* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.
          [00:00:08]
          . >>>  ALL RIGHT WE'LL JUST GET STARTED. GOOD MORNING IT IS 9:06 A.M. 
          AND I WOULD LIKE TO CALL THIS MAY 13 2026 MEETING OF THE 
          [Pastor James Clark of First Baptist Church Tomball introduced by the Commissioner of Precinct 3.]
HOUSE COUNTY COMMISSIONER'S COURT TO ORDER. 
          LET'S START WITH A PRAYER. >> NOW WE ARE FORTUNATE TO HAVE PASTOR JAMES CLARK FIRST BAPTIST TOMBALL. 
          I'VE KNOWN PASTOR CLARK FOR LONGER THAN HE AND I WANT TO ADMIT. PRETTY HISTORIC. 
          HE'S IN TOMBALL NOW JUST MOVED TO A NEW LOCATION. 
          SO REALLY A GREAT LEADER IN THE COMMUNITY MAKING A DIFFERENCE ALMOST ON A DAILY BASIS. KNOW HIS FAMILY, KNOW HIM. 
          ENJOYED WORKING WITH HIM ON WHAT IDENTICAL HIGHER CALLING ACTIVITIES. SO PASTOR GET US STARTED RIGHT. 
          >> ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU COMMISSIONER RAMSEY FOR THE INVITATION. JUDGE THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME TO BE HERE. ALREADY SAID HI TO COMMISSIONER ELLIS THIS MORNING AND COMMISSIONER GARCIA. 
          THANK YOU AND OF COURSE WE % SHARE TOMBALL BETWEEN COMMISSIONERS RAMSEY AND BRIONES SO THANK YOU FOR THE PRIVILEGE TO BE HERE. LET'S PAUSE FOR A MOMENT TOGETHER AND PRAY. FATHER TEACH US THAT EACH DAY IS A UNIQUE AND SPECIAL GIFT FROM YOU. 
          THERE ARE A LOT OF THINGS WE'RE THANKFUL FOR. 
          THAT WE'RE ALL HERE SAFELY ARRIVING IT THIS MORNING. 
          GRATEFUL TO BE SERVING YOU ULTIMATELY. 
          BUT ALSO TO BE SERVING OUR COMMUNITY AND THE CONSTITUENTS OF OUR COMMUNITY AND THE PEOPLE THAT WE LOVE AND WE CARE FOR. 
          WHO ARE TODAY DOING ALL OF THEIR ACTIVITIES. 
          GOING TO WORK. GOING TO SCHOOL. 
          STAYING AT HOME. DEALING WITH DOCTOR'S APPOINTMENTS AND EVERYTHING THAT'S A PART OF EVERYDAY LIFE IN HARRIS COUNTY. AND THEY ARE ENJOYING THAT AND THEY ARE ENJOYING THE AMENITIES AND THE LEADERSHIP OF THIS GOVERNMENT. AND SO WE ARE GRATEFUL FOR THESE LEADERS. WE ARE GRATEFUL FOR THE OPPORTUNITY IN A FREE LAND TO HAVE ELECTED THEM AND VOTEDED FOR THEM. AND TO BE ABLE TO BE A PART OF THAT PRACTICE. WE ARE GRATEFUL THERE'S A SENSE OF SOVEREIGNTY AND PROVIDENCE IN YOU BRINGING THEM IN A VERY REAL SENSE, CALLING THEM TO THIS POSITION. 
          SO TODAY AS THEY LEAVE US AND MAKE IMPORTANT DECISIONS WE WOULD ASK FOR YOUR WISDOM AND YOUR PRESENCE AND HAVE A LOOK AT TODAY'S AGENDA AND AN ELEMENT OF YOUR ENDURANCE AND YOUR ABILITY TO BE WITH US AND TO GIVE US STRENGTH ALONG WITH THE WISDOM TO MAKE PROPER AND APPROPRIATE DECISIONS. 
          BUT MORE THAN ANYTHING ELSE WHEN THIS DAY COMES TO A CONCLUSION AND WE GET THE OPPORTUNITY TO REST AGAIN, WE ARE JUST THANKFUL THAT YOU ARE A PART OF OUR LIVES. 
          THAT YOUR LOVE CONSTANTLY ENVELOPS US AND HELPS US AND IS WITH US. IN JESUS' NAME, AMEN. 
          >> THANKS PASTOR. >> THANK YOU PASTOR. 
          >> THANK YOU SO MUCH PASTOR AND WELCOME. 
          ALL RIGHT LET'S RECITE THE PLEDGE. 
          >> ALL:  I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. AND THE REPUBLIC OF ONE NATION UNDER GOD INDIVISIBLE WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL. 
          HONOR THE TEXAS FLAG, I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THEE TEXAS ONE STATE UNDER GOD ONE AND INDIVISIBLE. 
          [Appearances before court]
GOOD MORNING EVERYONE. WE WILL START AS USUAL WITH THE SPEAKERS. AND I WANT TO TAKE I BELIEVE THERE ARE SOME ELECTED OFFICIALS HERE THIS MORNING. 
          SO LET'S START WITH THEM. >> YES, MAYOR JOHNSON. 
          COME ON DOWN. GLAD YOU COULD SNEAK IN. 
          NO, BIG-TIME IS IN THE HOUSE. GOOD TO SEE YOU. 
          >> GOOD MORNING. HOW ARE YOU THIS MORNING? 
          >> SO NICE TO HAVE YOU MAYOR, WELCOME. 
          >> SO HOW IS EVERYONE FEELIN' THIS MORNING? 
          >> ALL RIGHT. >> COME ON, IT'S A WONDERFUL 
          DAY OUTSIDE. >> WELL WE'RE INSIDE. 
          NO, IT IS. A WONDERFUL DAY. 
          NO IT IS A WONDERFUL DAY. IT'S NICE TO HAVE YOU. 
          >> IT'S GOOD TO BE HERE. I JUST WANTED TO STOP IN TODAY AND SAY THANK YOU FOR THE FUNDING FOR THE STREETS FOR ONE OF OUR SUBDIVISIONS IN BAYTOWN. IT'S SOMETHING THAT I'VE WORKED ON SINCE I WAS A CITY COUNCILMAN AND NOW THAT I'M MAYOR TO SEE IT COME INTO FRUITION BECAUSE OF THE PARTNERSHIP WITH PRECINCT TWO. AND ADRIAN GARCIA AND ALL OF YOU ALL, TOM RAMSEY, YOU DO SOME WONDERFUL THINGS IN BAYTOWN ALSO. I JUST WANTED TO STOP IN AND SAY THANK YOU. OUR RESIDENTS ARE VERY 
          [00:05:01]
APPRECIATIVE OF THE THINGS THAT WE ARE DOING TOGETHER. 
          AND SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF LENNEN PARK, THANK YOU. 
          MR. GARCIA. NEXT TIME YOU COME TO TOWN WE'RE GIVING YOU A PARADE. THE PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN BAYTOWN AND HARRIS COUNTY IS SOMETHING THAT I VALUE AND OUR CITIZENS VALUE. AND WE HOPE TO KEEP THE PARTNERSHIP STRONG IN THE FUTURE. 
          SO I JUST WANTED TO STOP IN TODAY AND SAY THANK YOU. 
          >> WONDERFUL. >> COMMISSIONER GARCIA AND THEN 
          COMMISSIONER RAMSEY. >> MAYOR, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR MAKING THE HIKE DOWN HERE AND REALLY APPRECIATE YOU TAKING TIME. IT'S ALWAYS GOOD TO HEAR FROM OUR MAYORS. REGARDLESS OF WHAT PART OF HARRIS COUNTY YOU MAY BE REPRESENTING. 
          BUT THANK YOU. THANK YOU BECAUSE THE PARTNERSHIP WITH BAYTOWN HAS BEEN ABSOLUTELY PHENOMENAL. 
          THANK YOU TO YOUR LEADERSHIP. YOU KNOW, YOU BRING A-- A HISTORICAL-- FROM YOU KNOW-- FROM A KID GROWING UP AND THE MCNAIR AREA FROM NOW BEING THE MAYOR OF BAYTOWN. 
          YOU BRING A REALLY PHENOMENAL PERSPECTIVE. 
          AND IT'S NEEDED SO WE CAN MAKE SURE TO GET THINGS RIGHT. 
          SO THIS PARTNERSHIP'S NOT JUST ABOUT GETTING PROJECTS DONE. 
          IT'S ABOUT MAKING SURE THAT WE DO THE THINGS THAT YOU SAW GROWING UP THAT NEEDED TO BE DONE THAT DIDN'T GET DONE. 
          AND NOW WE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO WORK TOGETHER ON IT. 
          SO THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH. AND ALL THE BLESSINGS TO YOUR FAMILY. WE ARE GOING TO MISS THE FIRST LADY SATURDAY NIGHT, BUT I KNOW HER AND HER MOM ARE GOING TO BE HAVING A GREAT TIME. SO PLEASE GIVE HER OUR REGARDS. 
          >> YES, SIR. WILL DO. 
          THANK YOU. >> COMMISSIONER RAMSEY THEN 
          COMMISSIONER ELLIS. >> THANKS FOR COMING DOWN. 
          ALWAYS GOOD TO SEE YOU. APPRECIATE THE LONG PARTNERSHIP WE'VE HAD. THE THINGS THAT ARE GOING ON IN BAYTOWN. IT IS A GREAT EXAMPLE OF GOVERNANCE. WE DON'T TALK ENOUGH ABOUT IN HARRIS COUNTY. YA'LL JUST QUIETLY DO THE THINGS RIGHT WHETHER IT'S INFRASTRUCTURE, WHETHER IT'S PUBLIC SAFETY. WHETHER IT'S DEALING WITH SPECIFIC NEEDS. I KNOW WE JUST CELEBRATED ANNOUNCEMENT LAST WEEK OF THE EPA. 
          GOING TO REMOVE THE WASTE PITS. COMMISSIONER ON THE NORTH SIDE OF I10. AND THAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN SOON. WE'VE GOT. 
          >> THAT'S GOOD. >> EIGHT MORE SOCCER FIELDS GOING IN BY BAYTOWN. AND IF YOU SEE ALEJANDRO OUT THERE GETTING OUR BEST. I DON'T THINK-- I HOPE EXXON DOESN'T KNOW HOW MUCH TIME HE'S PUTTING IN ON THE SOCCER SIDE OF IT. BUT IT'S GREAT TO HAVE VOLUNTEERS LIKE THAT IN THE COMMUNITY MAKING A DIFFERENCE. 
          AND CERTAINLY ALMOST SERVING ON COUNCIL AND OTHER AREAS YA'LL HAVE TOO. SO THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU DO AND LOOK FORWARD TO GETTING THAT BASEBALL FIELD MOVING AS WELL. SO PARTNERSHIPS ARE HOW WE GET THINGS DONE. AND APPRECIATE YOUR LEADERSHIP 
          IN EVERY WAY. >> YES, SIR, THANK YOU. 
          >> COMMISSIONER ELLIS? >> MAYOR ALWAYS GOOD TO SEE YOU. I ENJOYED WORKING WITH YOU WHEN YOU WERE ON COUNCIL. I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO COMING DOWN THERE WITH COMMISSIONER GARCIA AND SEEING THAT SIGN FOR HENRY DORAL LAKE. I JUST APPRECIATE YOUR LEADERSHIP OVER HERE. ALWAYS GOOD TO SEE YOU. 
          >> YES, SIR. WELL THANK YOU AGAIN. 
          >> ALL RIGHT. MAYOR, THANK YOU. 
          LOVE YOUR XHOOUNT BEAUTIFUL COMMUNITY. 
          I'LL HAVE TO GO VISIT YOU OVER THERE SOON HOPEFULLY. 
          CERTAINLY BEFORE THE END OF MY TERM. 
          >> PLEASE DO. >> BUT YEAH BE SAFE HEADING BACK AND ENJOYING THE BEAUTIFUL DAY. 
          AND IT'S SO NICE TO HAVE YOU HERE. 
          THANK YOU. >> GOOD TO BE HERE. 
          THANK YOU. TAKE CARE. 
          >> I BELIEVE WE HAVE CLERK MARILYN BURGESS HERE? 
          >> GOOD MORNING MEMBERS OF THE COURT. 
          I'M MARILYN BURGESS HARRIS COUNTY DISTRICT CLERK AND I WANT TO BEGIN WITH A HEARTFELT THANK YOU. 
          SINCE I TOOK OFFICE IN 2019, ONE OF THE HARDEST TRUTHS I'D LEARNED WAS THAT THE DISTRICT COURT'S OFFICE HAD BEEN AMONG THE LOWEST PAID IN COUNTY GOVERNMENT WOMEN DESPITE THE IMPORTANCE, COMPLEXITY AND ESSENTIAL NATURE OF THEIR WORK. 
          YOUR PAY PARODY PROJECT IS CHANGING THAT IN A REAL AND TANGIBLE WAY FOR MY TEAM AND WE ARE DEEPLY GRATEFUL. 
          OUR OFFICE HAS APPROXIMATELY 600 EMPLOYEES WHO SUPPORT OVER 9 0 COURTS AND HANDLE HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF CRIMINAL AND CIVIL FILINGS EACH YEAR. IN ALL SEVEN YEARS WHEN NO FUNDS WERE ALLOCATED THROUGH THE BUDGET PROCESS FOR MERIT RACES WE SEARCHED LINE BY LINE THROUGH OUR BUDGET TO FIND ANY WAY TO ACKNOWLEDGE OUR HIGHEST PERFORMERS. 
          IT STILL WASN'T ENOUGH TO CATCH UP WITH OTHER DEPARTMENTS. 
          BUT WE NEVER STOPPED TRYING TO MOVE OUR PEOPLE CLOSER TO FAIR PAY. THE SYSTEM NEEDED A MUCH MORE COMPREHENSIVE REVIEW THAN WHAT OUR OFFICE COULD ACHIEVE ALONE. 
          >> GO AHEAD. >> THANK YOU. 
          THAT IS WAY THIS COUNTY WIDE PROJECT WAS SO IMPORTANT AND SO APPRECIATED. THE DCO STAFF ARE NOT JUST POSITIONS IN THE BUDGET. THEY ARE PARENTS. 
          GRANDPARENTS. CAREGIVERS. 
          FIRST GENERATION COLLEGE GRADUATES AND LONG-TIME PUBLIC 
          [00:10:02]
SERVANTS WHO HAVE BUILT THEIR LIVES AROUND THIS WORK. 
          THIS PROJECT BY THE COURT WILL HELP THEM KEEP UP WITH THE RISING COST OF LIVING. PLAN FOR THEIR CHILDREN'S EDUCATION AND FEEL THAT THEIR EXPERTISE, JUDGMENT AND DEDICATION ARE FINALLY BEING RECOGNIZED. 
          IT WILL ALLOW MANY TO DROP THEIR SECOND J JOBS THEY HAVE WORKED JUST TO MAKE ENDS MEET. IT SENDS A POWERFUL MESSAGE TO HARRIS COUNTY VALUES WHO KEEP OUR JUSTICE SL MOVING. 
          OFTEN BEHIND THE SCENES AND WITHOUT FANFARE. 
          OUR OFFICE HAS BEEN SIGNIFICANTLY UNDERPAID FOR DECADES WHEN COMPARED TO OTHERS IN THE COUNTY DOING SIMILAR JOBS. THE SPECIAL SKILLS AND COMPLEXITY OF THE WORK IN THE DISTRICT CLERK'S OFFICE ARE FINALLY BEING REFLECTED IN OUR PAY AND MY STAFF IS NOW MUCH CLOSER TO THE LEVELS THEY DESERVE AND MANY MORE MANY LINE WITH OTHER COUNTY DEPARTMENTS. ON BEHALF OF THE 600 EMPLOYEES WHO SAFEGUARD RECORDS, PROCESS FILINGS, AND SERVE THE PUBLIC WITH PROFESSIONALISM AND CARE, I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU. 
          FOR TAKING ON THIS PROJECT AND SEEING IT THROUGH. 
          YOU HEAR A LOT ABOUT FTES AND LINE ITEMS. TODAY I WANTED YOU TO SEE SOME OF THE PEOPLE BEHIND THOSE NUMBERS. SOME OF THEM ARE HERE WITH ME TODAY. AT THIS TIME I WOULD LIKE TO INVITE THE MEMBERS OF MY STAFF TO COME FORWARD TO THE PODIUM AND SHARE IN THEIR OWN WORDS WHAT THESE RAISES MEAN FOR THEIR LIVES AND THEIR FAMILIES. AND I HAVE NOT EVEN HEARD THEIR 
          REMARKS. >> THANK YOU, WELCOME YA'LL. 
          GO AHEAD. >> GOOD MORNING COMMISSIONER'S CLERK. IT IS A PRIVILEGE AND AN HONOUR TO BE HERE TO SPEAK IN FRONT OF YOU GUYS. 
          I'VE ALWAYS WANTED TO BE HERE. BUT AS A CLERK IN THE MISDEMEANOR COURTS I KNOW THE DECISIONS JUDGES MAKE AREN'T WITHOUT DEEP CONSIDERATION. AND AS AN EMPLOYEE FOR HARRIS COUNTY, I OWE AMONG MANY OTHERS ARE GRATEFUL YOU TOOK INTO STRONG CONSIDERATION THE LIVELIHOODS OF HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE AND RE-EVALUATED OUR PAY RATES. 
          AS A RESULT TO THIS RECENT RAISE, I HAVE A NEWFOUND HOPE FOR MY JOURNEY OF BUYING A HOME INSTEAD OF CONTINUING THE RENTING CYCLE. AND THIS RAISE WILL ALSO HELP ME PAY OFF MY STUDENT LOANS FASTER SO I CAN GO BACK TO SCHOOL AND FINISH MY BACHELOR'S IN PUBLIC POLICY AT UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON GO COUGS. AND OBVIOUSLY THESE ARE MAJOR CHOICES IN A PERSON'S LIFE. BUT THEY DON'T HAPPEN ALL AT ONCE. BUT RATHER OVER TIME AND I'M GRAILEST THE OPPORTUNITY HAS BEEN AFFORDED TO US AS A RESULT 
          OF THE PAY PARODY PROJECT. >> THANK YOU. 
          WOULD YOU STATE YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD? 
          >> YES MY NAME IS MJ. >> THANK YOU. 
          >> GOOD MORNING COMMISSIONER'S COURT. 
          MY NAME IS CARLY BRINSFIELD I'M WITH THE HARRIS COUNTY DISTRICT CLERK'S OFFICE. I WANTED TO COME UP HERE AND SINCERELY THANK YOU FOR THE PAY PARODY PROJECT AND FOR INVESTING IN US. A LOT OF PEOPLE UNFORTUNATELY DON'T REALIZE WHAT GOES ON BEHIND THE SCENES IN THE COURTS. SO IT SURELY MEANS A LOT TO FEEL SEEN AND VALUED FOR THE WORK THAT WE DO EVERY DAY. 
          ON A PERSONAL LEVEL, THIS IS SO MUCH MORE THAN JUST A RAISE. 
          I FEEL LIKE I CAN ACTUALLY BREATHE FOR THE FIRST TIME AND REALISTICALLY PREPARE FOR MY FUTURE WHICH MEANS STARTING A FAMILY OF MY OWN ONE DAY. SO TRULY THANK YOU. 
          IT MEANS MORE THAN I CAN PUT IN WORDS. 
          >> GOOD MORNING EVERYONE. MY NAME IS HALET FROM HUMAN RESOURCES DISTRICT CLERK'S OFFICE AND I WOULD LIKE TO TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO THANK THE COMMISSIONER'S COURT, MS. BURGESS AND ALL THOSE INVOLVED IN SUPPORTING THE PAY EQUITY PROJECT. THIS WAS A GREAT INITIATIVE. 
          BEYOND THE FINANCIAL IMPACT, IT SENT A VERY STRONG MESSAGE TO THE EMPLOYEES THAT THEIR WORK'S VALUED. 
          AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, THE FAIRNESS AND EQUITY REMAIN A TOP PRIORITY WITHIN OUR WORKPLACE. 
          MANY OF OUR EMPLOYEES WORK DILIGENTLY BEHIND THE SCENES EACH DAY TO SERVE THE COMMUNITY. 
          AND THIS PROJECT HELPS THEM FEEL RESPECTED, MOTIVATED AND RECOGNIZED. AND I TRULY APPRECIATE THE LEADERSHIP. THE COLLABORATION AND THE COMMITMENTS THAT MAKE THIS HAPPEN. 
          ONCE AGAIN I WOULD LIKE TO THANK YOU ALL FOR ALL YOUR SUPPORTS AND ALL YOUR COMMITMENTS. 
          THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. 
          >> GOOD MORNING. MY NAME IS TAYLOR HATCHER I'M INTAKE CLERK IN THE DISTRICT CLERK'S OFFICE. 
          AS A RESULT OF THIS PAY PARODY PROGRAM IN THIS RAISE, I AM ABLE TO PURSUE MY EDUCATIONAL GOALS AT THE UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON. I'M MASTERS OF PUBLIC POLICY STUDENT AND I'M ABLE TO PURSUE THAT MORE DILIGENTLY NOW. 
          THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. 
          [00:15:06]
          >> GOOD MORNING ALL. DEAR MS. BURGESS, I WANT TO SINCERELY THANK YOU AND THE ADMINISTRATIVE TEAM FOR THE RECENT COMPENSATION ADJUSTMENT AND PAY PARODY PROJECT. 
          THIS GESTURE OF ADVOCATING FOR THE VOICELESS SHOWS YOUR COMMITMENT AND PERSISTENCE TO FAIRNESS IN VALUING EMPLOYEES OPERATING WITH PROFESSIONALISM AND ETHICAL BEHAVIOURS. 
          THIS MOTIVATES ME TO CONTINUE DELI DELIVERING TO THE ORGANIZATION AND SHARE DEDICATION. 
          THANK YOU AGAIN FOR MAKING ME FEEL ACKNOWLEDGED, ESTEEMED AND VENTILATED. YOU WILL BE MISSED BUT NOT FORGOTTEN. AND WORDS COULD NEVER EXPRESS THE GRATITUDE. BEST REGARDS ON YOUR NEW ENDEAVOURS. AND MY NAME IS CASSANDRA DERISEAU AND I WORK IN MULTIDISTRICT LITIGATION. 
          >> THANK YOU. >> GOOD MORNING. 
          MY NAME IS PAUL STOREY. DEAR HONORABLE MEMBERS OF THE COURT. I WOULD LIKE TO THANK YOU ALL FOR INSTITUTING THE COMPENSATION AND PAY EQUITY PROJECT. I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO EXPRESS MY SINCERE AND HEARTFELT GRATITUDE TO ALL WHO WERE INVOLVED WITH THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE PROJECT. 
          AND FOR BRINGING IT TO FRUITION. 
          THIS WILL MAKE A GREAT DIFFERENCE IN MY LIFE. 
          NOT ONLY FINANCIALLY, BUT EMOTIONALLY AND MENTALLY. 
          THIS WILL ALSO GREATLY IMPROVE THE MORALE AND SPIRIT OF HARRIS COUNTY EMPLOYEES. THANKS FOR EVERYTHING YOU'VE DONE FOR MY FAMILY AND THE OTHER FAMILIES IN HARRIS COUNTY WHOSE LIVES YOU'VE GREATLY IMPACTED WITH THIS PROJECT. 
          GREATLY THE YOURS FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART, PAUL 
          STOREY. >> GOOD MORNING JUDGE AND COMMISSIONERS. MY NAME IS VALERIE CABRERA AND I'M THE FAMILY COURT SUPERVISOR OF THE HARRIS COUNTY DISTRICT COURT'S OFFICE. I SUPERVISE 33 CLERKS AND ON BEHALF OF THEM AND MYSELF I WANTED TO THANK YOU ALL FOR APPROVING THE MUCH NEEDED FUNDING IN RESPONSE TO THE COMPENSATION AND PAY EQUITY PROJECT. 
          I HAVE BEEN WITH THE DISTRICT CLERK'S OFFICE FOR ABOUT 20 YEARS AND AS THE WORKLOAD AND EXPECTATIONS HAVE INCREASED DRASTICALLY, THE PAY RATES HAVE NOT. 
          AT LEAST NOT IN A WAY THAT WAS INDICATIVE OF THE VALUE FOR THE WORK THAT WE DO. THE DCO COURT STAFF HAS BEEN UNDERPAID IN COMPARISON TO OTHER SMALLER COUNTIES AND EVEN WHEN COMPARED TO SIMILAR POSITIONS IN OTHER HARRIS COUNTY ENTITIES AS LONG AS I CAN REMEMBER, UNTIL NOW. 
          WE TRULY APPRECIATE WHAT THE RESULTS OF THIS PROJECT PROVED AND EVEN MORE APPRECIATIVE THAT THE NEED WAS MET WITH SUPPORT. 
          WE TRULY APPRECIATE IT. ALL MY COURT CLERKS AS WELL WERE EXTREMELY HAPPY AND I WISH YOU COULD HAVE SEEN THE EXPRESSIONS ON THEIR FACES AND THE JOY AND JUST OVERWHELMING FEELING OF GRATITUDE. SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH. 
          >> GOOD MORNING. DEVONTE HILL. 
          I'M SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF ONE OF OUR FAMILY INTAKE CLERKS. 
          SHE WRITES, THANK YOU FOR APPROVING THESE RAISES. 
          I WANT TO TAKE A MOMENT TO TALK ABOUT WHAT IT MEANS TO BE A FAMILY INTAKE CLERK. YES WE PROCESS FILINGS, ANSWER PHONES, AND HANDLE MANY DAILY ADMINISTRATIVE WORK THAT KEEPS THE COURTHOUSE FUNCTIONING, BUT BEHIND EVERY CASE NUMBER IS A HUMAN. IN OUR WINDOW WE WITNESS SOME OF THE HARDEST DAYS OF PEOPLE'S LIVES. 
          I HEAR VICTIMS DESCRIBING ASSAULT, ABUSE, KIDNAPPING, AND THE FEAR OF LIFE EVERY DAY. WE HEAR CHILDREN GOING WITHOUT FOOD, MEDICAL CARE, AND STABILITY. 
          WE WATCH PEOPLE CRY IN OUR CORNER. 
          SOMETIMES FROM HEARTBREAK. SOMETIMES FROM FEAR. 
          AND SOMETIMES FROM RELIEF BECAUSE THEY FINALLY FOUND THE COVERAGE TO LEAVE AN ABUSIVE SPOUSE. 
          THOSE STORIES DO NOT STAY AT WORK WHEN WE GO HOME. 
          WE CARRY THEM WITH US. AS CLERKS, WE EXPERIENCE IN & ARE EXPECTED TO STAY CALM AND COMPASSIONATE AND PROFESSIONAL WHILE ABSORBING THE PAIN, TRAUMA AND DESPERATION OF OUR COMMUNITY. THANK YOU FOR HELPING US AND SEEING US AND MAKING US FEEL HEARD. 
          THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU FOR GIVING US THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK TO YOU ALL. 
          YOU CAN SEE HOW THIS HAS IMPACTED THE LIVES OF THE PEOPLE IN MY OFFICE AND WE ARE ALL VERY, VERY GRATEFUL. 
          THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU CLERK BURGESS. 
          AND LET ME JUST SAY, YOU FOLKS WERE THANKING US, BUT I KNOW YOU ARE ALSO GRATEFUL TO THE DISTRICT CLERK MS. BURGESS AND YOU'VE BEEN SUCH AN ADVOCATE FOR YOUR STAFF. 
          FROM THE VERY BEGINNING. AND YOUR JURORS. 
          AND WE ALL KNOW THAT. SO I ALSO THINK YOU'VE DONE A FABULOUS JOB. I GUESS WE'LL BOTH BE LEAVING THE COUNTY AT THE SAME TIME. SO I WANT TO SAY I'LL MISS YOU. 
          BUT YOU KNOW, I'M ALSO-- YEAH. BUT YEAH, THANK YOU. 
          AND ALSO I WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE COMMISSIONER ELLIS WHO HAS BEEN 
          [00:20:04]
PUSHING FOR. I MEAN ALL OF US HAVE SUPPORTED THIS PROPROJECT BUT COMMISSIONER ELLIS IN PARTICULAR HAS BEEN PUSHINGER IN MAKING SURE THAT WE HAVE BETTER STANDARD AND COMPETITIVE PAY FOR ALL THE EMPLOYEES. 
          NOT JUST THE DEPARTMENT HEADS OR JUST THE EMPLOYEES AND THE LAW ENFORCEMENT SIDE OF THINGS. BUT EVERYBODY. 
          BECAUSE ALL THESE JOBS ARE IMPORTANT. 
          SO I KNOW IT'S NOT PERFECT. BUT I'M PROUD AND IT'S REALLY NICE TO HEAR THAT THERE ARE SOME WINS HERE AND OF COURSE AS YOU ALL MENTIONED A BIG THANK YOU TO THE HR TEAM AND THE FOLKS THAT CONDUCTED THE STUDY AND TO ALL THE DEPARTMENTS THAT WENT THROUGH THIS ARDUOUS PROCESS SO THANK YOU SO MUCH MS. BURGESS AND FOR THE WORK THAT YOU DO. 
          COMMISSIONER GARCIA THEN COMMISSIONER ELLIS? 
          >> THANK YOU ALL. THANK YOU MS. BURGESS FOR COMING DOWN. THANK YOU TO YOUR TEAM FOR THE WORK YOU DO. AND I'M EXCITED THAT THERE'S ALWAYS BEEN A CONVERSATION ABOUT HOW THE PUBLIC SECTOR AND THE PRIVATE SECTOR SHOULDN'T BE NECESSARILY COMPARED. 
          BUT THE REALITY OF IT IS, YOUR SKILLS, YOUR WORK, YOUR DEDICATION, ABSOLUTELY COULD BE USED IN THE PRIVATE COMPANY SOMEWHERE AND MAYBE MAKE YOU A LOT MORE MONEY. 
          BUT AT THE SAME TIME, IT WOULD HURD THE RESIDENTS THAT YOU TEND TO SERVE. SO I'M EXCITED ABOUT THIS PROJECT. I DO WANT TO SAY TO MANY EMPLOYEES WHO ARE STILL WORKING THROUGH THIS, IT IS NOT PERFECT. BUT WE'RE WORKING THROUGH IT. 
          WE'RE NOT FINISHED YET. SO PLEASE BEAR WITH THE PROCESS AS WE GET THESE CLASSIFICATIONS AND EVERYTHING WORKED OUT. 
          I DON'T LIKE HEARING THE FOLKS ARE FEELING CONCERNED THAT THEY ARE GOING TO BE DOWNGRADED. THEY ARE FWOG LOSE MONEY. 
          AND SO I WANT TO MAKE SURE FOLKS UNDERSTAND THAT WE'RE STILL WORKING THROUGH THIS. THANK YOU. 
          >> COMMISSIONER ELLIS AND RAMSEY. 
          >> I WANT MY COLLEAGUES TO KNOW. 
          TO HAVE PEOPLE STANDING UP THERE BEHIND YOU. 
          IT'S A DIFFICULT THING TO DO. AND USUALLY WE HEAR ABOUT THINGS THAT PEOPLE ARE UPSET ABOUT. 
          SO IT WAS NICE. PEOPLE WERE PLEASED IN WHAT THEY GOT. AND AS COMMISSIONER GARCIA SAID OBVIOUSLY WE STILL HAVE WORK TO DO. 
          BUT THANK YOU WE'RE GOING TO MISS YOU AND YOU HAVE DAWN GREAT JOB. WE HAVEN'T ALWAYS AGREED ON EVERY ISSUE. THANK YOU. 
          >> COMMISSIONER RAMSEY? >> MS. BURGESS THANK YOU FOR COMING DOWN. THANK YOU FOR BRINGING YOUR FOLKS. SOMETIMES WE DO THINGS. 
          WE PASS INITIATIVES AND WE FOCUS ON ISSUES. 
          MAKING A DIFFERENCE EVERY DAY. MAKING COUNTY WORK. 
          THERE'S NOTHING MORE IMPORTANT IN THESE COURTS THAN KEEPING THEM FUNCTIONING ON A BASIS. AND DAY IN DAY OUT. 
          APPRECIATE YOU. >> WE KNOW IT WAS A HUGE PROJECT AND WE ARE GRATEFUL FOR EVERYTHING YOU'VE DONE. 
          >> THANK YOU. AND LET'S GIVE A ROUND OF APPLAUSE YOU GUYS TO THESE CLERKS. 
          THAT KEEP OUR COURTS RUNNING. WE HAVE JUSTICE OF THE PEACE WANDA ADAMS HERE WITH US THIS MORNING AS WELL. 
          >> GOOD MORNING. HOW ARE YOU. 
          GOOD MORNING EVERYONE. >> GOOD MORNING. 
          >> AND TO ALL THE COMMISSIONERS AND COMMISSIONER BRIONES IN HER ABSENCE. I WOULD LIKE TO SAY GOOD MORNING COMMISSIONERS. THERE IS A PARABLE IN THE SCRIPTURES OF A STORY OF THE 100 SHEEP. 
          KNOWN AS THE PARABLE OF THE LOST SHEEP AND IT IS FOUND IN LUKE AND IN MATTHEW. JESUS TELLS OF A SHEPARD WHO LEAVES 99 SHEEP IN THE OPEN COUNTRY TO SEARCH FOR ONE THAT IS LOST. REJOICING GREATLY UPON FINDING IT TO ILLUSTRATE GOD'S LOVE FOR EVERY INDIVIDUAL WE COME IN CONTACT WITH. SO THIS IS WHY I'M HERE TODAY. 
          MY REASON FIRST OF ALL IS TO SAY THANK YOU. 
          I WOULD LIKE TO PUBLICALLY SAY THANK YOU TO COMMISSIONER ADRIAN GARCIA. BUT WHEN I MADE THE CALL, I DIDN'T CALL HIM COMMISSIONER. I SAID ADRIAN, I NEED YOUR HELP. I NEED TO GO BACK TO WHEN WE FIRST MET BEFORE WE BOTH BECAME ELECTED OFFICIALS. 
          I NEED THAT ANTI-GANG ADRIAN. BECAUSE I NEED ASSISTANCE. 
          I WOULD LIKE TO THANK LUPE WASHINGTON FOR THE HELP THAT THEY PROVIDED ALONG WITH CONSTABLE AEN WILL ROSEN AND KATHY GRIFFIN FOR COMING TO THE RESCUE OF A FAMILY DURING MY 
          [00:25:03]
JUVENILE COURT. I CANNOT IMAGINE BEING UNDOCUMENTED AND FAMILIES DEALING WITH ISSUES OF NOT FEELING SAFE OR EVEN BEING SEX TRAFFICKED. 
          FINDING OUT THAT THIS FAMILY THE MOTHER AND THE DAUGHTER WERE SEX TRAFFICKED INTO THIS COUNTRY. 
          AND FEELING UNSAFE. BUT EVEN THOUGH THE DAUGHTER WAS FACING ISSUES AND HAD TO COME TO JUVENILE COURT, THERE WAS ISSUES FAR BEYOND WHAT WE COULD IMAGINE. 
          BUT I'M HERE TO GIVE MY GRATITUDE TO COMMISSIONER ADRIAN GARCIA. TO LUPE WASHINGTON. 
          TO THE HEART TEAM AND THE HOUSTON AREA WOMEN'S CENTRE FOR RESPONDING SO QUICKLY RIGHT AFTER MY JUVENILE DOCKET. 
          WHAT HAPPENED WAS A TEENAGER WAS TRAFFICKED INTO THIS CITY BUT WAS DEALING WITH OTHER ISSUES THAT WE DIDN'T KNOW. 
          BUT CALLING ON THIS TEAM, THEY ANSWERED THE CALL. 
          THEY SHOWED UP AT THE COURTROOM TO MAKE SURE WHATEVER SERVICES THAT WAS PROVIDED TO THIS FAMILY COULD GET HELP. 
          SO WITH MY THANK YOU, I LOOKED AT THE YOUNG LADY AND I SAID, WHAT ARE YOUR DREAMS? SHE LOOKED AT ME AND SHE SAID MISS, I JUST WANT TO LIVE TO SEE 17. 
          WHEN SHE SAID THAT, TEARS BEGAN TO FALL. 
          I WANT TO JUST SAY, THANK YOU ALL FOR JUST COMING TO THE AID OF THIS MOM WHEN I SAW THE FEAR ON HER FACE. 
          AND SHE HAD TO INFORM US THAT SHE WAS ONCE A SEX TRAFFICKING VICTIM. AND NOW HER DAUGHTER. 
          SO ADRIAN, THANK YOU FOR GETTING OFF THE PLANE AND CALLING ME BACK RIGHT AWAY AND ASKING ME WHAT I NEEDED. 
          THIS WASN'T ABOUT ME. I SAID I WOULDN'T CRY. 
          THIS IS ABOUT THAT BABY GIRL WHO SAID SHE WANTED TO END HER LIFE. THAT SHE DIDN'T SEE NO WAY OUT. 
          BUT BECAUSE OF THE HEART TEAM AND BECAUSE OF HOUSTON AREA WOMEN'S CENTRE AND BECAUSE OF KATHY GRIFFIN, BECAUSE OF ROSA, THEY ARE STILL WORKING WITH THIS FAMILY TODAY. 
          SO I SAY THANK YOU. IT MEANT A LOT TO ME TO GO AFTER THIS LOST SHEEP. BECAUSE GOD SAYS DO YOU STAY WITH THE HUNDRED OR DO YOU GO WITH THE 99 OR DO YOU GO WITH THE ONE. AND WE WENT WITH THE ONE. 
          AND IN MY CLOSING, I WANT TO THANK MY CONSTABLE SMOKY PHILLIPS FOR GOING OUT THERE TO UPDATE ABATE THIS HUMAN TRAFFICKING IN THE CITY. AGENT OF COURSE CONSTABLE ROSEN AND I WANT TO THANK THE COMMISSIONERS. 
          WHEN I FIRST GOT ELECTED YOU SAID YES. 
          YOU CAME TO MY AID AS A NEW JP. NOW WE HAVE A NEW COURTROOM BECAUSE OF YOUR AID. THANK YOU COMMISSIONER ELLIS WHENEVER HE RIDING A BIKE YOU ALWAYS STOP BY TO CHECK TO SEE WHAT WE'RE DOING. EVEN THOUGH I'M IN FRONT OF A BENCH, YOU STILL ARE STANDING PROUD IN YOUR BIKER SHORTS. 
          SO THANK YOU. COMMISSIONER BRIONES SHE'S NOT HERE. THANK YOU FOR MAKING PHONE CALLS AND SAYING WHAT WE NEED IN OUR COURTROOM BECAUSE OF THE ACTS. JUSTICE HIDALGO THANK YOU FOR STOPPING BET COURTROOM AND VISITING MY STAFF AND FINDING OUT MORE ABOUT THE PROGRAMS THAT WE HAVE IN OUR COURT. 
          COMMISSIONER RAMSEY, I NEVER REALLY SAT WITH YOU. 
          BUT YOU TOOK THE OPPORTUNITY TO DO A ZOOM CALL WITH ME IN SAYING WHAT CAN I DO TO HELP YOU AS A NEW JP IN HARRIS COUNTY. AND BECAUSE OF YOU ALL SUPPORT AND VOTE, WE ARE ABLE TO NOW TO BRING INTO THE COUNTY A BRAND NEW COURTROOM ON THE INSIDE TO BE ABLE TO PROVIDE THE RESOURCES. AND I CONTINUE TO HAVE EVER LASTING FRIENDSHIPS FOR OVER 27 YEARS THAT I'VE BEEN SERVING THIS COMMUNITY. AND 18 AS AN ELECTED. 
          SO I STAND HERE TODAY. SORRY FOR THE TEARS. 
          BUT I STAND HERE PROUD TO BE A PART OF HARRIS COUNTY AND TO COME AND SAY THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH. 
          >> JUDGE, THANK YOU FOR COMING DOWN. 
          BUT REALLY, JUST THANK YOU FOR STAYING GROUNDED. 
          AND YOU KNOW AS YOU WERE GOING THROUGH YOUR COMMENTS, THINKING ABOUT YOUR DAYS OVER AT SOLID WASTE. 
          AND MINDING THE ANTI-GANG OFFICE. 
          AND NOW AS AN ELECTED OFFICIAL WHOSE GOT A TON OF THINGS GOING ON, MANY CASES. BUT I THINK YOU TODAY HELP A LOT OF PEOPLE UNDERSTAND THAT YOU LIKE OTHER JUDGES, WHETHER JPS OR THOSE ON OTHER BENCHES, ACTUALLY LISTEN. 
          AND ACTUALLY CARE. IT'S NOT JUST A WIDGET THAT YOU'RE MOVING THROUGH A PROCESS OR A SYSTEM. 
          BUT THAT YOU'RE. RECOGNIZEINGS THAT YOU HAVE FLESH AND BLOOD SITTING RIGHT IN FRONT OF YOU. 
          AND TO THINK THROUGH THE CONCERN OF WHAT YOU'RE HEARING. 
          THE THREATS THAT THIS YOUNG LADY WAS GETTING. 
          AND UNDERSTANDING HOW REAL THOSE THREATS ARE. 
          AND A LOT OF FOLKS YOU'VE JUST GIVEN TRUE LIGHT TO A REALITY 
          [00:30:01]
THAT A LOT OF PEOPLE DON'T UNDERSTAND. 
          THAT THIS IS HAPPENING EVERY DAMN DAY. 
          IT'S HAPPENING RIGHT NOW. BUT YOU HAVE ABSOLUTELY. 
          CHANGED AND IN ALL LIKELIHOOD YOU'VE SAVED A LIFE. 
          AND FOR THAT ONE SHEEP THAT YOU HAVE SAVED. 
          YOU HAVE SAVED MANY. SO I REALLY APPRECIATE YOU MAKING A CALL AND SHARING YOUR KIND WORD BUS THE REAL THANKS DOES GO TO HEART. TO LUP SXECHLT HER TEAM. 
          WANT TO THANK DIRECTOR BARTON BECAUSE THAT'S WHERE I MADE THE FIRST CALL. AND THEN YOU KNOW THEY JUST JUMPED ON IT. AND FOR EVERYBODY ELSE WHO CAME TO THE RESCUE. OF THIS YOUNG LADY AND HOPEFULLY, YOU KNOW IT IS A PROCESS. 
          AND A RESPONSE THAT WILL SUSTAIN THIS YOUNG LADY THROUGH ALL THOSE CHALLENGES THAT SHE'S FACING. 
          BUT IT WOULD NOT HAVE HAPPENED IF NOT FOR YOUR HEART. 
          SO GOD LOVE YOU. GOD BLESS YOU. 
          AND THANK YOU FOR ALL THAT YOU DO. 
          >> THANK YOU SO MUCH. >> COMMISSIONER ELLIS THEN 
          RAMSEY. >> JUDGE, TRUSTEE, COUNCIL MEMBER, WANDA, THANK YOU FOR COMING. 
          DOW A GREAT JOB. YOU KNOW WE FACE SOME SIGNIFICANT BUDGET CHALLENGES. THIS YEAR AS WE DID LAST YEAR AND HEART WAS ONE OF THE PROGRAMS THAT THIS COMMISSIONER PUT FORWARD. IT'S A CHALLAGE TO KEEP IT GOING. STORIES LIKE YOURS IF YOU TELL THEM OUT IN THE COMMUNITY MEAN A LOT. 
          BUT THEY WERE PILOT PROGRAMS. AND WE'RE GOING TO PUSH TO EXPAND THEM. BUT THIS IS AN EXAMPLE. 
          KIND OF TESTIMONY THAT HELPS MAKE THAT CASE. 
          SO THANK YOU. AND GO OUT ASK SPREAD IT. 
          BUT THANK YOU FOR THE GREAT WORK THAT YOU'RE DOING. 
          I LIKE THAT NEW COURTROOM BY THE WAY. 
          >> ALL RIGHT. >> COMMISSIONER RAMSEY? 
          >> I'M GOING TO HAVE A VIDEO OF YOUR-- YOUR SHARING TODAY. 
          THAT'S HOW WE SHOULD DO IT YOU. START WITH A LITTLE PARABLE. 
          YOU TELL A GOOD STORY. I LIKE IT WHEN THEY TELL A GOOD STORY. YOU ANSWERED THE PHONE. 
          SO OFTEN, WE HAVE A LOT OF RESOURCES IN THE COUNTY. 
          BUT THE FIRST STEP IS TO ANSWER THAT PHONE OR TO SEE THAT NEED. 
          AND THEN MAKE TEN PHONE CALLS TO ADDRESS THE PROBLEM. 
          THANK YOU FOR BEING THE LEADERSHIP AND THAT PERSON THAT SEES A NEED AND ADDRESSES A NEED AND USES RESOURCES WE HAVE IN THE COUNTY TO MAKE THAT HAPPEN. 
          THANK YOU JUDGE. >> THANK YOU SO MUCH. 
          AND I TEXTED DIRECTOR BARTON TO MAKE SURE IT WAS INDEED LUPE WASHINGTON. AND SHE SAID CAN WE HELP YOU WITH ANYTHING. NOPE, YOU ALREADY DID. 
          SO I WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE DIRECTOR AND MS. WASHINGTON AND THE WHOLE TEAM. AND YEAH, THANK YOU. 
          TURP ONE THAT ADVOCATED FOR THIS FAMILY. 
          >> THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH. AND WITH THE PAY PARODY I DO WANT TO SAY THANK YOU. MY STAFF SAID PLEASE TELL THEM THANK YOU. BECAUSE I HAVE STAFF MEMBERS WHO DO NOT HAVE RELIABLE TRANSPORTATION. 
          THEY DIDN'T HAVE CARS. THEY WERE GETTING TO WORK THE BEST WAY THAT THEY CAN. NOW THEY ARE PURCHASING VEHICLES OR THEY HAVE ALREADY. ONE OF THE STAFF MEMBERS WAS MAKING $15 AN HOUR SO 4 ½ YEARS AGO AND NOW THEY ARE MOVED UP TO THE MINIMAL AND THEY ARE JUST REJOICING LIKE CRAZY. 
          SO IT WOULDN'T HAVE BEEN DONE WITHOUT YOU. 
          AND I DIDN'T WANT TO LEAVE THIS DAY WITHOUT TELLING YOU THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ALL YOUR HARD WORK ON PASSING THAT PROJECT. 
          AND AGAIN MAY GOD BLESS YOU ALL. 
          YOU CONTINUE TO DO GOD'S WORK. THAT'S WHAT GOD CHOSE YOU TO DO. THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH FOR 
          MAKING IT A GREAT DAY. >> THANK YOU. 
          >> ANY OTHER ELECTED OFFICIALS IN THE ROOM? ALL RIGHT LCONTINUE WITH THE SPEAKERS IN THE ORDER IN WHICH 
          THEY SIGNED UP. >>-- ONNITE TWOM. 
          MIKE LEE ON ITEM 177. ANNA HERNANDEZ ON ITEM 343. 
          THEY EACH HAVE A MINUTE. >> HI BARBARA DENSON. 
          FOUR ITEMS ON MY LIST. 3 OPINION $5 MILLION ON PR. 
          THAT'S A STAGGERING AMOUNT OF MONEY TO DUMP INTO PUBLIC RELATIONS. ESSENTIALLY A BONFIRE OF TAX PAYER DOLLARS. THE COUNTY SHOULD FOCUS ON ITS STATUTORY RESPONSIBILITIES FIRST AND THEN DECIDE WHAT TO DO WITH ANY SURPLUS. LET'S HAVE PARKS THAT DON'T 
          [00:35:01]
LOOK ABANDONED. ROADS THAT AREN'T OBSTACLE COURSES. JAILS THAT ARE ACTUALLY SAFE. 
          AND FLOOD CONTROL THAT KEEPS PEOPLE'S HOMES ABOVE WATER. 
          AND CAPTURES EVERY POSSIBLE FEDERAL DOLLAR. 
          INSTEAD WE GET THINGS LIKE ITEM 370. 
          BURNING TIME AND MONEY. PRETENDING YOU CAN CHANGE THE CLIMATE. HOW EMBARRASSING. 
          WHEN YOU'RE DOING THE WORK, PEOPLE NOTICE. 
          WHEN YOU'RE NOT, YOU HIRE PR TO PRETEND YOU ARE. 
          THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. 
          >> SCOMBRUJ COMMISSIONERS. THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME TO SPEAK HERE THIS MORNING. MY NAME IS MIKE LEE. 
          I'M RETIRED CHIEF DEPUTY OF THE HARRIS COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE. 
          PRYER TO THAT AT 27 YEAR VETERAN OF THE HOUSTON POLICE DEPARTMENT AND RETIRED CAPTAIN AND CURRENTLY I'M IN THE ROLE OF DIRECTOR OF RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT AT THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE. I'M THEOR SPEAK TODAY IN SUPPORT OF ITEM NUMBER 177. THIS JOURNEY FOR PUBLIC SAFETY BOND AGAIN IN 2021. FROM THE 24 PUBLIC INFORMATION SESSIONS THAT OUR AGENCY PARTICIPATED IN, TO THE PROJECT SELECTION PROCESS. AND OVER THE PAST 2 ½ YEARS OF THE DESIGN AND DEVELOPMENT PHASE, THIS COURT, THE BUDGET OFFICE AND ENGINEERING HAVE BEEN GREAT PARTNERS. 
          MOST OF ALL, WE ARE GRATEFUL TO THE CITIZENS WHO PROVIDED THEIR SUPPORT AT THE BALLOT BOX. NONE OF THIS WOULD HAVE BEEN POSSIBLE WITHOUT THEIR DESIRE FOR A STRONG PUBLIC SAFETY SYSTEM IN HARRIS COUNTY. IN CLOSING, TO THE MEN AND WOMEN OF THE HARRIS COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE WHO GO OUT THERE 24/7 365 AND GIVE IT THEIR ALL. 
          AND UNFORTUNATELY SOMETIMES THEIR LIVES. 
          TO PROTECT AND SERVE THE CITIZENS OF THIS COUNTY. 
          CONGRATULATIONS ON THESE WELL DESERVED FACILITIES THAT WILL CONTINUE TO MAKE THE HARRIS COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE THE PRIDE OF TEXAS. I RESPECTFULLY ASK FOR ALL OF YOUR SUPPORT ON THIS ITEM. THANK YOU. 
          >> AND I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU FOR COMING DOWN. 
          YOU OUGHT TO SCRATCH THAT WORD RETIRED OUT OF YOUR COMMENTS. 
          BECAUSE YOU'RE STILL WORKING MAN AND YOU'RE STILL DOING A LOT OF GOOD WORK FOR THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE AND THE COUNTY IN GENERAL. THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORK. 
          AND I JUST WANT TO ALSO ACKNOWLEDGE YOU FOR YOUR LONG-TIME WORK. I WAS JUST THINKING AS YOU WERE SPEAKING, THAT IT'S KIND OF A VOID NOT SEEING FRANK STANDING NEXT TO YOU. FRANK WEBB IS A CLASS MATE OF MINE FROM MY POLICE ACADEMY DAYS. 
          AND YOU TWO GUYS WERE TREMENDOUS PIONEERS IN THE EFFORT TO GET LAW ENFORCEMENT TO TAKE A MAJOR TURN IN DEALING WITH MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES OUT OF THE FIELD. 
          SO THANK YOU FOR ALL YOU'VE DONE. 
          THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU'RE DOING. 
          AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR ADVOCACY THON ITEM. 
          I THINK YOU'RE GOING TO FIND FULL SUPPORT OF THIS. 
          AND I'M REALLY EXCITED ABOUT HOW WE'RE PUTTING THIS PUBLIC SAFETY RESOURCES TO WORK. TO MAKE OUR MEN AND WOMEN IN UNIFORM MUCH MORE CONTEMPORARY TO THE CHALLENGES THAT WE FACE. 
          WHETHER IT'S SWIFT WATER. RESCUE. 
          WHETHER IT IS MAKING SURE THAT THEY HAVE A GOOD DRIVING COURSE TO TRAIN ON. AND MORE. 
          SO THANK YOU FOR ALL YOU DO. APPRECIATE YOU MAYOR. 
          BUT DON'T SAY RETIREED. BECAUSE YOU'RE WORKING YOUR ASS 
          OFF. >> COMMISSIONER RAMSEY THEN 
          COMMISSIONER ELLIS. >> JAY THANK YOU FOR COMING DOWN TODAY. THE PROJECTS YOU ARE REFERRING TO. AND WE'RE GOING TO TALK ABOUT LATER, THAT IS A GREAT STEP FORWARD IN TERMS OF SUPPORTIVE LAW ENFORCEMENT. MAKING IT-- PREPARING THEM FOR WHAT THEY HAVE TO ENCOUNTER OUT THERE. 
          SO THANK YOU AGAIN CHIEF FOR WHAT YOU DO. 
          >> COMMISSIONER ELLIS? >> CHIEF, I JUST WANT TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT OF THE HEART PROGRAM IN PARTICULAR. 
          AND A NUMBER OF OTHER INNOVATIVE PROGRAMS. THE SHERIFF AS WELL. BUT YOU'VE BEEN THE DAY-TO-DAY POINT PERSON. SO JUST THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORK 
          ON THAT. >> THANK YOU. 
          >> ALL RIGHT. >> CHIEF, I ECHO EVERYTHING. 
          THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ALL YOUR WORK OVER THE YEARS. 
          AND NOW. THANK YOU. 
          LR LET'S GO AHEAD TIFFANY. >>-- HERNANDEZ ON ITEM 343. 
          ZACKARY HO ON ITEM 391. ELIZABETH GREGORY ITEM 391 AND CALEB-- ITEM 391. YOU EACH HAVE ONE MINUTE. 
          >> HELLO MY NAME IS ANNA HERNANDEZ ON BEHALF OF THE HOUSTON FOOD BANK. I'VE COME DOWN TO ASK THE COMMISSIONER'S COURT TO SIGN THE AGREEMENT WITH THE PARTNERSHIP WITH THE HOUSTON FOOD BANK. 
          KIDS CAFE WHERE WE PROVIDE HEALTHY NUTRITIOUS MEALS FREE OF CHARGE AT THE COUNTY. SO WE ARE JUST ASKING THAT WE CONTINUE THAT PARTNERSHIP SO WE CONTINUE TO BRIDGE THAT GAP OF MEALS NEEDED IN OUR COMMUNITIES. 
          >> THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. 
          [00:40:08]
          >> THANK YOU. MY NAME IS ZACKARY HUFF PART-TIME A RESEARCHER AT THE UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON RESEARCH FOR WOMEN ONNENDER AND SEXUALITY. 
          HERE TODAY I'M TALKING ABOUT THE RAPID SURVEY OF FAMILY AND CHILD WELL BEING IN HARRIS COUNTY WHICH HAD TWO PHASES. 
          IN PHASE ONE LED BY THE-- IN STANFORD. 
          WE HAD 1221 ONLINE RESPONDENTS. WITH ISSUES SUCH AS CHILD WELFARE. THE SECOND PHASE FOCUSED ON IMMIGRANTS AND REFUGEIES. INVOLVING SURVEYS OF 373 PARENTS 40 OF WHOM WERE ALSO INTERVIEWED. 
          PHASE TWO TOOK THAT FOCUS AND FOUND THAT 41% OF CHILDREN UNDER THE AGE OF 6 IN THE COUNTY HAD AT LEAST ONE IMMIGRANT PARENT. AND THEIR NEEDS WE FOUND IN PHASE ONE WERE DIFFERENT FROM THE WIDER POPULATION. 
          THE REPORTS OFFER A WINDOW INTO THE MANY ISSUED FACED BY YOUNG CHILDREN TODAY. PARENTS OF YOUNG CHILDREN. 
          ISSUES RAISED CONSISTENTLY INCLUDING LACK OF CHILD CARE. 
          INCREASING FINANCIAL STRESS. INCREASING MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES. AND AMONG IMMIGRANTS, LIMITED ENGLISH LANGUAGE SKILLS. THANK YOU JUDGE AND 
          COMMISSIONERS FOR YOUR TIME. >> THANK YOU FOR COMING DOWN. 
          AND-- YOUR WORK THESE DAYS. WITH ALL THAT'S BEING SAID, IMMENSELY IMPORTANT. KEEP IT UP. 
          THANK YOU. >> COMMISSIONERS, DID YOU HAVE YOUR-- OKAY. THANK YOU. 
          >> HELLO? I'M ELIZABETH GREGORY-- FROM THE UH-- AND I WANTED TO FOLLOW UP TO FRAME THESE ISSUES MORE BROADLY. WORK FORCE INVESTMENT GAPS WE FOUND UNDERMINE THE COUNTY ECONOMY. 
          THE TEXAS CHILD CARE GAP COST $16 BILLION A YEAR IN LOST EARNINGS AND PRODUCTIVITY. OVERALL MOTHERS OF YOUNG KIDS IN TEXAS WORK 15% TO 18% LESS THAN THOSE IN STATES THAT INVEST IN CHILD CARE. FOREIGN-BORN MOMS ARE 19 PERCENTAGE POINTS MORE LIKELY TO NOT WORK IN HARRIS COUNTY THAN NATIVE OFTEN FOR LACK OF GRANDMAS NEARBY. 
          AFFORDABLE CHILD CARE WOULD ALLOW THOSE WHO WANT TO JOIN THE WORK FORCE. AIDING EMPLOYERS, FAMILIES AND THE TAX BASE. LACK OF CARE IS A FACTOR IN HARRIS COUNTY 29% FERTILITY DECLINE SINCE 2007. 
          HIGHER THAN THAT OF TEXAS AND THE U.S. 
          UNINSURED WORKERS, UNMANAGED ILLNESS LEADS TO ABSENTEEISM. 
          70% OF OUR IMMIGRANT RESPONDENTS WERE NOT ENGLISH FLUENT. CHILD CARE, HEALTH CARE AND ESL GAPS AREN'T JUST FAMILY HARDSHIPS. 
          THEY LIMIT ECONOMIC GROWTH. INVESTING IN THEM WOULD BOOST WORK FORCE, FAMILY WELL BEING, COMMUNITY AND THE ECONOMY. 
          >> THANK YOU SO MUCH. I LEARNED ANOTHER STATISTIC RECENTLY THIS ACTUALLY-- THAT CHILD CARE IS MORE EXPENSIVE THAN PICK UNIVERSITY HERE IN TEXAS. 
          SO I'LL REMIND MY COLLEAGUES WHO REFUSE TO PUT CHILD CARE ON THE BALLOT FOR THE VOTERS TO VOTE. 
          . FOR OR AGAINST IT. 
          TO GIVE PEOPLE A CHANCE TO DECIDE. 
          >> IT WOULD BE TRANSFORMATIVE NOT JUST FOR THE PARENTS. 
          >> AND IT IS NOW. TENS OF THOUSANDS OF FAMILYS. 
          BUT THEY ARE GOING TO LOSE THE CHILD CARE AT THE END OF THIS YEAR. THANK YOU. 
          >> THANK YOU. THANK YOU ALL. 
          >> GO AHEAD. >> MY NAME IS CALEB CRAWLSKEY SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF MY COMMUNITY. 
          WE ARE SERVING REFUGEE AND IMMIGRANT FAMILIES IN THE NEIGHBOURHOODS OF HOUSTON. I'M HERE TO SPEAK ON THE IMMENSE BENEFITS OF SURVEYS LIKE THE RAPID REPORT FOR THE WORK NONPROFITS LIKE OURS DO IN THE COMMUNITY. 
          THESE REPORTS WILL INFORM THE WORK WE DO WITH DATA AND ALSO IN MANY WAYS REFLECT WHAT WE'VE ALREADY SEEN HERE FROM OUR COMMUNITY. THEY HELP US APPLY FOR FUNDING, USING DATA-DRIVEN EVIDENCE WHICH HAS A DIRECT AND POSITIVE MATERIAL IMPACT ON IMMIGRANT FAMILIES. 
          I WANT TO GIVE A QUICK EXAMPLE FROM OUR COMMUNITY ON HOW THESE FINDINGS ON LANGUAGE, CHILD CARE AND STRUCTURAL BARRIERS INTERSECT. WE HAVE ADULTS WHO ARE INCREDIBLY INVESTED IN LEARNING ENGLISH IN OUR COMMUNITY BECAUSE THEY UNDERSTAND DEEPLY HOW IMPORTANT IT IS FOR THEIR FUTURE SUCCESS. HOWEVER, MOTHERS ARE OFTEN UNABLE TO ATTEND ENGLISH CLASSES BECAUSE THEY DO NOT HAVE CHILD CARE THAT THEY CAN AFFORD OR TRUST SO THEY OPT OUT. FATHERS AND MOTHERS UNDERSTAND THAT WE PRIORITIZE THE NEED TO FEED THEIR FAMILIES OVER INVESTING PRECIOUS TIME AND MONEY IN ENGLISH CLASSES SO THEY TAKE LOWER PAYING JOBS FOR SHORT RUN GAIN AND THEY ARE NOT ABLE TO INVEST IN THEIR FUTURES. 
          WE ARE WORKING TO ADDRESS THESE INTERSECTING PROBLEMS OF OUR COMMUNITY AND REPORTS LIKE THE RAPID REPORT ARE ESSENTIAL TO UNDERSTANDING THE COMMUNITY'S NEEDS IN SECURING FUNDING TO ADDRESS THEM. THANK YOU. 
          >> THANK YOU. >> GOOD MORNING CLERKS AND COMMISSIONERS. I'M HERE ON BEHALF OF THE-- FOUNDATION. COMMUNITY PARTNER IN THE RAPID HOUSE COMMUNITY TO SERVE IMMIGRANT AND REFUGEES FAMILIES. WE WORK CLOSELY WITH THESE FAMILIES EVERY DAY. AND THE FINDINGS REFLECT WHAT WE SEE ON THE GROUND. MANY FOREIGN-BORN MOTHERS WANT TO WORK BUT FACE MAJOR STRUCTURED BARRIER. 
          LIKE LIMITED ENGLISH ACCESS. LACK OF AFFORDABLE CHILD CARE AND FINANCIAL HARDSHIP. AT THE FOUNDATION WE HELP OTHERS WITH CHALLENGES THROUGH EARLY CHILDHOOD TRAINING. 
          ESL CLASSES. CAREER DEVELOPMENT AND MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORT. FOR MANY MOTHERS, THIS PROGRAM 
          [00:45:01]
ARE MORE THAN SERVICE. THEY ARE TRUSTED SPACE TO CONNECT, LEARN AND FIND OTHER RESOURCES. 
          WE SUPPORT THESE FINDINGS AND THE IMPORTANCE OF INVESTING IN ACCESSIBLE CHILD CARE AND COMMUNITY-BASED PROGRAMS THAT HELP FAMILIES MOVE TOWARDS STABILITY AND STRENGTHEN OUR WORK FORCE ACROSS HARRIS COUNTY. 
          THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. 
          AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORK. CAN YOU PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME 
          FOR THE RECORD? >> LAYLA ZAYD. 
          >> THANK YOU. NEXT IS-- SPEAKER-- SPEAKING VIRTUALLY. YOU HAVE ONE MINUTE. 
          >> HELLO? I'M LYDIA. 
          AND I'M A DISABILITY RIGHTS ACTIVIST WITH ADAPT. 
          I HAVE A POINT TO MAKE ABOUT THE-- PLAN. 
          DISABLED CHILDREN CONSTITUTE SOCIAL REMOVAL AND SEGREGATION. 
          DISABLED PEOPLE HAVE HISTORICALLY AND CONTINUE TO BE A SOCIALLY STIGMATIZED GROUP. SEGREGATED, WE WILL NEVER BE EQUAL. THE RAMIFICATIONS OF THIS HAVE LASTING CONSEQUENCES. I UNDERSTAND THIS FIRSTHAND. 
          I ATTENDED SEGREGATED SCHOOLS AS A CHILD. 
          WE DID NOT RECEIVE AN EDUCATION COMPARABLE TO OUR NON-DISABLED PEERS. SEGREGATION OF AFFECTS LEARNING OUTCOME AND HARMS OUR SOCIAL AND PSYCHOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENT AS WE LACK THE SAME OPPORTUNITIES TO DEVELOP THESE SKILLS. FOR 50-PLUS YEARS, DISABLED PEOPLE HAVE STRUGGLED FOR INCLUSION IN OUR COMMUNITY. 
          FOR THE SAME OPPORTUNITIES AS OTHERS. 
          THIS STARTS WITH EQUITABLE ACCESS TO EDUCATION. 
          AS OUTLINED IN THE ADA AND SECTION 504. 
          >> THANK YOU MA'AM. >> NEXT IS SPEAKER SHELBY JACOBS. JOSEPH BENSING. 
          JACKIE ANDERSON. YOU EACH HAVE ONE MINUTE. 
          >> YES, HI MY NAME IS SHELBY JACOBS. 
          I'M THEOR TALK ABOUT SOMETHING THAT'S BEEN GOING ON SINCE 2018. IT'S A BIT OF A BIBLICAL PRINCIPLE. THROUGH WITCHCRAFT. 
          SOMEONE'S BEEN FOLLOWING US FROM YEAR TO YEAR. 
          STALKING US. WANTING TO DO THINGS TO US. 
          EVERYBODY ANDEN CAUSING ME MENTAL HEALTH DISORDERS. 
          CAUSING SCHIZOPHRENIC AND EVERYTHING. 
          I'VE CALLED THE POLICE ABOUT THE SITUATION. 
          AND NOTHING IS BEING DONE BECAUSE THEY CALL EIGHT SUPER NATURAL PHENOMENON. I COME TO COMMISSIONER 'S COURT TODAY TO BRING THIS TO ATTENTION. 
          BECAUSE IT DID AFFECT MY MENTAL HEALTH GOING INTO DIFFERENT FACILITIES WHERE I'VE BEEN ASKED SEVERAL QUESTIONS OF MY MENTAL STATE OF MIND. AS YOU CAN SEE, MY MENTAL STATE OF MIND IS OF GREAT HEALTH. BUT BECAUSE OF THE SITUATION, 
          IT IS ON MY RECORD. >> THANK YOU SIR. 
          I WILL HAVE MY STAFF VISIT WITH YOU. 
          >> GOOD MORNING JUDGE AND COMMISSIONERS. 
          MY NAME IS JOSEPH BENSEN. I'M A COMMUNITY HEALTH WORK WERE HEALTH CARE FOR HOMELESS HOUSTON. 
          I'M HERE TODAY TO SAY THANK YOU TO JUSTICE HIDALGO FOR GIVING US A PROCLAMATION. WE HAD HOMELESS-- DAY AND ALLOWIZE TOCK COME OUT AND PRESENT THAT TO US. 
          THANK YOU. AND AS ALWAYS, ALWAYS THANK COMMISSIONER ELLIS FOR ALL THE SUPPORT HE HAS GIVEN US WITH HOMELESS. THE PAST 11 YEARS IN ALLOWING PATRICK TO COME OUT AND PRESENT THE PEOPLE THAT WAS ON OUR PROGRAM WITH THE BEAUTIFUL CERTI CERTIFICATE. THAT YOUR PEOPLE HAVE ALWAYS MADE FOR US. SECONDLY, WE HAVE OUR ANNUAL IMPACT REPORT. SO YA'LL CAN SEE THE IMPACT THAT WE'VE HAD ON THE HOMELESS COMMUNITY HERE IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON AND ONCE AGAIN, TO SAVE THE DATE, JUNE 25TH IS HOMELESS SUCCESS DAY. THAT'S WHEN WE HAVE INDIVIDUALS NOT ONLY FROM HEALTH CARE FOR THE HOMELESS, BUT FROM OTHER AGENCIES COME AND TALK ABOUT HOW THOSE AGENCIES HAVE HELPED THEM TO BECOME SUCCESSFUL. THANK YOU. 
          >> THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORK. 
          >> THANK YOU SIR. >> THANK YOU SO MUCH. 
          WE'LL TAKE A LOOK AT THE REPORT AND HOPE TO JOIN NEW JUNE. 
          >> THANK YOU. >> GOOD MORNING COMMISSIONERS AND THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING NE SPEAK TODAY. 
          I'M JACKIE ANDERSON PRESIDENT OF THE HOUSTON FEDERATION OF TEACHERS. I JUST WANT TO SHARE THIS ONE THING TO PREFACE WHAT I'M ABOUT TO SAY. 
          HOW BAD IS HIS SPECIAL-- CHANGES EVEN THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION IS SOUNDING THE ALARM. 
          [00:50:02]
HIS REPORTED PLAN TO MOVE SOME SPECIAL EDUCATION STUDENTS TO CENTRALIZED CAMPS IS A BAD IDEA FOR SEVERAL MAJOR REASONS. 
          ESPECIALLY AROUND INCLUSION, STABILITY, TRANSPARENCY AND LEGALITY. HISD ADMITS TO MAKING CHANGES. 
          BUT REFUSES TO ANSWER QUESTIONS ABOUT THEM. 
          COMMISSIONERS, THIS ISSUE MATTERS BECAUSE EVEN IF HARRIS COUNTY DOES NOT DIRECTLY CONTROL HOUSTON, INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT, YOU STILL HOLD ONE OF THE MOST POWERFUL TOOLS IN LOCAL GOVERNMENT. THE PUBLIC PLATFORM TO DEMAND ACCOUNTABILITY. THE CONCERN MANY FAMILIES HAVE 
          IS SIMPLE. >> GO AHEAD PRESIDENT ANDERSON. 
          >> THANK YOU. STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES SHOULD NOT BE PUSHED FURTHER AWAY FROM THEIR NEIGHBOURHOOD SCHOOLS WITHOUT TRANSPARENCY, PARENT PARTNERSHIP, AND THE CLEAR DEMONSTRATION THAT THE MOVE TRULY BENEFITS THE CHILD RATHER THAN ADMINISTRATIVE CONVENIENCE. 
          FOR MANY SPECIAL EDUCATION STUDENTS, CONSISTENCY IS CRITICAL. RELATIONSHIPS MATTER. 
          ROUTINES MATTER. AND INCLUSION WITH PEERS MATTERS. PARENTS ARE WORRIED THAT CENTRALIZED PLACEMENTS COULD MEAN LONGER BUS RIDES. 
          SEPARATION FROM SIBLINGS. AND NEIGHBOURHOOD COMMUNITIES. 
          DISRUPTION OF ENTRUSTED TEACHER RELATIONSHIPS. 
          AND REDUCED INCLUSION OPPORTUNITIES. 
          THIS IS ESPECIALLY SENSITIVE BECAUSE HISD ALREADY HAS DEMONSTRATED HISTORY OF SPECIAL EDUCATION COMPLIANCE FAILURES THAT DREW STATE SCRUTINY. FAMILIES ARE ASKING WHY SUCH A MAJOR RESTRUCTURING APPEARS TO BE MOVING FASTER THAN COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT. COUNTY GOVERNMENT MAY NOT CONTROL HISD POLICY. BUT COUNTY GOVERNMENT LEADERS ABSOLUTELY CAN ELEVATE PARENTS' VOICES. 
          CONVENIENT PUBLIC DISCUSSIONS. REQUEST TRANSPARENCY. 
          DISCOURAGE-- ENCOURAGE DISABILITY RIGHTS REVIEW. 
          AND ASSIST THEIR DECISIONS INVOLVING VULNERABLE CHILDREN HAPPEN PUBLICALLY AND COLLABORATIVELY. 
          -- MATTERS BECAUSE MANY PARENTS FEEL THEY ARE NOT BEING HEARD INSIDE THE CURRENT GOVERNMENT STRUCTURE OF HISD. 
          THIS IS NOT ABOUT OPPOSING INNOVATION OR SPECIALIZED SUPPORT SERVICES. SPECIALIZED PROGRAMS WORK WHEN THEY ARE ADEQUATELY STAFFED, VOLUNTARY WHEN APPROPRIATE AND CAREFULLY DESIGNED AND BUILT AROUND STUDENT NEEDS. 
          THE CONCERN IS WHETHER THIS PROPOSAL RISKS MOVING BACKWARDS FROM INCLUSION TOWARDS SEPARATION. 
          WITHOUT SUFFICIENT EVIDENCE, PLANNING OR PUBLIC TRUST. 
          AT A MINIMUM, PARENTS DESERVE FULL PUBLIC DISCLOSURE OF THE P PLAN. 
          CLEAR PLACEMENT. CRITERIA. 
          INDEPENDENT LEGAL OR EDUCATIONAL REVIEW. 
          PARENT INPUT BEFORE IMPLEMENTATION. 
          TRANSPORTATION IMPACT ANALYSIS AND GUARANTEES STUDENT'S RIGHTS ON THE IDEA AND LEAST RESTRICTIVE ENVIRONMENT PROTECTIONS WILL BE UPHELD. WHEN GOVERNMENT DECISIONS AFFECT FRAGILE CHILDREN, STUDENTS WITH AUTISM ARE STUDENTS REQUIRING BEHAVIOURAL AND COMMUNICATION SUPPORTS. 
          THE PUBLIC DESERVES TRANSPARENCY AND BOARD DISRUPTION NOT AFTER. AND THANK YOU COMMISSIONERS FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SHARE WITH YOU TODAY. 
          THANK YOU VERY MUCH. >> THANK YOU SO MUCH PRESIDENT ANDERSEN AND YOUR REMARKS ARE-- WE'VE HEARD THEM. 
          WE CAN'T ENGAGE IN A SUBSTANTIVE  CONVERSATIONS SINCE THERE'S AN ITEM ON THE AGENDA FOR THIS AND I KNOW MY 
          STAFF HAS CHATTED WITH YOU. >> JUDGE. 
          I JUST WANT TO THANK YOU, JACKIE FOR COMING AS WELL. 
          I'LL GIVE YOU A CALL. WE GOT ABOUT 494 ITEMS TO GET TO TODAY. SO I'M BELABOURING IT NOW BUT 
          I'LL GIVE YOU A CALL. >> THANK YOU SO MUCH. 
          >> THANK YOU. >> NEXT IS SPEAKERS JACOB-- REGINA-- JESSICA CAMPEAUS, BISHOP DIXIE, YOU  EACH HAVE 
          ONE MINUTE. >> I KNOW HIM. 
          >> HEY JACOB. 
          >>. >> DO WE WANT TO TRY TO SET UP OR TAKE ANOTHER SPEAKER? O 
          [00:55:01]
OKAY. TIFFANY WHO IS AFTER 
          MR. CLEMENTAGE? >> REGINA-- JESSICA CAMPEAUS 
          AND BISHOP DIXON. >> OKAY, THEY ARE MAKING THEIR 
          WAY. >> OKAY, HELLO MY NAME IS REGINA SOFAS. THANKS FOR HAVING ME. 
          I'M JUST HERE TO SPEAK ON MY RIGHTS. 
          I HAVE NO LAWSUIT. I'LL FILE WITH SHEPARD PRECINCT ONE. MR. RODNEY DEYOUNG. 
          RODNEY ELLIS ARE-- OKAY. AND I FILE THE WRIT. 
          I FILE THE ABSTRACT. AND I'M TRYING TO SEE WHY MY CASE IS PROLONGING. IT'S BEEN PROLONGING FOR AWHILE. I HAVE NO UNEMPLOYMENT. 
          I'VE APPEALED EVERYTHING. I HAVE NO RESPOND TO THAT. 
          AND MY RIGHTS OF A 55 PLUS. I'M NOT A PART OF THE PROGRAM. 
          AS TO WHERE YOU PAY 500 IN HARRIS COUNTY PAY A THOUSAND. 
          I HAVE NONE OF THAT. I'VE TRIED TO CONTACT THE FIELD OFFICER OF SOUTHWEST. THERE'S NO RESPONSE. 
          AND ALSO THE OFFICERS AT MORE KARMA, THEY ARE AFRAID TO WRITE A POLICE REPORT. FOR THIS PARTICULAR PROPERTY. 
          >> SO MY STAFF HAS TRIED TO REACH A COUPLE OF TIMES. 
          SO YOU MIGHT ANSWER A NUMBER THAT YOU DON'T RECOGNIZE. 
          AND THEY'LL TRY TO CALL YOU. OKAY? IT'S IN THE JUDICIAL SYSTEM. BUT SOMEBODY WILL CALL YOU. 
          >> JUDICIAL. FROM AUSTIN. 
          >> NO MAYBE LOCALLY I'M NOT SURE. 
          BUT IT'S NOT US. BUT WE'LL CALL YOU. 
          SO ANSWER THAT NUMBER YOU MAY NOT RECOGNIZE. 
          >> YES, SIR. APPRECIATE YOU. 
          >> ALL RIGHT. >> GOOD MORNING COMMISSIONERS. 
          MY NAME IS JESSICA CAMPOS A PARENT IN HISD AND COMMUNITY ADVOCATE FOR--. I'M ALSO FOUNDER OF HOUSTON'S YOUNG MONARCHS. I AM HERE BECAUSE FAMILIES ACROSS HOUSTON ARE IN CRISIS OVER WHAT'S HAPPENING IN SPECIAL EDUCATION. PARENTS ARE RECEIVING LETTERS AND PHONE CALLS. TELLING THEM THAT THEIR CHILDREN ARE BEING MOVED FROM THEIR SCHOOLS AWAY FROM THEIR FAMILIES. I MEAN THEIR FAMILIAR TEACHER, STAFF AND FRIENDS. YET MANY WERE NEVER INCLUDED THIS MY DECISION OR DISCUSSION BEFOREHAND. 
          NO EXPLANATION. NO PREPARATION. 
          AND NO CHOICE. FOR CHILDREN WITH DISABILITIES, ROUTINES IS SAFETY. STABILITY IS SAFETY. 
          THESE SUDDEN CHANGES CAN CAUSE ANXIETY, EMOTIONAL DISTRESS, BEHAVIOUR REGRESSION AND MAJOR ACADEMIC SETBACKS FOR CHILDREN WHO DEPEND ON CONSISTENCY TO FUNCTION AND TO FEEL SECURE. 
          THE FAMILIES MOST AFFECTED ARE OVERWHELMINGLY WORKING CLASS SPANISH SPEAKING IMMIGRANT FAMILIES AND PARENTS OF CHILDREN WITH HIGHER SUPPORT NEEDS. 
          SOME PARENTS DO NOT KNOW WHAT AN IEP IS. 
          >> CAN YOU WRAP UP THERE BRIEFLY WE'VE CUT OFF ALL 
          SPEAKERS AT TIME. >> REALLY GOVERNOR ABBOTT SAYS PEOPLE HAVE CHOICE. THESE PEOPLE DON'T HAVE CHOICE. 
          THEY CAN'T READ OR USE E-MAIL. WE NEED HELP SUPPORT TRANSPARENCY FOR YOU TO USE YOUR LEADERSHIP TO CREATE AWARENESS ABOUT WHAT'S HAPPENING IN THE DISTRICT RIGHT N NOW. 
          >> YOU ARE THE. >> THANK YOU FOR LETTING ME FIGURE IT OUT. I'M TOO OLD TO BE COMPUTER LITERATE. BUT TOOK PLACE ON MAY 5TH. 
          WHICH IS CINCO DE MAYO. GOOD EVENING. 
          A LETTER THAT I WROTE TO THEM ABOUT WHAT--. 
          >> THANK YOU YOUR TIME IS UP. >> THANK YOU. 
          THANK YOU JACOB. >> BISHOP? 
          [01:00:01]
          >> JUDGE, GOOD TO SEE YOU AND TO THE COMMISSIONER'S COURT. 
          GOOD TO BE HERE AGAIN TODAY. AND HONOURED TO BE HERE TO SPEAK ON BEHALF OF THE ITEM REFERENCED BY PRESIDENT JACKIE ANDERSON. AND I'LL BE 40 SECONDS. 
          TO ADVOCATE ON BEHALF OF SPECIAL NEEDS STUDENTS AND THEIR PARENTS. THE FACT THAT A LAW IS ABOUT TO BE BROKEN TO UNDERSTAND WHAT THAT MEANS. 
          IS VERY IMPORTANT. AND OF COURSE WE DON'T WANT TO GO BACK TO SEGREGATING SCHOOLS AS WE MOVE FORWARD FROM SEGREGATED SCHOOLS. AND INTEGRATING SPECIAL NEEDS TO STUDENTS AND TO STUDENT GENERAL POPULATION OF COURSE HELPS THEIR SELF-ESTEEM. . 
          >> THANK YOU FOR OUR YEARS OF PARTNERSHIP ON TRYING TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN KIDS' LIVES. I APPRECIATE YOU COMING DOWN HERE TRYING TO DO THE SAME THING. 
          >> STILL AT IT. >> BISHOP THANK YOU SO MUCH. 
          THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR COMING DOWN. 
          OBVIOUSLY BEEN HEARING FOLKS TRYING TO FIND A WAY TO GET THIS ADMINISTRATION TO BETTER HEAR THE COMMUNITY. 
          SERVE TRYING. MY QUESTION TO YOU IS DO YOU THINK THAT THERE'S STILL-- WHAT MORE COULD WE BE DOING TO GET SOME ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF THESE CONCERNS? 
          >> COMMISSION, GREAT QUESTION. I THINK WE WILL HAVE TO DO SOME THINGS UNTRADITIONALLY. PERHAPS WE CONDUCT A FORUM IN THE COMMUNITY WITH FAITH LEADERS TO HAVE A PUBLICIZED COLLECTIVE CONCERN. AND TO APPEAL TO THE ADMINISTRATION AT A DIFFERENT LEVEL. 
          WOULD HAVE A DIFFERENT EFFECT. SOMETHING ELSE THAT WE HAVE NOT 
          TRIED. >> WORKING WITH YOU. 
          >> COMMISSIONER ELLIS. >> JUST WANT TO THANK HIM FOR HIS WORK. I TALK TO HIM EVERY DAY. 
          I DON'T MAKE IT TO CHURCH EVERY SUNDAY. 
          BUT I DO GET NOW ENOUGH. >> BISHOP PRAY. 
          >> I KNEW YOU'RE HEADED TO MONTGOMERY THIS WEEKEND. 
          THERE'S JUST SO MUCH ISSUES OUT THERE AND JACKIE KNOWS THAT AS WELL. SO MANY THAT ARE GOING ON RIGHT NOW. BUT WHATEVER ISSUE COMES UP. 
          SOMETIMES THEY SAY DO YOU WANT TO GET SOMETHING DONE. 
          GET SOMEBODY WHO IS BUSY. SO YOU CERTAINLY ARE BUSY. 
          SO JUST THANK YOU FOR YOUR GREAT WORK. 
          >> I THINK ALL OF US AND PARTNERS. 
          THE HUMAN EXPERIMENT AND UNDERSTANDING THAT PROGRESS FOR ONE SHOULD BE PROGRESS FOR ALL. AND IF WE COULD KEEP THAT VISION GOING, AND KEEP HOPE ALIVE, AS REVEREND JESSE WOULD TELL US. BECAUSE AS LONG AS WE WORK TOGETHER, BETTER IS POSSIBLE. THANK YOU ALL SO VERY MUCH. 
          >> SATURDAY MORNING SESSION. THAT REVEREND JACKSON USED TO TALK ABOUT. LET HER CONVENE IT. 
          AS I POINT OUT. WE CAN'T GO TO EVERYTHING. 
          >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. >> TAKE CARE. 
          BISHOP. THANK YOU. 
          >> NEXT IS-- SANCHEZ ON ITEM 4 488. MANAGING SPEAKER, TYLER-- ALEXI--. YOU EACH HAVE ONE MINUTE. 
          >> GO AHEAD. >> GOOD MORNING JUDGE. 
          MY NAME IS RICO  SANCHEZ WITH SMART INTERNATIONAL. 
          THIS MORNING WE'RE ASKING HARRIS COUNTY WITH IMPROVED WAGE COMPLIANCE POLICIES AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. 
          BETTER UNDERSTAND COMPLIANCE ISSUES WAGES TAKING PLACE SO THEY CAN BE RESOLVED WITH HARRIS HEALTH AND WORKERS CAN 
          BE PAID WHAT THEY ARE OWED. >> THANK YOU. 
          >> GOOD MORNING. I'M HERE ON BEHALF OF THE STREET LIGHTS OF MY COMMUNITY. 2023 I WANT TO EXPRESS HOW IMPORTANT THIS CONCERN IS FOR THE SAFETY AND WELL BEING OF EVERYONE WHO LIVES HERE. THE LACK OF PROPER LIGHTING AT THE MIC CREATES A SERIOUS VISIBILITY ISSUE THAT MAKES IT HARD TO SEE OR DRIVE SAFELY OR WALK OR IDENTIFY HAZARDS IN THE ROAD. IN ADDITION TO THIS, I PERSONALLY HAVE A-- SORRY. IT'S CALLED--. 
          [01:05:03]
IT IMPEDES MY VISION. SO IT IS A PERSONAL AFFECT FROM MYSELF. 2023 DESPITE THE LENGTH OF TIME. THIS IS NOT ONLY INCONVENIENT BUT ALSO A SAFETY CONCERN FOR RESIDENTS, VISITOR, PEDESTRIANS. AND EMERGENCY RESPONDERS. 
          >> THANK YOU MA'AM. >> THANK YOU FOR COMING. 
          HAPPY TO VISIT WITH YOU. IF YOU'D LIKE. 
          THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU ALL. 
          THANK YOU. WE SEE YOU. 
          >> INCLUDING ONE HOUSE IN LOUISIANA. 
          AND STANDARDS THIS YEAR BUT WE STILL NEED MORE CAPACITY HERE LOCALLY. WHEN PEOPLE ARE SENT TO JAILS IN MISSISSIPPI OR ANOTHER ACCESS TO FAMILY AND LEGAL SUPPORT DROPS SHARPLY. DECREASING THEIR REHABILITATION WHICH ULTIMATELY DECREASES PUBLIC SAFETY IN HARRIS COUNTY. 
          AT THE SAME TIME, MANY ON-- STREET ARRIVE IN POOR CONDITION. POT HOLES. 
          DARK INTERSECTIONS AND LONG DELAYED CREWS HAZARDS FOR RESIDENTS. THESE AREN'T COSMETIC ISSUES BUT BASIC SAFETY CONCERNS. THAT DESERVE CONSISTENT ATTENTION. EACH PRECINCT INCLUDING THE ONE EITHER IN PRECINCT THREE SHOULD RECEIVE THEIR SHARE OF FUNDS. 
          IF THE COUNTY WANTS TO STRENGTHEN PUBLIC SAFETY, DEPOSIT STRAIGHT FORWARD SAFE ADEQUATE RESOURCE. 
          AND INFRASTRUCTURE THAT PROTECTS THE PEOPLE WHO RELY ON IT EVERY DAY. THANK YOU. 
          >> THANK YOU. >> GOOD MORNING COMMISSIONERS AND JUDGE. MY NAME IS CHRIS-- WORK WITH THE PROJECT TODAY I'M HERE TODAY TO TALK ABOUT SAFETY CAMERAS. I KNOW TODAY WOULD HAVE BEEN TY INITIAL VOTE TO RENEW THESE CONTRACTS AND I'M REALLY GRATEFUL FOR IT TO BE PUSHED TO JUNE 11TH BECAUSE I THINK IT GIVES US ENOUGH TIME TO REALLY ANALYZE THE EFFECTIVENESS OF FLOCK AS WELL AS THE PROBLEMATIC ISSUES CONNECTED TO IT. I THINK IT WOULD BE REALLY IMPORTANT FOR COMMISSIONERS TO LOOK INTO THE RACIAL IMPLICATIONS OF HAVING FLOCK SYSTEMS. OFTENTIMES THESE DEVICES ARE PUT INTO LOW END COMMUNITIES. 
          AFFECTING OVER SURVEILLANCE IN THOSE AREAS. 
          I THINK IT'S ALSO IMPORTANT FOR US TO LOOK INTO A CIVIL RIGHTS IMPLICATIONS. IN REGARDS TO HOW THESE DEVICES BLUR ARE AGAINST UNREASONABLE SEARCH AND SEIZURE. 
          ALLOWING LAW ENFORCEMENT TO HAVE SUCH ACCESS INTO OUR DAILY LIVES. ESPECIALLY WHEN OFFICERS CAN SEARCH INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE NOT UNDER INVESTIGATION FOR A CRIME. SO I REALLY DO HOPE THAT EVERYONE TAKES A TIME TO LOOK INTO THIS AND VOTE NO. 
          AND DO NOT RENEW THIS CONTRACT WHEN IT COMES TO VOTE. 
          SO THANK YOU SO MUCH. >> THANK YOU. 
          >> MANAGING THE SPEAKERS. MARY PAT-- AND RICHARD HEID YOU 
          EACH HAVE ONE UNIT. >> GOOD MORNING. 
          MY NAME IS MARIE PATMAN AND I AM A HARRIS COUNTY RESIDENT AND A PARENT OF A CHILD WITH A DISABILITY WHO IS BEING HARMED BY THE STATE TAKEOVER OF HOUSTON ISD. 
          MY HUSBAND AND I BUILT OUR LIVES IN HOUSTON. 
          ONE IN MEDICINE, ONE IN THE ARTS. 
          MY SON WHO WAS BORN WITH A DISABILITY HAS THRIVED HERE. 
          BUT THE INSTABILITY INSIDE HISD IS NOW PUSHING FAMILIES LIKE MINE OUT OF THE DISTRICT AND IN SOME CASES, OUT OF THE CITY. 
          AND WHERE FAMILIES HAVE-- LEAVE, HOUSTON LOSES PEOPLE. 
          WHO MAKE OUR COMMUNITY STRONGER. 
          THE CHILDREN MOST AFFECTED ARE MOST VULNERABLE. 
          STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES WHO DEPEND ON STABLE INCLUSIVE SCHOOLS. PARENTS HAVE RAISED CONCERNS FOR YEARS BUT WE CANNOT FIX THIS ALONE. 
          THE SUPER INTENDANT'S CONSOLIDATION OF SPECIAL EDUCATION PROGRAMS WITHOUT TRANSPARENCY OR COMMUNITY INPUT HAS ALREADY TRIGGERED A FEDERAL AND CIVIL RIGHTS INVESTIGATION. 
          I KNOW THIS COURT DOES NOT GOVERN HISD, BUT DOW HAVE INFLUENCE, RELATIONSHIPS AND THE ABILITY TO ELEVATE WHAT IS HAPPENING. I'M ASKING YOU TO HELP SHINE A LIGHT ON THE HARM BEING DONE AND REPORT STORIES REPORT 
          ACCOUNTABILITY. >> HELLO I'M THEOR SPEAK ON THE DRAINAGE PROJECT WHICH IS TOTALLY IN THE 500 YEAR FLOODPLAIN. AND ADDITIONALLY IT'S IN THE FLOOD WAVE-- CREEK. DEEP WATER STAFF. 
          OUR PART OF THE NEIGHBOURHOOD IS NOT IN DANGER OF FLOODING AREA. WE'RE HIGH THERE. 
          WE FLOOD LAST. IF ANYTHING. 
          WE ALREADY HAVE A 25 FOOT WIDE. 30 FOOT WIDE 2 ½ OR 3 FEET 
          [01:10:04]
DEEP. THAT DRAINS OUR NEIGHBOURHOOD THROUGH YOU D. AND IT WORKS BEAUTIFULLY. 
          HI THE GATES PUT IN THERE. SECURITY GATES SO WATER COULD GO THROUGH. NOW I HAD ARRANGED WITH COMMISSIONERS FOUR TO GO UPSTAIRS. 
          ENGINEERS SAID OKAY WE'LL SEND THE EOR OUT. 
          BUT THEY SENT THEIR OTHER PERSON FROM THE ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT OUT WHO IMMEDIATELY TOLD THAT EOR NOT. 
          >> THANK YOU THAT'S TIME. COULD YOU PLEASE STATE YOUR 
          NAME FOR THE RECORD? >> RICHARD HEID. 
          >> RICH CHRD ITEM IS IT ON THE AGENDA? 
          >> IT'S NOT. >> OKAY, WE'LL VISIT WITH YOU. 
          FORGIVE ME. I'LL HAVE MY STAFF VISIT WITH YOU. THANK YOU. 
          >> OKAY. >> THAT'S ALL THE SPEAKERS, 
          JUDGE. >> OH OKAY. 
          THANK YOU. SO OKAY. 
          [Departments (Part 1 of 4)]
ALL RIGHT. SO JUST SOME HOUSEKEEPING POINTS HERE. SO IT'S A PARTICULARLY IMPORTANT COURT I THINK IN TERMS OF PUBLIC INTEREST. 
          SO WE'RE TRYING TO BALANCE HERE IN TERMS OF WHAT WE DO FIRST AND LAST. JUST A NOTE, COMMISSIONER BRIONES IS OBVIOUSLY NOT HERE TODAY AND COMMISSIONER ELLIS HAS TO LEAVE THE COURTROOM BY 4 OR 4:30 COMMISSIONER? 
          >> ABOUT 4 O'CLOCK. I'VE GOT GRADUATION TO GO TO. 
          SO I'LL HAVE TO GET OUT OF HERE. 
          >> YES, A BIG ONE. AND THEN SO COMMISSIONER RAMSEY HAS REQUESTED THAT WE START WITH THE FLOOD CONTROL EXECUTIVE SESSION. WE MIGHT AS WELL TAKE THE OTHER EXECUTIVE SESSION ITEMS. I'M TEMPTED TO GO THROUGH THE CONSENT AGENDA ESPECIALLY SO WE GO FIGURE OUT WHAT ALL NEEDS TO GO TO EXECUTIVE SESSION? IS THAT OKAY COMMISSIONER? SO ANY CHANGES ON ITEM SEVEN? ONB REQUESTS NO ACTION. 
          144 KNOW ACTION REQUIRED ON THE LEGISLATIVE ITEM. 
          THEN 150 WE HAVE A CORRECTION. REPLACE REALLOCATION WITH RELOCATION. SO IT SHOULD SAY BAYTOWN TEXAS 77 521 FOR THE TEMPORARY RELOCATION OF LED ABATEMENT CLIENTS. ITEM 165ONB REQUESTS NO ACTION. 
          328 PRECINCT ONE REQUESTS NO ACTION. 
          392 NO ACTION. 420 REPLACING COMMISSIONERS WITH PRECINCT FOUR WITH FOUR AND ONE. 
          437 REPLACE COURT TO IMPLEMENT THE END HOMELESSNESS PROGRAM WITH QUOTE, FOR THE REIMBURSEMENT OF LAW ENFORCEMENT OVERTIME TO HELP END HOMELESSNESS, ENHANCE PUBLIC SAFETY AND IMPROVE PUBLIC SPACES. 
          ITEM 456 PURCHASING REQUEST, NO ACTION. 
          ITEM 460, CORRECTION REPLACE NWD CONTRACTED GOAL 33.73%. 
          WITH JUSTIFICATION FROM 0% NWB PARTICIPATION GOAL. 
          EXEMPT INTERLOCAL/COOPERATIVE AGREEMENT. 
          4 463, NO ACTION FROM PURCHASING. 
          465, NO ACTION. AND SO WE WILL MOVE TO THE AGENDA. DO WE NEED TO GO TO EXECUTIVE SESSION ON ITEM 416? AN APPOINTMENT TO THE JUSTICE 
          COORDINATING CRIMINAL COUNCIL? >> I DON'T THINK SO. 
          NO. >> ALL RIGHT WHAT ABOUT 417? 
          ANOTHER SNOIMENT. >> NO. 
          >> NO. >> ALL RIGHT 422? THIS IS A REAL PROPERTY WE DO NEED TO GO TO EXECUTIVE SESSION ON THAT. 429 ON THIS RTC SITE DO WE NEED TO GO TO EXECUTIVE SESSION ON THAT ONE ALSO? 
          >> YES. >> YES. 
          OKAY. AND THEN-- 
          >> JUDGE, THEY ARE THE SAME ITEM. 
          >> ALL RIGHT. OKAY. 
          SO THAT'S WHAT I THOUGHT. I WAS LIKE-- BUT OKAY. 
          THEN-- EXCUSE ME? >> OKAY. 
          >> WE HAVE THE CONSENT. UNTIL NOW. 
          YEAH. >> I'M SORRY I DIDN'T CATCH. 
          I'M GOING THROUGH THE THE AGENDA, IS THAT OKAY? 
          [01:15:05]
OKAY. THEN LET'S GO. 
          THERE'S 490 WHICH WE DO WANT TO DISCUSS. 
          MEMBERS FOR-- OH OR IS THAT THE ONE WHERE WE HAVE TO-- OKAY SO ITEMS 490 AND 491 HAVE BEEN TAGGED BY COMMISSIONER GARCIA AND COMMISSIONER BRION ECHL S UNDER THE ADOPTED COURT RULES NO ACTION MAY BE TAKEN ON THESE ITEMS AT THIS MEETING. 
          BUT THEY MAY BE DISCUSSED IF INCLUDED IN THE DISCUSSION LIST OR EXECUTIVE SESSION LIST. THESE ITEMS WILL AUTOMATICALLY BE PLACED FOR CONSIDERATION AT THE NEXT REGULARLY CALLED 
          MEETING. >> I'LL MAKE A MOTION WE MOVE FORWARD. WE TAKE IN THOSE ITEMS AND 
          CHANGE THE DECORUM ON THIS ONE. >> OKAY. 
          I MAKE A SECOND. ALL IN FAVOUR? 
          >> AYE. >> ANY OPPOSED? 
          >> MOTION CARRIES 3 TO 1. SO WE WILL DISCUSS 490 AND 491 AS WELL. WE NEED TO DISCUSS ITEM 2, 
          CORRECT? >> YES. 
          >> ITEM 3? AS WELL? IN THE BUDGET. AND ALSO ITEM 6. 
          ITEM 400 GOES WITH 2 AND 6 THEY ARE RELATED TO FY 27 BUDGET. 
          AND THEN WE HAVE ITEM 12 FLAGGED BY PRECINCTS TWO AND 
          THREE. >> YES. 
          >> ITEM 13 PRECINCT 3. LOD LEADING RETROFIT. 
          47 PRECINCT TWO. >> COULD WE ADD 15 AS WELL? 
          >> YES JUST A MOMENT. >> IT'S 13 AND. 
          >> YES. OKAY SO 15 IS ON THE COURT'S-- COUNTY COURT'S EXPANSION PROJECT. 
          DOES THAT SOUND RIGHT? >> YES. 
          >> ALL RIGHT. AND THEN WE HAVE 47 THAT IS-- IMPROVEMENT IN BAYTOWN. COMMISSIONER GARCIA. 
          OKAY 48. WE HAVE ANOTHER PRECINCT TWO FLAGGED ITEM. A MUD. 
          143. >> YES. 
          >> OKAY. 177. 
          >> YES. >> 217? 
          >> YES. >> 218? UM-- SO THAT ONE WAS FLAGGED BY PRECINCT THREE AS WELL. 
          HARRIS CENTRE COURSE NEUTRAL. REALLOCATION OF PROGRAM BUDGET 
          FUNDS TO THE WISE PROGRAM. >> NO YOU CAN JUST KEEP IT. 
          >> OKAY SO WE'LL PUT THAT BACK IN CONSENT. 
          ITEM 219 PRECINCT 3 THE YMCA? >> YES. 
          >> 228 PRECINCT 2 THE TAX ASSESSOR HOME--. 
          COMMISSIONER GARCIA WOULD YOU LIKE TO STILL DISCUSS ITEM 228? OKAY. WHAT ABOUT 252 COMMISSIONER RAMSEY? 257 COMMISSIONER RAMSEY? 
          >> YES. >> AND THEN 37 0? THAT IS FLAGGED BY COMMISSIONER ELLIS. 
          OTHER CLAIMANT ACTION PLAN? >> JUST SO I CAN GET TO MY 
          SON'S GRADUATION. >> OKAY SO WE'LL PUT THAT BACK ON THE CONSENT. THEN WE HAVE 390. 
          WE ARE DISCUSSING THAT ONE. 394. 
          UNIVERSAL SERVICES REGARDING JAY WEB COMMISSIONER RAMSEY? 
          >> YES. >> THEN THERE'S 400 WHICH WE'LL GO WITH 2 AND 6. 440 IS REQUESTED BY PRECINCT THREE CLINICIAN REMOTE OFFICER. OKAY. 
          462 PURCHASING. >> YES. 
          >> OKAY. 488 COMMISSIONER ELLIS DEEO IT 
          WOULD GO WITH 494. >> WHICH ONE IS THAT? 
          >> 488 IS STATUS UPDATE FROM DEO REGARDING THEIR INITIATIVES 
          AND SERVICES. >> YES. 
          I'LL HOLD THAT ONE. >> OKAY. 
          AND THEN 94 IS THE QUARTERLY UPDATE FROM HARRIS HEALTH. 
          AND HARRIS HEALTH REQUESTED THAT WE TAKE THOSE TWO TOGETHER. SO I'M JUST GOING TO ADD THAT ONE. UNLESS WE DON'T NEED TO DISCUSS IT? WE'LL JUST GIVE THE DOCKETER A CHANCE-- ALL RIGHT. SO OKAY IS THERE ANYTHING I'M MISSING SNEER OKAY THERE'S A COUPLE ITEMS SO ON ITEM FOUR. 
          REMOVE THE UPDATE ON ACCOUNTS RECEIVABLE. 
          WE NEED-- >> NO ACTION JUDGE. 
          >> OKAY ITEM FIVE. EXTRA EXTRA TEEJIC HIRING POLICY. THAT ONE NEEDS TO SAY APPROVED 
          [01:20:01]
          AS PRESENTED. >> YES, THANK YOU. 
          >> ALL RIGHT. 443 RECOGNITION ON KOMPON SXAGS PAY PARITY INITIATIVES. THAT SOMEONE APPROVED AS PRESENTED. SO LET ME READ THE ITEMS LIST RIGHT NOW. WE HAVE EXECUTIVE SESSION 422. 
          429. 490. 
          AND 491. REGULAR AGENDA WE HAVE ITEMS TWO. THREE. 
          SIX. 12. 
          13. 15. 
          47. 
          48143. 177. 
          217. 219. 
          2 2 228. 252. 
          257. 390. 
          394. 4 400440. 462. 
          488 AND 494. DID I MISS ANYTHING? 
          ALL RIGHT IN THAT CASE. >> MOVE TO CONSIDER AGENDA. 
          >> ALL RIGHT. ALL IN FAVOUR? ANY OPPOSEED? MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY ON THE CONSENT AGENDA. SO WE WILL BREAK NOW FOR EXECUTIVE SESSION. AND WE WILL BE DISCUSSING ITEMS 422 429, 490 AND 491 TO CONSULT WITH OUR ATTORNEYS. 
          IS THAT GOOD? ALL RIGHT IT IS 10:28 A.M. 
          A. >> IT IS 12:17, WE ARE BACK IN SESSION. WE WENT TO EXECUTIVE SESSION ON ITEM 422 THAT ITEM IS NO ACTION, 429 ALSO NO ACTION, 490 NO ACTION, 491 NO ACTION. LET'S, SINCE WE WENT TO EXECUTIVE SESSION, WHY DON'T WE GO TO THE FLOOD CONTROL ITEMS AND HEAR THE PRESENTATION FROM THE DIRECTOR, DOES THAT WORK FOR YOU? DR. PETERSON SHE'S COMING DOWN, PERFECT. AND THEN I BELIEVE WE ARE GOING TO HAVE THE FIFA HOST COMMITTEE OR I DON'T KNOW EXACTLY WHO'S COMING BUT THEY SAID THEY WILL BE HERE AROUND 1240. 
          SO WE MIGHT HAVE TO PAUSE WHATEVER WE ARE DISCUSSING THEN TO HAVE THEM JUMP IN. TRYING TO SEE WHAT ELSE IS ON HERE. WE COULD JUST GO AHEAD AND START WITH THE BUDGET AND THEN WE CAN TAKE FLOOD CONTROL ITEMS AFTER BUDGET, IS THAT OKAY? JUST TO GIVE THE DIRECTOR A CHANCE TO GET IN HERE. LET'S PIVOT AND WE WILL PASS IT ON TO DANIEL SO THIS IS ITEM TWO, SIX AND 400. 
          >> THERE WERE POTENTIALLY TWO PRESENTATIONS WITH THIS ITEM. 
          >> ADMINISTRATOR, I'M SORRY, GO AHEAD. 
          >> AND MAKING SURE YOU STILL WANT TO DO THAT ORDER. 
          >> CORRECT, THERE IS THE FLIGHT 27 AND THERE'S THE Q2 
          PRESENTATION. >> AND THE AUDITOR AND 400 WILL BE TAKEN UP IN THE SHORT PRESENTATION. 
          DIRECTOR, I DID WANT THE AUDITOR'S PRESENTATION FIRST. 
          AUDITOR, YES SHE'S COMING DOWN THE AUDITOR HAS A PRESENTATION ON THE MID YEAR, THIS IS THE QUARTER TWO THESE ARE ACTUALS, REVENUES AND EXPENDITURES. THANK YOU. 
          THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THIS INFORMATION. 
          >> PERFECT, GO AHEAD. >> HELLO, THE COUNTY AUDITOR. 
          THE FINANCIAL UPDATE PROVIDES AN OVERVIEW OF THE GENERAL FUND REVENUES, EXPENDITURES AND ACTIVITY THROUGH THE SECOND QUARTER FISCAL YEAR '26. CATHAY'S ACTUAL REVENUES COMPARED TO THE ESTIMATES AND THEN THE STATUS AND TIMELINE FOR THE FEDERAL AND STATE, THEY ARE BASED ON THE AUDITOR'S OFFICE AND FINANCIAL REPORT FROM MARCH 26, IF WE CAN GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE. THANK YOU. 
          THE FIRST FEW SLIDES I WILL FOCUS ON REVENUE COLLECTIONS THROUGH MID-YEAR, THE FIRST SLIDE SHOWS THREE YEAR TREND OF REVENUE COLLECTION BY MONTH COMBINING OVERVIEW OF THE COUNTY'S TYPICAL GENERAL FUND REVENUE CYCLE. 
          AND TOTAL REVENUE STOOD HERE, FOR FISCAL YEAR '26 JOURNAL 
          [01:25:06]
REVENUES WERE ESTIMATED AT 2.74 BILLION FOR THE FULL FISCAL YEAR. 2.41 BILLION COLLECTED THROUGH THE END OF THE SECOND QUARTER AND THE TREND LINE INDICATES THE TIMING OF THOSE COLLECTIONS REMAIN CONSISTENT WITH IT PRIOR FISCAL YEAR AND THEN THE NEXT SLIDES WILL BREAK DOWN THE COMPONENTS -- UP THOSE REVENUES. THE TAXES MAKE UP 80% OF THE GENERAL FUND REVENUES, AND THIS SLIDE COMPARES A TOTAL TAX COLLECTIONS TO THE END OF THE SECOND QUARTER WITH A TWO PRIOR YEAR'S. THROUGH MARCH 31ST TAX COLLECTIONS TOTALED 2.18 BILLION REPRESENTING 4% INCREASE COMPARED TO THE SAME POINT IN THE PRIOR FISCAL YEAR. 
          NEXT SLIDE. NEXT IS A LOOK AT THE OTHER REVENUES AND TRANSFERS WHICH IS A NONTAX PORTION. 
          AND REVENUES TOTALED JUST OVER 230 MILLION REFLECTING A 3% INCREASE COMPARED TO THE SAME POINT IN THE PRIOR YEAR AND I'M NOT GOING TO GO OVER EACH OF THESE CATEGORIES SO WE WILL POINT OUT THAT CHARGES FOR SERVICES MAKE UP THE LARGEST PORTION AND NEARLY 126 MILLION AND THIS CATEGORY INCLUDES ITEMS SUCH AS THE PATROL CONTRACTS, THE OFFICE, THOSE ARE THE LARGER ONES IN THOSE CATEGORIES AND THEN OTHER FEES. 
          AND THEN ALSO WANTED TO POINT OUT FOR MISCELLANEOUS THE LARGE PORTION OF THAT CATEGORY IS FOR REIMBURSEMENTS TO THE GENERAL FUND FROM OTHER DEPARTMENTS SUCH AS THE CONSTABLE PATROL FOR A TOLL ROAD REIMBURSEMENT FROM FLOOD PATROL AND THE HARRIS HALL AMONG OTHERS. SO THOSE FIRST THREE SLIDES FOCUS ON ACTUAL REVENUE COLLECTIONS THROUGH MID-YEAR, THE NEXT SECTION WE WILL COMPARE THOSE REVENUES TO OUR ESTIMATED REVENUES TO SHOW HOW THEY ARE TRENDING. 
          COMPARED TO PROJECTIONS. AND IN OUR ANNUAL REVENUE ESTIMATE THE AUDITOR'S OFFICE INCLUDES REVENUES THAT ARE BOTH RECURRING AND CAN BE ESTIMATED. ALL OTHER ITEMS MAY BE CERTIFIED AS RECEIVED THROUGHOUT THE YEAR AND THE DEPARTMENT'S EXPENDITURE BUDGET COULD BE ADJUSTED BY THEM ACCORDINGLY. 
          AROUND 4.6 MILLION HAS BEEN CERTIFIED THROUGH MARCH 31ST. 
          AS MENTIONED FISCAL YEAR '26 TOTAL GENERAL FUND REVENUES WERE ESTIMATED AT 2.74 BILLION FOR THE FULL FISCAL YEAR WITH 2.41 BILLION FOR 88% COLLECTED BY THE END OF THE SECOND QUARTER. THEY WERE OFF BY ONE SLIDE, IF YOU COULD GO BACK ONE. THAT SHOWS THE 88% OF THE FULL AMOUNT. NEXT SLIDE. 
          THE ESTIMATED TAX REVENUE OF 2.23 BILLION FOR THE FULL FISCAL YEAR WHICH ACCOUNTED FOR THE MAJORITY OF THE TOTAL REVENUE ESTIMATE ACHIEVED IN 98% OF PROJECTIONS REACHING 2.18 BILLION BY THE END OF THE SECOND QUARTER. 
          NEXT SLIDE. COLLECTIONS FROM ALL OTHER REVENUE SOURCES, THEY ARE PROGRESSING A LITTLE BIT MORE SLOWLY REACHING A COLLECTIVE 45% OF ANNUAL ESTIMATED AMOUNTS AT MIDYEAR AND SOME OF THESE CATEGORIES CAN BE SEASONAL IN NATURE. AND WE COMPARED TO PRIOR YEARS IT'S WORTH NOTING THAT THE TOTAL COLLECTIONS THROUGH THE SECOND QUARTER TYPICALLY RANGE BETWEEN 42 TO 43% OF THE ANNUAL ESTIMATES. SO OVERALL, WITH THE TAX REVENUES PERFORMING THEIR EXPECTATIONS AND CONTRIBUTING TO THE MAJORITY OF THE 4% YEAR OVER YEAR GROWTH, CONTINUED MONITORING OF THE NONTAX REVENUE STREAMS WILL BE IMPORTANT FOR EARLY IDENTIFICATION OF ANY POTENTIAL RISKS TO REACHING THE FOUR YEAR PROJECTIONS. NEXT SLIDE. 
          NEXT WE LOOK AT THE EXPENDITURE SECTION AND REVIEW TO DATE -- SPENDING TRENDS. AND THIS SLIDE THROWS -- SHOWS A THREE YEAR TREND WHICH TENDS TO FOLLOW A STEADY PATTERN THROUGHOUT THE FISCAL YEAR. AND OF THE 2.8 BILLION OPERATING BUDGET ALLOCATED TO THE DEPARTMENT FOR FISCAL YEAR '26, 1.37 BILLION OR 48% OF THAT WAS EXPENDED BY THE END OF THE SECOND QUARTER. NEXT SLIDE. 
          SALARIES AND BENEFITS WHICH MAKE UP THE MAJORITY OF THE GENERAL FUND EXPENDITURES TOTALED 970 MILLION. 
          THROUGH THE END OF THE SECOND QUARTER AND THIS REFLECTS A 12% INCREASE OVER THE SAME TIME IN THE PRIOR YEAR AND THAT ACCOUNTS FOR THE MAJORITY OF THE OVERALL EXPENDITURE INCREASE. 
          NEXT SLIDE. ALL OTHER MAJOR EXPENDITURE CATEGORIES COLLECTIVELY DECREASED BY 2.6 BILLION OR LESS THAN 1% COMPARED TO THE PRIOR YEAR. 
          NOTABLY, THE INCREASE IN SERVICES AND OTHER EXPENDITURES WERE FULLY OFFSET BY REDUCTION IN CAPITAL OUTLAY TRANSFERS OUT AND THE LARGEST CATEGORY WHICH IS THE SERVICES AND OTHER THAT INCLUDES ITEMS SUCH AS JAIL OUTSOURCING, THE HARE CENTER FOR 
          [01:30:02]
MENTAL HEALTH AND ID BUDGET ALLOCATIONS, TEMPORARY PERSONNEL AND REPAIRS AND MAINTENANCE. SO WHEN LOOKING AT THE DEPARTMENT IN THE AGGREGATE, GENERAL FUND EXPENDITURES ARE PROGRESSING IN LINE WITH BUDGETED EXPECTATIONS AT MID YEAR INCREASES ARE THE SAME POINT AS THE PRIOR YEAR PRIMARILY BEING DRIVEN BY PERSONNEL COSTS AND THIS IS SALARIES AND BENEFITS. ALL OTHER CATEGORIES THAT REMAIN HAVE SOMEWHAT FLATTERED SLIGHTLY REDUCED. 
          NEXT SLIDE. NEXT WE LOOK AT THE TREND IN THE COUNTY'S FEDERAL AND GRANT STATEMENT FUNDING BUDGETS AND TIME FOR EXPENDING THOSE FUNDS. THIS SLIDE SHOWS THE ADJUSTED BUDGETS FOR THE FEDERAL AND STATE GRANTS DURING FISCAL YEARS 23 THROUGH THE SECOND QUARTER OF FISCAL YEAR '26. 
          AND AGAIN THIS IS THE BUDGET, IT IS NOT THE AMOUNT EXPENDED PER YEAR BUT THE AMOUNT OF BUDGET THAT AVAILABILITY THAT OCCURRED DURING THOSE YEARS. AND THE AVAILABILITY OF GRANT FUNDING HAS DECLINED SIGNIFICANTLY IN RECENT YEARS DECREASING FROM 3.48 BILLION TO 2.78 BILLION AS OF MARCH 30126. 
          A REDUCTION OF APPROXIMATELY 20%. 
          THIS IS DUE TO THE WINDING DOWN OF THE COVID 19 RELATED DISASTER GRANTS. THIS DECLINE HAS HAD A PRONOUNCED IMPACT ACROSS SEVERAL OTHER KEY PROGRAM AREAS INCLUDING ADMINISTRATION OF JUSTICE, HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, WHICH INCLUDES PUBLIC HEALTH AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT HOUSING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT AND THEN OTHER CRITICAL SERVICES. SO OVERALL THE REDUCTION IN EXTERNAL FUNDING PRESENTS ONGOING BUDGETARY PRESSURES PARTICULARLY IN THOSE DEPARTMENTS THAT DIRECTLY RELIED ON GRANT SUPPORT. NEXT SLIDE. 
          SO, LASTLY, THIS SLIDE SHOWS THAT THE TIMELINE FOR EXPANDING THE REMAINING FEDERAL AND STATE GRANT FUNDS AWARD BALANCES IS NOTED IN THE PREVIOUS SLIDE THE ADJUSTED GRANT BUDGET BALANCE AT MID-YEAR TOTALED 2.78 BILLION, AND THROUGH MARCH 31ST 292 MILLION HAD BEEN EXPENDED AN ADDITIONAL 477 MILLION ENCUMBERED. LEAVING A BALANCE OF JUST OVER 2 BILLION. THE TIMELINE INDICATES A SIGNIFICANT SCALE UP AS NECESSARY FOR EXPANDING THE GRANT THAT WILL EXPIRE IN FISCAL YEAR 28, 95% OF WHICH RELATES TO FLOOD CONTROL FUNDING THIS COULD POTENTIALLY PUSH OUT IF THOSE TO A LATER. IF THOSE GRANTS WERE EXTENDED. 
          IN ADDITIONAL DETAILS ON THE GRANT CATEGORIES AND EXPENDITURE DEADLINES ARE INCLUDED IN THE APPENDIX. 
          AND THEN ALSO INCLUDED IN THE APPENDIX IS A SUMMARIZE BUDGET TO ACTUAL INFORMATION FOR THE REVENUES WE -- EXPENDITURES ON THE COUNTY'S REMAINING FUNDS. AND THAT CONCLUDES THE PRESENTATION AND I'M AVAILABLE FOR ANY QUESTIONS. 
          >> THANK YOU COMMISSIONER ELLIS. >> THANK YOU FOR YOUR PRESENTATION. I'M LOOKING AT REPORT THAT UPDATES YOU GAVE US ON THE CAT N FEDERAL STATE GRANTS. 
          SO I WANT TO MAKE SURE MY READING IS CORRECT HERE I'M SHOWING THAT THEY ARE DOWN BY 20% FROM FISCAL YEAR 2023 TO FISCAL YEAR 2026. WHICH SOME FUNCTIONS SAY EXPERIENCING DROPS AS HIGH AS 71%. 
          >> IF YOU LOOK AT THOSE THAT WERE HEAVILY FUNDED BY THAT COVID 19 GRANTS, AND DISASTER GRANTS YES THAT IS CORRECT. 
          >> I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT FOR US TO HIGHLIGHT THAT IF WE EXPLAIN TO THE PUBLIC WHAT'S GOING ON. THE HARDEST HIT GRANT AREAS ARE ADMINISTRATION AND TRUST US DOWN 58%, HEALTH AND HUMAN RESOURCES DOWN 71%, SIGNIFICANT STRAIN ON CRITICAL SERVICE PROGRAMS. WHAT HAS BEEN THE BIGGEST DRIVER IN TERMS OF OUR INCREASE IN SPENDING HERE FROM THE GENERAL FUND REVENUE? 
          HAS IT BEEN LAW ENFORCEMENT? >> THE BIGGEST DRIVER. 
          >> INCREASED FROM LAST YEAR. >> DID NOT BREAK IT DOWN BY DEPARTMENT BUT DEFINITELY THE SALARIES AND BENEFITS ARE 
          SHOWING A 12% INCREASE. >> AND THEY ARE IMPORTANT BUT. 
          >> MOTION TO CONTINUE THIS DISCUSSION UNTIL IT'S OVER? MOTION BY COMMISSIONER GARCIA, ANY OPPOSED? 
          MOTION CARRIES. >> THAT'S BEEN THE BIGGEST 
          DRIVER IN TERMS OF SALARIES. >> I HAVE TO DEFER TO THE BUDGET OFFICE BECAUSE I'M LOOKING AT IT IN THE AGGREGATE BUT TO BREAK IT 
          DEPARTMENTALLY. >> IT'S THE 2500 FOR UNDER 25, LIVING WAGE AND HEALTH CARE IS SIGNIFICANTLY UP FROM WHAT THE 
          ORIGINAL BUDGET IS. >> THANK YOU. 
          >> COMMISSIONER RAMSEY. >> THIS DOES INCLUDE THE WIND DOWN OF ARPA YOU HAVE THAT COVERED? SO COMPARING YEAR TO YEAR, THE PROJECTED DEFICIT IN Q2 OF THIS 
          [01:35:02]
YEAR IS LESS THAN LAST YEAR AND THE OBVIOUSLY THE CURRENT LEVEL OF SPENDING THIS YEAR COMPARED TO LAST YEAR IS DOWN AS WELL. 
          THOSE ARE TWO GOOD INDICATORS AT LEAST IN TERMS OF WHERE WE ARE NOW. WE DO KNOW THAT WE HAVE TO GET THOSE COVERED BETWEEN NOW AND THEN BUT I GUESS WE FIGURED IT OUT LAST YEAR WE WILL FIGURE OUT THIS YEAR. 
          >> QUICKLY WHAT WAS THE DEFICIT LAST YEAR? 
          >> ORIGINALLY IT WAS 270 MILLION AND THEN THINGS BROKE OUR WAY ALONG AS THE PROCESS WENT THROUGH. 
          TO SOMEWHERE ROUND 200 MILLION WAS WHAT WE WERE WORKING BACKWARDS FROM BUT THE ORIGINAL WAS 270 THIS YEAR AND WE WILL GO OVER THIS IN A SECOND BUT IT'S 129 MILLION. 
          >> OKAY. >> ON THE OTHER PRESENTATION. 
          THANK YOU FOR THE INFORMATION AND GREETINGS, JUST A COUPLE OF BAR GRAPHS THAT WERE STRIKING TO ME AND I WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT I'M UNDERSTANDING THEM PROPERLY. 
          IS THERE IS THE EXPENSE -- REVENUE GRAPH I GUESS YOU WOULD SAY IT'S IN PAGE 4 ON PAGE 4 AND THEN SO THAT I DON'T SEE VERY MUCH CHANGE. IS IT POSSIBLE TO PULL IT UP 
          FOLKS WHOEVER IS ON. >> SLIDE FOR -- FOUR. 
          >> WHOEVER IS ON THE COMPUTER, THANK YOU. 
          I'M NOT SEEING A BIG DIFFERENCE FROM YEAR TO YEAR IN TERMS OF THE INCREASE IN THE NUMBERS. AND I'M SAYING RELATIVELY SPEAKING BECAUSE THEN YOU GO TO PAGE 10 AND SO JUST REMEMBER THAT -- THOSE SMALL GAPS AND THEN WE GO TO PAGE 10 AND THOSE ARE THE EXPENDITURES AND THESE ARE REALLY BIG CHANGES. 
          AND THEN WE GO TO PAGE 12 AND THERE WE SEE THE DECREASE IN THE GRANTS. AND SO I KNOW THAT THE REVENUE I KNOW THAT THE EXPENSES ARE NOT ALL -- -- LET ME NOT SAY THIS. 
          IS IT FAIR TO PUT THOSE DIFFERENT GRAPHS AGAINST EACH OTHER LIKE I AM DOING OR ARE WE TALKING APPLES AND ORANGES? 
          >> I THINK WHEN YOU'RE LOOKING AT THEM INDIVIDUALLY THEY'RE ALIGNING WITH EXPECTATIONS. SO THAT WOULD TELL US WHAT WE'RE LOOKING AT IS MANAGEABLE BUT WHENEVER YOU DO HAVE THIS SITUATION SO YOU INCREASE AND YOUR EXPENDITURES OFF PACE THAT DECREASE IN REVENUE SO YOU PUT IT UP TO 4% INCREASE ON THE REVENUE SIDE 4% INCREASE ON THE SALARIES AND BENEFITS SIDE. 
          IT'S A CONCERN FOR FUTURE YEARS IF THAT TREND CONTINUES. 
          >> OKAY. AS THE AUDITOR'S OFFICE YOUR JOB IS TO KNOW EXACTLY WHAT IS IN WHICH BUCKET BASICALLY. 
          >> WE REPORT WHAT'S ON EACH BUDGET. 
          >> I WANT TO POINT OUT WHEN WE TALK ABOUT REVENUES AS I MENTIONED, BY TALKING ABOUT REOCCURRING REVENUES THAT CAN BE ESTIMATED. ANYTHING THAT IS ONE TIME WHENEVER WE DO THE REVENUE ESTIMATE AT THE BEGINNING OF THE YEAR IT IS REOCCURRING REVENUE. SO AT ONE TIME ITEMS COME IN THEY GET CERTIFIED, THEY WOULD BE ADDED. 
          >> RIGHT. THAT MAKES -- THAT'S LOGICAL. 
          >> THAT'S WHY THE BASELINES ARE SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT AND WE RECONCILE WITH EACH OTHER WHEN THE BUDGET IS ADOPTED BUT THINGS LIKE THE BUILDING SALE WE JUST DISCUSSED WAS NOT IN THE FEAR WHICH IS THEIR BASELINE THINGS LIKE SETTLEMENTS THAT WE CAN REASONABLY EXPECT TO GET PAID BECAUSE THEY'VE ALREADY GONE THROUGH THE COURT SYSTEM AND WE EXPECT TO SEE A CHECK THINGS LIKE THAT ARE NOT INCLUDED IN OUR ESTIMATES THAT WE DO 
          INCLUDE. >> OF COURSE, I DON'T THINK THAT WOULD MAKE A REALLY DRAMATIC DIFFERENCE IN THIS VISUAL. 
          >> IT'S NOT ENOUGH TO MOVE THE PERCENTAGE WISE TO DATE. 
          IT WOULD NOT MOVE THE PERCENTAGES IS WHAT I'M SAYING. 
          WE CERTIFY 4.6 AS OF MARCH 31ST WE CERTIFIED ABOUT 4.6 MILLION. 
          >> OKAY. SO IT'S NOT A GIGANTIC NUMBER THAT YOU'RE ADDING IN TERMS OF ONE TIME REVENUE STREAMS. 
          >> IF WE LOOK AT THE PRIOR YEARS I WANT TO SAY AROUND 1% MAYBE A 
          [01:40:05]
LITTLE BIT LESS AND THERE'S A LITTLE BIT MORE BUT BETWEEN I WOULD THINK IT'S ABOUT 0.8 TO 1.4%. 
          >> OKAY. >> AND THEN THIS MAY BE SORT OF A DANIEL QUESTION SO PLEASE LET ME KNOW IF IT IS NOT THE RIGHT QUESTION FOR YOUR EXPERTISE BUT DO YOU HAVE -- WHEN YOU SEE THESE VERY DRASTIC DIFFERENCES IN THE EXPENDITURES AND THE REVENUE WITH THE EXPENDITURES BEING MUCH HIGHER THAN THE REVENUE, YOU SAID, IF THIS TREND CONTINUES THEN IT WOULD BECOME A PROBLEM. I GUESS IS IT PART OF YOUR RESPONSIBILITY TO SAY WE ARE HEADED INTO A PLACE IN WHICH THIS MIGHT NOT BE SUSTAINABLE OR IS THAT BEYOND YOUR SCOPE? 
          >> THAT IS BEYOND OUR SCOPE. OUR ROLE IS TO REPORT THE NUMBERS AS THE EXPENDITURES AND REVENUES ARE COMING IN AND TO PROVIDE THAT INFORMATION. WE TRANSMIT OUR MONTHLY FINANCIALS AND WE HAVE THAT OUR STATUTORY RESPONSIBILITY AS THE 
          AUDITOR. >> BUT YOU ARE NOT ACCOUNTABLE FOR THOSE DIFFERENCES ULTIMATELY? 
          >> RIGHT. >> THAT'S WHAT I THOUGHT I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE. THANK YOU, VERY HELPFUL. 
          THAT'S A GREAT VISUAL, I WANT TO SHARE THAT WITH THE PUBLIC, IT'S VERY CLEAR. SO I KNOW THAT YOUR INTENT WAS JUST TO BE CLEAR WITH US BUT THANK YOU VERY STRIKING. 
          OKAY SO THAT WAS THE AUDITOR'S ITEM. 
          ARE YOU DONE WITH YOUR PRESENTATION? 
          >> YES, THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. 
          LET'S MOVE ON DIRECTOR TO WHICHEVER OTHER ONE YOU WOULD 
          LIKE TO DISCUSS. >> TIFFANY IF HE COULD PUT UP THE POWERPOINT I THINK IT'S COMBINED. 
          THANK YOU, JUDGE AND COMMISSIONERS I'M DANIEL ROBINSON THE COUNTY BUDGET DIRECTOR WE'RE HERE TO CHECK IN ON TWO DIFFERENT THINGS ONE IS THE SECOND QUADRANT -- PROJECTION FOR THE CURRENT YEAR FISCAL YEAR '26 AND WE WILL DISCUSS THE PROJECTION FOR FISCAL YEAR 27. 
          IF WE CAN GO TWO SLIDES OVER, TO SLIDE THREE. 
          THE LONG AND SHORT OF IT IS WE'RE PROJECTING $27 MILLION DEFICIT AS OF NOW AGAIN THIS IS A PROJECTED DEFICIT FOR THE REST OF THE YEAR THIS IS NOT MEAN WE'RE -27 IN CASH AS OF TODAY. 
          WE WILL GO OVER IN MORE DETAIL BUT A BIG CHUNK OF THAT IS WHAT WE DISCUSSED IN EXECUTIVE SESSION WE WERE PLANNING ON A SALE OF A BUILDING THAT LOOKS LIKE IT WILL BE DELAYED INTO NEXT YEAR. WE WILL GO THROUGH THE FORMAL RECONCILIATION OF HOW WE GOT HERE. 
          ON FLOOD CONTROL, THEY WERE EXPECTING TO FINISH AND BREAK EVEN AS FOLKS REMEMBER WHEN COURT DECIDED TO PUT THIS ON THE AGENDA I TOOK ABOUT TWO YEARS FOR THEM TO GROW INTO THEIR TAX RATE TO BE ABLE TO HIRE THE POSITIONS SET UP THE CONTRACTS. 
          IN THE INTERIM WE HAVE USED SOME OF THEIR OPERATING SURPLUS TO DO MAINTENANCE PROJECTS THAT WOULD HAVE OTHERWISE BEEN FUNDED BY THE FLOOD BOND AND THEN HARRIS HEALTH IS PROJECTING 109 MILLION THAT'S ABOUT 2.5% MARGIN. I KNOW THAT THIS LOOKS LIKE A BIG NUMBER AND THIS IS GENERATING CONVERSATION IN THE PAST BUT I DO WANT TO NOTE THAT THEIR BUSINESS MODEL IS VERY DIFFERENT THAN OURS. FOR US WE'RE OVER 80% PROPERTY TAX AND AS THE AUDITOR SHOWED WE COLLECT 98, 99% OF PROPERTY TAX IN THE FIRST FEW MONTHS. IF YOU LOOK AT THE THREE YEAR COLLECTION RATE WE'RE ALMOST AT 100. 
          AND SO 80% OF OUR BUDGET IS ESSENTIALLY LOCKED IN AND 20% BEING VARIABLE THEY'RE TWO-THIRDS VARIABLE WHERE PATIENT -- THE OTHER TWO-THIRDS BEING A THIRD PATIENT PAY AND A THIRD MEDICARE AND MEDICAID RESERVES. 
          THIS ALSO DOES NOT JUST TRANSFER INTO THEIR FUND BALANCE THEY UTILIZE THIS FUNDING FOR NEXT YEAR'S CIP. 
          I WANT TO PUT THAT OUT THERE AND THEY ARE HERE IF THERE'S ANY ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS. NEXT SLIDE. 
          I WANT TO TAKE A MOMENT TO GO THROUGH THE STRATEGIC HIRING AND THE ESTIMATES. AS OF TODAY WE'VE ACCRUED ROUGHLY $18 MILLION IN VACANCY SAVINGS. 
          WE EXPECT TO HIT THAT $25 MILLION BUDGETED SOMETIME IN THE LATE JUNE EARLY JULY TIME. AND IF WE WERE TO GO TO THE REST OF THE YEAR WE WOULD PROJECT OUT TO BE ABOUT 38 MILLION. 
          SO THIS WILL BE COMING BACK TO COURT FOR A DECISION WHETHER TO CONTINUE TO EXTEND IT OR TO LIFT IT. 
          AT THIS POINT MY RECOMMENDATION AS THE BUDGET DIRECTOR WOULD BE TO CONTINUE IT FOR TWO REASONS. ONE IS WE HAVE AN ACTIVE DEFICIT THAT WE NEED TO SORT THROUGH FOR THE REST OF THE YEAR OR WE WILL FINISH THE YEAR IN BALANCE WHICH WOULD BE THE FIRST TIME UNDER MY 
          [01:45:04]
TENURE WHERE WE FINISHED UNDER RED. 
          THE SECOND PIECE AND WE'LL GO OVER MORE DETAIL, IN THE FISCAL YEAR 27 PROJECTION BUT WE'RE FACING A PROJECTION NEXT YEAR I FIND IT ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE THAT WE'RE GOING TO GET TO BALANCE WITHOUT UTILIZING SOME OR POSSIBLY ALL OF THE VACANT POSITIONS THAT ARE CURRENTLY FROZEN. 
          JUST TO GO BACK AND LOOK AT WHAT WE EXPERIENCED, COMMISSIONER GARCIA FROM THE MOMENT YOU BROUGHT UP HIRING FREEZE IN LATE AUGUST LAST YEAR TO WHEN WE GOT THE POLICY ON COURT WHICH WAS 18 DAYS OR SOMETHING, WE HAD ABOUT $12 MILLION WORTH OF EMPLOYEES HIRED ABOVE OUR NORMAL AVERAGE. SO DEPARTMENTS HAVE THE CAPACITY TO BE ABLE TO HIRE UP QUICKLY. I WOULD HATE FOR KOI TO BE IN A POSITION TO ALLOW THE HIRING TO HAPPEN ONLY FOR US TO TURN AROUND AND LAY THEM OFF DURING THE BUDGET PROCESS. 
          NEXT SLIDE. NEXT SLIDE. 
          AND ONE MORE. SO HERE IS JUST A RECONCILIATION OF HOW WE GOT TO 27 MILLION, WE HAVE DONE ALMOST $24 MILLION WORTH OF LAW ENFORCEMENT SUPPLEMENTALS, THIS IS BROKEN ACROSS A FEW THINGS. THE FIRST ONE BEING SUPPORTING THE STAFFING TO SUSTAIN THE END OF THE MISSISSIPPI OUTSOURCING CONTRACT. WE DID A SECONDARY SUPPLEMENT IN LATE DECEMBER, WE HAD ASSUMED NORMAL TURNOVER IN THAT LAW ENFORCEMENT DEPARTMENT BUT AFTER THE RAISES, IT'S A PLACE WE'VE ESSENTIALLY BEEN FULLY STAFFED AND MANY OF OUR LAW ENFORCEMENT DEPARTMENTS THAT ENTIRE. 
          NOT ONLY DID WE HAVE MORE PEOPLE SO IT COST MORE THAN WHAT WE ORIGINALLY PROJECTED BUT ALSO EVERYBODY WAS ONE YEAR MORE EXPENSIVE BECAUSE TYPICALLY WHAT HAPPENED ON LAW ENFORCEMENT IS THE MOST EXPENSIVE PEOPLE RETIRE AND THEN THEY ARE REPLACED BY THE CHEAPEST PEOPLE SO YOU DON'T TYPICALLY SEE INCREASES TO THE AVERAGE LENGTH OF TENURE IN LAW ENFORCEMENT DEPARTMENTS. 
          AND THEN THERE WAS THE ACTION I BELIEVE IN THE MARCH OR APRIL CORE WHERE WE FUNDED THE VACANCIES IN THE LAW ENFORCEMENT DEPARTMENT UP TO THE NEW STARTING SALARY. 
          WE HAD LIKE I MENTIONED EARLIER WE DID EXPECT THE SALE OF A BUILDING UNFORTUNATELY WE HAD THAT BUILDING VANDALIZED WHICH JEOPARDIZED OUR ABILITY TO CLOSE ON THAT FACILITY. 
          THE NEXT ONE IS THE PENDING VACANCY SWEEPS. 
          SO THAT IS IF YOU GO DOWN TO LOOK AT THE EXPENSE SIDE THE DEPARTMENT SURPLUSES WHAT THIS MEANS IS WE'RE PROJECTED AT $27 MILLION COLLECTIVELY OF DEPARTMENT SURPLUSES BUT WE BUDGETED 17 OF IT AS PART OF THE STRATEGIC HIRING PLAN. 
          AND I WILL GO OVER IT IN A SECOND. 
          THE LAST 1I WANT TO KNOW AND IT'S ON TODAY'S AGENDA IS A MICROSOFT LICENSES. UNIVERSAL SERVICES HAS DONE AMAZING WORK TO BE ABLE TO MANAGE THE NUMBER OF LICENSES WE CURRENTLY HAVE FOLKS REMEMBER WHAT WE PRESENTED ON THE FIVE YEAR FINANCIAL PLAN WE HAD EMPLOYEES THAT HAD NOT BEEN WITH US FOR A YEAR THAT HAD MICROSOFT LICENSES. 
          WE HAD SOME FOLKS THAT HAD MOVED DEPARTMENTS AND HAD MULTIPLE MICROSOFT PROFILES. SO WE HAVE GOTTEN A HOLD OF THAT. THE ISSUE HAS BEEN THAT THE COST PER LICENSE HAS GONE UP SIGNIFICANTLY. 
          FOR THE LAST YEAR. NEXT SLIDE. 
          ON DEFENSE, MY LEAST FAVORITE SUBJECT IN THIS COUNTY. 
          WE ARE PROJECTING $8 MILLION DEFICIT. 
          I DO WANT TO NOTE THAT NOT ALL BAD NEWS. 
          A LOT OF WHAT'S HAPPENING HERE IS THAT THE PBO IS STAFFING UP INCREDIBLY AGGRESSIVELY WHICH IS EXACTLY WHAT I BELIEVE COURT HAD GIVEN THAT DIRECTION TO AND WHAT WE FUNDED OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS. WHAT WE'RE SEEING THOUGH IS THAT MANY OF THOSE -- THE NEW HIRES ARE FRESHLY BARRED OR ARE WAITING FOR BAR RESULTS SO WE ARE PAYING FOR THE SALARY BEFORE THEY'RE STARTING TO ABSORB THE EQUIVALENT NUMBER OF CASES FROM THE PRIVATE BAR. I WILL NOTE THAT IN SOME OF THE GOOD NEWS IS YEAR OVER YEAR FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE I'VE BEEN HERE OUR SHOWING PROJECTED LESS IN PRIVATE APPOINTMENTS THAN WE HAD THE YEAR BEFORE. SO I THINK THAT'S A TESTAMENT TO THE WORK THAT OUR PUBLIC DEFENDER'S OFFICE IS DOING BUT I JUST WANT TO NOTE THAT THERE IS THIS TREND -- TRANSITION COST TO STAFFING UP HERE THAT IS ESSENTIALLY ALL I HAVE FOR QUARTER TWO PROJECTIONS, I'LL ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS HERE BEFORE 
          WE TRANSITION TO FISCAL YEAR 27. >> COMMISSIONER GARCIA THEN 
          ELLIS AND RAMSEY. >> THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORK ON THIS, OBVIOUSLY TRYING TO MAKE SURE WE GET ALL THE ANGLES 
          [01:50:01]
COVERED IT'S GOING TO BE KEY AND THIS WILL PLAY MORE INTO THE UPCOMING BUDGET BUT ARE THERE AREAS THAT WE CAN CONTINUE TO ABSORB COSTS THAT SHOULD BE SHARED WITH OTHER PARTNERS, OTHER VENDORS? MUNICIPALITIES OR THE STATE? ONE THING I MENTIONED TO SOME OF OUR DIRECTORS IS TO LOOK FOR OPPORTUNITIES WHERE WE CAN ENTERPRISE IF YOU WILL THE CAPACITY THAT THE COUNTY HAS ESPECIALLY WITH OUR SMALLER CITIES AND IF THERE'S THINGS THAT YOU ARE EXPLORING IN THAT REGARD, AND THEN THE OBVIOUSLY THE HIRING FREEZE I KNEW WAS ALWAYS A LOW-HANGING FRUIT FOR US BUT ALSO I THINK THAT HELPING TO CREATE NEW NORMALS FOR THE WAY WE DO BUSINESS. 
          ESPECIALLY WITH AREAS WHERE WE CAN ENCOURAGE THE UTILIZATION OF AI TO HELP FACILITATE SOME OF THOSE STANDARD AREAS OF OPERATION THAT TEND TO MOVE PAPER FOR INFORMATION AROUND. 
          AND THEN WITH THE POSITIONS THAT HAVE REMAINED VACANT FOR SO LONG, ARE THEY -- ARE YOU MAKING RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE ADMINISTRATOR IN TERMS OF WHETHER THEY ARE ACTUALLY NECESSARY ANY LONGER AND THAT WE SHOULD ABSOLUTELY LOOK AT REMOVING THOSE FROM THE BUDGET LINES? AND BEFORE DIRECTORS START TO LOSE HAIR OFF THE TOP OF THEIR HEAD I WOULD SIMPLY SAY THAT THIS IS NOT A -- A. CUT CONVERSATION BUT THIS IS -- WE NEED THEIR HELP TO TALK ABOUT OUR BUDGETS IN A MODERNIZATION WAY. 
          CAN WE DO MORE. WE'RE ALWAYS GOING TO HAVE LESS SO HOW CAN WE CONTINUE TO DO MORE AND CONTINUE TO SUSTAIN THE GROWTH. I'M NOT -- IN THIS TIME OF AFFORDABILITY CRISIS I'M NOT NECESSARILY A FAN OF INCREASING FEES BECAUSE WE JUST HAVEN'T DONE IT SO -- I. KNOW SOMETIMES IT'S NECESSARY TO MAKE SURE WE ARE AT LEAST PAYING SOME OF OUR COSTS BUT I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE LOOKING AT WAYS TO MODERNIZE AND IMPROVE EFFICIENCY WITHOUT NECESSARILY MAKING THAT A PAINFUL THING FOR DIRECTOR'S OPERATIONS. 
          AND THEN I WOULD LIKE TO SEE A CONTINUED ANALYSIS OF OPERATIONAL SAVINGS. PURCHASING REFORMS, TECHNOLOGY USE, LONG TERM COST SUSTAINABILITY AS WE MOVE INTO THE UPCOMING BUDGETS AND THEN LASTLY, WHEN I GOT THE FIRST PROJECTION OF OUR SHORTFALL IT WAS A VERY DIFFERENT NUMBER. 
          PLEASE HELP US GET THOSE NUMBERS RIGHT THE FIRST TIME AROUND. 
          >> YES. I WILL TACKLE -- I. WILL TRY TO REMEMBER ALL OF THEM IN ORDER. THE FIRST ONE IN TERMS OF WHAT ARE WE DOING I WILL TAKE THE ONE THAT'S ON THE TOP OF MIND FIRST PURE IN TERMS OF ARE THERE WAYS FOR US TO PARTNER, ARE THERE WAYS FOR US TO SHARE, I THINK ONE OF THE MOST SUCCESSFUL PARTS OF THE FIVE YEAR FINANCIAL PLAN THAT WE DID WAS THERE WERE PEOPLE OUT THERE THAT WE WERE SUBSIDIZING. 
          WE WERE PROVIDING SERVICES TO THEM FOR FREE OR FOR A SIGNIFICANTLY SUBSIDIZED RATE SO WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO ADDRESS MANY OF THOSE, THERE IS ONE ON THE AGENDA TODAY THAT I'M EXCITED ABOUT TAX ASSESSMENT COLLECTOR HAS LED AND COORDINATED WITH OTHER JURISDICTIONS, WE'RE PROVIDING A SERVICE TO DO TAX COLLECTION THAT IS A SERVICE THEY DON'T HAVE TO PAY FOR IN HOUSE THAT WE ARE FINALLY MODERNIZING THAT COST. 
          WE ALSO WE'VE WORKED WITH UNIVERSAL SERVICES. 
          THE DIRECTOR HAS ITEMS WHERE SHE THINKS SHE CAN BE AN ASSET EITHER IN COST SHARING OR AS A CONSULTANT AS A CONSULTING PARTNER WITH ENTITIES AND WE'VE CREATED A REVENUE FUND THERE TO BE ABLE TO TRACK HOW MUCH THEY ARE GETTING FOR THEIR SERVICES. 
          IT'S BEEN RELATIVELY MODEST NOW BUT I THINK THAT IN THE FUTURE SOME OF THOSE ITEMS WHERE WE JUST NEED SOMEONE TO COME AND DO A TEST OR DO A REVIEW. THERE MIGHT BE A CHANCE FOR US TO EXCHANGE SERVICES AS OPPOSED TO GOING TO A THIRD PARTY THAT'S GOING TO BE MORE THAN WHAT WE HAVE. 
          IN TERMS OF THE STRATEGIC LOOKING AT THOSE POSITIONS THAT HAVE BEEN FROZEN, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I ADVOCATED FOR IN THE LAST COMMISSIONERS COURT WAS TO NOT ASSUME THE HIRING FREEZE IN THE BUDGET. I THINK WE REALLY WANTED APARTMENTS TO LEAD -- DEPARTMENTS TO LEAD ON THEIR BUDGET SO WE WANT TO GIVE THEM ACCESS TO THOSE VACANT POSITIONS 
          [01:55:03]
AND TELL COURT WHAT IS THE IMPACT OF HAVING KEPT THEM FROZEN, WHAT THE IMPACT OF GETTING RID OF THEM BUT WE ARE OF COURSE CONSULTING WITH THEM AND THERE'S SOME THAT WE WILL PUSH AND THE ADMINISTRATOR AND I ARE GOING TO DISCUSS WITH THE DEPARTMENT HEADS, DO YOU REALLY NEED IT, IS IT NICE OR IS IT A NECESSARY MAYBE IT'S MISS CLASS, MAYBE IT NO LONGER SERVES THAT PURPOSE BUT CAN GO TO A DIFFERENT FUNCTION. 
          TO TALK OUT YOUR QUESTION ABOUT A I, I'M INCREDIBLY EXCITED ABOUT THE POTENTIAL I'M GOING TO BE SPEAKING AT THE GOVERNMENT FINANCE OFFICERS ASSOCIATION ABOUT HOW DO WE START BUDGETING FOR AI BUT NECESSITY IS A MOTHER OF ALL INNOVATION, I THINK UNDER THE PRIOR REGIMES THE BUDGET DID NOT CHANGE YEAR TO YEAR BECAUSE THERE WAS PLENTY OF MONEY WHEN THERE IS A NECESSITY TO FIND A BETTER WAY OF DOING IT WE ARE SEEING TREMENDOUS AND INNOVATIVE IDEAS AROUND HOW DO I PROVIDE THE SAME SERVICE IN A DIFFERENT WAY WHETHER I USED TO PAY A CONTRACTOR DO I BRING IT IN HOUSE OR, HEY, I'M NOT GETTING THE BEST SERVICE IS THERE SOMEONE ELSE THAT CAN BE DOING THIS. 
          IS THERE A NONPROFIT I COULD SUBMIT TO. 
          THOSE ARE THE QUESTIONS I REMEMBER. 
          DID I MISS ANY OF THEM? >> NO, JUST INCLUDING THE LAST YEAR WE GOT -- WE MISSED THE LAW ENFORCEMENT SALARY INCREASE PROJECTION WE MISSED IT AGAIN THIS YEAR SO JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE HEARING WHATEVER THE NUMBER WILL BE THAT 
          IT'S AS ACCURATE AS POSSIBLE. >> UNDERSTOOD, THANK YOU. 
          >> I JUST WANTED TO SAY, WORKING VERY CLOSELY WITH THE DEPARTMENTS AND PURCHASING AGENT WILLIAMS AND I MET THIS WEEK, WERE TALKING TO YOUR TEAM SO WE ARE ALSO LOOKING FOR OPERATIONAL 
          SAVINGS AND COLLABORATION. >> THAT WAS ONE LAST ONE YOU BROUGHT UP IN TERMS OF PROCUREMENT. 
          ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WAS PART OF THE FIVE-YEAR PLAN THAT WE WANT TO ACTUALIZE IS WE CAN BULK PURCHASE MORE ITEMS BUT IT MAY BE THAT WE NEED TO DIVEST IN THE SHORT RUN IN A WAREHOUSE AND STAFF TO BE ABLE TO HOLD THOSE COMMON ITEMS. THE CONCRETE, THE REBAR, THE ASPHALT, ALL THE THINGS WE UTILIZE ON A DAY-TO-DAY BASIS. BUT SAME THING WITH FLEET, THERE MIGHT BE AN OPPORTUNITY TO SAVE ON OUTSIDE CONTRACTORS IF WE CAN IN-HOUSE MORE BUT THAT WOULD REQUIRE AN ADDITIONAL OR A NEW GARAGE OUR CENTRAL GARAGE. WE ARE IN ACTIVE CONVERSATIONS WITH THOSE DEPARTMENT HEADS BUT THERE MAY BE SOME SHORT TERM PAIN FOR LONG TERM GAIN THAT WE ARE LOOKING AT AND WE WILL CERTAINLY COME TO COURT AND MAKE THE BUSINESS CASE WHEN THAT 
          WORKS OUT. >> COMMISSIONER ELLIS. 
          >> THANK YOU, THANK YOU FOR YOUR PRESENTATION. 
          SO, WHEN YOU LOOK AT WHERE YOU'RE AT, MORE PEOPLE ARE MOVING INTO HARRIS COUNTY. MORE CHALLENGES, MORE AGING INFRASTRUCTURE. MORE ISSUES RELATED TO CLIMATE CHANGE THAT COME IN. WHEN I LOOK AT WHAT WE'VE DONE IN THE LAST COUPLE OF CYCLES WOULD YOU DESCRIBE WHERE WE ARE HEADED IS TOWARDS A STRUCTURAL DEFICIT? 
          >> I WOULD SAY WE WERE THERE PROBABLY A COUPLE YEARS AGO. 
          >> WE CLEARLY ARE THERE NOW. >> I GIVE THIS QUESTION A LOT AROUND THE BUDGET, SOME OF IT IS POLICY DECISIONS BY THE COURT BUT I WANT TO FLAG THE BIG TICKET ITEMS THAT HAVE IMPACTED THIS COUNTY. GOING FROM AN 8% REVENUE INCREASE TO THREE AND A HALF ESSENTIALLY CUT OUR GROWTH IN HALF. IN MOST CASES IS NOT KEEPING UP WITH EVEN OUR POPULATION GROWTH ON THAT YEAR TO YEAR BASIS. 
          WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE COST INCREASES ASSOCIATED WITH DEFENSE OR THE STATE MANDATED OUTSOURCING OF OUR INMATES, THE STATE MANDATED NEW COURTS ADDING ALL THAT UP, WE'VE TAKEN A BEATING FROM FORCES OUTSIDE OUR CONTROL AND THAT DOES NOT INCLUDE SOME OF THE DISASTERS WHERE WE'VE HAD TO PAY AND WAIT FOR REIMBURSEMENT OR SOME OTHER DISASTERS THAT WE'VE JUST HAD TO PAID FOR BECAUSE THEY DID NOT MEET THE FEMA TOTAL. 
          SO THAT WAS THE BIG REASONS I CAME HERE TWO YEARS AGO TO ASK FOR PERMISSION TO DO A FIVE YEAR FINANCIAL PLAN, WE SAW THAT IF YOU CAN'T -- OUR LARGEST BUCKET OF DOLLARS INDIVIDUALLY IS LAW ENFORCEMENT AND THE JUSTICE SYSTEM IF YOU CAN'T TAKE MONEY OUT OF THERE AND YOU HAVE A PRETTY DRACONIAN REVENUE CAP COMPARED TO OTHER STATES, WE WERE GOING TO RUN INTO PROBLEMS IT'S JUST NOW WE'RE REALLY STARTING TO FEEL THE PAIN ON IT. 
          >> IS IT FAIR TO SAY THAT ASSUMING THERE WILL BE CHANGES IN THE NEXT LEGISLATIVE SESSION REGARDING THE REVENUE CAP END WE WILL HAVE EVEN MORE CHALLENGES AND IT WILL EXACERBATE THE 
          STRUCTURAL DEFICIT. >> DEPENDING ON WHAT THEY DO THERE WERE SOME PROPOSALS OUT THERE THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN OKAY FOR US, FOR EXAMPLE LOWERING THE CAP TO I THINK TO 1.5% BUT ALLOWING ANY GROWTH IN LAW ENFORCEMENT TO BE ADDED TO THE TAX RATE, THAT WOULD HAVE PROBABLY NETTED OUT BUT SOME OF 
          [02:00:04]
THE OTHER PROPOSALS THAT I'VE SEEN JUST GOING FROM THREE AND A HALF TO TWO AND A HALF WOULD BE DEVASTATING NOT JUST FOR US BUT 
          EVERY OTHER JURISDICTION. >> THIS QUESTION IS FOR YOU AND THE ADMINISTRATOR. OF COURSE IT'S POLITICAL -- POLITICALLY CORRECT TO SAY WE WILL DO MORE WITH LESS, EVERYONE ALWAYS SAYS THAT BUT USUALLY IN MOST HOUSEHOLDS WHEN YOU HAVE LESS YOU END UP DOING LESS. YOU JUST HAVE TO HAVE THE RESOURCES TO BE ABLE TO DO IT. HOW ARE YOU ALL -- BOTH FOR YOU AND THE ADMINISTRATOR, WHOEVER WANTS TO GO FIRST, HOW ARE WE MEASURING WELL WE ARE DELIVERING COMPARED TO WHAT WE USED TO DELIVER, I'LL GIVE YOU AN EXAMPLE. 
          WE DID THE STRATEGIC FREEZE, IT WAS STRATEGIC BUT WE ALSO STRATEGICALLY HAD FEWER SERVICES SO HOW DO WE -- I. WANT TO BE TRANSPARENT WITH THE PUBLIC, I DON'T WANT TO BE OUT TRYING TO GIVE THE IMPRESSION SOMEHOW I FIGURED OUT THE MAGICAL WAY TO DO MORE WITH LESS WHEN YOU DO AI AS AN EXAMPLE BUT AT SOME POINT HOW DO WE MEASURE THAT SO IT'S NOT JUST A TALKING POINT? 
          >> OUR BUDGET PROPOSAL IS ONE THE DEPARTMENT SOLD OUT THE FIRST QUESTION WE ASK IS WHAT IS THE IMPACT. 
          BOTH FOR THE CUTS AS WELL AS THE SERVICE ENHANCEMENTS. 
          WE READ THOSE, WE HAVE DISCUSSIONS WITH DEPARTMENT HEADS TO UNDERSTAND, WE TELL THEM WHEN THEY MEET WITH YOU ALL TO BE TRANSPARENT ABOUT WHAT THEY EXPECT THAT IMPACT TO BE. 
          WE ASK FOR PERFORMANCE MEASURES BOTH TRACKING THE ONES THAT WE HAVE TODAY BUT ALSO PROJECTING OUT WITH THE PERFORMANCE IS GOING TO BE IN FUTURE YEARS IF THOSE BUDGET CUTS ARE ENACTED. 
          SO WE DO TRY TO PUT IT ALL TOGETHER, IT'S A LOT ACROSS 88 
          DEPARTMENTS. >> ADMINISTRATOR. 
          >> SURE. FOR THE REPORTING WE USE OUR QUARTERLY COLLECTION OF DATA AND WE CAN MAYBE PROVIDE IT IN A MORE CLEAR WAY TO HELP YOU UNDERSTAND CHANGES. 
          I DON'T WANT TO CONVEY THAT THERE HAVE BEEN ZERO. 
          BUT THEY HAVE DONE THEIR BEST TO MAINTAIN CERTAIN AREAS. 
          THERE ARE PROGRAMS THAT THEY DESCRIBED DURING LAST YEAR'S BUDGET THAT MIGHT HAVE SEEN A SLIGHT CHANGE AND THEN WE HAVE OUR DEPARTMENT PROGRESS MEETINGS WHICH ALL THE QUARTER THREE WOULD BE ON THE BUDGET WILL BE UPDATES ON CURRENT YEAR AND WHAT THEY MIGHT SEE IN NEXT YEAR SO YOU WERE RIGHT OUR POPULATION DOES CONTINUE TO GROW, AND SO SOMETIMES WE MIGHT NOT BE MATCHING THAT GROWTH IN CERTAIN AREAS OF SERVICE. 
          >> I KNOW I'M WORKING WITH MY TEAM TO SEND A LETTER SO WE CAN DOCUMENT IT AND MAYBE TO AUDIT THE PLACE BECAUSE I KNOW IT'S NOT EASY FOR A DEPARTMENT HEAD, WHEN THEY COME IN AND ASK FOR MONEY. YOU SPEND DAYS, YOU THROUGH IT SMOKE SIGNALS SAYING THIS, BUT I WOULD PREFER FOR PEOPLE TO ASK THEN I MAKE THE DECISION TO DENY IT BUT I DON'T WANT TO JUST PLAY SMOKE AND MIRRORS AND ACT LIKE THERE'S SOME MAGICAL WAY THAT WE FIGURED OUT IN HARRIS COUNTY HOW TO DO MORE WITH LESS. 
          AT SOME POINT I THINK YOU HAVE TO PUT ON THE TABLE KNOWING THAT REVENUES ARE DECLINING, POPULATION IS INCREASING, YOU MIGHT HAVE TO ELIMINATE SOME DEPARTMENTS AS WELL. 
          IT IS A WAY TO AVOID SOME DUPLICATION ON THINGS WE'RE DOING, I KNOW WE HAVE A DEPARTMENT SOMEONE'S FOCUSED JUST ON THAT BUT I DON'T WANT TO BE IN A POSITION WHERE DEPARTMENT HEADS COME UP AND THEN WE BADGER THEM ABOUT WHAT THEY ARE NOT DOING. BUT WHEN THEY ASK FOR THE MONEY, TO GET THE RESOURCES AND DO IT WE DO NOT GIVE IT TO THEM. 
          GIVE ME SOME SENSE OF THE IMPACT IF AT SOME POINT WE END UP COMING FROM UNDER THE DECREE FOR MISDEMEANOR BAIL AND MAYBE THAT'S ONE FOR YOU THE ADMINISTRATOR, WHATEVER. 
          BUT SOMEBODY WHO CERTAINLY GOT MY SHARE OF CRITICISM IF IT GOES AWAY I WANT TO GET SOME SENSE OF WHAT WILL BE FACING. 
          >> I DON'T HAVE ANY DATA READILY AVAILABLE, I SOMETHING MY TEAM AND I HAVE BEEN LOOKING AT. WE DID SOME BACK OF THE NAPKIN -- NAPKIN PROJECTIONS. IF WE IF WE HAD 50% OF THE INDIVIDUALS THAT WERE RELEASED TODAY THAT WERE TO STAY THREE TO FIVE DAYS MORE, IT WOULD BE AN INCREASE OF 350 IN THE ANNUAL AVERAGE DAILY JUMP IN THE POPULATION BECAUSE I THOUGHT IT WOULD BE 350 FOLKS THAT WOULD BE PRESENTED AT 
          POPULATION EVERY DAY. >> NON-VIOLENT PEOPLE. 
          >> NON-VIOLENT, YES, SIR. >>   DO MATH WITH ME REALLY QUICK LIKE $105 A DAY TIMES 350 PEOPLE IN, 
          TIMES 365 DAYS. >> PROBABLY LOOKING AT LIKE 9 MILLION OFF THE TOP OF MY HEAD. 
          [02:05:01]
          >> YOU SAID EARLIER THE NUMBERS WENT -- THE DEFICIT WAS LAST CYCLE 270. WE HAD SOME LUCKY BREAKS IT WENT 
          DOWN TO 200. >> YES. 
          >> ON THIS YEAR IT'S -- >> 129. 
          >> AND LUCKY BREAKS COME IN? >> I HAVE BOTH FINGERS AND TOES CROSSED LIKE YOU COMMISSIONER. AS WE GET MORE INFORMATION THE BETTER THE PROJECTION AND THE CLOSER WE GET THE BETTER 
          PROJECTION. >> THANK YOU. 
          >> THE BIGGEST ONE WE'RE HOPING AT THIS POINT IS ON THE RESIDENTIAL SIDE, APPRAISALS OR ESSENTIALLY FLAT FOR MOST PEOPLE. ON THAT, I THINK BIG GROUP, .6%, IF FOLKS HAVE LOWER APPRAISALS, THEY'RE LESS LIKELY TO APPEAL THEM. WHAT ENDS UP HAPPENING IS IF THEY'RE SUCCESSFUL IN THEIR APPEALS PRIOR TO JULY, WE CAN FACTOR THAT INTO THE TAX RATE BUT IF THAT CASE GETS EXTENDED INTO THE PAST JULY IN THE POSITION OF HAVING TO PAY REFUNDS WHICH IS A DIRECT REVENUE HIT LAST YEAR THE BIG HELP TO US WAS THAT APPRAISALS WERE -- THE DOLLAR FIGURE FOR APPRAISAL WERE SIGNIFICANTLY DOWN. 
          SO WE HAD A SLIGHTLY BETTER THAN EXPECTED REVENUE. 
          >> LAST QUESTION, REFERENCING FIVE-YEAR PROJECTIONS, 200 TO 129, ANY GUESS, WHAT WILL ADMIT AS A STRUCTURAL DEFICIT ON WHAT 
          IT WILL BE IN THE NEXT CYCLE? >> WE JUST UPDATED THE FIVE-YEAR PLAN FOR TODAY'S PRESENTATION BUT WE'LL TRANSMIT IT AT THE NEXT QUARTER AND WE'LL BRIEF YOU ON YOUR TEAM ON IT INDIVIDUALLY. 
          WE HAVEN'T MAPPED WHAT THE POSSIBILITY ESTIMATE WAS. 
          >> THANK YOU. >> COMMISSIONNER RAMSEY. 
          >> THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORK. APPRECIATE THE FACT THAT WE ARE SITTING HERE AT THE END OF QUARTER TWO, 27 MILLION UNDER -- 27 MILLION IN DEFICIT. 10 MILLION THAT IS TIED TO A BUILDING BAKED INTO THE BUDGET OBVIOUSLY THERE ARE A LOT OF OTHER AREAS TO LOOK AT HOPEFULLY WE DON'T HAVE $18 MILLION SURPRISES BUT THE FACT THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT REALLY A $9 MILLION, WHEN YOU PUT THE 18 OVER HERE AND REALLY UNUSUAL -- WE'RE TALKING ABOUT IT 9 MILLION WITH OUR CURRENT LEVEL OF 
          SPENDING THE BUDGET. >> CORRECT. 
          >> I THINK IT'S A GOOD TESTAMENT TO ALL OUR DEPARTMENTS AND OUR PEOPLE THAT ARE OUT THERE TRYING TO DELIVER SERVICES AND AT THE SAME TIME RESPECT BUDGET AND STAY ON TOP OF IT I LIKE THE STRATEGIC HIRING. I THINK THAT'S BEEN A HEALTHY EXERCISE, AS WE LOOKED INTO -- MAKING SURE TO PUT A BIT MORE GOVERNMENT ON IT IN THE QUARTER THREE OR FOUR, THOSE ARE CONVERSATIONS WE CAN HAVE. I AM SITTING HERE SAYING I APPRECIATE THE BUDGET PROCESS I APPRECIATE MANAGEMENT OF THE BUDGET I APPRECIATE YOUR ENGAGING WITH THE DEPARTMENT HEADS, LOOKING NOT ONLY AT NEXT YEAR'S BUDGET BUT IT'S NEVER TOO EARLY TO START TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO SAVE SOME MONEY. 
          THAT CAN START IN EFFECT THIS YEAR'S BUDGET AS WE FINISH UP. 
          ALSO, THE OTHER ISSUE RELATED TO THE CURRENT LEVELS OF SPENDING 829 MILLION IS WHAT WE'RE LOOKING AT IN TERMS OF THE DEFICIT. AGAIN, WE'RE JUST BEGINNING THE BUDGET PROCESS. SO THAT'S WHERE WE ARE STARTING. 
          AGAIN KEEP AN EYE ON THOSE STATUTORY RESPONSIBILITIES. 
          I THINK WE NEED TO TALK ABOUT IT. 
          THERE ARE THINGS YOU'RE GOING TO CHOOSE TO DO THAT IS NOT NECESSARILY STATUTORY RESPONSIBILITY, AND THAT PART OF IT WE CAN MAYBE HAVE A BIT MORE FLEXIBILITY HERE CONTINUING TO LOOK AT THINGS AS STATUTORY -- THE LEGISLATURE IS GOING TO IMPACT US AND NOT IN A PASSIVE WAY. 
          I WOULD THINK WE COULD CONTINUE TO TELL OUR HARRIS COUNTY STORY. 
          I THINK THE LEGISLATURE LOOKS AT HARRIS COUNTY AS A PROBLEM. 
          THEY SAT HERE AND TELL YOU IF ANYONE -- THANK GOD FOR HARRIS COUNTY, OTHERWISE WE WOULD HAVE A PROBLEM IN THE STATE OF TEXAS. 
          SO WE ARE THE ECONOMIC ENGINE FOR TEXAS AND WHEN PEOPLE GATHER AND TALK ABOUT THE PROBLEM THAT IS HARRIS COUNTY TALK TO ME ABOUT THE PORT CAN TALK TO ME ABOUT THE MEDICAL CENTRE AND ALL THE OTHER THINGS SO THERE SHOULD BE MORE HELP LIKE I'M GOING TO SAY IT'S COMING OUT OF THE STATE. 
          NOT NECESSARILY IN MORE REGULATIONS BUT HELP COMING OUT 
          [02:10:02]
OF THE STATE IN TERMS OF THE TEXAS MIRACLE THERE'S A LOT MORE TO DO WITH HARRIS COUNTY, THE LARGEST COUNTY IN TEXAS THIRD LARGEST COUNTY IN AMERICA. WE ARE THE CENTRE OF THE ECONOMIC ACTIVITY IN THE STATE AND WE NEED TO TELL THAT STORY MORE. WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO DO AS MUCH AS WE CAN WITH THE GROWTH THAT WE'RE EXPERIENCING. 
          I THINK THERE'S A STORY, AS WE ENGAGE WITH OUR FRIENDS AND NEIGHBOURS IN AUSTIN AND WE TALK ABOUT KEY ISSUES, IT JUST SHOULDN'T BE -- HARRIS COUNTY IS A PROBLEM HARRIS COUNTY IS NOT A PROBLEM HARRIS COUNTY IS PART OF WHAT IS GOING TO MAKE TEXAS NUMBER 1 STATE WHICH IS ALREADY THERE. 
          I RENT AND I'LL STOP, APPRECIATE YOU. 
          >> JUDGE, I WANT TO APPRECIATE COMMISSIONER RAMSEY AND. 
          [INDISTINCT] >> CAN WE BRIEFLY GO OVER -- JUST SO WE CAN WRAP THIS UP -- THE OTHER PRESENTATION. 
          I'LL SAVE MY COMMENTS UNTIL THE END BECAUSE I THINK THAT ONE IS THE CLEARER PRESENTATION FOR THE PUBLIC. 
          >> OKAY. >> YOU CAN GO TO THE SECOND SLIDE -- THIRD SLIDE I APOLOGISE FOR GOING THROUGH THIS RELATIVELY QUICKLY, WE BREATHE YOU IN YOUR TEAMS OVER THE LAST FEW WEEKS SO JUST AS A WORD FOR THE CURRENT LEVEL OF SERVICE AND SPENDING FORECAST, ESSENTIALLY WHAT WE'RE ATTEMPTING TO DO HERE IS WITH EVERYTHING WE KNOW TODAY HOW MUCH IS IT GOING TO RUN THE COUNTY BEFORE THERE ARE ANY POLICY DECISIONS BEING MADE? SO WE WORKED WITH DEPARTMENTS, THEY TELL US, THE PRICE OF FUEL IS GOING UP THE PRICE OF ELECTRICITY -- I. BOUGHT A NEW BUILDING I NEED SECURITY FOR IT ANY DECISION THE COURT HAS MADE TODAY THAT WOULD HAVE AN IMPACT. WE'RE TRYING TO ASSUME THAT ALL UP TO LOOK AT THAT VERSUS PROJECTED REVENUES TO GET DIRECTIONALLY -- IF WE'RE IN A SURPLUS WHERE DO WE INVEST IN? IF WE'RE IN A DEFICIT HOW MUCH DO WE NEED TO ASK FROM THE DEPARTMENTS FOR OFFSETS? NEXT SLIDE. 
          SO THE LONG AND SHORT OF IT IS IF WE WERE TO GO TO THE N, WE WOULD BE PROJECTED TO A $257 MILLION DEFICIT. 
          IF WE WERE TO GO TO THE VOTER APPROVED RATE IT WOULD BE 129 MILLION. NEXT SLIDE. 
          ON THE REVENUE SIDE I'LL JUST GO OVER THIS QUICKLY, IN A NORMAL YEAR, OUR REVENUE GOES UP 3.5% PLUS NEW CONSTRUCTION, MINUS AN ALLOWANCE FOR APPEALS. THIS YEAR, OR LAST YEAR, IT WAS ACTUALLY BENEFICIAL FOR US THERE WAS DEFAULT REVENUE RATE PREDOMINANTLY BECAUSE WE HAD LESS DEBT THAN THE PRIOR YEAR. 
          SO WHEN YOU GO TO THE NO NEW REVENUE RATE, I'M GOING TO MAKE UP NUMBERS HERE, BUT IF YOU MADE $3 BILLION OFF OF PROPERTY TAX LAST YEAR THAT'S HOW MUCH YOU GET NEXT YEAR BETWEEN THE TWO. 
          SO USUALLY THE NNR IS DEVASTATING BECAUSE DEBT TYPICALLY GROWS ON YEAR TO YEAR BASIS. 
          SO IF YOU DID 1.1 BILLION IN DEBT OR A BILLION LAST YEAR BUT DID 1.1 BILLION IN THE NNR YEAR THAT'S A 100 MILLION CUT TO O AND M. FOR US WE HAD PAID DOWN THE BUDGET DEBT, SO IT WAS ACTUALLY BENEFICIAL FOR US TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THAT DELTA WE ALSO WERE ABLE TO UTILISE SOME REVENUE SOURCES TO BE ABLE TO BITE DOWN THE ROAD DEBT IN LAST YEAR'S BUDGET SO WE TOOK ONE TIME SOURCES THAT WERE ABLE TO MAKE IT PERMANENT. SO YOU SEE THIS YEAR OUR PROPERTY TAX REVENUE IS GOING UP 132. 
          THAT'S $60 MILLION MORE THAN IT OTHERWISE WOULD HAVE BEEN IF WE HADN'T DONE THAT DEBT BY NOW. WE ALSO ARE ASSUMING 3% GROWTH IN NONTAX PAYER THIS IS NOT INCLUDE ANY FEE INCREASES THAT COMMISSIONERS COURT HAS NOT APPROVED TODAY. 
          SO THERE'S A FEE INCREASE THAT WAS OVER FIVE YEARS, WE'RE TRACKING IT BUT IF COMMISSIONERS COURT MEANS IT AGAIN THAT'S NOT INCLUDED IN THIS PRESENTATION THE 3% GROWTH REFLECTS OUR GROWTH IN THE INCORPORATED AREA WHICH IS WHERE WE SEE THE PREDOMINANT GROWTH IN OUR REQUEST FOR SERVICES AND THEREFORE THE FEES AND SERVICE. NEXT SLIDE. 
          YOU CAN SKIP THAT ONE. SO OUR BUDGET IS PROJECTED S IS $270 MILLION ABOVE FISCAL YEAR '26. 
          I'LL GO OVER THAT IN MORE DETAIL NEXT SLIDE. 
          ONE MORE, PLEASE. OKAY. 
          ON THE COUNTY WIDE BUILDINGS THIS IS THE BIGGEST CHUNK OF THAT. OF THE $100 MILLION IN INCREASES 
          [02:15:03]
IS 69,000,001 TIME SOURCES THAT WE UTILISE AS PART OF LAST YEAR'S BUDGET, 25 MILLION FOR THE HIRING FREEZE, 20 MILLION FROM ARPA, 14 MILLION FOR THE JUSTICE -- SO THOSE WERE FUNDS WHERE WE SAW SURPLUSES OR MADE POLICY DECISIONS IN THE CASE TO REDUCE SERVICE THERE TO BALANCE THE BUDGET. 
          WE DO SET THE SIZE NINE AND A HALF MILLION, FIVE AND A HALF IS CONTRACT PATROL, FOUR OF THAT IS FOR ANY FUTURE ADJUSTMENTS WE MAY HAVE. THE SECOND CATEGORY -- I'M SORRY CALCULATE ME -- IF FOLKS REMEMBER WHEN WE PASSED A LIVING WAGE POLICY, THAT ALLOW FOR DEPARTMENTS THAT HAD CONTRACTS THAT EXTENDED MULTIPLE YEARS TO KEEP UTILISING THE CONTRACTED RATE. FOR THE A-1 CONTRACT WHICH IS THE PREDOMINANT VENDOR WE USE FOR ELECTION WORKERS COLLECT THAT CONTRACT IS UP FOR BID. SO THE SOLICITATION INCLUDES THE NEW LIVING WAGE POLICY RATES. THE SECOND BIGGEST LAW ENFORCEMENT, 42 MILLION FOR THE SECOND YEAR OF THE LAW ENFORCEMENT OF THE PAID PARITY WITH HPD. 
          TO REMIND FOLKS THAT WE'RE ROUGHLY 14% BEHIND HPD WHEN WE WENT DOWN THIS PATH. SO LAST YEAR IT WAS A CUMULATIVELY ABOUT 24% INCREASE, 44% TO GET WHERE HPD WAS, 10% TO MATCH THE CONTRACT WITH THE CITY OF HOUSTON. 
          THE SECOND PIECE OF THIS IS WHAT I DISCUSSED EARLIER IN THE SECOND QUARTER THE FUNDING, THE VACANCIES AND LAW ENFORCEMENT DEPARTMENT. AND THEN, ONE OF THE THINGS -- WHEN WE MOVED THE CONTRACT FOR JAIL MEDICAL OVER TO HARRIS HEALTH TAX RATE, ONE OF THE THINGS WE COULD NOT MOVE OVER WAS THE HARRIS CENTER CONTRACT. I'LL DEFER TO THE ATTORNEYS IF THEY WANT TO WEIGH IN HERE ON WHY -- BUT THE COST OF THE SERVICE OF PROVIDING MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES IN JAIL HAS GONE UP. SO THE COST FOR THE SERVICE HAS GONE UP FOR US. ON THE HEALTH AND ENVIRONMENT 13.9 OF THAT IS THE ARPA PROGRAMS THAT THE COMMISSIONERS COURT VOTED TO PUT INTO THE BUDGET. 
          AGAIN NOTHING IS CERTAIN UNTIL THE BUDGET IS UP TO -- IS ADOPTED IN SEPTEMBER BUT THE COURT SAID NO I REALLY WANT THEM IN THERE SO WE HAVE A PLACEHOLDER FOR THOSE COSTS. 
          THEN 1.4 MILLION FOR THE ACCREDITATION OF THE LIBRARY'S ACCREDITATION AS WELL AS THE LIBRARY COLLECTIONS. 
          ONE OF THE THINGS I WANT TO NOTE ON THE LIBRARY -- THERE'S REQUIREMENTS ON HOW MUCH WE SPEND ON COLLECTIONS, PER CAPITA. WE ACTUALLY GET THE FINANCIAL BENEFIT FROM STAYING ACCREDITED. WE'RE ABLE TO BUY DIRECTLY FROM A CO-OP, WHICH IS SIGNIFICANTLY CHEAPER THAN GOING TO THE MARKET AND THEN THERE ARE SOME GRANTS THAT WERE ELIGIBLE FOR THAT WE WOULD OTHERWISE NOT BE. MORE TO COME ON THIS ONE. 
          ON THE LIBRARY COLLECTIONS, WHAT WE WERE SEEING IS THE COST FOR CONTENT IS SIGNIFICANTLY UP PICK THE DIRECTOR BEFORE ME THERE ARE NO LONGER PRINTING THOSE CHEAP STAPLED BOOKS SO WE'RE IN A POSITION OF HAVING TO GO AND GET THE PERFECT OR GO ON TO GET HARD COPIES FOR THE SAME COLLECTIONS PICK AND THEN DIGITAL COLLECTIONS IS UP. THIS IS ONE THAT I FIND INCREDIBLY INTERESTING BUT WHEN WE BUY DIGITAL COLLECTION WE ACTUALLY DON'T OWN IT. WE HAVE TO LEASE IT AND THEN WE PAY ON A PER DOWNLOAD BASIS. ON DIGITAL AND PHYSICAL INFRASTRUCTURE, I WANT TO PAUSE HERE, JUST TO FLAG -- IF IT'S IN HERE, IT'S BECAUSE ME AND MY STAFF HAVE GONE THE EXTRA MILE TO DETERMINE WHETHER IT'S REAL OR NOT HERE WE GO SO FAR AS TO 
          ASK FOR POS. >> SPEAKER-04: CONTRACTS, IN THE CASE WHERE A CONTRACT IS UNDER BID, WE ASK FOR THE BID DOCUMENTS TO VERIFY THAT THERE IS A COST INCREASE. 
          IF YOU SEE IT ON HERE, IT'S REAL. 
          THAT'S THE NEW PRICE OF DOING BUSINESS FOR THOSE FUNCTIONS. 
          SO 3.8 FOR FACILITY FUNDS, WHICH IS INFLATION PREDOMINANTLY ON CONTRACTOR COSTS. ON THE UNIVERSAL SERVICES THERE'S ADDITIONAL COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH GOING DOWN THE RFP REPLACEMENT DATA MANAGEMENT I.T. OPERATIONS AND THEN ON THE JUSTICE SIDE, THE SHARE OF THAT IS THE SIX NEW COURTS THAT WE ARE GETTING AND THEN WITH THE GALLAGHER STUDY, THE OVERTIME RATE FOR INTAKE HAS GONE UP SLIGHTLY. 
          THEN THE ONE PIECE OF GOOD NEWS WE HAVE ON HERE, IT'S NOT REALLY IN THE SLIDE, BUT NEXT YEAR, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE LESS ELECTIONS WE HAD IN PRIOR YEARS SO WE BUILT OUT 16 MILLION IN COST. NEXT SLIDE. 
          THERE IS INFLATION ALL OVER THE CLS. 
          WE SENT OUT TO YOUR TEAMS EACH ITEM, WHAT THE DEPARTMENTS 
          [02:20:04]
EXPLAINED TO US AS WELL AS OMB RECOMMENDATIONS. 
          THESE ARE THE ONES YOU CAN REALLY SEE AND FEEL ON VEHICLES, THE COST FOR SERVICES AND PARTS WENT UP SIGNIFICANTLY. 
          IT'S ONE OF THE BIG DRIVERS WE'RE SEEING ON THE HEALTH CARE SIDE ANYTHING HAVING TO DO WITH PLASTIC. 
          ANY PLASTICS OR SYRINGES OR TUBES OR CONTAINERS. 
          THEY'RE SEEING A COST INCREASE FOR THE CUSTOMERS. 
          ON IT, WE DISCUSSED IN SECOND QUARTER PRODUCTION THE COST TO PROVIDE MICROSOFT HAS GONE UP SIGNIFICANTLY. 
          THIS IS ONE WHERE THE DIRECTOR AND I WILL BE MEETING TOMORROW TO REVIEW IT AND SEE WHAT IS THE BEST PRACTICE AROUND REDUCING THAT COST REDUCING THE COST OF STORAGE. 
          ON FUEL, THIS IS ONE WHERE I WOULD SAY IT WILL PROBABLY GET BETTER BEFORE IT GETS WORSE. WE JUST TOOK THE DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY'S LAST PROJECTION AND UTILISED THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT DIFFERENT MODELS RIGHT NOW, WE DO PURCHASE ALL OF OUR FUEL ON SPOT PRICING. WE MAY IN THE FUTURE OF SOME MIX AND FEATURES IN SPOT TWO -- ON UTILITIES, OUR SUSTAINABILITY, UTILITY COSTS GO UP -- BETWEEN THREE AND 6%, 3.1 MILLION -- THAT'S NOW ACTIVE AND IT SHOULD BE FULL SOMETIMES THIS NEXT YEAR THE FACT THAT BOTH ELECTRICITY AND WASTEWATER ARE THAT LOW KICK I THINK IS A HUGE TESTAMENT TO THE WORK THAT TEAM DOES AS WELL AS OUR COUNTY ENGINEER. NEXT SLIDE. 
          IN TERMS OF THE BIG DRIVERS, HEALTH CARE -- WE'RE SHORT OF A PERFECT STORM RIGHT NOW. TYPICALLY HEALTH CARE GROWS BETWEEN SIX -- AROUND 6% WHICH IS THE AVERAGE. 
          THAT ROUGHLY EQUATES TO LIKE A 20-$26 MILLION INCREASE THIS YEAR WE'RE CLOSER TO TEN. I'LL TELL YOU THIS NUMBER WILL CERTAINLY GET WORSE BEFORE IT GETS BETTER FOR A COUPLE OF REASONS. ONE, THE TREND IS TICKING UP CLOSER TO 12%. IT ALSO -- WHEN WE SET THE BUDGET WE SET IT AT 6%. SO WE CHEWED THROUGH A LOT OF THE CASH BALANCES IN THE HEALTH CARE FUND SO WE WERE ALMOST CERTAINLY NEED TO MAKE AN ADJUSTMENT ON THIS NUMBER TO RESTORE THAT FUND TO A HEALTHY CASH BALANCE. 
          AND THEN ON COMPENSATION, I'LL SAY THIS IS PROBABLY A CONSERVATIVE ESTIMATE IN TERMS OF OVERALL COST. 
          THIS IS THE ANNUALISATION OF THE GALLAGHER STUDY. 
          SO WE'RE PROJECTED TO SPEND $47 MILLION AND THIS CURRENT YEAR. THEN WE'RE PROJECTING FOR $80 MILLION AND NEXT YEAR. AGAIN, THAT IS SLIGHTLY ABOVE WHAT WE THINK WE'RE GOING TO LAND. 
          BUT WE KNOW THERE ARE THE SECOND PHASE, SOME OF THOSE PRIORITY POSITIONS THAT ARE STILL UNDER DISPUTE -- THE RACE AND GENDER ANALYSIS STILL BEING CONDUCTED AND WE ARE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE LOOKBACK WHICH WILL CERTAINLY NEED TO DO BACK PAY FOR EMPLOYEES THAT WERE FLSA OR NOT FLSA EXEMPT BUT LISTED AS OH. 
          ON THE WORKER'S PENSION, OUR WORKER'S COMP TEAM IS GREAT BUT THEY'VE REALLY BEEN ABLE TO LIMIT -- TO MANAGE AROUND THE GROWTH SO WE'VE REALLY SEEN THIS NOT BE A LIABILITY OR A LOT OF OTHER JURISDICTIONS ARE SEEING HUGE SPIKES WHEN PEOPLE GO -- ESPECIALLY WHEN RAISING RATES OR RAISING SALARIES, TYPICALLY WHEN YOU RAISE SALARIES, THE COST OF WORKERS GOES UP. 
          WHEN THE COST OF HEALTH CARE GOES UP THE OTHER COST GOES UP AND WE'RE PROJECTED TO STAY FLAT THIS YEAR WHICH I THINK IS A HUGE ACCOMPLISHMENT. ON PENSION, 90% FUNDED -- WHEN WE TALK TO EFFORTS AROUND THE COUNTRY THAT'S KIND OF THE PERFECT SPOT TO BE IN WHERE YOUR ASSETS ARE REALLY GENERATING SIGNIFICANTLY MORE THAN WHAT YOUR CLAIMS ARE OR WHAT YOUR PAYOUTS ARE THE MARKET HAS BEEN JUST SO STRONG THAT WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO NOT CONTRIBUTE MORE ON A YEAR TO YEAR BASIS. 
          AGAIN, DESPITE SOME PRETTY SIGNIFICANT INVESTMENTS IN SALARIES THERE NEXT SLIDE. ON FLOOD CONTROL, I'LL PAUSE HERE IF THERE'S ANY QUESTION ABOUT THE GENERAL FUND -- OKAY. 
          FLOOD CONTROL, THERE ARE PROJECTED TO SPEND ALMOST ALL OF THEIR MONEY -- THEY'VE REALLY GROWN IN, BEEN ABLE TO STAFF UP. 
          THEY DO HAVE INFLATIONARY INCREASES JUST LIKE US. 
          AGAIN THEY HAVE GROWN INTO THEIR TAX RATE NICELY AND REALLY STARTING TO DELIVER THE SERVICES THAT ALL OF US IMAGINED WHEN WE WENT DOWN THAT PATH NEXT SLIDE. OKAY. 
          [02:25:03]
THAT SAID. I'LL JUST GO BRIEFLY OVER -- IT WILL BE MY LAST SLIDE I'LL GO BRIEFLY OVER THE TIMELINE. 
          WHERE IT'S MAY 14TH TRANSMITTING THE SALES PROJECTIONS. 
          YOU WILL GET AN UPDATED MID-JUNE. 
          WE GET MORE INFORMATION -- OUR ACTUARIES UPDATE THEIR PROJECTIONS WE GET GUIDANCE FROM THE ATTORNEY GENERAL THAT WE NEED CHANGE STAFFING MODEL UNDER THE DEPARTMENT. 
          JUST THINGS LIKE THAT COME UP AFTER WE CLOSE THE PROCESS BUT WE'D LIKE TO JUST PUT A PIN IN IT AND THEN MAKE UPDATES AS NECESSARY. THE BIGGEST CHANGE TO THIS YEAR'S CALENDAR IS THE BUDGET HEARINGS. 
          JULY 13TH THROUGH 16TH AS OPPOSED TO SEPTEMBER. 
          THE BUDGET TOWN HALLS, THANK YOU COMMISSIONERS -- I. KNOW THEY'RE STARTING TO GET SCHEDULED, YOU KNOW, AS ALWAYS, I OR MY TEAM ARE HAPPY TO STAFF ANY OF THE TOWN HALLS IF YOU INVITE US PICK WE'LL BE FORMALLY PRESENTING THE BUDGET TO COURT, THE PROPOSED BUDGET TO COURT AUGUST 17TH ALONG WITH THE TAX RATES. 
          THEN WE WILL BE LIKE OTHER YEAR SEPTEMBER 8 WILL BE BUDGET AMENDMENT DAY AND THEN FORMAL ADOPTION OF THE 17TH ONE THING THAT IS NOT ON THIS CALENDAR BUT I DO WANT TO FLAG IS IN JULY, BEFORE WE GET THE TAX DATA, WE WILL BE COMING AT THAT POINT -- WILL HAVE A PRETTY FIRM IDEA OF WHAT'S ON THE TABLE. 
          SO WELCOME AND ASK THE COMMISSIONERS COURT IF THEY WANTED TO BE PREPARED TO DISCUSS ANY TAX RATE ELECTION AT THE EARLY AUGUST COURT MEETING. SAID THE BUDGET WON'T BE OUT AT THAT POINT BUT YOU ALL WILL HAVE SEEN EVERYTHING THAT'S ON THE TABLE AND HAVE AN IDEA IF YOU WANT TO GO OR NOT. 
          THAT'S THE CONCLUSION OF MY PRESENTATION. 
          HAPPY TO TAKE ANY MORE QUES QUESTIONS. 
          >> ANY OTHER QUESTIONS, COLLEAGUES? SO DANIEL CAN YOU GO BACK TO THE BEGINNING OF YOUR PRESENTATION? WHERE YOU HAVE THE VAR AND THE NO NEW REVENUE, THAT'S KIND OF A CHART WITH A PROJECTED DEFICIT I DON'T KNOW WHAT PAGE THAT ONE 
          IS. >> I THINK IT'S THE THIRD ONE. 
          >> IF YOU DON'T MIND GOING BACK -- ONE MORE. 
          ONE MORE. YES. 
          >> DIDN'T REALISE I HAD AN ALARM, MY BAD. 
          OKAY, SO LET ME -- I THINK THAT IS KIND OF THAT AUDITOR SLIDE -- SET OF SLIDES THAT WERE JUST SO CLEAR IN TERMS OF THE SITUATION THAT THE COUNTY IS IN. SO I JUST WANT TO REALLY HIGHLIGHT THIS. I THINK -- THANK YOU DIRECTOR FOR MAKING SOMETHING SO CLEAR. SO WE ARE SEEING THAT BASICALLY NO MATTER WHERE WE SET THE TAX RATE WE'RE LOOKING AT DEFICIT OF BETWEEN 129 AND $257 MILLION. 
          SO WE'RE LOOKING AT DEFICIT OF 220 AND $257 MILLION IN THE NEXT FISCAL YEAR FISCAL YEAR 27. SERIOUS PROBLEM AND UNFORTUNATELY, YOU KNOW, ONE THAT WE SAW COMING -- SO LET ME JUST BE CLEAR WITH FOLKS ABOUT WHAT WE ARE HEARING. 
          SO THIS PROJECTION IS A $2.93 BILLION REVENUE FOR FISCAL YEAR 27 WHICH STARTS OCTOBER FIRST OF THIS YEAR AND $3.06 BILLION IN EXPENDITURES. SO THAT IS THE $129 MILLION AND THAT'S THE LOWEST DEFICIT POSSIBILITY FOR NEXT FISCAL YEAR. THE DEFICIT OBVIOUSLY DIDN'T HAPPEN OVERNIGHT. IT'S HAPPENING AS A RESULT OF MULTIPLE DECISIONS MADE BY THE COMMISSIONERS COURT OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS. THE MAJORITY OF MY COLLEAGUES DECIDED TO WRITE A BLANK CHECK FOR PAY RAISES LAST YEAR TO LAW ENFORCEMENT THAT WE COULD NOT AFFORD AND THAT ADDED MASSIVE EXPENSES. OBVIOUSLY WE COULD HAVE GONE TO THE VOTERS WITH THAT. I THINK THEY WOULD HAVE PASSED IT. BUT WHAT WE'RE LOOKING AT HERE IN TERMS OF THE NUMBER, IS, YOU COULD SAY -- LET ME JUST GET SOME OF THESE NUMBERS OVER THE YEARS HERE. 
          IF YOU ADD IT UP FROM LAW ENFORCEMENT -- THE NEW COST FOR -- IS $75 MILLION THIS YEAR WE KNEW THE STATE WAS CONCERNING OUR REVENUE AND WE KNEW THERE WAS INFLATION AND STILL THIS COURT COMMITTED 100 AN ELECTION TO MASSIVE RAISES WHICH I REALLY THINK THE PUBLIC OUGHT TO HAVE HAD A HAND IN DECIDING FOR IT AND I THINK THEY WOULD HAVE SUPPORTED IT. 
          [02:30:03]
SO IN ADDITION TO FISCAL YEAR 2026, RAISES WHICH WERE PHASE ONE, THEN THERE'S $42 MILLION FOR PHASE TWO RAISES AND $32 MILLION FOR SOME VACANCIES. THEN A MILLION DOLLARS FOR HARRIS CENTER AND OTHER LAW ENFORCEMENT INCREASES TO 1.4 MILLION. SO THAT MEANS THAT FISCAL YEAR 2026 INCLUDED APPROXIMATELY $124 MILLION IN SALARY RAISES WE KNEW WE COULD NOT AFFORD BOTH THROUGH THE ADOPTED BUDGET AND THE SUPPLEMENTALS APPROVED SINCE THEN TO FULLY IMPLEMENT THE RAISES. SO COLLECTIVELY, IT'S FAIR TO, LAW ENFORCEMENT RAISES WILL COST $200 MILLION AS OF 2027 SO YOU CAN SEE THAT IT'S PRETTY MUCH THE SIZE OF THE DEFICIT. 
          YOU KNOW, IT'S SORT OF POLITICS 101 ON THAT ONE. 
          YOU KNOW, ON TOP OF THE STRUCTURAL DEFICIT THAT WE ALREADY HAD BECAUSE WE HAVE A CAP IN 2019 BY THE STATE $129 MILLION -- AGAIN, IT'S THE LOWEST POSSIBLE DEFICIT. 
          IT WOULD MEAN THAT WE SET THE TAX RATE BASICALLY AS HIGH AS WE CAN SET IT WITHIN THE STATE CONSTRAINT, I DON'T KNOW THAT MY COLLEAGUES WILL DO THAT IN AN ELECTION YEAR, IF THEY WERE NOT EVEN WILLING TO PUT A LAW ENFORCEMENT PAY RAISE TO THE VOTERS OR EARLY CHILDHOOD FOR THAT MATTER SO $129 MILLION IS NOT THE TYPE OF MONEY YOU FIND BY SHAKING THE COUCH CUSHIONS. 
          IT'S ROUGHLY EQUAL TO ONE MONTH'S RENT FOR 95,000 RESIDENTS PAYING THE AVERAGE RENT FOR HOUSTON RESIDENCES ... 
          THAT'S ROUGHLY EQUAL TO A YEAR OF FLOOD INSURANCE, 465,000 RESIDENTS. AVERAGE INSURANCE COST $783 PER YEAR. $129 MILLION IS ROUGHLY EQUAL TO $32.2 MILLION -- 232.2 MILLION GALLONS OF GAS PER YEAR ENOUGH GAS TO POWER ROUGHLY 60,000 CARS FOR A YEAR. 
          AND SO WE OWE IT TO RESIDENTS TO BE TRANSPARENT ABOUT WHERE THE DOLLARS ARE GOING AND WHAT WE'RE CUTTING IN EXCHANGE FOR THAT. 
          I DON'T WANT TO BE AT A BUDGET HEARING THIS YEAR DEBATING WHETHER WE'RE HAVING CUTS OR NOT WE DID THAT LAST YEAR IT WAS LIKE TWILIGHT ZONE, TO BE -- ARE WE CUTTING THINGS ARE NOT CUTTING? WE'RE NOT DOING THAT AGAIN. 
          WE CUT AND WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO CUT A LOT MORE THIS YEAR. 
          SO I THINK -- TRYING TO BE FORWARD THINKING WITH THIS, BEFORE WE CUT MORE SERVICES, THIS MUCH MONEY WORTH FOR SERVICES FOR OUR RESIDENTS, LET'S TRY TO FIGURE OUT MORE EFFICIENCIES. WE DID A STUDY IN 2019, AYE COMMISSIONER -- I THINK IT WAS IN 2020, THE DOGE. 
          WE WERE DOING DOGE BEFORE DOGE WAS A THING. 
          SO IT WAS CONSULTED TO EVALUATE COUNTY EFFICIENCIES I WAS LOOKING THROUGH IT AND I'M PROUD WE'VE IMPLEMENTED MOST OF THEM. 
          SO WE HAVE DONE THE EFFICIENCY THING. 
          NOW WE ARE -- WE'RE DONE CUTTING THAT WE'RE CUTTING INTO THE NEEDS AND WE ARE SEEING THAT HERE SO THERE ARE A COUPLE RECOMMENDATIONS ON THERE THAT WE HAVE NOT FOLLOWED. 
          FOR EXAMPLE, SPECIFICALLY THE CENTRALISATION OF THE DESIGN AND DELIVERY OF COUNTY INFRASTRUCTURE AND FACILITIES WE HAVE REPETITIVENESS ACROSS EACH OF THE PRECINCTS PLUS ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT. COORDINATION WITH THE CITY CAPTURED SERVICES. THAT WOULD BE A GREAT PLACE FOR US TO COLLABORATE, CITY AND COUNTY. 
          I WOULD LOVE TO VISIT THE MAYOR ABOUT. 
          THE FACT OF THE MATTER IS AS YOU HEAR THE -- YOU'RE GOING TO BE HEARING ABOUT HARRIS COUNTY, THESE CUTS, AREN'T SOON ENOUGH IF WE DON'T FIGURE OUT A WAY TO BE MORE EFFICIENT, BECAUSE WE PUT THE COUNTY AND THE PEOPLE OF HARRIS COUNTY AT A $200 MILLION HOLE IRRESPONSIBLY LAST YEAR. SO, IT'S CLEAR AS DAY AND I JUST HOPE WE DON'T SPEND WEEKS AGAIN DEBATING WHETHER OR NOT WE'RE AT A DEFICIT, WHETHER OR NOT THE BUDGET IS BALANCED, WHETHER OR NOT THERE ARE CUTS BEING MADE. IT'S JUST KIND OF THE MORE OBVIOUS SOLUTION, IT'S USUALLY THE MORE OBVIOUS EXPLANATION IS USUALLY THE CORRECT ONE. SO FOLKS, WE HEARD FROM THE COUNTY AUDITOR INDEPENDENTLY REPORTS TO NONE OF US EVEN THE 
          [02:35:04]
BUDGET DIRECTOR. HERE IT IS. 
          SO I JUST ASKED MY COLLEAGUES THAT WE START FROM THERE PICK ANOTHER THOUGHT, ONE OF THE RECOMMENDATIONS IN THE REPORT, THE DOGE REPORT IN 2020 WAS TO HAVE A STRATEGIC PLAN AND TO HAVE A FIVE-YEAR PLAN. SO ALL OF IT HAVING A COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR, MAKING OUR BUDGET PROCESS MORE EFFECTIVE, IT'S REALLY UNIQUE TO SEE HOW WE'VE DONE ALL OF THAT. 
          FROM WHAT I CAN TELL -- CAN CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG THE BUDGET LAST YEAR ADHERE TO THE WRONG STRATEGIC PRIORITIES. 
          IN OTHER WORDS, PUBLIC SAFETY. THAT'S ONE OF THOSE. 
          I DON'T REMEMBER THE EXACT PHRASING BUT BASICALLY PUBLIC SAFETY, HEALTH. SO THE DEPARTMENTS WERE ASKED TO CHECK THE BOX OF WHICH OF THE PRIORITIES THEY ALIGNED WITH, BUT WE HAVE VERY DETAILED GOALS WITHIN THOSE PRIORITIES AND I THINK THAT IF IT WERE POSSIBLE, I WOULD SUGGEST THAT YOU ASK DEPARTMENTS TO LOOK AT THEIR LINE ITEMS AND ALIGN THOSE WITH THE SPECIFIC GOALS, BECAUSE WHAT HAPPENS IS, WE PICK THIS POLITICALLY FAVOURABLE THINGS INSTEAD OF THE GOALS WE ACTUALLY ALL CAME UP WITH. SO THAT'S A LEVEL OF GRANULARITY AND NOT JUST LOOKING AT NEW PROGRAMS BUT THE EXISTING PROGRAMS THAT THEY'RE HAVING US CONTINUE. 
          IT DOES NOT ALIGN WITH THE GOAL, WELL THEN, WE SHOULDN'T BE SPENDING MONEY ON THAT. SO THOSE WOULD BE SORT OF MY THREE POINTS, THE CONSOLIDATION OF THE DESIGN AND MANAGEMENT OF COUNTY INFRASTRUCTURE AND FACILITIES, COOPERATION ON SHARED SERVICES WITH THE CITY AND FINALLY, 100% ALIGNMENT OR AS CLOSE TO THAT AS WE CAN GET BETWEEN THE LINE ITEMS IN OUR BUDGET AND THE GOALS IN OUR STRATEGIC PLAN. 
          NO MORE MISCELLANEOUS SPENDING ON THINGS THAT WE KNOW WE CANNOT 
          AFFORD. >> JUDGE, WE HAVE A LOT OF THAT MAPPING TO THE SPECIFIC GOALS AND PRIORITY AREAS WE CAN SHARE THAT WITH YOUR TEAM AND SIT DOWN AND THAT'S BEEN COLLECTIVE WORK BETWEEN THE BUDGET OFFICE AND THE ADMINISTRATOR. 
          >> WHAT PERCENTAGE OF THE MINISTER OF EACH LINE ITEM WOULD YOU SAY CAN BE DIRECTLY TIED TO ONE OF THE MOST NARROW DESCRIPTION OF THE STRATEGIC GOALS? 
          >> IF YOU COULD LET ME -- I COULD GET IT TODAY BUT I DON'T 
          HAVE THAT RIGHT NOW. >> AS LONG AS YOU GUYS ARE OKAY I THINK THAT IT'S FEASIBLE TO TRY TO DO. 
          >> WE CAN GROUP STUFF LIKE ESPECIALLY NOW THAT WE HAVE DONE SO MUCH WORK ON OUR PROGRAMS AND SERVICES, WE CAN GET PRETTY GRANULAR. WE'LL SHARE THAT WITH YOUR TEAM 
          AND. >> OKAY, ALL RIGHT. 
          >> SPEAKER-08: SO THE MAIN TAKEAWAY IS FOR FOLKS TO SEE THE NUMBERS ON, YOU KNOW, -- YOU CAN HAVE ALL THE RHETORIC BUT THE NUMBERS ARE THE NUMBERS. SO THANK YOU. 
          DID YOU HAVE ANYTHING ELSE TO ADD? 
          >> NO. >> SO THAT'S ON THE BUDGET PRESENTATION. LET ME JUST SAY THIS COMMISSIONER ELLIS HAS TO GO TO HIS SON'S HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATION AT 3:00? AT 4:00. 
          BUT I HAVE TO DO MY GROUP THERAPY COMMITMENTS THAT I COMMITTED TO BEFORE WE MOVE TO COURT TO THURSDAYS AND THAT'S FROM 3:00 TO 4:30. SO BASICALLY WE'RE NOT GOING TO HAVE A QUORUM. WHAT I'M WONDERING IF FOLKS WANT TO MAYBE TAKE A BREAK AND HAVE A SNACK AND WE WORK THROUGH FOR? NO THAT'S TOO LONG WHAT ARE YOU GUYS THINKING? 
          >> I WOULD LIKE TO TAKE THE -- LET THE STAFF TAKE A SNACK. 
          I THINK WE CAN FINISH ABOUT 4:0- >> ALL RIGHT SO LET'S THEN TAKE 
          OUR STANDARD LUNCH BREAK AT 1:3- >> SORRY, IS THERE GOING TO BE A MOTION FOR ITEM NUMBER 6 FOR BOTH ITEMS? 
          AND I KNOW 400 IS A TRANSMITTAL. >> NO ACTION ON THOSE. 
          SO IT'S 1:35. LET'S BREAK UNTIL 2:30. 
          THEN WE'LL START WITH THE >> I KNOW WE'LL HAVE TO TIP OUT SO IT'S 230 7:00 AYE. WE'LL GET STARTED WE'RE BACK IN AUDIT. THANK YOU. 
          [02:40:01]
          >> I'M GOING TO BE QUICK, I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO YOUR OFFICES, STAFF, ALL THE COUNTY DEPARTMENTS THAT HAVE SUPPORTED ROLES WITH THE DIFFERENT PARTNERS AND ALL OF THE HOST COMMITTEE AND AUTHORITY PRESENT UNTIL THE FINAL BRIEFING BUT I 
          JUST WANTED TO SAY THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. 
          >> GOOD AFTERNOON THANK YOU FOR HAVING US WE WILL BE BRIEF. 
          BRIEF SESSION UPDATE BEFORE THE WORLD CUP ACTUALLY STARTS. 
          WE ALREADY. SO WE ARE READY FOR THE 1.5 BILLION ECONOMIC IMPACT CALCULATED FOR THE 500,000 VISITORS THAT WILL BE COMING HERE TO HOUSTON BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY WE'RE READY FOR THE LEGACY EFFECT OF THE COUNTY ... 
          WITH ALL THE PARKS AND CHILDREN AND KIDS AROUND OUR COUNTY THAT WILL BE POSITIVELY IMPACTED BY WHAT FIFA WILL BRING TO HOUSTON. 
          SO I'LL TELL YOU -- THE STAFF OF THE SPORTS AUTHORITY AND HEALTH COMMITTEE HAS BEEN WORKING TREMENDOUSLY AND IT'S LED BY, YOU KNOW, OUR RYAN WALSH AND CHRIS KENNEDY HERE AND THEY'LL GIVE MORE INFORMATION ON THAT BUT THEY DID A TREMENDOUS JOB AT. ALSO WANTED TO THANK YOU ALL PERSONALLY FOR WORKING WITH US. ONE OF OUR GOALS WAS HERE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE COMMUNICATING WITH YOU AND YOUR STAFF AND ANSWERING ALL QUESTIONS THAT YOU HAVE THAT YOUR CONSTITUENTS MAY HAVE. AND WE WANT TO THANK YOU FOR BEING OPEN TO THAT AND INVITING US TO YOUR OFFICES TO MAKE SURE YOU'RE ALL INFORMED AND ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS THAT YOU MAY HAVE. 
          WITH THAT, I THROW IT OVER TO OUR CEO. 
          >> I AM THE CHAIRMAN OF THE HARRIS COUNTY SPORTS AUTHORITY. 
          THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. 
          IT'S BEEN A GOOD AFTERNOON COMMISSIONERS. 
          CEO OF THE HARRIS COUNTY SPORTS AUTHORITY. 
          I JUST WANTED TO SAY THANK YOU BEFORE IT KICKS OFF, WE WENT FROM PLANNING IT TO THE EXECUTION PHASE AND IT'S KIND OF LIKE THE DOG CATCHING THE CAR, WHAT DO WE DO WITH IT? NOW WE BRING IT AND MAKE IT HAPPEN. 
          I APPRECIATE ALL OF YOUR SUPPORT. 
          CERTAINLY THE COMMISSIONERS YOUR SUPPORT THROUGHOUT THE PROGRAM FOR THE FREE KICK SOCCER PROGRAM AND EVERYTHING ELSE WE'VE DONE FOR THIS. AS YOU GUYS KNOW, HARRIS COUNTY HOSTED MORE MAJOR EVENTS THAN ANY MUNICIPALITY SINCE 2004 AND IT'S CERTAINLY THE COMBINATION OF ALL OF THAT HARD WORK BUT NOT ONLY THAT IT'S A LASTING LEGACY THAT WE HAVE HERE IN HARRIS COUNTY FOR NOT JUST THE WORLD CUP AND THE LEGACY PROGRAMS WE HAVE THE ECONOMIC IMPACT BUT GOING BEYOND THAT, CERTAINLY WORKING TOWARDS MAJOR EVENTS IN THE FUTURE AND CERTAINLY PUTS HARRIS KENNEDY ON THE WORLD STAGE TO SHOW WE REALLY DO -- CAN DO BIG EVENTS AND WE DO THEM REALLY WELL SO WE CERTAINLY APPRECIATE YOUR SUPPORT AND BEING ABLE TO DO THAT. APPRECIATE ALL OF YOUR OFFICES CERTAINLY IGA HAS BEEN A TREMENDOUS HELP TO THE HOST COMMITTEE AND SPORTS AUTHORITY HERE TAMI, FRANCIS THEY HAVE BEEN FANTASTIC THROUGH THIS AND DONE A LOT OF THE LEGWORK WE NEEDED I APPRECIATE EVERYTHING -- LOOKING FORWARD TO THE LEGACY AND I WANT TO INTRODUCE CHRIS KENNEDY THE PRESIDENT OF THE COMMITTEE WHO IS GOING TO TELL YOU WHERE WE ARE ON THE PLANNING 
          AND WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DO. >> THANK YOU. 
          >> GOOD AFTERNOON COMMISSIONERS WE HAVE A LENGTHY POWERPOINT PRESENTATION THAT WE'RE GOING TO SKIP TODAY BECAUSE I KNOW WE'RE IN A BIT OF A HURRY BUT THERE WILL BE CIRCULATED TO YOUR OFFICES SO YOU CAN SEE ALL THE GREAT DETAILS AND INFORMATION WHAT I WANT TO REPORT TODAY IS THE WORLD CUP STARTS FOUR WEEKS FROM TODAY, BELIEVE IT OR NOT WE'VE BEEN PLANNING THIS FOR OVER SEVEN AND A HALF YEARS AND NOW WE'RE DOWN TO THE FOUR WEEK COUNTDOWN. SO FOUR WEEKS FROM TODAY ON THE FIRST -- THE FIRST MATCH WILL BE PLAYED IN MEXICO CITY AND TH%T COINCIDES WITH THE OPENING OF THE FIFA FAN FESTIVAL HERE IN HOUSTON DOWN IN EAST DOWNTOWN. SO PLEASED TO REPORT THAT ALL THE PLANNING IS GOING EXACTLY ACCORDING TO PLAN. 
          WE'RE ON TIME ON BUDGET, ON SCHEDULE. 
          ALL THE PROJECTIONS ARE COMING OUT AS WE EXPECTED THEM TO BE AT THIS POINT WITH FOUR WEEKS TO GO UP HERE LET'S HOPE WE STAY ON PACE IN THAT REGARD. I WANT TO REMIND THE COMMUNITY THAT WE HAVE SEVEN MATCHES HERE IN HOUSTON FIVE IN THE GROUP 
          STAGE. >> ANNOUNCER: TWO IN THE KNOCKOUT ROUNDS THEY'LL BE TAKING PLACE BETWEEN JUNE 14TH, FOUR WEEKS FROM THIS SUNDAY AS THE FIRST GAME AGAINST GERMANY. 
          THE FOUR TIME WORLD CUP CHAMPION WILL PLAY A COUNTRY THAT NEVER APPEARED IN THE WORLD CUP BEFORE AND THAT WILL BE IN EXCITING THING BIG CROWDS COMING IN FROM GERMANY AND WE'RE ALSO HEARING THAT THERE'S 4000 FOLKS FROM CURACAO EXPECTED TO COME FROM HOUSTON FROM THAT METRIC SO THAT'S FOUR WEEKS FROM SUNDAY. 
          WILL KICK OFF THE FIRST OF 7 MATCHES. 
          THE COUNTRY IS PLAYING HOUSTON OR GERMANY NETHERLANDS AND PORTUGAL WHICH ARE THREE OF THE TOP TEN TEAMS IN THE WORLD THEN WE HAVE CABO VERDE, UZBEKISTAN AND CURACAO WHO ARE MAKING THE WORLD CUP DEBUTS ROUNDED OUT BY SAUDI ARABIA, SWEDEN AND -- AM I MISSING? DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO. 
          SO ROUND OUT THE TEAMS ARE DEFINITELY GOING TO PLAY IN 
          [02:45:02]
HOUSTON AND NOW WE HAVE TWO KNOCKOUT ROUND GAMES WHERE THEY HAVE TO QUALIFY TO GET IN. SO AGAIN EVERYTHING IS GOING WELL. IF YOU WERE DOWN AT THE STADIUM RIGHT NOW YOU WOULD SEE THE FIELD IS GOING IN, THIS IS A MAJOR PROJECT LIKE MULTI-MILLION DOLLAR PROJECT WITH HIGH TECH AND INNOVATION TO HAVE THE MOST BEAUTIFUL SOCCER FIELD YOU CAN EVER IMAGINE IN PLACE IN THE NEXT COUPLE OF WEEKS. 
          IF YOU WERE DOWN IN THE EAST END RIGHT NOW YOU WOULD SEE A MAJOR PROJECT GOING ON THERE WITH CRANES AND BULLDOZERS AND LOTS OF MEN AND WOMEN WORKING TO BUILD THE FIFA FAN FESTIVAL WHICH IS GOING TO BE THE PRIMARY EVENT OF THE WORLD CUP WHICH WILL TAKE PLACE OVER THE COURSE OF 39 DAYS. 
          WE'RE EXPECTING OVER 4000 VISITORS TO ATTEND THE EVENT, BOTH LOCAL FOLKS FROM OUR AREA AS WELL AS SEVERAL HUNDRED THOUSAND FOLKS FROM COMING FROM ALL AROUND THE WORLD TO VISIT THE FAN FESTIVAL KICK WHICH IS A FREE EVENT. 
          SO AGAIN, EVERYTHING IS GOING GREAT RIGHT NOW. 
          WE'VE HAD TREMENDOUS COLLABORATION AND COOPERATION WITH ALL OF OUR PARTNERS FROM SAFETY AND SECURITY TO THE STADIUM TO THE AIRPORTS TO METRO TO HOUSTON TO DOWNTOWN HOUSTON PLUS. YOU NAME IT, THE WHOLE COMMUNITY REALLY HAS COME TOGETHER IN THIS MOMENT TO HELP HOUSTON BE PREPARED AND TO SHINE. FINAL REMARK WOULD BE THAT ABOUT FOUR WEEKS AGO -- GEOMETRICAL HAD THE FIFA OFFICIALS HERE IN COURT TO THE HIGHEST RANKING FIFA OFFICIALS CAME IN FROM MIAMI FOR THE FINAL BRIEFING. THEY LEFT THE DAY SAYING THAT HOUSTON WAS AS PREPARED, IF NOT MORE PREPARED THAN ANY OTHER HOST CITY HERE ACROSS THE U.S., MEXICO AND CANADA FOR THIS EVENT. THINGS ARE GOING GREAT AND WE'RE EXCITED TO PUT ON A GOOD SHOW TO MAKE HOUSTON PROUD AND, YOU KNOW, TO WALK AWAY SAYING THIS WAS THE MOST WELL PREPARED AND FUN PLACE TO BE FOR THE FIFA WORLD CUP THIS SUMMER. 
          >> THANK YOU, I SAW THE PICTURES, THE JUDGE DELEGATION HAD IN PLACE AND IT LOOKS LIKE YOU'RE VERY WELL RECEIVED. 
          SO WE LOOK FORWARD TO LISTING THAT. 
          IF -- WHAT'S GOING ON IT'S PRETTY AMAZING, WHAT ARE THEY DOING TO GROW THE GRASS THAT QUICK? 
          >> THE GRASS IS COMING FROM COLORADO AND RIGHT NOW THEY ARE PREPPING EVERYTHING WITH IRRIGATION SYSTEMS AND VENTILATION SYSTEMS AND SAND AND ALL THESE THINGS AND A COUPLE OF WEEKS, THE TURF WILL GO THEN AND BY THE TIME THE FIRST GAME IS PLAYED IT WILL LOOK LIKE THE FIELD HAS BEEN THERE FOREVER. 
          A VERY ADVANCED TECHNICAL PROJECT. 
          >> THANK YOU. >> SO 62 DEGREES INSIDE THE 
          ENERGY AT THIS POINT? >> IT'S GOING TO BE CALLED. 
          THE ROOF WILL STAY CLOSED BECAUSE NATURAL SUNLIGHT WON'T BE COMING IN TO HELP THE GRASS LIVE OVER THE COURSE OF THESE THREE WEEKS, WE HAD TO BRING IN THESE GROW LIGHTS FROM THE NETHERLANDS TO ARTIFICIALLY PRODUCED THE SUN. 
          >> INTERESTING. >> VERY HIGH TECH PROJECT. 
          >> I THINK THEY'RE DOING THE SAME THING IN OTHER STADIUMS. 
          >> SAME THING IN DALLAS HOUSTON BECAUSE THEY HAVE THE DOME STADIUM. SO THE TECHNOLOGY HAD IT BUILD IT OUT IT'S THE SAME ACROSS THOSE THREE. 
          THE REST ARE OUTDOOR. >> THANK YOU. 
          >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH AND TAMMY, RYAN, AND I SAW TOM OVER THERE, YOU GUYS ARE GREAT BUT I GOT ALL THE CONFIDENCE IN -- THANK YOU ALL FOR EVERYTHING AND YOU GAVE THE TIMELINE OF JUST FOUR WEEKS AWAY, THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE SOMETHING IMMENSELY INCREDIBLE HAPPENING HERE. I WOULD JUST TELL YOU THAT HAVING A SUPER BOWL IS PRETTY COOL AND WHEN WE GOT THE FIRST SUPER BOWL LONG TIME, IT WAS NICE TO HAVE THE FUNDING FOR THE YACHT CENTRE -- THE COMMISSIONER GARCIA FOR ALL THE -- BUT WHAT FIFA IS LEAVING BEHIND AND THE INVESTMENT THAT THEY ARE MAKING NOW IS INCREDIBLE. 23 PICTURES ACROSS THE COUNTY AND STRATEGIC NEIGHBOURHOODS THAT IN ALL LIKELIHOOD MAY NOT EVEN BE ABLE TO AFFORD A TV TO WATCH THE GAME. 
          YET THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE ACCESS TO SOME INCREDIBLE FACILITIES THAT THEY'RE SUPPORTING OUR COMMUNITY WITH. 
          THEN THE ORGANIC GROWTH OF THE GAME THAT IS TAKING PLACE -- CREATING A LITTLE MINI PITCH NEARBY AND FOLKS ARE ALREADY VERY EXCITED ABOUT IT. I WOULD JUST TELL YOU -- I DON'T KNOW IF MY HAIR WOULD LOOK LIKE YOURS BUT YOU'RE MAKING EVERYTHING LOOK EASY. SO I APPRECIATE -- I. KNOW YOU'RE UNDER A LOT OF PRESSURE BECAUSE THERE'S A LOT OF THINGS HAPPENING LIKE YOU'RE MAKING IT LOOK EASY AND I APPRECIATE YOUR 
          [02:50:02]
WORK AS WELL AS EVERYBODY ELSE. I THINK -- WE'RE EXCITED, WE'RE PROUD AND WE ARE GRATEFUL THANK YOU. 
          >> THANK YOU. WE APPRECIATE ALL OF YOUR 
          SUPPORT THANK YOU VERY MUCH. >> THANK YOU. 
          , APPRECIATE -- WHAT YOU WERE SAYING IS THE APPETITE FOR SPORTS IN THE AREA, HOW IMPORTANT THAT IS GOT NOT ONLY RODEO BUT ALSO SPORTS AND EVERYTHING ASSOCIATED WITH IT LIKE ALSO THINK PROBABLY THE MOST INTERNATIONAL CITY IN AMERICA. SO TO BE ABLE TO SHOW THAT TO OUR SOCCER FANS AND ALSO THIS COMMISSIONER GARCIA SAID, THE LEGACY FOR THE NEIGHBOURHOODS. IT'S GOING TO BE GREAT, LOOK FORWARD ... ON ANYTHING WE CAN DO FROM THIS KIND OF PLEASE LET 
          US KNOW. >> THANK YOU I APPRECIATE ALL OF 
          YOU. >> COMMISSIONER, JUST FOR THE RECORD ITEM 143 WILL BE NO ACTION. 
          >> THANK YOU. COLLEAGUES LIKE I THINK -- YOU ALL TO ME IT'S -- ITEM THREE IS WHAT WE'RE DOING NEXT? PULLING THE REQUEST FOR DISCUSSION ... FOR COMPENSATION 
          AND STUDY INCREASES. >> QUICKLY -- THANK YOU HRT, THE DIRECTOR THERE ON WHERE WE ARE. WE ARE STILL WORKING WITH GALLAGHER AND GETTING THE PROCESS ONLINE AND GETTING IT WORKED UP HERE LOOKS LIKE WE'RE ON SCHEDULE. 
          EVEN THOUGH IT LOOKS -- THE COSTS HAVE GONE UP IN TERMS OF THIS YEAR AND NEXT YEAR, ANTICIPATED IMPACTS ON THE 
          COMPENSATION STUDY. >> COMMISSIONER, WE -- WE PUT $15 MILLION AS A PLACEHOLDER CHECK AND WE GOT THE RESULTS BACK. WE LOOKED AT IT, THE RESULTS CAME BACK I THINK JANUARY FEBRUARY TIME WE HAD THE FISCAL NOTE. SO THE RECOMMENDATION OF COURT WAS JUST A PRORATED FROM THAT FEBRUARY DATE THROUGH THE REST OF THE YEAR. SO IT'S NOT NECESSARILY THE CLOSEST MORE THAN WHAT WE HAD ORIGINALLY ANTICIPATED, IT HAPPENED TO BE THAT IF WE PRORATED FROM FEBRUARY, WE COULD DO ALL OF IT AS OPPOSED TO COMING TO COURT AND SAYING TO THESE GROUPS OF FOLKS, NOT THOSE GROUPS OF FOLKS. 
          >> CONTINUE TO WORK ON IT. TAKING A VERY FLAWED SYSTEM AND TRY TO MAKE IT WORK, SO KEEP US POSTED. 
          >> YES. >> NO ACTION ON THAT ITEM, 
          RIGHT? >> PASTAS PRESENTED COMMI 
          COMMISSIONER. >> OKAY, I'LL MOVE IT. 
          >> SECOND. >> THE ITEM PASSES. 
          NEXT IS ITEM SIX, DISCUSSION POSSIBLE ACTION ON A FINANCIAL 
          PLAN. >> WE ALREADY DID SO EXPECT COMMISSIONNER GARCIA AND COMMISSIONNER RAMSEY, HRT GROUP 
          -- >> BASICALLY, I WANT TO THANK HRT FOR THEIR WORK ON THIS AND MISS RAMOS AND I APPRECIATE THIS ITEM IS COMING BACK WITH OPTIONS FOR US TO FOCUS ON AND ARE GOING TO HELP US REDUCE, RETIRE THE DISRUPTION WHILE PROTECTING THE LONG TERM SUSTAINABILITY OF THE PROGRAM. 
          THE TWO OPTIONS -- ONE THAT IS BASICALLY COST NEUTRAL, THE WAY 
          I UNDERSTAND IT -- >> THE OPTIONS OF REPRESENTING WILL BE AN INCREASE IN THE COST FROM THE ORIGINAL. 
          >> BUT THAT ONE, NOT AS MUCH -- SO YOU ACTUALLY HAVE THREE OPTIONS. ONE PUTS US IN A -- ABOUT 8 MILLION. THE SECOND OPTION IS ABOUT A $2 MILLION OBLIGATION AND THE FIRST OPTION IS ABOUT THE 60000 
          IN CHANGE. >> THAT IS RIGHT. 
          >> BEING A RETIREE MYSELF, I HAVE A GREAT DEAL OF APPRECIATION FOR THE WAY WE ARE CHANGING SOME EXPECTATIONS TO OUR RETIREES, THINKING WE'RE WORKING ONE DIRECTION AND COMING TO FIND SOME ISSUES. SO I WOULD HOPE THAT MY 
          COLLEAGUES WOULD CONSIDER -- >> COMMISSIONER, I WAS JUST 
          [02:55:02]
GOING TO ASK -- BECAUSE I SPOKE TO HIM EARLIER, THEY HAVE NOT TALKED TO THE RETIREES. WHAT I WANT TO ASK IF IF THEY DELAYED ANYTHING,, WHENEVER WE MEET, JUST BEFORE YOU SAY WHICH OPTION, OLD SO JUST JUST GO MEET WITH THEM. 
          IT'S ABOUT UNDER THIS -- I. THINK IT'S ABOUT 400 -- 400 OR 95 PEOPLE WHO WON'T BE -- HAVE SOME DIFFERENT OPTIONS BECAUSE THEY HAVE A HIGHER INCOME RETIREES BUT THEY ARE STILL RETIREES SO THEY DIDN'T DELAY ANYTHING. 
          I WOULD SUGGEST -- I. SENT A MOTION AROUND. 
          >> THANK YOU FOR THAT AND I DIDN'T KNOW YOU HAD ALREADY MET BUT I APPRECIATE THE STRUCTURE, BECAUSE I SAW THE ADVISORY ITEM AS WELL. I'LL SIMPLY SAY, HIGHER INCOME RETIREES TO DATE, MAYBE NOT SO MUCH TOMORROW. 
          THERE'S A LOT OF -- >> A LOT OF VOLATILITY IN THE MARKET A LOT OF CONCERNS AND ANXIETY, AFFORDABILITY IS A REAL THING SO I STILL TAKE EXCEPTION TO ALL RETIREES SO I'LL JUST LEAVE IT THERE. THANK YOU. 
          >> DOES IT DELAY ANYTHING IF YOU DID IT AT THE NEXT MEETING FOR THAT MATTER? WHEN DO YOU HAVE TO HAVE THIS 
          DONE? >> FOR NEXT YEAR, WE NEED TO 
          HAVE IT DONE BY JULY. >> I SENT A MOTION AROUND, I JUST WANT YOU TO MEET WITH THEM BECAUSE THEY DID COME AND I DIDN'T ASK THEM TO COME. THEY CAME AND -- MISTAKES HAPPEN BUT I THINK WE OWE THEM THE COURTESY OF AT LEAST -- THEY'RE NOT ORGANISED AS A GROUP BUT AT LEAST THE ONES WHO CAME AND THE ONES WHO KNOW ABOUT, SEND AN EMAIL, ALL FROM A ZONE AND WALK THROUGH IT WITH THEM, BEFORE WE VOTE, BECAUSE EVEN THE BEST-CASE SCENARIO -- MAYBE ONE PERSON RETIRED AT 110,000 A YEAR WHATEVER THAT COMES TO, RETIREMENTS NOT GOING TO GO UP BUT THE COST IS GOING TO GO UP FOR NOW. 
          IF IT'S THERE. >> AM GOOD WITH THAT. 
          WE NEED TO REACH OUT TO THEM. >> IT SAID JULY BUT IF YOU WANT 
          TO DO JUNE THAT'S OKAY. >> SO DO YOU WANT TO READ THE MOTION? IT SAYS I MOVE THAT THE COURT DEFERRED ACTION ON THE PROPOSED CHANGES TO THE SCRIPT EGWP AND I DIRECT HRT AND OMP TO CONDUCT ADDITIONAL ANALYSIS GATHER RETIREE FEEDBACK THROUGH TOWN HALL AND OTHER OUTREACH EFFORTS AND RETURN TO COMMISSIONERS COURT IN JULY WITH UPDATED DATA RETIREE INPUT AND RECOMMENDATIONS INFORMED BY THE PROVINCES AND EXPERIENCES BACK IN RETIREES. 
          THE MOTION SECOND BY COMMISSIONER GARCIA -- THE ITEM 
          PASSES, THANK YOU VERY MUCH. >> THE NEXT ONE IS ITEM 13? COMMISSIONNER RAMSEY PICK PURCHASE THE AMOUNT OF 343 
          FACILITY -- >> A QUESTION HERE THAT HAS TO DO WITH OUR FAMOUS NUMBER 7. -- WE HAD A LOT OF CONVERSATION UP TO THIS POINT AND I KNOW WE GOT A SCHEDULE THERE. 
          I KNOW THIS PARTICULAR ITEM HAS TO DO WITH LEDS. 
          SO I THINK ORIGINALLY THE THOUGHT WAS YOU KNOW DELAY ON THE LED BECAUSE YOU MAY HAVE TO DO A MORE TOTAL RENOVATION. 
          YOU DON'T WANT TO PUT MONEY IN THERE PICK YOU'VE NOW DETERMINED IT WOULD BE APPROPRIATE TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THE LED. 
          >> COMMISSIONER, IF I MAY, SO THE MOTION WE HAVE IS TO BRING IT BACK TO THE COURT TO DISCUSS WHETHER YOU'RE GOING TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THE LAD OR NOT SO THE ORIGINALLY -- ORIGINALLY WE LOOKED AT SOMETHING THAT IS EXPENSIVE AND VENDOR CAME IN AND SAID WE COULD DO JUST A MINIMAL CHANCE TO HAVE THAT LED WHICH WILL SAVE A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF MONEY. 
          WHEN I SAY SIGNIFICANT, RETURN ON INVESTMENT OF THIS ONE, LOOKING AT 8.3 YEARS. SO THIS IS UP TO THE COURT TO DECIDE, WE DON'T KNOW HOW LONG WE'RE GOING TO NEED TO KEEP THIS FACILITY ALIVE AT A MINIMUM WE KNOW THAT EVEN IF WE BUILD A NEW FACILITY WE NEED TO KEEP THIS FACILITY RUNNING AT A MINIMUM OF FIVE YEARS. SO IT'S KIND OF A 50/50 BALL COMMISSIONER. SO THIS IS UP TO THE COURT. 
          >> SO THE AGENDA ITEM IS TO WHETHER OR NOT TO MOVE FORWARD WITH A 343,204. MY SIMPLE QUESTION, WE TALKED A 
          [03:00:03]
LOT ABOUT THAT PARTICULAR -- WILL WE BE ABLE TO COMPLETE IN JULY? I THINK THAT WAS THE SCHEDULE. 
          >> THE SIMPLE ANSWER IS YES. IT WILL BE DONE -- IF THIS IS APPROVED BY COMMISSIONERS COURT THE CONTRACTOR CAN START TO HAVE SOME PARTS ON HAND AND THEY WILL BE DONE BY THE TIME THE PLUMBING IS DONE BY JUNE 30TH. THE COMPLETE FOUR TIMELINE IS THE MIDDLE OF JULY JULY 15TH. I AM SAYING THAT, WE'RE STICKING TO THAT COMMISSIONER BUT THE GOOD NEWS IS THAT THE CONTRACTOR THINK THEY MAY BE ABLE TO EXPEDITE AND FINISH EVERYTHING BY JUNE. RIGHT NOW WE'RE GOING TO HOLD TO 
          JULY 15TH DATE. >> I WOULD MOVE TO APPROVE THE $343,204.21 LED IN RETROFIT -- CLEARLY I THINK WE'RE GOING TO GET MORE THAN FIVE YEARS OUT OF THAT PARTICULAR. 
          >> MOTION BY COMMISSIONER MC SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER ELLIS -- SORRY I HAVE TO GO SOON FOR MY COMMITMENT, I'LL BE BACK. 
          >> ALL THOSE IN FAVOUR. >> TAKE UP 488 -- NO-GO AHEAD 
          COMMISSIONER. >> THE NEXT ONE IS ITEM 13 -- 15, COMMISSIONNER RAMSEY PULLED THAT ONE. 
          HARRIS COUNTY COURT EXPANSION -- >> AGAIN THIS IS A SCHEDULE QUESTION I NOTICED THAT WE HAVE THE REQUIREMENT TO HAVE SOME OF THESE COURTS OPEN BY SPECIFIC DATES. 
          COURTS ON THE FOURTH FLOOR -- F. OR HOW FAR BEHIND ARE WE IN TERMS OF THESE COURTS OPENING? SOME OF THIS IS IN LEGISLATION 
          IN TERMS OF WHEN THEY OPEN. >> YES, YOU ARE CORRECT. 
          WE HAVE ONE COURT IT WAS A CIVIL COURT, NUMBER 5, THAT WAS ACTIVE AS OF DECEMBER OF LAST YEAR AND THEN WE HAVE FOUR OTHER COURTS, THREE OF THEM ARE GOING TO COME ONLINE AS OF SEPTEMBER AND THEN THE LAST TWO IN OCTOBER OF THIS YEAR. 
          AS FAR AS TIMELINE FOR THE WE WILL ADVERTISE IN JULY. 
          WE'RE DOING THE BUILD OUT AND RELOCATION OF THE DISTRICT AND COUNTY CLERKS FROM 201 CAROLINE TO THE 1001 PRESTON LOCATION. 
          >>  OKAY. SO, YOU'VE GOT SPECIFIC SCHEDULE DATES AND WAS THERE ANYTHING THE LEGISLATION SAID WE HAD TO GET CERTAIN COURTS DONE BY A CERTAIN DATE? 
          >>  NO, JUST THE FACT THEY WERE ACTIVE AS OF THE DATES I MENTIONED. THE FIRST WAS DECEMBER 4TH, 2025. 513, 14 AND 15 BY SEPTEMBER 1ST AND 16 AND 17 OCTOBER FIRST. THAT'S WHEN THEY'RE ACTIVE. 
          THE BUILD OUT OF THE COURTROOMS WILL BE FINISHED BY THE FIRST 
          REQUESTED OF 2027 >> AND THAT MEETS THE REQUIRED 
          SCHEDULE? >>  THAT MEETS, SO THE COURTS WILL COME ONLINE TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION. 
          THE COURT BUILD OUT WILL BE DONE AT THE END OF THE FIRST QUARTER 2027 IN THE INTERIM, MUCH LIKE COURT NUMBER 5, THEY WILL DO WILL SCHEDULING IN THERE TO DOUBLE UP ON COURTROOMS. 
          >>  THANK YOU FOR THE CLARIFICATION. 
          >>  I MOVE ON THE ITEM. >>  IS THERE ANYTHING YOU NEED US TO DO? THE FAMILY LAW CENTER? 
          I DIDN'T MENTION IT. >>  COMMISSIONER WE ARE WORKING WITH ALL RELEVANT DEPARTMENT TO MAKE SURE MOVING AND GIVING THE SPACE BECAUSE AS WE JUST DISCUSSED, WE NEEDED SPACE FROM SINGLE COURTHOUSE TO CLEAR UP THE PLACES THAT HAS BEEN ALREADY OCCUPIED. SO FAR WE ARE WORKING WITH ALL THE RELEVANT DEPARTMENTS. IT'S DIFFICULT TO MOVE THEM OUT BECAUSE THEY ALREADY HAVE OPERATIONS. 
          WE ARE LOOKING INTO OPERATIONAL NEEDS TO MAKE SURE WE DON'T DISRUPT THE OPERATIONS. AT THIS TIME, NOTHING FROM THE 
          COURT. >>  IF YOU RUN INTO A PROBLEM, I'M JUST ASKING, PUT SOMETHING ON THE AGENDA AND ASK ONE OF US. 
          WE HAVE TO MEET THE STATUTORY MANDATE. 
          >>  ALL IN FAVE VOTE AYE. >>  ITEM PASSES. 
          [Departments (Part 2 of 4) & Emergency/Supplemental Items (Part 1 of 2)]
NEXT I KNOW THE FOLKS ARE HERE IN HARRIS HEALTH. 
          SO CAN WE BRING UP 488 AND 494. >>  YES, SIR. 
          I'M SORRY. GO AHEAD. 
          >>  IF YOU COULD BRING UP THE PRESENTATION PLEASE. 
          [03:05:03]
          >>  OKAY. FOR THE COURT, I AM LEWIS SMITH, I'M THE ASSISTANT CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER OF HARRIS HEALTH. JOINING ME IS MISS VICTORIA MCKEATON. AS YOU KNOW, WE WERE HERE EARLIER THIS YEAR WITH A FIRST REPORT TO THE COURT. 
          RELATED TO THE ON GOING STRATEGIC FACILITY PLAN OF HARRIS HEALTH. THAT IS ASSOCIATED WITH THE BOND FUNDS AS ONE COURSE OF FUNDING FOR THAT PROGRAM. 
          OUR COMMITMENT WAS COMING BACK ON A QUARTERLY BASIS. 
          SO THIS IS REPORT NUMBER TWO. WHERE WE'RE GOING TO SHOW YOU UPDATES RELATED TO THAT PROCESS. I WILL SAY THAT THIS CONTINUES TO BE A VERY TREMENDOUS INITIATIVE OF HARRIS HEALTH THAT HAS BEEN MADE POSSIBLE BY BOTH THIS COURT AND I WANT TO CONTINUE TO EXPRESS OUR APPRECIATION FOR THE COURT'S SUPPORT RELATED TO HARRIS HEALTH, BOND FUNDING AND OTHER MATTERS RELATED TO THE OPERATION OF OUR ORGANIZATION. 
          THE FOURTH LARGEST PUBLIC HEALTH SYSTEM IN THE UNITED STATES. 
          WE ALSO HAVE HAD A TREMENDOUS BOARD THAT SHEPHERDED THESE VISIONS FORWARD AND THEY ARE ALSO A RESULT OF THE COURT SUPPORT RELATED TO THAT. WE ARE APPRECIATIVE TO THE COURT AND THE BOARD FOR WHAT HARRIS HEALTH HAS BEEN ABLE TO DO. 
          >>  GO FORWARD ANOTHER ONE. JUST TO REMIND THE COURT. 
          THE PLAN EXPRESSED OVER THE NEXT 10, 12 YEARS, WE ARE ONE YEAR INTO THE PLAN IS GOING TO TOUCH EVERY ASPECT OF HARRIS HEALTH PHYSICALLY RELATED TO OUR OPERATIONS AS REPRESENTED BY THE DOTS ON THE MAP RELATED TO THAT THIS IS OUR CONTINUED UPDATE. 
          EVERY TIME WE BRING AN UPDATE TO THE COURT, WE WILL MAKE IT CONSISTENT WITH THE QUARTER BEING REVIEWED. 
          JANUARY THROUGH MARCH IS OUR ACTIVITY RELATED TO COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT AND WE WILL SCHEDULE TOWN HALLS IN EACH OF YOUR PRECINCTS AND WE WILL ADD THAT LOOKING FORWARD TO THAT. 
          THE NEXT ARE THE UPDATE ON THE FINANCIALS. 
          MS. MCKEATON WILL DISCUSS THAT >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH, GOOD MORNING COMMISSIONERS, I WANT TO START WITH APPRECIATING THE WORDS SAID BY COMMISSIONER RAMSEY WHEN HE TALKED ABOUT THE ECONOMIC ENGINE IS FOR HARRIS COUNTY RESIDENTS. 
          WHEN WE LOOK AT THIS VERY LARGE SCOPE OF THE $2.9 BILLION PROJECT OF WHICH 2.5 WAS APPROVED BY THE VOTERS OF HARRIS COUNTY, THIS IS WHAT INVESTING IN THE HARRIS COUNTY FUTURE LOOKS LIKE. YOU SEE THE NUMBERS APPROXIMATELY $2.9 BILLION. THIS IS WHERE WE STARTED IN 2023 AND THIS IS WHERE WE ARE IN MARCH AND APRIL OF 2026. 
          THE NUMBER ON THE RIGHT THAT WE PRESENT TO YOU HERE TODAY IS NOT ANY DIFFERENT THAN YOU HAVE SEEN IN THE FIRST TIME THAT WE CAME HERE. WHAT I'M REPORTING ON HERE TODAY IS THAT LAST MAY WITH YOUR SUPPORT, WE TOOK OUT THE FIRST INSTANCE OF THE BOND INSTANCE OF $840 MILLION. 
          BY MARCH OF THIS YEAR, WE SPENT $819 MILLION. 
          AND FOR FULL TRANSPARENCY, WE ARE INCLUDING HERE WHAT WAS IN THE PIPELINE TO BE SPENT. AND AT THIS POINT, WE ARE IN MAY, I CAN TELL YOU WE HAVE SPENT THE FULL AMOUNT ON CONSTRUCTION. SO ALSO TODAY, IF WE CAN MOVE TO THE NEXT SLIDE, I CAN LOGICALLY TALK TO THE COMMISSIONERS ABOUT WHAT IS HAPPENING WITH THE SECOND BOND ISSUANCE. 
          TODAY, OUR OFFICIAL STATEMENT RELATED TO THE SECOND BOND ISSUANCE HAS GONE UP. SO THE INVESTORS ARE GOING TO BE CAREFULLY REVIEWING THAT AND WE WILL BE GOING THROUGH PRICE. 
          THAT BOND ISSUANCE THE SECOND INSTALLMENT THAT IS GOING TO BE APPROXIMATELY $830 MILLION IN EARLY JUNE. 
          [03:10:02]
AND WE WILL TAKE DELIVERY OF THAT AT THE END OF JUNE. 
          SO, AGAIN, THIS SLIDE IS JUST TO LAY OUT WHAT WE HAVE ALREADY DONE WITH THE BOND ISSUANCE. THE FIRST INSTANCE IS ALREADY SPENT. THE SECOND INSTANCE IS VERY WELL ON ITS WAY. THE VERY LAST COLUMN HERE IS THE FINAL INSTALLMENT THAT IS APPROXIMATELY $830 MILLION MOST LIKELY WILL NOT BE COMING BACK TO THIS COURT IN 2027. 
          BUT WE WILL BE COMING BACK TO THE COURT IN 2028. 
          THAT AMOUNT MAY BE THIS AMOUNT, IT MAY BE SPLIT IN A COUPLE AMOUNTS. THAT IS STILL YET TO BE DETERMINED. I ALSO WOULD BE REMISS IF I DID NOT MENTION ENORMOUS SUPPORT WE HAVE GOTTEN NOT ONLY FROM THE COURT AND YOU COMMISSIONERS BUT ALSO I WANTED TO MENTION ONE INDIVIDUAL FROM OMD. FAHAD GOZAR, WHO IS HERE TODAY HAS BEEN A VERY, VERY VALUABLE MEMBER OF OUR TEAM TOGETHER WITH YOUR COUNTY ATTORNEYS WHO ARE ALSO HERE TODAY AND WANTED TO RECOGNIZE THEM. I CAN TAKE QUESTIONS AT THE END OF THE PRESENTATION OR NOW DEPENDING ON YOUR DESIRES. 
          >>  WE WILL WAIT UNTIL WE GET TO THE END. 
          >>  THANK YOU. >>  IF YOU GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE PLEASE. THIS HAS BEEN ADDED AT THE REQUEST OF THIS COURT RELATED TO INCORPORATING AN UPDATE RELATED TO SKILL TRADING PROTECTION POLICY ENACTED BY HARRIS HEALTH IN 2023 PRIOR TO THE BOND REFERENDUM RELATED TO THIS. 
          THIS ALSO RESULTED IN A CONTINUING RELATIONSHIP WITH THE DEO OFFICE OF THE COUNTY AS BEING A PART OF THE STRATEGY OF OVERSEEING AND SUPPORTING PREVAILING WAGE REVIEWS ALSO OTHER ITEMS. WE AUGMENTED THOSE WITH ANOTHER ORGANIZATION CALLED HPM. THEY CONTINUE THEIR WORK AND WE WILL CONTINUE TO BE STRENGTHENING THAT POSTURE AS WE HAVE A VERY COMPLEX AND DYNAMICALLY-MOVING PROJECT OF THE SCALE OF A OAK WIN HOSPITAL AND THE BEN TABB FACILITY AS YOU'RE FAMILIAR WITH. JUST HITTING THE HIGHLIGHTS OF THE THREE ITEMS. PREVAILING WAGE. 
          THIS IS AS MOST OF YOU KNOW VERY IMPORTANT ITEM. 
          OBVIOUSLY GOTTEN ATTENTION LATELY AS WE ARE WORKING TO ENSURE THAT WORKERS ARE GETTING ALL OF WHAT THEY ARE DUE RELATED TO THIS. IN THAT, I HAVE SPENT TIME WITH EACH OF YOUR STAFFS GOING THROUGH A LOT OF DETAIL RELATED TO THE VARIOUS REVIEWS UNDER TAKING RIGHT NOW. 
          WE HAVE HAD ONE COMPLAINT THAT LED TO FURTHER REVIEWS OF THE INFORMATION THAT HAS LED TO MULTIPLE ITEMS THAT WE ARE CONTINUING TO MANAGE RELATED SPECIFICALLY, TWO ITEMS OF COMPENSATION AND WORKER CLASSIFICATION. 
          WE HAVE SEEN THOSE SELF REPORTED AS BEING RESOLVED. 
          WE ARE STILL VALIDATING ON THAT THE DEO SIDE AND THE OTHER RESOURCES WITH HPM. THOSE HAVE NOT BEEN CLOSED OUT AT THIS TIME. WE EXPECT BY THE END OF THE MONTH, WE SHOULD HAVE PROGRESSION TOWARDS THAT. 
          IN THIS TYPE OF A DYNAMIC COMPLEX PROJECT, THERE COULD BE OBVIOUSLY ON GOING REVIEWS OF INFORMATION ESPECIALLY AS WE WORK TO CONTINUE TO GET AS PROACTIVE AS POSSIBLE. 
          LOOKING AT THE CERTIFIED PAYROLLS UPLOADED INTO THE SYSTEMS AND ANALYZING THAT INFORMATION AS WE CONTINUE TO GO FORWARD. AS I REFERENCE WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO STRENGTHEN THE INFORMATION AND THE RESOURCES WE HAVE WITHIN HARRIS HEALTH AS THE RESPONSIBLE PARTY UNDER TEXAS REGULATIONS TO MAKE SURE WE'RE GETTING THAT TYPE OF REVIEW AS PROACTIVE AS POSSIBLE. AND WE ARE IN ACTIVE CONVERSATIONS WITH THE VARIOUS PARTIES INCLUDING THE UNIONS RELATED TO FEEDBACK AND CONSIDERATIONS RELATED TO WORKERS RIGHTS, RELATED TO THEM UNDERSTANDING WHAT THEY ARE ENTITLED TO RELATED TO THIS PROCESS IN THAT STANDPOINT. 
          THE SECOND ITEM IS APPRENTICESHIP HOURS. 
          YOU CAN SEE A RANGE HERE. THE ONLY REASON THERE'S A RANGE IS THERE'S TWO PROJECTS RIGHT NOW. 
          THERE WILL BE MORE AS WE GO FORWARD. 
          THE OQUINN HOSPITAL AND CENTRAL UTILITY PLANT. 
          ONE IS 17%, THE OTHER IS 22. THOSE NUMBERS ARE HIGHER THAN IN THE FIRST REPORT, THE HOSPITAL PROJECT IS DRIVING THE TOTALITY 
          [03:15:04]
          -- >>  I'M ASKING FOR UNANIMOUS CONSENT WE CONTINUE THIS ITEM. WHICH WILL BE QUICK. 
          >>  OKAY. AND WE HAVE INCLUDED IN THE APPENDIX OF THE REPORT A BREAK DOWN BY TRADES HAS BEEN REQUESTED BY THIS COURT. SO, I WILL NOT GO INTO THAT DETAIL BUT WE ARE TRACKING THAT. THE EXPECTATION THAT YOU SHOULD HAVE AS WE GO FORWARD IS THESE PERCENTAGES WILL CONTINUE TO GO UP AS WE MOVE INTO THE INTERIOR OF THE HOSPITAL AND AS WE'RE GETTING INTO ALL THE FLOORS AND THE ACTIVITIES OF THE FLOORS, THAT INVOLVES A LOT MORE OF THE TRADE SENSITIVE AREAS, THAN WHAT WE HAVE BEEN AT RELATED TO THE EXTERIOR OF THE BUILDING IN GETTING THERE. ON THE OSHA SAFETY, THERE'S A LOT INVOLVED INTO THAT, WHICH THE BOARD OF HARRIS HEALTH HAS BEEN OVERSEEING AND ADOPTING. WE DO COMPARE TO INDUSTRY NORMS RELATED TO OVERALL SAFETY WHICH HAS BEEN EXTREMELY POSITIVE RELATED TO OUR PERFORMANCE. WE HAVE HAD A COUPLE OF ACCIDENTS AND ONE VERY SERIOUS THAT WE HAVE WORKED THROUGH THE PROCESSES AND REINFORCEMENT OF SAFETY RELATED TO THOSE INCIDENTS WORKING WITH OSHA AS WE CONTINUE TO HAVE A VERY STRONG SAFETY POSTURE ON THE PROGRAM. 
          IF I COULD GO ONE MORE SLIDE THEN STOP AND GET YOUR QUESTIONS. ON THE LBJ CAMPUS, YOU WILL SEE SLIDES FOR EACH. AM AMBUT -- AMBULATORY. WE HAVE A DIRECT SUPPORT FROM THE COURT THAT WILL FOLLOW ONE ITEM WE DID NOT HAVE OR THE SERVICE WE DID NOT HAVE ON THE LBJ CAMPUS WITH RADIATION THERAPY. PATIENTS WERE HAVING TO TRAVEL DOWN TO THE SMITH CLINIC NEAR BEN TABB. 
          WHEN THIS ANSWER OPENS AND WE ARE WORKING WITH UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS MD ANDERSON, IT WILL THEN ROUND OUT ALL OF THE CANCER SERVICES ON THE LBJ CAMPUS FOR THE FIRST TIME IN HARRIS HEALTH HISTORY. THAT LBJ AREA HAS THE LOWEST 
          LIFE EXPECTANCY. >>  IF I MIGHT SO I CAN SPEED US UP. I WANTED TO BRING UP 488 AND 494. 494 IS A TRANSMITTAL. 
          SO, I WANT TO I SENT A MOTION AROUND. 
          THE REASON I PUT THAT ITEM IS TO FOLLOW UP ON WHAT COMMISSIONER GARCIA ON LAST AUDIT TO WORK ON THE WAGE COMPLIANCE WORK ON THE LBJ SITE. WE ALL READ THE NEWSPAPER ACCOUNTS. HERE'S THE PROPOSED MOTION I WANT TO READ TO YOU BECAUSE WE OBVIOUSLY TAKE THIS ISSUE. 
          I MOVE TO DIRECT DEO TO REVIEW THE WAGE COMPLIANCE POLICIES AND PROCEDURES THAT HAVE BEEN IN PLACE FROM NOVEMBER 2025 TO PROVIDE COURT WITH AN UPDATE AT JULY 9TH MEETING OF THE COMMISSIONERS COURT THAT IDENTIFIES THE PROCESS FOR APPROVING CERTIFIED PAYROLL RECORDS INCLUDING THE FORMS OF DOCUMENTATION USED AND REQUESTED BY DEO TO CERTIFY PAYROLL. 
          THE PROCESS USED FOR CONFIRMING WORKER CLASSIFICATIONS, THE PROCESS FOR CONDUCTING WORK SITE VISITS AND WORKER INTERVIEWS AND FOURTH, THE PROCESS FOR INVESTIGATING COMPLAINTS FROM WORKERS REGARDING WAGE COMPLIANCE. 
          THIS UPDATE WILL INCLUDE PRELIMINARY SET OF RECOMMENDATIONS TO IDENTIFY ANY GAPS IN EXISTING 
          >>  SECOND. >>  THANK YOU. 
          I KNOW YOU ALL SENT SOME FOR COMPLIANCE. 
          IF YOU NEED TO SEND MORE, JUST DO IT. 
          SO WE DON'T END UP IN THIS POSITION. 
          >>  I WAS GOING TO ADD TO THE MOTION. 
          >>  I WILL TAKE IT AS A FRIENDLY AMENDMENT. 
          IF THERE'S A NEED TO ADD MORE. I DON'T KNOW IF IT COULD BE STAFFING ISSUES OR WHAT. WE WANT TO MAKE SURE IT'S DONE RIGHT SO WE DON'T END UP AT ODDS. 
          WE MADE A COMMITMENT TO PEOPLE. >>  IF I COULD COMMISSIONER. 
          I THINK THAT GOES BACK TO MY COMMENT EARLIER. 
          I THINK WE CERTAINLY HAVE APPRECIATED DEO'S ENGAGEMENT AND INVOLVEMENT WITH US. GIVEN THE SCALE OF THE PROJECT, WE HAVE RECOGNIZED ADDITIONAL RESOURCES HAVE BEEN NECESSARY AND SO THAT IS WHY WE HAVE MOVED TO ALSO BRING IN OTHER RESOURCES. I THINK WHAT I WOULD REQUEST IS THAT ANY MOTION WOULD NOT RESTRICT HARRIS HEALTH FROM BEING ABLE TO BRING IN ADDITIONAL RESOURCES -- 
          >>  NON-WHATSOEVER TO MAKE SURE WE'RE IN TOTALITY ABLE TO GET 
          [03:20:04]
          PROACTIVE. >>  COMMISSIONER, SO IT WOULDN'T BE A PART OF OUR MOTION BUT WE'RE NOT RESTRICTING IT. 
          WANT TO MAKE SURE THEY PUT ENOUGH MONEY DO DEEO. 
          ANYTHING ELSE YOU, ANYBODY ELSE, IF YOU WANT TO BRING SOMEBODY IN TO HELP YOU TO MAKE SURE DEEO GETS IT. 
          I DON'T THINK WE OBJECT TO THAT. THAT'S SOMETHING THAT YOU ALL 
          CONTROL. >>  DOESN'T IMPEDE THE WORK. 
          WE HAVE MET WITH THE STAFF TALKING ABOUT THE DETAIL RELATED TO THE INVESTIGATIONS NUMBERS AND WHAT THE SCALE IS. 
          I GOT TO CALL ON ONE. >>  I'M SAYING YOUR STAFF. 
          >>  I GOT A CALL ON ONE. IF I THOUGHT IT WAS IMPORTANT ENOUGH FOR THE C.E.O. TO CALL ME ON ONE, SOMEONE SHOULD HAVE CALLED WHEN YOU FIND MORE THAN ONE. 
          >>  JUST FOR CLARITY CAN I RESPOND? 
          >>  NO. WE HAVE TO GET OUT OF HERE 
          TODAY. >>  WERE NOT ASKING FOR ADDITIONAL MOTION. WE DIDN'T COMMENT ON WHAT YOU DO. IF THERE'S A SEPARATE ITEM, COMMISSIONER, I CAN SEE YOU WANT TO MAKE IT RIGHT BEFORE IT GETS 
          TO US. >>  AS A RESPONSIBLE PARTY -- 
          >>  IT DIDN'T -- MOTION MADE BY ELLIS AND SECONDED BY GARCIA. 
          >>  COMMISSIONER, IF THERE'S AN IMPACT ON COST IN TERMS OF RESOURCES WITHIN DEO NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT'S COVERED. 
          >>  HOW ABOUT THE SPOT WOULD BE ADDITIONAL SUPPORT WILL BE GIVEN 
          TO DEO IF NEEDED. >>  ALL RIGHT. 
          THANK YOU, MOTION HAS BEEN MADE AND SECONDED BY ELLIS AND 
          SECONDED BY GARCIA. >>  ALL IN FAVOR. 
          >>  I'M GOING TO STOP PAYING TUITION FOR ONE. 
          LET'S GO BACK TO THREE. I'M JUST TRYING TO MAKE SURE WE HIT THE VOTING ITEMS. DID I GET 390? I WAS TRYING TO DO THAT WHILE THE JUDGE WAS HERE. 
          390 WAS A TRANSMITTAL. LET'S GET TO THAT LATER. 
          [Departments (Part 3 of 4)]
WHAT IS LEFT? COMMISSIONER RAMSEY, YOU PULLED ONE ON THE SHERIFF. ITEM 177. 
          AUTHORIZE ADDITIONAL FUNDING, $19 MILLION FOR PROP A. 
          PUBLIC SAFETY BOND PROGRAM. THE FACILITY ISSUE THAT MIKE WAS 
          TALKING ABOUT EARLIER. >>  YEAH, JUST HAD A QUICK QUESTION. APPRECIATE WHAT Y'ALL ARE DOING OUT THERE. THAT'S A BIG DEAL. 
          THIS IS -- IT'S REAL EASY. THERE'S IMPROVEMENTS AT ETASCASIT. PLEASE WORK WITH THE COUNTY ENGINEER. I NEED A MASTER PLAN BOTH THE LAYOUT AND DRAINAGE OF WHAT Y'ALL ARE PLANNING ON DOING SO I WILL KNOW WHAT TO DO. BECAUSE WE'RE DOING THE TENSION AND ADDRESSING THE ISSUES. CAN YOU GET WITH THE COUNTY ENGINEER'S OFFICE? I NEED TO SEE THE MASTER PLAN. 
          I DON'T HAVE A MASTER PLAN >> YEAH, WE CAN DO THAT, COMMISSIONER, WE DON'T HAVE THE MASTER PLAN EITHER. 
          EACH ONE OF PROJECTS THAT ARE GOING ON THE CAMPUS OUT THERE. 
          THAT'S THE EXPANSION OF ACADEMY. THE ACADEMIC BUILDING. 
          THE EXPANSION OF THE FIREARMS RANGE. 
          THE ACTIVE ATTACK SHOOTER FACILITY AND THE DRIVING RANGE. 
          ENGINEERING THE PATH WE HAVE BEEN GOING DOWN AS EACH ONE OF THOSE PROJECTS HAVE THEIR OWN INDIVIDUAL DETENTION REQUIREMENTS AND WE'RE RIGHT NOW THE PLANS ARE TO PUT DETENTION 
          [03:25:01]
PONDS OR EXPAND EXISTING DETENTION PONDS. 
          >>  IF WE COULD JUST SEE A MASTER PLAN, WE MIGHT SAVE MONEY RATHER THAN BUILD EIGHT DETENTION PONDS, I MIGHT BUILD 
          TWO. >>  WE WOULD BE ALL FOR THAT. 
          WE WOULD. LIKE I SAID -- 
          >>  VERNON. -- 
          >>  SORRY. THEY'RE HERE. 
          THERE'S ENGINEERING. >>  YES, COMMISSIONER, WE JUST FINISHED THE SD AND A LOT OF PROJECTS, THAT'S WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DO. WE'RE GOING TO LOOK TO SEE IF WE HAVE COHESIVENESS RATHER THAN BUILDING EIGHT OR NINE, WE BUILD ONE BIG POND THAT SERVES THE ENTIRE AREA. 
          >>  IF WE COULD SEE THAT, IT'S IMPACTING THE FACILITIES WE HAVE IN THE AREA. JUST A MASTER PLAN IS ALL I'M 
          ASKING FOR. >>  THE STUDY, THE REASON WE MOVED FORWARD FAST BECAUSE WE WANTED TO MAKE SURE ALL THESE PROJECTS GET DONE AS PROMISED. THE STUDY FOR THE MASTER PLAN IS 
          SUPPOSED TO BE IN JUNE. >>  YES, SIR. 
          SO, THE TIMING, WE'RE GOING TO TRY TO EXPEDITE THAT TO CONSOLIDATE BEFORE WE HAVE FULL DESIGN DOCUMENT FOR EACH 
          INDIVIDUAL PROJECT. >>  I DON'T NEED TO SEE THE FULL DESIGN DOCUMENTS JUST THE MASTER. 
          >>  HOW ABOUT DESIGN BUILD ON THIS ONE? 
          WOULD THAT SPEED IT UP? >>  COMMISSIONER, SO THIS PROJECTS ARE NOT TOO BIG. TO ACTUALLY WHO HAVE DESIGNED BUILD WOULD BE MUCH OR ATTRACTEF TO SOME OF THE GOOD FIRMS. 
          >>  ONE OF YOU GUYS GOING TO MAKE A MOTION ON 177. 
          >>  MOTION BY GARCIA, SECOND BY RAMSEY. 
          >>  I WILL SUPPORT IT AND I'M ASSUMING DANIEL KNOWS WHERE THE 
          OTHER $19 MILLION IS COMING FROM >> COMMERCIAL PAPER. 
          >>  OKAY. MOTION MADE AND FAVOR LET IT BE KNOWN BY SAYING AYE. 
          >>  AYE. DID WE VOTE ON 15 EARLIER? 
          >>  YES. WE DID. 
          OKAY. HOW ABOUT 47? 
          >>  HASN'T BEEN VOTED ON YET. >>  47 OR 
          >>  OKAY. 47. 
          >>  THOSE ARE MINE. >>  THANK YOU. 
          AND WE HAD MAJOR JOHNSON HERE EARLIER THIS MORNING FROM THE CITY OF BAY TOWN. THIS ITEM 47 RELATES TO THE CITY OF BAY TOWN. IT IS A COLLABORATIVE OF $4.4 MILLION THAT PRECINCT AND THE CITY OF BAY TOWN ARE INVESTING THROUGH THE PARTNERSHIP PROGRAM. 
          TO SUPPORT INVESTMENTS TO THE NEIGHBORHOOD ROADWAY AND DRAINAGE INFRASTRUCTURE. THIS IS PART OF OUR BOND SIMILAR TO WHAT WE VOTED ON WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT. 
          THIS WILL INCLUDE APPROXIMATELY 3000 LINEAR FEET OF NEW SIDEWALKS THAT WILL CREATE SAFER PEDESTRIAN ROUTES IN NEIGHBORHOODS THAT LACK DEDICATED WALKING INFRASTRUCTURE. IT WILL REPLACE THE OR ADDRESS THE ISSUES OF STANDING WATER. ROADWAY FLOODING. 
          IT'S GOING TO IMPROVE THE EMERGENCY ACCESS AND OVERALL ROADWAY RELIABILITY DURING STORM EVENTS. 
          AND IT'S GOING TO ENSURE THAT THERE IS STRONG COMMITMENT TO THE FLOOD MITIGATION AND NEIGHBORHOOD SAFETY IMPROVEMENTS FOR THE AREA FOR THE BAY TOWN AREA RESIDENTS. 
          SO JUST ALWAYS LIKE TO HIGHLIGHT THESE BECAUSE THESE ARE PARTNERSHIPS WITH OUR CITIES. THIS ONE BOND, WE HAVE SO MANY OTHERS WITH MOBILITY THAT WE WORKED TO INVEST IN EVERY ONE OF CITIES AND PRECINCT TOO. I KNOW COMMISSIONER RAMSEY AND ALL OF OUR OTHER COLLEAGUES USE THAT MOBILITY MONEY WISELY AS WELL. THANK YOU. 
          I MOVE ON THIS ITEM AS >> 
          SAYING AYE. >>  AYE. 
          >>  ITEM PASSED. >>  COMMISSIONER, 48. 
          >>  ON ITEM 48. THIS IS ALSO ANOTHER PARTNERSHIP WITH THE CLEAR BROOK CITY MUNICIPAL DISTRICT FOR A STORM AND SIDEWALK PROJECT. THIS IS ABOUT A $400,000 PROJECT WHERE WE'RE SPLITTING THE COST 50/50 AND WILL IMPROVE PUBLIC SAFETY. REDUCING THE RISK OF FALLING OR TRIPPING OVER THEM, ENHANCING ADA ACCESSIBILITY TO PROVIDE SAFER MORE EQUITABLE MOBILITY FOR MULTIPLE LOCATIONS AROUND THE DISTRICT LOCATED WITHIN THE BOUNDARIES OF PRECINCT TWO. 
          SO, JUST EXCITED AGAIN PARTNERSHIPS IS THE WAY WE GET THINGS DONE. AND I AM EXCITED TO MOVE ON THIS 
          ITEM AS >> 
          BE KNOWN BY SAYING AYE. >>  AYE. 
          >>  THREE AYES NO NAYS. COMMISSIONER WE PASSED UNDER CONSENT RESOLUTION UNDER 489, I NEED TO PLACE A VOTE ON THAT. 
          WE NEED TO VOTE ON IT. >>  OKAY. 
          IS THAT THE -- VOTING RIGHTS. >>  YEAH, I MOVE THAT WE RECONSIDER THE VOTE BY WHICH ITEM RESOLUTION -- 489 WAS TAKEN UP. IS THERE AN OBJECTION? WE BRING IT BACK UP. MOVE THE ITEM. 
          >>  SECOND. >>  SECOND BY COMMISSIONER GARCIA. TWO AYES AND NO NAYS. 
          ITEM PASSES. >>  I VOTE NAY. 
          >>  I BROUGHT IT BACK UP. >>  I MOVE ON 490 AS PRESENTED. 
          [03:30:03]
          >>  THAT WAS ALREADY VOTED ON COMMISSIONER. 
          JUST 489. WE WERE JUST DOING THE 
          RESOLUTION. >>  SO MOVE ON 49. 
          HE SECONDS IT. I WAS IN FAVE. 
          NO. RIGHT. 
          >>  SO COMMISSIONER YOU MOVED IT AND? 
          >>  NO LET'S GO TO 217. COMMISSIONER RAMSEY. 
          ARPA. MENTAL HEALTH POLICY INSTITUTE IN HARRIS COUNTY. EARLY CHILDHOOD INITIATIVE. 
          JUST NEED A VOTE. >>  TWO AYES AND NO NAYS. 
          ITEM PASSES. >>  COMMISSIONER RAMSEY VOTES NO. NEXT IS 219. 
          THE SAME COMMISSIONER RAMSEY. >>  JUST NEED A VOTE. 
          >>  WE DID 219. RIGHT? 
          >>  WE DID 218. >>  WE'RE WE JUST DO 217. 
          IT'S 219. WE DIDN'T HAVE 218. 
          >>  I PUT IT BACK ON CONSENT. >>  OKAY. 
          COMMISSIONER GARCIA MOVES 219. I WILL SECOND IT. 
          ALL IN FAVOR VOTE AYE. COMMISSIONER RAMSEY VOTES NAY AND PASSED. TAX ASSESSOR. 
          >>  ON 228, I JUST WANT TO SAY I'M EXCITED TO BRING FORWARD A MOTION TO ONCE AGAIN PROVIDE MEANINGFUL PROPERTY TAX RELIEF FOR HARRIS COUNTY SENIORS AND RESIDENTS WITH DISABILITIES. 
          THIS HAS BEEN AN ITEM I CHAMPIONED SINCE I BEEN ON COURT. I THINK WHEN I DID IN 2019, IT WAS THE FIRST TIME IT HAD BEEN CHANGED. 
          >>  '22 COMMISSIONER BECAUSE I WAS HERE ALREADY. 
          >>  IT HAD BEEN A WHILE SINCE WE HAD DONE IT. 
          >>  IT WAS LIKE 1990 IT WAS ADDRESSED. 
          >>  I MADE A MOTION TO INCREASE IT IN PERPETUITY BUT SOMETHING HAD TO CHANGE WITH THE TAX RATE. AND THIS TIME IT DIDN'T, WE DIDN'T HIT THE TRIGGER. THAT'S WHY I HAD TO DO THIS MANUALLY. I'M EXCITED TO DO IT. 
          I WAS MISSING MAKING THIS ON AN ANNUAL BASIS. 
          THE RECENT ANALYSIS SHOWS THAT PRECINCT 2 HAS 393,000 OCCUPIED HOUSE HOLDS, INCLUDING 222,000 HOMEOWNERS AND 171,000 RENTERS. 
          THAT TELLS US TWO THINGS. MANY FAMILIES HAVE ACHIEVED THE AMERICAN DREAM OF THE HOME OWNERSHIP AND OTHERS ARE WORKING TOWARD IT. MY GOAL IS TO HELP BOTH. 
          HELPING LONG-TERM RESIDENTS STAY IN AFFORDABLE HOUSING THEY HAVE WORKED SO HARD TO GET. EVEN IN THE YEAR WHERE HOME VALUES MAY NOT RISE DRAMATICALLY, SENIORS AND RESIDENTS WITH DISABILITIES ARE STILL DEALING WITH HIGHER COSTS FOR INSURANCE, UTILITIES, FOOD, HEALTHCARE. 
          HOME MAINTENANCE, FOR MANY RESIDENTS LIVING IN FIXED INCOMES, THOSE COSTS CONTINUE TO OUT PACE WHAT THEY CAN AFFORD. 
          THIS PROPOSAL WOULD RAISE THE A MODEST 5% INCREASE COMBINED WITH THE COUNTY'S EXISTING 20% HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION AND SHIELD HOMES VALUED UP TO $420,000 FROM HARRIS COUNTY FLOOD CONTROL AND HARRIS HEALTH TAXES. HARRIS COUNTY ALREADY LEADS THE STATE IN SENIOR AND DISABILITY RELIEF, THIS ACTION ALLOWS US TO CONTINUE LEADING BY PROTECTING VULNERABLE HOMEOWNERS AND PROTECTING HOUSING STABILITY ACROSS OUR COMMUNITY. 
          THIS IS THE FIFTH TIME I HAVE BROUGHT THIS FORWARD SINCE TAKING OFFICE. THIS IS KEEPING A SIMPLE PROMISE. HARRIS COUNTY SHOULD HELP MORE RESIDENTS MAINTAIN THE AMERICAN DREAM AND NOT MAKE IT HARDER. 
          HERE'S MY MOTION. I MOVE TO AMEND THIS ITEM TO INCREASE THE HOMESTEAD TAX EXEMPTION FOR SENIORS AND RESIDENTS WITH DISABILITIES. FROM $320,000 TO $336,000. 
          >>  THAT'S MY MOTION. >>  MOTION MADE BY COMMISSIONER 
          RAMSEY. >>  MADE BY -- SECONDED BY RAMSEY. IS THAT ALL RIGHT? 
          >>  ITEM PASSES. THANK YOU SIR. 
          NEXT IS 252 COMMISSIONER RAMSEY. SUNSHINE RENEWABLE SOLUTIONS. 
          YOU JUST WANT A VOTE? >>  IS THERE ANY IMPACT ON THE BUDGET? THIS IS 252. 
          >>  252. YES 
          [03:35:07]
          >>  SO COMMISSIONER RAMSEY. THIS IS A FLOOD CONTROL ITEM. 
          THIS IS A GRANT FUNDED SOLAR PROJECT. 
          SO NO DIRECT BUDGET IMPACT BUT IT IS FUNDED THROUGH GRANT 
          PROGRAM. >>  OKAY. 
          MONEY CAME IN AND YOU'RE GETTING THAT 
          >>  OKAY. IS IT OKAY? 
          >>  I MOVE ON IT. >>  MOTION MADE BY COMMISSIONER RAMSEY. Y'ALL ARE STARTING 
          SAYING AYE. >>  AYE. 
          >>  THREE AYES AND NO NAY. >>  257. 
          COMMISSIONER RAMSEY. SOUTHWEST CORRECTIONAL LLC LA 
          SALLE. >>  SO WE'RE MOVING THROUGH OUR CONTRACT TANYA, RIGHT? IN TERMS, YOU WOULDN'T FEEL ANY MORE COMFORTABLE GOING LOWER THAN THAT. 
          >>  NO, SIR, THIS IS CONSISTENT WITH THE PLAN THE OUT SOURCE REDUCTION PLAN THAT CHIEF AND I BROUGHT IN JANUARY, THE PLAN THIS YEAR WAS TO REDUCE 100 JUNE AND THEN ANOTHER COUPLE HUNDRED IN THE FALL. THIS AMENDS THAT CONTRACT TO REDUCE THOSE BEDS SO WE'RE NOT PAYING FOR BEDS WE WILL BE REDUCING. THIS IS STEP ONE. 
          >>  HOW MANY BEDS ARE LEFT? >>  AFTER THAT, THERE WILL BE ANOTHER 400, THE PLAN NOW IS IN 2027. 
          WITH THIS CONTRACT. WITH THE LA SALLE OLA CONTRACT. 
          THIS WOULD THROUGH 2027 WE WILL ELIMINATE THAT CONTRACT WITH THE 400 THEN THAT TAKES US TO ABOUT 600, 580, 590 BEDS WILL BE OUTSOURCED AND ADDRESS THOSE AS CONSTRUCTION IS COMPLETED IN 701 
          OR WE GET VARIANCE BED. >>  DANIEL WANTED TO ACT TO GET 
          TO 350. >>  COMMISSIONER WE DON'T ASSUME SAVING IN THE CLS BECAUSE THERE'S GOING TO BE A STAFFING REQUEST IN ORDER TO MAKE THIS HAPPEN. 
          >>  THAT OFFSETS? >>  IT WILL BE SAVINGS, WE WANT TO MAKE SURE CHECK IN WITH THE SHERIFF AND MAKE SURE HIGHING AND ATTRITION ARE STAYING WHERE THEY ARE AND BRINGING FORTH THE STAFFING MODEL. ON A PER HEAD BASIS, IN HOUSE IS 
          MUCH CHEAPER THAN OUT SOURCE. >>  AS CONDITIONS CHANGE EITHER IN OUR JAIL RENOVATION, THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION. 
          >>  I MOVE ON THE ITEM. >>  MOTION MADE BY COMMISSIONER RAMSEY, SECONDED BY GARCIA. THREE AYES. 
          I'M GOING TO HOLD THE NEXT ITEM. LET'S GO TO 394. 
          TRANSMITTAL. COMMISSIONER RAMSEY. 
          >>  YEAH. KNOWING WHERE WE HAVE BEEN IN J WEB, I AM ASSUMING THIS IS PROGRESS IN TERMS OF WHERE WE WERE AND WHERE WE'RE HEADED. IS THERE ANYONE HERE THAT CAN -- AND I KNOW THIS IS JUST A TRANSMITTAL. 
          >>  GOOD AFTERNOON. THERE SHE IS. 
          >>  YES. GOOD AFTERNOON. 
          SO ARE WE MAKING PROGRESS ON J WEB. 
          >>  YES, SIR, WE ARE MAKING PROGRESS ON JWEB. 
          >>  THERE'S A LOT OF PLAYERS INVOLVED AND IT'S LIKE HERDING CATS. YOU THINK WE'RE MAKING PROGRESS? 
          >>  YES, SIR. ACCORDING TO YOUR SCHEDULE AND WHAT YOU HAD PLANNED, WE'RE WHERE WE NEED TO BE? 
          >>  YES, SIR WE ARE. >>  I MOVE ON THE ITEM. 
          >>  IT'S A TRANSMITTAL. NO ACTION. 
          [Emergency/Supplemental Items (Part 2 of 2)]
THANK YOU. TRANSMITTAL. 
          >>  THANK YOU. NEXT ONE IS 440. 
          COMMISSIONER RAMSEY. STANDARD RENEWAL AMENDMENT THREE. INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT. 
          MENTAL HEALTH IDD. >>  WELL I JUST, IN 2017 CORE WAS LAUNCHED. I COULD GO ON ABOUT HOW WELL CORE HAS DONE. THROUGH THE YEARS. 
          JUST WANT TO HIGHLIGHT CORE AND WHAT IT'S DONE MENTAL HEALTH WISE AND OTHERWISE IN THE COUNTY. 
          I MOVE ON THE ITEM. >>  OKAY. 
          AND I WILL SECOND ALL IN FAVOR LET IT BE KNOWN BY 
          SAYING AYE. >>  AYE. 
          FOUR 440? THREE AYES AND NO NAYS. 
          462 COMMISSIONER RAMSEY. >>  RELATED TO RENEWABLE 
          I MOVE. >>  SECOND. 
          RAMSEY AND SECONDED BY GARCIA. >>  JESSE COME ON UP HERE. 
          I JUST WANT TO THANK YOU FOR THE WORK THAT YOU AND LISA HAVE DONE. JUST EXCITED ABOUT THE PROGRESS. 
          I KNOW IT'S NO LONGER YOUR WHEEL HOUSE. 
          [03:40:02]
CAN YOU GIVE US QUICK UPDATE WHERE THINGS ARE. 
          >>  SURE, WE'RE GOING OUT TO GET PPA, SOMETHING CORPORATIONS DO ALL THE TIME. WE HOPE IT WILL LOWER COSTS. 
          CORPORATIONS HAVE BEEN DOING THAT FOR YEARS. 
          AND SO WE'RE EXCITED TO BRING SOMETHING BACK. 
          WE HAVE SAVINGS FROM THIS >> THANK YOU VERY 
          >>  THANK YOU. >>  GOOD JOB. 
          THANK YOU VERY MUCH. IS THERE A MOTION? 
          >>  SO MOVED. >>  GARCIA AND SECONDED ALL IN FAVOR LET IT BE KNOWN BY SAYING AYE. 
          >>  AYE. THREE AYES AND NO NAYS. 
          WE JUST HAVE ONE ITEM. >>  TRANSMITTAL 380. 
          >>  I WAS TRYING TO WAIT FOR THE JUDGE. 
          [Departments (Part 4 of 4)]
WE'RE DONE. LET'S GO TO THE ITEM. 
          THAT'S ITEM 390. THE JUDGE AND COMMISSIONER RAMSEY. FLOOD CONTROL DISTRICT UPDATE. 
          CITY CDBG. THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE AND SO 
          PATIENT. >>  WE'RE HAPPY TO BE HERE. 
          WE DID PUT TOGETHER A BRIEF POWER POINT IN RESPONSE TO THE QUESTIONS WE WERE GETTING BEFORE BRIEFING. 
          WE CAN GO THROUGH THAT QUICKLY IF YOU WOULD LIKE. 
          COMMISSIONERS. >>  LET'S DO IT. 
          >>  ALL RIGHT. SO, THIS IS A TRANSMITTAL TO PROVIDE A REPORT ON THE CDBG PROGRAM. 
          I DID WANT TO PROVIDE FACTS BECAUSE THERE HAVE BEEN QUITE A FEW QUESTIONS ABOUT THIS PARTICULAR PROGRAM OVER THE LAST SEVERAL WEEKS. GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE. 
          IT'S IMPORTANT TO REMEMBER THAT MOST IMPORTANTLY THE WORK THAT IS COMPLETING UNDER THIS PROGRAM IS ULTIMATELY DRIVEN BY THE CHALLENGES THAT THIS REGION FACED DURING HURRICANE HARVEY. 
          ON THE NEXT SLIDE WE SEE THIS IS WHY CONGRESS ALLOCATED $5.67 BILLION TO THE STATE OF TEXAS AND ON THE NEXT SLIDE, WE CAN SEE THAT THOSE DOLLARS WERE ALLOCATED TO THE GLO AND THOSE DOLLARS WERE ALLOCATED TO LOCAL AGENCIES. 
          ON THE NEXT SLIDE WE HAVE THE FACT THAT IN 2023, THERE WAS FUNDING THAT WAS MADE AVAILABLE. THANKS TO THE VISION OF COMMISSIONER DON BUCKINGHAM TO BRING FLOOD MITIGATION PROJECTS TO THIS REGION THANKS TO THIS FUNDING. 
          IT'S IMPORTANT TO NOTE WHILE THESE DOLLARS ARE REPURPOSED AND REPACKAGED, THEY WERE NO NEW DEADLINES ASSIGNED TO THE DOLLARS FOR GLO OR FLOOD CONTROL DISTRICT. 
          THAT IS WHY ON THE NEXT SLIDE THERE WAS VERY IMPORTANT TO RECOGNIZE THAT THERE NEEDED TO BE EXTENSIONS. 
          WE ADVOCATED PRIOR TO THE CONTRACT BEING IN PLACE FOR GLO TO GET A THREE-YEAR EXTENSION. WE WORKED WITH COMMISSIONER COURT AND IGA AND WE WERE GIVEN A MOTION TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAD ADEQUATE TIME TO DELIVER THIS PROGRAM. 
          AND THAT IS WHAT HAPPENED IMMEDIATELY AFTER COURT PASSED. 
          THAT AGREEMENT IN OCTOBER 2023. SO ON THE NEXT SLIDE, IT'S ALSO IMPORTANT TO, WE CAN ACTUALLY GO ONE MORE. 
          >>  CAN YOU GO BACK TO THAT ONE FOR A SECOND? 
          >>  YES. JUST THE ONE ON THE EXTENSIONS. 
          >>  SO, THEY GAVE GLO -- OKAY WE ADVOCATED FOR THREE YEARS. 
          >>  YES. BUT HUD GAVE TWO YEARS. 
          >>  YES. AND THEY GAVE US A LITTLE LESS 
          THAN HALF OF THAT TIME. >>  YES. 
          MORE THAN, LESS THAN HALF. YES. 
          >>  AND WHEN WE MADE THE REQUEST FOR THE FULL TWO YEARS, DID WE SEND IN WRITING? IT IS ON THE RECORD? 
          >>  IS IT ON RECORD. YES. 
          WE HAVE BEEN ON RECORD MULTIPLE TIMES REQUESTING THAT EXTENSION. 
          AND IF WE GO TWO SLIDES AHEAD, WE ALSO UNDERSTAND THAT THESE PROGRAMS REALLY HAVE A LOT OF UNIQUE REQUIREMENTS. 
          AND A LOT OF CHALLENGES JUST DUE TO THE FACT OF THE WAY THE DOLLARS ARE FUNDED. THIS IS ORIGINALLY A HOUSING PROGRAM. AND SO WE KNOW THAT THERE ARE CERTAIN REQUIREMENTS LIKE THE FEDERAL FLOOD RISK STANDARD. 
          WHICH MAY APPLY AND BE VERY APPROPRIATE FOR A HOME AND NOT FOR A FLOOD MITIGATION PROJECT LOCATED IN THE FLOOD PLAIN. 
          REALLY THE WAY THE PROGRAM WAS INITIALLY SET UP WAS VERY FOCUSED ON ALL OF THOSE THINGS TO THE LEFT. 
          MAKING SURE WE HAD MINIMIZED AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE THE NEED TO HAVE ENVIRONMENTAL CLEARANCE. MINIMIZE PROPERTY ACQUISITION 
          [03:45:01]
AND UTILITY RELOCATION. AND WE ALSO COMPLETELY UNDERSTAND THERE ARE ADMINISTRATIVE PROCESSES THAT COME WITH FEDERAL DOLLARS. ONE OF THE THINGS WE REALLY COULDN'T HAVE ANTICIPATED WAS THE CHANGING REGULATIONS THAT WE WERE DEALING WITH AT THE TIME THAT LED TO A LOT OF UNCERTAINTY, AND FRANKLY LED TO PROJECT DELIVERY CHALLENGES ACROSS THE NATION. SO IF WE GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE. 
          I DO WANT US TO SPEND A MOMENT. WE KNOW THAT THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF PROGRESS MADE. OUR FOCUS HAS BEEN ON MAKING SURE THAT WE GET THESE PROJECTS INTO CONSTRUCTION. 
          THAT IS CRITICAL. >>  SO CAN WE -- 
          >>  I JUST GOT, THE JUDGE IS GOING TO COME DOWN. 
          I KNOW WE WILL LEAVE BY 4:10. CAN WE MAKE A 10 MINUTE BREAK. 
          AND THANK YOU. I KNOW Y'ALL BEEN PATIENT AND A 
          LONG TIME. >>  COMMISSIONER. 
          >>  YES. IT'S NOW 3:43. 
          I WAS ABOUT TO SAY, I MISSED >>  THANK YOU. 
          OKAY. THANK YOU COMMISSIONER. 
          IT'S 3:58. COMMISSIONERS COURT IS BACK IN SESSION. AND WE'RE HEARING FROM DIRECTOR PETERSON. WE HAD JUST STARTED JUDGE. 
          WE CAN GO BACK TO THE >>  IT'S FINE. 
          THANK YOU. >>  JUST TO BRING US UP TO WHERE WE WERE. WE TALKED ABOUT THE FACT THESE DOLLARS CAME ROUGHLY FIVE, SIX YEARS AFTER THEY WERE ALLOCATED WITH NO CHANGE IN SCHEDULE FOR THE GLO OR THE FLOOD CONTROL DISTRICT, WHICH IS WHY WE KNEW IT WAS IMPORTANT BACK IN '23 WHEN WE ACCEPTED THE AGREEMENT BY COURT THAT THERE NEEDED TO BE AN EXTENSION. AND THAT WAS A MOTION MADE BY COURT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE FOLLOWED THROUGH WITH THAT. 
          WHICH WE DID. SO, WE WERE NOW JUST TALKING ABOUT THE CHALLENGES THAT EXIST AS A RESULT OF THE VARIOUS FEDERAL AND PROCESS-ORIENTED PROCEDURES THAT WE HAVE WITH THESE DOLLARS. AND WE WERE NOW GOING TO BE TALKING ABOUT REALLY THE WORK THAT IS HAPPENING RIGHT NOW. 
          AND SO IF WE GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE, WE WILL JUST WORK THROUGH THESE QUICKLY. WE HAVE A NUMBER OF PROJECTS ALREADY UNDER CONSTRUCTION. WE HAVE ARBOR OAKS. 
          BROOK GLEN STORMWATER BASIN ALREADY UNDER CONSTRUCTION. 
          THE NEXT SLIDE SHOWS THE WATER BASIN IN GREENS BAYOU. 
          THE NEXT SLIDE SHOWS KEEGAN'S BAYOU. 
          THESE ARE ALL UNDER CONSTRUCTION. 
          THE NEXT SLIDE, WE HAVE ONE MORE, EC JESTER IS UNDER CONSTRUCTION AND THE CYPRUS CREEK WATERSHED. 
          WE HAVE FOUR PROJECTS THAT ARE IN THE PROCESS OF EITHER ABOUT TO BE AWARDED WHICH IS I SOM AND DINNER CREEK. 
          WE USED COMPETITIVE PROPOSAL TO LOOK FOR WAYS TO EXPEDITE SCHEDULE AND WE HAVE GREENS BAYOU AND JACKSON BAYOU THAT HAVE BEEN AWARDED AND MOVING TOWARDS MOBILITIZATION. 
          ON THE FINAL SLIDE, WE HAVE THERE ARE TWO PROJECTS WE'RE STILL WAITING FOR ENVIRONMENTAL CLEARANCE. 
          THOSE ARE ALWAYS MOVING FORWARD AS EXPECTED AND CONTINUE TO COORDINATE WITH THE GLO TO MAKE SURE THEY STAY ON TRACK. 
          IF WE GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE. REALLY WHERE WE ARE AT NOW IS WE DO WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE IMPORTANCE OF THE CONVERSATION THAT WE HAVE HAD AND WALK YOU THROUGH THE INFORMATION THAT HAS BEEN PROVIDED BY COURT. AND SO I'M GOING TO ASK EMILY OUR EXTERNAL AFFAIRS OFFICER TO PROVIDE THAT UP WITH DATE. 
          >>  THANKS SO MUCH. DR. PETERSON. 
          HI, COMMISSIONERS COURT. AS DR. PETERSON MENTIONED, THIS IS A PRIORITY AND HEARD THAT LOUD AND CLEAR FROM THE COURT. 
          IN ADDITION TO THE NUMEROUS MEETINGS WE HAD WITH YOUR TEAM AND STAFF, WE WANT TO MAKE SURE WE'RE CONSISTENT IN SHARING THAT INFORMATION THANKS TO COMMISSIONER RAMSEY'S MOTION LAST COURT. IF WE GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE, WE WANT TO CENTER AROUND THE MOTION FROM LAST COURT. 
          IT WAS INCREDIBLY SPECIFIC. THANK YOU COMMISSIONER RAMSEY FOR THAT AND REALLY YOU KNOW WE HAVE MOVED INTO ON THE NEXT SLIDE THE PRODUCTION OF THIS REPORT. 
          THE FIRST ONE WAS DELIVERED TO COURT OFFICES AS REQUESTED ON MAY FIRST. SO ABOUT A WEEK AND A HALF AGO. 
          AND MOVING FORWARD, WE PLAN TO OF COURSE MEET THE DEADLINES THAT HAVE BEEN SET BY THIS COMMISSIONER'S COURT IN CONTINUING TO TRANSMIT THIS INFORMATION. 
          THE NEXT ONE IS DUE ON MONDAY AND WE'RE ALREADY WELL ON OUR WAY AND NEAR FINAL ON THAT. WE HAVE ALSO TAKEN A STEP TO 
          [03:50:02]
MAKE SURE THIS REPORT IS AVAILABLE ON OUR WEBSITE AND WILL CONTINUE MOVING FORWARD. SO HCFC.ORG/CDBG BECAUSE WE LOVE AN ACRONYM AT FLOOD CONTROL DISTRICT. 
          WE KNOW THIS REPORT IS REALLY NOT PUBLIC FRIENDLY. 
          THAT'S SOMETHING WE TAKE VERY SERIOUSLY. 
          ON THE NEXT SLIDE WE TOOK AN EXTRA STEP AND REALLY WORKED WITH YOUR COURT OFFICES, GOT FEEDBACK FROM EACH OFFICE. 
          THANK YOU SO MUCH AND THANKS TO YOUR STAFF. 
          TO PROVIDE A SNAPSHOT. THESE PROJECTS SUMMARY SHEETS PROVIDE INFORMATION ABOUT THE LOCATIONS SCOPE AND BENEFITS OF EACH PROJECT. AS WELL AS KEY MILESTONES TO REALLY GIVE A TRANSPARENT LOOK WHERE WE ARE AND WHERE WE PROJECT TO BE. THERE ARE PROJECTED DATES AND COMPLETED DATES ON THIS DOCUMENT. 
          WE ALSO HAVE THE PROJECT BUDGET INCLUDING WHAT WE HAVE EXTENDED AND THE ANTICIPATED CONSTRUCTION COSTS ALONG WITH A REAL LOOK AT RISK. AND JUDGE HIDALGO, THIS WAS SOMETHING WE HEARD FROM YOU AND YOUR TEAM. 
          WE NOT ONLY LOOKED AT THE PROJECT LEVEL RISK FOR EACH EFFORT BUT ALSO PROGRAMMATIC RISKS. 
          WE ARE HIGHLY AWARE OF BOTH AND THIS IS A WAY TO BE TRANSPARENT ABOUT THAT. ONE THING THAT WAS REALLY IMPORTANT TO ADMINISTRATOR CARTER IS MAKING SURE WE HAD A WAY FOR THE COMMUNITY TO STAY INFORMED AND ENGAGED. 
          WE HAVE E-MAILS, PHONE NUMBERS AND A WEBSITE FOR FOLKS TO VISIT FOR EACH PROJECT. ALL SUMMARY SHEETS ARE AVAILABLE ON OUR WEBSITE AND WILL CONTINUE TO BE UPDATED ON THE SAME CYCLE THE LARGER SPREADSHEET IS UPDATED. 
          ON THE NEXT SLIDE, WE ALSO KNOW THAT IT CAN'T JUST STOP AT REPORTING. WE HAVE A VARIETY OF AVENUES THAT WE USE TO REALLY KEEP THE PUBLIC UPDATED. 
          WE DO SOCIAL MEDIA, E-MAIL AND MAIL UPDATES. 
          WE WILL CONTINUE THE WORK ON ALL PROJECTS AND KNOW WE'RE LOOKING TO GO A STEP FURTHER. REALLY INTEGRATING FROM EACH OF YOUR OFFICES AND HOSTING SPACES FOR PEOPLE TO ASK QUESTIONS AND HAVING AD HOC QUESTIONS. I KNOW WE HAD QUITE A FEW QUESTIONS WITH FOLKS IN NORTHEAST AND CYPRUS TO ANSWER QUESTIONS ABOUT THOSE PROJECTS IN THOSE NEIGHBORHOODS AND COMMUNITIES. I WILL TURN IT BACK OVER TO DR. 
          PETERSON. >>  SO LOOKING AHEAD, WE UNDERSTAND THE FOCUS OF THIS COURT AND THE IMPORTANCE OF SEEING ALL PROJECTS COMPLETED. THE NEED FOR AN EXTENSION FROM DAY ONE. THE CRITICALITY TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE ENOUGH TIME TO DO THESE PROJECTS. 
          WE ALSO REALLY UNDERSTAND AND APPRECIATE THE FOCUS ON HELPING TO CUT RED TAPE, FIND WAYS TO EXPEDITE. 
          THIS COURT HAS BEEN VERY SUPPORTIVE OF THAT AND WE ALSO KNOW THAT WE ARE AT A TIPPING POINT. 
          WE KNOW THAT WHERE WE ARE IS THESE PROJECTS ARE MOVING INTO CONSTRUCTION. AND WE ARE WORKING ON CONTINGENCY PLANNING WITH THE GENERAL LAND OFFICE. 
          OUR FOCUS CONTINUES TO BE ON THE WORK AND WORKING WITH EACH OF YOU TO MAKE SURE THAT WE SEE THESE PROJECTS THROUGH TO COMPLETION. SO I WOULD BE HAPPY TO ANSWER QUESTIONS, JUDGE AND COMMISSIONERS. 
          >>  COMMISSIONER, GARCIA AND COMMISSIONER ELLIS AND RAMSEY. 
          >>  THANK YOU. SO, DR. PETERSON, WE ARE ASKING 
          FOR AN EXTENSION. >>  WE WILL BE YES. 
          >>  YES WE WILL BE. WE WILL BE BASED ON OUR ANALYSIS INITIALLY WE ASKED FOR TWO, WELL WE STARTED WITH A THREE YEAR. 
          AND THAT WAS BASED ON YOU KNOW JUST UNDERSTANDING ALL THE WORK THAT WE HAD IN FRONT OF US. RIGHT NOW LOOKING AT THE SCHEDULES, WE BELIEVE THAT OUR RECOMMENDATION IS TO START ASKING FOR A NINE MONTH EXTENSION. 
          WE KNOW THAT IS LESS THAN WHAT WE ASKED FOR BEFORE. 
          LOOKING AT THE SCHEDULES WE BELIEVE THAT THAT PUTS US IN A VERY GOOD PLACE AND THERE MAYBE ONE POSSIBLY TWO PROJECTS THAT GO BEYOND. AND I BELIEVE AND IN CONVERSATIONS WITH THE GLO, IT IS CLEAR TO ME THAT WE SHOULD BE FOCUSED ON ONLY THE AREAS WHERE WE NEED EXTENSIONS. 
          AND SO, WE'RE REALLY TRYING TO SEGMENT OUT THE PROJECTS WHERE WE NEED ADDITIONAL TIME BEYOND AND THOSE THAT WE DON'T. 
          AND WE WANT TO WORK AS HARD AS WE CAN TO SEE HOW FAR WE CAN GET BEFORE WE GO ASK. AND THAT'S WHY WE REALLY WANT TO SEE THESE PROJECTS IN CONSTRUCTION. 
          WE WANT TO KNOW THE ACTUAL DAYS AND THE PROGRESS. 
          WE HAVE TWO PROJECTS WE HOPE TO PULL DOWN THE SCHEDULE EVEN TIGHTER THAN IT ALREADY IS. THAT'S WHY THIS IS SO IMPORTANT. 
          NINE MONTHS IS WHAT WE WILL BE TALKING TO THE GLO ABOUT AND CONTINUE TO TALK ABOUT ALSO CONTINGENCY PLANNING WITH THEM. 
          >>  LIKE ANY OTHER INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECT, WE'RE ALWAYS HOPING FOR BLUE SKIES AND KNOW THAT'S NOT ALWAYS THE CASE. 
          [03:55:02]
THANK YOU FOR THAT. THEN, THE, THERE'S ALWAYS BEEN THE CONCERN THAT BECAUSE OF THE TIME THAT GLO TOOK AWAY FROM US UNDER THE PREVIOUS COMMISSIONER, THAT WE WERE FACING TIME CRUNCHES, THEN YOU GOT TO WORK AND YOU FOUND SOME COST ESCALATIONS THAT WERE REALLY BECAUSE THE COST ESTIMATES WERE NOT DONE WELL. WERE NOT DONE AT ALL AND THEN THERE WAS NOW WE HAD MOST RECENTLY TARIFFS AND THEN IN BETWEEN ALL THAT, THERE'S BEEN INFLATION. 
          AND SO, SOME PROJECTS MAY BE COMING IN UNDER WHAT WE HAVE AVAILABLE. WHAT IS THE PLAN TO CLOSE THE 
          GAP? >>  WELL, YOU KNOW THIS IS ACTUALLY A GOOD PROBLEM TO HAVE. RIGHT. 
          IN COVID IN THE YEARS LEADING UP TO THIS MOMENT, WE HAVE SEEN A LOT OF COST ESCALATION, AND WE ALSO WERE SEEING RIGHT NOW THAT THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY IS YOU KNOW IT'S NOT AS TIGHT, THE COMPETITION IS, THERE'S MORE COMPETITION I SHOULD SAY. 
          AS AS A RESULT OF OTHER THINGS GOING ON IN THE INDUSTRY. 
          SO THAT'S WORK TO GO OUR BENEFIT. 
          AND SO, WE HAVE ALREADY BEEN IN CONVERSATION WITH THE GENERAL LAND OFFICE. ON WAYS THAT WE CAN LOOK TO MITIGATE THAT. SO FOR EXAMPLE, WE HAVE TALKED ABOUT THE FACT THERE COULD BE AN OPPORTUNITY TO WORK BETWEEN THE TWO CONTRACTS THAT WE HAVE. WE UNDERSTAND -- IS THERE A 
          MOTION TO CONTINUE? >>  UNTIL WE'RE DONE. 
          >>  MOTION BY COMMISSIONER GARCIA AND SECOND BY 
          >>  ALL IN FAVOR LET IT BE KNOWN BY SAYING AYE. 
          >>  MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY. >>  THERE IS ALREADY A CONVERSATION HAPPENING AND HERE'S THE GOOD NEWS. 
          HERE IS THE GOOD NEWS. IF THERE'S WORK ALREADY UNDER WAY UNDER MIT. THAT IS WORK HAPPENING. 
          SO, WE DON'T HAVE TO WORRY RIGHT NOW. 
          WE ARE STAYING FOCUSED ON DR. AND WE CAN CONTINUE TO EXPLORE AND INVESTIGATE AND FIND THE BEST SOLUTION FOR BOTH THE FLOOD CONTROL DISTRICT AS WELL AS THE GENERAL LAND OFFICE. 
          >>  GOOD DEAL. AND SO THERE ARE PLANS FOR THIS 
          THAT ARE ON THE TABLE? >>  YES. 
          AND THEN, WITH THE CHALLENGES THAT WE HAVE BEEN FACING, WHETHER THE COST ESTIMATES ARE ACCURATE BECAUSE OF INFLATION OR TARIFFS, OR ANY OTHER TIMELINES SCHEDULES YOU KNOW, THE SCHEDULE THAT GLO PLACED ON EVERYONE, ARE WE UNIQUE TO THESE PROBLEMS? OR IS THIS SOMETHING THAT ANY OTHER COUNTY OR CITY IS FACING? 
          >>  THAT'S A GOOD QUESTION. THINKING ABOUT THIS IN A COUPLE DIFFERENT WAYS COMMISSIONER. SO, WE CERTAINLY HAVE FACED THE SAME CHALLENGES THAT REALLY COUNTY, CITIES AND OTHER AGENCIES ACROSS THE NATION HAVE BEEN FACING AS WE WORK THROUGH SOME CHANGING ENVIRONMENTAL CRITERIA AND PROCESSES. 
          SO THAT IS SOMETHING THAT IS EFFECTED PROJECT DELIVERY NATIONWIDE. WE ALSO KNOW THAT THERE ARE EXTENSIONS THAT HAVE BEEN GRANTED IN IT OTHER JURISDICTIONS FROM HUD TO PROVIDE ADDITIONAL TIME TO COMPLETE WORK. SO, EXTENSIONS ARE NOT SOMETHING THAT ARE NECESSARILY UNUSUAL, BUT THE WAY THAT WE HAVE THOUGHT ABOUT THIS IS THAT WE BELIEVE THAT WE NEED TO BE ABLE TO DEMONSTRATE THAT OUR PROJECTS WE ARE COMMITTED TO THEM. 
          WE WILL INVEST OUR MONEY TO ACCELERATE THE PROJECTS AND MAKE SURE THEY'RE READY TO GO AND SPEND THE MONEY. 
          SO, THERE HAVE BEEN EXTENSIONS OTHER PLACES COMMISSIONER AND WE ARE ALSO FOCUSED ON MAKING SURE TO DEMONSTRATE OUR COMMITMENT AS 
          WELL. >>  GOOD DEAL. 
          THEN IN TERMS OF THE, YOU REFERENCED GLO A FEW TIMES. 
          AND LOOK, SOME FOLKS WILL BE STRAIGHT, AND FOLKS WILL GO SIDE WAYS, AND WE JUST NEVER KNOW WHICH ONE IS WHICH UNTIL THINGS ARE DONE. IN YOUR ESTIMATION, AND THE CONVERSATIONS WITH THE GLO, WHAT DO YOU, HOW DO YOU TAKE THEIR TONE? AND YOU'RE NOT AN ELECTED SO YOU MAY HEAR THINGS DIFFERENTLY THAN I MAY HEAR. 
          BUT, JUST IN THE MANY CONVERSATIONS YOU HAVE HAD WITH THE HIGH-LEVEL FOLKS AT GLO, DON'T KNOW HOW MANY TIMES YOU MAY HAVE MET WITH THE COMMISSIONER. 
          PROBABLY NOT MANY. I ASSUME YOU'RE DEALING WITH CHIEF OR HIGH-LEVEL DIRECTORS INVOLVED. 
          WE INVITED THE GLO TO COME AND EMBED THEMSELVES WITH US. 
          [04:00:04]
THAT WAS GOING FAIRLY WELL FROM WHAT I UNDERSTAND LIKE THEY WERE THERE ON A WEEKLY BASIS AND THEY THEMSELVES PULLED BACK, I THINK TO NEARLY MONTHLY IF THAT. SO, HOW DO YOU TAKE THE TONE OF THE CONVERSATIONS YOU HAVE BEEN HAVING? 
          >>  SO COMMISSIONER, I KNOW THAT WE HAVE CONVERSATIONS HAPPENING WITH THE GLO ACROSS OUR ORGANIZATION. 
          I HAVE CONVERSATIONS WITH THE GLO MELISSA MEYER WHO IS HERE TODAY, OUR CDBG DIRECTOR WORKS CLOSELY WITH THE GLO. 
          OUR ENVIRONMENTAL TEAMS WITH WORK WITH THE GLO. 
          OUR FINANCIAL TEAMS WORK WITH THE GLO. 
          SO WE WORK CLOSELY COLLABORATIVELY, WE HAVE HAD A VERY STRONG PROBLEM SOLVING RELATIONSHIP. 
          WHEN THERE ARE CHALLENGES AND ISSUES, WE CAN PUT THEM ON THE TABLE AND TALK THROUGH THEM. AND FIND A SOLUTION. 
          WE KNOW THAT PUTTING ALL OF OUR BRAINS TOGETHER WILL BE ABLE TO SOLVE A PROBLEM BETTER THAN IF WE WORK IN A SILO. 
          AND SO, I BELIEVE YOU KNOW WE EACH HAVE A ROLE IN THIS RELATIONSHIP. THE GENERAL LAND OFFICE IS RESPONSIBLE FOR MANAGING THE GRANT, WE'RE RESPONSIBLE FOR DELIVERING THE PROJECTS, AND I BELIEVE WE BOTH WORK VERY WELL TOGETHER IN A VERY PRODUCTIVE RELATIONSHIP IN THAT CONTEXT. 
          >>  GOOD DEAL. AND SO YOU YOUR CONVERSATIONS HAVE BEEN GOING WELL? YOU HAVE NOT GOTTEN ANY READ TO BELIEVE THAT THERE'S SOMETHING OF CONCERN? 
          >>  COMMISSIONER, I KNOW THAT YOU KNOW I CAN'T SPECULATE  AS TO YOU KNOW, ANYTHING BEYOND MY OWN EXPERIENCE. 
          BUT WHY I KNOW AGAIN IS WHAT I WILL SAY, WE HAVE A VERY COLLABORATIVE RELATIONSHIP. A VERY OPEN RELATIONSHIP. 
          THERE'S CONVERSATIONS, INFORMATION SHARING, HAPPENING AND YOU KNOW I WILL JUST STRESS HOW MUCH I APPRECIATE THE GLO 
          BECAUSE >>  AS I DO. 
          >>  THE PROGRESS WE ARE MAKING WOULD NOT BE POSSIBLE WITHOUT 
          THAT CLOSE RELATIONSHIP. >>  GOOD DEAL. 
          AND THEN, IN TERMS OF THE THIS SCHEDULE OF THE PROJECTS, YOU KNOW, I FOR ONE WAS YOU KNOW WHEN I WORKED WITH THE COMMISSIONER TO GET THIS FUNDING, WE HAD A VERY, VERY ROBUST CONVERSATION ABOUT THE TERM I WAS USING, SHOVEL READY. 
          AND I REFERENCED THAT WE HAD A FINITE AMOUNT OF TIME TO GET THESE PROJECTS DONE. AND I HAVE ALWAYS BEEN A CRITIC OF HOW THIS BOND PROJECT WAS PUT TOGETHER. 
          ENVIRONMENTAL, REQUIREMENTS, WE HEARD NOTHING ABOUT WHEN I FIRST CAME INTO THIS OFFICE. RIGHT AWAY ACQUISITION WAS NOT TALKED ABOUT. WHEN I CAME INTO THE OFFICE AND WAS GETTING MY BRIEFING FROM THE PREVIOUS DIRECTOR. 
          THE COST ESTIMATES -- IN FACT THE PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATION WAS TELLING US THERE WAS A DEAL ALREADY MADE THAT WE WOULD BE GETTING THE MONEY NO PROBLEMS. AND WE JUST NEEDED TO KEEP STAY ON TRACK. AND SO WITH THE SCHEDULE OF THINGS, ARE THERE ISSUES THAT PRIOR TO YOUR TIME, HAVE MADE SOME OF YOUR WORK A LITTLE MORE DIFFICULT THAN NOT? 
          >>  THAT IS A FAIR QUESTION. I WOULD SAY THERE ARE STILL THINGS WE FIND. THERE ARE STILL THINGS WE FIND. 
          YES. AND I WOULD ALSO SAY THAT ONE OF THE BIGGEST CHALLENGES IS REALLY THE FACT THAT -- THE THING THAT I THINK SPECIFICALLY WITH DR THAT REALLY SET US BACK IN A WAY THAT MADE IT DIFFICULT, WE HAD SOME PROJECTS THAT WERE AT THE TAIL END OF DESIGN, BECAUSE OF CHANGES IN ENVIRONMENTAL REGULATIONS WE HAD TO REDESIGN A PROJECT AND CHANGE THE FOOTPRINT. THERE WAS REDESIGN HAPPENING UNFORTUNATELY DUE TO THE REGULATIONS THAT WE ABSOLUTELY WANT TO FOLLOW AND SO IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE GET THAT RIGHT. BUT, UNFORTUNATELY, THERE WAS SOME CHANGES THERE THAT WE REALLY STRUGGLED WITH IN TERMS 
          [04:05:04]
OF WITH SOME OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL REGULATORY AGENCIES. THIS IS NOT SOMETHING UNIQUE TO THE FLOOD CONTROL DISTRICT. THIS WAS HAPPENING ACROSS THE 
          NATION. >>  I APPRECIATE AND I APPRECIATE HOW YOU JUST WORKED TO PICK THE BALL UP AND TRY TO MOVE IT FORWARD SINCE YOU GOT HERE. 
          THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THAT. AND YOU KNOW, JUDGE, I THINK YOU HAD MADE A COMMENT ABOUT AN EXTENSION THAT WE DIDN'T NEED AN EXTENSION. I THINK SOMEONE TOLD ME YOU MAY HAVE SAID THAT IN YOUR PRESS CONFERENCE EARLIER. 
          CAN WE JUST ROLL THIS VIDEO REAL QUICK? 
          >>  I'M NOT SURE I SAID THAT COMMISSIONER FOR WHAT IT'S 
          WORTH. >>  I MOVE APPROVAL OF THE CBDG CONTRACT AND CBDG CONTRACT BETWEEN HARRIS COUNTY AND THE TEXAS GENERAL LAND OFFICE. CONCURRENTLY I WILL ALSO MOVE APPROVAL OF THE CDBG MIT CONTRACT BETWEEN COMMUNITY SERVICES DIVISION AND THE GLO AND I FURTHER DIRECT THE FLOOD CONTROL DISTRICT TO REQUEST AN EXTENSION OF CONTRACT TIME FOR BOTH CONTRACTS FROM THE GLO TO ENSURE THAT FUNDS CAN BE SPENT IN THE LOCAL COMMUNITY AND THAT EXTENSION WILL ALLOW US THE TIME NECESSARY TO COMPLETE THIS SO WE DON'T HAVE TO GIVE ANY OF OUR 
          MONEY BACK. >>  WOULD LIKE TO SECOND THAT. 
          WELL -- >>  ALL RIGHT. 
          SO MOTION ON ALL THOSE. DID YOU GUYS CATCH IT? 
          >>  YES. AND THAT'S THE MOTION IT'S GOING TO BE FOR ALL THREE ITEMS CORRECT? 
          >>  SO THAT MOTION BY COMMISSIONER GARCIA, SECONDED BY 
          RAMSEY, ALL IN FAVOUR. >>  AND I -- I ECHO YOUR SENTIMENTS. THANK YOU DIRECTOR COSTACE AND THE GLO, THEY HAVE COME TO EVERY TOWN HALL WE HAD. 
          THEY ARE EMBEDDING THEMSELVES. I'M SO GRATEFUL FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY AND SO ENERGIZED AND GRATEFUL. 
          >>  ALL IN FAVOR. ANY OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES 4-0. THANK YOU ALL. 
          >>  THIS IS AN EXAMPLE OF HOW LOW GOVERNMENT CAN WORK WITH 
          AUSTIN. >>  THAT'S RIGHT. 
          >>  AGREED. I HEAR A LOT OF PEOPLE GRIPING ABOUT AUSTIN AND DON'T SPEND ANY TIME 
          >>  GOOD DEAL. >>  THANK YOU. 
          AND I JUST WANTED TO PLAY THAT BECAUSE FROM THE VERY BEGINNING WE KNEW TIME WAS NOT OUR FRIEND BECAUSE OF THE PREVIOUS GLO ADMINISTRATION. AND SO, I HAVE SAID THAT MANY TIMES ON DIFFERENT CONVERSATIONS RELATED TO THIS ITEM AND SO I JUST WANT TO POINT OUT AGAIN, THAT THIS TIME CONSTRAINT WE'RE FACING IS NOT OF OUR OWN DOING. AND WE ARE DOING EVERYTHING WE CAN TO ASK FOR THE TIME BUT I AM TRYING TO REMEMBER WHERE I GOT THE CONVERSATION FROM, BUT AT SOME POINT, I REMEMBER BEING TOLD THAT WE SHOULDN'T HAVE TO ASK, WE SHOULDN'T BE ASKING FOR A CONVERSATION UNTIL WE SHOWED SOME PROGRESS. 
          AND I BELIEVE I HEARD THAT FROM EITHER GLO STAFF OR WHEN I WAS IN DC. AGAIN, THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORK 
          DR. PETERSON. >>  THANK YOU. 
          COMMISSIONER. RAMSEY. 
          >>  YES. THANK YOU. 
          DIRECTOR, APPRECIATE THE UPDATE. I KNOW WE HAVE GOT THE TABLE. 
          NOW THAT'S INFORMATION THAT WAS REQUESTED AT THE LAST MEETING. 
          THAT WAS INFORMATION THAT THE GLO NEEDED. 
          I SHOULDN'T HAVE TO COME TO COMMISSIONER'S COURT TO GET SUPPORT FROM THIS COURT TO ASK YOU TO PROVIDE INFORMATION TO THE GLO. THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN SOMETHING THAT WOULD BE FAIRLY APPROPRIATE, FAIRLY OBVIOUS. 
          SO, GOING FORWARD, WE CAN'T BE MANAGING THIS FROM HERE. 
          YOU REALLY NEED TO MANAGE THIS PROCESS AND PART OF THAT IS STAYING UP WITH THE GLO. SO, EVERY BIT OF INFORMATION, EVERY BIT OF DATA THAT WE REQUESTED AT THE LAST MEETING, THAT WAS SPECIFICALLY NEEDED BY THE GLO AND THEY WERE NOT GETTING. SO, THAT CONCERNS ME GOING FORWARD. I THINK YOU ALSO ARE ADDRESSING ANOTHER CONCERN RELATED TO THE PUBLIC. 
          KEEPING THEM POSTED. THERE IS MUCH CONFUSION OUT IN THE COMMUNITY. THERE'S A LOT OF CONVERSATION THERE RELATED TO WHEN THINGS ARE GOING TO HAPPEN AND PART OF THAT IS THEY JUST DON'T KNOW. THEY JUST DON'T KNOW, THEY DON'T KNOW THE DETAILS. SO, AGAIN, WE HAVE WORKED THROUGH A LOT OF ISSUES. WE KNOW WE STARTED WITH A NOT 
          [04:10:07]
PERFECT SCHEDULE IN TERMS OF WHAT WAS PUT UPON THE GLO AND PUT ON US. SO WHEN WE PUT TOGETHER A PLAN THAT REQUIRES THAT WE MAN WE HIT IT ON ALL CYLINDERS ALL THE TIME. I THINK THERE'S BEEN DELAYS INTERNALLY IN TERMS OF WHAT WE GET PROJECTS OUT. 
          WHEN WE GET PROJECTS BID. AND THAT'S VERY CLEAR AND WE CAN GO THROUGH A LOT OF DETAIL RELATED TO THAT. 
          I WILL NOT WASTE COURT'S TIME IN TERMS OF HOW MUCH DETAIL, HOW MANY PROJECTS WERE DELAYED AND FOR WHAT REASON AND THEY WERE DELAYED AND THAT'S ON US. THAT'S NOT ON THE GLO. 
          I THINK THE GLO HAS A VERY CLEAR UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT THEIR JOB IS AND WHAT OUR JOB IS. I THINK THEIR CONCERNS IS WE'RE NOT DOING OUR JOB. THAT CONCERNS ME. 
          I GET CONCERNED WHEN THEY TELL ME THEY'RE HAVING TROUBLE GETTING DATA. THAT'S WHY WE HAD THAT ON COMMISSIONER'S COURT LAST MEETING. 
          YOU GAVE US THE INFORMATION WE ASKED FOR. 
          BUT WE HAD TO ASK FOR IT FIRST. THAT SHOULDN'T BE OPERATED THAT WAY. THE OTHER THING IS, WE'RE GOING INTO CONSTRUCTION. I THINK DESIGN IS COMPLICATED, WAIT UNTIL YOU TRY TO MANAGE THIS MUCH CONSTRUCTION AND THIS PERIOD OF TIME. THIS IS THE REAL CHALLENGE. 
          IT HAS BEEN, IT'S BEEN EASY UP TO THIS POINT I WOULD SAY NOW THE TRUE UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT WE KNOW AND IF WE KNOW HOW TO DO WHAT WE SAY WE KNOW HOW TO DO, THAT'S WHERE IT'S GOING TO COME. 
          I'M CONCERNED ABOUT HOW WE GOT WHERE WE ARE, NOT BECAUSE OF THE GLO, NOT BECAUSE OF OTHER SCHEDULES. 
          I'M CONCERNED ABOUT WHAT IS IN OUR OWN CONTROL AND WHAT WE DO. 
          THOSE CONCERNS REMAIN. I KNOW THAT WE STILL GOT, WE STILL GOT THE CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS TO GET FULLY IN PLACE, SOME OF THOSE STILL HAVE TO BE VETTED. 
          YOU GOT TO GET THE CONTRACTS TOGETHER. 
          YOU GOT TO GET THE NOTICES TO PROCEED. 
          YOU HAVE TO WORK THROUGH OUR PROGRAMS. I CAN TELL YOU HAVING TALKED TO ADMINISTRATOR CARTER, THAT SHE'S GOING TO BE SURE THAT ALL SYSTEMS ARE GO WITHIN OUR CONTROL TO BE SURE THEY'RE OUT THERE. 
          I THINK IT'S APPROPRIATE THAT ADMINISTRATOR CARTER WORK CLOSELY WITH YOU AND THE COMING DAYS TO BE SURE THAT WE KNOW WHAT OUR SCHEDULES ARE. I'M NOT GOING TO TAKE FOR GRANTED WHAT YOU'RE TELLING ME. IT WILL BE VERIFIED BY ADMINISTRATOR CARTER IN GREAT DETAIL IN THE COMING DAYS AND SHE WILL BE WORKING WITH YOU AS WE ASSESS WHERE WE ARE,AS WE ASSESS WHAT ELSE WE CAN DO TO WORK WITH THE GLO. 
          SO THEY WILL BE MORE CONVERSATIONS WITH THE GLO BUT CLEARLY, THIS IS URGENT AND I AM GLAD WE WERE ABLE TO DO A REPORT THAT WE ASK FOR. BUT I REMAIN EXTREMELY 
          CONCERNED. >>  THANK YOU COMMISSIONER. 
          THANK YOU. I KNOW WE ALREADY CHATTED FOR MY PART OBVIOUSLY. I APPRECIATE THE REPORT AS WELL. 
          I THINK THIS IS A LITTLE BIT OF ONE VERSION BEHIND WHAT IS ON THE WEBSITE. I THINK THIS IS REALLY GOOD. 
          IT'S VERY EASY TO UNDERSTAND AND YOU KNOW HELPS EVERYONE KEEP TRACK OF SPECIFIC PROJECT. BUT OF COURSE, AS I SHARED WITH YOU, I HAVE CONCERNS. CAN'T PREDICT THE FUTURE. 
          BUT I HAVE COME TO MY OWN CONCLUSIONS AS TO WHAT IS MORE LIKELY TO SUCCEED. THAT'S WHAT I GOT. 
          AND COMMISSIONER ELLIS HAD TO RUN. 
          SO, ANYTHING TO ADD? >>  I WOULD JUST LIKE TO SAY A COUPLE THINGS IN RESPONSE TO COMMISSIONER RAMSEY. 
          I HEAR YOUR CONCERNS COMMISSIONER. 
          WE STAY IN CLOSE COMMUNICATION WITH GLO AND IF WE WERE AWARE THEY NEEDED INFORMATION, I FULLY EXPECT THE TEAM WOULD HAVE PROVIDED THAT. SO, WE HAVE ALREADY BEEN IMPLEMENTING COMMUNICATION POLICIES PROCEDURES, SEVERAL, SEVERAL MONTHS AGO AND SO, I DO BELIEVE THAT THOSE, WHATEVER ISSUES DID EXIST, WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT THE LINES OF COMMUNICATION CONTINUE TO STAY OPEN WITH GLO. 
          I DO NOT THINK THAT THEY SHOULD HAVE TO. 
          NOR DO I THINK THAT YOU KNOW THE TEAM HAS HEARD THIS FEEDBACK. 
          SO I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO BE CLEAR ABOUT THAT SO THAT WE CAN 
          [04:15:01]
BE RESPONSIVE. I KNOW WE PROVIDE WEEKLY UPDATES TO THE GLO ABOUT OUR WORK, AND I DESPERATELY WANT TO MAKE SURE THEY GET THE RIGHT INFORMATION, THEY ARE LOOKING FOR. 
          AND SO, WE WILL CONTINUE TO STRIVE ON THAT FRONT. 
          IN TERMS OF KNOW THE OTHER CONCERNS, RELATED TO YOU KNOW CONSTRUCTION. ABSOLUTELY. 
          IT'S NOT, IT'S NOT AN EASY STREET BY ANY STRETCH OF THE IMAGINATION. AND YOU KNOW, THAT'S WHY WE HAVE A TEAM OF PEOPLE WHO ARE ENGAGED AND WORK WITH US ON THAT FRONT. 
          I HEAR YOU AND UNDERSTAND THE CONCERN. 
          WE'RE GOING INTO WHAT COULD BE A RAINY SEASON AND ABSOLUTELY NEED TO BE ON POINT TRACKING AND WE HAVE BROUGHT ON ADDITIONAL STAFF 
          TO MAKE SURE WE CAN DO >>  OKAY. 
          >>  THANK YOU. ANYTHING ELSE TO ADD FOLKS? THANK YOU DIRECTOR AND THANK YOU TO THE TEAM. 
          COLLEAGUES IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING THIS IS THE LAST ITEM ON DECK. 
          ANYTHING ELSE, COUNTY ATTORNEY OR CLERK? GREAT, THANK YOU. THANK YOU COLLEAGUES AND EVERYONE HERE. IT'S 4:28 AND THIS MEETING OF
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.