Aug 25, 2020 Commissioners Court

[00:00:01]

>> LINA HIDALGO: LET'S GET STARTED. IT IS 10:04 AND I WOULD LIKE

[Opening prayer by Navy Chaplain Lt. Benjamin Mayhugh of the U.S. Coast Guard Houston- Galveston Sector in Houston.]

WILL YOU GUIDE US IN PRAYER? LUCINDA, IS OUR GUEST ON? >> YES, MA'AM.

CHAPLAIN? >> YES. GO AHEAD, PLEASE, SIR.

THANK YOU. >> OKAY. GREAT.

ALL RIGHT. LET'S PRAY. FATHER, WE THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY THAT WE HAVE TO SERVE THE CITY AND TO BE PART OF THIS GREAT STATE, AND WE KNOW THAT THROUGH ALL THE THINGS HAPPENING NOW AND THAT HAVE HAPPENED THAT YOU HAVE BEEN WITH US AND THAT YOU WILL CONTINUE TO BE WITH US. WE PRAY THAT ON THIS ANNIVERSARY OF HURRICANE HARVEY AND THE DEVASTATION IT BROUGHT IN HOUSTON AND HARRIS COUNTY AS WE HAVE RECOVERED FROM THAT AND WE HAVE MOVED FORWARD AND SEEN THE CITY BE RE -- BE REBUILT AND WE ARE GRATEFUL THAT WE ARE ABLE TO BE A PART OF IT.

THANK YOU FOR HOW YOU HAVE PROVIDED FOR US DURING THAT TIME.

NOW AS HURRICANE LAURA LOOMS AND IT IS HEADING IN OUR DIRECTION I PRAY THAT YOU WOULD -- -- YOU WOULD CONTINUE TO GIVE OUR PEOPLE STRENGTH AND REMIND US YOU ARE IN CONTROL OF ALL THINGS AND GIVE WISDOM TO OUR LEADERS AND TO THE PEOPLE ON THE GROUND.

WE PRAY FOR PROTECTION FOR OUR COAST GUARD MEN AND WOMEN, NATIONAL GUARD MEN AND WOMEN WHO MAY BE PUTTING THEMSELVES IN HARM'S WAY TO PROTECT AND SAVE OTHER PEOPLE'S LIVES.

THAT YOU WOULD WATCH OVER THEM. YOU BE REMINDED IF YOU ARE ON THE SEA OF GALILEE AND THEY WERE ASLEEP IN THE BOAT. THEY NEED TO BE REMINDED THAT NO MATTER HOW BIG THE STORM MAY BE THEY MAY REST IN YOU BECAUSE YOU ARE GOING TO GO THROUGH THAT WITH US. PRAY YOUR BLESSING UPON THE MEETING TODAY AND MEMBERS OF HARRIS COUNTY AND ALL THEY NEED TO GET ACCOMPLISHED. WE PRAY FOR YOUR PROTECTION OVER PEOPLE THAT YOU WOULD GIVE US THE STRENGTH AND THE PERSEVERANCE TO CONTINUE ON AND TO KNOW THAT YOU WILL BE WITH US. WE ASK THIS IN YOUR NAME, AMEN.

>> ADRIAN GARCIA: AMEN. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

>> LINA HIDALGO: THANK YOU, CHAPLAIN, FOR YOUR SERVICE AND FOR GUIDING US IN PRAYER.

ALL RIGHT. WE'LL MOVE ON TO SOME RESOLUTIONS.

FOLKS, I KNOW THAT THE STAFF WAS IN COMMUNICATION AND WE ARE WATCHING FOR THE LATEST FORECAST ON THE STORM. WE ARE IN COMMUNICATION WITH OUR CITIES.

I AM ASKING IF -- TIME IS OF THE ESSENCE WHEN IT COMES TO THE DECISION WE WILL BE MAKING HERE IN THE NEXT COUPLE OF HOURS SO I'M HOPING THAT WE CAN BREAK AFTER THE RESOLUTIONS SO THAT WE CAN GET THAT FINALIZED AND THEN COME BACK AT AROUND 1:00 TO GET THROUGH THE COMMISSIONER'S COURT AGENDA ONCE THE RELEVANT DECISIONS HAVE BEEN MADE AND COMMUNICATIONS HAVE TAKEN PLACE WITH OUR JURISDICTIONS. SO I'M PROPOSING WE DO THE RESOLUTIONS AND IF IT IS ALL RIGHT WITH YOU GUYS THAT WE BREAK UNTIL 1:00.

[I. Departments (Part 1 of 2)]

>> RODNEY ELLIS: THAT'S A GOOD PLAN. JUDGE, CAN YOU TURN YOUR MIC

UP A LITTLE? >> LINA HIDALGO: YES. I DID NOT HAVE IT ON.

THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER. IS THAT BETTER? >> RODNEY ELLIS: YES.

>> LINA HIDALGO: SO THE FIRST RESOLUTION IS CONGRATULATING KAREN GARDER.

WHERE KAREN GARDENER WILL RETIRE AFTER 20 YEARS OF SERVICE.

SHE JOINED HARRIS COUNTY FROM THE COUNTY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE UNDER THEN THE COUNTY ATTORNEY MIKE DRISCOLL AND THEN SHE MOVED OVER TO THE OFFICE OF LEGISLATIVE RELATIONS WHEN IT WAS CREATED. SHE SERVED UNDER THREE DIRECTORS UNDER THE RENAMING TO IGA. SHE HAS WORKED DILIGENTLY TO SUPPORT HARRIS COUNTY'S LEGISLATIVE ACTIVITIES TO ACCOMPLISH THE GOALS OF THE DEPARTMENT HER RETIREMENT PLANS ARE TO ENJOY AND TAKE CARE OF HER GRANDSONS. SHE WILL BE TRULY MISSED BY HER FRIENDS AND CO-WORKERS. BE IT RESOLVED THAT THE HARRIS COUNTY COMMISSIONER'S COURT

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CONGRATULATIONS. >> ADRIAN GARCIA: CONGRATULATIO. >> THANK YOU SO MUCH.

THANK YOU. I WANTED TO THANK EVERYBODY FOR THE RESOLUTION.

IT IS DEFINITELY APPRECIATED. >> ADRIAN GARCIA: AND JUDGE IF I MIGHT REAL QUICKLY, I UNDERSTAND THAT ALTHOUGH YOU MAY BE HANGING UP YOUR SPURS, AS THEY SAY, YOU MAKE SURE THAT WORK IS GETTING DONE BECAUSE I UNDERSTAND YOU ALSO HAVE SOME FAMILY CONNECTION

HERE. >> YES, SIR, I DO. AND A WONDERFUL ONE AT THAT.

I HAVE REALLY ENJOYED BY 26 YEARS HERE. >> ADRIAN GARCIA: WONDERFUL.

THANK YOU BOTH. THANK YOU FOR YOUR INCREDIBLE SERVICE AND WE WISH YOU ALL

THE BEST. >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. I APPRECIATE IT.

>> LINA HIDALGO: THANK YOU AND CONGRATULATIONS. >> THANK YOU.

>> LINA HIDALGO: WE HAVE A RESOLUTION BY COMMISSIONER ELLIS.

>> RODNEY ELLIS: JUDGE, THANK YOU. A DEAR FRIEND TO ALL OF US PASSED AWAY RECENTLY AND A GREAT HUMAN BEING. I AM NOT GOING TO READ IT ALL, BUT IT WHEREAS ON BEHALF OF COMMISSIONER'S COURT HARRIS COUNTY WE RESPECTFULLY EXTEND A MESSAGE OF CONDOLENCE TO THE FAMILY AND FRIENDS AND OUT OF ABUNDANCE OF RESPECT AND PERSONAL SORROW ON THE LOSS AND CELEBRATION OF RABBI SAMUEL KARFF.

RABBI KARFF WAS INVOLVED IN CIVIL RIGHTS ADVOCACY AND JUSTICE REFORM.

HE WAS PART OF HOUSTON THREE AMIGOS WITH ARCHBISHOP JOSEPH. THEY LEAD TO FIGHT FOR A FOR -- FOR A MORE FAIR AND EQUITABLE REPRESENTATION FOR THE POOR AND THE CREATION OF HARRIS COUNTY PUBLIC DEFENDER'S OFFICE AT 2010 AND REFORMED THE BAIL SYSTEM.

THEY IMPROVED FAIR HOUSING STANDARD AND CALLED FOR COLLEGE PREP COURSES IN HIGH SCHOOLS WITH LARGE MINORITY STUDENT POPULATIONS AND THE ANTI-DEFAMATION LEAGUE COMBAT ANTI-SEMITISM. HE BROUGHT PEOPLE TOGETHER FROM THEIR BACKGROUNDS.

I HAD THE PRIVILEGE OF TALKING TO ONE OF HIS DAUGHTERS THE OTHER DAY.

HAIR -- HARVARD EDUCATED. I MET HIM WHEN I WAS A CONGRESSIONAL STAFFER.

HE HELPED PE TOUSH THROUGH THE STATE HATE CRIMES BILL WELL AHEAD OF THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AND WE INCLUDED DISCRIMINATION -- PROTECTING PEOPLE WHO WERE DISCRIMINATED AGAINST BECAUSE OF THEIR LIFESTYLE. I KNOW HIS DAUGHTER MAY BE ON THE LINE, AND AT THE PROP -- APPROPRIATE TIME. I WOULD BE HONORED TO MOVE ADOPTION. A TREMENDOUS LOSS FOR ALL OF US.

>> ADRIAN GARCIA: COMMISSIONER ELLIS, THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THIS RESOLUTION FORWARD.

I TELL YOU WHAT, HE WILL BE MISSED. SHALOM TO OUR GOOD RABBI.

AND TO SAY THAT THEY WERE OFTEN REFERRED TO AS THE THREE AMIGOS OR THE THREE WISE MEN.

AT TIMES I REMEMBER HAVING CONVERSATIONS WITH THE THREE OF THEM AND YOU COULD WELL CATEGORIZE THEM AS THE THREE WISE GUYS. HE HAD HIS CONTRIBUTIONS AND THEY WILL LIVE ON. I JUST HOPE THAT WE AS A SOCIETY OR -- WE ARE LOOKING FOR THE NEXT GENERATION OF THE THREE AMIGOS OR THE THREE WISE MEN.

THEY HAVE DONE A PHENOMENAL JOB. IT IS A LITTLE SAD TO SEE ONE OF THOSE THREE LEGS OF THAT VERY IMPORTANT SPOOL OF OUR SOCIETY GO TO REST.

RODRIGUEZ

>> RODNEY ELLIS: JUDGE, I SHOULD HAVE SAID I WAS LOOKING FOR PICTURE.

THE LAST TIME I SAW THE THREE OF THEM TOGETHER IT WAS IN THE OFFICE RIGHT BEFORE YOU ALL -- RIGHT BEFORE YOU WERE SWORN IN. I REMEMBER RABBI CLARK MORE THAN THE OTHER TWO AMIGOS FOCUSED ON THE MANAGED COUNSEL SYSTEMS. I MEAN, HE CAUGHT IT.

HE KEPT GOING BACK AND I CAN'T BELIEVE IT. THERE IS SO MUCH ENERGY AND I OF COURSE HOPE THAT HIS FAMILY IS ADJUSTING AND I HAVE NOT SPOKEN TO THE ARCHBISHOP IN AWHILE HE WAS DEALING WITH COVID. I WANT HIS FAMILY TO KNOW THAT WE WON'T FORGET HIM WE WILL STAY IN TOUCH WITH HIM. JUDGE, HIS DAUGHTER MAY BE ON

THE LINE. I'M NOT SURE. >> I'M SORRY, JUDGE,

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>> RODNEY ELLIS: I MOVE ADOPTION. >> LINA HIDALGO: THANK YOU,

LUCINDA. >> ADRIAN GARCIA: SECOND. >> LINA HIDALGO: ALL IN FAVOR

OF THE RESOLUTION? >> I. I.

>> LINA HIDALGO: I AM IN FAVOR AS WELL. >> [INAUDIBLE].

>> RODNEY ELLIS: CAN WE LEAVE IT OPEN FOR CAGLE? >> COMMISSIONER CAGLE IS

TRYING TO DIAL IN AT THIS MOMENT. >> LINA HIDALGO: WE'LL CIRCLE BACK ON IT. THANK YOU, LUCINDA. THANK YOU SO MUCH, COMMISSIONER ELLIS, FOR BRINGING THIS. IT IS BITTERSWEET FRIENDSHIP AND CHANGES HE BROUGHT FORTH, AND HIS PASSING IS VERY SAD. I BELIEVE WE HAVE ANOTHER

RESOLUTION, COMMISSIONER ELLIS. >> RODNEY ELLIS: YOU SAID

ELLIS? >> LINA HIDALGO: YES. >> RODNEY ELLIS: THIS ONE IS HONORING JUDGE DARRELL JORDAN WHO WILL TAKE OFF IN A COUPLE WEEKS TO GO AND -- TO GO AND REPRESENT US WITH OUR ARMED SERVICES. IT WHEREAS JUDGE JORDAN SERVED THE RESIDENTS OF HARRIS COUNTY AS A JUDGE OF HARRIS COUNTY CRIMINAL COURT AND LAW NUMBER 16 AND SERVED AS PRESIDING JUDGE OF THE COUNTY CRIMINAL COURT FROM JANUARY 2019 TO JUNE 2020, WHEREAS JUDGE JORDAN IS A GRADUATE OF THURGOOD MARSHALL SCHOOL OF LAW, FORMER CRIMINAL DEFENSE ATTORNEY AND MEMBER OF THE ARMY RESERVES AND WHEREAS JUDGE JORDAN HAS SHOWN LEADERSHIP, COURAGE AND A WILLINGNESS TO CHANGE PRETRIAL INCARCERATION AND IN THE PLACE HE BECAME A JUDGE AND A SYSTEM THAT RELEASES FROM JAIL ONE'S ABILITY TO PAY RATHER THAN THE RISK TO THE COMMUNITY. THE JUDGE WAS THE FIRST OF TWO JUDGES OF THE 16 HARRIS COUNTY CRIMINAL COURTS TO SUPPORT BAIL REFORM AND IT IS O'DONNELL VERSUS HARRIS THAT WILL ELIMINATE PRE-TRIAL DETENTION AND WHEREAS JUDGE JORDAN SHOWS COMMITMENT TO ALL RIGHTS ARE EQUALLY PROTECTED AND ALL PEOPLE REGARDLESS OF WEALTH HAVE ACCESS TO QUALITY REPRESENTATION IN THE HARRIS COUNTY COURTS.

WHEREAS WE WILL COMMEND HIS TREATMENT TO ALL INDIVIDUALS IN THE COURT AND HIS PUBLIC SERVICE EXTENDS TO HIS COUNTRY AND JUDGE JORDAN IS BEING DEPLOYED TO ACTIVE SERVICE TO THE MIDDLE EAST. BE IT RESOLVED THAT HARRIS COUNTY COMMISSIONER'S COURT COMMANDS JUDGE DARRELL JORDAN. I HOPE HE WILL BE SAFE AND HE COMES BACK EVEN MORE COMMITTED TO PICK UP HIS ROLE AND GET BACK TO WORK.

>> ADRIAN GARCIA: AMEN. THANK YOU FOR DOING THAT. JUDGE JORDAN, IF YOU ARE

LISTENING, THANK YOU FOR SERVING OUR NATION. >> I'M ON THE PHONE.

GOOD MORNING, EVERYONE. COMMISSIONER, THANK YOU FOR THIS RESOLUTION.

IT FEELS A LITTLE WEIRD TO BE HONORED FOR SIMPLY DOING YOUR JOB, BUT I THANK YOU AND YOUR STAFF FOR PUTTING THAT TOGETHER. I TAKE ALL OF MY EXPERIENCE IN HARRIS COUNTY AND BEING ON THE BENCH AND TAKE THOSE FORWARD AS I SERVE IN THE MILITARY AND HOPEFULLY BRING SOME OF THE LESSONS I LEARNED THERE BACK AND HELP US CONTINUE TO MOVE THE BALL FORWARD AND UPHOLD THE IDEAS IN THE CONSTITUTION AND HERE IN HARRIS COUNTY.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH. >> RODNEY ELLIS: JUDGE JORDAN, WHERE ARE YOU GOING, AND WHEN

ARE YOU LEAVING? >> WELL, IN THE MILITARY, COMMISSIONER ELLIS, WE CALL IT OPSEC, OPERATIONAL SECURITY. I DON'T KNOW WHEN -- WHERE WE ARE GOING AND WHEN WE ARE LEAVING. I DO KNOW I HAVE LESS THAN 30 DAYS HERE AND HEADED TO THE MIDDLE EAST. WHEN I LEAVE I WILL BE IN THE ROLE OF CHIEF OF JUSTICE WHICH MEANS THE CHIEF PROSTITUTE -- PROSECUTOR FOR MY UNIT. WE WILL BE OVER THERE FOR ABOUT 9 MONTHS AND THEN HEADED BACK. TOTAL TIME I WILL BE OUT WILL

BE ANYWHERE FROM 11 TO 12 MONTHS. >> RODNEY ELLIS: DO YOU GET TO

COME BACK AND SEE YOUR KIDS OR EVERYTHING BY FACE TIME? >> NO, SIR.

WHEN MY FIRST CHILD WAS BORN I WAS WORKING FOR REPRESENTATIVE HUBERT BO AND I HAD TO RUSH HOME TO MAKE THE DELIVERY. SECOND CHILD WAS BORN AND I WAS DOING DUTY IN VIRGINIA AND MISSED THE BIRTH. THIS IS JUST PART OF THEIR LIFE.

I WILL BE GONE AND I MISS THE 16TH BIRTHDAY AND ALL OF THE THINGS, BUT THESE ARE SACRIFICES THAT OTHERS HAVE MADE SEVEN TIMES. SOME PEOPLE HAVE BEEN DEPLOYED SEVEN TIMES. THAT'S SEVEN YEARS OF THEIR LIFE THEY HAVE BEEN AWAY FROM THEIR COUNTRY AND THEIR FAMILY. THIS IS JUST MY SMALL PART TO

GIVE BACK TO THE COUNTRY WHO HAS GIVEN SO MUCH TO ME. >> RODNEY ELLIS: YOU MADE A

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BE SAFE. >> ADRIAN GARCIA: EXACTLY. AND COMMISSIONER ELLIS, CAREFUL THE QUESTIONS YOU ASK. THAT ANSWER SOUNDED LIKE ONE OF THOSE, I CAN TELL YOU, BUT I'LL HAVE TO KILL YOU. JUDGE, IF I MAY JUST SAY THAT ON OUR OFF TIME WE HAVE ENJOYED AN ADULT BEVERAGE OR TWO, SO LOOKING FORWARD TO

HAVING YOU BACK SO WE CAN CATCH UP. >> YES, SIR, YES, SIR.

GREAT TIME. >> RODNEY ELLIS: I MOVE ADOPTION.

>> ADRIAN GARCIA: SECOND. >> LINA HIDALGO: THANK YOU, JUDGE JORDAN.

BE SAFE. THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR WORK AND YOUR SERVICE TO OUR

COUNTRY. >> THANK YOU, MA'AM. >> LINA HIDALGO: DO WE -- WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND ON THAT RESOLUTION. I THINK WE OUGHT TO TAKE IT

WITH THE OTHER ONE WHEN COMMISSIONER CAGLE RETURNS. >> JUDGE, EXCUSE ME.

I'M GOING TO TRY TO SEE IF THIS IS HIM. HANG ON A MOMENT.

COMMISSION -- COMMISSIONER CAGLE? COMMISSIONER CAGLE?

>> STEVE RADACK: THIS IS RADACK. >> HEY, RADACK.

>> RODNEY ELLIS: IF HE CAN'T GET ON WHEN IT IS TIME TO VOTE, IS IT LEGAL IF I OR

RAD -- RADACK CALLS HIM ON THE PHONE TO GET HIS VOTE? >> LINA HIDALGO: I THINK FOR RIGHT NOW, WE WILL BE ALL RIGHT. ARE THERE ANY OTHER

RESOLUTIONS? >> NO, MA'AM. THE OTHERS WERE CANCELED.

>> LINA HIDALGO: GO AHEAD. >> STEVE RADACK: THIS IS RADACK AND I AM AN I.

>> LINA HIDALGO: IF IT IS ALL RIGHT, COMMISSIONERS, I WOULD ASK THAT WE ADJOURN UNTIL 1:00 AND BY THEN WE WILL HAVE SOME MORE CLARITY ON ACTIONS ON THE AREA.

>> RODNEY ELLIS: DO YOU NEED A MOTION? >> LINA HIDALGO: I JUST

ANNOUNCE THAT IT IS 10:21. >> FOR THE TWO MOTIONS FOR THE TWO RESOLUTIONS ARE WE GOING

TO WAIT OR CALL THEM? >> LINA HIDALGO: YES, JAMES, LET'S WAIT.

I'M SURE COMMISSIONER CAGLE WOULD WANT TO VOTE ON THEM. >> YES, MA'AM.

>> LINA HIDALGO: IT IS 10:21 AND WE WILL BREAK UNTIL 1:00. THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH.

>> LINA HIDALGO: LET'S START. STEVE RADACK IS HERE. >> LINA HIDALGO: IT IS 1:25 P.M. WE ARE RESUMING OUR MEETING OF COMMISSIONER'S COURT.

LET US REVOTE ON THE RESOLUTION THAT'S WE BROUGHT UP EARLIER TODAY.

THERE WAS A RESOLUTION ON THE COMMEMORATING RABBI KARFF? >> RODNEY ELLIS: YES, RABBI KARFF AND JUDGE JORDAN AND THEN ONE THAT WAS YOURS, JUDGE.

>> LINA HIDALGO: THE RETIREMENT. WE HAVE A MOTION AND A

SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR? >> I.

>> JUST HAVE A CLARIFICATION. BY THE WAY. I AM I ON THE OTHER TWO, THE RETIREMENT AND THE RABBI. I THINK THOSE ARE GREAT. IN THE JUDGE JORDAN RESOLUTION IT SEEMED THAT IT WAS ADD -- ADDED IN THERE ABOUT HOW HE WAS SERVING OUR COUNTRY ON RESERVE. WE NEVER HONORED A JUDGE THAT WAS A SITTING JUDGE BEFORE LIKE THIS. IF THE LAPPING -- LANGUAGE ABOUT HIM BEING IN THE RESERVE AND GOING TO THE RESERVE WHICH IS IN THE FINAL VERSION WHICH THE VERSION I HAD DID NOT HAVE THAT LANGUAGE IN IT, IF THAT LANGUAGE IS IN HERE, THEN I WILL BE IN FAVOR OF IT.

IS THERE A FINAL VERSION I DID NOT CATCH? >> RODNEY ELLIS: I WANT TO --

I WOULD LOVE TO HAVE YOUR SUPPORT. >> LINA HIDALGO: COMMISSIONER ELLIS, IS IT IN THE FINAL VERSION? I DON'T HAVE THE FINAL

VERSION. >> RODNEY ELLIS: I DISCARDED IT.

DO YOU HAVE IT IN FRONT OF YOU? LET ME GO BACK AND LOOK.

>> R. JACK CAGLE: IF IT IS NOT AND IF IT IS A FRIENDLY AMENDMENT I CAN BE

SUPPORTIVE. >> RODNEY ELLIS: YOU WANT HIM REFERENCED TO BEING IN THE

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RESERVE OR YOU DON'T WANT IT? >> R. JACK CAGLE: I DO WANT IT.

>> RODNEY ELLIS: IT IS IN THERE. >> R. JACK CAGLE: THE VERSION

I RECEIVED DID NOT HAVE THE RESERVE LANGUAGE IN THERE. >> RODNEY ELLIS: I'M PULLING

IT UP HERE. I AM FINDING IT ON MY COMPUTER. >> ADRIAN GARCIA: I'M SURE IT IS. THAT'S HOW WE GOT TO THE CONCLUSION HE WAS COMING TO A

FAR AWAY PLACE. >> RODNEY ELLIS: YEAH, I SEE IT HERE.

A MEMBER OF THE ARMY RESERVE. IT IS IN THE FIRST WHEREAS, JACK.

IT'S ALL RIGHT. >> R. JACK CAGLE: IF YOU'LL PUT IT IN THERE THAT HE IS

SERVING -- BEING CALLED TO ACTIVE DUTY -- >> RODNEY ELLIS: IT HIS PUBLIC SERVICE EXTENDS TO HIS COUNTRY AND JUDGE JORDAN IS BEING DEPLOYED TO ACTIVE SERVICE.

>> R. JACK CAGLE: THERE YOU GO. THAT'S NOT IN THE VERSION I

HAD. IF THAT'S THERE, I'M A YES. >> RODNEY ELLIS: THANK YOU.

>> LINA HIDALGO: SO THE THREE MOTIONS WILL CARRY UNANIMOUSLY.

>> STEVE RADACK: JUDGE, THIS IS RADACK. I WOULD LIKE TO TAKE OUT OF ORDER, PAGE 26 AND SUPPLEMENTAL ITEM NUMBER 6. THEY ARE STANDING BY AND THEY WANT TO DEPLOY ON THE PROPERTY PRECINCT 3 HAS TO REQUEST TO HAVE THEM STAGE FOR THE EMERGENCY OPERATIONS DURING THIS EMERGENCY. SO I WOULD LIKE TO MOVE THAT

THEY BE ALLOWED TO DO THAT. >> LINA HIDALGO: MOTION BY COMMISSIONER RADACK AND

SECONDED BY GARCIA. ALL IN FAVOR? >> I.

I. >> STEVE RADACK: THANK YOU. >> LINA HIDALGO: MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY. THANK YOU COMMISSIONERS. LET'S GO BACK UP TO THE COVID AGENDA. IT IS SECTION 23 AND IT IS UNDER THE COVID-19 SECTION ON THE REGULAR AGENDA. THE FIRST IS TO LET THE COUNTY ENGINEER USE OUR PARKING LOT.

PAGE 25. ITEM ONE IS THE ITEM FOR OUR EMPLOYEES.

PAGE 25 AND ITEM TWO, AN AMENDMENT TO THE AGREEMENT WITH BAKER RIPLEY.

IS THERE ANYONE TO SPEAK ON THAT? >> JUDGE, THIS IS SHANE.

ON JULY 14TH THE COURT APPROVED AN AGREEMENT WITH BAKER RIPLEY FOR THE EMERGENCY RENTAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM FOR 15 MILLION USING THE CARES ACT DOLLARS.

AND ON JULY 28TH, Y'ALL INCREASED THE PROGRAM FROM 15 TO 25 MILLION AND INCREASED THE AWARD AMOUNT TO 1,200. THIS AMENDMENT IS JUST INCORPORATING THE CHANGES AND

THE MINOR MODIFICATIONS TO THE LANDLORD AGREEMENT. >> ADRIAN GARCIA: JUDGE, I

HAVE AN ADDITIONAL MOTION TO INSERT IN THIS ITEM. >> LINA HIDALGO: YEAH.

>> ADRIAN GARCIA: YOU KNOW, I JUST SAW -- I WAS JUST WATCHING THE PRESS CONFERENCE WITH YOU AND THE MAYOR AND I THINK IT IS GREAT TO ALWAYS TRY TO BE IN STEP WITH ONE ANOTHER WHEN ISSUES ARISE. IT IS ALWAYS GOOD TO SEE THE LEADERSHIP AND THE COORDINATION. SIMILARLY IN THAT REGARD IT IS VERY EXCITING THAT WE -- I THINK THIS IS THE FIRST TIME ON ONE OF OUR UH -- ASSISTANCE INITIATIVES USING CARES MONEY WE HAVE COORDINATED WITH THE CITY. WE PROVIDED ONE WEBSITE FOR FOLKS TO GO TO TO GET ONE SET OF INFORMATION THAT NAVIGATES FOLKS, BUT THERE WERE SOME DIFFERENCES IN OUR RENTAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM BETWEEN THE CITIES AND THE COUNTIES.

AND SO THIS IS TO HELP US BETTER ALIGN WITH ONE ANOTHER.

MY MOTION WOULD READ TO -- WOULD READ AS SUCH. TO BETTER ALIGN HARRIS COUNTY'S EMERGENCY RENTAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM WITH THE CITY OF HOUSTON'S PROGRAM.

THE MOTION WOULD BE TO MODIFY THE BAKERIPLEY WITH THE AMENDMENT AS FOLLOWS.

INCREASE THE AWARD LIMITATION FROM 1200 TO 1900 PER HOUSEHOLD.

TO EXTEND LANDLORD ENROLLMENT THROUGH AUGUST 28TH AND TENANT ENROLLMENT THROUGH SEPTE.

ALLOW MORE LANDLORDS AND TENANTS TO REGISTER DUE TO THE INCREASED AWARD LIMITATION AMOUNT. TO MODIFY THE REQUIREMENTS OF LANDLORD AGREEMENT TO INCLUDE A TENANT PAYMENT PLAN TO ALIGN CLOSER WITH THE CITY OF HOUSTON'S PROGRAM.

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ATTORNEY'S OFFICE. >> LINA HIDALGO: COMMISSIONER ELLIS AND THEN COMMISSIONER

RADACK. >> RODNEY ELLIS: JUDGE, I WANT A SECOND MOTION MENTIONING IN LINE WITH THE -- I THINK IT DOES MAKE SENSE IN THE MIDDLE OF THIS IN THE PANDEMIC AND WITH AN IMPENDING STORM EVENT. I AM ALSO GOING TO ASK AFTER WE FINISH THIS THAT WE INCREASE BY THE SAME AMOUNT 50 MILLION THE MONEY THAT GOES TO THE DIRECT ASSISTANCE PROGRAM AS WELL. COMMISSIONER GARCIA, I DID WANT TO ASK -- I KNOW WITH THE HARRIS COUNTY DIRECT ASSISTANCE PROGRAM WE DIDN'T LET PEOPLE DOUBLE DIP, BUT WE DID LET PEOPLE IN HOUSTON PARTICIPATE IF THEY WERE NOT FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO GET IN ON THE CITY'S PROGRAM. THEY COULD PARTICIPATE IN THE COUNTY'S PROGRAM. IS IT YOUR INTENT TO DO THAT WITH THIS PROGRAM OR DID YOU

HAVE ANY THOUGHTS ON IT? >> I THINK THE PROGRAM SHOULD BE SEEMLESS.

IT IS WHAT I DID WHEN WE FIRST DID OUR $10 MILLION SMALL BUSINESS LOAN PROGRAM THROUGHOUT HARRIS COUNTY. IT IS PART OF THE SMALL BUSINESS GRANT PROGRAM AND WE ARE NOT MAKING IT -- AND I CAN SEE WHERE NOT MAKING IT COUNTY WIDE WOULD NOT BE A PROBLEM.

I DON'T SEE WHY WE SHOULDN'T SEE THAT THE RENTAL ASSISTANCE IS A TRUE COUNTY WIDE

PROGRAM. >> RODNEY ELLIS: CAN WE MAKE THAT A FRIENDLY AMENDMENT?

>> ADRIAN GARCIA: I WOULD SUPPORT THAT AMENDMENT. I THINK THAT WAS EXCLUDING THE CITY OF HOUSTON PORTION WAS NOT RELATED TO PRECINCT 1 AND RELATED TO PRECINCT 2.

IT WAS JUST RELATED TO PRECINCTS 3 AND 4. >> SO I WOULD JUST ADD THAT AS A FRIENDLY AMENDMENT TO YOUR MOTION TO NOT DOUBLE DIP, BUT ALL PEOPLE COULD PARTICIPATE

IN ALL PRECINCTS. >> ADRIAN GARCIA: I WOULD ACCEPT THAT.

>> LINA HIDALGO: COMMISSIONER RADACK. >> STEVE RADACK: IS MR. BARRY

AVAILABLE? >> LINA HIDALGO: YOUR MIC IS NOT WORKING.

WHY DON'T YOU CALL -- MAYBE TRY CALLING INTO THE PHONE LINE.

>> JUST PRESS THE THREE BUTTONS AND THEN GO AUDIO CONNECTION.

DROP IT AND THEN RECONNECT AGAIN. >> CAN YOU HEAR ME NOW?

>> LINA HIDALGO: YES, GREAT. >> STEVE RADACK: MR. BARRY, STEVE RADACK.

YOU KNOW, OVER THE LAST SEVERAL WEEKS WE'VE BEEN SPENDING COVID MONEY, AND I TRUST THE AMOUNT OF COVID MONEY IS LIMITED AT SOME POINT.

WAS THERE AN ORIGINAL FIGURE WE HAD THAT INCREASED OR WHATEVER? WHERE DO WE STAND WITH COVID MONEY? I'M CONCERNED THAT THE COVID SITUATION COULD CONTINUE AND CONTINUE AND CONTINUE. WHEN WE RUN OUT, ARE WE PAYING TAXPAYER'S MONEY -- FEDERAL MONEY IS TAXPAYER MONEY TOO, BUT I AM TALKING ABOUT LOCAL COUNTY TAXPAYERS FUNDS. WHERE DO WE STAND? TO ME WE HAVE TO BE REAL CAREFUL BECAUSE ALTHOUGH THESE PROGRAMS ARE GOOD PROGRAMS, IT IS LIMITED, EXTREMELY LIMITED, HOW FAR THAT MONEY GOES AND HOW MANY PEOPLE DOES IT -- HOW MANY DOES IT HELP LOOKING AT THE WHOLE POPULATION THAT MAY NEED ASSISTANCE. WHERE DO WE STAND?

>> SO, I SPEAK TO THE CARES FUNDING WHICH I THINK IS THE MOST RELEVANT FOR THESE PROGRAMS. WE RECEIVED A TOTAL ALLOCATION OF 426 MILLION.

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DOLLARS. >> STEVE RADACK: EVEN IN THE DAY'S AGENDA ISN'T THERE

ABOUT -- WHAT IS PROPOSED ABOUT 40 MILLION, 50 MILLION? >> I KNOW THERE ARE OTHER ITEMS WITH THE COUNTY CLERK AND COMMISSIONER GARCIA'S ITEMS.

>> STEVE RADACK: SO THE COUNTY CLERK IS, WHAT, 16? 17? SO WE'RE GETTING CLOSE TO BEING DOWN TO ABOUT 110 MILLION?

>> THAT SOUNDS ABOUT RIGHT IF THE ITEMS BEING DISCUSSED MOVE.

>> STEVE RADACK: DOES THAT CONCERN YOU? WHERE WE ARE?

>> I WOULDN'T SAY I'M CONCERNED AT THIS MOMENT, BUT I DO AGREE THAT RESOURCES AREN'T UNLIMITED, AND WE ARE ALL HOPING THAT THERE WOULD BE AN ADDITIONAL ALLOCATION OF CARES DOLLARS, BUT AT THE MOMENT I THINK IT IS UNCERTAIN WHETHER THERE WILL BE ANOTHER ALLOCATION OR NOT. WE DO HAVE ADDITIONAL MONEY AVAILABLE IN THE PIC FUND, THE CONTINGENCY FUND AND THE GENERAL FUND. THAT'S OBVIOUSLY DIRECTLY

HARRIS COUNTY TAXPAYER MONEY RATHER THAN FEDERAL MONEY. >> STEVE RADACK: OF COURSE WE ALSO HAVE A POTENTIAL HURRICANE COMING THIS WAY TOO.

THANK YOU. APPRECIATE IT. >> LINA HIDALGO: COMMISSIONER

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

MR. BARRY, WOULD WE BE ABLE TO USE CARES MONEY FOR HURRICANE RESPONSE?

>> I DON'T KNOW. I DO THINK OUR EXPENDITURES TO HURRICANES ARE GENERALLY COVERED 75% BY FEMA. WE TYPICALLY GET A LOT OF HELP FROM FEMA IN THE RESPONSE.

>> ADRIAN GARCIA: I THINK CARES IS DEDICATED TO THE PANDEMIC AND NOT NECESSARILY THE WEATHER. SECONDLY, THE CARES MONEY THAT WE DO HAVE, IT IS A USE IT OR LOSE IT PROGRAM. WE IS A -- WE HAVE TO USE IT BY THE END OF THE YEAR, IS

THAT CORRECT? >> THAT'S CORRECT. THE DEADLINE IS END OF THE

YEAR BEFORE WE LOSE IT. >> ADRIAN GARCIA: IN TERMS OF WHERE WE STARTED WITH THE 426 AND WHERE WE ARE AT IN TERMS OF THE CALENDAR, WE'VE GOT -- WE'RE ESSENTIALLY IN SEPTEMBER AND WE HAVE 9 MONTHS LEFT IN THE YEAR. SO I MEAN, WE ARE 110 MILLION FOR WHERE WE ARE GOING. YES, THIS PANDEMIC IS GOING TO BE CONTINUING, BUT WE ARE COORDINATED WITH PUBLIC HEALTH BECAUSE PUBLIC HEALTH LOOKS TO GET SUPPORT.

YOUR AVES -- OR OFFICE IS TRACKING THE ACTIVITY AND THE CONVERSATIONS AND I'M SURE ANY ONE OF US WOULD RAISE OUR HAND AND SAY, LOOK, THE PUBLIC HEALTH ASPECTS ARE MISSION ONE. WE ARE WORKING TO MAKE SURE WE USE THE REST OF THE RESOURCES AS CONDITIONALLY AS POSSIBLE TO MAKE SURE PEOPLE GET THROUGH THIS PANDEMIC.

THANK YOU. >> LINA HIDALGO: IN THAT CASE THERE WOULD BE AN ADDITIONAL $15 MILLION, COMMISSIONER GARCIA YOU ARE PROPOSING, AND COMMISSIONER ELLIS IS PROPOSING ANOTHER 15, AND SO THAT'S 30. WE WILL DISCUSS THE CLERK ITEM. SO THAT IS SOMEWHERE AROUND 17.

AND I TRUST THAT THE COMMITTEE HAS -- I KNOW THE COMMITTEE HAS BEEN MEETING ABOUT THIS AND THEY ARE THINKING ABOUT WHERE THE FUNDS WOULD GO. YOU KNOW, FOR WHAT IT IS WORTH, I HAVE HAD THE SAME QUESTIONS, COMMISSIONER RADACK, THAT YOU ARE ASKING AND I FEEL COMFORTABLE ENOUGH WE ARE LEAVING ENOUGH OF A BUFFER, SO TO SPEAK.

>> ADRIAN GARCIA: SO HAVE I, JUDGE. I KNOW WE ARE ALL IN.

IT I JUST KEEP AN EYE ON THE FACT THAT WE HAVE TO BE THOUGHTFUL ABOUT THE PROGRAMS

WE CREATE, OTHERWISE WE LOSE THIS MONEY. >> LINA HIDALGO: YES,

COMMISSIONER ELLIS? >> RODNEY ELLIS: I WANT TO ECHO COMMISSIONER GARCIA'S COMMENTS. LOOK, ON THE MOTION I'M GONNA MAKE, I KNOW WE GOT OVER 96,000 CONFIRMED CASES OF CORONAVIRUS. ANOTHER 525,000 RESIDENTS ARE FILING FOR UNEMPLOYMENT SINCE THE PANDEMIC STARTED. 500,000 APPLYING FOR THE

[00:35:03]

THERE IS A POSSIBILITY THAT SOME THINGS THAT WE THINK WE ARE GONNA GET REIMBURSED FOR THAT WE MAY NOT GET REIMBURSED FOR BY THE WAY. NOTHING WOULD BE WORSE THAT -- THAN COMING THE DEADLINE AT THE END OF THE YEAR AND WE HAVE NOT SPENT THE MONEY.

WITH -- PEOPLE OUT THERE ARE HURTING. AND WITH THE STORM COMING IN, THAT MAKES IT WORSE SUFFERING THROUGH A PANDEMIC. THAT'S WHY I THINK IT IS IMPORTANT. I ALSO THINK WITH OUR FEDERAL PARTNERS, IF ALL OF US ARE SITTING ON THE MONEY, SOME PEOPLE AROUND THE COUNTRY ARE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO BALANCE THEIR BUDGETS AND DO THINGS OTHER THAN 3* WHAT THE -- OTHER THAN WHAT THE CARES ACT WAS INTENDED TO DO. AND I DON'T THINK IT HELPS MAKE THE CASE OF THE DECEMBER SIG -- CASE OF THE DESGNEE WHEN THEY TRY TO DECIDE WHETHER TO SEND US MORE MONEY. I THINK IT MAKES SENSE TO APPROVE BOTH.

>> LINA HIDALGO: COMMISSIONER CAGLE? >> R. JACK CAGLE: YES, YOUR HONOR. I WOULD JUST LIKE CLARIFICATION.

WE ARE VOTING ON 2A WHICH DEALS WITH THE EMERGENCY RENTAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM AT THIS TIME. MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT IT HAS BEEN MODIFIED TO ALTHOUGH WE ARE NOT GOING TO HAVE A DOUBLE DIP PROGRAM THAT IT IS GOING TO BE A DOUBLE BITE PROGRAM. IF YOU ARE IN UNINCORPORATED HARRIS COUNTY, YOU ONLY GET ONE BITE AT PARTICIPATING IN THE PROGRAM. IF YOU ARE PART OF PRECINCT 4 THAT IS BLESSED ENOUGH TO BE IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON, YOU GET TWO BITES.

YOU GET THE CITY OF HOUSTON'S BITE AND THEN YOU GET A BITE AT THE COUNTY ALLOCATION.

PREVIOUSLY WE ALLOWED EACH PRECINCT TO DECIDE WHETHER TO GO WITH THE TWO BITES OR THE ONE BITE. MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT THERE HAS BEEN A VERBAL AMENDMENT TO CHANGE THIS FROM A ONE BITE PROGRAM TO A TWO BITE PROGRAM COUNTY WIDE.

AM I UNDERSTANDING THE AMENDMENT CORRECTLY? >> ADRIAN GARCIA: ONE BITE, TWO BITE, THREE BITES, NOT SURE IF I WOULD CALL IT A BITE , BUT I TELL YOU THAT IF THE INTEREST THAT COMMISSIONER ELLIS IS MAKING OR EXPRESSING IS TO ENSURE THAT CITIZENS HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO GET RENTAL ASSISTANCE HELP REGARDLESS OF WHERE THEY LIVE,

THEN THE ANSWER IS YES. >> RODNEY ELLIS: AND JUDGE, I MIGHT ADD YOU DON'T GET TWO BITES. IF THE CITY HAS A PROGRAM, YOU WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO GET THE CITY'S MONEY AND MONEY FROM THE COUNTY. BUT WHAT WE DO KNOW BASED ON THE LAST COURT MEETING IS WHERE MOST OF OUR POVERTY IS IN THE COUNTY.

SOME OF THAT POVERTY, MIGHT I ADD, WAS GOVERNMENT CREATED. LOOK AT THE END OF THE DAY IT IS WORST FIRST. SO UNDER THE STANDARDS WE PUT IN PLACE AND THE METRICS THAT ARE THERE WE ARE HITTING OUR MOST VULNERABLE POPULATION FIRST AND THAT'S A GOOD

THING. >> LINA HIDALGO: WHAT'S THE MOTION, COMMISSIONER GARCIA?

>> ADRIAN GARCIA: THE MOTION IS -- I RE REREAD MY ENTIRE MOTION.

IT IS TO BETTER ALIGN THE COUNTY'S WREN SAL -- RENTAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM WITH THE CITY OF HOUSTON'S PROGRAM. THE MOTION IS TO MODIFY THE BAKER RIPLEY AGREEMENT TO INCREASE THE AWARD LIMITATION AMOUNT FROM $1200 TO $1900. THAT'S PER HOUSEHOLD.

TO EXTEND LANDLORD ENROLLMENT THROUGH AUGUST 28TH AND TENANT ENROLLMENT THROUGH AUGUSD TO ALLOW MORE LANDOWNERS AND TENANTS TO REGISTER DUE TO THE INCREASED AWARD LIMITATION AMOUNT. TO MODIFY THE REQUIREMENTS OF LANDLORD AGREEMENT TO INCLUDE A TENANT PAYMENT PLAN TO ALIGN CLOSER WITH THE CITY OF HOUSTON'S PROGRAM.

TO INCREASE THE PROGRAM FUND BY 15 MILLION FOR A TOTAL AMOUNT OF 40 MILLION TO ENSURE A SIMILAR AMOUNT OF QUALIFIED APPLICANTS ARE SELECTED. AUTHORIZED THE BUDGET MPG MEANT TO WORK -- MANAGEMENT TO WORK WITH THE COUNTY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE AND BAKER RIPLEY TO MAKE THE MODIFICATIONS BASED ON THIS MOTION AND TO AUTHORIZE THE COUNTY JUDGE TO SIGN THE MODIFIED AMENDMENT SUBJECT TO APPROVAL BY THE COUNTY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE AND THEN TO ADD THE FRIENDLY AMENDMENT THAT COMMISSIONER ELLIS MADE

[00:40:02]

FOR THESE PROGRAMS. >> COMMISSIONER GARCIA SAID AUGD AND IT IS SEPTEMBER 2ND.

AUGUST 28TH FOR THE TENANT ENROLLMENT. AUGUST 28TH.

AND SEPTEMBER 2ND TO ALLOW FOR THE TENANT ENROLLMENT. >> LINA HIDALGO: LET'S VOTE ON THE AMENDMENT WHICH IS TO ALLOW ANY PRECINCT TO APPLY FOR THE PROGRAM, CORRECT?

>> ADRIAN GARCIA: CORRECT. >> LINA HIDALGO: IS THERE A MOTION, COMMISSIONER ELLIS?

>> RODNEY ELLIS: SO MOVED. I DID MINE SEPARATELY. >> LINA HIDALGO: THAT'S JUST THE MOTION TO ALLOW FOLKS FROM ANY PRECINCT TO APPLY FOR THE RENTAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM.

SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER GARCIA. ALL IN FAVOR?

>> I. >> I. >> LINA HIDALGO: OPPOSED?

>> NO. NO. >> LINA HIDALGO: I'M IN FAVOR OF THE AMENDMENT. MOTION CARRIES. NOW LET'S VOTE ON COMMISSIONER GARCIA'S MOTION. MOTION BY COMMISSIONER GARCIA.

>> SECOND. >> LINA HIDALGO: ALL IN FAVOR?

>> I. I. >> LINA HIDALGO: OPPOSED?

MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY. >> RODNEY ELLIS: JUDGE, IF I MIGHT.

MY AMENDMENT IS RELATED TO THE ISSUE WHILE WE'RE ON IT. HERE IS WHAT IT DOES AND THEN I'LL READ. IT IT SIMPLY ADDS AN ADDITIONAL $15 MILLION TO THE HARRIS COUNTY EMERGENCY DIRECT ASSISTANCE PROGRAM. I RAN THROUGH THE STATS EARLIER ABOUT 525,000 RESIDENTS APPLIED. FUNDING FOR 500,000 FAMILIES APPLIED FOR THE COVID-19 FUND. WE WERE ABLE TO SERVICE ABOUT 20. THIS MOTION I DID READ, BUT I PASS IT AROUND.

IT INCREASES THE AMOUNT OF FUNDS ALLOCATED FOR THE HARRIS COUNTY EMERGENCY DIRECT ASSISTANCE PROGRAM BY UP TO $15 MILLION TO MATCH THE COUNTY'S PROPOSED INCREASE INVESTMENTS IN THE EMERGENCY RENTAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM SEPARATED AND DISTRIBUTED IN EQUAL AMOUNTS TO EACH HARRIS COUNTY PRECINCT. AUTHORIZED BUDGET MANAGEMENT TO WORK WITH THE COUNTY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE AND CATHOLIC CHARITIES TO MAKE THE NECESSARY MODIFICATIONS TO THE AGREEMENT BASED ON THIS ORDER.

THIRDLY, AUTHORIZE THE COUNTY JUDGE TO SIGN THE MODIFIED AGREEMENT SUBJECT TO APPROVAL

BY THE COUNTY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE. >> LINA HIDALGO: COMMISSIONER,

I TAKE THANK YOU ARE MAKING THAT MOTION UNDER THE -- >> RODNEY ELLIS: COVID ITEMS.

>> LINA HIDALGO: THE 26 ITEM 1, THE BROAD COVID ITEM? >> RODNEY ELLIS: YES, MA'AM,.

>> ADRIAN GARCIA: SECOND. >> RODNEY ELLIS: IS THAT CORRECT, BRIAN?

IT IS NUMBER 23B, 2B. >> LINA HIDALGO: WHICH PAGE IS THAT, COMMISSIONER?

>> RODNEY ELLIS: 25. IT IS UNDER THE COVID ITEMS. >> IF I MAY, IT APPEARS TO ME

THAT IT IS SUPPLEMENTAL ITEM 11, ISN'T IT, COMMISSIONER? >> RODNEY ELLIS: YEAH.

BUT BUDGET MANAGEMENT, MR. SOARD JUST TOLD ME, I CAN DO IT UNDER THIS ITEM.

>> THAT'S FINE. >> RODNEY ELLIS: EITHER ONE. >> WE'RE OKAY WITH IT EITHER

WAY, IS BUT JUST SO THE RECORD IS CLEAR. >> LINA HIDALGO: FOR JAMES, IT WILL BE UNDER PAGE 25 AND ITEM 2B, THE AGREEMENT WITH THE ARCHDIOCESE OF GALVESTON -- OR

CATHOLIC CHARITIES. >> YES, MA'AM. >> JUDGE, EXCUSE ME.

WE DO HAVE A SPEAKER ON THIS ITEM. >> LINA HIDALGO: OKAY.

LET'S TAKE THAT SPEAKER THEN. >> ZOE MIDDLETON WITH TEXAS HOUSERS REGARDING SUPPLEMENTAL

ITEM NUMBER 11. GO AHEAD, PLEASE. >> LINA HIDALGO: LUCINDA,

RIGHT NOW WE ARE ON ITEM -- WE ARE NOT -- THAT'S NOT IT. >> RODNEY ELLIS: JUDGE, MAYBE IT IS BECAUSE I LISTED IT AS A SUPPLEMENTAL, BUT BUDGET MANAGEMENT TOLD ME -- IT IS

THE SAME ITEM. IT IS THE SAME THING. >> I THINK IN THE NOTES IT WAS TO TAKE UP BOTH ITEMS AT THE SAME TIME. 2B AND SUPPLEMENTAL 11.

>> LINA HIDALGO: ALL RIGHT, Y'ALL. WE'RE GETTING A LITTLE -- SO WE WERE ON COVID ITEM 2 -- PAGE 25 AND ITEM A ON THE EMERGENCY RENTAL PROGRAM.

AND THEN ITEM B IS THE AGREEMENT WITH CATHOLIC CHARITIES.

THAT'S THE OTHER ONE WE ARE DISCUSSING. >> RODNEY ELLIS: YES, MA'AM.

I AM JUST ADDING 15 MILLION TO THAT PROGRAM, AND I DID LIST IT AS A SEPARATE ITEM AS WELL. AND THEN BUDGET MANAGEMENT TOLD ME THAT I DIDN'T HAVE TO

[00:45:04]

LIST THE SEPARATE ITEM. COULD I HAVE DONE IT UNDER B. >> LINA HIDALGO: I SEE WHAT YOU'RE SAYING. ITEM 11 IS THE SAME THING THAT YOU ARE DOING.

ALL RIGHT. THAT MAKES SENSE. THANK YOU FOR CLARIFYING.

LET'S HARYB -- HEAR FROM THE SPEAKER. >> I SPOKE TO Y'ALL SEVERAL TIMES BEFORE AND WE ARE TALKING ABOUT THE BENEFITS OF DIRECT ASSISTANCE.

BEFORE I TALK ABOUT DIRECT 8 SIS -- DIRECT ASSISTANCE I WANT TO TALK ABOUT THE PAYMENT PLAN AND THE INCLUDING OF PAYMENT PLAN IN ANY FUTURE RENTAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS LIKE THE ONE COMMISSIONER GARCIA JUST ASSESSED. IT IS AN UNDERSTANDING THAT THE COUNTY HAS [INAUDIBLE] POUF BETTER AND LARGER RESERVE FOR THE CITY OF HOUSTON.

I THINK IT IS IMPORTANT AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE TO ALIGN THE PROGRAM SPH -- AND THE INCLUSION OF A PAYMENT PLAN WILL HELP IN THE INVESTMENT OF THIS PROGRAM.

AND IT WILL HELP PREVENT EVICTION WHICH WE KNOW IN HARRIS COUNTY IS A LEADER IN EVICTIONS NATIONWIDE. AND SO I ALSO WANT TO BE CLEAR OF THE PAYMENT PLAN STANDARD AND I DON'T HAVE THE MOST CURRENT OF THE PLAN IN FRONT OF ME.

WE ASK IT NOT PERMIT EVICTION FOR ONE MONTH AFTER THE FUNDS ARE DISPERSED.

IN THE LAST VERSION I SAW ALLOWED EVICTIONS TO BE VALID A SHORT TIME AFTER.

THAT'S UNACCEPTABLE. TO TALK ABOUT DIRECT ASSISTANCE AND THE FURTHER NEED FOR DIRECT ASSISTANCE, WE KNOW THAT RENTAL ASSISTANCE WILL HELP EVERYONE'S NEEDS.

WE KNOW FINANCIAL NEEDS ARE PREPARING FOR HURRICANES. WE DO NOT YET HAVE A MAP OF THE COVID-19 PAN DEEM -- PANDEMIC. WE HAVE A SET AMOUNT THAT IS NOT LARGE ENOUGH. [INAUDIBLE] AND NOT CONFIDENT IN THEIR ABILITY TO CREATE AN AGREEMENT THAT WILL SPECIFIC MUNICIPALITIES AND REGIONS. I WANT TO ALSO NOTE THAT IT IS USEFUL BECAUSE FUNDS AS WRITTEN LIMIT RENTAL ASSISTANCE THAT IS GIVEN TO RENTERS. THE MORE FLEXIBLE WE CAN BE AND ALLOWING THEM TO SEND MONEY AND WE KNOW PEOPLE USE IT FOR FEEDING THEIR CHILDREN AND WE SHOULD ABSOLUTELY BE DOING THAT AS A REGION. WE ARGUE THAT IT IS NOT A BEST PRACTICE.

I THINK THAT'S IT. I ALSO NOTE THAT THE TREASURY GUIDANCE STATES CARES FUNDS HELPS WITH THE EFFECTS OF THE COVID-19 CRISIS. I THINK THAT IS IMPORTANT FOR Y'ALL TO CONSIDER HOW YOU USE THE REMAINDER OF THE CARES FUNDS.

THAT'S ALL. >> LINA HIDALGO: THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR CALLING IN.

ON THIS NOTE BEFORE WE MOVE ON, I DID WANT TO ASK WHOEVER IS -- IS IT GUIDE HOUSE WHO IS COORDINATING THESE PROGRAMS? JUST TO MAKE SURE THAT WHOEVER APPLIED FOR OUR -- WHOEVER APPLIES FOR THE RENTAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM AND IS NOT SELECTED THAT IF THEY QUALIFY THEY BE AUTOMATICALLY CONSIDERED FOR THE DIRECT ASSISTANCE PROGRAM THAT IS COMING UP. WE TALKED ABOUT THIS BEFORE SO FOLKS DON'T HAVE TO APPLY

TWICE. >> CAN WE ADD THAT AS AN AMENDMENT? MAYBE WE SHOULD ASK MR. SOARD. GO AHEAD, GUIDE HOUSE.

I'M SORRY, JUDGE. >> COMMISSIONER, JUDGE, THIS IS TODD WITH GUIDE HOUSE.

AS IT RELATES WITH THAT, CLEARLY YOU COULD -- IF YOU ARE NOT SELECTED FOR THE RENTER'S PROGRAM YOU CAN PARTICIPATE IN THE DIRECT UH -- ASSISTANCE.

AS IT RELATES TO -- THOSE ARE TWO SEPARATE PROGRAMS AND SO WE WOULD NEED TO LOOK INTO, YOU KNOW, REAPPLYING FOR THAT, IF YOU WILL WHICH IS WHAT I THOUGHT I HEARD HER QUESTION

BEING. >> THE QUESTION IS CAN YOU PLEASE WORK WITH CATHOLIC CHARITIES BAKER RIPLEY SO THAT WHOEVER APPLIES FOR THE RENTAL PROGRAM THROUGH BAKER RIPLEY,

[00:50:02]

>> R. JACK CAGLE: JUDGE, IF THAT'S A MOTION, I SECOND IT. THAT WE MAKE AN AUTOMATIC APPLICATION FOR THE RENTAL PROGRAM TO GO IF THEY ARE -- IF THEY ARE -- I DON'T WANT TO USE THE WORD REJECTED, BUT IF THEY ARE NOT THE WINNER OF THE LOTTERY IN THE RENTAL PROGRAM, THAT THEY ARE THEN AUTOMATICALLY ENROLLED IN THE DIRECT ASSISTANCE PROGRAM.

>> LINA HIDALGO: YEAH, THEY AUTOMATIC APPLY FOR THE DIRECT ASSISTANCE PROGRAM.

THAT IS MY MOTION, THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER. >> ADRIAN GARCIA: IF JACK IS GOING TO SECOND IT OR IS HE MAKING THE MOTION? THAT SOUNDS LIKE A TWO-BITE

PROGRAM TO ME. >> LINA HIDALGO: SO WE WILL MAKE -- I MAKE THE MOTION AND COMMISSIONER CAGLE IS SECONDING IT. DID YOU HAVE SOMETHING TO ADD, GUIDE HOUSE? WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND.

ALL IN FAVOR? >> I. >> I.

>> I. >> I. >> LINA HIDALGO: OPPOSED?

MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY. >> RODNEY ELLIS: JUDGE, DID WE VOTE ON MY MAIN MOTION?

I CAN'T REMEMBER. >> LINA HIDALGO: NO, WE DIDN'T.

SORRY ABOUT THAT, COMMISSIONER. MOTION BY COMMISSIONER ELLIS,

YOURS WAS -- YOU READ IT. DO YOU NEED IT READ AGAIN? >> I WOULD APPRECIATE IT.

>> RODNEY ELLIS: I DIDN'T SEND IT TO YOU. I'M SORRY.

INCREASE THE FUNDS ALLOCATED BY THE EMERGENCY DIRECT ASSISTANCE PROGRAM BY UP TO $15 MILLION TO MATCH THE COUNTY'S PROPOSED INCREASE INVESTMENT IN EMERGENCY RENTAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM SEPARATED AND DISTRIBUTED EQUAL AMOUNTS TO EACH HAIR -- HARRIS COUNTY PRE SINK, AUTHORIZE BUDGET MANAGEMENT TO WORK WITH THE COUNTY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE AND CATHOLIC CHARITIES TO MAKE THE NECESSARY MODIFICATIONS TO THE AGREEMENT BASED ON THIS ORDER AND AUTHORIZATION OF THE COUNTY JUDGE TO SIGN THE AGREEMENT SUBJECT TO APPROVAL

BY THE COUNTY ATTORNEY'S'S OFFICE. >> LINA HIDALGO: THAT'S A

MOTION. DO WE HAVE A SECOND? >> ADRIAN GARCIA: SECOND.

>> LINA HIDALGO: ALL IN FAVOR? >> I.

>> I. >> LINA HIDALGO: OPPOSED? MOTION AREAS -- MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY LOOKS LIKE. LET ME JUST CLARIFY. JAMES, YOU HAD A CLARIFICATION QUESTION? ABOUT ITEM 23B, 2? IS THERE SOMETHING YOU NEED

CLARIFIED? >> NO, MA'AM. AS LONG AS THE ITEM -- THE MOTION THAT WAS READ IS FOR 23B, 2B. THAT SHOULD BE OKAY WITH ME.

>> YES. AND IT IS THE SAME ONE COMMISSIONER MADE UNDER ITEM SUPPLEMENTAL 11. THEY ARE TAKING IT UP TOGETHER.

>> THAT MOTION ALSO BE FOR SUPPLEMENTAL 11? >> RODNEY ELLIS: YES.

THEY WILL COMBINE. BOTH ARE NOT NECESSARY. I JUST WITHDRAW THE

SUPPLEMENTAL ITEM SINCE WE HAVE ALREADY DONE IT. >> LINA HIDALGO: SO TAKE NO

ACTION ON SUPPLEMENTAL ITEM 11. >> RODNEY ELLIS: JUDGE, I DO WANT TO SAY THERE ARE DIFFERENT ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS SO GUIDE HOUSE WILL HAVE TO SORT THROUGH THAT AND LET US KNOW IF THERE IS A PROBLEM FOR DIRECT ASSISTANCE. I DON'T KNOW WHAT THEY ARE, BUT THEY ARE SOMEWHAT

DIFFERENT. >> YEAH, AND THAT'S WHAT I WANTED TO JUST BRING OUT.

WE ARE GOING TO NEED TO LOOK INTO IT. YOU ARE CORRECT.

THERE ARE DIFFERENT ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS. AND WE NEED TO GET IN THE DETAILS NOW THAT WE KNOW WHERE THE COURT WANTS TO GO, AND WE WILL COME BACK TO YOU ON

THAT. >> RODNEY ELLIS: JUST LET US KNOW IF YOU CAN'T DO IT.

MAYBE IT CAN BE DONE, BUT WE TRY -- THE JUDGE IS TRYING TO AVOID -- AND COMMISSIONER CAGLE AND ALL OF US ARE TRYING TO STOP PEOPLE IN PAPER EVER TO HAVE TO GO THROUGH

PAPERWORK AGAIN. >> TOTALLY UNDERSTAND. >> STEVE RADACK: SOD JUST READ IT. TODD JUST READ IT. DO YOU ANTICIPATE MORE MONEY COMING IN THROUGH COVID? DO YOU THINK WE ARE ABOUT MAXED OUT?

>> WELL, COMMISSIONER, THAT'S A HARD QUESTION TO ANSWER. I KNOW THEY ARE TALKING ABOUT IT FEDERALLY AT THE MOMENT. WE ARE HEARING THERE COULD BE ANOTHER ONE, BUT THAT HAS NOT

BEEN VOTED ON. I KNOW IT IS IN DISCUSSIONS. >> STEVE RADACK: HOPEFULLY THIS WOULDN'T HAPPEN, BUT SAY THAT PEOPLE HAVE TO GO TO SHELTERS AND MAYBE COUNTY FACILITIES BECAUSE OF THE HURRICANE AND THEN COVID GOES RAMPANT WHICH WE HOPE DOESN'T HAPPEN WE COULD BE RUNNING SHORTER AND SHORTER ON MONEY, WOULD YOU AGREE?

[00:55:02]

>> THAT IS A POSSIBILITY. YES, SIR. >> ADRIAN GARCIA: WHILE WE GOT YOU ON THE LINE, CAN WE USE CARES MONEY FOR THIS HURRICANE RESPONSE?

>> NO, SIR. THE CARES MONEY IS SET FOR THE PANDEMIC.

THAT WOULD BE, AS DAVID MENTIONED, THOSE ARE COVERED BY FEMA FUNDS TYPICALLY.

>> ADRIAN GARCIA: AND WHAT HAPPENS IF WE DON'T USE ALL THE MONEY?

ALL OF THE CARES MONEY. >> THE CARES MONEY? >> ADRIAN GARCIA: YES.

>> BY THE END OF THE YEAR THEN YOU WOULD PAY THE REMAINDER BACK TO THE FEDERAL

GOVERNMENT. >> ADRIAN GARCIA: AND IF WE DO END UP HAVING TO PAY BACK ON THE NEXT TRAUNCH, WOULD OUR USAGE OR LACK OF, DO YOU THINK THAT WOULD BE -- IS IT TYPICAL FOR THAT TO BE WEIGHED IN THE ALLOCATION PROCESS IF ANOTHER WERE TO COME?

>> NO, SIR. THAT TRONCH WAS FOR A SPECIFIC THINK -- THING.

IT WOULD BE BASED ON THE DIFFERENT REQUIREMENTS AND AREAS OF FOCUS COMING FROM THE

FEDERAL GOVERNMENT. >> ADRIAN GARCIA: OKAY. GOT IT.

THANK YOU. >> LINA HIDALGO: COMMISSIONER ELLIS?

>> RODNEY ELLIS: I WAS JUST WONDERING BASED ON YOUR EXPERIENCE WITH DISASTER EFFORTS AROUND THE COUNTRY, WILL FOLKS IN CONGRESS LOOK AND SEE HOW MUCH CITIES AND COUNTIES AND STATES STILL HAVE STOCKPILED SOMEWHERE? KNOW THRG IS ALWAYS AN ARGUMENT WHETHER OR NOT WE ARE USING OUR MONEY TO SUPPLEMENT THE CRISIS OR TO SUPPLANT STUFF WE WERE DOING ANYWAY. DO YOU THINK IT HELPS OR HURTS IF THEY LOOK AROUND THE COUNTRY AND ALL OF THESE JURISDICTIONS ARE FLUSH WITH CARES MONEY AND THEN ASKING

FOR MORE CARES MONEY? THIS IS FOR TODD. >> IF YOU CAN UNMUTE CARACA -- GARAPOUS HE IS CLOSER TO TREASURY. GAROP, YOU ARE ON.

>> CAN YOU HEAR ME NOW? >> RODNEY ELLIS: MY QUESTION IS WHEN YOU ARE ASKING FOR MORE MONEY IS IT BETTER TO SAY WE STILL HAVE 50%, 30% OF WHAT WE WERE TRYING TO SPEND BY THE END OF THE YEAR? IT IS JUST A GUESS, OBVIOUSLY, BUT WHAT IS YOUR GUESS BASED

ON EXPERIENCE? >> ABSOLUTELY. ONE OF THE REASON THEY ARE ASKING FOR THE REPORTING ON THE CARE FUNDS IS THEY ARE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW MUCH THE ALLOCATION. EVEN THE INITIAL REPORT WHEN THEY ASK THE COUNTY AND GOVERNMENTS TO SUBMIT THEIR INITIAL EXPENDITURE REPORTS WAS FOR THE SOLE PURPOSE OF CONGRESS BEING ABLE TO DEBATE WHAT THE NEXT ALLOCATION WOULD LOOK LIKE.

AND IT APPEARS AT LEAST ON THE SURFACE THAT THE HEALS ACT THAT WAS PROPOSED RECENTLY DID NOT INCLUDE ANY INITIAL FUNDING FOR STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS BECAUSE OF THE FACT THAT A LOT OF THE CRF FUNDS THAT WERE ALLOCATED WERE NOT EX -- NOT EXPENDED TODAY.

SO I THINK IT WILL SERVE THE GOVERNMENT BETTER IF YOU HAVE A GOOD -- IF YOU ARE ABLE TO SPEND THE FUNDS ALLOCATED TO YOU AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE TO HELP THE PEOPLE.

>> RODNEY ELLIS: ASSUMING YOU HAVE A NEED. >> OF COURSE.

>> RODNEY ELLIS: IF YOU DON'T HAVE A NEED, DON'T DO IT. >> YES.

>> RODNEY ELLIS: THANK YOU. >> SURE. >> LINA HIDALGO: ALL RIGHT.

SO THAT WAS THAT ITEM. LET'S KEEP GOING. ITEM C IS THE INTER LOCAL WITH A FEW OF THE CITIES AS PART OF OUR ASSISTANCE PROGRAM. PAGE 25 AND ITEMS -- 23C1 IS A GRANT, A PUBLIC HEALTH GRANT. 2 IS ALSO A GRANT PROGRAM AND 3 IS TO ACCEPT DONATIONS.

PAGE 25 AND 23D1 IS AN AMENDMENT TO THE COMMUNITY WIDE HOUSING PROGRAM.

ITEM 2 IS A REVISED CENSUS PLAN GIVEN THE NEW TIMELINE THAT'S NOW GOING TO END SEPTEMBER 30TH. E IS A GRANT FROM THE SHERIFF.

F IS THE REQUEST BY THE COUNTY CLERK. IS THE COUNTY CLERK ON THE

LINE? >> I'M LOOKING, JUDGE. >> LINA HIDALGO: THANK YOU.

[01:00:04]

>> I DON'T SEE ANYBODY ON. >> LINA HIDALGO: ALL RIGHT, LUCINDA --

>> R. JACK CAGLE: YOUR HONOR, DO WE HAVE SPEAKERS ON ITEM F?

>> NO, WE DO NOT. >> LINA HIDALGO: WE CAN TRY AND REACH HIM.

WE CAN KEEP MOVING. I KNOW Y'ALL NEED TO WORK ON THE RESCUE AND THE DEBRIS VEHICLES AND WE ARE TRYING TO OF COURSE OUT THE EVAC. I SAY WE KEEP MOVING AND AS

SOON AS THEY GET ON WE CAN GO TO THIS ITEM. >> R. JACK CAGLE: ALL RIGHT.

>> LINA HIDALGO: SO THE NEXT IS A PURCHASING ITEM, PAGE 26 AND ITEM G1.

AND G2 IS AN MOU OF PRECINCT 2. THEN I HAVE ON PAGE 26 MY BROAD COVID ITEM. DO YOU FOLKS HAVE ANY DISCUSSION FOR THAT ITEM? I BELIEVE -- COULD WE HAVE SPEAKERS FOR THAT, LUCINDA, THE BROAD COVID ITEM?

>> I'M SORRY, JUDGE. I WAS ON THE PHONE WITH CHRIS.

NO, MA'AM. THEY CANCELED. >> LINA HIDALGO: ITEM 2 IS ON THE DISASTER DECLARATION. HERE WE HAVE SURVEYED THE DIFFERENT COUNTIES.

IT LOOKS LIKE TRAVIS COUNTY, THEY GOT THEIR DISASTER DECLARATION EXPIRING DECEMBER 15TH. I'M TOLD THEY ARE MOVING TO INDEFINITE.

BEXAR COUNTY RIGHT NOW IS SEPTEMBER 16TH. I DIDN'T HAVE A CHANCE TO CONNECT WITH THEM AS TO THEIR TIMELINE. EL PASO IS INDEFINITE.

TAIRNT COUNTY IS BRINGING A 60-DAY EXTENSION FROM AUGUST 30TH.

OURS EXPIRES TOMORROW AND THAT IS THE DISASTER DECLARATION FOR COVID.

OBVIOUSLY WE ARE NOT THROUGH. WE ARE IN RED. THEY EXTENDED THE DISASTER DECLARATION LAST WEEK. DALLAS COUNTY PEGGED THEIR DISASTER DECLARATION TO THE GOVERNOR'S DISASTER DECLARATION. THAT'S WHAT I'M OPPOSING.

THE AGENDA EYE -- ITEM SAID SEPTEMBER 30TH. THAT WAS A MISTAKE.

WE EDITED THAT ON FRIDAY FOR YOU GUYS. I'M EASY.

WHAT I PROPOSE IS THAT WE APPROVE THE EXTENSION THROUGH THE 14TH DAY FOLLOWING THE EXPIRATION OF GOVERNOR ABBOTT'S FINAL DISASTER DECLARATION.

>> ADRIAN GARCIA: IF THAT'S YOUR MOTION, JUDGE, I SECOND IT.

>> LINA HIDALGO: THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER GARCIA. SEND.HAVE A MOTION AND ACO

ALL IN FAVOR? >> I. >> LINA HIDALGO: OPPOSED?

>> NO. >> NO. >> LINA HIDALGO: THANK YOU, COMMISSIONERS. I WILL BE IN FAVOR OF THE MOTION SO THE MOTION CARRIES.

ITEM I -- >> JUDGE, FOR CLARIFICATION WE HAVE AN INDEFINITE NOW?

>> LINA HIDALGO: NO. IT IS FOR 14 DAYS BEYOND GOVERNOR ABBOTT'S

DECLARATION. >> R. JACK CAGLE: MY APOLOGIES.

I WAS JUST SAYING WE DON'T HAVE A SPECIFIC DATE. JUST WHEN THE GOVERNOR'S

DECLARATION IS DONE. THANK YOU, JUDGE. >> JUDGE, EXCUSE ME.

WE HAVE CHRIS HOLLINS ON THE LINE. >> LINA HIDALGO: ODEH -- OKAY. LET'S GO BACK TO THAT ITEM AND GO AHEAD, CLERK, MR. HOLLINS.

THAT WILL BE THE COUNTY CLERK ITEM UNDER THE COVID SECTION. >> HI, GOOD AFTERNOON, JUDGE.

GOOD AFTERNOON TO COMMISSIONERS EL L US, GARCIA -- COMMISSIONERS ELLIS, GARCIA, RADACK AND CAGLE. WOULD YOU LIKE ME TO TALK THROUGH THE PROPOSAL?

>> LINA HIDALGO: YES, MR. HOLLINS, UNLESS FOLKS HAVE QUESTIONS FOR YOU ALREADY.

I BELIEVE YOU VISITED WITH EACH OF US. I APPRECIATED THE CONVERSATION YOU HAD WITH ME. SO IF YOU WOULD -- COMMISSIONER ELLIS HAS A

QUESTION. >> RODNEY ELLIS: I HAD A GOOD, LONG VISIT WITH HIM.

I WANT TO THANK HIM FOR ACCOMMODATING ANY CONCERNS. >> ABSOLUTELY.

EACH OF YOU KNOW THE COUNTY CLERK'S OFFICE MADE IT OUR TOP PRIORITY TO ADMINISTER SAFE, SECURE, ACCESSIBLE, FAIR ELECTIONS FOR THE VOTERS OF HARRIS COUNTY THIS NOVEMBER.

TO ENSURE THIS OUTCOME OUR OFFICE HAS BEEN EXECUTING THE SAFE ELECTIONS PLAN WHICH IS A ROBUST SET OF 24 INITIATIVES. MANY OF WHICH WERE ROLLED OUT AND PILOTED IN THE PRIMARY RUNOFF ELECTION. THESE NEED TO BE CONTINUED OR EXPANDED IN NOVEMBER TO ENSURE VOTER SAFETY. WE EXPECT TO BE OPERATING IN AS YOU KNOW A PROLONGED GLOBAL PANDEMIC. AND WE EXPECT A RECORD VOTER TURNOUT.

[01:05:04]

EXTENDING THE EARLY VOTING PERIOD TO A RECORD THREE WEEKS.

EXTENDING THE EARLY VOTING HOURS, PROMOTING VOTE BY MAIL WITHIN THE BOUNDS OF THE LAW.

I THINK WE ALL KNOW THAT VOTING BY MAIL IS THE SAFEST AND MOST CONVENIENT WAY TO VOTE. AND ENSURING THE PROPER INFRASTRUCTURE TO BE IN PLACE TO PROCESS THOSE MAIL BALLOTS WHEN THEY COME IN. WE WANT TO INTRODUCE DRIVE-THRU VOTING AND MULTIPLE SITES ACROSS HARRIS COUNTY WHICH IS ALSO A SAFE WAY TO VOTE IN PERSON. THIS COURT HAS APPROVED THE RELOCATION OF OUR ENTIRE ELECTIONS OPERATION TO NRG ARENA. THAT'S PART OF THIS PLAN.

AND FINALLY INCREASING THE CALL CENTER RESPONSIVENESS AND THE RESERVE STAFF DURING THIS TIME OF UNPRECEDENTED CHANGE AND UNCERTAINTY. WHEN I LAST ADDRESSED THE COURT WE WERE IN THE MIDST OF THE JULY PRIMARY RUNOFF. BECAUSE OF THE HARD WORK AND MY STAFF AND BECAUSE OF ALL OF THE ELECTION WORKERS WHO VOLUNTEERED IN HARRIS COUNTY, THAT ELECTION WAS INDEED SAFE, SECURE, ACCESSIBLE, FAIR AND EFFICIENT.

IN ADDITION TO MAKING SURE ALL VOTERS AND ELECTION WORKERS ARE SAFE, AND MORE EVER FELT SAFE WHILE VOTING IN PERSON, REDRAMATICALLY REDUCED LONG LINES WE EXPERIENCED PREVIOUSLY AND SLOWER RECORDING TIMES WE EXPERIENCED IN PREVIOUS ELECTIONS.

AND WE INCREASED CONVENIENCE AND ACCESS FOR ALL VOTERS. WE WERE ALSO SUCCESSFUL IN OUR ATTEMPT OF VOTE BY MAIL FOR THOSE WHO QUALIFY. AND WE SAW A RECORD NUMBER OF VOTERS THAT APPLIED FOR AND UTILIZED THE MAIL BALLOT. LOOKING TO NOVEMBER WE WILL CONTINUE TO DO EVERYTHING IN OUR POWER TO REDUCE EXPOSURE TO CORONAVIRUS SO THAT VOTERS DON'T HAVE TO MAKE A CHOICE BETWEEN THEIR SAFETY AND FROM HAVING THEIR VOICES HEARD AT THE POLL. WHEN WE SPOKE IN JULY I TOLD YOU THAT IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWING ELECTION DAY ON JULY 14TH WE WOULD TURN OUR ATTENTION TO NOVEMBER, AND WE WOULD USE THE LEARNINGS FROM JULY TO MAKE IMPROVEMENTS AND TO PLAN FOR ANOTHER SAFE, SECURE, ACCESSIBLE, FAIR AND EFFICIENT ELECTION IN NOVEMBER. A CONCERN TO YOU ALL AT THAT TIME WAS THE PLAN FOR THE FUND THE COURT ALLOTTED WOULD COME ABOUT TO ENSURE THE SAFE ELECTION DURING THE GLOBAL PANDEMIC. I LET YOU KNOW AT THAT TIME THAT OUR PLAN WOULD BE BASED ON WHAT WAS NECESSARY TO ENSURE SAFE ELECTION.

IT IS NOT BASED ON A PRE-SET BUDGET FIGURE. I TOLD YOU ALL IF THE PLAN CAME IN UNDER BUDGET WE WOULD BE GLAD TO RETURN THAT MONEY TO THE COUNTY, AND WE WOULDN'T WASTE OR HOLD ON TO FUNDS WE DIDN'T NEED. I ALSO TOLD YOU THE PLAN CAME IN OVER WHAT WAS ALLOTTED. I WOULD BE TRANSPARENT ABOUT THAT.

I WOULD SHARE THAT WITH YOU AND I WOULDN'T HESITATE TO REQUEST WHAT WAS NEEDED TO EXECUTE A SAFE ELECTION. I MET WITH EACH OF YOUR STAFF EVERY WEEK.

I FIRST SHARED THIS PLAN THAT WE ARE GOING TO DISCUSS TODAY AND THE ASSOCIATED BUDGET LINE ITEMS ON FRIDAY, JULY 31ST. THAT FOLLOWING WEEK I MET WITH EACH OF YOU INDIVIDUALLY AND I OFFERED I WOULD SPEND AS MUCH TIME AS WOULD BE REQUIRED TO GO THROUGH THE DETAILS. SINCE THEN I MET WITH EACH OF YOUR STAFFS ANOTHER THREE TIMES. AND WE HAVE ANSWERED ANY AND ALL QUESTIONS THEY HAD RELATED TO THE PLAN. BECAUSE OF THAT I HOPE YOU HAVE THE INFORMATION YOU NEED TO MAKE AN INFORMED VOTE TODAY. BUT I AM HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE. THANK YOU.

>> LINA HIDALGO: COMMISSIONER ELLIS? >> RODNEY ELLIS: I DID HAVE ONE QUESTION, CHRIS. I KNOW I CHATTED WITH YOU LATE LAST NIGHT ABOUT WHETHER OR NOT YOU CAN ONLY LET PEOPLE DROP OFF BALLOTS IN PERSON AT COUNTY FACILITIES.

SO ARE YOU GOING TO NEGOTIATE WITH US SO YOU CAN USE OUR FACILITIES? IS THAT RIGHT? I AM NOTICING IN MY NOTES THAT YOU SAID THE GOVERNOR IS LOOKING AT THE OPTION OF EXPANDING MAIL BALLOT DROPOFF LOCATIONS.

I GUESS MAYBE THROUGH THE EMERGENCY POWERS YOU CAN JUST ELABORATE ON THAT.

>> UNDER THE TEXAS MAIL IN CODE BALLOTS CAN ONLY BE DROPPED OFF ON ELECTION DAY.

IN RESPONSE TO A LETTER I SENT GOVERNOR ABBOTT RECENTLY, HE SUSPENDED CERTAIN PARTS OF THE ELECTION CODE TO ALLOW THE MAIL IN BALLOTS TO BE TURNED IN IN PERSON AT ANYTIME AFTER

[01:10:06]

WE NEED TO BE OFFERING COUNTY CLERK SERVICES THERE. WE NEED TO LOOK AT THOSE DETAILS. I WOULD VERY MUCH LIKE FOR THE COUNTY AND FOR THIS COURT TO OFFER ADDITIONAL LOCATIONS WHERE MY OFFICE COULD HAVE ADDITIONAL BRANCHES.

NOT ONLY TO SERVE THE PEOPLE OF HARRIS COUNTY AMONG A NUMBER OF DIMENSIONS AND PROVIDE THE CRITICAL SERVICE THAT'S OUR OFFICE HAS BEEN OFFERING AND HAS RECENTLY EXPANDED AS WE OPENED THE ANNEXES, BUT ALSO TO ACCEPT MAIL BALLOTS.

>> RODNEY ELLIS: AND THE TWO MILLION -- THE 2.07 MILLION FOR THE VOTE BY MAIL DOES PROVIDE ENOUGH MONEY SO THAT YOU CAN SEND AN APPLICATION TO EVERYONE, AND THEY WOULD HAVE TO MAKE THE DECISION WHETHER OR NOT THEY QUALIFY UNDER THE LAW?

>> THAT'S CORRECT. AND THAT PARTICULAR SET OF LINE ITEMS, WE WOULD BE ABLE TO SEND AN APPLICATION TO ALL VOTERS OF HARRIS COUNTY. WHEN WE SEND THAT, IT WOULD COME WITH AN INSERT THAT EDUCATED THE VOTER ON WHO WAS QUALIFIED TO VOTE BY MAIL AND WHO WAS NOT. WE HAVE BEEN WORKING WITH THE COUNTY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE ON THAT LANGUAGE. WE ALSO HAVE CIRCULATED SOME OF THE LANGUAGE TO OTHER

STAKEHOLDERS FOR CLARITY. >> RODNEY ELLIS: I THINK IT IS A HEFTY PRICE TAG, BUT WE ARE IN CHALLENGING TIMES, AND I CAN'T THINK OF ANYTHING MORE IMPORTANT THAN FOR US TO

INVEST IN THAT AND TO INVEST IN OUR DEMOCRACY. >> LINA HIDALGO: COMMISSIONER

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

MR. HOLLINS, THANK YOU VERY MUCH, AND THANK YOU FOR GETTING ON THE PHONE WITH ME THE OTHER DAY WHEN MS. HARRIS AND YOU AND I SPOKE ABOUT THE SAME THING.

SHE WAS WATCHING WHAT WAS BEING DONE IN OTHER PARTS OF THE COUNTRY AND IT WAS VERY GOOD FOR HER TO HEAR THAT YOU WERE GIVING THIS SOME THOUGHT.

AND FROM MY STANDPOINT WHEN WE SPOKE THE OTHER DAY, THE OFFER FROM MY OFFICE REMAINS TO BE A SUPPORTIVE ELEMENT TO YOUR PROGRAM AND TO LOOK AT HOW WE CAN -- FOR THOSE PRECINCT THAT'S WANT TO PARTICIPATE, TO SUPPORT YOUR EFFORTS TO GIVE MUCH MORE OF THE COMMUNITY ACCESS TO THE IN PERSON MAIL BALLOT DELIVERY PROCESS THAT YOU ARE WORKING THROUGH.

I KNOW THAT YOU SAID THERE ARE CHALLENGES THAT YOU WANT TO THINK THROUGH AND BE CAREFUL ABOUT, SO I AGREE WITH YOU AND I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THERE IS NO -- WE DON'T INADVERTENTLY CAUSE A PROBLEM FOR FOLKS TO PARTICIPATE AND VOTE BY MAIL AND TO GIVE US THEIR MAIL BALLOTS. WE WOULD CREATE A POSSIBLE CHALLENGE IN THE PROCESS.

THANK YOU FOR BEING FORWARD LOOKING IN THAT REGARD AND THINKING ABOUT THOSE ISSUES.

I REMAIN READY TO PARTNER WITH YOU. THANK YOU FOR THE WORK YOU ARE DOING. YOU AND YOUR STAFF ARE DOING A PHENOMENAL JOB.

THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER. I STILL HAVE MS. VIVIEN'S

PHONE NUMBER HERE ON A POST IT NOTE. >> ADRIAN GARCIA: STAY IN

TOUCH WITH HER. SHE'S A SWEETHEART. >> ABSOLUTELY.

>> LINA HIDALGO: ALL RIGHT. JOCK JOCK

>> R. JACK CAGLE: YOUR HONOR? >> LINA HIDALGO: YES, COMMISSIONER CAGLE.

>> MR. HOLLINS, THANK YOU FOR MEETING WITH ME AND ALSO FOR MEETING WITH MY STAFF.

I VERY, VERY MUCH APPRECIATE THAT. IN OUR CONVERSATION I SAID I DIDN'T -- I DID WANT TO DO AN APPLE TO APPLE COMPARISON WITH WHAT WE SPENT PREVIOUSLY REGARDING OUR ELECTIONS AND WHAT WE SPENT THIS TIME. I HAVE THOSE NUMBERS.

2008 WE SPENT 3.7 MILLION FOR THE ENTIRE ELECTION. AND IN 2012 IT WAS

[01:15:03]

THAT IS -- I THINK YOU SAID IT IS UNPRECEDENTED CHANGE, AND THAT'S AN UNPRECEDENTED INCREASE IN THE BUDGET. I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR WORKING WITH US TO SEE WHERE IT IS THAT THESE FUNDS WERE GOING. I DID WANT TO LET YOU KNOW THAT I DO HAVE MY APPLES TO MY APPLES COMPARISON NOW. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

>> ABSOLUTELY. I'M HAPPY TO GO THROUGH SOME OF THOSE NUMBERS IN DETAIL.

THE MOST SIGNIFICANT CHOPPING -- CHUNK OF THE BUDGET IS FRANKLY FOR ELECTION WORKERS. BECAUSE OF THE TURNOUT WE ARE EXPECTING, AND BECAUSE OF THE NEED FOR ADDITIONAL SPACING AND THEN OF COURSE FOR THE THIRD REASON THIS BEING THE FIRST YEAR OF NO STRAIGHT TICKET VOTING AND NOT KNOWING HOW THAT IS GOING TO AFFECT THE TIME IT TAKES FOR THE AVERAGE VOTER TO CAST THEIR VOTES, WE ARE NEEDING TO DRAMATICALLY EXPAND THE NUMBER OF LOCATION THAT'S WE HAVE. GOING BACK TO -- YOU KNOW, TAKE 2016, FOR EXAMPLE. THERE WERE 40 SOME ODD EARLY VOTE LOCATIONS ACROSS HARRIS COUNTY. AND IN 2012 THERE WERE 38 IF I'M NOT MISTAKEN.

AND SO GOING TO 120 IS A BIG JUMP. IN ADDITION TO THAT, LENGTHENING THE EARLY VOTING PERIOD BY AN ADDITIONAL SIX TO SEVEN DAYS AND NOW PAYING OUR WORKERS A LIVING WAGE, I THINK THE SALARIES BACK THEN -- PARDON ME, THE HOURLY RATES BACK THEN WERE $7.50 IF I'M NOT MISTAKEN? THIS COURT PREVIOUS TO MY TAKING OFFICE I THINK RAISED THAT TO $17. AND THAT IN ITSELF IS A SIGNIFICANT INCREASE THAT WOULD OF COURSE LEAD TO BUDGETARY CHANGES.

YOU KNOW, WE DID THE MATH AND SAID, HEY, IF WE DIDN'T HAVE ANY ADDITIONAL MONEY AND IF WE JUST HAD WHAT WE HAVE FROM THE GENERAL FUND THAT WAS PASSED PREVIOUS IN THIS FISCAL YEAR, WHAT WE WOULD BE ABLE TO DO -- IF WE OPERATED TOTALLY ON THE CHEAP, WOULD WE HAVE ABOUT THE SAME NUMBER OF LOCATION THAT'S WE HAD ON ELECTION DAY IN 2020? BUT IN FACT WE WOULD HAVE FAR FEWER EARLY VOTING LOCATIONS THAN WE HAD IN THE PAST.

WITH THE DOLLARS THAT WE HAD AVAILABLE TO US, WE WOULD ONLY BE ABLE TO AFFORD 20 OR SO EARLY VOTE LOCATIONS WHICH AGAIN WOULD BE HALF OF WHAT WE HAD IN THE PAST.

IN FACT, BASED ON THE NUMBERS WE ARE EXPECTING WHICH IS BEING PREPARED FOR ABOUT 1.5 MILLION IN PERSON VOTERS IN ADDITION TO THE OTHER THINGS THAT I HAVE MENTIONED ON THIS CALL SO FAR WE NEED TO DRAMATICALLY INCREASE THE EARLY VOTER LOCATIONS.

I AM AWARE OF THE COSTS OF DOING NEW THINGS AND DOING THINGS DIFFERENTLY.

THIS IS BASED ON MATH. IT IS NOT JUST A SWAG THAT WE NEED TO DOUBLE AND TRIP -- TRIPLE THE LOCATIONS WE HAD. STARTED WITH WHAT WE EXPECTED TO BE TURNOUT AND WE OPERATED FROM THERE TO UNDERSTAND WHAT WE NEEDED TO DO TO ACCOMMODATE THOSE VOTERS IN A WAY THAT WOULDN'T OVERWELL M VOTING CENTERS, WOULD ALLOW VOTERS TO CAST THEIR BALLOTS IN A TIMELY

FASHION, AND OF COURSE DURING THIS TIME A SAFE FASHION. >> LINA HIDALGO: COMMISSIONER

ELLIS? >> RODNEY ELLIS: MR. HOLLINS, IT IS AN UNPRECEDENTED BUDGET. I GUESS IT HAS BEEN ABOUT 105 YEARS SINCE PEOPLE HAD TO VOTE, IF THEY VOTED DURING A PANDEMIC. I DO THINK IT WOULD HAVE BEEN A LOT EASIER IF OUR STATE WAS NOT ONE OF THOSE RESISTING LETTING PEOPLE VOTE BY MAIL IN BALLOT. THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT I AM HEARING FROM WHO ARE VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THEIR HEALTH. I'M LUCKY OR UNLUCKY ENOUGH TO BE OVER 65, SO I WILL BE ABLE TO VOTE BY A MAIL IN BALLOT. I THINK DURING UNPRECEDENTED TIMES YOU HAVE DONE A GREAT JOB WITH THIS. LOOK, I JUST CAN'T THANK YOU ENOUGH FOR PUTTING YOUR CAREER IN MANY WAYS ON HOLD TO STEP UP AND GO AND DO THIS DURING THE INTERIM.

AND STICKING TO THE COMMITMENT TO NOT TRY TO RUN FOR THE POSITION, BUT YOU ARE DOING A

[01:20:04]

GREAT JOB, AND WE ALL APPRECIATE IT. >> THANK YOU.

AND I DON'T WANT TO GET WITH THE POST OFFICE AT THE NATIONAL LEVEL, BUT I DO WANT TO SAY THAT THE WORKERS AND THE LEADERSHIP OF THE POST OFFICE AT THE LOCAL LEVEL ARE DEEPLY COMMITTED, AND WE HAVE BEEN IN VERY CLOSE CONTACT WITH THEM TO TALK ABOUT WAYS WE CAN WORK TOGETHER TO ENSURE THAT THE MAIL IS RUNNING SMOOTHLY, AND THAT THOSE BALLOTS CAN COME THROUGH THE MAIL. WE ARE ALSO -- TWO OTHER THINGS WORTH MENTIONING, ONE WE ARE HAPPY TO PROVIDE THESE SERVICES OF MAIL BALLOT DROPOFFS, AND WE WANT TO EXPAND THAT IF POSSIBLE. I SENT GOVERNOR ABBOTT ANOTHER LETTER ASKING HIM TO EXTEND THE DEADLINE BY WHICH MAIL BALLOTS CAN BE RECEIVED BY OUR OFFICE. AND I WANT TO BE CLEAR ABOUT WHAT I AM ASKING FOR HERE.

THE CURRENT LAW SAYS THAT YOU HAVE TO GET YOUR BALLOT IN THE MAIL BY ELECTION DAY, AND IT HAS TO GET TO US BY THE NEXT DAY. OF COURSE WE WANT TO MAKE SURE EVERYBODY GETS THEIR MAIL BALLOT IN BY ELECTION DAY. OUR OFFICE IS HIGHLY ENCOURAGING VOTERS TO GET THEIR BALLOTS IN FAR BEFORE ELECTION DAY.

FOR THOSE WHO GET THEM IN THE MAIL ON ELECTION DAY IT MAY NOT BE REALISTIC IT GETS TO US IN ONE DAY. AND SO MY ASK TO GOVERNOR ABBOTT IS TO EXTEND THAT DEADLINE BY WHICH THE MAIL CAN GET TO US. AND FOR YOUR INFORMATION, VOTERS WHO VOTE FROM INTERNATIONAL LOCATIONS, THEY HAVE FIVE DAYS FOR THEIR BALLOT TO GET TO US AND VOTERS FROM THE ARMED FORCES, I KNOW YOU MENTIONED BROTHER JORDAN WHO IS GOING OVERSEAS SOON, BUT THEY HAVE SIX DAYS TO GET THEIR BALLOT TO US.

MY REQUEST TO GOVERNOR ABBOTT WAS TO ALLOW EVERY VOTER TO HAVE THAT SAME LENIENCY DURING THIS TIME FRAME, AND WE ARE STILL AWAITING A -- AN ANSWER FROM GOVERNOR ABBOTT IN THAT

REGARD. >> RODNEY ELLIS: THANK YOU. >> LINA HIDALGO: MR. HOLLINS, WHAT IS THE IMPACT ON THE COUNT AND HOW DO WE MAKE THAT CLEAR? I AM GUESSING WE WILL NOT HAVE THE RESULTS THEN FOR A MINUTE, RIGHT?

>> FROM JULY -- AND THIS IS UNPRECEDENTED AND THE FIRST TIME WE HAVE BEEN IN THIS SITUATION, BUT IN JULY THERE WERE LESS THAN 2% OF ALL MAIL BALLOTS WHICH WOULD COME TO HALF TO .6 OF A PERCENT OF TOTAL BALLOTS THAT COME IN ANYTIME AFTER ELECTION DAY.

SO WITH THIS ELECTION, VERY LIKELY NOT. BUT THAT HAVING BEEN SAID IN TERMS OF REPORTING RESULTS, YOU KNOW, WE DON'T REPORT OFFICIAL RESULTS UNTIL A WEEK ANYWAY. ANYTHING BEFORE THAT IS UNOFFICIAL.

MANY OTHER STATES AND OTHER JURISDICTIONS HAVE FAR LONGER RECORDING GUIDELINES THAN THAT. DO I EXPECT MAIL COMING IN LATE TO SWAY AN ELECTION? NOT IN THE LEAST. AGAIN, WE ARE GOING TO BE ENCOURAGING FOLKS TO DROP OFF THE MAIL BALLOTS TO US AND GET THEM IN THE MAIL AS SOON AS THEY POSSIBLY CAN.

WE ARE SENDING OUT MAIL BALLOTS IN MID-SEPTEMBER. FOLKS HAVE SIX WEEKS.

THIS WON'T BE AN URGENT SITUATION AT THE OUTSET. IF THEY GET THE MAIL BALLOTS TO US, WHETHER THROUGH THE MAIL OR IN PERSON, IT SHOULDN'T BE AN ISSUE WHATSOEVER. BUT THIS IS ABOUT COUNTING EVERY VOTE IN A CRITICAL AND MOMENTOUS ELECTION LIKE THIS ONE. BUT EVERY ELECTION IS IMPORTANT AND PEOPLE SHOULD HAVE THEIR VOICES HEARD. IF THEY FOLLOW THEIR RULES AND DO THEIR PART WHICH IS GETTING THE BALLOT IN THE MAIL BY ELECTION DAY ACCORDING TO THE TEXAS ELECTION CODE THEY SHOULDN'T BE PENALIZED OR DISSEN -- DISENFRANCHISED.

>> STEVE RADACK: THANK YOU. HOW MANY REGISTERED VOTERS ARE IN THE FOUR COMMISSIONERS'

PRECINCTS? BY PRECINCT? >> ONE MOMENT, SIR.

SO WE HAVE A TOTAL OF JUST OVER 2.4 MILLION IN THE COUNTY.

>> STEVE RADACK: YES, SIR. >> COMMISSIONER OF PRECINCT 1 HAS 600,000.

COMMISSIONER PRECINCT 2 HAS ABOUT 500,000. PRECINCT 3 HAS ABOUT 640.

AND PRECINCT 4 HAS ABOUT 670. AND LET ME GIVE YOU THE PRECINCT ONE NUMBER ONE MORE TIME SO WE ARE MORE EVEN. THEY HAVE ABOUT 620. IT IS 620.

500. 640. 670.

>> STEVE RADACK: BASED UPON WHAT I AM SEEING HERE. BASED ON WHAT IS OPEN.

[01:25:15]

DO YOU AGREE WITH THAT? >> THOSE NUMBERS ARE INNING CHAING DAILY -- ARE CHANGING

DAILY, BUT THEY ARE CLOSE. YES, SIR. >> AND THEN AS FAR AS DRIVE-THRU, PRECINCT 1, 5. PRECINCT 2 -- EXCUSE ME. YES.

PRECINCT 2, 1. PRECINCT 3, 2. PRECINCT 4, 2.

AND ON ELECTION DAY PRECINCT 1236 VOTING LOCATIONS. 192 IN PRECINCT 2.

THERE IS 181 IN PRECINCT 3 AND 187 IN 4. WHY IS IT SO WEIGHTED TOWARD

PRECINCT 1? >> A COUPLE THINGS. I SUBJECT THE DRIVE-THRU VOTING PART FIRST. THE GOAL IN DRIVE-THRU VOTING IS TO PROVIDE TWO TO EACH COMMISSIONER PRECINCTS. FOR PRE SINK 2 THERE IS A FOOD BANK LOCATION THAT THEY ARE BIG FANS OF THAT IS CONVENIENT FOR PRECINCT 2 VOTERS. BECAUSE OF WEIRD JERRYMANDERING IT HAPPENS TO SIT IN PRECINCT 1 ACROSS THE LINES.

AND SO THAT COUNTS AS A PRE -- PRECINCT 1 LOCATION THAT IS REQUESTED BY COMMISSIONER GARCIA. THE ADDITIONAL TWO ARE HEADQUARTERS.

NRG ARENA AS WELL AS TOYOTA CENTER WHICH I DON'T KNOW IF THAT HAS GONE PUBLIC YET, BUT THE TOYOTA CENTER HAS OFFERED ITSELF UP AS AN EARLY VOTING AND AN ELECTION DAY LOCATION AND DRIVE-THRU LOCATION. AND WE THINK BECAUSE OF THE CACHE AND THE NOTORIETY OF A POLLING PLACE LIKE THAT THAT IT MIGHT GET A LOT OF TRAFFIC AND WE WANT TO BE ABLE TO ACCOMMODATE THAT AND MAKE SURE THE VOTERS THERE HAVE A NUMBER OF OPTIONS.

GOING MORE SO TO THE ELECTION DAY COUNTS, YOU ARE RIGHT THAT THE COMMISSIONER -- PRECINCT 1 HAS A HIGHER NUMBER NOW IN THE PRELIMINARY COUNT. WE WANT TO BE AS EVEN AS POSSIBLE. ONE OF THE OTHER THINGS TO TAKE INTO ACCOUNT OUTSIDE OF WHERE PEOPLE LIVE IS WHERE PEOPLE WORK. PRECINCT 1 HAPPENS TO HAVE ALL OF DOWNTOWN AND MANY OTHER CENTERS OF COMMERCE INCLUDING SAY THE MEDICAL CENTER IN THAT AREA AROUND NRG. BECAUSE OF THE DENSITY AND WANTING TO SERVE PEOPLE WHERE THEY SHOW UP WHICH IS A LOT OF THE MAP THAT WE DID, YOU END UP WITH A HEAVIER WEIGHTING FOR PRECINCT 1. THAT HAVING BEEN SAID, THIS IS A PROCESS WHERE WE ARE REACHING OUT TO STAKEHOLDERS AS WELL AS YOU ALL, THE COURT, FOR FEEDBACK.

AND SO IF THERE ARE LOCATIONS IN YOUR PRECINCT THAT COULD OR SHOULD BE ELECTION DAY OR EARLY VOTING ELECTION WE WOULD LOVE TO HAVE THAT CONVERSATION AND DO OUR BEST TO

ACCOMMODATE. >> STEVE RADACK: I MENTIONED TO YOU WHEN WE TALKED THAT I DEFINITELY WANT SOME MORE LOCATIONS, AND AS FAR AS -- I GUESS WE CAN TALK TO A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT PEOPLE, METRO INCLUDED, ON HOW FEW PEOPLE COMPARED TO WHAT IT USED TO BE ARE WORKING DOWNTOWN. IF YOU LOOK HISTORICALLY AT THE EARLY VOTING CENTERS DOWNTOWN OR IN THE DOWNTOWN AREA, TALKING ABOUT ACTUAL DOWNTOWN, THE TURNOUT THERE IS NORMALLY, I GUESS IN A WORD, PATHETIC. AT ANY RATE, OKAY.

I FIND THESE NUMBERS DISTURBING TO ME THAT IT WOULD BE WEIGHTED THE WAY IT IS.

THANK YOU. >> ABSOLUTELY. AND SO, AGAIN, WE WOULD CERTAINLY LOVE TO HEAR ABOUT ANY LOCATIONS IN YOUR PRECINCT, COMMISSIONER, THAT YOU THINK COULD OR SHOULD BE EARLY VOTE LOCATIONS. WE HAVE BEEN VERY PLEASED THAT HISD HAS ANNOUNCED A SCHOOL VIRTUAL DAY ON NOVEMBER 3RD. IT WILL GIVE US ACCESS TO ALL OF THE SCHOOLS AS ELECTION DAY LOCATIONS. IF OTHER DISTRICTS WOULD JOIN THEM, AND THERE ARE OTHER DISTRICTS TO BE CLEAR, WHO HAVE DONE A VIRTUAL DAY OR IN SERVICE DAY, BUT IF ALL OF THE DISTRICTS IN HARRIS COUNTY WOULD DO THAT WE WOULD HAVE

[01:30:05]

COMMITTING YOUR VOTES FOR THREE WEEKS IS A HEAVIER LIFT.

BUT IF THERE ARE LOCATIONS THAT ARE IN YOUR PRECINCT AND THAT YOUR OFFICE WANTS TO SHARE WITH US OR STAKEHOLDERS WANT TO SHARE WITH US THAT WE MISSED, WE WOULD LOVE TO CONSIDER THEM AND THINK ABOUT HOW TO GET THEM INCLUDED. EVERY STEW

>> STEVE RADACK: THANK YOU. >> ADRIAN GARCIA: CHRIS, YOU ARE DOING A GREAT JOB, MAN.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THAT VERY THOUGHTFUL EXPLANATION. >> RODNEY ELLIS: JUDGE, ONE

MORE QUESTION. >> LINA HIDALGO: YES. >> RODNEY ELLIS: CHRIS, I KNOW MOST OF THE UNIVERSITIES ARE IN PRECINCT 1 AS WELL. A LOT ARE JUST AWFUL NATIONAL EXPINT NATIONAL PRESS WAS -- NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL PRESS WAS SOMEBODY BEING IN LINE AFTER MIDNIGHT AT TEXAS SOUTHERN. MOST OF THE UNIVERSITIES -- LOOK. IF THEY ARE BACK IN SCHOOL, OF COURSE, YOU ARE LISTING SOME OF THE STUFF AND IT IS COMING OUT OF WASHINGTON, D.C. DO YOU THINK THIS WILL ALL BE OVER WITH. BUT HOW ARE WE DOING WITH THE UNIVERSITIES? MOST HAPPEN TO BE IN PRECINCT 1. I THINK ALL BUT ONE.

ARE WE TAPPING INTO THE UNIVERSITY CROWD? >> WE CERTAINLY ARE.

IN ADDITION TO TAPPING IN, WE ARE WORKING WITH THE COLLEGES AND THE UNIVERSITIES TO -- JUST LIKE WE ARE DOING WITH OTHER FACILITIES, TO MOVE TO LOCATIONS ON THEIR CAMPUS THAT'S ARE MORE CONDUCIVE TO SOCIAL DISTANCING. TSU, FOR EXAMPLE, WE MOVED FROM THAT SMALL LIBRARY ON MARCD TO THE GYMNASIUM ON JULY 14TH.

WE ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO USING THAT GYMNASIUM AGAIN. >> RODNEY ELLIS: ARE YOU TAKING IN -- I KNOW MY STAFFED ASKED, BUT THE WEATHER ISSUES.

LAST TIME THE LONG LINE WAS OUT THERE AT NIGHT, BUT WE WILL BE IN -- WE COULD BE IN COLD WEATHER, BUT YOU ARE WORKING THAT OUT? LARGE LOCATIONS HELP WITH THAT

AS WELL OBVIOUSLY. >> CERTAINLY. WE DO HOPE THAT THE MOD -- THE MODERATE NOVEMBER WEATHER IS BETTER THAN THE HEAT IN JULY AS WELL AS IN MARCH.

WE ARE BEING THOUGHTFUL ABOUT THAT. WE JUST WALKED THROUGH RICE CAMPUS EITHER YESTERDAY OR THE DAY BEFORE, AND SO WE ARE LOOKING THERE AS WELL.

AND AGAIN U OF H IS LOOKING TO MOVE THEIR SITE TO A MORE CONDUCIVE LOCATION.

>> RODNEY ELLIS: AND HOUSTON BAPTIST. AND WITH THE CLIMATE CHANGE,

WHO KNOWS ? WE CAN HAVE SNOW. >> LINA HIDALGO: COMMISSIONER

RADACK? >> STEVE RADACK: I WANT TO JUST ASK A QUESTION.

IT HAS BEEN ANNOUNCED THAT THERE IS GOING TO BE AN -- THERE IS GOING TO BE AN EMERGENCY MEETING AT 3:00 P.M. IS THAT CORRECT?

>> LINA HIDALGO: I'M LEARNING FROM YOU, COMMISSIONER RADACK.

BUT THERE IS AN IMPORTANT WEATHER UPDATE AT 4:00. AND AFTER THAT WE HAVE TO MAKE SOME DECISIONS SO I AM LOOKING AT THE CLOCK WITH SOME CONCERN.

>> STEVE RADACK: I AM JUST ASKING. IT IS NOT AT 3:00, IT IS AT

4:00? >> LINA HIDALGO: THE DEPARTMENT WILL CALL AT 3:00.

>> STEVE RADACK: HOW LONG DO WE ANTS -- ANTICIPATE THAT WILL LAST?

>> LINA HIDALGO: I AM OKAY STAYING HERE. OUR EMERGENCY MANAGER -- STEVE

THAT'S FINE. JUST CHECKING. >> LINA HIDALGO: THANK YOU.

SO THAT IS THAT. DO WE HAVE A MOTION ON THE ITEM?

>> SO MOVED. >> SECOND. >> LINA HIDALGO: ALL IN FAVOR

OF THE CLERK'S REQUEST? >> I. >> I.

>> LINA HIDALGO: OPPOSED? >> NO. >> NO.

>> LINA HIDALGO: I'M IN FAVOR. THE MOTION CARRIES.

THANK YOU, CLERK HOLLINS, FOR YOUR WORK ON THIS. AND YOU WILL KEEP US POSTED ON

THE LOCATIONS AND EVERYTHING TO MAKE SURE THAT IT IS FAIR. >> CERTAINLY.

I DON'T KNOW IF I DO OR NOT, BUT IF YOU CALL ME I MAY HAVE A COUPLE OTHER ITEMS TODAY.

I MIGHT SEE Y'ALL THIS AFTERNOON OR EVENING. >> LINA HIDALGO: THANK YOU.

THAT WAS ON THE MAIN AGENDA AND THEN THE SUPPLEMENTAL COVID AGENDA ITEM 10 IS A

[II. Emergency/supplemental items]

>> ADRIAN GARCIA: JUDGE, WHAT PAGE ARE YOU ON? >> PAGE 2 OF THE SUPPLEMENTAL

AGENDA. >> RODNEY ELLIS: WE DON'T NEED A MOTION, RIGHT?

IT IS JUST ACCEPTING IT? >> LINA HIDALGO: IT IS A TRANSMITAL.

>> RODNEY ELLIS: I AM GOING TO PULL SOME RECOMMENDATIONS OUT AND BRING IT BACK TO THE AGENDA. I KNOW A LOT IS GOING ON TODAY, SO I DON'T HAVE ANY QUESTIONS TODAY. I DON'T WANT THEM TO BE OFFENDED.

I AM NOT ASKING BECAUSE THERE IS SO MUCH GOING ON TODAY. I THOUGHT THEY DID A GOOD

[01:35:01]

JOB. >> LINA HIDALGO: THANK YOU COMMISSIONERS.

THAT'S THE PUBLIC HEALTH REPORT. NEXT IS ITEM 11.

COMMISSIONER OF PRECINCT 1, WE TOOK THAT ONE UP ON THE DIRECT ASSISTANCE.

>> RODNEY ELLIS: YES, MA'AM. >> LINA HIDALGO: ITEM 12 AND COMMISSIONER PRECINCT 2 IS FOR

HOMELESS. >> ADRIAN GARCIA: YES. I WOULD LIKE TO READ THIS FIRST. I WOULD LIKE TO SAY THAT WHEN I -- YOU KNOW, WHEN I APPOINTED OR MADE THE MOTION TO APPOINT THE HOMELESS TASK FORCE I COULD NOT HAVE HOPED FOR ANY BETTER OUTCOME THAN WHAT WE HAVE GOTTEN. SO I WOULD LIKE TO THANK JIM NUTTER FOR HIS LEADERSHIP IN CHAIRING THE TASK FORCE. I WOULD LIKE TO THANK MY STAFF, MERCEDES SANCHEZ FOR HER ROLE AND HER WORK ON THIS EFFORT AS WELL.

AND I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO THANK MR. ISENBAUM AT THE CITY OF HOUSTON AND MAYOR TURNER FOR THEIR COLLABORATION AND SUPPORT IN THIS ENDEAVOR. THE TASK FORCE HAS REALLY, REALLY BEEN COMPREHENSIVE AND VERY THOUGHTFUL IN NOT ONLY LOOKING TO BEST PRACTICES, BUT REALLY WORKING TO CREATE BEST PRACTICES. FOR THAT REASON I AM INCREDIBLY EXCITED. THEY CAME UP WITH A NUMBER OF RECOMMENDATIONS.

SOME OF THEM I GO THROUGH. SEN THAT WILY THE TASK -- ESSENTIALLY THE TASK FORCE BROUGHT TOGETHER NEARLY 50 PEOPLE REPRESENTING THE CITY AND THE COUNTY STAKEHOLDER GROUPS. THEY CONSULTED WITH THE NUMEROUS EXPERTS, BOTH LOCAL AND NATIONAL THAT ARE EXPERTS IN THIS FIELD AND RELATED TO HOMELESSNESS.

THE TASK FORCE HAS CREATED AND FOSTERED A STRONGER AND SEEMLESS WORKING RELATIONSHIP WITH THE CITY OF HOUSTON, THE COALITION OF THE HOMELESS AND MANY OTHER GROUPS INCLUDING THE HARRIS COUNTY SERVICE PROVIDERS THAT IS REALLY ESSENTIAL TO HAVE A COMPREHENSIVE APPROACH TO THIS SITUATION. ALL OF THIS GIVES US AN INCREDIBLE FOUNDATION AND MOMENTUM THAT WE NEED TO CONTINUE TO PRAIK PROGRESS -- TO CONTINUE TO MAKE PROGRESS MOVING FORWARD. IT HAS PROVEN INSTRUMENTAL IN THEIR WORK. THEY LAID THE FOUNDATION IN FACILITATING AND HELPING TO PUT TOGETHER THE COVID CARES HOUSING PROGRAM THAT WE APPROVED IN JUNE OF THIS YEAR. THIS COMPREHENSIVE PLAN IS BETWEEN THE CITY AND THE COUNTY AND THE HOMELESS COALITION AND MANY OTHER STAKEHOLDER GROUPS.

IT INCLUDES THE 65 MILLION PLAN THAT HELPED TO -- IT HELPED US DO HOUSING FOR 5,000 PEOPLE IN CHRONIC HOMELESSNESS. IT REDUCED ENCAMPMENTS WHICH I KNOW MANY, MANY CITIZENS WILL BE EXCITED ABOUT. AND RETE -- AND VETERAN HOMELESSNESS, IT EXPANDED OUT REACH TO UNINCORPORATED AREAS WHICH WE HAD NOT DONE PREVIOUSLY. IT REDUCED THE HIGH COST OF EMERGENCY SERVICES LIKE DEPENDING ON LAW ENFORCEMENT IN OUR COUNTY JAIL ASPIRINS PAL RESPONDERS TO THIS ISSUE.

AND SO THE TASK FORCE RECOMMEND -- RECOMMENDATIONS TALKS ABOUT HOW THE COUNTY CAN MAKE PROGRESS TO SERVE AND SHRINK THE HOMELESS POPULATION.

NOT DISPLACE IT AND NOT ARREST IT, BUT REDUCE IT. EVEN AFTER THE CARES FUNDING ACT IS OVER IN 2 YEARS, THESE RECOMMENDATIONS WILL HELP HARRIS COUNTY CREATE AND STAND UP NEW AND CREATIVE PROGRAMS AND BUILD A SAFETY NET ON SERVICE AND SUPPORT TO PROTECT AND TAKE CARE OF THOSE OF OUR MOST VULNERABLE POPULATIONS. THE FIRST RECOMMENDATION THEY ARE MAKING IS THAT COMMISSIONER'S COURT MAKE A YEARLY COMMITMENT OF RESOURCES IN ORDER TO SUSTAIN OUR EFFORTS TO CONTINUE OUR PROGRESS AND THAT IS 13 MILLION. FOR THE CHIP PROGRAM AND FOR OUR ON GOING HOMELESS NEEDS, THIS RECOMMENDATION IS ABOUT THE YEARLY COMMITMENT WE WILL NEED TO MAKE MOVING UH ED -- AHEAD. THE IMPACT SHOWN BY THE CHIP PROGRAM AND WHAT THIS ADDITIONAL INVESTMENT WILL ACCOMPLISH. THE SECOND RECOMMENDATION WILL BE THE -- IT WILL BE FOR COMMISSIONER'S COURT TO APPROVE FIVE MILLION TOWARD THE PURCHASE OF A FACILITY TO SERVE AS A RESPITE REHAB AND RE-ENTRY AND THOSE WERE

[01:40:03]

THIS WOULD BE A COUNTY AND CITY JOINING TOGETHER IN A FACILITY TO SERVE THE RESPITE AND ENTRY NEEDS TO OUR COMMUNITY. IT WOULD PROVIDE THE FOLLOWING SERVICES, HOSPITAL TO HOME, JAIL DIVERSION, OUTPATIENT COMPETENCY RESTORATION, JAIL RE-ENTRY AND MEDICAL RESPITE IN ONE FACILITY. FROM THE TASK FORCE'S SURVEY OF SERVICES, THIS WAS IDENTIFIED AS ONE OF THE MANY GAPS IN OUR CURRENT SYSTEM, AND IT WILL PROVIDE A CONTINUITY OF SERVICES WE NEVER HAD.

WE ARE NOT AWARE THAT THERE IS ANY OTHER FACILITY OF THIS KIND IN THE COUNTRY.

THE NATIONAL CONSULTANTS TOLD US THIS FACILITY ALONG WITH ALL OF OUR OTHER PLANS WILL BRING HARRIS COUNTY AND HOUSTON TO THE VERY TOP TIER OF HOMELESS SERVICES IN THE COUNTRY AND WE SHOULD BE EXCITED FOR ACHIEVING THAT. THE OTHER RECOMMENDATIONS WOULD BE TO PROVIDE HELP TO OTHER VULNERABLE POPULATIONS AND THOSE FACING EVICTIONS AND DOMESTIC VIOLENCE SURVIVORS. IT HAS PUT A LOT OF POPULATIONS AT RISK AND DESPITE THE COUNTY PROGRAMS, MANY HAVE LOST THEIR JOBS AND ARE AT RISK OF ALSO LOSING THEIR HOMES. ANOTHER SAD FACT IS WE DISCUSSED DOMESTIC VIOLENCE IS ON A SHARP RISE DURING THE PANDEMIC, AND YOU HAVE BEEN A STRONG VOICE ON THAT, JUDGE.

THE PROGRESS THAT WE MADE -- ALSO I DO WANT TO TOUCH THAT WE ALSO HAVE RECOMMENDATIONS TO STUDY THE NUMBER OF IMPORTANT POSSIBILITIES LIKE STANDING UP A HOMELESS COURT PROGRAM TO HELP INDIVIDUALS RESOLVE LEGAL ISSUE THAT'S OFTEN ACCOMPANY HOMELESSNESS.

LOOKING AT THE POSSIBLE NEED AND DEVELOPMENT OF A NONVOLUNTARY COMMITMENT FACILITY. ALTHOUGH THIS FACILITY CAN STIR UP SOME CONTROVERSY, WE NEED TO BE CLEAR THAT WE ARE NOT TALKING ABOUT A REPEAT OF THE OLD STATE HOSPITALS.

RATHER, HAVING THIS TYPE OF FACILITY WOULD BE A NECESSARY COMPONENT TO ESTABLISH A C -- A CONTINUUM OF MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES. ALL OF THESE RECOMMENDATIONS WILL PLACE HARRIS COUNTY IN A MUCH, MUCH DIFFERENT AND BETTER PLACE.

A STRONGER AND MORE COMMITTED PLACE THAN WE WERE BEFORE THE TASK FORCE WAS CONVENED LAST FALL. I AM VERY, VERY, VERY PROUD OF THE TASK FORCE AND ALL OF THOSE INVOLVED. AND SO MY MOTION WILL READ AS SUCH ON THIS ITEM, JUDGE.

I MOVE TO ACCEPT THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE HOMELESS TASK FORCE AND TO MOVE FORWARD ON RECOMMENDATIONS NUMBER 2, 6 AND NUMBER 8.

RECOMMENDATION NUMBER 2 WHICH IS SUPPLEMENTAL ITEM 12 IS TO GRANT 5 MILLION TOWARD THE PURCHASE OF A FACILITY TO SERVE AS THE RESPITE REHAPPEN RE-ENTRY NEEDS OF THOSE WITH SERIOUS BEHAVIORAL HEALTH NEEDS EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS.

I MOVE TO APPROPRIATE 5 MILLION FROM THE PUBLIC CONTINGENCY FUND, THE PIC FUND, TO THE RESPITE REHABILITATION REOF OF ENTRY CENTER.

RECOMMENDATION NUMBER SIX IS TO CONVENE A TASK FORCE TO STUDY AND MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS TO COMMISSIONER'S COURT WITHIN 90 DAYS TO ADDRESS NONCARSERAL AND TRANSFORMATIVE TO BE HOUSED AT LITTLE BAKER. AND RECOMMENDATION NUMBER 8 IS ASKING THE ANALYST'S OFFICE TO REPORT TO COMMISSIONER'S COURT ON IF AND HOW THE SIGNA OPIOID RESOURCES MIGHT BE USED MOST EFFECTIVELY TO BRAYS -- TO ADDRESS OUR HOMELESS ISSUES AND NEEDS IN THIS REPORT.

THAT'S MY MOTION. THOSE ARE THE RECOMMENDATIONS. COMING FROM THE WORK OF THE TASK FORCE AND I BELIEVE THAT, AND HOPEFULLY THAT WE APPROVE THESE RECOMMENDATIONS AND THAT WE WILL BE PUTTING HARRIS COUNTY ON A RISE WITH HOW TO DEAL WITH THIS CHALLENGING

ISSUE AND OUR MOST VULNERABLE MEMBERS OF OUR POPULATION. >> RODNEY ELLIS: I SECOND YOU

[01:45:02]

AND COMMEND YOU ON YOUR YOUR WORK ON THIS, COMMISSIONER. >> ADRIAN GARCIA: THANK YOU.

AND THE TASK FORCE. >> RODNEY ELLIS: YES, AND THE TASK FORCE.

>> LINA HIDALGO: LIKEWISE, COMMISSIONER. HOW EXCITING.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR DRIVING THIS FORWARD. IT IS GOOD TIMING THAT WE GOT THOSE FEDERAL FUNDS FOR THE COUNTY AND CITY. IT IS LIKE THE STARS ARE

ALIGNING. >> ADRIAN GARCIA: EXACTLY. EXACTLY.

INCREDIBLE OPPORTUNITY FOR US. >> COMMISSIONER, JUDGE, JUST A REMINDER THAT WE DO HAVE WAYNE YOUNG ON THE LINE. DO YOU WANT ME TO UNMUTE?

>> ADRIAN GARCIA: YES, PLEASE. >> MR. YOUNG?

GO AHEAD. >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. I APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO TALK WITH YOU TODAY ABOUT THE POTENTIAL OF THE RES SIT, RE-- RESPITE AND REHAB AND RE-ENTRIEN -- CENTER. WE ARE ALL AWARE OF THE HOMELESS ISSUES.

WHILE WE HAVE HAD GREAT SUCCESS IN REDUCING HOMELESSNESS, IT HAS PERSISTED AND THE SERVICES TO REQUIRE STABLIZATION AND EVERY INDIVIDUAL ILLNESS SO THEY MAY BE SUCCESSFULLY HOUSED LONG-TERM. IF THE TASK FORCE INITIATED A COUPLE OTHER EFFORTS AIMED AT STAKEHOLDERS FROM ACROSS THE COUNTRY AND ACROSS THE COMMUNITY. THE THING I FIND PARTICULARLY COMPELLING AND UNIQUE ABOUT THIS, IS THIS FACILITY WAS NOT AN IDEA THAT WAS TAKEN TO THE GROUP AS A VISION, BUT INSTEAD WAS A VISION THAT WAS BORN OUT OF THE FEEDBACK AND THE GAPS IDENTIFIED BY THE GROUP.

IT WAS ENVISIONED IN THE NATIONAL LITERATURE OUT THERE.

AS COMMISSIONER GARCIA MENTIONED THERE WOULD BE AN ARRAY OF SERVICES TO GET THE INDIVIDUAL BACK TO THE COMMUNITY WITH PARTICULAR EM FAUCET -- EMPHASIS ON REHABILITATION BEDS AND THE HOSPITAL COMPONENT. WHEN WE GET PEOPLE TO THE MOST STABILIZED THEY MIGHT HAVE BEEN IN MONTHS AND YEARS THAT WE DON'T LOSE THAT GOING BACK TO THE STREETS BECAUSE OF A LACK OF ENGAGEMENT OR HOUSING.

WE WILL HOST THEM AT THIS FACILITY AND PROVIDE ON GOING REHABILITATION.

WE TRY TO MAX -- MAXIMIZE THE IMPACT. THE OTHER PART IS NOT MENTIONED BECAUSE IT WAS NOT RELATED TO THE COUNTY FUNDS. WE DO HAVE STATE FUNDS WE WILL COMMIT TO BUILDING ON SITE APARTMENTS SO THAT PEOPLE CAN MOVE DIRECTLY INTO LONG-TERM HOUSING. IT IS IMPORTANT TO RECOGNIZE COLEMAN HAS BEEN A TRAIL -- TRAILBLAZER -- TRAIL BLAZING. HE LAID THE EARLY FOUNDATION FOR THIS WORK.

HIS VISION WAS SIMPLE. I WANT TO THANK COMMISSIONER GARCIA FOR CHAMPIONING THIS EFFORT AS WELL AS ALL OF THE MEMBERS OF THE COURT FOR CONSIDERING FUNDING FOR THIS MUCH-NEEDED FACILITY. THE RESPITE, REHAB AND RE-ENTRY SYSTEM WILL FILL GAPS IN THE SYSTEM. IT IS ALSO IMPORTANT TO POINT OUT THAT THIS IS ANTICIPATED TO BE A JOINTLY FUNDED EFFORT BETWEEN THE CITY AND THE COUNTY.

AS WELL AS TO FRUITION. IT WILL MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN TRANSFORMING THE LIVES OF

PEOPLE WHO ARE HOMELESS. >> ADRIAN GARCIA: JUDGE, IF I MAY? I JUST WANT TO THANK WAYNE AND YOUR STAFF. THANK YOU FOR YOUR INPUT.

WITHOUT A DOUBT, YOU KNOW THE NEED WE HAVE AND IT CAN BE SO TRANSFORMATIVE.

I AM PROUD OF YOUR SUPPORT AND COLLABORATION, MR. YOUNG, BECAUSE I HAVE MADE NOTE THAT WITH YOUR HELP WE HAVE A GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO STAND UP THE RESPITE CENTER BY NOVEMBER OF THIS YEAR. IS THAT -- DID I HEAR THAT CORRECTLY?

>> YES, SIR. WE COMMITTED TO HAVING IT OPERATIONAL BY EARLY

NOVEMBER. >> ADRIAN GARCIA: OH, MAN, AWESOME.

AWESOME. THANK YOU. PROUD OF YOU OX -- PROUD OF YOU, AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMITMENT TO THIS FOR A VERY, VERY CHALLENGING POPULATION.

>> WE APPRECIATE EVERYONE'S SUPPORT AND INTEREST. >> LINA HIDALGO: THANK YOU SO MUCH. WE HAVE A MOTION, COMMISSIONER.

EXPWRAIMS -- JAMES, ARE YOU GOOD WITH THE MOTION? >> YES, MA'AM.

IS THIS MOTION FOR SUPPLEMENTAL NUMBER 12 AS WELL AS COMMISSIONER PRECINCT 2

ITEM 22C2? >> ADRIAN GARCIA: THAT'S CORRECT.

>> I RECORD THIS FOR BOTH. >> LINA HIDALGO: IS THERE A SECOND? SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER ELLIS. ALL IN FAVOR?

>> I. >> I. >> LINA HIDALGO: OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY. CONGRATULATIONS, EVERYONE. THANK YOU, JUDGE.

[01:50:05]

>> LINA HIDALGO: SO THAT IS THE COVID SECTION. THAT'S IT FOR COVID.

[I. Departments (Part 2 of 2)]

JOHN? >> YES, JUDGE. FIRST ON PAGE 1A, THIS IS WHERE MYSELF AND THE FLOOD CONTROL DISTRICT AND THE TOLL ROD AUTHORITY AND THE COMMUNITY SERVICES DEPARTMENT AND PUBLIC HEALTH ARE ASKING THE COURT TO LOOK AT THREE SEPARATE OPTIONS FOR WHERE ALL THOSE DEPARTMENTS WOULD BE LOCATED.

A STUDY WAS DONE BY PAGE ARCHITECTS. THEY ARE ON THE PHONE IF WE

NEED THEM TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS. >> LINA HIDALGO: ALL RIGHT.

AND THE PROPOSAL, JOHN, JUST TO CLARIFY? >> THERE'S THREE OPTIONS LAID OUT. OPTIONS A, B AND C WHICH IS A DIFFERENT COMBINATION OF FACILITIES. WOULD YOU LIKE ME TO GO THROUGH THE OPTIONS, JUDGE?

>> LINA HIDALGO: IS THIS SOMETHING WE NEED TO DECIDE TODAY?

>> ADRIAN GARCIA: JUDGE? >> LINA HIDALGO: GO AHEAD, COMMISSIONER.

>> ADRIAN GARCIA: I HAVE SEEN THE REPORT. I THINK THE WORK DONE IS GOOD WORK. I HAVE -- YOU KNOW, I HAVE QUESTIONS AND JOHN AND I HAVE DISCUSSED THESE A BIT. IF WE DON'T NEED TO ACT -- TAKE ACTION ON THIS, I WOULD

ENTERTAIN THAT NO ACTION ON THIS ITEM. >> STEVE RADACK: JOHN, I MEAN

DON'T WE KIND OF NEED TO GET MOVING ON THIS? >> COMMISSIONER, EVENTUALLY WE NEED TO. I DON'T KNOW THAT IT HAS TO BE DONE THIS COURT, BUT IT NEEDS TO BE DONE SOON. THE REASON I POINT THAT OUT IS WE SPENT THE LAST COUPLE DAYS MOVING THE FLOOD CONTROL DISTRICT CRITICAL PEOPLE OUT OF THEIR BUILDING AND INTO A BUILDING WHERE -- IT HILLARY CYST -- IT WILL RE-- RESIST A WIND EVENT.

IT IS IMPORTANT TO GET INTO SUITABLE BUILDINGS. CAN BE IT BE DELAYED UNTIL THE NEXT COURT? THAT'S CERTAINLY UP TO THE COURT'S DECISION.

>> STEVE RADACK: YOU HAVE THE PEOPLE WHO STUDIED THIS ON THE LINE?

>> YES, SIR. THEY CAN BE REACHED. YES.

>> STEVE RADACK: JUDGE, I THINK WE NEED TO TALK ABOUT THIS STUFF.

>> LINA HIDALGO: YES. JOHN, IF WHOEVER YOU WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK ON THIS.

>> WE SHOULD HAVE WENDY HAGAR FROM PAGE ARCHITECTS. >> SHE IS UNMUTED.

GO AHEAD, MS. HAGAR. GO AHEAD, MS. HAGAR. >> THIS IS WENDY HAGAR FROM

PAGE. CAN YOU HEAR ME? >> YES.

>> SO, YES, WE MET WITH THE ACCEPT -- THE SEPTIC DEPARTMENTS AND ANALYZED THE LOCATIONS PROVIDED. WE -- BASED ON THE GOALS OF THE COUNTY WE ESTABLISHED A SCORING SYSTEM TO RATE A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT POTENTIAL OPTIONS LOOKING AT WHERE THE VARIOUS DEPARTMENTS WOULD FIT AND WHAT THE BENEFITS AND DRAWBACKS WERE OF THOSE VARIOUS OPTIONS, AND THREE OPTIONS ROSE TO THE TOP AS JOHN SAID.

ONE OF THEM IS THE COUNTY LOCATED AT TWO LOCATIONS. THE PINEMONT SITE IN RIVERSIDE. THE SECOND OPTION LOCATED ALL AT THE PINEMONT SITE AND A THIRD OPTION WITH THE COUNTY DEPARTMENTS LOCATED AT THREE DIFFERENT SITES.

THE PINEMONT SITE, RIVERSIDE AND THOMAS STREET CLINIC. >> THE COURT LETTER PRESENTS ALL THREE OPTIONS. THERE ARE ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES TO ALL.

IF ONE SOLELY LOOKS AT THE COST OF IT, THE LEAST COST IS OPTION A.

THEY ARE NOT SIGNIFICANTLY DIFFERENT COSTS BETWEEN THE THREE OPTIONS.

OPTION C WHICH IS LOCATED IN THREE DIFFERENT LOCATIONS HAS THE BENEFIT OF YOU HAVE THREE DIFFERENT LOCATIONS. ONE IN PRECINCT FOUR AND ONE IN PRECINCT ONE AND ONE IN

[01:55:05]

>> STEVE RADACK: MA'AM, I KNOW YOU'VE STUDIED THIS. AS FAR AS THE PINEMONT IS CONCERNED WHICH WAS, I THINK, A GOOD PURCHASE FOR THE COUNTY , I MEAN, WITH INCREDIBLE AMOUNTS OF PARKING AND ALL, I NOTICED LOTS IN ALL THREE -- PINEMONT IN ALL THREE PROPOSALS. WHAT IS YOUR OPINION IN PINEMONT?

>> THE REASON IT IS IN ALL THREE PROPOSALS IS LARGELY BECAUSE OF ITS SIZE.

IT WAS REALLY THE ONLY LOCATION THAT COULD HOUSE ALL FOUR DEPARTMENTS OR -- AND ALONG WITH THE PARKING, AND THERE WERE ADVANTAGES TO CONSOLIDATING MULTIPLE FUNCTIONS IN MULTIPLE DEPARTMENTS IN ONE LOCATION. A LOT OF IT HAD TO DO WITH THE SIZE OF WHERE THE DEPARTMENT WOULD FIT AND IT FIT AT PINEMONT.

>> STEVE RADACK: WHAT IN YOUR OPINION IS THAT PARKING LOT WORTH TO THE COUNTY?

>> I'M NOT SURE I UNDERSTAND THE QUESTION. >> STEVE RADACK: MAYBE THE VALUE OF THE PARKING LOT TO BE ABLE TO BUILD A PARKING LOT OF THAT SIZE.

I MEAN THAT'S WELL BUILT AND A GOOD LOCATION. I'M SURE YOU HAVE SEEN THE SITE. THE LOT IS IN EXCELLENT CONDITION, ISN'T IT?

>> YES. THAT'S ONE OF THE REASONS PINEMONT IS IN ALL THREE OPTIONS. IT IS ONE OF THE QUICKEST TO BE ABLE TO BRING TO FRUITION AND AS FAR AS COST IT IS ONE OF THE MOST -- IT IS THE MOST COST EFFECTIVE TO BRING A

SOLUTION QUICKLY TO THE COUNTY. >> STEVE RADACK: THANK YOU

VERY MUCH. >> LINA HIDALGO: COMMISSIONER ELLIS?

>> RODNEY ELLIS: JUDGE, LOOK, I'M FLEXIBLE ON IT. IF YOU AND COMMISSIONER GARCIA WANT MORE TIME ON IT, IT DOESN'T PRESENT A PROBLEM WITH ME.

I DO KNOW THE HISTORY OF WHY THE COUNTY BOUGHT IT, AND THAT ALWAYS GAVE ME A VERY BAD FEELING BECAUSE IT WAS TO AVOID GETTING AFFORDABLE HOUSING OF PLAIN SIGHT.

I HOPE WE BRING UP THE ISSUE OF RIVERSIDE, MR. BLOUNT, AND WE DON'T RUN UP AGAINST ANY DEADLINES. THAT'S PRETTY -- THAT'S SEPARATE FROM THIS.

IF WE MOVE FORWARD DOING SOMETHING WITH RIVERSIDE, IT WOULD ALL HAVE TO BE LUMPED TOGETHER. BUT BECAUSE THE STORM IS COMING IN, I DON'T HAVE A PROBLEM WITH WAITING. IT WILL GIVE YOU MORE TIME TO LOOK AT IT SO WE CAN GET TO

THE REST OF THE AGENDA. >> LINA HIDALGO: YOU KNOW WHAT I WAS THINKING TOO -- YEAH,

COMMISSIONER RADACK. >> STEVE RADACK: I WANT TO POINT OUT THAT I THINK AN IMPORTANT ISSUE HERE IS THIS. METRO IS CONTROLLED BY CITY GOVERNMENT.

THERE ARE FIVE APPOINTMENTS. THAT COULD CHANGE. AT THE TIME THE COUNTY BOUGHT THAT, METRO -- THE BOARD OF METRO OBVIOUSLY AGREED TO SELL IT TO THE COUNTY.

THE CITY IF THEY WERE INTERESTED THEY COULD HAVE GONE AHEAD AND BASICALLY DIRECTED METRO TO SELL TO THE CITY FOR LOW INCOME HOUSING OR WHATEVER.

I JUST WANT TO POINT OUT THAT I THINK IT WAS A GREAT PURCHASE BY THE COUNTY BASED UPON THE LOCATION. JOHN'S TALKED ABOUT THAT BEFORE.

I I JUST WANT TO MAKE IT CLEAR THAT IT WILL SAVE THE COUNTY MONEY.

IT COULD HOUSE IT ALL IF WE NEEDED TO AND I DON'T KNOW IF IT WILL NECESSARILY HOUSE EVERYTHING THERE, BUT I AM MAKING IT CLEAR THAT STRATEGICALLY AS WE CAN SEE THE RECOMMENDATION, IT MAKES SENSE FOR US TO HAVE FACILITIES THERE.

THANK YOU. >> LINA HIDALGO: SO, IT SOUNDS LIKE PERHAPS TAKING NO ACTION -- I WAS THINKING TOO WE ARE ON THE PATH OF THE UCSD DIRECTOR AND MAYBE WE CAN LOOK AT THIS AND POTENTIALLY LOOK AT RIVERSIDE. SOUNDS LIKE NO ACTION FOR THIS COURT. WE CAN BRING IT BACK, JOHN, AS YOU SEE FIT.

>> OKAY, JUDGE. WE WILL HUDDLE WITH THEM AND SEE WHAT WE ARE GOING --

WHETHER WE ARE GOING TO MOVE FORWARD OR NOT. >> I RECOMMEND THAT -- YOUR HONOR? I RECOMMEND THAT IF WE ARE NOT GOING TO TAKE ACTION BECAUSE WE ARE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHERE TO PUT PEOPLE THAT WE BRING IT BACK IN TWO WEEKS.

SINCE COMMISSIONER GARCIA WAS WANTING TO HOLD IT FOR A LITTLE WHILE, IS THAT FINE

[02:00:03]

>> ADRIAN GARCIA: AND I WANT TO BE MINDFUL TO THE POINT THAT THE JUDGE MADE IS THAT WE ARE WAITING FOR CSD DIRECTOR TO COME IN. I DON'T WANT TO PUT A TIMELINE ON THIS ITEM. OBVIOUSLY BRING IT BACK AS QUICKLY AS WE CAN, BUT I WANT TO MAKE SURE WE ARE THOUGHTFUL ABOUT WHO NEEDS TO WEIGH IN ON THIS.

>> LINA HIDALGO: WE'LL HOLD THE ITEM FOR NOW. OF COURSE, FOLKS CAN PUT ITEMS

ON THE AGENDA. NO ACTION ON ITEM 1A. >> THANK YOU.

>> LINA HIDALGO: ANYTHING ELSE ON COUNTY ENGINEER? >> YES, JUDGE, ON PAGE 4 AND ITEM P AND IT IS A RIGHT OF WAY ISSUE AND THERE HAS BEEN A LOT OF DISCUSSION ON PURCHASING FOR FLOOD CONTROL. THE PROPERTY THAT WAS OWNED BY PERRY HOMES.

>> LINA HIDALGO: AND THAT WAS -- >> RODNEY ELLIS: JUDGE, I GOT A FEW QUESTIONS FOR MR. BLOUNT. MAYBE YOU OR RUSS POPPY IS ON THE LINE. ONE IS -- DOES FLOOD CONTROL DISTRICT ANTICIPATE A SIGNIFICANT INCREASE IN MAINTENANCE AND OPERATIONS AND OBLIGATIONS AS NEW ASSETS OR ADDED TO THE MAINTENANCE LOGS AS PART OF A 2018 BOND PROGRAM?

EITHER YOU OR RUSS. >> LET ME SEE IF WE CAN GET RUSS ON THE LINE.

>> JUDGE THIS IS RUSS POPPY, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE HARRIS COUNTY FLOOD CONTROL DISTRICT. TO ANSWER, YES, OUR OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE COSTS WILL GO UP AS WE BUILD MORE INFRASTRUCTURE AND BIGGER INFRASTRUCTURE RELATED TO THE

BOND PROGRAM, ABSOLUTELY. >> RODNEY ELLIS: CAN YOU GIVE ME AN IDEA WHAT THE PROJECTED MAGNITUDE OF MAINTENANCE DECREASE WOULD BE SHOULD THE COUNTY ADOPT A NO NEW REVENUE

TAX RATE FOR THE DISTRICT. >> WELL, I HAVE ONLY SEEN SPREAD SHEETS PREPARED BY BUDGET MANAGEMENT AND IN CONSULTATION WITH THE COUNTY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE, I WOULD DEFER TO THEM TO EXPLAIN THE CALCULATIONS, BUT DEPENDING ON THE SCENARIO THAT PLAYS OUT, AS I UNDERSTAND AND INTERPRET THE SPREAD SHEETS WE COULD BE LOOKING AT A REDUCTION IN THE AMOUNT OF MONIES AVAILABLE TO THE FLOOD CONTROL DISTRICT TO CONDUCT MAINTENANCE STARTING

AS EARLY AS NEXT FISCAL YEAR. >> RODNEY ELLIS: SO THE COST WILL GO UP FOR MAINTENANCE.

IT IS A SIGNIFICANT INCREASE FOR MAINTENANCE AND OPERATIONS.

OBLIGATIONS WE ALREADY HAVE. THAT'S FROM THE BOND PROGRAM.

IF WE ADOPT A NO NEW REVENUE TAX RATE, YOU KNOW IT IS GOING TO BE AN EVEN DEEPER CLIMB.

SO MY QUESTION IS WHY WOULD THE DISTRICT PROCEED WITH CONSTRUCTION OF MITIGATION ASSETS IF WE DON'T KNOW IF WE ARE GOING TO -- IF WE MAY BE UNABLE TO MAINTAIN THEM, WOULD IT MAKE SENSE IN THIS CASE IF WE ADOPT THE NO NEW REVENUE RATE TO PAUSE THIRD AND FOURTH QUARTILE BOND PROJECTS UNTIL REVENUE IS SUFFICIENT TO MAINTAIN? WHY WOULD WE START MORE PROJECTS AND WE HAVE NO IDEA HOW WE ARE GOING TO MAINTAIN

THEM? >> YOU BRING UP A CONCERN THAT I HAVE TOO, COMMISSIONER.

I KNOW OUR FUNDING IS GOING TO HAVE TO INCREASE IN ORDER FOR US TO TAKE CARE OF ALL OF THIS INFRASTRUCTURE TO THE LEVEL OUR RESIDENTS WILL EXPECT US TO TO MAKE SURE IT FUNCTIONS

WHEN WE NEED IT TO FUNCTION. >> RODNEY ELLIS: WOULD YOU OR JOHN REMIND US OF THE FOUR OR FIVE CONDITIONS THAT I KNOW I HAD IN A MOTION. I CAN REMEMBER SOME OF THEM, BUT I MAY FORGET. YOU ARE YOUNGER. YOUR MIND IS MORE ALERT, BOTH OF YOU ARE. WHAT WERE THE CONDITIONS THAT WERE SUPPOSED TO BE PRECEDED TO THE COUNTY MOVING FORWARD WITH PARTICIPATING IN THE PROJECT?

>> RIGHT. SO THE CITY HAS INDICATED THEY DO NOT HAVE THE CASH AVAILABLE TO MAKE UP THEIR HALF OF THE CONTRIBUTION TO ACQUIRE THE SITE.

THE ASKING PRICE IS ABOUT $14 MILLION. THE CITY HAS INDICATED THAT THEY WOULD RATHER TRANSFER LAND ASSETS IN HALF OF THE PURCHASE PRICE FOR USE AS FLOOD RISK REDUCTION PROJECTS. THAT WAS CONDITION NUMBER ON CONDITION NUMBER TWO WAS THAT THE CITY OF HOUSTON ADOPT UPDATED DETENTION AND MITIGATION RATES COMMENCE RETE WITH THE RATES AND THAT THAT WAS TO BE ADOPTED NOT ONLY IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON LIMITS, BUT THE E T.J.

>> RODNEY ELLIS: AND HAVE THEY DONE THAT? HAS THE CITY DONE THAT?

>> NO. THERE IS AN ON GOING TASK FORCE AND WORK GROUP WHICH JOHN'S OFFICE AND MY OFFICE BOTH HAVE PEOPLE WHO SIT IN AND CONTRIBUTE TO THOSE CONVERSATIONS, BUT NO. THEY HAVE NOT ADOPTED THE INCREASE MITIGATION

[02:05:01]

MAGNITUDE. >> WASN'T THERE TALK ABOUT PAYING FOR HALF OF THE COST TO DO SOMETHING WITH IT? I THOUGHT THAT WAS IN A MOTION AND PAYING FOR HALF OF THE COST IN THE EVENT THERE IS A LAWSUIT? IT IS HARD TO HOLD A GOVERNMENT LIABLE, BUT IF WE -- A STORM IS COMING IN AND IF WE ACQUIRE IT AND THEY THINK THEY HAVE A LAWSUIT AGAINST PERRY HOMES, AT LEAST THEIR LAWYERS WOULD TRY TO SUE US. IT WOULD BE AN UPHILL CLIMB, BUT WASN'T THERE A DISCUSSION ABOUT THAT? AND A COMMITMENT TO PAY FOR HALF OF WHAT IT TAKES TO

MAINTAIN. >> YES, COMMISSIONER, THOSE WERE ALL ISSUES WE TALKED ABOUT, BUT I DON'T BELIEVE THOSE WERE DIRECTED BY COURT. I KNOW THAT'S YOUR INTENTION, AND I WANT TO GET THOSE ISSUES ADDRESSED WITH THE CITY AS PART OF OUR LOCAL AGREEMENT

TOO. THOSE ARE REAL COSTS. >> LINA HIDALGO: THEY WERE, RUSS, IF I REMEMBER. THIS IS ABOUT THE FOURTH TIME WE ARE GOING BACK OVER WHAT WE AGREED. MAYBE SOMEONE OUGHT TO JUST GO BACK AND LISTEN TO THE TRANSCRIPT AND SEND IT AROUND. AS I REMEMBER IT WAS HALF OF -- IT WAS THE PURCHASE AND WHATEVER HAPPENS AND THEN THE DETENTION REQUIREMENTS AND THEY COULD BE ASSETS OR LAND. WE'VE HAD THIS SAME DISCUSSION QUITE A FEW TIMES.

IN THE END, WE AGREE. >> RODNEY ELLIS: THE LETTER I'M READING -- AND I GUESS I GOT THIS FROM RUSS' OFFICE OR MR. BLOUNT, BUT I DON'T KNOW WHY WE WOULD GO AND PUT UP THE MONEY -- I DON'T KNOW WHY WE FORWARD IT IF WE HAVEN'T DONE THESE THINGS.

ARE THERE OTHER PROJECTS THE CITY HAS DONE OUTSIDE THE COUNTY IN THAT E T.J. WHERE

THE SAME ISSUES APPLY? >> NONE THAT WE ARE INVOLVED IN, COMMISSIONER, NO.

>> RODNEY ELLIS: ARE THERE OTHER PROJECTS THEY HAVE APPROVED SINCE THEY DID THIS

PERRY HOMES PROJECT AND HAVE THE SAME ISSUES? >> COMMISSIONER, THEY HAVE APPROVED OTHER PROJECTS IN THEIR E T.J. IN MONTGOMERY COUNTY.

I DON'T KNOW ALL THE DETAILS, BUT WE LOOKED AT THE CITY OF HOUSTON PLANNING DOCUMENTS.

THEY HAVE APPROVED OTHER PROJECTS IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON E T.J. IN MONTGOMERY

COUNTY. >> I KNOW THIS IS BEING HEAVILY LOBBIED AND PUSHED, I AM TRYING TO FIGURE OUT -- MY EXPERIENCE IS IF THINGS ARE IN WRITING AND IT IS CLEAR, AND I WANT TO BE A GOOD PARTNER AND I THINK WE ARE. I THINK OF THE BICYCLE LANES.

I COMMITTED 10 MILLION AND THE CITY WOULD USE THEIR 1.1 MILLION FOR PRECINCT 1 OVER FOUR YEARS. I THINK THEY SPENT HALF A MILLION.

IT IS BETTER IF IT IS IN WRITING. I WOULD SUGGEST -- I CAN'T SUPPORT THIS. I SAY WE DELAY UNTIL THE CITY DOES THE INTER LOCAL.

THIS LETTER SAYS THEY ARE A TASK FORCE AND I THINK IT SAYS HOWEVER THE CITY FEELS NEEDS ADDITIONAL REVIEW AND IS IN THE PROCESS OF DOING THIS USING THE TASK FORCE.

THE CITY RESPECTFULLY REQUESTS THAT THERE BE TWO SEPARATE INTER LOCAL AGREEMENTS.

YOU KNOW, OBVIOUSLY REASONABLE MINDS CAN DIFFER, BUT WE DON'T KNOW WHAT OUR TAX RATE WILL BE. WE KNOW UNDER COMMITMENTS WE MADE, IT WOULD BE DIFFICULT TO COMPLETE ALL OF THE PROJECTS WE HAVE DISCUSSED THAT ARE ON THE TABLE.

THERE ARE A WHOLE HOST OF THEM. I WAS ON A CALL WITH COMMISSIONER GARCIA THE OTHER DAY ABOUT ONE TALKING ABOUT BUYOUTS, VOLUNTARY BUYOUTS IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD.

I HATE TO GO AND START THOSE PROJECTS THAT DON'T HAVE THE MONEY TO COMPLETE THEM, AND THEN WE ARE MAKING A COMMITMENT FOR ANOTHER ONE AND HAVE NO IDEA HOW WE ARE GOING TO MAINTAIN IT. I JUST THINK THE CITY OUGHT TO -- THEY HAVE THEIR DRAINAGE FEE. WOULDN'T THAT MONEY BE ELIGIBLE TO DO THIS,

MR. BLOUNT? >> I THINK IT WOULD BE. >> RODNEY ELLIS: THEY GOT SOME MONEY OVER THERE. MAYBE I OUGHT TO GO OVER THERE AND HELP THEM.

I CAN HELP. I CAN SCOUR AND FIND THE MONEY.

I CERTAINLY VOTE NO ON THIS. I KNOW IT MAY GO TO EXECUTIVE SESSION, BUT I DON'T KNOW WHY WE WOULD BE DISCUSSING THE PRICE WHEN THE COMMITMENTS WE LAID OUT, IF WE MEANT IT WHEN

WE SAID IT, HAVE NOT BEEN MET. >> LINA HIDALGO: THE THING ON THIS, AND RUSS CORRECT ME IF I AM WRONG. I THOUGHT THIS WAS SIMPLY A FINDING OF PUBLIC NECESSITY. IT IS NOT COMMITTING MONEY OR COMMITTING TO THE PROJECT.

OF COURSE AS I READ THE ITEM, I WAS JUST TRYING TO FIGURE OUT -- WHAT CAUSES ME GRIEF IS WE ARE DEBATING WHAT ARE THE CONDITIONS. I HAVE MY STAFF HAVE THAT IN WRITING THAT YOU CAN SEND AROUND. I REALLY FEEL LIKE WE HAVE TALKED ABOUT THAT ENOUGH THAT WE SHOULDN'T BEACON FUSED. BE CONFUSED.

[02:10:03]

>> YES, JUDGE. IT IS BASICALLY AS YOU MENTIONED PUBLIC NEED AND NECESSITY. IT IS SOMETHING THAT COURT GIVES US AND THEN JOHN'S OFFICE THEN HAS THE AUTHORITY TO, IN THIS CASE, SIGN AND EXECUTE AN ERNEST MONEY CONTRACT. IT BASICALLY SAYS THE COUNTY IS A WILLING PARTICIPANT IN THE PURCHASE OF THIS PROPERTY FOR THE NOTED PRICE. IT IS ALSO CONTINUOUSLY INVOLVED. IT SPEAKS TO COMMISSIONER ELLIS' COMERN THAT WE NEED AN EXECUTED INTER LOCAL AGREEMENT. IF COURT DESIRES TO APPROVE THIS ITEM, IT DOESN'T MEAN WE ARE BUYING THE PROPERTY. IT MEANS IT GIVES US THE ABILITY TO EXECUTE THE ERNEST MONEY CONTRACT AND A KEY PROVISION IN THAT CONTRACT IS WITHIN THE NEXT 120 DAYS WE ARE COMMITTED TO WORKING OUT AN INTER LOCAL AGREEMENT WITH THE CITY OF HOUSTON THAT WILL BE BROUGHT BACK TO COURT AND CITY COUNCIL FOR EXECUTION, AND THAT MUST HAPPEN BEFORE ANY TYPE OF FUNDS TRANSFER TO PURCHASE THE PROPERTY.

>> RODNEY ELLIS: SO WHAT I AM SUGGESTING, JUDGE IS I THINK --

>> LINA HIDALGO: I JUST WANT TO GIVE A CHANCE FOR COMMISSIONER RADACK AND CAGLE

WHO WANT TO SPEAK. COMMISSIONER RADACK? >> STEVE RADACK: JUDGE, I WAS JUST GOING TO ASK, HAVE YOU BEEN ABLE TO GET ANY TYPE OF COMMITMENT AT ALL FROM THE MAYOR? I KNOW YOU ARE TRYING TO TALK TO HIM.

>> LINA HIDALGO: NO, AND WE'VE HAD SOME CONVERSATIONS ABOUT THIS.

THE DETAILS NEED TO BE WORKED OUT AT THE STAFF LEVEL. AND THAT'S WHERE I'M NOT EXACTLY CLEAR WHERE THINGS ARE AT. I THINK WE'LL UNDERSTAND SOMETHING AND THEN, YOU KNOW, THE FOLKS ON THE GROUND ARE HAVING PERHAPS DIFFERENT DISCUSSIONS. THAT IS TO SAY, THE THREE ITEMS AS I UNDERSTOOD THEM, WHICH WAS THEY PAY HALF IN FUNDS OR ASSETS FOR BOTH THE PURCHASE AND THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE LAND AND THAT THEY ENACT THOSE REQUIREMENTS. I DON'T HAVE A 100% COMMITMENT THAT IS WRITTEN. WE HAVE HAD THE CONVERSATION THAT'S MAKE ME HOPEFUL ABOUT THE POSSIBILITY OF IT. AND SO THAT'S WHY MY SENSE IS THIS ITEM GIVES US 120 DAYS TO CONTINUE TRYING TO PIN THEM DOWN IN WRITING BECAUSE, OF COURSE, I AS MUCH AS ANYONE AM NOT COMFORTABLE WITH COMMITTING THE FUNDS OR COMMITTING THE COUNTY TO ANYTHING UNLESS THE AGREEMENT IS IN WRITING. I AGREE WITH WHAT COMMISSIONER ELLIS RAISED WHICH IS WE DEFINITELY HAVE TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE THE MONEY FOR IT

BEFORE WE MOVE FORWARD WITH IT. >> STEVE RADACK: IT'S PRETTY DIFFICULT TO DEAL WITH THE CITY SOMETIMES. ESPECIALLY WHEN TERM LIMITS ARE, YOU KNOW, FOR HIM ARE ENGAGED. UNFORTUNATELY SOMETIMES WE JUST SEE THIS STUFF -- I HAVE SEEN IT OVER MANY YEARS THAT IT JUST GETS DELAYED.

THEY PASS IT ON TO THE NEXT ADMINISTRATION. THANK YOU.

>> LINA HIDALGO: COMMISSIONER GARCIA? >> ADRIAN GARCIA: THANK YOU, JUDGE. I'M CONCERNED BECAUSE THE WAY THIS READS IT DOES -- I GET THE IMPRESSION WHEN I READ THIS THAT IT GIVES A -- IT MAKES A FINANCIAL COMMITMENT OR AT LEAST IT SHOWS THAT THE COUNTY IS MOVING FORWARD IN THE TRANSACTION.

LIKE YOU, THAT'S NOT WHAT I REMEMBER. WHAT I REMEMBER IS THAT THERE WOULD BE SOME THINGS HAPPENING. NEGOTIATIONS AND CONVERSATIONS. NOT JUSTNESS CERYL AT -- JUST NECESSARILY AT YOUR LEVEL, JUDGE. WE TALKED ABOUT WHERE THE -- WHO POTENTIALLY ON THE COURT HAD THOSE RELATIONSHIPS IN OTHER PLACE THAT'S COULD HELP FACILITATE THE DIALOGUE.

THAT I HAVE BEEN TOLD, NONE OF THAT HAS MOVED FORWARD, OR AT LEAST BEEN MADE AWARE OF ANYTHING. I'M SURPRISED THAT SOMETHING ON THIS PROPERTY OUTSIDE OF HARRIS COUNTY IS MAKING ITS WAY ON OUR AGENDA WHEN WE DON'T KNOW IF WE MADE PROGRESS ON ATLAS 14 AND WE DON'T KNOW IF WE MADE PROGRESS ON ANY OTHER COMMITMENT OR ANY OF THE OTHER ITEMS WE SET IN PLACE AS GUIDING PRINCIPALS FOR HOW WE WOULD INVEST OUR TAXPAYER'S

MONEY IN ANOTHER COUNTY. >> LINA HIDALGO: COMMISSIONER ELLIS?

>> RODNEY ELLIS: JUDGE, IF I WERE A CONSTITUENT ANYWHERE IN THE COUNTY AND I SAW WHERE THE COUNTY DEEMED IT A PUBLIC NECESSITY TO ACQUIRE THIS PROPERTY I WOULD TAKE THAT TO

[02:15:11]

WHEN I READ THIS LETTER IT LOOKS LIKE IT THE CITY ALSO CONCURS THAT ANY DETENTION PROVIDED WITHIN THE BASIN WOULD REQUIRE THE USAGE TO BE FOR PUBLIC PURPOSES AND ADVOCATED WITH ATLAS 14 RAINFALL RATES AND THE DETENTION WOULD BE AT A MINIMUM. I THINK THEY MAY THINK THEY HAVE ALREADY ADOPTED ALL OF ATLAS 14. AND THAT IT WOULD APPLY TO THAT E T.J. AND THEY COMMIT PUBLIC NECESSITY. I THINK THE EMERGENCY IS IN WRITING THEY SAY WE WILL PAY FOR HALF OF WHAT WILL BE DONE WITH IT. AND TO MAINTAIN IT.

AND IF THERE IS LITIGATION, I THINK IT IS PRETTY HARD TO SUE THE GOVERNMENT, BUT IT IS NOT IMPOSSIBLE, MR. SOARD, YOU TELL ME. YOU HAVE TO SPEND MONEY TO DEFEND IT, BUT I THINK THE PUBLIC NECESSITY IS THEY MOVE FORWARD WITH THOSE THINGS.

I THINK THIS PUTS US ON THE LIMB, TO BE HONEST WITH YOU, AFTER WE DECLARE IT A PUBLIC NECESSITY TO GET THIS LAND IN ANOTHER COUNTY OR AS I SAID BEFORE AND THE BRIDGE IS IN BAD SHAPE. MAYBE IT SHOULD BE A PUBLIC NECESSITY AND WE SHOULD

ACQUIRE THAT AS WELL. >> LINA HIDALGO: SO RUSS, DO WE -- WHAT'S THE DEAL WITH THIS. IF WE DON'T PASS THIS TODAY, DO YOU RUN INTO ANY TROUBLE TRYING TO PIN THE CITY DOWN IN WRITING ONE WAY OR THE OTHER, OR CAN WE HOLD OFF FOR TWO WEEKS SO WE CAN AT LEAST GET STRAIGHT ON WHAT ARE THE THREE REQUESTS IN WRITING?

AND THEN ALSO UNDERSTAND WHAT EXACTLY THIS ITEM DOES? >> JUDGE, WE ACTUALLY PROVIDED THE CITY OF HOUSTON WITH THE DRAFT AND THE AGREEMENT THAT ADDRESSES ALL OF THE ISSUES WE HAVE BEEN TALKING ABOUT IN OUR WORDS. AND WE ARE STILL WAITING TO HEAR BACK FROM THEM TO ACTUALLY SIT DOWN AND HAVE A NEGOTIATION MEETING TO MAKE SURE THEY ARE ON THE SAME PAGE AS US ON THE INITIAL CONCEPTS AND THE INTER LOCAL AGREEMENT. IF YOU WANT TO GIVE US ANOTHER TWO WEEKS TO SEE IF WE CAN'T

MAKE THAT MEETING HAPPEN, WE WOULD BE HAPPY TO TRY AGAIN. >> LINA HIDALGO: SO WE CAN

TAKE NO ACTION ON THIS ITEM? >> I SUSPECT THE SELLER WOULD LIKE TO HAVE SOME KIND OF ASSURANCE THAT THE COUNTY IS WORKING IN GOOD FAITH, BUT GIVEN THESE TIMES I THINK THEY WOULD HAVE A LITTLE UNDERSTANDING THAT WE HAVE A HURRICANE THAT IS POTENTIALLY COMING DOWN ON US AND WE ARE STILL DEALING WITH THE PANDEMIC.

I CAN'T SPECULATE AT THIS POINT, BUT IF Y'ALL WANT TO DELAY TWO WEEKS FOR US TO HAVE ANOTHER BATTLE WITH THE CITY TO COME UP AND NEGOTIATE AN INTER LOCAL AGREEMENT, LET'S

DO THAT. >> LINA HIDALGO: ROBERT -- LET ME HEAR FROM ROBERT AND ASSESS. I AM MISSING SOMETHING, RUSS. I DON'T THINK YOU ARE GOING TO HAVE AN INTER LOCAL WITHIN TWO WEEKS. I THOUGHT WE HAD 120 DAYS FOR THAT. I THINK YOU NEED TO BE A LITTLE CLEARER ON WHAT IS WHAT. THESE ARE THREE REQUIREMENTS. AT THIS POINT WE SHOULDN'T BEACON FUSED ABOUT WHETHER ONE OF THE REQUIREMENTS IS FOR THEM TO GO HALF AND HALF ON THE DEVELOPMENT. I THINK WE HAVE MADE THAT CLEAR PLENTY OF TIMES.

AND THEN DOES THIS HAVE TO DO WITH A COMMITMENT OR IS THIS JUST GIVING THEM THE 120

DAYS? ROBERT, YOU HAD SOMETHING. >> YEAH, I JUST WANT TO CLARIFY WHAT WE ARE DOING HERE. THE PURPOSE OF THIS ITEM IS TO ALLOW THE FLOOD CONTROL DISTRICT TO SIGN AN ERNEST MONEY CONTRACT WITH THE SELLER. BY SIGNING THE EARNEST MONEY CONTRACT THEY ARE COMMITTED TO THE THE PRICE AND THE EARNEST MONEY CONTRACT SAYS THE COUNTY HAS 120 DAYS TO WORK OUT THE INTER LOCAL AGREEMENT WITH THE CITY. AND THE EARNEST MONEY CONTRACT SPECIFICALLY SAYS THE INTER LOCAL AGREEMENT HAS TO BE APPROVED BY COMMISSIONER'S COURT BEFORE THE COURT HAS TO BUY THE PROPERTY. TO CLARIFY, ALL YOU ARE VOTING ON TODAY IS TO SET THE PURCHASE PRICE OF THE PROPERTY AND GET 120 DAYS TO GET THE THING WORKED OUT WITH THE CITY. I THINK YOU ARE CORRECT, BOTH COMMISSIONER GARCIA AND COMMISSIONER ELLIS, MAYBE THE AGENDA ITEM COULD HAVE BEEN WRITTEN A LITTLE CLEARY BASED ON THAT -- CLEARER BASED ON THAT.

WE CAN CLARIFY THAT ALL YOU ARE DOING IS AUTHORIZING THAT THE REAL PROPERTY DIVISION MANAGER HAS THE AUTHORITY TO SIGN THAT TYPE OF EARNEST .. AND DON'T GET ME WRONG.

THE SELLER CAN ALWAYS SELL TO SOMEBODY ELSE SO LONG AS WE DON'T HAVE AN EARNEST MONEY CONTRACT EXECUTED. BY SIGNING THE EARNEST MONEY CONTRACT, THE SELLER IS

[02:20:05]

OBLIGATED ON THESE TERMS. >> LINA HIDALGO: YES, COMMISSIONER GARCIA?

>> ADRIAN GARCIA: THANK YOU, JUDGE. I WANT TO TAKE A SECOND TO PAUSE. RUSS, YOU SAID THAT THIS WOULD BE IMPORTANT FOR US TO PASS TO SHOW THAT THE COUNTY IS ACTING IN GOOD FAITH. I REALLY THINK WE ARE PUTTING THE BUGGY BEFORE THE HORSE. THE ONUS IS ON THE CITY. THE CITY SHOULDN'T HAVE BEEN SHOWING US THAT THEY ARE WILLING TO WORK IN GOOD FAITH BY GIVING US THEIR MOU SO THAT WE CAN THEN TELL OUR CONSTITUENTS THAT IT MAKES SENSE TO SPEND TAXPAYER MONEY IN ANOTHER COUNTY. SO I -- FROM WHAT I RECALL, THE ONUS WAS ON THE CITY TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO SALVAGE THIS PROCESS AND TO MAKE SENSE OF IT TO OUR TAXPAYERS.

I ALWAYS FELT WE WERE ACTING IN GOOD FAITH BY SETTING UP FESS PHYSICAL -- SPECIFIC CONDITIONS AND ATLAS 14 WOULD BE COMMITTED TO. THAT THERE WOULD BE A COMMITMENT OF NOT HAVING ANOTHER DEVELOPMENT CREATE FUTURE ISSUES.

I'M TRYING TO BE CAREFUL WITH WHAT WE DISCUSSED IN EXECUTIVE SESSION.

LOOK, I THINK THE COUNTY HAS ALREADY BEEN ACTING IN GOOD FAITH IN THAT WE ARE WILLING TO USE HARRIS COUNTY MONEY IN ANOTHER COUNTY, BUT IT IS UP TO THE CITY OF HOUSTON TO COME UP WITH THE DETAILS OF THE MOU. I THINK THAT THE ONUS IS SQUARELY ON THE SHOULDERS OF THE CITY OF HOUSTON, NOT HARRIS COUNTY.

I DON'T WANT ANYBODY TO MAKE ME FEEL GUILTY FOR NOT ACTING ON THIS WHEN I THINK THE RESPONSIBILITY IS ON THE CITY OF HOUSTON TO CREATE PROGRESS IN THIS TRANSACTION.

OF. >> LINA HIDALGO: SO I GUESS WHAT I'M TRYING TO UNDERSTAND IS WHAT IS THE -- PERHAPS IN THE MEANTIME MAYBE ROBERT AND GUIDE HOUSE CAN SEE IF YOU CAN REWORD THIS THING TO MAKE SURE WE ARE NOT COMMITTING TO THE PROGRAM.

WHAT I WAS STRUGGLING WITH IS WHAT IS THE DOWNSIDE OF LETTING -- OF ESTABLISHING THE EARNEST MONEY NECESSITY DECLARATION OR WHATEVER IT IS OTHER THAN IT LETS -- IT CONTINUES TO GIVE US 120 DAYS TO SEE IF THE CITY WILL SEE THE LIGHT, SO TO SPEAK.

IF THEY DON'T, THEN WE'VE DRAWN OUR LINE THAT WE ARE NOT GONNA AGREE TO ANYTHING UNLESS THOSE THREE CONDITIONS ARE MET. FOR ME, ANYWAY, IF YOU WERE ABLE TO REWORD THAT, PERHAPS TO A PLACE WHERE THE COMMISSIONERS ARE COMFORTABLE AND PERHAPS THE SELLER WILL GIVE US A CHANCE FOR TWO WEEKS AND YOU CAN RE-- REWORD IT FOR THE NEXT TWO WEEKS. IT SOUNDS LIKE MORE CLARIFICATION WAS NEEDED BEFORE BEING DISCUSSED. AT LEAST I WAS CONFUSED BY THE WAY IT WAS INITIALLY PRESENTED.

COMMISSIONER ELLIS. I'M SORRY. THEN COMMISSIONER CAGLE.

>> RODNEY ELLIS: I DON'T THINK COMMISSIONER CAGLE HAS SPOKE YET.

>> LINA HIDALGO: GO AHEAD, COMMISSIONER. >> R. JACK CAGLE: YOUR HONOR, TO ME THIS IS NOT NEARLY AS COMPLICATED AS WE ARE TRYING TO MAKE IT BE.

WE HAVE PEOPLE IN HARRIS COUNTY THAT ARE AT RISK OF FLOODING.

WE HAVE A CHANCE TO LOCK DOWN A VERY GOOD PRICE TO BE ABLE TO ACQUIRE PROPERTY TO HELP PEOPLE AND UNDERSTAND THAT WE HAVE IT ADDED TO THE INITIAL IDEA AND IT HAS MOVED SINCE OUR VERY FIRST, BUT WITH ALL OF THAT IN PLACE TO BE ABLE TO LOCK IN THE PRICE AS OPPOSED TO LETTING THAT PRICE FLOAT WITH SOMEONE ON THE OTHER SIDE WHO IS TRYING TO DECIDE WHAT THEY WANT TO DO, I THINK IT IS A REASONABLE THING. IF WE WANT MEET THE CRITERIA

[02:25:01]

HURRICANES, FLOODING. THANK YOU, JUDGE. >> LINA HIDALGO: COMMISSIONER

ELLIS? >> RODNEY ELLIS: I JUST WANT TO SAY THAT IF I RECALL IT WAS -- WHATEVER IT WAS, 15 SOME ODD MILLION, A LITTLE UNDER 20 MILLION TO ACQUIRE IT. I THINK IT WAS 50 MILLION TO DEVELOP IT.

IF MY MATH IS RIGHT. IT IS ABOUT $70 MILLION. WE PUT CONDITIONS ON IT.

IT WAS A WAY TO INCENTIVIZE OUR PARTNERS IN THE CITY TO ADOPT ATLAS 14.

THE FIRST I HEARD OF THIS PROJECT, THE CITY WAS PUSHING IT.

RUSS POPPY MIGHT CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG. THE LAST SENTENCE IN THE FIRST PARAGRAPH FROM THE CITY SAYS THE CITY WIDE POLICY DISCUSSION SHOULD NOT BE INTERTWINED WITH THE SITE SPECIFIC INTER LOCAL AGREEMENT.

THAT'S PRECISELY WHAT HAVE COMMITTED TO IN PUBLIC. THEY HAVE KNOWN THIS FOR SOME TIME. THE REASON I WON'T BE ABLE TO SUPPORT IT, ME PERSONALLY, I THINK YOU GIVE PEOPLE FALSE EXPECTATIONS. THE PEOPLE WHO ARE PUSHING THIS HAVE KNOWN FOR SIX WEEKS THAT THE CITY, JUST GO AHEAD AND ADOPT THE INTER LOCAL AND PUT THE TERMS IN IT. I THINK WHAT YOU DO IS RAISE FALSE HOPE THAT WE ARE GONNA DO IT. THE CITY IS TELLING US THAT THEY ARE NOT GOING TO MAKE A DECISION ON THOSE POLICY MATTERS. THEY WOULD LIKE US TO COMMIT TO THIS 50 MILLION TO 70 MILLION. I INTERTWINED THAT WITH THE FACT THAT WE HAVE TO SET OUR TAX RATE IN A COUPLE WEEKS. IT DEPENDS ON WHAT RATE WE ADOPT. WE ARE NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO MAINTAIN PROJECTS THAT WE ALREADY HAVE. WE ARE ADDING ADDITIONAL PROJECTS TO IT.

SOME OF THOSE PEOPLE WHO GOT WATER IN NEIGHBORHOODS AND THERE WERE NO EQUITY STANDARDS. WE WILL BE LEFT OUT IN THE COLD AGAIN.

AT LEAST FOR ME, I THINK IT HAS BEEN PRETTY CLEAR, AND I TOLD MY FRIENDS AT THE CITY THAT IT'S OKAY. GO AHEAD AND DO IT. THEN WE FIND OUT THERE ARE AT LEAST TWO OR THREE OTHER PROJECTS IN THE SAME COUNTY THAT MAY HAVE THE SAME ISSUE THAT LEADS TO MORE FLOODING IN HARRIS COUNTY. AT LEAST FOR ME, I WON'T BE ABLE TO SUPPORT IT. AS I SAY ALL THE TIME, REASONABLE MINDS CAN DIFFER.

>> LINA HIDALGO: I SUGGEST HOLDING IT FOR TWO WEEKS AND I SUGGEST IN THE MEANTIME, RUSS, YOU GET IN WRITING WHAT THE THREE AGREEMENTS ARE, THE THREE CONDITIONS SO THAT WE HAVE THAT IN FRONT OF US AND THERE IS NO MORE CONFUSION ABOUT IT, AND ALSO THAT YOU CLARIFY THIS ITEM SO THAT IT DOESN'T COME BACK WITH ANY SORT OF PROPOSAL THAT IT IS GOING TO COMMIT TO THE PROJECT. PERHAPS WE HAVE A MOVEMENT WITH THE CITY, AND IF NOT WE CAN VOTE ON IT THEN AND THEN JUST FIGURE IT OUT.

>> YES, JUDGE. I UNDERSTAND. >> LINA HIDALGO: SO UNLESS FOLKS HAD OTHER COMMENTS LET'S HOLD IT. NO ACTION.

SO THAT IS COUNTY ENGINEER. FLOOD CONTROL. RUSS, I KNOW YOUR TEAM HAS BEEN WORKING SO MUCH ON UPDATING US. IT IS A CRUEL IRONY THAT WE ARE HERE ON THE HARVEY ANNIVERSARY COURT AND WE HAVE A HURRICANE MOVING IN.

THANK YOU FOR WORKING ON THESE PROJECTS AND REPORTING ON THEM.

>> THANK YOU, JUDGE. >> LINA HIDALGO: TOLL ROAD. YEAH?

>> STEVE RADACK: ARE WE GOING TO DISCUSS THE BRIDGE? >> LINA HIDALGO: YOU ARE

WELCOME TO, COMMISSIONER. >> STEVE RADACK: I FEEL STRONGLY -- MR. SOARD, I FEEL VERY STRONGLY THAT WE NEED TO TAKE A LOOK AT DIFFERENT PEOPLE CAPABLE OF DOING THE BRIDGE. I KNOW THAT ORIGINALLY WHEN FIG WAS HIRED THAT THERE WAS

[02:30:08]

OBVIOUSLY THAT HAS CHANGED. NOW WITHOUT ANY REALLY VETTING AT ALL, THEY WERE CHOSEN TO GO IN AND TAKE A LOOK AT FIG AND WHAT THEY WERE DOING. THEY COME BACK WITH A REPORT, AND I DON'T BELIEVE THAT REPORT ANYWAY, SHAPE OR FORM ALONE GIVES US ANY REAL COMFORT OF THEIR CAPABILITIES TO DO THIS. AND I BELIEVE, MR. SOARD, AND AS FAR AS PURCHASING IS CONCERNED AND NEEDS TO BE INVOLVED, BUT I THINK WE NEED TO LOOK AT THE DIFFERENT PROPOSALS AND TRY TO EXPEDITE THINGS WHICH I THINK COULD BE DONE. AND WE CAN COME UP WITH A RECOMMENDATION THAT IS BASED UPON LOOKING CAREFULLY AT THE PEOPLE, EVERYONE'S CREDENTIALS , WHO ARE DRY -- TRYING TO DO THIS BRIDGE AND GO FROM THERE. DO YOU HAVE ANY COMMENTS?

>> I THINK THE COMMENTS FROM THE COUNTY ATTORNEY IS YOU CAN EITHER CHOOSE TO SELECT THEM AND BE IN THE -- SELECT COWI. I HEARD BEST PRACTICES AND TRANSPARENCY.

I CAN'T SAY THAT WOULD BE THE BEST PRACTICE OR THE MOST TRANSPARENT PROCESS, BUT I UNDERSTAND THAT THE TOLL ROAD HAS CONCERNS ABOUT DELAYING THE PROCESS EVEN ONE OR TWO MORE DAYS. I WOULD HAVE TO LET TOLL ROAD SPEAK TO THE CHALLENGES OF DELAYING THE PROCESS OF SELECTING AN ENGINEER OF RECORD ON THIS PROJECT.

>> STEVE RADACK: WELL, YOU KNOW, YOU LOOK AT THE ORIGINAL EVALUATIONS.

COWI NEVER ASKED TO DO IT. I CANNOT SUPPORT COWI GETTING THIS WITHOUT MORE EVALUATION.

AND I MEAN, THEY CAN PRESENT -- THE PEOPLE CAN PRESENT SCHEDULES TO US TO SAY, WELL, WE HAVE TO MOVE QUICK, MOVE QUICK, MOVE QUICK, MOVE QUICK.

WITH THIS MUCH MONEY INVOLVED AND THE IMPORTANCE OF THIS PROJECT, I THINK COST MATTERS, EXPERTISE MATTERS AND BECAUSE OF THAT I CANNOT JUST SUPPORT JUMPING IN WITH THEM.

THEY FOUND FAULT WITH AN ENGINEERING -- WITH FIG. THEY FOUND FAULT WITH SOME OF THEIR DESIGN. OBVIOUSLY NOT ALL OF IT. AND NOW JUST TO SAY, OKAY, THERE IS A PROBLEM AND THEY ARE THE ONES THAT CAN FIX IT. THAT'S NOT BROAD ENOUGH IN MY

OPINION TO BRING THEM ON. THANK YOU. >> R. JACK CAGLE: YOUR HONOR,

I HAVE A QUESTION OF MR. SOARD AS WELL. >> LINA HIDALGO: COMMISSIONER

CAGLE AND THEN COMMISSIONER GARCIA. >> R. JACK CAGLE: MY UNDERSTANDING IN DEALING WITH HECTOR ON THIS, ROBERT, IS THAT WE DON'T HAVE TWO CHOICES. WE ACTUALLY HAVE THREE CHOICES.

WE HAVE THE OPTION OF GOING STRAIGHT FOR THE COUNTY WHO IS NOT PART OF THE ORIGINAL SET OF FOLKS WHEN THIS WENT OUT FOR REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATIONS.

THE SECOND OPTION IS THAT WE START FROM SCRATCH AND GO OUT FOR QUALIFICATIONS WHICH MAY ADD SOME TIME. AND WE MAY ASK WHOEVER FITS IN THEIR QUALIFICATIONS ADDRESS WHAT THAT TIME LAG MAY OR MAY NOT BE. THE THIRD OPTION IS WE CAN GO BACK TO THE SET OF FOLKS WOULD GAVE US A REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATIONS, AND THAT THIRD OPTION IS ACTUALLY GOING TO BE TIME WISE WHAT IS GOING ON WITH COWI.

WE DON'T HAVE TO GO THROUGH THAT WHOLE PROCESS. WE CAN JUST BRING SOMEBODY ON BOARD AND REVIEW WHAT WE ALREADY HAVE THAT IS THERE. I THINK A COUPLE OF THE FIRMS THAT WERE ONES THAT WERE IN THE INITIAL SET THAT PUT IN THEIR QUALIFICATIONS AND THAT

[02:35:05]

WE MAY BE ABLE TO ACTUALLY HAVE SOME OF THE COWI BENEFIT OF SOMEBODY THERE ON SITE WHO HAS GONE THROUGH A PROPER VETTING OF QUALIFICATIONS AND WE CAN GO THROUGH THAT LIST IF WE CHOSE TO DO SO. AM I CORRECT OR INCORRECT IN THE THREE OPTIONS AS I

UNDERSTAND THEM? >> FROM A LEGAL VIEW POINT, ANY OF THOSE OPTIONS ARE OPTIONS. YOU CAN DO ANY ONE OF THOSE THREE.

I CAN'T SPEAK TO THE PRO'S AND CON'S OF EACH OPTION AND THAT'S SOMETHING FOR TOLL ROAD TO TELL YOU ABOUT, THE PRO'S AND THE CON'S AND THE VARIOUS OPTIONS.

IT IMPLIES YOU SELECT A QUALIFIED ENGINEER. OUR VIEW IS THERE NEEDS TO BE SOME PROCESS. CLEARLY THIS IS SOMEWHAT OF AN EMERGENCY SITUATION.

THERE ARE REASONS TO SHORT CIRCUIT THE PROCESS. AND THEN WHATEVER THE PROCESS

IS WHAT COMMISSIONER'S COURT DETERMINES IT NEEDS TO BE. >> COMMISSIONER GARCIA I THINK

ARE YOU ON MUTE. >> ADRIAN GARCIA: THANK YOU, JUDGE.

I WASN'T SURE IF SOMEBODY WAS GOING TO RESPOND TO ROBERT. FIRST LET ME JUST SAY THAT, YOU KNOW, I AM COMMITTED TO THIS BRIDGE. I WANT TO SEE IT BUILT.

I WOULD LOVE TO SEE IT BUILT AS ON TIME AS POSSIBLE. TO TIME ACTUALLY.

THERE ARE CHALLENGE THAT'S WE ARE NOW CONFRONTED WITH. CHALLENGES WE COULD HAVE DEALT WITH IN 2018 HAD THIS CONVERSATION TAKEN PLACE IN 2018.

THAT CONVERSATION DIDN'T HAPPEN. IT WAS AS IF NO ONE WAS PAYING ATTENTION TO THE EVENT THAT HAPPENED IN FLORIDA. AS SOON AS I BECAME AWARE THAT THERE WAS SOME CONNECTION TO THAT -- I DON'T KNOW FIG FROM ANYBODY ELSE.

YOU KNOW, I HAVE TO SAY THAT I HEARD THAT THEIR REPUTATION IS A GOOD ONE.

IF THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT DISAGREES WITH ME, BUT PRIOR TO THAT THEIR REPUTATION HAS BEEN GOOD. BECAUSE OF THAT FAILED BRIDGE IN FLORIDA, I THOUGHT IT WAS IMPORTANT TO BRING IN SOMEONE. THAT SOMEONE WAS VERY OPEN AS TO WOULD THERE WOULD BE. IT WAS IMPORTANT TO REALLY ACCOMPLISH SOME INDEPENDENCE BECAUSE OF WHAT I FOUND IN TERMS -- OR LEARNED ABOUT WITH THE QUALITY CONTROL AND QUALITY ASSURANCE. THERE ARE ASPECT THAT'S SEEM TO BE PRETTY STANDARD OR SEEM TO BE AN IMPORTANT ELEMENT IN ENGINEERING THAT WASN'T REALLY IDENTIFIED ACCORDING TO COWI'S REPORT. AND THEN LASTLY, FIG HAD OPPORTUNITY TO ARGUE COWI'S FINDINGS, BUT THEY AGREED WITH THEM. THEY AGREED WITH THEM.

I THINK IT IS IMPORTANT THAT WE CONTINUE TO STAND ON A POINT OF INDEPENDENCE TO ENSURE THAT THIS BRIDGE IS FIRST AND FOREMOST BUILT AS ON SCHEDULE AS POSSIBLE ACCORDING TO TAKING MEASURES BEING DISCUSSED THAT KEEPING IT ON SCHEDULE AS CLOSE AS POSSIBLE IS NO LONGER ACHIEVABLE, AND OUR ECONOMY NEEDS THIS. IN FACT, IT WOULD FORCE US TO SAY WHY WE ARE DOING THIS. THE EXISTING INFRASTRUCTURE WAS COMPROMISED.

IT WAS ALREADY CONGESTED. IT WAS ALREADY HAVING PEOPLE SIT THERE IN GRIDLOCK.

THERE IS NO SHOULDERS ON THERE AS COMMISSIONER RADACK POINTED OUT.

[02:40:09]

THINGS HAVE CHANGED. I THINK WE ARE AT A POINT HERE WHERE THE FRESHEST EYES THAT HAVE SEEN ALL OF THESE THINGS ARE IMPORTANT TO CONSIDER, AND I JUST WANT TO THANK HECTOR.

THEY WEREN'T -- THEY DIDN'T TAKE THIS WORK LIGHTLY. I JUST WANT TO THANK JOHN TYLER WHO AGREED TO BRING COWI. I WANT T -- TO THANK PETER FOR HIS WORK IN MAKING SURE THAT THIS IS -- THESE ARE DECISIONS -- THE BEST DECISIONS WE HAVE IN FRONT OF US FOR COST AND TIME AND FOR MOST IMPORTANTLY, I THINK, PUBLIC SAFETY. THANK YOU.

>> LINA HIDALGO: COMMISSIONER ELLIS? >> RODNEY ELLIS: JUDGE, I WOULD LIKE TO HEAR THE DEPARTMENT'S RECOMMENDATION ON IT, AND MAYBE IF THEY COULD GO THROUGH THE PRO'S AND THE CONS OF SOME OF THESE OPTIONS THAT ARE LAID OUT.

WHEN I READ IT, WHEN YOU GET TO D IT IS REALLY -- I GUESS IT IS A RECOMMENDATION TO NEGOTIATE AN AGREEMENT WITH COWI WHICH WOULD COME BACK TO US.

SO IT IS NOT A FINAL DECISION. IF THEY WOULD WALK US THROUGH THE PRO'S AND THE CONS AND I WOULD LIKE TO GET THEIR THOUGHTS ON IT.

IT WOULD HELP ME AT LEAST. >> JUDGE, COMMISSIONERS, THIS IS PETER AT THE TOLL ROAD.

CAN YOU HEAR US? >> RODNEY ELLIS: YES. >> LINA HIDALGO: YES, WE CAN

HEAR YOU. >> THANK YOU. I WANT TO START BY SAYING THAT THE PORT LETTER RECOMMENDING THE COWI FIRM HAS MY SIGNATURE, BUT IT IS NOT JUST COMING FROM ME. IT COMES FROM OUR AGENCY. IT COMES FROM OUR BRIDGE PROGRAM ENGINEER, JOHN TYLER. GAIL MILLER WHO HAS BEEN THE POINT PERSON ON THE CONSTRUCTION CONTRACT THAT IS ACTIVE OUT THERE ALSO SUPPORTS THIS FINDING.

WE STAND BEHIND THE PORT LETTER FOR A VARIETY OF REASONS.

FIRST, THE COWI FIRM IS ABSOLUTELY QUALIFIED. IN FACT, THE PRINCIPAL OF COWI, WHO IS INVOLVED IN THE CURRENT NEGOTIATION OF HARRIS COUNTY IS THE ENGINEER OF RECORD FOR THE BRIDGE IN NEW YORK CITY, THE CABLE STATE BRIDGE AND THE ENGINEER OF RECORD FOR THE CROSSING BETWEEN MINNESOTA AND WISCONSIN STATE BRIDGE.

THEY ARE ABSOLUTELY QUALIFIED TO DO THIS WORK. TWO, AS COMMISSIONER GARCIA POINTED OUT, I THINK IT MATTERS IN THIS CASE, AND THAT'S MY OPINION IS THAT COWI IS INDEPENDENT. THEY WERE BROUGHT TO THE COUNTY BECAUSE THEY WERE NOT PART OF THE PREVIOUS ENGAGEMENT. THEY HADN'T BEEN PART OF THE ORIGINAL TEAM CONCEPT AND DESIGN OUT THERE. THEY BROUGHT -- AS THE COMMISSIONER SAID, IT WAS A FRESH APPROACH. I THINK THAT IS ALSO IMPORTANT. THE PAST DOES NOT WEIGH ON THE COWI FIRM WITH REGARDS TO HARRIS COUNTY. THIRD, BECAUSE OF COWI'S KNOWLEDGE OF THE FIG DESIGN AND THEIR KNOWLEDGE OF WHAT IS BEING CONSTRUCTED OUT THERE THEY PUT THE COUNTY IN THE

[02:45:06]

TIME HAS BEEN OUR MOST CRITICAL FUNCTION AND FACTOR THAT WE HAVE BEEN HAVING TO

DEAL WITH ON THIS PROJECT. THANK YOU. >> LINA HIDALGO: SO I THINK COMMISSIONER ELLIS IS THE ONE THAT WANTED TO CHAT WITH YOU HERE.

WE WILL WAIT AND SEE. >> RODNEY ELLIS: PETER, COULD YOU WALK THROUGH THE PRO'S AND THE CONS OF SOME OF THE OTHER OPTIONS ON THE TABLE? IN PARTICULAR WHAT I AM ASKING IS HOW MUCH WOULD IT DELAY IT AND HOW MUCH WOULD IT COST IF WE WENT WITH SOME OTHER FIRM

OTHER THAN COWI? >> WELL, THANK YOU FOR ASKING THAT.

WE SENT TO EACH PORT MEMBER STAFF A SCHEDULE SHOWING THE THREE OPTIONS THAT COMMISSIONER CAGLE HAD BROUGHT UP A MINUTE AGO. THE COWI OPTION IS THE SHORTEST ONE. THE OTHER TWO OPTIONS INVOLVE SOME FORM OF AN RFQ.

IT WOULD EXTEND THE PROJECT OUT TO 2022. I HAVE SEEN IN TIMES THAT SOMETIMES PEOPLE WILL ELONGATE PROJECT SCHEDULES BASED ON SOME ADVANTAGE.

WHAT HAS BEEN PRESENTED TO COURT IS REAL. I EVEN HAVE A DOCUMENT FROM OUR CONSTRUCTION MANAGEMENT FIRM STATING THAT IF THE COUNTY WERE TO GO WITH A NEW ENGINEER OF RECORD IT COULD POSSIBLY BE A 34-MONTH DELAY. THAT'S NOT A HEX.

SO THE COWI FIRM SAYS BECAUSE OF THEIR KNOWLEDGE OF THE PROJECT THEY BELIEVE THEY COULD BE THE ENGINEER OF RECORD BETWEEN FOUR AND EIGHT MONTHS.

WE LOOKED AT THE DIFFERENCE ON THE SCHEDULE AND SAID SIX. WE STAND BEHIND THE RECOMMENDATION BASED ON TIME. TIME EQUATES TO MONEY. WE GET THIS PROJECT MOVING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION AND WITH AN INDEPENDENT ENGINEER THAT IS FULLY QUALIFIED TO GET THIS

PROJECT TO A COMPLETED STATE FOR THE COUNTY. >> ADRIAN GARCIA: JUDGE, MAY

I? >> LINA HIDALGO: YES, COMMISSIONER GARCIA.

>> ADRIAN GARCIA: PETER, THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORK ON THIS, AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENTS.

I GUESS I JUST WANT TO ASK ONE MORE QUESTION. HAD HECTRA BEEN CHALLENGED IN MARCH WHEN THE NEWS OF THE BRIDGE FALLING IN MIAMI, HOW MUCH DELAY AND COST AND EVEN -- WELL, I DON'T THINK WE COULD HAVE PREVENTED THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT FROM DE BARRING FIG, BUT HOW MUCH COULD WE HAVE HOW MUCH GRIEF COULD WE HAVE SAVED OURSELVES IN MARCH OF 2018 HAD WE DONE IT WITH COWI AT THAT TIME VERSE -- VERSES IN 2019?

>> WELL, COMMISSIONER, AS YOU KNOW IT CAN BE DIFFICULT TO ANSWER THEORETICALS, AND IN PARTICULAR WITH A PROJECT THIS CRITICAL TO THE COUNTY, IT IS HARD TO GIVE AN ANSWER TO THAT QUESTION. IT IS TRUE THAT HAD THE COUNTY TAKEN SOME KIND OF A PAUSE, WE

WOULD NOT FIND OURSELVES IN THE POSITIONS WE ARE IN TODAY. >> ADRIAN GARCIA: THANK YOU.

UNLESS THERE IS ANYTHING ELSE, I GUESS WE MOVE ON THESE ITEMS.

>> STEVE RADACK: MR. SOARD? >> YES, SIR. >> STEVE RADACK: WHO

RECOMMENDED TO THE TOLL ROAD AUTHORITY THAT COWI BE HIRED? >> THE TOLL ROAD WOULD BE IN A BETTER POSITION TO ANSWER THE QUESTION. I CAN TELL YOU WHAT I HAVE BEEN TOLD. I HAVE BEEN TOLD IT WAS DISCUSSIONS BETWEEN PRECINCT 2'S STAFF AND TOLL ROAD AUTHORITY LEAD TO THEIR HIRING.

>> STEVE RADACK: OKAY. >> MAYBE HE CAN ANSWER THE QUESTION BETTER THAN I.

>> THIS IS PETER. ROBERT, THAT IS TRUE. THE TOLL ROAD STAFF AND

[02:50:02]

THE COWI FIRM HAS AN INTERNATIONAL PRESENCE AND THEY WERE BROUGHT UNDER

CONTROL FOR THE TOLL ROAD AND PERFORM THIS ANALYSIS. >> LINA HIDALGO: PETER, IS IT A REAL OPTION TO EXPECT THAT GOING THROUGH PAST BIDS? WOULDN'T THOSE HAVE EXPIRED? WOULD IT TAKE AS LONG AS IT WOULD TAKE TO GO FOR -- TO START THE PROCESS OVER?

I GUESS WOULD THE DELAY ISSUE STILL EXIST? >> JUDGE, I KNOW ONE COMMISSIONER JUST IN THE LAST COUPLE MINUTES, I JUST DON'T REMEMBER WHO BROUGHT UP THE FACT THAT IT IS POSSIBLE SOME OF THE NAMES AND INDIVIDUALS ASSOCIATED WITH THE FIRMS HAVE CHANGED. I CAN STATE AFFIRMATIVELY HAVING DEALT WITH OTHER RFQ'S IN THE PAST THAT IT CLEARLY IS ACTUALLY THE FIRM THAT IS BEING JUDGED.

IT IS THE PERSONNEL ASSOCIATED WITH THE FIRM THAT IS BEING JUDGED.

THE EXPECTATION THAT WE ARE DEALING WITH THE SAME PEOPLE FROM SEVEN YEARS AGO, I DON'T EVEN WANT TO ASSUME THAT THAT IS THE CASE. AGAIN, I KNOW IT IS CLICHE, BUT WE ARE LOOKING AT THE CARDS WE HAVE BEEN DEALT. AND WE BELIEVE THE WISE

APPROACH IS TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THE COWI FIRM. >> JUDGE, I BELIEVE YOU ARE

MUTED. >> LINA HIDALGO: WHAT WAS THE DELAY, THANK YOU, THAT YOU

SAID IS EXPECTED IF COWI IS NOT SELECTED? >> IN OUR TIMELINE ALL OF THE COURT MEMBER STAFF SAID THE OPTIONS THE COUNTY CAN GO WITH SOME TYPE OF MODIFIED RFQ AND EACH OF THOSE PUSH THE PROJECT RESTART IN FULL OUT TO THE 2022 CALENDAR YEAR.

>> LINA HIDALGO: DO FOLKS HAVE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS ON THIS OR SHOULD WE TAKE A VOTE?

>> STEVE RADACK: PETER? THIS IS RADACK. COULD THAT TIMELINE BE ADJUSTED? COULDN'T IT BE ADJUSTED TO MAKE IT SHORTER THAN THE

TIMELINE SUGGESTS? >> COMMISSIONER, I MENTIONED A MINUTE AGO THAT WE BELIEVE THE TIMELINE IS REAL, BUT IT COULD ACTUALLY BE SEEN AS ALMOST OPTIMISTIC.

WE HAVE A DOCUMENT FROM OUR CONSTRUCTION MANAGEMENT FIRM OUT THERE SHOWING THAT THE POTENTIAL FOR A DELAY FOR THE PROJECT, BRINGING ON A NEW ENGINEER OF RECORD, COULD BE UP TO 34 MONTHS. THAT'S NOT FROM US, COMMISSIONER.

IT CAME FROM OUR CONSTRUCTION MANAGEMENT FIRM, HNTE. THAT'S WHY WE RECOMMEND GOING WITH THE COWI OPTION. IT PRESENTS THE COUNTY THE SHORTEST AMOUNT OF TIME TO GET

THE PROJECT STARTED. >> STEVE RADACK: YOU SAID HNTB SAID THAT?

>> YES, SIR. IT IS IN A DOCUMENT I HAVE FROM THEM.

>> STEVE RADACK: IT SAID UP TO 34 MONTHS, BUT I MEAN, UP TO 34 MONTHS, BUT WHAT ABOUT ON THE DOWNSIDE, ON THE OTHER SIDE? DO THEY SUGGEST HOW MAYBE IT

COULD BE EXPEDITED? >> WE'VE HEARD A NUMBER OF PEOPLE SAYING THAT, HEY, LOOK, THERE'S WAYS TO SHORTEN THE PROJECT. THERE'S WAYS TO SHORTEN THE TIMELINES. THE TIMELINE THAT WE PRESENTED TO THE COURT VERSUS THE ONE THAT WE BELIEVE IS REAL. IT WAS VETTED TO THE FULL TEAM.

I GO BACK TO THE NATURE OF THE COWI FIRM, AND THE FACT THAT THEY HAD TO DO A REVIEW OF THE FIFTH DESIGN, THEY SIT IN THE POSITION TO HAVE THE BEST UNDERSTANDING OF THE DESIGN

AND WHAT HAS BEEN CONSTRUCTED OUT THERE. >> STEVE RADACK: OKAY.

I APPRECIATE THAT. MY QUESTION IS DID HNTB OR ANYBODY ELSE -- I THINK YOU SAID THEY ARE YOUR CONSTRUCTION MANAGERS, HNTB. DID THEY HAVE ANY -- IT SAID UP TO 34 MONTHS, BUT WHAT DID THEY HAVE THAT MAKES ANY COMMENT ON A SHORTER PERIOD OF

TIME? >> YES, THEY MENTIONED SOME WAYS TO CHANGE CONTRACTUALLY

[02:55:03]

ME. >> STEVE RADACK: OKAY, SO THAT IS THE FIRST TIME WE HEARD OF THAT. WHAT DOES THE COUNTY ATTORNEY THINK ABOUT THAT?

OR PURCHASING FOR THAT MATTER? >> I THINK THAT WOULD BE A

PURCHASING QUESTION. >> STEVE RADACK: DWIGHT, ARE YOU THERE?

>> I THINK ARE YOU TALKING, BUT I THINK YOU NEED TO RECONNECT.

>> CAN YOU HEAR ME NOW? >> THERE ARE DESIGN BUILD OPTIONS WITH THE TOLL ROAD REGARDING THE BRIDGE AND WE DID IT AS A NORMAL BID PROCESS THROUGH THE FIRM.

AGAIN I WOULD RELY ON EITHER THE TOLL ROAD OR SOMEONE FROM ENGINEERING GROUP TO REFER TO US ON THE BEST OPTION MOVING FORWARD FOR THE BRIDGE BECAUSE I WAS AN EXPERTISE IN

CONSTRUCTION. >> STEVE RADACK: MR. BLOUNT, DO YOU HAVE AN OPINION?

>> COMMISSIONER, I HAVEN'T BEEN INVOLVED WITH THE BRIDGE.

I KNOW FOR A FACT THERE ARE MULTIPLE WAYS TO DO THIS. THERE IS CERTAINLY MOLT -- MULTIPLE WAYS TO DO IT. I HAVEN'T BEEN INVOLVED SO I DON'T HAVE AN OPINION.

STEVE STEVE YOU ARE

>> STEVE RADACK: YOU ARE WITH DESIGN BUILD, RIGHT? >> YES.

AND DESIGN BUILD EXPEDITES PROJECTS. I KNOW THEY ARE PROPOSING TO

USE IT ON THE FLOOD CONTROL. >> SO IT COULD EXPEDITE? >> YES, SIR, IF THE CONDITIONS WERE RIGHT AND IF YOU HAD THE RIGHT CONTRACTOR. I DON'T EVEN KNOW WHO IS

BUILDING THE BRIDGE. I COULDN'T ANSWER THAT. >> STEVE RADACK: THANK YOU.

THANK YOU, JUDGE. >> LINA HIDALGO: THE CONTRACTS -- THE CONSTRUCTION CONTRACTS ARE WITH OTHER FIRMS, RIGHT? THIS COWI IS JUST FOR THE ENGINEER OF RECORD WHICH IS

ABOUT HOW MUCH? >> THANK YOU FOR MENTIONING THAT, JUDGE.

WE TALKED OF CHANGING THE WAY THE COUNTY CONTRACTED FOR THE PROJECT.

THIS THROWS MORE UNCERTAINTY IN THE TIME FRAME. IT GIVES YOUR COUNTY STAFF OPTIONS AND HOW CAN WE START THIS CRITICAL PROJECT AND GET GOING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION IN THE SHORTEST AMOUNT OF TIME. WE STAND BEHIND OUR RECOMMENDATION FOR HAVING COWI BECOME THE COUNTY'S ENGINEER. MOVE FORWARD WITH THE

PROJECT. >> LINA HIDALGO: I AM TRYING TO LOOK AT WHAT COMMISSIONER RADACK SAID WITH THE DESIGN BUILD. ON ONE HAND, THE DESIGN BUILD WOULD MEAN -- WOULD IT MEAN ANYTHING WITH THE CONTRACT WITH C -- COWI?

>> IT COULD. OUR IN -- OUR ENGINEER IS UNDER CONTRACT WITH THE COUNTY. I TOLD, JUDGE, MEMBERS OF YOUR STAFF AND I TOLD OTHER MEMBERS OF COURT THAT I THINK IT IS IMPORTANT THAT IF THE COURT SELECTS THE COWI FIRM AND ELECTS TO GET IT MOVING IN THE SHORTEST AMOUNT OF TIME, I THINK WE NEED TO CHALLENGE OUR ENGINEER TO COME BACK AND PROVIDE THE COUNTY WITH OPTIONS ON HOW TO SHORTEN THE TIME FRAME OF THE PROJECT AND POSSIBLY ALSO SAVE THE COUNTY MONEY WITH THIS CRITICAL

ENDEAVOR. >> LINA HIDALGO: I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHAT THE DESIGN BUILD COMMENT IS THOUGH. CAN YOU WALK ME WHAT THE DIFFERENCE WOULD BE?

Y'ALL ARE MORE FAM -- FAMILIAR. >> THE TOLL ROAD IS NOT DONE WHERE YOU ESSENTIALLY HIRE A DEVELOPER. THAT DEVELOPER IS RESPONSIBLE FOR DELIVERING THE PROJECT, ENGINEERING AND CONSTRUCTION. HISTORICALLY THE WAY WE HAVE DONE PROJECTS IS WE HIRE AN ENGINEERING FIRM. THEY DEVELOP PLANS FOR THE COUNTY. THE COUNTY ACCEPTS THE PLANS AND THEY BID OUT THE WORK TO A

QUALIFIED CONTRACTOR. >> LINA HIDALGO: WHO WOULD BE THE DEVELOP NEITHER THIS

CASE? >> WE WOULD HAVE TO SIT DOWN WITH THE COUNTY ATTORNEYS AND OTHER THAT'S ARE ALREADY INVOLVED IN THE PROJECT TO SEE IF SOMEONE WANTED TO BECOME THE DEVELOPER. AND THEN IT BECOMES PRETTY SIGNIFICANT ISSUE IS HOW WE WOULD RESTRUCTURE THE CONTRACTS. AGAIN, JUDGE, THIS IS

[03:00:02]

NOW. >> LINA HIDALGO: NO, AND I THINK THAT IF THE SPEEDING UP IS HAPPENING BY SELECTING A FIRM THAT IS FAMILIAR WITH THE PROCESS, WE DON'T NEED TO GIVE THE FIRM CONTROL OVER THE ENTIRE PROJECT AMOUNT, IF THAT'S WHAT IS BEING

PROPOSED. >> UNDERSTOOD. >> LINA HIDALGO: I MAY BE

MISUNDERSTANDING. COMMISSIONER GARCIA? >> ADRIAN GARCIA: THANK YOU, JUDGE. PETER, HOW OFTEN -- OR JOHN, HOW OFTEN DO WE GO FROM AN ENGINEER OF RECORD-TYPE OF PROJECT SET UP TO A DESIGN BUILD SET UP? HOW OFTEN DO WE -- HAVE WE CHANGED THAT? ONE WAY OR ANOTHER HOW TYPICAL IS THAT FOR US TO HAVE DONE AND WHAT IS THE MOST RECENT EXAMPLE OF THAT?

>> COMMISSIONER, I WISH I COULD GIVE YOU AN EXAMPLE. THE FACT IS I STARTED WITH THE COUNTY OVER 27 YEARS AGO AND NEVER BEEN INVOLVED WITH THAT.

JOHN ZEILER HAS NEVER BEEN INVOLVED WITH THAT IN HIS COUNTY CAREER.

IT WOULD BE A SIGNIFICANT CHANGE, AND ONE THAT WE JUST DON'T RECOMMEND RIGHT NOW.

WE RECOMMEND GETTING AN ENGINEER ON BOARD AND PRESENTING THE COUNTY OPTIONS

GOING FORWARD TO DELIVER THIS PROJECT. >> ADRIAN GARCIA: THE FACT IS

WE HAVE HALF A BRIDGE BUILT, IS THAT ACCURATE? >> THAT'S ABOUT ACCURATE.

>> ADRIAN GARCIA: THANK YOU. >> RODNEY ELLIS: JUDGE? >> LINA HIDALGO: COMMISSIONER ELLIS. SORRY. I WAS ON MUTE.

>> RODNEY ELLIS: PETER, IS IT FAIR TO SAY THAT THIS IS THE LARGEST PROJECT IN THE HISTORY

OF HARRIS COUNTY? >> I THINK IT IS FAIR IF YOU ARE NOT TRYING TO USE AN INFLATER FOR WHAT THE COUNTY MAY HAVE SOMETHING THAT COST FOR THE STADIUM IN THE 60S.

IT HAS BEEN SET BEFORE, THE FOLKS AT HECTRA PUT A GREAT EMPHASIS ON THIS PROJECT, ONE, BECAUSE IT IS NECESSARY AND IT IS CRITICAL. THE EXISTING BRIDGE HAS PYLONS IN THE WATERWAY OF A SHIP CHANNEL. TWO, THE COST ITSELF, YOU CAN'T IGNORE THAT FACT. THE COUNTY HAS TREMENDOUS FINANCIAL NEEDS AND WE ARE TRYING TO MANAGE THIS CRITICAL PROJECT WITH THE DIFFICULTY RIGHT NOW OF NOT HAVING AN ENGINEER. AND SO YOUR STAFF OUT HERE IS DOING THEIR BEST TO SOLVE FOR THE VERY RULE OF TIME. IF TIME EQUATES TO MONEY, THAT'S WHY WE HAVE THE COWI

ITEM ON THERE. >> RODNEY ELLIS: THAT IS AN INTEREST ANALOGY TO THE ASTRODOME. WHEN IT PASSED, THE MINORITY COMMUNITY WAS VERY IMPORTANT IN GETTING THE VOTES TO GET THAT ISSUE PASSED TO FINANCE IT, AND AT A TIME WHEN IT WAS UNPRECEDENTED THEY DID HAVE TREMENDOUS INVOLVEMENT BEFORE THERE WERE MANY MINORITY-OWNED FIRMS OUT THERE DOING SOME OF THE WORK TO CLEAR THE LAND AND DO OTHER THINGS.

FOR THE ENGINEERING PART OF THIS, WHAT MINORITY -- WHAT WAS THE LEVEL OF MINORITY

PARTICIPATION, IF YOU KNOW. >> I DON'T KNOW OFFHAND, BUT I KNOW I CAN SAY THIS TO A

CERTAINTY, THAT IT WAS SMALL. >> RODNEY ELLIS: I WANT TO MAKE SURE AS WE GO FORWARD THAT WE FIND A WAY WITHIN THE REALM OF THE LAW BECAUSE WE HAVE NOT SET UP A PROGRAM YET, AND WE HAVE NOT CREATED THE EQUITY DEPARTMENT. I WOULD HATE FOR US TO END UP SEN THAT WILY -- ESSENTIALLY STARTING OVER TO SOME EXTENT ON THE LARGEST PROJECT IN THE HISTORY OF THE COUNTY WITH VIRTUALLY ZERO MINORITY PARTICIPATION AND IT IS STILL ZERO. SO AS PART OF THE NEGOTIATIONS I WOULD ASK WHEN HE COMES BACK, V -- HAVE YOU FOUND SOMEWAY TO COME BACK AND DO THAT.

I WOULD LIKE FOR THOSE COMMUNITIES NOT TO BE LEFT OUT AGAIN.

>> THANK YOU FOR SAYING THAT, COMMISSIONER. I FAILED TO MENTION SOMETHING. COUNTY STAFF, THEY DON'T -- WORKING WITH THE COUNTY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE HAVE BEEN ENGAGED WITH OUR CONTRACTOR, 550 PLUS MILLION CONTRACT ACCOUNT, TRYING TO KEEP THAT CON TRAPTER ACTIVE WHILE WE ARE TRYING TO BRING AN ENGINEER ON TO THE PROJECT. THE CONTRACTOR HAS VERBALLY TOLD THE COUNTY THAT THEY ARE

[03:05:07]

THAT'S AN IMPORTANT POINT TO MAKE AND I THANK YOU FOR BRINGING IT UP.

>> JUDGE AND COMMISSIONER'S COURT, I THINK IT IS MAINLY JUDGE HUFFINS COULD DO IT BACK

THEN, BY GOD WE CAN DO IT NOW. >> LINA HIDALGO: ALL RIGHT.

SO DO WE HAVE A MOTION ON THESE ITEMS ? >> JUDGE, WHICH ITEMS ARE

THEY? >> LINA HIDALGO: THEY ARE THE TOLL ROAD ITEMS. IT WOULD BE A AND B, RIGHT? A AND B? UNDER TOLL ROAD?

>> RODNEY ELLIS: JUDGE IS IT A AND D OR JUST D. >> ADRIAN GARCIA: D.

>> LINA HIDALGO: THIS IS JUST DISCUSSION. SO D ON THE TOLL ROAD.

>> RODNEY ELLIS: COMMISSIONER GARCIA DO YOU HAVE A MOTION? >> ADRIAN GARCIA: SO MOVED.

>> RODNEY ELLIS: I SECOND. >> LINA HIDALGO: THERE IS A MOTION AND A SECOND TO BRING

ON COWI. ALL IN FAVOR? >> I.

>> I. >> LINA HIDALGO: OPPOSED? >> I'M A NO.

I'M A NO AND I WILL SAY THIS THAT THIS IS A TREMENDOUS MISTAKE TO DO THIS.

I VOTE NO. >> LINA HIDALGO: I VOTE IN FAVOR.

THE MOTION CARRIES. >> ADRIAN GARCIA: IF THEY CAN DO IT IN MARCH OF 2018.

>> ADRIAN, YOU MIGHT WANT TO GO BACK TO A MEETING OF APRIL 9TH, 2019 AND READ WHAT YOU HAD TO SAY ABOUT THE TOLL ROAD AND THE BRIDGE. I JUST THOUGHT I WOULD THROW

THAT OUT TO YOU. THANK YOU. >> ADRIAN GARCIA: THANK YOU.

>> LINA HIDALGO: THAT WAS TOLL ROAD. AND NOW WE ARE MOVING TO BUDGET MANAGEMENT. I HAVE AN ITEM OF NO ACTION ON ITEM I ON PAGE 8.

4I. THEY REQUEST NO ACTION BE TAKEN.

ANYTHING ELSE ON BUDGET? >> R. JACK CAGLE: YOUR HONOR. A CLARIFICATION ON7AGE , 4F1. THAT DEALS WITH THE I.T. MASON TER.

I.T. MAY CENTER. MY UNDERSTANDING IS IT IS IN CONJUNCTION WITH PAGE 24 AND

ITEM 22C3. AND IS MR. BARRY AVAILABLE? >> I AM.

>> R. JACK CAGLE: MR. BARRY, THIS IS JACK KAY -- JACK CAGLE.

MY UNDERSTANDING IS THERE WILL BE A SIMILAR CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT THAT WILL BE PROVIDED FOR ALL OF THE PRECINCTS SINCE THIS IS COMING OUT OF THE GENERAL FUND AS OPPOSED TO OUT OF ANY PARTICULAR PRECINCT'S BUDGET. IS THAT CORRECT?

>> THAT'S CORRECT. MY UNDERSTANDING IS THE PRACTICE IS WHEN WE PROVIDE A GENERAL FUND ALLOCATION TO ONE PRECINCT WE PROVIDE THE SAME TO OTHERS.

WE WOULD BE HAPPY TO PROPOSE THAT NEXT TIME IF THIS ITEM GOES TODAY.

>> R. JACK CAGLE: ALL RIGHT. SO MY VOTE IN FAVOR OF THIS IS CONTINGENT UPON THAT BEING THE CASE FOR ALL OF US. I DON'T HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THAT REQUEST.

IN FACT, THE I.T. MAY CENTER WAS FOR A TIME A BEAUTIFUL JEWEL IN PRECINCT 4, AND IT IS STILL A BEAUTIFUL JEWEL, BUT NOW IT IS RESIDING IN PRECINCT 2, AND SO I'M GLAD THAT IT IS RECEIVING THE HELP THAT IT NEEDS. THERE ARE OTHER ASPECTS IN PRECINCT 4 THAT REMAIN AND NEED A LITTLE HELP. IF WE ARE GOING TO TAKE THAT OUT OF THE GENERAL FUND, AS LONG AS WE WILL DO THAT ALSO FOR OTHER ASSETS THAT ARE IN THE OTHER THREE PRECINCTS, THEN I'M IN FAVOR OF THE PROCESS.

>> RODNEY ELLIS: JUDGE, MR. SOARD IS POSSIBLE THAT THERE IS SOMETHING BROAD

ENOUGH AND GIVE 580 TO EACH OF THE PRECINCTS ? >> I HAVE TO ASK DAVID BARRY ABOUT THAT WHETHER WEATHER -- WHETHER IT IS COMER THAT WILL PAPER OR YOU ARE SELLING 580,000 EACH. THAT'S UP TO BUDGET MANAGEMENT.

>> R. JACK CAGLE: IT IS COMMERCIAL PAPER HERE. IN ITEM 24 I THINK IT IS A LITTLE BROADER AND MAYBE WE CAN EXPAND 24 TO ALL PRECINCTS.

>> FROM A LEGAL VIEW POINT, I'M FINE WITH THAT. WITH EXPANDING IT TO COVER ALL OF THE PRECINCTS. I JUST DON'T KNOW THE MECHANISMS OR WHAT HAPPENS

[03:10:02]

WITH BUDGET MANAGEMENT WITH THAT. >> RODNEY ELLIS: MAYBE, JUDGE -- COMMISSIONER GARCIA, IS IT ALL RIGHT WITH YOU IF WE JUST ALLOCATE 580 TO EACH ONE? HOWEVER BUDGET MANAGEMENT THINKS IT IS MOST FINANCIALLY

RESPONSIBLE. >> ADRIAN GARCIA: I AM NOT GOING TO MAKE THAT MOTION ONLY FROM THE STANDPOINT IS -- THE ONLY REASON THIS IS ON THE AGENDA IS BECAUSE THIS CAN HELP A BUNCH OF HOMES AND THE I.T. MAY CENTER WOULD HAVE BEEN ABLE TO OPEN IF NOT FOR DOING THIS EMERGENCY WORK. I WOULD JUST SAY THAT HOWEVER YOU GUYS WHAT -- WANT TO DEAL WITH THE 580 FOR ALL YOUR PRECINCTS, THAT'S UP TO YOU ALL.

I WILL BE VOTING IN FAVOR OF THIS JUST BECAUSE -- NOT FOR THIS THING FAILING, THIS WILL BE ON -- THIS HAS TO BE PAID OR THE CENTER AND THE COMMUNITY ARE HAMPERED BY THIS.

IT WAS A MAJOR PROBLEM. >> RODNEY ELLIS: I AM FOR IT. I HAD A COUPLE THAT FAILED AND I HAD TO TAKE IT OUT OF MY BUDGET. IT MAY HELP ME TO BE PREPARED FOR THE NEXT ONE. IF YOU WOULD, I WOULD JUST OFFER A FRIENDLY AMENDMENT, JUDGE, IF WE TAKE THEM BOTH TOGETHER, AND I WOULD JUST -- IT MIGHT MAKE IT MORE COMFORTABLE FOR EVERYBODY, COMMISSIONER, YOU MOVE YOURS AND I SECOND IT WITH A FRIENDLY AMENDMENT THAT EACH OF THE PRECINCTS GET 580 TO DO A PROJECT.

>> AND THIS IS DAVID BARRY SPEAKING. I PREFER THAT WE JUST PROVIDE A $ 580,000 TO EACH PRECINCT RATHER THAN SPECIFYING THE FINANCING SOURCE AND AS THE NEED COMES UP, WE WILL WORK WITH THE PRECINCTS TO FIND THE RIGHT FINANCING SOURCE.

I DON'T WANT TO BOX OURSELVES IN WITHOUT KNOWING WHAT THE OTHERS ARE.

>> RODNEY ELLIS: COMMISSIONER, YOU MOVE IT AND I SECOND IT. >> ADRIAN GARCIA: SO MOVED.

>> RODNEY ELLIS: SECOND. >> LINA HIDALGO: THERE IS A MOTION AND A SECOND.

JAMES, ARE YOU GOOD WITH THE MOTION? >> NO, MA'AM.

CAN THAT BE REPEATED AND THE ACTUAL ITEM BE SPECIFIED CORRECTLY?

>> ADRIAN GARCIA: MOVING ON PAGE 7 UNDER BUDGET MANAGEMENT ITEM F1 AND WITH ITEM ON PAGE

24 UNDER PRECINCT 2 AND ITEM 3. >> RODNEY ELLIS: WITH 580,000 BEING GIVEN TO EACH OF THE PRECINCTS IN ADDITION TO 580 GIVEN TO PRECINCT 2 FROM THE

GENERAL FUND. MR. BARRY, IS THAT RIGHT? >> ADRIAN GARCIA: I THOUGHT

YOU WANTED TO HOLD OFF ON THE FUNDING SOURCE. >> I DO.

RIGHT. I WOULD SAY A TRANSFER FROM THE GENERAL FUND.

BUT NOT BE SPECIFIC AS TO THE FUNDING SOURCE WHETHER IT IS COMMERCIAL.

>> ADRIAN GARCIA: GOTCHA. SO MOVED. >> RODNEY ELLIS: SECOND.

>> LINA HIDALGO: ALL IN FAVOR OF THE MOTION? >> I.

>> I. >> LINA HIDALGO: OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY.

SO THAT WAS BUDGET MANAGEMENT. >> ADRIAN GARCIA: I STILL HAVE ONE MORE ITEM UNDER ITEM G. MR. BARRY, SINCE WE ARE ISSUING OUT -- WE KIND OF TOUCHED ON IT EARLIER, WE ARE ISSUING SEVERAL BONDS HERE AND SOME OF IT IS FOR FLOOD CONTROL DISTRICT. ROBERT, I REFER YOU BUT TRYING TO RAISE A QUESTION TO MR. BARRY IN FAVOR OF THE TAX RATE OPTIONS THAT WE HAVE BEFORE US WE HAVE A HEARING IN THE NEAR FUTURE, AND WE ARE WAITING FOR THE REPORTS TO COME IN FROM HCAT FOR MR. BARRY TO EVALUATE. WITH ALL OF THE WORK BEING DONE AND I THINK COMMISSIONER ELLIS ELUDED TO THIS EARLIER, WHAT IS GOING TO BE THE OBLIGATION TO THE FLOOD CONTROL DISTRICT IN TERMS OF O AND -- ONM IN THE NEAR FUTURE? AND I THINK ONE OPTION IS TO QUICK TRIGGER A $10 MILLION SHORT FALL.

WHAT IS THE IMPACT TO FLOOD CONTROL DISTRICT, AND WHAT WILL BE THE ABILITY TO

[03:15:02]

>> I LET RUSS RESPOND TO ANY SPECIFIC QUESTIONS ON THE MEANS.

BUT I CAN TELL YOU IN TERMS OF THE DOLLARS WE ARE ISSUING NEW BONDS AND THESE ARE TAKEOUT FOR COMMERCIAL. THE MONEY HAS BEEN SPENT. THERE WILL BE DEBT SERVICE OBLIGATIONS WITH RESPECT TO THE BONDS GOING FORWARD. TAX RATES WILL HAVE TO BE VOTED ON OR THE MAINTENANCE AND OPERATION FUNDING FOR FLOOD CONTROL WOULD BE SQUEEZED IF THE REVENUES ARE FLAT AND THE COSTS GO UP, THEN THE MAINTENANCE AND THE OPERATIONS COSTS WOULD BE SQUEEZED. THERE IS AN EFFECT THAT IF WE ISSUE BONDS AND THAT CREATES THE SERVICE SERVICE OBLIGATION THAT IT EATS UP TAX REVENUE UNLESS THERE IS NEW TAX REVENUE BECAUSE THERE IS A LIMITED QUANTUM OF DOLLARS AND

OPERATIONAL FUNDING THAT FLOOD CONTROL WOULD GO DOWN. >> ADRIAN GARCIA: RUSS, IF ARE YOU ON THE LINE, WOULD YOU -- DO YOU CONQUER WITH MR. BARRY'S THOUGHTS ON THIS?

>> I DO COMMISSIONER. THIS IS RUSS. DEPEND DEPENDING ON THE SCENARIO PLAYED OUT IF WE HAVE LESS ONM FUNDING WE HAVE TO MAKE SOME HARD DECISIONS NEXT

FISCAL YEAR. >> ADRIAN GARCIA: THANK YOU, JUDGE.

>> LINA HIDALGO: THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER. I THINK WE ARE DOING WELL ON THE AGENDA. I KNOW, RUSS, AND ALL OF US HAVE TO GO BACK TO PLAN FOR THE STORM. HOPEFULLY WE CAN GET THROUGH THIS.

YES, COMMISSIONER? >> STEVE RADACK: LET ME ASK. MR. BARRY --

>> YES, SIR? >> STEVE RADACK: STEVE RADACK. I HOPE THAT YOU TAKE A CAREFUL LOOK AT THIS DISCUSS WE HAD UNDER ENGINEERING ABOUT THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE COUNTY BUILDINGS BECAUSE OBVIOUSLY YOU WILL BE INVOLVED IN THE BUDGETING FOR THAT AND SEE WHAT YOU THINK FROM A BUDGET STANDPOINT AS TO WHAT IS THE BEST THING FINANCIALLY FOR THE

COUNTY TO DO, IF YOU DON'T MIND. >> I WOULD BE HAPPY TO DO THAT. STEVE DISEEF

>> STEVE RADACK: AND ALSO, WE HAVE ALL HERE IN BUDGET MANAGEMENT, A NUMBER OF THINGS ABOUT BONDS. I WANTED TO ASK YOU THIS QUESTION.

I IMAGINE AS YOU PROBABLY HAVE TAKEN -- SINCE YOU HAVE TAKEN THE POSITION, BUDGET DIRECTOR -- BUDGET MANAGEMENT, THAT YOU WOULD -- I WOULD IMAGINE THAT TALKING TO THESE

RATING AGENCIES, ARE YOU NOT? >> THAT'S CORRECT. SPOKE TO THEM SEVERAL TIMES IN

THE LAST FEW WEEKS. >> STEVE RADACK: I'M SORRY, WHAT?

>> THAT'S RIGHT. MY TEAM AND I HAVE SPOKEN TO THEM SEVERAL TIMES IN THE LAST

FEW WEEKS. >> STEVE RADACK: OKAY. WELL, PART OF WHAT I WAS BRINGING UP TODAY, YOU KNOW RNTION -- YOU KNOW, IT CONCERNS ME SPENDING, HOW MUCH WE ARE SPENDING AND THAT'S WHY -- I HOPE YOU ARE BECAUSE I THINK IT IS VERY IMPORTANT THAT WE KNOW WHAT THEIR FEELINGS ARE ABOUT SOME OF THE THINGS THAT ARE GOING ON IN

HARRIS COUNTY. THANK YOU. >> AND I WOULD NOTE THAT SINCE IT WAS REAFFIRMED, THEIR TRIPLE-A RATING FOR HARRIS COUNTY SO WE ARE DOING WELL THERE. THEY DO EXPECT US TO HAVE SPENDING LIMITS AND CLEARLY COMMUNICATE THEM. I ALWAYS TRY TO DO THAT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE MAINTAIN OUR

READY. >> STEVE RADACK: THANK YOU VERY MUCH, SIR.

APPRECIATE IT. >> LINA HIDALGO: THANK YOU. SO THAT WAS BUDGET MANAGEMENT. NEXT IS IGA. COMMISSIONER COURT'S ANALYST

OFFICE. LUCINDA -- >> RODNEY ELLIS: JUDGE ON THE

REPORT -- I'M SORRY. JUDGE. >> LINA HIDALGO: GO AHEAD.

>> RODNEY ELLIS: 6B WITH REGARD TO SALVAGE YARDS I WANT TO MAKE A MOTION ON THAT, A RECOMMENDATION. I READ IT. THE MOTION IS I MOVE TO REFER THE HARRIS COUNTY ATLAS YARD RECOMMENDATION TO THE COUNTY ENGINEERING HARRIS COUNTY PUBLIC POLLUTION CONTROL SERVICES AND HARRIS COUNTY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE FOR I'M PLAW -- FOR IMPLEMENTATION BY AMENDING THE COORDINATES OF HARRIS COUNTY, TEXAS REQUIRING LICENSING AND JUNKYARD AND AUTOMOTIVE SALVAGE YARDS. MY STAFF WORKED WITH THE COUNTY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE ON THIS LANGUAGE. IT WILL COME BACK TO US, BUT I WANTED TO SEND IT TO THEM SO THEY CAN SEND IT BACK WITH SOME LANGE -- LANGUAGE TO

[03:20:06]

THAT OKAY? >> LINA HIDALGO: ARE YOU GOOD?

>> I'M OKAY. >> RODNEY ELLIS: WE ALSO SENT IT TO YOU, JAMES.

>> R. JACK CAGLE: MR. SOARD, DO WE HAVE -- >> STEVE RADACK: MR. SOARD, DO

WE HAVE THE LAW THAT ALLOWS US TO DO THAT? >> I THINK SO.

ALL WE ARE DOING IS LOOKING AT IT AND BRINGING SOMETHING BACK.

>> STEVE RADACK: THANK YOU. >> RODNEY ELLIS: MR. SOARD, I DON'T HAVE THE MEMO IN FRONT OF ME, BUT I THINK IT IS MONTGOMERY COUNTY. I THINK IT IS MONTGOMERY

COUNTY AND THEY DO HAVE ONE. >> YES, SIR. >> RODNEY ELLIS: AND THEY HAVE

AMENDED IT. >> YES, SIR, THERE ARE A COUPLE OF COUNTY THAT'S HAVE

DONE THAT. YOU ARE CORRECT. >> RODNEY ELLIS: THANK YOU.

>> JUDGE, WE DO HAVE A SPEAKER. >> LINA HIDALGO: ALL RIGHT.

LET'S HEAR FROM THE SPEAKER. >> RENAUTA MOSS. GO AHEAD, PLEASE.

>> GOOD AFTERNOON, JUDGE HIDALGO AND COMMISSIONER ELLIS AND GARCIA AND RADACK AND CAGLE. MY NAME IS RANAUTA MOSS AND I AM AN EMPLOYEE IN THE COUNTY ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT. I JUST WANTED TO EXPRESS ACCORD OF THE RACIAL INEQUITY REPORT BY THE ANALYST OFFICE AND HOPE TO SEE SOME OF THE MEASURES IMPLEMENTED IN HARRIS COUNTY. THE SUBJECT REPORT SPEAKS OF MEASURES OFTEN IMPLEMENTED TO ELIMINATE UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES FROM PAST ACTION.

THE INEQUITY MYSELF AND OTHERS EXPERIENCED ARE INTENTIONAL AND USED AS TOOLS FOR PLANNED CONSEQUENCES. A REVIEW OF THE COUNTY SUCH AS THE REIA WILL REVEAL INEQUITIES AND SALARIES FOR BLACKS AND LESS QUALIFIED IN EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE AND PROFESSIONAL LICENSING. THE RACIAL EQUITY ASSESSMENT EFFORT IS ENCOURAGING BECAUSE CONTINUING TO ALLOW ADVERSE BEHAVIOR THAT MISTREATS A GROUP OF PEOPLE TO CONTINUE ESPECIALLY ONCE IT IS MADE PUBLIC KNOWLEDGE AND JUST AS OFTEN AS THE EQUITY ASSESSMENT FOUND THE DATA TO SUPPORT THESE STATEMENTS IS AVAILABLE THROUGH THE HUMAN RESOURCES DEPARTMENT. SO THAT'S MY CONTRIBUTION TO GETTING IN TO [INAUDIBLE].

>> RODNEY ELLIS: I DID ASK THE ANALYST OFFICE AND I MENTIONED EARLIER AND SHE MAY NOT HAVE HEARD IT. I DIDN'T WANT TO TIE US UP TODAY BECAUSE WE HAVE TO DEAL WITH THE STORM. I PLAN TO PULL OUT OF THE RECOMMENDATION THAT THE GOVERNMENT ALLIANCE ON RACE AND EBBING -- EQUITY CARE IS A NATIONAL GOVERNMENT FOR OPPORTUNITIES. I AM GOING TO ASK THE COURT TO RETAIN THEM TO COME IN AND COME UP WITH A PLAN FOR US. I JUST CAN'T DECIDE IF IT MAKES SENSE TO WAIT UNTIL WE GET THE EQUITY OFFICE AT SOME POINT SET UP. I DO THINK AS THE DISPARITY STUDY SHOWS WE HAVE WORK TO DO AND I SUSPECT WE LOOK AT OUR DEPARTMENTS.

WE HAVE WORK TO DO THERE. THANK YOU. >> LINA HIDALGO: COMMISSIONER, YOU HAD A MOTION ON THE SALVAGE YARDS. I DON'T KNOW THAT WE VOTED ON IT. COMMISSIONER ELLIS AND SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER

GARCIA. ALL IN FAVOR? >> I.

>> LINA HIDALGO: I DON'T KNOW IF COMMISSIONER -- WE MAY HAVE LOST COMMISSIONER CAGLE AND COMMISSIONER RADACK THERE FOR A SECOND. I VOTE IN FAVOR OF THE MOTION AS WELL. FOR NOW, JAMES, IT CARRIES AND THEN WE CAN RECORD THEIR VOTE

LATER AS WELL. >> R. JACK CAGLE: I'M SORRY, JUDGE.

IT CUT OUT FOR A SECOND THERE. WHAT IS THE MOTION?

>> LINA HIDALGO: COMMISSIONER ELLIS? >> RODNEY ELLIS: I MADE A MOTION AND MOVE TO REFER THE HARRIS COUNTY ANALYST OFFICE SALVAGE YARD LICENSING RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE COUNTY ENGINEERING, COUNTY POLLUTION CONTROL SERVICES AND HARRIS COUNTY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE THE IMPLEMENTATION BY AMENDING THE ORDINANCE OF HARRIS COUNTY, TEXAS REGARDING LICENSING OF JUNKYARDS AND AUTOMOTIVE WRECKING AND SALVAGE YARDS.

WHEN IT COMES BACK FROM THEM, IT WILL BE A PROPOSAL THAT WE INCREASE OUR STANDARDS, WE MAKE THEM MORE STRINGENT TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT THE JUNKYARDS.

>> R. JACK CAGLE: FOR CLARIFICATION, BASED ON WHAT THE COUNTY ATTORNEY SAID EARLIER, WE ARE VOTING TO SEND THEM OVER. WE WILL HAVE ANOTHER CHANCE TO

[03:25:02]

IS THAT FAIR? RECOMMENDATIONS IN THE REPORT, BUT THAT WAS COMING FROM THE ANALYST OFFICE. SEVERAL COUNTIES HAVE ORDINANCES THAT ARE STRONGER THAN OURS. WHEN IT COMES BACK I'M HOPING THEY WILL RECOMMEND MORE

STRINGENT REQUIREMENTS ON THESE SALVAGE YARDS. >> R. JACK CAGLE: I DO WANT TO HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY -- I DO WANT TO HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO LOOK AT THE FINAL

RECOMMENDATIONS. >> RODNEY ELLIS: SURE. >> R. JACK CAGLE: AND HAVE PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT ON THAT. THAT BEING THE CASE I AM IN FAVOR.

>> RODNEY ELLIS: THANK YOU. STEVE I'M

>> STEVE RADACK: I'M ALSO AN I. >> LINA HIDALGO: MOTION CARRIES. THE OTHER ITEM, COMMISSIONER ELLIS, IS NO ACTION ON THAT ONE, CORRECT? THE OTHER UNDER THE ANALYST OFFICE?

>> RODNEY ELLIS: YES, MA'AM. >> LINA HIDALGO: UNIVERSAL SERVICES.

>> ADRIAN GARCIA: JUDGE I HAVE SOMETHING UNDER UN-- UNIVERSAL SERVICES -- I'LL WAIT ON THAT.

>> LINA HIDALGO: COMMUNITY SERVICES. COUNTY LIBRARY.

YOUTH AND FAMILY SERVICES. CONSTABLES. SHERIFF.

I HAVE A NOTE ON ITEM 12C THAT THE SHERIFF HAS REQUESTED NO ACTION BE TAKEN.

>> JUDGE, ALL OF THE SPEAKERS CANCELED AT THEIR REQUEST. >> LINA HIDALGO: OKAY.

COUNTY CLERK. COUNTY ATTORNEY. >> I'M SORRY, JUDGE.

WE DO HAVE A SPEAKER ON 13C AND D. >> LINA HIDALGO: ALL RIGHT.

THOSE ARE THE COUNTY CLERK ITEMS. LET'S HAVE THE SPEAKER.

>> THANK YOU. MATTHEW MALEALE SPEAKING ON TWO ITEMS, 13C AND 13D.

>> YES, HELLO. THIS IS MATTHEW MALEELE. I WAS CALLING IN RESPECT TO THE UPCOMING ELECTIONS AND WHAT THE COUNTY CLERK IS LOOKING TO PURSUE.

I AM ALL IN FAVOR OF EVERYTHING THAT WILL ENSURE A SAFE ELECTION AND ALL VOTES COUNTED. I JUST WANTED TO SAY THE FOLLOWING.

TO BE CLEAR I WANT 100% OF ALL VOTES FROM CITIZENS OVER THE AGE TO BE COUNTED AND ENCOURAGED AND TO BE ABLE TO PARTICIPATE. THE HONEST TO GOD TRUTH IS WE HEARD PRESIDENT TRUMP RECENTLY SAY THAT HE IS GOING TO SEND LAW ENFORCEMENT ON ELECTION DAY INTO POLLING AREAS TO DISCOURAGE PEOPLE FROM TURNING OUT.

MY UNDERSTANDING IS THE POSTMASTER GENERAL HAS SPECIFICALLY REMOVED SORTING MACHINES, AND THERE WAS A HUGE ARTICLE ABOUT THIS IN DALLAS AND OF COURSE IN PHILADELPHIA AND CLEVELAND AND DETROIT AND EVERY OTHER PLACE THAT, OF COURSE, IS GOING TO BE A VERY COMPETITIVE STATE FOR WHICH THERE ARE LARGE MINORITY POPULATIONS.

I SIMPLY WANTED TO SAY THAT WE CAN'T ALLOW ANYTHING LIKE THAT TO HAPPEN IN HARRIS COUNTY.

I ACTUALLY THINK IT IS APPROPRIATE AS MUCH AS I HATE TO SAY THIS FOR THE COUNTY CLERK TO BE INSTRUCTED TO FRANKLY HOLD -- I GUESS PUT IN PROVISIONAL STATUS ANYONE WHO IS -- ANYONE WHOSE BALLOT WHO HAS VOTED IN A REPUBLICAN PRIMARY IN THE PAST, NOT TO BE DISCOUNTED, BUT IF THERE ARE ANY SHAW FAN AGAINS IN -- SHENNANIANS IN ANY OF THESE PLACES I DON'T THINK IT IS FAIR FOR THESE PEOPLE'S VOTES TO BE COUNTED.

IT IS CLEARLY OBVIOUS BETWEEN THE POSTMASTER GENERAL AND WHAT TRUMP SAYS AND 50,000 LAW ENFORCEMENT THEY WANT TO SEND TO THE MINORITY NEIGHBORHOODS THEY WILL TRY TO STEAL THE VOTE. I THINK WE HAVE A COUNTY CLERK THAT IS A DEMOCRAT AND I THINK WE SHOULD BE PARTISAN TO NOT THROW AWAY ANYONE'S VOTES, BUT IT SHOULD NOT BE PERMITTED TO COUNT IF IT IS CLEARLY OBVIOUS SUCH SHENNANIGNS HAPPEN AND IT IS TOO LATE FOR VOTES TO COUNT WHEN THEY HAVE SLOWED THE MAIL SO TERRIBLY ELSEWHERE OR THEY HAVE DISSUADED PEOPLE BY SENDING IN LAW ENFORCEMENT THAT WILL FIGHT OR SUPPRESS THE VOTE.

THAT'S SOMETHING THAT SHOULD BE CONSIDERED BECAUSE WE HAVE DEMOCRATS IN THE COUNTY CLERK POSITION HERE AND IN DALLAS COUNTY. I WANT YOU TO BE AWARE OF THAT AND TO CONSIDER SOMETHING AND THAT WE CAN USE WHATEVER LEVERAGE WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE EVERY VOTE IS COUNTED OR SOMETHING ELSE IS DONE. THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU, SIR. THOSE ARE ALL THE SPEAKERS, JUDGE.

>> LINA HIDALGO: THANK YOU, LUCINDA. SO WE ARE ON TO COUNTY

ATTORNEY. >> R. JACK CAGLE: JUDGE I WANT TO BE ON THE RECORD NOW THAT WHERE WE ARE APPROVING THE BLACK SHEEP AGENCY I VOTE NO ON ITEM D.

JUST TO BE CONSISTENT ON PRIOR OBJECTIONS I DON'T HAVE TO URGE THOSE.

[03:30:02]

>> RODNEY ELLIS: SHOULD I MOVE IT NOW, JUDGE? >> LINA HIDALGO: SURE.

>> RODNEY ELLIS: I MOVE ADOPTION OF IT. >> LINA HIDALGO: OF ITEM --

>> RODNEY ELLIS: ITEM D. >> LINA HIDALGO: IS THERE A SECOND?

>> ADRIAN GARCIA: SECOND. >> LINA HIDALGO: ALL THOSE IN FAVOR?

>> I. >> I. >> LINA HIDALGO: OPPOSED?

>> I'M NO. >> LINA HIDALGO: I'M FOR IT AND MOTION CARRIES.

DISTRICT ATTORNEY. PUBLIC DEFENDER. >> I'M SORRY, JUDGE.

YOU MOVED FAST ON ME. WE DO HAVE SPEAKERS ON 14C. >> LINA HIDALGO: OKAY.

LET'S GO AHEAD AND HEAR THE SPEAKERS ON 14C UNDER COUNTY ATTORNEY.

>> YES, MA'AM. GARY BROWN WITH ROLLING GREEN HUB -- SUBDIVISION HOA.

GO AHEAD, PLEASE. >> HONORABLE HARRIS COUNTY JUDGE AND COMMISSIONERS, MY NAME IS GARY BROWN AND I AM A LICENSED TEXAS PROFESSIONAL ENGINEER.

I LIVE AT 3623 SHADOW TRAIL IN HARRIS COUNTY. I HAVE APPEARED THREE TIMES IN THE PAST BEFORE THE COMMISSIONER'S COURT ON THE GREENHOUSE ROAD LANDFILL.

THE LANDFILL IMPACTS 10,000 PEOPLE IN FIVE SCHOOLS WITHIN ONE MILE.

THE LANDFALL -- LANDFILL IS ON 599A THAT WAS APPROVED IN NOVEMBER AND MODIFIED.

THE LANDFILL LETTER TO THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF TCEQ AT THAT TIME PROMISED TO CONTROL RUN ON AND RUNOFF STORM WATER BACK IN AUGUST OF 2000. THE MOST RECENT ILLEGAL RUNOFF WAS ON JUNE 25TH OF THIS YEAR IN A SEVEN-INCH RAINFALL THAT CLOSED GREENHOUSE ROAD AND CHALMES ROAD. IT WAS ALL OVER CHANNEL 2. THE LANDFILL WAS ONLY AUTHORIZED TO DRAIN THE STORM WATER AT THE HARRIS COUNTY DITCH U101-1.

ON MARCH 18TH, 2018 JONATHON SAINT ROMAN WITH HARRIS COUNTY FLOOD CONTROL AND HIS PRESENTATION TO EVALUATE THE FLOOD RISK OF CREEK AND GREENHOUSE ROAD STATE OWED SLIDE 17 -- STATE ON SLIDE 17 RESULTED IN SHALLOW AND OVERLAND FLOW FLOODING. SLIDE 19 SHOWS THE DISPUTE EAST OF THE INTERSECTION THAT FLOOD FREQUENTLY AND THE RAINFALL EVENTS OF 9 INCHES OF -- OR LESS.

WATER BACKS UP TO U-101 WHICH MAKES STORM WATER FROM THE LANDFILL BACK UP TO SUBDIVISIONS. IT WAS 80% FULL ON JUNE 25TH.

I WOULD LIKE TO -- I DON'T WANT TO ENVISION BY THE YEAR 2053 DOWN THE ROAD WITH THE GROWTH FACTOR THAT'S HAPPENING IN THIS AREA OF HARRIS COUNTY.

BY THE WAY, I RECOGNIZE THAT WE HAVE CLEANED UP THE CREEK GOING NORTHWEST SOMEWHAT, BUT THAT DOESN'T CLEAN OUT COLIN PARK OR THE REST GOING THAT WAY.

I KNOW YOU HAVE ALL EXPERIENCED AS I HAVE THE TOILET BACKING UP AND THE WATER HAS NO PLACE TO GO. NOW AFTER 20 YEARS THE LANDFILL IS PROPOSED TO CONSTRUCT A STORM WATER RUNOFF DRAINAGE SYSTEM WITH A NEW SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT TO BE APPROVED BY PECQ. IN ORDER TO APPROVE THIS DE SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT YOU ARING LOOING AT, THE PARTIES IN MY PREDICTION WILL BE IN COURT AGAIN.

THE CURRENT COURT CASE 582 -- AND THE RESIDUAL -- >>

>> LINA HIDALGO: THANK YOU FOR CALLING. I'M AFRAID I HAVE TO STOP YOU AT TIME. THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENTS. DO WE HAVE ANY OTHER SPEAKERS

? >> YES, MA'AM. JASON GOODRICH WITH BAKER

RIPLEY. >> THANK YOU, JUDGE HIDALGO AND COMMISSIONERS.

THANK YOU FOR HEARING ME TODAY. THE GREENHOUSE ROAD LANDFILL IS A HEALTH, SAFETY AND ECONOMIC CATASTROPHE IN THE MAKING FOR MORE THAN 10,000 RESIDENTS AND BUSINESSES IN PRECINCT 3. THE SETTLEMENT DOES NOT SERVE THE BEST INTERESTS OF MY COMMUNITY AND IT SHOULD BE REJECTED ALONG WITH THE PERMANENT SEEKING VERTICAL AND HORIZONTAL EXPANSION OF THE CURRENT OPERATION.

AS A NEW RESIDENT OF BARKER'S RIDGE, I RECENTLY LEARNED ABOUT THE EXPANSION PERMITTAL -- PERMIT APPLICATION AND JUMPED IN TO STOP.

IT I TALKED WITH MY NEIGHBORS AND READ ENOUGH ABOUT THE DECADE'S LONG FIGHT AGAINST

[03:35:02]

SINCE GETTING INVOLVED I LEARNED THE LANDFILL OWNER HAS NOT MADE GOOD ON PREVIOUS SETTLEMENT AGREEMENTS IN 2000 AND 1994 AND NO NEW AGREEMENT SHOULD BE CONSIDERED UNTIL HE OWNS UP TO HIS PREVIOUS ONLY -- OBLIGATIONS. ADDITIONALLY I AND OTHER PARTIES ARE IN MEDIATION WITH THE LANDFILL OWNER AND WOULD INTERFERE WITH OUR DUE PROCESS RIGHTS AND APPLICATION PROCESS. THE OVER ARCHING REASON YOU NOS -- MUST NOT APPROVE THE SETTLEMENT IS ANY LANDFILL EXPANSION WOULD AFFECT NEIGHBORHOODS AND BUSINESSES UP AND DOWN STREET DURING MODERATE RAIN EVENTS.

APPROVAL OF THE SETTLEMENT AND EVEN SINCE HURRICANE HARVEY WHEN THE FLOODWATERS SWAMPED HOMES WE WITNESSED INCREASED FLOODING ON GREENHOUSE ROAD A TIDAL WAVE OF RUNOFF FROM THE SITE TO MY NEIGHBORHOOD STREETS AND IN FULL RESERVOIRS FOLLOWING YOUR TYPICAL TEXAS THUNDERSTORM. THE 2018 HARRIS COUNTY STUDY MR. GREEN CITED -- MR. BRUEN CITED -- MR. BROWN CITED SHOWS IT CANNOT HANDLE ANY INCREASE IN RUNOFF VOLUME WHICH AN EXPANSION GUARANTEES. THIS CAN BE PARTIALLY ATTRIBUTED TO NEAR COMPLETE AND NEARING RESIDENTIAL AND COMER -- COMMERCIAL DEVELOPMENT IN THE AREA, SOMETHING THAT WAS NOT QUICKLY CONSIDERED BY YOUR PRESENTED -- PRESENTED -- PREDECESSOR WHEN'S THEY APPROVED THE SITE FOUR YEARS AGO.

THE LANDFILL IS NOW OUT OF PLACE AND NOT COMPATIBLE IN THE THRIVING, DIVERSE COMMUNITY THE AREA HAS BECOME. WE WANT TO KEEP THINGS THIS WAY THE ONLY RESPONSIBLE USE IS FOR WATER RETENTION. Y -- CONVERSELY SIGNING YOUR NAMES TO EXPANSION WOULD ENDANGER THE LIVES OF THOUSANDS OF HARRIS RESIDENTS IN PERSON FEW TEE -- PER PAW -- PER PAW FEW TEE. WHERE I GREW UP THEY RALLIED TO SAVE THEMSELVES BY CONVERTING A GOLF COURSE SLATED FOR DEVELOPMENT TO A GREEN SPACE WITH STORM WATER HOLDING CAPACITY. A MOVE THAT WILL ENSURE THE AREA'S APPEAL AND ECONOMIC VITALITY FOR GENERATIONS. I WANT YOU TO ENVISION A SIMILAR POSITIVE OUTCOME FOR MY NEW COMMUNITY WHICH I DEARLY VOTE AND VOTE NO ON THE

PROPOSED SETTLEMENT. >> JOHN GREEN. GO AHEAD, PLEASE.

>> MY NAME IS JOHN GREEN. FOR 23 YEARS I LIVED IN BARKER'S RIDGE SUBDIVISION THAT JOINS THE GREENHOUSE ROAD LANDFILL. WE RECOGNIZED THE PARTY CONTESTED HERE AND IN EVALUATING THE PERMIT APPLICATION BY GREENHOUSE ROAD LANDFILL TO EXPAND THE LANDFILL. I UH PROSED THE APPROVAL OF THE -- I APPROVED THE SETTLEMENT. ARE YOU BEING ASKED TO APPROVE THE AGREEMENT WITH THE PARTY THAT HAS NOT PROPOSED THE PREVIOUS OBLIGATIONS TO HARRIS COUNTY IN A 2007 SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT ESSENTIALLY ON THE SAME TOPIC.

FOR 20 YEARS THE COMMUNITY HAS HAD A BAD NEIGHBOR LONE STAR LEGAL AID AND THE DEPUTY ATTORNEY READILY ADMIT. THE DEPUTY ATTORNEY IS NOT ABLE TO REPRESENT THE LANDFILL IS IN COMPLIANCE OR WILL BE IN THE FUTURE. THE OWNER HAS PUBLICLY STATED THAT HE DOES NOT INTEND TO DO WHAT HE AGREED TO DO UNLESS HE GETS THE NEW PERMIT.

THIS IS DOCUMENTED IN THE TECQ RECORDS OF THE PUBLIC HEARING OF MARCH 28TH, 2019.

THE CURRENT SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT INCLUDES DRAINAGE ISSUES AND ATTESTED TO IN THE REPORT THEY REFERENCED. THE AGREEMENT IS NOT VOID TO THE PROPOSED LANDFILL OPERATION, BUT THERE IS A SUBSTANTIAL RISK OF INCREASED AREA FLOODING UNLESS CERTAIN MEASURES NOT INCLUDED IN THE SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT ARE ADDRESS -- ADDRESSED.

NOW IS NOT THE TIME TO BE POTENTIALLY ADDING TO OUR FLOODING PROBLEMS. FINALLY, YOUR APPROVAL TODAY WILL SERIOUSLY INTERRUPT MY DUE PROCESS RIGHTS AND THOSE OF OTHER AFFECTED PARTIES IN THE PERMIT APPLICATION PROCESS.

WE ARE DUE TO BEGIN MEDIATION THIS WEEK. APPROVAL OF THE AGREEMENT BY HARRIS COUNTY UNDERMINDS THE ABILITY TO EFFECTIVELY ENGAGE IN THE CONTESTED HEARING AND MEDIATION WITH THE LANDFILL. IN FACT, MYSELF AND OTHER AFFECTED PARTIES WERE NOT PRIVY TO THE FACT THAT THERE WERE SETTLEMENT NEGOTIATIONS TAKING PLACE, AND WERE PROVIDED WITH A COPY OF THIS AGREEMENT ONLY LATE FRIDAY AFTERNOON.

I ASK THAT YOU TAKE NO ACTION OR REJECT THIS MATTER UNTIL THE COMPLETION OF THE TCEQ PROCESS IN MARCH OF 2021 OR AT LEAST SEPTEMBER 21ST, 2020 TO ALLOW THE MEDIATION TO

[03:40:06]

IN CLOSING, ONE HALLMARK OF THIS COMMISSIONER'S COURT AND THIS DECISION HAS BEEN LOOKING OUT FOR THE UNDER SERVED, THE DISADVANTAGED, THE UNREPRESENTED AND OPPRESSED VOICED -- VOICES. PLEASE DO NOT REVERSE THAT TREND NOW BY APPROVING THE SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT BEFORE WE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO FIGHT FOR OUR COMMUNITY'S RIGHTS FOR SAFETY -- SAFE, HEALTHY AND PROSPEROUS FUTURES. OVER 1,000 OF OUR CITIZENS HAVE ALREADY COMMENTED AND SIGNED PETITIONS AT THE PUBLIC HEARING.

>> THANK YOU. >> GIVE US A CHANCE TO BE HEARD.

>> JUDGE, THOSE ARE ALL OF THE SPEAKERS ON THIS ITEM. >> LINA HIDALGO: THANK YOU.

AND ROBERT, I'M SURE YOUR TEAM HAS SPOKEN WITH THESE FOLKS. I KNOW YOU GUYS ARE VERY AGGRESSIVE WHEN IT COMES TO ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES. WOULD YOU LIKE TO EXPLAIN

WHERE YOU ARE COMING FROM OR HAVE SARA? >> CERTAINLY.

I BELIEVE SARA IS ON THE PHONE AND SHE CAN EXPLAIN THE DETAILS.

THE CHALLENGE OF COURSE IS THAT THIS IS A SETTLEMENT IN A MANNER BEFORE THE TCEQ.

WE AS ATTORNEYS HAVE TO MAKE JUDGMENTS ON WHAT WE CAN GAIN THROUGH SETTLEMENT AND WHAT WE CAN GAIN BY CONTINUING TO FIGHT AND LET THE TCEQ OR SOA MAKE THE JUDGMENT AND OUR THOUGHT IS THIS IS THE BEST WE CAN GET CONSIDERING THE CURRENT CIRCUMSTANCES AND THE CURRENT TEXAS LAW. WE CAN GO TO EXECUTIVE SESSION IF YOU WANT TO GET INTO A LOT OF DETAIL. SARA IS ON THE LINE AND CAN MAYBE SPEAK MORE SPECIFICALLY

THAN I CAN. >> GOOD AFTERNOON, COMMISSIONERS AND JUDGE.

THIS IS SARA UTLEY. I HOPE YOU CAN ALL HEAR ME. WHAT ROBERT JUST BASICALLY LAID OUT IS KIND OF THE LAY OF THE LAND. THE PERMITS ARE VERY, VERY HARD TO CHALLENGE. THE DECK IS VERY MUCH STACKED AGAINST US.

ONCE TCEQ ISSUES A PERMIT RECOMMENDATION, THEY ARE BASICALLY PRESUMED TO MEET THE MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS AND WE HAVE TO SHOW WHERE THE PERMIT DOES NOT MEET THOSE MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS. THERE IS A LOT OF CONCERNS ABOUT THIS PARTICULAR PERMIT IN PARTICULAR ABOUT DRAINAGE. THE COUNTY HAS SPENT A LOT OF TIME OVER THE LAST THREE YEARS LOOKING AT THE PROPOSED DRAINAGE PLANS FOR EXPANSION UNDER THE TES -- TECQ RULES FOR FLOOD PLAIN MANAGEMENT. WHICH IS A MUCH HIGHER STANDARD THAN THE TCQ RULES.

ALL TCQ REQUIRES IS THAT YOU MANAGE A 25-YEAR EVENT AND WHEREAS OURS IS FOR THE HUNDRED-YEAR EVENT. WE ISSUED THOSE IN 2018 AFTER A LOT OF CHANGES TO THE PROPOSED PLANS. WITH REGARD TO WHO WAS PART OF SETTLEMENT NEGOTIATIONS, THERE WASN'T A PRELIMINARY HEARING TO WHERE THE PARTIES WERE SET AND WE WERE HAVING ON GOING DISCUSSIONS WITH THE COMPANY OF GREENHOUSE SINCE THE ORIGINAL APPLICATION WAS FILED. AND WE NOTED CONCERNS WITH THE ON GOING OPERATIONS OUT OF THE SITE. I DO TO THE BELIEVE THAT ANY OF THE REMAINING WILL BE BOUND BY OUR SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT, AND NOR IS IT SOMETHING SIGNED OFF BY THE TCQ.

WE JUST NO LONGER ARE A PARTY CHALLENGING THE PERMIT. >> STEVE RADACK: SARA, THIS IS

STEVE RADACK. >> YES, SIR. >> STEVE RADACK: DO THE CITIZENS AS A WHOLE IN THAT AREA AFFECTED WANT TO SETTLE THIS?

>> THE ONLY RESIDENTS I HAVE HAD DIRECT COMMUNICATION WITH ARE THE FIVE THAT HAVE HAD PARTY STATUS. I TELL YOU THAT I CHECKED YESTERDAY TO SEE IF A NUMBER OF IT INCREASED. THERE HAVE BEEN ABOUT A THOUSAND COMMENTS FILED BEFORE THE TCEQ. THAT'S PRETTY CLOSE. I HAVE NOT HAD CONVERSATIONS

WITH ANYBODY OTHER THAN THOSE THAT HAVE PARTY STATUS. >> STEVE RADACK: DO THEY WANT

TO SETTLE? >> THEY DO NOT. STEVE ARE YOU OF THE PIN THAT

THE PEOPLE -- >> STEVE RADACK: ARE YOU OF THE OPINION THAT THE PEOPLE IN

THAT AREA DO NOT WANT TO SETTLE? >> OF THE FIVE I TALKED TO WHO

HAVE PARTY STATUS THEY ARE NOT IN FAVOR OF SETTLING. >> STEVE RADACK: THEN I DON'T -- I REALLY DON'T FEEL LIKE RECOMMENDING A SET -- SETTLEMENT.

[03:45:08]

>> OKAY. >> LINA HIDALGO: COMMISSIONER ELLIS, YOU HAD A COMMENT?

>> RODNEY ELLIS: I THINK COMMISSIONER RADACK ASKED -- I WAS GOING TO ASK IF WE WERE GOING TO SETTLE IT, ONE OF THE SPEAKERS SAID THEY THOUGHT IT WOULD HAVE A NEGATIVE IMPACT ON WHAT THEY WERE DOING. I WAS DOING -- GOING TO SAY DO WE HAVE TO DO IT TODAY?

IF IT IS IN YOUR PRECINCT THOUGH. >> STEVE RADACK: SARA, I HOLD THIS FOR NOW. I LOOK AT IT THIS WAY. GREAT CITIZENS OF HARRIS COUNTY LIVE OUT THERE, AND I BELIEVE THEY HAVE PUT UP WITH THAT DUMP FOR MANY, MANY YEARS.

I MEAN, IT'S BEEN CONTROVERSIAL FOR -- HOW LONG DID YOU SAY, 40 YEARS?

>> I THINK IT WAS -- IT BEGAN OPERATIONS IN 1983. >> STEVE RADACK: SO FAR AS I'M

CONCERNED, Y'ALL HAVE QUITE A FILE ON THIS DUMP, DON'T YOU? >> WE HAVE INSPECTIONS GOING BACK -- A LOT OF INSPECTIONS BACK TO 2000, BUT ONLY A COUPLE OF VIOLATION NOTICES.

>> STEVE RADACK: OKAY. THE FACT REMAINS THAT THE PEOPLE THAT LIVE OUT THERE FEEL -- THEY ARE IN DANGER. THEY FEEL LIKE THEY ARE IN DANGER.

DO THEY NOT? >> THEY FEEL THAT WAY, YES. >> STEVE RADACK: DO YOU THINK

THEY ARE NOT IN DANGER? >> IF WE ARE GOING TO GET INTO THE UNDERLING FACTS I WOULD FEEL MORE COMFORTABLE SPEAKING FREELY. MAYBE WE CAN DO THIS IN

EXECUTIVE SESSION. >> STEVE RADACK: I KNOW YOU WORKED HARD ON THIS.

I AM GOING TO HOLD THIS FOR TWO WEEKS AND THEN LET Y'ALL TAKE A LOOK AT IT AND HAVE TIME TO COME BACK AND THEN WE WILL -- WE'LL SEE IF ANYTHING CHANGES IN THE NEXT 14 DAYS.

>> YES, SIR. >> STEVE RADACK: THANK YOU FOR YOUR HARD WORK ON IT.

>> LINA HIDALGO: SHARE -- SARA WOULD THIS IMPACT THE SETTLEMENT? MAYBE WE CAN DISCUSS IT IN EXECUTIVE SESSION. I WANT TO MAKE SURE IT IS THE BEST OUTCOME WE CAN GET FOR THE COMMUNITY. MAYBE WE OUGHT TO JUST DISCUSS

IT. >> STEVE RADACK: I AGREE WITH THAT.

I DON'T THINK WE NEED TO HAVE EXECUTIVE SESSION. I HOLD IT FOR TWO WEEKS --

>> LINA HIDALGO: I'M SAYING IF YOU HOLD IT WHAT WILL HAPPEN? THEY ARE MY CONSTITUENTS TOO.

I WOULD LIKE TO DISCUSS IT IN EXECUTIVE SESSION. >> STEVE RADACK: TODAY?

>> LINA HIDALGO: YES. I DON'T KNOW WHAT WILL HAPPEN -- WILL IT FALL APART?

I DON'T KNOW. >> STEVE RADACK: THAT'S FINE. >> LINA HIDALGO: AND IT LOOKS

LIKE SARA CAN'T ANSWER IT IN OPEN COURT. >> STEVE RADACK: NO PROBLEM.

WE'LL GO TO EXECUTIVE SESSION. >> LINA HIDALGO: SO THAT IS COUNTY ATTORNEY. NEXT IS DISTRICT ATTORNEY. PUBLIC DEFENDER.

JUSTICE ADMINISTRATION. DISTRICT COURTS. AID JUDGE, I'M SORRY.

I HAVE A QUESTION FOR JUSTICE ADMINISTRATION. DON'T KNOW IF MR. BIKEY IS ON. -- BITKEY. I WAS CURIOUS ABOUT THE STATUS

OF THE USE OF FORCE STUDY AND HOW THINGS ARE COMING ALONG. >> ACTUALLY JIM BETKEY IS NOT ON THE LINE. BUT ANNA IS ON THE LINE. ANNA, YOU ARE UNMUTED.

>> RODNEY ELLIS: HIS MOTHER WAS HAVING SURGERY TODAY. WE HAVE SOMEBODY ON THE LINE.

>> YES, GOOD AFTERNOON, EVERYBODY. THIS IS THE DIRECTOR FOR THE JUSTICE ADMINISTRATION DEPARTMENT. I BELIEVE THAT OUR DIRECTOR IS STILL IN COMMUNICATIONS WITH THE VARIOUS CRIMINAL JUSTICE PLAYER THAT'S ARE DEVELOPING AND LOOKING AT THEIR USE OF FORCE MODEL POLICIES. AS SOON AS HE GETS I REACH OUT TO HIM AND GET A STATUS ON THAT AND REACH OUT TO YOUR OFFICE AND GIVE YOU AN UPDATE

ON THAT. >> ADRIAN GARCIA: WONDERFUL. IF YOU WOULD, PLEASE, I JUST

WANT TO TRACK IT. >> DEFINITELY. >> ADRIAN GARCIA: THANK YOU.

>> LINA HIDALGO: THANK YOU. NEXT IS TRAVEL AND TRAINING. >> ADRIAN GARCIA: JUDGE?

>> LINA HIDALGO: YES. >> ADRIAN GARCIA: I SEE ON PAGE 12 UNDER TRAVEL AND TRAINING OUT OF TEXAS THAT UNIVERSAL SERVICES IS SENDING SOMEONE FOR WATER AND SWIFT WATER, FLOOD RESCUE TECHNICAL TRAINING AND CERTIFICATION COURSE.

YOU KNOW, I HAVE HAD CONVERSATIONS WITH BRUCE SYED ABOUT WHAT THE ROLE OF UNIVERSAL SERVICES IS. I CAN SEE DOWN HERE UNDER THE SHERIFF THAT HE IS SENDING 36

[03:50:02]

I HAVE CALLED MR. HYDE SEVERAL TIMES LAST WEEK AND GOT NO ANSWER.

>> YOU NEVER CALLED ME. >> ADRIAN GARCIA: YES, I HAVE, BRUCE.

>> SORRY, I HAVEN'T GOT THE CALL. >> ADRIAN GARCIA: I LEFT YOU A

VOICE MESSAGE. CHECK YOUR VOICE MESSAGE. >> SO, THE REASON FOR MY GUY TO GO IS SEAN WILLIAMS AND HE IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE COORDINATION OF EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS. HIS IS TO OBSERVE AND VISIT THE SITE BECAUSE IT IS A NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONALLY KNOWN FACILITY. AND IT IS TO HOPEFULLY WORK TOGETHER WITH THE AGENCIES TO COME BACK WITH A PLAN ON HOW WE CAN RECREATE THAT HERE.

IT IS HARD TO FIND ANY OF THESE FACILITIES IN THE STATE OF TEXAS MUCH LESS THE NATION WHERE THESE GUYS ARE GOING. THE MAIN THING THAT PEAKS THE INTEREST OF THESE FOLKS IS THAT IT IS A CONTROLLED WATER SOURCE THAT IS IN NATURAL ENVIRONMENTS.

HE WAS GOING TO HAVE A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF HOW WE CAN POSSIBLY PUT A PLAN TOGETHER

DOWN HERE SINCE WE HAVE SO MUCH NEED. >> ADRIAN GARCIA: AND THAT

REQUIRES A PERSON TO BE CERTIFIED? >> I'M SORRY.

I COULDN'T HEAR YOU. >> ADRIAN GARCIA: THAT REQUIRES THAT PERSON TO BE

CERTIFIED? >> NO, WE DON'T NEED THE CERTIFICATION OR THE TRAINING. HE IS GOING TO VISIT THE SITE.

>> ADRIAN GARCIA: OH YOU ARE PAYING -- YOU ARE PAYING $3,000 FOR CERTIFICATION AND

TRAINING. >> RIGHT. THE TRAINING ITSELF IS $950.

THE INDIVIDUAL HAS OFFERED TO TAKE THE TRAINING ON HIS OWN DIME.

IT IS TO BE FAMILIAR WITH IT. >> ADRIAN GARCIA: GOT IT. THANK YOU.

BRUCE, IS YOUR PHONE RING SNG. >> IT IS RINGING RIGHT NOW.

IT WIRELESS CALLER SO I DON'T ANSWER THAT. >> ADRIAN GARCIA: CHECK YOUR

VOICEMAIL. >> I SAVE YOUR NUMBER, SIR. >> ADRIAN GARCIA: CHECK YOUR

VOICEMAIL. CHECK YOUR VOICEMAIL. >> YES, SIR.

>> LINA HIDALGO: SO THAT IS TRAVEL AND TRAINING. GRANTS.

FISCAL SERVICES AND PURCHASING. COMMISSIONER'S COURT WE MOVED MY ITEMS. PRE SINK 1. PRECINCT 1.

>> RODNEY ELLIS: THE ONLY ONE I HAVE LEFT IS A RESOLUTION TO FAIR HOUSING.

THE ONLY PART ON IT THAT I JUST WANT TO REITERATE SAYS THE LAST WHEREAS OUR COUNTY AGENCIES HAVE AN IMPORTANT ROLE IN HOUSING OPPORTUNITIES TO ALL RESIDENTS IN HARRIS COUNTY, HOUSTON. HARRIS COUNTY HOUSING AUTHORITY AND HARRIS COUNTY FINANCE CORPORATION CAN INCENTIVIZE AFFORDABLE HOUSING , THE CON TEEN ATTORNEY'S OFFICE AND OTHER DEPARTMENTS SHOULD ENFORCE WAYS TO COLLABORATE AND HELP ALLEVIATE THE EFFECTS OF HISTORICAL AND CONTEMPORARY HOUSING. WHEN WE DO OUR CIP, I ASK THEM TO COME BACK AND PUT SOME OF OUR MONEY, LOCAL REVENUE INTO AFFORDABLE HOUSING.

IT IS A CHALLENGE HERE AND IT HAS BEEN A CHALLENGE PARTICIPATING IN THE STATE TAX, FEDERAL TAX CREDIT PROGRAM, THE STATE PROGRAM BECAUSE THE REQUIREMENT LEGISLATORS HAVE TO SIGN OFF AND HISTORICALLY SOME COMMISSIONERS WOULD NOT PERMIT CERTAIN FORMS OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN THEIR PRECINCTS. I WANT US TO HAVE SOME OF OUR MONEY. I AM SETTING THE STAGE. IT IS A STRAIGHT FORWARD

RESOLUTION AND I MOVE ADOPTION. >> LINA HIDALGO: WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND BY COMMISSIONER GARCIA. RESOLUTION ON FAIR HOUSING.

ANY DISCUSSION? ALL IN FAVOR? >> I.

>> LINA HIDALGO: OPPOSED? >> NO. >> I'M ALSO NO.

>> LINA HIDALGO: I'M IN FAVOR. THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER.

PRECINCT 2. >> ADRIAN GARCIA: JUDGE BEFORE WE GO TO MY ITEMS I JUST WANTED TO GO BACK FOR A SECOND TO PURCHASING. I HAVE A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS.

[03:55:06]

>> LINA HIDALGO: WHICH PAGE, SORRY, COMMISSIONER? >> ADRIAN GARCIA: PAGE 16.

THERE WAS WHACKER TO PURCHASE SOFTWARE CALLED CORNIS -- I DON'T WANT TO SAY CORONA, BUT IT WAS CLOSE TO THAT. MY QUESTION IS, DWIGHT, IS THIS ITEM RELATED TO PEOPLE SOFT? PEOPLE SOFT IS SUPPOSED TO HAVE A TIME AND ATTENDANCE MODULE. I THOUGHT WE PURCHASED THAT AS WELL.

ARE THESE RELATED IN THAT REGARD? >> I THINK THIS WAS A LITTLE MORE DETAILED. THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE WANTED THE ABILITY TO DO OTHER OPTIONS OTHER THAN JUST KEEPING ACTUAL TIME. I CAN'T SPEAK TO THE LEVEL OF HOW FAR THAT GOES TO PEOPLE SOFT. I'LL HAVE TO GET BRUCE ON

THAT. >> ADRIAN GARCIA: NO WORRIES. I WANTED TO ASK ABOUT THAT.

THE SECOND ITEM IS G, THE MASS NOTIFICATION SYSTEM. I WANTED TO TELL YOU HOW EXCITED I AM ABOUT THIS. YOU AND I LITERALLY HAD OUR HAIR ON FIRE WHEN ITC WAS GOING UP IN FLAMES. THIS PARTICULAR PROJECT WAS BORN OUT OF THE FACT THAT THAT PARTICULAR EVENT, THE ITC FIRE JUST RECOGNIZED AND IDENTIFIED HOW SOME OF OUR CITIES ARE A POINT OF A DISADVANTAGE. WE WERE AWARE THAT THEY DID NOT HAVE A MASS NOTIFICATION SYSTEM FOR RESIDENTS AND ACCESS TO INFORMATION, DIGITAL ACCESS FOR NEED TO SHELTER IN PLACE. I WORKED WITH MAYOR MOYA AND HER FIRE CHIEF, TOM ELLERS.

I WANTED TO THANK EXXON MOBILE PIPELINE AND THE ECONOMIC ALLIANCE FOR THEIR SUPPORT ON THIS PROJECT. THIS WILL PUT GALEA PARK IN LINE -- GALENA PARK IN LINE TO HAVE ACCESS TO THIS SYSTEM THAT COULD BE REALLY LIFE CHANGING.

I AM VERY EXCITED. IT WAS ITC THAT WAS -- NO PUBLIC INTENDED IGNITED THE WORK ON THIS EVENT AND JUST GLAD TO FINALLY SEE IT HAPPENING.

SO I JUST WANT TO THANK MAYOR MOIA AND HER TEAM AT EXXON MOBILE PIPELINE AND THE ECONOMIC CHAT AND WORK ON MAKING THIS A REALITY. THANK YOU, JUDGE.

>> THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER. >> LINA HIDALGO: SO PRECINCT 3.

>> ADRIAN GARCIA: ONE MORE THING UNDER PURCHASING. ITEM L.

THE AMERICAN YOUTH WORKS CONTRACT. THIS IS COOL.

EVEN THOUGH THIS IS A COUNTY WIDE PROCUREMENT OPPORTUNITY AND WE STARTED IT UNDER PRECINCT 2. PRECINCT 2 REMAINS THE ONLY PRECINCT UTILIZING IT, BUT THAT ASIDE, IT IS REALLY COOL BECAUSE THESE ARE YOUNG PEOPLE WHO ARE GOING TO LEARN A GREAT DEAL ABOUT OUR ENVIRONMENT AND THEY COULD BE A READY WORKFORCE AFTER A NATURAL DISASTER. WE ARE EXCITED TO SEE THAT GOING ON ITS SECOND YEAR.

NOW I THINK FINALLY TO MY ITEMS. I PULLED OUR RESOLUTION.

ITEM 1. WE WILL PUT THAT ON A LATER MEETING.

>> THAT'S A NO ACTION? >> ADRIAN GARCIA: NO ACTION. LET'S SEE.

WE HAVE DONE ITEMS 2 AND 3. ITEM 4 IS -- I MOVE ON THAT. THAT'S FOR THE PURCHASING OFFICE. THIS ITEM IS SPECIFICALLY TO DIRECT THE PURCHASING AGENT TO PUBLISH A REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATIONS IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE WORK AT THE NAVIGATION FACILITY THAT WE HAVE BEEN TALKING ABOUT. I MOVE ON THAT.

[04:00:02]

>> STEVE RADACK: I HAVE A QUESTION ON ITEM 4. MR. BLOUNT, HASN'T SOMETHING

BEEN DONE ON THAT? >> WELL, YEAH, COMMISSIONER THERE WAS A PREVIOUS RFQ, AND

THAT'S HOW THE ORIGINAL CONSULTANT WAS SELECTED. >> STEVE RADACK: SO WE NEED TO

DO THIS, RIGHT? >> LAST COURT WE HAD A CONTRACT FOR THE MOVE OF

PROGRAM TO DESIGN AND THAT WAS HELD. >> STEVE RADACK: SO WE NEED TO

DO THIS? >> IF THE COURT WANTS TO CHANGE THE CONSULTANT, YES.

IF YOU WANT TO KEEP THE SAME CONSULTANT, NO. IF THE COURT WANTS TO CHANGE

CONSULTANT YOU NEED TO GO THROUGH A NEW RFQ PROCESS. >> STEVE RADACK: SO WE HAVEN'T

SPENT MONEY ON IT YET? >> WE HAVE SPENT MONEY, BUT ON THE PROGRAM -- ON THE PROGRAMMING PHASE. I DON'T REMEMBER THE EXACT AMGHT -- THE ACT AMOUNT.

>> STEVE RADACK: THANK YOU. APPRECIATE IT. >> R. JACK CAGLE: JOHN -- YOUR

HONOR, MAY I ASK MR. BLOUNT A QUESTION? >> LINA HIDALGO: YES.

>> YES, SIR. ARE WE FIRING THE CURRENT CONSULTANT?

>> THE CONSULTANT WAS UNDER A CONTRACT FOR PROGRAMMING. THE NEXT STEP IS DESIGN.

I WOULDN'T USE THE TERM FIRING, BUT I WOULD USE THE TERM NOT REPAYING.

NOT RETAINING. WE ARE NOT RETAINING THE CONSULTANT TO MOVE TO THE NEXT

STEP OF THE PROJECT WHICH IS DESIGN. >> R. JACK CAGLE: HAVE THEY

DONE SOMETHING INAPPROPRIATE? >> NOT TO THE BEST OF MY KNOWLEDGE, COMMISSIONER.

>> R. JACK CAGLE: YOUR HONOR, IF I MAY ASK MY COLLEAGUE, IS THERE A REASON HE IS WANTING

TO CHANGE THE ALREADY APPROVED ENGINEER? >> ADRIAN GARCIA: YEAH, THE FACT IS THAT THIS ITEM -- OR SOME OF THE WORK ON THIS IS AT LEAST TWO YEARS OLD.

THE PRECINCT 2 OFFICE ELECTED NOT TO PARTICIPATE YEARS BACK.

I WOULD JUST WANT TO BE -- I WOULD WANT TO HAVE MY OFFICE MUCH MORE INVOLVED, AND THAT WAY I CAN ENSURE THAT THE COMMUNITY IS MUCH MORE INVOLVED AS I COMMITTED TO WHEN WE LAST DISCUSSED THIS. AND THE FACT THAT IN ALL LIKELIHOOD, LIKE WHAT WE TALKED ABOUT EARLIER THAT THE FOLKS WHO WERE INVOLVED IN THIS EARLIER ARE PROBABLY NO LONGER PART OF THE TEAM. I JUST WANT TO REFRESH THIS AND IF THEY WANT TO COMPETE FOR IT, NO PROBLEM. AND LOOK, THE BOTTOM LINE IS THIS IS A PRE SINK 2 EYE -- A PRECINCT 2 ITEM. JUST LIKE I WOULD DEFER TO YOU AND ANY OF MY COLLEAGUES ON CONCERNS THEY HAVE IN THEIR PRECINCT, THIS IS I THINK -- I THINK MY CONSTITUENTS WOULD

LIKE TO SEE MORE ENGAGEMENT AT THEIR LEVEL. >> LINA HIDALGO: DO WE NEED TO

VOTE ON THIS ITEM? >> R. JACK CAGLE: I LIKED WHAT MY COLLEAGUE JUST SAID.

THAT LAST SENTENCE. THANK YOU. >> ADRIAN GARCIA: THANK YOU.

>> LINA HIDALGO: WE'LL KEEP GOING THEN. COMMISSIONER OF PRECINCT 3.

>> R. JACK CAGLE: MOTION. >> LINA HIDALGO: PRECINCT 4. >> STEVE RADACK: MOTION.

>> LINA HIDALGO: WE HAVE DONE COVID. MISCELLANEOUS.

ON SUPPLEMENTAL ITEMS FIRST IS AUTHORIZATION FOR PRECINCT 2. ITEM NUMBER 2 IS NONCOVID, BUT IT IS AN AGREEMENT WITH BAYLOR BETWEEN BAY -- BAYLOR AND PUBLIC HEALTH.

PRECINCT 3 -- >> ADRIAN GARCIA: I'M SORRY, JUDGE.

I KNOW WE ARE WANTING TO BACK UP A SECOND TO I THINK IT IS COVID.

I HAVE A RESOLUTION THAT GOES WITH ITEM I OF PAGE 26. >> LINA HIDALGO: OKAY.

PAGE 26. >> ADRIAN GARCIA: ITEM I. I BELIEVE THIS IS ALL PART OF THE COVID. I WOULD JUST LIKE TO TAKE A SECOND TO SUBMIT THIS RESOLUTION. I JUST CAN'T -- THIS IS ANOTHER ONE OF THOSE AREAS SIMILAR TO YOUR WORK WITH MAYOR TURNER ON RENTAL ASSISTANCE.

YOUR EFFORTS ALONG WITH TEA AND OUR AREA SCHOOL DISTRICTS HAVE DONE PHENOMENAL WORK WITH

[04:05:06]

THE RESOLUTION READS AS, WHEREAS HERE LIES A DIGITAL DIVIDE ACROSS THE NATION INCLUDING IN HARRIS COUNTY BETWEEN PEOPLE WITH READY ACCESS TO ONLINE SERVICES AND THOSE WITHOUT. THE DIVIDE THAT IS PARTICULARLY ACUTE FOR THE POOR AND PEOPLE LIVING IN RURAL AREAS. WHEREAS THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC HAS BROUGHT NEW URGENCY TO ENRICH THAT DIVIDE AS CHILDREN WITH DIGITAL ACCESS AND SAFELY ATTEND SCHOOL ONLINE. WHEREAS HARRIS COUNTY COMMISSIONER'S COURT RESPONDED TO THIS CHALLENGE ON AUGUST 11TH 2020 CREATING THE DIGITAL ACCESS FOR STUDENTS-SUPPORT PROGRAM UTILIZING DOLLARS AND RESOURCES FROM TECHNOLOGY AND WHEREAS THE PROGRAM INCLUDED PARTICIPATION IN PROJECT 10 MILLION, A PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP LAUNCHED BY T-MOBILE TO PROVIDE INTERNET HOTSPOTS TO ECONOMICALLY DISADVANTAGED STUDENTS. WHEREAS THE OTHER PRIVATE PARTNERS ASSISTING WITH RESOURCES IN THE DIGITAL ACCESS FOR STUDENT SUPPORT PROGRAM INCLUDE MICROSOFT, INTEL, HP, APPLE, AT&T AND -- WHAT IS THAT? T-MOBILE.

NOW BE IT RESOLVED THAT HARRIS COUNTY COMMISSIONER'S COURT EXTENDS ITS GRATITUDE TO THE PRIVATE PARTNERS ABOVE FOR STEPPING UP TO ASSIST AND PROTECTING THE HEALTH AND SAFETY OF HARRIS COUNTY RESIDENTS DURING THIS PANDEMIC BY PROVIDING A SAFE, LEARNING -- A SAFE LEARNING ENVIRONMENT FOR HARRIS COUNTY STUDENTS. AND I WOULD JUST SAY, JUDGE, A GREAT APPRECIATION TO 10,000 WHICH COMMUNICATION WITH REPRESENTATIVE WALLY ON THIS EFFORT. I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR NAVIGATING SOME OF THE CONVERSATIONS ON THIS. GEA FOR THEIR WILLINGNESS TO EMBRACE THE WORK BEING DONE HERE AND GUIDE HOUSE WAS A MAJOR COMPONENT OF THIS ALONG WITH THE SUPERINTENDENTS.

THIS IS INCREDIBLE AND I TELL YOU -- I TELL THE STORY THAT WHEN I WAS ON CITY COUNCIL AND MAYOR WHITE AND MICHAEL MOORE, HIS CHIEF OF STAFF, WE ALL CAME TOGETHER TO THINK ABOUT HOW WE CAN BUILD THIS PROGRAM AND THE STARS DIDN'T ALIGN BACK THEN, BUT THEY ALIGN NOW. THE WILLINGNESS AND THE INNOVATION TO MAKE IT HAPPEN AND OBVIOUSLY MY COLLEAGUES AND I'S WILLINGNESS TO PUT IN THE DOLLARS NECESSARY TO CLOSE THE DEAL. I AM VERY PROUD OF THIS RESOLUTION AND THE WORK BEING DONE. I JUST HAD TO READ THAT INTO THE RECORD.

>> LINA HIDALGO: THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER. >> ADRIAN GARCIA: THANK YOU.

>> LINA HIDALGO: THE NEXT ITEM. WE WERE ON SUPPLEMENTAL ITEM 3 IS AN AGREEMENT FOR THE CONSTABLE OF PRECINCT 3. ITEM 4 I BELIEVE WE NEED TO GO TO EXECUTIVE SESSION ON AND CONSULT WITH THE ATTORNEYS ON A POSSIBLE SETTLEMENT.

ITEM 5, DO FOLKS NEED TO GO TO EXECUTIVE SESSION ON THAT? >> ADRIAN GARCIA: I DON'T

THINK SO, JUDGE. >> AND I PROVIDED A FOLLOW-UP TO PRIOR CONVERSATIONS ABOUT PROVIDING LEGAL COUNSEL TO THE DISTRICT COURT JUDGES AND THE DISTRICT COURT BAIL BOND

CASE. >> RODNEY ELLIS: JUDGE, IF WE ARE BACK THERE ANYWAY, I MAY

ASK A QUESTION ABOUT IT. >> LINA HIDALGO: OKAY. ITEM 6 WE ALREADY PASSED.

ITEM 7 IS A TRANSMITAL OF A TREASURER'S REPORT. ITEM 8 IS WE DISCUSSED THE FLOOD RESILIENCE TASK FORCE AT THE LAST COURT. THIS WILL ALLOW US TO FIND A

FACILITATOR FOR THE TASK FORCE AND FLOOD CONTROL. >> ADRIAN GARCIA: JUDGE JUST REAL QUICKLY ON THIS ITEM, AGAIN I AM FOLLOWING YOUR LEAD ON THIS.

YOU AND I HAVE BRIEFLY DISCUSSED IT THE ONE THING I WOULD REQUEST, AND I THINK THAT THERE WAS SOME LANGUAGE IN THIS THAT WE WOULD BE GETTING ANNUAL REPORTS OR BI-ANNUAL REPORTS. CAN WE MAKE -- MAYBE ACCELERATE AND ASK FOR THE

[04:10:04]

TASK FORCE TO SUBMIT A QUARTERLY REPORT? >> LINA HIDALGO: SCUTELY, COMMISSIONER AND -- ABSOLUTELY. AND I MADE THAT REQUEST THAT I WOULD ASK FOR A REPORT QUARTERLY. THEY WILL REMIND US IF WE

FORGET. >> JUDGE, DOES ANYTHING NEED TO BE CHANGED ON THE AGENDA

ITEM OR WILL IT BE APPROVED AS PRESENTED? >> LINA HIDALGO: AS PRESENTED, JAMES. AND BECAUSE THESE ARE NOT THOSE BY LAWS.

THEY ARE SIMPLY A SEARCH FOR A CONTRACTOR. >> AND JUDGE, I DIDN'T WANT TO -- I THINK I TALKED WITH PERSONS ON YOUR STAFF, BUT YOU PROBABLY WILE HAVE TO GO

THROUGH AN RFQ OR RFP PROCESS TO SELECT THAT PERSON. >> LINA HIDALGO: YEAH, THE PLAN IS TO PROCURE AN INDEPENDENT CONTRACTOR THROUGH AN RFP.

THAT'S THE PLAN. ITEM 9 I HAVE NO ACTION. COVID ITEMS WE DISCUSSED.

NO PUBLIC HEARINGS. WE HAVE EXECUTIVE SESSION ITEM 1.

WE DO NEED TO GO TO EXECUTIVE SESSION ON A SALARY RANGE FOR THE ELECTIONS ADMINISTRATOR.

AND EXECUTIVE SESSION ITEM 2. THAT IS AN ITEM -- I HAVE A CLOSE, PERSONAL RELATIONSHIP WITH AN ATTORNEY THAT IS ONE OF THE LAWYERS WORKING ON THAT CASE.

I AM NOT REQUIRED TO RECUSE MYSELF FROM THAT LAWSUIT, BUT I ANYWAY SO THERE IS NOT EVEN AN APPEARANCE OF A CONFLICT OF INTEREST. WHEN WE GO TO EXECUTIVE SESSION WE WILL LEAVE THAT FOR THE END. I HANG UP THE PHONE AS YOU GUYS FINALIZE THAT ITEM. THAT'S ITEM 2 IN EXECUTIVE SESSION.

RIGHT NOW WE CAN VOTE ON THE AGENDA AND HEAR FROM THE SPEAKERS.

THE ITEMS I HAVE LISTED FOR EXECUTIVE SESSION ARE SUPPLEMENTAL ITEM 4 WHICH IS JANE DOE VERSUS HARRIS COUNTY. WE HAVE SUPPLEMENTAL ITEM 5 WHICH IS THE LAW FIRMS FOR REPRESENTATION OF THE DISTRICT COURT JUDGES IN RUSSELL.

PAGE 11 ITEM 14C WHICH IS THE LANDFILL ITEM AND EXECUTIVE SESSION ITEM 1, THE SALARY RANGE FOR THE ADMINISTRATOR POSITION. EXECUTIVE SESSION ITEM 2 WHICH IS THE POSSIBLE SETTLEMENT CONCERNING TIM YOUNG VERSUS HARRIS COUNTY.

DO WE HAVE A MOTION ON THE -- >> ADRIAN GARCIA: MOVE ON THE AGENDA.

>> RODNEY ELLIS: JUDGE, IF YOU DON'T MIND, I MAKE A FRIENDLY AMENDMENT.

A FRIENDLY AMENDMENT WE ADOPT THE AGENDA, BUT LET MEMBERS BE REFLECTING NO ON THE ITEMS THEY VOTED NO ON. SECOND YOUR MOTION. EITHER WAY I SECOND YOUR

MOTION. >> ADRIAN GARCIA: AGREED. >> LINA HIDALGO: MOTION TO APPROVE ALL AGENDA ITEM THAT'S HAVE NOT BEEN PREVIOUSLY VOTED ON.

DOES THAT WORK? MOTION BY COMMISSIONER GARCIA AND SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER

ELLIS. ALL IN FAVOR? >> I.

>> I. >> LINA HIDALGO: OPPOSED? ALL RIGHT.

MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY ON THE AGENDA. AND ACTUALLY -- OKAY.

DO WE HAVE ANY OTHER SPEAKERS, LUCINDA? >> YES, MA'AM.

WE HAVE THEM LINED UP. >> LINA HIDALGO: UNANIMOUSLY ON THE AGENDA

>> R. JACK CAGLE: YES ON THE AGENDA EXCEPT FOR PREVIOUSLY --

>> RODNEY ELLIS: WE GOT IT FOR YOU. >> R. JACK CAGLE: YES.

IT WAS JUST THAT LAST COMMENT. BY THE WAY, GOOD JOB,

COMMISSIONER ELLIS. >> LINA HIDALGO: THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT, LUCINDA.

[V. Appearances before court]

LET'S HEAR FROM THE SPEAKERS. >> DARLENE JOSE AQUIN. GO AHEAD, PLEASE.

>> YES. PRAYERS TO THE GOD. THIS IS DARLENE.

IS THE JUDGE ON THE LINE? JUDGE HIDALGO? >> YES, MA'AM, SHE IS THERE.

>> LINA HIDALGO: I AM ON THE LINE. YES.

HOW ARE YOU? >> OKAY. I'M OKAY, JUDGE.

HOWEVER, I HAVE NOT HEARD FROM ANYONE REGARDING MY THREE REQUESTS FROM THE COMMISSIONER'S COURT. JUSTICE FOR MY SON DERRICK FORD AND GETTING MY HOMESTEAD BACK IN MY NAME AND COMPENSATION FOR PERSONAL PROPERTY LOSS.

WHO HAVE YOU ASSIGNED, JUDGE TO CONTACT ME REGARDING THIS VERY IMPORTANT MATTER?

>> LINA HIDALGO: MA'AM, I CAN'T ANSWER THAT. BUT I MAKE SURE YOU GET A

[04:15:02]

CONTACT RIGHT AFTER COURT. >> RIGHT AFTER COURT TODAY? >> RODNEY ELLIS: JUDGE, I HAVE SOMEBODY CALL HER AND IF WE CAN HELP HER WE WILL AND IF WE CAN'T WE WILL GET HER WITH THE

LEGAL DEPARTMENT. THIS IS RODNEY ELLIS. >> LINA HIDALGO: THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER. WE WILL FOLLOW-UP AS WELL. MA'AM, DO YOU HAVE ADDITIONAL COMMENTS? ALL RIGHT. LUCINDA, OTHER SPEAKERS?

>> YES, MA'AM. KATAYA WITH BEAK CENTER AND I APOLOGIZE FOR NOT PRONOUNCING

IT CORRECTLY. >> NO PROBLEM. HI -- THANK YOU ALL COMMISSIONERS FOR YOUR COMMENTS EARLIER. I AM CALLING WITH REGARDS TO THE INHUMANE CONDITIONS AT HARRIS COUNTY JAIL AND TO ASK YOU ALL TO CONSIDER A COUPLE OF ACTIONABLE THINGS THAT CAN IMPROVE CONDITIONS FOR INMATES AND TO DE POPULATE THE JAIL COMPLETELY DURING CORONAVIRUS AND TO ACTUALLY EXECUTE RELEASE.

THE INMATES ARE CURRENTLY BEING CHARGED $6 PER -- PER 20-MINUTE PHONE CALL FOR ANY ANY VISITATION WITH THEIR FAMILY. SINCE THERE IS NO IN PERSON VISITATION THIS IS THE ONLY TIME THEY GET FACE TIME WITH FAMILY MEMBERS.

I AM ASKING FOR THE COMMISSIONERS TO PLEASE ELIMINATE THAT REQUIREMENT.

AND THE CONNECTICUT -- CONTRACT WITH THE JAIL. ANY FUTURE PROFITS IN JAIL CONTRACT FOR SERVICES. I AM ALSO ASKING FOR THE ACCEPTANCE OF ELECTRONIC BAIL TRANSFERS. CURRENTLY FAMILY MEMBERS ARE HAVING TO CARRY CASH BAIL TO THE JAIL EXPOSING THEM TO COVID AND MAKING THEM CARRY LARGE AMOUNTS OF FUNDS.

THIS IS MAKING IT IMPRACTICAL TO BAIL PEOPLE OUT AWAITING TRIAL AND ARE IN EXTREMELY DANGEROUS SITUATIONS WHO MAY BE INNOCENT. I'M ASKING YOU TO PLEASE LOOK INTO THE TECHNOLOGY APRIL DAP -- ADD -- ADAPTATIONS FOR THE JAIL TO ACCEPT ELECTRON -- ELECTRONIC TRANSFERS. THIS WOULD MAKE A HUGE DIFFERENCE ON THOSE WHO COULD GET OUT ON BAIL. AND THE PRACTICE OF KEEPING PEOPLE IN SOLITARY CONFINEMENT PREVENTION FOR COVID SPREAD IS INHUMANE AND SHOULD NOT BE USED.

IF YOU ARE NOT ABLE TO PROTECT PEOPLE FROM COVID TO PUT THEM IN SOLITARY CONFINEMENT RELEASE ALL NONVIOLENT OFFENDERS AND THOSE ELIGIBLE AND INCLUDING EVERYONE AWAITING TRIAL. THAT CONCLUDES MY COMMENTS. THANK YOU.

>> RODNEY ELLIS: JUDGE? >> LINA HIDALGO: YES, COMMISSIONER ELLIS.

>> RODNEY ELLIS: AS IT RELATES TO THE COVID MATTER WITH THE CALLS, I WOULD LIKE TO ASK WHERE ARE WE? I KNOW THE REQUEST WAS MADE TO WORK WITH THE SHERIFF TO GET IT DOWN AND WITH COVID IT SEEMS LIKE MORE OF A EMERGENCY TO GET THE CALLS DOWN TO

FREE. >> LINA HIDALGO: WE NEED TO ASK ROBERT IF WE CAN HAVE THAT

CONVERSATION. >> I AM OKAY WITH THE QUESTION BECAUSE IT DOES RELATE TO

COVID. >> I WITH I WILL MAKE IT QUICK , JUDGE.

CURRENTLY WE GET THREE FREE CALLS A WEEK FROM [INAUDIBLE] AND THE COUNTY PICKED UP MORE ON THE DISCUSSIONS. CURRENTLY THE COUNTY IS OFFERING FIVE FREE CALLS A WEEK TO INMATES DUE TO COVID. WE DO HAVE TO COME UP WITH A DISCUSSION ON HOW TO CONTINUE TO PAY FOR THOSE FEES FROM THE COUNTY, BUT WE ARE OFFERING THOSE AT THIS TIME.

>> RODNEY ELLIS: WOULD YOU JUST CHECK AND SEE IF CARES MONEY WOULD COVER SOME OF IT BECAUSE IT IS DURING COVID AND PEOPLE CAN'T GET IN. MIGHT EVEN LOOK AROUND THE COUNTRY. WE COULD HELP YOU AND SEE IF SOMEBODY IS DOING IT.

>> ARE YOU ASKING ME TO LOOK INTO CARES MONEY TO SEE IF WE CAN PAY FOR THE PHONE CALLS OR

ZOOM CALLS? WHICH ONE, COMMISSION SNEER. >> RODNEY ELLIS: EITHER ONE.

SEE IF SOMEBODY ELSE ARE DOING IT. THESE ARE PEOPLE SITTING IN JAIL WHO ARE INNOCENT UNTIL PROVEN GUILTY. AT LEAST WE SAY IT.

>> WE ARE GIVING THEM THE FIVE FREE CALLS. IF YOU WANT TO GO IN ADDITION TO THAT, I WITH I WILL TALK TO CARES AND TALK TO THE OFFICE WE HAVE TO OFFER THAT THROUGH

THE CURRENT PHONE SYSTEM. >> RODNEY ELLIS: OKAY. THANK YOU.

>> YES, SIR. >> JUDGE, WE HAVE THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE MEMBER ON THE

LINE IF YOU WANT TO DISCUSS ANY OF THAT. >> RODNEY ELLIS: SOMEBODY FROM

SHERIFF'S OFFICE IS ON THE LINE? >> YES, SIR.

>> RODNEY ELLIS: I WOULD LIKE TO ASK AS IT RELATES TO COVID, YOU KNOW, WE TALKED ABOUT THIS AND WE WERE TRYING TO GET THE CALLS DOWN TO I THINK WHAT NEW YORK IS DOING.

WE MAY BE IN A TIMETABLE ANYWAY ON WHERE WE WILL GET THAT.

CAN THEY COVER WHERE WE ARE NOW OR WOULD IT BE A CHALLENGE TO GO AHEAD AND GET THEM DOWN TO ZERO SINCE PEOPLE CAN'T GET IN THERE TO VISIT FOLKS IN JAIL?

[04:20:04]

>> COMMISSIONER, THIS IS MAJOR DOUGHERTY. IT IS A U.S. CONTRACT.

THEY CAN TELL YOU MORE ABOUT THE MONEY, THE SLIDING SCALE THAT WAS DONE PRIOR TO COVID.

WE WERE TRYING TO GET THE COSTS DOWN AND THERE WAS A SLIDING SCALE.

OBVIOUSLY PURCHASING CAN EXPLAIN WHERE WE ARE ON THAT. I DO KNOW THAT THERE IS AN RFP OUT FOR A NEW PHONE CONTRACT WHICH WILL BE PRESENTED TO YOU GUYS UNDER WHATEVER PURCHASING

HAS COME UP WITH AS FAR AS THE COST ALLOCATIONS. >> RODNEY ELLIS: I WON'T TIE US UP NOW BECAUSE THERE IS A HURRICANE GOING ON. I MAY PUT SOMETHING ON THE NEXT AGENDA. I VISIT WITH YOU ALL OFF LINE.

THANK YOU THOUGH. >> LINA HIDALGO: ANY OTHER SPEAKERS, LUCINDA?

>> YES, JUDGE. CLAIRE JOHNSON, GO AHEAD, PLEASE.

>> YES, HELLO. CAN YOU HEAR ME? YES, MA'AM, GO AHEAD, PLEASE.

>> YES, SO I'M CALLING BECAUSE I AM REALLY CONCERNED ABOUT THE HEALTH AND DIGNITY OF THE PEOPLE INCARS WAITED -- INCARCERATED IN THE HOUSTON COUNTY JAIL.

I AM SPEAKING TO ASK THAT YOU END SOLITARY CONFINEMENT. PEOPLE ARE BEING HELD FOR 23

HOURS A DAY -- [INAUDIBLE]. >> LINA HIDALGO: ONE SECOND, MA'AM.

I THINK WE ARE HAVING AN ISSUE WITH THE AUDIO. GO AHEAD.

>> WE KNOW THAT HARRIS COUNTY JAIL IS ONE OF THE TOP SUPER SPREADER LOCATIONS IN THE COUNTRY. AND SO I UNDERSTAND THAT YOU NEED TO CONTROL COVID, BUT PUTTING PEOPLE IN SOLITARY CONFINEMENT FOR 23 HOURS A DAY IS INHUMANE.

IT IS AKIN TO TORTURE. CONSIDERING THAT SEVEN OUT OF 10 PEOPLE HAVE NOT BEEN COMMITTED OF A CRIME IN THE HARRIS COUNTY JAIL ACCORDING TO HOUSTON JUSTICE, THIS IS -- I MEAN TORTURING PEOPLE WHETHER THEY COMMITTED A CRIME OR NOT IS NOT OKAY.

DEFINITELY IT IS TORTURING PEOPLE DUE TO COVID IN HARRIS COUNTY JAIL AND THAT IS NOT ACCEPTABLE. I ASK THAT YOU PLEASE RELEASE NONVIOLENT OFFENDERS AND PEOPLE AWAITING TRIAL BECAUSE THEY SHOULD NOT BE SUBMITTED TO TORTURE DUE TO THE CORONAVIRUS. I ALSO WOULD LIKE TO MAKE COMMENTS ABOUT THE PREVIOUS CALLER ABOUT ELIMINATING COST FOR CALLS. FAMILIES CANNOT VISIT IN PERSON AND THEY SHOULD NOT BE PENALIZED AND MAKE PROFIT FOR GOVERNMENT CONTRACTORS FOR THESE SERVICES. WHEN THAT'S THE ONLY WAY THAT THEY HAVE COMMUNICATION WITH THEIR FAMILIES. IF THEY ARE BEING HELD 23 HOURS A DAY, THE LEAST YOU CAN DO IS ALLOW THEM -- MANY OF THESE FAMILIES ARE IN FINANCIAL CONSTRAINTS LIKE MOST FAMILIES. LASTLY I WOULD CALL FOR TECHNOLOGY -- A TECHNOLOGICAL TRANSFER OF BAIL FUNDS IF YOU REQUIRE BAIL. THAT CONCLUDES MY COMMENTS AS

WELL. >> LINA HIDALGO: THANK YOU. >> MICHAEL ROBINSON, GO AHEAD,

PLEASE. >> I WOULD LIKE TO REALLY ECHO A LOT OF CLAIRE'S POINTS SPECIFICALLY RIGHTS FOR FAMILIES TO VISIT THEIR LOVED ONES DURING THIS PERIOD ESPECIALLY GIVEN THAT COVID HAS CAUSED HARRIS COUNTY TO BE SUCH A HOTSPOT IN THE PRISON SYSTEM AND ALLOWING FAMILIES TO REY -- REUNITE WITH THEIR LOVED ONES VIRTUALLY.

BEING ABLE TO CHARGE SO MUCH FOR CALLS FOR REASSURANCE PUTS SO MUCH STRESS ON FAMILIES WHO ALREADY ARE UNEMPLOYED AND WONDERING WHERE THE INCOME WHIM COME THROUGH.

-- INCOME WILL COME THROUGH. AND THE MONEY IS GOING FOR THE GOVERNMENT CONTRACTS NEEDS TO BE CONSIDERED WHERE THE PROFITS ARE GOING AND WHO EXACTLY IS FOOTING THAT BILL.

HAVING TO RECONCILE THE RISK THEY WOULD TAKE TO VISIT IN PERSON WOULD TRULY -- IT IS A TERRIBLE THOUGHT. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME.

>> LINA HIDALGO: THANK YOU. >> NOAH HESTOR, GO AHEAD, PLEASE.

>> HI, THANKS FORGIVING ME THIS TIME -- FOR GIVING ME THIS TIME TO SPEAK.

LIKE CLAIRE AND MICHAEL, I AM CONCERNED ABOUT THE CONDITIONS OF PEOPLE BEING HELD IN THE HARRIS COUNTY JAIL SYSTEM. OF COURSE IT IS A PANDEMIC AND ONE WOULD WANT TO TRY AND

[04:25:06]

BUT THE WRONG WAY TO DO THAT IS TO PUT PEOPLE IN SOLITAIRE -- SOLITARY AND AS CLAIRE SAID FOR -- FOR -- TORTURE THEM WHEN THEY WERE NOT CONVICTED OF A CRIME.

YOU CAN RETURN THEM TO THEIR FAMILY BEFORE THE SPREAD GETS WORSE IN THE HARRIS COUNTY JAILS. SECONDLY I THINK SELF-EVIDENT IN THIS ERA WOULD BE TO END CASH BAIL IN PLACES WITH AN ELECTRONIC TRANSFER SYSTEM. THAT WAY PEOPLE DON'T HAVE TO GO IN PERSON AND PUT EVERYBODY AT RISK GIVING FUNDS IN PERSON.

AND THIRD AND LASTLY, I THINK ANOTHER GOOD SOLUTION WOULD BE TO WAIVE THE FEES ASSOCIATED WITH ZOOM CALLS BECAUSE THIS IS THE ONLY WAY FOR PEOPLE TO BE IN TOUCH.

EVERYBODY IS HAVING A DIFFICULT TIME AND IT IS EXACERBATING THE EXISTING ISSUE. AND PARTICULARLY FOR THE REASON THAT SECURIS TECHNOLOGY WAS NOT INVESTIGATED PER SAY, BUT THERE IS A FAIR AMOUNT OF SUSPICION THAT THEY WERE INFLATING THEIR PROFIT MARGIN AND NOT -- AND TAKING AWAY FROM THE COUNTY WHEN THE FUNDS SHOULD HAVE BEEN GOING TO OUR CITY SYSTEM. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.

I HOPE YOU HAVE A GOOD REST OF THE DAY. LEG

>> LINA HIDALGO: THANK YOU. >> JUDGE, THOSE WERE ALL OF THE SPEAKERS FOR TODAY.

>> LINA HIDALGO: GREAT. IN THAT CASE LET'S GO TO EXECUTIVE SESSION FOR ITEM 4

[IV. Executive Session]

EXECUTIVE SESSION ITEM 2 ON CONSULTING WITH ATTORNEYS ON PENDING LITIGATION.

>> STEVE RADACK: JUDGE, COULD YOU -- LET ME ASK JAMES. ON PAGE 10 AND ITEM 12C UNDER

THE SHERIFF, THERE WAS NO ACTION ON THAT ITEM? >> YES, SIR, CORRECT.

NO ACTION. >> STEVE RADACK: THANK YOU. >> LINA HIDALGO: DOES EVERYBODY HAVE THE PHONE NUMBER? ALL RIGHT.

SO IT IS 5:35 AND WE ARE GOING TO EXECUTIVE SESSION.

>> LINA HIDALGO: SO. IT IS 6:08 AND COMMISSION'S COURT ARE BACK IN SESSION.

DO WE HAVE COMMISSIONERS RADACK AND CAGLE ON? >> STEVE RADACK: RADACK IS

HERE. >> LINA HIDALGO: COMMISSIONER CAGLE?

WE WILL GIVE HIM A MINUTE. >> LOOKS LIKE HE DROPPED OFF AGAIN, JUDGE.

>> RODNEY ELLIS: HE MAY HAVE TROUBLE GETTING BACK ON. >> LINA HIDALGO: IS IT -- I

CAN CALL HIM, RIGHT? ARE YOU CALLING HIM -- >> RODNEY ELLIS: ARE YOU

CALLING HIM, JUDGE? >> STEVE RADACK: WAS HE THERE FOR ANY OF THE EXECUTIVE

SESSION? >> ADRIAN GARCIA: HE MIGHT HAVE CLOSED OUT BOTH OF

HIS -- >> LINA HIDALGO: I HAVE HIM HERE ON THE CALL.

COMMISSIONER CAGLE, CAN YOU HEAR US? SO LET'S START WITH ITEM 4 ON JANE DOE, THE SUPPLEMENTAL AGENDA. IS THERE A MOTION?

>> RODNEY ELLIS: SO MOVED. >> ADRIAN GARCIA: SECOND. >> LINA HIDALGO: -- BY THE COUNTY ATTORNEY. WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR?

>> I. >> I. >> LINA HIDALGO: OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES FAN -- UNANIMOUSLY. NEXT IS ON ITEM 5 IS THERE A

MOTION -- >> ADRIAN GARCIA: SO MOVED. >> RODNEY ELLIS: SECOND.

>> LINA HIDALGO: ALL IN FAVOR? >> I.

>> I. >> I. >> LINA HIDALGO: THE MOTION

[04:30:02]

AND NOW FOR ITEM 1 UNDER EXECUTIVE SESSION. IS THERE A MOTION THAT THE ANNUAL SALARY OF THE HARRIS COUNTY ELECTIONS ADMINISTRATOR BE IN THE RANGE OF --

>> RODNEY ELLIS: SO MOVED. >> ADRIAN GARCIA: SECOND. >> LINA HIDALGO: -- GREAT.

AND ALONG WITH THE USUAL EMPLOYEE BENEFITS OF HARRIS COUNTY.

THE POSITION THAT THEY WILL BE OFFERED AN ANNUAL CAR ALLOW -- ALLOWANCE OF BETWEEN $400 AND $500 OR PAY FOR THE COST OF A PRIVATE VEHICLE FOR OFFICIAL BUSINESS.

>> JUDGE, CAN YOU REPEAT THE FIRST PORTION? >> LINA HIDALGO: THE ANNUAL SALARY OF THE HARRIS COUNTY ELECTIONS ADMINISTRATOR SHALL BE IN THE RANGE OF BETWEEN 150 AND 200,000 ALONG WITH THE USUAL BENEFITS OF HARRIS COUNTY.

>> RODNEY ELLIS: SO MOVED. >> ADRIAN GARCIA: RODNEY HAS IT AND I SECOND.

>> LINA HIDALGO: ALL IN FAVOR? >> I.

>> I. >> LINA HIDALGO: OPPOSED? >> STEVE RADACK: RADACK IS

NO. >> LINA HIDALGO: COMMISSIONER CAGLE IS OPPOSED.

I AM IN FAVOR. THE MOTION CARRIES. AND FINALLY ITEM 2.

>> STEVE RADACK: JUDGE, ITEM 2 UNDER THE EXECUTIVE SESSION. TIM YOUNG VERSUS HARRIS COUNTY, I MOVE TO SETTLE IT. ROBERT, DO YOU WANT ME TO SAY THE AMOUNT?

>> YES, SIR. IF I'M ON. CAN YOU HEAR ME?

>> STEVE RADACK: YES, SIR, I CAN. MOVE TO SETTLE IT FOR

$875,000. >> ADRIAN GARCIA: SECOND. STEVE ALL IN FAVOR?

>> I. >> I. OPPOSED?

>> STEVE RADACK: IT CARRIES 4-0. >> LINA HIDALGO: I ABSTAIN.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER RADACK.

SO IT IS 6:12. ANYTHING ELSE THAT I MISSED ROBERT OR JAMES?

>> STEVE RADACK: JUDGE. DID YOU SAY NO ACTION ON THE POLLUTION DEAL?

>> LINA HIDALGO: YES, COMMISSIONER. THAT WAS ITEM 15C ON PAGE 11.

NO ACTION. >> STEVE RADACK: GOOD DEAL. >> LINA HIDALGO: SO IT IS 6:12 AND LET'S HOPE FOR GOOD WEATHER. COMMISSIONER'S COURT IS NOW

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

BE CAREFUL. >> STAY SAFE,

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.