* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning. [00:00:01] CAPTIONER STANDING BY. >> GOOD MORNING, IT IS 9:01 AND IS WOULD LIKE TO CALL THE MARCH 19, 2026 COUNTY OF HARRIS MEETING TO ORDER. THE I'LL BE JUDGE TODAY. EPA LAWSUIT THAT NEEDS TO BE FILED BY 12 NOON, SO WE'LL TAKE THAT ITEM UP FIRST AFTER WE HAVE OUR PRAYER. AND SPEAKERS, UNTIL 10:00. ITEM 457 AT 10:00 AM PRECINCT 2 REQUESTS THAT ITEM. SPEAKERS UNTIL 12:30. ITEM 142 AND 143 TAKEN UP AT 12:30. THE REST OF THE SPEAKERS ITEM 45 THE PRECINCT 3, THAT IS COMMISSION RAMSEY'S RESOLUTION OF RODEO. FOLLOWING WE'LL GO INTO PUBLIC HEARINGS. AND EXECUTIVE SESSION AND THEN DISCUSSION, AND THEN ADJOURNMENT. AND GOD WILLING, WE WILL NOT BE HERE ALL DAY BUT THAT DEPENDS [Al-Waez Salim Jaffer of the Ismaili Muslim congregation in Houston introduced by the Commissioner of Precinct 1.] ON ALL OF US. SO, I'M VERY HONORED TO INTRODUCE, THE PERSON WHO WILL GIVE US OUR PRAYER FOR THE DAY, IT IS AL-WAEZ SALIM JAFFER. HIS TITLE IS AL-WAEZ, WHICH MEANS PREACHER. AND HE IS ALSO A FATHER AND AN ENGINEER, BY THE WAY, COMMISSIONER RAMSEY. AND I'M JUST SO GLAD TO HAVE HIM HERE. HE'S A HOUSTON BASE MECHANICAL ENGINEER. HE'S BEEN BUILDING BRIDGES ACROSS CULTURAL PHASE, HE IS WELL TRAVELED, AUS TRAIL YA, NEW SEE LAN, JAPAN, PAKISTAN, HE SPEAKS ENGLISH, YUGU, ARABIC FARSI, HE AND HIS WIFE HAVE BEEN MARRIED FOR 38 YEARS AND ONE OF THE MOST ACCOMPLISHMENT IS A TOUR GUIDE AT THE ISMAILI CENTER. I'VE BEEN PRIVILEGED TO VISIT MANY AND EVERYTHING IS BIGGER IN TEXAS. WE'RE GLAD TO HAVE YOU HERE TODAY. >> THANK YOU. >> SPEAKER: GOOD MORNING, I'M START WITH A MUSLIM PRAYER, THEY ALWAYS START WITH RAMIN, IN THE NAME OF GOD, THE COMPASSIONATE THE MERCIFUL, HONORABLE COMMISSIONERS, DISTINGUISHED GUESTS AND FELLOW CITIZENS OF HARRIS COUNTY, MY NAME IS SALIM JAFFER AND I'M A LEADER WITHIN THE MUSLIM COMMUNITY OF FAITH TRADITION THAT HAS CHAMPIONED KNOWLEDGE AND SERVICISM FOR MORE THAN 14 CENTURIES. ISMAILI ARE A GLOBAL COMMUNITY OF MILLIONS LIVING IN MANY COUNTRIES AND INTELLECTUAL INQUIRY, SERVICE TO HUMANITY AND THE BELIEF THAT FAITH AND REASON ARE INSEPARABLE COMPANIONS ON THE PATH TO GOD. HERE IN PRECINCT 1, WE'RE HONORED TO BE THE HOME OF THETHIS-- ISMAILI NATION THAT OPENS ITS DOORS TO NEIGHBORS OF ALL FAITHS. THIS CENTER, IS A TESTAMENT TO WHAT HOUSTON HAS ALWAYS BEEN, A PLACE WHERE PEOPLE FROM EVERY BACKGROUND COME TOGETHER, NOT IN SPITE OF THEIR DIFFERENCES, BUT BECAUSE OF WHAT THOSE DIFFERENCES TEACH US. TONIGHT, AT SUNSET, THE CRESCENT MOON WILL RISE TO MARK THE CLOSURE OF RAMADAN, THE BLESSED MONTH OF FASTING, PRAYER, REFLECTION AND GENEROSITY. TOMORROW, MUSLIMS AROUND THE WORLD WILL CELEBRATE A FESTIVAL OF GRATITUDE AND JOY AND THIS SATURDAY, MARCH 21, WE MARK NAUROOZ, THE PERSIAN NEW YEAR, SHARED ACROSS MANY CULTURES. [00:05:13] ISMAILI CENTER WELCOMES ALL WHO WISH TO JOIN US IN THESE TWO OCCASIONS. AND SO, THIS INVOCATION CARRIES WITH THIS, GRATITUDE AND PRAYER OF AN ENTIRE COMMUNITY. LET US NOW TURN OUR HEARTS TOGETHER IN PRAYER. THE VERSES I SHARE COME FROM AL FATIHA, THE OPENING CHAPTER OF THE HOLY QURAN, MANY WILL RECOGNIZE MUCH AS THE LOWERED'S PRAYER. ASKS FOR DAILY BREAD AND FORGIVENESS, THE ALFAIDA, ASKED FOR MERCY AND STRAIGHT PATH, TWO PRAYERS, ONE SHARED TURNING TOWARDS GOD. FROM THE OPENING CHAPTER OF THE HOLY QURAN, ALL PRAISE BELONGS TO GOD, LORD OF ALL WORLDS, THE MOST GRACIOUS, THE MOST MERCIFUL, MASTER OF THE DAY OF RECKONING, YOU ALONE WE WORSHIP AND YOU ALONE, WE ASK FOR HELP. GUIDE US ON THIS STRAIGHT PATH. THE PATH OF THOSE WHOM YOU HAVE BLESSED. OH GOD, WE ASK YOUR BLESSING UPON THE LEADERS OF HARRIS COUNTY GATHERED HERE TODAY, GRANT THEM WISDOM THAT RISES ABOVE PARTNERSHIP AND COURAGE THAT SERVES THE VULNERABLE, AND TO SEE IN RESIDENTS NOT A STATISTIC BUT THE SOUL. BLESS THE NURSES, FIRST RESPONDERS AND TEACHERS AND SOCIAL WORKERS, THE FAMILIES WAITING FOR A FAIR HEARING, THE CHILDREN WHO DESERVE CLEAN AIR, CLEAN WATER, AND SAFE STREETS. LET THE DECISIONS MADE IN THIS CHAMBER REFLECT THE DIGNITY YOU HAVE PLACED IN EVERY HUMAN BEING. AS WE MARK THE CLOSE OF RAMADAN, A MONTH THAT REMIND OVER A BILLION PEOPLE TO CHOOSE GENEROSITY OVER GREED AND COMPASSION OVER INDIFFERENCES AND COMMUNITY OVER SELF, MAY THAT SPIRIT LINGER IN THE WORK OF JUSTICE THAT CONTINUES HERE EVERY DAY. WE ARE A COUNTY OF MANY FAITHS, MANY LANGUAGES, AND MANY STORIES. MAY THEY GOVERN NOT FROM FEAR OF THE DIFFERENCES BUT FROM THE IS IT THING --DIFFERENCE BUT SHARED HUMANITY. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. >> THANK YOU, AND THANK YOU FOR JOINING US. AND NOW WE RISE FOR THE "PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE". >> 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. >> I WANT TO REMIND EVERYONE THAT RESIDENT LOSING PRESENTATIONS HAVE BEEN MOVED TO BUSINESS CORE DAYS UNLESS THEY PERTAIN TO A SPECIFIC POLICY RELATED ITEM. RESOLUTIONS SPEAKERS WILL SPEAK AT THE REGULAR MORNING SPEAKING TIME, THE EXCEPTION IS A BRIEF PRESENTATION AND PHOTO FOR ITEM 457 SINCE IT RELATES TO OPERATIONAL ITEM TO NAME THE [Emergency/Supplemental Items (Part 1 of 5)] SHIP CHANNEL BRIDGE. AND NOW WOULD I LIKE TO BRING UP ITEM 346, ASSUMING THAT THERE ARE NO PUBLIC SPEAKERS ON ITEM. >> CORRECT. >> WHICH IS A LAWSUIT AGAINST EPA, IT NEEDS TO BE VOTED ON BEFORE NOON. >> WE'RE JUST ASKING TO BE TAKEN OUT OF ORDER BECAUSE WE HAVE A DEADLINE OF NOON. >> I MOVE IT. >> SECOND. >> ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY RAO*I. [00:10:01] --AYE. >> AYE. >> ALL OPPOSED SAY NO. >> NO. >> THREE AYE S AND ONE NAY. THAT PASSES. [Departments (Part 1 of 6)] AND NOW 340, REQUEST OF OFFICE OF COUNTY FOR THE REVISION OF SUBDIVISION PLAT ENTITLED BENFOOT CREEK TO PROCEED WITH COMMISSIONERS HOLD, HOLD A PUBLIC HEARING FOR THE PROPOSED PLAT UNDER 323.009C1, PRECINCT 4. SO FIRST, WE HAVE A PUBLIC HEARING. I WILL NOW OPEN FOR PUBLIC HEARING CONSIDER REVISION. AND THE COMMISSION COURT FOR PROPOSED PLAT UNDER LOCAL GOVERNMENT CODE. JAY IS THAT GOOD? DID I GET IT ALL IN. >> YOU GOT IT ALL IN, COMMISSIONERS. >> TIFFANY, IS THERE ANYONE THAT WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK? >> NO, SIR. >> SEEING NO SPEAKERS, CLOSING THE ITEM. IS THERE A MOTION. >> SO MOVED. MOTION MADE BY COMMISSIONER GARCIA AND SECONDED BY BRIONES. ITEM NUMBER 542 ALLOW THE PROCESS FOR REVISION OF SUBDIVISION PLAT ENTITLED DEVELOPMENT STATES, ON CHANING WAY TO PERCEIVE THE COMMISSION COURT ORDER HEARING, UNDER 329.009 PRECINCT 3. NEXT PUBLIC HEARING ON THAT ITEM. AND NOW OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING AND CONSIDER APPROVAL OF REVISION FOR PLAT D.V.D DEVELOPMENT ESTATES ON CHANING WAY TO PROCEED IN THE COMMISSIONER'S COURT FOR PROPOSED PLAT UNDER GOVERNMENT CODE 332, TIFFANY IS THERE ANYONE THAT WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK? >> NO, SIR. >> NO SPEAKERS, CAN I HAVE A MOTION. >> SO MOVED. >> MOTION AND SECOND. NOW CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE. >> AYE. >> ALL THOSE OPPOSED SAY NO. ITEM PASSES. TO ALLOW A PROCESS OF REVISION OF SUBDIVISION PLAT ENTITLED MARCELA'S PLACE PUBLIC FOR PROPOSED UNDER LOCAL GOVERNMENT CODE, C1 PRECINCT 3, DID I GET IT ALL? >> YES, COMMISSIONERS. >> FOLLOWING WE HAVE A PUBLIC HEARING ON ITEM 342 IN THE PUBLIC HEARING SECTION OF PHASE 342, I NOW OPEN PUBLIC HEARING ENTITLED MARCELA'S PLACE TO PROCEED IN THE COMMISSIONER'S COURT FOR PROPOSED PLAT UNDER 332--TIFFANY ANY SPEAKERS? NO SPEAKER, CAN I HAVE A MOTION. >> MOTION. >> MOTION MADE BY RAMSEY AND SECOND BY GARCIA. ITEM PASSES. PAGE 43, ITEM 443--ENTITLED SAINT CHARLES PLACE, REPLAT NUMBER 19 TO PROCEED IN A COMMISSIONER'S COURT ORDER PUBLIC HEARING ON GOVERNMENT CODE, AND PRECINCT 3. NEXT WE HAVE A PUBLIC HEARING FOR 53--AND 43 I NOW OPEN PUBLIC HEARING OF SAINT CHARLES PLACE PARTIALLY REPLAT TO PROCEED WITH THE COMMISSIONER'S COURT AND END OF COMMISSIONERS COURT FOR PROPOSED PLAT UNDER CODE, C1 PRECINCT 3, IS THERE ANYONE THAT WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK? SEEING NO SPEAKERS, THANK YOU SPEAKERS. YOU DON'T WANT TO SAY ANYTHING, I'M VERY HAPPY. MOTION AND SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE. >> AYE. >> FOUR AYES, NO NAYS. SCRIPT FOR 344 PAGE 43 ITEM 344 REQUEST THAT OFFICE ALLOW PROCESS FOR REVISION OF SUBDIVISION ENTITLED STOET BERRY SECTION PARTIAL REPLAT NUMBER 1 PUBLIC HEARING, PRECINCT 4, FOLLOWING WE HAVE A PUBLIC HEARING ITEM FOR FOUR 344 IN THE PUBLIC HEARING SECTION ON PAGE 43, I NOW OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING FOR CONSIDER AND REVISION OF SUBDIVISION PLAT ENTITLED STOKES BERRY PARTIAL PLAT NUMBER 1 UNDER GOVERNMENT CODE 323.009, TIFFANY ARE THERE SPEAKERS? YOU SAID NO SPEAKERS, NO DISCUSSION. [00:15:01] THANK YOU SPEAKERS FOR NOT SPEAKING. I NOW CLOSE THAT PUBLIC HEARING. IS THERE A MOTION. >> SO MOVED. >> MOVED AND SECOND ALL IN FAVOR. >> AYE. >> VOTE AYE. >> A REVISION OF SUBDIVISION PLAT ENTITLED STOKES BERRY. ALL IN FAVOR VOTE AYE. ALL OPPOSED, FOUR AYES, NO NAYS, PASS. OH MY GOSH. REQUEST BY THE OFFICE OF COUNTY ENGINEER TO ALLOW THE PROCESS FOR THE REVISION OF SUBDIVISION PLAT TO PROCEED AND COMMISSIONERS COURT HOLD A PUBLIC HEARING FOR PROPOSED PLAT UNDER 232T SECTION ON PAGE 43, I NOW OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING AND CONSIDER APPROVE ENTITLED WILD RIDE SECTION 4 TO PROCEED AND THE COMMISSIONERS COURT OF PUBLIC HEARING UNDER LOCAL GOVERNMENT CODE. TIFFANY ARE THERE ANY SPEAKERS. THANK YOU, NO SPEAKERS. I NOW CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING IS THAT STL* A MOTION. >> COMMISSIONER GARCIA MAKES A MOTION AND I THINK I HEARD COMMISSIONER BRIONES SECOND. ALL FOR IT SAY AYE OR NAY. WILD RISE SECTION 5 TO PROCEED AND COMMISSIONERS COURT HOLD A PUBLIC HEARING GOVERNMENT CODE 332, FOLLOWING WE HAVE A PUBLIC HEARING FOR ITEM 346, I NOW OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING TO CONSIDER APPROVAL OF REVISION ENTITLED WILD RIDE TO PROCEED IN THE PUBLIC HEARING FOR PROPOSED PLAT ON TO LOCAL GOVERNMENT CODE, STIFF KNEE IS THERE ANYONE THAT WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK? NO SPEAKERS, NO DISCUSSION, THANK YOU SPEAKERS. I NOW CLOSE THE ITEM. IS THERE A MOTION AND MOVED AND SECOND ALL IN FAVOR OF DIVISION--SECTION 5 SAY YES. ALL OPPOSED SAY NO. MOTION PASSES FOR 0. ITEM 347 PAGE 43, ITEM 347 REQUEST BY THE OFFICE OF COUNTY ENGINEER, ENTITLED WILD RIDE SECTION 6 TO PROCEED IN COMMISSIONERS COURT HOLD A PUBLIC HEARING FOR PROPOSED PLOT 322, NEXT WE HAVE A PUBLIC HEARING FOR ITEM 347 ON PAGE 3. NOW OPEN PUBLIC HEARING OF SUBDIVISION PLAT PUBLIC HEARING, UNDER LOCAL GOVERNMENT C1, PRECINCT 4. TIFFANY, ARE THERE ANY SPEAKERS? NO SPEAKERS AND NO DISCUSSION, THANK YOU SPEAKERS FOR NO DISCUSSION. MOTION MADE BY BRIONES, ITEM PASSES 4-0. PUBLIC HEARING SCRIPT 348 PAGE 43 ITEM 348 REQUEST OFFICE ENGINEER TO ALLOW THE PROCESS. TO PROCEED AND COMMISSIONERS COURT HOLD A PUBLIC HEARING FOR GOVERNMENT CODE 322. FOLLOWING WE HAVE A PUBLIC HEARING IN THE PUBLIC HEARING SECTION ON PAGE 43. I NOW OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING TO CONSIDER PLAT WILD RIDE SECTION 7 TO PROCEED IN PUBLIC HEARING FOR PROPOSED PLAT, C PRECINCT--TIFFANY IS THERE ANYONE THAT WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK? THANK YOU THERE ARE NO SPEAKERS. I KNOW CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING. COMMISSIONER GARCIA MAKES THE MOTION AND COMMISSIONER BRIONES SECONDS IT. THE ITEM PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. NEXT, IS ITEM 43. I'LL SLOW DOWN. REQUEST FOR PUBLIC HEARINGS TO TEXAS PARKS AND WILDLIFE CODE, REGARDING ACQUISITION BY CONDEMNATION OF 8.9 ACRES OF HERMAN PARK ADJACENT TO BEN PARK HOSPITAL FOR REDEVELOPMENT AND BENTOP HOSPITAL. TO CONCLUDE, WE HAVE A PUBLIC HEARING FOR ITEM 349 IN THE PUBLIC HEARING SECTION ON PAGE 43. I NOW OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING PURSUANT TO TEXAS PARKS AND WILDLIFE CODE CHAPTER 26 REGARDING ACQUISITION BY [00:20:14] CONDEMNATION AND EXPANSION OF BEN TOP HOSPITAL. TIFFANY, BEFORE WE GO TO SPEAKERS, I WOULD LIKE TO SAY I APPRECIATE THE TIME THAT ALL SIDES HAVE PUT IN THIS AND INDULGE STAFF IN COUNTY ADMINISTRATION PEOPLE WHO HAVE WORKED ON IT T.I WOULD SUGGEST BECAUSE WE HAVE A LARGE NUMBER OF SPEAKERS, YOU ARE FREE TO SPEAK FOR YOUR ALLOTTED TIME, JUST A SUGGESTION I LEARNED, IF SOMEBODY HAD SAID WHAT YOU WANTED TO SAY, WE PROBABLY HEARD IT, YOU DON'T HAVE TO SAY IT AGAIN. BUT IF YOU LIKE TO, YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO DO THAT. TIFFANY WOULD YOU PLEASE CALL UP THE PUBLIC SPEAKERS AS THEY ARE LISTED. >> STATE REPRESENTATIVE ARMANDO, MALINA, DR. SANDY MARKIN, YOU EACH HAVE ONE MINUTE. SAY YOUR NAME AS YOU SPEAK, REPRESENTATIVE. >> SPEAKER: THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER AND COMMISSIONERS COURT, MY NAME IS STATE REPRESENTATIVE ARMANDO WALLY. I'M HERE IN THE BEN TOP EXPANSION. I WAS BORN AT THE COUNTY HOSPITAL, THE OLD JEFF DAVIS HOSPITAL THAT USED TO BE ON ALAN FABINGER, SO I'M A HOUSTON BOY THROUGH AND THROUGH. I, WAS CARRIED ALONG SOME RAFT OFF BUFFALO BAYOU AND I WAS PICKED UP THERE AND THANKS TO MY MOTHER FOR SHARING THAT GIFT OF LIFE WITH ME. AND SO I'M A HARRIS COUNTY RESIDENT, PROUD PARTICIPATE AND TAXPAYER OF HARRIS COUNTY. THIS EXPANSION IS NECESSARY TO MEET THE GROWING DEMAND AND SHARE CONTINUED TIMELY LIFE SAVING CARE WITHOUT IT, INCREASING PATIENT INVOLVES WILL FURTHER STRAIN AN ALREADY OVER CAPACITY SYSTEM AND LIMIT ACCESS FOR THOSE THAT NEED IT THE MOST. >> YOU CAN CONTINUE. >> SPEAKER: THANK YOU. I HEAR FROM MY CONSTITUENTS THAT THE GROWING COST IS A CHALLENGE AND THEY CANNOT AFFORD TREATMENT. CRITICAL FOR LOW INCOME FAMILIES WHO OFTEN RELY ON SAFETY NET HOSPITALS FOR PRIMARY AND SPECIALIZED CARE. ENSURING TIMELY ACCESS TO SERVICES PREVENT DELAYS AND TREATMENT, REDUCES LONG TERM COSTS AND SUPPORTS HEALTHIER COMMUNITIES. MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC, COMMISSIONERS COURT, I RESPECT YOUR WORK. I STRONGLY SUPPORT PARKS. IN HD140 BUT ALSO IN HARRIS COUNTY AND ACROSS THE STATE. I'VE SEEN FIRSTHAND WHAT INTENTIONAL INVESTMENTS LOOKS LIKE. AS AUTHOR FOR THE FUND THAT HELP EXPAND PARKLAND TO THE TUNE OF ONE BILLION DOLLARS. I'VE ALREADY SUPPORTED PARKS IN HARRIS COUNTY, AND THE CITY OF HOUSTON AND BROUGHT MILLIONS AND MILLIONS OF RESOURCES IN STATE DOLLARS TO OUR LOCAL COMMUNITIES TO EXPAND STATE OUR LOCAL PARK SYSTEM. AT THE SAME TIME, IT IS CRITICAL THAT WE BALANCE THE INVESTMENT WITH THE URGENT NEED. THIS PROPOSAL ADS BALANCE WHILE MINIMIZING IMPACTS TO THE SURROUNDING LAND. I STRONGLY ENCOURAGE HARRIS HEALTH TO CONTINUE ENGAGEMENT AND TRANSPARENCY THROUGHOUT THIS PROCESS. HOWEVER, I KNOW THIS INVESTMENT WILL HELP PROTECT THE CRITICAL TRAUMA AND EMERGENCY SERVICES AND ENSURE THAT THE LONG TERM OF STABILITY OF OUR HEALTHCARE SYSTEM IS MAINTAINED. AGAIN, I RESPECT THIS COMMISSIONER'S COURT, I RESPECT THE PUBLIC, I RESPECT ALL OPINIONS REGARDING THIS MATTER AND STRONGLY SUPPORT THE EXPANSION OF BEN TOP HOSPITAL AND THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME TO SPEAK THIS MORNING. >> THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER GARCIA AND THEN COMMISSIONER BRIONES. >> THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. THANK YOU FOR SPEAKING ON THIS ITEM. LIKE YOU, I'VE GOT A LOT OF EXPERIENCE S WITH BEN TOP. I'M GLAD THAT DOCTOR AND HIS TEAM HAVE DOES SO WE CAN HEAR SOUNDLY WHERE THE COMMUNITY IS AT IN THIS ISSUE. I APPRECIATE YOUR VOICE. >> SPEAKER: THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER, YOU'RE MY COMMISSIONER, WE WORKED WELL WITH ALL OF YOU GUYS BUT YOU'RE MY COMMISSIONER YOU PROVIDED [00:25:02] STEADFAST COMMITMENT. AND COMMISSIONER ELLIS, WE GO WAY BACK. WE APPRECIATE THE INFRASTRUCTURE, COMMISSIONER BRIONES, I APPRECIATE YOU AND YOUR WORK OUT IN NORTHWEST, IT'S A PLEASURE TO WORK WITH EACH OF YOU IN YOUR DIFFERENT CAPACITY. I APPRECIATE YOU FOLKS. >> AND I DO WANT TO POINT ON, WHAT THE HELICOPTER POINTED ON WITH REGARD TO RESOURCES WITH THE PARKS IS PHENOMENAL, WE SHOULD BE GRATEFUL THAT HE'S OUR STATE REPRESENTATIVE HERE. >> THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR THE TIME. >> COMMISSIONER BRIONES. >> REPRESENTATIVE, THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU DO FOR TEXAS FOR ALL THE INVESTMENT YOU BRING HOME TO MAKE HARRIS COUNTY WHAT IT IS. I HAVE LONGER COMMENTS, AFTER ALL AT SPEAKERS, I AGREE THAT IT'S A URGENT NEED. I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU DO FOR TEXAS. >> SPEAKER: THANK YOU. I APPRECIATE YOU. >> MY POINT OF PRIVILEGE, SOME PEOPLE SAY ONLY SMART THING I DID WHILE I WAS IN THE LEGISLATURE WAS THAT PROGRAM, SO I CALLED HIM TO HEAR SOME OF THAT HIP MUSIC ON THE PHONE, WAS THAT THE 90S? I CAN'T REMEMBER WHEN WHICH CALLED YOU. >> IT WAS 199. --19 99. >> AND I DID NOT LEAVE A MESSAGE AND I SAID WHY DON'T YOU TAKE A VOICE, THIS IS RODNEY ELLIS. AND I SAID S I'M LOOKING AT YOUR RESUME AND SOMETHING ABOUT IT BUT TELL ME WHEN I PUT A PROGRAM, MAYBE A CIN POLITICAL SCIENCE. >> IT WAS CONSTITUTIONAL LAW. [LAUGHTER] >> HE HAD THE MOST JUST HEART WRENCHING STORY, I THINK I JUST CRIED AND CALLED AND SAID PUT HIM IN. HE WAS SUCH A LEADER IN THE PROGRAM. AND ALL THE YOUNG PEOPLE I'VE HAD A CHANCE TO MENTOR, I'M SO PROUD OF YOU. >> SPEAKER: THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER ELLIS, I WAS NOT GOING TO GO THAT FAR WITH MY GPA BECAUSE THERE ARE MORE IMPORTANT THINGS. I DO WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE IF I FAILED TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT, I APOLOGIZE, I THINK I'VE DONE THAT IN MANY OCCASIONS. >> YOU TOOK THAT MUSIC OFF? >> SPEAKER: I DID USE THE MUSIC OFF. YOU USED FLOWERY LANGUAGE TO INVITE ME TO THE PROGRAM AND I'VE BEEN UTTERLY GRATEFUL. FOR THAT CALL, I HAD MY FAMILY AS I MENTIONED, I WAS BORN AT THE COUNTY HOSPITAL, WE DIDN'T GROW UP WITH, WE WERE HARD WORKING FAMILY OF HUMBLE MEANS, MY MOTHER WAS SINGLE, I WAS THE OLDEST OF FIVE. SO GETTING THAT CALL FROM YOU TO COVER AN OPPORTUNITY SOMEBODY LIKE ME THAT LOOKED LIKE ME, THAT MEANT THE WORLD TO ME. AND THAT INTER SHIP THAT YOU PROVIDE. INTER I WON BE IN THE POSITION TO ADVOCATE FOR WORKING CLASS PEOPLE. I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU, PUBLICLY FOR THAT OPPORTUNITY BECAUSE BEFORE THAT CALL, YOU KNOW, GOD HAD HIS TENTACLES AND HAD YOU MAKE THAT CALL AND I LUCKILY ANSWERED THE SECOND TIME. >> YOU CATHOLIC? >> YES. >> YOU LEARNED A LOT ABOUT ATTENDING BLACK CHURCHES INCLUDING SPEAKING IN TONGUES. >> YES, SIR. THESE ARE ALL COMMUNITIES THAT I GOT TO WORK IN AND WORKED WITH PASTORS. IT WAS A GREAT OPPORTUNITY. EVEN THOUGH I GOT A CIN CON LAW, I DID GET MY LAW DEGREE AND I'M A PRACTICING LAWYER AND I WORK REALLY HARD. >> THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU DO. >> >> MR. REPRESENTATIVE, ON THE THEOLOGY, THAT WOULD BE, THAT WOULD BE SOMETHING. >> I DID GET A CIN THEOLOGY, OF COURSE I'M BAPTIST AND I WAS AT [00:30:03] A CATHOLIC UNIVERSITY THE FIRST YEAR. >> THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER RAMSEY. THE WORK THAT I DO IN LEGISLATURE, THE POLITICS ARE SO THAT YOU HAVE TO WORK ACROSS THE AISLES. IT SEEMS TO BE A BAD WORD THESE DAYS, BUT I'VE BEEN FORTUNATE TO TAKE THE LESSONS THAT I'VE LEARNED AS A PROUD DEMOCRAT BUT TO BE ABLE TO WORK ACROSS THE AISLE AND GET THINGS DONE FOR HARRIS COUNTY, TO GET THINGS DONE FOR TEXAS. LOOK, I SERVE ON THE APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE. THEY APPOINT ME AND I'VE BEEN ABLE TO BRING THE DOLLARS BACK TO HARRIS COUNTY, BRING INFRASTRUCTURE TO THE TUNE OF BILLIONS OF DOLLARS. I'M PROUD OF THAT PARTNERSHIP, I'M GOING TO FIGHT FOLKS WHEN I NEED TO FIGHT THEM BUT I NEED TO WORK WITH THEM WHEN I NEED TO WORK WITH THEM. AND YOU'RE ONE OF THOSE FOLKS. WE CREATED, I KNOW THERE IS SOME, SOME FLOODING ISSUES, WITH THE HELP OF THE SPEAKER, I WAS THE BILL AUTHOR FOR RESILIENT TEXAS AT TEXAS AMN, BUT DR. BRODY, HIS OFFICE IS IN THE MID-TOWN AREA. THEY DO FLOOD INFRASTRUCTURE STUDIES, THEY DO MAPPING OF FLOOD VULNERABILITY RESIDENTIAL COMMERCIAL PROPERTIES. THEY HAVE A WEBSITE, YOU CAN ENTER INTO YOUR ADDRESS AND OUT POPS UP YOUR FLOOD VULNERABILITY BASED ON BEST AVAILABLE DATA. I DO WANT TO GIVE A SHOUT OUT TO DR. BROAD' TEXAS AM. WE GOT THEM MORE MONEY TO DO MORE WORK IN FLOOD INFRASTRUCTURE. I RECOMMEND YOU INVITE HIM TO TESTIFY AT A FUTURE COMMISSIONERS COURT. I LOVE THE WORK I DO. AND I'M PROUD TO DO THE WORK I DO. AND I'M PROUD TO REPRESENT HARRIS COUNTY. >> WE'RE PROUD OF YOU. >> THANK YOU. >> WE'RE GRATEFUL FOR YOUR PARTNERSHIP AND LEADERSHIP. >> THANK YOU, MAY I BE EXCUSED. >> THANK YOU, REPRESENTATIVE WALLY. >> SO I KNOW WE GET EXCITED, IT'S A BEAUTIFUL DAY OUT THERE, IT'S NOT COLD SO, GO AHEAD. >> SPEAKER: WONDERFUL, THANK YOU FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK. MY FIRST TIME TO THIS COURT, ALREADY VERY INTERESTING EXPERIENCE. SO MY NAME IS MALINA KEBY AND I'M THE PRESIDENT OF HOUSTON HEALTH, AND I'M HERE IN SUPPORT OF HARRIS HEALTH AND BAYLOR MEDICINE AND THE PEOPLE OF HARRIS COUNTY. HARRIS HEALTH HAS HAD A LONGSTANDING RELATIONSHIP WITH BAYLOR TO CARE FOR RESIDENTS ACROSS HARRIS COUNTY, PARTICULARLY THOSE UNDER INSURED. SO BEN TOP HOSPITAL IS ESSENTIAL. EXPANSION, OF BEN TOV IS I AM PIR TIFF TO MEET THE INCREASING DEMAND FOR EMERGENCY SERVICE S AND TO ENSURE CONTINUED ACCESS TO LIFE SAVING CARE TO OUR MOST VULNERABLE PATIENTS. SO THIS PROJECT IS ABOUT RESPONSIBLE PROJECT AND ENSURING THAT THEY CAN CONTINUE TO FULL TILL ITS VITAL ROLE IN HARRIS COUNTY SO THAT HOUSTON CAN CONTINUE TO CARE FOR HOUSTON. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. THANK YOU AND GOOD TO SEE YOU AGAIN. >> SPEAKER: GOOD MORNING, I'M DR. MARKIN, I'M THE CHIEF OF STAFF, IT'S A PLEASURE TO SEE YOU AGAIN. TODAY IS ONE OF THOSE MOMENTS THAT WILL DEFINE HOW THIS COMMUNITY IS CARED FOR, FOR YEARS TO COME. I STAND BEFORE YOU NOT JUST AS A PHYSICIAN BUT AS A WITNESS, A WITNESS TO SEE WHAT HAPPENS WHEN HEALTH SYSTEM IS STRETCHED BEYOND ITS CAPACITY. THIS IS NOT JUST ABOUT BEDS OR BUILDINGS, THIS REALLY IS ABOUT OUR PEOPLE. PEOPLE WHO ARE IN THE GRAVEST OF NEEDS. A MOTHER IN PAIN, A FATHER HOPING FOR A BED OR A PATIENT WHO CANNOT WAIT. DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING JR. CALLED US TO THE FIERCE URGENCY OF NOW AND THIS MOMENT WILL BE A MOMENT TO BE REMEMBERED. THERE IS NO GREATER URGENCY THAN SAVING LIVES IN OUR COMMUNITY. A MOMENT THAT DEFINES NOT JUST POLICY BUT PRIORITY AND NOT [00:35:06] JUST BUDGET BUT VALLEYS. NOT JUST OPERATIONAL BUT MORAL. I ASK YOU TO ACT WITH URGENCY. HISTORY WILL BE WITNESSED TO WHAT IS DECIDED IN THIS ROOM TODAY AND I RESPECTFULLY ASK THIS COURT TO VOTE IN FAVOR OF THE EXPANSION. >> THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THEY HAVE ONE MINUTE EACH. WHILE YOU'RE SITTING THERE, TRY TO EN CAPSULE, THERE ARE ABOUT WHAT? 50 SPEAKERS ON THIS ITEM? OKAY. THANK YOU. >> IF THERE IS SOMETHING YOU DIDN'T GET TO SAY, YOU CAN LEAVE IT IN WRITING. >> I'M A MEMBER P*FT HEALTH BOARD. THOUSANDS OF DEPEND ON HARRIS HEALTH TO HELP THEM MAINTAIN OR REGAIN THEIR HEALTH. IT'S ALL OF OUR IMPORTANT ASSETS. YOU CAN MAKE SURE THAT THEY DELIVER THE CARE THEY DESERVE. AND THE SERVICES THAT WE NEED. PLEASE VOTE TO MOVE THIS FORWARD, THANK YOU. >> >> NEXT IS DR. MEDINA, SIMA, AND CATHERINE CALBERT, YOU EACH HAVE ONE MINUTE. >> THANK YOU, AND GOOD MORNING, AND THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK TODAY. OVER THE PAST SEVERAL MONTHS OUR TEAM HAS BEEN IN A JOURNEY OF LIS TENING, LISTENING TO STAFF AND NEIGHBORS. WHAT WE HEARD IS CLEAR, THE NEED FOR HEALTHCARE NEEDS TO GROW. A BEN TAUB HOSPITAL WE'RE OFTEN OPERATING AT FULL CAPACITY AND IN FACT OUR HOSPITAL HAS ACTIVATED ITS INCIDENT COMMAND TO ADDRESS HOSPITAL OVERCROWDING. WE SIMPLY DO NOT HAVE ENOUGH BEDS FOR THE NUMBER OF PATIENTS THAT RELY ON US EVERY DAY. AND THIS DEMAND WILL ONLY INCREASE. IT ENSURES THAT WHEN OUR COMMUNITY NEEDS US THE MOST, WE HAVE THE SPACE AND THE XAS ILT TO CARE FOR THEM WITH THE DIGNITY THEY DESERVE. I RESPECTFULLY URGE YOU TO VOTE TODAY. >> THANK YOU YOUR TIME IS UP. >> SPEAKER: THANK YOU. GRACIAS. >> SO NOW WHEN I ASK IF YOU CLAP ON ONE SIDE, CLAP ON THE OTHER SIDE, JUST SO EVERYBODY GETS THIS IN. AND WE HAD A ROBUST DISCUSSION ON THIS ITEM. THANK YOU. >> SPEAKER: THANK YOU, I'M DR. HOOLY AND A TRUSTEE OF HARRIS HEALTH AND ALSO PEDIATRIC EMERGENCY MEDICINE PHYSICIAN AND I'M SOMEBODY THAT RECEIVED THEIR EMERGENCY CARE IN OUR HALLWAY OF LOCAL ERS, GIVEN THAT BEN TAUB IS ONE OF TWO TRAUMA HOSPITAL. EVERY SINGLE ADULT IN OUR REGION IS ONE TRAGEDY AWAY FROM BEING A BEN TAUB PATIENT. IN MEDICINE, WE KNOW THAT OVERCROWDING RESULTS IN PATIENT HARM, SOMETIMESED IR REVERSABLE AND SOMETIMES IN DEATH BUT ALSO HARMS OUR HEALTHCARE WORKERS. WE KNOW THAT IT RESULTS IN INCREASE COSTS AND BURN OUT AND STAFF TURNOVER. RIGHT NOW, WE AS A COMMUNITY, HAVE AN AMAZING OPPORTUNITY TO ENSURE THAT OUR EMERGENCY CARE ALIGNS WITH OUR VALUES. I URGE YOU TO SUPPORT THE EXPANSION OF BEN TAUB. >> THANK YOU. >> SPEAKER: GOOD MORNING, I'M PROUD MEMBER OF HARRIS HEALTH BOARD OF TRUSTEES. AS A BREAST CANCER SURVIVOR AND FORMER REGIONAL DIRECTOR FOR U.S. DIRECTOR OF HEALTH AND SERVICE SOUTH SIDE, I KNOW THE IMPORTANCE OF PUBLIC HEALTHCARE AND TRUE ACCESS TO HIGH-QUALITY CARE. HARRIS HEALTH WAS THE BEST OF HOSPITALS IN MY REGION ESPECIALLY BECAUSE OF THEIR EXCELLENCE TO THE VULNERABLE COMMUNITIES AND WE CAN CONTINUE THAT WITH THE EXPANSION OF BEN TAUB. EXPANDING BED CAPACITY IS A PUBLIC HEALTH NECESSARY. IT IS A VITAL PART OF OUR RESPONSE SYSTEM AND REALLY A PLACE OF EXCELLENCE. I URGE YOU TO VOTE FOR THE EXPANSION. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. >> SPEAKER: GOOD MORNING, MY NAME IS CATHERINE KELBEHR I'M [00:40:01] HERE TO SUPPORT THE REQUEST OF JIM TO POSTPONE YOUR DECISION ON CONDEMNATION OF HERMAN PARK ACREAGE FOR EXPANSION OF THE BEN TAUB HOSPITAL. I DISAGREE WITH THE WAY THIS ISSUE HAS BEEN FRAMED AS IF IT WERE IN SUPPORT OR OPPOSITION TO EXPANSION, THAT'S NOT THE ISSUE, THE ISSUE IS WHETHER THAT SHOULD BE THROUGH SEIZURE OF PUBLIC PARKLAND. AS YOU KNOW, THE TEXAS WILDLIFE CODE CHAPTER 26 REQUIRES THAT THERE BE NO REASONABLE AND PRUDENT ALTERNATIVE TO USING THE PUBLIC PARKLAND FOR THE EXPANSION. AS TO WHY COMMISSIONERS DO NOT PRESENT' HAVE INFORMATION SUFFICIENT PURSUANT TO JIM BLACK MARCH 16TH LETTER WHICH IS IS THE LETTER REFERENCES IN THIS REQUESTS. >> THANK YOU YOUR TIME IS UP. >> THANK YOU, THANK YOU FOR COMING. >> NEXT IS BETH ROBERTSON, DR. JAMES, DORI, REV. LENET ROSS. TIM ADAMS, YOU EACH HAVE ONE MINUTE. >> BYWAY, I THINK SOME OF THE NOISE OUTSIDE ARE PEOPLE THAT WANT TO COME IN AND SPEAK, SO IF YOU HAVE SPOKEN, YOU CAN WATCH IT ON TV. BUT PLEASE KEEP IT QUIET. >> SPEAKER: I'M BETH ROBERTSON I'M AT THE HEALTH EXTRA TEEMINGING I --STRATEGIC FUND AND I'VE RAISED MONEY AND I'M HERE TO SUPPORT BEN TAUB. I WANT YOU TO REMIND YOU ABOUT THE PAST. SO IN 1963, COMMISSIONERS LIKE YOU CREATED THE HOSPITAL DISTRICT AND IT AND THE MAJOR UPGRADE TO PUBLIC HEALTH THAT WE HAD HERE IN HOUSTON. AND ITS FIRST HOSPITAL CAME WAS BEN TAUB IN THE MEDICAL CENTER IN 69. SO OVER 50 YEARS AGO, THE COMMISSIONERS MADE A BET ON THIS AND BET FOR PUBLIC HEALTH. TODAY WE'VE GOT A GREAT TEAM AT HARRIS HILL, THAT'S REALLY WHY I'M HERE. >> THANK YOU YOUR TIME IS UP. >> BETH, ANYTHING ELSE YOU WANT TO SAY QUICKLY. >> THINK OF THE FUTURE, PLEASE THINK OF THE FUTURE. IT'S THE FUTURE THAT WE NEED TO DO THIS. >> THANK YOU, WE THANK YOU FOR YOUR FAMILY ON YOUR SUPPORT ON SO MANY CAUSES, IN PARTICULAR UNIVERSITY OF HOSPITAL. [Emergency/Supplemental Items (Part 2 of 5)] FOR IF I MIGHT I WANT TO PAUSE FOR A SECOND. I WANT TO BRING UP, DR. RICHARD TAPIA WAS HERE EARLIER TO RENAME THE SHIP CHANNEL BRIDGE AFTER DR. TAPIA SO WE'LL GO RIGHT BACK. WE'RE GOING TO PAUSE THIS SO I CAN BRING UP ITEM 457 AND SEE IF THERE ARE ANY SPEAKERS? >> SPEAKER: THANK YOU. CHAIR AND COLLEAGUES THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH FOR ALLOWING ME A POINT OF PERSONAL PRIVILEGE TO RECOGNIZE AN INCREDIBLE HUMAN BEING. AND THIS ITEM, SPEAKS TO THE EXISTING HECKTRA BRIDGE THAT IS CROSSING THE CHANNEL. THIS BRIDGE IS CURRENTLY UNDER CONSTRUCTION BUT MAKING GREAT PROGRESS, WE'RE, WE SEEM TO BE ON TRACK AS LONG AS MOTHER NATURE CONTINUES TO SUPPORT US TO HAVE AT LEAST THE SOUTHBOUND SIDE COMPLETED BY LATE THIS YEAR. TO THAT END, AND OTHER ASSETS OF INFRASTRUCTURE, SUPPORT US ALL. WHO HAVE MADE AN INCREDIBLE IMPACT ON SOCIETY AND SO MANY AND ON PEOPLE THAT THEY WILL NEVER EVER MEET. AND IN THAT REGARD, THIS BRIDGE, SERVES AS AN OPPORTUNITY TO REMEMBER THOSE TYPES OF LEGACIES. SO I HAVE KNOWN THIS INDIVIDUAL FOR QUITE SOMETIME. MY BROTHER-IN-LAW IS A COLLEAGUE OF HIS AT RICE UNIVERSITY. AND EARLY ON, I GOT INTRODUCED TO THE CONVERSATION, MAT MATHEMATIC BUT ALSO NANO SCIENCE. THIS WHEN COMPLETED WILL BE ONE [00:45:03] OF THE LARGEST ARCHITECTURE AND ENGINEERING ACCOMPLISHMENTS IN HARRIS COUNTY. AND ANYONE WHO HAS THE MASSIVE SIZE IN SCOPE OF THE BRIDGE THAT IS CURRENTLY UNDER WAY. IT WILL BE A SAFE BRIDGE THAT THOUSANDS WILL PASSOVER EVERY SINGLE DAY. AND BE A MAJOR CONTRIBUTION TO COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY, THERE IS NO MORE FITTING NAME FOR THIS MAJOR STRUCTURE THAN A TITAN OF ENGINEERING HIMSELF, MATH, AND SCIENCE. SOMEBODY WHO HAS MADE AN EXTRAORDINARY IMPACT NOT JUST IN HIS FIELD OF STUDY BUT ON GENERATIONS OF FUTURE SCIENTIST, MATHEMATICIANS, ENGINEERS AND THAT PERSON IS DR. RICHARD A TAPIA. [APPLAUSE] AND I WANT TO THANK, COUPLE OF FOLKS WHO HAVE BEEN VERY VERY INSTRUMENTAL IN HELPING MAKE TODAY POSSIBLE. I WANT TO THANK NICK MEDINA AND HILLBERTO FOR THEIR RESPECTIVE SUPPORT. DR. TAPIA WAS BORN IN SANTA MONICA, CALIFORNIA WENT TO PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND EARNED HIS BACHELORS AND MASTERS AND THEN A PH.D AT UCLA. FIRST OF HIS FAMILY TO ATTEND COLLEGE. JOINED THE FACULTY OF RICE UNIVERSITY IN 1970! AND BECAME FULL PROFESSOR IN 1976. HE WAS CHAIR OF MATHEMATICAL SCIENCES OF RICE FROM 1978 TO 983 AND CURRENTLY HOLDS A POSITION OF 10TH UNIVERSITY PROFESSOR OF RICE AND IS THE USHMAN IN ENGINEERING. FIRST PERSON OF HISPANIC DISSENT, HE WAS AN APPOINTEE OF, PRESIDENT AWARDED DR. TAPIA THE NATIONAL MEDAL OF SCIENCE IN HOSPITALIZATION THEORY AND IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT WHAT THAT MEANS, LET ME KNOW AND I'LL FIND SOMEONE WHO CAN TELL YOU AND FOR HIS DEDICATION AND SUSTAINED EFFORTS IN FOSTERING DIVERSITY AND EXCELLENT IN MATHEMATIC AND SCIENCE EDUCATION. ON THIS POINT, LET ME JUST SAY, THAT DR. TAPIA NEVER LEAVES AN OPPORTUNITY TO SAY WHEN HE WAS EMBARKING ON HIS JOURNEY, A SCIENCE PROFESSOR, THAT HE RECOGNIZED THAT HE WAS IN MANY OCCASIONS, THE ONLY AND AT A YOUNG AGE, HE MADE A DECISION AND A COMMITMENT THAT HE WOULD DO ALL THAT HE CAN TO CHANGE THAT. AND HE HAS. THEY FOUNDED THE CENTER FOR EXCELLENCE AND EQUITY TO PROMOTE SYSTEM EDUCATION FOR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS AND EDUCATORS. RUNS SUMMER CAMP, PROGRAMMING FOR STUDENTS WHO'S COMMUNITIES HAVE OFTEN BEEN UNDER REPRESENTED IN THE SYSTEM FIELDS PARTICULARLY HISPANIC AND AFRICAN-AMERICAN KIDS. THEY ALSO ASSIST IN TRAINING EDUCATORS TO REACH YOUNG PEOPLE IN THE STEM FIELD WHO DID NOT SEE THEMSELVES REFLECTED OFTEN ENOUGH. SINCE 2015, ALONE THE TAFFIA CENTER HAS DELIVERED PROGRAMMING TO MORE THAN 4,000 STUDENTS AND MORE THAN 500 EDUCATORS. DR. TAPIA'S MESSAGE TO KIDS IS THE INFAMOUS, SI SE PUEDE, YES YOU CAN. AND LET ME TOUCH ON THIS H , DR. TAPIA HAS BEEN SOMEBODY WHO HAS KEPT HIS NOSE TO THE GRIND STONE COMMITTED TO THAT VISION OF SEEING GREATER SCIENTIST, GREATER MATHEMATICIANS, GREATER [00:50:09] ENGINEERS BUT ALSO, WHO REFLECT IN PARTICULARLY, WHAT HOUSTON AND HARRIS COUNTY LOOKS LIKE. WE COULDN'T BE MORE GRATEFUL THAN THAT. BUT ALSO, DR. TAPIA, REPRESENTS AN INDIVIDUAL WHO RECOGNIZED THAT, NO MATTER WHERE YOU GO, HE EMBODIES WHAT MY DADDY USED TO SAY, IS NEVER FORGET WHERE YOU COME FROM AND HE NEVER HAS. AND DR. TAPIA, IS SOMEBODY OF INCREDIBLE, INCREDIBLE HUMBLE MEANS. A BEAUTIFUL PERSON TO VISIT WITH AND SOMEBODY WHO YOU WILL NOT FORGET AFTER YOU FIRST MEET THEM. AND SO A FEW FOLKS HAVE ASKED ME, HOW DID I GET TO THIS DECISION? TO THINK ABOUT DR. TAPIA? AS BEING, THE, THE NAME THAT THIS INFRASTRUCTURE SHOULD HAVE PLACED ON IT. HERE WAS MY PROCESS, I RECOGNIZED AS I MENTIONED HOW SIGNIFICANT THIS STRUCTURE WOULD BE, HOW MUCH WE'VE SPENT ON IT OR GOING TO SPEND ON IT, IT WILL BE OVER PROBABLY OVER A BILLION DOLLARS BRIDGE BY TIME WE'RE DONE BECAUSE OF PREVIOUS ERRORS IN ENGINEERING. BUT TO THAT END, IT SITS OVER THE SHIP CHANNEL. IT WILL ALLOW FOR MEGA VESSELS TO COME IN, AND CONTINUE TO SUPPORT OUR LOCAL STATE AND NATIONAL INDUSTRY. IT WILL ALLOW THESE MEGA VESSELS TO CONTINUE TO SUPPORT A MILITARY INTEREST IN TERMS OF THE FUEL THAT COMES AND GOES THROUGH THE PORT OF HOUSTON. THE BRIDGE ALSO CONNECTS WHEN PART OF THE EAST SIDE OF HARRIS COUNTY TO THE PASADENA COMMUNITY AND THAT ENTIRE AREA IS OFTEN REFERRED TO AS THE ENERGY CAPITOL OF THE NATION, IF FINANCE THE WORLD. JUST NOT TOO FAR FROM THERE IS BAY TOWN WHICH IS WHERE EXXONMOBILE SITS TODAY AND COINCIDENTLY, THEY'RE ONE OF THE GREATEST SUPPORTERS OF TAPIA CENTER. SO AS I THOUGHT ABOUT THIS BRIDGE AND THOUGHT ABOUT COMING UP WITH A NAME AND I WORKED THROUGH A BUNCH OF DIFFERENT VERSIONS OF WHAT A NAME COULD BE. BUT ULTIMATELY, DR. TAPIA'S COMMITMENT TO DIVERSIFYING HIS INDUSTRY, CHECK THE BOX FOR ME. DR. TAPIA'S OWN JOURNEY, OWN JOURNEY, WHERE STATISTICALLY, HE SHOULD HAVE NEVER GOTTEN ANYWHERE CLOSE TO WHERE HE'S AT TODAY. CHECKED ANOTHER BOX. THE BRIDGE ITSELF, CONNECTS COMMUNITIES. SOMETHING THAT IS IMPORTANT TO ME. THAT, CHECKED ANOTHER BOX. THE FACT THAT HE IS PARTNERS WITH EXXONMOBILE AN IMPORTANT, AN IMPORTANT COMPANY AND INDUSTRY, TO ALL OF US HERE TODAY, CHECKED ANOTHER BOX. AND AS I THOUGHT THROUGH IT AND I TRUST ME, I WENT THROUGH A LOT OF CONVERSATIONS OVER THIS, ULTIMATELY, I KEPT COMING BACK TO DR. RICHARD A TAPIA. AND FOR THAT REASON, I AM SO SO PROUD TO BE ABLE TO HAVE THE PRIVILEGE AND THE HONOR TO EVEN PUT THIS INTO WRITING AND SUBMIT THIS TO THIS BODY TO CONSIDER SUPPORTING THE IDEA THAT WHEN PEOPLE TRAVERSE THIS BRIDGE IN THE FUTURE, ONE, JUST THE LOOK OF IT WILL AMAZE MANY. BUT HOPEFULLY WHEN THEY SEE THAT NAME, THEY WILL GOOGLE IT, LEARN ABOUT HIM, AND BE INSPIRED BY HIM, AND MAYBE THERE WILL ALSO BE, THERE ARE [00:55:02] MANY KIDS WHO COME FROM THE PASADENA AND SOUTHEAST COUNTY THAT ARE ATTENDING THE TAPIA CENTER, THEY WILL CONTINUE TO LOOK AT THE NAME AND SAY I AM WHERE I'M AT TODAY BECAUSE OF THAT MAN. LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, AND COLLEAGUES, I SUBMIT TO YOU ITEM 457 AS PRESENTED TO MOVE THAT BOTH THE EXISTING HECTOR BRIDGE CROSSING, THE HOUSTON SHIP CHANNEL AND BRIDGE UNDER CONSTRUCTION, BE NAMED DR. RICHARD A TAPIA BRIDGE. >> PROUDLY SECOND IT. >> SO, [APPLAUSE] BEFORE WE VOTE, I THINK WE MAY HAVE SOME SPEAKERS. >> YES, WE HAVE SOME SPEAKERS AND SPEAKING OF, DR. TAPIA. [APPLAUSE] >> SPEAKER: I WAS VERY HONORED WITH ALL THE REMARKS, OKAY. THEY'RE BEAUTIFUL, I LOVE THEM. I DIDN'T EXPECT THEM. WHAT IS, I'M RICHARD TAPIA, A MATHEMATICIAN, DEGREE FROM UCLA AND I'VE BEEN AT RICE FOR OVER 50 YEARS, 55 YEARS. SO I'VE GIVEN A LOT. I'VE GIVEN A LOT WHEN I GIVE TO RICE. BUT THE ONE THING I WANT TO SHARE WITH ALL OF YOU, EVEN THOUGH I'M A MATHEMATICIAN AND I'VE TRIED TO BE HARD TO BE AS GOOD MATHEMATICIAN AS I COULD BE IN STUFF LIKE THAT, I NEVER FORGOT WHO I WAS. MY MOTHER AND FATHER ARE FROM MEXICO! [APPLAUSE] MOTHER AND FATHER ARE SO PROUD OF BEING MEXICAN BUT ALSO EXTREMELY PROUD OF BEING AMERICAN. EVEN THOUGH YOU WOULD SAY, THAT'S STRANGE THAT HE'S A MATHEMATICIAN DOING WONDERFUL THINGS AND OUT REACH THINGS, OKAY. IT'S A PART OF ME. IT'S A PART OF ME. WHEN I WON AN AWARD IN WASHINGTON, THE WOMAN THERE SAID YOU DON'T SEEM LIKE A MATHEMATICIAN, WHICH WAS SUPPOSE TO BE A COMPLIMENT AND I SAID NO, I AM AND THOSE ARE THE THINGS HERE. SO THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT I SHOULD THANK AS WE ALREADY HEARD, EXXONMOBILE AND OTHER PEOPLE. NICHOLAS MEDINA DID AN INCREDIBLE GREAT JOB OF LEADING ALL OF US. AND EDUCATE CHILDREN, AND THEY GOT BIGGER AND BIGGER AND PRETTY SOON WE WERE EDUCATING CHILDREN ALL OVER THE COUNTRY AND NATION AND THINGS. AND IT BLEW UP AND WE'VE DONE SOME FINE THINGS IN TERMS OF EDUCATING THE YOUTH. TODAY'S YOUTH. I WANT TO SHARE IT WITH ALL OF YOU AND WE HAVE THE TAPIA CENTER AND I INVITE EVERYONE OF YOU TO COME AND SEE THE TOP OF THE CENTER AND SEE THE THINGS THAT WE'RE DOING AND SEE THE THINGS THAT CAN. THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE] >> I DIDN'T SEE THE HONORABLE JUDGE ANDROGE. THANK YOU FOR JOINING US. >> BEFORE MY COLLEAGUES AND I TALKED ARE THERE ANY OTHER PEOPLE HERE WHO SIGNED UP ON THIS ITEM? NICK, YOU WANT TO SIGN SOMETHING? >> MAKE IT VERY BRIEF FOR US ON BEHALF OF THE TAPIA CENTER. WHICH I'VE BEEN PLEASED TO CHAIR SINCE THE BEGINNING. WE'RE MAKING A DIFFERENCE IN KIDS. WE TEACH WHAT IS CAR BON SO WE [01:00:12] CONTINUE TO GROW AND WE'RE INCLUDING AI CENTERS. SO KIDS KIND OF UNDERSTAND HOW THAT IMPACTS THEIR LIVES. AND WE HOST, IT'S REALLY TOUCHING TO SEE TAPIA BE WITH KIDS. HE STILL MAKES A LECTURE. SO I'LL CLOSE IT BY SAYING THAT WE HAVE A GREAT GUEST. WE HAVE OTHER DR. VELASQUEZ. HE'S TURNING 87 YEARS OF AGE NEXT WEEK. THANK YOU FOR THIS PRIVILEGE THAT YOU HAVE GIVEN US. AND COME BACK AGAIN, YOU INSPIRE THEM. >> WHAT IS YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD? >> SPEAKER: NICHOLAS MEDINA. >> THANK YOU. I JUST WANT TO MAKE A BRIEF COMMENT. FIRST I WANT TO SAY DR. TAPIA IN ADDITION TO ALL THE GREAT THINGS THAT COMMISSIONER SAID ABOUT YOU, I HAPPEN TO KNOW THAT YOU LOVE, MODEL CARS AS WELL. SO IF YOU DECIDE TO GIVE THAT 57 CHEVY, I'LL TAKE IT. AND THEN TO YOU COMMISSIONER GARCIA, I WANT TO SAY THAT, THEY CALL IT PLACE MAKING. IT REALLY IS A IMPORTANT TO HAVE DIVERSITY IN THE PEOPLE THAT WE HONOR. I'LL POINT OUT, IF SOMEBODY EXPLAINS ABOUT SOME PERSON OF DOLLAR. SOMETIMES I TRY TO THINK OF IT POLITELY. AND WHEN YOU DO SOMETHING OUT OF THE NORM, PEOPLE ARE OFFENDED. COMMISSIONER GARCIA, WHEN I WENT TO GET MY H2, WE CALL IT JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL, 7TH GRADE, THERE WAS A GAL THAT HAD THIS THING CALLED THE SLIDE ROUTINE. ALL I DID WAS END UP WITH A FOOTBALL SCHOLARSHIP. SOMEBODY SAID GET ON THIS SLIDE TEAM AND I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT IT WAS AND THEY WERE TELLING US, DR. TAPIA ABOUT THE NUMBERS ON THE OTHER SIDE OF 0 GOES TO INFINITY AS WELL. AND I THOUGHT THIS IS WHY MARTIN LUTHER KING IS TRYING TO GET ME OUT OF SEGREGATED SCHOOLS. THEY'VE BEEN TELLING ME THAT ZERO, AND THEY TELL ME THERE ARE NUMBERS ON THE OTHER SIDE. NOW IMAGINE, IF I HAD SEEN A TAPIA BRIDGE, OR A FREDERICK DOUGLAS BRIDGE AND KNOWN THAT THAT PERSON WAS RESPECTED FOR MATH, MAYBE THEY WOULD NOT HAVE TO PUT UP WITH ME. I WOULD HAVE STAYED ON THE SLIDE ROUTINE, BUT IT REALLY IS IMPORTANT. BUT NOT JUST FOR YOU BUT THOSE [01:05:07] WHO MAY NOT LOOK LIKE THE NORM, WHO MAY RIDE ACROSS IT AND SAY, WHO WAS TAPIA? AND WHAT DID HE DO? SO THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. >> FIRST OF ALL, THANK YOU COMMISSIONER GARCIA. THANK YOU FOR HONORING DR. TAPIA, THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THIS. DR. TAPIA, WE HONOR, WE WELCOME YOU, WE WELCOME JUDGE ANDERE AND I KNOW HILLBERTO IS LIKELY WATCHING FROM SAN ANTONIO AND THANK YOU FOR BEING FOR BEING YOU. FOR ME TO REPRESENT BEST AND AS A PROUD MEXICAN-AMERICAN, PROUD LATINA OF EDUCATORS WHO ARE HERE TODAY, YOU REPRESENT THE BEST OF THIS COUNTRY. WHEN YOUR PARENTS CAME HERE TO PURSUE THE AMERICAN DREAM AND EVERYTHING THAT THE COUNTRY POURED INTO YOU AND TO SEE YOUR INCREDIBLE UNPARALLEL SUCCESS AND IMPACT YOU'VE HAD NOT ONLY ACROSS THE COUNTRY BUT THE ACROSS THE WORLD AND TO MAKE THEIR AMERICAN DREAM THEIR POSSIBILITY, TO ME THAT'S WHAT IT'S ALL ABOUT AND TO THINK THAT THIS BRIDGE BY OUR PORT, THE SYMBOLISM OF CONNECTION OF BRINGING PEOPLE TOGETHER OF CREATING THIS GATEWAY OF OPPORTUNITY, IS POWERFUL ON SO MANY LEVELS. AND SO I HOPE THAT HERE, AS WE HONOR YOU, THAT HERE IN HARRIS COUNTY, WE CAN KEEP PLAYING A WHERE THE AMERICAN DREAM BECOMES THE AMERICAN REALITY FOR A LOT OF PEOPLE. YOU DEEPLY MOVE ME, I WAS BLOWN AWAY WHEN I VISITED AND I WOULD LOVE TO VISIT MANY MORE TIMES, OVER THE YEARS, MR. MEDINA AND TEAMS. I WILL THINK OF YOU EVERY TIME I DRIVE THAT BRIDGE AND THE POWER OF YOUR LEGACY IS PROFOUND. THANK YOU SO MUCH, DR. TAPIA. >> THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE] >> THANK YOU, COLLEAGUE, COMMISSIONER RAMSEY. >> THANK YOU FOR DOING THIS. I WANT TO REPRESENT THE COMMUNITY. THE CENTER OF ENGINEERING IN THE WORLD IS RIGHT HERE IN HARRIS COUNTY. FEW PEOPLE KNOW THAT, WE'RE QUIET, SOMETIMES, THEY ACCUSE OF US STANDING IN THE CORNER AND LOOK AT OUR SHOES. SOMETIMES THEY ACCUSE OF BEING NERDS. SOMETIMES THEY ACCUSE OF US OF BEING A LOT OF THINGS. I DON'T THINK I WOULD HAVE SERVED ON A SLIDE RULE TEAM, THAT WOULD BE THE MOST EXCITING RULE TEAM I WOULD HAVE EVER BEEN ON. THE INTERESTING THING IS, WE, MY FOUR YEARS AT ANM, EVERY EXAM I TOOK, I WAS IN CIVIL ENGINEERING. I COULD NOT BRING MY CALCULATOR. THAT GETS TO BE A PRETTY INTERESTING AND YOU TELL THE GUYS NOW WHERE THEY HAVE, ALL THE CALCULATOR AND THEY BRING THAT, YOU JUST BRING A BIG CHEAP PAD AND YOU SLIDE RULE AND TAKE A TEST THAT WAY. NOW I KNOW THERE IS A WHOLE GROUP OF ENGINEERS BEING PAST AND PRESENT OF THE TEXAS ASSOCIATION OF PROFESSIONAL ENGINEERS, OF CIVIL ENGINEERS. CONSULTANTS, I APPLAUD YOU BECAUSE WHEN WE SEE THAT BRIDGE, THAT'S ONE OF US. SOMEBODY THAT TOOK THE TIME TO WORK OUT THE DETAILS AND AS COMMISSIONER GARCIA PROPERLY REFERENCED, I'M LOOKING AT MOMENT CONNECTION SXZ I'M THINKING OF JUST WHAT THE LOADS WOULD BE AND JUST, PURE AMAZEMENT THAT MILLIONS OF TIMES ARE GOING TO BE CARRIED BY THAT BRIDGE EVERY DAY, AND NO ONE WILL EVEN KNOW IT'S THERE. NOBODY WILL THINK ABOUT THE ENGINEERING AND MATH ASSOCIATED WITH MAKING SOMETHING LIKE THAT HAPPEN. THE OTHER, EXTRAORDINARY THING IN LESS THAN TWO MONTHS, WE'VE NAMED THE TAPIA BRIDGE. THOSE ARE TWO ENGINEERS SO I CAN TELL YOU, THERE IS A LOT OF REASONS AND GREAT REASONS AND HAVE BEEN SAID, WE CELEBRATE THOSE REASONS BUT I CAN TELL YOU, THERE IS SOME ENGINEERS OUT THERE CRYING, BECAUSE THEY'VE NEVER BEEN RECOGNIZED. THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU DO FOR [01:10:08] OUR STEM STUDENTS, THOSE KIDS THAT DON'T EVEN KNOW THAT THAT'S AN OPPORTUNITY. AND JUST A PLUG, IF YOU'RE A KID AND WANT TO HAVE FUN, GET YOU A SLIDE RULE AND JOIN THE STEM GROUP. THANK YOU, DR. TAPIA. >> THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU, TIFFANY, NO OTHER SPEAKERS? JUST TO MAKE SURE THAT I'M DOING THIS RIGHT. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE. >> AYE. >> 4 AYES AND NO NAYS. CONGRATULATIONS. [APPLAUSE] [Departments (Part 2 of 6)] THANK YOU AND THANK YOU, DR. TAPIA. NOW FOR THOSE NOT AS GIFTED, LET US NERDS GO BACK TO ITEM 349, AND WE'LL GO BACK TO SPEAKERS. >> DR. JAMES, REV. LINET ROSS, KENNA DAMS, YOU ALL HAVE A MINUTE. >> THANK YOU ALL FOR INDULGE US, WE'LL TELL YOU WHAT A SLIDE RULE LATER. >> SPEAKER: I HATE TO FOLLOW DR. TAPIA THAT WAS WONDERFUL. I'M DR. BENNETT MY DAUGHTER IS A PSYCHIATRIST WHO DID HER RESIDENCY IN BEN TAUB CARING FOR THE MOST VULNERABLE. I'M HERE BECAUSE OF WHAT I'VE SEEN THROUGH HER EYES AND BECAUSE WHAT I KNOW AS A PHYSICIAN AND A LEADER OF MEDICINE IN HOUSTON. THIS IS THE THIRD TIME THAT I'VE APPEARED BEFORE IN UNQUALIFIED SUPPORT FOR THIS EXPANSION. I WANT TO THANK THE COURT AND CIVIC LEADERS WHO HAVE WORKED TOGETHER TO BRING US TO THIS MOMENT. YOUNG PHYSICIANS COME FROM AROUND THE COUNTRY TO TRAIN HERE, IT'S A LEVEL ONE TRAUMA CENTER, FOR THE MOST VULNERABLE RESIDENTS. THE SIMPLE FACT IS, THIS HOSPITAL IS WAY BEYOND CAPACITY. THE CONSEQUENCES OF INACTION IS NOT ABSTRACT, THEY'RE MEASURES IN LIVES. I URGE YOU TO VOTE YES. >> SPEAKER: THIS DECISION IS NOT ABOUT WHETHER TO EXPAND HEALTHCARE, IT'S ABOUT WHETHER WE DO IT BY REPLACING PUBLIC LAND WHEN ALTERNATIVE ALREADY EXIST. GOOD MORNING, COMMISSION PEZER, MY NAME IS DREET RAUDIER AIM REAL ESTATE PROFESSIONAL WITH OVER 30 YEARS INLAND USE. MORE OVER I'M A PATIENT OF HARRIS HEALTH SYSTEM BEGINNING ON IN 1979 WHEN AN AMBULANCE TOOK ME TO JENNIFER DAVIS HOSPITAL. EXPANDING BEYOND THE MEDICAL CENTER TO MEET POPULATION GROWTH WHERE IT IS OCCURRING. HARRIS COUNTY HEALTHCARE SHOULD ALIGN WITH THIS FORWARD-LOOKING MODEL. I RESPECTFULLY OPPOSE THE ACQUISITION FROM PORTION APPROXIMATES OF HERMAN PARK FOR EXPANSIONS OF HARRIS HEALTH SYSTEM. >> THANK YOU YOUR TIME IS UP. >> THANK YOU FOR COMING. >> SPEAKER: THANK YOU. >> SPEAKER: GOOD MORNING I'M REVEREND LINET ROSS, I'VE SPENT HOURS MINISTERING TO PEOPLE IN CRISIS. I WANT TO THANK THE COMMISSIONERS FOR HAVING A PUBLIC HEARING THAT WILL DEMONSTRATE THE SUPPORT AND NECESSITY FOR THIS EXPANSION AND I WANT TO THANK HARRIS HEALTH AND HERMAN PARK FOR THE ENDLESS HOURS THEY SPENT COMING UP WITH A PLAN THAT NEVER FORGOT THE ISSUE OF MITIGATION. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. WE'LL TAKE A FEW MORE SPEAKERS AND WHEN OUR COLLEAGUES COMEBACKS, WE'LL TAKE A PICTURE WITH DR. TAPIA AND WE'LL TAKE A QUICK BREAK. >> NEXT SPEAKER. >> LOWER I CAN'T, JOHN ADAMS, RACHEL, STEVE KEEN, YOU EACH HAVE ONE MINUTE. >> AND THEN WE'LL TAKE A QUICK BREAK TO TAKE A PHOTO WITH DR. TAPIA BEFORE HE HAS TO LEAVE. YES, SIR. >> SPEAKER: GOOD MORNING, I'M JOHN TO RENGER, I'M A CHIEF OF [01:15:06] MEDICINE AND PROFESSOR OF MEDICINE. YOU KNOW OUR MISSION IS TO PROVIDE QUALITY SAFE CARE AND COMPASSIONATE ENVIRONMENT, IT'S OFTEN HARD TO DO THAT WHEN WE USE OUR EMERGENCY ROOM FOR IMPATIENT CARE. A PATIENT BEING TOLD THAT THEY'RE BEING ADDITIED IN THE HOSPITAL AND SIT WAITING FOR SIX HOURS FOR A BED, IT'S COMMON FOR PATIENTS TO WAIT DAYS FOR A BED. IT'S NOT A DE COMPRESSION VALVE FOR THE MEDICAL CENTER. IT'S IMPERATIVE THAT WE EXPAND BEN TAUB TO MEET THE BED CRISIS THAT WE'RE FACING HERE IN TWOS TON. --HOUSTON. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. >> SPEAKER: GOOD MORNING. WHEN I FIRST MOVED HERE, I MOVED INTO UNCORPORATED HARRIS COUNTY AND I WATCHED A HOSPITAL MOVE AROUND ME. I MOVED INTO AN AREA THAT WAS FORESTRY. AND I'VE WATCHED THE CELEBRATION OF MULTIPLE MEDICAL FACILITIES AND THE, THE EXPANSION THAT IS HAPPENING TO ACCOMMODATE EVERYTHING AND I'M CONFUSED TO WHY THIS IS NOT THE CASE FOR BEN TAUB. WE CANNOT CLAIM OR PROTEST OR WE CAN'T CLAIM TO BE THE PHENOMENAL MEDICAL CENTER THAT WE ARE IF WE CANNOT ACCOMMODATE EVERY PERSON THAT NEEDS ASSISTANCE. AND I CHOOSE TO GO TO HARRIS HEALTH AND I CHOOSE TO BE PART OF THAT TEACHING ENVIRONMENT THERE. I APPRECIATE THAT YOU HAVE GIVEN US TIME TO VOICE HOW WE FEEL IN THE COMMUNITY AND, AND INVITE YOU TO VOTE YES TO FOR THE EXPANSION. >> YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD. YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD. >> SPEAKER: IT'S KIM ADAMS. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. >> SPEAKER: HONORABLE COMMISSIONERS, GOOD MORNING, I'M HERE IN SUPPORT OF BEN TAUB HOSPITAL EXPANSION. TODAY IS THE FIRST TIME THAT I'M GOING TO SHARE MY STORY PUBLICLY. WHILE BUILDING MY SMALL BUSINESS, I WAS DIAGNOSED WITH CANCER AND I WAS UNDER INSURED AND SCARED. AND BECAUSE OF THEM, I AM STANDING HERE TODAY. PLEASE UNDERSTAND THAT WAS ME. A BUSINESS OWNER A NEIGHBOR AND ACTIVE COMMUNITY MEMBER BUT SOMEBODY WHO NEEDED HELP. DR. POUR RECENTLY SPOKE ABOUT THE FUTURE OF THE HOSPITAL AND ITS CAPACITY STRAIN. THAT NIGHT OUR MEMBERSHIP VOTED TO SUPPORT THE EXPANSION. BEN TAUB DOES NOT SERVE SOMEBODY ELSE, IT SERVES ALL OF US. THE EXPANSION MEANS THAT THE NEXT PERSON RECEIVING LIFE CHANGING NEWS WILL BE MET WITH COMPASSIONATE AND DIGNITY. I'M NOT ASKING TO YOU IMAGINE WHY IT MATTERS I'M STANDING HERE BECAUSE IT DOES. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. >> RACHEL, THANK YOU FOR SHARING THAT AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT OF THE SYSTEM AND, AND BECAUSE OF YOUR STORY, I HAVE BEEN JUST SO STEADFAST AND I SEE STEVE KING BEHIND YOU WITH A PARTNERSHIP. I JUST HOPE THAT THE MEDICAL CENTER CONTINUES TO RECOGNIZE THAT SO MANY PEOPLE HAVE ONLY BEEN TAUB OBG TO DEPEND ON FOR ACUTE CARE. AND WE NEED TO ENCOURAGE MD ANDERSON TO INVEST IN OUR COMMUNITY TO PEOPLE CAN HAVE GREATER ACCESS TO THE TOPIC HERE YOU RECEIVED BUT AT A, YOU KNOW, QUALITY CARE AS WELL. THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. >> THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. >> SPEAKER: GOOD MORNING AND THANK YOU. STEVE KING, THE DATA SHOWS THAT THE METRO ADDED 198,000 RESIDENT RIGHT SIDE, THIS IS NOT A ONE-YEAR THING, OUR METRO HAS ADDED ONE QUARTER MILLION, GROWTH IS GOOD AND BETTER THAN ALTERNATIVE BUT IT BRINGS THE CHALLENGE OF KEEPING UP. YOU DEAL WITH THAT EVERY DAY IN YOUR WORK. ONE AREA THAT WE'RE NOT KEEPING UP IS ON HOSPITAL BEDS FOR TRAUMA PATIENTS. EVERYONE AGREES THAT WE NEED THIS EXPANSION AND EVERYBODY SEEMS TO EXPRESS THAT THIS IS THE MOST SENSIBLE PLACE. FURTHER, WE STAND WITH ALL PARTIES ENGAGED IN THIS EFFORT TO COLLABORATE SOMETHING THAT WE DO BETTER TO FIND A PATH FORWARD THAT STRENGTH RENS THE HOUSTON HEALTHCARE SYSTEM AND XMZ ACCESS TO GREEN SPACE. THANK YOU, THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU DO AND THANK YOU DR. POERSA. >> THANK YOU, STEVE. [01:20:04] >> I THINK WE HAVE ONE MORE SPEAKER AND THEN WE'LL HAVE A QUICK BREAK. YES, MA'AM. >> SPEAKER: GOOD MORNING, MY NAME IS LAURA AND I'M SPEAKING ABOUT ABOUT THE BEN TAUB EXPANSION. I'M I LIVE IN PRECINCT 1. I'VE BEEN CANVASSING THE COMMUNITY FOR THE LAST COUPLE OF MONTHS AND IN GENERAL, THE COMMUNITY SEEMS TO CONTINUE TO HAVE CONCERNS ABOUT THIS PARTICULAR EXPANSION, THEY'RE CONCERNED ABOUT THE CENTERS THAT MAY STILL NOT BE AVAILABLE. I'M A BIG FAN OF BEN TAUB, IT'S BEEN TAKEN GOOD CARE OF MANY UNHOUSED FRIENDS OF MINE. BUT I ALSO DON'T BELIEVE THAT THEY HAVE ENGAGED, IN GOOD FAITH WITH THE COMMUNITY. I WAS AT SEVERAL OF COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT COMMUNITIES AND I FELT LIKE DR. POERSA WAS ASKING THE QUESTIONS LEGITIMATE QUESTIONS BY REFERRING BACK TO POWERPOINT SLIDES THAT HE HAD DISCUSSED. AND I REALLY WANTED TO HEAR THE ANSWERS TO THE QUESTIONS THAT THE COMMUNITY ASKED. I ASK YOU TO VOTE NO. >> THANK YOU FOR COMING. WE'RE GOING TO TAKE A QUICK BREAK PROBABLY ABOUT 10 MINUTES AND WE'RE GOING TO DO A PHOTO AND GO TO FACILITIES. IT'S NOW 10:22. >> OKAY, THANK YOU ALL. IT'S NOW 10:31 AND WE'RE BACK IN SESSION. 10:31, SHHH. WE'LL GET BACK IN SESSION. AND WE WILL GO BACK TO PAGE 43, ITEM 349. AND THE NEXT SPEAKER. OKAY, NEXT SPEAKER TIFFANY. >> ASHLEY, CONCHINA REYEZ, YOU EACH HAVE ONE MINUTE. >> IS SHOULD MENTION WHILE ROBERT IS COMING UP, JUST ASKED ME TO--SAY THAT FOR THE RECORD. >> SPEAKER: GOOD MORNING, MY NAME IS BRIDGET LEWIS GENERALSON, IT'S CLEAR THAT THE VOTERS SUPPORT OVERWHELMING PASS ING THE BOND ELECTION 2023. HOWEVER MANY OF THOSE VOTERS ARE NOW DISSOLUTIONED AND LOST TRUST IN LEADERSHIP OF HARRIS HEALTH BECAUSE OF LACK OF TRANSPARENCY. THIS LOCKS US INTO A LOCATION WHERE EVENT ACTUALLY HARRIS HEALTH IS GOING TO WANT TO BUILD ANOTHER HOSPITAL SO THIS IS GOING TO PULL ALL OF THE HOSPITALS FOR HARRIS HEALTH IN ONLY TWO LOCATIONS AND I CAN ONLY BE SAD TO SERVE ALL THE PEOPLE FOR WHO HARRIS HEALTH WAS FORMED AND THESE LOCATIONS HAPPEN TO BE IN THE MIDDLE OF FLOOD PLAIN THAT IS NOT MOST WISE THING TO DO. FURTHERMORE IF WE THINK THE THINGS ARE SO URGENT RIGHT NOW. >> THANK YOU, YOUR TIME IS UP. >> THANK YOU. >> SPEAKER: GOOD MORNING, COMMISSIONERS, PASTOR OF FIRST METROPOLITAN CHURCH. WE, ARE HERE AGAIN TO VOICE OUR SUPPORT FOR THIS EXPANSION. WE HELD A PRESS CONFERENCE ON MARCH 17TH, AND HAD AN ARRAY OF COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS THAT CAME AND SUPPORTED US. AND BY THE WAY, THERE ARE OVER 30 ORGANIZATIONS ACROSS HARRIS COUNTY THAT SUPPORT THIS EXPANSION. ON TUESDAY, WE SAW DOUG FROM HOUSTON POLICE OFFICERS UNION, MARK LANKTIN FROM THE PROFESSIONAL FIREFIGHTERS AND RICHARD NIXON FROM NAACP, AND BLANCA AND CAESAR HE ESPINOZA FROM FIEL AND PUNT HE FROM THE BUILDING TRADES AND WE, ARE HERE TODAY TO VOICE OUR SUPPORT. >> YOUR TIME IS UP. [01:25:02] >> ACE HISTORIC VOTE AND THIS WILL SET PACE FOR THE EXPANSION OF EMERGENCY AND INTEJEN HEALTHCARE. >> SPEAKER: MY NIM IS CONCHITA, TODAY IS ABOUT LIFE AND DEATH. CENTER ONE OF THE MOST CRITICAL IN OUR REGION, WHEN TRAGEDY STRIKES, THIS IS WHERE OUR COMMUNITY GOES. AND THE REALITY IS SIMPLE, IS RUNNING AT CAPACITY WITH OUR POPULATION CONTINUE TO GROW, WE CANNOT AFFORD DELAYS, WE CANNOT AFFORD HALF MEASURES, A GROUP OF US HAVE ATTENDED MORE OR COORDINATED MORE THAN SIX TOWN HALL MEETINGS ACROSS HARRIS COUNTY WHERE THEY HAVE OPENED DIALOGUE AND Q & A DIRECTLY FROM THE COMMUNITY. THAT'S WHY WE SUPPORT TO EXPAND THE LIFE SAVING FACILITY. THERE IS NO QUESTION THAT THERE IS A LIFE SAVING MEASURE. IMMINENT DOMAIN EXIST FOR MOMENTS LIKE THIS. OUR COMMUNITY, WORKING FAMILIES AND ENSURED AND UNDER SERVED PATIENTS AND MANY IN THE LATINO COMMUNITY. >> YOU WANT TO WRAP IT TUP. >> SPEAKER: DEPEND ON YOU TO ACT DECISIVELY. WE ASK YOU TO MOVE FORWARD AND GIVE THEM THE CAPACITY IT NEEDS. VOTE YES FOR THIS ACQUISITION. >> THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. >> THANK YOU. >> SPEAKER: GOOD MORNING, COMMISSIONERS, CHIEF FINANCIAL AFFAIRS FOR TEXAS MEDICAL CENTER. BEN TAUB IS A LIFE LINE FOR HOUSTON'S MOST VULNERABLE. WITH OUR CITY'S RAPID GROWTH, THE HOSPITAL OPERATING BEYOND CAPACITY PUTTING ACCESS TO LIFE SAVING TREATMENT. EXPANSION OF BEN TAUB IS NOT JUST A DESIRE, IT'S AN URGENT PUBLIC HEALTH NECESSITY. WE, THE LEADERS OF THE TEXAS MEDICAL CENTER, SUPPORT THE HARRIS HEALTH PROPOSAL FOR THE CRITICAL EXPANSION TO BEN TAUB. DUE TO THE OPERATIONAL NEEDS, THIS IS THE ONLY VIABLE OPTION FOR CONTINUED CARE OF OUR COMMUNITY. ON BEHALF OF THE CEOS OF TEXAS, AND BAYLOR COLLEGE OF MEDICINE AND PEDESTRIAN MED CAL CENTER AND UNIVERSITY CANCER CENTER, METHODIST AND UT HEALTH, WE SUPPORT THE EXPANSION OF BEN TAUB. >> THANK YOU. >> SPEAKER: MY NAME IS COLEB I'M A SUPERVISOR AT HARRIS HEALTH AND I LIVE IN PRECINCT 4. THEY RECOMMEND HAVING ONE TRAUMA ONE FOR AT LEAST ONE MILLION. THE METRO AREA HAS APPROXIMATELY 7 MILLION PEOPLE. AS PREVIOUSLY MENTIONED, HOUSTON ONLY HAS TWO LEVEL ONE HOSPITALS. BEN TAUB IS ALWAYS AT FULL CAPACITY. EVERY DAY THERE ARE MORE THAN 50 PATIENTS ADMITTED WITHOUT A BED TO PUT THEM IN. MANY WONDER HOW THEY'RE GOING TO ATTRACT AND KEEP THEM IN THE SYSTEM. WE NEED SPACE TO PUT PEOPLE. IT IS HARD TO PROVIDE QUALITY CARE FOR PATIENTS WHEN YOU HAVE AS MANY AS 50. THIS IS NOT A SUSTAINABLE WAY TO OPERATE, HARRIS HEALTH WILL CONTINUE TO BE RESOURCES AS WE HAVE DONE IN THE PAST 60 YEARS. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. >> CLERK: NEXT IS CHERRY JOSEPH, MARY COOK, KRISTIN, UBALDA, DEMARIS GONZALEZ, YOU EACH HAVE ONE MINUTE. >> SPEAKER: HELLO I'M MARY COOK, I'M A TEAM LEADER AND A MEMBER OF OUR ONE OF OUR CONGREGATIONS. I'M HERE TO SUPPORT THE EXPANSION OF BEN TAUB, MAKE SURE I GET IT IN. PLEASE VOTE YES ON THIS. THE NEED HAS BEEN SPOKEN TO AND 60 DAYS AGO, Y'ALL ASKED THAT HARRIS HEALTH GO OUT AND GET MORE COMMUNITY SUPPORT. WE HAVE WORKED WITH HARRIS HEALTH AND WITH OUR VARIOUS COMMUNITY TO ENCOURAGE THAT SUPPORT. IN FACT, WE HAVE OVER 2000 SIGNATURES ON A PETITION THAT SUPPORTS THE EXPANSION. [01:30:07] THOSE SIGNATURES ARE FROM EACH OF YOUR DISTRICTS. WE HAVE BEEN, WE HAVE BEEN IN SUPPORT OF THIS EXPANSION SINCE THE GET GO. AS FOLKS SAY HERE IN TEXAS AND THIS IS A THIRD TIME, I'VE TESTIFIED. >> THANK YOU YOUR TIME IS UP. >> THANK YOU. >> VOTE YES. >> SPEAKER: GOOD MORNING, HARRIS COUNTY AND COMMISSIONERS MY NAME IS CHERRY JOSEPH AND I'M A PROUD HARRIS HEALTH EMPLOYEE OF 8 YEARS AND RESIDENT OF HARRIS COUNTY FOR OVER 40 YEARS. I HAVE WITNESSED FIRSTHAND THE COUNTLESS LIVES WE TOUCH. EVERY LIFE SAVED, EVERY PATIENT GIVEN HOPE IT ALL MATTERS. THE EXPANSION IS NOT JUST ABOUT MORE SPACE, IT IS A LIFE LINE FOR OUR COMMUNITY AND ENSURING THAT WE CAN CONTINUE TO SERVE THOSE WHO NEED US MOST. TODAY AND FOR GENERATIONS TO COME. TODAY, I STAND IN FULL SUPPORT OF BEN TAUB EXPANSION PROJECT BECAUSE EVERY INVESTMENT IN THIS HOSPITAL IS AN INVESTMENT IN HEALTH, SAFETY AND THE FUTURE OF HARRIS COUNTY. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME, AND FOR GIVING ME THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK TODAY. >> CHRISTINE IRVIN, UBALDA, DEMARCHIS, SUNNY YIELZ, RAFAEL RIVAS, JOHNATHAN GARCIA. >> SPEAKER: GOOD MORNING. >> GOOD MORNING, >> SPEAKER: I'M HOUSTON'S BLACK INFORMATION SOURCE BUT I'M HERE TO TALK ABOUT BEN TAUB EXPANSION. THE REALITY IS THIS IS MORE THAN A CONSTRUCTION. THIS IS ABOUT A PROMISE THAT WAS MADE TO 73 PERCENT OF THE VOTERS WHO WANT A BETTER PUBLIC HEALTH SAFETY NET. WITH THAT IN MIND, I THINK THIS 100 ROOMS IS GOING TO IMPROVE NOT ONLY THE LIFE SPAN OF BEN TAUB BUT ALSO DEAL WITH THE MEDICAL CARE THAT HAPPENS IN THE HALLWAYS AND EMERGENCY DETOURS. AS FAR AS TOUR, WE ARE LOOKING FOR EQUITY, WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE THE ACCESS IN THE HEART OF THE CITY. THE REALITY IS BLACK AND BROWN COMMUNITY DEPENDS HEAVILY ON HARRIS HEALTH AND GUESS WHO IS IN THE HOLLOWAYS? , IT'S OUR THAT IN MIND. WE WANT TO YOU SUPPORT IT VENTURE BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY, WE WANT TO RESPECT HERMAN PARK WITH THE IDEA AT LEAST UPHOLDING A LIVES THAT ARE GOING TO BE SAVED WITH THIS EXPANSION. VOTE FOR IT. >> GOOD TO SEE YOU, SONNY. >> THANK YOU, LOVE YOU. [LAUGHTER] . >> >> SPEAKER: GOOD MORNING, COMMISSIONERS, I'M DIRECTOR OF NURSING IN PSYCHIATRY. I SERVE AND GREW UP RECEIVING CARE AS A PATIENT. BEN TAUB HAS ALWAYS BEEN BEACON OF HOPE FOR THE MOST VULNERABLE. TODAY THEY'RE ABOVE CAPACITY, PATIENTS ARE BOARDING FOR HOURS, SOMETIMES DAYS, AND ALSO EVALUATE AGO PATIENTS IN THE WAITING ROOMS, IN PSYCHIATRIC CARE WHERE SAFETY AND DIGNITY ARE CRITICAL. RIGHT NOW WE'RE BEING ASKED TO CHOOSE BETWEEN A LAND AND BUILDING MULTIPLE LEVELS OF HIGH-QUALITY PATIENT CARE. WE NEED HAVE AN NEED TO IMPACT HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF LIVES. FROM THE FRONTLINES I CAN TELL YOU, WE DON'T HAVE THE SPACE TO SAFELY CARE FOR OUR COMMUNITY. I'M ASKING YOU TO MOVE FORWARD, OUR PATIENTS CANNOT WAIT. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU, BEFORE CALLING THE SPEAKERS UP, I WANT TO ASK IF YOU'VE SPOKEN, WOULD YOU LEAVE THE ROOM, POLITELY, BECAUSE PEOPLE OUTSIDE WHO WANT TO TESTIFY WHO CANNOT GET IN AND YOU CAN STILL WATCH IT ON TV, YOU CAN GO UP TO MY OFFICE, WHICH EVER SIDE YOU, JUST DON'T GET UP AND GET AN ARGUMENT AND TAB ART. BUT IF IF YOU CAN NICELY TIP OUT, AND YOU CAN ALSO SIT IN THE HOWL. NEXT SPEAKER. >> SPEAKER: RAFAEL, ANGELA, SYLVIA OLIVE YA, STAN MERIC, TAMARA BELL, JAN GLASSNER. [01:35:10] >> SPEAKER: GOOD MORNING, MY NAME IS CHRISTINE IRVIN AND I'M A MEMBER OF THE TEXAS ORGANIZING PROJECT AND I'M HERE TO ASK FOR SUPPORT AND EXPANSION OF BEN TAUB HOSPITAL. IN DECEMBER I WAS HOSPITALIZED WITH WALKING PNEUMONIA AND THEY SAFELY FOUND A WAY FOR ME TO TAKE THIS MEDICINE AND THAT IS WHY I'M HERE TODAY BECAUSE OF THE HOSPITAL AND THE DOCTORS THAT WORK THERE. THANK YOU. >> SPEAKER: GOOD MORNING, I'M STAN MERIC AND I'M DEFINITELY IN SUPPORT OF THIS PROJECT. MY DAD AND HIS BROTHER CAME IN FROM A CZECH FAMILY, WE ARE MOST PROUD OF THE FACT THAT OVER THE PAST 85 YEARS, WE HAVE TRAINED THOUSANDS OF MEN AND WOMEN HOW TO USE THEIR HANDS AND REALIZE THEIR PERSON DREAM AND ALSO PROUD THAT WE PROVIDE HOSPITALIZATION FOR AND WORKMEN'S COMP. FOR OUR WORKERS. MANY IN OUR INDUSTRY, DO NOT PROVIDE WORKMEN'S COMP., THEY CAN'T AFFORD HOSPITALIZATION, THESE WORKERS RELY ON BEN TAUB FOR THEIR SAFETY NET. OUR HEALTHCARE OPPORTUNITIES HAVE NOT. IT IS VITAL THAT WE PASS THIS RESOLUTION AND GET BEYOND IT T.STEVE CANE SAID IT WELL, HOUSTON IS GROWING, IT'S A PLACE TO BE. IT IT'S A PROMISE LAND. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU FOR COMING DOWN AND I WANT TO POINT OUT, YOU LEND YOUR VOICE TO VERY FEW ISSUES, BUT THE ISSUES YOU DO LEND YOUR VOICE TO, THEY ARE CRITICAL AND URGENT ISSUES, THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP. >> THANK YOU. PLEASE VOTE TO DECLARE IMMINENT DOMAIN FOR THESE REASONS FPT REDUCE HOWL WAY MEDICINE AND ENHANCE MEDICINE AT BEN TAUB TO HONOR THE BOND THAT HARRIS COUNTY VOTERS APPROVED TO EXPAND BEN TAUB IN 2023 AND BECAUSE THE PARCEL OF LAND UNDER CONSIDERATION IS SEPARATED FROM THE REST OF THE PART AND CURRENTLY PLANNED FOR USE AS A PARKING LOT GARAGE NOT FOR MORE SPACE. I BELIEVE THAT HARRIS COUNTY NEEDS AN EXPANDED TRAUMA ONE HOSPITAL MORE THAN A PARKING GARAGE. LET'S PRESERVE A HOUSTON REPUTATION AS A WORLD CLASS PROVIDE RESIDENTER. >> THANK YOU, YOUR TIME IS UP. >> THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. >> SPEAKER: GOOD MORNING, BEFORE I WANT TO GET TO THE POINT, I WANT TO CORRECT THING ONE, BEN TAUB IS ONLY A HOSPITAL THAT ALLOWS INTOGEN, THAT'S NOT YOUR ONLY CHOICE, YOU CAN GO TO OTHER HOSPITAL. I WAS A PATIENT WITH A 5 PERCENT CHANCE OF SURVIVAL AFTER A CAR CHASE. I'M THE FIRST PLAS MA TRANSPLANT SURVIVOR. WHEN IT COMES FOR TO YOU APPLY, IT'S GOING TO BE A RENEGE OF THE PROMISE THAT YOU MADE. WHAT REALLY CONCERNS ME IS THE PISS-POOR MORAL TO PUT MONEY OVER MORTALITY. I DON'T KNOW HOW YOU CAN COME TO THIS CONCLUSION AND NOT LISTEN TO THE VOTERS. YOU'RE GOING TO NEED MORE MONEY SO YOU'RE GOING TO NEED OUR SUPPORT. >> THANK YOU, YOUR TIME IS UP. >> GOOD TO SEE YOU TAMARA. I'LL GET MY PICTURE LATER. [LAUGHTER] >> SPEAKER: GOOD MORNING, I'M JIM BLACKBURN, YOU'VE HEARD FROM ME ON THIS ISSUE A LOT, BUT THIS IS A CHAPTER 26 HEARING ABOUT TAKING PARKLAND, [01:40:02] PARKLAND IS PROTECTED BY TEXAS LAW, TO A HIGH DEGREE. IN MY OPINION, I HAVE NOT SEEN PROOF THAT THE CHAPTER 26 REQUIREMENT THAT OF DOCUMENTING NO FAOESANT. WE THINK THERE ARE WAY TO SEE DO THIS EXPANSION WITHOUT TAKING PARKLAND. WHEN I FIRST CAME TO HARRIS COUNTY IN 1972, I MET TERRY HERSHEY AND TERRY HERSHEY RAISED ME AS AN ENVIRONMENTAL LAWYER. PARKS ARE SACRED. AND I'M MOST WORRIED ABOUT THE PRECEDENCE THAT THIS SETS IF WE GO FORWARD. I ASK THAT AWE DELAY THIS VOTE AND GATHER BEFORE YOURSELVES A FULL DISCUSSION. I WOULD LIKE TO FILE THESE WRITTEN COMMENTS JUST FOR THE RECORD. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND ATTENTION TO THIS. >> JIM, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE AND I APPRECIATE THE WORK AND ROLE THAT YOU PLAY IN THIS PROCESS. I JUST HOPE THAT AWE LOOK AT JAMES DRIVER PARK BECAUSE I'VE GOT THAT CONCRETE PLANT GOING NEXT TO IT AND IT'S A CONTINUED NIGHTMARE FOR ME. >> SPEAKER: LET ME SEE WHAT I CAN DO ABOUT THAT. >> AND MR. ELLIS, I WOULD HAVE SPOKEN IN TONGUES. >> THEY DID HAVE A NEGRO WARD BUT MY PARENTS FIGURED IT WAS A BETTER CHOICE FOR ME TO BE BORN THERE. MANY PEOPLE WERE BORN THIS THEIR HOMES BECAUSE THEY COULDN'T GET IN ANY HOSPITAL. WE WORKED ON MANY ISSUES AND WE DIDN'T ALWAYS AGREE BUT ALWAYS GOOD TO VISIT WITH YOU. THANK YOU. >> SPEAKER: BUENOS DIAS. >> SPEAKER: GRACIAS. >> SPEAKER: GOOD MORNING, JUDGE AND COMMISSIONERS. MY NAME IS UWALDA, I'M A MEMBER OF ORGANIZING PROJECT AND A MOTHER OF 6 CHILDREN I'M HERE TO SUPPORT BEN TAUB. I'M A CANCER PATIENT AND I RECEIVE MY TREATMENT. I HAVE SEEN HOW OVERCROWDED IT GETS. I'VE HAD TO WAIT DAYS TO SEE A DR., RECENTLY I WAITED THREE DAYS FOR SURGERY BECAUSE IT WAS POSTPONED DUE TO A LACK OF BADS. AS A MOTHER, MY GREATEST FEAR IS TO LEAVE MY CHILDREN. BUT I HAVE FAITH IN GOD THAT HE'S GOING TO HEAL ME. APPROVING THIS EBBSING CAN SAVE LIVES. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. >> SPEAKER: BUENOS DIAS. >> INTERPRETER: GOOD MORNING, JUDGE AND COMMISSIONERS I'M SYLVIA LIVE A AND I'M A MEMBER [01:45:06] OF TEXAS ORGANIZING PROJECT. I'M HERE TO SUPPORT THE EXPANSION OF BEN TAUB HOSPITAL. I HAVE FAMILY MEMBERS AND FRIENDS WHO DEPEND ON BEN TAUB TO RECEIVE MEDICAL CARE. I'VE SEEN UP CLOSE WHAT HAPPENS WHEN THE HOSPITAL DOES NOT HAVE SPACE. A RELATIVE OF MINE HAD TO WAIT THREE WHOLE DAYS TO SEE A DOCTOR BECAUSE THERE WERE NO BEDS AVAILABLE. NO ONE SHOULD HAVE TO WAIT THAT LONG WHEN THEY ARE SICK. THAT'S WHY IT'S URGENT TO EXPAND THIS EXPANSION, PEOPLE LIKE MY COUSIN NEED TIMELY ACCESS TO MEDICAL CARE, WITHOUT HAVING TO WAIT DAYS TO RECEIVE HELP. APPROVE THE EXPANSION TODAY, THERE WILL BE TIME LATER TO TALK ABOUT THE FUTURE BUT RIGHT NOW, OUR COMMUNITY NEEDS THE EXPANSION. THANK YOU. >> SPEAKER: GOOD MORNING, HONORABLE COMMISSIONER, JUDGES AND FELLOW HOUSTONIANS AND PEOPLE AT HOME. I'M ANGELA I'VE BEEN IN HOUSTON FOR THE LAST 37 YEARS AND I'M 67 YEARS OLD. I'VE BEEN TO BEN TAUB ONCE AND WHEN I WENT THERE WHAT I SAW I DID NOT LIKE IT, THERE WERE NO ROOMS FOR PATIENTS, I STAYED SEVEN HOURS BEFORE I WAS ATTENDED. THIS EXPANSION IS IMPORTANT TO SAVE LIVES AND WE KNOW YOU CAN USE YOUR GOOD OFFICE TO VOTE FOR THIS EXPANSION, IT'S NECESSARY FOR OUR COMMUNITY. AND OUR CHILDREN AND CHILDREN'S CHILDREN. THANK YOU FOR YOUR GOOD WORK AND CONTINUE DOING, GOD WILL BLESS YOU. >> SPEAKER: BUENOS DIAS. ADVOCATE FOR THE EXPANSION OF BEN TAUB HOSPITAL. AS I OBSERVE A SIGNIFICANT LACK OF MEDICAL CARE, WE FACE LONG WAIT TIMES IN THE EMERGENCY ROOM, A SHORTAGE OF BEDS INSUFFICIENT STAFF AND A LACK OF SPACE AND OTHER ISSUES. I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THE ACQUISITION MADE MANDATORY SO THAT IT MAY BE ALLOCATED TO BEN TAUB HOSPITAL. THIS IS ESSENTIAL TO OUR COMMUNITY AS WE RELY TO MAINTAIN OUR HEALTH AND WELL BEING. POPULATION IS GROWING YET WE HAVE--YOU HOLD OUR LIVES ON YOUR HANDS REGARDING MEDICAL CARE FOR WE NEVER KNOW WHEN WE MAY FIND OURSELVES IN NEED OF THE SERVICES PROVIDED BY THE RENOWNED HOSPITAL BEN TAUB. THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION. >> SPEAKER: GOOD MORNING, MY NAME IS MAITA AND I'M PROUD OF MEXICO ORGANIZING PROJECT. I'M HERE TODAY BECAUSE I BELIEVE THAT HEALTH IS A HUMAN RIGHT. EVERYBODY DESEBZ ACCESS TO CARE THAT IS HUE TAIN. RIGHT NOW, THAT'S NOT THE REALITY. THERE ARE PEOPLE SITTING IN EMERGENCY ROOMS FOR DAYS JUST TO BE SEEN. IMAGINE BEING IN PAIN AND NOT KNOWING WHEN YOU WILL GET HELP, THAT IS NOT HUMANE. BEN TAUB SERVED SOME OF THE MOST VULNERABLE IN OUR COUNTY. EXPANDING MEANS MORE ACCESS AND SHORTER WAIT TIMES AND BETTER CARE FOR THOSE THAT NEED IT MOST. THE TIME TO ACT IS NOW. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. >> SPEAKER: GOOD MORNING, MY NAME IS AMARIS, AND I AM HERE IN SUPPORT OF THE EXPANSION OF BEN TAUB HOSPITAL. BEN TAUB IS NOT JUST A [01:50:05] HOSPITAL, TO MIZ FAMILY IT'S THE REASON HI SISTER AND BABY ARE ALIVE TODAY. WE THANK GOD, THE DOCTORS AND NURSES WHO WORK EVERY SAY TO SAVE L*IFZ. THAT'S WHY EXPANSION IS SO IMPORTANT, THE NEED IS NOT IN THE FUTURE, IT IS RIGHT NOW. OUR COMMUNITY IS GROWING AND THE HOSPITAL IS ALREADY STRETCHED BEYOND CAPACITY. AND WHEN WE THINK ABOUT THE WORLD THAT WE'RE LEADING TODAY WITH MASSING SHOOTINGS, WE HAVE TO ASK OURSELVES IF SOMEBODY LIKE THAT WAS TO HAPPEN HERE? WHERE WILL PEOPLE GO? IT'S ONE OF THE TWO DRAMA CENTERS. TODAY IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO TAKE THE FIRST STEP. I URGE YOU TO VOTE IN SUPPORT OF THE EXPANSION. LIVES DEPEND ON IT, THANK YOU VERY MUCH. >> SPEAKER: GOOD MORNING, COMMISSIONERS COURT. NATIVE OF RESIDENT FOR HARRIS COUNTY. SO WHAT IS TRAUMA? SO EVERYBODY DEALS WITH TRAUMA DIFFERENTLY. SO WITH THAT BEING SAID, I HAVE A SCENARIO. RESIDENTS BEING ABUSED AND NEGLECTED LANDLORD. THE SYSTEM ENDS UP IN HARRIS COUNTY FACILITY AND THEY GO THROUGH THE PROCESS NOT GOING TO COURT, FILE LAWSUITS AND ULTIMATELY WIN A CASE BUT THE CHARACTER IS DESTROYED IN THE PROCESS. SO NOW THEY TRAUMATIZED. I'M SUPPORT IN BUILDING A NEW HOSPITAL ALONG THE EVACUATION ROUTE BECAUSE OF NATURAL DISASTERS AND PANDEMIC. IN CASE YOU NEED TO HAVE A DRIVE-THRU SITUATION FOR THE VACCINE. I DIDN'T COME HERE TO FIGHT, I CAME HERE TO TALK ABOUT BUSINESS. >> TUZ YOUR TIME IS SUPE. >> CLERK: BISHOP DIXON, RICHIE CASTILLO MATEY GONZALEZ, YOU EACH HAVE A MINUTE. >> SPEAKER: GOOD MORNING TO COURT AND ALL OF YOU AND ALL THE OFFICIALS OF HARRIS HEALTH. IT NICE TO BE HERE TO GIVE A, I HAVE DONE SERMONS LESS THAN THAT. THEY SAY JESUS TEACHES US TO LOVE YOUR NEIGHBORS AS YOURSELF. IT BE ROOFS US THAT THE PAOEFT WHO ARE AMONG US, NEED OUR COMPASSION AND COMMITMENT, JUST TODAY. THE REALITY IS SO MANY ARE LACKING ACCESS TO QUALITY HEALTHCARE. AND YOUR SALARY NOR ZIP CODE SHOULD DETERMINE THE QUALITY OF HEALTHCARE YOU SHOULD RECEIVE. EVERYBODY'S LIFE IS VALUE, PLEASE VOTE IN SUPPORT OF THIS EXPANSION. I'VE LIVED IN HOUSTON ALL OF MY LIFE. WE KNOW WHAT BEB TAUB DOES AND WHAT IT CAN DO. >> THANK YOU YOUR TIME IS UP. >> SPEAKER: THANK YOU VERY MUCH. >> THANK YOU, BISHOP. >> THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONTINUED ATTENTION TO THIS ISSUE. MAY NAME IS CAROL AND I'M PRESIDENT AND CEO OF HERMAN PARK CONSERVANCY. TO MINIMIZE HARM TO PROTECT A PARKLAND MUST BE DONE. AND CONSERVE NCE WAS DONE. WE WENT TO COMMISSIONER ELLIS FOR HIS LEADERSHIP AND FA SIL INDICATE COUNTY RESULTING IN 20 MILLION DOLLARS IN TOURIST FUNDING A VERY MEANINGFUL STEP TO MAKING THE PARK WHOLE. WE ALSO APPRECIATE THE COLLABORATION INCLUDING A SHARED MEMORANDUM. AND CONTINUED COLLABORATION. OFFENDING GAP STILL REMAINS. >> THANK YOU YOUR TIME IS UP. >> YOU CAN CONTINUE. >> CONTINUE. >> THANK YOU. A FUNDING GAP STILL REMAINS AND WE'RE HOPEFUL THAT THEY WILL MOVE THE PROJECT FOR THIS PRIORITY. AFTER EXTENSION STUDY AND CON INVESTIGATION, OUR BOWL HAS AND ACCESS TO HEALTH AND PROTECT HERMAN PARKS. IF WORE SOMEBODY RECOGNIZED THEY SUPPORT THIS CONDEMNATION [01:55:06] AND EXPANSION SO THAT COUNTY CAN CONTINUE TO DO WORK WITH HEALTHCARE. AND DELIVER A SOLUTION THAT ADDRESSES THE MOST URGENT NEEDS IN HERMAN PARK WHICH IS PARKING AND ACCESS AND ULTIMATELY ALLOWS US TO GET TO HEALING, THE HEART OF HERMAN PARK. I THANK YOU EVERYONE OF YOU. >> THANK YOU. ON IT POINT, FOR MY COLLEAGUES, JUST SO QUICK COMMENT TWO POINTS. ONE OBVIOUSLY, WE CANNOT CONTROL WHATEVER HAPPENS WITH THE CITY AND AS I STATED IF YOU RECALL, I DID CALL A MAYOR THIS MORNING. I DID NOT WANT TO BE IN A POSITION WHERE HE WOULD STICK FOR ME. BUT, THE WAY, WE'RE SANLING TOURS, THE COUNTY NOW IS, THE COUNTY CONTROLS THE COUNTY MONEY. IT'S NOT THE ISSUE OF HOW MANY PEOPLE ON THE BOARD, THAT'S ALL REAL NICE. BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY, WHAT IS THE LINE I GOT? 90 PERCENT IS POETRY, THE COUNTY CONTROLS THE COUNTY MONEY AND TRADITION HERE IS WHOEVER THE MISSIONER IS FOR FROM THAT PRECINCT, THEY CAN CONTROL IT. WE FIGURE OUT SOME POUR PORTION AT HO FIGURE OUT. SO I DON'T GET IN THEIR BEST AND THEY DON'T GET IN MINE. BUT IF WE PERM MITT IT TO JOIN. THIS WAS AT ABOUT 1:00 O'CLOCK IN THE MORNING SO MY STAFF IS READY. I WANT TO STRESS THAT, I DON'T WANT TO BE REDUNDANT, I'VE DONE MY PART, MY SOB, SECOND POINT AND I JUST THOUGHT ABOUT THIS FOR YOU AND DR. PORSA, SOMEWHERE I SAID THIS COULD BE DONE THE ROAD. WHEN THE MONEY ISS TO. BUT I HEARD A CUSHION TIE THE HANDS OF COURT AND COMMISSIONERS COURT. THEY CAN ALWAYS CHANGE IT, I THINK IT ALL SHOULD BE GREEN SPACE FOR PEOPLE IN &. SO I DON'T KNOW IF THAT'S IN THERE. I TEXTED MY STAFF BUT I DON'T KNOW IF LAOLLY YOU CAN PAY AND THEY CAN PULL MY COMMENTS. THEY'LL BE THE MOST SPICY IF THEY WENT PRIVATE. ALL RIGHT, BUT I WANT TO STATE THAT. WE'VE DONE, I THINK WE'VE NOT SPEAKING FOR MY COLLEAGUES OTHER THAN SAYING IT FOR THEM. I MADE THAT AGREEMENT BUT I DON'T GO INTO EVERYBODY FIGURE AND IT. IT'S HARD ENOUGH TO LOBBY THESE AND COME TALK TO THIS THEM. I HAVE TROUBLE LIVING WITH THE PEOPLE WHO ARE PART OF THE LEGISLATURE BUT THAT'S NOT IN MY JOB DESCRIPTION. THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU EVERYBODY. >> SPEAKER: I'M JOHN WITH THE HARRIS HEALTH P HACK COUNCIL. HARRIS THE THIRD LARGEST AND AND SO TOO HARRIS HEALTH. ONE THE MOST LARGEST AND MOST SPISHL AREAS IN THE KOUPT RE. RECOGNIZED FOR THE 7TH NURSING STAFF IN THE UNITED STATES, YES, WE HAVE THE 7TH NURSING CARE NATIONWIDE NOT JUST IN HOUSTON, ONLY TWO TRAUMA CENTERS, WE NEED SIX OR SEVEN. THEY SEND BEN TAUB WHEN THEY WERE TRAUMATICKLY INJURED. IT'S PRECISELY WHERE THEY FIND THE MEDICAL CARE. PATIENTS ARE ROUTINELY TREATED IN HALLWAYS, FOR SHAME. THE BEN TAUB ADJACENT LAND IS PART NAME. YOU'RE BEING DECEIVED IF THEY TELL YOU WE'RE RECEIVING DED ANIMALS. >> SPEAKER: GOOD MORNING, MY NAME IS RIXY I'M A VOICE CHAIR OF THE HARRIS COUNTY ESSENTIAL [02:00:13] HARRIS BOARD. I'M HERE WITH THE LBJ CONSTRUCTION. I WANT TO RAISE SERIOUS CONCERNS ABOUT THIS PROJECT. ABOUT THE REQUIREMENTS OF THIS FUNDED PROJECT. WHILE CONTRACTORS ARE SUBMITTING, REPORTS LIVING A DIFFERENT REALITY, THERE ARE AND INCLUDING NO HEALTHCARE, NO PENSION AND NO TRAINING CAN BESING. THIS IS ABOUT IT ACCESS TO PROTECT WORKERS AND SHARE A FAIR COMPETITION AND HOLD INTEGRITY WHEN WITH THE STANDARDS ARE NOT FEEL ARE CONTRACTORS ARE IN CUT AND URGE THE COURT. >> YOUR TIME IS UP. >> SPEAKER: OKAY, THANK YOU. THANK YOU. >> SPEAKER: GOOD MORNING, I'M RAFAEL ORGANIZER WITH SMART LOCAL UNION 54. I'M HERE TODAY ON BEHALF OF LOCAL 54 WORKERS WHO RAISED CONCERNS ON THE LBJ GOT A SHEET MEDAL RATE IN 1385 IN FING BENEFITS. HOWEVER, BASED ON CERTIFY PAYROLL BAKERS AWHILE FILING, WHILE FILING TO PROVIDE THOSE STRING BENEFITS TO WORKERS. ONCE THEN WELL, IT THIS BY PAYROLL RECORDS SHOWING THOSE BENEFITS ARE BEING PAID. THIS RAISES CONCERNS ON THE FUNDED PROJECT. >> THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. >> NEXT IS MATHIE AND MARTY AND TERRY ELLIOT, BARBARA DAVIS. YOU EACH HAVE ONE MINUTE. THANK YOU. >> SPEAKER: MORNING, MY NAME IS ANNE KENNEDY. I SUPPORT THE ESSENTIAL WORK FOR BEN TAUB AND ITS DIRE NEED FOR EXPANSION. BUT I THINK IT'S CRITICAL THAT HARRIS HEALTH FOLLOWS THE LAW. THEY HAVE NOT SHOWN THAT NO ALTERNATIVE SITES EXIST. THEY HAVE REFUSED TO HONOR REQUEST AND MADE FOR INFORMATION ABOUT ALTERNATIVE SITES THAT IT HAS ANALYZED. WE HAVE ABUNDANCE EXAMPLE OF IGNORING OF PROCESS AND RULE OF LAW, WE DO NOT NEED TO REPRODUCE THAT BEHAVIOR HERE IN HOUSTON. I ASK THAT YOU PLEASE DELAY THE VOTE UNTIL THE PUBLIC HAS ACCESS TO THAT INFORMATION THAT IS SO CRITICAL TO YOUR DECISION. THANK YOU. >> SPEAKER: GOOD MORNING, COMMISSIONERS I'M THE PRESIDENT PF FIREFIGHTERS ASSOCIATION AND ON BEHALF OF THE THIRD LARGEST FIRE FIGHTING ORGANIZATION IN NATION AND LARGEST IN TEXAS. WE'RE HERE TO SUPPORT THE BEN TAUB EXPANSION, EVERY DAY WE RESPOND TO NEIGHBORS ON THEIR WORSE DAY. WE CAN ONLY DELIVER LIFE SAVING CARE WHEN THE FULL RESPONSE SYSTEM IS STRONG AND BEN TAUB HOSPITAL IS A CRITICAL PART OF IT. AS A LEVEL TRAUMA CENTER OF ONE OF TWO IN THE REGION. WHEN BEN TAUB CANNOT ACCEPT PATIENTS IT CREATES DANGEROUS SITUATIONS. WE NEED BEN TAUB TO BE READY FOR CRITICALLY ILL OR INJURED PATIENTS. IF TT HOSPITAL IS IS NOT ABLE TO RECEIVE THEM, WE CANNOT DO OUR JOBS AND PATIENTS LIVES ARE PUT AT-RISK. SOME ASK WHY NOT BUILD ELSEWHERE AND WHAT WE TELL PEOPLE THIS IS THE MOST COST AFFECTIVE SPACE. >> THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR COMING. >> THANK YOU, MARTY. GOOD TO SEE YOU MARTY. APPRECIATE YOU. >> THANK YOU. >> SPEAKER: GOOD MORNING, I'M TERRY ELLIOT I'M DIRECTOR OF [02:05:09] FACILITY FOR HARRIS HEALTH AND I'M HERE TO SUPPORT THE EXPANSION OF BEN TAUB HOSPITAL. THE INFRASTRUCTURE AT BEN TAUB IS, IS A VERY SERIOUS SHAPE. IT'S MANY OF THOSE SYSTEMS ARE BEYOND USEFUL LIFE. AND IN 1988-89 WHEN IT WAS BUILT IT WAS NOT UNDER THE BEST PRACTICES FOR ENGINEERING. MANY OF THE PIPING AND MECHANICAL SYSTEMS ARE INACCESSIBLE, WE CANNOT GET TO THOSE. DUE TO THE PATIENT INVOLVES WE'RE SIMPLY UNABLE TO GET IN THERE AND GET THE MAINTENANCE WORK DONE TO MAINTAIN THAT FACILITY. SO WHAT WE PROPOSED IS AN EXPANSION, A PHASED EXPANSION ONCE THE REDEVELOPMENT HAS OCCURED, SO WE CAN GET IN THERE WITH A PHASED EXPANSION AND COMPLETE THOSE REPAIRS TO MAINTAIN THE EXISTING FACILITY. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. >> HI MY NAME IS A BARBARA DAVIS, I'M A SURVIVOR OF DRUNK DRIVING MY HUSBAND WAS KILLED AND THEY THOUGHT I WAS BRAIN DEAD AT BEN TAUB. I'M VERY APPRECIATIVE, I'VE TRIED TO DONATE MY LIFE TO MAKING A DIFFERENCE SPEAKING IN THE LIFE OF ADRIAN TODAY, IN FACT I'M SUPPOSE TO GO TO A COMMITTEE MEETING. I'VE BEEN SAVED BY BEN TAUB. I WAS FLIPPED OVER AND IT WAS A TUESDAY AFTERNOON AT 4:00 O'CLOCK, THERE WERE NO BED SPACE BECAUSE THAT'S THE FIRST I HAD TO GO. I RESIDE IN PRECINCT 4 AND WHETHER YOU HAVE INSURANCE OR DON'T HAVE THE INSURANCE, THE POINT IS, THEY'RE THE NUMBER ONE LEVEL TRAUMA CENTER IN HOUSTON. YOU CANNOT WIGGLE YOUR NOSE AND START ANOTHER ONE SOMEWHERE ELSE IT TAKES A LOT OF TIME TO GET THAT DESIGNATION. AND HAVING MORE SPACE. >> THANK YOU YOUR TIME IS UP. >> THANK YOU, BARBARA, I THINK WE GOT THE POINT. >> NOT SURE IF THEY'RE HERE, INGRID AND MAYA GONZALEZ. >> ANDERSON HALL, MS. ROBINSON IS HERE. CAN THEY HEAR US IN THE HALL? >> NO. >> WE ARE RIGHT, WE DON'T HAVE TO YELL OUT AT THE HALL. >> WE CAN SEND SOMEBODY. >> MAYBE SOMEBODY CAN WALK OUT THERE AND CALL THE NAMES. GOOD MORNING. >> SPEAKER: I'M INGRID ROBINSON, I'M A MEMBER OF THE TRUSTEES AND I'M HERE IN ASKING FOR SUPPORT, THE HARRIS COUNTY EXPANSION OF BEN TAUB. HARRIS COUNTY VOTERS OVERWHELMING LY APPROVED A BOND. THE VOTE WAS MORE THAN AN INVESTMENT IT WAS A CLEAR EXPRESSION OF PUBLIC'S APPROVAL TO IMPROVE ACCESS TO HIGH-QUALITY HEALTHCARE FOR OUR COMMUNITY. AS A NATIVE HUSBAND TONIAN, ACORNER STER OF OUR AND PLAYS A VITAL ROLE DELIVERING EMERGENCY TRAUMA SERVICES. THE DECISION BEFORE YOU IS AN EASY ONE BUT IT'S A DECISION THAT WILL SHAPE THE HEALTH AND WELL BEING FOR OUR COMMUNITY FOR DECADES TO COME. I RESPECTFULLY URGE YOU TO THE COURT TO SUPPORT BEN TAUB'S EXPANSION. >> THANK YOU. NOW I KNOW YOU A CALL, MS. ROBINSON, SOMETIMES I FORGET THAT MY WIFE TELLS ME TAKE THAT JIM KOEBA SO JUST CALLED AGAIN. >> I WILL. >> ANYBODY ELSE? >> IF MAITHY IS NOT THERE, THAT'S THE LAST SPEAKER. >> TRACY, JUST WENT OUT THERE AND CHECKED. >> NOBODY? YOU MENTIONED, DID YOU SAY MS., SHE IS COMING DOWN. MS. MACY? TAKE YOUR TIME MY DOCTOR ALWAYS TELLS ME, DON'T FALL WHEN I'M ON OT BICYCLE. >> SPEAKER: THANK YOU, MY NAME IS ANNE HAMILTON AND I DID SIGN UP TO SPEAK I DON'T KNOW WHY I WAS NOT CALLED. BUT AS A LONG TIME ADVOCATE FOR HOUSTON, I'M ASKING YOU THAT YOU CONSIDER ALL THE ISSUES ON PROPOSE CONDEMNATION ISSUE THAT WE'RE ADDRESSING TODAY. I SUPPORT MORE BETTER AND ACCESSIBLE HEALTHCARE AND PARKS [02:10:07] FOR THE CITIZENS OF HOUSTON AND HARRIS COUNTY. WE CAN HAVE BOTH. IF ALL THE PACKETS ARE BEFORE US AND ADDRESS THIS ISSUE IS COMPLICATED AND WILL AFFECT OUR COMMUNITY FOR YEARS TO COME. PLEASE TAKE ADDITIONAL TIME TO CONSIDER ALL THE SIDES OF THIS ISSUE. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORK FOR MANY YEARS FOR THE HOUSTON ENDOWMENT AS WELL. >> SPEAKER: HI, I SIGNED UP AND WAS NOT CALLED SO MAY I SPEAK? >> COMMISSIONER IT LOOKS LIKE SOME PEOPLE WERE SIGNED UP FOR 460. >> ARE YOU ON THIS ITEM? >> SPEAKER: ON BEN TAUB. >> IT'S FINE TO TAKE THEM AS PART THE HEARING. >> SPEAKER: AN HERTZ, BEN TAUB IS FANTASTIC AND NEEDS TO EXPAND. WE WERE EXCITE TODAY VOTE. THAT 2 BILLION DOLLARS IS NOT PASSED. YOU COMMISSIONERS COURT ARE PARTLY RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS. THE COST OF THE NEW LBJ HAVE RISEN TO MORE THAN TWO BILLION DOLLARS WITH THREE MORE YEARS OF CONSTRUCTION TO GO. THE PLAN RENOVATION OF THE CURRENT LBJ HOSPITAL HAS BEEN YOU HALTED FOR LACK OF FUNDS. BEN TAUB WAS EXPECTED TO RECEIVE 410 MILLION DOLLARS THAT NUMBER IS SHRINKING FAST AND NOW 157 MILLION DOLLARS. THEY HAVE BLOCKED AND FOR THIS INFORMATION AND HAVE SIDE ABOUT THIS. YOU ARE RESPONSIBLE TO FUND IT WITH OUR TAXPAYERS MONEY. YOU PLANNED TO CONDEMN FOR THIS--THAT HAS NO FUNDING AND MAY NEVER HAPPEN. >> SO WE'RE GOING TO TAKE SPEAKERS AS WELL AS ON 406 AS WELL. CHRIS JUST SENT A CASE AND SAID HISTORIC DOCUMENT THAT SHOWS WHO DONATED THE LAND FOR HERMAN PARK ALSO INTENDED TO BUILD A HOSPITAL BEFORE HE DIED ON A TRAIN RIDE TO MISSOURI IRONICALLY. I'VE BEEN BIPARTISAN SINCE I GOT THAT TEXT. I DO READ MY TEXT MOST OF THE TIME. >> SPEAKER: GOOD MORNING, I'M A PHYSICIAN AT BEN TAUB. THIS WEEK THE NEED FOR ADDITIONAL BEDS HAS BEEN MORE EVIDENT THAN EVER. SPEAKING OF WEEKLY OCCURRENCE DUE TO OVERCROWDING. OUR PATIENCE DON'T HAVE THE LUX SEE --LUXURY. ANYTHING ELSE IS JUST HALLWAY BEDS OR TREATMENT IN THE HALLWAY ROOM IS SAYING THAT THEY DESERVE LESS. PERSONALLY I WOULD LIKE TO THANK THE HERMAN AND THEIR PASSION FOR GREEN SPACE. THEY'RE NOT IN EITHER OR TO USE A COURT PHRASE THEY ARE BOTH AND. WE AS A MEDICAL COMMUNITY NEED TO BE FIERCER. THANK YOU ALL AGAIN AND AS I SAID MY PATIENTS, I HOPE TO NEVER SEE YOU AT THE HOSPITAL BUT YOU'RE WELCOME AT THE HOSPITAL. >> THANK YOU. >> SPEAKER: I'M A RESIDENT DOCTOR AT BEN TAUB I'M HERE TO SPEAK OF THE SUPPORT OF PROPOSED EXPANSION. AS A RESIDENT, THIS HOSPITAL HOLDS A SPECIAL PLACE IN MY HEART BECAUSE OF THE UNIQUE PRIVILEGE I HAVE TO SERVE THESE PATIENTS. AS YOU'RE AWARE NOW, THE HOSPITAL IS OVER CAPACITY FOR MANY OF THE YEAR. AND SEEING THESE PATIENTS FIRSTHAND BEING BOARDED IN THE HALLWAYS AND DELAYS IN CARE AND SEEING THE BURN OUT ON HEALTHCARE WORKERS IT'S CLEAR THAT THIS IS NEEDED. IT SHOW THAT OVER 92 PERCENT OF RESIDENTS BELIEVE THAT THIS EXPANSION WILL IMPROVE PATIENT CARE. ULTIMATELY BEN TAUB IS A PLACE OF REFUGE FOR SO MANY OF HOUSTON'S MOST VULNERABLE PEOPLE AND AS A NEEDS CONTINUE TO GROW, SO TOO SHOULD YOUR ABILITY TO TAKE CARE OF THEM. I HOPE YOU CONTINUE TO SUPPORT THE COUNTLESS PEOPLE WE SERVE. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. >> SPEAKER: HELLO MY NAME IS MAD LINE MALOY I'M ALSO A [02:15:04] RESIDENT PHYSICIAN WORK WITHING AT BEN TAUB I'M COMING TO THIS MEETING FROM A NIGHT SHIFT AT BEN TAUB BUT IT WAS IMPORTANT TO SPEAK IN SUPPORT OF PROPOSED EXPANSION ON BEHALF OF OUR PATIENTS. BEN TAUB IS ABLE TO OFFER INCREDIBLE CARE TO SOME OF THE MOST DISADVANTAGE RESIDENTS HOWEVER THE RESOURCES IS OBVIOUS EVERY TIME I WALK DOWN THE HALLS. WE HAVE PATIENTS IN HALLWAYS AND SLEEPING ON CHAIRS. OUR PATIENTS DESERVE BETTER THAN THAT. I COME TO WORK BIKING ALONG THE LAND THAT IS IN QUESTION HERE. I'M A MASSIVE FAN OF HERMAN PARK BUT THIS IS NOT THE BEST OF HERMAN PARK. THERE ARE OFTEN DOWN TREE LIMBS AND TRASH, REALITY IS THIS TRACK OF BAND IS NOT PUBLIC GOOD BUT IT HAS POTENTIAL TO OFFER A LOT TO OUR COMMUNITY AS PART OF BEN TAUB. I HOPE YOU CAN SUPPORT THIS EXPANSION. >> THANK YOU. >> OKAY, THAT SHOULD BE ALL THE SPEAKERS FOR THESE ITEMS. >> ALL RIGHT. >> YES. >> WOULD I LIKE TO CALL UP DR. PARCEL. >> IT WILL NOT BE AMOS, YOU'LL JUST CLOSE THE HEARING AND 460 IS THE ACTUAL ITEM. >> SHALL I CLOSE THE MOTION NOW? >> I THINK HE WANTS TO SPEAK. >> SPEAKER: GOOD MORNING. >> GOOD MORNING. >> SPEAKER: COMMISSIONERS, I'M HERE TODAY TO EXPLAIN I THINK WE HAD A COUPLE OF SLIDES, TIFFANY? >> SPEAKER: THANK YOU AND YOU CAN GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE. THANK YOU. I'M HERE TO EXPLAIN WHY THIS IS NECESSARY FOR THE COURT TO AUTHORITY BY IMMINENT DOMAIN FOR THE EXPANSION PROJECT. AS YOU CAN SEE, ALTHOUGH THIS LAND IS WITHIN HERMAN PARK, IT IS SEPARATED FROM THE BULK OF THE PARK BY CAMBRIDGE STREET AND SOUTH RAISE WOOD BOULEVARD AND REPRESENTS LESS THAN 2 PERCENT OF THE TOTAL ACREAGE OF THE PARK. BEFORE DISCUSSING THE PROJECT ITSELF, I WANT TO THANK THE COURT FOR ITS CONTINUED GUIDANCE AND SUPPORT OVER THE PAST SEVERAL MONTHS AS HARRIS MONTH HAS TRAVELED AROUND THE COUNTY TO ENGAGE COLLECTLY WITH THE COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND STAKEHOLDERS ABOUT THIS PROJECT. AT YOUR OCTOBER 30TH MEETING, COURT ORDERED THEM ABOUT THE BEN TAUB EXPANSION PROJECT. ONE IN EACH SINK. AND TO MEET BEFORE JANUARY 2026. ON JANUARY 29, I RETURNED TO PROVIDE YOU WITH AN UPDATE AND REQUESTS THIS HEARING. WHILE SOME COMMUNITY MEMBERS HAVE VOICED OPPOSITION TO THIS PROJECT, WE HAVE ALSO RECEIVED OVERWHELMING SUPPORT FROM MANY MORE RESIDENTS, PUBLIC OFFICIALS AND COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONERS WHO RECOGNIZE AND UNDERSTAND THE NEED FOR THIS PROJECT. WE VERY MUCH APPRECIATE THAT SUPPORT. LET ME START BY GIVING A BIT OF BACKGROUND ABOUT BEN TAUB HOSPITAL. BEN TAUB WAS ESTABLISHED IN 1966 BY THE VOTE OF HARRIS COUNTY RESIDENT SXZ CRITICAL PART OF THE HEALTHCARE SYSTEM WITHIN HARRIS COUNTY. AS A PUBLIC SAFETY NET PROVIDER, BEN TAUB IS A CRUCIAL PILLAR OF HEALTHCARE SYSTEM WITHIN HOUSTON, HARRIS COUNTY AND SURROUNDING AREAS. IT PROVIDES THE HIGHSEST LEVEL OF IMAGINE CARE FOR YEARS AND MEDICAL NEEDS. LEVEL ONE TRAUMA CENTER UNIQUELY ARE UNIQUELY EQUIPPED TO DELIVER COMPREHENSIVE CARE 24 HOURS A DAY INCLUDING SPECIALIZED SURGICAL SERVICES, ADVANCED IMAGINING AND CLINICAL TEAMS. NATIONAL STANDARDS SUGGESTS THAT THE COUNTY OF SIZE OF HARRIS COUNTY SHOULD HAVE ONE TO FOUR TAUM A CENTERS. BEN TAUB SERVES AS INCOUNTY REACHING TOO. TODAY, BEN TAUB CONSISTENTLY OPERATES ABOVE ITS CAPACITY DUE TO THE GROWING DEMAND FOR [02:20:06] MEDICAL AREA IN OUR REGION. THE CHRONIC HOSPITALS THAT RESULTS FROM INADEQUATE CAPACITY, IMPACTS BEN TAUB'S EFFICIENCY AND PATIENTS EMPLOYEE. IT ALSO THE PO IMPACT SAFELY. THE POPULATION IS EXPECTED TO GROW BY 5 PERCENT. BUT SENIOR INCREASING 20 PERCENT OVER THE SAME PERIOD, ADDING TO THE CURRENT STRAIN OF BEN TAUB'S TRAUMA AND EMERGENCY SERVICES. HARRIS COUNTY ANTICIPATE THE NEED FOR 110 NEW BEDS TO ACCOMMODATE AND ESTIMATED 18,000 EMERGENCY ROOM VISITS OVER THE NEXT DECADE. THERE IS AN URGENT PUBLIC HEALTH FACILITY TO MEET CURRENT PLANNED AND PREPARE THE FUTURE NEED AT THE SAME TIME, IT'S ESSENTIAL FOR BEN TAUB TO CONTINUE OPERATIONS WHILE THE EXPANSION OCCURS. TO ENSURE THAT THERE IS UNINTERRUPTED DELIVERY OF LEVEL ONE SERVICES AND QUALITY CARE FOR ALL PATIENTS. THE ONLY FEASIBLE AND PRUDENT WAY TO ACHIEVE THE EXPANSION WHILE CONTINUE TO GO PROVIDE LEVEL ONE TRAUMA SERVICES IS TO CONNECT THE FUTURE FACILITY TO BEN TAU. DISCONNECTION WILL PROVIDE PATIENTS THAT IS AVAILABLE AT LEVEL ONE PROPT INCLUDING VITAL AND SCARCE NEUROLOGICAL SERVICES, ADVANCES DIAGNOSTICS CAPABILITY, OPERATING ROOMS AND OTHER SUPPORT SERVICES. THE CONNECTION, ALSO BUT ALLOW FOR EFFICIENT EXCHANGE BETWEEN STAFF AND FACILITY. IMPORTANTLY THE CONNECTION BETWEEN BEN TAUB AND EXPANSION FACILITY WILL ALSO ENABLE THE HOSPITAL TO REMAIN IN ITS CURRENT LOCATION WITHIN THE TEXAS MEDICAL CENTER. TMC IS A PRIZED INTERNATIONAL ROUND MET CAL AN INVALUE PATIENTS TO OUR PATIENTS. THE RESIDENT THE PHYSICIANS ARE FROM BAYLOR COLLEGE OF MEDICINE WHICH IS LOCATED IN THE TMC A SHORT DISTANCE FROM BEN TAUB, THESE FACULTY AND RESIDENTS ARE HIGHLY REGUARDED AND ALSO WORK IN OTHER INSTITUTIONS. BEN TAUB'S CLOSE PROXIMITY MAKES IT FEASIBLE FOR RESPONSE TIME. HARRIS HEALTH IS PROUD TO BE PART OF THE TEXAS MEDICAL CENTER. AND IT IS IN THE BEST INTEREST OF THE BEN TAUB'S PATIENTS, THAT THE HOSPITAL REMAINS IN ITS CURRENT LOCATION AS PART OF TMC. IF BEN TAUB DOES NOT REMAIN IN THIS LOCATION, THE TEXAS MEDICAL CENTER WILL BE DEPRIVED OF THE SYNERGY THAT EXIST. THESE PARTNERS WORK CLOSELY TOGETHER ON A DAILY BASIS TO UTILIZE TRAINING FACILITY AND TO PROVIDE ACCESS TO ADDITIONAL HEALTHCARE PROVIDERS SERVICES IN ALL CENTRAL LOCATION. IN EXPANSION IS ESSENTIAL TO ENSURE LIFE ACCESS AND YOM PREHENCE I HAVE. EX HANDING THE--EXPANDING ALLOWS FOR IMPLEMENTATION OF A PHASED DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY THAT WILL INCREASE CAPACITY TO BEN TAUB WHILE PRESERVING OPERATIONS THROUGHOUT THE TRANSITION. AS OUR CHIEF OPERATING OFFICERLY WHICH IS WILL EXPLAIN IN MORE DETAIL, IT IS NOT POSSIBLE TO EXPAND WITHIN THE CAMPUS FOOTPRINT. THE THREE PARCELS ARE THE ONLY ADJACENT PROPERTY THAT CAN BE UTILIZED FOR THIS EXPANSION SO THERE IS NO FEASIBLE AND PRUDENT ALTERNATIVE TO EXPAND OTHER THAN TAKING OF THE THREE-PARK PARCELS THAT ARE THE SUBJECT OF THIS YEAR. THEY WILL THE HOUSTON ZOO AND OTHER STAKEHOLDERS TO ENSURE THAT THE PROJECT INCLUDE ALL. THIS WILL INCLUDE OUR BEST EFFORTS TO PRESERVE AND [02:25:11] MAINTAIN ACCESS TO THE PARK AS WELL AS LANDSCAPING BUFFERS, TRAIL INPROOF PMENTS, SECURE THE DINING AND OTHER MEASURES TO MITIGATE BETWEEN THE EXPANDED AND THE PARK. WITH THAT, I LIKE TO RETURN IT BACK TO OUR CHIEF ISER, MR. SMITH. >> THANK YOU. >> SPEAKER: THANK YOU COMMISSIONERS AND THANK YOU DR. PORSA, I'M LEWIS SMITH I'M THE CHIEF OPERATE ARING OFFICER OF THE SYSTEM AND SERVING PROUDLY IN AN ORGANIZE TRYING TO SECURE THE FUTURE OF BEN STAUB AND A SERVING COMMUNITY IN WE DO. WOULD I LIKE TO EBBSINGED PAPED ON WHAT YOU HEARD BY WALKING THROUGH THE FACILITY OPTIONS THAT WE'VE WAIT TODAY I WILL FREIGHT WHY IT'S NECESSARY TO ACQUIRE BY IMMINENT DOMAIN. THIS IS THE DOCUMENTATION RELATED TO THE HOSPITAL HOSPITAL CONSTRUCTION IS UNIQUELY COMPLEX. GOVERNED BY EXPENSIVE LOCAL AND STATE AND FEDERAL REGULATIONS THAT COVER EVERYTHING FROM PHYSICAL ENTRY AND EXIT TO THE HOSPITAL TO THE STANDARDS THAT MUST PUBLIC MADE TO PAINT THAT MAY SEEM SIMPLE OFTEN IMPROVE NICE AND WE HAVE TO WORK THROUGH MULTIPLE EDITRATION THAT ALLOW THE ABILITY TO SERVE OUR SERVICES. SEVERAL YEARS AGO, AFTER EXPERIENCING INFRASTRUCTURE FAILURE, HARRIS HEALTH BEGAN TO FOCUS ON HOW TO MANAGE THE MOD PERSONALIZATION AND EXPANSION OF ITS FACILITIES. AS THE NEED TO SAEFSH WAS MORE WE DECIDED TO EXPANDING OR ANOTHER LOCATION. IT BECAME CLOSER THAT EXPANSION WITHIN THE EXISTING CAMPUS WAS ULTIMATELY TO BE VIRTUALLY IMPOSSIBLE BECAUSE OF THE EXISTING STRUCTURES ON CAMPUS INCLUDING THE HOSPITAL, BEN TAUB TOWER AND NUERO PSYCHIATRIC CENTER, SINCE THAT TIME, BUILDING CODES AND STRUCTURAL REQUIREMENT AND CLINICAL DESIGN HAS SUCCEEDED DEFINITELY. OF THE OTHER STRUCTURES WOULD COSTS UPGRADES THAT RENDER THIS APPROACH INPRACTICAL. THEY CANNOT PARTIALLY SHUT DOWN AND STILL SERVE THE EMERGENCY QUITE SIMPLY EXPANDING IN THE INFRASTRUCTURE DOES NOT ALIGN WITH RESPONSIBLE CAPITOL PLANNING OR TWO --STEWARDSHIP. SUBSTANTIAL MORE EXPENSIVE THAN BEGINNING WITH AN EXPANSION PROJECT ON A AID JAIS ANT LAND. IF AN IMPATIENT UNIT IS NOT CONNECTED TO THE XHIFTING SECOND I THAT IS--THEN THIS NEW HOSPITAL BUILDING MUST CONTAIN FULL COMPLIMENT OF PHYSICAL SPACES AND ANCILLARY SERVICES REQUIRED FOR A HOSPITAL IN TEXAS AND IN MOST OTHER STATES IN THE COUNTY. HARRIS HEALTH DOES NOT HAVE THE XAS ILT OR FUNDING AVAILABLE TO MAKE A FULL REPLACEMENT WHICH WOULD COST TWO BILLION DOLLARS OR MORE TO COMPLETE IN TODAY'S DOLLARS AND THAT'S AN ESTIMATE, AN ESTIMATE RELATED TO WHAT WE THINK CALLS WOULD BE. ALSO, A HOSPITAL AND ALSO TIED TO ITS PHYSICAL LOCATION AND A STEVING STATUS COULD TO CONTINUE TO PROVIDE LEVEL ONE SERVICES, BEN TAB WOULD NEED TO MAINTAIN LEVEL FOR AS LONG AS IT TAKES TO ACHIEVE FEDERAL INCLUDING RESOURCES IN THE YEARS THAT IT TAKES TO ACHIEVE THAT. [02:30:01] AS YOU CAN SEE FROM THESE SLIDES AND IF YOU COULD ADVANCE THE SLIDE ONE, IF YOU CAN SEE FROM THIS SLIDES, THEY'RE SURROUNDED BY OTHER MOPT FACILITY. THE THREE-JAIS. CONSTITUTES THE ONLY AVAILABLE LAND. UNLESS HARRIS HEALTH EXPANDS, IT'S NOT SAFE FOR BEN TAUB TO DELIVER A SAFE ENVIRONMENT FOR PATIENTS. AND THAT'S A KEYWORD, A SAFE ENVIRONMENT, AS WELL AS OTHER CHALLENGES THAT WE'RE MANAGING. REGARDING THE FLOOD PLAIN CONCERNS, THESE PARCELLS ARE LOCATED IN THE 200 YEAR. IT'S IMPORTANT TO KNOW THAT IT'S NOT PROHIBITED. IN FACT, CONSTRUCTION INCLUDING SPECIAL FLOOD HAZARD AREAS IS PERMITTED PROVIDINGED THAT FEDERAL AND LOCAL LAWS AND ORGANIZATIONERS AND PERMITTING REQUIREMENTS ARE SATISFIED. DEVELOPMENT CONDITION A MOO THEY WILL PROCEED WITH THE A FICKABLE FEMA AND ALL ELEVATIONS ARE REQUIREMENTS ARE MET CITY BEING THE PERMITTED ENTITY WITHIN THIS YEAR. WITH RESPECT TO MEDICAL FACILITY, THERE IS NO TEXAS STATUTE BANNING CONSTRUCTION A NEW HOSPITAL IN A FLOOD PLAIN. INSTEAD THE TEXAS LICENSING RULES ALLOW AN EXISTING TO HOSPITAL TO EXPAND INTO A 100 IF THE FACILITY ARE ABOVE THE FLOOD ZONE AFTER THE CONSTRUCTION IS COMPLETE. THE COMMISSION MUST APPROVE PLANS FOR HOSPITAL FACILITY BEFORE CONSTRUCTION CAN EVEN BEGIN. THE A HAS A WELL OBSERVED REGULARLY AND WE HAVE CON STATE AND WE HAVE COMPLETE FOR ANY CONSTRUCTION INCLUDING THE LBJ CAMPUS PROJECT. HARRIS HEALTH HAS ALREADY DISCUSSED ALL THIS APPROACH FOR EXPANSION FACILITY WITH THE COMMISSION. HARRIS HEALTH WILL FOLLOW THE PROCEDURES AND WORK WITH THE AGENCY TO DEVELOP AN APPROPRIATE DESIGN FOR THE EXPANSION FACILITY WHICH WILL BE CONSTRUCTED ABOVE THE APPLICABLE 100-YEAR FLOOD PLAIN ELEVATION AND ANY FLOOD PROTECTION ELEVATION REQUIREMENT AS REQUIRED BY THE CITY PERMITTING PROCESS. AS WE HAVE ALL COME TO LEARN OVER THE PAST DECADE, FLOODING IS NOT JUST A POSSIBILITY IT'S A REALITY IN SOUTHEAST TEXAS. WE HAVE HEART REFERENCES TO TROPICAL STORM HE WILL SON AND YOU'VE GOT TO REMEMBER THAT TNZTOOK MEASURES TO PROTECT THE FAS TILTS. FLOOD MITIGATION AND IMPROVE SINCE ALLISON INCLUDE A FLOOD GATE NETWORK AND GENERATED AND WATER PUMP SYSTEMS. DEVELOPING ADJACENT WILL ALLOW HARRIS HEALTH TO UNDERTAKE ADDITIONAL MEASURES THAT GO BEYOND THESE IN EXISTENCE AT THE CURRENT BEN TAUB FAS FILT. THE DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION OF THIS PROJECT WHICH WILL BE DONE IN ACCORDANCE WITH TNZWILL INCLUDE MITIGATION FEATURES NECESSARY TO PROTECT FACILITY FROM INCLUDING HERMAN PARK AND THE NEIGHBORING NEIGHBORHOOD FACILITY. FINALLY, TO MINUTE LIES HARM TO HERMAN PARK, THE PROJECT WILL INCLUDE COORDINATION WITH THE CITY AND OTHER STAKEHOLDERS TO MAINTAIN TO SAFETY AND CONVENIENTLY ACCESS THE REMAINER OF THE PARK AND PROVIDE FOR BEAUTIFICATION AND FED ELEMENTS WITHIN THE EXPANSION SITE. TO THE FULLY EXTENT POSSIBLE GIVEN CONSTRAINTS THE SITE. THIS WILL INCLUDE TO CREATE A PARK LIKE BEVERAGE FOR FED VISIT ARING PARK. THAT IMPROVES NAVIGATION TO PARK. AND GREEN SPACE AND RECOVERY TARGETED TRAIL AND IMPROVEMENT THAT PROMOTE A SENSE OF CONNECTION AND A PLAN TO PRESERVE AND WE LOCATE AS MANY TREES AS POSSIBLE. WE HAVE SEEN THE OBLT IN ALL THIS AND THE DESIGN OF PARK RIEK WE WOULD EXPAND THAT. IN CLOSING THE ACTION PANSING --EXPANSION IS A NECESSARY OTHER THAN THE TAKE ITING OF THREE PARK TARGETS TO CONSTRUCT [02:35:06] AND DEVELOP. HARRIS HEALTH COMMITS TO CONTINUED COORDINATION WITH THE CITY, THE HERMAN PARK, THE HOUSTON ZOO AND OTHER STAKEHOLDERS TO ENSURE THAT THIS PROJECT INCLUDES ALL REASONABLE PLANNING TO MINIMIZE HARM TO THE SURROUNDING AREA. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. >> THANK YOU. COUPLE OF ONE QUICK QUESTION AND THEN ALL OF FOUR WANT TO MAKE COMMENTS. >> COMMISSIONER DO YOU WANT TO [Emergency/Supplemental Items (Part 3 of 5)] CLOSE THE HEARING FIRST AND THEN MOVE ON TO 460? >> THE HEARING IS NOW CLOSED. AND THEN THIS IS A DISCUSSION IT WILL BE DISCUSSION NOW AND IT'S ME, COMMISSIONER GAR SEE AND COMMISSIONER RAMSEY AND BRIONES. >> THIS IS ON ITEM 460. >> FIRST, I WANT TO ASK OUR CITY ATTORNEY ARE YOU AFTER THE THABL THAT WE HAVE >> I'M COMFORTABLE THAT YOU CAN MAKE THE FINDINGS ON CHAPTER 26, IF YOU HAVE ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS, WE CAN GO TO EXECUTIVE SESSION. >> FIRST OF ALL, I APPRECIATE COMMISSION PER GARCIA, YOU PUT AN AGENDA ON THE AGENDA, WE WENT THE ROBUST PROCESS AND YOU KNOW, I'M A STRONG ADVOCATE OF, OF PUBLIC HOSPITALS AND THE REASON IS, BECAUSE I MENTIONED EARLIER, WHEN BLACKBURN WAS SPEAKING, I WAS BORN AT HOUSTON NEGRO HOSPITAL. JUST TO GIVE A LITTLE HISTORY, THAT WAS JEN DAVIS AND OPERATED FROM TWO SITES. FROM 1924 TO 1939 AND THAT IS THE ELDER STREET LAWS AND IT WAS KNOWN AS HOUSTON'S HAUNTED HOSPITAL. SINCE IT WAS OVER A CEMETARY, CENTERED ONE OF THE MOST HAUNTED SITES IN OUR REGION, I HOPE DON'T FEEL THAT WAY WHO LIVE STARTIST LAWS, AND THEN YOU HAD THAT OTHER FACILITY AN ELLEN PARKWAY WHICH WAS CONSIDERED BY MANY I WOULD BE REMISS IF I DID NOT THANK JANUARY D CART CARD TOCK. SHE WROTE A BOOK CALLED "THE HOSPITAL" WHICH IS ONE OF THE MAIN REASONS WHY THERE WAS A PUBLIC OUTCRY. AND THAT LEAD TO THE COMMISSION OF BEN TAUB. FOUND OUT THAT, BARBARA JORDAN'S FATHER REV. JORDAN, DECIDED THAT HE WOULD PREFER THAT SHE COME TO THIS WORLD AT HOMESTEAD AT HER AGE INSTEAD OF NEGRO HOSPITAL BECAUSE HE WAS AIRILY YUN. I WANT TO STRESS THAT NEVER ACT LIKE IT'S NORMAL. IT WAS INTERESTING TO SEE PEOPLE TESTIFY WITH EACH INFORMATION. AFTER THE AFFORDABLE CARE ACT PASSED UNDER PRESIDENT OBAMA. I DIDN'T SEE MANY THOSE FACES. THEY SHOW UP AND TALK ABOUT HOW MUCH IT WILL DRAW DOWN AND WE'RE STILL LOSING MONEY. AND TALK ABOUT WIND FALL FOR US AND NOT TO PUT PRESSURE ON US TO HAVE TO RAISE MONEY. TAXINGS. I'M COMMITTED TO BECAUSE I GREW UP WITHOUT HEALTHCARE. WHEN MY DADDY WORKING AS A NURSE'S AID, AT A VETERAN'S HOSPITAL. HE WAS A VETERAN HIMSELF. CLEANING THE BEDS, SO MY HEALTHCARE FOR MY BROTHER AND SISTER AND MOTHER WHO WAS A MADE, WE JUST SAY NURSED AID. OUR KAELT CARE WAS FROM DOCTORS WHO WOULD GU IT TO US ON THE SLIDE BECAUSE HE WORKED THE GRAVEYARD SHIFT. I DO KNOW THAT THEY FELT SOMETHING WITH ME BECAUSE I WAS HYPER, THEY DIDN'T KNOW THEY CALL IT A DD, I DON'T DRINK CAFFEINE OR ALCOHOL BECAUSE IT EXACERBATE THE PROBLEM. SO WITH THAT FOOT LEG HEALTHCARE, SOMEBODY SAID IT, PUT THE BOY ON AND THEN EVENTUALLY THEY DECIDED, WE [02:40:02] WILL NOT PUT THEM IN ONE OF THOSE CLASSROOMS FOR PEOPLE WHO DON'T STOP. IMANAGE IT. I KNOW MOST OF THE PEOPLE THAT I REMEMBER, DON'T HAVE HEALTHCARE AND THAT'S WHY THIS IS SO IMPORTANT. AND I'M GOING TO MAKE A MOTION EVEN IF THERE IS SOME HEAT I GUESS, I GUESS, ALL OF US, PROBABLY A LITTLE MORE ME BECAUSE IN, IN MY PRECINCT, BECAUSE IT'S IMPORTANT. AND I JUST, YOU KNOW, ONE OF MY BEST FRIENDS, WHEN I PASSED AWAY, HIS WIDOW HAD TO GO TO A PUBLIC HOSPITAL BECAUSE I TOOK HER THERE. AND THAT WAS THE BEST PLACE TO GO IN AN EMERGENCY, OR SHE WOULD NOT HAVE MADE IT. FOR ME IT'S A REAL, IT'S A PERSONAL MAT PER. AND ALSO THE CHARITY CARE BILL. IT WAS MY BILL AND I WAS DOING IT BECAUSE THE ATTORNEYS HERE IN TEXAS WERE SUING SOME OF OUR RESPECTIVE MEDICAL INSTITUTIONS BECAUSE OF LACK OF HEALTHCARE THAT THEY WERE PROVIDING FOR THE INDUSTRY. AND MOST HOSPITALS DON'T PAY PAX APPROXIMATES. THEY ARE NOT FOR PROFIT. THEY'RE WHERE WE GO. IT'S ONLY ONE TO PASS A STAKE. IN FACT, THE JOKE WAS THAT NOBODY WOULD GIVE ME A RIDE BACK TO HOUSTON IF I WAS A WRECK. AND WE WANTED THAT BUILD DOWN A LITTLE BIT BUT IT MATTERS, FAR TOO MANY PEOPLE IN HOUSTON IN HARRIS COUNTY IN THE SHADOWS OF THE BEST MEDICAL CENTER IN THE WORLD, DO NOT HAVE ACCESS TO ADEQUATE HEALTHCARE. SO AT THE APPROPRIATE TIME I'M GOING TO MAKE A MOTION BUT AT THIS POINT, WE HAVE COMMISSIONER GARCIA AND THEN COMMISSIONER RAMSEY AND THEN COMMISSIONER BRIONES. >> THANK YOU. THANK YOU TO ALL CONSERVANCY AND ALL STAKEHOLDERS TMO AND OTHERS. THANK YOU FOR SPEAKING ON THIS MATTER. OVER THE LAST FEW MONTHS, YOU KNOW, WE'VE GOENT A LOT OF FEEDBACK--GOTTEN A LOT OF FEEDBACK IN REGARDS TO THE COMMUNITY GROUPS THAT ARE ENGAGED. AND THAT'S WHAT I WANTED TO HEAR, WHETHER IT'S FORWARD OR AGAINST IT, I NEEDED TO HEAR ALL OF IT. SO I REALLY DID APPRECIATE THE WILLINGNESS TO GO BACK AND DO THE ENGAGEMENT, I APPRECIATE THAT. I'VE GOT A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS AND NUMBER ONE, LET ME BEGIN WITH THIS T.ALMOST EVERYBODY FROM THE COMMUNITY WHO SPOKE TODAY, SPOKE ABOUT WAIT TIMES. ARE YOU, IS THERE A WAY FOR PUBLIC OR THE LEAST THE COURT TO TRACK THESE WAIT TIMES? SO IF AND WHEN THE NEW BEN TAUB IS CREATED, WE CAN SEE WHAT HAS BEEN PROPOSE TO THE COMMUNITY IS HAVING A. WITH THOSE TIMES THAT WE'RE HEARING ABOUT. SO I WANT TO KNOW IF THERE IS A COMMITMENT TO CREATE THAT DASHBOARD. >> ABSOLUTELY, COMMISSIONER. I'M GOING TO USE AN EXAMPLE, WE TALKED ABOUT YOU'RE HERE AND CONSISTENCY, DOING THIS. EVERY DAY AT 30 CLOCK. JUST THIS PAST MON, BEN TAUB REPORTED THEY HAD 70 PERCENT ADMITTED INTO THEY HAVE 98 PATIENT BASE. WHEN THAT HAPPENS, WHEN IT'S 0 PERCENT OF XAS ILT HA HAS BEEN TAKEN. THAT IDEAS A CAUP THERE WERE TWO PEOPLE THAT HAVE BEEN BOARDED QUOTE UNQUOTE IN THE HOSPITAL WHO HAVE BEEN THERE FOR OVER EIGHT DAYS. THAT IS NOT COMPASSIONATE CARE SO TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION, YES, YOU HAVE A COMMITMENT. >> GOOD DEAL. AND I ALSO WANT TO SAY, YOU KNOW, THIS BODY HAD ASKED FOR AN M.O. U TO BE SIGNED. I APPRECIATE THAT AN MOU HAS BEEN SIGNED BETWEEN YOU AND [02:45:03] CONSERVANCY SO I APPRECIATE THAT. THE, THE LAST QUESTION I HAVE, IS, MR. FONBON, THE, ONE OF THE OTHER ISSUES THAT HAS SORT OF BEEN TOUCHED ON, BUT I HEARD IT A LITTLE LOUDER, IS THAT THE BOND CAMPAIGN WAS ALMOST ENTIRELY FOCUSED ON LBJ OR EXCLUSIVELY FOCUSED ON LBJ. IS THERE ANY CONCERN THAT LBJ WILL BE SPINT ON BEN TAUB? >> SO WE LOOKED AT WHETHER THIS WILL COMPLY WITH APPROVAL LANGUAGE AND WE DON'T HAVE ANY CONCERNS. I DIFFER TO DR. PORSA. >> THE ANSWER IS NO. THE FUNDS THAT HAVE BEEN EARMARKED FOR THE BEN TAUB EXPANSION REMAIN AND WE'RE COMMITTED TO HAVING THAT BOND. >> GOOD DEAL TO NO CONCERNS THERE? >> NO CONCERNS. >> GREAT, THAT WAS MY PRIMARY CONCERN. SO FOR EVERYONE, I GOT ONE LAST ONE. SO WE'RE DESCRIBING A WIN-WIN, AND SO I HEARD THAT CONSERVANCY ARE IN THE SAME SPACE IN TERMS OF THE DEFINING TODAY AS A WIN-WIN, IS THAT ACCURATE. >> THAT IS ACCURATE. >> GOOD DEAL, THANK YOU. >> YES, SIR, THANK YOU. >> COMMISSIONER RAMSEY. >> I'VE BEEN PRACTICING ENGINEERING FOR 45 YEARS. >> YES, SIR. >> I HAVE NEVER SEEN A MORE COMPLICATED PROJECT THAN WHAT Y'ALL HAVE CHOSEN TO UNDERTAKE. I HAVE ASKED A LOT OF QUESTIONS, LOUIS IS MY NEW BEST FRIEND AND HE HATES COME TO SEE ME, THERE IS ALWAYS BE ANOTHER QUESTION. I THINK WHAT WE AS COMMISSIONER COURT HAD THE DISCUSSION BACK IN THE FALL, WAS WE WANTED PUBLIC INPUT AND WE WANTED, WE FELT LIKE THERE HADN'T BEEN, THAT IS TWO, THERE WAS CONCERN ABOUT THE CONSERVANCY, THE HERMAN PARK, SOMEBODY EVEN DONATED TO ME, 200 SONGS THAT HAD BEEN WRITTEN ABOUT HERMAN PARK. I'M NOT GOING TO SING ANY OF THEM, BUT PEOPLE, PEOPLE LOVE HERMAN PARK FOR A LOT OF REASONS. SO THERE WERE THREE REAL BIG ISSUES WHEN WE BEGAN THIS CONFERENCE PUBLIC INPUT, I THINK WILL CHECK THAT BOX. PEOPLE GET TO SPEAK AND I HAVE. I THINK THERE IS BEEN A LOT OF GOOD INPUT, Y'ALL YOU HAVE VETTED THAT INPUT. YOU DIDN'T IGNORE THE INPUT. THE HERMAN PARK CONSERVANCY, I THINK YOU DEALT WITH THIS ISSUE AND I APPRECIATE THE EN GATEMENT. I THINK SHE HAS DONE A GOOD JOB OF REPRESENTING THOSE PARTS. KNOWING WORKING, HAVING WORKED WITH 50 CITIES AND 20 COUNTIES IN THE STATE OF TEXAS AND DEALING WITH PARKS, I KNEW RIGHT AWAY THAT PARK CONDEMNATION, THAT'S A WHOLE ANOTHER, AREA AND, SO I THINK, AS WE'VE TALKED THERE AND WORKED THROUGH, WHERE IT COULD BE AND SHOULD BE, I THINK Y'ALL HAVE, Y'ALL HAVE CHECKED THAT BOX. I THINK YOU'RE, YOU'RE EXHIBIT YOU PROVIDED EARLIER, THAT SHOWED WHERE THE BEN TAUB FACILITIES ARE TODAY, WHERE THE PARK IS TODAY, THERE IS CLEARLY A SEPARATION, NAME OF THE STREET BETWEEN THE TWO, SO IT, IT JUST, FROM AN AREA WOULD LOOK APPROPRIATE. FLOODING IS ALWAYS A CONCERN OUT THERE. I'VE KNOWN A LOT OF FLOOD STUDIES AND I'VE BEEN INVOLVED WITH FOUR OR FIVE OF THE LAST MASTER DRAINAGE PLANS FOR HARRIS COUNTY. I KNOW WE CAN ALWAYS DO ANOTHER ONE. THEN THERE IS A TROPICAL STORM ALLISON AND HURRICANE IKE AND HURRICANE HARVEY. IT'S NOT THAT WE DON'T KNOW WHAT WE'RE DOING, YOU LEARN SOMETHING DIFFERENT EVERY TIME WE HAVE A STORM. EVERY STORM IS DIFFERENT, AND I THINK, THE MEDICAL CENTER HAS BENEFITED FROM THAT. I KNOW THEY HAVE THEY ARE [02:50:04] ENGINEERS THAT I TRUST. I'VE KNOWN, THEY HAVE WORKED OUT THERE FOR MANY MANY YEARS. SO THE DETAILS THAT YOU RELATE TO FLOODING. YOU MADE HAVE MADE SURE THAT AWE CROSSED YOUR TS AND DOTTED YOUR IS. ONE THAT I THINK THAT CAME OUT THAT MAYBE WE DIDN'T QUITE SAY, IT'S GOING TO BE ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO ADDRESS THE UPGRADES TO THE CURRENT BEN TAUB FACILITIES UNLESS YOU HAVE SOMEPLACE ELSE TO GO WHILE WE DO THOSE THINGS. I THINK THE BEST EXAMPLE OF THAT IS THERE IS BEEN A LOT OF NEW SCHOOLS BUILT IN SPRING BRANCH, WE'LL SAY. THEY BUILD THE NEW ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, IN A PIECE OF PART OF THE LAND WHERE THE, THE OLD ELEMENTARY SCHOOL IS, THEY GO TO THE HOLD ELEMENTARY SCHOOL UNTIL THEY GET TO THE NEW ELEMENTARY SCHOOL BUILT. I THINK THERE IS SOMETHING SIMILAR GOING ON THERE PLUS JUST THE MEDICAL REQUIREMENT THAT YOU CANNOT JUST PICKUP AND MOVE A LEVEL-ONE TRAUMA AND GO TO PLACES. THOSE ARE THINGS THAT THIS FOUR OR FIVE-MONTH PROCESS HAS ALLOWED US AS WE SAY IN TEXAS MORE BET PER UNDERSTAND WHAT IS GOING ON IN TERMS OF EACH ONE OF THOSE OF THOSE ISSUES. I REPRESENT MOST OF THE INCORPORATED AREA OF HARRIS COUNTY, WHICH IS NOT NECESSARILY BEN TAUB. WE'VE GOT INTERGEN, MY BROTHER DID HIS RESIDENCY IN FT. WORTH. SO IS HE HAS TOLD ME A LOT OF STORY ABOUT JOHN PERISMITH AND THE THINGS THAT HAPPEN IN A EMERGENCY CENTER AND INTERGEN, BUT I KNOW THERE IS NEEDS WITHIN INTEGEN, I THINK I HEARD THE COMMITMENT RELATED TO PARTNERSHIPS WITH HEALTHCARE CLINICS AND THAT PART OF THE COUNTY. IT IS SO IMPORTANT. THERE ARE MANY MANY QUALITIES. COMMISSIONER BRIONES AND I ARE TALKING RIGHT NO TO SPRING BRANCH COMMUNITY CENTER. THEY DO GREAT WORK. TEN PERCENT OF THE PATIENTS SEEN AT BEN TAUB ARE TRAUMA, WHAT DOES THAT MEAN? 90 PERCENT AREN'T. SO THAT'S A GREAT OPPORTUNITY FOR THERE MAY BE OPPORTUNITY NOT EVERYBODY HAS TO BE BRICK-AND-MORTAR. THERE ARE OTHER THINGS THAT YOU CAN GO INTO AND WORKING IN THE NEIGHBORHOODS, WORKING IN THE AREAS AND I THINK I HEARD AT LEAST LEWIS HAS TOLD ME FIVE DIFFERENT WAYS THAT WE'RE GOING TO WORK HARD IN THOSE PARTNERSHIPS. SO I THINK THAT'S, THAT'S, THAT'S COMING. AND THE OTHER THING, IS, TALKING TO METHODIST AND MEMORIAL HERMAN AND THEY PROVIDE BILLIONS AND BILLIONS OF ENTOGEN. THEY OUGHT TO BE COMMENDED. THEY CELEBRATE YOU, LIKE I HOPE YOU CELEBRATE THEM AND WHAT THEY DO. LET'S P OVERLOOK THAT. LET'S NOT OVERLOOK WHAT THEY DO OUT THERE AND SOME REFER TO MY PRECINCT AS THE HINTER LANDS. WE HAVE THESE GREAT HOSPITALS AND THEY DO THOSE, THOSE SORTS OF THINGS. I'M GOING TO INDEPENDENT WITH MY LAST FOUR QUESTIONS ON THIS TOPIC, LOUIS AND YOU'LL BE HAPPY THAT YOU IT'S THE LAST FOUR. Y'ALL ADDRESSED THE HUNDRED YEAR FLOOD PLAN ISSUES BOTH IN TERMS AND PARKLAND AND BUILDING A HOSPITAL A LEVEL ONE TRAUMA, IS THAT CORRECT? >> THAT'S CORRECT. >> WHAT I'M ABOUT IS RESOLVING ISSUES AND NOT SITTING HERE TALKING ABOUT THINGS THAT COULD BE OR NOT BE. STATE REGULATIONS RELATED TO ADMINISTRATIVE CODE, 505162, YOU KNOW WHAT THAT IS, WE'VE COMPLIED WITH THAT, BOTH IN TERMS OF THE, HOSPITAL BUILDING AND THE PARK RELATED ISSUES. >> DO YOU WANT ME TO ANSWER [02:55:11] THIS, I CAN. SO THE ANSWER IS YES. THE COMPLIANCE FOR THAT CODE IS A PROCESS, BECAUSE WE WILL NOT FULLY MEET IT UNTIL WE ACTUALLY HAVE IS THE PERMITS ISSUED BY THE TEXAS HEALTH COMMISSION BUT THE ANSWER IS YES, WE HAVE MET WITH THEM TWICE. WE'VE ALSO MET WITH THE CITY, FLOOD CONTROL AND THEY ALSO UNDERSTAND THE PLAN. SO THE ANSWER IS YES, BUT IT'S A PROCESS. >> I KNOW YOU HAVE CONSULTANTS, I GUESS THE OTHER POINT IN TERMS OF GOVERNANCE, WE PROVIDE A TAX WRITE, WE PROVIDE REVIEW OF YOUR BUDGET. I KNOW MR. RAMOS HAS SPENT A LOT OF TIME BUT THEN THERE IS ALSO A BOARD AT THE HOSPITAL HISTORY. >> YES, SIR. >> AND THEY REVIEW AND VET A LOT OF WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT. SO THERE IS A, THERE IS A LEVEL THAT WE OPERATE IN, WE'RE PROBABLY IN THE 930,000 FOOT WITH WITH THE BOARD AND GOING THROUGH. BUT YOU'VE HIRED THE CONSULTANT AND PEOPLE AND YOU'VE DEALT WITH THOSE, WITH THOSE IMPORTANT ISSUES IN TERMS OF THE DETAILS. >> YES, SIR. >> AND FINALLY, MY ENDING QUESTION IS RELATED TO THE BUDGET, RELATED TO LBJ. I WAS PLEASED TO UNDERSTAND HOW YOU HAVE ADJUSTED TO SOME INQUIRIES, SO YOU REALLY HAD TO MODIFY SOME OF THE SCOPE OF WHAT, YOU WERE GOING TO DO, YOU'RE, YOU'RE DOING WHAT WAS SAID IN THE BOND, AS WE TALKED ABOUT EARLIER, BUT, THERE WERE THINGS THAT YOU HAD TO MODIFY IN ORDER TO BE SURE THAT YOU KEPT LBJ AND BUDGET. AND THE OTHER THING I HEARD SOMEBODY SAY EARLIER, THERE IS ONLY 151 MILLION LEFT FOR BEN TAUB, I DON'T THINK THAT'S ACCURATE. AT LEAST LOUIS TOLD ME A MUCH BIGGER NUMBER. >> COMMISSIONER, THANK YOU FOR ADDRESSING THAT, THAT IS INACCURATE THAT WAS MADE. 410 MILLION DOLLARS. >> THANK YOU. I APPRECIATE THAT Y'ALL HAVE DONE AND YOUR PATIENCE WITH ME. >> THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER IF I MAY JUST A COUPLE OF THINGS. VERY ASTUTE OF YOU AS AN ENGINEER WHAT TO RECOGNIZE WHAT YOU JUST SAID ABOUT THE EXPANSION FACILITY ALLOWS US THE OPPORTUNITY TO DO WHAT WE NEED TO DO AT THE BEN TAUB TO RISE. AND I MENTIONED AT THE BEGINNING AND DESERVES TO BE MENTIONED AGAIN, I WANT TO THANK THE COMMISSIONERS BECAUSE YOU'RE RIGHT. THE LAST FEW MONTHS OF US GOING BACK TO THE COMMUNITY AND PROVIDING AN OPPORTUNITY FOR A CONVERSATION, HAS, HAS MEANT A GREAT DEAL TO ME CERTAINLY, I THINK TO HARRIS DEALTING'. HAS BROUGHT US TO A MUCH BETTER SPACE. SOY WANT TO THANK THE COMMISSIONERS FOR THAT GUIDANCE. >> COMMISSIONERS, THANK YOU AGAIN. I KNOW IT'S IN YOUR BACK YARD. YOU HAVE PUT FORWARD A LOT OF EFFORT TO ENSURE THAT ALL TS ARE CROSSED AND IS ARE DOTTED. >> THANK YOU, THANK YOU SO MUCH MR. SMITH, AND DOCTOR. I HAVE SIMILAR QUESTIONS SO I'M BUILD ON THEM. I'M HIGHLY SUPPORTIVE OF OUR BEN TAUB P.WE HAVE HEARD HOW CRITICAL AND URGENT AND IMPERATIVE THIS IS. WE ARE BEYOND CAPACITY NOW, WE CANNOT MEET WITH OUR CURRENT POPULATION AND GIVEN GROWTH, WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE NOT JUST PREPARING FOR TODAY BUT FOR THE FUTURE. I'M PROUD AND HIGHLY SUPPORT TO MY BOTH AND, WHICH MADE ME SMILE, THIS IS A CRITICAL PUBLIC HEALTH NEED AND WE ALL VALLEY GREEN SPACE. SOY APPRECIATE THE DEPTH OF THE ENGAGEMENT. I APPRECIATE THAT IN THIS OCTOBER, THIS COURT TOLD YOU TO HIT PAUSE AND I HAVE SOME QUESTIONS AND I WANTED YOU TO CONFIRM THEM BUT I THINK IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT FOR THE PUBLIC TO KNOW THESE NUMBERS, SINCE OCTOBER WHEN THIS COURT MANDATED IN TOTAL WHERE WE STAND TODAY, THERE HAVE BEEN OVER 150 COMMUNITY OUT REACH EVENTS, CORRECT? >> THAT'S CORRECT. >> INCLUDING 15 TOWN HALLS CORRECT? >> THAT'S CORRECT. >> INCLUDING FIVE NEIGHBORHOOD BUS TOURS? >> THAT'S CORRECT. >> WHICH HAVE REACHED AROUND 5,000 COMMUNITY MEMBERS, IS THAT CORRECT? THAT'S CORRECT. >> AND YOU HAVE WORKED WITH DOZENS OF ORGANIZATIONS AND I THANK YOU SO MANY OF THEM HERE TODAY FOR COMMUNITY SUPPORT AND WHO PRESSURE TESTED THE NEED [03:00:03] AND OPTIONS, IS THAT CORRECT. >> THAT'S CORRECT, I HAVE NOT SAID TO ANY INVITATION FOR ANY ORGANIZATION TO APPEAR AND TALK ABOUT THIS, THAT'S CORRECT. >> AND YOU HAVE MET MULTIPLE TIMES WITH MS. LAMBERT WHO'S LEADERSHIP I RESPECT AS WELL AS YOUR BOARD YOU HAVE MET WITH HER MUTT TIBL TIMES. --MULTIPLE TIMES. >> THAT'S CORRECT. >> SO YOU HEARD WHAT WE SAID AND WHAT WE'RE ASKING TO YOU DO. AND THANK YOU FOR NOT ONLY DOING WHAT WE ASKED BUT EXCEEDING THAT MANIFOLD. THANK YOU FOR THAT. MY QUESTION. IN TERMS AND THIS IS BEEN ASKED BUT JUST SO WE'RE CLEAR IN TERMS OF CHAPTER 26 AS A LAWYER AND FORMER JUDGE I RESPECT OUR COUNTY ATTORNEY AND I KNOW WE HAVE OUTSIDE COUNSEL WHO YOU KNOW, WITH ALL OF THE DUE DILIGENCE AND WORK THAT WE HAVE DONE, YOU FEEL COMFORTABLE WITH A VOTE TODAY WITH THE CHAPTER 26 REQUIREMENT IN MIND? >> YES, I DO. >> THAT THEY HAVE BEEN MET. >> THAT'S RIGHT. SO THE CHAPTER 2 DOES TWO THINGS, REQUIRES A FINDING HAS BEEN MET AND THEN IT REQUIRES THE PUBLIC HEARING THAT WE JUST HAD AND THE BASE ON THE RECORD THAT INCLUDES THE BACK OF THE YOU SEEN AND PUBLIC TESTIMONY AND ALL THE OTHER ENGAGEMENT THAT YOU CONSIDERED THAT THOSE HAVE BEEN MET. >> THANK YOU COUNTY ATTORNEY. SO WHEN WE TAKE THE VOTE MOMENTARILY, CAN YOU WALK US THROUGH SO THE PUBLIC IS CLEAR WHAT NEXT STEPS LOOK LIKE? WHAT IS THE APPROXIMATELY TIMELINE? AND KIND OF NEXT STEPS AS WE PROCEED IF APPROVED. >> I'LL DO MY BRIEFLY. IT'S SIMPLE, ALL YOU'RE DOING IS APPROVING HARRIS HEALTH OF THE LAND. IF THIS GOES BACK TO HARRIS HEALTH TO PROCEED WITH THE PROCESS. >> CORRECT, AND THANK YOU. AND NOW FROM HARRIS HEALTHY AND RECOGNIZE, COUNCIL MAY NODE TO COME. YOU DO PLAY A GREAT LAWYER FOR A DOCTOR, CAN YOU WALK THROUGH A HIGH-LEVEL WHAT THAT ENTAILS, WHAT THE NEXT STEPS AND WHAT THE TIMELINE MAY BE? WE ALL HAVE THIS URGENCY TO ONE OF THE SPEAKER'S POINTS. >> I'LL DO MY NON LEGAL. >> I WOULD NOT PLAY A GOOD DOCTOR SO I RESPECT THAT YOU PLAY A GOOD LAWYER. >> BEAR, I'LL TRY AND THEN YOU CAN CORRECT ME, ALONG THE WAY, IS THAT OKAY? >> WE'LL COLLABORATE. >> AGAIN, THIS IS MY NON LEGAL INFORMED IDEA WHAT HAPPENS NEXT. ASSUMING YOU RECEIVE APPROVAL, I BELIEVE THE NEXT STEP IS THE, YOU KNOW WHAT, YOU DO IT. [LAUGHTER] I'M GOING TO DO IT, I'M JUST GOING TO MERGE IT. >> SMART MOVE, DOCTOR. >> HE'S JUST A DOCTOR JURIS PRUDENCE. >> SO THE NEXT STEP, THEY'RE THERE ARE CHAPTER 21 GOVERNS THAT PROCESS AND IT WILL BE SENT TO THE OWNERS AND ANYONE WITH INTEREST TO THAT LAND. THAT WILL TAKE TIME BUT WE'RE PREPARED TO SEND OUT A LETTERS. THERE IS A LITTLE BIT OF WAITING PERIOD AND THEN THE LITIGATION GOES FORWARD. WE'RE PREPARED TO MOVE FORWARD ONCE COMMISSIONERS HAVE MADE THE DECISION. >> AND I KNOW, THERE IS BEEN CONTINGENCIES AND VARIOUS, MR. WALLACE, BUT APPROXIMATELY BEST CASE, WORSE CASE WHAT ARE WE LOOKING AT IN TERMS OF TIMELINE? >> IT'S HARD TO SAY, BUT I THINK WE INTERNALLY HAS A TIME LINE THAT LOOKS AT SIX TO NINE MONTHS BEFORE POSITION OF THE LAND. ONCE PO HE ISING SESSION TRANSFERS, THEN YOU HAVE OBLIGATION. DEPENDING ON APPEALS AND OTHER LITIGATION, BUT WE WOULD HAVE TO VOTE TO BE IN THAT PLACE BETWEEN THE HOURS >> THANK YOU MR. WALLACE. AND THEN MY LAST QUESTIONS PERTAIN TO THE BUDGET. SO THANK YOU, BACK TO YOU. SO, COMMISSIONER RAMSEY ASKED MANY OF THEM. BUT BOTTOM LINE FOR THE PUBLIC, WE THANK THEM FOR OVERWHELMING SUPPORT OUR 2 BILLION DOLLARS BOND, CAN YOU BRIEFLY BREAK THE DIFFERENT SEGMENTS AND THE PHILANTHROPIC SUPPORT WITH MS. ROBINSON, THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP AND EXCEEDING THE GOALS AND TIMELINE THERE? CAN YOU TALK THROUGH THAT AND THEN I HAVE ANOTHER QUESTION. >> I WANT TO PREFACE. THE TWO AND A HALF BILLION [03:05:03] DOLLARS WAS NOT THE TOTALITY. WHAT WAS PROMISED TO THE RESIDENTS OF HARRIS COUNTY AS PART OF THE, WAS 1.6 BILLION DOLLARS TOWARDS THE LBJ, THE NEW HOSPITAL AND LBJ CAMPUS AND ANOTHER $400 MILLION TOWARDS THE REFURBISHING OF THE EXISTING HOSPITAL BEN TAUB AND 500 MILLION DOLLARS TO EXPANSION OF OUR COMMUNITY CLINICS WHICH CONCLUDED THREE NEW BIN IKZ. OBVIOUSLY WHEN YOU ADD IT ALTOGETHER, IT'S BEYOND 2 BILLION DOLLARS. IT'S NORTH OF 2.3 BILLION DOLLARS. WE ARRIVED AT THAT 7 YEARS AHEAD OF TIME. >> THAT'S AMAZING. >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH AND I WANT TO THANK LOUIS SMITH, REALLY MEANT TO DO WITH OPERATIONAL SAVING AND CAPITAL INVESTMENTS OVER THE NEXT TEN YEARS TO FILL-IN THE GAP. BUT THAT IS THE BREAK DOWN AND THAT'S WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DELIVER. >> THAT WAS MY ESSENTIALLY MY LAST QUESTION, SEVERAL, NOT REALLY ONE LAST QUESTION. THE BOTTOM LINE IS WE WENT TO THE PUBLIC AND WE PUT THIS BOND AND WE MADE A COMMITMENT THAT WE'RE GOING TO DELIVER WHAT WE SAID WE WOULD DELIVER. AND WE WILL DELIVER IT, CORRECT? >> ABSOLUTELY, DELIVER EVERYONE OF THOSE PROMISES. >> SO THE CONCERNS, WHICH I KNOW WE ALL SHARE. WE'LL BE HAVING QUARTERLY UPDATES HERE IN COMMISSIONERS COURT, CORRECT? >> THAT'S CORRECT. >> SO EVERYONE CAN STAY A BREAST TO THE PROGRESS. BUT THE BOTTOM LINE, IS THERE ARE PLANS TO FILL-IN THE GAPS SO WE DO ACHIEVE WHAT WE TOLD THE PUBLIC WE WERE GOING TO ACHIEVE? >> YES, MA'AM. WE HAD HAD THE FIRST PRESENTATION LAST MONTH. >> I LOVED IT AND I LOOK FORWARD TO THE NEXT WUP. AND WE TOLD THEM THAT WE WOULD RIVER THE NEXT TIMELINE. >> NEXT 10 TO 12 YEARS. >> I APPRECIATE THAT. AND I APPRECIATE ALL THE THOUSANDS OF COMMUNITY MEMBERS WHO HAVE ATTENDED AND HAVE CALLED AND WRITTEN ALL THE GROUPS WORKING TOGETHER. THAT'S WHAT MAKES ME PROUD TO LIVE IN HARRIS COUNTY, WE CAN COME TOGETHER AND WORK TOGETHER. WE HAVE HEARD LOUD AND CLEAR ON MAKING SURE THAT THE PARK LIKE FEATURES ARE KEY ELEMENT AND ENVIRONMENT PROTECTIONS ARE KEPT FRONT AND CENTER. AND I APPRECIATE AGAIN THE COLLABORATION AND I HOPE THAT IT CONTINUES AS WE GET THIS DONE, BECAUSE IT'S CRITICAL AND URGENT AND WE CANNOT GET IT DONE SOON ENOUGH AND WITH THAT, I APPRECIATE. AND COMMISSIONER ELLIS, I'M READY TO SECOND WHEN YOU'RE READY TO MAKE THE MOTION. >> SURE. YOU SHOULD HAVE TOLD ME P BARREN WAS INVOLVED, WOULD I HAVE TRUSTED YOUR PROCESS A LOT MORE. [LAUGHTER] >> QUICK POINT, AT THE NEXT BUSINESS COURT, I WANT TO JUST DO A RESOLUTION SINCE WE APPOINT PEOPLE TO THAT BOARD, SAYING IT'S THE SINCE OF THIS COURT AT LEAST WHATEVER BOARD IS IN PLACE WHEN THIS COMES ABOUT, THAT LAND WHEN WE COME OFF OF IT, THAT WILL BE PARK SPACE. AND THE LAST POINT IS, WE PUT GENERAL CONTENT, I THINK IT'S REGULAR BUSINESS COURT FROM OUR HEDS BOTTLE, AND CARL I WANT TO THANK YOU AND ALL THE FOLKS IN THE PARKS COMMUNITY. IF YOU THINK THAT, THAT COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT DIDN'T HAVE AN IMPACT, I JUST WANT TO TELL YOU, I KNOW THERE IS 20 MILLION DOLLARS IN PLAY THAT THIS COMMISSION WOULD HAVE USED FOR OTHER THINGS IN THAT AREA. SO THAT IT DID HAVE AN IMPACT. SO I KNOW, SOME PEOPLE, THEY DON'T GET EVERYBODY THEY WANT, THEY WILL SAY, WHO'S THAT? IF YOU CAN HAVE A TONGUES, I'VE GOT 20 MILLION DOLLARS IN TONGUES THAT WAS NOT ON THE TABLE, I WANT TO PUT THAT ON THE RECORD. AND WITH THAT, I'LL MAKE THIS MOTION P CONSIDERING ALL INCLUDING MATERIALS REVIEWED BY THIS COMMISSION HE'SER COURT AND THE PUBLIC ORAL AND PUBLIC TESTIMONY, PROVIDED IN TODAY'S HEARING, CONDUCTED ON CHAPTER 26 OF WILDLIFE CODE AND FINDING THAT THERE IS NO FEASIBLE AND PRUDENT ALTERNATIVE TO THE USE OR TAKE ITING OF THE LAND AND THAT THE PROJECT INCLUDES ALL REASONABLE PLANNING TO MINIMIZE HARM TO THE LAND AS A PARK, I [03:10:02] MOVE TO AUTHORITY HARRIS PROPOSED ACQUISITION OF APPROXIMATELY 8.9 ACRES OF HERMAN PARK ADJACENT TO BEN TAUB HOSPITAL FOR THE REDEVELOPMENT AND EXPANSION IN ACCORDANCE TO SECTION 281.050 OF THE TEXAS HEALTH AND SAFETY CODE. >> SECOND. >> SECOND BY COMMISSIONER BRIONES. >> ALL IN FAIR. >>--ALL IN FAVOR. >> AYE. >> AYE. >> FOUR AYES AND NO NOES. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, THANK YOU I'M GLAD IT WORKED OUT. THANK YOU. [Departments (Part 3 of 6)] AND THE NEXT ITEM COMMISSIONER BRIONES, WE'RE GOING TO BRING 142 AND 143, THE PDO AND MAC ITEMS NOW BECAUSE THE JUDGES GET BACK INTO COURT AND SO, AND YOU HAVE A MOTION. BUT I THINK YOU HAVE SOME DISCUSSION ON THE TWO ITEMS, ITEM 142 AND 143, AND I KNOW WE HAVE SPEAKERS. >> THANKS AGAIN TO EVERYONE. >> THANK YOU ALL. >> SO WE GOT TO HEAR FROM THE SPEAKERS ON THOSE ITEMS. ITEMS 1, 4, 2 AND 143. >> SPEAKER: THANK YOU. >> I SEE DIRECTOR BROWN AND THEIR TEAMS. SO FOYER THOSE FOLLOWING ALONG, 142 AND 143, WE'RE GOING TO DELVE INTO THE STRATEGIC PLANS CURRENT LANDSCAPE AND FUTURE ROAD MAPS FOR PUBLIC DEFENDER'S OFFICE AND MANAGED ASSIGNED COUNCIL. --COUNSEL. >> SPEAKER: GOOD AFTERNOON, I'M TONYA THE COPRESIDING JUDGE AT LAW AND I RISE TO JOIN THOSE WHO ARE GATHERED IN GETTING THE WAINWRIGHT. JUSTICE BLACK MADE IT CLEAR THAT COUNSEL IS A RIGHT AND NOT A LUXURY. ON THAT DAY, A VOICE GUARANTEED THAT REPRESENTATION WOULD NO LONGER DEPEND ON OT POWER OF YOUR PURSE OR THE WIDTH OF YOUR WALLET AND THE PROMISINGS OF THAT DAY PERSIST TODAY. AS JUDGES, MY COLLEAGUES AND I HAVE A PARTICULAR REASON TO REMEMBER THE RULING, THE RULING ESTABLISHED OUR ROLE AND ALSO OUR DUTY AS STEWARDS AS JUSTICE. JUDGES ARE CHARGED WITH APPOINT ING COUNCIL FOR DEPARTMENTS. AND WHAT WE WITNESS IN OUR COURTS ON A DAILY BASIS. WE APPRECIATE THE FAITH THAT THE CITY OF HARRIS COUNTY HAS PLACED ON US. >> THANK YOU, YOUR TIME IS UP. >> SPEAKER: AND WE WILL CONTINUE TO WORK TO SUPPORT INTER GENERAL DEFENSE. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU, FOR YOUR WORK, JUDGE JONES. >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH, IT'S ALWAYS HARD TO FOLLOW JUDGE JONES. THERE ARE SOME SLIDES THAT ACCOMPANY THIS PRESENTATION. IF WE CAN HAVE THE SLIDES AVAILABLE. >> I'M THE CHIEF PUBLIC DEFENDER. HOLDING THE 6TH AMENDMENT TO THE CONSTITUTION. OUR OFFICE, AND PUBLIC DEFENDER OFFICES ACROSS THE COUNTY EXIST BECAUSE OF THIS CONSTITUTIONAL GUARANTEED RIGHT. NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE. I THINK IT'S WORTH NOTING THAT THIS DECISION BEGAN WITH A HAND WRITTEN LETTER TO THE SUPREME COURT ARGUING THAT A PERSON CANNOT GET A JUST AND FAIR TRIAL WITHOUT THE AID OF COUNSEL. MR. GIDIAN KNEW HE HAD A CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHT TO COUNSEL. HE WAS TRIED AND CONVICTED IN FLORIDA, HE FILED HIS OWN APPEAL AND THE SUPREME COURT ENTERED THIS LANDMARK DECISION. >> YOU CAN CONTINUE. [03:15:08] >> AS A RESULT HE WAS RETRIED WITH COUNCIL AND FOUND NOT GUILTY. THIS IS A VERY IMPORTANT RIGHT, YOU CANNOT FACE THE ACCUSATIONS WITHOUT ASSISTANCE OF COUNSEL. TODAY'S BRIEFING PROVIDES AN UPDATE ON HOW THIS WILL PROVIDE A SERVICE IN A FISCALLY RESPONSIBLE WAY. NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE. THE MISSION OF HARRIS COUNTY DEFENDERS OFFICE, OUR CHARGE INCLUDES HOLISTIC LEGAL DEFENSE WHICH IS A CLIENT CENTRAL MODEL THAT ADDRESSES THE CRIMINAL CHARGE AND UNDERLYING PERSONAL ISSUES DRIVING A CLIENT'S INVOLVEMENT IN THE JUSTICE SYSTEM. AS YOU ALL WELL KNOW, I DON'T THINK A LOT OF PEOPLE ASSOCIATE THE PUBLIC'S DEFENDER OFFICE WITH PUBLIC SAFETY BUT WE ALSO A RESPONSIBILITY IN PUBLIC SAFETY AND THAT IS THE PURPOSE OF OUR DIVISION. WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ASSIST PEOPLE NOT WITH JUST THEIR CASE BUT TRY TO REDUCE THE CHANCE THAT'S THEY RETURN TO THE CRIMINAL LEGAL SYSTEM. NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE. TODAY'S FOCUS, THIS OUTLINES HOW WE WILL STRUCTURE THE PRESENTATION AND STRATEGIES AND CONSIDERATIONS FOR FUTURE GROWTH BASED ON THOSE ASSESSMENTS. AS YOU SEE, THERE IS NO SILVER BULLET BUT A WEB OF COLLABORATION THAT WILL BE NECESSARY TO EXPAND OUR CAPACITY TO REPRESENT MORE PEOPLE IN HARRIS COUNTY. WE HANDLE A RANGE OF CASES, APPELLANT CASE, BAIL, FELONY, MISDEMEANOR, FELONY, WRONGFUL CONVICTIONS, JUVENILE REPRESENTATION AS WELL AS IMMIGRATION AND MENTAL HEALTH. SPECIFIC TO CAPITAL CASES; THE PD CURRENTLY HANDLES CAPITAL. IT'S IMPORTANT TO KNOW THAT THAT'S A VERY HEAVY LIST. BUT I DID WANT THIS COURT THAT THAT IS ON HORIZON, THAT WE BELIEVE OUR OFFICES IS BESTED SUITED TO TAKE ON THAT ENDEAVOR AND THAT'S PART OF OUR LONG TERM STRATEGY. NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE. AS YOU CAN SEE, OUR SHARE OF INGENT, WE TOOK A OUR LAST AND SO WE PUMPED MANY MORE LAWYERS IN THAT DECISION THROUGH OUR PROGRAM. IF YOU'RE LOOKING AT THE CHART HERE, YOU SAW A CHANGE FROM ABOUT, 20 PERCENT IN THE EARLIER OR MIDDLE PART OF 2025 TO AS HIGH AS 31 PERCENT AT THE END OF 2025. SO RIGHT NOW WE'RE HOVERING AROUND 10 PERCENT. THAT'S ABOUT A 10 PERCENT INCREASE. SO MANY OF OUR STRATEGY IS BEING THAT ROBUST PIPELINE INTO THE FELONY DIVISION. AS THEY GRADUATE OUT, OLD ONES WILL ROLLOUT AND JOIN THE FELONY DIVISION. THE REPRESENTATION IN FELONY COURT HAS HOVERED AROUND THE SAME, SO WE'LL TALK LATER IN THIS PRESENTATION ABOUT THINGS THAT WE HAVE EMPLOYED TO SEE HOW WE CAN ADDRESS THAT BUT ALSO IN THE LONG TERM AS WE ADD STAFF. NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE. WE'RE CURRENTLY WORKING TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE CALCULATED CASE ASSIGNMENT IN THE SAME WAY RIGHT NOW. THE WAY WE CALCULATE, OUR SHARE OF THE CASE LOAD IS A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT THAN THE WAY THE COURTS ARE CURRENTLY LOOKING AT THAT. SO WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE ALIGNED THERE TO HAVE A REALLY GOOD UNDERSTANDING OF THE AMOUNT OF CASES THAT WE ARE TAKING. ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I THINK IS IMPORTANT TO NOTE ABOUT THESE SLIDES YES, YES OUR PLAN IS TO ADD STAFF, OF COURSE WE HAVE TO DO THAT BUT WHAT WE [03:20:02] HAVE TAKEN A LOOK AT, SINCE I'VE BEEN THERE IS HOW WE CAN INCREASE XAS ILT WITH OUR CURRENT STAFF. SO WE'VE TAKEN A LOOK AT PEOPLE'S CASE LOADS AND THERE DOES TO BE OPPORTUNITY TO INCREASE CAPACITY WITH OUR CURRENT STAFF. BASED ON T ID C STANDARDS IF WE BRING OUR ATTORNEYS UP TO THAT MAXIMUM, AND, AND UNDERSTAND THAT THAT IS, NOT AN ABSOLUTE NUMBER BUT GIVES YOU GUIDANCE FOR WHAT IS APPROPRIATE. IF WE BRING PEOPLE CLOSER, WE CAN HANDLE AROUND 21 PERCENT OF THE CASES AND IN MISDEMEANOR COURT, WE CAN HANDLE ABOUT 40 PERCENT. SO THAT'S ENCOURAGING TO NOTE THAT WE CAN MAKE PROGRESS BEFORE WE ADD ANOTHER BODY TO OUR CURRENT STAFF. NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE. AT THIS POINT, I DO WANT TO REITERATE THAT EXPAND ING THE --EXPANDING THE OFFICE IS NOT TO HIRE LAWYERS BUT TO CONTINUE OUR HOLISTIC APPROACH. WE WILL HAVE TO CONSIDER INVESTIGATORS AND PEER NAVIGATOR AND OTHER SUPPORT THAT UNDER PAN OUR GROWTH. I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE CONTINUE THE SAME LEVEL OF SERVICE AS WE GROW. ALSO RETENTION IS KEY, IT'S NOT GOING TO DO GOOD IF WE LOSE PEOPLE AS FAST AS WE'RE BRINGING THEM IN. SO WE'RE LOOKING AT STRATEGIES THAT HELPS US RETAIN THE PEOPLE ONCE WE HAVE THEM THERE. NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE. RECRUITMENT AND RETENTION. EVEN THOUGH WE HAVE GROWN SIGNIFICANTLY, SINCE THE OFFICES INCEPTION, I KNOW THIS COURT IS AWARE OF HOW STAG NANT OUR GROWTH. TRADITIONALLY THE OFFICE HIRED EX EXPERIENCED LAWYERS ONLY WHICH ENSURES QUALITY OF REPRESENTATION BUT SACRIFICED OUR ABILITY TO GROW. LAST YEAR WAS FIRST YEAR OF OUR FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM WHICH SCALED UP IMPORTANTS TO OUR MISDEMEANOR DIVISION WHICH WE ATTRIBUTE TO OUR SPIKE IN REPRESENTATION IN MISDEMEANOR COURTS SO WE DISCUSSED GOING FROM 19 TO 30 PERCENT THAT COINCIDE WITH OUR EXPANDING THE XAS ILT AS WE INCREASED OUR STAFF. THE POST BAR FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM HAS A DUAL FUNCTION CREATING A ROBUST PIPELINE THAT WILL FEED INTO OUR FELONY DIVISION. THIS SUMMARIZES THE WORK THAT WE HAVE DONE IN OUR RECRUITMENT. ONE THING THAT I WANT TODAY HIGHLIGHT IS OUR PARTNERSHIP WITH GIDEON'S PROMISE I SERVE ON THE BOARD FOR THAT ORGANIZATION. TT A ORGANIZATION WHO'S MISSION IS TO TRANSFORM THE JUSTICE SYSTEM BY BUILDING A MOVEMENT FOR MARGINALIZED COMMUNITIES. OUR OFFICE HAS BEEN SELECTED AS ONE OF THE OFFICES WHICH PLACES HIGH ACHIEVING LAW STUDENTS IN OFFICES ACROSS THE COUNTRY. RESOURCES MAXIMIZE OUR ABILITY TO RECRUIT. NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE. >> IF WE CAN GET ANOTHER SLIDE, PLEASE. WILE WE'RE ON THAT, LET ME DISCUSS OTHER ORGANIZATIONS FOR THE COURT TO CONSIDER ON THIS PATHWAY OF GROWTH IS US ROLLING OUT NEWMANAGEMENT SYSTEMS AND EXPANDING INTERNAL CASE MANAGEMENT AND IDENTIFYING SPACE NEEDS, I HAVE SAID TO EACH OF THESE WITH THIS GROWTH COMES ADDITIONAL NEED FOR SPACE, WE ACTIVELY ARE OUT OF SPACE. THERE IS A NEW BUILD OUT THAT SHOULD BE DONE IN JUST A FEW WEEKS SO AT THAT POINT WE'LL AT LEAST HAVE SPACE FOR EVERYONE IN THE OFFICE BUT AT THE RATE, WE HAVE 10 COMING IN ON MONDAY AND WE'LL BE OUT OF SPACE AGAIN. SO I DO WANT TO MAKE THE COURTS AWARE OF THAT. FOR, JUST A FINAL CLOSING POINT, WE ARE LOOKING AT ABOUT A THREE-YEAR ROAD MAP TO TRY TO GET TO WHERE THIS COURT WILL BE WHERE WE'LL ACCEPT 50 PERCENT OF THE CASES. WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE GET THERE BUT WE GET THERE [03:25:03] RESPONSIVELY AND SO, WE HAVE GIVEN YOU THIS ROAD MAP SO YOU HAVE AN IDEA WHAT TO EXPECT AS WE MAKE OUR WAY TOWARDS THIS GROWTH. WE WILL CONTINUE TO WORK WITH, THAT HAS BEEN A BENEFICIAL PARTNERSHIP TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE WORKING TOGETHER TO MAXIMIZE THE COUNTY'S DOLLARS WHEN IT COMES TO THIS CONSTITUTIONAL REQUIRED SERVICE. THE LAST THING I'LL MENTION IS, I SAID THAT THIS TYPE OF GROWTH WILL REQUIRE PARTNERSHIP AND WE HAVE ENJOYED THE PARTNERSHIP OF THIS COURT IN SUPPORTING US IN THIS GROWTH WE WILL NEED THAT CONTINUED PARTNERSHIP AS WELL AS PARTNERSHIP WITH OUR COURTS. WE NEED THEM TO APPOINT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE CAN ACTUALLY GET THIS NUMBER UP. I HAVE TO GIVE A SPECIAL SHOUT OUT TO THE MISDEMEANOR COURT JUDGES, THEY HAVE BEEN SO INTENTIONAL ABOUT MAKING SURE THAT WE INCREASE THIS NUMBER. SO WE WOULD NOT BEEN ABLE TO GO FROM 20 PERCENT TO 30 PERCENT IN A MATTER OF COUPLE OF MONTHS WITHOUT THEIR SUPPORT. THE DISTRICT'S COURTS AS WELL. THEY'RE A LARGER GROUP SO IT'S GOING TO TAKE A LITTLE BIT LONGER TO TURN THAT SHIP BUT WE HAVE REQUESTED MEETINGS AND THEY HAVE RESPONDED WELL. THEY ARE WELL IN THEIR WAY TO INCREASING. AT THIS TIME, I WELCOME ANY QUESTIONS THAT HAW HAVE. --QUESTIONS THAT YOU HAVE. >> SO JUDGE, WHAT -- ~>> WE CARRY ABOUT 17 TO 20 PERCENT CASES IN FELONY COURT. WE HANDLE AT THIS POINT, ALMOST 30 PERCENT AND THAT'S A RELATIVELY NEW DEVELOPMENT. BUT APPROXIMATELY 30 PERCENT IN OUR MISDEMEANOR DIVISION. >> SO IF WE CALCULATE ALL CASES, JUST IF YOU KNOW THAT NUMBER, 15 PERCENT? 12 PERCENT? >> OF ALL THE CASES COMBINED, WE'RE CLOSER TO 30 PERCENT BECAUSE YOU HAVE TO LOOK AT JUVENILE, WE HANDLE A LARGE PART OF JUVENILE AND FOR THE BAIL, WE HANDLE 100 PERCENT. >> SO WHEN I CALCULATE IT, I ALWAYS THINK ABOUT I ALSO WANT TO THANK THE COMMISSIONER WHO CHARACTER ITEM IN COMMISSIONER RADIC WHO IS CHAIRING THE C.J. C AT THE TIME AND REV. LAWSON AND ARCHBISHOP AND MY STAFF BECAUSE WE WERE STIRRING IT UP, THAT WAS MY ROLE BACK THEN. BUT I THINK WHEN WHICH GOT HERE, I SAID IT BEFORE, I MAY HAVE BEEN AT ABOUT, BY THE TIME I GOT HERE, IT WAS AROUND A DECADE, IS THAT CORRECT? >> THAT'S ABOUT RIGHT. >> SO THAT'S PROGRESS IF WE'RE UP TO 30. BUT I JUST WANT TO REMIND MY COLLEAGUES NOT YOU, MR. BONIN DID A GREAT JOB AND THE WHOLE TEAM BUT IT WAS AFTER JUDGE'S FUNERAL IN JUNE OF 2020, SO COMING UP ON SIX YEARS AGO, WHEN WE MADE THE COMMITMENT, WE GET IT TO 50 PERCENT AND WHATEVER IT WAS, TWO YEARS. AND NOW, I KNOW IT WILL TAKE ANOTHER WHATEVER AMOUNT OF TIME TO GET IT DONE THE RIGHT WAY. BUT I THINK WHAT YOU DO AND WHAT THE MAG DOES, HAVE TO WORK IN TANDEM, THE WAY THE SYSTEM WAS WORKING, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE USING IT AS A WAY THAT THEY GO RAISE CAMPAIGN MONEY. AND I ALWAYS WANT TO STRESS THAT T THE MOTION OF JUDGE PICKING THE LAWYER FOR SOMETHING ACCUSED OF A CRIME IS INHERENTLY, UNETHICAL AND UNFAIR. THAT DID NOT HAPPEN. AND I'LL ALWAYS BRING IT UP ON MY OWN CHANGE NOW BECAUSE I HAPPEN TO BE A COMMISSIONER, WE OUGHT TO DO THAT, AND COMMISSIONER, I TALKED TO YOU, THEY HAVE A HECK OF A DEAL, NEVER HAD TO SERVE A DAY. I DID SIX YEARS INTERN AND STAFFING, THAT OUGHT TO CHANGE. BECAUSE UNDER THAT LAW THAT PASSED IN 2001, PROVISION WAS INCLUDED WHERE TWO-THIRDS OF THE JUDGES HAVE TO AGREE. THAT OUGHT TO BE CHANGE. [03:30:01] IT WAS A MISTAKE BUT IF I HAD HAD NOT TAKEN THAT, STATE HAD NOT PUT ANY MONEY IN INTIGENT. WE OUGHT TO GET THAT CHANGE, HOW MUCH OF IT IS CUDDLING AND GOING ON AND DEPENDS ON WHO GETS THERE, IT CHANGES. I HOPE THE PRESS PICKS TUP, IT'S JUST NOT RIGHT. IT'S JUST NOT RIGHT. AND ALL THE BID FROM PEOPLE WHO ARE POOR. >> AND I WANT TO ADD THAT WE HAVE BUILT OUR POLICY TEAM SO WE CAN FOCUS ON THESE AREAS OF LEGISLATION THAT COULD ADVANCE THESE INITIATIVES, IT'S GREAT TO DO THE WORK LOCALLY AND ZEALOUS, WE DO WANT TO WORK WITH THE COUNTY AS WELL AS THE LEGISLATURE AT THE STATE LEVEL. >> YOU CAN TELL THEM, THEY MADE A MISTAKE, I WILL NOT POINT OUT THE NAMES, THEY MADE ME TAKE IT AND THE OTHER ONE IS THE SYSTEM WHERE THE JUDGES JUST SEND US A TAB, WE'VE GOT TO PAY FOR IT NOW I WANT TO GO OVERBOARD BECAUSE SOME COMMISSIONERS WOULD DECIDE, JUST DON'T PAY ANYTHING. THAT'S A DELICATE BALANCE. THANK YOU, AND THANK YOU FOR STEPPING DOWN FROM THE BENCH TO DO THIS. IT SAYS A LOT ABOUT YOU AND YOUR COMMITMENT. >> IT'S BEEN AN HONOR. THANK YOU, ANY OTHER QUESTIONS. >> COMMISSIONER GARCIA AND THEN COMMISSIONER BRIONES. >> I APPRECIATE THE VISITS AND THANK YOU ALL THANK YOU VERY MUCH. I'M EXCITED ABOUT THE PROCESS BEING MADE. AND HEARING THE NUMBERS, YOU KNOW, HAVING AN UP TICK IS GREAT. COMMISSIONER BRIONES IS CIRCULATING A MOTION WHICH I WILL SUPPORT. WE'LL MAKE A FRIENDLY AMENDMENT TO HER SECOND MOTION, ABOUT YOUR PLANS BECAUSE I WANT TO SEE CAPACITY. JUST TO LET YOU KNOW, I'LL BE ADDING THAT INTO THE MOTION. >> SURE AND PURSUANT TO OUR CONVERSATION, THAT'S PART OUR STRATEGIC FRAMEWORK. >> COMMISSIONER, BRIONES. >> YES, THANK YOU, THANK YOU, BOTH JUDGE AND DIRECTOR BROWN, I LOOK FORWARD TO HEARING YOUR UPDATE SHORTLY. IT'S IMPRESSIVE WHAT YOU'VE DONE . THIS IS SPECIAL. I LOVE THE FELLOWSHIP, TALENT PIPELINE THAT YOU'RE CREATING. I LOVE THE INCREASE THAT WE'VE ALREADY SEEN WITH THE MISDEMEANOR COURTS. SO THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU. MY QUESTION TO YOU, AND I WANT TO MAKE SURE, I KNOW OUR TEAMS HAVE BEEN TALKING BUT JUST TO CONFIRM AND DO IT PUBLICLY, I KNOW YOU'RE WORKING ON A COMPREHENSIVE THREE-YEAR AND FIVE-YEAR STRATEGIC PLAN TO MEET NA AT 50 PERCENT. WOULD IT BE FEASIBLE TO COME BACK WITH THAT AUGUST FIRST. IS THAT WORKABLE? >> YES, WE CAN HAVE THAT AVAILABLE. >> AND WE WANT TO TIME IT STRATEGICALLY AS WE PREPARE FOR OUR NEXT BUDGET YEAR. WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE [03:35:02] SUPPORTING YOU IN THE WAYS THAT YOU NEED TO BE SUPPORTED. >> YES AND OUR PLAN IS TO PROVIDE YOU WITH ENOUGH DETAIL TO UNDERSTAND OUR NEEDS BY KNOWING WHAT RESOURCES AND THE TIMELINE THAT THIS COURT IS EXPECTING, SO WE'LL MAKE SURE THAT YOU UNDERSTAND THAT CLEARLY. >> AGAIN I'M ENERGIZED AND THANKFUL FOR THE PROGRESS. I LOVE HOW YOU STARTED WITH GIDIAN, THIS IS A CONSTITUTIONAL REQUIRED RIGHT AND THIS IS SOMETHING THE COUNTY MUST OFFER AND HONOR AND I LOOK FORWARD TO THE STATE BEING AN EVEN BETTER PARTNER IN PICKING UP THE TAB. THANK YOU JUDGE JONES I KNOW AND RESPECT SO MANY OF OUR DISTRICT COURT JUDGES AND I ASK THEM TO LEAN IN AS WELL. I CAN'T WAIT TO SEE THE CONTINUED PROGRESS AND I KNOW COMMISSIONER RAMSEY WANTS TO SPEAK BEFORE DIRECTOR BROWN BUT I ALSO WANT TO HEAR WHAT PROGRESS YOU'VE BEEN MAKING. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. >> YEAH, QUICKLY, THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU'RE DOING, I THINK YOU'VE TAKEN A FOCUS AND PRAGMATIC LOOK AT HOW WE CAN INCREASE THE NUMBER OF FOLKS THERE. WHAT CAUGHT MIA TENSION NOT BEING THE ATTORNEY IS THE UNPREDICTABLE NATURE OF THE COST. THE, OUTSIDE ATTORNEYS THAT WE BRING IN AND, AS I SIT WITH DANIEL, IS IT 50 MILLION DOLLARS THAT WE'RE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO PAY? SO THAT PART, I THINK IT'S MAYBE NOT THE GOOD REASON BUT IT IS A REASON. I THINK OUR ABILITY TO UNDERSTAND AND MANAGE OUR COST, PAY ATTENTION TO THOSE IS BETTER. IN ESSENCE AN IN-HOUSE ATTORNEY AS OPPOSED TO OUTSIDE. THE ATTORNEY THAT IS GOING TO BE, MAKING A CASE AND THE COURT, THAT JUST LOOKS LIKE, WHEN I PLAYED IN TEXAS, IN TERMS OF WHO THE REVENUES WERE. I DO APPRECIATE BHA YOU'RE ALL DOING. YOU HAVE ALL TAKEN A VERY FOCUSED APPROACH JUST IN THE SHORT TIME THAT YOU'VE BEEN INVOLVED AND I APPRECIATE WHAT YOU'RE DOING. >> THANK YOU, I APPRECIATE YOUR REMARKS. AND THAT'S THE TAKE AWAY, THAT'S A VERY GOOD REASON TO SUPPORT THESE EFFORTS BECAUSE THESE ARE CONSTITUTIONAL REQUIRED CALLS AS YOU HAVE STATED. THE COUNTY WILL PAY THE BILL REGARDLESS SO YOU WANT TO PREDICT THAT COST TO PROVIDE THE SERVICE THAT YOU'RE SUPPOSE TO PROVIDE BUT AT A COST THAT YOU CAN PREDICT AND THAT'S WHAT OUR OFFICE STRIVES TO DO. THANK YOU SO MUCH. >> THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE] >> DIRECTOR BROWN. PLEASE. >> SPEAKER: MY NAME IS PORTIA BROWN, I'M DIRECTOR OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE MAC, DO WE HAVE SOME SLIDES THAT WE CAN PUT UP FOR US? THANK YOU. SO TODAY'S FOCUS IS GOING TO BE A QUICK OVERVIEW OF BACKGROUND WHAT THE MAC IS. KEY TASK ARE CURRENT AND DESIRED LANDSCAPE AND SOME OF OUR PLANNING TIMELINE. NEXT SLIDE. TREATING CLIENTS THROUGH QUAI QUALITY TO PERSON'S ACCUSED OF A CRIME WHO ARE AVAILABLE TO ACCORD AN ATTORNEY. WHAT IS BEING INCLUDED IN THE PUBLIC DEFENDER'S OFFICE. I DID WANT TO NOTE THAT THAT'S WHERE I MET CHIEF DRAPER IS THAT WE'RE BOTH BEING PART OF THAT PROGRAM AND I'M HAPPY TO BRING THAT HERE TO HARRIS COUNTY THROUGH ITS LEADERSHIP. OUR GOAL WITH THE MAC IS GET HIGHLY QUALIFIED ATTORNEYS PROVIDE OBJECTIVE APPOINTMENTS, AND ENSURE THAT VOUCHERS ARE [03:40:01] TAKEN CARE OF, RECEIVE FEEDBACK AND PROMOTE PROFESSIONALISM. NEXT SLIDE. I'VE BEEN HERE SINCE NOVEMBER, A LITTLE BIT OVER 120 DAYS AND IT'S BEEN EXCITING. LAST MONTH WE WERE ABLE TO OBTAIN TWO INFORMATIONS IMMIGRATION IMPORTANT. NEXT SLIDE. EARLIER WE TALKED ABOUT QUALITY REPRESENTATION AND THAT'S WHAT WE'RE FOCUSED ON. SO HERE WHEN IT COMES TO QUALITY INSURANCE, WE MAKE SURE THAT WE DO THAT IN A LOT OF DIFFERENT WAYS. BUT ONE OF THE BIGGEST WAY IS ENSURING CASE LOADS. WELL BEEN THE T ID C, WE HAVE ALSO BEEN ABLE TO GROW OUR ATTORNEY LIST BY MORE THAN 135 PERCENT. IN THE COURTROOMS THEMSELVES, THESE COURTROOMS IT'S 16 COURTROOMS, WE HAVE FOUR ATTORNEYS THOSE ATTORNEYS ARE OBSERVING COURT PROCEEDINGS AND ADDRESSING COMPLAINTS AND CONCERNS NOT ONLY FROM THE JUDICIARY BUT GETTING FEEDBACK AND PROVIDING SUPPORT TO THOSE ATTORNEYS IN REALTIME. WE THEN USE THAT INFORMATION BASE ON QUALITY REPRESENTATION. IT LEADS US TO HIGHER DISMISSAL RATES, STRONGER TRIAL RESULTS. NEXT SLIDE. OUR CURRENT VOUCHER REVIEW SYSTEM AND FOR THOSE OF WHO ARE NOT AWARE WHAT THAT MEANS, THAT MEANS WHEN AN ATTORNEY FINISHES THE CASE, THEY SUBMIT FOR BILLINGS AND WE'RE THE ONES THAT REVIEW AND AUDIT THAT SYSTEM. WE HAVE A CUSTOM, THAT ADDRESSES INACCURACIES, DOUBLE BILLING AND UNREASONABLE ACTIVITY. THIS IS THE ONE I'M MOST EXCITED ABOUT IT EXCEEDS BEST PRACTICES AND THAT'S BASED ON OUR OWN COUNTY AUDITORS RATINGS. NEXT SLIDE. I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HIGHLIGHT ON OUR SERVICES, THIS PROVIDES REDUCES DAYS IN JAIL, HOW DO WE DO THAT? THROUGH CASE INFORMATION AND IMMIGRATION AND SOCIAL SERVICES. WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE SEE EACH CLIENT AS A PERSON AS WELL AS TO SERVE AS A BRIDGE TO THOSE SERVICES. NEXT SLIDE. LET'S TALK ABOUT THE CURRENT LANDSCAPE. NEXT SLIDE. SO THIS IS WLA HAPPENED WHEN EVER SOMEBODY ENTERS IN VIA AN ACCUSATION, FIRST A CHARGE AND THEN THEY MOVE TO ONE OF OUR 16 MISDEMEANOR COURTS AND THAT'S WHEN A MAC ATTORNEY IS APPOINTED AND THEN IT WILL RESULT IN A DISMISSAL, A PLEA OR MISTRIAL. NEXT SLIDE. IN THE END OF THAT SYSTEM, THE ATTORNEY SUBMITS A CASE VOUCHER THROUGH OUR SYSTEM CALLED VIPS WE ALSO DO THE APPOINTMENT WHICH IS AN OBJECTIVE WAY OF PROVIDING THOSE APPOINTMENTS. NEXT SLIDE. THIS IS OUR DESIRED LANDSCAPE, NEXT SLIDE. SO IN THIS SYSTEM, WHEN SOMEBODY GETS A J PC, WE'RE PUSHING FOR THE MAC ATTORNEY TO BE APPOINTED AS OPPOSED TO BEING TO THE HOME COURT, QUICKER ACCESS TO THEIR ATTORNEY AND HOPEFULLY BETTER OUTCOMES WITH THEIR CASES, NEXT SLIDE. ADDITIONALLY, WE HOPE TO MOVE TOWARDS A QUARTER VOUCHER SYSTEM THAT WILL AVAILABLE US TO BE HAVE BETTER FORECASTING WHEN IT COMES TO SPENDING. THERE IS A LITTLE RED BOX THERE CALLED SCALES. IT'S GOING TO BE A NEW PROGRAM THAT IS GOING TO ADDRESS QUALITY CONCERNS TO DO EVALUATION AS WELL AS STORE DATA. NEXT SLIDE. SYSTEM IMPROVEMENTS, NEXT SLIDE. AND SO AS I SAID WITH SCALES, THIS IS MY BETA, IT'S A STAKEHOLDER COMMENT AND EVALUATION. IN THE FOUR MONTHS I'VE BEEN HERE, I'VE BEEN ABLE TO GET A LOT OF FEEDBACK AND OUR MAC ATTORNEYS AND CLIENTELE AND ONE NING THAT IS IMPORTANT THAT WE HAVE A CENTRAL LOCATION TO STORE THE INFORMATION AND GIVE QUICK FEEDBACK AS WELL AS COACHING AND BEING ABLE TO GIVE FEEDBACK TO ATTORNEYS IN A MEANINGFUL WAY. SO WE'RE HOPING TO IMPLEMENT SCALES WHICH WOULD BE ABLE TO BE A ESSENTIAL AREA WITHIN OUR DATABASE AND THE RESULTS WOULD BE BETTER ATTORNEY EVALUATIONS, SYSTEMIC IMPROVEMENT AS WELL AS [03:45:01] PROM LEA DRESSES THE COURTS. I DID WANT TO TAKE TIME TO TALK ABOUT VIPS. THIS IS THE SYSTEM THAT DOES THE VOUCHERS. WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO PARTNERING WITH THEM BUT I DID WANT TO BRING THIS HUP. OUR SYSTEM IS A ECOSYSTEM IN ORDER FOR IMPROVEMENTS TO OCCUR IN THE MAC LEVEL, THEY ALSO HAVE TO OCCUR IN THE OTHER SERVICES, HAVING THE RIGHT AMOUNT OF DEVELOPERS TO ENHANCE OUR VOUCHER SYSTEM DOWNSTREAM. NEXT SLIDE. I DID WANT TO TALK ABOUT THE NUMBERS. SO THIS PAST YEAR, WE'RE ON TRACK TO ABOUT 40,000 VOUCHERS SUBMITTED THIS YEAR. WE ALSO DID A FORECAST FOR THE NEXT THREE YEARS AND ATTORNEYS ACCEPTING APPOINTMENTS, YOU'LL NOTICE THE GREEN BAND IS VERY WIDE AND THAT'S BECAUSE CASE APPOINTMENTS IS GOING TO VARY FROM YEAR TO YEAR, MAYBE DIFFERENT THINGS THAT HAPPENED ON THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S SIDE AS WELL AS DIFFERENT DELAYS THAT COULD HAPPEN IN COURT. NEXT SLIDE. WHEN IT COMES TO OUR HOLISTIC, THERE IS LESS VARIABLES BECAUSE WE'VE BEEN INCREASING BUT ABLE TO PREDICT THAT ACCURATELY. THAT'S WHY WE THANK YOU FOR--SO WE CAN ENSURE THAT AS WE GROW WE'RE ABLE TO MAINTAIN THE SAME LEVEL OF SERVICE. WE ALSO INCLUDED THE BUDGET AS WELL AS THE AMOUNT OF ATTORNEYS THAT WE HAVE IN OUR CURRENT LIST WHICH IS 225. I'LL TELL YOU THIS, IN TEXAS, IT IS HARD FOR MAC TO FIND ATTORNEYS. IN HARRIS COUNTY, WE'VE HAD OVER 80 APPLICANTS, PEOPLE WANT TO BE ON THE MAC LIST AS WELL AS THE LIST ON THE PUBLIC DEFENDERS. SO AT 225, THAT'S ONLY WHAT IT COULD BE IT WILL BE MORE IN THE FUTURE. I WANT TO MAKE SURE TO HIGHLIGHT IN ORDER TO HAVE THOSE 225 ATTORNEYS WE NEED THINGS LIKE OPERATIONAL PERSONNEL, HOLISTIC SERVICES, SO THANK YOU FOR THE PRIOR POSITIONS THAT YOU APPROVED LAST MONTH AND WE'LL BE ASKING MORE FOR FY27. NEXT SLIDE. AND WHAT WE WOULD PLAN TO MOVE FORWARDS AFTER LOOKING A FELONY AND JUVENILE WILL BE TO MOVE TO WORKING GROUPS. THOSE ARE INDIVIDUALS IN ROOMS DISCUSSING WHAT WOULD BE THE CHALLENGES OF EXPANSION. WHAT IS THIS TECH, WHAT IS IS THE SPACE CHALLENGES THAT WE HAVE? WHAT ARE THE THINGS THAT WE MAY HAVE TO INCLUDE FROM UNIVERSAL SERVICES TO BE ABLE TO ABSORB THE AMOUNT OF CASES TO MOVE TO A FELONY AND JUVENILE. AND THEN IN THE MIDTERM FOR YEAR TWO, NEXT SLIDE. WE WOULD MOVE INTO WHAT WE CALL A FELONY CONCEPT OR JUVENILE CONCEPT AND WE ADJUSTED THE AMOUNT OF ATTORNEYS THAT WE EXPECT TO NEED TO CONTINUE TO PROCEEDINGS AS WELL AS POSITIONS REQUIRED AND NEXT SLIDE. AND BY YEAR THREE, WE WOULD BE IN THE AREA OF DOING PROPOSALS. NOW, COMMISSIONER BRIONES, I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THIS TIMELINE COULD BE QUICKER BUT I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT AT LEAST WE HIT THESE INCREMENTAL POINTS NO MATTER WHAT. THIS KIND OF EXPANSION ALSO REQUIRES JUDICIAL APPROVAL. SO THERE MAY BE SOME SITUATIONS WHERE THE JUDGES ARE SO IMPRESSED AND SO EXCITED THAT WE'RE ABLE TO MOVE QUICKER BUT I WANTED TO GIVE A TIME LINE THAT CAN GET US TO THE NATIONAL GOLD STANDARD FOR BEING A MAC. NEXT SLIDE. ANY QUESTIONS? >> OUTSTANDING. THANK YOU. COMMISSIONER BRIONES? >> YES. >> THANK YOU FOR THIS UPDATE AND THANK YOU TOO FOR THE PROGRESS YOU'VE BEEN ABLE TO DRIVE SO QUICKLY, LEADERSHIP MATTERS AND YOU TOO ARE EMBODIMENTS OF THAT AS WE'RE SEEING. I LOVE WHERE WE'RE HEADED AND I LOVE THE LEVEL OF COMMUNICATION THAT YOU'VE BEEN ABLE TO ESTABLISH WITH THE JUDGES AND THE KEY TO THE MAC IS IS THE INDEPENDENCE OF THE MAC. SO MY QUESTION, THERE HAVE BEEN SOME ADMINISTRATIVE CHANGES THAT, IMPEDE THE INDEPENDENCE. CAN YOU TALK US THROUGH. COULD YOU PLEASE AND AGAIN I RECOGNIZE COLLABORATION COMMUNICATION FOR SURE. AND IPD ENS IS NOT NEGOTIABLE [03:50:02] AND HERE AT HARRIS COUNTY WE CAN DO BOTH. WHERE ARE WE TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU HAVE THE RUNWAY YOU NEED AND HOW WE CAN SUPPORT YOU? >> I'M GLAD YOU ASKED THAT, THERE HAS BEEN A CHALLENGE FOR US, THERE IS BEEN A RULE CHANGE. I HAVE BEEN ABLE TO DO ALL LISTENING SESSIONS AND I'M LOOKING FOR INDIVIDUAL ONES AS WELL. INCLUDING WE'RE DOING MONTHLY MEETINGS WITH WITH THE CRIMINAL LAWYERS ASSOCIATION AS WELL AS THE PRESIDING JUDGE AS WELL. IN REGARDS TO THE LAW, AND SOME OF THE NATIONAL STANDARDS, THE PRINCIPALS, WE'VE ALSO BEEN ABLE TO TALK WITH THE COUNTY ATTORNEY ABOUT WHAT THEIR THOUGHTS AND RESOLVING ISSUE. WE DID JUST GET THAT INFORMATION AND WE'RE DEDICATED AND FOCUSED ON TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW DO WE HAVE, THOSE TWO SCALES BALANCE? RIGHT, WE HAVE INDEPENDENCE BUT ALSO A JUDICIARY. THERE IS NOT A WEEK THAT I GO BY THAT I DON'T SPEAK TO THE JUDGES AND THAT'S BEEN HELPFUL TO NOW BREAKAWAY FROM SILOS AND HAVE CONVERSATIONS TOGETHER IN ROOMS SO WE DON'T HAVE ISSUES LIKE LOCAL RULE CHANGES THAT AREN'T, VETTED BEFORE, THEY'RE NOT DISCUSSED WITH WITHIN THE DIFFERENT STAKEHOLDERS. >> WELL I'M HAPPY THAT SOME PROGRESS IS BEING MADE. I KNOW WE ASKED THE OPINIONS AND AGAIN, THERE IS COLLABORATIVE NICE WAY TO DO THINGS AND THEN THIS IS THE LAW, IT WILL CHANGE WAY. AND THOSE ROLES NEED TO CHANGE SO YOU HAVE THE INDEPENDENCE YOU NEED. SO I'M OPTIMISTIC THAT THOSE RULES WILL CHANGE SO YOU CAN DO YOUR JOB AND BUILD THE TRUST AND GIVE THEM ALL THE BEST THEY INFORMATION THAT THEY SERVE I KNOW WE'RE ON THE BOTH TEAM. I APPRECIATE YOU. ONE LAST QUESTION. >> SURE. >> YOU SAID THAT YOUR STRONG PREFERENCE IN THE CHANGE OF THE CURRENT FLOW WOULD BE TO HAVE THE MAC ATTORNEY APPOINTED, CAN YOU BRIEFLY WALK EVERYONE THROUGH WHAT YOU WOULD NEED TO MAKE THAT HAPPEN? >> ABSOLUTELY. SO FIRST THING, JUDICIAL BUY-IN. WHEN IT COMES TO THIS ASK AND WHAT I ENVISION, I DON'T THINK WE'RE TOO FAR APART BUT IT WOULD ALSO TALK IT WILL REQUIRE SUPPORT FROM THE COMMISSIONERS BECAUSE IT WOULD REQUIRE EXTRA STAFFING TO MAKE THOSE APPOINTMENTS AS WELL CONTINUING OUR PARTNERSHIP WITH THE PUBLIC DEFENDERS. I CAN SEE WHERE A WORLD WHERE WE BOTH NEED ADDITIONAL FUNDING TO PLACE THE RESOURCE ON THE FRONT END AND DO THE APPOINTMENTS WHEN SOMEBODY FIRST COMES IN. THE THING IS THIS, WHEN A PERSON KNOWS WHAT THEIR ATTORNEY IS, THEY KNOW WHEN TO CALL, YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE BETTER OUTCOMES AND THAT'S WHAT WE WANT. >> AND YOU ALREADY READ MY MIND ON THE NEXT QUESTION. I'M HIGHLY IN FAVOR AND AT LEAST AS FAR AS MY VOTE IS CONCERNED, YOU HAVE MY SUPPORT TO MAKE THAT HAPPEN AND I HOPE THE JUDGES SUPPORT THAT AS WELL. SO AT THE END OF THE DAY, THIS WILL ENHANCE THE REPRESENTATION AND SAVE MONEY, CREATE EFFICIENCIES AND MAKE SURE PEOPLE SHOW UP. CAN YOU TALK ABOUT HOW QUICKLY, LET'S JUST SAY, WE'RE HERE BUDGET CYCLE, THE JUDGES HAVE APPROVED HOW QUICKLY CAN WE ACTIVATE THAT SO WE HAVE THAT OPERATIONAL SHIFT AND THIS HIGHER QUALITY BETTER COST-EFFICIENT? >> I WOULD SAY WE ALREADY DISCUSSED IN AUGUST FIRST TIMELINE, I WOULD LIKE TO COME BACK BEFORE THAT, AFTER WE TALK TO THE APPROPRIATE STAKEHOLDERS, THE PUBLIC DEFENDER'S OFFICE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE A BUDGET CYCLE THAT CAN SUPPORT THAT SYSTEM AND CHANGE. OF COURSE IT'S GOT TO GET APPROVAL BUT THAT'S THE TIMELINE. WOULD BE SOMETHING THAT SAYS, AUGUST FIRST, CAN WE HAVE THE RIGHT FUNDING THAT WE NEED TO PUSH THIS FORWARD. >> EXCELLENT, THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. NO PROBLEM. >> IS THERE A MOTION. >> I A MOTION AND YOU WANTED TO ADD CAPITAL CASES. PERFECT, SO HERE'S THE MOTION, PLEASE MOTION TO DIRECT THE PUBLIC DEFENDER'S OFFICE IN COORDINATION WITH THE OFFICE OF COUNTY ADMINISTRATION AND OFFICE OF MANAGEMENT AND BUDGET TO FINALIZE COMPREHENSIVE STRATEGIC PLANS WHICH SHALL INCLUDE FOR THE PUBLIC DEFENDER, ADDRESS ITING REPRESENTATION IN CAPITOL CASES AND RETURN BEFORE AUGUST FIRST, THESE STRATEGIC PLANS SHOULD BE UPDATED ON ANNUAL BASES AND FUTURE FUNDING SHOULD ALIGN WITH THOSE PLANS AND PROGRESS TOWARDS OUTLINE MILESTONES. >> SECOND ON BOTH. [03:55:03] >> ANY DISCUSSION? ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE. >> AYE. >> AYE. >> ALL AYES AND NO NAYS. >> AND IT'S FOR BOTH. >> AND AMAZING WORK, KEEP IT UP. I APPRECIATE YOU BOTH, TREMENDOUSLY. >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. [APPLAUSE] >> COLLEAGUES IT'S NOW, 1:00 P.M., WHAT IS YOUR PREFERENCE? I THINK WE OUGHT TO GO EAT AND WE'LL COME BACK AT 2:00 O'CLOCK? >> OKAY. >> OKAY, SO IT IS NOW 1:05 IN COMMISSIONER'S COURT. WHEN WE COME BACK, WE'LL HEAR FROM THE SPEAKERS AND TRY TO FINISH UP TODAY SO WE CAN ENJOY IT AND FOR WHO ARE GOING TO SPEAK, WORK IT DOWN SO YOU GET IT DOWN TO YOUR MINUTE. AND COMMISSIONERS COURT IS AT EASE, YEAH. ADJOURNED UNTIL THEN. UNTIL >> OKAY, THANK YOU ALL. THANK YOU EVERYONE. [Appearances Before Court (Part 1 of 2)] SHHH. IT IS NOW 2:04, COMMISSIONERS COURT IS BACK IN ORDER AND WE'LL GO THROUGH THE REST OF THE SPEAKERS RI TIME. >> FIRST IS DEBRA SMITH, ITEM 2, DIANE, ON ITEM 2, MARRY ANNE WRIGHT AND 56 AND AMY ON 99 AND 49, YOU EACH HAVE ONE MINUTE. >> AND WE'LL KEEP GOING IF THEY'RE NOT HERE. CALL MORE NAMES OUT. >> JUAN RUBIO ON 99 AND JANICE AND 156 AND 17, SARAH KNIGHT ON ITEM 212, KIMBERLY CLARKSON LEWIS ITEM 212. >> THANK YOU, COME ON UP, PLEASE. AND JUST STATE YOUR NAME, CORRECTLY PLEASE. >> SPEAKER: HELLO MY NAME IS JANISSE SLEIGH I'M THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF ARC OF HARRIS COUNTY A NONPROFIT SERVING INDIVIDUALS WITH INTELLECTUAL DISABILITY SINCE 1984, WE WERE HONORED TO BE CART OF THE COHORT NUMBER 1 THROUGH CSP, WE GAINED ACCESS TO PROFESSIONAL COACHING TAYLORED TO OUR ORGANIZATIONS UNIQUE NEEDS ALONG WITH HIGH-QUALITY TRAINING FROM EXPERTS ACROSS THE NONPROFIT SECTORS, THESE RESOURCES WERE NOT JUST HELPFUL, THEY WERE TRANSFORMATIVE. BECAUSE OF THE CSP, WE EVOLVED, WE, WE HAD RELEVANCE COMMUNITIES AND ADJUSTED TO NEEDS. AND IN A CITY AS DIVERSE OF HOUSTON THAT MATTERS, EVERYONE RELIES ON NONPROFIT TO SUPPORT THEIR CONSTITUENTS. THE REALITY IS NOEFT NONPROFIT OPERATE ON A SHOE STRING BUDGET. >> THANK YOU, YOUR TIME IS UP. >> THANK YOU, WE'LL CATCH YOUR DRIFT, THANK YOU. >> SPEAKER: THANK YOU. >> NEXT, SPEAKER. >> KIMBERLY, LEWIS ON ITEM 212, PAUL MILES, 212, SHERETA MILES, 212. MARK, 237, CHRISTOPHER RIVERA, ITEM 237. >> YOU CAN KEEP GOING. I DON'T SEE ANY OF THEM WALKING UP. >> OKAY, CAESAR HE ESPINOZA, ITEM 281. BECKY SMITH, ITEM 281, JESUS SOMORA, ITEM 281. VALERIEA ALVARADO. >> SPEAKER: SARAH KNIGHT IS IN THE SECURITY LINE. >> OKAY, WE CAN GET STARTED. YES, SIR, JUST SAY YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD. >> WARNED OUR STAFF. MY ONLY SON HAS BEEN IN AND OUT [04:03:18] OF THE PSYCH FACILITIES FOR SOMETIME. HOW IS IT THAT SHERIFFS ARE ALLOWED TO VIOLATE STATE POLICY BY SHIPPING THEM OUT TO LOUISIANA. PLEASE VOTE NO. HIS 8-YEAR-OLD WAS IN A FACILITY THAT TRIED TO RECEIVE HELP WHILE HE WAS THERE, THE COURTS HAD PUT A FAILURE TO APPEAR ON HIM. BUT HE COULDN'T GET OUT. THEY WOULD NOT LET HIM OUT. >> THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR COMING. >> SPEAKER: GOOD AFTERNOON, MY NAME IS SARAH KNIGHT. I'M TRYING STRUGGLING HERE TO UNDERSTAND ALL OF YOU. COMMISSIONER BRIONES, MAYBE YOU WILL PHANTOM MY PAIN AS A MOTHER AND LATINA. HOW CAN YOU SUPPORT THIS 38 MILLION DOLLARS CONTRACT RENEWAL? YOU KNOW THAT OUR JAIL HANDED OVER 400,000 TO ICE LAST YEAR WHICH IS THE MASSIVE INCREASE FROM 330 PEOPLE. AND NOW YOU WANT TO GIVE ANOTHER 30 MILLION TO LASALLE SO WE CAN USE JAIL TO SEPARATE FAMILIES? WHY EVERY TIME, I HAVE TO COME HERE, YOU HAVE TAKEN THE TIME TO REMIND ME THAT YOU TOO ARE A MOTHER AND HOUSE SAFETY IS YOUR TOP CONCERN. BUT WHO ARE THE FAMILIES YOU ARE PROTECTING? CERTAINLY NOT OURS? RIGHT NOW, THE ONLY FAMILY THAT STANDS TO BENEFIT. >> THANK YOU YOUR TIME IS UP. [04:05:04] >> SPEAKER: IS THE CONLEY FAMILY THAT OWNS LASALLE. >> THANK YOU, THANK YOU FOR COMING. >> SPEAKER: GOOD AFTERNOON, MY NAME IS KIM CARLSON LEWIS, WHEN I SAW Y'ALL PLANNING TO GIVE ANOTHER 38 MILLION DOLLARS TO THE SAME PRIVATE PRISON COMPANY LASALLE CORRECTIONS THAT HAS KILLED THREE OF OUR LOVED ONE SHIPPED OUT FROM HARRIS COUNTY, I HAD TO ASK WHY. WHY WOULD THIS COURT GIVE MORE MONEY TO A PRIVATE COMPANY THAT HAS THREE LAWSUIT FOR DEATHS OF HARRIS COUNTY RESIDENTS. I BEG, I BEG THIS COURT UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES, PLEASE DO NOT RENEW THE CONTRACT WITH LASALLE. I DON'T WANT A SINGLE DOLLAR TO GO TO THE COMPANY THAT KILLED OUR SONS. WHY WOULD YOU REWARD A COMPANY THAT HAS THE WORSE TRACK RECORD. ISN'T THERE A POLICY TO NOT CONTRACT WITH VENDORS WHO HAVE PENDING LITIGATION AGAINST THEM? YOU'RE SUPPOSE TO BE GOOD STEWARDS OF OUR DOLLARS, THIS IS A BAD WAY TO SPEND MONEY. ESPECIALLY AFTER D.A. ANNOUNCED THEY HAVE CLEARED THE COURT BACKLOG. PLEASE, PLEASE DO NOT RENEW CONTRACT WITH LASALLE. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKERS. >> HEY, EVERYBODY, PROCESS TOO I'M CHRISTOPHER I WORK WITH THE PROJECT AND I'M HERE TO SPEAK ON 237, I KNOW IT WAS PULLED BY YOU WANT TO SAY WHY I DON'T WANT TO SPEND ANOTHER 2 MILLION DOLLARS WITH FLOCK. IF WE DON'T ACT QUICKLY, WE'RE GOING TO LOSE AN OPPORTUNITY TO PROTECT OUR MOST VULNERABLE COMMUNITY MEMBERS. THIS WILL ALLOW HARRIS COUNTY TO SHARE DATA WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT. THIS IS ALARMING BECAUSE FLOCK CAMERAS HAVE BEEN USED FOR DEPORTATION EFFORTS. IT WILL ALLOW FOR MORE COORDINATION ON DEPORTATION EFFORTS. IT WILL WE SHOULD MAKE THIS MAP PUBLICLY AVAILABLE. THESE ARE TAX DOLLARS BEING USED AND WE'RE ENTITLED TO KNOW WHERE THESE DEVICES ARE PLACED. IN LEXINGTON THEY SHARE THE CAMERA LOCATIONS. >> THANK YOU YOUR TIME IS UP. >> THANK YOU FOR, THANK YOU FOR COMING. THANK YOU. >> YES, MA'AM, COME ON UP. YES, MA'AM. >> SPEAKER: HI, SORRY I WAS NOT BACK ON TIME MY NAME IS AMY AND I'M PROUD TO LIVE IN A COUNTY THAT HAS LEADERS WHO PUT RESIDENTS FIRST. I'M PROUD THAT THE COUNTY IS MOVING FORWARD ON IMPLEMENTATION OF WORK SITE SAFETY POLICY. I'M ALSO PROUD THAT THE COUNTY IS ENSURING THAT OUR ELECTRIC GRID WILL BE STRONGER FOR SOLAR FOR ALL PROJECTS. YOUR EFFORTS TO SERVE THE PEOPLE OF HOUSTON. HARRIS COUNTY IS A PLACE WHERE MANY CAN THRIVE. THANK YOU ALL FOR THE WORK YOU DO TO SERVE WORKING PEOPLE. >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. >> HI, SORRY IF I'M MISINFORMED BUT I BELIEVE MY NAME WAS CALLED VALLERIA. >> YES. >> SPEAKER: I'M HERE ON BEHALF OF THE ACLU OF TEXAS. THEY DO SUPPORT INITIATIVE TO CREATE A COMMISSION ON IMMIGRANT AND REFUGEES. WE ARE ALSO HERE AS A RESOURCE FOR YOU GUYS. WE BELIEVE THAT FOR THERE TO BE AN EFFECTIVE COMMISSION IT SHOULD BE STAFFED WITH DIVERSE EXPERT VOICES, PEOPLE WHO ARE ON THE GROUND IN THE COMMUNITY ACROSS THE COUNTY THAT REALLY HAVE, THAT VITAL COMMUNITY INFORMATION, AS WELL AS LEGAL EXPERTS THAT CAN UNDERSTAND HOW TO MAKE IMPACTFUL POLICY, THAT IS STILL WITHIN LEGAL BOUNDS. WE THINK THAT IF THEY RECEIVE FUNDING AND THE PROPER TIME TO PUSH OUT ACTUAL IMPACTFUL POLICY, THESE COULD BE AFFECTIVE TOOLS TO FIGHT AGAINST, VERY RELENTLESS ATTACKS THAT ARE HAPPENING HERE AGAINST THE IMMIGRANT COMMUNITY HERE IN HARRIS COUNTY. WE APPRECIATE THE WORK AND WE'RE HERE IN PARTNERSHIP AND HOPING THAT WE CAN BE A TOOL AND RESOURCE FOR YOU GUYS. THANK YOU GUYS SO MUCH. >> THANKS FOR COMING. >> ALL RIGHT, THERE ARE STILL SPEAKERS GOING THROUGH THE LOBBY I'M GOING TO CALL OUT JAMES. JACOB, GUILLERMO, MICHELLE, JAMES OR NOTBE, HANY, BARBARA [04:10:16] DENISON. >> ARE THEY HERE, THANK YOU. >> SPEAKER: GOOD AFTERNOON, I'M GUILLERMO AND I'M THE DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF ASMEE, THEY'VE BEEN REPRESENTED WORKERS HERE IN HARRIS COUNTY SINCE 1965. I'M HERE TO ADOPT THE CONSULTATION, THAT MEANS GIVING WORKERS A SEAT AT THE TABLE JUST LIKE THEY DO IN THE CITIES OF AUSTIN AND SAN ANTONIO AND THERE IS ONE HERE AT HARRIS CENTER. IF YOU ADOPT THIS POLICY, THEY WILL ADDRESS WORKING CONDITIONS AND OTHER ITEMS THAT WORKERS CARE ABOUT. THIS IS SIMILE A UNITY BETWEEN LABOR AND MANAGEMENT. IT BUILDS AN ATMOSPHERE OF COLLABORATION. COMMISSIONERS, YOU HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE 5,000 WORKERS VOICES COUNT. WE HOPE WE CAN COUNT ON YOUR SUPPORT TODAY. THANK YOU. >> COUNCIL >> THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU, LOOKS LIKE YOU HAVE A FEW FRIENDS WITH YOU, GUILLERMO. >> SPEAKER: GOOD AFTERNOON, I'M MICHELLE SUPPOSER AND I'M THE DIRECTOR OF ASME INTERNATIONAL AND ON BAF OF 1.4 MILLION NATIONWIDE, I STAND IN ENTHUSIASTIC SUPPORT OF THIS CONSULTATION FRAMEWORK FOR HARRIS COUNTY. WE KNOW THAT GOVERNMENT WORKS BEST WHEN WORKERS HAVE A FORMAL VOICE IN CONSULTATION WILL PROVIDE THAT VOICE THROUGH REGULAR MEETINGS BETWEEN COUNTY REPRESENTATIVES AND ORGANIZATIONS SLEKTD BY EMPLOYEES. THE MODEL IS BASE ON LABOR MANAGEMENT COLLABORATION, CONSULTATION AND POLICY DEVELOPMENT AND ENGAGING ON SOLVING REALTIME PROBLEMS. PARTICIPATION IS VOLUNTARY AND YOU AS THE COMMISSIONERS COURT MAKE THE FINAL DECISION AS POLICY PROPOSED. IMPORTANTLY THIS RESOLUTION ALSO TAKES A CRUCIAL FIRST STEP IN BASIC DUE PROCESS FOR EMPLOYEES. AS MEMBERS WORKING FOR THE STATE OF TEXAS IN CITIES LIKE HOUSTON AND AUSTIN DO HAVE A PROCEDURE AND OUR EMPLOYEES DESERVE NOTHING LESS. WE URGE YOUR SUPPORT AND LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU IN THE FUTURE. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. >> SPEAKER: GOOD AFTERNOON, I'M HANI, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF NFLCIO, OUR UNION MEMBERS BELIEVE THAT EVERYONE DESERVES A VOICE AT WORK. PARTNER TO IMPROVE JOBS FOR COUNTY EMPLOYEES AND WORKERS ON COUNTY CONTRACTS AND EXPAND CAREER TRAINING. THIS CONSULTATION POLICY IS THE NEXT STEP IN THAT WORK. COUNTY EMPLOYEES KNOW THEIR JOBS BEST WHEN CHALLENGES INEVITABLY ARISE. WHEN EMPLOYEES HAVE A REGULAR CHANNEL TO DISCUSS WORKING CONDITIONS AND WORKER PRIORITY WITH THEIR EMPLOYERS IT MEANS BETTER SERVICES FOR ALL RESIDENTS, WORKERS AND BUSINESSES WILL COME FORWARD. THANK YOU FOR SHOWING YOUR COMMITMENT TO WORKING PEOPLE HAVING AN ORGANIZED VOICE AT THE TABLE BY PASSING THIS CONSULTATION POLICY TODAY. >> THANK YOU. >> SPEAKER: GOOD AFTERNOON, COMMISSIONERS. MY NAME IS TIFFANY HILL AND I'M EMPLOYEE HERE AT THE HARRIS COUNTY PUBLIC DEFENDER'S OFFICE, I JUST MADE A YEAR LAST WEEK. AND I AM OF COURSE I'M SPEAKING OF BEHALF OF THE OFFICE BUT I WOULD LIKE TO SAY MY OPENNESS AND WILLINGNESS TO THIS, WHAT IS BEING PROPOSED. SO AS AN EMPLOYEE, I FEEL LIKE THIS OPENS DOORS AND OPEN LINE OF COMMUNICATION FOR WORKERS THAT SOME MAY FEEL INTIMIDATED TO HAVE AS CURRENTLY AS EMPLOYERS TO THEIR HIGHER UPS AND GIVES A SENSE OF TRANSPARENCY TO HAVE THEIR VOICE HEARD. SO I THINK THIS IS GOING TO BE A BENEFICIAL AND OPENING DOORS FOR NOT ONLY EMPLOYEES BUT EMPLOYERS, SO THAT WE CAN FOSTER A GOOD WORKING RELATIONSHIP AND ALSO TO CREATE EFFICIENCY WITHIN THE WORKFORCE OF HARRIS COUNTY, IT'S NOT JUST ABOUT ME. I WORK AT A GREAT OFFICE BUT OTHER EMPLOYERS HERE AT HARRIS COUNTY. THANK YOU. >> GOOD AFTERNOON, COMMISSIONERS THANK YOU SO MUCH [04:15:02] FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY. MY NAME IS JASON, I'M PRESIDENT OF LOCAL 123, WE'RE STANDING IN SOLIDARITY TO MAKE SURE THAT EMPLOYEE'S VOICE RIGHT SIDE HEARD THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY. UNIONIZATION IS AN IMPORTANT THING THAT IS THE BACKBONE OF THE COUNTRY AND BACKBONE OF THIS CITY. AND RIGHT NOW, WE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE THINGS BETTER FOR EVERYONE ACROSS THE BOARD, NOT ONLY FROM THE STAND POINT OF US AS A CITY BUT FOR HARRIS COUNTY. AND I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY. THANK YOU. >> IF I CAN JUST HAVE A PICTURE OF THIS BEAUTIFUL GROUP BEHIND ME. >> DO YOU WANT TO TAKE A SELFIE. I CAN TAKE A PICTURE. >> THANK YOU, ALL. >> THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. I SEE THE NEXT SPEAKER COMING RIGHT BEHIND THEM. >> SPEAKER: DENYSON, ITEM 282 MAY SOUND ADMINISTRATIVE BUT AS YOU JUST HEARD IT'S A MOVE TOWARDS UNIONIZING COUNTY EMPLOYEES, CREATING A CONSULTATION AGENT TO REPRESENT EMPLOYEES IN POLICY DEVELOPMENT AND GRIEVANCE PROCEDURES MIRRORS THE STRUCTURE AND FUNCTION. THIS BECOMES THE FOUNDATION FOR COLLECTIVE BARGAINING AND EXPANDED UNION AUTHORITY OVER PERSONNEL MATTERS. PLEASE, OPPOSE THIS MEASURE! BECAUSE IT SHIFTS DECISION-MAKING AWAY FROM THE ELECTED LEADERSHIP AND TOWARD A THIRD PARTY REPRESENTATIVE STRUCTURE THAT WILL LIMIT FLEXIBILITY AND INCREASE DRASTICALLY INCREASE BUREAUCRATIC OVERHEAD AND COSTS. EMPLOYEE INPUT IS IMPORTANT. HOWEVER, IT IS BEEN SUCCESSFULLY INCORPORATED THROUGH DIRECT COMMUNICATION, TRANSPARENT HR PROCESSES AND EXISTING CHANNELS WITHOUT HAVING TO CREATE A--RESEMBLE UNIONIZATION. IF IT AIN'T BROKE, DON'T FIX IT. >> THANK YOU FOR COMING. >> SPEAKER: GREETINGS JUDGE IN HER ABSENCE, AND COMMISSIONERS. I'M THE MOTHER OF GRIFFIN LEE WHO WAS MURDERED IN THE HARRIS COUNTY JAIL IN 2022 AND ASKING IF YOU WOULD CONSIDER CANCELING THE CONTRACTS TO LASALLE LOUISIANA AND MISSISSIPPI. KEEP THEM IN THEIR STATES. TEXAS IS ENOUGH TO HOUSE OUR OVERFLOW AND PLEASE CONSIDER MENTAL HEALTH JAIL SYSTEM TO DETAIL THE MENTALLY ILL PEOPLE P.THANK YOU FOR THE VOTE UNANIMOUSLY BUT ON TODAY, SORRY. ON TODAY THE 19TH AND 2022 IS THE DAY THAT I GOT A CALL FROM ONE OF THE PHYSICIANS SAYING THAT MY SON WAS THERE WITH BLOOD TRAPPED BETWEEN HIS BRAIN AND HIS SKULL AND NEEDED AN EMERGENCY SURGERY SO THE NEED FOR THAT FACILITY IS VERY IMPORTANT. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU FOR COMING. >> SPEAKER: GOOD AFTERNOON, COMMISSIONERS I'M DEBRA SMITH. INCARCERATION SHOULDN'T BE A DEATH SENTENCE. I LOST MY DAUGHTER IN 2022, AND HARRIS COUNTY JAIL. I, IT'S NOT EASY. AND EVEN I SPEAK MANY MANY TIMES AND EVERY TIME, IT'S HARD, HARDER THAN OTHER TIMES. WHAT I'M ASKING IS, THAT, THAT, I HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THE CONTRACT THAT HARRIS, THAT, HARRIS COUNTY HAS WITH HARRIS COUNTY JAIL. THEY SHOULD HAVE BEEN THE FIRST [04:20:06] WHISTLE BLOWERS TO LET SOCIETY KNOW INSTEAD OF THE DEATHS PILING UP, INSTEAD OF WHAT IS HAPPENING AT THE JAIL. THIS PATIENT WAS NOT HAVING A HEADACHE THIS OR THAT, THESE PEOPLE WERE HURT. >> THANK YOU, THAT'S YOUR TIME. >> IN THEIR CUSTODY, SO I'M NOT HAPPY. THEY TAKE UP A PLEA. A PLEDGE. THEY TAKE A PLEDGE. >> THANK YOU. >> GOOD AFTERNOON, JUDGE AND STAFF, I'M DIANE WISINGBERGH, I LOST MY JAIL IN THE HARRIS COUNTY JAIL IN JANUARY FIRST, 2023. I'M HERE AGAINST THE PLANTING OF NEW JAIL. YOU DON'T NEED A NEW JAIL WHEN YOU NEED PEOPLE TO BE REFORMED. WHERE IS THE REFORM SYSTEM? THE COURT SYSTEM IS SPED UP, WHAT ILL PERSON DO IN A JAIL? ALL CONTRACTS BUT LASALLE, LOUISIANA MISSISSIPPI SHOULD BE CANCELED IMMEDIATELY. WHAT ARE WE DOING? ALSO, THERE IS A CANNOT BE A MENTAL ILL JAIL, TO DO WHAT? A MENTALLY ILL PERSON, NEEDS RESTORIVE. YOU PUT MY SON IN JAIL AND HE BECAME WORSE. MENTALLY IS A CRIME, I DIDN'T KNOW. THIS IS MY SON. >> THANK YOU YOUR TIME IS UP. >> THANK YOU FOR COMING. >> COMMITTED A CRIME. >> SPEAKER: PARDON ME, HI. I'M HERE ON BEHALF OF OTHER PEOPLE BESIDES MYSELF. I'M WITH THE GREATER USE AND MODERIZATION, THERE IS A CIVIL RIGHTS ATTORNEY CALLED YAMIKA, SHE ALSO WANTED COME AND WANTED SHOW SUPPORT FOR THE COUNTY JUDGE AND SHE IS NOT HERE AND NEITHER ARE THEY, SO THAT CUTS MY TIME REAL SHORT. BUT I WOULD LIKE TO SAY, COMMISSIONER GARCIA, YOU WERE THE FIRST SHERIFF'S ELECTED WERE YOU NOT? I WOULD LIKE TO GET HIM RECOGNIZED A PLAQUE SOMEWHERE BECAUSE JUST GETTING THERE WAS QUITE A FEAT AND YOU SHOULD BE APPLAUDED FOR THAT. THANK YOU. >> CAN YOU STATE YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD. >> SPEAKER: REESE. >> SPEAKER: I'M MARY ANNE WRIGHT AND I'M HERE TODAY TO ASK WHAT Y'ALL GOING TO DO FOR OUR SAFETY? AND THE REASON I'M ASKING, I WOULD APPRECIATE IF YOU COULD STOP LOOKING AT YOUR PHONES I'VE BEEN HERE ALL DAY. SO I WOULD APPRECIATE IT. MY QUESTION IS WHAT Y'ALL GOING TO DO FOR OUR SAFETY? WE HAVE A COUNTY JUDGE RIGHT NOW WHO I THINK WE ALL KNOW WHAT HAPPENED RECENTLY AT THE RODEO, I LIKE LINA HIDALGO BUT WHAT HAPPENS, THIS COMMISSIONER'S COURT HAS BEEN RUN SO MUCH MORE EFFICIENTLY THAN WHEN SHE WAS HERE. I'M WORRIED ABOUT OUR SAFETY IN HARRIS COUNTY WITH LINA HIDALGO RIGHT NOW. ARE THERE ANY OTHER STEPS THAT WE CAN TAKE FOR OUR SAFETY FOR HER SAFETY FOR EVERYONE'S SAFETY? >> THANK YOU FOR COMING. >> THANK YOU. >> HI ARE YOU ALL DOING TODAY? I'M EXCITED TO BE HERE TO TALK ABOUT 281 THE POSSIBILITY OF HAVING A COMMISSION ON IMMIGRATION REFUGEE. SO I THINK THAT IS DEFINITELY VERY CRITICAL AND VERY IMPORTANT TO OUR COMMUNITY. I APPLAUD YOU FOR TAKING THIS STANCE, THIS IS SOMETHING THAT NO ONE ELSE HAS DONE AND I THINK IT'S A BEGINNING STEP SO WE CAN START THE COMMUNITY DISCUSS ABOUT WHAT WE NEED TO DO ABOUT THIS IMMIGRATION AND REFUGEE PROBLEM THAT WE SPR IN HARRIS COUNTY. THANK YOU ALL AND I SUPPORT IT 100 PERCENT AND I HOPE THIS PASSES THROUGH HARRIS COUNTY. AND I KNOW FOR A FACT, EVERYTHING THAT GOES THROUGH, OTHER AGENCIES TAKE IT ON AS WELL. LIKE THE STATE AS WELL AS THE NATION. SO I HOPE THIS CAN GO FORWARD AND BE SOMETHING VERY SUCCESSFUL. >> CAN YOU STATE YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD, SIR. >> SPEAKER: MY NAME IS WILLIE [04:25:02] DREW, THANK YOU. OH AND I DO NEED TO SAY THE SAME THING, REESE SAID, WE NEED TO APPLAUD COMMISSIONER GARCIA BECAUSE HE WAS THE FIRST HISPANIC SHERIFF. THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE] >> ANYMORE SPEAKERS? >> MATT BLOOMMAN, WARN HOWELL, CANDICE, JORDAN RAOERDIC. >> SPEAKER: HELLO. I'M WARREN HALL I'M A LIFELONG BUSINESS OWNER AND COUNTY. I'M HERE ON ON BEHALF OF THE TAXPAYERS TO VOICE MY OPPOSITION TO 282 PROVIDING FOR AN OFFICIAL OFFICE FOR UNION MEMBER TO CONSULT WITH HARRIS COUNTY EMPLOYEES, EMPLOYEES THAT ARE BEING COMPENSATED MORE THAN WELL. IT APPEARS TO BE A TRICK, TO GET UNIONS INTO HARRIS COUNTY. THIS IS A RIGHT-TO-WORK STATE, DID YOU FORGET? I'M SHOCKED THAT WE DON'T COME UP WITH IDEAS TO SAVE MONEY, YOU GUYS LAY AWAKE AT NIGHT TO SPEND MONEY, TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO DO MORE. I DON'T KNOW GET IT. THIS IS NOT CHICAGO, THIS IS NOT NEW YORK, AND IT SURE AS WELL AIN'T CALIFORNIA. SO WE NEED TO STRAIGHTEN UP. >> THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. >> SPEAKER: THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU, WARREN. [APPLAUSE] >> SPEAKER: GOOD AFTERNOON, I'M CANDANCE FLOYD. OUR MISSION IS TO SUPPORT PEOPLE WITH AUTISM, THROUGH THE FOSTER CULTURE OF CHOICE AND RESPECT. WE BEGAN THIS JOURNEY IN MARCH OF 2024 WORK WITHING PRECINCT 4, TRACY G INCLUDING--TO DPONS TRAIT WHAT INCLUSIVE--SUMMER HOUSE HOUSTON IS HERE TO SUPPORT THE GROEFGT ALL ABILITIES INITIATIVE. AT SUMMER HOUSE HOUSTON WE BELIEVE WORK IS MEANINGFUL AND MEANINGFUL WORK MATTERS. I WANT TO EXTEND A SINCERE THANK YOU TO LESLEY BRIONES IN YOUR LEADERSHIP TO CREATE INCLUSIVE SPACES. YOUR HARD WORK TURNED TO REALITY. >> THANK YOU YOUR TIME IS UP. >> SPEAKER: WHERE EVERYONE HAS THE RIGHT TO CONTRIBUTE AND BELONG. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU SO MUCH. >> SPEAKER: HELLO MY NAME IS CARL HOEMAN AND I MEAN, AND I AM PROUD TO BE A PART OF THE HARRIS COUNTY ALL ABILITIES PROGRAM. THROUGHOUT SUMMER HOUSE, THROUGH SUMMER HOUSE IN THE TRACY G COMMUNITY CENTER. I STARTED WORKING IN 2024, BEING HERE MEANS TRULY A LOT TO ME. TODAY I AM HAPPY TO STAND HERE, AS A AMBASSADOR FOR PRECINCT 4 TO SHOW MY SUPPORT FOR THE PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN PRECINCT 4 AND SUMMER HOUSE. BECAUSE THE PARTNERSHIP OPENS DOORS WITH PEOPLE WITH AUTISM SPECTRUM INCLUDING ME SINCE THIS JOB BEGAN, I HAVE GROWN SO MUCH EVERY DAY I'VE BECOME MORE CONFIDENT, INDEPENDENT AND COMPATIBLE, COMFORTABLE TAKING ON NEW CHALLENGES. >> CONTINUE. >> PLEASE CONTINUE. >> SPEAKER: ALL RIGHT. >> YOU'RE DOING GREAT CARL. >> SPEAKER: ESPECIALLY I'M EXCITED TO DO MORE CREATIVE TASKS LIKE, THE ONE I'M DOING TODAY. I WANT TO SINCERELY THANK SAY A SINCERE THANK YOU TO LESLEY BRIONES FOR GIVING ME THE OPPORTUNITY TO WORK AT TRACY G, IT HAS MADE A REAL DIFFERENCE IN MY LIFE AND I'M GRATEFUL FOR THE FUTURE OPPORTUNITIES IT WILL CREATE FOR OTHERS LIKE ME. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU, CARL, IF I MAY COMMISSIONER, CARL THAT WAS AMAZING. [APPLAUSE] >> SPEAKER: THANK YOU. [04:30:02] >> WE'RE SO THANKFUL TO HAVE YOU AND YOUR CONTRIBUTIONS AND ALL OF THE OTHER TEAM MEMBERS AND ALL ABILITIES PROGRAM. WEE BELIEVE THAT EVERYONE SHOULD HAVE ACCESS TO OPPORTUNITY AND AS A FORMER TEACHER WHO HAD MANY SPECIAL EDUCATION STUDENTS IT'S IMPORTANT THAT YOU HAVE ACCESS TO OPPORTUNITY AND I KNOW YOU WANT TO WORK AND CONTRIBUTE. I HOPE MY COLLEAGUES WILL CONSIDER SIMILAR PROGRAM AND WE'RE SO THANKFUL TO SUMMER HOUSE. >> SPEAKER: WE LOOK FORWARD TO LEADING THE PACK. >> YOU'RE THE LEADER. AND SUMMER HOUSE HOUSTON, WE'RE EXCITED ABOUT THIS OPPORTUNITY TO GROW TOGETHER, EVERYONE SHOULD HAVE ACCESS TO OPPORTUNITY. THANK YOU FOR BEING PART OF THE TEAM AND FOR LEADING THE WAY SO THIS CAN BE SCALED TO OTHER PLACES. THANK YOU CARL AND TEAM. >> YES, MA'AM, THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. ARE THERE MORE SPEAKERS? >> SPEAKER: THANK YOU FOR LETTING US COME TODAY. >> THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE TODAY. THANK YOU. >> OKAY, ANYMORE SPEAKERS? >> JORDAN WARWICK. >> THAT WAS JORDAN. >> OKAY. >> THANK YOU, JORDAN. >> SPEAKER: HELLO GOOD AFTERNOON, I'M ANTHEST JAMES. I'M A CITY OF HOUSTON EMPLOYEE AND A PROUD ASME LOCAL 123 MEMBER. SO I'M JUST HERE TO SPEAK FOR THOSE SPECIFICALLY IN QUOTE UNQUOTE LABOR POSITIONS. THE PARK WORKERS, THE EMPLOYEES PICKING UP TRASH. THE EMPLOYEES OUT THERE FIXING WATER LEAKS. THESE POSITIONS ARE SEVERELY UNDERPAID. NOW IF YOU'RE A HARRIS COUNTY EMPLOYEE, YOU'RE IN A HIGH POSITION AND YOU'RE FINE WITH YOUR SALARY, OKAY, YOU DON'T HAVE ANY ISSUES, OKAY. BUT DON'T SPEAK FOR EVERY WORKER, YOU CANNOT. OKAY, THERE ARE WORKERS THERE WHO REALLY NEED THIS, WHO REALLY DESERVE THIS AND THIS IS SOMETHING THAT CAN REALLY CHANGE THEIR LIFE AND REALLY CHANGE THEIR WORKING CONDITIONS. >> THANK YOU, THANK YOU FOR COMING. >> SPEAKER: HELLO PEOPLE, MY NAME IS NEPETERIA, I WANTED TO GET UP HERE AND--I DON'T KNOW WHY THEY'RE SPEAKING ON UNION IF THEY'RE ANTI UNION AND THEY'RE NOT PAYING FOR IT EVERY MONTH. WHAT IS IT THEIR BUSINESS? UNIONS HAVE INVOLVED IN HELPING MANY PEOPLE MAKE DECENT MONEY NOT THE BEST OF MONEY AND HELPING THEM WITH A LOT OF THINGS THAT THEY NEED IT DOES A LOT. AND LIKE ONE GUY SAID, THE COUNTRY WAS BUILT ON UNIONS AND WE KNOW THIS. SO I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY THEY GOT UP HERE AND WAS SPEAKING WHATEVER THEY WAS SPEAKING. I KNOW I CAN TALK A LOT AND I KNOW THIS TIME GOES FAST. THANK Y'ALL. >> THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE] >> MY NAME IS ALEXIS, WHEN MY CHILDREN WERE GROWING UP I TOOK THEM TO THE--EVERY YEAR. MY HOUSE NOW TAKES THE GRANDKIDS. THE CHILDREN FOUR H PUBLISHING MISLEADING INFORMATION ON SOCIAL MEDIA ACCOUNT IS DISMISSAL. ATTENTION TO--THEY DIDN'T HAVE A 4H RULES. LUCKILY THE KIDS IN MY 4H PROGRAMS CONDUCTED THEMSELVES VERY WELL AND I NEVER HAD ANY COMPLAINTS. TEXANS HAVE A REPUTATION WHERE WE COMBINE HARD WORK AND LOOKING OUT FOR OTHERS. WE DO WHAT WE NEED TO DO TO KEEP OUR REPUTATION THAT HAS GOOD MANNERS INSTEAD OF STATE FULL OF OBNOXIOUS PUSHY PEOPLE. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU FOR COMING. ARE THERE MORE SPEAKERS? >> LARRY JOHN, NON-AGENDA SPEAKERS, LARRY COOPER, STEVEN K, RICHARD HIDE? [04:35:07] >> SPEAKER: HOW IS EVERYBODY DOING? WHEN I WAS 19 YEARS OLD, I STARTED TO WORK, I HAD THE PLEASURE TO WORK FOR HARRIS COUNTY AND NEVER IN MY DAYS DID I THINK I WOULD BE UP HERE TALKING TO THE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS. I'VE WORKED FOR THREE DIFFERENT COMMISSIONERS AND IT'S BEEN WONDERFUL. MY WIFE PUT IN 15 YEARS AND GOT BREAST CANCER AND STAGE 3 GOING TO STAGE 4 AND HAD A BILATERAL MASTECTOMY EVERYTHING IS GOING FINE BUT WE WOKE UP ONE MORNING AND HER INJECTIONS THAT HAS HELPED HER, KIDNEYS AND STUFF, THAT WENT FROM $25 TO $1,000. OF COURSE OTHER THINGS WERE HAPPENING, OF COURSE LIFE BUT THIS HAS BEEN A HORRIFIC AND SHE WASN'T ABLE TO MAKE IT HERE BECAUSE OF THE LAST THREE OR FOUR DAYS TRYING TO GET HER MEDICINE. ANYWAY, I'M OUT OF TIME. >> HOW MANY YEARS DID YOU SERVE? >> 40 YEARS, A LITTLE OVER 40 YEARS. AND MY WIFE 15 YEARS. >> THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE. >> WELL, IT'S MY PLEASURE, IT'S BEEN AN HONOR TO DO THAT. I LOVE THE COUNTY THAT I LIVE IN AND THERE IS A LOT OF HARD WORKING PEOPLE THAT DOESN'T GET THE CREDIT AND STUFF AND I DON'T DESERVE STUFF BUT ANYWAY, WE'VE GOT TO GET THIS STUFF STRAIGHTENED OUT FOR MY WIFE. >> CAN YOU STATE YOUR NAME. >> SPEAKER: LARRY JONES. >> HEY, LARRY. IS APPRECIATE ALL. JUST BEFORE YOU WALK AWAY, THANK YOU FOR COMING UP HERE AND I KNOW THAT, NEVER HAVING DONE THIS IT CAN BE INTIMIDATED. I HAVE GOTTEN A GOOD NUMBER OF EMAILS OF FOLKS LIKE YOURSELF, I GOT A CALL FROM FORMER MAJOR WILLIAMS REGARDING THIS ISSUE. THIS WAS SOMETHING THAT SHOULD NOT HAVE HAPPENED, THE WAY IT'S HAPPENING. >> SPEAKER: YES, SIR. >> THERE SHOULD HAVE BEEN MORE CONVERSATION WITH OUR RETIREE ABOUT WHAT TO ANTICIPATE. WHEN WE WERE DELIBERATING THIS CONTRACT WITH AETNA, WE SPECIFICALLY SAID NO IMPACT TO OUR RETIREES. SO JUST KNOW THAT, I'M NOT HAPPY WITH THIS HAVING THE SURPRISE IT'S HAVING. SOME FOLKS ARE TRYING TO CHARACTERIZE THIS AS IT'S ONLY HURTING THE HIGH EARNING RETIREES? THAT'S INSUTING. >> SPEAKER: WE'RE STRUGGLING. >> THAT'S INSULTING, THAT WHEN WE DON'T THINK OF THINGS IN ADVANCE, THAT IS HOW SCREWY IT CAN GET. >> SPEAKER: I GOT A CLOSE FRIEND FROM VIRGINIA AND HE'S A HILLBILLY AND HE TELLS ME, IT STUCK WITH ME, HE GOES RAT POISON IS 90 PERCENT CORN AND 10 PERCENT POISON AND I BELIEVE THE TRUTH IF YOU PUT 10 PERCENT OF THE LIE IN A TRUTH IT TURNS OUT TO BE POISON. >> JUST KNOW, AT LEAST I'M PAYING ATTENTION. WE'RE ALL ON THE SAME PAGE. >> SPEAKER: THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO WORK FOR YOU, THE LAST YEARS OF MY RETIREMENT AND STUFF. IT'S BEEN A PLEASURE. THANK YOU SO MUCH. >> THANK YOU. >> WE APPRECIATE YOU. >> MAY I ADD, THERE ARE PEOPLE--[INDISCERNIBLE] >> SPEAKER: GOOD EVENING, I'M A RETIREE AS WELL. I'M HERE FOR A DIFFERENT REASON. I'M HERE TO SAY THAT WE HAVE A BUSINESS LEWIS FOOD TOWN OPERATING IN HARRIS COUNTY AND OP --OPERATING FOR 20 YEARS ILLEGALLY IN HARRIS COUNTY WHERE MOST OF THEIR STORES ARE LOCATED, PEOPLE ARE GETTING HURT, EMPLOYEES BEING AMPUTATED, A PERSON HAS DIED. I'VE GOTTEN INJURED AND THEY, IT IS BEEN A WASHED UNDER. ACCORDING TO HARRIS COUNTY, ENGINEER DEPARTMENT, I ASKED FOR A, TO SEE WHO HAD COMPLIANCE AND MOST OF THE STORES DID NOT HAVE COMPLIANCE. THERE IS NO RECORD THEM. I ASKED THE FIRE MARSHAL TO COME OUT AND DO SOME INVESTIGATION, THEY FOUND THAT THESE PEOPLE WERE IN VIOLATION OF MANY LAWS AND IN THE CITY, THEY HAVE STORES BUT THEY ARE IN COMPLIANCE. SO I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE EQUITY. >> THANK YOU. >> I HAVE A PACKAGE FOR TO YOU CONSIDER AND CHECK THAT OUT. >> THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. >> THANK YOU. >> STEPHANIE VALDEZ SPEAKING VIRTUALLY ON 281, YOU HAVE ONE MINUTE. >> SPEAKER: GOOD AFTERNOON, [04:40:03] COMMISSIONERS I'M STEPHANIE VALDEZ MY APOLOGIES FOR NOT BEING PRESENT. I'M A WORK TRIP BUT I WANTED TO CALL IN AND SHOW MY SUPPORT TO ITEM 181, AND JUST WANT TO SAY THIS IS ABOUT THE PEOPLE MOST IMPACTED BY POLICY ACTUALLY HAVE A SEAT AT THE TABLE. IMMIGRANT AND REFUGEE ARE THE BACKBONE OF THE COUNTY AND THEY CONTRIBUTE TO OUR ECONOMY AND CULTURE AND OUR NEIGHBORHOODS EVERY DAY. IT'S NOT SYMBOLIC, IT'S PRACTICAL AND IT CREATES A SPACE FOR REAL FEEDBACK AND INFORMED DECISION-MAKING. AT A TIME WHEN THERE IS A LOT OF FEAR BEING AMPLIFIED, THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THE COUNTY TO LEAD WITH HUMANITY. AND IT DOES NOT REFLECT THE FULL PICTURE OF OUR COMMUNITY AND I WANT TO SAY TO OUR LATINO COMMISSIONERS, THIS IS ALL FOR A MOMENT FOR TO YOU SPEAK UP. OUR COMMUNITIES ARE WATCHING AND IMMIGRANTS ACROSS HARRIS COUNTY, SHOW UP EVERY DAY AND RIGHT NOW, WE NEED YOU TO SHOW UP FOR US. SILENCE IN A MOMENT LIKE THIS H SPEAKS LOUDLY. AND WE NEED LEADERSHIP THAT IS BOLD AND GROUNDED IN OUR COMMUNITIES. PLEASE SUPPORT THIS ITEM AND MOVE FORWARD. >> THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. >> ALL RIGHT, WE HAVE ONE MORE VIRTUAL SPEAKER THAT WE'RE STILL TRYING TO GET IN TOUCH WITH SO I'LL LET YOU KNOW IF WE'RE TRYING TO GET HER AND THAT'S ALL THE SPEAKERS ON THE LIST. I DON'T KNOW IF ANYBODY CAME IN AFTER THEIR NAME WAS CALLED. >> MAY I. >> YOU DID SIGN UP SIR? >> MAY I TAKE, AEFR SPEAKS, I WOULD LIKE TO TAKE A PERSONAL PRIVILEGE TO SPEAK. >> SPEAKER: I'M NON-AGENDA. >> BUT YOU SIGNED UP TO SPEAK? >> SPEAKER: YES, I AM--. >> SAY YOUR NAME. >> SPEAKER: I'M STEVEN K, I LIVE HERE IN HOUSTON, I GREW UP HERE. I HAVE BEEN A PATIENT OF HARRIS HEALTH FOR YEARS, IT'S INTERESTING THAT THEY'RE ALL TODAY LOBBYING FOR MORE MONEY AND EXPANDING AND ALWAYS TALKING ABOUT PATIENT HEALING RECOVERY, SAFETY, DIGNITY, ALL THESE GREAT WORDS, SAFETY NET FOR THE MOST VULNERABLE OF THE COUNTY. UNFORTUNATELY, A EXAMPLE OF THAT NOT BEING THE CASE. THEY TURN INTIGENT INTO CASH COWS. NOBODY IS TRYING TO OPTIMIZE THE MONEY THAT THEY HAVE, JUST USE MORE. IF WE GO OVERBOARD CAN WE EXTEND IT, BECAUSE I'VE BEEN HERE SINCE 9:00 AM, THEY TOLD US IT WOULD BE BEFORE LUNCH BREAK, I PAID LIKE $10 FOR PARKING. THE CARE IS WRECKLESS, I LOST EVERYTHING. >> IF YOU WOULD LIKE, YOU CAN SUBMIT A STATEMENT AS WELL. >> IF YOU CAN INTERVENE, I WOULD APPRECIATE THAT. THANK YOU. >> SPEAKER: HI I'M LA TRICIA MARSHAL I SIGNED UP BECAUSE I RETIRED FROM HARRIS COUNTY ABOUT 15 YEARS AGO. AND YOU KNOW, THE COST OF LIVING AND EVERYTHING HAS GONE UP OVER THE YEARS PLUS OUR INSURANCE AND OUR DEDUCTIBLES HAS. MY DEDUCTABLE FOR MY MS MEDICATION HAD TO BE $250, I HAD TO GO TO EVERY OTHER MONTH BECAUSE I COULD NOT AFFORD THAT EVERY MONTH. CIGNA HELPED ME GET A MANUFACTURER COUPON AND THEY TOOK CARE OF MY DEDUCTABLE AND NOW THAT WE'VE BEEN TRANSFERRED TO SILVER SCRIPTS, THEY'RE NO LONGER ALLOWING MANUFACTURED COUPON BECAUSE THEY'RE CONSIDERED MEDICARE PART D, PLAN RATHER THAN WHEN HARRIS COUNTY HAD US ON IT. >> THANK YOU, YOUR TIME IS UP. >> SPEAKER: SO I WOULD ASK THE COMMISSIONERS JUST PLEASE, RECONSIDER, BECAUSE IT WILL COST ME $3000 A YEAR FOR ONE OF MY MEDICATIONS ON THE NEW PLAN. >> HOW MANY YEARS DID YOU SERVE THE COUNTY? >> I WAS AT THIS COUNTY FOR 19 YEARS AND AT GAL VASTAN FOR 13 YEARS. >> AND FOR THE RETIREES, TELL THEM WHAT THEIR OPTIONS AS INTERIM SOLUTIONS AND WE'LL BE DISCUSSING THAT SOON. >> I THINK WE HAVE ANOTHER [04:45:01] SPEAKER, I THINK THIS IS THE LAST ONE. YES, MA'AM AND JUST SAY YOUR NAME. >> SPEAKER: ANY NAME IS YOLANDA ANDRADE, THIS IS MY FIRST TIME EVER DOING THIS AND THIS IS HARD FOR ME TO DO THIS. I'M 69 AND I'VE BEEN IN HOUSTON FOR MANY YEARS. I KNOW ALL THE GOOD WORK YOU DO AND I SEE IT ON THE NEWS BUT UNFORTUNATELY, I HAD BEEN BLACKLISTED FOR THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS. AND PER THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE, THEY TOLD ME THAT I REJECTED MY COMPLAINT AND THEY TOLD ME THAT I NEEDED TO GO THROUGH THE PROCESS. SO HERE I AM. I HAVE BEEN, I WILL BE EMAILING Y'ALL ALL OF Y'ALL SOME DOCUMENTS THAT I HAVE TO PROVE MY INNOCENCE AND THIS IS WHAT I WANT. I WANT. >> THANK YOU YOUR TIME IS UP. >> SO WE'LL HAVE SOMEBODY FOLLOW-UP WITH YOU. OKAY. THANK YOU. >> COMMISSIONER WE HAVE THE FINAL VIRTUAL SPEAKER. WE HAVE THEM. >> COMMISSIONER, DID YOU WANT TO SAY SOMETHING. >> WHILE THE VIRTUAL SPEAKER COMES ON, THANK YOU, TIFFANY. I WANT TO RECOGNIZE MIKE KNOX, SHE IS HERE TO SHOW SUPPORT ON ITEM 334 WHICH IS THE VINTAGE 5K RACE ON JUNE 6, 2026. SO THANK YOU COUNCILMEMBER KNOX. >> MIKE, I'M NOT WEARING MY GLASSES BUT I THOUGHT THAT WAS YOU. >> THANK YOU FOR YOUR PARTNERSHIP. >> VIRTUALLY, YOU HAVE ONE MINUTE. [Departments (Part 4 of 6)] >> WE'LL COME BACK TO HIM. JAY, YOU WANT TO GO THROUGH THE CORRECTIONS AND NO ACTION? REVIEW ITEMS? >> SURE. WE CAN DO THE CORRECTIONS NO ACTIONS. ALL RIGHT. PAGE 11 ITEM 98, NO ACTION IS NEED. THAT'S THE BROAD LEGISLATIVE DISCUSSION ITEM. PAGE 12, 102, UNIVERSAL SERVICES REQUESTED NO ACTION. PAGE 38, 295, NO ACTION. PAGE 31, 237 PERSON HAS REQUESTED NO ACTION. PAGE 36.385 THERE IS A CORRECTION ADD AND FOR THE COUNTY CLERK TO EXECUTE ANY APPLICABLE BONDS RECEIVED AFTER DISTRICT--. PAGE 61, NO ACTION. PAGE 51, 428 CONSTABLE ONE REQUEST NO ACTION. PURCHASING HAS REQUESTED NO ACTION. PAGE 55, ITEM 453 ADD IN THE ADDITIONAL AMOUNT AFTER FIRE TRON INCORPORATED AND REMOVE OR UNTIL A NEW CONTRACT IS IN PLACE WITH NO INCREASE IN PRICING. PAGE 56 ITEM 462, COUNTY JUDGE'S REQUESTED NO ACTION. >> JAY, HOW ABOUT, I HAVE ALSO 127, NO ACTION. >> I DON'T HAVE THAT BUT LET ME TAKE A LOOK HERE. >> WHAT IS THAT? >> THAT IS FROM, THAT'S A SHERIFF'S ITEM. DID YOU GET A REQUEST FOR NO ACTION? >> I BELIEVE WE GOT A EMAIL. >> SO NO ACTION ON 137. --127. >> OKAY, IS THAT IS IT. >> ON CORRECTIONS AND NO ACTION, THAT'S ALL I HAVE. >> IS THAT A MOTION--DID YOU GET THAT OTHER SPEAKER? I WANT TO MAKE SURE. >> NOT YET. >> NOT YET. OKAY--. >> CAN I ADD ONE? >> SURE. >> CAN I ADD 182 TO DISCUSSION. >> 182. >> 1-8-2. >> TO DISCUSSION, SURE. YES, SIR. >> AND COMMISSIONER ELLIS, SHOULD WE GO THROUGH THE EXECUTIVE SESSIONS BEFORE WE DO THE EXECUTIVE. >> I'M HOPING WE DON'T GO BACK ON ANY ONE. >> WHO WANTS TO GO OUT AND ENJOY THIS DAY? >> ALL RIGHT THESE ARE THE [04:50:02] EXECUTIVE SESSION ITEMS. PAGE 48, 401, THIS IS REQUEST BY THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR FOR DISCUSSION OF APPOINTMENT OF CHARA NOMINEE OF COMMISSIONER TO HARRIS COUNTY AREA AGENCY. ON AGING. >> NO. >> WHY DON'T WE DO IT THIS WAY, ARE THERE ANY EXECUTIVE SESSION THAT A MEMBER OF THE COMMISSIONERS COURT WANTS TO GO ON. >> I THINK THERE IS ONE. THAT WE HAVE TO, THERE IS--. >> WHICH ONE. >> TWO FOLKS NOMINATED? >> 403? >> SO 404, WE DO NEED GO BACK FROM THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR. >> OKAY. >> ON 405 WHICH IS FROM UNIVERSAL SERVICES THAT SHOULD BE ON DISCUSSION NOT EXECUTIVE. >> ON DISCUSSION. >> ITEM 405, SHOULD BE ON DISCUSSION. >> AND YAY, WHEN YOU GET A CHANCE, I MAY HAVE A QUESTION HERE. >> I'D I WOULD LIKE TO DISCUSS 407 PLEASE. >> 407 IN EXECUTIVE SESSION. >> JAY, SHE MAKES YOU WORKUP THE MOTION SO I DON'T FORGET. SO THAT'S, I THINK I HEARD, 403. >> 403. >> YEAH, 403, 404, IS THAT RIGHT? AND. >> I THINK YOU WANT 411. >> 405. >> 411? >> 411? >> YES, PLEASE. >> COLLEAGUES IS THAT IT? YOU WANT TO LOOK AT THEM AGAIN? JAY. >> CAN YOU PLEASE READ THE EXECUTIVE SESSION ONES. >> THE ONES THAT WE'LL GO BACK ON. >> DO WE NEED TO GO BACK ON 408. >> GOD BLESS YOU. >> CHIEF MEDICAL EXAMINER. >> I'M GOOD WITH IT. >> SO RIGHT NOW, 404, 404, 407 AND 411, IS THAT RIGHT? >> COLLEAGUES? >> 403, 404, 407 AND 411? >> THAT'S CORRECT. >> I FEEL COMFORTABLE. I DON'T WANT TO RUSH YOU. >> I NEED. >> WE NEED A MOTION FOR 456. WE NEED A NAME. >> MADE BY COMMISSIONER GARCIA, I'LL SECOND IT. ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE. >> AYE. >> FOUR AYES. >> THE ONLY THING ON THAT ONE, AFFECTIVE JULY 15TH. >> ON--OKAY, SO THIS IS ON 456? >> 456. >> MOTION IS TO APPROVE AFFECTIVE JULY 15TH AND THE NAME? >> FILEMON BELLA. >> FILEMON BELLA. >> YOU HAVE TO SPELL IT. >> WE CAN LOOK. >> VERY SUPPORTIVE. GOOD CHOICE. >> ARE WE GOOD? >> 408. THERE IS THE TITLE ISSUE IN TERMS OF CARRYING ONE TITLE, IS IT CARRYING ONE OR TWO TITLE? >> SO THE BOARD HAS APPROVED BUT AS COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR, I CAN APPOINT WITHOUT A VOTE. >> IT'S INTERIM? >> IT'S INTERIM. >> SHE JUST ANSWERED. >> OKAY. [Appearances Before Court (Part 2 of 2)] I DON'T WANT TO RUSH US, ARE WE OKAY? DID WE GET THE SPEAKER ON THE LINE? >> YES, SIR. ARANDI, YOU HAVE ONE MINUTE. >> THANK YOU, MY NAME IS ARANDI AND I'M FOUNDER OF RAIZES HOME TO MANY IMMIGRANTS DOCUMENTED AND NOT DOCUMENTED I'M HERE IN SUPPORT OF 281. I THINK THIS COMMISSION IS IMPORTANT BECAUSE THERE IS A LOT OF MISINFORMATION AMID, ICE, TOUGHEST ENFORCEMENT AND WE DON'T SEE IT AS MUCH ON THE NEWS IS HAPPENING HERE IN HOUSTON AND IT IS VERY IMPORTANT THAT THE COMMUNITY RECEIVE FULL FACTUAL INFORMATION, ACCURATE INFORMATION AND THAT THE DECISIONS MADE BY THE COUNTY ARE BASED OFF OF HE'S REALITIES. FOR EXAMPLE, I WANT TO POINT OUT THAT THIS CITY WOULDN'T BE WHAT IT IS IF IT WAS NOT FOR THEIR IMMIGRANTS, IT WAS CONTINUE BE THE MOST VIE LESSER AND ALSO WOULDN'T BE, YOU KNOW, AS THRIVING. >> THANK YOU YOUR TIME IS UP. >> THANK YOU, THANK YOU VERY MUCH AND WE CATCH YOUR DRIFT. THANK YOU. OKAY, COMMISSIONER GARCIA? [Departments (Part 5 of 6)] >> I HAVE ONE ITEM JUST I THINK IT'S JUST CLARIFICATION. >> OKAY. [04:55:01] >> ON ITEM 291, IT JUST NEEDED TO ADD THE WORDS RATIFICATION OF REQUESTED FOR APPROVAL OF RATIFICATION OF RENEWAL. >> OKAY, WE'RE GOOD ON THAT. >> UH-HUH. I'M SORRY AND I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE ITEM 407 AND 408 I KNOW THOSE APPOINTMENTED THEY WILL BE APPROVED AS PRESENTED? >> YES. YES, MA'AM. >> JUST WITH THE TITLE CHANGE ACTING OR INTERN. >> AND JUST TO CONFIRM 456 WAS GARCIA ELLIS, 4-0? >> YES. AND COMMISSIONER ELLIS, I HAVE THREE TO ADD TO THE DISCUSSION LIST. >> NUMBER 3. >> UH-HUH AND SINCE 384 IS CONSENT, GOING BACK, MR. KNOX, THIS IS MY HARDEST WITH YOU AND YOUR FAMILY. THIS IS POWERFUL. FOR THOSE WHO MAY NOT KNOW THE CONTENT, COUNCILMEMBER KNOX GAVE THE ULTIMATE SACRIFICE MAY 2, 2020, HE GAVE HIS LIFE IN SERVICE OF OUR COMMUNITY AND HE HAD A DREAM TO PRESERVE THE HISTORY OF HOUSTON POLICE DEPARTMENT BY ACQUIRING MAINTAINING EXHIBITING AND PRESERVING HISTORICAL EXAMPLE OF POLICE PATROL VEHICLES AND EQUIPMENT. AND SO TODAY, HIS FATHER HONORABLE MIKE KNOX, HIS WIFE CARA, HONORS HIS LEGACY AND HIS ULTIMATE SACRIFICE BY CONTINUING THIS DREAM THROUGH THIS NONPROFIT VINTAGE HPD. SO ON JUNE 6, 2026, WE INVITE TO YOU PAUL LANDING, WHICH IS A SPECTACULAR PARK, IT'S A 5-K, CHECK IN BEGINS AT 7:00 AND THE RACE BEGINS AT 8:00. I WILL BE RECOVERING FROM KNEE SURGERY SO I WILL NOT BE THERE BUT I WILL BE THERE IN SPIRIT AND MAYBE NEXT YEAR, I'LL BE STRONG ENOUGH TO RUN. MY HEART AND PRAYERS ARE WITH YOU AND I KNOW YOUR SON IS LOOKING DOWN FROM HEAVEN WITH PRIDE AND GRATITUDE. SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH. >> THANK YOU, VERY MUCH COMMISSIONER AND SEND US A NOTE. I MAY BE THE LAST ONE TO COME IN BUT I'M GOING TO TRY. NO BIKE RIDING ON THAT ONE. WE'RE SO SORRY FOR YOUR LOSS, AND GOOD TO SEE YOU. ANYTHING ELSE, COLLEAGUES? THERE IS A MOTION BY COMMISSIONER GARCIA. >> REAL QUICK. >> YOU WANT TO GO THROUGH THE DISCUSSION LIST? OR KEEP IT AS IS. >> I'M GOING TO LEAVE IT AS IS. >> CAN, CAN WE VERIFY THAT, BECAUSE I KNOW SOME OF THEM WERE VOTED ON. >> OKAY, YOU CAN RUN THROUGH IT. >> SURE, WHAT I HAVE RIGHT NOW IS ITEM 1, ITEM 2, ITEM 3, ITEM 99, ITEM 105, -- ~>> HOLD ON ONE SECOND. >> DO YOU WANT ME TO GO THROUGH THE LIST. >> GO AHEAD. >> I HAVE 1, 2, 3, 6, 11, 86, 99, 105, 107, 126, 135, 136, 181, 182, 195, 212, 235, 281, 282, 309, 353, 405, 409, 410, 416, 435, 455, AND 458. >> EVERYBODY IS OKAY WITH THAT. CAN YOU TELL SOMEBODY TO PRINT A COPY AND WE'LL PASS IT OUT HERE. YOU'RE QUICKER THAN I AM. >> OKAY, AND THEN I HAVE A QUESTION, HOW ABOUT ITEM NUMBER 7? >> AND THAT IS A REQUEST FOR DISCUSSION POSSIBLE ACTION MONTHLY UPDATE OUTSTANDING BALANCE? >> NO ACTION. >> NO ACTION. >> THANK YOU. >> WE'RE GOOD EVERYBODY. >> YEAH AND I RED THE RESOLUTION. >> WE'LL DO IT AFTER THIS. SO AS A MOTION BY COMMISSIONER GAR SEE A I'LL SECOND FOR THE CONSENT AGENDA ALL FOR IT VOTE AYE. >> AYE. >> PASSES UNANIMOUS. COMMISSIONER RAMSEY, THAT WAS A REQUEST. SO--459? THIS IS COMMISSIONER RAMSEY'S RESOLUTION. [05:00:03] COMMISSIONER RAMSEY, I KNOW WE PASSED A RULE SAYING WE WOULD NOT READ RESOLUTIONS, BUT WOULD YOU HAVE TO SUSPEND THE RULES. IT WOULD BE A GOOD IDEA TO BRING IT UP THAT WHEN THE JUDGE IS HERE, BY THE WAY, IF YOU WOULD LIKE. >> JUST FROM THE TIMING OF IT ALL, I THINK READ ITING HERE AND WE TALKED ABOUT IT AGAIN ONCE SHE RETURNS. HER HAVING MISSED THE LAST THREE MEETINGS, I DON'T KNOW WHEN SHE IS COMING. I APPRECIATE THE, THE RULE. >> ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU. SO WE'LL GO ON TO THE NEXT. >> NO I WANT TO READ IT. >> SO YOU NEED TO MAKE A MOTION. >> I MAKE A MOTION TO SUSPEND THE RULES SO I CAN READ A RESOLUTION. >> IS THERE A SECOND. OKAY. MOTION DIES FOR LACK. >> IS GUESS, I WILL NOT READ THE RESOLUTION, YOU GET WITH ME AND I'LL TELL YOU WHAT THAT RESOLUTION SAYS. >> OKAY, LET'S GO TO THE CONSENT AGENDA. >> WE'RE ALL ON THE SAME PAGE. >> WE CAN READ AND DISCUSS AND GUESS. >> I'M ASSUME -- ~>> COMMISSIONER YOU HAVE THE MICROPHONE. >> MAYBE THIS IS, I DON'T KNOW, WHAT ME TYPE A PERSON, SO WE'RE ALL ON THE SAME PAGE. BUSINESS COURT, WE CAN HAVE RESOLUTION SXZ HAVE GUESTS, SO WE KNOW THIS WILL BE HAPPENING ON WHAT DAY, CAN YOU TELL EVERYONE WHEN THE NEXT BUSINESS COURT MEETING IS? >> LET ME CHECK. >> AND JUST THE REASON I WOULD ASK AND I WAS. >> NEXT THURSDAY. >> THIS THURSDAY? >> NEXT THURSDAY. >> I WAS FULLY SUPPORTIVE OF US NOT READING RESOLUTIONS IN GENERAL. AND WE MOVED THAT BUSINESS COURT FULL RECOGNITION. BUT THE REASON I WOULD EVEN ASK IS EXTRAORDINARY HOUSTON RODEO THAT WE JUST EXPERIENCED, WE'VE GOT TWO MORE DAYS OF IT. IF YOU HAVEN'T BEEN, YOU NEED TO GO. THAT'S A PERSONAL PLUG TO GO TO THE RODEO. AND THEY'VE DONE EXTRAORDINARY THINGS FOR THE BOARD FOR THEM TO TAKE THE TIME TO DEAL WITH THE INAPPROPRIATE ACTIVITIES OF LINA HIDALGO AT THE RODEO THAT'S WHY I WAS ASKING. THERE WILL BE A RESOLUTION, AND WE'LL LOOK AT A RESOLUTION AT A BUSINESS COURT GOING FORWARD. BUT THAT'S THE WHY REASONS WHY AND I WAS CLEAR IN TERMS OF COMMUNICATING THAT WITH THE PRESS EARLIER. SO THANK YOU FOR CONSIDERING. >> COLLEAGUE, I WOULD SAY, YOU AND I ARE THE ONES THAT DO TT LEAST RESOLUTIONS, SO I'M NOT SURE THAT WAS MY RULE OR YOUR RULE. MY RESPONSE WAS, I'M NOT GOING TO SUSPEND THE RULES TO READ IT. THAT WAS MY WAY OF GETTING OUT OF IT. THAT WILL COME UP WHEN WE HAVE THE NEXT BUSINESS COURT. >> THIS WILL BE A NO ACTION. >> JUST DELAYED. >> COMMISSIONER ARE THE NEXT BUSINESS COURT IS TO MARCH 31. >> TUESDAY MARCH 31. >> OKAY, AND I'M ASSUMING SO I UNDERSTAND THE RULES, WE WOULD VOTE ON THE BUSINESS AGENDA FIRST? >> AND THEN GO TO THE RESOLUTION. >> CORRECT. >> I WANT YOU ALL TO HAVE ALL THE TIME THAT YOU NEED ON THEM. >> AND TO BE CLEAR FOR THE PUBLIC, AGAIN JUST TO TB CLEAR FOR THE PUBLIC, THAT DURING BUSINESS COURT THESE RESOLUTIONS CAN BE HEAD, SPEAKERS AND SIGN UP, THE PICTURES ALL THE THINGS, CORRECT? JAY? >> YES, CORRECT. THAT'S CORRECT, COMMISSIONER. >> READ THE RESOLUTIONS AND SPEAKERS AND PICTURES? I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO IT. THAT IS WONDERFUL. NEXT, WE GO TO--CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR FIRST DAY. WE'RE SO GLAD TO HAVE YOU HERE. >> THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE] >> AND THAT'S ITEM ONE. COMMISSIONER RAMSEY, YOU PULLED IT. DISCUSSION ON COUNTY WIDE OPERATIONS OF FISCAL IMPACTS OF SENATE BILL 9? GET YOUR MIC, SIR. >> OBVIOUSLY, SENATE BILL 9, THAT PARTICULAR BILL IS DONE, I THINK MANY EXCELLENT THINGS. WHEN YOU LOOK AT, AT THE BILL IN GENERAL, AND THE SPECIFICS OF OF RESTRICTED BILL, PUBLIC SAFETY REPORTS, PROSECUTORIAL APPEAL, FOCUS ON DANGEROUS OFFENDERS. SO THERE IS CERTAIN IMPACTS AND COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH THAT. TWO NEW POSITIONS, TECHNICAL STAFF, STAFF ATTORNEY TO SUPPORT THE WORKLOAD OF THE DISTRICT COURTS. [05:05:05] AGAIN I APPLAUD THE DISTRICT JUDGES THAT ARE AND HAVING COMING AND ON WEEKEND AND HOLIDAYS TO COMPLY WITH SENATE BILL 9. SO I SIMPLY MAKE THE MOTION TO APPROVE AS WRITTEN ITEM NUMBER 1. >> I THINK COMMISSIONER BROWN YOU HAVE SOMETHING YOU WANTED TO ADD TO IT AS WELL? AM I RIGHT OR WRONG? >> I DO SOME MOTIONS, I THINK EVERYONE HAS RECEIVED A HOP'? >> YES. >> CARTER WOULD YOU LIKE TO MAKE ANY COMMENTS WITH REGARDS TO THIS? BEFORE I READ IT >> THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER. I THINK DIRECTOR MILLS IS GOING TO DO TWO SHORT SLIDES JUST TO MAKE SURE EVERYBODY HAS THE SAME INFORMATION. >> ABSOLUTELY. TIFFANY IF YOU CAN PULL THE SIDE DECK, PLEASE. NEXT SLIDE. SO, COMMISSIONER AS YOU NOTED, SB9 WAS A BIG CHANGE AND IT DID REQUIRED WEEKEND OPERATIONS WHICH HAD NOT OCCUR PREVIOUSLY WITHIN THE DISTRICT COURTS. IT ALSO HAD SOME DOWNSTREAM IMPLICATIONS AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT THIS COURT DID VERY SWIFTLY ACTUALLY WAS TO PUT TOGETHER OR ALLOCATE TO ALLOW DEPARTMENTS TO SPEND OVERTIME TO COVER WEEKEND AND HOLIDAY SHIFTS THAT HAS BEEN AFFECTIVE. THE JUSTICE STAKEHOLDERS HAVE PUT TOGETHER, VERY QUICKLY PUT THE OP RAYINGS TOGETHER QUICKLY AND CONTINUED TO FUNCTION IN A WAY THAT I THINK HAS BEEN, COST CONSCIENCE. WITHIN THE MONEY THAT WAS ALLOCATED ALREADY WITH THE ONE MILLION DOLLARS, THE ANNUALIZE COSTS IN FY27 WOULD BE 1.8 AND THAT'S THE OVERTIME FOR ALL THE DEPARTMENTS AND THE TWO PC NS FOR DISTRICT COURTS. AND I'M GOING TO DO IT IN ONE SLIDE UNLESS YOU ALL HAVE QUESTIONS. ANY QUESTIONS? >> NO I'M OKAY, TO WORK WITH SB9 IMPACTED DEPARTMENTS TO EVALUATE AND DISTRIBUTE CENTRALLY FUNDS FOR INCLUSION IN THE FY27, PROCESS INCLUDING RECOMMENDATIONS ON WHETHER SUCH FUNDING SHOULD BE TIME BASE LINE, BUDGETS, GOD BLESS YOU TO WHOEVER IS SNEEZING. IN COORDINATION WITH HUMAN RESOURCES AND TALENT OMB AND OCA TO ASSESS SB9 RELATED OPERATIONAL NEEDS AND RETURN TO COMMISSIONERS COURT BY APRIL 16TH WITH RECOMMENDATION INCLUDING ANY REQUEST FOR THE CREATION OF UP TO TWO NEW PCNS. >> I'LL SECOND. IS THERE ANY OTHER DISCUSSION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? SAY AYE. >> AYE. >> ALL OPPOSED SAY NO. FOUR-AYES, NO NAYS. IT PASSES. NEXT IDEA IS ITEM 2, THIS IS A REQUEST. DISCUSSION AND DEMONSTRATION OF JAIL POPULATION DASHBOARD ALONG WITH WITH THE STANDING JAIL UPDATE DISCUSSION. THE REDESIGN DASHBOARD IS CLEAR AND MORE USEFUL. IT HELPS TURN DATA TO THE COURT AND PUBLIC. STILL GIVES US A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF TRENDS AND KEY DRIVERS. THE FOCUS SHOULD BE USING THIS DATA TO IMPROVE OUTCOMES REDUCE UNNECESSARY JAIL STAYS AND SUPPORT PUBLIC SAFETY. SO I APPRECIATE ALL THE WORK THAT WAS DONE TOWARDS THE DEMONSTRATION OF THIS PROJECT AND ALL THE INPUT THAT EVERYBODY GAVE. I'M GRATEFUL TO THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY FOR THE RESENT ANNOUNCEMENT, THE WORK BEING DONE TO REDUCE THE POPULATION. WHAT DO WE DO? WE GOT IT FROM 150 ABOUT TO 120. [05:10:01] >> THE AVERAGE LENGTH TO STAY FROM 188 DOWN BELOW 160 WHICH IS, IT'S 156. >> SO WE TRIMMED IT UP BY ABOUT 30 DAYS. THOSE 30 DAYS, IN MY DAY, I DON'T KNOW IF YOU KNOW THIS NUMBER, A HEALTHY INMATE WOULD COST THE COUNTY AN AVERAGE OF $80 TODAY. DO YOU KNOW WHAT THE COST IS TODAY? >> 105. >> 105 FOR HEALTHY INMATE. INMATE WITH PSYCHIATRIC MEDICATIONS WERE IN THE RANGE OF $300 TODAY IT'S CLOSER TO $400. >> YES, SIR. >> WOULD I ADD THE MATH, REGARDLESS OF THE POPULATION, 30 PERCENT OF THE INMATE ARE ON PSYCHO TROPIC MEDICATION. SO ASSUMING THAT 30 PERCENT OF THE 30 DAYS IS, IMPACTS THOSE THAT HAVE PSYCHO TROPIC MEDICATIONS, THE SAVINGS IS INCREDIBLE JUST FOR 30 DAYS! AND SO, I DON'T WANT PEOPLE TO LOOK AT THIS AND SAY, OH WHAT'S THE BIG HOOPLA OVER 30 DAYS, IT'S A BIG NUMBER. AND SO I'M JUST GRATEFUL. WE CAN CANCEL THE CONTRACTS AND HELP PEOPLE THAT LASALLE IS LO LONGER A VENDOR OF OURS FOR THESE NICED. SO I APPRECIATE ALL WORK BEING DONE. >> DID YOU WANT TO SHOW US A SLIDE. >> IF POSSIBLE, SHE WOULD LIKE TO DEMO. WHILE SHE IS PULLING THAT UP, I KNOW IT'S BEEN A LONG TIME COMING. THERE IS BEEN A GREAT TEAM WORKING ON IT, ESPECIALLY THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM PROCESS IMPROVEMENT COMMITTEE WHICH HAS BEEN A DRIVING FORCE AND OUR JUSTICE STAKEHOLDERS. I ALSO WANT TO THANK ON THE OFFICE OF COUNTY ADMINISTRATION, OF COURSE, DIRECTOR TANIA MILLS, AJ ROY WHO LEADS A DATA TEAM AND JUSTICE AND INNOVATION TEAM WHICH MAKES THIS TRULY GROUNDBREAKING AND ACTIONABLE AND JUST LAST WEEK, THEY WERE REPRESENTING THIS, AT A JUSTICE CHALLENGE AND LOS ANGELES COUNTY AND COOK COUNTY WERE ALREADY TRYING TO STEAL THESE IDEAS, THEY CONSIDER A BEST PRACTICE AND VERY EXCITED. THIS WILL GO LIVE MARCH 31, 2026, MARCH 31 AND DIRECTOR MILLS IS READY TO DEMO. >> THANK YOU, I, I WANT TO GIVE A PERSONAL THANKS TO THE DATA TEAM WHO TOOK SOMETHING THAT WAS A VISION AND MADE IT A REALITY IN RECORD TIME AND I HAVE TO GIVE A SHOUT OUT TO THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE WHO PARTNERED WITH US AND REALLY HELPED MAKE THIS BETTER, A BETTER PRODUCT AS WE WENT ALONG. SO WE'RE GOING TO DIG INTO THE DATA, I KNOW WE'RE PRESSED FOR TIME, I'M NOT GOING TO SPEND A LOT OF TIME ON THE FIRST PAGE. I KNOW MANY OF YOU NOTICE, MANY OF THESE DATA ARE THINGS THAT I TALK ABOUT IN THE JAIL UPDATES. NOW IT'S ACCESSIBLE TO YOU. AT ANY POINT, YOU WANT TO SEE IT OR COME THE 31, IT WILL BE ACCESS OBL --ACCESSIBLE TO YOU. HERE WE CAN LOOK AT THE STAYS OVER A YEAR AND SEE THE AVERAGE WENT FROM 156 TO 750 FOR THE INMATES IN CUSTODY WHO ARE IN CUSTODY OVER A YEAR. ONE OF THE WAYS THAT THIS DIFFERS FROM THE DASHBOARD THAT WE HAVE TODAY, WHEN YOU GO IT'S A LONG SCROLL AND YOU'VE GOT TO GO TO THE BOTTOM OF THE PAGE TO SEE THINGS. HERE WE HAVE DESIGNED THIS SO YOU HAVE A SIDEBAR SO YOU CAN GO FROM DEMOGRAPHIC TO CHARGES. WORKED WITH US AT THIS TOO. YOU CAN SEE THE DISTRIBUTION CHANGED AND WE'RE ABLE TO SEE THE TOP 15 DRUG CHARGES THAT ARE IN CUSTODY OVER 120 DAYS THAT GIVES US AN ACTIONABLE WAY TO LOOK AT SOME CASES THAT WE MAY BE ABLE TO EXPEDITE AND GET OUT OF JAIL. WE CAN ALSO, Y'ALL SEE HOW OT IPT ACTION WORKS HERE. THE TRENDS IS WHERE THE MAGIC HAPPENS. AT LEAST FOR ME, I WATCH THIS ALL THE TIME. HERE WE ARE WE'RE THE AVERAGE JAIL POPULATION, THIS IS A YEAR AFTER YEAR, YOU CAN SEE HOW WE [05:15:04] XWAIR TO LAST YEAR WITH THE AVERAGE DAILY JAIL POPULATION. COMMISSIONER GARCIA TO YOUR POINT, TO THE RIGHT IS THE AVERAGE LENGTH OF STAY AND IN THIS CASE, IT'S TERRIBLY EVIDENT THAT THE AVERAGE STAY HAS HELPED IT STABILIZE. LATE LAST FALL, WE TALKED ABOUT THE WITH THE IMPACTS OF SB9, PROJECTION MODELS THAT COULD HAVE US LOOKING RALLY BAD WHERE WE WOULD STAY STABLE AND WHAT WE ASKED IS THE JUSTICE WORK TO KEEP THE STAY OF THE IN CUSTOMER POPULATION BELOW 160 DAYS THAT WILL HELP US STAY STABLE AND THEY'RE DOING THAT FOR US. YOU CAN SEE BOOKINGS AND RELEASES, THESE ARE ON A MONTHLY AVERAGE BUT YOU CAN ALSO INTERACT ON THE LAST 30 DAYS BY CLICKING THIS BUTTON AND IT WILL SHOW YOU THE LAST 30 DAYS OF THE JAIL POPULATIONS, THE SAME WITH THE BOOKINGS, COMMISSIONER GARCIA, YOU'LL KNOW THAT THE NUMBER WE SPENT WITH INTAKES OVER 300, WE'RE KEEPING A CLOSE EYE ON THAT WITH THE JAIL AND WHEN THE INTAKES GET THAT HIGH, WE GET A LITTLE CONCERNEDMENT ONE OF THE OTHER DATA POINTS THAT WE WATCH ON THIS PAGE IS THIS RELEASED IN LESS THAN THREE DAYS WHEN I FIRST STARTED, I DID ANALYSIS FROM 2019 THROUGH MID-2024 AND THEN MONITORED IT. PRESB9, WE RELEASED ABOUT 60 PERCENT OF OUR POPULATION IN LESS THAN 3 DAYS. THAT PERCENTAGE HAS GONE DOWN. AND THAT IMPACTS HOW QUICKLY FOLKS RELEASE AND SO WE'RE SEEING MORE FOLKS STAY IN CUSTODY FOR A LITTLE BIT LONGER AND SOME ULTIMATELY DETAINED AND THEN, THE LAST PAGE THAT I'LL SHOW YOU IS PRETRIAL, COMMISSIONER GARCIA YOU ASKED ME MANY MANY MONTHS AGO TO SHOW YOU COURTS BY AVERAGE LENGTH OF STAY. THIS PAGE WILL ALLOW YOU TO SELECT THE COURT WITH LET'S LOOK AT THE DISTRICT COURT, WE CAN TO LOOKING AT A YEAR. FOR THOSE 62 CASES THAT ARE OVER A YEAR IN THAT COURT. AND THAT'S, THAT'S MOST OF THE DEMONSTRATION UNLESS YOU WOULD LIKE ME TO CLICK ON OTHER THINGS. THE POPULATION IS PRETTY STABLE, OUR CORE PARTNERS ARE WORKING VERY VERY DILIGENTLY AT HELPING US KEEP THE POSITION DOWN. AND THIS PRODUCT WILL BE LIVE MARCH 31 AND AJ ROY PROMISED ME THIS MORNING IT WOULD HAVE A MOBILE READY VERSION AND WHEN AJ SAYS HE IS GOING TO DO SOMETHING, HE WILL DO IT. SO YOU'LL HAVE ACCESS TO THIS. >> COMMISSIONER BRIONES AND THEN COMMISSIONER RAMSEY. >> THANK YOU, DIRECTOR MILLS, THIS DASHBOARD IS GOING TO BE HELPFUL FOR TRANSPARENCY AND MAKING SURE THAT WE'RE TRACKING OUR PERFORMANCE AND PROGRESS. AND SO, I WAS, I WAS GLAD TO SEE THAT WE HAD DID AT LAST PASS THE MOST TEXAS COMMISSION ON JAIL STANDARDS INSPECTION. SO AGAIN, WHILE WE HAVE A LOT OF WORK TO DO, THAT WAS A STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION. CAN YOU OR CHIEF BOSSQUES WHEN WE MIGHT EXPECT ANOTHER JAIL INSPECTION AND WHAT THAT WILL MEAN IN TERMS OF GETTING MORE BEDS ONLINE AND OBVIOUSLY THE GOAL IS REDUCE ALL OUTSOURCES BUT ESSENTIALLY WE'RE FORCED TO OUTSOURCE UNTIL CONDITIONS HAPPEN. CAN YOU WALK US THROUGH? >> YES. TIFFANY CAN YOU PULL UP THE SLIDE DECK FROM SDSH THANK YOU. --THANK YOU. >> I'LL GET IT UP. >> THANK YOU. >> GOOD AFTERNOON, COURT, THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. >> GOOD AFTER, CHIEF. SPECIFIC TO YOUR QUESTION, SO I WOULD LIKE TO SAY THANK YOU TO THE COURT FOR ALL YOUR SUPPORT AND WE DID PASS OUR MOST RECENTLY INSPECTION WHICH WAS ON MARCH THE 11TH, SO THE JAIL IS IN COMPLIANCE WITH TEXAS MINIMUM JAIL STANDARDS. SO THAT STARTS THE PROCESS WHERE WE REMAIN ON ENHANCED ENFORCEMENT. SO THE SIMPLEST WAY IS, WE STILL SEND DOCUMENTATION AND DIFFERENT THINGS LIKE THAT AT THE REQUEST OF THE STATE. SO WE NEED TO PASS TWO OF [05:20:03] THOSE, TYPE OF INSPECTIONS, TO THEN BE ABLE TO GO BACK AND REQUEST FOR THE REMEDIAL ORDER TO BE LIFTED AND THE REMEDIAL ORDER IS WHAT TAKES THE BEDS OFF LINE FOR US, THE 580 VARIANCE BUNK. IT WAS A GREAT STEP, FANTASTIC WORK BY ALL OFFICERS THAT THEY GOT THAT DONE. SO, IT'S USUALLY ABOUT 6-MONTH CYCLE. WHEN YOU'RE ON ENHANCED ENFORCEMENT. SO WE'RE VERY HOPEFUL THAT THE COMMISSION WILL COME WITHIN THE NEXT SIX MONTHS SO WE CAN CHECK OFF THE FIRST OF TWO THAT ARE REQUIRED TO GET US BACK TO REQUEST THE ORDER TO BE LIFTED, THUS GAINING. >> AND THEN THE TWO OF TWO WOULD BE IN THE NEXT SIX MONTHS? >> NO, THEY CAN DO IT, ONE EVERY SIX MONTHS IF IT MEETS WITH THEIR INSPECTION SCHEDULE. >> OKAY. SO, WE PASSED ONE, WE STILL NEED TWO MORE COMPREHENSIVE ONE IS THAT I'M HEARING? >> YES, MA'AM, THE ONE THAT WE PASSED DID NOT COUNT FOR TWO COMPREHENSIVE. >> THANK YOU CHIEF, I APPRECIATE YOU AND YOUR TEAM. AND THANK YOU DIRECTOR MILLS. >> COMMISSIONER RAMSEY. >> YEAH, I THINK I'LL HAVE MORE DETAILED CONVERSATION ON COMMISSIONER'S BRIONES 309 ITEMS RELATED TO THE 7TH FLOOR BUT JUST WANTED TO CONFIRM THAT 500-SOMETHING BEDS THAT WAS TIED UP BECAUSE OF OUR NON COMPLIANCE WITH THE JAIL'S STANDARDS, THAT IS SOME NUMBER. THERE IS ANOTHER NUMBER THAT IS OFF LINE DUE TO CONSTRUCTION, DUE TO REINSTRUCTION, SO I THINK IT IS WORTH TRACKING THAT AS WELL. >> YES, SIR. >> SO WHETHER THAT ENDS UP ON THE DASHBOARD OR NOT, IT'S JUST AN IMPORTANT NUMBER FOR OUR OUTSOURCING, THERE IS ONE THING THAT YOU CAN SAY IN TERMS, I MEAN THE DETAILS RELATED TO, THE FOLKS THAT ARE IN THERE AND THEIR LENGTH TO SAY, IN THOSE DETAILS BUT WE FIGHT EVERY DAY, ARE BEDS, AND THE NUMBER OF BEDS THAT AND EVEN TODAY, I THINK THE NUMBER OF BEDS THAT ARE THERE, WERE NOT ABLE TO STAFF. SO THAT'S ANOTHER CONSIDERATION, THAT IS ANOTHER NUMBER. WHETHER THAT NEEDS TO BE TRACKED ON THE DASHBOARD OR SOME OTHER INTERNAL WAY TO LOOK AT. UNLESS WE ARE TRACKING IT, WE'RE NOT GOING TO BE MANAGING IT, I DON'T THINK. >> I THINK THAT WE CAN PROBABLY WORK THAT INTO THE DASHBOARD. COMMISSIONER BRIONES DID YOU WANT TO WALK THROUGH THE NUMBERS TO GET TO THE OUTSOURCE REDUCTION? >> WE CAN DO THAT AT OUR NEXT UPDATE. AND I KNOW WE'LL TALK ABOUT MORE IN THE OTHER ITEM THAT WE HAVE. BUT YES, THANK YOU FOR THE REGULAR UPDATES AND I LOVE THE TRANSPARENCY AND ACCOUNTABILITY AND I AGREE, IF WE'RE NOT TRACKING AND MEASURING, IT WILL BE WE JUST NEED TO STAY LASER FOCUS SO I APPRECIATE THE DASHBOARD. THANK YOU CHIEF AS WELL. >> THANK YOU, DIRECTOR AND COUNTY MANAGER AND CHIEF VASQUEZ. I SUGGEST WHEN YOU GO LIVE, I'M GOING TO ASK MY TEAM TO PROMOTE YOU, AND MAYBE HAVE YOU TALKING ABOUT IT IN SOCIAL MEDIA. IT'S MUCH MORE IMPROVED AND I LIKE THAT YOU SHOW VETERAN STATUS BY COURT. BUT WE HAVE SO MANY DASH BOARDS, IT'S GOING GOOD BEING TRANSPARENT EVEN IF IT'S PUT ITING ON SOCIAL MEDIA TO PEOPLE CAN TRY IT OUT. NEXT ITEM IS ITEM 3, COMMISSIONER BRIONES YOU PULLED THIS ONE. REQUEST FOR DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION. >> YES, THANK YOU. I WOULD PLEASE LIKE A BRIEF UPDATE ON THE PROGRESS THAT HAS BEEN MADE. SO COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR, CARTER PLEASE. >> SURE, THANK YOU. THANK YOU TO THE COURT FOR YOUR PATIENCE, I KNOW YOU'VE BEEN WAITING ON THIS A WHILE AND THE TEAM HAS BEEN WORKING. THIS IS UPDATE FIRST, IS THERE IS A GO LIVE ON THE FINAL PART, RELATED TO INTEREST PAYMENTS TO OUR VENDORS. IT IS A GO-FORWARD, SO IT WILL NOT LOOK BAG BUT IT WILL GO FORWARD FROM INVOICES STARTING MARCH 27. THE PROJECT LEAD BY RACHEL, COUNTY ADMINISTRATION HAS WORKED WITH AUDITOR'S OFFICE AND DIRECTOR SINDU AND HER TEAM TO DO TEST ANDING WORK WITH OUR DEPARTMENTS ACROSS THE COUNTY. SORRY, THE OTHER THING I WANT TO HIGHLIGHT IS THEY'VE BEEN TRAINING SO ABOUT OUR DEPARTMENTS AND MAKE SURE THAT THEY UNDERSTAND THE PROCESS FOR VOICES AND AIP. WE WANT TO, WE WILL DO A PUSH, WE'RE LESS THAN 50 PERCENT TRAINED FOR THOSE PICKING [05:25:05] PURCHASING, SO OCA WILL WORK AND ENCOURAGE THOSE LIASONS SO GET TRAINED. OUR GOAL IS 80 PERCENT BY THE END OF APRIL. WE'RE NOT BEHIND BUT WE WANT TO KEEP GOING. THE AUDITOR WILL CLOSELY POST, TO ENSURE THAT ACCURACY OF CALCULATION BEFORE ANYTHING IS PAID. AND THE TESTING HAS GONE REALLY WELL, 100 PERCENT PASS RATE, THUS FAR AND WE HAVE A MEETING TOMORROW FOR FINAL REVIEW. >> THAT'S GREAT. TO THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN TRACKING, WE'RE MAKING PROGRESS, SO WHEN WE STARTED PRO CURE TO PAY, THERE WERE 2000 COUNTY INVOICE THAT'S SURPASSED THE 30-DAY PARK TO PAY. NOW WE HAVE 2000 LESS THAN 230, AND WE'RE MAKING PROGRESS ALL VENDORS BUT ESPECIALLY OUR SMALL BUSINESSES. THEY NEED TO GET PAID SO THEY CAN PAY THEIR WORKERS AND CONTINUE TO GROW THEIR BUSINESS. THANK YOU ADMINISTRATOR CARTER FOR CARRYING THE TORCH SO WE CAN GET IT DONE. >> I WANT TO BRAG ON MY TEAM AND POINT OUT THE 98 PERCENT, I DID TELL THEM WHAT I REMEMBER, DOES THAT MEAN WE HAVE FEW PEOPLE TO PAY OR BETTER JOB OF PROCESSINGS. GOOD JOB. NEXT ITEM IS ITEM -- ~>> COMMISSIONER IS THAT A NO-ACTION? >> NO-ACTION. >> WE DIDN'T NEED ACTION. >> NEXT ONE IS ITEM 6, COMMISSIONER RAMSEY REQUESTED FOR APPROVAL OF POSITION AND ASSOCIATED BUDGET. I MOVE MOTION MAKE A BY COMMISSIONER GARCIA. >> THREE-AYES, ONE NAY. NEXT IS ITEM 11. COMMISSIONER RAMSEY. >> AS FAR AS I CAN TELL THIS IS THE FIRST YEAR WE'VE BEEN A MEMBER OF GOVERNMENT ALLIANCE ON RACE AND EQUALITY, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS GAR. IT'S 17,500. AND IFLS LOOKING TO WE NEED TO SEPARATE THOSE. I'M NOT IN SUPPORT OF THAT. I AM IN SUPPORT OF THE REST OF THEM. >> OKAY, I'LL SECOND YOUR MOTION AND MOVE ALL OF THEM OTHER THAN GAR. AND IS THAT ALL RIGHT? YOU MAKE A MOTION. >> I'LL MAKE A MOTION. >> I SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE. >> AYE. >> ALL OPPOSED SAY NO. AND NOW I MOVE GAR. >> SECOND. >> COMMISSIONER RAMSEY, COMMISSIONER GARCIA SECONDS, ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE. >> AYE. >> ALL AGAINST SAY NO. >> NO. >> THREE AYES AND ONE NO. NEXT, COMMISSIONER GARCIA. >> I JUST WANT TO THANK DR. PETERSON AND HER TEAM. WE'RE APPROVING THE CITY OF LEAGUE CITY TO PARTICIPATE IN A REGIONAL FLOOD RISK MANAGEMENT FEASIBILITY STUDY FOR THE LOWER CLEAR DICK AND DICKSON BAYOU. THIS IS ON A STUDY CONDUCTED BY MY OFFICE THAT HELPS SECURE AUTHORIZATION FOR A PLANNING STUDY IN 2022. THROUGH THE EFFORTS OF OUR FEDERAL DELEGATIONS, INCLUDING REPRESENTATIVES WEBBER BABIN AND GARCIA, THIS WILL EVALUATE OPPORTUNITIES TO REDUCE FLOOD RISK ACROSS THE WATER SHEDS IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE U.S. ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS AND IDENTIFY POTENTIAL PROJECTS THAT SECURE--. THEY WILL CONTRIBUTE UP TO 1.25 MILLION TOWARDS THIS EFFORT WHICH IS EXPECT TODAY COST ABOUT 6 MILLION DOLLARS OVERALL. BUT BY PARTICIPATING, HARRIS COUNTY ENSURES IT HAS A SEAT AT THE TABLE AS FLOOD MITIGATION STRATEGIES ARE DEVELOPED THAT COULD IMPACT CLEAR LAKE AND GA VASTON AND SURROUNDING WATERSHIPS. THIS ENSURES HOW WE APPROACH FLOOD RISK. EVERY DAY THE FLOOD CONTROL DISTRICT WORKS WITH CITY COUNTIES AND FEDERAL PARTNERS TO FIND SOLUTION THAT'S WORK ACROSS THE ENTIRE WATERSHIP. THIS CONTINUES, THAT APPROACH BY BRINGING PARTNERS TOGETHER EACH CONTRIBUTING THEIR RESOURCE TO BETTER PROTECT OUR COMMUNITIES. SO JUST WANT TO HIGHLIGHT THE COLLABORATION AND DEMONSTRATE THAT WHEN WE ALL COME TO THE [05:30:04] TABLE, WE CAN GET SOME GOOD STUFF DONE I WANT TO COMMEND IGA, BUT DR. PETERSON, THANK YOU AND YOUR TEAM AND I'M EXCITED TO SEE THIS MOVE THIS IDEA. MOVE THIS ITEM AS PRESENTED. >> THANK YOU. CONGRATULATIONS. >> I'M RUNNING THE MEETING. ALL IN FAVOR. >> AYE. >> ALL OPPOSED? ALL RIGHT, MOTION CARRIES. HERE YOU GO. HERE YOU GO. >> NEXT ITEM IS--. >> SO THIS WILL BE 4-0. >> YES, MA'AM. >> ITEM 99 COMMISSIONER RAMSEY YOU PULLED THAT ONE. >> AGAIN, WE CONTINUE TO TRY TO FIGURE OUT THE JOB SITE SAFETY INSPECTION. WE'VE USED TERMS LIKE MON IS TOER AND TERMS LIKE INSPECT OR AND TERMS LIKE ANALYST. I CAN SEE THE CONCERN AMOUNT OF PAPERWORK THAT DEO NEEDS TO DO AND I UNDERSTAND THAT AND SUPPORT THAT. BUT WHEN WE SEND SOMETHING TO THE JOB SITE, THEY SHOULD BE FULLY CAPABLE OF BEING ABLE TO INSPECT, QUANTITY, QUALITY AND SAFETY. IT IS A THREE-DEAL TO HAVE ONE PERSON GO OUT AND MONITOR WHILE OTHERS ARE ON THE SITE INSPECTING, I THINK CREATES CONFUSION, I THINK YOU CAN PROBABLY MISS SOME SAFETY ELEMENTS IF THE INSPECT ORS THINK THEY'RE NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR THE SAFETY SIDE OF IT, THAT SOMEBODY ELSE IS OUT MONITORING WHILE THEY'RE OUT INSPECTING. SO, IT MAY BE DOWN IN THE WEEDS A BIT. BUT WE'RE BEING ASKED TO APPROVE 8 POSITIONS, APPARENTLY ONLY 4 ARE BEING RECOMMENDED BY OMB SO THAT'S WHAT WE'RE SAYING, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT 4. AND OF THOSE 4, HOW MANY OF THOSE ARE ANALYSTS AND HOW MANY OF THOSE ARE QUOTE UNQUOTE MONITORS? >> AND THIS IS ONB, WE'RE BOTH RECOMMENDING FOUR. ONE IS A PROGRAMMING ANALYST, THERE ARE THREE PROGRAM MONITORS AND THEN SOME NON LABOR SOFTWARE TO MAKE SURE ALL THE SAFETY RECORD DATA IS FOR INFRASTRUCTURE AND COUNTY ARE IN ONE DATABASE. >> NOTHING TO ADD. >> SO AGAIN, I STRUGGLE WITH THE CONCEPT OF A MONITOR WHEN THE COUNTY ENGINEER OFFICE DOES NEED INSPECTORS ON THE JOB SITE AND I DON'T KNOW IF WE'RE TRYING TO SAVE MONEY, BY SENDING THE MONITOR TO ASK A COUPLE OF WAGE QUESTIONS IN THE FIELD OR CHECK IN BOX IN THE SAFETY SIDE, I THINK WE'RE PUTTING THE AT-RISK THE JOB SITE. IF IF THE INSPECT OR THINK THAT THE MONITOR IS SUPPOSE TO TAKE CARE OF SAFETY AND THEY'RE NOT, I THINK THEY CAN CREATE CONFUSION. I SIMPLY THINK, IF YOU'RE GOING TO GO ON THE JOB SITE, YOU NEED TO BE TRAINED AND NEED TO BE FULLY CAPABLE OF HAND ALLEGE ALL THREE, QUANTITY, QUALITY AND SAFETY AND I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT A MONITOR IS GOING TO DO ON A CONSTRUCTION SITE. >> I SAY WE OUGHT TO WATCH IT AND SEE HOW IT WORKS. IT'S A NEW POLICY AND I WANT TO FOLLOW THE OFFICING OF ADMINISTRATIVE TO SEE HOW IT WORKS. I WOULD MOVE TO CREATE FOUR POSITIONS FOR DDEO, AND REQUEST FORM. I TOO SHARE YOUR CONCERNS. DIRECTOR, YOU WANT TO COME UP LIKE TO, RUN A FEW THINGS BY YOU. FIRST OF ALL, THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORK AND, TO THE SAME POINT, OF COMMISSIONER RAMSEY WE HAD A WORK SITE SAFETY AND INSPECTIONS AND YOU KNOW, CREATED THE CAPACITY TO DOT INSPECTIONS. SO, IF YOU COULD, WALK ME THROUGH THE REQUESTS BECAUSE, I REMEMBER AND SEE IT PULL BACK, I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE DOING WHAT WE'RE SAYING WE'RE GOING TO DO AS A COURT, WE DO SEE SAFETY, WORK SITE SAFETY AS A PRIORITY THAT WE DO HAVE INSPECTIONS DONE. WITH THAT, I'LL MAKE A MOTION FOR 8 POSITIONS BUT I WOULD LIKE TO HEAR FROM YOU. >> THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK TODAY. IN LOOKING AT THE IMPLEMENTATION PLAN, IT WAS [05:35:01] NOTED THAT, THE ACTUAL POLICY WOULD NOT GO INTO AFFECT UNTIL JULY 1, SO THAT ELIMINATED THE NEED FOR AS MANY POSITIONS. THE THREE MONITORS THAT WE'RE ASKING FOR WILL HAVE SAFETY BACK GROUNDS IN ORDER TO BE ABLE TO SO WE CONCUR THAT WE'RE OKAY WITH START ANDING ANY ADDITIONAL POSITIONS THAT WE'LL ASK FOR IN THE YEAR. >> GOOD DEAL. WITH THAT IN MIND, WILL YOU HAVE ENOUGH RUNWAY TO TRAIN UP INSPECT ORS WHEN WE DO APPROVE THEM FOR YOU? I MEAN IF THE POLICY GOES INTO AFFECT IN JULY, I DON'T WANT TO BE APPROVING POSITIONS IN JULY? SURE. >> WHEN SHOULD WE SEE THE NEXT ITEM COME BACK FOR THE ADDITIONAL POSITIONS? >> WE'LL CONSIDER IT FOR THE BUDGET AS WHEN THE BUDGET CYCLE. AGAIN THE PLAN IS ON GOING, COUPLE OF THINGS THAT HAVE HAPPENED SINCE LAST MEETING, WE'RE MEETING THE INFRASTRUCTURE TEAM AS WELL AS THE WORK SITE SAFETY, WE'RE HOPING TO FLUSH OUT ANY OF THOSE DISCREPANCY AND WHO IS ACCOUNTABLE DURING THAT IMPLEMENTATION TIME. SO I FEEL VERY CONFIDENT THAT OUR CURRENT WORKFORCE IN ADDITION TO BRINGING ON STAFF THAT HAVE SAFETY IN THEIR PORTFOLIO, WE FEEL LIKE WE CAN START AND AGAIN, WE'LL MONITOR CLOSELY, BUT JULY 1 IS WHEN THE POLICY GOES INTO AFFECT. SO IDEALLY, I WOULD NOT EXPECT THAT WE HAVE MUCH TO INVESTIGATE AT LEAST FOR THE FIRST 30-60 DAYS. >> GOOD DEAL. CURRENTLY, IF THERE ARE WORK SITE INJURIES TAKING PLACE, WHERE DOES THAT GET REPORTED? DOES THAT COME TO YOUR OFFICE? >> IT DOES. IN FACT, WE'RE INVESTIGATING SOME INQUIRIES RIGHT NOW, SO THERE IS A PROCEDURE THAT WE DO INVESTIGATIONS, INTERVIEWS, SOMETIMES THERE IS RECONCILIATION THAT WE HAVE TO GET. THAT PROCESS IS LENGTHY SO STILL MOVING. WE'RE GOING TO TRY TO FIND A WAY TO STREAMLINE THAT PROCESS. IF I NEED TO MAKE IT AS A MOTION, I WILL BUT AS DIRECTION TO PROVIDE US WITH A MONTHLY REPORT IF THAT'S NOT TOO CUMBERSOME OF ANY WORK SITE INJURIES THAT ARE OCCURRING? >> YES, SIR, WE CAN DO THAT. >> THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. NOT THAT WE CAN LOOK AT SAFETY ESPECIALLY FROM OUR INFRASTRUCTURE DEPARTMENTS BUT THE ACCOUNTABILITY WILL BE PART OF NEW CONTRACTS. BUT ALSO, DAO, THE PRIMARY GATHERING THE DATA AND ALSO DEALING WITH REPORTS FROM WORKERS THAT'S WHEN THEY DO EXTRA VISITS AND DO EXTRA REVIEWS AND COLLECT PAPERWORK AS YOU MENTIONED, STREAMLINE, FOLLOW-UP WITH INFRASTRUCTURE AND DO PART OF THE INVESTIGATION. AND THEN WE'RE STILL, THE WORK SITE IS STILL UPDATING PROVISIONS. THEY CONTINUE TO DEAL WITH THAT. THAT'S WHAT WENT INTO RECOMMENDATION. >> THANK YOU, SO THEN TO CONFIRM YOU'RE ALL ON THE SAME PAGE ABOUT THE RECOMMENDATION FOR TODAY'S PURPOSES? >> YES. >> OKAY, THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. >> COMMISSIONER RAMSEY. >> PLEASE LOOK AT THE RESUMES OF THE PEOPLE THAT ARE GOING TO THE JOB SITES AND QUOTE UNQUOTE RESUMES. >> FROM WHAINDS THERE IS A [05:40:47] DIFFERENCE BETWEEN MONITORS AND INSPECT OR. INSPECT OR STAY ON THE JOB SITE ON A CONTINUOUS BASIS, I AGREE WITH ALL THE COMMENTS. I HOPE YOU PAY IT ENOUGH. IT'S A NEW POLICY, WE WANT TO MAKE SURE IT WORKS. IF AT SOME POINT YOU WANT TO COME BACK AND CHANGE IT, I ENCOURAGE YOU. IS WANT TO MAKE A MOTION TO CREATE FOUR POSITIONS IN ALIGNMENT WITH THE FISCAL, REVIEW REQUESTS FORM RECOMMENDATIONS. >> SECOND. >> SECOND BY COMMISSIONER BRIONES. IN FAVOR SAY AYE. >> AYE. >> THOSE OPPOSED, SAY NAY. >> NAY. >> PASSES 3-1. NEXT ONE IS 105, YOU PULLED THAT ONE ABOUT ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE. >> YES, DIRECTOR SINDU, ONE AS YOU WALK UP, LET ME ACKNOWLEDGE AND RECOGNIZE THE GOOD WORK YOU'RE DOING HERE. THSZ SO IMPORTANT GETTING EVERYONE ON THE SAME PAGE. AND MY QUESTION IS SIMPLE, WE DON'T HAVE TO GO INTO A LENGTHY DETAIL. IT LOOKS LIKE WE'RE APPROVING, COMMERCIAL PAPER FUNDING, IN 105, 845,000. >> THAT'S INITIAL AND THEY CAN GO UP. >> I HAVE A PROBLEM GOING INTO DEBT ON SALARIES. IS KNOW THERE IS A NEW ANS --NUANCE, YOU'VE GOT SOMEBODY WORKING ON A CAPITAL PROJECT SO YOU INCREASE THE SALARY WORKING ON THAT CAPITAL PROJECT. I UNDERSTAND THAT, BUT WHEN WE START BORROWING MONEY TO PAY SALARIES, I STRUGGLE WITH THAT FROM A LONG TERM. IF YOU'RE WORKING ON A ROAD, THAT'S A 40-YEAR ITEM. AGAIN MY QUESTION IS WITH THE AMOUNT, IS ANY PART BEING USED TO PAY SALARIES? >> THANK YOU, COMMISSIONERS THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM. THANK YOU FOR THE QUESTION THERE. RESOURCE WOULD THEN BE ROLLED OFF. IT'S INDUSTRY, SO YOU HAVE THE CAPITAL RESOURCES WORKING ON THAT AND THEN THEY HAND IT OVER TO MAINTAIN IT. SO WE'RE NOT EXPECTING ONCE THE SCOPE OF WORK IS DONE, WE DON'T EXPECT THIS TO BE A LONG TERM. THESE ARE SMALL SCOPE THAT WILL BE COMPLETED AND MOVE ON. >> OKAY, THANK YOU. >> OKAY. >> SURE, COMMISSIONER GARCIA. >> THANK YOU, IT WAS NICE TO SEE YOU AT LAST NIGHT'S EVENT. GIVE ME A SOME TYPE LINE, SOME MILESTONES WHEN ARE WE GOING TO GET THERE? >> COMMISSIONER THANK YOU FOR THE QUESTION. WE HAVE EMBARKED ON THE JOURNEY, THERE ARE TWO STEPS TO THAT PARTICULAR PROJECT. AND I'LL STARLT WITH THE EASY STEP, AND I HAVE OUR LEAD ON THAT INITIATIVE WITH ME HERE, RAY YOU WANT TO ADDRESS THE QUESTION OR WOULD YOU LIKE ME TO ADDRESS? I'LL KICK IT OFF COMMISSIONER AND I'LL HAND IT OVER TO RAY. IT'S A TWO-STEP PROCESS. THE FIRST STEP IS FOR US TO MAKE SURE THAT THIS PROOF OF CONCEPT WILL WORK. AND THE DATA CAN WORK. WE HAVE THE SCOPE, WE HAVE WORKED VERY CLOSELY WITH ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT TO [05:45:03] UNDERSTAND WHAT THEY WOULD LIKE TO SEE IN THIS PROOF OF CONCEPT AND THEY'VE BEEN WORKING HAND AND GLOVE WITH ENGINEERING TEAM TO MAKE SURE WE'RE PROGRESSING IN THE RIGHT PATH. WITH THAT, FOR FURTHER DETAILS I'LL HAND IT OVER TO RAY. >> THANK YOU. THANK YOU. COMMISSIONERS COURT FOR HAVING ME THIS AFTERNOON. THE FIRST PHASE IS SCHEDULED TO BE DELIVERED BY THE END OF MONTH AND FROM THAT, CONCEPT PHASE WE CAN OUTLINE DETAILS IN TERMS OF THE SCOPE FOR WOO IS REQUIRED. I'LL TRY TO TAKE A LITTLE BIT OF TIME THAT ANY CONVERSATION OF AI AND SAFETY WE'RE TAKING THAT INTO ACCOUNT IN THIS PROOF OF CONCEPT. GOOD DEAL. FROM WHAT I THINK THERE IS LINGUA LINK AND CO RA AND PERMIT IQ AS IT RELATES TO THAT PARTICULAR INITIATIVE. SO THE CURRENT STATUS OF PERMIT IQ, AI IS WHAT? >> IT'S THE CONCEPT PHASE AND FROM THE PROOF OF CONCEPT PHASE ONCE WE HAVE DELIVERY WE WILL WORK ON ENGINEERING ON WHETHER OR NOT WE SIGN OFF TO INITIATE A GO-LIVE OR PROCEED WITH A VERY THOROUGH STATEMENT OF WORK. >> VERY GOOD. SO WOO WOULD BE THE NEXT STEPS TO HELP THINGS MOVE FASTER? >> THE STEPS IS THE EVALUATION PHASE OF PROOF OF CONCEPT, WE WILL WORK WITH ENGINEERING TO GET FEEDBACK AND WE WILL MAKE A DETERMINATION AND COLLABORATION WITH ENGINEERING OR WHETHER OR NOT WE PROCEED FOR BUILDING THE DEVELOPING A CUSTOM SOLUTION OR PROCEEDING WITH A STATEMENT OF WORK FOR A DIFFERENT SOLUTION. >> OKAY. AND THEN, WHAT DO YOU, ANTICIPATE TO BE THE PROJECTED COSTS INCLUDING THE SOFTWARE, STAFF BEING ANY ON GOING MAINTENANCE? >> SO, BEYOND THE LABOR COSTS, AN INTERNAL AI SOLUTION, WE ESTIMATE SERVICES TO BE SOMEWHERE AROUND $500,000. MARKET ANALYSIS CAN SHOW THAT A COMMERCIAL SOLUTION IS SOMEWHERE BETWEEN 2 TO 3 MILLION. SO WE HAVE A LOT OF OPPORTUNITY INTERNALLY, BUT 500,000 PLUS THE LABOR COSTS FOR THE INTERNAL DEVELOPED SOLUTION. >> GOOD DEAL. RAY, THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORK. AND I WOULD ASK AT THE APPROPRIATE TIME THAT YOU VISIT WITH THE GREATER BUILDERS ASSOCIATION, MAYBE SIT DOWN WITH A FEW OF THEM JUST TO RUN THROUGH WHAT IT'S GOING TO FEEL, YOU KNOW, LOOK AND ACT LIKE AND THINGS OF THE NATURE JUST TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE GETTING INPUT AS WELL. WE MAY BE LOOKING AT IT FROM OUR CONVENIENCE PERSPECTIVE BUT I THINK IT'S GOING TO BE VERY VERY IMPORTANT TO MAKE SURE WE HEAR FROM THEM. AND LASTLY, BEFORE I GO THERE, YEARS AGO, E PERMIT WAS ALL FIREWORKS WERE GOING OFF AND PARADES AND ALL THAT. AND ALL IT WAS WAS JUST, WHERE YOU CAN SCAN YOUR PLANS AND IT WENT, IT GOT TO SOMEBODY'S OFFICE BUT IT WENT THROUGH THE SAME, MERRY GO ROUND THAT IT ALWAYS GOES THROUGH. IT CHANGED FROM PLAN REVIEWER TO PLAN REVIEWER. YES, THIS WILL BE SIGNIFICANTLY DIFFERENT. AND I WILL ADD TO THAT, I THINK ENGINEERING DOES A FANTASTIC JOB. THERE ARE OVER 45 DIVA MRIKATION TYPES THAT MUST GO THROUGH A TRIAAGE AND CHECKLIST OF EVALUATION. THIS PARTICULAR SYSTEM WILL EVALUATE DIFFERENT TYPES OF PLANS FOR VERY VERY MEANIAL AND REPETITIVE THINGS LIKE IS YOUR COMPASS USING NORTH. IT'S ACTUALLY THE BEST USE CASE OF AI. TO TRAIN A MODEL AND AUTOMATE [05:50:06] THAT PROCESS FOR THE RESIDENT. SO THE FINAL, GOAL THAT WE'RE TRYING TO ACHIEVE IS THAT AN AI SOLUTION CAN ACHIEVE THAT PLAN REVIEW PROCESS IMMEDIATELY AS A RESIDENT UP LOADS THEIR BLUEPRINTS AND PROVIDES THEM RECOMMENDATIONS ON HOW TO INCREASE THE INTEGRITY OF THEIR SUBMISSION? >> GOOD DEAL AND WHEN WE SAY THAT WE'RE BETTER, WE GENERALLY MEASURE THAT BY DAYS OR WEEKS. HOW MUCH BETTER ARE WE GOING TO BE? >> OUR TARGET IS TRYING TO REVIEW BY AT LEAST 50 PERCENT. I'M A VERY OPTIMISTIC PERSON. I COME FROM A PLACE OF WILD IDEAS. I MEAN, PLAN REVIEWS. YEAH, RIGHT. FOR MYSELF LOOKING AT AI AND WHAT WE'RE DOING WITH MODELS WE'RE TALKING ABOUT MINUTES, TO HAVE A TANGIBLE RESULTS ON WHAT THE RESIDENT SHOULD DO. >> THEY'RE SAYING, SITTING THERE, SAYING TAKE 25 PERCENT. >> THAT'S THE GOAL THAT WE'RE TRYING TO TARGET IS AT LEAST 50 PERCENT REDUCTION. >> AWESOME, AWESOME, APPRECIATE IT DIRECTOR. >> COMMISSIONER, TO BE ON THE SAFE SIDE SINCE THISING A PUBLIC FORUM. >> IT'S IN THE RECORD, IT'S IN THE RECORD. [LAUGHTER] >> WE WILL--[INDISCERNIBLE] RAY, ARE YOU DOING YOUR FARMING ?R >> YES. >> GIVE YOUR KIDS MY BEST. >> THANK YOU. >> AND COMMISSIONER GARCIA, I AGREE WITH YOU, 100 PERCENT. WE HAVE DR. RAMAN, AND I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT I'M CLEAR. DIRECTOR MENAN, I'M ALL ABOUT COMING UP WITH MACRO AND AI PLAN FOR THE ENTIRE COUNTY AS WE WORK THROUGH THE. RESPONSIBLE USE OF AI TO DO FIRST REVIEWS IN PERMITTING AND WE'VE AGREED TO ALL THE KPI'S AND HOW WE'RE DOING BETTER IN PERMITTING AND REPRESENTING THE FASTEST GROWING AREA OF THE UNITED STATES BETWEEN THE PLAT REQUESTS AND PERMIT REQUESTS, WE GET SO MANY CALL WHETHER IT'S LACK OF CONTINUITY OF REVIEWER AND THE DAYS SPENT AND I KNOW WE'RE IMPROVING AND DR. RAMÓN MEETS REGULARLY WITH DLPA AND KEY HOLDER GROUPS TO TRACK THE PROGRESS. SO PLEASE DON'T HAVE A SEPARATE PLEATING, DO IT AS A TEAM SO WE CAN HEAR FEEDBACK AND IMPLEMENT THEM. WE DON'T HAVE ROOM OR TIME TO WASTE. MY QUESTION AS WE DO THE BOTH END AND AS WE RECOGNIZE WE MAKE COMMITMENT TO KPI. I LOVE BY THE WAY, I'M ALSO ON YOUR FAN CLUB, 50%, GO BIG OR HOME, SO DR. RAMON IN ALL CANDOR FROM YOUR PERSPECTIVE HOW IS THIS GOING IN TERMS OF THE COLLABORATION. WE ARE DOING TEST CASE PROOF OF COUNTY WHEN WE KNOW TRAVIS COUNTY DOWN THE STREET IS ALREADY DOING IT AND WE CAN JUST PIGGY BACK ON THEIR SOFTWARE SO PART OF ME PERHAPS THE URGENCY OF FLOW -- I RECOGNIZE WE HAVE DIFFERENCES WITH TRAVIS COUNTY, I GET THAT, WHY NOT BUILD ON SOMETHING THAT'S MAYBE -- MAKING UP A NUMBER 75% VERSUS SIMILAR THAN STARTING FROM SCRATCH. WHERE WE'RE JUST STRAIGHT UP BUILDING IT FROM SCRATCH, BECAUSE I AM EAGER TO GET TO 50% REDUCTION BECAUSE I DON'T WANT HIGHER COSTS BEING PASSED ONTO MY RESIDENTS BECAUSE OF GOVERNMENT INEFFICIENCIES. DR. RAMON. >> MELTON RAMON COUNTY ENGINEER. THANK YOU VERY MUCH, FIRST OF ALL, I WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE COLLABORATION BETWEEN UNIVERSAL SERVICE AND STAFF MEMBERS. WE WORK EVERY DAY TO MAKE IT WORK. THE GOAL, WHAT WE HAVE WHEN WE STARTED THIS PROJECT FROM THIS IS TWO THINGS, ONE, SPEED OF PLAN REVIEW AND TO IMPROVE QUALITY OF PLAN REVIEW. AND WE VISITED SEVERAL ENTITIES WHO HAVE DONE IT LIKE YOU MENTIONED. CITY OF AUSTIN. LA COUNTY. FROM THE USER PERSPECTIVE THAT WAS OUR MAIN OBJECTIVE FROM THE IT CAN PERSPECTIVE THAT'S WHEN WE HAND OFF TO DIRECTOR, ONE [05:55:04] THING THAT I WOULD LIKE TO DO AND THE TEST IS WHAT YOU HEARD IS MORE TO GO BACK TO OUR CLIENTELE WHILE WE TALK GSBA, SEEC. ALSO LET THEM USE SOME OF THOSE TEST KITS TO SEE HOW THE PERFORMANCE WORKS OR NOT AND BEFORE WE PUT TOGETHER A SCOPE OF WORK AND SEE, YOU KNOW, WE SPENT MILLIONS OF DOLLARS, WE ARE GOING TO MAKE SURE THAT WE START ON THE RIGHT FOOT. THAT IS BEING HELPFUL BUT YOUR IDEA IF IT'S ALREADY WORKING SOMEWHERE, WHY CAN'T WE TAG AND BUILD ALONG, THAT'S ALSO AN OPTION BUT, AGAIN, I DEFER THE TECHNOLOGY QUESTION TO DIRECTOR MANNIN. >> YES, I WOULD LOVE TO HEAR THE PRESENT CONS BECAUSE I HESITATE TO BILL -- AND I RECOGNIZE WE HAVE UNIQUE PROCESSES WHICH WE ARE TRYING TO REFINE, BUT WHY NOT HONE ON PRODUCT, IE, PIGGYBACK OFF OF AUSTIN VERSUS JUST START FROM -- JUST SEEMS LIKE EVERYTHING TAKES WAY TOO LONG FOR MY TASTE. >> THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER, THANK YOU, DR. RAMÓN. I ECHO THE SENTIMENT THAT HE HAD. THERE'S GREAT COLLABORATION GOING ON BETWEEN THE TEAMS LEER AND THE GOAL IS FOR BOTH OF US, THE GOAL TO GET TO END POINT AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. BUT WE DON'T WANT TO GET TO THE JOURNEY AND FIND OUT IT WASN'T THE RIGHT ONE OR THE TOOL WASN'T THE RIGHT ONE BECAUSE WE HAVE UNIQUENESS BECAUSE OUR DATA, POINTS OF CLARIFICATION, ALL OF THOSE ARE DIFFERENT FROM THE OTHER ENTITIES. SO WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WHEN WE GO OVER THE SCOPE OF WORK WE ARE GOING WHERE .A VERY SOLID SCOPE OF WORK WITH SUCCESS CLEARLY IDENTIFIED AT THE END OF THE JOURNEY. THAT'S THE REASON WE ARE GOING THROUGH THE PROOF OF CONCEPT. THE PROOF OF CONCEPT IF YOU RECALL COLLISIONER WE STARTED OFF IN THE MONTH OF JANUARY AND IT IS MARCH THAT WE ARE COMPLETING PROOF OF CONTENT AND THIS IS AN INTERNAL ONE WHERE INGENUOUS WILL HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO GO THROUGH PLANS AND TELL US IF THE REPORT WORKS OR NOT. BUT ULTIMATELY IF THIS PROOF OF CONCEPT WORKS IN COLLABORATION WITH ENGINEERING WILL DETERMINE THE SCOPE OF WORK AND GO FOR THAT PARTICULAR TOOL. WE ALSO HAVE TO MAKE SURE -- WE HAD CONVERSATIONS WITH THE AGENCY INTEL AND IT WOULD BE ONE OF THE POINTS THAT WAS MADE WE WILL HAVE TO GO AN RFP, IF WE ARE GOING SOLICITATION. WE CAN'T GO WITH ONE TOOL IF THAT MAKES SENSE. >> IT DOES BUT IT DOESN'T TO BE COMPLETELY CANDID WITH YOU. IT MUST WORK FOR HARRIS COUNTY, AGREE 100%. I ALSO FLOW THERE'S COOPERATIVE AGREEMENTS WITH OTHER JURISDICTIONS AND I KNOW THERE'S TOOLS THAT ARE ALREADY BUILT THAT YOU CAN TAYLOR TO YOUR OWN PROCESS VERSUS STARTING FROM SCRATCH. AS A NONIT, NONENGINEER I RESPECT YOUR EXPERTISE AND WE DON'T HAVE TIME TO WASTE. WHETHER FROM A PURCHASING -- I JUST DON'T UNDERSTAND. LIKE COMMISSIONER GARCIA AND I ARE AT NACO AND THERE'S ALL THESE NATIONAL WHAT I'M CALLING COOPERATIVE AGREEMENTS THAT WE CAN LATCH ONTO AND WE ARE UNIQUE BUT MAYBE THERE'S OTHER THINGS THAT DO THINGS BETTER, SO HOW CAN WE REALLY GET THE BEST THING IN THE LEAST AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE BEST PRICE IS ALWAYS WHAT I'M GOING. SO I'M STRUGGLING IF WE ARE GOING THROUGH A WHOLE NEW JOURNEY, VERSUS LET'S TAILOR SOMETHING THAT'S ALREADY 80% WHAT WE NEED AND BUILD THE 20, SO I STILL -- I FEEL LIKE I'M STILL STRUGGLING WITH YOUR ANSWER TO MY QUESTION. >> SURE, COMMISSIONER, IF YOU WILL LET US, WE WILL GO BACK IN THE NEXT COURT COME BACK AND BY THE FIRST PROOF OF CONCEPT STEPS. IT'S GOING TO BE LIVE NEXT WEEK SO WE WOULD HAVE THAT ALSO COMPLETED SO IF YOU LET US JUST GO BACK AND RECALIBRATE AND COME BACK. >> I WOULD LOVE TO SEE IT. I KNOW WE HAVE SO MANY ITEMS AND I CARE SO MUCH ABOUT THIS BECAUSE AT END OF THE DAY IT'S RESIDENTS THAT PAY MORE FOR THEIR HOUSE, RIGHT, SO IT'S REAL AND IT'S IMPORTANT AND I APPRECIATE Y'ALL. AND I LOVE THE 50%. I JUST -- TELL ME WHEN WE CAN GET THERE AND SIGN ME UP FOR THAT JOURNEY, SO THANK YOU. >> GOOD DEAL. ONE MORE QUESTION FOR MAYBE FOR YOU DOC. THE FLOOD CONTROL REGULATIONS AN GUIDELINES, WILL THIS SYSTEM BE ABLE TO INCORPORATE THAT AS WELL. >> IT INCLUDES ALL PLAT CONTROL PERMITTING AND THAT WILL BE ABLE [06:00:04] TO SUPPORT THAT AS WELL. >> WONDERFUL. WHAT ABOUT THE PROJECTS THAT FALL INTO THE ETJ? >> FOR THE ETJ PROJECTS THEY HAVE TO MEET BOTH JURISDICTIONS FROM STANDARD AND EVERYTHING THAT COMES FROM THE COUNTY THEY HAVE TO -- IT CAN BE VERY HELPFUL. ONE OF THE THINGS THAT THE TOOLS ARE GOING TO DO IS PREREVIEW WHICH IS YOU SUBMIT A DOCUMENT IF YOU HAVE CHECKLIST, HEY, YOUR PROJECT FITS INTO CITY OF PASADENA OR CITY OF JERSEY VILLA, SO YOU HAVE TO FOLLOW THEIR PLAN REGULATION, FOLLOW THEIR THINGS AS WELL, REGULATION FOR TJ. >> GOOD DEAL. BECAUSE WE HAVE THE PARTNERSHIP PROJECT AND WE DO WORK WITH OTHER CITIES, WILL WE ALSO BE ABLE TO INCORPORATE THEIR GUIDELINES AND REGULATIONS? >> ABSOLUTELY. >> WONDERFUL. AND THEN LASTLY, SINCE -- I'M NOT A FAN OF AI TAKING OVER PEOPLE'S LIVES OR WORK BETTER YET BUT I DO WANT TO UNDERSTAND HOW MUCH LESS HUMAN HANDS WILL BE INVOLVED IN THIS PROCESS BECAUSE THAT'S THE ONLY WAY AI WILL BE ABLE TO REALLY WORK EFFICIENTLY, WHAT'S THE REACTION REDUCTION? >> I WILL TOUCH ON THIS, THE INITIAL GOAL IS TO IMPROVE THE CUSTOMER SERVICE SIGNIFICANTLY SO WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT LESS HANDS I WILL GIVE YOU AN EXAMPLE RIGHT NOW. BUILT ON OUR CUE A PERSON CAN SUBMIT A PLAN FOR OUR STUFF TO GO THERE AND IT'S IN THE CUE OF 10 UNTIL THE 99 IS DONE AND GO AND SAY YOU KNOW WHAT, YOU MISSED THE SWIMMING POOL PERMIT FORM. THIS TECHNOLOGY WILL IMMEDIATELY IMPROVER THIS. BUT SIMILAR TIME BUT SIGNIFICANT IMPROVEMENT IN TERMS OF THE FEEDBACK SO THEY CAN RESUBMIT IT BACK SO WHAT WE ARE EXPECTING THAT THERE IS SIGNIFICANT IMPROVEMENT IN TERMS OF DAYS BECAUSE THEY CAN SUBMIT AND SUBMIT BACK QUICKLY, BUT WILL STILL NEED AN ENGINEER, A PLAN REVIEWER FOLLOW -- >> OF COURSE. >> ENGINEER TO LOOK INTO THE DETAILS OF IT. SO WHAT YOU WILL DO A LOT OF STANDARD FORMS AND STANDARDIZATION OF THINGS OF THAT NATURE, IT'LL BE ABLE TO DETECT AND THE ACCURACY OF THOSE REVIEWS WILL BE MUCH BETTER THAN WHAT WE HAVE. AND YOU HEAR THIS A LOT FROM THE DEVELOPERS AND SO DO I. THIS IS MY FOURTH REVIEW AND I'M GETTING NEW COMMENTS BUT I HAVEN'T CHANGED ANYTHING. SO THOSE ARE THE THINGS, WE WILL BE ABLE TO REVIEW IT EFFICIENTLY SO IF THE SUPPLY SHIFT 24 OUT OF 100. WE WILL BE ABLE TO TELL THEM, YOU HAVE A NEW COMMON, IT HAS A DIFFERENT CONFIGURATION OF THE ROADWAY THAN YOU HAD BEFORE. THOSE ARE THE INTRACRASSY OF THE MATTER AND WHAT WE EXPECT TO SEE ALSO FROM PERSPECTIVE OF SOME OF OUR PLACES WE VISITED OF CITY OFFENSE, LA THAT MOST IMPROVEMENT WILL SEE INITIALLY ON THE PREREVIEW AND CAN CUSTOMER SERVICE PERSPECTIVE. >> GOOD, GOOD, THANK YOU BOTH. >> THANK YOU BOTH. YES. >> COLLEAGUES WE PASSED 101 ON CONSENT AGENDA, MOTION TO APPROVE THIS ITEM AS PRESENTED. MOTION BY COMMISSIONER GARCIA. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER BRIONES. >> SECOND. >> IS THIS 105, COMMISSIONER? >> 105. >> ITEM PASSES. THE NEXT ITEM COMMISSIONER RAMSEY, THIS IS 105 UNIVERSAL. WE JUST DID. >> 107. >> 107 COMMISSIONER RAMSEY, YOU PULLED THAT ONE. APPROVAL OF THREE POSITIONS EFFECTIVE MARCH 21ST FOR UNIVERSAL SERVICES? >> AGAIN, THIS WAS -- WE COVERED A LOT OF THAT WITH SENDA AND SHE WAS JUST UP THERE REVIEWING, BUT, AGAIN, THERE -- THIS MY SIMPLE QUESTION SENDA IS THE POSITIONS YOU DISCOVERED YOU NEEDED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE BUDGET CYCLE AS YOU GET INTO MAKING THE IMPROVEMENTS AND I TOTALLY AGREE WITH WHAT WE ARE MAKING HERE ACROSS THE BOARD, TECHNOLOGY REVIEW, THOSE SORTS OF THINGS RUDIES COVERING WHAT WE NEED, WE ARE NOT GOING TO HIRE FOLKS UNTIL WE NEED THOSE FOLKS -- >> YES, SIR. >> IS THAT WHAT THIS IS ABOUT? >> YES, SIR, THAT'S THE WAY, BECAUSE WE HAVE QUITE A FEW CONTRACTS THROUGH THE MOTION THAT IS WE HAVE HAD FROM THE COMMISSIONERS CODE, QUITE A FEW CONTRACTS, WE ARE LOOKING AT ENTERPRISE AGREEMENT, WE ARE PROCESSING QUITE A FEW PO'S SO AS ONE OF THE MOST COMPLEX DEPARTMENTS WE HAVE SEEN THE NEED BECOME MORE URGENT FOR US NOW. THAT'S THE REASON WE ARE REQUESTING. [06:05:01] >> I MAKE A MOTION WE MOVE -- >> SECOND. >> MOTION MADE BY COMMISSIONER RAMSEY AND SECOND BY COLLISIONER GARCIA. ITEM PASSES. NEXT ITEM IS -- >> THANK YOU. >> ITEM 126. COMMISSIONER GARCIA, YOU PULLED THAT ONE. PORT OF HOUSTON. >> WE HAVE WORLD CUP COMING UP. WE'RE JUST -- WE JUST COMPLETED THE BASEBALL CLASSIC. WE GOT FLEET WEEK COMING AND SO FOR THOSE REASONS, OBVIOUSLY HOMELAND SECURITY AND PUBLIC SAFETY ARE ALWAYS TOP OF BLIND. SO I WANT TO BEGIN BY THANKING THE PORT OF HOUSTON AND THE HARRIS COUNTY SHERIFFS OFFICE FOR WORKING TOGETHER TO MAKE THIS PARTICULAR AGREEMENT POSSIBLE. THIS PARTNERSHIP STRENGTHS SECURITY AT ONE OF OUR REGION'S REGIONALSECURITY INFRASTRUCTURE. THESE ARE NOT PASSIVE ROLES. OUR DEPUTY WILL BE ACTIVELY PATROLLING, INVESTIGATING CRIMES AND MAKING ARRESTS WHILE REMAINING UNDER FULL SHERIFFS OFFICE COMMAND TO ENSURE ACCOUNTABILITY AND PROFESSIONAL LAW ENFORCEMENT STANDARDS. THIS COMES AS I MENTIONED AT A CRITICAL TIME AS WE PREPARE FOR THE 20206 WORLD CUP WHICH WILL BRING MILLIONS OF PEOPLE TO -- TO HOUSTON HARRIS COUNTY AND WE'LL HAVE AN INCREASE GLOBAL ATTENTION. AT THE SAME TIME, ONGOING CONFLICTS INVOLVING IRAN AND DISRUPTING -- WHICH IS DISRUPTING THE GLOBAL SHIPPING AND INCREASING RISKS AT PORT AND CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE, STRUCTURE AREAS WORLDWIDE, IT IS IMPORTANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE GETTING THIS RIGHT, SO WHAT HAPPENS OVERSEAS DIRECTLY IMPACTS US HERE AT HOME AS TRADE ROUTES SHIFT, THE PORT OF HOUSTON BECOMES EVEN MORE ESSENTIAL AND POTENTIALLY MORE VULNERABLE. SO THIS IS AN AGREEMENT THAT'S SMART, FISCALLY RESPONSIBLE AND STRENGTHEN SECURITY WITHOUT PLACING ADDITIONAL BURDEN ON TAXPAYERS. SO WE MUST CONTINUE BUILDING ON THIS EFFORT AND TO ENSURE -- TO ENSURE THAT OUR PORT REMAINS SAFE, SECURE AND RESILIENT. YOU KNOW, WHEN I WAS SHERIFF PEOPLE ALWAYS ASKED ME, WHAT KEEPS YOU UP AT NIGHT, IS IT THE JAIL, IS IT PATROLS, WHATEVER. MY CONSISTENT ANSWER WAS THE PORT OF HOUSTON. SO I'M VERY PROUD TO MOVE ON THIS AGREEMENT AS PRESENTED. >> SECOND. >> MOTION MADE BY COMMISSIONER GARCIA, SECOND BY COMMISSIONER BRIONES, ALL IN FAVOR AYE. 5 YEAS, 4 NAYS, PASS. COUNTY OFFICE, MEND EASE BONDI. >> WE JUST NEED A VOTE. >> I WILL MOVER IT. >> SECOND. >> MOTION BY ELLIS, SECOND BY COMMISSIONER GARCIA. ALL IN FAVOR SAY, AYE. >> NO. >> 3 AYES, 1 NAY, ITEM PASS. NEXT ITEM, COMMISSIONER RAMSEY YOU PULLED THAT ONE. >> NEED TO VOTE. >> I WILL MOVE IT. COMMISSIONER GARCIA MOVES IT. COMMISSIONER BRIONES SECONDS IT. ALL IN FAVOR VOTE AYE. ALL OPPOSED VOTE NO. >> THIS IS 136. >> THAT'S 136 COMMISSIONER RAMSEY VOTES NO. NEXT ONE IS 181 COMMISSIONER RAMSEY. >> CONTRACTED SLOTS, THE DEPARTMENT OF ECONOMIC -- >> AGAIN, WE'VE STRUGGLED. I KNOW RIPLEY HAD TO PAY A FINE RELATED TO SOME OF THIS. I KNOW THERE'S A LOT OF CONCERNS RELATED TO FRAUD. WE JUST NEED TO VOTE. I WILL SECOND IT. ALL IN FAVOR SAVE AYE. OPPOSE? IT PASSES. NEXT ONE IS 182, AUDITED CLAIMS. COMMISSIONER RAMSEY, YOU FLOW WHAT YOU WANT TO PULL OUT? >> ALL ITEMS EXCEPT PFM CONSULTING. >> PASSES 4 AYES. AND NOW COMMISSIONER GARCIA MOVES ON ITEM LEFT OUT AND I WILL SECOND IT. ALL IN FAVOR VOTE AYE. >> AYE. >> OPPOSE NO? >> NO. >> 3 AYES, ONE NO. COMMISSIONER RAMSEY VOTES NO. NEXT ONE PURCHASING, THIS IS 195. >> WE JUST NEED TO VOTE. >> NO, ACTUALLY I HAVE QUESTIONS, PLEASE. >> OKAY. I'M SORRY, I DIDN'T SEE YOU. YES, MA'AM. >> COULD WE PLEASE MR. DICKERMAN, COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR CARTER, COULD WE PLEASE HAVE A QUICK UPDATE AND THREATEN I HAVE SOME QUESTIONS. >> IT IS TIE TODAY 409 AND 455 AS WELL? WE WANT TO TAKE ALL OF THOSE TOGETHER? >> PLEASE. >> 195, 40 -- >> WE ARE TALKING SOLAR FOR ALL, ALL THOSE FOLLOWING ALONG. >> 195, 409 AND 455. >> YES. >> WE WILL BRING ALL OF THROES TOGETHER. >> SURE. THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER, AND MRD [06:10:03] SPECIFIC ITEMS. >> THANKS, THESE ITEMS FOR THE DEVELOPER AND ONE THING WE HAVE DEVELOPERS HERE TODAY, THIS IS THE GRANT TO BUILD BOTH THE SOLAR AND BATTERY STORAGE ASSET THAT IS WE WOULD USE FOR -- FOR THERE PROGRAM. THIS PROGRAM AS YOU KNOW, THIS WAS ORIGINALLY COUNTY CONTRIBUTION WE WERE GOING FUND IT WITH CIP DOLLARS AND COUNTY ASSETS AND THREATEN REPAID BY TAX CREDITS AND THREATEN BY FUNDS, SO WE'VE GONE THROUGH WE HAD A LOT OF PARTICIPATION AND OTHERS TO HELP EXPERIENCE DOING VERY SIMILAR WORK AND I THINK WE ARE HAPPY TO SEE THAT THE COUNTY ATTORNEY QUICKLY PURCHASING CONTRACTING FORWARD. WE ARE DOING THAT BECAUSE THE TAX CREDITS NOW HAVE CERTAIN DEADLINES THAT WE WANT TO MEET AND WE BELIEVE BY PASSING THAT TODAY WE ARE CONFIDENT WE WILL BE ABLE TO MEET THOSE DEADLINES AND ACHIEVE THOSE TAX CREDITS AS PLANNED. >> ANYTHING ELSE YOU WOULD LIKE TO ADD? >> DID YOU WANT TO GIVE THE PERCENT AND THREATEN THE BILL? I WANTED YOU TO REFERENCE BILL. >> FOR THE SAVINGS, QUESTION. >> THE BILL THAT SUSTAINS TAX CREDITS. I WILL MENTION IT. SORRY. THESE TAX CREDITS WERE CHANGED IN THE BIG BEAUTIFUL BILL BUT THEY WERE INCLUDED SO THEY ARE CONTINUING ONTO CLARIFY BUT THE DEADLINES ARE A LOT SOONER. >> AND CAN YOU REITERATE THE DEADLINES FOR EVERYONE? >> SO THERE ARE MULTIPLE WAYS TO QUALIFY FOR THESE TAX CREDITS. ONE OF WHICH IS GETTING STARTED BEFORE JULY 4TH. IF YOU GET STARTED BEFORE JULY 4TH, THEN YOU ARE SORT OF OUTSIDE OF THE WINDOW FOR -- AS LONG AS IT TAKES TO FINISH THOSE PROGRAMS. SO IF WE GET STARTED, THEN WE CAN GO PAST THE CURRENT DEADLINE 30, THINGS THAT ARE DONE -- GET STARTED AFTER JULY 4TH OF THIS YEAR HAS TO BE COMPLETED BY 2030. SO WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ALL -- THAT WE'RE -- MORE GENEROUS -- MITIGATING RISKS AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE AS WE WANT TO GET STARTED BEFORE JULY 4TH SO WE HAVE AS MUCH TIME AS WE NEED TO FINISH ALL THESE PROJECTS. >> OKAY. AND JUST FOR THOSE OF YOU -- TO LEVEL SET, TO ME THIS PROJECT IS CRITICAL, RIGHT, I'M SO PROUD THAT HARRIS COUNTY IS THE FOR EXAMPLAR CAPITAL OF THE WORLD AND TO CONTINUE DOMINATING IT'S A BOTH END. WE NEED TO DOMINATE IN TRADITIONAL RESOURCES AND WE NEED TO BE LEADING IN THE ENERGY TRANSITION SO WE WERE ALL THRILLED WHEN THE TEXAS SOLAR FOR ALL COALITION WE WERE AWARDED 250 MILLION-DOLLAR GRANT FROM BIDEN-HARRIS ADMINISTRATION AND THEN HARRIS COUNTY SPECIFIC WE WERE AWARDED 54 MILLION. SO THIS IS WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT. AND WE'VE HAD SOME CHALLENGES UNDER THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION SO I HAVE SOME QUESTIONS ABOUT THE STATUS OF THE GRANT SPECIFICALLY BUT IN THE MEANTIME UNDER THE BIG BEAUTIFUL BILL, THESE ENERGY TAX CREDITS WERE CONTINUED. WE HAVE THIS JULY IVTH DEADLINE THAT WE ARE RACING TOWARDS JUST TO BE CLEAR, THE TWO VENDERS THAT WERE SELECTED ARE THOSE CONTRACTS READY IF APPROVAL IS GRANTED TODAY TO BE SIGNED? >> YES, THEY'RE READY. >> OKAY. AND THEN SPECIFICALLY THE PROJECT LABOR AGREEMENTS ARE UPMOST IMPORTANCE TO ME. I KNOW UNDER THE CONTRACT THERE'S A BIT OF ADDITIONAL TIME TO GET THOSE IRONED OUT EVEN AFTER THE INITIAL EXECUTION AND WE KNOW THERE'S NO ROOM FOR ERROR. >> ABSOLUTELY. WE ARE 10% COMMITTED TO CONTRACT AGREEMENTS WHILE THE VENDERS HAVE SOME TIME TO COMPLETE THEM. WE WOULD ENCOURAGE THEM RIGHT FLOW AND IN THE FUTURE TO FINISH THOSE AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE. THERE'S NO PROJECT WITHOUT THOSE AGREEMENTS. >> SO I'M 100% COMMIT TODAY THE PROJECT LABOR AGREEMENTS AS WELL AND YOU SAID WE HAD THE REPRESENTATIVES FROM THE TWO AWARDEES, BIG SON AND CRAIG -- THEY'RE HERE FROM BOTH? >> YES. ONE IS -- >> JUST BIG SON, YEAH. >> WOULD YOU KINDLY JOIN ME UP HERE, PLEASE. WHILE WALKING TOWARDS TO ME, IF APPROVED TODAY HOW QUICKLY CAN THE CONTRACTS BE EXECUTED ATTORNEY? >> WE WILL PRIORITIZE AS SOON AS WE GET THEM. >> AND THEN -- I KNOW WE HAVE TO START CONSTRUCTION BY JULY 4TH, JUST TO BE CLEAR. AND TO THE BEST OF OUR KNOWLEDGE, 1 100% ON TRACK TO -- REFER THAT'S CORRECT. >> WE DROVE BY THE ENERGY CENTER TO CHECK IT OUT. >> I LOVE FIELD TRIPS. PLEASE STATE YOUR NAMES. THANK YOU FOR YOUR PARTNERSHIP [06:15:08] AS WHAT I SEE AS CRITICAL PROJECT. MY QUESTION TO YOU IS, DO WE HAVE YOUR COMMITMENT ON THE PROJECT LABOR AGREEMENT? >> YES, YOU DO. SO WE'VE REVIEWED THE AGREEMENT. WE'VE SENT IT BACK WITH OUR RED LINES ON IT. THERE WAS ONLY TWO ISSUES THAT WE HAD THAT WE'RE TRYING TO WORK OUT. BASICALLY THOSE ARE WE SPLITTED A UTILIZATION PLAN FOR SMALL BUSINESSES WITH OUR PROPOSAL, SO THERE'S ARE WOMEN OWNED AND MINORITY-OWNED BUSINESSES AND WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT THOSE TWO SUBCONTRACTORS THAT WE'VE COMMITTED TO ARE ALSO CONSIDERED CORE EMPLOYEES IN THE AGREEMENT. >> OKAY. AND DO WE HAVE YOUR COMMITMENT THAT WE WILL BE ABLE TO START CONSTRUCTION BY THE JULY 4TH? >> YES. YES. >> OKAY, THANK YOU. AND THE REASON NOT ONLY DO I WANT US TO CONTINUE BEING THE ENERGY CAPITAL OF THE WORLD BOTH CURRENT AND FUTURE IN TRANSITION BUT WITH B UNRELIABLE GRID, THE OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE GREAT PAYING LABOR JOBS, IT'S ONE OF THOSE WIN, WIN, WINS AND GIVEN THE VERY SHORT TIME FRAME I WANT TO MAKE SURE WE ARE WORKING AS A TEAM TO GET IT TOGETHER. >> WE ARE READY TO GO AS SOON AS THE CONTRACTS ARE EXECUTED. >> THANK YOU. JUST TO CONFIRM THE OTHER COMPANY IS NO LONGER HERE? >> NO. >> WELL, YOU'VE ANSWERED MY QUESTIONS. LASTLY, WHAT IS THE CURRENT STATUS OF THE FEDERAL SOLAR GRANTS, WHERE ARE WE -- >> WE ARE STILL IN LITIGATION. WE ARE IN THE MIDST OF FILING DIFFERENT MOTIONS FOR SUMMARY JUDGMENTS. YOU KNOW, THERE'S BEEN DELAYS BECAUSE OF OTHER CASE LAW PROCEEDING AT THE SAME TIME AND WE ARE CAUTIOUSLY OPTIMISTIC AND WE THINK OUR ARGUMENTS ARE BETTER THAN DOJ'S BUT WE DON'T SEE RULING IN ANOTHER MONTH. >> I APPRECIATE BOTH ENDS WHILE WE WORK ON LITIGATING THE GRANTS AND THE CONTRACT THAT WE HAD IN THE MEANTIME WE ARE RACING TOWARDS ENERGY TAX CREDITS BECAUSE THIS IS A HUGE OPPORTUNITY FOR OUR COUNTY SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH, WE LOOK FORWARD WORKING WITH YOU AND I WILL BE IN SUPPORT OF THIS, -- THESE TWO ITEMS. THANK YOU BOTH MR. DICKERMAN AND COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR CARTER. >> I'M NEXT ON LIST. I JUST WANTED -- I UNDERSTAND THE ISSUE WITH THE GRANT AND THE RISK THEY -- BECAUSE IT'S IN COURT FOR THE ITEM I'M WILLING TO TAKE THE RISK BUT I I WANTO DO KNOW WHAT IT WOULD COST AND STANDSTILL AND IT'S UNLIKELY TO DO ANY TAX REFORM WE THINK BUT IN THE EVENT THEY DID, WHAT'S YOUR BEST GUESS, YOU COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR BUDGET OFFICE, WHAT FINANCIAL RISK DO WE HAVE? I'M WILLING TO TAKE IT BUT I WANT TO KNOW. >> THE TAX CREDITS ARE WORTH 40% OF THE CAPITAL OF THE PROGRAM. SO IF WE ARE AT 90 MILLION IN THE PROGRAM COURT COST TODAY IT'S 40 -- 40 ODD MILLION. A LITTLE LESS ON THE TAX CREDIT -- >> I NOTICED BUT I THINK THAT'S THE CRUX OF THE ISSUE. I WOULD JUST GO TO IT AT LEAST IF WE KNOW IF THAT HAPPENS. IT'S UNLIKELY BUT STRANGER THINGS HAVE HAPPENED. ANYTHING ELSE, COMMISSIONER R■AMSEY? >> YOU'RE SAY IF WE DON'T GET THE GRANT, WHERE DO WE GET THE MONEY? >> SO THE -- IF WE DO NOT GET THE GRANT, THEN THERE WILL BE ADDITIONAL -- IT WILL SIT ON THE DECK, BOOKS WITH THE REST OF THE DEBT. WE ARE ABLE TO USE CIP DOLLARS. THE OTHER THING I WOULD SAY, COMMISSIONERS, IF WE DON'T -- >> DOLLARS THAT WE WERE GOING TO USE FOR SOMETHING ELSE AND USE IT FOR THIS? >> CAPITAL DOLLARS, YES. >> I'M TALKING ABOUT CIP. THAT'S ALL MONEY. >> YES, SIR. I THINK THE OTHER THING THAT WE HAVE THESE ARE REVENUE-GENERATING PROJECTS AND IN THE CASE THAT CHANGES AND THAT WE DON'T GET THE GRANT, WE CAN REEVALUATE HOW WE ARE USING SOME OF THE REVENUE THAT COMES INTO THE PROGRAM? >> I WOULD LIKE WHEN YOU REPORT BACK THAT YOU'RE GOING TO -- HAVE TO USE DOLLARS IF WE DIDN'T GET THE GRANT, WE NEED TO UNDERSTAND WHAT WE'RE NOT GOING TO DO BECAUSE WE ARE DOING THIS SIMPLY STATED. >> ONE MORE QUESTION, SO THE 40% OF THE TAX CREDITS, CAN YOU TALK ABOUT LOW THOSE TRANCHES COME IN AS THE PROJECT DEVELOPS? >> THE TAX CREDITS DON'T COME IN TILL THE PROJECTS ARE DELIVERED. >> THAT'S THE FOUR-YEAR HORIZON. >> HORIZON. THAT HASN'T CHANGED, IT'S ALWAYS BEEN THE CASE WITH ENERGY TAX CREDITS AS YOU DELIVER THE PROJECT AND THEN YOU PUT IT IN FOR THE TAX CREDITS. >> OKAY. THANK YOU. >> SO I THINK THE MOTION WOULD BE TO MOVE ITEMS 195 AND WHAT OTHER -- >> 409 AND 455. I WILL MOVE AS PRESENTED. >> SECOND. COMMISSIONER GARCIA SECOND. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR VOTE AYE. OPPOSE NO. 3 AND 1, ITEM PASSES. [06:20:08] OKAY. NEXT IS -- WHAT IS THE NEXT ONE, JAY? >> 212. >> 212. >> 212. >> COMMISSIONER GARCIA, SOUTHWEST AND CORRECTIONAL. >> THANK YOU, I JUST WANT TO GET AN IDEA, TONYA, IF WE SAY ON THE PACE THAT THE DA IS ON WHO IS DOING A PHENOMENAL JOB, WHEN DO WE THINK WE COULD POSSIBLY CANCEL THIS CONTRACT? >> THE LASALLE CONTRACT? CHIEF, ARE YOU STILL ON? I THINK IN YOUR OUTSOURCE REDUCTION PLAN WITH 6 -- IT WOULD BE 650 OVER THE NEXT TWO YEARS. WE COULD CLOSE OLA IN 2025, IS THAT CORRECT? >> I'M SORRY, I CUT THE LAST HALF, THE REDUCTION -- >> WE COULD CLOSE OLA, ONE TO HAVE FACILITIES AT THE END OF 2027, CALENDAR YEAR 2027, CORRECT? >> YES, IF EVERYTHING ALIGNS, THAT'S OUR GOAL. WE'VE ALREADY STARTED TALKING WITH -- I'M SORRY. >> THAT'S ONE OF THE THREE CONTRACTS. >> OKAY. >> THAT'S LASALLE. >> LASALLE IS ACTUALLY -- ALL THREE OF THE CONTRACTS, JEFFERSON, YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE TO PRONOUNCE -- >> WHY -- WHY PICK OUT OLA? >> IT'S -- >> SIR, GO AHEAD. FURTHEST AWAY. >> SO COMMISSIONER GARCIA, OLA IS THE FURTHEST AWAY JUST LIKE WE CONCENTRATED ON MISSISSIPPI, WE WANT TO GET WITHIN THE HOUSTON BUBBLE. >> GOT YOU. >> LASALLE OPERATES THREE. >> GOT IT. >> THE ONE IN BEAUMONT, THAT'S IN TEXAS. 100% WE USE TDC OVERFLOW FOR FOLKS THAT HAVE BEEN CONVICTED, WAITING TO BE PICKED UP BY THE STATE PRISON SYSTEM. >> GOOD. >> NACHES ACROSS THE BORDER, AS CLOSE AS WE CAN GET TO THE HOUSTON AREA. THAT HOLDS 40 AND WE HAVE APPROXIMATELY USED 60% OF THAT, AGAIN, FOR TDC, INMATES WAIT TO GO GO TO PRISON AFTER THEY'VE BEEN SENTENCED. WE'RE TRYING TO MAXIMIZE THAT, OUR GOAL TO GET THAT UP TO 10% AS SOON AS POSSIBLE AND THEN SO OLA IS THE FURTHEST AWAY. IT'S THE BIGGEST CONTRACT. THAT'S WHAT THE FIRST TWO STEPS THAT WE PRESENTED TO YOU ON THE 10 WITHIN THE NEXT 90 DAYS AND ADDITIONAL 150 TOWARDS THE END OF THIS CALENDAR YEAR IT WOULD BE OUT OF THAT FACILITY WHICH WOULD SET US UP FOR 20.7 TO, AGAIN, REDUCE THE LAST 400 AND COMPLETELY CLOSE OUT THAT CONTRACT. >> GOOD DEAL. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. MOVE ON. >> COMMISSIONER GARCIA MOVES TO MOTION, I WILL SECOND IT. COMMISSIONER BRIONES. >> IF I COULD JUST MAKE A FEW QUICK COMMENTS. THIS IS ONE OF THE THINGS THAT KEEPS ME UP AT NIGHT AND PAINS KNOW MY CORE THAT WE HAVE THESE OUTSOURCING. TO BE CLEAR, CHIEF BOSQUES, DO WE HAVE ANY OTHER CHOICE, ANY OTHER CHOICE AT THIS POINT IN TIME? >> SPECIFICALLY TO -- >> SPECIFICALLY GIVEN THE INSPECTION CHALLENGES, THE BED AVAILABILITY CHALLENGES, THE STAFFING CHALLENGES, ET CETERA, ALL THE THINGS THAT WE'VE DISCUSSED NUMEROUS TIMES, LIKE THIS IS OUR ONLY CHOICE ESSENTIALLY IS MY QUESTION, CORRECT? OUTSOURCING BECAUSE WE CAN'T HAVE THE PEOPLE HERE BECAUSE OF THE LACK OF BEDS, BECAUSE OF THE MAINTENANCE PROJECTS, BECAUSE ALL THE THINGS THAT WE'VE TALKED ABOUT. BASICALLY WHY DO HAVE TO OUTSOURCE THESE PEOPLE? >> YES, I BELIEVE THAT THE SHORT ANSWER IS YES WITH -- AS WE TALKED ABOUT THE REMEDIAL ORDER BEDS THAT ARE NOT APPROVED FOR AUTHORIZATION, THE CONSTRUCTION BEDS WHICH COMES TO ROUGHLY 1250, 1300 WITH THE CLASSIFICATION VARIANCE WHICH THE NATIONAL STANDARD RECOMMENDED IS 10% AND WE -- WE KIND OF C COME IN UNDER THAT AND THAT ADDS 3 TO 400. SO THOSE FACTORS IN A SAFE JAIL, YES, CORRECT. THAT'S WHY WE DO OUTSOURCING. >> THANK YOU. SO WE ARE ALL COMMITTED, SHARE COMMITMENT ENDING OUTSOURCING RESPONSIBLY, PERMANENTLY AS FAST AS WE CAN -- >> YES. AGAIN, TO PLEASE THE COURT, THE SUPPORT THAT Y'ALL GIVEN US BY THE STAFFING AND SALARY INCREASE AND HELPS WITH ATTRITION RATE AND WE HAVE BEEN REDUCED HUNDREDS OF OUTSOURCING BEDS IN THE LAST 24 MONTHS AND WE WILL CONTINUE TO REDUCE THOSE IN THIS CALENDAR YEAR AND, AGAIN, OUR PLAN IS FOR NEXT YEAR TO REMAIN THAT, SO SHERIFF GONZALES AND THE WHOLE SHERIFFS OFFICE, ALL THE PEOPLE THAT WORK HERE, WE CAN'T DO THAT WITHOUT COURT SUPPORT, GREAT SUPPORT WITH THE [06:25:02] DA'S OFFICE AND THE COURT SYSTEM, DIRECTOR MILLS. IT'S REALLY A SYSTEMATIC THING. CJC, EVERYBODY WORKING TOWARDS A GOAL AND WE ARE SEEING THE PROGRESS. >> ALSO NUMBER OF BEDS AT THIS OLA. >> OLA. >> HOW MANY BEDS? >> WE HAVE 650, COMMISSIONER RAMSEY. AT THAT FACILITY WE HAVE 400 AT THE LOUISIANA FACILITY, 188 BEDS TAT BEAUMONT, TEXAS JEFFERSON COUNTY. >> PRETTY CLOSE TO -- IF YOU GET SOME RELIEF FROM THE STATE ON NOW THAT WE ARE IN COMPLIANCE AND I KNOW WE'RE GOING IN A COUPLE OF MONTHS, THAT'S 500 SOMETHING BEDS RIGHT THERE, BUT WE'LL ALL BE COUNTING BEDS AND OTHERS. >> I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU, CHIEF BOSQUES AND ALSO TO YOUR POINT. WE ARE SEEING -- LONG ROAD AHEAD AND WE ARE SEEING THE PROGRESS AND I WANT TO THANK WITH PHENOMENAL WORK, MOVING THE CASES, THE JUDGES, THE SHERIFFS DEPARTMENT, IT'S A TEAM EFFORT AND WE HAVE WORK TO DO. WE MUST APPROVE THIS CONTRACT BECAUSE WE HAVE NO CHOICE AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO THE DAY WE CAN END OUTSOURCING RESPONSIBLY AND PERMANENTLY SO -- >> AND COMMISSIONER, AND COURT, SO Y'ALL WILL SEE ANOTHER AMENDMENT HOPEFULLY WITHIN THE NEXT 30 TO 45 DAY THAT IS HAS THE TWO THINGS THAT WE PRESENTED FOR ALL THE REDUCTION OF -- OF THROES BEDS THIS YEAR. WE HOPE TO HAVE THAT AMENDMENT THROUGH COUNTY ATTORNEYS OFFICE AND OUR LEGAL SO WE CAN GET THOSE -- THOSE HUNDRED BACK AND THEN, AGAIN, THE OTHER 150. >> THANK YOU CHIEF BOSQUES AND THANK YOU SHERIFF GONZALES. >> THANK YOU. >> OKAY, SO MOTION WAS MADE BY COMMISSIONER GARCIA, SECOND BY ELLIS. VOTE NO. YES, SIR. CORRECT. >> SO IT'S ALSO FOR 458? >> YES. >> AS PRESENTED. >> MAKE SURE I KNOCKED IT OUT, 458 AS PRESENT -- NO. NO. NOT 458. WE'RE ABOUT TO GET TO THAT ONE NEXT. SO THAT WAS WHICH ONE JUST SO WE GOT IT RIGHT. >> WE JUST FINISHED 212. >> 212. >> SO 235 NEXT. >> 235, THAT ONE IS PULLED BY ELLIS AND ALSO BY COMMISSIONER RAMSEY. I JUST WANT TO MAKE -- AND GARCIA. >> ALL OF US I WILL JUST JUMP IN FIRST SINCE I PULLED IT AS WELL. AND I WANT TO SAY THAT I THINK ALL OF US FELT THE PAIN OF THE PEOPLE WHO CAME IN AND TESTIFIED. I SENT A PROPOSED MOTION ROUND AND I WILL EXPLAIN WHY I'M GOING TO DO IT. I KNOW THAT IT'S DIFFICULT FOR THE BUDGET DIRECTOR, THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR, ANY DEPARTMENT HEAD TO PREDICT EVERYTHING BUT WHEN THIS ITEM CAME UP ON AUGUST THE 14TH, 2025, THIS WAS A DISCUSSION ON THE EMPLOYEE GROUP WAIVER. >> RESPONDING TO THAT OFFICE MEETING. I WAS GOING TO SHOW IT -- CAN I SHOW THAT? >> GO AHEAD AND SHOW IT. >> I WAS GOING TO READ IT. I WANT TO KNOW HOW YOU GET THIS STUFF SO QUICK. UNDER THE OLD COURT, ONE OF YOUR PREDECESSORS WOULD COME UP, RACK WOULD COME UP AND SAY SHOW ME WHAT I SAID BUT I COULD NEVER GET IT. THIS TIME I DID GET IT. >> WELL, I THINK THEY GOT IT CUED UP IF THEY'LL PLAY IT. I THINK IT'S SET -- THIS IS THE AUGUST 14TH. >> AUGUST 14TH. >> ASKING DIRECTOR RAMOS ABOUT THE -- >> THE EMPLOYER GROUP WAIVER. >> DANIEL, I'M -- >> THERE IT IS, THERE IT IS. >> GO AHEAD. >> ROLL. >> THE EMPLOYER GROUP WAIVER PROGRAM HAD ASKED FOR ACTION ON THAT ONE. JUST TO REITERATE THIS IS NOT INCREASING THE COST OF PRESCRIPTION DRUGS FOR RETIREES, THIS IS SIMPLY RECATEGORIZING OUR RETIREE HEALTH IN ORDER TO RECEIVE MORE FEDERAL REIMBURSEMENTS FROM CMS. >> SO JUST MAKE SURE I'M CLEAR, SO NO COSTS, ZERO? >> CORRECT. >> OKAY. SO I WANT TO SET THE STAGE, DANIEL RAMOS, THERE'S NO WAY YOU WOULD KNOW, BUT YOU ARE IN A BETTER POSITION THAN WE ARE. SO WHEN IT WAS COMING UP, YOU KNOW, I MADE IT CLEAR, I'M REAL SENSITIVE ABOUT THESE BENEFITS BECAUSE I KNOW A LOT OF PEOPLE STAYED. IF ANY RETIREES ARE LEFT, YOU THINK YOU GOT IT HARD, I STAYED IN THE TEXAS SENATE FOR 26 YEARS ON A 600-DOLLAR MONTH JOB AND I TOOK THE PLATINUM GOLD [06:30:05] RETIREMENT DEAL SO REALLY I HAD THE PRIVILEGE OF WRITING THE STATE A CHECK EVERY YEAR. I CAN'T REMEMBER HOW MUCH A GOOD 3, $4,000 BECAUSE I TOOK THE BEST LIFE INSURANCE AN EVERYTHING I COULD GETS IS OLD AS I AM AND LAST CHILD OF MY AGE TO PROTECT MY RETIREMENT AND MY FAMILY I STAYED 26 YEARS AND PART OF IT WAS I FIGURED, YOU KNOW, OTHER OPPORTUNITIES CAME MY WAY BUT AT LEAST THEY'LL BE A RETIREMENT AND IT'S A CHALLENGE TELLING A LOT OF THE MILLENNIALS NOW STAY ON A JOB TO GET A RETIREMENT. DON'T JUST JUMP AND GRAB THE NEXT ONE, SO THE MOTION I SENT AROUND AND I KNOW THEY'LL BE A LOT OF DISCUSSION BUT AT MY AGE, I WOULD LIKE TO GET OUT OF HERE. I'M A MUCH NICER PERSON WHEN I GET MY EXERCISE AND IT'S BETTER DO TO THE DO IT IN THE DAYLIGHT INSTEAD OF HAVING TO DO IT TO A JAIL. AT THE APPROPRIATE TIME I'M GOING MOVE TO DIRECT OFFICE OF MANAGEMENT AND BUDGET AND HUMAN RESOURCES AND TALENT TO REVIEW THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE ETNA CIVIL SCRIP WAIVER PLAN AND IDENTIFY OPTIONS TO NUMBER ONE, ADDRESS RETIREE CONCERNS, ALIGN WITH THE COURTS' INTENT THAT THE TRANSITION, TRANSITION NOT INCREASE COSTS FOR RETIREES AND PROVIDE OPTIONS TO ADDRESS CONCERNS OF RETIREES THAT HAS SEEN INCREASE COST. TRANSLATION, GIVE THEM THAT MONEY BACK BECAUSE I KNOW THE ITEM HAS TO PASS AND OTHER FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS IF WE DON'T DO IT. I DON'T HAVE TO SEE IT IN PUBLIC, YOU CAN, BUT YOU SPENT A GOOD 20 MINUTES WALKING THROUGH IT WITH ME AND THEN THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR CAME IN AND HUMAN RESOURCES WALKED ME THROUGH IT EARLIER TODAY AND THE LAST PART REPORT BACK WITH UPDATE AT THE MAY 14TH COMMISSIONERS COURT SO AT THE APPROPRIATE TIME WE WILL GO DOWN THE LIST. I DON'T WANT TO BELABOR THIS AND WRAP THIS UP. WE HAVE A FEW MORE IMPORTANT ITEMS. COMMISSIONER GARCIA, COMMISSIONER RAMSEY AND THEN COMMISSIONER BRIONES. >> THANK YOU, CHAIR. AND SO I APPRECIATE ALL THE WORK BEING DONE, BUT I DID VIVIDLY REMEMBER THIS CONVERSATION AND I REMEMBER IT BECAUSE I ALSO TEND TO HEAR LIKE A -- LIKE THE RETIREE THAT I AM FROM THE CITY, SO I PAY ATTENTION TO THESE THINGS. SO THE PROJECTED SAVINGS AND LONG-TERM IMPACT ON OUR RETIREES' LIABILITY IS OBVIOUSLY SOMETHING THAT WE WANT -- THAT'S THE POSITIVE THING WE WANT TO PROVIDE THEM, HOWEVER, AT THE SAME TIME, WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE BALANCE THE SAVINGS WITH THE REAL EXPERIENCE OUR RETIREES WILL HAVE ON DAY-TO-DAY BASIS. AND SO I'M CONCERNED ABOUT THE/THAT WE'RE HEARING AND -- HEARING ABOUT AND SEEING COME OVER IN EMAILS ESPECIALLY HIGHER OUT OF COST FROM FORMULAR TIER CHANGES AND THE INABILITY TO USE MANUFACTURER COUPONS. SO WHAT CAN WE DO RIGHT NOW TO REDUCE THAT BURDEN ON OUR RETIREES. ON THE SIDE OF COMMUNICATION, IT SOUNDS LIKE A LOT WENT OUT BUT WE ARE STILL SEEING CONFUSION ABOUT MEDICARE ADVANTAGE ENROLLMENT AND PENALTIES. SO WHAT CAN WE DO DIFFERENTLY TO REACH PEOPLE EARLIER IN A BROADER GROUP OF THE -- OF THE -- OF THERE'S EMPLOYEES IN PARTICULAR OUR RETIREES BECAUSE THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I HEARD WAS THAT THEY RECEIVED SOME COMMUNICATION BUT THEY FELT THAT IT WAS MINIMAL AT BEST. AND SO WHAT CAN WE DO BETTER AT ENGAGING THEM AND CAN WE, LOOK, I'M GOING MAKE A MOTION TO FORM A RETIREES COMMISSION BECAUSE WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE NOT MAKING THESE KIND OF MOVES IN ABSENCE OF THEIR INPUT. SO LOOKING AHEAD, YOU HAVE OUTLINE PLAN DESIGNS, REVIEWING THE FORMULARY, WHAT IS THE TIMELINE TO BRING IMPROVEMENTS BACK TO COURT AND WHAT WOULD IT TAKE TO MAKE THIS PLAN WORK BETTER FOR OUR RETIREES? I'M NOT SURE WHO CAN ANSWER THAT. >> EXCUSE ME, HUMAN RESOURCES, AND THIS IS SARAH ACOSTA, SHE'S OUR BENEFITS DIRECTOR. SO WE'RE HERE TODAY TO EXPRESS FIRST OF ALL OUR REGRET FOR WHAT RETIREES HAVE GONE THROUGH AND WE DID HAVE OUR TEAM HERE TODAY TO SUPPORT THOSE WHO SHOWED UP. BEHIND THE SCENES OUR BENEFITS TEAM HAS BEEN WORKING LONG HOURS VERY DILIGENTLY TO HELP ADDRESS EVERY ISSUE THAT THEY CAN. SO A COUPLE OF THINGS IMMEDIATELY AND FURTHER TO ADDRESS YOUR QUESTION, COMMISSIONER GARCIA. THE THINGS WE ARE DOING RIGHT NOW IS TRYING TO HELP CAN ANYTHING THAT BE REMEDIED IMMEDIATELY. SO IN SOME INSTANCES JUST THE [06:35:04] LOGISTIC OF THE CHANGE HAVE BEEN DIFFICULT FOR RETIREES TO UNDERSTAND. TO YOUR POINT THEY HAVEN'T LAD EXCEPT FOR COMMUNICATION AND WE ARE HELPING THEM WITH HOW TO UNDERSTAND TO GET PREAUTHORIZATION. >> CONTINUE. >> IF THAT'S -- >> I MOVE -- >> UNDERSTANDING THAT THEY NEED TO CHANGE PHARMACIES OR IF THERE'S ANOTHER DRUG ON THE FORMULARY OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT AND SARAH'S TEAM IS HELPING ADDRESSING ISSUES AND SOME ISSUES WON'T GO AWAY, INCREASED PAYMENT, PREMIUM FROM SOCIAL SECURITY, MEDICARE PART D THAT YOU WERE MENTIONING EARLIER. THAT WON'T CHANGE BECAUSE IT'S INCOME RELATED AND IT'S -- IT'S SOCIAL SECURITY. WE CAN'T TOUCH THAT. SO WE'RE HELPING THEM WITH THE IMMEDIATE THINGS THAT WE CAN TO YOUR POINT WE HAVE A VERY AGGRESSIVE PLAN AS TO HOW WE WILL ENGAGE WITH FUTURE RETIREES AND CURRENT RETIREES WOULD BE WILL BE HITTING 65 MEDICARE ELIGIBILITY AND MAKING SURE WE FULLY UNDERSTAND WE ENGAGE WITH THEM IN RETIREMENT PROCESS AND LEADING UP TO WHEN THEY HIT THAT AGE. I'M GOING TO PAUSE AND LET SARAH ADDRESS ANYTHING ELSE THAT SHE'D LIKE TO SHARE. >> I MEAN, I THINK YOU PRETTY MUCH COVERED IT. THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME. THIS IS BEEN A VERY CONDENSED TIMELINE TO GET A COMPLICATED PLAN IN PLACE AND MADE SURE WE GOT COMMUNICATION OUT EARLY BUT NOT TOO EARLY TO THE POINT WE COULDN'T DELIVER THE FILE TO SILVER SCRIPT BECAUSE WE HAD TO MAKE SURE WE COULD GET IT TO THEM AND WE KNEW THE EFFECTIVE DATE WOULD BE 2-1 WHICH WAS THE INTENT BUT AFTER THAT, WE -- WE NAILED IN ON THE COMMUNICATION WITH PROVIDING MULTIPLE WEBINARS AND SUCH. AND SO BEYOND THAT, SHE MENTIONED ANDREA MENTIONED THAT WE ARE GOING TO HAVE EXPLORE FORMULARY CHANGES, MAYBE THERE'S A BETTER FORMULARY, I MEAN, WHAT WAS PROPOSED WHAT MIRRORED OR FÓRMULA UNO. STAYING WITH THE PLAN DESIGN THE PLAN MIRRORS WHAT OUR PLAN DESIGN IS NOW WITH THE ADDITION OF WHAT'S CATASTROPHIC PHASE AND THAT'S WHERE IT'S ACTUALLY A PROTECTIVE FACTOR BUILT INTO ALL PLED CARE PART D PLANS AND SO THE MEMBER WILL NOT PAY ANY MORE THAN $2,100 OUT OF POCKET FOR THEIR MEDICATION FOR THE YEAR. I UNDERSTAND THAT'S STILL SOMETHING THAT RETIREES WHEN WE WOULD TELL THEM, I DON'T WANT TO PAY 2100 BUT ULTIMATELY WE DO HAVE A LOT OF MEMBERS AS YOU PROBABLY UNDERSTAND THAT ARE ON SEVERAL MEDICATIONS, SO I ALREADY JUST FROM SOME INITIAL REPORTS WE KNOW THAT PEOPLE HAVE HIT THAT ALREADY BY THIS MONTH. SO WE STARTED AT 2-1 AND WE'RE ALREADY IN MARCH 15THTH -- I DON'T KNOW THE DATE TODAY. BUT ANYWAYS, BUT WE'RE LOOKING AT -- LOOKING AT POSSIBLY MODIFYING THAT PLAN DESIGN SO IT'S RICHER, SO IT TAKES -- FACTORS IN WHERE THAT COUPON, THE MANUFACTURED CAR THAT THEY CAN'T USE ANYMORE THAT IT MAKES, FILLS IT IN FOR THEM. >> GOOD DEAL. >> YEAH. >> AND IN TERMS OF -- OF THE -- YOU TOUCHED ON IT. WE -- WE MOVED ON THIS PRETTY QUICKLY AND -- AND EARLIER WE PUSHED SOMETHING ELSE THROUGH QUICKLY THAT I DON'T THINK WAS FULLY -- FULLY BAKED AND WE HAD THESE PARTICULAR PROBLEMS AND FORESEE PARTICULAR PROBLEMS ON THE OTHER ITEM. BUT WITH THAT BEING SAID, WHO -- WOULD WE HAVE KNOWN THAT THIS WAS GOING TO BE THE CASE OR IS THIS AS MUCH A SURPRISE TO US AS IT IS TO THE RETIREES? >> I THINK SOME ITEMS WE WOULD HAVE POSSIBLY KNOWN BETTER BUT WE DO NOT HAVE AS MUCH LINE OF SIGHT ON THE INCOME, THE IRMA, THE INCOME RE-- WHAT IS IT? I'M BLANKING RIGHT NOW. BUT IRMA, SO WE DON'T HAVE EVERYBODY'S TAX RETURNS BUT WE DO KNOW WHAT PENSIONERS DO TAKE HOME FROM THE TCDRS SO THERE IS SOME INFORMATION THAT WE WOULD HAVE HAD AVAILABLE, THE MA OR MEDICARE ADVANTAGE PLAN MEMBERS, WE DO HAVE QUITE A FEW OF RETIREES THAT ENROLL IN MA OR MAPD MEDICARE ADVANTAGE PRESCRIPTION DRUG PLANS OUTSIDE OF HARRIS COUNTIES SO THEY HAVE SEVERAL HEALTH INSURANCES AND SO BY ENROLLMENT IN THIS PLAN IT ACTUALLY KICKS THEM OUT AND SO WE WOULDN'T KNOW WHAT THEY'RE ENROLLED IN BUT PARTNER THAT WITH KELSEA CARE, ONE OF OUR PLANS INTERNALLY AND THEY DO OUR CLINIC AND SO WE REACHED OUT TO THEM TO GET AHEAD OF THAT AND IDENTIFIED MEMBERS, SENT LETTERS, OUTBOUND PHONE CALLS, HEY, YOU NEED TO MAKE A CHOICE BASICALLY BECAUSE WE DON'T WANT TO TAKE AWARE YOUR KELSEA CARE DOCTORS BUT YOU HAVE A PRESCRIPTION THAT'S CHANGING AND TIME TO INVESTIGATE THEM MORE, BUT IT WAS A FAST-MOVING PROCESS. WE HAD TO WORK WITH UNIVERSAL SERVICES TO GET ELIGIBILITY FILE BUILT. THAT IS QUITE COMPLICATED IN THE MEDICARE WORLD. WE HAD TO DO A LOT OF INVESTIGATING FOR MEDICARE BENEFICIARIES ID. WE HAD A THOUSAND MISSING OUT OF APPROXIMATELY 5,000 PLUS [06:40:04] RETIREES MEMBERS. SO WE HAD TO GO FIND THOSE AND RESEARCH THROES, REACH OUT TO RETIREES THEN, SO IT'S BEEN -- FOR US IT'S BEEN ONGOING PROCESS SINCE IT GOT PUT INTO IMPLEMENTATION IN AUGUST. I KNOW EVERYBODY IS, YOU KNOW, NOT FRUSTRATED BUT WE ARE TRYING TO PUSH THROUGH AND MAKE RETIREE WHOLE AND DO WHAT WE CAN DO TO IMPROVE IT. >> GOOD DEAL, I APPRECIATE THAT. LASTLY, WELL TWO THINGS. THIS IS A YEAR TO YEAR CONTRACT? >> YES. >> RAMOS? >> YES, SIR. >> BECAUSE FINALLY, I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY IT TOOK SO LONG, PROBABLY MONTHS AFTER WE WENT TO EDNA BECAUSE I HAVE HEARING PROBLEMS FROM EMPLOYEES ABOUT CUSTOMER SURVEY. I FINALLY GOT THAT. WHEN DID WE MOVE TO ETNA? >> 2024? >> YEAH. I FINALLY GOT THAT RETIREMENT WHICH I'M CURIOUS ABOUT BUT IN READING THAT REPORT TALKS ABOUT GREAT BENEFITS BUT THERE IS A CONSISTENT THEME OF CUSTOMER SERVICE AND I'M NOT SURE THAT THEY'RE LISTENING BUT THIS IS A YEAR TO YEAR CONTRACT AND THESE ARE THE KIND OF THINGS I'M GOING TO BE REMEMBERING WHEN IT'S TIME TO TALK ABOUT THAT CONTRACT, THANK YOU VERY MUCH. >> COMMISSIONER RAMSEY. >> YEAH, QUICKLY, ALL CONCERN THAT IS HAVE BEEN EXPRESSED, I AGREE WITH THAT. WE ALL KNOW A LOT ABOUT INCOME RELATED MONTHLY ADJUSTMENT AMOUNT, IRMA, WE HAVE ALL GOTTEN PHONE CALLS AND WHEN PEOPLE CALL ME AND SAY THEY WERE PAYING -- DIDN'T HAVE TO PAY ANYTHING AT ALL AND NOW THEY'RE PAYING $300 A MONTH, 14-YEAR RETIREE WENT FROM ZERO TO 50. SOME OF THEM WENT FROM $100 COST TO 3 MONTHS TO 1200. JUST MAJOR IMPACTS TO THESE FOLKS WHO ARE SITTING THERE COUNTING NICKELS AND PENNIES AND DOING WHAT -- WHAT THEY SHOULD, SO A PART OF THESE AGENDA ITEMS TODAY IS AN AMENDMENT TO THE ETNA, IS THAT CORRECT? >> YES. >> THIS IS AN 87-PAGE AMENDMENT. HAS SOMEBODY READ THE 87 PAGE AMENDMENT? >> YES. >> YES. >> AND SO WE KNOW MAYBE WE -- WE'LL KNOW NOW FOR SOME THINGS TO LOOK AT ON THIS ONE, NOT THAT WE DID BEFORE BUT CLEARLY SURPRISED BUT A LOT OF WHAT'S HAPPENING AND, AGAIN, THANK YOU FOR WHAT Y'ALL DO. Y'ALL ARE GETTING MORE PHONE CALLS THAN WE ARE. >> YEAH. >> BUT I TOTALLY SUPPORT COMMISSIONER ELLIS' MOTIONS RELATED TO -- WE'RE NOT GOING TO SIT HERE AND DECIDE HOW WE'RE GOING TO FIX IT, ALL WE DECIDE TODAY IS WE ARE GOING TO FIX IT AND MAKE IT RIGHT. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. >> YES, I ECHO MY COLLEAGUES SENTIMENTS. TO ME THIS IS A SACRED PROMISE THAT WE MAKE OUR HARRIS COUNTY EMPLOYEES WHEN YOU SPEND YOUR LIFE WORKING FOR HARRIS COUNTY ORFULLY OTHER JURISDICTION, YOU RELY ON THE DIGNITY THAT YOU WILL HAVE AND BENEFITS AND THEN TO HAVE UNEXPECTED CHANGES AND IMPLICATIONS AND NOT TO HAVE COMMUNICATED THEM AS CLEARLY AND AS MULTIFACETED AS SHOULD HAVE BEEN DONE AND THEN AS SOMEBODY WHO HAS BEEN ENTRUSTED BY THE PEOPLE TO HELP RUN THE THIRD LARGEST COUNTY AND I'M SO HAPPY WE PLAYED THAT TAPE AGAIN BECAUSE THE INFORMATION THAT WE WERE GIVEN VERSUS THE REALITY HUGE INCONSISTENCIES AND SO I ASK NOT ONLY YOU ALL BUT EVERY DEPARTMENT HEAD, EVERYBODY WHO PRESENTS TO US THE DUE DILIGENCE MUST BE ACCURATE TO THE BEST OF ALL ABILITY BECAUSE THIS AFFECTS PEOPLE'S LIVES WHEN THEY'RE LIVING LITERALLY COUNTING PENNIES OR THEY CAN'T TAKE THEIR MEDICINE OR THEY HAVE TO SKIP EVERY OTHER MONTH -- THIS IS REAL'S PEOPLE LIVES AND SO I KNOW BETWEEN ETNA, BETWEEN THE BENEFITS CONSULTANT, COMMISSIONER GARCIA SAID, WE'RE WATCHING, WE EXPECT EXCELLENCE, PERIOD. AND SO I ALSO SUPPORT COMMISSIONER ELLIS' MOTION BECAUSE WE ARE COMMITTED TO FIXING THIS, COMMITTED TO HONORING THE SACRED PROMISE AND IN THE MEANTIME CONTINUE TROUBLESHOOTING WITH OUR RETIREES BECAUSE THEY'RE [06:45:02] SUFFERING AND WE WOULD HAVE -- WE'RE ALL COMMITTED TO THIS AND WE WOULD HAVE NOT MADE THIS DECISION IF WE HAD HAD THIS -- THE ACTUAL INFORMATION, SO NEVER LET THAT HAPPEN AGAIN AND, PLEASE FIX IT. SO WITH THAT, THANK YOU COMMISSIONER ELLIS FOR YOUR MOTION WHICH I PROUDLY SUPPORT. >> THANK YOU. LOOK, IN CLOSING, I DON'T THINK YOU HAVE TO DO PRESENTATION. I THINK WE GET IT. YOU TALKED TO ALL THE OFFICES, YOU CAME IN AND TALKED TO ME. I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE IT'S CLEAR HOPING WE WILL COME BACK TO ADDRESS CONCERNS, I KNOW WE HAVE TO PASS IT AND YOU CAN EXPLAIN IT AND WHY WE HAVE TO DO IT. I WILL SAY IT IN DEFENSE OF DO BUREAUCRACY, WE MAKE CHANGES COLLECTIVELY AND IT WAS LAST MINUTE AND WE ARE TRYING TO COME UP WITH SAVINGS TO HELP US MAKE THAT BUDGET BALANCE SO I GET THAT, BUT YOU JUST HAVE TO BE REAL CAREFUL ON IT BUT I HOPE WE CAN GO BACK AND CORRECT IT. MAKE THOSE FOLKS WHOLE EVEN AFTER THE FACT. I MEAN, JUST -- IT SAYS A LOT FOR PEOPLE TO CONTINUE TO WORK IN GOVERNMENT PARTICULARLY IN THERE ENVIRONMENT WHEN SO MANY PEOPLE JUMP AROUND EVEN THE ONES IN MY HOUSEHOLD SOMETIMES I'M TRYING TO EXPLAIN TO YOUNG PEOPLE, DON'T QUIT, YOU KNOW, AT SOME POINT I KNOW IT'S HARD TO BELIEVE EVEN YOU ALL WILL GET OLD AND LOOK HOW PRETTY YOU LOOK AND WHEN YOU GET OLD, YOU LIVE RIGHT. I READ THE MOTION EARLIER. >> COMMISSIONER, I DID HAVE A QUESTION. YOUR E-MAIL SAYS IT'S FOR ITEM 235 AND 450 -- >> WE BRINGING BOTH UP. >> SO THE MOTION IS FOR BOTH ITEMS AND THEY'LL BOTH BE PROVED AS PRESENTED AS WELL AS THE MOTION THAT YOU READ? >> SECOND TO THE MOTION? >> SECOND. >> SECOND BY COMMISSIONER RAMSEY. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY, AYE. 4 AYES NAYS, ITEM PASSES. >> WE WILL HAVE TO ADJUST ACCORDINGLY. >> YEAH. >> YES, SIR. >> OKAY, THE NEXT ONE IS -- IS THAT ME AGAIN? OH, YEAH, CONSULTATION AGREEMENT. IS THAT MY NEXT ONE OR SKIPPING -- OR IMMIGRANT COMMISSION. >> IMMIGRANT BYLAWS. >> LET'S TAKE A FIVE-MINUTE BREAK. I KNOW SOMEBODY HAS TO TAKE A MINUTE. TEN MINUTES. >> OKAY, COLLEAGUES, IT'S NOW 5:02, WE ARE BACK IN SESSION. THE NEXT ITEM IS 281. THIS IS THE ITEM THAT CAME OUT OF MY OFFICE, AND I APPRECIATE ALAN AN SPENCER FOR THE WORK THEY DID ON IT. TO CREATE HARRIS COUNTY'S FIRST IMMIGRANT AND REFUGEE COMMISSION. ABOUT MAKING SURE OUR POLICIES REFLECT THE REALITIES AND NEEDS OF A DIVERSE COMMUNITY. WE HAVE 1.3 MILLION IMMIGRANTS IN OUR COUNTY, REPRESENTING 26% OF OUR POPULATION. HALF OF HARRIS COUNTY CHILDREN HAVE AT LEAST ONE IMMIGRANT PARENT AND MOST OF THESE CHILDREN, 82% WERE BORN IN THE UNITED STATES. IMMIGRANTS MAKE UP ABOUT 809,000 WORKERS, MAKING UP ONE IN THREE WORKERS IN OUR TOTAL LABOR WORKFORCE. IMMIGRANT-LED HOUSEHOLDS CONTRIBUTED ESTIMATED 19.3 BILLION DOLLARS IN STATE AND LOCAL TAXES AND 33.8 BILLION IN FEDERAL TAXES IN 2023. WE ARE FOLLOWING A NUMBER OF PLACES, AUSTIN, SAN DIEGO COUNTY, BALTIMORE, WHICH SAY CITY COUNTY AND DENVER, WHICH IS A CITY AND COUNTY HAVE SIMILAR COMMISSIONS. AND WE PRETTY MUCH FOLLOWED THE TRACK OF LANGUAGE THEY DID. THE MOTION I HAVE SENT AROUND, I WILL READ IT IN CASE YOU DON'T HAVE IT WILL BE THIS, IT'S TWOFOLD. I MOVE THIS COURT ADOPT THE PROPOSED BYLAWS GUIDING THE STRUCTURE, RESPONSIBILITIES AND ACTIVITIES OF THE HARRIS COUNTY IMMIGRANT AND REFUGEE COMMITTEE TO ENSURE EFFECTIVE SERVICE TO OUR COMMUNITY AND DIRECT DESIGNATE APPROPRIATE STAFF TO PROVIDE ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT TO THE HARRIS COUNTY IMMIGRANT AND REFUGEE COMMISSION. MOTION MADE BY ELLIS AND SECOND BY ELLIS AND GARCIA. ALL IN FAVOR? I THINK SHE WANTS TO VOTE ON IT ANYWAY. >> I'M RIGHT HERE. >> MOTION MADE BY ELLIS SECOND BY ELLIS AND GARCIA. ALL IN FAVOR? NO? THREE AYE'S AND ONE NO. THE ITEM PASSES. >> COMMISSIONER? >> YES? >> I JUST WANT TO COMMENT ON THIS AND SAY THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THIS ITEM FORWARD. AND TO THE FOLKS THAT WE'RE GOING TO ULTIMATELY ADD TO THIS COMMISSION, YOU KNOW, YOU AND I TALKED ABOUT THE BIT WITH THE BACKGROUND OF, WHAT DO WE CALL THE CITY, MOITA, OFFICE OF IMMIGRATION AND REFUGEE. BENITO RAN THAT OFFICE FOR [06:50:02] YEARS AND DID A PHENOMENAL JOB. I HOPE THIS COMMISSION HELPS US AS THE COUNTY DO A BETTER JOB OF UNDERSTANDING THE NEEDS AND CHALLENGES AND MAKES SURE THAT COUNTY GOVERNMENT SERVES OUR IMMIGRANT AND REFUGEE COMMUNITY BETTER. SO, I APPRECIATE YOU MOVING ON THIS ITEM. >> THANK YOU. COMMISSIONER BRIONES? >> VERY BRIEF, COMMISSIONER ELLIS, THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP ON THIS. I BELIEVE STRONGLY AND HAPPY WE ARE MOVING FORWARD, WHEN YOU HAVE HARRIS COUNTY WITH ONE IN FOUR PEOPLE ARE IMMIGRANTS AND PLACES WHERE I REPRESENT, 60% WERE BORN IN A DIFFERENT COUNTRY. IT'S INCUMBENT ON US AS LEADERS TO MAKE SURE WE ARE LISTENING, THAT WE ARE LEARNING AND THAT WE ARE CONTINUING TO IMPROVE IN HOW WE ARE KEEPING FOLKS SAFE, PROVIDING OPPORTUNITY AND CREATING RESOURCES, LANGUAGE ACCESS, HEALTH, ET CETERA. WITH THAT, THANK YOU, AND I LOOK FORWARD TO MAKING HARRIS COUNTY AN EVEN MORE INCLUSIVE AND WELCOMING PLACE. >> THANK YOU. >> SO THE ITEM PASSES 3-1. THE NEXT ITEM IS 282. AND THIS IS A RESOLUTION ESTABLISHING A CONSULTATION AGENT TO FOSTER EMPLOYEE ENGAGEMENT AND DEVELOPMENT, PERSONNEL POLICIES AND IMPROVE HANDLING OF EMPLOYEE GRIEVANCES AND DISCIPLINARY. IT'S A SIMPLE MATTER THAT IN TEXAS, I THINK THAT ALL WORKERS DESERVE REPRESENTATION. THIS IS AN IMPORTANT DAY FOR WORKERS IN TEXAS. WE ARE INTRODUCING THE FIRST AND MOST ROBUST CONSULTATION POLICY FOR COUNTY EMPLOYEES IN TEXAS. CREATED ALONGSIDE LABOR ADVOCATE. THIS POLICY EMPOWERS OUR WORKERS BY GIVING THEM A SEAT AT THE TABLE FOR GRIEVANCES, RELATED TO PAY, AND WORKING CONDITIONS. THEY ARE MAKING SURE THEY HAVE A FAIR OPPORTUNITY TO BE HEARD WHEN THEY HAVE A WORKPLACE CONCERN. THIS POLICY DOES NOT, I WANT TO REPEAT, THIS POLICY DOES NOT CREATE COLLECTIVE BARGAINING RIGHTS. INSTEAD IT CREATES A CONSULTATION PROCESS FOR AREAS OF EMPLOYEE CONCERNS WHERE COMMISSIONERS COURT STILL HAS FINAL AUTHORITY OVERALL DECISIONS. WE MADE SOME SUBSTANTIAL CHANGES IN THIS COUNTY. WE FOUGHT FOR A LIVING WAGE AND PASSED IT. WE FOUGHT FOR AND INVESTED IN APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAMS AND PASSED IT. ALONG WITH A CONTINUOUS STREAM OF FUNDING AFTER THE FEDERAL MONEY IS GONE. AND TODAY WE MAKE A HISTORIC MOVE TOWARD A BETTER WORKPLACE. I WANT TO THANK THE ATTORNEY'S OFFICE, AND THE PREVIOUS COUNTY ATTORNEY MR. MENEFEE. OFFICE OF COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR. ALL OF THE COURT OFFICES, OUR FRIENDS AT LABOR WHO HELPED MAKE THIS POSSIBLE. I WON'T BELABOR THE POINT BUT I THINK IT'S AN IMPORTANT MEASURE. I WAS JOKING AT THE PRESS CONFERENCE, COMMISSIONER BRIONES, I WANT TO THANK YOU AND YOUR STAFF. I JOKE WE CAN ONLY TALK TO ONE. YOU CAN FORGET. I GUESS I PICKED SOMEBODY EACH TIME, BUT I KNOW YOU CAN FORGET WHICH ONE YOU TALK TO. I MIGHT FORGET TO SAY IF YOU TALK TO ANYBODY AND THAT PERSON MIGHT FORGET, BUT I CHOSE TO WORK WITH YOU AND IT'S A PLEASURE WORKING WITH YOU AND YOUR TEAM. BUT I WAS JOKING IN THE PRESS CONFERENCE SAYING I WASN'T IN THE LEGISLATURE SINCE 1947. TALKING ABOUT PEOPLE HAVING EXPERIENCE AROUND HERE. WHEN WE REENACTED THE TEXAS RIGHT TO WORK LAW. I JUST CAN'T REMEMBER IF IT WAS UNDER GOVERNOR RICHARDS OR GOVERNOR BUSH. I THINK IT WAS '93. SO IT WAS UNDER GOVERNOR RICHARDS. I TRIED TO, ON CHATGPT, SEE IF I VOTED FOR IT. IF THE GOVERNOR SIGNED IT, I PROBABLY DID VOTE FOR IT BECAUSE IT WAS CLEAR PRECEDENT IN TEXAS. NOT NECESSARILY SOMETHING I FAVOR. I KNOW THE CIRCUMSTANCES WOULD HAVE PASSED IN 1947 WHEN MY DADDY COULDN'T EVEN WALK DOWN MOST STREETS IN TEXAS WHERE HE LIVED. BUT REGARDLESS OF THAT, IT'S THE CASE. I THINK IT'S A GOOD THING. IT JUST GIVES OUR EMPLOYEES A SEAT AT THE TABLE. AND FOR SOME WHO WOULD SAY OR SUGGEST, WELL, THERE'S NO PLACE FOR UNIONS, THIS IS NOT A COLLECTIVE BARGAINING AGREEMENT. BUT SOME OF THOSE VERY PEOPLE WERE THE ONES WHO IGNORED THE FACT THAT CERTAIN GROUPS OF EMPLOYEES, UNDER THE LAW IN TEXAS, CAN FORM UNIONS. THEY DON'T THINK OF THAT BEING A NON SEQUITOR. COMMISSIONER BRIONES? >> I THINK COMMISSIONER GARCIA. BUT I DO HAVE COMMENTS. >> I NEED MY JICAMA. [06:55:03] >> THANK YOU TO ALL THOSE WHO WORKED ON THIS ITEM. HAVING GONE THROUGH THE EARLY DAYS OF UNION ORGANIZING AT THE POLICE DEPARTMENT, IT WAS HARD, THERE WAS SOME DEGREE OF REPRESENTATION BUT OBVIOUSLY THE FRONT LINE FOLKS FELT IT WAS ONLY SUPPORTING THE BRASS. AND SO THE HOUSTON POLICE ASSOCIATION WAS FORMED AND NOW THE HOUSTON POLICE OFFICERS ASSOCIATION. BUT TO THAT END, YOU WILL TELL YOU THAT IN THE OLD DAYS, SO, AND THERE'S A GUY BY THE NAME OF BOB THOMAS. I DON'T THINK ANYBODY REMEMBERS OR KNOWS THAT NAME. BUT BOB TOOK SO MUCH GRIEF AND RETRIBUTION. AND HEARTACHE. AND JUST WAS PUT THROUGH THE GRINDER BECAUSE HE WAS THE PERSON LEADING THE ORGANIZING FOR US AT THAT TIME. AND I WOULD JUST SAY, SO GLAD THAT WE DON'T HAVE TO GO THROUGH ALL THAT MUCK AND GUT TO GET HERE. BECAUSE WE UNDERSTAND IT. BUT I WILL JUST TELL YOU, I'VE BEEN A UNION DUES-PAYING MEMBER. I GET IT. I UNDERSTAND THE VALUE OF IT. AND JUST LOOKING FORWARD TO IT. AND BY THE WAY, I WAS AN ASME MEMBER BACK IN THE DAY WHEN I WAS ON COUNCIL. I DON'T KNOW WHY MY APPLICATION HASN'T COME AGAIN. BUT THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR WORK ON THIS. YOU KNOW, I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE GET THIS RIGHT. AND SO IF THERE'S ANY HICCUPS THAT GO THROUGH IT, I DON'T WANT TO HAVE WHAT WE EXPERIENCED WITH OUR RETIREES. I WANT TO MAKE SURE IT WORKS WELL AND IT'S A REAL SYSTEM OUR EMPLOYEES CAN DEPEND ON. >> THANK YOU. I SENT THE MOTION AROUND. COMMISSIONER BRIONES AND THEN COMMISSIONER RAMSEY? >> YES, TODAY IS A HISTORIC DAY IN HARRIS COUNTY. COMMISSIONER ELLIS, THANK YOU AND YOUR TEAM FOR YOUR PARTNERSHIP. COMMISSIONER GARCIA AS WELL FOR EVERYTHING YOU HAVE ALWAYS DONE TO FIGHT FOR WORKERS AND WORKING FAMILIES AND OUR LABOR LEADERS AND PARTNERS. AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, TO OUR WORKERS WHO HAVE ALREADY BEEN COMING TO US WITH IDEAS, CONCERNS, QUESTIONS. I MEAN, THE REASON I'M SO EXCITED ABOUT THIS, THESE, THIS WILL EMPOWER AND UPLIFT WORKERS' VOICES. WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT HARRIS COUNTY WORKERS, THESE ARE THE PEOPLE FILLING YOUR POTHOLES, THESE ARE THE PEOPLE CLEANING YOUR DITCHES, MOWING YOUR PARKS, PICKING UP TRASH IN YOUR PARKS. THESE ARE THE PEOPLE AFTER HURRICANE ARE PICKING UP THAT HUGE LOG THAT PREVENTS YOU FROM LEAVING YOUR HOME ON THE ROAD ON YOUR WAY TO WORK. I MEAN, YOU COULD GO ON AND ON. THESE ARE THE WORKERS. I MEAN, HARRIS COUNTY WORKERS DO SO MUCH. AND WE HAVE TAKEN SO MANY STEPS. WHETHER IT'S RAISING THE WAGE TO $20 AN HOUR FOR HARRIS COUNTY WORKERS. PASSING THE 2165 FOR CONTRACT WORKERS. THE WORK SITE SAFETY POLICY. THE INVESTMENT IN APPRENTICESHIPS. WE BELIEVE IN CREATING JOBS AND CREATING GOOD JOBS AND HONORING THE WORK, EVEN OUR RETIREES, NOT TO GO BACK TO OUR LAST ITEM. BUT TO ME THIS IS SO FUNDAMENTALLY IMPORTANT. THESE ARE THE PEOPLE SERVING ALL THE FAMILIES IN HARRIS COUNTY, SO WE WANT TO DO RIGHT BY OUR WORKERS AND WE WANT TO LISTEN. WE WANT TO LEARN AND WE WANT TO IMPROVE. SO THIS IS WHAT IT'S ABOUT. IT'S TO MAKE SURE THERE ARE ROBUST DISCUSSIONS AND THAT WE ARE EMPOWERING WORKERS VOICES. I AM PROUD THAT HARRIS COUNTY WILL BE TAKING THIS ACTION. AND I HOPE THAT OTHER COUNTIES IN OTHER JURISDICTIONS WILL FOLLOW SUIT. BECAUSE AT THE END OF THE DAY, WE ARE ONLY AS GOOD AS THE PEOPLE ON OUR TEAM. AND THE PEOPLE OF HARRIS COUNTY DESERVE THE BEST. BY HAVING THE BEST WORKERS WHO FEEL LISTENED TO, WHO FEEL SAFE, WHO FEEL EMPOWERED, WE ARE ULTIMATELY MAKING HARRIS COUNTY AN EVEN BETTER PLACE. SO THANK YOU TO ALL OF THE COLLABORATION AND PARTNERSHIP. I ALSO WANT TO THANK THE COUNTY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE. THEY WERE ON POINT ON SO MANY THINGS AND THIS IS ANOTHER GREAT EXAMPLE. SO WITH THAT, I LOOK FORWARD TO VOTING IN FAVOR. >> THANK YOU, COMMISSION EAR BRIONES, WE WILL BE THE FIRST COUNTY IN TEXAS. IF I DIDN'T MENTION, THERE ARE OTHER CITIES AND HOSPITAL DISTRICTS BUT WE WILL BE THE FIRST COUNTY. >> I'M VERY PROUD WHEN HARRIS COUNTY IS THE FIRST COUNTY AND LEADING FOR THE RIGHT REASONS AND THIS IS ANOTHER EXAMPLE OF US DOING THAT. I HOPE OTHER COUNTIES DO THAT AND OTHER JURISDICTIONS, GENERALLY. >> COMMISSIONER RAMSEY? >> YES, IS THERE A COST ELEMENT TO THIS? >> WE CAN COME BACK AGAIN. >> I FORGOT TO DO ONE THING BUT I WILL COME BACK AFTER COMMISSIONER RAMSEY. [07:00:05] >> THERE WILL LIKELY BE SOME COSTS AS THE NUMBER OF GRIEVANCES TAKES, MORE HEARING OFFICERS, INVESTIGATORS, ET CETERA. BUT WE ARE STILL WORKING THROUGH THE FISCAL NOTE. >> BUT IN TERMS OF THE CONSULTATION? >> IT'S POSSIBLE THAT WE MAY NEED ADDITIONAL LEGAL SUPPORT. WE ARE WORKING WITH THE COUNTY ATTORNEY TO SEE WHAT COULD BE DONE IN-HOUSE, VERSUS OUT OF HOUSE. >> SO WE DON'T KNOW? >> I CAN'T IMAGINE IT WILL BE A HUGE EXPENSE. BUT THERE LIKELY WILL BE MORE, THERE WILL LIKELY BE A HIGHER NEED FOR HEARING OFFICERS, INVESTIGATORS. DOCUMENTATION AND SOME SORT OF LIAISON WITH LABOR. >> I WOULD HAVE THOUGHT, AND THAT'S PRETTY TYPICAL OF NEW INITIATIVES ON THE COURT. WE ALWAYS UNDERSTAND WHAT THE COSTS ARE BEFORE WE MOVE FORWARD. I THINK THAT WOULD BE UNUSUAL TO MOVE FORWARD NOW NOT KNOWING WHAT THE COSTS ARE, OTHER THAN IT AIN'T NO BIG DEAL. >> THERE'S A FEW STEPS BETWEEN HERE AND WHEN THE CONSULTATION WOULD BEGIN. THE ORGANIZING, THE ELECTION, THE CERTIFICATION. SO WE HAVE SOME TIME TO COME BACK TO COURT WITH A MORE FORMAL FISCAL NOTE. >> I THINK COMMISSIONER BRIONES DID HIT UPON -- >> I ASKED FOR UNANIMOUS CONSENT TO CONTINUE. IS THERE ANY OBJECTION? >> AGREED. >> I THINK IT'S BEEN SAID WHAT WE'VE DONE JUST IN THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS, WHETHER IT'S PAY EQUITY OR DEALING WITH WORK SITE SAFETY, ALL THOSE TYPES OF ISSUES. WHAT I AM MOST PROUD OF FOR FOLKS THAT WHETHER THEY MOW OUR PARKS OR TAKE CARE OF OUR ROADS, KNOWING FOLKS BY NAME, HAVING FOLKS THAT WORK WITH THEM ONE-ON-ONE THAT ACTUALLY KNOW WHAT THEIR JOB IS. WORK WITH THEM VERY CLOSELY. I'M JUST VERY CONCERNED YOU GET TO A THIRD PARTY WHO MAY NOT UNDERSTAND WHAT THE COUNTY JOB IS. MAY NOT UNDERSTAND WHAT THE RESPONSIBILITIES ARE. MAY NOT UNDERSTAND ANY PART OF IT, OTHER THAN THEY ARE GETTING PAID AS AN ADVOCATE TO DEAL WITH IT. IN TERMS OF GRIEVANCE, I'M ON VARIOUS CONRAD JOE BEHIND ME, HE SERVES ON A GRIEVANCE COMMITTEE. AND THAT'S THE KIND OF FOLKS THAT WORK AT THE COUNTY THAT SERVE ON THESE. THEY UNDERSTAND WHAT ISSUES ARE. AND THEY DEAL WITH IT. I THINK WE HAVE A VERY ROBUST PROGRAM. AND AS WE ALL HAVE BEEN TIP-TOEING AROUND COLLECTIVE BARGAINING, IT EXPLICITLY STATES THAT PUBLIC EMPLOYERS, HARRIS COUNTY, CANNOT ENTER INTO COLLECTIVE BARGAINING AGREEMENTS AND WE ARE VERY CAREFUL TO SAY THIS IS NOT WHAT THAT IS. IT SURE FEELS LIKE THAT'S WHAT IT IS. IT SURE FEELS LIKE THAT'S WHERE WE ARE HEADED. AND MAYBE IF YOU SAY, WELL, IT'S JUST A CONSULTANT, IT'S REALLY NOT A UNION-TYPE DEAL. JUST LET ME REMIND YOU, WE HAD A CONSULTANT CALLED SEGAL THAT HELPED US WITH OUR MEDICAL. AND NOW WE ARE HAVING TO GO BACK AND FIX THAT. WE HAD A CONSULTANT NAMED GALLAGHER THAT HELPED US WITH OUR PAY PARITY AND WE ARE HAVING TO GO BACK AND FIX THAT. I DON'T KNOW THAT WE NEED CONSULTANTS OR ANY OTHER THIRD PARTY TO DEAL DIRECTLY WITH THE NEEDS OF OUR EMPLOYERS. WE KNOW THEIR DOGS NAMES. OUR EMPLOYEES. WE KNOW WHERE THEY LIVE. WE KNOW WHAT THEIR ISSUES ARE. WE WORK CLOSELY WITH THEM. WE ARE THEIR ADVOCATE. I'M VERY PROUD OF ALL OF OUR SUPERVISORS, THE 400 PLUS PEOPLE WHO WORK IN PRECINCT 3 THAT WE VERY CAREFULLY LISTEN TO. AND I THINK RESPOND TO THEIR NEEDS. SO THIS IS A SOLUTION LOOKING FOR A PROBLEM. AND I'LL NOT BE SUPPORTING. >> COMMISSIONER BRIONES. >> YES, IF I COULD MAKE TWO MORE COMMENTS. I AGREE, WE ALWAYS WANT TO DO THE RIGHT THING AND THEN WE WANT TO DO THE THING RIGHT. BOTH. AND THE EFFECTIVE DATE IS OCTOBER 1ST, RIGHT, COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR? >> YES. >> THAT WILL CONTINUE TO GIVE US TIME TO PLAN BECAUSE WE WANT TO EXECUTE WITH EXCELLENCE, AS ALWAYS, AS WE ASPIRE TO DO. I'M LOOKING AT COUNTY ATTORNEY BAUMGARTEN, BECAUSE AS A LAWYER, I BELIEVE FOLLOWING THE LAW IS NON-NEGOTIABLE. [07:05:01] CAN YOU WALK US THROUGH WHY THIS IS IN ACCORDANCE WITH ALL APPLICABLE LAWS AND WHY YOU FEEL COMFORTABLE TO THE EXTENT YOU DO WITH US VOTING TODAY? >> YES, I THINK YOU REMEMBER A COUPLE YEARS AGO WE WERE HERE DISCUSSING A PROPOSED CONSULTATION POLICY FOR THE HARRIS CENTER. THIS IS VERY MUCH IN LINE WITH THAT, OUR POSITION WITH THAT IS VERY MUCH LIKE TODAY. THIS IS NOT A COLLECTIVE BARGAINING AGREEMENT. IT EXPLICITLY STATES IT ISN'T. IT DOESN'T CREATE ANY CONTRACTUAL RIGHTS FOR EMPLOYEES. IT'S NOT ENFORCEABLE AGAINST THE COUNTY, THE HARRIS COUNTY COMMISSIONERS COURT RETAINS AUTHORITY WHETHER OR NOT TO IMPLEMENT RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE COMMITTEE. BECAUSE YOU DON'T HAVE A COLLECTIVE BARGAINING AGREEMENT YOU AREN'T VIOLATING STATE LAW IN ANY WAY. THAT'S ALL STATE LAW PROHIBITS, BARGAINING TOWARDS AGREEMENT WITH SPECIFIC LABOR UNION FOR EMPLOYEES. >> SO YOUR LEGAL EXPERTISE, YOUR LEGAL OPINION THIS IS IN COMPLIANCE, AS WRITTEN? >> YES. >> AND YOU HAVE NO CONCERNS WITH US VOTING TODAY? >> I DON'T. >> PARDON ME? >> I DON'T. I HAVEN'T HEARD THE MOTION LANGUAGE YET. BUT BASED ON WHAT I HAVE SEEN IN TERMS OF THE DRAFTS OF THE POLICY GOING AROUND, I DON'T HAVE ANY CONCERN. >> THANK YOU. AND I'LL ASK THE SAME QUESTION AFTER MY COLLEAGUE, COMMISSIONER ELLIS READS THE MOTION. >> I WILL READ THE MOTION, MOTION TO APPROVE THE RESOLUTION SUPPORTING THE CREATION OF A CONSULTATION POLICY WITH IMPLEMENTATION EFFECTIVE OCTOBER 1ST, 2026, AUTHORIZING A PROCESS FOR CERTAIN COUNTY EMPLOYEES TO SELECT A QUALIFIED LABOR UNION TO SERVE AS A CONSULTATION AGENT. ESTABLISHING A CONSULTATION PROCESS BY WHICH A CONSULTATION TEAM COMPOSED OF THE CONSULTATION AGENT. CERTAIN EMPLOYEES AND CERTAIN MANAGEMENT REPRESENTATIVES WILL MAKE AT LEAST MONTHLY TO DISCUSS -- LET ME START OVER. ESTABLISHING A CONSULTATION PROCESS BY WHICH A CONSULTATION TEAM COMPOSED OF A CONSULTATION AGENT CERTAIN EMPLOYEES AND MANAGEMENT REPRESENTATIVES WILL MEET AT LEAST MONTHLY TO DISCUSS AND RECOMMEND ANY XHAINGS TO THE COUNTY'S PERSONNEL POLICIES AND PROCEDURES. AMENDING THE COUNTY'S GRIEVANCE POLICY TO NOTIFY THE CONSULTATION AGENT WHEN ELIGIBLE EMPLOYEES FOLLOW A GRIEVANCE AND ENTITLING ELIGIBLE EMPLOYEES TO RECEIVE REPRESENTATION FROM THE CONSULTATION AGENT, GRIEVANCE OR DISCIPLINARY MATTERS. THAT IS THE MOTION. IS THERE A SECOND? >> BEFORE I SECOND, COUNTY ATTORNEY, HAVING HEARD THE MOTION LANGUAGE, WHAT IS YOUR LEGAL OPINION? >> THAT'S FINE. BASICALLY AT A HIGH LEVEL DESCRIBES THE DRAFT OF THE POLICY ABOUT TO BE ADOPTED TODAY, OF COURSE WITH AN IMPLEMENTATION DATE OF OCTOBER 1ST, THAT PROVIDES SOME ROOM IF WE NEED TO MAKE SOME TWEAKS TO THE LANGUAGE OF THE POLICY. BUT IN SUBSTANCE IT'S WHAT HAS BEEN AGREED TO BETWEEN THE PRECINCT STAFF. >> THANK YOU. SECOND. >> OKAY, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR VOTE AYE. ALL OPPOSED NO. THREE AYES, AND ONE NO, COMMISSIONER RAMSEY VOTES NO. THE ITEM PASSES. >> THANK YOU TO ALL THE HARRIS COUNTY WORKERS. WE APPRECIATE IT. >> YOU HAVE BEEN IN HERE ALL DAY. GO AND GET SOME OF THAT JICAMA. MY STAFF, BRING THAT JICAMA DOWN. THE NEXT ITEM, AM I RIGHT, 309? 309. COMMISSIONER RAMSEY AND COMMISSIONER BRIONES PULLED IT. 2022 PUBLIC SAFETY BOND PROJECTS AND 2024 JAIL MAINTENANCE PROJECT. >> THANK YOU. >> GOOD AFTERNOON, MEMBERS OF THE COURT. >> TIP OUT QUIETLY NOW. >> COUNTY ENGINEER. FIRST OF ALL I THANK COMMISSIONER BRIONES FOR PROVIDING AN OPPORTUNITY TO GIVE AN UPDATE FOR THE PUBLIC SAFETY BOND PROJECT PROPOSITION A THAT'S BEEN APPROVED FROM THE VOTERS OF HARRIS COUNTY IN NOVEMBER OF 2022. BUT BEFORE I START THE PRESENTATION, IF YOU COULD UPLOAD THE SLIDES. I WANT TO INTRODUCE TWO OF THE FINEST PUBLIC SERVANTS WE HAVE IN OUR REGION LEADING THIS INITIATIVE. JAY WHO OVERSEE OUR BUILDING OPERATION, DISASTER RECOVERY AND PUBLIC SAFETY PROJECT INITIATIVE. AND GREG SUMMERLIN WHO IS ALSO A RETIREE FROM THE HARRIS COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE SERVING AS OUR SUBJECT MATTER EXPERT AND MAIN COORDINATOR WITH THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE TO LEAD SOME OF THIS PROJECT. AGAIN, GREG WAS AN INSTRUMENTAL LEADING THE J.P.C. WHICH IS A STATE-OF-THE-ART IF SILT. WITH THAT SAID, I WILL GIVE YOU A QUICK UPDATE. AND AS MANY OF YOU KNOW, THE 2022 PUBLIC SAFETY BOND PROPOSITION A WAS SELECTED. [07:10:07] ONCE IT GOT APPROVED, THE FIRST STEP WAS TO SELECT PRIORITY PROJECTS. WE HAD A LOT OF COMPETING NEEDS. LIKE MUNICIPAL BOND WHEN WE HAVE A LOT OF PROJECTS ASSOCIATED WITH IT. SCHOOL DISTRICT BOND. THE FIRST FEW MONTHS WE HAD A LOT OF COMPETING PROJECTS THAT HAS BEEN SUBMITTED. WE DID SOME ESTIMATES TO SEE HOW MUCH IT WILL COST US. THE FIRST STEP WAS TO SELECT EIGHT OR NINE PROJECTS THAT THIS COURT HAS AUTHORIZED US TO MOVE FORWARD. SO WHAT WE WILL DO TODAY, WE WILL GO QUICK OVERVIEW OF ALL THOSE PROJECTS WHILE WE ARE. AT THE SAME TIME WE WILL PROVIDE YOU AN UPDATE OF THE JAIL MAINTENANCE PROJECTS. WE HEARD IT LOUD AND CLEAR IN THE LAST COMMISSIONER'S COURT HOW IMPORTANT THIS IS. SO WHAT WE DID SINCE THEN, CHIEF WILL PROVIDE AN UPDATE TO SEE HOW WE CAN EXPEDITE SOME OF THESE PROJECTS TO GET IT DONE QUICKLY AND WE HAVE A REPRESENTATIVE FROM THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE, SHAUN WILLIAMS. ALONG WITH THAT, I WILL MOVE TO CHIEF PINA. >> THANK YOU, DOCTOR AND GOOD AFTERNOON, COMMISSIONERS. I'M JOINED AS DR. AMAND MENTIONED BY GREG SUMMERLIN, AS WELL AS ASSISTANT DIRECTOR FOR PLANNING AND RESEARCH FOR THE HARRIS COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE, SHAUN WILLIAMS. HE IS HERE TODAY AS WELL TO SPEAK ON THE, OR ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS THAT YOU ALL MAY HAVE ON THE BOND PROJECT. SO IF WE CAN ADVANCE TO THE NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE. BEFORE I WALK THROUGH THE PROJECTS, I WOULD LIKE TO BRIEFLY FRAME THE TIMELINE TO PROVIDE A FULL CONTEXT ON THESE BOND PROJECTS. THE HARRIS COUNTY VOTERS APPROVED THE BOND PROPOSAL, PROPOSITION A, IN NOVEMBER 2022. THEY AUTHORIZED UP TO $100 MILLION FOR PUBLIC SAFETY FACILITIES. IN AUGUST OF 2023, COMMISSIONERS COURT DIRECTED O.M.B. TO DEVELOP COST ESTIMATES FOR CANDIDATE PROJECTS. SO FOLLOWING THAT ACTION, COMMISSIONERS COURT THEN DIRECTED OMB TO FORMALLY AUTHORIZE OR COMMISSIONERS COURT TO AUTHORIZE NINE PROJECTS AND DIRECTED O.C.E. TO PROCEED IN MAY OF 2024. SO THOSE 18 MONTHS FROM NOVEMBER 2022, TO MAY OF 2024 WAS THE LEGAL REVIEW AND THE PROJECT SELECTION PERIOD, WHICH O.M.B. COORDINATED COST ESTIMATES AND AT THIS POINT OCE WAS STILL NOT IN SCOPE. O.C.E. RECEIVED AUTHORIZATION AND A PROJECT LIST IN MAY OF 2024. THEY IMMEDIATELY BEGAN THE PRE-DESIGN PROCESS FOR EACH OF THESE PROJECTS. WHICH INCLUDED, OF COURSE, THE FAMS, DESIGN CONSULTANT PROCUREMENT DESIGN. IT INCLUDED THE PRE-DESIGN PROGRAMMING WITH THE HARRIS COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE TO ENSURE THAT THEIR REQUIREMENTS WERE DEFINED AND INCLUDED IN THE FINAL SCOPE. THEN THE PURCHASE ORDER WAS EXECUTED AND ALL EIGHT PROJECTS NOW ARE CURRENTLY IN DESIGN. I WANT TO NOTE ONE EXEMPTION ON THESE PROJECTS. THE SWIFT WATER RESCUE PROJECT, THAT'S WATER TRAINING FACILITY. THAT WAS A SEPARATELY AUTHORIZED ITEM BY COMMISSIONER'S COURT IN APRIL 2024. THIS ALLOWED THE PROJECT TO BEGIN DESIGN EARLIER THAN THE OTHER PROJECTS. IN JANUARY '24, THEY SELECTED A DESIGNER AND THAT MOVED OVER TO SEMAR AND THE PROJECT IS NOW IN PROGRESS. NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE. NOW THE PROGRAM CONSISTS OF EIGHT CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS. TO DATE, WE HAVE SPENT $6.5 MILLION DOLLARS, THAT HAS BEEN INVOICED ACROSS ALL THE PROGRAMS. ALL EIGHT PROJECTS ARE CURRENTLY IN DESIGN. ONE PROJECT, THE SWIFT WATER TRAINING FACILITY HAS COMPLETED THE DESIGN AND THE SEMAR PROCUREMENT PHASE AND IS THE CLOSEST TO BREAKING GROUND. THE FIRST PROJECT WE HAVE LISTED UP HERE IS PROJECT, THE DISTRICT 5 RELOCATION PROJECT ON FM 1960. JUST A BRIEF OVERVIEW OF THIS PROJECT, THE CURRENT DISTRICT 5 SUBSTATION IS NOT GEOGRAPHICALLY LINED WITH THE CALLS FOR SERVICE. THIS PROJECT RELOCATES AND EXPANDS THAT STATION TO THE 1960 CORRIDOR BETWEEN U.S. 290 AND STATE HIGHWAY 249. THE DESIGN IS ROUGHLY 50% [07:15:01] COMPLETE. IT'S GOING TO GO TO BID IN SEPTEMBER OF 2026 AND CONSTRUCTION IS DUE TO BEGIN IN DECEMBER OF 2026 WITH A TARGETED COMPLETION DATE OF SEPTEMBER '27. THE SECOND PROJECT IS THE BEAD CREEK ROAD PROJECT. THAT'S THE PATROL DISTRICT 6 EXPANSION. THIS IS A NEW PATROL STATION. IT WILL BE POSITIONED WHERE RESOURCES ARE CLOSER TO THE SERVICE DEMAND. THE FACILITY ALSO SERVES AS A COMMUNITY HUB FOR OUTREACH ENGAGEMENT AND CRIME PREVENTION PROGRAMS. THIS ONE IS IN DESIGN. IT'S 90% COMPLETE. WE EXPECT BIDDING IN APRIL. THE CONSTRUCTION IS DUE TO BEGIN IN JULY OF 2026 WITH A TARGETED COMPLETION DATE OF MAY OF 2027. THE NEXT ONE, AS WE SPOKE, IS THE SWIFT WATER TRAINING FACILITY. HARRIS COUNTY DOESN'T HAVE A DEDICATED SWIFT WATER TRAINING FACILITY. THIS IS GOING TO BE THE FIRST OF ITS KIND IN THE REGION. IT WILL PROVIDE REALISTIC FLOOD SIMULATION AND TRAINING NOT ONLY FOR HARRIS COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE BUT FOR REGIONAL FIRST RESPONDERS AS WELL. THE PROJECT IS A CONSTRUCTION MANAGER AT RISK DELIVERY METHOD. KITCHEL CONTRACTORS HAS RECEIVED THE AWARD. THIS IS CLOSEST TO COMING TO FRUITION. THE ITEM WILL COME TO COURT BEFORE YOU FOR APPROVAL NEXT MONTH. AND WE ARE GOING TO BE BREAKING GROUND IN JULY OF THIS YEAR FOR THIS PROJECT. THE FOURTH PROJECT IS THE ACTIVE SHOOTER TRAINING. THAT'S A NEW FACILITY ON 2316 ATSA ATASPASINA ROAD. WEAPONS STORAGE AS WELL. THIS IS 50% COMPLETE IN DESIGN. THE DESIGN IS ALSO SEMAR. AND IT WILL BE COMPLETED IN NOVEMBER OR DECEMBER OF THIS YEAR, WITH CONSTRUCTION TO BEGIN JANUARY OF 2027. THE NEXT PROJECT IS TRAINING ACADEMY EXPANSION. IT'S ALSO ON ATASCACINA ROAD. THIS WILL SERVE THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE WHO HAVE BEEN OPERATING BEYOND CAPACITY SINCE 2018. IT WILL EXPAND, ADD 15,000 SQUARE FEET. AND IT WILL SERVE WHERE THEY CAN HAVE SIMULTANEOUS TRAINING SESSIONS IN THAT BUILDING. THE PROJECT AGAIN IS A SEMAR DELIVERY METHOD. 50% IN DESIGN. THAT SHOULD BE COMPLETED IN DECEMBER OF THIS YEAR WITH CONSTRUCTION TO BEGIN IN JANUARY OF 2027. WE ARE TARGETING THE COMPLETION OF THIS PROJECT IN THE SECOND QUARTER OF 2028. THE SIXTH PROJECT IS A FIRE COMPLEX RENOVATION. THIS IS A FIREARMS RANGE THAT WILL SERVE MULTIPLE LOCAL AND STATE LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES FOR MANDATORY TRAINING. THIS IS 90% IN DESIGN. FINAL DOCUMENTATION IS TARGETED FOR APRIL OF THIS YEAR. THE BID WILL HAPPEN IN APRIL. CONSTRUCTION IS TARGETED FOR JULY OF 2026 WITH A COMPLETION DATE OF MAY OF 2027. THE SEVENTH IS THE PRECISION DRIVING COURSE. THIS IS A VEHICLE-RELATED INCIDENT, I MADE A NOTE T THEY ARE THE PRIMARY CAUSE OF INJURIES FOR FIRST RESPONDERS. SO IT'S IMPORTANT FOR ALL FIRST RESPONDERS TO HAVE A COURSE WHERE THEY CAN TRAIN. THIS ONE IS GOING TO INCLUDE, THIS ONE WILL SERVE THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE, THE FIRE MARSHALS, IT WILL ALSO SERVE ALL EIGHT CONSTABLE PRECINCTS AS WELL. IT FEATURES A SKID ROW SECTION, SIMULTANEOUSLY URBAN STREET DRIVING. PRECISION DRIVING TRACK WITH CLASSROOMS AND SUPPORT FACILITIES. THIS PROJECT IS 60% IN DESIGN. WE HAVE A JUNE THIS YEAR TO GO OUT FOR BID TARGET. CONSTRUCTION WILL BEGIN SEPTEMBER THIS YEAR AND COMPLETION QUARTER 3 OF 2027. AND THE FINAL PROJECT NUMBER EIGHT IS VEHICLE CRIME PROCESSING FACILITY. IT WILL PROCESS CRIME SCENE VEHICLES FOR MULTIPLE HARRIS COUNTY LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES. IT WILL ADD AND CLOSE BAYS. IT WILL IMPROVE THE LIGHTING. IT WILL ADD ADDITIONAL OFFICES AND HAVE PUBLIC INTERFACE ABILITY. 50% IN DESIGN FOR THIS PROJECT. WE WILL TARGET THE COMPLETION IN NOVEMBER OF 2026, BIDDING TO BEGIN IN DECEMBER OF THIS YEAR AND CONSTRUCTION TO BEGIN BY MARCH OF '27. WITH A TARGETED COMPLETION DATE OF MARCH OF 2028. SO IN SUMMARY, ALL EIGHT PROJECTS ARE ON TRACK. THREE PROJECTS, THE BEAD CREEK PROJECT, FIREARMS, THE SWIFT WATER, THEY ARE ALL IN THE FINAL STAGES OF DESIGN AND THEY ARE GOING TO ENTER CONSTRUCTION IN MAY THROUGH JULY OF THIS YEAR. THREE ADDITIONAL PROJECTS. THE 1960, THE DRIVING COURSE, AND THE VEHICLE PROCESSING [07:20:06] CENTER, THOSE WILL BE READY FOR BID AT THE END OF 2026. AND THE TWO REMAINING, ACTIVE SHOOTER AND TRAINING EXPANSION WILL BE FALL OF 2027. SO AGAIN, THE FULL PROGRAM, WE ARE TARGETING TO FINISH BY THE SECOND QUARTER OF 202LE. 2028. THAT'S A QUICK OVERVIEW OF THE PROGRAMS AND PROJECTED START DATES AND FINISH DATES FOR THEM. AT THIS POINT WE ARE OPEN FOR QUESTIONS. >> COMMISSIONER RAMSEY AND THEN COMMISSIONER BRIONES AND THEN COMMISSIONER GARCIA. >> THANK YOU, CHIEF. APPRECIATE THE UPDATE. DR. RAMAN. GOOD DETAIL. I LIKE THE NATURE OF THE QUARTERS. MY ONLY COMMENT WOULD BE GOOD TO START HAVING DATES, PARTICULARLY FOR PROJECTS BID. YOU COULD PROBABLY UNITED STATES P A SPECIFIC DATE. SO THE ITEM COMMISSIONER BRIONES PUT ON THE AGENDA IS TO ALSO GO OVER THE 2024 JAIL MAINTENANCE PROJECT. >> YES, SIR >> AND YOU CAME TO MY OFFICE. I APPRECIATE THE TIME YOU SPENT. I KNOW WE TALKED ABOUT SEVERAL THINGS. I GUESS, PART OF WHAT WE WERE GOING TO, YOU WERE GOING TO WORK ON IDENTIFYING SPECIFIC DATES FOR SPECIFIC FLOORS. AS WE DISCUSSED IN THE LAST MEETING, THE FLOOR 7 WAS TO BE COMPLETE IN JUNE OF THIS YEAR. >> YES, SIR. >> THAT WAS THE REPORT IN THE LAST MEETING. >> CORRECT. >> AGAIN, I WOULD LIKE A DATE. BUT I WILL TAKE JUNE AT THIS POINT. YOU'VE BEEN TO THE SEVENTH FLOOR RECENTLY. >> YES, SIR. >> WILL IT BE COMPLETE BY JUNE? >> YES, SIR. AND WE LISTENED TO THE CONVERSATION NOT ONLY ON THIS ISSUE BUT OTHER CONVERSATIONS THAT WERE RELATED TO THE JAIL POPULATION. WE SHARE YOUR SENSE OF URGENCY. AND OUR COMMITMENT IS TO DO OUR PART TO ENSURE WE ARE REDUCING THE NUMBER OF OUTSOURCING, THAT NUMBER. WE HAVE VISITED THE JAIL. IT'S OUR PRIORITY, COMMISSIONER, TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION, I DID VISIT, I HAVE EVEN TAKEN PICTURES OF WHAT'S GOING ON OVER THERE. WE HAVE MADE SOME CHANGES IN HOW WE ARE APPROACHING THIS. AND DR. RAMAN HAS BEEN CLEAR AS FAR AS WHAT THE DIRECTION IS. IT'S TO GET THESE PROJECTS DONE ON TIME, SAFELY AND ON BUDGET. WE ARE MEETING THAT TARGET. WE HAVE OUR PROJECT MANAGERS NOW IN CONVERSATION AND COORDINATION WITH CHIEF BOSOQUEZ, WE HAVE OUR PROJECT MANAGER ASSIGNED TO THE JAIL. THAT'S WHERE HE IS WORKING OUT OF THERE. WE ARE ALSO EXPLORING OTHER AVENUES TO ENSURE THAT WE'RE COMPRESSING THE TIME TO GET THESE PROJECTS DELIVERED. WE ARE LOOKING AT ADDING A JOCK TO THAT FACILITY, AS A SECONDARY SUB TO DO SOME OF THESE PROJECTS. WE HAVE DISCUSSED AND COORDINATED WITH CHIEF BOSOQUEZ ON ADDITIONAL OR EXPANDED HOURS OF WORK, NOT JUST DURING THE WEEK BUT WEEKENDS. WE ARE WORKING THROUGH SOME LOGISTICAL ITEMS TO STREAMLINE THE PROCESS FOR OUR WORKERS TO GET IN, START WORKING AND GET THIS WORK DONE. BUT A DIRECT ANSWER TO YOU IS IN SPEAKING WITH THE GENERAL CONTRACTOR DIRECTLY, THEY ARE COMMITTED TO HAVING PLUMBING DONE BY THE END OF JUNE THIS YEAR AND HAVING THE HVAC DONE BY THE SECOND WEEK OF JULY OF THIS YEAR. SO AGAIN, THAT'S WHAT WE ARE FOCUSED ON. >> FLOOR SEVEN WILL BE READY FOR THE CHIEF TO TAKE IT OVER AND USE IT IN JULY OF THIS YEAR? >> SO JULY THIS YEAR, WE WILL FINISH WITH THE HVAC SYSTEM. IN CONVERSATIONS WITH CHIEF BOSOQUEZ, THE L.E.D., LIGHTING PROJECT, WE ARE STILL IN CONVERSATION ABOUT THAT. IF THEY ARE GOING TO DO THAT PROJECT, WE WANT TO GET AHEAD OF IT, SOONER THAN LATER, SO WE CAN FINISH IT IN TIME, RIGHT? TO BE OUT OF THERE BY JULY OF THIS YEAR. >> WELL, WE WON'T, GO AHEAD. >> COMMISSIONER, IF I MAY ADD, IN TERMS OF THE L.E.D. PROJECT, WE PUT THAT ON PAUSE WHEN WE WERE TALKING ABOUT IF WE ARE GOING TO DO THIS JAIL, PUT THE JAIL? SOMEWHERE ELSE, ALL THE STUDIES GOING ON. BECAUSE THE RETURN OF INVESTMENT IN TERMS OF NUMBER OF YEARS, ABOUT THE AMOUNT OF MONEY WE ARE GOING TO INVEST IN L.E.D. AND TURN THIS JAIL DOWN DOESN'T MAKE SENSE. [07:25:03] AS WE ARE MAKING THE DECISION, THAT'S WHY WE PUT A PAUSE ON IT. RECENTLY, I THINK A COUPLE WEEKS AGO WE RECEIVED A REQUEST FROM THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE THEY ARE WILLING TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THE L.E.D. INVESTMENT AS WE STARTED A NEW STUDY FOR THE JAIL. AND ALSO, AT THE SAME TIME, EVEN IF WE BAILED ANOTHER FACILITY SOMEWHERE ELSE I WILL HAVE TO KEEP THIS FACILITY THERE FOR ANOTHER 4-5 YEARS. WE WILL LOOK TO SEE IF WE CAN GET THIS L.E.D. DONE. IF WE DO THIS, OUR RECOMMENDATION IS TO USE ARAMARK, AN APPROVED VENDOR FOR MAINTENANCE SO WE CAN GET IT DONE EXPEDITEDLY. >> OKAY, I JUST THINK -- I'M GLAD YOU ARE ALL PUTTING ADDITIONAL RESOURCES ON IT. THANK YOU ALL FOR LISTENING. I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT FOR ALL THE REASONS WE SAID BEFORE ON OUR JAIL POPULATION. IF WE ARE NOW THINKING, WELL, LET'S GO AHEAD AND DO THE LIGHTS, THAT WILL ADD A LITTLE TIME. IT WILL BE 2-3 MONTHS BEFORE WE CAN GET 24/7. THOSE KIND OF DECISIONS NEED TO INVOLVE, AT THIS POINT, US. I THINK THIS COURT HAS SAID WE WANT FLOOR SEVEN. AND I DON'T KNOW THAT I'VE YET GOT AN ANSWER ON WHEN YOU GET THE KEYS TO THE CHIEF SO WE CAN PUT PEOPLE ON FLOOR SEVEN. IS IT JUNE, JULY? OR SOMETIME AFTER? >> COMMISSIONER, WE WILL BE DONE WITH THE LAST PROJECT THAT WE HAVE ON THE PROJECT PRIORITY LIST FROM THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE, WHICH IS THE HVAC, THE AIR HANDLING UNITS, MID-JULY OF THIS YEAR. >> SIR, CAN YOU USE IT THEN, CHIEF BOSOQUEZ? CAN YOU TAKE IT? >> IF ALL THE HVAC, ALL THE PLUMBING AND ALL THE SYSTEMS ARE PUT BACK IN PLACE BY THE SECOND WEEK OF JULY, YES, WE WOULD HAVE TO DO A WALK-THROUGH TO MAKE SURE. >> AND HOW MANY BEDS IS THAT? >> FOR HOW MANY YEARS IT'S BEEN SITTING VACANT. >> HOW MANY BEDS? >> ABOUT 750. >> A LOT OF BEDS. OKAY. I LIKE IT. I'M HEARING DATES AND SPECIFICS AND GET HVAC DONE AND WE'VE GOT A PLAN. AND THEN YOU DO FLOOR SIX. AND THE NEXT QUESTION, WE DON'T HAVE TO DO THAT TODAY, BUT YOU NEED TO GET A DATE FOR FLOOR SIX, A DATE FOR FLOOR FIVE, A DATE FOR FLOOR FOUR, A DATE FOR FLOOR THREE AND FLOOR TWO, I KNOW YOU AREN'T DOING FLOOR ONE. BUT WITH THOSE, I THINK TANYA AND THE REST OF THE FOLKS CAN DO THEIR PLANNING ON WHEN WE CAN GET FOLKS MOVED BACK HERE. >> YES, WE ARE COORDINATING WITH CHIEF BOSOQUEZ AND HIS STAFF FOR PRIORITY FOR THE OTHER FLOORS. FLOOR #6 IS A MIRROR IMAGE OF FLOOR #7. SO WHEN FLOOR #7 IS DONE, FROM MY UNDERSTANDING, THEY WILL MOVE PERSONNEL FROM SIX TO SEVEN AND IT WILL CLEAR UP SIX FOR US TO WORK. >> YES, SIR. >> COMMISSIONER BRIONES? >> THANK YOU, DR. RAMAN AND CHIEF PINA. MANY OF MY QUESTIONS WERE WHAT COMMISSIONER RAMSEY SAID. AND THANK YOU FOR LISTENING. I KNOW LAST TIME I HAD A MULTITUDE OF QUESTIONS. I APPRECIATE THE TIME YOU SPENT TAKING A REALLY DEEP DIVE WITH ME AND MY TEAM AND ANSWERING EVEN MORE QUESTIONS AND THANK YOU FOR TODAY'S UPDATE WHICH REALLY IS HELPFUL. SO TO BE CLEAR, HOWEVER, SO FLOOR 7 HAS 700 BEDS. IT WILL BE FINISHED BY JULY. IS THAT WHAT I HEARD? >> YES, MA'AM. >> HOWEVER, THEN WE WILL MOVE TO FLOOR SIX. SO THE INDIVIDUALS ON FLOOR SIX, WILL THEN MOVE UP TO FLOOR SEVEN, CHIEF BOSOQUEZ, IS THAT CORRECT? >> THAT'S CORRECT. >> SO WE AREN'T REALLY GAINING ANY BEDS. >> WE DON'T GAIN ANY BEDS. YOU ARE ROTATING THEM DOWN. >> OKAY. SO WE'RE NOT GETTING NEW BEDS WE ARE JUST MOVING THE FOLKS SO WE CAN THEN START WORKING ON SIX. SO TO COMMISSIONER RAMSEY'S POINT, PLEASE, I KNOW YOU WILL BE GIVING US REGULAR UPDATES HERE AT COURT. IF YOU CAN KEEP US AS CLOSELY ABREAST TO THE SPECIFIC DATES. I KNOW ALL OF US JUST FEEL TREMENDOUS SENSE OF URGENCY AND ANGST, FRANKLY, ABOUT THE JAIL. SO THANK YOU FOR THAT UPDATE. MY OTHER QUESTION GOES BACK TO THE PUBLIC SAFETY BOND. THANK YOU FOR THOSE UPDATES. I'M HAPPY ALL THE UPDATES ARE ON TRACK. MY QUESTION IS WITH REGARD TO COORDINATION CADENCE BETWEEN ENGINEERING, BETWEEN THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE, THE FIRE MARSHALS OFFICE AND THE CONSTABLES. HOW ARE Y'ALL, I KNOW WE ALL WORK TOGETHER ALL THE TIME. BUT HOW ARE YOU KEEPING THEM ABREAST TO MAKE SURE WE ARE GETTING THEIR ONGOING INSIGHT AND EXPERTISE TO HELP INFORM OUR WORK? >> YES, MA'AM. WE ARE MEETING BIMONTHLY WITH THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE ON DIFFERENT PROJECTS. [07:30:01] DIRECTOR WILLIAMS IS HERE. WE COORDINATE WITH HIM AT LEAST ONCE A MONTH ON ALL THESE PROJECTS. AS WE MOVE LONG. AND WI PROVIDE UPDATES. WE ENGAGE. WE ARE CONNECTED FROM START TO FINISH, TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION, COMMISSIONER. SO THERE'S NOTHING I'VE SAID HERE THAT WILL SURPRISE HIM. HE CAN SPEAK FOR HIMSELF. BUT THE COORDINATION IS THERE CONTINUOUSLY. >> PERFECT. AND I CAN'T WAIT, WELL ALL OF THE PROJECTS BUT ESPECIALLY THE SWIFT WATER TRAINING FACILITY, THE ACTIVE SHOOTER, THE DRIVING FACILITY. THIS WILL BE FANTASTIC. SO TO CONFIRM, IT'S FOR OUR SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT, TEAM MEMBERS, CONSTABLE TEAM MEMBERS, CORRECT? PLUS OTHER JURISDICTIONS ACROSS TEXAS THAT MAY WANT TO BOOK TRAININGS. >> THAT'S CORRECT. SHAUN WILLIAMS WITH THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE. ALL THE SAFETY FOR THE WHOLE REGION. WE EXPECT EVEN SWIFT WATER, PEOPLE FROM LOUISIANA AND ARKANSAS TO COME IN, THE INTEREST IS THERE. >> EXCELLENT. >> THE ONLY OTHER THANK OF ITS SIZE AND CALIBRATION IS NORTH CAROLINA. IT WILL BE FIRST OF -- >> FOR SWIFT WATER. WOW, THIS WILL BE ONE OF THE TOP IN THE COUNTRY. I LOVE THE MULTIPLIER EFFECT. NOT ONLY OUR HARRIS COUNTY LAW ENFORCEMENT WILL BE LEARNING BUT THE FACT WE WILL BE OPENING UP FOR THE COUNTRY. THANK YOU AND I REALLY APPRECIATE Y'ALL. >> THANK YOU. COMMISSIONER GARCIA? >> YEAH, DOC AND CHIEF, THANK YOU. MAJOR SUMMERLIN. THANK YOU, GUYS, FOR ALL YOUR WORK. LISTEN, FOLKS, FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO MAY NOT KNOW, THE JOINT PROCESSING CENTER THAT WAS OPEN AS A CONSEQUENCE OF FINALLY PASSING A BOND, THE CITY HAD PASSED A BOND UNDER MAYOR WHITE. AND THAT WAS TO CONSOLIDATE CITY AND COUNTY JAILS. AND THE CITY PASSED ITS BOND, THE COUNTY DID NOT. AND THEN WHEN I BECAME SHERIFF WE GOT BACK ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL. WE GOT THE BOND PASSED. BUT IT WAS THEN CAPTAIN SUMMERLIN WHO LITERALLY WAS THE PROJECT MANAGER, ALONG WITH ANOTHER HANDFUL OF FOLKS WHO REALLY UNDERSTOOD THE JAIL SYSTEM INCREDIBLY WELL. ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WASN'T IN BRICK AND MORTAR WAS THE JAIL MANAGEMENT SYSTEM. WHICH, WHAT WE HAD WAS, YOU KNOW, ARCHAIC. AT BEST. AND SO, I'M GLAD, GREG, THAT YOU ARE PART OF THIS PROCESS. IT GIVES ME A GREAT DEAL OF COMFORT. BUT GREG ALMOST HAD HIS ENTIRE CAREER IN THE JAIL, SO HE KNOWS THAT ENVIRONMENT INCREDIBLY WELL. I'M GLAD, DOC, YOU GOT HIM AND HIS EXPERIENCE IN THERE. THOSE BUILDINGS, THE STAFF MAY HAVE CHANGED BUT THE BUILDINGS HAVEN'T. AND THEY ARE TOUGH TO DEAL WITH. SORT OF LIKE WHAT WE DEAL WITH OUR NEIGHBORHOODS. WE HAVE STREET FLOODING BECAUSE THE INLETS WERE OF A DIFFERENT SIZE BACK THEN. NOW WE HAVE TO GO BACK AND RETROFIT STUFF. SAME THING IN THE JAIL. THE PLUMBING IS OLD. THAT'S WHY I APPLAUD CHIEF BOSOQUEZ AND HIS TEAM, THE INSPECTION IS TIED TO THE PERFORMANCE OF OLD BUILDINGS. THE FACT WE HAVE GOTTEN TO THIS POINT IS EXCITING. THE FACT YOU HAVE A HANDLE ON ALL OF THE PROJECT TIMELINES IS GREAT. BUT A LITTLE BIT TO COMMISSIONER RAMSEY'S POINT. ON THE L.E.D., IT'S A GOOD DECISION. BUT MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE ENGAGED SO WE CAN KIND OF TRACK IT WITH YOU ALL AS WELL. IF THAT WAS THE CASE. YOU DON'T REMEMBER IF YOU DID OR DIDN'T. >> COMMISSIONER, WOULD YOU LIKE US TO BRING BACK A BEST CASE SCENARIO, SO YOU HAVE THE FULL PICTURE, AND YOU AUTHORIZE US WHETHER TO MOVE FORWARD OR NOT? >> YEAH, I THINK THAT WOULD BE SMART. THAT WAY WE KNOW EXACTLY WHERE THE DIRECTION YOU ARE GOING AND WE CAN TRAVEL THAT ALONGSIDE YOU. BUT THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR WORK. COLLECTIVELY. GREG, I DON'T KNOW IF YOU ARE WALKING THAT BUILDING AGAIN, TELL ME YOUR NAME AGAIN. >> SHAUN WILLIAMS. >> SEAN. I DON'T KNOW IF YOU ARE IN THE BUILDING ON A REGULAR BASIS. BUT PLEASE CONTINUE TO TELL OUR DETENTION STAFF THAT WE APPRECIATE WHAT THEY ARE DEALING WITH AND THE FACT THEY HAVE TAKEN ON THAT JOB TO HANDLE. LET FOLKS KNOW WE CONTINUE TO THINK ABOUT THEM. ALL RIGHT? >> COMMISSIONER, THANK YOU FOR THE KIND WORDS. GREG SUMMERLIN, WORKING WITH ENGINEERING. I CAN TELL YOU, THE JAILS ARE [07:35:04] REALLY HAVING A HARD TIME. THEY ARE OLD. 701, EVEN 1200, 701, 35-40 YEARS OLD. THESE FACILITIES ARE JUST WEARING OUT. YOU CAN JUST POINT AT A SYSTEM AND THERE'S A PROBLEM. EVERYONE IS AWARE OF IT. WE ARE HITTING THE HIGHEST PRIORITY ONES BUT SYSTEMICALLY THE JAILS ARE AGING. >> THANK YOU. >> THIS WAS DISCUSSION, POSSIBLE ACTION. THE NEXT IS 353, COMMISSIONER BRIONES? AND THIS IS THE TALENT AND UPDATE ON COMPENSATION PAY EQUITY PROJECT. >> YES, WE WILL PLEASE HEAR AN UPDATE FROM CHIEF RALLY, WE WANT TO DO THE RIGHT THING AND DO THE THING RIGHT. CAN YOU PLEASE UPDATE US ON THE PROGRESS? >> YES, AND WE HAVE BACKUP IF IT'S POSSIBLE TO BRING THAT PRESENTATION UP. THANK YOU. I WON'T GO THROUGH ALL OF IT. I KNOW YOU ALL HAVE ACCESS TO IT. CAN WE JUST MOVE FORWARD A COUPLE OF SLIDES, PLEASE? THIS WILL WORK. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. APPRECIATE THAT. THIS GIVES YOU A SENSE, COMMISSIONER BRIONES AND COMMISSIONERS, WHERE WE ARE. WE HAVE ENGAGED WITH ALL THE DEPARTMENTS, AS I MENTIONED TO YOU THE LAST COUPLE TIMES WE DISCUSSED THIS. WE ARE WORKING VERY DILIGENTLY WITH THEM TO ENGAGE TO LINE ON THE RECOMMENDATIONS. A LOT OF BACK AND FORTH. A LOT OF GREAT ENGAGEMENT. WE ARE GRATEFUL TO YOUR TEAMS AND EVERYBODY ELSE IN THE DEPARTMENTS WORKING WITH US. GALLAGHER IS WORKING BEHIND THE SCENES TO REBENCHMARK SOME OF THE JOBS WE HAVE QUESTIONS ABOUT. AS WE DISCUSSED BEFORE, OUR PLAN IS TO MOVE FORWARD WITH EVERYTHING WE ARE ALIGNED ON AND WHERE WE DON'T HAVE ALIGNMENT, WE WILL SET ASIDE THOSE ROLES TO LOOK AT SHORTLY AFTER IMPLEMENTATION. SO WHERE WE STAND AS FAR, WE HAVE ALMOST ALL THE DEPARTMENTS SCHEDULED FOR MEETINGS. WE HAVE 81% OF THEM ACTUALLY COMPLETED. THE CONCERNING STATISTIC HERE IS WE ONLY HAVE ONE ACTUALLY FULLY SIGNED OFF ON FILE. SO THE REASON FOR THAT, WE DO HAVE A LOT OF FILES THAT WE ARE VERY CLOSE TO BEING FULLY SIGNED OFF ON. BUT GALLAGHER IS JUST COMPLETING THE FINAL VALIDATIONS. AND SO, AS SOON AS GALLAGHER GETS THE FINAL BACK TO OUR TEAM, I MENTIONED THE PROCESS, WE ENGAGED OUR COMPENSATION TEAM MEMBERS, JOB EVALUATION AND JOB ANALYSIS IN THIS PROCESS AND THEY ARE PERFORMING THAT FINAL VALIDATION. WE HAVE HAD A LOT OF MISTAKES IN THE PAST, WHICH WE PUT THE DEPARTMENTS THROUGH QUITE A BIT. WE APPRECIATE THEM WORKING THROUGH ALL OF THIS WITH US. WE WANT TO GET THOSE FINALS IN GOOD ORDER. SO WE ARE ANTICIPATING MEETING THE PLAN EXECUTION DATE AND EVEN THOUGH THAT 1% IS SLIGHTLY CONCERN, WE DO BELIEVE WE ARE GOING TO GET THERE. THERE ARE A FEW OTHER SLIDES ABOUT COMMUNICATION PLANS. YOU DON'T KNOW IF YOU HAVE SEEN SOME OF THE THINGS WE ARE SENDING OUT. WE ARE TRYING TO USE VIDEOS AND THINGS THAT ARE MORE ENGAGING. AND BASIC COMPENSATION FACTS. SO LEADERS AREN'T PUT IN THE POSITION OF EXPLAINING BENCHMARKING AND COMPENSATION ANALYTICS AND SO FORTH. THAT BEING SAID, WE HAVE A LOT OF TRAINING SCHEDULED FOR LEADERS. WE HAVE DONE SOME. WE WILL DO MORE. WE WILL HAVE A PULSE SURVEY SO WE CAN SEE WHERE GAPS REMAIN SO WE CAN ADDRESS THEM BEFORE WE GET TO IMPLEMENTATION. >> YES. WELL, THANK YOU FOR THIS UPDATE. I SHARE THE 1% IS A BIG STAGGERING. SO ONE, WHEN DO WE ANTICIPATE THAT TRULY TO REACH ITS HIGHEST POINT? AND THEN TWO, MORE IMPORTANTLY, GIVEN THE CHALLENGES WE HAVE HAD WITH GALLAGHER, HOW ARE WE FURTHER PRESSURE-TESTING THAT WHAT IS FINAL IS TRULY FINAL AND ACCURATE? >> AGAIN, IT'S REALLY WITH THE INSERTION OF OUR COMPENSATION TEAM. IT'S ALL THE WAY FROM AMANDA, ALL THE THROUGH THROUGH ALL OF OUR ANALYSTS AT THE JUNIOR LEVEL. MANY OF THE MEETINGS WE HAVE MYSELF OR AMANDA AND TWO OR THREE ADDITIONAL RESOURCES FROM EACH OF THOSE SIDES. SO, IT'S ALL-HANDS-ON-DECK. THANK TO THE COMPENSATION TEAM BECAUSE THEY ARE WORKING SO HARD TO HELP GET THIS RIGHT. THAT'S THE KEY. >> THANK YOU. AND THEN A COUPLE OTHER QUICK QUESTIONS. WE ARE ESTIMATING, INITIAL ESTIMATES ARE APPROXIMATELY A THIRD OF EMPLOYEES WILL SEE A SALARY CHANGE. IS THAT CORRECT? JAOZ >> THAT'S CORRECT. >> THE PAY ADJUSTMENTS WILL BE PAYCHECKS OF FRIDAY MAY 22ND WHICH REFLECTS PAY PERIOD OF MAY 22ND TO MAY 15TH IS THAT CORRECT? >> YES. >> BRIEFLY, MY LAST QUESTION, TALK TO US ABOUT ADDITIONAL COMMUNICATION PLANS SO THOSE WHO ARE GETTING ADJUSTMENTS WILL BE INFORMED AND THEY KNOW THE WHY AND RATIONALE BEHIND THE ADJUSTMENT. >> YES. AS YOU SAID, SOME OF THE [07:40:04] BASELINE COMMUNICATIONS THAT ARE STARTING TO ROLL OUT NOW REGARDING HOW THE PROCESS WORKED. WE HAVE PROVIDED ALL THIS, IT'S ON THE WEBSITE. WE HAVE SENT SOME EMAILS, ET CETERA. WE ARE SENDING THESE EMAILS THAT MAY BE A LITTLE MORE ENGAGING AND AGAIN, THE SURVEY IS TO TEST, WHAT QUESTIONS DO PEOPLE HAVE SO PEOPLE CAN ADDRESS THEM BETWEEN NOW AND IMPLEMENTATION. WE HAVE LEADER TRAINING SCHEDULED. WE REACHED OUT TO YOUR OFFICES TO SEE IF YOU HAVE FACILITIES WHERE WE CAN COME AND DO LIVE SESSIONS SO WE CAN TAKE ON A LOT OF THE QUESTIONS. BUT OUR PLAN IS TO PREPARE LEADERS WITH BOTH THE TRAINING BUT ALSO WE HAVE A LEADER TOOLKIT. WE HAVE A LOT OF FACTS, FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ON DIFFERENT SUBSETS OF THE WORK. AND THAT LEADER TOOLKIT IS AVAILABLE 24/7. SOME OF THE TRAINING VIDEOS HAVE BEEN TAPED SO THEY CAN ALSO VIEW THEM AT THEIR CONVENIENCE. SO IT'S JUST MEANT TO BE A VERY COMPREHENSIVE ENGAGEMENT WITH LEADERS IN PREPARATION. THAT SAID, WE ARE ALWAYS HERE TO BACK THEM UP. IF THEY HAVE QUESTIONS, LEADERS, OR IF EMPLOYEES HAVE QUESTIONS, WE ARE HAPPY TO ENTERTAIN THEM THROUGH PHONE CALLS, EMAILS OR WE HAVE ON OUR PROJECT WEBSITE A PLACE WHERE EMPLOYEES CAN PUT QUESTIONS IN AND WE REACH OUT AND ANSWER THOSE QUESTIONS. WE HAVE A PROJECT PLAN AS FAR AS NOTIFICATIONS TO LEADERS WHEN THEY ARE SUPPOSED TO LET EMPLOYEES KNOW. OUR EXPECTATION, OUR DESIRE WE WILL ASK THE LEADERS IS THEY HAVE A CONVERSATION WITH THEM SOME POINT BUT PRIORITIZE WHO IS GETTING AN INCREASE, SO THEY CAN UNDERSTAND THAT FIRST BEFORE THEY SEE IT ON THEIR PAYCHECK AND HAVE THOSE CONVERSATIONS WITH EVERYONE ELSE JUST TO BE CLEAR. SOMETIMES WHEN WE LOOK AT OUR PAYCHECKS SOMETIMES PEOPLE PAY CLOSER ATTENTION THAN OTHERS, ESPECIALLY WITH BACK PAY IT WILL BE TOUGH TO FIGURE OUT ON YOUR OWN. >> APPRECIATE YOU AND YOUR TEAMWORKING TO KEEP THIS ON TRACK AND EXCELLENCE. >> THANK YOU. >> COMMISSIONER GARCIA? >> SORRY, THAT WAS FROM THE PREVIOUS. >> OKAY, THANK YOU. IS THERE ANY ACTION ON THIS ITEM, COMMISSIONER BRIONES? >> IT'S A TRANSMITTAL, COMMISSIONER. >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. >> THANK YOU. >> THE NEXT ITEM, WHICH ONE IS THE NEXT ONE? >> 405. >> 405. >> WHO PULLED THAT ONE? >> COMMISSIONER, THIS IS AN EXECUTIVE SESSION ITEM I THINK NEEDED TO BE SCHEDULE. >> WHAT ELSE ARE THE ITEMS OUT HERE? [Emergency/Supplemental Items (Part 4 of 5)] >> 410. >> WE HAVE, I THINK FOUR OTHER ITEMS TOTAL. >> 410. I JUST HAD A QUICK QUESTION. GOOD JOB SANDHU ON THE COMPUTERS. I JUST WANT TO UNDERSTAND HOW THIS WORKS, SOME OF THE PRECINCT 3 COMPUTERS THAT COMES OUT OF OUR BUDGET. I KNOW YOU ARE REPLACING SOME. HOW IS THAT WORKING BETWEEN WHAT IS COMING OUT OF OUR BUDGET AND YOUR BUDGET? >> COMMISSIONER, I LEAN ON DIRECTOR RAMOS TO TOUCH BASE ON HOW THIS PROJECT WORKS. >> THE DISTINCTION AND POLICY COMMISSIONERS COURT SET UP IS IF YOU ARE GOING TO UTILIZE THIS FUNDING, THE CENTRAL FUNDING FOR COMPUTERS AND LAPTOPS, YOU FOLLOW THE SPECIFICATIONS THAT UNIVERSAL SERVICES LAYS OUT. IF YOU WERE TO GO AND PURCHASE DIRECTLY, YOU KNOW, SOMETHING OUTSIDE OF THE SPECIFICATIONS THAT UNIVERSAL SERVICES HAS IN INVENTORY, THEN IT WOULD COME OUT OF YOUR BUDGET. >> OKAY. I THINK WE ARE RIGHT DOWN THE MIDDLE OF THE PLATE. >> YES, SIR, YOU ARE A PART OF OUR REPLACEMENT CYCLE. I THINK WE HAVE DONE A FEW FOR YOU ALREADY. AND THEN THERE IS, WE HAVE TWO COMING UP WHERE PRECINCT 3 COMPUTERS ARE INCLUDED. ALL THE PRECINCTS ARE A PART OF THIS PROGRAM. >> THAT WAS IT. THANK YOU. >> THERE WAS A PRIORITIZATION, WHICH COURT? WHEN THEY ADOPTED THE PROGRAM SET UP, WHICH WAS LAW ENFORCEMENT, I THINK THE COURTS, THE JUSTICE DEPARTMENTS AND AFTER THAT IT WAS KIND OF IN ORDER OF SIZE, I BELIEVE. >> OKAY, I WILL MOVE ON THE ITEM. >> I WILL SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR VOTE AYE. ALL IN FAVOR. ITEM PASSES. THE LAST ITEM BEFORE EXECUTIVE SESSION IS THE TOLL ROAD AUTHORITY ITEM. [Departments (Part 6 of 6)] >> COMMISSIONER, IF I MAY. THERE'S ONE MORE ITEM. >> 405. >> IT'S A VERY QUICK UPDATE, IF IT'S OKAY. >> YEAH, WE ARE GOING TO GO THROUGH THE AGENDA. >> YOU HAVE AN UPDATE? >> IT'S A DISCUSSION ITEM. >> THAT'S NOT IN EXECUTIVE SESSION. >> PLEASE MAKE IT QUICK. YOU ARE LOSING ME. >> VERY QUICK. THANK YOU FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY. [07:45:05] AGAIN, THIS IS WITH REGARDS TO THE CONFLICT THAT IS HAPPENING WITH IRAN. AND AS WE KNOW CYBER A CRITICAL ASPECT OF THE ATTACKS THAT ARE HAPPENING. I JUST WANT TO GIVE A QUICK, BECAUSE IT'S AN OPEN FORUM UPDATE I WON'T GO INTO THE DETAILS BUT WE ARE MONITORING OUR NETWORK. WE HAVE SEEN INCREASE IN PHISHING ATTACKS AS WELL AS WE ARE BLOCKING INCREASING NUMBER OF THREATS THAT ARE COMING OUR WAY. OUR CYBERSECURITY OPERATION CENTER IS MONITORED 24/7 AND ALL ALERTS ARE BEING MANAGED WELL. SO THAT'S KIND OF A QUICK UPDATE. >> THANK YOU. THAT ITEM IS ONE I PULLED. [Emergency/Supplemental Items (Part 5 of 5)] THIS IS THE REQUEST BY THE TOLL ROAD AUTHORITY FOR APPROVAL OF THE TOLL INVOICING POLICY. IS THERE SOMEONE HERE FROM TOLL ROAD? ROBERTO, LET ME TELL WHAT MY CONCERN IS. ON A $500 CAP FOR LEGAL EXPENSES, THAT'S PER VEHICLE, RIGHT? SO THAT MEANS IF SOMEBODY HAS, WHATEVER IT IS, $25, USE SOME SMALL HAULER, AND YOU GET THREE OF THESE DEALS, $25 EACH, SOME OF THEM, SMALL OPERATORS AND THEY ARE CHANGING THE ADDRESSES OR WHATEVER, AND THEY DON'T GET IT, THEN THEY ARE GOING TO END UP PAYING $500 FOR EACH $25 INFRACTION IF IT GOES TO COURT. THAT'S THE WAY I UNDERSTAND IT. >> SIR, THE COMMERCIAL ACCOUNTS VARY IN NUMBER OF PLATES. THEY DON'T HAVE AN ACCOUNT. AS WE TRY TO TRACK DOWN HOW MANY INVOICES ARE ASSOCIATED WITH ONE COMMERCIAL BUSINESS. SAY THERE'S TEN PLATES WE WOULD CHARGE $50 CITATION FOR EACH PLATE ABOVE EIGHT. THE WAY IT'S WRITTEN, WE ARE TYING IT INTO THE POLICY WHERE WE GIVE EIGHT FREE EASY TAGS TO CUSTOMERS. SO WE ARE ALLOTTING EIGHT AND THEN AFTER THAT EIGHT, WE ARE CHARGING $50 PER PLATE ASSOCIATED WITH THAT ACCOUNT. OR NOT THAT ACCOUNT, WITH THOSE TRANSACTIONS. >> SO WHEN WE DECIDED THAT YOU COULD DO THIS, THE ISSUE WAS, WE WANTED TO MAKE SURE IT WASN'T A PREDATORY PRACTICE. OKAY, NOW, I'M NOT AN EXPERT ON PREDATORY PRACTICES, BUT I JUST KIND OF KNOW THEM WHEN I SEE THEM. I KNOW I'VE GOT P.K., PREACHER'S CHILD, PREACHER'S KID. P.K., NOT P.C. I KNOW FROM MY THEOLOGY CLASS AND THE BIBLE THAT SOME REFERENCES, MONEY CHANGES AND MATTHEW, MARK, LUKE AND JOHN. >> COMMISSIONER, WHEN YOU START QUOTING SCRIPTURE, I GET SCARED. >> IN THE QURAN, IT'S 1185, THEY TALK ABOUT JUST BALANCES. IN THE TORAH, THEY TALK ABOUT, THEY SPEAK ABOUT DISHONEST TRADE. ABOUT EXPLOITATION. >> YES, SIR. >> SO THE QUESTION IS WHO DID YOU ALL GO TO TO FIGURE OUT WHEN WE ARE DEALING WITH MONEY CHANGES? I KNOW THEY ALL SWARMING AROUND. I DON'T KNOW WHAT'S FAIR, BUT HOW DO YOU ALL COME UP WITH THIS? >> SO WHEN WE GET THE DIRECTION FROM COURT TO NOT BE PREDATORY, WHAT WE TRY TO DO IS, WE TRY TO MAKE SURE THAT THE FEES AND FINES ASSOCIATED WITH THE INVOICING POLICY ARE NOT A PROFIT CENTER. SO WHEN YOU SAY WE HAVE A $10 ADMINISTRATIVE FEE, IT COSTS US $10 ADDITIONAL DOLLARS TO PURSUE THAT TRANSACTION. >> SO THE QUESTION IS, WHEN I GOT ON THIS, IT WAS A GROUP CALLED APPLESEED. I DON'T KNOW IF THEY ARE STILL AROUND. BUT WHEN THIS CAME ON THE AGENDA, THERE WAS QUITE A BIT ON THIS AGENDA, BY THE WAY. SO WHEN I LOOKED AT THIS ONE, I SAID TO MYSELF, CALL APPLESEED, SEE WHAT THEY THINK. BECAUSE THEY WERE THE ONES THAT DID THIS COMPREHENSIVE STUDY ON PREDATORY FINES AND FEES. I DON'T KNOW IF THEY ARE STILL AROUND. BUT SOME OF THE PROMINENT LAW FIRMS HERE IN TOWN USED TO BE ACTIVE WITH THEM. SO I'M JUST WONDERING, HOW DID YOU ALL, WHAT CONSUMER GROUPS DID YOU GO TO? I JUST DON'T WANT TO, THIS COURT TOOK A LEAP OF FAITH TO STOP THE STUFF ON PROPERTY TAX COLLECTION. I DON'T WANT TO END UP BACK IN THERE. SO HOW DID YOU KNOW, AND DO WE HAVE TO VOTE ON THIS TODAY. BECAUSE IF YOU DIDN'T HAVE TO CHECK WITH THEM, I WANT YOU TO CHECK WITH THEM, EVEN IF IT'S ON THE CONSENT AGENDA. I JUST DON'T WANT TO DO IT AFTER DOING ALL MY PREACHING. YOU GOT ME QUOTING THE BIBLE AND THE QURAN AND THE TORAH. >> YES, SIR, YES, SIR. [07:50:05] THE TERM FEE AND FINE ARE KIND OF MISNOMERS. WE DIDN'T DO RESEARCH, WE WANTED TO SET THE TREND OF A NEW INVOICING POLICY THAT ISN'T PUNITIVE TO THE CUSTOMERS BUT EQUATES THE VALUE OF ADDITIONAL O & M COST THAT HECTOR HAS TO INCUR. SO WHEN WE PUT A VALUE FOR THE $10 ADMINISTRATIVE FEE, THAT'S TO PRINT POSTAGE -- >> IT'S ONLY THE LEGAL FEE, IT'S THE $500 I'M WORRIED ABOUT. >> AS IT GOES TO COLLECTIONS, WHEN WE HAVE TO DO A CITATION, THERE'S COSTS WE HAVE TO INCUR FOR THE CLERK, WE HAVE TO PAY FOR ADMINISTRATIVE JUDGES. THE $50 WE ARE PROPOSING IS ASSOCIATED WITH THE COST TO COLLECT. IT'S NOT, IN ANY WAY, SHAPE OR FORM MEANT TO BE PUNITIVE, ABOVE AND BEYOND WHAT WE INCUR TO COLLECT. >> LET ME ASK YOU THIS, I ONLY WANT YOU TO GO TO APPLESEED. WHAT IS THE DOWN SIDE THIS WAITING. APPLESEED IS ONE I THINK OF. COLLEAGUES, I WANT TO TELL YOU WHY I'M DOING THIS. WHEN THIS ISSUE CAME UP ON PROPERTY TAX COLLECTION WHEN I WAS ON CITY COUNCIL AND THEN MAYOR WHITMEYER, CATHY DIDN'T WANT TO PAY THAT OUTRAGEOUS FEE THE LEGISLATURE FEE. THE QUOTE I HAD IN THE PAPER, IT WAS THE SLEAZIEST FORM OF PORK BARREL LEGISLATION I HAD SEEN IN MY LIFE. IT WAS IN THE PAPER. I COULDN'T BELIEVE THEY PUBLISHED SOMETHING SAYING YOU HAVE TO BE A LAW FIRM. IT'S GOING ON ALL AROUND THE STATE. WE STOPPED IT HERE IN HARRIS COUNTY, STARTING WITH THE TOLL ROAD WHEN I SENT THAT UNLIKELY PAIR OF RAMSEY MADE THE MOTION, I SECONDED IT. I DON'T KNOW HOW YOU DECIDE WHAT IS PREDATORY. IT DIDN'T SOUND LIKE, I THINK YOU ALL DID THE BEST YOU COULD. BUT I'M JUST SAYING THERE ARE GROUPS THAT GO OUT HERE AND THINK THEY ARE PROTECTORS. I MEAN, YOU KNOW, THEY ARE PRETTY VOCAL IN AUSTIN. THEY ARE JUST NOT AS VOCAL HERE. I THINK OF APPLESEED. I THINK NEIL USED TO HE BE ON THAT BOARD. APPLESEED, COMMISSIONER BRIONES, HELP ME. LAW FIRMS WOULD MAKE ALL THE MONEY THEY WERE MAKING AND THEN THEY WOULD GO DO GOOD STUFF WITH APPLESEED. I JUST WANT YOU TO CHECK. CAN WE CHECK? >> ABSOLUTELY. I WOULD RATHER GET IT RIGHT THAN RUSH IT. >> THIS IS A PRETTY FULL AGENDA, BY THE WAY. SO WHEN MY STAFF WAS BRIEFING ME ON IT YESTERDAY BETWEEN YOUR SUMMIT AND A LOT OF OTHER THINGS GOING ON AND THEN I'M ASKING THEM, WHO DID YOU CALL. THEY SAID CALL WHO. I SAID WHAT HAPPENED TO APPLESEED. THEY WERE ALWAYS AROUND THE CAPITAL. I DON'T KNOW WHERE THEY ARE NOW. YOU COULD PUT IT ON THE CONSENT AGENDA. I JUST WANT SOMEBODY TO OPINE OTHER THAN YOU ALL DID A GREAT JOB TRYING TO COME UP WITH IT. I KNOW YOU MADE THE COMMITMENT AND TOLD ME YOU WOULD BE SINCERE, I DIDN'T MEAN TO GO ON AND CALL YOU, I DIDN'T SEE YOU SIT OUT THERE. THAT'S WHAT HAPPENS WHEN THESE MEETINGS GO ON. >> YES, SIR. WE WILL DO OUR DUE DILIGENCE TO GET IT RIGHT. >> LET US KNOW, YOU COULD PUT IT ON THE CONSENT AGENDA. ON THE BUSINESS COURT. BUT I JUST WANT TO FEEL SOME COMFORT LEVEL AFTER HAVING. >> YES, SIR, ABSOLUTELY. >> JAKE, DO YOU HAVE THE LANGUAGE TO GO INTO THE EXECUTIVE SESSION? >> COMMISSIONER? >> COMMISSIONER BRIONES. >> FIRST OF ALL, THANK YOU, DIRECTOR TO YOU AND YOUR TEAM FOR UPDATING THE POLICY AND THE COUNTY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE FOR THEIR COLLABORATION. I AGREE, IF IT'S COMING UP, THERE ARE MULTIPLE DEADLINES THAT WE HAVE TO BE ATTENTIVE TO. JUST TO CONFIRM, NOT MOVING FORWARD TODAY AND WAITING UNTIL BUSINESS COURT. WHICH IS ON THE 31ST. >> YEAH. >> THAT WORKS FOR US. >> AND THEN THE OTHER THING, I THINK IT WOULD BE VERY, NEXT TIME, FOR TODAY'S PURPOSES, I THINK IT'S HELPFUL. BECAUSE I 100% DO NOT WANT TO BE PREDATORY, PERIOD. WE ALWAYS WANT TO BE FAIR. AND WE NEED TO BE CLEAR. SO LAST TIME WE TALKED, AND I KNOW THERE'S DIFFERENT DEFINITIONS FOR HOW WE ARE DEFINING IT. BUT ESSENTIALLY, SEPARATING INDIVIDUALS FROM COMMERCIAL FLEET ACCOUNTS, BASED ON THE NUMBER OF PLATES. AND SO JUST TO BE CLEAR, LAYING IT OUT, WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE IN TERMS OF CAPS, IN TERMS OF FEES, WOULD BE VERY HELPFUL SO THAT IN ADDITION TO GETTING ADDITIONAL STAKEHOLDER FEEDBACK [07:55:01] OVER THE NEXT FEW DAYS WE ARE BEING CRYSTAL CLEAR WITH FOLKS WHAT THIS MEANS. I ESPECIALLY WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THE JEWEL PARADIGM IS ESSENTIALLY ALIGNED WITH WHAT WE HAVE ALWAYS BEEN DOING, WE ARE JUST UPDATING IT TO BIFURCATE THE WORLD, SO TO SPEAK. SO THE USERS ON HECTRA DIFFERS FROM SOMEONE DRIVING TO WORK. STARTING WITH A LEVEL SET WOULD BE HELPFUL SO ANYONE LISTENING KNOWS WHAT WE ARE TRYING TO ACHIEVE AND HOW WE ARE GOING TO ACHIEVE IT, IN A FAIR, NON-PREDATORY WAY. >> YES. >> COMMISSIONER GARCIA? >> DIRECTOR, THANK YOU VERY MUCH. AND I APPRECIATE THE INPUT. COMPLETELY AGREE WITH BOTH WHAT'S BEEN SAID IN TERMS OF THE CAUTION TO BEING PREDATORY. BUT AS YOU DO THAT RESEARCH, AS TO WHATEVER THE BEST PRACTICE FOR THIS MIGHT BE, ALSO LET US KNOW THAT, YOU KNOW, OVER THE YEARS, THERE'S ALSO BEEN A CONVERSATION THAT, AT SOME POINT THERE'S GOT TO BE SOME CONSEQUENCE. BUT I THINK WE CAN SET LIMITS TO THAT CONSEQUENCE SO IT DOESN'T GO TO WHAT IT USED TO BE. BUT AT SOME POINT, I MEAN, THERE'S GOT TO BE SOME REASON THAT SOMEONE -- THERE'S GOT TO BE SOME PENALTY. BECAUSE I JUST CAN'T HELP BUT TO KEEP LOOKING AT THE BIGGER NUMBER OF WHAT'S OUT THERE. AND SO, YOU KNOW, MAYBE IT'S JUST A STRATEGIC WAY TO GO ABOUT THE COLLECTION. BUT AT SOME POINT THERE'S GOT TO BE SOME PENALTY ATTACHED TO IT. >> YES, SIR. >> I'M THINKING IF THEY KNOW WHEN IT IS STARTING AFTER YOU. IT'S SORT OF LIKE WE ARE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT ON THESE ATV'S. YOU CATCH ONE AND PUT THEM ON SOCIAL MEDIA AND THEY KNOW ARE OUT THERE. IT WILL HAVE AN IMPACT. SO I GET IT. I WANT THE MONEY, TRUST ME. BECAUSE I GOT IDEAS ON HOW TO SPEND IT. >> WE ARE TALKING ABOUT FEES AND SUCH. PEOPLE THAT COME FROM THE SURROUNDING COUNTIES, WHETHER MONTGOMERY OR WALL OR LIBERTY OR GALVESTON OR FORT BEND, AND WE, OUR HOSPITAL DISTRICT IS OPEN TO EVERYBODY AND THEY COME. I GET A LITTLE IRRITATED WHEN I HEAR THE SURROUNDING COUNTIES TALK ABOUT THEIR LOW TAX RATE. WHEN WE ARE TAKING CARE OF LARGE NUMBERS OF THEIR PEOPLE IN NEED. SO I DON'T KNOW IF THERE'S SOMETHING DOWN THE ROAD. WHEN YOU BROUGHT UP FEES THAT JUST REMINDS ME THAT PEOPLE ARE, AND WE ARE WILLING TO HELP PEOPLE AND THAT'S WHAT WE DO. BUT THERE'S A NUMBER THERE. I THINK IT'S PROBABLY A PRETTY BIG NUMBER. OBVIOUSLY NOW THE CITY'S CONCERNED ABOUT THEM TAKING CARE OF A WRECK OR TWO ON THE TOLL ROAD AND THEY ARE GOING TO BILL US FOR IT. SO WHEN WE START COLLECTING THESE FEES, I THINK THOSE THAT CAN'T AFFORD, I WILL THROW ONE OUT THERE, LIKE MONTGOMERY COUNTY. IF THERE'S SOME LARGE NUMBER OF THINGS THAT WE'RE DOING HERE TO SERVE THOSE NEEDS. IT'S JUST PART OF THIS OLD -- YOU KNOW, I AGREE THE PREDATORY, WE WANT TO AVOID ALL OF THAT. BUT WE ALSO DON'T LIKE IT WHEN JUST PEOPLE IGNORE, BECAUSE THEY THINK THEY CAN. >> YEP, AGREED. ARE THERE ANY OTHER CONCERNS, QUESTIONS, ITEMS YOU WANT HIM TO DO? I WOULD LOVE THIS TO PASS ON BUSINESS COURT BECAUSE I KNOW TIME, WE HAVE TO REALLY ALIGN TIMELINE. >> SO DO THE CHECK IN. BUSINESS COURT, ANYBODY CAN PULL IT. IF I THOUGHT ABOUT IT, I WOULD HAVE BROUGHT IT UP. I WOULD SAY CHECK APPLESEED. WE HAVE SO MUCH, I ASK MYSELF, HAVE SOMEBODY COME SAY SOMETHING IF THEY HAVE ANY CONCERNS. >> YES, SIR. >> I HOPE APPLESEED IS STILL AROUND. IT USED TO BE A PRETTY RESPECTED GROUP. >> I REMEMBER. >> YOU DID A GOOD JOB. >> THANK, SIR. >> SO MUCH HAPPENING, I WOULDN'T KNOW. >> ACTUALLY, THAT REMINDS ME. MR. RAMOS, WE MADE A CHANGE TO THE INVESTMENT POLICY AND WHEN WILL WE GET A REPORT ON THAT? >> SO WE HAVE BEEN WORKING WITH ALL THE PRECINCT OFFICES. WE ASKED FOR THE INFORMATION BACK IN APRIL, IT WILL PROBABLY TAKE US A COUPLE WEEKS TO GET IT TURNED AROUND. >> GOT YOU. BUT THERE WAS A PIECE IN THAT MOTION TO LET US KNOW WHEN THINGS ARE MATURING. >> THAT WAS TRANSMITTED ALREADY. >> SORRY? >> THAT WAS TRANSMITTED. THE MATURITY IS BY FUND. >> THAT'S CORRECT. >> AND HAVE YOU BEEN ABLE TO WORK OUT THE COST TO THE INVESTMENTS? >> SO THAT'S WHAT THE BROKERS ARE CHARGING THE INVESTMENT ENTITIES. WE PUT A PULL-OUT, WE THINK SOMEWHERE BETWEEN 2-3 POINTS. >> THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. ARE THERE ANY OTHER BUSINESS [08:00:04] BEFORE WE GO TO -- >> SO NO ACTION. >> BUSINESS COURT. >> ITEM 435. >> 435. >> THAT WAS DONE EARLIER. [Executive Session] THAT WAS VOTED ON EARLIER. >> WE DID THAT ONE EARLIER. SO JAY, YOU WANT TO READ THE MOTION FOR EXECUTIVE SESSION? >> YOU WANT IT ON THE RECORD AGAIN? >> COMMISSIONER GARCIA MOVES IT, I WILL SECOND IT, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, AYE. >> SHE DIDN'T GET THE VOTE EARLIER. >> THREE AYE'S AND ONE NO. COMMISSIONER RAMSEY VOTES NO. >> PUT YOUR NAME ON THE PLEADINGS. [LAUGHTER] >> SHE DIDN'T CATCH IT. COMMISSIONER RAMSEY IS NO. THREE OF US ARE YES. >> GARCIA, ELLIS. >> RIGHT. >> SEE HOW WE TRY TO LOOK OUT FOR ONE ANOTHER. IT'S LATE TODAY. WE ARE GOING INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION. WHAT ITEMS, JAY, WHAT IS THE MOTION? >> SURE, JUST CALL TIME 6:16 COMMISSIONERS COURT WILL NOW PROCEED TO EXECUTIVE ON 403, 404, 407, 411, PURSUANT TO TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE SECTION 551071 AND 074. >> I WILL MAKE THE MOTION, COMMISSIONER * This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.