>> LINA HIDALGO: IT IS 10:01 AND I WOULD LIKE TO CALL THIS MEETING TO ORDER.
[00:00:08]
IT IS THE JULY 28TH MEETING OF COMMISSIONER'S COURT TO ORDER.>> R JACK CAGLE: YOUR HONOR, PASTOR JOHNNIE-MUSQUIZ IS GOING TO BE INTRODUCED BY HIS EMPLOYER, OUR OWN COMMISSIONER GARCIA.
AIDE >> ADRIAN GARCIA: THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER CAGLE.
I THANK YOU FOR THE PRIVILEGE OF RECOGNIZING AND INTRODUCING PASTOR -- WELL, YEAH IN ALL MY ROLES AND DAYS WITH THE ANTI-GANG OFFICE AND CITY COUNCIL AND AS SHERIFF AND AS COMMISSIONER, I HAVE ALWAYS PURSUED THE RELATIONSHIP WITH THE FAITH-BASED COMMUNITY AND I HAVE STRIVED TO HAVE MINISTERIAL ADVISORIES IN EACH OF THE ROLES OF GUIDING OUR HEARTS, MINDS AND POLICIES.
AS I STARTED THIS NEW ENDEAVOR AS COMMISSIONER OF PRECINCT 2 I HAD MET PASTOR MUSQUIZ DURING MY JOB INTERVIEW FOR THIS ROLE AND FELL IN LOVE WITH HIM THE FIRST DAY I MET HIM.
WE HAD BREAKFAST AND WE TALKED A BIT.
YOU GOTTA LOVE A PASTOR THAT SITS DOWN AND SAYS, HEY, MAN, WHAT'S GOING ON? JUST TRYING TO BE VERY, VERY CLOSE TO THE GROUND.
PASTOR MUSQUIZ, JOHNNIE-MUSQUIZ IS A BUFFALO.
HE GRADUATED FROM MILBY HIGH SCHOOL IN 1968.
AND THEN HE JOINED THE HOUSTON POLICE DEPARTMENT IN FEBRUARY OF 1970, BUT RECOGNIZING HE COULD DO MORE FOR HUMANITY AS A SOCIETY AND THROUGH THE MINISTRY LEFT AFTER FOUR YEARS TO STUDY FOR THE MINISTRY AND GRADUATED FROM UNIVERSITY IN 1977 WITH A BACHELOR'S IN THEOLOGY.
THIS MINISTERIAL CAREER STARTED AS PASTOR OF THE FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH IN PRECINCT 2 AS WELL.
IN 1978 HE FOUNDED A HISPANIC CONGREGATION.
HE WOULD PASTOR FOR THE LAST 22 YEARS.
HE WOULD ALSO PASTOR AT A BAPTIST CHURCH FOR 18 MORE AND HE CONTINUED TO PURSUE HIS EDUCATION WITH A MASTER'S IN THEOLOGY IN 1985 AND SUBSEQUENTLY A MASTER'S IN RELIGIOUS EDUCATION FROM SOUTHWESTERN SEMINARY IN 1991.
HE HAS ALSO SERVED ON THE BAPTIST GENERAL CONVENTION OF TEXAS, BOARD OF DIRECTORS, AND THE HISPANIC BAPTIST CONVENTION BOARD OF DIRECTORS.
PASTOR MUSQUIZ RETIRED AFTER 40 YEARS IN MINISTRY.
HE JOINED MY OFFICE AND MEETING RELATIONS TEAM EARLY LAST YEAR WHERE HE WORKS WITH THE CHURCHES IN PRECINCT 2.
I AM SO HONORED TO HAVE PASTOR MUSQUIZ LEAD US IN PRAYER.
>> LINA HIDALGO: PASTOR, GO AHEAD.
>> LINA HIDALGO: PASTOR, CAN YOU HEAR US ALL RIGHT?
>> LINA HIDALGO: WE MAY HAVE LOST HIM, LUCINDA.
>> WE'LL TRY TO CONNECT HIM RIGHT NOW.
IN THE MEANTIME LET'S GET GOING WITH ONE OF OUR RESOLUTIONS.
[I. Departments (Part 1 of 4 )]
THIS IS A RESOLUTION ON PAGE 21 UNDER COUNTY JUDGE.TODAY IT IS ABOUT CELEBRATING THE LIFE OF BEN PRICE.
WHEREAS BEN WILSON PRICE WAS A DEDICATED PUBLIC SERVANT WHO SPENT 19 YEARS OF SERVICE AT THE HARRIS COUNTY LAW LIBRARY.
HE PROVIDED SUPPORT AND ENCOURAGEMENT.
[00:05:02]
DURING HIS CAREER HE REPRESENTED THOUSANDS OF SELF-LIT GANTS, ATTORNEYS RNTION JUDGES AND FELLOW PUBLIC SERVANTS.HIS CURIOSITY LEAD TO KISS COVER RES AND MATERIALS IN THE LAW LIBRARY COLLECTION.
HE WAS BORN TO THE LATE PERRY PRIDE AND LOUIS WILSON PRIDE IN DEQUENN, ARKANSAS.
PASSED AWAY JUNE 25TH, 2020 NEAR HIS HOME AND SURVIVED BY HIS SISTER ELIZABETH LLOYD AND HER HUSBAND AND THEIR DAUGHTER.
AND WHEREAS MANY COUNTY EMPLOYEES AND PEOPLE ACROSS HARRIS COUNTY HAVE BEEN IMPACTED BY BEN'S LOSS AND HE IS REMEMBERED AS A DEDICATED PUBLIC SERVANT, FRIEND AND SOMEONE WHO FELT DEEP SIM -- SYMPATHY FOR THOSE IN NEED, WHATEVER THEIR NEED MAY BE AND FELT DRIVEN TO HELP AND NOW BE IT RESOLVED HARRIS COUNTY COMMISSIONER'S COURT RECOGNIZES BEN WILSON PRIDE FOR HIS 19 YEARS OF DEDICATED SERVICE TO HARRIS COUNTY.
>> LINA HIDALGO: AND WE SEND CONDOLENCES TO FAMILY, FRIENDS, COLLEAGUES, AND LET ME JUST SAY, YOU KNOW, WHAT AN INCREDIBLE PERSON AND INCREDIBLE PROFESSION.
I HAVE BEAUTIFUL MEMORIES OF LIBRARIES GROWING UP.
I KNOW HOW MUCH OUR LAW LIBRARY DOES AND IT IS SELF-LESS WORK.
IT IS TRULY PUBLIC SERVANT WORK.
IT GOES BEYOND BOOKS AND SUPPORTING THE COMMUNITY WITH ALL KINDS OF NEEDS.
IT IS REALLY A SAD LOSS, BUT IT IS IMPORTANT TO CELEBRATE THE BEAUTIFUL LIFE AND THE BEAUTIFUL SERVICE THAT HE OFFERED TO OUR COMMUNITY AND THAT ALL OF OUR LIBRARY IS AND LIBRARY STAFF OFFER TO OUR COMMUNITY.
THANK YOU TO ALL AND OUR HEARTS GO OUT TO THE FAMILY AND FRIENDS AND COLLEAGUES.
>> WE DO HAVE THE PASTOR BACK ON THE LINE.
CAN I ASK YOU TO TURN UP YOUR MIC A LITTLE BIT, PLEASE.
[Opening prayer by Pastor Johnnie Musquiz retired from Iglesia Bautista Houston SBC in Houston.]
>> AS WE COME INTO YOUR HOLY PRESENCE TODAY, LORD, MAKE OUR THOUGHTS AND ACTIONS BE IN ACCORDANCE WITH YOUR WORD.
GIVE OUR CON COMMISSIONERS -- COUNTY COMMISSIONERS WISDOM FROM ABOVE AS THEY ADVISE THEIR COMMUNITIES.
HELP THEM REACH OUT TO THE LEAST OF THESE AND CONCENTRATE NOT ON THEMSELVES, BUT THOSE THAT ARE THE LESS FORTUNATE AS THEY MAKE THE DECISIONS FOR TODAY.
MAY YOUR WORD GUIDE AND DIRECT THEM TOWARD FAITH.
YOU AS YOU HAVE DONE TO THE LEAST YOU HAVE DONE TO ME.
GUIDE THEIR THOUGHTS AND ACTIONS THAT THEY MAKE DECISIONS ALWAYS AND THE FINAL DECISIONS WITH MERCY AND GRACE.
HELP THEM IN THE LORD'S PRAYER WHERE IT IS SAFE.
THY KINGDOM COME, THY WILL BE DONE ON EARTH AS IT IS IN HEAVEN.
USE THEM TO ENHANCE YOUR WORDS AND YOUR KINGDOM AS THEY MAKE DECISIONS FOR ALL.
MAY THEIR MOTIVES BE TRUE AND CLEAR AND ALWAYS SEEKING TO PROTECT THOSE EMBRACED IN THE PAST.
I WANT TO THANK YOU, GOD, WHILE YOU HAVE EXPERIENCE AND KNOWLEDGE.
MAY WE IN HARRIS COUNTY HELP THEM IN OFFICE AND WORK.
YOUR WORD SAYS WE NEED TO PRAY FOR ALL OF THOSE WHO HAVE AUTHORITY OVER US.
MAY WE NEVER DIMINISH OUR RESPONSIBILITY AND OUR DUTIES.
I WANT TO PRAY FOR ALL OF THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN EXPOSED TO THE COVID-19 VIRUS.
WE PRAY FOR YOUR HEALING HAND UPON EACH AND EVERY ONE OF THEM.
GIVE THEM COURAGE AND GRACE AS THEY CONFRONT THIS DEADLY VIRUS.
OUR PRAYERS ALSO GO OUT TO THE FAMILIES AND THE LOVED ONES WHOSE MEMBERS HAVE BEEN EXPOSED AND ARE CAREGIVERS.
GIVE THEM STRENGTH AND GRACE TO CONTINUE TO GO FORWARD.
FOR THE RELIGIOUS LEADERS AND POLITICAL LEADERS AND I WANT TO PRAY FOR ALL OF OUR FIRST RESPONDERS WHETHER THEY BE POLICEMEN, POLICE WOMEN, FIREMEN, FIRE WOMEN, DOCTORS, NURSES AND OTHERS WHO MINISTER ON A DAILY BASIS AS THEY CONTINUE TO DO THE WORK YOU CALL THEM TO DO.
THEY NEED OUR PRAYERS AS WELL AS OUR PRAISE.
[00:10:01]
I WOULD LIKE TO FINISH THIS PRAYER BY SAYING WE HAVE NO BIGGER RESPONSIBILITY THAN TO PRAY ONE FOR ANOTHER, FOR WHEN WE DO WE ARE FULFILLING THE COMMAND TO LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF, AND WE ASK ALL OF THIS IN YOUR NAME, IN THE NAME OF OUR LORD AND SAVIOR, JESUS CHRIST.>> ADRIAN GARCIA: AMEN, THANK YOU, PASTOR.
>> LINA HIDALGO: THANK YOU SO MUCH, PASTOR.
WE HAVE ANOTHER RESOLUTION, COMMISSIONER CAGLE, I BELIEVE THIS IS YOURS.
[I. Departments (Part 2 of 4)]
>> R JACK CAGLE: YES, YOUR HONOR.
THIS IS A SAD ONE, YOUR HONOR, AND IT IS IN HONOR OF DEPUTY CORNELIUS ANDERSON.
WHEREAS AT THE AGE OF 28 HARRIS COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE CADET CORNELIUS ANDERSON PASSED AWAY AFTER A MEDICAL EMERGENCY DURING PHYSICAL TRAINING FOR A BASIC PEACE OFFICER'S CORP AT THE ACADEMY.
CORNELIUS ANDERSON GRADUATED FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON AND WORKED AS A DETENTION OFFICER FOR THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE SINCE 2019 AND CADET CORNELIUS ANDERSON WAS WELL LOVED BY HIS FAMILY AND FRIENDS FOR BEING LOYAL, STRONG, KIND AND DEVOTED, CADET ANDERSON ALWAYS FOLLOWED HIS DREAMS. EVERYONE WHO KNEW HIM WELL KNEW IT WAS HIS LIFE'S DREAM TO BECOME A SHERIFF DEPUTY WITH THE LAST MEASURE OF HIS DEVOTION ACHIEVED HIS LIFE'S DREAM AS HE WAS NAMED AN HONORARY HARRIS COUNTY SHERIFF DEPUTY AND NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THE HARRIS COUNTY COMMISSIONER'S COURT RECOGNIZES AND HONORS DEPUTY CORNELIUS ANDERSON FOR HIS DEDICATION TO PROTECTING AND SERVING THE RESIDENTS OF HARRIS COUNTY WITH THE LAST FULL MEASURE OF HIS DEVOTION IN LIFE.
IT IS HERE BY ORDERED WE INCLUDE THIS RESOLUTION ON THE MINUTES OF THE COURT.
>> LINA HIDALGO: THANK YOU SO MUCH, COMMISSIONER.
>> R JACK CAGLE: YOUR HONOR THERE IS A NICE MESSAGE FROM SHARE -- SHERIFF ED GONZALEZ THAT WAS PUBLISHED THAT I ENCOURAGE FOLKS TO READ TO GIVE MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE CADET.
>> JUDGE, MS. ANDERSON IS ON THE LINE.
>> YES, MA'AM, WE CAN HEAR YOU.
>> WELL, I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO SAY.
I MEAN, THE GENTLEMAN JUST SAID THINGS ABOUT CORNELIUS THAT HE ALWAYS WANTED TO BE A POLICE OFFICER, AND I JUST -- I MISS HIM SO MUCH.
HE IS THE YOUNGEST CHILD AND HE WANTED TO BE A SHERIFF.
HE SAID HE WAS GONNA LIVE HIS DREAM AND BE WITH THE HARRIS COUNTY SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT.
I'M NOT UNDERSTANDING WHY HE WAS TAKEN FROM ME, YOU KNOW, BUT I DON'T HAVE ANYTHING ELSE TO SAY.
>> R JACK CAGLE: THANK YOU, MS. ANDERSON.
>> LINA HIDALGO: COMMISSIONER GARCIA.
>> ADRIAN GARCIA: THANK YOU, JUDGE.
THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER CAGLE.
MS. ANDERSON, JUST KNOW THAT OUR HEARTS ARE VERY HEAVY FOR YOU AND YOUR FAMILY, BUT AS IS OUR SYSTEM, CORNELIUS IS A MEMBER OF THE HARRIS COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE.
ALTHOUGH HE LEFT AS YOU ALL TOO SOON, HE WILL NEVER BE FORGOTTEN.
I KNOW SHERIFF GONZALEZ AND MEMBERS OF THE HARRIS COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE FEEL THIS LOSS ALMOST AS MUCH AS YOU AND YOUR FAMILY DID.
AND SO I JUST WANT TO LET YOU KNOW THAT WE ARE PRAYING FOR YOU AND CORNELIUS WILL LIVE ON IN THE HARRIS COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE.
THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING HIM TO PURSUE HIS DREAM.
>> RODNEY ELLIS: THANK YOU COMMISSIONER CAGLE FOR BRINGING IT FORWARD.
WE WANT TO SAY WE LOVE YOU AND WE ARE HERE FOR YOU.
JUST KNOW WE CAN FEEL WHAT YOU FEEL.
WE WANT YOU TO KNOW WE CARE ABOUT YOU AND YOUR FAMILY AND STAY IN TOUCH WITH US.
YOU ARE FAMILY AND WE LOVE YOU.
>> LINA HIDALGO: THANK YOU, MS. ANDERSON AND OUR HEARTS GO OUT TO YOU AND YOUR FAMILY.
IF YOU -- THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER FOR THIS RESOLUTION.
>> LINA HIDALGO: SO I BELIEVE THAT IS ALL FOR THE RESOLUTIONS THIS MORNING.
TWO VERY, VERY SAD ONES, BUT IT IS IMPORTANT TO REMEMBER.
[00:15:04]
LET'S MOVE ON TO THE COVID ITEMS. THAT SECTION BEGINS ON PAGE 22.THE FIRST IS A LEASE AGREEMENT FOR A BUILDING OF PUBLIC HEALTH, CONTACT TRACERS.
DO FOLKS HAVE QUESTIONS ON THIS?
>> ADRIAN GARCIA: I WOULD LIKE TO APPROVE THIS ITEM SUBJECT TO A QUICK CONVERSATION MAYBE I CAN HAVE WITH JOHN BLOUNT'S OFFICE.
I WAS CONTACTED BY SOMEONE WHO REALLY WANTS TO MAKE A VERY, VERY GENEROUS OFFER, I THINK IT IS.
IT IS ESSENTIALLY NEAR FREE LEASE SPACE TO AND APPARENTLY A SIGNIFICANT FOOTPRINT.
IT IS IN A VERY EFFECTIVE AREA OF THE COUNTY.
I THINK IT IS IN PRE -- PRECINCT 3.
I WOULD LIKE TO GET THEM IN TOUCH WITH MR. BLOUNT TO SEE IF THAT IS A RELATIONSHIP THAT CAN SAVE SOME MONEY, BUT ALLOW PUBLIC HEALTH TO HAVE SOME CAPACITY.
>> LINA HIDALGO: YES, GO AHEAD, COMMISSIONER CAGLE.
>> R JACK CAGLE: FOR CLARIFICATION, ARE YOU REQUESTING THAT WE PULL THIS ITEM UNTIL I GUESS OUR AUGUST 6TH MEETING WHICH IS 10 DAYS FROM NOW?
>> I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE I AM NOT UP AND I BELIEVE WE CAN WORK ON THESE ITEMS CONCURRENTLY.
IF THERE TURNS OUT TO BE A RELATIONSHIP THAT CAN BE CREATED AND IT WON'T COST US ANY MONEY, THEN I THINK WE CAN EFFECTIVELY JUST CANCEL THIS LEASE BEFORE WE TAKE USE OF IT.
WOULD THAT BE ACCURATE, ROBERT SU -- RONT -- ROBERT OR JOHN?
I RECOMMEND WE APPROVE IT SUBJECT TO ME TRYING TO NEGOTIATE A BETTER DEAL WITH THIS OTHER ORGANIZATION.
THAT WAY IF FOR SOME REASON IT FALLS APART WE HAVEN'T SLOWED ANYTHING DOWN.
>> ADRIAN GARCIA: I WOULD AGREE.
>> LINA HIDALGO: COMMISSIONER ELLIS?
>> RODNEY ELLIS: AND COMMISSIONER GARCIA, IF YOU CAN, JUST LET US ALL KNOW.
OBVIOUSLY IF YOU GET A BETTER DEAL LET US KNOW COLLECTIVELY.
WE DORCHT -- WE DON'T WANT TO DELAY IT IF IT IS A BETTER DEAL, ABSOLUTELY.
JUST LET US KNOW, JOHN BLOUNT.
>> LINA HIDALGO: JAMES, DID YOU GET THAT? IT IS SUBJECT TO JOHN BLOUNT REVIEWING IF THERE IS A BETTER OPTION WITH THIS RECOMMENDATION BY COMMISSIONER GARCIA.
>> APPROVED SUBJECT TO REVIEW BY THE COUNTY ENGINEER.
DOES THAT WORK, COMMISSIONER GARCIA?
ITEM B IS AN AGREEMENT WITH HOUSTON BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT, INC.
FOR THE ADMINISTRATION OF A SMALL BUSINESS RECOVERY FUND.
ANY QUESTIONS HERE? I BELIEVE THIS IS JUST THE DISPERSEMENT PROCESS.
>> ADRIAN GARCIA: HOUSEKEEPING.
>> RODNEY ELLIS: IF WE WANT TO MOVE IT DOWN WE CAN SEE IF ANYBODY HAS ANY PROBLEMS WITH THEM.
>> LINA HIDALGO: THAT IS WHAT WOULD BE EASIER, COMMISSIONER ELLIS.
UNLESS WE HAVE A PROBLEM WE WILL VOTE ON THEM ALTOGETHER.
NOT A PROBLEM, BUT A DISCUSSION.
ANYWAY, PAGE 23, ITEM 2 IS FUNDS TO BE ALLOCATED IN THE PICK FUND FOR COVID-RELATED EXPENSES TO CERTAIN COUNTY DEPARTMENTS.
LET ME KNOW IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS.
>> R JACK CAGLE: YOUR HONOR, I HAVE A BRIEF QUESTION.
>> R JACK CAGLE: MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT THESE ARE EKDZ PENNED TOURS COME -- EXPENDITURES COMING OUT OF THE PIC FUND AND WILL ULTIMATELY BE REIMBURSED UNDER OUR CARES ACT OR OUT OF FEMA.
I JUST WANTED -- I THINK THIS PARTICULAR ALLOCATION IS AROUND TWO PRECINCTS AND I AM IN FAVOR OF THE PROCESS.
I THINK WE ARE IN THE PROCESS OF SUBMITTING OUR EXPENDITURES.
THEY DIDN'T GET IN ON TIME TO BE ON THIS PARTICULAR AGENDA BUT WE ARE ALL DOING THE SAME THING AND USING THE SAME PROTOCOL THEN I AM FINE WITH THIS APPROACH.
>> LINA HIDALGO: COMMISSIONER ELLIS?
>> RODNEY ELLIS: IT IS A GOOD POINT.
[00:20:01]
WE STARTED THAT ONCE AND COMMISSIONER GAR SEE WANTED TO COME IN.WE DON'T RESTRICT AND NOR DOES COMMISSIONER GARCIA WHERE IT COMES FROM.
I THINK IT IS IMPORTANT TO USE THE SAME PROTOCOL BECAUSE FOLKS DON'T KNOW WHERE THE LINES ARE.
I DON'T THINK FOLKS ARE FROM THAT NEIGHBORHOOD BECAUSE IT IS ON SOCIAL MEDIA, SO THAT IS GOOD.
WE DON'T WANT PEOPLE IN PAIN TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHICH PRECINCT THEY LIVING IN.
>> RODNEY ELLIS: JUDGE, WE CAN'T HEAR YOU.
>> LINA HIDALGO: I SAID IT SOUNDS LIKE WE ARE GOOD ON THIS ONE UNLESS WE HAVE FUTURE REQUESTS.
ITEM 3 IS AN ORDER TO EXTEND THE ADDITIONAL 80 HOURS OF PAID LEAVE TO ALL REGULAR EMPLOYEES.
I BELIEVE WE DISCUSSED THIS AT THE LAST COURT WHERE WE SAID START WITH PUBLIC HEALTH AND FIRST RESPONDERS, LAW ENFORCEMENT AND EXTEND IT TO EVERYBODY.
SHANE, IS THERE ANYTHING TO ADHERE? -- TO ADD HERE?
>> LINA HIDALGO: YES, COMMISSIONER GARCIA.
>> ADRIAN GARCIA: I WILL ADDRESS IT AS WELL UNDER BUDGET MANAGEMENT, BUT I JUST WANT TO COMMEND SHANE.
THIS IS AN ITEM THAT I HAVE LONG WANTED TO SEE BE A PART OF HARRIS COUNTY EMPLOYEE SUPPORT SYSTEM AND WANTED TO SEE SICK LEAVE PULLED, BUT THE ITEM COMMISSIONER CAGLE PUT FORWARD LENDS TO THAT.
IF WE ARE EVER GOING TO HAVE SOMETHING LIKE THIS, REGRETFULLY THIS IS A TIME TO HAVE IT.
THIS IS REALLY GOING TO CHANGE THE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR OUR EMPLOYEES WHO ARE STRUGGLING WITH WHATEVER ILLNESS WHETHER IT IS COVID-19 TODAY, BUT IT WILL BE SOMETHING LITTLE TOMORROW.
AND AS WE JUST HEARD WITH BEN PRIDE WE HAVE A FAMILY HERE IN HARRIS COUNTY AND IT WILL ALLOW THIS FAMILY TO COME TOGETHER WHEN THEY HEAR THEIR FELLOW EMPLOYEES NEEDING THEIR HELP.
THIS IS ALL AN ITEM TO MOVE US IN THAT SAME DIRECTION.
JUST WANT TO COMMEND COMMISSIONER CAGLE FOR THIS AND SHANE FOR PUTTING THIS TOGETHER IN SHORT ORDER.
>> THANK YOU FOR THE COMPLIMENT.
ONE OTHER THING I ASK FOR IS THE COST ON THIS 80 HOURS HERE.
BELIEVE IT OR NOT, WE DON'T HAVE A LOT OF EMPLOYEES WHO HAVE EXHAUSTED ALL OF THEIR TIME.
I THINK IT IS $100,000, $200,000.
THIS SHOULD BRIDGE US UNTIL WE GET IT UP AND RUNNING.
THERE ARE PLANS AND PROCEDURES THAT HAVE TO BE WRITTEN, SO WE CAN TALK ABOUT THAT LATER IF YOU WANT TO.
>> LINA HIDALGO: COMMISSIONER ELLIS AND THEN COMMISSIONER CAGLE.
IT IS A GOOD IDEA, COMMISSIONERS.
SHANE, HOW DO WE LET THEM KNOW? DO YOU HAVE A PROCESS TO LET FOLKS KNOW ABOUT IT?
THIS WILL KICK IN ON SATURDAY AND SO WE WILL SEND THE COMMUNICATION OUT TO ALL OF THE DEPARTMENT HR REPRESENTATIVES AND SO THEY WILL ALL BE NOTIFIED OF THIS 80 HOURS, YES, SIR.
>> LINA HIDALGO: COMMISSIONER CAGLE?
>> R JACK CAGLE: THANK YOU SO MUCH.
THE COMPANION PIECE TO THIS IS UNDER BUDGET MANAGEMENT AND SO I ALSO WANT TO ECHO, I FEEL LIKE IN TERMS OF THIS INSTANCE WHERE WE ARE TRYING TO TAKE CARE OF EMPLOYEES WE HAVE THE LEFT LINE AND THE RIGHT SIDE AND THE LEFT SIDE OF THE OFFENSIVE LINE WORKING TOGETHER TO GET THE BALL INTO THE TOUCHDOWN TO TAKE CARE OF OUR EMPLOYEES.
BETWEEN THE EMPLOYEE POOL AND THIS TAKING CARE OF THE ADDITIONAL SICK LEAVE I THINK WE ARE GONNA DO RIGHT BY OUR EMPLOYEES.
AND SO I WANTED TO ALSO COMMEND NOT ONLY THE BUDGET OFFICERS, BUT COMMISSIONER GARCIA, YOUR STAFF HAS BEEN VERY HELPFUL IN WORKING WITH OUR STAFF IN GETTING ALL OF THESE DETAILS DONE.
SO I WANT TO COMMEND YOUR STAFF AND WORKING WITH US ON THIS TOO.
>> LINA HIDALGO: THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH.
[00:25:02]
THE NEXT ONE IS AUTHORIZATION TO ACCEPT DONATIONS BY PUBLIC HEALTH.ITEM D IS COMMUNITY SERVICES DEPARTMENT.
HERE -- SO 21D3 IS ADDITIONAL FUNDING $2 MILLION TO HELP PUBLIC HEALTH INITIATIVES IN RESPONSE TO COVID-19.
AND THIS IS FOR THE ASSISTED ISOLATION PROGRAM OF FIRST RESPONDERS AND OTHERS WHO HAVE NOWHERE TO ISOLATE, BUT HAVE THE VIRUS CAN HAVE A PLACE TO STAY.
JOSH, IS THERE SOMETHING LITTLE -- SOMETHING ELSE YOU WOULD LIKE TO SAY ABOUT THIS?
THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT THE MONEY IS GOING TO BE USED FOR.
THIS SHOULD GET US THROUGH SEPTEMBER 30TH, AND ALSO IT PROVIDES A LITTLE CUSHION IN THE EVENT WE HAVE TO OPEN UP ADDITIONAL SPACE FOR THE GENERAL POPULATION ISOLATION AND RECOVERY.
THE NEXT ONE IS ITEM E AND THAT IS THE REQUEST BY THE COUNTY CLERK FOR AUTHORIZATION TO TRANSFEREE ELECTIONS OPERATIONS TO HALL D OF NRG.
JADE >> ADRIAN GARCIA: NOT PARTICULARLY ON THIS ITEM, AND I SUPPORT THIS, BUT I WANTED TO COMMEND CHRIS HOLLINS FOR A PRETTY BORING ELECTION RUNOFF.
WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME WE HAD ONE OF THOSE? MR. HOLLINS, THANK YOU FOR STEPPING IN AND HELPING.
MY COMPLIMENTS TO YOU AND I APPRECIATE YOUR WORK.
>> LINA HIDALGO: COMMISSIONER ELLIS?
>> RODNEY ELLIS: I WANT TO ECHO COMMISSIONER GARCIA'S -- MR. HOLLIS HAS DONE A GREAT JOB OF THINKING OUTSIDE THE BOX.
EVEN WITH JUMPING OUT AND MAKING A CASE TO THE GOVERNOR TO EXTEND EARLY VOTING.
I THINK THAT FORWARD THINKING WILL BE A REAL PLUS.
IT WILL BE A LARGE TURNOUT AND A DIFFICULT ELECTION, BUT I WANT TO SAY FROM JUMP STREET AND GETTING OUT THERE.
COMMISSIONER GARCIA, GREAT NOMINATION AND COMMEND YOU AS WELL.
>> JUDGE, WE DO HAVE A SPEAKER ON THIS ITEM.
SOUNDS LIKE THEY MIGHT HAVE DROPPED, JUDGE.
>> LINA HIDALGO: WE'LL BRING THEM BACK IF YOU GET BACK UH HOLD OF THEM, LUCINDA.
ITEM F IS THE TRANSMITAL BY THE PURCHASING AGENT -- >> R JACK CAGLE: JUDGE, I'M SORRY.
I HAD A LITTLE QUICK COMMENT ON THE LAST ITEM AND I JUST DIDN'T GET MY LITTLE CARD UP FAST ENOUGH.
WE THINK WE ARE DOING SOMETHING NEW, BUT ONE OF THE ADVANTAGES/DISADVANTAGES OF NOT BEING HERE FOR AWHILE IS BACK IN THE DAY WHEN I WAS A PRECINCT CHAIR WE USED TO BRING OUR GEAR DOWN TO NRG.
IT WASN'T CALLED NRG AT THE TIME, BUT WE WOULD BRING IT DOWN TO THE COMPLEX DOWN THERE AT THE ASTROHALL.
>> LINA HIDALGO: HOPEFULLY IT MEANS IT WILL WORK.
ITEM G IS MY BROAD ITEM ON THE COVID-19 RESPONSE AND PANDEMIC.
DO FOLKS HAVE ANY COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS HERE? YES, COMMISSIONER GARCIA?
>> ADRIAN GARCIA: JUDGE, I KNOW WE ALWAYS MAKE MENTION OF IT, BUT I TELL YOU MY STAFF AND I WERE JUST TALKING ABOUT YOUR LEADERSHIP YESTERDAY AND JUST WANT TO REALLY COMMEND YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP AND YOUR STRENGTH AND YOUR COURAGE.
THANK YOU FOR -- I DON'T NECESSARILY GET HERE EARLY, BUT I LEAVE LATE.
GENERALLY WHEN I GET HERE, YOUR TRUCK IS ALREADY HERE.
WHEN I AM LEAVING, YOUR TRUCK IS STILL HERE.
IT IS BEYOND WORDS OF ADMIRATION FOR ALL OF -- ALL YOU ARE DOING.
>> LINA HIDALGO: THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER, FOR YOUR SUPPORT AND THIS IS NOWHERE NEAR OVER.
>> RODNEY ELLIS: JUDGE, I WANT TO ECHO, HEY, KEEP DOING IT.
STICK WITH THE SCIENCE OVER SIMPLICITY.
>> ADRIAN GARCIA: THERE YOU GO.
>> RODNEY ELLIS: DO WHAT IS RIGHT.
WORRY ABOUT PUBLIC POLICY AND NOT WHAT THE POLLING DATA SAYS.
AT THE END OF THE DAY IT WILL BE JUST FINE.
>> LINA HIDALGO: THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER.
>> JUDGE, WE DO HAVE THE SPEAKER BACK ON FROM THE PREVIOUS ITEM.
>> LINA HIDALGO: LET'S HEAR FROM HIM.
[00:30:04]
>> KENNETH POLAY AND -- WITH POLAY COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT.
>> LINA HIDALGO: THE CONNECTION IS NOT GOOD, LUCINDA.
>> SIR, IF WE CAN GIVE UH CALL RIGHT BACK, SIR.
YOUR CONNECTION IS PRETTY BAD.
>> LINA HIDALGO: DO WE HAVE SPEAKERS ON THIS CURRENT ITEM, LUCINDA?
>> LINA HIDALGO: LET'S HEAR FROM THEM AS WE GET MR. POLAY BACK ON THE LINE.
COMMISSIONER CAGLE HAS A QUESTION.
>> R JACK CAGLE: JUDGE, IF THERE ARE A NUMBER OF SPEAKERS ON THIS ITEM I WANT TO REMIND YOU THAT I HAVE A BACK UP TO YOUR ITEM TO WHERE WHEN IT IS APPROPRIATE I WANTED TO ASK ROBERT, I THINK HE SENT OUT A MEMO TO US ON OUR COVID GUIDELINES WITH REGARD TO YOUR UPCOMING TAX RATE, GROUP RATE.
AND SO WHEN THE TIME IS APPROPRIATE I WANT TO REMIND YOU THAT I DO WANT TO DISCUSS THAT.
WE'VE GOT A PAGE OR TWO OF SPEAKERS AND IT MAY BE BEST TO TAKE IT UP AFTER WE HEAR FROM OUR SPEAKERS.
>> ADRIAN GARCIA: JUDGE, I'M NOT SURE IF IT IS UNIVERSAL SERVICES, BUT WHEN THE SPEAKER WAS TRYING TO COME ON, WE ALL HEARD HOW BAD THE CONNECTION IS.
THEN WHEN COMMISSIONER CAGLE WAS SPEAKING I WAS HEARING SOME OF THE SAME FEEDBACK.
I HOPE SOMEBODY IS PAYING ATTENTION TO THIS AND TRYING TO FIGURE IT OUT TO MAKE SURE OUR CONNECTION STAYS CLEAN SO WE CAN HEAR FROM THEM.
>> LINA HIDALGO: YES, AND COMMISSIONER CAGLE, I THINK THERE IS A TAX RATE ITEM FROM ROBERT ON THE TAX ASSESSOR, CORRECT? IS THAT WHAT WE ARE TALKING ABOUT?
>> R JACK CAGLE: YOUR HONOR, THERE IS, BUT I DID A BACK UP TO YOUR ITEM AS IT RELATED TO COVID AND COVID HAS CHANGED OUR DEADLINES.
I DON'T KNOW IF IT IS A FORMAL POSTING, BUT I ACTUALLY POSTED THAT AND SUBMITTED IT AS AN ITEM UNDER YOUR ITEM HERE.
THAT'S BECAUSE OF THE COVID IMPACT.
I DON'T MIND DISCUSSING IT HERE OR OVER TAX ASSESSOR COLLECTOR.
I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE THAT OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE THE COUNTY ATTORNEY WALK US THROUGH TOGETHER WHAT THE RULES ARE SO WE ALL KNOW WHAT THE RULES ARE.
LET'S -- LUCINDA, YOU SAID THERE ARE SPEAKERS ALREADY, RIGHT?
AND I DO HAVE THE SPEAKER BACK ON THE LINE.
AND I ALSO GOT A MESSAGE THAT UNIVERSAL SERVICES IS WORKING TO SEE WHAT THEY CAN FIX ON THE ISSUES.
DID YOU CHECK THE SPEAKERS -- THE SPEAKER'S CONNECTION?
>> YES, HE JUST DISCONNECTED JUST NOW.
I'M ASSUMING IT HAS TO DO WITH THE WEATHER.
>> LINA HIDALGO: LET'S HAVE THE OTHER SPEAKERS THEN.
JOETA STEVENSON WITH FIFTH WARD SUPER NEIGHBORHOOD.
I WAS -- MY FLAME -- MY NAME IS JOETTA STEVENSON AND THE PRESIDENT OF THE FIFTH WARD SUPER NEIGHBORHOOD.
I'M HERE TO ASK THE COUNTY TO HAVE A PRESENCE IN OUR COMMUNITY WHEN IT COMES TO COVID-19 TESTING.
I AM ASKING FOR A PERMANENT TEST SITE IN MY COMMUNITY, IN MY HISTORIC COMMUNITY THAT SO MANY OF YOU ARE FAMILIAR WITH AND LOVE TO QUOTE AND KNOW THAT THERE ARE SOME VERY IMPORTANT AND VERY HISTORIC AMERICANS THAT CAME OUT OF MY COMMUNITY, BUT WE CAN'T SAY THE COUNTY IS INVOLVED IN MY COMMUNITY WHEN IT COMES TO TESTING.
IT IS IN THIS URBAN SEN -- CENTER.
WE ARE MIDDLE TO LOW INCOME AND WE HAVE HAD BASICALLY EVERY NO I -- EVERY NOW AND THEN A COVID TEST SITE TO APPEAR -- WELL, THE MAJORITY OF ONES THAT APPEAR, ONE ON JUNE 27TH AND THAT WAS ONE DAY A DRIVE-THRU.
WE ADD ONE DAY -- THE CONGRESSWOMAN, SHE WAS SETTING UP ONE ON JENSEN DRIVE FOR ONE DAY.
THANK GOODNESS THAT WAS NOT ONLY A DRIVE-THRU, BUT IT ALLOWED FOR SOME WALK UPS.
AND NOW ON THE 18TH OF JULY WE ADD ONE-DAY AT DOGIN ELEMENTARY THAT OF COURSE SHE STAYED ON TASK IN TERMS OF THE WALK UPS.
[00:35:02]
IT WOULD BE OUR POOREST RESIDENTS, PEOPLE ON BUSS AND PEOPLE WHO SIMPLY DON'T HAVE CARS.I REALIZE WE DO HAVE A LOT OF -- WELL NOT A LOT, BUT SOME COVID SITES AND MOST OF THEM ARE DRIVE-THRU.
I HAVE BEEN YELLING, SCREAMING AND CRYING ABOUT THE FACT THAT A LOT OF POOR PEOPLE DON'T HAVE CARS AND THEREFORE WHY ARE THEY BEING LEFT OUT OF THE COVID TESTING SITES? THE SITE AT DOGIN, EVEN THOUGH WE DID HAVE ONE DAY ON THE 18TH, IT WAS GOOD AND A LOT OF PEOPLE CAME AND THEN THERE WAS A LOT OF WORK.
I GUESS THERE WERE PHONE CALLS AND WHATEVER MADE AND THEY WERE ABLE TO BRING IT BACK FOR FIVE DAYS.
IT STARTED ON SATURDAY AND THEN ON THE 25TH AND IT WAS A DAY THAT STARTED AND IT WILL CONTINUE UNTIL THE 30TH.
AND THE PRIDE IS ABOUT THE FACT THAT IT IS THE DRIVE-THRUS AND THE WALK UPS.
IT IS FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE POOR THAT DON'T HAVE CARS.
BUT THE TIMING IS NOT INVOLVED IN ANY OF THAT.
>> LINA HIDALGO: THANK YOU SO MUCH.
>> THE COUNTY -- THE COUNTY IS JUST NOT THERE.
>> LINA HIDALGO: I HAVE TO STOP YOU, BUT THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENTS.
>> RODNEY ELLIS: JUDGE, MISTY IS A GOOD FRIEND AND RAISES A VALID POINT.
I WOULD LIKE TO GET DR. SHAW IF HE IS AVAILABLE TO COME ON THE LINE.
I KNOW I CHATTED WITH HIM YESTERDAY AND I CALLED THE CITY HEALTH CARE DIRECTOR AS WELL BECAUSE I SAW ABOUT 10 PEOPLE.
IT MIGHT BE A GOOD IDEA IF WE CAN GET HIM.
I KNOW WE WORKED CLOSELY WITH THE CITY AS AN EXAMPLE ON THE COVID RELIEF FUND AND EVEN RENDERS ASSISTANCE.
IT MAY HAVE BEEN THE ONLY ONE ON THE RENTER'S ASSISTANCE WHERE I MADE IT POSSIBLE FOR FOLKS WITHIN THE CITY LIMITS AS WELL AS PEOPLE UNINCORPORATED TO IMPLY THAT WE KNOW THERE ARE MORE PEOPLE IN UNINCORPORATED HARRIS COUNTY AND NOT IN THE CITY AT ALL.
WITH THAT SAID WE WANT TO TEST AS MANY PEOPLE AS WE CAN.
I KNOW YOU AND THE MAYOR HAVE DIVIDED IT WHERE THE CITY DOES IT IN THE CITY.
WE ARE DOING IT IN THE UNINCORPORATED AREA.
OBVIOUSLY WE DON'T ASK PEOPLE WHERE THEY ARE FROM.
I WORK WITH THE CONGRESSWOMAN WHERE ONE HOSPITAL HAS BEEN KIND ENOUGH TO DO IT ON THEIR OWN DIME AND DO IT THROUGHOUT THE COMMUNITY.
I WAS AT HESTER HOUSE THIS MORNING.
IF DR. SHAW AT SOME POINT CAN COME ON THE LINE.
I KNOW 10 PEOPLE ARE GOING TO CITY HALL TOMORROW AS WELL, AND I DID ASK STEVEN WILLIAMS TO COME ON THE LINE WHICH I GUESS IS A LITTLE AWKWARD BECAUSE FOLKS CERTAINLY HAVE A RIGHT TO APPROACH US AS WELL AS THE CITY AND I DON'T BLAME THEM.
I WANT TO LET DR. SHAW COME IN.
>> LINA HIDALGO: BEFORE DR. SHAW COMES ON I APPRECIATE YOUR COMMENTS.
YES, THE CHALLENGES ARE DIVIDED BETWEEN CITY AND COUNTY.
ONE THING I WANT TO MAKE SURE YOUR COMMUNITY KNOWS IS EVEN IN PLACES THAT ARE WITHIN THE CITY, YOU GUYS ARE ABLE TO CALL US UP AND FOR FOLKS WHO CANNOT GET TO A TESTING SITE, WE DO GO TO PEOPLE'S HOMES WHEN THEY CAN'T MAKE IT TO A SITE FOR WHATEVER REASON.
FOLKS CAN SIGN UP THROUGH OUR PHONE LINE WHICH IS 832-927-7575.
OR THEY CAN GO ON READY HARRIS.ORG.
I WILL LET DR. SHAW WALK US THROUGH THE REST OF THE -- DR. SHAW ARE YOU ON?
>> LINA HIDALGO: YES, GO AHEAD.
>> THANK YOU, JUDGE AND COMMISSIONERS.
COMMISSIONER ELLIS, THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENTS AS WELL.
YEAH, THIS IS A COMPLICATED ISSUE BECAUSE WE ABSOLUTELY AGREE THAT TESTING IS THE FOUNDATION OF THE COVID-19 RESPONSE.
I KNOW BOTH HEALTH DEPARTMENTS ARE DOING EVERYTHING THEY CAN TO INCREASE THE TESTING AND MAKE SURE THE TESTING IS AVAILABLE TO AS MANY PEOPLE AS POSSIBLE.
AS WE KNOW THIS HAS BEEN A CONCERN ACROSS THE COUNTRY AND ACROSS TEXAS, AND CERTAINLY IN OUR OWN COMMUNITY.
WE ALSO TOUCH BASE WITH -- COMMISSIONER THANK YOU FOR SAYING THAT YOU SPOKE WITH DIRECTOR WILLIAMS. I ALSO SPOKE WITH HIM YESTERDAY AND WAS IN TOUCH WITH DR. PURSE, THE HEALTH AUTHORITY IN HOUSTON.
YES, THERE ARE ACCORDING TO WHAT HOUSTON HEALTH DEPARTMENT HAS TOLD US AND
[00:40:06]
THEY SHARED INFORMATION, BUT THERE ARE A COUPLE OF SITES THAT ARE WITHIN THIS GREATER FIFTH WARD NEIGHBORHOOD OR THIS LOCATION.IT DOES APPEAR THERE ARE A FEW SITES AND THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT IS INTENDING TO INCREASE THE ATTENTION IN THIS AREA.
I DID ALSO INVITE OUR HOUSTON HEALTH COLLEAGUES TO BE ABLE TO PROVIDE SOME ADDITIONAL INSIGHTS AND WHAT THEY WANTED US -- THEY WERE NOT ABLE TO JOIN, BUT WHAT THEY WANTED US TO SAY WAS THEY ARE LOOKING AT THIS ISSUE AND REALLY CONTINUING TO EVOLVE THEIR TESTING AND TO INCREASE THE AMOUNT OF TESTING THEY CAN DO THROUGHOUT THE CITY, BUT CERTAINLY THEY ARE SENSITIVE TO WHAT IS GOING ON IN THE FIFTH WARD.
SO WE ARE CONNECTED WITH THEM AND OBVIOUSLY AS COMMISSIONER ELLIS AND JUDGE YOU JUST MENTIONED, THIS IS WITHIN THE CITY OF HOUSTON AND THEY ARE AWARE OF THE ISSUE AND THEY ARE WORKING TOWARD WHAT ARE POTENTIAL SOLUTIONS MOVING FORWARD.
AT THIS POINT I DON'T HAVE ANYTHING ELSE TO ADD, BUT HAPPY TO TAKE ANY ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS.
>> RODNEY ELLIS: JUDGE, IF I MIGHT, HOW MUCH MONEY IS THE CITY SPENDING ON TESTING AND HOW MUCH ARE WE SPENDING? I'M ASSUMING SINCE UNINCORPORATED IS SLIGHTLY MORE, BUT CHANNELLY THE SAME SIZE -- BUT ESSENTIALLY THE SAME SIZE.
>> I CAN'T TELL YOU THAT, COMMISSIONER, EXACTLY WHAT THE CITY IS SPENDING.
WE CAN GET SOME SPECIFIC NUMBERS FOR YOU FROM A COMPARATIVE STANDPOINT.
I DO KNOW IT IS COMPLICATED BECAUSE OF THE FEDERAL AND THE STATE SUPPORT FROM FEMA AND HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL.
THE ADDITIONAL DOLLARS THAT ARE COMING OR THE SUPPORT THAT IS COMING FROM THE STATE LEVEL AND THEN CERTAINLY THE DOLLARS THAT WE ARE PUTTING IN FROM THE LOCAL LEVEL.
AND AS YOU KNOW POTENTIAL FOR REIMBURSEMENT FROM THE CARES ACT IS ALSO IN THE MIX.
IT IS A COMPLEX EQUATION, BUT WE CAN WORK TOWARD GETTING THAT FOR YOU.
>> RODNEY ELLIS: I THINK IT WOULD BE GOOD, JUDGE AND COMMISSIONERS, TO PUT IT OUT PUBLICLY SO THEY CAN MONITOR.
I THINK I READ 25 PEOPLE WERE TESTED AND IT WAS -- 25% OF PEOPLE TESTED WERE POSITIVE.
>> YES, THAT IS THE POSITIVITY RATE.
THAT'S THE TEST POSITIVITY RATE.
PREVIOUSLY IT WAS ONE IN EIGHT TESTS OR ONE IN 10 TESTS COMING BACK POSITIVE AND THIS IS THROUGHOUT HARRIS COUNTY.
THAT'S 10% TO 12 AND A HALF% COMING BACK POSITIVE.
NOW WE ARE SEEING THAT HAS JUMPED UP SIGNIFICANTLY TO THE 25% MARK.
AT TIMES IT IS ABOVE 26% AND SOMETIMES IT DROPS DOWN TO 21, 22%.
THE LAST I SAW WAS 24.5% WAS THE TEST POSITIVITY RATE IN HARRIS COUNTY.
AND JUST SO YOU KNOW, NOW IT IS ONE IN FOUR AND THAT IS THE REASON THAT JUDGE HIDALGO AND HER TEAM AS WELL AS OUR TEAM AND CERTAINLY OUR PARTNERS AT THE CITY ARE CONCERNED BEL -- ABOUT THE UNCONTROLLED TRANSMISSION IN HARRIS COUNTY.
IT IS NOT THE INCREASE IN THE NUMBER OF TESTING, BUT THE PROPORTION OF THE TESTS COMING BACK POSITIVE WHICH IS A CONCERN TO ALL OF US.
>> RODNEY ELLIS: DR. SHAW, JUDGE, THE REASON FOR MY ASKING WHAT IS BEING SPENT, IS THERE SOMEWAY WE CAN CAT TAU LOG HOW MANY TESTS ARE BEING DONE NOT BY THE PROFIT COMMUNITY, THE COUNTY, THE CITY.
WITH THE ALARMING RATE AMONG HISPANICS AND AFRICAN-AMERICANS I WOULD MAKE THE CASE IF WE SHARE THE TERMS OF TESTING RATES BY COMMUNITY AND DOLLARS BEING SPENT BECAUSE WE COULD USE CARES MONEY.
THERE IS NOT ENOUGH TO GO AROUND, BUT AT LEAST PEOPLE WANT TO KNOW.
DR. SHAW, I THINK THAT WOULD BE GOOD.
SOME PEOPLE WHO DO IT, SOME OF OUR FEDERAL CLINICS, COMMISSIONER GARCIA, YOU KNOW YOU HAVE THAT PROBLEM IN SOME OF YOUR AREAS AS WELL.
THAT MIGHT MAKE US PROGRAM DIFFERENTLY HOW WE SPEND THE MONEY.
AT LEAST PEOPLE OUGHT TO KNOW IT.
MAYBE LATER AFTER YOU SPEAK -- I WAS TALKING WITH ONE DEPARTMENT YESTERDAY ABOUT IF YOU GET A TEST AND IT TAKES SO LONG TO GET IT AND YOU KNOW SOMEONE HAS BEEN EXPOSED AT YOUR HOUSE AND YOU HAVE TO QUARANTINE -- WHETHER IT TAKES YOU 14 OR 16 DAYS TO GET.
IT I MEAN, HOW DO YOU -- I MEAN YOUR JOB WILL LET YOU -- WE WANT TO FIGURE THAT
[00:45:05]
OUT AND MAKE SURE, BUT I'M NOT ABOVE MAKING THE CASE TO REALLOCATE SOME MONEY, BUT I WANT TO SEE WHAT THE CITY IS SPENDING AND WHAT WE ARE SPENDING.I THINK IF YOU LOOK AT WHAT WE HAVE DONE WITH THIS CARES MONEY, BY THE WAY, IT IS A PRETTY EXHAUSTIVE AND IN MY JUDGMENT THOUGHTFUL AND PROGRESSIVE LIST OF THINGS WE HAVE DONE.
COMMISSIONER GARCIA, YOU GOT OUT FIRST ON A SMALL BUSINESS FUND.
I GET -- I GUESS WE HAVE DONE, IF MY MATH IS RIGHT, 15 AND THEN 30 AND IS THAT 45? AND THEN DIRECT ASSISTANCE IS 30 AND RENTAL ASSISTANCE IS 15.
I AM NOT TIEING THE TWO TOGETHER, BUT IT WOULD BE GOOD IF PEOPLE HOLD US ALTOGETHER.
I THINK WE ARE SPENDING THIS MONEY AND WE ARE TALKING ABOUT THE DIGITAL DIVIDE TO PUT MONEY IN ON THE HOMELESS, BUT AS THESE FOLKS GO TO CITY HALL TOMORROW IF MY MEMORY SERVES ME RIGHT, COMMISSIONER GARCIA, IS THAT RIGHT? IT IS EASY TO DO IT VIRTUALLY NOW.
I WOULD MAKE THE CASE, AND FIRST I WANT TO SEE WHAT THE CITY PARTNERS ARE DOING.
EVEN OUR STATE PARTNERS TO MAKE THE CASE.
WHERE IS THAT MONEY? IT IS A SEPARATE SUBJECT I BROUGHT UP A COUPLE WEEKS AGO.
I THINK THE FOLKS OF GUIDE HOUSE WERE INFORMING ME ON IT.
THERE ARE SOME BILLIONS OF DOLLARS.
YOU CAN GET SOME ACCOUNTABILITY ON WHERE IS THE MONEY.
>> LINA HIDALGO: LET ME CLARIFY A COUPLE OF THINGS THAT I THINK ARE REALLY IMPORTANT AND DR. SHAW FOR YOU GUYS TO TABULATE THAT BEFORE WE ARE DONE WITH COURT AND MAYBE WE WILL KNOW.
EX -- EXPENDITURES WHEN IT COMES TO TESTING.
THERE ARE A COUPLE OF THINGS THAT WERE HELPFUL TO ME THAT I WANT TO SHARE WITH YOU GUYS.
FIRST IS NUMBER ONE ON THE TEST TURN AROUND TIME.
THE SITES THAT ARE REPORTING THIS 14, 15-DAY TURN AROUND TIME ARE THE FEDERAL SITES.
CREDIT GOES TO DR. SHAW EATS -- SHAW'S TEAM.
THEY HAVE BEEN SHOPPING FOR LABS THAT CAN TURN THINGS AROUND QUICKLY.
MOST OF OUR MOBILE SITES HAVE A TWO-DAY TURN AROUND TIMES.
IT IS ONLY THOSE USING THE FEDERAL CONTRACTS.
DO WE SAY WE DON'T WANT THEM LIKE DALLAS DID? A TEST IS A TEST.
NOT ONLY IS IT PERHAPS NOT SO USEFUL FOR THE PERSON WHO HAS SYMPTOMS OR THINKS THEY MAY HAVE THE VIRUS, BUT IT IS A PROBLEM FOR US BECAUSE YOU ARE SUPPOSED TO REACH THE PERSON, THE CASE WITHIN 24 AND 48 HOURS.
I HAVE BEEN IN CONVERSATIONS WITH THE STATE AND THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT ABOUT THAT, AND WE ARE TRYING TO SEE AS THAT PHASES US OUT AND EXTENDING TO THE END OF THE MONTH IS TO PERHAPS GIVE US AN OPTION THAT WILL BE A FASTER TURN AROUND TIME OR WE ARE ALSO TRYING TO SEE HOW ELSE CAN WE EXPAND TO WHERE WE ARE NOT REDUCING THE VOLUME.
THE SECOND POINT IS CAN WE JUST DO MORE TESTING? THIS IS A CONSTANT DISCUSSION I HAVE WITH DR. SHAW.
LET US KNOW IF THERE IS SOMETHING TO ADD.
THERE AREN'T MORE LABS AND MORE REAGENTS.
THEY CAN DO THE TEST AND THEN TELL THEM IF IT IS POSITIVE OR NOT.
IT IS NOT A FUNDING LIMITATION, BUT IT IS A CAPACITY LIMITATION.
AND MY INSTRUCTION HAS BEEN LET'S BRING IT TO COURT.
IF YOU NEED MORE MONEY, LET'S COME AND ASK FOR MORE MONEY.
THERE HAS NOT BEEN THAT ADDITIONAL OFFER OF VALID LARGE SCALE TESTING WHERE IT IS NOT, YOU KNOW, PREDATORY, AND IT EXISTS AND IT CAN DO THE QUICK TURN AROUND TIMES.
IT IS NOT BECAUSE WE DON'T WANT TO PAY FOR MORE.
WE DON'T REALLY HAVE ACCESS TO A WHOLE LOT MORE.
WE ARE MEETING THE DEMANDS FOR TESTS.
IT IS NOT LIKE WE ARE HAVING TO TURN PEOPLE AWAY OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT.
THE THIRD AND FINAL QUICK POINT ON THE POSITIVITY RATE IS I KNOW A LOT OF FOLKS ARE TALKING ABOUT THIS AND WE HAVE DUG INTO IT WITH THE RESEARCH TEAM.
IT IS TOUGH BECAUSE YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT THE DENOMINATOR IS, RIGHT? A POSITIVITY RATE IS A PERCENT POSITIVE OF PEOPLE WHO GET TESTED.
IF THE PEOPLE WHO GET TESTED ARE ALL OF THE FOLKS WHO THINK THEY HAVE THE VIRUS IT MAY BE HIGHER.
IF YOU RECALL WHEN THE REOPENING STARTED, THE DEMAND FOR TESTING WENT DOWN.
THEN IT WOULD BE AN UNDER COUNT IF PEOPLE AREN'T GETTING TESTED BECAUSE THEY
[00:50:04]
THINK THE TURN AROUND TIME IS SLOWER.ONE OF THE THINGS WE ARE MARCHING ON AND I THINK IT WILL GO OUT IN THE NEXT COURT IS FOR SOME SORT OF SURVEILLANCE TESTING.
WE ARE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW DO YOU GET A RANDOM SAMPLE SO YOU CAN HAVE A VALID NUMBER.
WE ARE STILL LOOKING AT HOSPITALIZATIONS.
YOU HAVE TO TAKE IT WITH A GRAIN OF SALT.
RIGHT NOW WE HAVE CROSSING 20% AND THE WHO SAYS IT SHOULD BE ABOUT 5%.
WE HAVE A LONG WAY TO GO TO WHERE IT SHOULD BE.
EVEN IF IT WERE AT 5, WE HAVE TO THINK WHAT IS THE DENOMINATOR.
THAT'S WHY WE ARE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT A WAY TO DO RANDOM SAMPLING.
IT IS HARD BECAUSE YOU CAN'T FORCE SOMEONE TO GET A TEST.
HOW DO YOU MAKE SURE THAT IT IS JUST [INAUDIBLE] AND SO THOSE ARE THREE THINGS I WANTED TO SHARE.
AIDE AIDE >> ADRIAN GARCIA: THANK YOU, JUDGE.
THANK THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT FOR ALL OF THEIR WORK IN THIS REGARD.
I THINK I HAVE PROVEN WHEN THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT NEEDS MONEY I -- [INAUDIBLE].
IT REMINDS ME AFTER 9/11 ONE OF THE THINGS THE CITY OF NEW YORK DID AND NYPD WAS THAT THEY DEPLOYED SOME OF THEIR HEALTH PEOPLE USING SNIFFERS.
IT WAS TO DETERMINE IF THERE WERE CHEMICAL AGENTS IN THE AIR.
THEY DECENTRALIZED THE OPERATIONS AND THEY GUIDED TO THE COMMUNITY AND I THINK THIS IS JUST ONE AREA AND I SAID IT AT THE LAST MEETING AND I WILL SAY IT AGAIN.
AND IN CONVERSATIONS WITH OTHER FOLKS, I DO WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE EXERCISE CAUTION ON THE APPROACH.
I THINK THEY ARE TRYING TO REOPEN THE ECONOMY TOO SOON AND THAT WAS ONE OF THE MAIN REASONS WHY THE TESTING RATE WENT DOWN.
PEOPLE SAID, I FEEL BAD, BUT I CAN PUSH THROUGH THIS.
I REALLY WANT TO SAY AGAIN THAT MY VOTE WILL BE CONTINGENT ON ENSURING THAT WORKING IN THE COMMUNITIES AND WE ARE GOING TO THOSE COMMUNITY LEVEL ECONOMIC SECTORS WHERE THE POPULATIONS ARE IN THE CHURCHES SO THAT WE CAN ENSURE COMPETENCY IN OUR APPROACH.
I DON'T WANT TO WRITE A BLANK CHECK AND ASSUME WE WILL GET A DIFFERENT OUTCOME.
I JUST WANT TO SAY THAT IN ALL DUE RESPECT TO THE WORK THAT'S BEING DONE AT THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT AND I WOULD LIKE TO SEE GREATER COLLABORATION IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON AND ENSURING THAT WE ARE DOING A COMPREHENSIVE APPROACH TO GETTING TO THE PEOPLE WHO NEED TO BE TESTED.
ASSUMING THEY WILL GET IN LINE AND GO TO OUR TESTING SITES AND THEY ARE WATCHING THE NEWS AND THEY ARE -- THAT THEY DO HAVE ACCESS.
I STILL BELIEVE WE ARE MISSING A VERY BASIC, FUNDAMENTAL COMMUNITY APPROACH TO ENSURING THAT WE ARE TESTING ALL PEOPLE.
>> DR. SHAW, ARE YOU STILL THERE?
>> LINA HIDALGO: COMMISSIONER RADACK, IT LOOKS LIKE YOU ARE -- YOUR SYSTEM FROZE THERE.
HOPEFULLY HE WILL COME BACK IN A MINUTE.
>> RODNEY ELLIS: WHILE WE ARE WAITING FOR COMMISSIONER RADACK TO COME BACK SINCE HE FROZE UP, IT WOULD BE HELPFUL IF BY THE END OF THE DAY IF YOU CAN'T COME BACK AND GIVE US SOME PRELIMINARY IDEA OF HOW MUCH THE CITY IS SPENDING ON TESTING, IF THE CITY OF PASADENA AND OTHER CITIES ARE SPENDING ON TESTING, WHAT WE ARE SPENDING ON TESTING.
I WOULD MAKE THE CASE THAT THERE OUGHT TO BE SOME LEVELING THERE SO WE ARE
[00:55:07]
MAKING SURE WE ARE FAIR WITH ALL COMMUNITIES OR AT LEAST THESE FOLKS WILL KNOW WHERE TO PUT THE PRESSURE ON.YOU GOT ME? JUDGE, WE CANNOT DO IT ALL.
THAT'S WHY I WAS LAYING OUT 3* WHAT WE HAVE DONE IN TERMS OF DIRECT ASSISTANCE AND SMALL BUSINESS ASSISTANCE.
AND MOST OF THOSE, ALL BUT ONE WE WERE DOING IT IN THE CITY AND -- >> ADRIAN GARCIA: AND UNINCORPORATED.
>> RODNEY ELLIS: WE MAY PUT THAT OUT ON THE DASHBOARD.
WITH ALL OF THE NATIONAL PRESS COVERAGE ABOUT A RELUCTANCE TO TEST AND SOME IS EMANATING FROM THE BIG HOUSE, FROM THE WHITE HOUSE.
I DID GET TESTED THE OTHER DAY.
I TOLD DR. SHAW -- YOU KNOW AS A COMMISSIONER YOU WAKE UP SWEATING AND THOUGHT I HAD SOMETHING.
I THREW UP FROM EATING TOO MUCH JUNK FOOD.
I GOOGLED IT, WUHAN, AND SOME PEOPLE HAD THAT PROBLEM.
I THOUGHT I BETTER GET TESTED SO I CAN GO BACK TO MY OFFICE.
HE HAD ME GO TO BAYLOR AND I DID FIND OUT IN ABOUT THREE OR FOUR DAYS.
I ONLY HAD THREE OF US TESTED IN THE HOUSEHOLD.
I WON'T LET ANY OF THEM COME BACK.
THE CHANCES ARE ONE OUT OF FOUR MAKES ME ASSUME THAT ONE OF THE OTHER TWO DAUGHTERS OR THE SON SHOW UP AND THEY WILL BRING IT.
IF YOU CAN, DR. SHAW, GIVE US SOMETHING LATER ON TODAY AND WHEN YOU GET IT WE WANT TO MAKE IT PUBLIC BECAUSE I WOULD MAKE THE CASE FOR -- AND COMMISSIONER GARCIA HAS A VALID POINT.
WHETHER THEY DO IT OR WE DO IT.
I KNOW COMMISSIONER GARCIA HAS THE PODS WHERE SOME IS GOING ON.
WE HAVE TO GET OUT AND TELL THE CITY.
I KNOW WILLIAMS, WE DID A SOCIALLY DISTANCED BIKE RIDE ON SATURDAY MORNING.
HE WILL MAKE ANY COUNTY FACILITIES AVAILABLE, BUT WE HAVE TO SEE WHAT THEY ARE SPENDING.
WE'LL SEE WHAT HAPPENS WHEN THEY GO TO CITY HALL.
>> COMMISSIONER ELLIS, THIS IS DR. SHAW.
I WANTED TO SAY A COUPLE OF THINGS.
FIRST OF ALL FROM THE START OF TESTING WE SPENT APPROXIMATELY $20 MILLION ON OUR TESTING PRAIGHTS -- OPERATIONS.
THIS IS INCLUSIVE OF MOBILE AND STATIONARY SITE OPERATIONS.
OBVIOUSLY IT DOES NOT INCLUDE THE CONGRESS GRAW -- THE CONGRETAE TESTING.
IT IS $20 MILLION OF WHAT YOU WOULD CALL COMMUNITY TESTING.
I DO NOT HAVE A CITY NUMBER, BUT I HAVE COMMUNICATED BACK WITH STEVEN WILLIAMS TO ASK IF THEY CAN GET THAT NUMBER AND I CAN SHARE THAT WITH YOU.
>> RODNEY ELLIS: AND FOLKS ARE SPEAKING TODAY AND WHEN THEY GO TO CITY HALL TOMORROW THEY WILL KNOW.
AND THE OWE -- THE OTHER THING, THANK YOU, COMIG -- COMMISSIONER GARCIA, FOR YOUR COMMENTS.
WE HAVE BEEN MAKING SOME ATTEMPTS OVER THE LAST -- SINCE LAST COURT TO MAKE SURE WE ARE SHARING MORE INFORMATION AS WELL.
OVER THE WEEKEND THERE IS SOME INFORMATION WE SHARED THAT WAS MORE OF AN UPDATE AND IT PROVIDED SOME ADDITIONAL INFORMATION TO ALL OF THE COMMISSIONERS.
I HOPE YOU HAD A CHANCE TO SEE THAT.
IT REALLY DESCRIBED A LOT OF THE LANDSCAPE OF THE WORK THAT WE ARE DOING ACROSS THE COMMUNITY.
AND I APPRECIATE YOU MENTIONING OUR TEAM AS WELL AS THE JUDGE AND COMMISSIONER ELLIS HERE THAT OUR TOOSM -- OUR TEAM IS FANTASTIC AND THEY HAVE DONE AN INCREDIBLE JOB OF FIGHTING THIS PANDEMIC.
AND WHILE WE KNOW THAT WE -- WHILE WE KNOW WE ARE OUT OF THIS AND ONLY SIX MONTHS IN, WE ALSO KNOW THAT WE'VE GOT SOME REAL ISSUES IN OUR HISPANIC COMMUNITY, OUR AFRICAN-AMERICAN COMMUNITY IN PARTICULAR, AND WE ALSO JUST THIS LAST WEEK -- WE HAD A RESILIENCE AND INEQUITY BRANCH IN MARCH.
WE PUT A TASK FORCE TOGETHER AND WE SHARED SOME OF THE -- ACTUALLY THE INITIAL REPORT WITH ALL OF YOUR STAFF MEMBERS YESTERDAY AND IT IS CALLED THE RACIAL AND ETHNIC APPROACHES TO COVID HEALTH.
WE DON'T HAVE IT ALL WORKED OUT IS I GUESS THE BOTTOM LINE THAT I WANTED YOU TO BE AWARE OF, BUT YOU'RE RIGHT.
WE NEED TO WORK WITH ALL PARTNERS AND ALL CITIES, AND WE DO THE TESTING FOR ALL OF THE OTHER CITIES.
NOT JUST THE CITY OF HOUSTON, BUT PASADENA AND BAY TOWN AND OUR OPERATIONS WHETHER THEY ARE FIXED SITES OR MOBILE SITES ARE THROUGHOUT THE COMMUNITY.
WE JUST LET THE CITY OBVIOUSLY DO THE CITY TESTING BECAUSE OF HOW LARGE
[01:00:02]
AN OPERATION THAT IS.AND THE OTHER THING, I DID WANT TO MAKE MENTION WAS THAT WE HAVE THESE FIX SITES AND WE ARE LOOKING AND HAVE SPOKEN WITH JUDGE HIDALGO AND HER TEAM ABOUT WHAT IS THE PATH FORWARD AND THE FEDS WILL BE PULLING OUT ESSENTIALLY JULY 31ST.
AND WE WERE LOOKING AT ONE LARGE SITE, BUT IN ADDITION TO THAT, WE REALLY, REALLY -- THE REASON THAT WE ARE GOING FROM POTENTIALLY TWO TO ONE IS NOT BECAUSE WE FEEL THAT TRANSPORTATION OR GETTING TO OUR SITES IS NOT AN ISSUE.
IN FACT, WE WANT TO FOCUS OUR ATTENTION ON THE MOBILE TESTING.
SOMETIMES WHEN WE SAY MOBILE TESTING A LOT OF FOLKS GET CONFUSED BECAUSE THEY THINK IT MEANS YOU ARE COMING IN FOR THREE OR FOUR HOURS AND YOU ARE DONE.
WE ARE SETTING UP SHOP FOR THREE TO FIVE DAYS IN ONE PART OF THE COMMUNITY AND IT GETS TO WHERE WE MAY HAVE THIS DISPROPORTIONAL IMPACT BY TESTING OR BY OTHER MEANS FROM A DATA STANDPOINT OR AN INCREASE OF CAGES.
I DO WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT ALL OF YOU HAD A CHANCE TO SEE THESE TWO DOCUMENTS, THE UPDATE AS WELL AS THE REACH TASK FORCE RECOMMENDATIONS.
COMMISSIONER GARCIA, YOUR COMMENT ABOUT DE CENTRALIZATION IS REALLY CRITICAL.
WE DON'T WANT TO JUST BE MAKING PHONE CALLS AND SITTING IN AN OFFICE.
OUR TEAMS HAVE BEEN DOING THAT AS WELL.
THAT'S BEEN SOMETHING THAT OBVIOUSLY HAS TO CONTINUE TO BE EVEN MORE SO.
WE ARE HIRING PEOPLE TO HAVE MORE ON THE GROUND OUT REACH TO THE HISPANIC COMMUNITY AND WE HAVE WORKED ON GETTING MORE CASEWORKERS AND SOCIAL WORKERS TO ALSO HELP WITH SOME OF THE DIFFERENT ISSUES COMING UP.
WE ARE FINDING IT IS NOT JUST HEALTH, BUT SOCIAL ISSUES PEOPLE ARE COMING BACK WITH.
IT IS A VERY COMPLEX OPERATION.
AS YOU KNOW WITH ALL OF THE DIFFERENT NUMBERS OF PEOPLE THAT WE'VE GOT AS PART OF THE OPERATION THAT IS THAT.
I WANT TO MAKE THAT COMMENT TO YOU, SPECIFICALLY, COMMISSIONER GARCIA.
AND COMMISSIONER ELLIS I WANT TO ADDRESS ONE THING ON THE TESTING INFORMATION BY ZIP CODE.
THE ONE THING WE HAVE TO REMEMBER IS THAT OUR INFORMATION ABOUT LABORATORY TESTING RESULTS, IT IS REALLY BASED A LOT ON -- IT IS BASED ON WHERE THAT INDIVIDUAL RESIDES.
THERE IS HOME, BUT THAT IS NOT NECESSARILY WHERE THEY MAY HAVE GOT INFECTED.
THEY MAY HAVE GOTTEN IN-- GOTTEN INFECTED AT WORK OR AT ANOTHER PART OF THE COMMUNITY.
THAT'S ANOTHER PIECE THAT MAKES A VERY COMPLICATED -- DR. PURSE AND I SPOKE MANY TIMES ABOUT THIS.
WE ARE VERY CONCERNED THAT IF YOU SHARE SOME OF THE RATES IN CERTAIN COMMUNITIES AND SAY THAT THOSE RATES ARE LOW, THAT PEOPLE IN THAT COMMUNITY WILL ASSUME THAT THEY ARE SAFE.
I THINK WHAT WE ARE TRYING TO TELL EVERYBODY AROUND THE COMMUNITY IS THAT EVERYBODY HAS TO BE WEARING MASKS AND DOING ALL OF THE SOCIAL DISTANCING BECAUSE IT DOES NOT MATTER WHERE ARE YOU IN OUR COMMUNITY, UNFORTUNATELY.
>> ADRIAN GARCIA: DR. > RODNEY ELLIS: DR. SHAW, APPRECIATE THAT.
WHEN THIS STARTED THERE WAS RACIAL AND DEMOGRAPHIC DATA AND THERE IS A RELUCTANCE TO PUT IT OUT.
YOU HAVE TO PUT IT OUT, I THINK, AND EDUCATE PEOPLE AND LET THEM DECIDE.
I WANT TO MAKE SURE BY THE END OF THE DAY, OR AT LEAST BEFORE THESE 10 FOLKS GO TO THE CITY TOMORROW, WE SPEND $20 MILLION AND I HEARD YOU SAY IF WE HANDLE IT UNINCORPORATED AND THE OTHER CITIES, PASADENA AND OTHERS, I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE CITY HAS SPENT AND WHAT ABOUT THE STATE MONEY? I WANT TO SEE WHAT IS THE -- IS THE STATE PENDING -- SPENDING ITS MONEY ON TESTING AND IF SO, WHERE? IF YOU CAN'T FIND OUT TODAY FROM THE HEALTH SIDE, I JUST THINK IT IS IMPORTANT FOR US TO KNOW.
LET'S JUST ALWAYS PUT THE DATA OUT AND THEN JUST TELL PEOPLE, YOU KNOW, LOOK, DON'T TAKE THAT TO MEAN YOU ARE SAFE BECAUSE YOUR ZIP CODE MAY INDICATE THAT, BUT YOU GOTTA PUT IT OUT.
THERE ARE CERTAIN THINGS WE CAN LEARN FROM IT.
IF 77033 HAS A LOW PERCENTAGE IN TESTING COMPARED TO OTHER PLACES, WE WANT TO KNOW THAT SO THEY CAN MAKE THAT CASE.
>> YEAH, AND COMMISSIONER -- >> RODNEY ELLIS: MAKE SURE YOUR STAFF LETS THESE PEOPLE KNOW, AND IF YOU DON'T MIND I WILL TASK YOUR TEAM WITH THE NUMBERS.
MS. STEVENSON IS A GOOD ONE TO GET THE WORD OUT.
>> WE CAN MAKE CONTACT, AND JUST SO YOU KNOW, COMMISSIONER, MR. WILLIAMS
[01:05:04]
DID RESPOND BACK TO ME AND SAID HE WASN'T CERTAIN OF THE EXACT NUMBER OF DOLLARS SPENT TO DATE, BUT THEY HAVE BUDGETED $30 MILLION.I DON'T KNOW IF IT IS AN APPLE-APPLE COMPARISON, BUT WE WILL TRY TO GET MORE SPECIFIC NUMBERS BEFORE THE END OF THE DAY.
>> RODNEY ELLIS: THAT MEANS WE MAY GO UNTIL 10.
>> IF WE SPENT 20 TO DATE, THEY DON'T KNOW WHAT THE NUMBER IS EXACTLY SO MAYBE IT IS AN ORANGE-APPLE COMPARISON.
THEY MAY BE LOOKING AT ADDITIONAL DOLLARS SPENT MOVING FORWARD.
REMEMBER, COMIGGER -- COMMISSIONER IS THE FEDERAL AND STATE ASPECT OF THIS.
AS YOU MAKE PLANS ON A LOCAL LEVEL WE ARE HAVING SOME REAL CURVE BALLS THAT ARE BEING THROWN INTO THE MIX AND THEN WE ARE TRYING TO MANEUVER AROUND WHAT IS HAPPENING FROM THAT FEDERAL AND STATE LEVEL AS WELL.
SO IT IS A MOVING NUMBER, BUT WE WILL SEE WHAT WE CAN DO AND THEN WE WILL FOLLOW-UP WITH ONE OF THE SPEAKERS SO WE CAN ALSO GET THAT INFORMATION TO THEM.
>> RODNEY ELLIS: I DON'T SEE COMMISSIONER RADACK.
I DON'T KNOW IF WE LOST HIM OR NOT, JUDGE.
>> LINA HIDALGO: I THINK HE IS BACK AND COMMISSIONER CAGLE HAD A A QUESTION AS WELL, IS THAT RIGHT?
>> R JACK CAGLE: JUDGE, IT IS A JUMP OFF OF ONE OF THE POINTS YOU RAISED ABOUT THE WORK THAT WE ARE TRYING TO DO TO GET FASTER TESTING.
I KNOW WE DID HAVE AN ITEM ON THE SUPPLEMENTAL AGENDA THAT WAS GOING TO BE SUPPLEMENTAL NUMBER TWO WHICH I THINK IS GOING TO BE TAKEN WITH NO ACTION AT THIS TIME.
I WANTED TO ASK DR. SHAW, WHERE ARE WE ON GETTING THE FASTER TESTS, DOC?
>> THANKS, COMMISSIONER AND I KNOW YOU ADVOCATED FOR US A NUMBER OF TIMES AS YOU HAVE GONE OUT TO THE DIFFERENT TESTING SITES IN PRECINCT 4.
I WANTED TO THANK YOU FOR THAT.
JUDGE MENTIONED THIS, BUT I WILL MAKE SURE TO UNDER SCORE THIS WHICH IS WE ARE LOOKING FOR LOCAL SOLUTIONS AS BEST WE CAN AND AGAIN IN THE MIX OF WHAT IS HAPPENING FROM A STATE OR FEDERAL LEVEL.
AND ONE OF THE LOCAL SOLUTIONS IS -- AND KUDOS GOES OUT TO BAYLOR COLLEGE OF MEDICINE.
BAYLOR HAS REALLY STEPPED UP AND THEY ARE NOW HAVING A TURN AROUND TIME THAT IS ESSENTIALLY ABOUT 48 HOURS.
SO AS COMMISSIONER ELLIS MENTIONED WHEN HE WAS GETTING TESTED, WE ARE WORKING TOWARDS -- IT ISN'T ALWAYS -- THEIR LAB TURN AROUND, SOMETIMES IT TAKES 72 HOURS, BUT IT IS REALLY A TWO TO THREE-DAY PROCESS OF GETTING THAT INFORMATION.
JUDGE IS ABSOLUTELY RIGHT THAT AT THE END OF THE DAY THE FEDERAL SITES AND THE FEMA SITES, THIS IS A NATIONAL PHO NOM -- PHENOMENON.
THE TWO FEDERAL SITES, THE TURN AROUND AND WE HAVE SAID THIS TO THE STATE AND TO THE FEDS AND TO EVERYONE ELSE IS REALLY TWO WEEKS.
IT IS ABSOLUTELY TRUE THAT IF YOU ARE WAITING TWO WEEKS FOR A TEST RESULT, FROM MY PERSPECTIVE, NOT TO BE BLUNT, BUT IT IS HONESTLY VERY -- IT IS WORTHLESS.
TWO WEEKS OUT, THREE WEEKS OUT, IF YOU GET A TEST RESULT, IT IS TOO LATE IN THE PROCESS FROM A COVID-19 -- EITHER FROM THE INDIVIDUAL OR FROM THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT TO DO CONTACT TRACING OR CASE INVESTIGATION.
COMMISSIONER CAGLE, THIS ITEM THAT WAS FOR THE LAB THAT YOU ARE DESCRIBING, WE WANT TO TAKE NO ACTION ON IT BECAUSE THERE WERE SOME ADDITIONAL THINGS WE NEEDED TO DO WITH PURCHASING ON IT AND WE WILL -- THE PLAN IS TO PLACE IT BACK ON THE AGENDA, THE NEXT COMMISSIONER'S COURT AGENDA.
WHAT THIS DOES IS PROVIDES US WITH AN ADDITIONAL LABORATORY AND NOT JUST BAYLOR COLLEGE OF MEDICINE.
REMEMBER, IT IS ONE THING TO SAY, HEY, DOC, LET'S HAVE BAYLOR DO ALL YOUR TESTING.
THAT'S GREAT, BUT BAYLOR HAS A CAPACITY ISSUE.
THEY CAN'T TEST ALL OF THE -- THEY HAVE A LAB CAPACITY LIMITATION.
THAT'S WHAT WE ARE TRYING TO DO IS ADD THIS ADDITIONAL GROUP THAT COULD NOW BE BAYLOR PLUS AN ADDITIONAL GROUP THAT ALLOWS FOR A 48-HOUR TURN AROUND.
WE NEEDED TO MAKE SOME CHANGES TO THAT AND REVIEW IT WITH PURCHASING.
I SPOKE WITH DWIGHT LAST NIGHT AS WELL ON THIS.
WE ARE CONNECTED ON THIS, AND HE HAS BEEN VERY SUPPORTIVE AS HAS BEEN THE COUNTY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE.
I SPOKE WITH ROBERT AS WELL ON THIS YESTERDAY.
WE ARE VERY COMMITTED TO THIS.
I DO WANT TO MAKE THE COMMENT AND VERY SPECIFICALLY THAT TESTING HAS BEEN A CHALLENGE ACROSS THE COUNTRY.
WE ARE DEALING AT OUR LOCAL LEVEL WITH THIS NATIONAL PHENOMENON OF TESTING.
[01:10:03]
IT IS NOT JUST THE NUMBER OF TESTS.IT IS THE QUALITY OF TESTS AND IT IS THE TURN AROUND TIME OF THOSE TESTS.
I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE LOOKING AT THE COMPONENTS OF THEY -- OF THE EQUATION AS WE LOOK INTO TESTING.
>> ADRIAN GARCIA: I AM NOT SURE IF THIS IS MORE FOR YOU, JUDGE, AND MAYBE TO THE ANALYST OFFICE.
LOOK, OUR ECONOMY IS GOING TO BE ON THREE LEGS HERE VERY SOON AND MAYBE EVEN TWO.
THERE IS GOING TO BE A LOT OF JOB THAT'S ARE NOT GOING TO COME BACK.
AND SO THERE ARE -- I KNOW THAT THERE IS A TESTING LAB IN THE WOODLANDS I PUT IN TOUCH WITH PUBLIC HEALTH TO SEE WHAT KIND OF RELATIONSHIP THAT CAN BECOME, BUT I THINK WE NEED TO LOOK AT THIS AS MUCH FROM THE PUBLIC HEALTH STANDPOINT AND I THINK THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO BE LOOKING AT IT AS CREATING JOBS AND STRENGTHENING OUR ECONOMY.
THERE ARE AREA LABS IN OUR REGION THAT WE SHOULD BE TALKING TO BECAUSE THEY CAN BECOME ANOTHER EMPLOYMENT SECTOR FOR US IN THE VERY FORESEEABLE FUTURE.
THEY JUST NEED TO BE GIVEN AN OPPORTUNITY TO WORK WITH THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT VERSUS OUR INCLINATION TO WORK WITH THE NATIONAL LAB EXCLUSIVELY.
I WILL TAKE YOUR LEAD ON WHO SHOULD HAVE THAT CONVERSATION WITH THESE FOLKS, BUT WHETHER IT IS THE BIG PHARMA AND PHARMACEUTICAL THAT'S ARE MOSTLY IN THE NORTHEAST, WE OUGHT TO BE THINKING ABOUT HOW TO BRING IN MORE OF THOSE RELATIONSHIPS TO CREATE JOBS THAT ARE GOING TO BE SO DESPERATELY NEEDED IN THE FORESEEABLE FUTURE.
>> LINA HIDALGO: COMMISSIONER ELLIS?
>> RODNEY ELLIS: COMMISSIONER IF GUIDE HOUSE IS ON THE LINE I WANT TO ASK THEM.
I KNOW ALL THESE FOLKS, VIRTUALLY ALL OF THE PEOPLE WHO SIGNED UP ON THIS ISSUE.
WE WILL BE HERE FOR AWHILE, BUT I WANT TO ASK GUIDE HOUSE, IF THEY ARE AROUND, ABOUT THE STATE MONEY.
COMMISSIONER GARCIA AND COMMISSIONER CAGLE I DID TWO OF THOSE QUICKIE TEST, THE PRICK YOUR FINGER THING AND I HAD THE CHECKUPS AND THE CHECK OF MY BLOOD.
THE JUDGE SAID SHE WAS TESTED TWICE AND IT WAS NO FUN.
I THOUGHT THE MACHO SIDE OF ME, I WANT YOU TO KNOW I DIDN'T CRY WHEN THEY DID IT, BUT I CRIED BEFORE THEY DID.
IT WAS ONLY BECAUSE MY DAUGHTER WAS WATCHING.
IT WASN'T AS BAD AS I THOUGHT IT WOULD BE, BUT IF GUIDE HOUSE IS AROUND, I WANT TO KNOW WHAT THE STATE HAS DONE IN TERMS OF RESOURCES JUST BECAUSE THIS IS THE PLACE WHERE MR. BROODER AND MR. GLEN WOULD KNOW THE NUMBERS.
I THINK WE MENTIONED THIS BEFORE, BUT WE KNOW THE STATE THROUGH THE CDC RECEIVED ROUGHLY 4,070,000,000 -- 470 MILLION AND CHANGE FOR TESTING AND POCKET FUNDS FOR CONTRACT TRACING.
I THINK OUR RECOMMENDATION WAS FOR THE COUNTY AND FOR PUBLIC HEALTH TO COORDINATE WITH THE STATE TO SEE HOW THOSE FUNDS ARE BEING SPENT AND HOW DO WE ACTUALLY TIE IN ALL OF THE EFFORTS FOR TESTING CONTRACTORS AND QUARANTINEING AND SHELTERING AND ISOLATION WITH THE STATE SO -- ONE, HOW TO UNIFY THE RESPONSE AND HOW THE COUNTY CAN ALLOCATE THE FUNDS.
>> RODNEY ELLIS: I JUST WANTED TO ASK THAT.
I KNOW WE WANT TO HEAR FROM FOLKS WHO SIGNED UP.
I HOPE THIS IS HELPFUL FOR THEM.
I AM CERTAINLY GOING TO CALL MY FORMER COLLEAGUES, AND THEY SHOULD AS WELL ON BOTH SIDES OF THE AISLE.
$470 MILLION AND WE HAVE NO IDEA WHERE IT IS GOING.
WE HAVE BEEN EXTREMELY TRANSPARENT FROM MY SIDE, AND JUST WANTED TO ARM THEM WITH THAT.
LUCINDA, WE HAVE MORE SPEAKERS, I TAKE IT.
>> LINA HIDALGO: LET'S HEAR FROM THEM, PLEASE.
>> ERNESTINE WARD WITH CIVIC CLUB.
>> YES, THIS IS ERNESTINE LLOYD, THE FIFTH WARD -- THE GREATER FIFTH WARD
[01:15:02]
NEIGHBORHOOD CIVIC CLUB AND I REALLY JUST WANTED TO EXPRESS WHAT JOETTA HAS ALREADY SAID.WE NEED TESTING IN OUR AREA AND THAT WE NEED TO MAKE MORE SITES AVAILABLE AND MORE SITES IN A KNOWN LOCATION THAT PEOPLE KNOW THAT THEY CAN GO TO.
EVEN THOUGH I WAS OVER THERE WITH THE CONGRESSWOMAN, SHEILA JACKSON LEE.
I HBT -- I HADN'T BEEN EXPOSED TO ANYONE AND I AM SOCIAL DISTANCING THE HECK OUT OF IT.
I DIDN'T WANT TO TAKE THE TEST.
I WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT I APPRECIATE THE TESTING SITE THAT'S WE HAVE NOW.
WE JUST FEED MORE OF THEM AND THAT WE NEED THEM TO BE IN A LOCATION OF A STEADY AND CON SIS ASSISTANCE SO WE CAN GET TESTED WHEN THE NEED ARISES.
>> GILETTE MCCULLOUGH WITH THE LEARNING ACADEMY.
HOW ARE YOU ALL DOING TODAY? JUST FOR A LITTLE CLARITY AND UNDERSTANDING IN SOME THINGS, THE GREATER FIFTH WARD WAS CLASSIFIED AS A GREATER AREA.
YOU CALL IT THE MUA FOR HARRIS COUNTY PUBLIC HEALTH IN YOUR 2019 HEALTH UH SISMENT -- ASSESSMENT PUBLICATION.
HOWEVER HARRIS COUNTY PUBLIC HEALTH DOES NOT PLACE COVID-19 RESOURCES THAT WAS IDENTIFIED BY YOUR ORGANIZATION AS AN UNDER SERVED AREA MEDICALLY AND THEY ARE NOT PUTTING IT THERE BECAUSE LOGISTICAL BEARINGS.
I AM HEARING YOU ALL TALK ABOUT ALL OF THE OTHER AREAS AND ALL OF THE OTHER CITIES AND ALL OF THE OTHER COUNTY, ET CETERA.
I DON'T HEAR ANYBODY TALKING ABOUT THE UNDER SERVED COMMUNITY.
ADDITIONALLY THE FLOODS PROJECT IS BASED ON COST AND RATIO AND PROPERTY VALUE, A PROCESS THAT IS NOT EQUITABLE SO VULNERABLE COMMUNITIES LIKE WE THE GREATER FIFTH WARD COMMUNITY IS BEING LEFT OUT OF THE COVID-19 TESTING STUFF.
THEREFORE WE LOSE OUT ON BOTH.
THEREFORE AS WE TALK ABOUT INCREASING COVID-19 TESTING, WE ALSO ASK YOU TO SUPPORT AND PROTECT THE WORST FIRST.
OUR COMMUNITY IS VULNERABLE AND YOU ALL DON'T SEEM TO PUT OUT A FOCUS ON VULNERABLE COMMUNITY.
YOU PUT MORE FOCUS ON THE COMMUNITIES THAT CAN TAKE CARE OF THEMSELVES.
THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME THE TIME.
THANK YOU, JUDGE AND COMMISSIONERS, FOR ALLOWING ME TO SPEAK ABOUT THE CONCERN OF THE LACK OF TESTING IN THE GREATER FIFTH WARD AREA.
WE HAVE BEEN WORKING WITH COMMISSIONER ELLIS' OFFICE SINCE MARCH TO TRY TO GET SOME TYPE OF TESTING IN THE FIFTH WARD DUE TO THE CITY COUNCIL RACE THAT IS STILL UP IN THE AIR AND NOT HAVING REPRESENTATION IN THAT WAY, WE DIDN'T KNOW WHERE ELSE TO GO.
WE KNOW OUR COUNTY COMMISSIONERS WOULD STILL HAVE OVERSIGHT OF THE FIFTH WARD AREA.
THERE ARE TWO KINDS OF FACILITIES IN THE FIFTH WARD, THE CITY AND PARKS AND THE HESTER HOUSE, BOTH WHICH COULD BE UTILIZED TO PROVIDE TESTING TO THIS VULNERABLE POPULATION.
AS MR. MCCULLOUGH JUST SAID, THE ONLY TESTING HAS BEEN DONE BY CONGRESS -- CONGRESSWOMAN SHEILA JACKSON LEE AND THAT WAS WITH A PRIVATE ENTITY.
SINCE THEN THE CONGRESSWOMAN ALONG WITH HISD TRUSTY DANIELS THEY ARE PROVIDING TESTING AT DOGIT ELEMENTARY.
BUT WE HAVE HAD PEOPLE THAT COULD HAVE BEEN POSSIBLY SICK AND CONTINUING THE SPREAD, BUT WE DIDN'T HAVE TESTING AVAILABLE IN THIS VULNERABLE POPULATION.
WE KNOW THE FIFTH WARD FOR THE MOST PART WAS OVER LOOKED.
AS FAR AS THE HEALTH DISPARITIES AND THE OTHER THINGS WE REALLY NEED TO GO AHEAD AND PROVIDE TESTING TO THIS AREA.
[01:20:04]
I KNOW THAT IT COMES DOWN TO DOLLARS BEING SPENT AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE, BUT WE ARE ALL TAX PAY -- PAYING CITIZENS AT THE END OF THE DAY.WE ARE NOT JUST TAXPAYERS, BUT VOTERS.
WE VOTED TO HAVE YOU REPRESENT US.
WE ASK YOU YOU REPRESENT US WITH DIGNITY AND HEAR OUR VOICES AND HEAR OUR CONCERNS AND ADDRESS THEM.
>> IRMA MARSHALL WITH FIFTH WARD SUPER NEIGHBORHOOD.
THANK YOU, JUDGE AND COMMISSIONERS.
I APPRECIATE EVERYTHING YOU HAVE SAID THIS MORNING, AND IT IS VERY ENLIGHTENING WHAT YOU SAID.
MY CONCERN IS FIFTH WARD REALLY NEEDS MORE MOBILE SITES HERE, MOBILE UNITS IN THE COMMUNITY.
WHAT I SEE IS THAT THERE ARE MANY WARDS THAT DON'T HAVE TRANSPORTATION TO GET OUT TO THE UNITS YOU ALL PUT OUT THERE.
THE MOBILE UNITS WOULD BE VERY HELPFUL TO THEM.
EVEN LIKE IN FITON PARK -- FINTON PARK, THERE ARE COMPLEXES THERE THAT OLDER PEOPLE THAT HAS GRANDCHILDREN, I SERVE FOOD TO THEM AND I QUESTION THEM HAVE THEY BEEN TESTED.
NO, I CAN'T BECAUSE I DON'T HAVE TRANSPORTATION.
IF THERE WAS A UNIT THERE, IT WOULD MAKE IT ACCESSIBLE TO THEM TO BE TESTED.
I AM ASKING YOU TO PUT A UNIT THERE TO MAKE IT AVAILABLE TO THEM.
SO I HAD TO GO AND BE TESTED AGAIN.
I THANK YOU ALL FOR WHAT YOU ARE DOING AND I HOPE YOU GET THE TESTS SPEEDILY TO THE ONES THAT ARE TESTED.
THANK YOU AND MAY YOU STAY SAFE AND GOD BLESS YOU.
IT IS SO HARD TO UNDERSTAND -- OR TO HEAR THE DIFFICULTY THAT ALL OF THE SPEAKERS ARE GOING THROUGH WITH NO SITE THAT YOU CAN EASILY ACCESS.
IT HAS BEEN SAID BEFORE, BUT I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE AND BE CLEAR ABOUT THIS IS I'M THE LAST PERSON TO PASS THE BUCK.
THE ISSUE WITH THIS IS THERE IS ONLY SO MUCH FUNDING FOR THIS, AND THERE IS ONLY SO MANY SITES, ONLY SO MANY LABS.
IF WE WERE GOING TO TURNOVER OPERATIONS IN THE CITY WE WOULD NEED THEIR FUNDING AND THEIR LABS.
THEY HAVE CERTAIN FUNDING AND CERTAIN LABS AND CERTAIN FEDERAL SITES THEY ARE ALLOCATING IN THE CITY.
WE HAVE OURS THAT ARE ALLOCATED THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY.
AND SO THAT'S HOW THE DIVISION OF LABOR HAS BEEN SET OUT.
IT IS A BIT OF A ZERO SUM, YOU KNOW? WE CAN AND I WILL COMMIT TO CONTINUE ADVOCATING WITH THE CITY.
THIS IS FAR FROM A PASS THE BUCK THING, BUT I DO REALLY WANT TO BE CLEAR THE WAY WE DIVIDED UP THE RESPONSE BECAUSE THERE ARE TWO LOCAL HEALTH AUTHORITIES, THE CITY AND THE COUNTY, AND WE EACH HAVE LIMITED FUNDS AND EACH HAVE LIMITED SITES.
IF THEY ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE CITY, WE ARE RESPONSIBLE OUTSIDE THE CITY.
AND WE CAN'T TAKE A SITE FROM OUTSIDE THE CITY AND PUT IT IN THE CITY BECAUSE THE CITY IS NOT GOING TO REPLACE THAT ONE WITH ONE OF THEIRS.
THAT'S WHAT I WANT TO MAKE CLEAR AND WHY THIS IS TAKING PLACE AND WHY IT IS REALLY IMPORTANT THAT YOU GUYS COMMUNICATE WITH THE CITY ABOUT THIS.
SHORT OF SAYING WE'LL ADMINISTER THE CITY FUNDING, THE CITY'S SITES AND THE CITIES -- THE CITY'S PROGRAMS, WE CAN'T GO IN THERE WITH OURS.
>> RODNEY ELLIS: JUDGE, I WANT TO REITERATE THAT AGAIN.
IF THERE ARE MORE SPEAKERS I WILL SAY IT AGAIN, I HOPE THIS IS HELPFUL FOR THEM.
MOST PEOPLE DON'T REALIZE THAT WHEN I WAS IN STATE SENATE 5 MILLION PEOPLE, 2.2 MILLION PEOPLE IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON.
MORE PEOPLE IN UNINCORPORATED HARRIS COUNTY AND NOT IN THE CITY AT ALL THAN YOU HAVE IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON.
JUST WHEN YOU GRASP THAT, THE LARGEST CITY IN TEXAS WHEN THE CENSUS COMES OUT,
[01:25:03]
WILL BE SOMETHING THAT IS NOT A CITY.IT IS SOMETHING CALLED UNINCORPORATED HARRIS COUNTY.
I WOULD VENTURE TO SAY, AND I HAD THIS CONVERSATION WITH JOSH THE OTHER DAY.
THE CITY GETS THREE OR FOUR TIMES AS MUCH CDGB MONEY THAT WE GET AND MAYBE THAT'S ONE WAY TO INDEX IT AND SAY THERE IS FAR MORE INEQUALITY, FAR MORE PEOPLE WHO QUALIFY FOR THE FEDERAL MONEY IN THE CITY THAN OUTSIDE THE CITY.
I THINK ON YOUR WATCH, COMMISSIONER GARCIA HERE, WE HAVE DONE MORE IN TERMS OF EQUITY.
WE ARE GONNA GET TO THAT DISCUSSION LATER ON TODAY.
I HOPE THESE FOLKS WHO FEEL PAIN AND I GET IT.
WHEN PEOPLE ARE HURT THEY GO TO WHOEVER THEY CAN GET TO.
IF IT IS THE SCHOOL BOARD, IT IS THE CITY, IF IT IS THE COUNTY.
I HOPE BY POINTING OUT TO YOU THAT IF THE NUMBERS ARE RIGHT, THE COUNTY HAS SPENT 20 MILLION AND THE CITY HAS SPENT 30 MILLION AND THAT'S 400 AND SOMETHING MILLION, CAN'T FIND MY NOTES, THAT THE STATE HAS IN FEDERAL MONEY FOR TESTING.
SO I'M CERTAINLY GOING TO CALL MY SUCCESSOR IN THE STATE SENATE AND MY FRIENDS IN THE LEGISLATURE ON BOTH SIDES OF THE AISLE, AND YOU ALL SHOULD.
THEY ARE NOT HAVING HEARINGS RIGHT NOW, BUT ASK WHERE IS THAT MONEY? NATIONALLY THERE IS A PROBLEM AND THERE ARE SOME FOLK IN THE NATIONAL GOVERNMENT WHO DON'T WANT THE TESTING BECAUSE THEY DON'T WANT US TO KNOW HOW BAD IT IS.
WE ARE DOING ALL WE CAN, BUT WE CANNOT -- I MENTIONED EARLIER ON THE MONEY WE DISTRIBUTED AND COMMISSIONER GARCIA AND A SMALL BUSINESS FUND AND $15 MILLION.
WE DID IT IN THE CITY AND UNINCORPORATED.
IT WAS ON A DIRECTORY LEAVE PROGRAM THAT I CAME UP WITH.
IT WAS 30 MILLION AND WE DID IT IN THE CITY AND OUTSIDE THE CITY.
THE ONLY TIME WE HAVEN'T WAS ON THE SECOND BUSINESS LINE I DID SAY I WANT THE FOLKS IN THE CITY TO APPLY.
I MIGHT HAVE ARGUED THAT I WILL GIVE A FEW POINTS MORE TO PEOPLE IN UN -- UNINCORPORATED.
IF YOU ARE UNINCORPORATED YOU DON'T HAVE A CHANCE TO ASK FOR BOTH.
I WILL MAKE SURE PEOPLE ARE GETTING IT AND MY STAFF CALLS THEM.
I WANT TO ARM THEM SO THEY CAN GO TO CITY HALL AS WELL AND CALL OUR STATE PARTNERS AS WELL BECAUSE THERE IS 400 MILLION OUT THERE, AND I WILL MAKE -- I WAS THERE THIS MORNING AND I AM TAKING COUNTY FEDERAL MONEY, CARES MONEY FOR THE FOOD BANK TO DISTRIBUTE FOOD TO 500 FAMILIES AT HESTER HOUSE EVERY TUESDAY AT FIFTH WARD.
THERE ARE THREE COUNTY FACILITIES THERE BY THE WAY.
THE MICKEY LEYLAND PROJECT OVER THERE, THAT OFFICE, FINNIGAN AND HESTOR HOUSE.
I KNOW WE HAVE FIVE MORE SPEAKERS, BUT I HOPE THIS HELPS.
>> LINA HIDALGO: LUCINDA, LET'S CONTINUE WITH THE SPEAKERS.
DOLORES MCGRUDER WITH FIFTH WARD SUPER NEIGHBORHOOD.
COMMISSIONER'S COURT, I WAS CALLING BECAUSE I WANTED TO LET YOU KNOW THAT WE NEED A COVID 19 TESTING SITE.
IF IT IS NOT PERMANENT IT NEEDS TO BE MOBILE.
WE HAVE SO MANY PEOPLE THAT ARE IN THE FIFTH WARD AREA THAT DOES NOT HAVE TRANSPORTATION.
THEY WOULD BE ABLE TO GET TESTED.
IF SO MANY PEOPLE IN HOUSTON, TEXAS ARE SPREADING THE DISEASE -- OR I MEAN THE VIRUS AND NO ONE SEEMS TO COME UP WITH NO INTER VEN TIFF AND NEW IDEAS IN THE 21ST CENTURY.
WE NEED A MOBILE SITE OR A PERMANENT TESTING SITE AND YOU WOULD THINK THEY CAN GET IT UNDER CONTROL IN THE FIFTH WARD AND IN THE HOUSTON AREA, PERIOD AND HARRIS COUNTY.
WE ALSO NEED FLIERS TO LET THE PEOPLE KNOW ABOUT THE VIRUS.
THE ONLY THING YOU HEAR ABOUT THE VIRUS IS ON TELEVISION OR SOCIAL MEDIA.
A WHOLE LOT OF PEOPLE, THEY CANNOT COMPREHEND AND A LOT OF THEM CAN'T EVEN READ.
IT CAN BE FOR OTHER AREAS AND THEY CAN COME THERE.
THE SITE WE HAVE IS A TENT AND A HALF MILE AWAY FROM THE FIFTH WARD AREA.
WE NEED TO GET TOGETHER TO EDUCATE THE PUBLIC.
[01:30:01]
YOU KNOW, LET'S DO OUT REACH INTO OUR COMMUNITY.YOU DON'T BE AFRAID OF ANYTHING.
I APPRECIATE -- APPRECIATE COMMISSIONER ELLIS AND COMMISSIONER GARCIA.
HE GOT THE GANG UNDER CONTROL.
I KNOW HE CAN WORK TO GET THIS UNDER CONTROL.
THE WHOLE COMMISSIONER'S COURT CAN DO THAT WITH THE COMMUNITIES.
JUST SITTING AT HOME NOT DOING ANYTHING.
YOU HAVE TO INVOLVE THE COMMUNITY.
THE PEOPLE REALLY WANT TO WORK TO GET THIS UNDER CONTROL.
THANK YOU FOR REMEMBERING THAT WORK.
I JUST WANTED TO SHARE COMMISSIONER ELLIS' COMMITMENT AS WELL AS THE JUDGE'S POINT THAT WE ARE APT TO DO MORE IF THE RULES WOULD ALLOW US, BUT RIGHT NOW THAT IS A BIT OF THE COMPLICATION.
BUT YOU HAVEN'T BEEN FORGOTTEN.
I KNOW WE ARE ALL USING OUR RELATIONSHIPS TO GET YOU THE SUPPORT YOU NEED.
>> EASTER HENDERSON WITH FIFTH WARD SUPER NEIGHBORHOOD.
COMMISSIONER'S COURT, THIS IS EASTER HENDERSON AND I JUST LIKE TO VOICE MY OPINION ABOUT A TESTING SITE.
WE NEED A STATIONARY TESTING SITE IF POSSIBLE, IF NOT MAYBE A MOBILE TESTING SITE SO WE CAN REALLY GET THE PEOPLE TO UNDERSTAND THAT THEY NEED TO BE TESTED FOR THIS COVID VIRUS.
A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE WALKING AROUND AND HAVE IT AND DON'T EVEN KNOW THEY HAVE IT.
AND THEN THEY CAN SPREAD IT TO SOME OF THEIR FAMILY MEMBERS.
THEY COULD BE IN THE HOME WITH THEIR FAMILY MEMBERS AND SPREADING IT TO THEM, AND WE REALLY NEED THAT TESTING SITE A STATIONARY TESTING SITE WHERE WE ARE ABLE TO WALK TO IT BECAUSE A LOT OF PEOPLE DON'T HAVE TRANSPORTATION.
A LOT OF PEOPLE AIN'T ABLE TO GET AROUND AND GET TO THOSE TESTING SITES.
I THINK THAT WOULD BE VERY HELPFUL AND HELP CONTROL THE VIRUS IF WE WERE ABLE TO GET A STATIONARY TESTING SITE IN THE FIFTH WARD COMMUNITY.
I THINK THAT WOULD BE A BIG HELP TO HELP TO CONTROL THIS VIRUS.
RICK [INAUDIBLE] WITH FIFTH WARD SUPER NEIGHBORHOOD.
I JUST WANT TO SAY THE SAME THING.
I AM A FIFTH WARD RESIDENT AS WELL AND PART OF THE FIFTH SUPER NEIGHBORHOOD.
WE REALLY DO NEED A TESTING CENTER.
I WAS ABLE TO GET TESTED AND I HAD TO WAIT THREE WEEKS ON MY RESULTS.
I HAD TO GO TO THE -- I THINK IT WAS OVER AT THE OLD FOREST BROOKS HIGH SCHOOL AND I WAS TESTED THERE.
LIKE I SAID, IT WAS THREE WEEKS WAITING.
AND LIKE WHAT THE OTHERS ARE SAYING, THE PEOPLE -- A LOT OF THE PEOPLE OUT HERE ARE ILLITERATE AND THEY ARE SPREADING THE VIRUS BECAUSE THEY DON'T HAVE THE KNOWLEDGE BASE TO UNDERSTAND THE SERIOUSNESS OF THE DISEASE.
ALSO A BUSINESS DOWN THE STREET FROM ME, A MAN, HE HAD THE COVID VIRUS AND NOW BACK TO WORK AS SOON AS THEY RELEASED HIM.
THAT TO MY UNDERSTANDING IS SOMEBODY THAT DON'T UNDERSTAND THE SERIOUSNESS OF THE DISEASE, AND THAT'S HOW THE SPREAD IS CONTINUING.
UNFORTUNATELY A LOT OF PEOPLE IN THE AFRICAN-AMERICAN COMMUNITY IS NOT TAKING THIS VIRUS SERIOUS.
THEY ARE BEING EXPOSED TO OTHERS, AND THEN THEY ARE COMING BACK HOME AND GIVING IT TO THEIR FAMILY MEMBERS JUST BECAUSE THEY DON'T THINK IT IS SERIOUS.
I APPRECIATE EVERYTHING YOU GUYS ARE DOING, BUT IF WE CAN GET A UNIT OR ANY KIND OF HELP OUT HERE, PERIOD, I WOULD BE SO GRATEFUL AND APPRECIATE ALL OF THAT AND I THANK YOU ALL FOR ALL YOU ARE DOING.
JUDGE MOLLY COOK WITH DOCTORS FOR CHANGE IS SPEAKING ON TWO ITEMS, 21G
[01:35:04]
AND 20A2.>> I'M SORRY JUST TO CLARIFY DO I GET THREE MINUTES ON EACH OR JUST THREE MINUTES TOTAL? CAN Y'ALL HEAR ME?
>> ADRIAN GARCIA: YES, MA'AM, WE CAN HEAR YOU.
I AM A THURSDAY AND HAVE A PUBLIC HEALTH DEGREE AND WORK DIRECTLY WITH CO VIVE POSITIVE -- COVID POSITIVE PATIENTS ON THE FRONT LINE.
I WANT TO THANK JUDGE HIDALGO AND GARCIA FOR THEIR NO VOTE AND WE SUPPORT THE COUNTY FUNDING THE CONTINUED PHO SILL STATION GROUP.
BACK TO COVID UNDER TESTING IN AN AREA YOU KNOW FACES CHALLENGES AND LACK OF HEALTH CARE IS BAD PUBLIC HEALTH AND BAD DATA.
LOW INCOME AND NON-WHITE COMMUNITIES ARE HISTORICALLY UNDER REPRESENTED IN STUDIES.
IT SHOULDN'T MATTER WHO LIVES IN THE CITY VERSUS THE COUNTY.
THEY SHOULD IDENTIFY AREA THAT'S NEED PUBLIC RESOURCES THE MOST AND DIRECTING THE MAYOR -- FROM THERE COORDINATION.
PEOPLE ACROSS THE COUNTY WHO HAVE THE MEANS ARE GETTING TESTED.
I KNOW BECAUSE I AM SWABBING THEM.
THOSE THAT DON'T HAVE THE MEANS TO BE COUNTED DESERVE TO BE COUNTED.
PUT THE FUNDS WHERE THEY ARE NEEDED THE MOST.
WE ARE LOOKING IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON AND COMMISSIONER YOUR QUESTIONS OBVIOUSLY DEMONSTRATE YOU ARE TRYING TO DO COMMISSIONER ELLIS AS LITTLE AS YOU CAN IN THE FIFTH WARD.
WE DON'T CARE ABOUT THE ANSWERS TO THE QUESTIONS.
WE DON'T CARE ABOUT THE SPENDING COMPETITION.
THE FACT THAT YOU AND THE CITY ARE SEPARATE IS NOT A VALID REASON NOT TO TEST THESE PEOPLE.
IT IS A FAILING ON Y'ALL'S PART.
YOU FIGURE OUT HOW TO WORK WITH THE CITY.
I DON'T HEAR ANY MENTION OF DOLLARS THAT ARE GOING DIRECTLY TO PUBLIC HEALTH IN THE COUNTY, AND IT IS A PANDEMIC.
EVEN BRINGING DR. SHAW AND OTHERS ON TO THE CALL BEFORE SPEAKERS IS DISRESPECTFUL.
IT IS DIFFICULT TO MAKE TIME AND LESS LIKELY TO STAY ON THE CALL IF THEY HAVE TO WAIT.
I AM A NURSE ON THE FRONT LINE AND THIS COMMUNITY IS ON THE FRONT LINE SO STEP UP.
IT IS MY JOB TO SHOW UP TO WORK AND ACCEPT PATIENTS.
IT IS YOUR JOB TO FIND THE MONEY AND MAKE STRIKE THAT JEEZ.
WE DON'T NEED MORE PLANS OR DATA.
WE HAVE ALL OF THE DATA WE NEED AND THE DATA IS TALKING TO YOU RIGHT NOW.
I LOVE MY JOB, BUT THERE IS NOTHING THAT MAKES IT HARDER THAN KNOWING THE SYSTEM IN PLACE CONTINUES TO BENEFIT PEOPLE WHO ALREADY HAVE MEANS AND PUNISH THOSE WHO DO NOT.
ACKNOWLEDGE THE RESIDENTS OF GREATER FIFTH WARD TOWARD AND AGREE TO COUNT THEM.
PUT THE PUBLIC RESOURCES WHERE THEY ARE NEEDED.
PLACE A PERMANENT COVID-19 TESTING SITE IN GREATER FIFTH WARD IN COORDINATION WITH RESIDENT ORGANIZATIONS THAT ACCOMMODATE LOCK UP AND IS WELL ADVERTISED BOTH OFF LINE.
THANK YOU AGAIN FOR YOUR TIME.
I LIVED IN HARRIS COUNTY SINCE 1986.
I HAVE 33 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE AS AN EDUCATOR.
IT IS IN ALL LEVELS AND MOSTLY EARLY CHILDHOOD.
I AM OBJECTING STRONGLY TO THE ORDER BY A NON-ELECTED OFFICIAL TO CLOSE SCHOOLS UNTIL SEPTEMBER 8TH.
IT SOUNDS LIKE THAT IS GOING TO BE EXTENDED.
I AM INTERESTED IN KNOWING WHAT THE CRITERIA IS TO CHANGE THAT ORDER AND TO RESCIND THAT ORDER IF COME SEPTEMBER 8TH THE CASE LEVEL IS LOWER.
HONESTLY, THE ONLY STAT THAT MATTERS IS HOSPITAL -- HOSPITALIZATIONS.
IN MY MIND THE HOSPITALS IN HARRIS COUNTY ARE NOT OVERWHELMED.
I JUST LOOKED TODAY AND THE CASE POSITIVITY RATE IS DEFINITELY DOWN RNTION -- ADMISSIONS ARE DOWN.
THERE ARE MANY PARENTS WHO CANNOT GO TO WORK.
YOU ARE GOING TO HURT THE KIDS WHO NEED IT THE MOST, THE LOWER SOCIOECONOMIC WHOSE PARENTS, SOME ONLY HAVE ONE PARENT THAT WORKS OUTSIDE THE HOUSE.
SOME HAVE MULTIPLE KIDS IN THEIR FAMILY AND MAYBE THEY CAN GET A TABLET, BUT DO THEY HAVE GOOD INTERNET? BESIDES THE SOCIAL AND EMOTIONAL THIS IS DREF SAYS STATING -- DEVASTATING TO KIDS AND IT WAS OBVIOUSLY WRITTEN BY PEOPLE WHO DON'T HAVE KIDS AND DON'T REALIZE WHAT THE SHUTDOWN HAS DONE TO CHILDREN.
I AM SERIOUSLY WORRIED ABOUT DEPRESSION RATES AND THE ISOLATION THAT KIDS ARE EXPERIENCING NOT TO MENTION THAT THE ACADEMIC OPPORTUNITIES FOR OUR MOST VULNERABLE FAMILIES ARE GOING TO BE SQUANDERED.
THEY ARE GOING TO MISS SO MUCH TIME AND BE SO FAR BEHIND.
MY QUESTION IS WHAT IS THE CRITERIA? WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO USE TO BE ABLE TO SAY SCHOOLS CAN OPEN? AND WHY CAN'T WE HAVE LOCAL SCHOOL DISTRICTS DECIDE THIS? THE HOSPITALS ARE NOT OVERWHELMED.
I STRONGLY URGE YOU TO RECONSIDER WHAT YOU ARE DOING TO THIS -- TO THE KIDS OF HARRIS COUNTY.
>> LINA HIDALGO: THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR COMMENTS.
[01:40:02]
THANK YOU.>> WELL, OBVIOUSLY ARE YOU NOT GOING TO RESPOND, BUT I THINK YOU NEED TO SERIOUSLY THINK ABOUT THIS.
I AM CALLING TODAY TO GIVE MY THANKS TO DR. SHAW ARE AND TO THE JUDGE AND TO THE COMMISSIONER'S COURT.
I AM THE PRESIDENT OF THE HOUSTON FEDERATION OF TEACHERS.
WE APPRECIATE THAT THE COUNTY IS USING SOLID SCIENTIFIC EVIDENCE AS A BASIS TO MAKE DECISIONS ON MATTERS OF PUBLIC HEALTH.
MATTERS THAT NOT ONLY AFFECT EVERY SINGLE STUDENT AND EDUCATOR WITHIN OUR SCHOOL SYSTEM, BUT REMEMBERING OUR SCHOOL SYSTEMS ARE NOT PART OF THE ECO-SYSTEM.
OPENING SCHOOLS UP TOO EARLY WHEN WE HAVE SIGNIFICANT COMMUNITY SPREAD STILL IN OUR AREA WILL LIKELY INCREASE THE LEVEL OF COVID AND PUT MANY OF OUR STUDENTS AND TEACHERS AT UNNECESSARY RISK.
WE UNDERSTAND THAT VIRTUAL EDUCATION IS NOT PARAMOUNT, AND WE WANT TO GET BACK TO LIVE AND IN PERSON INSTRUCTION AS SOON AS POSSIBLE, BUT WE ALL WANT TO DO IT SAFELY.
WE BELIEVE THAT LISTENING TO MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS AND FOLLOWING SCIENTIFIC EVIDENCE AND ADVICE IS THE BEST WAY TO DO THAT.
OUR KIDS SPENT EVERY YEAR SINCE THE DAYS OF THE BEGINNING OF PUBLIC EDUCATION HAVE BEEN OUT FOR 10 WEEKS IN THE SUMMER.
WHAT WE ARE TALKING ABOUT IS EXPANDING THIS IN SOME CASES BY A COUPLE OF WEEKS.
WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THERE IS TIME FOR LEADERS IN THE STATE AND OTHERS TO GET THIS VIRUS UNDER CONTROL.
TO DO THE TESTING AND TO DO THE ISOLATION THAT IS NECESSARY SO THAT WE CAN SAFELY GO BACK TO SCHOOL.
WE ARE DOING OUR JOB AS EDUCATORS TO IMPROVE THE VIRTUAL PRACTICE AND TO MAKE SURE KIDS HAVE HOTSPOTS AND CONNECTION DEVICES TO DO IT.
THE LAST THING ANY OF OUR TEACHERS WANT IS A KID THAT IS HURT IF THEIR QUARE OR HAVE -- IN THEIR CARE OR EXPERIENCE A TEACHER BEING SICK AND DYING WHILE COMING BACK TO SCHOOL.
WE HAVE HAD OUR STUDENTS -- WE HAVE HAD OPERATORS PASS AWAY DURING THE SUMMER WHILE SCHOOLS ARE CLOSED.
WE HAD TEACHERS HOSPITALIZED FOR WEEKS THAT ARE STILL GOING THROUGH TREATMENT FOR COVID.
IMAGINE IF WE WERE BACK IN SCHOOL WITH KIDS AND ALL OF THE OTHER EMPLOYEES.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR DECISION AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.
>> LINA HIDALGO: YES, COMMISSIONER GARCIA.
>> ADRIAN GARCIA: I JUST WANT TO THANK YOU FOR CALLING IN TO WEIGH IN ON THIS VERY IMPORTANT ISSUE.
OBVIOUSLY THE JUDGE HAS BEEN VERY CLEAR ON HER POSITION AND HER VIEW ON THIS MATTER.
IT IS IN SUPPORT OF THE POSITION TAKEN.
AND THIS IS ALL JUST TO -- TOO REMINISCENT TO OPENING THE ECONOMY TOO SOON.
YOU KNOW, THE CHALLENGE OF THE INFECTION SOME OF OUR CHILDREN COULD FACE, MEANING IN A CLASSROOM ENVIRONMENT AND THE HARM TEACHERS COULD BE PUT IN THE WAY OF, AND NOT TO FORGET THAT THE DANGER IT COULD PUT THE FAMILIES OF THOSE CHILDREN IN HARM'S WAY AS WELL.
THIS IS NOT A GOOD POSITION FOR ANY OF US, BUT I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR WEIGHING IN.
WE HEARD YOU EARLY AND WE HAVE MADE OUR POSITION KNOWN AND HOPE PEOPLE WILL TAKE NOTICE ESPECIALLY IF I THINK THE LAST REPORTS ARE ACCURATE THAT THE INFECTION SOME CHILDREN ARE SEEING -- WE ALREADY DON'T KNOW ENOUGH ABOUT COVID-19 ITSELF, BUT SOME OF THE SYMPTOMS THAT CHILDREN ARE EXPERIENCING ARE FURTHER INTO THE UNKNOWN CATEGORY.
SO ZACH AND ALL OF THE OTHER SPEAKERS ON THIS ITEM, THANK YOU FOR SPEAKING OUT.
I AM VERY, VERY CONCERNED AS WELL.
>> HI, I WANTED TO START OFF BY SAYING THAT I VERY MUCH SUPPORT THE ORDER TO HAVE
[01:45:09]
HARRIS COUNTY SCHOOLS BEGIN VIRTUALLY UNTIL SEPTEMBER 8TH.I DO SO AS A VET -- VETERAN EDUCATOR.
I TEACH MUSIC AND I HAVE DONE SO FOR THE PAST 11 YEARS.
AND I ALSO HAVE STUDIED QUITE AUSTENSIBLY.
I SEE A LOT OF CHILDREN WHO EXPERIENCE TRAUMA IN MY SCHOOL BUILDING.
I WANT TO SAY THAT KEEPING -- STARTING SCHOOL VIRTUALLY WILL SAVE OUR CHILDREN FROM EXPERIENCING UNTOLD AMOUNTS OF TRAUMA.
THAT IS BECAUSE WE HAVE SAVING THEM FROM BEING SICK AND POSSIBLY DEBILITATING CONSIDERING THAT CHILDREN WHO ARE INFECTED WITH COVID-19 OFTEN END UP HAVING AN INFLAMMATORY RESPONSE THAT MIMICS KAWASAKI'S DISEASE AND IT GOES TO MULTI-ORGAN SYSTEM FAILURE.
CHILDREN ARE NOT IMMUNE TO KEY -- COVID-19.
THAT IDEA IS INCORRECT THAT CHILDREN AREN'T GETTING IT BECAUSE THEY ARE.
IN FACT, FLORIDA HAS SEEN A 23% INCREASE IN CHILD INFECTION RATES IN THE PAST MONTH.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE NUMBERS ARE FOR TEXAS, BUT I AM WILLING TO BET IT IS SIMILAR.
IF CHILDREN WERE TO GO TO FACE-TO-FACE INSTRUCTION AND THEY BECOME SICK, THEIR CLASSMATES BECOME SICK, THEIR TEACHERS BECOME SICK, THEIR CLASSMATES DIE, THEIR TEACHERS DIE, THAT WILL CREATE A TRAUMATIC SPERN -- EXPERIENCE THAT THEY WILL THOUGHT BE ABLE TO RECOVER FROM.
THERE WILL BE A GUILT THERE IF THEY FEEL THEY WERE THE REASON WHY THEIR TEACHER OR THEIR CLASSMATE GOT SICK AND DIE.
I UNDERSTAND THERE ARE BENEFITS GOING FACE-TO-FACE.
I AM A MUSIC TEACHER AND MY CLASS NEEDS TO BE THERE TO PLAY, BUT WE NEED TO KEEP CHILDREN ALIVE.
WE NEED TO KEEP EDUCATORS ALIVE.
NEARLY HALF OF ALL EDUCATORS IN THE UNITED STATES HAVE AT LEAST ONE COVID-19 RISK FACTOR.
I WROTE MY WILL THIS SUMMER BECAUSE IF I WERE TO GO TO SCHOOL FACE-TO-FACE AND TEACH EVERY CHILD IN MY SCHOOL BUILDING, I WOULD GET SICK AND LIKELY DIE.
I WANTED TO SAY I VERY MUCH SUPPORT THE ORDER TO START VIRTUALLY AND VERY MUCH APPRECIATE THAT THE COURT TAKES INTO ACCOUNT THE SCIENTIFIC EVIDENCE AND WHAT HAS BEEN HAPPENING IN HARRIS COUNTY AS THEY MAKE THEIR DECISION.
>> JACKIE ANDERSON WITH HOUSTON FEDERATION OF TEACHERS.
HAYLEY KALILE WITH TEXAS AREA GULF COAST.
DIRECTOR OF TEXAS AREA GULF COAST LABOR FEDERATION.
I THINK YOU KNOW THE FEDERATION IS 95 UNIONS AND 60,000 UNION MEMBERS AND WE HAVE BEEN VERY ACTIVE SINCE MARCH WORKING WITH THE CITY, COUNTY AND FEDERAL LEVEL ADVOCATING FOR MEASURES TO PROTECT THE PHYSICAL AND FINANCIAL HEALTH OF WORKING PEOPLE DURING THIS PANDEMIC.
I TAUGHT SOCIAL STUDIES IN SCHOOLS FOR 9 YEARS.
I AM HERE TO EXPRESS SUPPORT FOR THE COUNTY AND THE CITY'S PUBLIC HEALTH ORDER FOR REQUIRING SCHOOLS TO START WITH ONLINE LEARNING AND ASK YOU TO KEEP THAT ORDER IN PLACE UNTIL HEALTH CONDITIONS IMPROVE.
WE STRONGLY BELIEVE THAT WORKERS' HEALTH MUST BE PUBLIC POLICY NUMBER ONE CONCERN.
AND POLICY MAKING MUST REFLECT THE GUIDANCE OF PUBLIC HEALTH EXPERTS AND THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF WORKERS IN THOSE INDUSTRIES.
IN THIS CASE TEACHERS AND SCHOOL SUPPORT PERSONNEL.
THAT IS EXACTLY WHAT THIS ORDER REFLECTS.
THE INFECTION RATE IN HARRIS COUNTY IS GROWING AND WE ARE SEEING MORE HOSPITALIZATIONS, MANY MORE.
OPENING SCHOOLS FOR IN PERSON LEARNING BEFORE THE PANDEMIC HAS BEEN TAMED WOULD BE THE HYPE OF YOU ARE RESPONSIBILITY.
IT WOULD BE SENDING STUDENTS AND TEACHERS AND SUPPORT STAFF INTO A PETRI DISH.
IT WOULD TURN SCHOOLS INTO INCUBATORS OF COMMUNITY SPREAD.
THE SCHOOL YEAR MUST BEGIN WITH REMOTE LEARNING TO PREVENT HOSPITALS FROM BEING MOREOVER WELL MED THAN THEY ALREADY ARE.
KEEPING SCHOOLS CLOSED IS THE RIGHT THING TO DO.
SOME W DON'T THINK THE -- SOME WHO DON'T THINK THE HEALTH OF STUDENTS AND STAFF ARE A PRIORITY ARE PUSHING COMMISSIONER'S COURT TO IGNORE PUBLIC HEALTH
[01:50:04]
RECOMMENDATIONS AND PROMOTE IN CLASS LEARNING.WE CANNOT TREAT OUR EDUCATORS AND OUR STUDENTS AND THEIR FAMILIES LIKE GUINEA PIGS IN A RECKLESS EXPERIMENT.
YES OTHER INDUSTRIALIZED COUNTRIES HAVE OPENED FOR IN-PERSON LEARNING BUT ALL TAMED THE VIRUS BEFORE DOING THAT.
THAT'S NOT THE CASE IN HARRIS COUNTY RIGHT NOW.
IN THE PAST WEEK TEXAS AVERAGES NEW CASES PER 100,000 RESIDENTS IS 27 TIMES HIGHER THAN MOST COUNTRIES THAT HAVE REOPENED SCHOOLS.
THOSE GOVERNMENTS WENT ON TO SET MINIMUM SAFETY STANDARDS FOR SCHOOLS, MANDATING MASK AND FUNDING FOR SAFE REOPENING.
YET SENATE REPUBLICANS CONTINUE TO BLOCK A VOTE ON THE HERO'S ACT THAT WOULD DO JUST THAT.
SO THE PRESIDENT'S AND THE GOVERNOR'S RUSH TO REOPEN WITHOUT ESTABLISHING SAFETY STANDARDS HAVE GIVEN THE PANDEMIC NEW LIFE IN TEXAS AND SCHOOL COMMUNITIES SHOULD NOT BE FORCED TO TRAVEL DOWN THE SAME ROAD.
THANK YOU FOR PUTTING THE SAFETY OF STUDENTS AND EDUCATORS FIRST BY POSTPONING IN CLASS LEARNING.
THANK YOU FOR GUIDING YOUR ZIGS -- YOUR DECISIONS OF PUBLIC HEALTH GUIDANCE AND LISTENING TO THOSE WORKING IN SCHOOLS.
JACKIE ANDERSON WITH HOUSTON FEDERATION OF TEACHERS?
I STAND WITH MY COLLEAGUES, THE PRESIDENT OF TEXAS AFT AS AN OFFICER REPRESENTING THE LARGEST TEACHER'S UNION IN THE STATE OF TEXAS.
WE SUPPORT JUDGE HIDALGO'S DECISION TO DELAY THE START OF FACE-TO-FACE INSTRUCTION IN SCHOOLS.
ON JULY 24TH, JUDGE HIDALGO ALONG WITH THE CITY HEALTH OFFICIAL ANNOUNCED A PUBLIC HEALTH ORDER THAT PROTECTS CHILDREN, FAMILIES AND EDUCATORS FROM COVID-19.
THE ORDER WOULD DELAY ANY SCHOOL REOPENING UNTIL AT LEAST SEPTEMBER THE 8TH.
HARRIS COUNTY'S INFECTION RATES CONTINUE TO RISE AND HOSPITALIZATIONS ARE INCREASING.
JUDGE HIDALGO'S ACTIONS ARE THE RIGHT THING TO DO.
EDUCATORS ACROSS HARRIS COUNTY ARE SPEAKING OUT TO PROTECT THEIR STUDENTS AND OUR COMMUNITIES.
EDUCATORS ACROSS THE AREA APPLAUD HER ACTIONS AND THE ACTIONS OF THE COURT.
THERE ARE SO MANY UNKNOWNS AND UNANSWERED QUESTIONS.
SCHOOLS ARE A PETRI DISH OF BACTERIA.
OUR STUDENTS REPRESENT MANY MULTI GENERATIONAL FAMILIES.
THERE SHOULD BE NO RUSH TO SEND OUR EDUCATORS OR OUR STUDENTS TO WHAT COULD BE THEIR DEATH OR THE DEATH OF THEIR LOVED ONES.
THE NUMBER OF HOUSTON AREA CORONA CASES IS OVER 100,000 AND OVER 1100 DEATHS AT COUNT.
THE SURGE OF COVID-19 HAS STRAINED THE ABILITY OF HOUSTON AND HARRIS COUNTY'S HEALTH DEPARTMENT TO INVESTIGATE INFECTED RESIDENTS AND FIND EACH PERSON WHO COULD BE EXPOSED TO THE VIRUS.
DELAYS UP TO SEVERAL WEEKS IN RECEIVING LAB RESULTS THAT SOMEHOW CONTAIN INACCURATE CONTACT INFORMATION MEANS THAT TRACERS MISS CRITICAL WINDOWS TO WARN OF SYSTEMATIC COVID CARRIERS TO ISOLATE FROM FAMILY AND FRIENDS.
THIS IS A CRUCIAL STEP IN LIMITING THE VIRUS.
JUDGE HUH TALL GO IS -- JUDGE HIDALGO IS CORRECT.
EDUCATORS KNOW THAT WE CAN CATCH A -- CATCH UP A LIVING CHILD ACADEMICALLY, BUT WE CANNOT CATCH UP A DEAD ONE.
>> LINA HIDALGO: I JUST WANT TO MENTION SOMETHING BEFORE THE SPEAKERS CONTINUE.
OBVIOUSLY THIS IS INCREDIBLY DIFFICULT, AND IT IS SO SAD THAT THE KIDS AREN'T THERE IN PERSON.
AS COMMISSIONER GARCIA MENTIONED, EVERYBODY HAD MEMORIAL DAY AND PROTESTS.
OTHER STATES AND COUNTRIES AND COMMUNITIES WERE ABLE TO OPEN BECAUSE THEY BROUGHT THE CURVE DOWN.
WE NEED TO BRING THOSE CASES WAY DOWN.
WE NEED TO BRING THE HOSPITALIZATIONS WAY DOWN AND THAT'S ALL IN OUR HANDS TO BE ABLE TO SEND THE KIDS BACK.
SO RIGHT NOW IT IS JUST IMPOSSIBLE.
WHAT WE CAN DO FOR RIGHT NOW IS TRY AND SUPPORT THE REMOTE WORK AS MUCH AS WE CAN.
IT IS NOT IDEAL, BUT WE KNOW WHAT WE NEED TO DO TO BE ABLE TO DO IN PERSON.
I KNOW THE COUNTY HAS BEEN WORKING TO TRY TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO CLOSE THAT DIGITAL DIVIDE THROUGH HOTSPOTS AND COMPUTERS AND MAKE SURE WE ARE UNTANGLING WHAT THE COUNTY CAN PROVIDE AND THE STATE AS WELL AS THE DIFFERENT CITIES IN THE SCHOOL DISTRICT.
THE PERSON WHO HAS BEEN WORKING ON THAT EFFORT HAS TO GO AT NOON, AT 12:15 SO I
[01:55:06]
THOUGHT WE WOULD HEAR FROM HIM IN CASE THE COMMISSIONERS HAVE QUESTIONS AND THEN WE WILL HEAR FROM THE REST OF THE SPEAKERS AND HOPEFULLY THIS WILL BE USEFUL TO THE SPEAKERS AS WELL.THERE WAS A PERSON WHO HAD A QUESTION ABOUT SORT OF HOW DO WE FIGURE OUT WHEN WE WOULD BE IN A POSITION TO REOPEN.
THAT'S SOMETHING PUBLIC HEALTH IS WORKING ON RIGHT NOW WITH THE RESEARCHERS AND MY TEAM AS WELL.
WHAT ARE SOME THRESHOLDS? WE ARE FAR FROM IT, VERY FAR FROM IT.
THE QUESTION IS WHAT HOSPITALIZATION RATE AND WHAT TESTING TURN AROUND TIME AND WHEN YOU DO BRING KIDS BACK HOW DO YOU DO IT AND WHO GOES FIRST? WE HAVE SPOKEN A LOT WITH THE DIFFERENT SUPERINTENDENTS AND THERE IS A GENERAL UNDERSTANDING THAT SPECIAL NEEDS KIDS AND PERHAPS ESL KIDS AND KIDS WHO CAN'T GET ANY OTHER ACCESS.
MAYBE THERE IS NO CELL TOWER NEARBY.
WHEN WE DO GET TO IT, AND IT WILL BE AWHILE UNLESS WE BUCKLE DOWN AND IT WILL BE PHASED.
IT CAN'T JUST BE EVERYONE IF ONE DAY.
IT WANT BE HALF THE PEOPLE ONE DAY AND THE OTHER DAY IS 100%.
WE HAVE ALMOST A MILLION KIDS IN SCHOOL IN HARRIS COUNTY SO THAT'S A LOT OF CONTACT.
IF THAT'S ALL RIGHT, COMMISSIONERS I WILL CALL UP THE PERSON FROM GUIDE HOUSE WHO HAS BEEN WORKING ON THE DIGITAL DIVIDE ISSUE BEFORE HE HAS TO HOP OFF.
I JUST I JUST KNOW YOU HAVE TO LEAVE.
>> IS IT TODD? GO AHEAD, TODD.
>> JUDGE, HOW ARE YOU DOING? JUDGE, IF YOU WANT TO GO AHEAD WITH THE SPEAKERS, WE LOST THE OTHER PERSON THAT WAS GOING TO DO WITH -- DO THIS WITH ME.
I CAN DO IT WHEN IT IS UP ON THE AGENDA.
IF YOU DON'T MIND, PLEASE CONTINUE AND THEN I WILL BE READY WHEN YOU ARE READY.
FOR THE SPEAKERS CALLING IN REGARDING SCHOOL CLOSURES, I JUST GOTTA ADD THIS.
I'M SEEING A TWEET THAT REFERENCES THAT LOCAL HEALTH AUTHORITIES CANNOT ORDER SCHOOLS CLOSED, QUOTE, FOR THE SOLE PURPOSE OF PREVENTING FUTURE COVID-19 INFECTIONS.
ANYWAY, WE HAVE SOME WORK TO DO.
>> LINA HIDALGO: AND IT SOUNDS LIKE AN ADVISORY AND NOT AN OPINION.
WE'LL SEE WHAT COMES WITH THAT.
THAT'S HOW WE ENDED UP WHERE WE ARE.
LUCINDA, WILL YOU CALL UP THE REST OF THE SPEAKERS, PLEASE?
JEREMY EUGENE, GO AHEAD, PLEASE.
I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO JUDGE HUH DOLL -- JUDGE HUH DOLL -- JUDGE HIDALGO AND DR. SHAW.
I WANT TO SHARE THAT IN ADDITION TO THINKING ABOUT WHAT THE COUNTY LOOKS LIKE WE HAVE TO THINK ABOUT WHAT THE DISTRICTS THEMSELVES ARE READY FOR AND I WANT TO SHARE THAT THE DISTRICTS ARE NOT READY TO OPEN.
WE WANT TO ISSUE ANOTHER DELAY IF NEEDED.
I SHARE THIS AS A HIGH SCHOOL ENGLISH TEACHER.
I FOLLOWED THE ANNOUNCEMENTS OF MY DISTRICT VERY CLOSELY, BUT THERE ARE MANY THINGS THAT STILL HAVEN'T BEEN SHARED.
WE DON'T KNOW HOW WE CAN REPORT VIOLATIONS OF SAFETY RULES IF WE SEE THEM ON CAMPUS.
WE DON'T KNOW HOW CONTACT TRACING WILL WORK.
THE DISTRICT SAYS THESE THINGS ARE COMING, BUT IT DOESN'T SHOW HOW OR WHEN.
I KNOW JUST AS IN THE CASE OF MY DISTRICT AND THROUGHOUT HARRIS COUNTY, MY DISTRICT IN PARTICULAR HAS CLAIMED REPEATEDLY ON ITS WEBSITE THAT IT IS WORKING ALONG WITH COUNTY HEALTH OFFICIALS, BUT IT IS STILL OPENING ON SEPTEMBER 8TH INSTEAD OF FOLLOWING DR. SHAW'S RECOMMENDATION TO OPEN NO SOONER THAN OCTOBER.
I ASKED ABOUT THE DISCREPANCY, BUT IT HASN'T BEEN EXPLAINED.
WE NEED MORE TIME TO DEMAND TRANSPARENCY FROM THE DISTRICTS AND TO MAKE SURE THEY HAVE ADEQUATE POLICIES.
ONE POLICY THAT ALSO NEEDS TO CHANGE IS THAT IT WILL NOT CLOSE THE SCHOOL IF THERE IS A POSITIVE TEST.
IT WILL ONLY CLOSE -- IT CAN ONLY GUARANTEE IT WILL CLOSE ONE CLASSROOM.
THAT IS INSUFFICIENT BECAUSE THE DISTRICT ENSURED -- HAS NOT ENSURED PASSING PERIODS AND THAT IT WILL REQUIRE SIX FEET OF SPACE AND WEARING MASKS.
THIS IS IMPORTANT TO ME BECAUSE MANY OF MY STUDENTS ARE ESSENTIAL WORKERS.
THEY WILL LEAD FROM THE SCHOOL, A HIGHLY POPULATED AREA, AND THEY WILL GO TO
[02:00:01]
ANOTHER HIGHLY POPULATED AREAS LIKE GROCERY STORES, AUTO SHOPS AND RESTAURANTS WHERE THEY WORK.SOME CAN'T AFFORD A DAY OFF SO THAT MEANS THEY ARE DOING THIS FIVE DAYS A WEEK, EVERY WEEK, AS SOON AS WE OPEN FOR DAY-TO-DAY INSTRUCTION.
AND IF IT HAPPENS AT A SCHOOL WHERE WE DON'T CATCH A SICK STUDENT OR IF WE DON'T WIPE DOWN AN AREA PROPERLY, THAT COULD SPREAD THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE SCHOOL AND THEN THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY.
ONCE AGAIN I THANK YOU FOR THE DELAY, BUT WE NEED YOUR CONTINUED HELP TO MAKE SURE THE DISTRICTS GET READY BEFORE WE OPEN THE SCHOOLS AND THAT MEANS REQUIRING MORE DELAYS.
[II. Emergency/supplemental items (Part 1 of 2)]
[I. Departments (Part 3 of 4)]
[II. Emergency/supplemental items (Part 2 of 2)]
[III. Public Hearings]
[I. Departments (Part 4 of 4)]
[IV. Executive Session]
[12:22:55]
[12:22:56]
CORETTA BROWN?[12:22:57]
[12:22:58]
THANK YOU, JUDGE HIDALGO, AND THANK YOU COUNTY COMMISSIONERS.[12:23:00]
I AM CORETTA BROWN AND A PRECINCT CHAIR OF 638 AND I AM A MOTHER OF A 12-YEAR-OLD[12:23:02]
SON WHO WILL BE GOING TO SCHOOL 100% ONLINE WHEN SCHOOL STARTS.[12:23:04]
I WANT TO THANK YOU ALL AND AS A MOTHER I HAVE BEEN WORRIED AND CONCERNED ABOUT[12:23:06]
THE HEALTH AND SAFETY OF MY FAMILY DURING CORONAVIRUS.[12:23:08]
HAVE I BEEN WORRIED ABOUT MY SON'S HEALTH WITH COVID-19 AND IN THE NEW SCHOOL YEAR.[12:23:10]
LAST WEEK WHEN I WAS ABLE TO SIGN UP FOR MY SON UP FOR 100% ONLINE LEARNING WITH[12:23:12]
THE PUBLIC CHARTER SCHOOL I WAS THANKFUL AND HAPPY FOR THAT, RIGHT?[12:23:14]
AND IT IS NOT BECAUSE OF COVID-19, BUT I WAS THANKFUL FOR THAT BECAUSE MY SON HAS[12:23:16]
A HISTORY OF HAVING PROBLEMS WHERE HE WOULD BE BULLIED OR GET IN FIGHTS AND THINGS[12:23:18]
LIKE THAT.[12:23:19]
SO WHEN THE CLASS ACTUALLY WENT TO BEING 100% VIRTUAL, HE WAS ABLE TO FOCUS AND[12:23:21]
CONCENTRATE, AND HE BECAME -- HE FINISHED THE SCHOOL IN THE TOP FIVE STUDENTS.[12:23:23]
THAT WOULDN'T HAVE BEEN POSSIBLE IF HE HADN'T BEEN LEARNING VIRTUALLY.[12:23:25]
I WANT TO THANK YOU ALL FOR THAT, BUT ALSO I WOULD LIKE FOR THE COUNTY TO CONSIDER[12:23:27]
POSSIBLY IN THE FUTURE LEAVING IT AS, YOU KNOW, PART VIRTUAL LEARNING AND[12:23:29]
PART -- YOU KNOW, GIVING PARENTS A CHOICE.[12:23:31]
I THINK THAT'S ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT THINGS IS TO BE ABLE TO GIVE US A CHOICE[12:23:33]
TO HOW OUR CHILDREN ARE EDUCATED AND HOW OUR CHILDREN LEARN.[12:23:35]
NOT ALL OF OUR CHILDREN LEARN THE SAME, AND IT IS NOT A COOKIE CUTER PROCESS.[12:23:37]
SO THANK YOU ALL.[12:23:38]
I HOPE WE CAN KEEP THE SCHOOL CLOSED UNTIL WE CAN GET SOME VACCINES AND GET[12:23:40]
SOME DATA, SOME SCIENTIFIC DATA PROVEN WHEN IT IS TIME TO OPEN THE SCHOOL.[12:23:42]
[12:23:43]
[12:23:44]
>> ALTA-SIDRAHAN, COMMUNITY VOICES OF PUBLIC EDUCATION.
[12:23:46]
[12:23:47]
I AM CALLING TO VOICE MY APPRECIATION FOR DR. SHAW AND PURSE AND COUNTY[12:23:49]
OFFICIALS FOR THEIR JOINT PUBLIC HEALTH ORDER TO KEEP STUDENTS AND SCHOOL[12:23:51]
COMMUNITIES SAFE.[12:23:52]
IT IS NOW PRACTICED WITHOUT COMPETENT TRACE PROCEDURES.[12:23:54]
THE COMMUNITY NEEDS PLANS AND TIME FOR PARENTS, TEACHERS, STUDENTS AND[12:23:56]
COMMUNITIES TO DIGEST AND PROVIDE FEEDBACK.[12:23:58]
I THINK EVERYONE IN THE HOUSTON GREATER COMMUNITY WANTS WHAT IS BEST FOR BLACK[12:24:00]
STUDENTS, LATINO STUDENTS AND SPECIAL ED STUDENTS AND ALL STUDENTS IN THEIR[12:24:02]
COMMUNITY.[12:24:03]
HOW WE GET THERE IS THE QUESTION.[12:24:05]
WE KNOW THAT SCHOOLHOUSING, HEALTH CARE, ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY ARE ALL TIED TO[12:24:07]
STUDENT LEARNING AND WELL BEING.[12:24:09]
AND WE KNOW SCHOOLS HAVE THE POTENTIAL TO EQUALIZE THAT PLAYING FIELD.[12:24:11]
ROUGHLY 80% OF KIDS RECEIVE A FREE LUNCH.[12:24:13]
25 TO 30% HAVE A TECHNOLOGY GAP AND 5% ARE ACCOUNTED FOR.[12:24:15]
WE SHOULD STRIVE TO MEET STUDENTS' NEEDS FOR SURVIVAL.[12:24:17]
WE NEED TO OFFER FOOD DISTRIBUTION TO THE CITY AND THE COUNTY AND CITY AND[12:24:19]
COUNTY RESOURCES AND TECHNOLOGY GAPS THROUGH PUBLIC AND PRIVATE[12:24:21]
SPONSORSHIP AND WE NEED TO OFFER HOUSING AND ECONOMIC SUPPORT TO THE 5% WHO ARE[12:24:23]
NOT COMING BACK.[12:24:24]
MY 20 YEARS IN EDUCATION TELLS ME THAT THEY ARE EITHER IN BETWEEN HOUSING OR[12:24:26]
WORKING TO SUPPORT THE FAMILY.[12:24:27]
THAT'S WHY THEY ARE UNACCOUNTED FOR.[12:24:29]
ONCE WE DO HAVE A GOOD STABLE EYE -- STABLIZATION WE NEED COUNTY BY COUNTY AND[12:24:31]
BY LEAST RESTRICTIVE ENVIRONMENT TO DEVELOP PLANS FOR STUDENTS AND TEACHERS TO[12:24:33]
MINIMIZE THE NUMBERS DYING AND SICK.[12:24:35]
AND WE MUST WORK DELIBERATELY AND SLOWLY TO DO IT RIGHT.[12:24:37]
STUDENTS LEARN EVERYWHERE AND NOT JUST AT SCHOOL.[12:24:39]
WE NEED TO TAKE THE REST OF THE YEAR TO IMAGINE AND PLAN PROPERLY FOR 2021.[12:24:41]
PLEASE OFFER HOUSING AND A PLACE FOR PEOPLE TO GO.[12:24:43]
PHYSICAL DISTANCE, NONE-CONTACT -- NONCONTACT PE AND FOOD AND ART.[12:24:45]
THAT WOULD DO MUCH MORE TO NARROW THE INEQUITY THAN RUSHING BACK TO STAR AND[12:24:47]
STANDARDIZED TESTING AND THE PIPELINE.[12:24:49]
THANK YOU AND STAY SAFE.[12:24:50]
[12:24:51]
KENDRA YARBOROUGH CAMARENA.[12:24:52]
GO AHEAD, PLEASE.[12:24:53]
[12:24:54]
I WANT TO THANK EACH OF YOU FOR YOUR WORK AND I AM HERE TO SPEAK AND SUPPORT THE[12:24:56]
RECENT DECISION TO DELAY THE CLOSE OF SCHOOLS.[12:24:58]
I AM A TEACHER AND A MOTHER.[12:24:59]
I WILL BE FRANK THAT I WAS EXTREMELY CONCERNED AND NERVOUS ABOUT THE WELFARE OF[12:25:01]
MY CHILDREN AND THE SAFETY OF THEIR HEALTH AS WELL AS FOR MYSELF AND SO I WANT TO[12:25:03]
THANK JUDGE HIDALGO AND HER TEAM FOR MAKING THE DECISION ACROSS THE COUNTY.[12:25:05]
SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT AND I APPRECIATE ALL THAT YOU DO.[12:25:07]
[12:25:08]
KAW RETE -- CORETTA-FANTANO, FEDERATION OF TEACHERS.[12:25:10]
[12:25:11]
I AM CORETTA-FONTANO A RESIDENT OF PRECINCT 1.[12:25:13]
I WANT TO THANK JUDGE HUH DOLL GO -- HIDALGO AND DR. SHAW FOR STARTING SCALL[12:25:15]
VIRTUALLY.[12:25:16]
I AM ASKING SCHOOLS HELP FOR VIRTUAL INSTRUCTION BY EMPLOYING THE STAY HOME AND[12:25:18]
STAY SAFE ADVISEMENT UNTIL THE SCIENTIFIC AND MEDICAL DATA INDICATE THAT IT IS[12:25:20]
SAFE FOR SCHOOLS TO OPEN FOR FACE-TO-FACE INSTRUCTION.[12:25:22]
CURRENTLY MOST CLASSES HAVE OVER 30 PLUS STUDENTS PER CLASS PERIOD.[12:25:24]
SOME CLASSES EVEN HAVE OVER 40 STUDENTS PER CLASS.[12:25:26]
THIS OFTEN FORCES STUDENTS TO WORK TOGETHER CLOSELY.[12:25:28]
ME AND MY COLLEAGUES AND THE STUDENTS HAVE UNDERLING HEALTH CONDITIONS WHICH[12:25:30]
COULD BE AGGRAVATED BY COVID-19.[12:25:32]
THE AFRICAN-AMERICAN AND HISPANIC COMMUNITIES HAVE BEEN PARTICULARLY HARD HIT[12:25:34]
AND NEED MORE RESOURCES FOR FASTER TURN AROUND TESTING AND MORE EFFECTIVE CONTACT[12:25:36]
TRACING AND ISOLATION ROOMS.[12:25:37]
THE VAST MAJORITY OF STUDENTS I SERVE LIVE IN MULTI-GENERATIONAL HOMES[12:25:39]
WHICH MEANS THEY CAN POSSIBLY CARRY COVID-19 HOME TO THEIR PARENTS AND THEIR[12:25:41]
GRANDPARENTS.[12:25:42]
WILL -- SCHOOLS ARE A MICRO-COSEM IN THE COMMUNITIES THEY SERVE.[12:25:44]
LET'S WORK TOGETHER TO FLATTEN THE CURVE.[12:25:46]
THERE ARE TOO MANY LIVES AT STAKE.[12:25:48]
I AGREE WITH JUDGE HUH DOLL GO -- JUDGE HUH DAHL -- JUDGE HIDALGO THAT WE NEED[12:25:50]
TO MAKE SOUND DECISIONS TO KEEP THE HARRIS COUNTY AREA SAFE UNTIL A VACCINE IS[12:25:52]
READY -- READILY AVAILABLE TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC.[12:25:54]
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.[12:25:55]
[12:25:56]
CHRISTINA QUINTERO IS SPEAKING ON 21G AND SUPPLEMENTAL 11.[12:25:58]
[12:25:59]
THIS IS CHRISTINA QUINTERO.[12:26:00]
FIRST AND FOREMOST I AM A PARENT IN HOUSTON, AND I WANT TO THANK ALL OF YOU[12:26:02]
COMMISSIONERS AND JUDGE FOR CONSIDERING DELAYING THE SCHOOL OPENING.[12:26:04]
THE REASON BEING IS BECAUSE IT IS DANGEROUS, FIRST OF ALL AND I FEEL THAT IT IS[12:26:06]
THE RESPONSIBLE THING FOR US TO DO.[12:26:08]
AS A PARENT I FEEL IT IS THE RESPONSIBLE THING TO DO NOT JUST FOR MY KIDS, BUT MY[12:26:10]
NEIGHBOR'S KIDS AND NIECES AND NEPHEWS AND MY FRIENDS' KIDS.[12:26:12]
I WILL STRESS SOMETHING I FEEL TO THE CORE.[12:26:14]
THE SCHOOL SUPPORT STAFF IS NOT EXPENDABLE.[12:26:16]
OUR TEACHERS WORK HARD AND THEY ARE NOT EXPENNED -- EXPENDABLE.[12:26:18]
OUR KIDS ARE NOT EXPENDABLE.[12:26:19]
I KNOW THESE ARE TRYING TIMES AND IT IS SOMETHING WE ARE VENTURING INTO THE[12:26:21]
UNKNOWN, BUT IT IS VERY IMPORTANT FOR US TO STICK TO THE SCIENCE AND STICK TO THE[12:26:23]
MEDICAL ADVICE AND REALIZE THAT IF WE OPEN TOO SOON IT COULD BE VERY DANGEROUS.[12:26:25]
MY CHILD IS A SPECIAL NEEDS CHILD AND I UNDERSTAND THE IMPORTANCE OF IN SCHOOL[12:26:27]
LEARNING.[12:26:28]
IT WORKS FOR HIM AND THEE THRIVES ON THAT.[12:26:30]
THIS IS NOT THE IDEAL THING I WANT FOR MY CHILDREN, BUT I CAN SEE IT IS THE MOST[12:26:32]
REASONABLE THING THAT WILL WORK FOR THEM AND WILL WORK FOR OTHER CHILDREN AS WELL.[12:26:34]
I COMMEND YOU AND I THANK YOU.I GENUINELY THANK YOU FORESEEING THAT WE HAVE THIS NEED -- FOR SEEING THAT WE HAVE A NEED AND ARE CONTINUING THAT.
WE ARE PROTECTING OUR STUDENTS AND PROTECTING OUR COMMUNITIES AND PRO -- PROTECTING THE TEACHERS AND THE STAFF.
IT IS THE RESPONSIBLE THING TO DO.
YOU KNOW, ASIDE FROM THAT I WANTED TO DISCUSS THE EXPANSION OF MEDICAID.
I KNOW THAT WITH ALL OF THIS COVID GOING ON WE HAVE THE ONE TO FOUR RATIO THAT PEOPLE CAN GET -- CONTRACT THE INFECTION.
I LIVE IN A HOME WHERE THERE IS AN 82-YEAR-OLD GRANDMOTHER AND MY KIDS ARE SPECIAL NEEDS.
MY HUSBAND WORKS AND HE IS AN ESSENTIAL WORKER AND DOES NOT HAVE MEDICAID.
MY FATHER WORKS IS AN ESSENTIAL WORKER AND DOESN'T HAVE MEDICAID.
WE WENT TO GET TESTED THIS MORNING FOR COVID SO WE ARE VERY SCARED.
WITH SO MUCH DIVISION AND -- IN THE LATINO AND BLACK COMMUNITIES, WE NEED TO GO AHEAD AND EXPAND THE MEDICAID AND HAVE THE SUPPORT THERE SO THAT MORE OF THESE FAMILIES CAN GET TESTED SO THAT THERE IS MORE PREVENTATIVE CARE.
THERE ARE SO MANY THINGS THAT CAN HAPPEN AFTER THEY CONTRACT THE DISEASE THAT WE ARE NOT EVEN SURE WE ARE READY A FEW YEARS FROM NOW.
SO THIS IS WHY AS A MEMBER OF THE COMMUNITY WITH TEXAS ORGANIZING PROJECT I FEEL WE NEED TO SUPPORT THE HARRIS COUNTY RESOLUTION -- TO URGE THE GOVERNOR TO USE THE EMERGENCY POWER AT THIS TIME OF COVID.
I ASK FOR YOUR SUPPORT AS WELL.
I JUST WANTED TO CALL AND SAY I SUPPORT THE COMMISSIONER'S COURT ORDER TO POSTPONE FACE-TO-FACE INSTRUCTION IN SCHOOLS UNTIL AFTER 78TH.
HOSPITALIZATIONS OF CHILDREN FROM COVID-19 ARE SURGING IN FLORIDA.
YOU ARE ALSO PUTTING TEACHERS AT RISK MANY OF WHOM ARE HIGH RISK.
RATES OF IMMUNE DISORDERS ARE HIGH IN COMPARE -- COMPARISON TO OTHER PROFESSIONS.
WE NEED TO WATCH OUT FOR OUR TEACHERS AND THEY ARE AT RISK IF THEY HAVE TO TEACH IN THE CLASSROOM.
YOU ARE ALSO PROTECTING PEOPLE LIKE ME.
I AM IMMUNOCOMPROMISED AND IF THE SCHOOL IS OPEN EARLY I AM MORE AT RISK OF COVID AND SEVERE CONSEQUENCES JUST BY BEING A MEMBER OF THE COMMUNITY.
I ALSO ASK THAT YOU USE FUNDING FOR THE HARRIS COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION TO CREATE NEIGHBORHOOD HOTSPOTS FOR COMMUNITIES THAT LACK INTERNET OR WHO ARE RECOVERED AND THEY PROVIDE INTERNET CAPABLE DEVICES TO THE FAMILIES THAT NEED THEM.
THIS HAS BEEN A VERY DIFFICULT THING FOR FAMILIES WHO HAVE SPOTTY INTERNET OR WHO ARE TRYING TO SIT IN A MCDONALD'S PARKING LOT AND ASKING FOR FREE WI-FI AND USING A CELL PHONE OR TABLET BETWEEN AN ENTIRE FAMILY TO EDUCATE THEIR CHILDREN.
I THINK THIS IS DEFINITELY SOMETHING THAT WE CAN PROVIDE.
CARMEN NUNCIO, COMMUNITY MEMBER.
MY NAME IS CARMEN NUNCIO AND I WOULD LIKE TO THANK COMMISSIONER'S COURT, THE JUDGE HIDALGO FOR WAITING TO OPEN THE SCHOOLS.
I APPRECIATE Y'ALL CARING ABOUT OUR KIDS.
I AM ABOUT -- I HAVE BEEN A VOLUNTEER PARENT WITH HIC FOR 40 YEARS.
I HAVE BEEN A JUDGE FOR 26 YEARS AND I CARE ABOUT THE COMMUNITY AND I CARE ABOUT OUR KIDS.
I MOSTLY CARE ABOUT OUR TEACHERS.
OUR TEACHERS NEED TO KNOW THEY ARE APPRECIATED.
I APPRECIATE Y'ALL CARING ABOUT OUR KIDS AND OUR TEACHERS.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR DECISION.
THANK YOU SO MUCH AND HAVE A GOOD DAY.
FRED BOILS WITH -- FRED BOYLES WITH INDIVIDUALS OF HOUSTON.
>> THANK YOU, JUDGE HIDALGO AND COMMISSIONER'S COURT AND HARRIS HEALTH ESPECIALLY DR. SHAW.
MY NAME IS GREG BOYLES AND A RESIDENT IN THE 7709 ZIP CODE IN PRECINCT 1.
I AM A BOARD MEMBER OF INDIVISIBLE HOUSTON AND AIRLINE HOUSTON, BUT MY WORDS DO NOT REFLECT THE VIEWS OF THOSE ORGANIZATIONS.
HAVE I A MASTER'S IN PUBLIC HEALTH FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS.
A BIG PART OF GAINING THAT DEGREE IS LEARNING TO EVALUATE MEDICAL LITERATURE.
WE ARE ALL GETTING QUICKLY EDUCATED ABOUT EPIDEMIOLOGY AND PUBLIC HEALTH.
I WON'T GO INTO ALL OF THE WAYS COVID IS HARMING POPULATIONS DIFFERENTLY AND OFTEN INEBBING HUA TAU BELLY.
THERE ARE TOO MANY UNKNOWNS WITH DIRE CONSEQUENCES FOR FAR TOO MANY.
WE DON'T GET A DO OVER WITH THIS DISEASE.
THERE ARE FAR TOO MANY PEOPLE INCLUDING LEADERSHIP AT EVERY LEVEL OF GOVERNMENTS WITH CONSPIRACY THEORY THAT'S ARE NOT EVIDENCE BASED.
I SUPPORT THE AMERICAN FEDERATION OF TEACHERS AND LABOR GROUPS SEEKING TO PROTECT TEACHERS AND SCHOOL STAFF.
I SUPPORT CONCERNED PARENTS ESPECIALLY FROM NON-WHITE COMMUNITIES WHO ARE SUFFERERS OF CHRONIC ILLNESS AND IMMUNOCOMPROMISED TO CONTINUE TO BEAR THE WORST IMPACT OF THE PANDEMIC.
I HOPE YOU WILL CONTINUE TO WORK TO DELAY HIGH RISK IN -- INDOOR CLASSROOM EXPOSURE UNTIL WE HAVE A BETTER UNDERSTANDING AND MORE CONTROL AND SPREAD OF THE TERRIBLE DISEASE.
JUDGE HIDALGO, HAVE YOU BEEN AHEAD OF THE CURVE AND YOU DE -- DE -- DESERVE CREDIT FOR THE HANDLING OF THIS.
THANK YOU FOR CONDUCTING A PUBLIC FORUM.
>> HI, I JUST -- I'LL MAKE THIS QUICK.
I WANTED TO GIVE A VERY BIG THANK YOU TO JUDGE HIDALGO FOR THE REMOTE LEARNING ORDER.
LAST YEAR MY KIDS GOT THE FLU, HEAD LICE, HAND, FOOT AND MOUTH DISEASE AMONG COUNTLESS OTHER VIRUSES AND THAT WAS JUST LAST YEAR ALONE.
IF WE HAVE KIDS RETURNING WITH THIS VIRUS RUNNING RAMPANT OUT IN PUBLIC THEY WILL GET IT.
SCHOOLS CANNOT CONTROL THESE KINDS OF THINGS.
WHEN THEY GET IT THEY WILL TAKE IT HOME TO THEIR VULNERABLE RELATIVES AND TEACHERS WILL ALSO BE INFECTED.
WE ARE PUTTING EVERYONE AT RISK AS WE OPEN UP SCHOOLS.
I AM A STUDENT TAKING CLASSES AT U OF H.
I HAVE TWO KIDS WHO WILL BE LEARNING AT HOME.
I KNOW IT IS GOING TO BE HARD.
I KNOW IT WILL REQUIRE LOTS OF MY TIME AND MY EFFORT, BUT I AM WILLING TO DO THAT AND THEY ARE WILLING TO DO THAT TO BE SAFE.
THEY WANT TO GET BACK TO FACE TO FACE-TO-FACE INSTRUCTION AS SOON AS THEY CAN, BUT THEY RECOGNIZE -- MY KIDS ALSO RECOGNIZE IT NEEDS TO BE DONE SAFELY.
AND WE CAN DEAL FOR A LITTLE WHILE.
IY CO THE CALL -- I ECHO THE CALL TO KEEP THIS IN PLACE.
THANK YOU FOR HAVING THE COURAGE TO STAND UP AND DO THIS RIGHT.
>> SISTER MAMASANIA, THREE SISTERS IN AND A SPIRIT THEATER.
I WANT TO THANK COMMISSIONER ELLIS FOR ATTENDING THE ZOOM MEETING WE HAD FOR THE
[12:30:02]
VIOLENCE IN OUR COMMUNITY.AND JUDGE HIDALGO, I HAVE TO SAY THIS, WE ARE SO PROUD OF YOU.
YOU STOOD TALL NO MATTER WHAT PEOPLE SAY.
JUST WANTED TO LET YOU KNOW THAT YOU GOT SOME SISTERS WHO ARE BEHIND YOU 150,000 PERCENT.
>> AND I WANT TO SAY THAT WE ARE TOTALLY IN AGREEMENT WITH THE ORDER TO HALT THE BEGINNING OF SCHOOL.
I HOPE THAT IS NEGOTIATABLE AND IF NEED BE WE GO TO OCTOBER, NOVEMBER, WHATEVER IT TAKES.
I KNOW A LOT OF TEACHERS WHO DON'T WANT TO GO AND I KNOW A LOT OF PARENTS WHO WILL NOT SEND THEIR CHILDREN.
TEACHERS WON'T HAVE ANYBODY TO TEACH.
STUDENTS WON'T HAVE ANYBODY TO TEACH THEM.
I JUST HOPE THAT THIS ORDER STAYS IN PLACE BECAUSE IF THEY HAD JUST LISTENED TO YOU WAY BACK WHEN WHEN YOU PUT THE MASK -- YOU KNOW, THE MASK ORDER WAY BACK WHEN, IF THEY LISTENED TO YOU THEN WE WOULDN'T BE IN THIS PREDICAMENT NOW.
I WANT TO SAY WE THANK YOU, AND WE -- I MEAN, YOU JUST DON'T KNOW HOW PROUD WE ARE OF YOU TO HAVE A SISTER RUNNING THIS THING.
WE THANK ALL OF THE OTHER COMMISSIONERS, BUT THIS IS A WONDERFUL THING.
JUDGE, OBVIOUSLY YOU ARE LEADING US IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.
I CAN SPEAK FOR MYSELF THAT I SUPPORT THE POSITION YOU HAVE TAKEN.
THIS OPINION BY THE ATTORNEY GENERAL IS INCREDIBLY CONCERNING AND I AM CURIOUS WHETHER WE SHOULD BE PRO ACTIVE AND I AM NOT SURE IF SUING IS THE RIGHT WORD OR THE RIGHT APPROACH, BUT WE NEED TO CHALLENGE THIS.
I WANT TO MAKE A MOTION IN THAT REGARD.
YOU CAN GUIDE US AND WE TAKE THIS POSITION ON WELL BEFORE WE PUT CHILDREN IN HARM'S WAY.
WE CAN'T HAVE THE PROOF THAT CHILDREN WILL GET SICK IN ORDER TO TAKE ACTION.
AND SCIENCE IS INDICATING THAT CHILDREN WILL GET SICK AND TEACHERS WILL GET SICK AND THE FAMILIES WILL GET SICK FROM CREATING THIS ENVIRONMENT AGAIN.
WHAT IS THE AUTHORITY OF HARRIS COUNTY TO TAKE A LEGAL POSITION ON THIS OPINION THAT THE ATTORNEY GENERAL JUST RELEASED.
SCOTT AND I HAVE BEEN CREATING -- I HAD TO GET OFF LINE AND I THINK WE GOT THE NOTICE ABOUT THE SAME TIME YOU FOLKS DID.
WE ARE WORKING WITH OTHER MAJOR COUNTIES AND IT IS TIME TO FIGURE OUT WHAT THE PROPER STEPS ARE GOING FORWARD.
IT IS MY VIEW THAT WE NEED TO SPEAK WITH A STRONGER VOICE AND THAT THERE IS MORE THAN JUST ONE COUNTY SPEAKING.
PERHAPS LATER IN THE DAY WE CAN TALK ABOUT IT AND WE FEEL LIKE WE NEED AN ACTUAL MOTION.
SEW -- SO MUCH OF THIS IS THE COUNTY HEALTH AUTHORITY THAT I DON'T KNOW IF WE NEED A STRAIGHT UP MOTION FROM THE COURT.
I I GUESS I AM ASKING FOR A LITTLE MORE TIME TO FIGURE OUT WHAT IS GOING ON.
>> IF YOU CAN COME BACK AS THE MEETING GOES ALONG.
>> YES, SIR, AND I WILL ASK SCOTT AND OTHERS TO REMIND ME TO BE READY WHEN IT COMES UP LATER.
>> LINA HIDALGO: COMMISSIONER CAGLE AND THEN COMMISSIONER ELLIS.
COMMISSIONER CAGLE, YOU ARE MUTED.
>> R JACK CAGLE: HOW IS THAT, JUDGE? YOUR HONOR, I HAVE IN MY HAND IS THE LETTER OR THE GUIDANCE THAT HAS BEEN REFERRED TO AND WHAT IT HERE IS THAT THE ROLE IS LIMITED BY STATUTE OUT TO ADDRESSING SPECIFIC OUTBREAKS OF DISEASE.
IT IS TO DECIDE WHETHER, WHEN AND HOW TO OPEN A SCHOOL.
WE HAVE BEEN WITH THE ATTORNEY GENERAL'S OFFICE AND SOMETIMES I AGREE WITH HIM AND SOMETIMES I DON'T, BUT ROBERT IS IN MY -- AM I MISSING IT THAT HE IS BASICALLY SAYING THAT HIS INTERPRETATION OF THE STATUTE OUTS WHICH THAT WOULD BE AN ENDER QUESTION R -- IS THAT THE ULTIMATE AUTHORITY IS UP TO EACH SCHOOL DISTRICT AND IF THERE IS A SPECIFIC OUTBREAK THAT THEY HAVE THE ABILITY TO INTERVENE ON SPECIFIC INSTANCES.
>> THAT'S A VERY GOOD SUMMARY, BUT YOU WILL NOTE THAT EVEN IN THE BEGINNING IT ACKNOWLEDGES THAT IT DOES APPEAR TO BE OTHER AUTHORITIES IN THE EXPRESS WORDS OF THE STATUTE OUT.
TO SUPPORT WHAT HAS BEEN DONE.
AND THOSE ARE SOME OF THE THINGS WE NEED TO WORK THROUGH AND FIGURE OUT THE APPROPRIATE RESPONSE.
THE FIRST RESPONSE IS NOT LITIGATION.
THE FIRST RESPONSE IS TALK TO PEOPLE AND SEE WHAT CAN BE WORKED OUT.
WE WILL WORK WITH THE ATTORNEY GENERAL AND OTHERS TO SEE IF WE CAN ACHIEVE THAT.
YOU ARE CORRECT, COMMISSIONER.
SOMETIMES WE DISAGREE WITH THE ATTORNEY GENERAL AND IT IS NECESSARY TO HAVE THE COURT TELL US WHAT THE LAW IS.
>> R JACK CAGLE: OR AS MY COLLEAGUE FROM PRECINCT 1 OFTEN TALKS ABOUT, OPINIONS.
>> LINA HIDALGO: COMMISSIONER ELLIS?
>> RODNEY ELLIS: THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER CAGLE.
I OLOGIST ENJOY -- I ALWAYS ENJOY IT.
HE SAID IT WAS AN OPINION AND NOT A DRAFT OF A DECISION THAT I WAS WRITING.
TO THE EXTENT OF THE AG'S OPINION IT IS AN ADVISORY.
IF YOUR OPINION IS DIFFERENT WHICH WOULD WE TAKE?
AND WE HAVE A LITTLE DIFFERENCE HERE BECAUSE AS I RECALL IT IS NOT AS MUCH AN OPINION BUT AN ADVISORY.
>> RODNEY ELLIS: THAT IS LESS THAN A FORMAL OPINION.
>> WE ARE WORKING ON THAT AND FIGURE OUT WHAT IT MEANS.
>> RODNEY ELLIS: ROBERT, IF YOU CAN, AS YOU STATED EARLIER, RIGHT NOW THERE IS MORE OF A -- OF AN ATTACK ON THE JUDGE AND THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT.
JUDGE, AS WE GO THROUGH -- ASSUMING WE FINISH TODAY OR TONIGHT OR TOMORROW I AM IN SUPPORT OF WHAT YOU DID AND IT IS THE RIGHT THING FOR YOU TO DO.
I CALLED YOU AND TOLD YOU THAT.
I THOUGHT ABOUT PUTTING A RESOLUTION ON THE AGENDA, BUT WE DIDN'T GET THE DETAILS UNTIL LATE.
IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO SHOW SUPPORT FROM THE COURT, I THINK FROM THE COMMENTS THAT I HEARD IT WOULD BE THERE.
THINK ABOUT HOW WE CAN WORK SOMETHING UP, COMMISSIONER GARCIA.
SINCE YOU RAISED IT, YOU CAN DO IT.
THAT WOULD BE HELPFUL SO IT IS NOT JUST THE JUDGE OUT THERE.
>> ADRIAN GARCIA: COMMISSIONER ELLIS, THANK YOU FOR THE IDEA.
I THINK WE SHOULD, YOU KNOW, HAVE MY STAFF WORK WITH YOURS TO DRAFT IT AS WE SPEAK.
THE OTHER SIDE OF IT IS IT IS ONE OF THOSE CRITICAL SITUATIONS THAT SCHOOL DISTRICTS OBVIOUSLY HAVE A STRONG LINE TO THE STATE.
MY CONCERN IS THAT IF WE DON'T REALLY WORK TO CHALLENGE THE THINKING IN THE WORDS OF THAT ADVISORY AND THAT LETTER AND THAT OPINION, I THINK THE SCHOOL WOULD WANT TO TAKE THE MOST RESPONSIBLE ROUTE.
UNLESS IT IS TAKEN TO -- UNLESS THERE IS A CHALLENGE TO IT, I THINK THAT WE WILL HAVE SCHOOL DISTRICTS SOME GO THIS WAY AND SOME GO THAT WAY.
I THINK WE HAVE TO AT LEAST EXERCISE THE EFFORT OF DEFINING WHAT IS THE AUTHORITY.
AND WE NEED TO PROTECT OUR COUNTY JUDGES' AUTHORITY IN BEING ABLE TO TAKE THOSE NECESSARY POSITIONS IN THESE TIMES.
I STILL WANT TO TAKE THIS TO THE FURTHEST POINT WE CAN.
THE LIVES OF CHILDREN ARE RIDING ON THIS.
>> RODNEY ELLIS: JUDGE, I THINK IT IS AN IMPORTANT POINT IN -- LOOK.
I TALKED TO SOME SUPERINTENDENTS AND I KNOW SOME OF THEM, AND I WON'T CALL THE NAMES, BUT THEY WANT SOME COVER.
I'M ASSUMING THAT MAYBE THE MAYOR MAY HAVE WANTED COVER TO TAKE OPPOSITE PERMISSION.
THAT'S WHO APPARENTLY ASKED FOR THE ADVISORY LETTER, BUT I THINK IT IS JUST TOO MUCH AT RISK AND IT IS A PUBLIC HEALTH ISSUE, AND I'M GLAD THE MAYOR, JUDGE, THE MAYOR OF HOUSTON IS AT LEAST IN SYNC WITH YOU ON THAT.
I THINK HAVE YOU SHOWN OWNERSHIP ON IT.
COMMISSIONER GARCIA, ANY HELP YOU NEED, MY FOLKS WILL REACH OUT.
IF THERE IS A LEGAL ROUTE WE OUGHT TO TAKE AT THE APPROPRIATE TIME, OR YOU MIGHT THINK ABOUT GIVING THE LEGAL DEPARTMENT, MR. SOARD, THE LATITUDE.
YOU CAN COME BACK SAYING IF THEY NEED IT YOU CAN ASK FOR A VOTE.
>> YES, SIR, WE COULD DO THAT.
>> LINA HIDALGO: I PROMISED A BREAK EVERY TWO HOURS.
I PROPOSE WE BREAK FOR 10 MINUTES AND THEN WE COME BACK AND FINISH THIS BROAD COVID ITEM.
WE HAVE A LOT OF SPEAKERS LEFT AND I KNOW COMMISSIONER CAGLE HAD HIS BACK UP ITEM AND THEN WE CAN TAKE LUNCH.
BUT RIGHT NOW I PROPOSE WE BREAK 10 MINUTES AND FINISH THIS ITEM BEFORE LUNCH.
>> LINA HIDALGO: LET'S BREAK UNTIL 12:40.
>> LINA HIDALGO: DO I HAVE -- HI, COMMISSIONER CAGLE.
>> R JACK CAGLE: HELLO, JUDGE.
>> R JACK CAGLE: I'M DOING OKAY.
IT IS 12:45 AND COMMISSIONER'S COURT IS BACK IN SESSION.
SO WE WERE HEARING FROM SPEAKERS ON THE SCHOOL ISSUE AND WE WERE GONNA CONTINUE CALLING THEM UP.
>> HELLO, THIS IS DIANA ALEXANDER AND I AM REACHING OUT TO DISCUSS THE REOPENING OF SCHOOLS AND SPECIFICALLY FACE-TO-FACE INSTRUCTION TO WHICH I STAND UTTERLY OPPOSED.
LET ME PREF PHYSICIAN WITH -- PREFACE, WITH THIS, THERE IS NO AMOUNT OF PERMISSIBLE CASUALTIES FROM STUDENTS, TEACHERS, SUPPORT STAFF, CUSTODIANS OR BUS DRIVERS.
I SUPPORT A POSTPONE MEANT OF ANY FACE-TO-FACE AT SUCH TIME THE DATA INDICATES NO NEW CASES IN HARRIS COUNTY FOR 14 DAYS.
I KNOW THAT THE ATTORNEY GENERAL HAS SPOKEN TODAY TO DISCOUNT AND UNDERMINE LOCAL AUTHORITIES, BUT PAXTON IS ABSOLUTELY WRONG HERE.
UNTIL WE HAVE THE CAPACITY FOR BASELINE TESTING TO BE AVAILABLE FOR EACH STUDENT, EACH STAFF MEMBER AND TRACKING OF COHORTS TO MONITOR THE SPREAD WE CANNOT OPEN.
HERE IN HARRIS COUNTY AS I'M SURE YOU ARE AWARE WE ARE IN THE MIDDLE OF A SIGNIFICANT OUTBREAK WITH 43,833 ACTIVE CASES REPORTED AS OF YESTERDAY.
WE CANNOT PLACE THE BURDEN OF THE PLAGUE ON THE EDUCATIONAL INFRASTRUCTURE AND LEAVE STUDENTS WITH THE MENTAL ANGUISH OF CAUSING POTENTIAL HARM TO FELLOW STUDENTS, STAFF AND FAMILY MEMBERS BY SPREADING THE VIRUS.
AS FAR AS PRACTICAL MATTERS, THE SHARED SCHOOL SUPPLIES AND THE PHYSICAL SPACES
[12:35:02]
ALONE IS A HUGE ENDEAVOR PLACED ON EDUCATORS.WORKING PEOPLE MAY FEEL FORCED TO SEND CHILDREN TO SCHOOL.
THOSE UNAFFECTED BY COVID-19 AS SOME ELECTED OFFICIALS HAVE CLOUDS THE ISSUE.
AIR FILTRATION SYSTEM THAT'S COULD ADDRESS THE SPREAD IN SCHOOL FACILITIES ARE COST PROHIBITIVE AND OUT OF REACH FOR ALREADY CASH-STRAPPED SCHOOL DISTRICTS.
LOCALLY SOME DISTRICTS DO NOT HAVE A UNIFORM OR CLEAR POLICY ON SCHOOL CLOSURES IF THERE IS A POSITIVE CASE.
ALL OF THIS ADDS TO EMPLOYEES AND CHILDREN AND THE WORKERS IN THE SCHOOL SETTING CANNOT BE EXPECTED TO REPORT TO WORK IN PERSON UNDER THESE CIRCUMSTANCES.
IN THE END THE FACTS ARE CLEAR.
IN PERSON INSTRUCTION IS NOT THE BEST SOLUTION FOR ALL TIME, BUT IT IS THE BEST SOLUTION FOR THIS TIME.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONTINUED EFFORTS TO KEEP THE COMMUNITY HEALTHY.
>> LINA HIDALGO: THANK YOU SO MUCH.
I'M SANTIAGO AND I AM ALSO SPEAKING IN OPPOSITION TO FACE-TO-FACE INSTRUCTION AT THIS MOMENT.
I HAVE YOUNGER SIBLINGS AND COUSINS WHO ATTEND PUBLIC SCHOOLS, AND MY FAMILY IS CONCERNED WITH THE POTENTIAL FOR A COVID-19 OUTBREAK IF WE WERE TO RETURN TO HAVING STUDENTS, PHAK GASH GASH FACULTY AND -- STUDENTS, FACULTY AND STAFF RETURNING TO IN SCHOOL.
I AGREE THERE IS NO ACCEPTABLE NUMBER OF CASUALTIES AMONG TEACHERS, STUDENTS, CUSTODIANS, BUS DRIVERS AND ANYBODY ELSE WHO IS PRESENT AT SCHOOL AND THEIR FAMILIES.
IN ADDITION BLACK AND BROWN FAMILIES WHO HAVE STUDENTS OR FAMILY MEMBERS WHO ARE AT SCHOOLS FACE DANGERS IF WE HAPHAZARDLY OPEN SCHOOLS.
I ASK WE DELAY THE START OF IN PERSON INSTRUCTION UNTIL WE ACTUALLY SEE DATA THAT SHOWS THE VIRUS IS ACTUALLY ON THE DECLINE.
AND I ASK THAT WE ENSURE WE ARE PROVIDING THE PROPER SUPPORT FOR WORKING FAMILIES TO HAVE ACCESS TO VIRTUAL EDUCATION IN THIS MOMENT AND TO ENSURE THAT STUDENTS WITH DISABILITY ALSO RECEIVE PARTICULAR CONSIDERATION IN THIS MOMENT TO ENSURE THEY CAN ACCESS VIRTUAL INSTRUCTION AND SERVICES THEY NORMALLY RECEIVE ON CAMPUS DURING THIS MOMENT.
THANK YOU FOR TAKING THE LEADERSHIP TO ANY COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND I HOPE YOU ALL MAINTAIN THE POLICY.
SOOL -- SALVADOR GUERRA, GO AHEAD PLEASE.
I STAND IN OPPOSITION TO FACE-TO-FACE INSTRUCTION AS WELL.
AS WE ALL KNOW THIS IS A PANDEMIC THAT HAS BT HAPPENED -- HASN'T HAPPENED IN A CENTURY.
IT IS BEING COME PAISHED TO -- COMPARED TO THE SPAN -- SPANISH FLU.
WE CAN'T THINK WE CAN CONGREGATE AND HAVE FACE TO FACE-TO-FACE INSTRUCTION.
I STAND WITH VIRTUAL INSTRUCTION.
FOR THOSE WHO ARE LOWER INCOME AND MAY HAVE A HARD TIME WITH RESOURCES WE CAN DETERMINE ASSESSING THE DELAY AND NOT JUST FOR STUDENTS, BUT FOR THE FAMILIES AND FOR COMMUNITIES AS WE ALL KNOW THESE STUDENTS ARE NOT JUST STUDENTS.
THESE PARENTS ARE NOT JUST PARENTS.
THEY ARE PART OF A COMMUNITY AND WHATEVER HAPPENS IN THE SCHOOLS WILL EVENTUALLY GO OUT INTO THE COMMUNITY AND COULD SPARK CHAOS.
FOR THE SAKE OF THE STUDENTS AND FOR THE SAKE OF THE COMMUNITY WE NEED TO DELAY THE INSTRUCTION AND PROVIDE THE RESOURCES FOR STUDENTS TO HAVE THE BEST LEARNING CAPABILITIES, THE BEST LEARNING PROCESSES THEY CAN AT THE MOMENT DESPITE THE SITUATION.
YES, I AM JUST GOING TO CONTINUE TO ECHO THE THANKS TO JUDGE HIDALGO AND THE COURT THAT THEY HAVE CONTINUED TO MAINTAIN THE SAFETY OF OUR COMMUNITY ABOVE OTHER PRIORITIES.
I AM ALSO IN OPPOSITION TO HAVING FACE-TO-FACE INSTRUCTION.
I AM A PARENT AND I AM A TEACHER.
I HAVE BEEN DOING THIS FOR 15 YEARS.
THE DISTRICT WHERE I AM HAS SOME OF THE HIGHEST NUMBERS OF CASES IN THE ENTIRE COUNTY.
I WORRY ABOUT ALL OF THE SAME POPULATIONS THE PREVIOUS SPEAKERS HAVE MENTIONED IN TERMS OF KEEPING THEM SAFE AND HEALTHY.
I KNOW THAT TEACHERS ARE HAVING TO MAKE DIFFICULT DECISIONS TO RESIGN, TO RETIRE AND THAT IS GOING TO PUT AN ADDITIONAL STRAIN ON THE EDUCATION SYSTEM WHEN WE ARE BACK UP AND RUNNING, AND I THINK THE TIDE ON THAT COULD BE STEMMED A BIT IF WE COULD KEEP FACE-TO-FACE FROM HAPPENING UNTIL THE VIRUS CASE COUNT AND THE HOSPITALIZATIONS ARE DOWN.
PEOPLE DON'T REALLY WANT TO MAKE THESE DECISIONS, BUT THEY FEEL FORCED TO MAKE THESE DECISIONS.
I STAND WITH THE COMMUNITY AND I STAND WITH THE JUDGE IN OPPOSITION OF HAVING FACE-TO-FACE INSTRUCTION AT THIS TIME.
JUDGE, THOSE ARE ALL OF THE SPEAKERS ON THIS ITEM.
THE OTHERS HAVE EITHER CANCELED OR THEY ARE NOT ANSWERING ANY LONGER.
WELL, THANK YOU SO MUCH, LUCINDA.
LET'S -- I KNOW ROBERT IS GOING TO BRING BACK IF THERE IS ANYTHING FOR US TO DISCUSS IN TERMS OF THE AG GUIDANCE OR THE ADVISORY.
WE WERE GOING TO DISCUSS THE DIGITAL DIVIDE AFTER THIS.
TODD HAD SOME COMMENTS ON THAT FROM GUIDE HOUSE.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON, JUDGE AND COMMISSIONERS.
THIS IS TODD HOFFMAN, PARTNER WITH GUIDE HOUSE.
I WANTED TO SPEND A COUPLE OF MOMENTS GIVEN -- GIVING YOU SOME BACKGROUND ON THE WHITE PAPER THAT WAS CIRCULATED OVER THE WEEKEND AND ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE.
AS A RESULT OF COVID-19 THE DIGITAL ACCESS GAP FOR UNDER RESOURCED COMMUNITIES AND THE NEED FOR PEOPLE TO HAVE ACCESS TO TECHNOLOGY HAS NEVER BEEN GREATER.
WITH THE 2020, 2021 SCHOOL DISTRICT SLATED TO BEGIN WITH VIRTUAL OFFERINGS, THE NEED TO PROVIDE STUDENTS WITH CURRENT GENERATIONAL KEYBOARD AND CAMERA ENABLED DEVICES AND THE HIGH QUALITY INTERNET HAS INCREASED EXPONENTIALLY.
IT IS A STATEWIDE INITIATIVE TO DELIVER INTERNET CONNECTIVE TEE AND DEVICE SOLUTIONS FOR SCHOOL DISTRICTS, FAMILIES AND STUDENTS ACROSS THE STATE.
$200 MILLION OF STATES CARES FUND ARE ADDRESSING THE TECHNOLOGY ISSUE THROUGH THIS PROGRAM.
THROUGH THE PROGRAM THE STATE IS PREPARING CLOSE TO A MILLION DEVICES AND 500,000 OF HOTSPOTS WITH ONE YEAR OF UNLIMITED DATA.
THIS BULK ORDER APPROACH FROM A PROCUREMENT PERSPECTIVE HAS THREE -- IT PROVIDES THREE POSITIVES.
NUMBER ONE, FAVORABLE PRICING FOR TWO LEVELS.
THE PLAYING FIELD AND IT PROVIDES TRANSPARENT AND CONSISTENT PRICING FOR ALL DISTRICTS BOTH LARGE AND SMALL AND FROM A SUPPLY CHAIN'S PERSPECTIVE, THEY HAVE MOVED THE STATE TO THE FRONT OF THE LINE, IF YOU WILL.
WE EXPECT THEM TO BE AVAILABLE WITHIN FOUR TO 12 WEEKS OF ORDERING.
THESE DEVICES THAT WILL BE PURCHASED THROUGH THE PROGRAM WILL BE THE PROPERTY OF THE SCHOOL DISTRICT AND NOT THE STUDENTS TO WHOM THEY ARE PROVIDED.
IT WILL ALLOW THE FLEXIBILITY AROUND USAGE AND POSSESSION.
THEY ARE PREPARING 100% OF THE COST AND WILL PURCHASE THESE DEVICES ON BEHALF OF THE SCHOOL DISTRICTS.
THE SCHOOL DISTRICTS WILL REIMBURSE 50% OF THE COST OF ITS ALLOTMENT.
THE SCHOOL DISTRICTS CAN SEEK FUNDING FROM LOCAL, CITY AND COUNTY GOVERNMENT.
SO FOR EVERY $2 A COUNTY CONTRIBUTES, TA WILL CONTRIBUTE A DOLLAR AND UP TO A MAXIMUM OF 10% OF THE TOTAL ALLOTMENT.
THEY WILL PAY THE DISTRICTS DIRECTLY.
SO BASED ON THE PRELIMINARY SURVEY RESPONSES, AND THERE WAS AN ATTACHMENT IN THE DOCUMENT, IT APPEARS FOR HARRIS COUNTY THAT THE STATE WILL MEET 70 PLUS MILLION OF THE HARRIS COUNTY NEED BASED ON THE RESULTS FROM THE SCHOOL DISTRICTS IN HARRIS COUNTY.
THE GAP REMAINING IS ESTIMATED TO BE SOMEWHERE AROUND 20 PLUS MILLION DOLLARS.
THE FINAL NUMBER WILL BE AVAILABLE NEXT WEEK.
WE ARE PROPOSING HARRIS COUNTY USE THE CRF FUNDS TO FUND THIS PROGRAM.
THE NEXT STEPS IF THE COURT AGREES IS TO MEET WITH EACH OF THE SCHOOL DISTRICTS IN HARRIS COUNTY AND UNDERSTAND THE DETAILS OF THOSE HARRIS COUNTY STUDENT NEEDS.
FOR THOSE WHO WILL NOT BE RECEIVING A DEVICE THROUGH THE CONNECTIVE TEE PROGRAM.
AND THEN COME BACK TO COURT ON 8/11 WITH THE AMOUNT TO CLOSE THE GAP FROM A HARRIS COUNTY PERSPECTIVE.
WE WILL ALSO COME BACK WITH THE COMPLIANCE STEPS THAT THE COUNTY SHOULD TAKE TO ENSURE THERE IS NO DUPLICATION OF BENEFITS THROUGH THIS PROGRAM.
>> LINA HIDALGO: COMMISSIONER ELLIS AND THEN COMMISSIONER GARCIA.
>> RODNEY ELLIS: I WOULD LIKE TO ASK IF THE GAP IS 20 MILLION ARE WE TALKING TO OUR OTHER LOCAL PARTNERS? I GUESS IT WOULD ONLY BE THE CITY OF HOUSTON WHO WOULD HAVE -- WE USE CARES MONEY, RIGHT?
>> RODNEY ELLIS: THE OTHER CITIES DON'T GET ANY OTHER THAN WHAT WE GIVE THEM.
WHAT WILL THE CITY PUT UP? WE CERTAINLY DON'T WANT TO LEAVE ANY MONEY ON THE TABLE.
I AM HOPING THAT BETWEEN THE CITY AND THE COUNTY WE WILL DRAW DOWN ALL OF THE STATE MONEY WE CAN GET.
IS THAT WHAT YOU ARE TRYING TO DO?
AND THERE IS A MEETING THAT WAS SUPPOSED TO TAKE PLACE ON FRIDAY WITH MAYOR TURNER AND HIS TEAM.
IT IS SUPPOSED TO HAPPEN THIS WEEK I THINK EITHER TOMORROW OR THURSDAY IF I RECALL WHERE REPRESENTATIVES FROM THE TA AS WELL AS THE PERSON WE ARE DEALING WITH IS GOING TO BE ON THE CALL WITH ME AND WE WILL BE MEETING WITH THEM TO TALK TO THEM MORE ABOUT THIS PROGRAM AND TO UNDERSTAND THEIR INTERESTS.
>> RODNEY ELLIS: IT WILL BE THE BRIDGE TO DIVIDE, RIGHT? WE WILL USE IT WHERE IT IS NEEDED?
>> RODNEY ELLIS: I'M ASSURE THAT THE BULK OF THE NEED WILL BE OUR LARGEST SCHOOL DISTRICT.
>> WE WILL FIND OUT WHERE THE NEED IS, COMMISSIONER.
>> RODNEY ELLIS: THERE IS PART OF THE TRAGIC PANDEMIC ON THE DIGITAL DIVIDE AND WE SHOULD HAVE DONE SOMETHING A LONGTIME AGO.
>> LINA HIDALGO: COMMISSIONER GARCIA AND THEN COMMISSIONER CAGLE.
>> ADRIAN GARCIA: THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORK ON THIS.
I THINK THE REPRESENTATIVE IS ON THE CALL AND WE HAVE BEEN IN TOUCH AND I RECORDED
[12:40:01]
ONE OF THOSE AND THE COUNTY COMMISSIONER I AM ALSO HOLDING AND DEER PARK AND PASADENA.I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THE COUNTY THAT IS SO OFTEN SHORTCHANGED IN ATTENTION AND SUPPORT.
IT IS NOT SHORTCHANGED IN THIS REGARD.
AND I APPLAUD YOU FOR HELPING US TO THIS POINT AS WELL.
WHITE AND MOORE HELPED TO CRAFT AN AGREEMENT WITH EARTH LINK TO DO THE WI-FI CONNECTIVE TEE -- CONNECTIVE TEE THROUGHOUT THE CITY.
WHEN THE NEW CEO GOT IN, HE JUST PAID THE CITY $10 MILLION TO GET OUT OF THE AGREEMENT BECAUSE EARTH LINK WAS JUST NOT GOING TO HAVE THE FINANCIAL RESOURCES TO MAKE THAT PROJECT HAPPEN.
SO THIS IS STILL IMPORTANT TO PURSUE AND TO THAT -- ON THAT NOTE I DON'T KNOW IF UNIVERSAL SERVICES IS ON THE LINE.
AS 8 -- AS A CITY COUNCILMEMBER I ADVOCATED FOR THE PUBLIC SAFETY BROADBAND -- I THINK IT IS VERSE NET NOW AND IT WAS TO GIVE FIRST RESPONDERS SOME CAPACITY.
I WANT TO KNOW WHETHER OR NOT WE CAN DURING THE PANDEMIC LEVERAGE THAT BROADBAND CAPACITY TO HELP CREATE THE CONNECTIVE TEE AS WELL.
I DON'T KNOW IF BRUCE IS ON THE LINE, BUT I WANT TO KNOW WHAT IS THE OPPORTUNITY TO LEVERAGE THE FIRST NET TO HELP US REACH OUT TO CERTAIN AREAS IN THE COUNTY.
>> ADRIAN GARCIA: YEAH, BRUCE.
>> THE CAPACITY FOR PUBLIC SAFETY IS THERE.
WE PARTNERED WITH THE VERIZON AND AT&T FOR THE MOST PART.
THEY HAVE TAKEN OVER -- >> ADRIAN GARCIA: BUT CAN WE DO IT WITH SCHOOLS RIGHT NOW?
>> THERE NEEDS TO BE A CHANGE IN LEGISLATION TO OPEN THAT UP.
I HAVE LOOKED INTO IT AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL AND THERE ARE SOME CONSIDERATIONS GOING ON THERE, BUT THEY DON'T CONSIDER IT A PUBLIC SAFETY MEETING AT THIS TIME.
>> THEY WON'T CONTINUE THE OPPORTUNITY, JUST THE DECLARATION OF EMERGENCY?
>> THAT'S WHAT WE HAVE PRESENTED AND ARE WAITING TO HEAR BACK.
>> ADRIAN GARCIA: CAN I ASK YOU TO VISIT WITH ROBERT SOARD? I WANT TO RUN ALL OF THE TRACKS ON THIS TO SEE IF THIS IS ANOTHER AREA OF CAPACITY THAT WE CAN OFFER OUR SCHOOL DISTRICTS.
>> WHEN WE IMPLEMENTED THIS, IT WAS OUR OWN.
AND THEN THIS BASICALLY GOT TAKEN OVER BY THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AND THAT'S WHEN AT&T HAD THE CONTRACT.
>> LINA HIDALGO: COMMISSIONER RADACK.
>> THANK YOU -- >> STEVE RADACK: THANK YOU FOR TRYING TO ASSIST THE KIDS.
IT IS GREAT THAT EVERYONE CAN GET IN ON -- TO BE IN THE CLASSROOM.
I KNOW THAT I AM VERY NEAR AND DEAR TO A SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER WHO AGONIZES OVER THAT DIVIDE AND OVER THAT ISSUE.
I ALSO IN PARTICULAR WOULD REFERENCE TO COMMISSIONER GARCIA AND I WANT TO THANK TODD AND HIS TEAM.
AFTER LAST WEEK AND COMMISSIONER ELLIS HAD THE GOOD IDEA OF OFFERING SOME 6 -- SOME OF OUR PROGRAMS TO OUR CITIES WHO MAY HAVE TROUBLE COMPLYING WITH THEIR ALLOCATION UNDER THE CARES ACT.
WE WERE ABLE TO HAVE A VIRTUAL SORT OF LITERALLY TOWN HALL MEETING WHERE IT WAS PRECINCT 4 AND TO BE WALKED THROUGH THE PROGRAM BY TODD AND HIS TEAM AND TO THE EXTENT MY COLLEAGUES HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO SEE THE PRESENTATION AND HAVE IT WALK THROUGH WITH THEIR PARTNERS WOULD BE A GOOD THING.
I THINK THE SMALL CITIES IS HOW WE REFER THEM.
IF THEY WEREN'T CLOSE TO THE CITY OF HOUSTON THEY WOULD BE CONSIDERED TO BE LARGE CITIES IF THEY WERE IN THE MIDDLE OF TEXAS SOMEWHERE.
IT WAS VERY BENEFICIAL AND GOOD AND I THANK GUIDE HOUSE FOR PROVIDING THE MATERIALS SO THAT OUR CITIES COULD PARTICIPATE IN THAT PROGRAM AS WELL.
>> LINA HIDALGO: YES, COMMISSIONER RADACK.
>> STEVE RADACK: TODAY, ARE YOU THERE?
>> STEVE RADACK: OUR HARRIS COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION, I WANT TO SAY HAS IN RESERVE SOMEWHERE BETWEEN $20 MILLION AND $30 MILLION.
I THINK THAT WOULD BE A PERFECT GROUP TO GO TO AS WE ARE OUTLOOKING FOR THIS MONEY AND THEY COULD BE REIMBURSED, I WOULD IMAGINE, UNDER THE LAW.
>> MY UNDERSTANDING IS WE HAVE HAD SOME CONVERSATIONS WITH THEM AT THIS POINT, COMMISSIONER.
>> STEVE RADACK: WELL, SOMETIMES THEY CAN BE HAHN -- HAHN REAR -- HOR -- OHRNERY PEOPLE TO DEAL WITH.
I DON'T THINK YOU CAN FIND A BIGGER NEED AND I BELIEVE THEY DO HAVE MONEY IN RESERVE.
YMG THAT IS SOMETHING THEY NEED TO PURSUIT.
>> AND WE WILL PUT THAT ON OUR LIST TO HAVE DISCUSSIONS BEFORE WE COME BACK TO COURT ON THE 11TH.
>> ADRIAN GARCIA: I WOULD SAY THAT IS A GOOD IDEA.
TODD, I WOULD FOLLOW-UP ON COMMISSIONER RADACK'S POINT.
THERE HAS BEEN SOME CHANGE OVER THERE.
THEY HAVE GONE FROM OHRNER TO PRACTICAL.
>> LINA HIDALGO: A QUESTION ABOUT THE DISTRIBUTION.
I GATHER THAT YOU WILL WORK -- YOU WILL GET THE FUNDING AND YOU HAVE BEEN WORKING WITH THE SUPERINTENDENTS.
I KNOW YOU SENT SURVEYS AND THAT'S GREAT.
BUT THERE IS A BIT OF A TIME CRUNCH HERE.
WHO IS MAKING SURE THAT THESE DEVICES ARE GETTING TO THE KIDS ON TIME.
IT HAS TO LEAN ON THE STATE, BUT ARE YOU MAKING SURE THERE IS -- I DON'T WANT THEM TO GET THE MATERIALS AND THEN SAY THE STATE NEVER GOT IT TO THEM.
I WANT TO CONFIRM THAT THERE IS SOMEONE FROM YOUR TEAM WHO THEY INTEND THAT EVERY CHILD NEEDS A DEVICE OR HOTSPOT HAS ONE BY THE TIME INSTRUCTION BEGINS OR WOULD BEGIN.
>> JUDGE, BASED ON THIS DISCUSSION WE WILL GO BACK -- YOU KNOW, THE TA IS ALREADY LOOKING TO PROCURE THESE DEVICES.
WE WILL GO BACK AND MEET WITH THE SCHOOL DISTRICTS.
WE HAVE HAD SOME DISCUSSIONS WITH THEM.
SO WE KNOW WHAT THE GAP IS, IF YOU WILL, ACROSS THE STATE.
I'M SORRY, WITHIN HARRIS COUNTY.
WHAT WE WANT TO DO IS FIND OUT BASED ON THE 70 PLUS MILLION ON THE WHITE PAPER WHAT IS THE ADDITIONAL GAP THAT IS NEEDED AND THAT IS WHAT WE NEED TO DO OUR WORK ON IN THE NEXT WEEK TO DOM -- TO COME BACK.
IN THE MEANTIME, THEY ARE PROCURING THE MILLION PLUS DEVICES, AND THE SCHOOL DISTRICTS ARE PUTTING THEIR A LOT METS -- ALLOTMENTS IN AS WE SPEAK.
IT IS JUST CONNECTING THERE AND MAKING SURE ENOUGH HAS BEEN ORDERED TO ADDRESS THIS ISSUE AND THEN AGREE ON THE FUNDING FROM HARRIS COUNTY AS WELL.
>> AND HOW DO WE GET IT TO THEM.
IN SPEAKING WITH THE SUPERINTENDENTS THEY ARE AT VARYING DEGREES.
SOME SAY THEY HAVE TAKEN CARE OF IT.
AND THEN THE OTHER ONES SAY THEY NEED OUR HELP.
LIKE EVERYTHING WE NEED CONSISTENCY HERE.
TO THE EXTENT WE CAN STEP IN AND IF IT LOOKS TO YOU THAT THE DISTRIBUTION SYSTEMS ARE NOT IN PLACE AND THE PROCUREMENT SYSTEMS ARE TAKING TOO LONG, THAT THERE IS SOMETHING THAT WILL PREVENT THESE -- THIS GOAL FROM BEING MET OR FROM EACH CHILD HAVING WHAT HE OR SHE NEEDS WHEN THE SCHOOL YEAR BEGINS, PLEASE FLAG THAT FOR US.
IT IS ALREADY AWFUL ENOUGH THE KIDS CAN'T BE IN PERSON, AND SO WE NEED TO MAKE SURE ON THIS ONE AND IT MAY MEAN STEPPING UP A LITTLE BIT MORE FOR SCHOOL DISTRICTS OR WHERE THE STATE IS DELAYED AND RUNNING INTO HER DELS -- HURDLES.
>> I ABSOLUTELY -- ABSOLUTELY, JUDGE.
WE WOULD TAKE THE FIRST STEP AND HAVE THE DISCUSSION IN MORE DETAIL FRVMENT A REPORTING AND MONITORING PERSPECTIVE WE WOULD COME BACK TO THE COURT IF AGREED ON THE DOLLAR AMOUNT -- OR IF WHAT IS AGREED ON A DOLLAR AMOUNT AND WE WOULD TRACK TO ENSURE THOSE DEVICES WERE DELIVERED, AND THEY ARE IN THE HARRIS COUNTY STUDENTS' HANDS.
THAT WOULD BE THE FOLLOW-UP FROM THAT THAT WE WOULD THEN COME AND REPORT TO THE COURT ON AS THE PROGRAM CONTINUES.
>> LINA HIDALGO: AND YOU FEEL COMFORTABLE WITH THE ISD'S BEING IN CHARGE OF THE DISTRIBUTION OF THE DEVICES?
>> AS WE UNDERSTAND IT, THE TAY THAT IS -- THE TA THAT IS HANDLING THE PROCUREMENT OF THE MANUFACTURERS AND THEY WILL ASSET TAG THESE AND THEN DELIVER THEM DIRECTLY TO THE SCHOOL DISTRICT.
BASED ON WHAT I WAS ABLE TO GLEAN THROUGH THE DISCUSSIONS THIS IS THE FASTEST WAY TO GET THE DEVICES IN THE PEOPLE'S HANDS.
I WAS GOING TO ADD THAT IT IS ALSO THE PREFERRED DISTRIBUTION METHOD BECAUSE THEN THE MAINTENANCE AND ADDING THE SOFTWARE THAT IS REQUIRED FOR EACH OF THE INDIVIDUALS IS TAKEN CARE OF BY THE SCHOOL DISTRICT.
IT IS THE MOST EFFICIENT METHOD.
>> LINA HIDALGO: COMMISSIONER ELLIS?
>> RODNEY ELLIS: TWO QUICK POINTS.
I ASSUME THERE ARE SOME INNER LOCAL TO MAKE SURE IF THEY DON'T GET IN THE RIGHT HANDS THE SCHOOL DISTRICT WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE TO GET THEM OUT PROPERLY, RIGHT?
WE WOULD HAVE AGREEMENTS, HARRIS COUNTY, WITH EACH OF THE SCHOOL DISTRICTS WHERE THEY WOULD SELF-CERTIFY AND THERE WOULD BE DOCUMENT TAKES IN THERE TO ADDRESS WHAT YOU JUST SAID.
>> RODNEY ELLIS: AND A QUICK QUESTION ON THE TIMETABLE.
$20 MILLION TO DRAW DOWN ALL OF THE STATE MONEY FOR THE COUNTY.
WHAT'S OUR TIMETABLE JUST SO THAT I AM HOPING THERE CAN BE A 10/10 SPLIT.
IF NOT, WHAT IS OUR TIMELINE SO WE KNOW WE ARE LEAVING SOMETHING ON THE TABLE IF WE DON'T DRAW IT ALL DOWN.
MY UNDERSTANDING IS THE PROCUREMENT ORDER WAS GOING TO HAPPEN AND I CAN CLARIFY THIS WITH GABBY IN THE NEXT WEEK OR SO.
AND AS IT RELATES TO THE CITY OF HOUSTON THEY NEED TO DETERMINE WHAT DECISION THEY ARE GOING TO MAKE.
I WOULD SAY THAT DECISIONS WOULD NEED TO BE MADE AS OF THE AUGUST 11TH COURT.
WE WOULD HAVE THE DOLLAR AMOUNT NEEDED AND THEN WE WOULD LET THE TEA AND OTHERS KNOW ABOUT THAT BEFORE COURT AND IF APPROVED WE CAN MOVE PRETTY QUICKLY.
>> RODNEY ELLIS: JUDGE, I JUST WANT TO SUGGEST TO COMMISSIONER GARCIA'S POINT, AND I THINK COMMISSIONERS RADACK AND CAGLE RAISED THIS AS WELL OR SENSITIVE TO IT.
[12:45:01]
I HAVE 12 SCHOOL DISTRICTS.WE WANT TO MAKE SURE IF THERE IS SOME REASON WHY WE NEED TO MEET, IT IS VIRTUAL, BEFORE THE NEXT COURT, AT LEAST WE DON'T WANT TO LEAVE MONEY ON THE TABLE BECAUSE WE ASSUME IT IS A 50/50 SPLIT AND THE CITY CAN'T COME UP WITH ITS 10 OR WHATEVER.
AT LEAST I WANT TO KNOW WHAT WE ARE NOT DOING AND MAKE A JUDGMENT CALL.
I DON'T WANT IT TO BE DECIDED BY DEFAULT.
I AM JUST SUGGESTING IF FOR SOME REASON WE HAVE TO MEET.
DOES THAT MAKE SENSE, JUDGE? IT IS WHAT IT IS, BUT WE DON'T WANT TO MISS THIS OPPORTUNITY.
>> ADRIAN GARCIA: JUDGE, IF I COULD, TO COMMISSIONER ELLIS' POINT, WE DO HAVE THE TRUTH IN TAX -- TAXATION MEETING IN EXWEEK.
WOULD IT BE APPROPRIATE TO POTENTIALLY ADD THIS TO THAT AGENDA?
>> RODNEY ELLIS: AT LEAST FOR AN UPDATE, COMMISSIONER.
>> LINA HIDALGO: I WILL MAKE SURE THAT GETS IN THERE.
I AGREE, BUT THIS TIMELINE IS VERY QUICK, AND I DON'T WANT TO RISK NOT MAKING IT.
>> RODNEY ELLIS: JUDGE, YOU MIGHT THINK ABOUT SOME COVID ITEM, NOT THAT I WANT A HUNDRED OTHER DISCUSSIONS, BUT IF SOMETHING DOES COME UP AND IF WE MEET IN ANYWAY, DON'T PLAN ON IT BEING A SHORT DAY.
DWIGHT, DID YOU HAVE A COMMENT?
JUST REALLY QUICK, EARLIER IN THE PANDEMIC, THE COURT GAVE US AUTHORIZATION TO USE THE PIC FUND ON THE IMMEDIATE NEEDS FOR PPE AND OTHER NEEDS BY THE DEPARTMENT.
EVERYTHING HAS SLOWED DOWN FROM THE PROCUREMENT STANDPOINT.
WE ARE WORKING THROUGH THE DEPARTMENTS.
OCCASIONALLY WE WILL HAVE A NEED HERE AND THERE.
ESPECIALLY WHEN I AM WORKING WITH THE LARGER CITIES, AUSTIN, HOUSTON, WE ARE TRYING TO LOCATE THE 3M AND N95 MASKS WHICH IS SPECIFIC FOR THE MEDICAL NEEDS FOR THE COUNTY.
I JUST WANT TO CLARIFY THAT THAT OPTION IS STILL AVAILABLE AND COURT AUTHORIZED US TO CONTINUE DOING THAT.
JUST SO BUDGET FEELS COMFORTABLE THAT IF WE REQUEST A LARGER AMOUNT THAT THEY ARE AWARE OF IT, AND I WILL KEEP THE COURT INFORMED OF IT.
AT THIS POINT IT WILL BE ON A CASE BY CASE BASIS.
>> RODNEY ELLIS: DO YOU NEED A MOTION?
>> IF THE MOTION STILL STANDS OR THE ACTUAL ORDER STILL STANDS FROM MARCH WE ARE OKAY.
I JUST WANT TO BRING IT TO THE COURT'S ATTENTION WE ARE NOT SPENDING THE PIC FUND.
IF A NEED COMES UP I WANT TO BE ABLE TO REACH OUT TO THE COURT MEMBER STAFF OR HOWEVER YOU WOULD LIKE ME TO PROVIDE THAT INFORMATION TO MAKE THE PROCUREMENT QUICKLY.
>> ADRIAN GARCIA: THE ORDER SHOULD STAND.
I MADE IT AND IT WAS TO GIVE YOU THE LEEWAY DURING THE DECLARED EMERGENCY.
>> RODNEY ELLIS: IS THAT SUFFICIENT, MR. SOARD, OR DOES MR. GARCIA NEED TO MAKE A MOTION?
>> I THINK MR. GARCIA IS CORRECT.
THE ORDER WAS MADE AND IT WILL LAST THROUGH THE EMERGENCY, AND WE ARE STILL IN THE MIDST OF THE EMERGENCY DECLARATION.
DWIGHT, WHERE DID YOU GET THAT PICTURE BEHIND YOU?
>> MY WIFE FOUND IT SOMEWHERE.
I AM NOT SURE WHERE SHE BOUGHT IT AT.
>> STEVE RADACK: THAT IS THE J.HERSHEY BRIDGE.
THE NEXT CHINNING COMMISSIONER -- THE NEXT THING COMIGHTS -- COMMISSIONER CAGLE YOU HAD A BACK UP ON THE BROAD COVID ITEM.
WITH THE AUGUST 6TH DATE WE HAVE BEEN DISCUSSING AND THE TIMELINES THAT ARE DL -- THAT ARE THERE, I WANTED TO HAVE THE COUNTY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE AND I HAVE GIVEN ROBERT A HEADS UP THAT I WOULD LIKE FOR US ALL TO BE ON THE SAME PAGE WITH REGARD TO WHAT ARE THE LOGISTICS AND WHAT ARE THE RULES GOING FORWARD WITH REGARD TO OUR TAX RATE? I BELIEVE THAT WE IN THE COUNTY AND THE COUNTY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE BELIEVES WE ARE A DISASTER UNDER PROPERTY CODE 2604 AND WE ARE A SPECIAL TAXING DISTRICT UNDER THOSE RULES AND THEREFORE A LOT OF THE SB2 PROVISIONS GO OUT THE WINDOW.
ROBERT, WHAT ARE OUR TIMELINES AND WHAT ARE THE LOGISTICS OF SETTING OUR TAX RATE AND WHAT PUBLIC NOTICE IS ROIR -- IS REQUIRED?
>> I THINK I AM ON, CORRECT? OKAY.
CERTAINLY I AM NOT THE EXPERT.
THE EXPERT IN THE OFFICE IS ON THE LINE IF YOU WANT REAL DETAILED QUESTIONS.
BASICALLY UNLESS THE COURT MEMBERS IN TEND TO HAVE A TAX RATE THAT WILL CAUSE THE COUNTY TO EXCEED WHAT THEY NOW CALL THE VOTER APPROVED RATE, THEN THE TIMELINE IS ROUGHLY THE SAME AS IT WAS PREVIOUSLY.
BECAUSE OF SB2 AND BECAUSE OF THE REQUIREMENT THAT ANY VOTE, ANY TAX RATE THAT EXCEEDS THE VOTER APPROVED RATE MUST BE SUB KNITTED -- SUBMITTED TO THE VOTERS AND IT MUST BE DONE BEFORE -- ABOUT AUGUST 18TH IN ORDER TO GET IT ON THE NOVEMBER BALLOT.
YOU HAVE TO HAVE QUICK AREAS AND QUICK MEETINGS TO ACTUALLY SUGGEST THAT OR ADOPT THAT TAX RATE.
IF YOU ARE NOT INTENDING TO EXCEED THE VOTER APPROVED RATE, THEN YOU USE THE OLD CALENDAR WHICH MEANS YOU HAVE 60 DAYS AFTER THE DAY TO GET THE CERTIFIED APPRAISAL ROLLS RECEIVED FOR EVALUATIONS, AND THAT GETS YOU SOME TIME IN SEPTEMBER.
THE DEADLINES ARE SEPTEMBER 30TH OR 60-DAYS AFTER THAT AND THEY DON'T COME IN UNTIL MAYBE MID-AUGUST.
AND JIM ROBINSON CAN SPEAK TO THIS, AND MAYBE EVEN LATER THIS YEAR BECAUSE OF SOME CHALLENGES IN THE APPRAISAL HISTORY.
I THINK THE IMPORTANT THING TO REMEMBER IS THE HEARING YOU EXPECT TO HAVE ON AUGUST 6TH IS THE TAXATION MEETING.
IT IS NOT A HEARING, BUT A SPECIAL MEETING OF COMMISSIONER'S COURT.
AT THAT TIME YOU CAN DISCUSS THESE THINGS AND THE POSSIBILITIES.
YOU CANNOT ADOPT A TAX RATE ON THAT DAY BECAUSE WHAT YOU WILL GET ON THAT DAY FROM WHOEVER YOU DESIGNATE WHICH IS TYPICALLY THE TAX ASSESSOR COLLECTOR, SHE WILL TELL YOU WHAT THE RATES ARE BASED ON THESE ESTIMATED EVALUATIONS THE COUNTY RECEIVED FROM THE APPRAISAL DISTRICT.
BEFORE YOU ACTUALLY ADOPT A TAX RATE THERE HAS TO BE NOTICE IN THE NEWSPAPER.
THERE HAS TO BE TELEVISION NOTICE.
THERE HAS TO BE NOTICES ON THE WEBSITE.
THERE HAS TO BE SEVEN DAYS IN ADVANCE OF THE HEARING AND THE OTHER INTEREST TWIST BECAUSE OF THE WAY THE LAW IS WRITTEN THE NEEDING TO ADOPT THE TAX RATE HAS TO BE A PUBLIC BUILDING.
WE INTERPRET THAT HAS TO BE A PHYSICAL MEETING.
WHEN THE GOVERNOR EXTENDED THE RULES FOR IN PERSON MEETINGS FOR COMMISSIONER'S COURT HE DID NOT SUSPEND THAT PARTICULAR PART OF THE TAX CODE.
I DON'T KNOW IF THAT WAS UNINTENTIONAL OR INTENTIONAL, BUT IN ANY EVENT WE HAVE TO FOLLOW THE OLD RULES FOR THAT, UNLESS THE GOVERNOR DETERMINES HE WANTS TO HAVE IT DIFFERENT.
>> R JACK CAGLE: SO THE TERMINOLOGY IS THE NO NEW REVENUE RATE WHICH IS WHERE THE REVENUE STAYS THE SAME AS IT WAS LAST YEAR.
>> R JACK CAGLE: THE NEW TERMINOLOGY IS THE VOTER APPROVAL RATE WHICH IS THAT RATE TO WHICH IS THE MAXIMUM THAT COULD BE IMPOSED WITHOUT HAVING TO GO TO THE VOTERS TO GET THEIR APPROVAL.
IN THEORY THIS BODY COULD ASK FOR AN INCREASE OF 25% ON THE TAX RATE AS LONG AS IT WENT TO THE VOTERS UNDERNEATH THE VOTER APPROVAL RATE PROVISIONS.
NORMALLY IF WE ARE NOT UNDER COVID, IF I UNDERSTAND YOUR PAPER AND I THANK YOU FOR THAT AND I WANT TO THANK PAUL AND KENNY IN MY OFFICE FOR PROVIDING ME WITH SOME DATA TO HELP ME UNDERSTAND IT THIS STUFF THEY HAVE BEEN WORKING ON OVER THE WEEKEND, IF SB2 WAS FULLY IN EFFECT THE RATE WOULD BE THE 3.5%, WOULD BE THE NEW VOTER APPROVAL RATE.
IF I UNDERSTAND THE -- IT IS THE ESTIMATED APPRAISAL ROLE OF ABOUT 5.3 BECAUSE WE ARE UNDER THE DISASTER DECLARATION AND CURRENTLY THE VOTER APPROVAL RATE IS 8%.
>> R JACK CAGLE: IF ANYTHING IN THAT TURNS OUT TO BE WRONG, LET US KNOW RIGHT AWAY.
I THINK WE WILL HAVE SOME SPIRITED DEBATE MAYBE ON AUGUST 6TH AS TO WHETHER OR NOT THIS IS THE TIME FOR US TO INCREASE TAXES ON THE POPULATION OR NOT TO INCREASE TAXES ON THE POPULATION.
I WANTED TO MAKE SURE WE WERE ALL ON THE SAME PAGE WITH REGARD TO WHAT OUR TIMELINES ARE AND WHAT THE PARAMETERS ARE.
SO IF I UNDERSTAND CORRECTLY THE VOTER APPROVAL RATE AT THIS TIME BECAUSE WE ARE UNDER A DISASTER DECLARATION IS 8%.
>> THAT'S OUR OPINION AS THE OFFICE OF THE COUNTY ATTORNEY.
ACKNOWLEDGING THAT WE HEAR OTHER STATE AGENCIES MAY HAVE A SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT OPINION, BUT THEY HAVE NOT SHOWN US THIS LAW THAT WOULD SUPPORT THAT OPINION.
>> R JACK CAGLE: AND IF WE ARE TO GO FORWARD AND HAVE A RATE OTHER THAN KEEPING THE NO NEW REVENUE RATE WHICH IS OUR REVENUE STAYS THE SAME THIS YEAR AS IT DID BEFORE, IF WE WANT TO HAVE AN INCREASE IN OUR REVENUE WE WILL, AFTER AUGUST 6TH, HAVE TO HAVE A PUBLIC HEARING AND WILL WE VOTE AT THAT PUBLIC HEARING, OR WILL IT BE A PUBLIC HEARING AND THEN A SUBSEQUENT VOTE?
>> UNDER THE NEW LAW, YOU CAN DO IT EITHER WAY.
YOU CAN ACTUALLY VOTE AT THE PUBLIC HEARING AT THE END OF IT, OR YOU CAN HAVE ANOTHER VOTE.
MY MEMORY IS THE SECOND VOTE HAS TO BE WITHIN A WEEK OF THE FIRST HEARING.
YOU CERTAINLY ARE AUTHORIZED TO HAVE THE HEARING AND THE VOTE IN ONE SESSION.
>> R JACK CAGLE: WE DO HAVE TO GIVE THE PUBLIC SEVEN DAYS NOTICE OF WHEN WE ARE GOING TO VOTE ON IT.
>> OR OF THE PUBLIC HEARING IF I RECALL, BUT I WILL DOUBLE CHECK THAT AND MAKE SURE I HAVE THE RIGHT TERMINOLOGY.
>> R JACK CAGLE: THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
THOSE ARE MY QUESTIONS, JUDGE, AND THANK YOU, YOUR HONOR.
>> LINA HIDALGO: COMMISSIONER ELLIS.
>> RODNEY ELLIS: THANK YOU, JUDGE.
THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER CAGLE, FOR PUTTING THIS ON THE AGENDA TO CLEAR THE AIR.
COMMISSIONER SOARD AND JUDGE, MAYBE IT WOULD BE GOOD TO ASK THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE WHETHER OR NOT THAT ORDER COULD BE AMENDED.
NOT JUST FOR US ON, BUT FOR OTHER COMMISSIONER'S COURT.
[12:50:02]
IF WE DO HAVE TO MEET IN PERSON WOULD YOU ALL MIND GETTING A TEST AND BRINGING YOUR RESULTS THAT DAY? YOU ARE ALL FINE PEOPLE.I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE A LARGE MICROPHONE AND BE SOCIALLY DISTANCED.
I MISS YOU ALL, BUT I DON'T WANT TO GET IT.
SO JUST CHECK ON THAT, IF YOU WOULD, JUDGE, AND MR. SOARD.
SECOND ONE IS, MR. SOARD, CAN YOU GIVE US SOME SENSE BECAUSE THE LAST TIME THE ISSUE CAME UP THERE WAS SOME ATTENDANCE RULES THAT WERE IN PLACE.
JUST SO WE KNOW WHAT WE ARE DEALING WITH HOW MANY MEMBERS HAVE TO BE THERE FOR WHATEVER WE DO.
THAT IS A LINE THAT COMMISSIONER CAGLE WOULD SHOW.
WE ALL KNOW THE PROCESS AND THE RULES IN THE LAW.
>> WE ARE OF THE OPINION THAT IN ORDER FOR COMMISSIONER'S COURT TO ADOPT A TAX RATE IT REQUIRES A FORUM OF FOUR MEMBERS.
YOU CAN DO IT ON A MAJORITY VOTE, BUT TO HAVE THAT KIND OF A MEETING, AT LEAST FOUR MEMBERS HAVE TO BE PRESENT.
>> RODNEY ELLIS: AND THE ISSUE CAME UP LAST GO AROUND, SO A COUPLE OF OUR COLLEAGUES DID NOT WANT TO COME INTO THE ROOM.
HOPEFULLY THIS WILL BE CHANGED AND IT WILL BE COMING TO THE CALL OF THE ZOOM OR WHATEVER IT IS ON THE COMPUTER, SISCO, WEBEX, WHATEVER.
DOES IT MEAN HAVE YOU TO BE PRESENT THAT DAY OR HOW DOES IT WORK?
>> WELL, I MEAN, AS I AM READING THE LAW, YOU HAVE TO BE PHYSICALLY PRESENT.
>> RODNEY ELLIS: FOR THAT VOTE?
>> RODNEY ELLIS: I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE WE CLEAR THE AIR SO WE KNOW.
>> ADRIAN GARCIA: JUDGE, IF I CAN JUST FOLLOW-UP.
>> ADRIAN GARCIA: SO PHYSICALLY PRESENT SO WE WOULD HAVE TO BE IN COMMISSIONER'S COURT IN THE CHAMBERS?
>> THE TAX CODE SIMPLY REQUIRES THAT IT BE IN A PUBLIC PLACE.
THEY HAVE OTHER STATUTES THAT SAY THAT YOU MEET WHERE YOU HAVE VOTED TO MEET WHICH COULD BE THE CHAMBERS.
YOU COULD MOVE THAT TO A DIFFERENT PUBLIC LOCATION IF YOU WANTED TO.
NRG IS A PUBLIC ACCESS OR SOME OTHER, QUOTE, PUBLIC BUILDING.
>> ADRIAN GARCIA: DOES ZOOM NOT PROVIDE THAT DEFINITION?
>> IT DOES NOT BECAUSE OF A REQUIREMENT THAT YOU HAVE IT IN A PUBLIC BUILDING HAS BEEN INTERPRETED AS YOU HAVE TO BE PHYSICALLY PRESENT IN THE BUILDING.
>> RODNEY ELLIS: SO ONE COULD NOT EXPAND IT.
>> THE REASON FOR THAT AND IT GETS TECHNICAL IS THE GOVERNOR SUSPENDED ALL OF THE LAWS BY STATUE AND BY SPECIFYING THE LAW THAT'S HAVE BEEN SUSPENDED DURING THE COVID DISASTER.
HE SUSPENDED THOSE LAWS THAT REQUIRED THAT COMMISSIONER'S COURT MEET IN PERSON.
HE DID NOT SUSPEND THAT PARTICULAR STATUTE OUT -- DASH STATUTE IN THE TAX CODE THAT SAYS IT MUST TAKE PLACE IN A PUBLIC BUILDING.
>> RODNEY ELLIS: COMMISSIONER GARCIA, IF I MATE -- IF I MIGHT? I WANT TO ASK IF THE GOVERNOR SUSPENDS IT, REACH OUT AND ASK, THAT MAYBE THEY HAD NOT THOUGHT ABOUT THIS.
IT MAY APPLY TO A COMMISSIONER'S COURT THAT DOES NOT HAVE A ROOM AS LARGE AS OURS.
AND THEN THE QUESTION IS COULD WE DO THE DISCUSSION IF WE ARE IN THIS BUILDING AND IN OUR OFFICES OR WHEREVER WE ARE, BUT WHEN IT IS TIME TO HAVE A VOTE CAN WE GO IN? I AM JUST TRYING TO REDUCE -- YOU KNOW.
>> THAT'S ONE OF THE INTERESTING HYPOTHETICALS WE WILL NEED TO THINK ABOUT.
I AM GLAD WE ARE HAVING THE DISCUSSION BECAUSE IT GIVES US A CHANCE TO KIND OF WORK THROUGH THESE VARIOUS SCENARIOS.
>> ADRIAN GARCIA: MY -- I WOULD LIKE FOR YOU TO REACH OUT AND ASK FOR DIRECTION ON WHETHER THERE IS ANY RETHINKING ABOUT WHETHER ZOOM CAN SUFFICE.
>> LINA HIDALGO: SO THERE ARE TWO ITEMS RELATED TO THIS AND WE MAY AS WELL TAKE THEM UP ON PAGE 15 UNDER THE TAX ASSESSOR AGENDA.
FIRST IS THE TRANSMITAL OF THE ESTIMATED VALUE COLLECTION RATE ET CETERA.
DO FOLKS HAVE QUESTIONS ON THAT?
>> LINA HIDALGO: WE CAN TAKE IT UP WITH THE AGENDA, BUT JUST WANT TO SEE IF ANYBODY HAS ISSUES ON IT AND WOULD LIKE TO VOTE NO ON IT.
THE NEXT ONE IS ITEM 2 UNDER THE TAX ASSESSOR.
AND THAT IS THE REQUEST TO DIRECT AND DETERMINE WHETHER TO CALCULATE THE VOTER-APPROVAL RATE WE WERE DISCUSSING EARLIER.
MY UNDERSTANDING AND ROBERT COULD CLARIFY IF I MISSED SOMETHING, BUT MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT THIS MOTION ALLOWS THE TAX ASSESSOR TO CALCULATE THE NUMBER SO THAT THE COURT CAN EVALUATE IT.
WE ARE NOT VOTING RIGHT NOW OBVIOUSLY, BUT IF WE WANT TO HAVE THIS INFORMATION AS TO WHAT IT WOULD BE TO HAVE THAT IN FRONT OF US AND KNOW OUR OPTIONS WE WOULD NEED TO APPROVE THIS.
OTHERWISE SHE WON'T EVEN CALCULATE IT.
IF SOMEBODY FROM THE TAX OFFICE IS HERE THEY CAN EXPLAIN IT BETTER.
MY UNDERSTANDING IS THEY MAY ALSO WANT YOU TO DECLARE THAT YOU ARE INTENDING TO USE THE 8% DISASTER RATE AND NOT THE 3.5% RATE SET SET FORTH.
FORGIVE ME FOR NOT HAVING ASKED IT EARLIER.
I SUSPECT THEY CAN DO IT ALL THREE WAYS IF YOU JUST ASK.
>> RODNEY ELLIS: I WOULD SUGGEST, JUDGE, IF I MIGHT SINCE WE HAVEN'T HAD THE
DISCUSSION THAT THEY CALCULATE IT ALL THREE WAYS, 3.5 AND -- >> AND MAYBE IF SHE IS ON THE LINE SHE CAN TELL ME WHY THAT IS NOT GOOD ADVICE OR SOMEBODY FROM THE TAX OFFICE CAN TELL US WHY THAT IS NOT A GOOD IDEA.
>> THEY HAVE BOTH BEEN UNMUTED, AMY AND ELIZABETH.
>> HI, GOOD AFTERNOON, JUDGE AND COMMISSIONERS.
>> LINA HIDALGO: WELL, THANK YOU.
>> I AM FLIPPING THROUGH MY PROVISIONS.
YES, I THINK THAT IT WOULD BE STATUTE -- STATITORIAL TO BE CALCULATED BOTH WAYS.
>> HELLO, THIS IS ELIZABETH WITH ANNE HARRIS BENNETT'S OFFICE.
WE DON'T SEE A REASON NOT TO CALCULATE THE WORKSHEETS IN SEVERAL WAYS AND PROVIDE EACH OF THOSE WORKSHEETS AND A SUMMARY OF THOSE TO COURT ON AUGUST 6TH.
>> LINA HIDALGO: COMMISSIONER CAGLE HAS A QUESTION.
>> R JACK CAGLE: WE ARE TALKING ABOUT THE 3.5, THE 5.3, THE 8 AND I GUESS IT WOULD BE A FOURTH NO NEW REVENUE ONE AS WELL.
>> COMMISSIONER CAGLE, WHAT TECHNICALLY HAPPENS IN TRUTH AND TAXATION CALCULATIONS IS WE TAKE THOSE ESTIMATES THAT THE APPRAISAL DISTRICT PROVIDED AND IT IS A COMPLICATED WORKSHEET THE COMPTROLLER PROVIDES.
WE TAKE THE VALUES FROM LAST YEAR AND THE VALUES FROM THIS YEAR AND TAKE ADJUSTMENTS FOR LOST VALUE AND NEW IMPROVEMENTS.
BASICALLY THERE IS NOTHING 5% BECAUSE BASICALLY WHAT THE CALCULATIONS ALLOW IS WE ARE TAKING THE CALCULATIONS AND COMPARING TO GET YOUR NO NEW REVENUE WHICH IS THE SAME REVENUE AS LAST YEAR.
IF COMMISSIONERS ALLOW US TO CALCULATE UP TO 8% FOR THE VOTER APPROVAL WE WILL DO SO.
WE ALSO CAN CALCULATE TO THE 3.5 VOTER APPROVAL RATE.
TECHNICALLY WE CAN HAVE THREE RATES.
IT WILL BE READY FOR YOU TO DISCUSS ON AUGUST 6TH.
I AM FOR HAVING THE OPTIONS PRESENTED TO US ON AUGUST 6TH.
WE CAN DISCUSS IT AT THAT TIME.
YOU DON'T NEED A MOTION OR ANYTHING, DO YOU?
>> LINA HIDALGO: SOMEONE WOULD NEED TO VOTE NO ON THEM CALCULATING THIS.
I JUST WANTED TO BRING IT UP SINCE WE WERE ON THE TOPIC.
COMMISSIONER CAGLE, DID YOU HAVE ANYTHING ELSE ON YOUR BACK UP?
>> R JACK CAGLE: NOT ON THIS, YOUR HONOR.
I WANTED TO MAKE SURE WE HAD CLARITY OUT THERE AS TO WHAT WENT WHERE AND HOW AND WHAT OUR MEETINGS ARE GOING TO BE.
I AM STILL SCRATCHING MY HEAD A LITTLE BIT WITH REGARD TO -- MY UNDERSTANDING IS IF WE KEPT OUR TAX RATE THE SAME AS IT IS NOW, THAT OUR REVENUE WOULD INCREASE TO 5.3%.
I'M CURIOUS AS TO WHY THAT WOULD NOT BE ADDED INTO THE MIX OF THE THINGS THAT THE PUBLIC WOULD KNOW IN TERMS OF THE ISSUE.
I AM FINE WITH NO NEW REVENUE AND THE TAX APPROVAL RATE AND THE 3.5.
THE 8 TO 3.5 AND THE ZERO, BUT I DIDN'T QUITE UNDERSTAND WHY THE -- WHAT IT WOULD BE IF WE KEPT OUR RATE THE SAME NOT INCLUDED IN THE BOX OF OPTIONS.
>> COMMISSIONER, THIS IS ELIZABETH.
WE CAN TAKE THE EXACT RATES THAT WE WERE APPROVED LAST YEAR AND USE THOSE RATES AND KIND OF BACK IN WITH THE VALUES AND WHAT THE REVENUE WOULD BE IF THE COMMISSIONERS WANTED TO ADOPT EXACT SAME TAX RATES AS LAST YEAR.
WE WOULD HAVE THE NO NEW REVENUE RATE THAT WOULD EQUATE THE SAME VALUE OF MONEY AS LAST YEAR.
WE CAN CALCULATE USING THE EXACT SAME RATES AND WE CAN CALCULATE THE TWO DIFFERENT VOTER APPROVALS ONE IS A 3.5 AND THE OTHER IS 8%.
SO FOUR RATES CAN BE SUBMITTED.
>> LINA HIDALGO: WILL YOU GUYS MAKE SURE TO GET THAT TO US OBVIOUSLY BEFORE AUGUST 6TH SO WE WILL ALL HAVE A CHANCE TO REVIEW IT? I THINK THIS TIMELINE CAME A LITTLE BIT LATE.
I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE ENOUGH LEAD TIME.
WE ARE HOPING TO GET THE RATES CALCULATED BY FRIDAY TO PROVIDE THEM BY MONDAY OR TUESDAY NEXT WEEK.
>> R JACK CAGLE: I WOULD LOVE IT TO BE PRODUCED BY MONDAY.
>> LINA HIDALGO: COMMISSIONER GARCIA.
>> ADRIAN GARCIA: QUESTION AND I GET THIS IS FOR MR. SOARD.
IS THE HOSPITAL DISTRICT PULLED OUT OF THE PROCESS OR ARE WE VOTING ON ALL THREE?
>> TYPICALLY YOU VOTE ON ALL THREE AT ONCE.
THE HOSPITAL DISTRICT BECAUSE IT IS A PURPOSE DISTRICT DOES NOT HAVE A THREE AND A HALF TAP.
THEY HAVE A -- AN 8% TAP WITH AND WITHOUT THE DISASTER.
WITH THE COVID DISASTER IT MEANS ALL OF THOSE TAXING ENTITIES HAVE THE SAME MAXIMUM.
>> LINA HIDALGO: GREAT, THANK YOU.
LOOKS LIKE COMMISSIONER ELLIS HAS A COMMENT.
>> RODNEY ELLIS: MR. SOARD, I WANT TO MAKE SURE IT IS CLEAR.
[12:55:01]
THE HOSPITAL DISTRICT IS SEPARATE AND YOU STILL HAVE TO HAVE FOUR OF US, THREE TO PASS IT, BUT FOUR PEOPLE HAVE TO BE PRESENT.>> IN OUR OPINION IT IS BECAUSE OF THE WAY THE HOSPITAL DISTRICT WAS CREATED AND BECAUSE OF THE AUTHORITY THE COMMISSIONERS HAVE WITH RESPECT TO THE HOSPITAL DISTRICT.
>> RODNEY ELLIS: AND COMMISSIONER GARCIA IN TOARMS -- TERMS OF TRANSPARENCY WE HAVE A CLEAR IDEA OF WHAT WE ARE LOOKING AT AND WHAT WE ARE DEALING WITH.
>> I WANT CLARIFICATION FOR COURT RECORD.
THE ITEM IS BEING APPROVED AS PRESENTED OR ARE YOU DIRECTING THE TAX OFFICE TO CALCULATE THE VOTER APPROVAL RATE AS PER THE LETTER?
>> RODNEY ELLIS: I THINK IT WAS ALL FOUR OPTIONS, JUDGE IS WHAT I HEARD.
COMMISSIONER CAGLE, AM I MISSING SOMETHING?
>> LINA HIDALGO: YEAH, I MEAN, ROBERT DO WE NEED TO ADD ANYTHING? THE ITEM SAYS THAT WE WILL ALLOW THEM TO CALCULATE THE VOTER APPROVAL RATE.
DO WE NEED TO ASK THEM TO CALCULATE THE OTHER TWO COMMISSIONER CAGLE MENTIONED OR IS THAT SOMETHING THEY CAN JUST DO?
>> MR. SOARD, I'M SORRY I WAS DISTRACTED.
I WOULD INCLUDE IT IN THE MOTION AND WE CAN HAVE IT REFLECT THAT, THE FOUR RATES.
>> LINA HIDALGO: SO IT IS TO CALCULATE THE VOTER APPROVAL RATE, THE -- COMMISSIONER CAGLE, YOU HAD A BETTER SENSE OF IT.
>> RODNEY ELLIS: THE 8%, THE CURRENT RATE -- >> LINA HIDALGO: THE REVENUE.
SO THE SAME REVENUE, THE VOTER APPROVAL, THE 8% AND THE 3.5.
I MEAN, 3.5 IS THE SAME RATE THOUGH, SO IT IS REALLY 3.
THE NO NEW REVENUE RATE, LAST YEAR'S ADOPTED RATE, THE VOTER APPROVAL RATE OF 3.5 AND ANOTHER VOTER APPROVAL RATE AT THE 8%.
>> RODNEY ELLIS: I WILL MAKE A MOTION, JUDGE AS SHE SAID IT.
LEAN DID YOU GET THAT, JAMES -- >> LINA HIDALGO: DID YOU GET THAT, JAMES?
>> LINA HIDALGO: GREAT, THANK YOU, ELIZABETH.
OKAY, ANYTHING ELSE ON THIS BROAD COVID ITEM?
>> R JACK CAGLE: JUDGE, DID YOU WANT TO VOTE ON MAKING THAT AMENDMENT?
>> RODNEY ELLIS: YOU CAN MAKE IT, COMMISSIONER.
>> R JACK CAGLE: I'M FINE WITH SECONDING HAVING THE DIFFERENT NUMBERS BEING BROUGHT TO US, AND I THINK WE NEED TO VOTE ON IT.
THERE IS A MOTION BY COMMISSIONER ELLIS AND SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER CAGLE.
>> LINA HIDALGO: OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY.
SO THAT IS THE BROAD COVID ITEM.
NEXT IS A REQUEST BY PRECINCT 1 FOR DISCUSSION OF POSSIBLE ACTION ON EVICTIONS.
I PUT THIS ITEM ON THE AGENDA TO HAVE A DISCUSSION ABOUT HOUSING AND INSTABILITY THAT IS GOING ON OUT THERE WITH THE LOOMING EVICTION CRISIS.
I KNOW FAMILIES ARE BRACING FOR A TSUNAMI SINCE THE CARES ACT JUST EXPIRED AND THE PANDEMIC UNEMPLOYMENT IS EXPECTED TO END IN A FEW DAYS.
ALL OF US KNOW HOUSING IS CRUCIAL IN THE PANDEMIC.
PEOPLE PLI -- MAY FIND A WAY TO PAY THEIR OTHER BILLS, BUT IF THEY LOSE THEIR HOME IT LEADS TO A SPIRAL THAT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO ESCAPE.
WE HAVE TENANTS EXPERIENCING EVICTION AND MORE LIKELY TO HAVE HIGH BLOOD APPRECIATOR AND DEPRESSION AND ANXIETY AND PSYCHOLOGICAL PROBLEMS. I SAW ONE STUDY THAT FOUND THE CHANCES OF A WORKER LOSING THEIR JOB IS ESTIMATED AT 11 TO 22% HIGHER FOR PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN FORCED OUT OF THEIR HOME COMPARED TO THOSE WHO HAVE NOT.
AMID THE CALL OF THE LOCK DOWNS AND THE RISE IN COVID CASES IN HARRIS COUNTY PEOPLE ARE STILL LOSING THEIR SHELTER AND THE EVICTIONS HAVE BEEN HAPPENING FOR MONTHS AND 5,000 CASES HAVE BEEN FILED SINCE THE EVICTION MORATORIUM WAS LIFTED IN MAY.
TEXAS LIFTED ITS EVICTION BAN MORE THAN TWO MONTHS AGO, BUT THE CARES ACT EVICTION ACT LIFTED ON THE 25TH.
AND THE HOUSING APPLICANTS HAVE CALLED THIS A DOOM'S DAY SCENARIO.
THE DATA THAT CAME OUTLAST WEEK PREDICTS IN THE NEXT FOUR MONTHS AN ESTIMATED 16 MILLION RENTER HOUSEHOLDS ARE AT RISK OF EVICTION.
THAT COULD BE ALMOST 12 MILLION EVICTIONS.
IN THIS STATE ALONE MORE THAN A MILLION RENTERS ARE AT RISK OF BEING EVICTED.
ALMOST HALF OF THE RENTER HOUSEHOLDS ARE UNABLE TO PAY THEIR RENT.
DESPITE WHAT WE HAVE DONE, IT IS A BIG PROBLEM.
JUST LIKE THE VIRUS, THE EVICTIONS HIT LOW INCOME COMMUNITIES THE HARDEST.
54% FOR OUR LATIN X COMMUNITY AND 54% FOR THOSE WHO HAVE NO CONFIDENCE IN THEIR ABILITY TO PAY NEXT MONTH RENT COMPARED TO 22% FOR OUR WHITE CITIZENS.
55% OF THE BLACK RENTERS NATIONWIDE ARE RENT BURDENED.
TRAVIS AND DALLAS COUNTY AND THE JUSTICES OF THE PEACE ALL AGREE.
I UNDERSTAND EVEN IF THEY ADOPTED A RULE, THE RULE IS ONLY ENFORCEABLE IF ALL OF THEM AGREE TO DO IT.
SO THEY AGREE NOT TO HOLD THE EVICTION HEARINGS RIGHT NOW GIVEN THE STATE OF EMERGENCY IN TRAVIS COUNTY AND THE JUDGE PROHIBITED LANDLORD HAD TO GIVE NOTICES TO VACATE UNTIL SEPTEMBER 30TH.
I DON'T KNOW, JUDGE, IF IT IS LEGAL OR NOT, BUT BASED ON OUR CALLS, THAT'S WHAT WE WERE TOLD HAPPENED THERE.
I HAVE ASKED A GROUP OF HOUSING EXPERTS WHO YRCHG -- WHO I THINK ARE ON THE LINE TO PUT A DENT IN THIS.
IT IS COMPLICATED AND I KNOW WE CAN'T SOLVE IS IN A DAY.
I JUST WANTED -- I KNOW YOU CONVENED WITH SOME OF THE EXPERTS AS WELL WITHIN ONE WEEK THE HOUSING STABILITY TASK FORCE MADE A RESOLUTION TO ADOPT A GRACE PERIOD ORDINANCE THAT WOULD GIVE RENTERS A CHANCE TO PAY THEIR RENT LATE BEFORE FACING EVICTION.
I DON'T KNOW IF THAT'S LEGAL OR NOT.
I KNOW WE DON'T HAVE THE EFFORT TO PUT THAT IN POWER.
THEY ARE INCREASING SEVERAL JP COURTS AND PERHAPS THEY CAN INCREASE THE SERVICES COUNTY WIDE.
THE ISSUE CAME UP SOME TIME AGO AND MAYBE I WAS PUTTING THE CARPET BEFORE THE HORSE, BUT -- THE CART BEFORE THE HORSE I WAS TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW MUCH MONEY WE CAN GIVE THEM SO THEY WILL KNOW WHAT TO DESIGN A PROGRAM AROUND.
WE DIDN'T DO THAT THAT DAY, BUT I WANTED TO GET SOME SENSE OF WHAT KIND OF MONEY FROM THE CARES ACT THEY ARE DEALING WITH SO THEY CAN COME BACK ABOUT -- BACK WITH SOMETHING.
I KNOW THEY ARE STUDYING IT HARD, BUT PEOPLE ARE ABOUT TO HAVE A HARD ESH -- HARDER TIME IN A FEW DAYS.
I JUST WANTED TO LAY IT OUT FOR US TO DISCUSS IT IN PUBLIC.
>> LINA HIDALGO: THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER.
I JUST WANTED TO RESPOND TO YOUR QUESTION ON THE TRAVIS COUNTY.
THE COUNTY JUDGE DID ISSUE AN ORDER PREVENTING LANDLORDS FROM FILING THE EVICTIONS.
THAT WAS THE AUTHORITY I HAD INITIALLY.
THAT WAS REMOVED WHEN THE GOVERNOR ISSUED THE REOPENING ORDER.
I UNDERSTAND, AND ROBERT CORRECT ME IF I AM WRONG, IS THE REASON THEY HAVE BEEN ABLE TO DO THAT IS BECAUSE THE JP'S HAVE AGREED NOT TO DO THE EVICTIONS ? WE ARE STILL RUNNING IT DOWN.
THE MINUTE THE COUNTY ATTORNEY SAYS YOU CAN DO IT I'LL DO IT, BUT THE SENSE IS THAT I DON'T HAVE THAT AUTHORITY.
THE HOUSE INSTABILITY TASK FORCE HAS BEEN WORKING ON THE ORDINANCE DONE IN DIFFERENT STAY -- CITIES AND WE CAN'T DO IT AS A CITY, BUT THE COUNTY CAN DO.
THEY HAVE DRAFTED IT AND WILL PRESENT IT TO THE MAYOR.
I AM GLAD THERE IS THAT OPPORTUNITY AND HOPEFULLY THAT WILL SUSPEND EVICTION PROCEEDINGS AT LEAST IN THE CITY.
THAT'S WHAT I KNOW AND IT IS SOMETHING I AM ASKING MY STAFF ABOUT EVERY DAY.
WE WANT TO SHINE A LIGHT ON THE JP'S THAT HAVE POSTPONED EVICTIONS.
THEY ARE DOING GREAT TO HELP US.
WE ARE DOING SO MUCH TO PROVIDE THIS RENTAL ASSISTANCE AND THE FIRST FUND OBJECT YESESLY IF WE -- OBVIOUSLY IF WE SEE LANDLORDS OUT IN THE STREET THAT'S SOMETHING WE ARE KEEPING AN EYE OUT.
THE THING ON FIRE IS THE TENANTS AND THAT IS A HUGE RISK.
>> RODNEY ELLIS: JUDGE, WHAT ABOUT IN TERMS OF TRANSPARENCY AND PUTTING A LIGHT ON.
IT WHAT -- MAYBE I WILL MAKE A MOTION FOR A DASHBOARD SOMEBODY CREATED SO IT IS OUT THERE AND AT LEAST WE KNOW HOW MANY IN A GIVEN COURT AND WHAT IS HAPPENING.
MAYBE THEY HAVE DONE THAT ALREADY, BUT MAYBE A DASHBOARD OUT THERE.
>> LINA HIDALGO: AND I WILL LEAVE IT OPEN AND PERHAPS THE SPEAKERS WILL HAVE INPUT ON THIS.
I KNOW THE ADVOCATES HAD PUT ONE TOGETHER.
THE LATEST INFORMATION I HAVE IS ONE, TWO, THREE -- THERE ARE FIVE JP'S WHO SUSPENDED EVICTIONS AND THE OTHER ONES ARE STILL HEARING THEM.
SOMETIMES THEY ARE CAREFUL IF IT IS DOMESTIC VIOLENCE OR SOMETHING IF IT IS NOT PANDEMIC-RELATED WELL THAT'S WHY WE HAVE THEM THERE AND THEY ARE SMART ABOUT IT.
THE IDEA IS OBVIOUSLY TO NOT ALLOW THESE OTHER ONES TO GO FORWARD THAT HAVE TO DO WITH THE PANDEMIC.
I WOULD BE HAPPY TO SUPPORT THAT.
>> RODNEY ELLIS: MAYBE BY THE END OF THE DAY.
WE'LL SEE WHAT THEY SAY AND BY THE END OF THE DAY WE'LL SEE IF SOMETHING WE CAN PUT ON OUR WEBSITE.
MAYBE IT IS MORE VISIBILITY THAN THE NGO WEBSITE.
>> LINA HIDALGO: ROBERT, WAS THERE ANYTHING ON THE AUTHORITY?
JUDGE, YOU SAID IT EXACTLY CORRECTLY.
THE REASON TRAVIS COUNTY'S ORDERS ARE WORKING IS BECAUSE ALL OF THE JP JOINED IN THAT LOCAL RULE TO SUSPEND EVICTIONS THROUGH SEPTEMBER.
WE ARE LOOKING AT ALL OF THE ISSUES AND TRYING TO COME UP WITH CREATIVE SOLUTIONS I I DO LOOK FORWARD TO HEARING FROM THE SPEAKERS BECAUSE MAYBE THEY HAVE IDEAS WE HAVEN'T THOUGHT ABOUT.
>> RODNEY ELLIS: I AM ASSUMING THEY DID A CAR BUY.
>> IT HAS BEEN A DAY SINCE I READ THE ORDER, BUT THEY MUST HAVE.
AND THEY HAVE SPECIFIC LANGUAGE ABOUT THE TYPES OF NOTICES THAT CAN BE SERVED SO THEY HAVE THOSE.
>> ADRIAN GARCIA: ARE THERE SPEAKERS ON THIS?
[13:00:01]
>> RODNEY ELLIS: I THINK THEY HAVE REPRESENTATIVE WALLY AND GUADELOUPE FERNANDEZ AND JAY MALONE, MS. PALAY AND LESLIE GONZEL AND ERIC WATLER.
OF COURSE WE HAVE BEEN GOING ON A LITTLE WHILE.
>> LINA HIDALGO: LET'S HEAR FROM THE SPEAKERS THEN.
>> RODNEY ELLIS: COMMISSIONER GARCIA.
THANK YOU COMMISSIONERS AND I HAVE HAD A CHANCE TO SPEAK TO YOU AT SOME POINT ON A LOT OF ISSUES, BUT PARTICULARLY ON THIS ONE I WANT TO THANK ALL OF YOU FOR YOUR PARTICIPATION.
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT IS IMPORTANT TO NOTE IS MY COUNTERPART AND I WHEN WE ANNOUNCED THE JOINT EFFORT AND WE FOCUSED ON THE INSTABILITY AND THE CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC, WE WERE LOOKING AT CERTAIN POLICY RECOMMENDATIONS.
THE HOUSING FACILITY TAX FORCE IS STACK HOLDERS WITH THE DELIVERY SYSTEM AND IT IS A GROUP OF FOLKS THAT HAS BEEN WORKING VERY, VERY HARD.
IT INCLUDES PROPERTY OWNERS AND LANDLORDS AND THE SERVICE PROVIDERS, CITY AND COUNTY AND THE GOVERNMENTS AS WELL.
WE MET FOR THE FIRST TIME ON JULY 17TH AS A FULL TASK FORCE.
IT WAS TO ADDRESS SOME OF THE ISSUES IT IS CO-CHAIRED BY JUDGE K JEREMY BROWN AND RICK CAMPO.
THEY HAVE WORKED EXTREMELY HARD OVER THE LAST FEW WEEKS.
THEY DEVELOPED SOME STAFF POLICY RECOMMENDATIONS AND THE WORKING GROUP.
THEY WORKED HARD TO DEVELOP RECOMMENDATIONS.
PARTICULARLY FOR THE CITY OF HOUSTON.
IT WAS A VERY ROBUST DISCUSSION.
IT WAS THE FIRST TIME SINCE WE HAVE HAD THIS MANY FOLKS OF DIVERSE BACKGROUNDS AND THEY UNANIMOUSLY VOTED TO SEND A GREAT PERIOD OVER.
ON FRIDAY THE BOARD VOTED TO ENDORSE THE PROPOSED ORDINANCE AND THE FULL TASK FORCE VOTED UNANIMOUSLY IN FAVOR OF THE ORDINANCE AND RIGHT NOW IT IS EMBEDDED BY THE CITY OF HOUSTON.
I WANT TO THANK A LOT OF THE MEMBERS OF THE TASK FORCE AND COMMISSIONER ELLIS TO YOUR POINT ON THE ACCESS TO JUSTICE, I KNOW WE HAVE DONNA CARNEY AND AS REQUESTED BY YOU, COMMISSIONER ELLIS, WE ARE EXCITED TO SHARE THAT THE CITY WILL MATCH THE COUNTY ON THE PILOT PROGRAM.
THEY ARE DESIGNING A THOUGHTFUL PROGRAM -- >> RODNEY ELLIS: DO YOU HAVE A DOLLAR AMOUNT -- JUST SO I DON'T FORGET.
>> COMMISSIONER ELLIS, I THINK YOUR INITIAL REQUEST OF 750.
THAT WAS MY UNDERSTANDING IS THEY WERE GOING TO MATCH THAT 750.
IT IS OBVIOUSLY A STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION WHEN THE CITY AND COUNTY ARE WORKING TOGETHER, PARTICULARLY ON THIS MATTER.
I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE -- I HAVE INVITED -- I AM NOT SURE IF THEY ARE ON THE LINE.
SHE IS WITH LONE STAR AND SHE IS A MEMBER OF THE TASK FORCE AND SHE IS HELPING US DEVELOP THIS PROPOSAL ON BEHALF OF THE TASK FORCE, BUT AT THE REQUEST OBVIOUSLY OF COMMISSIONER ELLIS.
>> LINA HIDALGO: SO WHAT IS THE TIMELINE REPRESENTATIVE FOR THIS?
WHEN ARE YOU THINKING IT MAY BE POSSIBLE TO -- >> I THINK WE ARE WITHIN PROBABLY A COUPLE OF DAYS BECAUSE DANA CARNEY -- I DON'T WANT TO SPEAK FOR HER, JUDGE, BUT I AM NOT SURE IF SHE IS ON THE LINE.
LONE STAR EQUALIZE -- EQUAL LATERS HAVE DONE A LOT OF WORK.
THEY OPENED THEIR OWN EVICTION SECTION AT LONE START LEGAL AID.
SHE DEVELOPED A PLAN IN WHAT COULD BE -- A POTENTIAL WOULD BE TO ACTUALLY SCALE UP THE PROGRAM THAT SHE IS ALREADY DOING.
WE DON'T HAVE TO REINVENT THE WHEEL.
THEY ARE ALREADY DOING THIS WORK AND TO THE EXTENT THAT LONE STAR'S LEGAL AID OR ANY OTHER LEGAL AID AT ANY OF THE THREE UNIVERSITY LAW SCHOOLS HERE IN THE AREA, BUT PARTICULARLY AT LONE STAR.
>> RODNEY ELLIS: IF I MIGHT, I WANT TO SUGGEST EVEN IF IT IS LATE IN THE DAY MR. CAGLE AND GARCIA AND RADACK, IF WE ARE WILLING TO AT LEAST MATCH THE 750 THAT THE CITY WILL PUT IN, THE EVICTIONS WILL START.
I KNOW ALL OF THE DETAILS MAY NOT BE WORKED OUT, BUT I WOULD LIKE FOR, IF WE CAN, AND IF YOU ALL FEEL COMFORTABLE, REPRESENTATIVE WALLEY IF YOU CAN WORK SOMETHING UP THAT YOU CAN SEND TO THE COMMISSIONERS AND WE CAN MAKE A MOTION WHERE WE WILL MATCH WHAT THE CITY WILL DO SO THEY CAN GET STARTED.
I WOULD LIKE ALL OF THE DETAILS TO BE WORKED OUT, BUT IT DOESN'T HELP SOMEBODY WHO IS GETTING PUSHED OUT TOMORROW.
I THINK IT IS IMMINENT AND WE HAVE TO DO THIS NOW.
RENT IS DUE IN A COUPLE OF DAYS.
THE TASK FORCE HAS BEEN WORKING HARD TO IRON OUT DETAILS.
WE CERTAINLY CAN HAVE A DOCUMENT READY FOR YOU GUYS.
>> LINA HIDALGO: COMMISSIONER GARCIA?
>> ADRIAN GARCIA: REPRESENTATIVE, THANK YOU FOR YOUR YOUR WORK IN THE TASK FORCE AND FOR ALL THAT YOU ARE DOING.
QUESTION, ARE YOU ALL ENGAGING THE HOUGHTON -- HOUSTON DEPARTMENT IN YOUR CONVERSATIONS ?
YES, THEY ARE A PART OF THE GROUP -- THEY ARE PART OF THE APARTMENT ASSOCIATION ON THE TASK FORCE.
THERE ARE 23 FOLKS AND LEGAL COUNCIL HELPED US DRAFT SOME OF THE RECOMMENDATIONS.
AND SO THE 750 COMMISSIONER ELLIS AND YOU MENTIONED, THIS WOULD BE GOING TO HELP THE LEGAL AID FOUNDATION RAMP UP WORK TO HELP THESE FOLKS.
I WANT TO SAY POTENTIALLY, YES, THAT WOULD BE SOMETHING THAT WOULD BE A GOAL.
YOU HAVE SO MANY -- I THINK YOU ALREADY HAVE -- LONE STAR LEGAL AID HAS PROGRAMS AND TWO JP COURTS NOW.
TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION, THEY ARE GOING TO PROVIDE LEGAL AID FOR FOLKS WHO ARE ABOUT TO BE EVICTED.
WHAT YOU COULD SEE IS A RIGHT TO COUNCIL AND EVICTION IN ALL OF THE JP COURTS.
I DON'T KNOW IF 750 IS ENOUGH.
BUT MAYBE 750 ALONG WITH THE 750 FROM THE COUNTY -- I MEAN FROM THE CITY, THAT COULD PUT A HUGE BEND TO SOME OF THE FOLKS GOING THROUGH -- I'M SORRY, THAT WILL BE GOING THROUGH THIS PROCESS.
AND SO THEY NEED THIS HELP NOW.
>> RODNEY ELLIS: COMMISSIONER, IF YOU ALL FEEL COMFORTABLE, I WAS TALKING ABOUT US MATCHING OR WE CAN PUT IT IN THE JUDGE'S OFFICE TO FIGURE IT OUT BEFORE WE COME BACK NEXT TUESDAY.
PLY -- MY REASON IS PEOPLE WILL BE PUT OUT IN TWO DAYS.
>> ADRIAN GARCIA: NO, NO, NO, I AGREE.
I LIKE IT AND IF WE CAN FIGURE IT OUT TODAY I WOULD BE INCLINED TO SUPPORT YOU ON IT.
I DO HAVE ANOTHER ITEM THAT IS SORT OF RELATED, BUT I WILL GET INTO THAT LATER.
>> RODNEY ELLIS: WILE YOUR PEOPLE ARE TALKING THEY SHOULD GET AROUND TO ALL OF THE MEMBERS OF THE COURT BEFORE WE GET OUT OF HERE.
THE TASK FORCE IS MEETING ON FRIDAY AS A WHOLE.
WE CERTAINLY WILL HAVE A WELL VETTED PROGRAM WE CAN GET TO YOU GUYS.
>> RODNEY ELLIS: COMMISSIONER, WE MIGHT EVEN, EVEN IF WE ALLOCATE 750 MATCH WHAT THE CITY IS DOING AND CONTINGENT ON THE LEGAL DEPARTMENT AND THE JUDGE SIGNING OFF ON IT.
IF THE CITY PUTS SOMETHING UP THIS WEEK WHEN THEY MEET THEY CAN START ON FRIDAY.
MY STAFF WILL CALL YOU TO FIGURE IT OUT.
>> LINA HIDALGO: COMMISSIONERS, I PROMISED A LUNCH BREAK AFTER THE BROAD COVID ITEM AND FRANKLY I FORGOT.
THE QUESTION IS DO YOU GUYS WANT TO FINISH THIS DISCUSSION.
IT WOULD PROBABLY BE ANOTHER HOUR BEFORE WE DO LUNCH OR DO LUNCH NOW? WHAT DO YOU PREFER?
>> RODNEY ELLIS: ARE THEY ALL RIGHT WAITING? IF WE DON'T DO LUNCH I WILL NEED A 5-MINUTE BREAK.
>> LINA HIDALGO: I AM THINKING THIS IS A CHANCE TO CIRCLE WITH ON YOU WHETHER YOU CAN HAVE AN ITEM LATER TODAY.
I THINK THAT'S WHAT THE COMMISSIONERS ARE SAYING.
IF YOU CAN HAVE AN ITEM TODAY BEFORE COURT LETS OUT.
>> RODNEY ELLIS: AND DURING THIS HOUR YOU CAN WORK IT UP.
>> JUDGE, I DO HAVE THREE SPEAKERS ALREADY ON THE LINE.
CAN WE GO AHEAD AND TAKE THOSE NOW?
>> RODNEY ELLIS: I WON'T ASK ANY QUESTIONS IF THAT WILL HELP.
>> JAY MALONE, GO AHEAD, PLEASE.
>> MY NAME IS JAY MALONE AND I AM THE POLITICAL DIRECTOR WITH THE TEXAS GULF COAST AND WE REPRESENT 60 THOUSANDS UNION MEMBERS IN GULF COAST COUNTY INCLUDING 50,000 IN HARRIS COUNTY.
I AM PROUD TO SERVE ON THE TASK FORCE.
I AM THANKFUL FOR THE LEADERSHIP OF OUR CHAIR CAMPO AND JUDGE JEREMY BROWN AND THANKS TO THEIR WORK WE WERE ABLE TO PUT TOGETHER A PROPOSAL THAT WE VOTED ON UNANIMOUSLY TO RECOMMEND THAT THEY PASS A GRACE PERIOD ORDINANCE.
THE GRACE PERIOD ORDINANCE IS SOMETHING WE WERE ABLE TO FIND A REALLY GOOD COMPROMISE ON.
SO WE JOIN TOGETHER TO ADVOCATE THE SOLUTIONS THAT WILL BENEFIT ALL STAKEHOLDERS IN THIS PROCESS.
WE WERE GLAD THAT WE ARE ABLE TO FIND SOMETHING THAT EVERYBODY CAN AGREE ON.
IN TEXAS LANDLORDS CAN POST NOTICE TO VACATE.
THAT MEANS AUGUST 3RD IS THE DAY THAT THE CRISIS IS GOING TO REACH APTITUDE.
IT WOULD EXTEND IT TO 21 DAYS AND IT WOULD CHANGE THE NOTICE TO VACATE TO A COVID NOTICE OF POTENTIAL EVICTION.
MORE THAN HALF OF THE PEOPLE WH -- WHO RECEIVE A NOTICE TO VACATE SELFIE VICT.
THIS WILL ASSURE THAT ARE POE -- POTENTIALLY GOING TO SELF-EVICT WILL THEN HAVE AN UNDERSTANDING OF THE LEGAL PROCESS.
THIS IS THE CRITICAL PART AND WE WOULD PROVIDE FOR A 60-DAY GRACE PERIOD.
I DON'T THINK WE CAN UNDERSTAND HOW SIGNIFICANT OF A CRISIS WE ARE IN RIGHT NOW AND HISTORIC CRISIS NEED HISTORIC LEADERSHIP.
WE HAVE ASKED THE JUSTICE OF THE PEACE TO EXPANDY -- EXPAND EVICTIONS FOR AN ADDITIONAL MONTH TO THE END OF AUGUST FOR PROTECTIONS AGAINST POSSESSIONS ON COVERED PROPERTIES AND WE ARE THANKFUL TO THE FIVE JUDGES WHO HAVE SUCCESS PENNEDDED -- SUSPENDED EVICTIONS IN THE COURTS.
AND WE ARE THANKFUL TO THE LEADERSHIP OF JUDGE HIDALGO AND MAYOR SYLVESTER TURNER
[13:05:02]
FOR REACHING OUT TO THE JUSTICE OF THE PEACE AND ASKING THEM TO SUSPEND EVICTIONS.WE HAVE 1.3 MILLION RENTERS IN HOUSTON AND 42% ACCORDING TO THE CENSUS BUREAU HAVE STATED THEY DON'T EXPECT THEY WILL BE ABLE TO PAY RENT NEXT MONTH.
THIS MEANS IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON ALONE WE ARE LOOKING AT POTENTIALLY 500,000 RENTERS WHO COULD BE IMPACTED.
DURING A PUBLIC HEALTH CRISIS WHERE THE CASES ARE SPIKING AND THE HOSPITALS ARE STILL FULL, THIS COULD MAKE THINGS DRAMATICALLY WORSE.
WE HOPE COMMISSIONER'S COURT CAN FIND WAYS TO SOLVE THIS PROBLEM AND ADDRESS THIS PROBLEM.
WE ARE THANKFUL FOR THE LEADERSHIP AND WE ARE ALWAYS HERE -- >> LINA HIDALGO: THANK YOU.
>> JEFF REICHMAN, JANUARY ADVISERS.
I AM JEFF REICHMAN WITH JANUARY ADVISERS AND A MEMBER OF THE HOUSING STAW -- STABILITY TASK FORCE AND WANT TO THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO ADDRESS THE COURT TODAY.
I CAN RATTLE OFF A BUNCH OF NUMBERS ABOUT HOW BAD OUR EVICTIONS PROBLEM IS HERE IN HARRIS COUNTY.
BUT I AM GOING TO TRY TO SPEAK FROM THE HEART.
WE HAVE BEEN STUDYING EVICTIONS FOR AWHILE SINCE HURRICANE HARVEY.
AND AROUND THAT TIME WE NOTICED THAT HARRIS COUNTY POUND FOR POUND HAS A LOT MORE EVICTIONS THAN MOST OTHER JURISDICTIONS EVEN ON A PER CAPITA OR AN EVICTION RATE BASIS.
WHEN WE LOOKED AT IT ON THAT SCALE WE LOOKED AT IT FROM THE REVERSE.
WHAT WE LEARNED IS THAT AFTERNOONY VICES IS -- THAT THE EVICTION IS A DEEP MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS.
IT CREATES A FOOD CRISIS OR AN EDUCATION CRISIS IF YOU HAVE CHILDREN.
AND THE BURDEN ON THE SOCIAL SAFETY NET IS SO GREAT THAT THE COST TO DO NOTHING MAKES US PAY MORE BOTH IN TERMS OF REAL DOLLARS AND IN TERMS OF PAIN ON SOCIETY.
ONE OF THE REASONS I AM DRAWN TOWARD EVICTIONS AS SOMETHING WORTH FIGHTING FOR AND SOMETHING WORTH TAKING CHANCES AND RISK FOR IS WE HAVE THIS OPPORTUNITY AS A COMMUNITY TO MINIMIZE SUFFERING AND REDUCE SUFFERING AT A SCALE THAT IS JUST ABSOLUTELY ENORMOUS.
KEEPING PEOPLE IN THEIR HOMES THEY CAN AVERT FUTURE CRISIS.
I THINK IT IS REALLY, REALLY IMPORTANT WE HAVE STRONG GUIDELINES FOR PLAN LORD AND TENANTS.
REQUIRING A UNANIMOUS DECISION IS A RED HERRON.
I DON'T THINK THAT WILL HAPPEN.
AND UNFORTUNATELY WHAT ENDS UP HAPPENING IS AS WE RESEARCH THE LAW AND FIGURE OUT WHAT TO DO, MORE AND MORE PEOPLE GET CAUGHT IN THE TEETH OF THIS EVICTIONS TRAP.
I REALLY WANT TO ENCOURAGE THE COMMISSIONERS AND THE JUDGE TO TAKE SOME RISKS HERE AND I KNOW YOU ARE, BUT I WANT TO ADD TO YOUR COURAGE AND CREATIVITY TO ENACT IMMEDIATE SOLUTIONS TO HELP PEOPLE AND TO BE PREPARED TO WORK THIS OUT IN THE COURTS IF NECESSARY.
THE LAST THING I WILL SAY IS OFTENTIMES PEOPLE LOOK AT HOUSING AND THEY SAY THIS IS A VERY EXPENSIVE PROBLEM.
WE ARE ALSO ABLE TO QUAWBT FIE THE -- QUANTIFY THE STRESS ON THE SOCIAL ASPECT EVICTIONS CAUSE.
IT WORKS OUT IN THE FAVOR OF BEING GOOD STEWARDS TO KEEP PEOPLE IN THEIR HOMES AND NOT TO MENTION THE AVERSION OF 10S OF THOUSANDS OF PSYCHOLOGICAL CRISIS IN OUR COMMUNITY EVERY YEAR.
THANK YOU FOR LISTENING AND I APPRECIATE IT.
AND I DON'T KNOW IF YOU CAN STAY ON LATER OR -- I JUST I JUST KNOW YOU HAVE PUT TOGETHER A DASHBOARD AND IT SHOWS THE EVICTIONS.
PART OF MY QUESTION HAS BEEN HOW DOES THAT COMPARE TO WHAT IT SHOULD BE? WHAT IS THE BEST WAY FOR YOU TO PAINT A PICTURE FOR US ON WHY THE NUMBER OF EVICTIONS EVEN THAT WE HAVE RIGHT NOW IS NOT APPROPRIATE? DO YOU HAVE A WAY TO PUT THE DATA INTO CONTEXT?
>> DO I AND I AM HAPPY TO FOLLOW-UP WITH YOU, JUDGE, AND THE COMMISSIONERS, WITH SOME ADDITIONAL DATA, BUT THERE IS AN EVICTION RATE CALCULATION YOU CAN USE WHERE YOU LOOK AT THE TOTAL NUMBER OF RENTER OCCUPIED UNITS AND THEN YOU LOOK AT THE EVICTIONS PER RENTER OCCUPIED UNIT AND OUR EVICTION RATE IS QUITE HIGH COMPARED TO OTHER JURISDICTIONS.
WE DID SOME NATIONAL WORK ON THIS.
AND ONE OTHER POINT TO ADD WOULD BE WHAT WOULD HAPPEN AND HOW WOULD THIS FUNDAMENTALLY CHANGE IF WE ENACT A JUSTICE RELATED TO THOSE WHO CANNOT AFFORD AN ATTORNEY.
RIGHT NOW FEWER THAN 4% OF EVICTION CASES HAVE TENANTS WITH REPRESENT -- REPRESENTATION.
I CANNOT IMAGINE GOING THROUGH A CRISIS LIKE THIS UNGUIDED THROUGH THE COURT SYSTEM.
>> LINA HIDALGO: IS YOU SO MUCH.
YEAH, THAT WOULD BE GOOD TO KNOW.
I THINK THE THING IS WHAT TOOLS DO WE HAVE TO SHOW THAT WHAT WE ARE DOING IS NOT RIGHT.
AND I JUST GOT A MESSAGE FROM JUDGE CORDUVA WHO CONTACTED OUR OFFICE WHO SAID SHE ACTUALLY IS MOVING FORWARD WITH EVICTIONS.
I DON'T KNOW WHY THAT IS SOMETHING TO BRAG ABOUT, BUT AS I MENTIONED EARLIER THAT SHE WAS ONE OF THE ONES THAT WAS DOING HER PIECE.
I CAN'T STRESS ENOUGH THAT WE CAN'T -- YOU KNOW, WE ALL HAVE TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS.
THIS UNFORTUNATELY IS -- OUR HANDS ARE TIED IN TERMS OF WE NEED THE JP'S TO DO THEIR PART AND THE CITIES.
I WONDER WHAT THE EQUIVALENT -- IF THE CITY WOULD DO AN ORDINANCE, WHAT ABOUT THE UNINCORP 80ED -- THE UNINCORPORATED AREAS? IS THERE ANYTHING OTHER THAN BEGGING THE JP'S TO HELP US OUT?
ONE THING I CAN DO IN RESPONSE TO THAT QUESTION AND IN RESPONSE TO A PREVIOUS QUESTION IS IN THE DASHBOARD WE PROVIDE ONLINE THAT UPDATES EVERY DAY WE CAN START TO BREAK THIS OUT BY JP COURT AND JP PRECINCT SO THAT WE CAN GET A BETTER SENSE OF VOLUME AND EVICTION RATES BY AREA OF TOWN AND GET A SENSE OF HOW MANY RENTERS WOULD BE COVERED BY THE CITY ORDER YENS -- ORDER -- ORDINANCE INSTEAD -- AND UN UNINCORPORATED AREAS.
>> RODNEY ELLIS: I THINK THAT IS A GOOD IDEA.
IF YOU DO IT BY CITY COUNCIL DISTRICT AND INCORPORATED AND UNINCORPORATED SO WE KNOW.
IF NOT, I AM SUGGESTING EVEN IF WE HAVE TO STEP IN AND HELP WITH THE DASHBOARD TO GET DONE AND KNOW WHO THE JP IS.
>> LINA HIDALGO: I THINK WHAT IS HARD FOR ME, JEFF, IS THAT WHEN THERE ARE NUMBERS EVEN OF JUST THE SPECIFIC JP'S, I DON'T KNOW IF THAT IS A LITTLE OR A LOT.
IS THAT THE DOMESTIC VIOLENCE ONES, OR IS THAT THE EVICTIONS? IT WOULD JUST BE GOOD TO KNOW.
I WILL TELL YOU, I HAVE BEEN WANTING TO SEND A LETTER OR PUT ON SOCIAL MEDIA A BIG THANK YOU TO THE JUDGES WHO ARE DOING THEIR PART ON THIS.
YOU CAN'T TELL WHICH ARE AND WHICH ARE NOT.
I SAW THIS AND WE GOT THE 5 AND THEN THE CALL FROM JUDGE CARDUVA.
IS IT THAT HARD TO FIGURE OUT WHO AND WHO ISN'T?
>> IT IS NOT AND THAT'S SOMETHING WE CAN ABSOLUTELY PREPARE FOR Y'ALL.
WRY CAN MAKE SURE WE HAVE AN APPLES TO APPLES COMPARISON IN HARRIS COUNTY AND ACROSS THE COUNTRY.
>> LINA HIDALGO: AND IT WOULD BE HELPFUL FOR THE PRESS.
LIKE ROBERT SAID IF YOU HAVE ANY OTHER IDEAS I AM READY TO DO IT.
WE JUST HAVEN'T FOUND ANYTHING ELSE PER MY LEGAL AUTHORITY.
IF ANYONE HAS ANY OTHER THOUGHTS I AM READY TO DO THAT.
ERIC HORTBREW WITH SOUTHWEST TEXAS COLLEGE OF LAW.
I HAVE SOME NUMBERS I THINK YOU MAY BE INTERESTED.
I HAVE BEEN LOOKING AT EVICTION DATA TOO.
I KNOW EXACTLY HOW MANY EVICTIONS HAVE BEEN FILED DURING THE MORATORIUM IN EACH PRECINCT AND IN EACH PLACE.
ALSO I HAVE BEEN STUDYING THE CASES TO SEE WHETHER THEY SHOULD NOT HAVE BEEN UNDER THE CARES ACT.
OUR CALCULATION IS THAT 24% OF ALL OF THE EVICTIONS FILED IN HARRIS COUNTY SHOULD HAVE BEEN UNDER THE CARES ACT AND WHY -- AND WERE FILED ANYWAY.
THOSE ARE ONE IN FOUR EVICTIONS AND IT IS BROKEN DOWN BY PRECINCT.
I CAN TELL YOU ONE OF THE BIGGEST VOLUME PRECINCTS IS PRECINCT 4 WHICH HAS A SIGNIFICANT PORTION OF ITS GEE -- GEOGRAPHY OUTSIDE THE CITY OF HOUSTON.
WE HAVE BEEN TALKING AND WE BEING THE COALITION OF EVICTIONS AND LEGAL SERVICES PROVIDER THAT'S INCLUDES THOSE PARALEGAL AIDS, THE THREE LAW SCHOOLS HAVE BEEN TALKING ABOUT IT IN COUNCIL FOR QUITE SOME TIME NOW.
WE HAD A PROPOSAL A MONTH AGO AND RIGHT NOW WE ARE WAITING FOR THE MECHANISMS TO GET STARTED.
MY CONCERN IS THAT EVERYONE RELYING ON THE CARES ACT FOR ANOTHER MONTH IS COMMITTING A FOOL'S ERRAND.
THE CARES ACT IS NOT PROVIDING PROTECTIONS.
WE STILL HAVE ONE IN FOUR EVICTIONS BEING FILED IN VIOLATION OF THE CARES ACT.
YES, THE CARES ACT SAYS YOU HAVE TO GIVE 30 DAYS TO VACATE.
IF YOU ARE IGNORING THE CARES ACT YOU ARE NOT GETTING A 30 DAYS NOTICE.
ALL OF THESE PEOPLE ARE BEING EVICTED.
ALL OF THESE PEOPLE HAVE GOTTEN A NOTICE TO VACATE IN VIOLATION OF THE CARES ACT ARE STILL GOING TO BE EVICTED.
WE NEED TO GET LAWYERS ON THE GROUND AND IN THE COURTS.
THE ONLY WAY TO MAKE SURE THAT THE CARES ACT IS BEING FILED.
I LOOKED AND ALMOST EVERY ONE OF THESE CASES THAT WAS IN VIOLATION OF THE CARES ACT HAD A CARES ACT FILED WITH IT SAYING THE PROPERTY WASN'T COVERED.
WE HAD A CRISIS AND WE HAVE HAD A CRISIS FOR MONTHS AND NO ONE HAS BEEN WATCHING, BUT US.
NO ONE ELSE HAS BEEN LOOKING AT THE DATA THE WAY WE HAVE.
WE HAVE A REQUEST WITH THE TWO HOUSING AUTHORITIES ASKING FOR THE ADDRESS OF EVERY TENANT WHO HAS A VOUCHER.
WE ARE COMPARING THAT LIST WITH EVERY EVICTION IN HARRIS COUNTY TO SEE IF THE ADDRESSES MATCH UP.
ALL THEY HAVE TO DO IS MATCH UP.
IF THEY DO, IT WAS FILED IN VIOLATION OF THE CARES ACT AND WE HAVE MAJOR VIOLATORS.
50 PLUS CASES FOR ONE PROVIDER.
[13:10:01]
>> RODNEY ELLIS: JUDGE, LOOK, HE RAISES A VALID POINT AND I WANT TO ENCOURAGE REPRESENTATIVE WALLEY.
I KNOW THEY DON'T HAVE A PROGRAM STRUCTURED, BUT WE KNOW THIS IS COMING AND I KNOW I JUMPED OUT THERE AND WANTED TO SAY HOW MUCH MONEY WE ARE PUTTING IN.
I WOULD BE PREPARE -- PREPARED TO SAY GIVE THE GULF COAST LEGAL AID.
AS THE SPEAKER SAID PEOPLE ARE GOING TO COURT BY THEMSELVES OR NOT GOING BECAUSE THEY JUST -- YOU KNOW, THEY ARE JUST SO STRESSED OUT AND DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO.
I AM HOPING WE WILL MEET AGAIN NEXT TUESDAY SPEAKER AND OTHER SPEAKERS, BUT WE HAVE TO HAVE A PROGRAM TO PUT IT INTO.
I KNOW THEY ARE WORKING HARD AND IT IS 30 DAYS AND I HAVE BEEN CALLING MY GOOD FRIEND JUDGE BROWN AND REPRESENTATIVE WALLEY SAYING I PUT SOMETHING ON THE AGENDA AND YOU ARE ASKING VALID QUESTIONS, BUT WHERE IS THE PROGRAM.
I WILL MAKE A MOTION AND SAY GIVE IT TO GULF COAST LEGAL AID.
PEOPLE ARE BEING PUT OUT AND THEY WILL BE PUT OUT.
AND I GET IT IS HARD TO PUT THE PROGRAM TOGETHER.
LIKE YOU SAID, COMMISSIONER, YOU SAID WE WILL GIVE THE FUNDING, BUT THEN THE PROGRAM IS NOT THERE.
WE HAVE HAD THOSE CHALLENGES ON THE IMMIGRANT LEGAL DEFENSE FUND THAT JUST DESIGNING IT IS A BIG TASK.
I THINK WE NEED TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THESE AND THAT ONE I AM HOPING WILL COME BACK SOON BECAUSE ALL OF THAT EXACERBATES AND THE LEGAL AID IS SUCH A BIG HELP FOR PEOPLE.
ANYWAY, WERE THESE THE THREE SPEAKERS, LUCINDA.
>> LINA HIDALGO: SO, IT IS 2:15.
HOPEFULLY THE TEAM CAN FIGURE OUT SOMEWAY FOR THIS -- FOR SOME FUNDING TO MAKE ITS WAY THROUGH BEFORE THE END OF THE DAY.
>> LINA HIDALGO: YES, COMMISSIONER GARCIA.
>> ADRIAN GARCIA: WE ARE NOT CLOSING THIS ITEM, YET, RIGHT?
>> LINA HIDALGO: THAT'S RIGHT.
WE ARE BREAKING FOR LUNCH AND THEN WE WILL CONTINUE THE DISCUSSION.
>> LINA HIDALGO: LET'S BREAK FOR LUNCH UNTIL 3:15.
WE WILL SEE EVERYONE IN AN HOUR.
LEAN IT IS 3:16 -- >> LINA HIDALGO: IT IS 3:16 AND COMMISSIONER'S COURT IS BACK IN SESSION.
WE HAVE DISCUSSING THE EVICTIONS ITEMS AND WE WERE LISTENING FROM SPEAKERS.
IS THAT RIGHT? LUCINDA, DO WE HAVE THE SPEAKERS BACK ON THE LINE?
>> LINA HIDALGO: LET'S KEEP HEARING FROM THEM.
>> ZOE MIDDLETON WITH TEXAS HOUSERS.
>> HELLO, MY NAME IS ZOE MIDDLETON AND I AM THE SOUTHEAST DIRECTOR OF TEXAS HOUSERS.
I SPOKE TO YOU ALL DURING THIS CRISIS, BUT IN MARCH WE ARE WORKING TO REDUCE THE HARM OF THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC AND IT HAS INCLUDED COLLABORATIONS WITH ALL LEVELS OF GOVERNMENT.
I AM ALSO A MEMBER OF THE JOINT CITY HOUSES TASK FORCE.
I THINK SOME OF THE STATS I WAS PREPARED TO SHARE TODAY HAVE ALREADY BEEN SHARED BY A PREVIOUS SPEAKER WITH COMMISSIONER ELLIS.
BUT, I DO JUST WANT TO POINT OUT A FEW THINGS.
JUDGE, YOU ASKED IF IT WAS EASY TO TRACK WHICH JUDGES WERE HAVING HEARINGS WHICH WE HAVE BEEN TRACKING THAT ON A WEEKLY BASIS.
UNFORTUNATELY IT IS KIND OF LYING PLAYING WHACK A MOLE.
SOME LIKE IN THE CASE OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE.
BUT THERE IS NO UNIFORMITY AMONG THE JUSTICES OF THE PEACE.
IT IS REALLY UNLIKELY THAT THERE WILL BE UNIFORMITY.
IN FACT, THAT LACK OF COHESION IS COSTING PEOPLE THEIR HOMES.
WE KNOW THAT IN THIS CRISIS HOW THEY ARE KEEPING FOLKS UNAFFECTED FROM SPREADING THE COVID-19 AND SPEAKING OF THE CRISIS ON CHILDREN EARLIER TODAY ABOUT THE REOPENING I WANT TO POINT OUT THAT 48% OF HOUSEHOLDS CANNOT PAY RENT.
AND THERE ARE 299 EVICTION HEARINGS TAKING PLACE IN HARRIS COUNTY THIS WEEK ALONE.
WE OF COURSE EXPECT THAT NUMBER TO INCREASE AS THE $600 IN UNEMPLOYMENT ASSISTANCE COMES TO A CLOSE AND ALL DATA INDICATES WHEN THEY ARE NOT USING THE $600 THEY ARE BORROWING FROM FAMILY AND FRIENDS AND PUTTING IT ON CREDIT CARDS WHICH WE KNOW IS TOTALLY UNSUSTAINABLE.
WE ARE HAPPY TO TAKE ANY QUESTIONS THAT YOU ALL MIGHT HAVE.
>> LINA HIDALGO: THANK YOU, ZOE.
>> RODNEY ELLIS: MS. MIDDLETON, IN SHORT, IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE WE CAN DO? I MEAN, WE DID DO THE -- THE COUNTY DID THE 30 MILLION IN DIRECT ASSISTANCE AND IT WAS -- WE LET PEOPLE DECIDE WHETHER THEY SHOULD PAY RENT OR -- AND THEN WE DID THE TENANT ASSISTANCE AT 15 BILLION.
AND NOW I AM PUSHING TO SAY, TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW WE GET THE LEGAL STRUCTURE SET UP AND THAT IS A CHALLENGE.
THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON SINCE APRIL.
WE JUST HADN'T GONE THROUGH THIS BEFORE.
OTHER COUNTIES MAYBE THE MORE INFRASTRUCTURE IN PLACE.
WE DO HAVE THREE LAW SCHOOLS HERE.
I ASSUME YOU WORKED THROUGH THEM.
>> WELL, ACCESS TO JUSTICE OF THE PEACE WILL BE IMPORTANT.
THERE IS CERTAINLY THINGS PEOPLE CAN USE TO EDUCATE THEM ON THEIR RIGHTS AS THERE ARE A LARGE NUMBER OF PEOPLE SELF-EVICTING.
THERE ARE BASIC THINGS THE COUNTY COULD TELL POKES -- TELL FOLKS ABOUT.
WHEN IT COMES TO MONEY, MAKING SURE PEOPLE ARE ABLE TO -- DEPENDING ON THE FUNDING OF COURSE, THAT PEOPLE FUNDED IT.
IT IS WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU GIVE PEOPLE DIRECT ASSISTANCE.
BY AND LARGE YOU CAN SEE THAT THAT MONEY IS SENT FOR ESSENTIAL NEEDS.
AND THEN DESIGNING -- YOU KNOW, WORKING WITH THE RELATIONS AND MAKING SURE THE RENTAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM AS THE PREVIOUS ONE AND THAT YOU CAN ITERATE ON THE PROGRAM DESIGN TO MAKE SURE IT IS THROUGH THE COUNTY AND THEY ARE INCREDIBLY VULNERABLE.
>> THANK YOU AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORK.
>> [INAUDIBLE] WITH HAJIR JUSTICE -- HAHIR -- TAHIR JUSTICE CENTER.
>> WE ARE HERE IN HOUSTON AND WORK WITH IMMIGRANT SURVIVORS OF DOMESTIC SURVIVORS OF -- DOMESTIC ABUSE.
THIS IS FOR HELP DURING COVID-19.
[INAUDIBLE] AS WE ALL KNOW, EVERYONE IS EXPERIENCING HARD -- HARDSHIPS AT THIS TIME AND UNFORTUNATELY COMMUNITIES OF COLOR ARE AFFECTED MUCH MORE.
THEIR RESOURCES TO COMBAT COVID-19 IS NOT THE SAME.
SOME OF THE SURVIVORS ARE SILENCED AND THEN THE EFFECT OF NOT HAVING HEALTH CARE AND NOT HAVING AN INCOME TO SURVIVE.
BECAUSE OF MONEY NOT COMING IN THEY FACE THE RISK OF HOMELESSNESS AND DIFFICULTIES CAUSING A DIFFICULT TIME TO BE MUCH MORE CHALLENGING.
I CAN SPEAK ON A LADY WHO HAD A WARNING FROM THE LANDLORD.
WITH THE LOSS OF EMPLOYMENT SHE CANNOT MAKE UP ALL OF THE RENT THAT IS DUE.
ON THE PHONE CALL SHE STATED SHE IS THE ONLY INCOME OF HER HOUSEHOLD OF THREE.
SHE IS THE MOTHER OF TWO BOYS.
SHE APPLIED THROUGH THE HARRIS COUNTY RELIEF FUND AND WAS DENIED.
SHE STRESSES HOW SHE HAS BEEN CALLING ORGANIZATION AND IT HAS BEEN UNSUCCESSFUL BECAUSE OF THE PEOPLE WHO NEED HELP.
THIS IS ONE OF THE PHONE CALLS WITH COVID-19.
SHE SAYS NOT KNOWING IF SHE WILL HAVE A HOME IN A MONTH OR TWO IS WHAT KEEPS HER UP AT NIGHT.
THE DAYS ARE BECOMING MORE DIFFICULT.
HER OLDER SON IS MENTALLY DRAINED BECAUSE HE KNOWS THEY ARE STRUGGLING TO MAKE ENDS MEET.
FOCUSING ON MAKING ENDS MEET FOR HERSELF AND HER CHILDREN IS WHAT IS IMPORTANT AND HAVING A ROOF OVER THEIR HEAD.
THEY ARE PROCESSING THE VIOLENCE OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND THE CONTINUED ABUSE AND THE THREAT OF HOMELESSNESS IS WHAT IS WORRISOME.
IF THEY PREVENT EVICTION ITSELF WOULD ALLOW THIS FAMILY AND OTHER VULNERABLE FAMILIES TO FEEL SUPPORTED BY THE COUNTY DURING THIS TIME.
I URGE YOU TO SUPPORT THE SURVIVORS AND THE FAMILIES AND THE OTHER VULNERABLE FAMILIES WHO ARE STRUGGLING.
THANK YOU FOR LIS -- LISTENING.
GUADELOUPE FERNANDEZ, PLEASE GO AHEAD.
I AM GUADELOUPE FERNANDEZ FROM THE JUSTICE CENTER HERE IN HOUSTON.
A MEMBER OF THE JOINT HOUSING STABILITY TASK FORCE AND A RESIDENT OF 63.
IMMIGRANTS OF GENDER VIOLENCE SUCH AS HUMAN TRAFFICKING AND RAPE.
THEY ARE ELIGIBLE FOR RELIEF UNDER THE LAW, BUT THE FAMILIES WE WORK WITH HAVE BEEN EXCLUDED FROM THE FEDERAL EMERGENCY RELIEF FOR A VARIETY OF REASONS.
WHILE WE ARE GRATEFUL FOR THE HARRIS COUNTY EMERGENCY COVID RELIEF FUND, IT IS CLEARLY NOT ENOUGH TO KEEP OUR COMMUNITY SAFE OF DISPLACEMENT THROUGH DISPLACEMENT.
WHAT WOULD YOU DO IF YOU WERE KICKED OUT OF YOUR HOME? YOU MOVE IN WITH FAMILY, FRIENDS OR LOVED ONE.
WHAT DOES IT LOOK LIKE IN A PANDEMIC? COVID CASES ARE INCREASING AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS CAN'T QUARANTINE WHEN THEY ARE EVICTED FROM THEIR HOME.
EVICTIONS ARE CLEARLY A HEALTH ISSUE.
YOU MAY GET HELP FROM A SECOND ROUND OF FEDERAL ASSISTANCE.
WHAT DOES IT LOOK LIKE FROM THE IMMIGRANT EXCLUDED FROM FEDERAL ASSISTANCE OR THE UNDOCUMENTED COMMUNITY WHO CAN'T ACCESS UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS.
NOW IMAGINE A SURVIVOR OF VIOLENCE.
WE WORK WITH SURVIVORS OF VIOLENCE AND WITH THE LOSS OF EMPLOYMENT DUE TO THE PANDEMIC THEY HAVE NO CHOICE BUT BECOME DEPENDENT ON THEIR ABUSIVE PARTNER FOR HEALTH -- HEALTH CARE, FOOD AND SHELTER FOR THEIR CHILDREN.
>> -- WE HAVE A TENANT WHO WAS COERCED INTO ADVANCEMENTS IN EXCHANGE.
IT HAS PUT -- THEY ARE PUT IN FAR MORE PRECARIOUS SITUATION WHEN'S AT RISK OF LOSING THEIR HOMES FOR THEIR INABILITY TO PAY.
LAST WEEK THE HOUSING STABILITY TASK -- TASK FORCE HAD A GRACE PERIOD FOR THE
[13:15:02]
CITY.HOWEVER, WE HAVE YET TO SEE IT ON THE CITY COUNCIL AGENDA.
LOCAL LEADERS CAN SHIFT THE BLAME AND RESPONSIBILITY TO FEDERAL SYSTEMS OR EVEN BLAME EACH OTHER.
IN THE MEANTIME, LOCALITY HAS SO MUCH POWER TO IMMEDIATELY INTERVENE ON BEHALF OF OUR PEOPLE BEFORE THE EVICTION CRISIS OVERWHELMS OUR COMMUNITY.
SAN MARCOS AND AUSTIN AND EVEN TRAVIS COUNTY HAVE IMPLEMENTED LOCAL PROTECTIONS, POLICY THAT'S DON'T COST MONEY TO GIVE PEOPLE TIME TO CATCH UP ON RENT AND GIVE ADVOCATES TIME TO COME UP WITH A LONG-TERM SOLUTION.
OUR AREA HAS SO FAR REFUSED TO DO SO.
THE CARES ACT PROTECTIONS ARE FADING.
RENTAL ASSISTANT FUNDS ARE RUNNING DRY.
COVID-19 RAGES ON IN OUR REGION, YET RENT IS DUE AGAIN ON SATURDAY.
PREVENTING HOMELESSNESS IS AT THE CENTER OF OUR COMMUNITY'S HEALTH AND SAFETY.
THE COUNTY SHOULD DO EVERYTHING IN THEIR POWER INCLUDING EMERGENCY HEALTH ORDERS TO ENSURE THAT ALL HARRIS COUNTY FAMILIES HAVE IMMEDIATE ACCESS TO STABLE HOMES.
>> YES, MY NAME IS ANGELA JOHNSON AND I AM WITH TEXAS ORGANIZING PROJECT.
IT IS KNOWN TO MOST PEOPLE AS TOP.
AND I AM WANTING TO JUST SAY, LOOK, WE NEED FOR HARRIS COUNTY AND THE CITY OF HOUSTON TO WORK TOGETHER WITH REGARDS TO THE EVICTIONS.
BECAUSE THE COVID-19 HAS PEOPLE TO BE LAID OFF AND NO OTHER FUNDS ARE COMING IN.
SOME COMPANIES ARE NOT SAYING THEY ARE LAYING OFF PEOPLE.
SO WHEN IT COMES TO THESE EVICTIONS WE NEED FOR THE CITY AND THE COUNTY TO WORK TOGETHER TO PUT SOMETHING IN PLAY THAT WILL ALLOW THESE PEOPLE TO STAY IN THEIR HOMES BECAUSE THERE IS NO OTHER MEANS TO PAY RENT.
THE COUNTY DOES RCHT -- DOES PRESIDENT HAVE WHAT THEY NEED TO DO.
THE CITY NEEDS TO WORK WITH BOTH.
AND THE STATE OF TEXAS SAYS, HEY, YOU KNOW, SHE WAS FIRED AND I DON'T HAVE THE HOURS TO PAY MY RENT.
THERE ARE SEVERAL OTHER PEOPLE OUT THERE WHO ARE DOING THE SAME THING.
COMPANIES -- THERE IS A LOOPHOLE THERE.
WE NEED TO SHUT OFF THE LOOPHOLE.
AND NOW I WANT TO BE ABLE TO HOLD THE CITY OF HOUSTON ACCOUNTABLE AND TURN SAYING, HEY, WE WANT TO BE ABLE TO WORK WITH THE CITY OF HOUSTON TO GIVE THEM THANK YOU.
>> DANA CARNEY, GO AHEAD, PLEASE.
>> THANK YOU, JUDGE AND COMMISSIONERS.
THE MANAGER AT LONE STAR LEGAL AID.
I AM ALSO A MEMBER OF THE HOUSING STABILITY TASK FORCE AND SINCE THE PANDEMIC BROKE I HAVE BEEN LOOKING INTO THE TEXAS SUPREME COURT JUSTICES AND ADDRESSING THE EVICTION ORDERS.
I HAD TO DEAL WITH UNDERSTANDING THE TENANT SIDE, BUT ALSO THE LANDLORD ASPECTS ON THESE COMPLICATED ISSUES.
I AM HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS ALONG THE WAY.
THE RIGHT TO COUNCIL PROJECT HAS BEEN A RELONG LONGTIME COME -- A VERY LONG TIME COMING.
THEY HAVE BEEN THE SERVICE PROVIDER THROUGHOUT HARRIS COUNTY FOR DECADES.
I ASKED AROUND AND I AM AWARE THAT ONE OF MY COLLEAGUES HAS BEEN THROUGH THIS FOR 30 YEARS.
OUR HOUSING AND CONSUMER UNITS NOT ONLY PROVIDE ADVICE, BUT REPRESENT -- REPRESENTATION TO TENANTS INCLUDING THE APPEALS PROCESS AND THROUGH THE DENOVO TRIAL AT THE COUNTY COURT LEVEL.
WHERE NECESSARY LONE STAR WILL TAKE CASES ON APPEAL AS WELL.
SINCE THE PANDEMIC BROKE WE RAMPED UP WITH SORRY PROVIDERS.
WE HAVE BEEN WORKING HAND IN HAND WITH OUR ACADEMIC INSTITUTIONS.
THIS COALITION OF EVICTION DEFENSE SERVICE PROVIDERS WAS APPROACHED BY RODNEY ELLIS' OFFICE QUITE AWHILE AGO WITH A DISCUSSION ABOUT A PILOT PROGRAM.
I WANT TO STRESS THE IMPORTANCE OF WHY WE WORK TOGETHER AS A TEAM IS WE ALL HAVE ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS.
I AM HAPPY TO TALK ABOUT THAT IN GREAT DETAIL.
LONE STAR LEGAL AID CAN ONLY HELP CERTAIN INDIVIDUALS WITH POVERTY.
THERE ARE SEVERAL WHO ARE UNDOCUMENTED AND THAT'S WHERE THE PARTNERS CAN KICK IN WITH THE SERVICE THAT WE CANNOT REPRESENT.
SIGH -- SIMULTANEOUS TO COUNTY WIDE WE WERE APPROACHED BY JUSTICE OF THE
PEACE PRECINCT 7 WITH THE UNDERSTANDING -- >> LINA HIDALGO: THANK YOU.
>> RODNEY ELLIS: BECAUSE I KNOW IT IS LATE AND WE HAVE A FEW MORE PEOPLE, I HAVE BEEN PUSHING JUST WITHOUT THE DETAILS, BUT ALL I DO IS GOING BACK 20 YEARS AGO IS LONE STAR LEGAL AID.
I AM HOPING IF NOT BY THE END OF THE DAY, I THINK I HAVE GENERAL CONSENSUS FROM A COUPLE OF MY COLLEAGUES HERE THAT WE GO UP TO AT LEAST THE 750 THE CITY WILL PUT IN.
I BELIEVE IN TASK FORCES, BUT THE PERSON AHEAD OF YOU IS FRUSTRATED AND THEY DON'T WANT TO HEAR ABOUT US MEETING.
I PREFER DO THE WRONG THING THAN DO NOTHING, YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN? TRY SOMETHING.
IF IT IS THE PD OFFICE, I AM HOPING YOU ALL WOULD WORK IT OUT.
I KNOW YOU ARE ON THE TASK FORCE.
I KNOW THE JUDGE AND COMMISSIONER GARCIA AND ALL OF US, COMMISSIONERS RADACK AND CAGLE, WE WANT TO DO SOMETHING.
MY GUESS IS YOU ALL TALK AND I THINK WE WILL BE HERE UNTIL ABOUT 9:00.
THEY SAID MAN, I HAVE BEEN HARPING ON THIS SINCE APRIL.
>> AND I DID SPEAK WITH JP BROWN AND OTHERS DURING THE LUNCH BREAK.
WE HAVE A PILOT THAT IS IN PLACE AND FEET ON THE GROUND THIS LONE STAR HAS PUT ITS MONEY WHERE ITS MOUTH IS.
WE ARE STARTING THE PROGRAM AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.
AND THE URGENCY IS THAT THE CARES ACT PROTECTION EXPIRES OVER THE WEEKEND THAT PASSED.
WE ARE WILLING AND ABLE TO DO THIS IN TWO OF THE PRECINCTS.
THAT IS A QUARTER OF THE COUNTY ON OUR OWN BUDGET.
I UNDERSTOOD YESTERDAY FROM PEOPLE VERY HIGH UP AT LONE STAR LEGAL AID THAT THAT COSTS US $1 MILLION OFF THE ANNUAL LIESED BUDGET.
AND WE ARE READY TO GO WITH THAT.
WE HAVE THREE OTHER COURTS THAT WILL BE WORKING WITH US.
AND WE ARE VERY EXCITED TO BE ABLE TO START SOMETHING.
WE ARE HOPEFUL THAT WE CAN GET THE REST OF THE COUNTY ROLLED OUT.
WE ARE NOT NEEDING TO REINVENT THE WHEEL.
WE HAVE BEEN DOING THIS FOR A LONGTIME.
WHEN WE CAN GET FUNDING IN PLACE IF THAT'S THE COUNTY'S PRIORITY, WE WILL BE READY TO GO.
>> RODNEY ELLIS: IF BY THE END OF TONIGHT WHEN WE FINISH IF THERE IS A SPECIFIC ONE, I AGREE.
I AM SENSITIVE TO TRYING TO GET THE 750 FROM THE CITY, AT LEAST 750 FROM THE COUNTY.
WE HAVE DONE A PRETTY GOOD JOB TO BE HONEST.
I KNOW THAT'S A TENDENCY OF MOST GOVERNMENTAL ENTITIES TO FILL HOLES IN THEIR BUDGET WITH FEDERAL MONEY.
THAT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE CLEAR AS FAR AS SUPPLEMENT AND NOT SUPPLANT.
COMMISSIONER GARCIA, I CAN'T SEE YOU RIGHT NOW, BUT JUDGE, AND THE OTHER TWO, I THINK YOU ADD 750 TO START IT.
MAYBE WE CAN FIGURE OUT SOMETHING TO APPROVE TODAY AND IF NOT AT THE LATEST ON TUESDAY.
WE WON'T MEET AGAIN UNTIL TUESDAY.
LET SASHA WITH MY OFFICE OR THE JUDGE'S OFFICE OR SOMEBODY'S OFFICE KNOW.
YOU GET SOMETHING TOGETHER AND WE CAN WHIP IT UP.
I WILL MACE -- MAKE THE CASE FOR THE VOTE TODAY.
>> LINA HIDALGO: THANK YOU SO MUCH.
>> CRICHELLE WITH HOME CO LIGS.
>> I AM CRICHELLE WITH THE HOME COALITION AND A MEMBER OF THE HOUSE STEERING COMMITTEE.
WE ARE DEFINITELY WORKING TO TRY TO FLATTEN THE EVICTION CURVE.
REPRESENTATIVE WALLEY SAID EARLIER AND I AGREE THAT THE TAX FORCE VOTED OVERWHELMINGLY TO SUPPORT A RECOMMENDATION OF AN ORDINANCE TO THE CITY.
AS WE ARE WAITING TO HEAR BACK AND GET A REAL UNDERSTANDING OF ANY POTENTIAL FROM THE CITY, AS A TASK FORCE MEMBER I AM HOPEFUL WE CAN ESTABLISH ANY TENANT PROTECTIONS TO STAVE OFF THE LOOMING EVICTIONS WE KNOW ARE COMING.
WE KNOW THEY HAVE GONE FAR TOO LONG UNRECOGNIZED AND FOR THE FIRST TIME I CAN REMEMBER TENANT ADVOCATES IN THE LANDLORD COMMUNITY ALONG WITH TENANTS ARE ON THE SAME PAGE WITH THIS ONE.
WE MUST SEIZE THIS MOMENT TO MAKE SURE THOSE WHO WE WERE TALKING TO EARLIER HAVE A PLACE TO CALL HOME AND BE AT HOME AS THEY BEGIN VIRTUAL LEARNING IN THE FALL.
I AM AGAIN ASKING FOR THE SUPPORT AND THE COOPERATE -- THE COOPERATION OF THE COUNTY LEADERSHIP AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO YOUR COMMITMENT IN THIS PARTICULAR MOVEMENT.
>> LINA HIDALGO: YES, COMMISSIONER GARCIA.
>> ADRIAN GARCIA: IN RESPONSE TO COMMISSIONER ELLIS' DISCUSSIONS WITH THE CITY AND THE POSSIBILITY OF US PARTNERING WITH THE CITY OF HOUSTON ON THIS, CAN WE MAKE A MOTION ON THIS TODAY? ARE WE IN A PLACE TO DO THAT NOW?
>> RODNEY ELLIS: I THINK WE WILL BE BY THE END OF THE DAY.
I AM TRYING TO GIVE THEM ENOUGH LATITUDE.
YOU MIGHT REMEMBER WHEN THIS CAME UP.
LOOK, THE CITY WILL PUT IN A MILLION, A MILLION AND A HALF.
I HOPE BY THE END OF THE DAY -- OUR STAFF IS WORKING TO COME UP WITH SOME LANGUAGE.
IF THEY TELL US SPECIFICALLY THAT THEY WANT IT TO GO TO THE GULF COAST, OR LONE STAR LEGAL AID, I HEARD ABOUT THEM FOREVER.
THAT'S THE ONE THAT I KNOW OF AND I KNOW PEOPLE WHO ARE ON SUNNY SIDE AND FIFTH WARD.
I DON'T KNOW IF THE REACH IS UNINCORPORATED.
[13:20:02]
I THINK I HEAR 750 AT LEAST.JUDGE, YOU FIGURE OUT WHICH ONE TO SIGN OFF ON, YOU AND THE LEGAL DEPARTMENT.
I THINK BY THE END OF THE DAY I WANT TO DO THAT AT LEAST.
I WANT FOLKS TO KNOW THAT WE HEAR THEM.
YOU HAVE BEEN ADVOCATING FOR THIS AND I AM INCLINED TO -- NOT INCLINED, BUT I WOULD SUPPORT WHATEVER YOU THINK IS THE RIGHT TIME A MOTION TO ADD 750 FROM CARES INTO THIS PRASM -- PROGRAM.
>> RODNEY ELLIS: MUSIC TO MY EARS.
YOU CAN SEE ME LOOKING OVER THERE WITH THE MASK ON.
>> LINA HIDALGO: DO WE HAVE ANY OTHER SPEAKERS ?
>> JUDGE, WE ARE NOT ABLE TO REACH THE OTHER SPEAKERS.
>> RODNEY ELLIS: TELL THEM THEY WON.
THOSE ARE THE COVID ITEMS AND NOW TO THE REGULAR AGENDA YES?
>> ADRIAN GARCIA: I WANTED TO ADD INTO THIS BECAUSE IT IS SORT OF -- IT GOES TOGETHER.
I HAVE BEEN ON THE PHONE WITH GUIDE HOUSE REGARDING THE RENTAL ASSISTANCE, AND IT IS SPEAKING TO WHAT THE COMMUNITY IS ADDRESSING AND WE ARE CLOSE TO ASSURING THAT.
WE HAVE BEEN IN CONTACT WITH THEM AND THEY EXPRESSED A COUPLE OF CONCERNS THAT I THINK ARE FAIR AND WROTE LOVE TO DISCUSS THEM WITH EVERYONE.
ONE, THEY ARE CONCERNED IF SOMEONE IS USING THEIR APARTMENT FOR A CRIMINAL ENTERPRISE, AND I WILL PUT IT INTO THAT CONTEXT BECAUSE WE WANT TO MAKE SURE A FAMILY DOES NOT GET EVICTED BECAUSE OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE.
IF SOMEBODY IS USING THEIR APARTMENT TO COOK METH OR TO RUN HUMAN TRAFFICKING OR SOME OTHER TYPE OF ISSUE, I THINK IT IS FAIR THAT THE APARTMENT COMMUNITY BE GIVEN THE SUPPORT TO EVICT THOSE WHO ARE WEARING OUT THEIR WELCOME.
I WOULD LIKE TO MENTION THAT AS IT RELATES TO THE RENTAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM.
I HAVE HEARD A LOT FROM THE CITY OF HOUSTON AND THOSE WHO PARTICIPATED WITH THE CITY OF HOUSTON PROGRAM AND THERE IS A LOT OF ANGST WITH NOT ALLOWING THE LANDLORD'S -- OR THE -- OR RESTRICTING THEM TO 60-DAYS BEFORE THEY CAN START ANY PROCEEDINGS.
I AM NOT ANXIOUS TO FALL ON THE SWORD ON THAT ONE, BUT I HEAR WHAT THE CONCERN IS.
THE LAST ONE IS THE AVERAGE RENT FOR OUR MARKET AREA IS IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD OF $1240 IS WHAT I'M BEING TOLD.
AND CURRENTLY THE PROGRAM THAT WE HAVE CONSTRUCTED WOULD BE FOR A THOUSAND DOLLARS.
I WANTED TO PROPOSE THAT WE ADD -- GIVEN THE MAGNITUDE OF THE CONVERSATION WE JUST HAD AND THE OTHER CONVERSATIONS I HAVE BEEN HEARING IS TO ADD 10 MILLION MORE INTO THIS PARTICULAR PROGRAM, BUT SCALE IF -- SCALE IT UP TO THE 1200 MARK SO WE CAN GET THE APARTMENT LANDLORDS INTERESTED IN PARTICIPATING.
SOME OF THE CHALLENGES THEY HAVE BEEN HAVING THERE HAS TO BE PUSH BACK.
I DON'T KNOW HOW TRUE THAT IS, BUT IF THAT IS THE MARKET RATE, I THINK IT WOULD BE IMPORTANT FOR US TO CONSIDER THAT AS WE STRUCTURE THIS.
THAT WOULD BE WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO PROPOSE THAT WE WORK TO AMEND THE RENTAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM AND ADD 10 MILLION.
GUIDE HOUSE SAYS IF WE ADD THE 10 MILLION THERE IS A CAPACITY TO OBVIOUSLY HELP MORE FAMILIES THAT ARE STRUGGLING RIGHT NOW.
OBVIOUSLY WITH THE CONVERSATIONS WE JUST HEARD THAT APPEARS TO BE EXTREMELY VALID.
BUT THE OTHER ONE IS THE CONCERN OF THE CRIMINAL ACTIVITY THAT IS -- LOOK, THERE IS NO VICTIMLESS CRIMES.
THOSE THAT WERE USING AN EXAMPLE OF COOKING METH OR SOMETHING THAT THE APARTMENT IS A VERY KEY COMPONENT TO THE COMMITTING OF A CRIME AND WE HAVE TO FIGURE OUT HOW WE CAPTURE THEM, BUT GUIDE HOUSE IS WORKING ON THAT POINT AND THE 10 MILLION TO BE ABLE TO HELP MORE FAMILIES THAT ARE OUT THERE.
SO I WANTED TO PUT THAT OUT THERE FOR EVERYBODY.
>> LINA HIDALGO: COMMISSIONER ELLIS AND THEN COMMISSIONER CAGLE.
>> RODNEY ELLIS: COMMISSIONER GARCIA, I DON'T HAVE A PROBLEM WITH IT.
I KNOW THE CHIEFS OF STAFF HAVE BEEN MEETING AND THEY HAVE TALKED TO -- TENTATIVELY THEY AGREED TO ABOUT 25 MILLION IN DIRECT ASSISTANCE.
AS LONG AS WE KEEP IT ON PAR BECAUSE YOU KNOW SOME OF OUR CONSTITUENTS OUT THERE, IF THEY ARE FACED WITH PAYING THE RENT OR PAYING OTHER ISSUES, THEY MAY DECIDE THAT THEY ARE GOING TO MOVE IN WITH GRANDMA OR WHO EVER.
I DON'T HAVE A PROBLEM AS LONG AS WE HAVE A CLEAR UNDERSTANDING.
I DON'T KNOW IF YOU ARE MAKING A MOTION OR PUTTING A MARKER DOWN.
>> ADRIAN GARCIA: PUTTING IN A MOTION TO AMEND THE RENTAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM.
>> RODNEY ELLIS: I WANT TO OFF AREA FRIENDLY AMENDMENT TO IT BECAUSE I KNOW OUR CHIEFS OF STAFF HAVE TALKED ABOUT IT.
I WANT TO ADD TO THAT WE KNOW A MARKER FOR 25 MILLION IN THE DIRECT ASSISTANCE, AND SOME OF THAT COULD BE GOING TO PAY RENT.
I GUESS I AM TAKING YOUR 10 AND UPPING YOU 125 TO MAKE IT 35.
>> DO YOU SEE ME LOOKING OVER AT YOU? I AM LOOKING AT MY CHIEF OF STAFF.
>> JUDGE, THE MOTION IS I WILL OFFER A FRIENDLY -- I WILL SECOND IT.
OUR CHIEF OF STAFF -- HOW DO YOU SAY IT? CHIEF OF STAFFS? CHIEFS OF STAFF?
>> RODNEY ELLIS: CHIEFS OF STAFF, I AM TOLD -- BRANDON JUST TOLD ME THAT THEY TENTATIVELY WERE TALKING ABOUT ALL OF THEM, COMMISSIONER CAGLE, COMMISSIONER RADACK AND LOOKING AT 25 MILLION IN DIRECT ASSISTANCE.
I AM SECONDING THE MOTION TO MOVE THE RENTAL ASSISTANCE UP TO -- >> ADRIAN GARCIA: 25.
IT IS 15 NOW WITH THE UNDERSTANDING THAT THE -- COME ON.
I'M GETTING TIRED NOW ALREADY.
>> ADRIAN GARCIA: COVID RELIEF.
>> RODNEY ELLIS: WHAT IS IT CALLED? RENT ASSISTANCE WILL BE 25 MILLION AS WELL.
I JUST WANTED TO KEEP THE TWO ON PAR, COMMISSIONER.
>> LINA HIDALGO: COMMISSIONER CAGLE HAD A COMMENT.
>> R JACK CAGLE: YES, YOUR HONOR.
I THINK WE ARE TALKING ABOUT THREE DIFFERENT THINGS HERE.
THE ITEM WE JUST DISCUSSED I WILL TAKE UP FIRST WHICH IS THE DIRECT RENTAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM WHICH IS WHERE WE MOVE IN PLACE.
THE LANDLORD WHEN THEY ACCEPT THE FUNDS AND WHEN THEY SIGN THAT RELEASE SO THAT THEY ARE NOT GOING TO CONTINUE WITH AN EVICTION PROCEEDING BECAUSE THEY ALSO HAVE A RIGHT TO EVICT BASED ON THE SLOW PAY, THE LATE PAY AND LETS -- LESS PAYMENTS.
I HEARD AN INCREASED AMOUNT OF FUNDING AND NUMBER TWO, THE PROGRAM HAS A THOUSAND DOLLAR CAP, ALTHOUGH MOST OF THE RENTAL IN THE MARKET IS 1240 AND I SUPPORT THAT.
LET'S MAKE IT 1240 AS PART OF THE MOTION.
>> ADRIAN GARCIA: 1200 WOULD KEEP IT SIMPLE NUMBERS.
>> R JACK CAGLE: 1200? YOU WANT 1200 I AM OKAY WITH THAT.
THAT MAKES IT WHERE WE ARE A LITTLE CLOSER TO THE AVERAGE.
PART B -- PART B TO THE FIRST ISSUE IS THE INCREASING THE AMOUNT OF MONEY TO GO INTO THIS PROGRAM AND I THINK THIS IS EXACTLY WHAT THE CARES ACT IS FOR.
I HAVE BEEN SUPPORTIVE OF THIS PROGRAM AND I THINK IT NEEDS TO BE PUT INTO THAT PUT IN AND THEY CAN PARTICIPATE WITH US.
SOME MAY NOT BECAUSE THEY HAVE DIRECT EXPENDITURES.
WHEN THEY ARE ON THE CUSP THIS IS A WAY THEY CAN DIRECTLY IMPACT THAT WE HAVE.
WHERE I AM IN CONFUSION AND NEEDING CLARIFICATION, I UNDERSTAND COLLISIONER -- COMMISSIONER ELLIS HAS SECONDED YOUR MOTION COMMISSIONER GARCIA, BUT I AM FULLY ON BOARD WITH THOSE TWO THINGS AS IT GOES.
BOTH TO INCREASING THE AMOUNT OF THE CARES ACT.
I THINK THIS IS WHAT THE CARES IS FOR.
THE SECOND WHERE WE ARE PARTNERING WITH THE CITY OF HOUSTON IN SOMETHING FOR AN
UNSPECIFIED AMOUNT OF MONEY TO SEE WHAT THAT IS -- >> RODNEY ELLIS: THAT'S LATER, COMMISSIONER.
>> R JACK CAGLE: IF THAT COMES LATER I WOULD LIKE TO SEE IT.
>> RODNEY ELLIS: THAT WILL BE THE LEGAL A -- THE LEGAL AID PIECE.
MAYBE BEFORE WE FINISH TONIGHT -- THAT'S BEEN GOING ON SINCE AM.
MAYBE BY THE FINISH OF TONIGHT I AM TOLD MAYBE WE NUDGED THEM JAM DAP.
>> R JACK CAGLE: MAYBE IF WE CAN DRAFT UP A CONTRACT -- I WOULD JUST LIKE TO SEE THAT BEFORE IT HAPPENS.
IF THAT IS NOT PART OF THIS MOTION I AM AGREEING TO PUSHING THAT BACK.
I AGREE WITH THE LADY WHO WAS TALKING ABOUT MARK GRINDAGE.
THERE WERE THOUSANDS OF CASE THAT'S WERE REVERSED AND ONE WAS BY MARK GRINDAGE.
THE THIRD THING, I DON'T KNOW IF IT WAS A MOTION OR IF YOU WERE DISCUSSING IT, BUT TRYING TO HAVE SOME SORT OF RULES THAT RESTRICT.
>> ADRIAN GARCIA: IT IS ACTUALLY THE OTHER WAY AROUND, BUT I AM TAKING FEEDBACK WITH THE CITY OF HOUGHTONS -- HOUSTONS PROGRAM.
THEY DID PUT RESTRICTIONS ON THEIRS TO BE EVICTED EVEN THOUGH THEY COMMITTED SOME CRIMES JAM.
>> R JACK CAGLE: WE NEED TO SEE IF I AM TENANT 121 AND TENANT IN 122 IS SHOOTING OFF GUNS AND SELLING DRUGS, I SHOULD HAVE THE PROTECTION TO MAKE SURE I LIVE IN A SAFE UH PORT -- APARTMENT.
>> ADRIAN GARCIA: THE ONLY THING I WANT TO MAKE SURE WE PROTECT AGAINST IS THE FAMILY WITH AN ABUSIVE SPOUSE, THINGS OF THAT NATURE.
I WANT TO PROTECT THE FAMILY UNIT.
>> R JACK CAGLE: I THINK THAT IS COVERED BY THE FAMILY COURT JUDGE.
NORMALLY IN THOSE SITUATIONS WE HAVE TWO WAYS IT CAN GO.
USUALLY THEY MAKE THE CALL WHO GETS TO STAY IN THE APARTMENT AND WHO HAS TO LEAVE AND PUT IN THE PROTECTIVE FACTORS.
9 REGULAR FAMILY COURTS AND THEN THE DO -- THE DOMESTIC RELATION COURT.
I I MEAN -- WHATEVER THAT OTHER COURT IS CALLED, DOMESTIC VIEWS COURT.
THERE SHOULD BE EIGHT OF THEM.
WE ARE MOVING ON THE TENANT RELIEF PROGRAM WITH THE 10 BEING ADDED IN AND THE CAP RAISED TO 1200 AND TO MAKE SURE THE PROGRAM DOES NOT COMPROMISE SAFETY IN THE APARTMENT.
SO IF I HAVE A TENANT AND I HAVE ANOTHER TENANT THAT IS NOT BEING SAFE, I AM NOT BEING PUNISHED BY THEIR BAD BEHAVIOR THAT THE MANAGEMENT DOES HAVE THE ABILITY TO PROTECT HIM.
>> ADRIAN GARCIA: THERE YOU GO.
>> R JACK CAGLE: THAT'S THE A, B AND C TO THE PROPOSAL.
I AM FINE WITH THE A, B AND C.
>> RODNEY ELLIS: COMMISSIONER GARCIA BECAUSE I DON'T WANT TO BE LABOR THE
[13:25:01]
POIFNT.-- POINT I WILL SECOND THE MOTION AND THEN MAKE A SECOND MOTION THAT WE EARMARK $25 MILLION.
COMMISSIONER CAGLE, I KNOW YOU VOTED AGAINST IT BEFORE AND I ASSUME YOU WILL VOTE AGAINST IT THIS TIME.
FOR THE SAKE OF MOVING ALONG -- >> STEVE RADACK: WHAT IS THIS OTHER 25 MILLION FOR?
>> RODNEY ELLIS: I WILL DO IT AS A SEPARATE MOTION TO MAKE IT EASIER.
OUR STAFFS HAVE AGREED TENTATIVELY THAT GUIDE HOUSE IS TO DIRECT ANOTHER $25 MILLION IN DIRECT ASSISTANCE.
WE DID THE FUND BEFORE, BUT IT WAS WITH OUR EMERGENCY FUND.
THIS GO AROUND OUR CHIEFS OF STAFF HAVE MET AND THEY AGREE.
IT IS 25 MILLION WHICH IS WHY WE ARE MORE THAN HAPPY TO MOVE THIS UP.
BUT IT WILL GIVE YOU -- IF IT GIVES YOU DISCOMFORT IF YOU CAN'T GET A SIGNAL -- >> DO YOU WANT TO PUT THAT 25 MILLION INTO THIS PROGRAM?
>> RODNEY ELLIS: I JUST SECONDED IT.
I WANT IT EARMARKED THAT I WANT 25 TO GO TO ASSISTANCE.
IF THAT GIVES YOU HEART HEARTBURN I WILL MAKE A SECOND MOTION.
>> R JACK CAGLE: MAKE A SECOND MOTION.
>> RODNEY ELLIS: I WILL MAKE A SECOND MOTION.
>> LINA HIDALGO: AND COMMISSIONER GARCIA, ONE THING I WANT TO CLARIFY ON THIS, I REMEMBER ONE QUESTION WE DISCUSSED BACK WHEN WE FIRST -- WHEN YOU FIRST PROPOSED THIS WAS IF FOLKS CAN'T AFFORD THE RENT AT THE BEGINNING AND WE CAN ONLY GIVE THEM ONE PAYMENT, THEN WHAT? MY UNDERSTANDING IS THIS WILL GIVE THEM UNTIL OCTOBER AND THEY WILL HAVE DISCOUNTED PAYMENTS.
SO THAT WAY YOU EXTEND THE TIME FOR THE REST OF THE RENT TO WHERE HOPEFULLY THEY CAN MAKE IT UP.
>> ADRIAN GARCIA: THAT IS CORRECT.
I THINK THIS WILL BE -- I WAS GOING TO MENTION AND THANK YOU FOR JOGGING MY MEMORY, JUDGE, BUT I THINK THIS WILL WORK WELL WITH THE LEGAL AID PROGRAM.
LEGAL AID WILL KNOW WE HAVE DONE SOMETHING AND IT GIVES THE OPPORTUNITY TO POTENTIALLY NEGOTIATE TENNANTS AND STRUCTURE SOME PAYMENT AGREEMENT AND SOME PROCESS.
IF THEY DON'T HAVE ENOUGH MONEY THEN THERE IS NO ROOM TO NEGOTIATE SO I THINK IT WORKS PERFECTLY WELL TOGETHER.
>> LINA HIDALGO: THAT'S FANTASTIC.
>> WE WERE ABLE TO REACH ONE OF THE LAST SPEAKERS.
>> ADRIAN GARCIA: LET ME READ THE MOTION REAL QUICK SO WE CAN HAVE THAT AND THEN -- SO THE MOTION IS TO AMEND THE AGREEMENT ON RENTAL ASSISTANCE WITH BAKER RILEY TO APPROPRIATE AN ADDITIONAL 10 MILLION TO RAISE THE AMOUNT AVAILABLE TO HOUSEHOLDS TO $1200 AND TO PERMIT RECIPIENT LANDLORDS TO EVICT TENANTS ON THE BASIS OF A CRIME EXCEPT FOR A CRIME FOR WHICH ANOTHER MEMBER OF THE HOUSEHOLD WAS A VICTIM.
>> LINA HIDALGO: AND DOES THAT -- AND THEN WHEN THE PERSON IS A VICTIM WOULD THAT BE IN ANY OTHER JURISDICTIONS ? I DON'T KNOW HOW IT WORKS.
I DON'T WANT SOMEONE -- I DON'T WANT TO FORCE SOMEONE TO STAY WITH THE PERPETRATOR.
PEOPLE WILL BE TAKEN OFF LEASES.
BUT IF YOU HAVE AN ABUSIVE SPOUSE AND THEY GET ARRESTED AND THEN THEY DON'T SAY ALL OF Y'ALL GO.
THAT'S WHAT I AM TRYING TO PROTECT AGAINST.
>> LINA HIDALGO: JAMES, DOES IT MAKE SENSE TO YOU? DO YOU NEED CLARIFICATION?
>> DO YOU WANT TO RESTATE THE MOTION IF IT IS DIFFERENT THAN WHAT YOU PREVIOUSLY STATED?
>> ADRIAN GARCIA: MIGHT I SEND IT TO YOU, JAMES? JAMES, I WILL SEND IT TO YOU.
>> AND JUDGE, EXCUSE ME, TODD HOFFMAN WOULD LIKE TO BE UNMUTED.
ONE POINT OF CLARIFICATION, COMMISSIONER ELLIS.
ON THE DIRECT ASSISTANCE YOU WERE MENTIONING A FEW MINUTES AGO, WE HAVE A DRAFT WHITE PAPER WE CIRCULATED THIS AFTERNOON WITH A FEW POINTS THAT WE WILL BE TALKING WITH THE CHIEFS OF STAFF TOMORROW ON.
AGAIN, IT IS IN DRAFT FORM AND THERE IS A FEW DECISION POINTS THAT NEED TO BE MADE BEFORE IT GETS TAKEN TO COURT.
I JUST WANTED TO CLARIFY THAT ONE POINT.
>> RODNEY ELLIS: AND JUDGE, IF I MIGHT.
TODD, ALL I WANT TO DO IS, AS WE WERE AT THE ABLE TODAY IN-- INCREASING THE AMOUNT OF RENTAL ASSISTANCE BY 10 MILLION AND PUTTING IN 25 MILLION, I AM JUST GOING TO MAKE A MOTION THAT WE WILL PUT $25 MILLION IN DIRECT ASSISTANCE.
WE DID 30 BEFORE AND THAT WAS COMING FROM THE EMERGENCY FUND.
THIS IS GOING TO BE CARES MONEY.
AND HOPEFULLY IF YOU ALL WORKED IT OUT AND I KNOW SOMETIMES THE CHIEFS OF STAFF MAY THINK THEY GET A SIGNAL FROM THEIR BOSS AND IT MAY CHANGE WHICH I WAS TELLING COMMISSIONER CAGLE AND I DIDN'T WANT TO BE LABOR THE POINT ON THIS.
I KNOW THE CHIEFS OF STAFF AGREED TO 25, BUT THAT MIGHT CHANGE.
I WANT TO MAKE THAT MOTION THAT IT IS 25.
IF YOU ARE FINISHED BY NEXT TUESDAY MAYBE WE WILL DO IT.
IF NOT, IT WILL BE A WEEK LATER.
AND ACTUALLY, COMMISSIONER, THE 25 IS -- WE PUT SOME RANGES IN THERE FOR A DECISION POINT, SO I WAS JUST GOING BACK AND LOOKING AT THE DRAFT WE JUST CIRCULATED.
THAT 25 MILLION IS A DECISION THAT WAS TO BE MADE TOMORROW JUST FOR CLARIFICATION.
>> RODNEY ELLIS: I AM TRYING TO WORK IT ON THE TABLE RIGHT NOW.
IT IS 25 MILLION OF DIRECT ASSISTANCE.
I AM TRYING TO PREEMPT IT SO AT LEAST WE KNOW.
>> RODNEY ELLIS: WE WILL VOTE ON COMMISSIONER GARCIA'S MOTION FIRST.
>> LINA HIDALGO: SO COMMISSIONER -- LUCINDA, YOU SAID THERE WAS ONE MORE OR WAS IT TODD?
>> LINA HIDALGO: LET'S HEAR FROM THAT PERSON AND THEN WE WILL VOTE ON THE MOTION.
GOOD AFTERNOON, MY NAME IS CARMEN AND I AM CALLING REGARDING THE REPRESENT, THE PANDEMIC.
I HAVE A FRIEND HE WAS -- SHE WAS EVICTED FROM HER APARTMENT AFTER FIVE YEARS.
IT WAS THE PANDEMIC AND SHE WAS EVICTED.
SHE DOESN'T HAVE A JOB AND SHE HAD TO LIVE WITH A SISTER IN A SMALL APARTMENT.
[INAUDIBLE] AND NOW SHE HAS A PART-TIME JOB AND LOOKING FOR AN APARTMENT, BUT THEY RUNNING HER CREDIT.
ONE OF HER LITTLE KIDS, MOTHER OF TWO, HAS CANCER.
HOW IS THAT? WHY DON'T SHE HAVE FUNDS TO PAY HER RENT? WHY WE DON'T HELP HER? I WAS LUCKY BECAUSE I WAS -- I HAD MY HOUSE YEARS AGO.
IF SHE IS LATE ON HER RENT BEFORE SHE HAVE TO PAY $50 AND $80 THE DAY SHE HAS TO PAY THE RENT AND THEY CHARGE FEE EVERY DAY BETWEEN $25 AND $50 A DAY.
OBVIOUSLY WE NEED TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT THAT.
THIS GOES TOGETHER WITH THE SAME WITH THE SCHOOLS.
THE KIDS WOULD MOVE FROM ONE ADDRESS TO ANOTHER ONE.
SO HOW IS -- IF THEY OPEN THE SCHOOLS HOW DO THEY GO TO THE SCHOOL? HOW DO THEY CHANGE THEIR LIFE? THE KIDS THEY DON'T KNOW.
THEY JUST KNOW THEY HAVE TO GO TO THE SCHOOL.
WE NEED TO DO SOMETHING, PLEASE.
I BEG YOU TO PASS THIS LAW SO THEY CAN HELP FAMILIES.
I KNOW A LOT OF PEOPLE LIKE HER.
PLEASE HELP THESE PEOPLE AND PASS THE MOTION.
THANK YOU SO MUCH AND HAVE A GREAT DAY.
MY NAME WAS AGAIN CARMEN YVONNE AND I AM FROM TEXAS ORGANIZING PROJECT.
SO THAT'S ALL OF THE SPEAKERS, CORRECT, LUCINDA?
>> LINA HIDALGO: THANK YOU TO EVERYONE WHO SPOKE.
COMMISSIONER GARCIA, YOU MADE YOUR MOTION WHICH JAMES HAS.
DO WE HAVE A SECOND? ALL IN FAVOR?
>> LINA HIDALGO: COMMISSIONER RADACK, I? I AM IN FAVOR AS WELL.
>> RODNEY ELLIS: JUDGE, THE MOTION I WANT TO MAKE IS THAT WE JUST EARMARK $25 MILLION OUT OF THE CARES MONEY FOR DIRECT ASSISTANCE.
THE CHIEFS OF STAFF TENTATIVELY AGREED TO THAT AMOUNT.
SOMETIMES THEY CAN GIVE A DIFFERENT INSTRUCTION TO THE CHIEFS OF STAFF AND THEN THE PROPOSAL WILL COME BACK TO US MAYBE NEXT WEEK, BUT IF NOT A WEEK LATER.
IT WILL BE SOMETHING COMPARABLE TO WHAT WE DID BEFORE WHERE I AM TOLD 450,000 PEOPLE HAD TO GET REJECTION LETTERS.
SOME OF THOSE WERE PEOPLE WHO TESTIFIED EARLIER.
MY MOTION IS TO EARMARK $25 MILLION OUT OF THE CARES MONEY FOR DIRECT ASSISTANCE.
>> LINA HIDALGO: COMMISSIONER ELLIS MADE A MOTION AND SECONDED BY COMMISSION -- COMMISSIONER GARCIA.
>> R JACK CAGLE: YOUR HONOR, I AM GOING TO BE OPPOSED TODAY, BUT WHEN I SEE WHAT THE PROPOSAL MAY BE, I MAY CHANGE MY MIND SINCE IT IS COMING OUT OF THE CARES ACT.
IN TERMS OF LOOKING FOR SOMETHING WE DON'T KNOW WHAT IT IS JUST YET, I AM GONNA BE A NO TODAY.
I WILL WAIT TO SEE WHAT THE REST OF THE STUFF COMES BACK LATER.
>> RODNEY ELLIS: THAT'S A NO AND WE ARE WAITING -- JUDGE, ARE YOU MUTED.
>> LINA HIDALGO: THAT IS COMMISSIONER RADACK.
[13:30:01]
I WILL VOTE IN FAVOR OF THE MOTION.WHEN COMMISSIONER RADACK RETURNS WE WILL CHECK ON HIS VOTE.
AND I THINK COMMISSIONER ELLIS, IT IS THE SAME PROGRAM BASICALLY, CREATE -- CORRECT BUT ADDING MORE FUNDS.
>> RODNEY ELLIS: UNDER THE CARES ACT, IT WILL NOT BE ABLE TO COVER THE IMMIGRANT COMMUNITY.
AND ONE THING TO WORK OUT LIKE WITH THE SMALL BUSINESS PROGRAM, I WANT IT TO APPLY TO UNINCORPORATED AND INCORPORATED.
THE COURT WILL MAKE THAT DECISION.
>> JAMES DID YOU GET MY PREVIOUS VOTE?
YOU VOTED YES ON THE THE FIRST MOTION BY COMMISSIONER GARCIA.
>> RODNEY ELLIS: WE ARE ON THE SECOND ONE COMMISSIONER RADACK? WHAT IS YOUR VOTE ON THE SECOND ONE ON THE DIRECT ASSISTANCE WHERE I MADE A MOTION TO EARMARK 25 MILLION TO GO TO DIRECT ASSISTANCE.
>> STEVE RADACK: I COULDN'T HEAR.
>> RODNEY ELLIS: CAN YOU HEAR ME, STEVE?
>> STEVE RADACK: I CAN HEAR YOU.
>> RODNEY ELLIS: THE MOTION WAS TO PUT A MARKER DOWN FOR $25 MILLION DOWN IN DIRECT ASSISTANCE COMPARABLE TO WHAT WE DID WITH THE COMMUNITY FOUNDATION DIRECT ASSISTANCE FOR 30 MILLION.
COMMISSIONER CAGLE VOTED NO TODAY.
HE SAYS WHEN HE SEES IT WHEN HE COMES BACK HE MAY CHANGE HIS MIND, BUT HE WAS NO TODAY.
WE LEFT THE VOTE OPEN TO LET YOU DECIDE IF YOU ARE FOR IT ORGANS IT TODAY.
>> LINA HIDALGO: TODD WOULD LIKE TO BE UNMUTED.
>> WE ARE LOOKING AT THIS AND JUDGE YOU MADE THIS COMMENT IN THE LAST COURT OF THE $450,000 APPLICANTS THAT DID NOT RECEIVE ANY AID FROM THE LAST PROGRAM CHA COMMISSIONER ELLIS IS TALKING ABOUT.
WE ARE WORKING WITH THE FOUNDATION TO FIND SOME CYNERGYS WHERE WE CAN CONNECT THAT PROGRAM TO THE NEW PROGRAM WE WILL NEED TO DO A LITTLE MORE ON COMPLIANCE SO I WANTED TO CLARIFY A COUPLE OF THOSE POINTS.
>> RODNEY ELLIS: IF THEY COME BACK AND SAY THE 25 JUST DOESN'T WORK AND IT SHOULD BE 23 OR 26 THEN COME BACK AND TELL US.
I JUST WANTED TO GIVE YOU SOME PARAMETERS SO YOU KNOW WHAT -- SOME BALLPARK OF WHAT YOU ARE WORKING WITH.
>> LINA HIDALGO: TODD, DID YOU CATCH THAT?
LOLLING -- LET'S CONTINUE WITH THE COVID AGENDA.
THE OTHER ON EVICTIONS AND COMMISSIONER GARCIA MADE HIS MOTION ABOUT THE PROGRAM HE HAS BEEN DRIVING WHICH IS GREAT.
SO COVID IS UP PLAW MEN -- SUPPLEMENTAL STARTS WITH NUMBER 12 AND IT IS A SITE.
WOULD PUBLIC HELGT OR ENGINEER -- PUBLIC HEALTH OR ENGINEERING HAVE ANYTHING TO ADD?
THIS IS A VERY GOOD SITE AND A VERY GOOD LOCATION.
>> RODNEY ELLIS: JUDGE ON NUMBER 13? 12?
>> LINA HIDALGO: THIS IS NUMBER 12 ON PAGE TWO OF THE SUPPLEMENTAL.
LET ME KNOW IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS ON THIS ONE.
THIS IS TO EXTEND OUR CENSUS CONTRACTS AND IT PROVIDES US WITH A NEW WAY TO DO THE CENSUS.
WHEN WE HAD THE ORIGINAL CONTRACT A LOT OF IT WAS FACE-TO-FACE.
BECAUSE OF COVID WE WERE NOT ABLE TO DO OBVIOUSLY ANY OF THE FACE-TO-FACE, BUT WITH THE CONTRACT THAT WE HAD, THEY ATTEMPTED TO PIVOT TOWARD DOING MORE OF A VIRTUAL CENSUS.
SOME SUCCESS THERE, BUT NOT WHAT WE WERE REALLY LOOKING FOR.
RIGHT NOW WHAT WE WOULD BE PAYING FOR IS SIX DIRECT MESSAGES TO INDIVIDUALS TO GET INTO THE CENSUS THAT ARE -- THAT HAVE NOT PROVIDED THEIR INPUT TO THE CENSUS AND TO GET THEM T.O.
IF IT PERFORMS WELL, WE WILL DO THE REST OF THE CONTRACT FOR A TOTAL OF 9.
WE THINK THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT AND THERE HAS BEEN GREAT SUCCESS WITH THIS COMPANY AS IT RELATES TO PORTMAN COUNTY AND WE RECOMMEND THIS.
>> LINA HIDALGO: COMMISSIONER GARCIA?
>> ADRIAN GARCIA: THANK YOU, JUDGE.
JOSH, THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR HARD WORK AND THOSE OVER IN COMMUNITY SERVICES.
I DO HAVE A QUESTION AND IT IS NOT DIRECTLY RELATED TO YOUR ITEM.
I GOT SOME FEEDBACK THAT THE ACTUAL CENSUS BUREAU STAFF IS DISCOURAGING THE COUNTING OF ANYONE WHO WAS THOUGHT TO BE UNDOCUMENTED.
HAVE YOU HEARD ANYTHING LIKE THAT?
>> I HAVE NOT, BUT LET ME TALK TO DAFFY -- DAPHNE.
>> THIS IS DAPHNE AND COMMISSIONER WE HAVE NOT HEARD OF THAT.
MATTER OF FACT WE HAVE BEEN WORKING CLOSELY WITH THE LOCAL CENSUS REPS IN THE AREA.
WE WILL DEFINITELY LOOK INTO THAT, BUT WE HAVE NOT HEARD THAT IS THE MESSAGE GOING OUT.
THAT IS DEFINITELY INCORRECT AND IT IS NOT THE MESSAGING WE NEED AT THIS TIME.
WE WANT TO COUNT EVERYONE IN THE COUNTY.
IF YOU CAN MAKE SURE TO TRACK THAT BECAUSE IT CAME UP IN THE CONTEXT OF CENSUS STAFF AND THE TRAINING OF VALIDATERS.
>> AND I WOULD LIKE TO SAY THAT AS COMMISSIONER ELLIS BROUGHT UP EARLIER ABOUT THE AMOUNT OF MONEY VERSUS WHAT WE GET WHEN IT COMES TO CGDB AND THE HOME FUNDS, THE CENSUS IS A HUGE PART OF THAT AND WE CAN REBALANCE THAT BETTER CORRECTLY.
>> LINA HIDALGO: COMMISSIONER ELLIS?
>> RODNEY ELLIS: COMMISSIONER GARCIA -- FIRST OFF, THANK YOU.
WE NEED TO DO EVERYTHING WE CAN AND ALL OF US WANT TO HELP.
COMMISSIONER GARCIA, THANK YOU FOR RAISING THAT POINT.
THERE HAS BEEN A NEW ORDER OUT OF THE WHITE HOUSE TELLING THE CENSUS BURE -- BUREAU THAT THEY CANNOT COUNT.
A NUMBER OF PEOPLE HAVE CALLED MY OFFICE AS WELL INCLUDING PEOPLE WITH THE LAWYERS COMMITTEE ON CIVIL RIGHTS AND NOT ONLY WILL IT HAVE AN IMPACT ON OUR MONEY, COMMISSIONER GARCIA, BUT IT WILL HAVE AN IMPACT ON REDISTRICTING AS IT RELATES TO YOUR PRECINCT AND ALL OF OUR PRECINCTS AND OUR CONGRESSIONAL REPRESENTATION.
WE ARE LIKELY TO LOSE ONE SEAT THAT IS OTHERWISE TO GAIN IN THE U.S.
HOUSE AND WE NEED ALL THE HELP WE CAN GET.
IT INCLUDES THOSE IN THE UNITED STATES.
IT INCLUDES THE POPULATION IN THE STATES AND MY AN -- MY ANCESTORS.
THEY DID EXCLUDE AMERICAN INDIANS WHO WERE NOT TAXED AND THEN OBVIOUSLY THE ISSUE WITH THE NATIVE AMERICANS SOMETIME LATER AT ABOUT 1940 AND THEY HAVE BEEN FILED IN THE PAST WEEK AGAINST THIS ORDER AND THE PLAINTIFFS INCLUDE 20 STATES AND NUMEROUS CITIES AND COUNTIES INCLUDING EL PASO COUNTY AND HIDALGO COUNTY.
AND THEY WILL BE FILED TO THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA AND THEY HAVE INVITED US, HARRIS COUNTY 26, 27 STATES.
MY STAFF CALLED HIM AND I DIDN'T.
AND IT WILL PREPARE AN ANALYSIS IN LITIGATING TO EXCLUDE CITIZENS FROM BEING COUNTED.
THE MARE -- MERITS OF SUCH LITIGATION AND THE STATUS OF PENDING LITIGATION AND THE COUNTY'S INTEREST IN JOINING CURRENT LITIGATION AS EITHER A PLAINTIFF OR FILING AN AMIGO -- AN AMICUS.
I'M SORRY AND I WAS TRYING TO WOLF DOWN MY FOOD SO I DIDN'T EAT THE WRONG STUFF AND HAVE TO GET TESTED AGAIN.
I'M SORRY I DIDN'T CALL YOU ABOUT IT.
IT IS NOT A MOTION, BUT JUST ASKING YOU TO COME BACK WITH THAT ANALYSIS.
>> YES, SIR, AND WE ARE PLEASED TO DO THAT.
WE HAVE BEEN ALREADY TALKING WITH YOUR STAFF AND WE ARE PREPARED TO HAVE AN ANALYSIS READY ON TUESDAY IF YOU WANT TO.
THERE IS NO IMMEDIATE ACTION NEEDED ON ANY OF THESE LAWSUITS AND TUESDAY IS PLENTY OF TIME TO SORT IT OUT AND MAKE SOME DECISIONS ON WHERE BEST TO DEAL WITH THIS AND IN WHEN STATE.
>> RODNEY ELLIS: THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER GARCIA FOR WAKING ME UP.
I WAS DOZING OFF AGAIN AFTER THAT LUNCH.
I WAS TRYING TO WOLF MINE DOWN TOO.
JUDGE, IF I COULD ADD ALSO ON THIS AND I JUST WANT TO THANK MY STAFF WHO ARE WORKING LIKE THREE-LEGGED MULES DURING THIS PANDEMIC AND EVERY DAY.
I WANT TO THANK MERCEDES SANCHEZ ON MY TEAM.
SHE RAISED A VERY IMPORTANT POINT REGARDING THE CENSUS, BUT REALLY ALL THINGS COVID.
AND THAT IS, FOR EXAMPLE, DURING YOUR PROGRAM, COMMISSIONER EL -- ELLIS, WE OPENED THAT UP.
AND WITH THE PEOPLE THAT HAVE BEEN -- YOU KNOW, WHO HAVE APPLIED.
WE HAVE A LOT OF DATA IN TERMS OF ENCOURAGING THE CENSUS.
SO I WANT TO MAKE SURE, JUDGE -- I MEAN, I WILL BE DOING IT FROM THIS PERCH, BUT I THINK IT WOULD BE VERY HELPFUL TO ENSURE ALL OF THESE INITIATIVES WHETHER IT IS RENTAL ASSISTANCE AND WHETHER IT IS THE DIRECT ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS. WHEREVER WE HAVE COLLECTED DATA TO HAVE SOME SMART PEOPLE WORKING TO DRIVE A CENSUS PARTICIPATION MESSAGE AND ENGAGEMENT SO WE CAN CAPTURE SOME OF THAT.
THEY ARE NOT THINKING OF THE CENSUS.
THEY ARE THINKING OF KEEPING A ROOF OVER THEIR HEAD.
I WANT TO MAKE SURE WE ARE NOT MISSING OUT.
I WANT TO THANK MY STAFF AND I WANT TO MAKE SURE THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT IS THINKING ABOUT HOW MUCH IT IS -- AND I SUPPORT IT, BUT WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE DRIVING ACTIVITY.
I AM NOT SURE HOW WE PROCEED FROM THAT, BUT I WANT TO MAKE SURE ANY OF OUR STAFF THAT IS ATTACHED TO THESE RESPECTIVE PROGRAMS, THAT THEY ARE CREATING THE PROCESS.
AND WITH WHAT YOU ARE DOING OVER THERE, MAYBE WE ARE USING ALL OF THE DATA THAT WE HAVE COLLECTED AND THOSE WHO HAVE REGISTERED FOR THE COVID TESTING AND THOSE WHO APPLIED FOR SMALL BUSINESS AND THOSE WHO APPLIED FOR THE GRANT, I WANT TO MAKE
[13:35:02]
SURE IT IS INSERTED IN EVERYTHING WE DO RIGHT NOW WITH THESE FOLKS ARE FRIGHTENED AND SCARED.>> WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THEY HAVE OUR CENSUS MATERIAL AND CAN HELP US IN GETTING THE MESSAGE OUT AS WELL.
>> LINA HIDALGO: DMITION -- COMMISSIONER CAGLE AND THEN COMMISSIONER ELLIS.
>> R JACK CAGLE: YOUR HONOR, I HAVE TWO SETS OF QUESTIONS.
THE FIRST DEALS WITH THE PRIOR VENDOR.
AS I UNDERSTAND WE HAD A PRIOR VENDOR IN THIS PROCESS.
JOSH, WHAT IS THE STATUS OF THE PRIOR VENDOR AND HOW MUCH MONEY IS LEFT OVER ON THAT CONTRACT? AND ARE WE GOING TO REPAY AUTHORIZE FUNDS? WHAT IS GOING ON WITH VENDOR A?
>> THERE IS ACTUALLY VENDOR A, B, C AND D.
VENDOR A AND B WERE THE VENDORS WE ARE NOT GOING TO EXTEND THEIR CONTRACT.
I WILL CALL THEM A AND B FOR NOW.
VENDOR C IS THE VENDOR WE UTILIZED AND IT HAS A PROGRAM MANAGER.
HOWEVER, THEY WERE WHAT WE WOULD CALL VENDOR A FOR PORTMAN COUNTY AND THEY WERE ABLE TO PIVOT MUCH BETTER AS IT RELATES FROM A MEETING WITH PEOPLE IN PERSON TO A VIRTUAL CENSUS, AN OUT WREATH -- AN OUT REACH PROGRAM.
IT IS NO KNOCK ON THESE VENDORS.
THEY WERE CONTRACTED TO DO UP -- TO DO ONE THING.
WE MADE THE DECISION TO GO WITH TWO.
ONE DOES THE OUT REACH THROUGH THE DIGITAL MEANS AND THE OTHER ONE BEING THE ONE THAT ACCUMULATES DATA.
STARS WHAT WE PAID ON THE IN -- INVOICES AND WHAT IS LEFT, I WILL GET THAT TO YOU.
WE DID NOT PAY FOR THINGS WE DID NOT RECEIVE.
JACK JK AND THE SECOND >> R JACK CAGLE: AND THE SECOND SET OF QUESTIONS DEAL WITH THE DATA.
THERE IS A LOT OF DATA THAT IS BEING COLLECTED.
HOW SECURE IS THAT DATA, AND IS THIS DATA SUBJECT TO PIAA? IS THIS GOING TO BE MADE AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC? TELL US WHAT THIS DATA, WHAT PROTECTIONS IF ANY DO WE HAVE WITH THIS DATA?
>> COMMISSIONER, I AM NOT SURE IF WE ARE NOT TALKING ABOUT SOME OF THE SUBJECT THAT ECONOMIC -- COMMISSIONER GARCIA BROUGHT UP.
IF IT IS RELATED TO THE DATA THAT IS WITH THE PEOPLE WE ARE HELPING OUT WHETHER IT IS THROUGH THE COMMUNITY FOUNDATION OR BAKER RIPLEY, THERE ARE STATE LAWS, BUT ROBERT DISCUSSED THAT AND THERE ARE LAWS THAT SAYS INDIVIDUAL DATA WILL NOT BE GIVEN OUT FOR PEOPLE WE HELPED IN AN EMERGENCY SITUATION THROUGH FEDERAL FUNDS OR OTHER FUNDS.
WERE YOU ASKING SPECIFICALLY ON CENSUS DATA?
THIS DATA THAT WE ARE GOING TO BE SPENDING $4 MILLION TO GO COLLECT AND TRY TO ASSIST IN, HOW DO WE MAKE SURE THIS CONTACT INFORMATION IS SUCCESSFUL LOCALLY, AND ASSISTING IN THE POLITICAL ARENA.
ARE WE ABLE TO USE THE DATA THEY COLLECT ON THEIR BEHALF? DOES IT BELONG TO US OR DOES IT BELONG TO THEM? CAN THEY REUSE IT SOMEWHERE ELSE?
>> SO HOW THEY UH -- SO HOW THEY ARE ATTAINING THE DATA AND PUSHING FOR THE NUMBERS TO GET THE INFORMATION OUT.
DAPHNE, DO YOU HAVE THE INFORMATION ON THE DATA? WE CAN GET THAT TO YOU, COMMISSIONER, BUT I DON'T KNOW IF DAPHNE HAS THAT RIGHT NOW.
THEY ARE COLLECTING IT FOR CENSUS.
IT WILL NOT BE USED FOR ANY OTHER PURPOSES.
THEY ARE ACCESSING THE CELL PHONE NUMBERS AND THE TEXT MESSAGE NUMBERS FOR THE AREAS WHERE WE HAVE THE UNDER COUNT IN AND THEY ARE SENDING DIRECT MESSAGES AND THEY ARE COORDINATING THIS WITH THE CENSUS TO MAKE SURE WE ARE EMBEDDING THE LINK TO THE CENSUS BUREAU SO THEY CAN COMPLETE THE SURVEY ON THEIR PHONE.
MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT DATA IS FOR OUR CONTRACT AND IT IS NOT TO BE USED FOR ANYTHING ELSE.
>> R JACK CAGLE: AND HOW DO WE MAKE SURE IT DOES NOT GET CONVERTED IN THEIR DATA BASES? ARE THEY SIGNING AN AGREEMENT WITH US? HOW DO WE PROTECT IT FROM BEING REUSED?
MY UNDERSTANDING IS IT IS IN THE EXISTING AGREEMENT WE HAVE WITH THEM.
WE CAN WORK WITH THE COUNTY ATTORNEY TO ENSURE THAT EVEN FURTHER AND SPECIFICALLY IF THEY CAN TURN THE FILES OVER TO US.
BEYOND THAT, IT WILL BE IN THE CONTRACT THAT THEY CAN USE THE DATA THAT IS ONLY FOR OUR USE.
GENTLEMEN, COMMISSIONER ELLIS?
>> RODNEY ELLIS: JUDGE, I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THEY MOVE AS QUICKLY AS THEY CAN, MAKE SURE WE ANSWER THOSE CONCERNS OBVIOUSLY COMMISSIONER CAGLE HAS, BUT I THINK SPEED IS IMPORTANT WITH WHAT IS GOING ON.
WORKING THE PROTECTIONS, BUT MAKE SURE WE ARE MOVING EXPEDITIOUSLY TO GET IT DONE BECAUSE WE ARE WELL BEHIND AND IT IS MONEY WE WILL LOSE.
>> LINA HIDALGO: YES, AND I WILL JUST ADD, JOSH, WHAT COMMISSIONER GARCIA SAID IN TERMS OF WHATEVER IT IS WE CAN DO TO ENCOURAGE WHAT THE PEOPLE WHOSE CONTACTS WE ALREADY HAVE.
AND YOU ARE PROBABLY ALREADY LOOKING AT THIS, BUT I DO HAVE A FLAG ON THE MENTION OF FORT BEND COUNTY.
THE WEALTHIER POPULATIONS ARE DOING BETTER AND I WANT TO MAKE SURE THE STRATEGY LOOKS AT THAT.
WHAT ELSE DO WE NEED TO DO FOR THE LOWER INCOME POPULATIONS.
IT MAY HAVE TO DIFFER A LITTLE BIT BECAUSE FORT BEND DOES PRESIDENT HAVE THE SAME DEGREE OF POCKETS AS WE DO.
AND ONE QUESTION, WHICH ARE YOU ADVOCATING FOR? IS IT THE ONE THAT IS PERFORMANCE BASED?
I WANT SIX ROUNDS, AND IF BY SEPTEMBER 30TH THEY ARE NOT AT OUR BENCHMARK 62% WE WILL CANCEL THE LAST FEW ROUNDS.
IF THEY ARE 62%, LET'S GET PAST OUR CENSUS TOLL AT 62% AND UTILIZE THEM FOR THE LAST FEW ROUNDS.
>> LINA HIDALGO: YEAH BECAUSE IT WOULD BE HARD.
WE KNOW WE HAVE A LARGE HARD TO COUNT POPULATION, BUT WE HAVE TO DO BETTER.
I'M GLAD IT IS PERFORMANCE BASED.
DOES THE MOTION REMAIN THE SAME?
WHO MOTIONED IT? WAS THAT YOU, COMMISSIONER GARCIA?
>> RODNEY ELLIS: I WILL SECOND.
>> LINA HIDALGO: SO A MOTION ON THIS CENSUS ITEM 13 ON PAGE TWO OF THE SUPPLEMENTAL AGENDA.
>> R JACK CAGLE: JUDGE, I AM IN FAVOR WITH THE CAVEAT THAT WE MAKE SURE THOSE PROTECTIONS ARE IN PLACE.
IT WAS THERE THAT JOSH IS GOING TO WORK ON THAT.
IS THERE A WAY TO BRING THIS BACK IF WE FIND WE DON'T HAVE ADEQUATE SECURITY PROTECTIONS WITH REGARD TO THE DATA?
>> LINA HIDALGO: COMMISSIONER ELLIS?
>> RODNEY ELLIS: COMMISSIONER, I WANT TO MAKE SURE WE MOVE QUICKLY.
I THINK YOU CAN COME BACK AND ASK, BUT IF IT HAS A MAJORITY VOTE IT PASSES AND I DON'T WANT TO BE RUDE, BUT I WANT TO MAKE SURE WE MOVE IT AND GET IT DONE.
>> LINA HIDALGO: CAN WE SAY CONTINGENT ON ADEQUATE DATA PROTECTIONS AND JOSH WILL LOOK AT IT.
>> R JACK CAGLE: JOSH THE COUNTY ATTORNEY?
>> YES, COMMISSIONER I THINK IF WE ADDED THAT TO WORK WITH THE CON -- COUNTY ATTORNEY TO MAKE SURE THE DATA IS SECURED WITHIN THE CONTRACT ITSELF AND IT IS CONTINGENT UPON THAT IT IS GREAT.
>> R JACK CAGLE: SOMETIMES YOU CAN HAVE A CONTRACT AND THEN SOMEONE GOES, OOPS, I BREACHED IT, AND THEN WHERE ARE YOU? I MEAN ONCE THE CAT GETS OUT OF THE BAG IT IS HARD TO PUT IT BACK IN.
THAT'S REALLY WHERE I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE SURE IF THE COUNTY ATTORNEY AND JOSH HAS A REASON TO REVIEW IT FOR SECURITY AND I UH VOTE TO UH -- APPROVE IT SUBJECT TO THE REVIEW OF THE COUNTY ATTORNEY AND JOSH FOR SECURITY.
>> RODNEY ELLIS: AND MIGHT I ASK WHEN WILL THEY HAVE DONE THAT? I WANT TO KNOW BY NEXT TUESDAY AND PUT IT BACK ON THE AGENDA.
I DON'T WANT US TO BE DELAYED -- >> LINA HIDALGO: IT SHOULDN'T DELAY IT.
I MEANT FOR IT TO MOVE AND THEN THEY BILL -- THEY WILL MAKE SURE IF THEY FIND ANYTHING THEY CAN CANCEL AND STOP IT.
I AGREE THAT THIS NEEDS TO MOVE.
>> RODNEY ELLIS: THEY CAN LET US KNOW BY NEXT TUESDAY.
WE APPROVE IT AND IF THERE IS A PROBLEM, THEN LET US KNOW NEXT TUESDAY.
IF WE CAN'T SOLVE IT -- >> R JACK CAGLE: I'M FINE WITH THAT.
>> LINA HIDALGO: SO JUST ADD AND CSD WORK WITH THE COUNTY ATTORNEY TO ENSURE THE DATA IS SECURE.
>> R JACK CAGLE: COMMISSIONER ELLIS YOU KEEP SAYING TUESDAY.
I THOUGHT OUR SPECIAL MEETING WAS ON THURSDAY ROD >> RODNEY ELLIS: THURSDAY, SORRY.
I AM TRYING TO GET A SECOND ONE IN.
>> JUDGE, SO THE ITEM IS HOW IT IS PRESENTED ON THE SUPPLEMENTAL NOTICE WITH THE ADDITION THAT YOU JUST MADE?
MY ADDITION BEING AND CSD WORK WITH THE COUNTY ATTORNEY TO ENSURE THE DATA IS SECURE.
IT DOESN'T MEAN WE ARE HOLDING ANYTHING BACK, BUT IT DOES INSTRUCT CSD AND THE COUNTY ATTORNEY TO FIGURE THIS OUT.
>> AND THE MOTION WAS MADE BY COMMISSIONER GARCIA AND SECOND BY COMMISSIONER ELLIS?
>> CAN YOU CALL AN ACTUAL VOTE?
I DON'T THINK COMMISSIONER RADACK -- >> LINA HIDALGO: YES.
>> I SUBJECT TO THE PROVISION THAT WE WILL HAVE THE SECURITY CHECKED INTO.
SO THE MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY.
>> RODNEY ELLIS: JUDGE, ITEM 11 IS A COVID ITEM.
I DON'T THINK IT WILL TAKE LONG.
>> LINA HIDALGO: I'M SORRY, COMMISSIONER, I MISSED THAT ONE.
[13:40:02]
>> WE HAVE SPEAKERS LINED UP FOR 15.
>> LINA HIDALGO: WE HAVEN'T DONE 14 THOUGH, LUCINDA.
WE DON'T HAVE SPEAKERS FOR THAT ONE.
>> LINA HIDALGO: I GUESS WE CAN DO 15 AND THEN 11 AND THEN 14 SO WE DON'T FURTHER DELAY COMMISSIONER ELLIS' ITEM.
LET'S DO -- JADE >> R JACK CAGLE: I THOUGHT WE WERE DOING COVID FIRST.
IS 11 REGULAR? I DON'T THINK IT IS ON THE COVID.
>> RODNEY ELLIS: IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN.
>> LINA HIDALGO: LET'S JUST GO IN ORDER SO WE DON'T GET CONFUSED HERE.
>> LINA HIDALGO: ITEM 14 WAS NEXT IF I CAN FIND IT.
THIS IS THE PAID MEDIA CAMPAIGN WE DISCUSSED LAST YEAR.
SCAWS ME -- EXCUSE ME, LAST MEETING.
THE IDEA IS WE ARE GOING TO HAVE -- MASK WEARING, SOCIAL DISTANCING, THE NEW NORMAL GOING ON FOR AWHILE UNTIL THERE IS A CURE OR A VACCINE.
THERE IS ROOM LEFT FOR US TO DO MORE, PHYSICALLY WITH A WELL-DESIGNED PAID MEDIA CAMPAIGN THAT GETS TO MINORITY COMMUNITIES.
AND THAT IS NOT YOUR USUAL GOVERNMENT CAMPAIGN, BUT FROM OTHER JURISDICTIONS.
THERE ARE EXR EXAMPLE -- GREAT EXAMPLES OUT THERE.
WHAT WE WANT ARE MESSAGE THAT'S ARE EVIDENCE-BASED AND WELL RESERVE -- WELL RESEARCHED AND LIKE WE SAID HAS WORKED ELSEWHERE AND REACHES VULNERABLE COMMUNITIES.
PUBLIC HEALTH HAS BEEN WORKING WITH PURCHASING ON THIS TO PUT TOGETHER A CAMPAIGN THAT CAN BE LAUNCHED QUICKLY.
THEY ARE DOING AN ABBREVIATED RFP.
DWIGHT CAN GET INTO THE DETAILS.
THE SENSE IS A MILLION DOLLARS FOR THE INITIAL DESIGN OF THE CAMPAIGN.
THE AB TESTING OF THE MESSAGING AND THE FIRST PUSH FOR THE ADS.
IF THE RESULTS ARE POSITIVE AND IF FOLKS LIKE THEM WE WOULD ASK FOR MORE FUNDING.
THIS WOULD BE A STARTING POINT JUST TO DO -- I THINK THAT IS SOMETHING WE HAVE BEEN BEHIND ON AND OTHER COMMUNITIES ARE DOING EFFECTIVELY.
WE HAVE BEEN JUST DO -- DOING THE MEDIA PIECE.
>> R JACK CAGLE: JUDGE, DO WE KNOW WHO IS DOING THE CAMPAIGN?
I KNOW THEY HAVE DONE THE BID PROCESS.
THEY'VE GOT, I BELIEVE, THREE OPTIONS AND THE GROUP IS FIGURING OUT OF THOSE WHICH ONE -- DWIGHT, CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG.
>> JUDGE, WE DID DO THE SHORT-TERM FIX FOR THIS WITH THE MEDIA, BUT WE HAVEN'T DONE A LONG-TERM FIX.
WE ARE WORKING ON WHICH BIDDER CANS PROPOSE THE CORRECT WAY AND WE WILL DO AN ABBREVIATED PROCUREMENT OVER A SHORT WEEK OR TWO AND THEN WILL GET THE VENDORS BACK.
WE DON'T KNOW THE SELECTION PROCESS YET, COMMISSIONER OR JUDGE.
>> AND I DON'T HAVE A CONCEPT -- CONCEPTUAL PROBLEM TO TRY TO HELP FOLKS BE SAFE, BUT I DO BEFORE I VOTE TO GIVE A MILLION DOLLARS TO A PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT FIRM WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT IT IS A FIRM THAT I AM COMFORTABLE WITH AND HAS GONE THROUGH THE APPROPRIATE PROCESSES.
I AM NOT QUITE SURE HOW TO VOTE.
IF WE ARE JUST DOING AN EARMARK OF A MILLION LIKE COMMISSIONER EL -- ELLIS LIKES TO DO AND BRINGING BACK THE WHO AND THE WHAT AND THE WHERE AND THE HOW LATER ON WITH A PLAN, I'M COMFORTABLE WITH JUST MOVING FORWARD IN THAT DIRECTION, BUT BEFORE I VOTE -- IF I AM JUST VOTING A BLANK CHECK OF A MILLION DOLLARS AND I DON'T KNOW WHO IT IS GOING TO OR WHAT IT IS GOING FOR OR WHAT IT IS GOING TO BE, THEN I AM NOT COMFORTABLE.
IN OTHER WORDS, DO I GET A VOTE AFTER WE KNOW THE WHO IT IS AND THE WHAT IT IS AND WHAT THEY ARE GONNA DO WITH IT, OR IS THIS ONE VOTE AND WE ARE DONE AND WE JUST VAS -- TRUST IT GETS DONE OUT THERE.
>> LINA HIDALGO: I'M SURE THERE IS MORE, BUT COMMISSIONER ELLIS HAD A COMMENT.
>> RODNEY ELLIS: JUDGE, IT IS IMPORTANT TO GET IT DISON -- IT DONE.
I DON'T HAVE A PROBLEM APPROVING IT TODAY AND IF THERE IS NOT A FIRM, WE ARE MEETING NEXT THURSDAY, BUT I WANT TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THIS TO BE HONEST WITH YOU.
DWIGHT, DO YOU HAVE ANY FIRMS IN MIND?
>> COMMISSIONER, I HAVE TO GET PUBLIC HEALTH ON THIS.
I HAVEN'T GOT THE SCOPE UNTIL RECENTLY FROM THEM.
WE ARE WORKING THROUGH THE PROCUREMENT PROCESS.
IF YOU WANT IT BY NEXT WEEK WE NEED FIRMS TO SUBMIT IN THREE TO FOUR DAYS AND WE WOULD HAVE TO MOVE ON THAT QUICKLY.
>> RODNEY ELLIS: TO GET IT DONE QUICKLY WE HAVE TO VOTE ON IT.
IF WE MOVE FORWARD ON THIS ITEM AS PRESENTED IT COMES BACK TO US ANYWAY.
>> I CAN SEND IT BACK AS A TRANSMITAL OR SEND IT BACK AS AN APPROVAL ITEM.
IT DEPENDS ON WHAT THE COURT'S APPROVAL WILL BE TO ME.
>> IF IT IS AN APPROVAL ITEM I CAN BE FOR IT.
IF WE ARE GOING TO VOTE TODAY WITHOUT KNOWING WHO IT IS, WHAT THEY ARE GOING TO BE DOING, WHAT PROFIT THEY ARE GOING TO BE MAKING.
I CAN VOTE WE LAUNCH IT AND GET SOMETHING TO COME BACK TO VOTE ON AGAIN AND WE CAN DO IT QUICKLY NEXT THURSDAY OR AS COMMISSIONER ELLIS KEPT SAYING, TUESDAY.
>> RODNEY ELLIS: WHAT'S YOUR PREFERENCE?
>> LINA HIDALGO: MY CONCERN IS IT HAS BEEN FAR DELAYED.
I THINK THERE IS A MISUNDERSTANDING BECAUSE PUBLIC HEALTH HAD A SEPARATE CONTRACT WITH SOMEONE FOR THEIR SOCIAL MEDIA THAT WAS LIKE 50K OR SOMETHING.
AND SO PEOPLE THOUGHT THAT WAS THIS.
I THOUGHT THIS WAS MOVING AND WE WERE GOING TO HAVE IT AND NOW WE ARE BEHIND.
AND I WAS TOLD THEY HAD THESE OPTIONS.
THEY NEEDED AN APPROVAL AND AS SOON AS THEY CAN PICK ONE THEY CAN MOVE.
THAT'S WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO DO.
>> LINA HIDALGO: SAY THAT AGAIN, DWIGHT.
>> I WAS WAITING ON THE COMMISSIONERS TO SPEAK AND THEY WERE BOTH SPEAKING.
>> ADRIAN GARCIA: MY MOTION WOULD BE, DWIGHT, WE MOVE AS THE JUDGE HAS EXPRESSED AND ENSURING THAT WE HAVE BEEN LOOKING FOR IS NO LONGER DELAYED, BUT WE MOVE FORWARD.
>> LINA HIDALGO: AND I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT PURCHASING IS IN THE MIDDLE OF ALL OF THIS.
IT IS NOT PUBLIC HEALTH AND IT IS PART OF THE PURCHASING PROCESS.
>> WHAT WE WILL DO IS WORK WITH PUBLIC HEALTH STARTING TOMORROW OR TODAY AND GET THE PROPOSALS OF THE VENDORS OUT THERE.
WE WILL MAKE SURE WE HAVE OUR DUCKS IN A ROW TO GET REIMBURSED OR THE OPTION TO GET REIMBURSED AND WILL PRESENT IT BACK TO COURT AS A TRANSMITTIBLE AND PROVIDE THE COURT MEMBERS WHO THE SELECTIONS WILL BE AND WILL LET THE COURT NUMBERS KNOW THAT THE MOTION WAS MADE BASED ON US TO MOVE.
>> RODNEY ELLIS: AND IF YOU KNOW BEFORE NEXT WEEK LET US KNOW.
>> LINA HIDALGO: COMMISSIONER RADACK?
>> STEVE RADACK: MY QUESTION IS SIMPLE.
ARE WE APPROVING ANY MONEY ON THIS MOTION? OR NOT? ARE WE APPROVING ANY MONEY? IS IT COMING BACK?
>> LINA HIDALGO: IT WILL COME BACK EITHER WAY, RIGHT, DWIGHT?
>> IT WILL COME BACK AS A TRANSMITAL, COMMISSIONER RADACK.
THE MOTION WAS TO ALLOW SEVERAL MILLION DOLLARS TO SPEND ON THIS PROJECT AND WE WILL TAKE THE SCOPE OF WORK THAT WE HAVE GOT AND GIVE IT TO VENDORS AND NEGOTIATE A PRICE, BUT NOT TO 6 SEED A MILLION DOLLARS.
THE MOTION WAS TO ALLOW US TO SPEND UP UP TO A MILLION TO GET A CONTRACT TO DO THIS WORK.
THAT'S WHAT THE CURRENT MOTION IS ON THE TABLE AND WE WILL BRING IT BACK AS A TRANSMITAL WHICH MEANS IT WILL START IMMEDIATELY AND COME BACK TO COURT AS A TRANS MISS TALL.
IS THE MOTION WHAT YOU POSTED ON THE AGENDA?
THAT IS THE MOTION AND THE PURCHASING DEPARTMENT WOULD KEEP US ALL UH -- ALL ABREAST ON THE PROGRESS.
>> LINA HIDALGO: WE HAVE A MOTION BY COMMISSIONER GARCIA AND SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER ELLIS.
DO YOU HAVE ANYBODY IN PURCHASING THAT IS WORKING IN ADVERTISING THAT KNOWS IF THIS IS GOOD OR NOT?
>> HAVE I TO HAVE PUBLIC HEALTH HELP ME WITH WHAT THE PSA IS GOING TO BE, BUT I WILL MAKE SURE MY STAFF DOES THE PROCUREMENT.
>> STEVE RADACK: I WISH YOU A LOT OF LUCK WITH THAT IN PUBLIC HEALTH.
>> R JACK CAGLE: I AM A NO, YOUR HONOR.
I AM IN FAVOR OF THE CONCEPT OF PUTTING OUT A PSA, BUT NOT VOTING WITHOUT THE WHO, THE WHAT, THE WHERE AND THE WHY AND WHAT THEY ARE DOING.
>> LINA HIDALGO: I AM SAYING I AM IN FAVOR SO THE MOTION CARRIES.
ITEM 15, LUCINDA, YOU SAID WE HAVE SPEAKERS FOR.
AND THIS IS THE JAIL POPULATION.
>> YES, MA'AM WE HAVE SUBJECT MATTER EXPERTS.
I AM NOT SURE IF COMMISSIONER ELLIS WOULD LIKE THEM UP FIRST.
>> RODNEY ELLIS: AND JUDGE, I WOULD LIKE TO SET THE STAGE.
I KNOW THAT JMI CAME TO US WITH A REPORT ON WHAT COULD BE DONE WITH THE JAIL SOME TIME AGO AND I WILL HAVE QUESTIONS FOR THEM, BUT I KNOW HARRIS COUNTY HAS THE FOURTH LARGEST COVID CLUSTER IN THE COUNTRY MEANING MORE COVID CASES ARE CONNECTED TO OUR JAIL FACILITY THAN ALMOST ANYWHERE ELSE IN THE NATION.
OUR SHERIFF HAS BEEN WORKING HARD TO KEEP PEOPLE SAFE AT THE JAIL, BUT IT IS ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO DO IT AT A DISTANCE AND TO QUARANTINE ALL OF THE PEOPLE AND DEAL WITH THE POSSIBLE CASES.
IT NOT ONLY IMPACTS PEOPLE INSIDE, BUT THE JAIL POPULATION IS 8500 AND THE LATEST NUMBERS SHOW THAT THE PLATEAU IS ABOVE 8,000 INMATES.
[13:45:02]
THE ACLU SAYS THE JAILS COULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR AN ADDITIONAL 219 DEATHS WITH -- 2,000 DEATHS AND 805 IN HARRIS COUNTY.I THINK WE CAN GET THE JAIL POPULATION NUMBERS DOWN BY SAFELY LOOKING AT SOME ALTERNATIVES.
PEOPLE ARE LOOKING AT THEM AROUND THE COUNTRY AS EARLY AS JULY 90% OF THE PEOPLE CONTAINED IN THE HARRIS COUNTY JAILS ARE AWAITING TRIALS.
THEY ARE CROWDED WITH PEOPLE WHO ARE UNLIKELY TO BE CONVICTED.
IN 201942% OF THE DISPOSED HARRIS COUNTY FELONY CASES WERE FELONY CASES BECAUSE OF A CONVICTION.
BOTH ENDED UP IN DISMISSAL OR DEFER RAIL OR ACQUITTAL.
I WANT TO GET A SENSE FROM THE EXPERTS ON WHAT IS GOING ON AROUND THE COUNTRY, AND PARTICULARLY JMI AND SEE WHAT WE CAN DO.
I KNOW AS OF MAY 1ST, THE DISTRICT COURTS HAVE 36,000 PENDING CASES.
EVEN WITH NO NEW CASES AT THIS RATE IT WILL TAKE MORE THAN 13 MONTHS TO CATCH UP ON ALL FELONY CASES.
THEY RECOMMENDED DISMISSING THE NON-VIOLENT FELONY CASES OLDER THAN 9 MONTHS.
THIS ONE ALLOWS THE JUSTICE SYSTEM TO GIVE RESOURCES TO ADJUDICATING THE BACKLOG OF THE VIOLENT CASES THAT IT IS GOING TO TAKE A LONG TIME TO GET TO.
WE WANT TO SEE WHAT IS GOING ON.
>> DID YOU WANT DR. YEMI FIRST OR JMI.
>> RODNEY ELLIS: THERE IS A BACKGROUND.
>> RODNEY ELLIS: WE MIGHT NEED TO GO TO JMI AND COME BACK TO DR. YEMI.
>> GO AHEAD AND DISCONNECT, DOCTOR AND THEN RECONNECT.
>> RODNEY ELLIS: WE WILL GO TO JMI.
THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER ELLIS FOR ASKING US TO PROVIDE AN UPDATE.
SINCE WE LAST GAVE AN UPDATE AT THE COMMISSIONER'S COURT THERE HAS BEEN SOME IMPROVEMENT AND SOME MOVEMENT.
THE DISTRICT COURT JUDGES FINALLY HAVE ACCESS TO THE PROGRAMS FOR THE FIRST TIME IN TWO TO THREE YEARS.
IT HAS HELPED TO INCREASE DISPOSITIONS.
EVEN WITH THIS PROGRESS AND WITH JURY TRIALS UNROLLED BY THE SUPREME COURT AND IN CAPACITY BEING 25% AT THE COURTHOUSE PER CDC GUIDELINES, WE DON'T FEEL SUCCESS WILL HAPPEN IN REDUCING THE FELONY CASE BACK -- BACKLOG THAT WILL I'M -- IMPACT THE JAIL POPULATION.
IT HAS INCREASED TO 41,000 WHICH IS UP FROM THE 36,000 THAT COMMISSIONER ELLIS SPOKE OF THAT WE REPORTED ON AT THE END OF THE MAY.
WE MADE SEVERAL RECOMMENDATIONS AND WE MET INDIVIDUALLY WITH EACH OF THE STAKEHOLDERS.
WE SPOKE WITH THEM ABOUT THE FEASIBILITY AND THE RECOMMENDATION THAT'S WERE MADE.
SO FAR WE HAVE CONDUCTED INDIVIDUAL MEETINGS AND THAT INCLUDES SOME OF HER STAFF AND THE PUBLIC DEFENDER AND SEVERAL COURT JUDGES AND THE COURT ADMINISTRATOR OF THE DISTRICT COURT AND CSCD AS WELL AS ATTORNEYS FROM THE PRIVATE BAR.
THE GOOD NEWS IS THERE THE CURRENT STAKE HOLDING IS TROUBLESOME.
SOME ARE DEEMED NOT FEASIBLE AND SO THE NEXT STEP IN THE PROCESS IS MEET WITH THE JUDGES AND THE KEY STAKEHOLDERS TO TALK ABOUT THE COURSE OF ANGS -- ACTION.
THE COURSE OF ACTION IS BASED ON THE INDIVIDUALS THAT I JUST LISTED IMPLEMENTATION OF DOCKET REVIEWS AND INDIVIDUAL CASE REVIEWS TO DETERMINE WHICH CASES CAN BE DIVERTED OR PLED.
THIS IS FOR THOSE CASES PENDING FOR MORE THAN 9 MONTHS.
EXPANSION OF DIVERSION AND REMEDIATION OF NON-VIOLENT AND LOW FELONIES INCLUDING THOSE PENDING FOR 9 MONTHS.
IMPLEMENTATION OF SCHEDULING ORDERS AND DOCKET CONTROL ORDERS THAT ARE IN PROCESS WITH THE DISTRICT COURT JUDGES.
CREATION OF SPECIALIZED TRACKS AND ASSIGNMENTS TO HEAR OLDER CASES TO HANDLE THE INCOMING CASES.
CREATION OF A SCHEDULE FOR ATTORNEY APPEARANCE FOR BAIL REVIEWS.
IMPLEMENTATION OF INCREASED USE OF TECHNOLOGY FOR APPEARANCES.
AND CHANGING THE FEE SCHEDULE FOR APPOINTED COUNCIL THAT CURRENTLY IS ON A COURT APPEARANCE BASIS TO A PLAT FEE OR SOME OTHER PAYMENT STRUCTURE TO INCENTIVIZE THE MORE EXPEDITIOUS CASES.
IN TERMS OF THE JAIL POPULATION WE WANT TO COMMEND THE SHARE OF COVID IN THE JAIL POPULATION.
THE JAIL POPULATION HATS -- HAS DROPPED.
WHEN YOU COMPARE THAT TO OTHER LARGE JURISDICTIONS HARRIS COUNTY'S DECREASE IN POPULATION IS SLOWER THAN THE OTHER MAJOR JURISDICTIONS.
FOR EXAMPLE IF WE LOOK AT COOK COUNTY THEY DECREASED THEIR JAIL POPULATION BY 25% AND NEW YORK CITY DECREASED 37%.
COOK COUNTY'S CURRENT POPULATION IS 4900.
THIS IS AS THEY START TO REOPEN AND NEW YORK CITY 3900.
THE GOOD NEWS IS THAT DISPOSITIONS ARE STARTING TO RISE WITH THE OPENING OF THE DISTRICT COURTS.
HOWEVER, THEY ARE NOT GOING TO SIGNIFICANTLY IMPACT THE BACKLOG.
TRANSFERS HAVE STARTED AGAIN WHICH KEPT THEM FLAT AND THE BOND ORDERS KEPT THE PRE-TRIAL DOWN BUT JAIL POPULATION IS STILL ABOUT 75% FELONY PRE-TRIAL.
>> SO ARE WE THE SECOND LARGEST -- >> RODNEY ELLIS: I'M SORRY.
>> >> STEVE RADACK: MA'AM, I APPRECIATE YOUR INFORMATION AND I HAVE A QUESTION.
I FEEL LIKE YOU SHOULD HAVE SOME OPINION ABOUT THIS.
WHAT DO YOU SEE GOING ON OUT ON THE STREETS OF HARRIS COUNTY? IN OTHER WORDS, IS CRIME INCREASING? ARE FELONY CRIMES INCREASING? CAN YOU JUDGED BASED ON THE INFORMATION YOU ARE GETTING AS YOU SEE THESE CASES MOUNT AND MOUNT? IS IT BECOMING PRETTY CLEAR THAT CRIME IS INCREASE SNG.
>> DO YOU WANT TO ANSWER THAT QUESTION?
I CAN TELL THAT YOU WE ARE COLLECTING INFORMATION REGARDING THIS CURRENTLY AND WE ARE GOING TO COLLECT THE SAME INFORMATION FROM OTHER JURISDICTIONS SIMILAR IN SIZE ACROSS THE COUNTRY, AND WE SHOULD HAVE THAT INFORMATION FAIRLY SOON.
WHAT WE ARE SEEING ACROSS THE COUNTRY -- I CAN'T SPEAK FOR HARRIS COUNTY, BUT THERE IS AN INCREASE IN DOMESTIC VIOLENCE CASES AND SOME OF THE OTHER TYPES OF ALTERCATION-TYPE RELATED OFFENSES.
AGAIN, I AM NOT SPEAKING FOR HARRIS COUNTY.
HOPEFULLY WE WILL HAVE THAT DATA WITHIN THE NEXT MONTH OR SO.
WE ARE GRATEFUL FOR THE INFORMATION AND THE COOPERATION WE ARE GETTING FROM YOUR COUNTY TO PUT THAT TOGETHER.
>> STEVE RADACK: AND I APPRECIATE THAT.
I THINK THAT'S AN IMPORTANT POINT AND AN IMPORTANT INFORMATION YOU ARE INCLUDING.
ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU SEE PEOPLE TALK ABOUT DEFUNDING POLICE.
I THINK THERE IS REAL EVIDENCE OF THE HUGE PROBLEM GOING ON ON THE STREETS OF AMERICA.
>> RODNEY ELLIS: WHAT IS GOING ON IN OTHER JURISDICTIONS THAT WE ARE NOT DOING HERE IN TERMS OF REDUCING THE JAIL POPULATION?
>> WHAT WE ARE SEEING IS THERE IS MUCH MORE IN TERMS OF THE TECHNOLOGY.
THERE IS USE OF TECHNOLOGY IN HARRIS COUNTY, BUT IT IS NOT PERVASIVE AS WE HAVE SEEN IN OTHER JURISDICTIONS AROUND THE COUNTRY.
THE TEXAS AOC AND RULES OF CRIMINAL PROCEDURE OUTLINE WHAT THEY CAN AND CAN'T DO USING TECHNOLOGY.
OTHER STATES WERE ABLE TO RELAX THAT.
IN TERMS OF OTHER THINGS GOING ON THERE IS AN INCREASED USE OF INDIVIDUALIZED DOCKET -- DOCKET REVIEW.
THEY ARE VIRTUALLY THE SAME THING THEY TAKE A GROUP OF CASES, A GROUP OF INDIVIDUALS EVERY WEEK AND WE LOOK AT WHO CAN BE RELEASED.
THEY ARE LOOKING AT WHAT CASES CAN BE RESOLVED AND WHAT CAN BE DIVERTED.
THOSE ARE SOME OF THE THINGS WE ARE SEEING.
YOU MAY HAVE SOME OF THE EXAMPLE.
>> I AM NOT AWARE OF ANOTHER JURISDICTION THAT HAS THE SAME HOLE YOU ARE IN.
YOUR PROBLEMS REALLY BEGAN WITH HURRICANE HARVEY WHICH LEAD TO THE DISPLACEMENTS OF THE COURT.
FOR EXAMPLE IN NEVADA WHEN THEY REACHED THE POINT OF 6,000 FELONY CASES AS A BACKLOG, THEY STARTED PANICKING.
THEY BROUGHT TOGETHER THEIR STAKEHOLDERS AND THEY SAID WHAT CAN WE DO TO TRIM OFF THESE LOW-LEVEL CASES AND DISPOSE OF THEM SO WE CAN FOCUS ON THE MORE SERIOUS CASES.
SPECIFICALLY THEY BROUGHT TOGETHER THEIR JUDGES AND THE D.A.
AND THE DEFENSE ATTORNEYS AND TRIED TO WIDDLE THOSE DOWN AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE.
>> RODNEY ELLIS: ANYBODY IN THE COUNTRY WITH STATISTICS AND NUMBERS LOOKING LIKE OURS? WE ARE ON THE VERGE OF COLLAPSE.
THEY HAVE NOT PARTICIPATED THE SAFETY AND JUSTICE CHALLENGE.
WE HAVE NOT SEEN ANY NUMBERS AND COURTS LIKE THIS.
>> THAT'S MOST OF THE URBAN AREAS.
WHO IS LEFT OUT IN TERMS OF THE MAJOR URBAN AREAS?
>> I CAN LIST FOR YOU THE MAJOR URBAN AREAS.
HAVE YOU COOK COUNTY WHICH IS CHICAGO AND NEW YORK CITY AND LOS ANGELES AND PHILADELPHIA AND HARRIS COUNTY AND THEN YOU GET INTO LAS VEGAS, SHELBY COUNTY, MEMPHIS, TENNESSEE.
>> DID HE THINK OF ANYTHING ELSE WE SHOULD BE DOING? I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE WE ARE AWARE OF IT.
>> THE BIG THING IS UNTIL YOU HAVE JURY TRIALS, THE ABILITY TO HAVE JURY TRIALS THERE IS A REALITY THAT CASES DON'T MOVE UNTIL YOU CAN GET A JURY TRIAL DATE.
WE CAN'T JUST HOPE THE COURTS WILL OPEN.
I THINK THE STAKEHOLDERS ARE IN AGREEMENT TO DOING THAT.
AT SOME POINT SOMEBODY WILL COME IN HERE AND SAY YOU HAVE TO DO SOMETHING OR WE WILL END UP WITH SOME LAWSUITS PRETTY SOON.
>> YOUR JAIL IS 10,000 OR 11,000.
IT DOES BECOME AN ISSUE WHEN YOU ADD COVID TO THE MIX AND YOU HAVE TO QUARANTINE INDIVIDUALS AND SEPARATE AND OTHER JURISDICTIONS WILL BE LESS INCLINED TO TAKE YOUR PEN MATE OUT OF FEAR THAT THEY WILL BRING THAT VIRUS INTO THEIR BUILDING AND YOU WILL SEE FOLKS IN THE JAIL BEING STUCK THERE.
AND SO THAT IS JUST SOMETHING THAT YOU WANT TO KEEP THE POPULATION DOWN TO
[13:50:02]
PROTECT YOURSELF AND IT IS ADDING UP.>> IF WE ARE THE FOURTH LARGEST COVID CLUSTER WHAT ARE THE OTHER THREE, DO YOU KNOW?
>> I DON'T KNOW OFF THE TOP OF MY HEAD, DO YOU?
>> NO, 8 YOU POLL -- I APOLOGIZE.
>> IT SEEMS TO ME THAT IT CAN'T ALL BE ABOUT THE JURY TRIALS.
I THE -- I HAD MY STAFF PULL THIS.
3,308 PRE-TRIAL WITH NO VIOLENT CHARGES, NON-VIOLENT OFFENSES WHICH IS LIKE IN L.A.
THEY DON'T -- THAT WAS INITIALLY WHAT WE WERE TRYING TO DO AND YET THESE FOLKS ARE IN THE JAIL WHERE WE KNOW THEY -- WE KNOW IT IS A COVID RISK.
THAT IS ACTION THAT COULD BE TAKEN TO RELEASE THOSE FOLKS.
>> THOSE ARE THE TYPE OF OFFENSES THAT WE ARE LOOKING AT.
>> WE HAD 8,000 PEOPLE AND 3800 PRE-TRIAL AND NONVIOLENT.
THAT WOULD BRING IT DOWN TO HALF CAPACITY.
I KNOW THEY ARE WORKING ON SOME OF THE JURY TRIALS, BUT I AM LOATHE TO PUT IT ON THAT BECAUSE I DON'T THINK ANYBODY HAS A FULL JURY SCHEDULE IN THE GENERAL COMMUNITIES AND SOME OF IT DOES GO TO THESE FOLKS AND NOT TO ADDRESS THE BACKLOG.
>> WE WERE LOOKING AT PRIVATE DEFENDERS AND DEFENSE ATTORNEYS AND PROSECUTORS EVEN.
THEY ALL SAY FROM PART OF THE DEFENDANT THE RISK TO GO TO TRIAL IS A BIG MOTIVATOR FOR THEM TO PLEA OR TO HAVE A GOOD PLEA OFFER.
IT MAKES PEOPLE WANT TO VOID IT OUT AND THAT'S WHAT THEY ARE SEEING IN HARRIS COUNTY.
>> LINA HIDALGO: BUT THEY COULD UNILATERALLY RELEASE THEM UNTIL IT IS TIME FOR TRIAL.
WE KNOW WHAT THE PLEAS TURN OUT TO BE.
THEY HAVE THE ABILITY TO SCHEDULE A TRIAL, BUT NONE WERE SCHEDULED IN AUGUST.
I DON'T KNOW WHY IT WAS THREE CIVIL TRIALS.
WE COULD HAVE HAD A CRIMINAL AND WE DIDN'T.
AND NOW THE SUMMONS HAVE GONE OUT FOR AUGUST AND THEY WILL BE OUT FOR SEPTEMBER SOON.
YOU SEE THEY CAN GET SCHEDULED AND THAT'S ENOUGH OF A THREAT.
IT IS NOT LIKE YOU NEED THESE FOR IT TO BE A REALITY.
THE OFFICE OF ADMINISTRATION IS APPROVING TRIALS.
ONE WAS SUPPOSED TO TAKE PLACE THIS WEEK AND THE OTHER ARE SCHEDULE FOR LATER THIS MONTH.
AND THE JUDGES ARE PREPARING IS SEND A SUMMONS OUT FOR TRIALS IN SEPTEMBER.
I AM JUST SAYING THIS BECAUSE I DON'T WANT TO GIVE COVER WHERE IT IS NOT MARE RETED.
YOU HAD IN YOUR RECOMMENDATION THESE NON-VIOLENT OFFENSES THAT OF COURSE THEY WILL COME BACK AND FACE TRIAL AND BE HELD TO ACCOUNT AND IF FOUND GUILTY THEY WILL BE SENT TO PRISON, BUT THEY DON'T NEED TO BE WAITING IN THE JAIL.
EVERYBODY HAD THE DISCRETION TO DO THAT.
I HAD THE ABILITY TO DO THAT AND I WAS BLOCKED BY ONE OF THE JUDGES.
YET THEY ARE NOT DEALING WITH THIS BACKLOG THEMSELVES.
WE ARE DOING ALL WE CAN TO MAKE THIS TRIAL AS SAFE AS POSSIBLE IF THEY WILL HAVE AND SEND THE DATA.
I UNDERSTAND THE SHERIFF CAN'T EVEN SEND LISTS OF WHO THESE NON-VIOLENT OFFENDERS ARE EVER SINCE THE JUDGES HAVE BEEN -- HAVE JOINED THE ATTORNEY GENERAL'S SIDE ON THE BAIL LITIGATION.
I JUST DON'T THINK IT HELPS TO MAKE IT CUT AND DRY.
OF COURSE WE WILL MOVE ON THE TRIALS AND IT IS HAPPENING, BUT THERE IS DISCRETION THAT COULD BE EXERCISED.
THESE FOLKS DON'T NEED TO BE SITTING THERE.
THE JUDGE COULD RELEASE THEM JUST LIKE I PROPOSED TO DO MONTHS AGO AND AS YOU ASKED THEM TO DO.
>> JUDGE, YOU ARE EXACTLY RIGHT.
THIS IS AN ISSUE THAT IS TOO FULL.
YOU HAVE A JAIL POPULATION THAT IS HIGHER THAN YOU IT -- THAN IT SHOULD BE AND K COVID YOU HAVE NON-VIOLENT OFFENDERS WAITING FOR TRIAL THAT CAN BE RELEASED.
THEIR CASES WILL NEED TO BE ADJUDICATED AND THEY ARE IN THAT 41,000 PENDING CASES, BUT THIS IS A TWO-FRONT PROBLEM.
>> I THINK WE SHOULD GIVE CREDIT TO THE DISTRICT COURT JUDGES.
THEY ISSUED AN ORDER TO RELEASE THE NON-VIOLENT ACCUSED FELONS AND THERE ARE
THINGS THAT KEEP PEOPLE IN JAIL -- >> LINA HIDALGO: AND THERE ARE LIKE 20 RELEASES ? ARE YOU TALKING A RECENT ONE?
>> THE ONE THAT WAS EARLIER -- >> LINA HIDALGO: HOW MANY PEOPLE -- THAT WAS LIKE A TINY -- I MEAN IF THERE ARE 50 NON-VIOLENT CRIMES WE ARE PROPOSING IT HAD LIKE FOUR.
I THINK ONLY 20 PEOPLE QUALIFIED.
WHEN YOU GIVE PEOPLE COVER AND DON'T EXPECT THEM TO USE THEIR COURAGE, THEY ARE LESS LIKELY TO INCENTIVIZE THE COURAGE.
>> JUDGE, I AGREE WITH YOU AND THE REST OF WHAT I WAS GOING TO SAY IS EVEN THOUGH THEY ISSUED THAT ADMINISTRATIVE ORDER THERE ARE MANY FACTORS THAT KEEP PEOPLE IN JAIL SUCH AS HAVING A HOLD OR A DETAINER FROM ANOTHER JURISDICTION AND THAT ADD -- ADMINISTRATIVE ORDER HAD A LOT OF CARVE TOUTS AND BLOCKED PEOPLE FROM GETTING RELEASED SUCH AS CRIMINAL HISTORY.
>> LINA HIDALGO: I LOOKED AT THAT ORDER AND IISH ED -- I ISSUED MINE AFTER THAT U.N WITH.
MINE WAS BROADER THAN THAT ONE AND IT WAS FINE.
MANY MORE PEOPLE QUALIFIED WITH MY ORDER EVEN WITH THE GOVERN -- GOVERNORS.
THEY COULD HAVE BORROWED MY ORDER AND USED MY ORDER AND IT WOULD HAVE YIELDED HUNDREDS OF NONVIOLENT PRE-TRIAL AND HAVE NOT BEEN CONVICTED AND WILL HAVE TO COME TO COURT AND THEY CHOSE NOT TO DO THAT.
MY STAFF WAS DAFT -- DRAFTING IT.
I KNOW WHAT THEY COULD HAVE ACHIEVED AND EVEN NOW.
WITH THAT GOVERNOR'S ORDERS AND THAT GOVERNOR'S.
>> RODNEY ELLIS: JUDGE I AM LOOKING AT SOME STATISTIC HERE, AND SO THERE WAS A LIST OF 538 NON-VIOLENT FELONY CHARGES ON THE LIST, BUT 12 OF THOSE WERE BREACHED TO BE RELEASED.
LOOK, I READ THAT JMI REPORT SOME TIME BACK AND I SAW A PHRASE IN THERE AND IT WAS A SUMMARY THAT SOMEBODY SAID THE SYSTEM IS ON THE VERGE OF COLLAPSE.
I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE I AM LAYING THIS OUT.
AT SOME POINT IF IT IS SOMEBODY ACCUSED OF A VIOLENT CRIME, THAT IS ONE THING, BUT THIS IS UNSUSTAINABLE.
IS UH -- IS AHEAD OF US IN TERMS OF POPULATION OF URBAN COUNTIES.
WE ARE AHEAD OF COOK COUNTY, NEW YORK AND ONLY L.A.
THEY HAVE MORE THAN WE HAVE, IS THAT RIGHT?
>> THAT IS CORRECT BASED ON END OF JUNE FIGURES.
>> RODNEY ELLIS: ALL RIGHT, I WILL LET THE PROFESSOR IF HE IS STILL AROUND SEE IF THERE IS ANYTHING HE CAN ADD.
>> HI, CAN YOU HEAR ME NOW? GOOD EVENING.
I AM A PROFESSOR OF PUBLIC HEALTH AT DUKE UNIVERSITY AND IT IS AROUND ISSUE ABOUT THE COVID-19 PRISONS FROM EARLY ON IN THE PANDEMIC THAT SHOWN A LIGHT ON THIS ISSUE.
WRY NOAH LOT MORE NOW -- WE KNOW MORE ABOUT HOW YOU CAN BE AFFECTED AND HOW YOU BREAK THE TRANSMISSION FROM PERSON TO PERSON.
IT IS AVOIDING BEING INSIDE AND WE KNOW IT IS AIRBORNE.
IT IS NOT JUST DROPLETS, BUT AEROSOL -- AEROSOLS.
BEING INSIDE WITH A LOT OF PEOPLE WITHOUT VENTILATION IS RISKY.
OBVIOUSLY THOSE PROTECTIONS ARE NOT BEING AFFORDED TO THE MILLIONS OF PEOPLE IN FEDERAL AND STATE PRISONS.
MANY JAILS AND PRISONS ARE TINDER BOXES FOR OUTBREAKS.
POOR VENTILATION AND PEOPLE PACKED INTO CELLS.
HANDCUFFED PEOPLE WHO CAN'T EVEN COVER THEIR MOUTHS IN -- IF THEY COUGH AND LOWER ACCESS TO MEDICAL CARE.
THERE ARE NOT A LOT OF MASKS IN PRISONS.
THERE IS NOT A LOT OF ABILITY TO WASH YOUR HANDS OR HAVE ACCESS TO HAND SANITIZER.
ALL IN ALL, THOSE ARE CONDITIONS FOR OUTBREAKS.
WHEN I WROTE THIS I COULDN'T PREDICT THAT WE WOULD HAVE 17,700 PEOPLE AND 712 DEATHS.
WE ALSO KNOW THE VULNERABILITY THAT'S MAKE YOU MORE LIKELY TO DIE IF YOU ARE INFECTED, DIABETES, HEART DISEASE, STROKE ARE MORE COMMON IN PEOPLE IN JAILS AND PRISONS.
WE KNOW THOSE INCARCERATED ELDERLY WHICH HAS BEEN INCREASING THE LAST FEW DECADES AND I AM PARTICULARLY DISTURBED BY THE NUMBER OF PREGNANT WOMEN IN JAILS AND PRISONS THAT -- PRISONS.
THERE HAS NOT BEEN A LOT OF RESEARCH ON PREGNANT WOMEN WITH COVID-19, BUT IF YOU LOOK AT SIMILAR VIRUSES YOU CAN ASSUME IF YOU ARE INFECTED AS A PREGNANT WOMAN YOU ARE MORE LIKELY TO GET SICK AND DIE.
THERE IS ALSO A TERM, AN EXPRESSION THAT PRISON HELTD -- HEALTH IS PUBLIC HEALTH.
IT IS FROM CORRECTIONAL OFFICERS AND VISITORS.
IT WAS PUT IN PLACE AND WE COULD SEE AN ADDITIONAL 99,000 DEATHS.
IT IS SOMETHING YOU COULD SEE PUBLISHED IN COOK COUNTY JAIL HAS BEEN LINKED TO AROUND 16% OF ALL CASES IN CHICAGO AND 16% IN ILLINOIS AS OF LATE APRIL.
THOSE CONDITIONS MADE ME NERVOUS.
THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE IN THE HARRIS COUNTY JAIL WERE INFECTED.
AND SO JAIL SOUT BREAKS ARE ALMOST CERTAINLY PART OF WHAT IS FUELING THE SCENARIO IN HOUSTON RIGHT NOW.
I RECOMMEND THAT TO REDUCE IT WE HAVE TO TAKE THE VALVE OFF AND IT REDUCES THE POPULATION AND PROTECTING PRISONERS AND PROTECTING INCARCERATED PEOPLE.
WE ACTUALLY END UP MAKING ALL OF US SAFE.
AND WE HAVE SEEN THAT KIND OF TAKING THE VALVE OFF.
I AM NOT ORIGINALLY FROM HERE.
>> RODNEY ELLIS: JUDGE I WANT TO HEAR FROM THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE.
>> LINA HIDALGO: COMMISSIONERS -- [INAUDIBLE].
>> DR. YEMI CAN YOU -- THERE YOU GO.
>> LINA HIDALGO: GO AHEAD, COMMISSIONER ELLIS.
>> RODNEY ELLIS: I WANTED TO -- LET'S ASK SOME QUESTIONS FROM DR. YEMI AND THEN I WANT TO TURN TO THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE.
>> LINA HIDALGO: DOESN'T LOOK LIKE THERE ARE QUESTIONS.
[13:55:01]
>> THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY.
>> I DO HAVE OTHER SPEAKERS JUDGE.
>> LINA HIDALGO: COMMISSIONER ELLIS WANTED TO HEAR FROM -- >> RODNEY ELLIS: ANYBODY FROM THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE? I WANT TO GET A SENSE ON THE GROUND OF WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE.
A SENSE OF WHAT IT IS LIKE FOR US ON THE GROUND IS WE DO HAVE A POPULATION THAT HOVERS AROUND 8,000 EVERY DAY.
TODAY WE HAVE 8,042 INMATES WITH US TODAY OF THAT NUMBER SINCE MARCH 14TH, WE HAVE TESTED 6,000 OF THOSE INMATES.
OF THOSE 6,000 ABOUT 1500 HAVE TESTED POSITIVE.
TODAY 1199 ARE IN OUR CUSTODY DOUGH THAT ARE POSITIVE.
GIVEN THE SPACE CONSTRAINTS WE HAVE WITH THE PHYSICAL FOOTPRINT ON CAMPUS WE ARE ABLE TO QUARANTINE OUR POSITIVES EITHER IN ISOLATION QUARANTINE OR OUR INFIRMARY FOR THOSE WHO ARE SYMPTOMATIC POSITIVE.
WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE RATES OF POSITIVITY FOR OUR CAMPUS WE FALL A LITTLE LOWER.
15% OF OUR POPULATION IS TESTING POSITIVE AND I BELIEVE IT IS HIGHER FOR THE COUNTY IN GENERAL.
IT IS ABOUT 10% OF THOSE THAT ARE TESTING POSITIVE.
>> THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING YOU ARE DOING.
I KNOW ARE YOU DRIVING THOSE TESTING PROJECTS.
>> LINA HIDALGO: IF YOU TESTED THE POPULATION AT RANDOM WHAT WOULD BE POSITIVE VERSUS THE PEOPLE THAT ARE POSITIVE GOING TO A TEST SITE OR THOSE WHO FEEL SICK.
THAT'S WHY THE POSITIVITY RATE IS A BIT OF A -- IT IS THE CONFUSING INDICATOR AND WE DON'T REALLY HAVE A FULL -- IT IS GOOD TO LOOK AT -- THEY SAY 5% IS WHERE ARE YOU SAFE.
FOR WHATEVER THAT IS WORTH I DON'T THINK THAT IS APPLES TO APPLES COMPARISON.
I THINK ONE THING THAT IS A POTENTIAL INDICATOR IS THE POTENTIAL REPORTING OF THOSE COMING THROUGH INTAKE.
WE ARE TREYS -- WE ARE TESTING EVERYONE WHO COMES IN THE JAIL AND IS STAYING WITH THIS.
THIS IS NOT SOMEBODY WHO IS KOSMING IN AND THE CHARGES ARE ACCEPT -- CHARGES ARE ACCEPTED THEY RECEIVE TESTING.
ANYWHERE FROM 10 TO 15% OF THOSE ARE POSITIVE AS WELL.
THAT MAY BE SOMEWHAT OF AN INDICATOR, BUT AGAIN YOU HAVE TO LOOK AT THE SOCIOECONOMIC STATUS OF THOSE COMING INTO THE JAIL AS WELL.
>> RODNEY ELLIS: IS THE TEST MANDATORY?
FOR THOSE WHO COME IN AND STAYING WITH US, IT IS MANDATORY.
THEY HAVE A RIGHT TO REFUSE THE TEST, BUT SIMILAR TO OUR TB TESTING IF THEY REFUSE THE TEST THEY ARE QUARANTINED.
WE HAVE NO IDEA OF THEIR STATUS.
THE SHERIFF HAS IMPLEMENTED AN ORDER AND IT IS ALSO MANDATORY FOR THEM AS WELL.
>> RODNEY ELLIS: THANK YOU, DOCTOR.
>> RODNEY ELLIS: I KNOW THERE MAY BE OTHER FOLKS WHO WANT TO TESTIFY ON THE SUBJECT AS WELL.
>> LINA HIDALGO: YES, LUCINDA.
I AM SARA WOOD AND GENERAL COUNSEL FOR THE HAIR TRIES CON -- HARRIS COUNTY PUBLIC DEFENDER'S OFFICE.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR HAVING ME.
COVID IN THE JAIL IS A SUBJECT THAT LITERALLY KEEPS ME AWAKE AT NIGHT.
IT IS HARD TO IMAGINE HOW TERRIFYING TO BE LOCKED IN THE JAIL WITH POTENTIALLY DEADLY AND MYSTERIOUS DISEASE.
THE HARRIS COUNTY JAIL IS NOT JUST A NATIONAL HOTSPOT, BUT IT IS A GROUND 0 -- GROUND 0 WORLDWIDE.
THE HARRIS COUNTY JAIL IS SECOND LARGEST IN THE COUNTRY.
ONE THING THAT IS REALLY INTERESTING IS IT PUTS A LITERAL FACE ON THE FACT THAT FOR DECADES MASS INCARCERATION ITSELF HAS BEEN A PUBLIC HEALTH DISASTER.
WITH THE PANDEMIC WE ARE SEEING THE APPROXIMATE THAT LATCH ON TO PEOPLE SPREAD AS THE VIRUS IS DOING.
LOOKING AT THE SHERIFF'S REPORT FROM LAST WEEK THEY HAD 1,435 PRISONERS TESTING POSITIVE.
ALL OF THESE PEOPLE ARE GOING TO GET OUT AT SOME POINT AND BRING IT BACK TO THEIR FAMILY AND FRIENDS.
AND THERE IS PRISON HEALTH AND PUBLIC HEALTH.
WE HAVE OVER 8,000 PEOPLE IN THE JAIL AT ANY GIVEN TIME.
THAT'S THE CAPACITY OF ASTRO ARENA.
IT IS DIFFICULT TO IMAGINE THAT MANY PEOPLE HELD IN ONE PLACE TOGETHER.
>> RODNEY ELLIS: 80% OF THEM HAVE NOT BEEN CONVICTED OF A CRIME, RIGHT? AND I KNOW ON THE FELONY SIDE I THINK YOU GOT TO REPRESENT PEOPLE IN 3% OF THE CASES.
THE OLD WAS THE COURT APPOINTED SYSTEM WHICH IS A SEPARATE ISSUE THE "NEW YORK TIMES" REPORTED ON A MONTH AGO.
THE JUDGE OBVIOUSLY EXHAUSTED ALL OF THE POWER SHE HAD BUT IS THERE ANY OTHER SENSE OF WHAT WE CAN DO?
>> THERE ARE ISSUES YOU CAN BE MAKING AWARE OF.
AS YOU ARE PROBABLY AWARE THE D.A.'S OFFICE IN SOME RESPECT OF THE CALF RAW -- THE CAVALIER ATTITUDE OF EXPOSING YOURSELF TO THE VIRUS.
IT IS THE FIRST AGENCY TO CALL OUT THEIR EMPLOYEES FROM THE COURTHOUSE HOUSE.
THEY DO NOT APPEAR IN IN PERSON AT ALL.
THERE ARE 600 NON-VIOLENT PROTESTERS.
IT IS ON CHARGES OF OBJECT PRODUCTING A ROADWAY.
AND SINCE COVID THEY HAVE BEGUN FILING MOTIONS.
WE DOUBLED DOWN ON KEEPING PEOPLE IN JAIL.
THEY APPEAR TO BE CONCERNED AND THEY ARE PARTICIPATING IN TRYING TO REDUCE THE POPULATION AND SO THEY ARE REVIEWING THE CASES AND PUTTING OUT LISTS WHERE THEY AGREE.
THIS IS A SMALL AMOUNT OF PEOPLE.
THE LAST LIST HAD 1100 PEOPLE ON IT AND THAT WAS LOOKING AT ALL BOOKINGS DURING A 10-DAY PERIOD.
THEY PUT THE LISTS OUT, BUT THEY ARE NOT SHARING THEM WITH ANYONE.
THEY DON'T NOTIFY THE DEFENSE ATTORNEYS.
WHEN THEY DO AGREE TO RELEASE THEY MAKE -- THEY DON'T MAKE IT PUBLIC.
SOME OF THE DEFENSE ATTORNEYS GOING -- GOING BACK TO SOME OF THE CASES AND IT IS NOT EASY BEING AN ATTORNEY.
THE D.A.'S OFFICE IS -- THEY ARE GREE -- AGREEING, BUT THEY ARE NOT LETTING ANYONE KNOW.
I DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH POINT THERE IS TO THAT.
ANOTHER THING IS WE ARE GOING -- WE HAVE BEEN HAVING WEEKLY HEARINGS IN -- IN REFERENCE TO HARRIS COUNTY AND THE FEDERAL JUDGE ROSETHA -- ROSENTHAL HAS BEEN CONCERNED ABOUT THE CONDITIONS IN THE JAIL.
SHE TRIED PROCEDURES TO GET PEOPLE RELEASED.
THEY HAVE HAD THE D.A.'S OFFICE REVIEW THEM.
THAT'S WHERE THE 12 AGREED RELEASES YOU MENTIONED CAME FROM.
THE SHERIFF LISTED 500 PEOPLE.
THAT WAS AT JUDGE ROSENTHAL'S URGENCY.
IN THE LAST COUPLE WEEKS THE DISTRICT COURTS HAVE STOPPED PARTICIPATING IN HEARINGS ALTOGETHER.
THERE IS NO MORE COOPERATION AND ALL OF THE FEDERAL COURTS EFFORTS APPEAR AND THERE IS A LOT OF QUESTIONS ABOUT, WELL, HOW MANY BAIL HEARINGS ARE HAPPENING? ARE PEOPLE GETTING THEIR BAIL REDUCED? I POURED THROUGH THE RECORDS ON THE FIRST WEBSITE AND I CANNOT FIND THE ANSWERS TO THESE QUESTIONS.
AND PREVIOUSLY YOU COULD SIMPLY WALK INTO COURT AND SEE IF THERE WAS A HEARING GOING ON AND GET A FEEL FOR WHAT IS HAPPENING JUST BY GOING IN AND OBSERVING.
NOW THAT IS NOT AN OPTION AND WE ARE RELYING ON THE DISTRICT CLERK'S RECORDS AND THERE IS NO WAY TO SEARCH FOR BAIL HEARINGS.
YOU CAN SEE BONDS BEING RAISED AND LOWERED AND YOU DON'T KNOW THE BASIS FOR THAT.
THERE IS NO RECORD BEING KEPT.
THAT'S YOUR RIGHT TO HAVE PUBLIC COURT.
THAT COULD BE SOME OF THE TECHNOLOGY FENCES THERE.
THE OTHER PROBLEM IS THAT THERE IS NO THE IN PERSON VISITATION HAPPENING AT THE JAIL.
LIKE I SAID, THERE ARE A LOT OF OBSTACLES FOR DEFENSE COUNSEL TO EVEN PREPARE FOR A BAIL HEARING AND TO RAISE A GOOD DEFENSE.
ONE OF THOSE IS THAT IT IS DIFFICULT TO COMMUNICATE WITH ONE -- WITH ONE'S CLIENT.
THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE HAS DONE A GREAT JOB SETTING UP THE VIDEO VISITATION AND THERE IS A LOT OF CONFUSION ABOUT THE PROCEDURES GOING ON.
I HAVE BEEN TRYING TO WORK WITH THEM TO ESTABLISH THE PROCEDURE THAT'S CAN BE COMMUNICATED WITH THE DEFENSE ATTORNEY.
YOU NEED YOUR CLIE YEBT -- CLIENT TO SIGN PAPERWORK.
YOU HAVE TO USE THE MAIL? THAT TAKES WEEKS.
>> LINA HIDALGO: YES, COMMISSIONER RADACK.
>> STEVE RADACK: IS THIS PERSON A SPEAKER? THE LADY THAT IS SPEAKING?
>> YES, SIR, SHE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK.
>> STEVE RADACK: HOW LONG HAS SHE SPOKEN FOR NOW, JAMES?
>> I TAKE IT SHE WAS ANSWERING COMMISSIONER ELLIS' QUESTION SO SO I STOPPED IT AT 12 SECONDS.
>> STEVE RADACK: WITH ALL DUE RESPECT, MA'AM IS ALEX AVAILABLE RIGHT NOW?
>> STEVE RADACK: LUCINDA, IS ALEX AVAILABLE?
>> STEVE RADACK: YES, ARE YOU IN AGREEMENT WITH EVERYTHING THIS LADY IS SAY SNG -- SAYING?
>> STEVE RADACK: THAT'S GOOD TO KNOW.
ARE WE GOING TO HAVE ANYBODY COME HERE TO DEFEND THEMSELVES TO THE ALLEGATIONS OF ONE OF YOUR EMPLOYEES?
>> WHO DO YOU SUGGEST, COMMISSIONER? STEVE WHO WOULD YOU SUGGEST?
>> STEVE RADACK: WHO WOULD YOU SUGGEST?
>> I MEAN, THE PEOPLE THAT WOULD NEED TO ANSWER TO THAT ARE ALL PUBLIC OFFICIALS WHO
[14:00:02]
ARE ALL VERY CAPABLE OF DOING THAT.>> STEVE RADACK: WELL, I THINK THIS IS UNBELIEVABLE.
APPARENTLY BASED ON -- IF I UNDERSTAND WHAT SHE IS SAYING SHE HAS A PROBLEM WITH NOT ONLY THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY AND APPARENTLY SHE HAS A HUGE PROBLEM WITH THE DISTRICT COURT JUDGES AS WELL.
I HAVE BEEN PART OF THOSE HEARINGS IN FEDERAL COURT AND I AGREE WITH WHAT JUDGE RE -- ROSENTHAL IS TRYING TO DO.
>> STEVE RADACK: I THINK IT IS INTERESTING THAT ME, HERE YOU HAVE A CRITICISM OF EVERY DISTRICT COURT JUDGE IN HARRIS COUNTY THAT DOES CRIMINAL WORK.
YOU AGREE WITH MY STATEMENT? YOU AGREE THAT Y'ALL DON'T -- YOU DON'T CARE FOR THE DISTRICT COURT JUDGES OF HARRIS COUNTY THAT DO CRIMINAL WORK.
>> I NO, I DON'T AGREE WITH THAT.
I THINK THE POINT IS WE HAVE 22 DIFFERENT DISTRICT JUDGES.
BUT THE TOTAL IS WE ARE NOT GETTING PEOPLE OUT OF JAIL AND THAT'S THE POINT THAT IS BEING MADE.
>> STEVE RADACK: WELL, I THINK -- YOU MAY DISAGREE, BUT I BELIEVE THE DISTRICT COURT JUDGES HAVE A LOT OF AUTHORITY ON WHO GETS OUT OF JAIL.
>> STEVE RADACK: YOU MAY BE ABLE TO TURN YOL'S ATTENTION TRYING TO GET A COOPERATIVE AGREEMENT WITH THE DISTRICT COURT JUDGES OF HARRIS COUNTY.
>> WELL, THEY ARE IN THE MIDDLE OF A LAWSUIT.
THEIR LAWYER WON'T EVEN TALK -- THEY ARE NOT TALKING TO US.
>> RIGHT -- >> STEVE RADACK: YOU HAVE A BIG JOB AHEAD OF YOU, ALEX.
>> RODNEY ELLIS: MR. RADACK, I THINK I AGREE AND THAT'S WHY I PUT THIS ITEM ON THE AGENDA.
IT IS LIKE EVERYTHING IS AT A STAND STILL.
>> STEVE RADACK: ONE THING IS FOR SURE, HE HAS PLENTY OF EMPLOYEES.
HE JUST HAS TO FIGURE OUT WHAT TO DO WITH THEM.
IF PEOPLE AREN'T DOING ANY GOOD HE NEEDS TO STRIKING A RELATIONSHIP WITH THE DISTRICT COURT JUDGES AND MAYBE GET THEM TO WORK WITH HIM OR MAYBE VICE -- VICE-VERSA.
>> LINA HIDALGO: YOU LISTED SOME PRETTY SERIOUS SYSTEMIC ISSUES AND THAT'S WHY THEY ARE BEING SUED ON CONSTITUTIONAL VIOLATION TERMS. I JUST THINK IT IS MUCH BIGGER THAN THAT, COMMISSIONER.
>> RODNEY ELLIS: JUDGE AND COMMISSIONER, THAT'S WHY WE DID MAKE LEGAL COUNSEL AVAILABLE FOR THEM.
WE AGREE, ALL OF US ON THIS COURT, THAT THERE IS SOMETHING WRONG WITH THIS SYSTEM WHERE COURT-APPOINTED LAWYERS ARE RARELY SEEING PEOPLE.
SHORT OF RAISING THESE ISSUES, THERE IS NOTHING ELSE THAT CAN BE DONE OTHER THAN WAIT.
AT SOME POINT THE LAWSUIT WILL WORK ITS WAY THROUGH THE SYSTEM.
DID YOU WANT TO WRAP UP, MS. WOOD? ANYTHING ELSE? I DON'T WANT TO CUT YOU SHORT.
ALEX, THANK YOU FOR SPEAKING UP AS WELL.
MS. WOOD IF YOU WANT TO WRAP UP.
THERE MAY BE A COUPLE OTHER PEOPLE THAT WANT TO SPEAK.
>> YEAH, REAL QUICK, THANK YOU.
SO WE NEED BETTER RECORDS TO INCREASE TRANSPARENCY AS TO WHAT IS GOING ON IN COURT WE NEED TO STREAM LINE PROCEDURES FOR COUNCIL TO BETTER COMMUNICATE WITH CLIENTS WHO ARE INMATES.
WE NEED TO CONSIDER TRANSITIONAL HOUSING FOR NON-VIOLENT ARRESTEES WHO CAN BE RELEASED ON BOND.
ONE OF THE OBSTACLES TO RELEASING PEOPLE IS THE QUESTION OF WHERE ARE THEY GOING TO GO? SINCE THEY ARE COMING OUT OF JAIL MANY FAMILY MEMBERS DON'T WANT THEM COMING HOME AND EXPOSING EVERYONE LIKE WE ARE SAYING.
I THINK WE SHOULD CONSIDER TRANSITIONAL HOUSING AVAILABLE FOR CERTAIN NON-VIOLENT OFFENDERS SO THEY CAN HAVE A RELIEF PLAN TO KEEP EVERYONE SAFE AND WE SHOULD MAKE SURE THE SHERIFF HAS ALL OF THE RESOURCES THEY NEED.
I CAN'T BELIEVE THEY WOULDN'T HAVE ENOUGH HAND SANITIZER OR HAVE TO RELY ON DONATIONS OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT.
I THINK THE SHERIFF IS DOING A GREAT JOB AND DOING EVERYTHING HE CAN.
THOSE REALLY ARE THE ONLY SMALL THINGS I CAN THINK OF TO DO NOW.
OTHER THAN LITIGATING EVERY CASE WHICH IS WHAT WE ARE TRYING TO DO.
>> RODNEY ELLIS: I HAVE AN ITEM LATER ON IN THE AGENDA FOR THE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT ABOUT HOW WE CAN GET ACCESS.
>> LINA HIDALGO: SO NO ACTION, COMMISSIONER ON THIS ITEM?
>> RODNEY ELLIS: NO, AND I THINK THERE MAY BE ONE OR TWO MORE SPEAKERS.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON, JUDGE HIDALGO.
MY NAME IS NICK AND I AM A POLICY ADVOCACY STRATEGY.
REDUCING THE JAIL POPULATION IS KEY TO COMBATING COVID-19.
WE HEARD A LOT ABOUT THAT TODAY.
THEY ARE INCUBATORS AND THEY CAN CAUSE MORE INFECTIONS AND HOSPITALIZATIONS FOR NOT ONLY THOSE PEOPLE WHO LIVE IN THE JAIL AND WORK IN THE JAIL, BUT FOR THE ENTIRE SURROUNDING COMMUNITY.
COMMISSION -- COMMISSIONER ELLIS MENTIONED THEY ARE PARTNERING WITH AN AM DECK MICK -- AN ACADEMIC RESEARCH FIRM.
IT IS SOMETHING THAT IS NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE WITH THE CURRENT CAPACITY.
WE CAN EXPECT FOR IT TO BE 100,000 ADDITIONAL DEATHS AND A SIX-MONTH PERIOD NATIONWIDE INCLUDING 800 ADDITIONAL DEATHS IN HARRIS COUNTY.
IN PARTICULAR IT IS CLEAR THAT SOCIAL DISTANCING MEASURES WILL ONLY BE HIGHLY EFFECT -- EFFECTIVE IF WE EKDZ TEND THEM -- EXTEND THEM TO JAILS.
THE POPULATION IS UP FROM A LOW OF 7500 TO MORE THAN 8100.
THE ACLU RELEASED A REPORT TODAY WHICH I WILL E-MAIL TO COMMISSIONERS AND IT SHOWS BETWEEN MARCH AND MAY THIS PERIOD OF JAIL REDUCTION THE CRIME IN HOUSTON, THE CRIME -- CRIME RATE WAS DOWN 20% COMPARED TO THE TWO-YEAR PERIOD AVERAGE.
I AM HERE TO RE -- TO REITERATE HOW MANY OFFICIALS SHOULD COLLABORATE ON THIS CRISIS.
FIRST HARRIS COUNTY SHOULD CONSIDER AN EXPLICIT CAPS -- CAPACITY FOR THE JAIL.
AND THE UNIQUE SET UP AND SHARE THIS WITH THE JUSTICE.
SECOND DISTRICT DISTRICT ATTORNEYS SHOULD DISMISS THE NON-VIOLENT CASES ESPECIALLY DURING THE PANDEMIC AND DIRECTORY SOURCES TO THE BACKLOG OF SERIOUS CASES.
THE BACKLOG IS GROWING AND ANY OTHER ADDITIONAL RESOURCES WILL SOLVE THE PROBLEM.
WE INCLUDED AN ANALYSIS THAT I WILL SHARE OF THE HARRIS COUNTY JAIL POPULATION.
AND WE BELIEVE IT COULD BE A CANDIDATE FOR A DISMISSAL ORIE LEASED FROM THE JAIL.
TWO OF THE MAJOR DRIVERS WAS PROFESSIONAL SUBSTANCE CHARGES AND UNAUTHORIZED USE OF A MOTOR VEHICLE.
>> GABRIELLE -- GABRIELLE LAW BARJONA.
>> I AM COMING TO TALK ABOUT THE FAILING PUBLIC HEALTH AND MAKING THE PANDEMIC WORSE IN HOUSTON.
RESOURCES ARE SO CONSTRAINED THEY CAN'T INVEST MORE IN PUBLIC HEALTH AND IT IS PUTTING LIVES AT RISK.
WITH HER PERMISSION I WOULD LIKE TO SHARE THE STORY OF NICOLE.
NICOLE IS A MOTHER AND CURRENTLY SEVEN MONTHS PREGNANT.
NICOLE WAS ON PROBATION FOR A MINOR NON-VIOLENT OFFENSE.
NICOLE WAS PULLED OVER FOR FAILURE TO SIGNAL WHILE ON HER WAY TO PICK UP HER DAUGHTER.
SHE WAS TAKEN TO JAIL FOR EVADING ARREST EVEN THOUGH IT SAID IT TOOK A MILE TO PULL OVER AND FORCED TO SOLITARY QUARANTINE.
AFTER SURVIVING JAIL DURING THE PANDEMIC SHE WAS BONDED SO SHE CAN HAVE HER BABY ON THE OUTSIDE.
IN THE MIDDLE OF A DEADLY PANDEMIC TWO DAYS AFTER BEING BONDED OUT HER PROBATION WAS REVOKED AND SHE WAS TAKEN BACK TO JAIL.
HOW MANY OFFICER ITSELF SHOULD HAVE TAKEN TO REARREST A PREGNANT WOMAN AT HOME? ONE, TWO, THREE? FIVE? FIVE OFFICERS SHOWED UP TO NICOLE'S DOORSTEP.
AT THE PEAK OF OUR CITY'S CRISIS FIVE OFFICERS WERE SENT TO REARREST A PREGNANT WOMAN.
THEY STOLE HER FROM HER HOME AND DROPPED HER INTO HARM'S WAY ENDANGERING HER LIFE AND THE LIFE OF HER BABY.
WE CAN'T AFFORD A TESTING SITE IN THE FIFTH WARD, BUT THEY HAVE SO MUCH FREE TIME ON THEIR HAND THAT FIVE OFFICERS WERE NEEDED TO TAKE A PREGNANT WOMAN BACK TO JAIL.
IN JAIL NICOLE WAS SUBJECTED TO UNIMAGINABLE CONDITIONS.
SHE FOUND IT TO BE DIRTY AND AND TRASH.
SHE WAS NOT GIVEN A BLANKET FOR THE FIRST TWO DAYS AND NOT GIVEN AN EXTRA MATTRESS OR EXTRA FOOD AS THE LAW MANDATES FOR PREGNANT MOTHER.
SHE WAS DEHYDRATED AND GIVEN TWO SLICES OF BREAD FOR BREAKFAST AND SHARED ONE SOAP WITH 20 OTHER CELLS IN THE MIDDLE OF A CONTAGIOUS OUTBREAK A PREGNANT MOTHER HAD A SHARE SOAP.
SHE HAD TO BEND DOWN TO DRINK WATER FROM THE CELL NEXT TO THE TOILET.
SHE COULD ONLY THINK OF NOURISH MEANT, FOOD, WATER, WARMTH, REST.
SHE JUST WANTED TO NOURISH HER BABY.
TO PUT NICOLE'S STORY IN CONTEXT, THE JAIL NUMBERS ARE AS HIGH AS BEFORE THE PANDEMIC.
IT SHOULD HORRIFY YOU THAT HPD IS MAKING IT WORSE WITH EVERY WASTEFUL ARREST.
COUNTY RESOURCES WERE USED TO JAIL A PREGNANT WOMAN TWICE AND EXPOSE HER TO A COVID CLUSTER TWICE FOR NO DISCERNIBLE PUBLIC SAFETY REASON.
NICOLE'S STORY IS A PUBLIC HEALTH FAILURE.
BY JAILING HER TWICE AND REVOKING HER PROBATION AND EXPOSING HER AND HER FAMILY TO A DISEASE ALL STEMMING FROM A MINOR NON-VIOLENT CHARGE.
MAYBE THE MONEY FOR THE FIFTH WARD TESTING SITE IS BEING WASTED ON THE PER DIEM JAIL COST OF PREGNANT MOTHERS.
WE HAVE TO SAY WHAT DO WE CARE ABOUT AND WHO ARE WE PROTECT SNG THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR TAKING THE TIME TO LISTEN.
THOSE ARE ALL OF THE SPEAKERS, JUDGE ON THIS ITEM.
>> LINA HIDALGO: THANK YOU, LUCINDA.
FOLKS, WHAT DO YOU THINK OF TAKING OUR 10-MINUTE BREAK AND WE CAN CONTINUE.
I KNOW IT IS WELL PASTIME FOR A BREAK.
>> JUDGE, FOR SUPPLEMENTAL ITEM 15 THERE IS NO ACTION?
>> RODNEY ELLIS: THAT'S CORRECT.
>> LINA HIDALGO: IT IS 5:40 AND WE WILL BE BACK AT 5:50.
[14:05:02]
>> LINA HIDALGO: OKAY IT IS 5:52 AND COMMISSIONER'S COURT IS BACK IN SESSION.
WE HAD JUST FINISHED DISCUSSING ITEM 15 AND WE ARE MOVING TO ITEM 16 ON THE SUPPLEMENTAL AGENDA.
COMMISSIONER ELLIS ON HAZARD PAY.
>> RODNEY ELLIS: JUDGE, IF SHANE IS HERE, THIS ISSUE CAME UP SOME TIME BACK.
OBVIOUSLY WE WERE GOING TO DO WHAT WE COULD UNDER THE CARES ACT BY FIRST RESPONDERS AND I WANTED THEM TO MAKE SURE THAT WE CAN EXTEND THE SAME BENEFITS TO ALL OF MY EMPLOYEES.
IF SHANE IS ON THE LINE FROM HR, IF YOU CAN JUST GIVE US A LITTLE UPDATE.
>> THERE IS NOTHING TO PROHIBIT US FROM DOING HAZARD PAY TO ALL EMPLOYEES.
IT JUST COMES DOWN TO A REIMBURSEMENT STANDPOINT FROM THE CARES ACT.
THE CARES ACT IS SUBJECT TO PUBLIC SAFETY AND PUBLIC HEALTH-TYPE WORKERS AND HUMAN SERVICES.
>> RODNEY ELLIS: HOW MUCH WOULD IT COST, SHANE, IF WE WANTED TO DO IT DURING THIS COVID CRISIS FOR ALL OF OUR EMPLOYEES? AND CAN WE DO IT UNDER THE LAW?
>> THERE IS NOTHING TO PROHIBIT US FROM DOING IT UNDER THE LAW.
WE EXTEND IT TO ALL EMPLOYEES AND OF COURSE THE DOLLAR AMOUNT.
WE CAN GO OUT THERE AND LOOK TO SEE WHAT SOME OTHER EMPLOYERS ARE DOING AS TO THE DOLLAR AMOUNT AND MAYBE BRING SOMETHING BACK TO YOU NEXT COURT.
>> RODNEY ELLIS: IF YOU WOULD DO THAT AND WITH SOME ROUGH IDEA OF NUMBERS AT THE VERY LEAST.
EVEN IF THE COURT DID NOT WANT TO DO IT FOR EVERYONE THEN I WANT TO MAKE A MOTION WHERE EACH COMMISSIONER COULD DO IT.
I WANT TO PROTECT THE FOLKS IN HERE PASSING ME PAPERS AS MUCH AS THE OTHER EMPLOYEES.
I HOPE WE CAN GET SOME SENSE OF WHAT IT COSTS AND DO IT COUNTY WIDE.
IF NOT, I WOULD LIKE TO DO IT FOR MY FOLKS WHO ARE OUT THERE WORKING IN PARKS DURING COVID.
I AM NOT SAYING ALL THE TIME, BUT AT LEAST WHILE THIS IS GOING ON.
>> LINA HIDALGO: YES, COMMISSIONER GARCIA.
>> ADRIAN GARCIA: THANK YOU FOR PUTTING THIS ON THE AGENDA.
I RAISED THIS ISSUE SEVERAL COURT MEETINGS AGO AND I CAN'T REMEMBER WHY WE DIDN'T PURSUE IT.
SHANE, DO YOU RECALL WHY WE DIDN'T MOVE ON IT BACK THEN?
>> NO, SIR, I CAN'T I CAN'T RECALL FROM BACK THEN.
IT MAY HAVE BEEN A CARES ACT-TYPE DISCUSSION.
IT IS ALLOWED TO BE REAM -- REIMBURSED.
>> RODNEY ELLIS: COMMISSIONER GARCIA, IT WAS ONLY CARES -- WHEN IT CAME UP IT WAS ONLY CARES MONEY.
MAYBE THAT ITEM THE WAY IT WAS POSTED WAS NOT BROAD ENOUGH.
WHEN I SAID COME BACK WITH SOMETHING SO WE CAN DO IT FOR EVERYBODY.
>> ADRIAN GARCIA: IF WE HAVE THE LAT -- LATITUDE WITH YOUR ITEM, COMMISSIONER GARCIA, I AM LOOKING FOR -- LOOK, I HAVE SEVERAL EMPLOYEES WHO TESTED POSITIVE.
THIS IS OBVIOUSLY HITTING HOME.
WE JUST LOST DEPUTY MARK BROWN OVER AT PRE SINK -- PRECINCT 5 AND THE SERGE AT THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE AND SEVERAL OTHERS AND IT CONTINUES TO TOUCH US, REGRETFULLY SO.
I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE SURE OUR EMPLOYEES ARE SUPPORTED FOR SHOWING UP.
WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE TO TAKE CARE OF THEM WHILE WE CAN.
>> RODNEY ELLIS: I WILL MAKE A MOTION NOW, BUT SHANE, DO YOU HAVE SOME IDEA WHAT IT COSTS? OR SHOULD WE MAKE A MOTION?
GIVE ME SOME DIRECTION -- >> ADRIAN GARCIA: AND WHETHER IT IS RETROACTIVE.
>> THANK YOU WOULD LIKE, COMMISSIONER, IF THERE IS A MEETING ON NEXT TUESDAY I CAN BRING MAYBE SOMETHING BACK THEN.
LET ME DO SOME RESEARCH AND MAYBE WHAT OTHER COUNTIES ARE DOING AND DOLLAR AMOUNTS AND BRING THAT BACK.
>> RODNEY ELLIS: AND CHECK ON THE NUMBERS MAKING THEM RETROACTIVE.
DOES THAT MAKE SENSE, ECONOMICSER GARCIA? THURSDAY.
>> R JACK CAGLE: AND WHETHER IT IS CARES ACT REIMBURSABLE.
>> RODNEY ELLIS: WE KNOW IT WON'T BE CARES ACT REIMBURSEMENT -- REIMBURSABLE.
>> IS THERE ANY ACTION ON ITEM 16?
>> RODNEY ELLIS: NO, SIR, JUST BRINGING IT BACK NEXT THURSDAY.
>> LINA HIDALGO: SO THAT WAS ITEM 16.
ITEM 17 IS COMMISSIONER ELLIS ABOUT THE FOOD BANK.
>> RODNEY ELLIS: JUDGE, IT IS JUST RENEWING IT.
IT IS PRETTY STRAIGHT FORWARD.
>> ADRIAN GARCIA: ON THIS ONE IT JUST OCCURRED TO MY STAFF THAT IT IS PRECINCT 1 BECAUSE I KNOW I AM PAYING INTO THIS PROGRAM.
>> RODNEY ELLIS: I AM JUST MAKING A MOTION.
>> ADRIAN GARCIA: WHY SHOULD IT STAY IN YOUR OFFICE? WHY SHOULDN'T IT BE SOMEWHERE ELSE IN PURCHASING IS MY POINT?
>> RODNEY ELLIS: DOESN'T MATTER TO ME.
>> LINA HIDALGO: COMMISSIONER CAGLE SAYS ME TOO.
WE CAN TAKE IT IN OUR OFFICE AND WORK THE AGREEMENT.
IT WAS SOMETHING PRESENTED STRAIGHT AT COURT.
LEGAL PROBABLY DRAFTED IT I'M ASSUMING.
IT WAS JUST PRECINCT 1 WHEN I PUT IT ON THE AGENDA.
IF IT IS FOR ALL OF US, HEY, MOVE FORWARD WITH IT AND PUT IT TOGETHER.
>> RODNEY ELLIS: AND I THINK IT IS THE LEGAL DEPARTMENT THAT WOULD DO IT OR YOU?
>> IT WOULD BE THE LEGAL DEPARTMENT, BUT WE CAN MAKE SURE IT KEEPS ROLLING AND RENEWS OR WHATEVER THE CASE MAY BE.
>> RODNEY ELLIS: I THINK INITIALLY I WAS PAYING FOR IT OUT OF PRECINCT 1 MONEY, BUT WE ARE DOING IT WITH CARES NOW.
EACH PRECINCT WAS DOING THEIR OWN.
FROM AN ADMINISTRATIVE STANDPOINT IT WAS EASIER TO DO IT IN ONE.
THE OTHER THING IS THIS WAS ALLOWED TO BE PAID FROM THE CONTINGENCY FUND INSTEAD OF Y'ALL'S PRECINCT, EACH PRECINCT.
THAT WAS THE REASON TO PUT IT UNDER ONE CONTRACT AND PAY IT FROM THE CONTINGENCY FUND AND PRECINCT 1 BASICALLY WOULD TAKE CARE OF THE ONE CHECK AND ONE INVOICE.
>> RODNEY ELLIS: WELL, HEY, I'M FLEXIBLE, COMMISSIONERS.
WHAT IS EASIER TO GET IT DONE AND NOT DISRUPT IT? I SAY IF IT DISRUPT IT, LEAVE IT THE WAY IT IS, AND JUST MAKE SURE MY FOLKS DO IT RIGHT.
>> ADRIAN GARCIA: I AM JUST SAYING FROM THE STANDPOINT OF GOOD COORDINATION AND MAKING SURE WE KNOW WHERE WE ARE WRITING CHECKS TO.
>> RODNEY ELLIS: SHANE WHAT IS YOUR PREFERENCE? YOU TELL US.
>> Y'ALL ARE BOTH PAYING FOR IT OUT OF YOUR PRECINCT BUDGETS, GENERAL FUNDS SO THIS IS MOVING TO THE CONTINGENCY FUND.
TO ME IT IS JUST ADMINISTRATIVE.
HAVE ONE OFFICE ADMINISTRATE IT AND MAKE ONE PAYMENT.
>> ADRIAN GARCIA: IS A MOTION NECESSARY?
>> BASICALLY JUST TO RENEW THE AGREEMENT.
THE WHOLE CONTINGENCY FUND, I THINK THERE IS ANOTHER ITEM ON THERE TO PUT BUDGET IN THERE FOR THIS.
>> LINA HIDALGO: SO JUST TO BE CLEAR, AND COMMISSIONER CAGLE SAYS HE WANTS TO BE INCLUDED TO.
SHANE YOU HAVE TWO OFFICES AND I DON'T KNOW WHERE COMMISSIONER RADACK STANDS.
RODRIGUEZ >> RODNEY ELLIS: HOW SHOULD WE CHANGE THIS SO IT IS COUNTY WIDE AND ANY PRECINCT THAT WANTS TO PARTICIPATE CAN PARTICIPATE.
>> LINA HIDALGO: THAT'S WHAT IT SOUNDS LIKE WE NEED TO DO.
>> ADRIAN GARCIA: PRECINCT 2 IS ALREADY IN IT.
I THINK ALL PRECINCTS CAN PARTICIPATE, BUT IT MIGHT BE BETTER IF WE SIMPLY AMEND THE MOTION AND ADD THE PHRASE AND TO INCLUDE ALL PRECINCTS.
>> RODNEY ELLIS: I'LL MAKE THAT MOTION.
>> LINA HIDALGO: SO COMMISSIONER PRECINCT 1 FOR APPROVAL OF RENEWAL FOR FOOD BANK TO ASSIST IN THE USE OF THE FOOD BANK AND INCREASING THE DISSOLUTION OF -- TO RESIDENTS DURING A COVID-19 PUBLIC HEALTH DISASSER AND TO INCLUDE ALL PRECINCTS IN THIS AGREEMENT.
>> YES, I THINK THAT WOULD TAKE CARE OF IT.
>> LINA HIDALGO: DO WE HAVE A MOTION?
>> RODNEY ELLIS: YES, MA'AM, I MOVED IT.
COMMISSIONER GARCIA SECONDED IT.
>> LINA HIDALGO: ALL IN FAVOR?
>> LINA HIDALGO: OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY.
LET'S MOVE ON TO ITEM 18 AND PRECINCT 3 ON HARRIS COUNTY PUBLIC HEALTH.
>> I ASKED YOU AND ASKED YOU ABOUT LOOKING AT THESE DIFFERENT POSITIONS IN PUBLIC HEALTH.
BASED UPON WHAT YOU HAVE LOOKED AT, HOW MANY EMPLOYEES DO YOU SEE OVER THERE?
>> ERIKA, WHY DON'T YOU SIT IN HERE AND ANSWER THIS QUESTION.
ERIKA PERKINS WHO IS OVER IN THE AUDITOR DIVISION.
SHE ACTUALLY PUT TOGETHER A REPORT WHERE WE SHOW THE NUMBER OF EMPLOYEES AND GENERAL PIC FUND, ET CETERA.
>> COMMISSIONER RADACK, 579 TOTAL EMPLOYEES.
>> STEVE RADACK: SO HOW MANY OF THOSE ARE GRANT POSITIONS?
>> STEVE RADACK: AND THEY ARE DOING ALL KINDS OF DIFFERENT THINGS OBVIOUSLY.
>> STEVE RADACK: I'M TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHERE THESE -- ALL THESE POSITIONS CAME FROM AND WHO -- IS THIS ALL BEING PAID FOR BY COVID MONEY?
THE GRANT, THE 193 EMPLOY EASE THAT ARE BEING PAID BY GRANTS IS VARIOUS DIFFERENT GRANTS.
EVERYTHING FROM WOMEN, INFANTS AND CHILDREN ALL THE WAY TO HEALTHY LIVING MATTERS.
PUBLIC HEALTH DID APPROXIMATE TO US AROUND 274 EMPLOYEES THAT WERE BEING PAID BY COVID-19 FUNDS.
WE JUST WEREN'T ABLE TO GET THE INFORMATION TO TIE THAT BACK TO OUR RECORDS.
THAT'S WHAT THEY WERE CALCULATING, 274 EMPLOYEES.
[14:10:02]
>> STEVE RADACK: A LOT OF THESE COME FROM PERSONNEL COMPANIES, RIGHT?
>> FROM PERSONNEL COMPANIES THAT'S AN ADDITIONAL 771.
THAT'S ALL YOUR CONTRACTORS AND THE TEMPORARY EMPLOYEES.
>> STEVE RADACK: SO HOW MANY EMPLOYEES -- ADD THEM UP AND HOW MANY ARE THERE?
>> GOT TO DO SOME MATH IN MY HEAD.
THEY NEEDED THE FIRE MARSHALL'S HELP.
BASED UPON SOME OF THESE THINGS FROM THE CERTAIN PERSONNEL SERVICES BEING SOME OF THESE FOLKS ARE MAKING LIKE $1100 A DAY.
>> THAT'S SOMETHING ELSE WE SAW WHEN WE STARTED PULLING THE INVOICES FOR THE CONTRACTORS.
WE SAW BILLABLE RATES AS LOW AS THE HIGH TEENS AND ALL THE WAY UP TO $140 AN HOUR.
>> STEVE RADACK: IS THIS DETERMINED BY THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT?
>> I AM NOT SURE WHO NEGOTIATED THAT AMOUNT OF CONTRACTORS.
SOME OF THE CONTRACTORS THAT WE SAW WERE NURSES, SOME WERE RESEARCHERS, SOME WERE ADMINISTRATIVE STAFF, SOME WERE I.T.
THE CONTRACTORS OF THE 771 THEY HAD QUITE A FEW DEDICATED TO EPIDEMIOLOGY AND OTHER EFFORTS IN REGARDS TO THE COVID-19 PROGRAM.
>> LINA HIDALGO: COMMISSIONER GARCIA, DO YOU HAVE A QUESTION FOR THE AUDITOR'S OFFICE BEFORE THEY GO TO PUBLIC HEALTH?
>> ADRIAN GARCIA: YEAH, ACTUALLY, WHEN DID THIS REPORT GET SENT OUT?
>> I JUST SENT IT OUT THIS MORNING.
>> ADRIAN GARCIA: THIS MORNING.
>> THE AGENDA WAS ON SUPPLEMENTAL NUMBER 18, BUT THE REPORT CAME OUT AS A RESULT OF THE CONVERSATION LAST COMMISSIONER'S COURT BETWEEN THE DIALOGUE WITH COMMISSIONER RADACK AND DR. SHAW.
I THINK THEY WERE TALKING ABOUT THE EFFORTS OF THE FIRE MARSHALL.
NORMALLY YOU WOULD SEND OUT BACK UP INFORMATION WHEN YOU POST THE ITEM, RIGHT?
>> AS FAR AS THE MEMO THAT WE ISSUED?
I SENT OUT THE MEMO AND I SENT OUT THE NUMBERS THAT WERE ATTACHED.
SO ONE OF THE THINGS THAT MAY BE CREATING A LITTLE CONFUSION, WE GATHERED ADDITIONAL INFORMATION FROM INVOICES AFTER I SENT THAT FIRST E-MAIL.
THERE IS ACTUALLY TWO E-MAILS FROM THIS MORNING.
>> ADRIAN GARCIA: I JUST KNOW HAD I TRY TO PUT SOMETHING OUT THIS MORNING, I THINK I WOULD HAVE BEEN CHASTISED AND MAYBE CONFRONTED -- AND I AM NOT SPEAKING TO YOU.
I AM JUST SAYING IT IS INTERESTING THAT WE HAVE THIS ITEM FIRST THING THIS MORNING.
>> STEVE RADACK: YOUR OFFICE RECEIVED THIS ON JULY 24TH.
THIS IS SOMETHING THE AUDITOR SENT OUT TO ALL OF THE MEMBERS OF COURT ON JULY 24TH.
IT WENT TO ALL OF THE MEMBERS IN COURT.
THERE IS ONE THING THAT CAME OUT THIS MORNING THAT SHOWS THE RATE OF PAY ON SOME OF THESE 700 PERSONNEL AND THAT'S WHERE THOSE NUMBERS ARE COMING FROM.
THE ACTUAL LETTER WAS ATTACHED TO MY AGENDA ITEM FILED ON FRIDAY.
>> STEVE RADACK: WHO DECIDES WHO IS GOB -- GONNA MAKE A THOUSAND DOLLARS A DAY OVER THERE? THE CONTRACTORS?
WITH CONTRACTORS, IT IS BASED ON OBVIOUSLY SKILL SETS.
I THINK ARE YOU RE -- RE-- REFERRING TO A FEW CONSULTANTS ON THE I.T.
WE DON'T HAVE ACCESS TO THOSE CONTRACTS.
WE ARE NOT THE ONES WHO SET THAT RATE.
THIS IS ONE OF THE CONTRACTORS WHO HAS BEEN AT THE COUNTY FOR SEVERAL YEARS, OVER FIVE YEARS IN OUR DEPARTMENT, LIKELY LONGER.
IT IS A BILL RATE YOU ARE REFERRING TO.
IT IS SET BY, MY UNDERSTANDING PURCHASING.
DWIGHT IS ON AND HE CAN VERIFY THAT, BUT IT IS NOT SET BY US.
>> YES, SIR, THESE ARE STAFFING CONTRACTS OR CONSULTING CONTRACTS WE BID OUT EACH YEAR.
THERE IS A MULTITUDE OF DIFFERENT LEVELS OF POSITIONS OR STAFF LEVELS WHETHER IT IS MEDICAL, COMPUTER, I.T.
WE DO PROCUREMENTS AND THE RATES ARE ESTABLISHED AND IT IS UP TO THE DEPARTMENT TO CHOOSE THEIR NEEDS AS FAR AS WHICH CONTRACTS ARE AVAILABLE.
AGAIN, THESE ARE JUST LIKE WE SAID ALL OF THE STAFFING CONTRACTS.
WE HAVE PROBABLY 20, 25 IN THE COUNTY.
>> STEVE RADACK: WELL, DOES THIS COME TO THE COURT? DO THEY JUST GET A POT OF MONEY TO SPEND AND THEY START HIRING 700 PEOPLE OR PAYING 700 PEOPLE?
>> IF YOU ARE ASKING ME, COMMISSIONER I JUST LOOK AT THE AVAILABILITY OF CONTRACTS TO DETERMINE HOW THEY WILL SPEND THEIR MONEY IF THEY HAVE BUDGET TO DO THAT.
I DON'T GET INVOLVED IN THAT PORTION OF IT.
>> STEVE RADACK: MR. POST, BASICALLY THE DEPARTMENT THAT SUDDENLY HAS THAT MONEY IN THEIR ACCOUNT CAN JUST HIRE INTO IT, HIRE THE POSITIONS?
I'M NOT SURE HOW THE 771 CONTRACTORS HOW THEY ARE BEING PAID.
IS IT REIMBURSED FROM COVID-19 FUNDS? IS IT SPENT OUT OF THE GENERAL FUND.
I AM NOT SURE HOW THAT IS BEING PAID.
>> I THINK THE MAJORITY OF THE 771 CONTRACT EMPLOYEES ARE COMING OUT OF THE PIC FUND.
I'M HOPING THAT IS REIMBURSED FROM THE CARES MONEY.
I DIDN'T REALLY FOLLOW THAT PART OF IT.
THEY WORK WITH PURCHASING AND MY UPPED -- MY END OF IT, THERE IS A BILL FROM THESE COMPANIES THAT SUPPLIES THESE TYPES OF INDIVIDUALS AND I CAN SEE THE PURCHASE ORDER AND I CAN SEE THERE IS A BUDGET AVAILABLE.
WE DISPERSE THE MONEY AND WE PAY FOR THESE CONTRACTORS.
WHERE ULTIMATELY THEY WILL BE PAID FOR IS FROM AT THIS POINT A BETTER QUESTION FOR THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT AND THEY NEED AN IDEA IF THEY WILL BE RELEASED FROM COVID OR SOME OTHER SOURCE.
WE HAVE 579 EMPLOYEES AND 771 CONTRACTORS FNLT OF THOSE -- OF THOSE 771 CONTRACTORS, 475 OF THOSE ARE IN EPIDEMIOLOGY WHICH INCLUDE HAD CASE INVESTIGATION AND CONTRACT TRACING.
IF YOU REMEMBER THE EFFORTS WE PUT FORTH TO GET THE CONTACT TRACERS IT WAS AN EXTREMELY PROCESS -- EXTREMELY IMPORTANT PROCESS TO MAKE SURE THE STAFF IS IN PLACE.
THERE ARE ANOTHER 2 WAR -- 215 CONTRACTOR THAT'S ARE INVOLVED IN TESTING IN THE COMMUNITY.
IF YOU TAKE THE 771 AND YOU TAKE THE 475 AND THE 215 IT GETS YOU 690 OF THOSE 771 CONTRACTORS.
90% OF THE CONTRACTORS ARE -- AND BY THE WAY THESE ARE ALL TIED TO COVID.
THESE ARE ALL COVID-19 AND JUST UNDER 90% ARE IN EPIDEMIOLOGY OR IN TESTING.
>> LINA HIDALGO: I HAVE A NOTE HERE TO CONFIRM THAT THESE COSTS LIKE CONTACT TRACING YOU INITIALLY FUNDED OUT OF THE EXISTING BUDGET AND THEN IT CAME FROM THE PIC FUND, CORRECT?
SOME ARE GENERAL FUNDING, BUT FOR THE MOST PART THEY ARE PIC FUNDED OR THEY COME BACK FOR REIMBURSEMENT.
ALL ARE PEOPLE -- ALL ARE FEMA REIMBURSEABLE.
THIS IS WHERE THE PIC FUND DOLLARS AND THE FEMA REIMBURSEMENT ALL COMES TOGETHER.
LIKE I SAID EPIDEMIOLOGY IS THE TESTING OF THE CONTRACT PERSONNEL.
>> STEVE RADACK: HOW WELL IS THE CONTACT TRACING WORKING?
>> THAT IS A GREAT QUESTION, COMMISSIONER.
THAT IS A QUESTION THAT -- LET ME SAY IT THIS WAY.
PUBLIC HEALTH ACROSS THE COUNTRY, SO NOT JUST OUR COMMUNITY, BUT ACROSS THE COUNTRY IS ASKING THAT SAME QUESTION.
I WOULD SAY WE HAVE HAD SUCCESS, BUT IT HAS BEEN VARIABLE.
WE HAD A LOT OF LAB TURN AROUND ISSUES.
WE HEARD EARLIER IT CAN BE UP TO TWO WEEKS OR LONGER BEFORE WE GET THE LABS BACK.
THAT GENERATES THE CASES AND THE CASES THEN GENERATE CONTACTING THE INDIVIDUALS AND -- INDIVIDUALS THAT GIVE YOU THE CONTACTS.
I WOULD SAY IT IS NOT WHERE IT NEEDS TO BE AND THAT'S THE NATIONAL PHENOMENON HAPPENING ACROSS TEXAS.
>> STEVE RADACK: I JUST WANT TO SAY WITH THE AMOUNT OF PEOPLE YOU HAVE IN THE BULLPEN JUST WAITING FOR MANAGE MEANT TO CALL THEM AND WORK, IT WOULD SEEM TO ME THAT THE PEOPLE WHO CAME EARLIER TO COURT AND SPOKE AND NEEDED HELP WITH TESTING AND -- TESTING IN THEIR COMMUNITY AND SHOWING -- AND I THINK IT IS ILLUSTRATING VERBALLY A REAL NEED FOR THEM, IT SEEM TO ME YOU COULD HAVE REACHED INTO YOUR BULLPEN AND SAID, HEY, LET ME TRY TO GET SOME PEOPLE TOGETHER TO GO OVER THERE AND HELP THEM.
I DIDN'T SEE YOU REACH INTO YOUR BULLPEN AT ALL.
YOU HAVE PLENTY OF PEOPLE TO CALL ON.
I GUESS THAT'S UP TO YOU WHETHER YOU WILL HELP OR NOT.
>> I DO WANT TO POINT OUT THAT, AGAIN -- I DON'T HAVE THE NUMBERS FOR WHAT THE HOUSTON HEALTH DEPARTMENT HAS EITHER, BUT AGAIN JUST THE REMINDER THAT THE ISSUE CAME TO LIGHT TODAY WITH THE INDIVIDUALS THAT CAME TO SPEAK AND WE ARE GLAD THAT THEY DID, BUT OBVIOUSLY WE HAVE ALREADY REACHED OUT TO THE HOUSTON HEALTH DEPARTMENT BECAUSE THOSE INDIVIDUALS LIVE WITHIN -- THEY ARE ASKING FOR TESTING WITHIN WHERE THEY LIVE WHICH IS WITHIN THE HOUSTON CITY LIMITS.
>> LINA HIDALGO: THANK YOU, DR. SHAW.
>> ADRIAN GARCIA: ACTUALLY, JUDGE, REAL QUICKLY, I JUST WANTED A LITTLE CLARIFICATION.
DR. SHAW, ON THE POINT YOU JUST MADE, REMIND ME WHAT IS THE RESTRICTION ON YOU DOING WORK IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON AND WHAT IS THE RESTRICTION OF THE CITY DOING WORK IN THE COUNTY?
>> I COMMISSIONER, THANKS FOR ASKING THAT.
THAT'S BEEN AN ON GOING ISSUE.
AS YOU KNOW IN THE CARES REPORT FROM LAST YEAR, HARRIS CARES REPORT FROM LAST YEAR, WE BROUGHT THIS ISSUE UP.
ULTIMATELY WE ARE A LARGE JURISDICTION WITH TWO HEALTH DEPARTMENTS AND BECAUSE OF ORDINANCE MAKING THAT THE CITY HAS, THE CITY HANDLES WHAT OCCURS WITHIN THE CITY OF HOUSTON.
THEY HAVE THEIR OWN HEALTH AUTHORITY.
[14:15:02]
IN ADDITION TO THAT WE DO HAVE AT TIMES GOING INTO THE CITY FOR EDUCATION EFFORTS AND OTHER ACTIVITIES.IF THERE IS SOMETHING THAT HAS BEEN AGREED TO, FOR EXAMPLE, MOSQUITO VECTOR CONTROL, THERE ARE SOME ACTIVITIES WE DO.
BUT IF YOU HAVE TWO TV PROGRAMS OR TWO IMMUNIZATION PROGRAMS OR TWO COVID-TYPE PROGRAMS THEN THE CITY WOULD HANDLE WHAT HAPPENS IN THEIR JURISDICTION AND WE HANDLE WHAT HAPPENS OUTSIDE THE JURISDICTION.
AND JUST A REMINTEDDER -- REMINDER, COMMISSIONER, THAT THE CITY AT TIMES HAS DONE THINGS OUTSIDE OF THE CITY JURISDICTION, AND THEY ALSO TRY TO STAY IN THE CITY LIMITS.
WE GENERAL -- GENERALLY TRY TO RESPECT THAT MUTUALLY AND REALLY THE BEST STRATEGY FOR AN ISSUE IN THE CITY IS WE WORK WITH THE CITY HEALTH DEPARTMENT TO MAKE THEM AWARE OF THE ISSUE AND TAKE ACTION.
>> ADRIAN GARCIA: SO THERE IS NO MOU OR WORKING AGREEMENT TO WORK THROUGH THIS PANDEMIC AND IN THESE TWO JURISDICTIONS ?
THAT WOULD IMPLY A FORMAL AGREEMENT.
FOR EXAMPLE FRIDAY IS JOINT LOCAL HEALTH AUTHORITY ORDER FOR SCHOOLS.
THAT WAS DONE SEEM LESLIE WITH THE -- SEEMLESSLY WITH THE CITY AND COUNTY.
THERE ARE MANY EXAMPLES OF THAT.
THE JUDGE AND HER TEAM ARE MINDFUL OF THE IMPORTANCE OF THE CITY AND COUNTY DYNAMIC WE ARE CHECKING IN ALONG WITH THE JUDGE'S OFFICE AND ALSO THE MAYOR'S OFFICE.
IN UH DATION TO THAT WE ARE LOOKING AT CONFIRMED TESTING TO TRACING.
THEY CAME OVER TO LOOK AT OUR CONTACT TRACING OPERATIONS AND GET SOME LESSONS.
WE WENT OVER TO SEE THEIR CON -- CONTACT TRACING.
WE HAVE A VERY GOOD RELATIONSHIP FROM THAT STANDPOINT.
>> I AM JUST TRYING TO GET CLARITY.
THE ATTITUDE I HAVE WITH MY OPERATION IS THAT IF THE CITY OF PASADENA NEEDS HELP OR IF THE PORT NEEDS HELP OR IF CITIZENS NEED SUPPORT, I DON'T TRY AND POINT THEM TO THEIR RESPECTIVE JURISDICTION.
I JUST TELL MY STAFF TO GET IT DONE.
IS THERE THE OPPORTUNITY TO GO GET AND DONE DURING THIS PANDEMIC THROUGH THE HARRIS COUNTY PUBLIC HEALTH DEPARTMENT WITHIN THE CITY OF HOUSTON?
WE HAVE TO BE CAREFUL -- >> ADRIAN GARCIA: IN -- CAN YOU DO THAT?
>> YES, WE CAN DO THAT, BUT WE WANT TO MAKE SURE WE ARE CAREFUL AS ALL OF YOU HAVE INSTRUCTED US AS WELL IS THE FACT THAT WE HAVE THE UNINCORPORATED AREAS AND THE 33 OTHER MUNICIPALITIES.
WE HAVE ESSENTIALLY THEIR ONLY HEALTH DEPARTMENT, THE ONLY GO -- GIG IN TOWN IF
YOU WILL -- >> ADRIAN GARCIA: I GET THAT.
I AM JUST TRYING TO UNDERSTAND IF THERE IS A REAL FIRE WALL IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON AND IN THE COUNTY AND I UNDERSTAND THE UNCOIN -- THE UNINCORPORATEDDER -- UNINCORPORATED AREA IS JUST AS LARGE IF NOT LARGER THAN THE CITY OF HOUSTON.
MY CHIEF OF STAFF SAID HE DID NOT GET IT BUT I AM TRYING TO UNDERSTAND HOW WE CAN IMPACT THE COMMUNITIES OF COLOR IN HARRIS COUNTY WHERE YOU AND I HAVE MORE DISCRETION AND DIRECTION TO IMPACT.
>> LINA HIDALGO: SORRY, DR. SHAW, IF I CAN JUST ADD.
I UNDERSTAND -- I HATE HEARING ABOUT THE FOLKS IN THE CITY THAT ARE STRUGGLING AND I AGREE WITH THE EFFORTS TO MAKE PROGRAMS AVAILABLE WITHIN THE CITY.
I WANT TO SAY SETTING LOCATIONS IN THE CITY IS TAKING AWAY.
WE PUT IT IN THE FIFTH WARD AND THE CITY IS RESPONSIBLE FOR FIFTH WARD.
I HEAR IF WE KEEP PUSHING DR. SHAW AND FOR ME IF THERE IS ADDITIONAL TESTING WE CAN ADD THAT IS WORTH DEBATING IN COURT AND SAY DO WE WANT TO PUT ADDITIONAL FUNDS AND INSTEAD OF PUTTING IT IN UNINCORPORATED WE WANT IT TO BE IN FIFTH WARD OR WHATEVER IT IS.
I DON'T THINK WE ARE IN A POSITION THAT WE HAVE IN LIMITED INCORPORATED AREAS.
I WILL ADD, COMMISSIONER GARCIA, ABOUT AN MOU AND ALL OF THAT.
THERE IS A WORLD IN WHICH WE WOULD WORK EVEN MORE.
THERE HASN'T BEEN AN AGREEMENT TO DO THAT.
IT IS NOT JUST -- WE ARE DOING IT IN THE CITY, BUT LET'S DO UNIFIED.
THERE IS JUST NOT THAT WILLINGNESS.
FOR BETTER OR WORSE IF YOU WANT THAT -- [INAUDIBLE] AND WE DON'T HAVE THE OTHER PARTY WILLING TO SIGN THE PAPER.
I THINK THE COLLABORATION IS GOING AS WELL AS IT CAN.
WE ARE PICKING UP THE SLACK WITH FENCES, BUT THIS IS VERY CE -- ZERO SUM AND THAT'S WHERE I AM HESITANT.
>> ADRIAN GARCIA: I APPRECIATE THAT PLAN -- PLAN -- EXPLANATION.
THIS IS THE AREA MOST RIGHT FOR HAVING THE COOPERATION ON THE DATA SIDE.
SOMETIMES WE WILL GET WHAT IS HAPPENING IN THE COUNTY AND IT IS HARD TO HIGHLIGHT WHAT THE INTERVENTION SO BE BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE THE DATA POINTS FOR WHAT IS HAPPENING IN THE CITY.
>> LINA HIDALGO: COMMISSIONER RADACK AND THEN COMMISSIONER ELLIS AND THEN COMMISSIONER CAGLE.
GO UH HE -- GO AHEAD COMMISSIONER RADACK.
>> STEVE RADACK: I THINK THAT DR. SHAW YOU HAVE 35 PEOPLE THAT WORKED IN YOUR RESTAURANT INSPECTION THAT COULD, AND I WAS TOLD ACTUALLY THE PERSON IN CHARGE OF THOSE PEOPLE HAD NO PROBLEM WITH THEM GETTING INVOLVED IN THE COVID RESTAURANTS.
I TALKED TO DR. TROUTMAN AND I WILL CALL HIM AGAIN.
I THINK WE HAVE AN EXCELLENT WORKING RELATIONSHIP WITH BAYLOR.
AND BAYLOR, AS YOU SAID EARLIER, DOCTOR, IS DOING A PHENOMENAL JOB.
I BELIEVE THAT WAS YOU THAT SAID THAT AND THEIR COOPERATION OF GETTING TESTS BACK IN 48 HOURS.
I AM GOING TO ASK HIM IF HE WOULD ASSIST IN HELPING THE PEOPLE WHO CAME HERE -- WHO CAME TO COMMISSIONER'S COURT EARLIER TODAY.
IT IS NOT IN MY PREP SINK -- PRECINCT, BUT I HAVE A FEELING HE WILL ASSIST IN HELPING THOSE PEOPLE WITH THEIR TESTING.
THE REALITY AND, IT IS LIKE APOLO 13.
IT IS LIKE APOLO 13 WHEN IT CAME TO THE LIMB, I DON'T CARE WHAT IT WAS DESIGNED TO DO.
WHAT CAN IT DO? DR. SHAW, YOU CAN DO MORE.
WITH ALL OF THESE HUNDREDS OF EMPLOYEES YOU HAVE AT YOUR DISPOSAL RIGHT NOW AND YOU NEED TO STEP UP AND DO MORE.
YOU NEED TO BE OVER THERE IN THAT PRE SINK AND HELPING PEOPLE OF COLOR AND YOU CAN DO MORE.
YOU HAVE THE AUTHORITY TO DO MORE.
YOU DON'T NEED A PASS TO GO INTO THE CITY OF HOUSTON.
YOU ARE OVER THERE AND THAT'S WHERE YOUR DOG -- ANIMAL CONTROL IS.
THERE ARE SO MANY THINGS WE DO WITH THE CITY IT IS TIME -- IN THIS EPIDEMIC, IT IS TIME YOU GET MORE DONE.
RESPECTFULLY, I THINK EVERYONE CAN DO MORE.
IT IS A ONCE IN A CENTURY PANDEMIC AND I HOPE YOU ALSO RECOGNIZE THAT, AND I KNOW YOU DO, BUT I DO WANT TO MAKE SURE YOU ARE AWARE THAT THIS IS SOMETHING ALL OF US CAN DO MORE.
AND I WANT TO MAKE THAT CLEAR.
THERE IS NO DOUBT THAT EVERYBODY CAN DO MORE.
IT IS NOT JUST DR. SHAW, YOU CAN DO MORE.
I WANT TO MAKE THE COMMENT AROUND THE FOOD INSPECTORS THAT OF OUR FOOD INVESTIGATORS THEY ARE DOING THE EDUCATION IN THE RESTAURANTS.
WE HAVE 9,000 FOOD ESTABLISHMENTS AS YOU KNOW IN HARRIS COUNTY UNINCORPORATED, WE HAVE 30 SOME INVESTIGATORS.
WE HAVE SOME INVESTIGATORS PULLED OFF TO DO COVID.
THEY CAN'T DO THAT BECAUSE OF THE RULES.
>> STEVE RADACK: DR. SHAW, HERE IS WHAT I WANTED TO POINT OUT TO YOU.
LOOKING AT ALL OF YOUR PERSONNEL AND YOU TALK ABOUT PEOPLE DOING MORE.
YOU ARE ABLE TO MORE THAN DOUBLE -- MORE THAN DOUBLE YOUR AMOUNT OF EMPLOYEES DURING THIS PANDEMIC.
PRECINCT 1, PRECINCT 2, PRECINCT 3, PRECINCT 4 AND THE COUNTY JUDGE'S OFFICE, NONE OF US CAN DOUBLE OUR ABILITY.
YOU HAVE MORE THAN DOUBLE -- DOUBLE! THE AMOUNT OF EMPLOYEES.
AND YOU WANT TO TURN TO OTHER PEOPLE AND SAY YOU CAN DO MORE AND I CAN DO MORE? GREAT.
I GOT NEWS FOR YOU, YOU SURE AS HELL HAVE THE PEOPLE TO DO MORE SO DO IT.
>> LINA HIDALGO: YES, COMMISSIONER ELLIS.
>> RODNEY ELLIS: I THINK IT IS IMPORTANT DURING A PANDEMIC THAT WE DO AS MUCH OUTSIDE THE CITY OF HOUSTON AND INSIDE THE CITY OF HOUSTON AS POSSIBLE.
I KNOW ON OUR SMALL BUSINESS RELIEF FUND PRECINCT 1 OPTED TO LET PEOPLE APPLY WHETHER THEY LIVED UNINCORPORATED OR THE CITY OF HOUSTON.
EVERYONE DID NOT OPT TO DO THAT.
I THINK PRECINCT 1 LET PEOPLE INSIDE THE CITY APPLY.
WHAT WE MAY THINK ABOUT GOING FORWARD INCLUDING THE PEOPLE IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON.
WE WANT TO MAKE SURE IT APPLIES TO THE PEOPLE MOST IN NEED.
I AM MORE THAN HAPPY -- IF I CAN MAKE A MOTION WE CAN GO UP AND OPEN A TESTING SITE IN THE FIFTH WARD.
SINCE IT CAME UP EARLIER WE DON'T HAVE TO ASK DR. TROUTMAN TO VOLUNTEER.
IF IT IS THE PLEASURE OF THE COURT I WOULD BE MORE THAN HAPPY TO MAKE THAT MOTION AND WE CAN DO IT RIGHT NOW.
I WILL MAKE THAT MOTION IF I HAVE A SECOND.
>> LINA HIDALGO: I HAVE BEEN ASKING THAT EVERY WEEK.
DO WE HAVE MORE AGENTS AND MORE MATERIALS FOR AN ADDITIONAL SITE? THE ANSWER I GET IS NO.
I PRESUME IF YOU WANT TO DO THAT, WE ARE GOING TO HAVE TO TAKE TESTS OUT OF THE NEW ONE INIAL DEAN -- IN ALDINE AND THE OTHERS IN YOUR PRECINCTS AND PUT THEM IN THE FIFTH WARD.
I AM NOT AWARE OF ADDITIONAL TESTS THAT ARE OUT THERE.
IN FACT THEY ARE TAKING IT AWAY TO REPLACE THE FED CAPACITY.
THERE IS NOT MORE TESTING OUT THERE FOR US.
OBVIOUSLY THERE IS A MAJORITY VOTE, BUT I AM SAYING THIS IS NOT POLITICS HERE.
THIS IS A CITY RESPONSIBILITY.
[14:20:01]
>> RODNEY ELLIS: I GET IT AND I CAN HEAR A LITTLE POLITICAL POSTURING GOING ON IN THE CASE OF MY CONSTITUENTS.
I WILL WITHDRAW THE MOTION, BUT I TELL YOU WHAT, I WILL MAKE SURE THAT WHEN WE COME BACK ON THURSDAY WE ARE NOT USING THE CARES MONEY IN THE CITY LIMITS AND I WILL TAKE THAT OUT OF WHICH EVER PRECINCT IS NOT LETTING THAT MONEY GO IN THE CITY LIMITS.
I JUST WANT TO STOP THE POSTURING AS WELL.
I WAS ATTUNE TO IT AND WATCHING IT AS IT WAS GOING ON.
>> LINA HIDALGO: COMMISSIONER GARCIA?
>> ADRIAN GARCIA: THANK YOU, JUDGE.
THIS IS WHAT I WAS TOLD THAT THE TEST ALLOCATION IS THE TEST ALLOCATION.
I WOULD LIKE TO HEAR THAT FROM DR. SHAW TO MAKE SURE NOBODY IS -- I DON'T WANT TO SAY MISINFORMED, BUT THERE ISN'T A SHOW GAME GOING ON.
COUPLED WITH THE FACT THERE IS A MYTHOLOGY -- PATHOLOGY LAB IN THE WOODLANDS READY TO DO TESTING.
MAYBE WE DO HAVE A LIMIT ON WHAT IS AVAILABLE BUT COUPLED WITH CREATING A BROADER ECONOMY THAT MAYBE WE SHOULD BE CREATIVE WITH THE LABS AND SEE IF THERE IS A STRATEGIC WAY TO CREATE CAPS TOO -- TO HELP DEEM -- DEAL WITH THESE YOU ARE JEBT COMMUNITY -- URGENT COMMUNITY CONCERNS.
DR. SHAW, IF YOU HILLARY CONFIRM THAT -- WILL RECONFIRM IT IS WHAT IT TAKES.
>> YES, SHE IS CORRECT AND SHE IS CORRECT THAT WE HAVE BEEN WORKING ON HER OFFICE IF NOT ON A DAILY BASIS, AT TIMES IT IS SEVERAL TIMES A DAY BASIS TO MAKE SURE WE DO EVERYTHING ON THE FEDERAL LEVEL, THE STATE LEVEL AND THE LOCAL LEVEL.
WE ARE WORKING WITH OUR LOCAL PARTNERS.
WE ARE DOING EVERYTHING YOU CAN THINK OF.
I DID MENTION EARLIER WHEN WE WERE TALKING ABOUT THE TESTING IT WAS NOT JUST THE QUANTITY OF TESTING, BUT THE QUALITY OF TESTING.
THE QUANTITY OF TESTING THERE IS A CAPACITY LIMITATION THAT THE JUDGE ELUDED TO.
I DO WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT'S CLEAR AS WELL.
FOR EXAMPLE WHEN WE WENT TO BAYLOR COLLEGE OF MEDICINE AND WE WERE EXCITED THEY COULD GET THE TURN AROUND TIME DOWN FROM 10 TO 15 DAYS OR BEYOND TO GET IT DOWN TO TWO DAYS OR THREE DAYS, WE WERE TOLD THERE WAS A LIMIT TO THEIR CAPACITY.
THAT'S WHAT LABCORP AND QUEST HAVE DONE.
EARLY ON THEY FEEL THEY HAVE A CAPACITY THEY CAN HANDLE AND THEN WHEN SO MANY PEOPLE ARE BEING TESTED, THAT'S RIGHT.
>> ADRIAN GARCIA: DR. SHAW, YOU ARE KIND OF MAKING MY POINT AGAIN.
I PUT YOU IN TOUCH WITH THAT LAB IN THE WOODLANDS THAT CAN TAKE ON MORE ANALYSIS.
WHY NOT PURSUE THOSE ARRANGEMENTS?
>> COMMISSIONER, WE HAVE ACTUALLY WE HAVE BEEN DOING THAT.
WHEN WE TALK TO THE LABS WE FIND OUT WHAT THEY INITIALLY PROMISED IS NOT ALWAYS THE CASE.
FIRST THEY SAY THEY CAN DO PCR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING AND THEN THEY SAY NO IT IS ANTIGEN TESTING.
THERE ARE A NUMBER OF ISSUES COMING THROUGH.
THERE IS NO REASON WE CAN'T DO IT AGAIN.
>> ADRIAN GARCIA: I WILL RESURRECT THAT CONVERSATION.
MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT IT WAS VCR AND THEY WERE DOING THEIR OWN INVESTMENT INTO THE TECHNOLOGY THAT IS NEEDED TO BE DONE.
THEY HAVE ALL OF THE CERTIFICATIONS AND THEY ARE WILLING TO PUT IT ALL OUT FRONT.
THEY JUST NEED TO KNOW THEY ARE A PARTNER.
SOMETIMES THERE IS ALWAYS A QUICK ANSWER AND I WANT TO MAKE SURE WE ARE STRATEGIC AND CREATIVE AS WE ARE DEALING WITH IT.
>> THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER AND THE OTHER REMINDER AS THE JUDGE MENTIONED THERE IS THE DISENA THAT IS AN ALTERNATIVE LAB THAT IS COMING BACK AT THE NEXT COURT.
>> LINA HIDALGO: COMMISSIONER CAGLE HAD A COMMENT AND THEN COMMISSIONER ELLIS.
JACK >> R JACK CAGLE: YOUR HONOR, MUCH TIME HAS PASSED AND MANY WORDS HAVE BEEN SPOKEN SINCE I HAD MY QUESTION EARLIER, BUT WHAT I THINK I WAS GOING TO SAY IS THAT I FEEL COMMISSIONER GARCIA'S PAIN ABOUT US GETTING THE NUMBERS TODAY.
THAT $25 MILLION WE VOTED ON EARLIER, THAT THING OUR STAFF WAS WORKING OH, MY STAFF GOT IT AT 3:55 THIS AFTERNOON.
I AGREE WITH THAT PAIN, COMMISSIONER GARCIA.
IT WOULD BE NICE IF WE CAN GET OUR DATA AND OUR NUMBERS AND OUR REPORTS BEFORE COURT DAYS.
IT SURE WOULD MAKE MY JOB A LOT EASIER.
>> ADRIAN GARCIA: JUST LIKE COMMISSIONER RADACK SAID, THE ITEM HAD BEEN OUT THERE.
WE ALREADY VOTE OWED THIS ITEM AND THIS WAS AN AMENDMENT.
>> LINA HIDALGO: COMMISSIONER ELLIS?
>> RODNEY ELLIS: WHAT IS GOING ON WITH THE TESTING ISSUE? DR. SHAW, EARLIER IT WAS SAID THE CITY SPENT 30 AND WE SPENT 20.
WAS THAT THE NUMBER WE HEARD? WE DON'T KNOW WHERE IT HAS GONE.
TESTING IS SUCH A PRIORITY AND THERE IS SUCH A DISPROPORTIONATE IMPACT ON COMMUNITIES OF COLOR, WHEN WE COME BACK IF YOU CAN PIN THAT DOWN BECAUSE REGARDLESS OF WHERE IT GOES, IF THE CITY IS SPENDING 10 MILLION MORE ON TESTING I COULD BE PREPARED TO MAKE THE CASE THAT WE OUGHT TO GO UP ON WHAT WE ARE SPENDING ON TESTING.
I DON'T KNOW IF IT IS CARES MONEY OR FEDERAL MONEY.
THE QUESTION WILL BE LOOKED INTO HOW THEY GOT MORE THAN WE GOT.
IF YOU COULD JUST LOOK INTO THAT AND LET US KNOW.
I WAS PULLING 30, 20 AND WE DON'T KNOW WHERE THE 400 AND SOMETHING MILLION IS.
>> COMMISSIONER, MAYBE I DIDN'T SAY THAT CORRECTLY.
WHEN I CONNECTED WITH THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT EARLIER TODAY THEY COULD NOT GIVE ME THE NUMBER OF WHAT THEY HAD SPENT TO DATE.
REMEMBER I SAID APPLES AND ORANGES.
OUR NUMBER IS 20 MILLION TO DATE.
THEY DIDN'T HAVE A NUMBER TO DATE.
THEY WERE THINKING ABOUT 30 MILLION BEING WHAT THE NUMBER WOULD BE MOVING FORWARD.
IN OUR CARES ACT BUDGET WE PUT TOGETHER A NUMBER.
I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE I DON'T HAVE THE SPECIFIC NUMBERS WITH THE CITY OR COUNTY, BUT I WANT TO MAKE SURE YOU ARE AWARE WE ARE SPENDING JUST AS MUCH.
THERE IS NO SIGNIFICANT DELTA BETWEEN THE TWO.
THE JUDGE HAS MADE IT CLEAR AS WE ARE TALKING TO OUR FEDERAL PARTNERS AND OUR STATE PARTNERS THAT IT SHOULD NOT JUST BE DOLLARS TO THE CITY CORE, BUT THE CON -- CITY OUTSIDE THE COUNTY, AND MAKING SURE EACH PARTY IS GETTING AN EQUAL SHARE OF DOLLARS.
>> RODNEY ELLIS: FOR WHAT IT IS WORTH AND I WILL CLOSE ON IT, IF THE COMMUNITY BLOCKS GRANT MONEY THAT COMES TO THE REGION, IS THERE ANY INDICATION OF THE POVERTY INDEX? IF THE CITY GETS THREE TIMES AS MUCH MONEY WE GET, I NO 3 ARE CHALLENGES WITH THE CENSUS -- I KNOW THERE ARE CHALLENGES WITH THE CENSUS IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON AND OUTSIDE THE CITY THAT DON'T GET COUNTED BUT BECAUSE TESTING IS A PROBLEM FOR THOSE WITHOUT HEALTH INSURANCE.
I HAVE AN ISSUE ON THAT LATER.
IF YOU HAVE INSURANCE WE CAN GO TO BAYLOR AND GET TESTED AND PUT IT ON THE INSURANCE.
THEN I MAY BE PREPARED TO MAKE A CASE THAT WE OUGHT TO PUT MORE MONEY -- SOME OF OUR MONEY, JUDGE, INTO THE CITY IF THERE IS MORE POVERTY THERE.
TESTING DURING A PANDEMIC IS SUCH A PROBLEM AND PEOPLE GO FROM INNER CITY LIMITS AND OUTSIDE THE CITY LIMITS.
I MAKE THAT CASE WITH THE OTHER FUNDS WE ARE SETTING UP AS WELL.
IF WE GET TO THOSE WE WILL DISCUSS THAT AS EACH ONE COMES UP.
CHICAGO AND MOST OF THE PEOPLE COMBINED IT IS FOR WHAT IT IS WORTH.
ALTHOUGH THAT IS A CHALLENGING ISSUE, IT HAS BEEN TALKED ABOUT BEFORE AND YOU HAVE TO FIGURE OUT THE ISSUE ON HOW IT WORKS OUT.
>> STEVE RADACK: JUDGE, I JUST GOT OFF THE PHONE WITH DR. TROUTMAN.
HE SAID BETWEEN BAYLOR AND PEOPLE WORKING WITH BAYLOR THAT THEY COULD DO MORE -- THEY COULD DO MORE AND ANALYZE MORE SAMPLES.
SO IF WE COULD WORK ON GETTING SOMEBODY TO GO INTO THAT AREA AND START DOING THE TESTS BAYLOR WILL GET THE RESULTS OUT AND I THINK THEY HAVE GOTTEN THEM OUT IN 48 HOURS.
THE DIFFERENT DIVISIONS OF BAYLOR CAN PROS -- PROCESS THE TEST.
>> LINA HIDALGO: DR. SHAW, HAD YOU ASKED THEM IF THEY CAN DO MORE? I MEAN, I'M SURPRISED.
IS IT JUST ALL OF A SUDDEN THEY HAVE MORE ROOM?
>> I'M NOT PRIVY TO THE CONVERSATION BETWEEN COMMISSIONER RADACK AND DR. CLOTMAN.
ACTUALLY DR. CLOTMAN AND I TALKED ABOUT IT EARLIER THIS WEEK AND IT LOOKS LIKE THEY HAD A CAPACITY ISSUE THAT WAS GOING TO INCREASE ON AUGUST 1 SO WE ARE A FEW DAYS AWAY FROM THAT AND THAT'S HOW WE WERE GOING TO TRANSITION MOBILE TESTING TO BAYLOR COLLEGE OF MEDICINE.
>> LINA HIDALGO: SO THERE YOU GO.
WE EITHER TRANSITION IT -- I RECOMMEND WE LET DR. SHAW RUN THIS DATA.
I WILL TELL YOU GUYS I GET MESSAGES FROM PEOPLE SAYING THEY HAVE MORE TESTS AND THEN WHEN THE STAFF RUN ITSELF DOWN, 98% OF THE TIME THEY ARE TRYING TO GET US ON THE ANTIBODY TESTING.
DR. SHAW, I THINK -- EXCUSE ME, COMMISSIONER GARCIA WAS RIGHT TO ASK THIS OF YOU IN CASE I AM MISUNDERSTANDING.
I THINK YOU CLARIFIED AND Y'ALL THIS IS A WEEKLY THING.
IT IS LIKE AN ITEM ON OUR CHECK IN.
I PROPOSE THAT WE LET DR. SHAW GO AND LOOK AT WHETHER THERE IS -- WHAT THE PROPOSAL IS.
IF HE COMES BACK AND SAYS WE CAN OPEN AN ADDITIONAL TESTING SITE, BUT THAT MEANS THE NEW BAY -- BAYLOR TESTS WILL GO THERE AS OPPOSED TO THE MOBILE SITES.
>> RODNEY ELLIS: I THINK THERE ARE MORE NEEDS IN PRE SINKS 1 AND 2 -- PRECINCTS 1 AND 2.
IF YOU ARE GOING TO CLOSE ONE, CLOSE ONE IN THREE OR FOUR AND I APPRECIATE THE HELP FROM MY COLLEAGUES.
I WILL BE PREPARED TO MAKE THAT MOTION NEXT WEEK.
>> R JACK CAGLE: TACKY, TACKY, TACKY.
>> LINA HIDALGO: I AM CONCERNED THERE IS POSTURING GOING ON AND THAT'S NOT THE WAY TO MAKE PUBLIC HEALTH DECISIONS.
>> RODNEY ELLIS: I AGREE, JUDGE.
[14:25:02]
I JUST WANT MY COLLEAGUES TO KNOW I AM LISTENING.>> LINA HIDALGO: WE WANT TO BE CAREFUL ON THIS.
DR. SHAW CAN WORK WITH OUR STAFFS AND BRING BACK A PROPOSAL AND WE CAN LET THEM WORK IT OUT OFF LINE.
I DON'T THINK IT IS SOMETHING WE CAN UP AND DO RIGHT NOW.
DO WE NEED A MOTION FOR THAT 1234* -- FOR THAT? DR. SHAW, CAN YOU WORK THAT OUT?
>> RODNEY ELLIS: I THINK IF HE CAN COME BACK WITH A RECOMMENDATION, JUST PREPARED I WILL MAKE A MOTION IF NECESSARY AND I APPRECIATE THE HELP FROM MY COLLEAGUES.
>> JUDGE, YES, WE CAN WORK IT OUT.
IF WE HAVE QUESTIONS WE CAN COME BACK AND BRING IT TO COURT.
I DID WANT TO LET YOU KNOW THAT WE DID GET TRACKED DOWN THE WOODLANDS LABORATORY THAT COMMISSIONER GARCIA WAS REFERRING TO.
IT LOOKS LIKE THEIR PRICE PER TEST WAS HIGHER THAN WHAT WE ARE GETTING FROM BAYLOR AND SOME OF THE OTHER LABS AND THERE WAS A MINIMUM NUMBER OF SAMPLES.
THERE WERE A COUPLE OF ISSUES NOT COMPLETELY WORKED OUT, COMMISSIONER, BUT HAPPY TO WORK THAT OUT WITH YOU AND YOUR TEAM.
>> ADRIAN GARCIA: IT IS CALLED NEGOTIATING.
>> LINA HIDALGO: AND IF WE CAN GET MORE FROM THEM IT WILL BE EASIER AND BRING THEM BACK NEXT WEEK.
IT IS AN EXTRA SOURCE OF TESTS GREAT AND IF NOT WE CAN DECIDE WHERE TO TAKE AND WHERE TO PUT.
AND JUDGE AT THAT TIME THEY HAVE THEIR FDA AND EUA WORKED OUT.
>> LINA HIDALGO: DID THEY HAVE THE FDA PERMITS WHEN YOU FIRST TALKED T.O.
>> THE EUA, EMERGENCY USE OPERATION WAS NOT THERE AND I THINK THAT'S ONE OF THE CHALLENGES.
SOMETIMES WE REACH OUT TO DIFFERENT LABORATORIES AND THEY DON'T HAVE THINGS WORK ETD OUT -- WORKED OUT AND WE MOVE TO THE NEXT ONE.
IT MAY BE THINGS EVOLVE ON THEIR END.
THAT'S SOMETHING WE CAN GO BACK AND COMMISSIONER GARCIA, WOULD BE HAPPY TO SIT WITH YOU AND YOUR TEAM TO TALK ABOUT THAT AS WELL.
JUDGE, AS FAR AS YOUR QUESTION DO WE NEED AN ORDER I WILL REFER TO YOU AND COMMISSIONER'S COURT MEMBERS.
I THINK WE HAVE GOTTEN OUR INSTRUCTIONS WHICH IS FIND OUT WHAT WE CAN DO IN THE CONCERNS IN THE FIFTH WARD.
>> LINA HIDALGO: DOES THAT WORK FOR YOU GUYS, FOR THE COMMISSIONERS ? SEW -- SO WE WILL WAIT -- EXCUSE ME, WE WILL WAIT UNTIL WE MEET PERHAPS ON THURSDAY AND THEN WHENEVER THIS COMES BACK.
ON THE SUPPLEMENTAL AGENDA ITEM 18.
AND NOW -- >> RODNEY ELLIS: JUDGE -- >> JUDGE IS THAT A NO ACTION FOR SUPPLEMENTAL 18?
>> LINA HIDALGO: NO ACTION, JAMES.
THE TWO OTHER SUPPLEMENTAL ITEM THAT'S DID NOT MAKE IT ON TO THE COVID AGENDA, BUT THEY ARE COVID RELATED.
THE FIRST IS ITEM TWO -- OH THAT WAS THE PUBLIC HEALTH ASKED NO ACTION WHICH IS THE DASCENA CONTRACT.
THE OTHER IS NUMBER 11 WHICH IS COMMISSIONER ELLIS.
>> WE HAVE SPEAKERS ON THAT ITEM.
>> RODNEY ELLIS: JUDGE THEY ASKED ME TO MAKE THE CASE AND I KNOW THE COURT FAN PLUS -- UNANIMOUSLY BEFORE HAS CALLED ON THE STATE TO DRAW DOWN THE AFFORDABLE HEALTH CARE MONEY.
I WON'T GO THROUGH ALL OF THE STAW -- STATISTICS.
THE RESOLUTION IS PRETTY STRAIGHT FORWARD.
THE SHORT OF IT IS DURING THE TIME WHICH SO MANY OF OUR HOSPITALS ARE STRUGGLING THIS MONEY AMOUNTS TO $10 BILLION AND IT TAKES ABOUT $120 MILLION.
TEXAS IS A STATE 20% ARE UNINSURED AND WE HAVE THE HIGHEST POPULATION OF UNINSURED NONELDERLY ADULTS AT A RATE OF 29%.
THE GOVERNOR COULD DRAW DOWN THIS MONEY DURING A PANDEMIC ONLY DURING THIS PANDEMIC.
THIS RESOLUTION MAKES THE CASE TO TRY AND DO THAT.
659,000 PEOPLE HAVE LOST THEIR HEALTH INSURANCE IN FEBRUARY TO MAY BECAUSE OF THE PANDEMIC.
THIS IS A 15% INCREASE OF ADULTS IN THE STATE AND OVER 5 MILLION PRIOR TO COVID SHOWING UP.
TR -- THERE IS NO SECRET THAT IT IS 18% OVERALL.
WE SENT OUT THE EARLY VERSION SO MEMBERS CAN LOOK AT IT.
IT HAS BEEN DETERMINED THAT MEDICAID EXPANSION IS SOMETHING THAT THE GOVERNOR HAS THE AUTHORITY TO ENACT IMMEDIATELY TO EXPAND ACCESS TO 1.5 MILLION TEKDZ ANS WHO ALREADY QUALIFY.
I HOPE WE CAN PASS THIS ONE WITH BIPARTISAN SUPPORT.
IT HAS PASSED BEFORE AND THIS PANDEMIC MAKES IT EVEN MORE IMPORTANT TO DO IT.
AT THE APPROPRIATE TIME I WILL MAKE A MOTION, BUT I KNOW THERE ARE SPEAKERS.
>> LINA HIDALGO: LUCINDA, WILL YOU CALL THE SPEAKERS, PLEASE.
>> SAW SILL YAW F -- CECILIA-FONTANA WITH TEXAS ORGANIZING PROJECT.
>> MY NAME IS CECILIA FONTANO AND I AM A GRASSROOTS COMMUNITY LEADER OF THE TEXAS ORGANIZING PROJECT OR TOP.
I HAVE BEEN AN ADVOCATE FOR HEALTH CARE JUSTICE WITH TOP SINCE 2013.
URGING THE STATE TO DRAW DOWN MEDICAID EXPANSION DOLLARS TO EXPAND HEALTH CARE OPTIONS FOR LOW INCOME WORKING TEXAS FAMILIES.
I GOT INVOLVED BECAUSE I DID NOT HAVE HEALTH CARE OPTIONS WHEN I STARTED MY ADVOCACY WORK.
I WAS STUCK BETWEEN LOSING MY JOB AND MY PRIVATE HEALTH INSURANCE AND ELIGIBLE FOR MEDICARE.
IN THIS TIME OF COVID, AN ESTIMATED 500,000 TEXANS HAVE LOST THEIR JOB AND THEIR HEALTH INSURANCE THAT COULD ACCESS HEALTH CARE IF THE STATE EXPANDED MEDICAID.
THIS IS 500,000 MORE TEXANS ON TOP OF THE NEARLY 1.5 MILLION THAT IS ELIGIBLE FOR MEDICAID EXPANSION BEFORE THE TIME OF COVID.
STS -- IT IS THE LARGEST RATE OF UNINSURED IN THE COUNTRY.
IT IS LONG OVERDUE TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO PROVIDE HEALTH CARE FOR OUR PEOPLE.
I SUPPORT THE HARRIS COUNTY RESOLUTION TO URGE GOVERNOR ABBOTT TO USE THIS -- USE HIS EMERGENCY POWER IN THIS TIME OF COVID TO EXPAND MEDICAID NOW AND ASK YOU TO SUPPORT IT AS WELL.
CLAW -- CLAUDETTE JOHNSON WITH TEXAS ORGANIZING PROJECT.
THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER'S COURT FOR ALLOWING ME TO SPEAK TO YOU.
MY NAME IS CLAUDETTE JOHNSON AND I AM A COMMUNITY LEADER WITH THE TEXAS ORGANIZING PROJECT.
I HAVE BEEN A WIDOW AND A SINGLE MOTHER WITHOUT HEALTH INSURANCE AND WONDERING HOW -- ABOUT WHAT WOULD HAPPEN TO ME IF I GOT SICK OR INJURED.
HOW WOULD I PAY MEDICAL BILLS WHILE KEEPING A ROOF OVER OUR HEAD AND FOOD ON THE TABLE.
IT IS NOT A FEELING I WOULD WISH ON ANYONE.
IT IS ALSO NOT UNCOMMON CARING FOR HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF HARRIS COUNTY REIS LENTZ -- RESIDENTS.
BEFORE COVID HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF RESIDENTS WOULD BE ELIGIBLE FOR MEDICAID IF THE STATE EXPANDED THE PROGRAM.
THAT MUST BE IS FAR MORE NOW WITH THE JOB LOSS DURING THE PANDEMIC.
THIS IS WHY SUPPORT FOR HARRIS COUNTY RESOLUTION TO URGE GOVERNOR ABBOTT TO USE HIS EMERGENCY POWERS IN THIS TIME OF COVID TO EXPAND MEDICAID NOW AND ASK YOU TO SUPPORT IT AS WELL.
IF EVER THERE WAS A REASON TO USE EMERGENCY POWERS TO INCREASE HEALTH COVERAGE IN THE STATE, SEEMS LIKE THE TIME WOULD BE RIGHT NOW.
THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME TO SPEAK.
JUDGE, THOSE ARE ALL OF THE SPEAKERS ON THIS ITEM.
>> LINA HIDALGO: DO WE HAVE A MOTION ON THIS ITEM?
>> RODNEY ELLIS: I WILL MOVE ADOPTION.
>> LINA HIDALGO: ALL IN FAVOR OF THE RESOLUTION?
>> R JACK CAGLE: YOUR HONOR, I RECEIVED THE RESOLUTION YESTERDAY AT 3:22 SO I DID HAVE OVERNIGHT AND EARLY THIS MORNING TO BE ABLE TO LOOK AT IT SOMEWHAT.
AND I HAVE DONE SOME QUEUR RES.
QUEERIE >> QUEARIES I THERE IS A COST TO THE STATE OF TEXAS TO HAVE THIS EXPANSION.
I AM GOING TO VOTE NO ON THE ITEM AS AS IT IS POSTED, BUT I ENCOURAGE IF THERE IS A WAY THAT THERE COULD BE A WIN-WIN TO WHERE THE STATE DOES NOT LOSE FUNDS BECAUSE THEY ARE LOOKING AT HAVING SIGNIFICANT REVENUE SHORT FALLS AND WE CAN HAVE AN ADVANTAGE OF THE SYSTEM AT THAT TIME THAT IS GOOD TO EXPLORE.
>> RODNEY ELLIS: COMMISSIONER GARCIA, YOUR MIC IS ON.
>> ADRIAN GARCIA: SORRY ABOUT THAT.
>> R JACK CAGLE: AT THIS TIME IT IS A NO.
>> RODNEY ELLIS: THANK YOU THOUGH.
>> STEVE RADACK: I AM VOTING NO.
>> LINA HIDALGO: I WILL VOTE IN FAVOR.
THOSE ARE ALL OF THE COVID ITEMS. LET'S GO BACK TO THE REGULAR AGENDA.
STARTING WITH COUNTY ENGINEER.
>> YES, JUDGE, RECOMMENDING THE APPROVAL OF ALL OF THE ITEMS AND IF YOU GO TO PAGE 6 AND ITEM P AS IN PAUL THIS IS WHERE WE ARE REVISING THE REGULATIONS TO MAKE SURE UTILITIES DON'T CONFLICT WITH THE ROAD RIGHT OF WAY.
THAT HAS BEEN A CONSTANT PROBLEM FOR YEARS.
TTS -- IT IS NOT ONLY THE ROAD RIGHT OF WAY, BUT THE TOLL ROAD RIGHT AWAY AND FLOOD CONTROL RIGHT OF WAY.
IT ALLOWS US TO ENSURE WHEN WE DO IMPROVEMENTS BE IT SIDEWALK AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE WE CAN HAVE THE UTILITY COMPANY -- COMPANIES MOVE THESE UTILITIES QUICK.
>> LINA HIDALGO: COMMISSIONER ELLIS AND THEN COMMISSIONER GARCIA.
>> RODNEY ELLIS: QUICKLY, MR. BLOUNT, IT IS SOMEWHAT RELATED HOW ARE YOU COMING ON THE MASK AGREEMENT AND USING THE UTILITY CORE.
ARE YOU WORKING ON A MASK AGREEMENT?
>> THE COUNTY ATTORNEY AS I UNDERSTAND IS TO SEND OUT AN UPDATE ON WHERE WE ARE.
THERE ARE JUST A COUPLE OF ITEMS THAT RELATE TO WHEN THE COUNTY ITSELF BUILDS IN
THE EASE MEANT AS OPPOSED TO A CONTRACT TODD >> RODNEY ELLIS: THANK YOU.
>> LINA HIDALGO: GARCIA AND THEN CAGLE AD >> ADRIAN GARCIA: THANK YOU FOR THIS ITEM IN PARTICULAR.
THERE ARE CERTAIN THINGS THAT FOLLOW YOU AROUND.
HIS PLAN IN PART WAS TO FOCUS ON GETTING AS MANY UTILITIES OUT OF THE RIGHT
[14:30:01]
OF WAY.AND AS WE DISCUSSED THIS PARTICULAR ITEM HELPS ACCOMPLISH SOME OF THAT.
>> ADRIAN GARCIA: THANK YOU FOR SUBMITTING THIS AND FOR THOSE LOOKING FOR THE MORE ATTRACTIVE COMMUNITIES.
THIS WILL HELP THE UNINCORPORATED AREAS OF THE COUNTY.
THIS WILL SEE THAT WE CAN GET TO THAT POINT.
>> LINA HIDALGO: COMMISSIONER CAGLE?
>> R JACK CAGLE: IN YOUR INTRODUCTORY COMMENTS I WAS SHUFFLING THROUGH MY PAPERS, BUT YOU MAY HAVE ADDRESSED THIS, BUT UNDER ITEM P ON PAGE SIX THERE WERE TWO THINGS WE WANTED TO MAKE SURE YOU HAD A CHANCE TO REVIEW AND WORK ON.
THE STORY USED TO HAVE A PHRASE, YES, BUT IF.
IF YOU COMPLY WITH THESE THINGS THEN WE CAN GET TO A POINT OF YES.
WE HAVE A NUMBER OF HOMEOWNER ASSOCIATIONS AND DISTRICTS INTERESTED IN PUTTING UP THE LITTLE TRACKING DEVICES THAT SHOW WHEN SOMEONE IS SPEEDING THROUGH THEIR NEIGHBORHOOD OR SECURITY CAMERAS.
RIGHT NOW WE DON'T ALLOW PEOPLE TO UTILIZE THAT TYPE OF EQUIPMENT IN OUR RIGHT OF WAY.
I THINK THERE MAY BE A YES, BUT ONLY IF.
IF THEY HAVE ENGINEERING THAT SHOWS THEIR PLAN IS SAFE, IF THERE IS ENOUGH THERE TO SHOW THAT IT IS ATTRACTIVE, IF THERE ARE ENOUGH OTHER FACTOR THERE'S WITH REGARD TO WHAT THEY ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR AND IF THEY ARE NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR IT WE CAN TEAR IT DOWN.
I THINK THOSE ARE TWO THINGS THAT YOU AND I HAVE DISCUSSED I THINK YESTERDAY ABOUT TRYING TO MAKE SURE WE CAN INCORPORATE THAT INTO THIS PLAN SO THAT WE CAN MAYBE FIND THAT HAPPY, SAFE GROUND IN THE COUNTY WIDE POLICY THAT WOULD ASSIST NEIGHBORHOODS.
I WANT TO HAVE THE ADDED SECURITY AGAINST OTHER FOLKS THAT ARE DOING SOMETHING THAT MAY NOT BE GOOD FOR THEM, BUT MAKE THE RIGHT OF WAY SAFE.
>> THERE IS A SECTION THAT ALLOWS THE COUNTY TO ENTER INTO THE LOCAL AGREEMENTS WITH THESE AGENCIES THAT WOULD SUPER SEED THESE REGULATIONS.
THERE IS A PLACE WITH THIS AND I CAN WORK WITH THE PRECINCTS TO COME UP WITH A STANDER -- STANDARD BISE -- STANDARDIZED TIME FOR THAT.
>> LINA HIDALGO: COMMISSIONER ELLIS?
>> RODNEY ELLIS: LOOK, I THINK IT IS A GREAT IDEA, COMMISSIONER CAGLE.
I KNOW THAT MUCH TO THE CITY OF HOUSTON'S CHAGRIN WHEN I WAS IN THE LEGISLATURE THEY STOPPED THE RED LIGHT CAMERAS.
IF YOU CAN DO THIS I AM MORE THAN HAPPY TO HAVE THEM ON THE UTILITY CORRIDORS IN THE CITY.
THAT MAY SOLVE A LOT OF PROBLEMS. I DON'T WANT TO RAISE THE IRE OF THE LEGISLATURE, BUT THAT'S WHAT WE WOULD BE ABLE TO DO.
>> IN THIS CASE -- AND WE WORKED WITH THE UTILITY DISTRICTS AND WE HAVE SIGNS.
A LOT OF TIMES THEY ARE NOT PAYING ATTENTION.
THOSE TYPES OF DEVICES WE HAVE ALLOWED BY SEPARATE CONTRACT.
THEY ARE EXCEEDING THE SPEED LIMIT.
>> WE CAN FIGURE IT OUT AND TAKE A PICTURE WHEN THEY DUMP IT.
I HAVEN'T FOUND A SOLUTION TO THAT AND WE CAN PUT SOMETHING UP THERE AND MAYBE AN ALARM WOULD GO OFF.
I AM LOOKING TO SEE WHAT YOU CAN COME UP WITH ON THAT.
>> LINA HIDALGO: IF WE HAD MORE TIME YOU WOULD FILL US IN ON THE SELF-CLEANING BUTTONS, JOHN.
>> A LATER TIME, BUT YES, THERE ARE SELF-CLEANING BUTTONS ON THE ELEVATOR NOW.
>> LINA HIDALGO: IT CAUSES A LOT OF CONSTERNATION, THE POSITIVE KIND, PERHAPS.
NEXT IS FLOOD CONTROL DISTRICT.
I BELIEVE WE HAVE SPEAKERS ON ITEM E ON PAGE EIGHT, RIGHT, LUCINDA?
>> LINA HIDALGO: RUSS, WOULD YOU LIKE TO GO OVER THIS BEFORE THE SPEAKERS?
>> YES, THIS IS RUSS POPPY WITH THE HARRIS COUNTY FLOOD CONTROL DISTRICT.
AS YOU RECALL ON JUNE 30TH COMMISSIONER ELLIS ASKED US TO PROVIDE A TRANS MISS TALL WITH -- TRANSMITAL AND HIGH VULNERABLE NEIGHBORHOODS.
WE TOOK ALL OF THE PROJECTS AND INTERSECTED THE PROJECT LOCATIONS FOR THE CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL AND PREVENTION OR CDC'S SOCIAL VULNERABILITY INDEX AND THIS IS THEIR DATA SET.
ONCE WE INTERSECTED THOSE OUR PROJECTS ARE EITHER LOCATED HIGH OR MODERATELY HIGH IN SOCIALLY VULNERABLE AREAS AS CALCULATED BY THE CDC.
THERE ARE EXINES -- EXHIBITS TO THE REPORTS AND THERE IS A LOT OF DATA ON THE MAPS.
WE HAVE MODIFIED OUR WEBSITE TO INCLUDE SEVERAL LAYERS INCLUDING SOCIAL VULNERABILITY.
YOU CAN NAVIGATE THE RESILL YEN -- RESILIENCY TAB AND YOU CAN TOGGLE OFF AND ON.
THE MAPS ARE AVAILABLE ON OUR WEBSITE.
THE ONE THING IS IF YOU ZOOM IN, THE RED DOTS WILL GIVE YOU MORE DETAIL ABOUT HOW WIDE THE PROJECTS ARE.
SOME OF THE PROJECTS ARE LITERALLY 20 MILES LONG.
IT WAS UPDATED TO INCLUDE THIS INFORMATION.
I WILL SAY WE HAVE A LOT OF WORK GOING ON AROUND THE COUNTY.
I JUST WANT TO SHARE SOME QUICK STATISTICS.
GREENS AND HALLS, ALWAYS NAVIGATE TO THE TOP OF THOSE.
IF YOU LOOK AT THE NUMBER OF CONSTRUCTION WE HAVE SEVEN ACTIVE CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS AND THEY ARE A VALUE OF 100 MILLION.
THE OTHER AREA THAT COMES UP FREQUENTLY IS KASHMIR GARDENS IN PARTICULAR AND IT WAS A LONG, HARD BATTLE, BUT WE HAVE $65 MILLION TO COMPLETE THE PROJECT.
SOMETHING I WANT TO POINT OUT AS PART OF THE CONVERSATION IS WE AT THE DISTRICT UNDERSTOOD THE VALUE AND THE NEED OF THAT PROJECT.
EVEN BEFORE THE CORE HAD THESE MONIES AVAILABLE TO US, WE SPENT $40 MILLION TO ADVANCE THE FEDERAL FLOOD PROJECT ON HUNTING BAYOU.
WE KNOW THAT BECAUSE THE PEOPLE FLOOD REPEATEDLY AND HAVE IN THE PAST.
THE LBJ HOSPITAL THAT IS ON THE NORTH BANK OF HUNTING BAYOU AND THAT IS THE STATE'S LEVEL 3 TRAUMA CENTER.
SINCE 2016 WE HAVE BEEN ADVOCATING WITH THE CORE THAT THEY NEED TO CONSIDER THESE LIFE SAFETY SOCIOECONOMIC CONCERNS THAT WILL ADVOCATE FOR FUNDING AND I AM HAPPY TO REPORT THAT WE DO NOW HAVE.
IN ESSENCE OF TIME AND UNLESS THERE ARE QUESTIONS ABOUT PROJECTS SPECIFICALLY I WANT TO JUMP TO SOME OF THE CHALLENGES THAT I ALSO MENTIONED IN MY TRANSMITAL.
I THINK THESE ARE IMPORTANT FOR US TO KEEP IN FOCUS AS WE HAVE THESE CONVERSATIONS.
AND THAT IS REGARDLESS OF HOW MUCH WORK WE DO ON OUR BAYOUS, PEOPLE WILL STILL FLOOD IF WE DON'T HAVE ADEQUATE LOCAL DRAINAGE.
WE HAVE SEEN WHERE THE BAYOUS MAY BE HALF FULL, BUT PEOPLE ARE REPORTING FLOODING BECAUSE THEIR SUBDIVISION WAS BUILT AT A TIME WE DIDN'T ADEQUATE PIPES AND DRAINS TO KEEP THE WATER MOVING TOWARD THE CHANNELS.
THAT'S WHY WE HAVE FUNDS IN THE BOND PROGRAM AND I WILL SAY THE PARTNERSHIP PROJECTS WERE SLOW TO MATERIALIZE.
THE MUNICIPALITIES DON'T HAVE THE FUNDING TO BE THAT PARTNER.
WE MAY NEED TO GET CREATIVE TO COME UP WITH LOAN PROGRAMS OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT SO WE CAN FURTHER ENTICE THESE PARTNERSHIP PROJECTS TO TAKE PLACE.
THE OTHER THING WE GET BEAT UP ABOUT IS HOW LONG IT TAKES TO DO THESE PROJECTS.
THERE IS A COUPLE REASONS FOR THAT.
ONE OF THE MAIN REASONS IS IF YOU LOOK AT THE HALLS BAYOU EXAMPLE ALONE WE ARE LOOKING AT SEVERAL HUNDRED PARCELLS THAT WILL NEED TO START WIDENING AND DEEPENING THE TRIBUTARIES AND ADDING WATER TO TENSION BASINS AND THEY HAVE STRUCTURES ON THEM.
PEOPLE'S HOMES AND BUSINESSES WE TAKE THAT SERIOUSLY AND WE HAVE TO COME UP WITH SOME ENGINEERING OPPORTUNITIES AND SOLUTIONS AT WORK AND ENGAGE THE COMMUNITY AND PRESENT THESE OPTIONS AND THEN WE CAN MAKE AN EYES WIDE OPEN DECISION ABOUT HOW BEST TO APPROACH THIS.
THAT TAKES TIME AND THERE IS A NEED TO MAKE SURE THERE IS A ROBUST RELOCATION DEPARTMENT AND HOUSING TO MOVE THESE FOLKS INTO.
THAT'S WHY IT IS IMPORTANT WE WORK WITH OTHER COUNTY DEPARTMENT THAT'S HAVE THAT JURISDICTION TO MAKE SURE THE HOMES AND THE RELOCATION EFFORTS ARE ACCOMMODATED.
WE ALSO CONTINUE TO ENGAGE THE COMMUNITIES TO GIVE PUBLIC INPUT ON THE PROJECTS.
I WILL SAY WE ARE GETTING MORE CREATIVE WITH THE COVID VIRUS CAUSING US TO DO THESE THINGS TELETHON NICKLY AND VIRTUALLY.
IF YOU LOOK AT THE HIGHLY SOCIALABLE NEIGHBORHOODS THEY ARE NOT AS ABLE TO PARTICIPATE IN A VIRTUAL MEETING.
WE ARE MAKING SURE THEY ARE BEING COMMUNICATED INTO THE COMMITTEES AND WE ARE GETTING THE APPROPRIATE FEEDBACK.
THE OTHER THING WE ARE DOING IS THERE ARE PROGRAMS NOW AVAILABLE AND FUNDED TO A LEVEL WE HAVE NOT SEEN BEFORE THAT THEIR PROGRAMS ARE SET UP TO HELP FUND PROJECTS IN THE HIGH SOCIAL VULNERABILITY AREAS OR HIGH -- HIGH OR LOW LMR AREAS.
WE ARE IN THE PROCESS OF SEVERAL HUNDRED OF THESE APRIL LAW LOCATIONS AND THEY ARE DUE THIS FALL.
AS PART OF THAT, THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS FREE MONEY.
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT COMES ALONG WITH THESE APPLICATIONS IS A WAITING PROCESS.
WE WILL BE SUBMITTING SIX APPLICATIONS TO THE GLO FOR THE HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT FEDERAL AGENCY.
THEY WILL REQUIRE THAT AS PART OF THE APPLICATIONS THAT WE DO THE NATIONAL ENVIRONMENT POLICY ACT OR NEPA.
THE STATISTICS I JUST READ FROM THE COUNCIL OF ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY, THE AVERAGE NEPA REVIEW PROCESS TAKES THREE AND A HALF YEARS AND INCLUDES 660 PAGES.
WE ARE VERY CONCERNED ABOUT HAVING TO GO THROUGH THE NEPA PROCESS KNOWING IT TAKES THAT LONG AND THAT MUCH EFFORT TO PUT TOGETHER.
WE ARE DOING WHAT WE CAN AND WORKING WITH CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATES AND PARTNERS TO PUSH FOR STREAM LINING THESE PROCESSES, BUT THIS IS MAYBE SOMEWHERE WE CAN GET SOME HELP AND ASSISTANCE FROM THE COMMUNITIES AND THE OUT REACH PROGRAMS THAT WAY IT IS NOT JUST US, BUT OUR COMMUNITIES IN GENERAL.
TWO MORE THINGS I WANT TO MENTION BRIEFLY.
ONE AS WE START EXECUTING THESE PROJECTS IN THE HIGHLY SOCIALLY VULNERABLE AREA THERE'S IS A GROWING CONCERN FOR THE GENTRIFICATION TO HAPPEN.
WE HAVE SEEN IT BEFORE AND WE HAD RESIDENTS TALK TO US ABOUT IT BEFORE.
THERE IS NOT A LOT WE CAN DO ABOUT THAT.
OUR JOB IS TO DEVELOP THE PROJECT AND THEN THERE ARE BROADER DISCUSSIONS AND A COLLABORATIVE APPROACH NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED.
AS WE BUILD THESE PROJECTS AND MAKE THIS LAND POTENTIALLY MORE VALUABLE WHICH IS GREAT, BUT CAN THEY AFFORD TO LIVE THERE IN TWO YEARS, FIVE YEARS, 10 YEARS DOWN THE ROAD? WE DON'T HAVE THE ANSWERS TODAY.
I JUST WANT TO START THE CONVERSATION ABOUT HOW DO WE ADDRESS THAT.
THE LAST THING I WANT TO MENTION IS WITH ALL OF THE WORK WE HAVE GOING ON, IF
[14:35:02]
YOU MAY RECALL SO MUCH OF THE BOND PROGRAM WAS REALLY HINGED ON PARTNERSHIP PROJECTS.MEANING WE NEED FEDERAL FUNDS TO COME IF AND MAKE US WHOLE.
WE ARE TRACKING 1.7 BILLION THAT WE ARE TRYING TO PUT IN THE BOND PROGRAM.
COMMISSIONER ELLIS, YOU MENTIONED SPES -- SPECIFICALLY THE GREENS, HALLS, KEEGAN'S BAYOU AND HUNTING BAYOU AND WE LOOKED AT HOW MUCH MONEY WE ARE TRACKING AND WE WOULD LIKE TO GET FROM FEDERAL OR STATE PARTNERS FOR THAT MATTER.
WE WOULD LIKE TO GET 500 MILLION TO MATCH THE LOCAL MONEY WE HAVE AVAILABLE IN OUR BOND PROGRAM TO EXECUTE PROJECTS IN THE AREAS.
THAT KIND OF SUMMARIZES THE TALKING POINTS I HAD AND THE REPORT I SUBMITTED, BUT I WOULD BE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS OR LET THE SPEAKERS TALK.
>> LINA HIDALGO: COMMISSIONER ELLIS?
>> RODNEY ELLIS: I WANT TO EXPRESS HOW IMPORTANT IT IS FOR US TO HAVE COME UP WITH THESE EQUITY GUIDELINES.
I DIDN'T UNDERSTAND THIS ISSUE UNTIL RUSS POPPY EXPLAINED IT TO ME.
THE BULK OF THE MONEY WE USED FOR FLOODING AND ALL-AROUND THE COUNTRY FOR ANY DISASTER RECOVERY IT HAS BEEN A COST BENEFIT RATIO.
THAT'S WHY SO MANY NEIGHBORHOODS HAVE FLOODED SO MANY TIMES.
RUSS, I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE A CLEAR UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT WORST FIRST MEANS.
IS IT FAIR THAT THESE PROJECTS YOU MADE REFERENCE TO THAT HAVE BEEN PRIORITIZED UNDER OUR VULNERABILITY INDEX, IS IT FAIR TO SAY THOSE ARE THE AREAS WHERE IT HAS FLOODED THE WORST? AND ON A REGULAR BASIS?
>> THEY HAVE SEEN THEIR FAIR SHARE, COMMISSIONER.
>> RODNEY ELLIS: WE ALL TAKE PHRASES AND WORST FIRST SOMETIMES TURNS INTO WHAT SOMEBODY WANTS.
CLEARLY THESE ARE THE ONE THAT'S HAVE BEEN HISTORICALLY NEGLECTED AND NOT BECAUSE OF ANY FAULT OF THE COUNTY, BUT WE WERE CHASING FEDERAL MONEY AND OTHER THAN THE MONEY FROM HUDD WHICH WHICH WAS FAIRLY LIMITED, IT WAS CORE OF ENGINEERS, FEMA MONEY AND IT WAS A BENEFIT TO COST RATIO.
I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE WE ARE CLEAR.
OUR BIG FEDERAL PROJECTS WITH THE CORE AND SOME OF THE FEMA PROGRAMS ALL REQUIRE A RATIO ANALYSIS.
>> RODNEY ELLIS: WHAT WE CAME UP WITH IS SOCIAL VULNERABILITY, GETTING IT FROM THE CDC AND THE CDC USED THAT INDEX FOR WHEN THEY ARE DISTRIBUTING MONEY IN HEALTH-RELATED ITEMS. JUDGE, YOUR OFFICE DID A GREAT JOB WITH THAT.
THE FEDERAL MONEY IS DRIVEN BY COST BENEFIT RATIO.
THE STATE MONEY ARGUABLY IS DRIVEN BY POLITICS.
AT LEAST WE WERE TOLD ON THE PROJECT WE WILL DISCUSS LATER.
THE CITY WANTED TO USE THEIR POLITICAL CLOUT.
OBVIOUSLY THAT IS IN A BLACK BOX.
IT IS BASED ON, I GUESS WHOEVER GETS THE VOTES.
IS THAT A FAIR COMMENT NOBODY ELSE AN INDICT OTHER THAN COST BENEFIT, SOCIAL AND HUDD HAS LNI.
>> AND THE STATE WITH THEIR NEW PROGRAMS THEY ARE ROLLING OUT NOW DOES HAVE A SCORING CRITERIA AS WELL AND THEY DO TAKE INTO CONSIDERATION THINGS LIKE HOW RURAL IS THE AREA THE PROJECT SERVES A AND A STATISTICAL AREA THAT WE HAVE TO DEAL WITH ON THE STATE PROGRAM.
>> I AM RAISING THAT BECAUSE I WANT TO ASK YOU TO COME BACK WITH SOME RECOMMENDATIONS ON WHETHER OR NOT WHAT IMPACT IT WOULD HAVE IF WE HAVE SOME OF WHAT WE APPLY FOR.
IF WE GO AFTER STATE MONEY OR FEDERAL MONEY THERE IS A LIMIT ON WHAT YOU GET.
IF WE GO AFTER ONE STATE GRANT AND IT DOESN'T APPLY TO THE PROJECTS ARE YOU TELLING US WE ARE SHORT.
WE STARTED THE STUDY AND WE ARE $500 MILLION SHORT.
THESE WORST FIRST PROJECTS WITH I WILL STILL BE AT THE BACK OF THE BUS IF WE DON'T USE SOME SOCIAL VULNERABILITY CRY TEAR -- CRITERIA.
I DON'T US TO LEAVE ANY MONEY ON THE TABLE.
WE CAN'T LET OUR PROCESS BE DRIVEN BY SOMEBODY ELSE'S POLITICS WHETHER IT IS THE CITY, WHETHER IT IS THE STATE.
I KNOW YOU TOLD ME ON THE FEDERAL LEVEL THAT THEY ARE TRYING TO GET AWAY FROM THE COST BENEFIT RATIO.
THEY SEE HOW IT HAS RAVAGED SO MANY COMMUNITIES AROUND THE COUNTRY.
>> YES AND WE WERE VOCAL WHEN THE TEXAS WATER BOARD WAS LOOKING AT STANDING UP TO THE DIFFERENT CRITERIA.
>> RODNEY ELLIS: I JUST WANT TO MAKE A CASE, JUDGE AND THEN I WILL BE QUIET, I KNOW IT IS LATE.
BUT TO HAVE GONE THROUGH THIS EFFORT SOMETHING PEOPLE ARE TALKING ABOUT AT NACO AND OTHER PLACES AROUND THE COUNTRY WHO SAW THE ARTICLE IN THE "NEW YORK TIMES" SOMEBODY FROM COOK COUNTY CALLED ME TO DISCUSS IT.
SO THEY ARE LOOKING AT WHAT WE ARE DOING.
WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE WE FOLLOW WHAT WE DID SO IT IS NOT JUST WORDS ON PAPER.
I WOULD LIKE FOR TO YOU COME BACK WITH SOME RECOMMENDATIONS ABOUT HOW DO WE MAKE DECISIONS ON WHAT WE GO AFTER IF WE WANT OUR SOCIAL AND VULNERABILITY PROJECTS TO MOVE FORWARD AND NOT END UP TALKING ABOUT THEM FOR ANOTHER 30 DAYS.
>> MY IMMEDIATE ANSWER TO THAT AT LEAST INITIAL ANSWER IS THAT ALL OF THE PROJECTS FOR WHICH WE ARE NOW ADVOCATING ARE VIA THE INITIATION FRAMEWORK.
I UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU ARE ASKING FOR AND WE WILL WORK ON THEM.
>> RODNEY ELLIS: JUST THINK ABOUT THAT.
AND THEN HOW WE LOOK AT -- I MENTIONED THIS TO YOU, AND I DON'T KNOW IF IT NEEDS TO BE THE COUNTY AUDITOR OR WHO -- I DON'T WANT PEOPLE TO COME BACK AND SAY TO ME, RODNEY, HOW DO YOU KNOW -- HOW DO WE KNOW YOU DID IT? IF I CALL FOR AN INDEPENDENT VERIFICATION IN OTHER PLACES, I DON'T HAVE A PROPOSAL AND I DON'T KNOW IF IT IS THE AUDITOR.
I WANT PEOPLE TO HAVE CONFIDENCE THAT THINGS REALLY HAVE CHANGED BECAUSE THEY WERE TOLD THAT SO MANY TIMES.
>> AND WE ARE TRYING TO BE TRANSPARENT.
I KNOW WE HAVE AN AGENDA ITEM TO TALK ABOUT THE TASK FORCE.
THAT CAN BE A GREAT CHECKPOINT FOR US.
WE ARE TALKING ABOUT COUNTY RESILIENCY.
THERE ARE SUBDIVISION PROJECTS AND HAVING A HOLISTIC VIEW AND SHOWING THAT WE ARE DOING WHAT WE SAY, I'M ALL FOR IT.
AND THE CITY HAS THE DRAINAGE FEE AND I DON'T THINK WE HAVE THE AUTHORITY TO DO THAT.
WE CAN HAVE THE WATER SHEDS -- IF THEY DON'T GET THE STUFF TO THE WATER SHED, IT IS ALL FOR NOT.
>> PEOPLE WILLING -- WILL STILL HAVE FLOODING ISSUES.
>> LINA HIDALGO: COMMISSIONER GARCIA.
>> ADRIAN GARCIA: THANK YOU, JUDGE.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORK AND THE FACT THAT SBI AND OUR NEIGHBORHOODS AND AS WE
DISCUSSED AND -- >> TODAY IT IS 680 MILLION IN CONTRACTS.
>> ADRIAN GARCIA: GOOD DEAL AND SINCE THE PROGRAM TOUCHES FEDERAL DOLLARS WHAT IS YOUR OFFICE'S COMPLIANCE WITH THE DBE PROGRAM?
>> WE WERE TALKING ABOUT SETTING UP THE OFFICE OF EQUITY AND OPPORTUNITY.
WE HAVE TO PROVIDE EVIDENCE WE ARE IN COMPLIANCE WITH SECTION THREE WHICH IS WE ARE REACHING OUT TO MINORITY FIRMS FOR THE PROFESSIONAL SIDE AND CONTRACTING SIDE.
THAT'S IT FOR THE CORE PROJECTS.
WE HAVE MEETINGS TO SAY TO BE MORE STRINGENT WE NEED AN OFFICIAL PROGRAM STOOD UP.
TRANSPARENCY WAS THE FIRST PART.
WE NEED AN ADOPTED MWBE PROGRAM TO MAKE IT WORK.
AND DO YOU HAVE ANY NUMBERS THAT YOU CAN REPORT ON IN TERMS OF WHAT YOUR INTERNAL EFFORTS HAVE BEEN WITHOUT ANY OTHER GUIDANCE?
>> IF I WOULD AVERAGE OVER THE FOUR PRECINCTS JUST ON PROFESSIONAL CONTRACTS BECAUSE I I DON'T HAVE A WAY TO MEASURE THE CONNECTICUT TRACTING SIDE AND CONSTRUCTION SIDE, BUT IF YOU AVERAGE THE PROFESSIONAL SERVICES CONTRACTS WE ARE BETWEEN 28 AND 30%.
IF YOU CAN PROVIDE ME SOME INFORMATION ON THAT IT WOULD BE GOOD.
YES, COMMISSIONER CAGLE? YOU ARE MUTED, COMMISSIONER CAGLE.
>> R JACK CAGLE: IF I UNDERSTAND YOUR REPORT CORRECTLY 79% OF OUR 145 AFTER PROJECTS ARE IN HIGH AND MODERATELY HIGH SVI AREAS.
IF I UNDERSTAND CORRECTLY HOW MANY OF OUR PROJECTS ARE UNDERWAY OF THOSE APPROVED BY THE BOND?
>> WE HAVE 145 ACTIVE PROJECTS SO MAYBE I DIDN'T UNDERSTAND YOUR QUESTION, COMMISSIONER.
>> R JACK CAGLE: OF THE 145 OF THE ACTIVE PROJECTS WE BASICALLY PRESENTED TO THE TAXPAYERS THE PROJECTS.
>> IT WAS AROUND 130, BUT WE CONSOLIDATED TO YOU.
>> OF THE PROJECTS THAT ARE NOT YET UNDERWAY AND MANY ARE IN PRELIMINARY STAGES, MOST OF THOSE ARE BECAUSE WE ARE WAITING ON FINANCIAL PARTNERS TO GET THROUGH THE PROCESSES.
EITHER IT IS A FEDERAL MATCHING OR A STATE MATCHING OR SOME OTHER MATCHING ENTITY.
IF WE GO BACK TO THE REASON THE PRIORITIZATION FRAMEWORK WAS WE DIDN'T HAVE THE CAPACITY TO START 200 PROJECTS AT ONE TIME.
AND SO THERE WAS A MEANS TO THE METHOD ABOUT WHICH ORDER AND WE EXECUTED THE PROJECTS.
AND SO THAT PRIORITIZATION FRAMEWORK GAVE STRUCTURE TO OUR EXECUTION PROCESS FOR THE PROJECTS.
THE REMAINING 36, I BELIEVE, 37 PRONG JECTS IS WHAT -- PROJECTS IS WHAT WE ARE CALLING THIRD CORE PROJECTS.
WE SHOULD HAVE ENOUGH BREATHING ROOM AND CAPACITY TO START THOSE SAY DECEMBER OF THIS YEAR.
AND THEN FOURTH QUA -- CORE TILE PROJECTS IS THIS TIME NEXT YEAR.
>> R JACK CAGLE: SO WE HAVE SOME PROJECT WOOS REWAITING ON FOR PARTNERS.
OF THE BOND 2.59 BILLION00 MILLION OF THAT -- OF THE 2.5 BILLION, 900 MILLION WE SAID WE WOULD NOT SEEK FUNDS ON THE RETURN ON INVESTMENT PROCESS.
900 MILLION OF THE 2.5 BILLION, CORRECT?
>> I BELIEVE IT WAS THE OTHER WAY AROUND.
I BELIEVE IT WAS 800 MILLION, 900 MILLION FOR A LOCAL MATCH AND THEN 1.7
[14:40:02]
REMAINING WAS TOWARD USING THE MONEY LOCALLY.>> R JACK CAGLE: I THOUGHT IT WAS 900 MILLION WE WERE NOT GOING TO TRY TO FIND MATCHING OR LEVERAGING THOSE OFF.
ONE OF THE THINGS WE HAVE MOVED AWAY AND I WAS AN ADVOCATE OF THIS.
BECAUSE WE WERE, AS COMMISSIONER ELLIS SAID, CHASING THE DOLLARS SO WE CAN MAX -- MAX -- MAXIMIZE THE IMPACT AND IT IS USUALLY 75% TO 25% AND 25% LOCAL MATCH WITH A 75%.
AND THAT THERE ARE AREAS THAT WERE NOT BEING IMPROVED THAT NEEDED TO BE IMPROVED AND WERE ENDING UP IMPACTING THE OTHER NEIGHBORHOODS WHERE PROJECTS WERE GOING ON BECAUSE OUR WATER IS A COMPLETE WATER SHED.
IN OUR PROJECTS WHERE WE ARE NOT WAITING ON ANYBODY ELSE, THAT MAY EXPLAIN WHY WE HAVE GOT 79% THAT ARE IN HIGH OR MODERATELY HIGH SVI.
WE ARE NOT WAITING FOR ANYBODY TO JOIN ON THAT.
WE WENT FORWARD AND STARTED THE PROJECT AS OPPOSED TO WAITING FOR A PARTNER.
WOULD THAT BE A FAIR STATEMENT?
>> OF THE 145 PROJECTS GOING ON RIGHT NOW, THE TOTAL PROJECTS IS AROUND 4 BILLION.
IF YOU LOOK AT THAT, OUT OF THE 145, WE ARE EXECUTING THAT WITH OUR LOCAL FUNDS.
AND WE ARE LOOKING AT OTHER PARTNERS.
>> R JACK CAGLE: THOSE ARE MY QUESTIONS, JUDGE.
>> LINA HIDALGO: COMMISSIONER ELLIS.
>> RODNEY ELLIS: WITH 145 IN THE PROJECT, IF WE STARTED ALL OF THE PROJECTS, THE TOTAL NUMBER YOU MADE REFERENCE TO WAS HOW MANY IN TOTAL?
>> SINCE WE COMBINED A FEW WE HAVE 181 TOTAL PROJECTS.
>> RODNEY ELLIS: I AM JUST ASKING A QUESTION.
HOW MUCH SENSE WOULD IT MAKE TO START ALL PROJECTS AND WE KNOW WE WON'T GET MONEY AND WON'T GET PARTNERS AND WON'T FIND A FEDERAL MATCH TO DO ALL OF THEM.
WHAT PURPOSE WOULD WE SERVE TO GO OUT AND START 181 AND FOR THAT MATTER IT IS 145? WE KNOW THE FOAD RAIL MONEY IS PRIMARILY -- WE KNOW THE FEDERAL MONEY IS DRIVEN BY COST RATIO.
ARGUABLY THE CITY MONEY IS WHATEVER THE FORMULA IS.
HOW DO WE GET AROUND TAKING CARE OF AREAS THAT ARE WORST FIRST? IT IS NO ACCIDENT THAT THE AREAS THAT ARE WORST OFF ARE PRIMARILY THOSE LOW INCOME AREAS AND DISPROPORTIONATE OF THOSE NUMBERS WOULD BE AFRICAN-AMERICAN, HISPANIC, LOW INCOME WHITES, WHY WOULD WE START THAT PROJECT IF WE CAN'T COMPLETE? WOULD WE NOT RAISE EXPECTATIONS AND SPEND MONEY ON STUDY THAT'S JUST STAY ON THE SHELF?
>> I TOLD MY STAFF THAT WE ARE NOT JUST GOING TO DO STUDIES AND PUT THEM ON THE SHELF.
EVEN IF WE HAVE TO PARSE BACK AND SAY IF WE COME UP WITH A $10 MILLION PROJECT AND 8 MILLION DIDN'T MATERIALIZE WE WILL STILL BUILD A 2 MILLION PROJECT.
EITHER WE BUY THE RIGHT OF WAY TO SECURE THE FOOT FRINT -- FOOD PRINT FOR THE PROJECT IN THE FUTURE OR IF WE CAN DO DIRT WORK TO MAKE IMPROVEMENTS THAT'S THE CHALLENGE TO MY STAFF.
WE ARE GOING TO MAKE SOME PROGRESS ON ALL OF THEM AND THAT IS A BIG FACTOR ON HOW MUCH PARTNERSHIP FUNDING WE CAN SECURE.
>> IF WE REALLY BELIEVE IN WORST FIRST.
IF WE REALLY WANT TO BREAKAWAY FROM THE FEDERAL MODEL THAT HAS BEEN IN PLACE SINCE 1984 THAT LEFT SO MANY OF THE COMMUNITIES WHERE THEY WOULD END UP LIKE A NEW ORLEANS, IF A KATRINA HITS AND ONE DAY IT MIGHT, SOMETHING WORSE THAN HARVEY WE HAVE GOT TO TAKE OUR EQUITY GUIDELINES SERIOUSLY AND COMPLETE IT.
THE SERIOUS NUMBER WAS 2.5 BILLION.
I SAID IT BEFORE AND I'LL SAY IT AGAIN.
THERE WAS TALK ABOUT 10 BILLION, BUT NOBODY MADE THE MOTION.
AT SOME POINT WE HAVE TO DECIDE IF WE HAVE THE COURAGE OR WE WILL GO BACK TO THE VOTERS AND ASK THEM TO INVEST IN US AND THEMSELVES AGAIN.
I WANT TO MAKE THE CASE AND EVERY TIME WE CAN MAKE THE POINT THAT WE NEED TO FINISH WHERE WE STARTED.
THERE ARE GREENS AND THEY ARE NOT ALL IN MY PRECINCT.
SOME HIT THREE AND MAYBE EVEN FOUR.
IT IS NOT FAIR FOR THOSE PEOPLE WHO WAITED FOR SO LONG TO GET ON THE BACK OF THE BUS AGAIN.
IF YOU CAN'T MAKE THE CASE FOR EQUITY NOW IN HARRIS COUNTY, WHEN IN THE WORLD COULD YOU MAKE IT?
>> LINA HIDALGO: LUCINDA, YOU SAID WE HAVE SPEAKERS?
>> LINA HIDALGO: CAN YOU CALL THEM UP?
>> DARRELL BUTLER, GO AHEAD, PLEASE.
>> GOOD EVENING, COMMISSIONERS.
DARRELL BUTLER AND I AM A CITIZEN OF HARRIS COUNTY.
I HAVE A SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT OPINION.
THE PROPOSED COMMUNITY RESILIENCE TASK FORCE IS PROOF THAT SOME OF THE COMMISSIONERS ARE MORE INTERESTED IN AGENDA AND THE -- THAN THE SAFETY OF THE CITIZENS.
THE CLAIMS BEING TOLD TO AND BY COMMISSIONERS IS THEY ARE CHEWING UP THE FLOOD CONTROL MONEY AND THAT IS NOT TRUE.
FOCUSING ON FEMA DOLLARS MEANS IGNORING HUDD MONEY DESIGNATED FOR LOW AND MIDDLE INCOME ISSUES.
THE COMMISSIONERS AND OTHERS ARE TRYING TO SAY ONLY THE WEALTHY GET THE WEALTH.
94% OF ALL FEDERAL DOLLARS ARE SPENT IN PRECINCT 1.
WHY 47% OF ALL FLOOD AND SPENDING SINCE 1998 BEEN IN PRE -- PRECINCT 1? HARRIS COUNTY FLOOD CONTROL REPORT IN 2019 STATED THAT THE MAJORITY OF THE SIMMS AND BUFFULO BAYOU FLOOD RISK WAS MITIGATED BY TWO FUNDED AND COMPLETED PROJECTS.
HOW EXACTLY IS THERE A NEED FOR MORE FUNDS WHEN THE CITY OF HOUSTON IS HOLDING OVER $1 BILLION IN FLOOD MONEY AND THE TEXAS LAND BOARD IS HOLDING $4.2 BILLION IN FLOOD FUNDS MOSTLY EARMARK -- EARMARKED FOR LOW AND MIDDLE INCOME AREAS.
THE AN JACINTO AND ELK GROVE FELL VIC TOIM IN -- VICTIM TO MILLIONS OF DOLLARS OF DAMAGE.
NO ONE REPAIRED, RESTORED OR WIDENED OUR FLOOD CONTROL SYSTEM.
VERY LITTLE MONEY HAS BEEN SPENT ON SPRING CREEK AND IT HAS FREQUENTLY DECEMBER SAW NATE -- DECIMATED FAMILIES.
NO MONEY HAS BEEN SPENT IN KING WOOD.
IF SOCIAL EQUITY IS THE MODEL THEN NOTHING IS EQUAL WHEN AGENDA IS THE MODEL AND NOT ACTUAL RISK OR DAMAGE SUSTAINED OR LIKELY TO REOCCUR, THE RESULT IS A BIGOTED PROCESS THAT IS FAIR AND EQUAL TO NO ONE.
FLOOD CONTROL AND URBAN PLANNING SHOULD BE LEFT TO ENGINEERS AND GEOLOGISTS AND PROFESSIONALS IN THE AREAS THAT DO WHAT IS RIGHT FOR ALL CITIZENS REGARDLESS OF RACE, CREED, COLOR, RELIGION, SEX, EDUCATION OR INCOME.
THE LIVE SOCIAL EQUITY HAS NO PLACE IN FLOOD CONTROL PLANNING.
THOSE ON THE -- SOME ON THE COMMISSION ARE ON A MISSION TO DECEIVE AND THE DATA FROM THE FLOOD CONTROL DISTRICT PROVES THAT THIS IS TRUE.
THE BY LAWS OF THE COMMUNITY RESILIENCE TASK FORCE IS UNFAIRNESS DEFINED.
THE AGENDA BIAS HAS NO PLACE IN DEFENDING THOSE IN OUR COMMUNITIES THAT ARE MOST AT RISK AND MOST DAMAGED IN HARRIS COUNTY.
AND I DON'T -- AND I DO WANT TO CLARIFY.
WE LITIGATED THIS WHEN IT PASSED AND IT IS ON THE AGENDA AND ON THE ARTICLE WRITTEN AND IT IS OUT THERE ON HARRIS THRIVES.
THE PRIORITIZATION FRAMEWORK IS WORST FIRST.
IT IS THE MOST PEOPLE THAT ARE MOST AFFECTED.
BEFORE THAT THERE WAS NO FRAMEWORK.
IT WAS JUST WHOEVER HAD A FRIEND DOWNTOWN OR WHOEVER'S HOME WAS MOST EXPENSIVE.
IT IS 25% THE FLOOD RISK REDUCTION WHICH IS THE NUMBER OF STRUCTURES REMOVED FROM THE FLOOD PLAIN.
STS -- IT IS 20% DRAINAGE LEVEL WHICH IS NEAR THE PROJECT.
IT IS 20% SOCIAL VULNERABILITY INDEX WHICH IS THE CDC INDEX WE HAVE DISCUSSED THAT IS CRUCIAL.
WITHOUT IT SO MANY COMMUNITIES HAVE GONE WITH NO HELP.
IT ALSO INCLUDES PROJECT EFFICIENCY AND HOW MUCH WE GET FOR THE BROG JECT -- PROJECT.
10% PROJECT FUNDING AND 5% LONG-TERM MAINTENANCE AND 5% MINIMIZE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS AND 5% MULTIPLE BENEFITS.
RECREATIONAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL BENEFITS.
I DON'T WANT FOLKS TO FORGET THAT A LOT OF WORK WENT INTO THIS.
INSTEAD OF RELITIGATING SOMETHING THAT ALREADY PASSED WE NEED TO FOCUS ON NUMBER ONE, IMPLEMENTING IT AND NUMBER TWO FIGURING OUT HOW TO GET THE DRAINAGE UP TO PAR IN THE BAYOUS AND LAND PRESERVATION.
THERE IS A LOT OF WORK TO BE DONE AND I THINK IT IS A DISSERVICE TO THE COMMUNITY TO TRY AND RELITIGATE A FRAMEWORK THAT IS BECOMING AN EXAMPLE NATIONWIDE.
AND IT IS EXTREMELY WELL DONE AND THERE IS A GAS LINE -- GASLIGHTING GOING ON THAT THERE IS SOMEHOW WE ARE FOCUSED ON THIS AND THAT.
THIS IS A VERY SMART CRITERIA.
I UNDERSTAND THERE WAS A NEWS AGENCY TRYING TO GET PEOPLE IN WEALTHY NEIGHBORHOODS TO SPEAK AGAINST THIS.
THEY COULDN'T FIND PEOPLE BECAUSE IT IS EXTREMELY WELL DONE.
IT INCLUDES NOT JUST SVI, BUT HOW MANY FOLKS WILL BE SAVED FROM FLOODING AND IT INCLUDES PARTNERSHIP AND IT INCLUDES THE WORK FROM THE PRESERVATION AND THE ENGINEERS AND THE SOCIAL IMPACT FOLKS.
AND SO RIGHT NOW WE JUST NEED TO MOVE FORWARD.
I JUST WANT TO REMIND PEOPLE OF THAT AND REMIND FOLKS OF THE INCREDIBLE WORK THAT PEOPLE PUT INTO IT ALONGSIDE THE COMMUNITY.
>> BRIDGET MURRAY WITH ACHIEVING COMMUNITY TASKS.
LET ME BEGIN BY SAYING I AM SUPPORTIVE OF THE COUNTY INCLUSION OF SOCIAL VULNERABILITY.
IN THIS CONVERSATION REGARDING EQUITY IT IS MY BELIEF THE OPPOSING VIEWS CAN FIND A SHARED SPACE IN THAT ALL COMMUNITIES DESERVE TO BE SAFE AND ALLOCATED FAIRLY.
MY PROPERTY VALUE SHOULD NOT BE THE PRIMARY DETERMINANT IN ALLOCATION OF FUNDS.
RED LINING AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL CONTINUES.
AS SOMEONE WHO HAS PAID FOR FLOOD INSURANCE FOR MANY YEARS I AM GLAD I HAVE IT.
BUT RECURRING FLOOD EVENTS TAKE WEALTH OUT OF THE COMMUNITY THAT ARE ALREADY DISADVANTAGED.
OUR FLOODING IS MAN MADE EVENTS.
WE HAVE THE 610 FREEWAY NEAR THE PORT AND CLIMATE CHANGE.
WE ARE THANKFUL THAT THE COUNTY HAS PLACED FUNDS IN THE THIRD CORE TILE.
OUR COMMUNITY IS ON HOLD WITH THE CITY AND WE ARE THANKFUL.
[14:45:01]
THANK YOU.KEITH DOWNEY WITH KASHMIR GARDENS SUPER NEIGHBORHOOD.
I WANT TO SPEAK AS AN ADVOCATE FOR FLOOD CONTROL DISTRICT PROJECTS THAT REDUCE FLOOD RISKS AND SOCIALLY VULNERABLE NEIGHBORHOODS AND IT ARRIVED LONG BEFORE THE HURRICANE ARRIVES.
THE BUCK STOPS HERE AND HELPING THOSE WHO ARE LESS FORTUNATE AND THOSE WHO ARE IN POOR COMMUNITIES AND THOSE WHO DON'T MAKE THE UPPER INCOME BRACKETS.
THOUGH THE REGION RECEIVED 52 INCHES OF RAIN DURING HURRICANE HARVEY, THERE IS A SITUATION IN OUR COMMUNITY THAT IS RARELY DISCUSSED.
WHEN THERE IS HEAVY RAINFALL 9 WATER RUN OFF COMES ACROSS THE FEEDER AND INTO THE COMMUNITY AND RUNS INTO THE CATCH BASIN.
THOSE CATCH BASINS AND THE PIPING RUNS TO THE BAYOU TO BUILD UP THE VOLUME OF THE BAYOU.
IT IS NOT JUST FOR THE RUNOFF OF THE STREETS.
WE MUST KEEP OUR RESIDENTS INFORMED ON WHAT IS GOING ON DURING THE PROS SIS -- PROCESS AND THE TRIP BY TORES NEED TO BE -- TRUE BY TORE -- TRIBUTORIES NEED TO BE LOOK ETD -- LOOKED AT.
THE DRAINAGE SYSTEM NEEDS WORK.
ALL DO NOT HAVE ILLEGAL DUMPING.
IT IS AN UP AND DOWN HILLY EFFECT THAT IS A DAM FROM CULVERT TO CULVERT.
THE LAST THING I WANT TO SPEAK OF WHICH I'M SURPRISED NO ONE SPOKE OF.
AT 59 AND KELLY AND WHEN THERE IS A HEAVY RAINFALL AND YOU SEE IT ON THE TELEVISION STATION THERE IS A BUILD UP OF FLOODING THERE.
THERE IS A PUMP THAT DOES NOT WORK ACCURATELY.
THAT BUILD UP OF WATER STOPS CARS FROM GOING NORTHBOUND AND IN SOME CASES DEPENDING ON THE AMOUNT OF RAINFALL THEY CAN'T COME SOUTHBOUND AND THE BUCK MUST STOP HERE TO HELP THOSE LESS FORTUNATE.
TRACY STEVENS WITH SUNNY SIDE CIVIC CLUB.
TRACY STEVENS? NANCE, FROM TEXAS SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY.
>> THEY ARE HIGHLIGHTING HARRIS COUNTY'S TO INCORPORATE EQUITY AND FLOOD MITIGATION DECISIONS.
IT COULD BE A MODEL FOR THE COUNTRY.
WATER ALLIANCE WHICH SERVES PUBLIC OFFICIALS AND WATER ENGINEERS JUST PUBLISHED ITS ANNUAL REPORT ENTITLED "WATER RISING.
EQUITABLE APPROACHES TO URBAN WATER." THE REPORT HIGHLIGHTS HARRIS COUNTY AFTER HURRICANE HARVEY.
IT IS ONE OF SEVERAL PRIORITIZATION FACTORS AND IT BRINGS OUR REGION INTO THE MODERN ERA.
THE CLIMATE CHANGE AND SEA LEVEL RISE HAS MODERNIZED HOW IT IS DETERMINED TODAY.
THESE INDICATORS HAVE BEEN CONTROVERSIAL BECAUSE AGO -- BECAUSE ACKNOWLEDGING THEM DISRUPTS THE STATUS QUO.
OTHER CONCEPTS LIKE EXPOSURE, SAW SEPTA BUILT -- SUSEPTABILITY HAS FOUND ITS WAY INTO THE FLOOD RISK.
TO ACKNOWLEDGE THEM IS TO DISRUPT THE STATUS QUO.
MUCH OF THE INEQUITY IS THE RESULT OF AN ENTRENCHED SYSTEM OF PRIVILEGE THAT HAS UNEQUAL SERVICES, UNEQUAL PROTECTION AND UNEQUAL INVESTMENTS.
THROUGH THE HARRIS THRIVES INITIATIVE THIS COURT MANDATES AN EQUITABLE PROCESS TO REMEDY THE HARMS DONE TO VULNERABLE POPULATIONS FROM FEDERAL AND STATE POLICIES.
THE NEXT STEP IS THE APPROVAL OF BY LAWS FOR A COMMUNITY RESILIENCE TASK FORCE.
THIS TASK FORCE WILL HELP THE COUNTY REMAIN COMMITTED TO EQUITY GUIDELINES IN A REGION PLAGUED WITH OUT -- OUTDATED POLICIES PRACTICES THAT HAVE LEAD TO RACIALIZED OUTCOMES IN THE FLOOD CONTROL SECTOR.
UNDER -- UNDER INVESTMENT IS ONE EXAMPLE OF THIS.
THE "NEW YORK TIMES" AND OTHERS ARE WATCHING US FROM OUTSIDE.
HERE AT HOME THERE IS A GROUND SWELL OF PEOPLE SPEAKING UP.
THEY ARE NO LONGER SATISFIED WITH THE OUTCOME.
I URGE YOU TO ADOPT THE BY LAWS FOR THE TASK FORCE THAT WILL UPHOLD THE EQUITY AS A PART OF THE MODERN FLOOD CONTROL POLICY AND PRACTICE.
TRACY STEVENS WITH SUNNY SIDE CLUB.
I AM RETIRED FROM THE CITY WORKS OF PUBLIC ENGINEERING WHERE MY EXPERTISE CAME WITH STREET RECONSTRUCTION.
I WORKED FOR APPROXIMATELY FIVE.
I HAVE SEEN THE POLITICS AND SEEN THE QUALITY AND SEEN THE MAINTENANCE AROUND THE ENTIRE CITY OF HOUSTON AND THEY HAD PROPERTY LOCATED AND THE FLOODED -- THE FLAD CONTROL DISTRICT.
THEY ARE IF PRECINCT ONE AND WHATEVER, BUT ALL OF OUR CREEKS AND ALL OF OUR BAYOUS DRAIN THROUGH PRECINCT 1 AND PRECINCT 2 TO GET TO THE PORT OF HOUSTON AND OUT TO THE BAY.
WE HAVE SEEN THINGS FROM TROPICAL STORM ALLISON THAT HAVE NOT BEEN RESOLVED.
IT PUTS US BEHIND THE EIGHT BALL.
IF YOU HAD THAT MONEY WE STILL CONTINUE FIX ANYTHING, YOU CAN FIX THE COUNTY BAYOUS AND YOU CAN FIX THE COUNTY OFF-ROAD DITCHES, BUT IF YOU DON'T GET THE WATER OUT OF THE COMMUNITIES WHICH BELONG TO THE CITIES AND TO THE BAYOUS YOU ARE GOING TO CONTINUE TO FLOOD.
IT HASN'T WORKED SINCE DAY ONE.
WE TALK WHEN THEY WERE COMING OUT AND THERE IS A DISCONNECT WITH HARRIS COUNTY EMPLOYEES AND WHAT GOES ON WITH THE FLOOD CONTROL DISTRICT.
ME MYSELF PERSONALLY HAD TO SHOW SOME OF THE PEOPLE ON THEIR OWN SOFTWARE WHERE THESE ISSUES WERE.
THERE IS A LOT OF PROBLEMS GOING ON WITH THE COUNTY AND THE CITY.
WE TALK ABOUT PARTNERSHIP MONEY AND THE COUNTY MAY HAVE TO PICK UP THE OTHER HALF.
SOME OF THE PARTNERSHIP DOLLARS, THEY MAY NOT HAVE THE MONEY.
I WILL TELL YOU WHAT THE COUNTY HAS DONE FOR YEARS.
THROUGH THE YEARS YOU HAVE THE INFORMATION AND YOU HAVE TO STUDY THE AREA ALL OVER AGAIN.
WE HAVE TO TAKE A LOOK AT THE BIG PICTURE.
AND YES THERE HAVE BEEN INEQUITY IN THE CITY AND THE COUNTY.
>> R JACK CAGLE: MR. STEVENS, YOU SAID YOU WORKED UNDER FIVE MAYORS OVER THERE IN THE CITY.
DID YOU HAVE A CHANCE TO WORK WITH GUS KANOKUS.
I STARTED WHEN JIM MCCONNELL WAS MAYOR.
>> R JACK CAGLE: HE WOULD HAVE BEEN BACK IN THOSE DAYS AS WELL.
HE WAS A WORLD WAR II VET AND HE HAD TO BEAR -- BURY HIM A COUPLE MONTHS AGO.
I JUST WANTED TO KNOW IF YOU CROSSED PATHS.
THANK YOU FOR CALLING IN TODAY, SIR.
>> DEBORAH ADAMS, GO AHEAD, PLEASE.
HARRIS COUNTY -- SPEAKING FROM THE PLEASANTVILLE COMMUNITY AND THE PRECINCT CHAIR SO I AM SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF THE COMMUNITY.
HARRIS COUNTY RESIDENTS SHOULD BE ABLE TO EXPECT ASSISTANCE AFTER FLOODING.
NO MATTER THEIR ECONOMIC STATUS MOST NEIGHBORHOODS ARE THE LAST TO RECEIVE ASSISTANCE AND BECAUSE OF THIS OUR HOMES HAVE BEEN LEFT UNINHABITABLE.
FLOODING IS NOT ALWAYS FROM STORMS AND HURRICANES.
LIKE THIS DRAINAGE IN THIS NEIGHBORHOOD CAN CAUSE FLOODING ALSO.
RESIDENTS ARE LIVING ON OR BELOW MEDIUM INCOME AND CANNOT AFFORD THE EXPENSE OF HOME REPAIRS.
OR THE COST OF FLOOD INSURANCE.
REIMBURSEMENT FOR FLOOD REPAIRS SHOULD NOT BE BASED ON WEALTH OR PROPERTY VALUE OUT OF NEED OF THESE COMMUNITIES.
EACH COMMUNITY SHOULD BE CONSIDERED BY THE SAME RATIO AS STATED IN THE LANGUAGE OF THE BOND.
DISPERSE MEANT OF THE BOND FUND SHOULD BE DONE ACCORDING TO THE BOND LANGUAGE AND NOT THE WEALTH OR -- OR BECAUSE OF THE ESTABLISHED DIFFERENT COMMUNITIES.
THEY SHOULD BE CONSIDERED BY THE SAME STANDARD.
I AM GOING TO PROPOSE -- THERE IS THE DRAFT BY LAWS FOR THE HARRIS COUNTY COMMUNITY TASK FORCE ARE RELATED TO THIS ITEM AND I KNOW WE HAVE A LOT OF SPEAKERS SO PERHAPS WE CAN TAKE THAT UP NOW.
>> ADRIAN GARCIA: DO YOU NEED A MOTION ON THAT, JUDGE?
>> LINA HIDALGO: WE WILL WHEN WE GET TO IT.
ACTUALLY IT IS A TRANSMITAL SO NO MOTION.
>> ADRIAN GARCIA: JUDGE IF I COULD WHILE WE ARE TALKING ABOUT IT, THERE HAS BEEN A CONVERSATION AS TO WHERE THIS SHOULD RESIDE.
IF YOU WOULD BE INCLINED I WOULD MAKE A MOTION THAT THIS SHOULD BE IN THE -- IN YOUR OFFICE.
>> LINA HIDALGO: I AM HAPPY TO DO THAT STARTING OUT, AND THEN WE CAN FIGURE IF WE SHOULD PUT IT SOMEWHERE ELSE.
>> RODNEY ELLIS: DOES HE NEED TO MAKE A MOTION ON IT AT AN APPROPRIATE TIME?
>> LINA HIDALGO: WE CAN DO THAT, YES.
>> ADRIAN GARCIA: I WILL MAKE THAT MOTION.
>> R JACK CAGLE: WE ARE MAKING A MOTION ON THE COUNTY JUDGE ITEM ON PAGE -- I AM TRYING TO CATCH UP WITH YOU, JUDGE.
IS THAT PAGE 21 WE ARE AT NOW?
>> LINA HIDALGO: YES, TO BE CLEAR WE GOT THROUGH WITH ITEM E ON PAGE 8 THAT WAS THE FLOOD CONTROL REPORT.
AND THEN I REMEMBERED THAT THERE ARE A LOT OF SPEAKERS SIGN UP FOR A RELATED ITEM WHICH IS THE COMMUNITY RESILIENCE TASK FORCE DRAFT BY LAWS.
AND I WAS SUGGESTING WE HEAR FROM THE SPEAKERS NOW AND THAT IS ON PAGE 21 UNDER COUNTY JUDGE ITEM 3.
>> R JACK CAGLE: I WAS TRYING TO GET ON THE SAME PAGE AS YOU.
>> WHAT WAS THE MOKES -- THE MOTION, JUDGE?
>> ADRIAN GARCIA: TO ACCEPT THE TRANSMITAL AND TO MOVE THE HARRIS COUNTY COMMUNITY RESILIENCE TASK FORCE TO BE UNDER THE JUDGE'S OFFICE.
>> RODNEY ELLIS: AND ELLIS SECONDED.
>> LINA HIDALGO: THE BY LAWS ARE WHAT WE WERE WORKING ON TWO COURTS AGO.
THERE ARE TWO MORE DAYS FOR FOLKS TO CALL AND GIVE THEIR INPUT.
THERE WAS A FOCUS GROUP JULY 23RD AND THERE WERE 50 PARTICIPANTS.
EVERYBODY WHO PORTS PATED IN A FLOOD CONTROL MEETING IN THE PAST AND EVERYBODY WHO CAME TO THE TALKING TRANSITION FLOOD CONTROL MEETING CAN ALSO BE -- HAS
[14:50:02]
ALSO BEEN E-MAILED AS WELL AS THE ADVOCATES AND THE EXPERTS THAT HAVE BEEN ENGAGED ON THIS.FOLKS HAVE A -- HAVE HAD AMPLE NOTICE.
WE HAD 50 PEOPLE JULY 23RD AND 50 SIGN UPS FOR THE JULY 30TH FOCUS GROUP.
WE CREATED A THIRD FOCUS GROUP ON JULY 29TH IN ADDITION TO TODAY'S DISCUSSION.
WE HAVE GOTTEN ALL KINDS OF FEEDBACK ON THE DRAFT BY LAWS AND THE IDEA IS TO GET MORE THOUGHTS.
WE HAVE TWO MORE OPPORTUNITIES FORETHOUGHTS -- FOR PEOPLE TO GIVE THEIR THOUGHTS AND THE DRAFT BY LAWS WILL COME AT THE NEXT COURT IDEALLY FOR APPROVAL.
THIS TASK FORCE WILL WORK ALONGSIDE THE INFRASTRUCTURE RESILIENCE GROUP THAT IS COMPRISED OF COUNTY DEPARTMENTS.
THIS TASK FORCE WILL VERIFY ON THE PRIORITIZATION FRAMEWORK THAT EVERYTHING IS GOING AS PROMISED.
AND MOST IMPORTANTLY OR JUST AS IMPORTANTLY THE GROUP WILL HELP US AND THE IRT WHAT SHOULD BE THE NEXT STEP AND WHAT DO WE DO ABOUT THE DRAINAGE CHALLENGES AND THE PRESERVATION CHALLENGES.
HOW DO WE GET TO A PLACE WHERE WE ARE RESILIENT FROM FLOODING.
I KNOW WE HAVE QUITE A FEW SPEAKERS UNLESS FOLKS HAVE COMMENTS LUCINDA CAN WE CALL THE SPEAKERS.
>> JAMES CALDWELL FROM COALITION OF COMMUNITY ORGS?
I WANT TO THANK JUDGE HIDALGO AND THE COMMISSIONERS TO ALLOW US FOR AN OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK THIS EVENING.
IN THE MIDDLE OF THE PANDEMIC AND ALL OF THE OTHER ISSUES THAT NOT ONLY THE CITY OF HOUSTON.
THEY HAVE BEEN ABLE TO ADDRESS THAT.
I WANT TO EMPHASIZE THAT IT IS IMPORTANT TO HAVE COMMUNITY INPUT AS WELL AND IT IS BEING DISCUSSED AT COMMISSION AREAS KOWSHTD -- COURT AND ANY OTHER VENUE.
IT IS IMPORTANT THEY HAVE A VOICE IN THAT.
WHEN THE BY LAWS ARE WRITTEN OR ADDRESSED IT IS IMPERATIVE THAT -- AND STS IMPORTANT THAT THE CON -- IT IS IMPORTANT FOR THE COUNTY AND THE COMMUNITY REPRESENT AND THEY WANT TO HAVE AN IMPACT ON HOW THE ENVIRONMENTAL AND ALL OF THE OTHER FACTOR THAT'S ARE CONNECTED TO THIS PARTICULAR TASK FORCE.
>> THANK YOU, JUDGE AND COMMISSIONERS FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK TODAY.
I AM PART OF THE BUILDER'S ASSOCIATION AND WE ARE AN ORGANIZATION OF ROUGHLY 1500-MEMBER COMPANIES AND MANY WHO BUILD IN HARRIS COUNTY AND AFFECTIVE AND AFFORDABLE BUILDING REGULATIONS AND THEY HAVE COLLECTED REGULATIONS OVER THE LAST COUPLE YEARS AND YOU HAVE HURRICANE HARVEY AND WE HAVE GONE TO FURTHER STRENGTHEN THE TASK FORCE AND GIVEN THE SIZE OF THE COUNTY WE AGREE THAT IT IS CRITICALLY IMPORTANT TO THE TASK FORCE REPRESENT THE COMMUNITY AT LARGE AND BE SUPPORTED BY THE COURT.
WE APPRECIATE THE JUDGE'S LEADERSHIP IN PROVIDING GREATER FOCUS TO THE TASK FORCE.
HOWEVER, AS THE COUNTY CONTINUES TO WORK ON THE TASK FORCE WE WOULD ASK THERE BE MORE OPPORTUNITY FOR STAKEHOLDER INVOLVEMENT.
AFTER ALL THESE ARE THE VERY STAKEHOLDERS WHO WILL BE CHARGED WITH IMPLEMENTING THE PRACTICES AND THE PROJECT THAT'S WILL BE VETTED BY THIS TAX FORCE.
JUST WAS A QUICK POINT OF CLARIFICATION, WE ONLY BECAME AWARE OF THE PROPOSED CHANGES A WEEK AGO ON JULY 20TH.
AND WE LEARNED THAT IT CALLED FOR MEMBERS.
THIS NEW PROCESS SEEMS UNNECESSARILY POLITICAL AND I DON'T BELIEVE IT ACHIEVES THE MAIN OBJECTIVE WHICH IS BROADER AND MORE TRANSPARENT REPRESENTATION.
ADDITIONALLY ONLY ONE SEAT IS REQUIRED TO BE A REPRESENTATIVE FROM THE ENGINEERING/CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY.
THIS IS AN EXAMPLE OF TWO INDUSTRIES IN ONE.
IT IS IMPORTANT FOR FLOOD MITIGATION STRUCTURE.
AND IT IS FOR DIFFERENT TYPES OF CONSTRUCTION.
THE ADVOCATES BEING FILLED BY MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY AND THE OTHER HALF REPRESENT THE TECHNICAL EXPERTISE LEADING TO COMPLETE INFRO -- INFRASTRUCTURE.
IN THE VEIN OF TRANSPARENCY THIS TYPE OF STRUCTURE YIELDS MORE INCLUSIVE REPRESENTATION.
WE THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH THE COUNTY ON THE FUTURE FORMATION OF THIS TASK FORCE.
>> LINA HIDALGO: THANK YOU, KASEY AND FOR THE FEEDBACK.
I KNOW MY STAFF IS LISTENING AND WE WILL TAKE NOTES ON FOLKS' FEEDBACK.
I KNOW THAT YOU HAVE BEEN INCLUDED AS EVERYONE IN ALL OF THE COMMUNICATIONS ABOUT THIS.
THERE ARE STILL TWO MORE OPPORTUNITIES FOR DISCUSSION BESIDES TODAY AND FOLKS WE WILL WORKING ON THE FEEDBACK TO SEE THE BEST WAY TO INCORPORATE EVERYBODY'S COMMENTS, BUT IT IS ABSOLUTELY UP FOR DISCUSSION AND CONSTRUCTIVE FEEDBACK.
SO IT IS NOTED ON THE COMMENTS.
I WOULD LIKE TO THANK THE JUDGE FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK FOR THE RESILL YEN TEE BY LAWS.
MY NAME IS KEITH LICHTEFIELD AND PRESIDENT OF SHEA HOMES IN HOUSTON AND THE VICE PRESIDENT OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE GHBA.
AT SHEA HOMES WE BUILD ROUGHLY 150 TO 200 HOMES IN AND AROUND HARRIS COUNTY EVERY YEAR.
I SUPPORT THE EFFORTS TO STRENGTHEN THE ROLE OF THE HARRIS COUNTY FLOOD CONTROL TASK FORCE AND TO INCREASE THE DIVERSITY EVER ITS MEMBERSHIP AND I WOULD LIKE TO EXPRESS MY CONCERN THAT THE PROPOSED BY LAWS WILL CREATE A TASK FORCE THAT MAY NOT HAVE ADEQUATE TECHNICAL REPRESENTATION TO HELP GUIDE THE CREATION AND IMPLEMENTATION OF A RESILIENCY CLAN.
WE BELIEVE IT IS IMPORTANT TO HAVE A BALANCE BETWEEN STAKEHOLDERS WHO HAVE TECHNICAL EXPERTISE IN DEVELOPMENT AND ENGINEERING AND CONSTRUCTION IN ITS MANY FACETS AND THE COMMUNITY AT LARGE.
AND THEY EDUCATE THE OTHERS ON ISSUES THAT THEY EACH MAY NOT FULLY UNDERSTAND AND THEY SHARE THEIR EXPERIENCES AND FIELD OF KNOWLEDGE.
12 OF THE 17 VOTING TASK FORCE MEMBERS WILL NOT HAVE INFRASTRUCTURE PLANNING OR DESIGN OR DELIVERY EXPERTISE AND THERE ARE NO ASSURANCES THAT THE NEW TASK FORCE WILL INCLUDE ENOUGH TECHNICAL EXPERTISE OF HOME BUILDING FOR ANY NEW PRACTICES AND REGULATION THAT'S ARE DEVELOPED.
ADDITIONALLY IT APPEARS THAT OUT OF THE 17 TASK FORCE MEMBERS ONLY ONE SEAT MUST BE FILLED BY AN ENGINEER -- BY AN INDIVIDUAL FROM THE ENGINEERING AND CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY.
OUR BUSINESS RELIES ON FAMILIES AND COMPANIES MAKING THE CHOICE TO MOVE HERE AND OUR REGION IS PERCEIVED TO BE A REGION FLOOD.
AND WE WILL SEE PEOPLE NOT CHOOSING TO MOVE HERE.
FOR THAT I FULLY SUPPORT MOVING FORWARD WITH THIS TASK FORCE WITH THE COMMENTS I SAID EARLIER TODAY.
IN CLOSING I SUPPORT THE EFFORT TO INCREASE THE DIVERSITY OF THE TASK FORCE TO INCLUDE COMMUNITY INPUT, BUT WE ASK THAT HALF OF THE MEMBERSHIP BE FILLED WITH REPRESENTATIVES FROM THE COMMUNITY WHILE THE OTHER HALF THE TECHNICAL EXPERTISE NEEDED FOR RESILIENCY PROJECTS.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR TIME.
>> ALEX WITH GOLD FOX DEVELOPMENT.
THANK YOU FOR FORGIVING US THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK.
I KNOW IT IS GETTING LATE AND STARTING TO GET DARK SO I WILL BE BRIEF.
I THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO TALK AND ADDRESS THE GUIDELINES FOR THE TASK FORCE.
I HAVE BEEN IN THE AREA FOR ABOUT 10 YEARS AND I HAVE SEEN TOO MANY PEOPLE HURT ACROSS THE POLITICAL SPECTRUM AND ACROSS ALL DIFFERENT KINDS OF LIVES AND I DO NOT WANT THAT TO HAPPEN.
I THINK YOU ARE FOCUSED ON BUILDING IT BETTER THAN IT HAS EVER BEEN.
I THINK YOU NEED VOICES WITH POLITICAL EXPERTISE AT THE LOCAL LEVEL WHO KNOW THE NEIGHBORHOODS.
I LIVE BY BAYOUS AND HAVE CLEANED UP MORE HOUSES THAN I AM WILLING TO SAY.
THIS EXPERTISE IS IMPORTANT FOR THIS BODY AND THE REALITY IS WE ARE TALKING ABOUT BILLIONS OF DOLLARS TO BE ALLOCATED EQUITABLY ANDY -- AND EFFICIENTLY TO PROTECT THE MOST PEOPLE.
WHAT I OFFER IS WE WOULD NOT GO ARGUE BEFORE THE SUPREME COURT WITHOUT AN ATTORNEY.
YOU WOULDN'T HAVE SURGERY WITHOUT A SURGEON.
I THINK WE HAVE SOME OF THE BEST IN THE WORLD.
IF WE GIVE THEM THE RESOURCES AND THE TIME AND THE SUPPORT, THEY WILL BE ABLE TO PROTECT PEOPLE ACROSS HARRIS COUNTY.
I REALLY BELIEVE THAT I LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING THE RESULTS AND NEIGHBORHOOD LEADERS TO GUIDE THIS PROCESS.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND I APPRECIATE IT.
I HOPE YOU HAVE A GREAT EVENING AND LOOK FORWARD TO SEE THE RESULTS AS WE GO FORWARD.
JIM FULCOM WITH FULCOM PROPERTIES.
THANK YOU TO THE COMMISSIONERS FOR ALLOWING US TO SPEAK TODAY.
WE ARE INTERESTED IN THIS FASK -- TASK FORCE AND IN THIS MISSION.
I HAVE BEEN A DEVELOPER FOR 40 YEARS DEVELOPING LAND ALL OVER HARRIS COUNTY AND THE ADJACENT COUNTIES.
I AM A RESIDENT OF THE CITY OF AIR REIS COUNTY -- OF HARRIS COUNTY.
ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT THING IS ATTENTION.
WE NEED RESPONSIBLE PEOPLE AND EXPERIENCED INDIVIDUALS TO BE APPOINTED TO THIS TASK -- TASK FORCE.
DEVELOPERS CAN DEVELOP A PROPERTY WITH DRAINAGE OUT FLOW.
AND WE CAN PRODUCE TAKDZABLE -- TAXABLE DOLLARS FOR THE COUNTY AND WE WILL NEED THIS AS WE BEGIN TO SUFFER THE CONSEQUENCES OF WHAT HAS HAPPENED DURING THE PANDEMIC.
WE ARE ANXIOUS TO GET BACK TO WORK AND WILL CONTINUE TO DEVELOP.
OUR INDUSTRY CAN DO A GOOD JOB, BUT WE HAVE TO HAVE INFRASTRUCTURE AND WE NEED A GOOD, RESPONSIBLE PEOPLE TO BE APPOINTED TO THE TASK FORCE.
I WOULD THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME TO LISTEN TO MY COMMENTS AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO THE RESULTS.
MICHAEL BLOOM WITH AMERICAN SOCIETY OF CIVIL ENGINEERS.
THE HOUSTON BRANCH OF THE TEXAS SECTION OF THE AMERICAN SOCIETY OF CIVIL ENGINEERS SUPPORTS THE EFFORTS TO STRENGTHEN AND RE-- REENVIGORATE THE FLOOD CONTROL TASK FORCE.
WE ARE SIMILAR TO SOME OF THE OTHER SPEAKERS AND ARE A LITTLE CONCERNED ABOUT THE TECHNICAL AND PRACTITIONER REPRESENTATION.
WE BELIEVE DEVELOPING A RESILIENCY PLAN WOULD REQUIRE -- A LOT OF THOUGHTFUL APPLICATION OF THE FLOODING HAZARDS AND THE IDENTIFICATION OF THE
[14:55:01]
SYSTEMS VULNERABLE SUCH AS POWER DISTRIBUTION AND WATER TREATMENT AND WATER DISTRIBUTION AND WASTE WATER COLLECTION AND COMMUNICATIONS AND MOBILITY AND HOUSING AND OBVIOUSLY RESIDENTS AND BUSINESSES AND EVEN HEALTH CARE DELIVERY AND HOSPITALS GIVEN THE CURRENT SITUATION AND OTHER PHYSICAL FACILITIES.THIS OTHER DEVELOPMENT OF PROJECTS AND PROGRAMS AND PLANS TO REDICE -- TO REDUCE THE RISK BASED ON FLOODING HAZARD TAKES EXPERTISE.
WE THINK THE INCLUSION OF THE INFRASTRUCTURE RESILIENCE TEAM, THE COUNTY DEPARTMENT THAT'S DO THIS FOR A LIVING IS GREAT, BUT THE IRT MEMBERS ARE NONVOTING AND COORDINATION AND SUPPORT MEMBERS.
AND SO WE ARE A LITTLE CONCERNED ABOUT THAT AND WE THOUGHT HAVING TECHNICAL REPRESENTATION WOULD BE BENEFICIAL.
IN CLOSING WE WOULD LIKE THE NEW RESILIENCE PLANNING EFFORT WITH OWL OF THE DIFFERENT STAKEHOLDERS AND THE COMMUNITY MEMBERS INCLUDING PEOPLE WHO HAVE ACTUALLY FLEDDED -- FLOODED, AND SO ARE VERY SUPPORTIVE OF THAT THOUGHT PROCESS AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH THE PARTICIPANTS TO HELP WITH THE BY LAWS.
AND THIS IS A VERY SHORT SUMMARY OF THE LETTER WE SUBMITTED YESTERDAY.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON -- GOOD EVENING.
I AM A 40-YEAR RESIDENT OF HARRIS COUNTY AND A MEMBER OF GHBA.
ACTUALLY I AM A MEMBER OF THE CURRENT TASK FORCE.
WITH THE LAST SPEAKER, JUDGE I WOULD LIKE TO ASK IF MR. BLOOM WOULD SEND OUR OFFICE -- HE SAID THERE WAS A REPORT PUT OUT.
IF WE CAN HAVE HIM SEND IT TO PRECINCT 4 AS WELL.
>> LINA HIDALGO: AND I I CAN HAVE MY STAFF SEND IT TO YOU.
>> R JACK CAGLE: MY UH POLL -- APOLOGIES FOR INTERRUPTING YOU.
I WANTED THE REPORT OF THE PRIOR SPEAKER.
JUDGE, IF YOU WOULD NOT PENALIZE HIM FOR MY TIME I TOOK OUT OF HIS TIME.
>> LINA HIDALGO: LET'S START OVER WITH MR. TARRABELUM.
MY NAME IS ED TARRABELUM, A 40-YEAR RESIDENT OF HARRIS COUNTY AND A MEMBER OF GHBA AND ACTUALLY A MEMBER OF THE EXISTING -- A CURRENT MEMBER OF THE EXISTING TASK FORCE.
IT IS GREAT TO SEE THAT THERE IS AN EFFORT BEING MADE TO PUT MORE IMPORTANCE TO THE TASK FORCE AND SET FLOOD CONTROL GOALS AND POLICIES.
WE DO SUPPORT THE IDEA OF THIS DIVERSE GROUP OF STAKEHOLDERS.
WE BELIEVE IT IS IMPORTANT TO HAVE A BALANCE BETWEEN THE STAKEHOLDERS AND THEIR EXPERTISE AND THE STAKEHOLDERS WHO DON'T.
AND BY HAVING THIS BALANCE AS OTHER SPEAKER HAVE SAID THEY CAN EDUCATE ON ISSUES THEY MAY OR MAY NOT FULLY UNDERSTAND.
THERE WILL BE MORE OF A SIM BE IO -- A IS -- A SYMBIOSIS.
>> THEY BELIEVE IN -- THEY BELIEVE IN THE IMPORTANCE OF THE WORKFORCE HOUSING.
WE ASK YOU CONSIDER THE SOLUTION AS PART OF THE PROBLEM.
I WILL POINT OUT GHBA SUBMITTED A LETTER OF SUPPORT FOR THE NEW HARRIS COUNTY REGULATIONS FLOOD PLAIN MANAGEMENT THAT IS AMONG THE STRONGEST IN THE NATION.
SO GIVEN THE OPPORTUNITY WE WANT TO BE GOOD PARTICIPANTS AND GOOD STAKEHOLDERS IN THE BUILDING OF HARRIS COUNTY AND WE KNOW THAT FLOODING DOES NOT MISS ANY OF US.
WE THINK A LITTLE MORE BALANCE MAY BE PUT IN THE MEMBERSHIP OF THE STAKEHOLDERS.
>> THANK YOU JUDGE AND COMMISSIONERS FOR ALLOWING ME TO SPEAK IN THESE CHALLENGING TIMES.
I AM THE EXECUTIVE ENGINEER OF ACEC HOUSTON.
ACEC HAS REPRESENTATIVES ON THE EXISTING HARRIS CONTROL TASK FORCE AND I AM HERE TO EXPRESS OUR SUPPORT FOR THE IDEASES BEHIND THE COMMUNITY -- THE FORMATION OF THE COMMUNITY RESILIENCE TASK FORCE.
INCLUDING A BROADER RANGE OF STAKEHOLDERS AND DIVERSE STAKEHOLDERS AND GIVING THIS NEW TASK FORCE A MORE ACTIVE AND INFLUENTIAL ROLE IN INFRASTRUCTURE AND RESILIENCE PLANNING AND DECISION MAKING AND THEY ARE GREAT STEPS IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.
ACCORDING TO THE BY LAWS, THE TASK FORCE IS TO REVIEW AND PROVIDE FEEDBACK ON HARRIS COUNTY AND THE INFRASTRUCTURE RESILIENCE TEAM AND THE OVERALL APPROACH TO RESILIENCE AND EXPENDITURES AND FUNDING STRATEGIES AND THE DEVELOPMENT OF A RESILIENCE PLAN.
IN PARTICULAR THEY WILL ADVISE ON PLANNING, PRIORITIZATION AND DEVELOPMENT AND IMPLEMENTATION ON INDIVIDUAL PROJECTS.
INFRASTRUCTURE-RELATED PROJECTS AND ACTIVITIES WILL BE PRESENTED TO THE TASK FORCE 30 DAYS BEFORE THEY APPEAR ON THE COMMISSIONER'S COURT AGENDA.
THE ACEC BELIEVES THAT BECAUSE THE COMMUNITY RESILIENCE TASK FORCE HAS BEEN GIVEN THESE HIGHLY TECHNICAL ISSUES TO CONSIDER IT IS IMPORTANT TO ENSURE THAT THE TECHNICAL EXPERTISE IS APPROPRIATELY REPRESENTED WITH VOTING MEMBERS ON THE TASK FORCE AND IS ACTIVITY INTEGRATED IN THE DISCUSSIONS AND DELIBERATIONS.
MEMBERS OF THE TECHNICAL EXPERTISE AND EXPERIENCE IN HOW PROJECTS ARE PLANNED, DESIGNED AND IMPLEMENTED WILL NOT ONLY BE A VALUABLE RESOURCE TO THE MEMBERS OF THE TASK FORCE, BUT WILL HELP IT BE BETTER PREPARED TO EVALUATE PROJECTS COMING FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF THE IRT ON THEIR WAY TO COMMISSIONER'S COURT.
REVIEWING THE DOCUMENTS ON THE TASK FORCE ILLUSTRATES THE ISSUES THAT COULD ARISE.
THE IRT'S DOCUMENTS, THE LETTER TO COMMISSIONER'S COURT HAD A BETTER DEFINITION OF RESILIENCE AND THE PROBLEM THAT THE ADDRESS IS MORE SO THAT BE -- THAN THE DOCUMENTS OF THE TASK FORCE.
I FOE THESE ARE INITIAL DOCUMENTS.
THEY CAN APPOINT WORK GROUPS OR COMMITTEES, SUBCOMMITTEES.
THEY ARE POUR THAN READY TO -- THEY ARE MORE THAN READY TO HELP SERVE ON THESE COMMITTEES.
THEY HAVE MULTIPLE COMMITTEES HELPING WITH HARRIS COUNTY DEPARTMENTS AND IT IS ON PLANNING, DESIGN AND IMPLEMENTATION AND CONSULTING ENGINEERS ARE WELL VERSED IN THE REQUIREMENTS LISTED BY THE LETTER TO COMMISSIONER'S COURT AS NEEDED TO MOVE FORWARD INCLUDING DATA AND ANALYSIS AND DEVELOPING RESILIENCY STANDARDS AND OPERATIONAL FRAMEWORKS.
CONSULTING ENGINEERS ARE ACTIVELY INVOLVED IN PLANNING AND DECIDING THE ON GOING STRUCTURE INITIATIVES AND RECENTLY COMPLETED PROJECTS DISCUSSED IN THE IRT LETTER.
FINALLY ACE WANTS TO EXPRESS ITS SUPPORT OF THE NEW COMMUNITY RESILIENCE TASK FORCE AND WANTS TO HELP ENSURE THAT THROUGH THE INTEGRATION OF BROAD FOOT TECH WE WORK TOGETHER TO IMPROVE RESILIENCY FOR ALL CITIZENS.
>> LINA HIDALGO: THANK YOU SO MUCH.
>> BRAD -- BRADLEY PEPPER WITH GREATER HOUSTON ASSOCIATION.
>> THANK YOU TO THE MEMBERS OF THE COURT FOR ALLOWING ME TO SPEAK.
I AM BRADLEY PEPPER AND THE DIRECTOR OF URBAN AFIRE -- AFFAIRS TO THE BUILDER ASSOCIATION.
A LOT OF THE FOLKS BEFORE ME HAVE SAID A LOT OF THE SAME THINGS I WOULD HAVE SAID.
MOST IMPORTANTLY IS THAT WE ALL SUPPORT THIS AND WE UH THINK IT IS GREAT THIS TASK MORSE -- TASK FORCE IS BEING REINVENTED.
WE ALSO WANT TO HOPEFULLY OPERATE IN A MANNER THAT WILL BE BENEFICIAL FOR THE COUNTY AT LARGE.
WE DO WANT TO SEE WE SUPPORT MEMBERS ESTABLISHING AND GETTING TO THE RESOLUTIONS WE ARE GETTING TO.
THE ONE THING THAT WAS CONCERNING AND I HEARD IT MENTIONED EARLIER, BUT THESE CAME OUT ON JULY 20TH.
I DID PARTICIPATE IN THE ZOOM ON JULY 23RD WHICH WAS VERY PRODUCTIVE.
SO MUCH SO THAT AS YOU SAID EARLIER THERE WAS ANOTHER ONE ADDED TO THE ROSTER.
ONLY HAVING 10 DAYS TO COMMENT ON THE BY LAWS THAT ARE BEING SET UP FOR SUCH AN IMPORTANT COMMITTEE THAT WILL BE MAKING SUCH IMPORTANT DECISIONS I FEEL THAT IT IS A LITTLE QUICK AND MAYBE WE CAN TAKE A LITTLE MORE TIME WITH THAT.
IN CLOSING AGAIN, NOT TO TAKE UP TOO MUCH OF YOUR TIME WE HAVE WORKED WITH ACEC IN THE PAST AND ASCE AND SEEN THEIR LETTERS THAT MICHAEL BLOOM SAID HE SUBMITTED.
HARRIS/HOUSTON STRONGER WHICH WE ARE MEMBERS OF AND WE WILL BE COMMITTING SOME SUGGESTIONS WHICH WE ARE FULLY SUPPORTIVE OF.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME THIS EVENING.
>> GOOD EVENING JUDGE HUH DAHL -- HIDALGO AND COMMISSIONER'S COURT.
I AM JERRY BROOKES AND SERVE AS AS THE CHAIR CHAIRWOMAN OF THE GREATER HOUSTON CHAMBER.
I AM PART OF THE HARRIS CLUB COMMITTEE AND HOUSTON STRONGER AND HAVE THE PLEASURE TO PASS THE FLOODING BOND INITIATIVES AS HOUSTONIAN AND HARRIS COUNTY RESIDENT I AM GRATEFUL FOR THE WORK THAT WAS DONE TO PREPARE FOR OUR NEXT MAJOR STORM.
WE ARE IN SUPPORT OF THE HARRIS COUNTY COMMUNITY RESILIENCE TASK FORCE AND ASK TO CONSIDER A FEW ADJUSTMENTS THAT WILL ENHANCE THE COMMUNITY AND SUPPORT THE OVERALL GOAL OF STORM READINESS AND RESILIENCY.
TYPICALLY WE HAVE PROVIDED ENOUGH FOR ALL 22 WATER SHEDS IN HARRIS COUNTY TO HAVE REPRESENTATION.
WE FURTHER ASK THAT YOU CONSIDER APPROVAL OF UP TO SEVEN REPRESENTATIVES FROM OTHER GOVERNMENT OR QUASI GOVERNMENT TO THE ENTITIES AND RESPONSE -- RESPONSIBLE FOR REGIONAL RESILIENCE.
WE RECOMMEND THAT THE INITIAL MEMBERS SUBMIT THEIR LIST OF OTHER TASK FORCE MEMBERS FOR APPROVAL AND FUTURE APPOINTMENTS TO GO THROUGH THE COMMISSIONER'S COURT WITH A CHANCE TO SEE AND COMMENT ON THE MEMBERSHIPS AND ENSURING THAT THE COMMISSIONER'S COURT IS CONNECTED TO THE TASK FORCE.
TO HELP ENSURE THE TASK FORCE PROVIDES RECOMMENDATION THAT'S ARE RIGOROUS AND SUSTAINABLE, WE RECOMMEND INCLUDING A DIVERSE GROUP OF EXPERTS INCLUDING HYDROLOGY AND HYDROLICS AND FLOOD PLAIN MANAGEMENT AND ECONOMICS AND LAND USE AND PUBLIC FINANCE LAW AND PUBLIC DEVELOPMENT AND INCLUDE REPRESENTATION FROM ALL OTHER LOCAL ENTITIES THAT CAN HELP COORDINATE PROJECTS INCLUDING HGAC AND SOON TO BE REGIONAL FLOOD PLAINING GROUP.
I THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR SERVICE TO OUR COMMUNITY AND FOR KEEPING US SAFE AND HOPE THAT YOU WILL CONSIDER OUR RECOMMENDATIONS.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME.
>> 7 VAW LYNN -- EVELYN MURS FROM HOUSTON CITY CLUB.
GOOD EVENING, JUDGE AND COUNTY COMMISSIONERS.
>> LINA HIDALGO: I'M SO SORRY.
COMMISSIONER CAGLE HAD A COMMENT THERE.
>> MY COMMENT WAS FOR WHEN EVELYN WAS DONE SPEAKING.
[15:00:02]
>> LINA HIDALGO: LET'S TRY THIS AGAIN.
>> SHOULD I START OVER? GOOD EVENING COMMISSIONER CAGLE.
THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME THIS EVENING.
I HOPE WE CAN ALL HAVE A MIDNIGHT SNACK SOON.
THE CURRENT MAKE UP OF THE FLOOD CONTROL TASK FORCE IS NOMINATED BY REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ENGINEERING AND CONSULTING COMPANIES AND THE CONTRACTORS WHICH COULD BE EITHER ENGINEERS OR LANDSCAPE DESIGN WHO HAPPEN TO BE ON THE FLOOD CONTROL DISTRICT.
THE RESILIENCE TASK FORCE HAS THE ABILITY TO SHIFT THE FOCUS OF THE PERSPECTIVES.
THESE POINTS ARE PARTICULARLY WELCOME AND THE MEETINGS WILL BE OPEN TO THE PUBLIC AND THE MEETINGS WILL BE POSTED ONLINE.
THERE WILL BE TIME ALLOWED IN EACH MEETING FOR PUBLIC COMMENT.
I THINK THIS SUCCESS SPECIALLY IMPORTANT TO BE IN THE BY LAWS EVEN AS A MEMBER OF THE TASK FORCE.
I WAS NOT ALLOWED TO SPEAK ON A CONTROVERSIAL TOPIC.
THE FIVE COURT APPOINTED MEMBERS WILL BE THE SELECTION COMMITTEE FOR THE OTHER 12.
I WOULD LIKE MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE PROCESS OF IDENTIFYING THE SELECTION POOL FOR THOSE 12 PEOPLE.
THERE ARE CONCERNS ABOUT WATER SHED REPRESENTATIVES, BUT I WOULD LIKE TO POINT OUT THAT EVEN NOW NOT EVERY WATER SHED HAS A REPRESENTATIVE ON THE COMMITTEE.
MY BIGGEST CONCERN HAS TO DO WITH THE COMPETENCY.
THERE IS NO SLOT FOR COME PAW 10 SEE -- COME -- COME PEN SEE FOR GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE.
WE NEED SOMEBODY WITH A COMPETENCY IN URBAN AND LAND -- LANDSCAPE DESIGN IS NOT A SUBSTITUTE FOR SCIENCE COMPETENCY.
EVEN A REQUIREMENT FOR THE REPRESENTATIVE IN THE ENVIRONMENT IS NOT A SCIENCE COMPETENCY.
IF ONE OF THE MAJOR TASKS OF THE RECONSTITUTED HARRIS COUNTY FLOOD CONTROL TASK FORCE AND YOU WANT IT TO BE SUSTAINABLE YOU HAVE TO KNOW ABOUT THE KNOWLEDGE OF THE SYSTEM.
THE RESILIENCE TEAM HAS SAID IT IS A GOOD IDEA TO HAVE A PERSON FROM THE DEPARTMENT THAT DEALS WITH GREEN SPACE AND HAVE A PERSON BE -- HAVE TRAINING IN THE NATURAL SCIENCES.
IT HAS BEEN POINTED OUT BY SEVERAL MEMBERS WE NEED POUR TECHNICAL PEOPLE.
I WOULD LIKE TO POINT OUT THAT TECHNICAL PEOPLE ARE NOT CONFINED TO ENGINEERS.
THE ENGINEERS THAT ARE ON ON THE -- MAY BE REPRESENTED ON THE RECONSTITUTED COMMITTEE DO NOT HAVE TO BE ENGINEER THAT'S WORK FOR A CONSULTING COMPANY.
THERE ARE A LOT OF ENGINEERS IN TOWN WITH EXPERT -- EXPERTISE ON HYDROLICS AND INTOED CONTROL AND WOULD PRESENT A MORE NUANCED VIEW AND CERTAINLY BALANCED.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR LISTENING TO ME.
>> R JACK CAGLE: EVELYN, THANK YOU FOR CALLING US.
WOULD YOU MIND CONTACTING MY OFFICE.
YOU AND I HAVE NOT HAD A CHANCE TO VISIT ON THOSE THINGS AND THOSE PASSIONS WE HOLD IN COMMON FOR QUITE AWHILE AND I WOULD LIKE TO CATCH UP WITH YOU ON THE ZOOM MEETING.
WOULD YOU MIND CON TABLGHTING -- CONTACTING US SO THAT WE CAN CATCH UP ON A FEW OF THOSE LITTLE SHARED PASSIONS?
SHOULD I JUST CALL YOUR MAIN NUMBER?
>> R JACK CAGLE: YEAH, ASK TO SPEAK TO BEN, IF YOU DON'T MIND, AND HE WILL HELP US COORDINATE THAT.
>> LINA HIDALGO: COMMISSIONER GARCIA HAS A COMMENT.
>> LINA HIDALGO: COMMISSIONER GARCIA?
>> ADRIAN GARCIA: THANK YOU, JUDGE.
EVELYN, I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR TAKING TIME TO WEIGH IN ON THIS IMPORTANT ISSUE.
THE JUDGE IS REAL CLEAR THAT THERE IS ALWAYS PROGRESS TO BE MADE, BUT IT IS A GOOD START, BUT THANK YOU FOR WEIGHING IN AND SHARING YOUR THOUGHTS.
>> LINA HIDALGO: DO WE HAVE OTHER SPEAKERS, LUCINDA?
JOHN WILLIAMS, GO AHEAD, PLEASE.
>> GOOD EVENING, JAW HIDALGO -- JUDGE HIDALGO AND COUNTY COMMISSIONERERS: MY NAME IS JOHN WILLIAMS AND I AM THE THE PRESIDENT OF [INAUDIBLE] MY SUPPORT TO STRENGTHEN THE ROLE OF THE FLOOD CONTROL TASK FORCE AND INCREASE THE DIVERSITY OF MEMBERSHIPS AND THE BY LAWS WILL CREATE A TASK FORCE THAT MAY NOT HAVE TECHNICAL REPRESENTATION TO HELP GUIDE THE CREATION AND IMPLEMENTATION.
WE BELIEVE IT IS IMPORTANT TO HAVE A BETTER BALANCE OF STAKEHOLDERS WITH TECHNICAL EXPERTISE.
THE TASK FORCE YIELDING QUALITY RESULTS IS IMPORTANT TO ACTIVELY ENGAGE THE STAKEHOLDERS WHO ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR BUILDING AND COMPLETING THE RESILIENCY PROJECT.
AS PROPOSED THE TASK FORCE MEMBERS ARE TO THE REQUIRED TO HAVE INFRASTRUCTURE DEVELOPMENT EXPERIENCE.
IN FACT, THE ENGINEERING AND HOME BUILDING SECTORS ARE COMBINED IN ONE CATEGORY.
OUR BUSINESS RELIES ON FAMILIES AND COMPANIES MAKING A CHOICE TO MOVE HERE.
IT WILL BE SUSTAINABLE AND AFFORDABLE AND EFFECTIVE REGULATIONS, AND WE DO NOT BELIEVE THE STRUCTURE FOR THE PROPOSED TASK FORCE PROVIDED -- PROVIDES THAT OPPORTUNITY.
THE WORK THAT THE HARRIS COUNTY TASK FORCE IS CRIT -- CRITICAL IN HELPING OUR REGION GROW AND THRIVE.
IT MUST BE BALANCED WITH TECHNICAL EXPERTS TO MATCH THE EFFECTIVENESS.
I SUPPORT THE EFFORTS TO INCREASE THE DO -- DIVERSITY OF THE TASK FORCE AND IT IS IMPORTANT TO INCLUDE COMMUNITY INPUT, BUT WE ASK HALF OF THE MEMBERSHIP BE BUILT BY REPRESENTATIVES WITH EXPERTISE INCLUDING THE HOME BUILDING INDUSTRY.
THANK YOU, JUDGE HIDALGO AND COMMISSIONERS.
I KNOW THIS HAS BEEN A LONG DAY AND YOU HAVE DONE UH -- A LOT OF GREAT WORK.
WE APPRECIATE THE PROPOSAL OF THE FLOOD CONTROL TASK FORCE AS IT WAS PREVIOUSLY CALLED.
I AM AUGUST CAMPBELL AND THE DIRECTOR ASSOCIATION OF OF THE WATER BOARD DIRECTORS.
I AM HERE TO TALK ABOUT THE FLOOD SOLUTIONS.
WE ADVANCE RESILIENCE AND FUNDING AND POLICY SO EVERY REGION IS PREPARED FOR MAJOR STORMS. HARRIS HAS BEEN INVOLVED IN MAKING FLOODING POLICY AT FEDERAL, STATE AND LOCAL LEVELS.
THE PREVIOUS TASK FORCE CONSISTED OF 33 MEMBERS AND IT WAS CREATED IN 1972.
RECENTLY IT HAS BEEN LESS EFFECTIVE AND I KNOW BECAUSE I SERVED ON THE TASK FORCE.
WE HOPE TO ENSURE THAT THE NEW TASK FORCE IS MORE EFFECTIVE AND OFFERS -- AND WE OFFER A FEW RELATIVELY MINOR SUGGESTIONS TO ACHIEVE THAT.
ONE REASON THAT THE HARRIS COUNTY FLOOD CONTROL BOND WAS SO SUCCESSFUL WAS THAT IT GOT COMMUNITY INPUT FROM EACH WATER SHED.
WE BELIEVE A NEW TASK FORCE WILL BE MORE EFFECTIVE IF EACH WATER SHED HAD REPRESENTATION.
WE RECOMMEND INCREASING THE TASK FORCE MEMBERSHIP FROM 17 TO 23 AND PROVIDING ENOUGH PLACES FOR ALL 22 WATER SHEDS.
THE PREVIOUS TASK FORCE MEMBERSHIP WAS NOT VIEWED, BOUGHT ORIE VIEWED BY COMMISSION -- OR REVIEWED BY DMITIONER -- BY COMMISSIONER'S COURT.
WE ASK THEY SUBMIT TO COMMISSIONER'S COURT FOR REVIEW AND APPROVAL AND FUTURE UH -- APPOINTMENT BY COMMISSIONER'S COURT.
IT WILL GIVE THE COMMUNITY TO COMMENT AND ENSURE THAT COMMISSIONER'S COURT IS CONNECTED TO THE TASK FORCE.
WHILE WE SEE THINGS THAT THE PREVIOUS TASK FORCE LACKED, WE BELIEVE THE TERM LIMITS WILL KEEP THE COMMUNITY CONNECTION AND WE THINK BY ADDING A FEW EXPERTISES INTO THE MIX PROVIDES THAT BALANCE IN CONTINUITY THAT WILL HELP ENSURE THAT WE RECEIVE THE MOST RIGOROUS PLAN AND THE BEST ADVICE FOR THE COMMISSIONERS.
WHAT FIVE AREAS WE ARE RECOMMENDING ARE HYDROLOGY AND HYDROLICS INCLUDING FLOOD PLAIN MANAGEMENT, CONSTRUCTION, ECONOMICS, LAND USE AND PUBLIC FINANCE LAW.
THE PREVIOUS TASK FORCE STRUGGLE IN THE LAST FEW YEARS DUE TO LACK OF AGENCIES AND THE CURRENT PROPOSAL IS PROVIDING ROBUST COUNTY AND AGENCY SUPPORT AND WE SUGGEST THE COUNTY SEEK TO HAVE APPROVAL FROM LOCAL ENTITIES INCLUDING THE CITY OF HOUSTON AND GALVESTON COUNCIL AND THE SOON TO BE CREATED FLOOD PLAIN GROUPS -- WE LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH HARRIS COUNTY, THANK YOU.
>> LINA HIDALGO: THANK YOU SO MUCH.
>> TRICIAED FROM -- TRICIA FREDERICK.
>> GOOD EVENING JUDGE HIDALGO AND COMMISSIONER'S COURT.
I AM PATRICIA FREDERICK AND WITH THE WATER BOARD DIRECTORS.
IT EXISTS TO PROVIDE EDUCATION AND ADD -- ADVOCACY FOR 650 WATER BOARDS, MUD AND OTHER SPECIAL DISTRICTS ACROSS TEXAS.
ONE TASK FORCE WILL HAVE THE SUPPORT AND TECHNICALLY SOUND ADVICE.
THAT AND AWBD AGREES WITH THE SUGGESTION PROVIDED BY HARRIS PLUS FLOOD SOLUTIONS AND WE JUST HEARD FROM AUGGIE.
SO WE WOULD LIKE TO SEE THE COMPOSITION TASK FORCE TO INCLUDE EXPERTS IN HYDROLOGY.
MY NAME IS BRITNEY JENKINS AND I AM THE REGIONAL ORGANIZER.
IT IS THE COALITION OF THEEN VIERN -- ENVIRONMENT EQUITY.
HERE IS A COLLECTIVE 25 NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATIONS AND OUR WISH TO RAISE AWARENESS BETWEEN POLLUTION AND PUBLIC HEALTH.
WE ARE PROVIDING A WRITTEN STATEMENT -- A WRITTEN AND SPOKEN STATEMENT ON THE BY LAWS.
I JUST WANT TO HIGHLIGHT A FEW KEY POINTS TO ENSURE THAT IT IS UH MEANABLE AND EFFICIENT TO MAKE GOOD USE OF THE COUNTY AND THE COMMUNITY LIMITED TIME.
THE TASK FORCE WILL PROVIDE A SOLUTION COMING FROM TECHNICAL EXPERTS AND COMMUNITY EXPERTS USING A MULTI DISCIPLINARY APPROACH.
WE APPLAUD THE COURT FOR ADVANCING THIS CONVERSATION AND ASK THE JUDGE FOR HOLDING THIS PUBLIC INPUT PROCESS TO GATHER FEEDBACK ON THE STRUCTURE, MEMBERSHIP AND PURPOSE.
WHEN IT COMES TO THE MAKE UP OF THE GROUP, IT IS IMPORTANT FOR RESIDENTS OF IMPACTED COMMUNITIES TO BE AT THE TABLE.
[15:05:02]
THEY ARE THE PEOPLE CLOSEST TO THE PROBLEM.ENGINEERS AND THE COMMUNITY RESIDENTS ARE WORKING TOGETHER TO ACHIEVE BETTER RESULTS WHICH IS A MODEL BEING USED ACROSS THE NATION WITH MUCH SUCCESS.
ON PAGE THREE IT THREE MEMBERS MUST HAVE TECHNICAL EXPERT -- EXPERTISE.
THE MOST IMPORTANT WORD IS AT LEAST.
LOW INCOME COMMUNITIES AND COMMUNITIES OF COLOR HAVE BEEN LEFT BEHIND SO IT IS IMPORTANT THEY ARE PRIORITIZED.
WHEN DESIGNING THE COMMITTEE YOU SHOULD USE THIS AREA AND PRIORITIZE PEOPLE WITH EXPERIENCE AND ETHICAL EXPERIENCE.
LOOK FOR A DIVERSE PEOPLE WHO LOOK LIKE THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE IN HAIR RUSS -- HARRIS COUNTY.
THAT MODEL WORKED IN SEATTLE, CHICAGO AND ATLANTA.
AND IT IS IMPORTANT TO HAVE GEOGRAPHICAL REPRESENTATION.
FLOODING AND RESILIENCE ISSUES DON'T EXPECT THE FOUNDERS THE CHIEF RESILIENCE OFFICE SHOULD BE INCLUDED.
OTHER MUNICIPALITIES SHOULD BE INVOLVED.
WHETHER IT IS A SUBCOMMITTEE OR SUB WORKING GROUP.
WHEN IT COMES, THEY SHOULD ASK THE HARD QUESTIONS.
THEY ARE MAKING DECISIONS AND IT LEADS US TO THE RESILIENT FUTURE.
IT IS TO NEGLECT THE COMMUNITIES AND BRING THEM TO THE SAME LEVEL OF FLOOD PROTECTION.
HOW CAN YOU AGGRESSIVELY PURSUE THE NATURAL BASED SOLUTION.
HOW MUCH DO WE NEED TO MAKE OUR COUNTY RESILIENT AND HOW WE ARE GOING TO PAY FOR IT.
HOW CAN COMMUNITIES BE TRULY ENGAGED AND BUILD NOT PHYSICAL RELATIONSHIPS WITH THE COUNTY DEPARTMENT AND WORKING IN THE NEIGHBORHOODS.
ARE OUR PLANS AND POLICIES WORKING FOR EVERYONE, OR PARTICULARLY HARMFUL SYSTEMS WORKING FOR SOME.
THE TASK FORCE WILL BE SUCCESSFUL -- THANK YOU.
>> LINA HIDALGO: THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR COMMENTS.
>> JUDGE THOSE ARE THE SPEAK -- SPEAKERS.
THE OTHERS CANCELED OR DON'T WANT TO SPEAK ANYMORE.
I THINK IT IS BETTER TO WAIT UNTIL KEY WOMAN -- WE COME BACK.
WHEN WE COME BACK WE WILL HAVE A PROPOSAL ON WHERE TO PUT IT.
I DON'T THINK WE NEED TO VOTE ON THIS ONE TODAY UNLESS FOLKS HAVE OTHER COMMENTS.
AND WE WILL CONTINUE -- YES, COMMISSIONER CAGLE.
JUDGE, IN THE REPORT THERE WAS A BEST PRACTICE I THOUGHT WAS AWESOME AND IT WAS ITEMS TO BE INCLUDED IN THE MEETING AGENDA WERE TO BE SUBMITTED EIGHT DAYS PRIOR TO THEIR MEETING.
AND THEN THERE WAS ANOTHER ITEM THAT SAID BEFORE COMMISSIONER'S COURT CONSIDER SOMETHING THEY NEEDED TO HAVE THEIR REPORTS DONE 30 DAYS UGH THAT WHICH -- DAYS BEFORE THAT WHICH WOULD GIVE COMMISSIONER'S COURT AND OUR STAFF AN OPPORTUNITY TO REVIEW THOSE AND I LIKED THOSE PROVISIONS.
I MAY HAVE OTHER DISAGREEMENTS WE WILL WORK WITH YOUR OFFICE ON, BUT TOSS -- BUT THOSE PARTS ARE GOOD PRACTICES AND I WANTED TO -- AND I WOULD ALLOW COMMUNITY INPUT AND ENGAGEMENT IN THOSE ACTIVITIES.
SO OVER THE NEXT COUPLE WEEKS LET MY STAFF KNOW AND WE WILL TRY AND FIND THE BEST MIDDLE GROUND WE CAN.
THERE ARE LOTS OF OPINIONS ON THIS.
IF WE CONTINUE GOING DOWN THE AGENDA HERE, WE WERE ON FLOOD CONTROL DISTRICT.
THERE IS A CORRECTION ON ITEM B ON PAGE 8.
INSTEAD OF TRANSMITAL IT SHOULD BE A REQUEST FOR APPROVAL FOR THE TELE WORK POLICY THAT THE WORK GROUP HAS PUT TOGETHER.
I HAVE A NOTE HERE FOR SPEAKERS, LUCINDA.
DO WE HAVE SPEAKERS UNDER PUBLIC HEALTH.
THEY SENT A MESSAGE AND THEY CHANGED THEIR MIND AND SPOKE ALREADY.
>> LINA HIDALGO: COMMUNITY SERVICES ITEM 2, B2 ON PAGE 10.
WE NEED TO CHANGE THE WORD SOUTH TO EAST.
INSTITUTE OF FORENSIC SCIENCES.
I AM AVAILABLE TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS ON OUR REQUEST FOR THE SOUTH SIDE FIRM DEALING WITH A POSSIBLE APPEAL OR ARBITRATION DEALING WITH DEBRIS REMOVAL FROM HURRICANE HARVEY.
I THINK JOHN WAS INFORMED ABOUT IT ALSO.
>> LINA HIDALGO: COMMISSIONER GARCIA?
>> ADRIAN GARCIA: THANK YOU, JUDGE.
ON THIS ITEM I THOUGHT I RECALL BILL JACKSON 8 -- SAYING THIS WAS A BIG WIN FOR US DURING HURRICANE HARVEY THAT THESE TRUCKS WERE HEADED TO FLORIDA AND WE OFFERED THEM MORE MONEY AND GOT THEM TO TURN AROUND.
I'M NOT SURE HOW MUCH YOU CAN DISCUSS, BUT WHY DID THIS -- WHY WAS THIS REJECTED?
WHY ARE WE NOT -- >> IN GENERAL TERMS WE SIMPLY DISAGREED WITH FEMA.
AFTER WE REVIEWED IT WITH COUNSEL WE BELIEVE THERE IS A REASONABLE OPPORTUNITY TO REVERSE THIS DECISION.
CERTAINLY IF WE WANT TO GO INTO DETAIL WE CAN GO INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION.
AND WHILE WE ARE TALKING ABOUT IT, UNFORTUNATELY WE ARE RUNNING A LITTLE LATE TO GET IT TO YOU FOLKS, BUT IT IS BETWEEN 30,000 AND APPROXIMATELY 150,000 DOLLARS ON A 15 MILLION CLIENT.
>> ADRIAN GARCIA: WHEN DID YOU FIND OUT THAT WE HAD LOST THIS?
I THINK RANDY SCHMIDT IS ON THE LINE.
HE IS THE ATTORNEY WHO WORKS FOR US.
HE IS HANDLING IT AND THE OUTSIDE COUNSEL IS.
I THINK THERE WAS A DELAY AND COVID HIT.
>> ADRIAN GARCIA: I WAS JUST TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHY WE ARE JUST FINDING OUT.
>> R JACK CAGLE: COMMISSIONER GARCIA?
>> R JACK CAGLE: LATER ON MY STAFF IS GOING TO TALK TO YOUR STAFF WITH SOME OF THE TRICKS -- NOT INAPPROPRIATE TRICKS, BUT THINGS THAT WE WERE ABLE TO DO TO ATTRACT THOSE -- THEY CALLED THEM BIG BETTER THAT YOU -- BIG BERTHA MACHINES.
MY STAFF WILL VISIT WITH YOUR STAFF SO YOU CAN GET THE INSIDE INFORMATION.
IT WAS A BRAINCHILD OF OUR JOSH STUCKEY AND HOW WE WERE ABLE TO GAIN AND ATTRACT AND KEEP THE BIG BERTHAS.
>> R JACK CAGLE: I DON'T WANT TO TALK ABOUT IT HERE BECAUSE I DON'T WANT ANYONE ELSE TO PICK UP ON STRATEGICS.
>> LINA HIDALGO: MOVING ON JUSTICE ADMINISTRATION.
>> ADRIAN GARCIA: JUDGE, I WAS GOING TO SAY I UNDERSTAND THAT THERE HAS BEEN SOME WORK DONE ON THE USE OF FORCE POLICY REVIEW.
JUST CURIOUS WHERE ARE WE ON THAT?
>> LINA HIDALGO: IS JIM BETKEY ON THE LINE?
>> LINA HIDALGO: LUCINDA, WILL YOU GET HIM BACK?
>> ADRIAN GARCIA: MAYBE HE FELL ASLEEP ON US.
>> LINA HIDALGO: I HAD A QUESTION FOR HIM AS WELL.
HAVE WE HEARD BACK FROM -- ON THE EVICTIONS ? WERE THEY SUPPOSED TO COME BACK WITH SOMETHING?
>> RODNEY ELLIS: DO I HAVE MINE? I WILL HAVE THE AMENDMENT.
DO I HAVE IT IN FRONT OF ME? I SENT IT AROUND -- WE WILL VOTE ON IT AND I HAVE AN ITEM FOR JUSTICE ADMINISTRATION, BUT IT IS A SUPPLEMENTAL ITEM.
>> LINA HIDALGO: TRAVEL AND TRAINING.
PHYSICAL SERVICES AND PURCHASING.
FISCAL SERVICES AND PURCHASING.
WE BELIEVE UNDER THE RESOLUTION UNDER MY UH -- AGENDA AND THE BY LAWS.
>> ADRIAN GARCIA: JUDGE I HAVE AN ITEM SINCE WE ARE IN PURCHASING.
ON THE AUDITOR I HATE TO KICK THE RAN AROUND AGAIN, BUT I SPOKE TO MY CHIEF OF STAFF AND HE SAID THE PLACE HOLDER FOR WHAT MR. RADACK MENTIONED, THE REPORT DIDN'T COME IN UNTIL THIS MORNING.
SO WHERE -- WHAT IS THE ACCURATE STORY ON THIS THING?
>> I WOULD LIKE TO TALK ABOUT THAT.
THIS WAS A REQUEST THAT COMMISSIONER RADACK MADE AT THE LAST COURT TO PROVIDE INFORMATION ABOUT STAFFING.
THE INITIAL GAME PLAN WAS WE WOULD ISSUE IT ON FRIDAY OF LAST WEEK.
WHEN WE GOT INTO THE PAYROLL AT THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT IT TURNED OUT TO BE MORE COMPLICATED THAN I EVER REALIZED AND I HAD TO GET SOME INPUT FROM THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT.
AS A RESULT WE FINISHED IT UP, THE DRAFT REPORT, MONDAY.
IT SEEMS LIKE LONGER AGO, BUT IT WAS YESTERDAY.
WE SENT IT OUT TO THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT IN THE EARLY AFTERNOON YESTERDAY, AND WE SAID HEALTH DEPARTMENT, PLEASE REVIEW THIS REPORT BECAUSE I WANTED THEM TO TELL ME IT WAS ACCURATE.
I THINK WHEN WE HEARD BACK FROM THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT AND IT WAS 5:00 YOU SENT THIS REPORT TO CONRAD JOE WHO REPORTS TO COMMISSIONER RADACK AND CONRAD JOE GOT BACK TO YOU LATER IN THE EVENING.
SO WHEN SHE HAD THE CLEARANCE FROM CONRAD JOE AFTER 5:00 YESTERDAY WE WANTED TO GET THE REPORT OUT AS SOON AS WE COULD.
SO WE GOT IT OUT THIS MORNING.
IT IS INTERESTING BECAUSE ERIC AND I WERE TALKING ABOUT THIS.
I AM GOING TO PROPOSE, AND I WILL SEND A MEMO OUT -- BECAUSE I DON'T REALLY KNOW WHEN MY REPORTS WILL BE REFERENCED.
ACTUALLY, I WORKED OUT OF TOWN AND I SAW THE SUPPLEMENTAL ITEM.
YOU KNOW, I GOT IN ON MONDAY, YESTERDAY, AND IT WAS ON THE AGENDA.
IN MY MIND I THOUGHT HE MAY BRING THIS UP.
[15:10:01]
IT WAS AN ITEM THAT WAS RELEGATED, BUT I WAS FOCUSED ON AS SOON AS I HAD INFORMATION TO -- GIVE IT TO ALL COURT MEMBERS.I THINK WHAT I WANT TO PROPOSE IS IN THE FUTURE MAYBE WE HAVE A DEAD PERIOD THE DAY BEFORE COURT AND THE DAY OF COURT THAT I JUST WILL NOT ISSUE ANY MEMOS OR ANY REPORTS BECAUSE IT IS EXCEEDINGLY IMPORTANT TO ME THAT NOBODY GET BLIND CITED.
IT IS IMPORTANT THAT IF A REPORT ISSUED BY THE AUDITOR WILL BE A TOPIC OF DISCUSSION THAT EVERYBODY HAS HAD AN ADEQUATE TIME TO LOOK AT IT AND NOBODY IS LIKE, WELL I DIDN'T GET TO SEE IT OR IT CAME OUT AT THE LAST MOMENT.
AND QUITE FRANKLY I THINK ALL I WAS FOCUSED ON WAS AS SOON AS I HAD THE INFORMATION IN THE FINAL FORM, I WOULD SEND IT OUT TO ALL OF THE COMMISSIONERS.
I DIDN'T HAVE IT IN THE FINAL FORM UNTIL AFTER 5:00 YESTERDAY.
THAT'S WHY ERIKA SENT IT OUT THIS MORNING AID JUST -- >> ADRIAN GARCIA: JUST TO BE CLEAR MY POSITION WAS ACCURATE THAT WE GOT THIS TODAY.
>> STEVE RADACK: TO BE CLEAR, I GOT THIS ON FRIDAY, OKAY?
>> YOU DID NOT GET THAT REPORT ON FRIDAY.
WHO -- WHAT YOU GOT ON FRIDAY WAS A VERY EARLY DRAFT.
MATTER OF FACT IF YOU LOOK IT DOESN'T HAVE THE SAME TABLES.
>> STEVE RADACK: BUT THIS IS WHAT I GOT AND THIS IS WHAT I BASED MY AGENDA ITEM ON.
MY AGENDA ITEM WAS VERY GENERIC.
IT I WANT TO REQUEST OF POSSIBLE ACTION OF HARRIS COUNTY PUBLIC HEALTH.
I KNEW THAT THERE WERE NUMBERS THAT CONCERNED ME IN THE DRAFTED REPORT AND THAT'S WHY I PUT THIS ON.
>> FRIDAY I DID SEND -- NEVER TALKED TO YOU ABOUT THE REPORT.
>> STEVE RADACK: NO YOU DID NOT.
>> I SENT A COPY OF THAT EARLY DRAFT TO THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT AND TO YOUR STAFF.
I SAID THIS IS A VERY EARLY DRAFT.
THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT CAME BACK AND SAID NO, YOU HAVE A BUNCH OF INFORMATION THAT YOU GOT OUT OF PEOPLE SOFT THAT IS NOT ACCURATE.
WE HAVE NO INFORMATION AT THERE IN ALL AND WE DIDN'T MENTION THE CONTRACT EMPLOYEES AFTER WE WENT BACK AND LOOKED HARDER AT THE DRAFT WE CAN SEND BACK TO YOUR DEPARTMENT AND THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT ON MONDAY.
WE SENT AN EARLY DRAFT TO YOUR OFFICE AND WE WERE HOPING TO ISSUE IT ON FRIDAY AND THEN WHEN THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT CAME BACK AND SAID NO THIS IS WRONG BECAUSE YOU GOT IT FROM PEOPLE SOFT AND YOU SAID THERE IS NOTHING ABOUT CON TRABLGHT EMPLOYEE -- CONTRACT EMPLOYEES, AND THEN WE WENT BACK AND REDID IT AND SCRAMBLED AND WE SENT IT BACK OUT AND HERE IS OUR SECOND ATTEMPT ON MONDAY.
AGAIN, I WAS FOCUSED ON TRYING TO GET THE REPORT OUT AND GET IT TO THE COMMISSIONERS.
YOU MAY HAVE BASED YOUR AGENDA ITEM ON THIS REPORT.
I GUESS I DIDN'T KNOW BECAUSE YOUR STAFF DIDN'T SAY TO ME ON FRIDAY THAT YOU WERE GOING TO HAVE AN AGENDA ITEM IN COURT.
I REALLY MEAN -- I DIDN'T MEAN TO PUT ANYBODY ON THE SPOT IF THEY DIDN'T HAVE ADEQUATE TIME.
I AM JUST PROPOSING THAT WE WILL NOT ISSUE REPORTS SO CLOSE TO COURT BECAUSE IT DOESN'T GIVE EVERYBODY AN ADEQUATE TIME.
I'M SORRY THIS ALL HAPPENED, BUT IT WAS JUST I THINK -- OUR FOCUS WAS ALWAYS JUST GET THE REPORT TO MEMBERS AS SOON AS IT IS READY I THINK YOU DO A GREAT JOB AND WE ARE USED TO GETTING THINGS WHILE COMMISSIONER'S COURT IS GOING ON.
MY POINT IS MY AGENDA ITEM WAS NOT SPECIFIC ABOUT THESE NUMBERS.
OKAY, ALTHOUGH I KNEW THERE HAD BEEN A LOT OF, YOU KNOW, 700 AND SOMETHING AND ALL THAT.
THEN THAT INFORMATION CAME IN.
I PUT THE AGENDA ITEM ON BASED ON INFORMATION THAT WAS STATED LAST COMMISSIONER'S COURT AND THE FACT THAT YOU WERE DILIGENT DOING YOUR JOB AND LOOKING AT STUFF.
NOTHING UNUSUAL FOR ALL OF US TO GET THINGS AT THE LAST MINUTE.
SOMETIMES I WOULDN'T BE -- MATTER OF FACT WE ARE GETTING READY TO SEE A RESOLUTION HERE AT THE END OF THE DAY, A RESOLUTION.
>> I'M GLAD YOU SAID WHAT YOU SAID.
I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW THAT THE COURT -- I MEAN, I WANT TO DO WHAT FACILITATES YOUR BUSINESS AND WHAT YOU NEED TO DO.
IT IS NOT UNUSUAL FOR SOMEBODY TO CONTACT ME, EVEN WHEN COURT IS GOING ON, AND SAY, OH, MIKE, COULD YOU PROVIDE SOME INFORMATION ABOUT A, B OR C.
THAT'S REALLY WHAT HAPPENED THIS MORNING.
WE HAD NO INFORMATION IN OUR REPORT INITIALLY THIS MORNING.
WE HAD NO RATE INFORMATION IN IT.
SOMEBODY CONTACTS ME AND SAYS I WANT RATE INFORMATION.
WHICH IS VERY EASY FOR ME TO GET BECAUSE I HAVE ALL OF THE INVOICES DOWN THE HALL.
SO I'M LIKE, OKAY, I WILL GET RATE INFORMATION AND PUT IT TOGETHER.
AND THEN I SEND IT TO ALL FIVE COMMISSIONERS AT THE SAME TIME WITH THE IDEA THAT EVERYBODY WILL GET THIS INFORMATION THAT I WAS REQUESTED TO PROVIDE.
I GUESS I HAVE ALWAYS DONE THAT OUT OF A SENSE THAT I AM A REPOSITORY OF A LOT OF INFORMATION THAT YOU ALL HAVE A RIGHT TO HAVE.
I'LL GIVE IT TO ANYBODY, ANYTIME.
BUT IF I AM CAUSING AN ISSUE BECAUSE I AM PROVIDING THIS INFORMATION ON A DAY OF COURT, I DON'T WANT TO DO THAT EITHER.
I GO TO GREAT LENGTHS TO TRY TO MAKE SURE AND TREAT EVERYBODY EXACTLY THE SAME.
I TRY NEVER TO SHARE INFORMATION WITH ONE COMMISSIONER THAT I DON'T SHARE WITH OTHERS.
I AM VERY WILLING TO CHANGE, REFUSE TO PROVIDE INFORMATION AT THE LAST MOMENT AND BLACKOUT -- AND LACK TO SEND REPORTS.
I JUST WANT TO SERVE YOU ALL AND PROVIDE THE INFORMATION THAT I HAVE.
>> STEVE RADACK: MIKE, I JUST GOT A RESOLUTION, COMMISSIONER GARCIA, THREE PAGES THAT CAME AT 8:12.
THIS RESOLUTION IS NOT ON THE AGENDA, BUT HERE IT IS.
>> LINA HIDALGO: THANK YOU, MIKE.
I THINK THAT IS A DISCUSSION WORTH HAVING.
>> WE DO HAVE GUISEPPI ON THE LINE.
>> LINA HIDALGO: I THINK THIS IS A CONVERSATION WE NEED TO CONTINUE, RIGHT, FOLKS? IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE? THANK YOU, MIKE.
LET'S MOVE TO MOVE BACK TO JUSTICE ADMINISTRATION.
COMMISSIONER GARCIA, YOU HAD A QUESTION FOR JIM BETKEY.
>> ADRIAN GARCIA: THANK YOU, JUDGE.
YES, JIM, I WAS TRYING TO GET A LITTLE BIT OF AN UPDATE ON HOW THE REVIEW OF THE USE OF FORCE POLICY IS GOING AND HOW THINGS ARE GOING WITH ALL OF THE OFFICES -- OFFICES AFFECTED BY THIS.
WE HAD GOOD CONVERSATIONS WITH THE CONSTABLES AND THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE AND THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE.
I STILL NEED TO TALK WITH LORI, THE FIRE MARSHALL AND THE HARRIS COUNTY DEPUTY'S ORGANIZATION.
WHAT I HAVE LEARNED AND THIS IS A PRELIMINARY REPORT, BUT PEOPLE ARE AHEAD OF THE BALL.
THEY HAD STARTED PLANNING AND PUTTING IN PLACE PROCESSES AND PLANS THAT THEY ARE CURRENTLY ADDRESSING.
HARRIS COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE IS WORKING CLOSELY WITH THE COUNTY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE AND THEY ARE GOING BACK AND FORTH.
WHEN I DID AN OUT REACH I SAID MY GOAL IS NOT TO GET IN ANYBODY'S WAY AND COLLABORATE WHERE WE CAN AND DISCUSS A COMMUNICATION STRATEGY MOVING FORWARD.
ONE OF THE THINGS I KNOW THEY ARE DOING IS -- BOTH CONSTABLES AND THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE HAVE GOOD TRAINING AND THEY WILL BE ENHANCING THAT.
THEY WILL WORK WITH OUR OFFICE.
THEY ARE GOING TO WORK WITH US TO COME BACK TO MAKE SURE THAT WHEREVER THEY ARE ENHANCING OR THE DE ESCALATION TRAINING.
I THINK THE COUNSELORS WILL HAVE A USE OF FORCE POLICY AND IT IS NOT A USE OF FORCE POLICY.
IDEALLY I THINK FROM THAT AND WHAT WE ARE LOOKING AT AS FAR AS OTHER JURISDICTIONS, MAYBE WE HAVE A BASELINE.
THE CONVERSATION I HAD WITH THE D.A.'S OFFICE, THEY ARE NOT NECESSARILY A FIRST RESPONDER, BUT THEY GO OUT AND THEY ARE ARMED.
I THINK THE TYPE OF TRAINING THEIR OFFICE WOULD NEED IS NOT THE SAME EX-- EXTENT AS THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE.
I WAS VERY ENCOURAGED THAT THE WORK OUR ORGANIZATIONS ARE DEALING WITH AND THE PLAN.
THEY ARE GOING TO COORDINATE AND COLLABORATE WITH OUR OUSTS.
WE WANT TO BE SUPPORT HIGH ON -- SUPPORTIVE ON THE RESEARCH WE HAVE DONE.
THEY SAY WHY ARE YOU DOING THIS? WE ARE WORKING WITH THE COMMISSIONER'S COURT AND THIS IS SOMETHING OF CONCERN.
THEY REALIZE OUR PURPOSE IS TO SUPPORT AND UH SITS -- ASSIST.
THEY ARE ENHANCING AND IMPROVING THE CURRENT POLICIES AND THE COUNCIL ACTUALLY HAS A THREE-PAGE PROCESS THAT IS ACTUALLY ENGAGING THE COMMUNITY AND THEY INVITED ME TO PARTICIPATE ON IN THAT PART BEFORE THEY ADOPT THEIR FINAL POLICIES.
SO THIS WAS SOMEWHAT FUN GETTING TO WORK WITH THOSE FOLKS.
>> LINA HIDALGO: COMMISSIONER, YOU ARE ON MUTE.
AND THEN COMMISSIONER ELLIS I KNOW HAS A COMMENT.
>> ADRIAN GARCIA: THANK YOU, JUDGE.
AND THANK YOU, JIM, FOR THE UPDATE.
PLEASE KEEP US POSTED AND WANTED TO MAKE SURE HOW ALL OF THIS WILL COME TOGETHER.
I AM HOPING AT THE END OF THE DAY WE WILL HAVE SOMETHING WE CAN CALL A COUNTY WIDE POLICY AS IT RELATES TO USE OF FORCE HAVING HAD THE INPUT FROM EVERYBODY ELSE SASH -- EVERYBODY INVOLVED.
AND MAKING SURE THAT WE RUN THE TRAPS ON THIS.
REMEMBER I HAD THE ACLU TAKE A LOOK AT SOME OF OUR POLICIES SO THAT WE CAN MAKE SURE IN ADVANCE THE CONSTITUTIONALITY OF POLICY AND -- INSTEAD OF WAITING FOR SOMETHING TO HAPPEN AND FINDING OUT THERE ARE PROBLEMS WITH IT.
PLEASE CONTINUE TO WORK AND KEEP US POSTED AS YOU PROGRESS.
>> LINA HIDALGO: COMMISSIONER ELLIS?
>> RODNEY ELLIS: JUDGE, THIS KIND OF RELATES TO THE DATA COLLECTION ITEM I HAD.
IF YOU WANT ME TO SEGUE TO IT NOW I CAN DO IT OR WE CAN WAIT.
[15:15:02]
>> LINA HIDALGO: I HAVE A COMMENT FOR JIM AS WELL, AND WE HAVE BEEN ASKED FOR A 10-MINUTE BREAK.
WHY DON'T WE BREAK FOR 10 MINUTES AND THEN WE WILL DISCUSS BOTH OF THESE.
IT IS 9:04 AND LET'S BREAK UNTIL 9:15 AND WE WILL CONTINUE WITH THIS.
WE ARE BACK IN COMMISSIONER'S COURT.
IS JIM BETKEY BACK ON THE LINE?
>> LINA HIDALGO: BEFORE WE MOVE ON TO COMMISSIONER ELLIS' ITEM, I WANT TO TALK ABOUT SOMETHING ON YOUR AGENDA.
YOU BROUGHT BACK UP THE COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AND THE PROCESSES.
IT IS A GOOD FIRST STEP AND I HOPE YOU CAN QUICKLY FIGURE OUT HOW TO OPERATIONAL LIES SYSTEMS. EVERY COMMUNITY IS TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO DO COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT INTO BUDGE -- BUDGETING.
I WOULD ASSUME WE NEED STEPS BETWEEN SEPTEMBER OF THIS YEAR AND FEBRUARY OF NEXT YEAR TO WHERE IT IS OPERATIONAL CHANGES AND IN ORDER TO INCLUDE THE COMMUNITY IN THE BUDGETING PROCESS IT TAKES IT FROM THE THEORY TO THE IMPLEMENTATION ON TIME FOR BUDGETING INCLUDING CIP OBVIOUSLY.
AND THE GOOD NEWS, I DIDN'T HAVE ANY KNOWLEDGE, BUT SHE HAS TAKEN THE LEAD ON THIS AND HAS WORKED WITH YOUR STAFF AND SOME OTHERS AND I WAS LIKE PLEASED -- I WAS SUPER PLEASED WITH THE PRELIMINARY REPORT.
I KNOW SHE IS ON THE LINE AND TAKING NOTES.
>> RODNEY ELLIS: THIS IS MY SUPPLEMENTAL ITEM 10 AND IF IT IS OKAY I WILL JUMP TO IT.
>> RODNEY ELLIS: JIM, I KNOW MORE THAN A MONTH AGO THEY ASKED YOUR DEPARTMENT TO DO SEVERAL REPORTS ALONG WITH THE ONE THAT COMMISSIONER GARCIA WAS REFERENCING, ANALYZING DATA FROM THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM.
AND THESE REPORTING -- REPORTS WILL HELP US MAKE MORE EFFECTIVE DECISIONS ON HOW WE INVEST WHEN WE GO THROUGH A BUDGET PROCESS.
I KNOW YOU HAVE HAD PROBLEMS AND YOU HAVE BEEN DENIED ACCESS TO DATA THAT YOU NEED TO PRODUCE FOR THESE REPORTS AND THE JAD REQUESTS -- REQUESTED DATA IN MARCH AND THEN JUNE.
WITHOUT THE DATA WE CAN'T SEE WHAT IS WORKING AND WHAT IS NOT WORKING IN THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM.
WE DON'T KNOW WHO THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM IS HELPING AND WHO IT IS HURTING.
WE CAN'T MAKE RESPONSIBLE FUNDING AND POLICY DECISIONS.
I WANT TO UNDERSTAND FROM YOU WHY SOME AGENCIES WOULD NOT SHARE DATA WITH JAD AND THEN MAYBE WE CAN ADDRESS IT AND I WANT THE LEGAL DEPARTMENT TO JUMP IN AND TELL US IF THERE IS ANY LEGAL IMPEDIMENT TO HAVING THE DATA.
I HEARD THERE WAS SOME TALK ABOUT HAVING TO DRAFT A MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING.
I WANT LEGAL TO TELL UNIVERSAL SERVICES IS THAT THE LAW? IS IT REQUIRED? WHO IS ON THIS COMMITTEE THAT DECIDES IF YOU CAN GET THE DATA? WE HAVE TO DO OPEN RECORDS REQUESTS TO GET THE DATA AND I HAVE A MOTION THAT I THINK I WILL MAKE.
I WOULD LIKE TO SEE WHAT IS HAPPENING TO GET TO THE BOTTOM OF THIS.
WE PASSED ALL OF THESE ITEMS AFTER MEETING MR. FLOYD FUNERAL AND I THOUGHT WE
TOOK A BLIP RAT APPROACH TO -- A DELIBERATE APPROACH AND -- >> STEVE RADACK: ANOTHER MOTION?
>> RODNEY ELLIS: NO, THAT WILL COME LATER.
JACK GANG WHERE IS -- >> R JACK CAGLE: WHERE IS THAT? YOU SENT A MOTION ON SUPPLEMENTAL 10?
>> RODNEY ELLIS: IF NOT WE ARE SENDING IT AROUND.
I AM NOT READY TO VOTE ON THE MOTION, COMMISSIONER CAGLE.
>> R JACK CAGLE: I JUST WANT IN MY HAND THE MOTION ARE YOU DISCUSSING SINCE I DIDN'T KNOW WE WERE GOING TO HAVE A MOTION.
I THOUGHT YOU WERE JUST GOING TO TALK ABOUT IT.
IF THERE IS A MOTION I WOULD LIKE TO SEE IT.
>> RODNEY ELLIS: IT IS COMING TO YOU.
>> COMMISSIONER ELLIS, YOU MAKE GOOD CLAIMS, AND WE HAVE BEEN REQUESTED TO PRODUCE A NUMBER OF DATA AND WE WORKED WITH THE VARIOUS ENTITIES OF LAW ENFORCEMENT AND THE COURT AND PRE-TRIAL SERVICES AND UNIVERSAL SERVICES.
THE WAY IT IS STRUCTURED IN THE COUNTY IS UNIVERSAL SERVICES DOES HOUSE THE DATABASES AND WE HAVE A MULTITUDE OF DIFFERENT ONES.
WE HAVE ACCESS TO JWEB AND THERE ARE OTHERS WE DON'T HAVE ACCESS TO AS OF YET.
WE HAVE BEEN TALKING WITH THE DEPARTMENT.
BASICALLY THE CULTURE -- THIS IS NOT UNCOMMON.
THIS IS SOMETHING THAT CREATES THE COUNTY DEPARTMENT.
IF YOU ARE GOING TO ACCESS THIS OTHER GROUP'S DATA, YOU HAVE TO GET PERMISSION AND ESPECIALLY MARCH AND APRIL AND WORKING WITH THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE BECAUSE WE ARE GETTING THE PRESSURE TO DEAL WITH REPORTS, AND WE DON'T HAVE THE LUXURY OF WAITING A WEEK OR TWO WEEKS AND WE ARE BUILDING OUT OUR DATA TEAM.
I THINK WE HAVE SOME POSITIVE BREAKTHROUGHS IN THE LAST WEEK.
HAD AN EXCELLENT CONVERSATION WITH ROBERT SOARD AND OTHERS.
IT IS TO LAYOUT THAT WE ARE NOT GOING ROGUE WITH THE STATE AND WE WANT A CLEAN DATA SET.
PART OF IT IS SOME OF OUR ENTITIES ARE COLLECTING INFORMATION.
I AM NOT ONE THAT WANTS TO WIELD THE SOARED.
IF FOLKS ARE COLLECTING INFORMATION.
THERE IS NO WAY TO REALLY BE ABLE TO SYSTEMICALLY ANALYZE THAT AND GET A REPORT OUT.
IF SOMEONE IS COLLECTING THAT, WHY NOT HAVE OUR GROUP RECOMMEND, HEY -- OR LET UNIVERSAL SERVICES KNOW THIS HAS TON AUTOMATED.
A LARGE PART OF IT IS TO MODERNIZE OUR DATA INFRASTRUCTURE AND UNFORTUNATELY I HAVE TEAM MEMBERS THAT HAD THAT CAPABILITY.
>> RODNEY ELLIS: LET ME ASK YOU THIS.
YOU HAVE COUNTERPARTS WHERE THERE ARE SIMILAR ENTITIES TO THE ONE YOU RUN HERE.
I THINK IN TRAVIS COUNTY AND IN BEXAR COUNTY, DO THEY GET ACCESS TO THE DATA?
>> YES, TRAVIS AND BEXAR COUNTY HAVE UNLIMITED ACCESS.
I REACHED OUT TO THOSE AND I WANTED TO SAY TO THE COUNTERPARTS I WORKED WITH OVER THE YEARS.
IT TOOK THEM AWHILE TO GET THERE, BUT A FRIEND MICHAEL ZITO SAID THE AGREEMENT THEY REACHED IS THEY WILL PUT OUT QUARTERLY REPORTS ON THE COURTS AND WE ARE DEALING WITH ELECTED OFFICIALS WHETHER IT IS THE JUDICIARIES AND THE CON -- THE COUNCIL'S OFFICE AND THE NEFARIOUS PURPOSES THAT ARE USED.
LET'S PROVIDE SOME TRANSPARENCY AND LET'S DO THIS IN A RESPONSIBLE AND EFFECTIVE WAY GOING FORWARD.
IT WAS A PRIME EXAMPLE WHERE EVERYBODY ON THIS COURT AGREED.
LET'S GET THE INFORMATION OUT.
I HAD A TALK WITH ONE OF THE JUDGES.
I SAID ABSOLUTELY I WANT YOU TO HAVE INPUT ON THAT.
PS -- IT IS A WIN-WIN FOR EVERYONE.
TO BE HONEST I WOULD RATHER HAVE A COLLABORATIVE RELATIONSHIP WITH OUR
PARTNERS WHERE WE ARE TRUSTED AND IF WE CAN BUILD -- >> RODNEY ELLIS: LET ME ASK YOU THIS BECAUSE I KNOW THE MOTION IS GOING AROUND.
MR. SOARD IS THERE A REASON HE CAN'T ACCESS CRIMINAL SYSTEM DATABASES ?
>> THEY CAN ACCESS CERTAIN INFORMATION, BUT NOT ALL OF THE INFORMATION CLEARLY THERE IS CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION AND THE ELECTED OFFICIALS GET NERVOUS.
>> RODNEY ELLIS: HERE IS THE MOTION AND I KNOW IT IS BEING PASSED AROUND.
I WILL MOVE THAT ALL COUNTY RELEVANT STAKEHOLDERS THAT THE JUSTICE ADMINISTRATION DEPARTMENT TAKE ALL NECESSARY STEPS TO GRANT ACCESS TO ALL CRIMINALS HAVE ACCESS BY LAW TO THE JUSTICE ADMINISTRATION.
>> RODNEY ELLIS: ANY PROBLEMS, MR. SOARD?
>> I DON'T KNOW IF ANYONE INTENDED TO GET ANY INFORMATION.
IT WASN'T PERMITTED BY LAW, BUT OBVIOUSLY PEOPLE GET NERVOUS.
>> RODNEY ELLIS: WE CAN OPEN RECORDS AND THEN GO THROUGH ALL OF THAT.
>> LINA HIDALGO: COMMISSIONER GARCIA AND THEN COMMISSIONER ELLIS AND THEN COMMISSIONER GARCIA.
>> ADRIAN GARCIA: I TOO WAS A LITTLE TAKEN BACK THAT WE ARE GOING TO GO THROUGH THIS MOTION BECAUSE SEVERAL TIMES IN THE BUDGET OFFICE WE NOW HAVE ACCESS.
THE DATA IS THERE AND SO IT IS NOT LIKE SOMETHING KEPT THAT DATA FROM GETTING TO THAT PARTICULAR PLACE.
THIS WAS VERY VENDOR-ORIENTED LIKE.
THOSE OFFICES HAD A CONTRACTUAL RELATIONSHIP.
ON MANY OCCASIONS AS A SHERIFF I WOULD RELEASE DATA.
IT WOULD BE DONE WITH AN INTER GOVERNMENTAL DATA TRANSFER THAT MEANT THAT THE DATA WASN'T NECESSARILY PUBLIC BUT IT HAS BEEN SHARED AMONG US AS PARTNERS.
I WOULD HOPE THAT WE ARE CONSIDERED A PARTNER IN THIS REGARD.
I SECOND THE MOTION AND I THINK WE RESOLVE IT BECAUSE WE ARE ALL IN THIS TOGETHER.
WE ARE USING DAY THAT YOU THAT -- DATA THAT WILL HELP US NAVIGATE THE JAIL AND PARTS OF THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM.
IT IS IMPORTANT WE HAVE THE RIGHT INFORMATION TO HELP NAVIGATE THAT WORK.
>> STEVE RADACK: MR. SOARD, DO YOU FEEL COMFORTABLE WITH THIS MOTION, CORRECT?
>> IF THEY SEND IT TO ME I CAN LOOK AT IT ONE MORE TIME.
AS I UNDERSTAND IT WE ARE BEING ASKED TO TAKE WHATEVER STEP WE NEED TO TO GET THIS DATA SHARED.
IT IS ONLY DATA THAT IS LEGALLY PERMISSIBLE TO BE SHARED.
>> STEVE RADACK: I THINK WHAT IS IMPORTANT ABOUT THIS, ROBERT, IS THIS: COUNTY ATTORNEY'S OPINION OF THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT TO MEMBERS OF COMMISSIONER'S COUNTER -- COMMISSIONER'S COURT.
IF WE DO SOMETHING THAT YOU DON'T AGREE WITH ESPECIALLY WHEN IT COMES TO THE SENSITIVE DATA.
YOU HAVE TO PROBLEM WITH US VOTING FOR THIS MOTION, CORRECT?
>> YEAH, AS I UNDERSTAND THE MOTION.
AGAIN, WE ARE NOT -- NO ONE IS INTENDING TO TRY TO GET SOMETHING THEY ARE NOT ENTITLED TO.
>> STEVE RADACK: IT HAS BEEN MOVED AND SECONDED AND I VOTE I.
>> R JACK CAGLE: YOUR HONOR BEFORE WE DO THAT -- >> RODNEY ELLIS: SO HE SAID -- [INAUDIBLE].
>> LINA HIDALGO: COMMISSIONER CAGLE?
>> R JACK CAGLE: JUDGE, I HAVE THREE OBJECTIONS WITH AN ASTERISK.
THE CONCEPT OF GETTING DATA I AM IN SUPPORT OF.
I THINK WE NEED WHATEVER DATA WE CAN.
WE NEED TO MAKE SURE WE DO IT IS RIGHT WAY AND NOT THE WRONG WAY.
[15:20:02]
MY FIRST OBJECTION IS THAT I RECEIVED THIS AT 9:23 TONIGHT.AND WE MAY BE STEPPING FOO SOMETHING AND THE COUNTY ATTORNEY HASN'T HAD A CHANCE TO REVIEW IT.
I KNOW COMMISSIONER ELLIS IS AN ATTORNEY AND ACCOMPLISHED AND SKILLED AND WE HAVE TWO COPS IN OUR MIDST, BUT 9:23 AND TRYING TO MAKE A DECISION FIVE MINUTES LATER, I JUST THINK THAT IS NOT GOOD POLICY, AND IT DOES NOT ALLOW US TO GIVE PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT.
NUMBER TWO, THE AGENDA CLEARLY STATED UNDER PAGE -- UNDER SUPPLEMENTAL 10 THAT THIS IS FOR DISCUSSION.
IT DID NOT SAY THERE WAS DISCUSSION AND SOME POSSIBLE MOTION.
>> RODNEY ELLIS: I AM READING IT AND IT AND FOR APPROPRIATE ACTION BASED UPON SUCH DISCUSSION.
APPROPRIATE ACTION IN THIS CASE IS THE MOTION I JUST MADE.
>> RODNEY ELLIS: I KNOW I WENT TO A PUBLIC LAW SCHOOL, BUT IT IS PRETTY CLEAR.
>> R JACK CAGLE: I STAND CORRECTED THERE.
YOU GUYS HAVE BEEN WORKING ME OVERALL DAY LONG.
>> RODNEY ELLIS: I'M TIRED AS WELL.
>> R JACK CAGLE: I THINK YOU RUN ON EVEREADY BATTERIES.
NUMBER THREE OBJECTION -- I WITHDRAW THE SECOND ONE BECAUSE MY LEARNED COLLEAGUE HAS POINTED OUT THAT MAYBE HE DID PROVIDE NOTICE THAT SOME ACTION MIGHT OCCUR, BUT WE HAD NO IDEA WHAT IT MIGHT BE AND THAT IS ON THE FIRST LINE I MOVE THAT ALL RELEVANT COUNTY STAKEHOLDERS AND THE COUNTY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE, THOSE TWO ENTITIES ARE ELECTED OFFICIALS.
I DON'T KNOW IF WE AS THE BODY HAVE THE AUTHORITY TO ORDER SOVEREIGN ELECTED OFFICIALS TO DO STUFF.
HAD I HAD SOME REST AND OPPORTUNITY, I MIGHT THINK THAT MAYBE WE SHOULD ORDER UNIVERSAL SERVICES AND THE JUSTICE ADMINISTRATION TO DO WHAT IS NECESSARY TO GAIN ACCESS TO THESE THINGS.
WHO ARE THE CRIMINAL LEGAL STAKEHOLDERS? I GUESS THAT IS THE D.A.'S, THE JUDGES.
MAN, YOU START DIVULGING JUDGE STUFF AND THAT CAN BE DICEY.
I KNOW YOU HAVE YOUR BACKDOOR PERMITTED BY LAW, BUT CAN WE WORK ON IT WHERE IT IS NOT SO CONFRONTATIONAL?
>> RODNEY ELLIS: COMMISSIONER, I WOULD LIKE TO, BUT LET ME TELL YOU.
>> R JACK CAGLE: I DON'T THINK YOU ARE TIRED.
>> RODNEY ELLIS: I AM SICK AND TIRED TO BE HONEST WITH YOU.
WE HAVE WORKED TO TRY TO GET THIS DATA SINCE MR. FLOYD FUNERAL.
SOME OF IT BEFORE THEN, COMMISSIONER.
IF YOU FEEL SOME URGENCY, IT IS BECAUSE IF WE CAN'T COLLECT THE DATA THAT IS LEGALLY PERMISSIBLE NOW THAT PEOPLE GIVE IN TRAVIS COUNTY AND GIVE IT IN BEXAR COUNTY AND ALL OF THOSE THINGS WE TALKED ABOUT ON REFORM, IF THERE WERE MORE THAN MERE SPEECHES AND WORDS, AS MUCH AS I WOULD LIKE YOUR SUPPORT, IF I CAN'T GET IT, I I WILL LIVE WITH IT.
I WORKED WITH THE LEGAL DEPARTMENT ON A LOT OF STUFF.
MOST OF THE LANGUAGE IS LANGUAGE WE GOT FROM MR. SOARD'S OFFICE OVER THE LAST COUPLE DAYS.
IF YOUR FEELINGS ARE HURT BECAUSE I DIDN'T GIVE IT TO YOU IN ADVANCE -- >> R JACK CAGLE: THEY ARE.
>> RODNEY ELLIS: SO MANY THINGS IN THIS COUNTY WENT UN-- UNNOTICED AND NOBODY ASKED FOR DECADES.
SO I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE YOUR SUPPORT, BUT COMMISSIONER, WE NEED TO GET THIS DONE.
I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE YOUR SUPPORT, BUT IF NOT, I WANT TO PASS IT.
WE ARE IN THE MIDDLE OF A VOTE.
MAYBE IT WILL COME BACK WHEN THE INFO COMES IN.
YOU WILL SEE YOU WOULD HAVE VOTED FOR IT H YOU KNOWN -- HAD YOU KNOWN WHAT IT LOOKED LIKE.
>> R JACK CAGLE: I WILL GO BEYOND THAT.
I CAN VOTE FOR IT IF WE DON'T ORDER ELECTED OFFICIAL HAD TO DO THINGS, SOVEREIGN ELECTED OFFICIALS TO DO THINGS.
>> RODNEY ELLIS: I WILL MISS YOUR VOTE.
>> R JACK CAGLE: LET ME MAKE MY PITCH BECAUSE THERE MIGHT BE TWO OTHER PEOPLE HERE WHO WOULD LIKE THE IDEA THAT WE MOVE THAT UNIVERSAL SERVICES AND THE JUSTICE ADMINISTRATION TAKE ALL NECESSARY ACTIONS TO GET ACCESS TO CRIMINAL AND LEGAL SYSTEM DATA TO THE EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW AND TAKE OUT THE PART WHERE WE ARE ORDERING SOVEREIGN ELECTED OFFICIALS TO DO SOMETHING.
>> IS THAT A SUBSTITUTE MOTION?
>> RODNEY ELLIS: WE ARE IN THE PROCESS OF VOTING ON A MOTION.
>> R JACK CAGLE: I MOVE WE AMEND THE MOTION I RECEIVED AT 9:23 HERE AT 9:36 AND THAT WE AMEND IT TO WHERE IT UNIVERSAL SERVICES AND THE JUSTICE ADMINISTRATION DEPARTMENT TAKE ALL NECESSARY STEPS TO GET INSTEAD OF GRANT ACCESS TO ALL CRIMINAL LEGAL SYSTEM DATA TO THE EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW TO THE JUSTICE ADMINISTRATION DEPARTMENT.
>> RODNEY ELLIS: COMMISSIONER OR JUDGE, I THINK WE FOLLOW ROBERT'S RULES OF ORDER AT LEAST AS IT RELATES TO THE MOTION THAT'S ON THE TABLE IN THE PROCESS OF A VOTE.
>> R JACK CAGLE: IF THERE IS A MOTION TO SECOND A MOTION TO AMEND IS JERMAINE -- GERMAIN.
>> LINA HIDALGO: ARE YOU OKAY WITH THE MOTION BY COMMISSIONER ELLIS?
>> I WOULD PREFER THE SUBSTITUTE.
AS I READ IT AGAIN IT DOES APPEAR TO BE DIRECTING ELECTED OFFICIALS.
I DIDN'T READ IT THAT WAY THE FIRST TIME, FRANKLY.
I AM ALSO A LITTLE CONCERNED ABOUT WHAT WE MEAN BY COUNTY CRIMINAL SPACE HOLDERS AND I READ THAT AS A JAR -- GENERIC DESCRIPTION.
I AM NOT OVERLY CONCERNED BECAUSE OF THE CAVEAT AT THE END.
NONE OF THESE PEOPLE WILL DO ANYTHING THE LAW DOESN'T PERMIT.
AT THE END OF THE DAY THERE IS ONLY SO MUCH YOU CAN DO AS AN ELECTED OFFICIAL.
YOU CAN ASK THEM, BUT YOU CAN'T ORDER THEM.
>> RODNEY ELLIS: DOES THE SUBSTITUTE MOTION LET YOU GET ALL OF THE INFORMATION THAT YOU NEED?
>> FOLLOWING COMMISSIONER CAGLE'S YES WITH AN ASTERISK.
I DEFINITELY THINK THAT CAN HAPPEN.
I AM ACTUALLY GOOD WITH THE AMENDED MOTION.
I THINK WE DEVELOPED A GOOD RAPPORT WITH I THINK COMMISSIONER GARCIA SAID OUR PARTNERS.
WE WILL BE RESPONSIBLE WITH HOW THAT DATA IS USED.
>> RODNEY ELLIS: IF THAT'S THE CASE I CAN LIVE WITH.
IT I WANT TO MAKE SURE UNIVERSAL SERVICES LAW ENFORCEMENT TECHNICAL SUBCOMMITTEE, WHATEVER THAT IS, IS A STUMBLING BLOCK TO GET THE INFORMATION.
IT IS A LAW ENFORCEMENT TECHNOLOGICAL -- >> ADRIAN GARCIA: TECHNOLOGY.
>> RODNEY ELLIS: IT IS CREATED IN UNIVERSAL SERVICES AND I ASSUME IT IS THE BLOCK ON LETTING THE DATA OUT.
>> LINA HIDALGO: COMMISSIONER GARCIA, YOU HAD A COMMENT?
>> ADRIAN GARCIA: THANK YOU, JUDGE.
ROBERT, THE DATA THAT WE ARE LOOKING FOR EXISTS IN OTHER PLACES.
SOME IS IN -- THE CURRENT SYSTEM.
HAVEN'T THE ENTITIES ALREADY RELINQUISHED THAT OWNERSHIP OF WHAT WE ARE TRYING TO UNRAVEL HERE? HAVEN'T THOSE ENTITIES RELINQUISHED THEIR OWNERSHIP AND WHY WOULD WE NEED THEM TO RELEASE IT AGAIN? I AM JUST TRYING TO MAKE THE ARGUMENT THAT THE ISSUE OF FORCING ELECTED OFFICIALS TO DO CERTAIN THINGS, THAT SHIP HAS SAILED.
THEY PUT THE SYSTEM -- THEY PUT THAT DATA INTO PARTICULAR SYSTEMS WHETHER IT IS ATLAS OR GYM OR FRAMEWORKS.
WE AS COMMISSIONER'S COURT DON'T WE OWN IT?
>> NUMBER ONE NOT ALL OF THE SYSTEMS ARE UNDER THE ONS -- OSPICE OF THE SERVICES.
THE DATA BEING SHARED IS NOT ALL OF THE DATA.
BASED ON WHAT I AM -- THEY ARE ONLY SEEKING THE DATA THAT HAS BEEN RELEASED.
IT IS ON THE PART OF THE PARTNERS.
IT IS WHAT CAN BE DONE FROM TECHNOLOGY TO PREVENT THE WRONG PEOPLE FROM GETTING --
>> ADRIAN GARCIA: JUDGE IF I MAY WHILE I HAVE THIS THOUGHT.
I MEAN THE SHERIFF SHERIFF'S OFFICE HAS ALL OF THIS INFORMATION.
THEY CAN TELL US HOW MANY REPORTS THEY HAVE WRITTEN AND HOW MANY REPORTS THE CONSTABLES HAVE WRITTEN AND IT CAN TELL US HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE IN JAIL.
I AM JUST TRYING TO MAKE THE CASE THAT THE OWNERSHIP WE ARE TRYING TO RESOLVE THAT SHIP HAS SAILED.
FROM THE NONSHERIFF OFFICE ENTITIES, THAT OFFICE HAS BEEN REPOSITIVE AND THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE HAS A LOT OF INFORMATION AND IF I MAKE THIS MOTION ON BEHALF OF THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE.
>> I THINK AGAIN YOUR DILEMMA IS I AM NOT AWARE OF ANY NONLAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY THAT'S HAVE TOTAL ACCESS TO SUPERION.
JIM BHAI -- JIM MAY HAVE TO SPEAK ON THAT.
YOU CAN'T JUST FLIP A SWITCH AND HAVE ANYBODY LOOK AT EXPERION.
>> LINA HIDALGO: LET ME JUST ADD SOMETHING REAL QUICK.
FOR EXAMPLE, EVEN IF THE AGENCIES WERE TO GIVE JIM AN ANSWER TO HOW MANY TICKETS ARE ISSUED AND MAYBE IN THE WRONG FORMAT.
AND IT MAY BE AGGREGATE IN SUCH A WAY YOU CAN'T FIGURE OUT WHAT'S WHAT.
IT MAY TAKE A LITTLE DIGGING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT OBSTACLES ARE LEFT.
PERHAPS WHAT WE CAN DO IS PASS THE MOTION THAT ROBERT FEELS COMFORTABLE WITH.
IF HE IS GETTING STONEWALLED STILL HE CAN BRING SOMETHING BACK AND WORK WITH OUR STAFF TO SAY, OKAY, HERE IS MORE SPECIFICITY AND DO WE NEED TO ASK FOR EXPERION.
THAT'S A LITTLE MORE GRANULAR, BUT YOU CAN SEE WHERE THEY ARE DRAWING THE HURDLE.
COMMISSIONER RADACK AND COMMISSIONER ELLIS.
>> STEVE RADACK: JUDGE, I AGREE WITH YOU.
THE RE -- THE REALITY IS NO MEMBER OF COMMISSIONER'S COURT HAS THE AUTHORITY TO SEE ANY OF THESE RECORDS.
NONE OF US HAVE THE AUTHORITY.
THE POINT OF THE MATTER IS I THINK THE MOTION MADE BY KAY DEL -- CAGLE AND I SECOND IT TAKES CARE OF THE PROBLEM.
LIKE YOU SAID BETKEY CAN LOOK AT.
IT WE VOTE IT IN AND BETKEY CAN LOOK AT IT IF HE HAS PROBLEMS GETTING THE RECORDS HE NEEDS.
I THINK WE SHOULD PASS IT AND MOVE ON.
>> RODNEY ELLIS: JUDGE, I CAN LIVE WITH THAT.
I DO WANT TO ASK A COUPLE MORE QUESTIONS THOUGH BEFORE WE VOTE ON IT.
JIM, YOU NEED RAW DATA I'M ASSUMING SO YOU CAN VALIDATE.
[15:25:02]
YOU JUST DON'T WANT SOMEBODY TELLING YOU THIS IS WHAT IT IS AND YOU NEED THE RAW DATA.WHEN YOU COME BACK TO THIS AND GIVEN -- GIVE US AN UPDATE NEXT THURSDAY, I WANT TO KNOW WHAT THIS DOES NOT GIVE YOU ACCESS TO THAT YOUR PEERS IN BEXAR COUNTY AND TRAVIS COUNTY DO HAVE ACCESS TO.
DO YOU THINK YOU CAN FIND THAT OUT BY THEN?
>> RODNEY ELLIS: AND I WOULD LIKE TO ASK MR. HYDE FROM UNIVERSAL SERVICES WHO IS ON THE LAW ENFORCEMENT TECHNOLOGY COMMITTEE? IS THAT WHAT YOU CALL IT, COMMISSIONER GARCIA?
>> RODNEY ELLIS: WHO IS ON THAT COMMITTEE? WHO CHAIR ITSELF, AND WHAT ROLE DO THEY PLAY? WHAT LEGAL AUTHORITY DO THEY HAVE WITH REGARD TO THIS INFORMATION? IS BRUCE HYDE AVAILABLE?
>> BRUCE YOU ARE PROBABLY MUTED.
>> RODNEY ELLIS: IT IS KIND OF LATE.
WE CAN COME BACK TO HIM AT THE END OF THE EVENING.
>> LINA HIDALGO: WHEN WE GET HIM BACK.
>> RODNEY ELLIS: WE CAN VOTE ON THE MOTION.
>> ADRIAN GARCIA: COMMISSIONER ELLIS, ARE YOU ACCEPTING THE AMENDED MOTION?
>> LINA HIDALGO: SO THE MOTION -- ARE YOU GOOD WITH IT OR DO YOU NEED ME TO READ IT AGAIN?
>> PLEASE FOR THE COURT RECORD.
SO THE MOTION IS FOR UNIVERSAL SERVICES AND THE JUSTICE ADMINISTRATION DEPARTMENT TO TAKE ALL NECESSARY STEPS TO GET ACCESS TO ALL OF THE CRIMINAL LEGAL SYSTEM DATA TO THE EKDZ TENT -- TO THE EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW.
>> STEVE RADACK: I SECOND THE MOTION.
>> LINA HIDALGO: THERE IS A MOTION.
MOTIONED BY COMMISSIONER ELLIS AND SECOND BY COMMISSIONER RADACK.
>> LINA HIDALGO: OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY.
LET'S GO BACK UP TO -- >> RODNEY ELLIS: DO YOU WANT THAT HOUSING ITEM OR WE WILL DO IT LATER?
>> LINA HIDALGO: LET'S JUST KEEP GOING SO WE CAN STAY IN ORDER.
WE HAD STOPPED OVER AT THE -- THE COMMISSIONER'S COURT AGENDA.
SO UNDER COUNTY JUDGE IT IS THE NORTHEAST HIGHWAY PROJECT AND PERMISSION TO NEGOTIATE.
DO WE HAVE SPEAKERS ON THAT, LUCINDA?
>> R JACK CAGLE: JUDGE, I THOUGHT WE WERE ON PURCHASING STILL?
>> LINA HIDALGO: WE CAN GO TO PURCHASING.
>> R JACK CAGLE: BEFORE WE JUDGE INTO THE JUDGE'S ITEMS. I WANT TO ASK A QUESTION ON 16C1K WHICH IS THE EXECUTIVE SEARCH FIRM.
MY QUESTION IS ARE WE PAYING TFM TO DO THE SEARCH AND THEN WE ARE PAYING ANOTHER FIRM TO DO THE SEARCH, OR IS THE EXECUTIVE SEARCH FIRM COMING OUT OF THE ALLOCATION THAT WE PREVIOUSLY MADE AT PFM? ARE WE PAYING TWICE OR PAYING ONCE?
>> FROM MY UNDERSTANDING WE ARE NOT PAYING PFM FOR THE SEARCH ON THIS PARTICULAR POSITION.
WE ARE PAYING THIS SEARCH AND THEN GO THROUGH AN RFP PROCESS.
IT IS A SHORT-TERM RFP PROCESS.
>> R JACK CAGLE: SO WHAT DO WE PAY DFM FOR?
>> THEY ARE NOT DOING THE SEARCH FOR THIS INDIVIDUAL ANY LONGER.
>> RODNEY ELLIS: PFM WERE COLLECTING RESUMES.
THEY WERE THE DEPOITORY FOR RESUMES ? IS THAT IT?
>> ORIGINALLY THERE WERE -- THEY WERE GOING TO DO THREE OR FOUR POSITIONS, BUT THOSE ARE INDIVIDUAL POSITIONS AND THE COMMITTEE THOUGHT IT WAS BETTER TO DO AN INDIVIDUAL RFP AND FIND SEARCH PERMITS IN THEIR BACKGROUND BECAUSE THEY DIDN'T HAVE AS MUCH OF A BACKGROUND.
>> R JACK CAGLE: HOW MUCH DID WE PAY PFM?
>> I DON'T KNOW IF WE PAID THEM ANYTHING FOR THIS INDIVIDUAL POSITION, COMMISSIONER.
>> RODNEY ELLIS: I DON'T THINK PFM IS A SEARCH FIRM.
I THINK THEY ARE A MANAGEMENT CONSULTING FIRM.
>> R JACK CAGLE: MY BELIEF AND THIS IS WHY I AM ASKING THE QUESTION IS THAT THEY WERE HIRED TO DO THE SEARCH.
IF THEY ARE NOT CAPABLE OF DOING THE SEARCH, THAT'S FINE.
BUT WE SHOULD NOT BE PAYING THEM FOR A SEARCH THEY DID NOT DO AND PAYING A SEARCH FIRM.
WE SHOULD BE PAYING FOR ONE SEARCH.
THAT'S WHY I AM ASKING THE QUESTION.
I WANT TO MAKE SURE WE ARE ONLY PAYING ONCE.
>> LINA HIDALGO: YOU SURELY KNOW BETTER THAN I DO, BUT I THINK THE COMMITTEE FIGURED THIS OUT AND DECIDED PFM DIDN'T HAVE THE EXPERTISE TO DO THIS, AND SO THEY ARE NOT GOING TO GET PAID FOR THIS SEARCH.
INSTEAD IT WILL GO TO THE OTHER ONE.
YOU WOULD KNOW BETTER THAN I DO.
>> R JACK CAGLE: JUDGE, ARE YOU RIGHT ON EXACTLY MY QUESTION.
IT IS TO MAKE SURE WE DON'T PAY TWICE.
I AM IN AGREEMENT THAT WHAT THEY WANT TO DO IS GO WITH ANOTHER SEARCH FIRM.
I AM IN FULL AGREEMENT WITH THEIR DECISION.
I DON'T HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THEIR DECISION.
I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE WE DON'T PAY ACCIDENTALLY TWICE.
THAT'S WHY I AM ASKING THE QUESTION NOW BECAUSE I DON'T -- WELL, I DON'T THINK IT IS RIGHT FOR US TO PAY TWICE.
>> I WILL VERIFY AND RESPOND BACK TO ALL COURT MEMBERS BY TOMORROW.
>> STEVE RADACK: DIDN'T PFM DO THE RESUMES AND STUFF AND THE COLLECTION OF RESUMES FOR THE BUDGET DIRECTOR?
>> YEAH, THEY -- IF I AM NOT MISTAKEN THEY DID IT FOR THE OTHER THREE POSITIONS, COMMISSIONER, BUT I WATT -- I WAS NOT INVOLVED IN THAT PART.
>> STEVE RADACK: SO THEY WERE DOING THINGS THEY WERE NOT QUALIFIED TO DO.
>> I CAN'T ANSWER THAT QUESTION.
>> STEVE RADACK: THEY HAVE EXPERTISE IN DEFUNDING THE POLICE.
THEY HAVE ONE PERSON THAT LIKES TO WRITE ABOUT THAT.
I AM JUST CONCERNED ABOUT THESE RESUMES GO THROUGH THEM, BUT THEY ARE NOT A SEARCH FIRM.
I THINK WE CAN FIGURE OUT WHAT WE PAID THEM FOR AND WHETHER WE SHOULD HAVE PAID THEM.
>> LINA HIDALGO: COMMISSIONER CAGLE.
JACK -- >> R JACK CAGLE: CAN I MOVE WE APPROVE K SUBJECT TO PURCHASING TO MAKE SURE WE ARE NOT DOUBLE PAY SNG -- PAY SNG.
THERE IS A MOTION, IS THERE A SECOND?
>> RODNEY ELLIS: I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT PURCHASING DOES NOT GET DELAYED.
I KNOW IT MAY BE COMPLICATED FOR SOMEONE -- FOR SOME TO UNDERSTAND, BUT PFM'S ROLE WAS NOT TO SEARCH.
THEY WERE THE DEPOSITORY OF RESUMES BASED ON-THE-JOB KRIPTION THAT WENT OUT.
THEY CIRCULATED IT, BUT THEY DIDN'T LOOK FOR PEOPLE.
NOT FOR A BUDGET DIRECTOR OR ANYTHING ELSE.
THEY ACCEPTED THE RESUMES THAT CAME IN FOR US.
LET'S NOT DELAY IT FROM PURCHASING.
IS THAT CLEAR? I DON'T WANT TO DRAG THIS OUT ANYMORE.
IT IS A TRANSMITAL TO COURT TO LET THEM KNOW WE ARE ADVERTISING FOR THE POSITION.
>> R JACK CAGLE: AND DWIGHT WILL YOU SEND ME THE PAYMENT INFORMATION ON WHAT WE HAVE PAID OR POTENTIALLY OBLIGATED TO PAY PO PFM ON THIS?
>> FOR THIS PARTICULAR PROJECT, COMMISSIONER? FOR THE FOUR POSITIONS ?
>> R JACK CAGLE: FOR THE FOUR POSITIONS.
>> STEVE RADACK: WHY DON'T WE JUST ASK MR. POST TO TAKE A LOOK AT THE INVOICES THAT WE PAID PFM AND GIVE A REPORT TO ALL OF THE MEMBERS OF COMMISSIONER'S COURT, MR. POST.
>> R JACK CAGLE: BEFORE THE NEXT COURT.
>> LINA HIDALGO: THANK YOU, MR. POST.
DO WE STILL NEED THE MOTION OR IS THIS FINE? COMMISSIONER CAGLE MADE A MOTION SUBJECT TO -- OH WE DON'T NEED THAT ANYMORE?
[INAUDIBLE] >> R JACK CAGLE: SUBJECT TO REVIEW BY PURCHASING.
>> RODNEY ELLIS: I DIDN'T SEE YOUR MOTION UNTIL 9:52.
CAN YOU SEND A COPY OF IT? I WOULD LIKE TO VOTE FOR.
>> RODNEY ELLIS: I WILL LET IT GO.
>> IT IS STILL APPROVED SUBJECT TO PURCHASING?
>> LINA HIDALGO: IS THAT OKAY COMMISSIONER ELLIS? MOTION BY COMMISSIONER CAGLE AND SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER ELLIS.
>> LINA HIDALGO: OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY.
WE HAVE BRUCE HYDE ON THE LINE IF YOU WANT HIM.
>> LINA HIDALGO: DO WE STILL NEED BRUCE?
BRUCE, I DON'T WANT TO KEEP YOU.
I WAS ASKING WHO RUNS THE LAW ENFORCEMENT TECHNOLOGY COMMITTEE OR SUBCOMMITTEE AND WHO IS ON IT?
I WAS WITH MY PERSONAL TABLET.
I CAN CALL BACK WITH A DIFFERENT ADVICE.
LAW ENFORCEMENT TECHNOLOGY COMMITTEE WAS FORMED ABOUT EIGHT YEARS AGO AND THE CHAIRS OF THAT COMMITTEE IS THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT PRECINCT 1 AND PRECINCT 5 CONSTABLES OFFICE.
>> RODNEY ELLIS: WHO ELSE IS ON IT?
[15:30:02]
IT IS THE JUSTICE TECHNOLOGY COMMITTEE.THAT'S WHO SET UP THE GUIDELINES OF THE COMMITTEE AND THEN ALL LAW ENFORCEMENT IS INVOLVED IN THAT LAW ENFORCEMENT TECHNOLOGY COMMITTEE.
EVERY AGENCY HAS SEVERAL PEOPLE PARTICIPATING.
>> RODNEY ELLIS: WHO STAFFS IT? WHO RUNS? WHO RUNS IT?
I HAVE NO ONE ON THAT COMMITTEE.
>> R JACK CAGLE: BRUCE, YOU ARE CUTTING OUT.
>> IT IS A CO-CHAIR COMMITTEE BY THREE FOLKS.
IT IS THE SHERIFF, THE CONSTABLE 1 AND CONSTABLE 5.
>> R JACK CAGLE: SO THREE CHAIRS.
>> STEVE RADACK: AND THE REST -- >> R JACK CAGLE: THE REST OF THE PEOPLE ARE LAW ENFORCEMENT?
THERE ARE SEVERAL SUB COMMITTEES THAT WORK ON SEVERAL THINGS.
FOR EXAMPLE BODY CAMS THERE MIGHT BE A SUBCOMMITTEE AND THERE MAY BE A SUBCOMMITTEE ABOUT WHAT KIND OF CAD SYSTEM THEY USE.
>> R JACK CAGLE: THIS GROUP BASICALLY TELLS UNIVERSAL SERVICES WHAT TO DO?
>> THEY ESTABLISH THE PRIORITIES IN THE COMMUNITY.
THEY SET UP THE MEETINGS AND ASK US TO COORDINATE IT.
>> RODNEY ELLIS: IF I MAY, BRUCE, ARE THERE TWO COMMITTEES? IS THERE A JUSTICE TECHNOLOGY COMMITTEE AND A LAY -- LAW ENFORCEMENT TECHNICAL SUBCOMMITTEE?
>> THERE IS A LAW ENFORCEMENT TECHNOLOGY COMMITTEE.
>> THE LAW ENFORCEMENT TECHNOLOGY COMMITTEE IS CHAIRED BY THE SHERIFF AND PRE -- PRECINCT 1 AND PRECINCT 2.
IN THE JUSTICE COMMUNITY I KNOW IT IS THE COUNTY CLERK IS ONE OF THE CHAIRS AND THERE IS TWO OTHERS.
IS INVOLVED AND THE COURT COORDINATORS, BUT I CAN BE CORRECTED.
>> RODNEY ELLIS: YOU HEARD THE INFORMATION EARLIER.
WHAT -- WHATEVER THE INFORMATION IS FOR THE COUNTERPART I WANT TO MAKE
SURE WE GET IT AND I WOULD LIKE FOR THEM TO -- >> WE HAVE THE PROBLEM WITH UNIVERSAL SERVICES AND WHAT WE HAVE ACCESS TO.
SEVERAL AGENCIES AND SEVERAL DEPARTMENTS HAVE THEIR OWN TECHNOLOGIES AND THE DATABASES.
HAS THEIR OWN THING AND DISTRICT CLERK HAS THEIR OWN THING.
THEY HAVE DATA I KNOW JIM IS LOOKING FOR.
IF THE LAW SAYS WE SHOULD IT IS COMING YOUR WAY.
WE HAVE TROUBLE FACILITATING THE DATA THE OTHER AGENCIES -- >> RODNEY ELLIS: IF YOU WOULD DO THAT IT WOULD BE HELPFUL.
IT IS SEVERAL MONTHS THIS HASES -- HAS BEEN GOING ON.
WE ARE TALKING ABOUT DATA LEGALLY PERMISSIBLE.
I JUST DON'T KNOW WHAT THAT IS.
I LOOK FORWARD TO HEAR FROM JIM AND ROBERT ON WHAT WE NEED TO PUT THE BUNDLE AND HAVE IT AVAILABLE.
>> LINA HIDALGO: AND IT HEEDS TO BE IN THE RIGHT FORMAT.
COMMISSIONER CAGLE AND THEN COMMISSIONER GARCIA.
>> R JACK CAGLE: BRUCE, 10 YEARS AGO THEN GARCIA AND CAGLE WERE ON A COMMITTEE WHAT WAS THE NAME OF THE COMMITTEE?
>> R JACK CAGLE: WHAT WAS THE NAME OF THAT COMMITTEE?
>> STEVE RADACK: ALSO CALLED THE CAGLITES.
>> ADRIAN GARCIA: BRUCE YOU SAID THIS FRAMEWORK HAS BEEN AROUND FOR 8 TO 10 YEARS, CORRECT?
>> ADRIAN GARCIA: HOW WAS IT DONE BEFORE?
>> ADRIAN GARCIA: WHO MANAGED JIM'S?
>> JIM'S WAS THE JUS -- JUSTICE EXECUTIVE BOARD.
>> I THINK IT WAS FORMED IN 78 SO I CAN'T GO BEYOND THAT.
>> ADRIAN GARCIA: THE EXECUTIVE BOARD WAS WHO?
>> WELL, IT WAS CHAIRED BY THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY AT THE TIME, LIKOY -- LIKOS.
AND THEN THE SHERIFF, YOU THE PRESIDING JUDGES IN THE DIFFERENT COURTS AND ONE CONSTABLE WHICH WAS ALWAYS CON TABLE EVERCIA AND THERE WAS THE COUNTY ATTORNEY WAS ON AND IT WAS ALL ELECTED OFFICIALS.
THERE WAS NO DEPARTMENT HEADS -- OR DEPARTMENTS INVOLVED.
IT WAS ALL ELECTED OFFICIALS DRIVING THE JUSTICE BOARD.
>> LINA HIDALGO: THANK YOU, BRUCE.
THERE IS A REMARK UNDER PURCHASING ITEM 2.
IT IS THE WORK WITH THE TEXAS SCHOOL BOARD TO DO WORK WITH JAMES DRIVER PARK.
I WANTED TO MENTION THE PARK ITSELF IS EXCITING AND WE CAN'T WAIT FOR THE RIBBON CUTTING OR THE GROUND BREAKING RATHER.
WE ARE ALSO IN THE MIDST OF THE 30 OF THIS YEAR -- HITTER- 30-YEAR ADA ANNIVERSARY.
NOT TO CREATE ANGST, I WAS MAKING A NOTE GOING THROUGH THE AGENDA YESTERDAY BUT I WILL BRING AN ITEM THAT WILL DO A STUDY HOW ADA COMPLIANT HARRIS COUNTY IS.
IT IS TIME WE RESPECT THE ACT AND MAKE SURE EVERYTHING IS ADA COME -- COMPLIANT.
ONE OF MY FACILITIES WAS ADA COMPLIANT.
IT IS INCREDIBLE THAT WE STILL HAVE THE AREAS OF WORK IN FRONT OF US.
IT IS IMPERATIVE THAT HARRIS COUNTY MOVES INTO RESPECTING THOSE WITH PHYSICAL AND MENTAL DISABILITIES.
>> LINA HIDALGO: THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER.
>> STEVE RADACK: ADRIAN I OPENED MARY JOE PARK AND IT WAS A FEDERAL GRAND -- GRANT BECAUSE THE FACILITY WAS VERY MUCH FOR HANDICAPPED CHILDREN AND PARTICULARLY BURN VICTIMS BECAUSE WE HAD A SWIMMING POOL INDOORS AND SO WE HAD ALL KINDS OF PEOPLE -- ALL KINDS OF CHILDREN THAT HAD ALL KINDS OF BAD BURN THAT'S WERE ABLE TO COME AND SWIM UNDERCOVER.
I ADMIRE THE FACT THAT YOU ARE DOING THOSE PARKS AND I WANT TO SAY I AGREE WITH IT BECAUSE I HAVE DONE IT FOR YEARS.
JUDGE, I HAVE ANOTHER ITEM UNDER PAGE 19, 13C, E-BUILDER.
IT BRINGS ME BACK TO PEOPLE SOFT.
THE QUESTION THAT HERE WE ARE I GUESS PROPOSING -- DWIGHT CORRECT ME IF I AM WRONG.
WE ARE PAYING $321,000 FORKS E BUILDER -- $321,FOR E BUILDER?
>> YES, IF I AM NOT MISTAKEN THIS IS THE RENEWAL FOR THE E BUILDER SYSTEM.
>> ADRIAN GARCIA: JUST RECENTLY WE REALIZED THAT PEOPLE SOFT -- THE PEOPLE SOFT MODULE THAT WOULD ACCOMPLISH THE SAME THING HAS BEEN INCORPORATED AS WELL, CORRECT?
THAT'S ONE OF THE MODELS WE ARE LOOKING AT MOVING FOOSHED -- FORWARD WITH.
>> ADRIAN GARCIA: WHY DO WE NEED TO DO BOTH?
>> I DON'T KNOW IF WE NEED TO DO BOTH.
I KNOW THIS WAS E BUILDER WAS BOUGHT YEARS BACK.
ON THE PEOPLE SOFT SIDE, I THINK THAT IS THE ACTUAL PROJECT AND THAT WAS THE PROJECT MODULAR THAT WOULD NOT BE USED THE SAME.
>> ADRIAN GARCIA: JOHN CAN YOU OFFER ANY PERSPECTIVE ON THIS? DO WE STILL NEED TO CONTINUE WITH E-BUILDER?
>> THE E-BUILDER MODULAR, PEOPLE THOUGHT IT IS AN ACCOUNTING SYSTEM.
THIS PULLS THE DATA AND PRESENTS IT IN YOUR REPORTS, YOUR PROGRESS REPORTS THAT YOU WOULD NORMALLY GET AS OPPOSED TO HAVING A SEPARATE ACCOUNTING MODULE.
YOU WILL HAVE FACT FARM TO PULL THE DATA FROM.
WE BOUGHT E BUILDER ON THE PREMISE THAT PEOPLE SOFT WOULD BE UP AND RUNNING.
>> ADRIAN GARCIA: DO WE NEED TO CONTINUE WITH THIS?
WE ARE ABOUT TO PUT ANOTHER 400,000 INTO THIS SYSTEM THAT CONTINUES TO BE A DRAG ON OUR PUBLIC SAFETY SYSTEMS. THANK YOU.
>> LINA HIDALGO: LUCINDA, DO WE HAVE ANY SPEAKERS ON COUNTY JUDGE ITEM A2 STILL?
>> LINA HIDALGO: SO UNLESS FOLKS HAVE AN ISSUE ON THAT, WE WILL GO TO COMMISSIONER OF PRECINCT 1.
>> R JACK CAGLE: JUDGE, I DON'T NEED TO DISCUSS ANYTHING, BUT I AM NOT IN FAVOR OF THAT.
I CAN VOTE NO NOW OR AT THE END OF THE AGENDA.
>> LINA HIDALGO: WHATEVER IS EASY -- EASIEST FOR JAMES.
>> RIGHT NOW WOULD BE PERFECT.
>> RODNEY ELLIS: I WILL MAKE A MOTION.
>> ADRIAN GARCIA: JUDGE, THANK YOU.
I MIGHT NEED TO LOOK FOR DIRECTION FROM YOU ON THIS.
PART OF THIS ITEM IS TO -- RATHER IT IS REGARDING PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT BY THE CITY OF HUE CITIES HARRIS COUNTY METRO.
IT IS REGARDING THE DEVELOPMENT OF POTENTIAL ALTERNATIVES TO THE CURRENT NORTH HOUSTON HIGHWAY IMPROVEMENT PROJECT DESIGN.
I WAS FIT TO BE TIED AT THE TRANSPORTATION POLICY COUNCIL MEETING.
WHEN WE WERE IN THE MIDST OF TRYING TO WORK THROUGH A 12 OR 16-MEMBER BOARD TO CONSTRUCT AN MOU THAT WE WOULD THEN AND WE WOULD HAVE TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO NAVIGATE.
I HAD ASSURANCES THAT THE CITY OF HOUSTON WOULD TAKE A PARTICULAR POSITION ON AMENDING THE ITEM AND THEN THEY BAILED ON US.
I AM JUST NOT SURE WHAT PARTNERSHIP WE HAVE.
[15:35:01]
WE SEEM TO BE SAYING THE SAME THING, BUT DOING DIFFERENT THINGS.THIS IS UNDER YOUR ITEM AND WE WILL NEED TO LOOK TO YOU FOR GUIDANCE ON THIS.
I WAS JUST VERY, VERY TAKEN BACK ON THE TURN OF EVENTS AT THE TPC.
EVERYBODY REFERENCES MAYOR TURNER'S LETTER TO TEXDOT.
BUT PEOPLE FAILED TO MENTION THAT WE ALL SIGNED OFF ON THAT LETTER AND WE SUPPORTED THAT LETTER.
EITHER WE ARE GOING TO BE PARTNERS ON THAT LETTER AND THAT LETTER MEANS SOMETHING OR WE NEED TO FIGURE OUT WHY WE NEED TO GET INTO THE PARTNERSHIPS IF THERE IS NOT A PARTNERSHIP THERE.
>> LINA HIDALGO: WE LOOK BACK A FEW MINUTES AGO AND I THINK YOU ABSTAINED AND I VOTED NO AND THEY VOTED YES WHICH WAS A COMPLETE SURPRISE.
THIS IS -- IF IT CONTINUES TO BE A BIG PROBLEM IT IS CLEAR WHAT THE COMMUNITY NEEDS.
IT IS A CLEAR ALTERNATIVE AND WE ARE BEING STEAM ROLLED BY AREAS NOT DIRECTLY AFFECTED BY THE AREAS OF THE PROGRAM.
IT IS NOT OKAY FOR THIS BODY THAT OPERATES IN THE SHADOWS TO APPROVE A PROJECT THAT IS GOING TO HURT OUR COMMUNITY, THE CENTER OF OUR COMMUNITY FOR AT LEAST A GENERATION.
FOR THE SHORT-TERM -- LET ME FINISH, COMMISSIONER RADACK.
THIS IS SIMPLY AUTHORITY TO NEGOTIATE.
IT WILL LET THEM FIGURE OUT WITH THE CITY AND THE PARKS BOARD AND TEXDOT TO SEE WHAT IF ANYTHING OUR ROLE WOULD BE AND ALLOW TO CONTINUE COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AND REFINE HIS SPECIFIC PROPOSAL AND PROVIDE UPDATED DESIGN PROPOSALS.
I DON'T HAVE ANY ILLUSION THAT IS LIKELY.
TO THE EXTENT WE HAVE CLEARER DEFINITIONS OF WHAT WE WANT AND THAT WE ARE ON BOARD.
I TRUST WE WILL KEEP PUSHING AND I DON'T THINK THE DOOR IS CLOSED AND NOR SHOULD IT BE.
THE COMMUNITY IS UP IN ARMS ABOUT THIS.
IF THIS GROUP THAT IS BEHIND CLOSED DOORS PRETTY MUCH IS LEAVING US OUT, THEY ARE GOING TO CONTINUE TO HEAR FROM THE COMMUNITY AND I THINK THERE IS POWER THERE.
WE WILL MAKE SURE THAT HAPPENS.
AND THIS WILL HELP US MAKE A STRONGER ARGUMENT.
>> LINA HIDALGO: COMMISSIONER RADACK?
>> STEVE RADACK: I WANT TO CLARIFY SOMETHING.
I WAS A MEMBER OF TRANSPORTATION POLICY COUNCIL FOR AWHILE.
ARE YOU SAYING THEY OPERATE -- DID YOU SAY IN THE SHADOWS?
>> LINA HIDALGO: [INAUDIBLE] I SAID THAT.
>> STEVE RADACK: DID I MISUNDERSTOOD YOU? DID YOU SAY THEY OPERATE IN THE SHADOWS ? THE TRANSPORTATION POLICY COUNCIL OPERATES IN THE SHADOWS?
>> LINA HIDALGO: I ANSWERED YOUR QUESTION ALREADY, COMMISSIONER.
>> STEVE RADACK: I DIDN'T HEAR YOUR ANSWER.
ARE YOU MOVING AROUND AND I CAN'T HEAR WHAT YOU ARE SAYING.
WHAT I AM SIMPLY SAYING IS THIS.
I DON'T KNOW ANYTHING MORE VISIBLE THAN A TRANSPORTATION POLICY -- POLICY COUNCIL.
I THINK IT IS -- I MEAN PEOPLE CAN WATCH IT AND THEY CAN OBSERVE IT AND THEY CAN DO WHATEVER THEY WANT.
THEY CAN COME AND SPEAK AND IT HAS BEEN THERE FOR MANY, MANY YEARS WITH INCREDIBLE PEOPLE THAT HAVE BEEN ON IT.
I MEAN, WE HAVE SUCH A IMPORTANT PARTNERSHIP WITH THE STATE AND THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AND THE AMOUNT OF MONEY THAT THE STATE PAYS ON TRANSPORTATION IN HARRIS COUNTY IS UNBELIEVABLE.
IT IS MASSIVE AMOUNTS OF MONEY.
THEY HAVE -- THEY ARE VERY INVOLVED IN THE TOLL ROAD SYSTEM WHICH I DON'T THINK YOU NECESSARILY AGREE WITH THE TOLL ROAD SYSTEM, BUT THE TOLL ROAD SYSTEM BROUGHT PROSPERITY TO THE COUNTY.
I CAN TELL YOU THIS, THERE IS ONE THING TO TALK ABOUT THE TRANSPORTATION POLICY COUNCIL, AND THERE IS ANOTHER THING TO TALK ABOUT THE LOYALTY OF THE CITY OF HOUSTON.
YOU HAVE SEEN FIRSTHAND AND YOU WILL SEE A LOT MORE BEFORE IT IS OVER THAT THE CITY OF HOUSTON CARES ABOUT THE CITY OF HUE -- HOUSTON AND IT IS A RAPID EXAMPLE OF THE DESTRUCTIVE FORCE OF TERM LIMITS AT THE CITY OF HOUSTON.
AND SO NOW WE HAVE A MAYOR THAT IS GOING TO BE THERE AND CAN'T RUN FOR RE-ELECTION.
THE MAYOR WILL DO WHAT THE MAYOR WANTS TO DO.
I APPRECIATE THE STATE AND THEIR TRANSPORTATION MONEY, AND I BELIEVE STRONGLY THAT IF PEOPLE HAVE OPINIONS IN REFERENCE TO STATE PROJECTS THEY SHOULD COME FORWARD, BUT THEY NEED TO COME FORWARD WITH THINGS THAT ARE POWER.
THE STATE HAS ONE BIG -- TEXDOT HAS A BIG, HUGE MANDATE AND THAT'S TO MOVE TRAFFIC AND MOVE IT SAFELY.
>> LINA HIDALGO: I THINK THE PROBLEM IS AND WE DISCUSSED IT SO I AM LOATHED TO BRING IT UP AGAIN.
WE CAN DO SO MUCH BETTER AND THEY ARE PAYING LIP SERVICE TO THE COMMENTS.
THEY READ THE COMMENTS, BUT THEY ARE NOT ACTING ON THEM.
THEY HEAR THE COMMUNITY AND YET THEY VOTE OPPOSITE.
THAT IS A LACK OF ACCOUNTABILITY.
IT IS BETTER THAN NOTHING TO HAVE WHAT WE HAVE AND FAR FROM WHAT WE NEED TO BE.
WE ARE NOT GOING TO BE AS COMPETITIVE AND BEAUTIFUL AND AS STRONG AS WE CAB.
WE NEED TO KEEP PUSHING, BUT HOPEFULLY WE WILL CONTINUE TO HAVE THE CITY THERE.
>> I APPRECIATE WHAT YOU ARE SAYING, BUT I THINK THERE IS SOMETHING THAT YOU HAVE TO TAKE A LOOK AT THE TOTAL PICTURE AND THE MANDATES OF DIFFERENT -- THAT PEOPLE SEE WORKING FOR DIFFERENT GOVERNMENTS.
ALL COUNTIES ARE SUBJECT TO THE STATE.
WE ARE A SUBDIVISION OF THE STATE.
YOU CAN TRY TO TELL THE STATE WHAT TO DO, BUT IN REALITY THE STATE TELLS US WHAT TO DO.
THAT'S THE NATURE OF STATE GOVERNMENT.
DO I AGREE WITH EVERYTHING THE STATE DOES? NO.
WE SURE ENJOY GETTING THEIR MONEY TO SPEND.
PEOPLE WENT TO RODNEY ELLIS AND ALL KINDS OF PEOPLE WANTING MONEY.
WE WANT THEIR MONEY, BUT WE DON'T WANT THEM TO SAY WE DON'T AGREE WITH YOU, HARRIS COUNTY.
>> LINA HIDALGO: COMMISSIONER ELLIS AND THEN COMMISSIONER GARCIA.
>> RODNEY ELLIS: I WANT TO WITHDRAW MY SECOND AND LET COMMISSIONER GASH -- GARCIA SECOND.
I THINK YOU TWO HAVE DONE GREAT WORK ON THIS AND IT WAS NOT EASY.
I THINK THIS PROJECT IS ANOTHER ONE IN A LONG LINE OF HISTORICAL PRECEDENCE WHERE A GOVERNMENTAL ENTITY HAS GONE IN AND CUT THROUGH NEIGHBORHOODS.
PARTICULARLY THE LOWER INCOME NEIGHBORHOODS.
I THOUGHT IT WAS A PROBLEM WHEN I WAS WITH THE STATE AND I THINK IT IS A PROBLEM NOW.
I THINK YOU ARE RIGHT TO RAISE THESE ISSUES, AND I THINK THE LETTER THAT YOU -- THE POSITION YOU TOOK AND THE LETTER WE SENT OVER TO BE HONEST WITH YOU WAS A BIT STRONGER INITIALLY THAN THE LANGUAGE WE ENDED UP AGREE -- AGREEING TO.
YOU CANDICE PLACE 168 SINGLE FAMILY HOMES AND 368 OF WHICH ARE LOW INCOME AND 60 HOMELESS HOMES.
AND SO I THINK IT IS APPROPRIATE FOR US TO FUND IT AND KEEP THE COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT GOING IN DALLAS AND THE LOCAL LEADERS AND THE COUNTY LEADERS ARE RAISING HELL.
THEY GOT TEXDOT TO BACK UP MANY YEARS AGO AND DO SOMETHING THAT WAS MUCH MORE MEANING -- MEANINGFUL.
I AM HOPE SOMETHING OF THE CONCERNS CAN BE ADDRESSED.
IT OUGHT TO NOT JUST BE THE STATE'S WAY OR THE HIGHWAY.
THAT'S JUST NOT THE WAY TO OPERATE.
JUST LIKE OUR MONEY IS NOT OUR MONEY.
>> ADRIAN GARCIA: THANK YOU, JUDGE.
I ALSO WANTED TO SAY THAT THIS IS NOT MY FIRST RODEO WITH THE TPC.
I BELIEVE IN REPRESENTATIVE GOVERNMENT.
I THINK WHEN PART OF THE PROCESS IS TO TAKE FEEDBACK FROM NEIGHBORHOODS AND AREA THAT'S ARE DIRECTLY IMPACTED AND DIRECTLY AFFECTED AND WHERE HOMES ARE LIKELY TO BE ACQUIRED THROUGH CONDEMNATION AND WHERE NEIGHBORHOODS COULD BE CHANGED FOR DECADES AS A RESULT OF NEW STRUCTURES THAT ARE NOT THERE AND THAT COULD BE THERE.
WHEN WE TELL PEOPLE TO COME IN AND GIVE US YOUR INPUT AND I WILL TELL YOU THAT ON MANY OCCASIONS THROUGH OUR MEETINGS AND THEY HAD ME THINK AND HAD ME LOOK AND START A PROJECT THAT THE COMMUNITY WAS GIVEN.
I WILL SPEAK FOR MYSELF AND SAY THAT IT IS FRUSTRATING THAT WITH THE AMOUNT OF ENGAGEMENT THAT WE HAVE ENCOURAGED AND BROUGHT TO THE TABLE IN HOPES OF IMPACTING NOT WHEN THE PROJECT WILL BE DONE, BUT IMPACTING HOW IT WILL LOOK LIKE WHEN IT IS DONE.
IT IS FRUSTRATING WHEN IT FEELS AS IF THAT INPUT IS NOT BEING TAKEN.
AT THIS TPC MEETING THERE WERE SEVERAL LETTERS SUBMITTED.
THEY WERE NOT READ INTO THE RECORD.
I THINK THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THAT PROCESS.
I WILL SECOND THIS ITEM I LOOK TO YOU FOR GUIDE GASH -- FOR GUIDANCE ON IT.
I WAS JUST FRUSTRATED WITH WHAT RECENTLY HAPPENED.
WE WILL CONTINUE TO TRY TO GET THE ATTENTION OF FOLKS AT THE STATE TO HEAR OUR COMMUNITIES.
WE HAVE TO COME AT IT FROM DIFFERENT ANGLES.
I MADE A MOTION AND COMMISSIONER GARCIA SECONDED IT.
>> LINA HIDALGO: MOTION CARRIES.
PRECINCT 1 OF THE REGULAR AGENDA AND NO ITEMS. PRECINCT 2.
>> ADRIAN GARCIA: THANK YOU, JUDGE.
I AM EXCITED AND HONORED TO PRESENT THIS ITEM AND THAT IS TO REQUEST THE APPROVAL TO CREATE A HARRIS COUNTY HISPANIC CULTURAL HERITAGE COMMISSION AS AN ADVISORY BOARD TO COMMISSIONERS COURT IN MATTERS CONCERNING THE IDENTIFICATION, RECOGNITION AND PRESERVATION OF HISPANIC CULTURAL HERITAGE IN HARRIS COUNTY.
THIS IS REALLY GROUND BREAKING FOR HARRIS COUNTY TO CREATE A FORMAL PLACE
[15:40:01]
WHERE THE COMMUNITY CAN PARTICIPATE AND HELP US MOVE FORWARD.IT IS GOING TO -- AS THE AFRICAN-AMERICAN HERITAGE -- CULTURAL AND HERITAGE COMMISSION, THIS WILL HAVE FIVE PERSONS FROM EACH OF OUR OFFICES WITH -- WILL SERVE FOR TWO-YEAR TERMS I HAVE MY NOMINEE.
I WANT TO THANK DAVID CONTRERAS.
A VERY ACTIVE MEMBER WHO IS WORKING HARD TO IDENTIFY THE DIGITAL IMAGES AND WORKING WITH THE HARRIS COUNTY LIBRARY TO BRING SOME OF THE INFORMATION TOGETHER.
HIS UNCLE, MY NEIGHBOR, WORLD WAR II VETERAN WAS ONE OF THE LATINOS THAT HOSTED HIM WHEN HE CAME TO RICE HOTEL.
I CAN'T WAIT FOR DAVID TO HELP BRING ALL OF THAT INFORMATION AND HISTORY TOGETHER.
ALSO, JUDGE, I TOLD HIM LOOK AT OUR COUNTY JUDGE.
SHE IS LAW TINA -- LATINA, PURE AND STRONG AND WISE AND SMART.
AND SHE IS NOT MEXICAN-AMERICAN OR MEXICANA.
IT IS IMPORTANT TO RESPECT THE DIVERSITY OF THE LATINO CULTURE AND DIVERSITY.
>> WE HAVE A SPEAKER ON THIS ITEM.
>> LINA HIDALGO: LET'S HERE -- HEAR FROM COMMISSIONER ELLIS.
>> RODNEY ELLIS: IT IS A GREAT IDEA.
I THINK WE SHOULD PUT A MARKER DOWN AND I WILL ASK MY STAFF.
I TOLD THEM TO WORKUP SOMETHING ON IT.
YOU KNOW, WE HAD THAT ITEM ON THE AGENDA A COUPLE WEEKS AGO TO CHANGE THAT ROBERT E LEE SIGN AND AT A TIME WHEN PEOPLE ARE TAKING DOWN MONUMENTS FOR A GOOD CAUSE, I DO THINK IT IS APPROPRIATE THAT WE BEGIN TO THINK ABOUT HOW TO MAKE OUR HISTORY MORE REFLECTIVE OF REALITY.
I WAS BIKE RIDING OVER THERE BY THAT STATUE OF PRESIDENT GUILLERMO.
I WAS DOING SOME RESEARCH AND OF COURSE MEXICO OUTLAWED SLAVERY IN THEIR CONSTITUTION BEFORE THE UNITED STATES DID.
HE WAS PARTIALLY OF AFRICAN DISSENT.
THE SHIP LANDED THERE INSTEAD OF GALVESTON.
I KNOW WE ARE THE MOST DIVERSE CITY, HOUSTON IS.
WE ARE THE MOST OR WITHIN THE TOP TWO OR THREE IN TERMS OF DIVERSITY IN THE COUNTY.
AND THEN JUST THINK ABOUT IT, WE OUGHT TO COLLECTIVELY ON IF WE OUGHT TO JUST PUT SOME SMALL AMOUNT OF RESOURCES WITH THE AFRICAN-AMERICAN AND ONE FOR HISPANIC AND OTHERS AS WELL, ONE STAFFER OR SOMETHING.
PEOPLE JUST TEND TO DO MORE WHEN THEY FOCUS ON SOMETHING AND HAVE LIMITED RESOURCES OR HAVE A PARTNER.
BUT SOMETIMES AT THE STATE LEVEL WE CREATE THESE COMMISSIONS AND WE PAT OURSELVES ON THE BACK AND WE SAY YOU ALL DIDN'T GO OUT AND FIGURE OUT -- WE OUGHT TO THINK ABOUT THAT.
NOT NECESSARILY ON THIS ONE, BUT MAYBE IF WE DO SOMETHING ON THAT OTHER ONE WE WILL WORK WITH ALL OF THE OFFICES AND COME FORWARD WITH IT AND FIGURE OUT HOW TO GET THEM SOME COUNTY ENTITY TO STAFF THEM SOMEHOW.
>> LINA HIDALGO: IT IS A GREAT IDEA.
SO WE HAVE A SPEAKER, RIGHT, LUCINDA?
JEJ HIDALGO AND -- JUDGE HIDALGO AND COMMISSIONERS, I AM DAVID GAR SEE -- GARCIA AND I HOPE ALL IS WELL FOR AND YOU YOUR FAMILIES.
I WANT TO RECOGNIZE HOW MUCH PRESSURE YOU ARE ON -- UNDER AND I AM GLAD ARE YOU A FUN LOVING GROUP TO GET THROUGH ALL OF THIS.
IT IS A SPECIAL OCCASION TO WITNESS THE OCCASION OF HAIR REIS COUNTY -- HARRIS COUNTY HISPANIC CULTURAL COMMISSION.
LATINOS REPRESENTING 45% OF THE POPULATION IT IS INCUMBENT TO TELL THE STORY OF ALL LATINOS FOR ART AND CULTURE.
IT IS THE RICHNESS WE SHOULD SHARE AS ONE COMMUNITY.
I WANT TO THANK COMMISSIONER CAGLE AND COMMISSIONER RADACK WHO I GOT TO KNOW AS AN HONORABLE STATESMAN AND THE SUPPORTER OF CULTURAL ARTS JOBS.
I HAVE KNOWN COMMISSIONER ELLIS FROM HIS CAPITOL DAYS AND HIS EXTENSIVE LATINO CARRIBIEAN ART COLLECTION.
THERE IS A BILL IN CONGRESS FOR THE SMITHSONIAN TO HAVE A NATIONAL LATINO MUSEUM.
YOUR CONTINUED SUPPORT IS SINCERELY APPRECIATED.
WHEN ALL COMMUNITIES ARE GIVEN A PLACE AT THE TABLE THERE IS A BETTER COMMUNICATION IN UNDERSTANDING INSTEAD OF UNFED ERRED CHAOS.
PEOPLE OF COLOR GROW UP WITHOUT KNOWING THE TRUE CULTURAL GROUPS.
THEY CAN LOSE THEIR PROFOUND SENSE OF IDENTITY.
YET THE MOST CREATIVE ARTISTS OF HIP HOP COME FROM LATINO ROOTS.
WE DID THIS SO CHILDREN CAN LEARN OF HEROS AND CREATORS AND LEADERS TO KNOW THEIR LIVES AND CULTURE MATTER.
WE HOPE IT GOES BEYOND TODAY'S REACTION AND IS A PHYSICAL REALITY.
COMMISSAR GARCIA -- COMMISSIONER GARCIA HAS A STUDY THAT COULD LEAD TO A CULTURAL CENTER AND CREATE A RESOURCE FOR A NEW AMERICAN WORKFORCE.
HARRIS COUNTY STANDS TO GAIN BY BUILDING A NEW CENTER WITH A NEW WORKFORCE.
AND THE CURRENT KNOWLEDGE ECONOMY CITY OF EXCELLENCE REQUIRE A CLUSTERING OF BUSINESS LEADERS AND TECH CLUBS AND CULTURAL CENTERS FOR IT TO EVOLVE AND PRODUCE JOBS.
WHILE WE APPRECIATE TODAY'S ACTION, WHY NOT GO FOR BROKE AND LAUNCH AN INNOVATIVE CULTURAL DYNAMIC TO MOTIVATE OUR YOUNG ADULTS AND THEREFORE OUR COUNTY.
HARRIS COUNTY HAS REBUILT AND REBRANDED ITSELF.
AN ENERGY CENTER TO A MEDICAL CENTER.
AND NOW THE VIRUS IS AGO SELL -- ACCELERATING A DIGITAL ECONOMY, TECH CLUBS AND WORK FROM HOME HYBRID TECHNOLOGIES.
WE SHOULD GET ONE STEP AHEAD AND CREATE THE CULTURAL EVOLUTION.
WE THANK YOU AND HOPE YOU WILL CONTINUE TO SUPPORT COMMISSIONER GARCIA'S ACTION AND INNOVATIONS TO MAKE IT A STRONGER COMMUNITY.
IDAHO >> ADRIAN GARCIA: THANK YOU, DAVID.
>> R JACK CAGLE: JUDGE, THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER GARCIA FOR THIS MOTION.
I HAVE A SLIGHT TWEAK ON THE ORDER.
THE ORDER SAYS THAT IT IS TO BE BROUGHT BACK FOR THE SEPTEMBER 15TH COURT DATE, AND IF WE COULD HAVE THAT BROUGHT BACK TO US THE WEDNESDAY BEFORE THAT SEPTEMBER 15TH COURT DATE, WHATEVER THAT WOULD BE, SO THAT OUR STAFF CAN HAVE A CHANCE TO LOOK THROUGH AND WORK ON THOSE RECOMMENDATIONS AND NOT GETTING -- AND US NOT GETTING IT ON THE WEEKEND OR DAY OF.
WOULD YOU A MEANABLE TO THE WEDNESDAY BEFORE THE COURT DATE.
>> THIS ITEM WAS ON THE REGULAR AGENDA.
>> R JACK CAGLE: IT IS ON THE REGULAR AGENDA.
PART OF WHAT -- YOUR ORDER SAYS THE COUNTY ATTORNEY IS TO GO AND DEVELOP THE BY LAWS AND THE PROGRAMS FOR PUTTING IT ALTOGETHER.
AND THAT THEY ARE TO PRESENT THAT IN THE NEXT SEPTEMBER 15TH.
BUT WHAT I AM SAYING IS CAN THEY PRESENT IT -- THEIR WORK THE WEDNESDAY BEFORE
THAT SEPTEMBER 15TH DAY SO THAT WE -- >> ADRIAN GARCIA: SURE.
>> R JACK CAGLE: SO WE CAN HAVE THE WEEKEND TO LOOK AT IT AND PUT IN OUR COMMENTS.
OUR STAFFS A LOT OF TIMES CAN WORK OUT A LOT OF STUFF BEFORE COURT SO WE DON'T HAVE TO DEAL WITH IT HERE.
>> LINA HIDALGO: SO DO WE HAVE A MOTION? I GUESS NOT REALLY.
IS IT ALSO GOING TO INCLUDE THE APPOINTMENT THAT COMMISSIONER GARCIA MADE OR IS THAT GOING TO COME BACK LATER?
>> ADRIAN GARCIA: IT WILL COME BACK LATER.
>> LINA HIDALGO: DO WE NEED TO VOTE ON THIS? DOES ANYONE NEED TO VOTE? COMMISSIONER PRECINCT 3.
>> STEVE RADACK: I AN ITEM WHERE HARRIS COUNTY HAVE TAKEN OVER A NUMBER OF CITY PARKS AND SO WE ARE FIXING IT SO THE LEASES EXPIRE ON ALL OF THEM.
BASICALLY IT IS AT THE SAME TIME AND THERE IS A THING CALLED SCHWARTZ PARK.
I BRING THIS UP BECAUSE YOU MAY WANT TO VOTE AGAINST IT.
BUT THIS IS THE SCH HWARTZ PARK AND IT IS LAND OWNED BY THE CITY -- I MEAN, EXCUSE ME.
LAND OWNED BY THE COUNTY, BUT THE CITY NEVER FIGURED OUT THE COUNTY OWNED IT AND SO THEY HAVE BEEN BUILDING ON IT AND MAINTAINING IT.
WE WILL GO AHEAD AND LEASE THEM THAT PARK AND WE WILL CONTINUE TO LEASE A NUMBER OF THEIR PARKS.
I MAKE A MOTION TO REMIND THEM.
>> LINA HIDALGO: THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER.
>> LINA HIDALGO: LET'S KEEP GOING DOWN THE AGENDA UNLESS ANYBODY HAS OBJECTIONS.
>> R JACK CAGLE: YOUR HONOR, I WANTED TO BRIEFLY DISCUSS THE HILTON SECURITIES WEEK.
WE ARE TO HAVE THEM PREPARE A REPORT.
WE WERE SUPPOSED TO HAVE OUR REPORT BACK EARLIER AND WE DON'T HAVE THAT REPORT JUST YET.
I DON'T THINK AT THIS TIME WE NEED TO DO MUCH EXCEPT I MAKE A REQUEST THAT WHENEVER IT IS THAT WE ARE TO DISCUSS THE HILLTOP SECURITIES ITEM THAT WE AT LEAST HAVE THE REPORT 14 DAYS BEFORE WE ARE TO DISCUSS THAT ITEM.
IF THERE IS A FUTURE COMMISSIONER'S COURT AGENDA, I WOULD LIKE FOR US TO AT LEAST HAVE THAT REPORT IN OUR HANDS TWO WEEKS BEFORE THAT AGENDA ITEM.
>> LINA HIDALGO: COMMISSIONER ELLIS?
TODD >> RODNEY ELLIS: JUDGE, I DON'T HAVE ANY PROBLEM WITH THAT UNLESS IF YOU MAKE IT A MOTION IT COULD BE TIME SENSITIVE IF THEY PLAN TO DOING THE FINANCING AT SOME POINT.
I DON'T KNOW IF SOMEBODY FROM THE TOLL ROAD IS HERE TO COMMENT ON THAT.
I DON'T HAVE A PROBLEM WITH IT IF THEY DON'T.
I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE IT KEEPS THEM ON SCHEDULE.
>> JUDGE AND COMMISSIONERS, GOOD EVENING.
IT IS PETER KEHOT AT THE TOLL ROAD.
COMMISSIONER CAGLE, I JUST HEARD YOU MENTION THE 14-DAY ASPECT OF YOUR ITEM ON THE AGENDA.
GOT A MEETING PLANNED TOMORROW TO BE ON THE PHONE WITH HILLTOP.
THE TIMETABLE HILLTOP SUBMITTED TO THE TOLL ROAD AUTHORITY AND THE BUDGET MANAGEMENT AND THE PERSON AT THE BUDGET MANAGEMENT WORKING ON THIS IS AMY PEREZ, THE COUNTY'S FINANCIAL SERVICES DIRECTOR.
SHE HAS SHOWN THAT THEY ANTICIPATE GIVING US A DRAFT REPORT TOMORROW.
WHAT I PLEDGE TO EVERY COURT MEMBER, I BELIEVE AMY HAS DONE THE SAME OR TALKED TO
[15:45:01]
COURT MEMBER STAFF IS THAT WHEN WE GET A REPORT, WE ARE GOING TO REVIEW IT JUST TO MAKE SURE THERE IS NOTHING IMMEDIATELY IN ERROR, OR IS IMMEDIATELY CONFUSING.AFTER A CURSORY REVIEW, WE INTEND TO TRANSMIT IT TO STAFF AND TO COUNTY OUR TIMETABLE HAS ALL -- ALWAYS BEEN AUGUST 11TH TO DISCUSS OPTIONS GOING FORWARD WITH ANY POTENTIAL FINANCING.
HILLTOP WAS CHARGED LOOKING AT A MINIMUM OF FOUR THINGS.
ONE OF QUH -- ONE OF WHICH WAS DOING ABSOLUTELY NOTHING.
OUR INTENTION HAS BEEN TO BRING THE REPORT TO COURT ON THE 11TH OF AUGUST.
IT IS MY INTENTION AND I KNOW I CAN SPEAK FOR AMY BECAUSE I CALLED AND ASKED PERMISSION TO DO THIS AND THAT WE BOTH PLEDGE THAT THE REPORT WILL BE TRANSMITTED TO THE COUNTY STAFF WELL BEFORE THE AUGUST 11TH COURT DATE.
>> LINA HIDALGO: YES, COMMISSIONER ELLIS.
>> RODNEY ELLIS: IT DOESN'T SEEM LIKE IT SHOULD BE A PROBLEM.
IT IS THE 24TH SO IF YOU THINK YOU WILL HAVE A PRELIMINARY TOMORROW YOU CAN LOOK AT IT AND GET IT OUT.
ALTHOUGH COMMISSIONER CAGLE'S ITEM IS NOT BROAD ENOUGH FOR A MOTION ANYWAY, I THINK YOU CAN MEET HIS REQUEST SOUNDS LIKE TO ME.
IT IS LATE AND I AM LOOKING AT THE DATE AND IT IS THE 24TH.
DOES THAT GIVE YOU ENOUGH TIME?
>> COMMISSIONER IS THAT DIRECTED OUT HERE AT THE TOLL ROAD?
>> IF WE GET PRELIMINARY REPORT TOMORROW AND ON ITS FACE IT LOOKS REASONABLE WE WILL TRANSMIT IT THROUGH THE COUNTY.
WE ALREADY HAVE A MEETING SCHEDULED ON AUGUST 5TH.
WITH THE COUNTY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE AND MEMBERS FROM ALL OF THE CORE MEMBER STAFFS TO DISCUSS THE REPORT.
IT IS A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME TO DISCUSS THE REPORT.
WE WILL TRANSMIT THE REPORT TO COURT.
IT IS MY INTENTION TO ALSO HAVE A RECOMMENDATION IN FRONT OF COMMISSIONER'S COURT.
THE COURT CAN TAKE THE RECOMMENDATION AND DO AS THEY PLEASE, BUT I BELIEVE IT IS A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME.
>> RODNEY ELLIS: COMMISSIONER CAGLE, I WAS JUST TRYING TO HELP YOU.
>> R JACK CAGLE: I THINK THAT WOULD BE FINE AND I THINK YOU ARE ALSO CORRECT.
I DON'T PUT IN THE UH -- IN THE AGENDA FOR ANY ACTION.
I WOULD MAKE A REQUEST NOT IN THE TERMS OF THE MOTION, BUT A REQUEST THAT IF HILLTOP DOES NOT GIVE US A GOOD, DELIVERABLE REPORT TOMORROW SO THAT OUR STAFFS CAN LOOK AT IT WE CONSIDER PUSHING BACK OUR CONSIDERATION OF WHATEVER RECOMMENDATIONS THEY ARE MAKING SO OUR STAFFS CAN AND WE CAN REVIEW THAT AND DO OUR DUE DILIGENCE.
WE ARE DEALING WITH BILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN THIS INSTANCE.
TO RUSH THAT WOULD BE RUSHING INTO FOLLY.
IF WE GET THE REPORT TOMORROW, I DON'T THINK I HAVE A PROBLEM.
IF THEY DON'T GIVE US A GOOD DELIVERABLE WE ARE GOING TO NEED SOME EXTRA TIME.
I AM JUST MENTIONING THAT AS A REQUEST AND NOT A A MOTION.
AS YOU POINTED OUT THAT MY AGENDA ITEM DOES NOT GIVE, I BELIEVE, THE AUTHORITY TO MAKE MOTIONS BEYOND JUST A DIRECTION THAT WE MAY GIVE TO PETER KEY.
>> LINA HIDALGO: COMMISSIONER RADACK?
>> STEVE RADACK: PETER, WHAT TIME IS THE MEETING TOMORROW?
>> WE HAVE A 9:00 MEETING TOMORROW WITH HILLTOP.
>> STEVE RADACK: IS THAT GOING TO BE ON THE PHONE, BUT THERE ARE OTHER PEOPLE BESIDES HILLTOP THAT IS GOING TO BE LISTENING -- BE INVOLVED IN THE MEETING, AREN'T THERE?
>> I BELIEVE AMY PEREZ AND THE COUNTY SERVICES DIRECTOR WILL BE ON THE PHONE CALL AND HILLTOP STAFF.
>> STEVE RADACK: WHAT ABOUT SOME OF THE LAWYER THAT'S ARE OUTSIDE COUNCIL TO THE TOLL ROAD?
>> I DON'T BELIEVE THEY ARE PART OF THAT MEETING.
I CAN BRING IT UP ON E-MAIL REAL QUICK.
IT IS HILLTOP, TOLL ROAD STAFF, AMY PEREZ.
IF AMY HAS SOMEBODY IT IS THEM AS WELL.
>> STEVE RADACK: I MEAN, ARE YOU GOING TO FIX IT SO THE MEDIA CAN TUNE INTO THAT MEETING?
>> IT IS JUST A TYPICAL COUNTY MEETING OF STAFF WORKING WITH A CONSULTANT.
>> STEVE RADACK: I HOPE YOU CONSIDER DOING THAT.
THIS IS KIND OF GOING BACK TO WHAT I BROUGHT UP A FEW WEEKS AGO.
I HOPE YOU INVITE THE MEDIA TO BE ABLE TO LISTEN TO THAT AND OTHER INVESTMENT BANKERS OTHER THAN THE ONES THAT Y'ALL ARE INVOLVED WITH.
I THINK THAT WOULD BE APPROPRIATE TO DO.
OKAY? I THINK IT WOULD BE VERY APPROPRIATE THAT THIS WOULD BE TRANSPARENT.
OKAY? I HOPE THAT YOU WILL FIX IT SO ANYBODY THAT WANTS TO LISTEN TO THAT MEETING CAN DO IT.
>> THE FOLKS THAT ARE STILL PART OF THIS MEETING KNOW IN WORKING WITH FOLKS AT THE TOLL ROAD WE ARE TRANSPARENT IN HOW HOW WE CONDUCT OUR BUSINESS.
>> STEVE RADACK: THAT'S A MATTER OF OPINION, BUT I JUST HOPE THAT -- I HOPE YOU MAKE IT SO THAT ANYBODY FROM THE MEDIA OR ANY CITIZEN THAT WANTS TO HEAR ABOUT SOMETHING MAJOR THAT COULD INVOLVE BILLIONS OF DOLLARS SHOULD BE ABLE TO -- IT SHOULD BE TRANSPARENT AND SO ANYBODY SHOULD BE ABLE TO LISTEN TO IT.
OKAY? I URGE YOU TO SEND ALL OF THE MEMBERS OF COMMISSIONER'S COURT THE METHOD THAT THEY CAN ALLOW ANYBODY WHO THEY WANTED TO LISTEN TO IT GET ON.
>> LINA HIDALGO: COMMISSIONER ELLIS?
>> RODNEY ELLIS: PETER, ARE YOU STILL THERE?
>> RODNEY ELLIS: WHEN THOSE PRELIMINARY MEETINGS WERE HELD ON THE BILLION DOLLAR BRIDGE, WERE THOSE PUBLIC AND THE INTERNAL MEETINGS YOU OPENED THOSE UP AND INVITE THE PRESS? I AM JUST CURIOUS.
I KNOW THERE IS TRANSPARENCY, BUT WHEN YOU HAVE INTERNAL MEETINGS -- NOT IN COURT, BUT OVER THERE, WERE THOSE PUBLIC?
>> THEY WERE NOT OPEN TO THE MEDIA, BUT -- >> RODNEY ELLIS: PICKING THE CONTRACTORS TO DO A BILLION DOLLAR BRIDGE AND TRANSPARENCY IS A WONDERFUL THING.
THE INTER UNTIL MEETINGS WERE THOSE PUBLIC SH -- THE INTERNAL MEETINGS, WERE THEY PUBLIC? I NOME PEOPLE TALK ABOUT THE DISPARITY STUDY AND NOT MUCH MONEY WAS GOING TO THE FOLKS OTHER THAN THE SAME OLD BOYS.
WERE THOSE TRANSPARENT AND PEOPLE CAN CALL IN AND OWE -- OPINE ON THEM?
>> THEY WERE NOT CONDUCTED IN THAT FORUM.
THIS REPORT WILL GET DLIMP -- DELIVERED TO THE COUNTY.
BUT I RE -- REMIND EVERYBODY THEY ARE COUNTY FUNDS AND IT WILL BE TRANSMITTED TO COMMISSIONER'S COURT.
THE COURT EXPECTS THE STAFF TO COME WITH RECOMMENDATIONS.
YOU EXPECT US TO MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS AND WE EXPECT TO HAVE THE REPORT TRANSMITTED AND A RECOMMENDATION AS WELL.
>> RODNEY ELLIS: I HOPE WHEN YOUR STAFF COMES UP WITH A RECOMMENDATION YOU HAVE DONE YOUR INTERNAL MEETINGS AND YOU CAN RELEASE WHATEVER THEY COME UP WITH TO US AND THE PUBLIC AND THAT SHOULD BE DONE.
>> LINA HIDALGO: COMMISSIONER GARCIA?
>> ADRIAN GARCIA: THANK YOU, JUDGE.
PETER, YOU HAVE BEEN GIVEN AN OPINION AND I WANT TO GIVE YOU MINE.
THANK YOU FOR PROVIDING A STEADY HAND AND GOOD LEADERSHIP AND GOOD MANAGEMENT.
MY OPINION IS YOU ARE DOING EXTREMELY WELL.
>> RODNEY ELLIS: I AGREE WITH THAT.
>> LINA HIDALGO: THANK YOU, PETER.
COMMISSIONER CAGLE DID YOU HAVE ANY OTHER ITEMS ?
>> R JACK CAGLE: YOUR HONOR, THE NEXT ITEM MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT THINGS ARE IN THE WORKS AND SO LET'S TAKE NO ACTION AT THIS TIME AND ALLOW THAT TO FOLLOW THROUGH ON ITS OWN PROCESS.
>> LINA HIDALGO: COMMISSIONER ELLIS.
>> RODNEY ELLIS: IF I MIGHT ON THAT ITEM, IS RUSS POPPY ON THE LINE?
>> RODNEY ELLIS: IN LINE WITH WHAT COMMISSIONER RADACK WAS SUGGESTING, MAYBE YOU OUGHT TO HAVE SOME MEETINGS WHERE EVERYBODY CAN COME IN AND CALL IN AND GIVE THEIR INPUT.
I AM TOLD ON THAT PROJECT -- >> ADRIAN GARCIA: AND THE MEDIA.
>> RODNEY ELLIS: THIS IS THE PERRY HOLMES PROJECT -- THE PERRY HOMES PROJECT AND I KNOW WE HAVE SUBMITTED TO THE CITY THE INNER LOCAL.
WHERE IS THAT? WHAT IS GOING ON IN TERMS OF DISCUSSIONS WITH THAT INNER LOCAL NOW? I KNOW THE THINGS I MADE A MOTION FOR WERE THE CITY WOULD PUT UP HALF THE COSTS AND I THINK IT WAS 14 MILLION.
THAT'S SEVEN APIECE IF I REMEMBER RIGHT.
THE CITY WOULD ADOPT ALL OF OUR EFFORTS IN TOTALITY.
THE CITY WOULD COME UP WITH HALF COSTS IN ADVANCE TO DEVELOP A PROJECT AND THAT IS $30 MILLION AND I KNOW YOU TALKED ABOUT WE ARE $500 MILLION IN THE HOLE NOW ON SOME OF THOSE PROJECTS YOU TALKED ABOUT.
THERE MIGHT HAVE BEEN SOME OTHER CONDITIONS AND OF COURSE I KNOW THIS IS LAYING OUTSIDE HARRIS COUNTY IN MONTGOMERY COUNTY.
GIVE US AN IDEA WHERE YOU ARE.
>> THE OTHER THING TO KEEP IN MIND IS WE ASKED THEM TO ADOPT ATLAS 14 CRITERIA AND MITIGATION ASSOCIATED WITH THE RAINFALL RATES INSIDE THE COMMITTEE AND THE EK KJ.
>> RODNEY ELLIS: AND HAVE THEY DONE THAT?
>> THEY HAVE ADOPTED THE RAINFALL RATES, BUT IT IS MY UNDERSTANDING IS THEY HAVE NOT INCREASED THEIR DETENTION AND MITIGATION REQUIREMENTS KAW MENS RETE WITH OURS.
>> RODNEY ELLIS: IF YOU GAVE A PERCENTAGE DOES THAT MEAN 30%, 40%, 90% OF WHAT WE HAVE DONE? IF YOU CAN QUANTIFY IT THAT WAY.
I GUESS YOU ARE HALFWAY THERE ACKNOWLEDGING THE RAINFALL RATES.
BUT THE MITIGATION PIECE IS A BIG COMPONENT.
>> RODNEY ELLIS: AND HAVE THEY DONE IT TO APPLY TO THE E T.J.? >> LIKE I SAID, NOT
[15:50:01]
TO MY KNOWLEDGE, NOT YET.>> RODNEY ELLIS: AND AS I RECALL THIS PROJECT WAS APPROVED.
I SAW THAT ARTICLE IN THE "NEW YORK TIMES" WHERE SOME OF OUR FRIENDS IN COUNCIL WERE MAKING SOME STRONG COMMENTS.
I THOUGHT THE PROJECT WAS APPROVED SOME TIME AGO.
IT WAS APRIL OF 2018 AND APRIL OF 2019, IS THAT CORRECT, THAT THE CITY COUNCIL I ASSUMED UNANIMOUSLY PERMITTED THIS PROJECT TO GO FORWARD.
>> COMMISSIONER, I WOULD HAVE TO GO AND DO HOMEWORK ON THAT.
THIS IS OUTSIDE HARRIS COUNTY.
IT DID NOT DISCHARGE TO FLOOD CONTROL RIGHTS OF WAY.
WE NEVER SAW THE DRAINAGE REPORTS.
I DON'T HAVE THAT INFORMATION AT MY FINGERTIPS AND I WOULD HAVE TO DO MY RESEARCH.
>> RODNEY ELLIS: DOES MR. BLOUNT KNOW? I KNOW IT IS LATE.
>> THAT'S WHEN THE CITY OF HOUSTON PLANNING COMMISSION APPROVED THE PLATS.
>> RODNEY ELLIS: APRIL OF 2018 AND APRIL OF 2019.
>> YES, AND THERE WERE SEVERAL SECTIONS.
>> RODNEY ELLIS: AND THEN IT FLOODED.
>> RODNEY ELLIS: NOT FROM HARVEY.
>> RODNEY ELLIS: I MEAN THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON AND I KNOW THERE ARE TIMETABLES COMING UP WHAT HAS THE CITY OF HOUSTON -- WHERE ARE THEY? COULDN'T THEY JUST GO AHEAD -- THEY HAVE IT AND THOSE ARE PRETTY MUCH THE TERMS -- DID WE TALK ABOUT SPLG -- SOMETHING THE CITY SIGNED OFF AND THE COUNTY DID NOT SIGN OFF ON IT.
>> RIGHT, SO WE PREPARED TO DRAFT A LOPT AGREEMENT -- A LOCAL AGREEMENT THAT HIGHLIGHTS ALL YOU MENTIONED AND MORE QUITE FRANKLY.
WE WANT TO MAKE SURE, COMMISSIONER, IF THERE IS WORK TO BE DONE AT THE SITE BEFORE IT IS DEVELOPED THAT WE ARE NOT BURDENED WITH THAT OURSELVES.
IT IS MY UNDERSTANDING THAT THEY DON'T HAVE ANY CASH TO MATCH.
WE ARE LOOKING AT AN EQUAL AMOUNT OF ASSETS TO EXCHANGE HANDS AND OFFSET OUR CAPITAL INVESTMENT.
>> IT ADVANCE OF PUTTING FORWARD MONEY.
AND WHAT IS THE TIMELINE? WHAT IS THE DEADLINE?
>> WE MADE AN OFFICIAL OFFICER TO THE PARTNERS ON MAY 5TH AND WE SAID WE WOULD HAVE A 75-DAYTIME TIME FRAME TO COME UP WITH A CONTRACT FOR BOTH PARTIES TO EXECUTE.
IT IS MY UNDERSTANDING THAT THE COUNTY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE SUBMITTED A DRAFT ERNEST CONTRACT LAST FRIDAY AND WE GOT COMMENTS BACK ON MONDAY, YESTERDAY, JULY 27TH, AND I AM NOT SURE IF ROBERT SOARD'S OFFICE COMMENTED BACK OR NOT.
>> HAS THE PURCHASE PRICE GONE UP?
IT IS 14.3 MILLION AND THAT IS CONTINGENT ON US HAVING TO UH -- TO UH PRAISE THE PROPERTY.
THE PRELIMINARY INDICATIONS ARE COMING BACK THAT IT WILL ABSOLUTELY BE THAT MUCH, BUT WE ARE NOT SURE HOW MUCH MORE.
>> RODNEY ELLIS: I THINK BECAUSE THIS PROJECT HAS BEEN SUCH AN IMPORTANT ONE WE NEED TO MAKE SURE WE ARE TRANSPARENT AND MAKE SURE THAT THE CITY KNOWS THE ITEMS THAT WERE VOTE OWED IN A MOTION.
OBVIOUSLY THREE MEMBERS OF THE COURT CAN SWITCH AND GO ANOTHER WAY AT ANY POINT.
IN LINE WITH WHAT COMMISSIONER RADACK WAS SUGGESTING, AND I KNOW THAT COMMISSIONER CAGLE IS INTERESTED IN TRANSPARENCY, WE WANT TO MAKE SURE ALL OF THAT IS OUT.
ANY MEETINGS OVER THERE, I THINK YOU OUGHT TO OPEN THOSE UP TO THE PRESS.
>> I WILL KEEP THAT IN MIND THE NEXT TIME WE GET TOGETHER WITH THE CITY.
>> LINA HIDALGO: GO AHEAD, COMMISSIONER RADACK.
>> STEVE RADACK: JUDGE, I WAS UNDER THE IMPRESSION THAT YOU WERE GOING TO TALK TO MAYOR TURNER ABOUT THIS PROJECT.
I WANTED TO ASK YOU IF YOU HAD TALKED TO HIM.
I THINK THE REALITY IS REALLY SIMPLE.
IF HE IS FOR IT, FOR THE COUNTY AND THE CITY BUYING IT THEN THERE IS A POSSIBILITY THAT COULD HAPPEN.
I WANT TO ASK YOU, HAVE YOU TALKED TO HIM AND WHAT IS HIS RESPONSE?
>> LINA HIDALGO: I HAVEN'T, COMMISSIONER RADACK.
WE HAVE NOT IS -- NOT DISCUSSED THIS SPECIFIC CRITERIA.
I KNOW WORK IS BEING DONE AT THE STAFF LEVEL.
IF WE GET TO A POINT WHERE THE STAFF AND THE DEPARTMENT TELLS ME WHAT IS LEFT IS TO TALK TO THE MAYOR, THEN I AM HAPPY TO DO THAT.
I DON'T WANT TO -- I THINK -- MY UNDERSTANDING IS IT WAS STILL SORT OF AT THE STAFF LEVEL.
RUSS, CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG.
>> ADRIAN GARCIA: THANK YOU, JUDGE.
WE DISCUSSED THIS ITEM IN EXECUTIVE SESSION.
I AM NOT SURE HOW MUCH WE CAN TALK ABOUT WHO WAS SUPPOSED TO DO WHAT.
MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT A COUPLE OF OUR COLLEAGUE S WHO HAVE ROLES IN TRYING TO MOVE THE BALL FORWARD AND NOT JUST THE STAFF.
I'M NOT SURE, ROBERT, WE CAN TALK ABOUT IT AND WHETHER WE CAN THROW EVERYTHING ON THE TABLE WE TALKED ABOUT IN EXECUTIVE SESSION.
I JUST WANT TO BE -- IF YOU CAN GUIDE US ON WHAT WE CAN SAY OR CAN'T.
>> YOU ARE PROBABLY GETTING PRETTY CLOSE TO THE LIMIT.
WE COULD GO INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION IF YOU WANT TO CONTINUE THE DISCUSSION THERE.
>> ADRIAN GARCIA: I WILL STAY THERE.
ONLY THAT MY RECOLLECTION WAS IT WASN'T ALL ON YOU, JUDGE, AND IT WASN'T ALL ON STAFF, BUT WE SUGGESTED ENGAGEMENT IN A NUMBER OF WAYS.
>> LINA HIDALGO: COMMISSIONER ELLIS.
>> RODNEY ELLIS: I KNOW COMMISSIONER RADACK WANTED TRANSPARENCY HERE, SO, ROBERT, WITHOUT ME MAKING REFERENCE TO ANYTHING THAT WAS SAID IN EXECUTIVE SESSION, I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE BEING TRANSPARENT ON THIS.
IT CAME UP EARLIER ON THE HIGHWAY PROJECT.
AS I SAW THIS, IT APPEARED TO ME THAT THE CITY WAS TRYING TO GET IT DONE WHICH IS WHY I DIDN'T WANT TO REPEAT ANYTHING THAT WAS SAID IN EXECUTIVE SESSION, BUT I CAME OUT AND MADE A MOTION SO THERE WAS A RECORD OF THE THINGS THE COUNTY WAS ASKING FOR IN TERMS OF A PARTNERSHIP.
I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE WE KEEP A SPOTLIGHT ON IT.
I THINK AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE WE SHOULD TRY TO SAY IT IN PUBLIC.
>> LINA HIDALGO: I THINK WE NEED TO KEEP WORKING ON IT AND I WILL CIRCLE BACK WITH RUSS AND THE TEAM TO SEE WHAT YOU WANT ME TO DO.
I DO SHARE COMMISSIONER RADACK'S IMPRESSION.
I THINK WE HAVE DISCUSSED THIS BEFORE IN OPEN COURT THAT IT IS A LITTLE BIT OF ROUND AND ROUND AND ROUND.
I WILL CLARIFY IF THERE IS ANYTHING ELSE WE ARE WAITING FOR AND THEN TRY AND GET AS MUCH CLARITY AS WE CAN FROM THE CITY ON OUR END.
>> STEVE RADACK: I WILL SAY THIS AND ROBERT YOU CAN STOP ME IF YOU WANT TO.
I BELIEVE THAT THIS IS NOT ON A STAFF LEVEL.
SO BASED UPON THE FACT THAT YOU HAVEN'T TALKED TO THE MAYOR, Y'ALL HAVEN'T TALKED, AND I BELIEVED THAT THE MAYOR IS THE OBJECT YESESLY THE MOST POW -- OBVIOUSLY THE MOST POWERFUL PERSON IN CITY GOVERNMENT, THEN I LOOK AT IT THIS WAY.
SINCE THE MAYOR -- UNLESS THE MAYOR COMES FORWARD AND BASICALLY INSTRUCTS CITY GOVERNMENT TO WORK WITH THE COUNTY AND 50/50 DEAL AND BUYS THE PROPERTY, AS FAR AS I'M CONCERNED BASED UPON WHAT I'M HEARING I BASICALLY CONCLUDE THE DEAL IS DEAD.
>> RODNEY ELLIS: I JUST WANT TO STRESS THAT A 50/50 DEAL UNLESS THE COUNTY WILL GET INTO THE BUSINESS WILL LAND IN ANOTHER COUNTY.
PARTNERSHIP 50/50 MEANS NOT ONLY ACQUIRING THE LAND, BUT YOU HAVE TO DO SOMETHING WITH IT BECAUSE IF THE PEOPLE FEEL AS THOUGH THAT IS WHY THEY FLOODED, WE HAVE TO DO SOMETHING WITH IT.
WE WERE TOLD AT THE LAST MEETING IN PUBLIC THAT IS ABOUT $30 MILLION.
14 TO BUY IT AND 30 MILLION TO DEVELOP IT.
THERE IS A COST AT MAINTAINING IT.
THE OTHER THING I THINK ABOUT, I DID RAISE THE ISSUE OF IF THERE IS LITIGATION NOW, IT IS HARD TO WIN A LAWSUIT AGAINST A GOVERNMENTAL ENTITY, BUT IT IS NOT IMPOSSIBLE.
IF WE DIDN'T HAVE THE MONEY TO DEVELOP IT AND THEY FLOODED AGAIN AND THEY THINK THAT'S WHY THEY FLOODED THEY SHOULD SUE.
THEY SHOULD SUE WHOEVER OWNS THE PROPERTY.
I WANT TO MAKE SURE ALL OF THAT IS ON THE TABLE IF WE ARE TALKING ABOUT BEING PARTNERS.
AND THEN THE ISSUE WHICH WE VOTED ON HERE IN PUBLIC WAS THEY WOULD ADOPT ALL OF OUR ATLAS 14 REQUIREMENTS INCLUDING IN THE E T.J.
I WANT TO ASK THE QUESTION MR. BLOUNT, MR. POPPY, HAS THE CITY DONE THE SAME THING IN THE E T.J.
>> EXPHITIONER THIS -- COMMISSIONER, THIS IS RUSS.
I DON'T TRACK THE APPROVALS THAT CLOSE.
I WOULD HAVE TO DO RESEARCH TO ANSWER THAT WITH CERTAINTY.
>> RODNEY ELLIS: DO YOU KNOW, MR. BLOUNT?
>> LINA HIDALGO: IN THE INTEREST OF JUST KEEPING IT MOVING I WILL CIRCLE WITH RUSS AND I WILL TALK TO THE MAYOR AND WE WILL HAVE UPDATES AT THE STAFF LEVEL FOR YOU GUYS AND WE CAN GO FROM THERE.
>> STEVE RADACK: THANK YOU, YOUR HONOR.
>> I AGREE THAT IT WILL TAKE MORE THAN THE PURCHASE OF THE LAND.
THE WAY I SEE IT, UNLESS YOU CAN, YOU KNOW, CREATE A MIRACLE, COUNTY JUDGE, I THINK THE DEAL IS DEAD.
>> LINA HIDALGO: AND I THINK WE HAVE EVEN VOTED ON THIS A COUPLE OF TIMES.
THE CITY NEEDS TO ADOPT THE COUNTY STANDARDS AND THE COUNTY NEEDS TO PROVIDE FUNDS FOR HALF OF THE PURCHASE PRICE AND THE CITY NEEDS TO PROVIDE FUNDS OR ASSETS FOR AS MUCH AS THE COUNTY PROVIDES IF WE ARE CON TRACTING A DE -- CONSTRUCT A DETENTION BASE.
I KNOW THEY HAVE BEEN COMMUNICATED TO THEM.
I AM HAPPY TO CIRCLE BACK AND I SURE HOPE IT IS NOT DEAD.
>> STEVE RADACK: I WOULD SAY THIS, THAT I THINK IT IS DEAD.
I BASE THAT ON THE FACT THEY HAVE DONE NOTHING.
YOU'RE SITTING THERE TALKING -- AND I UNDERSTAND THAT YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT TRANSPORTATION POLICY COUNCIL AND THE CITY.
YOU KNOW, THEY KIND OF ABANDONED THE COUNTY.
[15:55:02]
MY HUMBLE OPINION IS IT IS DEAD.BUT, HEY, SOME THINGS HAVE COME BACK TO LIFE.
>> LINA HIDALGO: COMMISSIONER GARCIA AND THEN COMMISSIONER CAGLE.
>> ADRIAN GARCIA: ROBERT WE HAD EXECUTIVE SESSION ON THIS AND I WAS ALWAYS TOLD YOU TREAT THE CONVERSATION IN EXECUTIVE SESSION FAIRLY SACRED.
WITH COMMISSIONER RADACK TALKING ABOUT -- I MEAN, AND WE WENT INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION TO CREATE A NEGOTIATION STRATEGY.
HAVE WE CREATED A PROBLEM FOR OURSELVES BY HAVING COMMISSIONER RADACK SAY IT IS DEAD AND WE HAVE NO MORE NEGOTIATIONS TO DO? HAVE WE PUT SOMETHING IN JEOPARDY BY EFFECTIVELY SAYING WHAT WE HAD GONE THROUGH IN EXECUTIVE SESSION IS NO LONGER VALID? IF THAT'S THE CASE WE CAN TELL RUSS TO STOP TALKING TO ANYBODY AS IT RELATES TO THIS PARTICULAR PROPERTY AND GET ON WITH OTHER BUSINESS.
>> WHETHER THAT IS THE WILL OF THE COURT, THAT'S UP TO THE COURT TO PUT IT ON THE AGENDA AND VOTE ON IT.
I THINK COMMISSIONER RADACK IS SIMPLY STATING HIS OPINION.
IT MAY BE HIS OPINION THAT THE DEAL IS DEAD.
AND I DON'T THINK HE REVEALED ANYTHING THAT WAS SAID IN EXECUTIVE SESSION.
IT HAS BEEN A LONGTIME AND THERE WERE TWO DIFFERENT EXECUTIVE SESSIONS BUT THERE WERE A LOT OF PUBLIC COMMENTS AFTER THAT.
I DON'T KNOW IF IT IS IN ANYMORE JEOPARDY THAN IT WAS EARLIER TODAY.
>> LINA HIDALGO: YES, COMMISSIONER CAGLE?
>> R JACK CAGLE: YOUR HONOR, I HAVE HOPE THAT THIS PROJECT MAY STILL RISE FROM WHAT MAY SEEM TO BE THE ASHES OR SHOULD WE SAY THE FLOODWATERS AND THIS IS AN IMPORTANT PROJECT AND EVEN THOUGH THE PROPERTY IS NOT IN HARRIS COUNTY.
IT IS IN MONTGOMERY COUNTY IT IMPACT -- IT IMPACTS SOME OF THE MOST DISADVANTAGED IN PRECINCT 4.
AND THEN DIRECTLY BELOW THEM SOME OF THE HUMBLE FOLKS AND DIRECTLY BELOW THEM ON THE STREAM LINE ARE FOLKS IN PRECINCT 2 THAT ARE OF HUMBLE MEANS.
WHEN WE SPEAK ABOUT KEEPING EVERYBODY OUT OF THE FLOODWATERS THIS IS A GROUP THAT FLOODED SEVERAL TIMES.
THEY ARE NOT THE ECONOMICALLY WEALTHY IN OUR MIDST.
AND SO I THINK THAT WHEN WE SPEAK WANTING TO MAKE SURE THAT WE TAKE CARE OF EVERYONE AND WE TALK ABOUT MAKING SURE THAT WE TAKE CARE OF THOSE WHO ARE NOT THE MOST FINANCIALLY FIT.
YES, THEY LIVE CLOSE TO WEALTHY FOLKS, BUT THEY -- BUT THESE ARE NOT THE WEALTHY FOLKS.
THE ONES BELOW THEM, ESPECIALLY IN PRECINCT 2 AND THE HUMBLE PORTIONS BELOW THEM IN THE STREAM WHERE WE HAVE TO HAVE A SERIES OF THOSE I AM HOPEFUL WE CAN STILL MAKE PROGRESS AND THAT'S WHY I ALLOWED THE PROS SAIDS TO TAKE PLACE.
I HEARD MY COLLEAGUE MR. ELLIS LOUDLY AND I HEARD MR. RADACK MAKE HIS QUESTIONS.
>> ADRIAN GARCIA: BUT IT IS DEAD.
IT'S DEAD! THE GUY MOST EXPERIENCED HERE ON COMMISSIONER'S COURT SAYS IT IS DEAD.
WHAT ELSE IS THERE TO NEGOTIATE?
>> RODNEY ELLIS: I THINK ALL OF THE CONDITIONS THAT THE COUNTY ADVANCED ARE REASONABLE.
I HOPE REGARDLESS OF WHAT HAPPENS WITH THIS PROJECT, THE CITY AND OUR OTHER CITIES DO ADOPT THE ATLAS 14 STANDARDS.
IT WAS A LEAP OF FAITH AND LEADERSHIP ON THE PART OF THIS, YOU JUDGE AND THIS COMMISSION TO ADOPT THEM.
MR. BLOUNT, YOU AND YOUR TEAM TO COME UP WITH THEM.
I DO WANT YOU TO LOOK AND HOPEFULLY JUST LET US KNOW.
I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHEN WE MEET AGAIN NEXT WEEK, IS THERE ANOTHER INSTANCE WHERE THE SAME THING HAS HAPPENED AGAIN? THE PUBLIC OUGHT TO KNOW THAT AND I WAS BEING FACETIOUS ABOUT PUTTING A SPOTLIGHT ON IT, BUT YOU THINK FOR THIS TO HAVE HAPPENED SPH -- AND I SAW SOME.
COMMENTS FOR THE CITY TO BAIL THEM OUT OF A PROBLEM THEY CREATE.
IN 2018 THEY VOTED ON IT AND AGAIN IN 2019.
IT IS SOME OF THE VERY ONE THAT'S WERE SPEAKING THE LOUDEST IN THAT ARTICLE IN THE NEWSPAPER.
I WANT TO KNOW WHEN ELSE IT WILL HAPPEN.
>> LINA HIDALGO: I AGREE AND I THINK WE SHOULD MOVE ON.
I THINK WE HAVE LITIGATED THIS QUITE A BIT AND I WILL TALK TO THE MAYOR AND WE WILL SEE IF WE CAN HAVE IT RISE FROM THE FLOODWATERS.
>> ADRIAN GARCIA: JUST ONE LAST COMMENT.
I AGREE, BUT I THINK PUBLICLY SAYING THE DEAL IS DEAD, I MEAN IT JUST REALLY TAKES THE WIND OUT FROM UNDER US.
I HOPE THAT IS NOT THE CASE BECAUSE I HAVE TO CHOOSE A STAFF WHO WANTS US TO COME A DEAL SO HIS HOUSE DOESN'T FLOOD ANYMORE AND I WOULD LIKE TO ACCOMPLISH THAT FOR ONE PERSON I KNOW.
>> STEVE RADACK: JUDGE, LET ME JUST SAY THIS.
YOU KNOW, ARE YOU GOING TO TALK TO THE MAYOR, YOU SAID.
THAT IS SOMETHING THAT HASN'T HAPPENED YET SO WE'LL SEE WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU TALK TO THE MAYOR.
IT IS REALLY A SIMPLE PROCESS HERE.
WE BASICALLY HAVE DEMANDS FOR THE CITY AND THE CITY HASN'T DONE ONE SINGLE THING.
YOU BROUGHT UP EARLIER ABOUT YOUR EXPERIENCE WITH THE CITY ALONG WITH COMMISSIONER GARCIA AT THE TRANSPORTATION POLICY COUNCIL.
BASED UPON WHAT HAS HAPPENED BASED -- IN THE LAST FEW WEEKS NOTHING POSITIVE HAS HAPPENED IN REFERENCE TO IT -- AFTER AWHILE THEY ARE GOING TO BE DEAD.
I AM SIMPLY SAYING, YEAH, I THINK IT IS DEAD UNLESS SOMEBODY DOES CPR TO SAVE IT.
DON'T PUT IT ALL ON ME, BUT I WILL TRY.
>> SO IS THERE ANY ACTION ON THIS ITEM.
>> HOW ABOUT FOR THE ITEM BEFORE HILLTOP?
>> R JACK CAGLE: MOVE THE OTHER ITEMS.
>> LINA HIDALGO: WE VOTED ON THE COVID ITEMS.
MISCELLANEOUS -- >> R JACK CAGLE: JAMES, DID YOU HEAR ME MOVE MY OTHER TWO ITEMS?
>> R JACK CAGLE: I MOVE MY OTHER TWO ITEMS. I DIDN'T HEAR IF JAMES HEARD ME OR NOT.
>> LINA HIDALGO: ITEM A IS A TRANS MISS TALL AND ITEM B NEEDS TO BE EDITED.
EYE -- ITEM B UNDER MISCELLANEOUS SHOULD READ REQUEST BY THE HARRIS COUNTY SPORTS AND CONVENTION CORPORATION FOR APPROVAL OF $250,000 TO BE PAID FROM THE HOT FUND IN CONNECTION WITH THE MEMORANDUM AND UNDERSTANDING WITH THE CONSTABLE OF PRECINCT 1 FOR AROUND THE CLOCK ON DUTY LAW ENFORCEMENT SERVICES AT THE PARK.
ITEM C IS A RESOLUTION ON THE ISSUANCE OF BONDS.
>> RODNEY ELLIS: JUDGE, MR. SOARD, I JUST DON'T REMEMBER.
MAYBE I ASKED, BUT DID YOU KNOW IF THEY PUT A MINORITY WOMAN OWNED FIRM IN THERE?
BONDS ARE NOT BEING ISSUED BY HARRIS COUNTY AND IT IS NOT THE OBLIGATION OF HARRIS COUNTY.
DOUG MAY BE ABLE TO SAY, BUT I KNOW THAT CONVERSATION HAS BEEN HAD, BUT I DON'T KNOW ABOUT THIS PARTICULAR ONE.
>> RODNEY ELLIS: IF NOT I WILL READ IT.
I WANT TO HOLD IT AND READ IT.
IS THE QUESTION WHETHER THEY THE MINORITY COUNCIL BE PART OF THE BOND COUNCIL?
>> THIS IS A PRIVATE ACTIVITY BOND THAT REQUIRES THE APPROVAL OF A LOCAL GOVERNMENT UNDER SECTION 147F OF THE INTERNAL REVENUE CODE.
THEY NEED TO BRING IT TO US FOR APPROVAL.
IF YOU WANTED TO HOLD THE ITEM.
>> RODNEY ELLIS: I WOULD LIKE TO HOLD IT AND READ IT.
AND WE COULD GET THAT INFORMATION AND HAVE IT FOR YOU.
>> RODNEY ELLIS: TELL HIM I AM A SLOW READER.
>> UNLESS THERE IS SOMEBODY HERE TO ANSWER THE QUESTION FOR YOU RIGHT NOW.
>> RODNEY ELLIS: IF THEY CAN ANSWER IT -- IF THEY CAN'T ANSWER IT WE CAN DO IT ON THURSDAY.
REQUEST FOR A TWO-MINUTE BREAK.
LET'S TRY THAT AND HOPEFULLY WE CAN FINISH WHEN WE RETURN.
WE WILL TAKE A BREAK UNTIL 11:15.
>> RODNEY ELLIS: JUDGE, I WILL BE READY WITH GOOD NEWS.
CITY CORPORATION OWNED TENANT ISSUES.
>> LINA HIDALGO: IT IS 11:15 AND COMMISSIONER'S COURT IS BACK IN SESSION.
>> LINA HIDALGO: 11:16 AND COMMISSIONER'S COURT IS BACK IN SESSION.
COMMISSIONER ELLIS, WERE YOU GOING TO SAY SOMETHING?
>> RODNEY ELLIS: I DID SOME SPEED READING AND THE OTHER ITEM WAS FINE.
COMMISSIONER GARCIA YOU DIDN'T KNOW I COULD READ SO QUICK, DID YOU?
>> ADRIAN GARCIA: AT THIS TIME OF NIGHT? JUDGE, I HAVE AN ITEM -- WELL, I WANT TO SUBMIT MY RESOLUTION WHENEVER YOU THINK IT IS MOST APPROPRIATE.
>> LINA HIDALGO: LET ME GET THROUGH THE SUPPLEMENTAL AND WE WILL COME BACK UP.
THAT WAS C AND SO COMMISSIONER ELLIS, YOU SAID YOU ARE FINE.
>> LINA HIDALGO: AND THEN SO MOVE TO SUPPLEMENTAL.
THE FIRST SUPPLEMENTAL IS COUNTY ENGINEER TO AUTHORIZE THE USE OF THE RIDE LOT.
NUMBER 2 REQUESTS NO ACTION BE TAKEN.
SUPPLEMENTAL ITEM NUMBER 3 IS ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES AND IT IS A COUNTY ATTORNEY ITEM.
TO SUE A BUSINESS OWNER FOR ALLEGEDLY DUMPING USED ENGINE OIL ON THE PROPERTY DRAINS.
NUMBER FOUR IS A PUBLIC HEARING.
THIS IS A REQUEST FOR A PUBLIC HEARING.
I WILL NOW OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING FOR THE CONSIDERATION OF A CONTINGENCY CONTRACT WITH NORMAN JOLLY, PC, MICHAEL JOLLY PC, THE RUCKER LAW GROUP, LLC AND COLBY LEWIS TO PURSUE POSSIBLE LITIGATION AGAINST PARTIES
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WHO MAY BE RESPONSIBLE FOR DAMAGES TO THE DASH -- HARRIS COUNTY JURY ASSEMBLY BUILDING DURING HURRICANE HARVEY.IS THERE ANYBODY THAT WANTS TO SPEAK FOR ORGANS THIS ITEM -- FOR OR AGAINST THIS ITEM? NO SPEAKERS?
>> LINA HIDALGO: IS THERE A MOTION?
>> R JACK CAGLE: YOUR HONOR, I HAVE A QUESTION FOR THE COUNTY ATTORNEY ON THIS.
>> R JACK CAGLE: ERROR HONOR, WITH -- YOUR HONOR, WITH YOUR PERMISSION?
>> LINA HIDALGO: YES, COMMISSIONER CAGLE.
>> R JACK CAGLE: I KNOW ONE OF THE FOLKS HERE IS THE LAW OFFICES OF COLBY LEWIS.
I HAVE NOT SPOKEN WITH COLBY FOR A LONGTIME, BUT HE WAS A STUDENT OF MINE AND ONE OF MY BRIGHTEST STUDENTS WHEN I WAS TEACHING AT UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON LAW SCHOOL AS AN ADD -- ADJUNCT PROFESSOR.
I KNEW HE WOULD HAVE A BRILLIANT CAREER AHEAD OF HIM, HARD WORKING AND SMART.
SINCE I HAD SUCH HIGH REGARD OF HIM AS A TEACHER, AS HIS PROFESSOR, DO I NEED TO ABSTAIN IN VOTING FROM HIM NOW? I PUT HIM THROUGH A LOT OF GRIEF.
>> IF YOU ARE ASKING MY OPINION, COMMISSIONER, IT IS NOT NECESSARY YOU ABSTAIN.
YOU HAVE NO INTEREST IN THE OUTCOME OF THIS PARTICULAR ITEM, NO FINANCIAL INTEREST.
>> R JACK CAGLE: AND THAT WAS LIKE 15 YEARS AGO.
I THINK HE STILL PROBABLY WAKES UP WANTING TO KNOW IF HE WALKS IN THE COURTROOM AND WHERE HIS PEN IS AND WHERE HIS RULES OF PROCEDURE ARE.
>> R JACK CAGLE: WITH YOUR BLESSING, THEN I WILL GO AHEAD AND BE VOTING FOR THE ITEM.
I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE I DIDN'T NEED TO ABSTAIN AS TO MR. LEWIS.
>> LINA HIDALGO: SO THERE IS A MOTION -- WHO MADE THE MOTION?
>> LINA HIDALGO: IS THERE A SECOND?
>> LINA HIDALGO: COMMISSIONER GARCIA.
ALL IN FAVOR OF APPROVING CONTIN -- CONTINGENCY CONTRACT WITH THESE FOLKS?
>> LINA HIDALGO: OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY.
I NOW CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING.
ITEM 5 IS TO TERMINATE AN AGREEMENT FOR VENDING MACHINE SERVICES BECAUSE OF AN ERROR.
COMMISSIONER ELLIS OR ANYBODY ELSE HAVE ANY COMMENTS ON THIS? COMMISSIONER CAGLE HAS A QUESTION.
>> R JACK CAGLE: MY QUESTION IS THIS, JUDGE, LAST COMMISSIONER'S COURT I WAS SHOCKED BY THE NUMBERS THAT WAS PRESENTED BY THIS REPORT.
I MADE A REQUEST THAT WE PROVIDE -- WE BE PROVIDED WITH THE TOP 10 INDIVIDUALS THAT WERE PUT INTO THE NON-MWBE CATEGORY AND I HAVE NOT BEEN PROVIDED THAT.
WE ASKED THE COUNTY UH -- AUDITOR -- AUDITOR'S OFFICE AND PURCHASING DATA.
THE CONTRACT DOES SAY THIS INFORMATION IS PIA-ABLE.
WE ARE BEING ASKED TO GIVE SOME MORE MONEY WHICH I DON'T REALLY MIND THAT FOR WHAT THEY ARE DOING.
BUT IT SEEMS TO BE AWFUL DIFFICULT.
I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW AT LEAST -- I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THE UNDERLING DATA.
WE HAD THAT DISCUSSION EARLIER WITH JAD.
LET'S SEE WHAT THE DATA IS AND NOT JUST THE CONCLUSIONS BECAUSE IF WE'VE GOT SOME COMPANIES THAT WE ARE GIVING BUSINESS TO THAT ARE BIG COMPANIES, THEN MAYBE WE NEED TO MAKE SOME CHANGES.
I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THE DATA IN THAT REPORT.
THE QUESTION IS WHAT DO I NEED TO DO IF I WANT TO SEE THE UNDERLING DATA.
THE CONTRACT SAYS IT IS PIAABLE.
DOES THE COUNTY COMMISSIONER NEED TO DO A PIA REQUEST?
>> I I WOULD ASK FOR CLARIFICATION FROM THE STAFF, BUT I HAVE ASKED ABOUT THE INFORMATION AND I GUESS YOU ARE ASKING FOR THE TOP 10 VENDORS THAT ARE NOT CONSIDERED MWBE OR DBE, CORRECT?
>> R JACK CAGLE: I THOUGHT THAT WOULD BE A LIST THEY COULD FIRE OFF TO ME RIGHT AWAY.
I I WOULD -- I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THE ENTIRE LIST, BUT THE TOP 10 IS WHAT I ASKED FOR TWO WEEKS AGO.
>> I WILL MAKE SURE WE GET THE ENTIRE DATA FILE, BUT IT MAY TAKE LONGER TO GET TO YOU.
I WILL REQUEST THAT INFORMATION.
SHE JUST TOLD ME IT WASN'T REALLY AVAILABLE BECAUSE OF THE WAY THEY DID THEIR ANALYSIS, BUT I WILL FOLLOW-UP WITH HER AGAIN TOMORROW MORNING TO SEE HOW SHE CAN DO IT.
THERE IS NO REASON FOR A RECORD REQUEST.
I WILL ASK FOR THE INFORMATION AGAIN.
I HAVE ASKED FOR CLARIFICATION ON THE QUESTIONS ASKED IN THE LAST COURT AND I WILL FOLLOW-UP WITH BOTH.
SEE, I WANT TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE -- WE ARE NOT INCLUDING CENTER POINT OR SOME OTHER BIG, MAJOR CONTRACTOR THAT WE HAVE THAT WOULD SKEW THE RESULTS WHEN I DON'T THINK THERE IS A CONTRACT THAT WE CAN DIVY UP.
I WANT TO SEE WHAT THE TOP 10 THINGS ARE.
MAYBE IF WE COULD DIVERSIFY WITH REGARD TO THOSE AND IT IS WITHIN OUR DISCRETION.
LEG >> LINA HIDALGO: COMMISSIONER CAGLE -- COMMISSIONER ELLIS?
>> RODNEY ELLIS: COMMISSIONER CAGLE YOU SHOULD HAVE AGO -- ACCESS AND I WAS NOT ONLY SHOCKED AND APPALLED, BUT I WAS EMBARRASSED.
I AM TOLD FROM TALKING TO PEOPLE AROUND THE COUNTRY THE MOST MAJOR DIVERSE COMMUNITIES LIKE OURS, THOSE WERE THE LOWEST NUMBERS FOR MINORITY IN WOMEN-OWNED BUSINESSES TO PARTICIPATE THAT THEY HAD EVER SEEN.
IN FACT, THERE WAS NO ONE I COULD CALL AND ASK TO SEE IF THEY CAN GUESS THE NUMBERS WHO WOULD HAVE THOUGHT IN A COUNTY AS DIVERSE AS THIS ONE AND PARTICULARLY BEING NEXT TO HOUSTON AND IN THE STATE OF TEXAS ON A DISPARITY STUDY IN 1993.
TO BE HONEST WITH YOU, WE HAVE A LONG WAY TO GO AND I HOPE THAT WE WILL GET THERE.
THEY DO A LOT OF DATA AND THE CONTRACTOR'S GROUPS DO SUE YOU HAVE -- DO SUE.
YOU HAVE TO GO TO THAT PROBABILITY TEST I DIDN'T KNOW YOU ASKED FOR IT, TO BE HONEST.
>> R JACK CAGLE: THE GOOD NEWS IS THAT WHAT WE AS COMMISSIONERS DO ARE TO BE COMMENDED.
IN FACT, I GOT A COPY OF WHAT PRECINCT 2 DID VERY SIMILAR TO WHAT WE DID IN PRE -- PRECINCT 1 AND THEIR NUMBERS IN HOW THEY CONDUCT THEIR BUSINESS ARE VERY, VERY GOOD.
I KNOW THAT TO BE TRUE -- WELL, WHAT WE DID IN PRECINCT 1, THAT'S WHY I WANT TO SEE, OKAY, WHAT IS IN THE REST OF THE REPORT.
I ASKED FOR THOSE QUESTIONS LAST TIME AND SHE SAID WHAT WE DID WAS JUST A MINUTE ASH -- DASH MINISCULE DROP IN THE BUCKET FOR WHAT WAS GOING ON IN THE COUNTY.
LET ME SEE WHAT THE BUCKET IS.
THAT'S TERRIBLE NUMBERS WHAT SHE REPORTED.
>> RODNEY ELLIS: ALL OF THE COMMENTS THAT WERE MADE AND WE USED TO JOKE THAT WHEN I GOT HERE OH EVERYBODY IS INTERESTED IN THAT.
MOST OF THE MINORITY-OWNED BUSINESSES MAKE THEIR MONEY AS SUBS AND WE DIDN'T PAY FOR B2G NOW.
I WANT TO STRESS -- I KNOW I MEET WITH COMMISSIONER GARCIA ABOUT IT.
CLEARLY WE OUGHT TO HAVE A SMALL BUSINESS PROGRAM AND WE OUGHT TO HAVE A DBE PROGRAM.
WE OUGHT TO HAVE A MWBE PROGRAM AND WE HAVE A LONG WAY TO GO.
AND I HOPE COMING IN SO LATE INTO THE GAME THAT WE CAN BUILD SOMETHING THAT WILL ALSO SOMEHOW IF IT IS PERMITTED UNDER THE LAW, I DON'T KNOW.
WE CAN'T TO ENCOURAGE THEM TO HAVE MINORITY AS WOMEN AS PARTNERS.
WE WANT OUR CORPORATE LEADERS TO HAVE DIVERSE BOARDS.
SOME ON YOU EQUITY OUGHT TO BE THE LENS THAT WE LOOK THROUGH AS WE REBUILD OUR ECONOMY.
I AM HOPING THAT THIS CONTRACT WILL GO FORWARD TODAY IF YOU ALL FEEL COMFORTABLE.
IF YOU DON'T, I COULD HAVE JUST HIRED THEM THROUGH MY OFFICE.
IT IS UNDER $45,000 TO GO AND DO IT.
THEN WE DON'T HAVE TO ADOPT IT.
WHATEVER COMES BACK YOU CAN SAY, WELL, WE WANT A, WE WANT B, WE DON'T WANT THIS.
WE OUGHT TO MOVE AND I HOPE WE DO IT QUICKLY.
WHAT WE DO AS COMMISSIONERS IS PEANUTS.
I SAID MANY TIMES WHEN MAKING THE CASE TO GET THIS STUDY DONE.
>> LINA HIDALGO: COMMISSIONER GARCIA.
>> ADRIAN GARCIA: THANK YOU, JUDGE.
COMMISSIONER ELLIS, I WANT TO COMMEND YOU FOR YOUR WORK ON THIS ITEM.
I DID WANT TO SECOND THIS ITEM, BUT I WOULD LIKE TO ASK FOR YOUR SUPPORT IN INCLUDING THE ADOPTION OF THE TEXAS HUB PROGRAM INTO THIS ITEM.
>> RODNEY ELLIS: COMMISSIONER, NO PROBLEM AT ALL.
I WANT YOU TO KNOW, COMMISSIONER, IT WAS A LITTLE EASIER TO GET THE STATE TO DO IT, THE DISPARITY STUDY.
I LOADED IT INTO A MASSIVE BILL AND IT WAS A MILLION-DOLLAR STUDY.
I PUT THAT IN IN 1991 AND IT TOOK TWO YEARS TO DO IT.
IT WAS WHEN WE GOT OUT OF THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION IN 1993.
I AM PROUD OF WHAT THE STATE DOES.
I MENTIONED BEFORE YOU ALL GOT HERE.
I WAS LOOKING AT PRESIDENT BUSH WITH GRAJ WEIGHT -- GRADUATION STANDARDS.
YOU HAVE TO BY LAW EXALT THE RACE NEUTRAL STUFF.
DBE AND YOU HAVE TO DO HUB AND YOU DO ALL OF THEM.
>> ADRIAN GARCIA: SO THANK YOU FOR THAT.
NOW THAT WE FOUND OUT WE HAVE A DBE PROGRAM YOU ARE ADDING THE NWBE WITH THE HUB PROGRAM.
THE HUB WILL BE EASY TO TURN ON AND IT CAN IMPACT ALL THE THINGS.
THE ONLY QUESTION I HAVE IS YOURS IS STILL A WORK TO BE DONE.
WE HAVE TO RESOLVE WHERE THE DBE COMPLIANCE OFFICER GOES.
I THINK WE TALK ABOUT IT BEING MOVED OVER TO EITHER -- IT IS ST TO PURCHASE SNG -- IS IT PURCHASING? WHERE DID WE LEAVE THAT, DWIGHT?
>> IT WASN'T GOING TO BE COMING TO PURCHASING.
I THINK THEY WERE TALKING IT TO THE NEW EEOC DEPARTMENT OR THE AUDITOR.
I CAN WORK ON THE FRAMEWORK AND WE ARE TRYING TO IMPLEMENT THE TRACKING PURPOSES.
>> ADRIAN GARCIA: THE ONLY THING WITH PUTTING IT IN YOUR OFFICE I THINK IS IT IS THE FOX WATCHING THE HEN HOUSE.
[16:05:01]
>> RODNEY ELLIS: WHAT ABOUT BUDGET?
>> ADRIAN GARCIA: I THINK IT IS EXCELLENT IN BUDGET BECAUSE THAT'S WHERE THE MONEY AGAINST -- BEGINS.
>> RODNEY ELLIS: IF THIS THING COMES BACK AND SOMEBODY SAYS -- SOMEBODY SMARTER THAN ME THAT IT SHOULD BE IN THE EQUITY OFFICE.
AND WE SHOULD DO SOMETHING BETTER THAN WHAT THE CITY DID AND WHAT THE STATE DID.
I HAVE BEEN TRYING TO GET PETICE NORMAN ON THE LINE.
WHEN DALLAS WAS GOING TO BLOW UP 25 YEARS AGO THEY WENT TO THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY AND THE HISPANIC COMMUNITY AND WOMEN'S COMMUNITY AND THE BLACK COMMUNITY AND IT LEAD TO A MORE DIVERSE CORPORATE BOARD.
I CAN'T THINK OFF THE TOP OF MY HEAD A BLACK OR HISPANIC CEO OF A CORPORATION.
NOT JUST HOUSTON, BUT I CAN'T THINK OF ONE IN TEXAS.
>> ADRIAN GARCIA: YOU ARE SINGING MY MUSIC AND I WANT TO MAKE SURE WE MOVE THAT FORWARD BECAUSE AS THE CHAIR OF THE NWBE PROGRAM I SAW THE -- MWBE I SAW THAT IT WAS GOOD, BUT I ALSO SAW IT WAS NOT PERFECT.
I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE DO OUT SIGN EVERYBODY IN THAT REGARD.
I WOULD LIKE A TRI-FECTA WITH YOUR PROGRAM AND MAKING SURE THE DBE PROGRAM IS WORKING NOW -- WORKING WELL AND NOW A HUB PROGRAM.
>> RODNEY ELLIS: THE ONLY THING I CAN THINK OF WORSE THAN WHATEVER ISSUES IN THE CITY IS WHAT WE HAVE.
91% OF THIS BUSINESS GOING TO THE WHITE MAN IS EMBARRASSING IN 2020.
>> ADRIAN GARCIA: THE ONLY THING WORSE IS LOSING THE PROGRAM.
WHEN I WAS A CHAIR THE CITY OF HOUSTON WAS BEING Y -- SUED AND IT WAS A REVERSE DISCRIMINATION SUIT.
>> RODNEY ELLIS: AS YOU KNOW METRO -- IT WAS SO STRESSFUL TO DO THIS HERE AND WITH YOUR HELP AND OTHERS I WENT TO METRO AND THE PORT I WROTE A LETTER TO HARRIS HEALTH.
>> LINA HIDALGO: DO WE NEED A MOTION, COMMISSIONER ELLIS? WHAT WOULD IT BE?
>> RODNEY ELLIS: WE MOVE TO ADOPT WITH THE UNDERSTANDING WE CAN MOVE FORWARD WITH THE DBE PROGRAM THAT IS THERE, BUT IT HADN'T MOVED ANY.
>> ADRIAN GARCIA: AND THE HUB.
>> RODNEY ELLIS: AND THE HUB PROGRAM.
>> LINA HIDALGO: DOES THAT MAKE SENSE TO YOU, JAMES?
>> RODNEY ELLIS: I MOVE ADOPTION WITH THE UNDERSTANDING THAT WE CAN MOVE FORWARD IMMEDIATELY WITH OUR HUB PROGRAM, HISTORICALLY UNDER UTILIZED BUSINESS PROGRAM AND OUR DBE PROGRAM.
>> RODNEY ELLIS: ARE YOU COMFORTABLE WITH THAT?
>> LINA HIDALGO: YES COMMISSIONER CAGLE.
>> R JACK CAGLE: COMMISSIONER ELLIS YOU ARE COMMITTING TO ME YOU WILL GET ME THE DATA ON THIS?
ROTD >> RODNEY ELLIS: DON'T PUT ME BEHIND THE 8 BALL.
I WILL HELP YOU GET IT, COMMISSIONER.
I DON'T THINK IT WILL BE A PROBLEM AT ALL, AND ANY OTHER YOU WANT.
>> LINA HIDALGO: SO A MOTION BY COMMISSIONER ELLIS AND SECONDED BY GARCIA.
>> LINA HIDALGO: OPPOSED? I AM IN FAVOR.
WE VOTED AT THE LAST MEETING TO HIRE DAVE BERY AS DIRECTOR OF BUDGET MANAGEMENT AND TODAY WE APPOINT HIM BUDGET OFFICER.
THE STATUTE OUT REQUIRES US TO HAVE AN APPOINTED BUDGET OFFICER.
>> LINA HIDALGO: MOTION BY COMMISSIONER GARCIA.
>> LINA HIDALGO: ALL IN FAVOR OF APPOINTING DAVID BERRY TO THE POSITION OF BUDGET OFFICER EFFECTIVE AUGUST 5TH, 2020?
>> R JACK CAGLE: YOUR HONOR I PLEDGE TO WORK WITH THE BUDGET OFFICER AS GOING FORWARD, BUT I DON'T THINK WE PICKED THE BEST CANDIDATE AND ON ITEMS 7 AND 8 TODAY I WILL BE VOTING NO.
>> LINA HIDALGO: I AM IN FAVOR OF EYE 7.
ON ITEM EIGHT, TO UH POINT AN INVESTMENT OFFICER, AND THAT PERSON MUST COMPLETE TRAINING.
MR. BERRY SINCE HE IS NOT STARTING UNTIL AUGUST 5TH WE NEED SOMEBODY TO SERVE IN THAT POSITION UNTIL HE BEGINS THE JOB AND HE DOES HIS TRAINING.
DO WE NEED TO GO TO EXECUTIVE SESSION TO DISCUSS WHO IT SHOULD BE? I HAVE I HAVE A PROPOSAL, BUT I HAVE NOT DISCUSSED IT.
I THINK WE SHOULD GO TO SCUTES -- EXECUTIVE SESSION SO WE ARE NOT DISCUSSING NAMES IN OPEN COURT.
WE WILL GO TO EXCUSE TIFF -- EXECUTIVE SESSION ON ITEM 8 ON THE SUPPLEMENTAL AND ON A PERSONNEL MATTER LATER ON.
>> R JACK CAGLE: I WITHDRAW MY NO VOTE.
I THOUGHT WE WERE VOTING FOR BERRY ON BOTH ITEMS.
EVEN >> LINA HIDALGO: THAT'S ITEM 8?
>> WHY DON'T YOU GO AHEAD AND CONSIDERING -- SAY WHO YOU WANT TO MAYBE APPOINT UNDER ITEM 8.
>> LINA HIDALGO: YOU KNOW, I DON'T KNOW WHERE YOU GUYS ARE -- I DON'T KNOW WHERE YOUR STANCE IS AND I DON'T WANT TO OFFEND ANYBODY.
ITEM 9 IS SETTLING CLAIMS WITH TRICIA TRIGLIO AS SHE HEADS OVER TO JAD.
SHE WAS WORKING WITH US IS AND THEN JIM BETKEY APPROACHED HER.
>> JUDGE, IF I MAY, I DON'T THINK WE SET A COMPENSATION RATE FOR ITEM 7.
THAT REALLY NEEDS TO BE DONE SO THERE IS NO CONFUSION.
>> LINA HIDALGO: LET ME READ THIS IN FULL.
THE MOTION IS THAT WE APPOINT DAVID BERRY TO THE POSITION OF HARRIS COUNTY BUDGET OFFICER EFFECTIVE AUGUST 5TH 2020 PURSUANT TO THE TEXAS LOCAL GOVERNMENT CODE SECTION 111.062-A TO PREPARE THE ANNUAL HARRIS COUNTY BUDGET AND PERFORM SUCH OTHER ASSISTANCE NEEDED BY COMMISSIONER'S COURT PURSUANT TO TEXAS LOCAL GOVERNMENT CODE 6111.0771 AND TO ESTABLISH HIS COMPENSATION AT $280,000 PER YEAR FOR THE POSITION OF DIRECTOR OF BUDGET MANAGEMENT WITH A START DATE OF AUGUST 5TH, 2020.
THAT'S THE FULL MOTION, ROBERT.
>> LINA HIDALGO: ARE YOU TELLING ME OR ASKING ME?
>> THAT'S WHAT WHAT I UNDERSTOOD.
LET'S SAY YES, LUCINDA AND I WILL CONFIRM OTHERWISE IF NECESSARY.
>> RODNEY ELLIS: DOES THE JUDGE NEED TO SAY CAR UH -- CAR ALLOWANCE?
MOTIONED BY GARCIA AND SECONDED BY ELLIS.
>> R JACK CAGLE: IT IS -- THIS IS STILL ITEM 7?
>> LINA HIDALGO: I AM IN FAVOR SO 7 CARRIES.
ITEM 8 IS GOING TO EXECUTIVE SESSION.
THE COVID ITEMS WE HAVE BEEN THROUGH.
THERE IS A PUBLIC HEARING UNDER SECTION 3 ON PAGE 24.
I WILL NOW OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING TO DETERMINE WHETHER PORTIONS OF CAL LENGTHER -- CHALLENGER 7 MEMORIAL PARK SHOULD BEACON VIAD TO BAY PARK -- BE CONVEYED TO BAY PARK.
IS THERE ANYONE FOR ORGANS THIS ITEM.
>> WE TRIED TO CALL THE SPEAKER AND THERE IS NO ANSWER AT THIS TIME.
IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION OR A MOTION ON THIS ITEM?
I'D >> ADRIAN GARCIA: IF WE CAN FLIP THIS.
THIS IS COMMISSIONER ELLIS' ITEM.
>> LINA HIDALGO: SO MOTIONED BY ELLIS AND SECONDED BY GARCIA TO APPROVE THE RECOMMENDATION BY THE COUNTY ENGINEER.
>> LINA HIDALGO: OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY.
AND I NOW CLOSE THIS PUBLIC HEARING.
NOW COMMISSIONER ELLIS AND COMMISSIONER GARCIA, I THINK YOU GUYS HAD -- YOU EACH HAD AN EYE TEAM YOU -- ITEM YOU WANTED TO DISCUSS BEFORE THE EXECUTIVE SESSION ITEMS ?
>> ADRIAN GARCIA: JUDGE, IF I MAY?
>> LINA HIDALGO: GO AHEAD, COMMISSIONER GARCIA.
>> ADRIAN GARCIA: EARLIER WE DISCUSSED A RESOLUTION TO SUPPORT THE JOIN CITY COUNTY ORDER TO KEEP SCHOOLS CLOSED AND TO KEEP OUR CHILDREN OUT OF HARM'S WAY.
I WANT TO THANK MY TEAM FOR THE WRITING ON THE RESOLUTION.
IT IS LENGTHY, BUT IT HAS NECESSARY DETAILS AND FACTS IN IT IF YOU WILL INDULGE ME.
WHEREAS THE COVID-19 VIRUS IS CONTAGIOUS AND SPREADS THROUGH PERSON TO PERSON CONTACT ESPECIALLY IN GROUP SETTINGS.
WHEREAS THE TRANSMISSION OF COVID-19 IS NOT PRECIPITATED, BUT IT REMAINS A SIGNIFICANT THREAT TO THE HEALTH AND SAFETY AND RATES OF INFECTION ARE INCREASING AT ALARMING RATES.
THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE ENDING UP IN THE HOSPITAL I R -- ICU IS RISING.
WHEREAS ON MARCH 13TH, 2020 GOVERNOR GREG ABBOTT ISSUED A DECLARATION STATE OF DISASTER AND IT IS FOR ALL COUNTIES AND TO THUS TAKE ADDITIONAL STEPS TO PREPARE FOR, RESPOND TO AND MITIGATE THE SPREAD OF COVID 19 TO PROTECT THE HEALTH AND WELFARE OF TEXANS.
AND WHEREAS IN EACH SUB -- SUBSEQUENT MONTH GOVERNOR ABBOTT HAS RENEWED THE DISASTER DECLARATION FOR ALL TEXAS COUNTIES.
AND WHEREAS THE COMMISSIONER AND THE TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF STATE SERVICES, DR. JOHN HELLERSTED SAYS COVID-19 CONTINUES TO PRESENT A PUBLIC HEALTH DISASTER WITHIN THE MEANING OF CHAPTER 81 OF THE TEXAS HEALTH AND SAFETY CODE.
WHEREAS ON MARCH 11TH, 2020, HARRIS COUNTY JUDGE LINA HIDALGO ISSUED A DECLARATION OF PUBLIC EMERGENCY TO ALLOW HARRIS COUNTY TO TAKE MEASURES TO REDUCE THE POSSIBILITY OF EXPOSURE TO COVID FINE TEEN AND TO PROMOTE THE -- COVE
[16:10:01]
INDIVIDUAL 19 AND PROMOTE HEALTH AND SAFETY WITH SECTION 418.0 -- 108.1080 OF THE CODE AND THEY EXTENDED THE LOCAL DISASTER FOR PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCY ON MARCH 17TH 2020 AND MARCH 24TH AND APRIL 28TH 2020 AND MAY 19TH, 2020, JUNE 9TH, 2020 AND JUNE 30TH, 2020 IN ACCORDANCE WITH 41808.
AND THEY HAVE REPORTED A RISE IN THE PEDIATRIC CASES OF COVID-19 IN THE MONTH OF JULY AND IT IS THE ROLE AND IT IS THE AREA OF KNOWLEDGE WITH MANY UNKNOWN ELEMENTS.
AND WHEREAS THERE HAVE BEEN MORE THAN 2,000 CONFIRMED CASES TO DATE AMONG CHILDREN AGED 9 AND UNDER IN HARRIS AND WHEREAS SOME OF THE COVID-19 AMONG CHILDREN 9 AND UNDER IN HARRIS COUNTY ALSO HAVE SUFFERED FROM MULTI-SYMPTOM INFLAMMATORY SYNDROME WHICH CAUSES DIFFERENT PARTS OF THE BODY INCLUDING THE LUNGS AND THE BRAIN AND THE HEART TO BECOME INFLAMED.
AND WHEREAS TEACHERS AND EDUCATION PROFESSIONALS ARE VALUED MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY AND PROVIDING A SERVICE CRITICAL AND SEN -- ESSENTIAL TO THE FUTURE OF OUR COUNTY WHO SHOULD NOT BE REQUIRED TO RISK THEIR LIVES AND DO THEIR JOBS.
AND WHEREAS THE PUBLIC HEALTH AUTHORITY OF HARRIS COUNTY AND THE CITY OF HOUSTON JOINED THE ISSUE ON JULY 25TH, 2020 OVER THE ADMINISTRATION AND THE COMMUNICABLE DISEASE CONTROL MEASURES IN THEIR JURISDICTION AND GRANTED BY TEXAS HEALTH AND SAFETY CODE SECTION 81.082 AND 121.024 RESTRICTING THE SCHOOL DISTRICTS AND NON-RELIGIOUS PRIVATE SCHOOLS FROM IN PERSON INSTRUCTION UNTIL AT LEAST SEPTEMBER THE 8TH 2020 AND WHEREAS TEXAS ATTORNEY GENERAL KEN PAXTON RELEASED A LETTER ON JULY 28TH, 2020 ISSUING GUIDANCE THAT ADVISE THAT LOCAL HEALTH AUTHORITIES MAY NOT ISSUE ORDERS CLOSING SCHOOLS AS A PREVENTATIVE MEASURE AND SUGGESTING THE POWERS OF THE LOCAL HEALTH AUTHORITIES TO CLOSE SCHOOLS WAS LIMITED TO INSTANCES WHERE THERE IS SUFFICIENT EVIDENCE TO SHOW THE DISEASE IS ALREADY PRESS -- PREFACED.
ARTICLE 24 OF THE TEXAS CONSTITUTION GIVES THE ATTORNEY GENERAL THE AUTHORITY TO PROVIDE LEGAL ADVICE AS OPPOSED TO MAKING LEGAL RULINGS THAT CONTRAVENE THE POWERS GRANTED TO LOCAL OFFICIALS AND DOES NOT GIVE THE ATTORNEY GENERAL THE POWER TO MAKE MEDICAL DETERMINATIONS AS SECTION 22 DOES AND IT DOES NOT REQUIRE THE ATTORNEY GENERAL TO MAKE MEDICAL EXPERTISE AND HAVE MEDICAL EXPERT AND NOR DOES THE CURRENT OCCUPANT OF THE OFFICE HAVE ANY MEDICAL OR PUBLIC HEALTH BACKGROUND.
AND WHEREAS APPROXIMATELY 61,000 -- 61,416 IN THE COMBINED HARRIS COUNTY AND CITY OF HOUSTON HAVE TESTED POSITIVE FOR COVID-19 AS OF JULY 23RD AND WHEREAS THE CON GRAW GET SETTINGS INCLUDING SCHOOLS PRESENT INCREASED CHALLENGES TO CONTROL THE SPREAD OF COVID-19 AND THERE ARE OVER 910,000 STUDENTS FROM KINDERGARTEN THROUGH GRADE 12 IN HARRIS COUNTY AND THE CITY OF HOUSTON.
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT THE HARRIS COUNTY COMMISSIONER'S COURT SUPPORTS THE JOINT ORDER OF HARRIS COUNTY AND THE CITY OF HOUSTON REQUIRING PUBLIC AND NONRELIGIOUS PRIVATE SCHOOLS TO REMAIN CLOSED UNTIL AT LEAST SEPTEMBER 8TH 2020 AND AUTHORIZES THE COUNTY ATTORNEY TO TAKE WHATEVER ACTION IS NECESSARY TO PROTECT THE LOCAL HEALTH AUTHORITY SUPERVISORY AUTHORITY AND CONTROL OVER THE ADMINISTRATION OF COMMUNICABLE DISEASE MEASURES WITHIN THE JURISDICTION AND NECESSARY TO PROTECT THE PUBLIC HEALTH AND CONTEST ANY OPPOSITION BY THE STATE OF TEXAS TO THAT SEUPPEDZ -- SUPERVISORY AUTHORITY AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT SPECIAL EDUCATION MAY OCCUR WITH UH READY TO -- WITH ACCORDANCE WITH SO LONG AS FACE COVERING ARE WORN OVER ONE'S NOSE AND MOUTH AND SOCIAL DISTANCING AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT TO THE EXTENT PERMITTED UNDER THE INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES EDUCATION ACT AND THE PROCEDURES REQUIRED UNDER FEDERAL REGULATIONS AND RULES IMPLEMENTING UH CHILDREN -- ALL CHILDREN WITH SPECIAL HEALTH CARE NEEDS ARE CONSIDERED MEDICALLY FRAG JIBING AS DETERMINED -- PRAJ JILL BY A LICENSED PHYSICIAN MAY NOT RETURN TO SCHOOL FOR ON CAMPUS FACE-TO-FACE INSTRUCTIONS UNDER THE 2020 THROUGH 2021 SCHOOL YEAR.
AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT THE HARRIS COUNTY COMMISSION EAST -- COMMISSIONER'S COURT URGES SCHOOL ADMINISTRATORS TO COMPLY WITH THE LOCAL JOINT ORDER FOR THE COUNTY HEALTH AUTHORITIES TO BETTER PRESERVE THE HEALTH AND THE SAFETY OF THEIR STUDENTS AND THEIR TEACHERS AND OTHER STAFF AS WELL AS THE GENERAL PUBLIC.
>> LINA HIDALGO: COMMISSIONER CAGLE, I THINK YOU HAD A QUESTION.
>> R JACK CAGLE: I HAVE SIX QUICK OBSERVATIONS AND OBJECTIONS IF I MAY, YOUR HONOR.
>> LINA HIDALGO: YES, COMMISSIONER.
>> R JACK CAGLE: THE FIRST ONE IS THAT I RECEIVED THIS THREE-PAGE RESOLUTION AT 8:36 P.M.
I HAVE BEEN RATHER BUSY UP UNTIL NOW WHICH IS 10 MINUTES UNTIL MIDNIGHT.
I HAVE HAD SOME STAFF THAT HAS HELPED ME TRY TO REVIEW THIS PROPOSED RESOLUTION.
I DO BELIEVE WE SHOULD NOT BE ADOPTING RESOLUTIONS OF A SIGNIFICANT NATURE WITHOUT PUBLIC INPUT AND SOME ABILITY TO COME INTO IT.
NUMBER TWO, VERY, VERY MINOR, I DON'T KNOW IF IT WAS CORRECTED ALREADY, BUT ON THE FIFTH WHEREAS THE WORD I THINK IT IS SUPPOSED TO BE OR -- IT OR AND IT SHOULD BE OF -- THE COMMISSIONER OF THE TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF STATE HEALTH SERVICES.
I THINK THAT'S SUPPOSED TO BE THE CASE, AND I WOULD -- I THINK THAT IS A FRIENDLY AMENDMENT.
ILLS YOU INTEND -- UNLESS YOU INTEND IT TO BE OF.
NUMBER THREE, MY STAFF HAS INFORMED ME THAT THE TEA HAS NOW RENDERED A DECISION THAT IF THERE ARE SCHOOLS THAT ARE SHUTDOWN, THEN THEY DON'T GET PAID.
I THINK IF WE WILL ENGAGE IN THIS ACTIVITY THERE MAY BE SOME MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC, TEACHERS AND PERHAPS OTHERS, THAT WOULD NOT WANT THESE DECISIONS TO BE REMOVED FROM THE LOCAL LEVEL OF THE SCHOOL DISTRICTS AND TO BE PULLED UP TO OUR LARGER AREA WHERE WE ARE DICTATING TO THEM WHAT IS BEST FOR THEM BECAUSE THEY MAY WANT TO HAVE THAT OPPORTUNITY TO ADDRESS THE IMPACT OF THE TEA DECISION.
NUMBER FOUR, YOUR HONOR AND THIS IS SOMETHING I SAID EARLIER.
I MAY OR MAY NOT AGREE WITH THE ATTORNEY GENERAL QUITE OFTEN, BUT I DON'T THINK I HAVE YET VOTED TO WHERE I WILL TELL THE ATTORNEY GENERAL TO CHANGE THEIR OPINION.
WE MAY DISAGREE ON THE LAW -- WELL TWO OF US ARE LAWYERS, BUT WE ARE NOT IN THE LEGAL RULE-MAKING POSITION.
I THINK THIS IS AN INTERPRETATION OF THE LAW AND I DON'T THINK WE SHOULD BE ENGAGED IN TRYING TO TELL THE ATTORNEY GENERAL HOW TO INTERPRET STATE LAW.
NUMBER FIVE, JUDGE, A MEMBER OF MY STAFF SAYS THERE ARE SOME ASSERTIONS IN THE THREE-PAGE ORDER THAT DEAL WITH PEDIATRICS AND THE AMERICAN ACADEMY OF PEDIATRICIANS ACTUALLY APPARENTLY HAS A RECOMMENDATION THAT STUDENTS DO GO TO SCHOOL IN PERSON.
SO THERE IS SOME DISAGREEMENT APPARENTLY IN THE SCIENTIFIC COMMUNITY AND IN THE MEDICAL COMMUNITY AS TO WHAT IS BEST FOR OUR CHILDREN.
AND THEN LASTLY, JUDGE, AND I TOUCHED ON THIS ALREADY SLIGHTLY, I THINK THIS SHOULD BE AN ISSUE OF LOCAL CONTROL.
QUITE OFTEN WE ARE THE ONE THAT'S ARE MOST LOCAL, BUT IN THIS INSTANCE I THINK THE SCHOOL DISTRICTS ARE THE MOST LOCAL AND EACH SCHOOL DISTRICT SHOULD DECIDE WHAT IS BEST FOR THEIR STUDENTS.
IT SHOULDN'T BE HOW ONE TREATS ALL.
I WOULD ARGUE WE SHOULD TREAT OUR SCHOOL DISTRICT WITH RESPECT AS TO THEIR LOCAL CONTROL AS THEY OPERATE.
AND THOSE ARE MY SIX BRIEF OBJECTIONS.
PULLED TOGETHER SINCE 8:36 AND I WANTED TO PUT IT ON THE RECORD.
I UNDERSTAND THAT I MAY NOT HAVE THE VOTES TO PUSH THIS BACK, BUT I DID WANT TO GET MY REASONS ON THE RECORD.
WITH THE EXCEPTION OF I THINK MY SECOND ONE WHICH WAS THE TYPO AND COMMISSIONER GARCIA CAN CONFIRM OR DENY WHICH EVER WAY HE WANTS TO GO ON THAT.
>> LINA HIDALGO: COMMISSIONER ELLIS.
>> RODNEY ELLIS: CAN YOU SEND AS YOU COPY OF YOUR OBJECTIONS.
I WANT TO MAKE SURE I DIDN'T MISS ANY OF THEM.
>> R JACK CAGLE: THE CHICKEN SCRATCH SCRIBBLING WOULD BE HARD TO TRERP -- INTERPRET.
I WILL SECOND COMMISSIONER GARCIA'S MOTION.
A MOTION BY COMMISSIONER GARCIA AND A SECOND BY COMMISSIONER ELLIS.
>> IS THAT WITH THE CORRECTION OF THE WORD OF.
>> LINA HIDALGO: WE HAVE A CORRECTED MOTION BY GARCIA AND SECONDED BY GARCIA.
>> LINA HIDALGO: I I WILL -- I WILL VOTE FOR IT SO IT CARRIES.
>> RODNEY ELLIS: JUDGE, WE SENT AROUND THIS MOTION AND I THINK WALLEY SENT IT AROUND FOR HOW THE MONEY WOULD BE SPENT FROM THE CARES ACT TO HELP WITH THE FOLKS BEING EVICTED.
I WANT TO MOVE TO ALLOCATE $7050,000 FROM THE CARES ACT -- 750,000 FROM THE CARES ACT FUND TO HELP THOSE AT RISK OF EVICTION AND TO HELP EFFICIENTLY DELIVER FAIR AND JUST OUTCOMES.
THE FAIRS MAY BE USED TO ACCESS INFORMATION AND TECHNOLOGY AND LEGAL ASSISTANCE AMONG OTHER NEEDS RELATED TO ENSURING HOUSING STABILITY AS IDENTIFIED REQUEST -- WITH THE HOUSING TASK FORCE.
I KNOW THE CITY WILL VOTE ON SOMETHING TOMORROW, SO AT LEAST WE ARE PUTTING THE MARKER DOWN.
>> LINA HIDALGO: COMMISSIONER CAGLE.
>> R JACK CAGLE: I AM A LITTLE BLURRY-EYED ON THIS ONE.
WE GOT THIS ONE A FEW MINUTES AGO.
IT WAS REHANDED TO ME A FEW MINUTES AGO.
I THINK WE GOT SOMETHING ON THIS A COUPLE HOURS AGO.
MY QUESTION IS, IS THIS TO WHERE WE ARE DOING A -- AN EARMARK, BUT IT WILL COME BACK TO COURT TO VOTE ON THE WHAT, THE WHO, THE WHERE AND THE WHY, OR JUST VOTING TO SPEND THE $750,000 AND CROSS OUR FINGERS.
>> RODNEY ELLIS: IT IS COMING BACK.
WE COULD HAVE JUST EARMARKED IT FOR LEGAL AID.
WE KNOW IT WILL TAKE A MILLION DOLLARS TO FUND THAT LEGAL AID PILOT PROGRAM, BUT I WANT TO GIVE THEM AS MUCH LATITUDE.
THIS IS PUTTING A MARKER DOWN AND GIVING A BROAD LATITUDE AND IT WILL COME BACK TO US HOPEFULLY NEXT THURSDAY.
>> R JACK CAGLE: HERE IS MY TROUBLE, JUDGE AND YOU HEARD ME STRUGGLE WITH THIS BEFORE.
WHEN WE'RE SAYING WE ARE GOING TO SPEND A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF MONEY, BUT WE DON'T HAVE THE DETAILS OF WHAT IT IS JUST YET I STRUGGLE WITH THAT.
[16:15:02]
I KNOW WHERE THIS WILL PROBABLY GO.IF WE MADE A MOTION TO DO A STUDY AND TO LOOK INTO IT, THEN I WOULD BE SUPPORTIVE.
BUT SINCE WE PUT IN HERE A DOLLAR AMOUNT, BUT DON'T SPECIFY WHERE IT WILL BE SPENT OR HOW IT WILL BE SPENT I HAVE A HARD TIME VOTING FOR AN ALLOCATION OR AN EARMARK IN ADVANCE OF SEEING WHO IS IT GOING TO AND WHAT IT WILL BE AND WHAT IS THE ACCOUNTABILITY THAT'S THERE.
I WILL ASK COMMISSIONER ELLIS ARE YOU OKAYING WITH JUST SAYING THIS IS THE AMOUNT OF MONEY WE ARE INTERESTED IN AND NOT PUTTING A SPECIFIED AMOUNT OF MONEY GOING IN THERE, OR ARE YOU WANTING TO HAVE THE MONEY -- I THINK YOU CALLED IT EARMARKED ACTUALLY IN THE RESOLUTION.
>> RODNEY ELLIS: COMMISSIONER IF I MIGHT, AND I KNOW IT IS LATE, BECAUSE WE KNEW TWO MONTHS AGO THAT PEOPLE WOULD START GETTING EVICTED AND WE EXHAUSTED EVERYTHING WE COULD.
I CALLED THE CO-CHAIRS OF THE TASK FORCE TO MOVE THEM AND I KNOW THEY ARE TRYING OTHER CITIES AND COUNTIES HAVE DODGE -- HAVE DONE SOMETHING.
I ENCOURAGE US TO JUST DO THIS.
THERE ARE REALLY A LOT OF PEOPLE OUT THERE HURTING.
THE CITY IS GONNA VOTE TOMORROW TO PUT AT LEAST -- I THINK IT IS TOMORROW.
I WANT US TO GET OUT THERE SO THEY KNOW THEY GOT $1.5 MILLION.
WE ARE IN THE MIDDLE OF A PANDEMIC.
I RESPECT YOU, BUT I WILL LEAVE IT THE WAY IT IS AND CALL IT A NIGHT TO BE HONEST WITH YOU.
I WILL SAY TO YOU IF YOU DECIDE TO VOTE FOR IT, I THINK YOU WILL SEE SOMETHING THAT WILL BE SPELLED OUT THAT YOU CAN FEEL GOOD ABOUT HOPEFULLY NEXT THURSDAY IF NOT THE NEXT BOARD MEETING AND YOU CAN VOTE AGAINST IT THEN.
OR YOU CAN VOTE AGAINST IT BOTH TIMES WOULD BE MY SUGGESTION.
SO IS THERE A MOTION ON COMMISSIONER ELLIS' ITEM FOR THE $750,000?
>> RODNEY ELLIS: YES, MA'AM, I MADE THE MOTION.
>> LINA HIDALGO: MOTION BY COMMISSIONER ELLIS AND SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER GARCIA.
>> R JACK CAGLE: YOUR HONOR AS I SAID EARLIER I AM NOT OPPOSED TO PUTTING TOGETHER A PROGRAM TO LOOK AT WHAT'S THERE, BUT I AM PUTTING -- I AM OPPOSED TO PUTTING OUT A BUDGET EARMARK WITHOUT KNOWING WHO IT IS GOING TO OR HOW IT WILL BE EXPENDED OR WHAT ACCOUNTABILITY WILL BE PROVIDED TO THE FUNDS SO I AM A NO.
>> STEVE RADACK: I AM A NO AND I WILL WAIT FOR THE NEXT ONE.
>> LINA HIDALGO: I WILL VOTE A YES ON THIS ONE.
SO THAT GETS US TO EXECUTIVE SESSION.
DO FOLKS NEED TO GO TO EXECUTIVE SESSION ON ITEM 1? THAT IS A -- THAT IS APPOINTING TWO EMPLOYEES TO THE AREA EMISSION AND REDUCTION CREDIT ORGANIZATION -- PART OF THE HGAC.
>> LINA HIDALGO: HOW ABOUT ITEM TWO? APPOINTING AARON DUNN AND ARESHA-DAVWA TO THE REGIONAL AIR QUALITY PLANNING COMMITTEE.
>> RODNEY ELLIS: I AM ALL RIGHT WITH IT.
>> LINA HIDALGO: IN THAT CASE, THE ONLY ITEM WE NEED TO GO TO EXECUTIVE SESSION FOR BRIEFLY IS ITEM 8 ON THE SUPPLEMENTAL AGENDA.
DO WE HAVE SPEAKERS NO THE ON THE AGENDA? WE SHOULD VOTE ON THE REST OF THE AGENDA.
>> LINA HIDALGO: IS THERE A SECOND ON THE AGENDA EXCEPT FOR NUMBER EIGHT ON THE SUPPLEMENTAL?
>> RODNEY ELLIS: I MADE A MOTION.
>> LINA HIDALGO: SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER GARCIA.
>> LINA HIDALGO: ALL IN FAVOR OF THE AGENDA EXCEPT FOR ITEM EIGHT ON THE SUPPLEMENTAL?
>> R JACK CAGLE: YOUR HONOR CAN I ASK JAMES A QUICK QUESTION?
>> R JACK CAGLE: JAMES DID WE VOTE ON ITEM 11? IT WAS IN THE IS UP -- SUPPLEMENTAL?
>> R JACK CAGLE: I THINK WE DID TOO, BUT I WANTED TO MAKE SURE.
YOUR HONOR, I VOTE YES FOR EVERY ITEM EXCEPT FOR WHERE I HAVE PREVIOUSLY VOTED NO.
>> ADRIAN GARCIA: THAT'S MOST OF THE AGENDA.
>> LINA HIDALGO: COMMISSIONER RADACK?
>> STEVE RADACK: I VOTE YES ON EVERYTHING EXCEPT WHAT I VOTED NO ON AS WELL.
>> LINA HIDALGO: LUCINDA, DO WE HAVE ANY OTHER SPEAKERS?
BAKER WITH NEWS MAGAZINE, THE CEO AND FOUNDER.
HOW ARE YOU, JUDGE HIDALGO AND COUNTY COMMISSIONER ADRIAN GARCIA.
CONGRATS TO JUDGE LYNN GO -- JUDGE LINDA HIDALGO.
WE ARE LAUGHING BECAUSE I COMMENTED -- COMMENDED ADRIAN GARCIA AND HE WAS GOING TO BE THE COMISORY FOR FOR NEWS MAGAZINE AND MY INTERN AT THE TIME UNFORTUNATELY SHE LOST THE TRANSCRIPT INTERVIEW.
SO COMMISSIONER ADRIAN HAS BEEN SUPER BUSY AND COULD NOT MEET WITH HER AGAIN.
>> ADRIAN GARCIA: THANK YOU, YES.
>> SHE LOST THE INTERVIEW TRANSCRIPT.
I DID GIVE HER AN A PLUS AND SHE IS DOING WELL.
I THINK SHE WAS GOING TO FLORIDA STATE UNIVERSITY.
I AM SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF MY WONDERFUL, DISABLED MOTHER WHO IS ALSO A VOLUNTEER DEPUTY CLERK FOR THE PAST 20 YEARS.
THAT WAS IN HER DISTRICT, PRECINCT 1.
MY MOTHER, SHE IS A -- SHE HAS A WONDERFUL, BEAUTIFUL HOME AND COUNTY COMMISSIONER PRECINCT 1 WHICH IS PRE -- PRECINCT 1, RODNEY ELLIS, YOUR PEOPLE FORGOT ABOUT YOU AT THE HARRIS COUNTY FLOOD CONTROL DEPARTMENT.
THEY SAID WHAT IS THAT GUY'S NAME? OH I FORGOT THAT GUY.
WHAT IS THAT GUY'S NAME? I HAD TO REMIND THEM.
I SAID ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT THE PHENOMENAL AND ICON COMMISSIONER RODNEY ELLIS? HE SAID OH YES, THAT'S THAT GUY'S NAME.
SO NOW THERE IS A BREAK DOWN IN COMMUNICATION.
MY -- BEHIND MY MOTHER'S PROPERTY IS A CHAIN FENCE THAT THE HARRIS COUNTY CONTROL FLOOD APARTMENT TAKES CARE OF.
AND IT IS SADLY NEEDING TO BE REPAIRED.
I NEED FOR THEM TO COME OUT AND TO REPAIR THAT FENCE.
IF YOU TRY TO MOVE THE FENCE OR MOVE -- THERE IS A POST.
IF YOU TRY TO MOVE THE POST WATER COMES SHOOTING OUT.
IT COMES SHOOTING OUT IF YOU TRY TO MOVE THE POST.
I NEED FOR SOMEONE TO COME OUT AND TO TAKE A LOOK AT IT AND TO REPAIR THE FENCE.
ONCE THEY REPAIR THE FENCE, IT NEEDS TO BE IMMEDIATELY -- ONE, IT SHOULD BE IMMEDIATELY BE PUT UP BECAUSE THERE ARE STRAY DOGS THAT COME IN AND ALSO HOMELESS PEOPLE THAT LIVE IN THE WOODED AREA.
AND SO MY MOTHER'S SAFETY -- I AM CONCERNED ABOUT MY MOTHER'S SAFETY.
>> LINA HIDALGO: THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> RODNEY ELLIS: THANK YOU FOR STAYING UP AND GOOD MORNING TO YOU.
FLOOD CONTROL WILL REACH OUT TO YOU.
NOT TONIGHT, BUT SOMETIME TOMORROW.
THANK YOU FOR BEING SO PATIENT.
WE WILL GET ON IT AND WE WILL WORK ON GETTING THAT INTERVIEW AGAIN WITH COMMISSIONER GARCIA TOO.
>> LINA HIDALGO: THANK YOU SO MUCH.
THANK YOU FOR ALL YOU HAVE DONE FOR US HERE IN HARRIS COUNTY.
>> LINA HIDALGO: ANY OTHER SPEAKERS, LUCINDA?
>> THEY HAVE ALL CANCELED OR DID NOT ANSWER.
>> LINA HIDALGO: IN THAT CASE LET'S GO TO EXECUTIVE SESSION REAL QUICK.
LUCINDA, DOES EVERYBODY HAVE THE PHONE NUMBER?
>> LINA HIDALGO: IT IS 12:05 ON JULY 29TH, AND WE WILL GO TO EXECUTIVE SESSION.
>> RODNEY ELLIS: GIVE ME TIME TO PUT ON MY PAJAMAS.
>> LINA HIDALGO: IT IS FOR PERSONNEL MATTER ON SUPPLEMENTAL NUMBER 8.
LEAN IT IS TWELG -- 12:11 AND COMMISSIONER'S COURT IS BACK IN SESSION.
I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE AN AMENDMENT TO PEREZ AS OFFICER FOR HARRIS COUNTY.
IN ADORED -- IN ACCORDANCE TO 116A THE POLICY ADOPTED IN ACCORDANCE WITH TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE 2256005F AND G AND FOR BUDGET MANAGEMENT TO PROVIDE ALL NOTICES PER SUPT THERE TO.
WE HAVE A SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER GARCIA.
>> LINA HIDALGO: MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY.
FOLKS ARE ALREADY GETTING OUT THE DOOR.
DID I MISS ANYTHING JAMES, RONT -- ROBERT, LUCINDA?
>> RODNEY ELLIS: IF YOU THINK OF ANYTHING, CALL ME TOMORROW.
>> LINA HIDALGO: IT IS 12:12 IN THE MORNING AND COMMISSION -- AND COMMISSIONER'S COURT IS NOW ADJOURNED.
>> ADRIAN GARCIA: HAVE A GOOD NIGHT.
>> RODNEY ELLIS: HAVE A WONDERFUL EVENING YOU WONDERFUL PEOPLE.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.