* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.
          [Call to Order]
          [00:00:04]
          >> LINA HIDALGO: GOOD MORNING. IT IS 10:00 A.M., NEW DECADE. 
          I WOULD LIKE TO CALL THE JANUARY 7TH, 2020 MEETING OF COMMISSIONER'S COURT TO 
          ORDER. COMMISSIONER CAGLE. >> R. JACK CAGLE: THIS MORNING WE WERE SUPPOSED TO HAVE SOMEBODY COME TO TALK TO US THAT WAS RESCHEDULED TO MAKE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR DEPUTY DHALIWAL. IT JUST SO HAPPENS WE ARE HONORING IN OUR RESOLUTIONS DOCTOR, PASTOR, REVEREND LAWRENCE WHITE, AND HIS WORK IN THE COMMUNITY. SO WE WILL -- WITH YOUR PERMISSION I WOULD LIKE TO CALL HIM FORWARD TO OPEN US UP IN OUR OPENING PRAYER SINCE HE IS HERE AND AVAILABLE AND I UNDERSTAND FROM HIS WIFE HE IS CAPABLE ON THE SPOT TO COME UP WITH A PRAYER. 
          >> LINA HIDALGO: GREAT. PASTOR WHITE, WELCOME. >> LET US PRAY. 
          WE BEGIN AS ALWAYS IN THE NAME OF OUR GOD, THE FATHER, THE SON AND THE HOLY SPIRIT. 
          GRACIOUS GOD OUR HEAVENLY FATHER WE PRAY AT YOUR COMMAND AND IN RESPONSE TO YOUR PROMISE IF YOU WILL HEAR YOUR PEOPLE IN PRAYER WE ASK THAT YOU BE PRESENT AMONG US TODAY, IF YOU WOULD ENABLE THIS BRANCH OF GOVERNMENT TO BE WHAT YOU DESIGNED GOVERNMENT TO BE, THE DEFENDER OF JUSTICE, THE PROTECTOR OF THE WEAK, OF THE HOMELESS, OF THE HELPLESS, OF THE INNOCENT UNBORN AND THOSE WHO CANNOT STAND OR SPEAK FOR THEMSELVES. WE ASK THAT YOU MIGHT GIVE WISDOM AND JUDGMENT TO THESE LEADERS WHOM YOU HAVE CHOSEN WITH ALL THAT IS DONE MAY BE DONE IN A WAY WHICH STRENGTHENS THIS COMMUNITY AND DRAWS US CLOSER TOGETHER WITH ONE ANOTHER, THAT WITH ONE VOICE WE AND THIS GREAT CITY OF HOUSTON MAY LIVE TOGETHER IN PEACE AND HARMONY GLORIFYING YOU NOW AND ALWAYS IN JESUS NAME. AMEN. 
          >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. >> LINA HIDALGO: THANK YOU. WE HAVE A FEW RESOLUTIONS THIS 
          [Item I]
MORNING. LET'S START WITH PRECINCT 4, COMMISSIONER CAGLE. 
          >> R. JACK CAGLE: YOUR HONOR, WE HAVE A RESOLUTION THIS MORNING RECOGNIZING THE WORK OF DR. LAWRENCE WHITE. AND WHERE HE HAS SERVED AS THE SAVIOR AT OUR LUTHERAN CHURCH SERVING PRECINCT 4 AND PRECINCT 1 AND SIGNIFICANT IN THAT AREA, AND THEIR CHURCH SCHOOL WAS LOCATED IN THE 46-ACRE CAMPUS IN NORTHWEST HOUSTON OFFERING HOUSTON FAMILIES A CLASSICAL EDUCATION THAT CULTIVATES THE MINDS AND SOULS OF CHILDREN AND MR. WHITE DOESN'T JUST CON -- CONGREGATE TO HIS CHURCHES, BUT THROUGH RADIO, TELEVISION AND BROADCAST AND MINISTERS TO THE MINISTERS, FELLOW PASTORS OUT THERE WHO HAVE -- WHO IS A DISTINGUISHED AUTHOR WHO HAS BEEN TRANSLATED INTO MULTIPLE LANGUAGES. 
          I AM WAITING FOR THE LATEST COPY OF YOUR WORK, PASTOR. HE IS ONE OF THE FOUNDERS AND THE CURRENT CHAIRMAN OF THE ROUND TABLE WHICH IS DEDICATED TO ADVOCATING FOR INVOLVEMENT OF PASTORS IN OUR LIFE. AND SO WITH THAT, YOUR HONOR, I REQUEST THAT WE RESOLVE THAT WE RECOGNIZE DR. LAWRENCE WHITE FOR HIS DEDICATED SERVICE TO THE SPIRITUAL WELL BEING OF OUR COMMUNITY AND FOR HIS DEDICATED ADVOCACY FOR THE CHILDREN OF OUR COMMUNITY. 
          THANK YOU VERY MUCH. >> LINA HIDALGO: THANK YOU. >> R. JACK CAGLE: AND I MOVE. 
          LOON 
          >> LINA HIDALGO: WOULD YOU LIKE TO MAKE COMMENTS? >> I WILL TRY TO BE BRIEF, BUT THANK YOU FOR THIS RESOLUTION AND AT OUR CLASSICAL SCHOOL WE TEACH PEOPLE NOT TO READ THAT QUICKLY, ESPECIALLY WHEN IT IS ABOUT THE PREACHER. I HAVE BEEN IN HOUSTON FOR 40 YEARS. THE PASTOR OF OUR LUTE -- LUTHERAN CHURCH AND ORIGINALLY ON NORTH SHEPHERD DRIVE AND WE RELOCATED 20 YEARS AGO TO A NOW 60-ACRE CAMPUS ON WHAT WE FOUND OUT AFTERWARDS WAS ORIGINALLY A DAIRY FARM. IT WAS OWNED BY ONE OF THE CHARTER MEMBERS WHO FOUNDED THE CHURCH BACK IN 1947. WE ARE HAPPY TO BE IN THIS 
          [00:05:08]
GREAT CITY OF HOUSTON. WHEN WE RELOCATED ORIGINALLY WE HAD CONSIDERED THE OPTION OF MAKING A SUBURBAN SHIFT LIKE SO MANY CHURCHES HAVE DONE OVER THE YEARS. 
          WE DECIDED THAT THIS WAS OUR HOME AND THIS WAS WHERE WE WANTED OUR MINISTRY TO STAY. 
          THAT'S WHAT WE HAVE DONE IN OUR SCHOOL WITH SOME 300 STUDENTS, AND IT REACHES ACROSS ETHNIC AND ECONOMIC LINES TO PROVIDE THE BEST EDUCATION WE POSSIBLY CAN. 
          THANK YOU FOR THIS HONOR. IT IS A PLEASURE TO BE WITH YOU TODAY. 
          >> SQUATTY LINES EVER GIVE UH PROBLEM? >> I WAS -- IT WAS THE LITTLE GUYS YOU HAVE TO WATCH. I MET SQUATTY AFTER GETTING HERE. 
          I WAS TOLD HE WAS THE MAN I HAD TO KNOW. WE GOT TO KNOW HIM VERY WELL. 
          IT WAS A PLEASURE. COMMISSIONER, DO YOU HAVE ANOTHER RESOLUTION? YES WE DO!  YOUR HONOR, IF I COULD HAVE THE SCHOOL BOARD GROUPS COME AND STAND OVER HERE PAUL TODAY, JUDGE, IS NOT WORKING FOR PRECINCT 4. WE TOOK HIM OFF THE CLOCK. 
          HE IS A TRUSTY, AND HE IS WORKING IN THAT CAPACITY, BUT WE ARE HAIR -- WHEREAS HARRIS COUNTY, TEXAS IS COMPRISED OF EIGHT SCHOOL DISTRICTS THAT IS LEAD BY A BOARD OF TRUSTY THAT'S SETS THE CLEAR VISION AND DIRECTION FOR THE SCHOOL DISTRICT AND WHEREAS THE BOARDS OF TRUSTEES PLAY AN IMPORTANT ROLE IN THE EDUCATION OF OUR COMMUNITY AND WE ARE OVERSEEING THE ANNUAL BUDGET ADOPTING C -- CURRICULUM AND WHEREAS THE BOARDS OF TRUSTEES ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE BUSINESS AND THE SCHOOL DISTRICT WHILE PAYING CLOSE ATTENTION AND MAINTAINING ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT IN HARRIS COUNTY, OUR BOARD OF TRUSTEES ARE VISIONARIES WHO ARE FISCALLY RESPONSIBLE AND DEDICATED TO THE NEEDS AND THE SUCCESS OF OUR STUDENTS. I AM TRYING TO READ WITH MORE EMPHASIS TO ACCOMMODATE PASTOR WHITE. OUR SELF-LESS LEADERS WHO PLAY AN INTEGRAL PART IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE NEXT GENERATION. 
          OUR TRUSTEES ARE INVITED IN THE ACADEMIC INVOLVEMENT OF THE COMMUNITY AND THE COURT PROCLAIMS JANUARY 2020 AS NATIONAL SCHOOL BOARD REC COG -- REC -- RECOGNITION 
          MONTH. >> GOOD MORNING. GOOD MORNING, JUDGE HIDALGO. 
          GOOD MORNING COMMISSIONER ELLIS, COMMISSIONER GARCIA AND COMMISSIONER RADACK AND COMMISSIONER CAGLE. MOST OF YOU KNOW ME. IN MY FREE TIME I AM BLESSED WITH THE OPPORTUNITY TO SERVE THE REAL IMPORTANT CONSTITUENTS OF THE COUNTY AND THAT'S OUR CHILDREN. I WOULD LIKE TO AND I AM THE PRESIDENT OF THE BOARD OF THE SCHOOL DISTRICT AND I WOULD LIKE TO INTRODUCE YOU TO SOME REAL PASSIONATE PEOPLE. 
          FIRST THE VICE PRESIDENT OF OUR BOARD IS ROSE. OUR SECRETARY IS CONNIE EAST -- ESPARZA. WE HAVE MR. RANDY BATES, WHO IS A FORMER PRESIDENT OF THE BOARD AND MR. STEVE MEADE. ABSENT IS OUR SUPERINTENDENT. LASTLY I WOULD LIKE TO INTRODUCE OUR DEAN OF OUR SCHOOL BOARD DOCTOR GARCIA. DOCTOR GARCIA HAS SERVED THE SCHOOL BOARD SINCE 1992. SHE HAS 26 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE AND SHE HAS BEEN RECENTLY NAMED AS A MEMBER OF THE BOARD OF THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF SCHOOL BOARDS. 
          I WOULD LIKE TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT. [APPLAUSE]. 
          IF I CAN TAKE A BRIEF MOMENT. MOST OF THE TIME WE ARE ASKED WHAT DOES A SCHOOL BOARD DO? IT IS TO PROVIDE LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND OVERSIGHT OF EDUCATION IN OUR DISTRICT. 
          IT IS IMPORTANT TO UNDERSTAND THAT THOUGH THE ULTIMATE RESPONSIBILITY IS THE STATE OF TEXAS, TEXAS HAS DELEGATED MUCH OF THE AUTHORITY TO OUR LOCAL COMMUNITIES WHO ELECT THEIR LOCAL MEMBERS. ALTHOUGH WE ARE ELECTED, WE ARE NOT PAID. 
          AND AS YOU CAN SEE IN FRONT OF YOU AND WITH ALL OF THE SCHOOL BOARDS IN TEXAS WE ARE 
          [00:10:02]
PASSIONATE PEOPLE TO WORK FOR OUR COMMUNITY, AND WE ARE PASSIONATE ABOUT PUBLIC EDUCATION. TO GIVE YOU A LITTLE INFORMATION, AND JUDGE WE 
          WOULD LOVE TO HAVE YOU VISIT US. >> WE HAVE 66,000 -- 66,668 STUDENTS OR YOUNG SOULS IN OUR POSSESSION. 73% OF WHICH ARE HISPANIC AND 87.3% ARE ECONOMICALLY DISADVANTAGED AND 73.4 ARE AT RISK AND 34 WITH LIMITED LANGUAGE EFFICIENCY. THEY HAVE RECOGNIZED THEM FOR THEIR WORK. 
          WE HAVE 81 COMPASSES -- CAMPUSES. 1100 SQUARE MILES. 
          9,138 EMPLOYEES WE TOUCHED NEARLY EVERY PRECINCT IN HARRIS COUNTY. 
          WE HAVE CAMPUSES IN PRECINCT ONE, PRECINCT TWO AND PRECINCT FOUR. 
          COMMISSIONER ELLIS, IN OUR COMMUNITY YOU ARE A LIVING LEGEND. 
          WE WOULD LOVE FOR YOU TO COME AND VISIT AND I UNDERSTAND THERE WAS A LITTLE COMPETITION BETWEEN SUNNY SIDE AND THE HOME AREA. WE WOULD LOVE TO SEE YOU OUT THERE. COMMISSIONER GARCIA, ALL DEAN EASTSIDE LOVES YOU. 
          WE WOULD LIKE TO PARTNER WITH YOU TO HELP US MAKE OUR AREA A LOT STRONGER. 
          AND COMMISSIONER CAGLE, I CAN JUST SAY I LOVE YOU. YOU HAVE BEEN THERE AND THEY HAVE ASSISTED US IN MAKING OUR SCHOOL DISTRICT THE BEST THAT WE CAN POSSIBLY MAKE. 
          IT. THAT WE CAN MAKE IT. I WOULD LIKE TO GIVE A SHOUTOUT TO THE HARRIS COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION WHO IS HEADED BY JAMES COLBERT. 
          THEY SUPPORT NOT ONLY US, BUT EVERY SCHOOL DISTRICT IN HARRIS COUNTY. 
          WE QUO NOT -- WE COULD NOT DO WHAT WE DO WITHOUT THE HARRIS COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION. SO ON BEHALF OF ALL OF THE SCHOOL DISTRICTS WITHIN HARRIS COUNTY AND WITHIN THE STATE OF TEXAS, WE SAY THANK YOU FOR RECOGNIZING OUR EFFORTS. 
          WE STAND HERE TO HELP OUR STUDENTS IN ANYWAY WE CAN, AND WE APPRECIATE ANY HELP THAT THE COMMISSIONER'S COURT CAN GIVE US. THANK YOU. 
          >> LINA HIDALGO: THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH FOR THE WORK YOU ARE DOING. 
          >> JUDGE, THANK YOU. HAPPY NEW YEAR TO YOU GUYS. SO PROUD. 
          CONGRATULATIONS. CONNIE, OBVIOUSLY THE SPARK PLUG OUT THERE. 
          THANK YOU GUYS FOR REALLY ALL YOU DO. MAKING SURE THAT WE GOT SOME STUDENTS HERE AND MAKING SURE THAT WE PREPARE THE NEXT GENERATION OF LEADERS TO DO BETTER WITH THE NEW CHALLENGES AND NEW VENTURE THAT'S WE HAVE YET TO DISCOVER. 
          AND SO YOU'RE THE FOLKS WE ARE PUTTING ALL OF THOSE RESPONSIBILITIES -- WE ARE PUTTING THOSE RESPONSIBILITIES ON. WE THANK YOU. 
          I LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUING TO PARTNER WITH YOU GUYS. I CAME INTO THIS ROLE WITH AN EDUCATION AGENDA. I AM PROUD OF THE S.A.T. AND ACT AND THE FREE COLLEGE PREP PROGRAM WE HAVE INSTITUTED. ALREADY CLOSE TO 400 KIDS HAVE GONE THROUGH THAT PROGRAM GETTING FREE SUPPORT. WE KNOW WHAT THE VALUE OF A GOOD SCORE IS. 
          AND SO WE THANK YOU. I SAID ON OCCASION THAT NOT ONLY IS A HEALTHY COMMUNITY GOOD FOR AN ECONOMY, BUT A SMART AND PREPARED COMMUNITY IS A MUCH STRONGER ECONOMY AS WELL. CONGRATULATIONSES AND THANK YOU. 
          >> COMMISSIONER ELLIS? >> RODNEY ELLIS: I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. 
          I DON'T WANT TO TELL YOU BECAUSE YOU WILL RUN OVER AND TELL CAGLE. 
          WE SPENT A LOT OF MONEY AND HAVE A LOT OF PARTNERSHIPS GOING AND GLAD TO HAVE YOU 
          HERE. >> THANK YOU. >> LINA HIDALGO: THANK YOU ALL 
          SO MUCH. >> RODNEY ELLIS: ASK RANDY WHAT WENT ON IN THE 
          NEIGHBORHOOD. >> WE ARE NEIGHBORS. >> LINA HIDALGO: COMMISSIONER 
          GARCIA HAS AN EXCITING RESOLUTION TO PRESENT. >> ADRIAN GARCIA: YES. 
          SO THE CROWD ROARED. THIS RESOLUTION, JUDGE, IS TO ONCE AGAIN RECOGNIZE THE NORTH 
          [00:15:03]
SHORE SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL MUSTANGS FOOTBALL TEAM. THE RESOLUTION READS "WHEREAS NORTH SHORE SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL MUSTANGS FOOTBALL TEAM BECAME THE UIL CLASS 6A DIVISION 1 CHAMPIONS FOR THE SECOND CONSECUTIVE YEAR ON SATURDAY DED , 2019. 
          BEFORE A CROWD OF 47,818 FANS. IT WAS AT THE AT&T STADIUM IN ARLINGTON, TEXAS. DEFEATING THE DUNCANVILLE PANTHERS. 
          AND WHEREAS WITH A 31-17 VICTORY OVER DUNCUNVILLE, THE MUSTANGS DEFENDED THEIR TITLE IN THE STATE'S LARGEST CLASSIFICATION. AND WHEREAS NORTH SHORE BEGAN AND ENDED THE SEASON RANKED NUMBER ONE IN THE 2019 MAX PREPS TEXAS TOP 25. 
          AND WHEREAS JUNIOR QUARTERBACK DEMITRIUS DAVIS, JUNIOR, WHERE ARE YOU, A VIRGINIA TECH PLEDGE RUSHED FOR 115 YARDS, THREW FOR 91 YARDS AND SCORED TWO TOUCHDOWNS TO HELP NORTH SHORE REPEAT AS CHAMPIONS. AND WHEREAS, YOU KNOW, THAT PERFORMANCE SOUNDED A LOT LIKE WHAT I JUST SAW THIS PAST WEEKEND TOO. IT WAS BY ANOTHER GUY NAMED DESHAWN. WHEREAS DAVIS, A JUNIOR, OPENED THE SCORING WITH A 30-YARD RUN IN THE FIRST QUARTER FOLLOWED BY A 39-YARD FIELD GOAL BY JOHN VIALLOBOS. 
          WHERE ARE YOU, JOHN? WE HAVE A V -- WE HAVE VIALLOBOS HERE AS WELL. 
          AND TO GIVE NORTH SHORE A 10-7 LEAD. AND WHEREAS IN THE SECOND HALF THEY SCORED A TOUCHDOWN RUN BY ROGER HAGEN, JUNIOR. WHERE ARE YOU? MIDWAY THROUGH THE THIRD QUARTER BEFORE DAVIS FIRED A 44-YARD SCORING PASS TO CHARLES CANE LATE IN THE FOURTH QUARTER TO CLINCH IT AND WHEREAS THE MUSTANGS AFTER A SEASON OPENER LOSS FINISHED THE SEASON WITH 15 STRAIGHT WINS IT IS THE FOURTH STATE TITLE IN SCHOOL HISTORY. AND IT IS THE THIRD SINCE 2015. 
          NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT THIS COMMISSIONER'S COURT HONORS NORTH SHORE SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL MUSTANGS FOR THEIR ATHLETICISM AND LEADERSHIP AND CONTRIBUTION TO THE COMMUNITY OF HARRIS COUNTY. CONGRATULATIONS, GUYS. I ALSO WANT TO MAKE SURE WE RECOGNIZE DR. ANGIE WILLIAMS. ARE YOU HERE? THERE YOU ARE. 
          PLEASE, JOIN THESE YOUNG MEN. DR. JOE COLEMAN, PLEASE. AND VIVIEN, PLEASE. 
          AND WE HAVE JOHN KAY, GOOD TO SEE YOU, COACH. WE HAVE ALL OF THE -- AND THEN WE HAVE -- WE HAVE KENNETH BRYANT, THE HIGH SCHOOL 10TH GRADE PRINCIPAL. 
          NO, PLEASE. AND WE HAVE DAVID PEARSON, THE 9TH GRADE CAMPUS PRINCIPAL. AND I WANT TO MAKE SURE I HAVEN'T LEFT ANYONE OFF. 
          BEFORE WE ASK THESE FOLKS TO SHARE SOME REMARKS, THERE ARE DAYS I WAKE UP AND I HEAR A LOT OF NOISE COMING OUT OF THIS BODY BECAUSE OF MY YEARS ON THE FIELD. 
          I WILL JUST SAY THAT IT IS EXCITING TO BE OUT THERE OBVIOUSLY WITHOUT A DOUBT TO HAVE THAT RING AND BE A CHAMPION, AND YOU HAVE EXPERIENCED IN YOUR LIFETIME TWO CONSECUTIVE CHAMPIONSHIPS. RARELY DOES THAT EVER HAPPEN. 
          I ALSO WANT TO TELL THESE STUDENTS, THESE ATHLETES, DO NOT STRAY FROM THE CLASSROOM BECAUSE ARE YOU A CHAMP. YOU WON'T BE ABLE TO RUN THOSE 115 YARDS VERY OFTEN WHEN YOU GET OUR AGE. YOU CAN RIDE 115 YARDS. WHAT THESE EDUCATORS WILL 
          [00:20:07]
PROVIDE YOU WILL CARRY YOU FOR LIFETIME. WE ARE EXTREMELY PROUD. 
          AS I SAID TO YOU LAST YEAR IS THAT YOU ARE LEADERS. THIS RESOLUTION IDENTIFIES YOU AS LEADERS. IT ALSO IDENTIFIES YOU AS ROLE MODELS. 
          THAT IS AN INCREDIBLE BADGE OF HONOR. I ASK YOU TO WEAR IT WELL AND I ASK YOU TO INSPIRE OTHERS TO PERSEVERE AND TO EXCEL AS YOU HAVE AND I KNOW THAT ATTITUDE WILL TAKE YOU FAR. WE ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO WHAT COMES OUT OF VIRGINIA TECH. 
          THERE YOU ARE. WE ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO WHAT COMES OUT OF VIRGINIA TECH. 
          YOU COULD HAVE PICKED A TEXAS SCHOOL. JUST SAYING. 
          LISTEN, WE ARE SO PROUD. DR. WILLIAMS, YOU ARE AT THE TIP OF THE SPEAR OF THIS EXCITING ANNOUNCEMENT IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO SHARE SOMETHING AND THEN COACH, WE WOULD LIKE 
          TO HEAR FROM THE ATHLETES. >> THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER, JUDGE HIDALGO AND OTHER COMMISSIONERS. THANK YOU ALL FIRST OF ALL FOR THE HONOR. 
          FOR THE HONOR TO BE PRESENT TODAY. THANK YOU FOR RECOGNIZING THE HARD WORK OF THESE WONDERFUL YOUNG MEN. YOU SAID IT WELL, THAT IT IS A BADGE OF HONOR. THEY TAKE IT VERY SERIOUSLY. THEY DON'T ONLY PLAY WELL ON THE FIELD, BUT THEY DO WELL IN THE COMMUNITY. THERE IS A LOT OF COMMUNITY SERVICE TO THE ELDERLY AND ALSO TO OUR YOUNGER STUDENTS. WE ARE BLESSED IN GALENA PARK AND WE WILL FIGHT EVERY DAY FOR THESE CHILDREN IN HOUSTON. 
          I WOULD NOW LIKE TO INTRODUCE THE WONDERFUL, MAGNIFICENT COACH JOHN KAY TO GIVE SOME 
          REMARKS AS WELL. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. 
          >> ON BEHALF OF THE PROGRAM AND GALENA PARK AND EVERYBODY IT IS AN HONOR TO BE HERE. 
          WE APPRECIATE THE RECOGNITION OF OUR KIDS. WE HAVE BEEN IN PUBLIC EDUCATION A LONGTIME AND IT IS GOOD TO SEE EVERYBODY HERE AND WE ARE SIMILAR. 
          IN MY ESTIMATION ATHLETICS IS THE GREATEST ADVERSE PROGRAM IN THE UNITED STATES TODAY. 
          WE ARE HONORED TO NOT ONLY REPRESENT THE EASTSIDE OF HOUSTON, BUT ALL OF HOUSTON AND ESPECIALLY AGAINST A DALLAS SCHOOL. THAT'S EXCITING FOR US. 
          YOU HIT THE NAIL ON THE HEAD. THESE KIDS ARE LEADERS, AND I CAN TELL YOU THE CITY OF HOUSTON DOESN'T WANT ANYONE ELSE REPRESENTING THEM OTHER THAN THESE YOUNG MEN AND WE 
          APPRECIATE BEING HERE. >> LINA HIDALGO: WOULD ANY OF YOU LIKE TO SAY A FEW WORDS? 
          >> COME ON, MR. VIRGINIA TECH. >> LINA HIDALGO: ALL RIGHT. 
          >> I AM JUST THANKFUL FOR ALL OF MY TEAMMATES AND THE COACHES AND THE COMMUNITY AND EVERYONE THAT SUPPORTED ME FROM JANUARY OF 2019 TO DECEMBER OF 2019 THEY SHOWED 
          ALL OF US SUPPORT AND WE GOT THE JOB DONE FOR THEM. >> LINA HIDALGO: YOU GUYS MAKE YOUR COUNTY PROUD. KEEP IT UP. CONGRATULATIONS. 
          >> AND JOHN, LET ME JUST TELL YOU THAT THIS WEEKEND, IT WAS A KICKER WHO SEALED OUR PLAYOFF VICTORY. BE PROUD OF THAT. CONGRATULATIONS. 
          [APPLAUSE]. >> LINA HIDALGO: LET'S TAKE PICTURES. 
          [00:30:29]
          >> LINA HIDALGO: SO THAT'S IT FOR THE RESOLUTIONS. >> LET'S MOVE TO THE AGENDA. 
          [00:30:46]
          >> PAGE 3 WE HAVE HOUSES THAT FLOODED AND DID NOT FLOOD DURING HARVEY. 
          IF YOU GO TO PAGE 5. >> THAT'S ITEM F, CORRECT? PAGE TWO? 
          >> PAGE THREE. >> WHICH ITEM? >> FLOODED IN IMELDA AND WHAT 
          IMPROVEMENTS NEED TO BE DONE. >> AND IT IS RELATED TO INFRASTRUCTURE IN THE SUBDIVISION. AND THEN PAGE 5 AND ITEM K. THOSE ARE THE STUDY REPORTS AND THE IMPORTANCE OF THIS IS THE LAST OF HARVEY. THE FIVE SUBDIVISIONS THE OFFICE INITIATED DESIGN SOLUTIONS ON ALL OF THE REPORTS THAT COME EXCEPT FOR THESE FIVE. AND THEN FROM HERE THEY GO TO DESIGN. 
          THE REST OF THEM ARE JUST STARTING DESIGN. >> LINA HIDALGO: THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR MOVING QUICKLY. FLOOD CONTROL. TOLL ROAD. 
          I WANTED TO POINT OUT ON PAGE EIGHT AND ITEM 3B THE AGREEMENT WITH ENTECH FOR DESIGN SERVICES IN THE SAM HOUSTON TOLLWAY. I KNOW WE ARE SEEKING MORE DATA ON TRAFFIC CONDITIONS, BUT I WANTED TO MAKE SURE IS GARY HERE OR SOMEONE FROM THE TOLL ROAD? SO THIS FROM WHAT I UNDERSTAND IT IS LOOKING AT TRAFFIC ISSUES THAT HAVE BEEN REPORTED. FIRST OF ALL, WE ALL RECEIVED YOUR LETTER OF RESIGNATION THIS PAST WEEK, AND I DO WANT TO TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORK OVER THE YEARS. I WILL HAVE SOMETHING ON THE AGENDA THE NEXT COURT TO TALK ABOUT INTERIM WHILE WE LOOK FOR A REPLACEMENT. I DID WANT TO SAY WE SPOKE ON THE PHONE AND THANK YOU. THANK YOU AGAIN FOR ALL THAT WORK. 
          >> LIKEWISE. >> LINA HIDALGO: ON THIS ONE, I UNDERSTAND THIS IS EXPLORING SOME TRAFFIC ISSUE THAT'S BEEN REPORTED BY THE INDUSTRIAL PARK AS WELL AS THE NUMBER OF 
          LANES, CORRECT? >> CORRECT. EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF HARRIS COUNTY TOLL ROAD AUTHORITY. THIS IS JUST A STUDY TO LOOK AT THE RAMPS, THE INTERSECTIONS AND THE NUMBER OF LANES WE NEED. I TELL PEOPLE IF THEY TELL ME I NEED TO ADD A LANE IN FIVE YEARS WE WILL PROBABLY GO AHEAD AND DO IT. 
          THEY TELL ME IT IS 20 YEARS, I AIN'T GONNA DO IT. I WANT THAT TO BE A PART OF THIS STUDY SO WE KNOW WHAT THE TRAFFIC IS GOING TO BE. WE HAVE ALREADY GOT REPORTS THAT THIS WAS DESIGNED AS A NONTOLL ROAD -- AS A NON-TOLL ROAD AND SOME OF THE RAMPS ARE TOO CLOSE TO THE INTERSECTIONS. I REALLY DON'T KNOW WHAT WILL COME OUT OF THE STUDY. I WANT SOMEBODY TO AT LEAST LOOK AT THE WHOLE QUARTER IN 
          THE WHOLE THING. >> LINA HIDALGO: I KNOW FOR THIS IT IS IMPORTANT TO COLLECT THE DATA AND KNOW WHAT THISH YOU -- THE ISSUE IS AND MY NOTE TO YOU IS LET'S MAKE 
          [00:35:02]
SURE THAT WE DON'T ASSUME THAT WIDENING THE HIGHWAY IS NECESSARILY THE SOLUTION. 
          HOW DO WE ADDRESS THE SITUATION AND NOT JUST IS IT FEASIBLE TO WIDEN. 
          THAT'S WHAT I WANTED TO MAKE SURE TO MENTION TO YOU. >> THAT'S VERY TRUE. 
          >> LINA HIDALGO: GREAT. THANK YOU. YES, COMMISSIONER CAGLE. 
          AND THEN COMMISSIONER ELLIS. >> R. JACK CAGLE: THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE. 
          I GOT THE LETTER OF RETIREMENT BECAUSE IT MADE ME -- AND IT MADE ME SAD BECAUSE OF THE EXPIL AND EFFORT YOU PUT TOWARD. I WANT TO TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK ABOUT HOW YOU DO DO A DATA DRIVEN EFFORT. 
          ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT ONES I RECALL WAS ON 249 TO WHERE YOU DID YOUR STUDIES TO SHOW THE POPULATION WAS GOING TO DOUBLE IN 15 YEARS. THE MOST EXPENSIVE PART OF THE PROJECT WAS THE BUILDING OF THE BRIDGE SECTIONS. INSTEAD OF BUILDING A BRIDGE BASED ON THE DATA THAT WOULD BE OUTDATED IN 15 YEARS I THINK THE INCREMENTAL COST IS BETWEEN 3% AND 6% AND TO ADD THE EXTRA LANE THAT YOU WILL NEED IN 15 YEARS AND WENT AHEAD AND BUILT AND STRIPED OFF THE EXTRA LANES SO THAT IT WOULD ALREADY BE THERE FOR THE FUTURE BASED UPON THE DATA YOU KNOW YOU WOULD NEED, BUT THE COST IN 15 YEARS TO TEAR DOWN THE EXISTING BRIDGES AND BUILD NEW, BIGGER ONES WOULD HAVE BEEN EXTRAORDINARY. 
          BY THAT FORE SIGHT ON YOUR PART YOU SAVED THE TAXPAYERS A LOT OF MONEY. 
          IT IS PROVEN THAT THE VOLUME OF USAGE ON THOSE ROADS HAS BEEN HIGHER THAN WE EVEN ANTICIPATED SO THAT 15 YEARS MAY HAVE BEEN SHORTER THAN WE FIRST THOUGHT. 
          THANK YOU FOR USING YOUR DATA AND YOUR RESEARCH TO DRIVE THE ENGINEERING AND THE WAY YOU CONSTRUCT THERE ARE MANY ASPECTS OF ALL OF THAT THAT WILL GO INTO THE GREAT SUCCESSES THAT YOU HAVE. THE OPENING OF BELT WAY EIGHT. 
          THE ADDITION OF ONE LANE WHEN YOU CAN DO IT FOR 3%, 4%, WHATEVER IT WAS. 
          IT WOULD HAVE COST US DOUBLE THE NORMAL PRICE IN 10 TO 15 YEARS AND THAT ONE WAS ONE OF YOUR GREATEST ACHIEVEMENTS THAT THE TAXPAYERS SHOULD BE GRATEFUL FOR. 
          THANK YOU. >> RODNEY ELLIS: COMMISSIONER ELLIS DASH DIARCH DASH 
          >> LINA HIDALGO: COMMISSIONER EL -- ELLIS? >> RODNEY ELLIS: TO TAKE NECESSARY ACTIONS TO COMPLETE A TRANSACTION I WANTED TO SAY SOMETHING ABOUT YOU AS WELL. 
          I SCHEDULED LUNCH WITH YOU. LAST WEEK I HAD NO IDEA YOU WERE GOING TO RESIGN. 
          I SAW THE LETTER. IF I HAD KNOWN YOU WOULD RETIRE I WOULD HAVE GIVEN YOU 
          A KALE SALAD. >> IT WAS PRETTY GOOD. >> RODNEY ELLIS: I APOLOGIZE FOR THAT. WHEN YOU WERE THE DISTRICT ENGINEER AND OBVIOUSLY DURING THE THREE YEARS I HAVE BEEN HERE AND I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE. 
          >> THANK YOU, SIR. >> RODNEY ELLIS: YOU ARE SUCH A BASHFUL GUY. 
          I HOPE YOU LET US DO SOMETHING FOR YOU. I TOLD MY ASSISTANT DON'T COME 
          IN HERE WITH A CAKE. >> I JUST WANT TO SLIP OUT. >> LINA HIDALGO: COMMISSIONER. 
          >> YOU KNOW, GARY TEXDOT41 YEARS? >> YES. 
          >> I DIED -- I DECIDED TO NAME A PARK AFTER YOUR WIFE AND WE PUT YOUR NAME ON IT AS WELL. 
          THE THING YOU CAME UP WITH FROM THE WEST LOOP WHAT A LOT OF PEOPLE DON'T KNOW IS HOW YOU INSISTED ON GETTING RID OF THE OPEN DITCHES. BUILDING SIDEWALKS ON BOTH SIDES ON I-10 ALL THE WAY TO BASICALLY THE WEST LOOP TO THE CAPE. 
          WHICH GAVE ALL KIND OF PEOPLE THE INCENTIVE TO ACTUALLY START MAINTAINING THE SIDEWALKS THAT WERE THERE. ARE YOU AN ENVIRONMENTALIST IN A WAY AND YOU CARE ABOUT PARKS. THAT'S WHY WE OBVIOUSLY WANTED TO NAME A PARK AFTER YOU. 
          WE HAVE TO DO SOMETHING TO MAKE IT NICER NOW. I ADMIRE YOU. 
          I ALWAYS HAVE. YOU ARE KIND OF A QUIET GUY, ARE BUT YOU ARE ONE SMART DUDE 
          [00:40:09]
          AND I APPRECIATE YOU. >> THANK YOU. >> LINA HIDALGO: YES, 
          COMMISSIONER? >> THANK YOU, JUDGE. GARY, WANT TO EXTEND MY APPRECIATION TO YOU. ANYONE WHO WORKS IN GOVERNMENT , YOU KNOW, TAKES ON AN INCREDIBLE AMOUNT OF RESPONSIBILITY. YOU'RE DELIVERING SERVICES TO MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY WHO DON'T KNOW YET THEY WILL BENEFIT FROM THE WORK BEING DONE. WE ARE VERY, VERY GRATEFUL TO YOU. 
          AND SUBSEQUENTLY, I KNOW YOU DON'T DO IT ALONE, BUT YOU HAVE A HELPFUL TEAM YOU ARE LEAVING BEHIND. I JUST WANT TO TELL YOU THAT IN YOUR -- IN MANY MEETINGS, JOHN TYLER AND PETER AND OTHERS HAVE REPRESENTED YOU WELL, AND I THINK YOU HAVE A PRETTY GOOD SHOP OVER THERE. AGAIN, THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP. 
          >> AND I WILL ECHO, COMMISSIONER, YES, WE DO. THAT'S THE ONE GOOD THING ABOUT RETIRING AND LEAVING. I WILL LEAVE IT IN WELL-PROTECTED HANDS SO NO ONE HAS TO WORRY ABOUT WHATEVER COMES NEXT. I TOLD THEM ALL THEY WILL DO 
          JUST FINE. JUST KEEP DOING WHAT YOU DO. >> LINA HIDALGO: THANK YOU. 
          BUDGET MANAGEMENT. HAVE I A NOTE ON 4H1 AND PAGE 9, REQUEST NO ACTION BE TAKEN. ANYTHING ELSE? LEGISLATIVE RELATIONS. 
          UNIVERSAL SERVICES. >> JUDGE, GOT A QUESTION ON ITEM A. 
          I BROUGHT THIS IT UP AT THE LAST MEETING REGARDING THIS COMPUTER AIDED DISPATCH AND RECORDS MANAGEMENT SYSTEM. SINCE THAT LAST CONVERSATION I I HAVE GOTTEN A LOT OF FEEDBACK FROM CONSTABLES AND SHERIFF DEPUTIES ABOUT HOW THIS SYSTEM THAT IS -- HOW THIS SYSTEM HAS BEEN A DRAG FOR THE DEPUTIES. WHEN I WAS IN OFFICE WE HAD A LOT OF CHALLENGES WITH TIBURON AND THIS WAS SUPPOSED TO BE A SOLUTION TO THE CHALLENGES WE WERE HAVING WITH TIBURON. IT HAS ACTUALLY BEEN WORSE. I BELIEVE THE AMOUNT OF MONEY WE HAVE ALREADY DUMPED INTO THIS THING IS CLOSER TO THE $8 MILLION MARK THAN THE FOUR MILLION THAT WAS MENTIONED. I HAVE A LOT OF CONCERNS ABOUT THIS, JUDGE, AND I THINK IT IS IMPORTANT TO FIGURE OUT AN EXIT PLAN ON THIS PARTICULAR ITEM. 
          WE ARE CONTINUING TO PUT GOOD MONEY BEHIND BAD MONEY. THIS THING DOESN'T WORK. 
          IT DOESN'T WORK LIKE IT WAS INTENDED. I THINK WE HAVE TO FIGURE OUT A WAY TO FIGURE OUT HOW THOSE DEPUTIES ARE NOT JUST SITTING BEHIND A COMPUTER AND DOING A SIMPLE PROCESS OR REPORT AND IT IS KEEPING THOSE GUYS OFF THE STREETS. 
          I'M NOT SURE WHAT THE STEP IS. I AM NOT SURE IF IT IS -- WHAT IS THE CHALLENGE. 
          I GUESS I WOULD ASK DWIGHT, WHAT IS THE CHALLENGE ON HOLDING OFF ON PAYING THIS 
          UNTIL WE HAVE AN EXIT PLAN. >> MY UNDERSTANDING IS THEY SOLD THE NOTE TO THIS AND THEY WILL HAVE TO HAVE COUNTY ATTORNEYS AND THEY SOLD US THE BOOK. 
          >> THOUGHTS ON THIS? >> WHAT WE CAN DO AS AN OFFICE IS MAKE SURE WE LOOK AT ALL OF THE CONCERNS THAT HAVE BEEN RAISED ABOUT THIS PARTICULAR EQUIPMENT. 
          IF IT WAS NOT PERFORMING AS PROMISED OR IF THERE ARE BREECHES OF CONTRACT. 
          [00:45:05]
I DON'T KNOW IF THERE ARE OR NOT. I HAVEN'T LOOKED AT IT. 
          WE CAN LOOK AT THAT AND IT CAN BE DONE INDEPENDENTLY OF WHETHER THIS OBLIGATION IS PAID OR NOT. I WOULD BE RELUCTANT TO ADVISE NOT TO PAY IN THE FOURTH YEAR OF THE FIVE-YEAR AGREEMENT. BUT AT THE SAME TIME WE CAN WORK MAYBE TO RECOVER MONEY. 
          >> LINA HIDALGO: TO CLARIFY WE ALREADY PURCHASED THIS. WE ARE JUST PAYING BACK THE LOAN, BUT WHAT ROBERT IS SAYING IS IT IS WORTH LOOKING INTO IT LIKE THE COMMISSIONER SAID, WHETHER THERE WAS ANY PROMISE THAT WASN'T KEPT FOR THIS. 
          >> -- SINCE WE ALREADY PAID FOR THIS WE WOULD BE LOOKING FOR A NEW SYSTEM. 
          LIKE WE TALKED ABOUT, THE TECHNOLOGICAL SYSTEMS WE NEED ACROSS LAW ENFORCEMENT TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY ARE ACTUALLY WORKING TOWARD REFORM AND WORKING TOGETHER BEFORE WE COMMIT TO SOMETHING ELSE LIKE THIS. YES, COMMISSIONER RADACK? 
          >> BRUCE? HOW BAD IS THE SYSTEM? >> WE DIDN'T GET EVERYTHING DELIVERED WE WERE SUPPOSED TO. WE WORKED WITH THE VENDOR AS MUCH AS WE COULD. I THINK WE ADDRESSED THE MAJORITY OF THOSE. 
          THERE IS SOME PERFORMANCE ISSUES AND WE SET THOSE EXPECTATIONS WHEN IT WAS DECIDED WE NEED TO BUY IT AND IT IS LIVING UP TO EXPECTATIONS AS FAR AS THAT. 
          WE ARE IN THE MIDDLE OF GATHERING REQUIREMENTS. WE ARE IN THE MIDDLE OF GATHERING REQUIREMENTS SO THAT IT MEETS THE NEEDS OF THE OFFICES. 
          WE DECIDED TO GET IT ABOUT SIX YEARS AGO AND WE ARE ON THE FOURTH PAYMENT. 
          >> THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE INVOLVED IN AGREEING WITH THIS SYSTEM, WAS THERE NOT? 
          >> ABSOLUTELY. OUR PART WAS JUST THE TECH GNAW CAL -- THE TECH -- THE TECHNOLOGY SIDE OF THINGS. ESTABLISHED THE REQUIREMENTS AND DID THE REVIEWS AND PICKED 
          THE PRODUCT. >> BUT WHO PUSHED FOR THE SYSTEM? 
          >> THE CONSTABLES AND THE SHERIFFS, THE PEOPLE WHO USE IT, LAW ENFORCEMENT. 
          >> WHO WAS THE SHERIFF? >> I THINK CAITLIN. >> DID THAT PROCESS START 
          BEFOREHAND? >> THERE WAS CONCERNS WITH TIBURON, AND THEN IT WAS MOVED OVER TO US AFTER THE IMPLEMENTATION AND OVER TO US BEFORE I WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE TECHNOLOGY. AT THAT POINT IS WHEN WE -- THE LAW ENFORCEMENT COMMUNITY DECIDED WE NEEDED TO LOOK AT A NEW SOLUTION AND THEY WENT WITH SUPERIOR TO REPLACE IT. 
          AND SUPERION QUIT AND INVESTED IN TIBURON AND THAT WAS THEIR PRODUCT. 
          >> AND THE CONSTABLES CHANGE. >> YES. >> AND SO THERE HAS BEEN A LOT 
          OF CHANGE. >> YES, A LOT OF CHANGE. >> COMMISSIONER GARCIA AND 
          THEN COMMISSIONER ELLIS. >> THANK YOU. AIDE AIDE 
          >> ADRIAN GARCIA: BRUCE, THE ISSUES WITH -- WELL, FIRST OF ALL, WHO IS THE LARGEST USER 
          OF THE SYSTEM? >> OF COURSE THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE. 
          >> ADRIAN GARCIA: WHICH AGENCY -- RATHER IS THERE ANY OTHE CLI THAT THEY -- 
          AUDIO]. >> POSSIBLY. >> ADRIAN GARCIA: NOT LIKE 
          HARRIS COUNTY. >> THAT'S CORRECT. >> ADRIAN GARCIA: AND THE 
          CHALLENGE WITH SUPERION AND TIBURON ARE NOT NEW. >> NO. 
          >> ADRIAN GARCIA: AND THERE HAS BEEN A LOT OF WORK TRYING TO MERGE THE HOUSTON POLICE DEPARTMENT WHICH IS ON TIBURON AND THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE SO THAT WE CAN GET TO A UNIVERSAL REPORT SO THAT BAD GUYS SLIP BETWEEN THE CRACKS OF THE AGENCY REPORTS AND SYSTEMS. 
          >> ABSOLUTELY. >> ADRIAN GARCIA: IF NOT FOR THE INSTITUTIONAL KNOWLEDGE PROBABLY WOULDN'T BE RAISING THE QUESTION ON THIS ITEM TODAY. 
          [00:50:03]
AND THE ONE THING THAT I WOULD HOPE THAT YOU WILL CONSIDER IN THE FUTURE IS THAT IT WOULD BE HELPFUL THAT WE COUNT ON YOUR CREATING AWARENESS AMONG THIS BODY TO LET US KNOW WHAT THE CHALLENGES ARE SO THAT WE DON'T HAVE TO HAVE CONVERSATIONS LIKE THIS. 
          THIS IS A LOT OF CONSTABLE AND DEPUTIES HAVE AND SHERIFF DEPUTIES ARE HAVING A LOT OF CONVERSATION ABOUT THIS ITEM SINCE WE LAST SPEAKED. THEY ARE EXCITED WE RAISED THE ISSUE. THEY WERE FRUSTRATED WITH THIS FOR A LONGTIME. 
          YET THERE HAS BEEN NO CONVERSATION. SOME OF THE MEETINGS YOU AND I HAVE HAD, THERE HAS BEEN NO OUTCRY FOR LACK OF A BETTER WORD TO ASK FOR SUPPORT TO 
          FIND WAYS TO FIX THIS ISSUE. >> RIGHT. >> ADRIAN GARCIA: SO I AM JUST HOPING THAT YOU THINK ABOUT PROVIDING US WITH MORE INSIGHT AS TO WHAT THE CHALLENGES ARE IN THE SHOP SO WE DON'T HAVE TO FIND OUT ABOUT THEM THIS WAY. 
          I WILL STRONGLY ENCOURAGE SOME REFORMS ON HOW THE LAW ENFORCEMENT TECHNOLOGY COMMITTEE WORKS BECAUSE THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT IS THE 80% USER OF THE SYSTEM. 
          YET THEY GET 1% OF THE SAY IN WHAT DIRECTION THE COUNTY GOES. 
          >> AND I AGREE THAT WE PROBABLY NEED TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO MAKE THE COMMUNITY WORK AS ONE. THE TECH NOTHING -- THE TECHNOLOGY COMMITTEE AND ACTUALLY THE CHAIR ESTABLISH THE BY LAWS AND THE GUIDANCE AND THE MISSION STATEMENT AND ALL OF THOSE THINGS. THE SHERIFF HAS MORE VOTES THAN ANYBODY ELSE, OF COURSE. 
          IF THERE IS STUFF THEY NEED TO LOOK AT, THEY NEED TO COME BACK WITH THAT 
          RECOMMENDATION. THAT'S ALL GONE THROUGH COURT. >> LINA HIDALGO: COMMISSIONER ELLIS AND THEN COMMISSIONER CAGLE. RODRIGUEZ -- 
          >> RODNEY ELLIS: THIS IS THE FOURTH OF FIVE PAYMENTS ? >> FOURTH OF FIVE. 
          >> REPORTER: AND THE NEXT IS THE SAME AMOUNT? >> THE SAME. 
          I CAN TELL THREW IS NO WAY WE CAN IMPLEMENT A SLIETION BEFORE -- A SOLUTION BEFORE 
          THE FIFTH PAYMENT COMES IN. >> RODNEY ELLIS: IF THERE IS SOME LIABILITY OR SOME FAULT ON THE PART OF THE VENDOR, WHAT IS THE PROCESS FOR SEEKING REDRESS? 
          >> WE HAVE A BOND FOR THE AMOUNT OF MONEY THAT WE PAID THAT IS STILL OUTSTANDING THAT WE HAVE ALREADY STARTED WORKING WITH THE PURCHASING IN THE COUNTY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE TO SEE IF IT IS WORTHY EXECUTING AGAINST. WE DO THAT ON THE ENTERPRISE 
          SOLUTIONS. >> RODNEY ELLIS: I AM JUST HOPING ARE THERE ANY OTHER CONTRACTS LIKE THIS? I HATE TO BE IN A POSITION WHERE WE FIND OUT AND IT IS TOO LATE. WITH ALL DUE RESPECT THEY SAY SOME COMMITTEE OR SOMEBODY RECOMMENDED IT AND THEY ARE GONE NOW. I AM A PRETTY OLD GUY, AND I AM IN GOOD SHAPE. IF I OUT LIVE SOME OF YOU ALL, I DON'T WANT TO BE BLAMED AND SOMEBODY SAY, WELL, YOU KNOW, THE COMMITTEE ASKED WHEN THEY GO. 
          >> WE ARE ANXIOUS TO REPLACE IT WITH A BIGGER AND BETTER AND MORE ADVANCED AND TECHNOLOGY, THERE IS A BIG SHIP. THE UNIQUE THING IN HARRIS COUNTY IS WE HAVE SEVERAL AGENCIES ON IT WHERE MOST OF THE TIME THESE KIND OF 
          SOLUTIONS ARE SPECIFICALLY FOR AN AGENCY. >> AND I KNOW THERE IS AN ELEMENT OF RESPECT FOR THE ELECTED OFFICIALS, BUT WE HAVE TO VOTE TO APPROPRIATE THE MONEY AND I FOR ONE DON'T WANT TO TAKE THE POSITION FOR SOMEBODY WHO DOESN'T HAVE TO VOTE ON THE MONEY SAYS DO IT THAT WAY AND I DO IT. IN THE PAST HAS THAT BEEN THE ATTITUDE OF THE OTHER ELECTED OFFICIALS? THIS IS WHAT WHAT I WANT SO 
          OPEN THE CHECK CHECKBOOK? >> I HAVEN'T SEEN THAT FROM A TECHNOLOGY PERSPECTIVE. 
          IT IS -- NO DECISIONS ARE MADE EXCEPT BY Y'ALL, BUT RECOMMENDATIONS TO 
          COMMISSIONER'S COURT FROM THE COMMITTEES. >> RODNEY ELLIS: IF YOU SEE SOMETHING I HOPE YOU WILL SAY SOMETHING. OBVIOUSLY WE CAN'T KEEP UP WITH IT. CLEARLY SAY IT. I DON'T WANT TO FIND OUT BY 
          [00:55:05]
HAPPENSTANCE BECAUSE WE READ IT IN THE PAPER. I PREFER TO KNOW AND PUT IT ON THE AGENDA. OUR MEMORIES FADE. IT IS BETTER IF IT IS ON THE 
          AGENDA AND THERE IS A RECORD. >> THESE ARE BIG SYSTEM. A LOT OF PEOPLE DEPEND ON IT AND LIFE DEPENDS ON IT. WE TAKE IT SERIOUSLY. WE ARE GETTING THE I'S DOTTED AND THE T'S CROSSED ON EVERY NEED THEY HAVE AND WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT'S IN THE 
          PRODUCT. >> RODNEY ELLIS: IS THERE A NEED FOR ADDITIONAL RESOURCES ON YOUR TEAM TO MONITOR THIS KIND OF STUFF? IF YOU DON'T KNOW NOW, YOU CAN TELL US LATER. IF THERE IS A NEED TO DO SOMETHING, CHECKS AND BALANCES 
          IN PLACE, I FEEL A RESPONSIBILITY TO ASK. >> WE HAVE PEOPLE IN THE DEPARTMENT THAT ARE -- THEY ACTUALLY GO TO ROLL CALL TO FIND OUT WHAT THE ISSUES ARE THAT DAY OR WHAT HAPPENED THE DAY BEFORE WHEN WE CAN ADDRESS THOSE ISSUES IMMEDIATELY. 
          THERE ARE JUST CONCERNS THAT THE PRODUCT HAS NOT DELIVERED EVERYTHING THEY COMMITTED TO. 
          >> LINA HIDALGO: YES, COMMISSIONER CAGLE. >> R. JACK CAGLE: JUST SO I UNDERSTAND THE TIMELINE, WE HAD A PROBLEM WITH THE OLD SYSTEM WHICH IS THE TIBURON 
          SYSTEM. >> YES. >> R. JACK CAGLE: EVERYBODY AGREED IT WAS NOT WORKING. THE TECHNOLOGY COMMITTEE THEN WENT OUT AND SAY THE AND -- AND SOUGHT AND FOUND A NEW COMPANY. AFTER WE BOUGHT.  IT LIKE YOU BUY A CAR AND BANK OF AMERICA IS THE ONE THAT SOLD THE NOTE. 
          WE ARE STUCK PAYING THE NOTE ON THIS SIDE. WE BOUGHT THE NEW PRODUCT AND AFTER WE BOUGHT THE NEW PRODUCT THOSE PEOPLE BOUGHT THE OLD SYSTEM WE TRIED TO MOVE AWAY FROM AND ARE TRYING TO STICK US WITH WHAT WE TRIED TO MOVE AWAY FROM. 
          >> THAT'S CORRECT. THEY DECIDED THAT WAS THE PLATFORM WE ARE -- THEY -- 
          THEY ARE MOVING AWAY FROM. >> WE WERE TRYING TO BUY A FORD, BUT SOMEHOW OR ANOTHER 
          WE ENDED UP BACK WITH A CHEVY. >> WE DON'T HAVE THE CHEVY YET. THEY BOUGHT FORD AND THEY ARE NOT DOING ANYTHING WITH IT. 
          >> R. JACK CAGLE: AND -- THAT EXPLANATION -- JUDGE, JJ WATT HERE NEXT TO ME, THIS IS HARD, THIS THING KEEPS POKING ME. HE WANTS TO SAY SOMETHING SO I WILL GIVE MY QUESTION TO JJ 
          WATT. >> WE HAVE A BOND AND WE HAVE BEEN WORKING TO LOOK AT THE BOND. WE CAN RECOVER ANY BONDS AND THERE IS TECHNOLOGY AND IT IS 
          COMING AND GOING [INAUDIBLE] >> CORRECT. >> CORRECT. 
          >> THEY ARE ASKING WHO IS ON THE COMMITTEE. IS UP IF POSSIBLE THEY WILL 
          RECEIVE FOUR VOTES. >> RIGHT. THE FIRST MEETING IS TO ESTABLISH WHO WILL BE THE COACH HERE. WE ARE NOT ON THE CO-CHAIR LIST AND WE ARE NOT EVEN MEMBERS OF THE ECONOMY -- OF THE COMMITTEE. 
          THEY WILL DECIDE HOW TO GO FORWARD AND IF THEY WANT TO BE MORE STRINGENT, I WILL DEFINITELY ENCOURAGE THAT. WE ARE IN PLACE TO BASICALLY FACILITATE THE MEETINGS AND GET EVERYBODY TOGETHER AND MAKE SURE IT HAPPENS. WE UNDERSTAND WHAT WE NEED TO 
          DO TO MOVE FORWARD. >> LINA HIDALGO: IN A WAY THESE ARE FRAGMENTED, BUT RIGHT NOW THEY ARE LOOKING AT THE WHOLE JUSTICE SYSTEM AND THEY HAPPEN TO BE DOING THE COUNTY REVIEWS. SO IDEALLY THEY CAN HELP US CONNECT THE DOTS ACROSS THE TECHNOLOGY AND BAIL REFORM COMMITMENTS ON THE DATA COLLECTION AND THE REPORTING, AND THEN MAKING SURE THAT THE SYSTEM SUPPORTS PROGRAMS LIKE SITE AND RELEASE AND 
          ADEQUATELY SUPPORT THE NEEDS OF LAW ENFORCEMENT. >> THE COMMITTEE RESM -- THE 
          COMMITTEE RECOMMENDED THE VENDOR. >> THE PRODUCT. 
          THE SOLUTION. >> SO WOULD THE LAUPER MITT -- WOULD THE LAW PERMIT US TO ASK WHICH DEPARTMENT WILL BE HANDLING IT IN ADDITION TO WHAT THE COMMITTEE RECOMMENDS TO TELL US -- TO PUT IT ON THE AGENDA THAT THEY AGREE OR DISAGREE? AT THE END OF THE DAY I AM TRYING TO BLAME A COMMITTEE AND THEN PEOPLE SAY, WELL, WE DON'T -- THOSE FOLKS ARE GONE. AT THE END OF THE DAY 
          [01:00:08]
SOMETHING HAS COME OUT OF MY PRECINCT AND I MAY HAVE A COMMITTEE GO THROUGH ALL OF THAT. AT SOME POINT SOMEBODY WILL BLAME ME. 
          >> EACH MEMBER OF THE COMMITTEE AND THEY ARE VOTING MEMBERS AND WE WILL PRESENT THAT INFORMATION FROM THE EVALUATION COMMITTEE. [INAUDIBLE]. 
          >> CORRECT. THE TECHNOLOGY DEPARTMENT WAS GRADED -- [INAUDIBLE]. 
          THEY GAVE US A RECOMMENDATION AND THEY DID ALL OF THE EVALUATIONS. 
          >> I GUESS WHAT I AM ASKING IS DOES THE LAW REQUIRE -- THE BUSINESS I USED TO BE IN, IF I CAME TO HARRIS COUNTY AND I AM TRYING TO BE AN UNDER WRITER AND TRYING TO BE THE MANAGER AND RUN THE BOOKS THERE MAY BE SOME COMMITTEE LOOKING AT IT AND WHEN IT CAME TO THIS COURT SOMEBODY, WHOEVER WAS IN MR. JACKSON'S LIFE SAID I AGREE WITH THIS. 
          I DON'T THINK IT WAS SOME -- I MAY HAVE SOMEBODY ON MY STAFF THAT GOES TO A COMMITTEE AND HE ASKED ME. AT THE END OF THE DAY SOMEBODY HAS TO BE RESPONSIBLE FOR WHAT 
          THE FIVE OF US VOTE ON. >> IT SOUNDS LIKE YOU WILL REVIEW WHETHER OR NOT THERE WAS SOME SORT OF FAIL R FAILURE TO DELIVER WHAT WAS PROMISED AND THEN GOING FORWARD MAKING SURE COURT GETS A ADVANCE TO -- GETS A CHANCE TO EVALUATE AND NOT JUST CHECKING A BOX ON WHAT A COMMITTEE RECOMMENDED, IS THAT RIGHT? 
          >> AND I WANT TO MAKE SURE WE WALK THROUGH IT. AT SOME POINT I WANT TO FIND A DEPARTMENT HEAD OR SOMEBODY SAID YOU AGREED WITH THIS. IF THE LAUPER MITTS THAT. 
          IF THE LAW PERMITS THAT. >> OFF THE TOP OF MY HEAD I CAN'T THINK OF A REASON WHY NOT. AND THIS BODY VOTES ON IT AND IT COULD BE A NOTION OF THESE 
          MAJOR PROJECTS. THAT'S ANOTHER THOUGHT. >> I AGREE WITH THE DEPARTMENT HEADS AFFECTED BY THE PRODUCT. IF THEY HAVE A PROBLEM, DOES ANYBODY HAVE AN AN OBJECTION, THEY NEED TO PUT THAT ON THE RECORD AND SAYING I DIDN'T REALLY VOTE FOR THAT. THAT'S ONE SUGGESTION FROM MY YEARS OF SPERCHES. 
          THE OTHER ONE IS ON THESE MAJOR PROJECTS LIKE THIS, WE WORK REALLY HARD TO HAVE AN UNBELIEVABLE CREDIT RATING. WE GET SOME OF THE LOWEST INTEREST RATES. 
          THESE COMPANIES REALLY CAN'T COMPETE AGAINST THAT. AS MY FATHER TAUGHT ME. 
          WHEN THEY GO TO BUY A CAR YOU SAY WHAT DO I NEED TO WRITE A CHECK FOR? ON THESE I WOULD LIKE A CASH OPTION. WE INTERNATIONALLY CAN PAY FOR THIS ON PAPER. AND IF THEY HAVE FINANCING MAYBE THAT'S FINE. 
          I FOUND OVER THE LAST 25 YEARS BEING HERE THAT ALMOST EVERY SINGLE TIME OUR FINANCING WAS SO MUCH CHEAPER THAN THE VIN DEER -- THAN THE VENDORS. I REQUEST OUR DEPARTMENT BE 
          INVOLVED IN THAT. >> COMMISSIONER GARCIA? >> THANK YOU, JUDGE. 
          >> IS THERE ANY CHARGE BACK TO ANY OF THE AGENCIES ON THE USE OF SUPERIA. 
          >> NO. >> ARE YOU REQUIRING LIKE YOU DID WITH TIBURON TO HAVE STAFFS FROM THE DEPARTMENTS SIT AT STATIONS, WORK STATIONS? TIBURON USED TO REQUIRE US TO GIVE YOU FOUR OR FIVE PEOPLE TO DO SOME TYPE OF DATA ENTRY. DO THEY REQUIRE THAT SUPPORT FROM THE DEPARTMENTS ? 
          >> NO OUR -- WE HAVE A TEAM SPECIFICALLY FOR REPORTING WHAT IS GOING ON WITH 
          [01:05:07]
          SUPERION. >> AND AGAIN, BRUCE, YOU KNOW, MY TONE IS A LITTLE TENSE RIGHT NOW BECAUSE IF I HADN'T RAISED THIS, WE WOULDN'T BE AWARE THAT THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THIS SYSTEM AND WE WOULD BE WRITING A CHECK WITHOUT ANY CONSIDERATION ABOUT WHAT THIS 
          COUNTY MAY BE OWED AND THAT'S NOT GOOD. >> AND JUST TO CLARIFY, WE HAVE ALREADY SPOKE -- THE LAST CO-CHAIR MEETING WAS TO MOVE FORWARD WITH A ESTABLISHMENT AND UNDERSTANDING WE CAN MOVE FORWARD WITH REPLACING IT. THE VOTE WAS UNANIMOUS FOR 
          THIS PRODUCT FOR THE LAW ENFORCEMENT COMMUNITY. >> AND THE OTHER THING TOO IS I WOULD REALLY MAKE SURE THERE IS VALUE GIVEN TO THE FACT THAT THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE IS 
          THE 80 USER OF THIS SYSTEM. THE 80% USER OF THIS SYSTEM. >> ABSOLUTELY. 
          >> LINA HIDALGO: LET ME GET COMMISSIONER RADACK AND THEN COMMISSIONER CAGLE. 
          >> STEVE RADACK: THE UNDER -- THE INTERESTING THING HERE IS THAT THE USERS, THE SHERIFF, THE CONSTABLES THERE IS A POSSIBILITY OF SOVEREIGN ELECTED OFFICIALS, IT IS THEIR RESPONSIBILITY TO SPEAK UP IF THEY THINK SOMETHING IS BAD PARTICULARLY IF YOU TAKE INTO ACCOUNT I HAVE SEEN AT LEAST FIVE DIFFERENT SHERIFFS SINCE I HAVE BEEN HERE. 
          YEAH, TURNOVER. THE FACT IS IF DEPARTMENT HEADS AND ELECTED OFFICIALS DON'T HAVE THE INTESTINAL FORTITUDE TO STAND UP AND SAY SOMETHING WE GOT SUCKS WE GOT A PROBLEM. MAYBE IT IS BECAUSE SOMEBODY MADE A DECISION AND DON'T WANT TO FACE THE REALITY THAT THEY MADE THE WRONG DECISION. IF THIS HAS BEEN AROUND, A PROBLEM, THERE ARE SOME PEOPLE WHO SHOULD HAVE SPOKEN UP ABOUT IT. 
          THEY CAN DO IT EVERY YEAR AT BUDGET. THEY CAN COME IN HERE ANY DAY THEY WANT, AND THEY CAN PICK UP THE TELEPHONE IN. A WAY SOME OF THEM JUST LIVED WITH SOMETHING AND KEPT IT QUIET. DO YOU AGREE WITH THAT? I MEAN, I HAVEN'T SEEN ANYBODY 
          COME IN AND TALKED ABOUT. IT. >> THEY HAVEN'T BROUGHT IT TO COURT. WHEN THERE ARE ISSUES WE RAY -- WE ARE TRACKING DEFAULTS OR DEFECTS IN THE SOLUTION WITH THE VENDOR. THEIR PACE HAS GONE DOWN TO 0. THE LAST MEETING WE HAD SUPERION WITH THE LAW ENFORCEMENT WHICH ARE ALL ELECTED OFFICIALS. THEY HAD A CHANCE TO EXPLAIN THEIR CONCERNS AND THE ENCOURAGEMENT OF THE VENDOR WHO OWNED BOTH PRODUCTS NOW ENCOURAGED US TO MOVE TO THE SOLUTION. WE JUST HAVE TO MAKE SURE IT MEETS LAW ENFORCEMENT NEEDS AS WE MOVE FORWARD BECAUSE WE NEED TO GO OUT AND BID THIS. 
          WE DON'T WANT TO JUST MOVE TO THEIR PRODUCT. >> LINA HIDALGO: COMMISSIONER 
          CAGLE. >> R. JACK CAGLE: SIX YEARS AGO I WAS HERE. 
          I DON'T REMEMBER ANYBODY DISAGREE -- DISAGREEING AT ALL THAT THIS WAS SUPPOSED TO SOLVE ALL PROBLEMS. DO YOU REMEMBER ANYBODY DISAGREEING WITH THE SYSTEM? 
          >> IT WAS UNANIMOUS BUT THERE AGAIN THAT WAS THE ONLY OTHER SOLUTION. 
          >> R. JACK CAGLE: AND NOT TO GET TOO MUCH IN THE WAY OF COUNTY ATTORNEYS, BUT THERE IS A BAIT AND SWITCH. WE BOUGHT ONE THING AND WE GOT SOMETHING ELSE SWITCHED BACK TO US. I THINK THAT'S WHY GOING BACK IS A GOOD SOLUTION. 
          QUESTION NUMBER TWO. THIS IS A GOOD LEARNING LESSON FOR US WHICH KIND OF GOES TO PURCHASING. IF WE HAD THIS KIND OF A PROBLEM WITH THIS CHUNK OF TECHNOLOGY WE NEED TO MAKE SURE WE DON'T HAVE THE SAME KIND OF PROBLEMS WHEN WE GO TO VOTING MACHINES. I DON'T WANT TO GO BEYOND THAT AT THIS TIME BECAUSE THAT'S NOT ON THE AGENDA THAT'S RIGHT HERE, BUT IN TERMS OF IDENTIFYING A PROBLEM THAT WE HAVE THAT WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE PROTECT OURSELVES IN OTHER AREAS, I WANT TO ASK 
          THAT WE MAKE SURE TO STAY ON TOP OF THOSE QUESTIONS. >> THESE SOLUTIONS TOUCH A LOT OF PEOPLE. COMMISSIONER GARCIA, COMMISSIONER CAGLE, Y'ALL WERE ON THE COMMITTEE THAT DECIDED TO MOVE FORWARD WITH REPLACING THE JUSTICE SYSTEM. 
          WE LOOKED ALL OVER THE PLACE AND TRIED TO BUY THE PRODUCT. WE COULDN'T. 
          IT TOOK US FOUR AND A HALF TO 5 YEARS. >> IS THAT THE DALLAS THING WE 
          WENT TO AND THEY WERE GETTING THE FLASHY STUFF? >> YEAH, THAT DIDN'T WORK. 
          [01:10:06]
THE EEOP, THIS IS UNIQUE BECAUSE IT IS A DECISION AND RECOMMENDATION COMING DOWN FROM COMMISSIONER'S COURT TO REPLACE IFUS. THERE WASN'T A LOT OF REQUIREMENTS BECAUSE OUR MAIN REQUIREMENTS, THE SYSTEMS ARE HUGE AND IT DOESN'T MAKE ANYBODY -- IT DOESN'T MAKE EVERYBODY HAPPY. THIS IS THE ENVIRONMENT WE ARE 
          IN. >> A FINAL POINT. I WANT TO REYIT EAT -- I WANT TO REITERATE HOW PLEASED I AM THAT COMMISSIONER GARCIA DID BRING THE ISSUE UP. 
          I DO THINK IT IS APPROPRIATE AND LOOK AND SEE TO WHAT EXTENT WE CAN HOLD THE VENDOR AND WHETHER IT IS THIS ITEM OR VOTING MACHINE OR A BRIDGE OVER TROUBLED WARYB -- 
          TROUBLED WATER AND I WILL LEAVE IT AT THAT. >> I APPRECIATE THE SUPPORT. 
          SOME ARE BIGGER THAN US THOUGH. IT IS A CHALLENGE. 
          >> I WILL JUST SAY TO THAT, THE POINT, BRUCE, TO FOLLOW WITH COMMISSIONER ELLIS ALSO REQUIRES GOOD CONTRACTS. MAKE SURE THE CONTRACTS ARE WELL WRITTEN AND SO I PUT IT ON THE COUNTY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE TO MAKE SURE THE COUNTY ALWAYS HAS A GOOD FALL BACK 
          AND SO THAT IS VERY CRITICAL. >> I AGREE AND WE THANK GOD FOR BARBARA ARMSTRONG EVERY 
          DAY. >> LINA HIDALGO: FOR THE PURPOSES OF THIS ITEM, ROBERT, YOU ARE GOING TO LOOK AND SEE IF THERE IS ANYTHING THEY HAVEN'T DELIVERED. 
          WE NEED TO APPROVE THE PAYMENT BECAUSE IT IS A COMMITMENT WE ENTERED INTO. 
          >> MY UNDERSTANDING IS THERE WOULD BE PENALTIES IF THIS PAYMENT IS NOT MADE. 
          >> LINA HIDALGO: RIGHT. AND IF WE FIND AN ISSUE WE WILL DEAL WITH WHATEVER WE GET FROM THEM. IT WAS A VALUABLE DISCUSSION AND I APPRECIATE IT. 
          THAT WAS UNIVERSAL SERVICES. THANK YOU. PUBLIC HEALTH. 
          I HAVE A NOTE ON ITEM 7A, ON PAGE 9, A REQUEST THAT NO ACTION BE TAKEN. 
          IS THIS RIGHT, ROBERT? >> MY UNDERSTANDING IS B AND C OF PUBLIC HEALTH. 
          >> LINA HIDALGO: LET'S CLARIFY. >> HELLO, ALBERT WITH PUBLIC 
          HEALTH. IT IS 7B1 NO ACTION PLEASE. >> LINA HIDALGO: B1, OKAY. 
          >> I'M SORRY. MY UNDERSTANDING IS ALL OF THE ITEMS UNDER B AND ALL OF THE 
          ITEMS UNDER C. >> DR. CHARLES SAID HE TALKED TO YOU THIS MORNING, BUT I WAS JUST -- WHEN I TALKED TO HIM I WAS JUST TOLD 7B1, SO IF HE TOLD YOU SOMETHING ELSE. 
          >> MAYBE CALL HIM BEFORE YOU VOTE? >> LINA HIDALGO: LET'S COME BACK TO THIS AFTER THE BREAK. ALL RIGHT. COMMUNITY SERVICES. 
          YES? >> UNDER B IF MISS LANEL IS BACK THERE, I WANT TO GET A SENSE ON THE RECOVERY OF THE HOUSE PROGRAM WHAT NUMBERS THEY ARE TALKING ABOUT. 
          UNDER ITEM B I THINK IT SAYS A REQUEST I HAD ON DECEMBER ABOUT THE NUMBER OF PROGRAM APPLICATIONS, THE PROGRAM APPLICANTS THAT WERE COMPLETED? 
          >> YES, THAT'S CORRECT, COMMISSIONER. DAPHNE LAVELL COMMUNITY SERVICES DEPARTMENT. THE REPORT BEFORE YOU IS A TRANS MISS TALL WHERE WE ARE WITH THE OWNER HOUSING PROGRAM UNDER HARVEY PROJECT RECOVERY. 
          I AM PLEASED TO REPORT THAT THE PACE OF OPERATION DID UP TICK IN DECEMBER. 
          WE WERE ABLE TO ISSUE MORE THAN $800,000 IN ASSISTANCE UNDER THE REIMBURSEMENT PROGRAM AND CLOSE OUT TWO BUYOUTS. WE HAVE MORE THAN 7700 APPLICATIONS NOW. AND THESE NUMBERS THAT I'M GIVING YOU ARE ACTUALLY -- EVERY DAY THE NUMBERS ARE TICKING UP. THE REPORT TRANSMITTED FOR THE AGENDA HAS CHANGED WITH THE NUMBERS. WE HAVE MORE THAN 1200 FILES AND ELIGIBILITY REVIEW. IN DECEMBER WE MADE CHANGES INTERNATIONALLY WITH OUR TEAM. WE INTEGRATED STAFF AND WE BROUGHT ON STAFF WITH OUR STAFF AND THEY ARE WORKING AS ONE TEAM TO PICK UP THE PACE. WE UNDERSTAND WHERE WE ARE TO GET THESE PROGRAMS MOVING. WE HAVE MADE GREAT PROGRESS. WE HAVE ANOTHER $5.6 MILLION 
          [01:15:04]
THAT WAS APPROVED AND WE ARE WAITING ON ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW AND RELEASE OF FUNDS FOR THOSE AND WE WILL UP -- UP TICK OUR PROGRAM FOR THE REBUILDING AND RECONSTRUCTION PHASE IN THE FIRST QUAT -- FIRST QUARTER OF THIS YEAR. HOW ARE WE COMPARED TO OUR PEERS ? WE ARE TRACKING AGAINST OUR PEER PROGRAM WHICH IS SAFE TEXAS AND THE CITY OF HOUSTON. I LOOKED FOR THE NUMBERS AND COULDN'T FIND CITY OF HOUSTON, BUT WE ARE SLIGHTLY BEHIND THEM, BUT ARE ON TRACK TO BE WITH THEM. THEY HAD APPROVED PROJECTS AT THE END OF NOVEMBER AND WE ARE AT THE END OF 116. WE ARE CLOSELY CLOSING IN ON THAT. 
          TEXAS HAS 30,000 APPLICATIONS AND THEY HAVE COMPLETED 424 HOMES TO DATE. 
          THEY ARE A LITTLE AHEAD OF US. IT IS IMPORTANT TO UNDERSTAND HARRIS COUNTY AND WE ARE A RECIPIENT OF THE STATE OF TEXAS. 
          EVERY FILE THAT INCLUDES 53 UNIQUE DOCUMENTS HAVE TO BE SUBMITTED FOR THEIR APPROVAL BEFORE WE CAN PROCEED. I AM NOT TRYING TO GIVE EXCUSES. 
          OUR FOCUS IS ON THE APPLICATIONS AND GETTING OUR CUSTOMERS SERVED AND THAT'S 
          THE GOAL OF THE TEAM. >> IF I MAY, JUDGE. >> LINA HIDALGO: YES. 
          >> AS A SUB RECIPIENT, THE CITY AND THE COUNTY HAVE TO HAVE THE APPLICANTS FILL OUT 
          THESE 53 DOCUMENTS AND WHAT KIND OF THINGS ARE IN THERE? >> OWNERSHIP, MAKING SURE YOU ARE CURRENT ON TAXES AND CURRENT ON YOUR CHILD SUPPORT, MAKING SURE YOU ARE CURRENT ON YOUR MORTGAGE. WE HAVE TO DO ALL OF THESE CHECKS AND SUBMIT THIS INFORMATION TO GLO BEFORE WE CAN GET APPROVAL ON A FILE AS WELL AS THE INFORMATION ABOUT THE DAMAGE YOU INCUR THAT YOU WERE AFFECTED BY THE STORM AND ALL OF THOSE ITEMS. 
          >> IT IS VOLUMINOUS. I CAN UNDERSTAND WHY THEY DO IT. 
          WE ARE SUB RECIPIENT. IF WE DON'T GET SOMETHING RIGHT THEY WOULD HAVE THE AUTHORITY. IF THEY ARE THE DIRECTORY SIP YENT WE WOULD DEAL WITH THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AND NOT HAVE TO GO THROUGH THE STATE. ULTIMATELY THEY GET IT FROM US 
          ANYWAY. >> EXACTLY. WE ARE PREPARING AN AUDIT READY FILE. BASICALLY THE DIFFERENCE IS GLO HAS A DIRECT RELATIONSHIP WITH HUDD. THEY WILL COME AND MONITOR IN PERIODIC BASIS. 
          OBVIOUSLY WE ARE A SUB-RE -- RECIPIENT. THEY WANT US TO PROVE THAT THE FILE IS ELIGIBLE AND THEY ARE TAKING THEIR TIME TO APPROVE THOSE WITHIN THE TIME FRAME 
          THEY ARE GIVEN TO ENSURE THE FILE IS CORRECT. >> IF MY MEME -- MEMORY SERVES ME CORRECT THE CITIES HAVE BEEN DIRECTORY SIP YENTS, BUT IT HAS BEEN RARE THE COUNTIES HAVE DONE IT. I REMEMBER WHEN THIS CAME UP. THERE WAS SOME IN SOUTH CAROLINA. IT HAS BEEN RARE AROUND THE COUNTRY THAT A COUNTY IS A 
          DIRECTORY SIP YENT. >> EXACTLY -- RECIPIENT. >> EXACTLY. 
          THERE IS A NEW BILL IN CONGRESS AND GOING TO THE SENATE THAT HOPEFULLY WILL ALLOW THAT TO HAPPEN MORE FREQUENTLY ON A GO FORWARD BASIS. 
          THE COMMUNITIES THAT ARE ENTITLED AND WORK WITH HUD ON A BASIS CAN RECEIVE THE RECIPIENT. IT REMOVES AN EXTRA BURDEN TO OPERATING THE PROGRAM. 
          >> I KNOW YOU ARE LOOKING TO SEE HOW WE COMPARE TO THE CITY AND TO THE STATE. 
          TETRA TECH CAN HOPEFULLY FIND OUT EASIER. HOPEFULLY IN TERMS OF WHEN WE GOT THE ALLOCATION HOW WE COMPARE TO SOME OTHER REGION AND TO GIVE US A SENSE OF HOW 
          FAR BEHIND OR ON TRACK WE MAY OR MAY NOT BE. >> DEFINITELY WE CAN PULL THAT INFORMATION TOGETHER. ONE THING THAT DID CATCH US OFF GUARD WAS THE FACT THAT OUR INTAKE PROCESS DID SLOW DOWN QUITE A BIT. IN AUGUST WE REALIZED THAT WASN'T WHERE WE WANTED TO BE AND SO WE ARE OVERCOMING THE DELAYS. 
          WE HILLARY SEARCH THAT AND GET YOU THAT INFORMATION. >> ARE THERE ANY ADDITIONAL 
          RESOURCES YOU NEED? >> NOT AT THIS TIME. WE ARE USING THE STAFF TO GET THINGS GOING. WE MADE CHANGES INTERNATIONALLY AND WE ARE WORKING WITH THE GLO STRIKE TEAM EMBEDDED WITH OUR TEAM AND THEY HAVE BEEN HELPFUL TO SET EXSPEANING STATIONS OF WHAT -- EXPECTATIONS OF WHAT GLO IS APPROVED FOR. 
          >> LINA HIDALGO: COMMISSIONER CAGLE. >> R. JACK CAGLE: THIS IS JUST A TRANSMITAL AND I KNOW YOU ARE WORKING TO MAKE SURE ALL OF THE NUMBERS THAT WORK OUT. 
          >> FIVE FILES IS OFF. SOMETIMES THE FILES THAT ARE CODED DIRECTLY MAY MISS OUT ON THE DATA DUMPS WE ARE DOING TO CREATE THE REPORT. THIS IS A FILE DISPREP PEN 
          [01:20:02]
          SEE. DISCREPANCY. >> WHEN YOU GET IT SQUARED AWAY MAKE SURE YOU GET BACK. THANK YOU FORGETTING THE CODING ISSUES SQUARED AWAY. 
          >> UNDERSTOOD. >> LINA HIDALGO: THANK YOU. I KNOW YOU WORKED OVER THE BREAK AND YOU WON'T LET OFF AND WE HAVE A LOT OF CATCHING UP TO DO. 
          LET US KNOW WHAT YOU NEED FROM US. >> THANK YOU. 
          >> [INAUDIBLE]. >> LINA HIDALGO: SURE. GO AHEAD. 
          PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME AND AFFILIATION. >> I APPLIED FOR THE REIMBURSEMENT PROGRAM. WE HAVE BEEN COMPLAINING IN MY COMMUNITY A LOT BECAUSE THIS HAS TAKEN TOO LONG. I HOPE IT IS NOT A PROGRAM THAT STOPS LIKE THE LAST PROGRAM THAT WAS EXPLAINED HERE THAT YOU ALL DIDN'T FIND OUT UNTIL TOO LATE. 
          TOO MANY MILLIONS OF DOLLARS WERE SPEND ON A PROGRAM THAT DIDN'T WORK. 
          SO THIS PROGRAM. THAT THAT WAS ESTABLISHED STARTED A LONGTIME AGO. 
          WE HAVE BEEN WAITING ALMOST THREE YEARS TO GET THE REIMBURSEMENT. 
          AND IT IS NOT RIGHT. WE ARE SUFFERING A LOT ESPECIALLY IN MY COMMUNITY. 
          WE WERE FLOODED. AND THERE HAS BEEN NOTHING DONE TO IMPROVE THE AREA. 
          I AM AGAINST BEAUT -- BEAUTIFYING HOUSTON AND HAVING MORE STREETS AND DRAINAGE AROUND MUSEUMS AND ALL THAT SO THEY DON'T FLOOD, BUT PLEASE DO NOT INVEST ON THOSE MUSEUMS BEFORE YOU INVEST IN PEOPLE'S HOUSES. THE HOUSE IS MORE IMPORTANT. 
          IT IS A LOT MORE IMPORTANT. OUR CHILDREN HAVE SUFFERED A LOT. 
          I HAVE SUFFERED A LOT. AND IT IS NOT ONLY BECAUSE WE ARE NOT COMFORTABLE. 
          HARVEY AND THEN IMELDA AND IT WAS A VERY BIG PROBLEM AND I AM ASKING YOU TO PLEASE FIRST ATTEND TO THE PEOPLE'S NEEDS BEFORE YOU ATTEND TO BEAUTIFYING ANYBODY ELSE -- ANYTHING ELSE. PARKS ARE WONDERFUL AND MUSEUMS ARE WONDERFUL. 
          I AM FOR THOSE. BUT PLEASE DO NOT INVEST IN THOSE BEFORE YOU INVEST EVERYTHING THAT YOU HAVE AVAILABLE FOR THE HOUSING AND THE REAM BURGS -- REIMBURSEMENT PROGRAMS. THEY NEED MORE PEOPLE TO WORK ON THEM BECAUSE THEY HAVE A LOT OF OBLIGATIONS. I AM TELLING YOU THAT YOU NEED TO LOOK INTO THAT. 
          SO THAT ALL OF THOSE PEOPLE CAN HAVE MORE HELP AND GET ALL THAT MONEY TO THE PEOPLE WHO NEED IT LIKE ME, AND THIS IS FOR THE FUTURE. I WOULD LIKE TO THANK THE ENGINEERS I HAVE GONE SEVERAL TIMES AND HE GOT ALT UP -- A LITTLE UPSET WITH ME, BUT I WANT TO THANK HIM. I CAME TO TALK AND ASKED FOR SOMETHING DONE ON MY STREET. 
          AND THEN IT WAS DONE. SOME PEOPLE WAS LEFT, BUT HE WAS DONE AND I AM THANKFUL. 
          THE WHOLE STREET, WE ARE ALL THANKFUL TO YOU. NOTHING HAD BEEN DONE THERE FOR MORE THAN 20 YEARS. ALL MY NEIGHBORS HAVE TOLD ME THIS. 
          I DIDN'T KNOW. AND THE MOST IMPORTANT THING THOSE RAILROAD TRACKS ARE 
          ACTING AS A -- >> LINA HIDALGO: THANK YOU SO MUCH. 
          >> YOU NEED TO GET THOSE -- >> LINA HIDALGO: WE HAVE TO STOP EVERYONE AT TIME. 
          I'M SO SORRY. THANK YOU FOR COMING. YES, COMMISSIONER GARCIA. 
          >> ADRIAN GARCIA: THANK YOU FOR COMING DOWN AND SPEAKING. YOUR VOICE IS OFTEN THE VOICE I TRANSMIT TO MISS LAMELLE. I WOULD APPRECIATE THAT IT SOUNDS LIKE YOU HAVE ONE OF THE APPLICATION THAT'S IS IN SOME TRANSITION. ONE OF THE THINGS MISS LAMELLE AND I SPOKE ABOUT YESTERDAY IS THAT PROBABLY MOST OFTEN IT IS THE ASPECT OF INCOME VERIFICATION THAT IS MOST CHALLENGING TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO DO THAT AND WHAT DOCUMENTATION TO BRING AND I CHALLENGED MISS LAMELLE TO THINK OF A WAY TO DO IT INSTANTANEOUSLY WITH SOME AUTHORIZATION AND WITH PEOPLE MAKING APPLICATIONS WHEN THEY ARE COMING AND TO DO EVERYTHING WE CAN TO EXPEDITE THE PROCESS. 
          I AGREE THAT I HAVE A GREAT DEGREE OF ANXIETY, NOT AS MUCH AS YOURS BECAUSE YOU ARE THE VICTIM. YOU ARE THE PERSON SUFFERING. I AM JUST TRYING TO DO MY PART 
          [01:25:01]
TO MAKE SURE THAT THE BUREAUCRACY WORKS ON YOUR BEHALF. 
          I DO HAVE A LOT OF ANXIETY THAT THE PROCESS IS TAKING A LONGTIME. 
          THERE IS A LOT OF RED TAPE REGRETFULLY INVOLVED, BUT IN A DAY WHEN WE HAVE THE RESOURCES WE OUGHT TO MAKE SURE WE ARE DOING EVERYTHING HOW MANICALLY POSSIBLE TO GET THEM TO THE END USERS. THANK YOU FOR COMING DOWN AND SPEAKING ON THAT. 
          YOUR CONCERNS ARE SOME OF THE CONCERNS I HAVE BEEN PUTTING OUT. 
          >> AND I DON'T JUST SPEAK FOR MYSELF. >> ADRIAN GARCIA: SO AM I. 
          >> [INAUDIBLE]. >> LINA HIDALGO: THANK YOU SO MUCH, AND TO DIRECTOR LAMELLE, IT IS HEARTBREAKING TO HEAR THESE STORIES AND IT HAS BEEN FAR TOO LONG. 
          PART IS THE RED TAPE AS COMMISSIONER SAID, BUT EVERY LITTLE BIT THAT IS ON US, WE WILL CONTINUE HOLDING EVERYONE ACCOUNTABLE AND DOING EVERYTHING WE CAN TO MOVE THROUGH QUICKLY. PLEASE KEEP US POSTED ON WHAT YOU NEED. 
          THANK YOU. THAT WAS COMMUNITY SERVICES. COUNTY LIBRARY. 
          YOUTH AND FAMILY SERVICES. CONSTABLES. SHERIFF. 
          >> JUDGE, ON PAGE 12 AND ON ITEM E, THEY DON'T HAVE TO ANSWER NOW, BUT I WOULD LIKE FOR THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE TO GIVE US A REPORT ON HOW SUCCESSFUL THEY ARE ON THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE WHO ARE GETTING HIV TESTED AND ANY THOUGHTS ON THE PERCENTAGE THAT ARE NOT GETTING TESTED AND HOW WE CAN ENCOURAGE THEM TO GET TESTED AND IF THEY NEED 
          RESOURCES TO DO THAT. MAYBE PUT IT ON THE AGENDA. >> LINA HIDALGO: IS THERE 
          ANYONE HERE FROM THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE? >> WE CAN PASS IT FOR TODAY, BUT MAYBE WHEN THEY COME BACK ON THE NEXT ITEM THEY CAN GIVE AS YOU REPORT. 
          GIVE US A REPORT. HALLOWEEN 
          >> LINA HIDALGO: ARE YOU WITH THE SHERIFF? >> MY QUESTION IS, AND IF YOU DON'T HAVE IT NOW, I'M SORRY I DIDN'T THINK ABOUT IT UNTIL I LOOKED AT IT. 
          I DIDN'T TELL MY STAFF TO ALERT YOU. I'M WONDERING ON ITEM E WHERE YOU WANT TO -- SOME ADDITIONAL PEOPLE A THREE GRANT FUNDED POSITIONS FOR ROUTINE 
          TESTING? >> YES WE HAVE AN ADMINISTRATOR WITH THE 
          SHERIFF'S ONS. >> IS THIS YOUR PROGRAM? >> IT IS A PROGRAM THAT ENDED 
          AND SO WE ARE TRANSFERRING THE GRANT FUNDED POSITIONS. >> AND DO YOU HANDLE IT? 
          >> FINANCIAL SERVICE SERVICES. >> WHAT IS YOUR NAME? 
          >> SEAN. >> IF YOU KNOW, GIVE AS YOU REPORT ON WHAT PERCENTAGE OF PEOPLE ARE TESTED AND WHAT THAT NUMBER AMOUNTS TO AND MY STAFF TOLD ME THEY THINK IT IS 20% WHO ARE NOT TESTED. IF NOT WHAT COULD ENCOURAGE THEM TO BE TESTED. 
          >> THIS IS FOR THE COUNSELORS. THERE IS A LI BIT OF TESTING INVOLVED. I WOULD HAVE TO GET BACK WITH YOU ON THAT. 
          >> WE ARE MOVING SO FAST TODAY I DON'T WANT TO HOLD IT UP. >> LINA HIDALGO: COMMISSIONER 
          CAGLE. >> R. JACK CAGLE: YOU WOULDN'T BE RELATED TO THE MUSICIAN, 
          DENNIS JOURNEGAN? >> I HOPE SO. BUT NO, I DOUBT IT. 
          >> R. JACK CAGLE: I HAD A DIFFERENT QUESTION OR STATEMENT. 
          JUDGE, WE HAVE A DONATION OF THREE POLICE K9'S AND SIGNALS -- SINCE ARE YOU IN THE FINANCE DEPARTMENT YOU CAN CONFIRM THIS. THE VALUE OF THE DOGS THEMSELVES IS $30,000. DOESN'T K9'S FOR COPS PROVIDE THE TRAINING AS WELL? 
          >> YES IT IS $10,000 PER K9. >> SO THAT IS IN ADDITION TO THE $10,000? 
          >> YES, $10,000 TOTAL FOR THE K9 AND WE PRICE THEM THAT WAY OR VALUE THEM THAT WAY FOR THE TRAINING THEY GET. YAK 
          >> R. JACK CAGLE: THIS IS A PRETTY BIG DEAL AND THEY DONATED IT. 
          CHRISTIE, IF YOU ARE OUT THERE LISTENING, THANK YOU. >> LINA HIDALGO: THANK YOU. 
          INSTITUTE OF FORENSIC SCIENCES. COUNTY CLERK. 
          COUNTY ATTORNEY. >> JUDGE. >> LINA HIDALGO: YEAH. 
          >> ROBERT, I REMEMBER THAT WE HAD -- I CAN'T REMEMBER. MAYBE IT WAS TWO OR THREE MONTHS AGO OR LONGER THAT WE TOOK AN ACTION ON IDENTIFYING THE COUNTY PRIVACY OFFICER. 
          [01:30:02]
          I KNOW NOW HE IS RETIRED. DO WE NEED TO VOTE? >> HE DOESN'T RETIRE UNTIL THE 
          END OF FEBRUARY. WE HAVE SOME TIME. >> THANK YOU. 
          >> AND THEN I I GUESS ON ITEM B, WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO ABOUT GENERAL PAXTON? 
          >> WE WILL WORK WITH GENERAL PAXTON IN THE COURT. SOMETIMES WE ARE ON HIS SIDE AND SOMETIMES WE ARE NOT. THIS RELATES TO ITEM B AND WE CAN GO INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION IF WE WANT TO GET INTO LEGAL STRATEGY. BUT IN GENERAL WHAT HAPPENED IS EARLIER THIS YEAR THIS COURT AUTHORIZED THE COUNTY ATTORNEY IN CERTAIN EXTRAORDINARY CIRCUMSTANCES TO FILE LITIGATION ON ENVIRONMENTAL MATTERS. 
          IN A PARTICULAR CASE, AND IN FACT THE EXXON MOANL CASE GENERAL TAX TON'S -- EXES -- EXXON MOBILE CASE GENERAL PAXTON'S OFFICE IS SAYING THE COURT HAS TO ACT ON EACH INDIVIDUAL MATTER AND YOU CANNOT DO A GENERAL AUTHORIZATION. 
          WE ARE DEALING WITH THAT IN THE DISTRICTS COURTS IN HARRIS COUNTY AND EVENTUALLY JUDGE WILL TELL US WHAT THE RULES ARE. FOR THE TIME BEING AND WE CAN CERTAINLY REPORT WHATEVER WE NEED TO TO THE COMMISSIONERS AND THE DETAILS OF THAT. 
          >> LINA HIDALGO: YES, COMMISSIONER ELLIS. RODE. 
          >> RODNEY ELLIS: SO THIS IS A SAFETY NET TO DO AN INDIVIDUAL AUTHORIZATION? 
          >> AND YOU KNOW IT IS AN ALTERNATIVE. WE CAN FILE A NEW LAWSUIT IF WE WANTED AND WE CAN FILE AN AMENDMENT TO THE LEADING -- PLEADINGS. 
          IT IS WHAT WORKS BEST FOR THE LAWYERS WHO ARE ACTUALLY HANDLING THE CASE AND TO MOVE 
          THE CASE FORWARD. >> WHAT IS BEST FOR YOUR LET STRATEGY? 
          TALK ABOUT IT HERE OR EXECUTIVE SESSION. >> FOR LEGAL STRATEGY PREFER 
          EXECUTIVE SESSION. >> LINA HIDALGO: I WOULD LOVE TO HEAR MORE ABOUT IT AS WELL. I WOULD LIKE TO HEAR FROM ROCK ABOUT THE VIOLATIONS. 
          >> AND HE IS HERE AND HE IS AVAILABLE. >> LINA HIDALGO: GREAT. 
          SO WE WILL TAKE THAT UP LATER ON. SO THAT WAS THE COUNTY ATTORNEY. PUBLIC DEFENDER. JUSTICE ADMINISTRATION. 
          TRAVEL AND TRAINING. GRANTS. COMMISSIONER I SAW YOUR ITEM. 
          >> I AM LOOKING AT IT NOW JUDGE. THANK YOU FOR RECOGNIZING IT. 
          I AM EXCITED AND THIS IS A GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO DO SOME VERY CRITICAL WORK SO I AM EXCITED ABOUT THIS APPLICATION WE ARE SUBMITTING FOR THE LOCAL CENTER. 
          THAT IS BEAUTIFUL. FISCAL SERVICES AND PURCHASING. 
          I DO WANT TO DISCUSS THE JURY ASSEMBLY BUILDING ON PAGE 18, C1. 
          I WOULD RATHER TAKE THAT TO EXECUTIVE SESSION, DWIGHT, IF THAT'S OKAY SO WE CAN DISCUSS THE STRATEGY. ITEM 2A ON PAGE 18 AND I HAVE HERE WE NEED TO INSERT THE WORD COUNTY BEFORE -- COUNTY AND, EXCUSE ME. INSERT COUNTY AND BEFORE FLOOD CONTROL. AND THEN ON PAGE 20, ITEM 12C CHANGE THE NAME OF THE COMPANY 
          TO -- FROM IN MCKEAN TO LN MCKEAN. >> YOUR HONOR, MCKEAN IS NOT CAPITALIZED. IS THE M NOT SUPPOSED TO BE CAPITALIZED? 
          >> THAT'S THE WAY THEY SUBMITTED IT SO WE BASICALLY PUT IT THAT WAY. 
          WE CAN CAPITALIZE IT. THEY SUBMITTED THEIR BID WITH A SMALL L AND N AND MCKEAN SO 
          WE USUALLY LIST IT THE SAME WAY. >> THANK YOU. 
          >> LET'S GO BACK TO THE JURY ASSEMBLY BUILDING. YOU WANT EXECUTIVE SESSION? 
          >> LINA HIDALGO: YES BECAUSE WE ARE TRYING TO DECIDE THE STRATEGY WITH FEMA AND THE CURRENT COMPANY. I WOULD LIKE TO DISCUSS IT IN EXECUTIVE. 
          THAT SAID OBVIOUSLY THE BIGGER POINT IS THERE IS A COMMITMENT TO GET THIS DONE AS QUICKLY AS WE CAN DO IT. I HESITATE TO SAY SOMETHING PER THE DISCUSSION WE HAD LAST 
          TIME THAT WOULD HAMPER OUR NEGOTIATING DECISION. >> WE ARE CONFERRING WITH COUNTY ATTORNEY THAT IT IS APPROPRIATE TO GO INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION. 
          >> LINA HIDALGO: YES AND I WOULD LIKE TO DO THAT WITH YOU GUYS. 
          [01:35:04]
          >> ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT THE COUNTY, YOU'RE GOING TO GIVE US LEGAL OPINIONS? 
          >> WE ARE GOING TO EXCHANGE IDEAS RELATING TO THE PRO'S AND THE CONS OF THE -- OF PROCEEDING IN A CERTAIN WAY AND THERE ARE LEGAL IMPLICATIONS IN THAT. 
          NOW, IF WE GO BEYOND THAT WE WILL HAVE TO COME BACK AND DISCUSS THOSE IN PUBLIC 
          SESSION. >> WE WOULD? >> WE WOULD. 
          RIGHT NOW I DON'T FOE EXACTLY -- DON'T KNOW EXACTLY WHAT THE QUESTIONS ARE, BUT IT IS 
          APPROPRIATE TO GO INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION. >> LINA HIDALGO: THANK YOU. 
          LET'S LOOK AT OTHER QUESTIONS ON PURCHASING. I WOULD LIKE TO HOLD OFF ON COMMISSIONER'S COURT. THE FEMA ADMINISTRATOR GAINOR IS ON HIS WAY TO MEET AND SO I WOULD LIKE TO TAKEN -- TO TAKE AN EARLY LUNCH IF THAT IS ALL RIGHT. 
          GO UNTIL 12:40. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU 
          >> LINA HIDALGO: LET'S GET STARTED. IT IS 12:46 AND COMMISSIONER'S COURT IS BACK IN SESSION. LET'S GO BACK TO PUBLIC HEALTH. IT LOOKS LIKE FOLKS CLARIFIED THE ITEM THAT'S NEED TO BE APPROVED SUBJECT TO A REVIEW BY THE COUNTY ATTORNEY. 
          IT IS PAGE 9 -- PAGES 9 AND 10. IT IS ITEMS 7, B1, B2, B3, B4 
          AND C1 AND C2. >> THAT'S WHAT I HAVE, JUDGE, YES, MA'AM. 
          >> LINA HIDALGO: GREAT. THOSE ARE ALL APPROVED SUBJECT TO REVIEW BY THE COUNTY ATTORNEY. AND WE WERE OVER AT COMMISSIONER'S COURT. 
          >> I DID WANT TO SAY FROM -- TO THE PUBLIC DEFENDER'S OFFICE -- THEY DON'T HAVE TO BE OUT HERE, BUT I AM GLAD THEY PUT US IN LINE WITH BEST PRACTICES. 
          I AM TOLD THAT COLLEAGUE COMMISSIONER RADACK SAID HE WOULD LIKE TO MAINTAIN HIS PERFECT ATTENDANCE. IT DOES PUT US IN LINE WITH WHAT ALL HE DOES FOR BEST 
          PRACTICE. >> LINA HIDALGO: GREAT, THANK YOU. 
          SO MY ITEM A IS ON CREATING THE HARRIS COUNTY AFRICAN-AMERICAN CULTURAL HERITAGE COMMISSION, AND I NEED TO CHANGE THAT ON THE AGENDA ITEM TO CHANGE THE WORD COUNCIL TO COMMISSION. THIS IS SOMETHING I'M REALLY PROUD OF, AND THAT WAS -- IT CAME FROM THE COMMUNITY, AND I KNOW SOME FOLKS ARE HERE TODAY. WE ARE ONE OF THE MOST DIVERSE COUNTIES AS WE DISCUSS AND TACKLE ISSUES OF JUSTICE AND REFORM. 
          WE HAVE TO ALSO LOOK AT OUR HISTORY AND CELEBRATING OUR HISTORY AS PART OF THE WAY IN WHICH WE MOVE FORWARD SO I WANTED TO JUST HEAR FROM THE FOLKS THAT ARE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK ON THIS AND EXPLAIN TO US WHAT THIS COMMISSION IS GOING TO BE ABOUT. 
          SO I HAVE HERE -- THIS IS A BEAUTIFUL PROGRAM BECAUSE FOLKS HAVE COME TOGETHER FROM ALL ACROSS THE COUNTY FROM TINY POINT TO BARRETT STATION AND CARBON DALE AND FIFTH WARD AND THIRD WARD AND ACRES HOMES. IT IS A COUNTY WIDE INITIATIVE WHICH IS EXCITING. PAMELA NORMAN, TONYA DUE -- DUBOIS, DEBORAH SLOAN, CARL DAVIS AND DEBORAH WALKER. GO AHEAD. IF YOU -- THANK YOU. 
          >> HELLO. I AM TONYA DUBOISE. FIRST OF ALL I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU AGAIN -- HAPPY NEW YEAR AND THANK YOU AGAIN FOR ALLOWING US THE OPPORTUNITY TO COME BEFORE YOU TODAY AND TALK ABOUT THE HARRIS COUNTY AFRICAN-AMERICAN CULTURAL HERITAGE COMMISSION. THIS WORK THAT WE'VE BEEN DOING TO PRESERVE IMPORTANT CULTURAL AND HISTORICAL ASSETS ACROSS THE COUNTY ARE SO KEY AND IMPORTANT TO WHO OUR IDENTITY IS. WE ARE SEEING RAPID GENTRIFICATION IN OUR AREA AND WEE -- WE ARE SEEING CEMETERY THAT'S HAVE GONE UNNOTICED AND WE ARE FINDING OUT WHERE THEY ARE. THE RESEARCH FOR THE AREAS, WE ARE JUST NOW STARTING ON THAT. AND SO ONE OF THE THINGS THAT IS IMPORTANT ABOUT THIS ADOPTION IS AFRICAN-AMERICAN CULTURAL HERITAGE COMMISSION IS TO SERVE KIND OF AS AN ADVISORY ON ISSUES THAT COME UP TO VERIFY CLAIMS OF AFRICAN-AMERICAN CULTURE AND HERITAGE ACROSS THE COUNTY. IN EVERY ONE OF THE PRECINCTS THAT THE COMMISSIONERS COVERED THERE ARE PLACES WHERE AFRICAN-AMERICANS SETTLED AFTER THE CIVIL WAR. 
          THEY ARE PLACES PEOPLE DON'T KNOW ABOUT. OUR FAMILIES CAME OUT OF THE AREAS. WHAT WE WANT TO BE ABLE TO DO IS TO BE ABLE TO PRESERVE SOME OF THAT HISTORY, BUT ALSO USE IT TO INFORM THE FUTURES SO THAT PEOPLE WILL KNOW THE 
          [01:40:04]
CONTINUE BUGSES OF AFRICAN-AMERICANS IN HARRIS COUNTY. 
          I APPRECIATE, JUDGE, FOR US TO COME BEFORE YOU AND SHARE WHY THIS IS IMPORTANT TO US. 
          THANK YOU. >> LINA HIDALGO: THANK YOU SO MUCH. 
          >> JUDGE, TONYA, MISS DUBOIS, WOULD YOU WALK US THROUGH HOW YOU WOULD LIKE -- I KNOW THE MOTION WILL BE SENT TO THE LEGAL DEPARTMENT AND COME BACK WITH A RECOMMENDATION, BUT DO YOU HAVE SOME IDEA ON FUNDING? WHAT IS IT YOU WOULD LIKE TO COME OUT OF THIS? 
          >> SURE. A LOT OF THE WORK WE HAVE BEEN DOING ALREADY IS INDIVIDUALLY ON OUR OWN AND WITHIN OUR COMMUNITY. WHAT YOU SEE HERE IN THE AUDIENCE IS YOU HAVE PEOPLE REPRESENTING MULTIPLE COMMUNITIES ACROSS ALL OF THE PRECINCTS. AND WHAT OUR VISION IS, COMMISSIONER ELLIS, IS TO HAVE AT LEAST FOUR COMMISSIONERS THAT ARE APPOINTED BY THE COUNTY JUDGE, AND THEN ALSO TO HAVE FIVE I CALL THEM AT LARGE WHERE IT MAY BE AN ARCHAEOLOGIST OR IT MAY BE A RESEARCHER OR A SCHOLAR WHO CAN COMPLEMENT THE WORK OF THE COMMISSION AND HELP US TO VERIFY CLAIMS. AND THEY WOULD SERVE WITHOUT COMPENSATION FOR A THREE TO FIVE-YEAR PERIOD. WE WOULD SCATTER IT. AND THEN ALSO ONE OF THE MAIN GOALS OF THE COMMISSION WOULD BE TO DO AN INVENTORY OF CULTURAL AND HISTORICAL ASSETS ACROSS HARRIS COUNTY, AND ONCE THE INVENTORY IS DONE TO BE ABLE TO COME UP WITH A PLAN TO PROTECT THOSE THINGS THAT ARE VERY, VERY IMPORTANT TO SHOW THE CONTRIBUTIONS ACROSS THE 
          COUNTY. >> JUDGE IN TERMS OF THAT, I THINK THAT THIS IS A GREAT PROGRAM THAT WE NEED TO DO. I WOULD LIKE FOR US TO BE ABLE TO HAVE EACH MEMBER OF COURT TO HAVE SOMEBODY THAT IS ON THERE. I DON'T SEE -- 
          >> DEBORAH. >> IS SHE HERE? >> I THINK I SAW HER EARLIER. 
          >> HER MOTHER HAD AN EMERGENCY, SO SHE WAS UNABLE TO BE WITH US RIGHT NOW. 
          BUT SHE IS SUPPORTIVE OF THIS, AND I HAVE LETTERS OF SUPPORT FROM -- I THINK THEY SENT IT TO THE COUNTY JUDGE'S OFFICE. WE HAVE LETTERS OF SUPPORT FROM ALL OF THOSE PEOPLE 
          INCLUDING OUR COUNCIL, OUR CITY COUNCIL PEOPLE. >> I AM A BIG FAN OF HERS AND THERE IS A HIS -- HISTORY THAT WE ARE JUST NOW STARTING TO UNCOVER, AND THAT IS A PICTURE OF THE MONUMENT THERE THAT WAS PUT UP IN PRECINCT 4 WHERE WE -- IT WAS ACTUALLY DUBOISE 
          THAT STARTED IT. >> GO FIGURE. >> DUBOIS PUT UP A CROSS TO COMMEMORATE SLAVES THAT WERE BURIED IN THE BACK OF THE PARK. 
          WE FORGOT ABOUT IT FROM THE 70S UNTIL RECENTLY WHEN IN THE -- THE CROSS HAD BEEN COVERED BY TREES. WHEN THE TREES DIED AWAY SOMEBODY SAID WHAT IS A CROSS DOING IN A COUNTY PARK? WHEN WE DID THE INVESTIGATION AND DR. BLALOCK WHO HELPED US FIND OUT THAT IT WAS A MARKER TO COMMEMORATE THE SLAVES BURIED IN THE BACK OF THE PARK. IT WAS A CEMETERY THAT USED TO BELONG TO THE LOCAL MOD -- METHODIST CHURCH THAT WAS THERE. WE WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO HAVE THAT WITHOUT THE RESEARCH. NO OFFENSE, BUT I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE SOMEBODY -- SOMETHING TO PUT ON THERE. WE HAVE A LOT OF RICH, CULTURAL THINGS WE NEED TO 
          CONTINUE TO EXPLORE AND BRING ABOUT IN THE COUNTY. >> YES, THANK YOU SO MUCH. 
          >> LINA HIDALGO: THIS ASKS FOR SOMETHING TO COME BACK AFTER THE COUNTY ATTORNEY REVIEWS IT. AND SO I THINK THAT'S A GREAT IDEA, COMMISSIONER. 
          WE WILL DISCUSS IT, OBVIOUSLY -- I MEAN PART OF THE BEAUTY OF THIS HAS BEEN DRIVEN BY YOU GUYS. IT IS IMPORTANT AND IT SHOWS YOU THE MEANING OF COMMUNITY MOBILIZATION AND I THINK IT WILL LEAD TO AN EVEN BETTER RESULT. 
          SO WE'LL WORK WITH YOU GUYS AND THE COMMISSIONER'S OFFICE TO PUT TOGETHER THE BEST STRUCK TOUR SO WE CAN PRESERVE THE HIS -- HISTORY AND BUILD ON THE GREAT IDEAS THAT YOU AND THE HISTORICAL COMMISSION WILL HAVE SO WE ARE RESPECTFUL AND CELEBRATE THE HISTORY AND IN A WAY IT WILL HELP US BUILD A BETTER FUTURE AND ACKNOWLEDGE THE SACRIFICES AND THE CONTRIBUTIONS. COMMISSIONER RADACK AND THEN COMMISSIONER GARCIA. 
          >> ADRIAN GARCIA: WHETHER I AM ON THE -- STEVE THERE ARE THREE CEMETERY THAT'S -- 
          >> STEVE RADACK: THERE ARE THREE CEMETERIES WE MAINTAIN. IT LEADS TO WHAT IS EXISTING 
          UNDER STATE LAW. WE WILL BE THERE TO HELP. >> THANK YOU SO MUCH. 
          I MEAN THAT SINCERELY. >> EVERYBODY WHO I TALK TO IN YOUR AREA SAY YOU ARE VERY 
          SUPPORT -- SUPPORTIVE OF THAT WORK SO THANK YOU FOR THAT. >> ADRIAN GARCIA: THANK YOU, 
          [01:45:04]
JUDGE. I WANT TO THANK ALL OF YOU WHO HAVE BEEN SO SUPPORTIVE AND ADD DO -- ADAMANT ABOUT THIS AND JUDGE I UH PROD YOU -- I UH PLOWED YOU FOR -- I APPLAUD YOU FOR MOVING THIS ON. FOR MY TIME ON CITY COUNCIL WHEN I REPRESENTED INDEPENDENCE HEIGHTS, THE LAST INCORPORATED SLAVE CITY IN TEXAS, AND NOW I REPRESENT BARRETT STATION. IF WE DON'T DO THESE TYPES OF THINGS AND PROVIDE THE LEADERSHIP LIKE YOU'RE DOING, JUDGE, THEN DEVELOPERS WILL BE HAPPY TO BUILD OVER HISTORY, AND WE'LL LOSE IT FOREVER. SO WE'VE GOT TO DO THINGS TO ENSURE THAT THESE ICONS ARE PROTECTED AND SUPPORTED. THANK YOU FOR THE LEADERSHIP YOU HAVE PROVIDED. 
          WE HAVE A LOT OF WORK TO DO, BUT I'M EXCITED ABOUT WHAT THE FUTURE BRINGS. 
          >> THANK YOU. >> TONYA, I MENTIONED EARLIER, IT IS A BRILLIANT IDEA BUT AT SOME POINT TO TURN IT TO FRUITION. IN ADDITION TO THE LEADERSHIP OF THE JUDGE AND WHATEVER COMES BACK FROM THE LEGAL DEPARTMENT, AT SOME POINT WE HAVE TO FIGURE OUT HOW WE FUND IT. I KNOW YOU AND I CHATTED WITH DR. SLOAN, DR. BLALOCK SLOAN AND OTHERS -- WAS THAT BEFORE CHRISTMAS? 
          >> IT WAS BEFORE CHRISTMAS. >> I ASKED WHAT ELSE WAS HAPPENING AND YOU WERE GOING TO LOOK. I THINK MY STAFF SHARED THIS WITH YOU, BUT IF THEY DIDN'T I WILL GIVE IT TO THE LEGAL DEPARTMENT. ALABAMA HAS THE BLAM -- AS THE ALABAMA BLACK HAIR 10 -- HERITAGE COUNCIL. KENTUCKY SET UP ONE IN 94 AND NORTH CAROLINA WAS IN 08 AND SOUTH CAROLINA IN 93. THEY SET UP A COMMISSION IN 01 AND ONLY A FEW COUNTIES. NEW HANOVER COUNTY IN NORTH CAROLINA SET UP ONE IN MAY OF 2019. ASHEVILLE, NORTH CAROLINA, AUSTIN, TEXAS. 
          SOME PEOPLE FIGURED OUT HOW TO TURN THIS, AND I THINK THE PHRASE IS CULTURAL TOURISM. 
          >> YES. >> SO IN MONTGOMERY, THEY FIGURED OUT HOW YOU TAKE THE BUS ROUTES OR WALKING TRAFFIC, HATE TO SAY IT, BIKE TRAILS, LIKE ALONG THE UNDERGROUND RAILROAD IN PITTSBURGH SO THAT THERE IS A WAY TO COME UP WITH FUNDING TO PAY FOR IT. 
          AND AT SOME POINT WE OUGHT TO COME UP WITH SOME FUNDING AND THEN YOU ALL OUGHT TO GO TO THE CITY AND SEE IF THEY WOULD PUT UP SOME AND MAYBE THE STATE. 
          YOU MENTIONED A CEMETERY EARLIER THAT I KNOW YOU ARE GOING TO TALK TO COMMISSIONER GARCIA ABOUT LATER. TRYING TO FIGURE OUT IF IT IS ON PARKLAND IT IS EASIER TO DO IT. IF SOMEBODY CLAIMS IT AS THEIR PRIVATE LAND THEN WE HAVE TO HAVE A FIGHT OVER HOW YOU GET IT. YOU WORRY ABOUT IT IF THERE IS A ROAD GOING THROUGH IT. I THINK IT IS A BRILLIANT IDEA, JUDGE, AND I COMMEND YOU FOR IT. AS YOU KNOW THE COUNTY IS GOING TO PAY TO PUT THOSE ANTI-LYNCHING MARKERS IN FRONT OF THE COUNTY COURTHOUSE. I THINK IT WILL BE ONE OF THE FEW PLACES IN FRONT OF A COUNTY COURTHOUSE. I ASSUME THE CITY WILL PUT FUNDING IN TO GO IN THE 4TH WARD AND IT MAY BE DECLARED A WORLD HERITAGE SITE. AT SOME POINT WE HAVE TO FIGURE OUT WHEN YOU EXPERTS GET TOGETHER HOW WE PAY FOR IT AND I THINK ON OUR PART WITH THE JUDGE STEPPING UP ON THIS WE SHOULD VOTE TO PUT A LITTLE GENERAL REVENUE IN THE JUMP STARTING IT. 
          AND THEN HOPE OTHER GOVERNMENTAL AGENCIES STEP IN. 
          YOU ALSO HAVE TO GO TO THE PHILANTHROPIC COMMUNITY. IT IS NOT A BUSINESS MODEL, BUT A TOURISM MODEL TO SUSTAIN IT. I HEARD THE PREVIOUS SPEAKER SAYING BEFORE WE DO PARKS, ROADS ARE -- EARLIER WHEN YOU HAVE TO REPORT, THAT IS NOT IN MY PRECINCT, BUT I WAS SAYING THE REPORTER JUST ASKED ME ABOUT FIXING UP STUFF IN THE PARK. AND THEN SHE WAS ASKING, WELL WHAT ABOUT GOING OVER THERE AND TAKING CARE OF THE CEMETERY? I SAID HOW ABOUT IF I GET A LITTLE ADDITIONAL REVENUE TO DO IT? USUALLY PEOPLE GET QUIET. 
          I THINK THAT IS THE CHALLENGE. TO MAKE IT PRESS WORTHY, BUT FIND OUT SOMEWHERE PEOPLE WANT TO SEE IT. THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT HAS PUT SOME MONEY UP. I HAVE SEEN IT DONE IF NEW YORK WHICH THE BURIAL GROUND WAS UNCOVERED BECAUSE THE DEVELOPER WAS BUILDING AND NEW YORK HAD THE SECOND LARGEST SLAVE POPULATION IN THE COUNTRY AFTER CHARLESTON WHICH MOST PEOPLE -- WHICH THE 
          [01:50:01]
GOVERNMENT DIDN'T KNOW UNTIL THEY UNEARTHED THAT SLAVE CEMETERY IN NEW YORK. 
          SO GOOD WORK. >> LET'S CONTINUE HEARING FROM THE SPEAKERS. 
          THANK YOU SO MUCH. >> YOU ARE VERY WELCOME. THANK YOU ALL. 
          >> LINA HIDALGO: ANY OTHER SPEAKERS THAT I CALLED UP? >> WE HAVE SOMEBODY FROM 
          BARRETT STATION AND THIRD WARD. >> LINA HIDALGO: GO AHEAD AND 
          STATE YOUR NAME AND AFFILIATION FOR THE RECORD. >> CARL DAVIS WITH THIRD WARD AND THE CHURCH. I STAND HERE TODAY ON THE SHOULDERS OF BISHOP RICHARD ALLEN, A FREED SLAVE WHO FOUNDED THE CHURCH IN 1787. I STAND HERE TODAY ON THE SHOULDERS OF FELL -- FELLOW AME'S FREDERICK DOUGLAS, ROSA PARKS AND REVEREND OLIVER BROWN, THE FATHER OF LINDA BROWN, THAT LAID WITH THE BROWN VERSUS THE BOARD OF EDUCATION. I STAND ON THE SHOULDERS OF A FELLOW HOUSTONIAN WHO WAS A MEMBER OF THE WESLEYAN AME CHURCH LOCATED IN THE HEARTED -- HEART OF THIRD WARD WHO STOOD UP IN THE MIDDLE OF AN NAACP MEETING AND VOLUNTEERED TO BE THEIR REPRESENTATIVE TO INTEGRATE THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS LAW SCHOOL. 
          IT WAS IN OCTOBER OF 1945 THAT THEY LATER FILED A LAWSUIT WHEN HE WAS DENIED ADMIT -- ADMIT TANS. IT WAS ARGUED BY JUSTICE THURGOOD MARSHALL TO THE SUPREME COURT. THAT MEETING SPARKED THE PASSING OF TEXAS SENATE BILL 140. ON MARCH THIRD, 1947 AND AUTHORIZING AND FUNDING THE CREATION OF TEXAS STATE UNIVERSITY FOR NEGROS AS THE FIRST STATE UNIVERSITY TO BELOW GRATED -- TO BE LOCATED IN HOUSTON. THEY WERE HAPPY TO SERVE AFRICAN-AMERICANS IN TEXAS AND OFFER FIELDS OF STUDY COMPARABLE TO THOSE AVAILABLE TO WHITE TEXANS. I STAND HERE TODAY ASKING THE COMMISSIONERS OF HARRIS COUNTY TO ESTABLISH THE HARRIS COUNTY AFRICAN-AMERICAN CULTURAL AND HERITAGE COMMISSION TO PRESERVE, PROTECT OUR HISTORICAL RESOURCES THAT ARE PART OF OUR LEGACY. 
          >> LINA HIDALGO: THANK YOU SO MUCH. >> HELLO I AM SISTER MAMASONIA. THE TRAIL, THE NICHOL, SUNNY SIDE AND SHAKERS. 
          I AM HERE TO REPRESENT THE TRAIL YOU CAN SEE. I AM PROUDLY WEARING MY JACKET. WHEN YOU CUT ME I BLEED CRIMSON AND GOLD. 
          TODAY I AM ASKING YOU TO ESTABLISH THIS COMMISSION. THERE IS SO MUCH HISTORY IN HOUSTON. WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE PARK THEATER, EMANCIPATION PARK WHICH WAS NOT THE THE BACK BLACK PARK, BUT THE FIRST PARK IN TEXAS. 
          WE HAVE THE PARK THEATER AND THE BLACK PANTHER SHOOTOUT ON TOP OF ST. JOHN CHURCH. 
          THERE IS SO MUCH HERITAGE THAT IS GOING ON IN THIS AREA, IN HOUSTON, HARRIS COUNTY, THAT PEOPLE DON'T EVEN KNOW ABOUT. LAST NIGHT I WAS AT A MEETING WHERE WE ARE WORKING ON SUBMISSION TO TEA ABOUT THE NEW CURRICULUM TO ESTABLISH AFRICAN-AMERICAN STUDIES STATEWIDE WE NEED TO KNOW WHO WE ARE. PEOPLE WHO DO NOT KNOW WHERE THEY COME FROM ARE BOUND AND DOOMED FOR THE FUTURE. I THINK THIS IS SO IMPORTANT BECAUSE OUR CHILDREN -- WE ALWAYS SAY OUR CHILDREN DON'T KNOW WHO WE ARE, BUT THE SAD THING IS OUR ADULTS DON'T KNOW WHO WE ARE. AFRICAN-AMERICAN HISTORY, AFRICAN-AMERICAN HERITAGE IS NOT JUST HISTORY FOR US. AFRICAN-AMERICANS. 
          IT IS YOUR HISTORY TOO. BUT FOR US, NO ONE WOULD BE HERE. 
          IT IS SO IMPORTANT THAT WE ESTABLISH THIS COMMISSION. IT NEEDS TO BE MADE UP OF TEACHERS. IT NEEDS TO BE MADE UP OF PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY, RELIGIOUS PEOPLE, AND WE NEED TO HAVE SOME YOUNG PEOPLE. THERE NEEDS TO BE SOMEBODY FROM HIGH SCHOOL OR EVEN MIDDLE SCHOOL. WE VO -- WE HAVE SOME VERY, VERY STRONG PEOPLE IN THIS IN OUR COMMUNITY. I THINK IT IS SO IMPORTANT. 
          PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE, DO THIS. THE LORD SAID DO THIS IN REMEMBRANCE OF ME. WE ARE SAYING DO THIS IN REMEMBRANCE OF ALL OF OUR PROUD AFRICAN-AMERICANS SO WE CAN CAN CELEBRATE OUR FORE FATHERS, OUR FORE MOTHERS, OUR 
          HISTORY AND MORE IMPORTANTLY OUR HISTORY. >> LINA HIDALGO: THANK YOU. 
          >> MY NAME IS DOLORES ROGERS, AND I AM DELIGHTED TO BE HERE TO SPEAK TO YOU. 
          I SERVE ON THE BOARD OF THEY MANS -- EMANCIPATION ECONOMIC COUNCIL. 
          THAT COUNCIL HAS RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE EMANCIPATION AVENUE MAIN STREET PROGRAM WHICH IS ABOUT ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND PRESERVATION OF HISTORY AND 
          [01:55:06]
CULTURE. AND SO THIS COMMISSION, WE BELIEVE, IS AN IMPORTANT ELEMENT IN HELPING TO GENERATE TOURISM AND LEVERAGING AND TAKING ADVANTAGE OF A GROWING SEGMENT IN TOURISM AND THAT IS AFRICAN-AMERICAN TOURS AND FAMILY REUNIONS. 
          AND 90% OF THE FAMILY REUNIONS I HAVE BEEN TOLD ARE IN THIS CITY ARE BEING DONE BY AFRICAN-AMERICANS. WHEN THEY COME TO OUR COUNTY, WE WANT THEM TO HAVE A REAL PICTURE OF THE HISTORY OF WHAT AFRICAN-AMERICANS HAVE DONE IN OUR AREA. 
          WE HAVE FIVE -- WE HAVE FREEDOM COLONIES THAT HAVE BEEN IDENTIFIED AS AS ENDANGERED PLACES IN TEXAS. WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE DO ALL WE CAN TO PRESERVE THIS AREA. SO THIS COMMISSION, I BELIEVE, WOULD GO A LONG WAY IN DOING THAT. I WOULD BE REMISS IN SAYING IN ADDITION TO BEING A MAIN STREET PROGRAM, ONE OF THE ONLY ONES IN TEXAS. IT IS THE FIRST IN FACT IN AN URBAN AREA THAT MY AREA, THE THIRD WARD, WE HAVE OVER 16 CHURCHES WITH MARKERS CURRENTLY. WE HAVE OVER -- OH I'M GOING TO SAY WE HAVE 20 CHURCH THAT'S ARE AT LEAST A HUNDRED YEARS OLD IN THAT AREA, AND WE HAVE A LOT OF JEWELS. 
          A LOT OF JEWELS IN OUR COMMUNITY THAT HAVE BEEN MENTIONED. 
          I BELIEVE PRESERVING THE HISTORY AND CULTURE IN OUR COUNTY IS AN ECONOMIC ADVANTAGE THAT WE NEED TO TAKE BETTER ADVANTAGE OF. I THINK A COMMISSION FOCUSING ON THAT AND LEVERAGING THE HISTORY IS VERY IMPORTANT. AND SO I BRING WITH ME LETTERS OF SUPPORT FROM COUNCILMEMBER DISTRICT D CAROLYN EVAN SHABAZ AND THE URBAN RESEARCH CENTER OF TEXAS SOUTHERN AND ROAD HOUSE CBC AND THE SHRINE OF THE BLACK MADONNA AND TRINITY EAST UNITED METHODIST CHURCH IN SUPPORT OF THIS ITEM. THANK YOU. 
          >> THANK YOU. >> LINA HIDALGO: THANK YOU. >> GOOD AFTERNOON. 
          MY NAME IS MELODY FONTANOW. I AM A RESIDENT FROM THE COMMUNITY AND REPRESENTING THE COMMUNITY OF BARRETT STATION, TEXAS. THIS COMMUNITY IS FOR THOSE WHO MAY NOT HAVE HEARD OF IT, IT IS LOCATED ONLY 15, 20 MINUTES EAST OF DOWNTOWN. 
          GOOD AFTERNOON TO THE HONORABLE HIDALGO AND ALL OF THE COMMISSIONERS ON THE COURT HERE. I WOULD LIKE TO ASK YOUR SUPPORT FOR ESTABLISHING THE COMMISSION, AND AS YOU THINK ABOUT ESTABLISHING THE COMMISSION, I WOULD LIKE FOR YOU TO THINK ABOUT HISTORICALLY AFRICAN-AMERICAN NEIGHBORHOODS LIKE THE ONE I AM FROM. NOT ONLY AM I FROM BARRETT, BUT I AM A BARRETT DESCENDANT. MY SON IS FROM HARRISON BARRETT WHO PURCHASED IT BACK FROM RUEBEN WHITE IN 1874. SIMON BARRETT IS MY GREAT, GREAT GRANDFATHER. 
          MY MOTHER IS WILLY BARRETT. SO I ALSO AM STANDING ON THE SHOULDERS OF MY PEOPLE. 
          OUR PEOPLE FROM THIS COMMUNITY, WE ARE NOT IN THE CITY. 
          WE ARE LOCATED IN THE COUNTY. WE HAVE BEEN THERE SINCE 1876. 
          THERE ARE A LOT OF BARRETTES IN BARRETT STATION. AS OF RECENT, HOWEVER, SAY WITH THE -- SINCE THE 2010 CENSUS, THE DEMOGRAPHICS OF OUR NEIGHBORHOODS IS CHANGING QUITE A BIT. JUST AS IS THE CITY OF HOUSTON. WITH THAT WE HAVE A NUMBER OF CHAL PROPERTY TAXES INCREASES LIKE WE HAVE NEVER SEEN BEFORE. BASICALLY WHAT WE HAVE IS EYES 
          [02:00:04]
ON OUR SLEEPY LITTLE TOWN OF BARRETT STATION. WE, RESIDENTS OF BARRETT, SEE THAT GROWTH IS A REEL GOOD THING, BUT WE ALSO WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE -- IT IS CRITICAL NOW THAT WE KIND OF TAMP UP OUR EFFORTS IN PRESERVING OUR HERITAGE. 
          AND THE WAY WE DO THAT IS TO BE A PART OF COMMISSIONS SUCH AS THE ONE WE ARE ASKING YOU 
          TO SUPPORT. THANK YOU SO MUCH. >> LINA HIDALGO: COMMISSIONER 
          GARCIA HAS A COMMENT FOR YOU. >> ADRIAN GARCIA: THANK YOU FOR COMING DOWN AND SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF THE COMMISSION. AGAIN, THE COMMISSION IS CRITICAL BECAUSE AS YOU TOUCHED ON WE HERE HAD TO WORK WITH THE ENGINEER'S OFFICE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAD A POLICY IN THE RENAMING OF THE PLANTS THAT WERE TAKING PLACE IN BARRETT BECAUSE THAT'S WHERE SOME OF THE INITIAL HISTORY WAS BEING ERASED. I AM GLAD MY OFFICE WAS ABLE 
          TO HELP BY PUTTING UP THE SIGNS IN BARRETT. >> THANK YOU. 
          >> ADRIAN GARCIA: YEAH. BUT THAT'S A DROP IN THE BUCK -- BUCKET OF WHAT NEEDS TO HAPPEN. THE HISTORY IS SO RICH AND WE CANNOT LOSE IT. 
          SO THANK YOU AGAIN. THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING HERE TO SPEAK ON THIS COMMISSION. 
          >> LINA HIDALGO: ANY OTHER SPEAKERS? I HAVE HERE ED JONES AS WELL. 
          >> IT IS A BLESSING TO BE HERE ON THE NEWLY UH POINTED -- APPOINTED PASTOR OF THE EPISCOPAL CHURCH. I AM ALSO A SON OF RICHARD ALLEN. 
          I WOULD LIKE TO LEAVE SOMETHING WITH YOU. HISTORY IS THE STUDY OF THE 
          HUMAN PAST -- >> LINA HIDALGO: COULD YOU RESTATE YOUR NAME AND 
          AFFILIATION FOR THE RECORD. >> I'M SORRY. REVEREND RAY A.RALLEY. 
          THE REVEREND OF THEY MISS ASK YOU -- THE EPISCOPAL CHURCH IN THE CARBON DALE AREA. 
          I WANT TO READ SOMETHING WITH YOU. THE CHURCH IS REALLY IN SUPPORT OF THIS COMMISSION AND AMEN. HISTORY IS THE STUDY OF THE HUMAN PAST. THE PAST HAS LEFT MANY TRADITIONS, FOLK TAILS AND WORKS -- FOLK TALES AND WORKS OF ARTS AND RECORDS OF OUR ACCOMPLISHMENTS. 
          THEY HAVE BEEN RECORDED IN THE EVENTS OF HISTORY SINCE HISTORY. 
          SO WE ARE IN SUPPORT OF THIS COMMISSION. THANK YOU SO MUCH, JUDGE. 
          >> THANK YOU. >> LINA HIDALGO: THANK YOU. ANYBODY ELSE HERE TO SPEAK ON THE COMMISSION? I THINK COMMISSIONER ELLIS MENTIONED THERE IS AN EXAMPLE IN NORTH CAROLINA, KENTUCKY. WE WILL BE LOOKING AT ALL OF THOSE. 
          THE INTENT IS FOR THIS COMMISSION IS TO HELP ADVISE THE COURT FOR THE DISCUSSION HOW WE MAY PRESERVE AND PROTECT AND CELEBRATE AFRICAN-AMERICAN CULTURE AND HISTORY. I LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING WHAT WE ALL COME UP WITH TOGETHER. 
          WE WILL CONTINUE LEANING ON YOU GUYS. THIS REALLY NEEDS TO BE DRIVEN BY THE DIFFERENT COMMUNITIES. IT MEANS SO MUCH TO SEE FOLKS HERE FROM CARBON DALE AND BARRETT STATION AND THIRD WARD. WE JUST HAVE SUCH A RICH HISTORY THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY. I WANT TO MAKE MY MOTION. IS THERE ANY OTHER SPEAKERS, JAMES? OKAY. SO THE MOITION IS FOR THE COUNTY -- THE MOTION IS FOR THE COUNTY ATTORNEY TO REPORT BACK TO THE NEXT COURT ON THE FEASIBILITY OF A HARRIS COUNTY AFRICAN-AMERICAN CULTURAL HERITAGE COMMISSION TO ADVISE COMMISSIONERS COURT IN MATTERS CONCERNING THE IDENTIFICATION, RECOGNITION AND PRESERVATION 
          OF AFRICAN-AMERICAN CULTURE -- CULTURAL IN THE COUNTY. >> SECOND. 
          >> ALL FOR. OPPOSED? THE MOTION CARRIES. 
          WE WILL WORK ON IT ON THE STAFF LEVEL WITH ADVICE FROM THE COUNTY ATTORNEY. 
          >> YES, MA'AM, THAT WILL BE FINE. WE WILL BE PLEASED TO DO 
          THAT. >> LINA HIDALGO: GREAT. THANK YOU. 
          >> GOOD JOB, JUDGE. >> LINA HIDALGO: NO REALLY, IT WAS ALL OF YOU GUYS. 
          THANK YOU SO MUCH. I LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING TOGETHER. 
          THAT WAS IT FOR MY ITEMS COMMISSIONER OF PRECINCT 1. PRECINCT 2? 
          >> THANK YOU, JUDGE. WE HAVE AN ITEM HERE RELATED TO THE SIGNA HEALTH COMMISSIONER'S COMPANY. I KNOW MR. SWORD HAS EXPRESSED A CONCERN AND MAYBE WE SHOULD 
          [02:05:03]
HAVE THIS IN EXECUTIVE SESSION. I JUST WANT TO KNOW, TO WHAT EXTENT CAN WE TALK ABOUT THIS 
          VERSUS BEING IN EXECUTIVE SESSION? >> MAYBE HE CAN TALK BETTER ABOUT THE DETAILS. OVERALL YOU DON'T WANT TO INTERFERE OR CAUSE A CHANGE IN NEGOTIATIONS WITHOUT CAREFUL THOUGHT TO WHAT YOU ARE DOING. 
          AND SO I -- I MEAN THAT'S A VERY GENERAL STATEMENT I KNOW. 
          >> ALE A LET -- I'LL LET YOU BE THE WATCHDOG ON THIS. I JUST WANT TO FIRST OF ALL SAY THAT I PUT THIS ITEM ON THE AGENDA OUT OF CONCERN FOR OUR EMPLOYEES. 
          WE HAVE A LOT OF EMPLOYEES THAT ARE PART OF SIGNA AND A LOT OF THE EMPLOYEES ARE GETTING SCARED AT HERMAN MEMORIAL. I SAW THE NEWS OF SEPARATING OF RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN SIGNA AND HERMAN MEMORIAL I WAS CONCERNED FOR OUR EMPLOYEES BECAUSE I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THEIR TREATMENT ISN'T INTERRUPTED TO ANY EX -- EXTENT AND TO TALK AS A COUNTY IN TERMS OF THE ECONOMICS OF WHAT'S HAPPENING WITHIN THE HEALTH CARE INDUSTRY. WHAT PRECAUTIONS WE OUGHT TO BE TAKING AND REALLY WHAT -- I KNOW THAT THIS TYPE OF SITUATION UH-HUH -- OCCURS IN SOMEWHAT OF A CYCLE, BUT TO THAT EXTENT, BILL, YOU'RE ESSENTIALLY WHO THESE TYPE OF RELATIONSHIPS FALL ON IN TERMS OF NEGOTIATING. YOUR THOUGHTS ON HOW -- WHAT SHOULD THIS MEAN TO OUR EMPLOYEES, NUMBER ONE? AND THEN SECONDLY, WHAT SHOULD WE BE CONSIDERING IN TERMS OF ANY LEGISLATION IF NECESSARY, OR JUST ANY OTHER POLICY CONSIDERING -- CONSIDERATIONS AS WE MAKE SURE THAT OUR HEALTH COVERAGE FOR OUR EMPLOYEES IS IN TACT. 
          >> SURE. LET ME FRAME IT UP. SIGNA FEMA IS IN THE BACK SO THEY COULD ANSWER SOME GENERAL QUESTIONS. IF THERE IS ANYTHING MORE SPECIFIC WE MAY NEED EXECUTIVE SESSION. THE COUNTY IS SELF-INSURED, BUT THEY USE A THIRD PARTY TO HANDLE THE CLAIMS, BUT ALSO NEGOTIATE WITH ALL OF THE DOCTORS AND THE HOSPITALS AND THE MEDICAL PROVIDERS. THERE ARE FOUR MAJORS. 
          BLUE SHIELD, AETNA AND SIGNA. WE HAVE ABOUT 17,000, 18,000 EMPLOYEES, BUT WITH ALL OF 
          THEIR DEPENDENTS AND THAT -- >> 40,000. >> IT IS 40,000. 
          SIGNA IN THEIR MARKETPLACE, THEY REPRESENT IN THIS HOUSTON REGION ABOUT 500,000 PEOPLE. 
          SO WE REPRESENT 7 TO 8% OF THE POOL THEY ARE LOOKING AT. ONE OF THE THINGS WE PAY THEM FOR IS TO GO OUT AND NEGOTIATE FAIR PRICES WITH THE PROVIDERS. 
          AND IF THEY SEE A PROVIDER THEY NEED TO NEGOTIATE HARDER WITH BECAUSE MAYBE THEY ARE OUT OF LINE OR WHATEVER, THAT'S THEIR RESPONSIBILITY AND THAT'S THEIR FIDUCIARY RESPONSIBILITY. THESE NEGOTIATIONS HAPPEN ALL THE TIME OF THE DIFFERENT PROVIDERS. AND IF THEY SEE ONE THAT IS NOT QUITE IN LINE, THEN THEY WILL START NEGOTIATIONS WITH THEM. THAT'S WHERE WE ARE. 
          MOST OF THESE THINGS GET SETTLED BEFORE THE DROP DEAD DATE WHICH IN THIS CASE IS MARCH 1ST. EVEN ONE OF THEIR COMPETITORS UNITED AND METHODIST COULDN'T GET TOGETHER. AND SO IT IS SOMETHING THAT IT IS KIND OF IN THE PUBLIC REALM. AND IT IS THE FACTS OF THAT. AS FAR AS POLICIES GO AND THAT WE ARE LOOKING AT INTERNATIONALLY, WE ARE LOOKING AT PROBABLY OUR HR DIRECTOR RETIRED AT THE END OF LAST MONTH AND WE TALKED TO SEVERAL PEOPLE ABOUT FINDING SOMEBODY IN OUR ORGANIZATION. WE HAVE GOOD HELP NOW, BUT WE WANT TO FIND SOMEBODY THAT CAN HELP US WITH THE LEGISLATION AND THESE OTHER THINGS AND THEN BE REALLY FOCUSED ON THIS MEDICAL BENEFIT. WE SPEND $300 MILLION A YEAR IN CLAIMS. THAT'S A BIG NUMBER, AND IT IS GROWING SIGNIFICANTLY. THE MEDICAL INDUSTRY IS 
          [02:10:05]
CHANGING ALL THE TIME. ONE OF THE THINGS I AM VERY PLEASED WITH IS I SAW LAST YEAR SOME OF THE PHARMACEUTICALS, THERE WERE SOME GAPS FOR WHAT I FELT WERE OVERCHARGES OF CERTAIN PHARMACEUTICALS. I WORKED WITH CIGNA AND THINGS LIKE WALMART AND WALGREENS AND THINGS LIKE THAT, WE NEVER HAD ISSUE WITH THEM SO WE WILL FOCUS IN AND MAKE SURE WE GET IT THERE WHERE SOME OF THE OUT LIARS, THEY WERE WAY OVERCHARGING IN OUR OPINION. THAT'S THE GENERAL NATURE OF THE BUSINESS THAT IS THERE. 
          WE ARE GOING TO, AGAIN, NEXT COURT I AM PUTTING AN ITEM ON THERE TO TELL YOU THAT WE ARE GOING TO GO OUT AND LOOK FOR THE JOB DESCRIPTION AND ISOLATE THIS GROUP IN OUR 
          DEPARTMENT. THAT'S WHERE I AM RIGHT NOW. >> JUST ONE MORE QUESTION. 
          TO THE EXTENT -- AND I GET IT THAT BUSINESS IS BUSINESS AND YOU HAVE TO -- YOU ELUDE -- ELUDED THAT YOU HAVE TO MAKE YOUR OWN FIDUCIARY -- TAKE YOUR OWN FIDUCIARY ACTIONS ON BEHALF OF YOUR OWN STAKEHOLDERS, BUT TO THE EXTENT THAT A SITUATION LIKE THE SEPARATION WORKED TO OCCUR DO WE GET A HEADS UP THAT THERE IS A LICKLY HOOD THAT IT -- LIKELIHOOD THAT THIS IS GOING TO HAPPEN OR GOING DOWN THAT TRAIL? 
          >> WE HAD THAT CONVERSATION LAST FRIDAY AND A LITTLE TODAY THAT INSTEAD OF JUST BEING REACTIVE TO THIS AND SAYING OH MY GOODNESS THIS MAY HAPPEN, THAT I WANT TO DEVELOP WITH THEM AND OUR TEAM A WAY TO KEEP THE EMPLOYEES INFORMED OF THIS. 
          OUR CHARGES REPRESENT AROUND $24 MILLION OF THE $300 MILLION. 
          WE COULD BE ACTIVE SAYING THERE ARE NEGOTIATIONS TAKING PLACE. 
          REALLY THIS EDUCATION I JUST GAVE YOU, UNDERSTAND THAT JUST BECAUSE YOU ARE WITH US NOW DOESN'T MEAN IT COULDN'T CHANGE IN THE FUTURE. THAT'S JUST THE SUPPLY WE HAVE. THE MEDICAL COSTS, WE KNOW WITH THIS CAP THAT WE HAVE WE 
          CAN'T BE GOING UP 4, 5, 10%. WE NEED SOMETHING LIKE THIS. >> AND THEN THE LAST COMMENT IS WHAT DO WE ANTICIPATE TO BE THE POSSIBLE IMPACT AS A RESULT OF THIS SEPARATION? 
          >> IT COULD BE THAT IT PUTS MORE DEMAND ON OUR OWN HOSPITAL. 
          MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT THERE ARE ABOUT 1400 DOCTORS RIGHT NOW THAT BASICALLY REFER PEOPLE TO THE SYSTEM. SOME COULD BE REFERRED TO THE HOSPITAL. 
          IN THOSE CASE ITSELF COULD BE THAT THEY ARE PAYING CUSTOMERS. 
          IT ACTUALLY COULD HELP US OUT. >> I UNDERSTAND THERE IS A TRANSITION WITH THE SEPARATION AND THERE IS A TRANSITION FOR THOSE RECEIVING CARE AT THE 
          MEMORIAL TO WHERE THEY NEED TO BE REFERRED TO. >> AND I DON'T KNOW THE DETAILS ON THAT, BUT THAT'S ONE OF MY PRIORITIES TO SAY I DON'T KNOW IF THIS WILL HAPPEN OR NOT. IF IT DOES HERE IS THE INFORMATION AND HERE IS A 
          HOTLINE YOU CAN CALL AND WE WILL HELP YOU THROUGH THAT. >> LINA HIDALGO: WE DO HAVE ONE SPEAKER AND I WANTED TO -- I DO WANT TO SAY SINCE THEY ARE HERE AND ROBERT TO THE EXTENT WE NEED TO DISCUSS STRATEGIC DIRECTION THAT WE ARE NOT ABLE TO DO IN COURT IF IT WOULD BE WORTH DISCUSS -- THAT WE WOULD HAVE TO DISCUSS IN EXECUTIVE SESSION, 
          CORRECT? >> WE BETTER. WE ARE GETTING TO THE 
          PARTICULARS AND THE STRATEGY. >> LIA HIDALGO: I THINK WE SHOULD DO IT REGARDLESS. 
          >> AND TO TALK ABOUT THE TERMS OF THE AGREEMENT THAT WE HAVE WITH CIGNA AND OUR LEGAL 
          OBLIGATIONS AS COUNTY. >> LINA HIDALGO: LET'S HEAR FROM COMMISSIONER ELLIS AND 
          COMMISSIONER CAGLE. >> RODNEY ELLIS: WHAT CAN WE NOT TALK ABOUT IN EXECUTIVE 
          SESSION? >> EXECUTIVE SESSION IS DESIGNED FOR YOU FOLKS TO GET ADVICE AND COUNSEL FROM YOUR ATTORNEY WHICH IS THE COUNTY ATTORNEY. 
          THAT'S THE PARAMETERS OF EXECUTIVE SESSION. IT IS OKAY TO BRING UP ANCILLARY ISSUES THAT ARE NECESSARY TO DISCUSS TO GET AN UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT THE 
          LEGAL OBLIGATIONS ARE. >> SO IT IS PRETTY NARROW. >> IT IS VERY NARROW. 
          >> RODNEY ELLIS: JUDGE, I THINK IT IS APPROPRIATE, COMMISSIONER GARCIA, FOR YOU 
          [02:15:01]
TO HAVE PART OF IT. I CALLED MR. CASTOR AS WELL WHEN I SAW AN ARTICLE IN THE PAPER. HE MADE THE COMMENT TO ME THAT IT IS FAIRLY COMMON WHEN THESE NEGOTIATIONS ARE GOING ON FOR BOTH SIDES TO DO A LITTLE POSTURING. 
          THAT'S PROBABLY WHY THEY PUT BILLBOARDS UP. WHEN YOU PUT THE BILLBOARDS UP YOU WANT SOMEBODY TO CALL SOMEBODY TO SAY WORK THIS OUT. 
          YOU SAID THE PRESIDENT -- [INAUDIBLE]. HE WOULD HAVE A SENSE OF WHAT HE CAN SAY. IS THAT WHO SIGNED UP TO SPEAK? 
          >> LINA HIDALGO: NO. >> RODNEY ELLIS: I WOULD SAY THAT I KNOW THIS IS A COMPETITIVE PROCESS BETWEEN THE BIG FOUR, BLUE CROSS, UNITED CIGNA AND AETNA. 
          EACH SIDE IS PRESSURING THE OTHER. I WILL SAY THAT IF IT DID FALL APART I HAVE EMPLOYEES CALLING ME OR ANYBODY ELSE AT THE TABLE HAD THEM CALLING THEM, WE WOULD TAKE INTO ACCOUNT WHEN IT IS BEING AWARDED AGAIN. 
          WE'LL PUT PRESSURE ON BOTH SIDES. AT THE END OF THE DAY I ASSUME THE HOSPITALS ARE TRYING TO MAKE AS MUCH AS THEY CAN MAKE AND THE INSURANCE CARRIERS WANT TO MAKE AS MUCH AS THEY CAN MAKE. AND THE COUNTY HAS AN INTEREST IN KNOT -- IN NOT HAVING FLAMES AS HIGH AS THEY HAVE TO BE. 
          AT THE END OF THE DAY TAXPAYERS AND THE COUNTY EMPLOYEE END UP PAYING IT. 
          AT THE APPROPRIATE TIME I WANT TO HEAR FROM THE REPRESENTATIVE FROM CIGNA AND 
          THEY WILL DECIDE JUST HOW FAR -- >> IT IS HOW FAR THEY CAN 
          SPEAK PUBLICLY. >> CAN THEY GO IN EXECUTIVE SESSION? 
          >> YES. >> I AM LIMITED ON WHAT I HAVE TO SAY TO THEM. 
          >> I AM ABOUT TO GET HAULED OFF IN HANDCUFFS. I LIKE THE FRENCH CUPS. 
          FRENCH CUFFS. I JUST WANT TO HEAR WHAT CIGNA HAS TO SAY. 
          >> JUDGE, I JUST WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT THE HARD-WORKING STAFF OF PRECINCT 4 AND PRECINCT 2 REDUCED YOUR WORKLOAD. WE WERE GOING TO OBJECT TO THE FORMAT OF POSSIBLE ACTION BECAUSE WE'VE LEARNED THAT SOMETIMES POSSIBLE ACTION CAN MEAN A LOT OF THINGS AS FAR AS THE IMAGINATION GOES. OUR STAFF WORKED IT OUT SO YOU 
          DIDN'T HAVE TO MAKE A RULING OR AN OX. >> LINA HIDALGO: -- OR AN 
          OBJECTION. >> LINA HIDALGO: GREAT. >> I WANT TO COMPLIMENT OUR STAFF FOR WORKING IT OUT AND NOT BOTHER. I HAVE A SIMILAR COMPLIMENT TO YOUR STAFF SENDING US SOMETHING WE WE WEREN'T HAVING TO DEAL WITH SERIOUS ISSUES ON 
          POSSIBLE ACTION. >> I AM GLAD YOU HAVE HEALTH INSURANCE. 
          >> I WILL NOT GO INTO AN EXECUTIVE SESSION OVER THIS ISSUE. 
          WE ARE SELF-INSURED FOR $300 MILLION. THIS COMPANY WAS HIRED BECAUSE THEY ARE EXPERTS. THE WAY THEY NEGOTIATE, THEIR SKILLS THEY BRING TO THE TABLE TO TRY TO SAVE TAXPAYER MONEY, IT IS NONE OF OUR BUSINESS THE SKILLS THEY USE. 
          I LOOK AT IT THIS WAY. WE HIRED THEM BECAUSE SOMEBODY GETS ELECTED TO COUNTY GOVERNMENT DOESN'T MEAN THEY KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT INSURANCE. 
          CERTAINLY NOT AN EXPERT AND THEY MAY NOT KNOW ABOUT A LOT OF THINGS. 
          I AM JUST MAKING IT CLEAR THAT THIS IS A SLIPPERY SLOPE TO GO DOWN. 
          IT IS A SLIPPERY SLOPE. THE TAXPAYERS OF HARRIS COUNTY HAVE HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS AT STAKE AND EXPERTS HAVE BEEN HIRED TO NEGOTIATE FOR NOT ONLY OUR EMPLOYEES, BUT FOR THE TAXPAYERS OF HARRIS COUNTY. I URGE PEOPLE TO LET THE PEOPLE DO WHAT THEY HAVE THE SKILL SET TO DO. THAT'S WHY WE HIRED THEM, AND WE NEED TO LET THEM DO THEIR JOB WITHOUT ANY INTERFERENCE FROM COMMISSIONER'S COURT. 
          >> LINA HIDALGO: THANK YOU. SO WE HAVE -- LET ME JUST CALL UP GLEN IF HE IS HERE. 
          >> SO I WANT TO BRING UP THE PERSON FROM CIGNA TO SAY I AM ONE OF THOSE PEOPLE ON THE GOVERNING BOARD FOR MY 36 YEARS IN PUBLIC OFFICE AND I NEVER BELIEVED OUGHT TO BE SEEN AND NOT HEARD. I'M SURE HE CAN MAKE A DECISION ON JUST WHAT HE CAN 
          TALK ABOUT AND WHAT HE CANNOT TALK ABOUT. >> GOOD AFTERNOON. 
          MY NAME IS RALPH HOLMES. [INAUDIBLE]. I'M SORRY. 
          [02:20:09]
JIM IS THE PRESIDENT OF SOUTH TEXAS HERE IN HOUSTON. I AM THE PRESIDENT OF THE REGION FOR CIGNA WHICH WE CALL THE SOUTHWEST. MY NAME IS RALPH HOLMES AND JIM HICKEY. WE WILL BE HAPPY TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTIONS. 
          JUST LIKE TO SAY I THINK NUMBER ONE WE ARE OPERATING AS YOUR FIDUCIARY AND IN YOUR BEST INTEREST, AND WITH THE PLACES I GREW UP IN, YOU HAVE TO FIGHT FOR WHAT YOU DESERVE TO GET. 85% OF OUR BUSINESS IS CIGNA AND CUSTOMERS ARE SELF-INSURED AND THAT MEANS IT IS YOUR MONEY. SO THAT MEANS WE ARE WORKING FOR YOU. WE ARE WORKING FOR THE TAXPAYERS. 
          I DO THINK SOMETIMES THESE NEGOTIATIONS GET TRICKY. THEY CAN GET UGLY. 
          WE HEARD WHAT PEOPLE HAVE SAID , BOTH SIDES POSTURING AND SOME OF THAT HAPPENS. 
          BOTH OF THE ENTITIES WANT THE RIGHT THING TO HAPPEN. WE DO HAVE A SKILL SET WITH THIS AND WE HAVE DONE IT BEFORE. WE JUST FINISHED A NEGOTIATION WITH TEXAS HEALTH IN DALLAS. WE HAD A SIMILAR THING GOING ON, BUT WE WORKED THROUGH IT AND WE GOT IT DONE. WE HAVE ENOUGH TIME TO GET IT DONE. 
          UNFORTUNATELY WE HAVE TRIED AND JIM HAS TRIED VALIANTLY THROUGH MANY MEETINGS TO GET MOVEMENT, AND HE HASN'T BEEN ABLE TO GET MOVEMENT FROM THE BOARD. 
          THIS IS THE NEXT STEP IN THE PROCESS. THIS IS A PROCESS THAT WE'VE EXECUTED ACROSS THE COUNTRY AND IN TEXAS BEFORE. EVERY NOW AND THEN YOU HAVE A 
          DETERMINATION. >> IF I MIGHT, HAS THERE EVER BEEN A TERMINATION IN TEXAS? 
          >> I'M SORRY, SAY THAT AGAIN? >> HAVE YOU EVER HAD A TERMINATION IN TEXAS? 
          >> I AM GONNA SAY NO. IN THE LAST 10 YEARS WE HAVE NOT. 
          >> WE HAD -- I WANT TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION THE RIGHT WAY. WE HAD A TERMINATION, ARE AND I'M ASSUMING YOU MEAN A TERMINATION WHERE WE ACTUALLY DID SPLIT? 
          >> YES. >> WE HAVE NOT AS OF YET. I WOULD NOT TAKE THAT AND SAY, WELL, THAT MEANS THEY ARE NOT GONNA HAVE A TERMINATION. THESE THINGS ARE -- YOU ARE NEVER SURE IF YOU ARE BUYING A HOUSE AND WALK AWAY YOU ARE NOT SURE IF THE TWO PARTIES WILL COME BACK TOGETHER. IN MOST CASES IT IS IN THE BEST INTEREST TO COME BACK TOGETHER. IT IS IN THE BEST INTEREST OF MEMORIAL AND CINA. 
          >> IN TERMS OF GOVERNMENT DO YOU HAVE A COUNTY AND THE CITY AND THE LARGEST SCHOOL 
          DISTRICT AS WELL? >> WE DO NOT HAVE HISD AT THIS POINT. 
          WE DID. >> THANK YOU. >> LINA HIDALGO: ALL RIGHT -- 
          YES, COMMISSIONER. >> THANK Y'ALL FOR COMING DOWN. I DON'T KNOW IF ANYBODY IS INTERFERING WITH YOU, BUT I APPRECIATE Y'ALL COMING DOWN AND SHARING WHAT YOU CAN WITH US AND SIMPLY TO TELL YOU THAT I CARE ABOUT MY STAFF. WHEN THEY ARE CALLING AND ASKING QUESTIONS ABOUT WHAT DOES THIS MEAN TO THEM, YOU HAVE TO BE RESPONSIVE SO I 
          APPRECIATE Y'ALL TAKING THE TIME. >> AND I WILL JUST SAY THIS, JUST SO YOU KNOW THIS IS NOT A COMFORTABLE PROCESS FOR US EITHER. 
          IT IS ONE OF THOSE THINGS THAT BOTH PARTIES GO THROUGH, AND IT IS A NECESSARY PART OF BUSINESS. UNFORTUNATELY -- I MEAN, JIM HAS A LOT OF THE DETAIL, BUT IN SOME CASES WE FEEL WE ARE GET TOUGHING FAR OUT OF THE MAIN RANGE OF WHERE OUR PRICE SHOG BE AND THAT'S WHEN WE -- PRICING SHOULD BE AND THEN WE HAVE TO DIG DEEP AND THASES -- THAT'S WHAT WE ARE DOING. WE HAVE ENOUGH TIME. MARCH 16TH, I THINK. 
          SO WE HAVE PLENTY OF TIME TO GET THIS DONE. AGAIN, WE ARE WORKING WITH AN ENTITY THAT HASN'T WANTED TO BUDGE. WE HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO GET THEM TO BUDGE. THAT'S WHY WE ARE GETTING TO THE POINT. 
          >> LINA HIDALGO: THANK YOU, GUYS, AND COMMISSIONER. >> JUDGE, IF THERE IS ANYTHING ELSE THAT YOU WANT TO SHARE I WANT TO LET YOU DO IT. I PREFER TO ASK NOW. 
          I HOPE MR. HIGGINS AND HOLMES YOU CAN APPRECIATE THAT IF YOU HAVE TO WALK, THEN WE WOULD BE 
          ASKING. >> SO SOME OF THE QUESTION THAT'S WERE ASKED AND LET ME ADDRESS SOME OF THE QUESTION THAT'S WERE ASKED. ONE IS -- 
          >> DON'T GO BEYOND WHAT YOU FEEL COMFORTABLE WITH. >> YES. 
          I'M WITH YOU. WE HAVE BEEN WORKING WITH THE PROVIDER GROUPS AND OUR PROVIDER PARTNERS WHO WE HAVE CLOSE RELATIONSHIPS WITH. THERE IS 80% OF ALL MEMBERS AFFECTED ARE IN TWO GROUPS. THESE GROUPS ARE ACTIVELY REACHING OUT TO COUNTY EMPLOYEES NOW THAT MAY HAVE SOME TRANSITION OF CARE THAT NEEDS TO HAPPEN, AND MAKING 
          [02:25:01]
THAT HAPPEN. THERE WAS AN ASK -- JUST TO GIVE YOU SOME NUMBERS AND THE BREDTH OF THE NETWORK WE PROVIDE YOU, SHOULD MEMORIAL HERMAN ACTUALLY LEAVE, WORST CASE SCENARIO, THERE WOULD BE 3,613 PRIMARY CARE PHYSICIANS IN THE NETWORK. 
          THERE WOULD BE 18,399 SPECIALISTS IN THE NETWORK. THERE WOULD BE 72 HOSPITALS INCLUDING WITH ALL OF OUR OTHER PARTNERS. WHAT HAS HAPPENED WITH MEMORIAL HERMAN HAS RESULTED IN, AGAIN, YOU ARE NOW PAYING, YOUR EMPLOYEES ARE PAYING AND YOU ARE PAYING THE TAXPAYERS ARE PAYING A PREMIUM THAT I THINK IS EXCESSIVE IN THE MARKET. NO ONE VOLUNTARILY COMES AND SAYS HEY, CUT MY PAY. 
          WE HAVE BEEN TRYING FOR OVER 12 MONTHS TO GET THEM TO HAVE A GOOD FAITH DISCUSSION WITH US. THE TERMINATION IS UNFORTUNATELY A TOOL NOW WE 
          ARE USING TO BRING THEM TO THE TABLE. >> AND I WILL SAY MEMORIAL 
          HERMAN SUED THE HELL OUT OF US A FEW YEARS AGO. >> I'M AWARE OF THAT. 
          >> AND I WAS INVOLVED IN THAT MEED -- MEDIATION AND BASICALLY IT TOOK THEM TO COME TO THE TABLE AND SETTLE WITH US AND WE PAID $300,000 FOR ATTOREY FEES IN ASSISTED OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS, AND WHAT IT BOILED DOWN TO IS BECAUSE THEY PUT PEOPLE THAT WERE UNDER THE, QUOTE, CUSTODY OF THE SHERIFF AND SHOT BY A PASADENA POLICEMAN AND THEY PUT HIM ON LIFEFLIGHT AND FLY HIM INTO MEMORIAL HERMAN MEDICAL, THE MEDICAL CENTER, AND INSTEAD OF PUSHING HIM ON A GAR KNEE INTO -- GOURNEY AND INTO THE HOSPITAL THEY WANTED TO KEEP HIM AND CHARGE A BUNCH OF MONEY. IT DIDN'T WORK. 
          WHAT I TOLD THEM IN MEDIATION IS YOU EITHER SETTLE OR WE'RE GETTING LIFEFLIGHT HELICOPTERS. OH TWO DAYS LATER THEY SETTLED. 
          AND RECENTLY LAST YEAR, AM I RIGHT, ON THAT MILLION DOLLARS THEY HAD SETTLED? 
          WHAT DID YOU FIND OUT? >> I DON'T HAVE A FIRM RECOLLECTION OF THE NUMBERS, BUT I REMEMBER WE DID LOOK INTO THAT. WE HAVE AN ON GOING GROAMENT WITH MEMORIAL -- AGREEMENT WITH MEMORIAL HERMAN AND THAT IS FROM THE SETTLEMENT. 
          BEYOND THAT I DON'T TRUST MY RECOLLECTION. >> ANYWAY WE QUESTIONED THE 
          CHARGES. >> THANK YOU GUYS. IT IS DISAPPOINTING THAT SOMETHING AS FUNDAMENTAL AS HEALTH CARE CAN BE VICTIM TO THESE KINDS OF NEGOTIATIONS AND TO THE EXTENT THERE ARE ISSUES WE CAN ONLY DISCUSS AND WE WILL PUT THESE ON THE LIST TO SEE IF THERE IS ANY OTHER SUPPORT WE CAN PROVIDE IN THIS PROCESS. 
          THANK YOU VERY MUCH. >> THANK YOU. >> THANK Y'ALL. 
          >> LINA HIDALGO: ALL RIGHT. COMMISSIONER PRECINCT 2 ANYTHING ELSE? 
          PRECINCT 3? >> HAVE WE GONE BACK TO THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT YET? 
          >> LINA HIDALGO: YES, WE DID. >> MOTION. >> LINA HIDALGO: PRECINCT 4. 
          >> MOTION. >> LINA HIDALGO: MISCELLANEOUS. EMERGENCY AND SUPPLEMENTAL 
          [Item II]
ITEMS. THE FIRST IS SOME PROJECTS THAT WERE HELD UP. 
          ITEM NUMBER TWO ON THE IS UP PLAW AGENDA -- ON THE SUPPLEMENTAL AGENDA. 
          >> JUDGE, WHEN WE HAVE THE ITEM THAT COME UP INVOLVING THE FINANCING FOR HARRIS HEALTH TWO WEEKS AGO AND I ASKED ABOUT MINORITY AND WOMEN BEING INVOLVED, THE PERSON FROM HARRIS HEALTH DIDN'T HAVE AN ANSWER AND MR. SWORD -- I THINK I SHOULD HAVE ASKED YOU SO I WONDER WHO PICKED THE LAW FIRM, AND IT PROMPTED ME TO WONDER WHETHER OR NOT HARRIS HEALTH WAS INCLUDED UNDER THE DISPARITY STUDY. AND FROM TALKING TO PURCHASING THEY WERE NOT. CAN YOU BRING US BACK UP-TO-DATE ON WHY THEY WEREN'T INCLUDED? PRECINCT 1 HAD TO PAY FOR IT, AND YOU TOLD THEM IT WOULD COST MORE THAN I WANTED TO PAY. WHAT IS THE PROCESS SO THAT 
          [02:30:02]
THEY WOULD BE INCLUDED OR THERE IS A NEED FOR THEM TO BE INCLUDED. 
          I KNOW I TALKED TO ONE MEMBER OF THE BOARD, SHE THOUGHT WE DID ALL OF THE PURCHASING. 
          I DON'T KNOW WHAT IT WOULD COST OR HOW DIFFICULT IT WOULD BE SO THAT THEY TOO WILL MAKE SURE WE KNOW WHAT PERCENTAGE OF THE BUSINESS THAT THEY TRANSACT AND GOES TO MINORITY AND WOMAN-OWNED BUSINESSES AND IF THERE ARE HURDLES OR BARRIERS TO DISSIPATION. 
          >> CURRENTLY I HAD A DISCUSSION WITH THE CONTRACTOR TO LET THEM KNOW. 
          WE CAN GO BACK AND PULL THE INFORMATION. WE DID NOT INCLUDE THE ORIGINAL ACT BECAUSE IT WAS FOR THE PORTION OF THE MONEY SPENT. 
          WE DID NOT INCLUDE THE ENTIRE HEALTH SYSTEM BECAUSE IT DOESN'T CONTRACT THEM. 
          WE CAN NOW GO BACK. WE -- >> CAN WE DO ALL OF THE PROCURING? I THOUGHT MAYBE THEY DID SOME AND WE DID SOME. 
          >> WE DOT PROCUREMENT, BUT IT IS A DIFFERENT ENTITY. I HAVE TWO GROUPS. 
          ONE THAT DOES HARRIS HEALTH AND ONE DOES THE COUNTY AND THEY ARE SEPARATED. 
          WE DID NOT INCLUDE THE FUNDING FOR HARRIS HEALTH. WE DID NOT INCLUDE THAT IN THE COUNTY PORTION. WE FOCUSED ON THE COUNTY. WE HAVE THE ABILITY TO GO BACK TO THE FULL RECORDS AND PROVIDE THAT AND INCLUDE THEM. 
          >> I WOULD LIKE FOR YOU TO COME BACK AT THE NEXT COURT AND A RECOMMENDATION ON WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE. WITH THE DISPARAGE STUDY THAT NEEDS TO BE ON THE AGENDA IN FEBRUARY AT LEAST THE FIRST DRAFT WILL COME TO US. I GUESS IT WILL COME TO THE OFFICE FIRST AND THEN AT SOME POINT WE WILL PUT IT ON THE AGENDA AND DECIDE TO ADOPT IT OR NOT. MAYBE THEY DON'T NEED TO DO. IT I KNOW WITH THE CITY OF HOUSTON YEARS AGO THE WAY THE LAW WORKED THEY PIGGY-BACKED, IF THAT'S THE PHRASE, OFF THE STATE'S DISPARAGE STUDY IN 93 AND 95. WHEN THEY WERE THREATENED WITH A LAWSUIT THEY HAD TO DO THEIR OWN DISPARITY STUDIES. WHAT WE DID WITH THIS ONE IS PIGGYBACK IN A LOCAL AGREEMENT. IT WAS WITH THE CITY TO DO OUR OWN CONTRACT. AND SO OBVIOUSLY IF THERE WAS A NEED TO DO ANOTHER FULL BLOWN PROCESS IF IT WAS GOING TO COST THAT MUCH -- YOU MAKE A DECISION AND MAKE A RECOMMEND -- RECOMMENDATION AND BRING IT BACK IN A COUPLE WEEKS. 
          IF IT COULD BE PART OF THE CONTRACT FOR A MINIMUM COST, IT CAN BE DONE QUICKLY, I 
          WOULD LIKE TO CONSIDER THAT WHEN WE DO THE WHOLE THING. >> I THINK WE NEED TO LOOK AT ALSO A LOT OF THE THINGS WE DO THROUGH THE CAREER ORGANIZATIONS AS HART -- AS 
          PART OF HARRIS HEALTH WE NEED TO SEE IF THAT INCLUDES IT. >> IT MAY NOT WORK. 
          >> WE CAN INCLUDE THAT PORTION OF THE ACTUAL COOPERATIVE THAT THEY ARE A PART OF. 
          >> AND THAT IS SEPARATE. EVEN FOLKS WHO DO THE DISPARITY STUDY SAY IT IS NOT FIT. IF THE CITY DID IT AND METRO, THERE ARE THREE DIFFERENT PEOPLE DO -- DOING DISPARITY STUDIES IN TOWN. WE DID IT WITH THE CITY. 
          THE PORT IS DOING ONE AND THE METRO IS DOING ONE. I DON'T WANT TO COME BACK AND FIND OUT THAT WE DIDN'T DO EVERYTHING THE COUNTY CONTROLS. 
          >> I THINK WE CAN GO DOWN A PATH AND THIS IS THE WAY WE DO IT FOR HARRIS COUNTY. 
          >> IT WOULD BE AWKWARD IF YOU HAVE ONE AND GOING THROUGH THE LIST AND DOING THE PROCUREMENT UNLESS YOU ARE -- GOING THROUGH A COMMODITY SECTOR WHICH IS PROBABLY NOT MUCH OF 
          A ROLE. >> THE PROCESS IS GOING TO BE THE SAME. 
          WE WILL HAVE REQUIREMENTS [INAUDIBLE] >> I MADE THIS BROAD ENOUGH 
          BECAUSE I DIDN'T KNOW. THE TOLL ROAD IS INCLUDED. >> YES, I VERIFIED THE 
          PREVIOUS DOCUMENTS. >> WE DON'T HAVE ANYTHING ELSE I AM MISS SNG. 
          >> NO, SIR. >> MY MOTION WOULD BE YOU CUT BACK THE RECOMMENDATION TO US ON WHAT YOU THINK IS APPROPRIATE AND THIS COURT WILL DECIDE WHETHER OR NOT 
          THEY WILL SUPPORT IT IN THE NEXT TWO WEEKS. >> YOU SHOULD HAVE A REPORT. 
          >> I'M SORRY. >> HER REPORT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE TO YOU ON 
          [02:35:02]
          OCTOBER 31ST. >> WE HAD A DELAY IN THE CONTRACT RESPONSE. 
          SO THERE WAS A DELAY AND THE SCOPE CHANGED. SOME OF THE SCHEDULE CHANGED DUE TO THE CONTRACTORS THEMSELVES. THEY REFUSED TO RESPOND AND 
          THEY HAD TO WORK THROUGH ADDITIONAL COSTS. >> JUDGE, I DO WANT TO THANK YOU FOR WORKING WITH THEM AND ENGINEERING THE COUNTY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE SO THEY WOULD RESPOND. I THINK IT WOULD BE PRETTY EMBARRASSING THAT THEY ARE THE THIRD LARGEST COUNTY IN THE COUNTRY. MOST OF THE LARGER COUNTIES AND MOST OF THE URBAN COUNTIES HAVE DONE ONE OUTSIDE TEXAS. SOME HAVE IN TEXAS, TRAVIS COUNTY AND DALLAS COUNTY HAS. I WOULD HOPE WHEN IT COMES BACK IT IS A PRETTY BIG DEAL, JUDGE, THAT WE OUGHT TO CONSIDER IT WILL TAKE A BIT OF TIME. 
          I WANT TO MAKE SURE WE UNDERSTAND IT AND THEN THE NEXT STEP HOPEFULLY WE DON'T HAVE TO WAIT UNTIL THIS OFFICE IS CREATED. I KNOW THEY WENT THROUGH IT. 
          THE ASSUMPTION BY SOME OF THE COLLEAGUES WAS THE NUMBERS FOR MINORITY AND WOMEN-OWNED FIRMS WERE BETTER THAN THE CITIES' -- THE CITY'S NUMBERS. I WAS TOLD WE DIDN'T COLLECT THEM WHEN WE GOT HERE. I DIDN'T WANT TO JUST -- I REMEMBER JOKING AND SAYING HOW DO WE KNOW? THE RUSSIANS KNOW THE NUMBERS. 
          >> WE'LL HAVE TO WORK ON THAT. >> MY NUMBERS WERE BETTER THAN YOURS. 
          >> EVERYTHING ABOUT YOU IS BETTER. I WILL PUT YOU ON MY 
          NEGOTIATING TEAM. >> IT WILL BE GOOD TO TELL WHAT THE NUMBERS ARE FOR AFRICAN-AMERICANS, HISPANICS, AFRICAN-AMERICAN WOMEN, HISPANIC WOMEN, ASIAN-AMERICANS. EVERYBODY. IT IS GOOD TO LAY ALL THE CARDS ON THE TABLE AND NOT JUST WHAT COMMISSIONERS CONTROL BECAUSE THERE IS A LOT MORE MONEY AROUND HERE BEING SPENT THAN JUST THAT MONEY. BUT WE'LL KNOW. 
          THAT'S THE GOOD THING ABOUT BEING TRANSPARENT. >> JUDGE? 
          >> LINA HIDALGO: YES COMMISSIONER HARRIS. >> I APPRECIATE COMMISSIONER ELLIS TO CONTINUE TO STAY ON THIS. I THINK THIS WILL BE A GAME CHANGER WHEN IT IS ALL COMPLETE. ONE OF THE OUTPUTS THAT I AM LOOKING FROM THIS IS NOT SO MUCH THE NUMBER OF FIRMS THAT MAY BE WOMEN OR MINORITY OWNED THAT WE ARE DOING BUSINESS WITH, BUT REALLY HOW MUCH MONEY IS BEING SPENT. 
          HE HAS A BUNCH OF FIRMS HE IS WORKING AND. THE QUESTION IS HOW MUCH MONEY IS REALLY GOING BACK TO THE COMMUNITY THROUGH THOSE FIRMS? 
          THAT'S THE REAL OUTPUT. >> MOST OF THE MONEY THAT THE HUBS MAKE, THE MINORITY WOMEN OWNED BUSINESS, LIKE THE BRIDGE FOR EXAMPLE, IT IS GOOD WHEN IT IS ALL OUT THERE IN 
          THE KNOW. >> JUDGE, THE THOUGHTS THAT WE ARE IN THE THIRD LARGEST COUNTY AND I HAPPEN TO REPRESENT THE FOURTH -- MORE THAN A FOURTH OF THE POPULATION OF THE THIRD LARGEST COUNTY AND THIS ENTITY HASN'T TALKED TO US. 
          WE REALLY WOULD LIKE TO ENGAGE WITH THEM IF WE ARE ENGAGED IN SUCH A BIG PROCESS. 
          I AM GLAD TO HEAR REPORTS FROM MY COLLEAGUES. IF THEY WATCH, IT SURE WOULD BE NICE THEY COULD -- THEY WOULD CONTACT US AND LET US ENGAGE WITH THEM. 
          >> JUDGE, IF I MIGHT, WHAT THEY WERE DOING IS TALKING TO THE FOLKS WHO GOT TO WORK. 
          NOT YOUR OFFICE, BUT WE TAKE CREDIT FOR THE WORK. THE CONTRACT WAS AWARDED TO SOMEBODY. I THINK IT IS LIKE RECONSTRUCTING TAX RETURNS. 
          HELP ME IF I AM RIGHT. IT -- IF IT IS OVER A FIVE-YEAR PERIOD IT IS LIKE RECONSTRUCTING TAX RETURNS TO SEE WHAT WAS DONE OVER A FIVE-YEAR PERIOD WHEN IT WAS 
          AWARDED. >> [INAUDIBLE]. >> I DON'T THINK THERE IS A RJ -- A REASON TO CALL ON THE COMMISSIONERS. I WOULD SAY DO YOU HAVE ANY PROBLEMS? THAT'S HOW WE FOUND OUT. THERE IS ONE IN PARTICULAR 
          THAT I CALLED AND IT WAS ON A STAFFER'S DESK. >> SHOULD WE DECIDE WHETHER OR 
          [02:40:03]
          NOT TO PROCEED? >> LINA HIDALGO: IS THAT CLEAR FOR SNU ALL IN FAVOR. 
          >> I. >> LINA HIDALGO: OPPOSED. MOTION CARRIES. 
          AND COMMISSIONER, I'M SURE IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS FOR THEM THAT DWIGHT CAN CONNECT THEM, CORRECT? ALL RIGHT, NEXT ITEM COMMISSIONER ELLIS. 
          >> RODNEY ELLIS: THE NEXT ITEM IS THE DISCUSSION ON THE COUNTY'S ABILITY TO ENFORCE STATE-ISSUED PERMITS OF CONCRETE BATCH PLANTS SUCH AS A PROPOSED PLANT AMONG INDUSTRIAL SITES. I WANT TO THANK MAYOR TURNER. I KNOW THERE WAS A PRESS CONFERENCE AND HE INVITED SOME OF US. WE WERE MEETING SO WE COULDN'T GO. HE HAD NICE THINGS TO SAY OF ALL OF US. 
          I MAY ASK FOR THE TRANSCRIPT. I WANT TO ASK THE CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE WHAT AUTHORITY DOES THE COUNTY HAVE IN ENFORCEMENT STATE ISSUE PERTINENCE IN THE UNINCORPORATED AREA AS WELL AS THE CITY LIMITS, AND WHAT CAN THE CITY AUDITED -- AUDIT DO IN THEIR ENFORCEMENT? AND THE THIRD QUESTION IS WHAT WOULD INITIATE CONDUCTING A BASIC INSPECTION OF A FACILITY? COULD WE DEVELOP AN INITIATIVE THROUGH POLLUTION CONTROL WHERE WE CONDUCT OUR ROUTINE INSPECTIONS ON THE FACILITIES THAT HAVE A RECORD OF 
          VIOLATING PERMITS -- PERMITTED TERMS? >> SARA IS HERE AND SHE IS READY TO RESPOND TO THOSE QUESTIONS. I THINK POLLUTION CONTROL IS 
          HERE TO HELP WITH THAT TOO. >> GOOD AFTERNOON. SARA UTLEY FROM THE COUNTY 
          ATTORNEY'S OFFICE. >> COULD YOU WALK A LITTLE BIT SO THEY CAN UNDERSTAND -- IN CASE SOMEBODY IS WATCHING, I MEAN WHAT THESE PLANTS DO AND WHAT THE COMPLAINT IS. 
          I KNOW WHEN SOMEBODY FROM MY OFFICE YOU ARE NICE AND MEET WITH THEM. 
          JUST WALK US THROUGH THE ISSUE. >> WITH RESPECT TO THE CONCRETE BATCH PLANT ISSUE AS WE ALL KNOW THERE ARE A LOT OF POPPING UP ALL OVER HARRIS COUNTY. THE PROCESS TO GETTING THOSE PERMITTED TCQ ISSUES THE PERMITS ROLE -- RELATIVELY EASY. THEY HAVE A STANDARD PERMIT AND THEY ALLOW THE ORGANIZATION. FOR THOSE PERMITS, LOCAL GOVERNMENTS SUCH AS HARRIS COUNTY CANNOT SEEK PARTY STATUS IF WE ARE CONCERNED THAT THE APPLICANT IS NOT GOING TO MEET THE STANDARDS IN THE LAW. 
          WE DO NOT HAVE THE AUTHORITY TO SEEK PARTY STATUS TO CHALLENGE THE PERMIT OR ASK FOR ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS. OFTEN THEY ARE ISSUED AND THEY CAUSE A LOT OF PROBLEMS IN THE COMMUNITIES THAT THEY ARE LOCATED WITHIN. FROM DUST NUISANCES TO NOT COMPLYING WITH THE PERMIT. I THINK WHETHER IT IS INSIDE THE CITY OR UNINCORPORATED AREA WHAT IS THE AUTHORITY OF HARRIS COUNTY AND HARRIS COUNTY POLLUTION CONTROL TO, NUMBER ONE, GO IN THE FACILITIES AND CONDUCT INSPECTIONS AND IF WE FIND VIOLATIONS WHAT ARE OUR REMEDIES? POLLUTION CONTROL HAS THE SAME AUTHORITY AS THE STATE OF TEXAS. THE TEXAS COMMISSION CAN ENTER INTO THE FACILITIES TO CONDUCT MONITORING OF AIR MISSIONS WHETHER ON SITE DURING AN INVESTIGATION AS WELL AS CHECK FOR COMPLIANCE OF THE PERMIT AND THE TCQ RULES UNDER THE TEXAS CLEAN AIR ACT. IF THEY FIND A VIOLATION OF THE STATE-ISSUED PERMIT OR THE TEXAS LAW, THE TCQ HAS ISSUED THERE UNDER, WE HAVE THE AUTHORITY UPON APPROVAL OF HARRIS COUNTY COMMISSIONER'S COURT TO FOLLOW SUIT IN COURT AND SEEK AN INJUNCTION TO 
          REQUIRE COMPLIANCE WITH THE LAW. >> AND WE CAN ONLY GO AFTER THEM FOR CIVIL PENALTIES. IS THERE ANYTHING WE CAN PUT ON THE CRIMINAL BASIS? THE REASON I ASK IS THE STATE SETS THE PENALTY. I AM TOLD THAT OFTENTIMES THE CIVIL PENALTIES ARE LOW. DO SOME JUST DECIDE PAY THE PENALTY AND I WILL DO WHAT I 
          AM DOING? >> WE DO HAVE THE ABILITY TO SEEK CIVIL PENALTIES. 
          THE RANGE IS $50 A DAY TO $25,000 A DAY PER VIOLATION. THE CATCH IS FOR ANY VIOLATIONS THAT IS AFTER SEPTEMBER 21ST OF 2017. THE LEGISLATURE REQUIRES US TO GIVE NOTICE TO THE TCQ AND THE ATTORNEY GENERAL'S OFFICE AND THEY CAN TAKE THE PENALTY AND CHOOSE TO RESOLVE IT ADMINISTRATIVELY OR TAKE IT IN THE DISTRICT COURT ACTION WE HAVE FILED AND THEY GET TO CONTROL 100% OF HOW MUCH PENALTY IS ASSESSED. 
          WE FOCUS ON THE INJUNK TIFF SIDE OF MAKING SURE THEY COME INTO COMPLIANCE. 
          IT IS A WAY TO FORCE THE COMPANIES TO FIND A WAY TO SPEND MONEY ON COMPLIANCE. 
          [02:45:04]
          OTHERWISE THEY CAN FACTOR IN THE NONCOME -- NONCOMPLIANCE. >> HAVE WE PURSUE THEY HAD ON 
          ANYONE? >> FOR CONCRETE BATCH PLANTS WE HAVE NOT HAD A CASE. 
          >> IF WE FIND A TEST CASE, WHAT WOULD YOU NEED -- I KNOW OF SOME. 
          THE STATE HAS ESSENTIALLY NEUTERED THE STATUTE OUT. >> THEY MADE IT DIFFICULT FOR 
          LOCAL GOVERNMENTS TO PURSUE ENVIRONMENTAL ENFORCEMENT. >> ON THE INJUCTIVE SIDE -- 
          >> I THINK THAT IS A QUESTION FOR POLLUTION CONTROL. >> IF YOU KNOW OF ANYBODY IN 
          THE STATE TAKING AN INJUNK TIFF ROUTE ON ONE OF THESE? >> I DO NOT KNOW. 
          THAT'S A GOOD QUESTION. WE CAN LOOK AT IT OR IF THEY HAVE DONE ADMINISTRATIVE 
          ACTION. >> IT MAY GIVE US SOME GUIDANCE. 
          >> AND WE CAN LOOK AT SEVERAL THINGS WHICH YOU ARE CAUSING -- WE HAVE THAT VIOLATION AND THEY ARE NOT KEEPING THEIR RECORDS OR NOT OPERATING CORRECTLY. 
          >> FIND THE BEST CASE TO GO AFTER WHETHER IT IS IN THE CITY LIMITS OR OUTSIDE THE CITY LIMITS. YOU DON'T WANT TO FAIL WHEN YOU GO AFTER ONE. 
          >> I WILL LET DR. ABBOT TAKE OVER -- BAR BOUGHT TAKE OVER THE COMMISSION. 
          >> WE HAD NO THE GONE INTO THE CITY OF HOUSTON A LOT. MY PREDECESSOR DID NOT WANT TO DISRESPECT THE JURISDICTION OF THE CITY. AS I INDICATED IN SEPTEMBER OR OCTOBER WE ARE LOOKING AT NEW INITIATIVES. ONE OF THE NEW INITIATIVES WE ARE LOOKING AT IS TO INVESTIGATE MORE FERVENTLY THESE CONCRETE BATCH FACILITIES. WE WILL BE LOOKING AT NOT ONLY THEIR RECORD KEEPING, BUT LOOKING AT SOME OF THEIR ABILITIES -- NSR ABILITIES IF THEY HAVE AN NSR PERMIT OR STANDARD OPERATION PERMIT WE MAY BE ABLE TO GO THROUGH THE CONDITION OF AIR POLLUTION. 
          IF THEY ARE CAUSING A NUISANCE WE CAN GO THAT WAY. WE HAVE THE ABILITY SOME OTHER MONITORING THAT PLACE A LOW COST MONITOR IN AN AREA NEAR THE FACILITY TO LOOK AT MAYBE WHEN THE WIND DIRECTION CHANGES HOW IT MAY BE AFFECTING THE RESIDENTS. 
          AND WE COULD USE THAT TO BETTER SUPPORT NEWS SENSE. NUISANCE. 
          >> DO YOU KNOW IF THAT IS IN UNINCORPORATED? >> TO MY KNOWLEDGE IT IS IN 
          THE CITY LIMITS, BUT I CAN GET THAT TO YOU AT A LATER DATE. >> ANYTHING FROM US TO FIND A TEST CASE TO GO AFTER. I'M SURE YOU WILL WORK WITH THE CITY. 
          EITHER YOU DOO -- DO IT JOINTLY -- IT WOK AWKWARD IF THREE GOVERNMENTAL ENTITIES WITH ENFORCEMENT POWER UNDER STATE RULES, IF ONE SAYS IT IS FINE, THAT DOESN'T HELP YOUR CASE. IF TWO SAY IT IS FINE, IT IS A REAL UPHILL CLIMB. 
          SO THE TWO LOCAL ONES WANT TO BE IN SYNC. TO SEE HOW THE INTEREST IS ON THE STATE LEVEL. THERE IS A REASON WHY SOMEBODY GOT THE STATUTE OUT NEUTERED. 
          THEY WERE THINKING IT WAS EASIER. WHETHER IT IS OR NOT I DON'T 
          KNOW. >> WE WILL SEEK TO MOVE MORE IMPACTFUL LIEU. 
          >> I HAD A STAFFER THAT WENT ON. >> I DID HAVE SOMEONE THERE. 
          I HAVEN'T ADD CHANCE TO ENGAGE WITH THEM IN CONVERSATION. WE DO HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO TALK AFTER COURT AND I CAN PROVIDE INFORMATION TO YOU LATER. 
          >> LINA HIDALGO: IS THE FUNDING THAT YOU GUYS RECEIVED AS PART OF THE GAP ANALYSIS ENOUGH TO ALLOW YOU TO GO AFTER THESE CONCRETE BATCH PLANTS THAT ARE FOLLOWING THE 
          RULES AND REGULATIONS, OR DO YOU NEED ADDITIONAL SUPPORT? >> I MADE AN ASSUMPTION THAT IT MIGHT BE, BUT NOW THAT I LOOK AT HOW BALLISTIC THIS SWE MAY NEED A LITTLE MORE -- WE MAY NEED A LITTLE MORE FUNDING TO ENGAGE A FEW MORE INVESTIGATORS AT THE LEVEL THAT WOULD GO OUT AND DO THE INSPECTIONS TO MAKE SURE THIS HAPPENS PRO ACTIVELY. 
          >> LINA HIDALGO: WELL KEEP US POSTED AND THROUGH BILL AS WELL. 
          MAYBE IT IS ON TIME FOR BUDGET AND THAT WOULD BE IDEAL. OTHERWISE WE CAN REVISIT. 
          I AM GLAD YOU HAVE BEEN LOOKING AT THIS. IT IS JUST SO REFRESHING TO SEE THAT CREATIVITY ON THE INJUNCTIVE RELEASE. IF THAT'S THE ONLY WAY WE CAN DO.  IT WE WILL GO UP AND AROUND A WALL. I APPRECIATE YOUR MEETING. 
          >> JUDGE, AT LEAST FROM TALKING TO THE MAYOR, I THINK THEY WANT TO BE VERY AGGRESSIVE AS WELL. TO THE EXTENT WE CAN TEAM UP WE OUGHT TO DO IT. 
          [02:50:04]
THAT'S THE KEY IS FINDING THE RIGHT TEST CASE OF GOVERNMENT AND I THINK IT SENDS A SIGNAL 
          OUT, AND I THINK IT WILL HAVE AN IMPACT. >> I AGREE. 
          >> I KNOW MY STAFF MET WITH YOU AND I DIDN'T GET A CHANCE. 
          DID I FORGET ANYTHING THEY WANTED ME TO ASK OR ANYTHING YOU WANT TO ADD? 
          >> I THINK YOU GOT THE HIGHLIGHTS. >> THANK YOU. 
          >> LINA HIDALGO: THANK YOU. >> THE OTHER ITEM I HAVE, JUDGE, I THINK IT WOULD BE APPROPRIATE TO, SINCE THERE IS LITIGATION TO TALK ABOUT THAT IN EXECUTIVE SESSION. 
          >> LINA HIDALGO: ITEM 6 AND 7 OF PRE -- ARE PRECINCT 2 ITEMS. 
          >> THANK YOU, JUDGE. I WANTED TO NUMBER ONE HAVE A CONVERSATION ABOUT REQUIRING COMMITTEES -- WE HAVE A LOT OF COMMITTEES FLOATING AROUND THIS PLACE, AND I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE NOT JUST CREATING THEM AND THEN FORGETTING ABOUT THEM. 
          AND GO WHERE WE HAVE -- AND NOR DO WE HAVE COMMITTEES THAT ARE JUST MEETING TO MEET. 
          I AM PROPOSING A MOTION THAT WOULD READ MOVE TO ORDER ALL COMMITTEES IN THE COUNTY TO SUBMIT A REPORT BY JANUARY 28TH, 2020 TO THE COUNTY JUDGE AND COMMISSIONERS DETAILING ACTIVITIES IN 2019. AND COMMITTEES NO THE SUBMITTING BY THAT DATE BE TERMINATED, REQUIRING REORGANIZATION AUTHORIZATION -- REQUIRING REAUTHORIZATION FOR THIS COURT AGAIN. ANY GROUP THAT MEETS UNDER THE OSPICES OF COUNTY GOVERNMENT IN WHICH MORE THAN ONE COUNTY DEPARTMENT IS REPRESENTED AND FEWER THAN 50% OF THE MEMBERS OR INVITEES TO THE COMMITTEE ARE REPRESENTATIVES OF COMMISSIONER'S COURT OFFICES. 
          AND THEN, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE TO I THINK ESTABLISH THIS COMMITTEE. 
          WE CREATE THEM WITH A PARTICULAR FOCUS OR PROJECT IN MIND AND TO PROVIDE SOME DEGREE OF SUBSET. MAKE SURE THEY MEET AND THEY ARE CREATIVE AND MEET AND GET THE JOB DONE AND THEN LET'S HOLD AND SEE IF THEY NEED TO GO FURTHER. 
          I THINK IT IS IMPORTANT THAT WE DO ALT BIT OF -- DO A LITTLE BIT OF AN INVENTORY ON THESE RIGHT NOW. WE HAVE PROVIDED A TEMPLATE TO BE DISPERSED SO WE CAN AT LEAST COLLECT SOME DEGREE OF INFORMATION OF WHAT THE COMMUNITIES. 
          >> I WANT TO SECOND IT. COMMISSIONER, I WANT TO ADD A SLIGHT ADDENDUM TO IT AND MAYBE PERFECTING THE QUESTION. TO MAKE SURE THAT WE GOT A LIST OF ALL OF THEM. I DON'T THINK NIP -- ANY OF US WANT TO SUNSET ANYTHING WE DID AT THIS TABLE AND WE FORGOT ABOUT IT AND WHOEVER WAS SUPPOSED TO DO IT FORGOT ABOUT IT AND SOMEBODY WAS WATCHING AND THEY REMEMBER IT. IF TWO WEEKS -- IS THAT 
          RIGHT? >> YEAH, TWO WEEKS. >> IF TWO WEEKS IS NOT ENOUGH TIME I WOULD SAY WE GIVE THEM THE FIRST MEETING IN FEBRUARY SO THEY HAVE TIME TO COMPILE IT. I THINK IT IS AN APPROPRIATE MOTION. 
          AT TIMES I WAKE UP AT NIGHT, 3:00 IN THE MORNING, OR IF I AM ON MY BIKE AND THE THINGS YOU REMEMBER WHEN YOU ARE RIDING THAT BICYCLE AND THEN I PULL TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND CALL SOMEBODY AND THEY ARE SHOCKED AT MY AGE. I SAID DIDN'T THAT COME UP? SOMETIMES IT WILL AMAZE THEM. I MAY NOT REMEMBER SOMEBODY'S NAME, BUT I REMEMBER SOMETHING PERFECTLY WHEN IT COMES BACK. I WANT TO MAKE SURE INADVERTENTLY, INCLUDING ME, SOMETHING I ASKED FOR AND WAS TELLING ME EARLIER P WHEN THE STAFF SAID IT I CHALLENGE 
          THEM. >> I I WOULD HAVE PUT IT IN THERE SIX MONTHS AGO, BUT I 
          FORGOT. DOES THAT MAKE SENSE? >> IF TWO WEEKS IS ENOUGH THEY CAN PULL IT TOGETHER. THAT'S FINE. THEY CAN COME BACK AND TELL US IN TWO WEEKS. SOMEBODY CAN TEXT THEM OR WHATEVER. 
          I DON'T WANT THEM TO STOP THEM. DID I MAKE THAT CLEAR OR SHOULD I TRY IT AGAIN? SO MY FRIEND'S MOTION WAS THEY COME UP WITH A COMPLETE -- SO MY AMENDMENT TO THE MOTION IS THEY COME UP WITH A COMPLETE LIST. 
          AND THAT IF TWO WEEKS IS NOT ENOUGH TIME TO MAKE IT IS FIRST COURT IN FEBRUARY WHICH 
          [02:55:03]
          IS THE NEXT. >> WE HAVE A LOT OF COMMITTEES OUT THERE AND I WANT TO MAKE SURE WE ARE NOT SUNSETTING A STATUTE -- STATITORILY REQUIRED COMMITTEE. 
          I WOULD ADD TO THE ADDITION SUBJECT TO REVIEW BY THE COUNTY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE TO MAKE SURE WE DON'T INADD VEER AT THE PRESENT TIMELY -- INADVERTENTLY SUNSET SOMETHING 
          WE ARE REQUIRED TO HAVE. >> AND FROM MY POINT OF VIEW IF IT IS STATUTE EARLY TO REQUIRED -- STATITORILY REQUIRED IT IS A GOOD IDEA TO REVIEW THESE THINGS ONCE A 
          YEAR. >> WE MAY BE SHOCKED. >> DO YOU ACCEPT THAT AS A 
          FRIENDLY? >> SURE. >> LINA HIDALGO: TWO FRIENDLY AMENDMENTS. WE HAVE A MOTION. ALL IN FAVOR? 
          >> I. >> LINA HIDALGO: OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES. 
          >> THANK YOU. AND THEN ON MY FINAL ITEM, JUDGE, I AM SO EXCITED ABOUT THE PRELIMINARY REPORT THAT IS BEING PROVIDED BY HARRIS COUNTY HOMELESS TASK FORCE THIS IS ONE OF THOSE ISSUES THAT I THINK DOESN'T MATTER WHAT PRECINCT WE REPRESENT. 
          WE ARE ALWAYS GETTING CHALLENGES ON HOMELESSNESS THROUGHOUT THE AREA. 
          IT IS ONE OF THOSE ISSUES THAT REALLY I THINK DEFINES WHETHER FOLKS WANT TO CALL SOME OF THE AREAS HOME AND JUSTIFYING THAT THEY CAN. WE ARE DOING A LOT OF GOOD WORK. I HAVE A REPORT AND NUMBER ONE I I WANT TO ACCEPT THAT REPORT, BUT I WOOPT TO MAKE A MOTION THAT WE MOVE TO ACCEPT THE UPDATE OF THE HOMELESS TASK FORCE AND TO AUTHORIZE THE ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT TO CONDUCT A STUDY OF THE LITTLE BAKER FACILITY. THERE IS A NUMBER OF COUNTIES AND FACILITY THAT'S HAVE CONVERTED INTO TRANSITION FACILITIES. IT WAS A VISION I FIRST HAD WHEN I BECAME SHERIFF IN 2009. THIS COURT GOT PGAL TO DO A FEASIBILITY STUDY OF ONE BUILDING AND A REPORT COMING BACK OF 30 MILLION TO MAKE THE OLD COUNTY JAIL USER READY WHICH WAS A HINT THAT THEY DIDN'T WANT TO SEE THIS PROJECT GET UNDERWAY. IF WE FOLLOW THE LEAD OF KING COUNTY AND ALAMEDA IN CALIFORNIA, GAINESVILLE, FLORIDA, ALBANY COUNTY, LORTON, VIRGINIA, NORTH LONDON , THERE IS THESE NAVIGATION CENTER THAT'S HAVE PROVIDED SO MANY POSITIVE RESULTS FOR THE SURROUNDING COMMUNITIES. SAN FRANCISCO OPENED THEIRS IN 2015, THE FIRST ONE AND NOW THEY HAVE MORE THROUGHOUT THE CITY. THEY FILE STABLE HOUSING IN THE FACILITY. CRIME DROPPED IN THE NEIGHBORHOODS SURROUNDING THREE OF THE FOUR CENTERS SINCE OPENING. IT HAS THE OPPORTUNITY TO PROVIDE EFFECTIVE INTERACTION BETWEEN THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM AND THE ISSUES OF HOMELESSNESS AND THOSE THAT ARE IMPACTED. IN THE U.S. 15% OF THE INCOURSE -- 15% OF THE INCARCERATED PEOPLE -- WERE HOMELESS AND THEN HALF OF THE PEOPLE SPHERNSING -- EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS AS YOU MAY SUSPECT HAVE SOME DEGREE OF -- OR SOME ASPECT OF A CRIMINAL HISTORY. I THINK THAT IT IS CRITICAL THAT WE DO THIS BECAUSE WHEN YOU DRIVE DOWN THE FREEWAY YOU CAN SEE ENCAMPMENTS THROUGHOUT THE AREA. YOU GO INTO CITY PARKS AND COUNTY PARKS AND YOU HAVE FOLKS EXISTING IN INCREDIBLE CONDITIONS. BUT BECAUSE OF THE POINT THAT THEY HAVE AN INORDINATE NUMBER -- OR AN INORDINATE NUMBER HAVE CRIMINAL HISTORIES IT MAKES SENSE THAT WE SHOULD HAVE A COLLABORATIVE WITH THE COUNTY JAIL AS A WAY OF 
          [03:00:07]
STEMMING THE TIDE OF THOSE COMING INTO THE COMMUNITY AND FINDING REFUGE UNDER A BRIDGE OR UNDER PARKS AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE. I AM EXCITED ABOUT THE WORK DONE BY THE TASK FORCE AND MOVE TO ACCEPT THE REPORT AND THEN AS MENTIONED AND TO AUTHORIZE THE ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT TO CONDUCT THE FEASIBILITY OF THE USE OF THE 
          LITTLE BAKER FACILITY. >> I WILL SECOND. I WOULD LIKE TO COMMENT. 
          >> LINA HIDALGO: YES. >> THANK YOU FOR THE MOTION. I WANT TO SAY I APPRECIATE YOU MAKING THE COMMENT ABOUT PERMANENT HOUSING BEING SUCH AN IMPORTANT PART OF THE SOLUTION. AT FIRST BLUSH, IT IS SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT PUTTING HOMELESS PEOPLE IN WHAT WAS A JAIL IS IMPORTANT AND YOU TALK ABOUT TEMPORARY HOUSING AND THE NAVIGATION CENTER. SO MANY FOLKS OUT THERE ON THE STREET, THEY ARE BEING RECYCLED FROM TEMPORARY HOUSING. 
          OFTENTIMES IT IS A JAIL OR SHELTER OR MENTAL HEALTH FACILITY. 
          I MENTION ALAMEDA COUNTY BECAUSE CALIFORNIA IN PART UNFORTUNATELY AS A RESULT OF LAWSUITS ARE GONNA SPEND A MASSIVE AMOUNT OF MONEY TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO DO SOMETHING IN TERMS OF PERMANENT HOUSING THEY WILL TRY SOME THINGS TO TO SEE IF IT WORKS, BUT IT IS PART OF THE ISSUE WE TALKED ABOUT HERE. 
          MOST OF THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING IS CONCENTRATED WHETHER IT IS IN THE CITY OR IN UNINCORPORATED HARRIS COUNTY IN PRECINCT ONE. SECONDLY IN PRECINCT TWO. 
          THESE FOLKS ARE EVERYWHERE NOW. WE ALL HAVE THE ARGUMENT, BUT THINGS LIKE REMOVING THAT REQUIREMENT WHILE WE GET OUR COLLEAGUES IN THE LEGISLATURE WHO UNILATERALLY STOP AND EVEN THE DISCUSSION OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING WHEN IT IS NOT REQUIRED. THE REAL LONG-TERM SOLUTION TO THIS HOMELESS PROBLEM HERE AND AROUND THE COUNTRY AS YOU SAID IS GETTING THESE FOLKS INTO PERMANENT HOUSING. 
          SOMETIMES IT IS GETTING THEM THE MEDICATION THEY NEED SO THEY DON'T KEEP RECYCLING OUT 
          OF PERMANENT HOUSING. >> AND IF I COULD JUST ADD, COMMISSIONER, THERE IS PROBABLY OF THE MANY NEWS ARTICLES I HAVE READ, THERE ARE PROBABLY NONE THAT TOUCH ME MORE THAN TO SEE INCREDIBLE STUDENTS WHO ARE GRADUATING AT THE TOP OF THE CLASS, BUT WHO WERE HOMELESS DURING THEIR TIME AS THEY WERE WORKING THROUGH THEIR STUDIES AND SUCCEEDED IN SPITE OF THEIR CONDITIONS. I THINK IT IS IMPORTANT FOR US TO BE LEADERS IN THE CONVERSATION OF WHAT THE MANY DIMENSIONS OF HOMELESSNESS IS. IT IS A CHALLENGING ISSUE. TOO OFTEN PEOPLE ASSOCIATE AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND TRY TO GET IT THE NAME WORKFORCE HOUSING. 
          IT IS PEOPLE WHO HAVE JOBS WITH PEOPLE -- THEY CONFUSE IT WITH SECTION 8 HOUSING WHICH IS FOLKS ON THE MORE CHALLENGING END OF THE SPECTRUM. 
          I THINK IT IS SO CRITICAL THAT WE GIVE THE COMMUNITIES CONFIDENCE THAT AFFORDABLE HOUSING IS A GOOD THING THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY AND WOULD ENCOURAGE A UNIFIED EFFORT IN THAT RECORD. IN THAT REGARD. THE JAIL ISN'T A PLACE FOR FOLKS AND MANY WHO ARE HOMELESS ARE ONLY HOMELESS BY VIRTUE OF MISSING A PAYCHECK. 
          AND THEN WE DO HAVE THE CHALLENGE OF THOSE WITH MENTAL ILLNESS THAT CREATES MORE OF A 
          CHALLENGE TO THE SITUATION. >> LINA HIDALGO: YES, COMMISSIONER CAGLE AND THEN 
          COMMISSIONER ELLIS. >> R. JACK CAGLE: THANK YOU. FIRST OF ALL, JUDGE I WANT TO COMMEND JIM NUTTER FOR THAT REPORT. WE ALSO HAVE IN OUR MIDST SOME FOLKS WHO ARE ASSISTING WITH THE REPORT FROM THE COMMUNITY AND WE HAVE HONORED THEM BEFORE FROM THE HOPE CENTER, JUDGE, AND WE THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE AND SPENDING THE DAY TO PARTICIPATE IN THIS AND I THINK THAT IS REALLY GOOD. I AM GLAD THAT THAT PASSION AND EFFORT THAT YOU ARE PUTTING IN IS BEING EXPRESSED. 
          >> EXCUSE ME, COMMISSIONER, IF YOU MIGHT, I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE JIM COME ON UP. 
          >> JUDGE, CAN I JUST FINISH MY COMMENTS? >> I MEAN, CONTINUE, BUT I 
          WOULD LIKE TO HAVE HIM COME UP. >> LINA HIDALGO: GO AHEAD. 
          [03:05:02]
          >> R. JACK CAGLE: NUMBER THREE , YOUR HONOR A PASSIONATE -- >> THERE HE IS. 
          >> R. JACK CAGLE: A PASSION AND THIS IS A ROAD IN OUR COUNTY THAT COMMISSIONER ELLIS, YOU AND I SHARE, SINCE 1960, THE SOBERING CENTER PROGRAM WHICH IS MORE IN THE DOWN TOWN REGION WHICH PROVIDES NOT JUST RELIEF FOR SOMEBODY INTOXICATED, BUT IT IS PROCESSING ON THE BACKSIDE TO HELP PEOPLE GET ASSISTANCE AND IT ASSISTS WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT. SO WE HAVE SOMEBODY WHO IS OFF OF THEIR MEDS AND HAS A CHEMICAL PROBLEM OR AN ALCOHOL PROBLEM OR SOME OTHER ISSUE THEY DON'T HAVE TO SIT IN THE HOSPITAL WITH THE INDIVIDUAL OFF THEIR BEAT FOR HOURS UNTIL THE INDIVIDUAL IS TREATED, BUT THEY CAN TAKE THEM TO A SOBERING CENTER AND IT IS A WAY OF IMPROVING PEOPLE'S LIVES. AS WITH MANY THINGS IT APPEARS DO -- DOING THE RIGHT THING COSTS LESS BECAUSE IT REDUCES THE AMOUNT OF EXPENDITURE THAT WE HAVE ON THE LAW ENFORCEMENT RESOURCES AND IT ALLOWS THOSE PEOPLE TO BE BACK ON THE STREET. 
          I HAPPEN TO KNOW THAT THEY CAN GET A FACILITY THAT WOULD GREATLY BENEFIT COMMISSIONER ELLIS. YOU AND I AND OUR CONSTITUENTS THAT IF WE CAN TAKE PEOPLE WHO ARE IN NEED AND WIPING OFF PEOPLE'S WINDSHIELD WIPERS AND CAUSING OTHER PROBLEMS ALONG THE WAY WE CAN GET THEM INTO A SOBERING CENTER WHERE THEY CAN RECEIVE SOME HELP AND THEN WE CAN STOP THE CYCLE AND WE CAN IMPROVE THE SAFETY OF OUR STREETS. 
          LAST POINT, JUDGE, WITH ALL DUE RESPECT TO KING COUNTY, I KNOW HOW MUCH WE LOVE THEM, BUT THEY HAVE THE SECOND WORST HOMELESS PROBLEM IN THE COUNTRY. 
          WE SHOULD NOT BE MODELING OUR SYSTEMS OFF FAILED SYSTEMS. WE NEED TO BE LOOKING AT OUR OWN SYSTEMS WHEN WE ARE TRYING TO DO SOMETHING BETTER. I WOULD RESPECTFULLY URGE THAT WE DON'T LOOK AT -- I KNOW WE LOVE THEM. BUT I RESPECTFULLY URGE THAT WE NOT USE THE WORST CASE SCENARIO AND WE NEED TO MOVE TO AND SEE HOW THEY FAIL AND COME UP WITH INNOVATIVE, DATA-BASED APPROPRIATE MECHANISMS TO WHERE WE CAN IMPROVE SITUATIONS. THAT'S MY COMMENTS. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. 
          >> LINA HIDALGO: COMMISSIONER ELLIS -- >> DID YOU HEAR MY COMPLIMENTS 
          OF YOU WHEN YOU WERE IN THE OTHER ROOM? >> I HEARD NERD AND EVERYBODY POINTING AT ME. I DID NOT HEAR ANYTHING BEYOND THAT. 
          I HAD TO RUN THE GAUNTLET GETTING FROM THERE TO HERE. >> I I SAID SOME GOOD THINGS 
          ABOUT YOU, ABOUT YOUR REPORT. >> I THINK IT IS A GOOD, SOLID INITIAL REPORT. 
          I AM WORKING WITH COMPETENT PEOPLE NOT ONLY IN THE CITY, BUT IN THE COUNTY. 
          FOR ME IT IS A GREAT HONOR AND PRIVILEGE TO BE PART OF THE EFFORT. 
          I APPRECIATE YOUR WORDS, BUT I NEED TO SHARE THEM WITH ALL OF THE PEOPLE I AM WORKING WITH, AND I WOULD LIKE TO THANK THE COURT TO BE WORKING ON THIS PROJECT. 
          IT MEANS A LOT TO MY HEART AND IT HAS MY WHOLE ADULT LIFE. THESE ARE GOD'S CHILDREN AND 
          WE NEED TO FIND WAYS TO TAKE CARE OF THEM. >> LINA HIDALGO: JIM, THANK YOU FOR THE WORK ON THIS AND I KNOW SO MANY DIFFERENT FOLKS THAT ARE COMING TOGETHER THROUGH AND THROUGH THE DIFFERENT HOMELESSNESS INITIATIVES THAT'S A GREAT START. I JUST HAVE A COUPLE OF COMMENTS. 
          I VISITED THE JPC A FEW MONTHS AGO AND AS YOU LOOK INTO THE NEXT STEPS, THE CONVERSATIONS I HAD THERE AS YOU WALK OUT THERE IS A RE-ENTRY SECTION, AND THERE THEY CONNECT YOU -- I SAID WHAT IS THE CHALLENGE, THE BIGGEST CHALLENGE HERE? THEY SAID FOR FOLKS ESPECIALLY THE HOMELESS, AND THE PROBLEM IS NOT THAT WE HAVE TO PUT THEM UNDER ONE ROOF. 
          I'M SURE YOU HAVE VISITED. THERE ARE SOME REALLY NICE -- THERE IS A SECTION WHERE FOLKS LEAVING THE JAIL THERE ARE CUBICLES WITH DIFFERENT NONPROFITS THESE FOLKS CAN BE CONNECTED TO. THE PROBLEM IS THE NON-PROFITS DON'T HAVE ENOUGH CAPACITY TO HELP THESE FOLKS. SAME WITH MENTAL HEALTH. WE PICK THEM UP AND WE DIVERT THEM AND THEY GO ON TO A TEMPORARY BED IN A COUPLE DAYS AND THEN BACK OUT IN THE COMMUNITY. I WANT TO MAKE SURE YOU ARE LOOKING AT THIS THAT WE ARE NOT BUILDING SOMETHING THAT IS ANOTHER STOP BACK TO THE BAT TOM OF THE CYCLE -- BOTTOM OF THE CYCLE. WE WANT TO MAKE SURE IT IS THE TYPE OF CAPACITY BUILDING WE 
          [03:10:02]
NEED TO MAKE A MEANINGFUL DIFFERENCE AS OPPOSED TO JUST ADDING ONE MORE LAY OVER TO WHERE IT IS JAIL, JUNK PROCESSING CENTER, SOMETHING ELSE, STREET, BACK TO JAIL, SOMETHING ELSE. MAYBE THE FUNDS MODE -- NEED TO GO TO HOUSING, PERMANENT HOUSING OR MORROW BUST MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES. THAT'S JUST MY POINT. 
          IT IS THE SAME POINT WITH THE TUNNELS THAT ARE DEALING WITH FLOOD CONTROL, TO NOT GET HUNG UP ON ONE SOLUTION. BUT WHAT IS THE BEST WAY TO SOLVE THIS,ING AND LET'S SOLVE IT THAT WAY. MAYBE AS YOU LOOK AT FEASIBILITY OF -- YES THE FEASIBILITY OF THIS, BUT IS THIS ACTUALLY THE BEST SOLUTION? 
          >> THERE IS ONE BEST SOLUTION THE DATA SHOWS AND IT CONNECTS WITH WHAT COMMISSIONER ELLIS SAID. THE THING THAT HAS MADE THE MOST DIFFERENCE IN THIS COUNTRY IS PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING. IT IS ONE OF THE REASONS THAT HOUSTON IS ONE OF THE CITIES IN THIS COUNTRY THAT MANY OTHER CITIES -- 60 CITIES HAVE COME HERE TO VISIT. THEY HAVE IDENTIFIED THAT WHAT WE ARE DOING HERE IS BEST PRACTICES. THAT OUR HOMELESS POPULATION HAS GONE DOWN 50% IN THE LAST SEVEN YEARS AND WHY OUR POPULATION HAS GONE UP BETWEEN 400,000 AND 500,000 PEOPLE. 
          THE HOMELESS WHO ARE HERE IS REMARKABLE. NOW, I WANT TO SAY THAT WITH A GREAT SENSE OF CELEBRATION, BUT UNLESS WE CONTINUE THAT EFFORT, WE WILL BE IN LOTS OF TROUBLE. WHAT WE ARE HEARING RIGHT NOW IN OTHER LEADERSHIP CIRCLES IN THE COUNTRY IS TO MOVE FROM HOUSING FIRST WHICH IS THE NUMBER ONE TOOL TO HOUSING READY. THAT WOULD BE A GREAT MISTAKE. IT ALLOWS US -- IT ALLOWS LAW ENFORCEMENT TO PUNISH HOMELESSNESS. AND AS MUCH AS THAT IS THE NUMBER ONE TOOL THE DATA SHOWS THAT MAKES THE MOST DIFFERENCE WE NEED OTHER TOOLS AS WELL, AND I THINK THIS NAVIGATION CENTER IS ONE TOOL IN THE TOOLBOX. 
          WE ALWAYS HAVE TO REMEMBER THAT THE THING THAT MADE THE MOST DIFFERENCE IS PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING. IN 1960 FOR EVERY 100,000 PEOPLE WE HAD 330 MENTAL HEALTH BEDS. RIGHT NOW FOR 100,000 PEOPLE WE HAVE LESS THAN 20 BEDS. 
          WE HAVE GOT TO INVEST IN HOUSING AND WE HAVE TO INVEST INEN L -- IN EMPLOYMENT AND MUCH MOR ROBUST MENTAL HEALTH CARE. WE ARE LOOKING AT ALL OF THOSE RIGHT NOW. MOVING FORWARD THERE ARE SEVERAL PRIMARY COMMITTEES. 
          WE ARE NEVER GOING TO BE ABLE TO ERADICATE IT AND HOW DO YOU REDUCE IT. 
          HAVING A FEASIBILITY STUDY AND WHAT ARE THE OPTICS OF THAT? AND WE HAVE KATIE SHORT LOOKING AT A DEEP DIVE ABOUT WHAT IS THE COST OF HOMELESSNESS? I THINK WE CAN SHOW AND IT WILL BE HARD THAT AS EXPENSIVE AS IT WILL BE TO TAKE CARE OF THESE PEOPLE AND TO FIND A PLACE FOR THEM, IT IS MUCH MORE EXPENSIVE TO DRIVE PAST THEM. NOT ONLY MORE EXPENSIVE FINANCIALLY, BUT MORE EXPENSIVE MORALLY. IT ERODES THE CHARACTER OF THE COMMUNITY. 
          >> LINA HIDALGO: I THINK COMMISSIONER HAS COMMENTS. >> THANK YOU. 
          AND THANK YOU. THANK YOU TO ALL OF THE FOLKS YOU HAVE BEEN WORKING WITH. 
          HE HAD SOME DENTAL WORK. >> HE PREFERRED GOING TO COURT THAN DENTAL WORK, SIR. 
          >> IT IS SOMETIMES THE SAME ON SOME OCCASIONS. I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR EFFORT. YOU GOT US TO A GOOD PLACE. THIS IS A CONVERSATION THAT SOMEONE DOESN'T WANT TO HAVE, BUT WE HAVE TO HAVE. IT IS A QUALITY OF LIFE ISSUE. IF YOU WANT TO ADD THE ASPECT OF MORALITY IT MAKES IT THAT MUCH MORE NECESSARY WE TACKLE THIS. AND DEMONSTRATE THAT WE CAN DO BETTER. ONE OF THE THINGS I I WAS IMPRESSED WITH WHEN I BECAME SHERIFF IS I HAD BEEN TO AREAS OF UNIN -- UNINCORPORATED PARTS OF HARRIS COUNTY WITH 
          [03:15:03]
PASTURES AND YOU ALSO DIDN'T HAVE HOMELESSNESS OUT THERE. IT MADE ME REALIZE THAT WE CONTINUE TO BE AN URBANIZED AREA AND WE HAVE THE CHALLENGES OF AN URBAN COMMUNITY. I AM GLAD WE ARE HAVING THIS CONVERSATION AND I APPRECIATE 
          YOUR LEADERSHIP. >> LINA HIDALGO: IT WOULD BE EASY TO JUST PUT IT ON TO THE CITY. THAT'S WHAT IS SO IMPORTANT WITH WHAT YOU ARE DOING. 
          >> I WANT TO THANK YOU AS WELL FOR THE WORK YOU DO AND THAT YOU ARE BEEN DOING IT FOR. 
          I THINK IT WOULD BE GOOD, JUDGE, IF WE HAD A ROUND TABLE DISCUSSION OR LIKE A PUBLIC HEARING AND WE HEAR ABOUT THE REPORT AND EXCHANGE IDEAS. I THINK ABOUT TOE END OF THE DAY AS -- I THINK ABOUT AT THE END OF THE DAY YOU HAVE TO COME UP WITH MONEY. 
          IT IS HOW YOU USE RESOURCES. IN SAN ANTONIO PEOPLE BRAG ABOUT THAT MODEL. 
          IT IS VERY EXPENSIVE. IN TERMS OF MAINTAINING THAT CENTER THEY PUT TOGETHER, THAT'S A REAL CHALLENGE TO FIND A CORPORATE ENTITY THAT WILL STEP UP AND DO THAT. 
          IN ADDITION TO US CHANGING THE FOCUS -- AND LOOK I'LL TAKE IT. 
          IT IS A MORAL ISSUE AND NOT QUITE RIGHT TO THOUGHT -- TO THOSE PEOPLE. 
          WE HAVE TO LOOK AT HOW WE LEVERAGE TRANSPORTATION MONEY. 
          WE HAVE TO FIND A WAY WHETHER IT IS MASS TRANSIT AND TRAIL OR SOMETHING AND WORKFORCE HOUSING CAN -- WORKFORCE HOUSING. CAN WE USE THE METRO DOLLARS TO GO TO SOME OF THE PARK AND RIDE LOTS THAT NOBODY IS USING AND PUT HOUSING ON. 
          IT THERE ARE RULES I'M TOLD ON THE FED -- FEDERAL TRANSPORTATION FUNDING MECHANISMS WHY THEY CAN HELP US POOL RESOURCES FROM VARIOUS GOVERNMENTAL ENTITIES. 
          I THINK IT MERITS A ROUND TABLE DISCUSSION TO MAKE SURE WE END UP ON THE SAME PAGE. 
          I KNOW YOU ARE GOING TO KING COUNTY. YOU ARE GOING TO LOOK AT THE HOMELESS, BUT I AM TRYING TO MAKE SURE I AM NOT ON THE LIST. 
          I DOOPT THINK I WILLING -- I DON'T THINK I WILL GO BEFORE MARCH. 
          IT IS GOOD TO GET IDEAS ON WHAT HAS WORKED AND WE DON'T MAKE THE SAME MISTAKE AND AS THEY COME HERE TO TO SEE WHAT SUCCESSES WE HAVE HAD. AS WE KEEP GROWING, WE ARE LUCKY. THIS IS A PLEAS WHERE THE AVERAGE HOMELESS PERSON LONGING FOR SOME -- SOMEWHERE TO GO, THEY DON'T COME HERE. I WASN'T HOMELESS LATELY, BUT I WOULD THINK CALIFORNIA IS THE LAND OF OPPORTUNITY AS WELL UNTIL I GOT THERE. 
          I THINK IT WILL CATCH UP DOWN THE ROAD. I CAN SEE MORE AND MORE PEOPLE IN THE REMOTE AREAS UNDER BREJ -- BRIDGES AND MORE DIVERSITY OF THE POPULATION 
          OUT THERE. IT IS SHOCKING. >> THANK YOU. 
          >> LINA HIDALGO: THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. 
          >> LINA HIDALGO: OKAY, THAT'S IT. OH WE HAD A MOTION ON THE 
          SECOND FOR THAT ITEM. ALL IN FAVOR. >> I. 
          >> LINA HIDALGO: OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES. >> DID WE MOVE TO HOLD THE 
          AGENDA? >> LINA HIDALGO: YES, LET ME PULL THE EXECUTIVE SESSION 
          [Item IV]
ITEMS REAL QUICK. WE HAVE QUITE A FEW THIS COURT. 
          FIRST IT IS UNDER COUNTY ATTORNEY THE EXXON MOBILE ITEM. 
          DO WE NEED TO GO -- GO INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION FOR THAT? 15B? SO I DON'T THINK WE NODE -- NEED TO GO IN ON THAT ITEM. ON PURCHASING THERE IS A JURY ASSEMBLY BUILDING, SO THAT IS ITEM 20C1 ON PAGE 18. THAT'S TO DISCUSS THE DETAILS OF THE CONTRACT. NOW PRECINCT 2 ON THE CIGNA CANCELLATION OF CONTRACT PAGE 
          [03:20:10]
22 AND ITEM C2, I WOULD LIKE TO DISCUSS THE STRATEGY TO SEE IF THERE IS ANYTHING WE MISSED IF THAT'S OKAY. AND ITEM -- EXCUSE ME SUPPLEMENTAL ITEM NUMBER 5 ON THE COUNTY'S POTENTIAL LIABILITY RELATED TO FLOOD RISK AND DEVELOPMENT STANDARDS GOING INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION ON THE LEGAL QUESTION THERE. SO THOSE ARE THE THREE ITEMS THAT WE ARE PULLING OUT. AND THEN DID FOLKS NEED TO GO BACK FOR THE APPOINTMENT OF THESE FOLKS TO THE HOUSTON COUNTY DISTRICT BOARD OF DIRECTORS? THESE ARE THE NAMES THAT -- IT'S KIND OF A FORMALITY FOR THEM TO COME THROUGH COMMISSIONER'S COURT. THESE ARE THE REPRESENTATIVES THAT THE OTHER ENTITIES GET TO UH POINT. ALL RIGHT. WHAT ABOUT THE APPOINTMENT OF 
          OUR DIRECTOR OF VETERAN SERVICES DEPARTMENT? >> JUDGE IF YOU DON'T MIND, I SAW THE COLONEL DOWNSTAIRS, EXCITED TO HAVE HIM ON BOARD. LET'S LET THIS GUY HIT THE 
          GROUND RUNNING. >> LINA HIDALGO: IS HE HERE? COLONEL LEWIS? 
          HE WAS HERE EARLIER? >> JUDGE THERE WAS A MOTION A SECOND AC -- SECOND AGO. 
          >> LINA HIDALGO: LET'S VOTE ON BOTH EXECUTIVE SESSION ITEMS ALL IN FAVOR. 
          >> I. >> LINA HIDALGO: OPPOSED. MOTION CARRIES. 
          COLONEL, CONGRATULATIONS. WE JUST PASSED YOUR MOTION. >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. 
          >> LINA HIDALGO: WELCOME ABOARD. >> I CAN'T TELL YOU HOW EXCITED I AM. THANK YOU FOR -- TO HARRIS COUNTY, A, FOR LISTENING. 
          I BELIEVE MR. JAYSON WILLIAMS HERE WILL BE MY FIRST EMPLOYEE I WILL GET HIRED AS MY DEPUTY DIRECTER AND I AM EXCITED ABOUT THAT. I UNDERSTAND YOU HEARD FROM HIM IN THE PAST HERE IN THE COURT. BE CAREFUL WHAT YOU ASK FOR, RIGHT? NOW WE GET TO SOLVE SOME OF THESE CHALLENGES. 
          I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO THE COURT. IT MEANS A LOT TO ME. 
          I SPENT A LIFETIME WORKING AND FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE I WAS 17 I HAD A 2004 4-YEAR AIR FORCE -- I HAD A 24-YEAR AIR FORCE KAW -- CAREER AND HOPE TO BRING SOME BEST PRACTICES. 
          EXCITED ABOUT IT. THANK YOU FOR LISTENING AND PROVIDING THE RESOURCES TO GET THIS OFF THE GROUND AND RUNNING. I AM EXCITED AND I CAN'T WAIT 
          TO GET TO WORK. >> THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE. 
          >> WORTH DOING. >> LINA HIDALGO: THANK YOU SO MUCH. 
          THANK YOU BOTH. CONGRATULATIONS. SO LET'S GO TO EXECUTIVE 
          SESSION -- NO, YES. >> I MOVE THE AGENDA. >> LINA HIDALGO: ALL IN 
          FAVOR? >> I. >> LINA HIDALGO: OPPOSED? 
          MOTION CARRIES. >> JUDGE, IF WE CAN TAKE UP THE SUPPLEMENTAL ITEM 51ST AND THEN A QUICK LEGAL QUESTION ON THE JURY ROOM BECAUSE I'M PROBABLY NOT GONNA WANT TO BE THERE FOR THE DISCUSSION OUT OF ABUNDANCE OF CAUTION ON MY PART. 
          I JUST -- IF WE CAN HIT THE TWO WHERE I'M THERE AND THEN I'M REALLY NOT WANTING TO BE 
          IN EXECUTIVE SESSION ON THE LAST ONE. >> LINA HIDALGO: I UNDERSTAND. SOUNDS GREAT. SO IT IS 2:34. 
          >> AND I WANT TO REMIND YOU, JUDGE, YOU NEED TO ANNOUNCE THAT YOU ARE GOING INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION FOR CONSULTATION OF THE COUNTY -- WITH THE COUNTY ATTORNEY ON 
          THE FOLLOWING ITEMS. >> LINA HIDALGO: SO WE ARE GOING TO EXECUTIVE SESSION FOR CONSULTATION OF THE COUNTY ATTORNEY ON ITEM -- SUPPLEMENTAL ITEM 5 ON COMMISSIONER OF PRECINCT 2 ITEM 2 ON PAGE 22 AND ON PURCHASING ITEM C1 ON PAGE 
          18. IT IS 2:34. >> 
          >> IT IS 3:17 AND WE ARE BACK FROM EXECUTIVE SESSION. NO ACTION ON ANY OF THE ITEMS, 
          CORRECT? >> CORRECT. >> LINA HIDALGO: AND OUR LAWYERS TOLD US NOT TO TALK TO THE CIGNA FOLKS ON EXECUTIVE SESSION AND WE DIDN'T. 
          >> CORRECT. >> LINA HIDALGO: THAT'S ALL. SPEAKERS WE HAVE ALEX AND 
          [Item V]
PIERRE GARCIA AND DIEDRE SCOTT AND JEEP AND MICHAEL HUGHES 
          [03:25:02]
          >> HI, COMMISSIONERS AND JUDGE. MY NAME IS JEEP -- JEN SCHMIRLING. WE ARE A NONPROFIT ADVOCATE FOR CLEAN AIR, CLEAN WATER AND OPEN SPACES. THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK HERE TODAY. 
          I WANT TO TALK ABOUT WAY THAT'S HARRIS COUNTY CAN LEAD ON SOLAR AND OTHER FORMS OF RENEWABLE ENERGY. I BELIEVE THAT EVERYONE HAS THE RIGHT TO ACCESS CLEAN SOURCES OF ENERGY. THEY DON'T POLLUTE THEIR AIR AND THEY DON'T ADD CARBON EMISSION TO GLOBAL WARMING. AS YOU ALL KNOW OUR REGION HAS SEEN A RASH OF AIR POLLUTING INCIDENTS FROM THE PET TROUGH CHEMICAL INDUSTRY. WE HAD THE ITC FIRE AND MULTIPLE EXPLOSIONS AND MOST RECENTLY THE TPC DISASTER. OUR PETRO CHEMICAL INDUSTRY HAS HARMED THE HEALTH OF POSSIBLY THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE. AND WE ALSO KNOW THAT THE EXTREME FLOODING IN OUR REGION WITH FOUR 500-YEAR FLOODS IN THE LAST FIVE YEARS HAS BEEN EXACERBATED BY CARBON EMISSIONS AND FOSSIL FUEL AND INFRASTRUCTURE. 
          I AM HERE TO ADDRESS THE POWER GENERATION COMPONENT OF POWER EMISSIONS. 
          SOLAR POWER IS CLEAN. IT DOESN'T EMIT ANYTHING. IT PAYS FOR ITSELF AND IT IS NOT SUBJECT TO PRICE VARIATIONS THE WAY FOSSIL FUELS CAN BE. 
          THE COST OF SOLAR HAS COME DOWN OVER 70% IN THE LAST DECADE AND COMPANIES AND PUBLIC ENTITIES ALL OVER THE COUNTRY ARE REALIZE -- REALIZING THAT SOLAR POWER IS COST SAVING. HARRIS COUNTY IS GROWING QUICKLY AND OUR ELECTRICITY DEMAND IS GROWING QUICKLY AS PEOPLE MOVE TOWARD ELECTRIC CARS AND ELECTRIC HEATING SYSTEMS. THIS IS THE RIGHT TIME WHEN THE PRICE IS LOW TO INVEST IN SOLAR POWER. TODAY I DELIVERED TO EACH OF THE COMMISSIONERS AND THE JUDGE'S OFFICE A LETTER SIGNED BY ENVIRONMENTAL COMMUNITY LEADERS ASKING FOR THREE SPECIFIC ACTIONS. FIRST TO PURCHASE 100% RENEWABLE POWER FOR COUNTY OPERATIONS THROUGH A LONG-TERM CONTRACT THROUGH THE DEVELOPER. 
          YOU HAVE CHOSEN TO PURCHASE 100% RENEWABLE POWER THROUGH CREDITS FOR THE NEXT YEAR, AND I APPRECIATE AND THANK YOU FOR THAT ACTION. THE NEXT STEP IS TO SIGN A LONG-TERM CONTRACT THE WAY DALLAS AND THE CITY OF PORT HOUSTON HAS DONE. 
          THE NEXT IS TO DEVELOP AND FINANCE A PUBLIC OPTION FOR RESIDENTIAL BUILDINGS. 
          HARRIS COUNTY HAS A FINANCING OPTION FOR COMMERCIAL AND INDUSTRIAL BUILDINGS, BUT A RESIDENTIAL OPTION COULD OFFER HOMEOWNERS LONG-TERM LOW INTEREST RATES FOR INSTALLING SOLAR. THE CITY OF AUSTIN HAS DONE THIS AND IT HAS GREATLY INCREASED SOLAR. THE LAST TO INSTALL SOLAR BATTERY STORAGE CREATING ENERGY SAVINGS AND EMERGENCY CENTERS IN TIMES OF NEED. THE VISIBILITY FROM THAT WILL BE IMPORTANT AND TO LET OUR RESIDENTS KNOW THEY ARE TAKING IT SERIOUSLY AND ADDING BATTERY STORAGE WILL GENERATE CLEAN POWER TO PEOPLE DURING THOSE EMERGENCY EVENTS. 
          THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. >> LINA HIDALGO: THANK YOU. 
          THANK YOU SO MUCH. >> WE HAVE TWO -- [INAUDIBLE]. 
          >> LINA HIDALGO: THANK YOU. APPRECIATE IT. THERE IS NOT A LOT WE CAN SAY SINCE THIS WASN'T ON THE AGENDA AND WE APPRECIATE YOU COMING. 
          ANY OTHER SPEAKERS NOT ON THE AGENDA? >> LET ME BEGIN BY STATING THAT I UNDERSTAND THE MEMBERS OF THE COMMISSIONER'S COURT ARE A GOVERN -- GOVERN BODY AND NOT MANAGEMENT AND I UNDERSTAND A GOVERNING BODY CAN ADD POLICY CONCERNS TO THE AGENDA AND BRING A CHANGE OF PRACTICE. I REQUEST THAT THE ISSUE OF APPROVING AND ASSIGNING AN UNBIASED GOVERNING BODY TO OVERSEE HDSO HARRIS COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE INTERNAL AFFAIRS DEPARTMENT TO ENSURE THAT CITIZENS' RIGHTS WRITTEN COMPLAINTS ET CETERA ARE ADDED TO THE COURT'S AGENDA. THIS IS A CALL TO ACTION TO ADVOCATE FOR EVERY EVERY PERSON, THE DISABLED PERSON WHO CAN'T MAKE IT AND DISSEN -- DISSEN DISENFRANCHISED. I AM HERE TO ADDRESS THE UNETHICAL BEHAVIOR BY HARRIS COUNTY INTERNAL UH D.A. -- AFFAIRS WHO DENY CITIZENS FIRST AMENDMENT WRITES AND UNETHICAL -- WITHOUT JUMPING THROUGH HOOPS. 
          I PROVE THIS TO BE THE CASE, YET WHEN PRESENTED WITH PROOF THAT THE INTERNAL AFFAIRS DEPARTMENT PREVENTED ME FROM FILING A COMPLAINT AGAINST ONE OF THEIRS THE SECOND OF THE COMPLAINTS THE THORP'S OFFICE THEIR EMPLOYEE DENIED THE TRUTH EVEN THOUGH VERIFIABLE EVIDENCE WAS PROVIDED. TO BE CLEAR THERE IS NO LIMIT ON THE NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS TO THE INTERNAL AFFAIRS A CITIZEN CAN SUBMIT. THERE IS NO LIMIT. 
          MY SECOND COMPLAINT SHOULD HAVE AN ACCEPTED. ARE THIS FACT -- THIS FACT WAS 
          [03:30:03]
PROVIDED TO THE COURT LAST TIME I WAS HERE. THE SUPERVISOR DID NOT CORRECT HER, BUT MOCKED ME WHEN I SHARED IT WITH THE COURT LAST YEAR GRINNING AND SMILING AND MAKING UNNECESSARY FACES AS I SPOKE. IT WAS UNPROFESSIONAL. 
          TWO TIMES LAST YEAR I ADDRESSED THIS COURT PLEADING FOR ACTION TO BE TAKEN TO CORRECT THIS BROKEN SYSTEM. INITIAL -- INITIALLY TWO MEMBERS SEEMED INTERESTED. 
          WHEN I SAID IT NEEDED FURTHER ACTION AND PERHAPS AT -- ADDING IT TO AN AGENDA THERE WAS NO RESPONSE. THEY PASSED AND SAT SILENTLY EXCEPT THE JUDGE. 
          THANK YOU, MA'AM. I VOTED FOR YOU. THE OTHER ACTIONS IN PASSING I FOUND COWARDLY AND DISAPPOINTING AND TO BE ENABLING A BROKEN SYSTEM. 
          RESPECTFULLY COMMISSIONER ELLIS WHEN I SPOKE WITH YOU AT THE PARK YOU SAID YOU DIDN'T WANT TO GET INVOLVED AND WOULD HAVE A STAFF MEMBER CALL ME. THAT PERSON DID TO THE CALL ME. ALL CITIZENS NEED YOU TO GET INVOLVED. 
          THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR YOU TO TRULY CHAMPION REFORM AND NOT JUST SEND E-MAILS SAYING YOU ARE. THANK YOU TO PENNY WHO I FOUND OUT IS NO LONGER WITH COMMISSIONER GARCIA'S OFFICE FOR BEING PRO ACTIVE AND RESPONDING WHEN I CONTACTED HER OFFICE. THAT MEANT A LOT TO ME, THE PROFESSIONALISM. 
          AND TO CLIFF AND HIS STAFF FROM COMMISSIONER CAGLE'S OFFICE. 
          AT LEAST I RECEIVED A RESPONSE. THERE WAS ACKNOWLEDGMENT THERE. IT MEANT THE WORLD TO ME. I REQUEST ONE OF THE COMMISSIONERS OR JUDGE ADD MY CONCERN TO THE AGENDA SO IT MAY BE CONSIDERED AT A FUTURE MEETING AND TO BE NOTIFIED WHEN THE ISSUE IS ADDED TO THE AGENDA SO I MAY CONTRIBUTE. 
          RESPECTFULLY YOU WERE ELECTED TO REPRESENT THE PEOPLE AND NOT SIT QUIETLY BY WHILE LAW 
          ENFORCEMENT ABUSES THEIR POWERS. >> LINA HIDALGO: THANK YOU SO 
          MUCH. >> I CONTACTED YOUR OFFICE. WHEN HIS OFFICE WOULD NOT RESPOND AND WHEN HIS STAFF DOESN'T RESPOND OR DOESN'T HAVE OFFICE I CONTACTED EVERYONE'S OFFICE HOPING FOR A RESPONSE. I JUST WANT TO TELL YOU THANK YOU. IT MEANT A LOT THAT YOUR STAFF WENT -- YOUR STAFF AS YOUR STAFF -- I'M SORRY. YOUR STAFF WENT OUT OF THE WAY AND I WAS TOLD, MA'AM, I DON'T HAVE AN ANSWER, BUT I WILL FIND IT FOR YOU. WITH THIS OTHER OFFICE, I CAN'T EVEN -- I SEND E-MAILS TO COMMISSIONER ELLIS AND I THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE, BUT THEY DON'T GO TO HIM. SOMEBODY SCREENS HIS E-MAILS. SO NO ONE RESPONDS I HAVE TO COME BEFORE THE COURT. SIR, I HAVE BEEN TRYING TO CONTACT YOUR OFFICE WITH NO RESPONSE. I APPRECIATE YOUR PROFESSIONALISM. 
          >> LINA HIDALGO: THANK YOU. ANYONE ELSE? ANYONE ELSE NOT ON THE AGENDA? IT IS 3:25 AND COMMISSIONER'S COURT IS NOW UH CURRAN -- 
          >>
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.