[Opening prayer by Pastor Adam Mason of Houston’s First Baptist Church in Houston.]
[00:00:21]
CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR SURPRISE. >> WATCH YOU'RE NOW LIVE IN FRONT OF THOUSANDS AND MILLIONS OF PEOPLE THAT WATCH OUR COMMISSION COURT SESSIONS IN THIS TAX HEARING BUT I COULD SIT HERE AND TELL EVERYBODY ALL KINDS OF STUFF ABOUT YOUR DEGREES ALL THAT SPECIAL EDUCATION, PRIVILEGED STUFF THAT YOU DID TO WHERE YOU'RE ONE OF THE MOST BRILLIANT PEOPLE HOW YOU'RE AN LPC HOW YOU HAVE 2 OR 3 MASTERS DEGREES IN MARRIAGE AND COUNSELING BUT I'LL START OFF BY SAYING YOU'RE ONE AWESOME HUMAN BEING AND YOU'VE BEEN A GREAT FRIEND SINCE 1992. WHAT A PRIVILEGE TO HAVE ROUGH LEAD US IN THE OPENING OF THE VOCATION. IF YOU DO THAT YOU'RE ON THE SPEAKER.
>> I'M HONORED. THANK YOU FATHER GOD WE THANK YOU FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY TO COME TOGETHER AS PEOPLE AND INSTITUTIONS. WE'VE GOT SOME IMPORTANT BUSINESS TODAY IN FRONT OF THE HARRIS COUNTY COMMISSIONERS COURT PUBLIC HEARING ON THE TAX RATE. FATHER WE COME BEFORE YOU INVITING YOU TO BE PART OF THIS.
WE ACKNOWLEDGE THAT YOU HAVE OVERCOME THE WORLD AND ALL THE WORLD CAN OFFER.
AND BY OVERCOMING IT YOU'VE OFERED US SALVATION AND REDEMPTION TO THE SACRIFICE OF YOUR SON ON THE CROSS. FATHER IN RECOGNITION FOR THAT WE CONFESS OR NEED FOR YOU AND OUR STANDING BEFORE YOU AS HUMBLE AND PEN TENT SINNERS IN NEED FOR YOU AND FATHER PARTICULARLY WE WANT TO THANK YOU FOR THE LEADERS THAT YOU HAVE BIVEN US.
YOUR WORD SAYS IN THE BOOK OF ROMANCE THAT ALL THE LEADERS THAT HAVE SEVEN THE CIVIL GOVERNMENT HAVE BEEN APPOINTED BY YOU FOR OUR GOOD. THEY ARE HELD ACCOUNTABLE BY YOU FOR THEIR SERVICE OF US AND WE ARE TO LIFT THEM UP AND TO BE FAITHFUL IN LIFTING THEM UP AND PRAYING FOR THEM. FATHER I PRAY FOR THEIR WISDOM. I PRAY FOR THEIR LEADERSHIP.
I PRAY FOR THEIR STEWARDSHIP. I PLAY FOR YOUR BLESSING OVER THEIR HEALTH.
PROTECTION. FATHER WE COME BEFORE YOU NOW. WE ASK YOU DRAW US ALL CLOSER TO YOU IN YOUR TIME AND FROM YOUR CALLING OVER OUR LIVES. WE PRAY FATHER AS YOU DRAW US CLOSER TO YOU YOU'LL DRAW US CLOSER TO EACH OTHER THAT WE CAN PRACTICE GOOD STEWARDSHIP OVER THE RESOURCES FINANCIAL PERSONNEL TIME ALL THOSE THAT YOU HAVE PROVIDED SO WE CAN PRACTICE GOOD STEWARDSHIP. WE ASK FOR WISDOM PARTICULARLY IN THESE PROCEEDINGS TO KNOW WHAT TO DO. WE ASK POOR WISDOM THAT COMES FROM YOU THE WISDOM OF KING SOLOMON. MAY YOU GRANT IT AT REQUEST OF MAN.
YOUR WORD SAYS LET US ASK FOR WISDOM AND FATHER WE DO ASK FOR YOUR WISDOM AND FAITHFULNESS TO YOU THAT WE CAN SEEK TO SERVE AND HONOR YOU MORE THAN SEEKING TO SERVE MAN.
YOU'LL DRAW US CLOSER TO YOU AND CLOSER TO ONE ANOTHER. FATHER THERE IS A HORRIBLE DIVIDE IN OUR COUNTRY AND FATHER WE BELIEVE UNITY IS ONLY POSSIBLE AS WE ALL IN GRATITUDE DRAW CLOSE TO YOU. WE ASK FOR PROTECTION OF THIS GROUP AND MEMBERS AND FATHER PROTECTION AND HEALING OVER OUR COUNTY. PRAY FATHER THAT AS THE HEAD OF THE CERTAIN PENT HAS AFTER FLEXED MEN MANY TIMES IN THE COURSE OF HISTORY WE KNOW PRAY THAT THE HE'LL OF MAN WOULD CRUSH THE CERTAIN PARTICIPANT KNOWN AS COVID-19 WOULD END THIS PLAGUE ON YOUR PEOPLE AND WOULD SET US FREE TO WALK IN FREEDOM WITHOUT FEAR AND IN HEALTH ONCE AGAIN. FATHER GOD WE ASK THESE THINGS IN YOUR PRECIOUS NAME AMEN.
>> AMEN. THANK YOU, ADAM. YOU'RE A BLESSING.
>> YOU'RE WELCOME. >> COMMISSIONER THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU COMMISSIONER. >> THAT WAS A NICE SURPRISE THAT MY TEAM PUT TOGETHER FOR ME.
>> YEAH THANK YOU. >> SO ON SEPTEMBER 29TH 2020 COMMISSIONER CONSIDERED AND
[I. Tax Rates (Part 1 of 2)]
PROPOSED RATES FOR THE HARRIS COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT AND HOSPITAL DISTRICT KNOWN AS THE HARRIS HEALTH SYSTEM. IT WAS DETERMINED THAT A PUBLIC HEARING WAS NECESSARY FOR THE FLOOD CONTROL DISTRICT AND HOSPITAL DISTRICT RATES. THE COURT WILL ADOPT THE FINAL SCHEDULE OF TAX RATES ON OCTOBER 27TH 2020 AT 10:00 A.M. IN THE COMMISSIONER'S CRIME.I NOW OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING ON THE 2020 PROPOSED TAX RATES FOR THE HARRIS COUNTY FLOOD CONTROL DISTRICT AND THE HARRIS COUNTY HOSPITAL DISTRICT D/B/A HER RACE HEALTH SYSTEM IN AID CORD DANCE -- WITH THE TEXAS PROPERTY TAX CODE. PROPOSED RATE FOR THE HARRIS COUNTY FLOOD CONTROL DISTRICT IS POINT TWO 6-49 FOR MAINTENANCE AND OPERATIONS AND POINT.
[00:05:01]
OH. OH FOR NOON 3 FOR DEBT SERVICE. FOR A TOTAL RATE OF POINT 03142.DO WE HAVE IN PERSON SPEAKERS -- SINCE WE DON'T HAVE ANY IN PERSON SPEAKERS WE WILL RECESS FOR 30 MINUTES AND RECONVENE VIRTUALLY AT 140 P.M. TO CONTINUE THE PUBLIC HEARING ON THE PROPOSED RATES FOR THE FLOOD CONTROL DISTRICT AND THE HOSPITAL DISTRICT FOR PHONE IN SPEAKERS. DO WE DO YOU GUYS KNOW IF WE HAVE PHONE IN SPEAKERS? SO ROBERT, DO I CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING NOW SINCE WE DON'T HAVE SPEAKERS AND THEN I'LL RE-OPEN JUST FOR -- SHOULD I CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING ON THE TAX RATE SINCE WE DON'T HAVE SPEAKERS?
>> YES. >> COULD WE JUST GET THAT ONE SPEAKER AND BE DONE; IS THAT ALL
RIGHT? >> OK. SO I'M GOING TO CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING ON THE PROPOSED TAX RATES. THE COURT WILL ADOPT THE FINAL SCHEDULE OF RATES ON OCTOBER 27TH 2020 AT 10:00 A.M. IN THE COMMISSIONER'S ROOM.
IS THAT GOOD ROBERT ON THE TAX SIDE? CLOSING THE PUBLIC HEARING.
[II. Department]
NOW MOVING ONTO THE NEXT SECTION OF TODAY'S MEETING IS REQUEST BY COMMISSIONER PRESYNC 2 FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF A WORKING GROUP ON -- OF THE PUBLIC POWER POOL. WE HAVE ONE SPEAKER ON THATITEM. >> CAN WE GET THEM ON RIGHT NOW?
. >> I HAVE A PHONE. >> WELL JUDGE WHILE WE'RE REACHING OUT TO GET THIS PERSONAL LINE IF I COULD JUST READ THE MOTION THAT I AM GOING TO BE PROPOSING THAT WAY WE CAN GO INTO DISCUSSION ON IT. THE MOTION WOULD BE THAT I MOVE TO FORM A WORKING GROUP MADE UP OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE BUDGET OFFICE THE PURCHASING DEPARTMENT AND EACH OF COMMISSIONERS OFFICES AND THE COUNTY JUDGES APPS OFFICE TO DETERMINE NEXT STEPS ON AN ENERGY PROCUREMENT STRATEGY TO HIRE AN EXPERT TO STRUCTURE THAT DISCUSSION AND TO DECLINE TO PARTICIPATE IN THE PUBLIC POWER POOL 2023 PROCUREMENT PROPOSAL AT THIS
TIME TO ENSURE WE MEET THE DEADLINE SET BY THE POWER POOL. >> DID YOU ENTER TAKEN ADDING
THE AUDITOR TO THAT LIST PLEASE THANK YOU. >> OF COURSE.
>> ARE WE WAITING ON THE SPEAKER? OH, GREAT.
THANK YOU. GOOD MORNING. >> GOOD MORNING, JUDGE.
>> YOU'RE HERE ON THE MICROPHONE PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME AND AFFILIATION FOR THE RECORD.
>> OK. THANK YOU, JUDGE. JUDGE COMMISSIONERS THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO PRESENT TO YOU TODAY. MY NAME IS DAVID QUINN I'M THE PROGRAM MANAGER FOR PUBLIC POWER POOL. WE'RE AN AGGREGATE TORE CREATED BY A 4 MEANT BETTER COUNT TEARS. THE GROUP WAS FOUNDED WITH THE HELP OF COMMISSIONER BACK IN 2002 AND HAS ALWAYS HAD A SEAT ON THE P3 BOARD. THE GROUP COMPRISES 99 MEMBERS, 39 IN THE HARRIS GALVESTON GULF COAST WITH 1 MILLION MEGAWATT HOURS AND STAND OF $75 MILLION.
OUR MISSION ALL ALONG HAS BEEN TO SAVE TAXPAYER DOLLARS. SAVE YOU TAXPAYER DOLLARS BY SECURING THE LOWEST ELECTRICITY RATES IN BULK TO LEVERAGE SUPERIOR CONTRACT TERMS AND TO PROVIDE MEMBERS WITH FULL CONTRACT SERVICE THAT IS FINALLY TUNED TO EACH ONE APPS INDIVIDUAL NEEDS -- AS A MEMBER SINCE THE PROGRAM BEGAN HARRIS COUNTY HAS SAVED OVER 25.5 MILLION DOLLARS AGAINST MARKET PRICES UNDER THE CURRENT CONTRACT THE COUNTY HAS SAVED $1.7 MILLION SINCE JANUARY OF THIS YEAR. WHEN WE CONDUCT OUR R.F.P. WE
[00:10:03]
MAKE SURE EVERY PROVIDER IN TEXAS IS INVITED TO RESPOND. LAST TIME WE DID THIS 38 RESPONDED AND 11 ENTERED INTO NEGOTIATIONS WITH P3. IN THE PAST BROKERS HAVE TRIED TO WIN OUR CONTRACT HOWEVER THE PRICE THAT THEY OFFER JUST CAN'T COMPETE WITH THE BULK DISCOUNTS WE'RE ABLE TO WORK WITH WIND DIRECTLY FROM RETAILERS. OUR CONTACT INDUSTRY TELLS US OUR PROCUREMENT IS ONE OF THE BEST R.F.P. APPS. OUR 2020 PROJECTS A CEILING RATE OF NO LONGER THAN THE 3 YEAR FIXED RATE. THE TARGET RIGHT FOR THE LOWER THAN WOULD DELIVER SIGNIFICANT COST REDUCTIONS FOR THE COUNTY. WE'RE LOOKING AT RATES HERE OF BETWEEN 3 POINT 275 CENTS FOR A 3-YEAR CONTRACT DOWN TO JUST OVER 3 CENTS FOR A 10 YEAR CONTRACT WHICH WOULD AMOUNT TO ABOUT $500,000 OF SAVINGS A YEAR OF REDUCTIONS COMPARED TO YOUR CURRENT CONTRACTED RATE. IN THE PAST WE'VE ALWAYS PROCURED SIGNIFICANTLY BELOW OUR SEASON. THE LAST TIME WE DID THE PROCUREMENTS WE DELIVERED THE RATE THAT WAS 17% BELOW OUR CEILING RATE WORTH $2 MILLION TO THE COUNTY THIS FISCAL YEAR.WE DON'T TRY TO TIME THE MARKET. WE TRY TO MINIMIZE RISK AND EXPOSURE TO OUR MEMBERS.
IN THE PAST WE HAVE PRUDENTLY PROCURED YEARS IN ADVANCE OF THE CONTRACT END DATE TO SECURE ADDITIONAL RATE REDUCTIONS. OUR CURRENT MARKET AS WE ENTER A PERIOD OF VOLATILITY POTENTIAL
VOLATILITY WITH OIL MARKETS WE DO ASK. >> THANK YOU MR. QUINN THANK YOU
SO MUCH. >> THANK YOU, JUDGE. YEAH.
>> I CAN ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS THANK YOU. >> JUDGE, BEFORE WE GO ON WITH DISCUSSION IF THE COURT WOULD ALLOW I JUST RECEIVED -- I'VE BEEN KEPT ABREAST OF A SHOOTING THAT HAPPENED EARLIER TODAY AND THERE IS AN OFFICER WHO HAS LOST HIS LIFE AND SO IF YOU WOULD INDULGE US I WOULD LIKE TO RECOGNIZE A MOMENT OF SILENCE IN HONOR OF THAT OFFICERS LIFE.
THAT IS SERGEANT HAROLD PRESTON. AFFAIR RVENTLY SERVED H.P.D. FOR 41 YEARS.
THE NAME DOESN'T DRAW A MEMORY AT THE MOMENT BUT I'M SURE I'VE CROSSED PATHS WITH HIM.
SO IF YOU WILL JUST BOW YOUR HEADS FOR A MOMENT OF SILENCE. THANK YOU JUDGE.
>> THANK YOU COMMISSIONER. THAT'S TERRIBLE NEWS. THANK YOU.
SO I'M JUST TRYING TO GET A SENSE OF THIS DO WE NEED TO BREAK OR GO AHEAD COMMISSIONER.
>> I HAVE A VERY QUICK QUESTION. WHEN WE DECLINED TO PARTICIPATE IF WE DECLINE TO PARTICIPATE IN THE 2023 PROCUREMENT PROPOSAL MY QUESTION IS TO MAKE SURE IF OUR TEAM SAYS THAT THIS DEAL IS ACTUALLY A GOOD DEAL FOR US WE CAN TONIGHT COME BACK IN AT THE TIMELINE IS SUFFICIENT SO WE CAN OPT BACK IN AFTER WE'VE PROVIDE IT AND THAT'S I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THAT'S STILL ON THE
TABLE. >> I'M NOT SURE TO BE QUITE HONEST WITH YOU.
I THINK THE FACT IS THAT THIS IS A TIMELINE THAT'S BEEN ILL POFD BY P3 THAT WE HAVE TO MAKE A DECISION TODAY TO OPT IN OR NOT AND SO BUT YOU KNOW WITH A LOT OF UNCERTAINTY IN THE VERY NEAR FUTURE YOU KNOW THE FEEDBACK THAT I'VE GOTTEN FROM OTHERS IN TRYING TO CRAFT WHETHER THIS WAS A GOOD TREKS TO GO IS THAT IN THE AFFIRMATIVE THAT THERE'S SO MUCH OPPORTUNITY WE BELIEVE FOR RENEWABLE AND AFFORDABLE CLEAN ENERGY IN THE FORESEEABLE FUTURE WE MAY NOT HAVE TO LOOK BACK BUT I BELIEVE WITH THE SUPPORT OF THOSE INVOLVED AND MR. BARRY YOU'VE GOT AN ENERGY BACKGROUND
RIGHT? >> I DO. >> YOUR THOUGHTS ON WHETHER
THERE'S SOMETHING MUCH MORE PROMISING FOR US IN THE FUTURE? >> COMMISSIONER] .
[00:15:04]
I CANNOT HEAR THE SPEAKER.] >> YES COMMISSIONER. >> IF THEY ARE IMPOSING THE DEADLINE I DON'T LIKE THE IDEA OF PLAN BEING LAID OUT. SO FROM OUR STANDPOINT -- I
CANNOT THEY'RE COMMISSIONER. >> THANK YOU. SO IN THAT CASE DO WE HAVE A MOTION? THERE'S BEEN A MOTION THERE'S BEEN A SECOND.
ALL IN FAVOR. >> EYE. >> JIE --
>> AND I JUST WANT TO SAY EVERYONE APPRECIATES COMMISSIONER GARCIA.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORK ON THE POWER POOL AND WE WELCOME THEIR APPLICATION INTO OUR R.F.P.
I'LL VOTE IN FAVOR SO THE MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY. NOW ROBERT MY STAFF IS TEXTING ME. I DIDN'T READ THE HOSPITAL DISTRICT RATE EARLIER.
>> I HAVE TO SAY I WAS GOING TO CHECK WITH YOU TO SEE IF YOU READ IT.
>> SO DO I NEED TO RE-OPEN THE HEARING. >> GO AHEAD AND RE-OPEN THE
HEARING AND READ THAT STATEMENT FOR THE RATES FOR BOTH. >> SO I'M GOING TO RE-OPEN THE
[I. Tax Rates (Part 2 of 2)]
PUBLIC HEARING ON THE 2020 APPROACHED TAX RATES. THE PROPOSED -- TAX RATES IS POINT TWO 6-49 FOR MAINTENANCE AN OPERATIONS AND POINT. OH.OH 493 FOR DEBT SERVICE -- FOR A TOTAL RATE OF .03142. THE PROPOSED RATE FOR THE HOSPITAL DISTRICT IS POINT ONE 6-49-1 FOR MAINTENANCE AND OPERATIONS AND POINT.
OH 0-18. OH FOR DEBT SERVICE FOR A TOTAL RIGHT OF 1-16-67-1.
DOES THAT SOUND RIGHT TO EVERYONE? OK.
YES. >> ON THE NOTICE COULD YOU ACTUALLY PUT IN THE NOTICE THAT YOU'RE GOING TO RUN-IN THE PAPER THAT THE ACTUAL OPTIONS OF COMMISSIONERS COURT.
I MEAN THEY'RE VERY LIMITED WHAT WE CAN DO. >> RIGHT THEY ARE.
AND THE NEWSPAPER NOTICE HAS ALREADY RUN. SO IT'S TOO LATE TO CHANGE THAT.
>> OK. ALL RIGHT. >> BUT THE INTENTION IS TO CLARIFY ON THE POSTING ON THE 29TH THAT THE OPTIONS ARE LIMITED TO COMMISSIONERS.
>> AND THEN YOU'LL MAKE SURE THOSE OPTIONS ARE CLEARLY IN THE NOTICE WE'RE GOING TO HAVE
COMMISSIONERS COURT. >> YES AND I'LL WORK WITH BUDGET MANAGEMENT TO MAKE SURE THAT'S
CLEAR. >> GOOD DEAL THANK YOU. >> ALL RIGHT.
SO LET'S CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING ON THE PROPOSED TAX RATE THE COURT WELL ADOPT THE FINAL SCHEDULE OF RATES ON OCTOBER 27TH 2020 AT 10:00 A.M. NOW WE HAVE DISCUSSED THE ITEM ON THE PUBLIC POWER POOL SO BARRING ANYTHING ELSE IT IS ONE 21 AND COMMISSIONERS COURT IS ADJOURNED. THANK
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.