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Good morning. Welcome to commissioner's court meeting of tuesday, april 28, 2026. Commissioner calvert, I believe

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you have the opening prayer with father jimmy and the

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pledge of allegiance, and I believe commissioner calvert, you are present, and I will yield the floor

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to you. Thank you so much, judge.

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we unfortunately had a little mishap with father jimmy, but we are so fortunate to have

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a lifelong friend. Friend, reverend deborah seward, who is our mlk chair

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and also the community engagement coordinator for the san antonio african

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american archive and museum. Reverend seward is a proud alum of highland university, excuse me, of highlands high

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school. She dedicated 13 years

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of service as a paraprofessional in the special education department at the san antonio independent

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school district. She holds certifications in early childhood education from san antonio college and

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lay ministry and pastoral studies from the o'blake

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school of theology. Her divine calling led her to becoming licensed

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in ministry on january the 15th, 2017, and she is married

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to reverend butch seward, mother to one biological daughter, and affectionately known as mom

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to many, including myself, because I've known her since I was a... Literally a child.

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she looks the same. She hasn't aged a day. Her heart beats for service,

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as evidenced by her dedication to community engagement, event coordination,

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and volunteer support for the san antonio african american archive and museum.

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beyond her work at the museum, she also actively contributes

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to our community. As I said, she is our mlk march chair.

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reverend seward, if all would rise in the commissioner's court. You have the floor, reverend

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seward, for our prayer.

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shall we pray? Father god, we thank you, lord, for this day. We thank you for everything that you've done

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in our lives, lord, and we don't take it for granted because blessings come

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from you, and we're so grateful. Lord, I want

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to ask a special blessing on our commissioners today. Lord, I ask that you... Guide them and lead them as

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they lead this city and throughout. Lord, I ask for a blessing on

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their staffers as they continue to support the leadership. Lord, and I ask a rich blessing

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on the city of san antonio and bexar county and the

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surrounding cities. Lord, we need you more than anything today and beyond.

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lord, our future lay in your hands.

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and we cannot. Do anything without you. Lord, we thank you for this very moment.

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we thank you for everything that you will continue to do as we work, lord,

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to serve this community. Lord, let us do it with truth, honesty, and

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with love. Lord, we thank you for everything that will happen

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in today's session. Lord, and I pray your richest blessings

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on all the proceedings. Thank you so much, lord.

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that you continue to love us the way that you do. And it is in jesus' name that I

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ask and I pray and I believe. Amen. Thank you, reverend seward.

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if everyone would turn towards the flag and repeat the pledge of allegiance. Pledge of allegiance

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to the flag of the united states of america and to the republic for which it stands, one

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nation, under god, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.

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thank you, commissioner

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calvert. We'll take up agenda item 3,

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request of commissioner's court to identify items from consent agenda for additional discussion.

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approve remaining consent agenda items. Commissioner clay flores. Can you come back to me,

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please? All right. Commissioner rodriguez will shortly be here.

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commissioner moody. Commissioner calvert.

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no items, judge. I'm back to you, commissioner clay flores.

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nothing to call, judge. Okay, is there a motion? Move for approval.

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motion by commissioner clay flores, second by commissioner moody.

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any further discussion? Hearing none, all those in favor, signal by saying aye. Aye.

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any opposed? Motion carries. Let me see, I believe there might be some citizens

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to be heard I need in regards to consent. Let me have those right now.

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52. Okay.

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what's this one?

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all right. I'm trying to accommodate those that had signed up for consent.

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as you just heard, the entire consent agenda has been approved. All those matters of consent

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are now being passed by unanimous vote

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of the court. However, in order to accommodate as a professional courtesy,

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I want those that signed up, if you still wish to speak, I have agenda item 52.

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I have one, two, three, four,

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five. Six, seven people. Fifty-two has been passed at this time.

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I will call your name out. If you wish to speak, you have three minutes. If you wish to wave,

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I certainly understand. First one will be jim burke.

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do you wish to speak? This is agenda item 52.

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I am representing mr.

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burke and the other folks that signed up for item number... 52. So mr. Burke had signed up to make a presentation when item 52 came up.

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but if no presentations are... All right. Rob dillon, you have three...

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actually, you got six with him yielding. No, no.

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I actually signed up for myself as well to speak on this for item 52. But during citizens, again,

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mr. Burke and the other speakers on item 52 are really... He's here. Mr.

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burke is here to answer questions about the item. But if you'd like me to speak under my sign, if I can do that right now.

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proceed. So thank you, judge sakai, commissioners. My name is rob killen.

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I'm an attorney with the law firm of killen, griffin, and fairmont. Our address is 10101 union

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place in san antonio, here on behalf of mr. Burke. Mr. Burke is here today to make a donation to bexar county

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in the amount of $2.175 million.

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that donation is to pay for critical infrastructure in southeast san antonio, which

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will be considered under item 52 on the agenda. Yeah, a couple items.

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one is an agreement for mr. Burke's donation to bexar county, and then an advanced

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funding agreement to take mr. Burke's donation and give it to txdot to pay for a ramp at 37 and military.

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so, a project that txdot has been working on for a while.

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it is similar to an agreement that this court approved back in 2015.

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so you had an advanced funding agreement and a donation agreement back in 2015. Parties have changed, so one

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of the action items on your agenda today is to... Take the old agreement and get rid of it.

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there's an entity called circo that was part of the original agreement. They're gone, so basically bring it up

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to speed. And so, mr. Burke has been, and his family have been,

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frequent and heavily engaged throughout the years with san

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antonio as leaders, as donors. Mr.

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burke has made a number of donations of land or money over the years for parks, for books.

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hospital and higher education. This donation today will help alleviate some traffic

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congestion at that military and I-37 interchange. We started working

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on this new version of the agreement about four months ago, working

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with txdot, working with the republic works department. We've worked with the city of san antonio.

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on march 31st, the district attorney's office sent us the final version of the agreement.

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we executed it, and we were agendized for today. So I just really want

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to say today, thank you. I want to thank your public works department. I want to thank the da's

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office, city of san antonio. In particular, I want to thank charles benavidez, the district engineer with txdot,

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who has worked overtime on this. And then commissioner calvert.

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I know commissioner calvert is remote, but commissioner calvert, thank you so much for taking the lead on this. But I really just want

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to thank the court for their engagement on this important, vital piece of public infrastructure.

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so with that, I will conclude my remarks and ask you to accept mr. Burke's donation of $2.175. Rob, would you please...

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stay right there. Yes, sir. The court, me, has erred. 52 is not part of consent.

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and so the consent agenda items have all been approved by prior vote.

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so I am now going to call up, for purpose of the record, item 52, which is a late file.

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so I'm asking the court for permission to consider all late files.

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so if I could have a motion to consider late file items 50, 51, 52.

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53, is there a motion? We've approved to have all late-filed items on the agenda.

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second. Motion by commissioner calvert, second by commissioner clay flores. All those in favor,

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signify saying aye. Aye. Any opposed? Any abstentions? Motion carried.

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the court will now call up item 52 and have discussion and

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appropriate action related to the granting exception to administrative policy 1.2

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to authorize the consideration of following late file agenda item 52a. Having approved the

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late file, 52a, discussion and appropriate action regarding approval of an indemnity agreement

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between bexar county and indian homes for the construction

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of the interchange of ih 37. State loop 13 southeast military drive as well as

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associated frontage roads. Approval of amendment no. 1 for purpose of terminating

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the advance funding agreement executed between txdot and bexar county on november 13,

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2015 and approval of a voluntary local government contributions advance funding

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agreement for $2,175,000 between bexar county and the

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texas department of transportation. Do we need a presentation by mr.

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wegman for purpose of the court? We've actually had mr.

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killen do that for us. Also, too, then let me go back to the citizens of the earth, mr.

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killen. I just want to make sure anybody is here because miranda aguilar, are you here? Miranda, where are you?

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miranda aguilar?

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and, judge, it would be, I think, very good for the public to get dave wegman's presentation just

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because it's such an important infrastructure. Intersection, it helps educate

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the community. So hopefully he's close. So noted. But let me go ahead and get the

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citizens to be heard. Diego, aldrete, deal. Mr. Rodriguez, we have the

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proclamations. Priscilla, shelley, buchman,

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buchman, shelley, buchman.

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roger williams. Roger williams.

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stephen vickers. Stephen vickers.

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all right, mr. Wegman, where are you?

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the court has called.

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is jeff bradley in the room? Jeff, did you sign up? You didn't put what you signed up for.

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which item? Jeff bradley?

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number five? Okay, got it. Okay. All right.

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mr. Smith?

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okay. You want to take mark's notes? All right.

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who's going to present for how do we? Anyway.

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hold on, hold on. We got a motion on the floor.

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start it.

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judge, david webman couldn't make it here today, so I'm representing him. This item was on consent.

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it got pulled. Unfortunately, we don't have a presentation, but I believe the gentleman

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over here already presented the item.

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so, do you have any questions? All right. Commissioner calvert, this is in your presence.

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do you have any questions or further comment? No, I'm appreciative to move this infrastructure forward

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to improve the interchange at 37 and southeast military. It's a very congested area,

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and this helps us with that congestion. It'll be another triangle, I

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believe, configuration similar to what blanco road is

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developing. So I'd like to move approval

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of the indemnity agreement between bexar county and indian homes ltb

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for the construction of the interchange of ih 37 and southeast military drive, loop 13, as well as the associated

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frontage roads. Second.

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motion by commissioner calvert. I take it we're going to take it in separate motions.

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we've got three motions. So second by commissioner rodriguez. Any further discussion?

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hearing none. All those in favor, second by saying aye. Aye. Any opposed? Any abstention? Commissioner calvert, second

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motion. Yes, sir. Approval of amendment no. 1 for the purpose of terminating the advance funding

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agreement executed between texot and bexar county on november 13, 2015.

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motion by commissioner calvert, second by commissioner rodriguez.

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all those in favor say an aye. Aye. Any opposed, any abstention? Motion carries. Third motion.

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it will be to move to approve a voluntary local government

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contributions advance funding agreement for $2.175 million

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between bexar county and the texas department of transportation. Motion by commissioner

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calvert, second by commissioner rodriguez. All those in favor, second by saying aye. Aye. Any opposed, any abstention?

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motion carries. I believe that concludes. Mr. Killen, I'll let you have the closing statement.

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yeah, thank you so much, judge, commissioners, commissioner calvert, and everyone involved on county staff as well as,

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again, our friends at txdot. This is a critically important piece of infrastructure.

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the diverging diamond design will significantly reduce wait times at that intersection, 20, 40 minutes

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in some cases. So. We're very excited to have it happen and look forward

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to seeing it built. Thank you very much. And, mr. Killen, I would like

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to express my gratitude to the burke family. They're an integral part of this project.

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so, mr. Burke, thank you. And I'd like to just recognize and ask that we give the burke

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family a round of applause. And if you have any closing statements. Thank you so much, judge.

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I love your brevity, mr. Burke. Thank you very much.

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all right. Let us go back then. To ceremonial and get

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through that. And I'm going to ask for brevity, please. So that first one will be

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presentation proclamation on behalf of commissioner's court recognizing jewish american heritage month by commissioner moody and

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commissioner rodriguez. We need your signatures.

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all right.

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well, it's an honor to be able to recognize may as jewish american heritage month. To receive today's

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proclamation, we have the jewish federation of san antonio with us today.

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I think I have everybody. Amanda fite, leslie mett, sarah eddington, sarah ram, lisa guerrero, I don't see

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craig, but I do see noah, and

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ari lasky. So thank you for being here to receive this.

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the proclamation reads,

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whereas may 2026 is recognized as jewish american heritage

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month, honoring the contributions of jewish americans to the united states, texas, and bexar

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county, and whereas may was officially first proclaimed jewish american heritage month

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by president george w. Bush in 2006, and whereas the american jewish community

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traces its roots to 1654, when jewish refugees arrived to

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escape religious persecution and to seek religious freedom. Beginning a legacy that has

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helped shape our nation. And whereas the jewish families have lived in bexar county since the 1840s, when early

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settlers helped build san antonio and founded the first jewish congregation in bexar

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county in 1874. And whereas the jewish

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community of bexar county has contributed significantly to the cultural richness, economic vitality, charity,

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and civic leadership of this region, their contributions and legacy

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include the lighthouse for the blind, the tuesday night music club, the san

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antonio symphony, the holocaust memorial museum of san antonio, the jewish

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community relations council, child advocates san antonio, and jewish family services.

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the community's dedication to civic life includes taking

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on positions of leadership and helping to dismantle segregation during

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the civil rights movement. And whereas the jewish american heritage month

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provides an opportunity to reflect on these contributions, recognizing the resilience and

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achievements of jewish americans, reaffirms bexar county's commitment

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to combating prejudice, standing against anti-semitism and all forms of hate, and promotes unity

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among our residents

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of this county. Now, therefore, be it resolved that the bexar

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county commissioner's court hereby designates may 2026 as jewish heritage month. Signed, your commissioner's court.

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if you'd like to say a few words, please. Thank you. It's an honor. Thank you, commissioner moody and judge sakai, commissioner

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rodriguez, commissioner clay flores, and commissioner calvert. We're really honored today

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to mark the beginning of jewish american heritage month for the month of may, and we're just proud residents of bexar

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county and just really happy to be part of the vibrant fabric

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of our county.

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commissioner calvert, I'm teeing you up. You have the next three. The first one will be the animal day.

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the next one will be the masonic lodge, and the third one will be the second chance month.

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so we'll take a presentation and proclamation on behalf of the bexar county commissioner's court,

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recognizing april 30th as national therapy animal day and the work of volunteers

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cynthia happy buttle, it's not butler, it's buttles, and

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linda kaiser and their therapy animals serving the bexar county community. So I'll ask for a correction.

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of the agenda to say bottles, b-u-t-t-l-e-s. All right, commissioner

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cameron. Thank you so much, judge, and all the team that's

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down there. We have this proclamation in the name and by the authority of the

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commissioner's court of bexar county, and it reads, whereas therapy animal teams serve communities across the united

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states, including bexar county, and whereas pet partners has designated april

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30th as national therapy animal day, and whereas research shows that interaction

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with therapy animals can reduce stress,

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improve mental and physical health, and strengthen the human-animal bond.

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and whereas therapy animal teams throughout bexar county play a vital role in enhancing

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health and well-being by fostering the human-animal bond, serving a wide range of residents including veterans,

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seniors, hospital patients, students, and individuals facing serious illness or

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end-of-life care. And whereas bexar county

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encourages residents to consider volunteering with organizations such as pet partners to expand access

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to therapy animal services across our community, now therefore be it resolved that

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the bexar county commissioner's court hereby recognizes and celebrates, we've got a typo here, april

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30, 2026 as national therapy animal day.

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witness our signature in the seal of office this 28th day of april, 2026, signed by your commissioner's court.

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happy and team, happy to hear from you. Or is it the honorable judge

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boyd? Thank you so much. Good morning, judge boyd.

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oh, good morning. It is an honor to be here, and I want to thank judge sakai and thank the commissioners for doing this.

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I can tell you that I've had therapy dogs in my court to help with young witnesses,

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because we have that a lot in the felony courts. And they do just such excellent work, and so I'm honored

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to be here just to celebrate them, because too

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often we overlook the therapy dogs and don't realize that they're actually doing work.

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so thank you so much for giving them this honor. Thank you, commissioner

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calvert, and thank you, happy and piper. And I think commissioner

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roth, excuse me. Me, the honorable judge ron ronhill, 379.

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good morning, judge sakai. Good morning, commissioner's court.

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I've lost my voice, as we all know. There were two parades this past weekend, and I yelled

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probably a little more than I should have. Anyway, I want to thank you for having us today. Let me tell you just a few

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moments about what therapy dogs can do and what I've seen in the courtroom. We know that the courtroom is a

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rigid, structured place, which doesn't feel very human. But when you consider every aspect of what makes...

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the courtroom what it is, it's a human endeavor. Be it judge, jury, witnesses,

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victims of crime, defendants, anybody that comes

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in as a human being with their own emotions, their own feelings,

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their own thoughts about things, and you can feel that stress level really come up.

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therapy dogs in the courtroom really, really lowers that. It brings compassion.

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it brings an opportunity for folks to feel like everything is okay being

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in that particular environment. And sort of as an aside, lately

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in the courtroom because of the advent of technology we have seen some real serious

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crimes take place by way of example. There was a case where a young man shot at a couple of other

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young folks. A police officer runs up to a 16 year old child, turns her

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around, tries to save her life and she passes away on video on the

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on the officer's dashcam. That was very stressful for the witnesses, very stressful for the jurors. I think the therapy dogs coming

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in really helped to alleviate that particular stress,

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that particular anxiety, and allowed folks to come with a conclusion that was appropriate.

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thank you for what you're doing. They are here to stay. Have a great rest

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of the day. Thank you. Thank you. Would y'all please come forward

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for your proclamation and a picture?

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thank you, guys.

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commissioner, presentation of proclamation on behalf of bexar county commissioner's

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court recognizing the 150th anniversary of san antonio lodge no.

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01, the first masonic lodge of african americans in the state of texas. Go, commissioner clay.

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floors. Yeah, I'm reading it for commissioner calvert.

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if you guys want to come forward, please. We're at san antonio lodge

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no. 1 under the most worshipable prince hall grand lodge. Free and accepted masons of

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texas and jurisdictions originate from establishments in 1873.

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it was one of the first masonic lodges of black men in texas. Later rechartered as san

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antonio lodge no. 1 in 1876. And whereas san antonio lodge

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no. 1 has played a significant role in the civic, professional, and spiritual life of bexar

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county, counting among its members respected leaders including clergy, physicians, civil rights advocates, military veterans,

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and public servants. And whereas, as it commemorates its anniversary, san antonio

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lodge no. 1 stands as a lasting testament to the enduring legacy of

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prince hall masonry and its commitment to service, education, and the betterment

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of mankind. Now, therefore, be it resolved that bexar county

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commissioner's court thank you. Hereby recognizes the anniversary of san antonio lodge number one.

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thank you so much for being here.

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first, give an honor to god, the honorable judge sakai, commissioners. Thank you so much

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for the recognition. As stated in the proclamation, we're 150-plus years old.

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as being the first, the birthplace of prince hall masonry in texas is important

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to us. 150 years of making good men better. And not just the men behind me being mason,

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but we're all u.s. Veterans as well in the military, various

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services. I know my brother marine. There was over at the downtown for the ceremony for the eight

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on the rooftop ceremony. That's when I saw you there,

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but that was great. But once again, I want to thank you all. We're looking forward

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to not just celebrating 150 years, but celebrating another 50 years.

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hopefully I'll be around for that time. I don't think so. But we do have a new generation

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of masons that are just coming up with this raise. Or had a ceremony

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for three just last week. So we're continuing to do the great work, and thank you so much

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for allowing us to be here.

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all right. Commissioner tina, presentation on proclamation on behalf of the commissioner's court, recognized in april as second

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chance month, highlighting the importance of reentry and recovery support services

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for individuals transitioning from incarceration. Thank you so much.

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and I'll just say, as masons leave, my grandfather was a 32nd degree mason.

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congratulations once again. Well, judge and

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commissioners, I want to thank you all for your support of our second chance job fair. This year was one of the most

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heartwarming and a real sign of progress. As our teams from the reentry

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center come to the dais, we had over 1,000 people who pre-registered and came

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for jobs. And many of those folks were

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just as involved. We had a record number of employers, I believe over 80 this year.

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and this was one of the best and I saw renee watson in the shot taking a picture a moment ago.

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she was the first organizer for our office in the county and I want

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to thank her all the way up to ida and her great team at the reentry center who have

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helped to really change the culture in bexar county of our second

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chance community. So this proclamation reads, whereas bexar county is

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committed to strengthening public safety and community stability by supporting

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individuals returning to their communities, from incarceration

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with opportunities for employment, recovery, and reintegration. And whereas second chance month is observed each april

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to raise awareness of the barriers faced by justice-involved individuals and to promote policies that

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support successful reentry. And whereas the bexar county reentry center works

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collaboratively with local systems and community partners to provide evidence-based

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reentry and recovery support services that improve outcomes, strengthen families,

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families and enhance public safety, and whereas the

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dedicated efforts of community organizations, such as unity recovery, provide critical peer-led support,

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workforce readiness services, and community-based programs that reduce barriers

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to long-term stability, as reflected

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in their ongoing participation in the second chance job fair.

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now, therefore, be it resolved that the bexar county commissioner's court does hereby proclaim the month of april as second chance

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month. Witness our signatures and seal of office this 28th day of april 2026 signed

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by your commissioner's court. We'd love to hear from you all at the dais.

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good morning judge sakai and commissioners. Thank you for having us here today.

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my name is aida negron. I serve as the bexar county reentry manager and I believe in second chances and third

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chances and fourth chances and 20th chances because one of

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those chances might be the one where a justice-involved person decides

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to change the trajectory of their lives.

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why is second chance month important to me and to all of us here? Because as at the end of

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2023, 1.8 million people were incarcerated in the united

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states. This makes the united states the country

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with the largest number of prisoners in the world. The u.s.

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has roughly 5% of the world's population and has more than 25% of the world's prison

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population. The u.s.

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incarcerates its citizens more than china, russia, and north korea. In 2021, state and local

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governments spent $135 billion

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on police, $87 billion on corrections, $52 billion

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on courts, which totals $274 billion. That's a lot of money, and I

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think we can use that money for more beneficial things for our community.

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the one thing that everybody who is in jail and prisons has

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in common is that 95% of them will return

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to their communities. Why does this matter to bexar county? Because approximately 77 to

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100 million americans, roughly

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one in three adults, have a criminal record. Additionally, this is the

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reason why nearly 75% of people who were formerly incarcerated remain unemployed a year

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after being released. To address the issue in bexar county, every april since

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2015, commissioner calvert has championed the second chance job fair event

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for returning citizens. His team and the reentry

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center team, standing here in the black polo shirts,

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work diligently to provide an annual job fair at the freeman coliseum expo

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hall in honor of national second chance month.

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uh-oh, can't turn the page. This is the place where preparation meets opportunity for job seekers. This year, 717 justice-impacted

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individuals were able

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to provide their resumes to 58 second-chance employers and

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speak to them face-to-face. We are so grateful to those

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employers who attended our job fair. We can't thank you enough for

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being open-minded and giving second chances to people who have completed their sentences

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and want to live a crime-free life. You are making it possible.

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for them to earn a livable wage and become tax-paying citizens.

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we are also blessed to have great community-based organizations that are willing to assist job seekers

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with resources at the job fair. Thank you always for being

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supportive and filling the gaps. To all the people in bexar

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county who are struggling with barriers after incarceration,

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please call us or stop by our office.

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we want to assist you in your journey to change your life.

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nyjah brought some packets. She's our employer specialist. And we want to share that

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with you. I also want to thank all of you for recognizing april as

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second chance month. And commissioner calvert has

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been a champion, like I said, and wonderful at getting the word out

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about our event. And I kindly request that you share the packet with employers in your

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precincts so that way next year in 2027 we have 100 employers at our job fair.

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but lastly, before I finish, or I would like to let nisha

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say a few words, if that's okay with everybody.

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I wanted to call up susie malone. She is probably the only person

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that I know of besides commissioner calvert, who has been at all the second chance job fairs since 2015.

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and this thursday, come on, this thursday, she is retiring from the county after 15 years

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of service at the jail and at the reentry center. Please help me give her a round

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of applause for her hard work and helping incarcerated as well as returning citizens

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over the past 15 years. I would appreciate it. Yes.

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all right. Ms.

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malone? Yeah, she's going to, this is a packet that will help employers

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understand. The importance of hiring the formerly incarcerated, as well

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as giving them information about how to find the incentives.

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shrm, which is a national organization that provides hr

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managers with information

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on how to change policies at your workplace that will allow

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an individual to work there and just not cut them off because they have a background.

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thank you so much. Hello everyone, my name is nyjah bar-antis. Like aida had said, I serve as the career and

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technical education specialist for the bexar county reentry center.

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this proclamation is important because it reflects what we do and what we see every day in our office.

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we sit with people who are ready to grow, contribute, and work.

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they just need that opportunity, right? Right now there's a big gap between those ready to work and those willing to give the second chance.

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we're working really close to educate employers on the incentives and benefits around second chance hiring,

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right? We have this big talent pool that's untapped into of people who have certifications and

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trainings and are ready to contribute in a meaningful way. This work is about creating

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spaces where people are not defined by their past, but recognized for their potential, and where employers choose

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to lead with opportunity. Our call to action is very simple, to partner with us, open your

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doors, and have employers be a part of a stronger,

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more inclusive workforce. When we invest in second chances, we strengthen families

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all around bexar county. So thank you all for having us here today.

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I'm sorry, I believe the unity people are here as well.

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okay thank you very much.

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mr. Calvert, for your leadership on the reentry program. Thank you for your support.

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all right. The next one will be presentation and proclamation on behalf of the commission court, recognizing may 4th

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through the 8th, 2026, as bexar county small business week, and highlighted

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in partnership and effort to the u.s. Small business administration, sba, san antonio district office.

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texas southwest sbdc network, utsa sbdc, and bexar county small business and

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entrepreneurship department. Ms. Renee watson, I will read the

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proclamation. Whereas, small businesses are the engine of the american economy and the foundation of a

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free and prosperous nation built by people of all backgrounds who work hard, take risks, and believe

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in the power of the american dream. And whereas in our fields, on our factory floors, or

421
00:41:18,667 --> 00:41:21,733
at the frontiers, of technology, small businesses

422
00:41:24,033 --> 00:41:28,000
are driving the innovation and building the products that keep america strong, competitive, and secure,

423
00:41:29,367 --> 00:41:31,867
whereas this country's 30 million small businesses create nearly two out

424
00:41:33,433 --> 00:41:36,633
of three net new jobs in our economy. We cannot resolve to create

425
00:41:38,133 --> 00:41:40,867
jobs and spur economic growth in america without discussing ways

426
00:41:42,233 --> 00:41:44,500
to support our entrepreneurs, and whereas the president of the united states has

427
00:41:46,467 --> 00:41:50,367
proclaimed national small business week every year since 1963. To highlight the programs and

428
00:41:51,767 --> 00:41:55,500
services available to entrepreneurships through the u.s. Small business

429
00:41:56,533 --> 00:42:00,167
administration, sba, bexar county small business and entrepreneurship department, and other government agencies,

430
00:42:01,167 --> 00:42:05,167
and whereas the sba recognizes small business owners' successes and contributions to our nation, in celebration

431
00:42:06,400 --> 00:42:08,100
of the winners, the san antonio small business awards

432
00:42:10,833 --> 00:42:13,567
luncheon, co-hosted by texas southwest sbdc network, will be held on may 7, 2026.

433
00:42:15,600 --> 00:42:17,833
at the norse conference center.

434
00:42:20,467 --> 00:42:23,300
now, therefore, it be resolved that the bexar county commission's court hereby proclaims may 4th through may

435
00:42:24,600 --> 00:42:26,800
8th, 2026, as bexar county small business week, signed

436
00:42:28,800 --> 00:42:31,300
by the members of the court. Let's give them a round of applause, too.

437
00:42:35,533 --> 00:42:39,367
good morning. Good morning, and thank you. Renee watson and I serve as the director of the small business and entrepreneurship department at bexar county.

438
00:42:40,033 --> 00:42:43,767
today is game day, which impacts... A lot of small businesses

439
00:42:45,333 --> 00:42:48,833
in our community. So we're going to start off by saying, go spurs, go wrap it up tonight so we can continue

440
00:42:50,333 --> 00:42:54,300
to have more activity as we look forward. The spurs are our partners in our celebration, and today

441
00:42:55,233 --> 00:42:57,733
we have and we recognize in our partnership with the

442
00:43:00,200 --> 00:43:03,800
u.s. Small business administration as well as the ut san antonio

443
00:43:04,933 --> 00:43:08,833
small business development center. Several of their representatives are here,

444
00:43:09,800 --> 00:43:12,267
and we will have remarks from our sba deputy district...

445
00:43:14,300 --> 00:43:17,333
director, inessa, and she will give you some remarks on behalf of the sba.

446
00:43:18,833 --> 00:43:22,400
thank you. Thank you, rene.

447
00:43:23,500 --> 00:43:26,600
good morning, commissioners, partners, and community members.

448
00:43:27,733 --> 00:43:30,733
my name is inessa stepanenko. I'm a deputy district director with the san antonio district

449
00:43:32,167 --> 00:43:34,867
office of u.s. Small business administration. As you said, judge sakai, we've

450
00:43:38,033 --> 00:43:41,933
been around since 1953. Almost 80 years of celebrating national small business week, and we're here

451
00:43:46,700 --> 00:43:50,333
today, and it is our privilege to join you celebrating. National small business week and the proclamation

452
00:43:51,700 --> 00:43:55,467
recognizing may 4th through 8th, 2026 as bexar county small business week.

453
00:43:58,367 --> 00:43:58,367
in a city that has just come of

454
00:44:02,933 --> 00:44:02,933
the energy and traditional

455
00:44:07,333 --> 00:44:10,467
fiesta, it is fitting that we carry that spirit forward by recognizing and celebrating

456
00:44:12,433 --> 00:44:14,367
small businesses and entrepreneurs who power our

457
00:44:16,867 --> 00:44:18,867
local economy. As well as all the partners,

458
00:44:21,000 --> 00:44:24,733
community collaborators, small business champions across bexar county who

459
00:44:27,467 --> 00:44:31,267
champion their success. This recognition reflects the impact and resilience of our

460
00:44:33,233 --> 00:44:36,100
small business community. The sba is proud

461
00:44:38,100 --> 00:44:41,100
of the strong partnership between our office, the texas southwest sbdc network, utsbdc

462
00:44:43,233 --> 00:44:46,500
and of course bexar county small business and

463
00:44:49,333 --> 00:44:51,933
entrepreneurship department along with many other city and county partners.

464
00:44:53,633 --> 00:44:57,333
together we're expanding access to capital, technical opportunities and assistance

465
00:44:59,267 --> 00:44:59,267
to federal contracting.

466
00:45:03,667 --> 00:45:06,133
this collaboration represents the success what it looks like between federal, state, city,

467
00:45:08,267 --> 00:45:09,633
county, academic and local partners working together.

468
00:45:13,300 --> 00:45:16,967
to ensure that small businesses not only endure but grow and thrive.

469
00:45:20,467 --> 00:45:23,833
thank you for your leadership, judge sakai, commissioners, in recognizing our small business community.

470
00:45:26,267 --> 00:45:28,900
we look forward to continuing this important work together. Viva national small business

471
00:45:33,433 --> 00:45:33,433
week, bexar county.

472
00:46:22,567 --> 00:46:25,933
I'm going to do the proclamation, presentation proclamation on behalf of the commission of the court recognizing and

473
00:46:26,800 --> 00:46:30,167
celebrating the greater san antonio chapter of the american red cross. Red cross, please step forward

474
00:46:31,633 --> 00:46:34,700
as I read the proclamation. Whereas claire barton founded american red cross more than

475
00:46:35,867 --> 00:46:38,833
140 years ago since the foundation, generation after generation

476
00:46:39,967 --> 00:46:43,033
of volunteers has stepped up to deliver relief and care across our country and

477
00:46:44,400 --> 00:46:47,500
around the world bringing out the best of humanity

478
00:46:48,467 --> 00:46:51,333
in times of crisis. And the greater san antonio chapter of the american red

479
00:46:52,733 --> 00:46:55,800
cross was first charted on february 11, 1916, sprouting an opportunity for greater san

480
00:46:58,000 --> 00:47:01,767
antonio volunteers and supporters to advance the noble mission of

481
00:47:02,900 --> 00:47:06,700
preventing and alleviating human suffering in the face of today's hardships and emergencies.

482
00:47:08,267 --> 00:47:11,100
and whereas in this year alone, the greater san antonio chapter responded to the 400

483
00:47:12,400 --> 00:47:15,433
disaster events assisting 01,700...

484
00:47:18,767 --> 00:47:22,700
impacted residents of bexar county. The chapter also installed 01,500 smoke alarms in 430 area

485
00:47:25,767 --> 00:47:29,533
homes and an initiative that saved over 30 lives and made

486
00:47:31,133 --> 00:47:35,100
01,200 people safer, including 70 individuals who are deaf or hard-of-hearing, 90 veterans,

487
00:47:38,000 --> 00:47:38,000
220 youth, 160 individuals

488
00:47:42,533 --> 00:47:45,667
with disabilities and 400 seniors.

489
00:47:46,900 --> 00:47:50,533
and whereas this april we celebrate the greater san antonio chapter of the

490
00:47:51,633 --> 00:47:54,733
american red cross by recognizing the compassionate acts of the volunteers,

491
00:47:55,700 --> 00:47:58,967
partners, and donors of the chapter renewing our commitment to lend a helping hand

492
00:48:00,367 --> 00:48:04,067
to neighbors in their greatest times of need. Now therefore be it resolved

493
00:48:04,900 --> 00:48:07,933
that the bexar county commissioners hereby recognize and celebrate the greater san antonio chapter of the

494
00:48:09,900 --> 00:48:13,900
american red cross and encourage all residents to reach out and lend their support to the american red cross.

495
00:48:14,833 --> 00:48:17,600
in carrying out its vital humanitarian mission signed by members of the court.

496
00:48:19,367 --> 00:48:22,033
well, let's give them a round of applause.

497
00:48:28,733 --> 00:48:31,967
all right, that concludes ceremony. I, court, I would like

498
00:48:33,033 --> 00:48:36,267
to take up, before we go to time certain, agenda item number 50, number

499
00:48:37,367 --> 00:48:40,867
5050. We have obviously approved by late file.

500
00:48:42,933 --> 00:48:46,533
we will now take up 50a, discussion and appropriate action regarding approval and

501
00:48:48,800 --> 00:48:52,200
extension to the 2023 agreement. Between bexar county and the

502
00:48:53,467 --> 00:48:57,100
law firm of leinberger, gogan, blair, and sampson, llp, and appraisal collection technologies, a company wholly

503
00:48:58,433 --> 00:49:02,200
owned by the law firm for a 60-day period beginning may 9, 2026, to provide delinquent tax collections and

504
00:49:04,167 --> 00:49:07,400
software license, hardware purchase, and maintenance. Mr.

505
00:49:08,700 --> 00:49:12,300
uresti. Judge, commissioners, thank you for allowing us

506
00:49:13,267 --> 00:49:16,100
to be here today. In march of this year, we, upon the advice of the purchasing

507
00:49:20,600 --> 00:49:23,867
department, an rfq was issued for professional services for delinquent collections and

508
00:49:26,400 --> 00:49:27,667
tax collection software. Leinbarger, goggin, blair, and

509
00:49:30,667 --> 00:49:32,467
sampson llc was the sole respondent.

510
00:49:35,633 --> 00:49:39,367
we currently have a contract with leinbarger that will expire on may 9, 2026.

511
00:49:41,467 --> 00:49:41,467
we are working

512
00:49:46,767 --> 00:49:49,900
to finalize... Our new contract along with the purchasing department so that we can not the problem is they

513
00:49:51,200 --> 00:49:54,967
cannot have a gap in the in or lapse in our contracts

514
00:49:55,700 --> 00:49:59,600
with them so we are asking today for this extension of the current term

515
00:50:01,500 --> 00:50:03,700
for a brief period of 60 days so we can bring back

516
00:50:05,567 --> 00:50:08,433
to court an agreement for the new term I'm going to turn over to mr.

517
00:50:09,800 --> 00:50:12,133
galloway and then cliff douglas from line bargain is here if you all have any

518
00:50:13,933 --> 00:50:15,133
questions. Agreed.

519
00:50:18,400 --> 00:50:21,467
your honor, commissioners, good morning. Greg galloway, bexar county purchasing agent.

520
00:50:22,700 --> 00:50:26,167
just as al just stated, we are working through the extension, requesting an extension, so

521
00:50:27,100 --> 00:50:29,000
that we can finalize the new agreement with landbarger.

522
00:50:31,933 --> 00:50:35,000
if you have any specific questions, we'd be glad to address those for you.

523
00:50:36,133 --> 00:50:39,367
move approval of the extension. Commissioner calvert?

524
00:50:40,333 --> 00:50:43,933
I was just moving approval of the extension. I'm sorry. Motion by commissioner calvert?

525
00:50:45,500 --> 00:50:47,700
second. Second by commissioner rodriguez. Any further discussions? Hearing none, all those

526
00:50:49,600 --> 00:50:53,267
in favor of the motion, signal by saying aye. Aye. Any opposed? Any abstentions?

527
00:50:53,967 --> 00:50:55,867
motion carries. Mr. Cliff douglas, let me thank you for your services and the

528
00:50:58,533 --> 00:51:01,700
professional services that you provide the county. If you have any words, I will yield the floor

529
00:51:03,467 --> 00:51:06,367
to you. Otherwise, we're moving on to our next agenda item. Judge and commissioners,

530
00:51:10,067 --> 00:51:13,667
thank you very, very much. I'm cliff douglas. I have been with the law firm.

531
00:51:14,300 --> 00:51:17,767
oh my gosh, since 1987, and we've had the privilege to represent bexar county to

532
00:51:19,233 --> 00:51:22,233
collect its delinquent property taxes for the past 46 years, I think, and we want

533
00:51:24,967 --> 00:51:28,200
to continue that, and it's an honor and a privilege for us to do so, so we thank you.

534
00:51:29,867 --> 00:51:31,700
this is, as mr. Uresti said, this is a 60-day extension

535
00:51:34,200 --> 00:51:36,933
to allow us to just finalize the terms of the agreement, so thank you

536
00:51:38,300 --> 00:51:41,533
very, very much. We appreciate it very much. Thank you. All right.

537
00:51:43,433 --> 00:51:47,000
I believe we're at the time certain, so we will now go to agenda item 5a.

538
00:51:48,433 --> 00:51:52,067
presentation, discussion, jail diversion program and

539
00:51:53,367 --> 00:51:56,633
strategies. Thomas guevara, you have the floor.

540
00:51:59,767 --> 00:52:03,433
for purposes for the public, we've estimated that this may take an hour and a half.

541
00:52:04,500 --> 00:52:06,267
and I apologize, but we have this

542
00:52:08,900 --> 00:52:11,100
for time certain. We need to take this up. And I believe we have a

543
00:52:12,967 --> 00:52:14,500
presentation to be made and perhaps we have people, I do believe we have citizens

544
00:52:17,067 --> 00:52:20,700
to be heard. I will call you up after the presentation. But mr.

545
00:52:22,233 --> 00:52:24,733
guevara, I yield the floor to you for the presentation on the issues regarding jail

546
00:52:26,400 --> 00:52:29,200
diversion programs and strategies of bexar county. Thank you, judge,

547
00:52:31,900 --> 00:52:35,200
commissioners, for the record, thomas guevara, office of the county manager. I'm joined today by leticia

548
00:52:36,300 --> 00:52:40,167
moreno, our deputy director for the office of criminal justice. As well as antonio

549
00:52:41,100 --> 00:52:44,233
salazar-rosas, our pre-trial services manager. I'm also joined by dr.

550
00:52:46,433 --> 00:52:50,033
andrea guerrero, our director of public health, as well as many

551
00:52:51,333 --> 00:52:55,000
of your partners here. At the request of commissioner's court, staff was tasked

552
00:52:55,967 --> 00:52:59,500
to bring back a discussion item on various public safety strategies to reduce jail population.

553
00:53:00,800 --> 00:53:04,367
community discussion on jail population and the issue of diversion has been amplified

554
00:53:05,833 --> 00:53:08,567
in recent months. Those conversations continue to highlight that our county jail

555
00:53:10,833 --> 00:53:14,667
serves as the largest de facto mental health hospital for mental illness.

556
00:53:16,100 --> 00:53:16,100
as of monday, yesterday, april

557
00:53:21,400 --> 00:53:23,567
27th, the jail track report indicated the custodial jail population at 4,685 compared

558
00:53:25,467 --> 00:53:25,467
to 4,975 the same day last

559
00:53:29,500 --> 00:53:29,500
year.

560
00:53:39,267 --> 00:53:41,800
so as part of our agenda today, staff will cover the following areas. First, we will cover two concepts that tend to be used synonymously, but

561
00:53:43,500 --> 00:53:46,833
have distinct characteristics, deflection and diversion. We will then provide an

562
00:53:48,300 --> 00:53:51,967
overview and a snapshot. Of both the office of criminal justice and the

563
00:53:53,133 --> 00:53:56,300
public health department's activities in both deflection and diversion.

564
00:53:57,767 --> 00:54:00,933
the presentation will include a progress report on implemented recommendations

565
00:54:02,200 --> 00:54:05,900
from two previously funded commissioner's court studies on our criminal justice system,

566
00:54:07,933 --> 00:54:11,933
and we will conclude with the availability for comments and share other community efforts aimed

567
00:54:12,900 --> 00:54:15,967
at reducing jail population. So as I mentioned earlier, court, the use of deflection

568
00:54:19,267 --> 00:54:22,933
and diversions are sometimes used interchangeably, but for the purposes of this

569
00:54:25,500 --> 00:54:29,133
presentation and using the national association of pretrial services definition,

570
00:54:30,767 --> 00:54:33,867
we want to ensure that we're providing distinct terminology and definitions

571
00:54:36,133 --> 00:54:39,367
for both terms. So we're going

572
00:54:41,000 --> 00:54:44,867
to make this very simple. Deflection programs will be those efforts where that occurs before an individual is

573
00:54:48,067 --> 00:54:50,933
arrested. And diversion programs are those after an arrest occurs,

574
00:54:52,233 --> 00:54:55,567
but prior to conviction. But I want to be clear that both concepts aim to address

575
00:54:56,567 --> 00:55:00,200
underlying issues that offer treatment instead of incarceration.

576
00:55:01,933 --> 00:55:04,667
I would also like to take this opportunity

577
00:55:05,967 --> 00:55:09,533
before we move on to recognize commissioner's court and this county's efforts in diversion.

578
00:55:10,767 --> 00:55:13,800
going back to the mid-90s with the establishment of the adult drug specialty court,

579
00:55:16,167 --> 00:55:18,733
we've been recognized as a leader in those areas. So I'd like

580
00:55:20,267 --> 00:55:22,267
to remind we've been doing this for years. And, in fact, those specialty

581
00:55:24,667 --> 00:55:28,133
courts have expanded. I believe we have 12 now in a variety of specialty areas.

582
00:55:30,200 --> 00:55:31,233
so deflection. The next few slides will cover

583
00:55:35,067 --> 00:55:37,967
the concept of deflection in the criminal justice realm. The emergence of deflection

584
00:55:40,067 --> 00:55:43,067
programs recognizes that justice-involved individuals

585
00:55:44,567 --> 00:55:47,300
could be helped before an arrest occurs. Deflection may allow

586
00:55:49,500 --> 00:55:53,033
for a law enforcement officer to drop off an individual at a treatment center in lieu of an arrest.

587
00:55:54,400 --> 00:55:58,067
charges are either suspended or never filed by the district attorney's office, and no arrest record is created.

588
00:55:59,633 --> 00:56:02,467
eligibility for which charges to pursue is at the discretion

589
00:56:05,067 --> 00:56:07,933
of the district attorney's office, a very key point. Examples of eligible charges

590
00:56:09,300 --> 00:56:11,733
include theft charges under $750, possession

591
00:56:14,500 --> 00:56:17,500
of marijuana. Less than four ounces and criminal justice and mental

592
00:56:19,100 --> 00:56:22,233
health histories are factors taken into consideration whether an individual is

593
00:56:23,500 --> 00:56:26,233
determined eligible for deflection. A deflection location is where

594
00:56:28,433 --> 00:56:32,133
treatment begins immediately and an example of that is the

595
00:56:33,500 --> 00:56:35,767
public sobering unit operated by chcs. Another key criminal deflection

596
00:56:38,300 --> 00:56:38,300
program employed here in

597
00:56:42,833 --> 00:56:46,100
bexar county is cite and release.

598
00:56:47,800 --> 00:56:50,867
and it's used by law enforcement to issue citations instead

599
00:56:51,933 --> 00:56:55,333
of taking someone into custody for certain low-level offenses. Cite and release is used

600
00:56:57,033 --> 00:57:00,667
in cases for non-violent misdemeanors, such as minor theft, trespassing, low-level drug

601
00:57:02,033 --> 00:57:04,467
possession, and traffic violations. Benefits include preventing

602
00:57:06,267 --> 00:57:09,400
low-level offenders from being booked unnecessarily into our adc, and increases efficiencies

603
00:57:11,567 --> 00:57:14,133
in both time and resources for law enforcement. Some of our participating

604
00:57:16,833 --> 00:57:19,400
agencies are listed below, including sapd, our sheriff's office, and a variety

605
00:57:21,033 --> 00:57:24,700
of our suburban cities. The next couple

606
00:57:28,800 --> 00:57:32,533
of slides will cover the concept of diversion and current programs operated by or in partnership with the

607
00:57:34,733 --> 00:57:38,433
office of criminal justice. Again, the eligibility is at the discretion

608
00:57:39,433 --> 00:57:43,100
of the da's office for what charges to pursue. Again, criminal justice and mental health history are

609
00:57:44,267 --> 00:57:48,033
important factors. And when an individual is not eligible for diversion, that

610
00:57:49,000 --> 00:57:52,467
can occur when a pr bond is denied by the judge, a case is dismissed prior to us

611
00:57:53,800 --> 00:57:56,967
finishing our referral process, or if the defendant himself or herself denied the pr bond or

612
00:57:59,600 --> 00:58:01,933
diversion program directly. So the office of criminal

613
00:58:08,333 --> 00:58:11,267
justice participates and oversees a variety of diversion programs,

614
00:58:12,600 --> 00:58:16,033
including gps for pretrial defendants and specialty courts,

615
00:58:17,433 --> 00:58:20,533
as I previously discussed. Earlier today, commissioner's court,

616
00:58:21,667 --> 00:58:24,400
on your consent agenda, approved a memorandum of understanding with the center for healthcare services

617
00:58:25,733 --> 00:58:28,433
for jail-based competency restoration, targeting 80 individuals in an effort

618
00:58:29,900 --> 00:58:33,200
to increase access to restoration services and reducing the inpatient

619
00:58:34,500 --> 00:58:36,300
psychiatric bed wait list. And jillian jameson and her

620
00:58:38,867 --> 00:58:40,967
team are here with us and available for questions.

621
00:58:44,700 --> 00:58:48,533
I would also like to take a little point of recognition of our staff. Obviously, y'all fund...

622
00:58:49,967 --> 00:58:53,867
a variety of these programs through your annual budget, but we're always constantly looking

623
00:58:55,733 --> 00:58:59,267
for partnerships and opportunities to reduce jail efforts. So I'd like to bring antonio up

624
00:59:01,133 --> 00:59:05,067
here to talk about the county court at law 2 pilot program with the nonprofit continuum.

625
00:59:06,000 --> 00:59:09,300
again, that is for outpatient services, and I'd ask antonio to come up and just kind of

626
00:59:10,600 --> 00:59:11,833
highlight what we're doing there.

627
00:59:18,400 --> 00:59:22,067
good morning, judge and commissioners. I've been asked to... Span a little bit on the county court ii pilot program with continuum.

628
00:59:23,100 --> 00:59:27,033
as thomas highlighted, this is one of the programs where the treatment services,

629
00:59:28,267 --> 00:59:31,333
really it's a partnership within providers in the community.

630
00:59:33,533 --> 00:59:36,833
and I want to give you some numbers on that program, right, and a little bit

631
00:59:37,767 --> 00:59:41,600
of information on that program. So judge sines, the presiding judge for county court ii, had reached out to me in 2025

632
00:59:43,867 --> 00:59:46,700
while I was the jail population impact control unit manager. And she was asking me as far

633
00:59:48,467 --> 00:59:51,900
as, what services do we have for individuals that are getting released into the community

634
00:59:52,967 --> 00:59:55,767
for addressing substance use, mental health, homelessness. One of the things that became

635
00:59:57,733 --> 01:00:00,800
apparent is that we have, obviously, those are the three major issues when we look

636
01:00:02,167 --> 01:00:04,833
at jail population. So we started working on the potential of addressing

637
01:00:06,633 --> 01:00:09,733
and identifying individuals with substance use disorders that were being released

638
01:00:11,067 --> 01:00:14,400
into the community. So in august 2024, we started this pilot program,

639
01:00:16,600 --> 01:00:20,167
and I will say at the beginning, it was supported through the gel diversionary process and programs that we have

640
01:00:21,333 --> 01:00:25,067
through ocj. And lifetime recovery was our prime partner for the outpatient services.

641
01:00:27,200 --> 01:00:30,333
and the reason I want to highlight outpatient services is we identified that

642
01:00:32,033 --> 01:00:34,867
individuals releasing to the community, especially with a charge from county

643
01:00:36,333 --> 01:00:38,533
court number 2, are misdemeanor cases. A lot of these individuals we

644
01:00:40,900 --> 01:00:44,867
wanted to, one, ensure that substance use disorder was an issue for them, and two, we wanted to address it in an appropriate way,

645
01:00:47,300 --> 01:00:50,933
right? And that was done through a couple of ways. Public health provided

646
01:00:52,000 --> 01:00:55,767
at the beginning of the program by helping us, right, with the screenings and

647
01:00:57,667 --> 01:01:01,067
identifying the appropriate type of treatment for these individuals.

648
01:01:02,700 --> 01:01:06,667
we wanted to focus on outpatient treatment because we understand that individuals getting released back

649
01:01:07,800 --> 01:01:10,300
into the communities on bond still have jobs. Families and other things that

650
01:01:12,167 --> 01:01:15,733
they still have to be out in the community, right, so that they can be successful.

651
01:01:17,133 --> 01:01:20,533
so with county court 2 and the continuum partnership that we started in december of 2025, I

652
01:01:21,767 --> 01:01:25,033
just want to give you some numbers,

653
01:01:26,400 --> 01:01:29,233
right? So we've been able from pretrial services to continuum 226 referrals.

654
01:01:30,933 --> 01:01:32,967
out of those 226 referrals from individuals being released

655
01:01:35,900 --> 01:01:38,700
into the community, 109. Are currently engaged in programming right now.

656
01:01:40,600 --> 01:01:43,433
fifty-five have successfully completed their outpatient treatment and are still out

657
01:01:44,733 --> 01:01:46,900
in the community. Fifty-nine have been referred to a higher level of care,

658
01:01:48,867 --> 01:01:52,400
which is residential services or medicated assistant treatment.

659
01:01:55,100 --> 01:01:58,233
and also part of that fifty-nine has also had their cases adjudicated or dismissed

660
01:02:00,500 --> 01:02:04,367
and no longer in pretrial supervision. The big key of this program is, like

661
01:02:05,500 --> 01:02:08,200
thomas mentioned, it's not something that is really costing the county money

662
01:02:09,867 --> 01:02:13,000
in the sense of funding for treatment. We've been able to partner up with continuum, and continuum

663
01:02:13,967 --> 01:02:16,667
is providing this treatment as long as we have a pathway and a way to work together.

664
01:02:18,000 --> 01:02:22,000
so these 226 referrals, we've been able to, again, work on those individuals

665
01:02:23,967 --> 01:02:26,067
without any of the diversionary funding.

666
01:02:28,167 --> 01:02:31,367
and again, really what that has done to pretrial services, ocj, the office of criminal

667
01:02:34,133 --> 01:02:37,833
justice, is really identifying... Other partnerships and funding, right, that is

668
01:02:39,267 --> 01:02:42,767
in the community to be able to assist individuals as they're going back into the community, right?

669
01:02:44,267 --> 01:02:47,600
and one of the things, since I'm here, I wanted to highlight from pretrial and as we speak about, you know,

670
01:02:48,700 --> 01:02:52,167
diversion programs, is when we're looking at diversion on our end, right,

671
01:02:55,800 --> 01:02:59,467
office of criminal justice, we're looking at it through a lens of the judicial system,

672
01:03:00,500 --> 01:03:04,167
right? So when I'm looking at the criminal justice system and the jail population, for example, I am taking a look at it

673
01:03:04,967 --> 01:03:08,333
from a population standpoint of what stage are they within the judicial process.

674
01:03:10,133 --> 01:03:11,833
again, a big part of the jail population many times is the

675
01:03:14,967 --> 01:03:17,367
pretrial stage, and it's individuals that have not been

676
01:03:19,333 --> 01:03:22,600
adjudicated and are waiting to go to court for their cases. We have other parts of the jail

677
01:03:24,167 --> 01:03:27,100
population that are part of individuals that have been sentenced and are waiting a

678
01:03:29,067 --> 01:03:32,933
treatment bid. We have individuals, as thomas mentioned. Our partnership with the

679
01:03:34,167 --> 01:03:37,667
center for healthcare services in addressing incompetency that are still remaining at the jail.

680
01:03:39,567 --> 01:03:42,800
but when we're looking at that version, I want to make sure that everybody understands that we are definitely,

681
01:03:43,800 --> 01:03:47,300
public safety is at the forefront of what we do,

682
01:03:49,667 --> 01:03:52,967
and we're always looking at public safety. To ensuring that individuals that are being diverted to

683
01:03:54,400 --> 01:03:57,800
programs are those individuals that are going to benefit from this programming and that are

684
01:03:59,933 --> 01:04:03,933
low-risk offenders going back into the community. When we're looking

685
01:04:05,367 --> 01:04:08,533
at diversion, we're also looking obviously at mental health,

686
01:04:09,500 --> 01:04:11,333
like I mentioned earlier, substance use disorder, and unsheltered individuals.

687
01:04:13,633 --> 01:04:16,467
and again, our support also goes to reentry and post-release

688
01:04:18,233 --> 01:04:21,467
of individuals coming out of the jail. Because our main goal at the office of criminal justice is

689
01:04:22,500 --> 01:04:24,433
to reduce recidivism. And again,

690
01:04:26,533 --> 01:04:29,333
those are the things I wanted to share with you regarding some of the programming and criminal justice diversion programs.

691
01:04:32,533 --> 01:04:34,067
thank you. Thanks, antonio.

692
01:04:38,400 --> 01:04:42,033
and I felt to recognize tony kostadis, our director over at the justice intake and assessment area. Thanks, tony.

693
01:04:52,600 --> 01:04:55,967
so to date, this slide includes a snapshot of this year's fiscal year stats to date for current

694
01:04:57,200 --> 01:04:59,667
criminal justice diversion and deflection programs. For example, as you see here,

695
01:05:01,267 --> 01:05:04,800
in the area of residential treatment, we've served 136 individuals

696
01:05:06,800 --> 01:05:09,433
to date, with a projected 275 individuals to be treated by september of 2026.

697
01:05:12,333 --> 01:05:15,967
in the area of transitional housing, through criminal justice,

698
01:05:17,900 --> 01:05:20,233
we've served over 100 individuals, but they projected 215

699
01:05:22,367 --> 01:05:25,767
individuals to receive assistance by the end of the fiscal year.

700
01:05:27,900 --> 01:05:31,033
so now we'll move into the area of public health and the public health department and their deflection

701
01:05:32,200 --> 01:05:36,100
and diversion programs. So again, programs that you see on this slide here, court,

702
01:05:37,333 --> 01:05:40,667
you've seen on the side of criminal justice as well. But one of the most visible

703
01:05:42,033 --> 01:05:45,067
programs we have in this community in the terms of deflection is our smart

704
01:05:47,200 --> 01:05:50,267
program, a crisis intervention team specialized in de-escalation that provides

705
01:05:51,733 --> 01:05:54,100
on-scene behavioral health support during emergencies.

706
01:05:56,167 --> 01:05:59,333
again, these programs are intended to be preventative. Sorry about that. So now we'll move into some

707
01:06:02,833 --> 01:06:02,833
specific diversion programs

708
01:06:08,433 --> 01:06:10,333
in public health. The bexar county department

709
01:06:12,967 --> 01:06:16,367
of public health oversees the mental health and idd assessment processes that occur in the gia in partnership

710
01:06:17,333 --> 01:06:21,300
with uhs and acog, and I know we have our partners at uh here, uh became the mental health provider

711
01:06:22,233 --> 01:06:25,067
in the gia in october of 2025, and public health is

712
01:06:28,833 --> 01:06:32,533
implementing a pathway for diversions for those released directly

713
01:06:33,700 --> 01:06:37,133
from the gia. That includes multiple providers.

714
01:06:38,000 --> 01:06:41,233
those providers include ut san antonio, true mental health, and others. That will facilitate referrals

715
01:06:42,933 --> 01:06:46,500
to mental health appointments and other services, including transportation. Again, another snapshot

716
01:06:51,767 --> 01:06:54,800
of those strategies in the public health realm. Again, this court, one thing I would like

717
01:06:57,333 --> 01:06:59,333
to highlight in the funding column, this court has invested a lot

718
01:07:01,700 --> 01:07:04,633
of opioid dollars to cover most, if not all, the substance use disorder programs

719
01:07:06,367 --> 01:07:09,700
within the strategies attached. So we've gone over deflection and diversion programs,

720
01:07:13,733 --> 01:07:15,767
both operated by office of criminal justice, our partners,

721
01:07:19,067 --> 01:07:22,333
and the public health department. So what does that mean for our

722
01:07:23,333 --> 01:07:26,533
jail population and our team over there? As you can see, the yellow line graph illustrates jail

723
01:07:27,667 --> 01:07:30,800
population averages with diversion programs since 2023, fiscal year 2023.

724
01:07:32,133 --> 01:07:33,600
the blue line represents that without that county and

725
01:07:36,433 --> 01:07:39,267
community investments and efforts, jail population would have reached over 6100.

726
01:07:40,767 --> 01:07:44,367
individuals last year putting even more strain on detention staff and costing this

727
01:07:46,400 --> 01:07:47,933
community with out-of-county beds.

728
01:07:57,933 --> 01:08:01,400
as I mentioned earlier and as part of the discussion, I would like to highlight certain programs and projects that this court has invested

729
01:08:02,433 --> 01:08:06,133
in based on two important criminal justice-based assessments that we've

730
01:08:07,433 --> 01:08:08,867
conducted, the meadows study and the ut health houston

731
01:08:11,500 --> 01:08:15,500
study. Conducted by dr. Tessa and his team. As you can see from the chart, there's been

732
01:08:16,133 --> 01:08:20,067
significant investments by this commissioner's court through the american rescue plan act, opioid funding,

733
01:08:21,367 --> 01:08:24,633
to facilitate many of the resolutions through those recommendations.

734
01:08:27,167 --> 01:08:30,633
we've also had partnerships like the mou with chcs on gel-based competency in regards to the meadows

735
01:08:32,233 --> 01:08:35,367
study. So kind of this particular chart is just to kind of

736
01:08:37,067 --> 01:08:40,333
highlight where we've completed some of those recommendations. Areas that are still in

737
01:08:41,400 --> 01:08:44,133
progress and those funding sources. One key recommendation

738
01:08:52,000 --> 01:08:55,000
in the ut... The health houston study observation is the issue of dual magistration.

739
01:08:56,700 --> 01:08:59,567
dr. Tess's study recommended assembling a joint county-city

740
01:09:00,733 --> 01:09:03,800
working group to end the dual magistration system to address inefficiencies and challenges

741
01:09:05,767 --> 01:09:07,500
posed by the current system. The working group should work

742
01:09:10,200 --> 01:09:12,900
collaboratively to plan a transition to a unified system where all

743
01:09:14,433 --> 01:09:17,733
detainees are processed at a single centralized facility. It will be important.

744
01:09:19,533 --> 01:09:21,733
should the court direct us to go

745
01:09:23,867 --> 01:09:27,767
down that path that we work with dan curry and his team to do any of our needs assessments

746
01:09:29,000 --> 01:09:29,000
for facilities?

747
01:09:35,600 --> 01:09:39,200
and again, commissioners and staff here, we can't do this alone. There's a lot

748
01:09:41,067 --> 01:09:44,633
of collaborative efforts here. It's not all on the sheriff's office. It's not all on the staff back

749
01:09:46,133 --> 01:09:49,233
here. Our court or some of our other internal partners,

750
01:09:50,800 --> 01:09:54,033
but we have a lot of collaborative efforts that are currently ongoing, are about to kick off.

751
01:09:55,400 --> 01:09:59,000
the first is a chds cosa, city of san antonio, I should say, a university health funded

752
01:10:01,567 --> 01:10:04,333
diversion feasibility study that has kicked off just recently.

753
01:10:06,233 --> 01:10:09,900
and we'll be, our staff will be a part of that as far as those interviews

754
01:10:11,067 --> 01:10:14,067
are concerned. Secondly, commissioner rodriguez and councilwoman

755
01:10:16,600 --> 01:10:19,600
castillo, we'll be kicking off a diversion and recovery committee to work and

756
01:10:21,633 --> 01:10:23,367
commissioner I'll kind of defer to you down the line

757
01:10:25,867 --> 01:10:27,767
to discuss that a bit more. And another area that we wanted

758
01:10:30,167 --> 01:10:33,167
to highlight was our southwest texas crisis collaborative, which we

759
01:10:34,600 --> 01:10:37,667
commonly refer to as the stic. Again, the stic is a

760
01:10:39,167 --> 01:10:42,033
wide-ranging collaboration that has existed over many years that consists of hospital systems, our mental

761
01:10:43,500 --> 01:10:47,500
health providers. The city of san antonio, bexar county, and chcs, with strac

762
01:10:49,167 --> 01:10:51,500
serving as the convener, data partner,

763
01:10:54,900 --> 01:10:58,133
and subject matter expert on resource coordination. Eric epley is also here and

764
01:10:59,633 --> 01:11:01,033
available for questions. So as we start to wind down,

765
01:11:06,500 --> 01:11:09,533
staff recognizes that we must do more and we can do more. It will require strengthening

766
01:11:10,800 --> 01:11:14,367
our partnerships, both internally and externally. Therefore, staff is committed,

767
01:11:18,267 --> 01:11:20,667
and we would recommend that we first start with reviewing our internal policies and

768
01:11:22,467 --> 01:11:26,233
procedures to make sure that we are optimizing all our efficiency opportunities. Again, one area that we've not

769
01:11:28,033 --> 01:11:31,100
addressed to a previous assessment is dual

770
01:11:32,200 --> 01:11:35,900
magistration, so we've identified that as a future strategy.

771
01:11:37,667 --> 01:11:41,167
and we would continue to identify grant funding, both local, state, and federal,

772
01:11:42,500 --> 01:11:46,333
to help try to bridge the gap with some of these areas. So in summary, I just want

773
01:11:52,733 --> 01:11:55,267
to recognize that bexar county, we have invested in many process improvements that

774
01:11:56,800 --> 01:11:59,700
have already been identified in previous assessments. We've put money

775
01:12:00,900 --> 01:12:03,867
into capital programs, projects to expand bed capacity.

776
01:12:05,100 --> 01:12:07,133
one example is the american rescue plan apple white dual diagnosis center that we ribbon

777
01:12:10,833 --> 01:12:14,500
cut back october, november of last year. And we've expanded bed and housing treatment capacity.

778
01:12:15,867 --> 01:12:18,867
but we also recognize that there's further challenges and

779
01:12:20,833 --> 01:12:22,900
opportunities to address. So the first, the big one here, is dual magistration.

780
01:12:26,300 --> 01:12:29,833
again, I've already talked about optimizing our process to improve efficiencies.

781
01:12:31,967 --> 01:12:35,933
we want to look at other ways that we can provide support services

782
01:12:37,033 --> 01:12:38,833
to reduce recidivism. Again, one area I did not go over that this court has heard

783
01:12:42,000 --> 01:12:45,067
previously was the sash reuse study. That dan curry presented back

784
01:12:46,767 --> 01:12:50,300
in november, december of 2024. I know that is more of a

785
01:12:51,500 --> 01:12:54,833
long-term strategy down the line that's going to require legislation and other

786
01:12:56,100 --> 01:12:59,567
collaborative efforts, but we've listed that on here.

787
01:13:00,933 --> 01:13:04,767
and one area, as we were going through this presentation and we were receiving updates from our partners,

788
01:13:06,600 --> 01:13:08,600
we've also been made aware of certain gaps. I mentioned earlier the dual

789
01:13:10,900 --> 01:13:14,033
diagnosis center at applewhite. That the facility facility has

790
01:13:15,467 --> 01:13:19,333
been completed but in our discussions with jarvis anderson who I believe is here as well we've identified some

791
01:13:20,267 --> 01:13:22,033
gaps in particular gaps in uh funding for substance use

792
01:13:24,967 --> 01:13:28,167
uh uh disorders and on that side

793
01:13:30,000 --> 01:13:33,433
of the the coin there so uh we at the moment you're correct so 130 I believe that's 130 beds

794
01:13:40,467 --> 01:13:41,533
if you double up that's about 200.

795
01:13:44,600 --> 01:13:44,600
but jarvis working with the

796
01:13:49,167 --> 01:13:52,900
department of public health, I believe we're going to try to formulate a strategy here. Jarvis and dr. A speak a little bit more

797
01:13:54,167 --> 01:13:56,567
to that, but we've identified possibly using opioid funding

798
01:13:58,733 --> 01:14:01,567
to bridge that gap. But again, that's over 100 individuals currently in the

799
01:14:03,033 --> 01:14:06,300
jail that once we get started, that's a short-term solution that we can address

800
01:14:08,567 --> 01:14:12,267
immediately. So with that, I will turn over the presentation for questions, comments.

801
01:14:14,000 --> 01:14:16,800
and again, we have both staff, various partners, ed banos and his team here as well.

802
01:14:20,233 --> 01:14:23,133
also again, court, we'll turn it back over to you.

803
01:14:27,433 --> 01:14:30,467
the court for direction. We have citizens to be heard. I'd like to call them up, and then we'll get back

804
01:14:32,067 --> 01:14:35,667
to any further discussion, and then I will open up the commissioners to direct

805
01:14:36,833 --> 01:14:40,167
questions or other speakers. All right? So at this time, I'm bringing

806
01:14:44,600 --> 01:14:48,600
up those that signed up for citizens to be heard on this particular agenda item. Oh, commissioner rodriguez.

807
01:14:49,733 --> 01:14:53,400
point of personal privilege. Yeah, thank you, judge.

808
01:14:54,467 --> 01:14:57,667
I guess in sticking with the theme, if I can divert the conversation briefly, we've got

809
01:14:59,000 --> 01:15:01,867
some young students up here from wilson elementary in saisd.

810
01:15:03,967 --> 01:15:05,733
can you guys stand and be recognized?

811
01:15:08,867 --> 01:15:12,267
give them a round of applause. They are here. Madi, thank you for arranging the tour. And they're here learning about

812
01:15:13,467 --> 01:15:16,700
local government and civic engagement. These are all future leaders.

813
01:15:18,633 --> 01:15:20,667
we're very proud. Proud of what you do in representing your school and

814
01:15:22,900 --> 01:15:26,733
your community. So thank you for being here. I know marty's taking great care of you.

815
01:15:27,567 --> 01:15:30,700
marty, thank you for doing that. Again, continue on, study hard, and we look forward to you guys

816
01:15:31,800 --> 01:15:35,600
leading this city and county in the future. Thank you.

817
01:15:36,167 --> 01:15:39,900
thank you. All right.

818
01:15:40,700 --> 01:15:42,467
citizens be heard. Lydia laos, you're first. Lydia laos.

819
01:15:55,600 --> 01:15:58,767
good morning, judge. Good morning, commissioners. Thank you for allowing us to be here. My name is lidia leos.

820
01:16:03,500 --> 01:16:07,133
I have voices behind the cell. It is from grief to justice, from silence

821
01:16:08,533 --> 01:16:11,400
to accountability. My name is lidia leos, and I stand here

822
01:16:12,600 --> 01:16:15,267
before you as the mother of julian denna. My son entered the bexar

823
01:16:16,733 --> 01:16:19,967
county jail alive. He should have come home alive. Instead, I was left with a pain that no parent should...

824
01:16:21,333 --> 01:16:25,133
ever carry with questions no family should ever have

825
01:16:26,867 --> 01:16:30,500
to fight to have answered julian was not a case number he was not a statistic he was my

826
01:16:32,233 --> 01:16:34,000
son he was loved valued and his life mattered I'm sorry what

827
01:16:40,700 --> 01:16:42,133
began as heartbreak became a purpose what began as grief

828
01:16:45,400 --> 01:16:48,767
became a movement through voices behind the cell I now stand for

829
01:16:49,800 --> 01:16:53,333
every family who has been ignored dismissed or left in the dark

830
01:16:54,800 --> 01:16:57,900
after losing a loved one in custody. Too many families in texas

831
01:16:58,933 --> 01:17:01,433
still face the same failures. Delayed notification during emergencies or

832
01:17:03,467 --> 01:17:07,067
hospitalizations. Lack of clear answers when a loved one is in a crisis. Mental health needs ignored or

833
01:17:07,500 --> 01:17:10,700
mishandled. Inadequate medical care.

834
01:17:13,100 --> 01:17:16,700
preventable deaths followed by silence. Families forced to search

835
01:17:18,167 --> 01:17:20,067
for truth on their own. That is why we demand real

836
01:17:22,700 --> 01:17:25,667
reform. What must change now? Immediate family notification

837
01:17:27,833 --> 01:17:30,733
during emergencies, hospitalizations, or death. Independent investigation

838
01:17:32,333 --> 01:17:34,167
in all in-custody deaths. Mental health treatment and

839
01:17:36,933 --> 01:17:39,133
diversion before jail becomes the answer. Accountability for negligent

840
01:17:41,433 --> 01:17:41,433
medical care.

841
01:17:47,033 --> 01:17:50,767
public transparency on death and critical incidents. Consequences

842
01:17:52,033 --> 01:17:55,367
for repeated failures, respect for every human life in custody, message

843
01:17:57,267 --> 01:18:01,167
to elected officials, to sheriff salazar, county commissioner, judges,

844
01:18:02,500 --> 01:18:05,133
lawmakers, the power to correct the system is in your hands.

845
01:18:06,533 --> 01:18:10,533
families should not have to become investigators to learn what happened to their loved ones.

846
01:18:12,000 --> 01:18:14,467
we need action. We need transparency. We need accountability.

847
01:18:16,200 --> 01:18:19,233
we need correction in bexar county jail and across. Texas in loving memory of

848
01:18:20,333 --> 01:18:21,767
julian denna. Julian's name will not be

849
01:18:24,600 --> 01:18:28,300
forgotten. His life now fuels fight for truth and change because custody should never become a

850
01:18:29,133 --> 01:18:31,933
death sentence because silence projects silence protects negligence because every family deserves answers.

851
01:18:33,467 --> 01:18:33,467
I should not have stayed

852
01:18:38,233 --> 01:18:41,667
at home not knowing my son was on life support for 12 hours

853
01:18:44,433 --> 01:18:46,433
because the jail was lazy. Two hours is enough time.

854
01:18:49,200 --> 01:18:52,700
to be busy, put your paperwork together, but not 12, not 10 hours where we don't know that

855
01:18:54,667 --> 01:18:58,233
our loved ones have been transported out of the facility and are

856
01:18:59,600 --> 01:19:02,367
on life support. By the time I got the next of kin call, all I was left to

857
01:19:03,700 --> 01:19:05,300
do was disconnect life support. Thank you so much and have a

858
01:19:07,900 --> 01:19:07,900
good day.

859
01:19:21,500 --> 01:19:24,333
good morning, commissioners. I am jolene jamison, the ceo for chcs. I want to thank you earlier

860
01:19:26,100 --> 01:19:29,133
for your support in the mou with chcs to continue the jail-based competency program

861
01:19:30,733 --> 01:19:33,500
currently being operated at our jail. Chcs has been an innovator and

862
01:19:36,967 --> 01:19:40,033
been involved in jail diversion since 1994, and we stand before you enjoying the investment,

863
01:19:42,700 --> 01:19:45,967
previous investment, by university health in the meadows study and by bexar

864
01:19:47,200 --> 01:19:51,167
county in the ut study. And we've used those studies to communicate

865
01:19:51,967 --> 01:19:55,833
with our community over the past eight months about the importance of a jail diversion center and promoting

866
01:19:57,400 --> 01:20:01,267
therapeutic justice for this community. But we can't do it alone.

867
01:20:03,467 --> 01:20:07,000
the strategy that you're discussing today of limiting access to the

868
01:20:08,767 --> 01:20:12,767
criminal justice system should work hand-in-hand with the expansion of therapeutic justice.

869
01:20:14,667 --> 01:20:17,333
therapeutic justice focuses on the overall well-being, it's a collaborative approach,

870
01:20:19,600 --> 01:20:22,833
and it certainly involves problem-solving courts to address the issues that we're

871
01:20:24,300 --> 01:20:28,067
seeing in our community. While therapeutic justice reforms the experience within the system, we do

872
01:20:29,167 --> 01:20:32,833
believe limiting exposure also aims to keep people out of the system. And so we need investment

873
01:20:33,633 --> 01:20:35,733
in both. Decriminalization, diversion

874
01:20:38,400 --> 01:20:41,167
programs, and community-based programming will work

875
01:20:44,967 --> 01:20:48,967
hand-in-hand in reducing the overall negative collateral consequences that we are

876
01:20:50,567 --> 01:20:53,800
experiencing in our community with individuals who live with mental health and substance use

877
01:20:55,233 --> 01:20:58,233
issues and find themselves staying in jail. I hope you will continue to

878
01:21:00,733 --> 01:21:03,800
support your staff's involvement with chcs in validating the feasibility and

879
01:21:06,200 --> 01:21:08,333
need of a diversion center and coming up with a plan

880
01:21:10,433 --> 01:21:12,033
to recommend to both bexar county and the city of san

881
01:21:14,567 --> 01:21:17,200
antonio, but we need all of bexar county to support this effort.

882
01:21:18,600 --> 01:21:22,467
we need your district attorney's office, we need your judicial departments,

883
01:21:23,900 --> 01:21:26,500
and we need your staff to come to the table with us as we develop this plan.

884
01:21:28,167 --> 01:21:32,000
for this diversion center in this community. Our goal is that it will be a therapeutic alternative

885
01:21:33,633 --> 01:21:36,767
to jail for individuals with low-level offenses and nonviolent offenses who cycle

886
01:21:38,767 --> 01:21:42,267
through the system because of untreated mental illness and idd.

887
01:21:44,500 --> 01:21:48,267
this community needs a jail diversion center to reduce our jail population,

888
01:21:50,300 --> 01:21:52,433
to improve our overall health outcomes and extend the life

889
01:21:54,633 --> 01:21:57,600
expectancy of our citizens in this community. And we need

890
01:21:59,233 --> 01:22:00,133
to lower the long-term cost to our taxpayers, excuse me.

891
01:22:04,733 --> 01:22:08,733
so I come to you today seeking your support for this effort, continued work with your staff,

892
01:22:10,033 --> 01:22:12,100
but the continued support of all of bexar county as we

893
01:22:14,333 --> 01:22:17,233
consider this jail diversion center in the future. I thank you for your support.

894
01:22:29,667 --> 01:22:29,667
goldie van zandt.

895
01:22:42,567 --> 01:22:46,267
good morning, commissioners and judge. My name is goldie van zandt. I am a u.s. Navy veteran and a client

896
01:22:46,700 --> 01:22:50,000
advocate with texas jail project. We are a statewide advocacy

897
01:22:51,800 --> 01:22:55,633
organization working on county jails, contention, and pretrial detention. Our co-founder

898
01:22:56,800 --> 01:22:59,933
in the ed serves on the administrative rules advisory committee of the texas

899
01:23:01,333 --> 01:23:04,167
commission on jail standards and the texas judicial commission on mental health.

900
01:23:06,133 --> 01:23:08,733
we heard judge sikai's presentation at the jail

901
01:23:10,400 --> 01:23:14,333
commission meeting in february on the proposal for a mental health diversion center, and we

902
01:23:15,367 --> 01:23:18,667
read the 72-page report that he submitted to the commission.

903
01:23:20,000 --> 01:23:23,367
what's missing from that report was data on the worst outcomes. Are being held

904
01:23:25,633 --> 01:23:27,900
in your county jail, which is custody death. We ran a quick analysis based

905
01:23:30,133 --> 01:23:33,800
on data from the texas commission on jail standards for the past decade. You can see in the handout,

906
01:23:34,800 --> 01:23:36,533
124 people reportedly died in custody between 2015 and

907
01:23:40,400 --> 01:23:42,333
2025. Most of them were pretrials.

908
01:23:45,533 --> 01:23:48,767
in the past five years, the number of deaths in bexar county have almost matched

909
01:23:50,267 --> 01:23:53,000
harris county. Despite the jail population being roughly half of harris

910
01:23:55,633 --> 01:23:58,600
county. The majority of these deaths seem to be driven

911
01:23:59,700 --> 01:24:03,333
by suicides. What's missing from our analysis of deaths is the connection

912
01:24:04,533 --> 01:24:07,967
with the mental health ccq data and the forensic wait list, data that only the county has

913
01:24:09,467 --> 01:24:12,733
access to. We recommend that before this court invests a lot

914
01:24:15,000 --> 01:24:17,867
of resources into a diversion center, you may consider doing a deep dive.

915
01:24:19,133 --> 01:24:22,567
into your jail psychiatric population. Except for harris county,

916
01:24:24,600 --> 01:24:27,633
diversion centers in all counties are being underutilized because all

917
01:24:28,733 --> 01:24:31,367
diversion is voluntary and only for low-level, non-violent charges.

918
01:24:33,033 --> 01:24:35,933
plus, new legislation such as senate bill 6 from 2021 and

919
01:24:37,467 --> 01:24:40,133
senate bill 9 from 2025 prevent diversion on a wide range

920
01:24:43,800 --> 01:24:47,267
of charges. In our experience, there's a revolving door

921
01:24:48,400 --> 01:24:51,233
between the public mental health thank you. And the county jail system, due to the lack of continuity

922
01:24:52,700 --> 01:24:56,267
of care protocols upon release from jail, and your local mental health authority's

923
01:24:57,233 --> 01:25:00,900
pattern of practice of placing people in appropriate levels of care.

924
01:25:02,667 --> 01:25:05,800
but instead of studying the effectiveness of lnh programs,

925
01:25:07,100 --> 01:25:10,000
counties keep expanding their jails, which doesn't help solve the underlying problem.

926
01:25:11,167 --> 01:25:15,167
the state has advocated its responsibility to create a meaningful continuum I'm sorry.

927
01:25:16,533 --> 01:25:18,533
community-based mental health care and push this crisis into the counties where you are now

928
01:25:21,167 --> 01:25:25,100
paying for a public health issue through your limited public

929
01:25:26,033 --> 01:25:28,867
safety dollars. The idd population is a good example of this issue.

930
01:25:32,533 --> 01:25:35,667
the state-supported living centers or slcs are intolerant for people with idd,

931
01:25:39,567 --> 01:25:43,500
but instead of placing them on the inpatient care wait list, your aacog provides inappropriate placements such

932
01:25:45,900 --> 01:25:49,233
as group hoaxes. Leading to arrests and more criminalizations.

933
01:25:50,633 --> 01:25:54,333
how do we know this? Hhsc's own data. The largest number

934
01:25:56,000 --> 01:25:57,367
of transfers to slcs of people with idd happens

935
01:26:00,967 --> 01:26:03,567
from county jails. So instead of accessing an slc through the silver side,

936
01:26:05,667 --> 01:26:09,633
this population is forced into jail first before they can access slc through the for-requisite

937
01:26:12,767 --> 01:26:15,167
pathway. Yes, we don't have enough slc beds, but hhsc has made no

938
01:26:18,033 --> 01:26:21,167
recommendation to the legislature for expanding those beds.

939
01:26:22,200 --> 01:26:26,167
they seem more than comfortable pushing people into jails and prisons. Our organization helped pass

940
01:26:27,567 --> 01:26:29,767
two riders last session. One mandated the jail commission

941
01:26:31,633 --> 01:26:32,600
to collect and publish ccq data in order for hhsc to create a

942
01:26:36,233 --> 01:26:39,233
community-based option for the high-needs population that

943
01:26:41,433 --> 01:26:45,000
cycles between the jail and streets. We hope this court will take advantage of these riders

944
01:26:45,700 --> 01:26:49,233
to make robust, data-informed decisions. Thank you for your time.

945
01:27:11,300 --> 01:27:13,500
judge, commissioners, and the rest of the people here, ma'am,

946
01:27:15,967 --> 01:27:19,467
I'm very sorry to hear about your loss. I want to compliment the court here today.

947
01:27:21,133 --> 01:27:23,433
several things I've already seen. Is that you have your second

948
01:27:25,967 --> 01:27:29,233
chance program was here, your court therapy animals, which is a huge help,

949
01:27:30,400 --> 01:27:33,233
a lot more than people realize, especially for juveniles. Your diversion speakers,

950
01:27:35,767 --> 01:27:39,667
at some point we'd love to talk to them. That was an excellent

951
01:27:41,533 --> 01:27:44,467
presentation and a very good start for what you're looking to do.

952
01:27:46,300 --> 01:27:50,133
and also the man who just spoke about therapeutic justice, that's also what I'm here

953
01:27:51,600 --> 01:27:55,167
to talk to you about today. Addressing those issues. My name is jeff bradley.

954
01:27:56,433 --> 01:27:58,767
I'm with hok architecture. I'm their national director and

955
01:28:00,867 --> 01:28:02,033
I live here in texas. And the first diversion type

956
01:28:05,700 --> 01:28:08,733
program that addressed mental health I was involved in was dallas county about 14 years ago.

957
01:28:11,133 --> 01:28:15,033
we did 200 mental health beds, 100 medical beds, and it's been a very successful program

958
01:28:17,500 --> 01:28:20,067
for them. Since then, our firm is actually a leader.

959
01:28:21,900 --> 01:28:25,467
and civic and justice design work, but we're not just architects, we're consultants.

960
01:28:26,600 --> 01:28:30,367
we have the health care people inside. We have mental health people. We also work

961
01:28:31,633 --> 01:28:33,333
with other firms such as meadows. Actually, your uhs study,

962
01:28:37,067 --> 01:28:40,500
we did that. We worked for meadows, and we were here involved in that with alta architecture, a local

963
01:28:42,133 --> 01:28:45,700
firm here, on your uhs program. It was about two years ago,

964
01:28:47,233 --> 01:28:51,033
and that was for a new medical facility, a clinic, and an infirmary. A few other things I'd like

965
01:28:53,300 --> 01:28:56,267
to share with you and talked about is what's important is that the people you talk

966
01:28:57,633 --> 01:29:01,500
to are also experts in the operational of the actual justice system, both the system overall and

967
01:29:03,467 --> 01:29:07,267
then also within the jail itself. And that's where the sheriff and those folks really need

968
01:29:08,500 --> 01:29:12,400
to be involved as well. Your mental health people, the sheriff people, the leadership and such

969
01:29:13,633 --> 01:29:17,333
in order to deliver a successful program over the past.

970
01:29:26,800 --> 01:29:29,233
over the last eight or ten years or so, we've done 11 mental health diversion facilities for counties

971
01:29:32,100 --> 01:29:35,333
around the country, a little over 1,900 specialty beds for that.

972
01:29:37,000 --> 01:29:40,867
for states, we've done 12 specialty mental health facilities in state prisons,

973
01:29:42,233 --> 01:29:45,067
totaling over 6,000 beds. So we've done almost 8,000 beds for special mental health

974
01:29:46,533 --> 01:29:49,067
needs. Somebody mentioned earlier

975
01:29:50,867 --> 01:29:54,267
today that... About the number of people who have mental health issues, and over 60% of the people who are

976
01:29:55,967 --> 01:29:58,967
incarcerated around the country do have mental health issues, and the majority of them are

977
01:30:00,900 --> 01:30:04,533
on some sort of psychotropic drugs. It's important that you have people that you have access to.

978
01:30:07,967 --> 01:30:10,700
all the people from our firm that would ever do any work for you,

979
01:30:12,033 --> 01:30:14,733
we actually have a complete judge, commissioners, the time has expired.

980
01:30:16,700 --> 01:30:19,033
I'm sorry, that's three minutes? Okay.

981
01:30:21,167 --> 01:30:23,367
yeah, I've got some things to pass out here to you

982
01:30:25,333 --> 01:30:28,333
to the additional projects I got for the commissioner's court, for dan curry, the county

983
01:30:29,533 --> 01:30:33,067
auditor, and some letters from other county judges around the state for you

984
01:30:34,467 --> 01:30:37,567
to take a look at. So thank you for your time.

985
01:30:39,133 --> 01:30:43,133
all right. Was there anybody else signed up? That's all I had for item number five.

986
01:30:45,667 --> 01:30:48,933
let me then yield to commissioner moody. Oh, can you state your name?

987
01:30:50,533 --> 01:30:52,267
no? Let me yield to you and then,

988
01:30:54,867 --> 01:30:54,867
oh, there's one more.

989
01:31:05,000 --> 01:31:06,667
judge oscar kazin, are you here on agenda item number five? Number five?

990
01:31:09,600 --> 01:31:13,433
yes. Do you have your three minutes?

991
01:31:19,867 --> 01:31:22,700
I know this is only the citizens to be heard part. But I just wish to echo

992
01:31:24,633 --> 01:31:26,933
for everyone that, especially in the 25 plus years that I've

993
01:31:28,933 --> 01:31:32,800
been doing mental health, it is a much bigger process. And I admire what the

994
01:31:34,867 --> 01:31:38,300
commissioner's court in this county is doing by way of the jail and jail diversion

995
01:31:42,300 --> 01:31:45,367
and preventing the deaths and preventing injuries

996
01:31:46,900 --> 01:31:49,933
at the jail, et cetera. But I just wanted to pause in all of the discussion just to surround the community

997
01:31:51,000 --> 01:31:54,533
at large. I know you're aware of it. That that pipeline that we speak

998
01:31:55,833 --> 01:31:57,067
to today is so much bigger. For example, most people are

999
01:31:59,900 --> 01:32:03,633
unaware that we conduct and do over 10,000 emergency detentions.

1000
01:32:10,267 --> 01:32:14,067
that's where somebody is dangerous to suffer, others, a police officer has shown up. In days past,

1001
01:32:15,233 --> 01:32:18,000
they would have gone to the jail. Can you imagine right now?

1002
01:32:19,900 --> 01:32:23,733
if those emergency detentions, if the teams that were devoted to transferring them to

1003
01:32:25,067 --> 01:32:26,667
hospitals weren't available. Can you imagine what the

1004
01:32:29,800 --> 01:32:32,533
discussion would be today if you had to deal with another 10,000 arrests? Because if there's no place

1005
01:32:34,633 --> 01:32:38,400
to go, the bexar county jail is the biggest mental health facility in the county. I urge the community at large

1006
01:32:41,200 --> 01:32:44,567
and this commission and the commissioner's court, after they get past this very

1007
01:32:45,800 --> 01:32:49,733
important task of jail and jail diversion, to continue the discussion. On the rest

1008
01:32:51,667 --> 01:32:54,167
of that pipeline. Those are the court programs and court agendas that keep

1009
01:32:56,200 --> 01:33:00,167
people out of jail. Those are the services that we provide, and they'll hand

1010
01:33:01,500 --> 01:33:05,500
off afterwards. Those are the things that truly impact, in the end, our jail population.

1011
01:33:07,533 --> 01:33:10,800
and lastly, I urge this commission to look at how we can build a bigger

1012
01:33:12,367 --> 01:33:16,033
system of providers in this community, a bigger system

1013
01:33:17,600 --> 01:33:20,633
of help and utilization. So that we have many voices that we can rely

1014
01:33:23,433 --> 01:33:26,600
on when we need their help. With that, like I said, I just wanted it

1015
01:33:27,600 --> 01:33:30,633
to be a quick reminder to the public at large, should they be watching, that this pipeline is so much

1016
01:33:31,667 --> 01:33:34,367
bigger. Although this is as terribly important as anything else,

1017
01:33:36,400 --> 01:33:39,133
the rest of that pipeline shouldn't be forgotten. Your long-standing commitment

1018
01:33:43,600 --> 01:33:47,200
to the probate courts as a probate judge and obviously for the mental health system. And I'll just kind

1019
01:33:49,267 --> 01:33:53,267
of tie the, connect the dots, so to speak. Your program truly is part of deflection. That's what you just said.

1020
01:33:55,333 --> 01:33:58,500
without your system, we would probably have 10,000 people more in our criminal,

1021
01:34:00,200 --> 01:34:04,100
and perhaps that's an over-exaggeration, but there would be many,

1022
01:34:05,533 --> 01:34:07,700
many more people. So it is a very complicated, complex system.

1023
01:34:09,867 --> 01:34:13,400
it is a need of funding and initiative, and the ability of this community

1024
01:34:14,100 --> 01:34:16,367
to come together with all the different parts. Of our justice system.

1025
01:34:18,267 --> 01:34:22,167
so thank you, judge kayser, for bringing that up to us. I want to thank tomas as well.

1026
01:34:22,667 --> 01:34:25,367
he's been very good in talking to us about this. Thank you. All right.

1027
01:34:27,967 --> 01:34:30,533
having heard that, let me yield to commissioner moody and open up. And commissioner moody, if we

1028
01:34:32,300 --> 01:34:34,967
need the team to come back up, do you want the team to come back up?

1029
01:34:36,433 --> 01:34:39,733
please, but there's going to be a lot of players. All right. So thomas and team,

1030
01:34:40,800 --> 01:34:44,000
come back. Yes.

1031
01:34:45,433 --> 01:34:45,433
okay.

1032
01:34:55,000 --> 01:34:58,700
so, first of all, I appreciate the presentation. I'm glad we're here. I think this discussion was

1033
01:34:59,833 --> 01:35:01,733
overdue, but at least we're here.

1034
01:35:04,133 --> 01:35:06,600
I just want to reiterate, to me, you know, there may be

1035
01:35:10,200 --> 01:35:13,533
some things we disagree on here, but this is not a political issue. It starts as a public safety

1036
01:35:14,667 --> 01:35:17,800
issue, and then it becomes a management issue and a leadership issue.

1037
01:35:19,033 --> 01:35:21,933
and that's why... I think we have to come to the table here.

1038
01:35:23,600 --> 01:35:25,833
we have to have serious conversations about all the current problems our criminal

1039
01:35:31,333 --> 01:35:34,500
justice system is facing and then how we address them as a

1040
01:35:36,200 --> 01:35:38,533
county and with our partners, many of which are here

1041
01:35:40,667 --> 01:35:44,500
in the room. So, thank you to all the

1042
01:35:46,467 --> 01:35:50,000
partners. I'm definitely looking forward to getting your thoughts here as well. First of all, I'll apologize up

1043
01:35:50,867 --> 01:35:54,533
front. I covered a lot of information and there's other things I still have to say.

1044
01:35:55,900 --> 01:35:59,367
so I'll try to get through everything here and hopefully get some engagement and conversation going

1045
01:36:00,667 --> 01:36:03,433
on where we go from here. Where we stand today. So thomas, you mentioned our

1046
01:36:04,833 --> 01:36:07,967
current capacity at the jail, which puts us probably

1047
01:36:09,933 --> 01:36:13,067
in what, 93%, 94%, something like that.

1048
01:36:14,333 --> 01:36:17,100
no, brandon wood later can talk to us about recommendations from the state

1049
01:36:19,433 --> 01:36:22,200
about 90% capacity going beyond 90% can become a strain.

1050
01:36:24,967 --> 01:36:27,133
how much of our county budget is currently spent

1051
01:36:34,933 --> 01:36:38,400
at the jail? And I don't need the exact

1052
01:36:44,900 --> 01:36:46,767
figure here. I'm not trying to put anybody

1053
01:36:49,000 --> 01:36:50,267
on the spot. But in terms of all the

1054
01:36:54,200 --> 01:36:55,933
detention officers we have. Which is close

1055
01:37:02,267 --> 01:37:06,000
to a thousand. Do you have a ballpark figure? At the jail? I think that might include

1056
01:37:07,167 --> 01:37:10,167
patrol. 87 million. I was going to say 100 million,

1057
01:37:11,633 --> 01:37:15,433
so I was pretty close. We'll throw in overtime costs.

1058
01:37:16,367 --> 01:37:20,000
what were our overtime costs last year, tina? 20. So down here, over 100 million.

1059
01:37:21,467 --> 01:37:24,233
a million dollars just at the county jail. A huge portion of the county

1060
01:37:25,567 --> 01:37:28,467
budget, and that doesn't include the rest of the criminal justice system.

1061
01:37:29,767 --> 01:37:33,467
this is the centerpiece of the county's budget and our work. How much did we spend last year housing inmates out

1062
01:37:34,733 --> 01:37:37,500
at a cost? About $4 million.

1063
01:37:39,000 --> 01:37:39,000
is that what we budgeted this

1064
01:37:46,767 --> 01:37:48,767
year? Yeah, $4.5 million, I think.

1065
01:37:51,067 --> 01:37:54,100
but based on the change in cost at kerr county, we

1066
01:37:56,200 --> 01:37:59,267
increased that $2 million, correct? Correct.

1067
01:38:00,333 --> 01:38:03,867
if we use those beds as expected. So you got another $4 to $8 million there, depending

1068
01:38:05,267 --> 01:38:08,733
on how many beds you plan to use

1069
01:38:10,467 --> 01:38:12,000
at surrounding counties. Going to your presentation,

1070
01:38:15,267 --> 01:38:19,267
I know you had some numbers here, but the total amount of investments in criminal

1071
01:38:21,200 --> 01:38:23,767
justice strategies. Whether that's an annual number or over the past few years,

1072
01:38:50,467 --> 01:38:53,867
if I'm just looking at what's on this... Presentation looks like a couple million dollars I'm

1073
01:38:55,033 --> 01:38:57,400
sorry commissioner can you repeat that question which

1074
01:38:59,067 --> 01:39:02,700
slide are you looking at just the funding for current criminal justice strategies

1075
01:39:04,667 --> 01:39:07,133
those are the ones that you have highlighted here on slide eight yeah that sounds

1076
01:39:14,700 --> 01:39:18,033
about right uh commissioner again this is for this current fiscal year so it doesn't incorporate investments that

1077
01:39:19,133 --> 01:39:22,733
we've had through arpa that are multi-year, et cetera. So this is fiscal year only. Okay.

1078
01:39:23,833 --> 01:39:26,500
I'm sorry, I missed the number, commissioner. Was that $8 million, did you

1079
01:39:31,067 --> 01:39:34,900
say, commissioner? Well, I said two based on the numbers I'm seeing

1080
01:39:35,767 --> 01:39:39,733
on slide eight. And again, it does not include commissioner calvert. As you know, we've added a lot of residential permanent

1081
01:39:40,833 --> 01:39:44,500
supportive housing through arpa. It doesn't include any of those numbers.

1082
01:39:46,267 --> 01:39:50,133
what you've invested in for rehabbing, you know, the commons of the st.

1083
01:39:54,033 --> 01:39:56,367
peter's trails, et cetera, some of those community-based programs that you could also

1084
01:39:58,133 --> 01:40:00,633
incorporate into this dollar amount. So this is just a snapshot.

1085
01:40:02,300 --> 01:40:05,600
okay. And then going to the public health strategies, there's even

1086
01:40:07,133 --> 01:40:10,833
a lot more than that. It looks like $45 to $50 million. That is correct.

1087
01:40:12,700 --> 01:40:16,033
okay. And I'll come back to that to you here in a second. But I think my point up front

1088
01:40:17,167 --> 01:40:21,100
is we're spending hundreds of millions of dollars in the criminal justice system, right?

1089
01:40:22,167 --> 01:40:26,000
so that absolutely demands the level of attention and focus and conversation that we're trying to have here today.

1090
01:40:27,333 --> 01:40:30,567
spending some time actually diving into this, not to mention the deaths that we heard about earlier and some

1091
01:40:31,800 --> 01:40:34,667
of the other concerns that are out there in the jail. So...

1092
01:40:39,833 --> 01:40:39,833
let me circle back to a couple

1093
01:40:45,300 --> 01:40:46,867
other comments just to make. So I know the the jail

1094
01:40:51,867 --> 01:40:54,567
population has bounced around significantly right we're

1095
01:40:56,900 --> 01:40:58,900
actually down several hundred from where we were kind of

1096
01:41:08,800 --> 01:41:09,200
at a peak however if you look at the expected growth rates

1097
01:41:13,400 --> 01:41:17,233
for bexar county over the next 15 years we're

1098
01:41:18,567 --> 01:41:20,900
projected to grow 29 percent over the next 35 years 54%. If you just held incarceration

1099
01:41:23,567 --> 01:41:27,100
rates constant, that would lead to an additional 1,500 inmates in 15 years or 2,500 inmates

1100
01:41:29,933 --> 01:41:29,933
in 35 years.

1101
01:41:37,167 --> 01:41:39,800
again, incarceration rates constant.

1102
01:41:41,267 --> 01:41:44,967
so I think that begs the question, first of all,

1103
01:41:45,867 --> 01:41:49,467
are we planning for that level of growth, or are there some

1104
01:41:51,433 --> 01:41:54,333
assumptions underlying here that, you know, incarceration rates are going

1105
01:41:55,867 --> 01:41:58,967
to dramatically decrease or, you know, the throughput of our court system is going

1106
01:42:02,600 --> 01:42:06,067
to go from 60 days to 30 days or are there some other assumptions that I'm totally missing?

1107
01:42:07,533 --> 01:42:10,300
because if we look at the numbers we have today and the current trajectory of growth,

1108
01:42:12,267 --> 01:42:16,100
then it begs the question, like what are your assumptions if you don't think we need

1109
01:42:17,133 --> 01:42:20,400
additional capacity? I think it's a fair question for everybody in the room.

1110
01:42:21,367 --> 01:42:21,367
so I'm, and again,

1111
01:42:27,433 --> 01:42:30,733
I didn't want to dive into, you know, this just being a capacity conversation because

1112
01:42:31,833 --> 01:42:35,300
there's multiple pieces here. And I am not opposed to exploring diversion.

1113
01:42:37,133 --> 01:42:39,500
I've said several times that I think diversion efforts are

1114
01:42:41,533 --> 01:42:44,033
necessary but not sufficient to solve the overall problem.

1115
01:42:45,567 --> 01:42:47,967
and so there's some short-term solutions.

1116
01:42:51,000 --> 01:42:53,800
there's... Diversion efforts, there's things we maybe can clean up

1117
01:42:55,500 --> 01:42:58,233
in our court system, but ultimately there's some mid-long-term solutions that

1118
01:42:59,767 --> 01:43:02,567
are going to require some serious investments by bexar county.

1119
01:43:03,867 --> 01:43:06,100
and I think we can't look past that because we know that these big projects can take years,

1120
01:43:08,000 --> 01:43:08,000
and not two or three years,

1121
01:43:13,433 --> 01:43:17,333
five, six, seven years by the time we actually see them realized. I'm going to come back to some

1122
01:43:19,267 --> 01:43:19,267
of the presentations that have

1123
01:43:25,300 --> 01:43:28,800
been referenced and highlighted here. One other thing I wanted

1124
01:43:30,867 --> 01:43:34,733
to mention, I see there's three separate discussion items, I think, today. To me, there's this demand part

1125
01:43:39,200 --> 01:43:41,000
of the problem that mainly wraps around deflection and

1126
01:43:43,300 --> 01:43:47,133
diversion. How are we not creating... How are we reducing the demand

1127
01:43:49,833 --> 01:43:52,767
for facilities and bed space? And we can talk about that. And then there's supply side,

1128
01:43:54,300 --> 01:43:57,067
and this really has to do with facilities.

1129
01:44:01,767 --> 01:44:03,033
this has to do with dan curry.

1130
01:44:06,467 --> 01:44:09,300
this has to deal with the sheriff. This has to do with us talking about additional mental health

1131
01:44:10,600 --> 01:44:13,667
beds, forensic beds, civil beds, potentially jail beds, medical beds, all

1132
01:44:16,400 --> 01:44:18,433
of the above. And then there's a third part

1133
01:44:20,533 --> 01:44:24,133
of this, and to be honest, this has come more to me in the last...

1134
01:44:25,233 --> 01:44:29,100
couple days, but there is there are issues around coordination and partnership

1135
01:44:30,200 --> 01:44:33,300
in this space that we have to address. And, you know, we can't dive

1136
01:44:34,933 --> 01:44:38,333
really deep into each one of those here today,

1137
01:44:40,900 --> 01:44:43,500
but we got a lot of cooks in the kitchen, but we have to remember we're on the same

1138
01:44:44,967 --> 01:44:46,467
team and know that we're trying to move the county forward.

1139
01:44:49,767 --> 01:44:53,433
and, you know, based on some of the things I've heard and some of the fights,

1140
01:44:54,667 --> 01:44:57,600
the ongoing fights that we have between different organizations

1141
01:44:59,433 --> 01:45:01,933
and different partners, we need to work through this for the good of the county.

1142
01:45:03,467 --> 01:45:06,733
we can't see contracts lapse. We can't see people not get paid.

1143
01:45:08,000 --> 01:45:11,933
we can't allow some of the capacity we do have to disappear.

1144
01:45:12,833 --> 01:45:14,967
we're talking about additional capacity we need, and I know

1145
01:45:16,867 --> 01:45:20,367
eric epley can speak to the fact that we're losing capacity today. So some serious questions are

1146
01:45:22,400 --> 01:45:25,400
going to have to be answered on that front. Let me just go back

1147
01:45:27,633 --> 01:45:31,000
to your presentation, and there's a few things here. Let's just go back to the

1148
01:45:33,833 --> 01:45:37,100
public health strategies and the criminal justice strategies you mentioned.

1149
01:45:38,300 --> 01:45:40,700
you said we've been doing diversion for a long time, correct?

1150
01:45:42,600 --> 01:45:46,533
correct. I know a previous version of one of these slides actually

1151
01:45:47,767 --> 01:45:50,600
had... Total cases versus eligible.

1152
01:45:53,567 --> 01:45:55,433
versus accepted for diversion.

1153
01:45:58,033 --> 01:46:01,267
what percent of total inmates today are eligible for diversion?

1154
01:46:03,167 --> 01:46:04,033
so total percent and should we not have someone

1155
01:46:13,133 --> 01:46:13,667
from the sheriff's office to answer that?

1156
01:46:18,567 --> 01:46:22,100
I bring up I doubt he's going to be able to answer that. I do know I do know, in looking

1157
01:46:26,800 --> 01:46:30,100
over the last couple of fiscal years, the individuals who go through the doors at the adult

1158
01:46:31,200 --> 01:46:34,467
detention center ranges between 37,000 to 38,000 individuals,

1159
01:46:36,133 --> 01:46:39,000
unique individuals that go through those doors. About 50% of those individuals

1160
01:46:40,600 --> 01:46:43,100
are released within three days, three to four days.

1161
01:46:45,100 --> 01:46:46,800
under the current charges that we went over that are allowed

1162
01:46:49,233 --> 01:46:53,233
by the da's office that are eligible, we were identifying through a fiscal year more or

1163
01:46:55,133 --> 01:46:58,633
less around 1,000 individuals that we deemed eligible, just kind of a round number.

1164
01:47:00,400 --> 01:47:02,900
of that 1,000, I believe we were actually diverting maybe

1165
01:47:04,533 --> 01:47:06,800
anywhere between 500 to 600 individuals of that number.

1166
01:47:09,500 --> 01:47:12,200
so, again, those are over the last few fiscal years,

1167
01:47:13,967 --> 01:47:17,833
so just kind of high-level numbers. Again, I just want to get at the ballpark figures so we can

1168
01:47:18,800 --> 01:47:20,600
understand. And that percentage was 26%. According

1169
01:47:22,933 --> 01:47:26,033
to staff this fiscal year, correct, jennifer? You said 26% were eligible? Yes, for pr bonds only.

1170
01:47:28,700 --> 01:47:29,900
so, well, now I'm going to have to try

1171
01:47:33,700 --> 01:47:37,400
to reconcile the 26% with the 01,000 versus 40,000 because I thought it was a much smaller

1172
01:47:39,233 --> 01:47:42,133
percentage based on those numbers that you first provided.

1173
01:47:44,000 --> 01:47:47,400
yes, I think the percentage I gave you was for one set of eligible.

1174
01:47:49,233 --> 01:47:53,033
so, I would... I would go off the whole numbers that I just presented. Okay. Well, whether it's a few

1175
01:47:54,867 --> 01:47:57,900
percentage points or whether it's 20%, it's still a smaller percentage

1176
01:48:00,367 --> 01:48:04,333
of the total, right, who are eligible. If 26% of those were eligible, then you would have a lot more.

1177
01:48:06,367 --> 01:48:07,900
I mean, you're talking about thousands

1178
01:48:11,433 --> 01:48:14,333
of people potentially. So I'm not sure. Again, we need clarity

1179
01:48:15,633 --> 01:48:18,233
on that, exactly who's eligible. I think one of the other

1180
01:48:22,367 --> 01:48:25,000
questions I had was just in terms of the funding that is being spent there today for

1181
01:48:27,867 --> 01:48:31,167
both public health and criminal justice strategies.

1182
01:48:32,833 --> 01:48:36,067
we're highlighting this and we're throwing out numbers. We don't really know what

1183
01:48:37,833 --> 01:48:41,700
additional need, additional capacity available.

1184
01:48:44,800 --> 01:48:48,300
and how productive, like what are the performance indicators

1185
01:48:50,667 --> 01:48:54,600
here? We're showing numbers that have gone through this program, we're spending money

1186
01:48:55,567 --> 01:48:59,433
on these, but I don't really see the performance indicators or knowing the capacity. Hey, we actually have another,

1187
01:49:00,900 --> 01:49:04,167
you know, 100 residential treatment beds, and there is a demand, and there are eligible

1188
01:49:06,033 --> 01:49:10,033
individuals. You know, what's the sticking point? Or is it transitional housing?

1189
01:49:10,633 --> 01:49:14,467
well, we're at 100, we're capped out, we have no capacity. So there's no understanding

1190
01:49:15,233 --> 01:49:19,033
of what the... The limits are on some of these categories or what the additional costs would be.

1191
01:49:20,133 --> 01:49:23,800
and so I think it's hard for us to determine. We had a conversation with

1192
01:49:25,200 --> 01:49:28,067
advanos and jimmy haslacher and his team.

1193
01:49:30,733 --> 01:49:34,633
I know they showed the triangle of care, right? And at the bottom, we have a lot of these public

1194
01:49:35,767 --> 01:49:39,333
health strategies and investments. But how do we think about the performance

1195
01:49:40,767 --> 01:49:43,800
of them, where there's additional need? How are the gearing ratios between all these categories?

1196
01:49:44,967 --> 01:49:48,567
and the other question I'll just mention before you jump in is, of all these dollars

1197
01:49:50,600 --> 01:49:54,033
that are listed here, what's the breakdown between

1198
01:49:55,400 --> 01:49:59,000
bexar county dollars, arpa dollars, opioid dollars? Because I think we need to

1199
01:50:01,467 --> 01:50:04,300
understand whether those existing investments are going

1200
01:50:07,100 --> 01:50:10,967
to be able to continue or whether they're going to have to now come out

1201
01:50:12,767 --> 01:50:16,433
of the general fund to continue. If they were arpa-funded or opioid-funded,

1202
01:50:17,900 --> 01:50:21,400
and so if you could speak to that as well. Thank you, commissioner's

1203
01:50:23,367 --> 01:50:26,700
judge. I'm dr. Andrea guerrero. I'm the director of public

1204
01:50:28,067 --> 01:50:31,567
health for bexar county, and I can speak specifically to the public health strategies, but I will reiterate that the reason we're doing this presentation

1205
01:50:32,533 --> 01:50:36,533
and presenting public health alongside the office of criminal justice is to demonstrate how we dovetail

1206
01:50:37,933 --> 01:50:41,367
these strategies. Public health is focused on primary prevention

1207
01:50:42,600 --> 01:50:45,333
to help folks. Limit their exposure to the criminal justice system

1208
01:50:46,667 --> 01:50:49,233
before they become, before they have an encounter with law enforcement.

1209
01:50:50,967 --> 01:50:53,833
so really preventative and upshot. ...as, whereas office of

1210
01:50:55,833 --> 01:50:57,433
criminal justice, all of the programs that they are

1211
01:50:59,867 --> 01:51:02,467
operating are once someone has already been arrested, maybe again, and the diversion or

1212
01:51:04,000 --> 01:51:07,800
deflection program is a condition of their release, it's a condition

1213
01:51:09,333 --> 01:51:13,100
of their bond. So just making that distinction. So to address your question,

1214
01:51:13,933 --> 01:51:17,333
commissioner, the investments that you see here for this funding year, they're a mix.

1215
01:51:18,867 --> 01:51:21,967
so the inpatient psychiatric beds, that is a contract that we have with strac for almost $8

1216
01:51:22,967 --> 01:51:26,900
million. And that was completely arpa funded. And I'll say that it was kind of underspent

1217
01:51:27,733 --> 01:51:30,867
until we expanded the scope to include pediatric beds, and then we were able to really

1218
01:51:32,433 --> 01:51:35,267
increase those bed days and get that number up so that we're spending all that money.

1219
01:51:36,600 --> 01:51:38,133
so that's arpa. For the smart team,

1220
01:51:41,300 --> 01:51:45,167
mobile multidisciplinary team, that is a mix of general funds. The expansion to 24-7 was made possible through arpa funds.

1221
01:51:45,867 --> 01:51:48,700
for residential treatment, almost entirely all of that is opioid funding.

1222
01:51:50,200 --> 01:51:54,167
opioid settlement funding took places like life. Lifetime, alpha home, pay it forward, crosspoint, either

1223
01:51:55,733 --> 01:51:58,600
for some construction but mostly residential treatment.

1224
01:52:00,633 --> 01:52:04,567
the other arpa funds that support residential treatment would be rise recovery, which

1225
01:52:06,233 --> 01:52:09,333
is a school-based high school that focuses on recovery for high school students.

1226
01:52:10,600 --> 01:52:13,867
and then the outpatient lower acuity, that is almost entirely arpa, that was made possible

1227
01:52:15,167 --> 01:52:16,467
over the last couple of years.

1228
01:52:19,567 --> 01:52:22,533
okay. If you could just sum up then on that page with the... Say it was $45 million.

1229
01:52:25,333 --> 01:52:28,533
how much of that is bexar county versus arpa versus? For all of these, the entire

1230
01:52:30,200 --> 01:52:34,067
thing, it's almost entirely arpa and opioid with the exception of part

1231
01:52:35,867 --> 01:52:38,467
of the smart budget. So maybe probably about half of that would be general fund.

1232
01:52:40,767 --> 01:52:40,767
so what is the plan

1233
01:52:45,933 --> 01:52:45,933
for replacing?

1234
01:52:50,000 --> 01:52:53,267
well, I'll address your other question about outcomes and how are we measuring success or not of a lot of these things.

1235
01:52:54,967 --> 01:52:57,733
and so we have an entire team, and our focus is on not just formative evaluation,

1236
01:53:00,100 --> 01:53:03,267
summative evaluation, but looking at what is the impact

1237
01:53:04,167 --> 01:53:08,000
of these programs, however they were funded, whether they were general fund, arpa, or opioid.

1238
01:53:09,100 --> 01:53:11,133
and some of the things, especially

1239
01:53:13,200 --> 01:53:16,733
with residential treatment, because those are the ones that have a really high risk of becoming rearrested. But we're looking at...

1240
01:53:17,733 --> 01:53:21,567
recidivism rates, as is ocj, we are looking at the number of days to re-arrest. We're looking whether or not

1241
01:53:24,367 --> 01:53:28,300
that number, number of days to re-arrest, correlates with the number of days they spent

1242
01:53:29,667 --> 01:53:32,300
in inpatient. And that type of evaluation will give us better insight

1243
01:53:33,867 --> 01:53:36,600
into the things that are more or less a good investment, the ones that come up

1244
01:53:38,133 --> 01:53:41,267
with the highest amount of cost avoidance. So of course with public health

1245
01:53:42,433 --> 01:53:46,000
it's sometimes hard to measure what didn't happen because it was prevention. But we can tell, like,

1246
01:53:47,533 --> 01:53:51,333
for example, with the days, if we're correlating the length of stay to the days to re-arrest, for example,

1247
01:53:51,800 --> 01:53:55,600
I'll just call out lifetime, they have over 150 days to re-arrest.

1248
01:53:56,833 --> 01:54:00,667
and the people that are in there in recovery voluntarily, it's not a condition

1249
01:54:01,800 --> 01:54:05,400
of their bond for the contract under public health. So we're tracking all of these measures for all

1250
01:54:06,433 --> 01:54:09,833
of the programs. And similarly, with mental health programs as well, the mental health, the $20

1251
01:54:11,033 --> 01:54:14,700
million arpit investment into school-based. And the isds to provide mental health services there.

1252
01:54:16,100 --> 01:54:20,000
it's not included in this presentation because it's really upstream to judge kazin's point

1253
01:54:21,033 --> 01:54:24,933
about the pipeline, but preventative away upstream. So I'm glad that you're maintaining performance

1254
01:54:27,133 --> 01:54:30,233
indicators within programs. I think the challenge is across programs, right, and how

1255
01:54:33,133 --> 01:54:35,533
do we compare different programs that maybe have different measurements,

1256
01:54:37,167 --> 01:54:40,500
performance indicators? So that will be something like we kind of have

1257
01:54:44,533 --> 01:54:47,833
to work on. We've become very prescriptive in how we create our contracts, how we provide standards and

1258
01:54:49,333 --> 01:54:53,133
standardizing those metrics across programs so that we're collecting data going forward.

1259
01:54:54,233 --> 01:54:56,967
so we're comparing apples to apples. Okay.

1260
01:54:58,900 --> 01:55:01,067
but just, again, to clarify, because this is, you know, I did not have the answer

1261
01:55:03,033 --> 01:55:05,533
coming in here, but all that funding on slide 11 is arpa funded, and those

1262
01:55:07,100 --> 01:55:10,933
are programmatic dollars. Those weren't just... Capital dollars for expansion on facility, correct?

1263
01:55:12,133 --> 01:55:14,467
yes. And so just to be clear, thomas, we don't have a plan

1264
01:55:17,133 --> 01:55:20,633
right now on how we're going to backfill any of those

1265
01:55:25,000 --> 01:55:28,867
programs or which programs will be backfilled. That is correct. That's currently

1266
01:55:29,900 --> 01:55:33,367
under evaluation. Okay. And I did want to bring up antonio to discuss the same thing on

1267
01:55:34,267 --> 01:55:36,767
our criminal justice strategies in those numbers. And add this into another...

1268
01:55:39,867 --> 01:55:43,367
difficult conversation that's upcoming about a long-term

1269
01:55:44,833 --> 01:55:48,000
financial forecast, and it's double concerning to me. Go ahead.

1270
01:55:50,333 --> 01:55:53,400
thank you, commissioner. I think a lot of the points that you made are definitely in part with...

1271
01:55:54,633 --> 01:55:58,000
what dr. Guerrero just mentioned, and really the county manager's office, we're looking at all

1272
01:55:59,200 --> 01:56:02,767
our contracts and realigning them to ensure accountability, right, and ensuring that the

1273
01:56:03,933 --> 01:56:06,667
dollars are going to a point where we can measure the success in the metrics,

1274
01:56:08,367 --> 01:56:11,500
right? So for ocj, we're looking at recidivism as our main factor, right?

1275
01:56:12,567 --> 01:56:15,733
to your point, for example, 136 individuals went to residential treatment.

1276
01:56:16,967 --> 01:56:20,400
we're aligning all our contracts to ensure that we can report to the court out of the 136,

1277
01:56:21,567 --> 01:56:25,533
this is the recidivism rate for those individuals. More importantly, not only just

1278
01:56:26,367 --> 01:56:29,933
for residential treatment, but really for all of the services that we're providing, right?

1279
01:56:30,967 --> 01:56:34,733
so that way we can come back and say individuals that are benefiting from residential treatment facilities or any of the other programs that we

1280
01:56:35,567 --> 01:56:39,433
have, transitional housing, they're not coming back to the jail, right?

1281
01:56:40,333 --> 01:56:43,800
because ultimately that, at the end of the day, we can then quantify and put some of the cost that is going

1282
01:56:44,600 --> 01:56:47,933
to that, right? But again, we're aligning all our contracts.

1283
01:56:49,200 --> 01:56:52,767
the county manager's office has brought... Really the departments and to your point,

1284
01:56:53,933 --> 01:56:56,900
collaboration is one of the key things that we've identified. My previous role as overseeing the jail population is one

1285
01:56:58,133 --> 01:57:00,567
of the things that working hand in hand with the sheriff's office,

1286
01:57:02,600 --> 01:57:05,667
with all the departments, right, to make sure that we're, to your point,

1287
01:57:06,767 --> 01:57:10,633
in the same team and going in the same direction, right, and that we can cross collaborate not only internally but also with our providers

1288
01:57:11,867 --> 01:57:14,533
out in the community, right, because I think there's a lot of gaps.

1289
01:57:16,133 --> 01:57:18,767
missed opportunities that we have to be able to maximize some

1290
01:57:20,567 --> 01:57:23,133
of the county funding and some of the stuff that we have. Okay.

1291
01:57:25,300 --> 01:57:27,633
I appreciate it. But let me just finish my thought here.

1292
01:57:29,767 --> 01:57:33,233
and one thing, commissioner, just to add, just before I forget, when you look

1293
01:57:34,567 --> 01:57:38,400
at the funding streams, a lot of that is general fund here across the board here. The majority of these services and

1294
01:57:40,367 --> 01:57:42,100
strategies on the ocj site is general funded.

1295
01:57:44,467 --> 01:57:48,267
we do have... A couple of grants in here, but for the most part, that is general funds.

1296
01:57:49,733 --> 01:57:53,000
which slide are you talking about? Slide 8.

1297
01:57:54,200 --> 01:57:56,667
okay. That's the small one. It's the other big one that's

1298
01:57:59,067 --> 01:58:02,100
the challenge. So you have $45 million, not a clear funding mechanism today.

1299
01:58:03,467 --> 01:58:07,367
we know we're going to talk about our long-range financial forecast, and we know that there's an increasing need.

1300
01:58:09,867 --> 01:58:11,233
so I'll go ahead. Yield to colleagues.

1301
01:58:14,200 --> 01:58:16,300
first of all, thank you for being here.

1302
01:58:21,900 --> 01:58:25,100
I just want to recognize some of the good work we are doing. So I want to recognize dr.

1303
01:58:26,200 --> 01:58:28,533
norma greenfield-labordi. I know she was unable

1304
01:58:30,267 --> 01:58:31,633
to be here today, but of course her deputy is here,

1305
01:58:34,767 --> 01:58:38,400
her staff is here. Also chcs and the work that they have been partnering with us.

1306
01:58:39,500 --> 01:58:42,733
I recently met with my appointee regarding some of these issues.

1307
01:58:43,900 --> 01:58:47,700
and of course, uhs. The southside hospital is, of course, being built,

1308
01:58:48,867 --> 01:58:52,200
but the preventative health, and I'm using preventative health, we're talking

1309
01:58:53,133 --> 01:58:56,133
about deflection, we're talking about diversion, but as dr. Andrea was talking about, I use

1310
01:58:57,233 --> 01:59:00,700
the word preventative a lot. So the preventative health building is open

1311
01:59:02,633 --> 01:59:04,767
for business, y'all. And the third floor, because ed and I, we had a lot

1312
01:59:07,233 --> 01:59:09,900
of conversations, and I'm not going to say fight, because we don't

1313
01:59:11,400 --> 01:59:14,233
fight, but advocate it very well. And because of that advocacy,

1314
01:59:15,467 --> 01:59:18,700
the third floor is solely dedicated to mental health and behavioral health.

1315
01:59:20,033 --> 01:59:23,500
because this is about preventatives. So way before I was commissioner,

1316
01:59:24,767 --> 01:59:28,167
I was talking about in the state of texas, our jails are the number one providers

1317
01:59:29,333 --> 01:59:33,067
of mental health services. And that is a shame. To the parent who spoke earlier, who's still here

1318
01:59:36,800 --> 01:59:39,233
in the back, I wrote down something she said. Horrible to say, but it was a

1319
01:59:41,867 --> 01:59:44,267
quote that she said, custody shouldn't be a death sentence.

1320
01:59:46,567 --> 01:59:49,133
and so in order to avoid that, we need

1321
01:59:52,000 --> 01:59:54,867
to make sure we are about preventative health. So the 20 million school-based,

1322
01:59:56,333 --> 01:59:59,900
county-wide mental health program is a community deflection program that I have been talking about way

1323
02:00:01,033 --> 02:00:04,967
before I became commissioner, was able to implement. And I've been clear

1324
02:00:06,067 --> 02:00:07,500
with school districts, this is seed funding, because

1325
02:00:10,600 --> 02:00:14,300
these are opera dollars. So use the best practices,

1326
02:00:16,200 --> 02:00:19,433
use the success stories to then go and be able to get more money. So we need

1327
02:00:20,733 --> 02:00:24,200
to make sure our lobbyists, if you're listening, we passed y'all's contracts last month and I pulled it, but voted

1328
02:00:26,133 --> 02:00:29,367
for it. So to our lobbyists, to melissa shannon, we need to make sure that at the state

1329
02:00:30,400 --> 02:00:33,733
level that we continue to advocate for... These school mental health programs so that we won't have

1330
02:00:41,633 --> 02:00:45,467
these situations. And again, since before I got here, was talking about we need more mental

1331
02:00:47,533 --> 02:00:51,167
health beds because people should not be rotting in jail. And so.

1332
02:00:54,633 --> 02:00:58,167
I want to ask jarvis if you would come up please. So it's a little confusing

1333
02:00:59,200 --> 02:00:59,200
with jarvis so we pushed a lot

1334
02:01:04,600 --> 02:01:07,633
of funding I believe it was 25-30 million dollars for applewhite which is in my precinct and it is a beautiful

1335
02:01:09,600 --> 02:01:13,367
facility it is open so the facility is the county's facility but jarvis is the

1336
02:01:14,500 --> 02:01:18,467
interesting role because I guess part of your funding and your employees although are county employees

1337
02:01:19,500 --> 02:01:22,467
but get funded through the state, something like that. It's very confusing.

1338
02:01:23,533 --> 02:01:26,700
so can you tell us why the beautiful facility and the beds, why they're not filled yet?

1339
02:01:27,900 --> 02:01:30,800
yes. Good morning. And what we can do about

1340
02:01:38,733 --> 02:01:42,067
to make that happen. Good morning, county judge, commissioner jarvis anderson,

1341
02:01:42,900 --> 02:01:46,467
director of barrett county community division and corrections department. And jarvis, you're tall,

1342
02:01:47,533 --> 02:01:51,500
so you're going to need to speak into the mic a little bit. Or that.

1343
02:01:53,900 --> 02:01:57,633
thank you. So the beds, beautiful campus.

1344
02:01:58,800 --> 02:02:02,333
and I thank the county for their investment,

1345
02:02:04,500 --> 02:02:08,367
and it was our per dollar, so I appreciate that. We received the certificate

1346
02:02:11,133 --> 02:02:12,133
of advocacy in february. We started moving people over from the old 300 building

1347
02:02:15,767 --> 02:02:19,300
to the new wing in march. The issue that we discovered, commissioner, and just for the record,

1348
02:02:19,800 --> 02:02:23,200
all the employees are kind of judicial employees, get funded by the state, they work for me. So we're not county employees, but we receive some county benefits.

1349
02:02:24,033 --> 02:02:27,700
okay. The issue that we discovered from all of this is psych meds,

1350
02:02:28,967 --> 02:02:31,233
right? That's the main holdup for us, right?

1351
02:02:34,067 --> 02:02:37,333
I'm working on a long-term plan where the state will actually fund that. But in the interim, the only

1352
02:02:38,633 --> 02:02:42,067
way psych meds get funded in the dvrf, if they go through tacoma, which partner with the center for

1353
02:02:43,167 --> 02:02:46,933
healthcare services. That's my main issue there, right? I can bring in counselors,

1354
02:02:48,400 --> 02:02:51,800
I can absorb the food and security, but that's the one issue I have. I'm working with the county

1355
02:02:53,600 --> 02:02:56,500
mental health department to see if we can do something in the interim where I work on

1356
02:02:58,667 --> 02:03:02,633
a long-term solution where the state will fund this. The engagement center, the ddrf facility, we have a

1357
02:03:03,767 --> 02:03:07,300
code where the state can fund us in the future. So that's my main issue right now, commissioner.

1358
02:03:08,967 --> 02:03:08,967
is getting the psych meds

1359
02:03:17,967 --> 02:03:19,967
resolved, right? And I have a meeting this

1360
02:03:23,067 --> 02:03:25,700
friday with uhss to see if there's something we can do in the interim. So the beds themselves,

1361
02:03:29,033 --> 02:03:32,267
there's 130 beds, so I will never double anyone in that space because I don't

1362
02:03:33,167 --> 02:03:36,367
want to put people in all this kind of in sardine cans where they're

1363
02:03:37,700 --> 02:03:41,233
on top of one another. Right. I welcome all the commissioners

1364
02:03:41,867 --> 02:03:45,033
to come out and look at this space because it's truly remarkable what's happening out there.

1365
02:03:45,900 --> 02:03:49,300
the facility is a core and current facility, so you can't come out there just

1366
02:03:50,267 --> 02:03:53,900
for mental illness. It has to be a substance use disorder as well. We've been out there

1367
02:03:54,700 --> 02:03:58,100
in operations since 1987. That particular facility came out in 2005.

1368
02:03:59,200 --> 02:04:03,100
we partner with the center to do that. They do the clinical aspect of it. We do the substance use

1369
02:04:03,933 --> 02:04:07,800
disorder aspect of it. Security, treatment, food, everything else. So if I can solve the medication,

1370
02:04:08,967 --> 02:04:12,567
then I can get those individuals out to jail. About 100 of them at applewhite

1371
02:04:13,533 --> 02:04:17,333
within the next three to four months. And I do want to say the work that you guys are doing at

1372
02:04:18,533 --> 02:04:21,167
applewhite is really excellent, having been there, having spoken to some of the

1373
02:04:23,167 --> 02:04:23,167
people who are getting

1374
02:04:28,733 --> 02:04:31,667
treatment there and being served there, but we need

1375
02:04:33,933 --> 02:04:36,967
to make sure that the rest of the beds are filled.

1376
02:04:38,733 --> 02:04:41,833
so if there's anything that commissioner's court can do or my office specifically, please reach out to me.

1377
02:04:42,767 --> 02:04:46,500
and you're my constituent, too, as you know. So please reach out to us. Dr. Andrew, did you have a comment?

1378
02:04:47,400 --> 02:04:50,600
and to your point commissioner moody, just about collaboration, right?

1379
02:04:51,900 --> 02:04:55,300
jarvis and I, in going over this presentation, making sure that we're telling the right story when we talk

1380
02:04:56,300 --> 02:05:00,133
about applewhite and listening to why aren't we filling these beds, the solution that we've come up with

1381
02:05:01,367 --> 02:05:04,767
in the short term is that jarvis has said that he has about 105 people that are currently in the jail, that if

1382
02:05:05,733 --> 02:05:09,467
we can solve the medication problem over the next three months it will cost us it's about $60,000.

1383
02:05:10,733 --> 02:05:14,033
and we can do that through the opioid settlement fund, and then work with uh and have a new conversation.

1384
02:05:15,533 --> 02:05:18,267
we're already talking to their jail-based detention folks about coming with a longer-term

1385
02:05:19,567 --> 02:05:22,500
solution instead of purchasing not just psych meds, but also like blood pressure medication

1386
02:05:23,700 --> 02:05:27,700
meds, because they leave the jail with seven days, but they need a longer-term solution to make

1387
02:05:28,867 --> 02:05:32,100
sure that they have medication sufficient for their stay at applewhite. So we'll bring back to this

1388
02:05:33,333 --> 02:05:36,633
court as soon as possible, hopefully at the next meeting. A request for at least

1389
02:05:37,733 --> 02:05:41,133
$60,000. We'll come up with a more specific budget to purchase those medications

1390
02:05:42,567 --> 02:05:46,267
with the intent to work with... Uh on a long-term solution so we can get their pricing

1391
02:05:47,900 --> 02:05:51,300
instead of purchasing them outright at full cost. And we know that diversion

1392
02:05:52,300 --> 02:05:53,167
centers alone aren't going to solve the jail population

1393
02:05:57,133 --> 02:05:59,400
issues. I don't know if someone wants

1394
02:06:03,900 --> 02:06:05,467
to speak to that. Thank you, jarvis.

1395
02:06:17,233 --> 02:06:20,767
you're correct, commissioner. I mean, the diversion center alone isn't going to reduce jail population, you know, isn't going to empty

1396
02:06:22,067 --> 02:06:25,367
out the jail. But it is one. Part of a holistic plan that we do need to dive down because we

1397
02:06:27,033 --> 02:06:30,900
know the benefits that it can achieve. And that's first and foremost

1398
02:06:33,000 --> 02:06:35,867
the individual themselves becoming stabilized and getting the treatment they deserve

1399
02:06:40,000 --> 02:06:43,500
in a facility that isn't, you know, the gel. So that is one aspect that we

1400
02:06:45,200 --> 02:06:49,167
do want to go down that pathway. And, you know, I recognize some of our outside

1401
02:06:51,167 --> 02:06:54,300
partners earlier, but of course it takes... The whole county, I believe,

1402
02:06:55,400 --> 02:06:58,633
I don't know if jenlyn's still here, but she had mentioned this. So it also, oh there,

1403
02:06:59,967 --> 02:07:02,567
is that her? Yes, she's talking. Okay.

1404
02:07:04,367 --> 02:07:06,933
it's also about all of our departments working together, including our district

1405
02:07:08,667 --> 02:07:12,400
attorney's office, our sheriff's department. It takes all of us. So do you want

1406
02:07:13,333 --> 02:07:16,000
to speak a little bit? I know commissioner rodriguez can speak more to this

1407
02:07:17,733 --> 02:07:21,633
about how harris county da handles their deflection programs. And then I don't know if

1408
02:07:23,133 --> 02:07:26,233
commissioner rodriguez wants to chime in from his visit. Yes, commissioner, having the

1409
02:07:28,167 --> 02:07:29,667
opportunity to visit harris county along

1410
02:07:32,733 --> 02:07:36,333
with the team here and the commissioner. One area that the da's office

1411
02:07:38,300 --> 02:07:41,800
is heavily involved with in the area of deflection is having a dedicated intake team

1412
02:07:43,700 --> 02:07:46,300
with experienced prosecutors fielding phone calls from law enforcement actually still

1413
02:07:47,867 --> 02:07:47,867
in the field.

1414
02:07:55,633 --> 02:07:55,633
so in that concept, you have a

1415
02:08:02,167 --> 02:08:02,167
law enforcement officer

1416
02:08:11,433 --> 02:08:15,200
in the field detaining someone, calling that in to the da. Providing that information, what they have that individual detained for, and at that moment, in real time, the da's intake team can let

1417
02:08:15,733 --> 02:08:19,267
that law enforcement officer know, you don't have enough information or enough evidence to bring that individual in. We wouldn't charge. We would dismiss those charges, so don't bring that individual in. Or, hey, you have some,

1418
02:08:22,833 --> 02:08:26,500
but you need a little bit more, call back, do your investigation. Or bring them in. We'll go ahead and charge. So before that law enforcement officer from, you know, including suburban cities over there, brings that

1419
02:08:29,333 --> 02:08:33,100
individual all the way downtown, that's time, effort. Right then and there, the da's

1420
02:08:34,600 --> 02:08:38,000
office is saying yes or no. So that is one concept that we've kind of, they've been doing it

1421
02:08:40,033 --> 02:08:42,767
for a while, it appears. So law enforcement officers there, I guess that's what

1422
02:08:44,467 --> 02:08:47,400
they're trained to do. It's been around for some time.

1423
02:08:49,433 --> 02:08:51,833
that is one area that we kind of saw as an opportunity. We actually were able

1424
02:08:53,933 --> 02:08:57,067
to see a call in real time where the da themselves said, you don't have enough, don't

1425
02:08:58,433 --> 02:09:01,500
bring this individual in. And I think that credibility of those intake prosecutors with experience

1426
02:09:02,533 --> 02:09:05,200
in the courtroom, I think provides some confidence that this is truly a public safety

1427
02:09:06,733 --> 02:09:10,467
call. They understand kind of what those dynamics are. That prosecutor would have

1428
02:09:11,967 --> 02:09:14,733
to deal with in the courtroom. So that is one area.

1429
02:09:16,000 --> 02:09:19,867
commissioner, I don't know, or staff. I just wanted to comment on, based on what you're,

1430
02:09:21,033 --> 02:09:24,700
you can come up. Is it antonio?

1431
02:09:25,467 --> 02:09:25,467
yes.

1432
02:09:31,133 --> 02:09:34,633
so we're talking about, obviously, the budget coming up

1433
02:09:36,800 --> 02:09:39,667
and not the great projection of how things are looking nationally and worldwide.

1434
02:09:41,300 --> 02:09:44,867
so we can talk about lack of funding, but based on what you just said, there's some things that can be more

1435
02:09:45,867 --> 02:09:49,267
efficient. That we already have that we just need to put in place better, correct?

1436
02:09:50,467 --> 02:09:53,900
all right, thank you. Correct. Commissioner, I just wanted to add, I know, to thomas'

1437
02:09:55,300 --> 02:09:58,300
point, right, that's one of the things we saw can obviously help on both ends, right,

1438
02:09:59,400 --> 02:10:02,733
because I think on previous visits to harris county, I got to see an individual essentially being rejected from the field

1439
02:10:03,700 --> 02:10:07,200
from bringing them into custody, but I also got to see another situation where an individual, it was a live call,

1440
02:10:08,433 --> 02:10:12,367
and they were actually getting more information and building a stronger case from the scene, right? So for public safety aspect,

1441
02:10:13,567 --> 02:10:16,233
they were even able to build a stronger case as they're bringing somebody into custody.

1442
02:10:17,667 --> 02:10:21,567
in addition to that, I would say one of the other things that I'm always looking at efficiency, right, especially

1443
02:10:22,800 --> 02:10:25,900
within the judicial system, is their ability to be able to electronically file cases, right?

1444
02:10:31,367 --> 02:10:32,333
so they're able to electronically file cases

1445
02:10:35,700 --> 02:10:39,600
in the sense to give you a sense of time frames, misdemeanor cases within 24

1446
02:10:41,833 --> 02:10:45,367
hours, same day you're filing a case. When we're talking about efficiencies,

1447
02:10:46,633 --> 02:10:49,733
we're talking about how long is it taking bexar county right now without electronic filing

1448
02:10:50,900 --> 02:10:53,900
to file cases which misdemeanor cases many times leads to individuals being in custody 15 days plus, right,

1449
02:10:55,033 --> 02:10:58,367
just to try to get a case filed. So those are some of the things that,

1450
02:10:59,467 --> 02:11:02,900
to your point, commissioner clay flores, right, is we're talking about efficiencies right

1451
02:11:03,900 --> 02:11:03,900
into the system.

1452
02:11:15,100 --> 02:11:17,567
thank you. Thank you, judge. Yeah, let me start with that discussion on the diversion center because I was

1453
02:11:19,367 --> 02:11:22,800
with thomas and my team, I guess, back in march. Visiting harris county, and I

1454
02:11:24,833 --> 02:11:28,167
know dr. Testa was there as well. Thank you for doing that, doc.

1455
02:11:29,267 --> 02:11:32,300
so, you know, a lot of the discussion focuses, at least publicly, on kind of a bricks-and-mortar diversion

1456
02:11:33,633 --> 02:11:37,300
center. As has been pointed out, I think there's been strategies in place for some time where

1457
02:11:38,700 --> 02:11:42,100
we've been trying to divert, deflect folks from the system. And so I think...

1458
02:11:43,000 --> 02:11:46,367
part of the discussion, and this is great that we're having this discussion. We're not going

1459
02:11:47,500 --> 02:11:48,667
to solve it all in 90 minutes today, so hopefully, judge, we

1460
02:11:52,133 --> 02:11:55,067
can have an ongoing dialogue as it leads into our budget, into the city's budget, into

1461
02:11:56,933 --> 02:11:59,833
university health's budget this year. But the synergies in harris

1462
02:12:01,167 --> 02:12:04,233
county, as you mentioned, thomas, were, what I noticed, more related to processes

1463
02:12:05,333 --> 02:12:07,267
for proper remember, diversion and deflection, right? It was the different elected

1464
02:12:10,200 --> 02:12:10,200
officials, the different

1465
02:12:17,633 --> 02:12:17,633
department heads.

1466
02:12:26,933 --> 02:12:30,700
harris health was a significant part of their diversion center there.

1467
02:12:32,133 --> 02:12:34,067
so I think those are things that we're going to have

1468
02:12:36,267 --> 02:12:39,467
to improve on despite the best efforts of a lot of folks here, jolene and chcs.

1469
02:12:40,533 --> 02:12:44,000
I know judge kazin talked about a little bit of what he's done, all of the specialty courts that have been

1470
02:12:45,333 --> 02:12:49,233
put in place for decades that have worked towards the restorative therapeutic justice

1471
02:12:51,733 --> 02:12:53,633
model, I think in an ideal world, we'd have a

1472
02:12:56,433 --> 02:12:59,367
smaller bricks and mortar jail and a bigger bricks and mortar diversion center so that we

1473
02:13:00,633 --> 02:13:02,867
could help folks rather than lock them up.

1474
02:13:05,167 --> 02:13:08,400
and so I think that that is the goal. I don't know what that number

1475
02:13:12,200 --> 02:13:15,633
of beds looks like, but I wanted to acknowledge the fact that,

1476
02:13:16,900 --> 02:13:19,567
you know, I said I saw david here. You know, from lifetime, I met

1477
02:13:20,933 --> 02:13:24,400
the new ceo, john hornsby, recently. Big shoes to fill there at

1478
02:13:26,133 --> 02:13:29,200
lifetime. But I've known john for 25 years,

1479
02:13:30,633 --> 02:13:34,200
and I know he's committed to being a partner. We can't, as a county, just fully rely

1480
02:13:35,633 --> 02:13:38,733
on our partners, and I think that's where we center back the discussion on a diversion-type unit or building.

1481
02:13:39,667 --> 02:13:42,733
I wanted to ask, and I was going to put you in the spotlight, eddie,

1482
02:13:44,300 --> 02:13:47,700
because I know you just had a recent surgery.

1483
02:13:50,567 --> 02:13:54,067
you look great, by the way. But if ed would come up, because I think, again, these

1484
02:13:55,300 --> 02:13:59,267
are just my impressions. I hope you're doing well, ed, by the way. You look great.

1485
02:14:00,533 --> 02:14:04,033
thank you. Ed did not listen to me and stay home. I know.

1486
02:14:05,633 --> 02:14:09,367
you should not be here. You should be at home. I listen to the commissioner on

1487
02:14:10,633 --> 02:14:14,133
everything she needs that she says. That's how important this discussion is, ed, and so we

1488
02:14:15,333 --> 02:14:18,267
appreciate you being here. You know, going back to... My first budget on

1489
02:14:19,500 --> 02:14:22,433
commissioner's court 2019, with the discussion that I had with you and george hernandez

1490
02:14:23,700 --> 02:14:26,967
and reed hurley, if you recall, we had a discussion back then about potentially tinkering

1491
02:14:28,133 --> 02:14:31,667
with your tax rate, and it would have been back then a de minimis amount to an average homeowner,

1492
02:14:33,000 --> 02:14:35,500
but it would have meant $7 million. Or $8 million to your budget,

1493
02:14:37,100 --> 02:14:41,033
and the discussion back then was, can we use that instead to bolster what university health is doing

1494
02:14:42,233 --> 02:14:45,933
in the mental health space? You remember that, ed, by recollecting that, right? Okay.

1495
02:14:47,400 --> 02:14:51,300
so we brought that to court. We eventually got commissioners to agree to that. And so I wanted to highlight

1496
02:14:52,733 --> 02:14:52,733
that because we tend

1497
02:15:13,333 --> 02:15:17,000
to forget that, you know, everybody thinks of university health as a place you go when you need a surgery, but the reality is there are... Preventative programs that you're working on,

1498
02:15:17,867 --> 02:15:21,400
that you're committed to, and increasingly those have been

1499
02:15:22,767 --> 02:15:26,567
in the mental health space, and even recently with respect to those that interface

1500
02:15:28,900 --> 02:15:32,033
with our justice system at the jail.

1501
02:15:33,400 --> 02:15:36,267
so, ed, I wanted to, first of all, thank you for the commitment that the uhs has

1502
02:15:39,533 --> 02:15:42,033
made in the past, and I think, again, just me speaking, the court's going to weigh in.

1503
02:15:45,700 --> 02:15:48,333
I think that we're going to have to lean in to that partnership even further.

1504
02:15:50,200 --> 02:15:53,400
and I'd like to hear your thoughts on how you see that.

1505
02:15:54,367 --> 02:15:58,100
in terms of your vision for helping us through what I think is a core function, and not just that, not only is

1506
02:15:58,867 --> 02:16:02,233
it a core responsibility of ours, but I think it's what makes the most impact in a lot of areas, quality

1507
02:16:03,067 --> 02:16:06,833
of life-wise, on where people choose to work and live. So if you can talk a little bit about maybe what you've done

1508
02:16:08,033 --> 02:16:10,933
past budgets with those dollars and how you see the vision for moving forward.

1509
02:16:13,367 --> 02:16:13,367
well, um...

1510
02:16:19,167 --> 02:16:19,167
first of all, I'm glad

1511
02:16:24,600 --> 02:16:28,167
to be here. And I want to thank all of the commissioners and

1512
02:16:28,800 --> 02:16:32,033
judge sakai who have reached out. It was very, very nice of you,

1513
02:16:33,833 --> 02:16:36,767
and I appreciate that. And I'm one of 13,000 employees at university health that are committed to this county and

1514
02:16:38,033 --> 02:16:42,033
to south texas. If somebody needs help, we're going to make sure that

1515
02:16:46,400 --> 02:16:47,833
we can provide the care. I want

1516
02:16:51,833 --> 02:16:54,600
to recognize a few people. It wouldn't be

1517
02:16:56,067 --> 02:16:59,933
without the leadership of mr. Jimmy haslacher as our board chair, all of your appointees.

1518
02:17:01,000 --> 02:17:04,233
I can't say enough how wonderful every one of our board members are who take this

1519
02:17:05,500 --> 02:17:08,767
seriously, every issue when it comes

1520
02:17:10,867 --> 02:17:14,100
to medical and mental health in our community. We have a public health

1521
02:17:15,700 --> 02:17:19,633
subcommittee. That met last night. Again, at the urging of

1522
02:17:21,000 --> 02:17:23,767
commissioner clay flores, I want to just tell you how we start to, we see the problem,

1523
02:17:25,267 --> 02:17:29,233
we address the problem, and we try working together with all the organizations. And I want to recognize also

1524
02:17:30,300 --> 02:17:33,400
eric epley, who had the vision when I came here in 2015 about all the health systems working

1525
02:17:34,733 --> 02:17:38,233
together. The city, the county, and we wouldn't be where we are today, which is much better

1526
02:17:39,800 --> 02:17:43,800
off than a lot of cities across the country, by having

1527
02:17:45,067 --> 02:17:48,633
law enforcement navigation, the teams, the pic teams, working with the sheriff and his teams,

1528
02:17:49,900 --> 02:17:53,000
and then the staff in the back, dr. Abby lozano, who's

1529
02:17:54,167 --> 02:17:57,133
over our mental health, stephanie stiefer, who's over the jail service,

1530
02:17:58,367 --> 02:18:00,733
the correctional services, sally taylor, who's retired, but doesn't retire,

1531
02:18:11,867 --> 02:18:14,233
so she still works with us. But just

1532
02:18:16,933 --> 02:18:16,933
to give you an example,

1533
02:18:21,233 --> 02:18:24,133
the commitment we knew needed to be on the south side.

1534
02:18:26,200 --> 02:18:28,833
that clinic opened. We saw 554 patients already there, 187 new just

1535
02:18:30,800 --> 02:18:34,000
in a few months, 456 therapy visits. Our largest population is

1536
02:18:35,367 --> 02:18:38,800
from 18 to 39. We're treating anxiety. Depression, ptsd. We have a domestic violence

1537
02:18:40,033 --> 02:18:43,967
address down there. We have a zero suicide program down there. We have licensed chemical

1538
02:18:45,233 --> 02:18:49,100
dependency people down there. We're treating this in the outpatient

1539
02:18:50,800 --> 02:18:54,300
before they can become part of the system that we've discussed today.

1540
02:18:56,700 --> 02:19:00,233
in the jail, we're up to about 370 healthcare providers. In the jail, a growth of over

1541
02:19:01,600 --> 02:19:03,900
$30 million in expense for employees.

1542
02:19:06,000 --> 02:19:09,367
we have chemical dependency counselors down there, social workers, psychiatrists,

1543
02:19:10,967 --> 02:19:12,200
regular, what I would say, regular mental health,

1544
02:19:38,367 --> 02:19:41,800
as well as medical providers down there in a very big, large facility that is not a hospital where you can do things as easily. Working together as a group, no one department, county, individual department, we have

1545
02:19:48,133 --> 02:19:50,800
to work together as a team. We have lots of opportunities

1546
02:19:53,233 --> 02:19:55,767
to look at alternative fundings, as we

1547
02:19:59,133 --> 02:20:02,433
mentioned, when it comes to medication management. There's opportunities

1548
02:20:03,633 --> 02:20:06,900
to get... Pharmaceuticals funded if they're outpatients

1549
02:20:08,067 --> 02:20:12,033
through the 340b program, federal programs, other programs. We have a grants department.

1550
02:20:13,333 --> 02:20:17,200
we have, we also have to hold the state accountable, which is the state's responsible for mental health

1551
02:20:18,500 --> 02:20:20,933
and making sure that funding is available, the dollars that we make sure that are available

1552
02:20:23,333 --> 02:20:27,233
through our budget. It is so important that we all work together and

1553
02:20:28,533 --> 02:20:31,100
collaboratively as you mentioned today. And I'd like to just take the

1554
02:20:37,600 --> 02:20:38,133
liberty we all put some editorials in the newspaper

1555
02:20:45,233 --> 02:20:48,300
over the last couple of months and one of the

1556
02:20:53,467 --> 02:20:56,500
editorials that I was lucky enough to be able to put in was talking about how we

1557
02:20:58,233 --> 02:21:00,733
could all work together, how we have, as commissioner

1558
02:21:02,333 --> 02:21:06,167
moody mentioned, the pyramid. There's multiple layers, the

1559
02:21:07,433 --> 02:21:10,133
last parts being that we don't want inpatient hospitalizations or incarceration as our goal

1560
02:21:11,467 --> 02:21:15,367
when we know that we can treat on an ambulatory side. And I received a unique letter, and I just want

1561
02:21:16,700 --> 02:21:19,133
to read some excerpts to you, and it says, after reading your recent article in the san

1562
02:21:20,733 --> 02:21:24,633
antonio news express, I feel excited and quasi-loved knowing that people such as yourself have the heart that beats.

1563
02:21:25,767 --> 02:21:28,800
as a current inmate in the bexar county jail and under prescribed mental health

1564
02:21:29,967 --> 02:21:33,100
medication, I relate to your mission and support this thinking. I am not under the suboxone or

1565
02:21:34,600 --> 02:21:38,233
opioid program here in jail, but many of those in my housing unit do need this treatment, and I have benefited from

1566
02:21:40,433 --> 02:21:43,367
fast-realt... And I could have benefited from faster alternative treatments rather than incarceration.

1567
02:21:44,500 --> 02:21:47,600
if I may, I'd like to share with you another issue that I myself have experienced. Bexar county has remanded many

1568
02:21:48,800 --> 02:21:52,533
inmates, myself included, without bond under mental health 1622. Keeps all the jail population

1569
02:21:53,533 --> 02:21:56,433
with many inmates that could benefit from programs mentioned in your article.

1570
02:21:57,567 --> 02:22:01,133
I've been inside the jail for over a year. Awaiting a competency restoration program.

1571
02:22:02,300 --> 02:22:05,767
I have heard code one blue when inmate is unresponsive. I've heard it announced in the mental health units of

1572
02:22:06,967 --> 02:22:10,367
the building more times than I can remember. It goes on, and I just want to say is my appeal to you,

1573
02:22:11,533 --> 02:22:11,533
mr.

1574
02:22:46,100 --> 02:22:49,733
banas, is to continue to strive with collaborative legislation to improve treatment, timeliness of care, and alternatives to jail in bexar county especially. Thank you for your willingness

1575
02:22:50,767 --> 02:22:53,133
to voice your opinion. As an incarcerated veteran, u.s.

1576
02:22:55,967 --> 02:22:59,800
army, I am very aware of the problems that arise from being in jail with mental illness. Even with medications, the

1577
02:23:01,400 --> 02:23:03,800
problem's condition's worse. And then at the very, very end, it says, p.s.

1578
02:23:05,667 --> 02:23:08,767
thank all the medication nurses in the jail. Their smiles make a difference

1579
02:23:10,333 --> 02:23:13,100
for those of us with mental illness. I just wanted to put a little

1580
02:23:15,367 --> 02:23:18,067
personal story to that, because we're talking about people that their lives are

1581
02:23:19,800 --> 02:23:22,800
in jail. We need to make sure that they're taken care of.

1582
02:23:25,100 --> 02:23:28,200
I want to make sure that university can be part of the solution, but the

1583
02:23:29,400 --> 02:23:33,167
solution is not just universities alone. It's all the people that are

1584
02:23:34,433 --> 02:23:37,500
in this room working together. You have my commitment. I don't want mr.

1585
02:23:39,033 --> 02:23:43,000
hauslacher's commitment and the board that we are going to do everything we can

1586
02:23:44,633 --> 02:23:48,367
to make bexar county the shining star in the state, if not the nation.

1587
02:23:49,633 --> 02:23:53,267
on how we can do this right. We know that people don't need to be in the jail. We know that we can keep them

1588
02:23:54,433 --> 02:23:57,067
out of the jail with preventative treatment. We know that in the community

1589
02:23:59,133 --> 02:24:02,333
we can take care of them. We know if we invest our

1590
02:24:05,567 --> 02:24:09,567
dollars for this, these are going to be the least expensive dollars

1591
02:24:10,967 --> 02:24:14,533
before we have to do the more expensive dollars. And I'm committed to all of you to making sure that we

1592
02:24:17,100 --> 02:24:20,933
can solve this problem together. Ed, thank you for... Sharing that.

1593
02:24:21,933 --> 02:24:24,733
I'm going to let you, yeah, let's give him a round of applause. I'm going to let you sit down

1594
02:24:27,233 --> 02:24:29,300
because I know you're still getting back on your feet from your surgery.

1595
02:24:31,800 --> 02:24:35,067
but, you know, I think people think about you, ed, and jimmy, and, you know, you guys just run a

1596
02:24:38,333 --> 02:24:41,267
hospital, but you're really impacting a lot of lives in a lot of different ways.

1597
02:24:43,000 --> 02:24:45,933
and I think that we certainly recognize that. And I think that's part

1598
02:24:47,500 --> 02:24:49,067
of the reason you know, as I mentioned, we're going

1599
02:24:52,000 --> 02:24:55,267
to be even more joined at the hip in terms of figuring this out with the rest of the folks

1600
02:24:57,333 --> 02:25:00,267
in this room, jalynn included. I mean, I've worked with jalynn since we were both

1601
02:25:01,500 --> 02:25:05,300
at the city. And so there's a lot of folks from county staff to our partners that, you know,

1602
02:25:06,467 --> 02:25:08,600
if we're going to the next court in 10 or 20 years is talking about what

1603
02:25:10,567 --> 02:25:12,967
we're doing. There's going to be a

1604
02:25:16,400 --> 02:25:19,467
different... Footprint for how we get there

1605
02:25:20,533 --> 02:25:24,533
and I'm very confident the folks in this room can help make that happen so thank you

1606
02:25:25,833 --> 02:25:29,267
ed for that thomas I wanted to ask you a couple things but but I'm gonna let you sit

1607
02:25:31,233 --> 02:25:34,300
down ed thank you thank you part of by the way I know ed you're you're part of the

1608
02:25:37,567 --> 02:25:40,667
city county committee I know there's a by the way there's a initial planning meeting this

1609
02:25:42,567 --> 02:25:45,200
afternoon that commissioner, I mean a councilwoman because you and I are co-chairing,

1610
02:25:46,867 --> 02:25:49,800
so I don't know if you're going to be there or somebody from your team will.

1611
02:25:53,200 --> 02:25:56,967
some of our team will be there. They're attending, and they're actually going to go to the church. On the field trip to harris

1612
02:25:58,167 --> 02:26:01,900
health as well, that she said scheduled. Perfect. Jimmy, do you want to add something?

1613
02:26:02,900 --> 02:26:06,467
ed, can you please go home and rest? I echo what ed has said. This is very important.

1614
02:26:10,267 --> 02:26:14,167
you've got to have a healthy community, and part of that has

1615
02:26:16,400 --> 02:26:18,400
to be that we all work together in order to be able to help

1616
02:26:20,867 --> 02:26:24,800
these people that need the help. You look at the laurel ridge

1617
02:26:26,133 --> 02:26:29,433
situation right now, judge kazin and I were in the back discussing it.

1618
02:26:32,133 --> 02:26:33,667
it's a very difficult situation.

1619
02:26:36,433 --> 02:26:38,867
it's going to put a lot of pressure on the ers around town

1620
02:26:40,667 --> 02:26:43,100
for all the hospitals, not just the university. And we will probably talk a

1621
02:26:44,700 --> 02:26:48,533
little bit about it tonight at our uh board meeting that we're having this evening. But this is a problem that

1622
02:26:49,900 --> 02:26:53,233
takes... A lot of partners to be able to make a difference and we all

1623
02:26:55,267 --> 02:26:58,467
must work together because there's an awful lot of money that's being spent that we all

1624
02:26:59,533 --> 02:27:02,100
if we got together could probably go a little bit

1625
02:27:04,067 --> 02:27:08,033
further and thank the commissioners for having this session this morning and we

1626
02:27:10,267 --> 02:27:13,767
look forward to working with you thank you jimmy appreciate that um thomas let me just ask

1627
02:27:15,767 --> 02:27:19,767
real quick back to the presentation just to clarify

1628
02:27:21,300 --> 02:27:24,700
in my head that's slide 11 that is a list of strategies. So I thought you had said,

1629
02:27:27,333 --> 02:27:29,900
if I heard you correctly, or someone said that these are all

1630
02:27:32,100 --> 02:27:33,733
programmatic dollars. None of this includes the

1631
02:27:36,300 --> 02:27:40,000
capital. No, I believe that includes capital in there.

1632
02:27:41,100 --> 02:27:43,400
it is. Okay. Dr.

1633
02:27:45,733 --> 02:27:48,867
aiken, couldn't hear you. If I'm not mistaken, part of the residential treatment might

1634
02:27:49,833 --> 02:27:53,567
have been for crosspoint. I'd have to double check and see if that, but the majority is for direct services.

1635
02:27:55,133 --> 02:27:58,633
okay. So, if you guys can get us a breakdown, that would be great.

1636
02:28:00,167 --> 02:28:02,567
and this is a forecast for budget team, and it's already going

1637
02:28:05,767 --> 02:28:08,867
to be a tough budget, and I know we've already had folks,

1638
02:28:10,600 --> 02:28:14,000
different departments ask us, and I think this court in the past has been very supportive, for example,

1639
02:28:14,867 --> 02:28:18,700
in adding law enforcement, adding constables. It may not be that we can do that this particular budget,

1640
02:28:19,867 --> 02:28:22,933
because we're going to have to prioritize and make some tough decisions on programs that impact people and that

1641
02:28:30,033 --> 02:28:32,433
really... And help them turn their lives around.

1642
02:28:34,167 --> 02:28:37,500
not to say that law enforcement doesn't, but I think that's going to be part of this discussion

1643
02:28:38,900 --> 02:28:42,600
this court's going to have to have on making some of those tough decisions and prioritizing, because as we've

1644
02:28:44,100 --> 02:28:47,167
seen, some of the initial revenue numbers from property tax flattened out

1645
02:28:48,300 --> 02:28:51,333
a little bit and probably will be for the next couple years, coupled with the fact that

1646
02:28:52,533 --> 02:28:56,467
those arpa dollars are on the drawing down. So, um, okay, let me ask one more thing, and I'll let my

1647
02:28:58,500 --> 02:29:00,167
colleagues chime in. Actually, you know what?

1648
02:29:03,600 --> 02:29:07,200
commissioner clayfoot has asked about the applewhite. And so, jarvis, you don't need

1649
02:29:11,233 --> 02:29:13,933
to come back up. Thank you for doing what you

1650
02:29:16,100 --> 02:29:18,100
can to get that on track.

1651
02:29:21,033 --> 02:29:24,000
I know it seems like we made that allocation, or at least the appropriation,

1652
02:29:25,500 --> 02:29:29,033
several years ago. I think the sooner we can get that going, the better.

1653
02:29:30,033 --> 02:29:33,233
but we appreciate your work. On doing that. You know, I'll go ahead and

1654
02:29:34,967 --> 02:29:38,700
pass my time for now, but I appreciate the work that everybody's done, and I look forward to

1655
02:29:40,033 --> 02:29:43,600
continuing the conversation. Thank you, judge. Is it commissioner cowart? I won't forget.

1656
02:29:45,033 --> 02:29:48,867
yes. Thank you, judge. Thank you, commissioner moody, for helping to get this, all the staff and

1657
02:29:50,333 --> 02:29:52,600
everyone there present. Commissioner moody asked a question about assumptions that

1658
02:29:54,367 --> 02:29:57,967
we have that may be missing. I would say that one of the big criminal justice changes we

1659
02:30:00,100 --> 02:30:02,100
just heard from ed with respect to the southside

1660
02:30:05,467 --> 02:30:07,267
public health development is this increase in therapeutic

1661
02:30:11,333 --> 02:30:14,500
justice and the movement of therapy into schools. You all have heard me say

1662
02:30:15,700 --> 02:30:18,800
before, this was not something possible 10, excuse me, 12 years ago

1663
02:30:20,500 --> 02:30:23,733
when I was on commissioner's court.

1664
02:30:24,700 --> 02:30:27,033
it was very taboo for superintendents to do mental health.

1665
02:30:29,133 --> 02:30:32,733
so I think one of the things that... We have to look at in terms of assumptions is what is the

1666
02:30:34,100 --> 02:30:37,800
texas legislature going to do with respect to adverse childhood experiences. Adverse childhood experiences

1667
02:30:41,100 --> 02:30:43,467
are potentially traumatic events occurring

1668
02:30:45,267 --> 02:30:48,700
before the age of 18, including abuse and neglect and household dysfunction.

1669
02:30:51,100 --> 02:30:54,300
when there's addiction in the house, when there are sometimes divorce or

1670
02:30:55,767 --> 02:30:58,333
incarceration. These are very common things that happen in our community,

1671
02:30:59,967 --> 02:31:03,200
and about 61% of adults report at least one adverse childhood experience, and that can lead

1672
02:31:04,633 --> 02:31:05,967
to long-term toxic stress that negatively impacts brain

1673
02:31:09,033 --> 02:31:11,233
development and long-term physical and mental health.

1674
02:31:13,067 --> 02:31:14,733
so I think our legislative team needs to perhaps look at some

1675
02:31:20,833 --> 02:31:23,833
of the positive tea leaves. And also begin to work around

1676
02:31:25,700 --> 02:31:28,667
the state. I don't say this for a partisan reason.

1677
02:31:30,267 --> 02:31:32,067
I just say this as a political observer.

1678
02:31:36,533 --> 02:31:38,067
it looks like the texas house may end up changing parties.

1679
02:31:40,933 --> 02:31:43,033
and that would, I think, be positive for addressing

1680
02:31:45,200 --> 02:31:45,200
adverse childhood experiences.

1681
02:31:49,800 --> 02:31:53,500
and I think it's up to us as other leaders on the ground looking at this to not forget.

1682
02:31:54,900 --> 02:31:57,500
and let the legislature forget that they should be having the burden financially

1683
02:31:59,567 --> 02:32:03,267
of supporting the kind of mental health services that the

1684
02:32:05,533 --> 02:32:08,033
commissioner's court provided as a result of the american

1685
02:32:10,300 --> 02:32:14,033
recovery plan act. That is not something that the county has really all the time

1686
02:32:14,967 --> 02:32:18,667
under its statutory mandate, but it's something that the legislature should use as part

1687
02:32:20,300 --> 02:32:22,267
of school programming, as part of community school

1688
02:32:25,067 --> 02:32:27,900
programming. Something that we can partner with them, and we also need

1689
02:32:29,100 --> 02:32:32,900
to expand the amount of counselors that are available in order to meet the

1690
02:32:36,333 --> 02:32:37,933
demand. I think that...

1691
02:32:40,567 --> 02:32:44,367
is a lot to do with those 10,000 mental health detentions that judge kazin came in and talked about are such a problem.

1692
02:32:45,300 --> 02:32:49,033
so I think that we need to look at the fact that in the past when we did projections for jail population, we did not

1693
02:32:50,100 --> 02:32:53,667
have mental health counseling in our schools. And what does, somebody needs to do a study on,

1694
02:32:55,300 --> 02:32:59,133
what does the inclusion of mental health counseling do in terms of that

1695
02:33:01,033 --> 02:33:03,700
school-to-prison pipeline? What does it do to reduce that?

1696
02:33:05,233 --> 02:33:07,800
I think nami needs to be in this conversation, the national association for

1697
02:33:09,267 --> 02:33:12,567
mental illness. School districts need to be brought.

1698
02:33:14,267 --> 02:33:17,800
the state of texas's public health director, or public health commissioner, rather, and probably a

1699
02:33:19,067 --> 02:33:22,000
director, too. Our charters, our nonprofits, all of those folks may be

1700
02:33:23,100 --> 02:33:26,433
at the table, but they are very important. Now, with respect to this pharmaceutical issue.

1701
02:33:27,633 --> 02:33:31,467
we've got university health folks in the room. I'm not exactly sure what the holdup is, but I think that

1702
02:33:32,367 --> 02:33:34,500
considering that we have 100 plus unused beds, if we got to get heb, cvs, walmart,

1703
02:33:38,267 --> 02:33:38,267
ortiz pharmacy, whoever,

1704
02:33:43,833 --> 02:33:47,333
to help us with the licensing and the needs that we have, I think we need to make that a

1705
02:33:48,800 --> 02:33:50,833
priority so that the beds are not empty and actually dealing

1706
02:33:54,933 --> 02:33:58,367
you with recidivism. We also have not taken into consideration,

1707
02:34:01,067 --> 02:34:04,067
commissioner's court, the expansion of mental health that can take place

1708
02:34:05,533 --> 02:34:06,667
at the state hospital. We know that that's a regional,

1709
02:34:10,200 --> 02:34:12,700
you know, that's not all bexar county. But the addition of $300

1710
02:34:15,033 --> 02:34:17,300
million for that campus is important

1711
02:34:20,867 --> 02:34:24,800
in some of the severe acute cases that come through the bexar county jail. But moreover, in this...

1712
02:34:26,533 --> 02:34:28,033
leading the other elected officials around the state in

1713
02:34:31,167 --> 02:34:33,767
an agenda that helps address jail prevention and diversion. There's literally 111 acres of

1714
02:34:37,800 --> 02:34:41,267
empty land there where the state hospital is that could be

1715
02:34:43,233 --> 02:34:45,400
placed for additional medical and mental health services and

1716
02:34:47,667 --> 02:34:51,000
partnerships for a number of organizations. And I would submit that we need

1717
02:34:52,567 --> 02:34:54,967
to... Get with the state facilities corporation and others and

1718
02:34:56,900 --> 02:35:00,100
begin planning how do we do that treatment in partnership with all the folks that you've

1719
02:35:00,967 --> 02:35:00,967
mentioned today.

1720
02:35:07,233 --> 02:35:10,900
so I wanted to throw that out there. I'm actually quite optimistic that the political winds in the next five years in

1721
02:35:12,567 --> 02:35:16,133
texas are going to be such that there's going to be more investments to stem the school-to-prison pipeline,

1722
02:35:17,100 --> 02:35:20,000
and that jail diversion, that jail deflection, whatever the term,

1723
02:35:21,900 --> 02:35:24,700
you all know what we're trying to say.

1724
02:35:26,033 --> 02:35:29,700
whatever it is, is going to help us not have to necessarily build a billion dollars for expansion

1725
02:35:32,733 --> 02:35:34,200
of our jail. So thank you, judge.

1726
02:35:37,867 --> 02:35:41,467
thank you, court, for this discussion. Commissioner moody, back to you. Thank you, judge.

1727
02:35:43,533 --> 02:35:46,867
appreciate all the engagement here, and I think it's good. It's good

1728
02:35:48,400 --> 02:35:51,100
to hear alignment and support. There's a few things I still want to cover and I wanted

1729
02:35:53,133 --> 02:35:55,300
to make sure all of our partners had a chance to speak as well.

1730
02:36:07,333 --> 02:36:11,133
just one quick thing, thomas, before going on. Slide 12, I was just looking at the jail population snapshot. The diverted numbers, it just didn't look

1731
02:36:11,767 --> 02:36:13,600
like they matched up between the two lines there. The numbers

1732
02:36:17,167 --> 02:36:17,167
in parentheses right or the gap

1733
02:36:21,733 --> 02:36:24,200
between the lines? You're talking about the year to date?

1734
02:36:30,733 --> 02:36:34,667
the 560 and the 530? I was just trying to understand those two numbers versus the...

1735
02:36:35,533 --> 02:36:38,367
between the lines, it looks like it's more than that.

1736
02:36:39,633 --> 02:36:42,100
I don't know where we got them. Yeah, the gap is correct. I mean, the joe pop snapshot,

1737
02:36:44,467 --> 02:36:47,700
there's other items, not just... Diversion of the judication

1738
02:36:49,667 --> 02:36:52,967
other stuff that people other things okay and this will lead into to the other conversation one

1739
02:36:53,967 --> 02:36:56,767
to have but you had a bunch of recommendations here

1740
02:36:58,600 --> 02:37:01,933
but I saw that the on-site annex at the jail was not included as an assessment

1741
02:37:03,667 --> 02:37:06,233
recommendation were there other like recommendations

1742
02:37:07,867 --> 02:37:11,400
from the sash study meadows test that were not included here I think the only things we

1743
02:37:14,100 --> 02:37:15,900
kind of left off from those were kind of some

1744
02:37:19,867 --> 02:37:21,967
minor policies and some technology.

1745
02:37:24,267 --> 02:37:27,900
so I think those are things we're going to be handling, you know, back of the house.

1746
02:37:30,100 --> 02:37:32,867
okay. Because I kind of want to pull a couple things together.

1747
02:37:35,100 --> 02:37:37,667
I did share with my colleagues here the old studies that we

1748
02:37:40,733 --> 02:37:43,967
have seen here in commissioner's court, right, from the jaya evaluation by

1749
02:37:46,133 --> 02:37:49,133
dr. Testa, the meadows study, the sash study that was presented

1750
02:37:50,767 --> 02:37:53,600
to us by dan curry, and he may want to come out as well. Oh, you're back there.

1751
02:37:55,533 --> 02:37:57,367
but one of the highlights here that was part of the sash study

1752
02:37:59,967 --> 02:37:59,967
was a new medical behavioral

1753
02:38:04,300 --> 02:38:08,233
health facility on the current adc campus that could provide

1754
02:38:10,700 --> 02:38:12,533
improved medical facilities for uhs,

1755
02:38:19,767 --> 02:38:23,133
as well as mental health beds, forensic beds, and also potentially address the jaya

1756
02:38:25,267 --> 02:38:28,033
situation, which is ongoing and another separate story.

1757
02:38:30,033 --> 02:38:32,600
but that wasn't included in your slides,

1758
02:38:36,533 --> 02:38:40,367
and I just wanted to go back. Is that still one of the recommendations, mr.

1759
02:38:42,367 --> 02:38:45,400
curry, from the meadows study? Is that correct? Yeah, the sash reuse piece, or

1760
02:38:47,600 --> 02:38:49,300
the, forgive me, the building a medical facility

1761
02:38:52,567 --> 02:38:55,333
at the jail campus was a recommendation buried in the

1762
02:38:56,800 --> 02:38:59,333
meadows assessment, the phase two of that assessment.

1763
02:39:01,000 --> 02:39:04,367
I know they did a regional community-based look and then a detention-based. Look, two phases

1764
02:39:05,300 --> 02:39:09,100
of that study. In the detention-based phase of that study, they recommended additional medical and mental

1765
02:39:10,500 --> 02:39:14,300
health treatment facility beds on the jail campus or some other location. So our sas presentation was

1766
02:39:16,100 --> 02:39:19,733
directly in line with that recommendation from the meadows study to

1767
02:39:21,400 --> 02:39:25,067
expand that mental health supply chain. No, appreciate that, because I

1768
02:39:28,233 --> 02:39:30,333
think it's an important omission, because that that concept,

1769
02:39:32,400 --> 02:39:35,867
that recommendation that came before I was on court, right,

1770
02:39:37,033 --> 02:39:40,600
and that study was out there and completed before we were on court,

1771
02:39:42,867 --> 02:39:45,200
made that recommendation to this commissioner's court, and I don't think we should

1772
02:39:47,200 --> 02:39:50,800
look past it, especially after talking with our partners at uhs and

1773
02:39:51,567 --> 02:39:54,633
knowing their concerns, knowing also the impact on staffing over time with all the transportation issues going

1774
02:39:56,067 --> 02:39:57,733
back and forth between the jail.

1775
02:40:00,167 --> 02:40:02,167
I know commissioner rodriguez highlighted it.

1776
02:40:06,100 --> 02:40:08,433
you know, I very much appreciate uhs's commitment to partnering with us.

1777
02:40:10,433 --> 02:40:14,433
we've had some great discussions over in the pet tower regarding this. And I think, you know, we need

1778
02:40:15,867 --> 02:40:18,267
to start looking at solutions, right?

1779
02:40:22,000 --> 02:40:24,733
we're in alignment. We're starting to see alignment

1780
02:40:26,833 --> 02:40:30,800
here and some good discussion. But what does that mean, right? In the near term, that communication highlights, you

1781
02:40:32,333 --> 02:40:35,033
know, gaps in information. Like, we didn't know some beds were sitting vacant.

1782
02:40:36,367 --> 02:40:37,800
we know there needs to be medication.

1783
02:40:40,733 --> 02:40:44,600
you know, does uhs help with that? How do we solve that? So I think that's great.

1784
02:40:46,433 --> 02:40:48,533
but in the mid to long term, what does that look like in terms

1785
02:40:50,500 --> 02:40:53,033
of psychiatric hospital, in terms of a partnership,

1786
02:40:54,600 --> 02:40:57,933
a financial partnership, potentially, between uhs and bexar county

1787
02:40:58,900 --> 02:41:01,433
on a facility that could, you know, you know. Again, be on the current

1788
02:41:04,233 --> 02:41:07,733
grounds of the jail or somewhere else that would provide those mental health

1789
02:41:09,233 --> 02:41:12,467
beds, medical facilities close by to facilitate the care that we need in the jail as well.

1790
02:41:14,867 --> 02:41:16,500
so I think those are all important things

1791
02:41:20,133 --> 02:41:23,733
to highlight. And I did capture your comment, ed, about not a hospital. It isn't a hospital, right?

1792
02:41:26,900 --> 02:41:30,900
but we know we have to provide medical care there in the jail, and so we need to make sure that we have the

1793
02:41:32,467 --> 02:41:36,300
medical facilities necessary to be able to do that. I wanted to make sure and call

1794
02:41:37,633 --> 02:41:37,633
up, we had a couple other

1795
02:41:41,933 --> 02:41:45,467
invited guests. Eric epley, would you mind just coming up and speaking

1796
02:41:47,600 --> 02:41:49,900
to us briefly from, thank you for your patience. I know it's been a long

1797
02:41:51,733 --> 02:41:54,433
discussion here, but from strac's perspective, I know you've done a lot

1798
02:41:56,067 --> 02:41:59,433
of work out there in making sure people in crisis get the care they need and have a lot of experience

1799
02:42:00,600 --> 02:42:04,067
in this space. We'd love to get your recommendations, your thoughts, and any challenges you're

1800
02:42:05,267 --> 02:42:09,000
dealing with with smart teams or anything else at this point. Thank you, commissioner moody.

1801
02:42:10,800 --> 02:42:14,600
and, commissioners and judges, it's a great chance to have a... Conversation with you.

1802
02:42:16,800 --> 02:42:19,033
it's a tough conversation. I'm glad you're tackling the diversion deflection center.

1803
02:42:25,700 --> 02:42:25,700
it's one of the three legs

1804
02:42:31,233 --> 02:42:34,433
of the stool. It's one of the three legs. I convened a meeting

1805
02:42:36,300 --> 02:42:36,300
of the healthcare principals

1806
02:42:41,433 --> 02:42:45,367
about two or three months ago, and we came to consensus on those three legs. Mr.

1807
02:42:46,600 --> 02:42:49,733
banas was a key leader in that discussion, but the other healthcare system ceos and other key leaders were

1808
02:42:50,800 --> 02:42:54,500
in that room, and those three legs are pretty simple. They're expensive, but they're pretty simple.

1809
02:42:55,467 --> 02:42:59,067
diversion deflection center, which you're tackling right now, which we appreciate. Wraparound services, because it

1810
02:43:00,000 --> 02:43:03,233
doesn't matter if it's a diversion center or if it's an inpatient, inpatient actual psychiatric hospital or

1811
02:43:04,467 --> 02:43:07,767
inpatient bed capacity. That's the third leg. The wraparound services make sure those things stay eligible

1812
02:43:08,833 --> 02:43:12,633
for more patients. Transitional housing, permanent supportive housing, multidisciplinary response

1813
02:43:13,667 --> 02:43:17,400
teams. Some of those things we're doing pretty well. You mentioned the smart team.

1814
02:43:18,600 --> 02:43:21,967
we also have the core team in the city. We are having trouble with that.

1815
02:43:23,300 --> 02:43:25,700
the smart team alone did 02,500, almost 2,500 patients last year responded to

1816
02:43:33,667 --> 02:43:34,533
in the county, those on the east and west side.

1817
02:43:45,333 --> 02:43:47,167
we had no arrests. We had no arrests.

1818
02:43:49,567 --> 02:43:52,100
and we almost had no use of force. We had one use of force, but

1819
02:43:53,600 --> 02:43:57,067
only because the gentleman took off and ran into a busy interstate, and we had to tase him

1820
02:43:58,400 --> 02:44:01,967
to be able to stop him before he was committing suicide. So, honestly, you look at an

1821
02:44:03,233 --> 02:44:06,767
effective diversion-deflection effort, the smart team is critical. It's critical

1822
02:44:08,133 --> 02:44:11,533
to our success right now. So national association of counties... Best practice award we received

1823
02:44:13,267 --> 02:44:16,000
for it. It's in jeopardy. It's in jeopardy right now.

1824
02:44:17,467 --> 02:44:21,467
stracc is committed to the smart team, to the smart team mission. Stracc has been committed

1825
02:44:22,933 --> 02:44:25,400
to this from day one for that purpose. Right now,

1826
02:44:27,300 --> 02:44:31,300
we find ourselves funding our partners, bexar county esd district 2.

1827
02:44:33,700 --> 02:44:37,433
great guys are providing paramedics to the smart team.

1828
02:44:38,633 --> 02:44:42,167
mr. Flores, I think you know that. Chcs wonderful partner with clinicians to go

1829
02:44:43,967 --> 02:44:47,333
on those teams. You're talking about a bexar county deputy, an esd2 paramedic, and a chcs mental

1830
02:44:48,600 --> 02:44:51,633
health clinician in that tahoe. They're making these runs every day.

1831
02:44:52,667 --> 02:44:56,667
they deserve to be paid. We've been paying them. We're doing that without a contract.

1832
02:44:58,100 --> 02:45:01,767
I know some of you are aware of that, but I want to make the court aware of that.

1833
02:45:03,200 --> 02:45:07,067
we'd like to resolve the issues with that, but the county attorney will not even meet with us face to face.

1834
02:45:08,167 --> 02:45:11,333
we have to give all of our comments, even from our lawyers. We won't even talk

1835
02:45:12,900 --> 02:45:13,867
to our lawyers face to face or on the phone, zoom.

1836
02:45:47,667 --> 02:45:50,600
I don't know how to resolve issues over red lines that take weeks to come back and forth. That's why we're eight months. I think a face-to-face meeting,

1837
02:45:51,900 --> 02:45:55,700
judge, with perhaps one of you, maybe a couple of commissioners. Or you or and mediate some of

1838
02:45:56,867 --> 02:45:59,033
these discussions because this is too important a mission.

1839
02:46:02,900 --> 02:46:05,033
I have a lot of other things to say.

1840
02:46:09,867 --> 02:46:13,167
I'm going to drop that now, but that's my request, judge. Things you may not know

1841
02:46:15,667 --> 02:46:19,367
about the laurel ridge treatment center closure. They've lost their cms provider status.

1842
02:46:21,133 --> 02:46:22,933
cms has been working with them for months,

1843
02:46:25,933 --> 02:46:29,800
so this is not... This didn't happen overnight. I think this is significant to our community.

1844
02:46:31,667 --> 02:46:34,800
cms doesn't take this. This is a pretty rash action. Cms takes this action

1845
02:46:36,467 --> 02:46:40,000
about seven to ten times a year across the entire united

1846
02:46:41,367 --> 02:46:41,367
states.

1847
02:46:51,200 --> 02:46:54,700
so lower ridge's commitment to me from their leadership is they're going to stay open with a very small unit, 20 to 40 beds. They're going to reapply.

1848
02:46:55,400 --> 02:46:58,533
for their cms status, because they can't bill medicare, medicaid, and many contracts, private contracts,

1849
02:46:59,700 --> 02:47:01,967
require you to have your cms status as sort

1850
02:47:03,767 --> 02:47:07,300
of a level of capability, right? There will be a waiting period

1851
02:47:11,600 --> 02:47:13,633
before they're allowed to reapply. Do you know how long that will

1852
02:47:16,600 --> 02:47:18,633
be? They don't know. It could be three months,

1853
02:47:20,933 --> 02:47:23,933
it could be six months, it could be a year, it could be a day. It's not going to be a day.

1854
02:47:27,167 --> 02:47:30,567
we'll know that hopefully next week. They have 86 patients as

1855
02:47:32,133 --> 02:47:34,233
of today, and by friday they will be down to the 20. That is a 330 bed facility.

1856
02:47:37,800 --> 02:47:37,800
330 bed loss

1857
02:47:43,833 --> 02:47:46,467
to our inpatient capability. 22 of those 330 beds are what we call the unfunded contract

1858
02:47:48,600 --> 02:47:51,933
beds that cscs is so generously providing through hhsc funds.

1859
02:47:53,133 --> 02:47:56,767
we currently have about 68 contract beds. 22 of those are at laurel

1860
02:47:57,933 --> 02:48:01,733
ridge. Earlier it was mentioned we have those arpa beds as well.

1861
02:48:05,500 --> 02:48:09,200
thank you for those eight additional contract beds. That's the 60 plus 8.

1862
02:48:10,567 --> 02:48:14,333
that's how we get to 68. So we're losing laurel ridge on friday. We're losing those 22 contract

1863
02:48:15,600 --> 02:48:18,900
beds that laurel ridge has provided. And we're losing the arpa beds

1864
02:48:20,167 --> 02:48:20,167
on friday midnight.

1865
02:48:32,733 --> 02:48:36,333
that's going to have impact. The psychiatric centers in this town, that's going to have impact to the ers in this town.

1866
02:48:38,033 --> 02:48:41,667
I would encourage our health care partners to remember 2015 and 2016.

1867
02:48:43,633 --> 02:48:47,167
that's where we're going back to on friday morning. It's going to impact the police and the sheriff,

1868
02:48:51,900 --> 02:48:53,000
there's no doubt. It's going

1869
02:48:56,067 --> 02:48:59,767
to impact the jail. We're talking about trying to reduce the jail, but...

1870
02:49:00,700 --> 02:49:00,700
as the final destination if

1871
02:49:04,767 --> 02:49:08,433
there is no other destination. We've seen it over and over, and that's coming.

1872
02:49:09,233 --> 02:49:12,033
it's going to impact the shelters. It's going

1873
02:49:13,667 --> 02:49:17,000
to impact every part of our society, and it's coming like a freight train.

1874
02:49:18,733 --> 02:49:18,733
you know, crisis mental health

1875
02:49:22,900 --> 02:49:26,500
is complex because it has three components. You, of course, have a health care component.

1876
02:49:29,367 --> 02:49:32,067
but you also have this justice component and a public safety component.

1877
02:49:33,400 --> 02:49:33,400
well, public safety and justice

1878
02:49:41,467 --> 02:49:44,767
are used to having geopolitical lines. Health care doesn't deal in... Oh, you're from comel

1879
02:49:45,633 --> 02:49:48,700
county? Yeah, we're not going

1880
02:49:49,867 --> 02:49:53,300
to see you over here at methodist or baptist. Like, that doesn't exist. It's a catchment area. It's how far can you draw

1881
02:49:54,500 --> 02:49:58,133
patients. And those geopolitical lines... Create a great deal of the complexity related

1882
02:49:59,733 --> 02:50:02,467
to crisis mental health. So it's where people can be funded and not funded, etc.

1883
02:50:04,667 --> 02:50:06,267
we're committed to trying to help navigate that complexity at stic, at the

1884
02:50:08,900 --> 02:50:10,733
southwest texas crisis collaborative.

1885
02:50:25,133 --> 02:50:28,933
I've said enough. I'm going to pause there. Well, I appreciate your candor and your willingness to... Give us facts. I think, first of all, I mean,

1886
02:50:30,667 --> 02:50:34,000
you have my commitment to try to facilitate this going forward with the smart teams. I think there's agreement that

1887
02:50:36,500 --> 02:50:39,300
this is something that has been hugely successful and that we would want to see continued,

1888
02:50:41,600 --> 02:50:42,967
but obviously we need to sort that out in terms of

1889
02:50:46,067 --> 02:50:48,067
the contract. I also think you bring up some

1890
02:50:50,533 --> 02:50:53,900
serious points that we need to consider I mean, we want to think about playing offense

1891
02:50:55,633 --> 02:50:59,367
on this issue, but, I mean, shoot, we've got to play defense too. I mean, we're losing hundreds of beds,

1892
02:51:00,700 --> 02:51:02,067
and what does that look like next week?

1893
02:51:05,400 --> 02:51:08,800
so I think that those are some definitely sobering numbers and stats that we need

1894
02:51:10,367 --> 02:51:13,733
to consider going forward. But I appreciate your willingness to come here and share all that.

1895
02:51:14,800 --> 02:51:18,367
and I don't know if anybody else has any questions or comments.

1896
02:51:19,800 --> 02:51:20,600
I wanted to bring brandon wood up as well.

1897
02:51:34,600 --> 02:51:38,033
thank you, eric. I think, brandon, if you could join us.

1898
02:51:39,333 --> 02:51:42,200
I just wanted to introduce brandon wood, former director of the texas jail commission, I believe, and recently we sat

1899
02:51:44,867 --> 02:51:48,567
down for a breakfast. Got to pick his brain on what he's seen

1900
02:51:49,600 --> 02:51:53,167
over the years, both in terms of stats with our jail and criminal justice system,

1901
02:51:55,700 --> 02:51:59,067
but also across the state. He's watched some of the things that are going

1902
02:52:01,033 --> 02:52:04,533
on in harris county, dallas county, travis county, and other big urban areas. So I'm just going to kind

1903
02:52:06,700 --> 02:52:09,633
of open it up to you rather than talking anymore. But if you could tell us

1904
02:52:10,933 --> 02:52:14,400
about... Your experience and kind of what you've seen and some of the challenges and how other

1905
02:52:16,200 --> 02:52:19,333
big urban counties are thinking about this and dealing with these issues.

1906
02:52:21,100 --> 02:52:23,967
brandon wood, former executive director of texas commission on jail standards, currently

1907
02:52:26,233 --> 02:52:30,233
with gmj. I appreciate the opportunity to speak to an extremely important issue.

1908
02:52:32,633 --> 02:52:35,733
to be honest with you, you're asking you're asking the right questions and you're

1909
02:52:36,867 --> 02:52:39,733
saying the right things. You understand that there is a need

1910
02:52:41,333 --> 02:52:43,600
for deflection and diversion. You've heard that it is one part

1911
02:52:45,600 --> 02:52:47,233
of this three-legged stool. It may have more legs than just three because criminal justice

1912
02:52:49,867 --> 02:52:53,333
is an extremely complicated program, probably one of the least popular,

1913
02:52:57,633 --> 02:52:59,533
unfortunately, or fortunately, whichever way you want to look

1914
02:53:04,933 --> 02:53:08,833
at it, that counties are required to operate. Your general public normally does not have a general understanding of what these jails consist of.

1915
02:53:10,167 --> 02:53:13,100
and the first thing I always tell people is that your county jail is just one part

1916
02:53:14,333 --> 02:53:15,800
of a criminal justice system. And if any part of that system

1917
02:53:20,033 --> 02:53:23,000
is not working and operating as effectively and as efficiently as possible, your jail

1918
02:53:24,500 --> 02:53:27,233
population will go up and you will continue to experience the outcomes that you're trying

1919
02:53:29,633 --> 02:53:33,000
to avoid. Deflection and diversion. We hear people talk

1920
02:53:34,433 --> 02:53:38,400
about it all the time across the state, all across the nation. And the first thing that I'd

1921
02:53:39,700 --> 02:53:42,800
ask is, you want to deflect these people, you want to divert them, where

1922
02:53:43,767 --> 02:53:47,733
are you diverting them to? What type of care is being provided? One of the things that is

1923
02:53:49,000 --> 02:53:51,733
extremely important is also to ensure that local law enforcement has buy-in and

1924
02:53:53,100 --> 02:53:56,333
understands the value of these diversion centers.

1925
02:53:57,767 --> 02:54:01,367
because, for example, I've heard time and time again and have seen it as well, if an

1926
02:54:02,467 --> 02:54:05,833
individual is picked up and taken to a diversion center and they are able

1927
02:54:07,867 --> 02:54:11,000
to check themselves out within three to four hours and that same officer runs

1928
02:54:12,333 --> 02:54:15,767
across that individual on his same shift, they have less of an incentive to utilize those facilities.

1929
02:54:17,533 --> 02:54:21,533
so that programming is extremely important. Quick math based upon some of

1930
02:54:23,300 --> 02:54:25,900
the data that y'all were throwing out there earlier.

1931
02:54:27,733 --> 02:54:31,567
your county is projected to be. 3.3 million, I believe, is the

1932
02:54:32,600 --> 02:54:35,700
number that I heard previously by 2050 in about 25 years, 24 years now.

1933
02:54:36,933 --> 02:54:39,067
even if you were able to drive your incarceration

1934
02:54:41,167 --> 02:54:45,133
rate down to 2.0, which is where we see most of the larger urban counties

1935
02:54:47,333 --> 02:54:51,033
across the state, you would still probably have an inmate population over 6,500.

1936
02:54:53,100 --> 02:54:55,000
so even if you are doing everything that you need

1937
02:54:58,133 --> 02:55:01,167
to do, you do have to have a plan at some point in the future to provide that

1938
02:55:02,533 --> 02:55:06,067
additional capacity. Can divert and deflect everyone. I'm sorry, what was that?

1939
02:55:06,833 --> 02:55:10,567
we can't divert and deflect everyone. No, sir. The providing

1940
02:55:11,333 --> 02:55:14,333
of public safety is one of the primary functions of local government and state

1941
02:55:15,867 --> 02:55:19,700
government, and ensuring that you have proper space for those individuals that you cannot safely release back out in the

1942
02:55:20,900 --> 02:55:23,533
public is something that we are burdened with. But you should still try.

1943
02:55:25,667 --> 02:55:28,500
as much as you possibly can, you have to drive down your incarceration rates.

1944
02:55:30,067 --> 02:55:32,933
you have to ensure that if that individual can be placed safely back into the community, that

1945
02:55:36,133 --> 02:55:39,433
should be your number one goal after the provision of public safety.

1946
02:55:40,933 --> 02:55:44,300
so a realistic approach, do you have tripwires in place where if your inmate population

1947
02:55:45,700 --> 02:55:48,400
reaches a certain amount, what occurs at that point in time?

1948
02:55:51,500 --> 02:55:54,533
or if the programs that you are putting in place are not providing the outcomes that you are expecting.

1949
02:55:56,467 --> 02:56:00,167
what is the return on investment in regards to these programs? Reinforce success

1950
02:56:02,400 --> 02:56:06,000
on those programs. So I would encourage you to keep having these discussions.

1951
02:56:07,400 --> 02:56:10,300
these programs, just like any large organization, having come

1952
02:56:11,967 --> 02:56:14,467
from state bureaucracy, I can speak

1953
02:56:16,133 --> 02:56:19,700
to this firsthand, we have a tendency to find ourselves operating in a silo.

1954
02:56:21,533 --> 02:56:24,200
you have to ensure that you engage your partners, open lines of communication,

1955
02:56:25,633 --> 02:56:28,600
holding everybody accountable to what they're supposed to be doing.

1956
02:56:30,133 --> 02:56:34,067
that can be difficult at times, I know, but it is imperative that the county continue down the path.

1957
02:56:35,033 --> 02:56:37,867
barrett county was traditionally seen as very progressive in this regard.

1958
02:56:39,367 --> 02:56:42,300
whenever I first started, I was blown away by the match program, mothers

1959
02:56:43,767 --> 02:56:47,000
and their children, that was being operated at the jail. The other programs that were

1960
02:56:48,433 --> 02:56:51,767
being provided with the community, community support providing those programs so that you can divert

1961
02:56:52,933 --> 02:56:55,833
these individuals. Provision of health care within jails. Every jail that we see coming

1962
02:56:59,067 --> 02:56:59,067
online now to include one that

1963
02:57:06,200 --> 02:57:09,667
we're currently helping program, large amounts of space are being provided

1964
02:57:10,633 --> 02:57:13,933
for additional health care to be provided on site at the county jail. You're not expected to possibly

1965
02:57:14,833 --> 02:57:18,733
be operating a level one trauma center at these jails, but you do need the space and the resources available

1966
02:57:19,833 --> 02:57:23,733
to provide that level of care. We want to reduce the number of in-custody deaths.

1967
02:57:25,100 --> 02:57:28,700
everybody has that goal. Nobody sets out wanting to. Be ranked number one

1968
02:57:30,267 --> 02:57:30,267
in the state for death

1969
02:57:34,633 --> 02:57:37,800
in custody. We understand that unfortunately some of the individuals that we do interact

1970
02:57:39,233 --> 02:57:42,600
with in our criminal justice system have pre-existing health

1971
02:57:46,600 --> 02:57:48,367
conditions. They have not had access to

1972
02:57:50,700 --> 02:57:54,000
health care that would help them. But reduction of suicides, elimination of homicides,

1973
02:57:57,367 --> 02:58:00,567
those are items that have to be done. And ensuring that you have... That seamless type of

1974
02:58:01,833 --> 02:58:05,800
transition whenever you're moving these people out can help you accomplish that, but you have to be providing those services

1975
02:58:06,600 --> 02:58:10,433
in that county jail. Well, I appreciate all those thoughts. I just have a couple quick

1976
02:58:11,833 --> 02:58:15,100
questions, and I wanted to highlight a couple of your points.

1977
02:58:16,800 --> 02:58:20,267
first of all, that you said medical on-site is a best practice and is being utilized in all new construction,

1978
02:58:21,200 --> 02:58:24,900
basically, at this point. It is. You also highlighted the math says. Based on our growth rate, even

1979
02:58:26,000 --> 02:58:29,367
if we drove incarceration rates down, again, we were talking about assumptions earlier, you would still be looking at

1980
02:58:30,733 --> 02:58:34,067
06,500 inmates, which we're at 05,000 capacity, so that would be a serious problem. To your point about tripwires

1981
02:58:35,367 --> 02:58:36,300
and having a plan, I think that that's something we realized

1982
02:59:02,300 --> 02:59:06,267
when we hit the tripwire and we didn't have a plan. And so we did, you know, get these contracts with surrounding counties, but we're still trying

1983
02:59:07,200 --> 02:59:09,200
to figure out what that process looks like and how we pull inmates

1984
02:59:11,500 --> 02:59:15,367
back when we have that additional capacity and we don't overuse those contracts. But how does that look like statewide

1985
02:59:17,533 --> 02:59:20,600
at this point? Because if more and more counties are having to look

1986
02:59:22,133 --> 02:59:24,800
to other surrounding counties for additional capacity, are you seeing a lot

1987
02:59:27,500 --> 02:59:31,133
of that? And... I mean, we just saw one of our counties increase the cost per

1988
02:59:32,100 --> 02:59:32,900
bed per night $20, you know, 30% overnight.

1989
02:59:37,567 --> 02:59:39,500
so are you seeing a dwindling supply of those counties that

1990
02:59:42,667 --> 02:59:45,267
are willing to do that? We see counties get into bidding wars

1991
02:59:46,833 --> 02:59:50,533
against each other for those available beds. That, in turn, has forced some counties

1992
02:59:52,067 --> 02:59:55,600
to actually house their inmates out of state. And that is an issue that... We were not able to prevent

1993
02:59:58,767 --> 03:00:00,600
because we did not have the authority while I was

1994
03:00:03,033 --> 03:00:06,733
with the commission. But we had concerns with that practice because those are citizens of the state of texas

1995
03:00:08,933 --> 03:00:12,833
and they were no longer being held within the confines of the state.

1996
03:00:14,067 --> 03:00:15,967
and whenever you have over 01,000 of your inmates housed

1997
03:00:18,400 --> 03:00:21,767
out of state, and then we had other counties, smaller counties,

1998
03:00:23,200 --> 03:00:26,000
simply did not have the ability to compete with some of the larger counties.

1999
03:00:27,400 --> 03:00:31,033
consuming these available beds, they were also starting to move their inmates out of state.

2000
03:00:32,433 --> 03:00:35,167
so the reduction in excess capacity across the state has finally reached the point that

2001
03:00:36,700 --> 03:00:39,367
you cannot simply just pick up the phone and secure 500 beds

2002
03:00:41,700 --> 03:00:44,367
without any issue. A county may guarantee you 100 beds, but they may even say

2003
03:00:46,267 --> 03:00:46,267
that you're going to pay

2004
03:00:50,400 --> 03:00:53,067
for those 100 beds even if you do not fill them. So that is...

2005
03:00:54,600 --> 03:00:58,133
the new model that is coming into play and I believe that will continue into the near future.

2006
03:00:59,133 --> 03:01:02,133
yeah, there's two parts to that. First of all, if you do find them, there's going to be

2007
03:01:04,100 --> 03:01:07,200
enough competition that the price is going to go up, which we just saw with kirk county.

2008
03:01:08,433 --> 03:01:11,867
and that's if you're lucky. If not, you can't find those beds and then you've got a

2009
03:01:13,467 --> 03:01:16,733
bigger problem. That's correct. Appreciate you sharing that. Now, I don't know what the

2010
03:01:17,800 --> 03:01:21,433
answer to this question will be, but I want you to just... Speak to what you know

2011
03:01:22,600 --> 03:01:26,600
about the dallas county situation, because I know they are building a new jail there. I'm not suggesting that we

2012
03:01:27,467 --> 03:01:31,000
build a new jail, but they are, sometimes partisan politics creeps in here.

2013
03:01:32,300 --> 03:01:36,167
dallas county doesn't have a republican

2014
03:01:37,333 --> 03:01:40,000
on their commissioner's court. They are building a new dallas county jail.

2015
03:01:41,933 --> 03:01:45,067
they're slightly bigger than we are, but can you speak to the details

2016
03:01:46,433 --> 03:01:47,433
of that and what compelled them to believe that they needed

2017
03:01:50,967 --> 03:01:54,933
to do that at this time? So the dallas county jail system has several similarities to bexar county.

2018
03:01:56,200 --> 03:01:59,833
multi-facilities that have been built over the years. They have tried to make them as efficient as possible, but in

2019
03:02:01,300 --> 03:02:05,267
the end it was the realization that they did need to move, probably out of downtown, and

2020
03:02:06,400 --> 03:02:08,800
address the criminal justice needs of the county

2021
03:02:12,067 --> 03:02:14,033
for the next 30 to 50 years. Right out of the bat.

2022
03:02:16,233 --> 03:02:18,333
now if that includes doing a phased approach, that may be

2023
03:02:21,167 --> 03:02:24,700
one of the things that they do undertake, but they want to make sure that they're

2024
03:02:26,167 --> 03:02:29,867
providing the right type of beds along with diversion programmed

2025
03:02:31,100 --> 03:02:33,000
into it in order to try to reduce the end number

2026
03:02:35,700 --> 03:02:38,833
of beds that they would need at that 50-year period. So the age of the facilities,

2027
03:02:41,033 --> 03:02:43,167
maintenance of these facilities can become exorbitant.

2028
03:02:45,433 --> 03:02:48,567
you are dealing with systems that age out, vendors no longer produce the

2029
03:02:49,700 --> 03:02:53,500
parts, and then whenever you have the responsibility to ensure that all your doors actually lock and stay locked,

2030
03:02:55,000 --> 03:02:58,767
but that vendor no longer produces those parts, all of a sudden you're encountering a situation in which thank you.

2031
03:03:00,633 --> 03:03:04,167
you are now having to do a complete replacement of doors, security electronics,

2032
03:03:05,300 --> 03:03:09,100
computer systems. All those items, whether it's planned obsolescence or whatever you want to call it,

2033
03:03:13,100 --> 03:03:17,000
they have to be replaced on an ongoing basis. Then you have all the life safety systems that are

2034
03:03:17,967 --> 03:03:20,933
in place. And any time that you're dealing

2035
03:03:22,367 --> 03:03:25,800
with these older buildings, they decay. They are used 24-7, 365 days a year.

2036
03:03:27,400 --> 03:03:30,933
it is not like your traditional office building, which gets a break.

2037
03:03:32,433 --> 03:03:35,433
you the cost of maintenance of these jails, the older they are, the higher it becomes.

2038
03:03:36,533 --> 03:03:40,200
and at certain points, you have to realize that you are no longer getting out of that jail what you need

2039
03:03:41,133 --> 03:03:44,933
to get out of it. You're spending more on it than it would almost cost

2040
03:03:45,967 --> 03:03:49,100
to build a new one. But it is a break-even point. No, I appreciate that,

2041
03:03:50,800 --> 03:03:53,133
brandon. I used the example one time

2042
03:03:55,000 --> 03:03:57,767
about... You know, your truck, your

2043
03:04:00,433 --> 03:04:04,033
chevy pickup truck, right? Like you're good at 150,000 miles.

2044
03:04:06,367 --> 03:04:09,833
you know, you start spending more and more on maintenance.

2045
03:04:10,833 --> 03:04:14,167
you get to 200,000 miles. I see you, thomas. You get to 250,000 miles.

2046
03:04:15,767 --> 03:04:18,233
I mean, at some point, you start, I need a new engine.

2047
03:04:20,100 --> 03:04:23,167
I need a new transmission. You start putting so much money out in terms

2048
03:04:24,533 --> 03:04:28,300
of maintenance costs that you figure, well, I could actually go out and purchase a new truck and save

2049
03:04:29,867 --> 03:04:33,267
money going that way. And eventually, thomas, everybody gets there.

2050
03:04:34,700 --> 03:04:38,133
but I think that that brings to your point, right? And I'd like, dan, if you

2051
03:04:40,833 --> 03:04:44,833
wouldn't mind coming up just briefly. I'm going to close things down here just shortly.

2052
03:04:46,567 --> 03:04:48,633
but if, dan, could you just speak to the different annexes and the dates?

2053
03:04:51,733 --> 03:04:54,700
and brandon, I'd like to hear your thoughts, too, on the useful life of a jail

2054
03:04:57,467 --> 03:05:00,333
in general. Well, I think you're looking at, you know, our detention

2055
03:05:02,767 --> 03:05:06,333
facilities and their age. So, again, the original bexar county detention center

2056
03:05:08,767 --> 03:05:12,100
on the comal campus was b&c tower and was constructed around 1986.

2057
03:05:12,900 --> 03:05:16,667
a few years later, in 1989, they added a tower. So pretty quickly after that.

2058
03:05:17,933 --> 03:05:21,067
that's what we call the main jail. Forty years. Correct.

2059
03:05:23,000 --> 03:05:26,000
okay. Yeah. The adult attention center

2060
03:05:27,567 --> 03:05:31,267
annex was completed in the early 90s. When those came online,

2061
03:05:32,300 --> 03:05:35,200
I think 95 was when the building was renovated, a&b tower, and then c&d tower was

2062
03:05:36,633 --> 03:05:39,533
added to that. So a quick progression in that 20-year window

2063
03:05:41,300 --> 03:05:44,033
of adding a significant number of beds to that campus. And back in 2015, we added 512

2064
03:05:46,000 --> 03:05:50,000
beds to the south tower facility, which includes the ga intake center.

2065
03:05:51,233 --> 03:05:54,100
have we seen an increase in escalation in maintenance costs?

2066
03:05:55,767 --> 03:05:58,800
I mean, are there any, you know, maintenance costs that are just going

2067
03:06:00,700 --> 03:06:03,467
to be an extreme burden in the coming years? Well, I will tell you,

2068
03:06:04,900 --> 03:06:07,733
I'm thankful that the court has in the past invested heavily in making sure the jail stays

2069
03:06:09,300 --> 03:06:13,300
in compliance and it has all the physical plant attributes that it needs. You allowed us to replace the

2070
03:06:15,167 --> 03:06:18,233
detention toilets, which were causing concern, replaced detention lighting.

2071
03:06:19,633 --> 03:06:23,367
I don't know, akin to kind of pulling the skeleton out of the body and putting it back in, but it is a significant

2072
03:06:24,733 --> 03:06:28,567
investment for the county, as you well noted, and we're doing our best to make sure that we bring you

2073
03:06:29,967 --> 03:06:32,800
projects that make sure it stays in compliance with standards.

2074
03:06:34,133 --> 03:06:35,567
yeah, and I hope that we can kind of continue this

2075
03:06:41,100 --> 03:06:44,167
conversation because I know we could continue on for another couple hours, but I

2076
03:06:45,733 --> 03:06:49,000
know we've got other business to attend to as well. So I wanted to kind of...

2077
03:06:50,333 --> 03:06:53,367
close things down, but I do think understanding our ongoing maintenance costs

2078
03:06:54,867 --> 03:06:58,100
for the jail, like looking at them over the last 10 years and what's expected

2079
03:06:59,633 --> 03:07:03,533
over the next 10 years, would be helpful in thinking about this too. Mr.

2080
03:07:04,900 --> 03:07:07,000
wood, if you wouldn't mind just answering that question as well

2081
03:07:08,967 --> 03:07:12,500
in terms of useful life. So one of the things that we always encourage counties to take into account is that

2082
03:07:13,567 --> 03:07:16,467
you want that jail to be able to last 20 years without having to add on to it.

2083
03:07:18,267 --> 03:07:21,333
now, even during that 20 years, because 20 years is... Traditionally the length of the bond that is issued,

2084
03:07:22,533 --> 03:07:25,433
paid off, so forth and so on. Nobody ever wants to go back out to the voters and say,

2085
03:07:26,867 --> 03:07:30,867
yeah, we didn't ask for enough money to build enough jail beds. But even

2086
03:07:32,033 --> 03:07:35,567
during that 20-year period, you know, roofs are going to need to be replaced. You can have mechanical roofs.

2087
03:07:37,033 --> 03:07:40,500
the systems start going out. So hopefully you get a good five years where you're in really good shape.

2088
03:07:41,467 --> 03:07:45,200
but after that, you're probably gonna start incurring preventative maintenance costs

2089
03:07:47,400 --> 03:07:50,333
and some replacement costs. You may have a generator go out, generators get hit

2090
03:07:51,467 --> 03:07:54,867
by lightning, whatever the case may be. So we always encourage counties to look at that 20 year window

2091
03:07:56,367 --> 03:08:00,367
right there. And then counties want to operate that jail and not build anything for 120 years.

2092
03:08:01,600 --> 03:08:04,833
I get it, I understand. There are some in the state that are approaching that age,

2093
03:08:07,433 --> 03:08:10,833
but they're smaller counties. They should be museums rather than jails,

2094
03:08:11,967 --> 03:08:15,000
but they still hang on. So it's just that balancing act that counties have to do, not just with jails, but

2095
03:08:16,800 --> 03:08:20,667
everything else that y'all are responsible for. But jails, you're dealing with a very unique situation, and it's very challenging.

2096
03:08:22,967 --> 03:08:26,433
and it's also one of the reasons why we encourage

2097
03:08:28,600 --> 03:08:31,933
counties to pay attention to the type of jail beds that they build so that the operator.

2098
03:08:32,967 --> 03:08:36,167
the sheriff's office has what they need because that design is going to drive operations,

2099
03:08:37,900 --> 03:08:41,833
and operations can ensure a safer and more secure facility throughout. Thank you.

2100
03:08:43,200 --> 03:08:43,200
yes, sir.

2101
03:08:48,500 --> 03:08:51,767
all right. I'm going to final comments here, and we'll let the judge finish this

2102
03:08:53,267 --> 03:08:57,133
out. But the medical mental health annex recommendation, I don't think we should be excluding

2103
03:08:59,833 --> 03:09:02,833
that from the mix. Because it also touches another

2104
03:09:04,800 --> 03:09:08,267
point that isn't included in the recommendation but the jia, right? And we've talked about double

2105
03:09:09,167 --> 03:09:12,767
magistration a little bit. I think we need to talk about it more because we know it's a it's an issue.

2106
03:09:14,033 --> 03:09:17,500
it's delaying the intake process and we got to solve that.

2107
03:09:22,567 --> 03:09:26,000
but a new medical mental health annex would provide the opportunity

2108
03:09:27,000 --> 03:09:30,400
to rebuild the jia. With the scale and flow that it needs to be successful for both the city and the county.

2109
03:09:32,300 --> 03:09:35,500
so I do still want to keep that in the mix of options as we go forward and

2110
03:09:36,667 --> 03:09:39,000
think about things. I know sash, the actual

2111
03:09:40,900 --> 03:09:40,900
renovation of the buildings,

2112
03:09:49,467 --> 03:09:52,933
we didn't get into the details there. That was something that was

2113
03:09:54,767 --> 03:09:58,500
presented by dan curry as well with that sash study. It requires engagement with the state.

2114
03:09:59,533 --> 03:10:03,000
I'll be honest, we didn't have the level of engagement I think that we needed or alignment on what our plan was in order

2115
03:10:04,067 --> 03:10:07,467
to do that and go to the governor's office. I'm willing to do that,

2116
03:10:09,300 --> 03:10:12,467
but we have to be aligned and have a plan that makes sense and that we're committed

2117
03:10:14,267 --> 03:10:18,167
to and behind. I talked to the lubbock county judge about what they were doing out

2118
03:10:19,400 --> 03:10:21,733
in lubbock county. I talked to the travis county judge.

2119
03:10:23,600 --> 03:10:26,400
but we need to go deeper and make sure that this court's aligned if we're going to go

2120
03:10:28,000 --> 03:10:31,233
into the legislative session. And make a big ask for renovation dollars,

2121
03:10:32,733 --> 03:10:36,300
and more importantly, not just the money to renovate the buildings, but to be able to take control of

2122
03:10:37,533 --> 03:10:39,833
those beds so we can utilize those beds, right? If not, they're a state asset,

2123
03:10:41,767 --> 03:10:45,233
and we're at the mercy of the state. So we really want

2124
03:10:47,467 --> 03:10:51,333
to have control of the beds, too. So it's kind of a dual ask in the state legislature.

2125
03:10:52,433 --> 03:10:55,633
so I think those are two things we probably need to talk more about. I know the sheriff has made

2126
03:10:57,000 --> 03:11:00,700
some suggestions on the jia, the dual magistration situation that we need to continue

2127
03:11:01,967 --> 03:11:05,333
to dive deeper into. But I think we saw today there was a few things.

2128
03:11:06,467 --> 03:11:10,233
if there are barriers that partners see, elevate those barriers. I don't think anybody up here

2129
03:11:11,700 --> 03:11:14,667
was aware of the situation at applewhite. Right?

2130
03:11:16,833 --> 03:11:20,600
I'm sure there's other things maybe that you've talked about in the back of the room here that we need

2131
03:11:24,733 --> 03:11:27,033
to be aware of. We can't address things we're

2132
03:11:29,400 --> 03:11:32,300
not aware of and that we aren't able

2133
03:11:34,467 --> 03:11:37,800
to talk about. So I hope that if anything today we've elevated the

2134
03:11:38,867 --> 03:11:38,867
conversation,

2135
03:11:43,333 --> 03:11:46,533
we've gained some awareness about what some of the challenges are,

2136
03:11:47,867 --> 03:11:47,867
what some

2137
03:11:53,300 --> 03:11:56,767
of the opportunities are. Shoot, I mean, I've been very active, clearly, in engaging with a lot of our partners. You know,

2138
03:11:57,500 --> 03:12:01,067
the points that were made about all the funding that we have for programmatic funding within behavioral health,

2139
03:12:02,200 --> 03:12:05,333
public health, and that none of those dollars are in our current general budget, I mean, that was eye-opening

2140
03:12:08,067 --> 03:12:11,167
and and it creates a huge gap as we go forward and have a conversation about our long-term finances.

2141
03:12:12,700 --> 03:12:16,567
maybe that's another conversation to have with uhs, right? How can we ask for support

2142
03:12:18,233 --> 03:12:21,733
on that front to help fill that gap? On the things that we think are our priorities.

2143
03:12:23,233 --> 03:12:26,600
but I hope that as we go forward, again, I want to thank judge and my colleagues for the willingness

2144
03:12:27,800 --> 03:12:30,800
to have this conversation. I want to thank all of our partners in the room, especially...

2145
03:12:32,200 --> 03:12:35,400
jimmy, ed, eric, brandon coming in from out of town and others, this is going

2146
03:12:36,267 --> 03:12:40,233
to take a team effort. And we didn't solve anything today, but at least we started the conversation. I hope we continue that going

2147
03:12:45,267 --> 03:12:45,267
forward because I think this is

2148
03:12:49,600 --> 03:12:53,267
too big a problem for us to look past it. Thank you.

2149
03:12:54,300 --> 03:12:57,167
yeah, just we spent a lot of time on this, and we've talked a lot about a lot of stuff.

2150
03:12:58,767 --> 03:13:02,133
and just to remind everyone, it's not just about numbers and stats and budget, but as the

2151
03:13:03,300 --> 03:13:05,300
parent is still back there, ed, thank you for reading that

2152
03:13:08,033 --> 03:13:08,033
letter.

2153
03:13:14,500 --> 03:13:17,467
I mean, I guess as a shout-out, express news is here. But to know that people in jail are reading the

2154
03:13:18,833 --> 03:13:22,500
express news and that you're taking time to open your mail, or someone opened it for you,

2155
03:13:23,500 --> 03:13:26,633
and you're reading that, and to remember that every mental health program, every school-based program that I

2156
03:13:27,600 --> 03:13:31,267
fought for, every diversion program, deflection program, every person in chcs, every person sitting in jail

2157
03:13:32,400 --> 03:13:35,233
right now is somebody's child, somebody's father, someone's sister.

2158
03:13:36,700 --> 03:13:38,100
these are lives we're talking about.

2159
03:13:48,267 --> 03:13:52,033
they're not just stats and numbers. Thank you.

2160
03:13:53,233 --> 03:13:53,233
I've been quiet while the

2161
03:13:58,000 --> 03:14:00,967
commissioners have articulated their thoughts and positions on this.

2162
03:14:02,200 --> 03:14:04,733
obviously, there's some clear takeaways, but I don't want to leave out, there's one

2163
03:14:06,500 --> 03:14:09,100
person that I believe is here, dr. Testa.

2164
03:14:10,667 --> 03:14:14,267
where are you at? Come up forward. Thomas, stay right there. Thomas, tee up slide 13, 14. Did dr.

2165
03:14:15,267 --> 03:14:18,433
testa step out? While y'all are finding dr. Testa, y'all have been standing up for a long time.

2166
03:14:20,067 --> 03:14:23,033
if y'all want to sit down, sit down. If we want to call you up, we

2167
03:14:25,167 --> 03:14:28,067
can, if you'd like to sit down. So as we hopefully dr.

2168
03:14:29,500 --> 03:14:32,933
test didn't leave and I would want his input but the point being made

2169
03:14:34,233 --> 03:14:37,200
thomas and did we get the slides up 13, 14 which are the assessment recommendations.

2170
03:14:38,400 --> 03:14:41,467
I want to note it for the record that these are studies that didn't get

2171
03:14:42,500 --> 03:14:44,833
on a shelf and we forgot about them. The county has been actively

2172
03:14:47,000 --> 03:14:47,000
participating and actively

2173
03:14:51,933 --> 03:14:54,867
engaged in. Diversion and deflection. As county judge,

2174
03:14:56,933 --> 03:15:00,667
I work very closely with thomas and the budget office and the manager's office in order to lend my expertise

2175
03:15:02,433 --> 03:15:05,967
for the judicial system, having worked, albeit not in the criminal justice side, but obviously as local

2176
03:15:07,367 --> 03:15:10,067
administrative judge and a former prosecutor in the district attorney's office.

2177
03:15:11,400 --> 03:15:14,933
so thomas, where I'm going with that is, if you did bring up those slides, it looks like most...

2178
03:15:16,333 --> 03:15:20,233
of all recommendations have been completed. Some are still in progress, and we've heard that they're

2179
03:15:21,400 --> 03:15:24,733
actively engaged. We got the apple white issue put on the table, and I think that is something that I have

2180
03:15:26,400 --> 03:15:29,400
given direction that we need to get those beds open. I expect a proposal so that we

2181
03:15:30,733 --> 03:15:34,433
can get that done. The reason why I wanted to talk to dr. Tess, and apparently he's left,

2182
03:15:35,833 --> 03:15:39,233
and thomas, I'm going to have to rely on you to let us know from the staff. Study, dr.

2183
03:15:40,500 --> 03:15:41,433
testa has identified the dual magistration,

2184
03:16:06,033 --> 03:16:09,633
double magistration as an impediment, as an issue as to the process in regards to the diversion deflection. Can you explain that as to why double magistration is such, is a hindrance obstacle? Yes, judge. Again, right now for certain

2185
03:16:17,000 --> 03:16:18,800
class c misdemeanors, if you're a san antonio police

2186
03:16:21,533 --> 03:16:24,600
officer, you're taking those individuals

2187
03:16:25,967 --> 03:16:28,833
to freo street. And those individuals are going through their magistration

2188
03:16:30,067 --> 03:16:33,400
process. That can take up to anywhere between six to eight hours before those individuals are

2189
03:16:34,533 --> 03:16:38,167
transferred over to the sheriff's office and our intake center. During that time, the reason

2190
03:16:39,467 --> 03:16:41,800
that's important and those inefficiencies there is during that time, if an

2191
03:16:45,033 --> 03:16:48,933
individual is having a substance use, is suffering from substance use or mental illness, that's time delayed.

2192
03:16:51,567 --> 03:16:54,267
before our team can really take a look at those individuals and hopefully divert them

2193
03:16:55,600 --> 03:16:58,967
from those areas. So it's really that time gap between receiving those individuals from the city over

2194
03:17:00,067 --> 03:17:02,033
to the county where we can really invest in their care.

2195
03:17:06,000 --> 03:17:09,967
and that is one of the systematic areas that we really need to improve on.

2196
03:17:11,300 --> 03:17:14,767
again, as many of our partners have advocated for, that's the time where we should be. Really focusing

2197
03:17:16,667 --> 03:17:19,667
on these individuals, whether it's diversion or deflection

2198
03:17:24,933 --> 03:17:28,900
opportunity. So it's really that key area, judge.

2199
03:17:30,467 --> 03:17:33,500
it's time, it's those inefficiencies there in getting those certain individuals

2200
03:17:35,133 --> 03:17:36,833
treatment. Sometimes people will die as a

2201
03:17:39,800 --> 03:17:42,633
result of that lack of attention, correct? Correct.

2202
03:17:43,967 --> 03:17:47,933
clearly heard today. So let me put on record what I see as clear takeaways. It is clear that the issues

2203
03:17:49,467 --> 03:17:52,867
of the jail population, the diversion and inflection that the county has been committed

2204
03:17:54,233 --> 03:17:58,100
to, is indeed complex and multifaceted. The solutions require extensive coordination and communication

2205
03:17:59,833 --> 03:18:03,300
between internal and external stakeholders. And we've only touched a few

2206
03:18:06,833 --> 03:18:10,533
of them. The da's office and the sheriff are also integrated parts of the puzzle.

2207
03:18:11,767 --> 03:18:15,267
today, the county has provided an important definition for diversion.

2208
03:18:17,700 --> 03:18:21,533
that was the main thing I wanted this presentation to be, is diversion and deflection or

2209
03:18:23,800 --> 03:18:25,400
deflection-diversion is an alternative

2210
03:18:28,267 --> 03:18:32,100
to incarceration. Correct, thomas? Correct.

2211
03:18:33,333 --> 03:18:36,667
or else? We have started that conversation. Do we need another jail? Do we need a bigger jail?

2212
03:18:37,900 --> 03:18:40,767
and I think we've heard that the county has been very effective, and those grass,

2213
03:18:41,933 --> 03:18:44,300
let's go to the grass. Is that number 11? But for your efforts,

2214
03:18:46,167 --> 03:18:49,467
we see that we have made significant,

2215
03:18:50,900 --> 03:18:53,633
and that is a big cost savings, correct? Correct.

2216
03:18:54,933 --> 03:18:57,333
but we have ongoing programs that are being funded through the arpa,

2217
03:18:59,067 --> 03:19:02,100
through the opioid. And as mr. Rodriguez has pointed out,

2218
03:19:03,533 --> 03:19:07,333
we're going to have to figure out what return of investment we have and what we will continue to do.

2219
03:19:08,667 --> 03:19:12,167
the commission's court, it is clear, in the last three years has made significant

2220
03:19:13,133 --> 03:19:16,667
investments. So I don't want anybody in this community or in this courtroom to feel that

2221
03:19:17,433 --> 03:19:20,667
the county has not made a commitment to deflection and diversion strategies.

2222
03:19:22,533 --> 03:19:25,100
this shows the significant impact that we've made

2223
03:19:26,867 --> 03:19:29,400
diverting eligible people in alternatives to incarceration.

2224
03:19:31,300 --> 03:19:34,133
eric epley's statement of the smart program, which I am committed

2225
03:19:35,333 --> 03:19:38,467
to make sure we continue, I will bring that back. I'm going to ask the county manager

2226
03:19:39,700 --> 03:19:43,600
to get that on the next available agenda so that we can have a discussion there in order to help resolve whatever issues there are.

2227
03:19:45,200 --> 03:19:48,367
I am familiar with it, and I am making my position known. We will continue that program

2228
03:19:49,400 --> 03:19:53,233
because you heard that program has kept, indeed, people from being arrested. And without that program,

2229
03:19:54,533 --> 03:19:56,833
I know for a fact. Those people would have ended up in the criminal justice

2230
03:19:58,600 --> 03:20:00,333
system. So we invested in and promoted

2231
03:20:03,700 --> 03:20:07,533
programs for deflection, which is diverting people from the jail pre-arrest. Remember, pre-arrest.

2232
03:20:08,833 --> 03:20:10,000
a great example is the sider release program

2233
03:20:13,200 --> 03:20:16,200
for eligible minor offenses. You heard mr. Wood say, yeah, but you've got

2234
03:20:17,433 --> 03:20:20,833
to be careful with sider release because as we know, that became a political issue

2235
03:20:21,967 --> 03:20:24,233
of people not being held in the jail. So we have to be careful and

2236
03:20:26,100 --> 03:20:30,067
cautious. Especially in regards to public safety. We know that

2237
03:20:31,367 --> 03:20:34,467
without these efforts, the county would have been forced housing 1,000-plus people.

2238
03:20:35,767 --> 03:20:38,367
our decisive investments in studying and addressing the problem prevented that scenario

2239
03:20:40,933 --> 03:20:44,333
by helping more than 1,000 people get diverted to the appropriate alternative

2240
03:20:45,900 --> 03:20:49,200
to incarceration. In my experience as county judge, I see that deflection

2241
03:20:50,700 --> 03:20:54,167
and diversion are as much about the process of identifying and routing

2242
03:20:56,033 --> 03:20:56,033
thank you.

2243
03:21:00,633 --> 03:21:04,533
eligible populations, or the portal of diversion, as it's about outlets for diversion increasing capacity.

2244
03:21:05,467 --> 03:21:09,067
in court, that's going to cost us money, and we're going to have

2245
03:21:10,400 --> 03:21:13,233
to figure out where we put our money for the best return of investment.

2246
03:21:14,867 --> 03:21:17,767
these outlets for diversion are community-based supports. That's why it is a private partnership

2247
03:21:18,900 --> 03:21:22,467
with our nonprofit community, our faith-based community, and those people that are dedicated to the criminal justice system

2248
03:21:23,367 --> 03:21:27,233
and the advocates that... And the people that are most affected.

2249
03:21:28,300 --> 03:21:31,900
and we've heard those stories today of people that are most

2250
03:21:32,833 --> 03:21:36,467
affected by our criminal justice system. We know that the issues are about substance abuse recovery,

2251
03:21:37,267 --> 03:21:41,233
mental health treatment, as well as support systems or wraparound services that mr. Epley has identified,

2252
03:21:42,300 --> 03:21:45,833
especially for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities, the idd. We have people in our jail that

2253
03:21:47,033 --> 03:21:50,700
have severe mental health issues and are mentally ill. And they're in there because of the criminal justice system.

2254
03:21:51,600 --> 03:21:55,400
we had a thorough discussion of the applewhite dual diagnosis facility. It's a good example of where we made an investment,

2255
03:21:57,867 --> 03:21:59,100
a multimillion-dollar investment.

2256
03:22:02,500 --> 03:22:04,633
we invested to expand the capacity for mental health and

2257
03:22:08,633 --> 03:22:12,000
substance use diversion. But we understood today it's about process.

2258
03:22:14,067 --> 03:22:17,167
and because of the process, we can't get that thing online. And I've ordered the county

2259
03:22:18,800 --> 03:22:21,300
manager and budget office to fix it, figure it out. But this conversation is bigger

2260
03:22:23,867 --> 03:22:26,067
than a discussion about facilities.

2261
03:22:27,900 --> 03:22:30,733
let me repeat, this is bigger than a discussion

2262
03:22:32,000 --> 03:22:35,600
on just facilities. There is no one building a building that is not a

2263
03:22:37,367 --> 03:22:40,867
building. No one program, there is no one-shot silver bullet

2264
03:22:41,900 --> 03:22:45,900
solution. This is a complicated, multifaceted problem. It is going

2265
03:22:47,433 --> 03:22:50,600
to take collaboration of policy, programs, facilities, which the county has been steadily investing in,

2266
03:22:51,633 --> 03:22:54,967
and a good discussion, commissioner moody, about where do we go. And you have been very involved

2267
03:22:55,800 --> 03:22:59,333
in that, so I appreciate your dedication on trying to improve our criminal justice system.

2268
03:23:01,233 --> 03:23:04,300
above all, I believe that process... And stakeholder coordination will make the biggest

2269
03:23:05,367 --> 03:23:09,200
difference in improving diversion and deflection. If we build without doing this foundational alignment work, we will not get very far.

2270
03:23:10,100 --> 03:23:13,167
so with all due respect to your analogy, you know what? We can keep those old vehicles

2271
03:23:14,633 --> 03:23:18,200
with 200,000. We just got to change the oil, change the tires to make sure it runs,

2272
03:23:19,167 --> 03:23:22,400
and those cars keep running, and so long we don't run them in the ground. And that's what we have to do

2273
03:23:23,533 --> 03:23:25,200
because the effect is... How it affects the people that

2274
03:23:28,367 --> 03:23:28,367
are in our system.

2275
03:23:37,767 --> 03:23:39,100
and that's been made very clear today.

2276
03:23:41,967 --> 03:23:45,933
obviously, dual magistration is another perfect example. If we build a new facility,

2277
03:23:47,033 --> 03:23:50,200
but we're working under a separate magistration system by the city and the county, we lose key diversion

2278
03:23:51,167 --> 03:23:54,733
opportunities, and you've explained why.

2279
03:23:56,033 --> 03:23:59,700
the city system is a duplication of services that can be corrected to assist with budget challenges, and I

2280
03:24:01,000 --> 03:24:04,167
believe we are starting conversations at this time. And I appreciate sheriff salazar.

2281
03:24:05,167 --> 03:24:08,533
in starting those conversations. We must come together to

2282
03:24:10,400 --> 03:24:13,433
eliminate double magistration. The county has worked with the experts,

2283
03:24:14,867 --> 03:24:18,467
with our community partners, with our studies, and we basically have brought all the experts to the table, so

2284
03:24:20,133 --> 03:24:23,500
to speak, and we have much, much more work to do. Near the start of my term, I

2285
03:24:24,533 --> 03:24:27,900
started a public safety action committee with the city, which helped coordinate the necessary

2286
03:24:29,433 --> 03:24:32,767
stakeholders. I'm going to reconvene that

2287
03:24:34,300 --> 03:24:37,433
stakeholder committee in order to have these discussions in regards to where deflection

2288
03:24:39,100 --> 03:24:42,133
and diversion and how do we make the process better. In the remainder

2289
03:24:43,767 --> 03:24:46,400
of my term as county judge, I am committed to continue to lead the way on reforming

2290
03:24:48,700 --> 03:24:51,767
and increasing coordination within our local criminal justice and community health

2291
03:24:52,867 --> 03:24:56,833
systems. And I look forward to working with the judicial system. I've always recognized that our

2292
03:24:58,267 --> 03:25:02,133
judges, especially on the criminal of justice side have worked very hard to move those cases.

2293
03:25:03,233 --> 03:25:07,100
we have worked with the district attorney's office to provide the funding, the staffing, to deal

2294
03:25:08,233 --> 03:25:12,033
with the backlog. And quite frankly, commissioner moody, you've always pointed out,

2295
03:25:13,100 --> 03:25:16,633
we still have a backlog. So we still have much, much work to do in order to provide an effective assistance.

2296
03:25:18,667 --> 03:25:21,667
I want to appreciate the work of uhs because they stepped in to work with the gia there,

2297
03:25:23,033 --> 03:25:24,267
the magistration system, and we are continuing to look

2298
03:25:27,267 --> 03:25:30,633
at how uhs... Can continue to provide support, and you are a very,

2299
03:25:32,467 --> 03:25:35,933
very valuable partner. Thank you. I think we heard a discussion

2300
03:25:39,367 --> 03:25:43,133
that we need some medication issues over at the applewhite, so I'm sure, knowing my conversations

2301
03:25:44,400 --> 03:25:48,100
with the bannos, we're going to get things fixed over there. So with that, I want to leave

2302
03:25:49,567 --> 03:25:52,133
with a note of optimism, with hope, and with the order to this court that we must

2303
03:25:54,533 --> 03:25:57,633
continue to fix the system. It needs to be fixed. Thank you for everybody who's

2304
03:25:58,967 --> 03:26:02,900
made this. Presentation available. Thank you for all that participated today.

2305
03:26:05,167 --> 03:26:09,000
I thank the colleagues on this court for their participation and involvement and their input.

2306
03:26:10,467 --> 03:26:13,967
all right. I believe we're at the lunch hour.

2307
03:26:15,100 --> 03:26:18,900
I'm declaring a recess at this time. I know we still have citizens to be heard. I know we still have business

2308
03:26:19,533 --> 03:26:22,900
to do. Let's take about a 45-minute break, guys.

2309
03:26:24,167 --> 03:26:28,100
court, let's take a recess and we'll come back.

2310
03:26:32,400 --> 03:26:36,267
there we go. All right.

2311
03:26:36,767 --> 03:26:40,733
time is now 1.33 p.m. The court's back in session. We finished the time certain. Commissioner rodriguez, you had

2312
03:26:41,933 --> 03:26:45,733
something you wanted to bring up to the court's attention?

2313
03:26:46,767 --> 03:26:50,700
just when we get to item seven. Item seven. All right. So the court will take up

2314
03:26:52,633 --> 03:26:56,300
agenda item six, filing for the record, the following legal administrative documents, directing the criminal district attorney

2315
03:26:57,167 --> 03:27:00,267
to take action if necessary. Subsection a, court takes note. Seven, approval

2316
03:27:03,833 --> 03:27:06,600
of commissioner's court minutes for tuesday, april 14th,

2317
03:27:08,167 --> 03:27:11,767
2026. Yes, judge, and I'd like to make a motion

2318
03:27:12,333 --> 03:27:15,767
to approve the minutes with one amendment. There's a typographical error in the minutes on item number

2319
03:27:18,767 --> 03:27:21,000
43. The dollar amount should be

2320
03:27:22,900 --> 03:27:24,067
$1,820,000 rather than $1,000,000.

2321
03:27:28,067 --> 03:27:31,967
$800,000. So I'd make that amendment and a motion to approve.

2322
03:27:32,900 --> 03:27:35,400
motion by commissioner rodriguez. Is there a second?

2323
03:27:36,933 --> 03:27:38,933
second by commissioner moody. With that stipulation

2324
03:27:41,067 --> 03:27:43,933
of correction, all those in favor, signify

2325
03:27:45,367 --> 03:27:48,733
by saying aye. Aye. Any opposed? Any abstention?

2326
03:27:49,833 --> 03:27:53,667
motion carries. We'll now go to agenda item number eight, citizens to be heard. We will start with mr.

2327
03:27:54,900 --> 03:27:56,633
keith wilson. I will note for the record that

2328
03:28:01,300 --> 03:28:01,300
I have one, two, three, four,

2329
03:28:13,567 --> 03:28:13,567
five, six, seven, eight,

2330
03:28:22,667 --> 03:28:22,667
additional speakers

2331
03:28:30,967 --> 03:28:34,933
now go to agenda item number eight, citizens to be heard. We will start with mr. Keith wilson. I will note for the record that I have one, two. Three, four, five, six, seven, eight additional speakers.

2332
03:28:36,000 --> 03:28:37,333
I will call them out. All have indicated on their note that they yield to keith wilson.

2333
03:28:40,300 --> 03:28:44,067
so, keith, if you'll just allow me. Kara schneider, just want to make sure. She had to leave, sir. All right, she had to leave,

2334
03:28:45,133 --> 03:28:48,200
and she's yielding. She had to leave. Yes, sir. Kristen green, are you yielding

2335
03:28:50,833 --> 03:28:52,567
your time? Okay.

2336
03:28:56,833 --> 03:29:00,333
damien lovio, are you yielding your time? Got it.

2337
03:29:01,933 --> 03:29:04,300
gary lockhart, are you yielding your time? Gary lockhart, okay, you're yielding your time.

2338
03:29:10,367 --> 03:29:14,167
eric bowden, you're yielding your time? Okay. Fred alvarado, yielding your time? Okay, well, let him know what I call his name. He's noted he's yielding his time.

2339
03:29:14,600 --> 03:29:18,600
george westphair, you're yielding your time? Thank you. And catherine smith-peter. Got it. Mr. Keith wilson, you have the floor. Judge sakai, commissioners, good morning, good afternoon. My name is keith wilson.

2340
03:29:18,967 --> 03:29:19,700
I'm a retired soldier. I'm the former director of bexar county's department of

2341
03:29:23,467 --> 03:29:25,333
military and veterans services.

2342
03:29:28,400 --> 03:29:31,533
I joined the county nearly four years ago, and I never imagined I'd be standing here

2343
03:29:34,267 --> 03:29:35,667
like I am today. I'm grateful to have friends,

2344
03:29:38,567 --> 03:29:41,400
family, and community partners that join me today in support and solidarity.

2345
03:29:45,000 --> 03:29:45,000
to all the employees and the

2346
03:29:50,067 --> 03:29:53,467
deputies that made a point today to come to me and say hello and express support,

2347
03:29:55,233 --> 03:29:55,233
thank you.

2348
03:30:01,867 --> 03:30:05,633
I'm truly humbled by you each and every day, and you are the reason why I am here.

2349
03:30:07,133 --> 03:30:09,700
today, I come before you to raise concerns about this government as an institution.

2350
03:30:11,667 --> 03:30:14,433
public service only works when the public servants doing the work are valued.

2351
03:30:16,067 --> 03:30:19,400
when government employees are treated as expendable or

2352
03:30:21,367 --> 03:30:24,767
silenced, the consequences are felt across the community.

2353
03:30:27,067 --> 03:30:30,500
services weaken and trust erodes. The very institution meant

2354
03:30:32,433 --> 03:30:34,533
to serve the public begins to lose their way. I grew up in san antonio,

2355
03:30:37,333 --> 03:30:41,133
graduated from west point. I served a career in the military. I have literally spent my

2356
03:30:42,433 --> 03:30:44,433
entire adult life in service to others.

2357
03:30:49,967 --> 03:30:49,967
as a retired army officer,

2358
03:30:58,833 --> 03:31:01,467
I had the privilege of leading soldiers for nearly three decades

2359
03:31:03,200 --> 03:31:06,233
at varying levels of staff, and command responsibilities. That experience reinforced one

2360
03:31:08,233 --> 03:31:12,067
core belief. Our people are our greatest resource.

2361
03:31:15,500 --> 03:31:19,000
I brought that philosophy to the department and it drove tangible results that directly

2362
03:31:20,333 --> 03:31:20,333
benefited our community.

2363
03:31:24,433 --> 03:31:28,000
we nearly doubled staffing, expanded services from two locations to 10, and

2364
03:31:30,100 --> 03:31:33,167
created new initiatives for surviving spouses. As well as our homeless,

2365
03:31:34,767 --> 03:31:37,533
at-risk, and justice-involved veterans. We also added new critical

2366
03:31:40,300 --> 03:31:43,400
capabilities, including financial assistance and peer support programs for veterans

2367
03:31:45,400 --> 03:31:49,000
and their families. Unfortunately, as of last week, both of those

2368
03:31:52,100 --> 03:31:54,433
programs were recommended to not be renewed by the

2369
03:31:56,533 --> 03:31:59,000
state's grant review board. This would be a significant

2370
03:32:02,100 --> 03:32:05,867
loss of resources to our community thank you. That follows the apparent

2371
03:32:07,600 --> 03:32:11,400
recent loss of grant funding for three of our courts, misdemeanor drug, felony drug, and prostitution.

2372
03:32:12,867 --> 03:32:16,067
this pattern of lost grant funding and lost capabilities

2373
03:32:17,133 --> 03:32:20,233
reflects a broader concern with managerial oversight and institutional continuity that

2374
03:32:21,900 --> 03:32:25,500
ultimately harms the veterans and the residents who depend on these services.

2375
03:32:27,400 --> 03:32:29,467
but my experience with the county also exposed something

2376
03:32:31,733 --> 03:32:34,167
even more troubling. Last summer, a number of my department staff had the trust

2377
03:32:37,133 --> 03:32:40,700
and the confidence to bring forward concerns to me directly, an act of

2378
03:32:42,233 --> 03:32:43,500
courage that should be recognized and protected.

2379
03:32:46,867 --> 03:32:50,000
after elevating those concerns through appropriate county channels, and specifically

2380
03:32:51,500 --> 03:32:54,400
requesting an external investigation into them,

2381
03:32:56,033 --> 03:32:58,200
I became the subject of a disputed performance

2382
03:33:00,433 --> 03:33:02,367
improvement plan. That significantly

2383
03:33:04,833 --> 03:33:08,500
mischaracterized both my actions and my performance. The pip asserted I was not

2384
03:33:11,100 --> 03:33:14,267
present in my office during core business hours, but failed to account

2385
03:33:15,267 --> 03:33:19,100
for the operational reality of a department dependent upon community partnerships and serving the community across

2386
03:33:20,400 --> 03:33:23,400
10 locations where most client work occurred in the field, not at a central headquarters. A typical day for me often

2387
03:33:24,933 --> 03:33:26,500
involved a commi- attending community events, resource

2388
03:33:29,067 --> 03:33:32,367
fairs, meetings like the military transformation task force, co-chaired by

2389
03:33:37,067 --> 03:33:40,300
commissioner moody, or the greater chambers military

2390
03:33:41,533 --> 03:33:45,400
advisory council. I would routinely meet community partners like broken warriors angels to walk

2391
03:33:46,600 --> 03:33:49,733
through homeless encampments in places like live oak, hill country village, alamo ranch, and the far south side just

2392
03:33:50,967 --> 03:33:54,467
off roosevelt avenue. Areas that the city of san antonio and organizations like haven for hope and sam

2393
03:33:55,633 --> 03:33:58,467
ministries do not regularly visit. There we encountered both

2394
03:33:59,900 --> 03:34:01,000
veterans and non-veterans. Our team helped

2395
03:34:09,500 --> 03:34:09,500
with connecting our veterans

2396
03:34:15,000 --> 03:34:17,767
to critical resources, enrolling them in va health care, and helping

2397
03:34:19,133 --> 03:34:22,233
them file va disability claims that in many cases resulted in literally life-changing

2398
03:34:24,267 --> 03:34:26,733
benefits. County social services provided additional assistance and

2399
03:34:29,100 --> 03:34:32,733
resources to them and to the non-veteran residents. At a time when bexar county is experiencing never-before-seen

2400
03:34:34,133 --> 03:34:37,067
growth and an increase in geographically dispersed homeless residents,

2401
03:34:38,667 --> 03:34:42,567
particularly in suburban communities and unincorporated areas, the county has a greater responsibility than ever to

2402
03:34:43,933 --> 03:34:47,867
address this escalating need. Tragically, the county instead has stopped all homeless

2403
03:34:49,633 --> 03:34:52,033
outreach efforts at the moment of greatest need. Leaving vulnerable residents

2404
03:34:57,333 --> 03:34:57,333
without the outreach and the

2405
03:35:02,433 --> 03:35:06,367
resource connections they once received. My role required regular

2406
03:35:09,967 --> 03:35:13,200
presence in the community to deliver expected results. Mandating a constant presence at a single headquarters, where

2407
03:35:14,733 --> 03:35:17,467
administrative support functions primarily occurred, would have been inconsistent

2408
03:35:18,767 --> 03:35:22,533
with the mission and the expectations given to me. Of note, not one of the individuals on my team

2409
03:35:24,067 --> 03:35:27,900
thank you. That raised the initial concerns were based in that headquarters.

2410
03:35:29,600 --> 03:35:31,967
the pip also claimed I delegated responsibilities without oversight,

2411
03:35:34,067 --> 03:35:34,067
yet neither I nor any of my

2412
03:35:39,367 --> 03:35:43,167
leadership team were interviewed during that investigation to

2413
03:35:44,433 --> 03:35:48,433
explain the systems that we had in place. When I formally requested

2414
03:35:49,867 --> 03:35:53,167
clarification on the disputed pip and raised good faith concerns that it could be

2415
03:35:54,467 --> 03:35:54,467
retaliatory, my primary request

2416
03:35:58,533 --> 03:36:02,100
was to have it rescinded and removed from my record so I could get back

2417
03:36:04,033 --> 03:36:06,800
to serving veterans. Bexar county then placed me on administrative leave and

2418
03:36:09,267 --> 03:36:11,300
retained the law firm caldwell, clark, fenucci, and

2419
03:36:13,333 --> 03:36:17,133
finlayson at a cost of up to $100,000 of public funds to investigate me. That investigation dramatically

2420
03:36:18,233 --> 03:36:21,333
expanded well beyond the original pip. It was likely directed by the

2421
03:36:22,433 --> 03:36:26,367
same leadership I had identified in my concerns. What began as a legitimate request

2422
03:36:27,567 --> 03:36:31,033
for clarification and concerns about potential retaliation was later reframed in the investigative findings as,

2423
03:36:32,533 --> 03:36:36,533
quote, insubordination, end quote.

2424
03:36:38,000 --> 03:36:41,233
this is precisely the kind of dynamic the eeoc exists to prevent.

2425
03:36:42,600 --> 03:36:45,133
legitimate efforts to address possible retaliation being recast.

2426
03:36:49,733 --> 03:36:49,733
as misconduct.

2427
03:36:54,533 --> 03:36:57,600
prior to all of this, I had no documented disciplinary actions

2428
03:37:02,767 --> 03:37:04,900
or negative performance issues for more than three and a half years of my time

2429
03:37:08,133 --> 03:37:11,267
with the county. Yet on march 10, 2026, while I was out of the state

2430
03:37:13,667 --> 03:37:15,633
on previously approved pto with just my nine-year-old daughter,

2431
03:37:18,800 --> 03:37:22,367
this court made the decision to terminate my employment, apparently based in part

2432
03:37:24,300 --> 03:37:26,833
on the findings of that external investigation. I was notified by the county

2433
03:37:29,367 --> 03:37:32,867
via voicemail and text of my termination while I was out of the state with my

2434
03:37:35,333 --> 03:37:38,700
daughter. I have serious reservations

2435
03:37:39,800 --> 03:37:43,667
about how the investigation was conducted and more importantly how its findings were presented to this court.

2436
03:37:45,167 --> 03:37:48,967
notably, while versions of this report and its findings have been released to local media,

2437
03:37:49,967 --> 03:37:52,667
I have still never received from the county a copy of the full report.

2438
03:37:54,067 --> 03:37:57,700
any summary or even the findings. In fact, my open records

2439
03:37:58,733 --> 03:38:02,233
request over a month ago for the the complete document

2440
03:38:03,267 --> 03:38:06,600
was forwarded to the texas attorney general for ruling on exceptions

2441
03:38:08,067 --> 03:38:11,933
with nothing being provided to me while the media received the findings. What I will share today is not

2442
03:38:14,067 --> 03:38:17,833
an exhaustive rebuttal, but a snapshot of key omissions and missing context.

2443
03:38:19,333 --> 03:38:22,433
first, they claim I disclosed confidential county records

2444
03:38:23,500 --> 03:38:27,367
to a third party, quote, without authorization or a valid legal basis,

2445
03:38:28,867 --> 03:38:32,167
end quote. What they failed to mention is the third party was my personal

2446
03:38:33,967 --> 03:38:36,067
attorney, included on a formal grievance that I made

2447
03:38:38,100 --> 03:38:41,667
to the county manager to seek clarification and raise concerns

2448
03:38:43,567 --> 03:38:46,500
of potential retaliation. This was a protected legal communication, not an

2449
03:38:54,367 --> 03:38:57,400
independent or improper disclosure. The report also seems to admit the fact that the same exact

2450
03:38:58,400 --> 03:39:01,467
document with the same exact attachments with no redactments,

2451
03:39:02,933 --> 03:39:06,400
was emailed on the same day to the same third party by county attorney larry

2452
03:39:08,567 --> 03:39:11,933
roberson, demonstrating inconsistent application of confidentiality standards,

2453
03:39:13,600 --> 03:39:16,733
and I was never asked about it. Second, the report claims that

2454
03:39:19,567 --> 03:39:23,367
I engaged in inappropriate physical contact with a county employee. First and foremost, I have no

2455
03:39:24,800 --> 03:39:28,000
idea what incident this is supposedly referring to. The report relies on

2456
03:39:29,800 --> 03:39:32,000
intentionally ambiguous phrase inappropriate contact that

2457
03:39:34,800 --> 03:39:38,033
quote could be interpreted as sexual in nature, end quote. Supposedly stemming from some

2458
03:39:40,600 --> 03:39:43,900
third party interpretation of my interaction with my date.

2459
03:39:45,600 --> 03:39:49,000
what is later described in the report as a public display

2460
03:39:51,267 --> 03:39:52,933
of affection. This alleged event supposedly involved a personal

2461
03:39:55,300 --> 03:39:56,733
relationship of mine. There is no formal complaint,

2462
03:39:59,400 --> 03:40:03,100
no investigation, and no disciplinary action at the time of this alleged

2463
03:40:04,900 --> 03:40:08,333
event supposedly involving me with a county employee reported

2464
03:40:09,933 --> 03:40:11,700
by some third party. In fact, the allegation seems

2465
03:40:15,067 --> 03:40:18,867
to only have surfaced during this external investigation after I raised my concerns

2466
03:40:20,467 --> 03:40:24,033
about potential retaliation. And again, I was never asked about it.

2467
03:40:25,300 --> 03:40:28,733
the report also references metadata on my county phone associated

2468
03:40:31,567 --> 03:40:34,733
with an adult website. The report presents this as, quote, inappropriate use,

2469
03:40:37,633 --> 03:40:39,600
end quote. But what it actually refers

2470
03:40:41,700 --> 03:40:44,600
to are old internet bookmarks from a personal google account saved years before I ever

2471
03:40:46,067 --> 03:40:49,067
joined the county. One nearly 10 years ago that were automatically and

2472
03:40:50,600 --> 03:40:52,033
unbeknownst to me. Downloaded

2473
03:40:55,500 --> 03:40:58,700
to the phone when I logged into chrome browser simply to access the password manager.

2474
03:41:00,633 --> 03:41:04,100
like many county employees and possibly some

2475
03:41:05,567 --> 03:41:07,900
of you have done. There is no evidence presented that I ever visited or even

2476
03:41:09,833 --> 03:41:11,300
attempted to access these sites.

2477
03:41:14,600 --> 03:41:18,267
yet the way it is written states inappropriate use and suggests intentional misconduct and creates a far more serious

2478
03:41:21,967 --> 03:41:25,533
and salacious impression. Than the provided facts supported.

2479
03:41:27,133 --> 03:41:30,600
and again, I was never asked about it. Another allegation suggested I

2480
03:41:33,433 --> 03:41:36,067
violated administrative leave by holding a meeting with community partners

2481
03:41:37,733 --> 03:41:41,133
to discuss county business. In reality, I met in a personal capacity

2482
03:41:42,367 --> 03:41:45,900
with my friend stephen price and leaders from the american gi forum, both

2483
03:41:47,300 --> 03:41:50,433
of who are here today, at their location to discuss their internal initiatives. During my three months

2484
03:41:56,133 --> 03:41:59,067
on administrative leave, I volunteered with a number of community organizations.

2485
03:42:00,567 --> 03:42:03,000
frankly, I did not want to go crazy sitting in my house wondering what was going on.

2486
03:42:06,533 --> 03:42:09,633
I always made it clear I could not and would not discuss county business,

2487
03:42:10,933 --> 03:42:14,267
and I never did. The one participant in that meeting who was interviewed

2488
03:42:15,967 --> 03:42:18,967
by the law firm, mr. Stephen price, confirmed with the law firm that I was not

2489
03:42:21,267 --> 03:42:25,033
speaking. On behalf of the county. Yet still, somehow, that made it into the findings

2490
03:42:26,567 --> 03:42:29,933
as substantiated. And again, I was never asked about it.

2491
03:42:31,600 --> 03:42:34,100
finally, another item raised in the report regards contracting and gifted spaces.

2492
03:42:37,700 --> 03:42:41,100
I regularly touted the fact that we only paid for two of the 10 office locations.

2493
03:42:42,933 --> 03:42:45,800
and that the eight locations we occupied rent-free were through memoranda

2494
03:42:47,300 --> 03:42:49,933
of understanding with community partners. Many of the same locations were

2495
03:42:52,067 --> 03:42:55,967
officially opened with ribbon-cutting ceremonies, in which several of you, as members of this court,

2496
03:42:57,133 --> 03:43:00,433
personally participated. Anticipated and publicly supported. The report states that quote

2497
03:43:01,500 --> 03:43:05,067
because these entities provided space at no contest the arrangements constitute gifts which must be approved

2498
03:43:06,667 --> 03:43:10,600
by the commissioners court under county policy and texas law. Accepting or executing these

2499
03:43:11,800 --> 03:43:14,000
arrangements without proper authorization exceeded mr. Wilson's individual authority

2500
03:43:16,133 --> 03:43:18,667
and violated county policy. The report goes on to say that at least one,

2501
03:43:21,200 --> 03:43:24,833
one mou had been signed solely by me. What the report fails to mention is that our department

2502
03:43:25,933 --> 03:43:28,667
properly staffed these mous and we received specific guidance from larry roberson's attorneys

2503
03:43:30,033 --> 03:43:33,700
at civil division regarding what required commissioner's court approval and what I could

2504
03:43:35,800 --> 03:43:38,933
execute administratively and we followed that guidance. The report clearly omits the

2505
03:43:40,333 --> 03:43:43,567
fact that my actions were coordinated with county legal guidance and were not

2506
03:43:45,000 --> 03:43:48,033
unilateral decisions. Some of the mous were still in this staffing process when I

2507
03:43:49,200 --> 03:43:53,167
was placed on administrative leave. These are only a few examples and yet the same gaps and

2508
03:43:54,400 --> 03:43:57,033
contacts appear throughout the report. I was not given the opportunity

2509
03:43:58,667 --> 03:44:01,733
to respond to most of the allegations prior to the report being finalized,

2510
03:44:02,933 --> 03:44:05,267
presented to you, and released. To the media.

2511
03:44:33,833 --> 03:44:37,300
in fact, despite more than five hours that I spent sitting with the lawyers at that law firm, I was only specifically asked about two of the allegations against me.

2512
03:44:38,600 --> 03:44:41,600
both of those were ultimately unsubstantiated. Now I ask you this, if any of the information I just provided

2513
03:44:46,467 --> 03:44:49,800
is new to you, our elected officials, ask yourself if that is how you want

2514
03:44:51,133 --> 03:44:53,833
to make decisions. What seems to be cherry-picked information, presented

2515
03:44:56,067 --> 03:44:59,733
in a manipulative manner, to drive someone else's predetermined, desired outcome.

2516
03:45:02,367 --> 03:45:06,300
I would suggest this is not how government should function.

2517
03:45:08,767 --> 03:45:08,767
what matters most is not any

2518
03:45:15,267 --> 03:45:15,267
single allegation,

2519
03:45:21,467 --> 03:45:24,500
but whether the process used to identify and evaluate them was fair,

2520
03:45:25,800 --> 03:45:29,433
consistent and complete. In the end, what should have been recognized as employees

2521
03:45:31,067 --> 03:45:34,867
demonstrating the courage to raise concerns and a leader's active response leveraging county resources focused

2522
03:45:35,733 --> 03:45:39,233
on addressing them, instead devolved into a process that shifted focus away from the original concerns and onto

2523
03:45:40,767 --> 03:45:43,933
the individual, elevating them higher. This is not even about one

2524
03:45:45,033 --> 03:45:47,700
position or one person. It reflects a broader pattern that has been publicly

2525
03:45:49,167 --> 03:45:52,267
documented. A recent san antonio observer article attributes a statement to commissioner calvert that

2526
03:45:54,267 --> 03:45:57,367
includes, quote, retribution via dragging of feet, denial of resources, character assassination is

2527
03:45:58,500 --> 03:45:59,733
standard practice in bexar county, end quote.

2528
03:46:24,100 --> 03:46:28,033
that comment is not an outlier. It aligns with a growing body of public reporting involving senior county leadership across multiple offices. These are not isolated headlines.

2529
03:46:28,967 --> 03:46:32,233
taken together, they suggest a deeper institutional problem at the highest of levels, one that spans departments,

2530
03:46:34,100 --> 03:46:37,267
roles, and years. A county culture that appears to prioritize bureaucracy and administrative process

2531
03:46:41,233 --> 03:46:45,033
over the people, treating dedicated public servants as

2532
03:46:46,700 --> 03:46:49,967
mere tools. Of implementation, rather than the very resource that makes

2533
03:46:51,567 --> 03:46:54,000
effective government possible. Environments where employees feel discouraged

2534
03:47:02,033 --> 03:47:05,500
from raising concerns, or where doing so invites retaliation, ultimately undermine the very mission they

2535
03:47:06,667 --> 03:47:10,333
are meant to serve. Leaders in turn become reluctant to take appropriate action

2536
03:47:11,367 --> 03:47:14,500
for fear of their own professional survival. This is precisely why eeoc

2537
03:47:16,967 --> 03:47:20,400
involvement matters. It reinforces the right and the necessity of employees raising

2538
03:47:21,833 --> 03:47:23,833
legitimate concerns and leaders addressing them

2539
03:47:29,367 --> 03:47:33,133
without fear. Bexar county has an opportunity and a responsibility

2540
03:47:35,300 --> 03:47:38,167
to address this. County employees are not just staff, they're members

2541
03:47:39,600 --> 03:47:43,267
of the community, they're our neighbors, and they're your constituents.

2542
03:47:44,700 --> 03:47:48,067
the county has already demonstrated a willingness to commit significant resources

2543
03:47:49,667 --> 03:47:52,600
to external legal investigations. And settlements.

2544
03:47:54,467 --> 03:47:57,700
that same willingness should now be applied more broadly to prevent these issues

2545
03:47:59,000 --> 03:48:01,800
from happening in the first place. Instead of focusing resources

2546
03:48:03,233 --> 03:48:07,133
narrowly, bexar county should invest in an independent system-wide assessment of its workplace culture and

2547
03:48:08,400 --> 03:48:11,733
practices. At the same time the role of the county manager must evolve

2548
03:48:13,700 --> 03:48:16,267
beyond a traditional administrative function focused primarily

2549
03:48:17,933 --> 03:48:20,800
on managing bureaucracy. It should transition into a true leadership position,

2550
03:48:22,667 --> 03:48:26,467
one grounded in robust experience actually leading people, strategic thinking and

2551
03:48:28,067 --> 03:48:29,533
planning, and the proven ability to drive

2552
03:48:32,767 --> 03:48:32,767
cross-functional efforts across

2553
03:48:39,967 --> 03:48:41,933
departments and external partners to address key county

2554
03:48:44,233 --> 03:48:48,067
priorities. Ultimately, this leadership

2555
03:48:58,900 --> 03:49:02,467
must be rooted in the simple but powerful philosophy that our people are our greatest resource. Only then can bexar county

2556
03:49:03,433 --> 03:49:03,433
effectively address its most

2557
03:49:08,500 --> 03:49:12,400
pressing challenges. Growth, housing instability, homelessness, behavioral health, and infrastructure strain. None of those operate in silos, and neither should we. Through a true

2558
03:49:12,767 --> 03:49:16,500
whole-of-government model that aligns strategic priorities, coordinates cross-department initiatives, and delivers measurable outcomes for our community. This is not

2559
03:49:19,900 --> 03:49:23,733
about assigning blame, it's about demanding better. Other sectors, including manufacturing,

2560
03:49:25,400 --> 03:49:28,800
often highlighted by this very court, have long recognized that investing in people leads

2561
03:49:29,833 --> 03:49:32,433
to better outcomes, greater efficiency, and stronger performance.

2562
03:49:35,300 --> 03:49:37,933
government should be no different.

2563
03:49:39,467 --> 03:49:42,467
bexar county has the talent, the mission, and the resources to lead. What it needs now is a true

2564
03:49:46,200 --> 03:49:49,367
shift in leadership mindset, from prioritizing bureaucracy to truly valuing people as its

2565
03:49:53,367 --> 03:49:53,367
greatest resource.

2566
03:49:57,500 --> 03:50:01,167
because when we take care of those who serve, they are better able to serve us all.

2567
03:50:02,100 --> 03:50:04,467
that is what this county needs, and that is what our community

2568
03:50:06,567 --> 03:50:09,667
deserves. While my fight is clearly not

2569
03:50:11,200 --> 03:50:15,067
over, there remains an opportunity right now for this court to demand more

2570
03:50:16,700 --> 03:50:20,667
from the institution that you lead for the benefit of the men and the women who show up every single day committed

2571
03:50:23,233 --> 03:50:26,000
to serving others. Thank you for the opportunity to finally...

2572
03:50:29,633 --> 03:50:29,633
provide you my.

2573
03:50:41,533 --> 03:50:43,133
all right, the next speaker is sergio dickerson, but sergio, you also

2574
03:50:46,067 --> 03:50:49,933
have paul bernal and stephen price. Both have indicated on their request to yield your time to

2575
03:50:51,100 --> 03:50:51,100
serio.

2576
03:50:56,267 --> 03:50:59,400
so let me call paul bernal. Are you here? Are you yielding your time?

2577
03:51:00,633 --> 03:51:04,633
stephen price, yielding your time. Mr. Sergio dickerson, the floor is

2578
03:51:06,000 --> 03:51:10,000
yours. Thank you, judge. Good afternoon, judge, commissioners, and

2579
03:51:11,300 --> 03:51:14,700
distinguished members of the community. My name is serge dickerson. I am the president and ceo

2580
03:51:15,700 --> 03:51:18,733
of the american gi forum national veterans outreach program.

2581
03:51:20,433 --> 03:51:24,033
I'm here today to discuss a need in the community for a centralized place where veterans transitioning from

2582
03:51:25,067 --> 03:51:27,400
service... Are offered resources that result in jobs, wellness,

2583
03:51:30,100 --> 03:51:33,300
services, disability, and many other critical resources that

2584
03:51:34,733 --> 03:51:37,900
lead to the success and their stability. When mr.

2585
03:51:41,533 --> 03:51:44,400
keith wilson was head of the military and veterans service center, we were building that transition center and that

2586
03:51:45,967 --> 03:51:48,867
program. Since his sudden departure, that effort has ended.

2587
03:51:50,500 --> 03:51:54,100
I've been in the veteran business here in san antonio since 2015.

2588
03:51:54,633 --> 03:51:58,433
but just for context and prior my service with this community,

2589
03:51:59,200 --> 03:52:01,133
I spent the better part of 30 years in the army, commanding at every level through

2590
03:52:03,600 --> 03:52:06,433
brigade command. The nbop was involved with mayor ivey

2591
03:52:09,000 --> 03:52:12,400
at the time and the community to try to end veteran homelessness.

2592
03:52:14,067 --> 03:52:16,033
achieved functional zero and metric used by hud to describe

2593
03:52:18,500 --> 03:52:21,033
a community that has had sufficient resources to deal with veteran homelessness.

2594
03:52:22,733 --> 03:52:25,667
and at the time, it was a milestone achievement,

2595
03:52:28,033 --> 03:52:31,467
and I felt we had changed the trajectory of veterans serving in our community.

2596
03:52:32,633 --> 03:52:36,600
and I don't want to minimize this. It was a huge win, and it set

2597
03:52:37,567 --> 03:52:40,567
in motion a movement that continues today with many homeless veteran lives changed

2598
03:52:42,167 --> 03:52:45,400
for the better. At the time, veteran suicide was 22 per day,

2599
03:52:48,300 --> 03:52:51,333
and two wars were still going on in the middle east. Last year post-combat,

2600
03:52:53,500 --> 03:52:53,500
that number was 18, nationally,

2601
03:52:57,900 --> 03:52:59,267
according to the va's official website.

2602
03:53:03,367 --> 03:53:07,233
I couldn't tell you what it is in san antonio, but I really would like to know.

2603
03:53:08,367 --> 03:53:11,200
today, my organization alone houses almost 2,000 veterans a year throughout texas, arguably

2604
03:53:13,233 --> 03:53:15,700
one of the most of any single nonprofit organization in

2605
03:53:18,433 --> 03:53:21,967
texas. I spent $12 million a year

2606
03:53:23,867 --> 03:53:26,533
alone, mainly va funding, but also state and private funding,

2607
03:53:30,367 --> 03:53:33,833
putting veterans... Mostly homeless and at risk in homes.

2608
03:53:35,667 --> 03:53:38,800
in that 11 years, that number has increased tenfold in my organization.

2609
03:53:40,667 --> 03:53:43,767
it started at 500,000. It is now 12 million.

2610
03:53:46,567 --> 03:53:50,567
ask me where we've come since then. So why aren't the numbers

2611
03:53:51,533 --> 03:53:54,133
coming down significantly? After 11 years

2612
03:53:56,433 --> 03:53:59,000
of studying this problem in san antonio, and the bexar

2613
03:54:01,100 --> 03:54:04,867
county area, it's due to an utter failure to transition veterans

2614
03:54:06,367 --> 03:54:10,200
from military service to civilian service, nationwide, but also here

2615
03:54:12,933 --> 03:54:16,667
in the county and in the city. What is the danger of continuing down this path,

2616
03:54:19,933 --> 03:54:22,500
let me tell you? For one, these results are an auditor's dream

2617
03:54:24,867 --> 03:54:26,700
to argue really for the cutting

2618
03:54:28,900 --> 03:54:32,200
of these funds. Eventually that cut is coming. We've seen some of that already.

2619
03:54:33,400 --> 03:54:36,633
I'm not suggesting that we ignore the immediate homeless crisis.

2620
03:54:38,400 --> 03:54:41,200
I'm making a point that we cannot simply continue to react to homelessness.

2621
03:54:42,933 --> 03:54:44,533
we need to prevent it altogether.

2622
03:54:47,167 --> 03:54:49,400
we are failing to address the transitioning

2623
03:54:51,533 --> 03:54:54,500
of veterans to our communities. Why?

2624
03:54:57,033 --> 03:55:00,667
because we don't have a focal point. For them to seek services. They often get lost

2625
03:55:03,033 --> 03:55:05,800
in the myriad of literally hundreds of organizations, all

2626
03:55:07,600 --> 03:55:11,333
well-intended, including my own, to help them. The result, particularly for

2627
03:55:13,300 --> 03:55:16,700
the younger veteran service members, e134, maybe two to four years in service,

2628
03:55:18,233 --> 03:55:21,633
when they leave the military, I can tell you what they're considered by us, homeless. They were living

2629
03:55:22,800 --> 03:55:26,333
in the barracks, now they're not. They did have a paycheck, now they don't.

2630
03:55:27,867 --> 03:55:31,567
and they have no disability, at least six to ten months after they leave.

2631
03:55:32,767 --> 03:55:36,467
so they have nothing. That is the veteran that's coming into our communities. I'm not merely suggesting that

2632
03:55:37,533 --> 03:55:39,933
this is a problem. I'm telling you it is. I've spoken to those veterans

2633
03:56:05,133 --> 03:56:08,467
over the past 11 years. I would ask everyone here to take some time and watch american sons, a pbs documentary we supported that documents the trajectory

2634
03:56:09,767 --> 03:56:12,500
of a proud, elite marine unit that lost more of its members after combat than they did in combat. And their losses in combat were

2635
03:56:13,867 --> 03:56:16,700
pretty significant. And these are the elites of the military.

2636
03:56:18,100 --> 03:56:21,800
many veterans here today, including this soldier before you, have experienced the horrors of

2637
03:56:22,833 --> 03:56:26,200
combat and have persevered because we have purpose and connection to this community.

2638
03:56:28,867 --> 03:56:31,400
it is not just a va problem alone. Either it's a community problem

2639
03:56:33,867 --> 03:56:34,967
because it involves citizens. And families

2640
03:56:58,533 --> 03:57:02,533
of this great community. To set these young warriors on the right course serves not only them, but the community itself.

2641
03:57:03,700 --> 03:57:06,400
veterans get better jobs, spend less time in expensive state and federal programs,

2642
03:57:07,933 --> 03:57:11,067
and I am willing to bet my pension that it decreases suicide rates also. Not only that,

2643
03:57:12,033 --> 03:57:14,233
but it's cheaper down the road. Because we're focusing

2644
03:57:22,700 --> 03:57:25,633
on the end of the problem, not the beginning of it, before it becomes a problem,

2645
03:57:27,067 --> 03:57:30,633
before they take the drugs, before they get in trouble with the law, before they lose

2646
03:57:32,533 --> 03:57:36,067
their family and they get a divorce, before they lose their kids, before they commit suicide.

2647
03:57:37,467 --> 03:57:37,467
distinguished members, we need

2648
03:57:46,167 --> 03:57:48,333
a centralized clearinghouse for veterans in bexar

2649
03:57:50,467 --> 03:57:53,400
county. It will pay for itself. And it will be a model

2650
03:57:54,567 --> 03:57:57,600
for the national effort to transition veterans. I am not here simply to point

2651
03:57:59,000 --> 03:58:02,600
at the problem. My organization, the nvop, is willing to lead that effort with bexar county.

2652
03:58:04,167 --> 03:58:07,467
and set the example for the nation, because it starts in a place

2653
03:58:08,933 --> 03:58:11,933
like military city, and then it expounds out to the country, and then the nation picks it up

2654
03:58:13,200 --> 03:58:17,067
as their program. And that's how we get more funding.

2655
03:58:18,667 --> 03:58:21,933
we are already doing this in a smaller extent

2656
03:58:22,933 --> 03:58:26,167
with excellent success in lackland air force base. To that point,

2657
03:58:27,000 --> 03:58:29,667
no one we have helped at transition, no one, in bexar county has ended up

2658
03:58:31,400 --> 03:58:34,933
homeless. Because we prevented it, and we spent far less money than we

2659
03:58:36,700 --> 03:58:40,300
are now on those that are already homeless. It is time to lead this effort

2660
03:58:41,833 --> 03:58:44,200
in military city, usa. Please help me

2661
03:58:46,167 --> 03:58:48,000
to get this done. Thank you.

2662
03:58:55,700 --> 03:58:59,500
judge, may I just ask a quick question? Yes, sir. Thank you, judge. Commissioner collins.

2663
03:59:00,633 --> 03:59:03,733
thank you for your testimony coming down. Very important.

2664
03:59:05,267 --> 03:59:08,433
you've made a request to the court for support of the renovation

2665
03:59:10,133 --> 03:59:13,800
of some buildings around san pedro. Can you remind us what that cost request was

2666
03:59:14,967 --> 03:59:18,833
to the court? Yes, sir. So we have a facility right now

2667
03:59:19,467 --> 03:59:23,367
in san pedro that is three stories. It's 15,000 square feet. It's currently empty.

2668
03:59:25,667 --> 03:59:27,300
we do have some folks using it right now because we didn't see

2669
03:59:31,200 --> 03:59:34,167
that there was any movement. Bringing the services to that facility but we could

2670
03:59:35,833 --> 03:59:37,267
always do that again we own the building we could put those

2671
03:59:41,267 --> 03:59:44,067
services in that building we would need some funding to get it started and

2672
03:59:45,433 --> 03:59:48,267
to lead that effort but I think we could do that I think we could also use the help of

2673
03:59:49,500 --> 03:59:52,100
bexar county to try to engage the local installations because

2674
03:59:54,067 --> 03:59:57,733
this is more than a va problem this is a dod issue and if we could get those veterans as

2675
03:59:59,267 --> 04:00:02,867
they transition then we could set the condition for those individuals

2676
04:00:04,233 --> 04:00:07,233
to get set up in our community. And then we'd spend less money

2677
04:00:09,700 --> 04:00:13,500
and time on those individuals, and they would be more successful in our community,

2678
04:00:14,733 --> 04:00:17,767
where it really counts, than if we ignored the problem until they became a problem.

2679
04:00:19,167 --> 04:00:21,600
but what's that amount that you were requesting? I don't have that number right

2680
04:00:24,033 --> 04:00:27,767
now, sir, but we can discuss that at a

2681
04:00:29,633 --> 04:00:33,367
later date. I didn't come prepared to talk finances at the time.

2682
04:00:34,167 --> 04:00:37,333
but we own the building. So we'd see something less than buying a new building. Thank you.

2683
04:00:40,133 --> 04:00:43,667
yes, sir. Okay, thank you. Yes, sir. Arthur reckowitz. Arthur reckowitz.

2684
04:00:48,133 --> 04:00:48,133
there you are.

2685
04:01:01,733 --> 04:01:04,833
good afternoon, judge sakai. Good afternoon, commissioners flores, moody, commissioners

2686
04:01:07,267 --> 04:01:09,200
rodriguez, commissioner calvert. I want to speak briefly

2687
04:01:12,333 --> 04:01:14,500
about fraud, waste, and abuse in the bexar county elections.

2688
04:01:17,933 --> 04:01:21,867
the state of texas recognizes my address, and I gave a map of showing the address because there's a lot of discussion

2689
04:01:24,933 --> 04:01:27,133
about the road. In southeast bexar county does not exist and I would like to

2690
04:01:37,067 --> 04:01:38,900
redraw that photo afterwards. In austin, I did not get the

2691
04:01:44,133 --> 04:01:47,300
voter registration card, so I went to austin and they

2692
04:01:50,567 --> 04:01:50,567
said that my address is valid.

2693
04:01:55,467 --> 04:01:57,300
so I came back to bexar county and made my presentation

2694
04:02:00,467 --> 04:02:03,100
to one of the clerks there. And she says that it doesn't matter

2695
04:02:07,467 --> 04:02:10,033
about the voter registration. The voter registration card does matter because if you have

2696
04:02:12,067 --> 04:02:13,433
a texas driver license, you can move and it's invalid or have a

2697
04:02:16,800 --> 04:02:17,633
military id, and so it's invalid

2698
04:02:20,933 --> 04:02:20,933
to have a cross validation.

2699
04:02:25,800 --> 04:02:29,433
with that being made, I finally got my voter registration card

2700
04:02:32,200 --> 04:02:35,100
from the bexar county. The physical address of 12831 east pittman road reflects

2701
04:02:37,233 --> 04:02:40,933
that. But the mailing address says

2702
04:02:43,700 --> 04:02:47,567
12831 pittman road. So they would not honor it or my presentation.

2703
04:02:51,733 --> 04:02:51,733
so I gave them, I said, you

2704
04:02:56,867 --> 04:03:00,600
keep the voter registration card. I will not be voting this becoming elections because.

2705
04:03:01,700 --> 04:03:01,700
I will not participate

2706
04:03:05,733 --> 04:03:08,133
in fraud and the violation of usc code and the voter

2707
04:03:11,400 --> 04:03:15,167
registration violations. And there's 20 people

2708
04:03:18,233 --> 04:03:21,600
on that street. And I'm not only talking about myself. I do have other neighbors that

2709
04:03:22,700 --> 04:03:25,233
I stand before the court. So all of those 20 individuals, my neighbors, are involved

2710
04:03:28,900 --> 04:03:32,767
in this. Thank you. Judge akai, as you being the

2711
04:03:34,233 --> 04:03:37,400
ceo of bexar county, I think it's important.

2712
04:03:38,700 --> 04:03:41,000
in following something recently, I filed a report

2713
04:03:42,833 --> 04:03:46,733
with bexar county sheriff on that incident.

2714
04:03:48,067 --> 04:03:49,800
it reflects 12831 east pittman.

2715
04:03:53,500 --> 04:03:57,500
just the day before yesterday, I filed another incident, and the deputy I asked to validate.

2716
04:03:59,100 --> 04:04:00,800
to looking at their computer in their cruiser and she said yes

2717
04:04:03,567 --> 04:04:06,333
it did. Judge, commissioners, the time has expired.

2718
04:04:07,767 --> 04:04:10,967
I'll wrap it up. Go ahead. Anyway, with that,

2719
04:04:13,533 --> 04:04:15,700
when she arrived at my home, come to find

2720
04:04:17,700 --> 04:04:20,800
out that it reflected east pittman. The difference is the county

2721
04:04:22,233 --> 04:04:26,200
has used thousands of dollars to go ahead and facilitate the communications. If you don't use the bexar

2722
04:04:27,700 --> 04:04:29,233
county asset, and uses a wireless device that places the

2723
04:04:35,867 --> 04:04:37,667
safety of the deputy and the health

2724
04:04:40,500 --> 04:04:42,467
of the law enforcement. It's important to recognize

2725
04:04:44,833 --> 04:04:48,833
this address because it is for the safety and the health. I thank you

2726
04:04:50,767 --> 04:04:53,233
for your time. I would like to speak a little bit more, but a friend of mine

2727
04:04:55,500 --> 04:04:59,367
informed me once before, just come and talk in front of the court.

2728
04:05:01,400 --> 04:05:04,100
because I tried to address it with the staff, and I haven't.

2729
04:05:05,467 --> 04:05:08,233
when the presidents, like commissioner atkinson, I always got an open door

2730
04:05:10,300 --> 04:05:13,467
to discuss the matter with them.

2731
04:05:16,433 --> 04:05:19,933
thank you for your time. Thank you. All right.

2732
04:05:20,767 --> 04:05:24,467
I believe that concludes the citizens to be heard. I believe we got

2733
04:05:25,067 --> 04:05:28,467
through consent. There were no items pulled. So, court, I'd like to support.

2734
04:05:29,733 --> 04:05:33,467
privilege to take up item 49. It is a matter that we had a listed executive. It's my understanding that we

2735
04:05:34,800 --> 04:05:36,900
have an agreement. Please tell me that we need

2736
04:05:38,967 --> 04:05:42,233
to take this executive, but is there any objections taking this up at this time?

2737
04:05:44,567 --> 04:05:47,767
49, discussion, appropriate action regarding,

2738
04:05:49,567 --> 04:05:52,133
and y'all can read subsection a and 1 and 2.

2739
04:05:53,733 --> 04:05:56,467
yes, we can read. All right. So at this time, is there a

2740
04:05:58,467 --> 04:06:02,033
motion to approve or is there a presentate? David?

2741
04:06:17,767 --> 04:06:21,600
I mean, I think randy's here, right? And do you want to just kind of review the things that we asked for and what the commitments

2742
04:06:23,767 --> 04:06:26,167
are and then we can push it through quickly? Okay, so we were asked

2743
04:06:29,367 --> 04:06:30,733
to explore three options by the court.

2744
04:06:33,700 --> 04:06:37,200
is that what you're referring to? Okay.

2745
04:06:38,433 --> 04:06:41,600
off the top of my head, one of them was to explore affordable housing opportunities within the

2746
04:06:42,467 --> 04:06:46,333
development being proposed and pledged by the developer. The other was to explore the commitment of 100% thank you.

2747
04:06:47,700 --> 04:06:51,500
of the in aggregate 15% assessment on properties as opposed to the 10% that was being allocated to repay the county.

2748
04:06:52,467 --> 04:06:56,300
and finally was the agreement to pay an interest on the advanced $10 million for which the county would receive

2749
04:07:19,067 --> 04:07:21,733
two parcels that could become one or two county parks adjacent to the ballpark. And basically at that point I left it up to your offices and the developer

2750
04:07:25,967 --> 04:07:28,867
to discuss your thoughts about each of those.

2751
04:07:31,767 --> 04:07:35,133
okay. It is,

2752
04:07:36,667 --> 04:07:40,633
I can be corrected if I'm wrong, but it's my understanding that the

2753
04:07:41,433 --> 04:07:45,167
developer would concur to pay the interest cost on the advanced funds,

2754
04:07:46,667 --> 04:07:50,367
which we estimated to be a blend of six different sources that that $10 million would come from, just over 4%

2755
04:07:51,433 --> 04:07:54,067
annually. I believe they're amenable to paying that. They can explain that.

2756
04:07:56,800 --> 04:08:00,467
they don't believe it's feasible to allocate to the county the entire 15%

2757
04:08:01,400 --> 04:08:03,300
of the self assessment but they would continue

2758
04:08:10,533 --> 04:08:14,033
to pledge to allocate 10% of the 15% assessment to repay that advance

2759
04:08:15,533 --> 04:08:18,600
from the county. And I'll leave it up to them to discuss the affordable housing

2760
04:08:20,100 --> 04:08:23,733
component, but I believe they believe that would be challenging

2761
04:08:25,767 --> 04:08:28,733
to the business model in the current environment. Commissioner moody.

2762
04:08:29,933 --> 04:08:33,633
okay, now I'm on. I mean, first of all, I appreciate their willingness to meet us there on the

2763
04:08:35,233 --> 04:08:35,233
interest.

2764
04:08:40,667 --> 04:08:43,567
I think that makes a lot of sense.

2765
04:08:45,133 --> 04:08:48,700
and also to the other point about the entire 15%, if we're getting paid a reasonable

2766
04:08:50,033 --> 04:08:53,467
amount of interest, then having that money paid off

2767
04:08:55,467 --> 04:08:58,767
sooner doesn't necessarily. It isn't the same driver it would be if we were not getting interest on that loan.

2768
04:08:59,867 --> 04:09:03,800
so, you know, I'm good with that, as is with being able to get the concession on the

2769
04:09:05,000 --> 04:09:08,633
interest rate. I appreciate them being able to be a good broker and work with us on this

2770
04:09:10,000 --> 04:09:13,733
in good faith. And so I'm supportive of that. Mr.

2771
04:09:15,067 --> 04:09:16,533
rodriguez? Yeah, I would just ask.

2772
04:09:39,433 --> 04:09:43,433
daniel or randy, please come up. I mean, I know we had a lot of discussion on this in executive session. I am going to be supportive. I think we landed in a place where we can move the project

2773
04:09:43,800 --> 04:09:46,133
forward. But I think just important for the public discourse that we

2774
04:09:47,967 --> 04:09:51,900
frame the conversation. Obviously, we are here. This is on the northwest corner of.

2775
04:09:52,900 --> 04:09:56,167
downtown, my precinct, but obviously downtown belongs to everybody.

2776
04:09:57,433 --> 04:09:59,767
but part of the discussion on this transaction was, I guess, a little bit

2777
04:10:01,867 --> 04:10:03,700
of restructuring on the finance due

2778
04:10:06,900 --> 04:10:06,900
to a little bit

2779
04:10:11,000 --> 04:10:14,567
of a shortfall. The county is essentially

2780
04:10:16,333 --> 04:10:20,267
loaning some money, but we're also getting a public park space in exchange.

2781
04:10:23,000 --> 04:10:26,000
I don't want to mischaracterize this, but I just think it's important that we just...

2782
04:10:27,133 --> 04:10:29,833
try to simplify it for the public discussion. Randy, daniel, am I missing

2783
04:10:31,600 --> 04:10:34,933
anything on, I guess, just what david laid out or anything else that you wanted

2784
04:10:36,900 --> 04:10:40,300
to add? Just again, so we can just put it out in the public. Sure.

2785
04:10:41,467 --> 04:10:44,467
thank you, commissioner. Daniel ortiz here on behalf of the team.

2786
04:10:45,733 --> 04:10:49,133
randy smith on behalf of the ownership is also here in case there are any follow-up

2787
04:10:50,567 --> 04:10:53,967
questions. But in essence, the funding... That the county is allocating is already issued certificates

2788
04:10:55,367 --> 04:10:59,167
of obligation which essentially have strings on them they can only be spent on certain uses this will be

2789
04:11:00,900 --> 04:11:04,800
one of those uses so with today's amendment friendly amendment the county would be being paid back a hundred

2790
04:11:06,467 --> 04:11:06,467
percent

2791
04:11:18,900 --> 04:11:21,967
of the principal so the 10 million along with the interest and that money coming back has no strings on it it comes into the general fund so the county it's a smart smart business

2792
04:11:23,833 --> 04:11:26,100
deal, if you will, but that's the core of the financial aspect

2793
04:11:28,467 --> 04:11:31,900
of what's happening from the county end. I will add that before we even got here to try

2794
04:11:33,267 --> 04:11:35,867
to solve for the issue, the team took out about $7 million

2795
04:11:37,467 --> 04:11:41,100
of expenses and put them on their side of the ledger, if you will, so increasing

2796
04:11:42,067 --> 04:11:45,167
their commitments. And then in addition, they're also adding yet another $5 million on top of that for a

2797
04:11:47,267 --> 04:11:49,267
park. That would complement the

2798
04:11:51,700 --> 04:11:55,200
stadium itself. Right.

2799
04:11:56,433 --> 04:12:00,333
so I just wanted to, again, just as simply as we could put it out there. I know sometimes we get bogged

2800
04:12:02,000 --> 04:12:05,900
down in the details on these. It's important. Randy, if you could just come

2801
04:12:07,267 --> 04:12:08,867
up. I know part of these long,

2802
04:12:11,433 --> 04:12:14,833
ongoing discussions for this vision, part of the ask I know was related

2803
04:12:16,500 --> 04:12:19,833
to affordable housing, I know that as it relates

2804
04:12:21,133 --> 04:12:24,267
to the footprint of the current development, its market rate, but I know you and your team have done other

2805
04:12:25,400 --> 04:12:29,133
affordable housing projects, mixed use, or mixed income, I.e. The continental that we worked

2806
04:12:30,433 --> 04:12:32,033
on through our pfc. I know this is kind

2807
04:12:34,867 --> 04:12:37,800
of outside the scope of what we're talking

2808
04:12:39,933 --> 04:12:41,267
about here, but I know in speaking

2809
04:12:45,800 --> 04:12:48,633
with you and your team, you guys are also committed, particularly

2810
04:12:50,300 --> 04:12:53,400
in the urban core, at looking for other opportunities, hopefully where there's maybe some mixed income or affordable

2811
04:12:54,433 --> 04:12:58,400
units. Is that right? Yes, commissioner, thank you. If I kind of take

2812
04:12:59,600 --> 04:13:02,533
off my missions hat and put on my western urban hat, I would just...

2813
04:13:03,700 --> 04:13:06,933
take this opportunity to say, working with the court and staff

2814
04:13:07,933 --> 04:13:11,800
on the continental to provide mixed income affordable housing in the core of downtown, and my team would echo this, is

2815
04:13:13,100 --> 04:13:16,533
the project that we're most proud of. And so you are correct,

2816
04:13:20,400 --> 04:13:23,867
within the footprint of the ballpark, the finance mechanism does not allow for that,

2817
04:13:24,900 --> 04:13:28,133
but we have ample opportunity around that to continue working with the county

2818
04:13:29,533 --> 04:13:33,233
to help deliver more of that. We'd love that. We appreciate that,

2819
04:13:34,100 --> 04:13:37,933
and I know... And working with you and your team over the past couple years. You guys are, you stick

2820
04:13:39,600 --> 04:13:43,300
to your word, so we appreciate your efforts. So I'm going to go ahead and make the motion, judge.

2821
04:13:45,033 --> 04:13:48,833
I know we've got two different items here. One is the, I guess,

2822
04:13:50,067 --> 04:13:53,167
the negotiation purchase of the linear park, which is item 49.1.

2823
04:13:55,033 --> 04:13:58,967
I'll make a motion to approve. Second. Motion by commissioner

2824
04:13:59,833 --> 04:14:01,900
rodriguez, second by commissioner clay flores. Any further discussion? Yeah, just comment.

2825
04:14:04,500 --> 04:14:06,667
so I want to thank randy and daniel for being here. Randy, I think another thing

2826
04:14:08,800 --> 04:14:11,800
you should be proud of is that beautiful sign on the side of the frostbank center that says, go first

2827
04:14:13,300 --> 04:14:15,767
go. I guess y'all stopped in between because of the rain?

2828
04:14:17,400 --> 04:14:20,633
yes, ma'am. I told marcus that sign would say, go first go, and I knew it.

2829
04:14:21,533 --> 04:14:24,767
so if y'all haven't seen it, you need to go look at it. It's very nice. But thank you for continuing

2830
04:14:25,800 --> 04:14:29,233
to work with us. Willing to negotiate back and forth so that we can have even more benefit

2831
04:14:30,867 --> 04:14:34,567
for our constituents. Of course, this is a project that passed initially with the three of us voted

2832
04:14:35,533 --> 04:14:39,033
in favor of it. So I've been supportive all along, so I'm happy to support it again today.

2833
04:14:44,933 --> 04:14:48,600
thank you. Any further comment? Commissioner moody. Sorry, since we brought up the

2834
04:14:50,533 --> 04:14:53,700
spurs here. Exciting opportunities right now with the watch parties out at the rock.

2835
04:14:56,033 --> 04:14:59,767
I need to get with you, daniel, about parking and availability out there,

2836
04:15:00,833 --> 04:15:04,067
because the community is coming out in full force, and I'm sure they will be tonight as well. Okay, let me just say thank you

2837
04:15:05,767 --> 04:15:08,733
to daniel and randy and the whole team. This baseball program and

2838
04:15:11,300 --> 04:15:15,100
state arena is a new paradigm shift for the downtown.

2839
04:15:16,767 --> 04:15:19,533
we've had some hard negotiations, but I think... We have an agreement, at least

2840
04:15:21,067 --> 04:15:24,333
from the county perspective, that engages issues of housing and economic development and the ability

2841
04:15:26,133 --> 04:15:28,300
to revitalize the downtown. And it's been my pleasure to lead this

2842
04:15:31,900 --> 04:15:31,900
with the baseball ownership

2843
04:15:37,233 --> 04:15:38,733
along with the city of san antonio.

2844
04:15:49,133 --> 04:15:53,100
and I thank my colleagues for giving me the authority to sign off

2845
04:15:54,233 --> 04:15:57,733
on all the agreements. Obviously, it will still have to be approved by council. And the county manager's office

2846
04:15:58,800 --> 04:16:02,733
to make sure all I's are dotted and t's are crossed. But I express my sincere appreciation

2847
04:16:04,267 --> 04:16:07,567
for getting this. Obviously, we still have much more work

2848
04:16:08,567 --> 04:16:11,033
to do and look forward to working to the end of the year.

2849
04:16:12,700 --> 04:16:16,700
all right, I'll call for the vote. All those in favor, signify by saying aye. Aye. Any opposed? Any abstentions?

2850
04:16:18,233 --> 04:16:21,700
motion carries. We also need a motion, judge, for 49-2, which is the release of the very county's portion

2851
04:16:24,333 --> 04:16:26,200
of the houston street. Turs and the mou and authorization

2852
04:16:29,800 --> 04:16:33,800
for the county judge to execute any necessary documents. Second. Motion of commissioner rodriguez, seconded by

2853
04:16:35,033 --> 04:16:38,733
commissioner clay flores. Any further discussion? Hearing none, all those in favor, signal by saying aye.

2854
04:16:39,867 --> 04:16:43,200
aye. Any opposed? Any abstention? Is that inclusive online? Is he still here?

2855
04:16:43,933 --> 04:16:47,433
hello? Is commissioner calvert still listening? Commissioner calvert? I'm here.

2856
04:16:48,733 --> 04:16:52,500
okay. Close question. All right. We're calling for the vote. All those in favor, signal by saying aye.

2857
04:16:53,367 --> 04:16:56,067
aye. Any opposed? Any abstention? Motion carries unanimously. Thank you.

2858
04:16:57,533 --> 04:16:57,533
alright, should we take up 53?

2859
04:17:19,267 --> 04:17:22,933
related to the grant and exception, we already approved the late file of item 53a. Discussion of appropriate action regarding approval and

2860
04:17:24,767 --> 04:17:28,367
agreement with west publishing, dba thompson reuters, for a subscription to west proflex, which includes

2861
04:17:29,500 --> 04:17:32,433
a co-counsel 400v2 and westlaw all analytical for 26 attorneys at a cost of $2,284.03 per month

2862
04:17:34,267 --> 04:17:34,267
with a 5% increase for year 2

2863
04:17:41,733 --> 04:17:43,367
and year 3, and clear proflex proprietary law enforcement

2864
04:17:46,467 --> 04:17:50,333
investigation solution at a cost of $233.42 per month. With a 5% increase

2865
04:17:52,033 --> 04:17:54,300
for year two and three, ms. Mellon.

2866
04:17:56,867 --> 04:17:58,467
good afternoon, judge, commissioners. Carrie mellon, chief public

2867
04:18:01,167 --> 04:18:04,967
defender. I'm here because we have the money in our budget to...

2868
04:18:06,267 --> 04:18:10,200
I paid for this fiscal year, but because the contract as a whole is over $50,000, I need the court's approval. It's the same programs that

2869
04:18:11,933 --> 04:18:15,100
were in place before I came on as chief public defender,

2870
04:18:16,600 --> 04:18:20,467
same programs that the district attorney's office uses. It's our legal research for westlaw and clears

2871
04:18:21,933 --> 04:18:21,933
for our investigators

2872
04:18:29,133 --> 04:18:32,100
to help find people. Motion by commissioner mooney, second by

2873
04:18:33,767 --> 04:18:37,567
commissioner rodriguez. Any further discussion? I want to make a comment. Yes, commissioner calvert. Thank you very much.

2874
04:18:38,667 --> 04:18:42,633
david, I just was kind of caught off guard on the $50,000 threshold since we raised it in policy

2875
04:18:46,133 --> 04:18:48,867
8.0 a few months ago. So, ostensibly, this wouldn't have had to come

2876
04:18:50,400 --> 04:18:53,300
before as an individual item, correct?

2877
04:18:58,767 --> 04:19:01,533
I'm sorry, commissioner, I can't hear you. So it was for david smith.

2878
04:19:03,967 --> 04:19:06,033
oh, I'm sorry. I can't see who else is there from the county manager's

2879
04:19:08,100 --> 04:19:11,800
office or purchasing. How are you doing? Okay. We had raised the threshold

2880
04:19:13,333 --> 04:19:16,533
for what comes before the court in changing policy 8.0 a few months ago.

2881
04:19:18,367 --> 04:19:22,167
that's correct, commissioner. We raised the threshold up to $100,000 prior

2882
04:19:23,033 --> 04:19:25,967
to needing court approval. Right, so this is under that threshold,

2883
04:19:28,367 --> 04:19:31,367
correct? What would the total be?

2884
04:19:32,833 --> 04:19:32,833
it was, I'm not sure what the

2885
04:19:45,433 --> 04:19:48,900
total was. It was over 50, but less than 100,000 for sure. Yeah, so this might just be an error of the old way that you got caught.

2886
04:19:50,267 --> 04:19:53,767
you might have been making the request prior to the change, and it just was kind of...

2887
04:19:54,833 --> 04:19:58,500
remnant of that past but in any event I didn't I just wanted to

2888
04:20:00,700 --> 04:20:03,400
make sure that you all were aware

2889
04:20:04,767 --> 04:20:08,100
of that change thank you jim it's a multi-year agreement yeah it was a late filed item

2890
04:20:09,467 --> 04:20:09,467
and it involved more than one

2891
04:20:13,800 --> 04:20:15,467
one year purchase so those are two different reasons one that

2892
04:20:17,900 --> 04:20:21,833
it would be on the agenda in the first place and the second why it's

2893
04:20:23,200 --> 04:20:26,233
on individuals because of the late file okay. Multi-year.

2894
04:20:27,333 --> 04:20:30,900
thank you. I just wanted to comment in regards to carrie and the

2895
04:20:32,233 --> 04:20:35,900
public defender's office. You were here during the whole diversion discussion this

2896
04:20:37,267 --> 04:20:41,000
morning, and it just went on very long. So I didn't acknowledge you,

2897
04:20:42,600 --> 04:20:43,833
so I just wanted to acknowledge the work that you and your team

2898
04:20:49,133 --> 04:20:52,400
do because you, too, are part of the success. Even though we still have work

2899
04:20:53,567 --> 04:20:56,500
to do. So I just wanted to acknowledge you.

2900
04:20:57,767 --> 04:21:01,633
so thank you. Thank you, commissioner. I appreciate that. All right.

2901
04:21:03,200 --> 04:21:06,667
call for a vote. All those in favor of the motion, signify by saying aye. Aye. Any opposed? Any abstentions?

2902
04:21:07,500 --> 04:21:11,367
motion unanimously carries. Thank you. Thank you. All right. Let's go back to the very front

2903
04:21:12,667 --> 04:21:15,733
of individual. Item 47, presentation, discussion, appropriate action

2904
04:21:16,700 --> 04:21:20,533
regarding the authorization of bexar county judge peter sakai to execute a proposed agreement on behalf

2905
04:21:21,933 --> 04:21:25,333
of the commission court related to domestic violence system evaluation. With university of texas

2906
04:21:26,233 --> 04:21:29,433
health science center at houston in partnership with a non-profit caminar latino with a two-year term

2907
04:21:30,433 --> 04:21:32,667
in amount not to exceed $744,000, subject to the attorney representing the

2908
04:21:37,267 --> 04:21:40,733
county approving the agreement's terms and conditions, direction to staff to place the executed agreement

2909
04:21:42,033 --> 04:21:45,000
on the next available commission's court agenda following the execution for

2910
04:21:46,167 --> 04:21:48,333
acknowledgement and record filing purposes. A budget transfer is included.

2911
04:21:50,467 --> 04:21:52,967
dr. Goodell. Hi, good afternoon,

2912
04:21:56,467 --> 04:22:00,300
court. I am dr. Andrea guerrero. I'm the director of public health, and we are here to offer or ask

2913
04:22:01,367 --> 04:22:03,833
for a recommendation to authorize a county judge to execute a contract.

2914
04:22:05,533 --> 04:22:09,167
we can go over the recommended motion at the end.

2915
04:22:09,733 --> 04:22:12,900
so a little history on this project. This domestic violence evaluation research study was

2916
04:22:14,667 --> 04:22:17,800
originally approved or recommended through arpa funding, so the original amount budgeted

2917
04:22:18,967 --> 04:22:22,467
through arpa was $750,000. Back in 2022, and we did have a recommended entity that we were negotiating with,

2918
04:22:23,667 --> 04:22:25,833
we were unable to come to terms

2919
04:22:29,200 --> 04:22:32,533
with that entity relative to some specifics of an arpa agreement, and so we weren't able

2920
04:22:33,900 --> 04:22:37,633
to move forward with that entity. But acknowledging that we still

2921
04:22:38,800 --> 04:22:41,633
needed an evaluation of this sort and the value that it will bring to bexar county and

2922
04:22:43,533 --> 04:22:47,067
to people who are involved in domestic and family violence. We set out

2923
04:22:50,000 --> 04:22:53,433
to find another contractor, another vendor to work with. As we were building the star

2924
04:22:54,600 --> 04:22:57,500
program that's been in process for almost two years now in

2925
04:22:58,867 --> 04:23:01,733
july, we'll be celebrating it. We worked with a lot of our folks and partners all

2926
04:23:03,133 --> 04:23:06,600
over the state. But a lot with harris county, and as we were working with harris county, one

2927
04:23:07,700 --> 04:23:10,900
of our biggest questions was, how are you doing evaluation? How are you evaluating not only

2928
04:23:12,700 --> 04:23:16,267
just your services, but that of your partners? And in those conversations, we met dr.

2929
04:23:17,300 --> 04:23:20,633
lela wood, who has been one of their primary evaluators over the last several years,

2930
04:23:22,467 --> 04:23:26,333
and started talking to her once commissioners in december said, you know,

2931
04:23:27,900 --> 04:23:31,200
you can negotiate with someone else and find who that is. So.

2932
04:23:32,733 --> 04:23:36,167
we identified dr. Leila wood and have been working with the ada and with purchasing to confirm that

2933
04:23:37,467 --> 04:23:41,067
an ila would be the most appropriate document because dr.

2934
04:23:42,733 --> 04:23:45,367
leila wood and then again we added dr. Alexander testa to the

2935
04:23:48,467 --> 04:23:50,867
evaluation team, both our faculty at the ut

2936
04:23:52,500 --> 04:23:54,500
health houston school of public health.

2937
04:23:57,267 --> 04:24:01,233
so the purpose of the evaluation, after we started working with dr.

2938
04:24:02,600 --> 04:24:06,500
wood and dr. Testa, dr. Wood being an expert in domestic violence and dr.

2939
04:24:07,667 --> 04:24:11,200
testa being an expert in criminal justice, and especially with the bexar county criminal justice system,

2940
04:24:12,500 --> 04:24:14,933
and they have worked together as research partners. And so between the two

2941
04:24:16,533 --> 04:24:19,233
of them and then also with the addition of another researcher,

2942
04:24:20,867 --> 04:24:24,167
evaluator, dr. Josephine serrata, who works with an organization called

2943
04:24:25,733 --> 04:24:28,633
caminar latina, that the addition of dr. Serrata would ensure that we

2944
04:24:30,733 --> 04:24:34,167
are focusing on culturally responsive evaluation as well as process evaluation.

2945
04:24:36,500 --> 04:24:39,867
her specialty, and she's a nationally renowned evaluator in the area of culturally

2946
04:24:43,567 --> 04:24:46,767
responsive evaluation, to ensure linguistic appropriateness, talking to folks

2947
04:24:47,900 --> 04:24:50,233
in the appropriate language and with the context of culture and everything else that is

2948
04:24:52,600 --> 04:24:56,200
involved to ensure that our results are valid. The goal of the evaluation is to assess the current system

2949
04:24:57,200 --> 04:25:01,000
response across... Public health, criminal justice, social service, and community groups.

2950
04:25:02,467 --> 04:25:06,300
primarily, we're really focusing on the core services that are provided by bexar

2951
04:25:07,967 --> 04:25:10,633
county, which starts with law enforcement, but then also sapd,

2952
04:25:12,167 --> 04:25:15,367
because they are responsible for a number of the cases that get brought

2953
04:25:16,533 --> 04:25:20,400
into the system. So, beginning with law enforcement, involving our star program,

2954
04:25:22,500 --> 04:25:25,167
but also the family justice center, civil and criminal courts, the da's office,

2955
04:25:27,500 --> 04:25:31,300
texas legal aid. So a number of stakeholders that are part of the continuum

2956
04:25:32,233 --> 04:25:35,767
of care that a survivor has to interact with as they go through the system, but then also programs that are adjacent

2957
04:25:36,933 --> 04:25:40,400
to our system that aren't necessarily operated by the county, like family prevention, better women's

2958
04:25:41,867 --> 04:25:45,467
shelter, the peace initiative, and other support, usually survivor services.

2959
04:25:46,967 --> 04:25:50,767
but if they have an impact on the experience of a person going through our system,

2960
04:25:52,233 --> 04:25:54,500
they would also be involved in this evaluation. So the idea is

2961
04:25:56,433 --> 04:25:59,767
to identify our needs at gaps. Opportunities, and then develop recommendations, develop

2962
04:26:00,867 --> 04:26:04,200
findings and then recommendations for how we can improve systems.

2963
04:26:05,667 --> 04:26:09,567
and I really appreciate the discussion we had this morning around meadows and around the gia evaluation study because it

2964
04:26:10,867 --> 04:26:13,533
was able to demonstrate that these are evaluations and studies that don't just get put

2965
04:26:15,100 --> 04:26:18,200
on a shelf, that they are actionable recommendations that

2966
04:26:20,000 --> 04:26:23,033
we can put into process and also create lasting impact. So some of the stakeholders

2967
04:26:24,567 --> 04:26:27,433
that we've been... Identified so far, law

2968
04:26:28,667 --> 04:26:32,167
enforcement, primarily bcso and sapd. There could be other jurisdictions once we get

2969
04:26:33,233 --> 04:26:37,033
into the data collection. If a law enforcement jurisdiction has a significant impact, some

2970
04:26:38,500 --> 04:26:42,233
of the larger ones, then they would also be included. Criminal justice system, the da's office, courts, magistration, victim advocates

2971
04:26:44,767 --> 04:26:47,867
on the civil side, those that deal with protective orders, courts,

2972
04:26:50,433 --> 04:26:53,933
family violence prevention program, family justice center survivor services and all of the programs that are housed

2973
04:26:55,067 --> 04:26:58,233
there. The health department programs, which would include our bexar

2974
04:26:59,433 --> 04:27:02,367
county star program, but then also metro health violence prevention, which is

2975
04:27:03,833 --> 04:27:06,400
similar to our star program, supervision, pretrial services, folks who are adult probation,

2976
04:27:07,900 --> 04:27:11,700
and then folks that are in the jail who might be helping us with some data collection.

2977
04:27:14,767 --> 04:27:18,567
and then, like I mentioned, nonprofit partners, specifically women's shelter peace initiative, texas legal

2978
04:27:19,633 --> 04:27:22,567
aid. So it's a four-phase project over two years.

2979
04:27:24,900 --> 04:27:28,367
the first phase primarily... Focused on, and dr. Test is here. He came back in case there's

2980
04:27:29,933 --> 04:27:33,233
any questions. And dr. Wood is watching via the live stream.

2981
04:27:34,333 --> 04:27:38,033
but the first phase, which is in year one, would be primary data collection, making sure we're

2982
04:27:39,500 --> 04:27:42,600
collecting data from odyssey, document and policy review, and site visits. So look at all of the entities

2983
04:27:43,700 --> 04:27:46,667
that I just mentioned, looking at their sops, and how are you

2984
04:27:48,700 --> 04:27:51,100
observing how the process works. But then based on their policy

2985
04:27:52,933 --> 04:27:56,233
review, is it working in the same way that they said that it would.

2986
04:27:57,833 --> 04:28:01,467
phase two is going to be primarily focused on survivor focus groups.

2987
04:28:02,767 --> 04:28:06,100
at least six, and those would be recruited from any number of organizations and stakeholders,

2988
04:28:07,133 --> 04:28:10,667
but those would be people who have either been involved in domestic violence or family violence or are currently

2989
04:28:11,800 --> 04:28:14,800
involved in it. So it could be somebody with an existing case or someone who

2990
04:28:16,700 --> 04:28:20,000
has previously experienced in the past. And also key informant

2991
04:28:21,667 --> 04:28:25,533
interviews, so people who are involved in the system who can provide specific insight about how that

2992
04:28:27,367 --> 04:28:30,700
entity or stakeholder entity or organization works. It could be any

2993
04:28:32,667 --> 04:28:36,633
of you. Who have insight to offer about the system, or jarvis anderson or patricia castillo

2994
04:28:38,200 --> 04:28:42,033
and those folks. So key informant interviews. And because this is an

2995
04:28:43,167 --> 04:28:46,600
iterative process, what we learn or what the researchers learn from the first phase will be incorporated into or used to

2996
04:28:48,067 --> 04:28:51,633
create the interview questions for those survivor groups and for the key informant

2997
04:28:53,067 --> 04:28:56,100
interviews. And then the qualitative data that is collected

2998
04:28:58,500 --> 04:29:01,800
during phase two will be used to create thank you. Phase three, survivor surveys, where we significantly increase

2999
04:29:03,300 --> 04:29:06,433
our sample size up to at least 400 so that we're

3000
04:29:07,367 --> 04:29:10,667
essentially validating what we've learned through the qualitative data collection.

3001
04:29:12,400 --> 04:29:15,867
then there will be a secondary data review and analysis. And in phase three, we're also going to incorporate

3002
04:29:16,967 --> 04:29:20,900
two other things. One's not on here, but incorporating those who do

3003
04:29:22,200 --> 04:29:25,000
harm. So perpetrator focus groups, people who have chosen or the

3004
04:29:26,867 --> 04:29:30,467
choices that they've made have resulted in harm to somebody else or has

3005
04:29:32,833 --> 04:29:36,733
resulted in a domestic violence case or an intimate partner violence case and to actually have focus groups that collect

3006
04:29:37,900 --> 04:29:39,167
their perspectives and that's important because primarily a

3007
04:29:42,733 --> 04:29:44,600
lot of survivor services and what our system does right now

3008
04:29:46,867 --> 04:29:49,867
is to focus on making sure that a survivor is safe that they are empowered that they receive

3009
04:29:51,233 --> 04:29:54,900
resources that they are confident that they can leave a situation with safety.

3010
04:29:56,633 --> 04:29:59,967
but unless we understand the perspectives and the choices that are made

3011
04:30:01,100 --> 04:30:04,900
by somebody who does harm, then that person is free to move on and harm someone else. And so we really want

3012
04:30:06,100 --> 04:30:09,600
to make sure... We incorporate that perspective so that we get at primary prevention and not just from a punitive perspective,

3013
04:30:10,400 --> 04:30:13,633
like did they go to jail, what kind of sentence did they, but what does real accountability look

3014
04:30:14,500 --> 04:30:17,533
like? And as part of our evaluation questions, how do we hold someone accountable so that it

3015
04:30:18,733 --> 04:30:22,033
creates real behavior change so that we're really moving the needle to decrease family violence

3016
04:30:23,167 --> 04:30:26,800
in bexar county? And then also in phase three, and it's not on this slide, we've asked the researchers to look at a cost analysis

3017
04:30:28,100 --> 04:30:32,000
of the typical case. We've heard from our counterparts in harris county, and I don't know

3018
04:30:33,667 --> 04:30:37,333
what their methodology was to calculate this, but it costs $17 million to

3019
04:30:38,433 --> 04:30:41,967
prosecute a domestic violence homicide. And that's all of the costs that are associated with

3020
04:30:43,033 --> 04:30:46,233
staffing and jail and law enforcement. And we would like to understand what is the real cost

3021
04:30:47,100 --> 04:30:50,733
of family violence in bexar county. And so the data collection will be basically a value costing to look at all

3022
04:30:51,567 --> 04:30:54,500
of the departments based on some budget data. How much does it cost to run the start program or

3023
04:30:56,600 --> 04:30:59,800
to grant a protective order to prosecute a family violence case? And then create some costing

3024
04:31:00,767 --> 04:31:04,700
models to actually show what the financial impact of that is, just so that this court can have that insight as

3025
04:31:05,600 --> 04:31:09,167
you move forward and make policy about funding. So then after phase three, sometimes what happens

3026
04:31:10,300 --> 04:31:14,067
with evaluations is we finish all of these, we do the focus groups, then they have some findings, some conclusions, and then they make recommendations.

3027
04:31:14,633 --> 04:31:18,333
but then unless you go back to the folks whose data you have collected and say, does this make sense?

3028
04:31:18,867 --> 04:31:19,500
are these conclusions reasonable?

3029
04:31:59,100 --> 04:32:02,233
are these recommendations feasible? Then sometimes you will get a study that sits on the shelf. It's not actionable. So phase four would be... Going back

3030
04:32:04,433 --> 04:32:07,833
to those who have participated in creating some additional survivor interviews and key informant focus groups to go

3031
04:32:08,567 --> 04:32:11,400
back and basically do some member checking and validation to say, does this make sense?

3032
04:32:12,633 --> 04:32:15,567
is this a doable plan? Because we all know just because it sort

3033
04:32:17,367 --> 04:32:20,167
of seems that way at the end of data collection doesn't necessarily mean it can be

3034
04:32:21,533 --> 04:32:23,933
actionable. So that is how we wrap up phase 4.

3035
04:32:31,967 --> 04:32:35,967
again, the goals are to evaluate how the criminal justice system identifies, responds to, and holds actors accountable, so those who do harm, how well the system responds and supports survivors

3036
04:32:36,700 --> 04:32:39,800
and their families, assessing coordination and collaboration, how are we communicating and working

3037
04:32:40,867 --> 04:32:43,833
together between different departments, whether it's public health and the office of criminal justice

3038
04:32:45,167 --> 04:32:48,333
or the family justice center or the da's office, but every part of the continuum that's

3039
04:32:49,200 --> 04:32:52,867
involved in addressing domestic violence. Assessing those costs,

3040
04:32:54,233 --> 04:32:58,000
identifying weaknesses and gaps,

3041
04:33:00,400 --> 04:33:04,133
evaluating preventative efforts within support services, not just at bexar county, but within our partner

3042
04:33:05,633 --> 04:33:09,033
relationships, and then recommending those improvements. This is the budget, so going

3043
04:33:13,667 --> 04:33:17,300
from two years, most of the cost is in personnel and a little bit of travel.

3044
04:33:18,600 --> 04:33:21,633
we are including incentives and transcriptions for those who participate

3045
04:33:22,633 --> 04:33:25,167
in the form of an h-e-b gift card. For their participation and

3046
04:33:28,400 --> 04:33:32,033
transcription services, there's going to be a lot of qualitative data that's collected, and so transcription

3047
04:33:32,967 --> 04:33:35,700
services is expensive. Caminar latino, which is the third evaluator, and then other

3048
04:33:39,167 --> 04:33:40,867
consultants where we might need some subject matter expertise,

3049
04:33:44,933 --> 04:33:48,300
some indirect, and so our total over two years will be $711,462.

3050
04:33:50,000 --> 04:33:53,867
and again, this was originally budgeted out of arpa funds that were converted a couple years

3051
04:33:56,500 --> 04:33:56,500
ago.

3052
04:34:00,767 --> 04:34:03,300
so next steps. So what we're doing right now is briefing key stakeholders.

3053
04:34:05,100 --> 04:34:09,033
we've briefed your offices, but what we wanted to avoid was executing a contract with a scope that's set

3054
04:34:10,633 --> 04:34:13,567
in stone without speaking to a lot of these stakeholders personally and saying, number

3055
04:34:15,000 --> 04:34:18,333
one, are you willing? Do we have buy-in from your organization,

3056
04:34:20,067 --> 04:34:23,133
like the da's office and like sapd in the city, to say, here's the type

3057
04:34:24,267 --> 04:34:27,667
of data we need from you. Here's how your participation thank you. We'll look and to make sure

3058
04:34:29,333 --> 04:34:32,800
that we have all of those things pretty well solid before we execute a contract because I don't want to lock anybody into

3059
04:34:35,567 --> 04:34:38,733
participation if it's not possible or if they're not willing. So we're doing that right now.

3060
04:34:40,200 --> 04:34:42,800
we've met with many of the entities and the stakeholders that I already described.

3061
04:34:44,467 --> 04:34:47,833
so that's going to be, that's happening as we speak. And so the recommendation or recommended motion.

3062
04:34:49,500 --> 04:34:53,133
is to authorize the county judge to execute. So as soon as we're able

3063
04:34:55,600 --> 04:34:59,500
to wrap up all of that prep work, put the scope into a contract working

3064
04:35:00,767 --> 04:35:04,300
with the da's office, and make sure that it comes to court as soon as possible. So this would be to authorize the judge

3065
04:35:06,967 --> 04:35:10,900
to execute that, and then we would bring that back as a final step for this court to approve.

3066
04:35:11,867 --> 04:35:11,867
second.

3067
04:35:18,533 --> 04:35:21,800
question? Question?

3068
04:35:22,833 --> 04:35:26,533
commissioner calvert or commissioner moody? Two years.

3069
04:35:27,667 --> 04:35:31,233
obviously we know this is an issue that we need

3070
04:35:33,600 --> 04:35:37,133
to deal with, but two years and the total cost of the project,

3071
04:35:38,533 --> 04:35:42,033
I'm just not sure, maybe county staff can tell me, have we ever had a study

3072
04:35:42,700 --> 04:35:42,700
at this price point?

3073
04:35:55,067 --> 04:35:57,733
he left again. Not of domestic violence, but I'm pretty sure we've spent that much on consultants

3074
04:35:59,733 --> 04:36:02,167
on many of them. The long timeline is because

3075
04:36:03,833 --> 04:36:07,067
of the scope of the entities involved.

3076
04:36:08,567 --> 04:36:11,533
this is not just one program or just one evaluation of just the gia.

3077
04:36:13,200 --> 04:36:16,033
it's a very contained, closed area. This is moving

3078
04:36:17,267 --> 04:36:21,100
across multiple systems, across multiple bureaucracies, and we're not aware, and

3079
04:36:23,000 --> 04:36:25,633
in talking with dr. Wood and dr. Testa, that this is ever

3080
04:36:27,067 --> 04:36:30,233
really, it's very ambitious, but that this has ever been done in texas, or maybe ever. So yes, it is a long timeline,

3081
04:36:31,100 --> 04:36:34,633
but I do feel like it will add value, and it will yield improvements to the system that we currently

3082
04:36:36,467 --> 04:36:39,333
have. Okay, and so you have two project managers,

3083
04:36:40,833 --> 04:36:40,833
is that correct?

3084
04:36:44,900 --> 04:36:48,567
two researchers, which are... Well, they're listed as project

3085
04:36:50,233 --> 04:36:53,533
managers here in your files. Oh, in the budget, yes. I mean,

3086
04:36:55,733 --> 04:36:59,700
there are staff associated with the two research teams, or the two researchers that are part of their team, so yes. So this is us contracting

3087
04:37:00,700 --> 04:37:03,933
with dr. Wood and dr. Testa and then telling us this

3088
04:37:04,767 --> 04:37:08,067
is what we would need to accomplish these goals. So these are not employees at bexar county.

3089
04:37:09,300 --> 04:37:12,767
these are... The research team that we would contract with. And the survey,

3090
04:37:13,700 --> 04:37:16,633
how long is the survey? Is that designed yet? Do you have an expected length?

3091
04:37:21,167 --> 04:37:24,767
it depends. I mean, we would design the survey in a way that would be

3092
04:37:25,867 --> 04:37:28,367
efficient for someone to participate. Obviously, we know the

3093
04:37:30,100 --> 04:37:33,033
population that we're working with, and we want to make sure that we have a good return. But the survey would depend on

3094
04:37:34,300 --> 04:37:38,300
the data collection that happens during phase I and phase ii. I'm just looking at the budget.

3095
04:37:39,733 --> 04:37:43,500
it looks like there's a $50 reimbursement for the survey, which seems really high.

3096
04:37:46,500 --> 04:37:50,033
I've done surveys before. Actually, we're working on one with utsa, but it's typically

3097
04:37:51,200 --> 04:37:53,800
like $5 or $10. So I didn't know if the survey is extensive and multi-hour or

3098
04:37:56,267 --> 04:37:59,200
what's driving the high price point. No, but I mean, we value

3099
04:38:01,567 --> 04:38:05,433
people's participation. We want to make sure that incentives match that. But no, we don't have the

3100
04:38:06,333 --> 04:38:09,500
survey created yet. Like I said, it's an iterative process that will be developed as we go through phases one and

3101
04:38:10,633 --> 04:38:13,100
phase two. Okay. I would just caution

3102
04:38:16,033 --> 04:38:20,033
against that kind of reimbursement because you may see the wrong people participate just out of desire for the reimbursement rather

3103
04:38:21,133 --> 04:38:24,667
than necessarily caring about the issue. It wouldn't be just a blanket

3104
04:38:26,133 --> 04:38:29,667
call for participation. These would be people who we've identified as having had

3105
04:38:31,467 --> 04:38:34,500
endured some level of family or domestic violence. So, I mean,

3106
04:38:36,500 --> 04:38:39,600
there's already going to be selection bias in that they've had that experience,

3107
04:38:40,733 --> 04:38:44,067
but it wouldn't be just an open call to the public to say, would you like to participate in this?

3108
04:38:45,133 --> 04:38:48,967
these would be recruited from our partner organizations. And you said this was arpa funds that have been...

3109
04:38:50,133 --> 04:38:50,133
reallocated,

3110
04:38:55,600 --> 04:38:57,267
but they originally came from arpa, correct?

3111
04:39:08,833 --> 04:39:11,033
no further questions. Any other questions or comments?

3112
04:39:14,767 --> 04:39:18,133
is there a motion? You had a motion. All right. Is there a motion and a second?

3113
04:39:19,367 --> 04:39:23,100
all right. All those in favor signify by saying aye. Aye. Any opposed? Any abstentions? Motion carries.

3114
04:39:23,933 --> 04:39:27,133
all right. Thank you. Agenda item 48, presentation,

3115
04:39:29,167 --> 04:39:31,400
discussion, appropriate action regarding fy26-27, fy30-31,

3116
04:39:34,500 --> 04:39:37,533
long-range financial forecast for the general fund and the debt service fund.

3117
04:39:38,867 --> 04:39:42,467
ms. Gaetan. Thank you, judge. Good afternoon.

3118
04:39:43,033 --> 04:39:45,933
my name is tanya gaetan, budget and finance director. Today I'll be presenting an update for the court on our

3119
04:39:47,167 --> 04:39:50,500
long-range financial forecast specifically for our general fund.

3120
04:39:51,933 --> 04:39:55,700
as you may know, we are in the process for the next... Fiscal year.

3121
04:39:56,933 --> 04:40:00,167
offices and departments are currently developing their requests for next year which

3122
04:40:01,633 --> 04:40:04,367
will be due next week and so what we wanted to do today is to present the financial

3123
04:40:05,933 --> 04:40:08,767
stability of the general fund using our long-range financial forecast to give you an update

3124
04:40:10,067 --> 04:40:13,633
and some information that we received from the bear appraisal district

3125
04:40:14,633 --> 04:40:15,600
on first preliminary reports. Today we're not asking

3126
04:40:19,367 --> 04:40:22,800
for any action, this is just simply information for the court and for offices and departments as well as for the public.

3127
04:40:23,767 --> 04:40:25,900
so as I mentioned on property taxes, we normally receive our first appraisal

3128
04:40:29,733 --> 04:40:31,833
report at the end of april, which we received yesterday,

3129
04:40:34,400 --> 04:40:38,400
and then we'll receive our final report in july from the appraisal district. The budget office did receive

3130
04:40:40,033 --> 04:40:43,967
it. And below is the information that we received from them. So as you can see here, one

3131
04:40:45,200 --> 04:40:48,767
of the first things that I want to point out is all of these, all this data that you're showing in the table are

3132
04:40:50,067 --> 04:40:53,367
from all of the april reports, so it's the same time frame as

3133
04:40:54,967 --> 04:40:57,833
previous years as the one that we received this week. As you can see, past years,

3134
04:40:59,333 --> 04:41:03,000
starting in the first report, we had a growth of about 14% all the way down

3135
04:41:04,333 --> 04:41:06,167
to 5%. And this year we're actually

3136
04:41:09,033 --> 04:41:11,767
starting much lower than previous years at just under 1%.

3137
04:41:13,300 --> 04:41:16,533
and I would like to point out that we still do not know the outcome of protests and how

3138
04:41:17,833 --> 04:41:20,800
many people will apply for protests, so that's still an unknown.

3139
04:41:21,967 --> 04:41:24,833
so tanya, let me jump in here real quick. So just to reset, what we're

3140
04:41:26,267 --> 04:41:30,233
doing here is giving you a quick snapshot look ahead, much earlier than we've normally

3141
04:41:31,767 --> 04:41:35,067
done this for previous budget processes. And I want to thank the budget

3142
04:41:36,533 --> 04:41:36,533
office staff because we just

3143
04:41:40,800 --> 04:41:40,800
yesterday received the first

3144
04:41:45,300 --> 04:41:48,500
report from the appraisal district on

3145
04:41:51,133 --> 04:41:52,900
next budget's appraised property value.

3146
04:41:55,533 --> 04:41:58,333
that was yesterday. Now we've been, we had a heads

3147
04:42:00,300 --> 04:42:01,867
up last year that property values were not increasing as

3148
04:42:05,067 --> 04:42:08,633
fast as they had been historically. So we were sort of primed

3149
04:42:10,900 --> 04:42:12,900
to be ready in case this happened, but if we could pull up that slide

3150
04:42:15,100 --> 04:42:18,267
again, what tanya's slide is showing you is that our year-over-year growth

3151
04:42:21,767 --> 04:42:24,833
in property assessed values, including new construction,

3152
04:42:26,533 --> 04:42:29,800
has declined in a period of a few years from double-digit growth

3153
04:42:31,567 --> 04:42:34,533
to barely any growth at all. The last time we have seen

3154
04:42:38,400 --> 04:42:40,267
numbers this low, I don't think, judge sakai, you were in the county, but you weren't

3155
04:42:45,033 --> 04:42:48,133
on commissioner's court. I was here, it was right after the financial crash of

3156
04:42:50,900 --> 04:42:54,867
2008. We are looking at that level of property tax decline slash no

3157
04:42:59,700 --> 04:42:59,700
growth.

3158
04:43:04,533 --> 04:43:06,700
which is highly unusual. Had it not been for the $6.6

3159
04:43:08,967 --> 04:43:09,967
billion in new construction, you'd be looking

3160
04:43:14,133 --> 04:43:17,300
at a decline overall of several percent, or at least 1%.

3161
04:43:18,733 --> 04:43:21,200
but as tanya pointed out, the appraisal district doesn't even

3162
04:43:22,900 --> 04:43:25,767
yet know how much of this value will be protested. Those losses won't be known

3163
04:43:26,933 --> 04:43:26,933
in full until july.

3164
04:43:31,433 --> 04:43:34,633
if they run anywhere like they have historically run,

3165
04:43:36,500 --> 04:43:37,533
you could be looking at something

3166
04:43:40,800 --> 04:43:44,667
in the neighborhood of $6 billion, maybe more, of loss to protests. If that happens,

3167
04:43:46,467 --> 04:43:49,300
essentially you're looking at a decline in overall assessed values, which we didn't even, I would

3168
04:43:50,767 --> 04:43:53,600
say would be greater than what we saw after the housing crash.

3169
04:43:55,433 --> 04:43:57,467
so this is not normal. This is a very different budget environment we're about

3170
04:43:59,667 --> 04:44:03,333
to walk in, and it's going to require very different measures to stabilize the budget,

3171
04:44:05,267 --> 04:44:07,900
which tanya will get into. But again, thanks to tina, tanya, and the budget team

3172
04:44:09,867 --> 04:44:13,633
for being able to get this to you as early as we have. So we've got as much time as possible as accounting to try

3173
04:44:14,833 --> 04:44:18,100
and make sure that we can mitigate any potential negative impact. Thanks.

3174
04:44:33,067 --> 04:44:35,467
so david, is this as a result of the new appraisal elected board? I can't pinpoint it to any one thing. Like I said, a number

3175
04:44:37,500 --> 04:44:39,733
of things have changed. We had a board that's largely elected now.

3176
04:44:42,100 --> 04:44:42,100
I really don't know if that's

3177
04:44:46,200 --> 04:44:49,700
changed the pattern of protest and any of that. We've seen a decline in...

3178
04:44:55,700 --> 04:44:57,700
we've seen an increase, I believe, in the amount

3179
04:45:02,367 --> 04:45:05,633
of protests and the success of those protests over years.

3180
04:45:07,767 --> 04:45:11,333
and, oh, that's right, and as tanya will get into the legislature.

3181
04:45:13,267 --> 04:45:17,233
in the last session, passed some new business related exemptions that are impacting this upcoming year.

3182
04:45:18,500 --> 04:45:21,667
and finally, I'll just point out that data both locally and nationally suggests a pretty

3183
04:45:26,367 --> 04:45:30,333
dramatic slowdown in new housing construction sales that is probably impacting us as

3184
04:45:35,100 --> 04:45:38,500
well. I can tell you just anecdotally

3185
04:45:39,967 --> 04:45:43,133
from driving through areas where you ought, I can see many new subdivisions

3186
04:45:44,833 --> 04:45:48,500
that have been platted, bulldozed, gotten ready, and the rate

3187
04:45:51,300 --> 04:45:53,067
of new houses going into those subdivisions is surprisingly

3188
04:45:55,600 --> 04:45:59,133
slow. But that's just anecdotal on my part.

3189
04:46:07,733 --> 04:46:11,233
moving on to the impacts, as the county manager mentioned, one factor is the result

3190
04:46:12,133 --> 04:46:14,400
of lower property values in addition to $9 billion in additional exemptions compared

3191
04:46:16,467 --> 04:46:18,167
to last year. This includes new exemptions that were approved

3192
04:46:20,733 --> 04:46:23,200
by the legislative board, and the number of properties with those exemptions increased

3193
04:46:24,800 --> 04:46:28,567
by 50,000 properties compared to last year. This april, again,

3194
04:46:31,233 --> 04:46:34,300
does not include protests. And as the county manager mentioned, in the last couple of years,

3195
04:46:35,300 --> 04:46:38,167
protests have increased. As an example, last year, $97 billion was protested initially

3196
04:46:39,800 --> 04:46:43,567
in may, which is the due date for protests. And over the last two years,

3197
04:46:44,900 --> 04:46:48,633
the county has lost about $6 to $7 billion in those protests by the final report in july.

3198
04:46:49,867 --> 04:46:50,833
so we are making the same assumption of that loss.

3199
04:46:54,333 --> 04:46:57,667
it could be more, it could be less for this upcoming budget process.

3200
04:46:59,133 --> 04:47:01,067
so how does that impact our revenue?

3201
04:47:04,833 --> 04:47:08,800
so last proposed budget when we presented our long-range financial forecast

3202
04:47:10,467 --> 04:47:13,233
to the court and to the public, we had a growth of 2.7% to 3.4%

3203
04:47:14,733 --> 04:47:14,733
on our five-year forecast,

3204
04:47:18,767 --> 04:47:22,200
which was through 2030 at the time. Since we received this new information,

3205
04:47:23,067 --> 04:47:25,567
we are now assuming with a $6 billion loss based on the april report, we are assuming

3206
04:47:28,167 --> 04:47:31,433
that we will actually lose just under 2% in property values, which equates to the revenue

3207
04:47:33,333 --> 04:47:36,467
in the general fund. And as you're aware, the general fund, about 80%

3208
04:47:37,467 --> 04:47:39,433
of that is carried by property taxes. We then updated very modestly

3209
04:47:42,133 --> 04:47:45,067
for the rest of the forecast to flat revenue, 1%, and then 2% thereafter.

3210
04:47:48,033 --> 04:47:50,333
real quick, just if you can go back.

3211
04:47:53,800 --> 04:47:56,933
that negative 1.7, if that ends up happening, will exceed what

3212
04:47:58,467 --> 04:48:01,800
we actually experienced in our worst year

3213
04:48:04,933 --> 04:48:08,833
after the housing crash by quite a bit. This would be the worst year for property tax revenue that

3214
04:48:09,900 --> 04:48:11,600
we've seen, certainly since I've seen,

3215
04:48:14,067 --> 04:48:14,067
and that's going on 30 budgets.

3216
04:48:22,467 --> 04:48:26,000
as I mentioned when we presented the long-range finance... Financial forecast, we were projecting that by fiscal year 2029 that we

3217
04:48:27,000 --> 04:48:29,400
would be in a deficit of about $28 million in the general fund.

3218
04:48:32,800 --> 04:48:36,767
now with those updated percentages and growth percentages for the long-range

3219
04:48:37,867 --> 04:48:41,533
financial forecast, we are projecting in the same year to be increased by $245

3220
04:48:42,900 --> 04:48:44,100
million. So this is significantly

3221
04:48:47,333 --> 04:48:50,800
higher. This is based off our second quarter estimates, as well as, like I mentioned,

3222
04:48:51,933 --> 04:48:54,067
our new growth projections. So as david mentioned, initially when we had the

3223
04:48:58,067 --> 04:49:01,900
housing crisis, we had to do some pretty quick mitigation actions during that time. And here are some of the

3224
04:49:03,467 --> 04:49:06,333
actions that the court took at the time, which includes no cost

3225
04:49:08,500 --> 04:49:11,667
of living adjustments, freezing vacant civilian positions. No new program changes or

3226
04:49:13,267 --> 04:49:15,833
capital projects. As you know, the tax rate also impacts our debt forecasts and

3227
04:49:17,933 --> 04:49:20,500
also adjusting our health insurance plans for employees.

3228
04:49:22,433 --> 04:49:25,633
so these are just some ideas. Again, we're not asking for any action, but these are

3229
04:49:26,467 --> 04:49:30,467
the things that we'll be looking at for the upcoming process for fiscal year 27. So again, this will not be a

3230
04:49:35,000 --> 04:49:38,167
normal budget process. The last couple of years have been...

3231
04:49:40,533 --> 04:49:44,133
pretty significant growth based off of our property taxes. So we were able to grow new programs, program

3232
04:49:45,433 --> 04:49:49,300
changes, offer cost of living adjustments to employees.

3233
04:49:50,833 --> 04:49:53,533
but this year, we will be looking at scaling that back.

3234
04:49:54,867 --> 04:49:58,500
mitigation is absolutely necessary this year. Again, we're okay over the next two years,

3235
04:49:59,400 --> 04:50:01,933
but what we're trying to prevent is actual cuts to existing programs

3236
04:50:04,100 --> 04:50:07,467
by fiscal year 29. So we want to recommend to do mitigation actions right now.

3237
04:50:08,533 --> 04:50:12,133
the budget office will continue to monitor we receive those appraisal reports.

3238
04:50:13,867 --> 04:50:16,733
on a monthly basis at the end of each month. It's typically the last friday

3239
04:50:18,233 --> 04:50:21,333
of each month. And so we'll continue to update the court as we receive those reports to see how our

3240
04:50:22,567 --> 04:50:25,033
projections are being impacted by those. And if you have any questions,

3241
04:50:27,833 --> 04:50:31,700
I'm available for you. I'm sorry, just one other thing

3242
04:50:34,967 --> 04:50:38,433
I wanted to point out. By taking quick action in prior, in a few, we've had a few tough...

3243
04:50:39,900 --> 04:50:43,000
budget years over the past few decades.

3244
04:50:44,467 --> 04:50:48,200
I mean, covid itself wasn't a great event for property taxes either.

3245
04:50:51,333 --> 04:50:54,300
and then post 9-11, there was some decline in property,

3246
04:50:55,400 --> 04:50:56,900
ad valorem growth as well. But by taking quick action

3247
04:51:00,100 --> 04:51:02,667
in the past, we've been able to avoid more drastic steps such as forced reductions

3248
04:51:06,667 --> 04:51:10,300
in force, I.e. Across the board. Percentage staffing cut.

3249
04:51:11,967 --> 04:51:14,733
we've never had to do that yet. But if these forecast numbers

3250
04:51:16,933 --> 04:51:20,433
hold without any other mitigation, I can't predict what menu

3251
04:51:22,767 --> 04:51:24,800
of actions would be needed. Part of what we'll have to do

3252
04:51:29,167 --> 04:51:30,933
in the upcoming intervening couple of months is come

3253
04:51:33,300 --> 04:51:36,100
to you with assessment of, okay, how much would we save by freezing vacancies?

3254
04:51:38,100 --> 04:51:40,367
how much would we save by not having a cost

3255
04:51:42,233 --> 04:51:46,000
of living adjustment? So you can begin to see the order of magnitude

3256
04:51:47,000 --> 04:51:51,000
of those kind of steps. But we just wanted to get in front of you and the rest of the county and let you know

3257
04:51:51,833 --> 04:51:53,300
right now this will not be a steady-as-she-goes kind

3258
04:51:56,167 --> 04:51:59,567
of budget this upcoming year. Tanya, if we go back to slide

3259
04:52:00,533 --> 04:52:00,533
07, just help me understand the

3260
04:52:04,800 --> 04:52:08,000
funds available. I'm thinking about... You know,

3261
04:52:10,100 --> 04:52:13,667
we're depleting any kind of reserves for a period

3262
04:52:14,900 --> 04:52:18,833
of time. You know, unless we believe that long-term appraisals are going to continue negative,

3263
04:52:21,400 --> 04:52:24,233
why does the line continue down, I guess, the orange line, funds available?

3264
04:52:25,767 --> 04:52:29,567
so that's due to expenses. So as david mentioned, if we continue at the rate of growth and continue our

3265
04:52:31,133 --> 04:52:34,767
recurring costs, our revenues are below our funds available.

3266
04:52:36,733 --> 04:52:40,567
so we are, like you said, are depleting our carry forward balance each year.

3267
04:52:41,900 --> 04:52:44,100
so a couple of things happen, commissioner.

3268
04:52:46,967 --> 04:52:48,100
when we do a forecast, we typically don't assume a

3269
04:52:51,233 --> 04:52:53,633
cola, but we know you're going to do it, but we don't

3270
04:52:55,633 --> 04:52:58,300
necessarily assume that. But there are certain costs that are just built in,

3271
04:52:59,733 --> 04:53:03,300
and you can cut them, but we don't assume you've done that, you haven't given us direction.

3272
04:53:04,933 --> 04:53:08,400
so if I'll make something up. If the cost of gasoline has been going up

3273
04:53:09,967 --> 04:53:12,933
over the past five years by 2% a year, we would often

3274
04:53:15,133 --> 04:53:16,400
assume it continues to go up by 2%.

3275
04:53:19,333 --> 04:53:22,700
and so on our baselines, we'll use historical increases to guide our estimate

3276
04:53:26,367 --> 04:53:29,833
for the next five. But what this graph really shows is a couple of things.

3277
04:53:32,100 --> 04:53:35,167
this court has, in my opinion, wisely built up...

3278
04:53:37,167 --> 04:53:40,533
pretty significant operating reserve in the general fund over the past few years.

3279
04:53:42,300 --> 04:53:46,033
that is actually what's buying you that 12 to 24 months of cushion.

3280
04:53:48,467 --> 04:53:50,567
but if you make no changes, that cushion is gone.

3281
04:53:53,833 --> 04:53:54,733
and the real bottom line is this.

3282
04:53:59,167 --> 04:54:00,433
our recurring revenues and recurring expenditures are not

3283
04:54:03,367 --> 04:54:06,500
in balance. So we're spending... But because we've had this cushion,

3284
04:54:08,033 --> 04:54:11,567
that hasn't been a crisis. That hasn't been something that had to be addressed. And it was generally a small,

3285
04:54:12,567 --> 04:54:16,433
it was only out of balance by a small enough amount that that could easily be made up by a percent higher

3286
04:54:17,833 --> 04:54:17,833
in property tax.

3287
04:54:30,067 --> 04:54:32,967
unfortunately, that's not what's happening. So if you don't make corrections on the, there's

3288
04:54:34,133 --> 04:54:37,267
very little you can do other than raise taxes. To affect the revenue side.

3289
04:54:39,367 --> 04:54:41,200
we don't assume you're increasing the taxes

3290
04:54:43,467 --> 04:54:46,767
in this forecast. What you do control to some degree is the cost side.

3291
04:54:48,300 --> 04:54:51,700
but again, the forecast just looks at your five-year history.

3292
04:54:53,600 --> 04:54:56,567
yeah, I think I understand, right? The funds required incorporates

3293
04:54:58,900 --> 04:55:01,833
those continued increases in cost of doing business, cost to serve the county. I think a big question mark

3294
04:55:03,133 --> 04:55:03,133
that remains in there is,

3295
04:55:07,367 --> 04:55:09,400
again, which of these arpa programs, I mean,

3296
04:55:12,100 --> 04:55:14,933
hey, we were talking about this morning, all this stuff, services around mental

3297
04:55:17,367 --> 04:55:20,367
health that are going away. Which ones will be funded in the future and how will they be

3298
04:55:21,833 --> 04:55:25,267
funded, I think is a big question into the funds required line. But the funds available, I think in my mind, ultimately, there's the buffer that's being

3299
04:55:26,233 --> 04:55:30,167
whittled down, but then we can't continue to operate at a deficit, right?

3300
04:55:31,600 --> 04:55:33,767
so ultimately, that funds required would have to dramatically shift down or

3301
04:55:37,200 --> 04:55:40,200
the funds available would have to come down. So if you think

3302
04:55:41,833 --> 04:55:45,567
about your checking account, your home budget, it's really not that different. In scale and complexity,

3303
04:55:46,600 --> 04:55:50,600
but yeah, if you make $5,000 a month and you start the month of may with $1,000 in your checking account,

3304
04:55:51,733 --> 04:55:54,267
theoretically you could spend up to $6,000 in may and you'd still be okay.

3305
04:55:55,967 --> 04:55:58,533
the problem is you only take in $5,000 a month. So that means in june, if you

3306
04:56:01,700 --> 04:56:01,700
continue that pattern, you

3307
04:56:11,400 --> 04:56:13,367
start with zero in the bank, spend $6,000, now you're

3308
04:56:15,733 --> 04:56:18,367
in deficit of $5,000. With a lot more zeros,

3309
04:56:19,867 --> 04:56:23,167
that's sort of what we're seeing. And, you know,

3310
04:56:24,367 --> 04:56:28,267
this is why we talked a lot about legacy costs, and we also talked about overriding staff

3311
04:56:29,433 --> 04:56:32,933
recommendations when it came to cost of living last year and going

3312
04:56:33,967 --> 04:56:37,933
above and beyond because those are additive costs and they're cumulative, and they continue to add year after year

3313
04:56:39,033 --> 04:56:42,567
after year. So we need to be mindful of that, and I appreciate the presentation.

3314
04:56:43,467 --> 04:56:46,133
I think this is great information that needs to be digested and understood as we

3315
04:56:50,433 --> 04:56:52,833
kind of go forward with the budget process.

3316
04:56:55,700 --> 04:56:59,000
anything else? Commissioner calvert, you still with us? Okay.

3317
04:57:01,700 --> 04:57:03,367
thank you, tanya. Thank you.

3318
04:57:06,067 --> 04:57:08,667
all right. All good. Commissioner calvert?

3319
04:57:10,867 --> 04:57:14,100
good. We're good. Okay. Commissioner moody?

3320
04:57:15,433 --> 04:57:19,067
you've asked to put 51 up. That is set for executive. You're just asking that we bring it to the table.

3321
04:57:20,167 --> 04:57:23,967
is that all right? It has been approved for late file, so I'm taking up 51a.

3322
04:57:25,100 --> 04:57:28,767
discussion appropriate action related to direction of staff.

3323
04:57:29,400 --> 04:57:32,533
proceed with preliminary feasibility analysis regarding a potential target for the satellite office project

3324
04:57:33,700 --> 04:57:37,367
to include the evaluation of potential location, associated acquisition development costs to include renovation and necessary thank

3325
04:57:38,567 --> 04:57:41,933
you. Or advisable development consideration related to the target site located at

3326
04:57:43,000 --> 04:57:46,267
salado creek and loop 1604 west area. Commissioner moody. Yeah, and we're going to defer

3327
04:57:47,433 --> 04:57:50,067
to dan to present. He said, why should we have a presentation

3328
04:57:51,767 --> 04:57:55,133
in executive and open court? We'll just dive into it.

3329
04:57:56,100 --> 04:57:57,267
I'm going to let dan present here, but a couple things to

3330
04:58:01,967 --> 04:58:05,967
highlight here. A couple things to highlight, and it's not lost on me that we're just talking

3331
04:58:07,133 --> 04:58:10,100
about budget constraints, and now we're talking about potential real estate purchase.

3332
04:58:11,167 --> 04:58:14,867
I'm sorry, commissioner, just to interrupt you, but just a quick point of inquiry.

3333
04:58:18,067 --> 04:58:21,800
normally, we have these in executive session because it's a real estate,

3334
04:58:23,100 --> 04:58:26,267
potential real estate transaction, and we don't negotiate these things

3335
04:58:27,933 --> 04:58:31,333
publicly. So I just want to make sure we are doing the right thing here by discussing.

3336
04:58:32,933 --> 04:58:36,133
a potential real estate transaction in public. Can you opine on that,

3337
04:58:39,567 --> 04:58:39,567
larry?

3338
04:58:50,500 --> 04:58:54,367
sorry. You're correct, commissioner. Usually the order is reversed. We have the substantive discussions because obviously revealing the property and the

3339
04:58:55,267 --> 04:58:58,933
nature of the property causes some issues with downstream purchases. So we talk about the substantive issues

3340
04:58:59,967 --> 04:59:03,567
in the executive, and then we come out and the court will direct... Staff accordingly, but that's at the court's discretion.

3341
04:59:04,500 --> 04:59:08,467
yeah, I mean, point well taken, but I think this is important that we bring it into open court. The information is already out there anyway, publicly.

3342
04:59:09,300 --> 04:59:12,667
and we don't, I mean, it's really building agnostic, right? Well, not until you confirm it.

3343
04:59:13,567 --> 04:59:16,800
it's speculation. Well, it is. Okay. Anyway, the...

3344
04:59:17,767 --> 04:59:17,767
again, we don't have to get

3345
04:59:44,367 --> 04:59:45,700
into specifics of the building other than the square footage and ballpark pricing, right?

3346
04:59:49,633 --> 04:59:53,367
it's more around questions about policy and whether something

3347
04:59:55,233 --> 04:59:57,567
like this makes sense for the county. And that was kind

3348
04:59:59,400 --> 05:00:03,333
of just how I wanted to tee this up. I want to hear from dan. I want to hear from county staff

3349
05:00:04,700 --> 05:00:07,633
about whether this makes sense for the county and their opinion based on what I have seen. I think a strong argument can

3350
05:00:08,733 --> 05:00:11,667
be made that this makes sense over the mid to long term. County winning space.

3351
05:00:14,867 --> 05:00:16,467
we can be penny wise and pound foolish and we can obviously

3352
05:00:19,733 --> 05:00:23,633
not incur any additional cost today, but we also still have to continue to build

3353
05:00:25,200 --> 05:00:28,567
for the future and be mindful of that. So I have said all along, I don't think this is a precinct

3354
05:00:33,467 --> 05:00:35,867
three building. This has to make sense

3355
05:00:38,333 --> 05:00:41,267
for the county in terms of the functions. That would be there in terms

3356
05:00:43,833 --> 05:00:47,700
of the leases that would be able to be canceled and cost savings for the county.

3357
05:00:49,367 --> 05:00:52,033
additional revenue from other government entities that might go into the building because it

3358
05:00:53,533 --> 05:00:56,933
is twice the square footage of our current existing facility on inner park.

3359
05:00:59,767 --> 05:01:03,767
and I think that that's like an important piece here to note as we're looking for square footage and space

3360
05:01:05,667 --> 05:01:07,867
for county employees and for functions and

3361
05:01:09,733 --> 05:01:12,700
for new courts, right, judge? We've talked about that,

3362
05:01:13,800 --> 05:01:16,233
and no doubt, whether it's this year or next year,

3363
05:01:18,800 --> 05:01:22,567
there will be additional needs for court space as well. That being said, I'll let dan dive into it, run

3364
05:01:24,300 --> 05:01:27,633
through this, and then have a few questions, and I'd love to get feedback from the court.

3365
05:01:28,933 --> 05:01:31,733
so I'm happy to do whatever the court directs.

3366
05:01:33,733 --> 05:01:35,367
so again, we've prepared a presentation based on...

3367
05:01:46,833 --> 05:01:46,833
okay, let me, yeah, let me,

3368
05:01:52,600 --> 05:01:55,933
let me walk you through the presentation if I can remember. Yeah, we have it. You want mine?

3369
05:02:07,200 --> 05:02:09,800
so again, this, I apologize, this was intended for an executive session conversation, but...

3370
05:02:11,267 --> 05:02:14,367
dan, can you not identify the specific properties, just keep it general? Can I identify the specific

3371
05:02:16,867 --> 05:02:20,833
properties? Not identify the specific? Yeah, no, absolutely. Oh. Yeah, we'll keep it sanitized

3372
05:02:21,700 --> 05:02:24,867
at your request. So, I want to take a step back and just tell you,

3373
05:02:26,733 --> 05:02:30,167
from a global perspective, the county obviously has space constraints, right? So, it's not a mystery that

3374
05:02:31,333 --> 05:02:33,933
there's space needed for jail beds, as we heard today.

3375
05:02:35,867 --> 05:02:38,400
diversion strategies, courtrooms, office. District attorneys, offices,

3376
05:02:39,933 --> 05:02:43,633
prosecutors, all that stuff. So our focus right now is we have a certain amount

3377
05:02:45,100 --> 05:02:48,333
of square footage, about 4 million square feet, and we manage that, what we call,

3378
05:02:49,400 --> 05:02:52,733
to the highest and best use. That's probably something you've heard david say, and I've used it before.

3379
05:02:53,600 --> 05:02:56,833
what is the highest and best use of that space? Sometimes the best use of that space isn't necessarily

3380
05:02:57,933 --> 05:03:01,100
for an admin function, but maybe it's a court's function, or it's a court, you know, vice versa.

3381
05:03:02,067 --> 05:03:05,900
and what we want to try to do is leverage the existing footprints we have for that highest and best use.

3382
05:03:06,967 --> 05:03:09,767
so buildings that already have courts in them, let's add more courts to those

3383
05:03:11,100 --> 05:03:14,667
buildings because the security perimeter is already existing, the infrastructure is already

3384
05:03:15,633 --> 05:03:19,067
there, and it's the best use of your county space long term. Again, as a reminder, commissioner's court controls space assignment for all county

3385
05:03:21,000 --> 05:03:23,433
offices and departments, and we're just the instrument

3386
05:03:26,767 --> 05:03:30,633
to help you guys do that. So I want to talk about the interpark property project,

3387
05:03:31,600 --> 05:03:34,400
which is the current precinct 3 location for the jp and the constance.

3388
05:03:36,500 --> 05:03:40,233
that property was acquired in 2015 for a little under $3 million.

3389
05:03:42,100 --> 05:03:45,233
it was an old adp check processing facility, and we renovated that,

3390
05:03:47,367 --> 05:03:50,600
and it opened in june 2019 for about $5.86 million. So that was only

3391
05:03:51,767 --> 05:03:55,333
for the jp and the costco functions.

3392
05:03:57,833 --> 05:04:00,800
the building wasn't big enough to fit the tax office in it, which we did traditionally add

3393
05:04:02,033 --> 05:04:05,667
to our precinct satellite buildings, as in precinct 1 and precinct 4. And then planned obviously

3394
05:04:06,700 --> 05:04:09,667
for precinct two. In 2023, we did a small community room renovation

3395
05:04:10,867 --> 05:04:13,433
project for the commissioner at the time, which was before commissioner moody.

3396
05:04:15,833 --> 05:04:18,533
we presented an option a few budget cycles ago to collapse a lease at the

3397
05:04:20,567 --> 05:04:23,500
nacogdoches facility for the tax officer collector and move that function, the tax assessor

3398
05:04:26,433 --> 05:04:30,067
collector function to interpark to consolidate that

3399
05:04:33,433 --> 05:04:36,833
into a... What we call a full precinct 3 satellite facility.

3400
05:04:38,600 --> 05:04:41,733
so all of those functions that exist at precinct 1, precinct 04, eventually precinct 2, would

3401
05:04:42,967 --> 05:04:46,467
be consistent. After we did the initial design

3402
05:04:47,633 --> 05:04:49,733
layout of the addition, there's some constraints that existed.

3403
05:04:52,467 --> 05:04:55,933
parking being number one. The tax assessor collector drives a large amount

3404
05:04:57,900 --> 05:05:01,033
of people to his lobby and to his function, and that would conflict directly

3405
05:05:02,467 --> 05:05:05,667
with the jp's operation. And so rightly so, they brought up some concerns saying, hey, we...

3406
05:05:06,767 --> 05:05:10,733
we were concerned about the capacity issue with the current site of interpark.

3407
05:05:11,933 --> 05:05:14,733
so we had some alternates developed. Do we lease additional parking

3408
05:05:16,433 --> 05:05:19,433
capacity, maybe from the neighboring church or commercial property?

3409
05:05:20,933 --> 05:05:24,500
we could expand the interpark physical footprint by acquiring land adjacent

3410
05:05:26,333 --> 05:05:30,300
to it. Or we could relocate the entire precinct 3 function to a different site where it can

3411
05:05:32,567 --> 05:05:35,367
accommodate all of those functions together. So as far as the expanding

3412
05:05:37,333 --> 05:05:40,267
interpark option, let me step back.

3413
05:05:41,633 --> 05:05:45,633
leasing parking spaces from a private entity, whether it be a church or commercial property,

3414
05:05:46,733 --> 05:05:50,100
is not my recommendation to you guys because those have numerous pitfalls. We like to be in control

3415
05:05:51,767 --> 05:05:55,733
of our own fates and relying on a separate business entry and a contract that was written by a previous court is not always a

3416
05:05:56,933 --> 05:05:59,533
sustainable model. Expanding interpark site, there are two adjacent parcels that

3417
05:06:00,967 --> 05:06:03,967
are vacant at this point next to the current site that the county that was at

3418
05:06:06,000 --> 05:06:09,767
interpark. One is both of them have been contacted.

3419
05:06:11,600 --> 05:06:14,900
both do not appear to be open to acquisition at this time.

3420
05:06:18,433 --> 05:06:18,433
but if we were

3421
05:06:22,767 --> 05:06:22,767
to do that project, we would

3422
05:06:28,033 --> 05:06:31,033
acquire that property and potentially build a stand-alone tax office on that site or

3423
05:06:32,433 --> 05:06:34,833
create enough parking to accommodate the full needs. So we looked

3424
05:06:36,667 --> 05:06:39,567
at the relocation option with the help

3425
05:06:40,933 --> 05:06:44,800
of the commissioner. Some real estate experts, county, other county staff, and we looked at,

3426
05:06:46,500 --> 05:06:50,500
originally if we would just look by property out in what we call the geographic center of precinct 3, which is along

3427
05:06:53,533 --> 05:06:56,333
1604, it would be fiscally unreasonable for me to suggest to you to buy a property for a

3428
05:06:58,100 --> 05:07:02,033
million dollars an acre and then build another $20 million facility on top of it.

3429
05:07:03,500 --> 05:07:06,733
yeah, when we talked about that, what, it was going to be $30 million plus?

3430
05:07:08,567 --> 05:07:12,133
around there, I mean, again, these are rough order and magnitude numbers.

3431
05:07:13,667 --> 05:07:17,300
I mean, we haven't dialed in any of these, but it would be particularly based on the

3432
05:07:21,200 --> 05:07:24,900
conversation we just had, not a wise step for as far as a facility solution.

3433
05:07:27,100 --> 05:07:30,233
so then we started to look at existing properties in that corridor, and there is

3434
05:07:31,533 --> 05:07:34,533
an existing property. It is a large property. It's three stories, 55,000

3435
05:07:35,900 --> 05:07:38,600
square feet, and it is in that. Location where it could fit the

3436
05:07:39,933 --> 05:07:42,567
geographic center of the precinct 3 area. And so we compared two

3437
05:07:43,967 --> 05:07:46,567
projects. Staying at interpark, acquiring property and finishing the

3438
05:07:48,300 --> 05:07:51,267
original intent of that project, creating a tax office addition,

3439
05:07:52,533 --> 05:07:55,800
or relocating the entire function to that alternate site.

3440
05:07:57,100 --> 05:08:00,167
so if we look at just the interpark expansion, we know that we're going

3441
05:08:01,300 --> 05:08:05,133
to have to more than likely condemn one of those properties to acquire it.

3442
05:08:06,400 --> 05:08:08,967
those properties can be between $1.5 to $2 million each. And then the construction

3443
05:08:10,933 --> 05:08:14,500
of that tax office could be up to $7 million. So again, that could be a $9

3444
05:08:16,600 --> 05:08:20,367
million project to complete what the original intent of the addition was. The future relocation option,

3445
05:08:24,033 --> 05:08:26,533
again, at this point, we're only asking the court to consider acquisition

3446
05:08:28,233 --> 05:08:30,600
of the building, future use of the building, who goes there, who goes where,

3447
05:08:33,800 --> 05:08:37,333
assignment of spaces and leases. That's really up to the court. Court and I'm not trying to

3448
05:08:38,400 --> 05:08:42,300
recommend anybody be slotted anywhere because it's way too soon for that conversation. The space is more than a

3449
05:08:43,467 --> 05:08:43,467
typical precinct building has.

3450
05:08:48,633 --> 05:08:51,967
those precinct buildings are around 30 to 35 thousand square feet and so there would be additional capacity

3451
05:08:53,233 --> 05:08:56,733
in that building for future county functions. Whatever the court decides those functions are whether

3452
05:08:57,967 --> 05:09:01,433
it's collapsing an existing lease, moving another department, moving somebody out of downtown to make way for

3453
05:09:02,333 --> 05:09:04,967
court functions or those other spaces. And at this point, I believe,

3454
05:09:06,567 --> 05:09:10,467
without getting into too many details, but there are existing money that

3455
05:09:11,367 --> 05:09:15,133
exists within the capital project for the tax office addition,

3456
05:09:16,033 --> 05:09:18,067
originally in interpark. I think commissioner moody's

3457
05:09:21,767 --> 05:09:21,767
identified additional funds

3458
05:09:26,133 --> 05:09:26,700
from precinct 3 capital projects that could go towards

3459
05:09:36,433 --> 05:09:40,067
potential acquisition of a building. And then we would, again, if we were given direction by the court, do our due

3460
05:09:40,767 --> 05:09:42,433
diligence and then bring those discussions back to the court

3461
05:09:50,600 --> 05:09:53,933
on specifically. What a fair sales price would be if we want to do an official

3462
05:09:57,133 --> 05:09:58,900
appraisal and those kind of discussions.

3463
05:10:01,400 --> 05:10:05,000
but I'm trying to be vague at the direction of council without going too detailed.

3464
05:10:05,433 --> 05:10:09,033
but we know just to summarize, we know that there are functions in the county that requesting space. A lot of those are around courts, district attorney, elections of purchasing,

3465
05:10:10,200 --> 05:10:13,567
all those other functions. So we know that there's a need for space and we're gonna try to help. You guys delivered as

3466
05:10:14,733 --> 05:10:18,200
economically as possible. I know I've said many, many times acquiring property is way

3467
05:10:19,800 --> 05:10:23,633
cheaper than building at this point. We have various purpose-built facilities we have to build from ground up because they don't have spare animal care

3468
05:10:24,667 --> 05:10:28,067
facilities on the market. So some of those things were just pigeonholed into actually delivering from ground up.

3469
05:10:29,067 --> 05:10:32,533
but this would be an opportunity to acquire something that's already constructed, fairly new, and then renovate it

3470
05:10:36,033 --> 05:10:38,467
in the future for accounting function. And as needed, right?

3471
05:10:41,933 --> 05:10:45,800
because as you said, with close to thank you. 55,000, 60,000 square feet,

3472
05:10:47,233 --> 05:10:50,767
you wouldn't need that for any of those functions today. You could leave a floor,

3473
05:10:52,367 --> 05:10:55,533
floor and a half as is potentially, right? So you could phase some

3474
05:10:57,433 --> 05:11:00,467
of those renovations in over time. A couple of quick questions.

3475
05:11:02,500 --> 05:11:05,633
david, I know you talk about debt and leases. What's your factor that you use

3476
05:11:07,700 --> 05:11:09,933
when we think about cost savings

3477
05:11:13,033 --> 05:11:15,767
on a lease? So if you want to, without doing research, just

3478
05:11:17,433 --> 05:11:19,867
try and calculate the net present value

3479
05:11:23,100 --> 05:11:24,700
of an annual lease over time, assuming no annual increases,

3480
05:11:27,967 --> 05:11:31,400
basically times 10. Okay. So, I mean,

3481
05:11:34,033 --> 05:11:37,533
the point I'm going with there is you start thinking about leases at

3482
05:11:38,633 --> 05:11:39,733
$200,000. There's multiple leases at $200,000.

3483
05:11:43,367 --> 05:11:46,367
got some other leases at $100,000. If you were to take two

3484
05:11:47,567 --> 05:11:50,067
of those at $200,000, $400,000 times 10, that's $4 million, right, in terms of what would

3485
05:11:53,433 --> 05:11:56,467
be considered debt savings, well, additional debt lease savings by canceling those leases.

3486
05:11:59,167 --> 05:12:01,900
so the leases would pay the debt service

3487
05:12:03,900 --> 05:12:06,433
on the debt you would have to issue is how I would bring it.

3488
05:12:08,133 --> 05:12:08,133
yeah, just opposite because

3489
05:12:12,900 --> 05:12:16,033
we're no longer paying the leases. No, I'm saying the money you're

3490
05:12:17,333 --> 05:12:19,700
not paying in lease would now be shifted to pay the debt service.

3491
05:12:21,433 --> 05:12:24,133
on up to $4 million in that case, right? So I'm going to put you on the spot, dan.

3492
05:12:25,567 --> 05:12:29,300
I mean, we talked about this, and I highlighted this up front for my colleagues. I only want to,

3493
05:12:34,500 --> 05:12:38,067
like... Press forward with this if

3494
05:12:42,233 --> 05:12:45,367
there's alignment that this makes sense for the county in terms of buying additional

3495
05:12:46,933 --> 05:12:49,067
square footage real estate with the cost savings and everything else.

3496
05:12:52,967 --> 05:12:56,333
yes, I think it makes sense geographically for precinct 03, but, you know, it's got

3497
05:12:57,433 --> 05:13:01,167
to make sense for the county.

3498
05:13:02,000 --> 05:13:04,667
so your thoughts on this, and my follow-up question is going to be on our other options,

3499
05:13:06,300 --> 05:13:09,433
because the other options aren't great. Sure.

3500
05:13:10,900 --> 05:13:14,733
yeah, so you know they say in real estate, location, this is an excellent location as far

3501
05:13:16,067 --> 05:13:17,800
as visibility and traffic counts to provide services

3502
05:13:20,533 --> 05:13:23,467
to the constituents of bexar county. Above all things, it is a much

3503
05:13:24,733 --> 05:13:28,100
better location than the current location. It is a newer building as far as new construction that comes with, as we know,

3504
05:13:29,933 --> 05:13:33,067
we had a jail discussion, newer things break less than older things. Not that interpark is an older

3505
05:13:34,200 --> 05:13:37,533
building. But those are factors definitely involved

3506
05:13:39,500 --> 05:13:43,333
in that conversation. So, again, there's really three options here.

3507
05:13:46,200 --> 05:13:49,900
there's continue forward. I mean, listen, let's take making an action

3508
05:13:52,567 --> 05:13:53,900
to go forward and purchase off the table, right?

3509
05:13:57,467 --> 05:14:00,833
we can either go forward with additional due diligence today, and this is option one with a new location.

3510
05:14:02,000 --> 05:14:02,000
option two, try to do what

3511
05:14:06,067 --> 05:14:09,967
every other precinct is doing and consolidate services at interpark, and that requires

3512
05:14:12,367 --> 05:14:15,633
condemnation, additional land acquisition, and construction costs that are going

3513
05:14:19,000 --> 05:14:21,933
to come close to equaling the cost

3514
05:14:23,600 --> 05:14:27,433
of purchasing a new building, and we're still going to be stuck with 30,000 square

3515
05:14:28,967 --> 05:14:31,367
feet, not 55,000 square feet. Yes, that's correct. Or do nothing.

3516
05:14:33,200 --> 05:14:36,867
and we do not consolidate, unlike the other precincts, and we also maintain certain

3517
05:14:38,867 --> 05:14:42,700
problematic leases out there that are going to continue

3518
05:14:44,867 --> 05:14:48,800
to hit our general fund year after year. So thoughts on the other

3519
05:14:50,333 --> 05:14:53,033
options? Well, listen, you're putting me on the spot here.

3520
05:14:56,300 --> 05:14:59,067
I told you, I warned you. Yeah, but again. Judge, the motion today, the

3521
05:15:02,400 --> 05:15:04,500
only motion today is whether the staff moves forward with

3522
05:15:08,467 --> 05:15:12,100
the preliminary feasibility study. Those other options aren't part

3523
05:15:13,567 --> 05:15:16,667
of this caption. Well, clearly, larry, this is exactly what we're talking

3524
05:15:19,433 --> 05:15:23,167
about. If we're going to go forward with one, then we're not going to go forward with the other two.

3525
05:15:23,733 --> 05:15:27,033
if we're not going to go forward with a new location purchase, then we're going to have

3526
05:15:29,067 --> 05:15:32,433
to go forward with the existing status quo. That's not what the court's voting on here.

3527
05:15:33,700 --> 05:15:37,667
the only thing it's doing is a feasibility study. That's the only issue that the

3528
05:15:38,700 --> 05:15:41,967
court's voting on. It's clearly related. Well, that may be. That's not what the court's

3529
05:15:43,733 --> 05:15:47,433
voting on. This is part of a discussion about an item that's

3530
05:15:48,233 --> 05:15:51,567
on the court agenda. You set up a motion where the court had to decide between three issues, and that's not what the court's

3531
05:15:52,600 --> 05:15:54,733
considering. I'm just making that clear. Well, I completely disagree

3532
05:15:56,800 --> 05:15:56,800
with that take because how can

3533
05:16:02,133 --> 05:16:05,000
you make a decision about one option that's on the agenda if you're not looking at

3534
05:16:06,933 --> 05:16:08,767
the other options facing the county?

3535
05:16:10,967 --> 05:16:13,900
may I comment? It's not about disagreement. It's about...

3536
05:16:15,133 --> 05:16:18,133
state of texas laws, and this is what we posted. So this doesn't, you know,

3537
05:16:20,533 --> 05:16:22,800
talking about consolidating other county resources,

3538
05:16:24,967 --> 05:16:26,300
doesn't help my constituents. It's too far away.

3539
05:16:29,400 --> 05:16:32,933
the budget team just put this presentation together, and it says no new capital projects.

3540
05:16:34,567 --> 05:16:36,967
so that's enough for me. I cannot support this. It doesn't make sense

3541
05:16:38,867 --> 05:16:40,900
for the county. Especially with our financial

3542
05:16:43,800 --> 05:16:45,933
situation right now? Well, judge, I'm just

3543
05:16:48,567 --> 05:16:52,033
clarifying what's on the agenda, what's in the caption, and what's subject

3544
05:16:53,033 --> 05:16:56,867
to open meetings, and it is whether the court votes to move forward with a

3545
05:16:58,267 --> 05:17:01,833
preliminary feasibility analysis of this location, not the other issues. So I just want

3546
05:17:03,167 --> 05:17:05,867
to make sure that that's clear to the court.

3547
05:17:07,500 --> 05:17:10,700
they're not voting on what to do after this item. Commissioner, I just had a quick question.

3548
05:17:14,000 --> 05:17:16,500
judge, okay, so I believe the numbers are that you have

3549
05:17:18,700 --> 05:17:21,433
about $13 million that you've identified could be utilized

3550
05:17:26,200 --> 05:17:28,233
for the acquisition. Is that in my numbers right?

3551
05:17:31,000 --> 05:17:32,667
yeah, it's around $12 million, yes.

3552
05:17:35,500 --> 05:17:39,400
okay, so yeah, you have about $3 million from the lease. Allocation

3553
05:17:42,000 --> 05:17:43,700
to the debt service and $9 million from interpark,

3554
05:17:47,167 --> 05:17:47,167
basically.

3555
05:17:51,733 --> 05:17:54,633
is that right? I believe it's $4.8 from the existing capital project. And then commissioner moody has

3556
05:17:56,433 --> 05:18:00,067
identified the supplemental funding to get to the... Again, the purchase price is

3557
05:18:01,467 --> 05:18:03,767
undetermined. We put an estimate together, what we think the fair market

3558
05:18:05,733 --> 05:18:09,533
value of that property is. But again, nothing's decided until we're allowed

3559
05:18:10,467 --> 05:18:13,100
to have those official talks with the property owner. Okay.

3560
05:18:14,800 --> 05:18:16,500
so, you know, from my perspective, if a commissioner

3561
05:18:18,967 --> 05:18:22,167
finds savings and reappropriations from funds that were previously allocated,

3562
05:18:23,533 --> 05:18:25,767
the courts always try to work with the commissioner

3563
05:18:28,033 --> 05:18:31,967
in the interest of reciprocity. It's not necessarily even a new expenditure.

3564
05:18:33,567 --> 05:18:36,967
it's just a reappropriation of dollars. So, again, it's...

3565
05:18:39,100 --> 05:18:42,500
it's a do unto others kind of situation. We have other facilities that

3566
05:18:46,900 --> 05:18:50,100
have the services. This one doesn't have the jt.

3567
05:18:51,233 --> 05:18:54,333
we do seem to have, I mean, people from all over, you know, people from my precinct may

3568
05:18:58,767 --> 05:19:02,500
work around the area that this may be located.

3569
05:19:04,000 --> 05:19:06,233
it, you know, people migrate. So, you know,

3570
05:19:08,600 --> 05:19:12,233
I think having... The county and population centers for convenience,

3571
05:19:14,933 --> 05:19:17,933
no matter where they're at, is a good thing. I lean in favor, particularly

3572
05:19:19,133 --> 05:19:20,367
when the commissioner has gotten some numbers together

3573
05:19:27,567 --> 05:19:29,267
to try to make it work. So that's where I'm at, and

3574
05:19:33,133 --> 05:19:37,000
that's why I'm where I'm at. Well, I appreciate that, commissioner calvert. I have a question to counsel,

3575
05:19:40,200 --> 05:19:42,333
and then I have a question to dan as far as due diligence.

3576
05:19:45,167 --> 05:19:45,167
so the point of order is,

3577
05:19:51,667 --> 05:19:55,500
and I'm trying to make sure we comply with open meetings, is that the agenda item is phrased to

3578
05:19:56,700 --> 05:19:59,667
discuss the potential targets, which is the building that is

3579
05:20:01,267 --> 05:20:04,900
being looked at for possible purchase, correct?

3580
05:20:07,200 --> 05:20:09,333
well, the only decision is whether or not the court

3581
05:20:12,233 --> 05:20:15,067
decides to direct staff to proceed with a preliminary analysis. It is not... To direct consolidation

3582
05:20:16,600 --> 05:20:19,967
of anything, any other buildings or any

3583
05:20:21,200 --> 05:20:24,367
of the other matters. You're right, commissioner, you can have that discussion

3584
05:20:25,600 --> 05:20:28,200
related to this, but it's not setting up the court to decide those matters today. Okay.

3585
05:20:30,033 --> 05:20:33,433
I mean, maybe we're on the wrong page there. I just thought discussion was being cut off, and I don't know

3586
05:20:34,467 --> 05:20:37,867
how we can have a conversation about the item if we didn't. And I get it.

3587
05:20:39,100 --> 05:20:42,067
then as a question of due diligence, dan, this involves precinct 3 and other elected officials, which are

3588
05:20:46,400 --> 05:20:49,633
necessary stakeholders. One, justice of peace, constable, and then a

3589
05:20:52,300 --> 05:20:54,300
possibility of the tax assessor collector.

3590
05:20:56,833 --> 05:21:00,567
so do we have support from those electeds for commissioner dino or staff?

3591
05:21:05,033 --> 05:21:09,033
do they want to move to this possible? Because if they don't, I need

3592
05:21:10,700 --> 05:21:12,933
to know what position they take. So we have solicited feedback

3593
05:21:14,967 --> 05:21:18,233
from all of those individuals. We have sat

3594
05:21:19,833 --> 05:21:23,133
down a couple times, and dan has addressed some of the concerns in terms of

3595
05:21:24,967 --> 05:21:28,300
them. I think that if we go forward with just continued due

3596
05:21:33,167 --> 05:21:37,100
diligence, that will give us additional time to continue to explore any remaining concerns. And see if they can be

3597
05:21:39,467 --> 05:21:43,300
addressed and mitigated. I don't believe my question was answered, commissioner.

3598
05:21:46,667 --> 05:21:49,667
oh, I thought it was. Do the elected officials of the justice peace precinct

3599
05:21:51,400 --> 05:21:55,267
03, constable precinct 3, and the tax-assessor collector whose office may be part of this feasibility study, do they support this particular

3600
05:21:58,733 --> 05:21:58,733
project yet?

3601
05:22:02,867 --> 05:22:05,533
or we don't know? I realize you're, and I respect your agnostic.

3602
05:22:07,233 --> 05:22:10,467
I'm trying to be an agnostic judge, right, and I don't want to speak

3603
05:22:12,033 --> 05:22:15,533
for the commissioner, but nobody likes change. Everybody's fearful of, hey, I'm going to get boxed

3604
05:22:16,600 --> 05:22:20,067
into something that doesn't work for me or do those other kind of things.

3605
05:22:21,233 --> 05:22:25,233
we've got initial feedback from those elected officials, and we talked with commissioner moody

3606
05:22:26,633 --> 05:22:30,300
about those concerns. Some of them were very specific, like an egress door here or fire escape stairs

3607
05:22:31,533 --> 05:22:33,800
there that we believe architecturally we can solve. But there's a much larger

3608
05:22:36,000 --> 05:22:39,333
conversation that has to happen to ensure that the documents are comfortable once

3609
05:22:40,667 --> 05:22:43,400
we move in. So is it fair to say that they have yet to state an opinion

3610
05:22:45,767 --> 05:22:47,967
for or against? I'm not going to speak for an elected official.

3611
05:22:51,633 --> 05:22:55,200
obviously, they've expressed concerns to you. Okay. All right.

3612
05:22:59,100 --> 05:23:02,700
commissioner? Judge, if it helps, I think, judge, we're just looking at feasibility. This is not a purchase. It's

3613
05:23:03,867 --> 05:23:07,633
not a mandate of anybody moving. It's just further due diligence. Yeah, agreed. I think it's late in the day and we've covered this.

3614
05:23:08,767 --> 05:23:12,333
what I would like to do is just take the minor step forward to continue due diligence,

3615
05:23:17,467 --> 05:23:17,467
to continue

3616
05:23:23,333 --> 05:23:27,033
to see if we can gain alignment with likely tenants if the building were to be purchased. And, you know,

3617
05:23:29,433 --> 05:23:31,467
continue to sharpen our pencils

3618
05:23:34,067 --> 05:23:34,067
on what the financial impact to

3619
05:23:38,267 --> 05:23:42,000
the county would be and or any additional savings that could come with said purchase. I will move that as a motion

3620
05:23:43,367 --> 05:23:47,133
to continue due diligence on the prospective building. I'll second that. All right.

3621
05:23:50,000 --> 05:23:50,000
there's a motion and second.

3622
05:23:54,900 --> 05:23:57,767
can I ask for clarification? What is it adopting the

3623
05:24:01,633 --> 05:24:01,633
language

3624
05:24:05,967 --> 05:24:09,867
of 51a or is it a modification? And then as a point of order, does that satisfy open meetings

3625
05:24:12,067 --> 05:24:15,567
requirements? Larry, from? I believe, well, I'll have to let the commissioner answer that,

3626
05:24:17,733 --> 05:24:21,533
but I believe that they are making a motion consistent with 51a to continue the

3627
05:24:22,767 --> 05:24:26,367
feasibility. Analysis, but I'll let the commissioner confirm that. I would concur with that. Yeah, due diligence,

3628
05:24:28,467 --> 05:24:31,533
feasibility analysis. If I can just state on the record, I'd love

3629
05:24:33,200 --> 05:24:36,067
to be supportive. I'm not going to support this. I disagree that we should be having these

3630
05:24:37,800 --> 05:24:39,933
discussions publicly. These are executive session discussions

3631
05:24:42,400 --> 05:24:45,467
when it comes to real estate. So for that reason, I'm going to vote no. Any further

3632
05:24:46,700 --> 05:24:50,200
discussion? Call for a vote. Sounds like I need to do a voice vote.

3633
05:24:51,500 --> 05:24:54,467
commissioner clay flores? No. Commissioner rodriguez? No. Commissioner moody? Yes.

3634
05:24:56,200 --> 05:24:56,200
commissioner calvert? Aye.

3635
05:25:18,967 --> 05:25:22,133
judge sakai says no, but at the same time, commissioner

3636
05:25:23,567 --> 05:25:26,833
moody, after due diligence, further due diligence, I will be willing to relook at that, especially after the

3637
05:25:27,833 --> 05:25:30,200
other elected officials, and I get feedback from them, or I can certainly call them

3638
05:25:34,000 --> 05:25:34,000
and ask them. All right? So I'm

3639
05:25:38,533 --> 05:25:42,067
willing to relook at this, but for today, let's do more homework, please. All right?

3640
05:25:43,000 --> 05:25:43,000
all right. Let's move on. Does

3641
05:25:48,200 --> 05:25:51,567
that finish all the matters except for executive? Priscilla, just trying

3642
05:25:57,167 --> 05:25:59,533
to check. Judge, I think we might need to do the ffrs. The what then? Which I think is

3643
05:26:01,900 --> 05:26:05,133
number six. Okay, which one? Number six. Six? Well, the

3644
05:26:07,067 --> 05:26:09,967
ministerial, I took note of the filing for the record. We don't vote on it. We don't

3645
05:26:11,933 --> 05:26:14,900
vote. I just took note of it. All right. Is there anything

3646
05:26:16,867 --> 05:26:18,400
else that I've missed? So, then let us now, but there are

3647
05:26:29,600 --> 05:26:32,600
matters that have been brought to my attention. Let me read into the record. To take up the

3648
05:26:40,367 --> 05:26:44,200
executive session item on negotiations of a development agreement between the county, the cab. In the rodeo, we must unanimously vote

3649
05:26:44,900 --> 05:26:47,300
in open court that deliberation of business and financial issues in an open meeting would have detrimental effect

3650
05:26:50,633 --> 05:26:54,267
on the position of commissioners' court in negotiations

3651
05:26:55,300 --> 05:26:58,567
with a third party. We have requested an opinion from larry roberson with the da

3652
05:26:59,900 --> 05:27:03,533
civil division and ask that the staff enter that opinion into the record. I'll ask that this letter be made part

3653
05:27:04,633 --> 05:27:07,667
from a memo from mr. Gonzalez, from mr. Roberson, to the court. Request pursuant

3654
05:27:11,100 --> 05:27:14,800
to section 551.0725 texas government code. Is there a

3655
05:27:17,133 --> 05:27:20,000
motion to go to executive session on this specific issue

3656
05:27:21,467 --> 05:27:25,000
with a unanimous vote? So moved. Motion by commissioner rodriguez, second by

3657
05:27:27,533 --> 05:27:31,100
commissioner clay flores. Any further discussions? Hearing none. I'll ask for a vote. All those in favor, signify

3658
05:27:32,633 --> 05:27:36,633
by saying aye. Aye. Any opposed? Any abstentions? Motion passes unanimously. We'll go

3659
05:27:41,167 --> 05:27:43,500
into executive session. We will then go into convening executive session and may be

3660
05:27:45,267 --> 05:27:48,000
discussed and acted upon if appropriate. Pursuant to section 551.071 of the

3661
05:27:49,700 --> 05:27:52,267
texas government code, executive session will be held

3662
05:27:53,800 --> 05:27:56,833
for consultation with the court's attorney for advice regarding the following matters. Pending or

3663
05:27:57,967 --> 05:28:00,667
contemplating litigation or settlement offers in the matter of pacheco v.

3664
05:28:02,267 --> 05:28:05,233
bexar county, deputy richard calderon. Legal issues pertaining

3665
05:28:07,333 --> 05:28:11,067
to the following matters in which the duty of the attorney for bexar county and the texas

3666
05:28:12,167 --> 05:28:15,867
disciplinary rules. A professional conduct of state bar, texas clearly conflicts with the open meetings act.

3667
05:28:16,700 --> 05:28:19,700
legal issues related to the collective bargain agreement with the deputy sheriff's

3668
05:28:20,933 --> 05:28:23,900
association of bexar county entered pursuant to chapter 174 of the local government code. I believe subsection 2

3669
05:28:27,200 --> 05:28:30,767
has been waived and has been voted on in open court. Pursuant to section 55107.2

3670
05:28:32,467 --> 05:28:33,900
of the texas government code related to deliberations

3671
05:28:37,233 --> 05:28:41,067
regarding real property, that matter too has just been discussed. Open court and waived pursuant to section

3672
05:28:42,367 --> 05:28:45,900
551.01725. I have already stated that we are going to take up a matter involving

3673
05:28:48,933 --> 05:28:52,933
bexar county, a political subdivision, coliseum advisory board, san antonio livestock

3674
05:28:54,500 --> 05:28:57,667
exposition, a texas nonprofit in regards to redevelopment, revitalization of the freeman

3675
05:28:59,000 --> 05:29:02,367
coliseum complex grounds, and the court has voted unanimously to enter into executive session. Also,

3676
05:29:05,733 --> 05:29:06,967
too, I believe the matter of 5510787 of the texas

3677
05:29:13,533 --> 05:29:17,167
government code to deliberate matters related to economic development

3678
05:29:18,133 --> 05:29:21,467
negotiations in regards to the baseball arena stadium, in regards to the san pedro

3679
05:29:22,933 --> 05:29:22,933
creek cultural park, that

3680
05:29:28,000 --> 05:29:30,867
matter has also been addressed in open court and the executive session waived. Are there any

3681
05:29:32,333 --> 05:29:35,467
other matters that we put on record? If so, we are now in executive session. The time

3682
05:29:43,400 --> 05:29:43,400
is 3, 36 p.m. All right. We're

3683
05:29:48,167 --> 05:29:51,467
good. All right. The time is 04, 23 p.m. The court is now in an open session. The court is not taking any action

3684
05:29:53,367 --> 05:29:54,967
after executive session. Is there a motion to adjourn? So

3685
05:29:59,333 --> 05:30:03,000
moved. Second. Motion by commissioner urias, second by commissioner clay flores. Commissioner clay flores, do

3686
05:30:04,400 --> 05:30:07,733
you have any memorials? Yes, I'd like to adjourn in memory of manuel berrios saban. Thank you, judge. I would like

3687
05:30:09,900 --> 05:30:09,900
to join in adjourning

3688
05:30:15,633 --> 05:30:17,900
in the name of dr. Betasabal, who was a pioneer of sorts here

3689
05:30:20,100 --> 05:30:23,700
locally and started the utsa prep program. I think he was commissioner calvert's constituent, but I know

3690
05:30:25,133 --> 05:30:28,200
impacted the entire community. Also, I would like to adjourn

3691
05:30:30,333 --> 05:30:34,233
in the name of reverend manuel garza, dora p. Sanchez, and guadalupe

3692
05:30:36,333 --> 05:30:40,067
fisher, who's the mother of... State rep. Trey martinez-fisher passed away

3693
05:30:42,633 --> 05:30:45,333
this week. Thank you. Commissioner moody. On behalf of commissioner calvert,

3694
05:30:47,467 --> 05:30:48,567
flores, elmer, leslie, may, l. Carolyn peterson, juan

3695
05:30:54,533 --> 05:30:54,533
hernandez, olivia ladson, who

3696
05:30:59,833 --> 05:31:02,967
was a spurs usher for 59 years. Commissioner calvert. All

3697
05:31:12,600 --> 05:31:15,800
right, I'll join in with dr. Emmanuel berrizabal, also joe charles caram, who is a mckellen high school, who is a

3698
05:31:17,667 --> 05:31:20,967
member of the pan american university basketball team that won the 1963 national

3699
05:31:26,300 --> 05:31:29,900
basketball championship in the nia conference. A dear

3700
05:31:33,600 --> 05:31:36,900
family friend. All those in favor of the motion adjourned, signify by saying aye. Aye.

3701
05:31:38,067 --> 05:31:41,200
any opposed? Any adjourned? Thank you all.