOUR. >> HERE'S THE NEXT ONE. YOU ALL ARE TOUGH. THANK YOU. FALLUJA. WAY CITY. AND FALLUJA . IS THAT IT? I GOT ONE RIGHT. OKAY. NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THE HARRIS COUNTY COMMISSIONERS COURT CELEBRATING UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS ON THE 250TH BIRTHDAY. HAPPY BIRTHDAY MARINE CORPS.
REMARKS. >> YES, COMMISSIONER RAMSEY. WE THANK YOU AND ALL THE COMMISSIONERS FOR RECOGNIZING THE UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS AND ON THE ANNIVERSARY TODAY. OF COURSE ON NOVEMBER 10 OF EVERY YEAR, WE HOWL AT THE MOON AND GO THROUGH OUR PACES , BUT MY NAME IS CHARLES INMAN A VIETNAM VETERAN AND WE HAVE A LOT OF PEOPLE HERE , DIFFERENT GENERATIONS THAT HAVE BEEN IN DIFFERENT PLACES. AND ALL OF THEM FOR MOST OF THEM ARE COMBAT MARINES. EVERY MARINE IS A RIFLEMAN. I THANK COMMISSIONERS COURT FOR EVEN THINKING OF US BECAUSE SO MANY PEOPLE OVERLOOK THE BRAVERY OF THESE MEN THAT ARE HERE. THIS GENTLEMAN RIGHT HERE NEXT TO ME. LET'S SAY WE ARE PART OF THE MARINE CORPS LEAGUE. I AM A FORMER DEPARTMENT OF TEXAS , DON'T AND THIS MAN RIGHT HERE IT'S GOING TO
INTRODUCE HIMSELF >> COMMISSIONERS AFTER YOUR LESSON THERE. I AM WITH THE SERGEANT ARENA DETACHMENT IN KATY. ON BEHALF OF ALL THESE MARINES THAT ARE WITH US TODAY I WANT TO THANK THE COMMISSIONERS FOR THE RESOLUTION RECOGNIZING US ON OUR BIRTHDAY FOR THE 250 YEARS THE CORE HAS BEEN AROUND WE HAVE DEFENDED OUR LIBERTIES AND FREEDOMS AND WE'RE EXERCISING IT TODAY. ON BEHALF OF THE MARINE CORPS, THANK YOU
>> COMMISSIONER BRIONES. >> THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THIS IMPORTANT RESOLUTION. THANK YOU FOR THE 250 YEARS OF SERVICE FROM THE MARINE CORPS. THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR SERVICE AND
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SACRIFICE AND FOR REPRESENTING THE BEST OF THE COUNTRY AND FIGHTING FOR OUR LIBERTY AND DEMOCRACY. WE HONOR YOU TODAY AND LOOK FORWARD TO THE NEXT 250 YEARS AS THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA CONTINUES TO BE A BEACON OF DEMOCRACY AND FREEDOM. THANKYOU FOR YOUR SACRIFICE. >> I DID MAKE IT OUT TO THE VIETNAM WALL IN WASHINGTON WHEN I VISITED. YOU KNOW, I KNEW PEOPLE, I FOUND THIS GENTLEMAN'S NAME, HIS LAST NAME IS ISABEL. I TOOK A PICTURE OF HIS NAME ON THE BALL AND I SENT BACK TO HIS BROTHER. IT MEANS A LOT THAT WAS 60 PLUS YEARS AGO BUT HIS BROTHER APPRECIATED THAT SOMEBODY WOULD REMEMBER HIS BROTHER DIED IN 1967 DEFENDING OUR LIBERTIES IN THAT COUNTRY SO THANK YOU FOR ALL OF YOU FOR WHAT YOU DO. IT MEANS A LOT AND AS WE SAID EARLIER WE NEED TO REMEMBER , WE NEED TO REMEMBER,
WE NEED TO REMEMBER. >> THANK YOU SIR.
>> THERE WAS A YOUNG MAN HERE EARLIER THINKING ABOUT HALLOWEEN AND I WILL TAKE A LESSON FROM HIM AND SEE IF I CAN DO THIS.
>> WE WILL GET PICTURES IN A MINUTE.
>> IT GOOD TO SEE YOU. OKAY COMMISSIONER BRIONES.
>> YES, THANK YOU. TWO RESOLUTIONS AND THANK YOU TO EVERYONE WHO CAME. THANK YOU TO THE HARRIS COUNTY VETERAN SERVICES DEPARTMENT FOR EVERYTHING THEY DO EVERY DAY. WE HAVE ABOUT 150,000 VETERANS IN HARRIS COUNTY SO WE ARE HERE FOR YOU, WE HONOR YOU AND SUPPORT YOU. TWO RESOLUTIONS, MY FIRST IS TO HONOR THE CHINESE-AMERICAN CITIZENS ALLIANCE HOUSTON LODGE SO IF ALL GUESTS COULD PLEASE COME UP. I AM VERY PROUD TO BE HONORING YOU ALL TODAY. ON NOVEMBER 9, 2025 THE NATIONAL CHINESE-AMERICAN CITIZENS ALLIANCE, CACA WILL CELEBRATE ITS 71ST ANNIVERSARY AND HONOR ALL OF THOSE WHO HAVE SERVED THEIR COMMUNITY. CACA WAS ESTABLISHED IN 1954, TO FIGHT PRACTICES AND LAWS THAT DISCRIMINATED AGAINST OUR CITY'S CHINESE RESIDENTS AND RESIDENTS ACROSS THE COUNTRY.
THE HOUSTON LODGE AND NATIONAL CACA ORGANIZATION HAVE A STORIED HISTORY OF PROMOTING IMMIGRATION, NATURALIZATION, CITIZENSHIP, EQUAL EDUCATION AND ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITIES AND THE RIGHT TO VOTE. THROUGHOUT ITS MORE THAN 70 YEARS OF ADVOCACY, CACA HOUSTON LODGE HAS DEFENDED THE RIGHTS AND PRIVILEGES OF AMERICAN CITIZENSHIP FOR CHINESE AMERICANS AND HAS PROMOTED THE PURSUIT OF THE HIGHEST ETHICS, MORALS AND VALUES OF THE COMMUNITY AND OF THE CULTURE. CACA HOUSTON LODGE AIMS TO CONNECT CHINESE AMERICANS TO ALL PARTS OF THEIR IDENTITY BY PRESERVING HISTORICAL AND CULTURAL TRADITIONS WHILE ENSURING ALL CHINESE AMERICANS HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO DISCOVER AND ENJOY THE AMERICAN WAY OF LIFE. IN THERE SO MUCH THAT THE CACA LODGE DOES IN OUR COMMUNITY FROM REGISTERING VOTERS TO PROVIDING SCHOLARSHIPS, INTERNSHIPS AND ADVOCATING FOR HARRIS COUNTY'S MORE THAN 250,000 CHINESE RESIDENTS. WE LOOK FORWARD TO CELEBRATING THE 71ST ANNIVERSARY AND LOOK FORWARD TO THE NEXT 71 YEARS OF ADVOCACY AND SERVICE AND AS THE COMMISSIONER OF PRECINCT 4 WHICH IS PROUD TO HAVE THE LODGE AND PROUD TO BE THE HOME OF CHINATOWN, WE HONOR YOU TODAY AND ALWAYS AND WANT TO CONTINUE MAKING HARRIS COUNTY A PLACE OF OPPORTUNITY, OF RESPECT AND INCLUSION FOR ALL PEOPLE. BE IT
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ORDERED THAT TODAY THIS RESOLUTION BE INCLUDED IN THE MINUTES OF HARRIS COUNTY COMMISSIONERS COURT. THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU DO AND WELCOME, WE CELEBRATE YOU.>> I'M SORRY GO AHEAD PLEASE. >> THE CHINESE-AMERICAN CITIZENS ALLIANCE IS ONE OF THE OLDEST CIVIL RIGHTS ORGANIZATIONS IN THE COUNTRY FOUNDED IN 1895 IN SAN FRANCISCO, THE HOUSTON LODGE AS COMMISSIONER BRIONES SAID WAS CHARTERED IN 1954, MY DAD ALONG WITH THE DATA OF OTHER REPRESENTATIVES HERE WERE SOME OF THE ORIGINAL FOUNDING MEMBERS ON VETERANS DAY APPROACHING WE ARE REMINDED THAT FIVE YEARS AGO CHINESE-AMERICAN VETERANS WERE RECOGNIZED FOR THEIR SERVICE DURING WORLD WAR II WITH THE AWARDING THE CONGRESSIONAL GOLD MEDAL. THE HOUSTON LODGE WAS HONORED TO HOST THE REGIONAL EVENT FOR SOME LIVING WORLD WAR II VETERANS AND THEIR FAMILIES FROM TEXAS AND 10 NEIGHBORING SOUTHERN STATES. OR THINK FOR THE COMMISSIONERS COURT AND ESPECIALLY OUR FRIEND, COMMISSIONER BRIONES FOR THIS RESOLUTION AS WE CELEBRATE OUR 71ST ANNIVERSARY. THIS YEAR AS WE GATHER NOVEMBER 9 WE ARE HONORING TEACHERS AND EDUCATORS OF THE GREATER HOUSTON AREA. WE APPRECIATE YOU AND ALL YOU DO
FOR HARRIS COUNTY. >> THANK YOU AND LIKEWISE.
>> COMMISSIONER RAMSEY, ANYBODY ELSE? YES PLEASE.
>> COMMISSIONER GARCIA, COMMISSIONER RAMSEY, COMMISSIONER BRIONES HOW YOU DOING? WELCOME. ON BEHALF OF OF THE CHINESE-AMERICAN CITIZEN ALLIANCE, HOUSTON LODGE, PLEASE ACCEPT OUR MOST SINCERE AND DEEPEST GRATITUDE FOR THIS RESOLUTION. YOUR SUPPORT MOTIVATES US AND REAFFIRMS COMMITMENT TO OUR MISSION NAMELY TELL CHINESE-AMERICAN ADVOCATE FOR THEIR CIVIL RIGHTS, PRESERVE CULTURAL HERITAGE AND MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN THEIR COMMUNITY THROUGH EDUCATION, LEADERSHIP AND COMMUNITY SERVICE. A VERY SPECIAL THANK YOU TO PRECINCT 4 COMMISSIONER, COMMISSIONER BRIONES FOR THIS HONOR AND RESOLUTION. MOREOVER THANK YOU FOR YOUR OBJECTIVITY AND FAIRNESS AND KINDNESS TO ALL CITIZENS REGARDLESS OF ETHNICITY, RACE AND GENDER. IN OTHER WORDS THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
ON NOVEMBER 9 THE CACA WILL BE HONORING EDUCATORS AND WE KNOW YOU ARE AN EDUCATOR AND YOUR PARENTS WERE EDUCATORS , IN THAT
REGARD THANK YOU VERY MUCH. >> THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING YOU DO TO ADVOCATE FOR CIVIL RIGHTS TO ADVOCATE FOR ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITIES, IT IS REMARKABLE, THE LEVEL OF IMPACT YOU HAVE IN THE COMMUNITY AND I LOOK FORWARD TO THE NEXT 71 YEARS AND I APPRECIATE YOUR FRIENDSHIP AND PARTNERSHIP AS WE MAKE HARRIS
COUNTY THE BEST IT CAN BE. >> I PROMISED, HE HAD A ENGINEERING COMPANY IN COLORADO. HE IS A GOOD FRIEND. I WORKED WITH HIM IN THE 90S AND DR. CHIN WOULD TELL ME STORIES OF HOW HE IMMIGRATED TO THE COUNTRY AND COMING TO COLORADO IN 1954 WAS NOT NECESSARILY VERY EASY. THERE WERE NOT LOOKING TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO START A GEOSCIENCE FIRM OR ENVIRONMENTAL FIRM. HE JUST ESTABLISHED ONE OF THE LEADING ENGINEERING FIRMS IN COLORADO. I WOULD GO VISIT HIM IN THE EVENINGS, HE WOULD TELL ME STORIES ABOUT HE DESIGNED THE BURMA ROAD NOW THEY DID SOME THINGS ARE PRETTY INCREDIBLE IN WORLD WAR II PROMISED EVERY CHANCE I WOULD GET I WOULD GIVE HIS STORY, I HAVE GIVEN YOU A SNIPPET BUT I THINK IT IS IMPORTANT WE AGAIN REMEMBER THOSE PEOPLE THAT CAME BEFORE US. WHAT IT MEANS TODAY IN TERMS OF WHAT THEY DID. SO, I THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU ARE DOING. I THINK YOU ARE CONTINUING TO WORK TO DR. CHIN, WHAT HE MEANT TO ME
AND WHAT HE MEANS TO AMERICA. >> WONDERFUL, COMMISSIONER BRIONES THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BRINGING THIS RESOLUTION FORWARD AND THANK YOU FOR ALL YOU DO. I DON'T KNOW WHERE YOU GET THE ENERGY FOR EVERYTHING YOU DO. YOU GUYS ARE JUST LIKE , YOU ARE ALL OVER THE PLACE BUT THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING. YOU KNOW, THE COMMUNITY HAS ALWAYS BEEN IMMENSELY EMBRACING TO MY FAMILY AND I, I CANNOT THANK YOU ENOUGH. I HAVE AN ADOPTED
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BROTHER , CLOSE? ANYWAY. I WILL STAY WITH.>> DON'T LOOK AT ME. >> BUT MAYBE YOU WILL GET THIS ONE I DO HAVE BOSS, THAT'S MY WIFE.
>> YOU WILL NEED TO TAKE HIM TO SCHOOL, TOO.
>> YOU AND I ARE IN THE SAME BOAT. AGAIN, THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONTRIBUTIONS. YOU MAKE HARRIS COUNTY BETTER, STRONGER AND MUCH
MORE BEAUTIFUL, THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU SO MUCH CHINESE-AMERICAN CITIZEN ALLIANCE HOUSTON LODGE. MY SECOND AND FINAL RESOLUTION IS ITEM 318. THAT IS A RESOLUTION ABOUT DIA DE LOS MUERTOS. BEFORE I BEGIN IF WE CAN JUST PLEASE TAKE A MOMENT OF SILENCE TO THINK OF ALL OF THOSE THAT WE HAVE LOST THANK YOU. SO, THIS WEEKEND, MILLIONS OF LATINOS AROUND THE WORLD INCLUDING MANY OF THE OVER 2 MILLION WHO LIVE IN HARRIS COUNTY WILL CELEBRATE DIA DE LOS MUERTOS AND HONOR THEIR LOVED ONES WHO HAD PASSED. THIS IS A TIME FOR REMEMBRANCE AND IS DEEPLY ROOTED IN LATIN AMERICA AND THE CATHOLIC FAITH COINCIDES WITH THE OBSERVANCE OF ALL SAINTS DAY NOVEMBER 1 AND ALL SOLD DAY NOVEMBER 2. AS A PROUD MOM AS A PROUD LATINA AND PROUD CATHOLIC I BELIEVE WE ARE DEEPLY ALL CHARGED WITH THE RESPONSIBILITY TO TEACH OUR CHILDREN ABOUT OUR CULTURE AND HISTORY AND HERITAGE. WE ARE SO EXCITED THIS WEEKEND I HOPE YOU ALL CAN JOIN ME, COMMISSIONER GARCIA, THE MAYOR, HOUSTON POLICE CHIEF DIAZ, HOUSTON FIRE CHIEF MUNOZ, OUR WONDERFUL HONORARY COCHAIR WHO WE WILL HEAR FROM IN A SECOND. ALL OF US WILL BE AT THE HOUSTON DIA DE LOS MUERTOS PARADE AND FESTIVAL THIS SATURDAY 4:00 UNTIL 11:00 AT SAM HOUSTON PARK DOWN THE ROAD. AS WE CHART THE FUTURE OF HARRIS COUNTY TOGETHER I HOPE WE CAN REMEMBER THE SACRIFICES AND LOVE AND WISDOM OF OUR ANCESTORS AS WE MOVE FORWARD AND CELEBRATE AND REMEMBER SO WITH THAT WE ARE VERY EXCITED TO HAVE SOME AMAZING GUESTS. I WILL FIRST CALL UPON MY DEAR FRIEND AND OUR CEO OF THE HOUSTON HISPANIC CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AND HONORARY COCHAIR OF THE DIA DE LOS MUERTOS FESTIVITIES DR.
THANK YOU FOR HAVING US AND YOUR BEAUTIFUL NEW COURT, IT IS OUTSTANDING AND WONDERFUL FOR SO MANY PEOPLE TO HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO VISIT YOU ALL. COMMISSIONER GARCIA YOU CAN USE YOUR SECOND LANGUAGE DURING THIS BRIEFING. OPPORTUNITY TO REDEEM HERSELF , BUT THANK YOU , COMMISSIONER BRIONES, TO COMMISSIONER RAMSEY AND COMMISSIONER GARCIA AND I KNOW COMMISSIONER ELLIS IS WHERE I WAS EARLIER, THERE ARE SO MANY PEOPLE THERE, ENTREPRENEURS CELEBRATING SO THANK YOU FOR THAT. THE ENGAGEMENT YOU HAD WITH INFRASTRUCTURE SUMMIT MOST RECENTLY HAVING ALL COMMISSIONERS THERE TRULY MEANS A LOT FOR BUSINESS. THIS REMARKABLE GROUP BEHIND ME. WHO BROUGHT THIS TO HOUSTON, TEARS COUNTY AND IT IS LOVELY TO SAY SO MANY NON-LATINOS CELEBRATE. DRESSING UP AND LEARNING. AND FOR THAT AND SO MUCH MORE ON BEHALF OF THE HOUSTON HISPANIC CHAMBER OF COMMERCE WE THANK YOU FOR THE ONGOING SUPPORT YOU HAVE GIVEN THIS CHAMBER AND TO ME PERSONALLY.
>> THANK YOU. COMMISSIONER RAMSEY?
>> THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP IN MANY AREAS PARTICULARLY THIS AND APPRECIATE WHAT YOU DO DAY IN AND DAY OUT. AS I HAVE SAID MANY TIMES NOBODY DOES IT BETTER THAN YOU DO WHEN IT COMES TO TAKING CARE BUSINESS TAKING CARE OF PEOPLE IS TAKING CARE OF BUSINESS AND YOU DO THAT VERY WELL.
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>> THANK YOU IT IS AN HONOR AND I HAVE HAD THE HONOR OF SERVING PRESIDENCY COMING UP ON 18 YEARS. A TRUE HONOR AND ALONG THE WAY THE GREAT BOARD MEMBERS, VOLUNTEERS AND OTHERS WHO HAVE BEEN TREMENDOUSLY INVOLVED AND ENGAGED.
>> YOU ARE A INSPIRATION. >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> COMMISSIONER BRIONES THANK YOU FOR RECOGNIZING THIS AND FOR THE WAY YOU STARTED , FOR US TO REFLECT ON FAMILY, FRIENDS, WE WERE RECOGNIZING THE BEAUTIFUL LIFE OF KATRINA AND OBVIOUSLY MEN AND WOMEN CELEBRATING THEIR BIRTHDAY, BUT GENERATIONS OF FAMILIES THAT HAVE SERVED AND SACRIFICED. JUST YESTERDAY WE WERE TALKING ABOUT GOLD STAR MOTHERS AND WHAT THAT MEANS. SO THIS IS CULTURALLY AN IMPORTANT DAY BUT A DELAY THAT BELONGS TO SO MANY. THANK YOU FOR HOW YOU LEAD THE MOMENT AND HOW YOU LEAD IN GENERAL AND IN EVERY ASPECT YOU ARE A UNIFIER. EVERYONE OF YOU I REFER TO SAM AS CHIEF, EVERY ONE OF YOU, EVERYTHING YOU ARE DOING, THANK YOU FOR BEING EXAMPLES AND PILLARS IN THE COMMUNITY. AND FOR ALL THAT YOU DO. AND, TO TAKE AN OCCASION THAT WAS NORMALLY CELEBRATED IN A HOME, BUT NOW IT IS ALMOST A NATIONAL HOLIDAY. BECAUSE OF LEADERS LIKE YOURSELVES, SO COMMISSIONER BRIONES, THANK YOU SO MUCH.
>> IT WILL BE FUN TO BE OUT TOGETHER.
>> I'M CHANNELING MY POP AND MY BROTHERS AND JUST KEEPING EVERYONE ELSE IN THOUGHTS AND PRAYERS. THANK YOU FOR BEING
HERE. >> THANK YOU, WE HAVE A COUPLE OF OTHER SPEAKERS, BROTHER WHO SERVES ON HARRIS COUNTY HISPANIC CULTURAL HERITAGE COMMISSION THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.
>> THANK YOU COMMISSIONERS I WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK ABOUT THE COMMISSION. I AM REPRESENTING PRECINCT FOR , THANK YOU FOR COMMISSIONER BRIONES ON THE HARRIS COUNTY HISPANIC CULTURAL HERITAGE COMMISSION THE COMMISSION IS DEDICATED TO IDENTIFYING, PRESERVING AND PROMOTING HERITAGE ACROSS THE COUNTY. THIS YEAR WE DEEPEN IMPACT THROUGH POWERFUL BLEND OF RESEARCH, OUTREACH AND CULTURAL STEWARDSHIP, WE EXPANDED GOVERNANCE COMING NEW COMMISSIONERS AND CONVENED 11 MEETINGS WITH 80% ATTENDANCE WE ANALYZED 600 HISTORIC SITES IDENTIFYING 30 LATINO LANDMARK SUPPORTING A TRAVELING EXHIBIT THAT REACHED NINE VENUES WE COHOSTED A CIVIC EVENT ON THE LANDMARK CASE AND ANOTHER FOCUS ON DEMYSTIFYING THE PROBATE PROCESS. I WANT TO CELEBRATE NOT JUST THE TRADITION OF THE PEOPLE WHO KEEP IT VIBRANT AND THE FAMILIES WHO BUILD ALTARS TO HONOR THEIR LOVED ONES. IT IS NOT ONLY ABOUT REMEMBERING THE PAST IT IS ABOUT AFFIRMING THE BEAUTY OF LATINO LIFE IN THE PRESENT AND IN HARRIS COUNTY AND ACROSS THE UNITED STATES FOR ALL LIVES. LET THIS RESOLUTION BE A TRIBUTE TO THE COMMUNITIES THAT MAKE HARRIS COUNTY GREAT AND I THINK AT SOME POINT WE WILL BE CELEBRATED AS PEOPLE THAT HAVE PASSED AND WHEN I LOOK AROUND IN THIS ROOM WITH THIS MANY LEADERS I THINK WE WILL BE REMEMBERED SATISFACTORY BECAUSE OF THE GREAT IMPACT ALL OF YOU HAVE
HAD. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU CARLOS. ANYONE ELSE
SIGNED UP. >> THANK YOU FOR THIS MEANINGFUL RECOGNITION. I BELIEVE IT IS ABSOLUTELY IMPORTANT TO UPLIFT AND HONOR THE COMMITTEE MEMBERS WHO PIONEERED CELEBRATION EFFORTS IN HOUSTON, VISIONARIES CHURCH IS SUCH A THESE CHAMPION SUPPORT THEIR TIME SWEAT AND TEARS TO PRESERVING AND CELEBRATING THE SEASON. IT IS INSPIRING TO WITNESS HOW MANY ENTITIES ACROSS HOUSTON AND SURROUNDING AREAS ARE NOW JOINING THE CELEBRATIONS IT IS MORE THRILLING TO SEE SO MANY TEST EDUCATE THE COMMUNITY AND CELEBRATE WITH AUTHENTICITY
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AND HEART FROM EVENTS LIKE DEATH BY CHOCOLATE HOSTED BY MORALES TO THE ARTICLE PERFORMANCES SUCH AS THE MILLER OUTDOOR THEATER TO POWERFUL CONCERTS BY THE PERFORMING ARTS HOUSTON AT JONES HALL AND NOVEMBER 1 OF THE SECOND. CULTURAL VIBRANCY WITH CULTURAL ATMOSPHERE THANK YOU TO CIVIC LEADERS FOR THIS ACKNOWLEDGMENT AND TO HELP MAKE THIS POSSIBLE. ART AND CULTURE CELEBRATION MAKE THE WORLD TURN AND CONTINUE TO EMPOWER THE GREATNESS OF PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY.>> THANK YOU. >> COULD NOT AGREE MORE. WE LOOK FORWARD TO CELEBRATING TOGETHER. EVERYONE IS WELCOME, COME
CELEBRATE WITH US THIS SATURDAY. >> COMMISSIONERS MY NAME IS NAME ] THE PRODUCER OF THE DIA DE LOS MUERTOS PARADE AND FESTIVAL A PROUD IMMIGRANT , HOUSTON RECEIVED ME WHEN I WAS NINE YEARS OLD. I WENT TO BUNKER HILL ELEMENTARY, MEMORIAL HIGH A PROUD STRAFFORD GRADUATE BUT THEN LIFE PULLED ME AWAY. I DO NOT LIVE IN HOUSTON BUT IRONICALLY DEATH CALLED ME TO HOUSTON, CALLED ME WHEN I LOST MY FATHER WHEN I WAS 27 YEARS OLD, MY BROTHER MY SISTER MY MOTHER. IRONICALLY DEATH KEEPS CALLING ME BACK TO HOUSTON NOW IS THE PRODUCER OF THE DIA DE LOS MUERTOS PARADE IT IS CALLING ME BACK OUR FRIENDS WITH COMERICA BANK, EVERYBODY IN THE COMMUNITY. NOW INSTEAD OF PAINTING GRIEF WHEN I ARRIVE , I SEE CELEBRATION AND FRIENDSHIP AND I AM TRULY HUMBLED AND I KNOW MY FATHER WOULD BE PROUD .
>> HOPE TO SEE YOU THIS SATURDAY AT SAM HOUSTON PARK. ALL ARE WELCOME TO CELEBRATE. THE DIA DE LOS MUERTOS PARADE AND FESTIVAL AND ONE OF THE GRAND MARSHALS HERE AND ME AND THE MAYOR AND FIRE CHIEF AND HPD CHIEF, THANK YOU EVERYONE FOR PUTTING THIS ON LET'S CELEBRATE TOGETHER. AS WE CELEBRATE ALL CULTURES THAT'S WHAT MAKES HARRIS COUNTY SUCH AN AMAZING PLACE TO LIVE AND THAT
IS OUR STRENGTH. >> WONDERFUL, THANK YOU COMMISSIONER. WE HAVE A FINAL RESOLUTION. JUDGE CANNOT BE HERE AND THIS RESOLUTION IS TO RECOGNIZE FLU SEASON. WE HAVE DR. BROWN HERE. OBVIOUSLY WE NEED TO RECOGNIZE SIGNIFICANCE OF HOW WE CAN GO ABOUT FIGHTING BACK INFLUENZA AND HOW EASY IT IS TO DO SO AND ALL THE GOOD WORK THE PUBLIC HEALTH DEPARTMENT IS DOING IN THAT REGARD AND HOW WE SHOULD BE ENCOURAGING OTHERS BECAUSE AMONGST RACIAL AND ETHNIC MINORITY POPULATIONS WE TEND TO CONTRIBUTE TO HIGHER RATES OF HOSPITALIZATION AND ILLNESS. HAVE NOT GOTTEN MY FLU SHOT YET.
>> YOUR SCHEDULED YOU JUST DON'T KNOW IT.
>> REMEMBER I ASKED FOR A LOLLIPOP.
>> WE TALKED ABOUT THIS LAST HALLOWEEN.
>> I WILL TRY TO GET SOMETHING ON EVERY OCCASION. THE FLOOR IS
YOURS DR. BROWN. >> THANK YOU. I WANT TO EMPHASIZE INFLUENZA IS A SERIOUS RESPIRATORY ILLNESS THAT CAN AFFECT EVERYONE. I ENCOURAGE EVERYONE OVER SIX MONTHS OF AGE TO GET THE ANNUAL FLU VACCINE. ESPECIALLY FOR HIGH-RISK GROUPS TO GET THE FLU VACCINE INCLUDING OLDER ADULTS 65 AND OLDER, YOUNG CHILDREN BETWEEN THE AGES OF SIX AND FIVE MONTHS, PREGNANT WOMEN AND PEOPLE WITH CHRONIC HEALTH CONDITIONS. AS WE KNOW THE FLU SEASON RUNS IN TEXAS BETWEEN OCTOBER AND APRIL TECHNICALLY STARTS IN SEPTEMBER BUT BECAUSE OF OUR SEASONS OCTOBER THROUGH APRIL. LAST YEAR WE SAW FLU SEASON RUN THROUGH MAY AND WE DID SEE HIGHER PEDIATRIC DEATHS IN THE STATE OF TEXAS BECAUSE OF THE FLU. SO ALTHOUGH FLU IS NOT A REPORTED DISEASE TO HEALTH DEPARTMENTS WE ARE MONITORING TRENDS IN HARRIS COUNTY THROUGH MULTIPLE DATA STREAMS INCLUDING EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT VISITS, HOSPITAL ADMISSIONS, SCHOOL ABSENTEEISM AND LABORATORY SURVEILLANCE. WE ARE WORKING WITH CLINICS PROVIDERS AND
[06:35:02]
COMMUNITY PARTNERS TO ENSURE THE FLU VACCINE ACCESS IS AS WIDESPREAD AND EQUITABLE AS POSSIBLE ESPECIALLY IN NEIGHBORHOODS THAT FACE BARRIERS. THESE EFFORTS ARE BOLSTERED BY HARRIS COUNTY PUBLIC HEALTH OFFERING VACCINES AT HEALTH CLINICS AND THROUGH MOBILE HEALTH CLINICS , AS WELL.WE ARE ALSO OFFERING VACCINES AT THE COMMUNITY EVENT SUCH AS WELLNESS ON WHEELS AND OTHER SCHEDULED EVENTS. WE ARE COORDINATING OUTREACH EFFORTS TO EDUCATE COMMUNITY MEMBERS ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF VACCINATION, RECOGNIZING EARLY SIGNS OF ILLNESS AND ACTING WHEN SOMEONE IS SICK. IT IS IMPORTANT FOR EVERYONE TO GET VACCINATED WHO IS ELIGIBLE FOR THE FLU VACCINE, PUBLIC HEALTH DOES OFFER FREE FLU VACCINE AND VACCINES IN GENERAL TO THOSE WHO QUALIFY. IT IS PUBLISHED ON THE WEBSITE, YOU CAN CALL US TO FIGURE OUT WHERE WE WILL BE AT THE NEXT MOBILE EVENT. WE ARE SEEING VACCINATION RATES GO DOWN AND THIS IS A SERIOUS HEALTH ISSUE FOR THE COMMUNITY. SO WE ENCOURAGE EVERYONE TO GET VACCINATED, TO WASH YOUR HANDS, ENCOURAGE EVERYONE WHO FEELS THEY ARE SICK, TO STAY HOME AND AGAIN YOU CAN REACH US BY LOOKING AT THE WEBSITE OR CALL US AT 832-927, 7350 FOR AN APPOINTMENT OR MOBILE HEALTH CLINIC WALK-IN CLINIC NEAR YOU WITH FREE VACCINES FOR THOSE.
>> WONDERFUL, THANK YOU SO MUCH. WE WILL NOW DO PICTURES. SO, WHO WILL BE THE FIRST GROUP? LET'S GET THE MARINES DOWN.
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>>> ALL RIGHT. I THINK WE STILL HAVE SOME
[06:54:12]
RESOLUTIONS TO ADOPT. >> 309 THROUGH
[06:54:14]
319. >> I MOVE TO ADOPT RESOLUTIONS 309 TO 319.
>> SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR? ALL OPPOSED IN MOTION CARRIES. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. WE STILL NEED TO SIGN THESE, COLLEAGUES.
I THINK WE
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.