* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning. [00:00:10] >> GOOD MORNING, EVERYONE. IT IS 9:02, OR LIKE TO CALL ON [Departments] MARCH 31ST 2026 HARRIS COUNTY COMMISSIONERS COURT TO SESSION PENELOPE RESIDING. THERE IS ONE ITEM ON WHICH THERE IS ONE ITEM ON WHICH WE WILL BE TAKING. NO ACTION PAGE SIX, ITEM 35 PRECINCT ONE REQUEST FOR APPROVAL FOR THE FEE SCHEDULE IN THE AGREEMENT WITH THE BSL MANAGEMENT CLEAR CREEK GOLF COURSE. I RECOMMEND THAT WE ADDRESS ALL THE SPEAKERS EXCEPT FOR THOSE SPEAKING ON RESOLUTIONS. AS THIS MATTER REQUIRES A SEPARATE VOTE. A SEPARATE VOTE TO BE PRESENTED TO COURT. TIFFANY, CAN YOU INTRODUCE OUR SPEAKERS WHO HAVE JOINED US THIS MORNING AND THANK YOU, SPEAKERS. >> COMMISSIONER, ALL THE SPEAKERS ARE FOR RESOLUTIONS TODAY. >> OKAY, WE HAVE 55 ITEM ON TODAY'S AGENDA ALL OF WHICH ARE ROUTINE AND ACCORDING WITH BUSINESS COURT POLICIES BUT IF ANYONE WOULD LIKE TO DISCUSS ANY OF THE 55 ITEMS WITH THE EXCEPTION OF THE RESOLUTIONS, THAT WOULD BE PRESENTED, PLEASE SAY SO NOW. AND THEY WILL BE PLACED ON THE APRIL 16TH REGULARLY SCHEDULED COMMISSIONERS COURT MEETING SO THAT ALL MEMBERS OF THE COMMISSION'S COURT CAN PARTICIPATE IN THE DISCUSSION. HEARING NO DISCUSSION, IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE MOTIONS 1-55 WITH RESOLUTIONS? >> SECOND. >> A MOTION HAS BEEN MADE BY COMMISSIONER RAMSEY AND SECOND BY COMMISSIONER BRIONES. ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE. THREE EYES AND NO NAYS. CONSIDER IT AS PAST. NOW WE WILL GO TO RESOLUTIONS. IT IS NOW 9:04, I WOULD LIKE TO TAKE UP ALL RESOLUTION SPEAKERS TO ADDRESS THE CORPORATIVE ANNIKA WOULD YOU PLEASE CALL UP THE SPEAKERS? >> KIMBERLY WILLIAMS, ITEM 46. MARY, ITEM 48. JACOB ITEM 51. YOU EACH HAVE 1 MINUTE. >> GOOD MORNING, JUDGING COMMISSIONERS. MY NAME IS KIM WILLIAMS, AND I'M PROUD TO SERVE AS PURCHASING AGENT FOR HARRIS COUNTY. THANK YOU FOR THIS RECOGNITION DURING NATIONAL PROCUREMENT MONTH. ON BEHALF OF OUR ENTIRE TEAM, THAT IS HERE TODAY, I WANT TO EXPRESS OUR SINCERE APPRECIATION FOR YOUR ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF THE WORK WE DO IN SERVICE FOR HARRIS COUNTY. I AM ESPECIALLY PROUD OF OUR PURCHASING TEAM. THIS GROUP OF PROFESSIONAL SUPPORTS BOTH OVER 40 DEPARTMENTS OF HARRIS COUNTY AND THE HARRIS HEALTH SYSTEM. ONE OF THE LARGEST PUBLIC HOSPITAL SYSTEMS IN THE NATION BEAR THEIR WORK WE DO TRULY MAKES A DIFFERENCE ENSURING PUBLIC FUNDS ARE USED WIDELY IN THAT VITAL RESOURCES REACH THOSE WHO NEED THE MOST EROTIC HARRIS COUNTY PAIR THEY EMBODY OUR PURCHASING FIRST PRINCIPLES OF FAIRNESS, INTEGRITY, RESPONSIVENESS, STEWARDSHIP, AND TEAMWORK. I WANT TO RECOGNIZE IN US CALL THEM HARRIS COUNTY PURCHASING TEAM TO STAND INTO THE TEAM OF THE HARRIS COUNTY PURCHASING DEPARTMENT, THANK YOU FOR YOUR DEDICATION, EXPERTISE, YOUR UNWAVERING COMMITMENT TO PUBLIC SERVICE AND TO COMMISSIONERS COURT, THANK YOU AGAIN FOR YOUR CONTINUED SUPPORT OF THIS IMPORTANT WORK AND FOR MAKING TIME TO RECOGNIZE NATIONAL PROCUREMENT MONTH. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. DID YOU HAVE ANYTHING ELSE YOU WANT TO ADD? YOU HAVE SUCH A GREAT TEAM HERE. >> I WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE ALL THE WORK OF THE TEAM, AND I WANTED YOU TO SEE THEM FOR THEY NORMALLY WORK BEHIND THE SCENES IN ART SCENE. I WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT THIS IS A MIGHTY AND HARDWORKING TEAM. [APPLAUSE] AND I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR GIVING US A MOMENT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THEM. THANK YOU. >> TAKE A PICTURE WITH YOU AFTER A WHILE. DON'T WAIT TOO LONG, BECAUSE WE ALL WANT OUR PURCHASES OUT QUICK. [LAUGHTER] SPEWING COMMISSIONERS BEFORE COMING TO IN OUR COMMENTS AT THE END? YOU WANT TO MANAGE ALL THE SPEAKERS? >> WE WILL TAKE THAT PICTURE. IF YOU DON'T MIND, WE WILL TAKE A BREAK AND TAKE A PICTURE WITH THEM. ANYBODY WHO NEEDS ANYTHING, THEY ARE IN CHARGE OF IT. [LAUGHTER] COME ON, NOW. IT'S 9:06. WE WILL COME BACK IN AT SAY SO IT IS NOW 9:10, WE ARE BACK IN SESSION BUT I WOULD LIKE TO BRING UP ITEM 47, THIS IS A RESOLUTION REQUESTED BY ALL OF US ON COMMISSIONERS COURT. THIS WOUND IS ON DR. BABIN. SHE HAS MADE IT THROUGH HER SECURITY AND YOUR FAMILY MAY PROVE MADE IT IN? I'M GOING TO READ IT BUT I DON'T WANT TO EMBARRASS YOU, I'M GONNA READ THIS WENT BUT I WANT TO THANK DR. BABIN AND THE FAMILIES WERE BEING HERE TODAY. I WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK FOR EVERYONE BEHIND THIS THAT MAY ADD THEM COMMENTS THEMSELVES TO SALE TRULY GRATEFUL THEY ARE FOR ALL THE WORK YOU HAVE DONE FOR HARRIS COUNTY AND THE RESIDENTSF HARRIS COUNTY. YOUR LEAD THE TRANSFORMATION TRANSFORMATION OF THAT DEPARTMENT. IT IS SO VITAL TO PROTECTING [00:05:01] YOUR HEALTH AND WELL-BEING OF COMMUNITIES AND THE ENVIRONMENT. YOU HAVE DONE IT WITH INTEGRITY AND A COMMITMENT TO TRANSPARENCY AND ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE AND COMMUNITY EMPOWERMENT. THE ITC DISASTER EXPOSED DECADES OF CHRONIC UNDERFUNDING FOR YOUR DEPARTMENT AND GAPS THAT YOU STEPPED IN TO FILL WHEN YOU WERE MADE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR. THE COMMUNITY AIR MONITORING PROGRAM PROVIDES REAL-TIME PUBLIC AIR MONITORING THAT IS VITAL FOR OUR ABILITY TO RESPOND TO INDUSTRIAL DISASTERS AND EMERGENCIES WHILE KEEPING THE PUBLIC INFORMED ABOUT THE AIR WE BREATHE EVERY DAY. THEN CONCRETE BATCH PLANT PROGRAM TAKES A PROACTIVE APPROACH TO MONITORING 130 PLANTS THAT OPERATED HARRIS COUNTY TO BETTER PROTECT COMMUNITIES FROM THE EFFECTS. WHEN IT COMES TO STREAMLINING, STRENGTHENING COMPLIANCE AND HOLDING INDUSTRIAL POLLUTERS ACCOUNTABLE, YOU HAVE BEEN A CRITICAL PARTNER TO THE HARRIS COUNTY A CURRENT, AND ATTORNEY'S OFFICE FOR THE UNION PACIFIC RESOURCE LIBRARY AND THE WORK OF POLLUTION CONTRN DONE ON BEHALF OF COMMUNITIES. IT IS SO ESSENTIAL TO JUSTICE FROM DAY ONE. YOU HAVE DELIVERED IN THAT REGARD. YOU HAVE TRANSFORMED THE LEADERSHIP IN THE WAKE OF THE DISASTER IS TO BE COMMENDED. I KNOW IT WASN'T EASY. THERE IS STILL MORE WORK TO BE DONE, BUT YOU LEAVE BEHIND A SOLID FOUNDATION FOR THE NEXT DIRECTOR AND SOME VERY BIG HIGH-HEELED SHOES TO FILL. AND SO DR. BABIN, ON BEHALF OF ALL OF US ON COMMISSIONERS COURT, I KNOW MY COLLEAGUES WILL COME UP AS WELL. I WILL READ ALL OF YOUR RESOLUTION. WE MAY HAVE AN EVENT FOR YOU AT SOME POINT AND INVITE THEIR BROADER COMMUNITY. AND I WILL PRESENT THAT WITH A COUPLE OF MY COLLEAGUES IF WE ARE ABLE TO PICK A DATE THAT SOME OF THEM CAN SHOW UP. WE ARE SO PROUD OF YOU, DR. LATRICE BABIN. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. WE WOULD LIKE TO HEAR FROM COMMISSIONER BRIONES AND COMMISSIONER RAMSEY. >> I ECHO COMMISSIONER ELLIS' WORDS. THANK YOU AND CONGRATULATIONS. THAT 31 YEARS OF SERVICE THAT YOU HAVE SPENT LEADING OUR POLLUTION CONTROL DEPARTMENT AND KEEPING EVERYONE IN THE HARRIS COUNTY AS SAFE AS THEY CAN BE. AND YOUR TIRELESS WORK, AND COMMISSIONER ELLIS BROUGHT UP SO MANY EXAMPLES. PARTICULARLY ONE THAT DEEPLY RESONATED WITH ME IS THE WORK ON THE CONCRETE BATCH PLANTS AND THE UPHILL BATTLE THAT WE CONTINUOUSLY FACE AND YOUR TIRELESS ADVOCACY FOR THOSE WHO NEED IT MOST. AND THANK YOU FOR LEADING US WHETHER IT IS THE TRANSITION OF OUR FLEET, EXPANDING THE AIR MONITORING PROGRAM BEYOND, WE ARE REALLY GRATEFUL FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP AND THE IMPACT YOU HAVE HAD. WE WISH YOU THE ABSOLUTE BEST IN YOUR RETIREMENT. THANK YOU AND CONGRATULATIONS. >> THANK YOU COMMISSIONER RAMSEY. >> DR. BABIN, YOU ARE A HERO IN HARRIS COUNTY PAIR THROUGHOUT HARRIS COUNTY. BUT A PROUD PRODUCT OF THE CROSBY AREA. THAT IS, I GUESS, OF ALL MY COMMUNITIES, I WANT TO REPEAT THIS AND ALL THE OTHER COMMUNITIES. THEY NEED TO KNOW, MY FAVORITE PLACE TO VISIT HIS BARRETT STATION. BECAUSE IT IS A COMMUNITY ORIENTED -- THEY MAY NOT BE THE MOST ELITE IN TERMS OF. BUT THE LEADERSHIP, THEY ARE ALL IQ. THERE ARE FOLKS THAT HAVE CHOSE TO STAY IN THE AREA. FOCUSED ON THE NEEDS OF THE AREA. AND AS YOU KNOW GROWING UP TH THERE, THE ISSUES RELATED TO AIR, THE ISSUES RELATED TO WATER, THE ISSUES RELATED TO EVERYTHING ENVIRONMENTAL, I CAN'T IMAGINE A MORE SATISFYING CAREER THAN THE ONE YOU HAD AND WILL CONTINUE TO HAVE. I KNOW WHAT YOU'VE DONE. I LOOK FORWARD TO WHAT YOU ARE GOING TO DO. YOUR FATHER, I THINK, PAST BECAUSE OF CANCER. I SUSPECT THAT WAS A BIT OF A DRIVE IN TERMS OF YOUR CHOSEN PROFESSION AND WHAT YOU DO EVERY DAY. I'M SURE YOU THINK OF HIM OFTEN WHEN YOU'RE OUT THERE DOING THE GOOD THINGS THAT YOU DO. SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR MISSION. WE WILL TRY TO KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK. AND FOCUS ON THOSE THINGS THAT MATTER, PARTICULARLY WHEN IT COMES TO PEOPLE THEN WHEN IT COMES TO NEIGHBORHOODS AND MAKING THEM ALL A BETTER PLACE TO LIVE. THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP. >> DR. BABIN, WE WOULD BE HAPPY TO HEAR FROM YOU IF YOU ARE NOT SO BASHFUL, HE CAN COME ON UP AS WELL. COME ON UP. YOUR FAMILY MEMBERS. >> AS SHE COMES UP, I WANTED TO NOTE ONE MORE THING THAT IT IS SO FITTING TODAY THE LAST DAY OF WOMEN'S HISTORY MONTH AND TO RECOGNIZE OUR FIRST EVER IN HARRIS COUNTY HISTORY WOMAN TO HAVE LED POLLUTION CONTROL ON SO [00:10:01] MANY LEVELS. WE HONOR YOU COME AND CELEBRATE YOUR TREMENDOUS SERVICE. >> COMMISSIONER CAN WE ALSO HAVE A VIRTUE OF SPEAKER. [APPLAUSE] >> WE HAVE A VIRTUE? >> YES, SIR. >> IF YOU DON'T MIND, DR. BABIN, OUR VIRTUOUS SPEAKER WILL COME ON. >> SPEAKING ON ITEM 47, YOU HAV. >> THANK YOU, HELLO, FRIENDS. MY NAME IS -- EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF CLEAN AIR AGENCY WHICH BRINGS TOGETHER 150 COUNTY AND STATE AGENCIES THAT PROTECT THE PUBLIC FROM AIR POLLUTION. WE ARE SO PROUD THAT HARRIS COUNTY HAS BEEN A MEMBER AND LEADER IN OUR ASSOCIATION. I WANT TO TAKE A MOMENT TO JUST RECOGNIZE DR. BABIN FOR HER EXTRAORDINARY LEADERSHIP IN PART AS HARRIS COUNTY THEIR QUALITY DIRECTOR, SHE STRENGTHENED NOT JUST OUR COMMUNITY BUT OUR ENTIRE FAMILY OF AGENT TEAMS ACROSS THE COUNTRY. THERE HER WORK, IN THE AIR TOXICS COMMITTEE AND AS PRESIDENT OF THE ASSOCIATION LAST YEAR, SHE HAS GUIDED OUR FAMILY THROUGH SOME OF ITS MOST TURBULENT TIMES POLITICALLY AND IN LOTS OF OTHER WAYS TOO. DR. BABIN HAVE EMBODIED WET STEADY COMPASSIONATE LEADERSHIP LOOKS LIKE. SHE HAS BEEN A CHAMPION IN OUR COMMUNITY FOR A PROACTIVE EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS, FOR THE INNOVATIVE USE OF MOBILE MONITORING, SHE HAS ALWAYS TREATED EVERY COMMUNITY WITH DIGNITY, AND SHE HAS ALWAYS PEOPLE AT THE CENTER OF THE WORK. THOSE OF US WHO HAVE THE PRIVILEGE TO WORK WITH HER -- I JUST WANT TO SAY, I AM DEEPLY GRATEFUL FOR HER SUPPORT, HER LEADERSHIP. AND I REALLY WISH WE HAD MORE LEADERS LIKE LATRICE BABIN DESPITE HER BEING A DEVOTED HOUSTON ASTROS FAN AND NOT CORRECTLY A WASHINGTON NATIONALS BASEBALL TEAM FAN, I'M ALSO VERY PROUD TO CALL HER A DEAR FRIEND, AND I REALLY WISH HER WELL IN HER NEXT ADVENTURE. >> THANK YOU FOR DIALING IN. DR. BABIN. >> THANK YOU. I SAID I WASN'T GOING TO CRY. SO I'M NOT. I DO WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO THE LEADERSHIP OF HARRIS COUNTY. YOU ALL HAVE BEEN VERY SUPPORTIVE. THANK YOU EACH OF YOU, COMMISSIONER ELLIS, COMMISSIONER RAMSEY, COMMISSIONER BRIONES, COMMISSIONER GARCIA, AND JUDGE HILDALGO, I APPRECIATE ALL THE SUPPORT AND THE LEADERSHIP, THE THINGS THAT WE WERE ABLE TO DO, WE COULD NOT HAVE DONE WITHOUT THE SUPPORT OF YOUR LEADERSHIP. AND I HAVE TO SAY THANK YOU TO MY TEAM. THE PEOPLE THAT I WAS SO BLESSED TO LEAD HAVE BEEN REMARKABLE. THEY ARE THE TRUE EMBODIMENT AND SPIRIT OF POLLUTION CONTROL. AND THEY WERE EASY TO WORK WITH. AND I REALLY APPRECIATE THEM, AND I HAVE SOME HERE TODAY AS WELL IF YOU GUYS WOULD STAND. I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE] MY EXECUTIVE TEAM. I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO THEM. AND I COULD NOT HAVE DONE ANY OF THIS WITHOUT THE SUPPORT AND LOVE OF MY FAMILY. I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO MY HUSBAND JOSEPH AND TO MY DAUGHTERS FOR ALWAYS RECOGNIZING THAT EVEN WHEN I HAD TO LEAVE AND GO DO THINGS AND LEAVE THE FAMILY INCOME AND WEALTH AND ABOUT NOT BEING THERE, IT WAS ABOUT BEING THERE BUT IN A DIFFERENT WAY TO SUPPORT THEIR HEALTH AS WELL AS I SUPPORTED THE HEALTH OF THE COMMUNITY. SO THANK YOU AND GOD BLESS. >> THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE] AND I WOULD BE REMISS IF I DIDN'T SAY THANK YOU TO OUR NEWLY APPOINTED ADMINISTRATOR. SHE JUST CAME IN. BUT I APPRECIATE YOU IN THE TRANSITION. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR EVERYTHING. AND I WISH YOU THE BEST IN YOUR ENDEAVORS. I KNOW YOU'RE GOING TO DO MARVELOUS THINGS IN YOUR POSITION. >> THANK YOU. AND I THINK THEY GOT AN OFFICIAL RETIREMENT BALLOON. OKAY. [LAUGHTER] IT'S OFFICIAL. AND MR. BABIN, WOULD YOU OR THE GIRLS LIKE TO SAY ANYTHING? >> I WILL TRY TO BE BRIEF. I JUST WANT TO LET THE WORLD KNOW THAT A LONG TIME AGO, I SPOTTED HER AND WHO'S WHO AMONG AMERICAN HIGH SCHOOL KIDS. IT WAS A BOOK THAT WAS GENERATED THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY. AND WHEN WE MET, I KNEW SHE HAD A PASSION TO DO GREAT THINGS, BECAUSE SHE ALWAYS WAS PUSHING AND PUSHING AND PUSHING FORWARD. SHE INITIALLY WAS GOING TO GO TO MEDICAL SCHOOL, BUT THINGS SHIFTED THROUGHOUT HER LIFE. SHE ENDED UP ENVIRONMENTAL. AND TO SEE HER DEDICATED IN DEVOTION TO THE CITY OF HOUSTON AND HARRIS COUNTY, IT WAS JUST UNPARALLELED. BECAUSE SHE HAD THE HEART AND PASSION TO DO HER JOB AND DO HER JOB EFFECTIVELY. AND WOULDN'T TAKE A BACKSEAT TO ANYTHING. [00:15:01] SO SHE JUST KEPT DRIVING AND PUSHING AND PUSHING TO CREATE THE TYPE OF ATMOSPHERE THAT WE ALL CAN ENJOY WHEN YOU GO OUTSIDE AND TAKE A DEEP BREATH. AND I JUST WANT TO LET HER KNOW THAT WE ARE PROUD OF HER, AND WE SUPPORTED HER THROUGHOUT HER ENDEAVORS. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE] >> I JUST WANT TO SAY THAT I'M VERY GLAD THAT MY MOM WAS ABLE TO LEAD A COUNTY LEADERSHIP IN THE ROLE THAT SHE WAS IN. AND I'M VERY PROUD THAT YOU ARE ABLE TO DO THAT THROUGHOUT ALL THE CHALLENGES AND ALL THAT SHE FACED. YOU KNOW, BEING THE FIRST WOMAN TO LEAD THE DEPARTMENT, I'M JUST VERY GLAD THAT I WAS ABLE TO SEE THAT IN MY LIFETIME. I'M VERY PROUD OF YOU, MOM. >> THANK YOU, THANK YOU. >> I WOULD LIKE TO SAY I'M VERY PROUD OF MY MOM. SHE HAS ALWAYS BEEN A WOMAN I'VE BEEN ABLE TO LOOK UP TO. SHE IS VERY ORDAINED BY GOD, AND I APPRECIATE EVERYTHING SHE HAS DONE FOR OUR COMMUNITY AND FOR US. THANK YOU, MOM. [APPLAUSE] >> THANK YOU ALL. [APPLAUSE] >> CAN YOU PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD? >> WAS THAT -- THANK YOU. >> I AM MADISON. >> THANK YOU. DR. BABIN, WE ARE GOING TO FINISH THE RESOLUTIONS, AND IF YOU HAVE TIME, WE WILL TAKE PICTURES. I DON'T KNOW IF YOUR FLIGHT IS TAKING OFF FOR YOUR CRUISE, HOW QUICKLY. [LAUGHTER] ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU ALL. WE WILL GO BACK TO THE SPEAKERS ON OUR OTHER RESOLUTIONS NOW. I HOPE YOU CAN UNDERSTAND US. THROUGH ALL THOSE YEARS WORKING THROUGH THE COUNTY, WE WANT TO LET HER COME ON OUT. I SAW YOU EARLIER, YES, MA'AM. JUST SAY YOUR NAME. >> GOOD MORNING. MY NAME IS MARY, I'M THE CHIEF OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AT VERO AT THE HARRIS COUNTY OFFICE. I'M HERE FOR THE RESOLUTION ON THE TEEN DATING VIOLENCE AWARENESS MONTH. I WANT TO START BY JUST SAYING FIRST OF ALL, CONGRATULATIONS DR. BABIN FOR THAT'S FANTASTIC. SOMEONE WHO HAS SPENT THEIR ENTIRE CAREER HERE IN HARRIS COUNTY, IT'S FANTASTIC TO SEE THE ACHIEVEMENTS E OUTSIDE F MY DEPARTMENT. WE WANT TO THANK YOU FOR THE RESOLUTION FOR OUR TEEN DATING VIOLENCE AWARENESS MONTH. WHAT WE KNOW IT BRINGS TO THESE RESOLUTIONS IS AWARENESS AND RECOGNITION OF THE WORK THAT IS BEING DONE NOT ONLY BY OUR OFFICE BUT ALSO BY OUR PARTNERS WITHIN THE COMMUNITY. WE LOOK AT THE INDIVIDUAL MONTHS, AND WE LOOK AT DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AWARENESS MONTH IN OCTOBER, TEEN DATING MONTH, SEXUAL VIOLENCE MONTH. WHAT THAT TELLS US IS THAT EVERY MONTH IS IMPORTANT FOR THIS RESOLUTION HELPS US CONTINUE THE FIGHT AGAINST DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AT ALL LEVELS. THROUGH YOUR RESOLUTION, YOU ARE HELPING US ENSURE THE SAFETY AND THEIR FUTURE GROWTH OF ALL OF OUR JUNIORS AND ALL OF OUR YOUTHS WHO ARE GOING THROUGH VERY, VERY TRAGIC EVENT IN OUR LIVES. WE'RE JUST PROUD TO BE HERE AND PROUD TO BE PART OF WHAT HARRIS COUNTY IS GOING. >> WE ARE ALL APPRECIATIVE TO COMMISSIONER GARCIA FOR BRINGING THIS ITEM FORWARD. >> THANK YOU SO MUCH. >> NEXT SPEAKER. ♪ ♪ >> I WANTED TO SAY THAT I'M GLAD IT'S OVER, BECAUSE I DID A GOOD JOB. I'M PROUD OF MY SUCCESS. AND I HAVE FELT GOOD. I WAS LOOKING THROUGH, AND THE ONES THAT WE FOUGHT FOR IN THE CELEBRATIONS CONTINUE. AND THERE WAS ONE SCHOOL, COMMISSIONER RAMSEY'S DISTRICT IN SPRING, TEXAS. THEN THERE WAS ONE THAT COMMISSIONER BRIONES GOES TO. AND THEN THERE WAS A SCHOOL COMMISSIONER GARCIAS AREA CALLED ST. JOSEPH. >> THANK YOU, YOUR TIME IS NOT. >> DID YOU SAY YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD? >> JACOB. >> THANK YOU. WHEN MY NEW RESOLUTIONS COME OUT, I OWE YOU ONE. I WILL HAVE YOU IN MY OFFICE AND SHOW YOU HOW TO DANCE. WE WILL GET IT SOON. >> I'M SURE YOU CAN. >> YES, SIR. >> AND THE OTHER SPEAKERS? >> ITEM 51, SHELLY SPANGLE, ITEM 52, SARAH, ITEM 53. ITEM 53. AND BRITNEY, ITEM 53. [00:20:02] YOU EACH HAVE ONE MINUTE. >> HI, I WANT TO THANK COMMISSIONER RAMSEY FOR BRINGING UP THE RESOLUTION ABOUT THE RODEO. I THINK IT IS SOMETHING THAT WE SHOULD ALL BE SO PROUD OF IT. IT BRINGS IN MILLIONS OF DOLLARS AND HELPS COUNTLESS KIDS GO TO COLLEGE AND JUST THE COMMUNITY. IT IS SOMETHING THAT HOUSTON HAS ALWAYS BEEN PROUD OF THEM AND WE SHOULD BE PROUD OF IT. I'M VERY DISAPPOINTED IN THE STAINS THAT HAVE BEEN PLACED ON IT. BY THE ACTIONS OF OUR JUDGE HILDALGO AND BUY SOME OF THEM MEMBERS WHO WERE FIGHTING AND WHATNOT. THAT IS WHAT WE SHOULD BE KNOWN ABOUT, RECOGNIZED FOR, KNOWN FOR NATIONALLY. AND INTERNATIONALLY. BUT UNFORTUNATELY, THAT IS WHAT IS HITTING THE HEADLINES IN THE NEWS. I HOPE THAT THIS RESOLUTION HITS THE HEADLINES IN THE NEWS. I SEE THAT -- I HOPE SHE GETS IT OUT. IT GOES FROM THERE. PLEASE, PLEASE, DO SOMETHING TO HELP THE COMMUNITY. WHEN OUR JUDGES ACTING IN THE WAY SHE IS ACTING, DO SOMETHING, PLEASE. >> THANK YOU, YOUR TIME IS UP. >> THANK YOU. >> HELLO, I'M SHELLY SPANGLE. TO THE COMMISSIONERS AND JUDGE LOPEZ, I WOULD LIKE TO THANK YOU FOR THIS RESOLUTION TODAY. I ALSO WOULD LIKE TO THANK ALL THE DISTRICT JUDGES THAT I HAVE WORKED WITH CURRENTLY AND WORKED FOR IN THE PAST. TO MY COWORKERS PAST AND PRESENT IN THE DISTRICT COURT ADMINISTRATION, THANK YOU FOR MAKING MY JOB EASIER. IT HAS BEEN AN HONOR, AND I WILL CERTAINLY MISS YOU WELL. FINALLY, I WOULD LIKE TO RECOGNIZE MY MOTHER AND SISTER WHO ARE HERE TODAY AS THEY ALSO RETIRED FROM HARRIS COUNTY. IT HAS BEEN A PLEASURE TO SERVE YOU ALL. THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE] >> THANK YOU. >> COMMISSIONER ELLIS KOEPP COMMENTS ON VARIOUS RESOLUTIONS. SHOULD WE WAIT TILL AFTER ALL THE SPEAKERS? >> I THINK YOU COULD DO IT IF YOU LIKE. >> S SHELLY SPANGLE, THANK SO MUCH FOR YOUR EAR, YEARS OF SERVICE TO HARRIS COUNTY AND EVERYTHING YOU HAVE DONE. I KNOW YOU ARE BELOVED. YOUR COLLEAGUES DESCRIBE YOU AS MANY THINGS BUT WARM, UPBEAT AND VIVACIOUS AND THAT YOU SET THE STANDARD OF EXCELLENCE AND EMPATHY AND WHAT YOU DO EVERY DAY ALL DAY. THANK YOU FOR YOUR 34 YEARS THAT YOU HAVE DEVOTED TO HARRIS COUNTY MAKING HARRIS COUNTY A BETTER PLACE. WE RESPECT YOU, AND WE HOPE YOU HAVE AN AMAZING RETIREMENT AND ENJOY ALL THE TIME. AND TO YOUR FAMILY WHO ARE HERE, THANK YOU FOR SHARING HER WITH HARRIS COUNTY. WE KNOW IT IS A FAMILY AFFAIR. SO THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH. [APPLAUSE] >> COMMISSIONER RAMSEY, DID YOU WANT. >> WHERE IS THAT FROM A PREVIOUS ITEM? OKAY, NEXT SPEAKER. ANY OTHER SPEAKERS? OKAY, YES. >> GOOD MORNING, MY NAME IS SARAH, I'M THE MANAGER OF HOUSTON SHINE FC -- WHICH IS THE LARGEST FOOTBALL CLUB OF AFGHAN WOMEN REFUGEES SOCCER PLAYERS HERE IN AMERICA HERE IN HOUSTON. COMMISSIONER BRIONES, EVERY TEAM I SEE OUR TEAM LACE UP FOR PRACTICE, I THINK OF YOU AND WHAT YOU SAID FOR OUR VERY FIRST PRACTICE -- WHICH WAS HOW CAN I HELP. SO MANY PEOPLE IN HOUSTON HAVE FOLLOWED YOUR EXAMPLE TO HELP BRING THIS INCREDIBLE TEAM OF WOMEN TO LIFE AGAINST LONG ODDS. ON BEHALF OF MYSELF, OUR AMAZING COACH, OUR COACH WHO IS TEACHING THIS MORNING AND CAN BE HERE IN OUR ADVISORY COUNCIL, THANK YOU FOR RECOGNIZING THAT SHINE AS PART OF WOMEN'S HISTORY MONTH. LOOKING AHEAD TO THE WORLD CUP, THERE'S SO MUCH MORE WE CAN DO TO HELP IT WOMEN AND GIRLS INTO THE GAME ESPECIALLY WOMEN WHO DON'T SEE THEMSELVES AS PLAYERS, FANS, OFFICIALS, AND COACHES. WOMEN AND GIRLS SHOULD BE AN ESSENTIAL PART OF THE WORLD CUP LEGACY IN HOUSTON. SHINE ON. [APPLAUSE] >> I KNOW WE HAVE A COUPLE MORE SPEAKERS, BUT CAN YOU BRIEFLY FOR THE AUDIENCE SHARE A BIT OF HISTORY ABOUT THIS AMAZING TEAM? >> THE CAPTAIN THIS YEAR AND THE REST OF OUR TEAM HERE IN BLUE SHIRTS. THIS TEAM REALLY WAS FOUNDED BY A GROUP OF WOMEN WHO WERE TARGETED BY THE TALIBAN IN 2021. WOMEN WHO HAD THE BOLDNESS TO GO OUT FOR SOCCER IN AFGHANISTAN AND BECAME TARGETS AND WERE EVACUATED BY FIFA AND THE GLOBAL SOCCER COMMUNITY. AND THE LARGEST GROUP OF THEM RESETTLED IN THE UNITED STATES CAME HERE TO HOUSTON. WE HAVE A REALLY SPECIAL LEGACY HERE. >> SOME OF THEM SIGNED UP TO SPEAK? >> RIGHT HERE. >> WE HAVE THIS NEW FORMAT. SOME PEOPLE SIGN UP AT DIFFERENT TIMES. WE BRING UP SPEAKERS ON EACH ITEM AS IT COMES. >> HELLO, EVERYONE. [00:25:02] I HOPE EVERYBODY IS DOING WELL. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR HAVING US HERE. IT TOTALLY MEANS A LOT. ALTHOUGH I WASN'T ABLE TO ACHIEVE MY DREAM BACK IN AFGHANISTAN, I HAVE BEEN GIVEN A NEW OPPORTUNITY TO PURSUE IT AGAIN HERE. THROUGHOUT HOUSTON SHINE FC, I HAVE FOUND THE CHANCE TO PLAY SOCCER ONCE MORE AND CONNECT IT WITH MY PASSION. I WOULD LIKE TO THANK THE HOUSTON SHINE TEAM ALONG WITH OUR INCREDIBLE COACHING ADVISORS FOR THEIR OVERWHELMING SUPPORT PAIRED BECAUSE OF YOU, NOT ONLY EYES BUT ALL OF MY TEAMMATES HAE BEEN ABLE TO BELIEVE IN OUR DREAMS AGAIN. I REALLY, REALLY APPRECIATE IT. [APPLAUSE] >> THANK YOU. >> YOU MAY NOT KNOW THAT HOUSTON IS HOME TO ONE OF THE COUNTRY'S OLDEST AND LARGEST WOMEN'S ADULT RECREATION SOCCER LEAGUES READ MY NAME IS BRITNEY, AND I'M PROUD TO BE THE WOMAN'S COMMISSIONER FOR THE HOUSTON WOMEN'S SOCCER ASSOCIATION. THIS YEAR WE ARE CELEBRATING 50 YEARS OF INCLUSIVE AND ACCESSIBLE SOCCER. CREATING AN ENVIRONMENT WHERE THE SHINE CAN SHINE HAS BEEN A PROJECT OF OUR ENTIRE ORGANIZATION. PLAYERS FROM TEAMS ACROSS THE LEAGUE CAME TOGETHER AFTER HEARING ABOUT THIS STORY AND CONTRIBUTED TO HELP COVER REGISTRATION FEES, DONATED FOR UNIFORMS AND TRAINING GEAR AND HAVE BEEN GREAT OPPONENTS ON THE FIELD. WE INVITE ANY WOMAN WHO WANTS TO GET BACK INTO SOCCER OR WHO WANTS TO PLAY FOR THE FIRST TIME TO JOIN US AT ANY OF OUR OPEN PLAYS -- WHICH ARE COMPLETELY FREE TO THE COMMUNITY. FEEL FREE TO FOLLOW US ON INSTAGRAM. WE HOPE TO SEE YOU ON THE FIELD. THANK YOU AGAIN FOR YOUR RECOGNITION OF THE HOUSTON SHINE TODAY AND WOMEN'S SOCCER. >> THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE] >> WE ALSO BROUGHT SHIRTS FOR ALL OF YOU. WE PLAY ON THE FIELDS IN EACH OF YOUR DISTRICTS. AND SO WE JUST REALLY APPRECIATE THE WORK YOU DO TO MAINTAIN THOSE FIELDS AND HAVING QUALITY FIELDS IS A HUGE ISSUE FOR US. WE HOPE YOU WILL WEAR YOUR SHINE SHIRT WITH PRIDE AND JOY IN THE SHINE UNIVERSE. [APPLAUSE] >> IF YOU CAN PLEASE STAY HERE, AND GOOD ALL OF OUR TEAM MEMBERS PLEASE RISE SO THAT WE COULD HONOR YOU? THESE ARE WOMEN. [APPLAUSE] THESE ARE WOMEN WHO EMBODY RESILIENCE, PERSISTENCE. THESE WOMEN ARE SURVIVORS AND ARE HOUSTON SHINE TEAM TO ME REPRESENTS THE PROMISE AND THE Y STRIVES TO BE AND WHAT THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA STRIVES TO BE. AND I ENCOURAGE YOU ALL TO READ THE FULL HISTORY OF THIS TEAM. BUT THESE STRONG WOMEN HAD TO FLEE AFGHANISTAN SO THEY WOULD NOT BE KILLED FOR BEING GIRLS PLAYING SPORTS. AND THEY HAD YEARS OF CHALLENGES AND ADVERSITY. THEY HADN'T BEEN ABLE TO PLAY SOCCER SINCE THEY LEFT AFGHANISTAN. AND THEY WERE HERE IN OUR BACKYARD IN HARRIS COUNTY. AND THANKS TO THE VISION AND THE HEART AND THE TREMENDOUS SERVICE AND LEADERSHIP OF SARAH AND OTHERS, WE LEARNED OF THEIR STORY. AND WE LITERALLY WEAR, LIKE, HOW CAN WE HELP? I WAS THERE THE FIRST TIME THEY GOT TO PLAY SOCCER IN THE UNITED STATES AT THE COMMUNITY CENTER IN OUR PARK. MY TEAM AND I WERE HAPPY TO HELP WITH FOOTBALL GEAR, UNTIL HEALTH RESOURCES, EMPLOYMENT RESOURCES, LEGAL SUPPORT AND BEYOND. BUT TO ME, THIS IS MORE THAN THE GAME. THIS IS THE PROMISE WHEN ALL OF US AT SOME LEVEL OF GENERATION CAME TO THIS COUNTRY FOR THE SAFETY, SECURITY, AN OPPORTUNITY, THAT IS WHAT WE WERE HOPING. THIS IS WHAT HAPPENS HERE IN HARRIS COUNTY. I TO KNOW YOU. YOU INSPIRE ME CONTINUE SHOWING REALLY IS NO MODEL FOR WHAT I BELIEVE IS THE BEST OF HARRIS COUNTY. WITH THAT, WE HONOR YOU AS PART OF WOMEN'S HISTORY MONTH, BECAUSE YOU TRULY DO EMBODY THE POWER OF THE POSSIBLE AND THE POWER OF PERSISTENCE. YOUR LEADERSHIP ON THE FIELD AND BEYOND AND SARAH AND BRITNEY, I AM HONORED TO CALL YOU FRIENDS AND YOU KNOW YOU. WITH THAT TRULY, I LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUING TO SEE YOU SHINE ON SO MANY LEVELS AND AGAIN REPRESENT THE BEST OF THE COUNTY AND THIS COUNTRY. SO THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE] >> ANY OTHER SPEAKERS ON ITEM 53? WAS THAT IT FOR 53? >> THAT WAS ALL THE SPEAKERS. >> DO WE HAVE ANY OTHER SPEAKERS ON OTHER ITEMS OR RESOLUTIONS? >> NO, SIR. >> HERE'S WHAT I WOULD SUGGEST, THAT WE PASS ALL RESOLUTIONS OTHER THAN ITEM 51, AND DO THAT [00:30:03] LEND SEPARATELY. I MAKE A MOTION WE PASS ALL THE RESOLUTIONS OTHER THAN ITEM 51. THAT IS ITEM 46-55 WITH THE EXCEPTION OF 51. >> I WILL SECOND THAT, AND I WANTED TO FLAG. I KNOW THERE ARE OTHER SPEAKERS WHO MAYBE DIDN'T SIGN UP. I KNOW THIS IS A NEW PROCESS FOR THEIR TEEN DATING VIOLENCE AND SOCIAL WORK RESOLUTION. YES, I'M HAPPY. >> YOU WANT TO LET THEM SPEAK, WE WILL LET THEM SPEAK. ALTHOUGH THEY DIDN'T SIGN UP, WE CAN VOTE THEM AND LET THEM SPEAK. IT DOESN'T MATTER. OKAY. SO THERE IS A MOTION. >> SECOND. >> THEY DIDN'T SIGN UP THOUGH, RIGHT? IS THERE ANYONE ELSE WHO SIGNED UP? JUST TO BE SURE. DO YOU WANT TO SPEAK? JUST DON'T GIVE ME 20, PLEASE. IS THERE ANYONE ELSE? >> IF YOU HAVE CHANGED YOUR MIND, NO WORRIES. I KNOW THERE IS SOME FURTHER SOCIAL WORK AND TEEN DATING CREED WE CHANGED OUR PROCESS. I KNOW IT IS A LITTLE DIFFERENT. >> THIS IS QUICKER THAN THE WAY WE WERE DOING IT. COME ON UP NOW AND SAY YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD. >> GOOD MORNING, I'M CHIEF OF STAFF WITH THE HARRIS COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE. I WANT TO THANK COMMISSIONERS COURT FOR HAVING A RESOLUTION ON SOCIAL WORKER MONTH. AND WE HAVE SOCIAL WORKERS FROM OUR OFFICE HERE IF THEY WILL STAND. [APPLAUSE] WE HAVE SOCIAL WORKERS NOT ONLY IN OUR DOMESTIC VIOLENCE BUREAU BUT IN OUR SPECIAL VICTIMS BUREAU WORKING WITH SURVIVORS OF SEXUAL ASSAULT, CHILD ABUSE, HUMAN TRAFFICKING. THANKS TO THE SUPPORT OF COMMISSIONERS COURT ALSO HAVE A SOCIAL WORKER IN OUR MENTAL HEALTH BUREAU HELPING PEOPLE THAT ARE NAVIGATING THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM IN DEALING WITH MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES THAT CONTRIBUTE TO THAT. AND VICTIMS AND SURVIVORS OF ANY IMAGINABLE CRIME. THEY ARE EVERY SINGLE DAY MEETING SURVIVORS, MEETING FAMILIES, MEETING VICTIMS WHERE THEY ARE AT AND HELPING THEM NAVIGATE A SYSTEM THAT THEY NEVER ANTICIPATED THAT THEY WOULD BE PART OF. AND HELPING THEM GET TO THE NEXT CHAPTER. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR HARD WORK AND DEDICATION THAT YOU DISPLAY EVERY DAY WITH PROFESSIONALISM AND PASSION. [APPLAUSE] >> THANK YOU. ANY OTHERS? YES, SIR. AND JUST SAY YOUR NAME. >> HOW ARE YOU GUYS DOING? I AM HERE TO SPEAK ON THE ITEM AND SEND AGENDA NUMBER 20 ABOUT THE AUDITORY. I JUST WANTED TO OPEN A DISCUSSION IN TERMS OF TRANSPARENCY AND DATA. COMMISSIONER, I APPRECIATE ALL YOUR HELP WHEN YOU FIRST CAME INTO OFFICE. THIS INCIDENT HAPPENED BEFORE YOU CAME IN. I'M REQUESTING DATA AND INFORMATION FROM 2019-2022 IN TERMS OF JP'S 51 AND 51 AND 52. BECAUSE, IT WAS A LOT OF PAPERWORK THAT WAS PUT INTO THOSE SYSTEMS THAT EVICTED PEOPLE AND PEOPLE ENDED UP HOMELESS AND BECAUSE OF OVERCROWDING. I FEEL LIKE THIS IS THE PURPOSE TIME TO RECTIFY THE SITUATION AFTER THE BUDGET HEARING TO FIND MORE TRANSPARENCY AND BETTER RELATIONSHIP WITH THE APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAMS AND DIVERSION PROGRAMS SO THAT WE CAN GIVE BACK TO THE COMMUNITY. AND PUT IN SOME MORE SAFEGUARDS FOR THE FUTURE OF OUR HARRIS COUNTY RESIDENTS. I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO WORK WITH YOU. >> THANK YOU, YOUR TIME IS UP. >> THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU, NO MORE SPEAKERS. NOW THE MOTION ON THE TABLE IS FOR RESOLUTIONS WITH THE EXCEPTION OF 51. >> I WILL -- 51. >> MOTIONS ON THE TABLE, AND FAVOR AYES. >> WHO MADE THE MOTION AND WHO SECONDED IT? >> I MADE IT AND COMMISSIONER BRIONES SECONDED IT. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF VOTE AYE. ITEM PASSES. NOW COMMISSIONER RAMSEY ON ITEM 51. >> I DON'T KNOW IF WE GOT ANY PEOPLE FROM THE BARBECUE, THE HOUSTON BARBECUE. IF YOU ARE HERE, RAISE YOUR HAND. STAND UP, PLEASE. JUST SO YOU WILL KNOW, THERE IS A CELEBRATION OF BARBECUE. I CAN'T THINK OF ANYTHING BETTER TO CELEBRATE THAN BARBECUE. THAT WILL BE AT THE CIVIC CENTER. I'VE GOT A RESOLUTION HERE. I WILL NOT READ IT. THAT IS ON APRIL THE 12TH, 2026. 30 RESTAURANTS ARE GOING TO BE SERVING ALL MANNER OF BARBECUE THERE AT THE CIVIC CENTER. THANK YOU FOR COMING AND THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU DO. >> THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE] NOW THE OTHER THING THAT IS JUST INCREDIBLE ABOUT HARRIS COUNTY IN HOUSTON IS THE RODEO. THEY HAVE JUST COMPLETED THE MOST INCREDIBLE RODEO ON THE [00:35:02] PLANET. IT IS MORE THAN A RODEO ACTUALLY. IT IS KIND OF LIKE THE STATE FAIR ONLY BETTER. THAT IS MEANT FOR DALLAS. IT IS KIND OF LIKE FOUR OR FIVE SUPER BOWLS IN THE MATTER OF A COUPLE OF WEEKS. BUT JUST THE EFFORT THAT WENT INTO THIS YEAR'S RODEO, THE 1.8 MILLION PLUS ATTENDEES, THE VISITORS FROM 93 COUNTRIES, THE STUDENTS, THE MONEY THAT WAS RAISED, $326 MILLION IMPACT IN TERMS OF THE COMMUNITY. SUPPORTED 5694 JOBS IN THE AREA. THE NUMBER OF VOLUNTEERS THAT ARE OUT THERE, THEY ARE JUST INCREDIBLE. YOU MAY GO OUT TO THE RODEO. THERE WILL BE SOME SPECIAL NEEDS KIDS THERE. AND YOU WILL FIND A CEO OF A MAJOR CORPORATION DRIVING THE BUS FOR THE KIDS SO THAT THEY CAN HAVE RODEO. THE PARTICIPATION FROM THE COMMUNITY IS JUST INCREDIBLE. I HAVE NOT SEEN ANYTHING LIKE THIS ANYWHERE ELSE IN THE WORLD. I THINK WHEN WE CELEBRATE THE RODEO, WE ARE REALLY CELEBRATING DIVERSITY. WE ARE CELEBRATING JUST EVERYTHING GOOD ABOUT HARRIS COUNTY. EVERYTHING GOOD ABOUT THE HOUSTON AREA. IT'S A TIME THAT THERE IS NO PARTISAN POLITICS IN THE RODEO. IT IS JUST GOOD FOLKS GATHERING FOR A GOOD TIME ANNUALLY. THAT IS WHY I THINK WE SHOULD CELEBRATE. I'M ALSO GOING TO CALL ATTENTION TO SOME UNFORTUNATE REMARKS MADE BY THE COUNTY JUDGE. I THINK THEY ARE UNFOUNDED ACCUSATIONS. AND WHEN YOU MAKE UNFOUNDED ACCUSATIONS ABOUT SUCH AN HISTORIC ORGANIZATION, THERE SHOULD BE SOMETHING SAID. YOU SHOULDN'T IGNORE IT AND SAY, WELL, IT DIDN'T HAPPEN. SURELY, IT WASN'T AS PRESENTED. NO, IT WAS AS PRESENTED. UNPRECEDENTED REMOVAL OF JUDGE HILDALGO'S CREDENTIALS FROM ATTENDING THE RODEO, THAT HAS NEVER HAPPENED. THESE ARE HUNDREDS AND THOUSANDS OF VOLUNTEERS. THESE ARE PEOPLE THAT ARE OUT THERE TRYING TO MAKE THIS AREA BETTER FOR EVERYONE. AND SO THE SENSE OF ENTITLEMENT FROM THE JUDGE'S CHAIR IN THAT EPISODE OUT THERE IS JUST INCREDIBLE. AND AT A TIME IN THE MIDDLE OF THE RODEO, WHEN EVERYBODY IS BUSY AT THE RODEO DEALING WITH IMPORTANT THINGS IN THE RODEO, THE ENTIRE BOARD OF DIRECTORS HAD TO TAKE TIME OUT TO WRITE A LETTER, EXPRESSING, EXPLAINING, DESCRIBING WHAT HAPPENED. AND OF COURSE, NOTHING HAPPENED. AND THE RODEO WANTED TO MAKE THAT CLEAR. SO THIS IS AS MUCH ABOUT A RESOLUTION CELEBRATING THEM. AND I'M GOING TO READ THIS RESOLUTION. I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO UNDERSTAND SOME OF THE NUMBERS. THE HOUSTON LIVESTOCK SHOW AND RODEO'S BELOVED TEXAS TRADITION ENJOYED BY MILLIONS OF ATTENDEES ANNUALLY SINCE 1932. AS ONE OF THE LARGEST SCHOLARSHIP PROVIDERS IN THE U.S. HAS RAISED OVER $660 MILLION TO SUPPORT LOCAL STUDENTS WHEREAS THE WORLD-RENOWNED EVENT NOT ONLY PROVIDES A FUND AND EDUCATIONAL FAMILY-FRIENDLY ATMOSPHERE FOR ALL AGES. BUT ALSO SERVES AS A REGIONAL ECONOMIC DRIVER IMPACTING THE FIELDS OF HOSPITALITY, RETAIL, AGRICULTURAL AND EDUCATION. WHERE IS THE RODEO CELEBRATES THE CULTURE AND HERITAGE OF WESTERN AND AGRICULTURAL LIFESTYLE, WHERE BOTH MEN AND WOMEN ARE ALIKE AND EQUALLY REWARDED BY THE HARD WORK AND ARE NOT ENTITLED TO WHAT THEY HAVE AN ERRAND. WHERE IS THE STEADFAST PROFESSIONALISM OF NOT ONLY THE STUFF AND THOUSANDS OF FAITHFUL VOLUNTEERS BUT HUNDREDS OF MEN AND WOMEN IN UNIFORM WHO PROTECT VISITORS FROM AROUND THE WORLD WHO SO GENEROUSLY CONTRIBUTE TO THE BENEFITS OF THE YOUTH OF HARRIS COUNTY THAT WE OFTEN ADVOCATE HERE AT COURT. FINALLY WHEREAS JUDGE HILDALGO'S ENTITLED BEHAVIOR AND MISUSE OF HER OFFICIAL POSITION HAS EMBARRASSED OF THIS COMMISSIONERS COURT AND THE PEOPLE OF HARRIS COUNTY TIME AND TIME AGAIN. AND NOW HER UNFOUNDED COMMENTS ABOUT THOSE WHO DEVOTE THEIR LIVES TO MAKING THE WORLD'S LARGEST RODEO AND ANNUAL SUCCESS SHOULD BE GROUNDS FOR RESIGNATION. AND I BIPARTISAN CALL FOR AN APOLOGY. AND WHERE IS THAT BE RESOLVED, THE SPEECH WHEN HE COMMISSIONERS COURT RECOGNIZES THE HOUSTON LIVESTOCK SHOW AND RODEO. [00:40:03] AND THAT IS THE RESOLUTION I WOULD PUT UP FOR A VOTE. >> COMMISSIONER BRIONES. >> THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER RAMSEY FOR BRINGING THIS RESOLUTION AND ALWAYS SHEDDING LIGHT ON A VARIETY OF ISSUES, AND I REALLY RESPECT THAT VERY MUCH. AND I LOVE THE RODEO. SOME OF MY FAVORITE MEMORIES LIVING IN HOUSTON AND HARRIS COUNTY AT THE RODEO WITH MY CHILDREN AT THE RODEO AS A TEACHER IN OVER 60 -- SCHOLARSHIPS THEY HAVE GIVEN IT IS AMAZING. THERE WAS 800 SCHOLARSHIPS ON LOAN IN 2026. AND IT IS REALLY AMAZING. I WAS ABLE TO DO THE DAY, THE GRAND ENTRY AND PROUD NATIVE TEXAN AND THEN THERE IS A LATINO, THAT PARTICULAR IMPORTANCE IN THE COMPETITION. IT WAS JUST INCREDIBLY MEANINGFUL AND POWERFUL. AND I LOOK FORWARD TO MANY MORE YEARS. I'M PROUD THAT WE ARE OF THE WORLD'S LARGEST RODEO, AND IT IS JUST HUGE FROM A CULTURAL, FROM A UNITY, FROM AN ECONOMIC PERSPECTIVE AND CULTURAL HERITAGE. I LOVE THE RODEO AND VERY THANKFUL FOR HIS LEADERSHIP IN THE CHAIR AND THE ENTIRE BOARD. I AM VERY SUPPORTIVE OF MOST OF IT. AND I SHARE YOUR SENTIMENT ON SO MANY LEVELS. NO WAY I WAS RAISED, RESPECT IS NONNEGOTIABLE. MANNERS MATTER. THAT WAY I EXPECT MYSELF AND MY CHILDREN TO BEHAVE, EVERYONE SHOULD BEHAVE THEM ESPECIALLY ELECTED OFFICIALS. AND THE PART ABOUT THE RESIGNATION HOWEVER, THIS IS MAYBE THE LAWYER AND JUDGE IN ME COMING OUT. BUT THE PEOPLE HAVE ELECTED HER TO SERVE. AND THE PEOPLE NEED TO TAKE ACTION ON THAT PART. SO I SUPPORT THE VAST MAJORITY IF WE ARE WILLING TO PASS TWO VERSIONS, I AM ALL IN ON SUPPORTING THE RODEO. I LOVE THE RODEO. AND I REFER THOROUGH FOLKS TO THE TEXAS LOCAL GOVERNMENT CODE CHAPTER 87, BECAUSE THERE IS A VERY SET OUT PROCESS IN TERMS OF WHITE CRITERIA. THAT IS NOT IN THE PURVIEW OF COMMISSIONERS COURT. FOR THAT REASON, I ALSO HAD MY HAND RAISED. THERE WAS TWO OTHER RESOLUTIONS BEFORE WE VOTE AND I WANT TO SAY A FEW WORDS BECAUSE FOLKS HAVE TO LEAVE. COMMISSIONER GARCIA'S RESOLUTION WAS THE TEEN DATING ONE. HE ASKED ME IF I WOULD COVER IT BUT I DIDN'T WANT YOU ALL TO LEAVE WITHOUT DOING WHAT I PROMISED HIM I WOULD. THIS IS ALSO SUPER IMPORTANT FOR SO MANY REASONS, BUT IT IS SHOCKING TO HEAR THAT ONE IN THREE TEENS ARE THE VICTIM OF TEEN DATING VIOLENCE IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. 1 OF 3. THIS YEAR ALONE, 1.5 MILLION U.S. HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS WILL BE PHYSICALLY ABUSED BY A PARTNER. 1.5 MILLION. AS A FORMER HIGH SCHOOL TEACHER AND A MOM OF THREE LITTLE GIRLS INCLUDING ONE TEENAGER, THESE ARE STAGGERING AND SOBER STATISTICS. I'M SO THANKFUL TO THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE AND SO MANY OF OUR COMMUNITY PARTNERS IN A NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION IN PLACES OF WORSHIP, OUR HARRIS COUNTY DOMESTIC VIOLENCE COURT AND THAT IN COUNCIL, THE ADVOCACY. THE MORE WE CAN UNIFY TO GET THIS MESSAGE OF WHAT RESPECT IS AND IS NOT AND WHAT LOVE IS AND IS NOT, THE INTIMIDATION AND THE VIOLENCE, THERE IS NO PLACE FOR IT PERIOD. ANY TEENS WHO MIGHT BE EXPERIENCING THAT ANY OF YOU MAY KNOW OR ANYONE LISTENING CAN WE HAVE BAYLOR COLLEGE OF MEDICINE OFFERING FREE MENTAL HEALTH COUNSELING AT THE COMMAND OF THE CENTER. WE WELCOME TEENS. THAT WAS COMMISSIONER GARCIA AND HIS TEAM. I DON'T WANT YOU TO LEAVE WITHOUT THEM AND PRINT VERY BRIEFLY ON THE SOCIAL WORK VERY RELATEDLY, THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU DO. TO ME, I AM SPEAKING PERSONALLY. TO ME, ESPECIALLY, AND HOLY WEEK, YOU DO THE LORD'S WORK EVERY SINGLE DAY. IT'S OVER 810,000 SOCIAL WORKERS IN THE UNITED STATES. THERE'S OVER 11,000 IN TEXAS. WE ARE SO THANKFUL TO PARTNER WITH SO MANY OF YOU. WE ARE THANKFUL TO THE UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON SCHOOL OF SOCIAL WORK. WE HAVE A PARTNERSHIP AND SOCIAL WORKERS IN OUR PRECINCT FOR COMMUNITY CENTERS. WE WANT TO EXPAND THAT. WE KNOW THAT YOU HELP FAMILIES SURVIVORS, VICTIMS. WE KNOW THAT THERE ARE SO MANY WHO ARE ELIGIBLE FOR BENEFITS. THEY CAN UNLOCK THE BENEFITS. THEY CAN'T ENROLL. THANK YOU FOR LITERALLY FEEDING PEOPLE, KEEPING FOLKS SAFE, GETTING THEM HOUSED. BUT YOU DO TO ME IS THE HIGHEST CALLING. YOU DESERVE TO BE RECOGNIZED NOT ONLY TODAY AND NOT ONLY THIS MONTH BUT EVERY SINGLE DAY. SO DO. I DIDN'T WANT THAT TO GO WITHOUT SAYING. >> WE ARE GETTING USED TO THIS NEW FORMAT. IT'S KIND OF CLUNKY TODAY. >> WE WILL WORK IT OUT. I THINK THIS IS A BETTER FORMAT. AFTER WE FINISH A LONG REGULAR COMMISSION DAY, IT'S KIND OF DIFFICULT TO DO THE RESOLUTIONS AS WELL. I KNOW THEY ARE IMPORTANT TO SO MANY IN OUR COMMUNITY, PARTICULARLY THE PEOPLE THAT ARE ON IT. I WILL JUST MAKE A FEW COMMENTS. BASED ON THE LIMITED EXPERIENCE OF BEING IN GOVERNMENT. WHEN A FEW PEOPLE THAT I'VE BEEN [00:45:06] ABLE TO INFLUENCE THROUGHOUT MY CAREER HAVE THOUGHT ABOUT STEPPING DOWN FROM THEIR POSITION, OR IF I THOUGHT THAT MAYBE THEY SHOULD THINK ABOUT IT. I HAVE ALWAYS FOUND IT BETTER, IF I REALLY WANTED THAT TO HAPPEN TO CALL A SAY IT. MAYBE A TIME OR TWO WHEN I DIDN'T AND I WAS PROBABLY BEING POLITICAL. BUT IN THOSE INSTANCES WHERE I REALLY WANTED SOMEBODY TO DO IT, I DO IT PRIVATELY AS OPPOSED TO PUBLICLY. JUST BASED ON MY EXPERIENCE. AS IT RELATES TO THIS ONE, THE RODEO IS IN MY PRECINCT. AND I'M VERY PROUD OF WHAT THEY DO. WE ALL ARE, BECAUSE THEY ARE ALL IN OUR COUNTY, IN OUR STATE, EVEN IF YOU'RE NOT FROM HARRIS COUNTY. I DO WANT THEM TO BE HONORED. MY FIRST THOUGHT WAS, COMMISSIONER RAMSEY, I'VE GOT SO MUCH RESPECT FOR YOU. I THOUGHT ABOUT ADDING THIS WHEREAS TO IT IF I WAS GOING TO PUT PEOPLE BEHIND THE EIGHT BALL, I WOULD SAY WHEREAS PRESIDENT TRUMP'S WELL-DOCUMENTED PATTERN OF CONDUCT INCLUDING RACIST CONTENT DEPICTING FORMER PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA AND FIRST LADY MICHELLE OBAMA AS "APES." CALLING MEXICAN IMMIGRANTS "DRUG DEALERS AND" ENACTING A MUSLIM MAN IN REFERRING TO SOMALI AMERICANS AS "GARBAGE." POSTING ON TAPE ABOUT GRABBING WOMEN WITHOUT THEIR CONSENT. BEING FOUND LIABLE BY A FEDERAL GRAND JURY, FEDERAL JURY FOR SEXUAL ABUSE FAR EXCEEDS ANY THRESHOLD OF THIS RESOLUTION CONTEMPLATES. NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT THIS COURT IN THE INTEREST OF CONSISTENCY EXTENDS ITS CALL FOR RESIGNATION AND APOLOGY TO THE WHITE HOUSE AS WELL. BUT INSTEAD OF DOING THAT, WHAT I WANT TO DO IS MAKE A MOTION THAT WE PASS THE FIRST FOUR WHEREASS OF YOUR RESOLUTION AND LEAVE OUT THE FIFTH ONE. AND I WOULD MAKE THAT MOTION AT THIS TIME SO WE DO GET TO HONOR THE RODEO. >> YOU DON'T WANT TO CALL FOR AT LEAST AN APOLOGY? >> IF I DID, I WOULD ADD SOME LANGUAGE HERE WHERE I WOULD FEEL VERY STRONGLY. I THOUGHT ABOUT IT WHEN IT CAME UP LEAVING THIS ASIDE, PARTICULARLY THE REFERENCE TO PRESIDENT OBAMA AND FIRST LADY MICHELLE OBAMA. BUT I DIDN'T PUT IT ON THE AGENDA. SO I WOULD PREFER WE LEAVE IT. >> RESPECTFULLY, I THINK THAT TENS OF THOUSANDS OF VOLUNTEER AT THE RODEO WOULD DISAGREE WITH THIS APPROACH. THEY THINK TO NOT ACKNOWLEDGE, NOT TO DEAL WITH A VERY CLEAR PROBLEM THAT FRANKLY, WE HAVE EXPERIENCED IN THIS COMMISSIONERS COURT. AND WE KNOW THAT WHEN THINGS ARE SAID, YOU CAN'T TAKE THEM BACK. WHEN THEY ARE OUT THERE, AND THEY DISPARAGE THE RODEO, YOU CAN BRING UP OTHER POLITICIANS AND OTHER THINGS. THAT IS A NICE METHOD, I GUESS. BUT REALLY, THE ISSUE IS THE RODEO. AND THE RODEO WAS INSULTED. THE RODEO WAS DISPARAGED. AND FOR US NOT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THE RODEO WAS DISPARAGED, AND THAT WE NEED TO SET THE RECORD STRAIGHT, I DON'T AGREE WITH WHAT SHE SAID. I DON'T AGREE WITH WHAT JUDGE HILDALGO SAID. CAN WE AT LEAST SAY, WE DON'T AGREE WITH WHAT SHE SAID ABOUT THE RODEO? >> SO NOT TO BELABOR THE POINT, I WILL WITHDRAW MY MOTION AS THERE IS NO SECOND. IS THERE A SECOND ON THIS MOTION? YOU WILL SECOND? COMMISSIONER RAMSEY, JUST BECAUSE THERE ARE PEOPLE HERE THAT WE ALL KNOW WHO CAME IN TO BE HONORED, I WOULD SAY OVER HALF OF THE AMERICAN PEOPLE WERE OFFENDED BY AT LEAST ONE OF THESE COMMENTS I MADE REFERENCE TO. BUT I DON'T WANT TO TAKE US THROUGH THAT. >> YEAH, I'M TALKING ABOUT THE RODEO. >> I'M TALKING ABOUT THE WHITE HOUSE. >> I'M TALKING ABOUT THE RODEO. >> IF I COULD JUST JUMP IN. I SECOND THE FIRST FOUR PARAGRAPHS. I ABSOLUTELY LOVE THE RODEO. AND TO BOTH COMMISSIONER RAMSEY'S POINTS, MANY OF THEM, I AGREE WITH. AND TO COMMISSIONER ELLIS, MANY I AGREE WITH. TO ME, THIS IS VERY REAL. ELECTIONS HAVE CONSEQUENCES. SO WHETHER IT IS A MEMBER OF THIS BODY, OUR GOVERNOR, OUR PRESIDENT, SENATOR, REPRESENTATIVE, ELECTIONS HAVE CONSEQUENCES. BUT IT IS UP TO THE PEOPLE TO VOTE PEOPLE IN OR GO THROUGH A PROCESS TO TAKE THEM OUT. THAT IS AGAIN, THERE IS VARIOUS LOCAL GOVERNMENT CODES THAT APPLY TO THE DIFFERENT LEVELS OF OFFICES AND DIFFERENT PROCESSES. PROCESSES. PREDILECTIONS MATTER. TO ME, GOING BACK TO ALL THE POINTS ON EDUCATION, IT IS HOW WE ARE RAISING OUR OWN FAMILIES AND HOW WE MAKE CHOICES [00:50:04] OURSELVES EVERY SINGLE DAY. I DEFINITELY BELIEVE THAT RESPECT SHOULD BE NONNEGOTIABLE, PERIOD AT ALL LEVELS OF GOVERNMENT AND IN EVERY INTERACTION. WITH THAT, I WILL SECOND COMMISSIONER ELLIS SPIRIT. >> A MOTION HAS BEEN MADE AND SECONDED FOR THE FIRST SPACE UR THEIR GREAT RESOLUTION FOR AN ALL FAVOR SAY AYE. ALL OPPOSED, NO. TWO AYES AND ONE KNOW. WE WILL TAKE PICTURES. RIGHT NOW, NO OTHER BUSINESS. IT IS NOW 9:57. I DON'T NEED A MOTION. THIS MEETING IS ADJOURNED. WE ARE GOING * This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.