* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning. [00:00:07] >> GOOD MORNING, COURT OFFICES. IT IS 10 A.M. AND WE WANT TO WELCOME YOU BACK TO OUR SECOND DAY OF BUDGET HEARINGS FOR HARRIS COUNTY FISCAL YEAR 2027. I'M TRACY BUTRUM AND TODAY I'LL SERVE AS YOUR MEETING PARLIAMENTARIAN AND TIME KEEPER. WE WANT TO WELCOME OUR HOST, COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR ERICA LEE CARTER AND EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE OFFICE OF MANAGEMENT AND BUDGET DANIEL RAMOS. A COUPLE OF NOTES ON THE TIMING AND FORMAT FOR TODAY'S PRESENTATION. TODAY WE HAVE NINE PRESENTATIONS ON THE ROSTER OUR MORNING PRESENTATIONS WILL BE 30 MINUTES EACH. EACH DIRECTOR HAS BEEN GIVEN THE OPTION TO EITHER HAVE 5 MINUTES AT THE TOP FOR THEIR INTRODUCTORY REMARKS OR THEY MAY CHOOSE TO SPLIT THEIR TIME TO HAVE 3 MINUTES FOR INTRODUCTORY REMARKS AND 2 MINUTES FOR CLOSING. EACH COURT OFFICE WILL THEN HAVE 5 MINUTES IN TOTAL FOR THEIR QUESTIONS. IF YOU HAVE ANY REMAINING TIME WE WILL DO A SECOND PASS. SO YOU MAY RESERVE YOUR TIME FOR THAT OTHERWISE YOU MAY RELEASE YOUR TIME OR YOU MAY DONATE YOUR TIME TO ANOTHER COURT OFFICE, PLEASE INDICATE WHICH COURT OFFICE YOU WOULD LIKE TO DO NATE THAT TIME TO SO WE CAN KEEP TRACK OF THE TIME. AND WITH THAT, WE WELCOME OUR [Fire Marshal] FIRST PRESENTER THE FIRE MAR MARSHALL'S OFFICE. >> GOOD MORNING. IF IT'S OKAY I'LL JUST SIT HERE AND MAKE IT EASIER FOR EVERYBODY TO -- WE'LL GO BACK AND FORTH. SO I'M LAURIE CHRISTIAN SEN AND I'M HERE WITH EXECUTIVE CHIEF RODNEY REED AND BOBBY KADO. STATE LICENSING AS A FIRE MARSHAL AND FIRE ADMINISTRATIVE LAW ENFORCEMENT CHIEF AND FIRE MARSHAL I'M HONOURED TO SERVE THIS COURT AS YOUR APPOINTMENT UNDER LOCAL GOVERNMENT CODE 352.011. I KNOW Y'ALL HEARD THIS BUT I WANT TO REMIND YOU THE MISSION OF THE HARRIS COUNTY FIRE MARSHAL'S OFFICE IS TO SAFEGUARD THE LIVES AND PROPERTY OF THE PUBLIC IN HARRIS COUNTY. AND FOR THAT I WANT TO THANK THIS COURT FOR ALLOWING US TO BE HERE THIS MORNING. TO PRESENT OUR BUDGET PLANS. TO RESPOND TO THE QUESTIONS AND FOR THE SUPPORT THAT Y'ALL HAVE GIVEN US NOT JUST THIS YEAR BUT THE PAST SEVERAL YEARS AND I WOULD JUST APPRECIATE THE COMMUNICATION AND MY TEAM DOES AS WELL. WE SERVE MORE THAN 5 MILLION RESIDENTS ACROSS 12700 SQUARE MILES OF HARRIS COUNTY. ALTHOUGH THEY ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE UNNEN INCORPORATED AREAS OF HARRIS COUNTY BECAUSE OF THE ABILITY FOR US TO HAVE TASK FORCE, THE MOUS SUCH AS THE RECENT FIFA AND WORKING WITH MRG, HARRIS COUNTY AND PUBLIC HEALTH AND POLICE CONTROL WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO COVER ALL OF HARRIS COUNTY IN VARIOUS WAYS AND YOU KNOW ONE OF THE THINGS WHEN WE TALK TO OFFICES WE ALWAYS SAY IS WE DON'T SEE THOSE LINES IN THE COUNTY. WE'RE GOING TO WORK WITH ALL OF OUR 34 CITY PARTNERS, 53 FIRE DEPARTMENTS AND OVER 85 LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES. WE ARE AUTHORIZED BY THE STATE OF TEXAS AS A LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY, FIRE DEPARTMENT, TYPE ONE HAZMAT TEAM AND OUR STATUTORY DUTIES ARE NOT JUST LIMITED TO FIRE INVESTIGATIONS, CODE ENFORCEMENT AND HAZARDOUS MATERIALS RESPONSE, OUR OFFICE OFFERS MANY SIGNIFICANT OPPORTUNITIES, CERTIFICATIONS AND ACCREDITATIONS THANKS TO THE PEOPLE WHO COME TO WORK EVERYDAY FOR THAT OFFICE AND THIS COUNTY FROM THE HARRIS COUNTY FIRE MARSHAL'S OFFICE AND I WANT TO DEFINITELY GIVE THEM CREDIT AND IT'S ONLY WITH THE SUPPORT OF OUR PARTNERS AND I MENTIONED SOME EARLIER AND I CAN'T LIST ALL OF THEM BUT OUR PARTICIPATES HERE IN THE COUNTY SUCH AS PUBLIC HEALTH, O&B, C CONSUBSTANTIALS -- CONSTABLES AND FIRE MARSHALS. IT HOLDS THE PROPERTY AND EVIDENCE, ACCREDITATION FOR PROPERTY AND EVIDENCE BUILDING AND THAT'S ALSO WITHIN THE UNITED STATES. WE'RE ALSO THE ONLY FIRE MARSHAL'S OFFICE IN THE STATE OF TEXAS TO HAVE AN ACCREDITATION BY THE POLICE POLICE CHIEF ASSOCIATION AND I SAY THAT TO THANK YOU BECAUSE AGAIN WAS THE THINGS I WANT RESIDENTS OF THE COUNTY TO KNOW IS THE SUPPORT WE HAVE NOT ONLY FROM COURT MEMBERS BUT FROM OUR VARIOUS PARTNERS IS THAT WE GET THE FUNDING NEEDED TO ACCOMPLISH THAT. WE'RE GOING TO GO INTO THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF BUDGET AND THEN WE'LL TALK A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT THAT BUT AGAIN, I WANT TO THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU, CHIEF. EACH COURT OFFICE WILL NOW HAVE 5 MINUTES FOR QUESTIONS BEGINNING WITH PRECINCT ONE. >> HELLO, GOOD MORNING. [00:05:04] THANKS FOR COMING IN. AND FOR -- YOU KNOW, EVERYTHING YOU DO. SO JUST TO -- FOR SIMPLE QUESTION TO START OFF WITH YOUR TEAM HAS BEEN WORKING WITH O&B TO LIKE FIGURE OUT WHAT COULD BE ALLOCATED TO THE FIRE CODE AS OPPOSED TO COMING OUT OF THE GENERAL FUND. THAT WORK TO LIKE SHIFT AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE ONTO THE FIRE CODE HAS ALREADY HAPPENED; RIGHT? >> YES, SIR. SO FOR THE FISCAL YEAR 24, FOUR POSITIONS WERE MOVED FROM THE GENERAL FUND TO THE FIRE CODE FOR TOTAL BUDGET IMPACT OF 551,000 AND FOR FISCAL YEAR 25 ADDITIONAL TWO POSITIONS WERE MOVED FROM THE GENERAL FUND TO THE FIRE CODE FOR THE BUDGET IMPACT OF 297,000. NOW KEEP IN MIND THAT WE DO WORK WITH THE AUDITORS AND THE COUNTY ATTORNEY OFFICE AND THE BUDGET OFFICE TO ENSURE WE ARE MEETING THOSE STATUTORY REQUIREMENTS. ONE ADDITIONAL POSITION COULD BE BUT WE'RE RELUCTANT TO, AGAIN ALWAYS WANTING TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE THE FUNDING NECESSARY. I ALSO WANT TO SAY IF IT'S OKAY TOO, I KNOW SOME OF THE THINGS WE'VE TALKED ABOUT NOT ONLY WITH YOUR OFFICE BUT THE PREVENTION OF THE BUREAU CONTINUES TO BE BETWEEN 45,000 PREVENTION ACTIVITIES WHICH IS ABOUT 22,000 TO 23,000 INSPECTIONS A YEAR. IT'S CURRENTLY DISPERSED AMONG 39 INSPECTORS SO THAT'S AN AVERAGE WORKLOAD OF 11 -- 136 COMPARED TO OTHER FIRE MARSHALS IN THE AREA. THEY KAER A VERY HEAVY LOAD WHICH OFTEN TIMES WE DO GET WORRIED ABOUT BURNOUT OR THEM WANTING TO TRANSITION. >> ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. AND THEN COULD YOU PLEASE SHARE THE PROGRESS ON THE DEVELOPMENT OF PUBLIC PERFORMANCE METRICS AND DASHBOARDS FOR YOUR DEPARTMENT SERVICES. >> YES, SIR. IF IT'S OKAY I'D LIKE TO TURN IT OVER TO CHIEF REID HE'S BEEN WORKING COLLABORATIVELY WITH OTHER DEPARTMENTS WITH THAT. >> THANK YOU COURT MEMBERS FOR BEING HERE AND ALLOWING US TO SPEAK. RODNEY REID, EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT CHIEF WE'VE BEEN WORKING VERY CLOSELY WITH UNIVERSAL SERVICES SPECIFICALLY IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF OUR PREVENTION ACTIVITIES. ALONG WITH ENGINEERING AND PUBLIC HEALTH AS THAT DATA VISUALIZATION INITIALLY WE ALSO PUT OUR DATA OUT VIA OUR SOCIAL MEDIA TO PROVIDE KEY PERFORMANCE INDICATORS HOWEVER WE KIND OF SHIFTED IT A LITTLE BIT WE DO REPORT IN WITH THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR'S OFFICE EVERY QUARTER AND SEEING THAT THE -- ON THE OCA DASHBOARD THOSE YOU KNOW -- UNIFIED KPIS THERE REDUCING DIFFERENT LOCATIONS AND AGAIN WE'RE ALWAYS IN THE ENVIRONMENT OF TRYING TO MAKE SURE OUR -- THE GOOD WORK THAT ALL OF OUR TEAM MEMBERS DO IS SHOWCASED AND WE'RE ALSO LOOKING WHENEVER WE SEE THOSE SLUMPS SO THERE'S A LOT OF INTERNAL KPIS THAT WE ALSO TRACK. >> ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. AND I'LL RESERVE MY TIME. >> THANK YOU, PRECINCT ONE. PRECINCT TWO YOU WILL NOW HAVE 5 MINUTES FOR QUESTIONS. >> GOOD MORNING. THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE CHIEF CHRISTENSEN, CHIEF REID. PRECINCT TWO WORKS VERY CLOSELY WITH YOUR OFFICE I FEEL LIKE I KNOW YOU WELL BECAUSE OF THE INDUSTRIAL NATURE OF THE PRECINCT I WOULD BE REMISS IF I DIDN'T ASK Y'ALL ABOUT HAZMAT. HAZMAT RESPONSE CAN BE VERY EXPENSIVE. SO I WANTED YOU TO TALK A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT HAZMAT BILLING AND HOW Y'ALL ARE MAKING UP -- OR OFFSETTING THE COST OF OPERATING YOUR HAZMAT TEAMS. >> CHIEF REID I KNOW YOU'VE BEEN WORKING ON THAT QUITE A BIT AS WELL. >> YES, MA'AM. SO THE VERY FIRST THING ONE OF THE PRIMARY RECOMMENDATIONS WE HAVE FOR THE HAS MALT TEAM IS FEDERAL GRANT FUNDING THROUGH THE URBAN AREA SECURITY INITIATIVE. WE GET AROUND 300,000 DOLLARS ANNUALLY TO OFFSET THE COST OF EQUIPMENT AND MAINTAINING THE LARGE PACKAGE OF METRES AND ALL THAT BUT ON THE HAZMAT BILLING IT'S BEEN AN INTERESTING -- IT'S BEEN AN INTERESTING ISSUE FOCUSED ON WHERE WE NOT DOING THINGS RIGHT WITH THE PARTNERSHIP OF THE COUNTY ATTORNEY BECAUSE WE'RE NOTICING REVENUES ARE STARTING TO DECREASE AND THE AMOUNT WE'RE ACTUALLY RECUPERATING AND WAS WORKING WITH DPS TO KIND OF GIVE AN UNDERSTAND BECAUSE WHAT WE SAW WAS IT WAS PRIMARILY OVER THE ROAD TRUCKING COMPANIES THAT WERE PRIMARY CULPRITS FOR NONPAYMENT AND WHAT WE FOUND WAS THIS IS A COMMON STRATEGY USED THROUGHOUT THE STATE OF TEXAS BECAUSE OF A LOOPHOLE IN CORPORATE LAW WHERE DOT OVER THE ROAD TRUCKING COMPANIES WOULD [00:10:02] ACTUALLY SHUT DOWN THEIR LLC, OPEN UP ANOTHER LLC, REAPPLY FOR A NEW DOT LICENSE AND THEN OPEN UP AS A SECONDARY COMPANY WITH NO FISCAL PENALTIES OR REMEMBRANCE FROM ERRORS IN THE PAST. AND SO OUR HOPES IN PARTNERSHIP WITH TEXAS DPS AND WORKING WITH IN INTERGOVERNMENTAL AFFAIRS TO POTENTIAL LOOK AT CLOSING SOME OF THESE LOOPHOLES THAT ALLOW THESE TRUCKING COMPANIES. OUR FIXED FACILITY PROPERTIES ARE DOING AN AMAZING JOB OF WORKING WITH US HOWEVER WE HAVE SEEN RECENTLY SOME ISSUES WITH LOCAL GOVERNMENT CODE 343 THAT WE HAVE ALREADY PROPOSED CHIEF CHRISTENSEN PROPOSED LEGISLATIVE CHANGES TO ENTER GOVERNMENTAL AFIRS FOR IT TO BE CONSIDERED AND POTENTIALLY PICKED UP IN THE NEXT LEGISLATIVE SESSION. >> AND IF IT'S OKAY I JUST TELL YOU CHIEF REID IS THE REPRESENTATIVE FOR UWASI FOR HARRIS COUNTY SO I DO WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE FACT THAT OUR RELATIONSHIPS AND WE TALKED ABOUT DPS AND THE OTHER PARTNERS IT IS CRITICAL WE KEEP THAT GOING. I'M GLAD TO SEE THIS CONVERSATION IS NOT JUST ABOUT HARRIS COUNTY BUT OBVIOUSLY WE'RE THE LARGEST AND IT'S AFFECTING US SO THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU FOR THAT. SPEAKING OF LEGISLATIVE AFFAIRS AND THINGS THAT HAVE PASSED IN THE LEGISLATURE RECENTLY THAT HAVE AFFECTED YOUR WORK I'M THINKING RIGHT NOW ABOUT THE IN-SCHOOL DEFILL LATERS, THE AAD AND YOUR NEW OBLIGATION TO INSPECT THOSE MIGHT BE AFFECTING YOUR WORK CAN YOU TALK A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT THOSE IMPACTS. >> THAT IS A HUGE PASSION, SCHOOL INSPECTIONS AND JUST AS A REMINDER NO SCHOOL IN THE STATE OF TEXAS BY STATUE IS TO BE INSPECTED BUT WE'VE ADOPTED IT INTO OUR FIRE CODE AND WE DOMENT IN INSPECT SCHOOLS. OUR TEAM DID A GREAT JOB WORKING WITH THE COMMISSIONER'S OFFICES AND THEIR OFFICE AND ACTUALLY WITH THE TEXAS STATE BAR COMMISSION AND THE TEXAS EDUCATION ASSOCIATION AND THE TEXAS SCHOOL STATE. ALL THESE PARTNERS WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT DOING AED INSPECTIONS WAIT A MINUTE IF YOU DON'T INSPECT SCHOOLS IT'S NOT REQUIRED HOW ARE WE GOING TO GET IN THERE BECAUSE OF THE RELATIONSHIP AND BEING ALLOWED TO GO UP THERE AND WORK WITH PARTNERS ACTUALLY THE TEXAS FIRE COMMISSION AT ONE OF THEIR MEETINGS ASKED THAT THE HARRIS COUNTY FIRE MARSHAL'S OFFICE DEVELOP THE SCHOOL CHECKLIST FOR AED INSPECTIONS TO BE USED THROUGHOUT THE STATE AND I USED OUR OFFICE TO CREATE THE VIDEO THAT'S NOW THE TRAINING VIDEO FOR THE STATE TEXAS COMMISSIONER ON INSPECTION AND NOW ALL FIRE INSPECTORS HAD TO TAKE THIS, ALL THESE COURSES REQUIRED TO TAKE MY MAN TATE AND THIS IS NOW MANDATES I WOULD SAY THIS IS A COUNTY EFFECT BUT IT'S AFFECTING SCHOOLS AND LIFE SAFETY STATE WIDE WE'RE REALLY PROUD OF THAT AND AGAIN I TALK ABOUT THE SUPPORT FROM THESE COURT MEMBERS AND IGA I CAN'T SAY ENOUGH GREAT THINGS. >> THANK YOU. I RESERVE MY TIME. >> THANK YOU, PRECINCT TWO. PRECINCT THREE, YOU WILL NOW HAVE 5 MINUTES FOR QUESTIONS. >> MORNING, NICK RADEK. I'M THE DIRECTOR OF GENERAL SERVICES FOR COMMISSIONER TOM RAMSEY. WE WOULD LOVE TO JUMP ON WITH THE IGA AND HELP YOU GUYS WITH THAT OVER THE ROAD ISSUE SO FEEL FREE TO REACH OUT TO OUR OFFICE FOR THAT. YOU KNOW, HOW COMMISSIONER LOVES TO ASK QUESTIONS ABOUT STATUTORY STUFF SO MY FIRST QUESTION IS GOING TO BE ABOUT STATUTORY FUNCTIONS AND WHAT IS STATUTORILY MANDATED FOR YOUR OFFICE VERSES WHAT IS NOT AND CAN YOU BREAK DOWN YOUR BUDGET AND THE PERSONAL LETTER ASSIGNED TO EACH? >> YES, SIR, I CAN. SO STATUTORILY YOU HEARD ME MENTION THAT EARLIER AND IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT BECAUSE OF THE WAY THAT THE COUNTY FIRE MARSHAL IS SET UP WE'RE APPOINTED BY COURT WE MUST FOLLOW MANDATED ITEMS THERE'S 20 PROGRAMS IN THE STATE LEGISLATIVE STATUES AND WE HAVE FOUR MANDATED COURT PROGRAMS AND WE SUPPORT OR HAVE REQUIREMENTS FOR FIVE. WE DO HAVE A STRATEGIC PLAN CROSSWALK AND YOU'LL HAVE THAT IN FRONT OF YOU AND IF IT'S OKAY I'M GOING TO LET CHIEF REID AND POSSIBLY HE MIGHT EVEN HAVE BOBBY KADO WE HAVE PUT THAT THORTH IN LINE WORKING WITH COMMISSIONER'SATION ON THE STAGIC PLAN. DO YOU WANT TO TALK ABOUT THAT TOO. >> YES, SIR. SO MULTIPLE PROGRAMS AND SERVICES THAT ARE REFERENCED IN THE CROSS WALK THERE FOCUSED PRIMARILY ON STATUTORY MANDATED PROGRAMS. FIRE INVESTIGATION, WHICH HOUSES -- WHICH HOUSES AROUND 29 PEOPLE, EMERGENCY RESPONSE WHICH HOUSES AROUND 36 PEOPLE, THE [00:15:01] FIRE PREVENTION COVERAGE ABOUT 46 ALONG WITH SOME ADDITIONAL OPEN PCNS THAT WE ARE WORKING TO STRATEGICALLY HIRE. OUR TRAINING DIVISION CARRIES 7 POSITIONS AND THEN WE HAVE ANOTHER LARGER TO PROVIDE ALL THE WRAP AROUND SERVICES RELATED WITH HR AND THEN ALL THAT IS KIND OF EQUITABLY DISPERSED AMONGST THE 13 MILLION DOLLARS THAT WE ANNUALLY WORK INSIDE OF EACH OF THOSE WITH THE ONLY ONE NOT BEING IN THE GENERAL FUND IS THE -- OUR FIRE CODE PREVENTION WHICH IS MANDATED UNDER 233 AND 352. >> WE DID ODD THOSE STATUE REFERENCES AND FEEL FREE TO REACH OUT IF WE CAN BE ASSISTANCE. >> PRECINCT ONE ALLUDED TO THIS EARLIER ABOUT THE FIRE CODE IS THERE MORE STUFF THAT WE COULD SHIFT OVER? >> I WILL TELL YOU LOCAL GOVERNMENT CODE 2330.062. YOU KNOW I LOVE TO QUOTE STATUES BECAUSE IT MANAGES OUR BUSINESS IT'S VERY CLEAR WHAT WE CAN AND CANNOT BE AUTHORIZED TO EXPENSE AROUND THAT FIRE CODE. IN TEXAS COUNTIES CAN ADOPT A FIRE CODE WITH 235,000 OR MORE PERSONS AND HARRIS COUNTY WAS NUMBER FIVE AND WE NOW HAVE 28 COUNTIES THAT HAVE ADOPTED A FIRE CODE AND WE'VE BECOME PRETTY MUCH THE STATUS SYMBOL. WE ALL FOLLOW THOSE SAME RULES AND TALK AMONGST EACH OTHER AND TALK TO EACH OTHER COUNTY ATTORNEYS AND IT'S VERY CLEAR THE STATUE. WHAT I'LL TELL YOU THE AUDITORS, O&B COUNTY ATTORNEY WE'RE MAKING SURE WE'RE IN LINE AND IN COMPLIANCE WITH THAT STATUTE . >> IT'S NOT JUST -- YOU KNOW, WE'RE RUNNING OUT OF THINGS STATUTORILY THAT CAN MOVE OVER WE'RE ALSO RIGHT ABOUT WHAT THAT FUND BRINGS IN EVERY YEAR AND WE DON'T WANT TO SET UP A SITUATION WHERE WE'RE ADDING TO IT AND HAVING TO SUBSIDIZE IT IN THE FUTURE. >> YES, SIR. >> ONE THING I'LL ADD TO THAT DIRECTOR RADEK IS THAT THERE ARE -- >> PLEASE JUST CALL ME NICK. ANYBODY IN THIS BUILDING, THANK YOU. >> I MAY HAVE DONE THAT ON PURPOSE. FOR THE RECORD. A NOTE COMMISSIONER'S COURT DID PREVIOUSLY FUND ADDITIONAL PCNS THAT ARE IN THE FIRE CODE AS CHIEF CHRISTENSEN ALLUDED TO THE WORK VOLUME THAT OUR INSPECTORS CARRY IS NOT COMPARABLE TO THEIR PEERS. AND SO -- BUT YOU CAN'T JUST FLOOD PCNS BECAUSE THERE IS ABOUT A 6 MONTH FT -- FIELD TRAINING PROGRAM THAT OUR INSPECTORS GO THROUGH SO WHAT WE HAVE TO DO IS STRATEGICALLY BRING THOSE PCNS ON SO ALTHOUGH WE DO HAVE THE 17PCNS IN THE FIRE CODE THAT ARE OPEN, THOSE HAVE A VERY STRATEGIC 2 AND A HALF YEAR PROCESS IN WHICH WE WILL BRING THOSE POSITIONS ON SO THAT WE DO NOT CREATE A NEGATIVE EFFECT FOR EXISTING CUSTOMERS AS WE'RE HAVING TO REDIRECT STAFF HOURS TO DO THAT FTO PROCESS. >> THANK YOU. I THINK YOU RAN ME OUT OF TIME. >> THANK YOU PRECINCT THREE. PRECINCT FOUR, YOU WILL NOW HAVE 5 MINUTES FOR QUESTIONS. >> THANK YOU. GABBY, SENIOR DIRECTOR OF POLICY FOR COMMISSIONER BROIONES, HOW YOU THINK THEY ARE GOING TO HELP WITH OPERATIONS AND BETTER PREPARE THE FIRST RESPONDERS ON YOUR TEAM. >> WE'RE REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THOSE. YOU HEARD ALL THE THINGS THAT WE DO AND OBVIOUSLY OUR TRAINING FACILITY IS USED NOT ONLY BY FIRE SERVICE BUT BY LAW ENFORCEMENT, INDUSTRIAL AND HARRIS COUNTY SHERIFF DEPARTMENT USES IT EVEN IN THEIR CADET TRAINING. AND CHIEF, YOU WANT TO TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT -- I KNOW WE'VE GOT SOME EXPANSION GOING ON RIGHT NOW WITH THE FIRE FIELD SO WE CAN TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THAT. >> YES, MA'AM. AS IS THE CASE FOR EVERYBODY IN OUR SHERIFF'S OFFICE COUNTER PARTS SPACE IS BECOME LIMITED OUT OF THE TRAINING FACILITY SO THE CAPITAL FUNDS THAT HAVE BEEN APPROVED ARE GOING TO ALLOW FOR THE -- WE ARE BREAKING GROUND CURRENTLY ON THE NEW TRAINING BUILDING WHICH WILL NOT ONLY PROVIDE TWO TRAINING SPACES IT WILL ALSO ALLOW FOR ADDITIONAL OFFICE SPACE FOR OUR STAFF THAT ARE OUT THERE. AND THEN VERY SOON WE'LL BE BREAKING GROWND ON THE TRAINING FACILITY WHICH THE WAY THAT HAS BEEN BUILT IS IT IS MU MULTIFUNCTIONAL SO NOT ONLY DOES IT SUPPORT FIRE RESPONSE AND ALLOW OUR REGIONAL FIRE TRAINING PARTNERS TO PARTICIPATE BUT IT IS ALSO ALLOWING -- IT HAS BUILT SO SHERIFF'S OFFICE CAN UTILIZE IT FOR SIM ROUND TRAINING, THE ALERT TRAINING, ALL THOSE SO WE DO LOOK AT IT THROUGH A [00:20:01] MULTIFACET. >> THANK YOU. APPRECIATE THAT. I THINK AS OF TODAY YOU HAVE ABOUT 19 VACANCIES FOR FULL TIME POSITIONS. CAN YOU TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT RECRUITMENT AND RETENTION AND WHAT ARE THE PRIMARY CHALLENGES THAT YOU HAVE FOR ANY POSITIONS IN PARTICULAR? >> RECRUITMENT? YOU KNOW WE'VE ALWAYS BEEN VERY FORTUNATE AND TURN OVER RATE HAS BEEN LOW AND WE WORK HARD TO MAKE IT A FAMILY ORIENT TYPE OF FAMILY AND CHIEF REID TOUCHED ON IT EARLIER WHAT WE'RE SEEING IS THE OVERLOAD OF WORK LOAD WITH OUR STAFFING AND BECAUSE OF THE WAY NOW WITH SOME OF THE PAY PARITY ISSUES THERE IS A CONFUSION IF YOU'RE NOT LAW ENFORCEMENT YOU MIGHT BE SOMETHING ELSE BUT REALLY YOU'RE STATE CERTIFIED FIRE SERVICE YOU FOLLOW UNDER ALL THE STATE REGULATORY REGULATIONS AND AT THE SAME TIME THOSE ARE REQUIRED TO FOLLOW ALL THE SAME POLICIES AND PROCEDURES AS THE LAW ENFORCEMENT AND THEY HAVE TAKE OATH OF OFFICE AND ALL THOSE THINGS AND I TELL YOU ALL THAT TO SAY YES WE HAVE THOSE VACANCIES AND WHAT'S BECOMING HARDER IS TO FIND THOSE THAT WILL COME TO WORK AS A FIRE INSPECTOR WITHOUT LAW ENFORCEMENT BECAUSE THEY CAN GO SOMEWHERE ELSE MOST OF THE AGENCIES IN THE SURROUNDING AREA EXCEPT FOR A MUNICIPALITY LIKE HOUSTON THEY REQUIRE YOU TO BE LAW ENFORCEMENT AND FIRE AT THE SAME TIME WHEREAS WE TRY TO BE VERY -- YOU KNOW, WE UNDERSTAND THERE'S GOING TO BE PEOPLE WHO I'VE GOT ARCHITECTS AND ENGINEERS THAT HAVE COME WORKED FOR US AND NICE CERTIFIED FOLKS THAT WANT TO BE FIRE INSPECTORS AND THEY ARE REALLY GOOD AT WHAT THEY DO AND THAT'S BECOMING AN ISSUE AND WE DO HAVE A FULL TIME TRAINING POSITION THAT IS OPEN AND WE TALKED ABOUT PREVENTION AND AGAIN WHEN I SAY WE HAVE TO DO FTO PROGRAM AND STATE LICENSED REMEMBER WE HAVE TO MEET NATIONAL STANDARD CRITERIA. >> THANK YOU, CHIEF. GIVEN RECENT EVENT I THINK THERE'S MORE CONVERSATION AROUND BODY WORN CAMERAS I BELIEVE YOU DON'T DO -- BUT DO YOU HAVE A POLICY AROUND BODY WORN CAMERAS. >> WE DO FOLLOW THE TEXAS POLICE CHIEF BEST PRACTICES OUR STAFF ALL WEAR BODY CAMERAS AND WE HAVE AN ANNUAL REVIEW WE HAVE TO DO QUARTERLY AND REPORT WE HAVE TO TURN IN ANNUALLY AND POLICIES AND PROCEDURES AGAINST TRAFFIC STOPS AND OBVIOUSLY IMMINENT LIFE STAFETY WE UNDERSTAND THATS NOT THE LANE IN THE COMMISSION WE HAVE CONSTABLES AND SHERIFFS AND OTHER LAW ENFORCEMENTS THAT'S THEIR DUTIES SO YES, WE DO. >> THANK YOU, CHIEF AND FOR MY LAST QUESTION MAYBE MY TEAM WAS TELLING ME THAT WE GOT A LOT OF SHOUT OUTS FROM FOREIGN VISITORS WHO CAME FROM FIFA AND WORLD CUP AND TALKED ABOUT HOW WELL ORGANIZED IT IS AND KUDOS TO YOUR TEAM ESPECIALLY ANY LESSONS LEARNED OR HIGHLIGHTS YOU WANT TO SHARE. >> I CAN TELL YOU IT'S ALL ABOUT RELATIONSHIPS AND COORDINATION AND I WANT TO GIVE YOU A SHOUT OUT TO CHIEF REID AND SUAREZ, CHIEF WHY DON'T YOU TAKE THIS ONE I'M JUST REALLY PROUD OF THIS TEAM. >> I THINK THE MAIN THING AS CHIEF CHRISTENSEN SAID HAS BEEN THE PARTNERSHIPS. THE CITY COUNTY PARTNERSHIP, ALL THOSE FOREIGN VISITORS, INTERNATIONAL VISITORS AND EVEN FOLKS LOCALLY DON'T UNDERSTAND THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN HOUSTON AND UNINCORPORATED HARRIS COUNTY AND I THINK THAT'S PROBABLY THE NUMBER ONE THING THAT THAT WAS SHOWCASED WAS THAT IT DIDN'T MATTER IF IT WAS IN THE CITY, YOU SAW COUNTY RESOURCES AND IT DIDN'T MATTER IF IT WAS IN THE COUNTY YOU SAW CITY RESOURCES AND THAT PARTNERSHIP HAS BEEN THE BIG THING AND ADDITIONALLY SPECIAL SHOUT OUT TO IGA FOR NAVIGATING SOME OF THE HIGHER POLITICAL ISSUES THAT DUMB ROCK BREAKERS LIKE ME THAT PROBABLY DON'T NEED TO BE MANAGING. >> THANK YOU, CHIEF REID. >> THANK YOU, PRECINCT FOUR COUNTY JUDGE'S OFFICE YOU WILL NOW HAVE 5 MINUTES FOR QUESTIONS. >> GOOD MORNING, JULIA WITH THE VJ AND I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE AND ALL THAT YOU DO WE WORK VERY WELL TOGETHER AND WE APPRECIATE IT. >> THANK YOU. >> SO WITH THAT, FOLLOWING UP ON THE WORLD CUP, I KNOW FUNDING FOR THOSE PROJECTS ARE BASED ON A REIMBURSEMENT BASED ON THIS ARE THERE ANY EXPECTATION OF DELAYS OR ANYTHING THAT YOU ARE SEEING THAT WOULD IMPACT YOUR YEAR END PROJECTIONS. >> WITHIN OUR OWN BUDGET? NO, MA'AM. WHAT I CAN TELL YOU IS THAT AGAIN, WE TALK ABOUT IGA AND WORKING WITH THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT AND THE CITY OF HOUSTON. AND CHIEF REID ACTUALLY HAS BEEN PART OF THAT COMMITTEE AS WELL HAS IS CHIEF SWAWRS AND WHAT I CAN TELL YOU THEY ARE CONTINUALLY MEETING AND TO MY KNOWLEDGE, NO, EVERYTHING SEEMS TO BE ON TRACK. THANK YOU. >> AND THEN PROPOSED OFFSETS INCLUDE ELIMINATING ONE FULL TIME OUTREACH SPECIALIST POSITION COULD YOU SPEAK TO THE IMPACT OF THIS POSITION AND HOW IT WILL IMPACT SERVICES PROVIDED? >> IT IMPACTS US GREATLY IN THE RESPECT OF YOU KNOW, AGAIN, I'M THAT PERSON THAT LIKES FOR US TO GET OUT AND GO TO EVENTS AND DO MORE THAN JUST SOCIAL MEDIA, SOCIAL MEDIA IS GREAT BUT I I [00:25:02] LIKE TO ENGAGE WITH THE PEOPLE. WE CAN'T ATTEND AS MANY EVENTS AS WE USED TO WE MANAGE THE DOWNTOWN MUSEUM FOR CHILDREN EVERY YEAR. WE DO CERTAIN THINGS EVERY YEAR THAT WE -- IT'S GOING TO EFFECT US IN THAT WAY JUST BECAUSE AGAIN, WE TALK ABOUT THE SIZE OF HARRIS COUNTY AND WE DON'T JUST IMPACT ONE OR THE OTHER JURISDICTIONS. >> OKAY.AND THEN ARE THERE ANY MAJOR AREAS OF UNANTICIPATED COST INCREASE THAT IS ARE IMPACTING YOUR DEPARTMENT THAT YOU'VE SEEN OVER THE LAST YEAR? FUEL COSTS? THINGS LIKE THAT. >> I WOULD SAY NO MORE THAN NORMAL. AGAIN WE TRY TO BE VERY STRICT IN OUR BUDGET PLANNING SO NO MORE THAN NORMAL. THANK YOU. >> OKAY. AND THAT'S THE LAST QUESTION THAT I HAVE FOR THE JUDGE'S OFFICE. >> THANK YOU, COUNTY JUDGE'S OFFICE WE WILL NOW REVISIT FOR ANY REMAINING TIME, PRECINCT ONE YOU HAD 2 MINUTES REMAINING. THANK YOU, PRECINCT ONE. PRECINCT TWO, YOU HAD 9 SECONDS REMAINING. >> QUICKLY, DO WE GET REIMBURSED WITH OTHER ENTITIES USING OUR TRAINING FACILITY IF IT'S SOMEBODY OUTSIDE THE COUNTY. >> YES, MA'AM, WE DO. WE HAVE A RATE SCHEDULE THAT WAS UPDATED RATE SCHEDULE THAT WAS APPROVED BY THE LAST COMMISSIONER'S COURT SO THAT WE CAN MAINTAIN THE MAINTENANCE ON THE FACILITY. >> THANK YOU, PRECINCT TWO. PRECINCT THREE AND FOUR HAVE NO TIME REMAINING AND COUNTY JUDGE'S OFFICE YOU HAVE 3 MINUTES REMAINING. >> I WILL GIVE MY TIME TO PRECINCT THREE. >> THANK YOU. >> JACKPOT. QUESTION OF EVERYBODY, ESSENTIALLY IN PRECINCT THREE MY DEPARTMENT I INCUR COSTS FROM OTHER DEPARTMENTS INTERNALLY IS THERE ANYTHING -- YOU KNOW, UNFAIRLY BEING UNBURDENED ON Y'ALL AND NEXT PART OF THE QUESTION DO Y'ALL HAVE ANY BIG IDEAS THAT COULD REVOLUTIONIZE HARRIS COUNTY OR DEPARTMENT OR SAVE THE COUNTY A BUNCH OF MONEY IN ANY PARTICULAR WAY AND I'LL JUST LET Y'ALL TALK FREELY. >> YEAH, SO THAT'S ALWAYS AN INTERESTING -- TO ANSWER YOUR FIRST QUESTION ON COST SHARING ACROSS DEPARTMENTS AND THINGS LIKE THAT. THAT'S ALWAYS A CONCERN; RIGHT? 'CAUSE AT THE END OF THE DAY IT'S MOVING MONEY FROM THE LEFT POCKET TO PUT IT INTO THE RIGHT POCKET. BUT THERE HAVE BEEN SOME OPPORTUNITIES WHERE THAT STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIP MAKES A GREATER IMPACT WHEN YOU DO SEE THAT MOST RECENTLY AND WE'RE STILL TRYING TO CLEAN IT UP RIGHT NOW WITH THE INTER COP DEPLOYMENT WHICH WAS AN ADVANCED SITUATIONAL AWARENESS TOOL USED DURING FIFA WORLD CUP AND HOPEFULLY WILL BE CONTINUED TO BE USED FOLLOWING WORLD CUP BUT THAT'S A LOCATION I KNOW THAT ONE OF THE PROBLEM UNIVERSAL SERVICES FACES IS THEY ARE HAVING TO CHARGE THE COST FOR THE RADIOS WHICH THEN IS INCURRED BY THE INDIVIDUAL DEPARTMENT AND A POINT OF DEFENCE FOR THEM AS I SAID ON THE UWASI CHAIR YOU KNOW THIS YEAR WE WERE REDUCED YOUR FISCAL YEAR 26 REDUCTION WAS AROUND 2.3 MILLION DOLLARS WHICH HAD TO BE BURDENED PRIMARILY BY THE CITY OF HOUSTON AND HARRIS COUNTY. WHICH UNFORTUNATELY BECAUSE OF THE LARGE ASK WITH UNIVERSAL SERVICES RADIO INFRASTRUCTURE THEY TOOK A LARGE HIT OF THAT. SO AGAIN, THERE ARE THOSE TIMES BUT YOU KNOW, I TRY TO ALWAYS TELL PEOPLE TO SAY THE FOREST THROUGH THE TREES AND THEN, OF COURSE, I'M GOING TO KICK IT OVER TO THE BIG IDEA LADY OVER HERE THAT MAKES US WORK. >> I DO WANT TO SAY AND I'M GLAD YOU ASKED ME THAT I -- AS YOU KNOW, PRESIDENT OF INTERNATIONAL FIRE MARSHAL ASSOCIATION AND I TRAVEL IN DIFFERENT AREAS I DO WANT YOU TO KNOW WE'RE WORKING, I SAY WE, ALL OVER THE NATION WE'RE WORKING WITH ICC AND NFPA LEVERAGING TECHNOLOGY SUCH AS ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE AND MACHINE LEARNING THROUGH CODE DEVELOPMENT AND PLAN REVIEW. AND HOW CAN WE DO BETTER -- AND I SAY WE BECAUSE THE CODE FOLKS, WE ARE THE ONES WE HAVE TO USE THAT WITH DEVELOPERS AND BUSINESS OWNERS AND THEY KNOW WE WANT BUSINESSES AND I WANT BUSINESSES TO STAY OPEN, HOW DO WE GET TO GUESS BECAUSE THERE'S ALTERNATIVE METHODS AND SO IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THOSE CODE DEVELOPERS WE'RE ACTUALLY WORKING WITH THEM TO SEE HOW WE CAN USE THAT TECHNOLOGY AND ENHANCE THE OPERATIONS THAT THEY HAVE CAPABILITIES OF THAT WE ALREADY ARE APART OF TO HELP OUR CUSTOMERS OUT IN THE FIELD. SO WE'RE REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THAT WHEN IT COMES TO -- WELL, AND I KNOW LIKE I SAID I STRESS MY TEAM OUT AND GET VERY EXCITED ABOUT THE USE OF ANYTHING THAT'S GOING TO HELP MOVE FORWARD. >> THANK YOU, PRECINCT THREE. AND THAT WILL CONCLUDE THE COURT QUESTIONS SEGMENT AND CHIEF, YOU WILL HAVE 2 MINUTES FOR CLOSING REMARKS. >> OKAY. BASICALLY REDUCTIONS ARE [00:30:02] MANAGEABLE IN THE NEAR TERM BUT THEY ARE NOT WITHOUT CONSEQUENCE. OUR FIRE MARSHAL OFFICE REMAINS COMMITTED TO PROTECTING THE PUBLIC THROUGH STATUTORY REQUIREMENTS WE TALKED ABOUT, CODE ENFORCEMENT AND INVESTIGATIONS, BUT I REALLY WANT TO THANK OUR COUNTY PARTNERS AND COMMISSION'S COURT AND RECOGNIZE THE MEN AND WOMEN OF THE HARRIS COUNTY FIRE MARSHAL OFFICE WHAT I BELIEVE IS WE ARE THE MOST EFFICIENT TASK ORIENTED CUSTOMER SERVICE DRIVEN AND ACCREDITED PUBLIC SAFETY AGENCY CARRYING OUT THE STATUTORY DUTIES AS ALLOWED BY THIS COMMISSIONER'S COURT UNDER LAW GOVERNMENT CODE 352.011 AND IF I HAVE ANY TIME, I'LL GIVE IT. >> THANK YOU, CHIEF. AND THANK YOU TO THE ENTIRE FIRE MARSHAL'S OFFICE. [Pollution Control] >> THANK YOU. >> OUR NEXT PRESENTATION WILL COME FROM POLLUTION CONTROL SERVICES. WELCOME TO POLLUTION CONTROL SERVICES. REMINDER ON THE FORMAT, DIRECTOR DICKERMAN HAS CHOSEN TO HAVE THE 5 MINUTES UPFRONT AND THEN EACH COURT OFFICE WILL HAVE 5 MINUTES FOR QUESTIONS IN ROTATION BEGINNING WITH PRECINCT TWO. DIRECTOR. >> THANK YOU, THANK YOU, TRACY. HI, GOOD MORNING. I'M JESSE DICKERMAN AND INTERIM EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR FOR POLLUTION CONTROL AND I'M HERE WITH DEMETRA HAMILTON WHO IS ONE OF PCS AS EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR. I WANT TO START AND SAY THANK YOU IN AD ADVANTAGES TO COURT FOR YOUR DEPARTMENT IT'S BEEN STRONG AND LONG SERVING I KNOW IT'S A TOUGH JOB TO BALANCE ON THE BUDGET AND APPRECIATE HOW HARD YOU GUYS WORK AND I ALSO TO THANK THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR ERICA LEE CARTER FOR HER CONFIDENCE AND SUPPORT FOR THE DEPARTMENT AND FINALLY I WANT TO THANK THE STAFF AT PCS SINCE I'VE BEEN THERE THE LAST FEW MONTHS BEEN INCREDIBLY SUPPORTIVE, HARD WORKING THIS IS A STAFF THAT GETS IT DONE EVERYDAY DOESN'T GET A LOT OF ATTENTION AND I JUST WANT TO SHOW SOME APPRECIATION FOR THE STAFF. I WANT TO USE MY TIME THE REST OF THIS TIME TODAY TO TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT PRIORITIES FOR THE DEPARTMENT AND PROVIDE SOME CONTEXT FOR THE BUDGET. JOB NUMBER ONE FOR ME RIGHT NOW IS TO STABILIZE THE ORGANIZATION AND POLLUTION CONTROL. IT'S BEEN TALKED ABOUT ON AND OFF BUT OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS TURN OVER HAS BEEN A HUGE MAJOR ISSUE AT POLLUTION CONTROL SERVICES. AFTER THE ITC FIRE WHEN COMMISSION'S COURT PROVIDED ADDITIONAL RESOURCES AND ASKED FOR ADDITIONAL SERVICES FROM POLLUTION CONTROL, THE DEPARTMENT HAS SEEN ON AVERAGE FROM 2021 TO END OF 2025 AN AVERAGE TURN OVER EXCEEDED 25%. SO IN THAT TIME 91 TOTAL SEPARATIONS WHERE WE'VE SEEN AN AVERAGE OF 70 FTES DURING THAT TIME SO FULL TURN OVER OF STAFF IN 5 YEARS. WHILE THE TEAM DID SET UP NEW INNOVATIVE PROGRAMS, SET UP EXPANDED AIR MONITORING AND WATER POLLUTION MONITORING WE WERE NOT ABLE TO STABILIZE STAFFING. SO YOU KNOW, WE'VE AVERAGED 70 STAFF SINCE THEN AND WE'RE OPERATING IT SLIGHTLY BELOW THAT NUMBER TODAY. I THINK THE SOLUTION IS TRAINING AND DEVELOPMENT. WE NEED TO INVEST IN TRAINING. THERE IS AT THE MOMENT NOT A CURRENT TRAINING BUDGET NOT AN OFFICIAL TRAINING BUDGET FOR POLLUTION CONTROL SERVICES WE NEED TO HAVE ADDITIONAL CERTIFICATIONS AND FORMAL TRAINING PROGRAMS AND THE STAFF HAS RESPONDED AND WE ARE LAUNCHING THREE TRAINING PROGRAMS TODAY AND THAT WILL -- I THINK THAT WILL HELP, PAY EQUITY WAS VERY HELPFUL. MANY EMPLOYEES IN POLLUTION CONTROL RECEIVED PAY EQUITY INCREASES IT WAS A TOTAL OF UNDER OVER 750,000 FOR A DEPARTMENT OF THAT SIZE, THAT [00:35:01] WAS APPRECIATED. I ALSO WOULD HOPE AND HAVE ASKED HR THAT POLLUTION CONTROL BE ON THE EARLY SIDE OF A REEVALUATION WHILE I THINK THOSE RAISES HAVE HELPED I THINK WE NEED -- WE MAY NEED TO GO FURTHER AND DEVELOP A CAREER LADDER. I TALKED ABOUT THE TURN OVER, THERE ARE SOME VERY EXPERIENCED SUPERVISORS AND MANAGERS AND THEN A LOT OF VERY GREEN STAFF. WE NEED BETWEEN 12 AND 18 MONTHS TO FULLY TRAIN STAFF MEMBERS TO MAKE THEM ABLE TO HANDLE THE WORK LOAD THAT POLLUTION CONTROL HANDLES. AND I THINK THAT WE EVALUATING SOME OF THE SALARIES FOR -- ESPECIALLY INVESTIGATEORS CREATING INVESTIGATORS 2 AND INVESTIGATORS THREE ALTHOUGH WITH CERTIFICATIONS AND TRAINING THAT WILL MAKE A BIG DIFFERENCE FOR CONSISTENCY AND TO HAVE MORE SENIOR -- MORE SENIOR -- MORE SENIOR STAFF. WORK LOAD-WISE, WE'LL TALK SOME ABOUT STATUTORY VERSES COURT DIRECTED ACTIVITIES BUT WE MAINTAIN INTERNALLY THAT ALL COMPLAINTS NEED TO BE RESPONDED TO WITHIN 24 HOURS. WE ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR WASTE WATER TREATMENT PLANTS ACROSS THE COUNTY MORE THAN 500 OF THEM THEY NEED TO BE INSPECTED ONCE OVER THREE YEARS AND AT POLLUTION CONTROL WE HAVE FRONT LINE INSPECTORS BUT THERE'S A CIRCUIT; RIGHT? WE HAVE PEOPLE TAKE COMPLAINTS WE GET COMPLAINTS EVERYDAY. WE HAVE FIELD INVESTIGATORS THAT INVESTIGATE COMPLAINTS AND WE HAVE INSPECTORS THAT LOOK AT WATER, WASTE WATER TREATMENT PLANTS AND ALL OF THAT FALLS BACK ON THE LAB AND WE GOT A FULL SCALE LAB THAT ALLOWS US TO TAKE WHAT WE MEASURE OUT IN THE FIELD AND TURN IT INTO ACTIONABLE AND MORE ACTIONABLE INFORMATION AND POTENTIAL VIOLATIONS. FINALLY I HOPE TO BE ABLE TO TALK ABOUT THE CONCRETE BATCH PROGRAM AND THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF ISSUES WITH THE COMMUNITY WITH CONCRETE BATCH PLANTS AND WE'RE TRYING TO RELAUNCH THAT INITIATIVE. IT'S BEEN -- AGAIN, SOME EXCELLENT WORK DONE BY DR. BABBEN AND THE STAFF AND WE NEED TO REINVEST IN THAT PROGRAM. THANK YOU, AGAIN, LOOK FORWARD TO ANSWERING YOUR QUESTIONS. >> THANK YOU, DIRECTOR. PRECINCT TWO YOU WILL NOW HAVE 5 MINUTES FOR QUESTIONS. >> THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. EXCITED TO SEE THAT YOU AND DEPUTY DIRECTOR HAMILTON ARE TAKING A SERIOUS LOOK AT THE STAFFING ISSUES THAT HAVE EXISTED FOR A WHILE INSIDE POLLUTION CONTROL AND I'M EXCITED TO SEE THE DIRECTION YOU'RE GOING TO DGO WITH THAT AD I HOPE THAT YOU'LL LEAN ON COURT FOR FURTHER DIRECTION ON THOSE ISSUES. I WANT TO TAKE A FEW MINUTES IF YOU COULD AND LEAN INTO SOME OF THE THINGS YOU HINTED AT IN YOUR OPENING ABOUT OPPORTUNITIES. THERE'S A LOT OF OBSTACLES THAT I THINK WE'RE ALL WELL AWARE OF WITHIN POLLUTION CONTROL BUT WHAT OPPORTUNITIES DO YOU SEE TO LEVERAGE THE BUDGET YOU HAVE NOW TO GROW YOUR IMPACT IN HARRIS COUNTY? >> THANK YOU FOR THE QUESTION. I THINK AGAIN ADDITIONAL TRAINING WILL GIVE US INCREASED CAPACITY. I THINK THAT'S MORE CERTAIN. WE SEE OVER TIME PEOPLE ARE ABLE TO HANDLE MORE DO BETTER JOB OF WRITING REPORTS AND BE MORE EFFICIENT AND OBSERVANT IN THEIR INVESTIGATION SO REINVESTING IN THAT TRAINING WILL INCREASE EFFICIENCY WITHOUT ADDING NEW FTES AND I DO THINK WE NEED TO STABLE LIES THE LEVEL OF FTES, THE AIR DIVISION IS SHORT A COUPLE OF PEOPLE WE HAVE MORE EQUIPMENT TODAY THAN WE HAVE PEOPLE WHO CAN USE IT. I THINK THAT'S REALLY -- THAT'S UNACCEPTABLE. COURTS MADE SIGNIFICANT INVESTMENTS IN EQUIPMENT AND WE GOT TO BE ABLE TO MAKE THE BEST USE OF IT. ONE PLACE I THINK WE'LL BE ABLE TO LEVERAGE WHAT WE CURRENTLY HAVE IS ON WATER. WATER ISSUES ARE BECOMING INCREASINGLY COMPLICATED IN UNINCORPORATED HARRIS COUNTY ACROSS ALL FOUR PRECINCTS WE'RE SEES MUDS FAIL FREQUENTLY AND WHEN THEY DO I THINK THE PRECINCTS ARE FINDING THAT THERE REALLY ISN'T ONE PLACE TO LOOK TO HELP SOLVE SOME OF THOSE ISSUES THERE MAY BE SOME LEGISLATIVE CHANGES THAT WE WANT -- THAT WE WANT TO LOOK AT THAT GIVE THE COUNTY A LITTLE MORE AUTHORITY WHEN THESE MUDS -- WHEN MUDS FALL APART. WATER ACROSS THE COUNTY IS SPLIT, PUBLIC HEALTH DOES DRINKING WATER AND THEY RESPOND ONLY WHEN THERE'S COMPLAINTS. WHILE POLLUTION CONTROL HANDLES WASTE WATER AND IS VERY INVOLVED IN THE STORM WATER PERMIT WHICH IS ACTUALLY HANDLED BY THE OFFICE OF COUNTY ENGINEER SO THERE'S A PATCH WORK, IT'S A PATCH WORK OUT THERE OF LEGISLATIVE RESPONSIBILITY BOTH TCEQ AND THE PEC HAVE SPEEDOMETER OVER WATER AND AGAIN, OVERLAPPING MUDS, WASTE [00:40:04] WATER DISTRICTS, SMALL CITIES SO I THINK THAT'S AN AREA WHERE WORKING ACROSS COUNTY DEPARTMENTS WE CAN PULL TOGETHER AND COME UP WITH A MORE UNIFIED STRATEGY THAT LETS US SERVE FOLKS OUT IN THE COUNTY. >> AND THEN BUILDING ON THAT I'M CURIOUS TO KNOW WITH THE ADDITION OF SUSTAINABILITY UNDER THE POLLUTION CONTROL UMBRELLA HOW ARE YOU THINKING ABOUT BREAKING DOWN THOSE SILOS THAT EXIST INSIDE THE COUNTY TO LEVERAGE OVER THE DEPARTMENTS IN THE COUNTY YOU'RE UNIQUE LY SITUATED BECAUSE YOU HAVE THE PREVIOUSLY COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR I'M INTERESTED TO KNOW YOUR THOUGHTS ON HOW YOU CAN GROW THE INFLUENCE OF POLLUTION CONTROL BY WORKING WITH THE OTHER DEPARTMENTS AND IN WHAT WAYS. >> I LOVE WORKING WITH OTHER DEPARTMENTS. REALLY WE HAVE GREAT DEPARTMENT HEADS AND AGAIN COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR IS A TERRIFIC LEADER SO AGAIN WORKING WITH LAURIE CHRISTENSEN IN PARTICULAR, WE'RE ALREADY TALKED ABOUT WE HAD A DRONE PROGRAM THAT WAS STARTED LAST YEAR LOOKING AT AIR MONITORING FROM A HIGHER LEVEL UP FURTHER IN THE ATMOSPHERE, THE PEOPLE RUNNING THAT PROGRAM IN PLAWTION POLLUTION CONTROL WE LOST SOME OF THEM AS TURN OVER ISSUES BUT PARTNERING WITH FMO WHERE WE CAN PROVIDE AIR MONITORING EXPERTISE AND THEY CAN DROI THE DRONE PILOTING EXPERTISE ESPECIALLY DURING ER EVENTS WE HAVE PLUMES MOVING AND WE HAVE GROUND LEVEL MONITORS AND WE HAVE NOTHING UP IN THE AIR AND I THINK THAT COULD PROVIDE A NEW VIEW, A NEW TOOL. I THINK THAT'S ONE -- PUBLIC HEALTH AS WELL DR. BARTON IS A TERRIFIC ADMINISTRATOR AND WORKING CLOSELY WITH HER WE'VE TALKED ABOUT WHERE CAN WE CONSOLIDATE LAB FACILITIES, PUBLIC HEALTH HAS LABS, WE HAVE A LAB, SO WE'RE LOOKING AT THAT TOGETHER AND AGAIN COUNTY ENGINEER THEY DO STORM WATER PERMITTING OFTEN AND SO THAT'S AN EXTRA LAYER AROUND ENFORCEMENT; RIGHT? WE FIND SITUATIONS WHERE WHILE WE DON'T HAVE CITATIONS THAT WE CAN FIND THERE MAY BE STORM WATER VIOLATIONS, STORM WATER PERMIT VIOLATIONS THAT THE COUNTY ENGINEER COULD POTENTIALLY ENFORCE. SO I LOOK FORWARD TO CLOSER COLLABORATION THERE AS WELL AND WITH SUSTAINABILITY THEY ALREADY DO PRETTY GOOD JOB THEY WORK ACROSS DEPARTMENTS THEY HAVE DONE AN EXCELLENT JOB THERE AND I WOULDN'T WANT TO CHANGE A THING -- YEAH, THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU, PRECINCT TWO. PRECINCT THREE, YOU WILL NOW HAVE 5 MINUTES FOR ME. >> GOOD MORNING, NICK RADACK REPRESENTING COMMISSIONER TOM RAMSEY DO YOU WANT TO FINISH WHAT YOU WERE SAYING JUST THEN? >> NO. >> OKAY. WELL THEN I'LL GO AHEAD INTO SOME QUESTIONS. THEY MAY FOUND FAMILIAR BASED ON MY OTHER BUDGET HEARINGS BUT COMMISSIONER RAMSEY IS BIG ON STATUTORY FUNCTIONS AND I THINK WE HAD 500 MILLION THAT WERE NONSTATUTORY LAST YEAR ADMITTEDLY BY THE DEPARTMENTS CAN YOU TALK TO ME ABOUT POLLUTION CONTROL AND THE OFFICE OF SUSTAINABILITY AND WHERE YOU THINK MOST OF THAT -- YOUR BUDGET FALLS. >> YEAH, THANKS FOR THE QUESTION, NICK. POLLUTION CONTROL IS IN A BIT OF A GREY AREA THERE I THINK THERE ARE STATUTORY MANDATES AND AGAIN I TALKED ABOUT THE WATER MONITORING PROGRAM AND THE SURVEILLANCE AND SAMPLING FOR THE MS4 PERMIT LIKE THE WATER TEAM, THAT IS A RESPONSIBILITY TECHNICALLY OF THE STATE. WE DON'T HAVE AN OVERALL AGREEMENT WITH THE STATE THAT WE'RE ACTUALLY DOING THAT WORK BUT THEY ARE NOT DOING THAT WORK AND WE ARE. SO I WOULD CONSIDER THAT A STATUTORY MANDATE WE'RE FULFILLING EVEN THOUGH WE'RE NOT ACTUALLY THE ONES THAT HAVE BEEN ASKED TO DO THAT SO THAT'S THE WATER TEAM. I THINK THE REST, YOU KNOW, AN EXPECTATION OF RESPONDING TO COMPLAINTS WITH AN INVESTIGATION WITHIN 24 HOURS I CONSIDER THAT A COURT DIRECTIVE AND EXPECTATION NOT A STATUTORY MANDATE BUT THERE ARE -- AND I THINK I SHARED THIS BEFOREHAND WHAT'S MY NUMBER, WE GET YOU KNOW HUNDREDS OF COMPLAINTS A MONTH ON POLLUTION -- AT POLLUTION CONTROL AND I THINK SOMEONE NEEDS TO ANSWER -- SOMEONE NEEDS TO RESPOND TO THOSE CALLS. THOSE -- THE COMMUNITY AIR MONITORING PROGRAM AGAIN HAS BEEN A COURT EXPECTATION, COURT STARTED THAT PROGRAM IN THE WAKE OF THE ITC AND SO WE CONSIDER THAT A MUST. THAT PROGRAM CAN'T JUST GO AWAY. THAT'S REALLY -- AGAIN, I CONSIDER THOSE GREY AREAS WHILE WE'RE NOT ACTUALLY MANDATED TO BE THE ONES TAKING THE LEAD ON THOSE PROGRAMS, THERE ARE THINGS THAT HAVE TO BE DONE. >> OKAY. ALSO I'VE BEEN ASKING EVERYBODY [00:45:02] ABOUT COST SHARING SERIESSENTIA ARE THERE ALLOCATED COSTS THAT ARE UNFAIRLY BEING UNBURDENED ON POLLUTION CONTROL WHEN REALLY IT SHOULD BE A RESPONSIBILITY TO SOMEBODY ELSE. >> IT'S A GOOD QUESTION I THINK WE NEED TO LOOK MORE INTO THAT AS FAR AS I CAN TELL SO FAR, I DON'T THINK SO. WE GENERALLY ARE NOT OVERLAPPING WITH THE CITY WE'RE MOST OF OUR WORK IS HAPPENING OUTSIDE OF THE CITY LIMITS AND I WOULD ALSO SAY THAT WE GENERALLY DO A BETTER JOB OUTSIDE OF THE CITY AND THE CITY IS DOING INSIDE THE CITY AND I DO THINK THAT THAT'S A PLACE WHERE -- YOU KNOW, WITH THE RIGHT MAYORAL ADMINISTRATION WE COULD HAVE SOME -- SOME COST SHARING; RIGHT? AND I THINK THAT THEY HAVE A SMALLER TEAM AT THE CITY AND THEY HAVE LESS TO DO ON WASTE WATER TREATMENT BUT ON COMPLAINTS ON CONCRETE BATCH THERE ARE THINGS THAT I THINK WE DO A BETTER JOB OF THAN THEY DO BUT AT THE MOMENT WE DON'T COVER THOSE SERVICES AND THAT'S NOT A PLACE WHERE THERE IS OVERLAP. I TALKED ABOUT LAPS BEFORE, I THINK THAT'S A POTENTIAL PLACE WHERE WE COULD CONSOLIDATE SOME SERVICES PARTICULARLY WITH PUBLIC HEALTH. WE'RE PROBABLY NOT HEADED TOWARDS ONE LAB BUT WE'RE LOOKING TO SEE WHAT WE CAN DO. >> OKAY. AND THEN LAST QUESTION IS NORMALLY THE -- DO YOU HAVE ANY BIG IDEAS TO REVOLUTIONIZE POLLUTION CONTROL OR ANYTHING IN THE COUNTY THAT ESSENTIALLY COULD SAVE US A BUNCH OF MONEY, AND YOU KNOW INCREASE SERVICE TO OUR CONSTITUENTS. >> YEAH. I MEAN I THINK YOU KNOW, NICK, I'M AN IDEA GUY. I LIKE BIG IDEAS I THINK WE'RE CONTINUING TO WORK ON THINGS, SOME OF THEM ARE ON THE SUSTAINABILITY SIDE ON THE ENERGY EFFICIENCY SIDE. I THINK THERE ARE STILL MILLIONS OF DOLLARS ON THE TABLE ESPECIALLY AROUND COUNTY WATER USE LEAKS, RIGHT, I THINK THAT'S A PLACE WHERE THE ENERGY MANAGEMENT TEAM AND SUS SUSTAINABILITY NEEDS TO DOUBLE DOWN AND LOOK AT WATER CONSERVATION. THERE ARE A COUPLE OF THINGS ON THE ENERGY UTILITY SIDE THAT WE'RE CONTINUING TO LOOK AT TO LOWER COSTS THERE AND YOU KNOW WE HAVE A TENDER OUT FOR RENEWABLE ENERGY WHICH WE THINK WILL -- GREEN OUR USAGE OF ENERGY AND LOWER OUR COSTS SO I'M HOPEFUL THAT THAT WILL BEAR FRUIT IN THE NEXT COUPLE OF MONTHS AND WE'VE GOT SOME OTHER THINGS IN THE HOPPER THAT AGAIN, WE'RE REALLY FOCUSED ON SAVING ON SAVING MONEY, SOMETHING I'VE ALWAYS BEEN REALLY LASER FOCUSED ON AND AGAIN AT POLLUTION CONTROL, THINGS ARE STRETCHED THIN AND I DON'T THINK THERE'S A LOT TO BE SAVED THERE. BUT WE'LL MAKE THE VERY BEST USE OF THE DOLLAR THAT IS WE'RE GIVEN. >> THANK YOU, SIR. >> THANK YOU, PRECINCT THREE. PRECINCT FOUR YOU WILL NOW HAVE 5 MINUTES FOR QUESTIONS. >> THANK YOU. GRANT PATTERSON, PRECINCT FOUR. DIRECTOR, HOW WILL BRINGING IN SUSTAINABILITY AS THEY ARE CONTINUING TO IMPLEMENT THE CLIMATE ACTION PLAN AND CLIMATE JUSTICE PLAN HELP PROVIDE SOME MORE OPPORTUNITIES TO ADDRESS THE CAREER LADDER CHALLENGES, SOME OF THE CROSS TRAINING NEEDS. >> YEAH, I THINK THAT'S A VERY REAL OPPORTUNITY FOR FOLKS IN POLLUTION CONTROL. I THINK SEEING THE OTHER SIDE THAT YOU KNOW THAT THE SUSTAINABILITY TEAM HAS ALWAYS DONE A LOT OF INNOVATIVE WORK AND WE GET A LOT WHEN THERE'S OPENINGS OF THE SUSTAINABILITY TEAM AND A LOT OF APPLICATIONS AND PEOPLE INTERESTED AND YOUNG PEOPLE ARE REALLY INTERESTED IN SUSTAINABILITY AND I THINK HAVING A PART OF POLLUTION CONTROL AND LOOKING AT BOTH THE ENFORCEMENT SIDE, YOU KNOW, AS KIND OF THE OTHER SIDE OF SUSTAINABILITY IS GOING TO BE REALLY IMPORTANT FOR FOLKS 'CAUSE THE MISSION THAT PEOPLE -- POLLUTION CONTROL ARE DOING IS SIMILAR. I THINK THE MOST SIMILARITY IS THE MISSION DRIVEN APPROACH WHERE WE'RE REALLY EVERYONE IS LOOKING TO PROTECT THE ENVIRONMENT, IMPROVE WATER QUALITY, AIR QUALITY MAKE SURE WE'RE WRITING ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE WRONGS AND THAT WAS ONE OF DR. BABBEN'S FOCUS AS WELL THAT SHARED MISSION BUT SHOWING WHAT THE WEALTH AND BREADTH OF POTENTIAL JOBS IT'S NOT JUST -- YOU KNOW, HAVING SUSTAINABILITY IN YOUR TITLE BUT THE WORK WE'RE DOING ON WATER QUALITY AND THE AIR QUALITY LIKE THAT IS SUSTAINABILITY WORK. AND BEING ABLE TO HAVE PEOPLE WORK ON BOTH SIDES I THINK WILL REALLY HELP BOTH ORGANIZATIONS CONTINUE TO HAVE HIGH QUALITY COMMITTED PEOPLE. >> THANKS. AND ARE THERE PLANS TO IDENTIFY WAYS FOR PCS TO COLLECT AND USE AIR MONITORING DATA MORE EFFICIENTLY AND MORE STRATEGICALLY THIS YEAR. >> YEAH, IT'S A GREAT QUESTION I THINK IT'S AN AREA THAT WE CAN REALLY IMPROVE ON. WE HAVE SO MUCH DATA SITTING IN [00:50:03] YOUR SYSTEM FROM AIR MONITORING THAT WE ONLY RECENTLY HIRED A NEW TOXICOLOGIST WHO IS TERRIFIC AND IS STARTED TO DIG IN, DR. BABBEN IS AMONG OTHER THINGS THE HEAD TOXICOLOGIST AT PCS AND WAS BURDENED WITH A LOT OF RESPONSIBILITIES BOTH ON THE AIR AND WATER SIDE WE HAVE A LOT OF INFORMATION THAT WE COULD DO A BETTER JOB OF BRINGING TO THE PUBLIC AND SHOWING AND SHARING WITH THE PUBLIC. WE MAINTAIN DASHBOARDS SO FOLKS CAN LOOK AT THE AIR MONITORING SYSTEM LIVE AT ALL TIMES, 32 STATIONARY MONITORS AND 10 OZONE AND 22 OF OUR OWN MONITORS BUT THAT SYSTEM WE NEED TO EXPAND THAT SYSTEM NOT NECESSARILY ALL FROM COURT BUT THROUGH PARTN PARTNERSHIPS, KRISTEN AND I MET WITH THE PORT OF HOUSTON RECENTLY AND THEY ARE CONSIDERING HOW TO DO MORE ON AIR MONITORING THAT COULD BE A GREAT PARTNERSHIP AS WELL SO WE HAVE A LOT OF DATA WE NEED TO SHOW THE IMPACT EVERYTHING HAS TO HAVE IMPACT AND YOU KNOW THE WORK WE'RE DOING WE WILL DO BETTER THIS YEAR AT ADVERTISING WHAT'S HAPPENING OUT THERE. >> THANK YOU. AND CAN YOU TALK US THROUGH THE OFFSETS THAT PCS PROPOSED HOW THEY ARE IDENTIFIED AND HOW -- YOU KNOW, HOW THEY WILL IMPACT PCS'S ABILITY TO KEEP DELIVERING ON IT'S CORE COMPLIANCE AND MONITORING FUNCTIONS? >> YEAH, AND I TALKED A LITTLE BIT ABOUT TURN OVER BEFORE; RIGHT? AND SO THAT WAS PART OF THE REASON THAT WHEN IT CAME TO OFFSETS YOU KNOW WE OFFSET OPEN POSITIONS. BECAUSE I REALLY CAN'T AFFORD TO OFFSET PEOPLE WITH EXPERIENCE INSIDE THE ORGANIZATION. EVEN IF WE FILL OPEN POSITIONS LIKE I SAID IT'S GOING TO BE 12 TO 17 MONTHS BEFORE THEY ARE REALLY READY TO CARRY A FULL LOAD AT THE LEVEL AND AT THE SPECIFICITY THAT WE NEED FOR ENFORCEMENT. SO THE OPEN POSITIONS ARE WHAT WE OFFERED AND A NUMBER OF THESE OPEN POSITIONS WE NEED. THERE'S TWO AIR MONITORING POSITIONS HERE LIKE I SAID WE REALLY NEED SOME ADDITIONAL AIR MONITORING FOLKS TO USE THE EQUIPMENT THAT WE ALREADY HAVE THERE'S FIELD INVESTIGATORS ON HERE AND PART OF WHAT WE SAID BEFORE FOR US TO HAVE A CAREER LADDER AND HAVE PLACES TO GO AND BEST OF INVESTIGATORS MOVE UP FROM INVESTIGATOR ONE TO TWO TO THREE WE NEED TO HAVE THOSE POSITIONS AVAILABLE FOR FOLKS TO MOVE UP AND FOR THAT CAREER LADDER TO HAPPEN. BUT LOOK, YOU GUYS HAVE A REALLY HARD JOB AND ADMINISTRATOR AND BUDGET DIRECTOR HAVE A REALLY HARD TIME OF BALANCING THE BUDGET AND WE WILL OPERATE WITH WHATEVER RESOURCES THAT WE'RE GIVEN BUT IT WILL BE HARD FOR US TO BE AS STABLE AS I WANT US TO BE AND TO GROW IN THE AREAS THAT I WANT WITH THESE PROPOSED OFFSETS. >> THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU, PRECINCT FOUR. COUNTY JUDGE'S OFFICE YOU WILL NOW HAVE 5 MINUTES FOR QUESTIONS. >> JULIET, CFO, COUNTY JUDGE'S OFFICE. GOOD MORNING, THANK YOU FOR COMING, BEING HERE AND IN YOUR DPN, THE DEPARTMENT NOTED THE POSITIVE IMPACT OF THE PAY EQUITY STUDY AND YOU TALKED ABOUT THAT HERE. THERE WAS ALSO THE WARNING OF POSSIBLE STRAIN FROM THE UNFREEZING OF NEEDED POSITIONS. HOW WILL THIS IMPACT THE GROWTH OF THE DEPARTMENT ESPECIALLY WITH REQUESTS FROM THE COMMISSIONER'S RECENTLY FOR PCS TO EXPAND SERVICES IN THE RESPECTIVE PRECINCTS. >> LIKE I SAID, I THINK THAT WE -- WE WANT TO DO MORE, THE DEPARTMENT WANTS TO DO MORE AND THE FOLKS ON THE GROUND WANT TO CONTINUE TO DO MORE THEY FEEL STRAINED BY THE YEARS OF TURN OVER; RIGHT? AND IT'S NOT THAT THERE'S BEEN A LACK OF SUPPORT BECAUSE I THINK THIS COURT HAS SUPPORTED THE ORGANIZATION BUT WE'VE JUST BEEN UNABLE TO EXECUTE ON GROWTH. SO I THINK AGAIN ALL THE VARIOUS TEAMS, THE WATER TEAM, ER TEAM WHO IS AVAILABLE 24/7 I MEAN THERE ARE MANY TIMES WHEN TRUCKS -- YOU KNOW, FLIP OVER ON THE HIGHWAY AT 2 IN THE MORNING; RIGHT? AND THEN THERE ARE POLLUTION CONTROL RESPONDERS THAT COME ON SITE. AND THAT'S A SMALL TEAM. AND YOU KNOW IF THE WRONG TIME OF THE WEEK WE GET TRUCKS TURNED OVER TWO OR THREE NIGHTS IN A ROW THOSE FOLKS ARE STRETCHED THIN LIKE IF EVERYBODY IS IN TOWN AND NOBODY IS SICK, WE CAN HANDLE THE WORK LOAD IN ER BUT YOU KNOW WE'VE GOT AN EMPLOYEE WHO'S OUT OF THE OFFICE COUPLE OF DAYS AND WE'LL BE STRAINED IF THERE'S TWO EVENTS AT ONE TIME IT WILL BE HARD; RIGHT? ON THE AIR -- ON THE AIR-SIDE, WE DESIGNED THE AIR MONITORING SYSTEM SORT OF LIKE ONE FULL TIME EMPLOYEE TO MAINTAIN 8 SEPARATE AIR MONITORING SITES. [00:55:03] WE'RE SORT OF AT A 1: 16 RATIO TODAY AND WE'RE ABLE TO KEEP UP WE GOT 80% UP TIME WHICH IS OUR GOAL BUT IT'S A STRAIN ON THOSE TEAMS AND WE GOT SUPERIVISORS TAKING TIME TO REPAIR AIR MONITORING STATIONS. WE WILL GET IT DONE BUT FOR US TO BE ABLE TO TAKE ON OTHER THINGS AND TO MOVE IN INNOVATIVE WAYS THAT COURT WANTS US TOO WE NEED A LITTLE MORE ROOM. >> AND YOU'VE TALKED A LOT ABOUT WHAT YOU WANT TO GROW WITH THE DEPARTMENT AND WHAT IT NEEDS AND YOU KNOW THE SPECIFICS BUT WHAT YOU'RE ONLY -- YOUR SERVICE ENHANCEMENT REQUEST IS FOR A CHIEF SCIENCE OFFICER POSITION CAN YOU EXPLAIN EXACTLY HOW THAT POSITION WITH HELP THOSE GOALS THAT YOU HAVE. >> YEAH, THANKS FOR THE QUESTION. LOOK I THINK ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE ARE MISSING IS A LITTLE BIT MORE TECHNICAL SCIENCE FOCUS AT THE DEPARTMENT. DR. BABBEN AGAIN SHE WAS THE CHIEF TOXICOLOGIST AND CHIEF SCIENCE OFFICER AND SHE RAN THE LAB AND CHIEF ADMINISTRATOR OFFICER SHE WAS DOING FOUR DIFFERENT JOBS AT ONE TIME. WITH HER RETIREMENT WE'RE LACKING SOME OF THAT SCIENCE-BASED EXPERTISE IN EMERGING ESPECIALLY THAT HURTS US IN EMERGING AREA. DR. BABBEN STARTED US OFF ON A ROAD OF INVESTIGATOR CHEMICALS IN THE WATER AND THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT HAS SORT OF TAKEN A STEP BACK BUT I THINK WE BELIEVE PRETTY STRONGLY THAT THAT WILL COME BACK. HAVING A PERSON WHO IS GOING TO BE OVER THE TECHNICAL SIDE OF THE HOWS AND HELPING US PUSH BOUNDARIES WORK WITH ACADEMIC INSTITUTIONS IN THE AREA, RICE, UNIVERSITY OF HOWUSTON AND TEXA A&M THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE FOCUSED ON BOTH SUSTAINABILITY AND AIR AND WATER QUALITY WE NEED TO BUILD THOSE PARTNERSHIPS AND THE COST WILL BE LOW THERE TO HELP US BRING IN GRANT MONEY OVER TIME AND HELPING MAKE SURE WE'RE DELIVERING AGAIN THE MOST IMPACT WE CAN INSTEAD OF ASKING FOR MORE DATA RESOURCES LEANING ON ACADEMIC PARTNERS AND MAKING DATA AVAILABLE TO THEM AND THOSE ARE THE KIND OF PARTNERSHIPS THAT I THINK WE CAN HAVE THAT WILL ULTIMATELY PROVIDE A LOT MORE VALUE THAN WILL COST. SO THAT'S REALLY WHAT I SEE FOR A POSITION. THE LAB AS WELL, THE LAB THAT A PERSON COULD HELP OVERSEE THE LAB POTENTIALLY WHERE THERE'S ACCREDI ACCREDI ACC ACCREDITATION IS AN ISSUE BRINGING IN NEW EQUIPMENT AND DOING A LOT OF NEW EXCITING THINGS. >> OKAY, THANK YOU. YOU'VE TALKED A LOT ABOUT THE OFFICE OF SUSTAINABILITY AND YOU KNOW, WHAT HAD THE TRAINING AND THINGS LIKE THAT THAT YOU HAVE WOULD THAT -- WOULD THOSE FUNDS THAT BE RECEIVED THE GO AHEAD FROM THE COMMISSIONER'S COURT WOULD THOSE BE AVAILABLE TO ANY OTHER PCA DIVISIONS? >> YEAH, I THINK WE'RE ESTABLISHING A TRAINING BUDGET WE'RE GOING TO BE FOCUSED AT FIRST ON THOSE FRONT LINE INVESTIGATORS AND ENVIRONMENTAL RESPONDERS. I THINK OVER TIME YES, A LOT WE WANT TRAINING TO BE AVAILABLE TO EVERYONE. HE WITH WE WANT PEOPLE TO BE ABLE TO CROSS TRAIN. CROSS TRAINING IS GOING TO BE NECESSARY WHERE FOLKS FROM DIFFERENT DIVISIONS WILL DEVOTE TIME TO INVESTIGATIONS, WATER INVESTIGATIONS, ENVIRONMENTAL RESPONSE, THAT WAY WE'LL BE ABLE TO DO MORE WITHOUT JUST ASKING FOR NEW PCNS AND YES, OVER TIME THE SUSTAINABILITY TEAM WILL ALSO BE ABLE TO DO SOME OF THOSE TRAININGS BUT I DO THINK OUR INITIAL FOCUS HAS TO BE ON THE ENFORCEMENT AND ENVIRONMENTAL RESPONSE SIDES BECAUSE THOSE ARE THE KEY PIECES THAT WE NEED TO STABILIZE. >> THANK YOU, COUNTY JUDGE'S OFFICE. PRECINCT ONE YOU WILL NOW HAVE 5 MINUTES FOR QUESTIONS. >> HELLO, PRECINCT ONE. I WANTED TO TAKE THE OPPORTUNITY TO DIVE A LITTLE BIT IN MORE DETAIL OVER SPECIFIC SERVICES WHICH ARE INCLUDED IN YOUR OFFSETS PROPOSALS, SPECIFICALLY THE COMPLIANCE SERVICE AND CAN YOU JUST SPEAK A LITTLE BIT MORE TO HOW THE COMPLAINS SERVICE FUNCTIONS IN PARTICULAR THE ROLES OF SOLID WASTE COORDINATOR, THE WATER COORDINATORS AND WHAT IMPACTS COULD BE IMPACTED OF THESE POSITIONS IF THESE ARE REDUCED. >> I'VE BEEN REALLY IMPRESSED WITH THE COMPLIANCE TEAM SO FAR SHE'S DONE A TERRIFIC JOB AND HER WHOLE TEAM THEY WOULD LIKE A SOLID WASTE COORDINATOR BECAUSE THERE'S A LOT OF SOLID WASTE COMPLAINTS I MEAN I SEE ALL THE VIOLATION NOTICES THAT WE SEND OUT OR REVIEW THEM ALL THEY ARE MOSTLY -- SIDE WASTE IS ONE OF THE BIG UFT ONES WE SEE OF HAVING A PARTICULAR COMPLIANCE OFFICER FOR THAT WOULD BE HELPFUL THE WAY THAT WORKS IS WHEN WE INVESTIGATE COMPLAINTS AND WE FIND -- WE FIND THINGS; RIGHT? SOMEONE SAYS HEY, NU NEIGHBOR IS DUMPING SOLID WASTE [01:00:07] IN THEIR YARD AND WE CONFIRM THAT AND COMPLAINS GOES OUT WE DON'T JUST SEE A NOTE ONCE AND SEND OUT A NOTICE REINSPECTS AND WORKS CLOSELY WITH THE COUNTY ATTORNEY OFFICE AND THEY DO A GREAT JOB. I WILL SAY I THINK OF ALL THESE THINGS THAT THAT'S A NEEDED POSITION BUT THAT TEAM CAN HANDLE THE WORK LOAD CURRENTLY IF YOU'RE ASKING ME TO CHOOSE WHAT OF THESE THINGS I NEED THE MOST AGAIN I'LL GO BACK TO I THINK THE AIR, ER AND THE WATER THE COMPLIANCE ONE AS WELL BUT I THINK WE CAN GET BY IN THE NEAR TERM WITHOUT THAT POSITION AND HOPEFULLY -- YOU KNOW, CAN TRADE SOMETHING ELSE DOWN THE LINE BUT COMPLIANCE IS INVITELE AND THAT TEAM WORKS REALLY WELL AT THE COUNTY ATTORNEY WHO HAS BEEN AN AMAZING PARTNER AND SARA IS REALLY TERRIFIC SHINING STAR IN THE COUNTY AND WE WORK REALLY CLOSELY WITH HER. >> VERY SIMILAR QUESTION BUT NOW FOCUSING MORE ON THE FIELD SERVICES WHICH WE'RE ALSO INCLUDED IN THE OFFSET PROPOSALS FOR THE DEPARTMENT AND MAYBE YOU COULD SPEAK TO WHAT IMPACTS COULD BE OF THOSE AND HOW THE FIELD SERVICES AND HOW IT TIES INTO HOW YOU MENTIONED EARLIER THE PROGRAM. >> THANK YOU. THE FIELD SERVICES ARE THE FRONT LINE FOR COMPLAINT INSPECTIONS AND COMPLAINT INVESTIGATIONS AND AGAIN, WE'VE GOT SOME -- I SHARED SOME SLIDES BEFOREHAND YOU KNOW OUR BENCHMARK WE LOOKED AT WAS WASHINGTON COUNTY WHICH INSPECTS ABOUT 20 INSPECTIONS PER MONTH PER INSPECTOR AND OUR FOLKS TYPICALLY ARE IN THE HIGH 30S SO THEY DO A LOT -- THERE'S A LOT OF COMPLAINTS THAT COME IN AND THEY DO A GREAT JOB SPONEDING TO THOSE I DO WANT TO MOVE ON AND TALK ABOUT THE CONCRETE BATCH PROGRAM AND THIS IS AN INNOVATIVE PROGRAM THAT DR. BABBEN STARTED, WITH A COUPLE OF FTES THE POLLUTION CONTROL DEPARTMENT CONDUCTED ALMOST 600 INSPECTIONS BETWEEN 2020 AND 2025. WORKED REALLY CLOSELY WITH THE INDUSTRY ALSO TRIED TO HELP GET PEOPLE TO BE IN COMPLIANCE WITH THEIR PERMITS FOLLOWING THOUSANDS INSPECTIONS WE REINSPECTED THE WORST VIOLATORS AND WORKED WITH THE COUNTY ATTORNEY OFFICE TO SEND VIOLATION NOTICES AND THERE'S BEEN OVER A MILLION DOLLARS THE LAST TWO YEARS IN FINES NOT ALL OF THAT HAS COME TO THE COUNTY AND WE SPLIT A LOT OF THAT WITH THE STATE BUT IT'S BEEN OVER A MILLION DOLLAR IN FINES, ISSUES TO CONCRETE BATCH PLANTS BUT WHAT WE REALLY NEED TO DO NOW IS REINSPECT. WE NEED TO LOOK AT AND SAY WE DID ALMOST 600 INSPECTIONS AND SUED A BUNCH OF PEOPLE AND GOT ABOUT MILLION DOLLARS OUT OF THE INDUSTRY WHICH WE IMPROVED COMPLIANCE? SO WHAT WE NEED TO DO NOW IS REINSPECT SOME SUBSET OF ALL 140 BACHT PLANTS AND PUT THAT DATA AND WE NEED TO BE DATA DRIVEN IN EVERYTHING WE DO AND PUT THAT UP AGAINST THE 600 INSPECTIONS WE DO IN THE FIRST FIVE YEARS AND SAY HAVE WE MEANINGFULLY IMPROVED ARE THERE FEWER MEANINGFUL VIOLATIONS AND VIOLATIONS OVER ALL SO WE CAN COME BACK TO COURT AND SAY WE HAVE AN INDUSTRIAL INSPECTIONS PROGRAM. THERE ARE MANY OTHER TYPES OF FACILITIES OUT THERE THAT CREATE COMMUNITY CERTAIN; RIGHT? THERE ARE SPRAY AND COAT FACILITIES, TANK CLEANING FACILITIES, WE'RE ONLY SCRATCHING THE SURFACE IN MAKING SURE THESE FOLKS ARE WITHIN THEIR PERMITS WHICH IS ALSO WE CAN DO BUT IT'S MEANINGFUL SO I THINK THOSE ARE THE PLACES WE DO WANT TO REINVEST. >> THANK YOU. THANK YOU, PRECINCT ONE. NO COURT OFFICE HAD ANY REMAINING TIME AND SO THANK YOU AGAIN TO DIRECTOR DICKERMAN AND TO THE ENTIRE POLLUTION CONTROL SERVICES DEPARTMENT. >> THANK YOU, AGAIN. >> COLLEAGUES WE HAVE NOW REACHED THE TIME FOR OUR MORNING BREAK SO WE WILL RESUME AT 11:15 A.M. WITH A PRESENTATION FROM OUR CONSTABLES. WELCOME BACK COURT OFFICES IT IS [Constable, Precincts 1 - 8] RESUME. WE ARE HAVING A SLIGHT CHANGE IN THE FORMAT SO WE'RE WELCOME ALL EIGHT OF THEM COLLECTIVELY SO TO START US OUT EACH CONSTABLE PRECINCT OFFICEL BE OFFERED ONE MINUTE FOR INTRODUCTORY REMARKS AND THEN FROM THERE AS WE'VE SEEN EACH COURT OFFICE ARE STILL HAVE 5 MINUTES BEGINNING WITH [01:05:01] COMMISSIONER PRECINCT THREE. SO LET'S START WITH CONSTABLE PRECINCT ONE. >> GOOD MORNING. I'M CHIEF GORE THIS IS CHIEF SHAW WE WANT TO THANK YOU, THANK THE COURT, THANK EACH COMMISSIONER AND THEIR STAFF AND THE JUDGE'S OFFICE AND HER STAFF. BUDGET OFFICE, THANK YOU. FOR ALL THE HARD WORK AND DEDICATION THROUGH THE YEAR AND WITH THE BUDGET. WE'RE HERE TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTIONS, SUPPORT THE COMMUNITY AS WE CAN AND SUPPORT THE COURT. >> YEAH AND I UNDERSTAND THAT WE'RE GOING TO HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO ANSWER SOME INDIVIDUAL QUESTIONS LATER. I UNDERSTAND THERE MAY BE SOME ISSUES FOR QUESTIONS ABOUT NIGHTTIME SECURITY HERE AT THE DOWNTOWN COURTHOUSE COMPLEX. I'M AVAILABLE TO ANSWER THOSE SPECIFICALLY WHEN THAT TIME COMES UP. >> OKAY. THANK YOU. >> CONSTABLE PRECINCT TWO. >> GOOD MORNING. I'D LIKE TO ECHO CHIEF GORE'S COMMENTS I WANT TO THANK THE COURT, COMMISSIONER'S AND THE JUDGE AND, OF COURSE, THE BUDGET OFFICE I KNOW YOU HAVE A REALLY, REALLY TOUGH JOB. YOU HAVE A HARD JOB AND YOU WORK VERY EFFECTIVELY AND I APPRECIATE ALL THE WORK YOU DO. WE -- YOU KNOW, THIS YEAR WE DON'T HAVE MUCH ASKS. THE ONLY ASK IS FOR FUEL. I'LL GIVE YOU QUICKLY A COUPLE OF RUN -- SOME NUMBERS THAT WE HAVE FROM LAST YEAR. LAST YEAR BACK IN 2025 WE USED A TOTAL OF 227,000 DOLLARS WORTH OF GAS AND OUR FUEL BUDGET WAS 165. THIS YEAR AS OF TODAY WE HAVE 212,000 THAT WE'VE USED AND IF WE AVERAGE IT OUT WE'RE ANTICIPATING USING ABOUT A LITTLE BIT MORE WHICH WILL BRING US UP TO OVER 300,000 SO IN EH ADDITION TO 165 FUEL BUDGET ALL WE'RE ASKING IS 148,000 OR LESS WHATEVER YOU CAN COME UP WITH. THANK YOU I'LL WAIT TO HEAR IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS FOR ME LATER. >> CONSTABLE PRECINCT THREE. >> GOOD MORNING, CHIEF DEPUTY PRECINCT THREE AND ON BEHALF OF THE OFFICE I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO THIS COURT AND TO THE BUDGET OFFICE FOR ALL THE HELP AND GUIDANCE THEY'VE GIVEN TO US TO GET US TO WHERE WE'RE AT THIS POINT I HAVE NO OTHER REQUESTS OR COMMENTS. >> THANK YOU. >> CONSTABLE PRECINCT FOUR. >> MY NAME IS CHIEF -- WITH PRECINCT FOUR AND THANK YOU EVERYONE FOR TAKING THE TIME TO DO THIS AND WE DO HAVE ONE ASK TO INCREASE SLIGHTLY OUR NUMBERS. HARRIS COUNTY HAS HAD A GREAT INCREASE IN THE LAST DECADE BY POPULATION OVER 10 AND A HALF PERCENT AND WE HAVE NOT RECEIVED ANY DISTRICT PERSONNEL AT ANY TIME FOR CONTROL. IT WILL BE AN INCREASE OF ABOUT 1 AND A HALF PERCENT TO THE TOTAL DEPARTMENT AND THE REASON WE'RE ASKING FOR THAT IN OUR DEPARTMENT IN HARRIS COUNTY IN GENERAL WE'VE REALLY TRIED TO PUSH PROACTIVE POLICING AND COMMUNITY POLICING AND WE TRULY BELIEVE WITH GOOD PROACTIVE POLICING THAT'S WHAT IS INCREASING THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE IN THE COUNTY THAT WANT TO LIVE HERE BECAUSE THEY SEE THAT IF YOU GET TO STRICTLY REEVAREACTI POLICING YOU'RE NOT HELPING DETER CRIME IN THE AREA. THEY DON'T SEE YOU IN THE CARS DRIVING AROUND AND SEEING YOU DOING TRAFFIC STOPS AND SEE YOU OUT TALKING TO PEOPLE WALKING THEIR KIDS AND THEIR DOGS AND THAT'S WHAT WE WANT TO MAINTAIN AND THAT'S WHY WE'RE ASKING FOR THAT. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. CONSTABLE PRECINCT FIVE. >> GOOD MORNING. MY NAME IS GARDEN GOUGH AND ON CONSTABLE OF ALLBRITTON I WANT TO THANK GRATITUDE TO COMMISSIONER RAMSEY AND GARCIA AS WELL AS STAFF AND BUDGET OFFICE TO PAIR PARITY FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT IN HARRIS COUNTY. THIS IS HELPED US RETAIN QUALITY PERSONNEL IN RECRUITING NEW DEPUTIES AND FEWER OPENINGS NOW THAN WE HAD IN MANY YEARS AND WE ANTICIPATE THIS TREND TO CONTINUE AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH THE BUDGET OFFICE AND COMMISSIONER'S COURT TO CONTINUE THAT. WE HAVE MET ALL OUR OBLIGATIONS FOR LABOUR AND NON LLABOR IN 26 AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO BEING FULLY FUNDED AT THE START OF [01:10:01] FY27 TO CONTINUE THE WORK WE DO AND THE ONLY THING WIFI LIKE PRECINCT FOUR WE HAVE NOT ASKED FOR ANY NONCONTRACTED LAW ENFORCEMENT PEOPLE IN 10 YEARS AND AS CHIEF SAID THE GROWTH IS SOMETHING WE LOOK FORWARD TO SPEAKING WITH YOU GUYS AND TRYING TO GET MORE POSITIONS NONCONTRACT LAW ENFORCEMENT. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. KRBLE PRCONSTABLE PRECINCT 6. >> GOOD MORNING. COMMISSIONER'S BUDGET OFFICE, JUDGE'S OFFICE, MY NAME IS JOEL AND I'M THE CHIEF DEPUTY WITH THE OFFICE AND I WANT TO START BY SAYING THANK YOU ON BEHALF OF CONSTABLE TREVINO AND ALL THE LAW ENFORCEMENT AND WE WOULD LIKE TO EXPRESS SINCERE GRATITUDE FOR YOUR SUPPORT AND DEDICATION MAKES ALL THE DIFFERENCE. AND OUR ABILITY TO SERVE AND PROTECT OUR COMMUNITY. WE DO HAVE SOME NEEDS AND STAFFING REQUESTS THAT WE HAVE ASKED FOR. DOMESTIC VIOLENCE UNIT, A HOMELESS MENTAL HEALTH UNIT, ENVIRONMENTAL CRIME TASK FORCE, OUR CRIME ANALYSIS DEPUTY, TRAFFIC ENFORCEMENT, TO SUPPLEMENT SOME OF THESE DIVISIONS OUR BUILDED SECURITY, I SINCERELY ASK THAT YOU CONSIDER EVALUATING -- IS THAT IT? OKAY. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME. OR DID YOU WANT ME TO FINISH? THANK YOU SO MUCH. I APPRECIATE IT. SINCERELY ASK FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION AND EVALUATING OUR CURRENT STAFFING NEEDS AND THE POTENTIAL BENEFIT TO ADDING POSITIONS. I APPRECIATE YOUR TIME, THOUGHTFUL CONSIDERATION AND YOUR CONTINUED COMMITMENT TO PROVIDE RESOURCES NECESSARY TO OUR AGENCY TO FULFILL OUR MISSION. THANK YOU SO MUCH. >> THANK YOU. CONSTABLE PRECINCT 7. >> GOOD MORNING. I JUST WANT TO SPEAK CANDIDLY ABOUT MY DEPARTMENT ABOUT THE LACK OF FUNDING WE'VE RECEIVED FOR YEARS. AND ALSO THE CONSTRAINTS ON THE INVESTMENT THAT WE HAVE HAD IN PRECINCT 7 FOR NUMEROUS YEARS. THIS DISPARITY IN FUNDING WE HAVE RECEIVED WITH PROBABLY ONE OF THE HIGHEST GROWTH IN THE PRECINCT AS FAR AS NEW HOMES IN OUR AREA. WE LOOK TO DISCUSS THAT WE HAD A PACKAGE THAT WE PASSED OUT AND WE'RE LOOKING TO TALK ABOUT THAT MORE IN THOSE PACTS ABOUT WHAT WE NEED FOR OUR PRECINCT. JUST LACK OF UNDER INVESTMENTS IN MODERNIZATION THAT WE HAVE RECEIVED. WE LOOK FORWARD TO TALKING ABOUT IT. >> THANK YOU. AND CONSTABLE PRECINCT 8. >> GOOD MORNING. CONSTABLE PHIL SANDIN WITH PRECINCT 8. I'VE REVIEWED THE FISCAL YEAR BUDGET FOR 27 AND I'M PRETTY SATISFIED WITH THE OVER ALL NUMBERS THIS BUDGET IS ADEQUATE TO MEET OUR NEEDS IN THE COMING YEAR WHICH INCLUDES FUNDING PAY INCREASES FOR SWORN PERSONNEL AND FUNDING FOR EXISTING POSITIONS THAT WE PREVIOUSLY HAD ASKED FOR AND IT'S GOING TO CONTINUE TO KEEP US AT OUR LEVEL OF SERVICE. LASTLY, THE PROPOSED BUDGET WILL NOW ALSO ALLOW ME TO FILL A COMMUNICATIONS POSITION THAT WE'VE NEEDED FOR SEVERAL YEARS. I'M VERY SATISFIED WITH THE BUDGET THAT WAS GIVEN. THANK YOU Y'ALL FOR YOUR HARD WORK. >> THANK YOU. THANK YOU TO ALL OF OUR KRBLE PRECINCTS FOR INTRODUCTORY REMARKS EACH COURT OFFICE WILL NOW HAVE 5 MINUTES FOR QUESTIONS BEGINNING WITH PRECINCT THREE AND WHEN POSSIBLE INDICATE WHICH OF THE OFFICES YOU'RE DIRECTING THE QUESTIONS TOWARDS IF APPROPRIATE. >> MORNING, EVERYBODY. NICK RADACK I'M THE DIRECTOR OF GENERAL SERVICES FOR COMMISSIONER TOM RAMSEY. I APPRECIATE ALL THE CONSTABLES AND SENIOR STAFF FOR COMING OUT AND MOST IMPORTANTLY THE PRECINCT ONE DEPUTIES THAT KEEP US SAFE IN HERE. YESTERDAY IN THE JP MEETINGS WE -- I LEARNED THAT WE REALLY DON'T GET ENOUGH TIME FOR -- SINCE THERE'S SO MANY OF Y'ALL IS THERE ANYBODY WHO NEEDS MORE TIME AND WOULD LIKE TO PLEAD THEIR CASE BEFORE I MOVE ON TO QUESTIONS. COME ON, CONSTABLE. CAN WE ALLOCATE LIKE A MINUTE OR TWO TO HIM? TRY AND LEAVE ME SOME TIME, SIR [01:15:04] IF YOU DON'T MIND. >> MY REQUEST IS CLEAR. FOR SO LONG WE'VE HAD DISPARITY IN FUNDING WHEN IT COMES TO PRECINCT 7. TO THAT EXTENT HAS MARGINALIZED MY DEPARTMENT TO GROW. CHIEF GRANT HAS THE NUMBERS THAT WE'RE REQUESTING, THE MAN POWER WE'RE REQUESTING AND ALSO OUR NEEDS THAT WE ACTUALLY NEED NOW. >> GOOD MORNING, HOW YOU DOING I'M CHIEF DEPUTY MARCUS AND THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING US TO BE HERE AND HELPING US WITH THE BUDGET CONSTRAINTS WE'VE RECENTLY EXPERIENCED. PRECINCT 7 IS REQUESTING 22 PRINCIPAL IF OFFICERS BETWEEN DISTRICT AND CIVIL PATROL. IT'S GOING TO BE SPLIT BETWEEN 1021 AND 10. WE HAVE 99.9 CARE MILE SQUARE MILES. WITH THAT BEING SAID MOST OF OUR PRECINCT GOES ON PRINCIPAL ON THE CIVIL SIDE WE HAVE EXPERIENCED 35% GROWTH IN OUR POPULATION IN OUR PRECINCT. WHAT THAT MEANS IS THAT WE HAVE MORE CIVIL PAPERS TO SERVE IN OUR AREAS AND DEPUTIES ARE STRETCHED THIN TRYING TO SERVE THOSE PAPERS. MOST OF THE TIME UP ON THE CORRIDORS OF 288 EVERYBODY HAS SEEN THE HOUSING GROWTH IN THAT AREA OVER THERE YET STILL WE HAVE NOT HAD ANYMORE CIVIL DEPUTIES ADDED TO THE DEPARTMENT SINCE 2016 WE ASK THE COMMISSIONER'S COURT FOR THAT AS WELL AS SEVERAL OTHER POSITIONS TO BE ABLE TO HELP OUT AND CONSTABLE PHILLIPS TOOK THIS ROLE LAST YEAR AND WE HAVE EXPERIENCED NO GROWTH IN THE PRECINCT DUE TO THE PREDECESSOR WE NEED COMMISSIONER'S COURT TO GET OUR DEPARTMENT UP TO PAR WITH THE REST OF OUR BROTHER AND SISTER AGENCIES IN THE REST OF HARRIS COUNTY. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU, CHIEF. IF THERE'S NOTHING ELSE I WANT TO ASK PRECINCT ONE QUESTIONS ABOUT DOWNTOWN SECURITY AND IN THE DOWNTOWN HOUSE OF COMMONS M -- COURT HOUSE WE CONSTANTLY TALK ABOUT THE LACK OF SECURITY AND YESTERDAY IN THE COURT'S MEETING CAN YOU TELL ME I MEAN IT SEEMS LIKE THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR A FEW YEARS NOW AND I'M JUST TRYIING -- I'D LOVE TO TRY AND TACKLE THAT PROBLEM TODAY. >> SO, THANK YOU, WHAT I DID IS I BROUGHT -- MAY I APPROACH THE PREVIOUS ANALYSIS [INAUDIBLE]. THE ZONE OF WHAT WE CALL THE SAFE -- AND THAT IS THE AREA THAT HAS ENCOMPASSED THAT WE COVER FOR THE DOWNTOWN COURT HOUSE SECURITY COMPLEX AND YOU'LL NOTE THAT WE'VE ADDED 10-10 LAMAR AND 11-11 FANON SO WE'VE ACTUALLY WIDENED THE ZONE OF THE SERVICES THAT WE PROVIDE YOUR QUESTION WAS WHEN DID WE START NOTICING THIS? THERE WERE GREY COATS OR N NONUNIFORMED, NONARMED PEOPLE IN THE BUILDINGS AT NIGHT FOR YEARS AND AROUND 2016 OR 17 WE DID A THREAT ASSESSMENT AND REALIZED THAT THERE SHOULD BE LAW ENFORCEMENT IN THE BUILDINGS AT NIGHT. YOU'LL SEE ATTACHED FROM THE CLERK AND VARIOUS OTHER ELECTED COUNTY OFFICIALS ASKING THAT THE BUILDING HAVE SECURITY AT NIGHT BECAUSE OF THE PROBLEM WE'VE BEEN TRYING TO ADDRESS THIS PROBLEM FOR YEARS WITH A REQUEST FORMALLY YOU'LL SEE ON PAGE OH, LET'S SEE, ON PAGE 15 AND 16 THE HISTORY YOU'LL SEE IN THE FOOT NOTES THAT WE HAVE HAD THIS THREAT ASSESSMENT SUBMITTED AND PENDING PROBABLY SINCE AT LEAST 2018. >> CAN YOU TALK TO ME ABOUT THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN NIGHTTIME AND DAYTIME AND WHAT I WOULD EXPERIENCE AS THE AMOUNT OF PRESENCE YOU GUYS HAVE? >> SO THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION THERE'S A COMPLETE TRANSFORMATION EVEN BEFORE FIFA IF YOU LOOK AT PAGES FOR EXAMPLE 8, 6, AND 10 YOU CAN SEE SOME PICTURES OF WHAT GOES ON DOWNTOWN AT NIGHT BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY YOU'LL SEE IN THE TABLES ON I THINK ITS 6 AND 10, MOST OF THE CRIME HAPPENS THE HIGHER PERCENTAGE OF CRIME HAPPENS DOWNTOWN AT NIGHT. THE ASSAULTIVE TYPE CRIMES AND THEFT TYPE CRIMES ARE ALL GOING ON IN THIS AREA. AND THE BUILDINGS ARE AFFECTED BY EXPENSIVE CRIMINAL MISCHIEF WHICH WILL ALL BE OFFSET IF WE [01:20:01] CAN PUT LAW ENFORCEMENT BACK IN THESE BUILDINGS AT NIGHT. >> THANK YOU, CHIEF I'M OUT OF TIME. >> THANK YOU, PRECINCT THREE. PRECINCT FOUR YOU WILL NOW HAVE 5 MINUTES FOR QUESTIONS. >> THAT WAS A GREAT DISCUSSION AND LOOKING FORWARD TO CONTINUED DISCUSSION ABOUT OUR BUDGET BUT I DON'T THINK IT WOULD BE APPROPRIATE FOR ME TO START WITH ANY QUESTIONS BEFORE JUST SIMPLY SAYING THANK YOU SO MUCH TO THE FOLKS WHO SERVE OUR FAMILIES, LOCAL GOVERNMENT DOES A LOT BUT THE MOST FUNDAMENTAL RESPONSIBILITY THAT WE HAVE IS TO KEEP OUR FAMILIES SAFE AND SO I WANT TO JUST START BY SAYING THANK YOU TO YOU FOR CHOOSING TO SERVE, THANK YOU FOR THE SACRIFICES THAT YOU MAKE AND IF YOU COULD PASS THIS MESSAGE ON TO YOUR FAMILIES THEY MAKE SACRIFICES TOO SO BE SURE TO EXTEND TO THEM OUR THANKS AS WELL. MY QUESTION AND WE ARE BLESSED IN PRECINCT FOUR TO WORK WITH CONSTABLE ROZEN, CONSTABLE HARMAN AND ALLBRITTON, OF COURSE, WE DON'T HAVE FAVORITES BUT WE DO VERY WORK VERY CLOSELY WITH THOSE THREE. JUST WANTED TO ASK A QUESTION OF PRECINCT FOUR AND THIS IS NOT A QUESTION OF -- YOU KNOW, OF DATA I GUESS BUT A QUESTION OF POLICY. SO PAY PARITY WHICH PASSED LAST YEAR WHICH OUR COMMISSIONER WAS PROUDLY CHAMPIONED I WANT TO HEAR HOW THAT HAS HAD AN IMPACT ON YOUR DEPARTMENT ESPECIALLY IN TERMS OF RECRUITING, TURN OVER, MORALE, ANYTHING YOU CAN SHARE WITH US ABOUT RESULTS WHERE WE'RE GETTING FROM PAY PARITY I'LL INTERESTED TO HEAR. >> I'LL POSITIVE BUT AS HARRIS COUNTY I WAS TOLD A LONG TIME AGO DANIEL WOLL BUT HARRIS COUNTY HAS A PROBLEM OF TRYING TO FUND POLICE DEPARTMENTS. THEY HAVE A BIG CITY POLICE DEPARTMENT ISSUES THAT THEY HAVE TO DEAL WITH EVERYTHING YOU SEE IN A BIG CITY THEY HAVE TO DEAL WITH BUT THEY DON'T HAVE THE FUNDING OF ANY BIG CITY AND ANY DIME THAT COMES TO HARRIS COUNTY AS Y'ALL KNOW COMES THROUGH PROPERTY TAXES AND HOW DO WE KEEP PROPERTY TAXES UP TO KEEP THAT MONEY IN, PEOPLE WANT TO FEEL SAFE AND HAVE GOOD NEIGHBORS TO MOVE INTO AND THEY WANT TO FEEL IT'S A GOOD PLACE TO COME INTO AND PEOPLE COME IN AND THERE'S DEMAND AND PRICES GO UP AND I THINK A BIG PART OF THAT IS THE POLICE DEPARTMENT AND THE CONSTABLES AND THE SHERIFFS AND EVEN THE MUNICIPALITIES IN HERE ALL PLAY A PART IN THAT AND TO KEEP PEOPLE COMING IN AND KEEP POSITIONS FILLED PAY PARITY WAS ENORMOUS. OUR TURN OVER HAS DROPPED SIGNIFICANTLY WE WENT FROM A YEAR AND A HALF AGO TO PROBABLY HIRING 60 PLUS PERCENT OF THE PEOPLE THAT APPLIED TO US IN THE LAST 6 MONTHS WE'VE HIRED PROBABLY ABOUT 8% OF THE PEOPLE THAT APPLIED. BECAUSE OF THE QUALITY OF THE PEOPLE COMING IN ARE SO MUCH BETTER BECAUSE OF THAT INCREASE IN PAY AND THAT'S HELPED US SUGGEST LAY TO KEEP THAT TURN OVER AND THE KIND OF DEPUTIES Y'ALL WANT AT YOUR HOUSE TO NBE THERE FOR YOUR KIDS AND YOUR FAMILY. >> REALLY APPRECIATE THAT. OUR POLICY TEAM IS FILLED WITH FOLKS MUCH SMARTER THAN MYSELF AND IT LOOKS TO ME FROM THE NUMBERS THEY'VE RUN WE'VE SEEN 54% DECREASE IN TURN OVER WHICH I THINK IS INCREDIBLE NOTED FROM THE TOP 10 LARGEST COUNTIES IN TEXAS IT LOOKED LIKE WE WENT FROM 19TH IN ENTRY LEVEL UP UP TO 4TH AND HARRIS COUNTY REALLY SHOULD ALWAYS BE NUMBER ONE BUT GLAD TO SEE THAT. REALLY, INTERESTED IN THAT AND APPRECIATE YOUR COMMENTS ON THAT AND ALSO JUST ANOTHER QUESTION AND YOU CAN ANSWER OR ANYTHING ELSE WANTS TO JUMP IN OR YOU'RE WELCOME TO AND I THINK WE'VE SEEN INCREASED COLLABORATION WEAN HARRIS COUNTY LAW ENFORCEMENT, COMMISSIONER'S COURT, STATE LEADERS WE WANT ALL LEVELS OF GOVERNMENT WORKING TOGETHER TO KEEP PEOPLE SAFE WHAT IN YOUR MIND CAN WE DO TO KEEP BUILDING ON THAT COLLABORATION AND BE SHARED PARTNERS AND KEEPING OUR FAMILIES SAFE. >> I THINK DOING WHAT WE'RE DOING AND MAKING SURE LOCAL GOVERNMENTS ARE COLLABORATING WITH STATE AND FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AND LIKE I SAID THAT QUALITY OF LIFE ISN'T THE NUMBER OF POLICEMAN ON THE STREET THEY CONTROL IT'S WHAT THEY ARE FOCUSED ON AND WHAT THEY ARE DOING AND EVERYBODY ON PATROL, IT TURNS INTO BASICALLY A GESTOPO STIF THING. QUALITY OF LIFE ISSUES WHETHER IT'S DRUG INFESTATIONS AND NUANCE ABATEMENTS AND WE TRY TO WORK CLOSELY WITH THE COUNTY OFFICE TO GET ABATEMENT AND NUANCE PROPERTIES OUT OF THERE IF YOU SHUT 245 DOWN IT STOPS THE BIGGER ONE FROM COMING THERE'S NOT ENOUGH OF PEOPLE FROM ONE DEPARTMENT TO DO EVERYTHING WE TRY TO FOCUS ON CERTAIN THINGS AND WE'LL COLLABORATE A LOT WITH OTHER KRBLES AND WITH SHERIFF OFFICE AND OTHER MUNICIPALITIES AND DPS AND A BIG PARTLY OF THAT IS GETTING YOUR NAME OUT THERE AND I'M NOT FAMILIAR WITH THE SOCIAL MEDIA GOING ON BUT IT'S INCREASED A LOT AND WE TRY TO INCREASE OUR SOCIAL MEDIA PRESENCE SO PEOPLE SEE WHAT'S OUT THERE AND ON OUR SOCIAL MEDIA PRESENCE WE'LL SHOW US WITH OTHER AGENCIES AND SHOW US WITH DPS TROOPERS AND DIFFERENT DRONES AND DIFFERENT THINGS WE HAVE BECAUSE IT'S NOT JUST US TO LOOK AT THE BAD GUYS LOOK AT [01:25:01] THAT TOO AND WE WANT THEM TO KNOW THAT START THERE'S AND YOU CAN'T DO IT ALL BECAUSE COLLABORATING WITH ALL THESE OTHER DEPARTMENTS. >> I PROMISED THEM I WOULDN'T USE ALL MY TIME AND DOWN TO 4 SECONDS THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING YOU DO WE'RE GRATEFUL FOR YOUR PARTNERSHIP. >> THANK YOU, PRECINCT FOUR. COUNTY JUDGE'S OFFICE YOU NOW HAVE 5 MINUTES FOR QUESTIONS. >> THANK YOU, ALL OF YOU FOR COMING TODAY AND SPEAKING. SO MY FIRST QUESTION IS FOR ALL THE CONSTABLES PRECINCTS BUT SPECIFICALLY FOR PRECINCT 7. IF YOU WANT TO ANSWER THIS. HAVE YOU EVER DONE A STAFFING ANALYSIS AND IF SO DO YOU KNOW YOUR IDEAL STAFF RATIO ESPECIALLY WITH THE INCREASE OF POSITIONS YOU'RE ASKING FOR? >> GOOD MORNING. CAN YOU REPEAT THE QUESTION PLEASE. >> HAVE YOU EVER DONE A STAFFING ANALYSIS TO KNOW YOUR IDEAL STAFF RATIO AND IF SO DO YOU KNOW THAT IDEAL STAFF RATIO. >> YES, MA'AM, WE DO AND WE HAVE ALL APPRECIATE PAMPHLETS WITH EACH OF THE REQUESTS IN DETAIL SO YOU HAVE MORE ROBUSTVIEW OF WHAT'S GOING ON HERE. CAN I APPROACH? THANK YOU. I KNOW THIS PACKAGE IS PRETTY ROBUST BUT IT GOES DOWN INTO EVERY DETAIL ABOUT EVERY REQUEST AND EVERYTHING WE'RE PRETTY MUCH ASKING FOR WROTE DOWN LINE BY LINE. >> GREAT, THIS IS VERY HELPFUL. I HAVE TO REVIEW IT TO LOOK. SO IN LINE WITH THAT FOR YOUR STAFFING REQUEST DO YOU HAVE ANY VACANCY FUNDING ANYMORE OR OTHER SURPLUS THAT CAN BE USED WITHOUT ASKING FOR SERVICE ENHANCEMENTS. >> NO, WE DON'T HAVE ANY VACANCY SURPLUS RIGHT NOW WHEN CONSTABLE PHILLIPS TOOK POSITION HERE WE WERE 42 MEN DOWN AND NOW WE ARE FULL STAFFED AND AT THIS POINT WE ARE OPERATING AT FULL CAPACITY AND WE HAVE BEEN AT FULL CAPACITY SINCE LAST JUNE WE MAY HAVE A VACANCY ONCE EVERY COUPLE OF MONTHS BUT IT DON'T LAST VERY LONG. >> THANK YOU, THAT'S ALL MY QUESTIONS FOR RIGHT NOW BUT I WILL RESERVE MY TIME. >> THANK YOU, COUNTY JUDGE'S OFFICEPRECINCT ONE 5 MINUTES FOR QUESTIONS. >> COMMISSIONER ELLIS'S OFFICE, THANK YOU ALL FOR COMING AND MY QUESTION IS SO HARRIS COUNTY'S JUSTICE INNOVATION TEAM IS DOES A LOT OF WORK AND RELIES HEAVILY ON THE DATA THEY ARE ABLE TO COLLECT FROM JUSTICE STAKEHOLDERS AND DEVELOP RECOMMENDATIONS AND INFORMED BY DATA FOR THE J CJCC AND ULTIMATELY THAT'S TO IMPROVE JUSTICE SYSTEM YOWKS AND SAVE TAX PAYERS MONEY AND SAVE THE BUDGET MONEY AND YOU KNOW, WITH THESE REQUESTS FOR ENHANCEMENTS I FEEL LIKE IT'S IMPORTANT TO ASK LIKE ALL THAT REQUIRES A COLLABORATION OF JUSTICE STAKE HOLDERS TO PROVIDE THAT DATA AND SPECIFICALLY FROM -- YOU KNOW, CONSTABLES WE WANTED TO ASK IF YOU'D BE WILLING TO SHARE THE DATA THAT Y'ALL ARE COLLECTING FROM DISPATCH, TRAFFIC STOPS AND ARRESTS WITH THE JUSTICE INNOVATION TEAM. AND THAT'S JUST AN OPEN QUESTION. >> I CAN ANSWER SOME. I THINK THE VAST MAJORITY OF WHAT YOU'RE ASKING FOR IS PROVIDING THE COMMISSIONER'S COURT ON A YEARLY BASIS EVERY YEAR WE'RE REQUIRED TO TURN IN THAT HAS A TOTAL NUMBER OF TASK STOPS AND WHERE IT TOOK PLACE ON WHAT PART OF TOWN AND WHAT HAPPENED AND WHO THE RACE AND THE GENDER OF THE PERSON ARRESTED AND CLEARED WITH A WARNING OR CITATION OR SOMETHING TO THAT EFFECT THAT DATA I BELIEVE IS WHAT YOU'RE ASKING FOR IS ALREADY SUPPLIED. >> TO CLARIFY, AND WE APPRECIATE THOSE REPORTS BUT THOSE ARE SCANNED PDFS THIS IS SPECIFICALLY ASK FOR EACH INDIVIDUAL TRAFFIC STOP AND THE DATA THAT'S COLLECTED FOR LIKE THE DRIVER'S RACE, WHERE IT WAS, WHAT TIME IT HAPPENED AND WHAT IT WAS FOR WOULD YOU BE ABLE TO PROVIDE THAT DATA WITH THE JUSTICE INNOVATION TEAM? >> YOU'LL HAVE TO BE MORE SPECIFIC AND WE'LL HAVE TO LOOK AT IT BECAUSE WHAT'S TURNED INTO THE STATE IS EXACTLY THE NUMBER OF TRAFFIC STOPS. >> NOT THE COUNT, SORRY. BUT THE DATA COLLECTED FROM EACH TRAFFIC STOP INDIVIDUALLY. >> HAVE THEM GET WITH DIFFERENT CONSTABLES HERE AND WE CAN LOOK TOO IT BUT WE CAN'T SAY WHAT YOU'RE GOING TO DO BECAUSE DEPENDS ON WHAT'S IN THE INFORMATION IT MAY TAKE LOTS OF TIME AND MONEY TO TAKE OUT OF [01:30:03] THE THINGS REQUIRED TO SHARE THAT WITH CERTAIN PEOPLE SO WE WOULD HAVE TO SEE WHO IS IN THAT THING AND WHAT THEY WOULD BE ALLOWED TO HAVE ACCESS TO WHEN IT COMES TO RECEIVING THE INFORMATION AND WHO IT WAS AND THEIR BIRTHDAY AND CERTAIN INFORMATION THAT'S THERE CAN'T BE RELEASED. >> THANK YOU, WE'RE ALL CERTIFIED JUST TO BE CLEAR. BUT MOVING ON TO THE NEXT QUESTION, WHAT EFFICIENCY AND COORDINATION EFFORTS HAVE THE CONSTABLES CONSIDERED ESPECIALLY WORKING WITH THE SHERIFF AND OTHER LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES LIKE HOW CAN YOU ACHIEVE GREATER EFFICIENCIES BETWEEN THOSE DIFFERENT LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES, DISPATCH, EVIDENCE, WHAT EFFORTS ARE BEING UNDER TAKEN CURRENTLY? >> I'LL ANSWER A PIECE OF THIS SO WE HAVE AN HCLH COMMITTEE WE MEET WITH TO COLLABORATE ALL LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES ON THAT COMMITTEE TODAY AT 1:00 WE MEET ONCE A MONTH AND WE GO OVER TECHNOLOGIES, WAYS TO WORK TOGETHER, SOFTWARE APPLICATIONS, HO HARDWARE AND VEHICLES AND SO ON. LAW ENFORCEMENT SIDE OF THE DA'S OFFICE AND ANY COUNTY ATTORNEY OFFICE THAT'S LAW ENFORCEMENT AND SO IN FIRE MARSHAL'S OFFICE SO WE DO THAT NOW AND WE WORK TOGETHER TRYING TO FIND EFFICIENCIES AND WAYS TO WORK BETTER AND COLLABORATE WITH CASES AND ANYTHING THAT COMES UP AND WE SHARE CAD DATA, COST FOR SERVICE AND THEY ARE CALLS COMING INTO THE SO PRECINCT ONE OR ANOTHER PRECINCT AND THEY GOT THE CALL TO ROLL IT TO ZPACHT SO WE DO THAT NOW. >> ALL RIGHT. AND ARE YOU ABLE TO PROVIDE THAT DISPATCH DATA WITH THE JUSTICE INNOVATION TEAM. >> JUST LIKE PRECINCT FOUR, CHIEF SAID IT'S DEPENDS ON WHAT IT IS. IT'S NOT SO MUCH I GET THAT YOU SAID THERE'S SEEINGS THAT HAVE ACCESS TO BUT IT ALL COMES BACK TO WHO'S GOING TO SEE THAT DATA AFTER THEY GET IT LIKE PIA YOU CAN'T GIVE THE ACTUAL ADDRESS OF 100 BLOCK AND THERE'S A LOT OF DATA IN THERE RESTRICTED TO CERTAIN VIEWS BEYOND JUST THE PERSON PULLING THE DATA. >> TO THE POINT IT'S DISCRETION TEAR AND NOT REQUIRED BY MANDATE TO NOT BE SHARED PUBLICLY, ARE Y'ALL WILLING TO PROVIDE THAT DATA THAT'S ABLE TO BE SHARED? DOES THAT MAKE SENSE? >> YEAH, WELL THAT WOULD BE MY CONSTABLE'S DECISION. NOT MINE. BUT YEAH, FOR SURE I MEAN IF YOU SEND THE REQUEST OVER TO CONSTABLE ROSIN AND PUT THE QUESTION OF WHAT YOU'RE ASKING FOR WITH ANY OF THE CONSTABLES HERE. >> OKAY, THANK YOU VERY MUCH. >> THANK YOU, PRECINCT ONE PRECINCT TWO YOU NOW HAVE 5 MINUTES FOR QUESTIONS. >> GOOD MORNING, THANK YOU ALL FOR COMING AND I HAVE ONE QUESTION AND I BELIEVE PRECINCT FOUR HAS ALREADY ANSWERED IT SO I'LL OPEN IT UP TO ANY OTHER PRECINCTS COMMISSIONER GARCIA WOULD LOVE TO HEAR ABOUT HOW THE LAW ENFORCEMENT PAY PARITY HAS AFFECTED RETENTION, MORALE AND RECRUITMENT. >> UP UNTIL THE PAY PARITY WAS ANYWHERE INITIATED I CAN TELL YOU ESPECIALLY IN MY PRECINCT I HAD PACEDENA, DEER PARK, LAKE TOWN, ALL ON THE OUTSKIRTS OF MY PRECINCT AND THEY WOULD OFTEN RECRUIT OFF OF MY AGENCY BECAUSE THEY HAD HIGHER PAY AND THEY WERE OFFERING BONUSES, START OUT BENEWSES AND I WILL TELL YOU NOW WE NOW HAVE MORE APPLICANT NOW THAN WE HAVE OPENINGS WHICH IS A GOOD THING AS WAS SPOKE TO EARLIER WE CAN ALSO NOW ATTRACT BETTER CANDIDATES BECAUSE OF THE RATE OF PAY AND WE DO THANK YOU FOR THAT. SECONDARILY I HAD TWO POSITIONS BECAUSE I WAS CONCERNED THAT I WOULD NOT GET A GOOD APPLICANT SEVERAL YEARS AGO THAT WE HAD ASKED TO RECLASSIFY AS CADETS AND I'VE SINCE THEN HAVE REQUESTED NOW THAT I'VE GOT PLENTY OF OPENINGS OR PLENTY OF APPLICANT TO FILL THOSE TWO POSITIONS NOW WITH A LOT OF TIMES THEY ARE LATERAL TRANSFERS OR FRESH OUT OF THE ACADEMY AND WE'RE JUST GETTING A LOT BETTER QUALITY DEPUTY NOW THAN WE EVER HAD WITH THIS PAY PARITY AND IT WAS HUGE AND I CAN TELL YOU SPEAKING FROM MY EMPLOYEES AND PROBABLY FROM EVERYBODY ELSE THE PRECINCT AND THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT I PREVIOUSLY WORKED WITH THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT AND STILL HAVE A LOT OF FRIENDS OVER THERE, THEY ARE VERY HAPPY AND LAW ENFORCEMENT IS IN A REALLY GOOD SPOT RIGHT NOW IN HARRIS COUNTY AND I CAN TELL YOU BECAUSE OF THE HARD WORK Y'ALL DID AND THE BUDGET OFFICE DID AND I JUST WANT TO THANK YOU FOR THAT. >> I GOT TO CONCUR, IN MY PRECINCT WE TRY TO CREATE A FAMILY-LIKE ATMOSPHERE BECAUSE IT'S MY DOG STEAD IF YOU HAVE A [01:35:04] GOOD HAPPY EMPLOYEE THAT TRANSLATES TO THE COMMUNITY. I GET A LOT OF CALLS ABOUT HOW FRIENDLY DEPUTIES WERE AND HOW THEY WERE HELPFUL AND FROM THE DEPUTIES THEMSELVES HAPPY THEY GOT INCREASE TO TAKE CARE OF THEIR FAMILIES A LITTLE MORE AND BE AT HOME MORE AND ALSO TAKE CARE AND TIME WITH FAMILY TIME. SO I THINK THIS DOES AN HELL OF A LOT DIFFERENCE TO THE WAY EMPLOYEES COME TO WORK NOW AND HAPPY TO BE AT WORK AND YOU CUT BACK AT SICK TIME AND PEOPLE TRYING TO TAKE VACATION AND THEY LIKE TO COME TO WORK BECAUSE OF THE GOOD JOB THAT YOU GUYS HAVE DONE TO RAISE YOUR SOLE RY -- SALARY WITH THE POLICE DEPARTMENT. THEY ARE GRATEFUL, TRUST ME, THEY ARE REALLY, REALLY GRATEFUL. >> I JUST WANT TO THANK THE SUPPORT FOR THE INCREASE IN PAY. WE'VE WE HAVE SEEN AN INCREASE IN MORALE, MORALE IS AMAZING. THERE'S A LOT OF THINGS THAT THE AVERAGE PERSON DOESN'T THINK ABOUT OR UNDERSTAND. WE WERE OUR DEPUTIES ONCE HPD GOT THEIR RAISE HPD WAS OPENLY AND ACTIVELY RECRUITING OUR GUYS AND GALS AND THAT WAS GOING TO LEAVE A HUGE, HUGE HOLE. IT WAS GOING TO HINDER OUR ABILITY TO BE ABLE TO TAKE CARE OF THE CITIZENS AND RESIDENTS WHO LIVE IN OUR PRECINCTS ESPECIALLY THE SMALLER ONES LIKE MINE SO WITHOUT THE SUPPORT OF COMMISSIONER GARCIA, COMMISSIONER BRIONES AND COMMISSIONER RAMSEY, TODAY WE WOULD BE IN A VERY, VERY, VERY BAD POSITION HAD WE NOT GOTTEN THOSE RAISES SO I WOULD LIKE TO SPECIFICALLY THANK YOU ALL FOR CONSIDERING WHAT WE GO THROUGH AS POLICE OFFICERS AND NOT ONLY US LIKE YOU MENTIONED SIR OUR FAMILIES SOME PEOPLE AND THEY WERE AGAINST US GETTING RAISES BUT TO PUT YOUR LIFE ON THE LINE EVERYDAY IT'S VERY DIFFICULT IT'S SCARY GOING UP -- YOU KNOW, THESE TRAFFIC STOPS ON PEOPLE YOU HAVE NO IDEA WHAT THEY ARE INTENTIONS ARE SO AGAIN, I WANT TO THANK YOU. IT'S LIFE CHANGING. THE GUYS AND GALS ARE SUPER BLESSED. WE APPRECIATE YOU. AND AGAIN, FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART I CAN'T SAY IT ENOUGH, THANK YOU FOR SUPPORTING US BECAUSE FOR SO, SO LONG WE HAVE FELT NOT ONLY US AS SHERIFF'S DEPUTIES, FIRE MARSHALS FELT UNDER APPRECIATED AND WHEN YOU ALL DID WHAT YOU DID, IT -- WORDS CAN'T EXPRESS HOW HAPPY WE ARE SO THANK YOU SO MUCH. >> THANK YOU, ALL. PRECINCT TWO HAS NO FURTHER QUESTIONS. >> THANK YOU, PRECINCT TWO. WE WILL NOW REVISIT FOR ANY REMAINING TIME WHICH THE ONLY COURT OFFICE TO HAVE REMAINING TIME WILL BE THE COUNTY JUDGE'S OF OFFICE. YOU HAVE 2 MINUTES AND 54 SECONDS REMAINING. >> THANK YOU. SO I DO HAVE ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS. I DON'T KNOW IF I'LL GET TO BOTH OF THEM AND THIS IS AN OPEN QUESTION. DO YOU SEE ANY ADDITIONAL OPPORTUNITIES TO EXPAND THE USE OF THE HARRIS COUNTY ASSISTANCE RESPONSE TEAM, IEHART INTO YOUR PRECINCT CONTACT CONTROL AREAS AND IF SO WRKED IT HAVE THE GREATEST IMPACT?HERE COULD IT H THE GREATEST IMPACT? >> WE WORK IN COMMISSIONER'S SALES OFFICE WITH THE HART PROGRAM AND WE STILL WORK WITH THE RISE TEAM TO DETER VIOLENCE THAT OCCURS IN OUR COMMUNITY SO JUST RECENTLY A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO WE HAD AN EVENT WITH THE RISE TEAM, THE RISE INTERPRETERS BECAUSE WE HAVE A LOT OF ISSUES THAT OCCUR IN THE SUNNY SOUTH PARK AREAS SO WE RELY HEAVILY ON THE HART AND RISE TEAMS TO ASSIST US AND DETER VIOLENT ACTIVITY THAT OCCURS IN THE PRECINCT. >> THANK YOU. SO I HAVEN ADDITIONAL QUESTION AND FOR TIME I'LL ASK IT ALSO HAS THERE BEEN CONSIDERATION GIVING ABOUT CONSOLIDATING SERVICES FOR EXAMPLE DISPATCH, PATROL, VICTIM LIAISON AND ANALYTICS WITH THE HARRIS COUNTY SHERIFF OFFICE AND OPEN QUESTION TO ANY PRECINCT THAT WANTS TO ANSWER. >> CAN YOU READ IT AGAIN. >> YEAH. YOU CAN ANSWER UP ALL THE QUESTIONS HAS THERE BEEN ANY CONSIDERATION GIVEN OR DISCUSSIONS HAD ABOUT CONSOLIDATING SERVICES FOR EXAMPLE DISPATCH, PATROL SERVICES, VICTIM ASSISTANCE LIAISONS AND CRIME ANALYTICS WITH THE HARRIS COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE. >> WE LOOK AT -- EACH PRECINCT AS AN INDIVIDUAL WE ALL HAVE DIFFERENT CONSTITUENTS THAT RELY ON SOLELY ON OUR SERVICES. WHEN I SAY OUR SERVICES KRBLE [01:40:06] PRECINCTS, THE CONSTABLES WITH THE CLOSEST THING TO LAW ENFORCEMENT THAT A COMMUNITY HAS. CONSTABLES WITH THE CLOSES THING TO LAW ENFORCEMENT THAT A COMMUNITY HAS. WE HAVE A VICTIM SERVICE PROGRAM AND WE HAVE A ONE-STOP VICTIM SERVICE PROGRAM WHERE YOU CAN COME AND HELP YOUR NEED AND GET PROTECTIVE ORDER, ALL THE THINGS THAT YOU CAN SERVE IN OUR OFFICE AND SO IN THE CONSOLIDATION WOULD TAKE AWAY THAT FROM US BECAUSE PEOPLE IN MY PRECINCT RELY ON THE CONSTABLES BECAUSE AGAIN LIKE I SAID THEY ARE THE CLOSEST THING TO PEOPLE THAT CAN COME TO THE OFFICE AND VISIT US WITHOUT GOING TO THE HASSLE OF GOING DOWNTOWN AND YOU CAN'T WALK IN AND SEE THE POLICE CHIEF BUT YOU CAN WALK IN AND SEE THE CONSTABLE IT'S A BIG DIFFERENCE IF WE TAKE THOSE SERVICES AWAY FROM US AND IT WILL DILUTE OUR POWER AND SERVICE TO OUR CONSTITUENTS WHO DEPEND ON US FOR THOSE SERVICES THAT'S NEEDED IN LAW ENFORCEMENT. >> THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU, COUNTY JUDGE'S OF OFFICE. AND THANK YOU TO ALL OF OUR CONSTABLE PRECINCTS FOR YOUR PARTICIPATION IN TODAY'S HEARINGS. WITH THAT, COLLEAGUES, WE HAVE COME TO OUR LUNCH BREAK FOR THE DAY. SO WE WILL BREAK UNTIL 12:30 P.M. WHEN WE WILL RESUME WITH A PRESENTATION FROM PRE-TRIAL SERVICES. THANK YOU. ALLBRITTON. >> WELCOME BACK. IT IS 12:30. WE ARE READY TO RESUME FOR THE [Pretrial Services] AFTERNOON. NOW WE WELCOME PRETRIAL SERVICES. THEY HAVE ELECTED TO DO THEIR REMARKS FOR TWO MINUTES, RESERVING THREE MINUTES FOR CLOSING REMARKS. EACH COURT OFFICE WILL BE ALLOCATED FIVE MINUTES FOR QUESTION, BEGINNING WITH PRECINCT FOUR. >> OK. GOOD AFTERNOON. THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING PRETRIAL SERVICE TO ADDRESS THE F.Y.2027 BUDGET. I HAVE OUR DIRECTOR OF OPERATION AND DIGITER OF BUSINESS SUPPORT. FROM POINT OF ARREST TO DISPOSITION. PEOPLE RELEASED ON BOND HAVE LEGAL AND CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHT THAT ARE UNIQUE TO THE PHASE. SUCH AS THE PRESUMPTION OF INNOCENCE AND DUE PROCESS. THE MISSION STATEMENT OF THE AGENCY HAS MULTIPLE FUNCTIONS. ALL SUPPORT PROVIDING INFORMATION TO INFORM RELEASE DECISION AND MONITORING DEFENDANTS RELEASED TO CONDITIONS PENDING TRIAL. PRETRIAL SERVES AS NEUTRAL OBJECTIVE PARTY OF THE JUSTICE SYSTEM. FY26, OPERATION NAMIZED K.P.I.SAND FOR OPERATIONS DIVISIONS OF THE AGENCY WHICH ARE PRETRIAL SCREENING COURT SUPPORT AND ENHANCED SUPERVISION. AS YOU KNOW, PERFORMANCE MANAGEMENT IS BENEFICIAL TO COMMUNITY SAFETY AND SYSTEMS EFFECTIVENESS. BUT HAVING SUPERVISORS TO FACILITATE THE REVIEW OF K.P.I. AND PROVIDE COVERAGE IS BECOMING MORE DIFFICULT BECAUSE WE CANNOT FILL ROLES DUE TO THE HIRING FREEZE. WHEN PRETRIAL SERVICES HAS CAPACITY ISSUES, STAFF TO MOVE PEOPLE ALONG THE CONTINUUM OF THE JUSTICE SYSTEM, BOTTLENECKS ARE FILLED AT THE J.P.C. COURT SERVICES AND SUPERVISION. THE SUPERVISOR TO STAFF RATIOS OVERALL ARE TEN STAFF TO ONE SUPERVISOR BUT PRETRIAL SCREENING DIVISIONS ARE THE MOST SIGNIFICANTLY IMPACTED BECAUSE THE AGENCY WILL BE DOWN BY THREE SUPERVISORS BY THE START OF F.Y.27. THE AGENCY RUNS LEAN IN THE FLAT AS TEXAS HORRORSON. AS REQUESTED YESTERDAY, PRETRIAL SERVICE INTENTIONALLY DID NOT ASK FOR ENHANCEMENTS IN OUR F.Y.26 BUDGET. >> EACH COURT OFFICE WILL HAVE FIVE MINUTES FOR QUESTIONS. BEGINNING WITH PRECINCT FOUR. >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. ON BEHALF OF COMMISSIONER BREWNESS, THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING THAT PREVILE SERVICES DOES, YOUR ENTIRE TEAM, YOU ALL INTERACT AND PLAY A CRUCIAL ROLE IN THE JUSTICE SYSTEM SO WE APPRECIATE YOUR DATA DRIVEN DECISIONS AND VERY THOUGHTFUL INTERACTIONS. DIRECTOR MICHAILIDES CAN YOU DISCUSS HOW IT AFFECTED YOUR DOCUMENT DEPARTMENT -- DEPARTMENT. >> THE PAY EQUITY PROJECT HELPED OUR OFFICERS. I WILL DISCUSS A BIT ABOUT ONE OF OUR REQUESTS THIS YEAR IS TO HORIZON DEFERENTIAL PAY BUT FIRST, WANTED TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT ONE IT WAS VERY HELPFUL [01:45:01] AND WE GREATLY APPRECIATED. PRIOR TO THIS WE HAD PROVIDED OUT OF OUR OWN BUDGET, A 19% INCREASE FOR MOST OF OUR STAFF. PEOPLE WILL LEAVE TO ANOTHER AGENCY IS PRETTY COMMON. THAT IS OK, TOO. 89% OF THE PEOPLE IN OUR AGENCY DID RECEIVE A PAY INCREASE AS PART OF THE PAY EQUITY, ALMOST 1.2 MILLION DOLLAR BUDGET INCREASE. AVERAGE OF 10%. >> THANK YOU. WE WERE PROUD TO HELP CHAMPION THAT. WOULD LOVE TO SHOW YOUR SERVICE ENLANESMENT REQUEST INCLUDE COMPENSATION ADJUSTMENT OUTSIDE OF THE PAY EQUITY EFFORT. CAN YOU EXPLAIN WHY THE POSITION IS CONTINUE TO EXPERIENCE RECRUITMENT AND RETENTION CHALLENGES AND WHAT EVIDENCE SUGGEST THIS WOULD IMPROVE HIRING AND RETENTION PARTICULARLY AT THE JOINT PROCESSING CENTER. >> SO WE DID REQUEST INCREASES FOR ENHANCED SUPER VISION AND THE PAY DIFFERENTIAL FOR A SHIFT DIFFERENTIAL FOR THE JAIL. HERE IS WHAT IS HAPPENING. WE ARE HAVING A VERY DIFFICULT TIME RETAINING STAFF AT THE JOINT PROCESSING CENTER. BASED ON EXIT INTERVIEWS, STAFF HAS INDICATED THAT CHILD CARE, FAMILY ISSUES, AND JUST THE ENVIRONMENT ITSELF, THEY DO NOT -- IT'S DIFFICULT TO RECRUIT PEOPLE. WHEN WE ARE NOT ABLE TO STAFF THE JAIL, IT HAS A RIPPLE EFFECT THROUGHOUT THE JUSTICE SYSTEM. LAST WEEK OUR MIDNIGHT SHIFT IS CHRONICALLY UNDER STAFFED. EVENING AND NIGHTS. LAST WEEK WE HAD ONLY TWO STAFF DUE TO CALL OUTS AND THAT SHIFT IS DOWN THE MOST OUT OF ALL OF THE SHIFTS AND WE HAD TWO PEOPLE SUPERVISORS ARE ALWAYS WORKING AS -- AND AS WELL AS HANDING PERM ISSUES. AND WE BACKED PEOPLE UP INTO THE TUNNELS. IT CERTAINLY IS A BOTTLENECK FOR US AND WE ARE CREATING THAT FOR THE WHOLE ENTIRE SYSTEM AND WE ARE BACKING DOCKETS UP. ED WELLS TALKED ABOUT THAT YESTERDAY FROM THE C.C.L., ABOUT HOW WE ARE ALL INTERCONNECTED FOR THE JUSTICE SYSTEM. ESPECIALLY AT THE J.P.C. >> ABSOLUTELY. WE KNOW HOW IMPORTANT STAFFING THE J.P.C. IS TO ENSURE THAT NOT ONLY THE SHERIFFS OFFICE BUT EVERYBODY ELSE THAT IS INTERACTING WITH THAT SYSTEM CONTINUES AND EFFICIENTLY. HOW DOES YOUR OFFICE -- I ALLUDED TO THIS EARLIER BUT HOW DOES YOUR OFFICE USE DATA TO MAKE EFFECTIVE AND EFFICIENT DECISIONS? >> WE USE IT FOR STAFFING. WE USE IT FOR HOW WE ARE MOVING FORWARD WITH POLICY CHANGES, WHAT DOES THAT LOOK LIKE? HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE COMING IN THE DOOR? WHERE DO WE NEED TO REALLOCATE? THERE ARE BETTER WAYS TO USE DATA TO DRIVE WHAT WE ARE DOING. WE KNOW THAT ON MONDAY, BASED ON THE DATA, ANDECDOTAL EXPERIENCE WE HAVE MORE PEOPLE COMING IN THE DOOR. WE COME IN SUNDAY BEFORE THE MONDAY AFTER A HOLIDAY. I MEAN WE USE THAT DATA TO DRIVE OUR OPERATIONS PLANNING. >> AND OUR LAST QUESTION IS HOW DOES PRETRIAL SERVICES, HOW DOES YOUR DEPARTMENT COORDINATE WITH DIVERSION PROGRAMS, BEHAVIOURAL HEALTH PARTNER AND SPECIALTY COURT TO CONNECT ELIGIBLE INDIVIDUAL WITH THE JUSTICE SYSTEM AND WHERE DO YOU SEE OPPORTUNITIES TO STRENGTHEN THE PARTNERSHIP AS WE ARE LOOKING FOR? >> WELL, WE ARE CURRENTLY -- >> FINISHED. >> THANK YOU. >> CURRENTLY HER CENTER HAS A CONTRACT WITH THE COUNTY AND PRETRIAL SERVICES. THEY TARGET THE HIGHEST RISK INDIVIDUAL BASED ON THE PUBLIC SAFETY ASSESSMENT. AND THEY WORK WITH THOSE FOLKS TO COORDINATE SERVICES AS THEY ARE RELEASED FROM JAIL. WE ARE TRYING TO DO A BETTER JOB OF GATHERING THAT DATA AND HAVE BEEN WORKING WITH THE CENTER TO IDENTIFY IF THAT HAS AN IMPACT. WITH FAILURE TO APPEAR RE-ARREST, WHICH IS THE INDICATORS FOR PRETRIAL SUCCESS. >> THANK YOU. COUNTY JUDGES OFFICE. YOU WILL HAVE FIVE MINUTES FOR QUESTIONS. >> THANK YOU SO MUCH. [01:50:02] MY NAME IS VERONICA JAMES. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR WHAT YOU DO FOR THE COUNTY. FOR OUR JUSTICE SYSTEM. SO MY FIRST QUESTION IS, THE PROPOSED BUDGET SUFFICIENT TO PROVIDE FOR INCREASED SUPERVISION. >> IF WE ARE FUNDED, THE PROPOSED BUDGET, YES, IT WOULD BE SUFFICIENT. RIGHT NOW, WE ARE -- OUR AVERAGE AND THAT IS NOT FILLING ALL POSITIONS, OUR AVERAGE IS AROUND 67 CASE MANAGERS. BUT AGAIN, THAT WE ARE DOWN 7 PEOPLE RIGHT NOW AND THAT IS FROM OUR AVERAGE. WE HAVE 12 OPEN CASE MANAGER ROLES. O.M.B. JUST GAVE US PERMISSION TO HIRE FOLKS, FIVE PEOPLE, BUT WE HAVE -- WE HAVEN'T HAD THE BUDGET TO PROVIDE -- THAN IS PARTIALLY BECAUSE PRETRIAL SERVICE HAD TO STOP THE HEMORRHAGING OF PEOPLE GOING OUT THE DOOR. BUT AGAIN, WE DON'T KNOW IF THAT WILL ECBE SUFFICIENT WITH THE FIVE NEW FOLKS. 67 IS AVERAGE. 12 IS AT VACANT AND WE ARE AT 60. I DON'T THINK RIGHT KNOW WE WOULD HAVE SUFFICIENT IF WE DEPARTMENT HAVE THESE POSITIONS FUNDED. >> RIGHT. GREAT. THANK YOU. SO I WOULD LOVE TO KNOW YOUR THOUGHTS ON PROPERTY POSED BUDGET AND WITH YOU FEEL YOU HAVE WHAT YOU NEED TO -- MAINTAIN THE CURRENT LEVEL OF SERVICE AND TO MEET YOUR STATUTORY REQUIREMENTS? >> WELL, WE ARE -- THE STATUTORY REQUIREMENTS, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I TALKED ABOUT IN MY C.L.S., WHICH IS JUST SUPPORT THE LANGUAGE SERVICES, IT WAS DISCUSSED YESTERDAY, PRETRIAL SERVICES HAS SEEN IT INCREASE. AND I THINK YOU SHOULD KNOW THAT WHEN PRETRIAL SERVICES MAKES A REQUEST, AT THE J.P.C., IT IS ALWAYS CONSIDERED AN EMERGENCY. IT IS BECAUSE IT IS NOT 24 HOURS IN ADVANCE. WE WILL NEVER HAVE 24 HOURS IN ADVANCE AT THE J.P.C. PEOPLE ARE COMING IN THE DOOR. SO THAT IS SOMETHING WE CAN POTENTIALLY LOOK AT AS A COUNTY. LIKE HOW DO WE POTENTIALLY SAVE MONEY AND WITH OUR VENDOR TO NOT HAVE THAT AS AN EMERGENCY COST WHEN PRETRIAL SERVICES IS MAKING THAT REQUEST. WE DO OUR BEST TO USE THE TELE-- THE REMOTE ACCESS, BUT STILL IT IS CONSIDERED AN EMERGENCY. SO WE PAY A HIGHER COST FOR THAT. AND THE LANGUAGES ARE GETTING MUCH MORE COMPLEX. SO THE COST IS HIGHER. >> THANK YOU. I HAVE NO FURTHER QUESTIONS AT THIS TIME. >> THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. PRECINCT ONE YOU WILL HAVE FIVE MINUTES FOR QUESTIONS. >> THANK YOU. RITA WITH PRECINCT ONE. YOU MENTIONED THERE IS A NIGHT LAST WEEK AT THE J.P.C., WHERE YOU ONLY HAD TWO FOLKS STAFFING AND THE TON TELLS BACKED UP. CAN YOU EXPLAIN WHAT FULL STAFFING WOULD BE FOR AN OVER NIGHT AT THE J.P.C. AND THEN, RELATEDLY, CAN YOU DISCUSS WHETHER OR NOT YOUR DEPARTMENT IS EXPERIENCING ANY IMPACTS FROM THE HIRING FREEZE? >> WE ARE EXPERIENCING IMPACT FROM THE HIRING FREEZE. I UNDERSTAND WHY IT WAS PUT IN PLACE. BUT WITH PRETRIAL SERVICES, WE MAKE IT WORK. BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY, PEOPLE WILL GET BACKED UP IN THE TUNNELS AND IN PART OF THE REASON IS THAT AGAIN, THAT SHIFT IS NOT A DESIRABLE SHIFT. IT IS MIDNIGHTS. WE HAVE MOVED THAT SHIFT TO 410'S , AND THAT HELPED FOR A WHILE. BUT IT'S AGAIN, A CYCLE. SO WE ARE NOT ABLE TO BRING NEW STAFF IN. I THINK THERE'S -- WE HAVE OUR TWO SUPERVISORS. THAT WORK THAT MIDNIGHT SHIFT. AND THEY ARE -- THEY ARE WORKING THE WINDOWS. THEY ARE WORKING THE UPTAKE. WE ALSO COVER THE 1517 PROBABLE CAUSE HEARING AS WELL. AND I THINK IT SHOULD BE KNOWN THOUGH AS WELL IS THAT IF THAT CONSENT DEGREE GOES AWAY, THERE IS WHOLE OTHER LAY THEIR WILL COME INTO PLAY FOR -- OTHER LAY THEIR WILL COME INTO PLAY WITH PERSON SERVICES AND BOND AND HAVING TO PROVIDE INSTRUCTIONS AS WELL. BUT AGAIN, I THINK THAT IT IS MORE IMPORTANT TO KNOW THAT PRETRIAL SERVICES IS ONE OF MANY COGS. IF IT IS NOT FUNCTIONING AS FULL CAPACITY WE WILL RESORT TO FEW YEARS GO WITH DELAYS IN SERVICE, DELAY IN SUPERVISION, [01:55:04] NOTIF NOTIFICATION. IT IS JUST UNDERSTANDING WHERE OUR ROLE IS AND WE ARE AT EVERY SINGLE POINT. >> THANK YOU. RELATED TO THAT, CAN YOU SPEAK TO THE IMPACT THAT YOUR OFF SET SETS WOULD HAVE ON OTHER DEPARTMENT, THE JAIL POPULATION, YOUR DEPARTMENT. >> THE OFFSETS WE PULLED FROM, THE NON-LABOR AND IT WILL BACK UP AT JAIL, WHICH COMES FIRST. SO IF WE BACK UP THE JAIL, BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE A PROGRAM TO RELEASE PEOPLE IN TO, OFFICE TIMES A LOT OF THE FOLKS ARE ORDERED TO ELECTRON MONITORING. WHAT HAPPENED PRIOR TO COVID WAS THERE WAS A WAITING LIST AND YOU SAT IN CUSTODY UNTIL THE MONITOR WAS AVAILABLE. AND I DON'T WANT PEOPLE IN CUSTODY THAT SHOULDN'T BE THERE. THERE ARE PEOPLE THAT SHOULD BE REMAINING IN CUSTODY. BUT NOT EVERYONE. SO IT IS LOOKING AT THAT PERSON'S RISK AND IDENTIFYING WHICH FOLKS SHOULD BE DETAINED DUE TO THEIR DANGEROUSNESS TO THE COMMUNITY OR FLIGHT OR THE PEOPLE THAT CAN BE SAFELY RELEASED TO THE -- INTO THE COMMUNITY AND HAVE CONDITIONS TO MITIGATE THAT RISK. WHAT HAPPEN HAPPENED IN THE PAST IS THERE HAVE BEEN WAITING LIST AND THEN ONCE WE HAVE CAPACITY, THEN THEY ARE RELEASED. I DON'T WANT TO SEE THAT HAPPEN BECAUSE THE VAST MAJORITY OF PEOPLE IN HARRIS COUNTY COME TO COURT AND DO NOT GET ARRESTED. >> THANK YOU. I WILL RESERVE THE BALANCE OF MY TIME. >> THANK YOU PRESINCT ONE. PE PRE-- PRECINCT TWO. >> MARKET MATT MATT GARY IS ON HIS HONEYM MOO. HE WILL RETURN TOMORROW. TALK ABOUT SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT HIRING APPROPRIATE STAFF AND WEEKEND COVERAGE FOR ELECTRONIC MONITORING. >> OK. SO HERE IS WHAT WE NEED TO UNDERSTAND FROM STAFFING PERSPECTIVE, WE CURRENTLY HAVE 15 -- 12 VACANT AND EAR FROZEN P.C.N.'S FOR CASE MANAGERS. AND I DON'T KNOW FOR SURE IF WE ARE ABLE TO PROVIDE 24 SHERWOOD PARK 7 COVERAGE. IT DEPEND ON AGAIN, WHAT HAPPENS IS WILL THERE BE ANOTHER EVENT THAT REQUIRES MORE PEOPLE TO BE RELEASED TO PRIX PRETRIAL SERVICES. WITH THE POSITIONS ONE THEY HAVE TO BE FILL. IT TAKES A YEAR TO GET UP AND RUNNING. WE ARE DOWN 1.5 TRAINING CLASSES THIS YEAR. WE ONLY DID ONE TRAINING CLASS WHERE WE NORMALLY DO TWO AND A HALF BY THIS POINT. SO WE ARE LOOKING AT WHAT CAN WE DO WITH THE RESOURCES WE HAVE? WE WILL NOT BE PAYABABLE TOO P4 HOUR COVERAGE. I DO BELIEVE WITH TIME WE WILL BE ABLE TO HAVE A BETTER ESTIMATE OF WHAT WE REALLY NEED BUT WE HAVE TO HAVE -- NORMALLY WHAT HAPPENED OUT OF PAY EQUITY WAS PRIOR TO THAT CASE MANAGERS WERE PAID ADDITIONAL -- THEY WERE COMPENSATED AT A HIGHER RATE. NOW THEY ARE NOT COMPENSATED AT A HIGHER RATE SO I DON'T KNOW WHERE THAT WILL GO. IN THE FUTURE. BECAUSE THE RESPONSIBILITY AND THE K.P.I.S. FOR THE ROLE ARE SO SIGNIFICANT. IT IS JUST LOOKING AT THAT AND I THINK THE ADDED BENEFIT OF PAY MAKES A DIFFERENCE. WE WERE ABLE TO STABILIZE THAT AREA. WHEN WE WERE COMPENSATING PEOPLE AT A DIFFERENT RATE. >> THANK YOU SO MUCH. THE COMMISSIONER IS VERY INTERESTED IN DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND HOW WE PROTECT SURVIVORS. HOW IS YOUR OFFICE ABLE TO PRIORITIZE THE SURVIVORS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE IN YOUR SUPERVISION? >> WE ARE WORKING WITH PRECINCT TWO AND ALSO PRESINCT THREE, LOOKING AT HOW CAN WE HAVE MORE [02:00:08] IMMEDIATE NOTIFICATION FOR ONCE A PERSON GOES INTO AN EXCLUSION ZONE AND AS WELL AS WORKING WITH THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT. AGAIN WE ARE PART OF A COG. WE ARE THIRD ON THE LIST, SO WE MAY HAVE NOTIFICATION, BUT THE JUDGE HAS TO BE NOTIFIED. A WARRANT HAS TO BE ISSUED. THERE ARE LEGAL CONCERNS THAT THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT HAS THAT CAN THEY EVEN GO OUT AND BE KNOCKING ON SOMEONE'S DOOR? SO WE HAVE BEEN BRAINSTORMING ON WAYS TO DO THIS. THE VAST MAJORITY ARE FOR EXCLUSION ZONE. WE ARE TRYING TO REDUCE EXCLUSION ZONES COMING IN. WE ARE WORKING WITH THE COURTS RIGHT NOW. SO THAT WE -- BECAUSE ABOUT 83% OF ALERTS EVERY DAY ARE JUST FROM THAT. THAT IS JUST THE REPORT. THAT DOESN'T INCLUDE -- AGAIN, I THINK IT IS HOW DO WE COORDINATE THIS AS A SYSTEM BECAUSE WHAT DOES THE SHERIFF NEED LEGALLY TO GO OUT TO A LOCATION THAT AN ARREST NEED TO BE MADE? DO THEY NEED A WARRANT? IT RIPPLES FROM THERE. BECAUSE WE DON'T WANT TO ENCROACH ON SOMEONE'S RIGHT AND PUT THEM IN A MORE COMPROMISING SITUATION. >> THANK YOU AND THANKS FOR WORKING ON THAT. THOSE ARE ALL THE QUESTIONS I HAVE. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU, PRESINCT TWO. WE WILL NOW REVISIT FOR ANY REMAINING TIME. PRECINCT FOUR YOU HAD IN REMAINING TIME. COUNTY JUDGES OFFICE YOU HAD WITH THE MINUTES ANDONE SICKE* /* AND ONE SECOND REMAINING. >> NO ADDITIONAL QUESTION BUT THANK YOU SO MUCH WHAT YOUR OFFICE DOES FOR THE COUNTRY AND WHAT KEY ROLE YOU PLAY WITH THE JUSTICE SYSTEM. >> THANK YOU. >> PRECINCT ONE, ONE MINUTE AND 19 SECOND. >> I HAVE NO FURTHER QUESTIONS. THANK YOU, DIRECTOR. >> THANK YOU. >> PRECINCT TWO YOU HAD 25 SECOND REMAINING. >> OK. CAN I TAKE A LITTLE BIT OF A THEIR TIME. >> YOU MAY HAVE MY 25 SECONDS. >> THANK YOU. >> LET'S CALL IT FIVE MINUTES FOR CLOSING REMARKS. >> SO I JUST WANT TO EMPHASIZE THE IMPORTANCE OF WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IF THAT CONSENT DECREE FROZE GOES AWAY. WE PROCESS AND PRETRIAL COMPLETE THE PAPERWORK FOR PROCESSING FOLKS OUT FOR THE GENERAL ORDER BONDS. THERE ARE 27,000 OF THOSE GENERAL ORDER BONDS THAT ARE PROCESSED ANNUALLY FROM PRETILE SERVICES. ALL OF THOSE FOLKS POTENTIALLY HAVE THE -- THEY MAY COME TO PRETRIAL SERVICES JUST FOR A PERSONAL BOND, WHICH IS IN TEXAS, COMES TO OUR OFFICE. WE CURRENTLY DO NOT RECEIVE THOSE FOLKS UNLESS CONDITIONS ARE ADDED TO THEM. WE DESPERATELY NEED A MECHANISM FOR EITHER A BOND THAT DOES NOT INCLUDE PRETRIAL SERVICES SO THAT WE CAN TARGET OUR EFFORTS TO PEOPLE THAT ACTUALLY NEED SUPERVISED AT A HIGHER LEVEL. WE HAVE ABOUT 10 TO 15,000 PEOPLE AT ANY GIVEN TIME THAT HAVE NO CONDITIONS OF SUPERVISION OTHER THAN REMAINING CRIME-FREE IN THE COMMUNITY AND COMING TO COURT. SO I JUST THINK IT IS REALLY IMPERATIVE WE JUST ADVOCATE WE HAVE BEEN WORKING WITH I.G.A., O.C.A., ON HOW TO DO WE WORK WITH OUR LEGISLATURE TO HELP US? THEY WANT A SAFE COMMUNITY AS WELL AND IN TARGETING OUR RESOURCES, IS THE WAY TO DO THAT. SO FOR MY CLOSING REMARKS, THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE COME TO COURT AND DO NOT GET RELEASED IN THE COMMUNITY ANNUALLY. RISK IS INHERENT IN PRETRIAL BUT WHEN WE ONLY FOCUS ON THE FINANCIAL PART OF A PERSON'S RELEASE, WE DON'T ACTUALLY MAKE THE COMMUNITY SAFER. OVER THE PAST TWO DAYS, YOU HAVE LISTENED TO MANY JUSTICE STAKE HOLD OTHERS, MENTIONED AND NEW INITIATIVE, OR EXPANDING EXISTING PROGRAMS. EACH OF THEM HAD ANS A ASTERISK TO THEM AND STATE WE NEED TO CONSIDER THE OVER STAKEHOLDERS AND PRETRIAL SERVICES WAS ONE OF THEM. WE ARE A THREAD IN THE FABRIC OF THIS JUSTICE SYSTEM. WE ALWAYS ALL WORK TOGETHER. WITH THAT I WANT TO THANK YOU TO O.C.A., AND THE OFFICE OF THE BUDGET MANAGEMENT, FOR THEIR SUPPORT. WE ARE A LEAN TEAM AND I MEAN WE ARE THE BUTCHER, THE BAKER [02:05:03] AROUND THE CANDLE STICK MAKER. SO WE DON'T HAVE OUR OWN FINANCIAL PERSON. WE ALL DO THAT. WE DID THE D.P.M.'S , AGAIN WE RUN LEAN AND THEY ALWAYS COME TO HELP US. I THINK YESTERDAY IT WAS STATED THAT O.C.A. PROVIDED US WITH C.O.M. SUPPORT AND THAT IS SO HELPFUL BECAUSE WE HAVE OUR OTHER JOBS WE ARE DOING IN THE INTERIM. I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU, DIRECTOR AND THANK YOU TO THE ENTIRE [District Clerk] PRETRIAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT. OUR NEXT PRESENTATION WILL COME FROM THE DISTRICT CLERK'S OFFICE. [02:11:26] >> IT IS 1:00 P.M. WELCOME BACK, COURT OFFICES. WE NOW WELCOME THE DISTRICT CLERK'S OFFICE, WHO HAS ELECTED TO SPLIT HER REMARKS WITH 3 MINUTES AT THE TOP FOR INTRODUCTORY REMARKS AND 2 MINUTES FOR CLOSING. EACH COURT OFFICE WILL BE ALLOCATED 5 MINUTES IN TURN FOR QUESTIONS, BEGINNING WITH THE COUNTY JUDGE'S OFFICE. >> GOOD AFTERNOON. I'M MARILYN BURGESS, DISTRICT CLERK. I HAVE WITH ME MY FINANCE DIRECTOR AS WELL AS MY CHIEF DEPUTY. WE HAVE SUBMITTED ONLY THREE CRITICALLY ESSENTIAL SERVICE ENHANCEMENTS F. THESE ARE TARGETED STAFFING INVESTMENTS THAT ALLOW US TO IMPLEMENT NEW STATUTORY REQUIREMENTS AND FIVE NEW CIVIL DISTRICT COURTS WITHOUT DEGRADING SERVICE TO HARRIS COUNTY. THE FIRST SERVICE ENHANCEMENT IS FUNDING FOR EIGHT POSITIONS THAT SUPPORT THE FIVE NEW CIVIL DISTRICT COURTS. NEW COURTS MEAN FILINGS, CITATIONS, DATA CORRECTIONS, REGISTRY ACTIVITY, AND MORE SUPERVISORY DEMANDS ACROSS SECTIONS THAT ALREADY HANDLE A HIGH VOLUME OF WORK UNDER TIGHT DEADLINES. OUR CURRENT STAFFING WAS BUILT WITH EXISTING GRANTS, NOT FOR FIVE ADDITIONAL COURTS. WITHOUT ADDED PERSONNEL, WE WILL SEE BACKLOGS, PROCESSING, SUPERVISION AND REDUCED ABILITY TO MEET SERVICE EXPECTATIONS FOR JUDGES, LITIGANTS, ATTORNEYS, JUSTICE PARTNERS, AND THE PUBLIC. FUNDING THESE POSITIONS WILL ALLOW US TO ABSORB THE IMPACT WHILE MAINTAINING TIMELY PROCESSING, COMPLIANCE, AND RELIABLE COURT SUPPORT. OUR SECOND SERVICE ENHANCEMENT IS FUNDING FROM 14 NEW ASSISTANT COURT CLERKS. HEARING VOLUMES HAVE GROWN SUBSTANTIALLY OVER TIME AND THE WORKLOAD HAS INCREASED EVEN MORE WITH NEW LEGISLATIVE MANDATES. WHEN THESE POSITIONS WERE REMOVED, THE DIVISION LOST THE STAFFING STRUCTURE IT NEEDED TO KEEP UP WITH ITS GROWTH, ADDING 14 POSITIONS WILL ALLOW EACH CIVIL DISTRICT COURT TO HAVE A DEDICATED ASSISTANT COURT CLERK INSTEAD OF SHARING ONE, JUST AS EVERY OTHER COURT DIVISION IN THE COUNTY CURRENTLY HAS. WITHOUT THIS INVESTMENT, WE WILL CONTINUE TO OPERATE WITH STAFFING SHORTAGES THAT SLOW CASES, REDUCE EFFICIENCY, AND PLACE ADDITIONAL STRAIN ON COURT OPERATIONS. THIS IS OUR THIRD TIME BRINGING THIS REQUEST TO THE COURT. THE THIRD SERVICE ENHANCEMENT ADDRESSES THE LEGISLATIVE MANDATE REQUIRED FOR SENATE BILL NINE, CHANGING BAIL RELATED PROCESSES FOR HABITUAL AND VIOLENT OFFENDERS. IT ADDS NEW BAIL SETTING, DATA ENTRY, PUBLIC SAFETY REPORTING, ADDITIONAL ARREST RELATED DATA ELEMENTS, AND CROSS COUNTY REPORTING REQUIREMENTS. THE SYSTEM WILL NOW INCLUDE WHETHER A DEFENDANT IS ON SUPERVISION OR ALREADY ON BAIL IN ANOTHER CASE, HAS AN OUTSTANDING WARRANT, OR IS SUBJECT TO AN ACTIVE PROTECTIVE ORDER. IT CREATES A NEW PROCEDURE FOR RECEIVING AND ROUTING ELECTRONIC NOTICE WHEN A DEFENDANT ON A FELONY BAIL AND ANOTHER COUNTY IS CHARGED WITH A NEW FELONY, REQUIRING PROMPT NOTIFICATION TO THE COURT, THE DISTRICT CLERK, PROSECUTOR, AND DEFENSE COUNSEL. TO MEET THESE MANDATES WE ARE REQUESTING THREE ADDITIONAL POSITIONS, ONE PER SHIFT. CURRENT STAFFING CANNOT ABSORB THIS WORKLOAD WITHOUT DELAYS. FUNDING THESE POSITIONS WILL ENSURE OUR CRIMINAL CASE PROCESSING KEEPS PACE WITH REQUIREMENTS AND CONTINUES TO SERVE THE COURTS AND THE PUBLIC WITH THE ACCURACY AND TRANSPARENCY EXPECTED. THE DISTRICT CLERK'S OFFICE IS NOT A DISCRETIONARY ADMINISTRATIVE DEPARTMENT. THESE THREE REQUESTS ARE ESSENTIAL TO US CONTINUING TO MAKE OUR STATUTORY REQUIREMENTS. >> THANK YOU. EACH COURT OFFICE WILL NOW HAVE 5 MINUTES FOR QUESTIONS, [02:15:01] BEGINNING WITH THE COUNTY JUDGE'S OFFICE. >> THANK YOU. VERONICA JAMES, POLICY DIRECTOR, COUNTY JUDGE'S OFFICE. THANK YOU FOR THE INFORMATION AND EVERYTHING YOU DO FOR THE COUNTY. MY FIRST QUESTION IS REGARDING YOUR SERVICE ENHANCEMENTS FOR SUPPORT POSITIONS FOR THE NEW CIVIL DISTRICT COURTS. CAN YOU EXPLAIN HOW THESE POSITIONS RELATE TO THE POSITIONS COMMISSIONERS COURT JUST APPROVED LAST WEEK FOR THESE NEW COURTS, AND WERE ANY OF THESE POSITIONS INCLUDED IN THAT REQUEST? >> THE POSITIONS WE ARE ASKING FOR WERE NOT INCLUDED IN THAT REQUEST. OH, AND BE PUT IN FOR A LEAD CLERK FOR EACH OF THE FIVE COURTS AND THREE ASSISTANT COURT CLERKS AND THEIR EQUIPMENT, BUT NOTHING FROM THE SUPPORT SECTIONS. YOU CANNOT OPERATE A COURT WITH JUST A CLERK IN THE COURTROOM. THERE'S A LOT OF BACK OFFICE SUPPORT REQUIRED. IF IT WAS ONE ADDITIONAL COURT MAYBE WE COULD ABSORB THAT WITH EXISTING STAFF, BUT WHEN YOU ADD FIVE, THE VOLUME IS GOING TO INCREASE ACROSS MULTIPLE DEPARTMENTS. THAT'S WHAT WE'VE ASKED FOR. THE SUPERVISOR OVER THE CURRENT 24 COURTS SUPERVISES ABOUT 60 PEOPLE. THIS WOULD INCREASE THEIR SUPPORT TO ABOUT 70, WHICH IS UNSUSTAINABLE FOR ONE PERSON TO ADEQUATELY SUPPORT THAT MANY PEOPLE. SO THAT'S ASKING FOR ANOTHER SUPERVISOR SO THEY CAN SPLIT THOSE 29 AND EACH TAKE HALF. >> THANK YOU. THAT'S GREAT CLARIFICATION. REGARDING THE DAS PROPOSALS FOR CITATION AND INTAKE MODERNIZATION WHICH THEY'VE PRESENTED TO THE CJCC, I'M CURIOUS WHETHER YOU'VE HAD A CHANCE TO CONSIDER HOW THESE WOULD IMPACT YOUR OPERATIONS AND WHETHER YOU HAVE THE CAPACITY TO IMPLEMENT THESE. >> WE HAVE BEEN IN CONVERSATIONS WITH THE D A. ABOUT THIS, AND IT IS A BIG CHANGE THAT WOULD REQUIRE A LOT OF PROGRAMING CHANGES IN THE SYSTEM TO ACCOMMODATE AND TRACK SOMETHING WITHOUT ASSIGNING AS A NEW CASE. SO WE HAVE ASKED TO BE KEPT IN THE LOOP EVERY STEP OF THE WAY. WE CAN SEE THE ADVANTAGES, BUT IT IS GOING TO REQUIRE A LOT OF PROGRAMING CHANGES IN MY OFFICE, AND ONCE WE GET FURTHER DOWN THE LINE AND KNOW EXACTLY WHAT THERE COULD BE REQUESTS FOR ADDITIONAL SUPPORT FOR OUR PROGRAMS. >> GREAT, THANK YOU. NO ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS AT THIS TIME. >> THANK YOU. PRECINCT ONE, YOU WILL NOW HAVE 5 MINUTES FOR QUESTIONS. >> THANK YOU, CLERK. A COUPLE FOLLOW UP QUESTIONS WITH REGARDS TO THE DISTRICT COURTS THAT ARE COMING ONLINE. CAN YOU WALK THROUGH WHAT THOSE ESSENTIAL POSITIONS ARE THAT WERE NOT INCLUDED, AND A SEPARATE QUESTION, WERE ANY OF THE SAME POSITIONS ADDED WHEN RECENTLY THE NEW CRIMINAL DISTRICT COURTS HAVE BEEN ADDED? >> AS I MENTIONED, THE SUPERVISOR ALREADY AND WE DO HAVE PRECEDENT FOR THAT. WHEN I FIRST CAME INTO OFFICE WE HAD 22 FELONY COURTS. WE HAVE 29 NOW. WITH THE LAST ADDITION WE WERE FUNDED TO ADD A SECOND SUPERVISOR AND THEY SPLIT THE COURTS JUST AS WE ARE ASKING FOR, WHICH WILL NOW BE AT 29. IN ADDITION TO THAT WE'VE ASKED FOR ONE ADDITIONAL PERSON IN OUR DATA CONTROL, QUALITY CONTROL SECTION. THEY ARE THE ONES THAT REVIEW ALL OF THE JUDGMENTS BEFORE THEY ARE PUT ONLINE FOR THE PUBLIC TO HAVE ACCESS TO. THEY'VE GOT TEN FULL TIME, ONE PART TIME PERSON CURRENTLY. WE'RE ASKING TO INCREASE THAT TO 11, WITH THE INCREASE FROM 83 TO 88. WE ALSO HAVE CIVIL DOCUMENT CONTROL CLERKS. WE HAVE 12 THAT ARE ON SITE PROCESSING PAPER COMING OUT OF THE CIVIL DISTRICT COURTS. EACH PERSON ON THAT TEAM HAS TWO COURTS THAT THEY PROCESS THE PAPERWORK FOR. MUCH OF THAT IS RUSHED AND NEEDS TO BE TURNED AROUND RAPIDLY. WE ARE ASKING TO INCREASE THAT SECTION BY TWO SO WE MAINTAIN THAT RATIO OF A CLERK HAVING TWO COURTS TO SUPPORT. ONE PERSON WOULD HAVE THREE COURTS TO SUPPORT. CIVIL INTAKE CURRENTLY HAS 25 PEOPLE SUPPORTING 29 COURTS. WE ARE ASKING FOR ONE ADDITIONAL PERSON THERE TO RAISE IT UP TO 26. WHILE WE RECOGNIZE THAT NEW CASE FILINGS SHOULD NOT INCREASE BECAUSE YOU HAVE INITIAL COURTS, CASES WILL BE PROCESSING MORE VOLUME COMING THROUGH AS A RESULT OF THE ADDITIONAL COURTS. THAT MEANS MORE CITATIONS, SERVICE PAPERS, AND THIS IS THE TEAM THAT DOES THAT. WE ASK FOR ONE ADDITIONAL HELP DESK TECHNICIAN. WE HAVE NINE TECHNICIANS CURRENTLY AND THEY SUPPORT 83 COURTS, AND NEARLY 600 EMPLOYEES OF THE DISTRICT COURTS OFFICE. THE FIVE NEW COURTS MEAN WE HAVE AT LEAST 15 NEW COMPUTERS, AND THIS IS JUST IN THE COURTROOM, NOT DEALING WITH THE SUPPORT SECTIONS WE ARE ASKING FOR. TEN NEW PRINTERS, TEN NEW SCANNERS, TEN NEW PHONES. SO THAT'S JUST MORE FOR THEM THAT THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE TO WORK WITH ON A DAILY BASIS AS WELL AS MAINTAINING ANY WEBSITE ISSUES THAT WE ENCOUNTER. SO WE ARE ASKING FOR ONE THERE. OUR COURT REGISTRY, WE ARE ASKING FOR OUR TEAM LEAD. RIGHT NOW WE HAVE ONE TEAM LEAD OVER COURT REGISTRY AND ACCOUNTING. WE ARE THE OFFICER FOR ALL THE CRIMINAL DISTRICT BOARDS AND [02:20:04] COUNTY CRIMINAL COURTS IN HARRIS COUNTY. WE MAINTAIN ABOUT 27 DIFFERENT CASHIERS DAILY WHO ARE TAKING IN MONEY AT THE COUNTERS THAT THIS SECTION HAS TO BALANCE, DEPOSIT, RECORD EACH DAY, AND THEY ALSO DO ALL THE CREDIT CARD PROCESSING. SO YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE MORE VOLUME COMING IN WITH FIVE NEW COURTS. SO WE ARE ASKING FOR A NEW TEAM LEAD SO YOU HAVE ONE FOR COURT REGISTRY AND ANOTHER FOR ACCOUNTING. >> THANK YOU FOR RUNNING THROUGH THAT. MY NEXT QUESTION IS ABOUT THE HIRING FREEZE AND HOW IT'S IMPACTED YOUR DEPARTMENT, SPECIFICALLY WHAT DIVISIONS HAVE BEEN MOST IMPACTED. >> IT'S IMPACTED US SEVERELY. WE'VE HAD A LOT OF OPEN POSITIONS. FIRST WE HAD THE OVERALL GENERAL FREEZE, THEN THE PAY PARITY FOR ABOUT SIX WEEKS. THEN ANY POSITION THAT WAS VACANT WHEN PAY PARITY WAS IMPLEMENTED DID NOT GET ADJUSTED FOR THE NEW PAY PARITY MINIMUMS. SO NOW TRYING TO FILL THOSE POSITIONS, YOU'VE GOT TO GO THROUGH THE PROCESS OF GETTING THEM UPDATED TO THE NEW RATE AND GETTING THE BUDGET TRANSFERRED, AND THAT'S CREATED A SIX WEEK DELAY FROM THE TIME WE STARTED AND WE STILL HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO EXTEND OFFERS. SO WE HAVE PEOPLE PENDING THAT WE'VE MADE OFFERS TO, PENDING -- WE CAN JUST KNOCK ON WOOD AND HOPE THAT THEY ARE STILL OPEN AND AVAILABLE TO TAKE THE JOB WHEN WE GO BACK TO THE MOMENT LATER TO SAY OKAY, NOW YOU CAN START. WE HAVE HAD A LOT OF -- WE WERE EXEMPTED FROM THE HIRING FREEZE FOR PEOPLE IN THE COURTROOM, BUT NOT FOR THE SUPPORT SECTIONS, SO WE HAVE GONE THROUGH AND DONE SOME SPECIAL REQUESTS FOR AREAS THAT WERE HAVING SOME SPECIAL HARD TIMES BECAUSE OF OPEN POSITIONS AND HOW IT'S ADVERSELY AFFECTING OPERATIONS. WE'VE GOTTEN SOME APPROVALS THERE TO BE ABLE TO START FILLING THOSE AS SOON AS WE CAN GET INTERVIEWS AND OFFERS EXTENDED. >> THANK YOU. THAT'S ALL THE QUESTIONS I HAVE. >> THANK YOU PRECINCT ONE. PRECINCT TWO, YOU WILL NOW HAVE 5 MINUTES FOR QUESTIONS. >> GOOD AFTERNOON. HEATHER CRUZ FROM PRECINCT TWO. IT'S NICE TO SEE YOU. THANK YOU FOR COMING IN. MATT GARY LEFT A QUESTION HERE FOR YOU. YOUR TEAM IS VERY EMBEDDED IN THE OPERATIONS OF THE COURT, AND WE WOULD LOVE TO HEAR YOUR IDEAS ABOUT ANY ADMINISTRATIVE CHANGES THAT COULD BE MADE OVER THERE, WHETHER IT'S THE JUDGES OR OTHER STAFF MEMBERS AT THE COURT THAT COULD IMPROVE EFFICIENCY AND COURT OPERATIONS. >> WE HAVE SUGGESTED DIFFERENT THINGS FOR JURY SERVICE, FOR EXAMPLE, BUT WE DON'T HAVE THE AUTHORITY TO IMPLEMENT THEM. IT'S UP TO THE DISTRICT COURT JUDGES. BUT SOME OF THE THINGS WE'VE BEEN TRYING TO DO THERE IS IMPLEMENT USE OF A POSTCARD INSTEAD OF A LETTER, WHICH WOULD REDUCE MAILING COSTS. WE ALSO FEEL LIKE IT MIGHT BE OVERLOOKED LESS OFTEN AND WE WOULD GET A BETTER RESPONSE FROM IT. I HAVE REVIEWED IT, WE'VE GONE THROUGH SEVERAL ITERATIONS OF WHAT IT WOULD LOOK LIKE, AND I THINK THEY ARE LOOKING FAVORABLY AT IT, BUT THAT'S ONE. THE OTHER ONE IS WE CONTINUE TO CALL TOO MANY JURORS. WE HAVE DISCUSSED THIS WITH THEM OVER AND OVER. WE DISMISS 42% OF THE PEOPLE WHO SHOW UP FOR JURY SERVICE FROM THE JURY PLAZA. WE HAVE TO PAY THEM FOR COMING AND WE AREN'T UTILIZING THEM. THAT'S BECAUSE WHEN WE SEND OUT SUMMONS, THE DISTRICT JUDGES TELL US HOW MANY TO SUMMON FOR EACH DAY AND WE DON'T KNOW IF ANYBODY'S GOING TO REQUEST A JURY TRIAL ON THAT DAY. YOU HAVE TO SEND THEM OUT LIKE SIX WEEKS IN ADVANCE. THE JUDGE DOES MAKE THE REQUEST FOR JURY PANELS THE DAY BEFORE AT 3:00 P.M. THE SYSTEM WE'VE IMPLEMENTED ALLOWS US TO CANCEL IF WE SEE WE'VE GOT MORE COMING IN THAN WHAT'S BEEN ORDERED AS OF 3:00 P.M. THE DAY BEFORE APPEARED BUT WE ARE STILL CONSTRICTED WITH HOW MANY WE CAN RELEASE BECAUSE THEY WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT EVEN IF SOMEONE ASKS FOR A STANDBY PANEL UNEXPECTEDLY THE NEXT DAY, WE HAVE ENOUGH PEOPLE THERE. WE ARE ENCOURAGING THEM TO WORK TOWARD GETTING THAT 42% DOWN TO 30%. THE NATIONAL CENTER ADVOCATES 28% AS A REASONABLE NUMBER TO HAVE LEFT OVER. SO LET'S GO TO 30%. AND WE WENT BACK AND LOOKED, AND IN THE LAST 12 MONTHS THERE WERE FOUR CASES WHERE SOMEONE WANTED A JURY PANEL AND DIDN'T GET IT THE SAME DAY. THERE WERE MORE WHERE THEY DIDN'T GET UNTIL -- THEY WANTED IT AT NINE AND DIDN'T GET IT UNTIL 11, SO A TWO HOUR DELAY APPEARED BUT THAT'S A SMALL PRICE TO PAY, WE FEEL, IF IT'S GOING TO SAVE US A LOT OF MONEY IN THE JURY PAYMENTS WHICH COULD SAVE US OVER A MILLION DOLLARS JUST IN REDUCING THOSE JURORS. WE CONTINUE TO WORK TO TRY TO CONVERT MORE PAPER PRODUCTS TO ELECTRONIC. [02:25:04] THE MORE PAPER WE USE, THE MORE PEOPLE IT TAKES TO IMAGE AND INDEX AND PROCESS THAT PAPER AND THERE CAN BE A LOT OF SAVINGS THERE IF WE CAN GET RID OF MORE OF THE PAPER COMING OUT OF THE COURTS. WE ARE WORKING WITH THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE TO CONVERT DIFFERENT SERVICE WARRANTS TO ELECTRONIC. WE'VE DONE A FEW OF THEM BUT THERE ARE SEVERAL OTHER TYPES STILL PENDING AND WE ARE WORKING CLOSELY WITH THEM TRYING TO GET MORE OF THOSE. >> WONDERFUL, THANK YOU. I WILL GIVE MY REMAINING TIME TO THE CLERK WHEN SHE CLOSES. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. PRECINCT FOUR, YOU WILL NOW HAVE 5 MINUTES FOR QUESTIONS. >> GOOD AFTERNOON AND THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. LARISSA BARRETO, PART OF COMMISSIONER BRIONES' POLICY TEAM. THANK YOU. YOUR STAFF AND YOUR TEAM ARE ALSO CRUCIAL TO THE FUNCTIONS OF THE COUNTY, AND YOU GUYS ARE ESSENTIALLY THE BRAIN TRUST AND THE DATA HOLDERS OF THE JUSTICE SYSTEM. SO WE THANK YOU AND ALL YOUR CLERKS AND STAFF FOR ALL THAT YOU DO. I'M VERY EXCITED THAT ON THURSDAY, I WILL BE HOPEFULLY SERVING AT A JURY AT YOUR OFFICE, SO DON'T EXPECT ME TO BE HERE AT BUDGET HEARINGS. BUT I WANTED TO START OFF BY ASKING, AND YOU'VE SPOKEN ABOUT THIS AT COURT, BUT ABOUT HOW THE PAY EQUITY IMPACTED YOUR STAFF AND ANY IMPROVEMENTS YOU'VE SEEN IN YOUR RETENTION. >> WE WERE EXTREMELY THRILLED WITH THE PAY PARITY PROJECT. WE HAVE ADVOCATED EVER SINCE I'VE BEEN IN OFFICE THE LAST SEVEN AND A HALF YEARS THAT OUR OFFICE WAS ONE OF THE MOST UNDERPAID ACROSS THE COUNTY, AND WE WOULD LOSE PEOPLE TO OTHER HARRIS COUNTY AGENCIES BECAUSE THEY PAID BETTER THAN WE COULD. SO THIS HAS CORRECTED THAT IMBALANCE. IT'S MADE LIFESTYLE CHANGES FOR MANY OF MY EMPLOYEES. PEOPLE WHO HAD TO HAVE SECOND JOBS IN ORDER TO MAKE ENDS MEET CAN NOW DO IT WITH ONE JOB WORKING FOR THE COUNTY. WE ARE ABLE TO RECRUIT BETTER, GET HIGHER QUALITY PEOPLE AS A RESULT OF THE SALARIES WE ARE NOW OFFERING A STARTING PAY, AND WE ANTICIPATE RETENTION WILL BE SIGNIFICANTLY BETTER. ONE OF OUR BIGGEST LOSSES IN THE PAST HAS BEEN WE LOST OUR BEST LEAD CLERKS TO GO BE COORDINATORS, BECAUSE COORDINATORS WERE PAID MORE AND THEIR JOBS WERE EASIER. NOW THEY'RE ON P.A. WITH THE COORDINATORS. AND TRAINING CLERKS IS SUCH AN INTENSIVE, TIME INTENSIVE ISSUE. IT TAKES TWO YEARS TO GET ONE PREPARED FROM ENTRY INTO THE OFFICE UNTIL READY TO BE A LEAD COURT CLERK AND YOU DON'T WANT TO LOSE THAT INSTITUTIONAL KNOWLEDGE AS SOON AS HE GETS SOMEONE BUILT UP. IT HAS BEEN REMARKABLE CHANGE FOR OUR OFFICE AND WE ARE THRILLED WITH THE PROJECT. >> I'M SO GLAD TO HEAR THAT. WOULD YOU LIKE TO SHARE WITH US SOME OF YOUR DEPARTMENT'S BIGGEST ACCOMPLISHMENTS OVER THE YEAR, PARTICULARLY RELATED TO JURY OPERATIONS AND COURT SERVICES? >> ONE OF THE BEST ONES IS OUR PREREGISTRATION FOR JURY. AS I MENTIONED, WE DON'T KNOW IF WE ARE GOING TO NEED ONE PANEL TOMORROW OR TEN UNTIL 3:00 TODAY. WHAT OUR PREREGISTRATION PROGRAM ALLOWS US TO DO IS IT INSTRUCTS THE JURORS TO GO ONLINE AND PREREGISTER WHEN THEY GET THAT SUMMONS IN THE MAIL. IN THE PAST WE JUST HAD TO RELY ON THEM BEING ORGANIZED ENOUGH TO REMEMBER TO SHOW UP A MONTH IN ADVANCE. NOW WE SEND REMINDER NOTICES OUT THE WEEK PRIOR. WE SEND A REMINDER NOTICE AND A TEXT MESSAGE THE DAY BEFORE REMINDING THEM OF SERVICE COMING UP. IT'S ALLOWED US TO PREDICT WITH OVER 90% ACCURACY HOW MANY PEOPLE WE WILL HAVE IN THE JURY PLAZA EACH DAY. THEN WE SAY WE HAVE 400 COMING BUT WE ONLY HAVE 200 REQUESTS IN, WE CAN CANCEL THOSE AND SEND THEM AN EMAIL AT 5:00 THAT DAY TO SAY YOUR SERVICE HAS BEEN CANCELED, YOU DON'T NEED TO SHOW UP. THAT SAVES THEM A NEEDLESS TRIP DOWNTOWN AND SAVES THE COUNTY HAVING TO PAY THEM. WE TRANSITION FROM ISSUING THOUSANDS OF $6 CHECKS ON A DAILY BASIS TO JURORS WHO CAME FOR THE FIRST DAY OF SERVICE TO A DEBIT CARD THAT THEY HAVE IN THEIR HANDS WHEN THEY LEAVE. WE WERE ALSO SUCCESSFUL WITH THE HELP OF THIS COURT TO GET OUR FIRST DAY OF SERVICE PAY INCREASE FROM $6 TO $30 AND SUBSEQUENT DAYS INCREASED FROM $40 TO $58. WHAT WE ARE TRYING TO GET TO IS WHERE PEOPLE CAN AFFORD TO SHOW UP TO JURY SERVICE EVEN IF THEIR EMPLOYER ISN'T GOING TO PAY THEM IF THEY MISS THE DAY. WE KNOW THAT $30 DOESN'T OFFSET ANYBODY'S DAY'S WAGES, BUT IT'S A STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION. IT HAD BEEN DECADES SINCE THERE WAS A PAY INCREASE FOR JURORS. SO WE JUST HOPE WE DON'T GO DECADES AGAIN UNTIL WE OFFER A LITTLE MORE. WE NEED TO KEEP ON TRACK AND DO A LITTLE AT A TIME. THOSE ARE THE CHANGES THAT WE ARE VERY PROUD OF. WE ARE CONSTANTLY TOLD THAT OUR WEBSITE IS THE BEST IN THE STATE [02:30:04] FOR ATTORNEYS PRACTISING LAW IN THE COURTS AT HARRIS COUNTY. EVERY TIME I'M OUT IN THE PUBLIC SOMEONE'S COMING UP TO ME TELLING ME, I WISH YOU'D GET THE OTHER COUNTIES TO DO WHAT YOU DO. YOU MAKE IT POSSIBLE FOR ME TO DO MY JOB WITHOUT HAVING TO COME TO THE COURTHOUSE UNLESS I HAVE A HEARING SCHEDULED. EVERYTHING IS AVAILABLE TO THEM THERE. WE HAVE AN ATTORNEY KIOSK THAT WE'VE ENHANCED OVER AND OVER TO MAKE IT EVEN MORE USER FRIENDLY FOR THE ATTORNEYS WORKING IN THE COURTS TO GET THE DATA THEY NEED AND SEE THE FILINGS. SO WE ARE ALSO LOOKING AT TRYING TO IMPLEMENT SOME AI INTO MAKING MORE OF OUR ROUTINE FUNCTIONS ELECTRONIC SO AS TIME GOES, YOU WOULD ELIMINATE SOME PEOPLE AND HAVE SOME THINGS DONE THAT WAY. >> THANK YOU, PRECINCT FOUR. COUNTY JUDGE'S OFFICE, YOU HAD 2 MINUTES AND 58 SECONDS REMAINING. >> THANK YOU. A QUESTION ON THE JURY SERVICE. LIKE WHAT YOU DISCUSSED ABOUT JURY SERVICE, THE CHALLENGES WITH THAT. WOULD UPDATING JURY SERVICE SO THEY ARE NOTIFIED IN THE MORNING VERSUS THE NIGHT BEFORE HELP WITH POSSIBLY REDUCING THE NUMBER OF JURORS THAT SHOW UP THAT ARE NOT NEEDED, SAVING MONEY, OR WOULD THAT BE TOO MUCH WORK FOR YOUR OFFICE? >> THE CANCELLATION IS WORKING JUST FINE. WE ARE JUST NOT ALLOWED TO CANCEL AS MANY AS WE THINK SHOULD BE CANCELED. SO THERE'S STILL MORE PATTED IN THERE TO MAKE SURE THAT EVEN IF WE DON'T GET 90% THAT WE EXPECTED, IF WE GET 75% THAT SHOWED UP, WE STILL HAVE ENOUGH JURORS AND MAKE SURE NO ONE EVER GOES WITHOUT A JURY PANEL. I THINK WE COULD DO BETTER THERE. I'M NOT ASKING TO NOT HAVE ANY LEFTOVER. BUT I THINK WE COULD -- IT WOULD BE BETTER FOR THE JURORS, BETTER FOR THE COUNTY, IT COULD REDUCE THAT 42% TO 30%. >> THANK YOU. AND ONE LAST QUESTION. GIVEN THIS IS YOUR LAST BUDGET HEARING AS DISTRICT CLERK, WHAT ARE SOME KEY TAKEAWAYS YOU'D LIKE TO LEAVE US WITH REGARDING THE FUTURE OF THE DISTRICT CLERK'S OFFICE? >> I HAVE LOVED MY TIME AS DISTRICT CLERK AND SERVING THE PEOPLE OF HARRIS COUNTY. I■ THINK WE'VE MADE A LOT OF PROGRESS IN THE 7.5 YEARS I'VE BEEN HERE, AND I JUST HOPE THAT CONTINUES ON AN ONGOING BASIS. I'VE ALWAYS PRIORITIZED THE PEOPLE IN MY OFFICE AND PROTECTING THEM AND TRYING TO LOBBY FOR THEM. I HOPE THAT THE PERSON THAT SUCCEEDS ME IN THIS ROLE WILL CONTINUE THAT. I'LL ALWAYS TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THIS TIME TO ADVOCATE FOR THE COUNTY NEEDS TO PROVIDE PAID PARKING FOR EVERY SINGLE HARRIS COUNTY EMPLOYEE. MANY DEPARTMENTS ARE SMALL ENOUGH THAT THEY CAN GIVE PAID PARKING TO EVERY EMPLOYEE IN THEIR SECTION. I HAVE NEARLY 600 EMPLOYEES. I'LL NEVER BE ABLE TO DO THAT. THE HARDEST WORKING, LOWEST PAID PEOPLE ARE THE ONES HAVING TO PAY FOR THEIR OWN PARKING. I WOULD LIKE TO SEE SOMETHING HAPPEN IN THAT REGARD. WE DESPERATELY NEED AN ADMINISTRATION BUILDING THAT IS RIGHT IN THE HUB OF THE COURTHOUSES. MY OFFICE IS JUST AT THE END OF THIS TIME MOVING OUT OF THE COURTHOUSE. 88 COURTS COMING THIS FALL, AND I'M GOING TO BE REMOVED FROM THAT OPERATION AND YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE A NEW DISTRICT CLERK COMING IN, NEW CHIEF DEPUTIES COMING IN WHO ARE SUPPOSED TO RUN THAT OPERATION AND NOW THEY'RE REMOTE. IF WE HAD AN ADMIN BUILDING WHERE THE OLD JAIL IS OR WHERE THE FAMILY LAW CENTER IS, RIGHT THERE IN THE MIDDLE OF IT, YOU COULD FREE UP COURTROOMS AND THE COURTHOUSES AND STILL HAVE THE ADMINISTRATION SUPPORT YOU NEED RIGHT THERE ON THE SIDE. >> THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU COUNTY JUDGE'S OFFICE. PRECINCT ONE, YOU HAD 11 SECONDS REMAINING. >> NOT QUITE ENOUGH TIME FOR ANOTHER QUESTION, BUT THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE OVER THE YEARS. >> THANK YOU. PRECINCT TWO, YOU DEDICATED YOUR REMAINING TIME TO THE DISTRICT CLERK, AND PRECINCT FOUR HAD NO REMAINING TIME AND THEREFORE, CLERK, YOU WILL HAVE 3:46 FOR YOUR CLOSING REMARKS. >> THANK YOU ALL FOR CONSIDERING OUR REQUEST. YOU'VE HEARD THE NEED TO SUPPORT STATUTORY REQUIREMENTS SET BY THE STATE. OUR THREE SERVICE ENHANCEMENTS ADDRESS BOTH THE OPERATIONAL SIDE OF THESE MANDATES AS WELL AS THE MUCH NEEDED SUPPORT OF OUR COURTS. WITHOUT TARGETED STAFFING AND SUPPORT, THE COURTS BEING ADDED WILL NOT HAVE WHAT THEY NEED TO BE FULLY FUNCTIONAL. EIGHT NEW SUPPORT POSITIONS FOR THE COURTS WILL ALLOW US TO ABSORB THE INCREASE FROM 24 TO 29 COURTS WITHOUT BACKLOGS, DELAYS, DELAYED PROCESSING, OR WEAKENED SUPERVISION. [02:35:03] 14 NEW CIVIL COURT CLERKS WILL RESTORE THE STRUCTURE THESE COURTS NEED TO MANAGE GROWING FILINGS AND HEARINGS AND KEEP DOCKETS MOVING IN REALTIME. AS I MENTIONED, THIS IS THE THIRD TIME WE'VE COME FORWARD WITH THIS REQUEST. THE CIVIL DISTRICT COURTS HANDLE VERY SERIOUS COMPLICATED MATTERS AND ARE THE ONLY DIVISION OF COURTS IN HARRIS COUNTY THAT DOES NOT HAVE A DEDICATED ASSISTANT COURT CLERK. THE STATE MANDATES AS WELL AS INCREASED VOLUME OF FILINGS DICTATE THAT IT'S TIME TO CORRECT THAT. THE THREE NEW POSITIONS FOR SENATE BILL NINE WOULD BE PEOPLE HOUSED AT THE JOINT PROCESSING CENTER BECAUSE OF ALL THE ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS THAT HAVE COME ON BOARD WITH THAT AS OF APRIL 1ST, AND 1 PERSON IN JPC WHICH IS WHAT WE CURRENTLY HAVE, IS NOT ENOUGH TO MEET THOSE REQUIREMENTS. SUPERVISOR HAVING TO STEP IN TO FILL THOSE. WE NEED TO BE ABLE TO MEET THE NEW BAIL AND PUBLIC SAFETY REPORT SYSTEM MANDATES WITHOUT MASSIVE DELAYS OR ERRORS AND THESE THREE PEOPLE WILL HELP US DO IT. TAKEN TOGETHER, THESE ENHANCEMENTS ARE NOT ABOUT COMFORT OR CONVENIENCE. THEY'RE ABOUT WHETHER THE HARRIS COUNTY JUSTICE SYSTEM CAN DELIVER WHAT THE LEGISLATURE, COURTS, AND THE PUBLIC NOW EXPECT. THE DISTRICT CLERK'S OFFICE SUPPORTS 83 STATUTORY COURTS, SOON TO BE 88, AND MANY SPECIALTY COURTS AND DOCKETS WHILE MAINTAINING THE OFFICIAL RECORDS OF THE HARRIS COUNTY JUSTICE SYSTEM. WHEN WE ARE UNDERSTAFFED IN THIS OPERATION, THE IMPACT IS FELT BY JUDGES, ATTORNEYS, VICTIMS, DEFENDANTS, AND RESIDENTS IN EACH OF YOUR PRECINCTS. WE HAVE DONE THE HARD WORK OF REDUCING OUR BUDGET AND NARROWING OUR REQUESTS AS WELL AS FULLY UTILIZING THE RESOURCES IN OUR SPECIAL FUNDS. WHAT'S BEFORE YOU TODAY ARE THE MINIMUM STAFFING NEEDED TO KEEP JUSTICE RUNNING AS YOU EXPAND THE COURT CAPACITY AND WE COMPLY WITH SENATE BILL NINE. I RESPECTFULLY ASK YOU TO APPROVE THESE THREE ENHANCEMENTS SO THAT HARRIS COUNTY CAN DELIVER ON THE PROMISES MADE TO ITS COURTS AND RESIDENTS. >> THANK YOU, CLERK, AND THANK YOU TO THE ENTIRE DISTRICT CLERK'S OFFICE. OUR NEXT PRESENTATION WILL COME FROM JUVENILE PROBATION. WE WILL BEGIN AT [Juvenile Probation] >> WELCOME BACK. IT IS 1:30 P.M. AND WE NOW WELCOME JUVENILE PROBATION, WHICH HAS ELECTED TO TAKE ITS INTRODUCTORY COMMENTS 5 MINUTES AT THE TOP, THEN EACH COURT OFFICE WILL BE ALLOCATED 5 MINUTES FOR QUESTIONS IN ROTATION, BEGINNING WITH PRECINCT ONE. >> GOOD AFTERNOON. I'M HENRY GONZALEZ, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF JUVENILE PROBATION AND WITH ME TODAY I HAVE DOCTOR MAX SHELTON, AND OUR FINANCE DIRECTOR. GOOD AFTERNOON AND THANK YOU ALL FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK TO YOU TODAY ABOUT THE JUVENILE PROBATION DEPARTMENT AND THE IMPORTANT WORK THE COUNTY'S INVESTMENT MAKES POSSIBLE. WHEN MOST PEOPLE THINK OF JUVENILE PROBATION THEY PICTURE PROBATION OFFICERS SUPERVISING YOUTH IN THE COMMUNITY. IN REALITY, OUR DEPARTMENT IS ONE OF THE LARGEST PUBLIC SAFETY ORGANIZATIONS IN HARRIS COUNTY, WITH RESPONSIBILITY FOR VIRTUALLY EVERY STAGE OF THE JUVENILE JUSTICE SYSTEM. WE EMPLOY NEARLY 1200 DEDICATED PROFESSIONALS WHO WORK AROUND THE CLOCK EVERY DAY OF THE YEAR TO PROTECT PUBLIC SAFETY WHILE HELPING YOUNG PEOPLE CHANGE THE COURSE OF THEIR LIVES. OUR RESPONSIBILITIES EXTEND FAR BEYOND PROBATION SUPERVISION. WE OPERATE THE COUNTY'S 210 BED JUVENILE DETENTION CENTER, WHERE TODAY THERE ARE 132 PREADJUDICATED JUVENILES IN DETENTION, COMPARED TO EIGHT YEARS AGO, WHERE THERE WERE OVER 300 KIDS ON A DAILY BASIS IN OUR DETENTION CENTER. WE OPERATE TWO POST ADJUDICATED RESIDENTIAL TREATMENT PROGRAMS, EACH WITH A REDUCED CAPACITY OF 96, BUT WITH A HISTORICALLY LOWER COMBINED AVERAGE POPULATION OF ABOUT 50 PER DAY. WE PROVIDE COMMUNITY SUPERVISION SERVICES, BEHAVIORAL HEALTH PROGRAMS, SPECIALIZED COURT INITIATIVES, AND RUN A CHARTER SCHOOL THAT SERVES YOUTH AND RESIDENTIAL FACILITIES AND ONE COMMUNITY BASED SCHOOL THAT SIX YEARS AGO WAS A THIRD RESIDENTIAL CORRECTIONAL FACILITY. EVERY DAY OUR STAFF INCLUDING DETENTION OFFICERS, PROBATION OFFICERS, TEACHERS, COUNSELORS, CLINICIANS, MEDICAL PERSONNEL, AND SUPPORT STAFF, WORK TOGETHER TOWARD A COMMON GOAL, PROTECTING OUR COMMUNITY WHILE CREATING OPPORTUNITIES FOR YOUTH TO SUCCEED. IN 2025, THE DEPARTMENT PROCESSED 5150 REFERRALS INVOLVING 3507 YOUTHS FROM COMMUNITIES THROUGHOUT HARRIS COUNTY. EACH REFERRAL REPRESENTS MORE THAN JUST A CASE NUMBER. IT REPRESENTS A YOUNG PERSON, A FAMILY, AND OFTEN A VICTIM, ALL WHOSE NEEDS MUST BE CAREFULLY CONSIDERED. [02:40:03] EVERY REFERRAL REQUIRES AN ASSESSMENT OF RISK AND EVALUATION OF THE YOUTH'S NEEDS. ENGAGEMENT WITH THE FAMILY, COORDINATION WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT, AND THOUGHTFUL DECISION MAKING TO DETERMINE THE MOST APPROPRIATE RESPONSE. OUR STAFF MAKE INFORMED EVIDENCE BASED DECISIONS THAT MATCH OUR RESPONSE TO THE LEVEL OF RISK PRESENTED BY EACH YOUNG PERSON. WHILE SERIOUS OFFENDERS ARE HELD ACCOUNTABLE THROUGH FORMAL COURT INVOLVEMENT, MANY LOWER RISK YOUTHS ARE SUCCESSFULLY DIVERTED INTO COMMUNITY BASED INTERVENTIONS. RESEARCH CONSISTENTLY SHOWS THAT THIS APPROACH IMPROVES LONG TERM OUTCOMES, REDUCES FUTURE OFFENDING, AND ALLOWS US TO FOCUS OUR MOST INTENSIVE RESOURCES ON YOUTH WHO PRESENT THE GREATEST RISK TO PUBLIC SAFETY. THIS BALANCED APPROACH BENEFITS EVERYONE. FAMILIES RECEIVE SUPPORT AND YOUTH RECEIVE INTERVENTIONS DESIGNED TO ADDRESS THE UNDERLYING ISSUES THAT CONTRIBUTED TO THEIR BEHAVIOR. MOST IMPORTANTLY, OUR COMMUNITY IS SAFER BECAUSE WE ARE FOCUSED ON NOT ONLY RESPONDING TO DELINQUENT BEHAVIOR, BUT ALSO ON PREVENTING FUTURE CRIME. AS HARRIS COUNTY CONTINUES TO GROW, SO DUE TO THE DEMANDS PLACED ON OUR DEPARTMENT. NOW THAT MOST LOWER RISK OFFENDERS ARE EITHER DIVERTED AWAY FROM OUR SYSTEM OR REMAIN IN THE SHALLOW END, THOSE THAT MAKE IT INTO OUR FACILITIES COME WITH HIGH ACUITY NEEDS. ENSURING ACCESS TO BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SERVICES AND PROVIDING EFFECTIVE COMMUNITY SUPERVISION REQUIRES SUSTAINED INVESTMENT. THESE ARE NOT OPTIONAL SERVICES. THESE ARE ESSENTIAL COMPONENTS OF THE JUVENILE JUSTICE SYSTEM THAT PROTECTS THE PUBLIC WHILE GIVING YOUNG PEOPLE THE OPPORTUNITY TO BECOME PRODUCTIVE CITIZENS. EVERY DOLLAR INVESTED IN JUVENILE PROBATION IS AN INVESTMENT IN PUBLIC SAFETY. IT IS AN INVESTMENT IN REDUCING FUTURE CRIME, LOWERING LONG TERM CORRECTIONAL COSTS, STRENGTHENING FAMILIES, AND CREATING SAFER NEIGHBORHOODS THROUGHOUT HARRIS COUNTY. THE WORK WE DO TODAY HELPS PREVENT MORE COSTLY INVOLVEMENT IN THE ADULT CRIMINAL SYSTEM TOMORROW. I MUST ACKNOWLEDGE OUR CLOSE PARTNERS, THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE, THE HARRIS CENTER AND RESOURCES FOR CHILDREN AND ADULTS WHO WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN ABLE TO TRANSFORM OUR LOCAL JUVENILE JUSTICE SYSTEM AND TO A NATIONAL MODEL FOR JUVENILE JUSTICE REFORM. I WANT TO THANK THE COUNTY JUDGE, COMMISSIONERS COURT, AND ALL OF YOU FOR YOUR CONTINUED SUPPORT OF THE JUVENILE PROBATION DEPARTMENT. THE COUNTY'S INVESTMENT ALLOWS OUR STAFF TO CARRY OUT THIS IMPORTANT MISSION EVERY DAY. TOGETHER WE ARE PROTECTING OUR COMMUNITIES, SERVING YOUTH, AND BUILDING A SAFER FUTURE FOR HARRIS COUNTY THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND I'LL BE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS. >> THANK YOU DIRECTOR. EACH COURT OFFICE WILL NOW BE ALLOCATED 5 MINUTES FOR QUESTIONS, BEGINNING WITH PRECINCT ONE. >> HELLO. THANK YOU FOR COMING. AND FOR EVERYTHING YOU DO. I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR PARTICIPATING SO THOROUGHLY IN THE BUDGET PROCESS. THERE'S A LOT OF POTENTIAL BUDGET CUTS, IMPACTING A LOT OF DIFFERENT PCMS. COULD YOU GIVE SOME EXAMPLES OF SERVICES THAT WOULD BE NO LONGER PROVIDED BY YOUR DEPARTMENT IF THE CUTS WERE ACCEPTED, OR JUST EXAMPLES OF HOW YOUR SERVICES WOULD BE IMPACTED? >> ABSOLUTELY. SINCE THE MAJORITY OF OUR FUNDING REALLY IS FOR LABOR AND THESE ARE POSITIONS THAT ARE ESSENTIAL AND MANDATED, THERE'S VERY LITTLE I CAN DO ON THE LABOR SIDE, SO MOST WOULD COME FROM NON-LABOR. THERE ARE COSTS THERE THAT I CAN'T TOUCH, SUCH AS THE FOOD, CLOTHING, MEDICAL EXPENSES FOR THE YOUNG PEOPLE IN OUR FACILITIES, AND THOSE ARE EXPENSIVE. SO THE MAJORITY OF THE CUTS ARE GOING TO HAVE TO COME FROM SERVICES THAT WE PROVIDE TO OUR YOUNG PEOPLE AND THEIR FAMILIES IN THE COMMUNITY. THESE COMMUNITY BASED INTERVENTIONS, SUCH AS MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES, EDUCATION ADVOCACY, TREATMENT, COUNSELING. THAT'S WHERE WE ARE GOING TO HAVE TO CUT, IT WOULD BE IN THOSE. THAT WOULD SEVERELY IMPACT OUR YOUNG PEOPLE AND OUR DEPARTMENT. WE WOULD ALSO HAVE TO CUT IN CONTRACTS FOR FORENSIC SERVICES IN OUR DETENTION CENTER. ANY YOUTH GOING IN FRONT OF A COURT WHO'S GOING TO PERHAPS BE REMOVED FROM THE HOME REQUIRES A FORENSIC EVALUATION. WE CONTRACT WITH THE HARRIS CENTER TO DO THAT. THAT'S SOMETHING WE WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO ELIMINATE. BUT BY CUTTING THAT BY 50%, IT WOULD CREATE A BACKLOG IN JUVENILE COURTS AS THEY CANNOT PROCEED WITHOUT THAT FEAR OTHER SERVICES WE WOULD HAVE TO CUT OR ELIMINATE WOULD BE ONE OF OUR MULTISYSTEMIC THERAPY TREATMENT GROUPS OUT IN THE COMMUNITY AND PERHAPS FOOT, FAMILY FUNCTIONAL [02:45:04] THERAPY. WITHOUT THOSE TYPES OF COMMUNITY BASED INTERVENTIONS, WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN IS THAT WE WILL SEE MORE KIDS BEING PLACED IN EITHER OUR FACILITIES OR COMMITTED TO THE STATE BECAUSE THEY WILL NO LONGER HAVE THOSE COMMUNITY BASED INTERVENTIONS. >> COULD YOU GO INTO MORE DETAIL ABOUT WHO WOULD BE IMPACTED BY THE LOSS OF THESE SERVICES? WHICH JUVENILES ARE WE TALKING ABOUT HERE? >> SURE. THERE'S GOING TO BE TWO GROUPS THAT WOULD BE IMPACTED. FIRST, THE KIDS IN OUR FACILITIES AND DETENTION CENTER, BECAUSE THE COURT PROCESS IS GOING TO TAKE LONGER WITHOUT THE FORENSIC EVALUATION. IT MEANS THEY'RE GOING TO SPEND MORE TIME IN DETENTION PENDING COURT. WITHOUT A LOT OF THOSE SERVICES THAT WOULD PREVENT FUTURE CRIME FOR THE KIDS ON PROBATION RECEIVING THOSE COMMUNITY BASED SERVICES, CHANCES ARE YOU SEE AN INCREASE IN RECIDIVISM AND THOSE KIDS COMING BACK INTO OUR SYSTEM. AND WITH THE PROGRESSIVE SANCTION MODEL, THOSE ARE THE KIDS THAT WILL EVENTUALLY MORE THAN LIKELY BE COMMITTED TO THE STATE AND BE SENT TO TJJD. SO IT'S GOING TO BE KIDS AT EVERY LEVEL OF OUR DEPARTMENT, FROM THOSE PENDING COURT AND DETENTION TO THOSE IN OUR RESIDENTIAL FACILITY WHO ARE THERE FOR TREATMENT AND THE KIDS WHO ARE BEING SUPERVISED IN THE COMMUNITY. >> THANK YOU. AND YOUR DEPARTMENT HAS DONE A LOT OF GREAT THINGS OVER THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS. >> THANK YOU. >> REALLY BEEN AT THE FOREFRONT. I WAS JUST CURIOUS, WHAT ARE YOU THE MOST PROUD OF OF ALL THE THINGS YOU'VE BEEN ABLE TO DO? >> THANK YOU FOR THAT QUESTION. EARLIER I MENTIONED THAT WE HAD THREE POST ADJUDICATED FACILITIES, AND ONE WAS REPURPOSED INTO A COMMUNITY BASED SCHOOL. I THINK THAT'S WHAT I'M REALLY MOST PROUD OF. WE TOOK THE REHABILITATION CENTER, WHICH WAS A RESIDENTIAL JUVENILE CORRECTIONAL FACILITY, AND WE SHUT IT DOWN AND TRANSFORMED THAT INTO A COMMUNITY BASED ALTERNATIVE TO INCARCERATION. SO EVERYTHING THAT A COURT WOULD SEND A KID TO A RESIDENTIAL TREATMENT CENTER FOR, EDUCATION, THERAPY, COUNSELING, ENRICHMENT PROGRAMS. WHAT WE WANTED TO DO WAS DEMONSTRATE THAT WE CAN DO THAT AT A COMMUNITY LEVEL AND NOT IN A RESIDENTIAL TREATMENT. SO THE KID DIDN'T HAVE TO SLEEP THERE ANY MORE AND COULD STAY HOME IN THEIR COMMUNITY. TODAY AT WHAT USED TO BE THE BURNET BAY REHABILITATION CENTER IS TODAY THE OPPORTUNITY CENTER. THIS IS WHERE YOUNG PEOPLE INVOLVED IN THE JUVENILE JUSTICE SYSTEM OR THE CHILD WELFARE SYSTEM ARE ABLE TO RECEIVE GED INSTRUCTION, VOCATIONAL TRAINING, JOB PLACEMENT, TREATMENT, ALL THE WRAPAROUND SERVICES THAT THEY WOULD NEED NOW OFFERED THERE. IT'S A SCHOOL FOR THEM. I THINK ONE OF THE GREATEST THINGS IS THAT DURING THE DAY IT'S AVAILABLE TO OUR KIDS, BUT IN THE EVENINGS THE DOOR OPENS TO THE OVERALL COMMUNITY TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THOSE SERVICES. >> THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU PRECINCT ONE. PRECINCT TWO WILL NOW HAVE 5 MINUTES FOR QUESTIONS. >> GOOD AFTERNOON. THANK YOU ALL FOR COMING IN TODAY. MATT GARY IS OUT, SO I'M IN HIS STEAD. HE LEFT ME A COUPLE QUESTIONS. A LOT OF THESE ARE RELATED TO POTENTIAL OFFSETS, BUT THEN I WANT TO PIVOT IN A MINUTE AND GO TO YOUR ENHANCEMENTS. WHAT WOULD THE IMPACT OF A REDUCTION IN ELECTRONIC MONITORING ON THAT CONTRACT HAVE ON YOUR OPERATIONS? >> A GREAT QUESTION. I CAN TELL YOU THAT'S GOING TO RESULT IN A HIGHER POPULATION OF DETENTION. WHEN THE JUDGES ARE MAKING THE DETERMINATION AS TO WHETHER THE YOUNG PERSON CAN BE RELEASED BACK INTO THE COMMUNITY PENDING COURT, THEY FEEL A LOT SAFER WHEN THAT KID IS BEING MONITORED ELECTRONICALLY, EITHER THROUGH THE TRADITIONAL ELECTRONIC MONITOR THAT'S ON THE ANKLE OR THE OTHER APPROACH THAT WE USE IS THROUGH THE KIDS PHONE, AND WHEN THEY HAVE AN ANKLE MONITOR THEY TEND TO FORGET TO CHARGE IT, BUT THEY NEVER FORGET TO CHARGE THEIR PHONE. WITHOUT THOSE OPTIONS, LESS KIDS ARE GOING TO BE RELEASED FROM DETENTION PENDING COURT. >> THANK YOU. THEN IF YOU COULD WALK THROUGH FIRST THE ENHANCEMENT REQUEST ABOUT THE INSURANCE FOR YOUR EDUCATION EMPLOYEES, AND THEN THE SECOND ONE, WHICH WAS -- I'VE ALREADY FORGOTTEN. THE DISCRETIONARY MATCH FOR YOUR STATE FUND. >> I'M GOING TO ASK FOR HELP WITH THIS. I KNOW WITH THE INSURANCE, WITH OUR CHARTER SCHOOL, IT GETS KIND OF COMPLICATED THERE. THAT FUNDING COMES FROM THE TEXAS EDUCATION AGENCY, BECAUSE WE ARE A FULL FLEDGED CHARTER [02:50:02] SCHOOL. WHEN FOR EXAMPLE THERE ARE INCREASES ON THE COUNTY SIDE FOR COUNTY EMPLOYEES, WE DON'T GET THAT INCREASE FROM T BECAUSE IT'S FORMULA FUNDED. SO LET'S SAY FOR EXAMPLE THERE'S A 7% INCREASE FOR ALL EMPLOYEES ON THE COST OF LIVING ADJUSTMENT. I DON'T GET THAT FOR THE TEACHERS, BUT THEY SHOULD GET THAT AS WELL. SO WE'VE GOT TO FIND WAYS TO BE ABLE TO DO THAT. I'M ASSUMING WITH THE INSURANCE, THE INCREASE IN INSURANCE THAT'S GOING TO COME TO THE DEPARTMENTS AND THE COUNTY, WE WON'T HAVE THE FUNDING TO BE ABLE TO PAY FOR THAT ON THE TEACHERS SIDE. OR ON THE STATE SIDE. WE ALSO HAVE 30% OF OUR FUNDING COMES FROM THE STATE. SO WE WOULDN'T GET THE INCREASE IN MONEY FOR THEM TO PAY FOR THAT AS WELL. THEN THE SECOND ONE, YOU ASKED ABOUT THE INSURANCE AND THE DISCRETIONARY MATCH. >> YES, THE DISCRETIONARY MATCH. >> THE DISCRETIONARY MATCH IS THE STATE POSITIONS. SINCE THEY OPERATE ON A BIENNIUM WE GET CERTAIN GRANTS TO FUND PROBATION OFFICERS, INTAKE STAFF, AND THE MONEY THAT THE STATE GIVES US FROM THESE APPROPRIATIONS IS USUALLY NOT ENOUGH TO COVER 100% OF SALARIES. SO WE OPERATE ON WHAT'S CALLED A DISCRETIONARY MATCH, WHERE WE WILL FUND ALL THE POSITIONS AND THEN YOU GET A PORTION OF THE COUNTY, GET SOME MONEY FROM THE COUNTY TO FULLY FUND THOSE POSITIONS AT 100%. SO ROUGHLY IT COULD BE ABOUT 30% FROM THE COUNTY AND 70% ROUGHLY FROM THE STATE. BUT JUST AS IN THE COUNTY SIDE, WE ALSO WILL HAVE LABOR SAVINGS FROM SOME UNFUNDED POSITIONS. SO SOMETIMES THAT DISCRETIONARY MATCH WILL FLUCTUATE AS TO WHAT WILL BE LEFT OVER AT THE END OF THE FISCAL YEAR. STATE FISCAL YEAR OPERATES FROM SEPTEMBER TO AUGUST. SO WE KIND OF DO A JUGGLING THING EVERY YEAR TO SEE HOW MUCH WE HAVE LEFT OVER. FULLY TRANSPARENT, THIS YEAR I'VE ESTIMATED I WILL HAVE PROBABLY ABOUT $2 MILLION LEFT OVER FROM THE CURRENT STATE FISCAL YEAR THAT'S GOING TO BE ABLE TO ROLL INTO THE NEXT STATE FISCAL YEAR. SO I WORK VERY CLOSELY WITH BUDGET MANAGEMENT, AND THEY UNDERSTAND OUR PROCESS. IN THE PAST YEARS THEY'VE ALLOWED US TO ROLL IF WE HAVE ANY AVAILABLE BALANCE IN THE COUNTY FISCAL YEAR, TO ROLL ANY DISCRETIONARY MATCH FUNDING THAT WAS AVAILABLE. THIS YEAR I WAS WORRIED BECAUSE YOU WERE TAKING MONEY FROM LABOR SAVINGS THAT I WASN'T GOING TO HAVE ANY LEFT. HISTORICALLY WE'VE ASKED FOR IT, BUT I'VE BEEN ABLE TO GET SOME FUNDING FROM AVAILABLE BALANCE AT THE END OF THE COUNTY FISCAL YEAR. BUT LIKE I SAID, I THINK THE FREEZE ON THE COUNTY SIDE ALSO KIND OF TRICKLED INTO THE STATE SIDE, SO WE HAVE HAD SOME LABOR SAVINGS THERE THAT I THINK WE SHOULD BE ABLE TO BE OKAY. OBVIOUSLY IF I HAVE ANY LABOR SAVINGS ON THE COUNTY SIDE, I WOULD LIKE TO... >> THANK YOU SO MUCH. >> THANK YOU. PRECINCT THREE WILL NOW HAVE 5 MINUTES FOR QUESTIONS. >> THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE TODAY. YOU MENTIONED PUBLIC SAFETY, AND I WONDER IF YOU COULD TELL ME A LITTLE BIT ABOUT HOW YOU MEASURE YOUR IMPACT ON PUBLIC SAFETY AND HOW YOU TRACK THE CHANGE OVER TIME. >> ABSOLUTELY. I'M GOING TO LET DOCTOR SHELTON HIT A LITTLE ON RECIDIVISM. BUT RECIDIVISM ISN'T ONE OF MY FAVORITE MEASURES TO USE, BECAUSE THERE'S GOING TO BE HICCUPS IN PEOPLE'S LIVES ALL THE TIME, PARTICULARLY WITH YOUNG PEOPLE AND PARTICULARLY THOSE FROM CERTAIN COMMUNITIES. BUT IT IS STILL A MEASURE THAT I THINK HELPS TELL OUR STORY. AND PARTICULARLY WITH DIVERSION CASES, BECAUSE A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE AFRAID THAT WHEN YOU DIVERT A KID AND DON'T BRING THEM INTO THE SYSTEM AND PROVIDE SERVICES FOR THEM, THAT THEY'RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO REOFFEND. WE HAVE FOUND ACTUALLY THE OPPOSITE. IT REALLY VALIDATES THE RESEARCH THAT SAYS THAT THE LAST CONTACT YOU HAVE WITH THOSE LOW RISK KIDS IN THE SYSTEM, THE LESS LIKELY THEY ARE TO REOFFEND. >> THAT'S EXACTLY CORRECT. IF YOU LOOK AT OUR DEPARTMENT'S OVERALL RECIDIVISM, JUST EVERY KID THAT COMES IN AND GETS A PETITION, IT'S ABOUT 21%. THAT RANGES FROM WHERE WE DO BEST, WHICH IS THE DIVERSIONARY PROGRAMS, WHICH IS WELL OVER 90% SUCCESS RATES, VARYING TO THE KIDS AT THE DEEP END OF THE SYSTEM THAT ARE GETTING OUT OF [02:55:04] FACILITIES, THAT OFTEN RANGE IN THE LOW 50S. ONE OF THE REALLY NEAT THINGS IS IF YOU LOOK AT THE OPPORTUNITY CENTER, AND IF YOU LOOK AT THE OFFENSES OF THE KIDS IN THE OPPORTUNITY CENTER, THEY MIRROR ALMOST PERFECTLY THE KIDS THAT ARE IN OUR SERIOUS OFFENDERS PROGRAM AT THE LEADERSHIP ACADEMY. AND RECIDIVISM DROPS FROM ABOUT 58% DOWN TO ABOUT 28% BY BEING ABLE TO KEEP THOSE KIDS IN THE COMMUNITY. WE ARE REALLY PROUD OF THAT. >> WHAT WE REALLY FOCUSED ON AT THE OPPORTUNITY CENTER IS GIVING THOSE KIDS THE RESOURCES AND TOOLS THEY NEED TO CHANGE. I THINK ALL OF US HERE COULD SAY THAT WE'VE REACHED WHERE WE ARE BECAUSE WE HAD THOSE SUPPORTS, THOSE RESOURCES, THOSE TOOLS. WE DO NEED TO HOLD KIDS ACCOUNTABLE FOR THEIR BEHAVIOR. BUT WHEN WE THINK OF ACCOUNTABILITY FOR YOUNG PEOPLE, WE WANT THEM TO CHANGE. WE WANT THEM TO GO IN A DIFFERENT DIRECTION. BUT WE CAN'T REALISTICALLY EXPECT THEM TO DO THAT WITHOUT THAT SUPPORT, THE RESOURCES AND TOOLS THEY NEED. WE ALL TRULY BELIEVE THAT IF AS A DEPARTMENT WE ARE PROVIDING THOSE KIDS WITH THOSE RESOURCES AND SUPPORTS, THEN YOU'RE GOING TO SEE THEM CHANGE THE DIRECTION. >> THANK YOU. ON YOUR BUDGET, CAN YOU MEET THE STATUTORY REQUIREMENTS OF YOUR DEPARTMENT WITH THE RECOMMENDED? >> WE CAN MEET THEM, BECAUSE THEY DON'T HAVE A CHOICE. WE'RE JUST GOING TO HAVE TO CUT IN OTHER AREAS TO BE ABLE TO DO THAT. A PERFECT EXAMPLE IS WHEN WE TALKED ABOUT THE FORENSIC EVALUATIONS, THEY HAVE TO BE DONE, IT'S JUST GOING TO TAKE LONGER. I HAVE TO MAINTAIN A CERTAIN RATIO IN OUR FACILITIES OF SUPERVISION OFFICER TO KID. IF IT MEANS THEY HAD TO CUT IN THE COMMUNITY TO HAVE NO DIRECT SUPERVISION STAFF, THAT'S WHAT WE ALL HAVE TO DO. IT WOULD IMPACT US, KIDS WILL STAY IN DETENTION LONGER. CASELOADS FOR PROBATION OFFICERS WILL HAVE TO INCREASE AND THAT COULD IMPACT THE EFFECTIVENESS OF WHAT WE DO. >> THANK YOU. THAT'S ALL I HAVE RIGHT NOW. >> THANK YOU. PRECINCT FOUR, YOU WILL NOW HAVE 5 MINUTES FOR QUESTIONS. >> THANK YOU. CAN YOU TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT STAFFING, PARTICULARLY ANY CHALLENGES YOU FORESEE IN THE FUTURE AS YOU LOOK AHEAD? WHAT ARE SOME OF THOSE STAFFING ISSUES? >> ABSOLUTELY. I MENTIONED THAT OUR STATE MANDATED RATIO FOR OUR FACILITIES IS 12 KIDS TO EVERY ONE DIRECT CARE STAFF OR JUVENILE SUPERVISION OFFICER. I ALSO MENTIONED THAT OUR DETENTION POPULATION IS MUCH LOWER THAN IT WAS BEFORE, AND THAT'S BECAUSE WE NOW ONLY HAVE THOSE MORE SERIOUS OFFENDERS, WHEREAS YEARS AGO WE HAD A LOT OF MISDEMEANOR KIDS IN DETE DETENTION. SO TODAY WE HAVE THAT HIGHER RISK KID IN DETENTION WHO THE COURTS HAVE DETERMINED IS IN DETENTION BECAUSE HE POSES A THREAT TO THE COMMUNITY, AND THAT THREAT FOLLOWS THE KID INTO OUR FACILITIES TO WHERE THEY ARE MORE AGGRESSIVE TOWARD OTHER KIDS AND STAFF. THAT IS RESULTING IN HIGHER OVERTIME COSTS, BUT MORE SO IT'S RESULTED IN INJURIES TO OUR STAFF AND MORE STAFF OUT ON WORKERS COMP. WE NEED TO REDUCE THAT RATIO TO A SAFER ONE. I REALLY WANT TO GO TO SIX TO ONE, SO I'M DOUBLING THE NUMBER OF DIRECT CARE STAFF IN EACH UNIT. TJJD, WHICH IS THE EQUIVALENT OF THE JUVENILE PRISON SYSTEM, THEY USE FOUR TO ONE. I THINK IT'S GOING TO BE IMPORTANT FOR US TO ADDRESS THE SAFETY OF THE RESIDENTS AND OUR STAFF TO DECREASE THAT RATIO TO GO DOWN TO SIX TO ONE, WHICH WOULD REQUIRE MORE STAFF. >> THANK YOU. THAT'S VERY HELPFUL TO KNOW. CAN YOU SHARE A BIT ABOUT HOW YOUTH ARE DIVERTED COMING INTO CONTACT WITH THE JUSTICE SYSTEM, AND ANYTHING ELSE YOU THINK THE COUNTY CAN BE DOING BROADLY ACROSS DEPARTMENTS TO HELP WITH DIVERSION. >> ABSOLUTELY. I HAVE TO SAY THE ONE THING THAT'S UNIQUE WHEN YOU COMPARE US TO OTHER JURISDICTIONS IS OUR PARTNERSHIP WITH THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE. PEOPLE ARE AMAZED BY THAT. PEOPLE THINK THE DA'S OFFICE IS ALL ABOUT PROSECUTING. BUT THAT'S NOT THE CASE WITH OUR DA'S OFFICE AND THE JUVENILE BUREAU. THEIR, THEY WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT LESS THAN WISE TYPICAL [03:00:04] ADOLESCENT BEHAVIOR ISN'T CRIMINALIZED, AND WE AREN'T TAKING KIDS TO COURT FOR THOSE VERY LOW LEVEL OFFENSES THAT YEARS AGO WERE PROBABLY HANDLED AT THE SCHOOL LEVEL AND NOT THROUGH A PETITION BEING FILED. THEY HAVE REDUCED THE NUMBER OF PETITIONS FILED TO WHERE YEARS AGO WHEN I FIRST TOOK OVER IN 2018, 80% OF THE PETITIONS BEING FILED WERE FOR MISDEMEANORS, 12% FOR FELONIES. TODAY IT'S THE OPPOSITE. 80% OF THE PETITIONS FILED ARE FOR FELONIES. THOSE MISDEMEANOR CASES INCLUDE A WEAPON OR SOMEONE SERIOUSLY INJURED. SO THOSE LOW RISK KIDS ARE NO LONGER GOING INTO OUR SYSTEM. THEY'VE ALSO BEEN VERY SUPPORTIVE OF DIVERSION PROGRAMS TO WHERE THEY COME UP WITH DIVERSION PROGRAMS, SUCH AS THE MARIJUANA DIVERSION PROGRAM. THE FIRST WHICH IS A PROGRAM THAT ADDRESSES THOSE FAMILY MEMBERS TO WHERE THE ISSUE WASN'T A DELINQUENCY ISSUE, IT'S A FAMILY MATTER. NOW THROUGH OUR PARTNERSHIP WITH THE HARRIS CENTER, THEY SEND THE MOBILE CRISIS OUT TO INTERVENE AND WILL OFFER THE FAMILY UP TO SIX MONTHS OF FREE INTENSE INDIVIDUAL AND FAMILY THERAPY FOR THE FAMILY IN LIEU OF A PETITION BEING FILED. WE STILL HAVE THOSE FAMILIES WHO ARE AFRAID FOR THE KID TO STAY THERE, SO BRING THE KID TO DETENTION. THAT'S NOT A KID THAT BELONGS IN DETENTION, SO AGAIN WITH THE HELP OF RESOURCES FOR CHILDREN AND ADULTS AND THE HERITAGE CENTER, -- THE HARRIS CENTER, THE HARRIS CENTER CREATED THE YOUTH DIVERSION CENTER. THEY WANTED TO KNOW HOW THEY COULD EXPAND THE ADULT CENTER TO INCLUDE JUVENILES, SO THEY CREATED ONE. NOW THAT KID THAT WE DIDN'T WANT IN DETENTION BUT MADE IT THERE BECAUSE THE PARENT WAS RELUCTANT FOR THEM TO GO HOME, NOW WE CAN CALL THAT PARENT AND SAY, I UNDERSTAND YOU DON'T WANT JOHNNY HOME RIGHT NOW, BUT WHAT WE WANT TO DO IS OFFER YOU SOME SERVICES TO ADDRESS THESE ISSUES, AND WE WANT TO DO THAT AT THE YOUTH DIVERSION CENTER WHICH IS A NONSECURED SHELTER, LET'S SAY, WHERE THEY CAN PROVIDE UP TO 30 DAYS OF RESPITE AS LONG AS YOU ENGAGE IN THAT FAMILY TREATMENT. THAT'S BEEN VERY SUCCESSFUL. I THINK THE THREE BIGGEST ONES HAVE BEEN THE DA'S OFFICE, THE HARRIS CENTER, THEY'VE JUST BEEN WONDERFUL, AND THE RESOURCES FOR CHILDREN AND ADULTS WHO TAKE OUR DIVERTED CASES. >> THANK YOU. COUNTY JUDGE'S OFFICE WILL NOW HAVE 5 MINUTES. >> THANK YOU SO MUCH. VERONICA JAMES, POLICY DIRECTOR. THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE AND FOR EVERYTHING YOU DO. MY FIRST QUESTION IS, WHAT REFORMS WERE INITIATED THAT RESULTED IN THE CHANGE AND/OR IMPROVEMENTS THAT YOU PREVIOUSLY DISCUSSED? >> ALL RIGHT. I MENTIONED WHAT OUR DETENTION POPULATION WAS BACK IN 2017. SOME DAYS THERE'S OVER 300 KIDS, IN OUR 210 BED FACILITY WITH THE CAPACITY THERE WITH BEDS ON THE FLOORS COULD GO UP TO 250. SO WE WERE WAY OVER THAT AND OUT OF COMPLIANCE. WE WORK WITH THE ANDY CASEY FOUNDATION TO CREATE A DETENTION SCREENING INSTRUMENT, IN WHICH NOW THE POLICE CALL US WHEN THEY'VE GOT A KID, WE WILL GO OVER THAT SCREENING INSTRUMENT WITH THEM OVER THE PHONE, SO WE SET A SCORE THAT BASICALLY SAYS IF YOU WERE ABOVE THIS, YOU QUALIFY TO COME INTO DETENTION, AND IF NOT, THAT'S NOT THE KID WE WANT IN DETENTION. THAT DRAMATICALLY HELPED OUR DETENTION POPULATION COME DOWN. BEFORE WE HAD A BUNCH OF MISDEMEANOR, LOW RISK KIDS IN THERE WHOSE PARENTS WERE FRUSTRATED WITH THEM. THE SCHOOLS WERE FRUSTRATED AND WOULD CALL THE POLICE ON THEM. WE DON'T HAVE THAT ANYMORE. SO THAT HAS PROVEN TO BE VERY EFFECTIVE. OUR DIVERSION NUMBERS, WHEN I BECAME CHIEF AND LOOKED AT OUR DIVERSION NUMBERS, WHAT I FOUND IS THAT ALTHOUGH WHITE KIDS MADE UP ONLY ABOUT 11% OF OUR OVERALL REFERRALS, THEY WERE 40% OF OUR DIVERSIONS. WE TOOK A DEEP DIVE TO LOOK INTO WHY THAT WAS AND WE DISCOVERED A LIST OF OFFENSES THAT IF A KID COMMITTED, THEY CAN AUTOMATICALLY GO INTO A DIVERSION PROGRAM. THAT LIST WAS PROBABLY 20-30 YEARS OLD, SO WE GOT WHAT THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE TO SEE IF THEY WOULD BE OPEN TO EXPANDING THAT, AND THEY DID IT, TO INCLUDE ALMOST EVERY MISDEMEANOR OFFENSE. WHEN YOU LOOK AT OUR DIVERSIONS TODAY, THEY MATCH OVER OUR REFERRALS. SO THAT'S BEEN GREAT. THE LOWER PETITIONS BEING FILED ALSO REDUCE THE CASELOADS FOR [03:05:04] OUR OFFICERS IN THE FIELD. AGAIN, THEY AREN'T WORKING WITH THOSE LOW RISK KIDS. NOW THEY'RE ABLE TO FOCUS ON THOSE HIGHER RISK KIDS WITH SMALLER CASELOADS, BEING ABLE TO GIVE THEM THE ATTENTION AND INTERVENTION THEY NEED. WE ALSO EXPANDED OUR PARTNERSHIPS WITH COMMUNITY BASED ORGANIZATIONS TO NOW, THE JUDGES HAD COMMUNITY BASED OPTIONS AND ALTERNATIVES AS OPPOSED TO SENDING THE KIDS TO OUR POST ADJUDICATED FACILITIES. I MENTIONED THESE POPULATIONS WERE DOWN TO ABOUT 50. IN 2017, IN SOME OF THE FACILITIES THERE WERE OVER 200 KIDS THERE. SO WE REDUCED THE CAPACITY AND OUR POPULATIONS ARE BELOW THE CAPACITY. I THINK THAT REALLY IS BECAUSE WE FOUND MORE ALTERNATIVES TO INCARCERATION. THE GOOD THING IS WITH ALL OF THIS, LIKE THE RECIDIVISM RATE IS STAYING LOW. I THINK WE ARE DOING A GOOD JOB KEEPING THE COMMUNITY SAFE AND REALLY REDIRECTING OUR JUSTICE INVOLVED YOUNG PEOPLE. >> GREAT, THANK YOU. CAN YOU ELABORATE MORE ON HOW STATUTORILY, THIS IS SIMILAR TO THE HARRIS COUNTY JAIL? HOW ELSE ARE THEY SIMILAR? >> IT'S GOING TO BE THE RATIOS, THE ASSESSMENTS FOR THE YOUNG PEOPLE WHO ARE GOING TO COURT. INTERESTINGLY, THAT'S ABOUT IT. THIS IS SUPPOSED TO BE A SHORT TERM STAY, BUT OUR KIDS ARE STAYING THERE LONGER NOW. WE HAVE REALLY EXCEEDED WHAT WE ARE STATUTORILY REQUIRED TO DO. WE RUN A MENTAL HEALTH UNIT OUT WE HAVE CLINICAL STAFF IN THERE THAT WE'RE NOT MANDATED TO HAVE, BUT WE FEEL THAT WE REALLY NEED TO ADDRESS THOSE KIDS' NEEDS WHILE THEY ARE THERE. WE BRING IN ENRICHMENT PROGRAMS. WE HAVE INCENTIVE PROGRAMS. SO INSTEAD OF REALLY FOCUSING ON WHAT THE KID DID WRONG AND GIVING THEM CONSEQUENCE, LET'S FOCUS ON WHAT THEY'RE DOING WELL AND REWARD THEM FOR THAT, AND THAT'S BEEN EFFECTIVE. I THINK ONE OF THE BIGGEST DIFFERENCES BETWEEN US AND THE ADULT SYSTEM FOR KIDS IN DETENTION: UNLIKE AN ADULT IN JAIL, THE KID CANNOT -- THEY'RE NOT GIVEN BAIL, SO THE DECISION TO DETAIN THEM IS STRICTLY BASED ON A JUDGE AND, AGAIN, NOT THEIR ABILITY TO BOND THEMSELVES OUT. >> GREAT THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU, COUNTY JUDGE'S OFFICE. WE WILL NOW REVISIT FOR REMAINING TIME. PRECINCT 3, YOU HAVE 1:11 SECONDS REMAINING. >> I HAVE NO MORE QUESTIONS. >> THANK YOU, COURT OFFICES, AND THANK YOU TO THE JUVENILE PROBATION DEPARTMENT. COLLEAGUES, WE ARE NOW AT OUR AFTERNOON BREAK, AND WE WILL RESUME AT 2:15 P.M. WITH A PRESENTATION FROM HARRIS HEALTH. THANK YOU. >> WELCOME BACK, COURT OFFICES. IT IS 2:15 P.M., AND WE ARE READY TO RESUME OUR AFTERNOON SESSION FOR OUR BUDGET HEARINGS. NOW, WE WELCOME THE HARRIS HEALTH SYSTEM. [Public Health Services] THEY HAVE ELECTED TO HAVE THEIR INTRODUCTORY REMARKS SPLIT, WITH THREE MINUTES AT THE TOP AND TWO MINUTES RESERVED FOR CLOSING REMARKS. EACH COURT OFFICE WILL NOW HAVE EIGHT MINUTES FOR QUESTIONS IN ROTATION, BEGINNING WITH PRECINCT 2. >> GOOD AFTERNOON. DR. BORSICK COULD NOT BE HERE TODAY, BUT HE'S SENDING HIS REGARDS TO EVERYONE. I'M THE CHIEF FINANCIAL FUR. WITH ME, WE HAVE THE CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER, AND ALLISON PEREZ, WHO IS IN CHARGE OF THE SYSTEM BUDGET. I WOULD LIKE TO START, FOR THOSE THAT ARE NOT VERY FAMILIAR WITH US, THAT WE ARE A UNIT OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT, A POLITICAL SUBDIVISION OF THE STATE OF TEXAS. WE ARE GOVERNED BY CHAPTER 281 OF THE TEXAS HEALTH & SAFETY CODE, APPLICABLE TO HOSPITAL DISTRICTS. WE HAVE A SEPARATE BOARD OF TRUSTEES THAT IS IN CHARGE OF THE GOVERNANCE FOR OUR SYSTEM, AS WELL AS THE OVERALL QUALITY OF CARE. SO, WHY WE'RE SAYING THAT IS BECAUSE IT'S IMPORTANT, THE CONTEXT OF WHEREVE WHERE WE AREE [03:10:02] BUDGET PROCESS, AS OPPOSED TO WHERE OTHER DEPARTMENTS MAY BE IN THE BUDGET OFFICE. WE'RE CURRENTLY SCHEDULED FOR AUGUST THE 3RD. THIS IS THE FIRST TIME THAT THE BOARD IS GOING TO HEAR AND REVIEW OUR BUDGET DRAFT, SO UNTIL SUCH TIME, WE REALLY DON'T HAVE MUCH TO PRESENT IN TERMS O■ NUMBERS, BUT WE WILL BE SPEAKING TO YOU ALL ABOUT THE ASSUMPTIONS THAT WE HAVE MADE IN PREPARING OUR BUDGET. ALSO IMPORTANT: TWO-THIRDS OF OUR REVENUE ARE SOURCES THAT COME EITHER FROM THE COUNTY BY W WAY OF THE TAX RATE, WHICH WE WILL NOT HAVE THAT ESTIMATE UNTIL PROBABLY THE FIRST WEEK OF AUGUST. THAT'S TYPICALLY WHEN IT IS COMING IN. SO WE DON'T KNOW WHERE WE WILL FALL IN THE CONTINUUM TO COVER THE EXPENSE. AS WELL AS AN ADDITIONAL ONE-THIRD COMES FROM MEDICAID SUPPLEMENTAL PAYMENTS, WHICH ARE THE PAYMENTS THAT ARE COMING TO US BOTH FROM FEDERAL SOURCES, AS WELL AS THE STATE SOURCES, AND THE CALENDAR OF THESE PAYMENTS IS SUCH THAT WE'RE GETTING THE LAST PAYMENT ON THE LAST DAY OF THE FISCAL YEAR, BUT THE STATE PROJECTIONS ARE NOT ACTUALLY PUBLISHED IN THE FULL EXTENSION OF WHAT WE ARE GOING TO GET UNTIL MID- TO LATE-AUGUST. SO NOTHING THAT WE CAN CONTROL. WE CAN JUST WORK AROUND AND PROVIDE THE BEST PROJECTIONS THAT WE HAVE FOR YOU. VERY QUICKLY, SINCE WE SERVE PATIENTS, WE BASE A LOT OF OUR ASSUMPTIONS ON THE VOLUME OF THE PATIENTS THAT WE SERVE. AS YOU ALL KNOW, WE ARE CURRENTLY VERY CONSTRAINED WITH TWO HOSPITALS BEING FULL, AND THAT IS OUR CAPACITY CONSTRAINTS. SO OUR IN-PATIENT CAPACITY IS GOING TO REMAIN FLAT THIS YEAR. OUR OUT-PATIENT CAPACITY, FOR THE MOST PART, IS GOING TO ALSO BE STABLE. EXCEPT VERY TARGETED EXPANSION IN PRIMARY CARE AND SPECIALTY CARE. IS THAT MY TIME? OKAY. SO I WILL STOP RIGHT HERE. WE WILL TAKE YOUR QUESTIONS, AND THEN WE WILL COME BACK. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. EACH COURT OFFICE WILL NOW BE ALLOCATED EIGHT MINUTES FOR QUESTIONS, BEGINNING WITH PRECINCT 2. >> HI. MY FIRST QUESTION IS WHAT ARE THE KEY ACHIEVEMENTS AND CHALLENGES YOUR DEPARTMENT EXPERIENCED DURING THIS FISCAL YEAR? PARTICULARLY IN LIGHT OF THE ONE BIG BEAUTIFUL BILL, AND HOW THEY INFORMED THIS YEAR'S UPCOMING BUDGET? >> I WILL START WITH THE RISKS, AND THE RISKS THAT HAVE BEEN IDENTIFIED IN PRIOR PRESENTATIONS, AS WELL AS SOMETHING THAT IS GOING TO CARRY FORWARD INTO THE YEARS OF '28 AND GOING BEYOND THAT. SO, WE HAVE EXPERIENCED SOME FINANCIAL INSTABILITY FROM -- FROM THE RULE CHANGING. MOST NOTABLY, THIS HAS IMPACTED US IN THE ACA MARKETPLACE PROGRAM. THIS IS A PROGRAM THAT SERVES OUR PATIENTS UP TO 200% FEDERAL POVERTY LINE THAT ARE ELIGIBLE FOR THE SPECIFIC FEDERAL REQUIREMENTS OF THIS PROGRAM. AS YOU KNOW, UNDER THE OBB-BA, A LOT OF THE FLEXIBILITIES THAT HAVE BEEN AFFORDED IN THAT PROGRAM HAVE BEEN RESCINDED AND SO, THEREFORE, WE HAVE LOST THE VOLUME OF THE PATIENTS FROM LAST YEAR TO THIS YEAR. WITH THAT, THERE WAS A LOSS OF REIMBURSEMENT. HOWEVER, WE HAVE ALSO SAVED ON THE EXPENSE, BECAUSE WE'RE NOT ABLE TO COVER. SO THE PATIENTS BASICALLY REVERTED BACK TO BE A FULL CHARGE OF THE HOSPITAL DISTRICT. SO THAT'S ONE OF THE RISKS. TWO ADDITIONAL RISKS THAT WE ARN EXPERIENCING: SINCE JANUARY 1, THAT ARE CURRENTLY ON HOLD, BUT MOST LIKELY ARE GOING FORWARD: AS YOU KNOW, WE HAVE A 340-B PHARMACY PROGRAM THAT ALSO SERVES OUR POPULATION THAT IS UNFUNDED AND VERY VULNERABLE. THERE HAVE BEEN DIFFERENT RULE-MAKINGS RELATED TO HOW PHARMACEUTICAL COMPANIES ARE NOW GOING TO REQUIRE US TO PAY UP FRONT FOR THE DRUGS, AND THEN BASICALLY, LIKE AN INSURANCE COMPANY, DENY OR PAY FOR THE DRUGS THAT THEY DEEM ARE ELIGIBLE FOR THE PROGRAM. SO IT'S BEEN A CONTROVERSIAL PROGRAM. IT'S CURRENTLY BEEN STOPPED BY THE COURTS. MOST LIKELY IT WILL GO FORWARD, BUT THERE IS A LOT OF UNCERTAINTY SURROUNDING THAT, THAT CAN IMPACT OUR PATIENTS AND OUR SYSTEM AS WELL. I WILL TURN TO LEWIS TO TALK ABOUT SOME OF THE ACHIEVEMENTS. >> I THINK, JUST IN SUMMARY, WE [03:15:07] HAVE ACTUALLY BEEN RECOGNIZED SIGNIFICANTLY FOR A LOT OF THE QUALITY OUTCOMES; WHETHER YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT THE LEAPFROG INFORMATION, AS WELL AS THE CMS STARS RELATED TO OUR SPECIALTY DESIGNATIONS THAT ARE RECOGNIZED BY THE AMERICAN HEART ASSOCIATION AND OTHERS RELATED TO OUR HEART ATTACK CARE, OUR STROKE CARE, DIABETES CARE. AND QUALITY IS OUR NUMBER 1 PILLAR UNDER OUR STRATEGIC PLAN, SO THAT GUIDES A LOT OF OUR ACTIVITY WITHIN THE ORGANIZATION IN TERMS OF REALLY HARNESSING ALL OF OUR EFFORT TO THOSE INTENTIONAL OUTCOMES, AS WELL AS BENCHMARKED AGAINST EXTERNAL PROGRESS AND PERFORMANCE RELATED TO THAT. HARRIS HEALTH HAS ACTUALLY BEEN MORE RECOGNIZED IN THAT OVER THE LAST SIX YEARS THAN IN MULTIPLE YEARS PRIOR TO THAT. SO WE'RE VERY PROUD OF THE PROGRESS THAT HARRIS HEALTH HAS MADE IN TERMS OF ITS OUTCOMES RELATED TO THAT. WE'VE ALSO INSTIGATED SEVERAL PROCESSES INTERNALLY AROUND A DISCIPLINE OF EXPENSE CONTROL RELATED TO EXTERNAL BENCHMARK COMPARISONS, AGAIN RELATED TO HOW WELL WE ARE EFFECTIVE AND EFFICIENT WITHIN OUR RESOURCES GIVEN THE IMPORTANCE OF MANAGING RIGHT THE PUBLIC MONEY AND THE TRUST GIVEN TO US AS AN ORGANIZATION. AND, REALLY, MAKING SURE THAT OUR PROCESSES ARE REALLY ORIENTED TOWARD THE VALUE BEING CREATED RELATED TO WHERE WE MAKE INVESTMENTS IN THE ORGANIZATION, RELATED TO SERVICES, PHYSICAL LOCATIONS, THE ENHANCEMENT OF STAFF, THINGS OF THAT NATURE, IN THE PROCESS. WE'VE ALSO BEEN VERY PROUD OF BEING ABLE TO INVEST IN OUR WORKFORCE IN TERMS OF MULTIPLE DEVELOPMENT RESOURCES, AS WELL AS A LIVING WAGE IN THE ORGANIZATION. WE ACTUALLY HAVE ONE OF THE LOWEST TURNOVER RATES OF NURSES IN THE HARRIS COUNTY REGION OF THE HEALTH SYSTEM, AS WELL AS NATIONAL BENCHMARKS, AS WELL AS OVERALL TURNOVER VERY LOW FOR US AS AN ORGANIZATION, WHICH REALLY STRENGTHENS OUR ABILITY TO RECRUIT, DEVELOP STAFF INTERNALLY, AND HAVE THOSE RESOURCES AVAILABLE TO US AS WE ARE EXPANDING OUR PHYSICAL FOOTPRINT AS WE'LL BE TALKING ABOUT PROBABLY LATER IN SOME OF THE QUESTIONS RELATED TO JUST OUR -- HOW WE'RE PREPARING FOR SOME OF THE EXTRA -- OR THE ADDITIONAL EXPENSE OBLIGATIONS THAT WE'LL BE TAKING ON AS AN ORGANIZATION AS WE GO INTO FISCAL '28 AND '29, RELATED TO FURTFURTHER HAFURTHERING HARRISS FOOTPRINT IN HARRIS COUNTY. >> CAN YOU PROVIDE AN UPDATE ON HARRIS HEALTH'S CREDIT RATING? I KNOW THERE'S SOME CONCERN AND CONVERSATION AROUND THAT COMING INTO THIS FISCAL YEAR. >> YES, THANK YOU FOR THAT QUESTION. HAPPY TO PROVIDE THIS UPDATE. SO YOU MAY KNOW THAT WE HAVE GONE OUT AND HAVE TAKEN ANOTHER BOND ISSUANCE, BOND ISSUANCE NUMBER 2 IN THE AMOUNT OF TOTAL $380 MILLION THAT WE'VE BEEN DISCUSSING WITH THE COURT MEMBERS FOR SEVERAL MONTHS. THE FIRST TIME AROUND, WHEN WE WENT THROUGH THIS PROCESS, WE WERE DOWNGRADED BY FITCH, WHICH IS ONE OF THE TOP RATING AGENCIES, BASED ON THE ASSUMPTION THAT THE -- THE HIGH LEVERAGE OF ALL OF THE BOND ISSUANCES PUT TOGETHER IS GOING TO CREATE A STRAIN ON THE SYSTEM. AND SO THEY LOOK FORWARD TO GIVE US THAT NEGATIVE RATING OR TO TAKE AWAY A NOTCH FROM OUR RATING. NOT SO MUCH WHERE WE ARE TODAY, BY WAY OF PERFORMANCE, BUT WHERE WE WOULD BE AT THE END OF THE COMPLETION OF OUR STRATEGIC FACILITIES EXPANSION. SO WE'VE DONE THAT PROSPECTIVELY. KNOWING THAT, WE PAID A LOT OF ATTENTION FOR THE SECOND ROUND. EVEN THOUGH WE WERE WORKING WITH THE SAME CREDIT RATING AGENCIES. WE JUST COMPLETED FITCH, SO I DON'T HAVE THEIR INFORMATION YET. IT'S NOT -- YOU KNOW, WE HAVE NOT -- WE HAVE NOT SEEN HOW THEY WILL BE RATING US, BUT WE HAVE MET WITH MOODY'S, AND WE HAVE MET WITH KBRA. AND BOTH HAVE ACTUALLY GIVING US HIGH MARKS THIS TIME. ESPECIALLY MOODY'S, BASED ON THE STRENGTH OF OUR REVENUE. THEY GAVE US A LITTLE NOTCH UPWARDS, WHICH WAS VERY GOOD NEWS FOR US. AS WELL AS THE EXCELLENT PERFORMANCE. AS FAR AS KBRA, THEY WERE VERY COMPLIMENTARY AS WELL AS FAR AS WE HAVE COME FROM THE FIRST YEAR TO THE SECOND YEAR, SO THAT GIVES US A REALLY GOOD [03:20:02] FOUNDATION TO MOVE FORWARD AND CONTINUE TO BUILD ON THAT PERFORMANCE. NOW, BOTH OF THE CREDIT RATING AGENCIES STRESSED THAT WE MUST MAINTAIN THE EXCELLENCE PERFORMANCE, THE STRONG BOTTOM LINE AND THE STRONG BASE CASH ON HAND. >> I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW, JUST TO ADD ON: TO MAKE THE POINT: IN TERMS OF -- WE DID NOT ASK FITCH FOR A CREDIT RATING, AND ALMOST ALWAYS THERE'S A NOTIFICATION IN ADVANCE OF A DOWNGRADE, THAT THEY'LL TRY TO TRANSMIT TO US, HEY, YOU'RE ON THE -- YOU'RE ON THE CHOPPING BLOCK FOR X., Y., AND Z. REASONS, SO WE THINK IT WAS VERY UNFAIR, THE DOWNGRADE. IN OUR INTERPRETATION, THEY WERE REALLY DOWNGRADING THE PUBLIC HOSPITAL SYSTEM ACROSS THE COUNTRY BECAUSE OF THE SORT OF HEADWINDS AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL. NOTHING TO DO WITH HARRIS HEALTH. BUT I THINK THE CREDIT RATING THAT WENT OUT FOR THE BOND SALE ARE WAY MORE INDICATIVE OF THAT ONE THAT WAS A DOWNGRADE. >> THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU, PRECINCT 2. 3 P2PRECINCT 3. YOU WILL NOW HAVE EIGHT MINUTES FOR QUESTIONS. >> HEALTH CARE IS DIFFICULT. DOES HARRIS HEALTH HAVE A SURPLUS OF FUNDS IN ANY ACCOUNT? >> COULD YOU CLARIFY THE "ANY > WELL, DO YOU HAVE A SURPLUS Select to skip to this part of the video">ACCOUNT" COMPENSATE? >> WELL, DO YOU HAVE A SURPLUS OF FUNDS IN A RAINY DAY FUND, OR IS THAT A SAVINGS ACCOUNT THAT HARRIS HEALTH HAS? >> NO, SIR. DON'T HAVE SAVINGS ACCOUNTS. ALL OF OUR CASH ON HAND IS CONTAINED IN THE SAME -- WHAT WE CALL A CHECKING ACCOUNT, WHERE WE DRAW OUR WORKING CAPITAL FROM. >> LAWRENCE, IF I COULD CLARIFY. LIKE I'VE EXPLAINED TO COURT A FEW TIMES. THEY OPERATE FUNDAMENTALLY DIFFERENTLY THAN WHAT WE DO. THEY BUDGET A 2% MARGIN. THAT IS THE BEST PRACTICE IN THEIR INDUSTRY, BECAUSE THEIR TWO-THIRDS VOLATILE REVENUE AND ONE-THIRD PROPERTY TAX, WHICH IS CONSIDERED KIND OF THE MOST STABLE OF ANY GOVERNMENTAL REVENUES, SO THEY USE THE YEAR-END SURPLUS TO FUND THE NEXT YEAR'S CIP. SO WHILE THERE IS A SURPLUS AT THE END OF THE YEAR, THAT ALMOST ALL GETS SPENT ON MAINTENANCE THROUGHOUT THEIR FAR FACILITIES. AND JUST LIKE US, WE HAVE A FUND BALANCE THROUGHOUT THE YEAR. AT LEAST FOR US, WE START REALLY HIGH, AND THEN WE END, YOU KNOW, AT OUR LOWS IN JANUARY, RIGHT BEFORE WE START RECEIVING THE NEW PROPERTY TAX BILLS. THEIRS IS SLIGHTLY MORE STABLE JUST BECAUSE OF, YOU KNOW, THE DIFFERENTIATION OF THEIR REVENUE, BUT, AGAIN, IF THEY DID NOT MAINTAIN THE CASH THAT THEY HAVE ON HAND, THEN THEY WOULD LIKELY BE FACING A CREDIT DOWNGRADE. I THINK... >> THAT'S EXACTLY RIGHT. DANIEL. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THE CONTEXT. >> SO, WHAT IS THAT YEAR-END SURPLUS PREDICTED TO BE? >> SO, THIS YEAR? >> YES. >> WE'RE STILL CALCULATING WHAT IT'S GOING TO BE, BECAUSE WE ARE COMING TO THE YEAR-END, AND WE STILL DON'T HAVE THE FULL BRUNT OF THE UNCOMPENSATED CARE AND MEDICAID SUPPLEMENTAL PAYMENTS. SO THAT, UNFORTUNATELY, IS NOT GOING TO COME UNTIL MUCH LATER IN THE PROCESS; UNTIL MID-AUGUST TO LATE SEPTEMBER. >> DID YOU FEEL COMFORTABLE SAYING THAT YOU ANTICIPATE A SURPLUS? >> I WOULD FEEL COMFORTABLE AT THIS TIME THAT THERE WILL BE A SURPLUS, YES. >> OKAY. THANK YOU. ONE FINAL QUESTION: DOES HARRIS HEALTH ANTICIPATE ASKING FOR A TAX INCREASE? >> COMPARED TO LAST YEAR, YOU MEAN, OR...? >> YES. >> I DON'T THINK THAT WE ARE PREPARED TO ANSWER THAT QUESTION WITHOUT KNOWING WHAT OUR FULL EXTENT OF THE EXPENSE BUDGET IS GOING TO BE, AND THAT THAT -- THAT MISSING THIRD OF THE UNCOMPENSATED AND OTHER MEDICAID SUPPLEMENTAL PAYMENTS. SO WE DON'T KNOW WHAT GAP WE WILL HAVE TO CLOSE WITH A TAX. >> OKAY. FAIR. NO FURTHER QUESTIONS. >> THANK YOU, PRECINCT 3. PRECINCT 4, YOU WILL NOW HAVE EIGHT MINUTES FOR QUESTIONS. >> THANK YOU. JENNIFER LEVIER. PREDISTINCT 4. I WANT TO THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING HERE TODAY. AND I WANT TO ECHO WHAT LAWRENCE SAID. YOU GUYS DELIVER COMPASSIONATE CARE ACROSS HARRIS HEALTH AND WE'RE VERY APPRECIATIVE OF THE LEADERSHIP OF THE DOCTOR AND WHAT YOU DO. LEWIS, YOU WERE TALKING ABOUT THE PLAN, MAJOR CAPITAL PROJECTS THAT ARE COMING ONLINE IN FUTURE YEARS. CAN YOU TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT HOW THAT EFFECTS YOUR LONG-TERM STAFFING AND OPERATIONS STRATEGIES, AND THEN HOW ARE YOU GOING TO ENSURE, AS THEY BECOME OPEN, THAT THEY'RE CONSISTENT IN QUALITY, EQUITY, AND ACCESS ACROSS ALL PRECINCTS AND [03:25:04] NEIGHBORHOODS. >> I THINK THERE'S A LOT OF EXCITING TIMES RIGHT NOW FOR HARRIS HEALTH AS WE REALLY ESTABLISH THE ORGANIZATION'S ABILITY NOT ONLY TODAY, BUT LITERALLY FOR DECADES TO GO FORWARD, BUT HOW IT'S POSITIONED TO CARE FOR THE COUNTY AND THE INDIGIIN THE EVENT POPULATION, WHICH IS OUR PRIMARY FOCUS. ONE THING I'LL NOTE HERE IS THAT ONE OF THE ITEMS THAT WE'VE TALKED ABOUT AS WE'VE REPORTED ON THE BOND AND OTHER FUNDING -- RIGHT? OUR CAPITAL FACILITY PLAN ALWAYS ANTICIPATED ADDITIONAL FUNDING BEYOND THE BOND RELATED TO OUR PHILANTHROPY AND THE ROUTINE CAPITAL GOING THROUGH THAT, AND AS I REPORTED TO THE COURT IN OUR LAST TWO QUARTERLY UPDATES, WE HAD ORIGINALLY ANTICIPATED THAT OTHER FUNDING WOULD BE AROUND 400 MILLION. IT'S NOW ABOUT 480 MILLION, AS WE'VE GOTTEN FURTHER INTO THE PROGRAM. NOT BECAUSE OF SCOPE CHANGES, BUT BECAUSE OF OTHER CONSTRUCTION ESCALATION. WE'RE CONTINUING TO SEE THAT IN THE MARKET. CURRENT PROJECTS RIGHT NOW, EVEN FOR CLINICS, ARE ALMOST RIVALING THE COST PER SQUARE FOOTAGE OF THE O'QUINN HOSPITAL BEING BUILT, SO, YOU KNOW, WE DO HAVE CONCERN ABOUT HOW DO WE STAY ON TRACK FOR THAT? SO HAVING A STRONG CASH POSITION IS HELPING US BUFFET THROUGH THOSE CHALLENGES AND MAINTAIN ON ON. FOR THE NET NEW AMBULATORY CLINICS, THE REFURBISHMENT AND REPLACEMENT OF CLINICS, AS WELL AS COMPLETING THE HOSPITAL AND OUR NEW CANCER FREE-STANDING CENTER, WHICH WILL BE THE FIRST ONE IN HARRIS HEALTH'S HISTORY GOING TO THAT. I'M GOING TO ANSWER YOUR SECOND QUESTION FIRST AND THEN COME >>COMEBACK TO THE FIRST ONE. FOR ALL OF OUR AMBULATORY CLINICS, AS WELL AS BOTH OF THE ACUTE HOSPITALS. SO OUR EXPECTATION IS THAT WE ARE ACTING CONSISTENTLY IN PARTNERSHIP WITH BOTH BAYLOR COLLEGE OF MEDICINE AND UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS HEALTH SCIENCES CENTRE AND MD ANDERSON ON THE LBJ CAMPUS RELATED TO THE DEVELOPMENT AND THE OUTCOMES BEING VERY CONSISTENT IN OUR ORGANIZATION. THAT'S BEEN A REALLY FOCUS OF HOW ARE WE OPERATING? WHAT ARE OUR PROCESSES? HOW DO WE ACHIEVE THE OUTCOME? WHAT IS OUR PERFORMANCE? IF WE'RE OFF OF THAT TRAJECTORY, WHAT ARE THE IMPEDIMENTS TO THAT? AND THEN HOW DO WE COURSE CORRECT IN THE ORGANIZATION? WHETHER IT'S A QUALITY ISSUE, AN EXPENSE ISSUE, AN ACCESS ISSUE, ET CETERA. WE PROFILE OUT A LOT OF THE RISK RELATED TO HOW THE SYSTEM FUNCTIONS AND WE GO THROUGH A MONTHLY REVIEW PROCESS WHERE WE'RE LOOKING AT THAT ON A REGULAR BASIS AND THEN CONSTANTLY MAKING ADJUSTMENTS, MODIFICATIONS IN THE PURSUIT OF CONSISTENCY ACROSS OUR ORGANIZATION RELATED TO NO MATTER HOW YOU INTERACT WITH HARRIS HEALTH, IT IS GOING TO BE A VERY CONSISTENT EXPERIENCE, BOTH ON A PATIENT EXPERIENCE STANDPOINT, BUT ALSO IN HOW WE OPERATE AND THEM THE OUTCOMES ACHIEVED RELATED TO THAT. WE'RE ALSO DOING -- YOU KNOW, YOU COULD KIND OF COME AT ACCESS IN A COUPLE OF WAYS. I THINK ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE INCORPORATE -- AND WE'VE BEEN PRETTY EXCITED ABOUT SOME RECENT DISCUSSIONS WITH METRO, IS THAT PHYSICAL ACCESSIBILITY. WE DO TRY TO LOCATE A LOT OF OUR SERVICES ON THE PUBLIC BUS ROUTE, BUT WE'VE ALSO BEEN WORKING WITH METRO RECENTLY ON THE CURB TO CURB DEFINITIONS ABOUT WHERE THEY OPERATE, HOW THEY OPERATE. WE'RE ACTUALLY GOING TO BE HAVING A POP-UP EVENT WITH METRO ON THE L.B.J. CAMPUS COMING UP VERY SOON, RELATED TO HOW DO WE INTERACT WITH A COMMUNITY AROUND WHAT RESOURCES DO EXIST? AND THAT'S JUST ONE EXAMPLE OF SEVERAL RELATED TO HOW WE'RE TRYING TO REALLY WORK ACROSS THE PLATFORM RELATED TO OUR PARTNERS AND THE COMMUNITY RELATED TO THAT. IN TERMS OF GETTING TO THE STAFFING... WE ARE REALLY LEANING VERY HEAVILY ON THE FACT THAT WE HAVE REALLY CREATED A REAL ROBUST INFRASTRUCTURE AROUND SUPPORT OF OUR STAFF, AS EVIDENCED BY OUR VERY LOW TURNOVER RATES. AND ONE THING I DIDN'T MENTION ABOUT JUST SOME OF THE ACCOLADES WE'VE GOTTEN, AND THIS IS REALLY PARTICULARLY IMPORTANT ON THE NURSING SIDE. WE'RE ONE OF ONLY TWO ORGANIZATIONS HARRIS COUNTY DESIGNATED BY THE NURSING MAGNET DESIGNATION ARE DISTINCTION. THAT IS AN EXTREMELY HIGH LEVEL [03:30:03] TO ACHIEVE, AND IT REALLY GIVES YOU A VERY STRONG REPUTATION IN THE MARKETPLACE ABOUT HOW WE SUPPORT OUR STAFF. WHAT IS THAT -- FOLKS ARE ABLE TO PARTICIPATE IN GOVERNANCE AND PROCESSES AROUND THEIR PRACTICE, ET CETERA. AND SO AS -- SO WE HAVE INCREASED SIGNIFICANTLY THE REPUTATION OF HARRIS HEALTH AND JUST RECENTLY IN SOME -- RECENTLY OVER THE LAST 12 MONTHS, IN OFF OUR OPEN VACANCIES. FIVE YEARS AGO, IT WAS REALLY DIFFICULT TO GET FOLKS TO HAVE MULTIPLE CANDIDATES FOR DIFFERENT ROLES WITHIN HARRIS HEALTH. TODAY, WE LITERALLY HAVE MULTIPLE APPLICATIONS. HIGHLY-QUALIFIED APPLICATION. SO WE'VE REALLY BECOME A DESTINATION SOURCE FOR INDIVIDUALS IN HEALTH CARE BECAUSE OF THE INVESTMENTS WE'VE MADE AND THE PROGRESS WE'VE MADE. SO WHILE WE DON'T HAVE THOSE INDIVIDUALS HIRED YET FOR THOSE SERVICES, WE HAVE A VERY STRONG BACKBONE RELATED TO THE ABILITY TO RECRUIT. BY SEPTEMBER OF THIS YEAR, WE WILL HAVE IDENTIFIED WITH UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS HEALTH CENTRE ON L.B.J. WHAT THE PROVIDER INCREMENTAL NEEDS WILL BE FOR THE O'QUINN HOSPITAL. WE'LL ALSO HAVE THE ADDITIONAL IDENTIFICATION OF ALL OTHER STAFF ROLES WITHIN THAT WILL NEED TO BE HIRED. AND SO WE WILL BE SHIFTING INTO THAT HIRING MODE IN CALENDAR YEAR '27, WHICH WILL THEN BRING ON IN OUR FISCAL '28 RELATED TO BEING ABLE TO STAGE. OUR PLAN IS THAT, BY OCTOBER OF CALENDAR YEAR '28, T T THE FIRSF YOUR FISCAL '29, WE SHOULD BE FULLY STAFFED FOR THE O'QUINN HOSPITAL, WHICH WILL THEN OPEN FIRST QUARTER OF CALENDAR YEAR '29. SO IT'S ALWAYS A PROGRESSION OF THAT PROCESS. BUT WE BELIEVE THE STRENGTH IN OUR RECRUITING IS REALLY GOING TO GIVE US A LEG UP IN THE MARKET. RIGHT NOW, TODAY, WE ARE VERY WELL-STAFFED. LOW TURNOVER. ONE OF THE BEST OF THE HEALTH SYSTEMS IN H HARRIS COUNTY. WE BELIEVE THAT'S GOING TO CONTINUE TO CARRY FORWARD. >> ALL RIGHT. I APPRECIATE THAT. ALSO, I NOTED IN-PATIENT AND AMBULATORY VOLUMES WILL REMAIN FLAT BECAUSE OF CAPACITY CONSTRAINTS. CAN YOU EXPLAIN WHAT YOU MEAN BY "CAPACITY CONSTRAINTS?" AND THEN WHAT DATA ARE YOU USING TO DETERMINE WHICH PARTS OF THE COUNTY SHOULD BE PRIORITIZED AS YOU BAND INTO NEW AREAS WITH NEW CLINICS? >> DO I NEED TO REACT TO THAT...? >> ANY ADDITION IS ALWAYS AT THE AGREEMENT OF THE COURT OFFICES. >> OKAY. >> CAN I JUST RESPOND OR...? >> WHAT'S THE QUESTION? >> OKAY. >> WHAT DID YOU SAY? >> I WASN'T SURE WHAT THE LITTLE SOUND WAS, IF I NEEDED TO PAUSE THERE FOR A MOMENT. >> IT IS THE END OF P4'S TIME. HOWEVER, IF Y'ALL WANT -- WITH Y'ALL'S APPROVAL, YOU CAN WRAP IT UP IN A COUPLE OF SENTENCES. >> IF YOU CAN JUST WRAP IT UP QUICKLY. >> THAT IS NOT A -- THAT'S NOT A QUICK QUESTION. OKAY, I'M GOING TO -- WHY DON'T WE CIRCLE BACK TO IT IF THERE'S EXTRA TIME. >> IT IS A GREAT QUESTION, BUT THERE'S A LITTLE BIT OF DETAIL. >> THANK YOU. SO, THEN, COUNTY JUDGE'S OFFICE, YOU WILL NOW HAVE EIGHT MINUTES FOR QUESTIONS. >> GOOD AFTERNOON. COULD YOU PLEASE PROVIDE AN UPDATE ON HOW THE HOSPITAL'S MANAGEMENT OF CORRECTIONAL HEALTH SERVICES IS GOING? >> WELL, AS WE SIT HERE RIGHT NOW, THE TEXAS JAIL COMMISSION IS DOING AN ASSESSMENT, SO I WILL -- I WILL GIVE A LITTLE PROPHECY AND SAY THAT THAT'S GOING TO TURN OUT VERY WELL. THERE'S ALWAYS THINGS TO WORK ON, RIGHT? I THINK WE HAVE -- THAT CAN BE A MULTI-LAYERED ANSWER, SO LET ME JUST HIGH LEVEL: I THINK WE ARE IN ONE OF THE BEST PLACES, JAIL HEALTH, OR CORRECTIONAL HEALTH, WITHIN THE MEDICAL SIDE, BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT I CAN SPEAK TO, HAS BEEN IN A LONG TIME. WE ARE HAVING VERY GOOD CONVERSATIONS WITH THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE, SPECIFICALLY LED BY OBVIOUSLY SHERIFF GONZÁLEZ, BUT ALSO CHIEF DEPUTY TOMMY DÍAZ IN CREATING FOR THE FIRST TIME AND REALLY ONE OF THE FEW IN THE COUNTRY A STRATEGIC PLAN OF HOW WE REALLY IDENTIFY OUR PILLARS OF FOCUS AND HOW WE ARE ORGANIZED AROUND THAT, RELATED TO THE CARE WITHIN THE JAIL. WE ALSO ARE IN THE PROCESS OF MOBILIZING THE SIXTH FLOOR OF THE JAIL AT 1200 BAKER RELATED TO A NEW CLINIC THAT WE'RE VERY EXCITED ABOUT, RELATED TO FURTHER CAPACITY AND CONSISTENCY OF CARE WITHIN THE -- WITHIN THE INCARCERATED INDIVIDUALS. THERE'S STILL A REAL FOCUS ON GETTING MORE CONSISTENT ABOUT THE INTAKE PROCESS, IN FULL TRANSPARENCY, BUT IT'S VERY COMPLICATED; WHERE THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE IS ALSO TRYING TO DRIVE SOME OF THE EXPECTATIONS THEY HAVE, AS MEDICAL HAS, AND THAT'S PART OF OUR STRATEGIC PLAN DISCUSSIONS [03:35:03] AND HOW DO WE BETTER-ALIGN? OVERALL, WE BELIEVE IT'S GOING VERY WELL. THERE CONTINUES TO BE OPPORTUNITY IN THAT RELATIONSHIP, AND WE CONTINUE TO MEET VERY REGULARLY TO WORK THROUGH THAT. >> OKAY. GREAT. THANK YOU. AND GIVEN THE CONVERSATIONS THAT WE'VE ALREADY HAD ABOUT THE CHANGES AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL AND, YOU KNOW, THE PHARMACY IN THE MEDICAL, WHAT TYPE OF CHANGES ARE YOU MAKING IN YOUR BUDGET FOR NEXT YEAR? WHAT TYPE OF CHANGES ARE YOU MAKING TO ACCOMMODATE FOR THOSE? >> SO, TYPICALLY, WHEN WE HAVE SUCH UNCERTAINTY THAT IS STILL UNDEFINED, WE ARE NOT MAKING CHANGES UNTIL WE GET MORE CLEAR ON WHAT THE CHANGE NEEDS TO BE. AND SO THAT IS KIND OF THE CONVERSATION WE CAME FROM LAST YEAR, HAVING HERE WITH THE COURT; WHERE WE DID NOT KNOW WHERE, FOR EXAMPLE, DISH WAS GOING TO GO. IT WAS HUNG UP IN CONGRESS. NOW THAT THE CONGRESS HAS MOVED IT FOR FISCAL '26 AND '27, THAT IS NO LONGER AN UNCERTAINTY. IN TERMS OF THE MARKETPLACE, FOR EXAMPLE: ALL WE HAVE RIGHT NOW -- AND JUST TO GIVE YOU A QUICK CONTEXT: SO, MARKETPLACE INSURANCE, AS ANY INSURANCE THAT ANYONE HERE OR OUTSIDE IS COVERED WITH, IT'S TYPICALLY ON A CALENDAR YEAR. SO, THEIR PLANNING CYCLE AND OUR PLANNING CYCLE HAVE DIFFERENT TIMING. >> RIGHT. >> SO WHEN WE ARE COMING OUT OF OUR BUDGET, THEY ARE BASICALLY BEGINNING TO UNDERSTAND WHERE MARKETPLACE IS GOING TO BE FOR THE -- FOR THE FOLLOWING YEAR. SO ALL WE NEED TO DO AND WHAT WE ARE DOING AT THIS TIME -- LIKE EVERY YEAR -- IS GETTING TO PARTNER WITH OUR MARKETPLACE PARTNERS, INCLUDING OUR OWN HEALTH PLAN, WHO IS PROVIDING THAT COVERAGE, AND UNDERSTANDING WHERE THE INDUSTRY IS GOING. LAST WEEK, THERE WAS A REPORT ISSUED THAT THE INDUSTRY MIGHT BE POSITIONED FOR ANOTHER DOUBLE-DIGIT INCREASE IN TERMS OF PREMIUM. THAT IS OBVIOUSLY NOT A GOOD-NEWS SITUATION FOR OUR PATIENTS. THERE'S ALSO ADDITIONAL RESTRICTIONS THAT ARE COMING DOWN FROM THE OBBBA THAT DID NOT TAKE PLACE IN '26, BUT RBI WILLE TAKING PLACE IN '27. SO WITH ALL THAT BEING SAID, WE'RE NO LONGER ANTICIPATING THAT THE VOLUME WILL GROW, BECAUSE, AGAIN, IT IS ARTIFICIALLY CONSTRAINED BY ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS, AND IT CANNOT GO ABOVE THAT. WE ARE GOING TO, AGAIN, UNDERSTAND BETTER WHERE THE SUBSIDY IS GOING TO COME IN, RIGHT? AND SO -- BECAUSE THIS IS NOT A PLAN OR A PLACE FOR US TO -- TO REALLY CALL IT A PROFIT CENTER, YOU KNOW. IT'S JUST A PLACE FOR OUR PATIENTS TO GET MORE ACCESS TO OTHER PROVIDERS IN THE HOUSTON AREA. AND SO SO LONG AS WE'RE ABLE TO DO THAT AND SUBSIDIZE THEM AND WE'RE ABLE TO GET COVERED BY REIMBURSEMENT. EVEN IF IT'S A BREAK-EVEN, IT'S A GOOD SITUATION FOR EVERYONE. SO -- LIKE, A LONG ANSWER TO YOUR QUESTION: WE ARE BASICALLY COPYING AND PASTING THE VOLUME THAT WE HAVE TODAY AND THE SUBSIDY THAT WE ARE PAYING INTO THE NEXT YEAR UNTIL WE GET BETTER INFORMATION ABOUT IT. >> OKAY. THANK YOU. AND THOSE ARE ALL THE QUESTIONS FOR THE JUDGE'S OFFICE AT THIS TIME. >> THANK YOU, COUNTY JUDGE'S OFFICE. PRECINCT 1. YOU WILL NOW HAVE EIGHT MINUTES FOR QUESTIONS. >> THANK YOU, TRACY. AND THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. EARLIER THIS YEAR, WE DISCUSSED THE BENTOP HOSPITAL EXPANSION, AND WE'RE REALLY LOOKING FORWARD TO PROGRESS ON THAT. IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING THAT THE 2023 BOND PROGRAM ALSO INCLUDED SEVERAL OTHER CLINICS AND RENOVATIONS FOR EXISTING CLINICS ACROSS THE COUNTY. WE TALKED A LOT ABOUT SERVICES IN THE MEDICAL CENTER, BUT WE KNOW THAT WE ALL ARE WORKING ON A LOT OF INITIATIVES ACROSS THE COUNTY AS WELL. WHAT PROGRESS SHOULD WE EXPECT TO SEE ON THOSE PROJECTS IN FY-'27 AND HOW ARE THOSE IMPACTED BY YOUR PROPOSED BUDGET? I KNOW A LOT IS STILL PEND, BUT WHAT DO YOU ANTICIPATE IN THAT AREA? >> SO, AT ANY GIVEN POINT IN TIME, ANNO NOW THAT WE'VE GOTTEN PASSED MOST OF A SIGNIFICANT PORTION OF THE LBJ CAMPUS ON THE O'QUINN HOSPITAL, WE ARE NOW ABLE AND ARE MOVING FORWARD WITH VARIOUS PROJECTS RELATED TO BENTOB AS WELL AS THE AMBULATORY EXPANSION. THERE ARE MULTIPLE OTHER PROJECTS. SO, FOR INSTANCE, RIGHT NOW, WE ARE UNDERWAY WITH AN EXPANSION OF THE CARDIAC CARE UNIT WITHIN BENTOB, WHICH IS A VERY [03:40:02] SENSITIVE PROJECT FOR THE ORGANIZATION, WHERE WE WILL BE EXPANDING CAPACITY WITHIN -- IT'S REALLY A RECONFIGURATION OF THAT UNIT TO BETTER-SUPPORT OUR CARDIAC SERVICES, BUT WE'RE ACTUALLY HAVING TO CONSTRUCT IT WITHIN AN ACTIVE PATIENT ENVIRONMENT. SO, THERE'S PROJECTS LIKE THAT THAT ARE VERY SENSITIVE, THAT ARE VERY IMPORTANT TO THE LONGEVITY OF MAKING BENTOB WORK, BECAUSE EVEN ONCE WE GET THE EXPANSION FACILITY LIFT, WE STILL HAVE TO MAKE THE CORE BENTOB WORK FOR QUITE A LONG PERIOD OF TIME BEFORE WE'RE ABLE TO REPLACE THAT FACILITY. AS OBVIOUSLY WE SPEND A LOT OF TIME IN THE COMMUNITY SESSIONS TALKING ABOUT THE REASONS, SO I WON'T BELABOR THE POINT HERE. ON THE AMBULATORY SIDE, WE HAVE SEVERAL PROJECTS UNDERWAY RELATED TO WHAT WE'RE DOING BOTH IN TERMS OF EXISTING CLINICS, AS WELL AS NEW CLINICS. SO A LOT OF FISCAL '27 ACTIVITY IS STILL IN THE PROJECT DESIGN PROCESS, SPECIFICALLY WITH THE GREATER A-LEAF CLINIC, WHICH IS ONE. NEW CLINICS THAT WERE PROPOSED IN OUR BOND PROGRAM. WE'RE ALSO UNDERWAY WITH THE PASADEPASADENA CLINIC, WHICH ISO IN PARTNERSHIP WITH HARRIS COUNTY, WHERE WE ARE INVOLVED IN DEVELOPING A SPACE OF THE FORMER PASADENA MALL AND WHERE WE WILL BE OCCUPYING THE FIRST FLOOR AND CONSOLIDATING THREE CLINICS COMING TOGETHER RELATED TO THAT WITH HARRIS COUNTY OCCUPYING THE SECOND FLOOR OF THAT. WE'RE ALSO IN THE DESIGN PHASE OF OUR ALBONA CLINIC, RELATED TO A RECONFIGURATION OF THAT CAMPUS. TODAY, TWO SEPARATE BUILDINGS. HOW DO WE REALLY ADDRESS THE RECONFIGURATION OF THOSE CLINICS. WE'RE ALSO JUST STARTING THE CONSTRUCTION PHASE OF OUR SERENE URGENT CARE, WHICH WILL BE PART OF THE CA SA DE AMIGOS. WE HAVE PROVIDED IN OUR QUARREL REPORT A LISTING OF THOSE PROJECTS BY PRECINCT, BY TIMEFRAME. I DON'T WANT TO EAT UP ANY MORE OF YOUR TIME, BUT THERE'S A LOT GOING ON ACROSS THE SPECTRUM IN TERMS OF UTILIZING THOSE BOND FUNDS, AS WELL AS OUR INTERNAL FUNDS RELATED TO MAKING THAT PLAN COME ABOUT AS IN FULLNESS AS WE POSSIBLY CAN, GIVEN SOME OF THE COST PRESSURES. >> THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR HIGHLIGHTING THE WORK THAT YOU DO ACROSS THE COUNTY. WHAT INITIATIVES IS HARRIS COUNTY PRIORITIZING TO SUPPORT PATIENTS' NEEDS OUTSIDE OF THE HOSPITAL? SPECIFICALLY REGARDING ACCESS TO NUTRITIOUS FOOD, CHRONIC DISEASE MANAGEMENT, SOCIAL DETERMINANTS OF HEALTH, AND OVERALL COMMUNITY HEALTH AND SAFETY? >> WOW. OKAY. THAT IS A VERY INSIGHTFUL AND LOADED QUESTION. SO, THERE IS A LOT OF ACTIVITY THAT WE'RE EXTREMELY EXCITED ABOUT. SO I'LL KIND OF BOUNCE AROUND THE WALLS A LITTLE BIT. WITHIN HARRIS HEALTH, WE HAVE BEEN AGGRESSIVELY BUILDING A HOME DIVISION RELATED TO NOT ONLY HOSPITAL AT HOME, BUT PRIMARY CARE AT HOME: OUR ABILITY TO PROVIDE INFUSION THERAPY AT HOME AND REALLY TRYING TO CONNECT IN VARIOUS ALTERNATIVE FORMS OF CARE RELATED TO THAT. THAT IS, IN PART, A BIT OF OUR TECHNOLOGY JOURNEY AS WELL. HOW DO WE DEVELOP A ROBUST TECHNOLOGY PLATFORM THAT IS ABLE TO LEVERAGE WEARABLES AND VIRTUAL TECHNOLOGY GREATER THAN WE HAVE AT THIS POINT IN TIME? WE'RE ALSO INVOLVED IN OUR SHIELA JACKSON CENTER FOR HEALTH DISPARITIES RELATED TO HOW WE'RE CONNECTING WITH COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS ABOUT IDENTIFIED DETERMINANTS OF HEALTH AND HOW DO WE BE A CATALYST, A PART OF THAT? SO THAT CENTER HAS BEEN -- AND THAT'S ALSO IN THE SAME DIVISION AS OUR HOME DIVISION. HOW DO WE REALLY GET THE LEVERAGE OFF OF THOSE RESOURCES IN TERMS OF REALLY CONNECTING WITH EVERYTHING FROM SUPER NEIGHBORHOODS TO OTHER COUNTY AREAS, PUBLIC HEALTH, ET CETERA, RELATED TO SOME OF THE ACTIVITIES WE'RE DOING? WE'RE ALSO INVOLVED IN AN INITIATIVE CALLED THE HARRIS COLLABORATIVE, WHICH IS A PARTNERSHIP WITH THE COUNTY PUBLIC HEALTH, CITY PUBLIC HEALTH, THE HARRIS CENTRE, OURSELVES, AND THE CHC INSURANCE PARTNER RELATED TO IDENTIFYING POPULATIONS THAT MAY BE SERVED BY MULTIPLE ENTITIES THAT EACH TRY TO ADDRESS THE ISSUES OF THAT POPULATION, BUT INDEPENDENTLY. AND SO WE'RE WORKING THROUGH THAT STRUCTURE TO, HOW DO WE APPROACH THAT COMMUNITY POPULATION? ALTOGETHER LEVERAGING EVERY ONE IN A VERY DIFFERENT WAY THAN WHAT HAS BEEN DONE HISTORICALLY? WE ARE FOCUSED RIGHT NOW ON THE L.B.J. AREA AS A PILOT, AND WE EXPECT TO HAVE SOME RESULTS OF [03:45:01] THAT AS WE GET INTO LATE SPRING/SUMMER OF NEXT YEAR, RELATED TO HOW THAT MIGHT BE FURTHER LEVERAGED IN HARRIS COUNTY RELATED TO BEING MORE PROACTIVE IN THE MANAGEMENT OF HEART HEALTH, DIABETES, BLOOD PRESSURE, THAT HAVE VERY LONG-TERM IMPLICATIONS FOR WHAT WE'RE DOING. >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. I'LL YIELD THE REST OF HYGIENE. THANK YOU, PRECINCT 1. WE WILL NOW REVISIT FOR ANY REMAINING TIME. PRECINCT 3, YOU HAVE 4:56 REMAINING. YOU MAY DONATE TIME TO ANY OFFICE AT YOUR DISCRETION. PRECINCT 4 HAD NO TIME REMAINING. THANK YOU. PRECINCT 4, YOU NOW HAVE 4:56. >> NO, I WROTE 'EM DOWN. I KNEW -- YOU WANT ME TO START WITH THE FIRST TWO? OKAY. SO, IN TERMS OF CAPACITY CONSTRAINTS... BOTH OUR ACUTE HOSPITALS -- AND I'LL DO THAT AND THEN THE AMBULATORY -- OUR ACUTE HOSPITALS ARE OVER 90% OCCUPIED DEPENDING ON THE SERVICE, AND IN SOME SERVICES, WE ARE LITERALLY 100%+. ANYTIME THAT A HEALTH FACILITY IS ABOVE 85% OCCUPIED OR IN-USE AT ANY GIVEN POINT IN TIME, YOUR LEVEL OF EFFICIENCIES JUST FROM AN INDUSTRY PERSPECTIVE DEGRADE SUBSTANTIALLY, BECAUSE YOU DON'T HAVE THE EXTRA SPACE TO BE ABLE TO MOVE PATIENTS AND CREATE THAT FLOW WITHIN THE ORGANIZATION. AND SO UNTIL WE'RE ABLE TO CREATE MORE CAPACITY AT THE ACUTE HOSPITALS -- WHETHER WE'RE 90% OCCUPIED, 98% OCCUPIED, ANYWHERE IN BETWEEN, EVEN THOUGH THE VOLUME TECHNICALLY MAY BE LOWER OR FLAT FROM YEAR-TO-YEAR, WE'RE STILL ABOVE 90%, AND SO WE STILL GOT PEOPLE BOARDING, BEING TREATED IN THE HALLWAYS, THINGS OF THAT NATURE, AND THERE'S NO ABILITY TO INCREASE THAT LOAD, EXCEPT MORE BOARDERS, MORE PEOPLE IN THE HALLWAYS. AND SO WE INTENTIONALLY DO NOT BUDGET THAT WAY AS AN ASSUMPTION, BECAUSE WE'RE ALREADY AT A -- THE HIGHEST LEVEL OF SATURATION WITHIN THOSE FACILITIES. SO, UNTIL WE BRING MORE CAPACITY ON, WE WOULD NOT BE BUDGETING MORE. NOW, THAT DOESN'T MEAN THAT WE DON'T HAVE PHYSICAL MORE PATIENTS THAT MAY BE COMING IN TO US AND WE FLEX OUR RESOURCES RELATED TO THE DEMAND THAT MAY COME UPON US AND DOING THE BEST WE CAN TO ADDRESS THESE NEEDS WITHIN THE ENVIRONMENT. ON THE AMBULATORY SIDE, MOST OF THE ACTIVITIES THAT WE'RE SEEIN, JUST THE PROLIFERATION OF PRIMARY CARE ACCESS HAS GENERATED A LOT MORE OPTIONS FOR INDIVIDUALS. SO WE ARE SEEING THAT -- THAT FLATTENING OF THE PRIMARY CARE, BUT WE'RE SEEING THE UPWARD NEED OF SPECIALTY. AND SO PART OF WHAT FISCAL '27 IS GOING TO BE IS A TRANSITIONING OF OUR STRATEGIES RELATED TO CERTAINLY SUPPORTING THE PRIMARY CARE THAT WE HAVE, BUT ACTUALLY INCREASING THE SPECIALTY. AND SO AS WE LOOK AT OUR VARIOUS AMBULATORY CLINIC DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS, AS WE LOOK AT HOW DO WE REBALANCE THE PROVIDERS THAT ARE IN THE EXISTING CLINICS AND AS WE BUILD ON EXTENSIONS AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE. IT'S REALLY IN THAT SPECIALTY SIDE RELATED TO HAVING MORE ACCESS, BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT WE HEAR FROM THE COMMUNITY. THAT'S WHAT WE'RE EXPERIENCING AS WELL. WE'VE BEEN WORKING VERY HARD OVER THE LAST FOUR YEARS TO BETTER-CREATE ACCESS FOR SPECIALTIES. WE STARTED FOUR YEARS AGO. OUR GOAL IS FROM TIME OF REFERRAL TO TIME OF APPOINTMENT IS 90 DAYS. AND SO, FOUR YEARS AGO, WE HAD MULTIPLE SPECIALTIES THAT WERE OVER THAT TARGET. TODAY, THERE ARE ONLY TWO. AND SO WE HAVE BEEN INTENTIONALLY MANAGING THAT ACCESS. THE PROVISION OF PROVIDERS. THE WAY WE SCHEDULE A WHOLE LOT OF KIND OF OPERATIONAL STRUCTURES THAT INCREASES THAT CAPACITY OPPORTUNITY ON THE SPECIALTY SIDE FOR PHYSICIANS, BUT ALSO IN LABORATORY, X-RAYS, DENTAL. THAT'S WE'RE HEARING IS THE REAL NEED IN THE COMMUNITY. THE RELIANCE UPON HARRIS HEALTH RELATED TO THE POPULATIONS WE SERVE, SO THAT'S GOING TO BE OUR FOCUS AS WE GO FORWARD IN FISCAL '27, GOING FORWARD. YOUR SECOND QUESTION WAS ON HOW TO WE DECIDE WITHIN THE COUNTY? AND JUST REALLY QUICKLY, IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT HOW WE DO LOOK AT WHAT THE NEEDS ARE WITHIN, BECAUSE THERE ARE ONLY LIMITED RESOURCES THAT WE HAVE RELATED TO HOW THAT DEPLOYS AND THEN HOW WE MAKE DECISIONS, BOTH INTERNALLY AND IN PARTNERSHIP WITH OUR MEDICAL SCHOOL PARTNERS RELATED TO HOW DO WE INVEST IN THAT ACCESS? SO, BASICALLY, WE LOOK AT [03:50:06] POPULATION ACTIVITIES, THE DENSITY OF POPULATION ACROSS GEOGRAPHIC AREAS, THE POPULATION THAT'S LESS THAN 150% OF THE FEDERAL POVERTY LEVEL, WHICH IS OUR ELIGIBILITY THRESHOLD FOR OUR FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM. WE LOOK AT THE VISIENT INDEX. IT CAN CERTAINLY PROVIDE THAT DETAIL AS WELL. WE ALSO LOOK AT WHAT DOESN'T HAVE INSURANCE? WHO DOESN'T HAVE MEDICAID? WHO'S ON SUBSIDIZED MARKETPLACE AND THEN WE ALSO USE TOOLS TO LOOK AT MARKET ESTIMATES RELATED TO SPECIALTY CARE, AGAIN USING THAT FEDERAL POVERTY LEVEL, 150% OR LESS, AND WE MAP ALL OF THAT TO THE LOWEST DENOMINATOR POSSIBLE WITHIN THE COUNTY RELATED TO WHERE ARE OUR CLINICS? WHERE ARE THEY NOT? WHERE WOULD SERVICES BE AUGMENTED, ET CETERA, RELATED TO THAT? SO IT'S A PRETTY ROBUST PROCESS, AND I'D BE GLAD TO PROVIDE MORE DETAILS RELATED TO THAT. >> THANK YOU, PRECINCT 4. COUNTY JUDGE'S OFFICE, YOU HAD 2:57 REMAINING. >> I WILL OFFER MY TIME TO PRECINCT 4 FOR YOUR LAST QUESTION. >> THANK YOU. I APPRECIATE THAT, GUYS. JUST GETTING AT WHAT YOU WERE JUST TALKING ABOUT, LEWIS, WITH SPECIALTY CARE AND WORKING WITH THE COMMUNITY ON WHAT THOSE NEEDS ARE. CAN YOU TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT HOW YOU'RE PLANNING AND PLANNING TO INCORPORATE QHF CS INTO WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE, AND THEN HOW YOU'RE COORDINATING THOSE REFERRALS TO QHF QS HEALTH CENTERS? >> SOME OF OUR CLINIC SITES HAVE QHFCS AROUND THEM. SOME OF THEM DO NOT. NOW IT'S MOVING OUT IN NOR TOTALITY RELATED TO HAVING AGREEMENTS WITH THE. THERE'S A LOT OF COLLECTIVE HEALTH AGREEMENTS WITHIN THE COORDINATION OF CARE, SO THAT DOES REQUIRE A WRITTEN AGREEMENTS WITH OUR ORGANIZATIONS AND IT ALSO HELPS ABOUT THE HQFCS, WHERE THEY LOOK FOR WRITTEN AGREEMENTS RELATED TO YOUR REFERRING SOURCES, HE IS, SO WE'VE ACTUALLY DESIGNATED AN INDIVIDUAL WITHIN OUR AMBULATORY DECISION DIVISION THAT IS RESPONSIBLE TO HAVE TO HAVE A REAL SOURCE OF CONTACT RELATED TO ACCESSING US AS AN ORGANIZATION AND REALLY MORE PROACTIVELY WORKING ON THOSE RELATIONSHIPS. AND SO WE EXPECT THAT'S GOING TO GROW IN INTENSITY AS WE GET FURTHER INTO FISCAL '27 THAT THEN HELPS THE -- JUST THE PROCESS FLOW OF REFERRALS RELATED TO THAT THE ITEMS THAT I'VE MENTIONED. WE ALSO ARE LOOKING AT THE ELECTRONIC CONNECTION; WHETHER THAT IS ELECTRONIC REFERRAL MANAGEMENT. SO THAT ANY REFERRING ENTITY HAS VISIBILITY INTO THOSE REFERRALS. WHAT'S THE STATUS OF THE REFERRALS? AND THEN THE RESULTS OF THOSE STUDIES, WHETHER THEY'RE PHYSICIAN-BASED, IMAGING, LAB, ET CETERA, IN THAT PROCESS. THAT CAN TAKE THE PLACE OF EITHER EXTENDING THE EPIC PLATFORM FOR US THAT WE USE WITHIN HARRIS HEALTH TO THE OPERATIONAL SUPPORT OF THE FQHC OR IT MAY BE A SPECIFIC REFERRAL MANAGEMENT ELECTRONIC CONNECTION AND WE CAN DO IT BOTH WAYS, AND SO IT MAY -- DEPENDING ON THE NEEDS OF THE FQHC OR THE INTEREST IN THAT ORGANIZATION OF BEING MORE ELECTRONICALLY TIED TO US RELATED TO THAT CAN REALLY HELP THAT SIGNIFICANTLY. THEN THERE'S A LOT OF ACTIVITY AROUND MORE SUPPORT AROUND ELIGIBILITY FOR OUR FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM. REALLY MAKING THAT MORE CLEAR. UNDER VICTORIA'S LEADERSHIP, THERE HAVE BEEN FURTHER AUGMENTATION OF THE ACCESSIBILITY OF THE ELIGIBILITY PROCESS. WITHIN OUR ORGANIZATION, WE'VE CONDUCTED RECENTLY HEALTH FAIRS AT SOME OF OUR SITES, WHERE WE HAVE ELIGIBILITY ON-SITE FOR THE FIRST TIMES, REALLY INTERACTING WITH OUR COMMUNITY. AND THEN HOW DO WE CONTINUE TO PROGRESS THAT FORWARD. >> THANK YOU, PRECINCT 4. PRECINCT 1, YOU HAD 1:16 REMAINING. DO YOU NEED MORE TIME? I'LL DESIGNATE MY TIME TO PREDISTINCT 4. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. THANK YOU. I'M CURIOUS... JUST ONE LAST THING. CAN YOU EXPLAIN A LITTLE BIT ABOUT YOUR ROLE IN FINANCIAL ACTIVITY WITH THE 419 EMANCIPATION SUPER HUB? >> YEAH, THAT'S BEEN AN [03:55:03] INTERESTING PROJECT FOR US. AS RIGHT NOW, THE INTENT WAS TO PHYSICALLY BE IN THE BUILDING. RIGHT NOW, WE HAVE OUR MOBILE VAN THAT IS THERE SUPPORTING THE MEDICAL, BEHAVIORAL HEALTH, SOCIAL WORK, LICENSED CHEMICAL DEPENDENCY COUNCILOR, RELATED TO THOSE SERVICES. WE HAD ALSO INTENDED TO PROVIDE MAMMOGRAPHY AND DENTAL, BECAUSE WE HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO DO THAT BECAUSE OF SOME FOUNDATION ISSUES WITHIN THE BUILDING. SO THOSE ARE CURRENTLY BEING ADDRESSED FOR THAT SITE. WE'RE ACTUALLY RESPONSIBLE FOR THE FINANCIAL BUILD-OUT OF THE AREA WE WOULD OCCUPY FOR OUR MEDICAL SERVICES, AND SO WE'RE PROVIDING THAT CONTRIBUTION RELATED TO THOSE SERVICES. IT'S NOT A GRANT-FUNDED, OR ANYTHING OF THAT NATURE. ONCE THOSE FOUNDATION ISSUES GET ADDRESSED AND WE'RE ABLE TO THEN BUILD OUT THE SPACE, BECAUSE WE HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO DO THAT, THEN ONCE WE CAN MOVE INTO THE FACILITY, THAT WILL THEN FREE UP THE ABILITY TO BRING OUR MAMMOGRAPHY MOBILE UNIT ON-SITE, AND THEN IF A SECOND MOBILE SITE COULD BE DEVELOPED FOR THAT AREA, WE WOULD THEN BE ABLE TO BRING DENTAL ON-SITE. SO WE'RE STILL WORKING THROUGH THE FUTURE AUGMENTATION OF DENTAL. BUT THAT'S GOING TO BE THE PROGRESSION AS WE CAN PHYSICALLY GET INSIDE THE BUILDING. >> THANK YOU SO MUCH. AND THANK YOU TO MY COLLEAGUES. >> THANK YOU. THAT WILL CONCLUDE THE COURT OFFICE QUESTION SEGMENT AND THEN HARRIS HEALTH TEAM, YOU NOW HAVE TWO MINUTES FOR CLOSING REMARKS. >> THANK YOU. I WILL NOT YIELD MY TIME TO LEWIS. FOR A VERY WELL-ORGANIZED MEETING. THIS IS VERY IMPRESSIVE, HOW YOU RUN THIS MEETING. THANK YOU FOR INVITING US. THANK YOU TO THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATION AND OMB. THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT. THANK YOU TO THE COMMISSION, THE STAFF OFFICES, WE APPRECIATE YOUR PARTNERSHIP. IF YOU HAVE ANY ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS FOR US, YOU KNOW WHERE TO SEND THEM SO THAT WE ARE PREPARED AND, YOU KNOW, HOPEFULLY WE'LL DO LESS TIME NEXT TIME. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU TO THE HARRIS HEALTH TEAM. OUR NEXT PRESENTATION WILL COME FROM PUBLIC HEALTH SERVICES. >> WELCOME, PUBLIC HEALTH TEAM AND DIRECTOR BARTON. LET'S SEE... DIRECTOR HAS ALLOCATED THREE MINUTES FOR INTRODUCTORY COMMENTS AND THEN TWO AT THE CLOSING. EACH CORE OFFICE WILL HAVE EIGHT MINUTES FOR QUESTIONS, ROTATING BEGINNING WITH 3 PRECINCT 3. DIRECTOR, WHEN YOU'RE READY... >> HERE WE GO. ALL RIGHT. RECLAIMING MY TIME. OKAY. GOOD AFTERNOON, COURT OFFICE REPRESENTATIVES, COUNTY IN THIS TORE, BUDGET DIRECTOR RAMOS. I'M LEAH BARTON. JOINED BY MEMBERS OF OUR PUBLIC HEALTH LEADERSHIP TEAM HERE AND ONLINE. WE ONLY HAVE TO LOOK TO THE HEADLINES TO BE REMINDED OF THE IMPORTANCE OF PUBLIC HEALTH. CYCLOSPORA. MEASLES. EBOLA. HANTAVIRUS. THESE CATCH OUR ATTENTION, BUT REPRESENT ONLY A FRACTION OF OUR WORK. AT THE SAME TIME, OUR FEDERAL AND STATE FUNDING REMAINS FRAGILE. COVID FUNDING IS ROLLING OFF IN THREE WAVES, WITH CDC GRANTS NOW ENDED, FUNDING ROLLING OFF AND PUBLIC HEALTH INFRASTRUCTURE GRANTS, OR PHIG FUNDING, EXPECTED TO DECLINE ROLL OFF. OFFSET BY $4 MILLION IN NEW GRANTS SUCH AS EXPANDED ABATEMENT FUNDING FOR A NET DROP OF $9 MILLION IN GRANT FUNDS FOR FISCAL YEAR '27. WE'RE GRATEFUL FOR COMMISSIONERS COURT'S COMMITMENT TO OUR CONTINUATION, WITH $6 MILLION DEDICATED TO CONTINUING KEY MATERNAL AND CHILD HEALTH, CHRONIC DISEASE PREVENTION, RE-ENTRY, BEHAVIORAL HEALTH AND FOOD NUTRITION PROGRAMS. WE'VE PROPOSED JUST OVER $6 MILLION IN SERVICE ENHANCEMENTS, INCLUDING SUBSTANTIAL HEART AND RISE EXPANSION AS IDENTIFIED BY THE STRATEGIC PLANNING COMMITTEE AS [04:00:02] A FISCAL YEAR '27 PRIORITY. OF THOSE, $1.7 MILLION ARE PARTICULARLY CRITICAL TO PROTECTING THE HEALTH AND SAFETY OF HARRIS COUNTY RESIDENTS. IT'S TIME TO INVEST IN DATA AND INFRASTRUCTURE, SPAY AND NUTURE SERVICES, WASTEWATER SURVEILLANCE, VIOLENCE PREVENTION AND MOSQUITO CONTROL. AT THE SAME TIME, OMB IS RECOMMENDING $2.7 MILLION OFFSETS. WE HAVE WORKED HARD TO IDENTIFY OFFSETS THAT REDUCE THE IMPACT ON COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND PRESERVE CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE. THESE OFFSETS AFFECT TEN POSITIONS, TRANSFERRING FIVE TO ALTERNATE FUNDING SOURCES. THESE OFFSETS ARE MANAGEABLE FOR THIS YEAR, BUT DO PUT US IN A DIFFICULT POSITION HEADING INTO FISCAL YEAR '28 WHEN WE EXPECT AN ADDITIONAL $8 MILLION IN PHIG ROLLOFF. WE HAVE IDENTIFIED ONE MECHANISM TO SELF-FUND A PORTION OF OUR ENHANCEMENTS IF COMMISSIONERS COURT WILL WILLING TO REALLOCATE A PORTA PORTION OF THE NUTRITIOD FOOD FUNDING. SUPPORTING 2,000 PUBLIC BENEFITS APPLICATIONS. PUTTING A CLOSER FOCUS ON THE HEART AND RISE EXPANSION, WE PROPOSE A MATERIAL EXPANSION OF HEART, ADDING FIVE ALTERNATIVE RESPONSE TEAMS AND EMBEDDING CRISIS COORDINATORS WITHIN THE EMERGENCY DISPATCH CENTRE, EXPANSION TO ANOTHER HOSPITAL AND MEANINGFUL DATA AND ADMINISTRATIVE CAPACITY-BUILDING. WE'RE PROUD OF OUR WORK THIS YEAR AND NEED YOUR SUPPORT TO HAVE SUFFICIENT RESOURCES TO CONTINUE THAT WORK NEXT YEAR. >> THANK YOU, DIRECTOR. EACH COURT OFFICE WILL NOW HAVE EIGHT MINUTES FOR QUESTIONS, BEGINNING WITH 3 PRECINCT 3. >> THANK YOU. MS. BARTON, YOU KNOW, HEALTH CARE IS AN ESSENTIAL PART OF LIFE AND WHAT YOUR DEPARTMENT DOES IS ESSENTIAL TO EVERYONE IN HARRIS COUNTY, BECAUSE IF YOU DON'T HAVE YOUR HEALTH, YOU'RE IN SERIOUS TROUBLE. SO, ONE OF MY QUESTIONS HAS TO DO WITH YOUR INVESTING IN YOUR CORE FUNCTIONS. BPH AND MVC. THE DATA THAT YOU'RE COLLECTING, WHAT IS THE STATUS? AND HOW IT PERTAINS TO THE BUDGET? >> SO, WE'VE RECENTLY BEEN DOING SOME BENCHMARKING OF BOTH OUR MOSQUITO CONTROL FUNDING AND VETERINARY PUBLIC HEALTH FUNDING RELATIVE TO OTHER JURISDICTIONS, AND WHAT WE SEE IN OUR INITIAL FINDINGS IS THAT EACH OF THOSE FUNCTIONS IS UNDERFUNDED RELATIVE TO WHAT COMPARABLE JURISDICTIONS ARE SPENDING. AND SO WHAT DOES THAT MEAN IN PRACTICALITY? IT MEANS THAT, TO TAKE AN EXTREME EXAMPLE: IN SPAY AND NUTURE, WE'RE PAYING AND NUTURING ABOUT 6,000 ANIMALS THIS YEAR. IS ASAN ANTONIO ABOUT SPAY AND W NUTURE ALMOST 40,000 ANIMALS THIS YEAR. SO THERE'S A BIG GAP THERE. THERE'S MORE WE COULD BE DOING. ON THE MOSQUITO SIDE. BEST PRACTICE, WE WOULD BE ABLE TO DO SURVEILLANCE EVERY WEEK, SO THAT'S A GAP WHERE WE HAVE POTENTIALLY DELAYED DETECTION OF DISEASE AND WE REALLY NEED TO MAKE INVESTMENTS IN BOTH OF THOSE FUNCTIONS TO GET UP TO A BEST PRACTICE LEVEL. AGAIN, WE HAVE DRAFT BENCHMARKING REPORTS THAT WE'LL BE EXCITED TO SHARE WITH COMMISSIONERS COURT AS THOSE MOVE FORWARD, BUT OUR INITIAL BENCHMARKING THOSE THAT WE'RE UNDERFUNDED RELATIVE TO COMPARABLE JURISDICTIONS. >> THANK YOU. SECOND QUESTION: IN REFERENCE TO AREAS WHICH ARE GRANT-FUNDED, VERSUS GENERAL-FUND FUNDED. YOU HAVE SEVERAL DEPARTMENTS -- WELL, SEVERAL OF YOUR AREAS THAT ARE FUNDED BY GRANTS, AND THE GRANTS RUN OUT. IS THERE ANY RECOMMENDATIONS ON MOVING GRANT-FUNDED TO GENERAL-FUNDED? >> SO, THE CONTINUATION ALLOWS US TO DO SOME OF THAT, SO BEING ABLE TO CONTINUE THE MATERNAL AND CHILD HEALTH CAPABILITIES THAT WE BUILT DURING THAT PERIOD. CONTINUE THE CHRONIC DISEASE EXPANSION WORK. CONTINUE RE-ENTRY SERVICES. THOSE ARE REALLY KIND OF CRITICAL CONTINUATIONS OF A STRATEGY THAT WE PUT IN PLACE LAST YEAR, THIS YEAR'S FISCAL YEAR BUDGET CONTAINS PARTIAL-YEAR FUNDING FOR EACH OF THOSE, AND WE'RE EXCITED TO BE ABLE TO EXTEND THAT INTO NEXT YEAR. THERE ARE STILL CRITICAL SERVICES, LIKE TB PREVENTION AND TREATMENT, LIKE HIV AND STI PREVENTION AND TREATMENT, THAT ARE CORE PUBLIC HEALTH RESPONSIBILITIES, BUT WHERE WE'RE RELIANT ON STATE AND FEDERAL FUNDING TO PERFORM THOSE ACTIVITIES, AND, FRANKLY, WE'RE SUBSIDIZING THAT WITH OUR GENERAL FUND BUDGET. SO WE REALLY, YOU KNOW, KIND OF NEED YOUR HELP TO KEEP ADVOCATING FOR STATE AND FEDERAL FUNDING AS WELL. ANOTHER AREA THAT I'LL HIGHLIGHT IS IN EPIDEMIOLOGY AND OUR [04:05:02] TECHNOLOGY SERVICES. WE HAVE A LARGE NUMBER OF PHYSICIANS ON THAT PUBLIC HEALTH INFRASTRUCTURE GRANT FUNDING RIGHT NOW, SO WE'RE WORKING HARD TO ADVOCATE FOR CONTINUATION OF PUBLIC HEALTH INFRASTRUCTURE CAPACITY FUNDING, AGAIN AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL, BUT WE'LL BE IN A CHALLENGING POSITION IF THAT GOES AWAY NEXT YEAR. >> OKAY. ONE FINAL QUESTION: WHAT CAN THE COURT OFFICES DO TO HELP ADVOCATE FOR YOUR ABATEMEN? PUBLIC ABATEMENT? >> YEAH. SO WE WERE ABLE TO MAKE A TREMENDOUS IMPACT IN PUBLIC HEALTH'S NUISANCE ABATEMENT CAN THE $3 MILLION IN ARPA FUND, ABATING OVER A THOUSAND VIOLATIONS THIS YEAR. WE WERE ABLE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAD SUFFICIENT POSITIONS IN THE GENERAL FUND TO CONTINUE, COMPLETE INVESTIGATION AND FOLLOW UP, ALLOWING PEOPLE TO KIND OF SEE HOW THE COMPLAINT HAD BEEN LODGED AND POTENTIALLY SELF-ABATE. WE HAVE $500,000 CURRENTLY ALLOCATED FOR ABATEMENT THROUGH CONTRACTORS, BUT WE NEED TO DO MORE. AND SO ANY COURT OFFICE ALLOCATION OF FUNDING FOR ADDITIONAL CONTRACTOR WORK THAT WOULD ALLOW US TO A ADDRESS ABANDONED POOLS, UNSAFE STRUCTURES, WEEDS, RUBBISH, ILLEGAL DUMPING, WE WOULD CERTAINLY WELCOME THAT. AS WELL AS WE'RE VERY OPEN TO YOUR PARTNERSHIP IN HELPING TO ADDRESS ANY ISSUES THROUGH YOUR OWN RODENT BRIDGE TEAMS OR OTHER TEAMS AND EXCITED TO PARTNER WITH YOU. >> OKAY. THANK YOU. NO FURTHER QUESTIONS. >> THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU, PRECINCT 3. PRECINCT 4, YOU WILL NOW HAVE EIGHT MINUTES FOR QUESTIONS. >> HI, JENNIFER LEVIER, PRECINCT 4. I SEE SO MANY FRIENDLY FACES BACK THERE. THANK YOU TO YOU AND YOUR TEAM AS WELL. ALL OF YOU ARE SO WONDERFUL TO WORK WITH. I WI WONDER IF YOU COULD WALK US THROUGH HOW PAY EQUITY HAS AFFECTED YOUR DEPARTMENT. >> WE'RE CERTAINLY GRATEFUL FOR THE NEARLY $2 MILLION THAT HAVE ADDED TO OUR EMPLOYEE COMPENSATION, AND THAT WAS PARTICULARLY CRITICAL FOR ROLES LIKE EPIDEMIOLOGISTS, MOSQUITO TECHNICIAN, NUTRITIONISTS. HOWEVER... FEWER THAN HALF OF OUR THOUSAND EMPLOYEES DID RECEIVE AN INCREASE AND WE DO HAVE MANY EMPLOYEES WHOSE PAY HAS REMAINED FLAT SINCE 2023. WE STILL GET FEEDBACK ABOUT COMPENSATION BEING A CHALLENGE, AND WE DON'T YET HAVE BUDGET TO BEGIN MOVING PEOPLE FROM THE MINIMUM THAT THE STUDY WAS ABLE TO IMPLEMENT TOWARD THE MID-POINT THAT WOULD BE OUR GOAL. I WILL SAY THAT HAVING FEWER CLEARER CLASSIFICATIONS HAS ALLOWED US TO START DEVELOPING SOME CAREER PATHS AND, YOU KNOW, BEGIN THINKING ABOUT HOW WE MANAGE TALENT POOLS AS A WHOLE. AND I'LL ALSO JUST COMMENT THAT WE'RE NOT DONE. WE HAVE OVER A HUNDRED FILLED POSITIONS THAT STILL NEED ADDITIONAL RESOLUTION AS WE'RE GOING THROUGH THIS PAY EQUITY CLEANUP PROCESS, IN ADDITION TO FLSA COMPENSATION AND GRADING FOR VACANT POSITIONS. >> THANK YOU. YOU SPOKE A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE ARPA CONTINUATION FUNDS THAT WERE APPROVED. CAN YOU SPEAK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT HOW MUCH THAT WAS AND THEN THE PROGRAMS THAT ARE GOING TO CONTINUE? >> MM-HMM. SO, A TOTAL OF $6.1 MILLION WAS INCLUDED IN THE CLSS FUNDING, OR IT WAS APPROVED FOR ADDITION TO CLSS. THAT COVERS VETERINARY AND CHILD HEALTH, CHRONIC DISEASE PREVENTION, THE ACCESS RE-ENTRY PROGRAM, BEHAVIORAL HEALTH AND FOOD AND NUTRITION. AT THE HE HEIGHT OF THOSE PROGR, THEY EMPLOYED 67 EMPLOYEES. THIS ALLOWS UNITED STATES TO US TOMOVE FORWARD WITH UP TO 35 EMPLOYEES UNDER THAT ARPA CONTINUATION FUNDING. >> GREAT. THANK YOU. CAN YOU WALK US THROUGH EACH OF THE BUDGET ENHANCEMENT REQUESTS THAT YOU HAVE PROPOSED AND HOW THEY DIRECTLY STRENGTHEN YOUR CORE PUBLIC HEALTH RESPONSIBILITIES? AND THEN IF THOSE AREN'T FUNDED, WHICH ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS DO YOU ANTICIPATE WOULD BE AT RISK? >> MM-HMM. I'LL SPEAK TO THE MOST ESSENTIAL ONES WE'VE IDENTIFIED, WHICH ARE THE 1.7 MILLION IN REALLY CRITICAL FUNCTIONS. THAT INCLUDES JUST OVER $300,000 TO SUPPORT DATA AND TECHNOLOGY INFRASTRUCTURE. WE DO HAVE SOME SINGLE POINTS OF FAILURE WITHIN OUR TECHNOLOGY TEAM. WE HAVE MADE A SUBSTANTIAL INVESTMENT IN OUR OVERALL I.T. INFRASTRUCTURE, BUT WE REALLY NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR PEOPLE HAVE THE TOOLS THEY NEED TO DO THEIR JOBS. AND SO THIS WOULD ALLOW US TO FUND TWO APPLICATION DEVELOPERS AND REALLY CONTINUE THE WORK [04:10:02] THAT'S HAPPENING NOT ONLY AT OUR CARE COORDINATION UNIVERSE, BUT SUPPORTING OUR EPIC UPGRADE THAT YOU JUST HEARD ABOUT FROM HARRIS COUNTY. CONTINUING WORK ON OUR MOSQUITO VECTOR CONTROL APP. AND OTHER TOOLS THAT WE'VE DEVELOPED IN-HOUSE. WE'RE LOOKING FOR AT LEAST 500,000 TO EXPAND SPAY AND NUTURE SERVICES AND WE COULD DO THAT EITHER THROUGH EXTENSION OF A THIRD PARTY CONTRACT THAT'S ALREADY ACTIVE OR BY STAFFING A FULL MOBILE PU TEAM WITHIN PUBLC HEALTH. THAT'S ONE OF THOSE CAPABILITIES THAT WAS DEVELOPED DURING THE COVID PANDEMIC, BUT THE NEED FOR SURVEILLANCE DIDN'T GO AWAY, AND PUBLIC HEALTH INFRASTRUCTURE IS PEOPLE. WE NOW HAVE THE SAMPLING EQUIPMENT, BUT WE NEED PEOPLE TO GO COLLECT AND TEST AND MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE GETTING THE DISEASE INTELLIGENCE THAT WE NEED. WE REALLY WOULD LOVE TO SEE A FULL RISE TEAM IN CLOVERLEAF. IN GENERAL, OUR R RISE TEAMS, YU KNOW, INCLUDE UP TO FIVE PEOPLE AND THAT REALLY LETS THEM WORK EFFECTIVELY TOGETHER ON VIOLENCE INTERVENTIONS, AND OUR FIRST TWO FOLKS THERE ARE DOING A TREMENDOUS JOB, AND WE'D LOVE THEM TO HAVE SOME PARTNERS. AND THEN MOSQUITO CONTROL HAS SEEN THAT, HISTORICALLY, OUR PESTICIDE BUDGET HAS NOT BEEN ACCURATELY CALCULATED. WE HAVE SEEN INFLATION FOR ADULTICIDES AND LARVICIDES. WE HAVE NEEDED TO MAKE SOME PURCHASES THIS YEAR OUT OF DIRECT GRANT REVENUE, BUT THAT'S NOT A LONG-TERM SOLUTION, AND THAT FUNDING WON'T BE NECESSARY IN PERPETUITY, POTENTIALLY. SO BARE MINIMUM, WE NEED ANOTHER $200,000 FOR PESTICIDES. >> THANK YOU. SO, JUST GOING TO THE HEART AND RISE. YOU KNOW, SOME OF THE ENHANCEMENTS INCLUDE ADDITIONAL POSITION FORCE THOSE PROGRAMS. CAN YOU EXPLAIN HOW THOSE ROLES COULD BE IMPROVED OR THE OUTCOMES COULD BE IMPROVED IF THAT SERVICE ENHANCEMENT IS APPROVED? >> MM-HMM. YEP. WE WERE REALLY PROUD TO BE ABLE TO EXPAND HART ACROSS ALL SIX HARRIS COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE DISTRICTS THIS YEAR. NOW, WE'RE READY TO EXPAND AGAIN. SO, THIS FALLEN ENHANCEMENT REQUEST INCLUDES FIVE ADDITIONAL HART TEAMS. EITHER PAIRS OF TWO CRISIS INTERVENTION SPECIALIST OR A CRISIS INTERVENTION SPECIALIST AND EMERGENCY MEDICAL TECHNICIAN, TOGETHER WITH FOUR PEOPLE WHO COULD BE EMBEDDED WITHIN THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE EMERGENCY DISPATCH CENTRE. THAT'S A BEST PRACTICE THAT WE'VE SEEN ELSEWHERE AND WE THINK WOULD HELP IMPROVE THE NUMBER OF CALLS IN A ARE BEING ROUTED TO HART AND INCLUDE OUR COLLABORATION WITH THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE, WHICH HAS BEEN TERRIFIC. IT ALSO INCLUDES SOME ADDITIONAL COMMUNITY SUPPORTS. WE HAVE A DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE GRANT THAT'S ROLLING OFF THAT HAS PROVIDED SOME NON-LABOR FUNDING FOR THINGS LIKE PSYCHIATRIC BEDS, TRANSPORTATION, EMERGENCY HOUSING VOUCHERS AND OTHER SUPPLIES. SO, HAVING THAT KIND OF FULL PACKAGE WOULD REALLY HELP US KEEP DELIVERING THOSE NECESSARY SUPPORTS. AND THEN ON THE RISE SIDE, AS I MENTIONED, WE WOULD GET TO A FULL TEAM IN CLOVERLEAF. IDENTIFY ANOTHER NEIGHBORHOOD. ALTHOUGH WE'RE NOW ACTIVE IN THE SUNNYSIDE AREA. SUNNYSIDE OST, "SOUTH PARK," SOUTH UNION, AS WELL AS CYPRESS STATION AND GREENS POINT, CLOVERLEAF. THERE'S MORE AREAS IN THE COUNTY THAT ARE EXPERIENCING VIOLENT CRIME, AND WE WOULD REALLY LIKE TO PUT A TARGETED FOCUS ON AN ADDITIONAL NEIGHBORHOOD, AND EXPAND THE HOSPITAL-BASED VIOLENCE INTERRUPTION PROGRAM TO AN ADDITIONAL HOSPITAL, AND UNDERPINNING ALL OF THAT IS ADDITIONAL INFRASTRUCTURE. >> GREAT. AND I HAVE ONE FINAL QUESTION. I PROMISE. DO YOU CURRENTLY OR DO YOU PLAN TO FIND WAYS TO IDENTIFY IF THERE ARE DUPLICATE SERVICES THAT COME FROM OTHER COUNTY DEPARTMENTS THAT YOU COULD HELP OFFSET? >> I THINK WE HAVE DONE A REALLY GOOD JOB OF IDENTIFYING WAYS IN WHICH WE COMPLEMENT OTHER DEPARTMENTS AND FIGURING OUT EXACTLY WHICH COMMUNITY MEMBER MAY BE BEST-SERVED BY WHICH PROGRAM. SO AS AN EXAMPLE: VETERANS' SERVICES WILL REFER OVER TO ACCESS -- DR. HUGHES? PEOPLE WHO MAY NOT HAVE GOOD PAPERS, RIGHT? WHO MAY NOT BE KIND OF GET READY TO RECEIVE THEIR VETS BENEFITS, BUT NEED SUPPORT. SO I THINK WE HAVE REALLY COMPLEMENTARY SERVICES. WE'RE WORKING VERY WELL WITH DEPARTMENTS ACROSS THE COUNTY, BUT I HAVEN'T IDENTIFIED ANY SPECIFIC DUPLICATION. >> THANK YOU, PRECINCT 4. COUNTY JUDGE'S OFFICE, YOU WILL [04:15:02] NOW HAVE EIGHT MINUTES FOR QUESTIONS. >> OKAY. WELL, THANK YOU FOR COME AND FOR ALALL THAT YOU DO. KNOW THAT IT'S VERY APPRECIATED. >> SO I THINK WITHIN BOTH THE OFFSETS AND THE ENHANCEMENTS, WE'VE REALLY WORKED HARD TO IDENTIFY THE PRIORITY ITEMS, AND BOTH THE OFFSETS THAT WOULD HAVE THE LEAST IMPACTS TO COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND OUR INFRASTRUCTURE AND OUR HIGHEST-PRIORITY ENHANCEMENTS. I THINK WE CAN ABSORB THE OFFSETS, AS LONG AS THEY STAY AT THE $2.7 MILLION LEVEL. IT WOULD BE REALLY HARD TO GO BEYOND THAT. BUT THAT $1.7 MILLION IN ENHANCEMENTS WOULD MAKE A HUGE DIFFERENCE, AND OF COURSE, IF IT'S THE WILL OF THE COURT, WE WOULD BE VERY HAPPY TO SUPPORT HART AND RISE EXPANSION AS WELL. >> OKAY. AND THEN, WITH THAT, COULD YOU -- SO, WITH THE HART THAT YOU'VE TALKED ABOUT KIND OF WHAT YOU WOULD LIKE TO DO WITH YOUR ENHANCEMENT. HAVE YOU THOUGHT ABOUT THE IMPACT OF EXPANDING THE SERVICE OPERATIONS TO 24/7? IS THERE A SIGNIFICANT DEMAND FOR OVERNIGHT SERVICES? >> WE HAVE SEEN DEMAND FOR OVERNIGHT SERVICES. WE'VE SEEN THAT QUANTITATIVE FROM CALL ANALYSIS, AS WELL AS JUST QUALITATIVELY WHEN OUR TEAMS GO OUT TO 2 A.M. ROLL CALL. DEPUTIES WILL OFTEN ASK, HEY, ARE YOU AVAILABLE NOW? AND WE HAD TRIED 24/7 SERVICE EARLIER. WE DIDN'T SEE QUITE THE RESPONSE AND FELT THAT WE WOULD BE ABLE TO ANSWER MORE CALLS REALLY FOCUSING ON THE HOURS WITH THE GREATEST NUMBER OF CALLS. BUT I THINK NOW THAT WE HAVE EXPANDED, WE'RE ABLE TO GET TO CALLS FASTER, IT'S TIME TO TRY AGAIN. AND CERTAINLY WE WOULD ALWAYS BE MONITORING CALL VOLUMES, OPTIMIZING OUR SHIFT SCHEDULES SO THAT WE COULD BE RESPONDING TO THE MOST POSSIBLE CALLS. BUT THERE ARE CRISES THAT HAPPEN IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT, AND WE WOULD LOVE TO BE ABLE TO OFFER AN ALTERNATIVE RESPONSE. >> OKAY. AND THEN YOU DID MENTION ON THE SPAY AND NUTURE THAT, LIKE, YOU'RE ABLE TO SPAY AND NUTURE ABOUT 6,000 ANIMALS PER YEAR AND THAT SAN ANTONIO DOES ABOUT 40,000. SO WITH THAT SERVICE ENHANCEMENT THAT YOU'RE REQUESTING, HOW WOULD THAT HELP MEET THE DEMAND? , LLIKE, WHERE WOULD YOU GET WIH THAT? >> THE 500,000 ENHANCEMENT WOULD PUT US AT APPROXIMATELY 8400 SPAY AND NUTURE SURGERIES EACH YEAR, WHICH IS A BIG HELP, AND THAT'S A MEANINGFUL INCREASE IN THE ONES THAT WE'RE ABLE TO DO FOR THE COMMUNITY. WE'VE ALWAYS SPAYED AND NEUTERED ANIMALS WITHIN THE SHELTER, AND THOSE ARE LEAVING VIA ADOPTION, BUT WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THOSE SERVICES ARE AVAILABLE IN THE AREAS THAT NEED THEM THE MOST AS WELL. >> PERFECT. IF REGARDS TO YOUR PROPOSAL TO REALLOCATE THE ARPA FUNDS TO FOOD AND NUTRITION. >> WE WOULD PUT THE INITIAL 1.3 MILLION TOWARD THAT PORTFOLIO OF $1.7 MILLION IN PRIORITY ENHANCEMENTS. >> OKAY. AND THAT'S THE LAST QUESTION FOR THE JUDGE'S OFFICE. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. >> THANK YOU, COUNTY JUDGE'S OFFICE. PRECINCT 1, YOU WILL NOW HAVE EIGHT MINUTES FOR QUESTIONS. >> THANK YOU. THANK YOU, DIRECTOR BARTON. SO, IN OUR OPENING REMARKS AND IN ADDRESSING JUST THIS LAST QUESTION, YOU MENTIONED SOME SELF-FUNDING STRATEGIES THAT YOU'RE EXPLORING, SUCH AS THE ARPA FOOD AND NUTRITION PROGRAM THAT WE JUST TALKED ABOUT, AND THE BEHAVIOURIAL HEALTH PROGRAM AS WELL. CAN YOU TALK A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT THESE FUNDING STRATEGIES OR INTERNAL REPRIORITIZATIONS THAT YOU'VE EXPLORED TO REDUCE SOME OF THE OFFSETS THAT ARE PROPOSED? >> YEAH. THE ORIGINAL FOOD AND NUTRITION ARPA CONTINUATION WAS APPROVED AT $2.3 MILLION. IF COMMISSIONERS COURT WERE OPEN TO REDUCING THAT TO $1 MILLION, WE WOULD STILL BE ABLE TO MAKE A MEANINGFUL CONTRIBUTION. WE WOULD BE ABLE TO DISTRIBUTE OVER 25,000 COMMON MARKET FOOD BOXES ANNUALLY. REALLY MEETING THE NEEDS OF PEOPLE WHO MAY NOT BE ELIGIBLE FOR PUBLIC BENEFITS ANYMORE OR REALLY JUST NEED SOME VERY RAPID HELP. WE WOULD ALSO BE ABLE TO HELP COMMUNITY MEMBERS PREPARE AND APPLY FOR PUBLIC BENEFITS. WE ESTIMATE ROUGHLY 2,000 APPLICATIONS WOULD BE SUBMITTED TO HELP OUT 1300 COMMUNITY MEMBERS, AND THEN WE WOULD, AGAIN, REALLOCATE THAT FUNDING TOWARD THOSE HIGHEST PRIORITY ENHANCEMENTS. SO WE TRIED TO FIND THE RIGHT BALANCE. THE BEHAVIORAL HEALTH FUNDING HAS BEEN INCORPORATED BY OMB ALREADY INTO OUR OFFSET. >> ARE THERE OTHERS BEYOND THE FOOD AND NUTRITION PROGRAM? OR IS THAT JUST -- THAT'S THE ONLY ONE WE'RE LOOKING AT RIGHT NOW? >> I THINK WE FEEL REALLY [04:20:01] STRONGLY ABOUT CONTINUATION OF MATERNAL AND CHILD HEALTH, CHRONIC DISEASE PREVENTION, AND RE-ENTRY. THOSE WERE PRIORITIES EVEN IN LAST YEAR'S BUDGET PROCESS, AND WE WERE ABLE TO BEGIN BRINGING THEM INTO THE GENERAL FUND THIS FISCAL YEAR, AND THOSE HAVE DEMONSTRATED MEANINGFUL IMPACT. THEY'RE VERY ACTIVE PROGRAMS, AND WE WOULD LOVE TO BE ABLE TO MAINTAIN THEM. >> GREAT. THANK YOU. YOU TALKED ABOUT WASTEWATER SURVEILLANCE, HOW IT WAS SOMETHING THAT WE STARTED DURING COVID TO MONITOR COMMUNITY SPREAD, AND CAN YOU TALK A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT WHY MAINTAINING THIS PROGRAM IS STILL A PRIORITY, AND WHAT PUBLIC HEALTH BENEFITS IT PROVIDES TODAY? >> MM-HMM. YEAH. I THINK, ALTHOUGH A LOT OF US ASSOCIATE WASTEWATER SURVEILLANCE WITH COVID, IT EXTENDS WELL BEYOND AT THIS POINT. WE NOW TEST FOR OVER A THOUSAND DISEASES, AND THIS GIVES US AN EARLY WARNING SYSTEM. BOTH TO HELP US KNOW WHAT MAY BE CIRCULATING IN THE COMMUNITY, BUT TO BE ABLE TO ALERT MEDICAL PROVIDERS TO THINGS THAT THEY SHOULD BE LOOKING FOR TO GIVE US AN EARLY INDICATION THAT SOMETHING THAT WE MAY HAVE SEEN IN VECTORS, LIKE INSECTS, MOSQUITO, TICKS, BIRDS, MAY HAVE MADE ITS WAY INTO THE HUMAN POPULATION, AND SO IT'S REALLY JUST AN EXTRA LAYER OF VISIBILITY THAT HELPS US SEE WHAT MAY BE PRESENT. WE ACTIVELY USED OUR WASTEWATER SURVEILLANCE AS AN INPUT INTO OUR SITUATION REPORTS DURING THE FIFA PERIOD TO KNOW WHAT HAD COME HERE. WE COLLABORATED WITH HOUSTON HEALTH DEPARTMENT TO SEE WHAT HAD BEEN DETECTED. FORTUNATELY, WE DIDN'T SEE ANYTHING UNEXPECTED DURING THAT PERIOD. BUT IT'S A -- IT'S A CRITICAL TOOL. IT IS, YOU KNOW, THE FUTURE OF PUBLIC HEALTH, AND IT WOULD BE REALLY A SHAME NOT TO BE ABLE TO CONTINUE IT. >> THANK YOU SO MUCH. I JUST HAVE ONE MORE QUESTION: HOW WOULD YOU MEASURE THE RETURN ON INVESTMENT FOR OUR PROGRAMS LIKE HART, RISE, ACCESS AND OTHER INITIATIVES THAT ARE GENERATING MEASURABLE COST SAVINGS FOR THE COUNTY ALREADY? AND SPECIFICALLY IT'D BE GREAT IF YOU COULD TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE OVERALL FINANCIAL IMPACT. ANY COST AVOIDANCE AND COMMUNITY-LEVEL OUTCOMES ASSOCIATED WITH THESE SERVICES? >> MM-HMM. THAT'S A BIG QUESTION. I'LL SAY WE DO HAVE EARLY DATA SHOWING THAT OUR ACCESS PROGRAM HAS REDUCED RECIDIVISM RATES FOR PEOPLE IN RE-ENTRY COMING OUT OF THE WOMEN'S EMPOWERMENT CENTRE, SO ANY RECIDIVISM OBVIOUSLY NOT ONLY REDUCES FUTURE COST TO THE COUNTY IN TERMS OF LAW ENFORCEMENT AND COURT AND JAIL COSTS, BUT ALSO CERTAINLY PUTS PEOPLE ON A BETTER PATH TO BECOME ECONOMICALLY SELF-SUFFICIENT. WE HAVE COMPARED SUBSEQUENT CALLS FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE HIGH-VOLUME CALLERS AFTER RECEIVING A HEART RESPONSE TO PEOPLE WHO DID NOT GET A HEART RESPONSE SUSPICIOUS WE'VE SEEN A MEANINGFUL REDUCTION IN THOSE FOLLOW-UP REPEAT CALLS FOR PEOPLE WHO DID ENGAGE WITH HEART, WHICH SHOWS THAT WE ARE MEANINGFULLY CONNECTING PEOPLE TO SERVICES, AND YOU KNOW, ADDRESSING THE ROOT CAUSES THAT MAY BE CAUSING THEM TO CALL IN THE FIRST PLACE. WE'VE JUST LAUNCHED THE PACE PRETRIAL INTERVENTION PROGRAM. WHERE IF PEOPLE ARE ABLE TO STAY IN THE PROGRAM -- AND THIS IS FOCUSED ON YOUNG PEOPLE 17-24. IF THEY'RE ABLE TO STAY IN THE PROGRAM, RECEIVE WRAP-AROUND SERVICES, WORK THEIR CASE PLAN, THEN THEY WON'T HAVE CHARGES OR THEIR CHARGES WILL BE DROPPED, RIGHT? AND THAT AVOIDS, OBVIOUSLY, THE COURT OF QUEEN'S BENCH COSTS, THE JAIL COSTS. -- THE COURT COSTS, THE JAIL COST, BUT ALSO HELPS KEEP A RECORD CLEAN SO IT'S EASIER FOR PEOPLE TO FIND JOBS AND HOUSING GOING FORWARD. WE KNOW THAT, NATIONALLY, THE COST OF GUN VIOLENCE IS MORE THAN $500 BILLION A YEAR. EVERY TIME THAT THE RISE PROGRAM PREVENTS AN ACT OF VIOLENCE, THAT OBVIOUSLY HAS SAVINGS FOR OUR HOSPITAL SYSTEM, FOR THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM, AS WELL AS JUST, YOU KNOW, ALLOWS SOMEBODY TO REMAIN ECONOMICALLY PRODUCTIVE AND PROTECTS THE MENTAL HEALTH AND WELL-BEING OF THOSE AROUND THEM. BENEFITS ENROLLMENT PROVIDES ONGOING FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE, AS WELL AS MEDICAL COVERAGE. SO, YOU KNOW, THAT NOT ONLY, YOU KNOW, PUTS CASH IN PEOPLES' POCKETS, BUT IT REDUCES THEIR COST OF HEALTH CARE OR MAY HELP THEM SEEK PREVENTATIVE CARE AND PREVENT, YOU KNOW, DELAYED AND MORE SIGNIFICANT MEDICAL EXPENSES LATER. SO, I DON'T HAVE A SINGLE DOLLAR VALUE TO PUT A BOW ON IT, BUT THERE'S DEFINITELY SAVINGS BOTH TO THE COUNTY AND TO THE COMMUNITY OF EFFECTIVE PUBLIC HEALTH PROGRAMS. >> THANK YOU SO MUCH. I'LL YIELD THE REST OF MY TIME. >> THANK YOU, PRECINCT 1. PRECINCT 2, YOU WILL NOW HAVE EIGHT MINUTES FOR QUESTIONS. >> ALL RIGHT. HI, DIRECTOR BARTON. I HAVE JUST WANT TO START BY [04:25:01] EXPRESSING GRATITUDE ON BEHALF OF COMMISSIONER GARCIA FOR ALL THE WORK YOU DO IN THE COUNTY. YOU GUYS ALWAYS ANSWER THE CALL, SO THANK YOU. SO MY FIRST QUESTION IS PUBLIC HEALTH OFTEN FOCUSES ON PREVENTING PROBLEMS BEFORE THEY BECOME CRISISES. COULD YOU EXPAND ON PROGRAMS OR SERVICES THAT MAY NOT RECEIVE AS MUCH PUBLIC ATTENTION, BUT ARE IMPORTANT TO PROTECTING THE HEALTH AND WELL-BEING OF RESIDENTS? >> ONE THAT WE HAVEN'T TALKED A LOT ABOUT HERE IS THE CONTINUUM OF OUR MATERNAL AND CHILD HEALTH SERVICES. HELPS A BABY GET OFF TO THEIR BEST START. HELPS A MOM HAVE THE SUPPORT THAT SHE NEEDS, BUT THEN THAT CAN TRANSITION INTO HEALTHY START, WHICH WORKS ON, YOU KNOW, VERY EARLY CHILD DEVELOPMENT, PARENT EDUCATION, AND THEN, YOU KNOW, CONTINUING UP UNTIL A CHILD IS AGED FIVE. WE HAVE THE WICSTERS, WHICH ARE OFFERING BREAST-FEEDING EDUCATION, FORMULA SUPPORT. OBVIOUSLY SUPPLEMENTAL, YOU KNOW, FOOD NUTRITION FUNDING, ALL THE WAY, YOU KNOW, UNTIL A CHILD IS ABLE TO GO INTO SCHOOL AND POTENTIALLY, YOU KNOW, EVEN THERE, GET BREAKFAST AND LUNCH HELP. BUT HEALTHY FOOD CAN'T BE OVERSTATED AS A DRIVER OF HEALTH. SO WE'RE REALLY EXCITED ABOUT ALL THE SUPPORT WE'RE ABLE TO PROVIDE TO MOMS, BABIES, AND FAMILIES. I'LL SAY SUBSTANCE USE IS ANOTHER ONE THAT WE DON'T TALK A LOT ABOUT, IN PART BECAUSE A LOT OF OUR WORK IS GRANT-FUNDED THERE, BUT WOULD LOVE TO INVITE EVERYBODY TO OUR UPCOMING SUBSTANCE USE SUMMIT ON JULY 22ND. IT'S CALLED "DUAL REALITIES, ONE RESPONSE: " REALLY ADDRESSING SUBSTANCE USE AND PREVENTING OVERDOSES IS ONE OF THE ITEMS WITH ACTUALLY, BACK TO -- THE QUESTION, ONE OF THE HIGHEST ROS'S THAT WE SEE. AND THEN EVEN THERE'S SOME THINGS THAT THE PUBLIC NEVER HEARS ABOUT, BUT WE OFFER THE OPPORTUNITY TO SUBMIT A TICK OR EVEN REPORT A DEAD BIRD, AND, AGAIN, THAT EARLY WARNING SYSTEM HELPS US SEE WHAT DISEASE MAY BE CIRCULATING AND THEN BE PREPARED TO RESPOND. BUT, YOU KNOW, FROM A PREVENTION PERSPECTIVE, YOU KNOW... THE NUMBER 1 KILLER OF RESIDENTS OF HARRIS COUNTY IS HEART DISEASE. CANCER IS NOT FAR BEHIND. AND SO, YOU KNOW, THOSE CHRONIC DISEASE PREVENTION PROGRAMS, HELPING PEOPLE ADDRESS DIABETES, EAT HEALTH THEY ARE, REDUCE YOUR BMI, REDUCE THEIR A1 C, HYPERTENSION, ARE ALL CRITICAL TO LIVING HEALTHIER LIVES. >> WHERE DO YOU SEE THE GREATEST OPPORTUNITIES FOR COLLABORATION WITH HARRIS HEALTH AND HOW CAN COMBINED EFFORTS BE LEVERAGED MOST EFFECTIVELY TO LEVERAGE ITS IMPACT? >> WE HAVE A WIDE RANGE OF COLLABORATION WITH HARRIS HEALTH. WE COLLABORATE ON OUR INFRASTRUCTURE. WE'RE ON THE EPIC BACK TO FOUNDATION JOURNEY SIDE-BY-SIDE WITH THEM. WE'RE ALSO ADDING NEW EPIC MODULES. A REVENUE CYCLE TO ENABLE EXPANDED BILLING. WE'RE ADDING MORE CRM CAPABILITIES TO COMMUNICATE WITH PATIENTS. MY CHART. COMPASS ROADS, WHICH ARE FIRST CASE MANAGEMENT AND POPULATION HEALTH FUNCTIONALITY. SO THAT TECHNOLOGICAL CONNECTION IS REALLY IMPORTANT, AND THAT ALSO, YOU KNOW, CREATES NEW OPPORTUNITIES FOR US TO SHARE DATA. WE WORK WITH THEM AND SPECIFICALLY WITH THEIR SOCIAL WORK TEAM BOTH ON HOSPITAL-BASED INTERRUPTION AND ON ACCESS, MAKING SURE THAT WE'RE HELPING PEOPLE WITH WRAP-AROUND SERVICES AND COLLABORATING ON PEOPLE, YOU KNOW, IN THE MOST VULNERABLE, MOST DIFFICULT SITUATIONS. HARRIS HEALTH SERVES ON OUR -- SEVERAL OF OUR STEERING COMMITTEES. THEY'RE ON OUR IMPROVEMENT HEALTH PLAN STEERING COMMITTEE. THEY'VE CONTRIBUTED TO OUR ACCESS TO CARE REPORT AND THE NEW LOW COST CLINIC FINDER THAT WILL BE COMING OUT. THEY WERE ALSO -- WE'RE CERTAINLY GRATEFUL FOR THE $4 MILLION IN-KIND CONTRIBUTIONS THEY'VE MADE THAT HELP SUPPORT THE PUBLIC HEALTH BUDGET, AND TO YOUR QUESTION ON THE HARRIS COLLABORATIVE, WE'RE REALLY EXCITED TO SEE THAT TAKING OFF IN THE NEXT YEAR AS WE FOCUS ON THREE PRIORITY POPULATIONS: THE FIRST BEING PEOPLE AT RISK OF CARDIAC DISEASE, AND WE WANT TO BE WORKING TOGETHER TO MAKE SURE THAT PEOPLE ARE GETTING THE HEALTH SUPPORT, THE MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORT, AND THE WHAP-AROUND SERVICES THAT WE NEED TO REALLY ADDRESS THAT AND LIVE MUCH LONGER. OUR NEXT TWO PRIORITY POPULATIONS WILL BE THE MULTI-VISIT PATIENTS WHO ARE HIGH UTILIZERS OF THE E.R., AND THEN PEOPLE WHO ARE IN DEFLECTION, DIVERSION AND RE-ENTRY PROCESSES, WHO ALSO NEED HEALTH AND MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORTS. >> THANK YOU. MY NEXT QUESTION IS, GOING INTO FISCAL YEAR '27 AND BEYOND, WHAT ARE MEASURES THAT HARRIS COUNTY PUBLIC HEALTH TAKES TO ENSURE [04:30:02] SERVICES ARE BEING DISTRIBUTED EQUABLY AND IN A CULTU CULTURALLY-SENSITIVE MANNER? >> THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION. ONE OF THE PROJECTS WE'RE EXCITED ABOUT IS OUR HEALTHY COMMUNITIES FRAMEWORK, WHICH IS A HEALTH INDEX THAT WILL BE AVAILABLE NOT ONLY TO US TO HELP DIRECT PROGRAM STRATEGY, BUT TO COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS ACROSS THE COUNTY, BUT EVEN INDEPENDENT OF THAT, WE ARE ALWAYS LOOKING AT WHERE THE NEED IS GREATEST AND MAKING SURE THAT OUR PROGRAMS ARE FOCUSED ON ZIP CODES OR CENSUS TRACTS WHERE WE SEE DEMONSTRATED NEED. THE ACCESS TO CARE WORK THAT WE JUST DID WAS A GREAT EXAMPLE OF LOOKING AT BARRIERS, NOT ONLY, YOU KNOW, GEOGRAPHIC AND TRANSPORTATION BARRIERS TO CARE, BUT OTHER BARRIERS PEOPLE MAY HAVE; BE IT LANGUAGE ACCESS, COVERAGE CONCERNS, CULTURAL BARRIERS, ET CETERA. IN OUR COMMUNICATIONS, WE PUBLISH COMMUNICATIONS IN A VERY WIDE RANGE OF LANGUAGES. MORE THAN HALF OF OUR COMMUNICATIONS ARE IN ENGLISH AND SPANISH. WHEN WE WERE WORKING EVEN MORE CLOSELY WITH DIVERSE MEDIA PARTNERS, WE DO GEOTARGETTING OF OUR COMMUNICATIONS TO MAKE SURE THAT EVEN OUR MESSAGING IS REACHING THE RIGHT PEOPLE WHERE WE MOST WANT THOSE MESSAGES TO LAND. WE ARE PROUD OF OUR DIVERSE WORKFORCE, AND THAT'S SOMETHING WE HAVE DEVELOPED. HEALTH EQUITY TRAINING THAT THE WHOLE DEPARTMENT HAS GONE THROUGH, AND WE HAVE A GREAT HEALTH EQUITY TOOL KIT THAT A NUMBER OF OUR DIVISIONS HAVE USED TO HELP STRENGTHEN THEIR PROGRAMS. >> THANK YOU, AND MY LAST QUESTION IS DO YOU CURRENTLY ANTICIPATE ANY EXTERNAL RISKS THAT WOULD REQUIRE YOU TO COME BACK TO COMMISSIONERS COURT FOR ADDITIONAL FUNDING? >> I THINK WE ARE ALWAYS KEEPING A VERY CLOSE EYE ON THE FEDERAL GRANT PICTURE. ONE AREA THAT WE'RE WATCHING VERY CLOSELY RIGHT NOW IS OUR REFUGEE HEALTH FUNDING. WE KNOW THAT THE NUMBER OF REFUGEES ADMITTED INTO THE COUNTRY HAS DROPPED PRECIPITOUSLY, AND SO WE'RE KEEPING ON EYE ON WHAT OUR PROJECTED GRANT MIGHT BE FOR THE NEXT GRANT YEAR. OVERALL, WE TRY HARD TO WORK WITHIN OUR BUDGET, BUT WE WILL NEED YOUR SUPPORT AS WE THINK ABOUT HOW TO NAVIGATE THE ROLLOFF OF THE PHIG FUNDING AND LOOK TO YOU AND IGA ON ASSOCIATED ADVOCACY TO HELP CONTINUE THAT FUNDING. >> OKAY. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU, PRECINCT 2. WE WILL NOW REVISIT FOR ANY REMAINING TIME. PRECINCT 3, YOU HAD 3:11 REMAINING. >> THANK YOU. DOES PUBLIC HEALTH HAVE -- WELL, DO YOU HAVE ANY -- I'M SORRY. DO YOU HAVE ANY SERVICES THAT COMPETE WITH HARRIS HEALTH? >> I THINK WE'RE COMPLEMENTARY. WE REFER TO EACH OTHER VERY EXTENSIVELY. WE'RE IN THE A HEALTH CARE PROVIDER, SO WE VERY ACTIVELY REFER TO THEM WHERE FOLKS NEED ONGOING CARE. I THINK THERE ARE SOME SERVICES THAT WE BOTH PROVIDE. WE BOTH PROVIDE DENTAL SERVICES, BUT THERE'S A HUGE NEED IN THE COUNTY FOR DENTAL SERVICES, AND SO I DON'T FEEL LIKE WE'RE DUPLICATING EFFORTS THERE. NOBODY'S GETTING, YOU KNOW, THEIR TEETH CLEANED BY US TODAY AND THEN TOMORROW... SO I THINK WE WORK -- WE TRY AND WORK REALLY HARD IN COLLABORATION WITH THEM, RATHER THAN SEE THEM AS A COMPETITOR. >> CAN PUBLIC HEALTH DO A BETTER JOB? >> ALWAYS. >> OKAY. >> THAN HARRIS HEALTH? NO, I THOUGHT YOU MEANT IN GENERAL. IN GENERAL. CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT. >> I BELIEVE THAT -- HARRIS HEALTH HAS A BILLION DOLLAR BUDGET AND I BELIEVE THEY HAVE A SURPLUS. AND I THINK WE'VE HAD THIS CONVERSATION BEFORE. I THINK THERE SHOULD BE SOME CONVERSATIONS BETWEEN PUBLIC HEALTH, HARRIS HEALTH -- ACTUALLY, THE CITY OF HOUSTON, HARRIS CENTRE ABOUT WHO SHOULD DO WHAT AND WHO CAN DO IT BETTER. >> MM-HMM. >> AND I'M OF THE OPINION, SINCE THEY HAVE A SURPLUS, THE FUNDING SHOULD COME FROM HARRIS HEALTH. NO FURTHER QUESTIONS. >> THANK YOU, LAWRENCE. >> THANK YOU, PRECINCT 3. PRECINCT 4 HAD NO REMAINING TIME. COUNTY JUDGE'S OFFICE, YOU HAVE 4:47 REMAINING. >> NO ADDITIONAL COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU, COUNTY JUDGE'S OFFICE. PRECINCT 1, YOU HAD 1:40 REMAINING. >> I DON'T HAVE ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU, PRECINCT 1. PRECINCT 2, YOU HAD 43 SECONDS REMAINING. >> I DON'T HAVE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS, THANK YOU. >> WITH THAT, DIRECTOR BARTON HAS TWO MINUTES FOR CLOSING REMARKS. >> THANK YOU. WELL, THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR VERY THOUGHTFUL QUESTIONS AND ENGAGEMENT. THIS YEAR, WE'VE ACHIEVED MEANINGFUL MILESTONES. [04:35:01] WE OPENED RIVERSIDE, THE CHANNEL VIEW FOUNDATION OF HOPE AND RAINBOW STATION. WE DEVELOPED OUR ACCESS TO CARE REPORT AND LOW-COST CLINIC FINDER. WE'VE SUPPORTED FIFA, EBOLA MONITORING AND MORE. AS IN A PREVENTION AND DIABETES SELF-MANAGEMENT. WE LAUNCHED RISING CLOVERLEAF. WE LAUNCHED THE PACE PRETRIAL INTERVENTION PROGRAM, EXPANDED COUNTY WIDE, AND MUCH MORE. ALL WHILE OPERATING MORE EFFICIENTLY. WE STREAMLINED CALL CENTER OPERATIONS, AND LOOKING AHEAD TO NEXT YEAR, WE'RE EXCITED TO UPGRADE OUR EPIC PLATFORM, DEVELOP A NEW STRATEGIC PLAN. FULLY LAUNCH THE HARRIS COLLABORATIVE. INCORPORATE DOMESTIC VIOLENCE CAPACITY-BUILDING INTO THE DOMESTIC VIOLENCE ASSISTANT FUND, AND MUCH, MUCH MORE, BUT PUBLIC HEALTH IS MORE THAN THOSE HEADLINES THAT WE CALLED OUT. IT'S WHAT YOU DON'T SEE. IT'S HELPING A TB PATIENT GET TRANSPORTATION TO HIS X-RAY APPOINTMENTS. IT'S TEACHING A YOUNG MOTHER TO BREAST-FEED. CARRYING OUT A DISEASE INVESTIGATION WITH SENSITIVITY. WAKING UPPING AT 4 A.M. TO DRIVE A MOBILE UNIT TO WELLNESS ON WHEELS. DESIGNING A COMPELLING SUBSTANCE-USE PSA. HELPING SENIORS REDUCE THEIR A.1C AND BMI TO LIVE HEALTH THEY ARE, LOWERING LIVES AND ALL OF THE SUPPORT TO MAKE THAT POSSIBLE. SO I'M VERY PROUD OF OUR TEAM AND LOOK FORWARD TO MORE MEANINGFUL WORK IN THE COMING YEAR WITH YOUR SUPPORT. INCLUDING $4.7 MILLION IN ENHANCEMENTS. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU, DIRECTOR BARTON, AND TO THE ENTIRE PUBLIC HEALTH SERVICES TEAM. >> OKAY. >> AND WITH THAT, COURT OFFICES, WE LED INTO OUR FINAL [Purchasing Agent] PRESENTATION -- HEAD INTO OUR FINAL PRESENTATION FOR THE AFTERNOON: THE OFFICE OF THE PURCHASING AGENT. >> WELCOME BACK, COURT OFFICES. IT'S 3:45 P.M., AND WE ARE PLEASED TO WELCOME THE OFFICE OF THE PURCHASING AGENT FOR OUR FINAL PRESENTATION OF THE AFTERNOON. NOW, THIS TEAM HAS ELECTED TO USE THEIR INTRODUCTORY REMARKS FOR THE FULL FIVE UP FRONT, AND THEN EACH COURT OFFICE WILL BE ALLOCATED FIVE MINUTES FOR QUESTIONS, ROTATING, BEGINNING WITH PRECINCT 4, AND AGENT WILLIAMS... WHEN YOU'RE READY. >> THANK YOU. GOOD AFTERNOON. IT'S TOUGH TO FOLLOW, BUT I'LL [04:40:02] DO MY BEST. MY NAME IS KIM WILLIAMS, AND FOR YOU OFFICE REPRESENTATIVES, ADMINISTRATOR CARTER FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO PRESENT TODAY. OUR OFFICE IS ESTABLISHED BY STATUTE AS THE COUNTY'S CENTRAL PURCHASING AUTHORITY, RESPONSIBLE FOR SAFEGUARDING FAIR COMPETITION, COMPLIANCE, VENDOR ACCOUNTABILITY AND STEWARDSHIP OF PUBLIC FUNDS. TODAY'S REQUEST IS TWO-FOLD: FIRST, WE SEEK APPROVAL TO MAINTAIN OUR EXISTING BUDGET. TO MAINTAIN BASELINE OPERATIONS, AND THEN, SECONDLY, WE ARE REQUESTING AN ADDITIONAL $1.7 MILLION ENHANCEMENT FROM THE GENERAL FUND TO INCREASE DEPARTMENTAL CAPACITY AND THROUGH PUT. WHEN I ARRIVED LAST YEAR, I OUTLINED A FOUR-PART PLAN: ASSESS DURING THE FIRST QUARTER. STABILIZE DURING THE SECOND QUARTER. OPTIMIZE IN THE THIRD. AND TRANSFORM IN THE FOURTH. WE PAY CAREFUL ATTENTION TO THE PURCHASING SURVEY DONE BY THE OFFICE OF THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR IN AUGUST OF 2025 AND THE TOTAL OPERATING MODEL, COMMONLY KNOWN AS TOM, ESTABLISHED BY A PREVIOUS STUDY. ON THE TOM MODEL, WE FOCUSED ON RECRUIT AND RETAINING TALENT, MOVING TO A RECORD HIGH OCCUPANCY OF 97%. WE ACHIEVED OUR HIGHEST OCCUPANCY RATE IN MORE THAN THREE YEARS AS A RESULT. THE MODEL ALSO CALLED FOR PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND TRAINING. WE'VE ESTABLISHED REGULAR TRAININGS AND CERTIFICATION SUPPORT POLICY, GIVING STAFF A PATH TO ADVANCE THEIR PROCUREMENT EXPERTISE. SINCE OCTOBER 2025, THE NUMBER OF EMPLOYEES HOLDING CERTIFICATIONS HAS INCREASED TO 13, WITH EIGHT ADDITIONAL EMPLOYERS SCHEDULED FOR CERTIFICATION THIS SUMMER. OUR OPERATIONAL NUMBERS TELL A CLEAR STORY. ER. WE ARE ON TRACK TO PROCESS 18,000 PURCHASE ORDERS, ACROSS $3 BILLION OF ANNUAL PROCUREMENT ACTIVITY. WE'VE RESOLVED A BACKLOG OF MORE THAN 1 140 SOLICITATION THAT IS WERE OVER ONE YEAR DELINQUENT. AT LEAST, OUR PROJECT VOLUME WAS 15% HIGHER THAN LAST YEAR, AND WHILE AVERAGE CYCLE TIMES ARE -- REMAIN ABOVE THE FI-25 LEVEL, WE HAVE STEADILY IMPROVED IN FI-26. EVEN AS OUR VOLUMES HAVE INCREASED. OUR ASSET AND MATERIALS MANAGEMENT TEAM COMPLETED THE ANNUAL INVENTORY THREE WEEKS AHEAD OF SCHEDULE. ANOTHER EXAMPLE OF EXECUTION STANDARDS WE ARE BUILDING ACROSS THE DEPARTMENT. AND THEN THERE'S OUR PCAR PROGRAM. CONTINUING TO CAPITALIZE ON OVER 40% YEAR-OVER-YEAR GROWTH AND CONTINUING TO EXPAND ALL THE WAY THROUGHOUT 2007. IN ESSENCE, WE HAVE STABILIZED HIRING -- SORRY, STABILIZED STAFFING, FORMALIZED OUR ALL-STAR AND BUILDING A FOUNDATION FOR CONSISTENT EXECUTION. OUR FI-27 REQUEST IS TARGETED, "O" 1.7 MILLION ENHANCEMENT FOCUSED ON THREE AREAS: ONE ON PURCHASING SERVICES OPTIMIZATION. VENDOR MANAGEMENT, AND CENTRALIZED REPOSITORY. WE WILL ADD STAFF TO CENTRALIZE DISPATCH AND REDUCE CYCLE TIMES AND ESTABLISH A CREDIT CARD SERVICE LINE AS A COUNTY-WIDE PROCUREMENT LEVEL SERVICE. FOR VENDOR MANAGEMENT, WE WILL CREATE A CENTRALIZED SERVICE LEVEL TO ENHANCE PERFORMANCE MANAGEMENT AND A PLATFORM TO ENHANCE LOCAL BIDDING OPPORTUNITIES AND SCREEN OUT UNDERPERFORMING VENDORS. STREAMLINE COMPLIANCE AND ELIMINATE MANUAL BOTTLENECKS. IN CLOSING, $1.7 MILLION INVESTMENT IS NOT JUST FOR THE PURCHASING DEPARTMENT. IT SAFEGUARDS FAIR COMPETITION, COMPLIANCE, VENDOR ACCOUNTABILITY AND STEWARDSHIP OF PUBLIC FUNDS PURELY OF HARRIS COUNTY. I WANT TO THANK SEVERAL THREE PARTNERS: UNIVERSAL SERVICES. OMB, COA, CAO, AND, OF COURSE COMMISSIONERS COURT FOR YOUR SUPPORT AND THE PURCHASING TEAM FOR THEIR PATIENCE AND COMMITMENT. THE FOUNDATION IS BUILT. WE'VE STABILIZED THE WORKFORCE, CLEARED BACKLOGS, AND DOCUMENTED PROCESSES. INCREASING DEMAND AND FULLY OPTIMIZE OPERATIONS, WE NEED YOUR SUPPORT. THE QUESTION BEFORE YOU IS WHETHER TO GIVE THIS FOUNDATION THAT WE'VE BUILT OVER THE PAST YEAR THE OPERATIONAL CAPACITY TO SERVICE HARRIS COUNTY AT THE LEVEL IT REQUIRES. OUR AIM IS NOT JUST TO PROCESS FOR TRANSACTION B.C. TO YOU BECOME A STRATEGIC PARTNER FROM THE START OF EVERY PROJECT. THAT IS THE PURPOSE OF OUR REQUEST, AND I WELCOME ANY QUESTIONS. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. EACH COURT OFFICE WILL NOW HAVE FIVE MINUTES FOR QUESTIONS, BEGINNING WITH PRECINCT 4. >> PURCHASING AGENT WILLIAMS, I WANT TO START BY SAYING HOW EXCITED WE ARE AT THE OFFICE OF THE COMMISSIONER TO CELEBRATE EVERYTHING THAT YOU'VE DONE. IT WAS ONLY A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO -- FOR THOSE OF Y'ALL THAT [04:45:03] DON'T KNOW -- >> WE SPENT A WEEK OUT IN COLORADO AS PART OF THE LEADERSHIP FORUM. WE'RE BOTH ATHLETES, AS YOU CAN SEE, AND WE'RE JUST OUT THERE FOR WEEKS, SO I KNEW WHEN THIS DECISION WAS MADE THAT WE HAD A LEADER OF UNIQUE VISION AND GIFTS AND IT'S BEEN A PLEASURE TO SEE WHAT YOU'VE DONE, AND WE REMAIN STRONGLY SUPPORTIVE OF YOUR EFFORTS. >> THANK YOU. >> ABSOLUTELY. I WANT TO START BY JUST ASKING YOU A PRETTY HIGH-LEVEL QUESTION: LIKE, WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT CONTINUING THE TRANSFORMATION THAT YOU'VE PUSHED IN THIS OFFICE, IN TERMS OF TECHNOLOGY, COMMUNICATIONS, TRAINING. WHAT OPERATIONAL RESOURCES ARE NEEDED TO KEEP MAKING IT EASY AND EFFECTIVE TO DO BUSINESS WITH HARRIS COUNTY IN THE WAY THAT YOU'VE PUSHED? SO JUST REALLY HIGH-LEVEL, YOU KNOW, WHAT ARE THE THINGS THAT YOU NEED TO KEEP MAKING PROGRESS? >> THANK YOU FOR THAT QUESTION. AND I AGAIN APPRECIATE THE SUPPORT OF THE COMMISSIONER. SO, FOR WHAT WE'RE LOOKING AT, THERE ARE THREE MAJOR GAPS. DEFINITELY COMMUNICATION IS ONE OF THEM. IN TERMS OF BEING ABLE TO SHARE ALL OF THE COMMON SENSE THAT WE'VE M MADE -- ALL OF THE CHANS THAT WE'VE MADE IN THE OFFICE OVER THE LAST YEAR, BUT BECAUSE OF THE RAPID TURNOVER IN THE COUNTY, BEING ABLE TO COMMUNICATE WHAT THE PROCESS LOOKS LIKE FOR NEW EMPLOYEES COMING IN. THAT IS A MAJOR GAP. WE REALLY DON'T HAVE A GOOD PORTAL TO DO SO. I DO THANK THE COURT. WE DO HAVE A COMMUNICATIONS POSITION THAT WAS APPROVED AT COURT. THEY ARE IN -- WE'RE IN THE RECRUITING PROCESS NOW, AND WE'RE HOPING THAT THEY CAN HELP US FIX THAT. BECAUSE IT ALSO AFFECTS, ON THE SECOND PART, VENDORS. BEING ABLE TO COMMUNICATE REGULARLY WITH VENDORS ABOUT CHANGES AND UPDATES IS IMPORTANT TO ENSURE -- EXCUSE ME -- THAT WE HAVE A VERY COMPETITIVE POOL OF VENDORS WHO ARE COMPETING FOR COUNTY WORK. SO ONE OF THE THINGS WE'VE ASKED FOR AS AN ENHANCEMENT IS A PORTAL FOR THOSE OPPORTUNITIES UNDER A HUNDRED THOUSAND. THERE REALLY ISN'T ANY VISIBILITY INTO THOSE. YOU HAVE TO KIND OF GO DEPARTMENT TO DEPARTMENT. AND SO YOU'LL HEAR VENDORS SAY, IT'S REALLY HARD TO DO BUSINESS WITH THE COUNTY. I DON'T HAVE THE RESOURCE, I DON'T HAVE THE TIME TO GO FROM DEPARTMENT TO DEPARTMENT. WE HAVE 66 DEPARTMENTS, RIGHT? AND SO THIS PORTAL WILL CONSOLIDATE ALL OF THOSE OPPORTUNITIES IN ANSWER AN ACCEE AND VISIBLE TRANSPARENT PROCESS THAT THEY CAN ALL COMPETE IN, AND THAT IS WHERE A LOT OF SMALL BUSINESSES LIVE, SO IT WOULD BE A MAJOR ECONOMIC BOON FOR THOSE SMALL BUSINESSES IN OUR COMMUNITY. >> GREAT ANSWER. THANK YOU. MY NEXT QUESTION HAS TO DO WITH THE PROGRESS, I THINK, THAT WE'VE MADE. I THINK WE CAN ALL AGREE THAT, OVER THE LAST YEAR, WORKING WITH YOUR OFFICE AND THE PROCUREMENT PROCESS, I THINK HAS GOTTEN MORE EFFECTIVE. IT'S GOTTEN MORE EFFICIENT, AND WE WANT TO KEEP GOING. I'M STILL LEARNING A LOT OF THIS, AS YOU KNOW. I COME FROM THE GREAT STATE OF ARKANSAS, SO YOU'VE GOT REALLY SORT OF BASIC LEVEL. NOT THE TEXAS LEARNING. WHAT ARE YOU DOING IN LAY PERSON'S TERMS THAT IS MAKING US HAVE THAT EXPERIENCE? BECAUSE IT SEEMS TO BE WORKING AND WE JUST WANT TO BE SURE THAT YOU HAVE WHAT YOU NEED TO KEEP GOING IN THAT DIRECTION. >> WELL, PART OF IT IS DEFINITELY CHANGING THE CULTURE IN PURCHASING. SO WE DID GO FROM 100% REMOTE TO BACK IN THE OFFICE, SO I THINK THAT HAS HELPED A BIT. WE HAVE STAFFED-UP, AS I MENTIONED. WE'RE AT 97%, SO HAVING THOSE ADDITIONAL STAFF IN PLACE AND GETTING STABILIZED, LEARNING THE PROCESSES AND PROCEDURES, HAS HELPED A LOT. I MENTIONED OUR PARTNER, UNIVERSAL SERVICES. THEY'VE LOANED US ONE OF THEIR A.I. AGENTS, AND WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO USE THAT TO CREATE STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURES OR TO CLARIFY STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURES THAT MAY NOT HAVE HAD BEFORE. SO AS THAT ROLLS OUT, YOU'LL SEE MORE CONSISTENCY WHEN YOU REACH OUT TO IT PURCHASING. SO I THINK THOSE THINGS HAVE DEFINITELY HELPED A LOT. AS FAR AS TECHNOLOGY... I KNOW WE USE BOND FIRE CURRENTLY, AND I KNOW THAT THERE ARE SOME WHO WOULD LIKE TO SEE US DO SOMETHING DIFFERENT. AND SO WE ARE USING THE UPCOMING CHANGE OVER TO THE ERP SYSTEM TO LOOK AT OTHER OPPORTUNITIES. BUT WE ARE ALSO PUSHING BONFIRE TO SEE IF THEY CAN PROVIDE MORE FUNCTIONALITY TO THE COUNTY. WE'RE A BIG CUSTOMER AND WE LIKE TO THROW OUR WEIGHT AROUND IN THOSE SITUATIONS, AND I WILL SAY BONFIRE IS TRYING TO BE RESPONSIVE, AND I THINK THAT WILL HELP WITH BETTER COMMUNICATIONS WITH VENDORS AND WITH DEPARTMENTS WHO USE BONFIRE AS THEIR ENTRY POINT. SO, I -- YOU KNOW, I'M HAPPY TO HEAR THE FEEDBACK THAT THINGS ARE IMPROVING. OBVIOUSLY WE'VE DONE A LOT, AND THERE'S A LOT MORE THAT WE'D LIKE TO DO, AND THAT IS WHY WE'VE MADE THE ENHANCEMENTS REQUEST, WHICH I THINK ARE FAIRLY MODEST, COMPARED TO -- IT'S LESS THAN 10% OF OUR CURRENT BUDGET, AND IT IS DEDICATED SOLELY TOWARDS INCREASING OUR CAPACITY. >> I HAVE TWO SECONDS. I'LL CEDE THE REMAINDER OF MY TIME. >> THANK YOU, PRECINCT 4. COUNTY JUDGE'S OFFICE, YOU NOW HAVE FIVE MINUTES FOR QUESTIONS. >> THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE, PURCHASING AGENT WILLIAMS. YOU JOINED THE COUNTY RIGHT [04:50:03] BEFORE THE BUDGET HEARINGS LAST YEAR, AND THE INCREDIBLE WORK YOU'VE DONE OVER THE LAST YEAR HAS NOT GONE UNNOTICED. >> THANK YOU. >> WHAT HAVE YOU FOUND YOUR GREATEST CHALLENGES AND SUCCESSES TO BE OVER THE LAST YEAR? >> I THINK -- I'LL START WITH THE SUCCESSES, AND I THINK THAT IS GETTING THE TEAM BUILD-OUT. WE REALLY NEEDED TO CREATE A STRUCTURE OF -- ONE, KIND OF A LEADERSHIP BENCH TO KIND OF ENFORCE ACCOUNTABILITY. THE BENCHMARKING AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE. SO GETTING THE TEAM FILLED OUT HAS BEEN ONE OF OUR BIGGEST SUCCESSES. I THINK, AS FAR AS OUR BIGGEST CHALLENGES, HAS BEEN THE COMMUNICATION PIECE. THAT IS SOMETHING WE GRAPPLE WITH QUITE A BIT. WE JUST DON'T HAVE A GOOD STREAMLINED WAY TO DO THAT TODAY, AND WE'RE CONSTANTLY LOOKING FOR WAYS TO IMPROVE THAT. AND ONE OF THE THINGS WE'RE LOOKING AT -- AT THE JUNE 11TH COURT, PURCHASING OPS WAS PASSED. ONE OF THE THINGS WE WANT TO SEE OUT OF THAT IS CREATING THOSE COMMUNICATION TOOLS THAT CAN BE SHARED ACROSS THE COUNTY SO THAT EVERYONE IS CLEAR ON WHAT THE PROCESS IS AND WHAT THE TIMELINES LOOK LIKE. SO YOU CAN PREPARE AND PLAN IN ADVANCE. >> OKAY, AND THAT IS VERY HELPFUL. SO, HOW HAS THE PAY EQUITY PROJECT IMPACTED PURCHASING? YOU MENTIONED THAT A LITTLE BIT. AND THE ABILITY TO MAKE THE ROLES COMPETITIVE? DO YOU ANTICIPATE THE RESULTS WILL HELP WITH THE RETENTION IN YOUR DEPARTMENT? >> ABSOLUTELY. THAT IS ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WAS HIGHLIGHTED IN THE PRODUCTIVITY STUDY; THAT THE TEAM WAS UNDERRESOURCED AND OVERWORKED. AND SO BEING ABLE TO HAVE COMPETITIVE SALARIES TO GET PEOPLE TO ACCEPT POSITIONS THAT ARE HIGH-VOLUME. I MENTIONED THE 18,000 PURCHASE ORDERS, YOU KNOW. THAT'S A LOT. IT'S A HIGH-VOLUME, HIGH-PRESSURE SHOP. SO BEING ABLE TO HAVE THOSE RESOURCES. ABOUT 81% OF OUR TEAM RECEIVES SOME TYPE OF EQUITY ADJUSTMENT. SO THAT HAS BEEN REALLY A GREAT DRIVER TO FILLING THOSE POSITIONS. PARTICULARLY FOR THE BUYER TEAM, WHICH IS OUR ENTRY-LEVEL HIGHEST-VOLUME IN TERMS OF PURCHASE ORDER TEAM, AND OUR WAREHOUSE TEAM, WHICH DOES AMAZING WORK. THEY'RE KIND OF THE BACKGROUND HEROES, BUT THEY HADN'T RECEIVED A PAY EQUITY ADJUSTMENT IN QUITE SOME TIME. SO BEING ABLE TO HAVE THAT SUPPORT IS GREAT. THE ONLY CONCERN I WOULD RAISE ABOUT THE PAY EQUITY PROGRAM IS THE CHANGES IN THE GRADES. SO WHILE NO ONE WAS DOWNGRADED ON THIS ROUND, IF ANYONE LEAVES THAT POSITION AND SOMEONE COMES IN BEHIND THEM, THEY MAY COME IN AT A LOWER GRADE THAN THEIR PREDECESSOR. AND SO THAT COULD BE A DIFFICULTY IN THE FUTURE IF WE HAVE TO FILL THOSE POSITIONS AT THAT TIME.>> YOU MENTIONED THE D SERVICES HAVE BEEN AN INCREASE OF 40%. CAN YOU PROVIDE CONTEXT OF THE INCREASED SCOPE OF THIS POSITION AND HOW IT NECESSITATES THE NEED FOR ADDITIONAL STAFF. >> WHEN THE PROGRAM BEGAN, [05:01:39] >> EXCELLENT. THANK YOU. [05:01:41] THE COMMENT THAT YOU MADE WITH REGARDS TO THE E.R. P, AS WE CONTINUE TO LOOK AT NEW SYSTEM TO REPLACE THE EXISTING ONE. HOW ARE YOU SEEING ALIGNING SOME OF THE NEEDS OF PURCHASING IN THE SYSTEM BECAUSE AT THE END OF DAY, AS EVERYBODY FROM THE VALLEY WILL TELL US, IT'S JUST SOFTWARE. >> SO ONE OF THE THINGS I RECOGNIZE WHEN I CAME IS IT DOESN'T SEEM LIKE THE CURRENT SYSTEM REALLY SPEAKS TO PROCUREMENT IN THE WAY THAT IT COULD. WE HAVE TAKEN A MUCH MORE ACTIVE ROLE. THE ERP IS TRANSITIONING. THERE'S A CONSULTANT WHO'S HELPING WITH CHANGE MANAGEMENT. SO WE -- IN ADDITION TO KIND OF BEING A DRIVER OF THE PROCESS, WE ARE ALSO ARE A CUSTOMER IN TAKING A MORE ACTIVE ROLE IN ASKING FOR WHAT WE NEED FROM THE SYSTEM. IN THE HOPES THE NEXT IMPLEMENTATION WILL HAVE MORE INTEGRATION OF THE PURCHASING MODULES AND WORK FLOWS INSTEAD OF THE DISJOINTED SYSTEMS THAT YOU HAVE NOW. >> THANK YOU. THOSE ARE ALL MY QUESTIONS. >> THANK YOU, PRECINCT 2. PRECINCT 3 WILL HAVE FIVE MINUTES FOR QUESTIONS. >> THANK YOU. MS. WILLIAMS, IT'S GOOD TO SEE YOU AGAIN. WE'VE ENJOYED WORKING YOUR NEW TEAMS AND LOOKING FORWARD TO SEEING WHAT COMES OF THIS FOUR-PART PLAN. I'M REALLY EXCITED TO SEE THAT HAPPEN. >> THANK YOU. >> CONGRATULATIONS ON STAFFING THAT. EVERYBODY WAS BUSY. IF THE COURT APPROVES YOUR BUDGET AS REQUESTED, WHAT MEASURABLE IMPROVEMENTS SHOULD THE TAXPAYERS EXPECT TO SEE NEXT YEAR? >> THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION. SO ONE OF THE THINGS I'VE BEEN CHARGED WITH SINCE COMING ON BOARD IS BRINGING OUR CYCLE TIMES WITHIN INDUSTRY STANDARDS. AND SO WE ARE GETTING CLOSER BUT WE'RE NOT THERE YET. SO WITH THESE ENHANCEMENTS, THAT WILL BE OUR TARGET AND OUR GOAL AND OUR FOCUS FOR FI27. IS TO BRING THOSE INTO ALIGNMENT WITH INDUSTRY STANDARDS. NOW, ONE OF THE REASONS WE REALLY WANTED TO DO THE PURCHASING APPS IS THERE ARE OUR CYCLE TIMES AND PURCHASING, CAPITAL P. AND THEN THERE ARE CYCLE TIMES IN THE PURCHASING PROCESS LOWER CASE P. THAT INVOLVES OUR PARTNERS AROUND THE COUNTY. SO PART OF THIS EFFORT WITH PURCHASING APPS IS THAT ALL OF THE DEPARTMENTS INVOLVED IN THE PROCESS WILL BE IN THE ROOM AND WE'LL UNDERSTAND AND WORK ACROSS OUR RESPECTIVE STATUTORY REQUIREMENTS, TIMELINES, BUSINESS RULES AND COME UP WITH A REALISTIC TIMEFRAME OF WHEN I SAY TO YOU, YOUR RP WILL BE OUT IN 180 DAYS, THAT WE'RE ALL TRACKING TO THAT NUMBER. SO IT'S TAKING INTO ACCOUNT THAT IT'S NOT JUST PURCHASING. BUT THERE ARE OTHERS WHO ARE ON THAT CLOCK AS WELL. SO OUR GOAL WITH THESE ENHANCEMENTS IS TO BRING THAT INTO ALIGNMENT. THE OTHER PIECE THAT I'VE HEARD IS THAT WE DON'T HAVE A GOOD WAY TO HOLD VENDORS ACCOUNTABLE. [05:05:05] SO YOU WILL HAVE A PROJECT WHERE VENDOR IS RELEASED FROM THE PROJECT BUT THAT'S NOT WELL DOCUMENTED OR TRACKED. SO THAT SAME VENDOR CAN BACK AND REBID AND WE DON'T HAVE A REALLY GOOD SYSTEM AND METHOD TO DEAL WITH THAT. PART OF THIS SERVICE ENHANCEMENT IS BRINGING ON THAT VENDOR PERFORMANCE SYSTEM. SO THAT WE HAVE A WAY TO TRACK WHETHER OR NOT WE HAVE A VENDOR WHO'S PERFORMED WELL. THE COUNTY'S IMPLEMENTED A NUMBER OF NEW POLICIES. THE CONTRACT OF MINIMUM WAGE, WORK SITE SAFETY. WE NEED SOME WAY TO HOLD VENDORS ACCOUNTABLE AND GRADE THEM ON THEIR PERFORMANCE AGAINST NOT JUST SCOPE OF WORK THAT THEY COMMITTED TO BUT THE SCHEDULE, THE QUALITY AND ALSO THEIR COMMITMENT TO FOLLOW COUNTY RULES, POLICIES AND PROCEDURES. >> GOOD. WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE METRICS A LITTLE BIT. WHICH METRICS WOULD YOU THINK COMMISSIONER SHOULD USE TO DETERMINE WHETHER THIS BUDGET IS SUCCESSFUL? >> I THINK THE METRIC THEY SHOULD USE IS OUTPUT AND THROUGHPUT AND WHAT I MEAN IS WE TALKED ABOUT THE IN NUMBER OF PURCHASE ORDERS WE HAVE BUT OUR ABILITY TO MOVE A SIGNIFICANT VOLUME OF WHETHER IT'S PURCHASE ORDERS OR CONTRACTS OR RENEWALS AND YOU WILL BE ABLE TO SEE THAT OUTPUT FROM THE KPIS ONCE WE'RE ABLE TO ESTABLISH THE AFTER PURCHASING APPS. THAT WOULD BE HOW YOU ASSESS WHETHER OR NOT YOU MADE A GOOD RETURN ON INVESTMENT. >> THAT'S ALL I HAVE. >> THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU, PRECINCT 3. WE WILL NOW REVISIT FOR ANY REMAINING TIME. PRECINCT 4 HAD NO REMAINING TIME. AND NOR DID THE COUNTY JUDGE'S OFFICE. PRECINCT 1, YOU HAD ONE MINUTE AND 39 SECONDS REMAINING. >> SO SPEAKING OF ERP, DO YOU HAVE AN ESTIMATE FOR THE TIMELINE OR JUST CAN GIVE AN UPDATE ON WHERE THAT IS AND HOW THAT TIES INTO THE REST OF YOUR WORK. >> SURE. SO AS FAR AS AN EXACT TIMELINE, I DO NOT HAVE THAT YET. WHAT WE HAVE DONE IS IDENTIFIED A CONSULTANT TO HELP WITH THE CHANGE MANAGEMENT PORTION OF SOURCING WHAT THE COUNTY WANTS OUT OF A NEW ERP SYSTEM. SO THAT PROJECT IS UNDERWAY. I THINK YOU ALL HAVE SEEN SEVERAL MEETINGS ON YOUR CALENDER, TO GO THROUGH THAT. THE NEXT STEP WHICH IS IN PROGRESS RIGHT NOW IS THE REQUEST FOR INFORMATION WHICH IS INFORMAL. PROCESS WHERE WE SET UP TIME FOR YOU TO MEET AND SPEAK TO THE VENDORS AND ASK QUESTIONS. SO ONCE THAT'S COMPLETED, THE CONSULTANT WILL TAKE EVERYTHING THEY LEARNED THROUGH THE FIRST PHASE OF YOUR CONVERSATIONS, PLUS THE QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS FROM THE FOLLOW-UP WITH THE REQUEST FOR INFORMATION AND THEY WILL PULL TOGETHER A DRAFT RP AND ONCE THAT IS DONE, WE'LL HAVE A BETTER IDEA OF SCHEDULE BECAUSE WE'LL KNOW WHEN THAT WILL BE ADVERTISED AND WE'LL HAVE A SOLICITATION SCHEDULE FROM THERE. WE DO UNDERSTAND HOW IMPORTANT IT IS AND JUST KNOW THAT EVERY EFFORT IS BEING GIVEN BY ALL THE COMPANIES INVOLVED IN THE PROCESS TO MOVE THIS ALONG AS EXPEDITIOUSLY AS POSSIBLE. IT IS GOING TO BE A MASSIVE CHANGE. >> THANK YOU. I YIELD MY TIME. >> PRECINCT 2, YOU HAD FIFTY SECONDS REMAINING. >> JUST ONE QUICK QUESTION. ARE YOU ABLE TODAY TO MEASURE THROUGH-PUT AND OUTPUT? >> ANNOUNCER: >> NOT QUITE. ONE PROBLEMS WE HAVE IS THE SYSTEMS DON'T SPEAK TO EACH OTHER. IT'S VERY DIFFICULT. WE'VE BEEN HAVING CONVERSATIONS TO SEE IF WE CAN CREATE MILESTONES IN THEIR SYSTEM TO HELP US TRACK A BIT. THE OTHER PIECE THAT WILL HELP IS THE NEW CONTRACTOR LIFE CYCLE MANAGEMENT SYSTEM WHICH IS BEING SPONSORED BY THE COUNTY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE. SO THE HOPE IS THAT THROUGH ADVANCEMENTS ON BOTH OF THOSE PLATFORMS, THAT WE WILL BE ABLE -- I HATE TO USE THE WORD -- IT IS WHAT IT IS. COBBLED TOGETHER WITH THROUGHPUT AND OUTPUT LOOKS LIKE. >> THANK YOU. >> I DON'T HAVE ANY QUESTIONS. >> THANK YOU TO AGENT WILLIAMS AND THE ENTIRE PURCHASING TEAM. >> THANK YOU. >> COURT OFFICERS THAT, CONCLUDES OUR FINAL PRESENTATION FOR THIS AFTERNOON. WE WILL RESUME TOMORROW MORNING AT 10 A.M. WITH A PRESENTATION FROM HUMAN RESOURCES AND TALENT. THANK YOU. * This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.