Jan 29, 2026 Commissioners Court

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A.M. WE HAVE A QUORUM SO I CALL THIS JOURNEY 29TH 2026 MEETING

[Pastor Robert I. Dixon, II of Next Generation Church in Houston introduced by the Commissioner of Precinct 2.]

>> THANK YOU, TODAY WE HAVE PASTOR ROBERT DIXON FOUNDER AND SENIOR PASTOR OF NEXT GENERATION CHURCH FOR NEARLY 2 DECADES OF PASTORAL LEADERSHIP, DEDICATED HIS LIFE TO STRENGTHENING COMMUNITIES FOR PRACTICAL MINISTRY AND STRATEGIC OWNERSHIPS, CHAIRMAN AND CEO OF NORTHEAST PARTNERS IN POWER WOULD NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION MEETING THE BASIC NEEDS OF UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES THROUGH FOOD DISTRIBUTION, JOBS AND HEALTH , PASTOR DIXON IS WELL RESPECTED AND HAS DONE GREAT WORK AND I'M HONORED HE WILL LEAD US IN PRAYER TODAY. THANK

YOU FOR COMING. >> AS WE PRAY, WE TURN TO WISE GOD WE PAUSE THIS MOMENT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT ALL AUTHORITY , HEAVEN AND EARTH IS GIVEN IN YOUR HANDS. WE THANK YOU FOR THE PRIVILEGE OF GATHERING AND PEACE FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SERVE THE PEOPLE ENTRUSTED TO THIS COURT AND TODAY WE ASK FOR WISDOM THAT WISDOM GOES FAR BEYOND KNOWLEDGE. WISDOM THAT DISCERNS RIGHT WHAT IS JUSTICE, WHAT IS NECESSARY GRANT US CLARITY WHERE DECISIONS ARE COMPLEX CONVERSATIONS WHERE DIFFICULT, COURAGE WHERE LEADERSHIP REQUIRES CONVICTION WE PRAY THAT EVERY DISCUSSION AND DECISION MADE WOULD BE GUIDED BY INTEGRITY AND SHAPED BY GENUINE CONCERN FOR THE COMMON GOOD.

BEHIND EVERY POLICY ARE PEOPLE, BEHIND EVERY VOTE ARE LIVES AND BEHIND EVERY AGENDA ARE COMMUNITIES SEEKING FAIRNESS, SAFETY AND HOPE AND LORD WE ASK THAT JUSTICE AND COMPASSION WALK HAND-IN-HAND MAY THE VOICES OF THE VULNERABLE NEVER BE FORGOTTEN AND MADE THE UNITY PREVAIL EVEN WHEN PERSPECTIVES DIFFER TEACHERS TO DELIBERATE WITH RESPECT TEACH US TO LISTEN WITH HUMILITY AND TEACH US TO LEAD WITH HONOR BLESS OUR JUDGE, LESS OUR COMMISSIONERS, THEIR STAFF, BLESS THOSE WHO SERVE ALONGSIDE THEM. GRANT THEM STRENGTH FOR WORK , FOR PEACE IN THE PROCESS AND FOR WISDOM IN THE OUTCOMES. AS THIS COURT CARRIES OUT ITS RESPONSIBILITY TODAY, MAY ITS LEADERSHIP REFLECT ACCOUNTABILITY, IT'S SERVICE REFLECT HUMILITY AND ITS DECISIONS CONTRIBUTE TO THE WELL-BEING OF OUR COMMUNITIES IN WHICH WE SERVE. WE THANK YOU RIGHT NOW IN JESUS NAME, AMEN.

>> THANK YOU PASTOR, IT'S GOING TO BE A GREAT DAY AFTER THAT I

KNOW IT. >> PASTOR, THANK YOU SO MUCH.

NOW WE WILL RECITE THE PLEDGE. >> PASTOR , THANK YOU SO MUCH

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

LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL. >> HONOR THE TEXAS FLAG I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE TEXAS, ONE STATE UNDER GOD , ONE AND INDIVISIBLE.

>> OKAY. THANK YOU EVERYONE, WE HAVE A LOT OF SPEAKERS TODAY SO NORMALLY I ALLOW FOLKS TO FINISH THEIR SENTENCES WHEN THE 1 MINUTE BELL RINGS, BUT THIS TIME I'M AFRAID ONCE WE HIT 1 MINUTE WE WILL MOVE ON TO THE NEXT PERSON AND I PLEDGE TO BE CONSISTENT, SO THAT IS GIVING YOU GUYS A HEADS UP ABOUT THAT.

WE WILL TALK ABOUT RESPONSE EFFORTS TO THE WINTER STORM WHEN ITEM 330 COMES UP, BUT I WANT TO THANK THE COMMUNITY, 1ST OF ALL FOR LISTENING. WE HAD RELATIVELY LITTLE IMPACT , PARTICULARLY ON THE ROADS, THANKS TO THE COMMUNITY TAKING RESPONSIBILITY FOR THEMSELVES AND THEIR FAMILIES, OF COURSE ALL THE 1ST RESPONDERS THAT HELPED PUT THEMSELVES AT RISK, THE PRECINCTS WHO HOSTED THESE INCREDIBLE SHELTERS , NORMALLY WE WILL HAVE ABOUT 20 PEOPLE IN THE SHELTERS, WE HAD OVER 1000

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[Appearances Before Court]

MORNING. >> YES MA'AM. KATIE KIMBALL SHUMWAY ITEM 249 PRECINCT ITEM 249 PRECINCT 1. NEIL HANSEN ITEM TO 66 FROM PRECINCT 2, ITEM 266 PRECINCT 2 YOU EACH HAVE 1 MINUTE.

>> GOOD MORNING I AM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS OF HOUSTON AND I'M HERE IN SUPPORT OF A FORMAL AGREEMENT WITH PRECINCT 4 AND LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS TO DISTRIBUTE AND HOLD WORKSHOPS FOR NONPARTISAN VOTER EDUCATION.

I WANT TO RECOGNIZE WE HAVE A SIMILAR AGREEMENT WITH PRECINCT 1 ESTABLISHED AND THANK YOU COMMISSIONER ELLIS FOR THAT AND WE INVITE ALL THE PRECINCTS TO WORK WITH THE LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS TO HELP ALL VOTERS IN HARRIS COUNTY HAVE THE RIGHT TO VOTE AND HAVE NONPARTISAN EDUCATION EFFORTS FOR THEM.

THANK YOU SO MUCH COMMISSIONER LESLEY BRIONES AND HER STAFF FOR

ALL THIS WORK. >> THANK YOU FOR THE WORK THAT

YOU DO. >> COUNTY JUDGE, COMMISSIONERS THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK IS MORNING MY NAME IS NEIL HANSEN SENIOR DIRECTOR OF WORKFORCE INITIATIVES AS THE LEAD LIMITATION PARTNER WE WORK CLOSELY WITH UNITED WAY A GREAT TEAM FROM UNITED WAY AND HARRIS COUNTY TO CREATE AND OPERATE THE PROGRAM. WE DESIGN , GREW AND NEVER FIND THE PROGRAM OVER TIME TO MAXIMIZE ECONOMIC STABILITY. FOR THE PROVIDERS AS BUSINESSES, FOR STAFF, EMPLOYEES AND FAMILIES THAT ARE SERVED. WE DEPLOY RESOURCES QUICKLY AND IN ORDER TO STABILIZE THESE PROVIDERS SERVING 1005 CHILDREN IN 25 CENTERS THE 1ST YEAR OF OPERATIONS. FINALLY WE TARGETED RESOURCES ACROSS THE COUNTY IN HIGH-QUALITY DESERT AREAS IN ORDER TO REACH, RAISE EDUCATIONAL ACCESS FOR CHILDREN ACROSS THE COUNTY. WE APPRECIATE THE COUNTY'S INVESTMENT, EVALUATION AND I'M PROUD OF THE WORK WE HAVE DONE WE BELIEVE WE CAN LEARN AND GROW FROM IT AND

LOOK FORWARD TO IT TODAY. >> THANK YOU, SIR. I LOVE SOMETHING THE PASTOR SAID, SOMETHING ALONG THE LINES BEHIND EVERY POLICY ARE PEOPLE AND THE POLICY THE COURT TOOK TO END THE EARLY REACH PROJECT UNDER THE EXCUSE THAT HAD NO EVALUATION, IT IS DISAPPOINTING I WILL USE A KIND WORD. THE 2ND EVALUATION

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>> GOOD MORNING ALL, IT WAS BEWILDERING TO FIND THE NATIONAL ECONOMY LOSES OVER $57 BILLION AND TEXAS HAS ECONOMIC LOSS OF $11.4 BILLION ANNUALLY, DUE TO THE LACK OF ACCESS TO ACCESSIBLE CHILDCARE. PARENTS AND CAREGIVERS OFTEN RECORD HAVING TO LEAVE THE WORKFORCE, MISS WORK OR REDUCE THE STANDARD OF LIVING FOR THEIR FAMILIES, TO ACCESS EARLY CARE. THAT IS REACTIVE, THIS EVALUATION FINDS THAT HARRIS COUNTY IS HOME TO APPROXIMATELY 322,000 CHILDREN AGE 4 AND UNDER, OF THOSE, MORE THAN HALF QUALIFY FOR ACCESS TO EARLY CARE PROGRAMMING BECAUSE THEIR FAMILY LIVES IN A INCOME THAT IS 85% OR LESS THAN THE SMI. UNFORTUNATELY, OUR REGION ONLY HAS RESOURCES TO PROVIDE APPROXIMATELY 30,000 SEATS SERVING ONLY 18% OF THOSE.

>> THINK OF YOUR TIME. I PROMISE I WOULD BE FAIR BUT NOT GIVING THE VOTERS EVEN THE OPPORTUNITY TO FUND SLOTS FOR THE MAJORITY OF THESE KIDS THAT DON'T HAVE IT WHO WERE HERE, USE OTHER FACES, NOBODY EVEN GREETED THEM. THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORK.

>> THANK YOU, LET'S CONTINUE TO ALIGN RESOURCES.

>> PLEASE, CHILDREN ARE THE PEOPLE BEHIND THE POLICY THAT YOU WOULD NOT ALLOW PEOPLE TO VOTE ON.

>> NEXT IS TAX ASSESSOR ANNETTE RAMIREZ ON ITEM 14. ELIZABETH GREGORY ON ITEM TO 66 PRECINCT 1 AND AMY ON ITEM 296 PRECINCT 1.

YOU EACH HAVE 1 MINUTE. >> GOOD MORNING COMMISSIONERS AND JUDGE, GOOD TO SEE YOU GUYS AGAIN. I AM HERE TO SPEAK ON ITEM NUMBER 14 , THE DISPARITY STUDY, THE HARRIS COUNTY TAX OFFICE APPRECIATES COUNTY ENGAGEMENT IN A PAY EQUITY STUDY AIMED AT ENSURING THE COUNTY EMPLOYEES ARE PAID FAIRLY AND ADEQUATELY. WE ARE EXCITED ABOUT THE PROSPECT OF ENSURING TAX OFFICE EMPLOYEES ARE APPROPRIATELY COMPENSATED. THE TAX OFFICE HAS WORKED CLOSELY WITH HRT AND GALLAGHER ENGAGING IN MULTIPLE WORK SESSIONS DURING THE STUDY REVIEW PROCESS TO ENSURE THE DATA RELIED UPON IS ACCURATE AND THE STUDY PROPOSALS ALIGN WITH THE ACTUAL WORK BEING DONE IN OUR OFFICE. DESPITE THAT ENGAGEMENT THERE ARE STILL A NUMBER OF ERRORS IN THE DATA WE RECEIVE THIS WEEK THAT IMPACT PAY EQUITY IN OUR OFFICE. WE ARE ALSO UNCLEAR ABOUT THE STATUS OF A NUMBER OF JOB CLASSIFICATIONS.

WE HAVE BEEN NOTIFIED THAT THE PAY INCREASE IMPLEMENTATION FOR SOME EMPLOYEES WILL BE DELAYED HOWEVER, IT IS UNCLEAR.

>> THANK YOU , YOUR TIME IS UP. >> IT IS UNCLEAR WHICH EMPLOYS WILL BE IMPACTED. WHITE LIMITATION IS DELAYED FOR THEM OR HOW LONG THE DELAY MIGHT BE. MANY OF THESE ROLES ARE SOME OF THE MOST UNDERPAID JOBS MAKING LESS THAN 50,000 A YEAR. A DELAY IN UP LIMITATION FOR THESE ROLES MEANS THAT EMPLOYEES WHO NEED A RAISE THE MOST WILL NOT RECEIVE ONE. I DO BELIEVE IT IS IMPERATIVE FOR EMPLOYEES TO SEE PAY ADJUSTMENTS AS SOON AS POSSIBLE HOWEVER GIVEN THE NUMBER OF ERRORS AND INCONSISTENT TREATMENT OF EMPLOYEES I AM DEEPLY CONCERNED THE UP LIMITATION AT THIS POINT WILL CAUSE SIGNIFICANT INTERNAL DISRUPTION AND HARM IN MY OFFICE. I AM ASKING THAT IMPLEMENTATION BE DELAYED UNTIL THE ERRORS AND INCONSISTENCIES CAN BE REMEDIED, AS ALWAYS I AM WILLING AND AVAILABLE TO

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ISSUES THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU MDM. TAX ASSESSOR.

THANK YOU SO MUCH. GO AHEAD. >> HELLO ELIZABETH GREGORY UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON DOING THE EVALUATION OF THE EARLY WHICH

PROGRAM. >> DID YOU GET A LITTLE CLOSER

TO MIKE FROM? >> WE ARE DOING THE EVALUATION OF THE ECONOMIC EFFECTS OF THE EARLY REACH PROGRAM FROM UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON PRECINCT ONE FOR FAMILIES CARE CENTERS AND THE COMMUNITY CHIEF FINDINGS WERE INITIALLY UNEMPLOYED PARENTS WHOSE KIDS GOT SPOTS WERE 37% MORE LIKELY TO BECOME EMPLOYED THAN THOSE WITHOUT ER, THE COST PER CHILD DEPENDS ON THE VACANCY RATE WHICH DECLINE GREATLY OVER THE 1ST 5 MONTHS OF EACH CENTER PARTICIPATION. INDICATING EFFICIENCY. AMONG THE SPILLOVER EFFECTS IN THE CENTERS WAGES ROSE EVEN AMONG NON-ER STAFF, CENTERS REPORTED LOWER TO MOTION THAN NON-ER CENTERS, THE WORKFORCE ISSUE NATIONALLY AFFECT HIS PARENTS CHOICES ON WHETHER TO HAVE CHILDREN AND MOTHER'S ABILITY TO JOIN THE WORKFORCE IN A TIME OF DECLINING LABOR SUPPLY THE REPORT EXPLORES

THOSE ISSUES. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU SO MUCH. NONE OF IT IS A SURPRISE OBVIOUSLY THIS IS HOW ALL EARLY CHILDHOOD PROGRAMS WORK. THANK YOU FOR THE WORK. THANK YOU.

>> HI MY NAME IS AMY AND I AM HERE BECAUSE I WANT TO EXPRESS MY PRIDE IN BEING A RESIDENT OF HARRIS COUNTY COUNTY LEADERSHIP, COUNTY DEPARTMENT STAFF AND LEADERS FROM LABOR ORGANIZATION COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS AND THOSE ARE PRESENTING CONTRACTORS CAN COME TOGETHER AND BUILD OUT EFFECTIVE POLICY TO ENSURE WORKERS CAN CONTINUE TO BUILD AND IMPROVE COUNTY INFRASTRUCTURE AND COME HOME WITHOUT INJURY EACH DAY.

FINALIZED WORKSITE SAFETY POLICY WERE WRITTEN WITH SIGNIFICANT INPUT FROM STAKEHOLDERS ACROSS THE SPECTRUM OF EXPERIENCES, COMPROMISES WERE MADE ON BOTH SIDES AND WE ARE NOW TO ENSURE THE SAFETY POLICY CAN BE BEST ENFORCED WITHOUT FEAR OF RETALIATION WHEN WORKERS MAKE COMPLAINTS AND THAT THERE BE PENALTIES THAT ARE NOT TOO HARSH AS THE POLICY IS ENFORCED SO WE CAN MAKE SURE WORK CAN HAPPEN SAFELY. THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU. >> ANTHONY COLLIER ITEM 307 PRECINCT 1, TAMARA BELL ITEMS 328 AND 329 RECENT ONE AND CAROL LAMBRIGHT ITEMS 328 AND 329 PRECINCT 1, YOU EACH HAVE 1

MINUTE. >> GO-AHEAD MAN JUST STATE YOUR

NAME FOR THE RECORD. >> ALL RIGHT, GOOD MORNING. I COME HERE TODAY TO TALK TO YOU ALL ABOUT THE NEED FOR MORE INFORMATION BEFORE YOU ALL DECIDE TO TAKE ON A MISSION OF PARKLAND , HOSPITAL REDUCED FROM 4 TO 2 BEDS TO OPTIMIZE PATIENT CARE STAFFING AND EFFICIENCY IN 2015 DUE TO BUDGET REDUCTIONS .

IN ADDITION TO THAT IT IS NOT THE ONLY HOSPITAL THAT OFFERS HELP TO IMAGING CARE BECAUSE OF THE PHOTO CARE ACT ALL NONPROFIT HOSPITALS MUST CARE FOR THE INDIGENT. PEOPLE MAY HAVE A HEART ATTACK IN RIVER OAKS OR WHATEVER YOU WANT TO COME THERE ARE THE NUMBER 1 TRAUMA CENTER IT WILL SAVE YOU, YOU HAVE A WRECK ON 45 OR 59 YOU WANT TO COME TO BEN TOP BECAUSE IT WILL SAVE YOU. YOU DO HAVE TO BE BROKE TO GO. I DON'T LIKE IT DESCRIBED AS THE ONLY INDIGENT CHOICE BECAUSE THAT'S NOT TRUE.

WHEN I WAS HIT IN A WRECK BY THE POLICE IN 2015 AND I WAS IN A COMA I WAS AT LBJ AND THEY DID A GREAT JOB AND SAVE MY LIFE. SO THIS IS NOT ABOUT THE MISSION THE HOSPITAL DISTRICT HAS, THIS

IS ABOUT POLICIES TO IMPLEMENT. >> YOU REPRESENT A LOT OF SUPER

NEIGHBORHOODS. >> FORMER CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD OF THE ENTIRE SUPER NEIGHBORHOOD ALLIANCE 2.1 MILLION PEOPLE. LET ME TELL YOU, YOU NEED TO THINK HARD AND LONG ABOUT THIS BECAUSE THE CAPACITY OF THE HOSPITAL WHEN BUILT WAS 550 BEDS , THEY REDUCED IT , BY CHOICE BECAUSE THEY WANTED TO OPTIMIZE STAFFING SO BEFORE YOU SAY COME OUT OF THERE I WAS ONE OF THE VOTERS FREE OUT TELLING PEOPLE SUPPORT THE BOND IN 2023, YOU NEEDED IT, THE HOSPITAL NEEDED TO BE UPGRADED. I FEEL BETRAYED NOW YOU WILL TURN AROUND AND SAY WE WON'T GO OVER THERE. WHY NOT? IT HAS BEEN UP SINCE THE 60S, EVERY BROCHURE HAS A PICTURE WITH THE TOWER IN FRONT OF IT IN 2017 THEY COMFORTED TO HELP

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>> THANK YOU. GO-AHEAD. >> GOOD MORNING CAROLINA BRIGHT CHAPTER 26 REQUIRES ALL REASONABLE PLANNING TO MINIMIZE HARM TO PROTECT PARKLAND HAS OCCURRED, PARK CONSERVANCY BELIEVES THAT STANDARD IS MET IF THE PARK PLAN PARKING GARAGE IS DELIVERED AT THE EXISTING PUBLIC PARKING AREA ALONG FANNIN RATHER THAN ON THE TRACK. WE ARE ASKING HARRIS COUNTY TO JOIN 28 AND THE 28 COMMIT TO MAKE THE FANNIN PARKING GARAGE TO THE 1ST PROJECT TO BE FUNDED IN ADVANCE. WE APPRECIATE HARRIS HEALTH COMMITMENT TO A PARK LIKE LANDSCAPE BUFFER ON CAMBRIDGE, A HEALING GARDEN AND OTHER MASTER PLAN ALIGNED ELEMENTS WITHIN THE CAMPUS , WE ARE SEEKING REIMBURSEMENT FROM HARRIS HEALTH THAT THE CONSERVANCY PROJECT EXPENSES INCURRED TO DATE IF ALL PARTIES CAN AGREE ON TERMS AND A WRITTEN FRAMEWORK PARK CONSERVANCY FULLY SUPPORTS BEN TAUB EXPANSION. WE LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH THE CITY, THE COUNTY, HARRIS HEALTH TO FINALIZE THESE TERMS AND DELIVER A SOLUTION THAT ADDRESSES HEALTHCARE ACCESS WHILE PROTECTING THE PARK FOR

GENERATIONS TO COME. >> THANK YOU.

>> YES COMMISSIONER ELLIS. >> I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR THE TIME YOU PUT IN ON THIS. WE STILL HAVE SOME HURDLES TO CROSS BUT WE MADE AND HIS PROGRESS. MORE TO SAY WHEN ITEM COMES UP BUT I WANTED TO PERSONALLY THANK YOU.

>> I WANT TO THANK YOU AS WELL AND THE COMMISSIONERS AND THE JUDGE FOR EVERYTHING YOU HAVE DONE.

>> THANK YOU. >> NEXT IS, ITEMS 328 AND 329, ITEMS 328 AND 329 AND ITEMS 328 AND 329. YOU EACH HAVE 1 MINUTE.

>> JUDGE, GOOD TO SEE YOU AGAIN IN BETTER CIRCUMSTANCES THAN COVID AND COMMISSIONERS. GOOD TO SEE WELL. 1.8 BILLION UNINSURED PEOPLE IN HARRIS COUNTY AND THEY DESERVE THE SAME QUALITY OF CARE AS ANYBODY ELSE. WE ARE UNDER BEDDED IT IS A SIMPLE FACT BASED ON LEVEL 1 TRAUMA CENTER ONLY 400 BEDS AND 80 TO 90,000 PER YEAR VISITS IS UNACCEPTABLE CARE. WE DO THE BEST WE CAN BUT WE NEED HELP AND THIS IS THE 1ST EXAMPLE OF BUILDING MORE BED CAPACITY, IT IS BETTER CARE FOR THE PATIENT. THANK YOU VERY

MUCH. >> THANK YOU AND IT IS NICE TO SEE YOU BETTER CIRCUMSTANCES.

>> TO GIVE HER THE OPPORTUNITY HAVE -- BEN TAUB HOSPITAL SITS AT THE HEART OF THE TEXAS MEDICAL CENTER WHERE COMPLEX AND A POWERFUL CARE OCCURS. A MAJOR REASON WHY STUDENTS AND TRAINEES ACROSS THE COUNTRY CHOOSE BAYLOR FOR THEIR EDUCATION. THEY WANT TO LEARN IN A PLACE THAT OFFERS REAL CLINICAL DEPTH, HIGH ACUITY AND A CLEAR SENSE OF PURPOSE SERVING THIS COMMUNITY. BEN TAUB DOES THAT EVERY SINGLE DAY. WHAT PATIENT VOLUMES INCREASE COMMUNITY NEEDS HAVE GROWN MORE COMPLEX THE FACILITY ITSELF IS NOT KEEPING PACE. THIS EXPANSION IS NOT SIMPLY A CONSTRUCTION PROJECT, IT IS FOCUSED INVESTMENT IN ACCESS TO CARE, EDUCATION FOR THE NEXT GENERATION OF PROVIDERS AND LONG-TERM HEALTH OF HARRIS COUNTY. WHEN WE STRENGTHEN BEN TAUB WE STRENGTHEN THE ENTIRE TEXAS MEDICAL CENTER AND ENSURE PEOPLE RELY ON THE HOSPITAL TO RECEIVE TIMELY HIGH-QUALITY EFFICIENT CARE GET THE CARE THEY DESERVE. THANK YOU.

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>> THANK YOU SO MUCH. GO-AHEAD. >> GOOD MORNING, HON.

COMMISSIONERS AND JUDGE. I'M THE CHIEF OF STAFF AT THE BEN TAUB HOSPITAL, I REPRESENT NOT ONLY THE PATIENTS, BUT THE COUNTLESS THOUSANDS OF PATIENTS THE CAREGIVERS NURSES PHYSICIANS, EVERYBODY WHO WAS AT THE FRONT END AT THE SHARP END OF DELIVERY OF CARE WHERE WE FEEL THE SHORTAGE DESCRIBED OVER THE LAST 20 MONTHS, THANK YOU FOR THE TOWNHALL'S THAT HAVE BEEN DONE TO EXCHANGE IDEAS, THE INSTITUTION IS PLEDGED TO BE RESPONSIBLE STEWARDS OF THE ENVIRONMENT AS THEY ARE PROPOSING THIS MUCH NEEDED EXPANSION. IN MEDICINE WE MEASURE METRICS, ONE OF THEM COULD BE ABOUT LENGTH OF STAY OR OTHER THINGS BUT ONE THAT DOES NOT GET MEASURED IS WHEN A PHYSICIAN LIKE ME HAS TO TURN AWAY A AMBULANCE AND THAT IS SOMEBODY IN GREAT NEED WHEN WE SPEAK ABOUT CRITICAL CARE DELIVERY SUCH AS LEVEL 1 TRAUMA HOSPITAL LIKE BEN TAUB PROVIDES, THIS DECISION IS NOT ABSTRACT, THIS IS THE NEED OF THE TIMES AND WE WILL BE FORCED TO ACT IN EMERGENCY WAYS IN THE FUTURE WE ARE NOT ASKING FOR GROWTH FOR PRESTIGE OR PROFIT, I WILL QUOTE. CAN BE FOUND IN HOW IT TREATS ITS MOST VULNERABLE.

>> THANK YOU. >> I AGREE MOST VULNERABLE INCLUDING CHILDREN WHO CANNOT VOTE, THANK YOU.

>> I SEE CLERK, WHENEVER YOU WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK MDM. CLERK WE ARE READY FOR YOU. NO RUSH, BUT OKAY. I NORMALLY KEEP YOU

WAITING. TRYING TO DO BETTER. >> GOOD MORNING MEMBERS OF THE COURT, JUDGE, COMMISSIONERS, THANK YOU SO MUCH. I AM OUT OF BREATH BECAUSE I WILL TELL YOU ELECTIONS KEEP COMING. SO WE ARE TALKING I THINK I AM SPEAKING ON THE GALLAGHER HRT PORTION. GOT TO GET MY HEAD TOGETHER. 1ST OF ALL I HAVE SENT OUT CORRESPONDENCE TO EVERYONE HERE ON THE COURT AND YOUR CHIEFS, VERY GRATEFUL THIS IS A LONG TIME COMING WORKING FOR HARRIS COUNTY FOR SO LONG AND SEEING THE EFFORT GO FORWARD IS ABSOLUTELY WAY OVERDUE SO I WANT TO THANK EVERYBODY FOR THAT.

HOWEVER I WANT TO SAY THAT WE REALLY HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT AS WE EXECUTE SPECIFICALLY FOR ALL DEPARTMENTS, WHETHER APPOINTED OR ELECTED, THAT WE GET IT RIGHT. MY STAFF IS ABOUT 400 FULL-TIME AND THEN TONS OF TEMPS OF COURSE AND SO MANY VARIATIONS OF LEVELS SO I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE DONE ALL WE CAN SEE YOU KNOW THE COUNTY CLERK'S OFFICE MET EVERY SINGLE DEADLINE ASKED OF US THAT I HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERYONE.

>> OKAY GO AHEAD. >> OKAY THANK YOU. I WILL WRAP IT UP. WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT AS THE PROCESS GOES THROUGH IT IS ABSOLUTELY CORRECT, EVERYONE IS RECEIVING THE CORRECT AMOUNT ACCORDING TO THEIR TITLE SO I HAVE EXPRESSED OUR TIMEFRAME, THANKFUL FOR HRT TO GET THE EXTENSION WE WANT TO GET THAT FULL CIRCLE MOMENT MEANING BEFORE WE MOVE FORWARD WITH THE PROCESS, THANK YOU ALL AGAIN SO VERY MUCH AND MY UNDERSTANDING IS HRT IS GOING TO WORK WITH US TO MOVE FORWARD WHEN IT IS

CORRECT. >> THANK YOU.

>> CLERK I DON'T WANT TO MISS THE OPPORTUNITY TO AT LEAST ALLOW YOU 1 MINUTE TO TELL PEOPLE WHAT THIS NEXT ELECTION CYCLE IS GOING TO BE LIKE AT ANOTHER'S ITEMS IN TERMS OF WHAT FUNDING IN THIS COURT BUT I'M GETTING CALLS FROM OTHER ENTITIES IN THE AREA WHO MAY BE IN THE PAST THE COUNTY CLERK IS ABLE TO DO THE ELECTIONS, BUT NOW WITH SPECIAL ELECTIONS THAT WE HAVE, CAN YOU GIVE VOICE, YOU'RE NOT BEING MEAN, IT'S JUST THERE IS ONLY SO MANY RESOURCES AND THERE WILL BE SOME

WE CAN'T DO THE MOST WE CAN. >> SPEAKING ABOUT MAY ENTITY ELECTIONS, A UNIFORM YOUR WITH SCHOOLS AND JURISDICTIONS, THE ISD'S HAVE ELECTIONS. IN HISTORY THE CARROT TO THE CLERK'S OFFICE HAS NEVER EVER RUN ENTITIES IN AN EVEN YEAR WHEN THEIR PRIMARIES, NOT SCHOOL DISTRICTS, NOT MUDS NOT ANYTHING. THAT IS THE COUNTY CLERK'S OFFICE. UNDER THE ELECTIONS ADMINISTRATOR THERE WAS A TIME WHERE THEY DID RUN THE ELECTIONS BECAUSE OF WHATEVER REASON. BUT, THIS

[00:30:04]

FOLLOWING THAT WE GO INTO THE PRIMARIES, MATTER-OF-FACT PEOPLE ARE VOTING BY MAIL FOR PRIMARIES, THIS PRIMARY IS DIFFERENT FROM 2024 BECAUSE IT WILL NOT BE JOINT IT WILL BE NON-JOINT SO DOUBLE THE AMOUNT OF WORK. IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWING MARCH A WEEK OR SO LATER WE ARE IN THE EARLY VOTING PERIOD FOR THE CITY OF HOUSTON CITY COUNCIL DISTRICT C RACE WHICH WILL MORE THAN LIKELY BE A RUNOFF DUE TO THE AMOUNT OF CANDIDATES WHO HAVE FILED. FOLLOWING THAT WILL BE THE MAY PRIMARY RUNOFFS, SO IF YOU LISTEN TO THAT, THERE'S NOT ONE TIME WE ARE MOVING ALL OF THOSE ELECTIONS INTERTWINED WE WILL BE WORKING ON THEM AT THE SAME TIME. I WOULD HAVE TO HAVE DOUBLE THE AMOUNT OF STAFF AND RESOURCES TO BE ABLE TO INCLUDE MAY ENTITIES, BUT IN THE LETTER WE EXPRESSED TO EVERYONE IF YOU WANT TO JOIN NOVEMBER, WE CAN WELCOME YOUR NOVEMBER 2026 TO RUN YOUR ELECTIONS. I WISH I COULD RUN EVERYONE'S ELECTIONS, BUT CLEARLY AS BIG AS HARRIS COUNTY IS WE CANNOT DO IT ALL WITH ALL THE ADDITIONAL ELECTIONS THAT HAVE COME UP IN THE LAST COUPLE OF MONTHS

>> I THINK I HAVE SAID THAT, BUT YOU HAVE SET IT SO MUCH BETTER.

>> I AGREE. >> YES, THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU CLERK FOR THE GREAT WORK YOU AND YOUR TEAM ARE

DOING. >> NEXT IS DR. RICARDO ON ITEMS 328 AND 329. DR. MARK ROBINSON 328 AND 329 AND BETH ROBERTSON 328 AND 329, YOU EACH HAVE 1 MINUTE.

>> GOOD MORNING. IN THE CHRONICLE TODAY YOU WILL FIND AN ESSAY I HAVE WRITTEN THAT EXPLAINS WHY I THINK EXPANDING BEN TAUB HOSPITAL IS CRUCIAL FOR HARRIS COUNTY HAVE NO DOUBT YOU HAVE HEARD THE PROS AND CONS, YOU HAVE SEEN THE COST, YOU HAVE HEARD FROM CONCERNED CITIZENS ABOUT THE ISSUE. I WANTED TO SPEND A MINUTE TO REFLECT ON A FACT FROM HISTORY, THE HARRIS HEALTH SYSTEM EXISTS TODAY BECAUSE OF THE CARE AND CULTIVATION OF HARRIS COUNTY COMMISSIONERS. IN 1963 COMMISSIONER BILL ELLIOTT SPENT NIGHTS TRAINING HIMSELF AS A ORDERLY, CLANDESTINELY IN ORDER TO VISIT JEFFERSON DAVIS HOSPITAL. HE SAW WITH HIS OWN EYES JD WAS UNDERSTAFFED AND UNDERFUNDED AND HE ADVOCATED FOR THE CREATION OF THE HOSPITAL DISTRICT BECOMING HARRIS HEALTH, THE RESULT IS A SYSTEM WHERE I HAVE WORKED FOR THE LAST 25 YEARS, I AM PROUD THAT MY COUNTY HAS SUCH A SYSTEM. THE TRUTH OF THE MATTERS WE FACE A MOMENT IN HISTORY TODAY FOR SPACE FOR THOSE IS LIMITED.

>> I'M AFRAID HAVE TO CUT YOU OFF BUT I WANT TO SAY YOU WROTE THE PEOPLE'S HOSPITAL RIGHT? THAT IS A WONDERFUL BOOK ABOUT BEN TAUB. I APPRECIATE YOU AND YOUR WORK AND I THINK YOU AND EVERYBODY ELSE REPRESENTS A LOT OF PEOPLE SO IF IT WERE FOR ME I WOULD ALLOW YOU GUYS ALL TO SPEAK. THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU ALL. >> GOOD MORNING MINIMUS MARK ROBINSON INTERNAL MEDICINE PHYSICIAN AT BEN TAUB MOST A DECADE, THE ONLY PLACE IN THE WORLD I WANTED TO WORK WHEN I WAS DONE WITH MY TRAINING, A SPECIAL PLACE DEMONSTRATING WHOEVER YOU ARE WHATEVER HAS HAPPENED THE COMMUNITY, THE A PATIENT FORMER ATTORNEY RECENTLY SET DRIPPING SAFELY CAN'T BUY BEN TAUB EVERY PERSON IS ONE ILLNESS AWAY BUT THE SAFETY NET IS COMPLETELY FULL AND STRETCHED AND IT IS IGNIFICANT LESS PRIVACY THAN ANY TYPICAL ROOM HE LEFT DESPITE THE PLEA, EASY TO SAY IT'S BETTER THAN NOTHING BUT THEY SHOULDN'T COMPLAIN THAT COULD BE FAMILY AND FRIENDS, THAT COULD BE US. A SURVEY DONE BY RESIDENT BRILLIANT DOCTORS AND TRAINING COMING TO HARRIS COUNTY SHOWS 90% FELT PATIENT CARE AND TRAINING SUFFERED FROM BEN TAUB BEING ABOVE CAPACITY I ENCOURAGE YOU TO SUPPORT THIS EXPANSION FOR THE PATIENT, COMMUNITY FOR HEALTHIER AND SAFER HARRIS COUNTY.

>> THANK YOU AND FOR YOUR WORK , THANK YOU.

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>> GOOD MORNING. I AM BETH ROBERTSON AND I WANT TO APPLY THE PEOPLE WHO JUST SPOKE IN FRONT OF ME. THAT IS WHY I AM DOING THIS, THIS IS A SPECIAL PLACE AT BEN TAUB AND ALL THE PLACES OF HARRIS HEALTH I'M THE CHAIR OF THE HARRIS HEALTH STRATEGIC FUND RAISING PRIVATE DOLLARS FOR THIS INCREDIBLE ORGANIZATION. THIS IMPORTANT MISSION FOR HEALTHCARE FROM ALL, THE PAIN AND THE NONPAYING, AFTER 4 TOWNHALL'S AND ACTUALLY ALSO HARMON PARK TOWNHALL , THERE IS NO QUESTION THAT THERE IS A SIGNIFICANT NEED AND THERE IS A SIGNIFICANT PUBLIC AND IF IT THE EXPANSION OF BEN TAUB . PLUS, DOCTOR AND HIS TEAM HAVE ANSWERED MANY QUESTIONS ABOUT ALTERNATIVES AGAIN AND AGAIN, I REFER TO JIM BLACKBURN'S LETTER NUMBER 5 AND 6. I ALSO KNOW THE

IMPORTANCE. >> THANK YOU, AGAIN I ALSO BELIEVE YOU REPRESENT MANY PEOPLE.

>> ONE THING WE CAN DO A WIN WIN.

>> A WIN-WIN AND WE CAN DO PARKING AND AN EXPANDED BEN

TAUB. I WANTED TOO. >> THANK YOU.

>> I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR THE PHILANTHROPIC SUPPORT YOUR FAMILY HAS GIVEN, NOT JUST THIS PROJECT BUT SO MANY OTHERS OVER THE YEARS I WANT TO THANK YOU AND I'M READING ALL THE STUFF SITTING AND IT IS FASCINATING. THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>> WE ARE BELIEVERS IN THIS COUNTY AND THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR DOING, NOW IT IS TIME TO GET IT GOING, TO DO FOR THE

FUTURE. >> THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>> MISS ROBERTSON. >> NEXT IS LINDA MIRELES ITEMS 328 AND 329 AND HAMILTON AND BISHOP JOHN OVER TREAT YOU EACH

HAVE 1 MINUTE. >> TALK TO FOLLOW THAT LADY, JUDGE AND COMMISSIONERS I AM LINDA MIRELES WITH THE TEXAS COAST LABOR AREA FEDERATION REPRESENTING 75 AFFILIATED LABOR UNIONS I WANT TO START BY GOUGING THE HERMANN PARK CONSERVANCY AND EVERYONE WHO LOVES THE SPACE THIS PROPOSAL MAKES OR TAKES A SMALL PORTION OF LAND AND DOES NOT HARM THE PARK INTEGRITY, WHEN AGAINST HUMAN LIVES THE BENEFIT IS CLEAR THIS IS NOT ABOUT PROFIT OR PRIVATE DEVELOPMENT, THIS IS ABOUT DELIVERING LIFE-SAVING CARE TO WORKING FAMILIES, THE UNINSURED AND OUR MOST VULNERABLE NEIGHBORS. I SERVED ON THE HARRIS HEALTH BOARD THANKS TO COMMISSIONER GARCIA, I HAVE SEEN WHAT HAPPENS RUN OUT OF ROOM HALLWAYS BECOME WAITING ROOMS NURSES ARE OVERWHELMED AND DOCTORS ARE STRETCHED THIN AND FAMILIES WAIT AND PRAY FOR CARE THAT SHOULD NEVER BE DELAYED JUDGE AND COMMISSIONERS THIS IS NOT A EASY YES YOU ARE TEST WITH IT IS A RESPONSIBLE YES, THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>> GOOD MORNING MY NAME IS AND HAMILTON HERE SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF JIM BLACKBURN AND MYSELF, MR. BLACKBURN AND I HAVE SUBMITTED TO YOU, LETTERS OF THE COURT TO THE DOCTOR, THE COUNTY ATTORNEY, WE HOPE YOU HAVE READ THE LETTERS AND CONSIDER THEIR CONTENTS. THEY OUTLINED SEVERAL CONCERNS THOUGH HARRIS HEALTH PROPOSAL TO CONDEMN 8.9 ACRES OF HERMANN PARK FOR EXPANSION OF BEN TAUB HOSPITAL. THE LETTER CITES TEXAS PARK AND MY LIFE CODE 26, CONFUSING 2023 BOND LANGUAGE, LACK OF ALTERNATIVE ANALYSIS , FLOODING ISSUES, ACQUISITION COST AND COMPENSATION FOR PARKLAND. WE ASK THAT YOU PLEASE REVIEW THESE LETTERS, CONSULT WITH YOUR STAFF CONSIDER OUTSIDE PROFESSIONALS TO UNDERTAKE A PROFESSIONAL ADEQUATE ALTERNATIVE ANALYSIS AND ALSO TAKE TIME BEFORE YOU CONSIDER CONDEMNING PRECIOUS

PARKLAND. >> THANK YOU MA'AM THANK YOU SO

MUCH. >> GOOD MORNING JUDGE AND COMMISSIONERS. I AM HERE WITH MY COLLEAGUES FROM THE METROPOLITAN ORGANIZATION, TO VOICE OUR SUPPORT, FOR HARRIS HEALTH AND

[00:40:04]

DO. >> THANK YOU WOULD YOU STATE

YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD? >> BISHOP JOHN OGLETREE.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH. >> GOOD TO SEE YOU AGAIN.

>> COMMISSIONER ELLIS DID YOU HAVE ALL RIGHT. I WILL TAKE THE

NEXT SPEAKER TIFFANY. >> NEXT IS STEPHEN GONZALEZ ITEMS 328 AND 329. SYLVIA AND CHRISTOPHER JENKINS YOU EACH

HAVE 1 MINUTE. >> GOOD MORNING JUDGE AND COMMISSIONERS. STEPHEN GONZALEZ ON BEHALF OF INTERNATIONAL BROTHERHOOD OF WORKERS UNIT 716 WE STAND IN SUPPORT OF THE BEN TAUB HOSPITAL EXPANSION AND LAND ACQUISITION OF HERMANN PARK, WE UNDERSTAND THE NEED TO MAINTAIN PARK SPACES AND TO USE IT FOR THE ENJOYMENT OF FAMILIES AND NEIGHBORS. THE IMPORTANCE OF ADDING 100 PATIENT BEDS AND BEN TAUB HOSPITAL MEANS SO MUCH MORE LITERALLY A MATTER OF LIFE AND DEATH WE SUPPORT HARRIS HEALTH PLAN TO IMPROVE MEDICAL CARE ACROSS THE COMMUNITY. IT IS VITAL TO ALL RESIDENTS PARTICULARLY TO THE TRADE WORKERS LABOR RESERVOIR THE ECONOMIC WELL-BEING OF THE COUNTY ON A DAILY BASIS. THE LOCAL UNION 716 TAKE COMFORT IN KNOWING IF ANY MEMBERS COME OF THEIR FAMILIES EVER NEED TOP-LEVEL EMERGENCY OR TRAUMA CARE, BEN TAUB HOSPITAL AND HARRIS HEALTH WILL BE READY TO TAKE CARE OF THEM, WE URGE THE COURTS SUPPORT OF HARRIS HEALTH PLAN, THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.

>> THANK YOU. DID YOU STATE YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD I DID NOT CATCH IT, THANK YOU.

>>

>> GOOD MORNING I AM A MEMBER OF THE TEXAS ORGANIZING , I AM HERE TODAY TO SPEAK IN SUPPORT OF BEN TAUB HOSPITAL .

>>

>> RECENTLY MY COUSIN WAS REALLY REALLY SICK AND WE HAD TO TAKE HER TO BEN TAUB. WHEN WE ARRIVED IT TOOK FAR TOO LONG FOR HER TO SEE A DOCTOR, SHE WAS SO SICK THAT NEEDED IMMEDIATE ATTENTION BUT SHE WAS PLACED IN A BED IN ONE OF ALWAYS THIS IS THE REALITY FOR PEOPLE WHO RELY ON BEN TAUB EVERY DAY, THE HOSPITAL IS OVERCROWDED AND THAT IS NOT ALWAYS HAVING THE

CAPACITY TO CARE FOR PATIENTS >>

LANGUAGE ] >> FOR DECADES BEN TAUB HAS BENEFITED THE ENTIRE HARRIS COUNTY COMMUNITY FOR LOW-INCOME FAMILIES PEOPLE WHO NOT HAVE THE ABILITY TO PAY FOR CARE AT THE TIME. IT IS A TRUE COMMUNITY HOSPITAL DOING IT WITH IT CAN TO MEET THE NEEDS OF PEOPLE IN THE COUNTRY.

>>

>> THANK YOU YOUR TIME IS UP. >> THE EXPANSION IS URGENTLY

[00:45:03]

>> THANK YOU, THANK YOU. >> GOOD AFTERNOON CHRISTOPHER JENKINS NATIVE HARRIS COUNTY RESIDENT. I AM HERE TO TALK CONCERNS I HAVE ABOUT HARRIS HEALTH. SINCE I'VE BEEN YOUNGER THEY BEEN NEEDING MORE HEALTHCARE ESPECIALLY WITHIN THE COUNTY I HAVE SEEN THE HOSPITAL THAT I WAS BORN IN SO THE HEALTHCARE IS VERY IMPORTANT TO ME THE CONSENT OF HIS LACK OF TRANSPARENCY IN THIS DEPARTMENT BECAUSE WE HAVE BEEN NEEDING TREATMENT AND REHABILITATION FOR A LONG TIME AND PEOPLE DON'T GET THE SERVICES THEY GO TO THE ER AND YOU WILL HAVE A OVERPACK HOSPITAL. ANOTHER ONE OF MY CONCERNS IS ABOUT THE SPECIALTY SERVICES IN DIFFERENT EQUIPMENT THE BIOMETRIC DEVICES THAT DON'T WORK PROPERLY WITHIN HARRIS HEALTH SO IN TERMS OF EXPANSION ARE WE TALKING ABOUT A BUILDING OR EXPAND PROGRAMS TO ACTUALLY HELP PEOPLE BECAUSE IF THEY DON'T GET TREATMENT THEY WILL KEEP GOING BACK TO THE HOSPITAL. I AM ALL ABOUT EXPANSION BUT CAREFUL ABOUT THE WORD EXPANSION MEANS SO MUCH MORE SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME HAVE A GREAT DAY.

>> THANK YOU, THAT'S GREAT POINT AND WE WILL TOUCH ON IT WHEN WE

GET TO THE ITEM MR. JENKINS. >> NEXT IS , ITEMS 328 AND 329.

REVEREND LYNETTE ROSS 329 AND JOHN BISHOP 329, YOU EACH HAVE 1

MINUTE. >> GOOD MORNING COMMISSIONERS AND JUDGE. I AM A MEMBER OF TEXAS ORGANIZING PROJECT, GOODWILL HEALTHCARE MEANS TIMELY CARE NOT DELAY TREATMENT BASED ON SOMEWHERE SOMEONE LIVES WHAT THEY CAN AFFORD WHEN HOSPITAL CAPACITY FALLS SHORT , THE BURDEN LANDS HARDEST ON COMMUNITIES FACING BARRIERS. OVERCROWDING AND LONG WAITING TIMES DEEPEN DISPARITIES AND LEAD TO WORSE AND MOST COSTLY OUTCOMES. BEN TAUB HAS LONG BEEN A CRITICAL ACCESS POINT FOR HARRIS COUNTY RESIDENTS WHO MIGHT OTHERWISE BE EXCLUDED FROM CARE AS OUR POPULATION GROWS AND FUNDING INCREASES EXPANDING HOSPITAL CAPACITY IS NECESSARY. PARTS OF A GOOD PUBLIC GOOD BUT THERE IS NO COMPARISON BETWEEN A STRIP OF DISCONNECTED PARKLAND AND LIFESAVING IMPACT OF ADDITIONAL HOSPITAL BEDS WHEN PEOPLE CANNOT ACCESS CARE IN TIME. EVEREST.

>> I HAD CUTTING YOU OFF MY COLLEAGUES EXTENDED FOR SOMEBODY REPRESENTED A LOT OF PEOPLE, IF IT WERE FOR ME I BELIEVE ALL OF

YOU REPRESENT A LOT OF PEOPLE. >> WE SENT YOU A LETTER OF

SUPPORT. >> I WANT TO MAKE SURE YOU ARE AWARE OF THE EARLY CHILDHOOD DEAL THERE WAS A REQUEST TO PUT THIS ON THE BALLOT SO PEOPLE COULD VOTE FOR OR AGAINST CONTINUING OUR SUCCESSFUL PROGRAMS AND SOME OF US DECIDED NOT TO ALLOW IT TO GO TO THE BALLOT. WHICH MEANS THE PROGRAMS ARE ENDING AND ALL THE KIDS AND FAMILIES THAT DEPEND ON THEM WILL BE LEFT IN THE LURCH THE EXCUSE WAS THERE WAS NO INDEPENDENT STUDY, THERE WAS, NOW THERE IS A 2ND AND WHAT DID NOT HAVE ANY STUDY WAS $100 MILLION FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT JUST CAME THE SAME DAY THAT IT CAME, THE VOTE HAPPENED NOW A 2ND CITY CAME BACK CHILDREN IN SCHOOL GOOD CHILDREN NOT IN SCHOOL BAD WHICH WE KNOW I WANT YOU GUYS TO BE AWARE OF IT GOES AGAINST WHAT

SO MANY PEOPLE HERE RAN FOR >> WE ARE AWARE OF IT.

>> GOOD MORNING I AM REVEREND LYNETTE ROSS HERE ON BEHALF OF TEXAS METROPOLITAN ORGANIZATION AND MY CHURCH 1ST CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH AND I WANT TO THANK HARRIS HEALTH AND CONSERVANCY BOARD FOR THE WORK THEY HAVE DONE. I'VE SPENT A GREAT DEAL OF TIME OVER THE YEARS AND THE HOSPITALS AT CHAPLIN MEETING WITH MEMBERS OF MY CONGREGATION AND 10 DAYS AGO I WAS AT BEN TAUB WITH A YOUNG FRIEND WHO HAS A RECURRENCE OF CANCER AND RECENTLY LOST HER JOB AND WITHOUT BEN TAUB ARE CONSEQUENCES WOULD BE DIRE. THIS MORNING I AM ASKING US TO FINISH THE WORK THAT THE VOTERS HAVE ALREADY IMPROVED. BEN TAUB FOR

[00:50:04]

>> THANK YOU FOR THE WORK YOU DO.

>> FAMILY LAWYER AND I HAD LIVING IN PRECINCT 1 AND I SUPPORT BEN TAUB AND PARKS. PLEASE DELAY THE CHAPTER 26 HEARING, YOU HAVE BEEN ASKED TO APPROVE CONDEMNATION OF 9 ACRES OF HERMANN PARK TO SERVE AS THE FUTURE HOME OF BEN TAUB A PROJECT THAT WILL COST AT LEAST 3 BILLION OF OUR TAX DOLLARS AND WON'T BE COMPLETED FOR 30 YEARS. THIS HUGE PROJECT RAISES MANY QUESTIONS INCLUDING WHETHER THERE ARE IN FACT ALTERNATE SITES ADJACENT TO OR ON BEN TAUB CAMPUS PER 100 BEDS. THE COST OF EFFECTIVENESS OF FLOOD MITIGATION, THE CONDITION OF BEN TAUB INFRASTRUCTURE , THE CONTENTS OF PARIS HEALTH FACILITY MASTER PLAN WHICH IT HAS NOT SHARED AND WHETHER THE LOCATION IS PRUDENT CONSIDERING THE LACK OF TRAUMA CARE ELSEWHERE IN THE COUNTY. PLEASE DELAY THE HEARING SO YOU CAN DO YOUR DUE DILIGENCE AS REQUIRED BY LAW SO WE CAN ALL LEARN THE ANSWERS TO THESE QUESTIONS, YES WE HAVE HEARD ABOUT THE PARKING GARAGE DEAL AND LOOK FORWARD TO THE FIRM DETAILS, THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH. THERE WAS SOMEONE FROM THE CONSERVANCY THAT MENTIONED THE PARKING GARAGE. DISCUSSION WOULD YOU LIKE TO ADD SOMETHING IN TERMS OF WHEN MORE DETAILS WILL COME UP? I THINK IT IS FAIR TO ASK AND FOR ME, MY VOTE WILL DEPEND ON THAT BECAUSE I DO THINK THERE CAN ALWAYS BE MORE COMMUNITY

ENGAGEMENT. >> CERTAINLY, THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME A CHANCE TO TALK ABOUT THIS. ONE OF THE CRITICAL THINGS THAT WE ARE TALKING ABOUT PROVIDING TO US WAS PARKING RELIEF FROM THE CENTER OF THE PARK AND IF ANYONE HAS GONE TO HERMANN PARK ON ANY GOOD SUNDAY YOU WILL RECOGNIZE IT IS OFTEN IMPOSSIBLE TO GET TO AND SOMETIMES EVEN DANGEROUS, THE PARKING SITUATION. WE NEEDED TO GREAT AUXILIARY PARKING SO WE COULD GET TO THE HEART OF THE PARK FIX THE PARKING AND HOPEFULLY RECLAIM GREEN SPACE IN THE HEART OF THE PARK SO DO NOT HAVE THE RELIEF VALVE WAS PREVENTING US FROM HEALING THE PARK AND IN THIS SCENARIO WE WOULD MOVE OVER TO FANNIN WHERE THERE IS ALREADY AN EXISTING PARK PARKING LOT AND WE WOULD EXPAND IT. I WANT TO BE CLEAR THIS WOULD BE A VERY DISCREET , CAREFUL DESIGN EMBEDDED IN A LANDFORM, VERY PARK LIKE WITH A PEDESTRIAN BRIDGE CROSSING FANNIN, THERE HAVE BEEN STUDENTS AND A PROFESSOR THAT WAS KILLED CROSSING FROM RICE OVER TO THE PARK SO WE HOPE THIS IMPROVES SAFETY, SAFETY AND ACCESS TO THE PARK AND I HOPE THAT KIND OF GIVES YOU WHERE WE ARE, WE HAVE GOT TO EXPLORING, WE KNOW THIS IS POSSIBLE TO DO WE DO NOT HAVE

A DESIGN. >> OKAY, IN TERMS OF THE DETAILS, HOW SOON DO YOU THINK YOU WILL HAVE THAT?

>> A DESIGN? WE ARE EXPECTING TO HAVE RENDERINGS AND SOME REALLY GOOD INFORMATION PROBABLY WITHIN THE NEXT MONTH TO 6 WEEKS MY DESIGNERS MIGHT BE KILLING ME TEXTING ME NOW. WE ARE WORKING

AROUND THE CLOCK ON THIS. >> I AM SO GLAD AND I THINK OBVIOUSLY THIS WAS NOT MY DOING I HAVE MY COLLEAGUES HERE AT COMMISSIONER ELLIS WHO HAS REALLY BEEN WORKING WITH YOU GUYS AND HARRIS HEALTH AND WIN WIN IS WHEN WE GET IT IT IS RARE BUT WHEN WE GET IT WE WILL TAKE IT. AT THE SAME TIME I UNDERSTAND THE QUESTIONS THAT SOME HAVE WROUGHT UP OF OKAY FINE WHEN WHEN CAN YOU PLEASE GIVE US THE DETAILS? SO I WOULD ENCOURAGE THAT HAPPEN SOONER THAN LATER SO THAT FOLKS WHO HAVE BEEN OPPOSED TO THE EXPANSION ARE ON BOARD WITH WHAT

YOU GUYS ARE TALKING ABOUT. >> I CONCUR WITH YOU JUDGE, WE ARE WORKING TIRELESSLY TO BRING THIS TO HOUSTONIANS.

>> THANK YOU AND THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR WORKING SO CLOSELY AND

COLLABORATIVE WITH ALL PARTIES. >> AGAIN AND ESPECIALLY TO

COMMISSIONER ELLIS, THANK YOU. >> QUICK QUESTION AND APPRECIATE YOUR EFFORT. A LOT DETAILS TO BE WORKED OUT AND I THINK EVEN 6 WEEKS IS ENOUGH. YOU PROBABLY HAVE CONCEPTUAL IDEA OF WHAT YOU

[00:55:03]

DON'T KNOW IT. >> THANK YOU COMMISSIONER, PARKS ARE OFTEN TOLD THEY WILL BE TAKEN CARE OF AND OFTEN DOES NOT BECOME REALITY AND ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD I WILL SAY WE VERY MUCH SEEK SOMETHING IN WRITING THAT LETS US FEEL BETTER ABOUT

THIS. >> OKAY WHAT IS THE OBSTACLE TO

THAT? >> I DON'T KNOW THE ANSWER, THERE'S A LOT OF PARTIES WE ARE ASKING TO WORK TOWARD THIS, THE TIRZ, THE COUNTY HAS TO ACCEPT. HAVING A WRITTEN FRAMEWORK WOULD MAKE EVERYONE REALLY UNDERSTAND WHAT WE ARE WORKING TOWARD WITH

CLEAR EYES. >> THANK YOU, WHEN WE GET TO THE ITEM WE CAN FIGURE OUT , THAT'S THE 1ST ITEM ISN'T IT IF YOU ARE ABLE TO STAY AND WE CAN FIGURE OUT SORT OF WHAT THE STOPPAGE IS THERE SO THAT CAN BE WRITTEN DOWN. COMMISSIONER GARCIA, ALICE AND COMMISSIONER BRIONES APOLOGIES COMMISSIONER

RAMSEY. >> I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR COMING DOWN SHARING THOUGHTS AND I APPRECIATE THE COMMENT OF GETTING SOMETHING IN WRITING I THINK IT IS ALWAYS IMPORTANT TO GO THROUGH A PROCESS LIKE THIS TO CONSUMMATE WITH AN AGREEMENT AND I UNDERSTAND GETTING TO THE AGREEMENT IS A LITTLE COMPLICATED BECAUSE OF THE RESPECTIVE PARTIES , THE CITY WHAT ROLE THE COUNTY HAS IN THIS REGARD I AM VERY GRATEFUL THAT MY COLLEAGUES SUPPORTED IDEA TO GO BACK TO THE DRAWING BOARD ON THE PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT AND I SAID BACK THEN WHEN YOU DO PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT AND YOU DO IT WELL AND YOU DO IT WITH A OPEN MIND THAT YOU GENERALLY COME BACK WITH SOMEWHAT OF A DIFFERENT PROJECT SOMETIMES A VERY DIFFERENT PROJECT WE CAN SEE WHERE THE PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT HAS ALLOWED THOUGHTS AND IDEAS TO BE SHARED AND TO BE HEARD SO I WANT TO THANK THE DOCTOR AND HIS TEAM FOR LISTENING TO THOSE SOMETIMES DOCTORS MAY NOT HAVE THE BEST BEDSIDE MANNERS LISTENING IS AN IMPORTANT PART OF THAT THANK YOU AGAIN FOR ALL YOU AND YOUR BOARD HAVE DONE TO SERVE HERMANN PARK THERE HAS ALWAYS BEEN AN INCREDIBLE DESTINATION FOR PEOPLE WHO COME TO HOUSTON RAVE ABOUT AND THERE HAS BEEN INCREDIBLE AMOUNTS OF HISTORY THERE. SO WE NEED TO DO ALL WE CAN TO PROTECT IT, BUT AT THE SAME TIME, AS I HAVE SAID BEFORE I HAVE A LONG HISTORY WITH BEN TAUB. AND IT IS A CRITICAL SYSTEM, BUT AGAIN, NONE OF THIS GIVES PERMISSION TO JUST MOVE FORWARD WITH IMPUNITY , WITHOUT CREATING CONSENSUS OR AT LEAST MAKE THE EFFORT TO CREATE CONSENSUS AND DIALOGUE . IT FEELS LIKE TO ME WE HAVE GOTTEN TO A MUCH BETTER PLACE SO THANK

YOU. >> THANK YOU COMMISSIONER.

>> JUDGE AND COLLEAGUES I DON'T WANT, I WAS GOING TO WAIT SO, WE DO HAVE A FRAMEWORK IF IN ORDER FOR THE ITEM TO PASS TO COME UP WITH A FRAMEWORK WHERE EVERYBODY IS HAPPY THAT'S NOT GOING TO HAPPEN AND I HAVE NOT SEEN THE ON ANYTHING ELSE I CAME ACROSS THIS TABLE. THE ITEM TO THE WILL BE WHETHER OR NOT WE POST NOTICE FOR MARCH 19 TO HAVE A PUBLIC HEARING AND PEOPLE COMING UP AND THAT GIVES US SOME TIME THE IDEA OF A TIRZ I SHOULD POINT OUT THE REASON THE COUNTY PULLED OUT OF IT WAS , THEY WERE WORKING, THE CITY WAS ESSENTIALLY RUNNING THEM, THAT DECISION WAS MADE BEFORE WHEN I WAS HERE IT WAS NOT MADE UNDER THE LEADERSHIP OF THE PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATION SO IT DOESN'T CREATE OPPORTUNITY FOR EVERYBODY TO PULL OUT THEIR SHOPPING LIST BECAUSE TIRZ ARE SUPPOSED TO WORK IT WOULD BE FOR PROJECTS IN THAT DISTRICT WHICH IS HOW COMMISSIONER RAMSEY AND COMMISSIONER BRIONES YOU WERE

[01:00:04]

>> THANK YOU COMMISSIONER, COMMISSIONER BRIONES.

>> THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP AND PARTNERSHIP AND COLLABORATION. I WAS REFLECTING SIMILAR TO COMMISSIONER GARCIA'S COMMENTS WHERE WE WERE OCTOBER 30 WHEN WE WERE HERE TOGETHER AND THE COURT INSISTED WE ENGAGE IN DEEP MEANINGFUL OPEN TRANSPARENT COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AND FROM WHERE WE ARE OCTOBER 30 TO WHERE WE ARE TODAY, I AM VERY PLEASED WITH COLLABORATION BECAUSE AS WE HAVE DISCUSSED MANY TIMES IT IS BOTH AND , AND I FEEL INCREDIBLE HE COMMITTED TO MAKE SURE WE EXPAND BEN TAUB BECAUSE THIS IS LIFE-SAVING CARE FOR A COUNTY OVER 5 MILLION PEOPLE TO HAVE 2 LEVEL 1 TRAUMA CENTERS AND THIS BEING THE ONLY PUBLIC THE NEED IS CLEAR AND COMPELLING AND AS SOMEBODY WHO LOVES PARKS WHO HAS TAKEN MY 3 LITTLE GIRLS SO MANY TIMES THE THOUGHT OF BEING ABLE TO FIND THIS WIN-WIN WITH THE SAFETY COMPONENT YOU SPOKE OF, IT COULD BE TRANSFORMATIVE AND TRUE GREEN SPACE IN THE HEART OF THE PARK WHERE WE HAVE COME IN THESE WEEKS TOGETHER SO I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR THAT LEVEL OF OPENNESS AND COMMISSIONER ELLIS AND MY COLLEAGUES WHO HAVE LEANED IN AND I SHARE COMMISSIONER ELLIS'S THE REALITY BETWEEN THE CITY AND THE COUNTY TO MAKE SURE EVERYTHING IS CLEAR. IT WILL TAKE TIME SO HOW CAN WE CONTINUE THE MARKED PROGRESS WHICH I BELIEVE WE ARE MAKING AND WE ARE CLOSE AND WANT TO THANK , FROM MY TEAM I KNOW SHE HAS BEEN WORKING ON THIS DAILY SO THANK YOU SO THE BOTTOM LINE IS THAT TODAY 2 LEVEL SET FOR EVERYONE IT IS A PROCESS ABOUT, TO THEN SET THE HEARING FOR MARCH 19 WHICH AGAIN GIVES ANOTHER AMOUNT OF TIME WE CAN PURSUE THE PROCESS AND THE WIN-WIN JUST TO LEVEL SET SO I'M COMMITTED TO MAKING THIS PROGRESS TOGETHER AND THE LAWYER THE FORMER JUDGING ME, THERE'S A LOT OF LAYING OUT OF THE WRITTEN AGREEMENT THAT WE NEED AND WE NEED CLARITY BECAUSE THERE IS NOT CONTINUOUS BITES AT APPLE WE NEED WORK TOWARD WHAT WE ARE SO CLOSE ON TO MAKE THAT CLEAR AND THEN MOVING FORWARD SO, THANK YOU FOR YOUR PARTNERSHIP FOR LEANING IN INTO THE HUNDREDS WHO HAVE COME TO THE TOWN HALLS, THANK YOU. TO ME

[01:05:03]

SOLUTIONS. THANK YOU SO MUCH. >> THANK YOU COMMISSIONER WE HAVE CERTAINLY COME A LONG WAY SINCE WE LAST MET.

>> THANK YOU, THANKS AGAIN. WE WILL DISCUSS FURTHER WHEN WE GET TO THE ITEM. WE WILL TAKE THE NEXT SPEAKER.

>> GOOD MORNING, HER NAME IS JOHN BISHOP AND I'M HERE ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD , I REITERATE COMMENTS THAT WERE SAID HERE AT MY OBJECTIVE TODAY IS TO MAKE SURE THAT WE SIMPLY AFFIRM ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD TO LET YOU KNOW THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS IS VERY MUCH IN SUPPORT OF THIS LAND ACQUISITION BY HARRIS HEALTH AND IN EXCHANGE OF COURSE FOR THE PROPOSED SOLUTION THAT WAS OUTLINED VERY MUCH IN DETAIL BY CAROL , THIS ACT OF SURRENDERING PARKLAND HAS NOT BEEN EASY , IT IS NEVER EASY HOWEVER THE BOARD DOES UNDERSTAND THE NEED FOR BEN TAUB SERVICES AND THE NEED FOR EXPANSION, WE APPRECIATE THE COLLABORATION AND CREATIVE APPROACH OF HARRIS HEALTH AND THE CITY OF HOUSTON AND HARRIS COUNTY THAT HAS BROUGHT TO THE TABLE TO DELIVER THE SOLUTION. IT IS ONLY THROUGH EXECUTION OF THE SOLUTION THAT WE BELIEVE FAIR CONSIDERATION FOR THE ACREAGE WILL BE DELIVERED TO THE PARK. THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH. >> NEXT IS MARIAH ON ITEM 329, WAYNE YOUNG ON ITEM 332, CHRISTOPHER RIVERA ITEM 99 AND SARAH NIGHT ITEM 99, YOU EACH HAVE 1 MINUTE.

>> GOOD AFTERNOON COMMISSIONERS I AM A YOUNG ADULT HARRIS COUNTY RESIDENT AND I'M HERE IN SUPPORT OF THE EXPANSION WHILE OFFERING HELP IN MAKING SURE THIS IS A TRUE WIN-WIN FOR THE HERMANN PARK AND PUBLIC HEALTH SYSTEM COMMISSIONER ELLIS YOU HAVE LONG CHAMPIONED EQUITY FOR ACCESS FOR VULNERABLE COMMUNITIES COMMISSIONER GARCIA YOU HAVE EMPHASIZED STRENGTHENING COUNTY RESEARCHER TO MEET COMMUNITY NEEDS, COMMISSIONER BRIONES MY COMMISSION YOUR PRIORITIZED DISASTER READINESS AND FAMILY WELL-BEING AND COMMISSIONER RAMSEY YOU FOCUS ON LONG-TERM PLANNING AND RESPONSIBLE GROWTH I LOVE HERMANN PARK MANY OF US TO WE SEE THE RISING COST OF HEALTHCARE WHAT THEY'RE DOING IN D.C. AND THE FACT THAT BEN TAUB IS NOT 10 PEOPLE AWAY REGARDLESS OF INSURANCE OR CITIZENSHIP STATUS IN ONE OF THE MOST DIVERSE COUNTIES IN THIS COUNTRY THIS MATTERS WHAT I AM HEARING IS GETTING US LISTEN THAT'S RESPECTING THE PARK AND EXPANSION WILL TAKE WORK LET'S WORK TOGETHER. THANK YOU.

>> GOOD MORNING, GOOD TO BE HERE APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE COMMENTS, THIS ITEM IS THE YOUTH AVERAGE IN CENTER AND THERE IS A REQUEST FOR FUNDING TO CONTINUE OPERATING THE CRISIS RESPITE RESIDENTIAL CENTER FOR YOUTH REFERRED BY HARRIS COUNTY JUVENILE PROBATION FOR VOLUNTARY PLACEMENT OF BOTH MALES AND FEMALES 13 TO 17 EXPENSING FAMILY CONFLICT, EMOTIONAL INSTABILITY AND ARE AT RISK OF PENETRATING DEEPER INTO THE JUVENILE JUSTICE SYSTEM. IT IS OPERATING TODAY SERVING OVER 200 YOUTH, THOSE YOUTH HAVE HAD 84% REDUCTION IN DETENTION INTAKES AFTER DIVERSION OF YOUTH DIVERSION CENTER, 3% OF THEM HAVE RETURNED TO THE YOUTH DIVERSION CENTER AFTER BEING THERE IN THE 1ST DIVERSION. THE COST OF DIVERSION IS LESS EXPENSIVE THAN DETAINING THEM IN JUVENILE DETENTION AND FOR EVERY 100 YOUTH WE AVOID ALMOST HALF $1 MILLION OF EXPENSE BEYOND THE YOUTH DIVERSION CENTER. CAPACITY IS 12. AND WE HAVE A PLAN TO TRY TO INCREASE REFERRALS BY NOT JUST WITH FAMILY MEMBERS BUT TO INCLUDE NON-WEAPONS CLASS A AND B MISDEMEANORS, COURT-APPROVED CARE, COURT PARTICIPANTS AND LOOK AT FITNESS ON THE JUVENILE TERM FOR COMPETENCY RESTORATION FOR THE YOUTH WERE NOT ABLE TO CONTINUE. WE WILL ALSO EXPAND TO TAKE YOUTH WHO WERE REFERRED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF FAMILY PROTECTIVE SERVICES. THIS THREE-MONTH FUNDING WILL ALLOW THE OPPORTUNITY TO EXECUTE CONTRACTS WITH DFP S CONTRACTING FOR BEDS AS WELL AS FUNDING THAT WILL FLOW THROUGH THE DEPARTMENT OF JUVENILE PROBATION. HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS IF YOU HAVE ANY I KNOW THE CONVERSATION ON THE PROJECT COMES UP A LITTLE BIT LETTER -- LATER.

>> DOES THE FUNDING ALLOW THE PROGRAM TO CONTINUE AS IT HAS?

>> IT DOES FOR THE 3 MONTH WINDOW. BEYOND THAT THOSE CONTRACTS SHOULD ALLOW US TO CONTINUE SERVICES WITH THE INCLUSION OF SOME ADDITIONAL USE .

[01:10:02]

>> OKAY THANK YOU. >> YES MA'AM THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>> HELLO MY NAME IS CHRIS RIVERA I WORK WITH THE TEXAS CIVIL RIGHTS PROJECT AND I'M HERE AGAINST ITEM NUMBER 99 ADDING 131 DETENTION OFFICERS TO THE JAIL NOW GOING TO REDUCE THE DEATHS LAST YEAR THEY PETITIONED ANOTHER 150 DETENTION OFFICERS IT DID NOT REDUCE THE LIKELIHOOD OF INDIVIDUALS DYING OR NOT GETTING MEDICATION THE MONEY SHOULD BE GOING TOWARD HIRING MORE DOCTORS AND NURSES AND INVESTING IN OUTSIDE SOURCES NOT TIED TO MASS INCARCERATION AND OFFERING INDIVIDUALS ANOTHER WAY FOR THESE TREATMENTS AND NOT INVESTING IN DETENTION OFFICERS AND ITEM 100 ALLOWING THE MARSHALS TO HAVE ACCESS TO FLOCK SAFETY, TIGHT OFFICERS RECKLESSLY WHETHER IT IS SPYING ON THEIR FORMER SPOUSES AND THE FALL OF ONE WOMAN TRYING TO GET ABORTION ACCESS IN ANOTHER STATE. SO PLEASE VOTE AGAINST THAT AS WELL, THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>> THANK YOU. >> GOOD MORNING COMMISSIONERS AND JUDGE. I KNOW YOU ALL THINK THAT ADDING 131 DETENTION OFFICERS POSITION IS GOING TO SOLVE YOUR OUTSOURCING PROBLEMS, AS A MOTHER WHO LOST HER SON TO MEDICAL NEGLECT IN LASALLE IN 2024 I SHOULD BE SUPPORTIVE, BUT I AM NOT, THE SHAMEFUL AND FUNDAMENTAL PROBLEM YOU SHOULD BE TRYING TO SOLVE IS THAT OUR JAIL IS THE LARGEST WAREHOUSE OF PEOPLE WITH SERIOUS MENTAL ISSUES IN THE STATE OF TEXAS, EVERY CHANCE THAT WE GET WE SHOULD BE INVESTING IN PREVENTIVE , PREVENTATIVE SOLUTIONS SUCH AS AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND TIMELY ACCESS TO MENTAL HEALTH CARE AND THE COMMUNITY THAT WILL GIVE US BETTER LONG-TERM IN OUR INVESTMENTS THAN ADDING JAILERS, I EMPLOY THIS COURT TO VOTE NO ON THIS ITEM. THANK YOU FOR YOUR

TIME. >> JUST A QUESTION FOR YOUR. SO THE RATIONALE BEHIND THIS IS IF WE HAVE MORE DETECTION OFFICERS THEN WE CAN BRING MORE PEOPLE BACK FROM OUTSOURCING BECAUSE THERE IS A RATIO WE NEED TO MEET RIGHT? AM I MISSING SOMETHING?

SO, YOU STILL DISAGREE BECAUSE? >> IF YOU ALLOW ME TO SPEAK LET ME TELL YOU WHY. BECAUSE NO ONE CAN PROMISE ME THAT BECAUSE MY SON WAS SENT OUT , WHEN MY SON WAS HERE IN HARRIS COUNTY HE WAS FINE. IT IS NOT THAT I'M NOT AGAINST PEOPLE DOING WHATEVER YOU GUYS ARE DOING, MY PROBLEM IS THAT YOU CANNOT GUARANTEE TO ME THAT OUR CHILDREN ARE GOING TO BE AT LEAST SAFE FROM DEATH.

IS HAVE AN ISSUE AND HAVE TO SERVE THEIR TIME, I UNDERSTAND BUT WHAT I DON'T UNDERSTAND IS THAT MY SON RECEIVED A DEATH SENTENCE, BEFORE HE WAS SENTENCED AND EVEN IN HIS SENTENCE, HE WAS NOT SUPPOSED TO DIE. PEOPLE, SOMEBODY WAS SUPPOSED TO SEE ABOUT HIM. HE HAD 6 REPEATED CONTINUAL SEIZURES BACK TO BACK TO BACK IN THIS FACILITY. HARRIS COUNTY IS RESPONSIBLE BECAUSE YOU ALL SHIPPED HIM THERE.

>> MA'AM I AM SO SORRY FOR YOUR LOSS AND I AM SO SORRY THIS HAPPENED, AND I AGREE THAT FUNDING NEEDS TO GO TO MENTAL HEALTH AND THAT'S WHY I OPPOSE THE $100 MILLION TO GO TO LAW ENFORCEMENT RAISES TO SAY WE NEED HOUSING AND MENTAL HEALTH,

WE NEED SO MANY OTHER THINGS. >> PEOPLE IN MENTAL HEALTH, NO DISRESPECT TO ANYONE, THEY DO NOT KNOW HOW TO FUNCTION INSIDE OF A JAIL AND THE JAILERS ARE NOT EQUIPPED TO HANDLE PEOPLE THAT HAVE MENTAL ILLNESS THERE WERE 20 PEOPLE THAT DIED LAST YEAR IN 2025 AND SEVERAL OF THEM HAD MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES

>> I DON'T KNOW ANYBODY HERE WOULD KNOW HOW TO FUNCTION IN JAIL I MET A COLLEAGUE WHERE THEY OFFERED ELECTED OFFICIALS TO SPEND A FEW DAYS AND THEY CAN'T DO IT SO FORGET THE MENTAL ILLNESS PART, I HEAR YOU AND THAT'S WHY I KEEP BRINGING THIS UP BECAUSE PEOPLE CANNOT FORGET THERE WAS A MASSIVE INVESTMENT MADE FOR SOMETHING ON POLITICAL REASONS THAT COULD HAVE GONE TO THE VOTERS AND WE HAVE CASES LIKE THIS AND WE HAVE CHILDREN WHOSE CHILD CARE IS ABOUT TO END AND WE HAVE MENTAL

[01:15:02]

DEATH SENTENCE. >> THEY SHOULD NOT DIE THEY SHOULD SERVE THEIR TIME AND COME HOME. IT IS THE MEDICAL SITUATION. THEY REFUSE TO TAKE PEOPLE TO THE HOSPITAL. WE NEED

TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT THAT. >> THANK YOU, THANK YOU MA'AM.

>> STATE YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD.

>> MY NAME IS SARAH NIGHT, MY SON'S NAME IS JAELYN ANDERSON.

HE DIED APRIL 3 OF 2024 IN LASALLE CORRECTIONAL FACILITY.

>> THANK YOU. >> NEXT IS KIM LEWIS ITEM 99 ITEM 99 ON ITEM 100, WILLIAMS ITEM TO 66 YOU EACH HAVE 1

MINUTE. >> MY NAME IS KIM CARLSON LEWIS THE MOTHER OF ERIC CARLTON WHO DIED IN LASALLE ONE YEAR AND 4 DAYS AGO THIS IS MY 1ST TIME HERE I'M STRUGGLING TO FIND THE RIGHT WORDS TO SAY. I DO APPLAUD THE FACT YOU WANT TO BRING IN MORE JAILERS FOR THE INMATES, HOWEVER, IT WON'T SOLVE THE PROBLEM , THE NEGLECT , THE SAME MONTH MY SON ERIC DIED CORRECTIONS IN THE LOUISIANA 39-YEAR-OLD CHRISTOPHER DIED HERE IN HARRIS COUNTY JAIL DIED OF EASILY AND SIMILAR STRAP THOUGH INFECTIONS, MY SON KEPT ASKING FOR MEDICAL HELP WHICH HE WAS REPEATEDLY DENIED BY STAFF WHILE CHRISTOPHER WAS SO SEVERELY MENTALLY ILL THAT HE CANNOT ASK FOR HELP BUT THE JAILERS IN MEDICAL AND MENTAL HEALTH STAFF KNEW THAT MY SON

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

>> GO AHEAD. >> EVERYONE SAW MY SON AND CHRISTOPHER SUFFERING, BUT NOBODY TOOK ACTION TO SAVE EITHER OF THEIR LIVES I'M TOLD IT IS THE CULTURE IN THE JAIL WHICH CANNOT BE SOLVED WITH MORE STAFFER TRAINING HARD-EARNED MONEY IS BETTER SPENT WITH SOLUTIONS THAT CAN PEEP PEOPLE I CHRISTOPHER AND ERIC OUT OF JAIL ADDING 131 JAILERS IS SHORTSIGHTED AND WILL NOT SOLVE THE LONG-TERM PROBLEM WHICH IS A LACK OF MEANINGFUL CARE OPTIONS IN THE COMMUNITY FOR SUBSTANCE USE AND MENTAL HEALTH AND HOMELESSNESS AND IT IS NOT GOING TO SOLVE THE CULTURE OF NEGLECT AND CRUELTY IN THE JAILS.

>> THANK YOU, I AM REALLY SORRY FOR YOUR LOSS I AM REALLY SORRY AND PERHAPS WHAT I WILL PROPOSE JUST TO MAKE A POINT BECAUSE I DON'T THINK THERE WILL BE SUPPORT IS TO PUT AS MUCH MONEY IN MENTAL HEALTH AS WE ARE PUT TO THESE PHRASES AND ADDITIONAL OFFICERS WHICH IS FINE, I AGREE WITH IT, BUT THE BOTH AND, THE BOTH AND , BOTH AND, LET'S BOTH AND WHY IS IT EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION CAN'T GO ON THE BALLOT THEN PAY INCREASE FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT AND ALL THESE RAISES GETS DONE LIKE THIS, NO STUDY, NO EVALUATION AND WE HAVE LITERAL LIFE AND DEATH SITUATIONS. I WILL ASK STAFF TO PUT IT TOGETHER TO SEE HOW PEOPLE VOTE, BUT I AM SO SORRY THAT HAPPENED.

>> THANK YOU. >> CONDOLENCES.

>> PARTICULAR BOTH AND FOR ME? >> GOOD MORNING COMMISSIONERS I AM A PARENT OF EARLY REACH I WANT TO TAKE A MOMENT TO SAY THANK YOU TO EARLY REACH FOR EVERYTHING YOU HAVE DONE FOR ME AND MY GIRLS BECAUSE OF THESE PROGRAMS MY CHILDREN WERE ABLE TO GROW, LEARN THRIVE IN A SAFE SUPPORTIVE ENVIRONMENT I WATCH THEM DEVELOP AND I'M TRULY GRATEFUL FOR THE FOUNDATION EARLY REACH ALSO GAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO GROW WITH THE SUPPORTED STABILITY THE PROGRAM PROVIDED I WAS ABLE TO BEGIN MY JOURNEY INTO NURSING COOL CREATING FOR MY FAMILY BUT NOT HAVE BEEN POSSIBLE WITHOUT REALLY REACH, CHILDREN HAVE LEARNED SO MUCH AND I BEEN ABLE TO USE A BETTER FUTURE AND I PRAY THE PROGRAM CONTINUES AND I'M TRULY GRATEFUL AND THANKFUL

THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU FOR REPRESENTING

[01:20:02]

>> GOOD MORNING COMMISSIONERS. I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR THE WORK REDUCING THE JAIL POPULATION, I KNOW IT WAS NOT EASY AND I'M THANKFUL AND I KNOW YOU THINK ADDING DETENTION OFFICERS IS GOING TO HELP THE OTHER CONTRACT I KNOW YOU WANT TO KEEP MOMENTUM GOING BUT I WANT TO STOP AND THINK ABOUT IT BECAUSE THERE ARE OTHER WAYS TO BALANCE THE EQUATION. I KNOW YOU WANT TO MAKE THE RATIO BUT THERE ARE OTHER WAYS TO BALANCE AND 2 QUICK DATA POINT, TREMENDOUS WORK ON ANALYSIS WE FOUND IN SEPTEMBER 169 PEOPLE OVER THE AGE OF 65 WHO WERE IN JAIL WERE ARRESTED FROM NURSING HOMES, ELDERS MAKES NO SENSE AT ALL THE OTHER DATA POINT FROM THE HARRIS CENTER IS THAT WE TRANSFERRED 231 PEOPLE FROM THE JAIL ON COMMITMENT TRANSFERS THEY WERE ELIGIBLE PRIOR IN THE COMMUNITY. WE SHOULD BE ASKING WHY WE ARE NOT DOING MORE OF THAT SO I WOULD URGE YOU TO PAUSE PUT THE MONEY INTO COMMUNITY-BASED MENTAL HEALTH DIVERSION, THE YOUTH CENTER WHATEVER IS BEING ASKED FOR WE SHOULD PUT MONEY INTO ALL OF THAT INSTEAD OF ADDING MORE OFFICERS.

>> THANK YOU COME I DON'T KNOW IF YOU'RE ABLE TO STAY UNTIL WE GET TO THE ITEM, EITHER WAY I WILL HAVE MY STAFF VISIT WITH YOU. I HAVE WRITTEN IT DOWN BUT I WILL BRING IT UP WHEN WE

DISCUSS THE ITEM . >> I WILL STAY BECAUSE I SPENT LAST NIGHT READING THE LEGAL COMPLAINT ON CHRISTOPHER MCGREGOR'S DEATH , HE PASSED AWAY LAST YEAR. IT IS A HORRIFIC COMPLAINT, HE CYCLED REPEATEDLY THROUGH MENTAL HEALTH AND CRIMINAL PUNISHMENT SYSTEM. EVERYBODY KNEW HE WAS SO SICK.

HE WAS STARVED, DEHYDRATED AND HE HAD A STREP INFECTION.

>> WE ALL KNOW THAT HAPPENS AND SOME OF US HAVE TAKEN MONEY AWAY FROM MENTAL HEALTH SO YOU CAN BRING IT UP I WILL BRING IT UP

AND LET'S SEE HOW WE VOTE. >> HAPPY TO BE A RESOURCE, I'VE BEEN WORKING ON THIS FOR YEARS, OVER 50% DEATHS AND THE CRIMINAL PUNISHMENT SYSTEM. IF YOU HAVE A CHOICE WE CAN MAKE TODAY WE CAN CHOOSE TO INCREASE THE SOLUTION FOR PUBLIC HEALTH OR WE CAN CHOOSE TO INVEST COMMUNITY-BASED HEALTHCARE WE CAN CHOOSE TO INVEST IN PUBLIC HEALTH SOLUTIONS BECAUSE PUNITIVE SOLUTIONS ARE NOT WORKING. HAVE NOT WORKED IN A LONG TIME THANK YOU JUDGE AND THANK YOU FOR THE WORK YOU HAVE DONE REDUCING THE JAIL POPULATION. REALLY APPRECIATE IT.

>> COMMISSIONERS COURT MY NAME IS SARAH PRECINCT 4 HI COMMISSIONER BRIONES. CLASSIC ITALIAN FASCISM ON CORPORATIONS AND THE GOVERNMENT START WORKING TOGETHER PERPETUATES FASCISM ON THE FEDERAL LEVEL WE ARE SEEING FASCISM LOCAL GOVERNMENT HAS SHOWN LEADERSHIP IN OPPOSING FASCISM FOR THE MOST PART I DON'T WANT TO CALL YOUR FASCIST SO I DON'T KNOW WHY FLOCK SAFETY CAMERA CORPORATION IS IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE GOVERNMENT ESPECIALLY WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT WHY DOES THE FIRE MARSHAL NEED TO READ LICENSE PLATES? DOES THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE ALSO HAVE A MOU WITH THE FLOCK SAFETY CAMERAS , THE CORPORATION?

>> THANK YOU. WE WILL GET TO THAT.

>> NEXT IS ON ITEM 99. ITEM 99, ANTHONY CALLIER ITEM 307 YOU EACH HAVE 1 MINUTE.

>> . >> GOOD MORNING 1 MINUTE? MY NAME IS LAURA I LIVE IN PRECINCT 1 AND I'M HERE TO TALK ABOUT THE PROPOSAL TO ADD MORE JAILERS TO THE HARRIS COUNTY JAIL MY COMMENT IS THAT THE DIRECTION WE NEED TO GO IF THE JAIL IS

[01:25:04]

>> THANK YOU. ANY OTHER SPEAKERS?

>> NEXT IS ON ITEM 99. ANTHONY CALLIER ITEM 307.

>> ANTHONY CALLIER, I DON'T THINK THEY ARE HERE, WHO COMES

AFTER THAT? >> NEXT IS NOT AGENDA SPEAKERS DEREK DOMINIQUE TRINITY, REGINA HANNAH YOU EACH HAVE 1 MINUTE

>> SINCE HE DID NOT SIGN UP FOR AN ITEM ON THE AGENDA WE CANNOT RESPOND TO YOU OR ASK QUESTIONS, ALL WE CAN DO IS LISTEN. THIS IS

LEGAL PRESCRIPTION. >> UNDERSTANDABLE, MY NAME IS DEREK MONTGOMERY HERE TO ADVOCATE WE IMPLEMENT MORE LICENSED THERAPISTS IN SCHOOLS AND WORKFORCE, RIGHT NOW IN HARRIS COUNTY WE HAVE 310,000 KIDS DIAGNOSED WITH DISORDERS THIS YEAR AND LAST YEAR 14% OF THE KIDS COMMITTED SUICIDE, 20% OF THOSE KIDS DO NOT WANT TO GO TO SCHOOL BECAUSE THEY FEEL IT IS UNSAFE. ONE OUT OF 5 KIDS IN HARRIS COUNTY HAVE DIAGNOSABLE MENTAL HEALTH PROBLEMS BUT 40% DON'T GET SUPPORTED AND WHEN IT COMES TO US ONLY ONE PERCENT OF JOBS IN HARRIS COUNTY HAVE LICENSED THERAPISTS THE BABIES DON'T HAVE ANYONE TO TALK TO AND WE DON'T WHERE DO WE GO FROM THERE ? SOMETHING HAS TO HAPPEN, WE DID A STUDY LAST YEAR ONE OUT OF 5 ADULT IN THE WORKFORCE REPORTED MENTAL HEALTH HAS BEEN MESSED UP 14 DAYS OUT OF ONE MONTH SO THE BABIES HAVE NOBODY TO TALK TO WE HAVE NOBODY TO TALK TO AND WE HAVE TO FIGURE IT OUT TOGETHER.

>> THANK YOU. >> GOOD MORNING JUDGE AND HARRIS COUNTY COMMISSIONERS GIVEN THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK TODAY MY NAME IS TRINITY A STUDENT FROM PRAIRIE VIEW A&M UNIVERSITY AND I REPRESENT THE UNIVERSITY STUDENT LED VOLUNTEER GROUP FROM THE WORLD MISSION SOCIETY CHURCH OF GOD. WE LEAD THE GREEN CARBON MOVEMENT RESPONDING TO CLIMATE CHANGE THE LOCAL ACTION PARTNERING WITH YOU AND SUPPORTING 17 SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS PROMOTING YOUTH, LEADERSHIP AND ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP WORLDWIDE. EVERY 15 FROM 12:00 UNTIL 2:00 P.M. WE WILL HOST A PARK CLEANUP AND STUDENTS AND COMMUNITY VOLUNTEERS WILL REDUCE THE LEGAL AND PROTECT GREEN SPACE IN HARRIS COUNTY. WE INVITE COMMISSIONERS TO ATTEND IN THE FORWARD TO FUTURE PARTNERSHIPS. WE PROVIDED PAMPHLETS FOR YOU ALL AND WE KINDLY ESPECIALLY SEEK THE COURT RECOGNITION FOR VOLUNTEERS THROUGH CERTIFICATES OR AWARDS AS IT ENCOURAGES CIVIC YOUTH ENGAGEMENT.

>> GOOD MORNING JUDGE AND COMMISSIONERS MY NAME IS REGINALD HANNAH . I WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK ABOUT CONCERNS I HAVE ABOUT CYBER CRIMES IN THE COUNTY LEGAL ACTION WITH A FORMER EMPLOYER HAVE BEEN THE VICTIM OF NO FEWER THAN 20 TO 25 CYBER CRIMES AND OTHER CRIMES. CAR VANDALISM, DESTRUCTION, COMPUTER HACKING, TAPPING ISSUES WITH APPS ON MY PHONE. I'VE GONE DOWN TO HOUSTON POLICE TIME AND TIME AGAIN ADDITION HAVE SUBMITTED COMPLAINTS AND REPORTS TO THE FBI, THE FCC, ANOTHER ICY 3 REPORT AND HAVE SOUGHT ANSWERS AND SOLUTIONS FOR CRIMES, I AM FEELING THREATENED AND IT HAS HAD A HUGE IMPACT ON MY LIFE. SO I'M SPEAKING TO ASK YOU TO CONSIDER INCREASING ALLOCATED BUDGET FOR CYBER CRIMES AND FINANCIAL CRIMES DIVISION.

>> THANK YOU. WE WILL FOLLOW UP .

>> NEXT NON-AGENDA ITEMS SPEAKERS ALONZO PETERS, DONNIE

[01:30:04]

>> THANK YOU. THANK YOU HONORABLE JUDGE AND COMMISSIONERS FOR YOUR GOOD WORK YOU HAVE DONE FOR OUR COMMUNITIES, I VOTED FOR SOME OF YOU TWICE AND WILL CONTINUE TO VOTE FOR YOUR. WE PROVIDE UNDER ORGANIZATION ADVANCED MEDICAL INFORMATION INFORMATION FREE VIRTUAL LESSONS AND WE HAVE PROVIDED THEM BEFORE COVID, WE PROVIDE FOR THOSE THAT ARE MENTALLY ILL FOR THOSE WHO HAVE DRUG PROBLEMS. FREE COFFEE IN FRONT OF 1201 FRANKLIN. I WOULD LIKE TO PROPOSE TO PAY A LEASE FEE, FOR THE SPACE NOT BEING USED NOW IN THE LOBBY OF 1301 FRANKLIN AND THAT IS IT THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

>> THANK YOU WE WILL FOLLOW UP. >> GOOD MORNING MY NAME IS DONNIE MARTIN, THE ASTRODOME HAS ALWAYS REPRESENTED INNOVATION AS THE WORLD'S 1ST DOME STADIUM IT WAS A STATEMENT ABOUT HOUSTON'S INGENUITY CREATIVITY AND LEADERSHIP, TODAY WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO CONTINUE THE LEGACY BY EXPLORING RESPECTING THE DOME HISTORY WHILE GIVING A FUTURE CONVERTING THE ASTRODOME INTO A DATA CENTER DOES NOT DIMINISH ITS SIGNIFICANCE IT PROTECTS IT THE MASSIVE FOOTPRINT STRONG STRUCTURAL DESIGN AND LOCATION MAKE IT UNIQUELY SUITED FOR THIS ADAPTIVE REUSE WHILE ALL WAS A PRESERVING ITS ICONIC INTERIOR AND IN ITS PLACE HOUSTON IDENTITY RATHER THAN REMAINING UNDERUTILIZED THE ASTRODOME COULD BECOME A SELF-SUFFICIENT FACILITY TO HELP FUND ITS OWN PRESERVATION AND ONGOING RELEVANCE, HOUSTON HAS ALWAYS BEEN A CENTER OF LARGE-SCALE STRUCTURE AND TECHNOLOGY IN THIS APPROACH ALIGNING WITH THAT REALIGNMENT OR REALITY. THE ASTRODOME .

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>> >> GO AHEAD.

>> MY NAME IS ALEXIS SWIRSKY IN FAVOR RESOLUTION 99 TO INCREASE DETENTION OFFICERS IN THE SHERIFFS DEPARTMENT, THE COST OF THESE MEASURES TO IMPROVE CONDITIONS IN THE JAIL IS A LOT LESS THAN WHAT WE WOULD PAY THAN WHAT WE DO PAY TO SEND PRISONERS TO JAIL IN LOUISIANA AND MISSISSIPPI. NOT IN FAVOR OF THIS MEASURE AS OPPOSED TO IMPROVING THE MENTAL TREATMENT MENTAL HEALTH CARE IN THE JAIL BUT IN ADDITION TO THAT IN 2025 THERE WERE 20 INMATE DEATHS IN THE HARRIS COUNTY JAIL INCREASING FROM 10 DEATHS IN 2024 AND 19 IN 2023. SO FAR THERE HAVE BEEN 2 DEATHS IN THE JAIL MORE HANDS ON DECK WILL IMPROVE THESE NUMBERS I MUSCLE IN FAVOR OF ITEM 4 TRAFFIC SIGNALS HAVE A LIFESPAN OF 30 YEARS, PRECINCT 3 HAS MANY TRAFFIC SIGNALS OVER 30 YEARS OLD PRECINCT 3 NEEDS THE FUNDING AND ABILITY TO ADDRESS THIS ISSUE QUICKLY OLDER TRAFFIC LIGHT SIGNALS ARE MORE SUSCEPTIBLE.

>> THANK YOU MA'AM THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>> JUDGE, THOSE ARE ALL THE SPEAKERS.

>> THANK YOU LET'S MOVE TO THE CONSENT AGENDA AND THEN WE WILL START WITH HARRIS HEALTH. THE ITEM YES OKAY. SO LET ME LOOK AT ANY CORRECTIONS HERE. ITEM 155 HCD HAS REQUESTED NO ACTION ITEM TO 19 THERE IS A CORRECTION. REPLACE AND THE COUNTY JUDGE EXECUTED AGREEMENT WITH FROM THE COMPETITIVE BID REQUIREMENT.

ITEM 335 MY OFFICE IS REQUESTING NO ACTION WE WILL BRING IT BACK.

ALL RIGHT. DID I MISS ANYTHING? IN TERMS OF CORRECTIONS? OKAY THANK YOU. EXECUTIVE SESSION ITEMS FOLKS NEED TO GO TO EXECUTIVE SESSION ITEMS 286? BOARD OF PILOT COMMISSIONERS? 287 HARRIS COUNTY SPORTS AND CONVENTION CORPORATION. 288 , HARRIS CENTER. 289, HARRIS CENTER 290 HARRIS COUNTY SPORTS

[01:35:03]

ITEM 2 , WE ARE DISCUSSING, ITEM 3 I AM GUESSING YES, ITEM 4 PRECINCTS 2 AND 3 YES. 8 YES ITEM 14 , 69, CITY OF DEER PARK PARTNERSHIP PROJECT OKAY. 70. COLLEGE PARK SUBDIVISION DRAINAGE IMPROVEMENTS IN THE ARM AND TIRZ THIS IS PRECINCT 2 YES 76 PRECINCT 2 OKAY 77 , 82 , 8211, CDBG MEANT PLANNING STUDIES REQUEST 85 REQUESTED BY PRECINCT 2. 87 PRECINCT 4 PRECINCT 499 PRECINCT 4 THIS IS DETENTION OPERATIONS, 156 PRECINCT 3. PEOPLE FUND, 168 PRECINCT 3 RENEWAL OPTIONS. 198 PRECINCT 3. 2017, PRECINCT 2 TEXAS ASSOCIATION OF SCHOOL

BOARDS. >> YES.

>> 218 PRECINCT >> 218 PRECINCT 2 . FLOOD WARNING SYSTEMS. 248 PRECINCT 4 HEALTH AND WELLNESS WORKSHOPS, 249 LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS, 264 COMMISSIONER RAMSEY FLOOD CONTROL DISTRICT PROJECT PROJECTED BID. 265 TRANSMITTAL STATUS UPDATES AND PRECINCT 3. 278 PRECINCT 2 SOLAR LIGHTING ALONG SIDEWALKS, 279 PRECINCT 2 CONSTRUCTION OF WATER, 296, 3 AND 4 WORKSITE SAFETY POLICY. 299 3 AND $41.8 MILLION FOR SPECIAL FUNDS, 307 PRECINCT 4, 33 PCN FOR THE CLERK OFFICE, 324 YES. 328 YES. AND 329 YES, WE WILL TAKE 28, 328 AND 329 TOGETHER. 330 WINTER WEATHER EVENT SOME BRIEF COMMENTS 331 PRECINCT 1 AND 3 ON THE DISPARITY STUDY YES AND 332 OKAY, AND THEN THE RESOLUTIONS OUT OF ORDER RESOLUTIONS WE WILL GET TO LATER. JUST AS A REMINDER, MY HONOREES CAN ONLY BE HERE AT 2:00 P.M. SO I HOPE TO TAKE THAT RESOLUTION OUT OF

ORDER, 334. >> JUDGE, I KNOW THURSDAY'S YOU STEP AWAY FROM THE COURT IF WE CAN MAKE THINGS EASIER FOR YOU TO PASS A MOTION TO ORGANIZE YOUR VOTE ON ITEMS. THAT WAY YOU DON'T BRUSH BACK DOWN. YES. IS THAT?

>> YES THAT'S FINE. >> WHEN WE COME BACK WE CAN SAY HAVE WE VOTED? WE CAN TELL YOU? OKAY. OKAY HOW ARE WE GOING TO

VOTE OKAY GOT IT. >> FOR ME I WOULD LIKE TO BE SHOWN BOATING AYE UNLESS IT CHANGES THE VOTE .

>> THAT IS FAIR. >> OKAY. SO, THESE ITEMS WERE

NOT ADDED TO THE DISCUSSION. >> DO WE NEED TO PASS THAT INTO

A MOTION? >> ON MY END TO BE SHOWN BOATING

AYE. >> AS LONG AS I REVIEW WHEN I

COME BACK. >> AGAIN STEPPING AWAY I HAVE A ONGOING GROUP THERAPY SESSION THAT HAS BEEN ON THURSDAY'S AND COURT WAS CHANGED FROM TUESDAYS TO THURSDAYS. ALL RIGHT. SO WE

[01:40:01]

OKAY. SO, IS THERE A MOTION? >>.I THINK I DO 5 DISCUSSION

ONLY. >> DISCUSSION ONLY. JUST 1 AND

6? >> OKAY JUST ONE.

>> COME BACK FOR ACTION NEXT COURT.

>> NO ACTION 5 AND 6? >> NO ACTION 5 AND 6. OKAY SO THEN ALL RIGHT. IS THERE A MOTION FOR ALL THE ITEMS 1 THROUGH 341 WITH EXCEPTIONS OF ITEMS NOTED ON AND DISCUSSION ITEMS LISTED MOTION BY COMMISSIONER ELLIS 2ND BY

[Emergency/Supplemental Items (Part 1 of 4)]

TO SPEAK 1ST? >> THAT WAS ON THE MOTION.

>> GO AHEAD COMMISSIONER ELLIS. >> ITEMS 320

>> ITEMS 328 AND 329 , THANK YOU FOR HAVING US TAKE A DEEP BREATH AND ASK HARRIS HEALTH AGO DO MORE ENGAGEMENT. I WANT TO THANK THE FOLKS AT HARRIS HEALTH, 13 IT'S NEVER EASY WHEN IT IS CONTENTIOUS ISSUE TO SAY HOW MUCH I APPRECIATE ALL OF THE PEOPLE WHO CAME IN 2 THOSE COMMENTS AND I WENT TO 3 MEETINGS AND THEY GOT AGGRESSIVELY BETTER. HAPPENS WHEN YOU HAVE THE 1ST SOMETIMES, BUT LOOK IT IS AN IMPORTANT ISSUE. DID YOU WANT TO MAKE COMMENTS?

>> GO AHEAD. >> I WANT TO STRESS I BELIEVE HEALTHCARE IS A HUMAN RIGHT AND GREEN SPACE IS ESSENTIAL TO COMMUNITY HEALTH AND QUALITY OF LIFE AND I LONG CHAMPION BOTH LONG BEFORE I GOT HERE. HARRIS COUNTY IS HOME TO MORE THAN 1 MILLION UNINSURED RESIDENTS, I THINK I HEARD ONE DOCTOR SAY 1.8

? >> 1.2.

>> HOW MUCH MONEY WE LOST BY NOT DRYING DOWN AFFORDABLE

HEALTHCARE MONEY? >> SEVERAL BILLIONS OF DOLLARS.

>> I WANT TO STRESS THE TESTIMONY MADE EARLIER I WAS WE HAD THIS FIREPOWER, BUSINESS LEADERS , PARKS ADVOCATES, PHILANTHROPIC LEADERS, DOCTORS GOING UP TO THE STATE HOUSE BECAUSE WE HAVE MORE MONEY FOR A LOT OF OTHER ISSUES IF WE JUST DREW DOWN OUR MONEY AND I STRESS THAT , WE ACT LIKE IT IS NOT NORMAL TO TURNED ON BILLIONS OF DOLLARS FOR HEALTHCARE THAT IS OUR MONEY MORE THAN ONE IN 5 PEOPLE IN HARRIS COUNTY DON'T HAVE ACCESS TO HEALTHCARE BOASTING THE LARGEST MEDICAL CENTER IN THE WORLD THAT STATISTIC REFLECTS SERIOUS INEQUALITY WORLD-CLASS HEALTHCARE RESOURCES THAT ARE NOT ACCESSIBLE TO THOSE THAT ARE IN NEED. WE HAVE SEVERAL INEQUITIES WHEN IT COMES TO PARKS IN MY PRECINCT AND ALL PRECINCTS ANY PARKS LIKE MANY NEIGHBORHOODS LACK ACCESS IN GREEN SPACE AND I WANT TO STRESS PARK ACCESS SHOULD NOT BE LIMITED TO JUST AREAS THAT HAVE PLENTY WE HAVE GREAT SIGNATURE PARKS, MOST OF THE PARKS THE COUNTY PARKS ARE MORE REGIONAL ORIENTED SOMETIMES YOU HAVE TO EXPLAIN TO PEOPLE FROM TIME TO TIME WE GO INTO NEIGHBORHOODS, BUT USUALLY THE COUNTY PARKS TEND TO BE MORE REGIONAL, LIKE HERMAN AND MEMORIAL WHERE EVERYBODY NO MATTER WHERE YOU LIVE EVEN OUTSIDE THE COUNTY BENEFIT FROM THEM. WE OUGHT TO DO AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE TO HAVE EQUITY IN SURE ALL COMMUNITIES BENEFIT FROM SAFE ACCESSIBLE GREEN SPACE. I AM SUPPORTIVE OF HAVING THE COUNTY JOIN TIRZ 28, TO INVEST IN HERMANN PARK CONSERVANCY PLAN TO BUILD A PARKING FACILITY SO WE CAN IMPROVE HEALTHCARE FOR THE MOST VULNERABLE RESIDENTS AND INCREASE GREEN SPACE IN OUR REGION. I WANT TO STRESS THE PURPOSE OF THAT IS TO TAKE MONEY FROM BUSINESSES IN THAT TIRZ, TO BENEFIT PROJECTS IN THAT SPECIFIC TIRZ TO THE EXTENT THE COUNTY JOINS MY COLLEAGUES AGREE IT WILL TAKE A MAJORITY VOTE OF THIS BOARD TO DO THAT , THAT WILL MEAN PEOPLE WILL COME TO ME FOR OTHER THINGS THAT THEY WANTED, OTHER THAN THIS BUT I BELIEVE IN HEALTHCARE SO

[01:45:03]

[01:50:04]

HEARINGS AS WELL. >> YOU HAD THE 1ST AND THE 3RD.

>> YES I STARTED TO COME TO SOME OTHERS, BUT MINE WAS PRETTY HEATED AND IT WAS SO CLOSE TO IT AS WELL. THANK YOU ALL. THESE

ISSUES ARE NEVER EASY. >> THANK YOU SO MUCH, LESLEY

BRIONES, GARCIA AND RAMSEY. >> BEFORE I MAKE COMMENTS SOMETHING WE HAVE ASKED ON OCTOBER 30 US IS TO ENGAGE DEEPLY IN CONVERSATIONS WITH HERMANN PARK CONSERVANCY WHICH IS HEALTHY MULTIPLE TIMES AS WELL AS HAVE A ROBUST OPEN COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AND ONE OF THE ITEMS IS FOR YOU TO PRESENT UPDATES BASED ON WHAT HAPPENED WITH THIS COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT SO BEFORE I MAKE MY COMMENTS COULD YOU PLEASE GIVE US THE HIGHLIGHTS OF WHAT WAS ACHIEVED BETWEEN OCTOBER 30 AND TODAY AND

THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU, I HAVE A PRESENTATION THAT COVERS THAT YOU WANT THE TO PROCEED WITH

THAT NOW? >> IF YOU COULD PLEASE.

>> SURE. CAN WE PULL UP THE PRESENTATION PLEASE? TRANCES, JUDGE, COMMISSIONERS LET ME MAKE A STATEMENT 1ST AND THEN THERE ARE LIKE 7 SLIDES. THERE IS NOT A WHOLE BUNCH. AGAIN, THANK YOU , THANK YOU FOR GUIDING US FOR THE PROCESS. FOR THE COURT'S ORDERS DATED OCTOBER 30 I AM HERE TO PRESENT THE REQUESTED COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT REPORT THAT WILL SUMMARIZE WHAT WE HAVE LEARNED THROUGH THIS PROCESS, BUT 1ST AND I'M GLAD I WROTE THIS DOWN . I WOULD LIKE TO THANK MEMBERS OF THIS COURT FOR CONTINUED SUPPORT AND GUIDANCE AS WE NAVIGATED THE LAST FEW MONTHS TOGETHER. I KNOW FOR MANY OF YOU ESPECIALLY COMMISSIONER ELLIS AND COMMISSIONER GARCIA, YOUR COMMITMENT TO ENSURING ACCESS TO HIGH-QUALITY CARE FOR THE UNDERSERVED OF HARRIS COUNTY IS DEEPLY PERSONAL. THAT SAME SPIRIT OF SERVICE AND DESIRE TO MAKE LIFE BETTER FOR THOSE WHO DEPEND ON US THE MOST HAS BEEN MY INKER. AND MY MOTIVATION THROUGHOUT THE LAST FEW MONTHS.

THIS COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT PROCESS HAS BEEN EXTREMELY THOROUGH AND I AM GENUINELY GRATEFUL THAT YOU INSISTED ON SUCH MEANINGFUL PUBLIC DISCOURSE. IT HAS BEEN AN INVALUABLE EXPENSE FOR THE ENTIRE HARRIS HEALTH TEAM AND FOR ME PERSONALLY. IT HAS OFFERED A CLEAR PERSPECTIVE ON SOME OF THE CONCERNS AND HOPES OF THE COMMUNITY WE ARE PROUD TO

SERVE. >> OKAY THANK YOU I THOUGHT WE

WERE EXTENDING TIME GO FOR IT. >> THE FULL ENGAGEMENT REPORT.

THAT WAS TO EXTEND THE TIME. OKAY MOTION TO EXTEND THE TIME BY COMMISSIONER ELLIS, 2ND BY COMMISSIONER GARCIA ON FAVOR? ANY OPPOSED THE MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.

>> FULL COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT REPORT INCLUDING DATA FEEDBACK SUMMARIES AND MATERIALS IS INCLUDED IN YOUR PACKET FOR DETAILED REVIEW AT THIS TIME I WILL BRIEFLY HIGHLIGHT KEY FINDINGS AND OBSERVATIONS FROM THE REPORT TO PROVIDE THE COURT THE CLEAR OVERVIEW OF THE MOST ESSENTIAL TAKEAWAYS. AT THE END OF MY COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT REPORT I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO MAKE ADDITIONAL BRIEF COMMENTS WITH RESPECT TO THE AGENDA ITEM 329 AFTER WHICH I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE. IF YOU CAN GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE. COMMISSIONER BRIONES , AS YOU MENTIONED OCTOBER 30 MEETING OF THE COMMISSIONERS COURT COMMISSIONERS ASKED FOR CERTAIN DELIVERABLES. ONE THAT HARRIS HEALTH CONDUCTS AT LEAST ONE COMMITTEE MEETING IN EACH PRECINCT THAT HARRIS HEALTH TO MEET WITH THE HERMANN PARK CONSERVANCY AT LEAST TWICE PRIOR TO JANUARY 20 OF THIS YEAR AND HARRIS HEALTH PROVIDES A REPORT OF OUR COMMUNITY INPUT ACTIVITIES AT TODAY'S COMMISSIONERS COURT MEETING, YOU CAN GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE. I AM HAPPY AND PROUD TO SAY THAT WE HAVE ACHIEVED WHAT COMMISSIONERS HAVE ASKED OF US. THAT HELD 4 COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT TOWN HALLS IN EVERY PRECINCT INCLUDING

[01:55:01]

[02:00:01]

COMMISSIONERS, SEPTEMBER 23, 2025 AFTER CONSIDERATION OF ALL EVIDENCE AND TESTIMONY PRESENTED AT A JULY 24, PRESENTED AT A JULY 24, 2025 PUBLIC HEARING HELD IN COMPLIANCE WITH A REQUIREMENT CHAPTER 26 OF THE TEXAS PARKS AND WILDLIFE CODE, THE HARRIS HEALTH BOARD OF TRUSTEES FOUND AND DETERMINED THAT THERE IS NO FEASIBLE AND PRUDENT ALTERNATIVE TO THE PROPOSED TAKING OF 8.9 ACRES OF AUB EXPANSION PROJECT FURTHER, THE BOARD FOUND AND DETERMINED THAT THE BEN TAUB EXPANSION PROJECT INCLUDES ALL REASONABLE PLANNING, MINIMIZING HARM TO HERMANN PARK AND I WANT TO THANK MS. CAROL LAMBRIGHT TO ADDRESS THIS MATTER AS WELL. WHICH, AFTER THE PROPOSED TAKING WILL STILL INCLUDE APPROXIMATELY 435 ACRES OF PARKLAND. FINALLY THE BOARD FOUND AND DECLARED PUBLIC CONVENIENCE AND NECESSITY EXISTS FOR THE BEN TAUB EXPANSION PROJECT AND FOR THE MANDATORY ACQUISITION OF THE 8.9 ACRES OF HERMANN PARK BY EMINENT DOMAIN THE BOARD FINDINGS AND DETERMINATION FULLY COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF CHAPTER 26 TEXAS PARKS AND WILDLIFE CODE 285.050 OF THE TEXAS HEALTH AND SAFETY CODE REQUIRES COMMISSIONERS COURT APPROVAL OF THE BOARD EXERCISE OF CONDEMNATION POWERS TO ACQUIRE PROPERTY IN ACCORDANCE WITH TO STAKEHOLDERS AND MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY TO ENSURE THAT SUFFICIENT INFORMATION AND INPUT FROM THE PUBLIC HAS BEEN RECEIVED AND HAS BEEN CONSIDERED FOR HARRIS HEALTH AND HARRIS COUNTY. HARRIS HEALTH NOW RESPECTFULLY REQUESTS THAT THE COURT ADOPT AN ORDER TO SET A CHAPTER 26 PUBLIC HEARING MARCH 19 MARCH 19, 2026 ON THE PROPOSED TAKING OF THE 8.9 ACRES OF HERMANN PARK, FOR THE BEN TAUB EXPANSION PROJECT AND AUTHORIZED PUBLICATION OF THE LEGALLY REQUIRED NOTICES OF THE HEARING. HARRIS HEALTH CONTINUES TO FACE AN URGENT NEED TO EXPAND BEN TAUB INPATIENT CAPACITY WITH NEW FACILITIES CONNECTED TO THE EXISTING HOSPITAL FACILITIES. THESE EXISTING FACILITIES CANNOT BE EXPANDED WITHIN THE CURRENT BEN TAUB CAMPUS DUE TO THE AGE OF THE INFRASTRUCTURE AND THE FACT THAT BEN TAUB MUST REMAIN FULLY OPERABLE DURING THE CONSTRUCTION TO SERVE THE ESSENTIAL EMERGENCY SERVICES AND HEALTHCARE NEEDS OF THE PUBLIC.

THANK YOU. >> IS THERE A MOTION TO EXTEND? MOTION BY COMMISSIONER BRIONES, 2ND BY COMMISSIONER ELLIS. ALL

IN FAVOR? >> YOU CAN SUSPEND THE 10 MINUTE

RULE FOR THE ITEM. >> MOTION TO SUSPEND THE 10 MINERAL. ALL IN FAVOR? ANY OUTPOST? USE IT WISELY. THANK YOU. IT IS NECESSARY TO CONSTRUCT EXPANSION FACILITIES ON LAND ADJACENT TO THE EXISTING FACILITIES TO ENSURE THAT THERE ARE AS FEW DISRUPTIONS TO THE PATIENT'S AND STAFF AS POSSIBLE DURING THE CONSTRUCTION PROCESS AS HARRIS HEALTH DEVELOPS THE OFFICIAL FACILITIES TO INCREASE PATIENT FACILITY AT BEN TAUB, HARRIS HEALTH ALSO PLACES A HIGH PRIORITY ON RESILIENCY PARTICULARLY FLOOD RISK. AND IT IS COMMITTED IS LIMITING FOR MITIGATIONS AND DRAINAGE MAJORS TO PROTECT AND IMPROVE BOTH FACILITIES AND SURROUNDING ENVIRONMENT TO THE PROPERTIES INCLUDING THE NEIGHBORING LAND WITHIN THE TEXAS MEDICAL CENTER AND HERMANN PARK AFTER EVALUATING ALTERNATIVES THE PROPOSED TAKING OF THE 8.9 ACRES OF HERMANN PARK ADJACENT TO BEN TAUB HOSPITAL BY EMINENT DOMAIN REMAINS HARRIS HEALTH'S ONLY FEASIBLE AND PRUDENT ALTERNATIVE. TO ACQUIRE THE NECESSARY LAND TO EXPAND BEN TAUB FACILITIES. ADDITIONAL

[02:05:01]

>> COMMISSIONER BRIONES. >> THANK YOU FOR THE UPDATE THANK YOU FOR DOING WHAT WE ASKED AND EVEN MORE THAN WHAT WE ASKED ON THE OCTOBER 30 COMMISSIONERS COURT MEETING.

APPRECIATE YOU AND YOUR TEAM, EVERYBODY WHO LEANED IN TREMENDOUSLY, THANK YOU. AND TO THE HERMANN PARK CONSERVANCY THANK YOU FOR MEETING MULTIPLE TIMES IN GOOD FAITH TRYING TO FIND THIS COLLABORATIVE SOLUTION THIS IS GOVERNMENT AND DEMOCRACY AND COMMUNITY AT ITS FINEST. AS WE CAN LEAN IN TO DO WHAT IS RIGHT AND WHAT WE NEED TO DO TO MOVE FORWARD SO THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING THAT HAS BEEN DONE THE CONTEXT TO ME IS SO CRITICAL REALLY WHO WE NEED TO BE THINKING IS THE OVER 72% OF VOTERS IN 2023 WHO PASSED THE BOND. THIS IS A PIECE OF DELIVERING WHAT WE SAID, THE NEW LBJ, THE EXPANDED BEN TAUB, THE NEW COMMUNITY CLINICS WHICH I AM THRILLED THE 1ST WILL BE IN SOUTHWEST HARRIS COUNTY. AND I APPRECIATE WE ARE MAKING PROGRESS TOGETHER. AND MISS BETH ROBERTSON RESPECT THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP AND SERVICE TO HELP US MAKE THIS POSSIBLE THROUGH YOUR GENEROSITY AND LEADERSHIP AND MOBILIZING THE COMMUNITY AND THANK YOU EVERYTHING YOU HAVE DONE FOR PARKS, YOU AND YOUR FAMILY FOR DECADES, DEEP RESPECT. I AM VERY MUCH APPRECIATIVE OF THE PROGRESS THAT HAS BEEN MADE, I WILL BE SUPPORTING THE PROCESS VOTE TO MAKE SURE WE CAN MOVE FORWARD WITH THE HEARING MARCH 19 AND ASK PARTIES TO CONTINUE IN GOOD FAITH TO HAVE THE FRAMEWORK WE'RE CLOSE TO CONTINUE ADDING IN THE CLARITY AND CONTINUING TO LISTEN.

ULTIMATE MECHANISMS TO CONTINUE GETTING COMMUNITY FEEDBACK SO COMMISSIONER ELLIS I WILL BE SUPPORTING THAT MOTION AND I ESPECIALLY APPRECIATE YOU AND I WILL BE SUPPORTING IN THE JOINING OF THE TIRZ BECAUSE THAT IS A CREATIVE WAY WE CAN DRIVE PROGRESS FOR HEALTHCARE AND SAFETY AND GREEN SPACE SO THANK

YOU. >> STILL COMMISSIONER GARCIA AND RAMSEY AND ME AND ELLIS AND WE HAVE ALL THESE ITEMS TOGETHER BEFORE COMMISSIONER ELLIS HAS TO LEAVE. COMMISSIONER GARCIA.

>> THANK YOU, JUDGE. DOCTOR THANK YOU AGAIN FOR WORKING THROUGH THIS NEW LEVEL OF ENGAGEMENT. AS I MENTIONED EARLIER I AM EXCITED ABOUT THE FEEDBACK AND THE ADJUSTMENT MADE , THAT GETS US TO A BETTER PLACE AND GETS US NEAR, MORE NEAR TO A WIN WIN FOR EVERYONE INVOLVED AS YOU REFLECT ON THE BOND UNDERSTAND YOU HAVE HIT SOME INCREDIBLE MILESTONES IN THE BOND, IN PARTICULAR YOUR PHILANTHROPY , THE FUNDRAISING , I THINK A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT MAY HAVE SNEERED OR SNICKERED THAT YOU WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO REACH IT, AND THE TIME THAT YOU SET IN THE BOND OR IN THE CONVERSATION OR IN THE PLAN WHERE ARE YOU

WITH THAT PARTICULAR ENDEAVOR. >> COMMISSIONER GARCIA, THANK YOU. 2 THINGS, ONE, THANK YOU FOR REQUIRED THIS ROBUST COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AND DIALOGUE YOU ARE CORRECT, IT IS TRULY THROUGH THAT ENGAGEMENT AND HEARING THE QUESTIONS REPEATEDLY DIFFERENT VERSIONS OF THE QUESTIONS AND FINALLY, COMING TO A WONDERFUL UNDERSTANDING THAT ALLOWS NOT

[02:10:08]

>> AND AS WE WRAP THIS UP, I JUST WANT TO ASK THAT IF WE EVER MOVE IN A SIMILAR DIRECTION, I KNOW THERE'S A LOT OF STAKEHOLDERS AND TECHNICALLY THE CITY OF HOUSTON OWNS THAT PROPERTY. BUT, AS COMMISSIONER ELLIS HAS ALLUDED TO IN YOUR HAD TO LAY DOWN A LEGAL SET OF LANGUAGES TO GET US TO A PARTICULAR VOTE, I WOULD AND I KNOW WHEN YOU AND I SPOKE ABOUT THE ISSUE OF EMINENT DOMAIN THAT YOU MADE REFERENCE YOU WERE GIVEN LEGAL ADVICE, NEXT TIME I WOULD ASK THAT YOU SEEK COUNCIL FROM OUR COUNTY ATTORNEY ON WHAT CAN BE SHARED BECAUSE IT DID FEEL A GOOD DEAL LIKE A SURPRISE, A UNWELCOME SURPRISE SO I WOULD STRONGLY ENCOURAGE A DIFFERENT APPROACH IF WE EVER DO

SOMETHING LIKE THIS AGAIN. >> MESSAGE RECEIVED, THANK YOU

COMMISSIONER. >> COMMISSIONER RAMSEY.

>> THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU HAVE DONE, THAT IS A HUGE EFFORT WITH A LOT OF CONVERSATIONS GOING ON IN THE COMMUNITY, TO STILL BE ABLE TO DO THAT IS WONDERFUL, THANK YOU. COMMISSIONER ELLIS, THANK YOU FOR BAILING US ALL OUT. I WILL PUT IT THAT WAY.

SOMETIMES IT TAKES LEADERS TO STEP UP AND SAY YOU KNOW THERE ARE MANY THINGS HAPPENING OUT HERE AND LET'S OFFER A CREATIVE SOLUTION, YOUR TIRZ OPTIONS AND YOU AND I BOTH SHARE TIRZ , THEY ARE A TOOL, BUT A TOOL TO BE USED VERY CAREFULLY. I THINK YOU HAVE BEEN VERY WISE IN YOUR DISCERNMENT ON DOING THIS. SO 1ST OF ALL THANK YOU. I THINK THIS WAS A MESS. WE SHOULDN'T BE HERE THAT IS PART OF WHAT COMMISSIONER GARCIA WAS REFERRING TO. WE WOULD APPRECIATE THE COVER NOT GETTING THE OX BEFORE THE COURT WE WANT TO DO THE PUBLIC OUTREACH BEFORE WE DECIDE TO CONDEMN SOMETHING. THAT IS ONE LEVEL OF INFORMATION. IF WE HAD A BOND ISSUE AND IT PASSED AND THAT 70 PLUS PERCENT AFFIRMATION IS A COMMITMENT OF TRUST, THAT WE KNOW WHAT WE ARE DOING AND WHEN WE SURPRISE THE COMMISSIONERS COURT HERE, SURPRISE YOU NEED TO CONDEMN SOME PROPERTY, THAT IMPACTS TRUST. DO WE REALLY KNOW WHAT WE ARE DOING WHEN THINGS COME BECAUSE THINGS COME UP IN PUBLIC DIALOGUE. I DON'T THINK EVERYTHING THAT HAS COME UP IN THE DIALOGUE HAS BEEN COMPLETELY RESOLVED, I THINK YOU SHOULD USE THIS OPPORTUNITY. YOU'VE GOT

[02:15:04]

BALLPARK ARE INDIGENT CARE? >> 45% ARE COMPLETELY UNFUNDED.

>> 45? OKAY THANK YOU. AND WHEN YOU LOOK, YOU MENTIONED IN YOUR LEGAL LANGUAGE THAT YOUR ATTORNEY GAVE YOU. I'M ASSUMING HE DID. THAT THIS CONDEMNATION DOESN'T VIOLATE CHAPTER 26 PARKS AND WILDLIFE CODE. YOU'RE ABSOLUTELY CONFIDENT , I WILL LOOK AT THE COUNTY ATTORNEY, YOU'RE ABSOLUTELY CONFIDENT THAT WE DO NOT VIOLATE PARKS AND WILDLIFE BECAUSE THAT HAS BEEN ASSERTED IN MORE THAN ONE CASE, SO WE ARE GOOD WITH PARKS AND

WILDLIFE CHAPTER 26. >> YES I AM HESITANT TO SAY THAT BEFORE WE HAVE OUR OWN PUBLIC HEARING JOSÉ CHAPTER 26 IS A FAIRLY FIXABLE STANDARD FOR THE GOVERNMENT. YOU WILL HAVE TO MAKE FINDINGS AFTER THAT HEARING. STANDING HERE TODAY I DO NOT HAVE ANY CONCERNS THAT WE WON'T BE ABLE TO MEET THAT STANDARD. OBVIOUSLY THERE WILL BE DIFFERENCES OF OPINION AND THAT MIGHT BE WORKED OUT IN LITIGATION BUT STANDING HERE TODAY IT SEEMS LIKE STANDARD WOULD BE MET.

>> WELL SAID MR. ATTORNEY. I UNDERSTAND THAT. THE GUARANTEE PART IS PROBABLY WE DON'T. THERE IS ISSUES RELATED TO FLOODING, THIS IS DEEPER IN THE FLOODPLAIN THAN ANYTHING ELSE YOU HAVE AT BEN TAUB. SO, A DESIGN TAKES INTO ACCOUNT ALL OF THAT. WE KNOW THAT BECAUSE OF THE STORMS WE HAVE EXPERIENCED, THERE HAS BEEN ISSUES WITH WATER IN THE DISTRICT, THE MEDICAL CENTER DISTRICT. I THINK WITH RECENT IMPROVEMENTS ON THE BAYOU OTHER MAJOR STORM SEWER IMPROVEMENTS MADE IN THE GENERAL AREA I DON'T THINK A LOT OF THAT FLOODPLAIN DATA HAS TAKEN THAT FULLY INTO ACCOUNT. THE TECHNICAL TERM I'M NOT SURE THE LETTER REVISION HAS BEEN COMPLETELY DONE AND RELATED TO THIS SIDE OR OTHERS, THAT IS A TECHNICAL ISSUE BUT WE GOT INTO A CONVERSATION SO I WOULD JUST GIVE GREAT ENCOURAGEMENT AS WE MOVE FORWARD THAT , THAT IS AN ISSUE PLEASE GIVE IT SPECIAL CONSIDERATION AND ATTENTION AND THE DESIGN GOING FORWARD. I STILL THINK SOME THINGS THAT WERE SUGGESTED, IN TERMS OF THE OLD BEN TAUB ONE OF THE SPEAKERS REFERRED TO YOU PROBABLY OUGHT

[02:20:04]

>> GO AHEAD. >> IF I MAY QUICKLY COMMISSIONER RAMSEY THANK YOU. CAN WE CAN COUNT ON YOU TO BE MY CANDIDATE SOUNDING BOARD, THAT I WOULD LIKE.

>> YOU SAID EARLIER COMMISSIONER ELLIS AND COMMISSIONER GARCIA AND I TRY NOT TO TAKE NAMES BUT I AM EQUALLY PASSIONATE AND CONCERNED ABOUT HEALTH CARE AS COMMISSIONER BRIONES IS.

>> MY REFERENCE WAS TO THE FAMILY , THEY HAVE PERSONAL FAMILY ENCOUNTERS AT BEN TAUB HOSPITAL , THAT'S WHAT I MEAN.

>> I WILL SHARE WITH YOU MY PERSONAL.

>> THANK YOU FOR THAT. >> EVERYBODY HAS SPOKEN.

COMMISSIONER RAMSEY PRETTY MUCH, WHAT YOU SAY I AGREE WITH EVERY PART OF IT. AND SO, SO LET ME MAKE A COUPLE ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS RELATED TO COMMISSIONER RAMSEY SAID. ON THE FLOODING PIECE, AND MAYBE THIS IS A QUESTION FOR JESSE I DON'T KNOW. HOW DO WE KNOW OR DO WE NEED TO PASS ANY SORT OF MOTION FOR THE FLOOD CONTROL EVALUATION TO BE DONE TO THE HIGHEST STANDARDS? BECAUSE YES, WE HAVE THE BAYOU ET CETERA DO THEY NEED TO DIG DETENTION BASIN THAT KIND OF THING?

>> I DON'T THINK SO, YOU HAVE TO GO THROUGH FLOOD CONTROL ON PERMITTING ON ANYTHING THEY DO AND THEY ALWAYS DO THAT TO THEIR HIGHEST STANDARD. DR. PETERSON'S TEAM TAKES THAT VERY

SERIOUSLY. >> THAT IS GOOD FOR THE RECORD.

I NOTICED A DIFFERENT TRACK OF LAND SO THAT WILL BE GOOD TO KNOW. THE PIECE ABOUT THE , YOU TOUCHED ON THIS BRIEFLY BUT I DID PROMISE TO ASK ON THEIR BEHALF YOU'RE EXPANDING THE HOSPITAL SO HOW ARE YOU EXPANDING SERVICES, AS WELL?

>> THANK YOU FOR THAT, I KNOW THAT HAS BEEN ONE OF YOUR AREAS OF FOCUS AND IT HAS BEEN MINE. I HAVE SHARED IN ONE OF THE TOWNHALL'S THAT WHEN I WAS BEING INTERVIEWED FOR MY ROLE ALMOST EXACTLY 6 YEARS AGO NOW IN THE FINAL INTERVIEW 9 MEMBERS OF THE HARRIS HEALTH BOARD THE FINAL QUESTION WAS WHY SHOULD WE SELECT YOU AS CEO? I WAS VERY TRANSPARENT AND HONEST AND I TOLD THEM IF YOU'RE LOOKING FOR HOSPITAL CENTRIC CEO THAT WILL GLORIFY THE HOSPITAL AS PROUD AS I AM I AM NOT YOUR GUY BUT IF YOU'RE LOOKING FOR SOMEBODY WHO IS GOING TO TAKE HARRIS HEALTH TO THE NEXT CHAPTER OF BEING A HEALTH SYSTEM FOCUSED ON HEALTH PROMOTION AND DISEASE PREVENTION I AM YOUR GUY TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION HARRIS HEALTH HAS NEVER IN ITS HISTORY OF 6 YEAR HISTORY BEEN COMMITTED MORE TO TAKING HEALTHCARE TO OUR COMMUNITIES THAN WE ARE TODAY AS PART OF THE $2.5 BILLION BOND PROPOSAL $500 MILLION OF WHICH IS GOING TO THE EXPANSION OF CAPACITY AND CAPABILITIES OF OUR EXISTING CLINICS, CREATION OF NEW

COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTERS. >> SPECIFICALLY ON BEN TAUB.

>> ON BEN TAUB THIS IS THE BEN TAUB EXPANSION JUDGE MEANT TO INCREASE THE INPATIENT CAPACITY OF BEN TAUB HOSPITAL THROUGH THE THROUGHPUT, BUT I CAN MENTION THIS ISSUE OF THE OLD BEN TAUB THAT IS A PSYCHIATRIC CENTER THEY HAVE INVESTED MILLIONS TO INCREASE THE CAPACITY OF THE NEUROPSYCHIATRIC CENTER THAT IS THE ONLY PLACE HARRIS HEALTH PROVIDES

INPATIENT. >> MY QUESTION IS ARE SERVICES GOING TO INCREASE QUANTITY VICE IF NOT WHY NOT ?

>> NOT THAT SERVICES ARE GOING TO BE INCREASED AS THE LEVEL 1

[02:25:04]

>> OKAY. >> THE ISSUE NOW JUDGE 98% OF THE TIME WAS SATURATION STATUS MEANING EVERY HOSPITAL BED IS TAKEN UP BY A PATIENT INCLUDING IN THE EMERGENCY ROOM.

>> THE SAME PEOPLE YOU'RE SEEING YOU DON'T HAVE TO PUT THEM IN THE HALLWAYS ANYMORE. YOU ARE NOT SEEING MORE PEOPLE?

>> WE'RE GOING TO SEE MORE PEOPLE. WHAT HAS HAPPENED NOW JUDGE IS BEN TAUB HOSPITAL HAS 98 EMERGENCY ROOM BEDS, EVERY MORNING WE RECEIVE A HUDDLE TELLING US THE SATURATION STATUS. IT IS NOT UNUSUAL TO HEAR THAT 70 OF THE 98 BEDS ARE TAKEN UP BY PATIENTS WHO HAVE BEEN ADMITTED TO THE HOSPITAL BUT DON'T HAVE A PLACE TO GO TO. THAT MEANS BASICALLY BEN TAUB EMERGENCY ROOM IS AT A STANDSTILL THAT'S WHY YOU HEARD

FROM ONE OF THE PATIENTS >> THAT IS WHAT MAKES THIS LEVEL ONE DESIGNATED HOSPITAL.

>> I JUST WANT TO UNDERSTAND THE LOGIC OF THIS. I THOUGHT IT WAS A LOGICAL QUESTION. WE ARE GOING TO HAVE MORE SPACE IN THE HOSPITAL WHICH MEANS PEOPLE ARE NOT GOING TO BE IN THE HALLWAYS AND THERE'S NOT GOING TO BE A EMERGENCY ROOM. AND THIS IS ALL GREAT. I THOUGHT OKAY, IT'S GOING TO BE A LARGER BUILDING, MORE SPACE BUT THE SAME AMOUNT OF PEOPLE. SO IT'S NOT LIKE WE NEED ADDITIONAL DOCTORS, ADDITIONAL MACHINES. WE DO EXPECT MORE PEOPLE. HOW CAN YOU TREAT MORE PEOPLE WITHOUT MORE

EQUIPMENT, DOCTORS ET CETERA. >> WE WILL NEED MORE DOCTORS, MORE NURSES, MORE EQUIPMENT. PART OF THAT IS ALSO PROCEDURE ROOMS. WE ARE GOING TO DO ALL OF THOSE THINGS.

>> DO YOU HAVE THE MONEY FOR THAT OR IS THAT COMING BACK

LATER? >> THAT COMES FROM OUR

OPERATIONAL MONEY. >> SO YOU ARE INCREASING THE QUANTITY OF SERVICES AND YOU HAVE MONEY TO PAY FOR THAT.

>> YES. >> THANK YOU. THE ENGAGEMENT PIECE, I CAN'T THANK YOU ENOUGH AND EVERYBODY FOR THE SOLUTION.

PART OF IT IS COMMISSIONER ELLIS USING PART OF HIS BUDGET THAT HE COULD USE FOR OTHER NEEDS IN ITS PRESENT TO , DID IT SAY WE WOULD TAKE SOME PARKLAND. YES, WE PASSED IT BY 70% AND I THINK IT WOULD HAVE PASSED ANYWAY BECAUSE PEOPLE CARE SO MUCH ABOUT HEALTHCARE. BUT I THINK THAT'S IMPORTANT ENOUGH THAT EVEN IF IT COULDN'T IN THE LANGUAGE, SOMEHOW PEOPLE SHOULD HAVE KNOWN. FOR WHAT IT'S WORTH. ON THE AGREEMENT THIS IS AN OPEN QUESTION TO THE PARK FOLKS , IS THERE ANYTHING YOU NEED AS A COMMISSIONERS COURT TODAY OR ARE YOU GUYS COOL WORKING BEHIND THE

SCENES. >> I BELIEVE WE ARE COOL JUDGE BUT I HAVE TO SAY SOMETHING ABOUT THIS PARKLAND ISSUE AND DWIGHT WAS NOT IN THE LANGUAGE. BECAUSE IT WAS NOT IN CONSIDERATION. AT THE TIME OF THE ELECTION NOVEMBER 2023 PARKLAND WAS NOT A CONSIDERATION. THAT'S WHY IT

WAS NOT IN THE LANGUAGE. >> YOU DIDN'T KNOW HOW YOU

WOULD EXPAND IT. >> WE DID NOT AT THE TIME. WE WERE LOOKING AT ALL OPTIONS INCLUDING BUILDING ON TOP AND

BUILDING NEXT TO. >> MY CLOSING COMMENT IS I DO BELIEVE AND I TRUST AND BELIEVE WE ARE GOING TO SORT THIS OUT.

THANKS TO ALL OF YOU AND THE COMMISSIONER AND EVERYONE HAVE TO GIVE A LITTLE BIT. SHOWED HIS DECADES OF EXPERIENCE AND CREATIVITY AND WE WERE LUCKY THAT WE HAVE THIS OPTION. BUT IF WE HADN'T HAD THIS OPTION I DON'T THINK THE ENGAGEMENT YOU DID WOULD HAVE BEEN ENOUGH FOR US TO SORT OUT WHAT THE OUTCOME IS. SO I AGREE WITH COMMISSIONER RAMSEY THAT IT'S GOOD DATA THAT HOPEFULLY YOU CAN BUILD ON. I KNOW YOU ARE STRETCHED FOR DOLLARS AS IT IS SO I DON'T KNOW THAT YOU CAN DO MORE WITH THE DATA BUT FOR THE RECORD I DO WANT TO SAY IT WAS A GOOD START.

TWO SOLVE THIS WE WOULD HAVE NEEDED TO SPLIT THE COMMUNITY

[02:30:03]

FORGET THE OTHER ONES. INSTEAD OF JUST RECORDING THE QUESTIONS LET'S HAVE THEM HELP US COME UP WITH AN ANSWER. SO I'M GLAD WE DID ALWAYS TOWN HALLS. BUT I DON'T THINK THEY WOULD HAVE SOLVED THE ISSUE HAD COMMISSIONER ELLIS NOT BAILED US OUT. TO SAY THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER ELLIS AND JUST THANK YOU TO EVERYBODY INVOLVED. THAT'S AMAZING. THE FUNDRAISING NUMBERS, EVERYTHING AND I HOPE WE HAVE A RESOLUTION, A COMPROMISE WITH ENOUGH LEAD TIME FROM THE DAY BEFORE ON THIS.

>> WAS MY LANGUAGE SUFFICIENT ON THE MOTION?

>> YES. >> I DO WANT TO MAKE IT CLEAR TO MY COLLEAGUES WE DON'T HAVE TO VOTE ON WHETHER OR NOT TO CONDEMN, WE HAVE TO HAVE THE HEARING. AND I WOULD PROBABLY WANT TO SEE WHAT WE ARE GOING TO DO. IF I WERE HIM. I DON'T WANT TO SPEAK FOR HIM BUT SEE WHAT WE ARE GOING TO DO. AND I WANT TO STRESS MAY BE TO SOMEONE ON YOUR BOARD, I MAKE A COMMENT. WHEN IT IS BUILT THAT I WOULD TRY TO TIE THE HANDS OF A FUTURE COMMISSIONER COURT TO USE THE CURRENT LAND IT IS ON AS PARK SPACE. AND THAT MAY BE SO FAR DOWN THE ROAD. ALL OF US WON'T BE HERE OR THE ONE SOURCE WHO ARE HERE MAY NOT KNOW WE ARE HERE. THAT'S GOING TO BE SOMETIME DOWN THE ROAD. BUT I HAVE NOT FORGET THAT. THE MOTION I MADE IS ON THE TABLE.

>> WE HAVE A MOTION. IS THERE A SECOND? ALL IN FAVOR?

>> JUDGE, I'M SORRY. JUST SO WE CAN HAVE IT CLEAR ON THE RECORD CAN YOU PLEASE REPEAT THE MOTION?

>> MOTION TO POST NOTICE OF A PUBLIC HEARING TO BE HELD ON MARCH 19TH, 2026 REGARDING THE ACQUISITION OF HERMAN PARKLAND FOR THE EXPANSION OF THE HOSPITAL.

>> THAT IS ON ITEM 329. >> PURSUANT TO CHAPTER 26. OF THE TEXAS PARKS AND WILDLIFE CODE.

>> ANYTHING ELSE? >> THAT IS FOR ITEM 328.

>> 329. 328 IS NO ACTION. MOTION BY COMMISSIONER ELLIS, SECOND BY COMMISSIONER. ALL IN FAVOR? ANY OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY. THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH. ALL RIGHT. WE NORMALLY DON'T ALLOW CLAPPING. THEN PEOPLE START HOOTING AND

[Departments (Part 1 of 4)]

>> I WANT TO LET MR. ROMERO COMMENT. I KNOW YOU'VE BEEN HAVING MEETINGS WITH THE DEPARTMENT HEADS. I KNOW IT'S DIFFICULT WHEN YOU ARE TRYING TO MAKE UP FOR DECADES OF INEQUITIES THAT EXIST. I WON'T RUN THROUGH ALL OF THIS BUT WE KNOW THE THINGS WE'VE DONE, COMMISSIONERS COURT HAS DONE A LOT OF THINGS TO REALLY TRY AND ADDRESS EMPLOYEE INEQUITIES. AND WE NEVER FUNDAMENTALLY UPDATED OUR STRUCTURE FOR CIVILIAN EMPLOYEES WHO ARE AT LEAST TWO THIRDS OF OUR WORKFORCE. WHEN THE STUDY CAME OUT IT DID SHOW THAT MOST OF THE DISPARITIES ARE FOR WOMEN AND WOMEN OF COLOR. THESE ARE FOR FOLKS AT THE BOTTOM. IT'S NOT PERFECT, I DIDN'T PICK GALLAGHER. I WAS COMPLAINING ABOUT THAT LETTER. IF I HAD KNOWN THEY WOULD HAVE GOTTEN A FEW CHOICE WORDS. THAT WOULD HAVE PUT ME IN SOME HOT WATER. BUT I AM PREPARED TO DO WHATEVER THE COURT WANTS TO DO AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE. I HEARD SOME OF THE COMMENTS EARLIER.

EVEN SOME ON MY STAFF. WHEN PEOPLE ON THE HIGHER END WHEN I RAISE THEM UP, I AM SURE PEOPLE WERE ANGRY ON THE BOTTOM. THEY JUST DIDN'T SAY IT. BUT I JUST WANT US TO DO THIS AS QUICKLY AS

[02:35:08]

>> I DO WANT TO THANK ALL THE DEPARTMENT HEADS AND YOUR OFFICE AS WELL. PEOPLE HAVE PUT IN A TON OF WORK AND I WANT TO RECOGNIZE ANDREW KAUFMAN WHO IS THE COUNTY CHIEF PEOPLE OFFICER REALLY WORKING HARD WITH THE DEPARTMENT TO GET THIS RIGHT. I THINK YOU MAKE A GREAT POINT THAT WE ARE TRYING TO MAKE SIMILAR ACROSS A LOT OF DIFFERENT OPERATIONS. A LOT OF DIFFERENT DEPARTMENTS. YOU MENTIONED IN THE PAST HOW UNIQUE A LOT OF OUR DEPARTMENTS ARE. WE AGREE. THIS IS HARD WORK AND IT HASN'T GONE PERFECTLY AND I KNOW THERE'S A LOT OF CHALLENGES SO I JUST WANT TO THANK THE DEPARTMENT HEADS, ESPECIALLY THE ELECTED OFFICIALS FOR PARTICIPATING WITH US.

THEY'VE BEEN GREAT PARTNERS, EVERYBODY IS WORKING HARD. WE ARE NOT THERE YET, A LOT OF QUESTIONS REMAIN. I THINK FOR DEPARTMENTS THAT HAVE SUBMITTED REPORTS TO US, WE ARE SORT OF IN 50 TO 60% RANGE. I DO THINK A LOT OF THOSE THAT WE'VE SEEN OUR WE HAVE A LOT MORE AGREEMENTS ON THE LOWER END.

THERE IS MORE DISAGREEMENT ON THE HIGHER END. AGAIN, TRYING TO SORT PEOPLE INTO CLASSIFICATIONS AND I THINK SOME DEPARTMENTS SAID WELL, SOME OF OUR LEADERSHIP WE SHOULD RECONSIDER AS WELL. I KNOW THE FOCUS HAS GENERALLY BEEN WITH THIS PROGRAM ON THE LOWER END. SO I WOULD ENCOURAGE DEPARTMENTS TO CONTINUE TO PUT THEIR FOCUS THEIR. WE MAY NOT BE ABLE TO AFFORD DOING THE BOTTOM TO THE EXTENT THAT WE TALKED ABOUT AND THE TOP AT THE SAME TIME. SO JUST.

>> LAST POINT I WANT TO MAKE. WHEN I PUT THE ITEM ON THE TABLE AND FOUGHT FOR IT IT WAS TO TRY TO HELP THOSE PEOPLE AT THE BOTTOM AND IF A DEPARTMENT HEAD DECIDES TO OPT OUT FINE, IF THEY WANT TO DELAY IT FIND BUT WHAT I DON'T SUPPORT IS TAKING THIS MONEY AND JUST GIVING IT TO THE DEPARTMENT. PAY EQUITY FOR PEOPLE AT THE BOTTOM. FOR THOSE WHO CAN DO IT TO MOVE FORWARD.

THEY ARE EXPECTING IT, THEY'VE BEEN WAITING ON IT. BUT I WOULD OPPOSE TAKING MONEY THAT WAS EARMARKED FOR PAY EQUITY FOR PEOPLE AT THE BOTTOM AND JUST GIVING IT TO DEPARTMENTS. THEY CAN GO THROUGH THE PROCESS AND MAKE THAT CASE BUT THAT WAS NOT

THE INTENT. >> I DO WANT TO STRESS ALSO I THINK THEY TALKED ABOUT MEETING A LITTLE BIT MORE TIME. WE HAVE TALKED TO COUNTY ATTORNEY, COURT HAS BEEN CLEAR, FEBRUARY 7TH IS THE DATE THIS SHOULD TAKE EFFECT. SO MY UNDERSTANDING IS WE ARE ABLE TO DO THAT EVEN IF WE DO A SLIGHT DELAY IN TERMS OF GETTING THINGS READY AND GETTING THEM SET UP. MAKE SURE JOHN DOESN'T GIVE ME THE STINK EYE BUT WE ARE GOING TO REMAIN IN POSITION FOR THIS TO BE EFFECTIVE AS OF FEBRUARY 7TH.

>> EXISTING COMMISSIONERS COURT ORDER THAT WOULD BRING ALL THE FOLKS WHO ARE NOT AT THE MINIMUM OF THE NEW CATEGORIES TO THAT MINIMUM SO THAT HAS ALREADY BEEN APPROVED BY COMMISSIONERS COURT.

THAT CAN BE DONE ON FAIRBURY SEVENTH OR IF THE DEPARTMENT HEADS NEED MORE TIME IT COULD BE RETROACTIVE PAY BACK TO FEBRUARY

7TH. >> YOU WOULD NEED A MOTION FOR FOLKS WHO ARE NOT GOING TO BE PAID AT THE MINIMUM OF THE CATEGORIES AND I HAVE SOME PROPOSED LANGUAGE. LET'S JUST SAY THE COUNTY CLERK COMES BACK AND WORKS WITH GALLAGHER AND THOSE RECOMMENDATIONS ARE CHANGED FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE NOT AT THE BOTTOM OF THEIR CLASSIFICATION WE COULD HAVE MOTIONS TODAY THAT WOULD ALLOW THEM TO BE PAID RETROACTIVELY WHEN THE COUNTY CLERK COMES BACK.

>> THAT WOULD BE THE RECOMMENDATION I WOULD MAKE.

>> COMMISSIONER GARCIA AND BEN RAMSEY.

>> I SUPPORT THIS ITEM AND I COMPLETELY AGREE WITH IT. BUT I DO GET SOME CONCERNS AND I'VE BEEN HEARING THEM FROM NOT ONLY DIRECTORS BUT MY STAFF AS WELL. SO MY CONCERN IS WHETHER THE

[02:40:04]

AND SO MY CONCERN IS WHETHER THE DATA QUALITY HAS BEEN THOROUGHLY PREPARED. IT IS A LARGE CHANGE AND A LOT DEPENDS ON THE DATA AND HOW WELL HRT AND AUDITORS HAVE TESTED THE QUALITY OF THE DATA. SO WE ARE MAKING SIGNIFICANT UPDATES ACROSS HR, PAYROLL. IF THESE ARE NOT FULLY TESTED THE RISK IS THAT EMPLOYEES COULD SEE DELAYS OR ERRORS IN THEIR PAYCHECKS. WE CAN'T HAVE THAT HAPPEN. SO I'VE GOT SOME QUESTIONS AND I AM NOT SURE IF THEY ARE FOR YOU OR OCA BUT I KNOW THEY ARE FOR UNIVERSAL SERVICES DIRECTOR. HAVE THE SYSTEM CHANGES BEEN FULLY TESTED AND INCLUDING PAYROLL EXECUTION? ARE THERE ANY KNOWN RISKS WE SHOULD BE AWARE OF BEFORE IMPLEMENTATION AND DO WE HAVE CONTINGENCIES IN PLACE FOR THEM?

>> WE PUT IN PLACE EXTENSIVE TESTING AND WE ARE IN THE PROCESS OF DOING THAT AND WE ARE PLANNING TO RUN A MOCK PAYROLL TO MAKE SURE THAT THE PAYROLL WORKS EFFECTIVELY AS WELL AND

PARTNERING WITH SERVICES. >> COMMISSIONER, THANK YOU FOR THE QUESTION AND I AGREE WITH ANDREA. FOR THIS CYCLE OF CHANGES TO THE POINT THAT YOU MADE, THIS IS A LARGE SCALE DATA CHANGE THAT IS GOING TO IMPACT THE JOB CODES, CLASSIFICATION, THE RANGE, ALL OF IT. SO WE ARE TAKING ALL THE STEPS TO MAKE SURE IT IS END-TO-END TESTING IMPLEMENT IT. THE TIMELINES ARE EXTREMELY TIGHT SO THAT IS ONE OF THE RISKS THAT I REALLY WOULD LIKE TO EMPHASIZE. THE RESPONSES FROM THE DEPARTMENTS AND TIME THAT IT TAKES FOR US TO GET THE DATA INTO THE SYSTEM, BOTH OF THOSE HAVE TO BE COORDINATED VERY CLOSELY. THAT IS ONE OF THE

BIG RISKS WE HAVE. >> HOW MUCH MORE TIME WOULD YOU

SUGGEST? >> I DON'T HAVE THE ANSWER ON TOP OF MY HEAD BUT OUR TEAMS ARE EVALUATING EVERY DAY. WE GO THROUGH HOW MUCH PROGRESS HAVE YOU MADE AND HOW MUCH MORE TIME WILL IT ADD. SO WE'VE BEEN IN DISCUSSIONS WITH ANDREA AND THE AUDITORS TEAM TO SEE IF WE NEED TO PUSH THE DATES ANY FURTHER. I DON'T HAVE THE ANSWER TO THE QUESTION DIRECTLY.

>> IF YOU COULD WORK TO BRING THAT TO US.

>> THE LAST UPDATE WE GOT WAS ALL GREEN. WE GOT ALL GREEN JUST YESTERDAY ON THE LAST UPDATE. BUT I DO WANT TO STRESS THAT EVEN IF THOSE SYSTEMS ARE RIGHT WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT ALL THE APARTMENTS, ESPECIALLY THE COUNTY CLERK AND YOUR OFFICES ARE AS GOOD AS THEY CAN BE AND READY.

>> THANK YOU. AND I THINK YOU AND I HAD A CONVERSATION EARLY ON IN THIS PROCESS THAT THE DATA WAS NOT PULLED WITH YOUR ASSISTANCE. AND THIS BRINGS ME BACK TO THE CONVERSATION OF A DATA WAREHOUSE THAT THE COUNTY SHOULD HAVE. ARE WE STILL AT THAT POINT OF THE VALUE OF A DATA WAREHOUSE TO THIS AND

FUTURE PROCESSES? >> DATA WAREHOUSE DEFINITELY IS OF VALUE. I WILL NEVER DENY THAT.

>> JUST A MOMENT DIRECTOR. >> MOTION BY COMMISSIONER ALICE.

SECOND BY COMMISSIONER RAMSEY. MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY. GO

AHEAD. >> THANK YOU, JUDGE. THE VALUE THAT IT ADDS ON THESE PROCESSES. THE EARLY CONVERSATION WAS PRIOR TO GALLAGHER AND PROVIDING US THE DATA SETS IN THE FORMAT THAT WAS NECESSARY. NOW WE HAVE CROSSED THAT HURDLE AND WE ARE ABLE TO GET THOSE TITLES AND ACCURATE FASHION. WE HAVE SEEN

[02:45:06]

PAYROLL TESTING. >> ARE WE STILL IN NEED OF A

DATA WAREHOUSE? >> THAT WOULD HELP IN A LOT OF REPORTS THAT ANDREA AND HER TEAM WOULD REQUIRE IN THE FUTURE.

>> I WILL LOOK TO BRING AN ITEM FOR THAT IN THE FUTURE. THANK

YOU VERY MUCH. >> COMMISSIONER BRIONES AND

COMMISSIONER RAMSEY. >> THANK YOU CHIEF PEOPLE OFFICER AND AMANDA PORTER AND JESSE AND ALL THE TEAM. DANIEL.

MY COLLEAGUES AND I ARE DEEPLY COMMITTED TO MAKING SURE WE ARE PAYING OUR HARRIS COUNTY TEAM MEMBERS EQUITABLY. I AM DEEPLY CONCERNED YOU HEARD OUR LITANY, I APPRECIATE HOW MUCH WORK YOU HAVE BEEN DOING BUT I AM VERY CONCERNED THAT AS OF THIS MORNING ONLY 20 OF 70 DEPARTMENTS HAVE CONFIRMED AND BY CONFIRMED, THAT IS A GENEROUS TERM BECAUSE EVEN WITHIN THE 20 THAT HAVE 40% WERE CONTESTED. AND SO THERE IS VALIDATION THAT IS ABSOLUTELY NEEDED BECAUSE WE ARE TRYING TO DO RIGHT BY PEOPLE AND CORRECT INEQUITY. THE LAST THING WE NEED TO DO IS EXACERBATE THEM. SO WHAT COUNTY ATTORNEY AND MY TEAM AND I AND I KNOW OTHERS HAVE TALKED ABOUT, WE HAVE TOLD OUR HARRIS COUNTY TEAM MEMBERS WE WOULD GO LIVE FEBRUARY 7TH. WE WANT TO HONOR THAT. IN TERMS OF THIS RETROACTIVE PLAY TO MAKE SURE WE ARE GOING TO MAKE OUR TEAM MEMBERS WHOLE IN A CORRECT WAY BASED ON CORRECT DATA AND THINK YOU DO ALL THE DEPARTMENT HEADS WHO HAVE REACHED OUT TO EXPRESS CONCERNS INCLUDING THE ONES WHO SPOKE TODAY. WE NEED TO GET IT RIGHT AND I WANT TO MAKE SURE WE HONOR THIS FEBRUARY 7TH AND I WANT TO MAKE SURE WE ARE HONORING IT BASED ON THE CORRECT FINAL RECOMMENDATIONS, NOT JUST A MINIMUM IN SOME INSTANCES WE MAY WARRANT MORE THAN THE MINIMUM. WHAT WOULD BE THE BEST LANGUAGE TO USE SO THAT WE CAN MAKE THAT HAPPEN BASED ON THE FINAL CORRECT RECOMMENDATIONS

AND NOT OR SOMETHING. >> WHAT I WOULD PROPOSE IS A MOTION TO DIRECT HRT TO PROCESS ALL COMPENSATION AND EQUITY STUDY RECOMMENDATIONS AFTER GALLAGHER RETURNS WITH FINAL AMENDED RECOMMENDATIONS BASED ON FEEDBACK BY ALL DEPARTMENTS WITH AN EFFECTIVE DATE OF, I NEED ANDREA TO TELL ME. FEBRUARY 7TH.

THAT WAY IT WOULDN'T BE UNCONSTITUTIONAL. JUST AN

EARLIER EFFECTIVE DATE. >> JUST WANTED TO CONFIRM. ON THE AGENDA IT IS ONLY MARKED AS AN UPDATE.

>> THERE IS NO ACTION. >> WE COULD BRING IT BACK TO THE NEXT COURT BUT WE ALREADY PASSED THE FEBRUARY 7TH.

>> AS TO THE MINIMUM. NOT ALL RECOMMENDATIONS. THAT IS THE CHALLENGE. BUT ON FEBRUARY 12TH YOU COULD COME BACK.

>> BUT IN THE SPIRIT OF RELIANCE AND IN THE SPIRIT OF COMMITMENT TO ALL OF OUR TEAM MEMBERS WE WANT TO MAKE THIS RIGHT AND I WANT TO MAKE THEM WHOLE BASED ON THE DATE WE SAID. AND MAKE THEM WHOLE CORRECTLY. SO I WOULD LOVE TO WORK TOGETHER ON THE LANGUAGE FOR THE 12TH. I AM STATING MY COMMITMENT TO MAKING THE TEAM MEMBERS WHOLE BUT MY QUESTION IS GIVEN THIS 20 OUT OF 70 AND CONTESTED 40% OF THE 20 AND VERY REAL CONCERNS, I KNOW YOU ARE WORKING HARD BUT COULD YOU PLEASE REALLY WALK US THROUGH HOW WE ARE GOING TO VALIDATE THE DATA SO WE KNOW IT IS CORRECT AND WE ARE REALLY HONORING OUR TEAM MEMBERS IN THE CORRECT WAY?

>> YEAH, SO BASICALLY AT THE DECEMBER 11TH COURT TO PARTNER WITH THE APARTMENTS AND PRECINCTS TO MAKE SURE THAT WE WERE HEARING THEIR FEEDBACK AND INCORPORATING THAT. IT HAS BEEN VERY RUSHED AND SO I THINK THAT IS PART OF THE REASON. I WAS LOOKING FOR MORE LIKE 8020 FOR A COMFORT LEVEL WE WERE MAKING GOOD PROGRESS BUT 60/40 MAKES ME LESS COMFORTABLE. THE PROCESS WOULD BE WE HAVE HAD A LOT OF GREAT ENGAGEMENT, RE-ENGAGE WITH THOSE DEPARTMENTS AND WITH WHERE THEY ARE RIGHT NOW. THOSE THAT HAVE ALREADY GIVEN THEIR FEEDBACK. IDENTIFY THOSE AREAS

[02:50:08]

TOGETHER. >> I LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING

TOGETHER FOR THAT. >> DANIEL POINTED OUT THAT ITEM TO WHICH INCLUDES A DISCUSSION OF THE SALARY INCREASES HAS POSSIBLE ACTION SO WE COULD DO IT UNDER THAT.

>> I LOVE TO MAKE A MOTION UNDER ITEM TWO. THANK YOU DANIEL.

THANK YOU JOHN. >> MOTION BY COMMISSIONER BRIONES. CONTINUE THE DISCUSSION. COMMISSIONER RAMSEY.

>> I AM NOT REPEATING EVERYTHING I SAID AT THE LAST MEETING. BUT DITTO WHAT I SAID IN THE LAST MEETING. I THINK PROGRESS HAS BEEN MADE. I THINK FOR THOSE DEPARTMENTS THAT HAVE RAISED THEIR HAND AND SAID THEY'VE GOT CONCERNS, NOT DOING THAT TO BE TROUBLESOME. THEY ARE DOING THAT BECAUSE THERE ARE SINCERELY CONCERNS. THE REASONS WHY AT LEAST I UNDERSTAND CHIEF, AND THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU'VE DONE. YOU'VE TAKEN A VERY FLAWED EFFORT ON BEHALF OF CONSULTANT AND YOU ARE TRYING TO PUT THAT SQUARE PEG AND YOU ARE WORKING HARD AT IT AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR EFFORTS. BUT WHEN DEPARTMENTS RAISE THEIR HAND AND I HAVE HAD SEVERAL RAISED THEIR HAND AND SAID WHEN YOU LOOK AT JOB DESCRIPTIONS AND POSITIONS AND THEY DON'T MAKE ANY SENSE.

ANOTHER DEPARTMENT SAYS 95% OF THE PEOPLE THAT WORK WON'T BE GETTING AN INCREASE YET THEY GET A LETTER SAYING THEY'RE GOING TO GET AN INCREASE. AND IT'S JUST BEEN A PROBLEM. AND WHEN WE SAY THERE IS A PROBLEM IT DOESN'T MEAN WE ARE OPPOSED.

LAST YEAR WE TOOK OVER $30 MILLION AND GAVE INCREASES TO PEOPLE MAKING LESS THAN 75,000 SO THAT WE COULD BE SURE THAT WE ADDRESS THE FOLKS AT THE BOTTOM FIRST. BE SURE WE TOOK CARE OF THOSE. SO WE PUT FORTH 30 MILLION LAST YEAR TO ADDRESS THAT. 7 MILLION OF THIS YEAR IS GOING TO RACE AND GENDER ISSUES.

SPECIFICALLY TO THAT. AND SO WE I THINK MADE REALLY GREAT PROGRESS ON THE ORIGINAL INTENTION OF WHAT WE ARE TRYING TO DO. WHAT WE ARE TRYING TO DO NOW IS WORK OUT THE DETAILS. AND I DON'T WANT TO GET IN TROUBLE. BUT I DON'T UNDERSTAND AND IF THIS IS BAD INFORMATION I CAN SURELY GET THIS ADDRESSED NOW.

THE COUNTY ATTORNEY OFFICE APTED OUT OF THE PROCESS.

>> WHOEVER. >> WE DID.

>> I THINK THAT ALL THE REASONS AND I LOOKED AT THE REASONS. I AGREE WITH YOU. BUT ALL THOSE REASONS THAT YOU OPTED OUT, THOSE REASONS EXIST FOR A SIGNIFICANT NUMBER OF THE OTHER DEPARTMENTS. WHETHER IT'S THE D.A., FORENSICS, GO THROUGH THE LIST. THE REASONS THAT YOU OPTED OUT ARE THE REASONS THAT WE ARE HAVING PROBLEMS TODAY. SO I THINK YOU ARTICULATE IT VERY WELL IN THE COUNTY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE RELATED TO THE ISSUES.

THOSE ARE REAL ISSUES AND AGAIN, IT NEEDS TO BE DONE ACROSS THE BOARD. IT NEEDS TO BE DONE FAIRLY. WE ARE NOT READY, I THINK IS WHAT EVERYBODY IS RAISING THEIR HAND AND SAYING.

WE ARE SIMPLY NOT READY. BUT A DEADLINE IS A DEADLINE. WE'VE DONE SOME THINGS TO HELP MITIGATE THE SPECIFIC ISSUES WHETHER IT IS PEOPLE THAT MAKE LESS THAN 75,000. RACE AND

[02:55:01]

>> IF I COULD MAKE MY COMMENTS BEFORE I SEND IT BACK TO YOU. MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT FOLKS COULD IMPLEMENT IT IF THE RECOMMENDATIONS COME BACK ON THE SEVENTH, COULDN'T EACH DEPARTMENT HEAD OR ELECTED OFFICIALS DECIDE WHETHER THEY IMPLEMENT IT ON THE SEVENTH OR DO ADDITIONAL WORK AND IMPLEMENT

IT LATER? >> THAT WOULD BE UP TO YOU. THE

COMMISSIONERS AND YOURSELF. >> I GUESS COMMISSIONER RAMSEY, DOES THAT STILL CAUSE YOU HEARTBURN OR WHAT AM I MISSING? TO SAY GALLAGHER COMES BACK ON THE SEVENTH WITH RECOMMENDATIONS. MAYBE REST THAT WE MEET THE DEADLINE AND THEN EACH ELECTED OFFICIAL OR DEPARTMENT HEAD DECIDES WHETHER TO APPROVE THEM OR CONTINUE WORKING WITH GALLAGHER UNTIL THEY FEEL CONFIDENT THAT THERE ARE NO MISTAKES.

>> CAN I CLARIFY SOMETHING FOR YOU?

>> PART OF THE DEAL WHEN THEY COME BACK WITH CLARIFICATION, I WOULD BE SHOCKED IF THEY CAN ADDRESS ALL THE CONCERNS I'VE HEARD FROM THE DEPARTMENTS THAT CONTACTED ME. RECOGNIZING WHAT THEY HAVEN'T DONE UP TO THIS POINT.

>> COMMISSIONER BRIONES HAS MENTIONED THIS ALREADY. I WILL TAKE THE BLAME FOR SOME OF THAT, I THINK THE GUIDANCE BEING GIVEN DEPARTMENT HEADS IS WE WANTED TO HAVE THE OPTION FOR LET'S SEE WHAT WE CAN AGREE ON AND THEN DEAL WITH THOSE AND THEN COME BACK AND DEAL WITH THE REST. THAT IS UP TO COURT TO TAKE THAT DIRECTION OR SAY LET'S JUST HOLD OFF TOTALLY UNTIL WE ARE AT A HIGHER LEVEL OF CONFIDENCE ACROSS THE BOARD. BUT THAT WAS WHAT WE WERE TRYING TO MOVE TOWARDS AND SAYING IF YOU ARE LOOKING AT 800 EMPLOYEES, WE WERE HOPING MORE LIKE 70% WHERE WE COULD SAY WE HAVE AGREEMENT BUT THERE ARE SOME SUBS THAT WE ARE NOT AGREED ON. LET'S DO THAT AND THEN KEEP WORKING ON THE REST. THE OTHER IS WHAT I'VE HEARD THIS MORNING IS JUST HOLDING OFF A LITTLE BIT UNTIL WE ARE AT THAT HIGHER LEVEL OF CONFIDENCE AND WE HAVE MORE DEPARTMENTS. WE CAN DO EITHER AND STILL COMPENSATE EMPLOYEES AS WE.

>> I JUST HAVE ONE MORE QUESTION. IT'S RELATIVELY SMALL AND IT HAD A COUPLE OF JUST REALLY OFF. SO LET'S IMAGINE THAT'S ANOTHER DEPARTMENT. LET'S SAY THEY HAVE 100 EMPLOYEES AND 20 OF THEM ARE NOT RIGHT. WOULD THERE BE ANY SORT OF FINANCIAL, LOGISTICAL, LEGAL PROBLEM THAT WE MIGHT FORESEE IN TERMS OF THAT DEPARTMENT CLARIFYING WITH GALLAGHER? IN OTHER WORDS, SHOULD THE DEPARTMENTS AND GALLAGHER GO FOR YOU GUYS BEFORE THE CHANGES ARE ALLOWED TO BE LIMITED?

>> THAT'S WHAT'S HAPPENING, JUDGE. HR IS DEEPLY INVOLVED AND THE FILES ARE COMING TO HR AS WELL AND THE WORKSHOPS ARE GENERALLY WITH GALLAGHER BUT ALSO WITH HR.

>> DO YOU GUYS WANT TO VOTE ON THE MOTION? COMMISSIONER ELLIS

AND THEN GARCIA. >> I JUST WANT TO STRESS TO MY COLLEAGUES. IT'S A LOT EASIER TO CREATE INEQUITY. AND WE HAVE MADE PROGRESS. NOT JUST HARRIS COUNTY. IN THE HISTORY OF THIS COUNTRY IT'S BEEN MUCH EASIER TO CREATE INEQUITY. WE MADE

[03:00:14]

THAT'S WHY I'M SUPPORTIVE OF THE MOTION.

>> COMMISSIONER GARCIA. >> I WANT TO GET THIS DONE AS WELL. AND I THINK THIS IS ALSO A LESSON TO MAKE SURE WE KNOW WHAT KIND OF CONSULTANTS WE ARE HIRING. BUT ON THE MOTION THAT'S BEEN MADE A POINT OF RETRO IS I JUST WANT TO DOUBLE CHECK ARE WE READY TO GO WITH THAT? NOT SURE IF THAT IS A QUESTION FOR YOU OR YOU, DIRECTOR.

>> WE WOULD MAKE WHATEVER. OF TIME THAT WE ARE GOING TO TAKE TO GET THIS RIGHT WOULD MAKE WHATEVER CHANGES WE MAKE AT THAT POINT IN TIME EFFECTIVE SO WE ARE THEN ABLE TO PAY THAT.

>> THERE MIGHT BE A SMALL HICCUP ON THAT BECAUSE THE SYSTEM IS NOT CONFIGURED. THERE MIGHT BE SOME ADDITIONAL WORK AND TO LOOK AT WHAT WOULD NEED TO BE CHANGED IN ORDER FOR US TO ACCOMMODATE THAT. I DON'T BELIEVE I HAD VISIBILITY INTO THE LANGUAGE SO

I COULD PROVIDE THAT FEEDBACK. >> IF YOU COULD, JUST SO WE CAN

TRY TO GET IT RIGHT. >> COMMISSIONER BRIONES HAD THE

MOTION. >> I ALSO HAVE MY, I COULDN'T AGREE MORE. WE ARE HERE TO FIX THE INEQUITY BUT THE WHOLE POINT IS THAT THIS CREATES MORE INEQUITY. SO I WANT THE COUNTY ATTORNEY BLESSING TO MAKE SURE IT IS 100%, THE BEST OF BOTH WORLDS. GET THE DATA RIGHT BUT THEN THOSE ADJUSTMENTS WE WILL MAKE THEM WHOLE FINANCIALLY FOR ALL PEOPLE BASED ON THE DATE IT'S THE WAY TO GET THE BEST OF BOTH WORLDS AND NOT CREATE FURTHER INEQUITY. WE NEED THE DATA TO BE RIGHT AND WELL DONE.

WE NEED DOING CONSULTING TO KNOW WHAT THEY ARE DOING AND WE NEED TO MANAGE THEM PROPERLY AND I APPRECIATE YOU WRITING THE SHIP.

SO COUNTY ATTORNEY I HAVE LANGUAGE THAT I BELIEVE YOU

DRAFTED. >> IS AT THE ONE I READ EARLIER?

>> IT'S FOUR PARAGRAPHS. ISN'T THAT ONE?

>> DO YOU THINK BEFORE WE MAKE IT OUT OF RESPECT FOR DIRECTOR TO MAKE SURE THAT WE CAN IMPLEMENT THIS WITH EXCELLENCE AND IF THERE MUST BE A CREATIVE WORK AROUND GIVEN THE IMPORTANCE OF WHAT WE ARE DOING. SO CAN WE JUST HOLD YOU CAN MAKE SURE AND THEN COULD YOU PLEASE CIRCULATE THIS LANGUAGE? THEY CAN'T MAKE THOSE CHANGES BECAUSE THE DATA IS STILL INCORRECT IS THE BOTTOM LINE. WE ARE NOT SAYING MAKE THE CHANGES BECAUSE THOSE WOULD BE WRONG. FIX THE DATA, GET IT RIGHT AND THEN GO BACK AND PAY

PEOPLE. >> JUST MEANT IN THE LANGUAGE.

>> THE IMPORTANT PART IS THE WORD EFFECTIVE DATE SO THE PAY IS NOT CONSIDERED RETROACTIVE. YOU ARE APPROVING IT NOW FOR A FUTURE DATE. WE DON'T KNOW WHAT THAT AMOUNT IS AND WE WILL FIND THAT AMOUNT MAY BE IN ONE MONTH WHENEVER THEY COME BACK.

[03:05:04]

>> I THINK OUR TEAMS HAVE BEEN ADDING ADDITIONAL LANGUAGE SO I THINK IT MIGHT BE PRUDENT TO IF WE CAN TAKE A LOOK AT THE

UPDATES. >> I NEED TO SEE THE FINAL AND I WANT TO TAKE A LOOK AT IT AS WELL.

>> CAN DIRECTOR LOOK AT IT, HOW LONG WOULD IT TAKE YOU? WHAT COMMISSIONER ELLIS SAID IS WE ARE STOPPING IT AGAIN. CAN YOU LOOK AT IT IN LIKE 30 MINUTES? I FOLLOW YOUR LEAD ON THIS. WE NEED TO GO TO EXECUTIVE SESSION. BY THEN, HOPEFULLY ALL THE OFFICES GET ADDITIONS TO THE LANGUAGE ALTHOUGH THE COUNTY ATTORNEY SAYS THIS IS FINE. AND THEN BY THEN, DIRECTOR CAN

[Executive Session]

[Emergency/Supplemental Items (Part 2 of 4)]

TO DO NEXT? >> 331. THE BUILDING ISSUE.

>> DID YOU GUYS GET THE INFO BACK ABOUT THE PAY. ALL RIGHT. I JUST DON'T HAVE THE LIST. MY LIST GOT LOST IN ALL MY PAPERS.

THEY ARE LOOKING FOR IT. >> I THINK YOU WANTED 331. 77

AND 324. >> 331 JUDGE, IF I MAY. I'VE BEEN TOLD BY THE DEPARTMENT IT WILL BE ON THE NEXT AGENDA. IS THAT CORRECT? SO NO DISCUSSION. SPEAK

>> WHAT ITEM WAS THAT FOR? FOR 331. NO ACTION.

>> THEN 77 ON THE LEGISLATIVE AGENDA.

>> JUDGE, THAT ONE I AM ASKING MY COLLEAGUES. AND IF WE GO TO 307. I HAVE THE MOTION. ARE YOU HERE? CAN YOU READ THE MOTION? I THREW MY PAPERS AWAY WHEN I WALKED OUT OF HERE.

>> THE CLERK AND I WORKED ON IT.

>> IS ON ITEM TWO. >> IS IT MOTION TO PROVIDE A SUBLIMINAL BUDGET TO THE COUNTY CLERK'S OFFICE IN THE AMOUNT OF 3 MILLION. ENGAGEMENT AND COMPLIANCE. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER GARCIA. ALL IN FAVOR. AND HE OPPOSED. MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY. THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR WORK.

>> 324. PLANNING. >> THEY DID A GOOD JOB AND I

JUST WANT TO MOVE FORWARD. >> I BELIEVE COMMISSIONER RAMSEY

HAD QUESTIONS ABOUT IT. >> TALKING TO THE CLERK AND THOSE DETAILS I DON'T THINK WE PURSUED ALL THE ALTERNATIVES WHEN SUGGESTIONS WERE MADE TO THE COUNTY ENGINEER THEY WERE DISMISSED AND I THINK AT LEAST FROM COUNTY CLERK STANDPOINT OF NOT MOVING FROM THAT LOCATION I THINK IT HAD GREAT MERIT. I THINK THERE WERE OTHER OPTIONS IN MOVING THE CLERK.

>> I LIKE TO SAY BRIEFLY WE VOTED, THE COURT TO CREATE ADDITIONAL COURTS AND THE LEGISLATURE GRANTED US THAT. AND

[03:10:02]

TO MOVE FORWARD. >> DISTRICT CLERK IS FINE. I DON'T WANT TO MOVE TO COUNTY CLERK. TO BE CLEAR.

>> IS THE MIC ON? IT DOESN'T SEEM ON.

>> SO THIS PLANNING COMMUNITY HAS BEEN DEALING WITH FINDING OUT ADDITIONAL SPACE FROM LEGISLATOR. AND WE'VE BEEN WORKING FOR MONTHS TO FIND A SOLUTION. AND WE HAVE EXPLORED ALL THE OPTIONS. AND THIS PLANNING COMMITTEE HAS THE FULL DETAILS OF DIFFERENT OPTIONS AVAILABLE. IN THIS CASE SOME DIFFICULT DECISION HAS TO BE MADE. BECAUSE A LOT OF THE CHALLENGES WE HAVE ARE EVERYBODY WANT TO BE WITHIN THE PROXIMITY AND OF COURSE OPERATIONALLY PRESENTS A MATTER. AND IN THIS CASE WE HAVE DONE OUR BEST TO ACCOMMODATE THE NEW CODE AND AT THE SAME TIME FINDING A SPACE THAT IS NOT TOO FAR AWAY. AND THE CHIEF I INVITE HIM TO GIVE MORE DETAILS ABOUT INTERWORKING IN THE PLANNING COMMITTEE AND THIS IS THE RECOMMENDATION WE BROUGHT TO THE COMMITTEE AND THE COMMITTEE VOTED FOR IT. WE STILL BELIEVE THIS IS THE BEST DECISION. ONE OF THE THINGS WE ALSO PROMISED THE DEPARTMENT THAT WE WILL WORK WITH THEM IN TERMS OF TIMING SO THAT OPERATIONS IS NOT BEING

IMPACTED. WITH THAT SAID. >> THANK YOU. THAT AFTERNOON JUDGE AND COMMISSIONERS. AS THE COUNTY ENGINEER MENTIONED WE HAVE BEEN VETTING THIS FOR SEVERAL MONTHS. WE HAVE ENGAGED ALL THE STAKEHOLDERS. THE DISTRICT CLERK, COUNTY CLERK, THE COURTS, THE FAMILY COURTS, EVERYBODY HAS BEEN PART OF THIS CONVERSATION. WE HAVE GONE BACK AND VETTED SOME OF THE RECOMMENDATIONS THAT HAVE COME UP AT THE COMMITTEE. ABOUT ALTERNATE LOCATIONS OR POSSIBLY THE LAST RECOMMENDATION FROM THE DISTRICT CLERK WAS TO MOVE THE FAMILY COURTS OUT OF THE CIVIL BUILDING. WE WENT BACK TO THE STAKEHOLDERS AND GOT THEIR OPINION. AND AGAIN, I THINK THIS IS THE BEST OPERATIONAL EFFICIENCY RECOMMENDATIONS BASED ON THE INPUT WE GOT FROM STAKEHOLDERS. AND EVERYBODY INVOLVED. THE CONVERSATIONS WITH THE DISTRICT CLERK AS WELL AS COUNTY CLERK WAS THAT WE WERE GOING TO RELOCATE ANY OF THE HR FUNCTIONS, NON-PUBLIC FACING FUNCTIONS, THE CONVERSATIONS WENT BACK AND FORTH. WE WALKED THE SITES WITH THE COUNTY CLERK AND DISTRICT CLERK AT THE MINISTRATION BUILDING SO THEY COULD TAKE A LOOK AT THAT LOCATION. AND OUR COMMITMENT TO THEN ONCE THIS WAS TAKEN BY THE PLANNING COMMITTEE WAS TO WORK WITH BOTH THE CLERKS TO ENSURE THAT OPERATIONALLY THEY ARE NOT GOING TO BE AFFECTED IN THIS TRANSITION IN THIS RELOCATION. WE ARE SENSITIVE TO THE FACT THAT WE HAVE VARIOUS ELECTIONS COMING UP THIS YEAR. SO ANY OF THE PHASING, SEQUENCING WILL ENSURE THAT WE CAPTURE THAT WE ARE SENSITIVE TO THAT ASPECT AND WE WORK DIRECTLY WITH THE COUNTY CLERK AND STAFF TO ENSURE THAT NO MOVE IS GOING TO IMPACT IN ANY WAY ANY OF THE ELECTIONS. SO WE HAVE OPTIONS. WE ARE UNDER A TIMELINE. WE ALREADY HAVE ONE OF THE COURTS IS ALREADY OPERATIONAL. AS OF DECEMBER OF LAST YEAR. THEY ARE SHARING SPACE BUT WE HAVE OBLIGATION TO BUILD AN OPERATION. THE ONLY SPACE WE HAVE RIGHT NOW THAT MAKES THE MOST SENSE FOR EVERYBODY INVOLVED IS TO LOCATE THE CIVIL COURTS AT THE BUILDING. WE ARE GOING TO BE ABLE TO RELOCATE AND BUILD OUT ADDITIONAL COURTS IN THAT BUILDING AND REMAINING WILL HAVE TO GO MAYBE CONGRESS IS WHERE WE ARE LOOKING AT RIGHT NOW TEMPORARILY. BUT EITHER WAY, THIS IS NOT, AGAIN, THE PERFECT SOLUTION. BUT I THINK THE BEST SOLUTION THAT WE HAVE TO IMPLEMENT STATE LEGISLATIVE REQUIREMENT RIGHT NOW.

>> COMMISSIONER BRIONES, THEN ELLIS AND RAMSEY.

[03:15:03]

>> THANK YOU CHIEF AND I KNOW THE CLERK IS HERE SO IF THERE'S ANYTHING YOU WANTED TO SHARE DIRECTLY OUT OF RESPECT I'D LOVE TO HEAR IT. BUT FIRST OF ALL, I AM THRILLED, THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING YOU ARE DOING TO ACCOMMODATE THEM. THREE, THANK YOU FOR GATHERING THE STAKEHOLDERS TOGETHER. FOUR, MY BIG CONCERN YOU ALREADY RESPONDED TO MAKE SURE THE FORWARD FACING PUBLIC CIVIC FUNCTIONS BECAUSE I KNOW THE CLERK OFFICE EVERYTHING FROM MARRIAGE LICENSES TO BUSINESS REGISTRATIONS TO CIVIL COURT AT LAW, SO MANY FUNCTIONS NEED TO BE THERE SO JUST THE BACK OFFICE, LIKE HR OR FINANCE. THE BACK OFFICE FOLKS ARE THE ONES THAT ARE MOVING.

>> THAT'S CORRECT. LIMITED TO HR FUNCTIONS. WOULD BE THE ONES RELOCATED TO THE ADMINISTRATION BUILDING.

>> AND THEN FROM A TIMELINE PERSPECTIVE YOU TALKED ABOUT ELECTIONS AND GIVING GRACE SO WHAT WOULD THE TIMELINE BE?

>> THE GOAL IS TO GET THE COURTS BUILT OUT WITHIN 13 MONTHS BUT THE CRITICAL PATH IS TO BUILD OUT THE RELOCATION SPACE AT THE ADMINISTRATION BUILDING SO WE CAN MOVE THE CLERKS, HR FUNCTIONS TO THE ADMINISTRATION BUILDING THAT WOULD FREE UP AN EQUIVALENT OF ONE WHOLE FLOOR AT THE CIVIL COURTHOUSE BUILDING.

WHICH WOULD ALLOW US TO BUILD OUT ADDITIONAL COURTROOMS. SO THE TIMELINE IT WOULD TAKE BETWEEN FOUR TO SIX MONTHS TO BUILD OUT THE MINISTRATION BUILDING AND RELOCATE THE FUNCTIONS AND THEN TAKE US ABOUT ANOTHER FIVE TO SIX MONTHS TO BUILD THE COURTROOMS AT THE COURTHOUSE. THE SEQUENCING, THERE IS SOME FLEXIBILITY. WE DON'T HAVE TO MOVE THIS COUNTY CLERK. WE CAN WAIT UNTIL AFTER THE ELECTION TO PHYSICALLY MOVE THE HR FUNCTION. BUT THE BUILD OUT AND EVERYTHING WOULD ALLOW US TO MOVE ON SOME SPACE AT THE CIVIL COURTS.

>> I JUST ASK THAT YOU CONTINUE WORKING AS COLLABORATIVELY AS POSSIBLE. OUT OF RESPECT, IS THERE ANYTHING YOU'D LIKE TO

ADD? >> I'LL KEEP IT BRIEF. FOR CLARITY THE HR FUNCTION IS GOING TO STAY IT IS A TOTAL OF FIVE DIFFERENT DIVISIONS WITHIN THE NONELECTION SIDE OF THE COUNTY CLERK OFFICE THAT WOULD BE MOVING HERE. TO THIS BUILDING WHICH INCLUDES MY DATA ENTRY, MAILROOM, RECORD PRESERVATION AND COMMUNICATIONS TEAM. OBVIOUSLY I WAS NOT A FAN OF MOVING ANY OPERATIONS. I FINALLY GOT ELECTIONS IN ONE BUILDING AND TO HAVE THE OTHER SIDE IN ONE BUILDING THEY STILL INTERTWINE. SO WE ARE GOING BACK TO A STATE OF THOSE FUNCTIONS AND HAVING TO GO BACK AND FORTH BETWEEN CIVIL COURTS AND PRESTON TO CARRY OUT EVERYDAY OPERATIONS. BUT WE ALL HAVE TO WORK TOGETHER. THAT IS WHAT I HAVE DONE SO I APPRECIATE YOU FOR PUTTING THIS ON THE ITEM FOR ME TO BE ABLE TO SPEAK CLEARLY ABOUT HOW THAT'S GOING TO IMPACT US. THERE WILL BE A TRAVEL IMPACT BUT IT IS BEHIND-THE-SCENES. WE CANNOT AFFORD TO HAVE HR IN ANOTHER BUILDING WITH THE AMOUNT OF

STAFF I HAVE. >> THANK YOU FOR WORKING AS A

TEAM AS WE TRY OUR BEST. >> I WILL JUST MAKE A MOTION.

RELOCATION OF THE COUNTY CLERK AND DISTRICT CLERK ADMIN FUNCTIONS. IS THAT THE PHRASE? FROM 201 CAROLINA TO PRESTON.

>> IS THERE A SECOND? >> MOTION BY COMMISSIONER ELLIS, SECOND BY COMMISSIONER GARCIA. ALL IN FAVOR? ANY OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES FOUR TO ONE. SO WE HAVE THE MOTIONS. WHY DON'T

[Departments (Part 2 of 4)]

ITEM 14. >> THANK YOU JUDGE. WE DID LOOK

AT HOW WE WOULD PROCESS IT. >> I GOT THAT WRONG.

>> THIS WOULD BE APPLIED TO ITEM TWO.

>> ITEM TWO. THANK YOU. >> IT WOULD REQUIRE WORKAROUNDS TO BE PUT IN PLACE FOR US TO BE ABLE TO PUT THE DATA INTO THE SYSTEM. BUT YES, WE ARE ABLE TO COME UP WITH A WORKAROUND TO ACCOMMODATE THAT. AND WE CAN GET IT DONE.

>> I SECOND THE MOTION THAT WAS MADE EARLIER.

>> THERE IS A NEW SET OF MOTIONS WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON.

[03:20:04]

>> IT'S BEEN SENT TO THE CONTACT LIST BUT HOW ABOUT I READ THEM INTO THE RECORD. MOTION TO DIRECT HUMAN RESOURCES AND TALENT TO PROCESS WITHIN EFFECTIVE DATE OF FEBRUARY 7TH PAY ADJUSTMENT RESULTING FROM THE COMPENSATION AND PAY EQUITY STUDY RECOMMENDATIONS AFTER GALLAGHER RETURNS WITH AMENDED FINAL RECOMMENDATIONS BASED ON FEEDBACK BY DEPARTMENTS. THAT IS ONE MOTION. MOTION TO DIRECT TO TRANSFER FUNDS TO ANY DEPARTMENT FOR ANY SALARY INCREASES RELATED TO THE COMPENSATION AND PAY EQUITY STUDY ONLY AFTER THAT DEPARTMENT AND HRT HAVE APPROVED THE PROPOSED CHANGES AND TRANSMITTED BEEF TRANSFERS TO COMMISSIONERS COURT. MOVE TO END THE CURRENT TEMPORARY HOLD ON POSITIONAL CHANGES AND AUTHORIZE TEMPORARY HOLD ON CHANGE IS EFFECTIVE DURING THE TWO PERIODS PRIOR TO THE REVISED DATE FOR ANY DEPARTMENT WITH SUCH IMPLEMENTATION MADE NO LATER THAN THE FIRST FULL PAY PERIOD IN 2026. AND FINALLY, MOTION TO DIRECT HRT TO PROVIDE REGULAR UPDATES ON THE IMPLEMENTATION FOR EACH DEPARTMENT TO COMMISSIONERS COURT MEMBERS AND PRESENT AN UPDATE AT EACH REGULAR MEETING OF COMMISSIONERS COURT UNTIL IMPLEMENTATION IS COMPLETE.

>> SO MOVED. >> MOTION BY COMMISSIONER BRIONES. SO LET'S START WITH THE FIRST ONE. THE FIRST ONE, DO YOU NEED IT READ AGAIN? IS THERE A MOTION?

>> SO MOVED ON THE FIRST PART. >> MOTION BY COMMISSIONER BRIONES. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER ELLIS. IS THAT THE ONE WE HAD ORIGINALLY THAT COVERS EVERYTHING?

>> TO MAKE SURE THE PAY WILL BE RETROACTIVE.

>> THAT IS THE DIRECT HRT DUE PROCESS. BUT IT IS THE SAME THING. IN A THEORY THAT ONE CONTAINS ALL THE THINGS. WE HAVE A MOTION AND SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR?

>> SO MOVED. >> SECOND.

>> DO YOU KNOW WHICH THE OTHER THREE ARE?

>> YES CLERK. >> ALL IN FAVOR? ANY OPPOSED? ALL RIGHT. I AM RECORDING YOU AS A YES, COMMISSIONER RAMSEY. IT

IS UNANIMOUS. >> PUTTING US ON RECORD AGAINST WHAT HAS HAPPENED IN MINNESOTA, THE SHOOTING OF ALEX PRETTI AND RENEE NICOLE GOOD. AND AS A COUNTY WE ESTABLISH A REFUGEE AFFAIRS COMMITTEE. MY DESK MEET HAPPENS TO HAVE GREAT FAMILIARITY WITH THE ISSUE SO I KNOW HE WOULD LAY IT OUT WELL.

>> THANK YOU COMMISSIONER ELLIS. >> IT WON'T CHANGE THE VOTE.

THANK YOU. >> IT'S AROUND TIME FOR LUNCH.

DO YOU WANT TO GO OVER THAT ONE AND THEN LUNCH OR LUNCH FIRST?

>> JUDGE, JUST FOR THE RECORD. 77 WILL BE NO ACTION.

>> WE ARE NOT DISCUSSING IT YET. SO IT IS 1:21. WE WILL BE BACK AT 2:20. AND JUST REMEMBER, I HAVE SOME RECIPIENTS AT 2:00 SO WE WILL HA

>>> OKAY, IT IS 2:23 AND COMMISSIONERS COURT IS BACK IN SESSION 'S WE ARE STARTING WITH 2 RESOLUTIONS, COMMISSIONER I WAS GOING TO READ MINE AND THEN GO TO YOURS IF THAT'S OKAY. WE ARE TAKING THESE OUT OF ORDER TO ACCOMMODATE THE SPEAKER SCHEDULES. SO MY RESOLUTION IS ON INTERNATIONAL DAY OF EDUCATION IN HARRIS COUNTY AND AS YOU GUYS KNOW IT IS A REALLY IMPORTANT ISSUE FOR OUR COMMUNITY. SO I WANT TO START HERE, WE TALKED EARLIER ABOUT HOW HEALTHCARE IS A HUMAN RIGHT, I BELIEVE EDUCATION IS A HUMAN RIGHT. WHEREAS EDUCATION IS A HUMAN RIGHT AND POWERFUL DRIVER OF SOCIAL ECONOMIC AND CIVIL DEVELOPMENT THE UN GENERAL SIMILE PROCLAIMED JANUARY 24 INTERNATIONAL DAY OF EDUCATION, HARRIS COUNTY STRENGTH LIES IN ITS PEOPLE ENSURING ALL CHILDREN HAVE ACCESS TO INCLUSIVE

[03:25:02]

UNDERSCORING CHILDREN DO NOT JUST RECEIVE EDUCATION BUT ALSO PLAY A CRITICAL ROLE IN SHAPING THEIR EDUCATION AND SOCIETY.

HARRIS COUNTY JOINT COMMUNITIES AROUND THE WORLD ORGANIZING THE PROFOUND IMPACT EDUCATION PLAYS ON LIFTING COMMUNITIES OUT OF POVERTY BRINGING STUDENTS FROM DIVERSE BACKGROUNDS TOGETHER PREPARING CHILDREN FOR BRIGHTER FUTURES. NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED HARRIS COUNTY DESIGNATES JANUARY 24, 2025 AS INTERNATIONAL DAY OF EDUCATION. ANY SPEAKERS FOR THE RESOLUTION? GO AHEAD AND WELCOME AND STATE YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD IF

THAT'S OKAY BEFORE YOU SPEAK. >> GOOD AFTERNOON I AM DR.

DARLENE FROM BOARD PRESIDENT OF A LEAF ISD.

>> IT IS SUCH A HONOR TO HAVE YOU GUYS.

>> THANK YOU, GOOD AFTERNOON. WE ARE HONORED TO BE HERE AND TODAY WE JOIN COMMUNITIES AROUND THE WORLD, ORGANIZING INTERNATIONAL DAY OF EDUCATION A REMINDER THAT EDUCATION IS MORE THAN A CLASSROOM OR CURRICULUM, IT IS OPPORTUNITY THAT EMPOWERS EACH AND EVERY ONE OF US AND ALIEF EDUCATION IS AT THE HEART OF EVERYTHING WE DO. REFLECTED IN DEDICATION TO TEACHERS AND STAFF WHO SHOW UP EVERY DAY COMMITTED TO STUDENT SUCCESS AND THE LIVES AND DETERMINATION OF STUDENTS WHO BRING THEIR TALENTS AND CULTURES AND ASPIRATIONS INTO OUR SCHOOLS AND IT IS STRENGTHENED BY DIVERSE COMMUNITY AND THEN BY OUR DIVERSE COMMUNITY WHO BELIEVE IN THE POWER OF PUBLIC EDUCATION, HERE IN BERLINA ALIEF THAT MEANS SPENDING OPPORTUNITIES THROUGH MULTIPLE LEARNING PATHWAYS AND SCHOOLS OF CHOICE BECAUSE EVERY STUDENT DESERVES EDUCATION THAT MEETS THEIR UNIQUE NEEDS AND GOALS. IT ALSO MEANS REMAINING COMMITTED TO EQUITY ENSURING EVERY CHILD REGARDLESS OF BACKGROUND HAS ACCESS FOR HIGH-QUALITY INSTRUCTION , MEANINGFUL SUPPORT AND A WELCOMING LEARNING ENVIRONMENT. ON BEHALF OF OF THE BERLINA BOARD OF TRUSTEES AND SUPERINTENDENT DR. ANTHONY MAYS WE THANK YOU TO OUR EDUCATORS, STAFF, FAMILIES AND COMMUNITY FOR CONTINUED PARTNERSHIP AND BELIEF IN STUDENTS AND A SPECIAL THANK YOU TO JUDGE HIDALGO FOR CONTINUOUS SUPPORT AND COMMITMENT TO UPLIFTING PUBLIC EDUCATION FOR ALIEF ISD AND THE GREATER HOUSTON COMMUNITY. TODAY WE RECOMMIT OURSELVES TO ENSURING THE FUTURE REMAINS BRIGHT, PROSPEROUS AND STUDENTS REMAIN SUCCESSFUL AND PREPARED TO CHANGE THE WORLD.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH. >> THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT, PUBLIC EDUCATION IS VERY IMPORTANT, I'M THE MOTHER OF 3 WONDERFUL DAUGHTERS WHO GRADUATED FROM ALIEF SO I SUPPORT PUBLIC EDUCATION DOING GOOD THINGS FOR STUDENTS.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR EVERYTHING YOU DO AND FOR THE COMMUNITY. WE WILL TAKE A PICTURE IN A MOMENT, WE WILL GO OVER COMMISSIONER GARCIA'S RESOLUTION AND THEN WE WILL TAKE

PICTURES. HI GO AHEAD. >> GOOD AFTERNOON JUDGE, COMMISSIONERS AND MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY, THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO RECOGNIZE INTERNATIONAL DAY OF EDUCATION MY NAME IS DR. MARIA FRANKEL CORTEZ AND I SERVE AS SECRETARY OF UNITED NATIONS ASSOCIATION OF HOUSTON CHAPTER AND SENIOR PLANNER BOARD RELATIONS AND GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS WITH THE GULF COAST , EDUCATION IS IMPORTANT BECAUSE IT CHANGES LIVES, AROUND THE WORLD THE UNITED NATIONS RECOGNIZES A PATIENT IS A HUMAN RIGHT YET TODAY ABOUT 250 MILLION CHILDREN AND YOUTH ARE OUT OF SCHOOL AND MORE THAN 700 MILLION ADULTS LACK BASIC LEGACY SKILLS, WITHOUT EDUCATION IT IS HARDER TO FIND WORK, SUPPORT A FAMILY OR FULLY PARTICIPATE IN SOCIETY. HERE IN HOUSTON AND HARRIS COUNTY, THIS ISSUE IS ESPECIALLY IMPORTANT WHERE ONE OF THE MOST DIVERSE AND INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITIES IN THE COUNTRY, MORE THAN 45% OF HARRIS COUNTY RESIDENTS SPEAK A

[03:30:03]

COMMUNITY. >> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE

WORK YOU DO. >> THANK YOU FOR COMING DOWN.

>> WELCOME, GO AHEAD. >> GOOD AFTERNOON JUDGE, COMMISSIONERS. DISTINGUISHED GUEST I AM THE SENIOR DIRECTOR OF DELTA EDUCATION FOR THE HARRIS COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION. HAPPY TO BE HERE TO HONOR YOU DOING IN CELEBRATING THE INTERNATIONAL DAY FOR EDUCATION. A DAY THAT REMIND US OF TRANSFORMING A POWER OF EDUCATION IN EVERY STAGE OF LIFE WHILE THE HARRIS COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION AIMS TO COVER GAPS IN PUBLIC EDUCATION FROM EARLY CHILDHOOD TO AFTER SCHOOL TO SUMMER PROGRAMMING TO SPECIAL-EDUCATION THERAPY WE ARE ESPECIALLY PROUD OF THE COMMITMENT TO DO EDUCATION THIS COMMITMENT IS ESSENTIAL IN HARRIS COUNTY WHERE ONE OUT OF 3 ADULTS IS FUNCTIONALLY ILLITERATE MORE THAN 1 MILLION PEOPLE WHO STRUGGLE WITH BASIC READING, WRITING AND DIGITAL SKILLS THAT THEY NEED TO SUCCEED FOR WORK, TO HELP FAMILIES AND TO PARTICIPATE IN CIVIC LIFE, AT THE SAME TIME NEARLY 18% OF ADULTS, 650,000 INDIVIDUALS LACK A HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMA, THESE STATISTICS INDICATE THAT THERE ARE SERIOUS GAPS TO REMAIN SIGNIFICANT TO ECONOMIC MOBILITY AND TO THE COMMUNITY WELL-BEING.

THAT IS WHAT ADULT EDUCATION DIVISION SUPPORTED THROUGH FEDERAL GRANTS AND TEXAS WORKFORCE COMMISSION IS PROUD TO SERVE 6000 ADULTS TRYING TO EARN THEIR GED, LEARN ENGLISH OR PARTICIPATE IN SHORT-TERM WORKFORCE CERTIFICATION PROGRAMS TO MOVE AHEAD. EVERY ADULT TAKES PART IN THESE PROGRAMS IS CHANGING THEIR OWN LIVES AND STRENGTHENING THE FABRIC OF HARRIS COUNTY. AND ADULTS INCREASE SKILLS, FAMILIES BECOME MORE STABLE , WORKPLACES BECOME COMPETITIVE AND COMMUNITIES BECOME MORE RESILIENT. INTERNATIONAL EDUCATION DAVE REMINDS US WHILE CHILDREN ARE OUR FUTURE, THE ADULTS IN OUR CLASSROOMS TODAY HAVE THE GREATEST POTENTIAL IMPACT WHEN THEY ARE COMMUNITY IN THE SHORT RUN HELPING A DOOR -- ADULT LEARNERS WE CREATE A PATHWAY FOR BETTER JOBS, AXILLARY ECONOMIC GROWTH AND BUILD A MORE EQUITABLE HARRIS COUNTY FOR ALL.

THANK YOU JUDGE, COMMISSIONERS AND ALL PARTNERS FOR THE CONTINUED SUPPORT FOR THIS WORK LET US REMAIN COMMITTED TO ENSURING EVERY ADULT IN HARRIS COUNTY HAS THE OPPORTUNITY TO

LEARN , TO GROW AND THRIVE. >> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE INCREDIBLE WORK. THANK YOU. GO AHEAD.

>> I WOULD LIKE TO ADD OUR ADULT EDUCATION STUDENTS .

>> JUST A MOMENT I WANT TO MAKE SURE THE MICROPHONE IS ON. IT IS

GOOD? GO AHEAD. >> I WANTED TO ADD OUR ADULT EDUCATION STUDENTS, PARENTS WANT TO BETTER SUPPORT CHILDREN , THEY ARE WORKERS BUILDING NEW SKILLS AND COMMITTEE MEMBERS LEARNING ENGLISH SO THEY CAN FULLY PARTICIPATE IN CIVIC LIFE.

MANY OF THEM NEVER IMAGINE THEY WOULD BE BACK IN SCHOOL WHETHER THEY SHOW UP FOR ADULT EDUCATION CLASSES BECAUSE THEY BELIEVE EDUCATION CAN CHANGE WHAT'S POSSIBLE FOR THEMSELVES AND FAMILIES. UNTIL EDUCATION IS NOT JUST EARNING A CREDENTIAL, IT'S ABOUT OPENING DOORS, DOORS TO BETTER JOBS , GREATER STABILITY AND MORE OPPORTUNITIES WHEN STUDENTS SUCCEED, FAMILIES ARE STRONGER. DOING BETTER IN SCHOOL AND OUR ENTIRE COMMUNITY

[03:35:05]

DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION. >> THANK YOU , THANK YOU SO

MUCH. BERLINA WALLACE >> STATE YOUR NAME FOR THE

RECORD. >> BILL MEDINA DIRECTOR OF CAREER PATHWAYS HARRIS COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION.

>> THANK YOU JUDGE FOR BRINGING THIS RESOLUTION. I WANT TO GIVE A SPECIAL WELCOME TO OUR ALIEF ISD PARTNERS PRESIDENT OF THE ALIEF ISD THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE AND TRUSTEES I KNOW JANUARY IS SCHOOLBOARD APPRECIATION MONTH SO EXTRA WELCOME AND THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU DO FOR OUR ALIEF STUDENTS. A MOMENT OF PERSONAL PRIVILEGE SPEAKING TO THE IMPORTANCE OF EDUCATION MY MOM AND DAD ARE HERE, EDUCATORS FOR 50 YEARS EACH THEY RECENTLY RETIRED SO NOW THEY ARE ON THE HONEYMOON NEWLYWED APPROACHING THE 50TH WEDDING ANNIVERSARY BUT THANK YOU FOR TEACHING ME EDUCATION IS THE GREAT EQUALIZER. SO THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING YOU DO AND THE LAST THANK YOU TO THE FORMER TRUSTEE WHO LEADS MY POLICY AND INNOVATION TEAM AND EVERYTHING SHE HAS BEEN GUIDING THE PRECINCT IN COLLABORATION WITH ISD STARTING AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAMS, SUMMER CAMPS, PARTNERING WITH THE CENTER FOR GRADUATION EVERYTHING SHE HAS BEEN HELPING TO BRING TO PRECINCT 4 AND I APPRECIATE YOU

TREMENDOUSLY. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH REALLY.

TALKING ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF EDUCATION, AT EVERY LEVEL AND FOR EVERY CHILD AND EVERY ADULT WE CAN REACH. SO ANYWAY, THANK YOU. THANK YOU COMMISSIONER GARCIA. LET ME HANDED OFF FOR

YOUR RESOLUTION. >> THANK YOU. I HAVE GOT 2 ITEMS. 1 , I WILL WAIT UNTIL THE OTHER FOR LATER. THIS 1ST RESOLUTION I AM VERY EXCITED AND PROUD FOR US THAT WE ARE HERE TO RECOGNIZE OUR VERY OWN HARRIS COUNTY FIRE MARSHAL OFFICE IN PARTICULAR HER AND HER RESPECTIVE TEAM. JOINED BY THE CAPTAIN AND SGT. AND SO THIS RESOLUTION SPEAKS TO THE GROUNDBREAKING IN PIONEERING, THIS IS WHERE I WANT TO RECOGNIZE THE HARRIS COUNTY FIRE MARSHAL OFFICE FOR RECEIVING INITIAL ACCREDITATION FROM THE INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF PROPERTY AND EVIDENCE. FROM 2025 I UNDERSTAND THE FIRE MARSHAL OFFICE IS THE 1ST FIRE MARSHAL'S OFFICE IN THE NATION AND ONLY , THE ONLY CURRENT AGENCY IN TEXAS, TO EARN THIS RESPECTIVE ACCREDITATION AND LET ME TELL YOU IN THE LAW ENFORCEMENT SPACE, WORKING TOWARD ACCREDITATION AND ACHIEVING IT ARE 2 HUMONGOUS TASKS. SO, CONGRATULATIONS FOR THIS. THIS IS A MILESTONE IN PUBLIC SAFETY OPERATIONAL EXCELLENCE BY MEETING RIGOROUS STANDARDS SO WE ARE APPRECIATIVE THE FIRE MARSHAL'S OFFICE, INCLUDING MANAGING EVIDENCE IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE HIGH INDUSTRY STANDARDS AND OPERATING AT THE HIGHEST LEVEL OF PROFESSIONAL EVIDENCE MANAGEMENT. IT IS EVIDENCE WHEN WE TALK ABOUT MOVING CASES AND FINDING JUSTICE FOR VICTIMS AND GIVING THE ACCUSED THEIR DAY IN COURT THE MANAGEMENT OF EVIDENCE AND PROVIDING EVIDENCE TO THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY AND TO THE DEFENSE ATTORNEYS, THAT IS IMMENSELY CRITICAL TO ENSURING THE VICTIMS ARE WELL SERVED.

CHIEF, THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORK , CONGRATULATIONS TO YOU AND YOUR

TEAM, THE FLOOR IS YOURS. >> THANK YOU SO MUCH, I WOULD LIKE TO TURN THIS OVER TO MY TEAM. YOU ALL HEAR FROM ME ALL

THE TIME, GO FOR IT. >> GOOD AFTERNOON I'M CAPTAIN TONYA SPENCER. THIS PROCESS WAS DEMANDING AND EMPLOYEES DELIVERED, A ACCOMPLISHMENT. I AM PROUD OF THE PROFESSIONALISM AND DISCIPLINE SHOWN AT EVERY LEVEL. I WANT TO SINCERELY THANK COMMISSIONERS COURT AND EACH MEMBER FOR FOCUS ON ACCOUNTABILITY, TRANSPARENCY AND RESULTS, THOSE EXPECTATIONS MATTER, THE CHIEF COMES BACK AND BRINGS US COURT DISCUSSIONS AND HAS US GO BACK TO STUDY THE DETAILS AND WE SEE FIRST-HAND SHE OFTEN ASKED IS THIS BEST PRACTICE HOWEVER INVALIDATED THE

[03:40:02]

UPHOLD. >> CONGRATULATIONS.

>> CORRELATIONS. >> YES COMMISSIONER RAMSEY.

>> ARE YOU STILL HOW IS YOUR STUDIES AT TEXAS A&M GOING?

>> THEY ARE DOING REALLY GOOD. DURING THE FREEZE I DID NOT GET A 2ND DISCUSSION DONE MADE 75 INSTEAD OF 100 BUT I'M DOING

GOOD. THANK YOU. >> CONGRATULATIONS TEAM, IT IS REMARKABLE HIGHER STANDARDS IN EXCELLENCE AND THANK YOU FOR

YOUR LEADERSHIP. >> SGT. MARTINEZ RELATED TO ANOTHER TINO MARTINEZ FORMER HPD HOMICIDE INVESTIGATOR?

>> I AM NOT. >> I HAVE ONE IN MY OFFICE SO

YOU ALL ARE ROCKING. >> THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU.

WE ALREADY VOTED ON ALL THE RESOLUTIONS.

>> I HAVE ONE MORE. >> WE HAVE NOT VOTED , NOT THE ONES YOU PUT OUT OF ORDER, THOSE HAVE NOT BEEN VOTED ON.

>> ITEM 77. RELATED TO RESOLUTION SO I WILL TAKE IT OUT OF ORDER IF THAT'S OKAY. THIS ITEM IS , I WANT TO DIRECT IGA TO HELP US BECAUSE WITH THE RECENT EVENTS IN MINNESOTA WHICH ARE ABSOLUTELY TRAGIC AND DEEPLY CONCERNING, ANY LOSS OF LIFE DURING ANY ENFORCEMENT ACTION DEMANDS SERIOUS REFLECTION AND ATTENTION. THIS MOMENT IS ABOUT HOW LAW ENFORCEMENT IS CARRIED OUT, NOT JUST WHO IS ENFORCING, BUT TO REMEMBER HIGH RISK OPERATIONS REQUIRE THE HIGHEST NATIONAL STANDARDS , SOMETHING LIKE WHAT WE WERE JUST DISCUSSING. ACROSS LAW ENFORCEMENT BEST PRACTICE AS WE WERE DISCUSSING ARE WELL-ESTABLISHED. THOSE PRACTICES HELP TO SLOW DOWN SITUATIONS, THEY TEACH US TO USE COMMUNICATION, THEY HELP US UNDERSTAND THE VALUE OF DISTANCE AND THE HELP TO BRING DISCIPLINE SO WE CAN BRING CALM TO THE CHAOS. DE-ESCALATION IS A TECHNIQUE THAT HAS DEVELOPED INTO LAW ENFORCEMENT, OVER THE YEARS AND IT IS ONE OF THE ELEMENTS OF OUR FORCE CONTINUUM, DE-ESCALATION IS A CORE TRAINING. IT PROTECTS RESIDENTS AND PROTECTS OFFICERS, MAKING SPLIT-SECOND DECISIONS. FIREARMS ARE A LAST RESORT, USED ONLY WHEN OTHER REASONABLE OPTIONS HAVE BEEN EXHAUSTED. ONCE LETHAL FORCE IS USED THE CONSEQUENCES ARE PERMANENT. WHEN FEDERAL ACTIONS, INCLUDING THOSE INVOLVING IMMIGRATION AND CUSTOMS ENFORCEMENT OCCUR IN LOCAL COMMUNITIES , CLARITY , COORDINATION AND RESTRAINT REDUCE THE RISK OF ESCALATION. PUBLIC SAFETY, IT DEPENDS ON DISCIPLINE, JUDGMENT AND ACCOUNTABILITY ESPECIALLY IN A MOSTLY CHARGED OR HIGH-PRESSURE ENVIRONMENT. OUR EXPECTATION IS SIMPLE AND CONSISTENT, ENFORCEMENT SHOULD REFLECT TRAINING, BEST PRACTICES AND COMMITMENT TO PRESERVING LIFE WHENEVER POSSIBLE. SO THIS MOTION IS TO DIRECT THE IGA TO HELP US CONSTRUCT A THOUGHTFUL RESOLUTION THAT WE CAN MOVE FORWARD WITH THE APPROPRIATE FEDERAL AGENCIES AND TO HELP US FOCUS ON HOW TO DO A VERY DIFFICULT JOB, BUT IN THE BEST POSSIBLE WAY. AND ABSOLUTELY IN A WAY THAT CREATES GREATER PUBLIC SAFETY AND DOES NOT MAKE US LESS SAFE. SO THAT IS A

MOTION THAT I HAVE. HOPEFULLY. >> I WILL 2ND.

>> MOTION BY COMMISSIONER GARCIA, 2ND BY COMMISSIONER ELLIS. DID YOU CATCH THE MOTION?

>> YES JUDGE 2ND BY COMMISSIONER GARCIA .

[03:45:03]

>> YES I MISSED SOMETHING. COMMISSIONER RAMSEY GO AHEAD.

>> IF WE'RE TRYING TO CREATE A POLICY , BASED ON NEWS ACCOUNTS OF WHAT HAPPENED, I THINK CERTAINLY WE DON'T KNOW ALL THE FACTS. WE DON'T UNDERSTAND THE EVIDENCE AND, TO RUSH WITH WHAT I WOULD CONSIDER THE VERY PARTISAN ACTION , RELATED TO THE TRAGIC EVENTS IN MINNESOTA WOULD BE IRRESPONSIBLE. I WOULD TAKE A MINUTE AND ACKNOWLEDGE AND RECOGNIZE OUR SHERIFF WHO IS COOPERATING AND COMPLYING AND I THINK THAT'S CALLED LEADERSHIP, WHAT'S HAPPENING IN HARRIS COUNTY IS CLEARLY REFLECTIVE OF THAT. SO I AM NOT PRONE TO JUMP TO EARLY RESOLUTIONS UNTIL WE

KNOW MORE ABOUT THE FACTS. >> OKAY SO SHOULD WE , ARE FOLKS READY TO TAKE A VOTE? ALL RIGHT, MOTION.

>> MAY I SAY A FEW THINGS. I PROBABLY 2ND, THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THIS FORWARD AND COMMISSIONER ELLIS I KNOW YOU PARTNERED ON THIS. TO ME THIS IS ABOUT BEING AN AMERICAN. NO ADMINISTRATION IS ABOVE THE RULE OF LAW AND TO ME CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS AND DUE PROCESS ARE NON-NEGOTIABLE, FUNDAMENTALLY IMPORTANT WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT PUBLIC SAFETY MY TOP PRIORITY I WANT TO MAKE SURE LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICIALS ARE FOCUSED ON KEEPING THE COMMUNITY SAFE AND FEAR MAKES OUR NEIGHBORHOODS LESS SAFE AND SO WHEN PEOPLE ARE AFRAID TO CALL THE POLICE, CRIMES GO UNREPORTED AND EVERYONE IS AT GREATER RISK.

VICTIMS REMAIN SILENT SO I WANT HARRIS COUNTY TO BE A PLACE WHERE EVERYBODY'S CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS ARE RESPECTED, THAT WAS ONE OF MANY REASONS WHY I WAS PROUD TO SIGN ON TO THE BRIEF IN MINNESOTA , BUT I APPRECIATE WITH YOUR EXPERTISE SHERIFF AND COMMISSIONER GARCIA TO MAKE SURE WORKING WITH IGA THANK YOU DIRECTOR FOR YOUR PARTNERSHIP AND LEADERSHIP TO MAKE SURE HERE IN HARRIS COUNTY NO ONE IS ABOVE THE LAW AND WE'RE DOING EVERYTHING POSSIBLE TO RESPECT PEOPLE AND KEEP PEOPLE SAFE. WITH THAT I PROUDLY 2ND.

>> ANY OTHER COMMENTS? MOTION BY COMMISSIONER GARCIA, 2ND BY COMMISSIONER BRIONES ALL IN FAVOR, AND HE OPPOSED? I WILL BE IN FAVOR SO THE MOTION PASSES 3-1, RIGHT? COMMISSIONER ELLIS WANTED YES. UNLESS IT MAKES A DIFFERENCE CORRECT.

>> 4-1. >> YES, OBVIOUSLY , I WAS DEALING WITH THE STORM WHEN ALL OF THIS WAS GOING TO LAWN SO I WAS AWARE BUT THE TIME OR PLACE FOR ME TO SPEAK ON IT BUT I SAID BEFORE IF WE ARE THINKING ABOUT PUBLIC SAFETY HAVING MAST MEN AROUND IS NOT GOING TO KEEP US SAFE, IT'S GOING TO SCARE PEOPLE, LEAD PEOPLE TO RUN AWAY, LEAD PEOPLE TO BE CONFRONTATIONAL. IF ALL OF US PUT OURSELVES IN THAT POSITION OF WHAT WOULD YOU DO IF A MASKED MAN APPROACHES YOU AGGRESSIVELY, IT IS NOT PUBLIC SAFETY. OBVIOUSLY, AS A IMMIGRANT MYSELF NATURALIZED CITIZEN AND A PERSON REPRESENTING AROUND 1.5 MILLION IMMIGRANTS , I AGREE THERE NEEDS TO BE IMMIGRATION REFORM BUT NOT THROUGH STUNTS THAT HURT ABOUT SAFETY. IT IS REAL PEOPLE AND REAL LIVES, REAL CHILDREN AND COMMISSIONER IF THERE'S NOTHING TO SEE HERE , WHY DID THE DIRECTOR GET FIRED? I'M GLAD WE'RE BEGINNING TO SEE THIS IS PROBLEMATIC AND I HOPE WE CAN WORK TOGETHER ON PROGRESS AS OPPOSED TO TERRORIZING COMMUNITIES. ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU COMMISSIONER GARCIA ANOTHER

ONE? >> THOSE ARE ALL MY RESOLUTIONS.

>> HOW ABOUT WE VOTE ON THOSE DOES THAT MAKE SENSE? WE VOTED

ON THIS ONE. >> WE WILL VOTE ON 334 AND 337

RESOLUTIONS? >> 77.

>> 77 VOTED ALREADY. >> 334 IS INTERNATIONAL DAY OF

EDUCATION. IS THERE EMOTION? >> MOVE.

>> MOTION BY COMMISSIONER GARCIA.

>> SORRY THAT IS COMMISSIONER BRIONES.

>> THAT WAS THE JUDGES. >> COMMISSIONER GARCIA 2ND BY

[03:50:02]

THERE A 2ND? >> 2ND.

>> 2ND BY COMMISSIONER BRIONES MOTION BY COMMISSIONER GARCIA THE MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY. LET'S TAKE SOME PICTURES NOW WITH OUR GUESTS. DO I HAVE TO BREAK?

>> NO NEED TO BREAK. >> I ALWAYS FORGET.

[03:58:19]

>>> ALL RIGHT, WE WILL CONTINUE WITH THE AGENDA. NOW WE ARE GOING UP TO THE VERY TOP AND DISCUSS ITEMS WE HAVE NOT ALREADY DISCUSSED. SO, I DON'T THINK WE HAVE GONE THROUGH ITEM 2 ON THE QUARTERLY BUDGET PROJECTIONS?

>> WE DID. >> WE VOTED ON SOMETHING. WE MADE A MOTION RELATED BUT I DON'T THINK WE DISCUSSED IT.

>> CORRECT WE HAVE NOT DONE THE PRESENTATION. SPAGO HAD.

>> CAN YOU PULL IT UP PLEASE? THANK YOU JUDGE AND COMMISSIONERS AS SHE PULLS IT UP THIS IS OUR QUARTERLY PROJECTION , THIS IS WHERE IN THE 1ST QUARTER OF EVERY YEAR WE LOOK BACK AT HOW WE FINISHED LAST YEAR THESE ARE UNAUDITED NUMBERS SO THIS WILL LIKELY CHANGE WITH THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS COME OUT IN MAY BUT THE BEST GUEST IF YOU CAN GO 2 MORE SLIDES. FISCAL YEAR 25 WE FINISHED $7.6 MILLION SURPLUS INCLUDING $20 MILLION BUDGET TRANSFER INTO , THE STORY HERE IS TWOFOLD, THE 1ST ON THE REVENUE SIDE WHEN WE HAVE SEEN, AS PART OF THE TAX RATE CALCULATION WE HAVE TO INCLUDE A PLACEHOLDER FOR HOW MUCH WE EXPECT TO SPEND IN SUCCESSFUL APPEALS OF APPRAISAL. BECAUSE OF RESIDENTIAL APPRAISAL STAYING RELATIVELY FLAT OVER THE LAST 2 YEARS WE HAVE SEEN THE NUMBER OF APPEALS GO SIGNIFICANTLY DOWN WHICH MEANS THE NUMBER OF SUCCESSFUL APPEALS WENT SIGNIFICANTLY DOWN LEADING TO HIGHER THAN EXPECTED REVENUE.

THE 2ND PIECE OF THIS WHICH ENDED UP OFFSETTING THAT IS INDIGENT DEFENSE. AS FOLKS REMEMBER FROM LAST YEAR WE WERE

[04:00:06]

>> DR., JUST A MOMENT, I HAVE TO LEAVE AS YOU KNOW, FOR JUST A MOMENT, SO COMMISSIONER GARCIA, I BELIEVE YOU ARE TAKING OVER, THANK YOU. AND I WOULD LIKE TO, I WILL DO THE SAME THING AS COMMISSIONER ELLIS BUT IF YOU WOULDN'T MIND SAVING ITEM 99, I WOULD REALLY LIKE TO ASK A QUESTION, THAT IS THE DETENTION OFFICERS ITEM. ANYWAY, THANK YOU AND I WILL HAND IT OVER TO

COMMISSIONER GARCIA. >> THANK YOU, JUDGE AND WE WILL MAKE SURE TO REFLECT THE JUDGES VOTE ON ALL ITEMS THAT SHE CARES ABOUT AND DOESN'T CHANGE ANY VOTES, CORRECT? GOOD DEAL. WE ARE STILL ON THIS ITEM, DIRECTOR, YOU WERE GETTING A

REPORT? >> YES, I WANTED TO GIVE A QUICK UPDATE ON THE HIRING FREEZE, LONG TRACK, WE ARE PROJECTING 9.3 THIS QUARTER SO IF THE TRENDS ARE TRUE, WE WOULD HIT THAT 25 MILLION SOMETIME IN THE THIRD QUARTER, WE ARE STILL VERY EARLY, THE FIRST QUARTER IS VERY DIFFICULT BECAUSE WE ARE SO EARLY IN THE YEAR. WE REALLY DON'T GET THE FIRST WAVES OF PROPERTY TAX DATA SO AT THIS POINT WE WOULD SAY HOLD STEADY, IT'LL BE MUCH MORE DETAIL IN THE SECOND QUARTER AND A LOT MORE ACCURATE. BUT JUST SO FOLKS HAVE SOME CONTACT, WE WOULD EXPECT TO BE ABOUT 40 MILLION. THE REASON YOU SEE THAT NUMBER GO UP OVER THE QUARTERS IS WE SAW A HUGE HIRING SPREE RIGHT WHEN WE INTRODUCED THE CONCEPT DURING THE BUDGET PROCESS AND WE ARE STARTING, WE WERE ABOUT $13 MILLION LESS THAN WE ANTICIPATED, WE ARE STARTING TO SEE NORMAL ATTRITION, ESPECIALLY HOW THE PENSION IS SET UP, FOLKS ARE WAITING TO GET TO THAT NEW PAY SCALE, IT IS BASED ON HOW MUCH YOU CONTRIBUTED BASED ON YOUR LAST SALARY, SO YOU KNOW EVERYBODY HAS A DATE HERE IN GOVERNMENT, LIKE FOLKS ARE STARTING TO ADJUST THE TREND, THAT IS WHY YOU SEE THE HIGHER NUMBER. NEXT SLIDE. NEXT SLIDE.

SO HERE IS A RECONCILIATION OF HOW WE GET TO BUDGET, I WANT TO FLAG THE TWO BIGGEST NUMBERS, THE 18 MILLION EXPENSE FOR DEBT BY DOWN AND THE OPERATION INCREASE. AT THE END OF, OR THE END OF THE BUDGET PROCESS, WE WERE ABLE TO WORK WITH THE ATTORNEYS AND FIGURE OUT A WAY TO USE THE SALE OF ONE OF OUR FACILITIES TO CONVERT THAT INTO REOCCURRING REVENUE, ESSENTIALLY WHAT WE DID IS WE TOOK THE REVENUE FROM THE SALE AND WE USED IT TO GO AND BUY DOWN DEBT, SO UNDER THE NO NEW REVENUE,

[04:05:02]

BUT WE KNOW IT DOES TAKE TIME TO STAFF OUT, THEY HAVE ESSENTIALLY DOUBLED OVER THE LAST THREE YEARS. BUT, ALL THAT TO SAY WE ARE BREAKING EVEN AGAINST THE BUDGET BECAUSE WE INCREASED THE BUDGET BY 75 MILLION, IT'S NOT BECAUSE ANYTHING IS SLOWING DOWN. DO YOU WANT TO CHIME IN OR ARE YOU GOOD?

>> I THINK WITH RESPECT TO THE COURT APPOINTED FEES OUT OF DISTRICT COURTS AND COUNTY COURTS, I BRIEFED LAST SUMMER I BELIEVE, I EXPECT WE WILL SPEND IN 26 AND PROBABLY INTO 27 WHAT WE SPENT, THE ACTUAL EXPENDITURES IN 25. WE HAVE SEEN FROM 24 TO 25 IN DISTRICT COURTS, WE SAW ABOUT A $15 MILLION INCREASE IN ACTUAL EXPENDITURES AND ABOUT 3.1 IN COUNTY COURTS . THOSE COUPLED WITH 2700 MORE DISPOSITIONS IN COUNTY COURTS AND 1700 MORE IN DISTRICT COURTS, PARTICULARLY THE LONG STATE CASES, THAT'S WHY WE ARE ENJOYING THE DROP IN THE AVERAGE, THE DISPOSITION HAS GONE DOWN AND WE ARE SEEING THE STABILIZATION IN THE JAIL SO WE ARE MOVING THESE CASES THAT HAD BEEN LONG STATE CASES AND I THINK AGAIN AS DANIEL SAID, AS WE START, IT IS GOING TO TAKE TIME TO GET THE PDO STAFFED UP IN TIME, PROBABLE MULTIPLE FISCAL YEARS, AS WE ARE GRAPPLING WITH A NATIONAL ATTORNEY SHORTAGE, THERE'S A LOT OF THINGS GOING ON. WE MET WITH TDIC WHO MET WITH US AND SHARED THAT INFORMATION. WE ARE GOING TO HAVE SIMILAR EXPENDITURES FROM THE INDIGENT DEFENSE CATEGORIES WHILE THOSE CASES ARE RESOLVING. THE ATTORNEYS ALREADY HAVE THOSE CASES, EVEN IF PDO IS AT 50% TOMORROW AND THEY TRANSFER THOSE CASES, WE WILL HAVE THE FINAL BILLS, THE CONVERGENCE OF PDO BEING STAFFED UP AND THE BALANCE WE WOULD OWE IN APPOINTED FEES.

BUT I THINK WE HAVE MADE TREMENDOUS PROGRESS IN OUR BACKLOG OVER THE LAST YEAR, WE STILL HAVE SOME WORK TO DO WHICH HAS ME THINKING THAT WE WILL SEE EXPENDITURES. WE ARE DOING A LOT OF WORK, WE ARE GOING AFTER A TIDC GRANT, AND WE CAN BUDGET BASED ON WHAT IS IN THE HOPPER, THE CASES THAT WE HAVE AND PROJECTED OUT FOR THE FISCAL YEAR BASED ON THE CASES.

>> ANYTHING ELSE? ONE THING FOR ME, WELL A COUPLE THINGS, THERE'S A COUPLE OF MOTIONS CIRCULATING FROM THE DIRECTOR THAT I THINK YOU HAVE CIRCULATED THOSE TO EVERYONE?

>> WE TOOK ACTION ON THAT, COMMISSIONER. I HAVE ONE MORE SLIDE, I PROMISE I WILL BE LESS THAN 10 SECONDS, JUST SOME ADDITIONAL, I WOULD CALL THEM PHYSICAL RISKS, WE DID INCLUDE

[04:10:03]

$3 MILLION. >> GOOD DEAL. ONE OTHER THING THAT I HAD, SINCE CAPITAL MURDERS TEND TO BE THE MOST EXPENSIVE IN OUR COURT APPOINTED PROGRAM, I'M NOT SURE IF THIS IS A REASONABLE QUESTION BUT TO HAVE A CONVERSATION WITH THE PUBLIC DEFENDER ABOUT PRIORITIZING THE CAPITALS VERSUS GIVING THOSE TO PRIVATE ATTORNEYS. AS A MATTER OF PRIORITY WITHIN THE OFFICE, I'M NOT SURE IF THAT IS REASONABLE.

>> ABSOLUTELY, 100%. >> COMMISSIONER RAMSEY?

>> THAT IS AN AWFULLY GOOD COMMENT, THAT IS A PRETTY GOOD WAY TO LOOK AT IT IN TERMS OF PRACTICAL, I KNOW THAT WHAT WE HAVE EXPERIENCED IN THAT OFFICE HAS BEEN CAUSING A LOT OF QUESTIONS. ONE COMMENT RELATED TO ENERGY DEFENSE, IT SEEMS LIKE THE HOUSE IS ABLE TO HIRE OUTSIDE ATTORNEYS FOR A LOT LESS THAN WE DID, I'M NOT SURE I FULLY UNDERSTAND THAT, I THOUGHT EVERYTHING COSTS MORE IN DALLAS, PARTICULARLY ATTORNEYS. CAN YOU PUT THAT ON YOUR RADAR SCREEN, TO UNDERSTAND SIMPLY WHY DO ATTORNEYS COST MORE IN HARRIS COUNTY THAN THEY DO IN DALLAS

COUNTY? >> ABSOLUTELY.

>> A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS, GOOD WORK, DANIEL AND IN SPITE OF ALL THE GLOOM AND DOOM AND THE APOCALYPSE AND THE WORLD COMING TO AN END AS WE KNOW IT, WE ARE ON TRACK WITH OUR BUDGET, IT WAS A GOOD BUDGET. IT WAS GOOD BECAUSE WE HAD A GOOD BUDGET PROCESS. YOU PUT EVERYTHING ON THE TABLE. WE PRETTY MUCH ASKED EVERY QUESTION YOU COULD POSSIBLY ASK AND WE ADOPTED A GOOD BUDGET. THE CONTINUING CONVERSATION AROUND THE BUDGET AND WE DON'T KNOW WHAT WE ARE DOING, IRRESPONSIBLE, I THINK THAT IN ITSELF IS PRETTY IRRESPONSIBLE. HARRIS COUNTY FLOOD CONTROL, LAST YEAR WAS OUR FIRST FOUR-YEAR WITH $100 MILLION MAINTENANCE. ARE YOU FAIRLY CONFIDENT THAT THAT 100 MILLION WAS SPENT TOWARDS MAINTENANCE AND WAS THERE

ANYTHING LEFT OVER? >> WE HAD ABOUT 17 MILLION AFTER WE DID THE TRANSFER PROJECTS THAT HAD BEEN MAINTENANCE

PROJECTS, BUT -- >> THE FACT THAT YOU CAN ANSWER YOU ARE TRACKING IT, I'M FINE, AS LONG AS YOUR OFFICE IS WORKING WITH DR. PETERSON ON TRACKING THAT KIND OF STUFF.

>> YES, IT IS COMPLETELY SEGREGATED, IT HAS ITS OWN BUDGET. THEORETICALLY. IT ROLLS OVER, THEY ARE THEIR OWN INDEPENDENT FUNDS, IT ROLLS OVER.

>> FOR FLOOD CONTROL MAINTENANCE.

>> RIGHT. >> AND WE HAVE DISCUSSED OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS, THE DOLLARS FOR VACANT POSITIONS AS IF WE SPENT IT, THERE'S A LOT OF VACANT POSITIONS IN HARRIS COUNTY BUT THAT'S NOT GOING TOWARD IMPACTING THE BUDGET,

RIGHT? >> NO, WE DON'T COVER THE VACANT POSITIONS, YOU ARE MULTIPLYING OUT FOR THE REST OF THE PAY PERIOD FOR THE REST OF THIS FISCAL YEAR.

>> THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER BRIONES ?

>> THANK YOU, GREAT JOB, QUICK QUESTION DIRECTOR MILLS, I KNOW YOU AND I TALKED A LOT ABOUT INDIGENT FUNDS, WHICH IS SOMETHING I FEEL PASSIONATE ABOUT, YOU TALKED ABOUT SOME OF THE IMPROVEMENTS AND KIND OF THE HORIZON OF CHANGE AND THE TIME IT WILL TAKE AND ONE I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO THE CHIEF PUBLIC DEFENDER BECAUSE I KNOW FOR THE FIRST TIME EVER, FOR THE COUNTY COURT AT LAW CASES, WE HIT 30% OF THE REFERRALS FROM THE JUDGES TO THE PD, SO HOPEFULLY WE CONTINUE AS SUCH.

AND I'M HAPPY ABOUT WHAT WE ARE INVESTING IN THE PUBLIC DEFENDERS AND I CONTINUE TO BE TROUBLED BY THE PRIVATE APPOINTMENT OF COUNSEL GIVEN THAT THEY DON'T HAVE CASELOAD CAPS, GIVEN THAT WE DON'T HAVE INSIGHT INTO WHAT OTHER CASES THEY ARE HANDLING, SO TO ME IF YOU ARE INVESTING, WELL IT IS A CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHT BUT IF YOU ARE INVESTING, YOU WANT HIGH QUALITY OF JUSTICE. I KNOW WE ARE APPLYING WHICH I'M THRILLED ABOUT, THE TIDC GRANT, BUT WHETHER WE HAVE IN TURN MEASURES, I KNOW WE TALKED ABOUT THE ATTORNEY BILLS AND OTHER

[04:15:02]

MEASURES ARE WE TAKING? >> WE WORKED WITH SOME OF THE DISTRICT COURT JUDGES ON TRYING TO INSTITUTE THE QUARTERLY BILLING, THAT HELPS US WRAP OUR ARMS AROUND A LITTLE BIT BETTER, AT LEAST BUDGETING AND KNOWING HOW TO PROJECT WHAT THE NEXT

QUARTER MIGHT LOOK LIKE. >> HOW MANY JUDGES HAVE AGREED

TO BE IN THE QUARTERLY PILOT? >> TWO RIGHT NOW.

>> ANY JUDGES THAT ARE LISTENING, I PLEASE ASK THAT YOU LEAN IN AND WE WORK AS A TEAM BECAUSE I KNOW AS A LAWYER WHO USED TO BILL EVERY 10 MINUTE INCREMENTS, OR BY SETTING, IF IT IS THREE PER CASE, IT IS REALLY DIFFICULT TO GO BACK AND BUILD, BECAUSE IF WE HAD QUARTERS AND BILLING, THE ACCURACY IMPROVES TREMENDOUSLY AND IT IS EASIER FOR THE LAWYERS, FRANKLY.

>> FOR THE JUDGES REVIEWING THE INVOICES, IT IS LESS TIME, IT IS A LOT OF CASE TO HAVE TO REVIEW AND ACKNOWLEDGE AND YES, THEY WERE WITH US TALKING ABOUT QUARTERLY BILLINGS SO I FEEL STRONGLY WE ARE GOING TO BE ABLE TO PUT SOMETHING TOGETHER. ALSO, DISTRICT COURTS ARE LOOKING AT WAYS IN WHICH WE CAN INSTITUTE STAFF ATTORNEYS THAT CAN REVIEW INVOICES PRIOR TO BEING SUBMITTED TO JUDGES AND BE ABLE TO PASS BACK TO DEFENSE ATTORNEYS IF THERE'S ISSUES WITH BILLING SO AT THE POINT TICKETS, IT HAS BEEN PRE-SPOTCHECK, AT ONE POINT WE TALKED ABOUT THAT, IT'S IMPORTANT THAT IS WITHIN THE DISTRICT COURT'S SO THAT IS AN INTERIM STEP WE ARE TRYING TO

TAKE AS WELL. >> I WOULD LOVE TO CONTINUE DOUBLING DOWN, HOPEFULLY WE CAN GET MORE IN THE PILOT COHORT AND VOLUNTEER DANIEL'S TEAM TO BE THE PRO BONO SPOTCHECK, AND IF NOT I'M HAPPY TO VOLUNTEER FINANCE TEAM, THANK YOU SO MUCH

DIRECTOR MILLS. >> DO WE NEED ANY MOTIONS ON

THIS, SO NO ACTION ON THE ITEM? >> JUST EMOTIONS PREVIOUSLY

READ. >> OKAY, WE ARE GOING TO MOVE ON TO ITEM NUMBER THREE, THIS ITEM HAS TO DO WITH THE REQUEST FOR DISCUSSION REGARDING THE COUNTYWIDE POLICY FOR THE LAW ENFORCEMENT SALARY SCALE POLICY. COMMISSIONER RAMSEY?

>> JUST ONE QUESTION, WILL THIS APPLY TO THE CURRENT PERSONNEL ALREADY IN PLACE OR ONLY TO NEWLY HIRED PERSONNEL GOING

FORWARD? >> EVERYONE THAT IS CURRENTLY EMPLOYED BY HARRIS COUNTY SHOULD BE IN THEIR CORRECT POSITION PER THE POLICY WHICH IS WHAT WE WORKED WITH ALL THE SHERIFF AND CONSTABLES TO ENSURE THAT IF YOU ARE STEP 11, YESTERDAY AND YOU MOVED INTO NEW PAY SCALE, YOU ARE STEP 11 TOMORROW, WE LARGELY GOT THAT ISSUE SOLVED. EVERYONE SHOULD BE IN THE CORRECT POSITION SO THE ONLY THING THE POLICY WOULD CHANGE FROM THE CURRENT PRACTICE WOULD BE THAT FIVE-YEAR CAP ON LATERAL TRANSFERS WHICH WHEN WE MET WITH ALL NINE OF THE LAW ENFORCEMENT

DEPARTMENTS, THEY AGREED TO. >> THANK YOU. GOOD DEAL. THIS ITEM, WE ARE GOING TO MOVE ON AS PRESENTED.

>> NO ACTION. >> GOOD DEAL, WE ARE GOING ON TO ITEM NUMBER FOUR. I HAVE A COUPLE OF COMMENTS ON THIS ONE.

SO THE MOBILITY FUND IS A VALUABLE TOOL THAT ALLOWS US TO REINVEST SURPLUS FUNDS DIRECTLY BACK INTO OUR TRANSPORTATION NETWORKS, SUPPORTING THE DESIGN, CONSTRUCTION AND MAINTENANCE OF ROADS AND MOBILITY PROJECTS ACROSS THE COUNTY, WITH THE NEW ALLOCATION FORMALLY APPROVED BY COMMISSIONERS COURT IN APRIL OF 2025, FISCAL YEAR 26, EACH PRECINCT RECEIVES ITS OWN SHARE OF REVENUE SPACE ON PAVEMENT CONDITIONS AND PAST INVESTMENTS, THE PROPOSED POLICY ENSURES THAT WHILE THE OFFICE OF COUNTY ENGINEER CONTINUES TO DELIVER HIGH-QUALITY PROJECTS, FUNDING RESPONSIBILITY AND BUDGET PRIORITIZATION STAY WITHIN EACH PRECINCT'S CONTROL. THIS STRUCTURE PROMOTES FISCAL TRANSPARENCY, ACCOUNTABILITY AND FLEXIBILITY ALLOWING EACH PRECINCT TO DIRECTLY ALIGNED WITH MOBILITY FUND INVESTMENTS WITH COMMUNITY PRIORITIES. THIS MEANS BETTER CONTROL OVER HOW WE MODERNIZE AND MAINTAIN OUR ROADS, MAKING SURE EVERY DOLLAR IS SPENT WHERE IT HAS THE GREATEST IMPACT ON SAFETY, ACCESS AND QUALITY OF LIFE. THIS EFFORT ALIGNED PERFECTLY WITH MY REVIVE AND DRIVE INITIATIVE, CONTINUING OUTWORK TO BUILD MORE CONNECTED COMMUNITIES THROUGH EQUITY, THROUGH SMART EQUITY

[04:20:01]

RAMSEY. >> AGAIN, WE ARE JUST GOING TO BE SURE THAT WE ARE TAKING CARE OF A REAL CRITICAL ISSUE WHICH IS SIGNALS AND JUST AS A POINT OF REFERENCE, SIGNALS OVER 30 YEARS OLD, PRECINCT 1 HAS 47, PRECINCT 2 HAS 68, PRECINCT 3 HAS 84, PRECINCT 4 HAS 89, THAT IS A SIGNIFICANT NUMBER OF SIGNALS WE HAVE TO DEAL WITH. THE AVERAGE DOLLARS THAT WE SPENT IN THE LAST THREE YEARS HAS BEEN ROUGHLY FIVE TO $6 MILLION PER YEAR ON MAINTENANCE. SO AS WE TALK ABOUT BUDGET IMPACTS, BUDGET PROBLEMS, I THINK IT IS WAY TOO EARLY IN THE PROCESS TO SAY THAT THE COUNTY ENGINEER IS GOING TO BE $5 MILLION SHORT ON THIS BUDGET PARTICULARLY WITH SUCH A GREAT BUDGET REPORT THAT WAS JUST GIVEN. SO I DON'T KNOW THAT WE HAVE A PROBLEM ON MAINTENANCE BECAUSE MAINTENANCE IS THE RESPONSE ABILITY OF THE COUNTY ENGINEER AND THE AVERAGE OF WHAT THEY HAVE DONE IS ROUGHLY FIVE OR $6 MILLION. SO ON THE OTHER SIDE, THE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS WHICH THERE IS A SIGNIFICANT NUMBER OF THOSE AND I THINK EVERY PRECINCT HAS A FAIR AMOUNT , WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE CAPITAL PROJECTS, ACTUALLY GOING IN AND I GUESS DOING COMPLETE OR ADDING NEW SIGNALS AND OTHER SUCH EQUIPMENT, TO ME IT IS A CAPITAL PROJECT LIKE ANY OTHER THAT WE WOULD DO WITH THE COUNTY ENGINEER'S OFFICE. WE SIT DOWN WITH THE TEAM AND OUR FOLKS, WE ARE GOING TO DO A REAL PROJECT, HERE'S THE BUDGET, WE WRITE OUT THE FUNDING CODE, WE GIVE IT TO THE COUNTY ENGINEER. I DON'T KNOW WHY THIS IS DIFFERENT. I DON'T KNOW WHY A SIGNAL CAPITAL PROJECT WOULD BE DIFFERENT THAN A ROAD PROJECT, I DON'T KNOW WHY THAT WOULD BE SOMETHING COMPLICATED. OF COURSE WE WOULD NEED TO FUND IT AND ASKED TO APPROVE TO FIND IT BUT THAT IS JUST LIKE ANY OTHER ROAD PROJECT OR ANY OTHER CAPITAL PROJECT THAT IS DONE IN THE PRECINCT. SO I THINK IT'S PRETTY BASIC, A SIMPLE PROBLEM, THE COUNTY ENGINEER'S OFFICE IS RESPONSIBLE FOR MAINTENANCE, IT IS ROUGHLY $6 MILLION BEING SPENT. I DON'T THINK YOU ARE PLANNING ON SPENDING MORE THAN THAT. SO I THINK THIS WHOLE CONVERSATION CAME UP BECAUSE YOU DID NOT ANTICIPATE NOT RECEIVING FUNDS FROM HCTRA, WE STILL WORK OUT FUNDING CODES, YOUR ONLY ISSUE IS THE FUNDING OF THE MAINTENANCE AND THAT IS A $6 MILLION ISSUE, I DON'T THINK THAT IS A BIG ISSUE, SO I THINK WHAT WE ARE DOING NOW AS I HAVE DESCRIBED IS FUNCTIONING. I DON'T KNOW THAT THERE ARE ANY CHANGES THAT NEED TO BE MADE.

>> COMMISSIONER, THANK YOU, YOU POINTED OUT THAT IN TERMS OF CAPITAL PROJECT, THE PROCESS OF PLANNING THIS POLICY IS ACTUALLY EXACTLY WHAT WE DO TODAY, CODIFYING THAT POLICY, ABOUT THE PRECINCT OF THE PROJECT AND IN TIMES OF MAINTENANCE, COMMISSIONER, THE CHALLENGE IS, THAT $6 MILLION WAS NOT ALLOCATED IN THIS YEAR'S BUDGET OF ENGINEERING BECAUSE THE MONEY

WENT TO PRECINCT. >> WHAT IS YOUR TOTAL BUDGET? I MEAN, WE ARE WORRIED ABOUT $6 MILLION. I DON'T THINK THAT IS A BIG PERCENTAGE OF ANYTHING IN THE BUDGET.

>> NO, SIR, THE BUDGET THAT WAS ALLOCATED, IT IS ABOUT 35.5

MILLION. >> AND GENERAL FUND IS ABOUT ANOTHER 90. SORRY, THE GENERAL FUND IS ABOUT ANOTHER 90 BUT ABOUT TWO THIRDS OF THAT IS BECAUSE OF THE FACILITY FUND.

>> SO COMMISSIONER, I THINK WHERE WE ARE AT, THE COUNTY ENGINEER IN THE DIRECT ALLOCATION, ESSENTIALLY A NEW MODEL FOR HOW WE DO DISTRIBUTE.

>> WE STILL GIVE 9 MILLION PER PRECINCT.

>> THAT ESSENTIALLY COVERS JUST STAFF, SO WE ARE TALKING ABOUT

[04:25:03]

UP THAT 6 MILLION. >> BUT THE NUMBER IS 6 MILLION.

>> COMMISSIONERS, FOR THE MAINTENANCE OF IT, IT IS PLUS OR MINUS, WE ARE SPENDING $6 MILLION, THAT IS CORRECT.

>> COMMISSIONER BRIONES ? >> IN QUEUE -- THANK YOU FOR THAT FEEDBACK. I COULDN'T AGREE MORE ABOUT OUR COMMITMENT TO SAFETY, I THINK ALL OF OUR TEAMS HAVE BEEN WORKING TOGETHER WITH THE ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT, SO I HAVE A FEW MOTIONS THAT ESSENTIALLY CODIFY THE RELATIONSHIP THE PRECINCT ALREADY HAVE WITH ENGINEERING BUT IT WILL ADD INCREASED TRANSPARENCY AND ACCOUNTABILITY SO WE KNOW EXACTLY WHAT IS BEING ACCOMPLISHED FOR HOW MUCH AND WHEN. AND BASED ON THE ALLOCATION THAT WE HAD ALL AGREED UPON IN THE PAST. SO I JUST HAVE THREE MOTIONS, I KNOW THEY HAVE BEEN SENT AROUND BUT IF THERE'S NOT ANY OTHER COMMENTS MADE --

>> I WILL SECOND ALL OF THEM. >> I HAD ONE COMMENT AND YOU COULD GO THROUGH THE SECOND ONE. IT SAYS, ONCE ALLOCATIONS HAVE BEEN IDENTIFIED IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE PRECINCT, THE RELATED CAPITAL PROJECTS AND SIGNAL MAINTENANCE PROJECTS DIRECTED TO THE DESIGNATED PRECINCT FUNDING CODES AND AGAIN, WE ARE GOING TO DISTRIBUTE THE $6 MILLION BY PRECINCT, THE MAINTENANCE.

>> THAT WAS ESSENTIALLY IN THAT ALLOCATION. AND PRIOR WE WOULD TAKE THE 43 MILLION OFF THE TOP AND THE REMAINDER WOULD GO TO

THE PRECINCT'S THIS YEAR. >> I GET THAT, MY ONLY CONVERSATION HERE, I AGREE WITH ALL THE MOTIONS, I JUST DON'T AGREE WITH MOTION TWO RELATED TO SIGNAL MAINTENANCE PROJECTS.

THAT IS $6 MILLION THAT WAS NOT INCLUDED IN OBVIOUSLY THE COUNTY ENGINEER'S BUDGET. AND AGAIN, THAT IS $6 MILLION, THAT IS NOT

60. >> SO YOU ARE PROPOSING

BASICALLY -- >> THE CAPITAL.

>> SO IF WE ADD $6 MILLION TO THE COUNTY ENGINEER OUTSIDE OF THE PRECINCT, WE WOULD HAVE COME UP WITH IT, WE ARE AT THE POINT NOW WHERE THE POLICY IS MADE AND IT SENDS ALL THE MONEY TO THE PRECINCT AND THE PRECINCT CAN HAVE A RELATIONSHIP WITH THE COUNTY ENGINEER ON MAINTENANCE. SO IT HAS TO COME FROM

SOMEWHERE. >> WE TOOK IT OFF THE TOP.

>> CORRECT. SO WHEN WE GET THE ALLOCATION , THE DIRECTOR AND I WORKED TOGETHER ON WHAT THE TRANSFER IS GOING TO BE AND WE ALLOCATED BASED ON HOW THE COMMISSIONERS COURTS SET OUT, WE DON'T HOLD ANYTHING OUT FOR A RAINY DAY. WHEN WE SULLY ADDITIONAL FUNDING THIS YEAR ON THE VERY NEXT QUARTER, ONCE WE CONFIRMED IT, WE CAME BACK AND MADE THE TRANSFER.

>> I WILL SUPPORT ALL THREE MOTIONS, EVEN NUMBER TWO BUT THAT IS THIS YEAR ONLY. NEXT YEAR HE NEEDS TO BUDGET TO MAINTAIN THE SIGNAL. AND KNOWING HOW THE MONEY IS GOING TO BE

DISTRIBUTED. >> JUST TO MAKE SURE, I THINK WE ARE SAYING THE SAME THING IN DIFFERENT WAYS, BECAUSE I THINK WE ALL AGREE, THE PRECINCT GETS THE FUND AND WE HAVE THE ACCOUNTABILITY, CODING, TRANSPARENCY ON EACH OF THE MOBILITY EXPENDITURES AND I THINK WHAT YOU ARE SAYING IS HE SHOULD JUST COVER THAT OUT OF HIS GENERAL FUND FOR THE

MAINTENANCE. >> HE WILL NEXT YEAR AND WE WON'T HAVE TO GO THROUGH THIS.

>> OKAY, PERFECT. >> THE MOTION HAS BEEN MADE,

SECOND BY ME, ALL IN FAVOR? >> CAN WE PLEASE READ THEM FOR

THE RECORD. >> MOTION, NUMBER ONE, DIRECT THE OFFICE OF COUNTY ENGINEER TO MEET WITH EACH PRECINCT OFFICE BEFORE FEBRUARY 26, 2026 TO IDENTIFY FUNDING NEEDS FOR MOBILITY, SIGNAL RELATED CAPITAL PROJECTS, SIGNAL MAINTENANCE ON PRECINCT TRAFFIC SIGNAL STUDIES FOR FY 2026 AND THE ESTIMATED AMOUNT FROM EACH PRECINCT'S ALLOCATED MOBILITY FUND TO BE SET ASIDE FOR THESE PURPOSES, MOTION TWO, AUTHORIZE OCE TO ONCE NEEDED MOBILITY FUNDING ALLOCATIONS HAVE BEEN IDENTIFIED IN PARTNERSHIP WITH EACH PRECINCT, CHARGE APPROVED EXPENDITURES FOR SIGNAL RELATED CAPITAL PROJECTS AND SIGNAL MAINTENANCE PROJECTS DIRECTLY TO THE DESIGNATED PRECINCT FUNDING CODES. WITHIN THE MOBILITY FUND , IN COMPLIANCE WITH ALL

[04:30:05]

ALLOCATION FORMULA. >> MOTION HAS BEEN MADE, SECOND BY COMMISSIONER BRIONES, SECOND BY ME, ALL IN FAVOR?

>> AYE . >> THIS IS MOVED.

>> THE UNDERLYING POLICY? >> MOVE ON, ITEM NUMBER FOUR IS

AMENDED. >> AS AMENDED.

>> ALL IN FAVOR? MOTION MADE AND SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER RAMSEY.

AYE . NO OPPOSED. >> BRIONES, RAMSEY ?

>> YES. >> ONE OTHER COMMENT, I KNOW WE HATE NUMBERS, BUT WE LIVE WITH THEM. HERE IS A BIT OF PERSPECTIVE ON HOW IMPORTANT THIS IS. SINCE 2022, THERE HAS BEEN 22 SIGNALS DESIGNED TO BE DONE AT PRECINCT 3, ONLY SEVEN HAVE BEEN DONE, ONLY SEVEN HAVE BEEN DONE. SO IT IS ONE THING TO SAY I'VE GOT A GOOD IDEA, WHY DON'T WE GO OUT AND DO 22 SIGNALS, WE OUGHT TO DO THE SIGNALS. SO, PLEASE LOOK AT YOUR SCHEDULE OF WHAT WE ARE CURRENTLY DESIGNING AND WHAT WE ARE BIDDING, IF THERE IS A PROBLEM IN PURCHASING OR THERE IS A PROBLEM IN WHATEVER, LET'S SOLVE IT.

>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH, THIS POLICY APPROVAL WILL DIRECTLY HELP BECAUSE THE WAY WE HAVE FUNDED IN THE PAST, YOU KNOW WE HAVE A GENERAL PROBLEM WITH MONEY, WHEN THEY DECIDE TO FUND THE SIGNALS, THEY CAN TAKE IT TO PLANNING, BUT THEY USE THEIR FUNDS TO DO THE CONSTRUCTION, SO THIS POLICY WILL GREATLY HELP TO GET THIS THING DONE AND WORKING WITH OUR TEAM TO MAKE SURE AS MANY SIGNAL PROJECTS IN THIS INITIATIVE, OUR TEAM WILL BE

THERE TO DELIVER IT. >> THANK YOU, DIRECTOR. WE ARE ON ITEM NUMBER EIGHT, I PULLED THIS ONE.

>> COMMISSIONER, IF I CAN ASK, WE HAD A NON-AGENDA SPEAKER, I

JUST WANTED TO -- >> MY APOLOGIES, JACOB, YOUR TIME TO SPEAK IS UP, YOU HAVE ONE MINUTE.

>> [INDISCERNIBLE] IN MY OPINION, I GIVE YOU MY GOOD BLESSING COMMISSIONER RAMSEY AND COMMISSIONER BRIONES , TO TAKE TO SOCIAL MEDIA AND HERE HOW THEY ARE HELPING. I WANT TO BE FRANK, I THINK COMMISSIONER RAMSEY DID A BETTER JOB.

>> THANK YOU, MAN. >> AND I WANTED TO CONGRATULATE YOU ALL FOR RAISING THAT SCHOLARSHIP MONEY, YOU KNOW WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT, YOU DID A DAMN GOOD JOB.

>> THANK YOU FOR COMING DOWN, WE APPRECIATE YOU.

>> FOR ITEM NUMBER EIGHT, SINCE WE ARE ON THE SUBJECT OF EXTRAORDINARY SCRUTINY BY THE LEGISLATURE, THERE IS AN UNFORTUNATE BELIEF IN AUSTIN THAT WE ARE SITTING ON MILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN TOLLROAD CONTROL FUNDS, SP 2722 WAS ONE OF THE SUCH PROJECTS OF THAT RESPECTED BELIEF, THIS CHANGE IN MOTION I'M GOING TO PROPOSE WOULD PROVIDE FOR MORE TRANSPARENCY.

WE WOULD BE ABLE TO DEMONSTRATE THAT ANY FUNDS COLLECTING INTEREST ON THE WAY OUT THE DOOR FOR INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS, AND

[04:35:01]

IT IDENTIFIES ANY MATERIAL TIMING GAPS, LIQUIDITY, CONSTRAINTS, OR LIMITATIONS THAT MAY AFFECT THE COUNTY'S ABILITY TO MEET SUBMITTED NEEDS AND DESCRIBED STRATEGIES TO ADDRESS OR MITIGATE SUCH GAPS OR CONSTRAINTS. THAT IS MY FIRST MOTION. SECOND MOTION, TO DIRECT THE OFFICE OF MANAGEMENT AND BUDGET TO WORK WITH COMMISSIONERS OFFICE TO ESTABLISH A PROCESS FOR SUBMITTING CASH FLOW NEEDS FOR UPCOMING PRECINCT INFRASTRUCTURE AND FLOOD CONTROL PROJECTS TO OMB ON AN ANNUAL BASIS PRIOR TO INVESTMENT DECISIONS. SECOND MOTION, AND THE THIRD MOTION IS, MOTION TO DIRECT THE OFFICE OF MANAGEMENT AND BUDGET TO ANNUALLY SUBMIT A REPORT DETAILING BROKERAGE AND BANK FEES SPENT WITH THE FIRST REPORT DUE FEBRUARY 12TH, 2026. I'M ASKING THIS AND I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO THE DIRECTOR FOR HIS INPUT. I HAD JUST, WE ARE GOING TO A NEW LEGISLATIVE YEAR AND I DON'T WANT TO MAKE THE JOB HARDER FOR OUR FOLKS TO ARGUE THAT WE ARE NOT USING OUR INFRASTRUCTURE DOLLARS FOR INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS AND GIVEN THE FACT THAT WE APPROVED AN INVESTMENT POLICY AND HAVEN'T HAD ANY CONVERSATIONS ON IT, I THINK THESE MOTIONS WILL HELP KEEP ON TOP OF THOSE THINGS THAT I THINK ARE IMPORTANT FOR US TO KNOW. THOSE ARE MY MOTIONS.

>> I WILL SECOND, CAN I ADD A FRIENDLY AMENDMENT? A BRIEF ON THE REPORT THAT YOU REFERRED TO AND THE REPORT SHALL INCLUDE THE DAY ON WHICH THE RELEVANT DEPARTMENT MOST RECENTLY SUBMITTED A CASH FLOW FORECAST.

>> GOOD DEAL. >> AND THAT IS BEHIND WHICH

MOTION, COMMISSIONER? >> THE THIRD ONE.

>> THANK YOU. WE ARE HAVING TO PROVIDE ALL THIS INFORMATION, IN TERMS OF THAT LIQUIDITY, WE JUST SET UP A TIME WITH YOUR CHIEF OF STAFF WITH ALL THE FOUR PRECINCTS, INFRASTRUCTURE AND FISCAL FOLKS BECAUSE WE WANT TO BE ON TOP OF THAT. WE WILL SKIP THE FEEDBACK FROM YOUR OFFICES ON WHAT THAT PROCESS COULD AND SHOULD LOOK LIKE AND BE ABLE TO REPORT BACK BUT WE DO WANT TO BE MORE TRANSPARENT THAT THE MONEY, EVERY DOLLAR, I KNOW FOR A FACT EVERY DOLLAR THAT GOES THROUGH PRECINCT TWO, HAD A PROJECT THAT

WAS ASSOCIATED WITH IT . >> THANK YOU, SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER RAMSEY, ALL IN FAVOR? THE MOTION CARRIES, THANK

YOU VERY MUCH. >> AND TAMMY, IF YOU ARE KEEPING NOTES, THE CITY OF HOUSTON LEDGER, JUST FOR THE RECORD, ALL GOOD THINGS, MOST OF THE BRIDGES IN KINGWOOD, AND THEY WERE GLAD TO DO IT, THE LEVEL OF COOPERATION BETWEEN THE CITY AND THE COUNTY IS EXTRAORDINARY. ANYBODY THAT SAYS DIFFERENT DOESN'T KNOW, BUT AGAIN, I KNOW MAYOR WHITMIRE WAS VERY APPRECIATIVE OF WHAT WE DO BUT THAT IS AN EXAMPLE OF WHAT WE

DO. >> THANK YOU COMMISSIONER, GOOD CATCH. WE ARE ON ITEM 69 AND 70, AM I ON THE RIGHT TRACK? I'M EXCITED TO SHARE THAT THE COLLEGE PARK SUBDIVISION DRAINAGE IMPROVEMENTS PROJECTS IN DEER PARK IS MOVING ONE STEP CLOSER TO CONSTRUCTION, THIS IS A NEIGHBORHOOD THAT HAS FACED REPETITIVE FLOODING FOR MULTIPLE RAINFALL EVENTS AND THOSE IMPACTS ON HOMES AND FAMILIES ARE ABSOLUTELY REAL, TODAY'S ITEM IS OUR PREVIOUS AGREEMENT TO PROVIDE ADDITIONAL FUNDING NEEDED TO KEEP THOSE PROJECTS MOVING FORWARD. THE PROPOSED IMPROVEMENTS INCLUDE UPGRADING THE STORM SEWER SYSTEM, ACQUIRING THE NECESSARY RIGHTS -- NECESSARY RIGHT-OF-WAY AND

[04:40:03]

THESE ITEMS. >> I WILL SECOND THAT ONE.

>> THANK YOU, THANK YOU. WE ARE MOVING ON.

>> I'M SORRY, SO IT'S GOING TO BE 69 AND 70 AS PRESENTED,

CORRECT? >> CORRECT. WE ARE NOW ON --

>> ONE MORE, I'M SORRY FOR BUTTING IN AGAIN.

>> I DON'T THINK WE ACTUALLY TOOK THE VOTE ON IT.

>> OKAY, ALL IN FAVOR? >> AYE .

>> THE MOTION CARRIES. THANK YOU. I'M EXCITED ABOUT THIS COLLABORATION AS WELL, WITH 25 SOCCER FIELDS ACROSS THE COUNTY REPAIRED, CONSTRUCTED AND RENOVATED, WE ARE EXTENDING THE REACH OF THE 2026 FIFA WORLD CUP INTO OUR NEIGHBORHOODS, WHILE ALSO ENSURING THESE FIELDS WILL BENEFIT THE RESIDENTS FOR YEARS TO COME. I WANT TO RECOGNIZE COMMISSIONER BRIONES BECAUSE SHE HAS BEEN IN CONSTANT CONVERSATION IN TRACKING THE WORK, SO THANK YOU FOR HELPING TO SHEPHERD THIS ALONG. THESE FIELDS WILL BE USED FOR PRACTICES AND GAMES THROUGH THE FREE KICK SOCCER PROGRAM, A LOW OR NO COST PROGRAM FOR UNDERSERVED YOUTH, AGES SIX TO 18, OPERATED BY LOCAL YOUTH SOCCER CLUBS, THIS BUILDS EXCITEMENT FOR THE WORLD'S LARGEST SPORTING EVENT WHILE MAKING SURE IT IS ACCESSIBLE.

AND REMAINS -- IT REMOVES CERTAIN FINANCIAL LOGISTICAL BARRIERS SO MORE YOUNG PEOPLE CAN PARTICIPATE, IT STRENGTHENS OUR COMMUNITIES BY SUPPORTING HEALTH, WELL-BEING AND PROMOTING MEANINGFUL CONNECTION. THIS COLLABORATIVE EFFORT BETWEEN HARRIS COUNTY, THE SPORTS AUTHORITY FOUNDATION AND THE LOCAL YOUTH SOCCER CLUBS REFLECTS OUR SHARED COMMITMENT TO THESE IMPROVEMENTS AND I'M PROUD OF THE PROGRESS WE ARE MAKING HERE IN HARRIS COUNTY. AND I WILL JUST SAY THIS IS A LITTLE BIT OF A FULL CIRCLE FOR ME BECAUSE BEFORE I BECAME AN ELECTED OFFICIAL, THERE WAS A LOT OF TENSION BETWEEN THE CITY'S PARKS DEPARTMENT AND LOCAL SOCCER CLUBS. THERE WAS VERY LITTLE SOCCER CLUBS AT THE TIME AND THERE WAS TENSION BETWEEN THE SOFTBALL AND BASEBALL LEAGUES AND THOSE SOCCER LEAGUES BECAUSE THEY WERE USING THOSE RESPECTIVE FIELDS FOR SOCCER GAMES AND AS A CONSEQUENCE, MAYOR WHITE MADE A COMMITMENT TO BUILD, I THINK IT WAS 150 NEW SOCCER FIELDS IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON OVER A PERIOD OF TIME, SO GLAD WE ARE CONTINUING TO MOVE THAT ALONG AND AGAIN, COMMISSIONER BRIONES, THANK YOU FOR BEING AN INCREDIBLE SHEPHERD OF OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH FIFA .

>> THANK YOU AND DITTO. >> QUICK UPDATE, WE ARE BUILDING EIGHT FIELDS AT THE BAYTOWN SOCCER COMPLEX, THERE'S ALREADY EIGHT OUT THERE SO THESE WILL BE EIGHT NEW ONES, WE WILL HAVE THREE BEFORE THE FIFA EVENT THIS SUMMER SO THAT IS A BIG DEAL.

AND JUST SAYING, MY GRANDDAUGHTER PLAYED SOCCER YESTERDAY, THEY PLAYED FOR 30 MINUTES, THEY HAD TWO 30 MINUTE HALVES, THIS IS REAL STUFF YOU WILL NEED TO KNOW.

>> TAKE NOTES. >> THEY SCORED WITH 30 SECONDS

LEFT IN THE GAME. >> CONGRATS TO YOUR GRANDDAUGHTER AND OURS WILL BE AT GEORGE BUSH PARK AND I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO THE ANNOUNCEMENT OF ALL OF THEM BUT IT IS REALLY EXCITING TO BRING THIS RESOURCE TO OUR COMMUNITY.

>> AND JUST TO ACCENTUATE THE POINT THAT FIFA IS TOUCHING ALL AREAS OF HARRIS COUNTY AND WE COULDN'T BE MORE GRATEFUL FOR THAT, SO THANK YOU AND WE ARE GOING TO MAKE YOU PROUD. IS THAT

A MOTION AS PRESENTED? >> YES, MOVE TO APPROVE AS

PRESENTED. >> SECOND BY COMMISSIONER

[04:45:04]

>> ON THE INVESTMENT POLICY, I THINK WE HAVE TO VOTE FOR THE

POLICY. JUST MOVE AS PRESENTED. >> OKAY, ON ITEM EIGHT, WE MOVED TO APPROVE IT AS AMENDED, ALL IN FAVOR?

>> AYE . >> SO IT IS GARCIA AND RAMSEY.

>> THE MOTION CARRIES. THANK YOU. ARE WE GOOD? NOW WE ARE ON TO ITEM 82, THIS HAS BEEN PULLED BY COMMISSIONER BRIONES.

>> YES, ITEM 82, HARRIS COUNTY PUBLIC HEALTH, THE DIABETES PREVENTION PROGRAM AND IT IS A RENEWAL AND THIS IS A PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN HARRIS HEALTH AND HARRIS COUNTY PUBLIC HEALTH WHICH I LOVE WHEN I SEE THAT ENHANCED COLLABORATION BETWEEN HOSPITAL DISTRICT AND PUBLIC HEALTH, SO THIS WILL AMEND AND EXTEND THE AGREEMENT AND INCREASE THE CARE COORDINATION, PREDIABETES EDUCATION, ACCESS TO SERVICES AND CREATE EVEN CLEARER APIS BUT THE REASON I'M HAPPY ABOUT THIS ESPECIALLY AS A LATINA, DIABETES IS SOMETHING THAT IS FAR TOO COMMON. IN FACT, THERE'S OVER 40 MILLION AMERICANS THAT HAVE DIABETES AND THERE IS APPROXIMATELY ANOTHER 11 MILLION ESTIMATED THAT ARE UNDIAGNOSED AND DIABETES IS MORE COMMON AS WE KNOW IN MINORITY AND LOW INCOME COMMUNITIES AND LATINO COMMUNITIES, THE AMERICAN INDIAN COMMUNITY, SO THIS IS ABOUT EDUCATION BUT ALSO ABOUT ACCESS, THE HEALTHY FOOD. AND I LOVE THE FOOD PHARMACY THAT WE ARE PARTNERING WITH HARRIS HEALTH, SO THANK YOU DIRECTOR BARTON AND ALL OF THE NONPROFITS IN THE SCHOOLS, ET CETERA THAT ARE DOUBLING DOWN SO THAT WE CAN HOPEFULLY MAKE MORE SUBSTANTIAL PROGRESS. AND I WANT TO HIGHLIGHT THE SUCCESS THAT OVER THE PAST YEAR , HARRIS COUNTY PUBLIC HEALTH DIABETES PREVENTION PROGRAM PARTICIPANTS HAVE ACHIEVED SIGNIFICANT RESULTS. IN FACT, 70% REDUCED THEIR A1C, 70% REDUCED AT LEAST 5% OF THE INITIAL BODY WEIGHT AND 91% INCREASED THEIR PHYSICAL ACTIVITY. I KNOW THAT MANY OF US PARTICIPATE IN OUR COMMUNITY CENTERS WHERE WE BRING THIS PROGRAM INTO THE COMMUNITY SO AGAIN, THANK YOU. I MOVE ITEM 82

AS PRESENTED. >> SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR?

>> AYE. >> THE MOTION CARRIES. THANK YOU. WE ARE ON ITEM 85, THIS IS AN ITEM FOR PRECINCT 2 AND I'M PLEASED TO ANNOUNCE A $250,000 INVESTMENT IN OUR PARTNERSHIP PROGRAM PROCESS WITH THE CITY OF SEABROOK, THIS IS FOR RESILIENCE, IT HELPS TO SUPPORT SMART GROWTH AND IT HELPS TO PROTECT THE LONG-TERM FUTURE OF SOUTHEAST HARRIS COUNTY RESIDENTS. SINCE HURRICANE HARVEY, TENS OF THOUSANDS OF NEW HOMES ACROSS THE REGION HAVE BEEN BUILT IN OR NEAR FLOOD PRONE AREAS, COASTAL COMMUNITIES LIKE SEABROOK REMAIN ESPECIALLY VULNERABLE TO FLOODING, STORM SURGE AND SEA LEVEL RISE AND THE PLANNING DECISIONS WE MAKE TODAY WILL SHAPE THE EXPOSURE AND RECOVERY COSTS FOR DECADES TO COME. THESE FUNDS WILL SUPPORT THE ZONING ORDINANCE REWRITE UPDATE PROJECT, A COMPETENCE OF UPDATE OF THE ZONING ORDINANCE THAT WILL PROVIDE A CLEAR UP-TO-DATE REGULATORY FRAMEWORK FOR LAND-USE, DEVELOPMENT AND LONG-TERM GROWTH. BY ALIGNING ZONING REGULATIONS WITH CURRENT AND FUTURE CONDITIONS, THE CITY CAN BETTER MANAGE INVOLVEMENT WHILE PRESERVING COMMUNITY CHARACTER. THIS REVIVED TO THRIVE ONLINE PROJECT IS CRITICAL TO IMPROVING SAFETY, RESILIENCE AND OVERALL COMMUNITY WELL-BEING AND I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO THE MAYOR FOR HIS LEADERSHIP AND EXCITED TO MOVE

ON TO THE ITEM AS PRESENTED. >> SECOND. CONGRATULATIONS.

>> THANK YOU, ALL IN FAVOR? >> AYE .

>> ANY OPPOSED? THE MOTION CARRIES. NEXT ITEM, 87, THIS HAS BEEN PULLED BY COMMISSIONER BRIONES .

>> AND THIS IS ANOTHER MOMENT WHERE I'M VERY PLEASED BY THE LEADERSHIP, CREATIVITY AND PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN OUR VETERAN SERVICES DEPARTMENT AND UNIVERSAL SERVICES AND THIS IS A WIN ON MULTIPLE LEVELS, SO WE ARE GOING TO MIGRATE OFF OF SALESFORCE TO THE COUNTIES 311 SYSTEM WHICH WILL BE A WIN FOR OUR VETERANS BECAUSE IT'LL BE IMPROVED SERVICES, IT WILL IMPROVE THEIR DATA PROTECTION AND IT'LL BE AN EFFICIENCY

[04:50:03]

>> SECOND. MOTION HAS BEEN MADE. ALL IN FAVOR?

>> AYE. >> WE ARE GOING TO HOLD ITEM 99 WHICH IS NEXT FOR JUDGE HIDALGO, NEXT IS ITEM 156, REQUESTED BY COMMISSIONER RAMSEY. ALL IN FAVOR? I'M SORRY, MOTION BY GARCIA, SECOND BY COMMISSIONER BRIONES, ALL IN FAVOR ?

>> AYE . THE MOTION PASSES, 2-1.

>> I THINK WE WERE COUNTING COMMISSIONER ELLIS AS THE JUDGE

VOTED YES. >> CORRECT, THANK YOU. NEXT IS ITEM 168, THIS HAS BEEN PULLED BY COMMISSIONER RAMSEY. MOTION

HAS BEEN MADE. >> SECOND.

>> SECOND BY COMMISSIONER BRIONES. ALL IN FAVOR ?

>> AYE. >> THAT IS ANOTHER 4-1. THE MOTION GOES 4-1. NEXT ITEM IS 217, I PULLED THIS ITEM AND I'M EXCITED TO HIGHLIGHT OUR CONTINUED EFFORTS TO SECURE ENERGY GENERATORS FOR PRECINCT 2, THIS WILL INSTALL FULL FACILITY BACKUP NATURAL GAS GENERATORS AT NINE CRITICAL FACILITIES ACROSS THE PRECINCT, THESE FACILITIES WILL SERVICE COOLING AND WARMING CENTERS FOR CONSTITUENTS AND NATURAL DISASTERS STRIKE JUST AS ADJUSTED AND JUST MIGHT. THE FACILITIES INCLUDE EAST HARRIS COUNTY ACTIVITY CENTER, THE HARDY SENIOR COMMUNITY CENTER, BAY AREA COMMUNITY CENTER, THE MANGUM COMMUNITY CENTER, THE PEP MUELLER IMMUNITY CENTER, AND THE CASTILLO COMMUNITY CENTER, THE PROJECT INCLUDES THE DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION OF EQUIPMENT AND ELECTRICAL UPGRADES ALONG WITH OTHER NECESSARY IMPROVEMENTS TO KEEP THESE BUILDINGS FULLY OPERATIONAL WHEN THE GRID GOES DOWN. CONSTRUCTION IS ANTICIPATED TO BEGIN IN MARCH OF THIS YEAR WITH NEARLY HALF THE GENERATORS INSTALLED AHEAD OF THE HURRICANE SEASON. WE APPRECIATE THE SUPPORT OF THE COUNTY ENGINEER AND I WANT TO GIVE A SHOUT OUT TO ALL MY TEAM MEMBERS, ENGINEERING AND PUBLIC WORKS CREW AS WELL AS CHRIS OVER AT OPERATIONS THAT OVERSEES OUR COMMUNITY CENTERS AND THOSE MANAGERS AT THOSE RESPECTIVE CENTERS. I'M EXCITED TO MOVE ON THIS MOTION AS PRESENTED.

>> SECOND, CONGRATULATIONS. >> THANK YOU, THE MOTION HAS BEEN MADE, SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER BRIONES , ALL IN

FAVOR? THE MOTION CARRIES. >> WE WILL HAVE ALL OF OUR COMMUNITY CENTERS WITH GENERATORS.

>> YES, CONGRATULATIONS. OUR NEIGHBORS NEED THESE, SO THANK YOU, THAT WAS ARPA MONEY, SO VERY EXCITED FOR THAT TO HAPPEN.

THE NEXT ITEM IS 218, I PULLED THIS ITEM, THIS IS THE AWARDING OF $2 MILLION IN FEDERAL SMART GRANT FUNDING FROM THE U.S.

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION, SMART STANDS FOR STRENGTHENING MOBILITY AND REVOLUTIONIZING TRANSPORTATION. THIS GRANT WOULD HELP LAUNCH A COUNTYWIDE ROAD FLOOD WARNING PROTOTYPE SYSTEM.

THIS PROJECT WILL INSTALL SEVEN EMERGENCY FLOOD WARNING MEASURES ACROSS ALL FOUR PRECINCTS HELPING TO LAY THE FOUNDATION FOR A BROADER COUNTYWIDE WARNING NETWORK. WITH THIS SYSTEM, WE WILL BE ABLE TO DETECT ROADWAY FLOODING IN REAL TIME AND ALERT DRIVERS, IMPROVING SAFETY AND HELPING REDUCE THE RISK OF COSTLY FLOOD RELATED INCIDENTS. WITHOUT FORGETTING THAT WE ARE LIKELY TO HELP SAVE LIVES WITH THIS AS WELL. THIS PROJECT COMES

[04:55:01]

>> YES, 248 IS MOU WITH HOUSTON METHODIST, WORKING WITH PARTNERS ACROSS THE COUNTY AND TESTAMENT TO OUR COMMITMENT HEALTH SO I'M VERY THANKFUL TO HOUSTON METHODIST, THEY ARE PARTNERING WITH PRECINCT 4, SO WHAT THEY ARE GOING TO DO IS BRING FREE HEALTH AND WELLNESS WORKSHOPS TO THE PRECINCT FOR COMMUNITY CENTERS AND THESE WORKSHOPS WILL BE FOCUSED ON THE FOLLOWING, MANAGING CHOLESTEROL, PREVENTING STROKES, MANAGING STRESS, INFLAMMATION, DEMENTIA AND KEEPING OUR HEARTS AND BRAINS HEALTHY AND THESE ARE COMPLETELY FREE TO THE PUBLIC SO HELP US SPREAD THE WORD AND AGAIN, THE MORE WE KEEP UNITING THE MORE WE WILL GET DONE FOR HARRIS COUNTY RESIDENTS AND AS WE HEARD EARLIER THIS MORNING, MORE THAN ONE IN FIVE PEOPLE IN HARRIS COUNTY DO NOT HAVE HEALTH INSURANCE. THANK YOU TO HOUSTON METHODIST FOR STEPPING UP, WE ARE GRATEFUL FOR THE PARTNERSHIP

AND I MOVE 248 AS PRESENTED. >> SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR?

>> AYE. >> THE MOTION CARRIES, WE ARE

NOW ON 249. >> THANK YOU, ANOTHER EXAMPLE OF THE POWER OF PARTNERSHIPS, THIS IS WITH THE LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS. WE HAD EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR KATIE HERE EARLIER INVITING ALL THE PRECINCTS TO PARTICIPATE, BASICALLY THIS WILL BE A NO COST TO THE COUNTY PARTNERSHIP AND THEY WILL COME TO THE COMMUNITY CENTERS TO BRING IN THE CRITICAL NONPARTISAN VOTER EDUCATION AND REGISTRATION ASSISTANCE INTO PRECINCT FOR COMMUNITY CENTERS, AND I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING THEY DO BECAUSE OUR DEMOCRACY DEPENDS ON ALL OF US BEING ENGAGED AND INFORMED AND EMPOWERED AT THE BALLOT BOX. AND WITH THAT I WAS LOOKING AT HARRIS COUNTY VOTER TURNOUT, HOPEFULLY IN HARRIS COUNTY WE CAN BEAT OUR NUMBERS BUT IN 2024 WE HAD 58.8% VOTER TURNOUT SO I HOPE THAT WILL CONTINUE TO INCREASE SO ALL OF US ARE MAKING OUR VOICES HEARD AS WE FORM THE FUTURE OF HARRIS COUNTY. I'M SO THANKFUL FOR EVERYTHING THEY DO AND I'M PROUD TO MOVE 249 AS PRESENTED.

>> SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR? THE MOTION CARRIES. WE ARE ON ITEM

264, BY COMMISSIONER RAMSEY. >> THAT IS THE FLOOD CONTROL RELATED TO THE PROJECTED CALENDAR, I CAN SEE DR. PETERSON THERE. IT'LL BE A SIMPLE QUESTION, THIS WON'T BE A TWO PART EITHER. LET ME JUST PUBLICLY THANK YOU FOR THE TIME YOUR STAFF SPENT KEEPING US POSTED, PARTICULARLY ON THESE, BUT THE SIMPLE QUESTION IS, IS THE PROCUREMENT POLICY IMPEDING PROGRESS ON YOUR ABILITY TO FINISH PROJECTS?

>> AT THE MOMENT I WOULD SAY NO, IN FACT, OUR PROCUREMENT, OUR PURCHASING DIRECTOR HAS BEEN COLLABORATIVE WITH US, THE COURT HAS GIVEN US DIRECTION TO ALLOW CONSTRUCTION CONTRACTS AND WE HAVE MET AND DEVELOPED A PATH FORWARD TO EXECUTE ON THAT. SO AT THIS TIME, WE AREN'T RUNNING INTO ANY ISSUES BUT, I WILL FLAG

THOSE. >> KEEP US POSTED, THERE IS A WILLINGNESS TO MODIFY, JUST TO KEEP THESE PROJECTS MOVING.

>> WONDERFUL, THIS IS A TRANSMITTAL, COMMISSIONER RAMSEY

ALSO HAS ITEM 265. >> QUICKLY IF I MAY, DR.

PETERSON, COULD YOU PLEASE JUST STATE THE NUMBER OF PROJECTS AND

[05:00:02]

>> IN Q1, 2026, IF WE LOOK AT NEXT YEAR WE HAVE ROUGHLY 36 PROJECTS AND 400 MILLION THAT ARE PUT OUT TO BID, IN QUARTER ONE WE ALREADY HAVE SEVERAL PROJECTS. BY THE END OF DECEMBER, YES, AND WE'VE GOT ROUGHLY 15 PROJECTS, LET'S SAY, I'M ESTIMATING BUT ROUGHLY 15 PROJECTS WILL BE PUT OUT TO BITTER. WHAT IS IMPORTANT IS THAT WE HAVE A PLAN AND WE ARE EXECUTING ON THE PLAN TO GET ALL PROJECTS OUT TO BID IN THIS QUARTER. WE HAVE ALREADY GOT FIVE OF THOSE OUT AND WE HAVE MORE COMING RIGHT BEHIND. THE PROGRESS THAT WE MAY JUST FROM THE BEGINNING OF THIS MONTH, WE HAVE ALREADY GOTTEN TWO ADDITIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL CLEARANCES THAT WILL ALLOW US TO MOVE VERY QUICKLY BECAUSE AS SOON AS THOSE PROJECTS ARE UP FOR CONSTRUCTION, AND WE'VE HAD ONE ADDITIONAL PUT OUT TO BID SO PROGRESS IS CONTINUING AND WE ARE KEEPING THE FOCUS ON DELIVERING THESE AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE.

>> THANK YOU DR. PETERSON AND THANK YOU COMMISSIONER RAMSEY FOR MAKING SURE WE CONTINUE TO HAVE THESE QUARTERLY TRANSMITTALS, ABOUT 256 MILLION SCHEDULED FOR ADVERTISEMENT IN Q1 2026 SO WE ARE MAKING PROGRESS, WE ARE GETTING THESE CONSTRUCTED AND DELIVERING ON THESE BOND PROJECTS AND I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO THE GLO OF COURSE AND COMMISSIONER

BUCKINGHAM. >> I'M LOOKING AT YOU BUT I'M SPEAKING TO COMMISSIONER BUCKINGHAM, WE ARE WORKING, WE ARE GETTING THINGS DONE, THEY ARE MOVING. THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP. THE NEXT ITEM IS 265.

>> THIS IS A TRANSMITTAL BY FLOOD CONTROL ON STATUS UPDATE.

THAT IS PRETTY MUCH IT. >> WE WILL MOVE ONTO ANOTHER TRANSMITTAL, 278, THIS IS AN ITEM ON SOLAR LIGHTING WHICH I'M ABSOLUTELY THRILLED TO ANNOUNCE THE INSTALLATION OF SOLAR POWERED PEDESTRIAN LIGHTING ALONG FREEPORT STREET FROM I-10 TO ANDERSON STREET. THE REVIVED THRIVE PROJECT WHICH WAS COMPLETED IN JANUARY 2024, THIS PROJECT WILL DELIVER NEARLY THREE MILES OF EIGHT-FOOT SIDEWALKS ON BOTH SIDES OF THE ROAD REPRESENTING A 1.2 INVESTMENT IN SAFER MOBILITY FOR THE COMMUNITY. TO BUILD ON THAT PROGRESS WE ARE MOVING FORWARD WITH THE INSTALLATION OF APPROXIMATELY 31 SOLAR POWERED LIGHTS MOUNTED 16 FEET ABOVE GRADE, THIS PROJECT REPRESENTS $250,000 INVESTMENT FUNDED BY ARPA. THESE IMPROVEMENTS WILL ENHANCE VISIBILITY AND SAFETY WHILE SUPPORTING RESIDENTS WHO RELY ON THIS CORRIDOR EVERY DAY. THIS EFFORT ADDRESSES REAL CONCERNS WE'VE HEARD FROM RESIDENTS ABOUT THE INADEQUATE LIGHTING WHILE SUPPORTING MY REVIVED THRIVE APPROACH TO IMPROVE LIKABILITY AND MAKE EVERY DAY TRIPS TO HOME, SCHOOLS, PARKS AND TRANSIT SAFER. I'M ABSOLUTELY EXCITED, THIS IS A TRANSMITTAL, OTHERWISE I WOULD MOVE ON IT AS PRESENTED BUT THANK YOU TO EVERYONE INVOLVED. WE ARE ON ITEM 279, ANOTHER PROJECT WHICH I'M PLEASED TO ANNOUNCE WE ARE MOVING FORWARD WITH THE CHEST WICK DRIVE WATER DISTRIBUTION PROJECT AND WE ARE PREPARED TO ADVERTISE IT FOR CONSTRUCTION, THIS WILL REPLACE AGING PRIVATE WATER WELLS WITH A MODERN PUBLIC WATER LINE INCLUDING MORE THAN 3147 FEET OF NEW EIGHT INCH WATER MAIN, NEW FIRE HYDRANTS AND SERVICE CONNECTIONS FOR 44 HOMES BETWEEN WEST EMPIRE STREET AND BERWYN DRIVE, WITH A $1.8 MILLION GRANT FUNDED BUDGET, CONSTRUCTION IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN IN APRIL AND CONCLUDE IN FEBRUARY OF NEXT YEAR. ONCE COMPLETED, RESIDENTS WILL HAVE IMPROVED WATER QUALITY AND RELIABILITY AS WELL AS ENHANCED FIRE PROTECTION. OUR KEY GOAL IS TO BUILD STRONGER AND SAFER NEIGHBORHOODS THROUGH THE INFRASTRUCTURE THAT THEY RIGHTLY DESERVE. I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU

[05:05:03]

[Emergency/Supplemental Items (Part 3 of 4)]

SAFETY POLICY. >> I KNOW COMMISSIONER BRIONES HAS A COUPLE OF MOTIONS, AND WE CAN TALK ON THOSE. THANK YOU FOR SITTING HERE THE ENTIRE DAY AND AGAIN, I DON'T WANT TO EMBARRASS YOU BUT I THINK THAT SHOWS THE INTEREST YOU HAVE OF GETTING THIS RIGHT IN TERMS OF THE SAFETY PROGRAM, THANK YOU FOR PARTICIPATING IN THE COMMITTEE, I THINK THE COMMITTEE WORK IS DONE. MAYBE IF WE COULD WRITE EVERYTHING DOWN THAT IS TALKED ABOUT IN THAT COMMITTEE, MAYBE GIVEN PROPER CONSIDERATION, WITH THE IMPORTANCE. SO I THINK THE MOTIONS THAT COMMISSIONER BRIONES , I JUST SAW, MAY ADDRESS SOME ISSUES WE HAD RELATED TO THAT BUT AGAIN , IT SEEMS LIKE WE HAVE TALKED ABOUT THIS TWO OR THREE TIMES TODAY, WE NEED TO GET THINGS RIGHT BEFORE WE IMPLEMENT. LET'S NOT RUSH THIS, LET'S GET IT RIGHT. WE WANT TO GET IT DONE, THIS IS NOT A DELAY AND DO NOTHING, BUT LET'S BE SURE TO GET THIS RIGHT BECAUSE IT IS THAT IMPORTANT IN TERMS OF SAFETY. SO I YIELD TO

COMMISSIONER BRIONES . >> THANK YOU, YES, I WANT TO THANK OUR REAL LABOR D-BACK -- LABOR PARTNERS, I WANTED TO SAY WE ARE ALL DEEPLY COMMITTED TO THE SAFETY OF OUR WORKERS AND WHEN ANYONE IS WORKING ON A COUNTY JOB THAT WE ARE TAKING CARE OF PEOPLE. BECAUSE THAT IS WHAT WE SHOULD BE DOING AS GOVERNMENT AND I APPRECIATE THE COLLABORATION OF MULTIPLE STAKEHOLDERS. I KNOW WE HAVE MADE GREAT PROGRESS AND THE SAFETY COMMITTEE STILL NEEDS TO CONTINUE HONING CERTAIN PORTIONS. BUT AGAIN, IN THE SPIRIT OF ADVANCING THE BALL, THESE ARE EMOTIONS THAT REALLY HELP CONTINUE FACILITATING THE COLLABORATION AND TAKING THE WINS THAT YOU WERE ABLE TO AGREE WITH AND I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO NEIL AND THE COUNTY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE AND JESSE DICKERMAN AND ALL OF OUR FIVE TEAMS THAT ARE REALLY COMMITTED TO MAKING THIS BEST IN CLASS AND WORKABLE AND FAIR TO ALL CONCERNED. SO WITH THAT, HERE ARE THE TWO MOTIONS. MOTION TO APPROVE THE PROPOSED UPDATED HARRIS COUNTY SAFETY POLICIES FOR CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS WITH THE EXCEPTION OF SECTION 13.3 OF THE WORKSITE SAFETY POLICY AND TO DIRECT THE WORKSITE SAFETY COMMITTEE TO RETURN WITH POLICY RECOMMENDATIONS FOR PROGRESSIVE DISCIPLINE THAT INCLUDE DEFINED STAGES OF ENFORCEMENT AND DISCIPLINARY TOOLS PROPORTIONATE TO THE SEVERITY OF VIOLATIONS TO DEEO AND COURT OFFICES FOR REVIEW WITH THE FINAL RECOMMENDATION TO COMMISSIONERS COURT AT THE TIME OF THE POLICIES ANNUAL RENEWAL, OR ANNUAL REVIEW, PARDON ME, ON AUGUST, 2026 .

[05:10:01]

>> MOTION HAS BEEN MADE, SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER RAMSEY, I WANTED TO ADD MY COMMENTS AND JUST SAY THANK YOU TO LABOR AND CASEY, FOR YOUR MEMBERS AND THE INPUT YOU PROVIDED AND COMMISSIONER BRIONES, THANK YOU AND YOUR TEAM FOR CONSTRUCTING MEANINGFUL AMENDMENTS TO THIS POLICY, THAT HELPS US COME TOGETHER. THIS IS A TRUE WIN-WIN BETWEEN INDUSTRY AND OUR LABOR FOLKS AND I WILL ALSO SAY THAT HAVING BEEN TO A NUMBER OF WORKSITE ACCIDENTS, I CAN'T WAIT TO GO TO THE EVENT WHERE WE ARE REMEMBERING LESS AND LESS PEOPLE WHO HAVE LOST THEIR LIVES BECAUSE OF SAFETY ISSUES THAT HAVE TAKEN PLACE AT WORK SITES.

SO I'M EXCITED ABOUT THIS ITEM AND THANK YOU FOR EVERYONE'S COLLABORATION, MOTIONS HAVE BEEN MADE, ALL IN FAVOR?

>> AYE. >> THE MOTION CARRIES, 5-0.

>> AND LET ME JUST SAY, AMEN, WE DON'T WANT TO LOSE ANY MORE INDIVIDUALS OR HAVE ANY MORE INJURED AND I'M SUCH A PROUD TEXAN AND I WANT US TO LEAD FOR THE RIGHT REASON, I'M SO ENERGIZED ABOUT THE COLLABORATION BETWEEN OUR LABOR PARTNERS AND INDUSTRY PARTNERS BECAUSE I WANT HARRIS COUNTY TO BE THE MODEL, I WANT US TO BE THE SAFEST STATE IN THE UNITED STATES FOR CONSTRUCTION AND TO KEEP THE TEXAS MIRACLE ALIVE, WE NEED TO KEEP PEOPLE SAFE SO WE CAN KEEP THEM WORKING AND KEEP DELIVERING WHAT WE ARE TRYING TO BUILD FOR OUR COMMUNITY. SO THIS PARTNERSHIP, I HOPE WE CAN KEEP DOUBLING DOWN AND MAKE HARRIS COUNTY AND MODEL FOR THE NATION.

>> ANOTHER WIN, AND YOU CAN DELIVER WORD TO THE COUNTIES NEAR THAT ANOTHER WIN HERE IS THESE COSTS THAT WE ARE GOING TO PASS ON, THESE ADDITIONAL INSPECTORS THAT WE ARE GOING TO ADD, THEY ARE NOT ONLY GOING TO BE LOOKING AT SAFETY, THEY ARE GOING TO BE LOOKING AT QUALITY AND QUANTITY, AND SAFETY, SO I THINK WE ARE GOING TO HAVE MORE INSPECTORS, MORE FUNDED INSPECTION POSITIONS OUT THERE AND THAT IS JUST GOING TO MAKE IT A BETTER JOB. THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU ARE DOING.

>> WONDERFUL, THANK YOU AGAIN, YOU ARE MOVING HARRIS COUNTY

FORWARD. >> COMMISSIONER, CAN WE MOVE

ITEM 296 AS AMENDED? >> CORRECT, THE MOTION HAS BEEN MADE, SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER BRIONES, ALL IN FAVOR AS AMENDED ? WE ARE NOW ON ITEM 299, BY COMMISSIONER RAMSEY AND BRIONES.

>> I WILL READ THE ITEM, REQUEST FOR DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION ON AUTHORIZING 1.8 TO SUPPORT COMPENSATION STUDY RELATED INCREASES FOR GRANTS AND SPECIAL FUNDS. I UNDERSTAND THIS

ONE WILL INCLUDE MOBILITY. >> THIS DOES NOT INCLUDE

MOBILITY. >> AND WE ARE LOOKING TO COVER COSTS THAT ARE LIKELY TO GO UP, SO --

>> WE PUT THIS ON WHEN THE DATE WAS STILL 2/7, SO WE CAN STILL GET MORE ACCURATE INFORMATION AS WE GO THROUGH THE PROCESS.

>> OKAY, SO YOU HAVE A PLAN TO DEAL WITH THIS IN TERMS OF NOT

ONLY THE BUDGET BUT THE GRANT? >> I THINK EVENTUALLY COURT WILL HAVE TO MAKE THE DECISION WHETHER THEY WANTED TO APPLY TO GRANTS AND SPECIAL REVENUE FUNDS THAT CANNOT SUSTAIN IT. THE VAST MAJORITY OF THIS IS GRANTS, THESE ARE GRANTS WHERE IT IS EITHER A GRANT AGREEMENT THAT DOES NOT ALLOW FOR SALARY INCREASES OR THE GRANT IS MAXED OUT SO THE IDEA HERE WOULD BE THAT WE WOULD FUND IT FOR THE REMAINDER OF THIS GRANT PERIOD AND THE DEPARTMENT WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR UPDATING THE PAY SCALE AND THE NEXT AGREEMENT. BUT WE PUT THIS ON BECAUSE IT WAS THE LAST COURT MEETING BEFORE, SO WE WANTED TO GET DIRECTION BECAUSE COURT TOOK ACTION EARLIER. WE CAN COME BACK WHEN ALL THESE NUMBERS ARE FINALIZED.

>> BUT WE CAN MOVE ON THIS TODAY.

>> YOU CAN DECIDE BUT THIS NUMBER IS LIKELY TO CHANGE BETWEEN NOW AND THE IMPLEMENTATION. SO YOU CAN TAKE ACTION BUT MY THOUGHT WOULD BE, YOU WOULD WANT TO SEE WHATEVER

THAT FINAL BILL IS. >> TECHNICAL ACTION WOULD BE THE

BENEFIT. >> I AGREE.

>> NO ACTION ON 299, SO WE ARE GOING TO MOVE ON TO ITEM 330 , THIS IS A REQUEST BY THE OFFICE OF COUNTY ADMINISTRATION FOR DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION RELATED TO MANAGEMENT OF THE RESPONSE AND RECOVERY FROM THE JANUARY 2026 WINTER WEATHER EVENT, INCLUDING RATIFICATION OF SUCH EXPENDITURES FOR ACTIONS

[05:15:02]

HAVE ANY BRIEF WORDS ON THIS? >> I DON'T, I THINK THE JUDGE WANTED TO PROVIDE AN UPDATE OVERALL, I THINK THIS IS JUST TO PASS THE TIME FOR EMPLOYEES, ET CETERA.

>> GOOD DEAL. I WILL GO AHEAD AND HOLD THIS ITEM BECAUSE SHE DID MENTION SHE WANTED TO MAKE SOME REMARKS ON THAT, SO WE ARE HOLDING 330, NEXT ITEM IS 332, REQUEST BY HARRIS COUNTY RESOURCES FOR CHILDREN AND ADULTS FOR APPROVAL OF A FOURTH AMENDMENT TO THE INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT WITH THE HARRIS CENTER FOR MENTAL HEALTH AND IDD IN THE AMOUNT OF $558,126.80 IN ARPA FUNDS FOR TEMPORARY RESPITE CARE SERVICES FOR YOUTHS AGED 13 THROUGH 17 AT THE YOUTH DIVERSION CENTER FOR RESOURCES FOR CHILDREN AND ADULTS FOR THE PERIOD OF FEBRUARY 1ST, 2026 THROUGH JUNE 30TH, 2026 AND $35,584 IN FLEX FUNDS TO PROVIDE

MEALS. >> YES, THANK YOU AND I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO WAYNE YOUNG AND THE TEAM AT THE HARRIS CENTER, THIS IS AN EXAMPLE OF AN EFFECTIVE PROGRAM THAT WE FUNDED THROUGH ARPA THAT NOW IF ALL CONTINUES TO GO WELL WILL BE FUNDED BY THE STATE ON THE GO FORWARD. THIS IS DEEPLY PERSONAL TO ME BECAUSE WHEN I USED TO BE A TEACHER, MANY OF MY STUDENTS UNFORTUNATELY WERE JUVENILE JUSTICE INVOLVED YOUTH SO I'M JUST GOING TO READ A FEW HIGHLIGHTS AS I MAY. THE YOUTH DIVERSION CENTER IS AN ARPA FUNDED DIVERSION PROGRAM PROVIDING SHORT-TERM BEHAVIORAL HEALTH RESPITE FOR JUSTICE INVOLVED YOUTH, EXPERIENCING FAMILY DRIVEN MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS. AND THE YOUTH DIVERSION CENTER HAS HAD STRONG OUTCOMES, 88% OF YOUTH RETURN HOME, THEY HAVE A 16% RECIDIVISM VERSUS 25% IN TRADITIONAL DETENTION. OUR YOUTH DIVERSION CENTER DIVERTS YOUTH FROM COSTLY AND INAPPROPRIATE DETENTION AND OPERATES AT APPROXIMATELY $549 PER DAY COMPARED TO 755 FOR YOUTH IN TRADITIONAL JUVENILE DETENTION. SO NOT ONLY IS IT SAVING MONEY BUT INFINITELY MORE IMPORTANT, IT IS HELPING TO REHABILITATE THESE YOUTH TO OUR COMMUNITY. SO UNDER THE ARPA CONTRACT, THE PROGRAMMATIC FUNDING ENDS JANUARY 31ST, 2026.

SO WITH CREATIVE THINKING AND SOLUTIONS ORIENTED, I'M VERY HAPPY THAT THE STATE PARTNERS ARE ACTIVELY PARTICIPATING AND LEANING IN SO WE HAVE A LONGER-TERM FUNDING AGREEMENT TO TRANSITION THE YOUTH DIVERSION CENTER FROM ARPA TO A PERMANENTLY FUNDED STATE SUPPORTED PROGRAM. SO WHEN WE DEMONSTRATE THE SUCCESS, WE HAVE THE DATA AND IT GIVES US A COMPELLING CASE TO FIND MORE PERMANENT LONG-TERM FUNDING SO THANK YOU FOR THE TREMENDOUS WORK THAT YOU HAVE DONE AND I KNOW WE HAVE A REPRESENTATIVE. OKAY, SO WITH THAT, THANK YOU

AND I MOVE 332 AS PRESENTED. >> MOTION HAS BEEN MADE,

[Departments (Part 3 of 4)]

[05:20:02]

AS PRESENTED. >> SECOND.

>> ALL IN FAVOR? THE ITEM PASSES. NEXT ITEM IS , COMMISSIONER RAMSEY, YOU HAVE 338.

>> YES, QUICKLY, EVERY YEAR, ALL THE ENGINEERING SOCIETIES IN THAT AREA GET TOGETHER, WHICH IS PROBABLY THE ENGINEERING CENTER OF THE UNIVERSE, IN HARRIS COUNTY, AND THEY PROBABLY HAVE ONE OF THE MOST VALUED HONORS THAT AN ENGINEER CAN RECEIVE AND THIS YEAR MR. BRIAN MANNING PE , AND THEY WON'T READ THE WHOLE RESOLUTION BUT HE IS A TEXAS TECH RED RIDER AND HIS COMPANY IS A VALUED PARTNER WITH THE COUNTY ON MANY DIFFERENT PROJECTS. THEY'VE GOT A GREAT REPUTATION, HE HAS BEEN VERY ACTIVE, FROM THE AMERICAN SOCIETY OF CIVIL ENGINEERS, PRESENT AT BOTH, AND HAS A LONG LIST OF ACCOMPLISHMENTS, SO HE WILL BE RECOGNIZED AT AN EVENT AND NEXT TIME YOU SEE BRIAN, HE COULD NOT BE HERE TODAY, HE WAS TRAVELING. WE WILL SIGN THAT AND THAT RESOLUTION WILL BE PRESENTED IN A VERY FORMAL WAY AT THE ENGINEERS GALA. I KNOW ENGINEERS AND GALA DON'T GO TOGETHER AND WE DON'T NORMALLY HAVE A GALA BUT WE ARE GOING TO HAVE A GALA ON THIS ONE AND THAT IS PROBABLY IN THREE OR FOUR WEEKS, SO JUST IN RECOGNITION OF BRIAN MANNING, YOU SHOULD CONGRATULATE HIM THE NEXT TIME YOU SEE HIM.

>> GOOD DEAL, A MOTION HAS BEEN MADE BY COMMISSIONER RAMSEY, SECOND BY ME, ALL IN FAVOR? AYE . JUDGE, WE HELD 99 AND 330 FOR YOU AND THEN WE HAVE LEFT 340 AND 341.

>> THANK YOU, LET'S KEEP GOING AND WE CAN GO THROUGH THE TWO THAT WE HELD, SO YOU WERE STUCK ON 340.

>> THAT IS A RESOLUTION. >> DO YOU JUST WANT TO KEEP

GOING, COMMISSIONER GARCIA? >> A REQUEST BY COMMISSIONER BRIONES, RESOLUTION CELEBRATING THE FIFTH ANNIVERSARY OF HARRIS COUNTY OFFICE OF MANAGE TO SIGN COUNSEL. AND OUR GUESTS UNFORTUNATELY ARE NOT ABLE TO BE HERE AT THE MOMENT BUT I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO THE NEW DIRECTOR WHO HAS ALREADY HIT THE GROUND RUNNING AND IS ALREADY STRENGTHENING THE CAPACITY AND IMPACT OF THE OFFICE AND GIVEN HER SPECIAL RELATIONSHIPS AS WELL, JUST BUILDING THAT TRUST AND TAKING IT TO THE NEXT LEVEL AND IN CLOSE PARTNERSHIP WITH CHIEF DRAPER. SO COMMISSIONER ELLIS HELPED FORM THE ABILITY TO EVEN CREATE THE MAC IN THE STATE OF TEXAS, SO WE ARE THANKFUL FOR THAT. IT HAS MANAGED OVER 100,000 CASES IN THESE FIRST FIVE YEARS WHICH HAS IMPACTED APPROXIMATELY 75,000 RESIDENTS AND THE MAC'S HOLISTIC DEFENSE WHICH IS THE MODEL THAT WE ALWAYS AIM FOR, IT NOT ONLY IMPROVES CASE OUTCOMES BUT IT PROMOTES JUDICIAL EFFICIENCY AND SUPPORTS THE LONG-TERM STABILITY OF THE INDIVIDUALS. SO I'M THANKFUL FOR THE FIRST FIVE YEARS, I LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING HOW MUCH BETTER WE CAN MAKE THE MAC IN THE NEXT FIVE YEARS , BUT MY DREAM IS THAT WE CAN GET TO THE PLACE WHERE WE HAVE A FELONY MAC WHERE WE CONTINUE TO BUILD THAT TRUST AND IMPACT. WITH THAT

I'M MOVING 340 AS PRESENTED. >> MOTION HAS BEEN MADE, SECOND

BY GARCIA, ALL IN FAVOR? >> AYE .

>> THE MOTION CARRIES, CONGRATULATIONS. NEXT ITEM IS

[05:25:05]

CONGRATULATE YOU. >> THANK YOU COMMISSIONER GARCIA AND CONGRATULATIONS TO YOU FOR INSPIRING US. BUT I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU, WE HAVE TWO INCREDIBLE PARTNERS WHO ARE HERE TO SPEAK WHO HELPED MAKE THIS POSSIBLE, DR. BLAKE ELLIS AND DANIEL RODRIGUEZ, I'M SO PROUD, I HAVE NOTHING BUT RESPECT FOR MY TEAM, WE HAVE OVER 450 TEAM MEMBERS AND EVERYDAY, THEY HAVE HEART AND HUSTLE AND HIGHER STANDARDS, IT MAKES ME TO BE A BETTER PERSON EVERY DAY, THANK YOU TO THE HOUSTON CHRONICLE FOR RECOGNIZING US. ONLY 208 ORGANIZATIONS WERE RECOGNIZED ACROSS ALL SIZES OF WORKPLACES AND FEWER THAN 80 ORGANIZATIONS RECEIVED THIS HONOR WITHIN OUR SIZE. SO I'M VERY PROUD BUT REALLY HUMBLED BECAUSE SERVING THE PEOPLE OF HARRIS COUNTY ALONGSIDE Y'ALL IS THE HONOR OF MY LIFE AND IT IS A JOY EVERY DAY THAT I FIND ENERGIZING TO MY SOUL SO THANK YOU FOR ADVANCING JUSTICE AND OPPORTUNITY FOR THE PRECINCT FOR IN HARRIS COUNTY.

WITH THAT I WILL TURN IT OVER TO OUR CHIEF TALENT OFFICER, CHIEF COMMUNICATIONS OFFICER AND DEPUTY CHIEF OF STAFF, DR. BLAKE

ELLIS. >> THANK YOU SO MUCH, AND WE HAVE TO SAY A SPECIAL THANK YOU TO COMMISSIONER GARCIA FOR IGNITING THIS COMPETITIVE FLAME . WE PARTNER ON SO MANY ITEMS BUT CONGRATULATIONS TO YOU AND FOR INSPIRING US TO DO THIS. I ALSO WANT TO SAY IT IS SO FITTING THAT I'M SPEAKING ON THIS BECAUSE I HAVE TO GO RIGHT AFTER THIS TO MY BABIES FIRST T-BALL PRACTICE AND COMMISSIONER BRIONES, FROM THE VERY BEGINNING WE CAME TO DO THIS PROJECT TOGETHER, YOU HAVE PRIORITIZED TALENT AND YOU SAID THE MOST IMPORTANT THING WE WILL EVER BE IS FAMILY MEMBERS. AS MUCH AS WE LOVE THIS WORK AND DIVE INTO THE ISSUES, FAMILY COMES FIRST AND SETTING THAT TONE FROM THE BEGINNING MEANS SO MUCH TO ME BUT ALSO FOR THE EXAMPLE WE PROVIDE TO THE RESIDENTS OF HARRIS COUNTY. AND WE ARE GOING TO KEEP FIGHTING SO THAT EVERYONE IN HARRIS COUNTY AND EVERY EMPLOYEE KNOWS THAT THE WORK THEY DO MATTERS. WE WILL CELEBRATE IT AND CHAMPION IT, BUT THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR CELEBRATING THIS RECOGNITION, IT MEANS THE WORLD AND I WILL GO TO

T-BALL PRACTICE. >> GO CAMDEN, TELL HIM I LOVE HIM, THANK YOU. NEXT WE HAVE DANIEL RODRIGUEZ.

>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH COMMISSIONER BRIONES AND TO THE MEMBERS OF THE COMMISSIONER'S COURT, AND THANK YOU COMMISSIONER GARCIA FOR STARTING US OFF, WHEN WE CAME IN IN 2023, THAT WAS A KEY MESSAGE, WE WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT MOBILE GOVERNMENT WORKS FOR THE RESIDENTS AND CONSTITUENTS OF HARRIS COUNTY AND WE WANT TO CHALLENGE SOME OF THE THINGS WE ARE HEARING OUT THERE, THAT HARRIS COUNTY ISN'T AN EMPLOYER OF CHOICE. WE FOCUSED FIRST ON IMPLEMENTING AN ORGANIZATIONAL FRAMEWORK WHICH TALKS ABOUT WHY WE EXIST, HOW DO WE BEHAVE, WHAT DO WE DO, WHAT IS MOST IMPORTANT RIGHT NOW, HOW WILL WE SUCCEED AND WHO WILL DO WHAT AND THAT HAS GUIDED US UNTIL THIS POINT SO WHEN WE TOOK THE SURVEY WE HAD MORE THAN 86% OF OUR EMPLOYEES RESPOND AND SOME OF THE WORDS THEY USED TO DESCRIBE PRECINCT 4 WAS MEANINGFUL, PASSIONATE AND IMPACTFUL. SO WHEN YOU START WITH A CLEAR PURPOSE WHICH FOR US IS TO ADVANCE OPPORTUNITY AND JUSTICE, IT'S NO SURPRISE THAT EMPLOYEES FEEL ENGAGED, SO WE ARE HAPPY THAT IS ACKNOWLEDGED AND WE WANT THE REST OF HARRIS COUNTY TO FOLLOW THAT LEVEL TO SEE THAT WE ARE HERE TO SERVE THE PEOPLE OF HARRIS COUNTY AND WE ARE DOING IT WITH PASSION AND PURPOSE. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THIS

RECOGNITION. >> CONGRATULATIONS.

>> THANK YOU FOR INSPIRING US TO DO IT.

>> AND I CAN SEE YOUR PARENTS, YOU HAVE DONE GOOD WITH THIS GIRL, SO CONGRATULATIONS AS WELL.

>> AND TO THE 446 HARRIS COUNTY PRECINCT 4 TEAM MEMBERS, THIS IS FOR YOU, THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE TO THE PEOPLE OF HARRIS

COUNTY. >> CONGRATULATIONS, CAN WE CLAP?

THIS IS A BIG DEAL. >> MOTION BY COMMISSIONER GARCIA, SECOND BY COMMISSIONER RAMSEY. THE MOTION CARRIES, 5-0.

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

JUDGE, YOU HAVE THE HOME. >> OKAY, SO LET'S GO TO 330, SO

[05:30:08]

>> YES JUDGE, I DO. DO YOU WANT ME TO READ IT? MOTION TO AUTHORIZE OVERTIME PAY IN LIEU OF COMPENSATORY TIME FOR HARRIS COUNTY AND HARRIS COUNTY FLOOD CONTROL DISTRICT EMPLOYEES, FUNDED BY THE PUBLIC CONTINGENCY PICK FUND FOR THE WORK WEEKS ENDING JANUARY 23RD, 2026 AND JANUARY 30TH, 2026 INCLUSIVE FOR ANY RESPONSE AND RECOVERY EFFORTS IN CONNECTION TO THE JANUARY 2026 WINTER WEATHER EVENT. IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE DISASTER PAY POLICY APPROVED BY COMMISSIONERS COURT ON JUNE 26,

2025. >> MOTION? YES, GO AHEAD.

>> WE GO THROUGH MANY DIFFERENT EVENTS, MANY THINGS THAT IMPACT OUR EMPLOYEES, THANKFULLY THE SEVERITY OF THIS STORM AND THE DURATION WASN'T THE WORST IT COULD BE, I THINK THIS DOES AD-LIB -- ADD SOME LEVEL OF CONFUSION. WE LOOK AT WHAT THE COMP TIME IS, WE ARE TRYING TO PLAN WITH OUR EMPLOYEES AS THEY MANAGE THAT COMP TIME ACCOUNT. ALWAYS GREAT TO GO DIRECTLY TO PAY FOR THESE KINDS OF EVENTS, IT'S VERY HELPFUL TO THE PRECINCT IN TERMS OF THE BUDGET BUT I DO THINK IT IS WORTHY.

I'M LOOKING AT OUR CHIEF HERE, IT IS WORTHY IN TERMS OF THE GO FORWARD ON COMP TIME AND HOW WE USE THAT, SO AT LEAST FROM OUR ABILITY TO PLAN, I KNOW WHEN WE ARE OUT THERE TAKING CARE OF BRIDGES ALL HOURS OF THE NIGHT WITH ALL HANDS ON DECK, YOU DON'T REALLY THINK ABOUT POLICIES WITH THOSE STORMS AND THINGS, BUT JUST TO PUT THINGS INTO CONTEXT, I THINK FROM THE PICK FUND AND OTHER THINGS, WE OUGHT TO AT LEAST THINK THROUGH THIS. I'M GOING TO SUPPORT IT BECAUSE I'M VERY PROUD OF WHAT OUR EMPLOYEES DID, I'M PARTICULARLY PROUD OF THE EFFORTS OF OUR FOLKS THIS WEEKEND. BUT I WANT TO LOOK AT THIS GOING FORWARD IN TERMS OF THE COMP TIME, WHEN WE USE COMP TIME, WHAT THAT WOULD BE, I THINK IT WOULD ALLOW PEOPLE TO PLAN THINGS, TO CONSIDER WHEN WE WILL LIKELY DO THIS AND IT SHOULD BE MORE CLARITY AROUND IT BEFORE WE HAVE TO MAKE THE DECISION AT THE END OF EACH EVENT.

>> THANK YOU FOR A WONDERFUL COUNTY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE, THERE IS AN ADDITIONAL CLAUSE THAT I WOULD LIKE TO RESTATE THE SENTENCE, MOTION TO APPROVE THE ORDER RATIFYING RESPONSE EFFORTS AND TO AUTHORIZE OVERTIME PAYMENT AND IT CONTINUES AS IT WAS. THAT'S THE UPDATE LANGUAGE AND I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO EVERY TEAM MEMBER IN HARRIS COUNTY WHO WORKED LITERALLY AROUND THE CLOCK, AND JUST THE SERVICE TO THE PEOPLE OF HARRIS COUNTY. THAT IS GOVERNMENT WORKING FOR PEOPLE, SO TO MY COLLEAGUES, I WAS MOVED WATCHING WHAT YOU AND YOUR TEAMS DID, SO

THANK YOU. >> GO AHEAD COMMISSIONER GARCIA.

>> I WANTED TO SHOW MY APPRECIATION TO MY TEAM AS WELL, THE MANAGEMENT DIRECTOR, HE LITERALLY DOES NOT SLEEP WHEN ANY OF THESE EVENTS TAKE PLACE SO I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO PERNELL DAVIS FOR HIS LEADERSHIP AND THE REST OF MY TEAM AS WELL, THE CENTER MANAGERS FOR MANNING THOSE WARMING CENTERS. NOW THAT WE HAVE A RELATIONSHIP WITH THE CITY OF HOUSTON, THAT CENTER WAS AT CAPACITY. MY TEAM WAS WORKING CLOSELY WITH THE CITY OF HOUSTON EMPLOYEES ON THAT ONE AND THE DEPUTY COMMUNITY CENTER WAS

[05:35:03]

DIRECTOR MARTIN, YOUR TEAM, TAKING CARE OF THOSE FURRY FRIENDS, BUT IT'S ALWAYS HEARTWARMING TO SEE AN OPERATION RUN WELL. AND LASTLY, I CAN'T THANK OUR RESPECTIVE ROAD AND BRIDGE CREWS FOR THEIR PHENOMENAL WORK, I WAS OUT THERE WHEN THEY WERE SHOVELING TO CLEAR OUT THE DRAINS, MAKING SURE OUR BRIDGES DRAINED WELL SO THAT ICE COULD NOT ACCUMULATE AND THEY WILL DOING IT OUT IN THE PEAK OF THIS TERRIBLE WEATHER. SO I LOVE THOSE GUYS AND I KNOW ALL OF US SHARE THOSE INDIVIDUALS, SO TO ALL THE EMPLOYEES, THANK YOU FOR ALL THAT YOU'VE DONE AND I'M ALSO GLAD, YOU KNOW, CENTERPOINT, MUCH, MUCH, MUCH BETTER FOR THEIR RESPECTIVE WORK AND I HAVE ALSO TAKEN SOME LIBERTY WITH HER COT -- ERCOT BY OFTEN REFERRING TO IT AS ECOT BECAUSE OF THE QUESTION OF RELIABILITY. AND I COULD SEE THAT THIS TIME AROUND, SO THANK YOU.

>> THERE IS A PICTURE OF HER CARRYING A STRAY PUP THAT WAS SHIVERING WITH ICICLES ON ITS FUR. SHE WAS TAKING IT TO A WARM PLACE TO BE FED, SO THEY DON'T JUST TAKE CARE OF THE ROADS AND BRIDGES, IT'S WHATEVER THEY ENCOUNTER.

>> THAT IS BEAUTIFUL. YES, EVERYTHING MY COLLEAGUES SAID, COMMISSIONER RAMSEY, ARE YOU COMFORTABLE WITH THE PAY STRUCTURE, NOW THAT COMMISSIONER BRIONES CLARIFIED THE MOTION?

>> I'M FINE WITH DOING THIS HERE BUT JUST TO SEND A MESSAGE, WE NEED TO LOOK AT THAT COMP POLICY GOING FORWARD AND TRY TO ANTICIPATE WHAT WILL BE OR WILL NOT BE.

>> FOR THESE DISASTERS, PEOPLE GET PAID OUT FOR 40 HOURS, THEY DON'T ACCRUE COMP TIME, THAT IS WHAT YOU ARE PASSING TODAY, NOT COMPENSATING FOLKS WITH COMP TIME, WE COMPENSATE FOLKS WHO

ARE MAXED OUT. >> OKAY, SO IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE? OKAY, MOTION BY COMMISSIONER GARCIA, SECOND BY COMMISSIONER BRIONES , ANY OPPOSED? THE MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY AND YOUR REPRESENTATIVES AT THE EOC ARE

[Departments (Part 4 of 4)]

YOU THERE FOR THE SPEAKERS? >> YES, MA'AM.

>> I THINK IT MAKES SENSE WHEN THEY SAY SURE, YOU ARE GOING TO BRING PEOPLE BACK BUT, IF THE RATIO IS THE SAME, HOW DO I KNOW THAT INMATES WITH MENTAL ILLNESS ARE NOT GOING TO BE AT RISK LIKE THEY HAVE BEEN, HOW DO I KNOW IF IT IS GOING TO PROVE -- IMPROVE, AND THIS ISN'T NEW TO ANY OF US. WE SHOULD TALK ABOUT IT AND

[05:40:06]

ACKNOWLEDGE IT. >> IS THE CHIEF WAS ON, HE WOULD PROBABLY BE BETTER TO SPEAK TO THE RATIO.

>> DID YOU CATCH MY QUESTION? IT'S NOT REALLY ABOUT THE RATIO BUT I'M HAPPY TO CLARIFY WHAT I'M ASKING.

>> YES, MA'AM. >> CHIEF, SO I KNOW WE ARE INVESTING QUITE A BIT OF MONEY, $12 MILLION ANNUALLY IN TERMS OF THE DETENTION OFFICER PAY, ON TOP OF ALREADY INVESTING SOME FUNDS ON THIS ALREADY, CORRECT?

>> WE HAVE INVESTED SIGNIFICANT AMOUNTS AT THE JAIL FOR

DETENTION STAFFING. >> AND THE LOGIC IS TO MAINTAIN THE RATIO AND TO RETAIN THE DETENTION OFFICERS, IS THAT

RIGHT? >> JUDGE, SPECIFICALLY HERE, SOME OF THIS IS FOR THE RATIO BUT A LARGE PART OF IT IS FOR THESE PERIPHERAL SERVICES THAT ARE ALSO REQUIRED BY STATE STANDARDS, SPECIFICALLY TO MEDICAL TRANSPORTS, MEDICAL DELIVERY, WE HAVE TO PROVIDE SUPERVISION BY STATE STATUTE IN ALL AREAS OF THE JAIL SO THE RATIO A LOT OF TIMES PEOPLE WILL LOOK AT THE HOUSING RATIO, SO WE HAVE TO PROVIDE THAT SAME LEVEL OF SUPERVISION IN ANY ASPECT, SO WE ARE MOVING HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE THROUGH THE COURT, WE HAVE TO HAVE SUPERVISION ALL THE WAY THROUGH THE COURT AND PERIPHERAL SERVICES. WE HAVE HUNDREDS OF MEDICAL APPOINTMENTS, SO AGAIN, JUST ALL OF THESE AREAS. SO A LARGE PORTION OF THIS SPECIFICALLY WILL GO TO THOSE SUPPLEMENTAL REQUIRED SUPERVISION AREAS.

>> SO RIGHT NOW YOU DON'T HAVE THE APPROPRIATION FOR THIS SORT OF MOVEMENT, I DON'T KNOW HOW YOU WOULD CATEGORIZE THE

MOVEMENT. >> I WOULDN'T SAY WE DON'T HAVE THEM, AS WE ARE BRINGING MORE PEOPLE BACK, IT REQUIRES MORE SUPERVISION IN THOSE AREAS, SO THE 300 AT WE BROUGHT BACK FROM MISSISSIPPI IN NOVEMBER, THAT ADDS TO THESE AREAS. WE ARE MOVING MORE PEOPLE THROUGH COURT, MORE PEOPLE HAVE MEDICAL TRANSPORTS, SO AS WE BRING THOSE INMATES BACK.

>> I THINK WE ARE ON THE SAME PAGE BECAUSE WHAT I'M HEARING IS AS YOU BRING MORE PEOPLE INTO THE HARRIS COUNTY JAIL FROM OUTSOURCING, YOU NOT ONLY REDUCE THE RELIANCE, REDUCE THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN SENT ELSEWHERE, THAT REDUCES THE COST TO THE COUNTY. BUT YOU ALSO, YOU CANNOT BRING THEM BACK IF YOU DON'T HAVE ENOUGH DETENTION OFFICERS THAT CAN BE IN THE CORRECT RATIO. ARE WE SAYING THE SAME THING? BECAUSE YOU ARE SAYING RIGHT NOW YOU HAVE THE ADEQUATE RATIO FOR WHEN THEY ARE STATIONARY AND MOVING AND YOU WANT TO MAINTAIN THAT RATIO SO YOU CAN'T JUST BRING MORE PEOPLE AND NOT HAVE ADDITIONAL DETENTION OFFICERS. SO WE ARE ON THE SAME PAGE ABOUT THAT.

HERE'S WHERE I'M COMING FROM, THESE MOTHERS HAVE COME, MAYBE NOT THE SAME ONES, SEVERAL TIMES THROUGHOUT THE YEARS, COVID, NOT COVID, DETENTION OFFICERS, NOT DETENTION OFFICERS. I'M NOT BLAMING IT ON ANYBODY, BUT I'M JUST SAYING OKAY, IF WE ARE LOOKING AT RAW NUMBERS, WE WANT TO SAVE MONEY HERE AND WE WANT TO PUT MONEY THERE BUT ALREADY THE DETENTION OFFICERS SAVINGS ARE SUPPOSED TO BE FOR SOMETHING ELSE, OR THE SAVINGS FROM OUTSOURCING ARE SUPPOSED TO ALLEVIATE THE HIRING FREEZE. SO WHAT IS THE MONEY FROM OUTSOURCING DETENTION OFFICERS

GOING TO GO TO ? >> IN THE MISSISSIPPI CONTRACT WE HAVE SAVED ROUGHLY 4.5 MILLION WHICH WE TOOK AS PART OF THE BUDGET. THE SHERIFFS DEPARTMENT WAS AGGRESSIVE AND ABLE TO SUCCESSFULLY TRANSFER THEM TO AN HALF MONTHS EARLY.

>> RIGHT, BUT THE BUDGET IS ALREADY BEHIND AND WE HAVE MADE COMMITMENTS, I REMEMBER AT THE LAST COURT, THEY WERE MAKING MOTIONS AS TO HOW YOU WERE GOING TO PAY FOR IT AND YOU SAID FROM THE MONEY WE ARE GOING TO SAVE FROM BRINGING FOLKS HOME, AS OPPOSED TO HAVING THEM OUTSOURCED.

>> SO THERE WILL BE OVER THE LONG TERM, THERE WILL BE SAVINGS BECAUSE WE PAY MORE ON A PER BASIS.

>> BUT THE MONEY WE ARE SAVING, IT IS ALREADY EARMARKED, IT'S NOT LIKE IT IS GOING TO MENTAL HEALTH IN THE JAIL. SO THEN I COME BACK TO OKAY, IN WHAT WAY ARE WE IMPROVING THE RESPONSE TO

[05:45:04]

AGAIN. >> SO, LET ME START WITH SOME OF THE THINGS WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO DO, IN ORDER TO SET THE STAGE FOR THIS MOVEMENT COMING BACK. IN JUNE 2024 WE BROUGHT A REPORT TO THE COURT IDENTIFYING THE DRIVERS OF THE JAIL POPULATION.

AT THAT TIME WE IDENTIFIED 91% OF THE PEOPLE IN JAIL WERE FELONY LEVEL OFFENDERS THAT WERE CONSUMING 97% OF THE JAIL DAYS AND THAT WAS THE PIECE OF THE POPULATION WE WANTED TO TARGET FOR REDUCTIONS WHERE WE COULD HAVE THE BIGGEST IMPACT ON THE LARGEST REDUCTIONS AND HAVE COST SAVINGS.

>> YES, I REMEMBER THAT AND WE HAVE DONE A GOOD JOB LOWERING

THE JAIL POPULATION. >> BUT NOW WE ARE IN A POSITION WHERE WE HAVE ABOUT 1100 TO 1200 PEOPLE OUTSOURCED AND CURRENTLY IN OUR SYSTEM WE HAVE ABOUT 1200 BEDS THAT ARE AVAILABLE BUT NOT STAFFED, WE CAN'T OPEN THOSE POSTS BECAUSE THERE'S NOT ENOUGH STAFF. SO WE ARE IN A POSITION NOW WHERE WE NEED TO ADD STAFF IN ORDER TO OPEN POSTS.

>> WHICH IS WHAT WE HAVE BEEN TALKING ABOUT.

>> SO, THE WAY IN WHICH THE CHIEF HAS ATTACKED THIS SO FAR, IN MARCH, THEY FUNDED THEIR OWN 150 DETENTION OFFICERS TO BRING

DOWN THE MANDATORY OVERTIME. >> RIGHT. YOU ARE NOT TELLING ME SOMETHING WE ALREADY TALKED ABOUT, I KNOW IT IS LATER IN THE DAY, PEOPLE JUST WANT TO HONE IN ON THIS. SO, I KNOW THAT EVERYBODY HAS BEEN WORKING HARD TO BRING DOWN THE JAIL POPULATION AND WE HAVE BEEN SUCCESSFUL AT THAT THROUGH YOUR LEADERSHIP DIRECTOR MILLS. AND I KNOW THERE ARE COST SAVINGS WITH BRINGING IN THE OUTSOURCED INMATES. THAT IS ESTABLISHED. SO WITH THAT ESTABLISHED, WHAT ARE WE DOING ABOUT THE CONSISTENT ISSUES IN TERMS OF RESPONSE TO MENTAL HEALTH? BECAUSE IT HAS ALWAYS BEEN AN ISSUE AND EVERY TIME THIS COMES BACK, JUST SORT OF IGNORED AND I'M NOT BLAMING IT ON ANYONE. THIS IS NOT ME SAYING, YOU KNOW, MAYBE WE DON'T HAVE AN ANSWER, THAT'S WHY WE CAN GO BACK AND THINK ABOUT IT AGAIN, MAYBE SOME OF THE MONEY WE GET FROM OUTSOURCING SHOULD GO TO MENTAL HEALTH. I'M JUST PUTTING THIS ON THE TABLE BECAUSE I FEEL WE DON'T TALK ABOUT IT ENOUGH AT ALL.

>> BUT WE DID, IN FISCAL YEAR 26, WE INCREASED FUNDING TO EXPAND, WE PICKED UP ARPA MONEY IN THE GENERAL FUND, AND THERE HAVE BEEN INVESTMENTS MADE IN MENTAL HEALTH.

>> THAT IS NOT IF SOMEBODY IS HAVING AN EPISODE, RESPONDING TO

IT. >> SO, THEY ARE LOOKING AT LONGER SOLUTIONS AROUND INCARCERATION AND NON-INCARCERATION PROGRAMS, AND I THINK ON THE SHORT TERM, THE IMMEDIATE PART IS SOMETHING WE ARE TRYING TO INTERVENE BEFORE PEOPLE GET INTO JAIL. I THINK THE ISSUE IS IN THE JAIL ITSELF, LIKE THE JAIL IS STUFFED FULL OF PEOPLE AND IT WILL BE FOR THE FORESEEABLE FUTURE. I DON'T THINK WE COME UP WITH REALLY GOOD, RIGHT NOW THINGS TO DO TO MAKE THE JAIL A MUCH BETTER PLACE. I THINK THEY CONTINUE TO WORK ON THAT BUT MORE REALISTICALLY, MEDIUM AND LONGER-TERM SOLUTIONS, NEW FACILITIES THAT CAN BETTER HANDLE PEOPLE WITH MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES. I KNOW IT'S NOT THE PERFECT ANSWER BUT I THINK IF WE HAD THAT ANSWER WE WOULD CONTINUE TO LOOK FOR IT.

>> I THINK IT IS CLEAR, THERE ARE PROGRAMS WE KNOW THAT KEEP PEOPLE OUT OF JAIL. THERE'S THE DIVERSION, CREDIBLE MESSENGER, THE COMMUNITY-BASED PROGRAMS THAT WERE CUT OR PREVENTED FROM GROWING THAT WE KNOW KEEPS PEOPLE WITH MENTAL ILLNESS FROM ENDING UP IN JAIL. THERE'S PLENTY OF EVIDENCE, WE DON'T NEED TO REINVENT THE WHEEL ON THIS OF WHAT HELPS KEEP FOLKS FROM ENDING UP IN JAIL OR PROCESS THEM MORE EFFECTIVELY.

[05:50:01]

>> JUDGE, I THINK I'M HEARING WHAT YOU ARE TRYING TO FIND OUT IS WHAT WE DO FOR MEDICAL MENTAL HEALTH, I WILL JUST SAY, WE ARE THE LARGEST JAIL THAT RECEIVES ACCREDITATION.

>> THE MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY, GO AHEAD, CHIEF.

>> SO WITH THAT ACCREDITATION, THAT FAR EXCEEDS WHAT THE TEXAS MINIMUM STANDARDS REQUIRES OF US AND THAT COVERS MEDICAL AND MENTAL HEALTH, SO I THINK OUR PARTNERSHIP WITH HARRIS HEALTH AND HARRIS CENTER, WE FAR EXCEED WHAT THE MINIMUM JAIL STANDARD IS, THE CARE OF THE INMATE PATIENTS HERE AT THE HARRIS COUNTY JAIL IS EXCEPTIONAL, IT BEATS THE COMMUNITY STANDARDS AND WE COULD BRING IN SOME MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS THAT CAN BRING YOU MORE THINGS, BUT I TALK WITH THEM REGULARLY, SO WE NEVER SHOOT FOR THE MINIMUM STANDARD. SO AGAIN, THESE THOUSANDS OF INMATE PATIENTS THAT ARE HERE, THEY GET BETTER CARE THAN THEY DO IN THE COMMUNITY. THEY COMING IN VARIOUS STATES AND OUR MEDICAL AND MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONALS STABILIZE THEM AND GET THEM UP AND GOING AND IT'S JUST INCREDIBLE. I WOULD VENTURE TO SAY THAT WE COULD BRING SOME OF THOSE PROFESSIONALS HERE THAT COULD MAYBE ANSWER YOUR QUESTIONS IN A MORE DETAILED RESPONSE BUT I COULD TELL YOU, TALKING WITH THEM, ALL THESE INDIVIDUALS THAT HAVE BEEN DOING IT A LONG TIME, THE SUPPORT YOU GIVE US WITH THOSE BUDGETS WITH THOSE TWO VENDORS, WE DON'T MEET THE MINIMUM STANDARDS, THAT IS NOT OUR GOAL, WE FAR EXCEED THEM. AND THE STANDARDS HAVE EVEN BEEN INCREASED FOR THIS YEAR, SO WE ARE ALREADY PLANNING ON AGAIN, HOW WE KEEP THOSE ACCREDITATIONS AND HOW WE DELIVER MENTAL HEALTH AND MEDICAL SERVICES TO THOUSANDS OF PATIENTS THAT ARE IN OUR CARE EVERY DAY.

>> SO CHIEF, I WILL PASS IT ON TO MY COLLEAGUES BUT I'M TRYING TO CO-CREATE A SOLUTION OR AT LEAST WILLINGNESS TO DO SO. I'M NOT TRYING TO HAVE AN ADVERSARIAL POSITION FROM YOU. I KNOW SOME OF THESE FOLKS AND JUST IMAGINE, ALMOST 10,000 PEOPLE IN THE JAIL AND WITH ALL KINDS OF CONDITIONS, MOST WITH MENTAL ILLNESS. I MEAN GOSH, IT IS LUCKY IT IS NOT WORSE. I KNOW THAT YOU GUYS ARE JUST DOING ALMOST THE IMPOSSIBLE, OKAY, THERE'S REALLY NOTHING ANYBODY HAS SAID THAT I DISAGREE WITH.

AND I WANT TO COMMEND YOUR STAFF AND ALL THE STAFF THAT WORKS SO HARD IN THE JAIL, THAT IS NOT MY POINT. MY POINT IS, IF WE HAD A SITUATION IN ANY ORGANIZATION WHERE ROUTINELY ENOUGH, FOLKS WITH SEVERE MENTAL ILLNESS ARE THERE AND FOR WHATEVER REASON , EVERYBODY IS PUT IN A SITUATION WHERE THESE FOLKS LOSE THEIR LIVES. IS IT WE NEED TO DO BETTER DIVERSION? THAT IS PROBABLY THE ANSWER FRANKLY, I DON'T THINK YOU CAN DO MUCH BETTER WITH THE WHOLE SET UP SO OKAY, WE KNOW THAT NEEDS TO HAPPEN. WHY DON'T WE LOOK AT THAT, TOO. AND SOME THINGS WE LOOK AT DOLLARS AND ON OTHER THINGS WE LOOK AT THE HUMAN SIDE. WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO HEAR, LET ME SHORT THIS, WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO HEAR IS YES, IT IS AWFUL WHAT IS HAPPENING TO THESE FAMILIES, YES WE HAVE TOO MANY PEOPLE IN THE JAIL WHO HAVE MENTAL ILLNESS, WHO BY BEING IN THE JAIL ARE PUT AT RISK UNNECESSARILY AND WE ARE GOING TO SEE HOW WE CAN USE SOME OF THE SAVINGS TO KEEP THOSE PEOPLE OUT. THAT'S THE KIND OF ANSWER I'M LOOKING FOR, IT'S NOT ABOUT I'M SO SORRY, WE DIDN'T DO THIS WELL, YOU ARE DOING YOUR BEST. THIS IS AN ACTUAL THING, SO I JUST HATE TO SAY WE ARE DOING OUR BEST AND THIS IS JUST GOING TO BE HOW IT IS. SO ANYWAY, MY MOTION OR REQUEST

[05:55:02]

WOULD SAY. >> WE ARE HAPPY TO DO THAT, WE ARE WORKING ON DEFLECTION, REVERSION AND RE-ENTRY.

>> OKAY, BUT IT CAN'T BE $1 MILLION, WE HAD THE ONE MILLION-DOLLAR PROGRAM AND IT GOT CUT, SO IT NEEDS TO BE A REAL THING. ONE OF THE PROGRAMS CUT IN THE BUDGET WAS THE ONE SUPPORTING CHILDREN WITH MENTAL ILLNESS THAT KEPT THE CHILDREN FROM ENDING UP AT THE DETENTION FACILITIES, THAT GOT KILLED IN THE BUDGET SEASON. SO JUST FOR THE RECORD, WE CAN'T HAVE THESE MOMS COMING AND LOOK AT THEM IN THE FACE AND SAY OKAY, WITH CJCC , WE DECIDED WE ARE GOING TO INVEST $22 MILLION ON THIS, PLUS WE ALREADY CUT SOME OF THE PROGRAMS. SO LET'S NOT PRETEND WE ARE DOING MORE THAN WE ARE, LET'S DO WHAT WE OUGHT TO DO ETHICALLY, BUT AGAIN, I APPRECIATE ALL OF YOU GUYS, I LOVE YOU GUYS, I'M NOT ON THE OPPOSITE SIDE, THIS IS JUST REALLY IMPORTANT TO ME. SO COMMISSIONER GARCIA, RAMSEY AND

BRIONES . >> CHIEF, I WANT TO COMMEND YOU, THE SHERIFF, MR. RAMOS AND THE ENTIRE TEAM FOR WORKING ON THIS PARTICULAR ITEM AND YOU ABSOLUTELY HAVE THE HARDEST JOB IN THE HARRIS COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE. SO THANK YOU AND YOUR TEAM. I WAS TRYING TO FIND THE DASHBOARD BUT COULD YOU SHARE WHAT YOUR HIGH RISK, MEDIUM RISK AND LOW RISK POPULATION PERCENTAGES ARE, DO YOU KNOW THOSE OFF THE TOP OF YOUR HEAD?

>> TONYA PROBABLY HAS THE MOST CURRENT NUMBERS, AGAIN, WITH REFORM, WE HARDLY HAVE ANY LOW-LEVEL OFFENDERS IN THE

COUNTY JAIL. >> THAT IS MY POINT, IT HAS BECOME A MUCH MORE DANGEROUS ENVIRONMENT THAN EVER BEFORE.

>> YES, SIR. AS OF TODAY, ACTUALLY 87% OF THE INDIVIDUALS IN CUSTODY AT THIS MOMENT ARE ON A FELONY LEVEL CHARGE, 54% IS ON VIOLENT OFFENSES AND THAT IS DOWN A LITTLE BIT WITH THE WORK WE HAVE DONE FROM THE 91 IN JUNE, 2024. BUT IT STILL TENDS TO BE A VERY HIGH PERCENTAGE. THESE CASES TAKE A VERY LONG

TIME. >> IT IS A TOUGH ENVIRONMENT CHIEF, SO I'M GOING TO TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO TRY TO BRING SOME LIGHT TO HOW DIFFICULT, I'M SURPRISED YOU HAVE HAIR ON YOUR HEAD. I THINK THE NEXT HAIR THAT IS GOING TO FALL OFF IS ON YOUR FACE BUT LISTEN, I WANT TO BRING LIGHT TO THE COMPLEXITY OF THE WORK INSIDE THE COUNTY JAIL. SO IT HURTS ME WHEN I HEAR THESE MOMS SHARE THE TRAGEDY THAT THEY ARE LIVING WITH AND I HATE THAT IT HAPPENED IN THE COUNTY JAIL. AND I KNOW THE SHERIFF TAKES THESE CIRCUMSTANCES, AS WELL AS YOU DO, IT TRICKLES DOWN, THESE EVENTS ARE TAKEN IMMENSELY SERIOUSLY BY EVERYONE. WE WILL ALWAYS TRY TO MAKE SURE IT IS NEVER A REOCCURRING THING IN THE JAIL. SO AGAIN, TO YOU AND YOUR TEAM, THANK YOU FOR THE TOUGH WORK THAT YOU HAVE ON A DAY-TO-DAY BASIS. AS COMMISSIONER RAMSEY WAS TALKING ABOUT, THE ROAD AND BRIDGE CREWS SAVING A PUPPY, AND I SEE THE FORMER FIRE CHIEF HERE, RESCUING FOLKS FROM FIRES, NOBODY SEES OUR DETENTION OFFICERS AT WORK.

THE AUDIENCE THAT THEY HAVE IS GENERALLY [INDISCERNIBLE] THAT HAS NEVER BEEN LOST ON ME, SO CHIEF, CONTINUE TO KEEP YOUR

[06:00:01]

SO AGAIN, KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK. IT IS HARD, HAVE YOU EVER GOTTEN AN ACCOMMODATION LETTER THAT HAS COME FROM OUTSIDE THE COUNTY JAIL? PROBABLY NOT. SO JUST KNOW THAT I DO COMMEND YOU AND I UNDERSTAND YOUR WORK AND I UNDERSTAND THAT OF YOUR DETENTION OFFICERS BUT I DO WANT TO SUGGEST MAYBE THINKING ABOUT EXPANDING YOUR SUPERVISORY SCOPE BECAUSE ONE OF YOUR CAPTAINS IS DEALING WITH A LOT OF PEOPLE IN A VERY COMPLICATED AND DIFFICULT ENVIRONMENT, SO YOU MAY NEED TO THINK ABOUT EXPANDING THAT SUPERVISORY STRUCTURE THAT MAY HELP US DEMONSTRATE TO THESE FAMILIES THAT WE ARE TRYING TO ESTABLISH SYSTEMS THAT WILL KEEP US FROM EVER SEEING THESE TRAGEDIES AGAIN. SO THANK YOU SO

VERY MUCH. >> THANK YOU COMMISSIONER GARCIA, AND PART OF THIS IS IN LINE WITH WHAT YOU'RE MENTIONING, SO IT IS 31 SUPERVISOR POSITIONS, BECAUSE WE DIDN'T LOOK AT THAT AND I WON'T TELL YOU HOW MANY TIMES, MORE THAN THE AVERAGE NUMBER , SO THAT IS A PART OF THAT ASK AND DIRECTOR RAMOS WAS VERY HELPFUL WITH THAT, WE HAVE TAKEN ON STAFF IN THE LAST APPROVALS THAT Y'ALL GAVE US, WE DIDN'T INCREASE SUPERVISION AT THAT TIME SO THAT IS WHY WE PUT SOME SUPERVISOR SPECIFICALLY INTO THIS ASK AND I WANT TO TAKE A MINUTE, THANK YOU FOR YOUR RECOGNITION BUT IT IS THE OFFICERS THAT DO IT AND IT MAKES ME THINK OF THE OFFICERS HERE AND ALL FIRST RESPONDERS. WE HAD OVER 7000 LIVES HERE IN OUR

[06:05:03]

>> I THINK IT WAS LIKE 50,000. IT'S HARD, BUT THANK YOU.

>> >> THANK YOU CHIEF, PEOPLE DON'T REALIZE IT, IT'S NOT THAT THEY DON'T CARE, THEY DON'T UNDERSTAND A LOT OF TIMES, WHAT YOU ARE RESPONSIBLE IS A CITY LARGER THAN THE ONE I GREW UP IN . IT'S NOT EXACTLY A PREDICTABLE GROUP OF FOLKS IN TERMS OF THEIR NEEDS AND OTHER ISSUES THAT MIGHT COME UP. AND I WILL MAKE THIS QUICK BECAUSE WE CLEARLY HAVE SAID A LOT ABOUT WHERE WE ARE HEADED BUT THE POINT IS, I'M LEAVING THIS KNOWING THERE IS 1200 BEDS OPEN.

AND I THINK IT IS WORTH NOTING THAT THE TWO MONTHS TRAGICALLY THAT CAME TODAY AND TOLD THEIR STORY AGAIN, WHICH IT BREAKS THEIR HEART EVERY TIME THEY HAVE TO TELL THAT STORY, BUT THEIR TWO CHILDREN , THAT MOTIVATES ME TO GET BACK HERE WHERE WE CAN THEN FOCUS ON THE QUALITY OF EFFORT AND SUPPORT. I DID NOTE CHIEF VAZQUEZ, I DO THINK THE SUPERVISORY PERSONNEL TO COMMISSIONER GARCIA'S POINT, INCLUDED 20 SERGEANTS, TWO LIEUTENANTS, SIX DETENTION LIEUTENANTS AND THREE DETENTION CAPTAINS, SO AS USUAL YOU ARE WAY AHEAD OF US, YOU ARE FOCUSED ON THAT IMPORTANT ISSUE. TONYA, I KNOW THEY ARE FOCUSED RIGHT NOW ON CREATING A HOSPITAL FOR DETOX, GERIATRIC, MENTAL HEALTH, SO IT IS A STEP AT A TIME, WE ALL WISH IT WOULD BE FASTER. I THINK IT IS WORTH NOTING IN THIS COURT, THE ATTEMPT TO DEAL WITH THE ISSUE, WE ARE THE ONES THAT PUSH THE HOSPITAL FOLKS, THE HOSPITAL DISTRICT TO TAKE OVER THE CARE INSIDE THERE. THE OBJECTIVE WAS THAT WOULD BE IMPROVED CARE BECAUSE THAT IS WHAT THEY DO, THEY ARE FOCUSED ON HEALTHCARE, NOT THE OTHER ISSUES. SO I'M ASSUMING THAT IS IMPROVING, THAT IS MOVING FORWARD IN TERMS OF MOVING FORWARD. MY LAST COMMENT, AS YOU CONTINUE TO WORK TOWARDS THESE NUMBERS, CONSIDER STAFFING, THERE ARE FIRMS OUT THERE THAT STAFF DETENTION OFFICERS. SO YOU CAN GET LARGE QUANTITIES OF TRAINED QUALITY FOLKS, NOT SUPERVISORS, NOT WHAT THIS IS ABOUT BUT DETENTION OFFICERS AND THERE'S MULTIPLE ENTITIES, FIRMS THAT DO THAT THAT COULD COMPETITIVELY GO THROUGH A PROCESS BUT IT MAY BE A WAY TO QUICKLY BRING ON BOARD PEOPLE THAT CAN STAFF 1200 BEDS AND WITH AN IMPORTANT OBJECTIVE OF SECURELY GETTING FOLKS THAT ARE IN OTHER LOCATIONS BACK HERE, WOULD SEEM TO BE A GOOD THING.

AND I WILL JUST SAY, WE OUGHT TO PUT IT ON THE LIST, A STATE-OF-THE-ART MENTAL HEALTH FACILITY IN HARRIS COUNTY THAT WOULD TAKE PRESSURE OFF THE JAIL SITUATION BUT CREATE SOMETHING THAT IS STATE-OF-THE-ART AND WE COULD HAVE THAT CONVERSATION AND BOLDLY GO OUT THERE AND SEE IF PEOPLE WOULD WANT TO DO THAT. I THINK THERE IS SUPPORT TO MAKE AN EFFORT THERE. THANK YOU AGAIN

FOR WHAT YOU'RE DOING. >> THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER

BRIONES . >> THANK YOU CHIEF VAZQUEZ AND CHAIR GONZALEZ AS A AND DIRECTOR MILLS FOR THIS INFORMATION. THIS IS SUCH A COMPLEX ISSUE AND I KNOW WE HAVE BEEN TAKING ACTION AFTER ACTION AND THERE IS STILL A LONG ROAD AHEAD, WE CONTINUE TO FAIL AND WE NEED TO MEET THE TEXAS JAIL COMMISSION STANDARDS.

[06:10:03]

WE NEED MORE. THE WAY I SEE THIS ITEM, AND THANK YOU FOR ALL THE TIME YOU'VE SPENT WITH ME AND MY TEAM AND ALL OF OUR TEAMS EXPLAINING THIS, AS WE ENDED THAT CONTRACT AND BROUGHT 300 FOLKS HOME, WE NEED THESE ADDITIONAL OFFICERS, FOR STAFFING RATIO BUT, WHEN YOU REALLY DIG IN -- MOTION TO EXTEND. THIS WILL ENHANCE SAFETY IN OUR JAILS SO SOME OF THESE POSITIONS ARE FOR MEDICAL TRANSPORTS SO TO THESE POINTS EARLIER, THESE INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE MEDICAL NEEDS, NOW WE HAVE MY PEOPLE TO TRANSPORT THAT, FOR VISITATION AND RECREATION. AND TO YOUR POINT ABOUT SUPERVISORS , THE CAPTAINS AND LIEUTENANTS AND SERGEANTS, SO WE ARE MAKING THE JAIL SAFER FOR THE INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE AWAITING TRIAL AND FOR THE HARD-WORKING MEN AND WOMEN, SO BRINGING THESE FOLKS HOME HAS NECESSITATED THESE NEW POSITIONS AND I CAN'T WAIT TO AND THE NEXT TWO OUTSOURCING CONTRACTS AND INCREASING THE PUBLIC DEFENDER, HARRIS HEALTH, THE HARRIS CENTER, IT IS THIS ECOSYSTEM OF IMPROVEMENT AND PROGRESS AND IS STILL A CRITICAL, URGENT PROBLEM. I APPRECIATE, I CAN ONLY IMAGINE WHAT IT IS LIKE TO BE THERE EVERY DAY AND ALL DAY, THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU DO. SO BECAUSE THIS WILL ENHANCE SAFETY AND BECAUSE IT IS NEEDED AND BECAUSE WE BROUGHT TEXANS HOME, I WILL BE SUPPORTING THIS ITEM, 99 AS PRESENTED. I DON'T KNOW IF ONE OF YOU WAS GOING TO PRESENT THE MOTION BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY THIS IS NECESSARY IN ORDER TO MAKE OUR JAILS FAVOR AND BRING FOLKS HOME.

>> MOTION BY COMMISSIONER GARCIA. IS THERE A SECOND?

>> NO ONE IS DISPUTING THE MOTION, I'M JUST SAYING LET'S NOT IGNORE THIS. WE ARE NOT REDUCING THE RATIO, FIRST OF ALL WE ALREADY HAD SOMEBODY DIE THIS YEAR, TWO PEOPLE HERE, 39-YEAR-OLD, CHRISTOPHER MACGREGOR, DISCOVERED INSIDE HIS CELL, SHORT OF BREATH BEFORE HE WAS TRANSFERRED TO THE HOSPITAL.

I WANT TO SAY HE'S THE SECOND ONE BUT LET'S SAY HE'S THE FIRST, AND LAST YEAR ACCORDING TO THE NEWS WE HAD 20 DEATHS IN CUSTODY. SO YES AND, RIGHT, LET'S REMEMBER THIS TOPIC, YES DETENTION OFFICERS, CHIEF VAZQUEZ, EVERYTHING COMMISSIONER GARCIA SAID, I HOPE I CONVEYED THAT AND WE OBVIOUSLY NEED TO IMPROVE THE MENTAL HEALTH SIDE AND THESE ARE NOT MUTUALLY EXCLUSIVE, SAYING WE NEED BETTER MENTAL HEALTH INVESTMENTS, WHATEVER THAT MEANS , DOESN'T MEAN WE ARE DOING A BAD JOB WITH DETENTION OFFICERS, THEY ARE A BOTH AND. SO I GO BACK TO MY MOTION TO DIRECT THE CJCC TO DIRECT TO COURT AHEAD OF THE BUDGET SEASON WHAT THEY PLAN TO PROPOSE AND I WOULD HAVE THEM LOOK AT WHAT WAS CUT. THAT IS MY MOTION, SECOND BY COMMISSIONER GARCIA. ALL IN FAVOR? MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY. MOTION BY COMMISSIONERS GARCIA ON THIS ONE, IS THERE A SECOND?

>> SECOND BY COMMISSIONER BRIONES, ALL IN FAVOR ? MOTION

CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY. >> ANYTHING ELSE?

>> NO, BUT WE HAVE THE WEB FAMILY HERE, WE RECOGNIZE THEIR

[06:15:05]

>> HE IS DEFINITELY LISTENING, COMMISSIONER GARCIA, THANK YOU AND EVERYONE ELSE, THANK YOU. I'M SUPER PROUD OF HIM. I TOLD MYSELF I WOULDN'T DO THAT. HE GOT HIMSELF INTO EVERYTHING.

THERE WERE MANY TIMES WHERE I HAD TO TELL HIM NO, YOU NEED TO SAY NO. IT WAS ALWAYS YES OR SOMETHING WOULD COME UP AND HIS BRAIN WAS NEVER SHUT OFF, IT WAS CONSTANTLY WORKING. SO HE REALLY ENJOYED HELPING THE COMMUNITY, HELPING THE PEOPLE AROUND HIM WHETHER IT WAS IN THE SCHOOL DISTRICT OR IN THE NEIGHBORHOODS WITH THE COUNTY OR THE WATER DISTRICT, WHATEVER IT IS, HE WOULD GET INVOLVED AND FIND WAYS TO MAKE IMPROVEMENTS OR SIX IDEAS WOULD COME OUT OF THIS. THAT'S WHAT HE LOVED, SO I'M CERTAIN HE IS THESE ARE MY PARE SO THE OTHER FAVORITE PEOPLE.

WE HAVE CLOSE FRIENDS. WE HAVE FOLKS FROM THE COMMUNITY THAT CAME. SO I'M REALLY BLESSED BEING HERE. WE'VE GOT A GREAT CIRCLE OF

FOLKS. >>

WONDERFUL. >> THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>> SO AGAIN, SETH AND MY COMMUNITY RELATIONS FOLKS, OH, MY GOD. NEVER KEPT ME POSTED ON --

[06:20:01]

>>> HE'S GOOD AT HOLDING HOLDINGFEET TO

THE FIRE. >> YES.

THANK YOU FOR COMING BY AND ALLOWING TO US HONOR HIS INCREDIBLE LIFE. JUST KNOW WE'LL HAVE A BENCH HONORING HIS LIFE AT OUR PARK.

>> AT SAGE?

>> YES. WE'LL MAKE SURE TO LET YOU KNOW WHEN THAT GOES IN SO YOU'LL HAVE A LITTLE PLACE WHEREWHERE YOU CAN FIND SOME TIME TO REFLECT AND CLUE CHEW ON HIM AND MISS HIM AND HOPEFULLY LAUGH AT ALL THE GOOD TIMES. WE'LL TAKE A PICTURE IN A

SECOND. >> THANK YOU SO MUCH. SO MANY FOLKS WHO ARE HERE, IT'S A TESTAMENT TO HOW WONDERFUL HE WAS AND INVOLVED IN THE COMMUNITY.

I DON'T KNOW IF WE'VE EVER HAD THIS MANY PEOPLE COME TO HONOR SOMEBODY WHO HAS PASSED. SO ANYWAY, THANK YOU FOR SHARING HIM WITH US. AND THANK YOU, ALL OF YOU.

I'M SURE, IF YOU'RE ANYTHING LIKE HIM, YOU ARE ALSO VERY INVOLVED AND CONTRIBUTE SO MUCH TO THE COMMUNITY. SO THANK YOU.

WE'VE ALREADY PASSED THIS ITEM. IT PASSED UNANIMOUSLY.

WE HAVE LEFT THE PICTURES AND THAT'S IT.

IS THAT RIGHT? COUNTY ATTORNEY, CLERK, GOOD STUFF, COLLEAGUES. SO IT'S

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.