Mar 10, 2020 Commissioners Court

[Call to Order]

[00:00:04]

>> RESTORATION TO THOSE WHO ARE BROKEN AND JUDGE, SHE IS THE PERFECT PERSON TO BRIDGE FROM LAST MONTH TO THIS MONTH. LAST MONTH WE HONORED BLACK HISTORY MONTH. THIS MONTH WE HONOR WOMEN'S HISTORY MONTH.

WITH HER ROLE, LONDON AND OXFORD AND ALL OF THAT WRAPPED UP, SHE IS THE PERFECT PERSON

TO LEAD US IN MARCH. >> I WOULD CERTAINLY LIKE TO SAY GOOD MORNING TO EACH OF YOU TO THIS COURT. I BRING GREETINGS FROM JESUS CHRIST AND OUR PASTOR AT THE CHURCH WITHOUT WALLS. THANK YOU SO MUCH, COMMISSIONER CAGLE FOR THIS INVITATION. AND THANK YOU JUDGE LINA HIDALGO FOR LEADING US.

OUR BELOVED COMMISSIONER RODNEY ELLIS AND ALL OF THE OTHER COMMISSIONERS.

AND TO THIS COURT, GREATLY HONORED TO BE SERVING THIS MORNING.

I WOULD LIKE TO START THIS MORNING WITH A SCRIPTURED TEXT. BLESSED IS THE MAN THAT WALKETH NOT IN THE COUNCIL OF THE UNGODLY NOR STAND WITH THE SINNERS AND SIT IN THE SEAT OF THE SCORNFUL. HIS DELIGHT AND HER DELIGHT IS IN THE LAW OF THE LORD.

AND IN HIS LAW DOES HE MEDITATE DAY AND NIGHT. AND HE SHALL BE LIKE A TREE THAT BRINGS FRUIT IN THE SEASON. HIS LEAF ALSO SHALL NOT WITHER AND WHAT HE SHALL DO SHOULD PROSPER. PSALM1.

LET US PRAY. GRACIOUS AND ETERNAL FATHER, CREATOR OF HEAVEN AND EARTH.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR MERCY AND LOVING KINDNESS TOWARD US. FOR THERE IS NO LIMIT TO YOUR BLESSING IF WE HEAR AND OBEY YOUR HOLY WORD. WE PRAY NOW, DEAR LORD, FOR YOUR WISDOM AND GUIDANCE FOR THOSE WHO LABOR IN YOUR COURT AND FOR THOSE WHO SEEK JUSTICE THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE JUDICIAL SYSTEM IN THE STATE OF TEXAS AND IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. MAKE US WORTHY, DEAR FATHER, OF THE CALLING AND THE RESPONSIBILITY THAT YOU HAVE GIVEN TO US TO RISE TO THE HIGHEST LEVEL OF INTEGRITY AND SERVICE AND SUBMISSION AND TO JUDGE ACCORDING TO YOUR DIVINE LAW AND YOUR WILL.

GRANT WISDOM AND COURAGE TO RULE JUSTLY. TO ELEVATE RATHER THAN IMPEDE THE CAUSE OF TRUTH, JUSTICE AND HUMANITY. TO PROTECT THE INNOCENT AND UPHOLD THE RIGHTEOUS LAWS. WE PRAY NOW FOR OUR COUNTRY AND THE STATE AND THE CITY WITH THE CORONAVIRUS AND HELP US TO SERVE AND PROTECT ALL. WE PRAY NOW GOD A SPECIAL PRAYER FOR OUR CONSTABLES. THANK YOU FOR THEIR SERVICE, THE SERVICE THEY LEND TO ALL OF OUR COMMUNITIES. THANK YOU, FATHER GOD, FORGIVING THEM WISDOM ON HOW TO PROTECT AND TO SERVE US. WE ASK, LORD, THAT YOU CONTINUE TO GRANT GRACE AND WE ASK FOR YOUR PEACE. PEACE THAT SURPASSES ALL UNDERSTANDING.

GUARD OUR HEARTS AND OUR MINDS IN CHRIST JESUS. LET US NOT LEAN IN OUR OWN UNDERSTANDING, BUT ACKNOWLEDGE YOU IN ALL WAYS. THIS WE ASK IN THE NAME OF

JESUS, AMEN. >> I WANT TO THANK DR. LONDON.

I HAVE KNOWN HER FOR DECADES WHEN SHE WAS JUST JEWEL. THANK YOU FOR BEING THE JEWEL

YOU ARE. >> THANK YOU. >> LINA HIDALGO: THANK YOU SO MUCH. OKAY, SO LET'S MOVE ON TO THE RESOLUTIONS.

[Item I (Part 1 of 2)]

THE FIRST IS ON THE RETIREMENT OF TIMOTHY LLOYD AND THANKING HIM FOR 30 YEARS OF SERVICE.

HE STARTED HIS CAREER IN 1990 AS A DETENTION OFFICER. HE OBTAINED HIS PEACE OFFICER LICENSE AND BECAME A DEPUTY WITH THE HARRIS COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE.

HE BECAME AN UNDERWATER CRIMINAL INVESTIGATOR AND RECEIVED A BRAVERY CITATION AND DURING HURRICANE HARVEY HE OPERATED BOATS AND ASSISTED WITH THE RESCUE OF COUNTLESS PEOPLE. HE HAS NUMEROUS CERTIFICATIONS INCLUDING 42 DIVE CERTIFICATIONS. THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT THE HARRIS COUNTY

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[APPLAUSE]. WOULD YOU LIKE TO SAY A FEW WORDS.

>> A MAN OF FEW WORDS. CONGRATULATIONS. >> LINA HIDALGO: THE SECOND RESOLUTION IS IS COMMEMORATING MARCH 18TH, 1963 WHICH IS THE DAY THE UNITED STATES SUPREME COURT ISSUED ITS OPINION IN THE CASE OF GIDDEON VERSUS WAYNE -- WAYNE WRIGHT.

FINDING THE 6TH AMENDMENT RIGHT TO COUNSEL WHICH IS SO VITAL TO MAKING SURE FOLKS GET THE REPRESENTATION THEY DESERVE IN CRIMINAL CASES THAT DETERMINE THEIR LIVES OR EVEN WHETHER THEY LIVE OR DIE. AND SO TODAY WE WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT DAY MARCH 18TH WHERE INDIVIDUALS ACCUSED OF A CRIME INCLUDING ADULTS AND JUVENILES ARE GUARANTEED THE RIGHT TO LEGAL REPRESENTATION AT ALL CRITICAL STAGES OF THE COURT PROCEEDINGS REGARDLESS OF THEIR ABILITY TO PAY THE FUNDAMENTAL PRINCIPALS OF QUALITY, FAIRNESS AND DUE PROCESS CANNOT BE FULLY REALIZED UNDER OUR LEGAL SYSTEM WITHOUT PROMPT ACCESS TO EFFECTIVE LEGAL COUNSEL AND ADEQUATE RESOURCES NECESSARY TO SUPPORT THE LEGAL COUNSEL WITHOUT AN EFFECTIVE DEFENSE JUVENILES MAY REMAIN IN CUSTODY OR BE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR OFFENSES THEY DID NOT COMMIT.

WHEREAS THE HARRIS COUNTY PUBLIC DEFENDER'S OFFICE PROTECTS THE RIGHTS OF JUVENILES IN HARRIS COUNTY COURT AND NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT HARRIS COUNTY COMMISSIONER'S COURT HERE BY RECOGNIZES MARCH 18TH, 2020 AS PUBLIC DEFENSE DAY IN

HARRIS COUNTY, TEXAS. [APPLAUSE]. >> JUDGE AND COMMISSIONERS I AM ALEX WITH THE PUBLIC DEFDERS. IT WAS 57 YEARS AGO NEXT WEDNESDAY. NOT A ROUND NUMBER, BUT OUR OFFICE HAS BEEN IN BUSINESS 10 YEARS WHICH IS A ROUND NUMBER, AND THIS HONORS THAT TOO. A LOT HAS CHANGED SINCE WE STARTED THE OFFICE. EIGHT OF MY FORMER EMPLOYEES ARE NOW JUDGES IN HARRIS COUNTY. COULD BE AS MANY AS TWO MORE PUBLIC DEFENDERS JOINING THE BENCH. I THINK THAT'S GOOD FOR JUSTICE.

I THINK IT IS GREAT YOU ARE RECOGNIZING PUBLIC DEFENSE. I THANK YOU VERY MUCH ON

BEHALF OF ALL OF THE MEMBERS OF MY OFFICE. >> LINA HIDALGO: THANK YOU SO

MUCH FOR YOUR WORK. >> I AM JUST CURIOUS, WHAT PERCENTAGE OF THE CASES DOES

YOUR OFFICE HANDLE NOW? >> WE'RE GETTING CLOSE TO 20%, AND WITH OUR GROWTH, WITH THE GROWTH, THE ADDITIONAL SPACE WE'RE GONNA GET, WE WILL BE ABLE TO GROW MORE THIS YEAR.

>> SO YOU THINK YOU WILL GET TO 30 BY THE END OF THE YEAR? >> I'M SHOOTING FOR IT.

>> THANK YOU. CONGRATULATIONS. >> YOUR HONOR, I SUPPORT THIS DAY AS WELL. THIS IS ONE OF THE IMPORTANT LEGS IN THE SYSTEM.

WE HAVE OTHER IMPORTANT LEGS IN EITHER YOUR OFFICE OR MINE AND WHEN IT COMES APRIL 19TH THROUGH THE 25TH, THE 25TH IS NATIONAL VICTIMS' RIGHTS WEEK AND YOUR OFFICE OR MINE NEEDS TO PUT SOMETHING ON THE AGENDA TO MAKE SURE WE PARTICIPATE IN

ALL OF THE LEGS IN THE SYSTEM. >> I GET ONE.

>> LINA HIDALGO: THANK YOU SO MUCH. MY FINAL RESOLUTION IS ON PAGE 21 ON THE SUPPLEMENTAL AGENDA. THIS RECOGNIZES FREEDOM OF INFORMATION DAY. THE PUBLIC LIBRARY ENTERED IN A RECIPROCAL BORROWING AGREEMENT WITH PASADENA PUBLIC LIBRARY AND VOLAIR CITY AND EXPANDED WITH MONTGOMERY COUNTY'S LIBRARY SYSTEM IN ADDITION TO THE PARTNERSHIP WITH LOAN STAR COLLEGE LIBRARY SO THAT RECIPROCAL BORROWING AGREEMENTS DOESN'T SOUND TOO EXCITING, BUT IT IS HUGE TO MAKE SURE THAT FOLKS CAN ACCESS ALL OF THESE RESOURCES AND NOT JUST IN HARRIS COUNTY, BUT THROUGHOUT OUR REGION. WHEREAS THE GOAL OF THE AGREEMENT IS TO INCREASE ACCESS TO QUALITY LIBRARY MATERIALS WHILE CREATING NEW AVENUES OF CONVENIENCE.

IT WILL STRENGTHEN ALL OF OUR COMMUNITIES THROUGH STREAM LINE INSTITUTIONAL COOPERATION AND COMMUNICATION. THE POOLING OF RESOURCES WILL ENABLE THE PARTICIPATING SYSTEMS TO OFFER A WIDER AND DEEPER SELECTION OF MATERIALS INCLUDING RECENTLY ENHANCED

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HARRIS COUNTY IS COMMITTED TO PROVIDING ACCESS TO INFORMATION AND RESOURCES THAT INSPIRE LIFE LONG LEARNING AND CIVIC ENGAGEMENT. THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT HARRIS COUNTY COMMISSIONER'S COURT RECOGNIZES MARCH 16TH, 2020 AS FREEDOM OF INFORMATION DAY IN HARRIS COUNTY. THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH FOR YOUR

WORK [APPLAUSE]. >> COUNTY JUDGE AND COMMISSIONERS, I WOULD LIKE TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT IN ALLOWING THE LIBRARY SYSTEM TO BE ABLE TO ENTER INTO THE COLLABORATIVE EFFORTS AND THE RECIPROCALS WITH THE OTHER LIBRARY SYSTEMS. IT DOES ALLOW US TO EXPAND OUR ACCESS TO FREE LIBRARY MATERIALS AND RESOURCES AND REALLY HELPS US TO STRENGTHEN OUR COLLECTIONS ACROSS THE REGION.

AND SO I DO HAVE TODAY WITH ME MARGE FROM PASADENA PUBLIC LIBRARY AND MARY FROM BEL-AIR PUBLIC LIBRARY AND I THINK THEY MAY WANT TO SAY SOMETHING.

>> COMMISSIONERS AND COUNTY JUDGE, I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR THE INTER LOCAL AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE CITIES OF PASADENA AND BEL-AIR IN HARRIS COUNTY HAS BEEN -- HAS GIVEN US ACCESS TO ALMOST TWO MILLION MORE BOOKS TO OUR PATRONS IN PASADENA AND BEL-AIR.

OUR PATRONS IN PASADENA AND BEL-AIR FORCE PAY TAXES TO THE CITY AND THE COUNTY AND NOW WE MADE IT EASIER FOR THE TAXPAYERS AND THOSE TWO MUNICIPALITIES TO ACCESS THE COLLECTION AND IT MADE IT VERY EASY FOR THEM. AND IT HAS BEEN A DELIGHT TO WORK WITH THE HARRIS COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY SYSTEM. THEIR EXPERTISE AND THEIR COOPERATION MADE THIS VERY EASY. AND EVEN THOUGH IT HAS BEEN LESS THAN TWO MONTHS FOR US AND THE RECIPROCAL AGREEMENT WE SEE MUCH MORE ACTIVITY OR CIRCULATIONS UP AND FOR THE CITY OF PASADENA WE HAVE A GROWING POPULATION OF VIETNAMESE AND ARABIC-SPEAKING PEOPLE AND NOW WE HAVE ACCESS TO HARRIS COUNTY'S GREAT COLLECTION. AND NOW IF -- NOW YOU CAN SIMPLY WALK IN AND PICK UP THE BOOKS FROM THE 26 BRANCHES OF HARRIS COUNTY IN THEIR HOMETOWN OF PASADENA AND

BEL-AIR. THANK YOU SO MUCH. >> LINA HIDALGO: THANK YOU.

ALL RIGHT. COMMISSIONER GARCIA, I BELIEVE YOU HAVE SOME RESOLUTIONS.

>> I DO, JUDGE, THANK YOU. >> ON THAT LAST ONE I AGREE WITH YOU 100% THAT THIS IS HUGE. IT PROVIDES LITERATURE TO ALL AND I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR

THE RESOLUTION. >> LINA HIDALGO: THANK YOU. >> ADRIAN GARCIA: THE FIRST ONE WORKS ON THE PREVIOUS. THAT IS A RESOLUTION TO RECOGNIZE THAT IN 1998 THE LAUNCH BY THE NATIONAL EDUCATION ASSOCIATION READ ACROSS AMERICA DAY IS THE NATION'S LARGEST CELEBRATION OF READING. AND THIS YEAR-ROUND PROGRAM FOCUSES ON MOTIVATING CHILDREN AND TEENS TO READ. KEEP WORKING ON THE TEENS.

WHEREAS IN ONE PART OF THE PROGRAM IS AN OBSERVANCE IN THE UNITED STATES HELD ON THE SCHOOL DAY CLOSEST TO MARCH 2ND WHICH IS DOCTOR SUES' BIRTHDAY.

ACROSS THE NATION TEACHERS, TEENAGERS, LIBRARIANS, ACTORS, ATHLETES, PARENTS, GRAND PARENTS AND OTHERS DEVELOP READ ACROSS AMERICA ACTIVITIES TO BRING READING EXCITEMENT TO CHILDREN OF ALL AGES. AND, YES, KIDS, IF YOU ARE LISTENING, READING CAN BE EXCITING. WHEREAS WE TAKE THIS TIME TO RECOGNIZE THE ROLE READING PLAYS IN OUR COMMUNITIES. THE STRONG READING SKILLS AS A CORNER STONE TO SUCCESS CREATING PATHWAYS TO A LIFETIM OF LEARNING, ADVENTURE AND INTEREST.

AND, JUDGE, AS A POINT OF PERSONAL PRIVILEGE I WILL JUST SAY THAT I AM EXCITED ABOUT YOUR WORK TO FOCUS ON EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION BECAUSE READING -- GOOD READING SKILLS BY THIRD GRADE IS AN INCREDIBLE -- N INCREDIBLE -- IT MAKES A BIG DIFFERENCE IN THE LIVES OF OUR CHILDREN AS THEY GO ON TO BE PRODUCTIVE CITIZENS OF OUR COMMUNITY.

THANK YOU FOR THAT. WHEREAS PEOPLE OF ALL AGES GATHER TO READ BOOKS TOGETHER AND CELEBRATE THE JOY OF READING. THIS IS A PERFECT TIME FOR -- TO GET CHILDREN INTERESTED IN READING AND WHEREAS WHILE READING TAKES US TO EXCITING NEW PLACES, ENCHANTED LANDS, ALLOWING US TO BE DETECTIVES OR CONSTABLES, EXPLORERS AND HEROS, IT ALSO PROMOTES RELAXATION AND REDUCES STRESS.

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>> LINA HIDALGO: THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER. >> EDWIN MELVIN HARRIS COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY. THANK YOU COMMISSIONER AND COMMISSIONER'S COURT FOR HONORING READ ACROSS AMERICA. WE AT THE LIBRARY DO -- OUR GOAL IS TO MAKE READING ENJOYABLE AND MAKE IT A BEHAVIOR THAT IS A CHARACTERISTIC AND A BEHAVIOR IN EVERY CHILD'S LIFE AS THEY GROW TO BE READERS. IN TERMS OF HARRIS COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY, WE HAVE OVER A HUNDRED STORY TIMES PER WEEK IN LIBRARIES AND THE COMMUNITY CENTERS. WE ALSO HAVE 14 FAMILY PLACE LIBRARIES WHERE WE FOCUS ON CHILDREN FROM 0 TO THREE OF AGE. IN ORDER TO COME IN THE LIBRARY AND HAVE INTERACTIVE PLAY AND READING ACTIVITIES WE ALSO HAVE A BOOK-BASED PROGRAM. WE HAVE OLDER ADULTS AND TEENAGERS READING TO YOUNG CHILDREN. AND WE ALSO HAVE A PROGRAM CALLED TOURNAMENT OF BOOKS WHERE WE ARE RE-ENGAGING 10 SCHOOLS IN A READING TOURNAMENT IN WHICH ON MARCH THE 20 -- LET ME MAKE SURE I GET THE DATE RIGHT. ON MARCH 21ST THOSE STUDENTS WILL BE COMPETING AT THE HARRIS COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION.

THAT'S HOW WE GET TEENS INTO THE READING. IT IS REALLY EXCITING PROGRAM IN TERMS OF BOOKS. AND THEN ON THE SAME DAY WE ARE PARTNERING WITH THE ASIAN SOCIETY TO BRING IN THE AUTHOR TO HAVE A CONVERSATION. AND SO WITH THAT SHE IS GOING TO ALSO BE ONE OF THE JUDGES IN THE TOURNAMENT OF BOOKS. AND SO WE WILL BE CELEBRATING WITH THE TEENS THAT DAY IN TERMS OF READING. WE HAVE THE SUMMER READING PROGRAM AND WE PROVIDE THOUSANDS OF PROGRAMMING -- PROGRAMS EACH SUMMER.

WE REACH CHILDREN FROM 0 TO 3. WE REACH ELEMENTARY-AGED CHILDREN WITH THE CURIOSITY CRUISER AND WE REACH OUR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS AND CAREER PREPAREDNESS WITH THE CAFE GRAD ON THE GO. AND WE ALSO HAVE -- WE ALSO ARE CURRENTLY ENTERING INTO PARTNERSHIPS WITH ISD'S WHERE WE PROVIDE THE ISD'S WITH THE DIGITAL LIBRARY CARDS AND THAT ALLOWS THE STUDENTS TO HAVE ACCESS TO OUR COLLECTIONS ON A DIGITAL PLATFORM THROUGH THE SCHOOLS AND THROUGH HOMES OR THROUGH ANY MOBILE DEVICE.

WE ARE ALSO PROVIDING COLLECTIONS FOR OUR JUVENILE PROBATION CENTER.

SO WITH THOSE COLLECTIONS WE REALLY FOUND THAT WHEN WE PROVIDE THOSE YOUTH WITH BOOKS THAT ARE HIGH INTEREST, THEY TEND TO WANT TO READ. AND SO IT HAS BEEN VERY INTERESTING TO SEE HOW THEY HAVE BEEN ENGAGING IN OUR READING AND LITERACY PROGRAMS AT THOSE CENTERS. AND THEN WE HAVE OUR OUT REACH COLLECTION THAT'S WE ARE TAKING TO THE COMMUNITY CENTERS AND THINGS LIKE THAT IN ORDER TO INCREASE THE

AMOUNT OF ACCESS THAT STUDENTS AND CHILDREN HAVE TO BOOKS. >> WONDERFUL, WONDERFUL.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH. APPRECIATE ALL YOU DO. [APPLAUSE].

>> ADRIAN GARCIA: JUDGE, ON THIS NEXT RESOLUTION, YOU KNOW, AT THE LAST MEETING WE DID SOMETHING ABOUT HEALTHY EATING. THIS IS FOLLOWING IN THAT VEIN. I MADE THE MENTION THAT MY MOM ALWAYS -- OH, I WILL SAVE THAT ONE FOR A LITTLE LATER. MY MOM STRUGGLED WITH ME TO EAT MY PEAS.

STILL A PROBLEM. WELL, APPARENTLY SOMEONE HAS DELIVERED SOME SNAP PEAS TO MY OFFICE. THANK YOU, AND I WILL WORK ON THAT.

BUT THIS RESOLUTION IS A NATIONAL -- IT IS A RECOGNIZED NATIONAL NUTRITION MONTH.

THAT WAS INITIATED IN 1973 AS NATIONAL NUTRITION WEEK. AND IT BECAME A MONTH-LONG OBSERVANCE IN 1980 IN RESPONSE TO GROWING INTEREST IN NUTRITION.

AND WHEREAS THE NUTRITION EDUCATION AND INFORMATION CAMPAIGN IS SPONSORED ANNUALLY BY THE ACADEMY OF NUTRITION AND DIETETICS IT IS TO LOOK AT THE IMPORTANCE OF MAKING GOOD

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DIETICIAN NUTRITIONIST. THAT'S IMPORTANT. A LOT OF US HAVE ACCESS TO NUTRITIONISTS THROUGH OUR VARIOUS INSURANCE PROGRAMS, BUT WE DON'T OFTEN ENGAGE THEM. IT IS IMPORTANT TO HIGHLIGHT AND WHEREAS CREATING HEALTHY EATING AND ACTIVITY PLANS WITH SIMPLE STEPS CAN HELP THE PUBLIC MEET THEIR PUBLIC HEALTH GOALS. AND THESE SIMPLE STEPS CAN BECOME LIFE LONG HABITS.

AND WHEREAS THE ACADEMY'S WEBSITE HOSTS RESOURCES TO SPREAD THE MESSAGE OF GOOD NUTRITION AND THE IMPORTANCE OF OVERALL HEALTHY LIFESTYLE FOR PEOPLE OF ALL AGES, GENDERS AND BACKGROUNDS INCLUDING THROUGH THE ACADEMY'S SOCIAL MEDIA CHANNELS USING # NATIONAL NUTRITION MONTH. CONGRATULATIONSES AND THANK YOU FOR ALL YOU DO. AS A REPRESENTATIVE OF A PRECINCT THAT DOES HAVE A LOT OF HEALTH AND WELLNESS AND CHALLENGES, ENVIRONMENTAL CHALLENGES AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE, THIS IS WHY I PROMOTE THESE VARIOUS OCCASIONS TO BRING AWARENESS.

IT DOESN'T HAPPEN UNLESS THERE ARE PEOPLE LIKE YOU ON THE OTHER END.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH. >> THANK YOU. >> I AM THE CURRENT PRESIDENT FOR THE TEXAS ACADEMY OF NUTRITION AND DIETETICS. IT IS ONE OF THE LARGEST AFFILIATES OF NUTRITION AND DIETETICS NATIONALLY. WE HAVE ABOUT 3500 DIETICIANS ACROSS THE STATE OF TEXAS THAT ARE MEMBERS. SO WE'RE EVERYWHERE.

IF YOU ARE NOT AWARE OF WHAT A REGISTERED DIETICIAN IS, I ENCOURAGE YOU TO DO A FIVE-MINUTE GOOGLE AND FIND OUT WHAT IT IS BECAUSE WE DO YORK IN YOUR HOSPITALS AND FOOD BANKS. WE WORK ALL ALL OVER HELPING PEOPLE FIND AND MAKE BETTER CHOICES. WE HAVE INFORMATION AND RECIPES AND ARTICLES.

IF YOU ARE LOOKING FOR A GOOD SOURCE OF NUTRITION, I WOULD HIGHLY RECOMMEND YOU VISIT EAT RIGHT TEXAS.ORG. WE HAVE SOME GOOD INFORMATION THERE.

>> HELLO, MY NAME IS BRITNEY AND I AM WITH THE HOUSTON FOOD BANK.

ON BEHALF OF OUR NUTRITION EDUCATION DEPARTMENT AT THE FOOD BANK THANK YOU SO MUCH COMMISSIONER GARCIA AND EVERYBODY ELSE FOR HAVING US AND RECOGNIZING US DURING NATIONAL NUTRITION MONTH. WE LOOK FORWARD TO SERVING THE SNAP ELIGIBLE COMMUNITY WITH NUTRITIOUS AND VARYING WAYS MOVING FORWARD. IT IS SOMETHING WE ARE LOOKING

FORWARD TO SO THANK YOU. >> ADRIAN GARCIA: WITH SO MANY LAW ENFORCEMENT IN THE ROOM AND BEING ONE MYSELF, WHAT'S THE ALLOWABLE DONUT CON -- CONSUMPTION?

>> THERE'S NOT A SET NUMBER. WE LIKE TO SAY IT IS INDIVIDUALIZED.

>> ADRIAN GARCIA: THANK YOU. >> LINA HIDALGO: CONGRATULATION. COMMISSIONER CAGLE?

>> R. JACK CAGLE: YES, YOUR HONOR, WE HAVE TWO RESOLUTIONS FROM PRECINCT 4 TODAY.

ONE IS RECOGNIZING MADISON LAMONT. MADISON, WOULD YOU COME DOWN?

AND DO YOU HAVE FAMILY WITH YOU THERE? >> YES, MY MOM AND DAD AND MY

GRANDMOTHER. >> R. JACK CAGLE: WHO IS THE GRANDMA?

>> YOU'RE GOOD. YOU'RE GOOD. >> R. JACK CAGLE: WOULD Y'ALL

LIKE TO STAND BEHIND HER? >> NO. >> R. JACK CAGLE: THEY WANT YOU TO BE ON YOUR OWN. YOUR HONOR, WHEREAS MADISON LAMONT CROWNED AS MISS HARRIS COUNTY. SHE REPRESENTS US FOR 2020 ON SEPTEMBER 29TH OF 2019 WILL REPRESENT HARRIS COUNTY THIS JUNE IN THE MISS TEXAS SCHOLARSHIP WHICH EMPHASIZES TALENT, INTELLIGENCE AND SERVICES. WHEREAS MADISON LAMONT GRADUATES THIS SUMMER FROM MCKINNEY NORTH HIGH SCHOOL AND PLANS TO ATTEND SYRACUSE UNIVERSITY TO PURSUE A DOUBLE MAJOR IN FORENSIC SCIENCE AND PSYCHOLOGY.

[00:25:03]

MADISON LEARNED ABOUT MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES IN HARRIS COUNTY AND PLANS TO WORK WITH THE HARRIS CENTER TO HELP EDUCATE THE COMMUNITY, SCHOOL ADMINISTRATORS, YOUTH AND OTHERS ABOUT MENTAL HEALTH ISSUESS IN IN ADD LAW -- ADD LAWLESS SENTS AND ADULTS.

THE COMMISSIONER'S COURT CONGRATULATES MADISON LAMONT BEING CROWNED MISS HARRIS COUNTY AND BEST SUCCESS IN THE COMPETITION. [APPLAUSE].

>> THANK YOU. I WOULD LIKE TO THANK EVERYONE FOR RECOGNIZING ME TODAY.

IT IS TRULY AN HONOR TO REPRESENT AND SERVE THE HARRIS COUNTY.

>> WONDERFUL. >> THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH. [APPLAUSE].

>> LINA HIDALGO: MADISON, CONGRATULATIONS. BEST OF LUCK AT UNIVERSITY, AND I HOPE YOU WILL COME BACK AFTERWARDS. WE NEED ALL THE BEST PEOPLE IN OUR COMMUNITY. CONGRATULATIONS TO YOU AND TO YOUR FAMILY.

>> R. JACK CAGLE: YOUR HONOR, OUR SECOND ONE KIND OF GOES TO A FEW YEARS DOWN THE PATHWAY IN TERMS OF SERVICE, BUT IT IS NOT COMPLETELY UNRELATED TO MADISON'S PASSIONS AND THAT DEALS WITH OUR VETERANS. WHEREAS THE MISDEMEANOR VETERANS TREATMENT COURT A NONADVERSARIAL AND JUDICIAL MONITORED PRE-TRIAL INTERVENTION PROGRAM HAS TREATMENT AND COMMUNITY SUPERVISION TO HONOR VETERANS ARRESTED IN THE COUNTY.

WHERE THE MISDEMEANOR VETERANS COORDINATES WITH THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIR AND THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE AND THE HARRIS COUNTY COMMUNITY SUPERVISION AND CORRECTIONS DEPARTMENT TO ALLOW CLIE -- CLIENTS TO RECEIVE ASSESSMENTS AND TO PARTICIPATE IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF AN INDIVIDUALIZED TREATMENT PLAN BASED ON THEIR NEEDS.

AND WHEREAS THE MISDEMEANOR VETERANS TREATMENT COURT ENSURES CLIENTS FACING MISDEMEANOR CHARGES RECEIVE THE SUPPORT AND THE SERVICES THEY NEED.

WHEREAS THE MISDEMEANOR VETERANS TREATMENT COURT REMAINS DEDICATED HELPING VETERANS GRADUATE SINCE ITS FOUNDING FIVE YEARS AGO. THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT THE HARRIS COUNTY COMMISSIONER'S COURT HERE BY RECOGNIZE AND COMMENT THE MISDEMEANOR VETERAN'S TREATMENT COURT ON ITS FIFTH ANNIVERSARY FOR PLAYING AN INTEGRAL PART IN RESTORING THE LIVES OF THE VETERANS OF THE UNITED STATES ARMED FORCES IN OUR COMMUNITY. THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH. [APPLAUSE].

>> HI, I AM TREEN GNAW WILLIS. THANK YOU COMMISSIONER CAGLE.

I AM TRINA WILLIS WITH THE PROBATION DEPARTMENT. I HAVE HAD THE PLEASURE OF BEING WITH THIS BILL FOR SEVERAL YEARS AND ENJOY WORKING WITH CLIENTS FOR

CHANGE. >> I CURRENTLY SERVE AS A SUPERVISOR AND SERVE WITH PHAK

PHAK CUL -- FACULTY COURT. >> I AM THE PROGRAM COORDINATOR FOR THE VETERAN COURT PROGRAM AND MISDEMEANOR VETERAN COURT PROGRAM HERE IN HARRIS COUNTY AND I HAVE BEEN WORKING WITH THE PROGRAM FOR SIX YEARS NOW AND I WANT TO THANK YOU ON BEHALF OF -- I AM A VETERAN MYSELF AND ON BEHALF OF ALL OF THE VETERANS THAT WE SERVE, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR

RECOGNIZING US TODAY. >> THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE].

>> LINA HIDALGO: THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH. LET'S TAKE SOME PICTURES.

[00:37:50]

>> LINA HIDALGO: OKAY. LET'S KEEP GOING. I KNOW THERE ARE A LOT OF

[00:37:53]

THOSE ARE BOTH MY ITEM IS -- ITEMS. WE HAVE 12 DIAGNOSED CASES AND FOUR OF WHICH ARE IN HARRIS COUNTY. ALL HAVE BEEN TIED TO A RIVER CRUISE IN EGYPT. WE ARE ASKING ANYONE WHO HAS BEEN ON S -- MS-ASAR CRUISELINE TO SELF-QUARANTINE AND CONTACT US. WE HAVE BEEN WORKING INCREDIBLY CLOSELY, OUR HARRIS COUNTY PUBLIC HEALTH DEPARTMENT AND THE CITY OF HOUSTON PUBLIC HEALTH DEPARTMENT AND OTHER NEIGHBORING COUNTIES TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE INVESTIGATING THE CONTACTS AND TRACING THEM BEFORE THEY WERE DIAGNOSED.

OTHER FOLKS ARE POTENTIALLY GOING TO COME BACK AS POSITIVE.

WE ARE ALL WORKING TOGETHER EVEN THOUGH WE HAVE DIFFERENT JURISDICTIONS WE RECOGNIZE THE DISEASE DOESN'T RESPECT OUR POLITICAL BOUNDARIES. WE OBVIOUSLY HAVE OBSTACLES TO CONTAINMENT. WE ARE NOT A NATION THAT CAN SHUTDOWN ITS BORDERS.

WE ALSO HAVE A LACK OF TESTING CAPABILITY AS HAS BEEN DISCUSSED.

MANY TESTS WE ARE ABLE TO DO. RIGHT NOW WE HAVE TO REQUEST APPROVAL FROM THE STATE BEFORE THEY ALLOW US TO SEND A TEST TO THE CITY OF HOUSTON LAB OR THE CDC LAB IN ATLANTA.

THERE ARE FOLKS THAT WE BELIEVE SHOULD BE TESTING -- TESTED WAITING IN A CUE.

WHEN WE INCREASE OUR TESTING CAPABILITIES, WE EXPECT TO SEE AN INCREASE IN THE NUMBER OF DIAGNOSED CASES. IT IS LOGICAL. WE BELIEVE THERE IS BOUND TO

[00:40:02]

THAT IS SOMETHING WE NEED SUPPORT FROM FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT ON.

WE ARE WORKING WITH THE CITY AND WE ARE WORKING WITH THE MEDICAL CENTER TO SEE IF THERE IS ANYWAY TO SPEED UP OUR TESTING CAPABILITIES AND WE ARE DOING EVERYTHING POSSIBLE TO DO THAT. THAT'S A BIG CHALLENGE. NORMALLY WE RECEIVE SUPPORT FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO HELP COORDINATE. WE ARE DOING THAT FROM THE GROUND UP WITH THE CITY OF HOUSTON AND WITH FORT BEND. I JUST WANT TO BE TRANSPARENT WITH EVERYONE AND WITH MY COLLEAGUES AS TO THE OBSTACLES WE ARE FACING.

AND SO WITH THAT IN MIND WE HAVE TO THINK ABOUT NOT ONLY CONTAINMENT, BUT RESILIENCE AND MITT -- MITIGATION. WE HAVE TO RECOGNIZE THAT IT IS LIKELY, PERHAPS VERY LIKELY, THAT WE WILL FIND OURSELVES IN A POSITION WHERE THERE IS WIDESPREAD INCIDENTS OF CORONAVIRUS. NOW, IMPORTANT TO RECOGNIZE AT THIS POINT THE PLACES THAT ARE SEEING THE CORONAVIRUS SPREAD ARE SEEING 80% OF THE POPULATION -- OR 70% OF THE POPULATION -- BETWEEN 50 AND 70%. OF THE PERCENTAGE THAT HAS CORONAVIRUS, 80% OF THE CASES ARE LIKE A MILD VERSION OF THE FLU.

20% END UP BEING MORE SERIOUS, AND ESPECIALLY FOLKS OVER 80 ARE VULNERABLE TO THE DISEASE. AND SO IT IS IMPORTANT RIGHT NOW FOR US ALL TO RECOGNIZE AND SPREAD THE WORD THAT WE DON'T NEED THE YOUNG PEOPLE, YOU KNOW, CLOGGING UP THE HOSPITALS, FOR EXAMPLE, IF AND WHEN THIS EVER BECOMES MORE WIDE -- WIDESPREAD.

WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE ALL CAREFUL AND RECOGNIZE IT IS OLDER FOLKS MOST AT RISK, AND THOSE WITH PRE-EXISTING HEALTH CONDITION THAT'S PUT THEM AT MOST RISK, AND THAT'S SOMETHING WE HAVE TO ACCEPT AND RECOGNIZE RIGHT NOW BECAUSE WE ARE ALL IN THIS ULTIMATELY TOGETHER. AS FAR AS WHAT WE ARE DOING IN THE COUNTY, WE HAVE BEEN WORKING WITH ALL -- YOUR OFFICES, COMMISSIONERS WITH DIFFERENT PUBLIC HEALTH AND COUNTY DEPARTMENTS TO PREPARE FOR WHAT WE NEED RIGHT NOW AND FOR WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IN THE POSSIBILITY OF FURTHER SPREAD. IT IS ALL HANDS ON DECK ON BUILDING THE PUBLIC HEALTH CAPACITY FOR THE POSSIBILITY THAT THAT COULD HAPPEN.

BUILDING HEALTH CARE AND ALL OF THE HOSPITALS. WE ARE CONVENING ALL CEO'S AND WORKING WITH THE MEDICAL CENTER SO THEY ARE READY TO RECEIVE CASES AND TO ISOLATE CASES AND TO FOCUS ON THE FOLKS THAT REALLY NEED TO BE IN THE HOSPITAL AND NOT THOSE THAT DON'T. REGIONAL COORDINATION AS I MENTIONED WITH THE CITY AND WITH DIFFERENT COUNTIES. RESEARCH AND BEST PRACTICES. WHAT ARE WE LEARNING FROM OTHER PLACES AROUND THE STATE AND AROUND THE COUNTRY AND AROUND THE WORLD THAT HAVE SEEN THIS? WHAT DO WE KNOW ABOUT THE DISEASE AND WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE. PARTNERSHIPS WITH NONPROFITS AND BUSINESSES AND SCHOOLS TO ENSURE WE ARE ON THE SAME PAGE. DR. SHA IS IN AUSTIN AND REQUESTING FROM THE STATE THE NECESSITIES WE KNOW WE HAVE. AND SO MARK SLOAN IS HERE FROM THE OFFICE OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS MY COLLEAGUES MIGHT HAVE. ONE THING YOU WILL NOTICE IS PUBLIC HEALTH IS WORKING EXTREMELY CLOSELY WITH OEM. HE IS AWARE OF EVERYTHING PUBLIC HEALTH IS DOING.

THEY CAN ANSWER CLINICAL AND RESEARCH QUESTIONS. I'VE GOT A COUPLE MOTIONS HERE FOR YOU GUYS THAT I WANT TO JUST LAYOUT BEFORE WE OPEN IT UP FOR QUESTIONS.

ONE IS, OF COURSE, WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON CONTINUITY OF GOVERNMENT AND WE HAVE BEEN LOOKING AT PLANS FOR MONTHS. THE DEPARTMENTS ALL HAVE THEIR PLANS.

WE HAVE BEEN DISCUSSING THIS. RIGHT NOW WE ARE AT A POINT WHERE WE NEED TO REALLY DRILL DOWN INTO THE MA KNEW SHAW -- MINUTIA OF WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE IN PRACTICE.

IT TAKES EFFORT TO TRULY FOCUS AND MAKE SURE WE ARE READY. PREPARE FOR THE WORST.

HOPE FOR THE BEST. WE NEED TO PREPARE AND SO ON CONTINUITY OF GOVERNMENT -- THE OTHER THING IS THERE ARE ISSUES THAT WE ARE WORKING ON WHERE WE NEED SUPPORT FROM AROUND THE COUNTY. WE WILL NEED OUR ANALYSTS' OFFICE AND ON CONTINUITY OF GOVERNMENT WE WERE TALKING TO JOHN BLUNT AND HRM AND THE COUNTY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE.

THIS IS SOMETHING THEY CAN HELP US GET IN A DEEP DIVE WITH THE DEPARTMENT.

MY MOTION WILL BE ENSURING ALL OF THE COUNTY DEPARTMENTS ARE WORKING ALONGSIDE OEM AND PUBLIC HEALTH TO ENSURE PREPAREDNESS AND CONTINUITY OF GOVERNMENT.

THIS MAY REQUIRE DEPARTMENTS TO PRIORITIZE EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS OVER AND ABOVE NONESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS FOR THE FORESEEABLE FUTURE AND PERHAPS THE NEXT WEEK.

[00:45:03]

RIGHT NOW GIVEN HOW POROUS OUR SOCIETY IS, I MEAN, THE CDC IS LOOKING OUT FOR FLIGHTS FROM ITD -- FROM ITALY, BUT FOLKS ARE COMING IN FROM SEATTLE. AT SOME POINT WHAT WE NEED TO N I MAKINUREPLE WHO ARE SICK [INAUDIBLE] AND WE ARE DOING EVERYTHING WE CAN IN CONTACT TRACING AND WE ARE ALSO PLANNING FOR A SCENARIO THAT MIGHT BE HERE AND THAT FRANKLY IN WHICH 80% OF FOLKS ARE GONNA BE JUST FINE. 20% WILL STRUGGLE MORE.

WE ARE STILL TRYING TO FIGURE OUT THE OTHER INFORMATION ABOUT THE DISEASE.

SO WITH THAT, FOLKS, THAT'S SORT OF MY OVERVIEW. WE'VE GOT ALL OF THESE GUYS

HERE FOR Y'ALL. >> SO, JUDGE, I DO WANT TO HEAR FROM THEM.

CHAIR ONE WILL SPEAK UP FIRST. >> LINA HIDALGO: COMMISSIONER, REAL QUICK. THE JUDGE IS TELLING ME I MISSED ONE MORE MOTION I WILL MAKE AND THAT'S THE SECOND ITEM ON THE UH -- ON THE AGENDA AND THAT'S TO ALLOW THE DEPARTMENT PUBLIC HEALTH TO MAKE THE PURCHASES THEY NEED TO MAKE TO MAKE SURE THAT AS THEY RAMP UP THEY CAN DO THAT WITHOUT CONTINUING TO COME BACK.

IT IS PRETTY MUCH THE EXACT MOTION WE USED DURING ITC. THAT'S ANOTHER THING FOR YOU

TO KNOW. >> SO I WOULD JUST LIKE TO -- JUDGE, HEAR FROM THE DEPARTMENTS. ANYTHING THEY WOULD LIKE TO ADD?

>> YES, SIR. MATT MCCLINTON, PUBLIC COUNTY HEALTH, SIR.

LET ME GIVE UH BRIEF OVERVIEW OF WHAT THE DEPARTMENT HAS BEEN DOING SINCE ABOUT EARLY JANUARY. EARLY JANUARY WE WERE PICKING UP INTEL AND ANALYSIS OF THINGS GOING ON IN CHINA. IT IS PART OF OUR JOB TO WATCH THE GLOBAL IMPACTS OF HEALTH ACROSS THE NATION BECAUSE WE ARE A GLOBAL SOCIETY. WE FORMED AN INTERNAL READINESS TEAM WITH SELECTED GROUPS OF INDIVIDUALS IN OUR DEPARTMENT, EPIDEMIOLOGY, PREPAREDNESS RESPONSE, SCIENCE AND LEGAL. WE HAVE BEEN INTERNATIONALLY REVIEWING OUR PLANS AND OPS. WE HAVE BEEN MEETING WITH HARRIS COUNTY OFFICE OF SECURITY AND MANAGEMENT AND LOOKING AT WHAT IT MAY COME TO LOOK LIKE AND THE ACTIONS THAT NEED TO BE TAKEN. CURRENTLY WE ARE AT LEVEL 3 READINESS IN OUR DEPARTMENT WHICH MEANS WE DO CERTAIN TRIGGERS AND CERTAIN ACTIONS. WE ARE AT THAT POSITION RIGHT NOW. S JUDGE HIDALGO ACTIVATED THE EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT CENTER OPERATION AND WE ARE JOINING THE OPERATION. WE HAVE OUR PLANNING CELL EMBEDDED THERE IN THE EOC RIGHT NOW. IT IS SO WE ARE IN CLOSE COMMUNICATION. WE ARE SYNCE UP WITH OEM AND THE JUDGE HAS GIVEN HAUSE DIRECTION AND GUIDANCE -- HAS GIVEN US DIRECTION AND GUIDE AGAINST ON THINGS SHE WOULD LIKE FOR US TO ACCOMPLISH. WE HAVE INTEGRATED THE OBJECTIVES INTO OUR PROCESS AND WE ARE WORKING TO MAKE SURE WE GET THE OBJECTIVES MET.

>> THANK YOU. >> COMMISSIONER CAGLE? >> INTERNATIONALLY WE HAVE ALSO STOOD UP AN INTERNAL CALL TREE SYSTEM. WE WILL BE -- WE WILL BE LAUNCHING A FORMAL CALL CENTER IN COLLABORATION WITH HARRIS HEALTH SYSTEMS ASK A NURSE.

THE PHONE NUMBER FOR THE PUBLIC FOR CALLS FOR THAT TRIAGE LINE IS 713-634-1110 AND THE HOURS OF OPERATION ARE FROM 9:00 A.M. TO 7:00 P.M. SO THE NURSES THAT WILL BE STAFFING THOSE CALLS WILL BE AVAILABLE TO PROVIDE ENGLISH -- TO PROVIDE INFORMATION IN BOTH ENGLISH AND SPANISH TO SUPPORT QUESTIONS COMING FROM THE COMMUNITY. AND WE WILL BE ABLE TO ADDRESS THOSE QUESTIONS FROM PROVIDERS AND THEY WILL BE ABLE TO BE ROUTED APPROPRIATELY TO OUR INTERNAL CONTACT EPIDEMIOLOGY TEAM TO BE ABLE TO FIELD THE QUESTIONS AND THE CLINICAL QUESTIONS TO THE HARRIS HEALTH

SYSTEM. >> LINA HIDALGO: THANK YOU FOR WORKING ON THAT AND POINTING OUT TO MY COLLEAGUES THAT OF COURSE THE CITY HAS A LINE FOR IT.

PART OF THE REASON DR. SHAW IS IN UH -- AUSTIN AND ASKING US TO ROUTE TO 2-1-1 SO PEOPLE CAN CALL 2-1-1 AND BE ROUTED. BECAUSE THE STATE HASN'T DONE THAT YET WE ARE STANDING UP OUR LINES AND WE HAVE AGREED TO DIRECT TO EACH OTHER IF WE GET A CALL FROM SOMEONE NOT IN

OUR JURISDICTION. COMMISSIONER GARCIA? >> ADRIAN GARCIA: THANK YOU,

[00:50:01]

I AM WATCHING THE CONVERSATION AS IT RELATES TO THE IMPACT IN OUR ECONOMY.

THERE IS AN ARTICLE RELATED TO THE IMPACT TO OUR OIL AND GAS INDUSTRY.

THE POTENTIAL OF 1,000 JOBS BEING LOST. THERE IS STILL A BIT OF A BUMPY ERODE AHEAD OF US AS -- BUM -- BUMPY ROAD AHEAD OF US.

I THINK FROM THE ILLNESS STANDPOINT THE WORK OF CONTAINMENT -- CONTAINMENT PRIMARILY, IT IS -- YOU KNOW, I WANT PEOPLE TO KNOW THAT THAT'S A GOOD THING AND IT MIGHT BE A LITTLE UNCOMFORTABLE. IT MIGHT EVEN SCARE US A LITTLE BIT. YOU ARE HEARING MY SON OR DAUGHTER WAS TOLD TO WORK FROM HOME. LIKE THERE IS SOMETHING WRONG.

IT IS CONTAINMENT. IT IS A PRE -- PREVENTATIVE MEASURE.

THOSE THINGS WILL CREATE A BIT OF CONSTERNATION WITH FOLKS. I WANT TO SAY WE NEED THE INFORMATION ON A REGULAR BASIS SO PEOPLE UNDERSTAND SOME OF THE THINGS WE ARE DOING OR AS AN EFFORT TO KEEP PEOPLE FROM BEING AFFECTED AND FROM FINDING THEMSELVES IN HARM'S WAY. AND IT WILL BE A LITTLE DIFFERENT AND UNCOMFORTABLE.

>> LINA HIDALGO: THANK YOU, GENTLEMEN -- THANK YOU, YES. >> JUDGE, I WANT TO COMPLIMENT YOU AS WELL AND I WANT TO HEAR FROM THE OTHERS. I SAW WHERE THE CONTROLLER DID SOME ANALYSIS OF THE FINANCIAL IMPACT AND NOT JUST AS IT RELATES TO THIS, BUT WHAT IS HAPPENING WITH THE MARKET. AND WITH THE REALITY OF REVENUE P QUAS IT WOULD BE GOOD IF BUDGET MANAGE -- MANAGE MANAGEMENT -- YOU DON'T HAVE TO DO IT TODAY, BUT GIVE US A SENSE OF WHAT WE CAN EXPECT. OBVIOUSLY THERE IS NO PLAY -- PLAYBOOK FOR THIS AND YOU HAVE DONE A GREAT JOB. YOU HAVE DOING A GOOD JOB AT MANAGING IT. I DO THINK IT IS GOOD FOR THE PUBLIC AND FOR US TO HEAR FROM YOUR TEAM. THERE ARE OTHERS IN THE COUNTY WORKING ON IT AND FOR US TO BE AS SUPPORTIVE AS WE CAN FOLLOWING YOUR LEAD ON THESE. YOU CLEARLY ARE THE FACE OF

THE CRISIS AS IT RELATES TO THE COUNTY. >> LINA HIDALGO: LET'S HEAR FROM MARK AND JOHN BLUNT ON THE WORK YOU ARE DOING AT THE FACILITIES.

YEAH? >> JUDGE AND COMMISSIONERS, MARK SLOAN, HOMELAND SECURITY MANAGEMENT. AS THE JUDGE MENTIONED THERE IS A LOT OF THINGS GOING ON BEHIND THE SCENES, BUT IN ORDER FOR HARRIS COUNTY TO BE SUCCESSFUL WE OPERATE UNDER OUR THREE C'S, COMMUNICATION, COORDINATION AND COLLABORATION.

THE JUDGE TOUCHED ON MANY OF THOSE AREAS WHERE WE ARE WORKING ON NOT ONLY THE GOVERNMENT SECTOR, THE STATE AND FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AND THE FEDERAL AUTHORITIES, BUT IT IS ALSO ABOUT BUSINESSES. WITH OVER 4.7 MILLION RESIDENTS IN HARRIS COUNTY WHO ARE ALL PART OF THIS. WE HAVE TO WORK TOGETHER AND UNDERSTAND HOW WE PLAY A ROLE IF THAT. THAT'S HOW WE ARE TRYING TO ACHIEVE.

TO MAKE SURE PEOPLE HAVE TIMELY, ACCURATE, ACTIONABLE INFORMATION ABOUT THE VIRUS.

IT IS LIKE A HURRICANE, A RAIN EVENT. WE TELL YOU THERE WILL BE 10 INCHES OF RAIN IN HARRIS COUNTY. I CAN'T TELL YOU WHERE IT'S GONNA HAPPEN, BUT EVERYONE NEEDS TO PAY ATTENTION. OUR NEIGHBORHOODS FLOOD.

WILL IT BE MINE WHEN WE TALK ABOUT THAT TYPE OF A EVENT? WE DON'T KNOW.

[00:55:04]

IT'S ALL OF US. AND IT IS ABOUT THE ENTIRE STATE.

IT IS ABOUT THE ENTIRE NATION. WHEN WE ARE ONLY IN THIS, WE DO PULL FROM OTHER RESOURCES. WE UNDERSTAND IN COORDINATION WITH THE STATE THAT RESOURCES ARE GOING TO BE LIMITED AT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AND THE STATE GOVERNMENT.

THEY HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY THAT IS MUCH GREATER THAN OURS , BUT WE HAVE ONE RESPONSIBILITY AND THAT'S THE RESIDENTS OF HARRIS COUNTY. WE WILL DO EVERYTHING IN COLLABORATION WITH OUR PARTNERS TO MAKE SURE WE ARE LOOKING STRATEGICALLY AT THE NEXT STEP. WE ARE SUCCESSFUL WHEN WE DON'T DEAL IN THE TACTICS.

THAT IS TO MY PUBLIC HEALTH PARTNERS THAT DEAL WITH IT FROM DAY-TO-DAY.

WE ARE LOOKING TOWARD THE TOMORROW. ARE WE READY FOR THE NEXT PHASE? THAT'S WHAT WE ARE FOCUS OWED AND THAT'S WHAT WE ARE WORKING. THE JUDGE IS INVOLVED WITH ALL OF OUR MEETINGS.

SHE IS IN OUR OPERATIONS CENTER ON A DALEY -- DAILY BASIS AND SHE WILL SIT THROUGH THE OBJECTIVE MEETINGS. LAST NIGHT WE WERE NOT FINISHED UNTIL ALMOST 8:00 AT NIGHT, BUT IT ISN'T GOING TO STOP. IT ISN'T GOING TO END TOMORROW. IT IS SOMETHING WE HAVE TO CONTINUE TO WORK ON AND WORK ON TOGETHER WITH OUR PARTNERS. HAPPY TO ENTERTAIN ANY QUESTIONS YOU MIGHT HAVE AND I FOE WE ESTABLISHED NUMEROUS TASK FORCES AND ONE IS ON THE CONTINUITY OF GOVERNMENT AND THE CONTINUE KNEW TEE OF OPERATIONS WITH ALL OF OUR COUNTY AGENCIES THAT WAS PUT TOGETHER WITH ENGINE INTOERING AND THE COUNTY ATTORNEY AND

WITH BUDGET MANAGEMENT AND HR. >> COMMISSIONER CAGLE HAS A

QUESTION. >> R. JACK CAGLE: YOUR HONOR, I THINK I MET HIM TRYING TO GET SOME RESOURCES ON FLAT BED TRUCKS. AND I WANT TO COMMEND HARRIS COUNTY FOR ASSEMBLING ONE OF THE FINEST TEAMS IN THE COUNTRY.

I AM SO PROUD OF OUR EMERGENCY -- THE OFFICE OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AND, JUDGE, THEY ARE THE UNSUNG HEROS, AND I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR KEEPING THEM TOGETHER AND ON TASK AND WORKING THROUGH THEM AND WITH THEM IN THIS PROCESS.

YOU LEARN TO TRUST THEM WHEN YOU STAND KNEE DEEP IN WATER WITH THEM.

AND NOW WITH THIS NEW SET OF CHALLENGES AHEAD OF US TO WHICH I THINK YOU HAD A COURSE ON THAT AT THE COMMUNITY OF EMERGENCY RESPONSE TRAINING RODEO THAT YOU JUST HAD AWHILE BACK. THEY ARE READY AND OUR COMMUNITY PARTNERS ARE READY YOU CAN BE PREPARED FOR THE UNKNOWN AND I WANT TO JOIN THE JUDGE IN THANKING YOU FOR THE

GOOD WORK THAT Y'ALL ARE DOING. >> LINA HIDALGO: THANK YOU.

JOHN? >> THEY PUT OUT NOTICES AND THEY ARE BEING REPLACED WITH MORE PERMANENT LOOKING NOTICES. THEY ARE INSTALLING THE HAND SANITIZER DISPENSERS AT ALL FACILITIES RIGHT NOW AS WE SPEAK.

WE STARTED THE ENHANCED CLEANING PROTOCOL FOR THE BUILDINGS AND STARTING WITH THE BUILDINGS WHERE MOST PEOPLE COME IN AND ROUTINE CLEANINGS AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE. WE DEVELOPED A PROTOCOL FOR MY EMPLOYEES THAT ACTUALLY ARE WORKING IN CORRECTIONAL FACILITIES. THE LAST THING YOU WANT IS AN ELECTRICIAN GOING TO THE JAIL AND BRINGING THE DISEASE TO THE JAIL.

WE HAVE A PROTOCOL FOR THAT WE HAVE ENACTED AND WE WORKED WITH PURCHASING ALL ON CALL CONTRACTS IN CASE WE HAVE TO SANITIZE THE FLOOR OR FACILITY.

>> LINA HIDALGO: DO YOU WANT TO TALK ABOUT HOW YOU ARE WORKING WITH ALL LAW

ENFORCEMENT? >> OUR PLAN IS TO WORK WITH EVERYBODY.

WE WILL BE WORKING WITH THE DEPARTMENTS AND LOOK AT EACH ONE OF THEIR OPERATIONS AND HOW WE CAN ASSIST THEM AND UNDERSTANDING THE RISK. WE HAVE A GROUP OF PUBLIC HEALTH PEOPLE AND THEY ARE GOING AND LOOKING AT THE DIFFERENT OPERATIONS.

FOR INSTANCE, THE TAX OFFICE. THEY ARE COLLECTING MONEY. THE TOLL ROAD COLLECTORS WHO RL COLLECTING MONEY. WE ARE LOOKING AT ALL OF THOSE OPERATIONS.

>> LINA HIDALGO: THANK YOU. AND THE POINT IS INEVITABLY AT SOME POINT AS THIS SPREADS WE WILL HAVE TO SCALE BACK TO SOME DEGREE, BUT TO THE EXTENT WE DO IS THOROUGH PLANNING BEYOND JUST HAVING THE PLANS ON PAPER. AND WE CAN CONTINUE THE

OPERATIONS AND COME BACK ONCE THIS HAS PASSED. >> JUDGE, I DID WANT A LITTLE

[01:00:02]

I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'VE HAD EVERYTHING REVIEWED. I APPROVE THE CONCEPT.

I JUST WANT TO HAVE THAT. >> A COUPLE OF FACTORS. ONE, FIRST ALL WE PUT OUT THAT OUR BALANCE SHEET IS EXTREMELY HEALTHY RIGHT NOW. AND THE BUDGET WE PASSED A COUPLE WEEKS AGO HAS ROUGHLY $250 BILLION SET ASIDE FOR THESE KIND OF EVENTS.

WE TALKED ABOUT AN ECONOMIC EVENT AND WE TALKED ABOUT A HURRICANE-TYPE EVENT.

THIS IS A LITTLE DIFFERENT SO OUR BALANCE SHEET THAT WE HAVE BEEN WORKING ON IS EXTREMELY HEALTHY. SO JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THE EMPLOYEES KNOW THAT.

WE ARE IN GOOD SHAPE ON THAT. AS FAR AS THIS -- THIS IS LIKE A HURRICANE FOR US.

WE WORK WITH THE PURCHASING AGENT AND WE WORK WITH THE DIFFERENT DEPARTMENT HEADS AND THOSE EXPENDITURES WE MONITOR THEM CAREFULLY. THEY GET PAID OUT OF THE FUND

AND WE WILL CONTINUE TO DO THAT BUDGET. >> AND COMMISSIONER, THE WAY IT WILL WORK IS WE HAVE THE ASSISTANT COUNTY ATTORNEYS ASSIGNED TO PURCHASING EACH AND EVERY PURCHASE WILL BE REVIEWED BY AN ASSISTANT COUNTY ATTORNEY TO MAKE SURE

THAT WE ARE IN FULL COMPLIANCE WITH THE LAW. >> THANK YOU, JUDGE.

I KNOW THAT WE ARE -- THERE ARE A LOT OF DECLARATIONS AT THIS TIME.

WILL THIS PROCESS ENABLE THE COUNTY TO EXERCISE AS EXPEDITED AS WE CAN WITH THE PURCHASING PROCESS? PART OF WHAT IS CHALLENGING US AND OTHER GOVERNMENTS IS HAVING TO GO OUT AND GET THREE BIDS AND ASK FOR 30 DAYS AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE.

WILL THIS ALLOW US TO BE MORE EFFICIENT IN THAT REGARD? >> IT SHOULD.

WE WILL WORK WITH THE COUNTY ATTORNEY TO USE THE PUBLIC HEALTH AND HEALTH AND SAFETY STATUTE. WE'LL SPEED UP THE PROCESS. WE HAVE DONE IT IN THE PAST.

WE WILL BRING IT BACK TO THE EMERGENCY ITEM. >> AND I WOULD JUST SAY, JUDGE, THAT, YOU KNOW, WE ARE -- EBOLA, 9/11 THOSE WERE ALL NEW NORMALS, HARVEY.

THOSE ARE NEW NORM THAT'S WE ARE ALL FACED WITH. RIGHT NOW THE SUPPLY IS GETTING TIGHT FOR A LOT OF THE PRODUCTS THAT WE ARE NEEDING. WE OUGHT TO BE THINKING ABOUT WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE IN THE FUTURE AND MAYBE EVEN CONSIDER DOING SOME THINGS NOW BEFORE WE END UP HITTING A BRICK WALL IN TERMS OF HAVING NO SUPPLIES FOR THE THINGS WE NEED TO DO.

>> LINA HIDALGO: ABSOLUTELY, COMMISSIONER. I KNOW THESE GUYS ARE NODDING BECAUSE THAT'S THE KIND OF CONVERSATION WE ARE HAVING. WE NEED TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE ENOUGH SUPPLIES. AS MARK SAID, WE NEED TO GET AHEAD OF WHATEVER COMES.

WE ARE NOT CATCHING UP. WE ARE HAVING THE EXACT CONVERSATION ON THE DECLARATION EVERY DAY I REEVALUATE IT AS A TIME FOR DECLARATION.

WE ARE TALKING ABOUT GUIDANCE AND WE CONTINUALLY GET QUESTIONS ABOUT MASS GATHERINGS AND ABOUT OLDER FOLKS AND ABOUT ALL OF THE THINGS OTHER COMMUNITIES ARE DOING AND WE ARE REGROUPING TODAY TO GET ON THE SAME PAGE ON THE ADVISORY.

YES, I APPRECIATE THAT. I WOULD LIKE TO ADD IF YOU FOLKS HAVE ANY OTHER IDEAS LIKE THIS, PLEASE DO CALL ME OR CALL THEM. WE CAN DO IT MORE OFTEN IF IT WORKS FOR MY COLLEAGUES. I KNOW YOUR STAFFS ARE ALL INVOLVED.

WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE BRINGING ALL OF THE BEST IDEAS.

>> THERE IS SUCH A LARGE UNINSURED POPULATION, IF SOMEBODY WANTS TO BE TESTED HOW DOES THAT WORK? WHAT CHALLENGES DO WE HAVE BECAUSE WE HAVE SUCH A LARGE

UNINSURED POPULATION IN OUR REGION. >> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THAT QUESTION. WE HAVE BEEN IN CONVERSATION WITH THE HEALTH SYSTEM TO ADDRESS THOSE SPECIFIC POPULATIONS AS WELL. WE WILL BE ABLE TO SPECIFICALLY ADDRESS SOME OF THOSE INCOMING CALLS AND ON THOSE CALLS THEY WILL BE ABLE TO TAKE THOSE FURTHER DISCUSSIONS AND BE ABLE TO WRAP THEM APPROPRIATELY FOR

TESTING. >> AND THE TEST IS FREE RIGHT NOW, COMMISSIONER.

AND SO WHAT I HAVE ASKED THEM IS AS WE DEVELOP MORE TESTING CAPABILITIES, IF THOSE WERE TO COME FROM PRIVATE HOSPITALS, WE STILL HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ALLOW THE FREE ONES

[01:05:03]

FOLKS WHO ARE BREAD WINNERS, IF THEY NEED TO BE QUARANTINED AND THEY ARE THE ONLY SOURCE OF INCOME FOR YOUR FAMILY, WE ARE WORKING WITH DAPHNE AND CSD TO SEE WHAT WE COULD DO SO THEY CAN STAY HOME AND IF WE END UP THERE, IT WILL NOT BE SO MUCH OF A QUARANTINE.

IT WILL BE ABOUT MITIGATION AND BUILDING A RESILIENCE COMMUNITY.

>> JUDGE, IF I COULD I WANT PRE SINK 2 FOLKS -- PRECINT2 FOLKS TO KNOW THAT THAT I HAVE RAMIREZ PED UP -- I HAVE RAMPED UP MY STAFF FOR SANITATION PROCESSES AND WE ARE HAVING A CONVERSATION ABOUT THE STATUS OF THE SENIOR PROGRAMS. I GOT A CALL AND IT WILL BE THOUGHTFUL AND IN COORDINATION WITH YOUR OFFICE, JUDGE AND WITH OUR HEALTH PROFESSIONALS AS WELL. ALSO WANT TO THANK DR. -- THANK THE DOCTOR. HE IS AT THE GROUND AND GOD LOVE HIM.

WE HAVE SPOKEN AND HE IS ALREADY WORKING ON THIS AS WELL.

IT IS GOOD FOR PEOPLE TO KNOW JUST HOW IMPRESSIVE THE OPERATIONS YOU ARE NAVIGATING.

THANK YOU. >> LINA HIDALGO: HE HAS BEEN GREAT AND THEY ARE TRYING TO DO IT HAND IN HAND WITH THE CITY AS WELL SO WE ARE NOT DUPLICATING.

SO THE MOTIONS I HAVE HERE, THE FIRST IS ITEM THREE ON PAGE 19.

SO THAT'S WHAT COMMISSIONER CAGLE IS ASKING ABOUT. THIS WAS DRAFTED BY BUDGET MANAGEMENT. REQUEST TO AUTHORIZE DEPARTMENTS TO MAKE ANY NECESSARY PURCHASES TO EXPEDITE THE COUNTY'S RESPONSE TO COVID-19 HEALTH CONCERNS.

>> SO MOVED. >> LINA HIDALGO: ALL RIGHT. DEPARTMENTS ARE ADVISED TO WORK WITH A PURCHASING AGENT AND SUBTRACT ALL COSTS INCURRED REVIEWED BY COMMISSIONER A -- COMMISSIONERS' COURT AND REAM REIMBURSEMENT.

WE HAVE A MOTION. A SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR? MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY. AND NOW ON UNDERNEATH ITEM A-2 ON PAGE 19 I HAVE A COUPLE OF MOTIONS THE FIRST IS HARRIS COUNTY AND ITS DEPARTMENTS ARE TO SUPPORT AND WORK IN CONJUNCTION WITH OEM AND DEPARTMENT OF HARRIS HEALTH TO ENSURE CONTINUITY OF COOPERATIONS IN THE EVENT OF WIDESPREAD CORONAVIRUS CONTAGEON.

IT IS OVER AND ABOVE NONESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS. >> SO MOVED.

>> JUDGE, DO YOU HAVE A WRITTEN VERSION OF THAT? >> LINA HIDALGO: YES, I CAN

GIVE THAT TO YOU WHEN WE COME BACK TO IT. >> YOU SAID THERE WERE SEVERAL.

IS THERE A PACKET OF WRITTEN ONES ? >> LINA HIDALGO: WE'LL GET.

IT DO YOU WANT TO JUST HOLD OFF? LIKE I SAID, WE WERE WORKING ON THIS AT 8:00 LAST NIGHT. SO HONESTLY WE'LL GET THEM. WE CAN BEGIN THE OTHER DISCUSSION IF YOU DON'T FEEL COMFORTABLE APPROVING IT RIGHT NOW.

>> I JUST WANT TO EITHER HEAR IT AGAIN OR READ IT. MY OLD DAYS AND MY FORMER

TRAINING IS IT IS GOOD TO SEE IT IN PRINT. >> LINA HIDALGO: YEAH, NO, THAT MAKES SENSE. THERE IS THAT ONE AND THEN I WILL READ THE OTHER ONE AND WE WILL GET THEM ALL IN PRINT FOR YOU GUYS. SO THE FINAL MOTION IS TO INSTRUCT HUMAN RESOURCES RISK MANAGEMENT IN CONSULTATION WITH THE COUNTY ATTORNEY TO IMPLEMENT A PROCEDURE FOR COMPENSATING EMPLOYEES IN THE EVENT OF A DISRUPTION CAUSED BY COVID-19. THOSE ARE THE OTHER TWO AND WE'LL GET THEM IN WRITING.

>> WE'VE ALREADY GOT ASSISTANT COUNTY ATTORNEYS ASSIGNED TO THIS ENTIRE PROJECT, THE COVID PROJECT. AS I UNDERSTAND THE MOTION, IT IS JUST TO COME UP WITH A POLICY OF PROCEDURES AND HELP COUNTY DEPARTMENTS WHICH IS IN EFFECT WHAT WE DO ANYWAY.

>> THAT'S AS IT RELATES TO COMP TIME, RIGHT? >> YEAH.

I DON'T THINK IT IS PART OF THE MOTION, BUT I HEARD THE JUDGE MENTION ANYTHING -- NEGATIVE COMP TIME THAT HAS BEEN USED IN THE PAST AS A WAY TO COMPENSATE FOLKS WHO DON'T

HAVE COMP TIME WHEN THEY HAVE TO GO HOME. >> WHO WILL ESTABLISH THE

LIMITS? >> I THINK THAT WILL BE PART OF THE PROCEDURE WE'LL HAVE TO

WORK THROUGH WITH HR AND BUDGET MANAGEMENT AND OTHERS. >> SO BASICALLY IT IS COMING

BACK. >> IT WOULD HAVE TO IN A SENSE OF TRANSPARENCY AND MAKE SURE

[01:10:03]

FORWARD WITH THIS. >> OBVIOUSLY IT IS SOMETHING THAT IS HIGHLY IMPORTANT AS

FAR AS THE DOCTORS' OFFICES ARE CONCERNED. >> ABSOLUTELY.

>> SO WE REALLY NEED IT SPELLED OUT CAREFULLY. >> CORRECT.

>> AND DID YOU HAVE A CHANCE TO REVIEW THE THREE MOTIONS? >> I DON'T KNOW IF WE HAVE OR NOT. WE HAVE OTHER ASSISTANT COUNTY ATTORNEYS WHO HAVE BEEN PARTICIPATING IN THESE. I'M CONFIDENT THE MOTIONS WILL COMPLY WITH THE LAW.

>> JUDGE, WOULD YOU HAVE AN AN AN -- AN OBJECTION TO APPROVE THEM SUBJECT TO REVIEW OF THE COUNTY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE SO THEY CAN HAVE A CHANCE TO REVIEW THEM BEFORE WE LAUNCH

THEM INTO THE ETHER? >> AND THAT'S NOT TO SAY, COMMISSIONER, WE HAVEN'T REVIEW THEY HAD -- REVIEWED THEM. I JUST PERSONALLY DON'T KNOW

IF WE HAVE. >> AND WITH THE SHORT TURN AROUND FOR MEETINGS AT 8:00 LAST NIGHT IT IS HARD FOR US TO ACTUALLY SEE. WE DO UNDERSTAND THAT THERE IS AN EMERGENCY COMPONENT. WE DO NEED TO MAKE SURE WE DO IT LEGALLY.

>> WE WILL BE HERE AWHILE TODAY, SO LET ME SEE WHAT IS GOING ON FOR TODAY.

>> WE CAN DO THAT. >> LINA HIDALGO: THAT'S WHAT THEY ARE DOING.

THEY ARE PRINTING THEM OUT AND WHEN THEY COME BACK WE WILL DISCUSS AND THEY ARE SUBJECT TO REVIEW. THEY REVIEWED EVERYTHING, BUT I DON'T MIND ADDING THAT IN.

THAT'S ON CORONAVIRUS. THANK YOU GUYS SO MUCH. APPRECIATE IT.

>> THANK Y'ALL. >> THANK YOU. >> LINA HIDALGO: WE WILL MOVE ON TO ITEMS 20C-2 AND 20C-3 ON PAGE 20 AND SUPPLEMENTAL ITEMS 6 ON PAGE 21 RELATED TO THE CONSTABLES. LOOKS LIKE WE HAVE A LOT OF SPEAKERS SO LET'S RUN THROUGH

THE ITEMS AND THEN CALL THROUGH THE SPEAKERS. >> JUDGE ON THE ITEM I WANT TO MAKE A NOTE THAT A REVISED BACK UP WAS CIRCULATED IN RELATION TO THESE ITEMS. AND I WANT TO NOTE FOR THE RECORD THAT THE STUDY ON THE ITEM OF C2 IS LIMITED TO NEIGHBORHOOD CONTRACTS. THE STUDY WILL NOT REVIEW CONTRACTS WITH ENTITIES LIKE SCHOOL DISTRICTS OR THE TOLL ROAD AUTHORITY AND I THINK IT WILL BE LIMITED -- VERY LIMITED FOR WHETHER THE CONTRACTS ARE IN PLACES LIKE THE CITY OF HOUSTON.

THERE ARE ALSO A COUPLE OF CHANGES THAT I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE THAT INSTEAD OF THE MAY 19TH DEADLINE, THE DIRECTOR OF THE JUSTICE ADMINISTRATION DEPARTMENT IS TO RETURN TO COURT ON APRIL 28TH WITH A PROGRESS REPORT SO WE MAY BE ABLE TO SET A MORE FIRM DEADLINE, A TIMELINE. AND ALSO WANT TO PUT ON THE RECORD THAT THE DIRECTOR HAS LATITUDE UNDER THIS ITEM TO SEEK PARTNERSHIPS WITH ACADEMIC INSTITUTIONS TO ASSIST IN THIS STUDY. AND THEN I WANT TO QUICKLY GO OVER WHAT THE STUDY WILL INVOLVE. NUMBER ONE, IT WILL LOOK AT THE COST OF THE CONTRACTS. NUMBER TWO, IT WILL LOOK AT WHETHER THE SERVICES PERFORMED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONTRACT AND HOW THE HOURS ARE TRACKED FOR THE DEPUTIES.

THIRDLY, WHERE ARE THE CONTRACTS THAT EXIST. AND IT WILL LOOK AT WHAT OCCURS WHEN A CONTRACT IS TERMINATED AND THE BCS ASSOCIATED WITH THOSE EMPLOYEES AND THE BUDGET OF THE CONSTABLE AND THE SHERIFF.

SO THAT'S ON THE STUDY FOR THE CONSTABLES -- ON THE DEPUTY CONTRACT.

THE OTHER STUDY WHICH IS THE DISPATCH STUDY AND BASED ON WHAT I HAVE FROM THE CONSTABLE'S OFFICE THERE IS A POSSIBILITY WE MAY EVEN INCLUDE THE PROPERTY ROOM.

IT IS TO DO AN ANALYSIS OF TECHNOLOGICAL SOLUTIONS AND POTENTIAL DEFICIENCIES IN STAFFING AND THE IMPACT ON LAW ENFORCEMENT OPERATIONS AND POTENTIAL COST SAVINGS.

THE STUDY WILL ALSO MAKE A RECOMMENDATION ON IMPLEMENTATION AND INCLUDING THE TIMELINE AS WELL. SO I JUST WANT TO BE CLEAR THAT THERE IS NO ITEM ASSOCIATED WITH THIS STUDY TODAY TO LAUNCH THE STUDY THAT WILL SPECIFICALLY FOCUS ON CANCELING THE CONTRACTS AND ELIMINATING THE PROGRAMS. BUT WHEN YOU ARE LOOKING AT A REVENUE CAP, I THINK IT IS IMPORTANT FOR US TO BE REALLY TRANSPARENT AND LOOK AT ALL ASPECTS AND NOT TO SAY THAT THESE ARE JUST A STUDY. WHEN THE STUDY IS COMPLETED

[01:15:09]

THANK YOU, JUDGE. >> AND DOES THE TIMELINE CHANGE ON MAY 19TH APPLY

TO ALL? >> YES. >> I'LL LET THE DEPARTMENT

DECIDE ON THE RECOMMENDATION. >> IN TERMS OF FUNDING, IS THAT IN THE DEPARTMENT, SUFFICIENT FOR THE DEPARTMENT TO DO OR DO THEY COME BACK IF NEEDED?

>> CORRECT. >> THIS IS IT IN WRITING? >> LINA HIDALGO: COMMISSIONER

RADACK? >> STEVE RADACK: THE WORD THAT CONCERNS ME IS TRANSPARENT.

WE ALREADY ARE TRANSPARENT. WE ALREADY HAVE A SYSTEM THAT -- WE ALREADY HAVE A SYSTEM -- WE ALREADY HAVE A SYSTEM -- [APPLAUSE]. WE HAVE A SYSTEM THAT TRACKS EMPLOYEES. MR. SAWYER, YOU ARE INVOLVED. THE AUDITOR'S OFFICE IS CERTAINLY INVOLVED. ONCE AGAIN YOU SAY THE WORD SHARE -- SHERIFF.

MY POINT IS THIS X RIGHT NOW WE HAVE ALMOST $8 MILLION OF THE STUDY GOING ON.

ONE OF WHICH DEALS WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT. THE QUESTION IS WHY ARE WE NOT COMPLETING SOME OF THE STUDIES WE HAVE GOING ON FOR EXAMPLE $658,000 STUDY WHICH IS THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE REVIEW WHICH INCLUDES LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS? I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHEN WE HAVE SOME PROGRAM THAT I THINK ENJOYS TREMENDOUS SUCCESS, WHY ARE WE ALL OF A SUDDEN GOING TO STUDY THAT WHEN WE HAVE A WHOLE PAGE OF OTHER STUDIES GOING ON, SOME OF WHICH ARE FOUR AND FIVE MONTHS BEHIND? THAT DOESN'T MAKE ANY SENSE TO ME. IS THERE ANYBODY HERE THAT IS AGAINST THE CONTRACT DEPUTY PROGRAM WHETHER IT IS THE SHERIFF OR THE CONSTABLES ? IS THERE ANYBODY HERE THAT WANTS TO SPEAK ABOUT HOW BAD THIS PROGRAM IS? I WANT TO JUST SAY THIS, YOU AND I OPPOSE. WE HAVE BEEN OVER THERE FOR YEARS.

>> TRY -- I MEAN, SOME PEOPLE HAVE TRIED SNAPPING, BUT WE NEED TO CONTINUE THE CONVERSATION AND IF WE CONSTANTLY HAVE NOISE WE WILL BE HERE UNTIL TOMORROW.

I THINK IT IS CLEAR WHERE EVERYBODY STANDS. LET'S TRY AND JUST LET PEOPLE SPEAK. COMMISSIONER, YOU WERE GOING TO SAY SOMETHING.

>> THANK YOU, JUDGE. I THINK I NEED TO RESPOND TO THAT.

FIRST OF ALL, YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT I FEEL. >> YES, WE DO.

WE HAVE SEEN IT EVER SINCE YOU HAVE TAKEN OFFICE AS COMMISSIONER AND WHEN YOU WERE

SHERIFF. >> NO. LOOK, I WORK WELL WITH THE

CONSTABLE WHEN'S I WAS IN OFFICE. >> LINA HIDALGO: WE ARE ON SESSION FOR COMMISSIONER'S COURT. WE HAVE TO BE RESPECTFUL OF THE PROCEEDINGS AND THE DISCUSSION. EVERYONE IS GONNA GET A CHANCE TO SPEAK. WE ARE ALL GONNA BE HERE TO HEAR EVERYBODY SPEAK.

>> YOU'RE TRYING TO MAKE THIS PERSONAL, AND IT IS NOT. THIS IS ABOUT HOW WE ARE SPENDING OUR MONEY AND MAKING SURE THAT IF THE COMMUNITY IS A PARTNER IN THIS PROGRAM, LET'S MAKE SURE THIS THING IS RUN RIGHT AND RUN WELL. THERE ARE SOME ITEMS THAT I THINK THE STUDY WILL HELP US BETTER UNDERSTAND LIKE, YOU KNOW, HOW DO WE BACK FILL WHEN THERE IS VACANCIES RELATED TO THE PROGRAM. DEPUTIES TAKE VACATIONS AND THEY CALL IN SICK AND THEY GET HURT AND THEY GO TO TRAINING. PART OF THE CONTRACTS HAVE THE COVERAGE NECESSARY FOR THAT THE GEO SHADING THAT OCCURS WHEN THE CONTRACTS ARE IMPLEMENTED AND SPECIFICALLY IN THE UNINCORPORATED AREAS OF THE COUNTY.

WHEN THEY ARE GEO SHADED THERE IS CHALLENGES WITH DATA COLLECTION AND INFORMATION SHARING AND WITH INVESTIGATIONS THAT OCCUR. THIS IS A CONVERSATION YOU AND

I HAD, MARK, WHEN WE HAD LUNCH TOGETHER. >> YES, SIR.

AND I BOUGHT INTO A LOT OF IT UNTIL I GOT TO MY OFFICE AND SAW WHAT YOU PUT ON THE

[01:20:02]

>> AGAIN, IT IS IMPORTANT FOR US TO LOOK AT THESE ITEMS BECAUSE ALTHOUGH WE FEEL GOOD ABOUT THE PROGRAM WE DO NOT HAVE ANYTHING -- THANK YOU. I LOVE YOU TOO WE DON'T HAVE ANYTHING THAT IS EFFECTIVELY ESTABLISHED FOR HOW THIS PROGRAM RUNS REGARDLESS WHO IS IN IT WHETHER IT IS THE SHARE -- SHERIFF OR THE CONSTABLES.

IT IS TO BRING THE OTHER STUDIES THAT HAVE BEEN DONE. GREG CRAFTED ONE YEARS AGO.

THE KINDER INSTITUTE HAS DONE ONE AND I THINK THEY ARE HERE TODAY.

I DID ONE THROUGH THE GREATER HOUSTON PARTNERSHIP OF THE UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON SEVERAL YEARS AGO. THIS THING, AS MUCH AS YOU WOULD LIKE TO MAKE IT, IS ABOUT HOW WE'RE WORKING WITH -- WORKING PUBLIC SAFETY IN THIS COUNTY.

I AM JUST REALLY SURPRISED WITH WHEN IT RELATES TO A PROGRAM THAT WE ARE COUNTING ON TO PROVIDE PUBLIC SAFETY RESOURCES WHY THERE IS SO MUCH PUSH BACK ON A STUDY THAT MACON OFFICIAL -- MAY CONFIRM EVERYTHING YOU ARE SAYING RIGHT NOW OR IT MIGHT TELL US WHERE WE CAN IMPROVE THE FUNDING. THAT IS IT.

>> LINA HIDALGO: YES, COMMISSIONER. >> I DEFER TO COMMISSIONER

RADACK FOR RIGHT NOW. >> I KNOW THIS IS -- [INAUDIBLE].

I KNOW THIS IS A PERM -- A PERSONAL VENDETTA BY YOU. YOU HAVE CONTINUOUSLY OVER THE YEARS CRITICIZED CONSTABLES, THE CONSTABLE PROGRAM AND I WILL TAKE ISSUE WITH YOU THAT YOU DID NOT COPS WITH THE CONSTABLE WHEN'S YOU WERE SHERIFF WITH WHAT IS GOING ON TODAY. THERE IS NOT SOME BIG BROKEN THING HERE.

WHAT IT IS IS I THINK YOU NEED TO EDUCATE YOURSELF ON HOW WELL THE PROGRAM WORKS PERSONALLY BECAUSE I DON'T WANT TO FUND A PERSONAL VENDETTA BY YOU.

WE HAVE MILLIONS OF DOLLARS WORTH OF STUDIES GOING ON. IT IS TOTALLY UNNECESSARY.

IF YOU WANT TO STUDY THIS, IF YOU HAVE A COMPLAINT ABOUT IT, IF YOU THINK YOU HAVE SOMETHING YOU CAN OFFER TO MAKE IT BETTER, YOU OUGHT TO DO THAT.

YOU SHOULDN'T PUT A THOUSAND DEPUTIES IN TURMOIL. YOU SHOULDN'T DO THAT.

YOU SHOULD -- IF YOU HAVE A PROBLEM I THINK EVERYBODY INVOLVED ALL 9 LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES OR ACTUALLY EIGHT, WOULD WORK TO HEAR WHAT YOU THINK WOULD MAKE IT BETTER.

WHY ARE YOU TRYING TO HOLDOVER THESE PEOPLE'S HEAD A STUDY -- AND I REALLY DON'T CARE WHAT THE KINDER INSURANCE TUT HAS TO SAY -- INSTITUTE HAS TO SAY.

[APPLAUSE]. BASED ON THE KINDER INSTITUTE TWO OF THE LAW ENFORCEMENT TECHNIQUES AND THE PICTURES THEY USE IN THEIR REPORT HAPPENS TO BE A BICYCLE PATROL AND A HORSE PATROL. I GUESS YOU CAN SAY IT IS NECESSARY.

IT DOESN'T WORK FOR MUCH -- MANY SQUARE MILES OF THIS COUNTY AND CITY, I ASSURE YOU THAT. SO, YOU KNOW, KINDER CAN SAY WHAT THEY WANT AND EVERYBODY CAN GET TOGETHER INFOR FALLLY -- INFORMALLY, FORMALLY AND TRY TO WORK THIS OUT AS FAR AS, HEY, HOW CAN WE MAKE IT BETTER? I HAVEN'T IN YEARS RECEIVED ANY INFORMATION FROM SOMEBODY IN THE PUBLIC CRITICIZING THE CONTRACT DEPUTY PROGRAM.

IF YOU HAVE SOME CRITICISM PERSONALLY, THAT'S ONE THING. SHOW ME THE CITIZENS -- SHOW ME THE CITIZEN THAT'S ARE CRITICIZING. THEY'RE NOT THERE.

EVERYBODY -- YOU KNOW, EVERYBODY HAS A COMMENT ABOUT THIS PROGRAM.

WE RECEIVED 150, 200 E-MAILS OR WHATEVER SAYING HOW GREAT IT IS.

SO WHY ARE WE GONNA SPEND THE TAXPAYERS' MONEY WHEN WE STILL GOT ALL THESE STUDIES GOING ON, ALL THESE STUDIES GOING ON AND WHAT ARE THEY ACCOMPLISHING? MOST OF THEM REALLY HARDLY EVER GET STARTED. YOU'VE BROUGHT UP RECENTLY ABOUT ALL OF THESE COMMITTEES AND YOU WANT TO KNOW WHAT THEY ARE DOING.

A BUNCH OF THEM ARE DOING NOTHING BECAUSE THEY DON'T KNOW IF THEY ARE -- WHAT THEY ARE EVEN SUPPOSED TO DO. I WOULD SAY THIS. THIS IS TOTALLY UNNECESSARY AND THIS STUDY OF THE CONTRACT DEPUT TO MAKE SOME PERSONAL OBSERVATIONS AND TRY TO CHANGE IT, GO AHEAD. BUT DON'T PUT CITIZENS AND POLICE OFFICERS UNDER STRESS WORRYING ABOUT SOMETHING THAT IS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT TO THEM.

[01:25:02]

[APPLAUSE]. >> LINA HIDALGO: THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER.

COMMISSIONER CAGLE AND THEN COMMISSIONER GARCIA. >> R. JACK CAGLE: YOUR HONOR, WHEN I FOUND OUT ABOUT THIS STUDY ON THURSDAY I FORWARDED THE REQUEST FOR A STUDY.

THERE WERE SOME INTERESTING COMMENTS ABOUT THE FORWARDING OF THE TWO AGENDA ITEMS. NEVER SEEN ANYBODY BE SO UPSET THAT I LET THE PUBLIC KNOW WHAT WAS ON THE AGENDA.

SINCE I FORWARDED THE TWO AGENDA ITEMS TO THE PUBLIC, AND IN FACT IF YOU READ THE FORWARDING, I DIDN'T EVEN TAKE A POSITION IN THAT E-MAIL. I WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HEARD FROM THE PUBLIC WHAT THEIR OPINION IS. SINCE THAT SHORT NOTICE I HAVE 278 FOLKS WHO HAVE CALLED OR SENT IN E-MAILS SAYING THEY LIKE THEIR ABILITY TO HAVE LOCAL CHOICE AND TO HAVE THE ABILITY TO CHOOSE THEIR OWN CONSTABLES, AND DO NOT WANT A STUDY. I HAD SEVEN PEOPLE WHO CALLED OR E-MAILED SAYING THAT THEY DO WANT TO HAVE A STUDY. JUDGE, I THINK 278 IS A LOT MORE THAN SEVEN, AND I HILLARY SERVE THE RE-- I WILL RESERVE THE REMAINDER OF MY COMMENTS UNTIL AFTER THE 118 WHO HAVE

SIGNED UP TO HAVE SPOKEN. >> JUDGE, IF I MIGHT, I DO TAKE ISSUE WITH URGING PEOPLE TO COME SPEAK BECAUSE OF IMPACTS FOR PUBLIC SAFETY. THIS STUDY WOULD BE DONE IN PREFERENCE OF HURTING THE COMMUNITY. THAT'S WHAT I TOOK ISSUE WITH. THE INSINUATION THAT CONTRACTS WOULD BE CANCELED, THAT'S WHAT I TOOK ISSUE WITH. INSINUATING THAT THE DEPUTIES WOULD LOSE THEIR JOBS, THAT'S

WHAT I TOOK ISSUE WITH. >> MAY I READ THE E-MAIL? >> LINA HIDALGO: WE SHOULD GO

ONE AT A TIME. >> ADRIAN GARCIA: WITH THAT I WILL JUST TELL YOU THAT IS WHAT MY ISSUE WAS. IT IS AS IF SOMETHING DIRE WAS GOING TO HAPPEN TODAY.

>> LINA HIDALGO: WE DO HAVE A LOT OF SPEAKERS. LET'S HEAR FROM THEM.

I WANT TO HEAR FROM OUR CONSTABLES FIRST. BEFORE WE GET TO THAT, FOLKS, THE PRINTED OUT COVID MOTIONS ARE IN FRONT OF YOU. I WANT TO MAKE SURE FOLKS CAN BEGIN WORKING ON THIS STUFF. I AM HAPPY TO PUT SUBJECT TO COUNTY ATTORNEY AT THE BOTTOM OF THE MOTIONS, COMMISSIONER CAGLE, IF YOU ARE COMFORTABLE WITH THAT.

>> JUDGE, WE HAVE HAD TIME TO LOOK AT THESE AND THE CON TEEN ATTORNEY'S -- THE COUNTY

ATTORNEY'S OFFICE IS FINE FOR THESE MOTIONS. >> CAN WE MOVE NOW?

>> SECOND. >> LINA HIDALGO: WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND.

ARE YOU COMFORTABLE WITH ADDING SUBJECT TO COUNTY ATTORNEY?

>> SUBJECT TO COUNTY -- UH-HUH. >> IT IS FINE WITH US.

>> LINA HIDALGO: ANOTHER REVIEW IS NOT GOING TO HURT ANYTHING.

>> BRING IT BACK. THANK YOU. >> LINA HIDALGO: YOU SAID YOU

RUEY VIEWED IT. YOU SAID YOU REVIEWED IT. >> WE HAVE REVIEWED IT AND I THINK COMMISSIONER RADACK'S POINT, ANY SPECIFIC RECOMMENDATIONS, LET'S SAY THERE IS A CHANGE IN THE COUNTY POLICY ON NEGATIVE COMP TIME, THAT WILL COME BACK.

>> LINA HIDALGO: OF COURSE. AND IF WE NEED TO CALL A SPECIAL MEETING WE NEED TO DO THAT AS A FLAG FOR FOLKS. ALL RIGHT. SO WE'VE GOT A MOTION AND A

SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR? >> I.

>> WE ARE TALKING ABOUT THE COVID-19? >> LINA HIDALGO: UH-HUH.

>> I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE WE ARE ON THE RIGHT -- >> LINA HIDALGO: YES.

>> I AM IN FAVOR, JUDGE. >> LINA HIDALGO: MOTION CARRIES.

THANK YOU. SO WE WILL HEAR FROM CONSTABLES AND THEN I WILL

CALL UP THE SPEAKERS. >> THANK YOU, JUDGE. I AM MARK HERMAN AND I AM THE ELECTED CONSTABLE IN HARRIS COUNTY PRECINCT 4. TWO WEEKS AGO I WAS ELECTEDDED BY 90% OF THE VOTE. I CAN ASSURE YOU THESE FOLKS BEHIND ME, THESE OTHER CONSTABLES THAT I AM PROUD TO STAND HERE WITH TODAY, THEY ARE VERY POPULAR IN THEIR AREAS BECAUSE OF THE GREAT WORK THAT OUR CONSTABLES DO ON A DAILY BASIS WITH SHERIFF ED GONZALEZ WHO HAS NUMEROUS TIMES SPOKE TO THE COURT AND SPOKE TO CITIZENS AND COMPLIMENTED ME IN MY PRECINCT AND THE REST OF THESE FOLKS. I'M AGGRAVATED RIGHT NOW.

I REALLY AM. I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY MY 572 EMPLOYEES IS HAVING TO GO THROUGH THIS. I SERVE AT THE LEISURE OF ALL FOUR COMMISSIONERS.

AND OF THE COUNTY JUDGE. ALL FOUR COMMISSIONERS COME INTO MY PRECINCT.

YOUR VOTERS ARE MY VOTERS. COMMISSIONER GARCIA, I WILL JUST SAY THIS.

WHEN WE HAD AN ELECTION THE OTHER DAY I WAS AMAZED HOW GOOD OF A GUY YOU WERE.

I FOUND OUT YOU ARE A NORTHSIDER AND WE GREW UP ON THE SAME STREETS AND WALKED AROUND THAT RESTAURANT WHEN WE WERE GROWING UP. YOU PLAYED FOOTBALL WITH MY BROTHER. WE'RE NORTHSIDERS. ONE THING ABOUT NORTHSIDERS, WE'RE TOUGH. WE'RE RESILIENT. I EVEN MADE THE COMMENT AT LUNCH, HEY, WE MADE IT. THAT'S ALL I WANT TO DO IS MAKE IT.

YOU THREW A BUNCH OF GOOD IDEAS OUT AND I BOUGHT IN. I AGREED WITH YOU ON SOME

[01:30:04]

HE DIDN'T SAY ANY OF THIS. I CHOPPED IT UP AND SAID, WELL MAYBE HE DIDN'T KNOW WHAT THEY SENT OUT. BUT DON SAID WELL NO HIS SIGNATURE IS ON THIS.

I SAID IT IS AN ELECTRIC STAMP. I KEPT HOPING THAT EVENING YOU WOULD PULL IT. I WILL SAY A FEW BULLET POINTS THAT I GOT AND THEN I WILL YIELD TO MY COLLEAGUES. CONSTABLES HAVE A SYSTEM IN PLACE WHERE WE ARE EFFECTIVE AND EFFICIENT AND COLLABORATE WITH OUR SHERIFF'S OFFICE AND ALL OTHER AGENCIES IN HARRIS COUNTY. OUR DEPUTIES RUN OVER A HUNDRED DISTRICT CALLS EVERY DAY. THOSE ARE CALLS THAT ARE NOT IN OUR CONTRACTS TO HELP SHERIFF ED GONZALEZ. IN CAR COMPUTERS AND TECHNOLOGY ALLOWS US TO SEE WHAT IS GOING ON. THE CON TRABLGHT DEPUTIES -- CONTRACT DEPUTY THAT'S ARE ASSIGNED ALLOW US TO PLACE OUR RESOURCES IN THE AREAS YOU ARE REFERRING TO.

IT IS MANAGEMENT 101 IN POLICE WORK. YOU KNOW THIS.

THE MAJORITY OF THE CONSTABLES THIS PAST BUDGET CYCLE SAID WE NEED TO STOP IT.

WE DON'T NEED TO ASK FOR ANYTHING. A FEW DID, BUT WE SAID NO BECAUSE WE KNEW ED GONZALEZ NEEDED MONEY. WE KNEW HE WAS HURTING SO WE DIDN'T ASK FOR ANYTHING. IN CLOSING I WILL RESPECTFULLY REQUEST THAT THE COURT RECONSIDER THIS STUDY AND SPEND THE MONEY FOR THE STUDY TO, YOU KNOW, PUT ADDITIONAL BOOTS ON THE GROUND AND BETTER SERVE OUR COMMUNITY. OR IF A STUDY IS DONE, I EXPECT THAT WE WOULD DO A FAIR AND EQUITABLE STUDY. LASTLY, LASTLY --

>> LINA HIDALGO: GO AHEAD. >> PLEASE LET ME FINISH REAL QUICKLY.

SHERIFF, DO YOU REMEMBER WHEN WE WERE SITTING AT THE TABLE TOWARD THE END OF THE DEAL AND I LOOKED AT YOU AND I MADE THE COMMENT, I SAID, YOU KNOW, WE AS ELECTED OFFICIALS -- WE HAD DISCUSSED THESE THINGS THAT YOU SUBMITTED, AND I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT THEY WERE.

I SAID, YOU KNOW, SOMETIMES WHEN WE SAY OR PUT THINGS IN WRITING IT COMES BACK TO HAUNT US WITH OUR PEOPLE AND OUR CONSTITUENTS. LORD KNOWS I HAVE DONE IT MANY TIMES. WHAT DID ED GONZALEZ LEAN OVER AND SAY TO YOU? HE SAID MAYBE YOU SHOULD TAKE IT OFF, REFERRING TO THE AGENDA.

WHAT DID YOU SAY? YOU SAID MAYBE I SHOULD TAKE IT OFF.

AND WHAT DID I SAY? I I SAID, HEY, DON'T DO IT ON MY COUNT.

I AM JUST MAKING A COMMENT. IN MY 34 YEARS I HAVE LEARNED THAT THE PEOPLE AND CITIZENS OF HARRIS COUNTY ARE VERY FORGIVING. THEY ARE VERY FORGIVING.

LORD KNOWS I MADE MANY MISTAKES. I ASK YOU, PLEASE, USE YOUR WISDOM. JUDGE, USE YOUR WISDOM. COMMISSIONER ELLIS, COMMISSIONER CAGLE AND COMMISSIONER CA -- RADACK, USE YOUR WISDOM.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH. >> [APPLAUSE]. >> GOOD MORNING, COMMISSIONERS, JUDGE. ADRIAN, SINCE I WAS IN OFFICE I HAVE BEEN TRYING TO REACH OUT TO YOU TO SET UP A MEETING TO TALK ABOUT THINGS TO IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF LIFE IN PRECINCT 3 CONSTABLE'S OFFICE AND YOU NOT ONCE HAVE EVER MET WITH ME.

AM I CORRECT? >> CORRECT. >> HAVE YOU DONE SOME THINGS TO MY OFFICE ALSO WITH YOUR COMMUNITY CENTERS, AM I CORRECT?

>> NOPE. >> DID YOU NOT -- YOU WOULDN'T GIVE IT TO ME IN WRITING, BUT YOU TOLD YOUR STAFF TO NOT USE THE CONSTABLES THAT WORK IN MY BUILDINGS ANYMORE.

AM I CORRECT? >> YEAH, I CANCELLED -- >> NO IT WASN'T A CONTRACT.

FOR YEARS WE HAD AN AGREEMENT THAT WE WOULD WORK THOSE COMMUNITY CENTERS.

THE CONSTABLES THAT WAS THERE BEFORE ME HAVE ALWAYS WORKED SECURITY IN THOSE BUILDINGS.

IT WAS NOT A CONTRACT. IT WAS AN AGREEMENT. YOU GAVE MY POSITION AND GAVE IT TO THE SHERIFF. ALSO THE SUMMER PROGRAMS, YOU WOULDN'T GIVE IT TO ME IN WRITING, BUT YOU TOLD YOUR PEOPLE I DON'T WANT THE CONSTABLES OUT THERE WITH THE KIDS IN THE PARKS. I REFUSE TO DO THAT. I ASSIGN MY DEPUTIES OUT THERE ANYHOW SINCE I HAVE BEEN IN OFFICE YOU HAVE DONE EVERYTHING YOU COULD TO UNDERMINE MY OFFICE AND THIS TIME IT STOPS. THANK YOU.

[APPLAUSE]. >> JUDGE HIDALGO, COMMISSIONERS AND DISTINGUISHED GUESTS AND SUPPORTERS. MY NAME IS SILVIA TREVIO AND I AM THE HARRIS COUNTY CONSTABLE FOR PRECINCT 6. I AM HERE TODAY ON BEHALF OF MY COMMUNITY, THE CONSTITUENTS OF PRECINCT 6 AND IN SOLIDARITY WITH OUR HARRIS COUNTY CONSTABLES AND MY COMMUNITY. AS GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS WE SHOULD DO A BETTER JOB OF COMMUNICATING WITH EACH OTHER.

THIS AGENDA ITEM REGARDING THE CONSTABLES IS A PRIME EXAMPLE. THE FAILURE OF GOVERNMENT TO PROPERLY COMMUNICATE WITH EACH OTHER CAN CAUSE CONFUSION, SUSPICION AND CHAOS.

SPECIFICALLY TARGETING THE CONTRACT PATROL OF THE CONSTABLES AND NOT ORIGINALLY INCLUDING THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT IS A PRIME EXAMPLE.

[01:35:02]

OUR COMMUNITY CAN READ BETWEEN THE LINES. WHEN YOU PAY THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS FOR A STUDY, YOU NORMALLY RECEIVE WHAT YOU WANT TO HEAR.

WE BELIEVE THIS IS JUST THE BEGINNING OF YOUR MEANS TO THE END, AND THAT IS TO REDUCE THE SERVICES OF THE CONSTABLES. THERE HAS ALWAYS BEEN A HOUSTON POLICE DEPARTMENT.

THERE HAS ALWAYS BEEN A HARRIS COUNTY SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT. THEY ALONE COULD NOT HANDLE THE INCREASE IN CRIMES, GANGS AND CALLS FOR SERVICE. AT ONE TIME PRECINCT 6 WAS ONE OF THE HIGHEST CRIME AREAS IN THE COUNTY. FAMILIES AND BUSINESSES WERE MOVING OUT OF OUR PRECINCT. HOWEVER, WHEN THE CONSTABLES EXPANDED THEIR ROLE BEYOND CIVIL PROCESS AND BEGAN TO PATROL, THERE WAS CLEARLY A DIFFERENCE IN THE REDUCTION OF CRIMES, GANGS, CALLS FOR SERVICE AND IMPROVED RESPONSE TIMES.

NOW FAMILIES AND BUSINESSES ARE MOVING IN WITH NEW DEVELOPMENT AND A THRIVING ECONOMY. TO CONSIDER A, QUOTE, UNQUOTE, STUDY WITH THE POSSIBILITY OF REDUCING THE SERVICES OF THE CONSTABLES WOULD BE A HUGE STEP BACKWARDS AND WOULD COMPROMISE THE SAFETY OF OUR COMMUNITY. THE CONSTABLE LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES ARE THE CLOSEST GRASSROOTS AND LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY AS YOU CAN HIT.

WE ARE THE MOST ACCESSIBLE. WE PUT OUR CELL PHONE NUMBERS ON ALL OF OUR BUSINESS CARDS AND MAKE OURSELVES AVAILABLE TO OUR COMMUNITY. TOGETHER PRECINCT 6 AND OUR COMMUNITY HAVE MADE A DIFFERENCE IN ASSURING THAT PUBLIC SAFETY IS AND ALWAYS WILL BE OUR NUMBER ONE PRIORITY. I CAN ONLY ASK THAT AS GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS WE SHOULD COMMUNICATE BETTER AND WORK CLOSELY TOGETHER IN ORDER TO BETTER SERVE OUR COMMUNITY TO MAKE HARRIS COUNTY THE BEST IN THE WORLD.

THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE]. >> I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME TO SPEAK TODAY, BUT I AM NOT SPEAKING ON MY BEHALF.

I AM SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF ALL OF THE MEN AND WOMEN IN UNIFORM.

I FEEL COMPELLED TO SPEAK BECAUSE THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE IN THE HALLWAY TRYING TO GET IN HERE. I THINK ALL OF US TOOK OFFICE FOR THE SAME REASON AND THAT'S TO SERVE THE PEOPLE OF HARRIS COUNTY. PART OF THE PEOPLE OF HARRIS COUNTY ARE THE OVER 18,000 EMPLOYEES THAT WE HAVE IN THIS COUNTY.

MANY OF THEM BEING IN LAW ENFORCEMENT. WE KNOW THAT IT IS NOT US THAT MAKES THIS COUNTY GREAT. IT IS OUR EMPLOYEES. THE DEPUTIES I SPEAK TO SAID THEY DIDN'T DO WHAT THEY DO BECAUSE OF THE JOB AND BECAUSE OF THE MONEY.

IT IS A VOCATION AND A CALLING. THEY WANT TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN THE COMMUNITY IN WHICH THEY LIVE OR WHICH THEY WERE RAISED.

AND THIS PROPOSAL THAT CAME OUT WHICH BEGAN BY CALLING OUT SPECIFICALLY ALL EIGHT CONSTABLE OFFICES HAS HAD A NEGATIVE AFFECT ON ALL MEN AND WOMEN IN LAW ENFORCEMENT.

THE MORNING AFTER THIS REQUEST WAS RELEASED, I CAME IN AT 6:45.

I HAD NIGHT SHIFT HANGING OVER AND DAY SHIFT LOITERING IN THE PARKING LOT BECAUSE THEY WANT TO ASK QUESTIONS. ARE WE GOING TO BE FIRED? ARE THEY GOING TO CHOOSE THE CONTRACTS OVER SEEN ERR -- SENORITY WITH THE COUNTY OR DEPARTMENT.

I HAD A 26-YEAR-OLD FEMALE DEPUTY WHO ASKED ME WHETHER OR NOT SHE SHOULD LET HER ERNEST MONEY CONTRACT GO ON HER HOUSE BECAUSE SHE DIDN'T KNOW HER FUTURE IN THE LAW ENFORCEMENT IN HARRIS COUNTY. I UNDERSTAND THE NEED TO BE A GOOD STEWARD OF TAXPAYERS' MONEY BECAUSE I AM A TAXPAYER. IF THIS IS POLITICAL AND IF THIS IS PERSONAL, WHAT IT IS DOING IS PITTING OFFICERS AGAINST EACH OTHER.

THESE MEN AND WOMEN WHO ARE ON THE STREET, THEY RELY ON EACH OTHER A HECK OF A LOT MORE THAN WE RELY ON EACH OTHER SITTING IN OUR OFFICES. WHEN DEPUTY GUILFORTH WAS MURDERED IT WAS OUR OFFICERS FIRST ON THE SCENE. WHEN SANDEEP WAS MURDERED IT WAS US WHO SECURED THE PERIMETER AND CONSTABLES WHO APPREHENDED THE SUSPECTED -- SUSPECT. AS CONSTABLES WE WORK WITH ALL AGENCIES ACROSS THE COUNTY.

WITHOUT US BEING ON THE STREET THERE WILL BE A LOT MORE CRIME.

WE HEAR ABOUT SERVING CONTRACTS, BUT WE DON'T ONLY SERVE CONTRACTS.

LAST YEAR WITH THE OVER 400,000 SERVICE-RELATED CALLS, 99,000 OF THEM WERE OUTSIDE OF CONTRACT. 59,000 IN UNINCORPORATED HARRIS COUNTY AND 39,000 IN

[01:40:03]

WHEN WE ANSWER CALLS TO THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT OR WHEN WE PICK UP CALLS FOR HPD, IT IS BECAUSE WE ARE ABLE TO FREE THOSE UNITS UP TO BE ABLE TO HAVE HIGHER VISIBILITY AND BETTER RESPONSE TIMES FOR THOSE NEIGHBORHOODS AND THOSE AREAS THAT NEED THE COVERAGE.

AND IF WE ARE TALKING ABOUT EQUITY, I THINK WHAT WE OUGHT TO DO IS LOOK FOR WAYS TO EXPAND THIS PROJECT. $78.5MILLION IS BROUGHT BY THE COFFERS OF PEOPLE WHO SUPPORT THIS. 1015 ADDITIONAL DEPUTIES ON THE STREETS BECAUSE OF THIS PROGRAM. THE COUNTY IS PAYING FOR ONE OFFICER AND BASICALLY THEY ARE GETTING FIVE. THESE DEPUTIES SACRIFICE A LOT TO ANSWER THIS VOCATION AND THIS CALLING OF SERVICE. I BELIEVE THEY NEED OUR SUPPORT AND THEY NEED TO CONCENTRATE ON THEIR WORK RATHER THAN WHETHER OR NOT WE ARE GOING TO MANIPULATE THEIR FUTURES. THESE DEPUTIES DESERVE MY RESPECT.

THEY DESERVE YOUR RESPECT. MOSTLY THE RESIDENTS OF HARRIS COUNTY, THE ONE THAT'S WE WERE ELECTED TO SERVE DESERVE TO BE LISTENED TO TODAY. [APPLAUSE].

>> LINA HIDALGO: THANK YOU. >> GOOD MORNING, COMMISSIONER'S COURT AND JUDGE.

IT IS AN HONOR TO BE HERE TODAY. AS YOUR HARRIS COUNTY CONSTABLE FOR PRECINCT 2, WE ALSO HOLD CONTRACTS IN THE SOUTH BELT AREA, AND WITHIN THE SCHOOL DISTRICT. WHEN WE HEARD OF THIS A FEW DAYS AGO, MANY OF OUR LEADERS THROUGHOUT THE COMMUNITY REACHED OUT TO US BECAUSE OF THE CONCERNS WITH THE CHILDREN AS A KID AND AS A PRODUCT AFT GALENA SCHOOL DISTRICT WE HAD THE PROGRAM WITHIN THE SCHOOLS. WROI -- WE NOT ONLY HAVE A DEEP CONTINUITY AND A DEEP ROOT SYSTEM IN OUR SCHOOLS, BUT WE ALSO HAVE THE CONTINUE -- CONTINUITY WITH THE NEIGHBORHOODS. WE KNOW EACH AND EVERY PERSON IN OUR NEIGHBORHOODS AND WE HAVE THE CONNECTION IN THE COMMUNITY. WHENEVER THIS GETS OUT IN THE COMMUNITY, THEY HAVE SOME DEEP CONCERNS. ALSO OUR DEPUTIES THAT WORK THERE, YOU KNOW, WE LOSE DEPUTIES THROUGH ATTRITION, BUT WE ALSO HAVE DEPUTIES LINED UP, MEN AND WOMEN READY TO GO. IT TAKES A SPECIAL PERSON TO WORK IN THOSE SCHOOLS. MY WIFE AND I BOTH GREW UP IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD, THE GALENA PARK SCHOOL DISTRICT. THAT CONTRACT DEPUTY PROGRAM WAS THERE SINCE DAY ONE.

SO WE KNOW HOW IT WORKS. WHEN PEOPLE FROM THE COMMUNITY , WHEN THEY COME OUT, THEY CALL YOU AND THEY HAVE CONCERNS AND THEY WANT TO CONTINUE THE GREAT THINGS WE DO EVERY DAY. WHY SHOULD WE PULL OUT A GREAT DEFENSE SYSTEM OUT OF A BODY AND REPLACE IT WITH SOMETHING THAT MAY NOT WORK. THIS SYSTEM IS WORKING FOR DECADES. WE WANT TO CONTINUE TO MAKE THE SYSTEM WORK AND FIGURE OUT A SOLUTION THAT WE CAN ALL WORK TOGETHER AS TAXPAYERS AND AS LEADERS OF THIS COMMUNITY.

I HAVE BEEN AN ELECTED OFFICIAL FOR 20 YEARS. I KNOW WHAT IT TAKES TO SERVE THE PEOPLE OF HARRIS COUNTY IN THE STATE OF TEXAS. WE NEED TO CONTINUE TO WORK TOGETHER. AS FAR AS OUR LAW ENFORCEMENT AND ALL MY COLLEAGUES OUT HERE TODAY, ALL OF OUR MUNICIPALITIES, THE SHERIFF, FORMER SHERIFF ADRIAN GARCIA, ALL OF THE COMMISSIONERS, WE APPRECIATE EVERYTHING YOU DO AND WE WANT TO DO THE RIGHT

THING FOR HARRIS COUNTY. THANK Y'ALL. >> LINA HIDALGO: THANK YOU.

>> ONE SIMPLE QUESTION. IS THERE ANYBODY OUT THERE TALKING TO THE SCHOOL

DISTRICTS, THE SCHOOL DISTRICT YOU PATROL, FOR EXAMPLE? >> ACTUALLY I DID GET SOME FEEDBACK THAT IF FOR ANY REASON THE CONTRACTS MIGHT HAVE BEEN CANCELED THAT THEY WOULD START THEIR OWN PD. AND THAT'S JUST THE WORD ON THE STREET.

>> THANK YOU. THANK YOU FORG DOW YOU DO KNOW THAT IT DOES NOT LOOK AT THE SCHOOL DISTRICT CONTRACTS. AND ON THE SEPARATE STUDY RELATED TO THE PROPERTY ROOMS, ARE YOU IN SUPPORT OF -- OR RATHER THE DISPATCH OF INCLUDING THE PROPERTY ROOMS TO BE A PART OF THAT STUDY SPH -- STUDY?

>> I WOULD LIKE TO TAKE THAT BACK AND SEE IF WE CAN DEFINITELY SIT DOWN AND TALK ABOUT THE STUDY BEFORE WE HAVE IT DONE JUST TO MAKE SURE IT IS FAIR FOR ALL OF US.

[01:45:03]

>> REAL QUICKLY, THE -- ACTUALLY IT WAS MARK. I'LL GET TO YOU, MARK, IN A LITTLE BIT. LET US FINISH. THANK YOU.

>> WHAT I DON'T UNDERSTAND, CONSTABLE, WHY DO WE HAVE TO HAVE A STUDY IF A STUDY TO MERGE [INAUDIBLE]. IF THE CONSTABLE AND THE SHERIFF AGREE, ASSUMING THE SHARE RECEIVE -- SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT -- WHY DOES THERE NEED TO BE A STUDY? WHAT IS THE REASON FOR THE STUDY? IF YOU AGREE TO USE THEIR PROPERTY ROOM AND THEY AGREE IT IS OKAY, WHY DO WE NEED A STUDY?

SO R -- SO MAYBE Y'ALL CAN WORK IT OUT. >> WE NEED A WAY TO WORK THIS

OUT. >> THAT'S WHAT I'M SAYING. YOU DON'T NEED A BUNCH OF PEOPLE TELLING WHAT YOU TO DO. THE SHERIFF DOESN'T NEED

SOMEBODY TELLING HIM WHAT TO DO. >> LET ME INTERJECT.

COMMISSIONER GARCIA, WE SPOKE ABOUT THE PROPERTY ROOM. I SAID IT WAS PROBABLY THE BEST THING THAT I EVER DID WHEN WE FLOODED AND ED GONZALEZ CAME TO MY RESCUE AND SAID, HEY, GET IT OVER HERE. ONCE WE GOT IT OVER THERE WE STARTED TALKING AND SAID LET'S LEAVE. IT EVERY DAY WE TAKE OUR PROPERTY TO SHARE REQUIRE ED GONZALEZ'S -- TO SHERIFF ED GONZALEZ'S OFFICE AND I NEVER REALLY LOOKED AT IT THAT WAY.

I KNOW THAT I SHARE PROPERTY WITH ED GONZALEZ. I KNOW THAT IT IS SOMETHING WE

CAN SIT DOWN AND LOOK INTO. >> YOU MENTIONED WHEN WE HAD LUNCH THAT WHEN WE HAD THE DOWNTURN IN 09. THAT YOU WERE TOLD TO CANCEL YOUR CONTRACTS, RIGHT?

THAT'S WHAT YOU TOLD ME. >> WE WERE IN A POSITION TO WHERE THE CONSTABLE HAD TO

DECIDE WHICH CONTRACTS WE HAD TO CUT. >> BUT YOU CANCELED THOSE

CONTRACTS AND EFFECTIVELY LAID OFF HOW MANY DEPUTIES? >> THE CONTRACTS -- ACTUALLY WE WERE IN A POSITION WHERE WE HAD NO CHOICE. WE HAD NO MONEY.

>> I KNOW. I KNOW. THAT'S KIND OF PART OF THIS THING WE ARE -- HOW MANY DEPUTY CONSTABLES WERE LAID OFF IN ALL THAT?

ROUGHLY. HOW MANY? >> INAUDIBLE SPEAKER

>> DEPUTIES APPROXIMATELY? THE NUMBER WAS SOMEWHERE IN THE AREA OF 500.

500 DEPUTIES LAID OFF. >> LET ME ASK YOU A QUESTION. I UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU'RE SAYING, BUT WE DON'T KNOW WHAT TOMORROW BRINGS. I MEAN, I UNDERSTAND YOU AS A COMMISSIONER AND THE REST OF Y'ALL, YOU HAVE TO FIGURE OUT, HEY, WHAT IF THIS HAPPENS AND WHAT IF THAT HAPPENS. I COULD WALK OUT OF HERE TODAY AND GET RUN OVER BY A TRUCK, BUT YOU KNOW WHAT? WE WILL BAND TOGETHER WHATEVER IT TAKES LIKE WE DID IN 09, AND WE MADE IT WORK. GUESS WHAT. EVERY ONE OF THOSE CONTRACTS ARE BACK. TRI-FOLD. [APPLAUSE].

BUT I UNDERSTAND YOUR POSITION. YOU'RE CONCERNED ABOUT THE

COUNTY AND MONEY. >> AND I'M CONCERNED ABOUT YOU GUYS.

>> WELL, HEY, I'M THE ONE THAT HAD TO CALL THEM IN AND SAY, HEY, I'M SORRY, YOU DON'T HAVE A JOB. THAT'S THE HARDEST THING I EVER HAD TO DO.

>> AND SAME THING FOR ME. I TOLD THIS BODY GIVE ME AN ORDER -- THEY WANTED ME TO

LAYOFF DEPUTIES. >> AND YOU SAID YOU WOULDN'T. I REMEMBER AT LUNCH YOU SAID I REFUSE TO DO. IT I WISH I COULD SAY I REFUSED TO DO IT, BUT I

COULDN'T. >> HOW DO YOU INSULATE YOURSELF FROM THAT HAPPENING IN THE FUTURE? WHAT YOU ARE SAYING IS A TERRIBLE THING AND WE AGREE.

WE ARE IN THE SAME POSITION YOU ARE. HOW DO YOU PROPOSE PUTTING THE COUNTY IN A POSITION WHERE IT IS NOT GOING TO HAPPEN? NOT BY TAKING 78.5 MILLION DOLLARS AWAY. HOW ARE WE GOING TO DO THIS TO INSULATE IT?

>> TED, LET ME ASK YOU THIS. WE JUST HAD AN ITEM HERE I THINK IT WAS LAST MONTH.

YOU HAD A CONTRACT CANCEL. >> CORRECT. >> ON THIS ITEM WAS -- IT WAS HOW WE WOULD ABSORB IT AND WE ACTUALLY DID ABSORB YOUR DEPUTY.

WE ABSORBED THE DEPUTY. >> I HAD A POSITION. I HAD A PCN THAT WAS NOT GOING

[01:50:04]

>> I'M AWARE OF THAT. BUT YOUR CONTRACT WAS CANCELED AND WE WERE MOVING HIM OR HER

FROM THAT CONTRACT TO STANDARD PAYROLL. >> I WAS ASKED WHETHER OR NOT YOU HAVE THE FUNDS TO CONTINUE THIS POSITION. MY ANSWER WAS YES BECAUSE I HAVE BEEN EXTREMELY FRUGAL BY PAYING OFF MY ENTIRE FLEET AND BY DOING A LOT OF THINGS THAT

ARE FISCALLY CONSERVATIVE. >> ADRIAN GARCIA: I GET IT, TED, BUT I AM ASKING ABOUT THE TRANSACTION. YOU HAD A CONTRACT CANCEL AND WE ABSORBED THAT.

>> RIGHT. I ABSORBED THAT. I KNOW IT IS WE, BUT I

ABSORBED THAT BECAUSE OF THE FACT -- >> ADRIAN GARCIA: THE

TAXPAYERS ASH SORBED IT. >> THE TAXPAYERS ABSORBED IT AND THEY WENT TO BE A FIELD

OFFICER. >> ADRIAN GARCIA: THE TAXPAYERS ABSORBED IT AND HE OR SHE IS A GREAT PERSON. MY SIMPLE POINT IS WE WANT TO BE MUCH MORE THOUGHTFUL ABOUT WHEN THOSE CONTRACTS ARE CANCELED. WHAT WOULD HAVE HAPPENED IF HE DIDN'T -- IF YOU HADN'T BEEN FRUGAL? WHAT WOULD HAVE HAPPENED? WE WOULD HAVE HAD TO HAVE DECIDED WHETHER TO GIVE YOU MORE MONEY, CORRECT?

>> THAT'S TRUE, BUT THANK GOODNESS THE ROLL OVER IS IN PLACE THAT -- I KNOW YOU DON'T WANT TO GO THERE, BUT THAT'S WHAT I RELIED ON. THAT'S HOW I KEPT MY

DEPARTMENT IN TACT. >> ADRIAN GARCIA: I AM MAKING A POINT.

HAD YOU NOT HAD THE ROLL DASH HAD YOU NOT HAD -- >> I WOULD HAVE -- HOLD ON.

I WOULD HAVE HAD -- NO. I WILL GIVE YOU THIS. I WOULD HAVE HAD TO HAVE MADE A DECISION. THE REALITY IS AS MR. JACKSON SAID MANY MONTHS AGO IN HERE BECAUSE I HEARD IT IN LAW ENFORCEMENT YOU HAVE 6 AND 12% OPENINGS.

THE FIRST THING I WOULD HAVE DONE IS LOOK AND SAID I HAVE THREE OPENINGS BECAUSE OF PEOPLE MOVING AND THINGS OF THIS. I WOULD HAVE PUT THAT PERSON

AND KEPT THEM AT ALL EXPENSE. >> LINA HIDALGO: I DO WANT TO MAKE SURE -- I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE ALL OF THE CONSTABLES SPEAK AND WE CAN MOVE TO THE OTHER SPEAKERS.

I ALSO PROMISED A BREAK. >> YOUR HONOR, VERY BRIEFLY. >> JUST A SECOND.

>> JUDGE, VERY BRIEFLY. >> LINA HIDALGO: YEAH. >> THE ARGUMENT THAT THERE MIGHT BE A DOWNTURN AND WE MIGHT HAVE TO -- AND IN THE DOWNTURN WE MAY HAVE TO FIRE SOME CONSTABLES AND THEREFORE WE NEED TO FIRE THEM NOW MAKES NO SENSE.

>> LINA HIDALGO: LET'S HEAR FROM -- >> THAT'S A -- THAT'S AN

ARGUMENT. >> LINA HIDALGO: WE COULD TALK IN CIRCLES.

>> I THINK WE COULD TALK ALL DAY AND GO BACK AND FORTHWITH IT.

THE ISSUE WAS WE WERE CONCERNED ABOUT THE CONTRACTS AND OUR COMMUNITY WAS CONCERNED. I WOULD RECOMMEND IF ANY OF YOU COMMISSIONERS HAVE A CONCERN ABOUT ANYTHING GET WITH US FIRST AND THEN RECOMMEND A STUDY.

[APPLAUSE]. BECAUSE THERE IS GONNA ALWAYS BE A DIFFERENCE.

I DON'T KNOW HOW TO DO WHAT COMMISSIONER'S COURT DO, BUT I DO KNOW HOW TO DO WHAT THE CONSTABLES -- I HAVE BEEN HERE LONGER THAN ANY OF THESE CONSTABLES.

AND WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO TAKE CARE OF OUR DEPARTMENTS, AND THE MOST IMPORTANT THING FOR THE CONSTABLE IS THE COMMUNITY. IT IS NOT ABOUT US.

WE CAN COME AND WE CAN GO. THAT COMMUNITY IS GONNA BE THERE.

SO WE HAVE TO PAY ATTENTION TO WHAT THE COMMUNITY -- I DON'T SEE ANYTHING WRONG WITH HAVING STUDIES, BUT I WOULD HAVE HOPED YOU WOULD HAVE GOTTEN WITH US SO YOU COULD HAVE GOT SOME PERTINENT INFORMATION IF YOU ARE GONNA HAVE A STUDY. I DON'T THINK ANY OF YOU ALL HAVE BEEN OUT THERE IN OUR COMMUNITY PATROLLING. I HAD AN OFFICER THAT WAS SHOT SIX TIMES PATROLLING THE COMMUNITY. I HAVE BEEN SHOT IN THE BACK MYSELF. I'M HOPING YOU WILL INCLUDE US , AND THEN YOU CALL FOR A STUDY. THAT'S ALL WE ARE ASKING FOR. WE SOUND A LITTLE ANGRY BECAUSE WE CARE. WE DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU CARE ABOUT.

WE CARE ABOUT THE COMMUNITY THAT WE SERVE. [APPLAUSE].

AND WE ARE WILLING -- THESE ARE SOME SMART GUYS. WE ARE WILLING TO WORK WITH COMMISSIONER'S COURT ANY ISSUE YOU HAVE. WE ARE WILLING TO SIT DOWN WITH YOU AND GIVE YOU OUR OPINION, AND WE KNOW THAT YOU ARE THE COMMISSIONERS AND YOU MAKE YOUR DECISION, AND I HOPE YOU WILL DO THAT IN THE COMING YEARS.

>> LINA HIDALGO: THANK YOU SO MUCH. [APPLAUSE].

>> MRS. WALKER, I ONCE WAS A CONSTABLE. >> I KNOW.

I USED TO WORK WITH YOU AT HPD. >> I RESPECT HOW LONG YOU HAVE BEEN A CONSTABLE AND BEEN IN LAW ENFORCEMENT. WE WILL DO THE BEST WE CAN TO KEEP YOU FROM BEING SHOT IN THE BACK AGAIN. [LAUGHTER].

[01:55:03]

[APPLAUSE]. >> JUDGE, I'M GONNA DEFER UNTIL AFTER IF IT'S OKAY WITH YOU, UNTIL AFTER WE HEARD FROM CITIZENS AND I WOULD LOVE TO MAKE SOME COMMENTS AS WELL IF

THAT'S PERMISSIBLE TO YOU, MA'AM. >> LINA HIDALGO: SURE, THANK YOU. WOULD YOU LIKE TO SAY SOMETHING?

>> THANK YOU, JUDGE. COMMISSIONERS. I CAME TODAY BECAUSE I WANT TO GIVE THE SPUR TECH -- THE PERSPECTIVE FROM THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE.

I SIT IN SOLIDARITY WITH THE CONSTABLES. I THINK THE CON -- CONTRACT PATROL PROGRAM IS EFFECTIVE. I COULD HAVE TOLD THAT TO ANYBODY.

I THINK IT IS A POSITIVE THING. I THINK IT IS PART OF OUR COMMUNITY POLICING DNA IN OUR HARRIS COUNTY LAW ENFORCEMENT COMMUNITY.

YOU'VE HEARD IT FROM SEVERAL HERE TODAY. WE ALL WORK COLLABORATIVELY.

AT THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT CONTINUES.

MY INITIAL CONCERN WAS SIMILAR TO WHAT COMMISSIONER RADACK EXPRESSED IS THAT IT WAS MY UNDERSTANDING THAT THERE ARE A NUMBER OF STUDIES ON GOING RIGHT NOW.

YOU REFERENCED THAT, JUDGE, WHEN IT CAME TO THE BUDGET. SO I WAS A LITTLE CONCERNED THAT IT SEEMED TO ME THAT IT WOULD BE BEST TO GET THE RESULTS FROM THOSE ANALYSIS FIRST, AND THEN DETERMINE WHERE WE ARE AT. IN NO WAY SHOULD THE CONTRACT PROGRAM EVER GO AWAY. IT IS A FORCE MULTIPLY YES, SIR FOR THEIR AGENT -- MULTIPLIER FOR THEIR AGENCY AND OURS. IF ANYTHING IT SHOULD BE EXPANDED BECAUSE IT IS PARTIALLY FUNDED THROUGH PRIVATE CITIZEN THAT'S MAKE THAT CHOICE. AND SO I JUST AM HERE TO SPEAK IN SUPPORT OF IT.

IN REFERENCE TO THE PROPERTY ROOM DISCUSSION, I THINK UNDER THE LAST ADMINISTRATION WE HAD ALREADY STARTED DISCUSSIONS ON THE POTENTIAL NEED FOR A -- WE ARE ALREADY AT CAPACITY ON OUR CURRENT PROPERTY ROOM I THINK THE LONGER DISCUSSION SHOULD BE ON WHAT IS A PROPERTY ROOM SIMILAR TO WHAT HPD DID. WHAT IS OUR FUTURE PROPERTY GOING TO BE AND IS THERE ROOM FOR GROWTH AND INCLUSION WITH SOME OF MY COLLEAGUES WHERE PERHAPS IT DID MAKE SENSE 20, 30 YEARS AGO, BUT MAYBE IT MAKES SENSE NOW WHEN WE ARE LOOKING AT A FUTURE PROPERTY ROOM. I AGREE THAT I THINK THAT FIRST IS TO HAVE A BROADER DISCUSSION AND THEN WE CAN COME IN ALTOGETHER AND THEN HAVE THE DISCUSSION AND SEE WHERE WE'RE AT IN TERMS OF MAKING SURE WE ARE ALL WORKING COLLABORATIVELY.

THE KEY SHOULD BE TO SUPPORT LAW ENFORCEMENT IN A COLLABORATIVE WAY.

THAT'S HOW WE OPERATE IN HARRIS COUNTY. WE WORK WITH HPD AND ALL OF THE OTHER PARTNERS. YOU KNOW, I SUPPORT THE CITIZENS BEING ABLE TO CHOOSE. AND FOR THEM TO SELECT THE AGENCY OF THEIR CHOICE.

IT IS A COMMUNITY POLICING TOOL THAT IS USED OUT THERE. I AM TO THE PERSONALLY CONCERNED FOR ANY REVIEWS, BUT THE AUDIT PROCESS AND HIS TEAM.

MY RECOMMENDATION, JUST MY RESPECTFUL RECOMMENDATION TO YOU ALL WOULD BE THAT I WOULD REMOVE THE ITEM IF IT WAS MY CHOICE. [APPLAUSE].

IF THAT'S NOT THE WILL OF THE COURT WHICH I RESPECT BECAUSE I AM NOT IN YOUR SEATS, THEN I WOULD ALSO RESPECTFULLY MAKE SURE THAT YOU'RE INCLUDING THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE IN THAT STUDY AS WELL. IT WOULD BE THE ONLY FAIR THING BECAUSE WE ALSO OPERATE CONTRACTS. IF IT IS GOOD ENOUGH TO REVIEW THEIR CONTRACTS, THEN WE WANT TO MAKE SURE WE ARE ALSO IN ALIGNMENT WITH THEM. THAT WOULD BE MY COMMENTS AND

MY REQUEST. >> LINA HIDALGO: THANK YOU, SHERIFF.

[APPLAUSE]. >> SHERIFF? >> LINA HIDALGO: SHERIFF

GONZALEZ. >> SHERIFF, THANK YOU FOR YOUR REMARKS.

YOU WERE AT LUNCH WITH THE CONSTABLE AND I. YOU HEARD THAT THIS WAS NOT TO

ELIMINATE THE PROGRAM. IS THAT ACCURATE? >> YES.

>> I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THERE WAS ANOTHER SET OF EARS.

>> I HEARD THAT TOO AT LUNCH. BUT THEN WHEN I GOT BACK TO MY OFFICE -- [INAUDIBLE].

>> ADRIAN GARCIA: SOLD ON CONSTABLE. HOLD ON CONSTABLE.

IN THE AREA OF THE DISPATCH -- WELL, HOW MANY CONSTABLE OFFICERS ARE WORKING WITH YOU

RIGHT NOW? >> WE CURRENTLY HAVE TWO. >> ADRIAN GARCIA: AND IN REGARDS TO DISPATCH, HOW MANY CONSTABLE OFFICERS ARE USING YOUR DISPATCH CENTER?

>> NONE ARE CURRENTLY USING IT. >> ADRIAN GARCIA: SO I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE I UNDERSTOOD THAT. THANK YOU.

>> COMMISSIONER, IF I CAN JUST ADD ABOUT THE UNDERSTANDING OVER THE CONVERSATION, I THINK THAT CLEARLY THE PUBLIC PERCEPTION OF IT IS MUCH DIFFERENT.

THERE IS CONCERN THAT ONCE THE TRAIN STARTS MOVING THAT IT IS INEVITABLE THAT IT COULD LEAD TO POSSIBLE ELIMINATION. I THINK WHAT RAISED CONCERNS WAS THE WAY IT WAS FRAMED AND WRITTEN. AND THE SCOPE. I THINK IT INCLUDED THE WORDY ELIMINATION. THE WORD ELIMINATION. ONCE IT HAS GOTTEN TO THAT POINT, THEN IT WOULD END UP BEING WHERE THERE WOULD BE SHORT NOTICE AND THE TRAIN

[02:00:04]

I THINK THAT THERE WERE OTHER TOOLS TO ACCOMPLISH MAYBE THE SAME THING ESPECIALLY WITH THE UNDERGOING STUDIES THAT IS ALREADY HAPPENING AND THAT COMMISSIONER'S COURT HAS FUNDE. I KNOW THEY ARE REVIEWING THE ENTIRE SYSTEM AND HOW IT OPERATES. I THINK THERE IS A LOT OF HIGH-LEVEL DISCUSSIONS, BUT THIS ONE SEEMED SPECIFIC TO A CONTRACT PROGRAM. IT WAS LIMITED IN SCOPE AND THE FACT THAT IT DIDN'T INCLUDE US WHICH WE ALSO OPERATE CONTRACTS AS WELL.

I THINK THE BROADER ISSUE OF HARRIS COUNTY LAW ENFORCEMENT IN GENERAL, I THINK YOU HAVE ALLOT -- I THINK HAVE YOU A LOT OF TOUGH CHALLENGES BEFORE YOU.

I THINK AS I HAVE COME HERE TO REQUEST SIGNIFICANT PAY RAISES FOR HARRIS COUNTY LAW ENFORCEMENT. I THINK THE CHALLENGES FROM TODAY WE WERE TALKING ABOUT PANDEMICS AND CURRICULUM INFRO STRUCK -- INFRASTRUCTURE. IT REQUIRES BROAD THINKING AND A NEW FUNDING MECHANISM AS WE LOOK AT A LOT OF THINGS AND THERE ARE AREA THAT'S I WOULD HAVE SPENT IN THOSE AREAS AND I WOULD HAVE FOCUSED MORE ON PUBLIC SAFETY.

AGAIN, I AM NOT IN YOUR SHOES. WE HAVE TO TAKE THE BROAD VIEW AND COMPLETE THE STUDIES AND LIS -- AND LISTENING TO ONE PROGRAM OUT OF SO MANY.

AND IF IT IS TRULY WORKING, THE FOCUS IS TO REVIEW IT. I DON'T THINK ANYBODY HERE WOULD SAY DON'T REVIEW ANY AND ALL CONTRACTS, BUT IT SEEMS SPECIFIC TO MY COLLEAGUES.

AND THEN SECONDLY THE WORDING OF ELIMINATION. THERE SHOULDN'T BE AN ELIMINATION COMPONENT TO THIS. IT SHOULD BE HOW DO WE ADVANCE AND BETTER AND EXPAND? HOW DO WE INCLUDE COMMUNITY THADZ TRADITIONALLY -- THAT TRADITIONALLY CAN'T INCLUDE THE CONTRACT PROGRAM. I DON'T THINK THE ANSWER SHOULD BE ELIMINATING. I AM NOT SAYING THAT WAS YOUR LEGISLATIVE INTENT, BUT FROM WHAT WE HEARD FROM THE COMMUNITY IS THAT'S HOW IT CAME ACROSS AND HOW IT WAS

INTERPRETED. >> ADRIAN GARCIA: THANK YOU. >> YOU WORK WELL WITH THE

CONSTABLES. >> VERY WELL. >> IS THERE A PROBLEM WITH DISPATCH? Y'ALL ARE BOUNCING CALLS AND DOING THAT KIND OF STUFF.

>> THERE IS NOT ANY PROBLEMS IN TERMS OF BOUNCING CALLS OR ANYTHING WE WORK WELL.

I THINK IT IS A MATTER OF EFFICIENCY. >> SO THERE IS NO REASON TO STUDY THE DISPATCH SYSTEM. DO YOU AGREE WITH THAT? IT IS WORKING.

>> IT IS WORKING AS IT IS RIGHT NOW. >> THAT'S GOOD.

AND RIGHT NOW THERE ARE STUDIES GOING ON AND HE IS BACK THERE SOMEWHERE, BUT I THINK BASICALLY ABOUT 3.5 MILLION WORTH OF STUDIES, CORRECT? THAT INCLUDES WHAT IS GOING ON, 2.8 PLUS ANOTHER 600 SOME THOUSAND, CORRECT? WE HAVE 3.5 MILLION. I TOTALLY AGREE WITH YOU. LET'S FIND OUT WHAT IT HAS TO

SAY. WOULD YOU AGREE WITH THAT? >> ABSOLUTELY.

>> THANK YOU. >> LINA HIDALGO: SO I PROMISED WE WOULD BREAK AFTER TWO

HOURS. LET'S HEAR -- >> JUDGE WE DO HAVE A

COUNCILMEMBER FROM THE CITY OF HOUSTON HERE. >> LINA HIDALGO: OKAY.

LET'S HEAR FROM COMMISSIONER ELLIS. >> SHERIFF, YOU MENTIONED THE THOUGHT OF EXPANDING THE PROGRAM TO COMMUNITIES THAT DON'T HAVE IT.

ROUGHLY WHAT PERCENTAGE OF THE COUNTY DOES NOT HAVE A SIMILAR PROGRAM?

>> WE DON'T HAVE ANY LEVERAGE IN CONTRACT. SOME OF OUR DISTRICTS ARE -- LIKE DISTRICT 2 OUT IN NORTHEAST HARRIS COUNTY HAS SOME OF THE CONTRACTS.

YOU KNOW DISTRICT FOUR AS WELL. I AM NOT SURE --

>> DO YOU KNOW IN GENERAL WHAT PERCENTAGE OF CITIZENS IN THE COUNTY WHETHER IT IS A PRECINCT OR THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT WOULD NOT HAVE A PROGRAM?

>> I DON'T KNOW THE ANSWER TO THAT QUESTION. I CAN TELL YOU THERE ARE 600 SOMETHING CON -- CONSTABLE DEPUTIES AND I THINK YOU HAVE 300.

A LOT OF THE COMMUNITIES THAT DON'T HAVE THE CONTRACTS, THAT'S WHERE WE SPEND OUR

DISTRICT UNITS AND CONTRACT UNITS. >> SO MY QUESTION IS DO WE NOT KNOW WHAT PERCENTAGE OF COMMUNITIES IN HARRIS COUNTY DON'T GET COVERAGE? THROUGH THE CONTRACT DEPUTY. WHETHER IT IS YOURS OR THROUGH THE CONSTABLE'S OFFICE?

>> THE UNINCORPORATED AREAS IN PLY -- IN MY PRECINCT WE DON'T HAVE A LOT OF CONTRACTS.

WE HAVE CIVIC CLUBS. THEY CAN'T AFFORD CONTRACTS. >> THAT'S WHY I AM ASKING SO WE CAN GET TO THE POINT OF IS THERE SOME DIFFERENCE? IF THERE ARE SOME COMMUNITIES WHO DON'T HAVE IT BECAUSE THEY CAN'T AFFORD IT, SHOULD THERE BE SOME DISCUSSION ABOUT WHAT CAN BE DONE TO BRING THEM UP TO THAT LEVEL? I ASSUME THERE ARE NOT MANY

PEOPLE HERE WHO DON'T HAVE IT? >> BACK TO MY POINT ABOUT

EXPANDING RPTION, I THINK EXPANDING IS -- >> LINA HIDALGO: FOLKS, PLEASE

BE QUIET SO WE CAN HEAR. >> COMMISSIONER, PRECINCT 1. WE HAVE HAD THOSE.

[02:05:02]

COULDN'T AFFORD. IT. >> THE ISSUE IS MONEY.

>> IT IS MONEY AND THE BOOTS ON THE GROUND. THEY DESERVE EVERYTHING

EVERYBODY ELSE HAS. >> WE HAVE NO IDEA WHAT PERCENTAGE OF THE COUNTY IS

NOT COVERED IS WHAT YOU ARE TELLING ME? >> RIGHT NOW THERE IS 40% OF

CONTRACTS. >> WE DON'T KNOW WHAT PERCENTAGE OF CITIZENS IN THE

COUNTY ARE TO THE COVERED. >> NOBODY. NO, SIR.

>> >> THAT'S WORTH A STUDY. THAT'S WORTH KNOWING.

>> TWO THINGS I WANT TO SAY. THEY ARE YOU EVER ED BY THE HOUSTON COUNTY POLICE DEPARTMENT. TWO WE HAVE COUNTY FUNDED SLOTS THAT GO EXTENSIVELY -- AND I KNOW FOR SURE IN MY PRE SINK I AM SPEAKING FOR ME. IT IS EXTENSIVELY IN THE NEIGHBORHOODS THAT CAN'T AFFORD IT. I MAKE SURE OF THAT BECAUSE OF

WHO I AM I DON'T WANT TO SPEAK FOR EVERYBODY, BUT I CAN'T -- >> I AM NOT HEAR -- I WANT TO

HEAR FROM MAE WALKER. >> IN THE PAST I CAME TO COMMISSIONER'S COURT TO ASK FOR ADDITIONAL FUNDS TO GET MORE PEOPLE IN MY NON-CON TRABILITY -- CONTRACTED AREAS AND I WAS PUNISHED QUITE SEVERELY. WHEN WE PUT IN OUR BUDGET AND ASK FOR ADDITIONAL FUNDS FOR DEPUTIES, NORMALLY THAT MONEY -- THOSE POSITIONS GO INTO NON-CONTRACTED AREA. THANKS TO MR. JACKSON I SAY I HAD A NIGHT SHIFT WITH NO OFFICERS IN THE NON-CONTRACTING AREA BECAUSE I DIDN'T HAVE ENOUGH FUNDS IN MY BUDGET. I HAVE BEEN HERE 15 YEARS AND I HAVE BEEN ASKING FOR ADDITIONAL MONEY FOR DEPUTIES IN THE NONBUDGEDDED AREA. LAST YEAR WAS THE FIRST YEAR, THANK YOU COMMISSIONER'S COURT. I GOT SOME ADDITIONAL FUNDS TO

GET TWO MORE DEPUTIES. TWO MORE DEPUTIES. >> WHAT IS THE DEPUTY THAT RESIDENT RATIO OF THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE? WHAT IS THE DEPUTY --

>> THE LAST TIME I SAW THAT NUMBER IT WAS IN CONTRAST TO OTHER LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES. AT ONE POINT IT WAS 3.3. AND THAT IS HELPING TO UNDERSTAND WITH THIS STUDY. WHAT IS THE COVERAGE THAT NEEDS TO BE OUT THERE? AGAIN THE CONTRACTS -- IF THE CITIZENS DECIDE TO KEEP THEM OR NOT, IT IS A FLUID INSTRUMENT. THE QUESTION IS WHAT IS THE STAFFING OF THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE? WE NEED ADDITIONAL FUNDING. WE NEED A SHERIFF'S OFFICE.

I WILL SAD -- I WILL ADVOCATE FOR THAT. I KNOW IT IS A TOUGH CHALLENGE RNTION BUT I REQUEST TO LOOK AT ALL SPENDING AT THE COUNTY TO SEE WHERE THERE IS ROOM FOR OTHER EFFICIENCIES. I DON'T SEE WHERE THE CONTRACT PROGRAM IS THE WAY TO START LOOKING OR TO POTENTIALLY ELIMINATE. I THINK THAT SHOULD BE A FUNDAMENTAL PIECE. WE SHOULD LOOK AT OTHER ISSUES GOING FORWARD.

THERE IS A NEW REALITY WHEN YOU ARE LOOKING AT CORONA VIE -- CORONAVIRUS AND THE MARSHALL'S OFFICE NEEDS TO BE FUNDED FOR PRO -- PROPENSITY FOR HIGH DISASTERS, HIGH-LEVEL

[02:10:01]

THAT'S WHAT WORRIES ME. WITH A REVENUE CAP, YOU ARE HAND STRUNG.

SPECIFIC TO THIS PROGRAM I DON'T THINK WE START BY LOOKING AT THE CONTRACT

PROGRAM AT THIS LEVEL. >> I WANT TO HEAR FROM HIM AND THEN WE WILL TAKE A 10-MINUTE BREAK AND COME BACK. LET'S HEAR FROM THE COUNCILMEMBER.

YEAH. >> GOOD MORNING, EVERYONE. I AM THE CITY COUNCILMEMBER AT LARGE IN POSITION NUMBER ONE. I AM HERE MORE LIKELY AS A CUSTOMER OF THE HARRIS COUNTY. I AM ALSO A RESIDENT OF HARRIS COUNTY AND I PAY TAXES.

AS DOES EVERYONE ELSE IN HERE AS WELL. I HAVE THREE POINTS.

THE BENEFITS OF THE CONTRACT DEPUTY PROGRAM ARE PRETTY EVIDENT.

FIRST OF ALL THEY ARE A FORCE MULTIPLIE. THEY ALLOW LAW ENFORCEMENT TO HAVE MORE RESOURCES IN THE EVENT OF AN EMERGENCY AND DISASTER AND AT A 5-1 RATIO.

ONE OFFICER EQUALS FIVE. SO THAT'S A GOOD ONE. THE OTHER THING IS THESE AGENCIES RELIE VE -- RELIEVE OTHER AGENCIES FROM THE RESPONSIBILITY OF HAVING TO RESPOND TO CALLS IN THE NEIGHBORHOODS WHERE THOSE CONTRACTS ARE AT ALLOWING THE OFFICERS TO SPEND THEIR TIME IN OTHER AREAS OF THE JURISDICTION THAT ARE UNDER SERVED. FINALLY IT COST THE COUNTY 20%, AND I I GUESS I JUST POINTED THAT OUT, 20% TO HAVE A DEPUTY SO THEY CAN HAVE FIVE DEPUTIES FOR THE PRICE OF ONE. NOW IT SEEMS TO ME THE PURPOSE OF THIS STUDY I AM IN GUEST AND I AM AN ELECTED OFFICIAL AND I KNOW HOW STUDIES WORK. AND THERE ARE TWO THINGS ABOUT STUDIES. THEY ARE EITHER DESIGNED TO SPEND MONEY JUST BECAUSE THEY CAN TO DISTRIBUTE TO FRIENDS AND CO-WORKERS AND WHAT HAVE YOU WHICH I DON'T THINK IS THE CASE IN THIS CASE. THE OTHER THING IS TO PROMOTE AN AGENDA THAT IS ALREADY PRE-DETERMINED. AND SO -- AND I RESPECTFULLY SUGGEST THAT THE WAY THIS ONE IS WRITTEN AND THE WAY IT LOOKS TO ME, PARTICULARLY WHEN YOU SEE GOVERNMENTS CUTTING OUT SECTIONS THAT ARE NOT GOING TO BE STUDIED. THAT'S AN INDICATION TO ME THAT THERE IS A PRE-DETERMINED OUTCOME EXPECTED. I JUST WANT TO REMIND ALL OF US ELECTEDS. IT IS IMPORTANT THAT WE REPRESENT THE LEAST AND THE LAST AMONG US AND THAT WE TAKE CARE OF THOSE WHO CAN'T TAKE CARE OF THEMSELVES.

BUT WE WEREN'T ELECTED JUST TO REPRESENT THEM. WE WERE ELECTED THE TAXPAYERS OF HARRIS COUNTY. THEY MAKE AN INCOME AND THEY FEEL LIKE THEY ARE NOT GETTING THE RESPONSE THEY NEED FROM THE JURISDICTION ASSIGNED TO THEM AND HAVE CHOSEN TO SPEND THEIR MONEY TO HIRE EXTRA SECURITY FOR THEIR NEIGHBORHOOD.

BY THE WAY ADD BENEFIT TO THE REST OF THE COUNTY. I HEAR A LOT ABOUT EQUITABLE DISTRIBUTION OF SERVICES. WHAT WE HAVE IS A PROBLEM BETWEEN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY AND

EQUAL OUTCOME. MAY I CONTINUE? >> YES.

>> EQUAL OUTCOME IS ACTUALLY NOT AN AMERICAN IDEAL. EQUAL OUTCOME MEANS THAT NO MATTER HOW HARD I WORK, NO MATTER HOW MUCH MONEY I MAKE, I CANNOT MAKE ANYMORE THAN YOU. YOU CAN'T HAVE A HOUSE THAT IS MORE VALUABLE THAN MINE.

I CAN'T DRIVE A CAR THAT SOMEONE ELSE COULDN'T AFFORD. THAT'S EQUALITY OF OUTCOME.

EQUALITY OF OPPORTUNITY MEANS THAT PEOPLE ARE ABLE TO WORK, SPEND THE FRUITS OF THEIR EFFORT AND ACTUALLY RECEIVE THE BENEFITS OF THE FRUITS OF THEIR EFFORT AND SPEND MONEY HOWEVER THEY WANT. IF YOU GUYS ARE REALLY CONSIDERING GETTING RID OF THE CONSTABLES CONTRACT PROGRAM, HOW DARE YOU. TELL THE CITIZENS OF HARRIS COUNTY WHAT THEY CAN AND CANNOT SPEND THEIR MONEY ON, AND WITH THAT I WILL CLOSE.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH. [APPLAUSE]. >> LINA HIDALGO: LET'S HEAR FROM COACH HART AND MRS. HART IF SHE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK AS WELL.

[02:15:08]

>> [INAUDIBLE]. I AM GOING TO TRY MY BEST. [INAUDIBLE].

I ASK THEM TO EXPLAIN TO ME WHAT THE PROBLEMS WERE. TODAY I AM CONCERNED ABOUT HAVING PEOPLE -- HAVING EQUAL TREATMENT. I THINK WE DIDN'T HAVE THAT.

THE ONE THING THAT WE ARE ALL TALKING ABOUT IS MONEY AND HOW WE GET THE MONEY TO DO WHATEVER WE GOT TO DO. WHETHER IT IS THE SHERIFF OR CONSTABLE OR WHATEVER.

WHERE DOES THE MONEY COME FROM? THEY ARE FROM PEOPLE LIKE YOU. AND THE WAY IT IS TAKEN FROM US IS INEBBING -- INEBBING HUA -- INEQUITABLE. [INAUDIBLE]. 30 YEARS I SENT IN MONEY.

I BROUGHT A DVD OF A MARCH 21 MEETING WHERE THE COMMITTEE -- [INAUDIBLE] MY NAME IS JIM ROBINSON -- AND THEN BE FIND OUT IT IS NOT TAKEN. I WISH I COULD GENERATE THE

ENTHUSIASM THAT IS HERE. [INAUDIBLE]. >> LINA HIDALGO: THANK YOU SO

MUCH COACH HART. >> WAIT A MINUTE. WAIT A MINUTE.

WAIT A MINUTE. >> 2,000 YEARS PREVIOUS TO THAT TIME.

>> IT CANNOT EXIST AS A PERMITTED OF GOVERNMENT. IT CAN ONLY EXIST UNTIL THE VOTERS DISCOVER THEY CAN HAVE MONEY FROM THE PUBLIC TREASURE.

THE MAJORITY ALWAYS VOTES FOR THE CANDIDATES PROMISING THE MOST MONEY FROM THE PUBLIC

TREASURY. >> FROM THAT MOMENT ON THE MAJORITY ALWAYS VOTES FOR THE CANDIDATES PROMISING THE MOST MONEY FROM THE PUBLIC TREASURY WITH THE RESULT THAT A DEMOCRACY ALWAYS COLLAPSES OVER LOOSE FISCAL POLICY FOLLOWED BY A DICTATORSHIP.

>> THE AVERAGE AGE OF THE [INAUDIBLE] IS 200 YEARS. THESE NATIONS HAVE PROGRESSED

THROUGH THE FOLLOWING SEQUENCE. >> FROM BONDAGE TO SPIRITUAL FAITH AND FROM SPIRITUAL FAITH TO GREAT COURAGE AND FROM COURAGE TO LIBERTY AND FROM LIBERTY TO ABUNDANCE AND FROM UH ABUNDANCE TO SELFISHNESS AND FROM SELFISHNESS TO COME PLAY SEN SEE AND FROM COME PLAY SEN SEE TO APATHY AND FROM APATHY TO DEPENDENCY AND

FROM DEPENDENCY BACK TO BONDAGE. >> I WISH I HAD KNOWN [INAUDIBLE]. I THANK YOU VERY MUCH. I ONLY HOPE YOU HELP ME SOME DAY TO RESTORE -- [INAUDIBLE]. YOU APPOINTED HIM.

THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU.

>> LINA HIDALGO: OKAY LET'S BREAK UNTIL 12:35 AND THEN WE

>> LINA HIDALGO: WE HAVE OUR SPEAKERS NOW. LET'S START MARIE FLEKINGER AND CHARL SHAW AND ANNETTE BALDWIN, PATTY JAMES. I'LL KEEP CALLING AS WE GO

[02:20:04]

ALONG. >> THANK YOU. MY NAME IS MARIE FLEKINGER REPRESENTING THE MUNICIPAL UTILITY DIRECT. THE DISTRICT HAS BEEN A PARTNER IN THE CON TABLE PROGRAM FOR MORE THAN 25 YEARS.

WE EMPLOY ONE SERGEANT AND 14 DEPUTIES. WE CHOSE THE PROGRAM BECAUSE THE MANAGEMENT COVERS A RELATIVELY SMALL AREA AND HAS BEEN A VERY RESPONSIBLE TO OUR COMMUNITY SAFETY AND NEEDS. THE CONTRACT OFFICERS WORK ONLY OUR SMALL AREA AND MANY OF THE OFFICERS LIVE HERE OR HAVE BEEN RACED IN THE AREA. RAISED IN THE AREA.

THEY HAVE A STAKE IN OUR AREA. LOCAL EMPLOYMENT OF THESE OFFICERS RESULTS IN GREAT PROFESSIONALISM, CONSIDERATION AND RESPONSIVE -- RESPONSIVENESS TO THE COMMUNITY. OUR PREVIOUS CONSTABLE BELIEVING HE HAD INSUFFICIENT FUNDING TO CONTINUE OUR PROGRAM POISED TO TERMINATE.

IT CLEAR CITY DEVELOPED A PROGRAM FOR OUR OWN POLICE DEPARTMENT AS ALLOWED BY THE STATE OF TEXAS. WE HAD THE COMMUNITY'S TOTAL SUPPORT.

THIS PROGRAM REMAINS AN OPTION FOR US TODAY. OUR COMMUNITY'S EXPERIENCE WAS THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE AND IT WAS THE OPPOSITE AS THE CONSTABLES.

AND IT DOES NOT GIVE THEM THE CLOSE RELATIONSHIP WHICH IS AVAILABLE THROUGH THE RELATIONSHIP WITH THE CONSTABLES. A REAL PLUS FOR THE COMMUNITY IS THE RESPONSE TIME. OUR RESPONSE AVERAGES LESS THAN TWO MINUTES.

WHILE WE STRONGLY FAVOR THE CONSTABLE PROGRAM AND I WILL SAY SOMETHING THAT ISN'T TOO POPULAR TODAY, WE ALSO ACKNOWLEDGE THERE MAY BE A NEED FOR A STUDY IN LOOKING INTO DIFFERENT THINGS WITH THE CONSTABLES. WE ARE ESPECIALLY INTERESTED IN THE POINT THAT COMMISSIONER GARCIA MENTIONED WHICH IS SERVICES ARE PERFORMED IN ACCORDANCE WITH A CONTRACT AND HOW CONSTABLES TRACK THE HOURS WITH THE CONSTABLE PROGRAM.

I THINK THERE SHOULD BE SOME THINGS POSSIBLY LOOKED INTO, BUT WE WANT EVERYBODY TO KNOW WE DO STRONGLY SUPPORT THE CONSTABLE PROGRAM. THANK YOU.

>> ADRIAN GARCIA: THANK YOU. >> MS. FLIKENGER INTRODUCED YOURSELF IN THE ONE AREA, BUT SHE DIDN'T MENTION SHE IS AN ICON IN THE SOUTH BELT AREA. GROWING UP, I WENT TO THIS SMALL LITTLE SCHOOL CALLED DOBIE. WHEN ANYBODY DID GOOD THEY WOULD GET THEIR NAME IN THE SOUTH BELT LEADER. THAT WAS BEFORE THERE WAS THE SOUTH BELT THAT WAS BUILT. BELT WAY 8 NOW IS OVER WHERE MY DOG IS BURIED.

THE SOUTH BELT CAME IN LATER ON. SHE IS SOMEONE WE HAVE ALL LOOKED UP TO AND ADMIRED IN THE SOUTH BEST AREA. THANK YOU FOR ALL OF YOUR

SERVICE OVER THE YEARS. >> LINA HIDALGO: THANK YOU. >> ADRIAN GARCIA: THANK YOU.

>> LINA HIDALGO: CARL SHAWL. >> BALDWIN AND PATTY JAMES AND KYLE SHELTON, CAESAR MOREN, HANS MARTIC HUC BLASH BASH MARTUCHUCK. APOLOGIZES. IF I CALLED YOUR NAME, PLEASE

GO AHEAD. >> I WOULD LIKE TO THANK THE COMMISSIONERS FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK TODAY. MY NAME IS CEASER AND I AM THE PRESIDENT OF THE HARRIS COUNTY DEPUTY CONSTABLE ASSOCIATION. I AM HERE TODAY TO SPEAK ON THE AGENDA ITEM COMMISSIONER GARCIA HAS PRESENTED TO COMMISSION THE STUDY OF THE HARRIS COUNTY CONSTABLES CONTRACT PATROL PROGRAM. THE HARRIS COUNTY DEPUTY CONSTABLE ASSOCIATION IS OPPOSED TO WASTING TAXPAYER DOLLARS IN -- AND A DUPLICATION OF EFFORT AND A DUPLICATION OF THE KINDER STUDY CONDUCTED IN 2018. I PERSONALLY DISCUSSED THE RESULTS OF THIS STUDY WITH COMMISSIONER GARCIA LAST YEAR, AND HE ASSURED ME THAT THERE WAS NO POLITICAL APPETITE TO CONSOLIDATE THE CONSTABLE OFFICES.

AND NOW IT APPEARS THAT THE COMMISSIONER MAY HAVE CHANGED HIS MIND AND IS LOOKING AT A NEW WAY TO NEGATIVELY IMPACT THE CONSTABLE OFFICES AS WELL AS THE PUBLIC THAT THEY SERVE. IT APPEARS THE NEW APPROACH IS THROUGH THE CON TABLES'

[02:25:05]

THIS PLAN IS SHORT SIDED AND DOES NOT ACCOUNT FOR THE IS UP PLEA MENTAL COVERAGE -- IS UP PLAW -- SUPPLEMENTAL COVERAGE THEY PROVIDE THE SHERIFF OFFICE AND HPD.

THE CONSTABLE PRESENCE IN THE CONTRACTED NEIGHBORHOOD ALLOWS THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE TO PATROL THE VAST COUNTY. ANY ATTEMPT TO REMOVE THE 684 CONTRACT POSITIONS TO THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE WILL COME WITH A HEAVY PRICE TO HARRIS COUNTY TAXPAYERS.

IT WOULD TAKE MILLIONS OF DOLLARS TO PROPERLY VET AND DO BACKGROUNDS OF THE DEPUTY CONSTABLES AND RUN NUMEROUS LATERAL ACADEMIES AND PUT THE NEW DEPUTIES THROUGH MODIFIED FTO PROGRAMS AND THE RESTRIPING OF VEHICLES. THIS IS AN UNNECESSARY COST FOR A PROGRAM THAT IS WORKING FOR HUNDREDS AND THOUSANDS OF HARRIS COUNTY RESIDENTS.

THERE IS ANOTHER ASSUMPTION THAT ALL OF THE NEWLY UNEMPLOYED DEPUTIES WOULD APPLY WITH A CSO. THE HOUSTON POLICE DEPARTMENT WOULD LIKE -- LIKELY PRESENT A PACKAGE WITH BETTER PAYING BENEFITS AND RECRUIT MANY OFFICERS AWAY FROM THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT IT WOULD CAUSE A SHORTAGE OF PERSONNEL AND THE CON SELL LAYINGS OF CON SACT -- CONTRACTS. THE CONTRACT PATROL PROGRAM IS THE EPITOME OF WHAT COMMUNITY AND RELATION POLICING IS ABOUT. THE DEPUTIES IN THESE CONTRACTS GET TO KNOW THE CITIZENS AND PROVIDE A STYLE OF SERVICE THAT CREATES POSITIVE RELATIONSHIPS. THE BENEFITS OF THE PROGRAM ALSO INCLUDE SHORTER RESPONSE TIMES AND HIGH VISIBILITY THAT INCREASES CRIME RATES. I HAVE PROVIDED THE COMMISSIONERS AND THE JUDGE WITH NUMEROUS EXAMPLES FROM TWITTER OF THE GREAT WORK THE VERY SUCCESS CONSTABLE DEPARTMENTS ARE PROVIDING. THE HARRIS COUNTY DEPUTY CONSTABLE ASSOCIATION REPRESENTS MORE THAN 550 DEPUTY CONSTABLES.

>> LINA HIDALGO: THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU.

>> ADRIAN GARCIA: THANK YOU. I'M SORRY. WHAT WAS HIS NAME? CAESAR, CAESAR. THANK YOU FOR COMING DOWN. YOU KNOW, WHEN WE SPOKE LAST YEAR, THERE IS NO APPETITE. THERE IS NO INTEREST IN DOING AWAY WITH THE CONSTABLE'S OFFICE OR ANY ASPECT OF THE CONSTABLE'S OFFICE. THERE IS AN APPETITE TO SEE WHERE IMPROVEMENTS CAN BE MADE, AND JUST SIMPLY UNDERSTANDING THE IMPACT OF A PROGRAM. YOU KNOW, SO WHERE WE CAN DO BETTER, PROPERTY ROOM, DIS -- DISPATCH. I THINK THOSE ARE GREAT AREAS.

WHERE WE CAN DO THINGS BETTER IS -- LOOK, I KNOW YOU HAVE BEEN AT CIVIL SERVICE FOR AGES, AND I THINK THAT TIME HAS COME. THESE ARE ALL JUST SOME OF THE ISSUES WE HAVE TO UNDERSTAND, BUT ULTIMATELY THERE IS A BOTTOM LINE TO ALL THIS.

I REMEMBER VERY CLEARLY THAT YOUR ORGANIZATION BEARED THE BRUNT OF THE LAYOFFS BACK IN 09 I THINK IF WE DON'T PLAN WELL FOR THE FUTURE, WHATEVER THAT FUTURE MAY BE, THEN WE ARE DOING YOU AND YOUR MEMBERS A DISSERVICE. THE POINT THAT WAS MADE BY -- I CAN'T REMEMBER WHICH OF THE CONSTABLES THAT EMPLOYEES ARE WORRIED ABOUT THEIR PAYCHECK AND WORRIED ABOUT THEIR MORTGAGES AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE, THAT -- I REGRET THAT THIS ITEM AND THE WAY IT WAS COMMUNICATED HAS CAUSED THAT KIND OF CONCERN.

THAT WAS -- WASN'T THE INTENT. I REGRET THAT'S BEEN WHAT HAS GOTTEN TO A LOT OF PEOPLE AND FOR THAT REASON I WILL BE ASKING THE JUDGE TO PULL THIS.

YOUR LEADERSHIP. I THINK THE PROGRAM IS SERVING ITS PURPOSE, BUT I AM SURE THAT THERE ARE AREA THAT'S WE CAN MAKE THIS THING WORK BETTER.

SO I AM SIMPLY LOOKING FOR WAYS TO MAKE THESE PROGRAMS WORK BETTER, AND LOOKING AT HOW WE MAKE BETTER USE OF THE INVESTMENTS THAT WE ARE MAKING SO THAT YOUR MEMBERS CAN

[02:30:04]

AND I USED TO TELL MY DEPUTIES WHEN THEY WOULD COMPLAIN ABOUT USING -- LOSING CONTRACTS, WELL SHAME ON US. WE SHOULD HAVE BEEN DOING SOMETHING BETTER TO KEEP THE COMMUNITY FROM MAKING THAT DECISION. AND SO I WANT TO JUST MAKE THESE PROGRAMS BETTER, BETTER SERVE THE CITIZENS. BUT I AGREE THERE IS UNNECESSARY FEAR AND CONCERN OF WHAT THIS ITEM WAS INTENDED TO DO.

FOR PEOPLE TO BELIEVE AND MAKE BELIEVE THAT THEY WOULD LOSE THEIR JOB WAS NOT ANYWHERE A PART OF THIS. AND SO THANK YOU FOR COMING DOWN AND I LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU AND ALL OF THE OTHER CONSTABLES TO GET TO A BETTER PLACE.

>> MAY I RESPOND TO ONE THING? YOU SAY THAT YOU USED TO TELL YOUR PEOPLE THAT IT WAS LIKE AN EXTRA JOB. LIKE ANY EXTRA JOB PEOPLE CAN PAY. FOR MY MEMBERS IT IS MORE THAN THAT.

IT IS EVERYTHING THEY HAVE. >> ADRIAN GARCIA: AND PLEASE UNDERSTAND THAT MY REFERENCE IS THAT IT IS THE COMMUNITY'S RIGHT TO HIRE SOMEONE TO DO MORE WORK FOR THEM.

THAT'S MY ANALOGY TO THE EXTRA JOBS. >> LINA HIDALGO: THANK YOU SO MUCH. GO AHEAD. GO AHEAD.

>> GOOD MORNING. COMMISSIONERS, JUDGE, HANS MARTICHEK, CORRECT PRONUNCIATION. I AM HERE WITH CLEAT WITH THE COME LINED LAW ENFORCEMENT ASSOCIATION OF TEXAS. WE ARE LOCAL HERE. I STARTED RECEIVING PHONE CALLS OVER THE WEEKEND AS YOU KNOW, AND QUITE FRANKLY FROM MY EYES IT APPEARS TO BE ANOTHER BITE AT THE APPLE AND POSSIBLY DECIMATING ORIE DEUCING AND -- OR REDUCING AND UNDER CUTTING THE CONSTABLES OFFICES AND THE CITIZENS THAT THEY SERVE.

THE CONTRACT DEPUTY PROGRAM IS A COST TO THE COUNTY AND THE COMMUNITY SUBDIVISION THAT HIRES THEM. THE SPLIT IS 70% COUNTY AND 30% COMMUNITY.

IN THE UNINCORPORATED PARTS OF THE COUNTY. IT IS 80/20 IN THE CITY.

IT IS THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE PATROLLING. ONE WOULD HAVE TO ASK THEMSELVES WHERE IS THE SAVINGS? IF THERE IS A CONCERN ABOUT UNDER SERVICE IN THE MINORITY OR LOWER ECONOMIC AREAS IN THE COUNTY, THAT DETERMINATION IS SIMPLE. EQUALS FOR SERVICE, POPULATION DENSITY AND NUMBER UH -- NUMBER ASSIGNED AND MAKE ADJUSTMENTS IF NECESSARY. I DON'T THINK YOU NEED A COSTLY STUDY TO DO THIS. THERE IS NOTHING TO INDICATE THAT THE COMMUNITY'S SERVICE WILL BE ANY BETTER WITH THE CHANGE, BUT WE KNOW IT WON'T BE ANY CHEAPER.

WHAT APPEARS TO BE HAPPENING IS AN EFFORT TO TAKE AWAY THE RIGHT OF THESE COMMUNITIES TO CHOOSE WHO THEY WOULD LIKE TO PROVIDE LAW ENFORCEMENT SERVICES TO.

AGAIN, YOU DON'T NEED A STUDY TO DO THAT. YOU NEED AN ELECTION.

IF THEY DON'T WANT THEM, THE CONTRACT EXPIRES AND WE CAN BRING IN SOMEBODY ELSE.

OVER THE PAST TWO YEARS I VISITED EVERY HARRIS COUNTY CONSTABLE PRE SINK.

I CAN TELL YOU WITHOUT HESITATION PRECINCTS ONE, FOUR, FIVE, SIX, SEVEN, AND EIGHT ARE ALL WELL-RUN PROFESSIONAL LAW ENFORCEMENT ORGANIZATIONS.

I CANNOT TELL ABOUT YOU PRE SINK 3 -- PRECINCT 3. I NEVER HAD A CHANCE TO GET IN THERE AND I HAVE BEEN TO PRECINCT 2 AND WE KNOW WHAT IS GOING ON OVER THERE.

IF YOU KNOW WHAT IS GOING ON YOU HAVE TO ASK YOURSELF WHY DID THIS HAPPEN? BECAUSE IT IS THE REAL WORLD OF AT WILL LAW ENFORCEMENT. IT CAN LEAD TO POLITICAL FAVORITISM. I WOULD LIKE TO CONCLUDE WITH THIS THOUGHT.

DEPUTY CONSTABLES IN HARRIS COUNTY MAKE ARRESTS AND THEY GET INVOLVED IN DANGEROUS POLICE CHASES, THEY GET PHYSICALLY ATTACKED, SHOT AT AND COMPLAINED ON BOY AGITATED

[02:35:04]

I APPRECIATE YOUR ATTENTION. [APPLAUSE]. >> ADRIAN GARCIA: HANS, GOOD TO SEE YOU AND THANK YOU FOR CONTINUING YOUR WORK TO SUPPORT THE GUYS OUT THERE ON THE STREETS. YOUR COMMENT ABOUT CIVIL SERVICE AND CAESAR THAT JUST

SPOKE, ARE YOU GUYS -- DO Y'ALL WORK TOGETHER? >> YES, THEY ARE LOCAL.

>> ADRIAN GARCIA: WHAT HAS BEEN THE CONVERSATION ABOUT CIVIL SERVICE MOST RECENTLY?

>> KEEPING THE POLITICS OUT OF IT. EVERY TIME THERE IS AN

ELECTION -- >> ADRIAN GARCIA: NO, I MEAN HAVE YOU HAD CONVERSATIONS

BESIDES ME? >> I HAVE NOT HAD ANY OTHER CONVERSATIONS BESIDES YOU.

I WANTED TO WAIT UNTIL SOME OF THESE ELECTIONS WERE OVER WITH.

I VISITED WITH MOST CONSTABLES. >> ADRIAN GARCIA: WELL, I'M AGREEING TO WORK WITH -- WITH THEM TO TRY TO ACHIEVE SOME OF THE GOALS THAT I WAS GONNA WORK THROUGH -- ON THE STUDY. BUT I THINK IT IS IMPORTANT FOR US TO HAVE A CONVERSATION ABOUT CIVIL SERVICE, AND THAT'S BEEN SOMETHING THAT'S BEEN LONG REQUESTED.

I'M NOT SURE WHAT THE PROCESS IS TO GET US THERE. BUT I LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU ON THE ELEMENTS OF THIS STUDY AND THE IDEA OF CIVIL SERVICE.

>> I LOOK FORWARD TO IT, COMMISSIONER. MATTER OF FACT, I LOOK FORWARD

TO WORKING WITH ALL OF THE COMMISSIONERS AND THE JUDGE. >> LINA HIDALGO: I KNOW WE STILL HAVE SPEAKERS HERE. I WANT TO MAKE SURE, I'M EAGER AND WE ARE ALL EAGER TO HEAR FROM EVERYBODY. I WANT TO MAKE SURE FOLKS RECOGNIZE THAT COMMISSIONER MENTIONED YOU ARE HOLDING BOTH ITEMS, AND SO WE WILL BE HERE LISTENING FROM FOLKS, BUT I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE ESPECIALLY FOLKS IN THE OVER FLOW ROOM AND EVERYONE

UNDERSTOOD THAT. NO ACTION. >> SO WE ARE CLEAR THAT IT IS

COMING OFF OF THE AGENDA? >> LINA HIDALGO: YES. TAKE NOTHING ACTION ON BOTH

ITEMS. >> THANK YOU. REALLY APPRECIATE THAT.

THAT SAID, I DON'T HAVE A LOT AFTER THAT. SO I CAME IN PREPARED TO GIVE

EACH OF YOU -- >> YOUR HONOR, EXCUSE ME JUST A MINUTE.

I WANT A POINT OF CLARIFICATION. IF BOTH OF COMMISSIONER GARCIA'S ITEMS ARE PULLED, THEN I WOULD PULL MINE AS WELL.

WHICH IS AN OPPOSITION AND ALSO TO -- IF IT GOES FORWARD TO MAKE SURE THAT WE INCLUDE ALL LAW ENFORCEMENT IN JUST AND NOT DISCRIMINATE AGAINST THE CONSTABLES.

JUDGE, IF YOU ARE MAKING THE RULING THAT BOTH OF THESE ARE PULLED, I STILL WANT TO HEAR FROM THE FOLKS WHO CAME DOWN. I AM NOT ASKING ANYBODY NOT TO TALK, BUT THERE IS NO -- I

JUST WANT TO GET CLARIFICATION. >> ADRIAN GARCIA: IT IS A

MOTION OF NO ACTION? >> I THINK YOU JUST SIMPLY ANNOUNCE THAT YOU ARE REQUESTING NO ACTION AND NO ACTION IS TAKEN. I DON'T KNOW IF YOU NEED A

FORMAL MOTION. >> THINGS ARE WITHDRAWN FROM THE AGENDA ALL THE TIME AND THEN THEY COME BACK AGAIN. I HOPE EVERYBODY STAYS AND EXPRESSES THEIR VIEW.

I HOPE SO. I HAVE SEEN THAT GAME PLAYED BEFORE.

>> LINA HIDALGO: SO THE WAY WE -- SO THE WAY WE PULL ACCORDING TO THE LAW IS JUST TAKE NO ACTION. SO THAT'S WHAT IS BEING DONE ON THESE THREE ITEMS.

WE ARE HERE TO LISTEN TO SPEAKERS. >> IF THERE IS A NO ACTION THAT IS GONNA BE DONE ON COMMISSIONER GARCIA'S, THEN I REQUEST THAT THERE BE A NO ACTION BECAUSE I DON'T WANT TO HAVE A STUDY WHICH IS PART B OF MINE, BUT I STILL WANT TO HEAR FROM THE PUBLIC IN CASE ANY OF US DECIDE THAT WE WANT TO BRING IT BACK.

>> AND JUDGE, YOU CAN TAKE NO ACTION EITHER BY TAKING NO ACTION, OR YOU COULD, IF YOU WANTED TO, HAVE A FORMAL MOTION AND SECOND THAT THE COURT IS TAKING NO ACTION.

EITHER ONE IS APPROPRIATE. >> LINA HIDALGO: OKAY. LET'S CONTINUE TO HEAR FROM THE SPEAKERS AND THEN WE CAN VOTE ON EVERYTHING. I REMIND FOLKS IF YOU ARE SICK, PLEASE, YOU KNOW, GO HOME. PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME AND

AFFILIATION. >> I'M SORRY. MY NAME IS PAT TREE JAMES.

PATTY JAMES. I AM AN 11-YEAR RESIDENT OF THE FAIR FIELD COMMUNITY IN

[02:40:03]

>> BY COMMISSIONER GARCIA ABOUT THE CONTRACT SERVICES PROVIDED TO OUR NEIGHBORHOOD AND NEIGHBORHOOD BUSINESSES. BY PRE SINK -- PRECINCT 4 CONSTABLES.

I AM HERE TO MAKE CLEAR AND IN NO UNCERTAIN TERMS THAT OUR COMMUNITY WOULD NOT BE IN FAVOR OF SUCH A CHANGE, AND I WOULD LIKE TO EXPLAIN WHY. OUR CON -- CONTRACT WAS INITIATED OCTOBER OF 2013 FOLLOWING COUNTLESS COMPLAINTS FROM RESIDENTS REGARDING DELAYED RESPONSE TIMES AND LIMITED SHOWINGS FIE -- BY THE SHERIFF A EAST OFFICE.

AT ONE POINT REFUSING TO LOOK INTO CAR BREAK INS AND THEFTS AND TIRE THEFTS IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD. AND WE EXPERIENCED SEVERAL PURSE SNATCHINGS AT NEWLY OPENED BUSINESSES. I PERSONALLY CONTACTED THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE REQUESTING THE COMMUNITY LIAISON COME TO OUR NEIGHBORHOOD AND SPEAK TO OUR MOM'S GROUP AND RESIDENTS. 8 CALLED THREE -- I CALLED THREE TIMES AND SENT TWO E-MAILS. NONE OF MY MESSAGES WERE RETURNED.

AT LEAST NOT BY THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE. IT WAS ULTIMATELY PRECINCT 4 CONSTABLE'S OFFICE THAT SENT AN OFFICER TO OUR NEIGHBORHOOD TO CALM OUR FEARS AND SPEAK TO OUR COMMUNITIES. I WANT TO MAKE CLEAR THE EXPERIENCES I HAVE JUST DESCRIBED ARE ABSOLUTELY NOT A COMMENTARY OF THE QUALITY AND CALIBER OF THE OFFICERS THAT MAKE UP THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT. I BELIEVE THEN AS I DO NOW THAT THOSE OFFICERS ARE DOING THE BEST THEY COULD WITHIN THE PARAMETERS PLACED ON THEM.

IT CANNOT BE EASY TO POLICE COMMUNITIES IN THE LARGEST COUNTY IN OUR STATE, AND ONE THAT FACES CONSTANT AND CONSISTENT GROWTH. COMMISSIONERS, IN 2019 COMMUNITY IMPACT NEWSPAPER REPORTED THAT THE POPULATION OF THE AREA GREW BY 55,000 PEOPLE BETWEEN 2014 AND 2018. AN INCREASE OF 10.5% OUT -- OUT PACING HARRIS COUNTY AND THE STATE OF TEXAS AT 7.8 AND 6.9% RESPECTIVELY. THIS INCREASE IN POPULATION RESULTED IN AN INCREASE IN NEED FOR RELIABLE POLICING SERVICES AND THAT NEED BROUGHT MY COMMUNITY TO THE PRECINCT 4 CONSTABLE'S OFFICE AND OUR COMMUNITY IS MEASURABLY BETTER FOR. IT -- FOR. IT -- FOR IT.

WE CAN LOOK AT OUR MINUTES TO GIVE YOU WHAT YOU NEED FROM OUR COMMUNITY.

COMMISSIONERS, I CHALLENGE EACH OF YOU TO NAME ANY OF THE 10 ZIPPING NEIGHBORHOOD THAT'S SURROUND -- DISTINCT NEIGHBORHOODS THAT SURROUND MY OWN.

TELL ME THE SCHOOLS. TELL ME WHAT TIME THE SCHOOL ZONES BEGIN AND END.

NAME ANY OF OUR BUSINESS THAT'S ARE NOT MASSIVE CORPORATIONS LOCATED DIRECTLY OFF THE 290 CORRIDOR. NAPE -- NAME ONE COMMUNITY EVENT THAT BRINGS US TOGETHER

OUTSIDE OF NATIONAL NIGHT OUT. >> LINA HIDALGO: THANK YOU.

WE REALLY HAVE TO STOP EVERYONE AT TIME OR WE WILL NEVER GET OUT OF HERE.

>> I COMPLETELY UNDERSTAND. THANK YOU FOR YOUR ACTION. >> GOOD AFTERNOON, EVERYBODY.

MY NAME IS KYLE SHELTON AND I AM THE DEPUTY DIRECTOR FOR URBAN RESEARCH AT RICE UNIVERSITY. JUDGE, THANK YOU FOR HAVING US TO TALK ABOUT THIS IMPORTANT SUBJECT. AS HAS BEEN MENTIONED A COUPLE TIMES N2018 THE KINDER INSTITUTE IDENTIFIED OVERLAPPING SERVICES IN LAW ENFORCEMENT IN HARRIS COUNTY AS A MAJOR ISSUE FACING MULTIPLE JURISDICTIONS HERE, AND THE RESULTS -- RESULTING REPORT HIGHLIGHTED SEVERAL AREAS WHERE IMPROVED SERVICES CAN BE FOUND AND WE POINTED TO POSSIBLE STEPS THAT CAN BE PURSUE HAD -- PURSUED THROUGH COLLABORATIONS OF 60 LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES WHO COLLECTIVELY OF THE REPORT SPENT $1.6 BILLION FROM GENERAL FUNDS. IN ADDITION TO THOSE POSSIBLE IMPROVEMENTS WE ALSO HIGHLIGHTED A NUMBER OF AREAS WHERE DEEPER STUDY AND ENGAGEMENT WITH YOU ALL, WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT AND WITH RESIDENTS WOULD BE NEEDED TO TRULY UNDERSTAND HOW TO IMPROVE SPECIFIC SERVICES AND ENSURE EQUITY AND LOWER COSTS AND I WANT TO SAY WE ARE HAPPY TO BRIEF ANY OF YOU ALL. I KNOW WE HAD SEVERAL CONVERSATIONS WITH MOST OF YOUR OFFICES AND WITH MOST OF THE LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICES IN THE PRODUCTION OF THIS STUDY, BUT WE'RE HAPPY TO REVISIT AND TALK ABOUT THAT STUDY IN 2018.

IN LIGHT OF THE RECENT ACTION I WILL BE BRIEF ON THINGS I WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT, BUT I WANTED TO SAY IN TERMS OF SOME OF THOSE DEEPER QUESTIONS AND AGAIN IN OUR HIGH-LEVEL ANALYSIS, THE LOCATION OF DEPUTY CONTRACTS FOR THE SHERIFF AND CONSTABLE, THE MAJORITY OF THOSE ARE IN HIGHER INCOME AREAS AND SO THAT DOES RAISE A QUESTION OF THE EQUITY OF SERVICE AND ACCESS TO THE OPPORTUNITY. AGAIN, IN ORDER TO ANSWER THAT QUESTION SOMETHING I WANT TO HIGHLIGHT IS IT WOULD REQUIRE MORE ENGAGEMENT IN THE DATA CALLS FOR SERVICE AND THE ALLEGATION OF OFFICERS' TIMES AND RESPONSE TIMES.

AND ONE OTHER NOTE I WOULD SAY IS TO FINALLY TO GET A COMPLETE PICTURE OF ANY OF

[02:45:03]

IT WOULD NEED TO AT A MINIMUM INCLUDE THE HOUSTON POLICE DEPARTMENT.

SO MUCH OF THE CONTRACTS COVER INTO THE CITY OF HOUSTON AND WITH THAT I WILL JUST -- AGAIN I HILLARY YIT RATE -- I WILL REITERATE HAPPY SHARE THE FINDINGS WITH YOU AT ANY POINT AND OTHERS IN THE ROOM AND IT IS AVAILABLE ON THE WEBSITE. HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS

I CAN. >> LINA HIDALGO: COMMISSIONER GARCIA AND THEN COMMISSIONER

CAGLE. >> ADRIAN GARCIA: THANK YOU, JUDGE.

THANK YOU FOR COMING DOWN AND SHARING YOUR THOUGHTS WITH US.

AND YOU'RE RIGHT. ONE OF THE THINGS THAT -- THAT'S YES MENTIONED IT EARLIER, HAD WE MOVED FORWARD -- IT WAS GOING -- WASN'T GOING TO COVER THE SCHOOL DISTRICTS AND THE TOLL ROAD. I COULDN'T SEE HOW WE COULD STUDY HOUSTON UNLESS THEY DECIDED TO ACTIVELY PARTS -- PARTICIPATE IN THE PROCESS.

HAVE THE KINDRED DONE STUDIES ON OTHER JURISDICTIONS OUTSIDE OF HARRIS COUNTY RELATED TO

THIS KIND OF PUBLIC SAFETY ISSUE AND CONTRACTS ? >> NO, SIR.

IN THE PROCESS OF THIS REPORT WE LOOKED AT THE REST OF THE STATE TO COMPARE AND HARRIS COUNTY HAS THE MOST EXPANSIVE USE OF THE CONSTABLE OFFICE IN THE STATE, BUT WE DID NOT DO A

SIMILAR IN DEPTH STUDY BEYOND CONFIRMING. >> ADRIAN GARCIA: THANK YOU VERY MUCH. I LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU.

>> R. JACK CAGLE: I WOULD LIKE TO POINT OUT THREE POSITIVE THINGS THE REPORT SAID ABOUT THE CURRENT CONSTABLE PROGRAM. YOUR REPORT SAID MANY BENEFIT FROM THE CURRENT SITUATION EVEN IF IF IT IS DUE PLIK TIFF.

IF THEY HAD A CHOICE BETWEEN THE SHERIFF AND THE CONSTABLES IT WAS YOUR OPINION THAT MANY CONSTITUENTS WOULD BENEFIT FROM THE PROGRAM. A SECOND POSITIVE IS YOU NOTED IN YOUR REPORT THAT CONSTABLES ARE WELL KNOWN IN THE COUNTY FOR THE SERVICE THEY PROVIDE TO SPECIFIC NEIGHBORHOODS UNDER THE CONTRACT PROGRAM. 40% OF DEPUTIES WERE PAID FOR AT LEAST IN PART BY CONTRACTS. YOU RECOGNIZE THE BENEFIT THAT THEY HAVE BEEN ABLE TO DO AND THEN THE THIRD POSITIVE ABOUT THE CURRENT SITUATION THAT I NOTED IN YOUR REPORT AND SO YOU SAID THERE IS RESEARCH THAT INDICATES CONSOLIDATION INTO LARGE POLICE FORCES AND HIGHER COSTS BECAUSE OF THEIR SHEAR SIZE AND DIFFICULTY WITH MANAGING THE LARGER FORCE. AND SO I THINK THAT THOSE -- YOU SAY IT WOULD BE NICE TO HAVE ONE LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY AND MAYBE WE WILLY LIMB -- MAYBE WE WILL ELIMINATE EVERYTHING AND MAYBE WE GET RID OF THAT AND GO WITH THE FEDS.

YOU DID NOTE THAT THERE WERE BENEFITS OF THE CURRENT SITUAION AND I WANT TO THANK

YOU FOR POINTING THOSE OUT IN YOUR REPORT. >> AND I ADD OUR APPROACH IS ANY CONSIDERATION ARE PRO'S AND CONS AND SOME OF THE CHANGES TO THE EXISTING SITUATION IS WHAT YOU HIGHLIGHTED. THE CONSOLIDATION CONVERSATION AND THE WAY WE APPROACH IT IS TO SAY HERE IS A SET OF CHALLENGES AND WE IDENTIFIED THEM THROUGH THE RESEARCH AND THERE IS A SLATE OF OPTION THAT'S HELP TO ADDRESS THINGS AGAIN FROM THE SCALE OF THE EVIDENCE ROOM CONVERSATION AND UP TO OPERATIONS WHICH ARE

VERY DIFFERENT QUESTIONS. >> R. JACK CAGLE: THANK YOU. >> ADRIAN GARCIA: THANK YOU.

>> LINA HIDALGO: COMMISSIONER? >> WOULD YOU AGREE WITH A CONCEPT THAT WHEN YOU DEAL WITH MAJOR MUNICIPAL LAW ENFORCEMENT THE GOAL SHOULD BE TO HAVE ABOUT 90% OF THE FORCE

ON PATROL? >> I CAN'T ACTUALLY SPEAK TO THAT.

>> I WISH YOU WOULD ANALYZE WHAT PERCENTAGE SHOULD BE OUT ON PATROL OF A MAJOR LAW

ENFORCEMENT AGENCY. >> THAT SOUNDS LIKE AN EXCELLENT REASON FOR

ADDITIONAL RESEARCH. >> AND I WHAT PRESIDENT TO ASK ANOTHER QUESTION.

HAS RICE UNIVERSITY MODIFIED ITS APPROACH TO PROVIDE BACK UP FOR POLICE OFFICERS DOWN THE STREET THAT ASK FOR ASSISTANCE AND SOMEBODY ACTUALLY RESPONDS FROM RICE

UNIVERSITY AND GETS CHASTISED? >> I CAN'T ANSWER THAT QUESTION.

>> CHECK ON THAT, WIL YOU? THANK YOU. >> LINA HIDALGO: THANK YOU.

THANK YOU SO MUCH. ALL RIGHT. LET ME SEE.

IF I ALREADY CALLED THESE FOLKS -- PATTY JAMES. >> NO I AM NOT A SPEAKER.

THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER GARCIA. THE ONE AND ONLY ENVIRONMENTAL

TOXICOLOGIST MAKING SURE YOU ARE SAFE. >> LINA HIDALGO: RICARDO GARZA, LARRY ROSE, TONYA WILSON, JONATHON. GO AHEAD.

[02:50:11]

>> HI, I AM RICARDO GARZA. COMMISSIONER GARCIA, SIR, I LIVE IN YOUR DISTRICT AS WELL AS MANY OF MY FRIENDS AND MY FAMILY, AND WE ALL SUPPORTED YOU WHEN YOU WERE THE SHERIFF. WE SUPPORTED YOU WHEN YOU WANTED TO BE THE COMMISSIONER. I JUST DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY YOU ARE USING MY TAX MONEY -- IT IS VERY EMOTIONAL FOR ME. FOR YOU TO USE IT FOR A STUDY FOR A CONSTABLE PROGRAM THAT HAS WORKED SINCE BEFORE I WAS UH -- I WAS ALIVE. DURING THE HARVEY FLOODING I LOST MY HOUSE. IT WAS THE CON DASH CONSTABLES THAT CAME AND BROUGHT ME FOOD. IT WAS THEM THAT BROUGHT ME WATER.

I LOST EVERYTHING, AND IT WAS THEM THAT WERE THERE. I LIVE IN PRECINCT 3.

I LIVE IN YOUR AREA. THEY BROUGHT IT TO ME. THEY HELPED ME REBUILD.

Y'ALL HELPED ME REBUILD. I FEEL IT IS NOTHING BUT A PLOY TO TAKE THE CONSTABLES AND PUT THEM SOMEWHERE ELSE. IT IS A HORRIBLE MISTAKE WHAT YOU ARE DOING.

I UNDERSTAND YOU ARE TAKING IT OFF THE AGENDA AND THANK YOU. BUT IT SHOULD HAVE NEVER BEEN THERE TO BEGIN WITH.

FAMILY AND MY SAFETY. I LOST EVERYTHING, AND THEY WERE THERE FOR ME.

THIS MAN HERE WHO CAN'T WALK IS HERE BECAUSE OF THIS. SHAME ON ALL OF US FOR MAKING US COME HERE. SHAME ON ALL OF US FOR MAKING HIM HAVE TO COME HERE.

WE SHOULD BE AT HIS HOUSE AND NOT HIM AT OUR HOUSE. MY LAST STATEMENT WAS FOR YOU TO REMOVE IT AND FOR YOU TO VOTE, BUT HAVE YOU ALREADY DONE THAT.

I ASK THAT YOU USE THIS MONEY TO PUT MORE POLICE OFFICERS ON THE STREET SO WHEN THE NEXT HARVEY COMES -- SO WHEN THE NEXT FLOOD COMES OR WHEN CORONA HITS, THESE OFFICERS HAVE WHAT THEY NEED TO PROTECT US AND TO SAVE US. IT IS EASY TO BE BACK HERE.

PLEASE DON'T MAKE US HAVE TO COME UP HERE AGAIN. [APPLAUSE].

>> LINA HIDALGO: THANK YOU. >> I WILL TAKE MY SIGN BACK. [LAUGHTER].

>> MY NAME IS OFFICER LARRY ROSE. I BECAME A DEPUTY CONSTABLE IN 1973. I WORKED FOR WALTER EINKIN. WALTER REINKIN.

I AM AS PROUD OF MY LAW ENFORCEMENT CREDENTIALS THAN ANY DEGREE I EARNED.

I HAVE BEEN A RESIDENT OF MYRELAND SINCE 1971. I SERVED IN THE UNITED STATES ARMY AND HONORABLY DISCHARGED AT -- AS A CAPTAIN. I WAS PART OF THE ROLE BRINGING THE DEPUTY CONTRACTS IN THE 80S AND I WAS PART OF THE MIRELAND, HOA.

THE CONTRACT DEPUTY PROGRAM IS SUPPORTED BY A MANDATORY DUES ASSESSMENT.

THE DEPUTIES KNOW OUR RESIDENTS FROM MIRELAND RESIDENTS AND WE WANT TO SEE THE CONTRACT DEPUTY PROGRAM CONTINUE IN ITS PRESENT FORM. THE PROGRAM HAS BEEN IN EFFECT SINCE 1940 -- PARDON ME FOR 40 YEARS. AND IT IS VERY, VERY POPULAR AND IT IS VERY, VERY WORTH WHILE. ONE ASPECT OF THE STUDY CONCERNS DE CENTRAL -- OR CENTRALIZING THE DISPATCHING. IN MY OPINION THAT'S NOT NECESSARY BECAUSE THE OFFICERS ARE ALREADY DISPATCHED INTO THE COMMUNITY BY THEIR VARIOUS DEPARTMENTS. ONE OF THE CONCERNS SEEMS TO BE MONEY.

THE HOUSTON POLICE DEPARTMENT IS SHORT OF OFFICERS. RESIDENTS THAT HAVE THE CONTRACT DEPUTY PROGRAM FREE UP HOUSTON POLICE OFFICERS TO SERVICE THE UNDER SERVED AREAS. IN EFFECT THE NEIGHBORHOODS THAT ARE PAYING FOR THE CONTRACT DEPUTY PROGRAM ARE SUBSIDIZING THE LAW ENFORCEMENT IN THE UNDER SERVED PORTIONS OF HARRIS COUNTY. ANOTHER ITEM UNDER CONSIDERATION IS THE DECISION MAKING PROCESS. I DID NOT SEE A PROVISION FOR CIVILIAN INPUT. I WOULD VOLUNTEER TO SERVE ON THE DECISION-MAKING PANEL.

I FEEL THAT WITH MY LAW ENFORCEMENT BACKGROUND, MY INVOLVEMENT IN THE CONTRACT DEPUTY PROGRAM AS WELL AS LEADING A LARGE HOA, I COULD OFFER A PERSPECTIVE THAT MAY BE USEFUL TO THE DECISION MAKERS. IN ANY EVENT, THE DECISION

[02:55:02]

HOPEFULLY THAT WOULD BE ACCEPTABLE TO THE HOA'S THAT WISH TO KEEP THE CONTRACT DEPUTY PROGRAM. THE PROGRAM WORKS VERY WELL. IT SHOULD CONTINUE.

THE STUDY SHOULD BE ONE OF EXPANSION AND NOT CANCELLATION AND NOT ALTERATION.

AND I WOULD CLOSE BY IT IS REALLY NICE BEING ABLE TO SEE YOU AGAIN.

I AM TALKING ABOUT ADRIAN GARCIA, WHO YOU AND I WORKED TOGETHER WHEN YOU WERE WITH THE CITY. TOOK CARE OF THE STREET RACING PROGRAM.

AND IT IS NICE TO SEE YOU HERE. ANY QUESTIONS FOR ME?

>> ADRIAN GARCIA: DR. ROSE, THANK YOU SO MUCH. YOU KNOW, YOU TOUCHED ON A COUPLE OF THINGS THAT COULD HAVE BEEN PART OF THE OUTPUT. IT IS REALLY JUST HOW TO IMPROVE THE PROGRAM AND HOW TO MAKE SURE THAT THE COST OF THE PROGRAM IS THE COST OF THE PROGRAM. SO YOU TOUCHED ON -- YOU VALIDATED SOME AS PECTS --

SOME ASPECTS THAT WE WOULD BE HAVING A CONVERSATION ON. >> ONE OF THE THINGS THAT SEEMS TO BE WHEN YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT MONEY AND YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT 80/20 THERE ARE SOME NEIGHBORHOOD THAT'S DON'T HAVE 80/20. THEY HAVE 90/10.

SOME ARE 100%. IF THE ISSUE IS MONEY AND THE AREAS THAT ARE CHOOSING THE CONTRACT THEN THINGS SOMETIMES CHANGE. THE BIGGEST FEAR IS THE DISSOLUTION OF THE PROGRAM AND THAT WOULD BE REALLY, REALLY TRAGIC PARTICULARLY WITH WHAT IS GOING ON WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT TODAY WITH THE SHORT SERVICES, ET CETERA.

I AM REALLY GLAD YOU BROUGHT THAT UP. FOR SURE WE WOULD WANT TO

MAINTAIN THE PROGRAM. >> ADRIAN GARCIA: EXACTLY. THANK YOU.

>> YOU'RE WELCOME. GOOD SEEING YOU. >> ADRIAN GARCIA: LIKEWISE.

>> LINA HIDALGO: THANK YOU. AFTER THE FOLKS I HAVE CALLED WE HAVE JACK KELLY AND DOUGLAS

DIEL AS WELL. GO AHEAD. >> GOOD AFTERNOON.

I'M TONYA WILSON. MY REASON FOR BEING HERE IS TO KEEP THE CONTRACT DEPUTY PROGRAM. I DO UNDERSTAND THAT YOU ARE TAKING IT OFF THE AGENDA.

I AM OPPOSED TO THE STUDY BEING REQUESTED BY COMMISSIONER ADRIAN GARCIA.

COMMISSIONER RODNEY EL -- RODNEY ELLIS AND JUDGE HIDALGO, WE VOTED FOR YOU AND TO ALLOW A STUDY LIKE THIS TO EVEN GO ABOUT IS COSTING TAXPAYERS MONEY.

IT IS USELESS. IT IS NEEDLESS. EXCUSE ME.

MY FAMILY AND I MOVED TO THE AREA IN 95 BECAUSE OF THE CONTRACT DEPUTY PROGRAM.

WE ARE VERY PLEASED WITH IT AND VERY HAPPY WITH IT. I I CAN REMEMBER BEING OUTSIDE WHEN A PATROL DEPUTY CAME BY AND INTRODUCED HIMSELF. THAT WAS A GREAT FEELING TO ME TO HAVE SOMEBODY COME BY AND TALK TO ME. THE CONSTABLES' PRESENCE PROVIDE A SENSE OF COMMUNITY AND MAKE THE COMMUNITY FEEL SAFE.

THEY PARTICIPATE IN THE COMMUNITY EVENTS SUCH AS NATIONAL NIGHT OUT AND HALLOWEEN BY ENSURING THE SAFETY OF THE FAMILIES WITH PRO-ACTIVE PATROLLING.

NOT ONLY DO THEY PATROL OUR COMMUNITY, BUT THEY ASSIST OTHERS IN OTHER AREAS AS NEEDED. THEY ARE HAPPY TO OBLIGE. WE LOVE AND SUPPORT OUR CONSTABLES. MY PRESENCE HERE IS TO GIVE SUPPORT TO THE CONTRACT DEPUTY PROGRAM AND THE COMMITMENT TO THE COMMUNITY FOR OVER 41 YEARS.

I THANK YOU. >> ADRIAN GARCIA: THANK YOU. >> LINA HIDALGO: THANK YOU.

DIEL, ALEX VILLEGAS, NANCY FRANK. VIN CENTI -- VINCENTI MEDINA,

ASHLEY MEDINA. >> JUDGE HUH DOLL -- JUDGE HIDALGO AND COMMISSIONERS, I

[03:00:03]

WE PAY $12.83 A MONTH PER HOUSE FOR 70% OF FIVE DEPUTIES.

WE ARE VERY HAPPY AND HAVE BEEN FOR MANY YEARS WITH THE CONTRACT PROGRAM.

WE WOULD HATE TO SEE IT GO AWAY. WE CAN'T IMAGINE BEING PART OF A COUNTY-WIDE SHERIFF DEPUTY PROGRAM. I AM GOING TO BE VERY BRIEF.

I UNDERSTAND THAT THIS HAS BEEN TABLED FOR TODAY. LET ME SIMPLY SAY THAT I HOPE THAT THESE TWO PROPOSALS DON'T COME UP IN THE FUTURE COURT MEETING.

WE DON'T NEED IT. WE DON'T WANT IT.WE A VER - [INAUDIBLE].

>> ADRIAN GARCIA: IS YOUR CONTRACT 24/7, DOES IT COVER ALL SHIFTS ?

>> VIRTUALLY ALL SHIFTS. THEY DON'T TELL US WHAT SHIFTS ARE COVERED FOR A GOOD

REASON. >> ADRIAN GARCIA: BUT YOU HAVE A DAY SHIFT AND AN EVENING

SHIFT AND A NIGHT SHIFT? >> YES, SIR, I BELIEVE SO. >> ADRIAN GARCIA: BECAUSE I REMEMBER, IN FACT, YOU JUST REMINDED ME, REPRESENTATIVE MUDD THAT ONE OF THE CONSTABLES HAD A CONTRACT IN A MUD AREA, I THINK IN PRECINCT 1 IN THE FURTHERMOST POINT OF THE COUNTY. BUT THE COMMUNITY COULD ONLY PAY FOR A DAY SHIFT AND AN EVENING SHIFT. SO THEN WE HAD TO COME IN AND COVER THAT SHIFT.

IF FACT, SOMETIMES WE HAVE TO COVER IT MORE OFTEN THAN NOT. I WAS GLAD TO HEAR THAT YOU

GOT ALL YOUR SHIFTS COVERED. >> WE'RE VERY PLEASED WITH THE COVERAGE THAT WE HAVE.

WE SELDOM SEE THE SHERIFFS IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD. THEY ARE ABLE TO GO ELSEWHERE

WHERE THEY ARE NEEDED. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. >> LINA HIDALGO: THANK YOU.

SHARON O'NEIL. IF THERE IS ANYONE I HAVE CALLED ALREADY, PLEASE FEEL FREE TO APPROACH THE MIC. TARA BULA. ROBERT SHANK.

GO AHEAD. >> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ALLOWING US TO SPEAK.

MY NAME IS TARA BULA AND I TAKE THESE KINDS OF THINGS SUPER SERIOUSLY.

ISAIAH 10:1 SAYS WHOA TO THOSE WHO MAKE UNJUST LAWS AND TO THOSE WHO ISSUE OPPRESSIVE DECREES. TODAY IS PURIM THAT CELEBRATES EAST -- WHEN ESTHER, THEY WERE FREED. THE JEWS WERE FREED FROM AN UH PROS SHIV DECREE -- FROM AN OPPRESSIVE DECREE THAT WENT AFTER THEIR LIFE. AND I AM SO THANKFUL THAT YOU HAVE PULLED THIS. THANK YOU. AND THAT IS APPRECIATED THAT YOU ARE LISTENING TO THE PUBLIC AND THAT YOU ARE LISTENING AND WE APPRECIATE AND WE COMMEND THE TURNING AND -- BUT I ALSO WOULD REQUEST, PLEASE ALSO REMEMBER DON'T DO IT AGAIN, PLEASE. NOT IN A DISRESPECTFUL -- NOT IN A DIS -- DISRESPECTFUL, EVIL, MEAN WAY, BUT THERE HAS BEEN SEVERAL TIMES THIS COURT HAS PASSED -- I'LL GIVE YOU THREE EXAMPLES OF WHERE LEGISLATURE OPPOSES SOMETHING, BUT THIS COURT HAS PASSED BASED ON POLICY AND THE LIVES OF THE PUBLIC HAVE BEEN AT RISK.

ONE OF THEM IS THE BAIL BOND REFORM CONTRACT. AND THEN LOOKING INTO THE CONTRACTS OF THE PATROL -- EXCUSE ME. I AM NERVOUS.

>> ADRIAN GARCIA: RELAX, RELAX. AND --

>> AND SO I WOULD JUST REALLY REQUEST OF YOU THAT YOU REMEMBER THAT THE PUBLIC HAS -- YOU ARE ELECTED OFFICIALS AND WE RESPECT YOUR OFFICES, BUT THAT DOZENED UP PULLING YOU AWAY FROM THE PUBLIC. SO ANY KIND OF DECREE OR THING THAT WOULD AFFECT THE PUBLIC THAT YOU WOULD HAVE INPUT BEFORE IT'S JUST ISSUED.

IT IS A SERIOUS THING WITH GOD TOO. I AM JUST SO THANKFUL THAT I

[03:05:04]

I COMMEND YOU FOR DOING THAT. I COMMEND YOU FOR DOING THAT PUBLICLY.

THANK YOU SO MUCH. >> ADRIAN GARCIA: TARA? THANK YOU FOR COMING DOWN.

YOU KNOW, I DO ALWAYS ASK AND PRAY FOR WISDOM AND UNDERSTANDING, KNOWLEDGE AND STRENGTH AND SO WHEN I ATTEND MASS, THOSE ARE -- THAT'S A REGULAR PRAYER OF MINE.

ALSO PRAY FOR PEOPLE THAT WE DISAGREE WITH UP HERE. AND WE MENTION THEM TO THE GOOD LORD BY NAME. WE ARE TO PRAY FOR -- WE PRAY TO MAKE THE RIGHT DECISIONS.

THE INTENT -- I APPRECIATE YOU BEING HERE AND I APPRECIATE YOU SPEAKING ON THIS.

THE THING THAT CAUGHT ME THE MOST WAS THAT THERE WAS -- THE COMMUNITY WAS MADE BELIEVE THAT IF ANYTHING HAPPENED IT WOULD BE TO DO AWAY WITH THIS.

>> WELL THAT WAS -- IF I MAY SPEAK, WHENEVER READING THE ITEM THAT WAS THE -- LIKE THE INTENT. AND SO IT WAS LSM -- IT WAS ALMOST LIKE AN ATTACK.

>> >> ADRIAN GARCIA: I GET IT AND THAT WASN'T THE ISSUE AT ALL.

BY THE SAME TOKEN, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE TO BE STRONG SOMETIMES.

THERE ARE THINGS WE HAVE TO BE STRONG ENOUGH TO DO THAT MAKES US UNCOMFORTABLE.

I THINK IT GETS US TO A BETTER PLACE. I HEARD YOU AND I HEARD OTHERS AND I THINK MY PRAYER OF STRENGTH AND WISDOM IS KICKING IN RIGHT NOW SO THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU. >> LINA HIDALGO: THANK YOU. ARE THERE OTHER FOLKS I HAVE CALLED SO FAR AND WE WILL HEAR FROM THEM. OTHERWISE I PROMISED A BREAK FOR LUNCH. AND SO WE ARCH -- WE CAN HEAR THE REST OF THE SPEAKERS.

I MEAN, IT IS UP TO MY COLLEAGUES. I'M OKAY.

>> ADRIAN GARCIA: IF WE PASS OUT, JUST KEEP TALKING. >> SENATOR ELLIS, DON'T HIDE FROM ME. WELCOME TO THE CLUB. I FEEL LIKE WE ARE AT THE TEXAS LEGISLATURE AGAIN. THERE IS NO FAIRNESS IN PEOPLE THAT CANNOT AFFORD THE

CONSTABLES -- >> LINA HIDALGO: CAN YOU STATE YOUR NAME.

>> MY NAME IS YVONNE SILVA AND I HAVE BEEN COMPLAINING ABOUT THE ABUSES OF HOA SINCE GEORGE W. BUSH WAS OUR PRESIDENT. I HAVE COMPLAINED BEFORE IN THIS COMMISSIONER'S COURT ABOUT BEING DENIED DUE PROCESS MORE THAN ONCE. MY HOME WAS FORECLOSED ON BECAUSE I WANTED ACCOUNTABILITY FROM THE SHERIFFS SPENDING MONEY ON THE SECOND RADAR GUN. MY LIFE HAS BEEN A LIVING HELL EVER SINCE.

I AM OFF A PATROL I STARTED IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD WHEN WE WERE UNINCORPORATED, BUT THEY NEVER FINISHED THE CALL. THE OTHER THING IS EVERYBODY MAY GET LET OFF AND DOES THAT MEAN THEY SHOULD HAVE THEIR HOME FORECLOSED ON BECAUSE THEY CAN'T PAY THEIR HOA FEE BECAUSE EVERYBODY WANTS TO SPEND IT DIFFERENTLY? SENATOR ELLIS, I HAVE THE STUDY YOU AND JOHN BHIT -- WHIT MIRE DID ON HOA'S BACK ON PAPER AND I WOULD LIKE TO GO OVER THAT WITH MY COMMISSIONER, MR. CAGLE, WHO HAPPENS TO BE IN DISTRICT A ALSO WHERE I LIVE NOW, AND I HAVE COMPLAINED ABOUT FLOODING AND NOTHING'S BEEN DONE.

AND WHERE I USED TO LIVE ON OLD BRICK HOUSE THAT GOT BLOWN UP.

THEY PERSONALLY CHANGED DEED RESTRICTIONS I WILL -- ILLEGALLY TO CIVIC CLUBS BECAUSE THAT'S WHERE I LIVE NOW. AND UNTIL THERE IS SOME REGULATIONS ON HOA'S WHICH I HAVE NOT HEARD -- I MEAN WHO HERE WANTS TO TALK ABOUT WHEN YOU SPEAK OUT, I'M AFRAID OF GOING HOME. WHEN I ASK TO SEE HOW THE SHERIFF SPENT THE MONEY, I HAD ALL OF THEM THERE WITH A WARRANT FOR A 180-POUND PERSON TO ARREST ME. THIS HOA ABUSE HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR A LONGTIME.

AND WHEN PEOPLE LOSE THEIR HOMES OVER $800 THAT THE ATTORNEYS DID NOT ACCEPT, THAT'S A PROBLEM. AND JUDGE, I I HAVE REQUESTED TO MEET WITH YOU PERSONALLY TO WE CAN DISCUSS HOW THIS DOES AFFECT WHEN YOU LOSE YOUR JOB AND YOU CAN'T PAY YOUR HOA, SO YOU LOSE YOUR HOUSE? I WANT TO LEAVE IT TOO ON THE TEXAS REAL ESTATE COMMISSION WENT TO DC TO LOBBY TO HAVE THE SECOND LIEN POSITION. WHAT DOES A NONPROFIT NEED

[03:10:04]

>> LINA HIDALGO: THANK YOU SO MUCH. I WILL HAVE MY STAFF CIRCLE WITH YOU TO MAKE SURE YOU GET TOGETHER. SO COLLEAGUES, LUCINDA SAID THERE AREN'T SO MANY LEFT. IF YOU GUYS ARE OKAY JUST POWERING THROUGH THAT'S UP TO YOU. Y'ALL -- Y'ALL, PLEASE. WE ARE NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO POWER THROUGH IT IF WE ARE INTERRUPT IT. I WILL GO THROUGH THE LIST SO FAR AND THEN I WILL KEEP GOING IN CASE WE MISSED ANYONE. SO WE HAD ANNETTE BALDWIN.

WE HAVE PATTY JAMES. JONATHON VASQUEZ, JACK KELLY, ALEX VIELLEGA -- ALEX VILLEGA, VINCENTI MEDINA, ASHLEY MEDINA, SHARON O'NEIL, ROBERT SHANK, JAMES GREGORY, ALLEN

BENSON. GO AHEAD, SIR. >> I APOLOGIZE.

I AM JUST AS NERVOUS AS THAT YOUNG LADY WAS. MY NAME IS JAMES GREGORY AND I AM THE PRESIDENT OF THE HOMEOWNERS ASSOCIATION. YOUNG LADY, DON'T HATE ME, WHEREVER YOU ARE. I I WAS SHOCKED WHEN I SAW THIS COME ACROSS.

IT CAME ACROSS VERY POWERFULLY. WE SUPPORT THE CONSTABLES.

WE RENEW THEIR CONTRACT EVERY YEAR. IT IS SOMETHING WE LOOK A -- LOOK AT. MR. GARCIA, I AM TALKING, SIR.

PAY ATTENTION TO ME. >> ADRIAN GARCIA: OKAY. I WAS LOOKING FOR YOUR NAME.

>> CHECK IT OFF THE LIST. I VOTED FOR YOU, BUT I AM WORRIED ABOUT THAT NOW.

I DON'T UNDERSTAND THE OVERSIGHT YOU ARE LOOKING FOR TO JUDGE WHAT WE DO AS A HOMEOWNERS ASSOCIATION WITH OUR FUNDS. CAN YOU HELP ME UNDERSTAND

THAT? >> ADRIAN GARCIA: FINISH YOUR RE -- REMARKS AND THEN I

WILL. >> THAT'S WHERE I WILL LEAVE IT.

I ASK WHY YOU ARE SEEKING OVERSIGHT ON OUR HOMEOWNERS ASSOCIATION FUNDS.

THE POWER GRABS AND THE MONEY GRABS AREN'T GOOD. IF THAT'S WHAT YOU ARE LOOKING

FOR WE HILLARY MOVE YOU FROM THAT SEAT OF POWER. >> ADRIAN GARCIA: THANK YOU.

WHAT IS YOUR NAME AGAIN? >> JAMES GREGORY. >> ADRIAN GARCIA: JAMES, THANK YOU FOR COMING DOWN. YOU KNOW, THERE IS NO MONEY TO GRAB BECAUSE IT IS YOUR MONEY. IT IS WHAT YOU DO. IT IS WHAT YOU DECIDE TO DO.

I HAD BEEN VERY CLEAR ABOUT THAT. IT IS YOUR CHOICE.

IT IS YOUR CHOICE ON WHO YOU WORK WITH AND WHO YOU CONTRACT WITH.

THERE IS NO MONEY TO GRAB. YOU ARE ALREADY GIVING IT TO US.

THE ISSUE OF SIMPLY UNDERSTANDING COVERAGE AND UNDERSTANDING HOW -- WHAT PERCENTAGE CONTRACT DO YOU HAVE? 100%?

>> WE ARE 100%. WE SPLIT IT WITH OUR LOCAL MUD WITH TWO OFFICERS, BUT WE HAVE

FIVE CONSTABLES ALONG WITH A SERGEANT AND A LIEUTENANT. >> ADRIAN GARCIA: AND IF ANYTHING, THE CONVERSATION GOES INTO THE MONITORING OF THE OTHER CONTRACTS.

THE 70 AND 80% CONTRACTS. HOW ARE WE MAKING SURE YOU ARE GETTING YOUR FULL 70 OR 80%.

HOW ARE WE MAKING SURE THAT WE -- >> IT IS A FREE MARKET SYSTEM. IF WE DON'T LIKE WHAT WE ARE GETTING WE WILL MOVE ON.

WE WILL CONTACT SOMEONE ELSE. >> ADRIAN GARCIA: I AM JUST SAYING AS A MATTER OF A PROGRAM, AND WE ARE DOING IT, HOW DO WE ENSURE THAT WE ARE TRACKING THIS WELL FOR YOU?

>> WE DON'T NEED YOUR OVERSIGHT. >> ADRIAN GARCIA: FAIR ENOUGH. YOU ARE AT 100% SO YOU ARE AN ANOMALY TO THE CONVERSATION.

THANK YOU. >> LINA HIDALGO: THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>> THANK YOU. >> LINA HIDALGO: JUDITH MCLAUGHLIN, WES ORTON,

CYNTHIA ROSENTHAL. >> GOOD AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS WES ORTON.

I AM A HARRIS COUNTY RESIDENT AND MEMBER OF A SECURITY BOARD THAT OVER -- OVERSEES THE SECURITY CON -- CONTRACT FOR 6,000 ROOFTOPS AND COUNTING. CITIZENS FIND IT APPALLING THAT WE WOULD EVEN CONSIDER THE ELIMINATION OF CONSTABLE CONTRACTS ICHS R ESPECIALLY ON

[03:15:03]

TO PUT THAT ON THE BURDENS OF THOSE WHO CAN AND SAY THE SCALES MUST BE BALANCED IS THE LIFE BLOOD OF SOCIALISM. I DON'T SEE ANYTHING IN THIS PROPOSAL SAYING THAT YOU WOULD EVEN CONSIDER LOOKING AND CREATING AN OVER SIGHT OVER THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT AND POSSIBLY ELIMINATING THEIR LIVELIHOOD. BUT WAIT, YOU ALSO SAID IN THE CHRONICLE AND I QUOTE, THERE IS NOTHING IN THAT ITEM THAT SAYS ANYTHING IS GOING TO BE CANCELED WHICH IS FUNNY SEEING AS HOW YOUR VERY MEMO READS AND I QUOTE, THAT'S YOUR SEAL, THE TOTAL COST OF THE CONTRACTS FOR THE PUBLIC AND ANY POTENTIAL SAVING THAT'S MAY BE REALIZED BY ELIMINATING THE ABILITY OF THE CON -- CONSTABLES.

MY QUESTION IS WHICH IS IT? WHICH END OF THE POLITICAL MOUTH ARE WE SPEAKING OUT OF, AND ARE WE SPEAKING OUT OF BOTH OF THEM? HARRIS COUNTY PRECINCT CONSTABLES HAVE SPECIALIZED EUBTS FOR HUMAN TRAFFICS AND ONLINE PREDATORS.

THEY PROVIDE SECURITY TO EVERY GOVERNMENT BUILDING IN THIS COUNTY.

THE ONLY SHERIFF I HAVE SEEN IN THIS BUILDING TODAY WERE HERE TO SPEAK.

EVERYONE ELSE IS A COUNTY CONSTABLE. THE SHERIFF DEPARTMENT DOES NOT HAVE SPECIALTY UNITS AND NOR DO THEY PERFORM THESE ACTIONS.

ANOTHER NEGATIVE IMPACT WOULD BE THE LOSS OF FAMILIARITY AND OUR LON -- LONG-STANDING RELATIONSHIP WITH THE CONSTABLES IS A PATROL NET. THEY KNOW THE TROUBLE SPOTS AND THE REPEAT OFFENDERS AND THEY KNOW THE NUISANCES. THEY GET OUT OF THEIR CARS AND WALK UP TO FRONT DOORS AND SPEAK TO PEOPLE AND ASK IF THERE ARE ANY ISSUES.

ARE YOU WILLING TO RISK THEIR SAFETY BY ELIMINATING THAT PATROL NET? ANOTHER BLATANT CONTRADICTION YOU ARE TRYING TO ALLOW TO SKATE BY.

AS I MENTIONED IN MY OPENING I AM PART OF A BOARD THAT REPRESENTS ALMOST 6,000 ROOFTOPS AND OUR INFLUENCE EXPANDS BEYOND THAT, UPWARDS OF 10,000.

HOW BENEFICIAL TO YOUR POLITICAL FUTURE AS AN ELECTED REPRESENTATIVE WOULD IT BE IF YOU CAUSE US TO SPURN THE CONSTABLES AND ELIMINATE THE CONTRACTS? 2077, THAT'S THE NUMBER OF VOTES YOU WON BY. THAT'S A MINISCULE AMOUNT TO OVERCOME WITH 10,000 HOMES AT OUR DISPOSAL. WE WILL GLADLY LIS TONE ANY PROPOSAL THAT PLACES A SECURITY ON THE COMMUNITIES, BUT IT MUST BE FAIR AND

EQUITABLE. >> LINA HIDALGO: THANK YOU. >> ADRIAN GARCIA: THANK YOU SO

MUCH FOR COMING DOWN. >> LINA HIDALGO: BECKYED MONSON AND CARL THOMPSON, ROBERT KUNZ. EXCUSE ME? ROBERT KOOMS.

GO AHEAD. >> GOOD AFTERNOON. I AM BECKYED MONSON.

I HAVE BEEN A HOMEOWNER IN WEST BURR REFOR 41 YEARS. FOR 38 YEARS THE HARRIS COUNTY CONSTABLES HAVE PROVIDED MUCH NEEDED COMMUNITY POLICING TO OUR NEIGHBORHOOD.

IN FACT, THEY HAVE BECOME OUR FIRST LINE OF DEFENSE AS HPD'S NUMBERS HAVE DWINDLED AND THEY ARE JUST NOT ON PATROL ANYMORE. WESTBURY IS A VIABLE NEIGHBORHOOD THANKS TO THE CONSTABLE PROGRAM. WE ARE NOT A WEALTHY NEIGHBORHOOD. WE ARE NOT AN HOA. WE DON'T HAVE MANDATORY DUES.

20% OF OUR PEOPLE LIVE BELOW OR AT THE POVERTY LINE. IT IS A STRUGGLE TO COLLECT THE CONTRACT COST EVERY YEAR. PEOPLE SAY HOW DO YOU PAY FOR IT? WE BEG. WE HAVE PARTS OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD THAT HAVE A LITTLE MORE UH FLUENCY. SOME PEOPLE PAY MORE TO MAKE UP THE DIFFERENCE.

IN THAT WAY WE HAVE EQUITY. IT IS NOT TO DISAGREE WITH DR. ROSE.

MIRELAND IS THE NEIGHBORHOOD NORTH OF US. THEY HAVE MANDATORY DUES AND A LOT OF MONEY. ONE OF THE REASON THERE IS AN 80/20 SPLIT IT IS NOT THAT WE PAY 80% OF THE COST 20% OF THE TIME, THE DEPUTIES CAN BE OUT OF OUR CONTRACT.

AND WE BENEFIT FROM MIRELAND'S 80/20 BECAUSE MIRELAND'S DEPUTIES ANSWER OUR CALLS.

WE HAVE A LARGER NEIGHBORHOOD AND LESS DEPUTIES. OUR HOMEOWNER PAYS VOLUNTEER -- PAY VOLUNTARILY INTO THE PROGRAM BECAUSE SAFETY IS OUR NUMBER ONE CONCERN. WE PAY COUNTY TAXES AND WE PAY CITY TAXES AND OUR OWN HARD-EARNED MONEY TO MAKE SURE WE ARE SAFE. I DID A QUICK STUDY AND WE HAVE 5,000 HOMES. THE AVERAGE VALUE OF OUR HOMES ARE 220,000.

I FIGURE THAT IS $4 MILLION A YEAR THAT WE PAY INTO HARRIS COUNTY THROUGH OUR PROPERTY

[03:20:05]

WE PAY 260 AND YOU PAY 60. 4MILLION IN AND 60 OUT IS NOT A BAD DEAL AND MOST TIME OUR DEPUTIES CAN BE ELSEWHERE. THEY PROVIDE SUCH AN INVALUABLE SERVICE.

SOME THINGS I WILL NOT READ WHAT I WROTE. THEY WORK CLOSELY WITH P -- WITH HPD. WHEN WE HAVE OUR NEIGHBORHOOD MEETING WHICH I AM THE CO-PRESIDENT OF. SITTING IN HERE WE HAVE GOOD COMMUNITY POLICING BECAUSE OF IT AND PROBABLY THE BIGGEST BENEFIT IS THAT WHEN MINUTES COUNT, PRECINCT 5 IS THERE FOR US. WE ADD HUGE INCREASE IN CRIME.

PROPERTY CRIME IS UP 40% IN OUR AREA. WE HAVE HAD TWO MURDERS IN THE LAST COUPLE MONTHS. JUST SATURDAY A HOMEOWNER IN HIS FRONT YARD WAS PISTOL WHIPPED BY A THUG. A 76-YEAR-OLD MAN WAS BEATEN AND A GRANDMOTHER HAD HER CAR STOLEN WITH HER GRANDCHILD IN IT AND PRECINCT 5 WENT UNDERCOVER AND FOUND THOSE THUGS. THANK THIS COURT AND THANK YOU SO MUCH.

THIS IS OUR FIRST TIME TO COME DOWN HERE. IT WON'T BE OUR LAST.

AND IF I CAN MAKE ONE MORE COMMENT -- >> LINA HIDALGO: WE ARE REALLY

STOPPING EVERYONE. THANK YOU SO MUCH. >> ADRIAN GARCIA: THANK YOU SO

MUCH FOR COMING DOWN. >> LINA HIDALGO: APPRECIATE IT.

CHRISTIE GATES, PAULLY LOOPER, PAUL VILLAREAL. GO AHEAD.

>> GOOD AFTERNOON. GOOD AFTERNOON COMMISSIONERS AND JUDGE HIDALGO.

THANK YOU FOR FIRST PULLING THIS ITEM FROM THE AGENDA. MY NAME IS CARL THOMPSON.

I AM THE PRESIDENT OF THE ASSOCIATION WHICH IS AN ASSOCIATION OF CLOSE TO 2,000 HOMES IN NORTHWEST EASTON. WE HAVE BEEN PARTICIPANTS IN THE DEPUTY CONSTABLE PROGRAM WELL BEFORE I MOVED INTO THE NEIGHBORHOOD. WHEN I AM SPEAKING TO MY CONSTITUENTS AS PRESIDENT MY NEIGHBORS AND THE HOMEOWNERS IN THE AREA, THERE ARE TWO CONCERNS THAT ARE TOP OF THE MIND. THE DEPUTY PROGRAM TO THEM IS INVALUABLE. WE SPEND CLOSE TO 70% OF THE BUDGET AS AN HOA ON THE DEPUTY CONSTABLE PROGRAM. WE ARE VERY HAPPY WITH THE DEPUTIES PROVIDED BY SERGEANT HERNANDEZ AND THE DEPUTY'S OFFICE. MY VIEW OF THESE CONSTABLES IS NOT AS HIGHER SECURITY GUARDS. THESE ARE FELLOW NEIGHBORS.

THEY ARE FRIENDS. THIS IS THE DEFINITION OF COMMUNITY POLICING.

THEY COME TO US. THEY TALK TO US. WE TALK TO THEM.

THEY COME TO OUR MEETINGS. THEY COME TO OUR HOMES WHEN WE NEED THEM.

THEY ARE VERY RESPONSIVE. IN CASE THIS ITEM COMES UP FOR REVIEW AGAIN, I WANT TO STATE DELIBERATELY AND PURPOSEFULLY THAT THE ENTIRETY OF THE SPRING SHADOW CIVIC ASSOCIATION, ALL CLOSE TO 2,000 OF US WILL REMEMBER THAT AND WE ARE DEFINITELY IN FAVOR OF KEEPING THIS PROGRAM EVEN AFTER A STUDY. GIVEN MY TIME RIGHT NOW I WANT TO THANK YOU ALL FOR PULLING IT FROM THE AGENDA AND IF THERE IS ANY QUESTIONS, JUDGE CAGLE KNOWS HOW TO GET UH HOLD OF ME. OR IF ANYBODY WANTS ME TO BE INVOLVED IN THE STUDY WHICH I BELIEVE ORIGINALLY IT WAS WRITTEN WITHOUT ANY SORT OF COMMUNITY INPUT IF IT WANTS TO BE WITH COMMUNITY INPUT, I WOULD HAPPY TO ASSIST ANYBODY ON THIS COURT. UNTIL THAT TIME I WOULD SUBJECT LISTEN TO YOUR PROFESSIONALS AND COUNTY ATTORNEYS AND COUNTY AUDITORS.

I HAVE NOT HEARD OF ANY RED FLAGS BEING RAISED BY THEM AND I DON'T SEE WHY A FURTHER

STUDY NEEDS TO BE PERFORMED AT THIS TIME. >> THANK YOU FOR COMING DOWN.

I I DO LOOK FORWARD TO TAKING YOU UP ON SOME CONVERSATION RELATED TO THIS.

>> THANK YOU. >> HI, MY NAME IS ROBERT COOMBS.

I WAS PRESIDENT OF THE CIVIC ASSOCIATION JUST LAST YEAR PRIOR TO CARL.

AND WE ALSO BELIEVE THAT WE ARE TEXAS' LARGEST SELF-MANAGED HOMEOWNER'S ASSOCIATION, AND WE THINK WE ARE A GOOD CIVIC SEWS CRAIGS. A GOOD HOMEOWNER'S ASSOCIATION. BACK IN THE 1980S I WAS A MEMBER OF THE COMMITTEE THAT RECOMMENDED WE CONTRACT WITH PRECINCT 5 CONSTABLE. WE DID IT WITH FOUR DEPUTIES.

IT WAS EARLY IN THE 1990S. WE INCREASED COVERAGE TO FIVE DEPUTIES, ONE SERGEANT AND

[03:25:05]

EVERYONE RECOGNIES THE HOUSTON POLICE DEPARTMENT IS UNDER FUNDED.

IT IS BASICALLY RESPONDS TO CALLS OF LIMITED PREVENTATIVE PATROLS AND NOW THIS WOULD DRIVE SUBDIVISION INTO CON -- CONTRACT WITH THE CONSTABLES. THEY HAVE THE POWER TO ARREST AND ISSUE TRAFFIC CITATIONS AND THAT'S NOT TRUE WITH THE PRIVATE SECURITY.

MANY OF US ARE PROPONENTS WITH THE COMMUNITY POLICING. THE IDEA THAT THEY GOT TO KNOW THE OFFICERS PATROLLING THAT THEY WOULD BE MORE LIKELY TO REPORT SUSPICIOUS AGO -- ACTIVITIES AND IN GENERAL THEY WOULD BE ABLE TO RESPOND TO THE PROBLEM.

THIS FAMILIARITY HAS LEAD TO NUMEROUS ARRESTS WITHIN SPRING SHADOWS AND HOME BURGLARIES FOR THEFTS AND OTHER ACTIVITIES. AS A RESULT OUR CRIME RATE IS MUCH LOWER THAN THE NEARBY AREAS MAKING US A SAFER PLACE TO LIVE.

I MIGHT ADD THAT THE DEPUTIES ALSO PERFORMED VACATION WATCHES AND THEY COME TO NEIGHBOR'S NIGHT OUT TO MEET OUR RESIDENTS AND EVEN OUR KIDS LIKE THEM.

BESIDES KNOWING OUR DEPUTIES DUE TO THE MORE LOCALIZED NATURE OF OUR RELATIONSHIP OF THE PRECINCT CONSTABLE'S OFFICE WHEN NECESSARY, IT IS EASIER TO COMMUNICATE ANY ISSUES ON THE TWO-WAY BASIS. IT IS A CLOSER RELATIONSHIP THAT HAS WORKED OUT WELL.

WE ARE NOT AWARE OF RESIDENTS CALLING FOR A REVIEW OF THE CONSTABLE PROGRAM AND WITH THE SHERIFF'S CONTRACT DEPUTY PROGRAM. ADDITIONALLY AS IT HAS BEEN STATED MANY TIMES, HAVING THOSE CONTRACT DEPUTIES FREES UP OTHER LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS AND AGENCIES PATROL AND RESPOND TO CALLS IN OTHER JURISDICTIONS.

AND THAT BENEFITS EVERYBODY. OVERALL SPRING SHADOWS IS PLEASED WITH THE CONTRACT DEPUTY PROGRAM AND STRONGLY RECOMMENDS IT BE CONTINUED IN ITS CURRENT FORM.

WE ALSO BELIEVE STRONG D.A. D.A. STRONGLY THAT

STRONG STRONGLY THAT NO FURTHER STUDY IS NEEDED. >> LINA HIDALGO: THANK YOU.

>> ADRIAN GARCIA: THANK YOU. >> LINA HIDALGO: MICHAEL LISKEY -- WERE YOU SIGNED UP TO SPEAK? DID I CALL YOU? GO AHEAD.

>> HI THERE. I AM PAULLY LOOPER, THE SECURITY DIRECTOR FOR THE PUBLIC UTILITY DISTRICT. WE ARE BORDERED BY CYPRESS WOOD ON THE NORTH AND FM960 TO THE SOUTH. THE AREA IS BEAUTIFUL AND WELL KEPT AND CONVENIENT TO BIG CITY AMENITIES AND UNFORTUNATELY NO STRANGER TO CHANGING LEVEL OF POLICE PROTECTION NEEDS. THOSE THAT CAME BEFORE ME HAD A VISION AND FORE SIGHT TO BUILD A MAINTAIN AN INFRASTRUCTURE THAT ALLOWS FOR 100% CONTRACT COVERAGE BY PRECINCT 4 CONSTABLES. WE WORK CLOSELY WITH OUR DEPUTY CONSTABLES TO SUPPORT AND ADDRESS ANY NEEDS THAT THEY MAY HAVE TO CONTINUE TO PROTECT OUR RESIDENTS TO THE LEVEL WE HAVE COME TO EXPECT. I HAVE HAD THE PLEASURE OF OVERSEEING TWO CONTRACTS IN PRECINCT 4 WITHIN MY POSITION. I SPENT TIME BUILDING RELATIONSHIPS WITH THOSE WORKING IN OUR AREA TO ASSIST A BETTER UNDERSTANDING THE HISTORY OF OUR AREA. IN RETURN THEY HAVE WORKED TO TAKE A STANCE OF COMMUNITY POLICING AND PRO ACTIVE COMMON SENSE APPROACHES AND PROBLEM SOLVING.

MORE OF WHAT YOU WOULD SEE FROM A SMALLER DEPARTMENT. THIS LEVEL OF PERSONAL ACCOUNTABILITY HAS LEAD TO A VISIBLE DECREASE IN CRIMINAL ACTIVITY IN OUR AREA AND WE HAVE THE STATISTICS TO PROVE THAT EVERY MONTH. WHAT THEY ARE DOING IS WORKING. EVERY DAY THESE MEN AND WOMEN, MANY OF WHO WE SEE HERE, LEAVE THEIR HOMES AND TEAM -- AND FAMILIES TO PROTECT ALL OF US, EVERY SINGLE ONE OF US.

THEIR PROFESSIONALISM AND TRAINING AND SACRIFICES ARE OFTEN DIMINISHED TO MERE HEADLINES FOR A MILLISECOND MISS STEP. SO MUCH THAT FEWER AND FEWER ARE WILLING TO EVEN ANSWER THIS CALL. YET HERE WE ARE TODAY WITH AN ATTEMPT TO ONCE AGAIN UNDER MIND THE ABILITY OF BOTH THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE AND THE CONSTABLE'S OFFICE TO CONTINUE TO OPERATE AS OUR COMMUNITIES HAVE ASKED OF THEM AND AS THEY THEMSELVES HAVE SWORN TO PROTECT AND SERVE. REQUESTING A STUDY OF BEST PRACTICES IS ONE THING. I THINK MOST PEOPLE INVOLVED WOULD AGREE THAT IS A POSITIVE STEP. BUT INDICATE -- INDICATING THERE IS INDISPARITY AND PULLING THE CARD IS ONE THAT IS INEFFECTIVE IN BRINGING OUT POSITIVE CHANGES AND SMOKE AND MIRRORS DISTRACTION TO GET SOMETHING ELSE DONE. WE WILL CONTINUE IN OUR PRECINCT 4 CONTRACTS TO STAND OFFICIALLY BEHIND OUR OFFICERS, THEIR FAMILIES AND

[03:30:02]

EVERYTHING THAT THEY STAND FOR TO PROTECT US EVERY DAY. >> ADRIAN GARCIA: THANK YOU.

>> LINA HIDALGO: THANK YOU. >> ADRIAN GARCIA: HAVE YOU ALWAYS HAD A 100% CONTRACT?

>> YES, YES WE HAVE. >> ADRIAN GARCIA: OKAY. >> THIS AREA ALSO DOES INCLUDE WILL FALLEN WARRIORS MEMORIAL ALONG CYPRESS WOOD. IT IS AN INCREDIBLE AREA AND

VERY PROUD OF THAT. >> ADRIAN GARCIA: THANK YOU. >> JUDGE THIS PARTICULAR AREA ALSO COOPERATES WITH US IN THE COUNTY. WE HAVE A PARK THAT IS ACROSS CYPRESS WOOD FROM THEIR FALLEN MEMORIAL. WE PROVIDE BATHROOMS OVER THERE THAT THE FOLKS WHO USE THE MEMORIAL ARE ABLE TO DO AND PUDD PROVIDES UTILITIES FOR THE BATHROOM. WE WORK TOGETHER WITH THEIR DISTRICT AND IT IS A GREAT

PARTNERSHIP FOR THE COUNTY AND THE DISTRICT. >> A GREAT RELATIONSHIP AND

VERY HAPPY WITH THAT. >> I LIKE THAT PARK A WHOLE LOT BETTER THAN THE OLD

NURSERY. >> OR THE POOL. YES, WE DO.

THANK YOU. >> LINA HIDALGO: THANK YOU. GO AHEAD.

>> HELLO. I AM MICHAEL LISKEY. I LIVE IN CYPRESS WHICH IS BY 391, THE PRECINCT 4 CONSTABLES PATROL MY AREA. I USED TO WORK FOR THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE UNDER ADRIAN GARCIA, COMMISSIONER ADRIAN GARCIA IN THE JAIL.

AND I NOW WORK FOR PRECINCT 4 AND I LIVE IN PRECINCT 4 AREA THAT'S BEING PATROLLED.

I SEE A LOT OF THE HINTS THAT YOU MAKE THE MOST. THE ONE YOU TRY TO MAKE THE MOST IS YOU KEEP ASKING PEOPLE ARE YOU 70% OR 80% AND TRYING TO SAY LIKE THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE COMES AND PATROLS THE REST. TOTALLY UNTRUE.

I NEVER SEE THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE IN MY CONTRACT. IF CONSTABLES ARE HUNG UP ON SOMETHING, GUESS WHAT. WE WILL WAIT FOR A CONSTABLE TO COME.

THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE WILL NOT COME AND PICK UP THE OTHER 30%.

IF ANYTHING, IT IS THE OPPOSITE WAY AROUND. WE PICK UP THE SHERIFF OFFICE SLACK. WHEN WE ARE AVAILABLE WE ARE THE ONES WHO GO OVER THERE AND PICK UP CALLS FOR THEM. THEY ARE NOT GOING TO COME OVER TO AN AREA THAT PRECINCT 4 IS CONTRACTED TO. THEY WILL ROLL IT BACK TO US. ON TOP OF THAT, I USED TO LIVE IN AN AREA CALLED HASTINGS GREEN. IT WAS ON 1906 ELDRIDGE.

WE CONTACTED PRECINCT 4 AND I WORKED IN THE JAIL UNDER YOU. THE AREA WAS NICE.

WE DIDN'T HAVE VERY MUCH CRIME PROBLEMS. WELL, AS SOON AS WE LOST THE CONTRACT TO PRECINCT 4, THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE, OBVIOUSLY THEY TAKE OVER EVEN IF THEY ARE NOT CONTRACTED THEY GET IT BY FAULT. YOU DON'T SEE POLICE ANYMORE IN THAT NEIGHBORHOOD AT ALL. THE ONLY TIME YOU SEE A POLICE OFFICER IS IF THEY ARE DRIVING DOWN 1960. I UNDERSTAND. THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE IS A GREAT ORGANIZATION. THEY ARE TOTALLY UNDER MANNED AND IT IS TO NO FAULT OF THEIR OWN. THEY ARE TOTALLY UNDER MANNED.

BUT THAT'S WHY WE'RE HERE. THAT'S WHY THE CONTRACTS ARE HERE TO PICK UP THE SLACK.

IF WE PICK UP THAT SLACK IN THE AREAS WHERE THE PEOPLE CAN'T AFFORD TO PAY FOR US, THEN YOU GUYS, THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE CAN GO TO THE AREAS WHERE THEY CAN.

AND THEN IT ALL BALANCES OUT. TO TAKE IT AWAY IS RIDICULOUS.

WHY TAKE IT AWAY AND HAVE THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE TAKE OVER A BUNCH OF AREAS WHEN THEY CAN'T EVEN PATROL THE AREAS THEY HAVE. IT MAKES NO SENSE.

THAT'S PRETTY MUCH IT. >> ADRIAN GARCIA: MICHAEL. JUDGE, MICHAEL, THANK YOU FOR COLD FRONTING DOWN AND THANK YOU FOR -- FOR COMING DOWN. THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE THEN AND NOW. YOU MADE ONE OF THE POINTS THAT I WANTED TO LOOK AT IN THIS STUDY AND THAT'S PRECISELY WHAT YOU SAID. WHEN THE CONTRACT WAS CANCELED , THE RESPONSIBILITY WENT TO THE SHERIFF IN SPITE OF WHETHER HE HAD ENOUGH RESOURCES FOR THAT AREA. WHEN THOSE CONTRACTS ARE CANCELED THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE HAS THE IMMEDIATE RESPONSIBILITY OF TRYING TO COVER THE AREA WITH EXISTING RESOURCES. THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS I AM TRYING TO BETTER UNDERSTAND AND SEE IF THERE IS A FORMULA, I DON'T KNOW, I WAS HOPING THE STUDY WOULD HELP US GET

THERE. >> I DO UNDERSTAND THAT PART, BUT THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE HAD THAT REGARDLESS. THE CONSTABLE'S OFFICE SHOULD BE NOTHING BUT A BENEFIT TO

THE COMMUNITY. >> ADRIAN GARCIA: NO, NO. AND I AM NOT SAYING IT IS NOT. THIS IS NOT TO ELIMINATE THE CONTRACTS.

BUT IT IS TO LOOK AT THOSE NUANCES THAT WHEN THE CONTRACTS DO GET CANCELED THAT -- AND EVEN LOOK THE OTHER DIRECTION. AND MORE FOR THE CIRCUMSTANCES WHEN THEY ARE CANCELED IS TO START PROVIDING IMMEDIATE COVERAGE WITH EXISTING

[03:35:01]

>> LINA HIDALGO: GUADELOUPE GARCIA, BOBBIE LEAP, ROBERT LEWIS, JAMES BUCHANAN.

>> I THINK COMMISSIONER RADACK AND CONSTABLE HERMAN PRETTY MUCH REFLECTED OUR OPINION.

MY NAME IS ROBERT LEWIS. I SERVE AS THE BOARD PRESIDENT FOR LAKEWOOD FOREST IN NORTHWEST HOUSTON. WE HAVE 2617 LOTS. I BELIEVE WE ARE ONE OF THE LARGEST -- AND WE HAVE SECTIONS IN HOUSTON, CYPRESS AND TUMBLE.

ONE OF THE LARGEST SELF-MANAGED HOA'S. LAKEWOOD FOREST HAS PARTICIPATED IN THE CONSTABLE CONTRACT FOR YEARS, DECADES. I THINK WE STARTED WHEN IT STARTED. IT HAS BEEN 25, 30 YEARS. OUR RESIDENTS HIGHLY SUPPORT THE PROGRAM. MANY NEIGHBORHOODS SURROUNDING OUR COMMUNITY HAVE A HIGHER PROPERTY VALUE. YOU HAVE LAKEWOOD FOREST AND LONG WOOD AND ROCK CREEK AND HEATHER WOOD, ALL OF THOSE NEIGHBORHOODS HAVE HIGHER VALUES, BUT CHOOSE NOT TO PARTICIPATE IN THE PROGRAM. SO THERE IS INEQUALITY ON BOTH SIDES.

FOR US, WE FEEL WE ARE PROVIDING SAFETY AND SECURITY FOR NEIGHBORHOOD THAT'S EQUAL ANOTHER 10,000 HOMES. OUR CONTRACTS ARE PROVIDING SAFETY FOR THE NEIGHBORHOODS IN THE AREA. IT IS A CHOICE. TO US IT IS A CHOICE WHETHER YOU PARTICIPATE OR NOT. IT IS NOT SO MUCH ABOUT THE MONEY PART OF IT.

WE PAY $12.41 A MONTH, ABOUT $149 A YEAR FOR 70% COVERAGE. BUT REMEMBER, WE ARE ALSO COVERING ANOTHER 10,000 HOMES WITH THAT CONTRACT. THAT CONTRACT IS ABOUT $390,000 A YEAR. IF IT WASN'T -- IF WE LOST THE CONSTABLE CONTRACT, WE WOULD MOVE THAT MONEY TO PRIVATE SECURITY WHERE WE WOULD GET 100% INSTEAD OF 70%.

WE ALSO PROVIDE A FACILITY FOR THE CONSTABLES IN LAKEWOOD FOREST.

WE PROVIDE THE FACILITY FOR THEIR CARS, FOR THEIR OFFICES AND ALL OF THE MAINTENANCE AND UPKEEP AND SUPPLIES FOR THAT OFFICE AS WELL. OUR HOMEOWNERS PAY FOR THE OFFICE FOR THE CONSTABLES TO BE IN THAT WHOLE AREA. THAT HOUSES ABOUT 40 TO 50 OFFICERS. THEY ALSO ACCEPT WALK INS AT THIS OFFICE.

IT IS REGARDLESS OF THE NIGHBORHOOD THEY LIVE IN. THEY TAKE EMERGENCY CALLS, OF COURSE. THEY TOOK 1314 EMERGENCY -- OR EMERGENCY CALLS OUTSIDE OF OUR CONTRACT LAST YEAR. WE BELIEVE IT IS A JOINT EFFORT BETWEEN THE SHERIFF AND THE CONSTABLES. AND THE JOINT EFFORT THAT IS CURRENTLY IN PLACE IS THE BEST MODEL FOR OUR AREA. WE DON'T BELIEVE THERE IS AN INEQUALITY.

WE BELIEVE IT IS A CHOICE. WHETHER YOU ARE ON THE HIGH END OR THE LOW END, SOMEONE IS PAYING FOR IT AND WE HAPPEN TO BE PAYING FOR ABOUT 12,000 HOMES IN NORTHWEST HOUSTON WITH OUR CONTRACTS. FINALLY I THINK THE WHOLE STUDY IS SUSPECT AND I WOULD

LIKE TO SEE A VOTE ON REMOVING IT FROM THE AGENDA. >> LINA HIDALGO: THANK YOU SO

MUCH. >> ADRIAN GARCIA: THANK YOU. >> LINA HIDALGO: CHAKA LONG,.

>> CON ROW -- REBECCA ROW,. >> GOOD AFTERNOON. BOBBIE LEE, PRESIDENT AND CEO OF THE NORTHWESTERN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE. THE NORTHWEST CHAMBER OF COMMERCE SUPPORTS THE CONSTABLE PROGRAM. IT CONSTITUTES THE DENSEST POPULATION OF UNINCORPORATED HARRIS COUNTY. UNFORTUNATELY THE CURRENT COUNTY LAW ENFORCEMENT STRUCTURE AND RESOURCES CANNOT ADEQUATELY PROTECT THE GROWTH THAT HAS OCCURRED IN HARRIS COUNTY OVER THE YEARS. THE CONTRACT CONTROL PROGRAM IS A BONE-FIDE MEANS OF SUPPORTING THE LAW ENFORCEMENT EFFORTS.

OFFERING A MORE ADEQUATE LEVEL OF SERVICE FOR THE CITIZENS OF UN UNINCOR -- OF UNINCORPORATED HARRIS COUNTY AND WE WOULD LIKE TO POINT OUT THE REQUEST TO STUDY THE CONTRACT CONTROL PROGRAM. ONE THE STUDY ONLY CALLS INTO QUESTION THE CONTRACTS HELD BY THE CONSTABLE OFFICES. HARRIS COUNTY SHERIFF ALSO HOLDS CONTRACTS.

IF THERE IS A CONCERN BY THE COURT THAT ALL LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES UNDER THE JURISDICTION OF HARRIS COUNTY BE TAKEN INTO CONSIDERATION. TWO, TO SUGGEST A STUD DEEP

[03:40:06]

REQUESTING ITEMS TO BE PLACED ON THE AGENDA FOR CONSIDERATION ON SHORT NOTICE CAN BE CONSTRUED AS LACK OF ADEQUATE PUBLIC NOTICE. IF IT IS THE DESIRE OF COMMISSIONER'S COURT TO ALLAH

>> TO ALLOW FULL PARTICIPATION IN THE PROCESS OF POLICY MAKING THEN MORE ADVANCED PUBLIC NOTICE SHOULD BE REQUIRED. IN CLOSING I WANT TO SAY WHAT AN HONOR IT IS TO WORK WITH CONSTABLE MARK HERMAN, NOW RETIRED CAPTAIN WILL ROGERS FROM THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE, CAPTAIN SPEARS AT HPD AND BRIDGET LOOMIS.

WE ALL WORK COLLECTIVELY AND COLLABORATIVELY TO RESOLVE THE PUBLIC SAFETY CHALLENGES WE HAVE IN NORTHWEST HARRIS COUNTY. AND I REALLY AM ENJOYING

WORKING WITH ALL OF THEM. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. >> ADRIAN GARCIA: THANK YOU.

>> LINA HIDALGO: COMMISSIONER CAGLE HAS A QUESTION FOR YOU. >> R. JACK CAGLE: YOUR HONOR, I JUST WANT TO DRAW TO THE COURT'S ATTENTION THAT MR. LIEB IS WITH THE NORTHWEST CHAMBER OF COME -- COMMERCE AND THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE FILED A LETTER WITH US THAT SHOULD BE PART OF OUR RECORD FOR TODAY'S PROCEEDING. EXPRESSING AS THE CHAMBER'S OPPOSITION TO A CHANGE IN THE POLICY. SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MR. LIEB FOR YOUR INPUT TODAY AND PLEASE EXPRESS OUR APPRECIATION TO THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE FOR ON SUCH SHORT NOTICE PARTICIPATING IN THE PRO IS SUCCESS.

JUDGE, I DON'T KNOW HOW WE MAKE THIS PART OF THE OFFICIAL RECORD, BUT I WILL HAND IT TO

YOU. >> LINA HIDALGO: THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU.

IT WAS IMPORTANT TO BE HERE TODAY. >> ADRIAN GARCIA: MR. LIEB, THANK YOU FOR COMING DOWN. WHAT IS Y'ALL'S CONTRACT? IS IT 70, 80, 1 U.S. -- 100?

>> I WORK FOR THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AND WE DON'T HOLD CONTRACTS.

YOU HAVE TO ASK THE INDIVIDUAL HOA'S AND MUDS THAT HOLD THE CONTRACTS.

>> ADRIAN GARCIA: AND OUR ITEM WAS PUT IN A WEEK IN ADVANCE. IT WAS COMMISSIONER CAGLE THAT

GOT ON AT THE LAST MINUTE. SO THANK YOU. >> R. JACK CAGLE: JUDGE, I HAVE TO RESPOND. JUDGE, I GOT THIS NOTICE THURSDAY MORNING, AND I

FORWARDED THE TWO AGENDA ITEMS THE MORNING THAT I GOT IT. >> LINA HIDALGO: I THINK WE ALL HAVE A PROCESS WITH THE ITEMS SUBMITTED WEDNESDAY. THAT'S THE DAY THEY ARE SUBMITTED. THEY COME OUT -- I GET THEM ON FRIDAY? EVERYTHING FOLLOWED THE PROCEDURES. BUT THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.

>> IT IS STILL NOT ENOUGH TIME. >> LINA HIDALGO: THAT'S JUST THE PROCEDURE FOR THE COUNTY.

WE WOULD HAVE TO -- YEAH.

JUST THE -- EVERYTHING IS POSTED. THERE ARE SUPPLEMENTAL ITEMS ON FRIDAY, BUT THIS WASN'T ONE OF THEM. I APPRECIATE THE NOTE.

>> THERE IS A SUGGESTION TO GET THAT STUFF OUT QUICKER. >> LINA HIDALGO: RAY HUNT.

>> THANK YOU, JUDGE. I APPRECIATE. IT THANK YOU, COMMISSIONERS.

I AM RAY HUNT AND REPRESENTING THE HOUSTON POLICE OFFICERS ASSOCIATION AND MYSELF AS A RESIDENT OF HARRIS COUNTY SINCE 1964. I APPRECIATE YOU PULLING THE ITEM, COMMISSIONER GARCIA. THANK YOU FOR THE 40-MINUTE ROBUST CONVERSATION LAST NIGHT ON THE PHONE. WE ENDED WITH WE JUST DISAGREE.

YOU WOULD THINK -- ONE OF THE PERSONS IN THE HALLWAY, PATTY JAMES, SHE SPOKE EARLIER AND SHE SAID WHO ARE YOU WITH? I SAID THE HOUSTON POLICE OFFICERS UNION.

SHE SAID I DIDN'T KNOW THE CON TABLES CAN BE A MEMBER OF THE UNION I SAID THEY CAN'T.

SHE SAID WHY ARE YOU HERE? I SAID I AM HERE FOR THE OFFICER SAFETY FOR POLICE OFFICERS WHO FOR 18 YEARS ON NIGHT SHIFT WAS BACKED UP MULTIPLE TIMES BY PRECINCT 5 DEPUTIES WHO KNEW THAT NEIGHBOHOOD AND WHO WOULD GET ON THE RADIO AND SAY, RAY, BE CAREFUL. [APPLAUSE]. RAY, BE CAREFUL.

SOMETIMES HE ANSWERS THE DOOR WITH A GUN. HE KNEW THAT NEIGHBORHOOD A LOT BETTER THAN I DID BECAUSE I AM RESPONDING TO THE WEST -- I AM NOT IN THOSE NEIGHBORHOODS LIKE THOSE FOLKS ARE. THEY ARE A TREMENDOUS HELP TO US FOR OFFICER SAFETY. I AM NOT KNOCKING THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT.

THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT IS JUST AS UNDERSTAFFED AS THE HOUSTON POLICE DEPARTMENT.

[03:45:01]

THIS INCLUDES THE METROFOLKS. ALL OF THESE FOLKSKTOGETHER. [INAIDABLE].

[INAUDIBLE]. I ASK DON'T BRING IT BACK UP AGAIN BECAUSE IT IS VERY CLEAR -- [APPLAUSE]. MY FINAL COMMENT IS AND I TALKED TO THE COMMISSIONER ABOUT THIS LAST NIGHT AS ACCURATE AS IT IS OR NOT, MANY PEOPLE SAW THIS AS THE NEXT STAGE TO THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE REFORM. I KNOW IT WASN'T THE CASE, BUT MANY PEOPLE SEE IT THAT WAY. MANY FOLKS, THOSE THAT DON'T LIVE WITH FENCES AROUND THEIR NEIGHBORHOODS AND 24/HOUR SURVEILLANCE OF THEIR HOMES, THEY KNOW THAT THIS IS A MAJOR FAILURE WITH WHAT'S HAPPENED WITH THIS CRIMINAL JUSTICE REFORM.

IT IS A FAILURE. I CAN GIVE YOU THE FIRST 10 PEOPLE ARRESTED IN HARRIS COUNTY FOR BURGLARY OF A VOTER VEHICLE AND EVERY ONE WITH THE EXCEPTION OF ONE HAD LENGTHY RECORDS EXCEPT TWO WITH 18 PRIORS. THAT'S WHAT WE SEE AS POLICE OFFICERS THAT YOU DON'T SEE WHEN YOU START DOING THIS REFORM.

I APPRECIATE YOU SAYING YOU WANT TO WORK WITH US ON LOOKING AT POSSIBLY FINE-TUNING THIS, BUT WHEN SOMEONE CAN BE RELEASED ON A BURGLARY OF A MOTOR VEHICLE AND HAVING NEVER SEEN A JUDGE AND THAT JUDGE NEVER LOOKING AT THEIR 18 PRIOR CONVICTIONS, THAT'S A MAJOR PROBLEM. THOSE PEOPLE WHO WALK OUT AND FIND THEIR WINDOWS BASHED IN KNOW IT. THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH. > ADRIAN GARCIA: THANK YOU FOR COMING DOWN AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORK. I APPRECIATE YOUR WILLINGNESS TO WORK TOGETHER ON A COUPLE OF THESE THINGS. YOU KNOW, THE GOAL FOR ME IS TO MAKE OUR WHOLE REGION AS SAFE AS POSSIBLE. I APPRECIATE YOU HEARING ME OUT THAT THIS WAS NOT TO ELIMINATE ANYTHING, BUT JUST FIGURING OUT HOW DO WE ALLOCATE THE NUMBERS IN THE BEST POSSIBLE WAY AND GET THE BIGGEST BANG FOR YOUR BUCK.

I APPRECIATE THE CONVERSATION. >> THANK YOU.

I UNDERSTAND IT. WE ARE A FORGIVING COUNTY AND I FORGIVE YOU.

[LAUGHTER]. >> LINA HIDALGO: CHARLES BECK, JENNIFER BUSARD, PAM BECK, ALEJANDRO PEREZ, DIEDRE RAW -- RASHID. GO AHEAD.

>> GOOD AFTERNOON, EVERYONE. MY NAME IS SHAKA LONG AND I WANT TO THANK EVERYONE ON THE PANEL AT THIS TIME FOR ALLOWING ME TO SPEAK. IT DEFINITELY LOOKS LIKE SOME

PROGRESS WAS MADE BEFORE BREAK -- >> LINA HIDALGO: LIFT UP YOUR

MIC A LITTLE BIT. >> I'M SORRY. CAN YOU HEAR ME? JUST AS CONSTABLE HERMAN STATED, I TOO AM A NORTHSIDER LIKE COMMISSIONER GARCIA.

I AM GRATEFUL FOR THAT. I AM ALSO GRATE -- GRATEFUL FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK HERE. GROWING UP IN THE NORTH SIDE AREA, MY FIRST POSITIVE ENCOUNTER WITH A POLICE OFFICER WAS A CONSTABLE. STILL TO THIS DAY, A POSITIVE ENCOUNTER WITH A POLICE OFFICER AS A CONSTABLE. I LIVE IN AN AREA PATROLLED BY A CONSTABLE. I DON'T JUST SEE HIM AS A POLICE OFFICER.

I SEE HIM AS MY FRIEND. I AM ABLE TO TELL MY CHILD HE CAN TRUST THE POLICE BECAUSE OF THE RELATIONSHIP THAT WE HAVE WITH OUR NEIGHBORHOOD CONSTABLE.

I AM ABLE TO SPEAK TO THE CONSTABLE IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD AS A FRIEND BECAUSE OF THE RELATIONSHIP IN THE WAY THE COMMUNITY POLICING HAS BEEN WITH THE CONSTABLE'S DEPARTMENT. AND NOW THIS DAY AND TIME, WE NEED COMMUNITY POLICING AT ITS FINEST. THE RELATIONSHIP THAT I HAVE WITH THE CONSTABLE IS JUST THAT. I AM WITH THE WHOLE COMMUNITY WHERE IF IT IS NOT BROKEN, PLEASE DON'T FIX IT. THANK YOU GUYS SO MUCH FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK.

AGAIN, IF IT IS NOT BROKEN, PLEASE DON'T FIX IT AND JUST LET IT BE.

THE CONSTABLES ARE VERY HELPFUL TO ME AND MY COMMUNITY AND I THANK THEM.

THANK YOU FOR LISTENING. [APPLAUSE]. >> I HAD TO CHANGE MY WHOLE SPEECH. I CAME BATTLE READY. I HAVE SPOKEN TO THE COMMISSIONER. I JUST WANT TO SAY HI TO MY COMMISSIONER.

>> LINA HIDALGO: YOUR NAME AND AFFILIATION. YOUR NAME AND AFFILIATION.

>> RASHID. I AM THE PRESIDENT OF HOA IN CITY OAKS AND WE ARE 500 HOMEOWNERS STRONG. WE PAY ALMOST A HALF A MILLION DOLLARS FOR OUR CONTRACT.

WE ARE CURRENTLY 80/20, BUT WE ARE NEGOTIATING WITH MUD 390 WHO I AM A NEWLY ELECTED BOARD MEMBER TO GET THAT 20 OVER TO THE MUD. WE DO NOT WANT TO GIVE COMMISSIONER GARCIA ANY REASON TO LOOK AT OUR CONTRACTS. [LAUGHTER].

LET ME JUST SAY THIS -- 11. >> LINA HIDALGO: REMEMBER WE ARE IN COURT AND WE CAN HEAR

[03:50:04]

FROM EVERYONE IF WE LET THEM SPEAK. >> JUDGE, APPRECIATE YOU.

YOU GUYS HAVE BEEN IN OFFICE TOO LONG FOR THIS ONE AND I WAS TRULY DISAPPOINTED.

YOU KNOW WHEN IT COMES TO OUR COMMUNITIES, WE ARE REASONABLE.

IF YOU COME TO US AND YOU TALK TO US AND YOU TELL US WHAT IS ON THERE AND WE FLUSH IT OUT AND WE CAN ASK QUESTIONS BEFOREHAND WE'LL HAVE YOUR BACK WHEN YOUR -- YOU'RE UP HERE. IN THE MIDDLE OF A CORONAVIRUS AND ONE DAY AFTER AN ELECTION AND YOU SLIDE IT IN, I'M SORRY IT LOOKS SYRUP -- SURRUPTICIOUS.

I TALKED TO ADRIAN BECAUSE WE HAVE BEEN FRIENDS FOR A LONGTIME.

WE HAD THE DIFFICULT CONVERSATION. YOU KNOW I LOVE YOU, BUT I WAS READY TO CUT YOU. YOU KNOW I GOT TRAINED. I WAS TRAY -- TRAINED BY SHEILA'S BOOK. I WILL TELL THAT YOU WE HAD FIVE MEMBERS KICK IN A DOOR AND A MOTHER HELD AT GUNPOINT. HPD WAS CALLED AND THEY DID NOT SHOW UP. CONSTABLES WERE CALLED BEFORE WE GOT OFF THE PHONE AND THREE SHOWED UP. THREE CARS WERE OUTSIDE. THIS BODY SHOULD BE SO PROUD.

THIS BODY SHOULD BE SPOTLIGHTING THE CONSTABLES. [APPLAUSE].

THIS BODY SHOULD BE BRAGGING TO THE NATION THAT THE CONSTABLES ARE A PERFECT EXAMPLE OF COMMUNITY POLICING. THIS BODY SHOULD KNOW WHAT THEY HAVE. WHEN YOU HAVE A DIAMOND, YOU DON'T CRUSH IT.

YOU PUT IT IN ITS VALUE. YOU WANT TO KNOW HOW TO HELP THOSE AREAS THAT ARE -- THEY DON'T HAVE CONTRACTS, DO A RESPONSE TIME STUDY. YOU DON'T HAVE TO PIT ANYBODY AGAINST ANYBODY. YOU KNOW WHAT PROAT -- APPROPRIATE RESPONSE TIMES ARE. PUT IT OUT THERE AND DO IT COUNTY WIDE.

WHO EVER DOESN'T HAVE THE RESPONSE TIMES, MEET THEM HALFWAY.

MEET WITH THEIR DEPARTMENTS. GIVE THEM THE FUNDING THEY NEED.

YOU WANT TO CUT SOMETHING? WE HAVE A LOT OF WASTE IN THIS COUNTY.

IT WILL NEVER BE THE PROTECTION OF YOUR CITIZENS. THAT WILL NEVER BE THE WASTE.

THAT WILL NEVER BE THE WASTE. SO I COMMEND YOU, COMMISSIONER CAGLE.

I AM A BIG D. THEY KNOW. I WORKED FOR THE LAST TWO DEMOCRATIC PRESIDENTS. I THANK GOD YOU PULLED IT. I THANK GOD YOU SENT THE E-MAIL BECAUSE I GOT TO TALK TO ADRIAN AND TALK TO HIM AND TELL HIM THAT I DON'T HAVE A PROBLEM WITH BACKING YOU. I HAD Y'ALL BACKS A LOT. YOU HAVE TO COME TO THE TABLE AND TALK TO US. WE VOTE FOR YOU HOPING THAT YOU WILL NEVER FORGET THAT

REPRESENT MEANS YOU REPRESENT US. >> LINA HIDALGO: THANK YOU SO

MUCH. >> RIGHT? >> DIEDRE, THANK YOU.

[APPLAUSE]. DIEDRE, THANK YOU FOR COMING DOWN AND I APPRECIATE OUR SPIRITED CONVERSATION. MY BLOOD PRESSURE GOT UP ONLY BECAUSE WE STARTED WITH THAT YOU THOUGHT I WAS GOING TO CANCEL CONTRACTS. THAT WAS NOT THE GOAL.

YOU TALK ABOUT EVERYTHING TO UNDERSTAND THE VALUE OF EVERYTHING.

AS I MENTIONED, WE HAVE A VERY WIDE PLACE AND CONVERSATION TO GET TO BECAUSE AS YOU MENTIONED, YOUR CONTRACT IS INSIDE THE CITY OF HOUSTON. AS I MENTIONED TO YOU YOUR ISSUES WITH HPD ABOUT HOW AND WHAT KIND OF A COVERAGE ARE YOU GET SNG.

>> IT IS NOT NECESSARILY WITH THAT. I WANT TO SAY THIS.

HPD DOESN'T HAVE THE FUNDING. I RECOGNIZE THAT. I THINK HPD IS A GOOD UNIT.

>> ADRIAN GARCIA: AND WE NEED TO FIGURE OUT -- >> WE NEED TO FIGURE THAT

OUT. >> ADRIAN GARCIA: THE UNINCORPORATED AREAS AND THAT WAS THE GOAL OF THIS PROGRAM. I APPRECIATE YOU, AND WE WILL STAY IN TOUCH.

>> AND TALK TO US. >> ADRIAN GARCIA: WE'LL STAY IN TOUCH.

>> LINA HIDALGO: THANK YOU SO MUCH. >> GOOD AFTERNOON, COUNCIL MEMBERS -- OR COUNCIL MEMBERS. COMMISSIONERS AND JUDGE.

MY NAME IS ALEJANDRO PEREZ. I AM A FORMER PRESIDENT BICYCLE CLUB AND I STARTED THE CLUB BASICALLY TO HELP THE CITY OF HOUSTON BECOME A GOAL LEVEL CITY IN TERMS OF BIKE ABILITY BY 2027. WITH THAT BEING SAID I WANT TO SPEAK IN SUPPORT OF WHAT DEPUTY JOE BOWDEN HAS BEEN DOING IN THE MIDTOWN AREA WITH CONSTABLE ROSEN'S OFFICE.

AS WE ARE BUILDING MORE WAYS TO GET AROUND TOWN ON A BIKE AND IT TOUCHES A LITTLE ON THE SUBJECT WITH WHAT THE HARRIS COUNTY IS DOING. WE ARE TRYING TO BRING OUR PEOPLE WHO ARE BICYCLING AND USING THAT AS A FORM OF TRANSPORTATION AND GETTING AROUND TOWN. YOU KNOW, FOR FIRST TIME PEOPLE LIKE -- I HAVE MET A COUPLE OF PEOPLE THAT GAVE UP THEIR CARS TO GET AROUND TOWN.

WITH THAT BEING SAID THERE IS A RISE IN PREDATORS LOOKING FOR BIKES TO TAKE FROM

[03:55:04]

HE HAS FOLLOWED 238 CASES OF BIKE -- WHERE BIKE INFRACTIONS AND RECOVERING BIKES.

THE MONEY AMOUNT OF WHAT HE CAME UP TO WAS 250,000 IN THE LAST THREE YEARS.

WHICH MAY NOT SEEM LIKE A LOT IN THE CONTRACTS BECAUSE I DON'T LIVE IN AN AREA THAT HAS CONTRACT WORK FOR CONSTABLE COVERAGE. BUT THESE BIKES HERE, IT IS A FORM OF TRANSPORTATION AND THEY JUST GAVE UP THEIR CAR OR IN A RECENT CASE WHERE A STUDENT, A HIGH SCHOOL REPORTED HIS BIKE STOLEN IN NOVEMBER OF LAST YEAR, NOVEMBER. FOUR DAYS AGO DEPUTY BOWDEN RECOVERED THE BIKE DUE TO A MEMBER IN A FACEBOOK GROUP THAT REPORTS STOLEN BIKES AND EVERYBODY IN THAT COMMUNITY OR IN THAT GROUP SHARE THAT'S INFORMATION AND SHARES IT WITH THEIR FRIENDS.

IT IS A REFORM HOW TECHNOLOGY IS BEING USED TO HELP POLICE DO THEIR JOBS MORE EFFICIENTLY. I UNDERSTAND WHY YOU BROUGHT THIS UP AND GOT OUT OF CONTEXT A LITTLE BIT. THE IDEA WAS THERE THAT THESE BIKES ARE REALLY -- THEY MEAN SOMETHING TO SOMEBODY. FOR THAT ONE CASE, WELL THAT BIKE TURNED OUT TO BE HIS DAD'S BIKE THAT PASSED AWAY TWO AND A HALF YEARS AGO. YOU CAN PROBABLY UNDERSTAND THE SENTIMENT WITH THAT ITEM AND WITH WHAT JOE BOWDEN WAS ABLE TO BRING TO THAT STUDENT. SO ALSO I UNDERSTAND LAST YEAR THERE WAS A PLAN TO RAISE -- A SMALL TAX HIKE TO RAISE REVENUES AND IT FAILED BECAUSE THERE WAS TWO COMMISSIONERS

THAT DECIDED TO SKIP AN IMPORTANT VOTE. >> LINA HIDALGO: THANK YOU SO

MUCH. THANK YOU. >> ADRIAN GARCIA: ALEJANDRO, THANK YOU FOR COMING DOWN AND YOUR STORY ABOUT DEPUTY BOWDEN REMINDS ME THAT ONE OF MY PROUDEST MOMENTS WAS WHEN I GET A CALL ABOUT A YOUNG MAN'S BIKE THAT WAS STOLEN AS WELL AND A BLOCK AWAY AND THE OTHER KID WHO HAD TAKEN IT, WE CAUGHT HIM.

AND BROUGHT HIM OVER THERE. HE HAD ALREADY STRIPPED IT DOWN AND HAD HIM REASSEMBLE IT.

I HAVE ALWAYS SAID THAT THE PLACE I WANT TO GET TO IS THAT IN THE UNINCORPORATED AREAS OF THE COUNTY, I CAN'T IMPACT THE CITY OF HOUSTON SO MUCH, BUT I WANT PEOPLE TO BE ABLE TO SEE THEIR LAW ENFORCEMENT WHEN THEY DON'T NEED THEM. AND THAT IS SAFEST PLACE THAT WE CAN GET THE COMMUNITY TO FEEL. WHEN THEY DON'T HAVE TO WAIT FOR AN EMERGENCY TO CALL FOR SOMEONE TO SHOW UP. THAT'S ALL PART OF THE THOUGHT PROCESS GOING FORWARD ON THIS. I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR COMING

DOWN AND THANK YOU FOR SHARING THE STORY. >> LINA HIDALGO: THANK YOU.

>> ONE QUESTION, IS THERE LIKE A DATABASE SYSTEM WHERE AGENCIES CAN LOOK AT EACH OTHER'S -- NOT EACH OTHER'S, BUT THE RECORDS THAT HAVE BEEN FILED WITH COMPLAINTS AND

STUFF LIKE THAT AND MAYBE HOMEOWNERS? >> ADRIAN GARCIA: THE DISPATCH SYSTEM ALLOWS, I BELIEVE, FOR TO YOU SEE EACH OTHER. THE INVESTIGATIVE FILES IS A

GOVERNMENT THING. THAT'S -- >> I MEAN ACROSS DEPARTMENTS

LIKE SHERIFF. >> ADRIAN GARCIA: IF THE CONSTABLE SHOWS UP AND THEY GET THE CALL, THAT INFORMATION ON THAT PARTICULAR CRIME WHILE IT IS BEING INVESTIGATED MAY NOT BE SHARED. WHEN THE REPORT IS MADE, THAT'S A DIFFERENT THING AND YOU PROBABLY HAVE ACCESS TO SEE IT. THERE ARE SOME AREAS THAT WE

HAVE TO IMPROVE ON. >> LINA HIDALGO: THANK YOU. APPRECIATE IT.

JIMMY EVANS, JENNIFER LANEY, DANIELI GUERERRO. APOLOGIES IF I MISS PRONOUNCED THAT. WENDY MARTIN BROWN. VICTOR SANCHEZ.

ROBERT CHO WHY, JOSIE HUFFMAN. >> GOOD AFTERNOON. SITTING ON THAT BENCH FOR SO

LONG REMINDED ME OF MY HIGH SCHOOL BASKETBALL CAREER. >> LINA HIDALGO: REMIND US OF

YOUR NAME AND AFFILIATION. >> MARSHALL COHEN AND DIRECTOR *6 -- OF WEST HARRIS COUNTY.

I AM AN ELECTED OFFICIAL IN HARRIS COUNTY AND I ALSO SERVE AS THE PRESIDENT OF WEST HAMPTON ESTATES HOMEOWNER ASSOCIATION. MY DIVERSE DISTRICT IS LOCATED

[04:00:01]

THIS PROGRAM HAS BEEN EFFECTIVE AND AS OUR DISTRICT HAS GROWN WE IMPACTED SERVICE DEPUTIES FROM ONE TO FOUR. WE LEARNED THE RESPONSE TIME IS ESSENTIAL FROM PETTY THEFT TO BURGLARIES, ROBBERIES, SMASH AND GRABS, WARRANT ARRESTS, TRAFFIC INCIDENTS TO HOMEOWNERS USING MAR -- MORE. UNFORTUNATELY OUR COMMUNITY HAS IT ALL.

THE RESPONSE TIFF CONTRACT CONSTABLE DEPUTY PROGRAM IS THE BACKBONE TO OUR COMMUNITY AND IT IS CRITICAL TO THE SAFETY OF OUR AREA. DAILY INCIDENTS OCCUR AND RESPONSE TIMES MUST BE AND IS IMMEDIATE. AFTER ALL, IF IT WAS YOU OR YOUR FAMILY MEMBER NEEDING IMMEDIATE LAW ENFORCEMENT HELP , WOULDN'T YOU WANT IT? OF COURSE YOU WOULD. THE DEPUTIES ARE FAMILIAR WITH THE COMMUNITY.

WE HEARD THAT BEFORE. WHEN SOMETHING DOESN'T APPEAR CORRECT THEY NOT ONLY IDENTIFY THE ISSUE, BUT THEY TAKE PROMPT ACTION. NO IING -- KNOWING THE COMMUNITY THEY SERVE IS ESSENTIAL TO EFFECTIVENESS. HAVING DEPUTIES ROUTINELY PATROL HELPS DISCOURAGE INCIDENTS WHILE PROVIDING COMFORT AND RELIEF.

ALSO IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT OUR DEPUTIES ARE 70/30 MEANING WE PAY 100% FOR THE DEPUTIES WHILE THEY REMAIN IN THE CONTRACT 70% OF THE TIME. 30% OF THE TIME LAW ENFORCEMENT ACTIVITIES ARE OUTSIDE OF THE CONTRACT. THAT HELPS EVERYONE.

IT IS NOT JUST US IN THE CONTRACTED AREA. FINALLY WITH THE ADD VENT OF AREA -- WITH THE ADVENT OF AREA CRIME THIS ESSENTIAL AND VITAL PROGRAM HELPS ENSURE THAT WE MAINTAIN AND EVEN INCREASE OUR PROPERTY VALUES. WITHOUT THIS PROGRAM AND THE VISIBLE COMMUNITY WE SEE AN INCREASE IN CRIME AND A DETERIORATION OF REAL ESTATE VALUES AND A COMPLETE DISRUPTION IN THE COMMUNITY. THIS PROGRAM WORKS EXTREMELY WELL AND I STRONGLY REQUEST AND URGE YOU TO KEEP IT ALL IN TACT AS WE WILL ENCOUNTER SIGNIFICANT ISSUE THAT'S ARE DIFFICULT TO TURN AROUND. AGAIN WITH ALL DUE RESPECT, PLEASE DO NOT ELIMINATE OR ALTER THIS HIGHLY EFFECTIVE CONSTABLE CONTRACT PROGRAM.

THANK YOU FOR MOVING IT FROM THE STUDY -- THANK YOU FOR REMOVING IT FROM THE STUDY AND THIS AGENDA TODAY AND TOMORROW. LET'S SAVE OUR TAXPAYERS THE

FUNDS. >> LINA HIDALGO: THANK YOU SO MUCH.

COMMISSIONER GARCIA AND COMMISSIONER RADACK. >> ADRIAN GARCIA: THANK YOU FOR COMING DOWN. TO REITERATE IT WILL BE PULLED.

>> STEVE RADACK: YOU PAY COUNTY TAXES. >> WE PAY TAXES.

>> STEVE RADACK: SO YOU SAY 100% -- YOU ALSO HAVE A -- AN --

>> WE GIVE A LITTLE MORE MONEY, YOU ARE RIGHT. >> LINA HIDALGO: IS YOU SO

MUCH. >> THANK YOU FOR RUER TIME. >> LINA HIDALGO: CHRIS MCSWAIN, BRIAN LOVINS, ROY SKINNER, SAW -- CECILIA GANGI.

>> GOOD AFTERNOON, JUDGE, COMMISSIONERS. MY NAME IS BRIAN LOVINS AND I AM A RESIDENT OF HARRIS COUNTY IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON. I LIVE IN OAK FOREST.

I AM HERE TODAY TO TALK A LITTLE ABOUT THE STUDY AND COMMISSIONER GARCIA, I REALLY APPRECIATE YOU PULLING IT. I THINK THAT WAS REALLY SMART.

IN TODAY'S POLITICS, THAT'S HARD. IT TAKES A LOT OF COURAGE.

I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE INTENTIONS WERE AND NO ONE DOES BUT YOURSELF, BUT IT TAKES A TON OF COURAGE TO FACE THE FOLKS AND DO THAT. I REALLY DO APPRECIATE THAT.

MY BACKGROUND IS I HAVE A PHD IN CRIMINOLOGY AND DO RESEARCH ACROSS THE COUNTRY AND INTERNATIONALLY AROUND CORRECTIONS AND THE EFFECTIVE OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE EFFORTS.

I USED TO WORK AT THE HARRIS COUNTY PROBATION DEPARTMENT AND CORRECTIONS DEPARTMENT FOR SIX AND A HALF YEARS. I AM HERE TO HELP GUIDE AND PROVIDE SOME INSIGHT INTO THREE AREAS OF -- IF A STUDY DOES COME ABOUT THAT I WOULD HIGHLY RECOMMEND THAT WE TAKE A LOOK AT AS A COUNTY. THE FIRST ONE IS THAT THE UNIT OF ANALYSIS SHOULD NOT BE A SINGLE ENTITY. UNIQUE ENTITIES THAT SHOULD BE THE COUNTY OF HARRIS.

WE ARE LOOKING AT THE CRIME AND WHERE THE CRIME OCCURS AT THE COUNTY LEVEL.

THAT WAY WE DO NOT PIT OUR LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENTS AGAINST EACH OTHER AND PLAY APPLES AND ORANGES. IT IS AN INCREDIBLY DIFFERENT JOB THAT ALL OF THEM PERFORM,

[04:05:03]

THEY CREATE A SINGLE SPACE, BUT THERE ARE REASONS WHY WE BREAK UP MONOPOLIES IN THIS COUNTRY AS WELL. AS THEY GET TOO LARGE, IT IS VERY DIFFICULT TO MANAGE.

TALK TO L.A. COUNTY WHERE THEY HAVE A SINGLE UNIFIED SYSTEM AND IT IS INCREDIBLY DIFFICULT TO MANAGE ACROSS A GEOGRAPHIC SPACE. THE SECOND AREA I WOULD HIGHLY RECOMMEND IS THAT WE LOOK AT MEASURES OF CRIME AS PEOPLE HAVE IDENTIFIED, CLEARANCE RATEF THOSE PIECES ARE IMPORTANT TO OUR COMMUNITY AND ENSURING THAT WE HAVE THE RIGHT LEVEL OF SERVICE TO EVERYONE. THEN THE THIRD PIECE IS WE NEED REPRESENTATION ON THIS STUDY AND ACROSS ALL OF THE COME -- COMPONENTS OF THE STUDY.

IF WE WERE TO DO A STUDY AT THE COUNTY LEVEL I REQUEST OR SUGGEST THAT EACH REPRESENTATIVE AND EACH OF THE CONSTABLES OFFICE AND THE SHERIFF, I WOULD DEFINITELY, ABSOLUTELY AGREE THAT HPD SHOULD BE INVOLVED IN THAT CONVERSATION AS WELL.

IT SHOULD BE COMING TOGETHER AS A UNIFIED BODY TO HELP SUPPORT THE SAFETY OF OUR COMMUNITY. AND THEN ULTIMATELY WHAT I WOULD HIGHLY RECOMMEND IS THE INFORMATION IS IMPORTANT. THE DATA IS IMPORTANT. UNDERSTANDING WHERE THERE ARE HOTSPOTS IN CRIME, UNDERSTANDING HOW WE CAN RESPOND TO CRIME IS INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT. AND IT SHOULD NOT BE BASED ON INCOME LEVEL OR WHERE YOU LIVE IN THE COMMUNITY. IT SHOULD BE BASED ON THE FACT THAT WE ARE ALL RESIDENTS OF HARRIS COUNTY. AND SO I HIGHLY RECOMMEND THAT IF THAT IS DONE, THAT IT HAS TAKEN -- IT IS TAKEN SLOWLY AND SMARTLY AND NOT DONE IN A COUPLE MONTHS.

>> LINA HIDALGO: THANK YOU SO MUCH. >> ADRIAN GARCIA: THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE AND GOOD TO SEE YOU AGAIN. THANK YOU FOR YOUR RECOMMENDATIONS. THE ISSUE OF CRIME RATES AND RESPONSE TIMES, IT WAS PART OF WHAT -- THOSE OTHER TWO WERE ITEMS WE WANT TO TAKE A LOOK AT.

JUST TO UNDERSTAND WHAT IS WHAT IS THE STATE OF OUR CRIME RATE AND IN SPITE OF ALL OF

THESE PROGRAMS. >> I THINK THAT'S REALLY THE BEAUTY OF DOING IT AT THE COUNTY LEVEL AND NOT JUST AN AGENCY LEVEL. IT DOESN'T LOOK LIKE YOU ARE

TRYING TO PICK ON ONE SINGLE AGENCY. >> ADRIAN GARCIA: I AGREE.

>> LINA HIDALGO: THANK YOU. MA'AM, HAVE I CALLED YOUR NAME? I AM CALLING IN ORDER IN WHICH PEOPLE SIGNED UP. SO LET ME GO TOM RAMSEY, BILLY

HARDEN, PAUL VIZOR. >> I WAS SUPPOSED TO BE NUMBER 32.

>> LINA HIDALGO: I MUST HAVE CALLED YOU. JUST PLEASE GO AHEAD.

YEAH, WE ARE AT 82 RIGHT NOW. IN THE END I WILL SAY ANYBODY ELSE WHO HASN'T SPOKEN COME

BY. DON'T WORRY. >> MY NAME IS NANCY FRANK.

I AM A RESIDENT OF THE OAKS OF ATACASIDA. OUR HOMEOWNERS ASSOCIATION IS LOCATED NORTHEAST HARRIS COUNTY AND IT IS A CONTRACT HOLDER OF MULTIPLE HOA CONTRACT WITH PRECINCT FOUR IN HARRIS COUNTY. IT IS CORRESPONDED MARCH 3RD 2020 ENTITLED AGENDA ITEM PRECINCT 2 ADRIAN GARCIA PROPOSES AND I QUOTE A STUDY THAT SHOULD REVIEW THE TOTAL COST OF THE CONTACTS -- CONTRACTS WITH THE PUBLIC AND ANY POTENTIAL SAVING THAT'S MAY BE REALIZED BY ELIMINATING THE ABILITY OF CONSTABLES TO ENTER INTO THE CONTRACTS, END OF QUOTE. ONE OF OUR SECURITY DIRECTORS COMMENTED THE EX-SHERIFF OF HARRIS COUNTY REQUESTS THIS STUDY THAT APPEARS TO HAVE BIAS AGAINST THE OUTSTANDING SERVICE PROVIDED BY THE HARRIS COUNTY CONSTABLES.

THAT IS UNFORTUNATE. IN THE MID TO LATE 1980S REPRESENTATIVES FROM FOUR HOMEOWNERS ASSOCIATIONS MET TO DISCUSS THE SECURITY NEEDS OF THEIR RESIDENTS.

SURE, WE PAID HARRIS COUNTY TAXES, BUT THE HOA'S REALIZED THAT THE ANNUAL TAXES PAID BY OUR RESIDENTS ONLY PAID FOR EMERGENCY LAW ENFORCEMENT RESPONSE PROVIDED BY THE HARRIS COUNTY SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT AND THE RESPONSE WAS EXTREMELY SLOW.

THERE WAS NO PATROLS AND NO COMMUNICATION BETWEEN THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE AND THE RESIDENTS. WITH THESE CONCERNS IN HAND THEY FOUND THE CONSTABLE HAD THE ABILITY TO PATROL THE STREET AND PROVIDE SECURITY TO THE RESIDENTS THROUGH A CONTRACT ADMINISTERED BY COMMISSIONER'S COURT I BECAME INVOLVED WITH SECURITY IN THE 1990S. OUR HOMEOWNERS HAVE MADE A 30 PLUS YEAR FINANCIAL INVESTMENT

[04:10:01]

WE EXPERIENCED MORE COMMUNITY PARTICIPATION IN SEE SOMETHING, SAY SOMETHING.

DEPUTIES AND OFFICERS ATTEND OUR ANNUAL MEETING AND EASTER EGG HUNT AND NATIONAL NIGHT OUT AND THE CHRISTMAS PARADE AND AN OFFICER IS ALWAYS AVAILABLE FOR OUR MONTHLY MEETINGS THEY ARE FAMILIAR WITH THE BAD GUYS AND THE REPEAT OFFENDERS AND THE ONE THAT'S GET CAUGHT AND GET BAILED OUT AND COME BACK TO REPEAT THEIR CRIMES.

WE DON'T WANT TO LOSE THIS PARTNERSHIP. WITH OUR DEPUTIES ON THE STREET OUR RESIDENTS FEEL LIKE THEY JUST ARE A QUICK PHONE CALL AWAY.

A CALL TO A DIS-- DISPATCHER IS QUICKER THAN 9-1-1. WE DON'T WANT TO CENTRALIZE WITH THE HARRIS COUNTY AREA. OUR COUL IS TO OUR DEPUTY, THE ONE WE SAW MONITORING SCHOOL TRAFFIC AND THE ONE WE SAW GIVING A TICKET ON TIMBER FOREST OR THE DEPUTY CALLED

NEXT DOOR. >> LINA HIDALGO: IS YOU SO MUCH FOR COMING.

>> DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? >> ADRIAN GARCIA: THANK YOU, NANCY.

[LAUGHTER] >> ADRIAN GARCIA: WHAT IS YOUR CONTRACT?

>> 70/30. >> LINA HIDALGO: APPRECIATE IT.

>> WE HAVE EIGHT HOA'S. >> ADRIAN GARCIA: THANK YOU. >> GOOD AFTERNOON.

TOM RAMSEY AND MAYOR OF THE CITY OF SPRING VALLEY. SPRING VALLEY IS FOCUS OWED DEALING WITH THE CRIME IN THE CONFINES. WE WERE IDENTIFIED AS SAFEST NEIGHBORHOOD IN HARRIS COUNTY. I TRAVELED THROUGHOUT PRECINCT THREE. THAT'S THREE QUARTERS OF PRE SINK THREE IS UNINCORPORATED I THOUGHT, MAN, HOW DO THEY DEAL WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT? I GOT THAT WORD REAL QUICK.

THE STUDY I HAVE DONE IN THE LAST THREE MONTHS AND WE ARE IF GOOD SHAPE IN TERMS OF CONSTABLE PETE AND HERMAN. THE RESPONSE THAT THEY ARE DOING IS INCREDIBLE.

CONSTABLE HERMAN WANTS TO MAKE SURE IT IS A FAIR ANALYSIS OF WHAT WE ARE TALKING ABOUT.

HERE IS THE FAIR ANALYSIS. F. THESE ARE THE FIRST RESPONDERS IN HARRIS COUNTY PRECINCT THREE. WHETHER YOU LIVE IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON OR THE UNINCORPORATED AREAS, THESE ARE THE FIRST RESPONDERS.

AND THEY DO A GREAT JOB. A, THEY ARE AWARE OF EVERYTHING.

IF I WANT TO KNOW WHAT IS GOING ON IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD, I JUST CALL THE CONSTABLE.

THEY KNOW EVERYTHING. AND THEY IMPROVE RESPONSE TIMES.

AGAIN, I WAS REAL PROUD OF SPRING VALLEY. WE ARE A TWO-MINUTE RESPONSE TIME. THAT'S ABOUT WHAT IT IS WITH THE CONSTABLE PROGRAM.

Y MAZE -- AMAZING. THE RESULT IS WE HAVE SAFE NEIGHBORHOODS IN PRE SINK THREE BECAUSE OF THE CONSTABLE PROGRAM AND TO DO ANYTHING OTHER THAN SUPPORT THAT PROGRAM. AND TRY TO EXPAND THAT PROGRAM WOULD NOT BE PROPER IN MY

OPINION. THANK YOU. >> LINA HIDALGO: THANK YOU SO

MUCH. [APPLAUSE]. >> LINA HIDALGO: ANDREW BELL, ERIC BAT TON, JEFFREY MCGEE, SKIP WARREN. GO AHEAD.

>> YES, I AM PAUL VIZOR OF PRECINCT 4, HOMEOWNER. WE ALL UNDERSTANDABLY BELIEVE THAT OUR SECURITY, THE POLICE, THE MILITARY, WHATEVER, THAT'S THE NUMBER ONE FUNCTION OF GOVERNMENT. THAT'S MORE THAN ANY GOVERNMENT CAN DO.

AS PEOPLE HAVE SAID AND IT IS A TRITE EXPRESSION, BUT DON'T FIX WHAT AIN'T BROKE.

I AM VERY, VERY PLEASED WITH THE PRECINCT FOUR CONTRACT DEPUTIES.

WITH THEIR SAFETY AND SUPER FAST RESPONSE. THEY ARE FANTASTIC.

I WAS ORIGINALLY CONCERNED ABOUT THE PROPOSE -- PROPOSED STUDY.

IT MIGHT RECOMMEND TAKEN -- TAKING AWAY A PROOF SUCCESS IN PRECINCT FOUR AND REPLACING IT WITH AN UNPROVEN HOPE OF QUESTIONABLE -- OF QUESTIONABLE IMPROVEMENTS

[04:15:05]

IT I CAN MATHEMATICALLY PROVE THAT ONE EQUALS TWO. MOST OF YOU WOULD NOT FIND THE -- FIND AN ERROR IN THAT MATH. FINALLY I AM A SUPER STRONG SUPPORTER OF LOCAL POLICEMEN. I WOULD RATHER TALK TO A LOW-LEVEL MARK HERMAN, NO OFFENSE, THAN A HIGH-LEVEL SOMEBODY ELSE BECAUSE I THINK THE LOWER LEVEL MARK HERMAN, IF I -- IF I COMPLAIN, I THINK HE WILL RESPOND. THE GUY UP HERE SAYS GO AWAY.

>> LINA HIDALGO: THANK YOU SO MUCH. >> JUDGE, COMMISSIONERS, MY NAME IS ERIC BATTON, AND I AM THE VICE PRESIDENT OF THE DEPUTY ASSOCIATION FOR POLICE LODGE 39 AND WE REPRESENT OVER 3,000 HARRIS COUNTY SHERIFF DEPUTIES AND DETENTION OFFICERS AND CONSTABLES. LET ME START BY SAYING, COMMISSIONER GARCIA, YOU AND I HAVE NEVER BEEN A STRANGE TORE CONFLICT. STRANGER TO CONFLICT.

THAT GOES WITHOUT SAYING. AND I THINK YOU HAVE LEARNED THAT THIS IS CONSTRUCTIVE CRITICISM. WORDS MEAN THINGS. THE WORD "ELIMINATE" DID DRAW EVERYTHING BE -- WE HAVE HERE TODAY. COMMISSIONER RADACK, YOU WERE RIGHT WHEN YOU SAID WE ALREADY HAVE STUDIES GOING ON AND THERE IS NO NEED TO DO ANOTHER ONE. YOU COMMENTED THAT IT WAS UNNECESSARY TO GET THESE DEPUTIES ALARMED WITH THEIR JOBS. THAT'S NOT SOMETHING WE WANT TO DO. AS POLICEMEN WE HAVE A TOUGH ENOUGH JOB AS IT IS AND ENOUGH STRESS THAT THE LAST THING WE WANT TO DO IS HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT WHETHER WE ARE PAYING OUR MORTGAGE OR MAKING THE CAR NOTE. I WANT TO TOUCH ON A COUPLE OF TOPICS. AS FAR AS US AS AN ORGANIZATION AND LIT -- LET ME STATE THAT WE ARE THE LARGEST COUNTY EMPLOYEE ORGANIZATION IN HARRIS COUNTY AND THE LARGEST COUNTY IN THE STATE OF TEXAS. I AM HERE TO EXPRESS SUPPORT TO BROTHERS AND SISTERS IN LAW ENFORCEMENT. WE HAVE TWO POINTS FOR CONSIDERATION ON THIS TOPIC. ONE WE ARE COMMITTED TO ENSURING THE PRESERVATION OF ALL CURRENT FUNDED LAW ENFORCEMENT POSITIONS OF LAW ENFORCEMENT.

WE ARE INTERESTED IN SAFEGUARDING PUBLIC SAFETY AND WE ARE CONCERNED IN A REDUCTION -- ANY REDUCTION IN LAW ENFORCEMENT WOULD HAVE A NEGATIVE IMPACT THAT WOULD DECREASE POLICE PERSONNEL TO APPLY FOR THE CITIZENS OF THE COUNTY.

CERTAIN MEMBERS OF THE COURT ARE LOOKING AT MEASURES OF GOOD STEWARDS OF TAXPAYER DOLLARS, BUT NOT AT THE EXPENSE OF JEPRODIZING PUBLIC SAFETY.

THANK YOU. >> LINA HIDALGO: THANK YOU. >> LIEUTENANT OR CAPTAIN?

>> LIEUTENANT. IF YOU HELP ME OUT, MAYBE I WILL MAKE CAPTAIN.

GIVE US SOME MORE INFORMATION -- MORE POSITIONS AND WHO KNOWS WHAT WILL

HAPPEN. >> YOU HAVE NEVER BEEN SHY IN EXPRESSING YOUR OPINIONS TO ME

EITHER. >> NO, SIR, I HAVEN'T. YES, SIR, WE DID.

MY PASSION SOMETIMES CLOUDS MY JUDGMENT AS THAT CAN HAPPEN AND I WILL EXTEND APOLOGIES

FOR WHEN I AM LOCAL. IT IS IN MY DNA. >> I WAS IN AGREEMENT WITH

YOUR POINT AND WE NEED TO DO BETTER. >> COMMISSIONER RADACK, THERE IS ANOTHER POINT OF DASH -- OF CONTENTION YOU AND I WILL HAVE THAT.

>> LINA HIDALGO: REAGAN SIMMONS GORDON HIGGENDORF, SYDNEY CHAPMAN.

>> IT IT HAS BEEN A LONG WAIT. I THINK Y'ALL CHOSE A PRETTY HOT TOPIC. I AM NOT GOING TO BE VERY LONG.

I WANT TO THANK STEVE RADACK FOR STANDING TALL AND STANDING STRONG.

COMMISSIONER CAGLE, I'M GLAD YOU ARE OUR COMMISSIONER. >> LINA HIDALGO: WILL YOU

REMIND US YOUR NAME -- >> I AM PROUD OF YOU BEING OUR --

>> LINA HIDALGO: SIR, WILL YOU STATE YOUR FULL NAME AND AFFILIATION.

>> FULL NAME? >> LINA HIDALGO: YES X FOR THE RECORD.

>> JOHN SKIP W WARREN. AND I GO BY SKIPPER. WHAT I WANT TO SAY TO Y'ALL AND ASK Y'ALL QUESTIONS IS JUDGE DO YOU RECALL 10 DAYS AGO THAT YOU SENT A REPRESENTATIVE OUT TO OUR RIBBON CUTTING CEREMONY IN BRIDGESTONE? DO YOU RECALL THAT? WE HAD A WOMAN RIBBON CUTTING CEREMONY.

[04:20:08]

MY QUESTION IS TO YOU DO YOU LIKE MUSIC? >> LINA HIDALGO: OF COURSE.

>> IT'S NOT A SILLY QUESTION. IT IS A REAL, HONEST QUESTION.

DO YOU LIKE COUNTRY AND WESTERN? >> LINA HIDALGO: I DO.

>> I WANT MR. GARCIA TO COME BACK DOWN HERE BECAUSE IT IS DIRECTED TO HIM AS WELL.

>> LINA HIDALGO: IT IS BEING RECORDED SO HE CAN WATCH IT -- IT IS BEING RECORDED SO HE CAN

WATCH IT TOO. >> WHAT I WANT TO ASK DO YOU KNOW A GUY NAMED HANK WILLIAMS? DO YOU KNOW WHO HE IS? YOU DO.

I AM NOT TALKING ABOUT JUNIOR. I AM TALKING ABOUT STEEN -- SENIOR. IN MY NOTE I HAVE ON HERE, HE SANG A SONG THAT I THINK YOU GUYS NEED TO LISTEN TO THE SONG ABOUT TWO OR THREE DIFFERENT TIMES.

DO IT BY YOURSELF AND LISTEN TO THE SONG. IT IS CALLED "MIND YOUR OWN

BUSINESS AND YOU WON'T BE MINDING MINE." >> LINA HIDALGO: THANK YOU SO

MUCH. GO AHEAD. >> HOW DO I FOLLOW THAT? GOOD AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS CINDY CHAPMAN AND I REPRESENT THE 5,000 HOMES AT THE WESTBURY SHIV VIC CLUB. WE ARE IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON AND REPRESENT -- REPRESENTED BY COMMISSIONER RAD KNEE EL -- RODNEY ELLIS. WE HAVE A SERGEANT AND TWO DEPUTIES IN OUR CONTRACT PROGRAM. AND WE HAVE HAD ISSUES WITH REPETITIVE FLOODING IN WESTBURY AND FLOODING ALONG THE BAYOU IN 2013, 2014, 2015 AND 2016, 2017. WE HAVE MANY VACANT HOMES IN THE COMMUNITY AFTER HARVEY.

PUBLIC SAFETY AND SECURITY IS VERY IMPORTANT TO OUR RESIDENTS.

FOR THE PAST 38 YEARS WE HAVE HAD A CONTRACT WITH THE CONSTABLES.

I DON'T WANT TO REPEAT THINGS EVERYBODY ELSE SAID. I AM HERE BECAUSE ALTHOUGH I HAVE WRITTEN A LET TOTER COMMISSIONERS -- A LETTER TO THE COMMISSIONERS AND WE FELT SO STRONGLY THAT WE SAT HERE TO SHOW EVERYBODY HOW IMPORTANT THE PROGRAM IS TO US. WE DON'T WANT TO WASTE YOUR TIME, BUT KNOW IT IS IMPORTANT TO US AND PLEASE, WE SUPPORT THE CONSTABLE PROGRAM AND WE ASK FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION TO KEEP IT AS STRONG AS POSSIBLE. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

>> LINA HIDALGO: THANK YOU. AND YOU ARE NOT WASTING ANYBODY'S TIME.

I AM CERTAINLY IMAGINING AND MY COLLEAGUES AS WELL GRATEFUL FOR EVERYBODY WHO CAME TO SPEAK. AND KNOW I RECOGNIZE THE SERVICE OF ALL OF THE OUR CONSTABLES AND THE VALUE OF ALL OF THESE PROGRAMS. AND WOULD NEVER CONSIDER DOING AWAY WITH THESE KINDS OF PROGRAMS. [APPLAUSE]

>> LINA HIDALGO: WHICH I MADE CLEAR TO THE CONSTABLE THAT'S CALLED AND EVERYTHING.

WE'VE BEEN FOCUSED, AS YOU SAW, VERY MUCH ON CORONAVIRUS, BUT THE CALLS I RECEIVED WAS Y'ALL. I RECOGNIZE THE VALUE OF THESE PROGRAMS AND I APPRECIATE EVERYTHING FOLKS ARE SHARING BECAUSE IT HELPS -- REGARDLESS OF WHAT HAPPENS, IT HELPS US UNDERSTAND. WHAT HAPPENED WITH THE ITEM BEING PULLED, IT HELPS US UNDERSTAND EVERYONE'S PERSPECTIVE SO THANK YOU. YES.

>> YOU KNOW, THE FIRST ITEM ON THE MOTION THAT'S BEFORE US AND UNDERSTAND THAT THAT'S BEEN PULLED IS THAT THE TOTAL COST FOR THE PUBLIC IS REALIZED BY ELIMINATING THE ABILITY OF CONSTABLES IN A CONTRACT. THE COMMENT IS YOU WOULDN'T CONSIDER ELIMINATING THE CONTRACTS. IS THAT A MOTION?

I WOULD SECOND IT. >> LINA HIDALGO: RIGHT NOW I WANT TO HEAR FROM THE SPEAKERS. THE MINUTE I SAY SOMETHING IT WILL BE A BIG DISCUSSION.

AT THE END WE CAN -- WE WILL SUBMIT A MOTION TO PULL IT AND WE CAN DO THAT.

I THINK IT IS CLEAR THAT THE ITEMS ARE GOING TO BE HELD AND NO ACTION.

I'M JUST -- I'M THANKING FOLKS FOR THIS. YES, I WOULD LIKE TO HEAR FROM

THE SPEAKERS. GO AHEAD. >> THANK YOU.

ISM -- >> I AM REVEREND HIGENDORF. I AM HERE REPRESENTING MYSELF. I AM NOT A MEMBER OF A HOMEOWNERS ASSOCIATION.

I HAVE BEEN THERE FOR 25 YEARS. I AM A PROUD GRADUATE OF THE PRECINCT 1 CONSTABLE CITIZENS POLICE ACADEMY. AS A CITIZEN I HAVE HOSTED SEVERAL BLOCK MEETINGS AND NATIONAL NIGHT OUT AND CONSTABLE HERMAN AND CAPTAIN HAS MADE CLEAR WHAT THEY DO AND HOW THEY SERVE THE COMMUNITY.

IT IS FUNNY WHERE WE GET OUR INFORMATION FROM. LAST YEAR I INSTALLED A RING DOOR BELL ON MY HOUSE. YES, A RING DOOR BELL. I WAS SURPRISED YESTERDAY TO

[04:25:03]

THAT IS NORTH AND SOUTH OF INTERSTATE 10. IF THE INFORMATION IS ACCURATE AND I'M SURE A STATUS STITION CAN PICK IT APART IT SHOWED THERE ARE 84 INCIDENTS OF CRIME REPORTS -- REPORTED LAST MONTH IN MY ZIP CODE. I LOOK AT THE MAP AND ABOVE I-10 WHERE I LIVE IN THE HEIGHTS, VERY FEW REPORTS. BELOW THAT AND I DON'T BELIEVE THEY CONTRACT WITH THE CONSTABLES THAT'S WHERE THE VAST MAJORITY ARE.

MY POINT IS TO SAY THAT I THINK THERE IS A LOT OF INFORMATION OUT THERE ALREADY AVAILABLE TO KNOW WHETHER OR NOT THE PROGRAMS WORK IN MY CASE IT IS THE HOUSTON HEIGHTS ASSOCIATION THAT CONTRACTS WITH THE CONSTABLES. THEY ARE THE CUSTOMER.

LET THE CUSTOMER DECIDE HOW COST EFFECTIVE THE PROGRAM IS.

ALL THESE ORGANIZATIONS THAT CONTRACT WITH THE CONSTABLE, THEY ARE FRUGAL ORGANIZATIONS. THEY DON'T WASTE ONE DIME THAT THEY DON'T -- THAT THEY DON'T HAVE TO SPEND. IN MY CASE I PAY $325 A YEAR TO THE HOUSTON HEIGHTS ASSOCIATION FOR THE CON -- CONSTABLE COVERAGE. TO ME THAT'S A LOT OF MONEY.

I GET THE BILL EVERY YEAR AND I GO THROUGH A THOUGHT PROCESS, IS IT WORTH IT? I QUICKLY DECIDE, YES, IT IS WORTH THAT -- ME PAYING THAT FOR THE CONSTABLE COVERAGE.

SO MY POINT HERE IS LET THE CUSTOMERS DECIDE. LET THE HOMEOWNERS AND THE ASSOCIATIONS DECIDE. THEY ARE NOT GOING TO WASTE THEIR OWN MONEY AND NEITHER DO

I. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. >> ADRIAN GARCIA: THANK YOU.

>> LINA HIDALGO: ERIKA MARTINEZ, ROSA DE LA GARZA, WANDA CHAPMAN, JAY PHILIPS, MANDY STROTHER. JACQUELINE FISHERMAN. SCOTT JOHNSON.

GWEN DO LYNN HENRY. >> JUDGE HIDALGO, COMMISSIONERS, MY NAME IS SCOTT JOHNSON. I AM A RESIDENT OF LAKEWOOD FOREST SUBDIVISION AND SERVE AS TREASURER OF THE SUBDIVISION'S HOA AT LAKEWOOD FOREST.

A LOT OF WHAT I AM GOING TO SAY IS REPETITIOUS. THAT'S WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU ARE THE 101ST SPEAKER. I AM GOING TO READ IT ANYWAY BECAUSE I AM NOT THAT GOOD AT AD LIBBING. THE SUB -- THE SUB LIMB NATIONAL ARANGEMENT IS IT RESULTS IN A HIGHER LEVEL OF SECURITY FOR WEALTHY NEIGHBORHOODS COMPARED TO LESS AFFLUENT ONES. WE IN LAKEWOOD FOREST ARE NOT AFFLUENT.

WE ARE COMFORTABLE, THAT'S IT. IN OUR CASE WE PAID CON STABLE HERMAN'S OFFICE AN AMOUNT WORKING OUT TO LESS THAN $150 PER YEAR, PER HOUSEHOLD OF $12.50 PER HOUSEHOLD PER MONTH. THAT'S A WAY TO GET A PEACE OF MIND FOR EVERYBODY.

WE GET FOUR OFFICERS AND ONE LIEUTENANT WHO SPEND 70% OF THEIR TIME IN OUR SUBDIVISION. OR 30% OF THEIR TIME IS SPENT OUTSIDE THE SUBDIVISION.

THIS SUBSIDIZES 1.4 OFFICERS FOR OUR NEIGHBORS WHO DON'T CHOOSE TO PARTICIPATE.

ELIMINATING THE CONTRACT DEPUTY PROGRAM WOULD REDUCE SECURITY NOT JUST FOR US, BUT ALSO TO OUR NEIGHBOR SUBDIVISIONS. THIS EFFORT LIKE MOST EFFORTS TO PUNISH THE AFFLUENT ENDS UP HURTING EVERYBODY. IF YOU ELIMINATE THE PROGRAM, WHAT ARE THE PARTICIPATING NEIGHBORHOODS GOING TO DO? IN OUR CASE WE WILL HIRE PRIVATE SECURITY AND HOPEFULLY THE CURRENT CONSTABLES CAN PATROL IN OFF DUTY TIME.

THE DIFFERENCE IS THAT WE WOULD INSIST THEY SPEND 100% OF THEIR TIME IN OUR SUBDIVISION. OTHER SUBDIVISIONS WILL SAVE MONEY BY STARTING A NEIGHBORHOOD WATCH GROUP. THE PROBLEM IS THESE PEOPLE WILL HAVE MINIMAL TRAINING.

AND AFTER AWHILE AT LEAST OF THEIR MEMBERS WILL DECIDE TO KEEP A HANDGUN IN HIS CAR AS HE PATROLS THE NEIGHBORHOOD. BELIEVE ME. I HAVE MET THESE GUYS.

ONE NIGHT HE WILL SEE SOMETHING SUSPICIOUS AND AFTER CALLING IT IN HE WILL DECIDE THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE IS NOT RESPONDING QUICKLY ENOUGH SO HE WILL TAKE IT OUT OF HIS -- HE WILL TAKE OUT THE HANDGUN AND SET -- SETTLE THE ISSUE. I DON'T KNOW HOW IT WILL PLAY OUT, BUT I THINK IT WILL BE BAD. PERSONALLY I WOULD FEEL MUCH BETTER IF THESE SITUATIONS WERE HANDLED BY TRAINED, HIGHLY PROFESSIONAL OFFICERS LIKE OUR CONSTABLES. OUR CONTRACT DEPUTY PROGRAM IS COMMUNITY BASED POLICING AT ITS BEST. DON'T DESTROY IT OUT OF SPITE EXPAND IT.

THANK YOU. >> LINA HIDALGO: THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE] CHARLOTTE JACKSON.

VALERIE SWANSON, TAMARO BELL, MARK FAIR CHILD, HOWARD JEFFERSON.

>> GOOD AFTERNOON. THANK YOU ALL FOR ALLOWING US TO COME TODAY.

[04:30:01]

WE COME DOWN BECAUSE WE CARE ABOUT OUR COMMUNITY, AND WE FEEL WITH WHEN WE SEE SOMETHING THAT MAY THREATEN THE PUBLIC SAFETY OF NOT JUST PRECINCT 1 OR PRE SINK 2, BUT THE ENTIRE HARRIS COUNTY. WE COME OUT HERE BECAUSE WE WANT TO BE HEARD.

NOW, I UNDERSTAND YOU SAID THIS IS NOT ABOUT INCORPORATED HARRIS COUNTY.

THIS IS ABOUT UNINCORPORATED HARRIS COUNTY. >> LINA HIDALGO: CAN YOU STATE

YOUR NAME. >> TOMOROW BELL, TOMOROW MARIE BELL.

VERY GOOD. I CAME DOWN HERE BECAUSE WHEN I HEARD ABOUT THE -- I LOOK AT THIS SAYING TO ELIMINATE. I AM IN ONE OF THOSE NEIGHBORHOODS AND WE CAN'T AFFORD. IT BUT I DON'T KNOW HOW WE WOULD MAKE IT WITHOUT MAE WALKER.

MAE WALKER HAS BEEN THERE FOR US. WHEN WE COULDN'T GET THE POLICE TO COME SHE HAS BEEN DEALING WITH THE CLUBS AND DEALING WITH THE GROUP HOMES THEY TRY TO PUT IN WITH THE RESTRICTIONS. THE CONSTABLES ARE COMMUNITY POLICING. I AM THE CHAIRMAN OF PUBLIC SAFETY AND HELP FOR THE ENTIRE SUPER NEIGHBORHOOD ALLIANCE. I AM THE FORMER CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD OF THE SUPER NEIGHBORHOOD ALLIANCE. 1.8MILLION PEOPLE. I HEAR EVERYBODY TALK ABOUT WHAT THEY ARE DEALING WITH. LET ME TELL YOU, WHEN YOU THREATEN THESE PEOPLE'S SAFETY THAT THEY ARE PAYING FOR, YOU HAVE TO UNDERSTAND THIS IS MONEY THEY ARE TAKING OUT OF THEIR HOUSE TO GO IN AND ASSIST WHAT THEY FEEL THEY SHOULD BE GUARANTEED BECAUSE THEY DO PAY TAXES. BUT BECAUSE IT IS NOT MEETING THE GOAL THAT THEY NEED THEY PAY THE EXTRA AND YOU SAID, WELL YOU KNOW WHAT, I DON'T LIKE IT THAT YOU ARE PAYING THAT AREA. I AM GOING TO LOOK AT ANOTHER AREA FOR YOU TO PAY.

THEY FEEL THREATENED BECAUSE LIKE THEM THE FIRST ONE THAT'S COME WHEN THEY HAVE A PROBLEM IS THE CONSTABLE. IT IS THEIR CHILDREN AND TEENAGE SONS.

I AM NOT TRYING TO BE RACIST, BUT ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU KNOW THE LITTLE AFRICAN-AMERICAN BOY IS IN THE RIGHT NEIGHBORHOOD AND THEY HAVE TO WATCH OVER HIM AND SOMEBODY IS COMING WHO IS NOT FROM THE COMMUNITY AND THEY SEE HIM WALKING DOWN THE STREET AND THEY SAY WHERE ARE YOU GOING? THEY KNOW WHERE HE LIVES. SO THESE COMMUNITY POLICINGS MATTER. IT IS SOMETHING THAT YOU ALL NEED TO CONSIDER.

YOU HAVE GIVEN ME 0 COMFORT, 0. YOU SIT AT YOUR TABLE.

I KNOW WHAT THAT MEANS. Y'ALL COME DOWN HERE AND WE WEREN'T EXPECTING THAT.

Y'ALL ARE SITTING THERE AND THINKING WE AREN'T EXPECTING THAT.

TODAY AIN'T THE DAY. I WANT -- I DON'T WANT IT TABLED.

I WANT IT SHREDDED. THIS DOES NOT NEED TO COME BACK UP AGAIN.

IT NEEDS TO BE DONE [APPLAUSE]. AND IF YOU STILL DECIDE YOU ARE GOING TO BRING IT UP FOR A VOTE, THAT'S SURE THAT SOMEBODY NEEDS TO SELF-CONTAIN THEMSELVES BECAUSE THEY DON'T WANT TO CATCH NOTHING AND YOU WON'T HAVE ENOUGH PEOPLE.

>> LINA HIDALGO: THANK YOU SO MUCH. >> YOU'RE WELCOME.

[APPLAUSE]. >> MY NAME IS MARK FAIR CHILD.

GOOD AFTERNOON. GOOD AFTERNOON JUDGE HIDALGO AND COMMISSIONERS.

THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO ADDRESS THE COURT TODAY. I REPRESENT THE RICE CIVIC CLUB ALONG WASHINGTON AVENUE. I AM THE SECURITY PROGRAM ADMINISTRATOR FOR OUR NEIGHBORHOOD AND TWO ADJOINING NEIGHBORHOODS. THESE NEIGHBORHOODS ARE MADE UP OF ABOUT 4,000 HOMES AND FAMILIES AND I HAVE COME TO THE COURT TODAY TO GIVE UH PERSPECTIVE. OUR NEIGHBORHOODS CAME TOGETHER TO ORGANIZE A SECURITY PROGRAM. DENSITY WAS INCREASING AND THE ENTERTAINMENT SCENE WAS PROBLEMATIC FOR THE NEIGHBORHOODS. RESULTING IN INCREASED LOW-LEVEL CRIME THAT WAS NOT BEING RESPONDED TO IN A TIMELY FASHION BY HPD.

NUISANCE AND PROPERTY CRIMES SUCH AS DMV'S CALLS FOR LOUD NOISE AND TRAFFIC REQUESTS WERE FALLING TO THE BOTTOM OF THE CALL LOG. IN SHORT OUR QUALITY OF LIFE WAS BEING ADVERSELY IMPACTED AND WE INTENDED TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT.

THIS WAS THE GIST OF THE SECURITY PROGRAM WHICH EVOLVED INTO A CONTRACT WITH PRECINCT ONE CONTRACT PATROL. THEY HAVE PROVEN THEIR COMMITMENT TO THE SAFETY AND SECURITY OF OUR NEIGHBORHOODS. AND HIS -- EXCUSE ME COMMUNITY-ORIENTED POLICING UNIT PRODUCES RESULTS NO THE JUST FOR THE CONTRACT HE SERVES, BUT THE SURROUNDING COMMUNITIES. ONE OF THE COURT ITEMS ASKS TO LOOK AT THE PATROL PROGRAM. IT IS THE SERVICE LEVELS AND POTENTIAL LIABILITIES.

PERSONALLY I LIKE STUDIES AIMED AT COST-EFFICIENT SEES, BUT I AM CONCERNED ABOUT THE STUDIES NOW FOCUSED WITH POLITICAL UNDER TONES. I ENCOURAGE YOU TO INSTEAD LOOK AT ALL COUNTY LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES AND THEIR CONTRACTS IS NOT JUST THE CONSTABLES TO UNDERSTAND HOW EACH AGENCY IMPACTS THE COUNTY BUDGET AND I URGE YOU TO

[04:35:02]

THE KINDER INSTITUTE STATED IN 2018 THAT HARRIS COUNTY COULD REALIZE SOME COST SAVINGS BY REQUIRING CONTRACTS TO COVER THE FULL COST OF THE CONSTABLE DEPUTIES.

WHILE I CAN'T SPEAK FOR OTHERS, I CAN TELL THAT YOU MY NEIGHBORHOOD DOESN'T RUN OUR SECURITY PROGRAM WITH A 20% MARGIN THAT WOULD BE NECESSARY TO SATISFY THESE CONTRACTS AT 100%. THAT 20% TAX WOULD LIKELY HAVE TO BE OFFSET BY A DECLINE IN THE NUMBER OF DEPUTIES EMPLOYED THROUGHOUT THE PATROL PROGRAM THERE BY INCREASING THE DEMAND ON EXISTING LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS. IN SUMMARY, CONSTABLE ROSEN'S PROGRAM HAS BEEN A WELCOME BENEFIT TO OUR NEIGHBORHOODS. WE ARE NOT LOOKING FOR A CHANGE. IT ALLOWS OTHERS TO FOCUS OUTSIDE OUR CONTRACT AND NOT HAVE TO RESPOND TO LOW-LEVEL CALLS. OUR NEIGHBORHOODS HAVE EXPERIENCED REDUCED CRIME AND A QUICKER RESPONSE TIME FOR THESE RESULTS LEADING TO A SAFER COMMUNITY IN -- AND AN APPROVED QUALITY OF LIFE. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.

>> LINA HIDALGO: THANK YOU. DAVID MCENTIRE, STEPHANIE GONZALEZ, PASTOR DZ COVE -- CO

FIELD, TERRY KAMINSKI. ROSSLYN CAESAR. >> TERRY KAMINSKI.

I AM CURRENTLY SERVING AS THE PRESIDENT OF THE SOUP NEIGHBORHOOD FOR THE GREATER MIRELAD. I COME HERE ON BEHALF OF THE RESIDENTS.

IT IS TO LET YOU KNOW IT IS VERY IMPORTANT TO US. MANY ARE STILL SUFFERING FROM THE RAMIFICATIONS OF THE NUMB -- NUMB ARE YOU FLOODS. THERE ARE STILL MANY HOMES THAT ARE VACANT AND THE HOMEOWNERS ARE WAITING TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO RECOVER.

THIS CAUSES DARK AND UNLIT AREAS IN OUR COMMUNITY. IT IS IMPORTANT FOR THE CONSTABLE PATROL TO BE SEEN REGULARLY TO AVOID HOMES FROM BEING BURGLARIZED AND VANDALIZED. IN ADDITION THE NORTHERN SIDE OF GRAYSWOOD IS SURROUNDED BY APARTMENTS. THERE HAVE BEEN GUNSHOT SHOTS AND FIRECRACKERS AND LOUD NOISES AND FIGHTS AND ALL KINDS OF THINGS. THE CONSTABLES ARRIVE QUICKLY WHEN THEY ARE CALLED AND THEY ARE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD SO THEY CAN GET THERE IN THE TIME NEEDED. WE NEED THE ON SITE HELP. IN RECENT DAYS WITHIN THE LAST WEEK I REPORTED TWO MULTI-CAR ACCIDENTS ON GRAYS WOOD. THE CON TABLE -- CONSTABLES RESPONDED IN A TIMELY MANNER. WE NEED AND APPRECIATE THE CONSTABLE PROGRAM.

THEY PERFORM A SERVICE UNABLE -- UNAVAILABLE IN THE HOUSTON POLICE DEPARTMENT.

THEY ARE THERE AND CAN RESPOND QUICKLY. IN CLOSING IT IS CLEAR THAT OUR COMMUNITY -- THAT THE NEIGHBORHOOD CONSTABLE PROGRAM PAID FOR MAINLY BY THE RESIDENTS BENEFITS THE COMMUNITY AND RELIEVES THE HPD OF SOME RESPONSIBILITIES SO THEY CAN COVER THE AREAS THAT DO NOT HAVE CONSTABLE PROGRAMS IN PLACE.

I URGE YOU TO SUPPORT THE NEIGHBORHOOD CONSTABLE PROGRAM AND I WANT TO THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER CAGLE FOR LETTING US KNOW THAT SUCH A BIG ITEM WAS GOING TO BE ON THE AGENDA BECAUSE WE DON'T ALL WATCH EVERYTHING THAT IS HAPPENING WITH THE VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES AND WORK ENGAGEMENTS AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

THANK YOU FOR THOSE WHO SPENT MANY HOURS HERE TO HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK TO YOU.

[APPLAUSE]. >> LINA HIDALGO: JOHN RICH, JOE DANA, DEMITRIUS MCCALL,

HELP 11 LEEP -- HELEN LEWIS, CLINT HORN. >> GOOD AFTERNOON.

MY NAME IS HELEN LEWIS AND I AM THE BOARD PRESIDENT OF THE PINE TRAILS COMMUNITY IMPROVEMENT ASSOCIATION. WE ARE LOCATED EAST OF 610 IN THE WOOD FOREST NORTH SHORE AREA. AND WE ARE CONTRACTING WITH PRECINCT 3.

I AM HERE BECAUSE -- MY OFFICE MANAGER AND WE HAVE 1800 HOMES IN OUR SUBDIVISION.

WE ARE MULTI-ETHNIC SUBDIVISION, ELDERLY AND LOW TO MIDDLE INCOME.

I THINK AT THIS POINT WE RENEWED OUR CONTRACTS AND IT IS PROBABLY 70 TO 80% OF OUR TOTAL BUDGET. AND I JUST WANTED TO SAY THAT WE ARE VERY MUCH -- VERY MUCH SINCERE ABOUT KEEPING OUR CONTRACT WITH THE PATROLS. WE CURRENTLY -- WELL, I GUESS ONE OF THE THINGS I SAW WHEN I GOT THE LETTER, TWO E'S. ONE IN YOUR LETTER YOU STATED

[04:40:03]

IT WAS SUCH -- IT WAS SO BAD THAT WE HAD THE MONIKER OF CRIME TRAILS INSTEAD OF PINE TRAILS. NOW THE VISIBILITY OF THE DEPUTIES IN OUR COMMUNITY, THAT HAS ALL BUT DISAPPEARED. THE THINGS THAT CONSTABLES ARE FOCUSED ON NOW, THEY ARE NOW ABLE TO FOCUS ON OUR SPEEDING PROBLEMS AND ILLEGAL DUMPING AND WHAT HAVE YOU AND THE NEIGHBORHOOD FEELS COMFORTABLE. THEY ARE AT EVERY MEETING.

THEY GIVE MONTHLY REPORTS. TO TAKE THAT AWAY WOULD BE A BIG DISSERVICE.

I WANT TO LET YOU KNOW THAT SAFETY AND PEACE OF MIND CANNOT BE DOLLAR RISED.

THANK YOU. >> MAAM. >> MISS LUIS, WHAT PERCENTAGE

CONTRACT? >> 70/30. >> LINA HIDALGO: THAT'S ALL MY LIST. IS THERE ANYONE SIGNED UP I DIDN'T CALL? FEEL FREE TO COME UP AND SPEAK. ALL RIGHT.

FOLKS -- THANK YOU ALL -- SAY THAT AGAIN? GO AHEAD.

>> I HEARD IT IN THE BACK! >> BEFORE WE CONCLUDE ON THIS ISSUE I WANT THE RECORD TO STATE THAT WE GOT A LETTER FROM REPRESENTATIVE HUBERTY WHO CAN'T BE HERE AND WE GOT A LETTER FROM OUR STATE REPRESENTATIVE AND WE GOT A LETTER FROM BRISCO KANE.

YOU CALLED VALERIE SWANSON AND SHE WAS NOT ABLE TO BE PRESIDENT, BUT SHE SENT IN A LETTER AS WELL. WE HAVE A LETTER FROM SAM HARLIS AND A LETTER FROM DENNIS PAUL. AND WE WERE HANDED ONE THIS MORNING FROM BORIS MILES.

AND THEN WHEN WE ARE READY TO BE CONCLUDED I DO HAVE A BRIEF MOTION.

>> DOWN THE ITEMS. IT IS TO PULL DOWN THE ITEMS RELATED TO THIS.

>> ARE YOU PULLING DOWN MINE TOO? >> LINA HIDALGO: I THOUGHT

THAT'S WHAT YOU SAID YOU WANTED. >> I WANT TO MODIFY THAT, JUDGE. THERE ARE 2 PARTS TO MINE. THE PART I WANT TO PULL DOWN IS BASED ON YOUR COMMENTS AND SOME OF THE COMMENTS OF THE OTHERS I THINK I WOULD LIKE FOR US TO GO AHEAD AND JUST -- AND I'M GOING TO ACCEPT MY COLLEAGUE'S STATEMENT THAT HE DID NOT INTEND TO HAVE ELIMINATE THE DOCUMENT. WHEN I READY" LAME NATE" --Y" LAME -- "ELIMINATE" IT SCARED THE BAJEEBERS OUT OF ME. THAT'S A SCARY WORD AND THE OTHER SCARY WORD IN THE LETTER IS TERMINATE. I WILL ACCEPT YOU DID NOT

INTEND TO CAUSE THAT FEAR. FAIR? >> ADRIAN GARCIA: I INTENDED&-ÚY

[04:48:18]

COMMISSIONER CAGLE AND SECOND BY COMMISSIONER GARCIA. >> BY ME.

I SECONDED THE MOTION. >> LINA HIDALGO: OKAY. I THINK THAT'S WHAT I HEARD.

HOW ABOUT WE RECORD THAT. IT SAYS MOVE THAT WE UH OFFICIAL THE CONSTABLE CONTRACT PROGRAM AND WILL NOT SEEK TO STUDY TO ELIMINATE OR TERMINATE THE CONSTABLE OR SHERIFF CONTACT -- CONTRACT PROGRAM. ALL IN FAVOR?

>> I. >> LINA HIDALGO: OPPOSED. MOTION CARRIES.

[APPLAUSE]. >> JUDGE DO WE BREAK FOR LUNCH NOW?

>> LINA HIDALGO: LET'S HEAR FROM -- >> LET'S HEAR FROM THE REST OF

THE SPEAKERS. >> LINA HIDALGO: I THINK THAT'S IT.

>> DON'T WE HAVE ANYTHING ELSE? >> JUDGE WITH ALL DUE

RESPECT -- >> LINA HIDALGO: I AM HEARING FROM COMMISSIONER CAGLE.

>> WE TOOK A 10-MINUTE BREAK AT NOON. IT WAS ACTUALLY 2:15.

IT IS NOW 3:15. IT IS PAST MY BREAK TIME. >> LINA HIDALGO: LET'S HEAR

FROM COMMISSIONER RADACK AND THEN BREAK FOR LUNCH. >> I SECOND THE MOTION.

>> LINA HIDALGO: Y'ALL, I HEAR WHAT I HEAR. IT IS 3:13.

>> I REFER TO JAMES' NOTES. >> CAN YOU BOTH SECOND? >> CAN THEY BOTH SECOND?

>> LINA HIDALGO: COME ON, I MEAN SERIOUSLY. IT IS 3:14 AND WE ARE BREAKING FOR AN HOUR FOR LUNCH. THANK YOU GUYS SO MUCH FOR COMING TO SPEAK.

[04:50:02]

>> LINA HIDALGO: YES, SO IT IS 4:22. COMMISSIONER'S COURT IS BACK IN SESSION. I WANT TO START WITH -- BEFORE WE TOOK THE SPEAKERS WE DISCUSSED AN ITEM ON CORONAVIRUS TO ALLOW FOLKS TO HAVE NEGATIVE COMP TIME, AND WE WANTED TO GET THAT DONE. THE HUMAN RESOURCES AND COUNTY ATTORNEY FOLKS WERE ABLE TO FINALIZE THAT ITEM SO WE WON'T HAVE TO CALL A SPECIAL MEETING OF COURT, AND WE CAN JUST

BEGIN SETTING THAT UP. >> JUDGE, PAUL IN MY OFFICE HAD A QUESTION.

WERE YOU ABLE TO VISIT WITH THE COUNTY TORN ON THAT? THE COUNTY ATTORNEY ON THAT?

>>

>> LINA HIDALGO: DO WE NEED TO EXPLAIN WHAT THIS IS ABOUT? >> IF SHANE IS HERE HE MAY BE

ABLE TO -- THAT WOULD BE BETTER. >> SHANE CARZO WITH HUMAN RESOURCES AND RISK MANAGE MEANT. THIS IS SOMETHING SIMILAR TO HARVEY AND IT IS TO ADDRESS FOLKS WHO DON'T HAVE PAID TIME BALANCES.

WE DON'T WANT THEM HERE WORK FIGURE THEY ARE SICK OR BEEN EXPOSED TO SOMETHING.

THIS ALLOWS THEM TO GO NEGATIVE IN COMP TIME BALANCE FOR THOSE TYPES OF SITUATIONS. WE WILL ENCOURAGE EMPLOYEES TO WORK FROM HOME.

I WILL TAKE ANY QUESTIONS. >> LINA HIDALGO: SO, SHAPE -- SHANE, YOU DID SOMETHING LIKE

THIS DURING HARVEY, RIGHT? >> YES, WE DID. >> IS IT A MOTION?

>> LINA HIDALGO: YES. IT WOULD BE AN ORDER AUTHORIZING EMPLOYEES WHO WOULD OTHERWISE BE DOCKED DUE TO ABSENCES DIRECTLY RELATED TO CORONAVIRUS INCLUDING SICKNESS, QUARANTINE OR TO CARE FOR IMMEDIATE FAMILY MEMBERS WHO ARE SICK OR QUARANTINED,ING TO WORK ADDITIONAL HOURS WITHIN A LIMITED TIME PERIOD TO MAKE UP A MAX MOP OF 80 HOURS LOST WAGES -- MAXIMUM OF 80 HOURS LOST WAGES.

>> SECOND. >> LINA HIDALGO: I HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND.

ALL IN FAVOR? >> I. >> LINA HIDALGO: MOTION CARRIES. WE TOOK THE PICTURE WITH THE AFRICAN-AMERICAN COMMISSION

[Item II (Part 1 of 2)]

SO THE COUNTY CLERK'S OFFICE REQUESTED THAT AFTER LUNCH WE TAKE THEIR PRIMARY ELECTION ITEMS ABOUT OF WE MOVE ON TO THE AGENDA. AND SO THOSE WOULD BE ON PAGE 21 ITEMS 1 AND 3 ON THE SUPPLEMENTAL AGENDA. IF REPRESENTATIVES FROM THE COUNTY CLERK'S OFFICE WOULD COME BY. I STILL HAVE NO CONTACTS SO I AM HELPLESS. MARIA GONZALEZ, MARTHA CODDINGHAM, ALLEN VIERA AND

DONNA STANERT. >> JUDGE HIDALGO, COMMISSIONERS, MY NAME IS MARIA GONZALEZ AND I AM THE PRESIDING PREP -- PRECINCT CHAIR OF PRECINCT 36, FORTEAS MIDDLE SCHOOL. THIS PAST WEEK I WAS NOT A PRESIDING CHAIR.

I WAS THE ALTERNATE JUDGE FOR PRECINCT 0798 BECAUSE MY PRECINCT WAS COLLAPSED.

WE WERE LUCKY IN THE SENSE THAT WE DID NOT GO RED UNTIL APPROXIMATELY 4:30 ON THE THIRD. WHEN WE STARTED TO GET THE BIG, HEAVY FLOODS OF VOTERS WE ENDED UP TURNING OFF -- OR CLOSING THE POLL AT 8:30 P.M. IT WAS FOR APPROXIMATELY 90 MINUTES BEYOND THE 7 P.M. CUTOFF. THERE WERE APPROXIMATELY 100 PEOPLE IN LINE. THEY WERE VERY PUZZLED BY THE FACT THAT WE HAD 20 EASTLAKES, 10 OF WHICH WE COULD NOT USE BECAUSE WE DID NOT HAVE A JOINT, COORDINATED ELECTION.

WE HAD TO HAVE A SEPARATE EYE -- A SEPARATE ELECTION. THAT MEANT TO PRECINCTS HAD TO BE COLLAPSED SO THAT ENOUGH VOTING MACHINES WERE AVAILABLE FOR THE REPUBLICAN AND THE DEMOCRATIC PARTIES. I COULD HAVE HAD A PRECINCT OPEN WITH EIGHT EASTLAKES IF

[04:55:05]

I NOW CALL HER COUNTY CLERK DYE -- DIANE HARRY TRUMAN TROTMAN AND THE BUCK STOPS WITH HER. IF WE ARE TIEING UP HER HANDS WE WILL HAVE IT AGAIN IN THE FALL. WE NEED MORE MACHINES. WE NEED MORE OPPORTUNITIES.

I REALLY RECOMMEND -- I AM HOPING TO HAVE MY PRE -- PRECINCT OPEN AND I WILL NEED CLERKS AND I HOPE ALL OF YOU WILL BE AVAILABLE. I WILL BE CALLING ON YOU.

COMMISSIONER GARCIA, I LIKE FORWARD TO YOU BEING A CLERK FOR ME.

>> ADRIAN GARCIA: ALL RIGHT. >> PLEASE SUPPORT OUR COUNTY CLERK.

AND ONE LAST ITEM, BECAUSE OF -- BECAUSE WE DIDN'T HAVE RODEO DAY OR GO -- OH WELL.

>> ADRIAN GARCIA: GO AHEAD. >> CAN YOU GUYS DECLARE GO RODEO HOUSTON DAY? OUR KIDS WERE NOT IN SCHOOL AND THEY WOULD REALLY LIKE TO WEAR THEIR WESTERN WEAR.

THANK YOU. >> ADRIAN GARCIA: BEAUTIFUL. >> LINA HIDALGO: THANK YOU.

>> MY NAME IS MARTHA COTTINGHAM. I DON'T KNOW WHY I WORRIED ABOUT PREPARING WORDS BECAUSE I JUST CHANGE THEM. THIS YEAR COMES AS NO SURPRISE. BEEN WAITING FOR IT SINCE 2008.

I WAS THE DEMOCRATIC PRIMARY DIRECTOR IN 2008. SOME OF YOU WILL REMEMBER THAT. THAT YEAR WE WERE SECURED -- SKEWERED BECAUSE WE DIDN'T HAVE ENOUGH MACHINERY AND MAN POWER WHERE WE WERE NEEDED. WE WERE BLIND CITED AT THAT -- BLIND SIGHTED AT THAT POINT BECAUSE WE HAD A HIGH TURN OUT IN AREAS WE WEREN'T EXPECTING. THIS IS LEADING UP TO THE POINT I WANT TO STRESS.

YOU CAN BE PREPARED AND THINGS CAN HAPPEN. THEY HAPPEN IN EVERY ELECTION AND THAT'S JUST THE WAY THE ELECTION POLITICS. IN 2008 YOU REMEMBER A 410,909 DEMOCRATS VOTED. THAT'S MORE THAN WE HAD THIS TUESDAY.

WE CAN HANDLE BIG CROWDS. THE DIFFERENCE IS USUALLY A PRIMARY HAS TWO ELECTIONS GOING ON AT THE SAME TIME WITH SOME OVERLAP. THIS YEAR WE PRETTY MUCH HAD THE SAME FOOTPRINT. EXPWEEZ -- E PEOPLE INTO FEWER PRECINCTS. I WANT TO PRAISE DR. TROTMAN FOR ACCEPTING RESPONSIBILITY FOR ANYTHING THAT WENT WRONG. I DO NOT BELIEVE IT FALLS TOTALLY ON HER SHOULDERS OR ON HER SHOULDERS AT ALL. DEMOCRATIC PARTY IS RESPONSIBLE FOR IDENTIFYING THEIR HOME PRE SINKS. IF THERE -- PRECINCTS.

IF THERE ARE GLITCHES IT IS A RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY TO MAKE SURE THAT DOESN'T HAPPEN AGAIN. I AM A DEMOCRAT AND I CANNOT SPEAK FOR THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY. NOT SAYING THAT FOR THEM. THIS YEAR WE HAD 401 HOME PRECINCTS, THE DEMOCRATS. THAT'S ACTUALLY MORE THAN WE USED NO 2008, 2016 AND 2018.

WE HAD MORE POLLING OPPORTUNITIES. IT IS JUST THE BOTTLENECK OF THE COMBINED POLLS. I DO THINK THERE IS A SOLUTION , AND THAT IS THE JOINT -- A REAL JOINT PRIMARY. THAT WOULD FULLY DEPLOY ABOUT 800 POLLS COUNTY WIDE WITH TRAINED WORKERS AND A FULL COMPLEMENT OF THE EASTLAKE MACHINES OR WHATEVER MACHINES WE HAVE NEXT TIME. WE HAVE LEARNED SINCE 2008 THAT WE HAVE A LOT MORE PRIMARY VOTERS THAN WE USED TO HAVE IN THE OLD DAYS. BEFORE 2008 WE HAD NEVER HAD MORE THAN 95,000 PRIMARY VOTERS. WE ARE NOT GOING BACK TO THAT. WE HAVE BIGGY -- BIG ELECTIONS. WE NEED TO TAKE IT SERIOUSLY AND MAKE SURE THE COUNTY PARTIES CAN FULLY STAFF THEM AND FULLY DEPLOY COVERAGE IN EVERY AREA OF THE COUNTY. THAT'S VERY IMPORTANT TO PROTECT OUR VOTERS.

>> LINA HIDALGO: THANK YOU. >> ALLEN VERA HARRIS. REPUBLICAN PARTY.

AT THE LAST MEETING WE DISCUSSED DATA ISSUES WITH THE DAILY VOTING ROSTERS BEING POSTED ONLINE BY THE COUNTY CLERK. WE RESOLVED A COUPLE OF THOSE

[05:00:04]

RIGHT NOW I HAVE GIVEN YOU HANDOUTS ON THE CURRENT RESULTS OF THE IN PERSON EARLY VOTING FOR THE MARCH 3RD PRIMARY ELECTION. WE NEED TO ONCE AGAIN FIGURE OUT HOW WE SMOOTH OUT OUR PROCESSES. YOU HAVE FOUR SHEETS IN YOUR HANDOUT PACKET. THE FIRST TWO SHEETS ARE CUSTOMIZED FOR THIS DISCUSSION. THE LAST TWO SHEETS YOU HAVE PROBABLY SEEN BEFORE IN THE COUNTY CLERK' NIGHTLY UPDATES WHO VOTED IN THE EARLY VOTING PERIOD.

WE HAVE -- WE ARE ONLY TALKING IN PERSON EARLY VOTERS AND NOT MAIL IN BALLOT.

ON THE FIRST TWO CUSTOM SHEETS, THE FIRST IS THE IDENTIFIER OF THE EARLY VOTING LOCATION. THE SECOND SHOWS THE NUMBER OF BALLOTS CAST AT EACH LOCATION INCLUDING PRO VISIONALS TAKEN FROM THE JB MACHINES BROUGHT IN ON MARCH 2ND.

THE THIRD COLUMN SHOWS THE NUMBER OF VOTERS FROM EACH LOCATION FROM THE CLERK'S DAILY ONLINE ROSTER AND THE FOURTH SHOWS THE NUMBER FROM THE CLERK'S NIGHTLY UPDATES OR THE LAST TWO PAGES OF YOUR HANDOUT. THE FIFTH COLUMN IS BLANK BECAUSE IT HASN'T PROCESSED THE PROVISIONALS. AND THE 6TH COLUMN SHOWS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE NUMBER OF BALLOTS ACTUALLY IN THE JBC'S FROM EACH LOCATION VERSUS THE NUMBER OF VOTERS IN EACH LOCATION. THAT LEADS TO A LOT OF QUESTIONS. WHY DO SOME OF THE EARLY VOTING LOCATIONS SHOW SO MANY MORE BALLOTS CAST THAN VOTERS? WHY DID IN PERSON EARLY VOTING COUNTY WIDE PRODUCE 439 BALLOTS THAN VOTERS AT THE BOTTOM OF THE SECOND PAGE.

THE SECOND QUESTION WHY IN MANY CASES IS THE NUMBER OF VOTERS IN EACH LOCATION DIFFERENT WHEN YOU COMPARE THE VOTER ROSTER IN COLUMN 3 TO THE NIGHTLY REPORT IN COLUMN 4 WHEN BOTH REPORTS COME FROM THE SAME SOURCE. NEXT QUESTION, WHY DON'T WE YET HAVE A COLUMN TWO, THE VOTE SPLIT OUT BAY MATTER -- BY PARTY.

THERE ARE TWO PRIMARIES. EACH PARTY HAS TO CHECK OUT ITS OWN NUMBERS.

IT WOULD BE NICE TO HAVE THOSE SEPARATED SO WE CAN DO OUR WORK MORE EFFECTIVELY.

THE NEXT QUESTION, WHAT KIND OF SPECIAL RECOGNITION SHOULD THIS COURT GIVE.

THE LOCATIONS ARE HIGHLIGHTED IN GREEN AND THEY HAVE THE SAME NUMBER OF VOTES AS VOTERS. AND WHAT THE HECK WAS GOING ON IN THE LOCATIONS HIGHLIGHTED IN PINK TO END UP WITH SO MANY MORE EXTRA VOTES THAN VOTERS? THERE IS A LOT OF PROBLEMS IN MID-LAND AND DALLAS COUNTY AND LAST NIGHT BEXAR COUNTY. HARRIS COUNTY DOESN'T WANT TO GO THERE. WE DON'T WANT JUDGE HIDALGO SIGNING OFF ON ELECTION RESULTS THAT CHANGE LATER WVMENT THAT I CLOSE MY COMMENTS AND WILL BE HAPPY TO

HAPPIES ANY QUESTIONS. >> LINA HIDALGO: THANK YOU. I WANT TO HEAR THE CLERK'S

RESPONSE TO THIS. THANK YOU. >> COMMISSIONERS AND JUDGE HIDALGO, I WILL ADDRESS THAT. WE CAN GO INTO MORE DEPTH IF YOU LIKE.

EVERYTHING IS UNOFFICIAL UNTIL RECONCILIATION TAKES PLACE AND THE OFFICIAL CANVAS.

I MISS MR. RIVERA HAD BROUGHT THIS TO US AND WE COULD HAVE EXPLAINED IT, BUT THAT IS THE SITUATION. I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A STATEMENT ABOUT THE PRIMARY ELECTION AND SOME OF THE PROBLEMS WE HAD WITH LAST TUESDAY'S PRIMARY AND WHAT WE ARE DOING TO ADDRESS THEM. YES? CERTAINLY. MR. WYNN CAN DO THAT.

SPEAKER]. YES, SIR. THERE MAY BE A LOGICAL --

>> THERE MAY BE A LOGICAL PLAN -- EXPLANATION FOR THIS. >> THERE IS.

A IF YOU DON'T -- >> IF YOU DON'T MIND --

>> THEY ARE TELLING ME NO ONE CAN HEAR WHAT I AM SAYING. THE RAW DATA LOOKS LIKE THERE IS A PROBLEM AND THERE MAY BE A LOGICAL EXPLANATION. AFTER YOU HAVE A CHANCE TO VISIT WITH MR. VERA, IF YOU WOULD GIVE ME A CALL AND LET ME KNOW.

>> CERTAINLY. >> THANK YOU. >> AND SO AS YOU HAVE HEARD TODAY AND AS YOU HAVE SEEN MY STATEMENT THAT MY OFFICE AND I DO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE PROBLEMS THAT WE HAD. HOWEVER, I THINK IT IS IMPORTANT FOR YOU, AND IT IS ALSO MY RESPONSIBILITY TO TELL YOU EXACTLY SOME OF THE CIRCUMSTANCES THAT WE HAD AS

[05:05:03]

I BELIEVE VERY STRONGLY THAT THE RIGHT TO VOTE IS CORE TO OUR DEMOCRACY.

AND THE VOTING BOOTH SHOULD BE ACCESSIBLE FOR EVERYONE. A COUPLE OF THINGS TO START.

IN TEXAS THE POLITICAL PARTIES RUN THE PRIMARY ELECTIONS. THERE WERE SOME FACTOR THAT'S WERE OUT OF MY CONTROL AND DECIDED BY THE POLITICAL PARTIES.

HOWEVER THERE WERE THINGS WE COULD HAVE DONE BETTER AND WE ARE LOOKING TO IMPROVE.

THE WAIT TIME FEATURED. THE WAIT TIME FEATURE WAS NOT WORKING AT SOME LOCATIONS, BUT IT DID WORK VERY WELL AT THE MAJORITY OF LOCATIONS. THE WAY THIS FEATURE WORKS IS THE ELECTION JUDGE AT EACH LOCATION MUST UPDATE THE WAIT TIME FEATURE EVERY 25 MINUTES ON THE E-POLL BOOK. SOME JUDGES IN HIGH TURNOUT LOCATIONS ARE FAR TOO BUSY TO DO THIS. SO GOING FORWARD WE ARE LOOKING AT A WAY TO HAVE THIS FEATURE AUTOMATICALLY UPDATED SO THE JUDGES DON'T HAVE TO. MEANWHILE WE WILL BE ASKING ELECTION JUDGES TO UH POINT ONE PERSON, ONE CLERK AT EACH LOCATION TO BE IN CHARGE OF UPDATING THE FEATURE. EQUIPMENT ALLOCATION. WE HAD TO USE ALL AVAILABLE EQUIPMENT TO STAFF TWO SEPARATE MINDS AT EACH OF THE 401 SHARED LOCATIONS SINCE WE DID NOT HAVE A JOINT PRIMARY WITH JUST ONE LINE FOR ALL VOTERS.

IT CAN BE VERY DIFFICULT TO PROJECT TURNOUT FOR VOTING CENTERS SINCE PEOPLE CAN VOTE IN ANY LOCATION LIKE DSU THAT HAD LOW EARLY VOTING TURNOUT AND NO HISTORICAL DATA SINCE IT WAS A NEW LOCATION. ADDITIONALLY WE RECEIVE SEVERAL REQUESTS AND VARIED REQUESTS FOR EQUIPMENT ALLOCATION AND NO REQUEST AT ALL FROM THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY. WE FELT IT WAS BEST TO SPLIT THE EQUIPMENT EQUALLY.

WE ACKNOWLEDGE THIS WAS A MISTAKE. GOING FARRED WE WILL BE OVER ALLOCATING EQUIPMENT FOR THE LOCATIONS THAT EXPERIENCED HIGH TURNOUT LAST TUESDAY.

WITH COMMISSIONER COURT UH -- APPROVAL WE WILL BE REQUIRING ADDITIONAL EQUIPMENT FOR THE NOVEMBER ELECTION. NOT ENOUGH POLLING LOCATIONS IN THE DEMOCRATIC AREAS.

THIS WAS THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE PARTIES AND THE MAJORITY OF PRIMARY LOCATIONS LAST TUESDAY WERE IN REPUBLICAN AREAS. THE PARTIES AGREED TO THIS.

THIS ALSO ADDED TO LONG LINES IN THE DEMOCRATIC AREAS WHERE THERE WAS A SHORTAGE OF LOCATIONS. GOING FORWARD I URGE BOTH PARTIES TO WORK TOGETHER TO DETERMINE A FAIR LIST OF RUNOFF LOCATIONS. MY OFFICE IS CURRENTLY PREPARING A LIST OF RECOMMENDED LOCATIONS JUST AS WE DID FOR THE PRIMARY TO PROVIDE THE PARTIES BASED ON THE AREAS THE RUNOFF RACES ARE IN.

ULTIMATELY THIS IS A DECISION THAT THE PARTY MUST COME -- THAT THE PARTIES MUST COME TO TOGETHER. ALSO IN THE PRIMARY VOTING LOCATIONS WERE NOT FINALIZED BY BOTH PARTIES UNTIL A FEW DAYS BEFORE THE ELECTION WE NEED THE RUNOFF LIST OF LOCATIONS FROM BOTH PARTIES AS SOON AS POSSIBLE TO INFORM VOTERS ON OUR WEBSITE.

I WOULD ASK YOUR HELP, COMMISSIONERS WITH THIS. IN NOVEMBER IT WILL BE A DIFFERENT BALLGAME. MY OFFICE WILL BE IN CHARGE OF SELECTING THE POLLING LOCATIONS. THERE WILL BE 750 LOCATIONS WHERE VOTERS WILL BE ABLE TO USE ALL MACHINES, AND THERE WILL BE JUST ONE LINE. STAFFING ISSUES.

THIS WAS ALSO A RESPONSIBILITY OF THE PARTIES. BOTH PARTIES WERE SCRAMBLING TO FILL LAST-MINUTE VACANCIES AT VARIOUS LOCATIONS RIGHT UP TO THE NIGHT BEFORE THE ELECTION. AS A RESULT SOMETIMES ELECTION JUDGES RECEIVE LAST-MINUTE REQUESTS TO FILL VACANCIES, AND MIGHT NOT HAVE BEEN AS FAMILIAR WITH HOW THE EQUIPMENT WORKED. THIS WAS THE CASE IN SEVERAL LOCATIONS WHERE OUR TEXTS WERE SENT OUT TO LOCATIONS THAT HAD CALLED SAYING THEIR MACHINES WERE DOWN WHEN ACTUALLY IT WAS JUST A MATTER OF THE JUDGE NOT UNDERSTANDING WHAT TO DO. AGAIN, WE ASK BOTH PARTIES PROVIDE THEIR LIST OF ELECTION JUDGES AND CLERKS FOR THE RUNOFF TO US AS SOON AS POSSIBLE SO THAT WE CAN GET THE NEEDED TRAINING FOR ALL WORKERS.

HOWEVER, DUE TO THE AGE OF THE EQUIPMENT, THERE WERE MACHINES THAT DID GO DOWN IN SOME LOCATIONS. AND THIS HAS HAPPENED IN EVERY ELECTION FOR THE PAST FEW

[05:10:04]

WE WILL ALSO BE DOING A MORE OUT REACH ON REMINDING PEOPLE TO PRINT OUT THEIR SAMPLE BALLOT AND FILL IT OUT AND BRING IT WITH THEM TO THE POLLING BOOTH BECAUSE BALLOTS IN NOVEMBER AND BALLOTS ARE LONGER WITH THE LOSS OF STRAIGHT TICKET AND THEY WILL REDUCE TIME IN THE VOTING BOOTH. THIS IS WHAT WE WILL BE DOING DIFFERENTLY IN THE NOVEMBER ELECTION. NUMBER TWO PROVIDING 750 ELECTION DAY LOCATIONS BASED ON THE MOST RECENT AND HISTORICAL DATA ON PAST VOTING HISTORY. AND WE WILL PROVIDE OPPORTUNITIES TO HAVE INPUT ABOUT THE VOTE CENTER LOCATIONS. THREE WE WILL BE RIERING -- WE WILL BE REQUIRING EQUIPMENT FOR A THIRD SUPPLY AND WE WILL BE OVER ALLOCATING EQUIPMENT THIS PAST TUESDAY.EASROM COMMISSIONER'S COURT TO FUND A VOTER OUT REACH PROGRAM THROUGH LOCAL NEWSPAPER AND RADIO ADS TO INFORM VOTERS OF ELECTION DAY LOCATIONS AND OTHER ELECTION INFORMATION.

SINCE MY FIRST DAY IN OFFICE I HAVE BEEN COMMITTED TO EXPANDING ACCESS TO THE POLLS. WE HAVE EXPANDED EARLY VOTING HOURS AND ENHANCED JUDGE TRAINING AND ADDED LOCATIONS ON LOCATIONS LIKE U OF H. WE HAVE BEEN IN COMMUNICATION WITH A VARIETY OF GROUPS, ELECTED OFFICIALS AND FAITH GROUPS AND OUR COMMUNITY ADVISORY COMMITTEES. WE HAVE ALREADY MET WITH SEVERAL ELECTED OFFICIALS AND VOTING RIGHT GROUPS LIKE COMMON CAUSE AND HOUSTON IN ACTION TO GET THEIR COMMENTS AND SUGGESTIONS ON LAST TUESDAY. AND WE WILL BESETTING UP MORE COMMUNITY MEETINGS IN THE COMING WEEKS. IT IS GOING TO TAKE ALL OF US WORKING TOGETHER TO IMPROVE ELECTIONS AND I ASK FOR YOUR HELP, COMMISSIONERS, IN WORKING WITH US TO I'M PLAW MINT -- TO IMPLEMENT THESE SOLUTIONS.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH AND DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? >> IT -- THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

APPRECIATE YOU SHARING YOUR THOUGHTS. REGARDING THE ALLOCATION OF MACHINES, AND I KNOW THAT THE BEST INTENT IS TO HAVE THE PARTIES WORK THROUGH THAT, BUT AT WHAT POINT BASED ON WHAT YOU HAVE SEEN DECIDE TO MAKE A COMMAND DECISION?

>> FROM WHAT WE JUST SAW, YES, I WILL MAKE THE DECISION. >> THANK YOU.

>> JUDGE, THANK YOU, DOCTOR TROTMAN. WHEN THE ISSUE OF VOTING CENTERS CAME UP, I CAN RECALL DISCUSSIONS AT THIS TABLE WHERE YOU HAD TO SOME EXTENT AN INTEREST IN TRYING TO REDUCE THE NUMBER OF ELECTION LOCATIONS, AND THE ARGUMENT WAS IT WOULD BE MORE CONVENIENT BECAUSE THEY COULD VOTE ANYWHERE.

I REMEMBER BIPARTISAN SUPPORT PUSHING BACK ON THE NOTION AND REDUCING THE NUMBER OF VOTING LOCATIONS. AND NOW I AM TOLD BY LILY SCHECK -- SCHECTER THAT THEY WERE TOLD IN THE HOLIDAYS HERE IS THE PROPOSED LIST OF VOTING SITES FROM OUR REPUBLICANS AND YOU SAID IF YOU CAN AGREE TO THIS -- YOU CAN AGREE TO THIS OR YOU CAN RUN YOUR OWN

ELECTION. >> WHEN YOU CAME IN AND ASKED US TO VOTE AND TO GIVE YOU

[05:15:10]

, AND THEN WE WOULD USE THE VOTING CENTERS FOR THE MAYORAL RACE AND CITY COUNCIL ELECTIONS AND THEN THE THIRD TIME WE WOULD USE THE VOTING CENTERS FOR THE PRIMARIES.

THE FIRST WEEP -- THE FIRST ONE WE DIED -- WE DECIDE. THE SECOND TIME THE CITY -- THE DECISION WILL BE MADE AND WE HAVE SOME VOICE IN THAT. IF THAT WAS EXPLAINED TO ME, I'M NOT SO SURE I WOULD HAVE VOTED FOR SOME -- IF SOMEBODY SAID NOW YOU HAVE THE OPTION OF GOING TO VOTING CENTERS TWO TIMES AND THIN -- AND THEN GO BACK TO THE VOTING CENTERS.

THERE IS CONFUSION THERE. WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE LIST IN PRECINCTS ONE AND TWO, MY GUESS IS IT WAS NOT A CONTESTED RACE AT THE TOP OF THE BALLOT.

I ASSUME IT WILL BE A HIGHER TURNOUT IN THE DEMOCRATIC BOXES SMED.

JUST A GUESS. A LOT IS DRIVEN BY THE OTHER FACTORS.

WAS THAT EXPLAINED TO US? WAS THAT EXPLAINED THAT THE PARTY WOULD DECIDE INSTEAD OF

US HAVING A VOICE? >> WE DID NOT TALK ABOUT THE PRIMARY.

>> DID YOU KNOW IT? >> I DID NOT AT THE TIME. >> BECAUSE THEN I WAS TOLD

THAT THE LAW WAS CHANGED. >> THAT'S WHAT I WAS JUST GOING TO SAY.

THE LAW YOU PASSED WAS REVISED AND CHANGED. >> I DON'T KNOW IF IT WAS CORRECTED. I AM TOLD IT HAS BEEN THAT WAY FOR SOME TIME.

I THOUGHT MAYBE IT CHANGED DURING THE LAST SESSION. YOU MIGHT CHECK ORB -- OR MAYBE MICHAEL KNOWS. IT HAS BEEN THERE FOR AWHILE AND BOTH PARTIES HAD TO

AGREE. >> I THINK THE POINT IS TOO, WHAT IF WE DIDN'T? WHAT IF WE WENT BACK TO THE OLD WAY OF DOING PRIMARIES AFTER WE HAD DONE FOUR ELECTIONS WITH COUNTY WIDE? PEOPLE WOULD BE SO CONFUSED THEY WOULDN'T KNOW WHAT --

>> SO WHAT I'M SAYING IS, WHEN YOU CAME TO US, RESPECTFULLY, AND ASKED -- YOU WERE TO MAKE A CASE TO THE VOTING CENTERS AND AS I RECALL IT I WAS SUGGESTING TO YOU DON'T USE THE LANGUAGE ABOUT THIS IS A WAY OF SAVING MONEY ON POLLING LOCATIONS BECAUSE SOME PEOPLE JUST WANT TO HAVE THE OPTION OF GOING WHERE THEY HAVE BEEN GOING.

I KNEW THERE WERE ADA ISSUES AND AS YOU KNOW AND I HELP WITH YOU.

IF SOMEBODY IS ACCUSTOMED TO GOING TO THAT LITTLE CHURCH ON THE CORNER OR THAT ELEMENTARY

SCHOOL IT TAKES AWHILE TO GET THEM OFF OF THAT. >> I TOTALLY AGREE.

>> THE POINT IS WHEN THIS WAS BROUGHT TO US I HAD NO EARTHLY IDEA AND I DON'T THINK YOU HAD AN IDEA WHEN IT CAME TO A PRIMARY ELECTION THAT WE WOULD HAVE NO -- THE TWO PARTIES WOULD DISAGREE AND THAT EITHER PARTY -- IF ONE PARTY THOUGHT THE VOTING CENTERS HAD ADVANTAGED ONE MORE THAN THEM THEY DON'T NECESSARILY HAVE AN INCENTIVE TO MAKE IT WORK.

>> RIGHT. IF YOU REMEMBER BACK IN JUNE, JUST THIS LAST JUNE, MY TEAM&-Ú,

[05:21:55]

>> WHAT CAN WE DO? I TALKED TO YOU AND I TALKED TO MICHAEL PRETTY LATE THAT NIGHT. THEY ARE GIVING PEOPLE FOOD AND WATER AND WHETHER THEY WILL VOTE FOR ME OR NOT. WHAT IF HAD RAINED. SO IN NOVEMBER -- I MEAN, YOU GOT TO ALSO -- YOU HAVE FIGURE OUT WHAT YOU DO. I SAW IN THIS LETTER SO PEOPLE

GET SICK. >> ONE THING I THINK -- >> AND GET OUT OF THE ELEMENTS, OBVIOUSLY. IT MAY BE COLD OR WET IN NOVEMBER.

>> I HEARD FROM MANY PEOPLE HELPING OUT AND THE VOTERS THEY TALKED TO WERE IN LINE AND THEY DID NOT HAVE ACCESS TO TECHNOLOGY. THEY COULD NOT GO ONLINE AND PRINTOUT ALL OF THE LOCATIONS OR USE THE WAIT TIME FEATURE. AND SO THAT IS WHY --

>> WAS IT WORKING? SOME PEOPLE TOLD ME IT WAS -- IT SHOWED THAT THERE WAS NOT A

CROWD THERE. >> WHAT I JUST MENTIONED IN MY REMARKS, THAT WAS TSU.

THAT WAS ONE OF THE JUDGES WHO WAS SO OVERWHELMED AND OVER WORKED THAT THEY JUST DIDN'T

EVEN UPDATE IT AT ALL. >> OF COURSE WE KNOW WHAT WE PAY ON THIS.

ALTHOUGH WE GAVE THEM A PAY RAISE, IT IS A LABOR OF LOVE FOR PEOPLE TO DO THAT.

>> THAT'S WHY WE WANT TO TRY TO OUGHT MATE IT AND TAKE IT OFF THE RESPONSIBILITY LIST OF

THE JUDGES IN THAT WAY. >> CAN YOU WORK WITH THE CENTER?

>> WE HAVE ALREADY BEEN WORKING -- >> IF THESE GROUPS COME IN -- LOOK, THEY TAKE THIS SERIOUSLY. THEY DO IT FOR A LONGTIME.

AS YOU KNOW, TEXAS HAS HAD A NOBLE HISTORY AS IT RELATES TO VOTING RIGHTS.

THAT'S NOT ANYTHING REEL LATED TO ONE PARTY, BUT BOTH PARTIES.

THAT'S HISTORICALLY BEEN A PROBLEM. I THOUGHT THEY HAD THOUGHTFUL SUGGESTIONS. WE CAN BUY SOME OF THESE USED MACHINES AND WE HOPE THEY WORK, RIGHT SN YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT BUYING SOME SURPLUS MACHINES TO GET US THROUGH THIS NEXT ELECTION UNTIL WE GO THROUGH THE PROCUREMENT PROCESS TO BUY WHATEVER WE ARE

GN -- GONNA BUY. >> CORRECT. >> YOU SAY IN THE GENERAL.

>> IN THE GENERAL IT IS ME, MY OFFICE. >> IN THE GENERAL CAN YOU ASSURE ME -- I WANT FOR MY PRECINCT DO WE HAVE TO VOTE ON THE LOCATIONS?

>> YOU HAVE TO PROVE THEM. >> I WOULD BE HARD-PRESSED TO VOTE FOR ANYTHING THAT DIDN'T

AT LEAST -- HOW MANY DID WE HAVE IN PRECINCT 1? >> WE WANT TO GO AROUND TO THE COMMUNITIES NOW AND ASK THEM, SO WHAT WOULD YOU HAVE LIKED TO HAVE SEEN OPEN THAT WASN'T? LET'S START IN A 10-MILE RADIUS AND START WITH TSU.

BECAUSE OF THE WAY THINGS WENT AND THE LOCATIONS AND HOW THEY WERE CHOSEN IN THIS LAST ELECTION IT WAS WHAT WE CALL A POLLING DESERT ALL AROUND TSU.

THERE WAS NO PLACE FOR THEM TO GO. >> AND DOCTOR, I WOULD -- I KNOW THE PARTY HAS PAID -- THE REPUBLICAN PARTY PAYS FOR ITS PRIMARY AND THE DEMOCRATS PAY FOR ITS PRIMARY. AS FAR AS I'M KERPED THAT IS A GOVERNMENTAL FUNCTION -- I'M CONCERNED THAT IS A GOVERNMENTAL FUNCTION. I FOR ONE WILL VOTE FOR IT AND PUT IT ON THE TABLE. IT IS AN EMBARRASSMENT WHEN PEOPLE ARE CALLING FROM AROUND

[05:25:05]

GOT THE LION'S SHARE OF IT. >> I THINK WE DID. >> WE WERE THE BIGGEST ONE FOR

SUPER TUESDAY. >> THE TURNOUT WAS HUGE. IT WAS UNPRECEDENTED AND CERTAINLY AT THAT LOCATION. IT WAS DIFFICULT TO PREDICT. THEY PUT TOGETHER THE APPRENTICE CENTER. LAWYERS FOR CIVIL RIGHTS. I HOPE YOU WILL LET THEM IN ON

BOTH SIDES. THE REPUBLICAN SIDE AS WELL. >> SURE.

>> MICHAEL WENT, GREAT, GREAT QUESTIONS, COMMISSIONER. I KNOW THE CENTER VERY WELL.

I HAVE GOTTEN THE E-MAIL FROM THEM. WE WILL WORK WITH THEM, AND WE WILL WALK HAND IN HAPPENED AND KIND OF GO THROUGH SOME OF THE PROCESSES THAT THEY HAVE

SUGGESTED. >> THEY MAY PUT SOME MONEY IN.

IT. >> I DON'T KNOW ABOUT PUTTING MONEY IN IT.

>> AT LEAST FOR THE CONSULTING PART. WHAT WENT WRONG AND WHAT WENT RIGHT. MICHAEL, I CAN SEE WHY YOU WOULD ASSUME THE MACHINES GO

OFF AT MIDNIGHT BECAUSE WHO WOULD BE VOTING THE NEXT DAY? >> THAT'S A SCARY FEATURE.

>> WHEN THEY STOPPED AT MIDNIGHT, THAT WAS IT, BUT PEOPLE WERE VOTING UNTIL,

WHAT, 2:30 AT TSU? >> 1:30 WAS THE LAST. >> SO YOU HAD TO GO THROUGH

SOME PROCESS. >> IT TOOK ABOUT 10 MINUTES TO GET IT BACK UP.

>> ONCE THEY FIGURED OUT WHAT IT WAS. >> WE KNEW WHAT IT WAS BECAUSE IT IS A SECURITY FEATURE BUILT INTO THE SEASON -- INTO THE MACHINE THAT SHUTDOWN.

>> AND THEN YOU HAVE TO FIND LOCATIONS. THE COMMUNITY WON'T NECESSARILY KNOW THAT YOU HAVE TO GET PEOPLE INSIDE AND KEEP THEM SECURE.

IF IT HAD RAINED OR IF IT HAD BEEN COLD, EVEN MORE -- SOME PEOPLE DID, BUT MORE PEOPLE

WOULD -- >> AND THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS THE CENTER WILL SUGGEST

AND WILL HAVE A PLAN FOR AS WELL. >> DOCTOR, THE REPUBLICANS FOR THE PRY -- PRIMARY REQUESTED 2,300 MACHINES AND YOU AND -- IN AN ABUNDANCE OF CAUTION GRANTED 4,000 MACHINES. I THINK THAT WAS GRACIOUS AND GOOD.

I KNOW YOU ARE THE VENDOR AND YOU PROVIDED MORE MACHINES THAN WHAT THEY REQUESTED.

MY QUESTION IS HAVE THE REPUBLICANS AND THE DEMOCRATS MADE A REQUEST FOR MACHINES

FOR THE RUNOFF. LEFT? >> NO.

NOT YET. >> OKAY. IF YOU'RE OUT THERE LISTENING,

PUT YOUR REQUESTS IN. MAKE SURE WE GET THOSE. >> THAT'S WHAT I REALLY

>> AT THE END OF THE DAY YOU WORRY VENDOR.

>> FOR THE VENDORS, THE ALLOCATION, THE STAFFING, THEY ARE HIRING US.

>> NUMBER TWO, DO WE HAVE A DATE FOR THIS FRIDAY FOR CANVASSING, DO YOU HAVE A DATE FOR CANVASSING FOR THE RUNOFF? WE NEED TO BE CAREFUL BECAUSE OF SCHEDULING THAT OCCURS IN THE FUTURE AND I WOULD LIKE FOR YOU TO START THINKING AND THE LEAD TIME.

>> THE CANVAS FOR THIS ONE YOU DON'T DO. THE PARTIES DO THAT.

>> WE DON'T HAVE TO VOTE ON THE PRIMARY. 14 DAYS OFF TRYING TO FIGURE THAT OUT BUT IN NOVEMBER WE HAVE TO HAVE A CANVAS. WE CAN FIND A DATE FOR YOU.

>> AS SOON AS YOU CAN. THE COMMISSIONER LIKES TO GO DEER HUNTING AND WHATNOT.

OH HE DOESN'T. I'M SORRY. WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE WE DON'T HAVE A CONFLICT WITH REGARDS TO THOSE DATES SO GET THAT TO US AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.

WHEN DID YOU HAVE THE FIRST CLUE BECAUSE I KNOW YOU DIDN'T ON THE 25TH WHEN WE WERE HERE BECAUSE I ASKED THE QUESTIONS AND EVERYTHING SEEMED TO BE GOOD.

WHEN DID YOU FIRST GET A CLUE THAT TSU WAS GOING TO BE A PROBLEM?

>> PROBABLY MORNING TO MIDDAY ON TUESDAY ELECTION DAY. EARLY VOTING NUMBERS WERE EXTREMELY LOW THE FIRST WEEK OF AVERAGE OF 25 A DAY OVERALL AVERAGE OF ADD A DAY FOR ALL 11

DAYS. >> I DON'T SPEAK FOR EITHER THE DEMOCRAT OR THE REPUBLICAN PARTY BUT I REPRESENT BOTH PARTIES AND IF WE GET TO THIS

[05:30:09]

WAS HEAVILY REPUBLICAN. >> THEY WOULD HAVE TO AGREE TO

PROGRAM ALL MACHINES WITH ALL BALLOTS >> DID YOU BRING SOME NEW

MACHINES IN? >> WE DID FOR THE DEMOCRATIC

SIDE. >> IF THE REPUBLICANS WERE JOHN, HOW IS IT THE BARBARA BUSH LIBRARY ON ELECTION DAY. [INDISCERNIBLE]

>>. [INDISCERNIBLE] >> WHEN IT IS PROGRAMMED YOU

CAN'T REPROGRAM IT? >> I THINK WHAT YOU ARE SAYING NEXT TIME AROUND IF WE CAN'T GET A JOINT PRIMARY WHICH WILL BE PREFERABLE IF WE CANNOT DO THAT AT LEAST AGREE THAT ALL MACHINES WILL BE PROGRAMMED WITH ALL BALLOTS SO IF THEY ARE NOT BEING USED AFTER ONE PARTY LEAVES OR THE OTHER, THEY CAN USE THOSE MACHINES.

SOON WITHOUT THE FRUSTRATION FOR A NUMBER OF FOLKS. ONE PARTY WAS DONE AND ANOHER PARTY HAD A LINE AND I DID NOT UNDERSTAND WAS FLIP THAT MACHINE OVER TO THE OTHER SIDE.

IS THERE SOME WAY WE CAN DO THAT? I WILL NOT BE OPPOSED TO ASKING A PARTY TO REQUIRE THE DEMOCRATS GO TO A REPUBLICAN PRECINCT TO HAVE THE JOINT PRIMARY, I CAN SEE DEMOCRATS WANTING TO HAVE THEIR OWN PRIMARY AND REPUBLICANS WANTING TO HAVE THEIR OWN PRIMARY AND THEY MAY CHANGE THEIR MIND BECAUSE YOU ARE MAKING A STRONG ARGUMENT THAT THEY NEED TO COME TOGETHER AND HOLD HANDS AND SING KUMBAYA BUT I CAN SEE HOW IN SOME PLACES THERE IS A LITTLE TRUST FACTOR THEY ARE OF DO I REALLY WANT THOSE

REPUBLICANS RUNNING MY PRIMARY FOR ME AND >> AND MAY BE THE OTHER WAY IN

SOME PLACES. >> YOU BRING UP A VERY GOOD POINT BUT WE MADE THAT RECOMMENDATION AND ONE OF THE PARTIES, ESPECIALLY SAID I DID NOT WANT TO PROGRAM THAT PARTICULAR BALLOT ON MY MACHINE SO THEY PUT IT IN THE CONTRACT.

UR HANDS ARE TIED ON THAT ONE. SUE MIKE THESE ARE THINGS WE

CAN CONTINUE TO TALK ON. >> WE NEED TO START TALKING BEFORE 2022 GETS HERE. I WILL SAY THIS IT'S INTERESTING THAT SEVERAL COUNTIES USE THE JOINT PRIMARIES NOT DEMOCRATIC OR REPUBLICAN MONTGOMERY COUNTY USES A JOINT PRIMARY. TRAVIS COUNTY HAS LONG USED ONE.

IT REDUCES LINES. >> ON DAY ONE YOU HAVE BEEN A BIG ADVOCATE TRYING TO PUSH THAT YOU HAVE BEEN A GREAT SALESPERSON BUT I'M NOT THE ONE YOU HAVE TO PERSUADE. YOU HAVE TO PERSUADE A COUPLE OF PARTIES.

>> AND YOU WILL BE ABLE TO PERSUADE THEM UNTIL TRUST RESUMES.

>> I UNDERSTAND. >> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE UPDATE. LET ME ASK I HAVE SOME QUESTIONS FOR YOU GUYS.

THE FIRST QUESTION IS JUST CONFIRMING IF THE PARTIES DON'T AGREE TO ALL OF THE LOCATIONS THAT WE CAN'T HAVE COUNTYWIDE VOTING. IS THAT HOW IT WORKS?

>> THAT'S CORRECT. >> SO RIGHT NOW WE HAVE 400 PHYSICAL LOCATIONS TECHNICALLY 800 LOCATIONS ON MARCH 8 400 REPUBLICAN 400 DEMOCRATIC.

COULD WE HAVE HAD 800 AND ALL DIFFERENT PLACES AND ALLOWED PEOPLE TO VOTE WHERE THEY

WANTED? >> YOU WOULD HAVE GONE BACK TO THE OLD WAY AND THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN CHAOS.

>> THEY STILL WOULD HAVE BEEN ABLE TO VOTE AT ANY PRECINCT.

>> SO IF THERE WAS NOT AGREEMENT, SORRY, JUDGE, IT ESSENTIALLY WOULD HAVE GONE BACK TO THE OLD WAY MANY OF THE REPUBLICAN PARTY WOULD DECIDE ON THEIR LOCATIONS BUT THEY WOULD HAVE TO VOTE AT THE PRECINCT IN WHICH THEY WERE REGISTERED SO WE WOULD HAVE HAD TO GO BACK TO THE ONLY REGISTERED PRECINCT IN THIS CASE AFTER A YEAR OF COUNTYWIDE

[05:35:01]

>> SO I HAVE TO ADMIT WHEN WE HAD THE DISCUSSION TWO WEEKS AGO I GUESS AND THE PARTY CHAIR REPRESENTS EACH PARTY AND WE SAW THAT AS THE FIRST TIME I HAD SEEN THAT WARNING OR SOMETHING THE FIRST TIME I HAD SEEN THE LIST OF VOTING LOCATIONS BY COMMISSIONER PRECINCT, THE EVENING BEFORE WHEN WE WERE ON A PHONE CALL ABOUT THIS AND I SAW THE DISCREPANCY, OBVIOUSLY I KNEW THE ELECTION WAS WITHIN A WEEK THERE WAS NOTHING WE WERE GOING TO DO WITH THAT POINT BUT HAD I KNOWN THAT THERE WAS THIS KIND OF THING I THINK WE ALL KIND OF FIGURED THERE WAS GOING TO BE A LOT OF DEMOCRATS VOTING IN PRECINCT 1 BECAUSE THAT PRECINCT HAS BEEN GERRYMANDERED THAT WAY AND WE KNEW THEY HAD A FRACTION OF THE LOCATIONS IN THE OTHER PRECINCT SO WHAT THAT TELLS ME IS, AND I THINK ÃWAS GETTING AT THIS A LITTLE BIT.

I DON'T KNOW WHAT I DON'T KNOW AND THAT'S A PROBLEM. WE HAVE BEEN NOTHING BUT SUPPORTIVE. I WILL SPEAK FOR MYSELF I HAVE BEEN NOTHING BUT SUPPORTIVE OF YOUR EFFORT TO EXPAND ÃI THINK IT IS $12 MILLION IN THIS YEAR'S BUDGET FOR YOUR GUYS.

WE SUPPORTED, THE VOTE CENTERS WAS THE VERY FIRST COMMISSIONERS ÃWE HAD.

WE SUPPORTED THAT BUT AT SOME POINT IF IT IS SOMETHING AS A GRAVE AS THIS WHERE WE HAVE A SIX HOUR ALINA SOMEONE VOTING AT 1:30 AM WE CANNOT JUST KEEP GOING AND THEN SUDDENLY A NEW RULE I DID NOT REALIZE THE PARTIES HAD TO AGREE AND NO ONE TOLD ME THE PARTY LIST RIGHT NOW IS FUNCTIONALLY DISCRIMINATING AGAINST FOLKS IN CERTAIN PRECINCTS.

>> THERE WAS AN ASSUMPTION THAT WE WOULD FIND AGREEMENT AND DO A JOINT PRIMARY.

>> LET ME FINISH BECAUSE I KNOW EVERYONE IS WORKING HARD ON THIS BUT THE ASSESSMENT, THE GOAL WAS TO HAVE VOTE CENTERS PAND WE AGREED ON THAT A YEAR AGO.

NOW, IT WOULD HAVE BEEN IMPORTANT FOR ME TO NOW, JUDGE, HEAD'S UP, WE ARE HAVING THESE DISCUSSIONS AND AS THEY ARE GOING THROUGH AND THERE IS STILL TIME FOR THE DISCUSSIONS TO CONTINUE IT LOOKS LIKE THE PARTIES WILL END UP WHERE THERE'S BARELY ANY LOCATIONS IN PRECINCT 1 AND WE COULD HAVE SAID OKAY MAYBE WE GIVE THEM A LOT MORE MACHINES AND THEN YOU CAN FIGURE IT OUT BUT WHEN YOU REPRESENT ULTIMATELY WE APPROVE YOUR BUDGET WE ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS IN SOME SENSE AS WELL AND YOU ARE ASKING FOR FUNDS FOR ADS AND MORE MACHINES AND I REMEMBER SAYING HEY, HOW MANY MACHINES DO YOU NEED? YOU ARE NOT GOING TO BE A TIME FOR NEW VOTING MACHINES SO GET AS MANY MORE MACHINES AS YOU NEED AND IT SEEMS TO BE A DEEP

à >> WE BOUGHT EXTRA ALREADY.

>> WHAT I AM SAYING AND PERHAPS MY COLLEAGUES WILL HELP ME WITH THIS WHAT A GOOD PATH FORWARD MIGHT BE, BUT WE NEED A WAY TO SET UP MORE ACCOUNTABILITY AND A CLEAR UNDERSTANDING OF WHERE YOU ARE HEADED AND WHAT OBSTACLES YOU ARE FACING SO WE ARE NOT BLINDSIDED LIKE THIS AND THAT'S NOT TO INSINUATE ANYBODY DOESN'T HAVE THE BEST INTEREST IN THE BEST INTEREST OF ACCESS BUT IS PROBLEMATIC. I DID SOME WORK FOR THE BRITAIN CENTER AND THEY ARE ACCUSING US OF NOT ALLOWING ACCESS TO THE VOTE FOR THIS TO BE ON MY DESK IS A REAL PROBLEM FOR ME.

AND SO IF THAT MEANS WE WORK ACROSS THE OFFICES TO FIGURE OUT A RANGE OF QUESTIONS WE NEED UPDATES ON FOR US TO COMMIT THESE ADDITIONAL FUNDS OR IF THEY WANT TO SEND A PERSON OR SOME OTHER EXPERT GROUP WANTS TO SEND A PERSON WHO CAN HELP US UNDERSTAND THESE ISSUES AND GET A BETTER SENSE OF WHAT QUESTIONS WE SHOULD BE ASKING BECAUSE I COULD NOT HAVE KNOWN TO ASK YOU THE QUESTION, HOW MANY LOCATIONS ARE THERE PER PRECINCT, NOT IN A MILLION YEARS WOULD I THOUGHT THAT WAS GOING TO BE AN ISSUE AND THAT WAS AN ENORMOUS ISSUE SO I DON'T KNOW, COLLEAGUES.

>> SO WHAT I AM THINKING IS, THAT WAS NOT DIRECTED AT YOU BUT ALL OF US REPRESENT PEOPLE.

[05:40:01]

THEY GOT THIS GREAT THING. SOUNDS NICE BUT IT'S LIKE WE WERE IN SUCH A RUSH TO TRY THIS SHINY NEW THING WHICH CONCEPTUALLY SOUNDS WONDERFUL BUT IT'S MAKING ME WONDER IF IT'S WORTH IT. ASSUME IT CAN I JUST SAY SOMETHING?

>> ONE SECOND. TO DO THIS SHINY NEW THING IF IN THE PROCESS WE END UP WITH THIS WORK IN THE LAW THAT I THINK HAS BEEN THERE FOR SOME TIME AND THE PARTIES HAVE TO AGREE AND SOMETIMES THEY LOOK OUT FOR THEIR INTEREST AND I'M NOT CRITICIZING THEM FOR IT.

WE ARE TIPTOEING AROUND WHICH PARTY WANTED TO HAVE A JOINT PRIMARY.

>> I DON'T THINK ANYBODY MINDS. >> THE REPUBLICANS DIDN'T WANT

TO. >> CAN I SAY SOMETHING FIRST? IT WAS A VERY SAD NIGHT FOR MANY VOTERS THINK OF ALL OF THOSE.

HOW MANY LET'S SAY HOW MANY, 1200 TOTALLY VOTED FOR THE DAY LET'S SAY I DON'T NOW 400 MAY BE AFTER THE SIX OR SEVEN HOUR, 500 OR 600. THOSE VOTERS ALL OF THOSE VOTERS THAT DAY WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN ABLE TO VOTE HAD WE NOT HAD COUNTYWIDE.

THEY WERE ABLE TO GO WHERE THEY WANTED TO GO EVEN THOUGH IT MEANT WAITING ON THAT LINE.

WITHOUT COUNTYWIDE THOSE VOTES WOULD NOT HAVE HAPPENED.

>> YOU ARE ASSUMING THAT. I AM PLAYING DEVIL'S ADVOCATE. WE HAVE HAD PROBLEMS IN THE PAST WHEN THERE WAS A RECORD TURNOUT. I GET THAT BUT I DON'T RECALL IF SOMEBODY IS ON LINE 6 AND A HALF HOURS OR EVEN IN THE OBAMA Ã

>> WE NEVER HAD A PRIMARY WITH COUNTYWIDE VOTING.

>> WE WERE IN A RUSH TO GO DO THIS.E DID NOT KNOW WHAT WE DID NOW.

AND PART OF WHAT I THINK WE OUGHT TO HAVE THIS WE TAKE A STEP BACK IF IT'S THE LAWYERS COMMITTEE, THERE OUGHT TO BE SOME INDEPENDENT GROUP TO COME IN HERE AND WE ARE HOPING IN THE RUNOFFS THEY HAVE THIS KIND OF TURNOUT EVEN WHEN WE CONTROL THE NUMBER WE DON'T KNOW WHAT NO STRENGTH TICKET VOTING MEANS. IN A BIG STATE LIKE TEXAS IT WOULD BE THE KIND OF EMBARRASSMENT YOU HAD IN FLORIDA WITH CHAD'S, DIMPLES, BUTTERFLY. THAT COULD BE EMBARRASSING FOR US AND IMPACT THE CREDIBILITY OF OUR DEMOCRACY SO I AM THINKING SOME WAY AS IS DONE JUST US AND THAT'S WHY I JUST ASSUME THAT ALL CHANGE THIS PAST SESSION.

>> >> IS NOT JUST MEETING WITH THEM MAKING SURE WE DON'T WANT TO BE IN A POSITION WHERE SOME OF MY FRIENDS MY DAD IS STILL ALIVE.

HE VOTES IN EVERY RACE UNTIL HIS MIND WAS GONE. IT WOULDN'T GO TO ÃABOUT BUT I GET THAT IT'S PERSONAL FOR ME. SOMETHING MORE THAN OUR GOOD INTENTIONS WE ARE RUSHING TO TRY OUT SOMETHING THAT'S NEW. WE GET THE CONVENIENCE AND PEOPLE WANT TO VOTE WHEN THEY WANT TO VOTE. SOME STATES LET YOU GO VOTE A SECOND TIME SO IF YOU WAIT UNTIL SOMETHING CHANGES IS THE LAST OPTION AND IS THE VOTE THAT COUNTS BUT I THINK WE OUGHT TO HAVE SOMEBODY INDEPENDENT LOOK AT WHAT WE DID RIGHT AND WHAT WE DID WRONG AND WE MIGHT NOT AGREE WITH THOSE RECOMMENDATIONS BUT I DON'T THINK THE LAW KEEPS US FROM SPENDING SOME OF OUR MONEY TO HELP GET A PRIMARY RIGHT AND THEY PAY FOR IT WITH FILING

[05:45:03]

NEXT PRIMARY >> WE HAVE A RUNOFF NOW THERE WILL BE CHALLENGES EVEN WHEN WE

CONTROL IT WE HAVE TWO ROUNDS WITH THE VOTING CENTERS >> WE HAD TO WHERE THERE HAVE BEEN PROBLEMS ONE WE ARE FINDING OUT CONSIDERABLY LATER AND IN TERMS OF THIS LAST ISSUE IN TERMS OF THESE LONG LINES AND I THINK THAT THIRD ONE IS SOME POINT OUR VOTING CENTER IS WORTH IT. IF YOU HAVE ALL OF THESE UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES THAT COME UP. THE THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE WHO WERE DISENFRANCHISED BEFORE

VOTING CENTERS >> THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE HAVE BEEN DISENFRANCHISED WITH REGARD TO THEIR RIGHT TO VOTE. HOW WELL I KNOW.

>> COMMISSIONER GARCIA. >> DOCTOR TROUTMAN IN THE 2016 ELECTION. [INDISCERNIBLE] THERE WAS, I'M TRYING TO REMEMBER WHAT THE DETAILS WERE AND THEY LOADED UP WITH THE RIGHT BALLOTS AND REMEMBER THAT BOTH CONGRESSMAN.

[INDISCERNIBLE] CALLED FOR AN INVESTIGATION. I DON'T RECALL ÃIF AN INVESTIGATION WAS ÃAND WITH THE RESULTS OF THAT INVESTIGATION VIA JUST SAYING THERE'S A LITTLE BIT OF THAT IN THIS CONVERSATION I WOULD SUGGEST THAT VISIT WITH ÃTO FIND OUT WHAT WAS LEARNED AND MAYBE WE COULD DO THAT.

>> I AM HAPPY TO VISIT WITH CONGRESSMAN GREENE.

>> WHAT WE HAVE GOING ON PEOPLE BEING TRAINED AT THE 52 VOTING CENTERS AND THEY DID NOT REALIZE THAT THEY COULD ÃIN THE PRECINCTS AND THAT'S WHY WE WERE HAVING SO MANY PEOPLE SHOWING UP SO MANY VOTING CENTERS AND YOU HAD A LOT OF PEOPLE SHOWING UP AND SOME PEOPLE THOUGHT THAT WAS THE ONLY PLACE THEY COULD VOTE. I THINK IT'S BASICALLY TAKING AWAY FROM PEOPLE NEAR THEIR OWN SUBDIVISION OR WHATEVER SO THEY ARE DRIVING TO A VOTING CENTER HOW THIS IS A REASON WHY YOU HAD SUCH A HUGE LINE.

>> I THINK THAT'S WHAT I SAID BEFORE. THE PEOPLE WHO WERE IN MIND DID NOT HAVE ACCESS TO TECHNOLOGY TO SEE OUR WEBSITE TO LOOK AT THE LOCATION SO THAT'S WHAT WE WANT TO DO LOCAL NEWSPAPER ADS, RADIO. THESE ARE THINGS THAT WERE SUGGESTED TO US THAT MANY OF THE VOTERS DID NOT HAVE ACCESS TO WEBSITES THAT WE NEED TO DO A BETTER JOB AND YOU HAVE A LOCATION THAT'S RIGHT DOWN THE STREET FROM YOU ON ELECTION

DAY. >> I MAY BE WRONG BUT I DON'T THINK WE USED TO PUBLISH ALL THE VOTING PLACES.

>> THEY DO IN A GENERAL BUT IN A PRIMARY THUS THE PARTY'S RESPONSIBILITY.

>> I AM SAYING A WHOLE LOT OF PEOPLE COULD HAVE GONE AND VOTED NEAR THEIR HOUSE VERY QUICKLY AND I THINK SOME OF WHICH HARDLY GET ANYONE TO VOTE THEIR AND THE QUESTION WHY WE

COULD FIND BETTER PLACES. >> THAT'S WHY WE WILL BE MEETING WITH THE COMMUNITY AND CHURCH GROUPS WERE VERY INSTRUMENTAL IN HELPING OUT THEY USE THE CHURCH BUSES TO MOVE VOTERS BACK AND FORTH WE ASSUME BECAUSE WE ALL HAVE TECHNOLOGY THAT EVERYONE KNOWS THAT. AND THERE ARE THOSE WHO DON'T

[05:50:08]

>> SO JUDGE. SUE MIKE YES COMMISSIONER ELLIS?

>> I WOULD LIKE TO SUGGEST IN THE FORM OF A MOTION, IS THAT WE FORM A WORKING GROUP SOME OF OUR STAFF AND DOCTOR TROUTMAN'S OFFICE AND ANY OTHER COUNTY ENTITIES TO COME BACK WITH A RECOMMENDATION AND ON GETTING SOMEONE TO COME AND VISIT WITH US TO DEVELOP A PLAN AND WE OUGHT TO JUST GUESS WE HAVE TWO TYPES OF VOTING CENTERS SOMETHING THIS BIG.

BUT I THINK THIS WORKING GROUP SHOULD VISIT SOME FOLKS I KNOW WILL CERTAINLY PLAY A ROLE AND AT SOME POINT WE WERE NOT GOING TO LOOK AT THIS IN A VACUUM OF HARRIS COUNTY TEXAS PEOPLE HERE HAVE A ÃWHO SEE PROBLEMS AROUND THE COUNTRY NORTH CAROLINA APPELLATION.

AND PEOPLE HAVE BEEN DISENFRANCHISED OVER THE YEARS AND BASED ON BOTH PARTIES AND DEMOCRATS AND REPUBLICANS GOING BACK AND FORTH DISENFRANCHISING PEOPLE OF COLOR.

AFRICAN-AMERICANS THEY WERE A VISUAL AT FIRST BUT WOMEN, GIVING WOMEN THE RIGHT TO VOTE AND PLAYING THE ROLE OF THAT AND THIS WOULD BE A PROPOSAL IN THE FORM OF A MOTION.

COME BACK WITH SOMETHING. I HOPE IT'S NOT AS BAD IN THE RUNOFFS.

>> I'M TRYING TO JOT DOWN. >> WE CAN COME BACK WITH A RECOMMENDATION IN TWO WEEKS. I AM JUST WORRIED ABOUT WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN.

>> THE DATABASE WAY TO ADDRESSED MACHINE ALLOCATION THAT INCLUDES OUTSIDE

STAKEHOLDER HEALTH. >> I DON'T KNOW IF YOU READ THESE FIVE POINTS WE CHATTED WITH WELL THOUGHT-OUT. AND WE TALK ABOUT PERFORMING UNNECESSARY ÃPROPER TRAINING AND ENSURING EQUITABLE SOCIETY AND VOTE CENTERS AND I ASSUME THEY WERE DOING THIS ON THE FLY PRETTY QUICKLY. DON'T KNOW WHAT IT WOULD BE IF IT WOULD BE RECOMMENDING SOMETHING SEE ALL OF MY STAFF COLLECTIVELY WORKING I AM NOT SURE WHAT THEY WOULD BE AND THESE FOLKS AND OTHERS AND SEE IF WE CAN COME UP WITH SOME CONSENSUS AT LEAST THE CONSENSUS OUGHT TO BE TO GET SOMEONE TO COME IN HERE AND GIVE US ADVICE.

>> IT'S EXACTLY RIGHT. I AM HAPPY TO TAKE ADVICE BUT >> AT THE END OF THE DAY, I JUST WANT TO STATE I APPRECIATE ALL OF YOUR ADVICE BUT WE HAVE TO DO WHAT'S BEST FOR HARRIS COUNTY ELECTIONS AND I NEED ALL THE ADVICE I CAN GET. I AM GLAD TO HAVE THAT.

SOMETIMES YOU CAN GET TOO MANY PEOPLE IN THE MIX AND YOU ARE NOT GOING TO GET A LOT ACCOMPLISHED. I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO BRING IN THE DASH CENTER.

WE HAVE BEEN DEALING WITH THEM SINCE I TOOK OFFICE. I THINK THAT WOULD BE A GOOD PLACE TO START BUT WE NEED A DEFINITE MISSION OR DIRECTION AFTER WHAT IT IS THEY WANT TO

COME IN AND DO. >> I AM TELLING YOU FROM MY STANDPOINT IF THIS HAD BEEN EXPLAINED TO ME WHEN THIS FIRST CAME UP AND WHEN THE PRIMARY

[05:55:02]

>> MORE THAT WE HAVE EVER HAD BEFORE >> DOCTOR TROUTMAN IN THE PRIMARY AND IF I HAD KNOWN THAT IF SOMEONE HAD SAID IF SOMEONE HAD SAID IT TO THE PRECINCT CHAIRS AND YOU CAN'T OPEN YOUR PRECINCT I THINK BOTH OF THESE AND OURS

>> I WAS AWARE THAT IT COULD BE MANIPULATED LIKE THAT I THOUGHT YOU HAD TO HAVE A JOINT PRIMARY. VOTING CENTERS.

>> HERE IS MY MOTION. >> OKAY.

WORKING WITH MEMBERS OF COURT TO GET THE SYSTEMATIC EVIDENCE-BASED WAY TO INCLUDE OUTSIDE EXPERTS TO ADDRESS WAIT TIMES AND ACCESS CHALLENGES.

>> ALL IN FAVOR? >> AYE.

>> OPPOSED? THE MOTON CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.

>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. SUE MIGHT BEFORE WE LET YOU GO, 2 ITEMS ONE OF WHICH IS IF YOU WOULDN'T MIND FOR WHATEVER REASON THE BRENNAN CENTER DID NOT REACH OUT TO THE PRECINCT

BEFORE. >> I GUESS THEY DON'T KNOW YOU

LIKE I KNOW YOU. >> THANK YOU JUDGE A NUMBER TWO, PART OF OUR STUDY, SOME OF THE ISSUES WITH IT BEING DARK AND LATE AT NIGHT THERE WERE SOME SECURITY ISSUES AND LET'S ALSO TALK ABOUT PUTTING IN THE BUDGET SOME SECURITY SO EVERYONE FEELS COMFORTABLE AND SAFE AND WHILE WE ARE DOING OUR STUDY.

>> IS THIS A DIFFERENT ONE? >> THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH.

WE APPRECIATE IT. SO BEFORE WE MOVE ON THERE'S AN APPOINTMENT ON PAGE 21 OF THE AGENDA. SUPPLEMENTAL AGENDA. ITEM 5 TO APPOINT TRACY MOORE TO THE AFRICAN-AMERICAN CULTURAL HERITAGE COMMISSION. SHE HAS BEEN HERE ALL DAY.

>> SECOND. >> ALL IN FAVOR?

>> AYE. >> OPPOSED?

>> MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY. >> 15 PAGES.

>> DO YOU WANT TO SAY A FEW WORDS?

>> I AM TRACY MOORE I LIVE IN PRECINCT 3. I AM A PROFESSOR AT.

[INDISCERNIBLE] UNIVERSITY IN RJ MY RESEARCH INCLUDES ART AND HISTORY AND CULTURE AND THANK YOU FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY TO SERVE THE PEOPLE HERE.

>> THANK YOU. >> LET'S GO TO THE TOP OF THE

[Item I (Part 2 of 2)]

AGENDA THEM. >> THANK YOU.

>> JUDGE I HAVE SOME ITEMS ON PAGE 4. FIRST I WANT TO POINT OUT ON ITEM M. WE ARE GETTING $100,000 FROM CENTERPOINT ENERGY RENEWING EFFICIENCY IMPROVEMENTS ON THE PARKING GARAGE ITEM LEVEL. WE ARE PUBLISHING AN RFQ FOR A CONSULTANT TO CONDUCT AN EQUITY TRANSPORTATION STUDY. THIS IS TWOFOLD AND. [INDISCERNIBLE] IT WILL BE A COUNTYWIDE STUDY THE CITY OF HOUSTON AND HARRIS COUNTY.

>> >>. [INDISCERNIBLE] EXPENDITURE.

WE HAVE TRANSMITTED OUR GREEN VEHICLE PILOT STUDY AND OVER THE LAST YEAR WE INCREASED OUR MILEAGE BY 25 PERCENT MOST ARE EXPECTED TO DO WE HAVE DONE A BIG MOVE IN VEHICLES AND THERE WILL BE A SECOND PHASE LATER ON AND THE LAST ITEM IS TRANSMITTING THE TEXAS

[06:00:02]

ONGOING ON THE CLOSEST ENTITY >> WHAT ABOUT OTHER COUNTIES?

>> CONGRATULATIONS. >> IS THIS WILL REDO THE SNAP

THING? >> ALL RIGHT.

THAT'S WONDERFUL. ITEM A1 ON PAGE 4. NO ACTION BE TAKEN.

A ONE ON PAGE 4. ANYTHING ELSE ON FLOOD CONTROL? TOLL ROAD.

BUDGET MANAGEMENT >> TOLL ROAD.

>> ONE ITEM. >> I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT IF I WAS ON THE CALL WITH. [INDISCERNIBLE] AND MAKE SURE THEY UNDERSTOOD THIS ITEM FOR WHAT IT IS AND THE COMPLETION OF A. [INDISCERNIBLE] PEER REVIEW OF.

[INDISCERNIBLE] HELPING TO BUILD THE BRIDGE AND THERE ARE 21 FINDINGS RELATED TO THIS WE ARE CLOSING THE BOOKS ON THE REVIEW AND WE WILL START A SUBSEQUENT PROCESS AND IF YOU CAN COME FORWARD. [INDISCERNIBLE] BUT THANKS FOR THEIR WORK ON THIS.

AND NO ONE ELSE CAME TO ME AND TOLD ME THAT THE FIRM THAT WE HAVE ON THE CONTRACT THE DESIGN WORK ÃIN FLORIDA AND I WANTED TO MAKE SURE WE WERE DOING THINGS RIGHT, BUILDING A BRIDGE,MAKING SURE IT WAS SAFE AND ÃWE HOPE TO DO THAT REVIEW HAVE I GUESS IT'S GOOD THAT WE KNOW NOW AND JUST OUT OF CURIOSITY WE HAVE FOUND THESE ISSUES.

[INDISCERNIBLE] OUTSIDE FIRM? >> JUDGE AND COMMISSIONERS.

[INDISCERNIBLE] TOTAL RIGHT SYSTEM THE ANSWER TO YOUR QUESTION COMMISSIONER, PROBABLY NOT AN INDEPENDENT REVIEW THE COUNTY ENGINEER HAD A FANTASTIC REPUTATION NOW IT HAS BEEN FOUND BY OSHA AND THEY HAVE LOOKED AT IT AND THEY HAVE ALL ISSUED REPORTS OR LETTERS STATING THAT THAT ENGINEER BEAR SOME RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE COLLAPSE OF THE BRIDGE IN MIAMI THAT KILLED SIX PEOPLE AND INJURED MANY MORE. IT WAS THE RIGHT THING FOR THE COUNTY TO UNDERTAKE THE PROJECTS OF THAT CLINICAL NATURE DEMAND THE UTMOST IN SAFETY AND I HAVE NOW BEEN AT THE COUNTY A LONG TIME I HAVE NEVER SEEN THE COUNTY BE CALLOUS OR CAVALIER TOWARDS PROJECTS. SAFETY IS ALWAYS IN PEOPLE MINDS BUT THIS PROJECT IS UNIQUE AND WHERE IT SITS IN THE DOLLAR VALUES ASSOCIATED WITH IT SO THIS WAS APPROPRIATE TO DO THIS IN THE REPORT I KNOW BECAUSE I HAVE HEARD OF THE LAST COUPLE DAYS SOME CRITICISM BUT SOMETIMES INDEPENDENT REVIEWS RUFFLE SOME FEATHERS BUT IT WAS THE RIGHT THING BUT NOW WE HAVE TO FOCUS ON THAT NEXT STEP AND THAT NEXT STEP IS AS YOU STATED ALLOWING AN INDEPENDENT ENGINEER WHO HAS REMAINED INDEPENDENT TO WORK

TOGETHER TO START RESOLVING THE ISSUES >> AND JUST FOR THE RECORD THE PROJECT IS CONTINUING WITH THE EXCEPTION OF IT DID AGREE THERE WERE SOME PROBLEMS WITH THE

[06:05:11]

PYLON. >> AND I KNOW WE ARE ACCEPTING THE EXECUTIVE SUMMARY AND WHAT WAS THE CONCERN OF THE FULL REPORT?

>> IS JUST THAT THE EXECUTIVE SUMMARY AT THIS POINT WE FEEL IT CAN BE MADE PUBLIC UNTIL WE HAVE TIME TO REVIEW THE REST OF IT BECAUSE THERE IS A STATE LAW THAT PROHIBITS DISCLOSING TECHNICAL DETAILS AND CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE AND I NEED TO CLARIFY Ã

>> AND WHAT ACTIONS DO YOU NEED TODAY. [INDISCERNIBLE]

>> I DON'T KNOW BUT I THINK BECAUSE THE INDEPENDENT ENGINEER AND THE DESIGN TEAM NOW BEGIN WORKING TOGETHER HOPEFULLY TOMORROW MORNING AND HOPEFULLY AT LEAST IN THE EARLY WEEKS IN THE FIRST COUPLE OF WEEKS THEY DON'T HAVE A LOT OF OTHER OPINIONS COMING IN FROM THE OUTSIDE. THEY NEED TO SIT DOWN AND WORK TOGETHER.

IT'S OUR JOB AND JOHN THIS YEAR AS WELL. IT'S OUR JOB TO ÃIF THERE IS SOMETHING ELSE WE HAVE YET TO IDENTIFY THAT WE NEED TO MAKE THIS PROJECT GO FORWARD THE

RIGHT WAY. >> I AM LOOKING FORWARD TO STAYING ON TOP OF THIS AND AS I REITERATED TIME AND TIME AGAIN. THIS IS A UNIQUE STRUCTURE FOR OUR REGION AND ESPECIALLY GIVEN THE LENGTH OF IT AND I DON'T THINK I WOULD BE WILLING TO TURN ANY STONES OVER TO DO ANY POSSIBLE THINGS THAT ARE SAFE AND.

[INDISCERNIBLE] WHERE THINGS ARE AT AND GO FROM WHERE WE GO. AND THIS WILL BE A DIFFICULT PROCESS GOING FORWARD BECAUSE NOW YOU HAVE TWO EXPERTS DEBATING THESE DETAILS AND WHO WILL ULTIMATELY BE THE FINAL ARBITRATOR?

>> TECHNICALLY I THINK THAT IS OUR RESPONSIBILITY. THE COUNTY DESIGN TEAM TO BRING FORWARD TO THIS COURT RECOMMENDATIONS BASED ON GOOD DATA AND SO YOU BRING UP THE POINT THAT YOU MAY HAVE MATTERS OF INTERPRETATION THAT ULTIMATELY INVOLVE SOMEONE HAS TO BE A KING SOLOMON TO RESOLVE THAT THE LET'S SEE IF WE GET THERE.

WE MAY FIND OUT THAT BETWEEN ALL OF THE PARTIES IN THE ROOM THAT THEY RESOLVE IT THEMSELVES AND YOU DON'T HAVE PEOPLE HAVING TO MAKE A RECOMMENDATION ULTIMATELY THE ANSWER RESIDES IN THE MIDDLE. I WILL SAY ONE THING. IN ROUGHLY THE MONTH I HAVE HAD THIS JOB I HAVE LEARNED A LOT ABOUT THIS PROJECT AND I DO NOT BELIEVE THAT YOU WILL HAVE ANYONE FROM THE TOLL ROAD SYSTEM RECOMMENDING TO THIS COURT THAT WE WOULD GO FORWARD WITH A PROJECT THAT IS ANYWAY UNSAFE, UNDER ENGINEERED OR UNDER DESIGN WE MIGHT FIND THAT ULTIMATELY THE PROJECT IS DELIVERED TO THE RESIDENTS OF HARRIS COUNTY AND IT IS BUILT

TO LAST >> GOTCHA.

>> SO THANK YOU. >> I THINK THIS IS BROAD ENOUGH FOR ME TO RAISE THE ISSUE UP. GETTING SOMETHING IN WRITING THAT ASSURES US THAT THIS BRIDGE IS GOING TO GO FROM A TRAFFIC PROJECTION TO 60,000 VEHICLES A DAY 250,000 VEHICLES PER DAY ÃTHAT IT WILL BE ABLE TO WITHSTAND ANY CHANGES IN TERMS OF DEEPENING.

SO I MENTIONED IT TO YOU YESTERDAY I KNOW PEOPLE THAT SAID IT BUT I WANT TO SAY THAT.

>> I THANK YOU FOR SAYING THAT BECAUSE OF YESTERDAY WE RTD THE COUNTY SHOULD HAVE THAT ASSURANCE THAT THE COUNTY'S INVESTMENTS AND THE INFRASTRUCTURE AT THE WORK

[06:10:01]

>> AND THE LAST POINT. >> OVERALL THE PROJECT ESTIMATE

IS ESTIMATED AT 962 MILLION. >> AND ASSUMING THESE POTENTIAL CORRECTIVE ACTIONS, I GUESS IT'S FAIR TO SAY IT COULD. AND THEN PART OF WHAT IS WRITTEN UP IT'S OUR RESPONSIBILITY TO BRING BACK TO COURT AND I DISCUSSED IT WITH COMMISSIONER GARCIA YESTERDAY. WE ARE IN THE FIRST COURT IN MARCH SO RIGHT NOW TARGETING THE FIRST COURT WE OWE THIS COURT AND UPDATE AS TO WHERE WE ARE ON THIS PROCESS.

WE KNOW WE HAVE TO MOVE ON IT. >> I WANT TO BRING UP A BRIDGE THAT WILL BE A UNIQUE ARCHITECTURAL STRUCTURE AND THAT MAY NOT BE THE BROOKLYN BRIDGE WERE THE GOLDEN GATE BRIDGE BUT IT WILL BE A SUBSTANTIAL SITE TO SEE.

IT WOULD BE NICE IF YOU COULD SEE IT OTHER THAN BEING ON THE SHIP OR IN A CAR.

SO I WANT TO RAISE THE ISSUE IF IT DOESN'T COST ANY ADDITIONAL MONEY, WHAT IF SOMEONE WANTED TO WALK IT? OR RIDE IT? OR BICYCLE?

>> I UNDERSTAND. >>.

[LAUGHTER] >> BUT LOOK BASED ON THE COMMENT THAT MR. SHOR JUST MADE. I THINK THAT WOULD BE NEEDED TO DO TO RIDE OR WALK THIS THING BUT AFTER WHAT THE SHERIFF DEALT WITH IN THE PROTEST DEPARTMENT I'M NOT GOING TO

MAKE THAT AVAILABLE FOR FOLKS. >> YOUR HONOR, THIS BRIDGE IS NOT INCREASING ÃI HAVE BEEN A SUPPORTER OF IT SINCE IT FIRST CAME UP BECAUSE OF SAFETY SAFETY SAFETY AND ECONOMICS AND THE FIRST SAFETY WHICH MY COLLEAGUES ARE ALLUDING TO WHEN YOU TAKE THE PYLON OUT OF THE SHIP CHANNEL THAT'S WHERE I THINK COMMISSIONER GARCIA YOU ALLUDED TO PROBLEMS WHERE BARGES COLLAPSED INTO THE PYLONS AND WE HAD PYLONS IN THE SHIP CHANNELS WERE THE SHIPPING ISSUES ARE AND IT GOES TO THE ECONOMIC SIMILARLY GET THE PYLON OUT OF THE MIDDLE OF THE SHIP CHANNEL WE CAN HAVE THE DEEPER DREDGE OF THE WIDER DREDGE AND HAVE MORE TRAFFIC GOING THROUGH THEIR IN THE SECOND BIT OF SAFETY IS WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A WHOLE LOT OF TRUCKS GOING BACK AND FORTH ACROSS THIS BRIDGE IN ADDITION TO THE PASSENGER VEHICLES AS OUR COMMERCE CONTINUES TO GROW WE WILL HAVE SOME CHEMICAL TRUCKS AND OTHER TRUCKS AND SORT OF HAVING A WIDE ENOUGH BRIDGE BECAUSE THE EXISTING ONE WAS DESIGNED YEARS AGO. THOSE ARE SCARY NARROW LANES WITH A LOT OF BIG TRUCKS THAT ARE RIGHT NEXT TO YOU SO HAVING THE SAFETY OF MODERN WIDER LANES, I JUST KNOW THAT I WON'T BE CROWDED IN THE NEW ONE. WHAT EXISTS OUT THERE TODAY IS HALF OF WHAT WAS ORIGINALLY PROPOSED. IT WAS BUILT BY THE STATE AND NOT THE COUNTY AND THE ORIGINAL PLAN WAS 2 BRIDGES ACROSS THE SHIP CHANNEL BEING BUILT. SO THAT GOES TO THE ECONOMICS OF IF WE HAVE FOUR LANES ON EACH DIRECTION THAT'S GOING TO IMPROVE OUR COMMERCE BUT EACH LANE WILL BE WIDER SO YOU ARE NOT CROWDED AND IT GOES TO THE QUESTION ABOUT THE PEDESTRIANS IN ONE OF THE PROBLEMS IS THERE IS NO SHOULDER SO SOMEONE BREAKS DOWN ON TOP OF THAT BRIDGE RIGHT NOW THEY WILL HAVE A DICEY TIME TRYING TO GET OFF POR HAVING A RESCUE VEHICLE GET TO THEM IN HEAVEN FORBID A CHEMICAL TRUCK HAS AN ACCIDENT ON TOP OF THIS BRIDGE, JUDGE YOU WOULD HAVE A FUN TIME DEALING WITH THOSE ISSUES AND THIS DESIGN HAS THAT WHERE THERE IS NO SHOULDER SO IF THERE IS AN ACCIDENT THERE WILL BE AWAY WITH EMERGENCY VEHICLES THEY MAY HAVE TO BE COMPETING WITH THE BICYCLE.

>> I WAS TOLD THAT WAS ENOUGH THERE NOT TAKING AWAY FROM THE LANES.

I GET THAT. >> YOU WANT TO HAVE A SHOULDER

[06:15:01]

HAVE FACED WITH. >> THE SAFETY TYPE SITUATION WHERE IT HAS HAPPENED ELSEWHERE OBVIOUSLY SAFETY IS NUMBER ONE. IS THIS THE BEST WE CAN DO TO HAVE THE COMPANY THAT HAS A RECORD OF DEADLY MISTAKES LEAD WITH INPUT FROM AN INDEPENDENT PERSON AND WITH THE COUNTY PLAYING ARBITER, IS THAT THE BEST SET UP?

>> I CAN'T TELL YOU JUDGE. I CAN TELL YOU THAT HASN'T HAPPENED BUT I CAN TELL YOU WHERE SOMEONE ELSE HAD A CRITICAL PIECE OF INFRASTRUCTURE UNDER DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION AND THE ENGINEER THAT DESIGNED IT HAD ISSUES AND RESULTED IN LOSS OF LIFE AND THAT ENTITY I AM GRATEFUL FOR THE COUNTY TO WANT TO DO AN INDIVIDUAL REPORT.

>> AND THIS STARTS BEING BUILT AND THE PEOPLE BUILDING AT THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THEM

>> AND SOMETIMES PROJECTS GET SHIFTED SOMETIMES YOU ENCOUNTER A PROJECT THAT WENT FROM A BUDGET TO FOUR TIMES THE ORIGINAL. AND IF WE WERE IN THAT SITUATION WE WOULD BE HAVING A DIFFERENT CONVERSATION AND ALSO I THINK THERE IS AMPLE EVIDENCE RECENTLY OF COMPANIES THAT DID NOT CONFRONT SAFETY ISSUES THE RIGHT WAY AND I THINK THIS IS THE APPROPRIATE WAY TO DO IT HAVE AN INDEPENDENT REPORT IT MAY NOT COME OUT SAYING EVERYTHING THE COUNTY HAS DONE IS THE RIGHT THING WE HAVE A RULE THAT SAYS THERE ARE TOO MANY AREAS THAT NEED TO BE LOOKED AT BUT THIS GIVES US A PATH FORWARD TO START

ADDRESSING THESE CONCERNS. >> I AM CONCERNED ABOUT THE NEGOTIATING TERMINOLOGY BECAUSE I AM NO ENGINEER. YOU ARE THE ONES THAT NOW BUT I'M NOT TRYING TO NEGOTIATE BETWEEN THE PEOPLE THAT HAVE A RECORD OF DEADLY MISTAKES AND THE OUTSIDE PEOPLE I'M TRYING TO FIND HOW ARE WE GOING TO MAKE SURE WE DO THIS RIGHT? YOU KNOW I HAVE HAD A CONCERN WITH THE BRIDGE FROM THE START BECAUSE IT'S NOT PART OF ANY BROADER COMPREHENSIVE PLAN AND IT IS $1 BILLION AND I WAS TOLD WHEN WE CAME IN YOU HAVE TO APPROVE IT BECAUSE IT'S TOO FAR GONE ALREADY THERE IS NO WAY THE COMPANY BUILDING IT HAS A DEADLY RECORD I WANT TO MAKE SURE THERE'S NO POLITICS BEING MADE BECAUSE IT'S ABOUT SAFETY AND THAT'S MY NUMBER ONE CONCERN.

>> ULTIMATELY COURT IS IN CHARGE AND YOU HAVE TO RELY UPON THE AUTHORITY AND THE EMPLOYEES OUT THERE FOR OPEN AND HONEST RECOMMENDATIONS.

>> DOES YOUR RECOMMENDATION TO HAVE THIS SET UP IS THIS THE WAY TO GET AT THE SAFEST

BRIDGE? >> YES.

WE OWE YOU AN UPDATE AND AN UPCOMING COMMISSIONERS COURT TO TALK ABOUT HOW WE ARE RESOLVING THESE ISSUES TO TALK ABOUT HOW THIS MAY IMPACT THE TIMEFRAME OF THE PROJECT AND HOW IT MAY

IMPACT THE FINANCES. >> PETER, I'M GOING TO LOOK TO YOU AND JOHN BECAUSE I WAS A LITTLE SURPRISED WITH SOME OF THE CONVERSATIONS I THINK YOU KNOW I DIDN'T WANT TO SHARE THAT PUBLICLY BUT I WILL COUNT ON YOUR LEADERSHIP AND YOUR COMMITMENT THAT WE ARE BEHOLDEN TO THE TAXPAYERS AND WE ARE BEHOLDEN TO PUBLIC SAFETY AND I WILL MAKE SURE THAT I IMPLORE UPON YOU TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU HAVE GOOD BRAINS ON THIS SO WE HAVE GOOD RECOMMENDATIONS BACK AND IT IS BASED STRICTLY ON ENGINEERING AND SCIENCE AND GOD

[06:20:08]

>> THANK YOU FOR SAYING THAT. >> I WANT TO SAY THIS, THIS IS

NOT DEROGATORY. >> UNDERSTOOD.

>> PETER IS NOT AN EXPERT. THE JUDGE SAID HE IS AN EXPERT. HE IS NOT AN EXPERT.

I WANT TO MAKE THAT CLEAR.F YOU FEEL THAT YOU NEED AN EXPERT, YOU WERE GOING TO HAVE TO LOOK. OKAY. HE IS THE DIRECTOR OF THE TOLLROAD BUT WHEN IT COMES TO STRUCTURES, IN THIS SITUATION, YOU ARE NOT AN EXPERT.

>> NO. >> I CAN'T TELL IF HE'S AN

EXPERT. >> I THINK JOHN IS.

JOHN AND PETER. >> I APPEAR TO HAVE MISSED SOMEONE AND I POINT OUT COMMISSIONER GARCIA IS NOT AN EXPERT.

I'M GLAD YOU GOT US TO PUT A PAUSE ON THIS AND GO GET SOME EXPERTS TO COME IN AND LOOK AT

IT. [INDISCERNIBLE] >> THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU GUYS SO MUCH. OKAY. SO THAT WAS THE TOLLROAD.

NOW LET'S MOVE ON TO BUDGET MANAGEMENT.

>>. [INDISCERNIBLE] >>

>> BACK ON PAGE 7 I WAS WONDERING ON THE RELOCATION EXPENSES IT SAYS ABOUT $5000 IS THAT ON BEST PRACTICES? IF WE WERE TRYING TO BRING SOMEONE IN IN HARRIS COUNTY THAT WOULD BE A PRETTY GOOD DEAL. IS THAT ENOUGH?

>>. [INAUDIBLE] >> WHY DON'T WE JUST SAY APPROPRIATE UP TO $5000 REIMBURSEMENT I JUST WONDERED IF $5000 WAS SUFFICIENT?

>>. [INAUDIBLE] >>

>> IS IT FLEXIBLE ENOUGH? >>.

[INAUDIBLE] >> I WANTED TO MAKE SURE HE DID NOT DISCOURAGE SOMEONE FROM APPLYING. NONNEGOTIABLE. JUST SO IT WOULDN'T DETER SOMEONE. [INDISCERNIBLE] COULD BE UNDER 5000.

>>. [INAUDIBLE] >> YES.

>> IGA. >> COMMISSIONERS.

[INDISCERNIBLE] ANIMALS.

>> GLOBAL AFFAIRS/INTERGALACTIC AFFAIRS.

>>. [INAUDIBLE] >> COMMISSIONER ELLIS WHICH

ONE? >> SEVEN B. I JUST WANT TO SAY

5000 NONNEGOTIABLE. >> THE OTHER ONE STAYS THE

SAME. >> UNIVERSAL SERVICES.

PUBLIC HEALTH. >>

>> FOLKS FROM PUBLIC HEALTH. I KNOW DOCTOR. [INDISCERNIBLE] WAS HERE

EARLIER. >> ON THE FIRST ITEM I WANT TO MAKE SURE I REFER THAT TO SPACE PLANNING INSTEAD OF JUST TAKING THE SPACE PLANNING PROCESS

[06:25:01]

>> ON THE SECOND ONE THIS WILL BE GR AND IF SO WHAT WAS THE ISSUE?

>> GOOD AFTERNOON COMMISSIONERS. THE INTRIM DEPUTY DIRECTOR.

SO IT'S THE $800,000 TO COVER THE COST OF THE HEALTH PLANNING THE PUBLIC HEALTH STUDIES THAT WE JUST COMPLETED THE VISION 2024 HARRIS CARES AND INITIALLY IT WAS APPROVED IN COMMISSIONS COURT THERE WAS SOME DISCUSSION ABOUT A POTENTIAL GRANT THAT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE USED BUT UNFORTUNATELY THAT DID NOT HAPPEN.

>> SO WHAT HAPPENED? >> SO THERE WAS SOME MISCOMMUNICATION IN TERMS OF THE REQUIREMENTS TO UTILIZE THE PUBLIC HEALTH STUDIES.

>> SOMEONE FROM CST OR DWIGHT CAN WALK US THROUGH.

>>. [INAUDIBLE] OUR PROCESS WAS NOT.

[INDISCERNIBLE] SO A DISCUSSION CAME BACK BETWEEN PUBLIC HEALTH AND CST AND.

[INDISCERNIBLE] >> IT'S A GREAT STUDY BUT WHEN IT CAME OFF THE INITIAL THOUGHT WAS THAT WAS GOING TO BE FUNDED BY CB DGR MONEY SO MAYBE DAPHNE CAN HELP ME HERE.

>> DAPHNE ÃCOMMUNITY SERVICES DEPARTMENT. THE FUNDING WAS APPROVED FOR CB DGR WE HAD A SLEW OF PLANNING STUDIES THE PROCUREMENT FOR SOME OF THE CONTRACTS FOR THE STUDY HAPPENED BEFORE THE AUTHORIZATION OCCURRED. OUR TEAM TRY TO WORK TOGETHER TO GET A CLARIFICATION AND WE FOUND OUT SUBSEQUENTLY THAT SOME OF THOSE CONTRACTS WERE

PROCURED WITHOUT THE FEDERAL REQUIREMENTS >> WE WOULD HAVE TO PAY A

PENALTY AS WELL. >> WE CAN AVOID GETTING INTO A POSITION WHERE WE HAVE NOT DRAWN THE FUNDS YET.

>>. [INDISCERNIBLE] THESE CONTRACTS ARE IN PLACE AND UTILIZED.

SO WITHOUT NOTIFYING. [INDISCERNIBLE] AFTER THE CONTRACTS WERE IN PLACE COUNTY

CONTRACTS ESTABLISHED. [INDISCERNIBLE] >>

>> FOLKS OKAY WITH REFERRING HA?

>> WHY, WHAT HAPPENED? >> FROM MY STANDPOINT WE WERE INFORMED EARLY ON THESE WERE FUNDING CONTRACT REQUIREMENTS FOR FEDERAL FUNDS FOR NO ONE CAME TO ME AND SAID THESE ARE FEDERAL FUNDS. IF I WOULD HAVE KNOWN AHEAD OF TIME WE WOULD HAVE DONE AN INDIVIDUAL PROCUREMENT FOR THESE ITEMS THAT WERE DONE

FOLLOWING FEDERAL POLICIES >> HOW MUCH MONEY ARE WE TALKING ABOUT?

>> $800,000. >> THE DEPARTMENT DOESN'T TELL

ME THAT I DON'T KNOW. >> THERE WAS A DISCUSSION ON WHICH. [INDISCERNIBLE] I WAS NOT INVOLVED SO I CAN'T ANSWER THAT

QUESTION. >> HEALTH PODS OR WHATEVER IT IS. [INDISCERNIBLE] IN OTHER WORDS, WE ARE OUT.

[INDISCERNIBLE] BECAUSE SOMEONE DID NOT COMMUNICATE WITH YOU?

>> WHAT WERE THE FEDERAL REQUIREMENTS?

>> EXTRA GUIDELINES. >> IS THE FEDERAL POLICY.

THERE IS A CFR REQUIREMENT WE HAVE TO FOLLOW ELECTIVES AND REACH OUT TO SMALL BUSINESSES THERE ARE SECTION 3 REQUIREMENTS AND A WHOLE OTHER AVENUE LAST JULY AND FOR ANY

[06:30:01]

>> WE DID NOT HAVE TO GO THROUGH THE SMALL MINORITY BUSINESS REQUIREMENTS.

>> WE SHOULD HAVE DONE ON THIS CONTRACT.

>> WE WILL BE HAPPY TO DO SO. >> IS THERE ANY OTHER MONEY

INVOLVED? >> THIS IS WHAT BROUGHT IT TO OUR ATTENTION IN OCTOBER AND THESE TOOK PLACE.

>> THE FIRST ONE I WAS MAKING A MOTION. [INDISCERNIBLE] TO THE SPACE

PLANNING COMMITTEE. >> SECOND.

>> ALL IN FAVOR? MOVING ITEM 8 TO THE SPACE PLANNING COMMITTEE.

OPPOSED? THE MOTION CARRIES.

>> IS THERE A PROBLEM? >> 'S THIS ONE CAME ABOUT THEY DID NOT GO THROUGH THE PROPER PROCEDURES. ÃPURCHASING AGENT ANY OTHER

EXPENDITURES >> IS STILL UNCLEAR TO ME WHO Ã WE CAN'T KEEP HAVING THIS.

DO WE NEED A MOTION FOR THAT? >> SO MOVED.

>> FOR THE AUDITOR TO WORK WITH PURCHASING COMMUNITY SERVICES AND PUBLIC HEALTH THERE IS NOT A PROBLEM WITH ANY OTHER CONTRACTS AND TO KEEP IT FROM HAPPENING AGAIN..

INCLUDING A COUNTY ATTORNEY. ALL IN FAVOR. AYE.

OPPOSED? THE MOTION CARRIES.

>> THE REST OF THE. [INDISCERNIBLE] SO COMMISSIONER ANALYST OFFICE.

COMMUNITY SERVICES. COUNTY LIBRARY. YOUTH AND FAMILY SERVICES.

CONSTABLES. [INDISCERNIBLE] INSTITUTE OF FORENSIC SCIENCES.

>> JUDGE? ON THE INSTITUTE OF FORENSIC SCIENCES, I WOULD REQUEST THAT WE HAVE OUR BUDGET OFFICE GO AND TALK TO THEM ABOUT THE FLATLINE BUDGETING THEY ARE DOING WHAT I CALLED THE SPIKE AND DIP APPROACH THEY LET EVERYTHING GET OLD AND THEY BUY IT ALL AT ONE TIME INSTEAD OF MAINTAINING A ÃFLEET. THIS IS A MECHANISM THAT WE HAVE TO REFORM A PRECINCT FOR A WHILE BACK AND WE ARE SAVING MONEY FOR THE TAXPAYER DOLLARS AND I THINK PRECINCT 2 HAS STARTED A SIMILAR PROGRAM A FLATLINE BUDGETING ITEM AND I WOULD ASK THAT WE HAVE A BUDGET OFFICER TALK TO FORENSIC SCIENCES AND SEE IF WE CAN GET

THEM ON THE FLATLINE APPROACH AS WELL. >> WHEN THEY MOVED INTO THE NEW BUILDING WE LOOK TO SEE WHAT WAS WORTH MOVING AND. [INAUDIBLE] AND WE ARE CLOSE TO WHAT WE TALKED ABOUT. [INAUDIBLE]. ISCHEMIC COUNTY CLERK.

COUNTY ATTORNEY. >> ITEM A ROBERT, I CAN SEE THIS EXPANDED TO MORE THAN JUST ONE COMMUNITY THE FACT THAT MISSOURI IS SO CLOSE TO.

[INAUDIBLE] IS THAT. [INAUDIBLE] > I THINK IT IS IN SARAH.

[INAUDIBLE] IS THERE WE WERE TOLD BY THE DEPARTMENT WE COULD ACCEPT UP TO TWO.

[INAUDIBLE] IT COVERS PRECINCT 1 AND TWO AND. [INAUDIBLE]

>> GOOD AFTERNOON I CALLED AND TALKED TO THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

[06:35:04]

THEY DID NOT SPECIFY. >>.

[INDISCERNIBLE] YOU CAN MAKE A MOTION AND I WILL SECOND THAT THE COUNTY.

[INDISCERNIBLE] REQUEST PUT TD SHS TO INCLUDE IN THE GROUP ONE COMMUNITY MEMBER IN EACH OF THE AFFECTED COMMUNITIES ACROSS NORTH HOUSTON AND THE COUNTY ATTORNEY TO REQUEST.

[INDISCERNIBLE] AND SUBJECT EXPERTS HAVE BEEN INVOLVED WITH TESTING AND SAMPLING OF THE CONTAINMENT AREAS AND I WILL SECOND THE MOTION SHE JUST MADE.

>> SO MOVED. >> ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. OPPOSED? THE MOTION CARRIES.

UNANIMOUSLY. WE DO HAVE 2 SPEAKERS ANDRE SMALL AND MOLLY CROOK.

>> MY NAME IS ANDRE SMALL. I AM A COMMITTEE MEMBER OF. [INAUDIBLE] WE HAVE REQUESTED THAT TWO OR THREE COMMITTEE MEMBERS BE PART OF THE COUNTY AND STATE.

[INAUDIBLE] STUDY ALSO LOCAL EXPERT SAID NOT JUST. [INDISCERNIBLE] EXPERTS.

THIS IS A NATIONAL ISSUE BECAUSE. [INAUDIBLE] SOUTHERN PACIFIC HAS DONE BUSINESS IN OUR BACKYARDS FOR YEARS SINCE 1865 TO 2020 WE SHOULD SAY AS A PEOPLE THAT ENOUGH IS ENOUGH AND TO TAKE A STAND TO DETERMINE IF.

[INDISCERNIBLE] CONTRIBUTES TO CANCER. [INAUDIBLE] AND OTHER NEIGHBORHOODS THROUGHOUT AMERICA AND JUST FOR THE RECORD, WHEN ANYONE ENTERS THE STATE OF TEXAS, THE SCIENCE ESTATE DON'T MESS WITH TEXAS, DON'T MESS WITH TEXAS.

THAT DAY IS TODAY. THAT DAY IS TODAY. THANK YOU ALL FOR HAVING ME.

>> THANK YOU. >> MOLLY COOK.

>> OKAY. SO THAT WAS COUNTY ATTORNEY DO WE HAVE SPEAKERS FOR 1680 AS WELL? DARRELL MOORE. STUART GANNON.

APOLOGIES.ALEX ÃMICHAEL HOFF, RYAN HUMPHREY, JUDGE SONJA HEATH.

>> I AM PINCHHITTING FOR JUDGE HEATH WHO COULD NOT BE HERE. I'M HERE TO TALK ABOUT ACCESS TO JUSTICE 16 G ON YOUR AGENDA ITEM AND IT LOOKS LIKE AN INCREASE FOR A LIBRARY FILING FEE. AM PROUD OF THE WORK THAT THE COUNTY LAW LIBRARY HAS DONE AND ÃECONOMICALLY DISADVANTAGED I HAVE SERVED AS A COCHAIR OF THAT COMMITTEE AND I AM ON BOARD AND ACCESS TO JUSTICE IS A PASSION OF MINE THE FEE THAT IS CURRENTLY SET $15 FOR A FILING FEE HAS BEEN THE SAME SINCE 1990 THAT HAS NOT BEEN INCREASED OTHER BIGGEST COUNTIES SURROUNDING US IN THE $35 RANGE WE WERE ASKING FOR AN INCREASE TO $25 THIS YEAR AND $35 IN APRIL NEXT YEAR TO PROVIDE AND PERFORM MORE SERVICES BUT I WAS HERE BEFORE WHEN YOU WERE TALKING ABOUT THE LITIGANTS GUY THAT IS CURRENTLY IN SPANISH AND ENGLISH AND ABOUT TO BE PRINTED IN VIETNAMESE, MANDARIN AND ARABIC, THE TOP FIVE SPOKEN LANGUAGES IN HARRIS COUNTY THOSE SERVICES WE ARE ASKING ON BEHALF OF THE LAW LIBRARY TO INCREASE THE FILING FEE I THINK THERE HAS BEEN CONCERN IN THE PAST THAT INCREASED FEE IS A TAX AND I THINK IT IS NOT IN THIS CASE EVEN IF IT'S CONSIDERED TO BE ONE THAT'S NOT REGRESSIVE IT WON'T AFFECT THE FOLKS WHO ARE MOST STRUGGLING BECAUSE 96 PERCENT OF THOSE WHO SEEK TO WAIVE THE FEES WHEN THEY FILE OUR APPROVED SO THE LAW LIBRARY AND AS A JUDGE WHO USES THE LAW LIBRARY SO LITIGANTS CAN ACCESS RESOURCES TO TRY TO FIND COUNSEL IT IS MY CLAIM THAT YOU WOULD INCREASE THE FILING FEE I WOULD BE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS.

>> IS ANYONE HERE AGAINST THIS? >>

>> I WANT TO MAKE A SPEECH. WITH THE JUDGE'S PERMISSION. ADAM SMITH SAID THERE ARE THREE

[06:40:11]

WE WERE TALKING AND ONCE UPON A TIME I WAS A POOR LAWYER AND THESE LIBRARIES NOT ONLY HELP THE INDIGENT BUT A LOT OF TIMES YOU GO IN THERE AND THEY DON'T WANT TO RETAIN THEIR LAW LIBRARIES ANYMORE AND IN THE OLD DAYS THE ÃYOU ARE TOO YOUNG TO REMEMBER THOSE.

>> I PRACTICED IN FRONT OF YOU WHEN YOU WERE ON COUNTY COURT.

>> THIS SUPPORTING OUR LAW LIBRARY IS A LEGITIMATE FUNCTION OF GOVERNMENT GOING BACK TO OUR EARLIEST DAYS IN ECONOMIC THOUGHT AND PHILOSOPHY IN THIS IS A GOOD IDEA.

>> THANK YOU. >> ALL RIGHT.

GO AHEAD. >> I HAVE BEEN ASKED TO SPEAK ON BEHALF OF THE HOUSTON BAR ASSOCIATION. AND ALL I CAN ADD TO THEM IS

THAT >> YOU WERE GOING TO TALK ABOUT ADAM SMITH?

>> THE ROLE OF GOVERNMENT THAT INCLUDES LIBRARIES AND ANY ADMINISTRATION OF JUSTICE AS A CURRENTLY PRACTICING ÃCAN ONLY REINFORCE WHAT THE COMMISSIONER WAS GOING TO SAY WHICH IS ACCESS TO THE LAW LIBRARY IT'S VERY IMPORTANT FOR US TO PROVIDE SERVICES TO CLIENTS WHO CAN'T AFFORD A LARGER OFFER AND WE FILL THE GAP BETWEEN LARGE LAW FIRMS AND PRO BONO SERVICES AND FOR CLIENTS IS WHO CAN AFFORD ÃSUBSCRIPTIONS AND NOT A CAUSE WE CAN PASS THAT ON TO OUR CLIENTS IN ADDITION TO WELL DOCUMENTED SERVICES THAT THEY PROVIDE TO SELF REPRESENTED LITIGANTS THE SERVER ÃSERVICE IT PROVIDES TO US IS VERY CRITICAL AND ALSO I WOULD JUST ADD THAT I HAVE HAD A CHANCE TO OBSERVE THE LAW LIBRARIES OVER THE PAST SEVEN YEARS AND ÃAS A CHAIR AS WELL AND I CAN'T SAY THAT THE LAW LIBRARY DOES FOR THE CITIZENS OF THESE COUNTIES AND PROFESSIONALLY RUN LIBRARIES I HAVE EVER SEEN IN THE COUNTY MONEY IS VERY WELL SPENT AND SCREAM AT THE LAST 30 YEARS ON A FLAT BUDGET AND THAT AMOUNT OF TIME IS JUST

REMARKABLE AND IF THERE ANY QUESTIONS >> THANK YOU SO MUCH.

I APPRECIATE IT. >> JUDGE COMMISSIONERS I WAS HERE EXACTLY 8 HOURS AND I AM HERE NOW ON BEHALF OF THE COUNTY LAW LIBRARY.

I REPRESENT MORE PEOPLE SO I AM FIGHTING THESE AND I INVESTIGATED AND THE HARRIS COUNTY IF A PERSON MAKES ANY SHOWING THAT THEY CAN'T AFFORD A FEE IT'S WAIVED.

I AM SATISFIED THAT THIS IS NOT A BURDEN. SEMI KATA WE IDENTIFY THE FOLKS GIVE ME THE INFORMATION AND I LOOKED AT IT AND I AGREE THEY ARE DOING MORE TO HELP MORE PEOPLE BECAUSE THAT'S WHERE LITIGANTS GO TO GET THE RESEARCH DONE AND IT'S A GOOD

DEAL. >> I AM JUST CURIOUS.

HOW MANY PEOPLE DO THE WAIVER? HOW MANY DO IT A YEAR?

>> ABOUT 2000? >> I AM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF HOUSTON VOLUNTEER LAWYERS. I AM HERE TO EXPLAIN ABOUT THE ACCESS TO THE LAW LIBRARY ÃAND THE PRESENCE AT THE LAW LIBRARY AND I JUST WANT TO SAY THAT THE RECENT STUDIES ABOUT ACCESS HAS

[06:45:02]

LITIGANTS >> THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORK. THANK YOU SO MUCH.

SO. >> JUDGE.

[INAUDIBLE] >> SURE. ALL IN FAVOR? COMMISSIONER ELLIS. OPPOSED? THE MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.

TRAVEL AND TRAINING. GRANTS. FISCAL SERVICES AND PURCHASING.

I HAVE A NOTE UNDER AUDITOR PAGE 16 ITEM 82 WE HAVE TO ADD AN S AT THE END OF CERTIFICATION. SODA CERTIFICATIONS PLURAL. PURCHASING IT LOOKS LIKE WE HAD SPEAKERS. FOR ITEM 1F ON PAGE 18. TED POWELL KIM SAKI NORMA SHALL FAIL, RAUCH FL, LAMONT SHALL FAIL NEVA SCHROEDER AND BARBARA KOSKI.

>>. [INAUDIBLE] PAGE 18 ITEM 1F.

>> PAGE 17. >> OKAY THANK YOU.

SORRY ABOUT THAT. >>

>> MY NAME IS TED POWELL PRESIDENT OF FRIENDS OF Ã SPEECH THE CURRENT UNNECESSARY HIGH DRAMA INVOLVING THE HAS TO WORK BEACH PAVILION STARTED LAST NOVEMBER WHEN PRECINCT 2 ANNOUNCED PLANS TO ADDRESS OPPOSING OPERATOR AND UNSUBSTANTIATED HOLDER ON NONCOMPLIANCE ISSUE. PLANS THAT WOULD UNNECESSARILY SIGNIFICANTLY IMPACT PUBLIC ACCESS TO THIS UNIQUE VENUE AND RECEIVED ALL THE HISTORICAL DESIGNATIONS THAT A TEXAS BUILDING CAN RECEIVE. DURING A NOVEMBER COMMISSIONERS COURT MEETING WE ATTENDED COMMISSIONER GARCIA EXPRESSED CONCERN OVER THE COUNTY LOSING MONEY ON THE PAVILION HE ASKED AN AUDIT REQUESTED. COMPLETED IN JANUARY, BUT ONLY RELEASED TO THE PUBLIC IN MARCH THE HARRIS COUNTY AUDIT SHOWED NO SIGNIFICANT OPERATOR COMPLIANCE ISSUES AND COUNTY OPERATIONAL LOSSES OVER THE PAST SIX YEARS AMOUNTING TO ONLY $16,000 PER YEAR.

AN AMOUNT THAT COULD EASILY HAVE BEEN ADDRESSED BY A MINOR ADJUSTMENT OF THE COUNTY POSITION OF THE GROSS BOOKING REVENUE IN THE PRESENT CONTRACT WHICH IS THAT ONE PERCENT BUT INSTEAD OF TWEAKING THE CURRENT CONTRACT WITH NO IMPACT ON CITIZENS, THIS PROCESS TOSSES

[06:50:03]

THANK YOU. >> MY NAME IS BARBARA KLOPP SEE AND I AM THE EVENT COORDINATOR FOR LARGE GROUP OF OVER 350 WOMEN IN THE CLEAR LAKE AREA.

THE BAY AREA WELCOME NEIGHBORS CLUB. MANY OF OUR MEMBERS ARE POLITICALLY ACTIVE AND BOARD MEMBERS OF SUCH ORGANIZATIONS AS THE ASSISTANCE LEAGUE AND TURNING POINT WHICH RAISES MONEY FOR THE BATTERED WOMEN'S SHELTER.

IN THIS CAPACITY, WE PLAN BOTH CHARITY EVENTS AND SOCIAL GALAS TO RAISE MONEY FOR THESE WORTHY ORGANIZATIONS. I HAVE ATTENDED A NUMBER OF EVENTS AT SYLVAN BEACH AND HAVE ALWAYS APPRECIATED NOT ONLY THE BEAUTY OF THE FACILITY BUT ESPECIALLY HOW WELL-RUN THE EVENTS WERE. IT SADDENS AND WORRIES ME TO SEE ANY OF THIS CHANGE.

I AM MOVED HERE FROM SAN ANTONIO FIVE YEARS AGO. THE HISTORICAL SOCIETY IN ALAMO CITY ADHERES TO VERY STRICT GUIDELINES ON IF IT IS THE ALAMO, THE OFFICE BUILDINGS, A HOME OR ONE OF THE MISSIONS. NO CHANGES COULD BE MADE ON THE BUILDING WITHOUT THE APPROVAL OF THE HISTORICAL SOCIETY. HEY WERE VERY STRICT ON MATT. THERE WERE WHISPERS CIRCULATING IN THE COMMUNITY THAT CHANGES MAY BE ON THE HORIZON FOR ONE OF THE OLDEST AND MOST BEAUTIFUL BUILDINGS IN THIS AREA OF PRECINCT 2. AS A CONCERNED CITIZEN WE NEED TO BE CERTAIN THAT ANY CHANGES ARE FAIR AND OPEN TO PUBLIC SCRUTINY.

THE SYLVAN BEACH PAVILION IS ONE OF THE FEW JEWELS IN THIS AREA AND IT NEEDS TO BE MAINTAINED AS A FACILITY OPEN TO THE PUBLIC'S USE. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.

>> I AM NEVA SCHROEDER AND I SPONSORED DANCES AND ORGANIZED DANCES AND I AM VERY INTERESTED IN THE PAVILION. TRANSPARENCY IS PARAMOUNT IN GOVERNMENT OR YOU HAVE ACCUSATIONS OF CRONYISM. I HAVE SERVED ON THE SCHOOL BOARD AND MY HUSBAND SERVED ON THE CITY BOARD MANY TIMES. NEVER ONCE DID WE OPEN BIDS WITHOUT FULL TRANSPARENCY.

WE OPENED A SEALED ENVELOPE IN PUBLIC MEETINGS AND VENDORS WERE WELCOME TO BE PRESENT.

SO WHILE IT MIGHT BE LEGAL I DID LOOK UP THE LAW TO MAKE THIS ELECTION BEHIND CLOSED DOORS, IT CERTAINLY GIVES RISE TO RUMORS OF FAVORITISM. ALREADY I AM HEARING WHO IS LIKELY TO BE SELECTED. AVENUE THE HARRIS COUNTY PERSONNEL COULD BE PRESENT I AM REQUESTING THE ELECTED COMMISSIONERS BE PRESENT, BE THE EYES AND THE EARS TO PROTECT THE INTEGRITY OF THIS ELECTION. PLEASE REMEMBER THAT SULLIVAN BEACH PAVILION CURRENTLY HAS HISTORICALLY BEEN A PLACE FOR SPECIAL EVENTS.

YOU SHOULD READ THE HISTORY AND WE ASK YOU TO PROTECT THIS HISTORIC VENUE FOR CITIZENS USE FOR FUTURE GRAND EVENTS. IT SHOULD NOT EVOLVE TO BECOME SIMPLY A LARGE RESTAURANT WHICH IS ONE OF THE RUMOR CIRCULATING. I UNDERSTAND INSTEAD OF BOOKING AN EVENT DIRECTLY WITH THE VENDOR IT IS BOOKED THROUGH THE COUNTY.

A LARGE EVENT REQUIRES TREMENDOUS ATTENTION TO DETAIL AND CURRENTLY THE VENDOR HANDLES THAT NICELY. I FEEL TOO MUCH WOULD BE LOST IN TRANSLATION WITH A PLAN TO BOOK THROUGH THE COUNTY.HE COUNTY IS PROBABLY BETTER AT BUILDING BRIDGES AND ROADS

[06:55:08]

THERE IS NO NEED TO CLOSE THE VENUE BRIEFLY AS ANY REPAIRS OR UPGRADES ARE MINOR ENOUGH TO REMAIN OPEN TO SERVE CITIZENS. WE HAVE HEARD THE OPERATOR DEFAMED AS BEING NONCOMPLIANT WITH THE CONTRACT I UNDERSTAND THE AUDIT OF THE FULL CONTRACT OPERATION CONTRACTING METHODS AS WRITTEN BY THE COUNTY AND IF YOU READ THE TERMS OF THE CONTRACT I FIND IT MOST DISCONCERTING TO THANK THE PRE-SAINTS COMMISSIONER STATING THAT THE OPERATOR CHANGE IN THE COUNTY AS A FORMER ELECTED COUNTY OFFICIAL I FINALLY STATEMENTS HARSH AND DAMAGING AND NOW IT'S AN UNNECESSARILY LIABILITY FOR HARRIS COUNTY RESIDENTS AND IT SEEMS TO ME THAT HARRIS COUNTY IS INVITING MORE LIABILITY BY CONTRACTING A PORTION OF THE REVENUE.

HARRIS COUNTY RESIDENTS MAY NOT FEEL THEY SHOULD SHOULDER THAT LIABILITY.

THANK YOU FOR CONSIDERING MY CONCERN AND I'M INVITING YOU TO A DANCE MAY 31.

WE ARE GOING TO HAVE A BIG DANCE.

>> THANK YOU. >> MY NAME IS KIM AND I AM A COMPETITION BALLROOM DANCER AND I AM ALSO A SOCIAL DANCER AND I HAVE DANCED ACROSS HOUSTON AND OTHER PARTS OF SUCH AS SYLVAN BEACH PAVILION AND I AM ALSO A REGISTERED NURSE AND I HAVE 2 BUSINESS DEGREES AND I HAVE AN MBA'S OUT MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT HAS BEEN DRAWN TO YOUR ATTENTION THAT THE PAVILION IS, IN FACT PROFITABLE AND AGAIN, ONE PERCENT OF BOOKING FEES COULD BE INCREASED IF THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH REVENUE AND DISTRIBUTION AND ANYWAY, I ENJOY THE REOPENING SINCE IT WAS CLOSED FOR SO LONG AFTER IT WAS NEARLY DESTROYED BY IKE HOWEVER IT WASN'T BECAUSE IT WAS WELL CONSTRUCTED SO THEY WERE ABLE TO AGAIN BE ABLE TO RESTORE IT AND MAKE IT INTO THE BEAUTIFUL FACILITY THAT IS BUILT IN 1956 SO DURING THAT REOPENING IT WAS WELL ATTENDED AND IT WAS FESTIVE AND PEOPLE WERE HAPPY AND IT PROVIDED GOOD ENTERTAINMENT FOR MANY OF US WHO LOVED TO DANCE SO I AM QUITE UPSET I GUESS ABOUT AN A TYPE OF CHANGES TO THE FACILITY THAT WAS INTENDED TO BE A DANCE HALL AND OF COURSE IT IS ON THE WATER IN THE PORCH AND IT IS ROUND AND IT HAS A PLACE FOR A BAND LOOKING OVER THE WATERS AND THIS IS A GREAT SOCIAL FUNCTION FOR PEOPLE TO DANCE AND THEY BENEFIT HEALTHWISE AND THERE ARE VERY FEW THAT ARE AVAILABLE IN HOUSTON AND THE SURROUNDING AREA THEY HAVE THEM CLOSED FOR VARIOUS REASONS AND THIS WOULD BE A SHAME IF IN FACT IT CHANGES THE FOUNDERS OR THE DEVELOPERS INTENT BACK IN THE 50S AND WE CAN'T HAVE ANY MORE WEDDINGS OR CELEBRATIONS SO I JUST WANTED TO PUT THAT OUT THERE FOR YOU TO CONSIDER. THANK YOU.

>> >> GOOD AFTERNOON MY NAME IS ROGER ÃTHE CURRENT OPERATOR OF. [INDISCERNIBLE] WE HAVE REASONS TO BELIEVE THAT PRECINCT 2 HANDLING OF OUR CONTRACT AND THE PROCESS TO SELECT A FUTURE OPERATOR NOT ONLY IS NOT IN THE BEST INTEREST OF THE PUBLIC BUT ALSO IS DAMAGING OUR REPUTATION.

[07:00:02]

WITH ALL RESPECT SOMETIMES WHAT PEOPLE SAY AND WHAT THEY DO ARE TWO DIFFERENT THINGS.

AND SOMETIMES THERE ARE PREDETERMINED AGENDAS. IT REALLY CONCERNS ME WHEN THE PRESS SECRETARY TELLS THE MEDIA THAT THEY ARE POTENTIALLY SHORTING THE COUNTY OR OF THE FULL AUDIT THAT YOU ASKED FOR SHOWS THAT WE PAID ABOVE AND BEYOND THE CONTRACTED ÃWHY ARE THEY TRYING TO DISQUALIFY US? DAMAGING OUR REPUTATION TELLING THE PUBLIC THAT SOMEHOW WE ARE CHEATING THE TAXPAYERS, WHAT IS THE MOTIVE BEHIND THIS? THE NEW RFP IS NOT DESIGNED TO INVITE COMPETITION.T DISCOURAGES QUALITY OPERATORS TO BID.

IT IS ASKING FOR THE OPERATOR TO DO ALL OF THE WORK AND GIVE 100 PERCENT OF THE ÃTO THE COUNTY AND ON TOP OF THAT IT IS ASKING FOR COMMISSION ON ALL OF THE SERVICES INCLUDING FOOD AND ALCOHOL. DOES THE COUNTY REALLY WANT A PROPHET AND THE LIABILITY THAT COMES WITH IT?LEASE LOOK INTO THIS AND SET IT RIGHT. THANK YOU.

>> >> MY NAME IS ÃI AM RETIRED EMPLOYEE OF THE ÃSPACE CENTER AND I HAVE LIVED IN THE BAY AREA FOR PROBABLY 45 YEARS. I REGARD THE PAVILION AS SOMEONE SAID ONCE BEFORE, IT IS A JEWEL IN HARRIS COUNTY'S CROWN.

IT'S A UNIQUE FACILITY, THERE IS NONE OTHER. SINCE I WAS INVOLVED FOR SO LONG AT THE SPACE CENTER FOR CONTRACTS ÃEVALUATIONS I DECIDED TO TAKE A LOOK AT THIS BECAUSE IT'S PRETTY CLOSE TO MY HOME.

>> TO CLOSE? CLOSE ENOUGH? SO WHAT I HAVE IN FRONT OF YOU ARE THE RESULTS OF THE ANNOUNCEMENTS THAT I MADE BASED ON COUNTY DOCUMENTS FOR WHICH RFPS ARE CONSTRUCTED THEY ARE BASED ON THE OLD DOCUMENTS WHEN THE RFP WAS FIRST ISSUED AND THE NEWEST DOCUMENT Ã COMPARISON AND WHAT IT CONSISTS OF ARE SOME THINGS THAT I'M GOING TO CALL TO YOUR ATTENTION BECAUSE OF,'S THAT HAVE BEEN MADE AND THEY SPEAK TO THE PERCEPTION OF FAIRNESS. PEOPLE DO NOT BELIEVE THAT IT IS FAIR AS FAR AS THEY ARE CONCERNED. IT IS NOT. THE FIRST ITEM THESE ARE REFERENCE TO THE PAGE AND ALSO TO THE PARAGRAPH. THE FIRST REFERENCE IS ON PAGE 12. ALL PROPOSALS ÃEVALUATION COMMITTEE CONSISTING OF HARRIS COUNTY PERSONNEL WHY CAN'T THAT BE OPENED UP TO INCLUDE PEOPLE OTHER THAN THOSE ORGANIZATIONS

[07:05:07]

PROCTOR AND THERE YOU GO. >> YOU HAVE A COUPLE OF MORE

ITEMS. [INDISCERNIBLE] >> YES I DO.

>> MAKE IT A LITTLE QUICKER. THE NEXT PART OF IT IS IS THEY COME UP WITH A DECISION AND THAT DECISION WILL BE OVERRULED BY SOMEONE AT A HIGHER LEVEL IN THE COUNTY AND IF IT IS DONE Ã

AVAILABLE TO THE OFFERS SO THEY KNOW WHY THAT EVENT TOOK PLACE >> AND HAS TO DO WITH A.

[INDISCERNIBLE] VISIT. HOW MANY REQUIRED TO COMPLETE INFORMATION ON THIS TEST AND THE REASON I BRING THAT UP IS THEY HAVE TO GIVE THE OFFERS A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME TO RESPOND AND I SUGGEST THEY SHOULD BE GIVEN A CERTAIN NUMBER OF DAYS, TENANT IN PARTICULAR SO THERE IS NO ADVERSE ÃDID NOT HAVE ENOUGH TIME TO RESPOND PROPERLY AND THIS NEXT ONE INVOLVES THE USE OF APPROVED VENDORS AND SUBCONTRACTORS.

THINGS LIKE CATERING ORGANIZATIONS, FLOORS, THAT SORT OF THING AND THAT FEE IS THE LIST THE PARKS DEPARTMENT THAT STRIKES ME AS A BIT STRANGE ON THE PARKS DEPARTMENT IN A SERIES OF ÃI DON'T THINK THAT THAT IS REALLY WHAT THE COUNTY WANTS TO DO OR SHOULD DO BUT THE PARKS DEPARTMENT SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR OVERSEEING COMPLIANCE.

DOING MICROMANAGEMENT TASKS AND LASTLY ON PARAGRAPH THREE OF PAGE 20 ÃRESPONSIBILITIES FOR HARRIS COUNTY A PART OF THIS ACTIVITY I SAW HOLES IN THE DECK THAT I UNDERSTAND ON THE PROCESS OF BEING REPAIRED AND WHAT I ALSO SAW WERE DOORS AND THE DOORS WALKS WERE BROKEN AND THAT'S A FACILITY ÃOBLIGATION AGAINST THE COUNTY AND WHAT I AM SUGGESTING IS THE COUNTY OUGHT TO DO IT BUT IF THEY DON'T WANT TO FOR SOME REASON THEN ÃTHE OPERATOR HAVE IT FIXED AND LET THE OPERATOR TAKE CARE OF IT AND THEN IT IS DONE. FOR EXAMPLE.

I HAD A CONTRACTOR GO OUT THERE TO TAKE A LOOK AT THE DECK AND HE SAID I CAN FIX THAT ONE DAY FOR $600. HOW LONG WOULD IT TAKE THE COUNTY TO FIX IT? THE DOORS FOR EXAMPLE. YOU CAN FIND PEOPLE WHO SELL THE DOORS AND REPAIR PARTS AND ALL I AM SUGGESTING IS MAKING IT A EITHER OR KIND OF ACTIVITY.

LET THE OPERATOR FIX IT IF IT IS SMALL HE CAN HANDLE IT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

>> HELLO I AM A CITIZEN I LIVE HALF A MILE FROM THE PAVILION I HAVE A VESTED INTEREST IN THE

[07:10:12]

>> I HAVE TO HAVE SOMEONE COMBAT PART TIME AND IT'S VERY DIFFICULT AND THEY SAY THEY WANT THIS BUT THEY DON'T WANT THIS BECAUSE THEY SIT ALL DAY AND DEVELOP THESE PLANS AND WHEN CITIZENS GET INVOLVED THEY SCREW UP THEIR PLANS I WILL GIVE YOU ONE EXAMPLE I WAS IN A MEETING IN GALVESTON AND THE HEAD OF THE METRO FOR AUSTIN WE WERE DOING A KIOSK THING AND I SAID HOW DO YOU ENSURE THAT YOU ARE GETTING A COMMUNITY FEEDBACK AND YOU ARE NOT JUST TRYING TO SELL THEM YOUR IDEA AND SHE LOOKED AT YOU AND SAID CITIZENS NEED TO UNDERSTAND WE ARE THE EXPERTS. WE KNOW WHAT'S BEST AND THEY NEED TO TWEAK WHAT WE TELL THEM TO TWEAK. THAT'S LIKE SAYING WE ARE THE SMART ONES ON THE BLOCK IN THE REGISTRY. AND SO THEY DON'T WANT CITIZEN PINVOLVEMENT AND YOU SIT THERE ANY TALK ABOUT OPEN GOVERNMENT AND TRANSPARENT GOVERNMENT. ONE THING IS YOU INFORM THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE STAKEHOLDERS AND YOU GET THEM INVOLVED IN WHAT YOU DO.

THE DOWNSTAIRS OVERFLOW FACILITY IS A PRIME EXAMPLE OF THAT'S NOT HAPPENING HERE OR YOU WOULD NEED THAT. IF YOU WERE INVOLVED WITH THE STAKEHOLDERS SHE WOULD NOT NEED IT. HOW DO YOU STOP THESE RUMORS YOU HAVE BEEN HEARING? ONE THING IS, ONE THING YOU MIGHT DO IS HAVE AN AGENDA PUBLISHED ONE WEEK PRIOR TO THE MEETING AND YOU MIGHT GET PEOPLE INVOLVED IN THE PROJECT AND CONTACT THE STAKEHOLDERS AND MAKE THEM FEEL LIKE THEY ARE PART OF IT. THEY SHOULDN'T COME DOWN HERE TO GET INFORMATION. SO IF YOU ARE BEING INSULTED BY BEING ACCUSED OF THINGS BECAUSE YOU ARE NOT INFORMING THE PUBLIC. ALL I HAVE TO TELL YOU IS THAT

YOU DESERVE IT. >> THANK YOU.

>> AGAIN. HAVE A STAKEHOLDER ON IT.

>> SAID THE JUDGE. I GUESS I WILL START WITH Ã YOUR OFFICE ÃON THIS CONTRACT.

AND THE RFP IS COMPLETED. >> IT HAS BEEN ISSUED.

>> THE FINDINGS OF Ã UNSUBSTANTIATED IT'S BEEN A LONG DAY.

>> IN REGARDS TO THE AUDIT THERE ARE NO ISSUES.

>> THERE WERE SOME ISSUES. I DON'T THINK THEY WERE TERRIBLY SIGNIFICANT.

BUT THERE WERE SOME ISSUES. YES.

>> >> IN RELATION TO, THERE ARE TWO THINGS I HAVE HEARD.

ONE THING THE CONTRACT WAS POORLY WRITTEN AND THE VENDOR WAS PUT UNDER AND IT DIDN'T ALLOW FOR THE PROPER RECONCILING OF THE WORK AND WHAT THE COUNTY SHOULD GET AND IS THAT ACCURATE? AND WE THOUGHT THIS CONTRACT COULD FIND SOME THINGS AND SOME SUGGESTIONS IF WE WRITE A NEW CONTRACT AND IT MIGHT INCLUDED IN THE ORIGINAL CONTRACT AND THE DOLLAR AMOUNT THAT WAS FOUND TO BE OWED TO THE COUNTY, WHAT WAS THAT?

>> I DON'T THINK IT WAS LARGE. I WANT TO SAY 10 TO 20,000, PRETTY SMALL.

THERE WAS A DEFICIT. >> A SMALL DEFICIT.

[07:15:01]

YES. >> AND WHAT ELSE IS THERE?

>> THAT'S AS FAR AS THE AUDIT IS CONCERNED. AND IN TERMS OF THE RFP, IS IT, HAS IT BEEN THE LAST GENTLEMAN TALKS ABOUT BEING GIVEN ENOUGH DAYS TO RESPOND AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE. WHAT IS YOUR RESPONSE?

>> ONE OF THEM WAS THE COMMENT ABOUT OPEN ACCESS. WE DO THAT FOR NORMAL BIDS.

OPEN CONFIDENTIALITY BECAUSE YOU ALLOW FOR NEGOTIATION OF MY DEPARTMENT OVERSEES THAT WE ARE THE MODERATOR THE PERSON WHO RECEIVES THE PROCESS. AND WE HAVE AN INDIVIDUAL TO MAKE SURE YOU GET A FAIR PROCESS AND I SPOKE ABOUT THAT FROM THE BEGINNING ANNA REGARDS TO QUESTIONS THE RFP WOULD ALLOW QUESTIONS UP TO MARCH 18 AND AT THAT POINT ALL VENDORS UNDERSTAND THE SAME QUESTIONS IN THE SAME ANSWER SO IT'S FAIR TO EVERY VENDOR OUT THERE AND THE THIRD THING REGARDING THE MANDATORY PRE-PROPOSAL. WHEN THE MANDATORY PRE-PROPOSAL TAKES PLACE IN THE QUESTIONS ARE ANSWERED, WE WILL ALLOW ADDITIONAL TIME IF NEEDED AND IN THIS CASE IT PROBABLY WILL BE NEEDED WITH A NUMBER OF QUESTIONS THAT COME OUT TO EXTEND THE BID DUE DATE. THIS QUESTIONS THAT HAVE BEEN COMING IN, WE ARE NOT IGNORING YOU BUT I THINK IT'S FAIR THAT ALL THE VENDORS GET NOTIFIED OF ALL THE QUESTIONS SO ONE DOESN'T GET CERTAIN EMAILS BACK IT WILL BE A FORMAL WRITTEN REQUEST WITH ALL OF THE ANSWERS AND ALL THE QUESTIONS. AT THIS POINT FROM OUR STANDPOINT THE PROCESSES FAIR AND GOING ON HI CAN'T SPEAK TO WHAT'S BEING SAID AND THE PUBLIC AS FAR AS MY OFFICE WE ARE ADAMANT ON MAKING SURE IT'S A FAIR PROCESS AND I WILL BE GLAD TO MEET WITH ANYONE ELSE.

> AND I THINK YOU HAVE SENT IN A NUMBER OF QUESTIONS. HAVE YOU GOTTEN YOUR ANSWERS?

>> NO SIR. >> IN THE ACTUAL PROPOSAL WE GAVE THEM UNTIL MARCH 18 TO SUBMIT ALL THEIR QUESTIONS. SO WE DO THE MANDATORY WALK-THROUGH AROUND THE PROPOSAL MEETING AND WE WILL ISSUE AN ADDENDUM FOR THAT AND WE DID WANT TO CUT IT OFF SO WE GOT ALL THE QUESTIONS.

>> AND THE QUESTIONS ARE HE WILL BE RESPONDING TO THEM AND TO EVERYBODY.

>> THE, I THINK IN TERMS OF THE HOLES, THAT IS BEING WORKED THROUGH WITH THE HISTORICAL COMMISSION AND I HAVE TO CHECK OUT THIS IS THE FIRST AND THAT ISSUE FOR WHAT IT IS ABOUT.

NOT A RESTAURANT WE WERE ASKED THE QUESTION, TOWARDS THE BALLROOM DANCING AND WEDDINGS THAT'S WHAT WE BELIEVE WILL BE THE FUTURE OF THE FACILITY. I THINK CAN WE TALK ABOUT PRICE

CHANGES? >> I DON'T WANT TO JEOPARDIZE

COMMENTS. >> I THINK THE EVENT MY DIRECTION TO MY STAFF AS WE WORK THROUGH THIS PARTICULAR PROCESS, GET IT DONE.

GET IT DONE PROPERLY TO GET IT OUT THERE BECAUSE WHOEVER IS UNDER CONTRACT WE WANT TO GIVE THE OPPORTUNITY THAT REMAINS WITH ÃTHAT THESE THINGS THERE IS NO DISRUPTION AND IF IT DOES END UP ÃYOU HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO DO WHAT YOU NEED TO DO AND WHATEVER THAT PROCESS MAY BE WE DON'T HAVE A ROLE IN THAT. IT'S STRICTLY BETWEEN YOU AND WHATEVER YOUR ÃAND THE ISSUE ABOUT NOT CONTRACTING OUT YOU HAVE BEEN UNDER A MONTH TO

[07:20:04]

>> YES SIR. >> BECAUSE YOU ARE UNDER A MONTH TO MONTH, THE RESTRICTION IS NOT TO DO A CONTRACT SIX MONTHS FROM THE MONTH THAT YOU WERE IN. SO YOU PROBABLY HAVE BOOKED A WEDDING UNDER A MONTH THAT WAS A YEAR OUT AND IS PROBLEMATIC IN THE SIX MONTH RULE BECAUSE OF IT BEING A MONTH TO MONTH AND SO THE WHOLE PROCESS I KNOW IT IS UNCOMFORTABLE I HEAR IT FROM YOUR CUSTOMERS THERE CALLING ME IF THEIR WEDDING HAS TO BE CANCELED OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT AND I AM TELLING THEM I DON'T KNOW WHO WILL END UP WINNING THIS PROJECT IF IT IS WITH YOU ÃIF IT IS NOT WITH YOU MY COMMITMENT WAS TO TRY TO MAKE THE TRANSITION AS SMOOTH AS POSSIBLE YOU RECOGNIZE THAT YOUR RELATIONSHIP IS WITH THOSE PEOPLE RENTING THE FACILITY. YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE TO MAKE A DECISION ON HOW TO MAKE THOSE PEOPLE WHOLE. BUT MY COMMITMENT TO THE COMMUNITY IS TO HAVE A PRISTINE OPERATOR LIKE YOURSELF OR SOMEONE ELSE AND THAT THE EVENTS ARE TOP-NOTCH BUT WE ARE NOT GOING TO CLOSE IT DOWN WE'RE NOT GOING TO BUILD A RESTAURANT IF ANYTHING WE HOPE YOU WILL HAVE A BETTER EXPERIENCE WITH HOW THIS FACILITY MOVES FORWARD THAT'S KIND OF WHERE WE ARE AT AND BECAUSE OF THE PROCESS THAT THE PURCHASING DEPARTMENT IS UNDER. I HAVE TO BE CAREFUL WITH HOW MUCH I GO INTO THIS BUT WE WANT THIS PLACE TO REMAIN THE JEWEL THAT IT IS AND A MONTH-TO-MONTH CONTRACT AT THE PROPER TIME AND IT WASN'T. WE ARE HERE AND WE ARE TRYING TO MOVE OVER AS FAST AS

POSSIBLE. >> OKAY.

SO IS THERE A MOTION ON THE ITEM?

>>. [INAUDIBLE] >> SAY THAT AGAIN?

>> ON ITEM F ON PAGE 17. >>.

[INAUDIBLE] >> THERE IS A MOTION AND A SECOND TO ADVERTISE THIS.

ALL IN FAVOR? AYE.OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU ALL. COMMISSIONER SCORCHED.

UNDER MY AGENDA WE ARE GOOD. PRECINCT 1? PRECINCT 2?

>>. [INAUDIBLE] PRECINCT 4?

>> OH. >> I WANT TO MAKE SURE IF THERE IS A ÃTHOSE WERE DEALT WITH I WANTED TO MAKE SURE.

>> EMERGENCY SUPPLEMENTAL. >>.

[INAUDIBLE] >> OKAY. NO ACTION ON THIS ONE.

>>. [INAUDIBLE] WE ARE NOT OBJECTING AT ALL

>> OKAY. >>.

[INAUDIBLE] >> APPROVE. [INDISCERNIBLE]

>> WHICH ITEM IS THIS? ALL IN FAVOR?

>> COMMISSIONER GARCIA, SECOND BY COMMISSIONER ELLIS.LL IN FAVOR?

ITEM 4 UNDER COMMISSIONER PRECINCT 2. >> THIS IS SO YOU CAN DO FUN STUFF IN THE PARKS. HOW ABOUT. [INDISCERNIBLE]?

>> OPPOSED? >> SECOND.

[07:25:04]

>> ALL RIGHT YOU ALL. LET'S KEEP GOING. SO WE ARE VOTING ON ITEM NUMBER FOUR UNDER COMMISSIONER PRECINCT NUMBER TWO AND SAYING SUBJECT TO REVIEW BY THE COUNTY ATTORNEY. MOTION BY COMMISSIONER GARCIA. ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.

LET'S KEEP GOING DOWN THE AGENDA.

[Item II (Part 2 of 2)]

>> UNDER SUPPLEMENTAL ITEMS WE HAVE BEEN THROUGH ALL OF THEM ALREADY.

OKAY LET'S GO BACK TO EACH OF THEM. SO WE DON'T MAKE A MISTAKE.

NUMBER ONE WE DISCUSSED WITH THE COUNTY CLERK. NUMBER TWO IS A RESOLUTION WE APPROVE NUMBER THREE COUNTY CLERK.UMBER FOUR, IS ANYONE OPPOSED TO A FLYING SQUIRREL?

>> IFIS ITS NAME ROCKY? >> NUMBER FIVE IS THE APPOINTMENT THAT WE MADE EARLIER TODAY. SHE IS A CULTURAL COMMISSION AND NUMBER SIX WE DISCUSSED. PUBLIC HEARINGS. ON PAGE 21 WE HAVE ONE ITEM I

[Item III]

>> I HAVE MR. [INAUDIBLE] >> THE. [INDISCERNIBLE] COMMUNITY WAS CONCERNED ABOUT ÃARE YOU IDENTIFIED THAT THERE WAS A PROCESS.

[INDISCERNIBLE] >>. [INAUDIBLE] [INAUDIBLE]

>> OKAY THANK YOU. >> NO SPEAKERS.S THERE A

MOTION? >> MOTION BY COMMISSIONER ELLIS. DO WE HAVE A SECOND? ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY.

I WILL NOW CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING. EXECUTIVE SESSION, DO FOLKS NEED TO GO TO EXECUTIVE SESSION ON THE SEARCH COMMITTEE FOR A PERMANENT CST DIRECTOR?

>> NO. >> DO FOLKS NEED TO GO TO EXECUTIVE COMMISSION ON PRECINCT TO APPOINTMENT TO THE AFRICAN-AMERICAN CULTURAL HERITAGE COMMISSION? AND THEN, COURT OF DISTRICT JUDGES.

[Item IV]

>> DO WE HAVE ANY SPEAKERS? >> YES.

WHY DON'T WE DISCUSS AND THEN WE CAN COME BACK. LET'S DO THAT.

SO LET'S VOTE ON, WE CAN MOVE THE AGENDA EXCEPT FOR ITEM 3 UNDER EXECUTIVE SESSION.

>> SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR? AYE.

OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY. IT IS 7 PM.

REALLY? AND WE ARE GOING TO GO TO EXECUTIVE SESSION TO CONSULT

>> IT IS THE ADVICE OF THE HARRIS COUNTY ATTORNEY THAT AN ORDER FOR THIS COURT TO COMPLY WITH THE OPEN COURT PROVISION OF THE TEXAS CONSTITUTION, IT IS NECESSARY FOR THIS COURT TO EXCEED THE STATUTORY SET BY TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE SECTION 52.051. YOUR HONOR, IN LIGHT OF THE NEED FOR US TO BE IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE OPEN COURT PROVISION OF OUR

CONSTITUTION,. >> WHICH WOULD PREVAIL OVER STATUTE, I WOULD MAKE THE MOTION THAT WE INCREASE THE COURT REPORTER SALARY TO THE AVERAGE TOP THREE COUNTIES IN THE STATE.

THAT WOULD BE INCREASE OF 39.08%.

>> WHICH WOULD INCREASE THEIR SALARIES TO $117,853,000 A YEAR.

>> SECOND. >> ALL IN FAVOR.

>> OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES.

>> THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH. >> WE RECOGNIZE HOW IMPORTANT

YOU ARE. >> YOU WANT TO SPEAK AND CONVINCE US OTHERWISE? MY NAME IS BARBARA AND I'M THE

JUDGE OF THE 280 DISTRICT COURT. >> THE BOARD OF JUDGES PUT A LOT OF THOUGHT IN TO WHAT WE PROPOSE AND JUDGE WAS HERE.

I THINK HE STEPPED OUT. >> I STAYED BECAUSE I WANTED YOU ALL TO KNOW HOW VALUABLE THE WORK THAT OUR COURT REPORTERS DO. I CANNOT DO MY JOB WITHOUT MY

COURT REPORTER. >> I CAN'T.

EVERY SINGLE DAY IS A TRIAL IN MY COURT.

[07:30:01]

>> IF I DON'T HAVE A COURT REPORTER, I CAN'T HOLD COURT.

ACCESS TO JUSTICE DOESN'T GET DONE.

AS I SAID, WE PUT A LOT OF THOUGHT IN TO THE NUMBER.

WE FIGURED OUT WHAT THEY WOULD HAVE BEEN MAKING HAD THEY GOT ALL THE RAISES THEY SHOULD HAVE GOTTEN AND THAT'S THE NUMBER WE CAME UP WITH 126. I WOULD ASK THAT YOU RECONSIDER.

>> AND I WOULD ASK THAT YOU PAY THEM EXACTLY WHAT THEY ARE WORTH. WHICH IS $126,000.

>> BECAUSE WITHOUT THEM, THOSE COURTS ARE GOING TO SHUT DOWN AND WITHOUT THEM WE HAVE NO JUSTICE.

>> ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU GUYS SO MUCH.

I THINK WE APPRECIATE -- YES. >> OF COURSE.

YES. FOLKS, EVERYONE IS WELCOME TO

SPEAK. >> WHY DON'T I JUST CALL EVERYONE UP. THE JUDGE BAKER JUDGE ENGLE

HART. >> DAY.

STEPHANIE WELLS. >> CHRIS FELDMAN.

>> MARK MILLER. >> AND JUDGE HOROWITZ.

>> THANK YOU, JUDGE, AND COMMISSIONERS.

>> I'M JUST JAMES HOR -- HOROWITZ COURT.

ADMINISTRATIVE JUDGE FOR THE PROBATE COURTS.

I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR THE TIME YOU TOOK IN EVALUATING THIS SITUATION. I WANT TO ECHO THE PREVIOUS JUDGE'S COMMENTS ON HOW IMPORTANT OUR COURT REPORTERS ARE. I JUST AS OF YESTERDAY BECOME A POSTER CHILD FOR THIS SITUATION. COURT REPORTER IN MY COURT HAS DISCOVERED SHE HAS A MEDICAL PROBLEM AND COULD BE OUT FOR

FOUR TO SIX WEEKS. >> WE HAVE VERY FEW SUBSTITUTES THAT WE CAN GET. I ALSO HAVE ADDITIONAL DOCKET WHERE I'M AT THE HARRIS COUNTY PSYCHIATRIC CENTER EVERY MONDAY WITH A COURT REPORTER. I HAVE TO DO THAT.

>> I NEED A COURT REPORTER. INCREASE YOU ARE CONSIDERING WILL HELP ATTRACT MORE PEOPLE TO THIS JOB SO THAT WE CAN FILL THE

SLOTS THAT WE NEED. >> I WANT TO THANK YOU VERY MUCH

FOR YOUR TIME AND CONSIDERATION. >> THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. >> WE APPRECIATE YOUR SUPPORT AND WE APPRECIATE THIS MUCH NEEDED SALARY ADJUSTMENT.

>> WE UNDERSTAND HOW THE JUDGES FEEL.

WE DON'T WANT THEM TO FEEL WE HAVE UNDERMINED THEM.

WE ARE ASK. WE ARE HAPPY WITH THAT.

WE ARE LOOKING TO THE FUTURE NOW AND MAKING THINGS BETTER.

HOPEFULLY IN HARRIS COUNTY AND WE HOPE WE CAN GET ON A TRACK AND HOPEFULLY HAVE TO WORK THIS OUT WITH THE.

S. BUT TO CONTINUE TO RECEIVE INCREASES IN THE FUTURE SO WE CAN GET UP TO MARKET WITH OTHER LARGE COUNTIES, AND HOPEFULLY WE CAN DO THAT IN THE FUTURE AND STILL BE OPEN TO CONSIDERING THAT IN THE FUTURE.

>> SO WE JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

>> OTHER LARGE COUNTIES. THIS IS THE AVERAGE OF THE TOP THREE COUNTIES. YES IT IS BUT I'M JUST SAYING COUNTIES THAT ARE 2 MILLION MORE.

LARGER IN POPULATION THAN WE ARE ALREADY BETWEEN 125 AND 128.

>> THAT'S WHAT I MEAN. >> DALLAS, COLIN COUNTY.

DENTON. >> I'M SORRY.

2 MILLION LESS THAN WE ARE. WE ARE 2 MILLION MORE IN

POPULATION. >> BUT -- I WANT THE JUDGES TO FEEL THAT WE DIDN'T APPRECIATE THE NUMBER THAT THEY APPROVED OR

RECOMMENDED. >> I KNOW YOUR NAME.

CAROL CORONADO. THANK YOU.

YOU ARE WELCOME. THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH.

>> THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU ALL.

ANYONE ELSE WHO WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK? WE JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU. THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH.

OKAY. SO NOW WE HAVE SPEAKERS NOT ON

[Item V]

THE AGENDA. >> CHRIS EMERSON.

>> STEVE WILLIAMS. >> KEVIN WARD.

GO AHEAD. >> MY NAME IS ANN PEARL MOSLEY SIMMONS AND I HAVE BEEN IN HERE TALKING ABOUT THE GOINGS ON PUT THE MONEY BACK ON MY CARD THAT THEY TOOK AX TOOK FRAUDULENTLY.

>> AND I MEAN BACK IN MY ACCOUNT AND HOME SERVE PARTNER OF THE UTILITY COMPANY SENT ELECTRICIANS OUT BUT TO NO

[07:35:03]

A L OORK. SO FALSIFIED MY RECORDS.

WELFARE LIKE 55 YEARS AND BEFORE IT WAS WELFARE, IT WAS COMMODITY IES AND ALL THAT GOOD CHEESE AND STUFF AND NOW WE GET THE CHEESE AND WELFARE. I FEEL LIKE SHE WAS TRYING TO SEND ME UP THE RIVER. HOW WOULD SHE LIKE IF SOMEBODY DID HER LIKE THAT. THEY GOT IT ALL CLEARED UP.

SO NOW THEY CLEARED IT UP THE SAME DAY.

SO THEY GOT A STRAIGHT AND ON THESE OTHER PEOPLE I JUST WONDER WHY ALWAYS HAVE TO GO TO THE LAW FOR EVERYTHING. WHY DID I HAVE TO GO TO THE LORD FOR EVERYTHING. MAKE ME THAT.

THEY HAD TO MAKE ME A BIRTH CERTIFICATE.

WHY DO I HAVE TO GO TO THEM FOR EVERYTHING.

TO THE MEN. TO THE WHITE MEN.

WHY? WHY? WHY? WHY IS THAT? I HAD TO GO TO THE TO MAKE ME A BIRTH CERTIFICATE BECAUSE I WAS BORN ON THE FLOOR AT BY A MID WIFE.

SHE DIDN'T KNOW -- AND WHY, NOW WHY I HAVE TO GO WHEN I HAVE BEEN DRIVING SINCE I WAS SEVEN YEARS OLD AND GOT MY DRIVER'S LICENSE AT 18 AND NOW I AM ALMOST -- WHY I HAVE TO GO, WHY I HAVE TO GET A BIRTH CERTIFICATE.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU FOR COMING BY.

>> YOU ALL RINGING ON ME. THANK YOU.

>> YOU ALL BEEN QUOTING THE SCRIPTURE NOW THAT WHICH JOIN WITH GOD IS JOINED TOGETHER LET NO MAN PUT ASUNDER.

>> THANK YOU.

>> STEVE WILLIAMS KEVIN WARD, SCOTT CARTER.

>> JOHN MARSTON AND CARMEN YVONNE.

>> GO AHEAD. >> IT IS AN HONOR.

CHRIS EMERSON AND I AM FROM COMMISSIONER ELLIS AREA AND AND I WOULD LIKE TO SAY FIRST AND FOREMOST GIVE HONOR TO PROVIDENCE AND GIVE HONOR AND RESPECT TO THIS HONORABLE

COMMISSIONER'S COURT. >> HARRIS COUNTY IS A COUNTY OF FAMILIES AND I HAVE BEEN HERE ALL MORNING AND I WANT YOU ALL TO UNDERSTAND THAT YOU ALL ARE FAMILY AND I HEARD THE HONORABLE COMMISSIONER GARCIA SAY HE DOESN'T HAVE ANYTHING AGAINST INDIVIDUALS THAT IS ON THIS PANEL.

NOW I AM A CIVIL RIGHTS ACTIVIST.

I HAVE NO CHOICE BECAUSE I COME UNDER THE UMBRELLA OF THE

HONORABLE DR. THOMAS FRIEDMAN. >> I DON'T KNOW IF ANY OF YOU KNOW HIM OR NOT BUT HE IS A VERY STRONG INDIVIDUAL AND I'M THE POSTER CHILD OF WRONGFUL CONVICTIONS.

>> NOW, THE HONORABLE GARCIA HAS BEEN IN THE PAPER RECENTLY AND HE MADE A VERY STRONG STATEMENT. IT TOOK COURAGE.

SOME TIMES YOU ARE GUILTY UNTIL PROVEN INNOCENT.

ALSO WE NEED TO BE ON THE RIGHT SIDE AND RIGHT PAGE OF HISTORY.

>> MAKE TOUGH DECISIONS WHILE WE ARE HERE.

>> MY MOM DIED. AND AS HE KNOWS WE HAVE GOOD

COPS AND YOU ALSO HAVE BAD COPS. >> BUT I WANT YOU TO UNDERSTAND IS THAT WE DON'T HAVE THE RESOURCES THAT WE ACTUALLY NEED WE ARE WRONGFULLY CONVICTED. HARRIS COUNTY LEADS THE NATION IN WRONGFUL CONVICTION BUT ALSO LEADS THE NATION IN EXONERATIONS. THESE GRANDMOTHERS AND THESE MOTHERS AS MINE THEY SUFFER. THEY SUFFER IN SILENCE.

THIS YOUNG LADY RIGHT HERE I BROUGHT HER UP HERE.

ASK THAT YOU LISTEN TO HER BECAUSE FEW THINGS PUBLICIZED ON

[07:40:09]

TV AND SOME THINGS AREN'T. >> GOOD EVENING.

MY NAME IS ANGELA JOHNSON A MINISTER HERE IN HARRIS COUNTY.

A RESIDENCE. I WAS BORN HERE.

I HAVE BEEN HERE ALL MY LIFE. >> I HAVE THREE SONS AND I HAVE ONE SON THAT WAS -- WENT THROUGH TRIAL LAST WEEK IN FEDERAL COURTS AND HE HAD A GUILTY VERDICT AND I HAVE BEEN TOYING WITH THIS FOR TWO YEARS NOW. I HAVE JOIN -- MY BANK ACCOUNTS DWINDLED. 10 JOBS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR SIDE JOBS THINKING OF ANYTHING I CAN DO TO HUSTLE AND MAKE MONEY IN ORDER TO SUPPORT MY KIDS AND MY GRANDCHILDREN.

BECAUSE IF THEY ARE IN THE -- YOUNG MEN HE THEY ARE NOT HERE TO SUPPORT THEIR CHILDREN SO THAT LEAVES ME BECAUSE THE FATHERS ARE NOT INVOLVED. I AM.

I HAVE BEEN TO TDC, YES, I HAVE. I HAVE BEEN, WORKED IN A LAW LIBRARY. YES, I HAVE.

AND I HAVE BEEN HONOREE FOR GRAVES AND ALSO SPOKE ON PAP ELSE -- PANELS. THAT'S WHY I AM FIGHTING FOR MY CHILDREN. MR. EMERSON INVITED ME TO SPEAK SO YOU GUYS WOULD KNOW WHAT IS GOING ON.

NOW THE PROBLEM THAT I'M HAVING IS THAT I CAN'T GET A TRANSCRIPT

BECAUSE IT'S VERY COSTLY. >> TO GET A TRANSCRIPT.

>> REASON BEING BECAUSE I CAN'T AFFORD IT.

>> NOW I WAS TOLD ONCE MY SON WAS CONVICTED AND HE NO LONGER HAS AN ATTORNEY THAT MAKES HIM INDIGENT.

>> I DON'T SEE A REASON WHY I CAN'T GET A TRANSCRIPT IN ORDER

TO SUPPORT HIM. >> AND TRYING TO FIND OUT WHAT HAPPENED, I HAVE BEEN WORKING ON HIS CASE MYSELF.

I DO KNOW THE FACTS AND I HAVE COMPARED AND I FEEL THAT I JUST NEED SOME HELP I NEED TO KNOW WHAT YOU DO ABOUT THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE REFORM HERE. HAVE SOMEBODY OFF MY STAFF FOLLOW UP WITH YOU. MAYBE THE INNOCENCE CLINIC CAN HELP YOU BUT AT LEAST I WILL TRY TO GET YOU SOME ANSWERS HOW YOU CAN GET A TRANSCRIPT IF THAT'S POSSIBLE.

WE FINISH, I HAVE SOMEBODY COME FIND YOU.

>> YES, SIR. THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>> THE -- THANK YOU. ANYONE ELSE TO SPEAK?

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.