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In transcript of this meeting, or if you need reasonable accommodations, including this communication in an alternative format due to disability, please contact the clerk to the Commission's office at 404-612-8232.

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All right, good morning, everyone, and welcome to the first regular meeting of the full County Board of Commissioners. Today is Wednesday, December 3, 2025, and it's 10.03 a.m., Madam Clerk, please call the roll.

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Chairman, President.

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Commissioner Bridget Thorne, President, Vice Chairman Bob Ellis, President. Commissioner Dana Barrett, Commissioner Moe Ivory,

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President, Commissioner Marvin, Airington, Jr.

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President.

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Commissioner Cadizia Abdul-Rachman, Mr. Chairman, you have a call.

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Thank you, Madam Clerk.

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Please rise for the invocation followed by the pledge of allegiance.

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Let us pray.

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Almighty God will give you thanks for this day for you continue grace and mercy upon our

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lives.

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We pray now.

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We bless those who are at the business of doing for food and county today.

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let's our leaders, give them your strength and direction.

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It is your name, we humbly pray, amen.

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I pledge allegiance to the flag,

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the United States,

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the nation, the God,

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and the visible, liberty, the justice for all.

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Continuum Matter Clerk.

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On page two, consent agenda.

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25, 0899, adoption of the consent agenda.

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Our matters listed on the consent agenda

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are considered routine by the County Commission.

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and will be enacted by one motion.

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No separate discussion will take place on these items.

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If discussion of any consent agenda item is desired,

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the item will be moved to the first regular meeting

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in gender for separate consideration.

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I mean, nothing, all right, commissioners.

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All right, then we'll say the motion to adopt.

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Motion to do so by commission of Barrett's seconded

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by commission of thorn.

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Please vote.

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And the vote of Doctor.

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And the motion passes six shades, zero nays.

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five.

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First regular meeting agenda.

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Twenty five zero nine one seven.

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Adoption of the first regular meeting agenda.

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All right.

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Motion.

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Anything.

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Madam Clerk.

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I don't have anything.

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All right.

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The motion to adopt by Commissioner Barrett.

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Seconded by Commissioner Ivory.

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Please vote.

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And the vote is open.

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And the motion passes unanimously.

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Twenty five zero nine one eight ratification

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minutes, first regular meeting minutes, November 5th, second regular meeting posted in the

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minutes, November 19th, 2025.

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All right, motion two approved by Commissioner Ivory, seconded by Commissioner Vera, please

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vote.

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And the vote is open.

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And the motion passes six shades, zero nays, on page six, 25, 0 9 1 9, presentation

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of proclamations and certificates.

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The first proclamation is recognizing Jessica McNair, appreciation day sponsored by Chairman Pitz with full board support.

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Can we get Jessica and all of our law enforcement?

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You all come in. It is with great honor and pleasure

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that I bring forth this proclamation, and this is full board, whereas on November 7, 2025,

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Allied Security Officer Jessica McNair assigned to the East Atlanta Library under contract

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with the Fulton County Police Department demonstrated extra-ordinary courage and decisive action

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while performing her duties, and whereas Officer McNair discovered a library patron who was

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unconscious and not breathing from an apparent drug overdose in a public

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restroom and whereas Officer McNair immediately responded by pulling the

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individual to safety and performing CPR without hesitation. And whereas as

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an automated external defibrillator was being prepared for use, the individual

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regained consciousness due to Officer McNair's effective and timely CPR

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efforts, and where is because of officer McNair's training, professionalism, and composure

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under pressure, the individual made a full recovery exemplifying the highest standards of public

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service and dedication to the safety and well-being of others, and where as her swift actions

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not only save their life, but also grow great credit to herself, allied universal security services

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and the Fulton County Police Department. So is with great pride that now therefore be resolved

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that the Fulton County Board of Commissioners recognizes and commends officer Jessica McNeill

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for her life-saving measures, courage and outstanding commitment to protecting the citizens and visitors

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of Fulton County, and does hear about proclaim, Wednesday, December 3rd, 2025, as Jessica

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McNair, Appreciation Day in Fulton County, Georgia, would you please put your hands together?

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And we're going to get the Fulton County to see for police to come and say somebody.

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Good morning, everybody. We have a relationship with allied security that has spanned over five

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years with 125 employees and every day those employees come to work, hoping to help somebody.

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And on this day, Officer McNair came to work and saved somebody's life, which is a huge

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deal.

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Number one, number two, she did CPR for 10 minutes on this person.

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And I don't know if anyone is actually ever done CPR outside of CPR training.

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But after about three minutes, you're done and ready to stop.

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She went for 10 full minutes.

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She could barely stand after she saved this person's life.

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We are so proud of her and so happy to work with her every day.

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Officer, can we get a few words?

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I'm a little short, y'all.

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I want to start off firstly by thanking Alight and Don and Olive.

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My superior is that our friend needs him

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for being able to equip me with everything that I needed

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To be able to act and respond quickly and adequately concerning the situation.

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I would like to thank my family for being here today in recognition of being in my loved ones.

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I really don't have much to say, but there's nothing to do with it, honestly.

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Thank you.

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So the last proclamation is recognizing human rights day, sponsored by Commissioner Barrett, with full board support.

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We've got the Fulton County Office of Diversity and Civil Rights Compliance coming down to join us for this proclamation.

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And it's, you know, we're doing this today honoring human rights because coming up on December 10th, it's international human rights day.

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So, I will just get straight to the proclamation.

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It reads, whereas the universal declaration of human rights adopted on December 10, 1948,

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affirms the inherent dignity and equal rights of all people,

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and continues to guide efforts worldwide to protect freedom,

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justice, and equality for every individual.

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And whereas the declaration establishes multiple rights, such as freedom,

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equal dignity, freedom of movement, peace, and the overall worth of every human being.

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And whereas human rights are universal, transcending national and local boundaries and relying

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on governments at every level to ensure that these rights are upheld in law, policy, and

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practice.

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And whereas Fulton County recognizes its role in the protection of human rights and ensures

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that the principles of dignity, equity, and justice are reflected in its public policies,

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service delivery, and community engagement.

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And whereas Fulton County advances human rights through its laws and policies such as the

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policy, the program access and ADA self-evaluation plan, and the county's language access plan,

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as well as through the work of the Fulton County Office of Diversity and Civil Rights

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Compliance.

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And whereas December 10th, each year, it celebrated around the world as Human Rights Day,

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now therefore be resolved that the Fulton County Board of Commissioners reaffirms its long-standing

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steadfast commitment to human rights and does hereby proclaim December 10th, 2025 as Human

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Rights Day in Fulton County, Georgia.

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Good

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morning, I want to first thank Commissioner Barrett and the Board of Commissioners here for the work that you're doing to support our office and to support this proclamation.

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Human Rights Day is a reminder to each of us to focus on our common realities and not our differences.

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What I enjoy about it is that it reminds us to adapt and to incorporate everyone's diverse qualities into how we appreciate one another.

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And so I stand with you with my team, my staff, who work so very hard to ensure protection against discrimination within Fulton County and the work that we do.

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But it's a reminder also that individuals in the public are also responsible for ensuring that we, as people, recognize how valuable we are, how valuable it is to appreciate the differences that we have.

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So I look here and I say to you, thank you for doing your job and remember to always appreciate all around us and show respect and ensure dignity of each other.

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All right, Madam Clerk, continue please.

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Continuing on page 6, public hearings.

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25, 09, 2, 0, public comment. Citizens wishing to participate in public comment will be allowed to appear in person.

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Or may choose to participate virtually via Zoom, video conferencing by registering on the county website.

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W-W-W-W, that Fulton County GA.gov, priority for public comment will be given to Fulton County

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citizens and those individuals representing businesses or organizations located within

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Fulton County.

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Speakers will be granted up to two minutes each to public will not be allowed to yield or

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donate time to other speakers.

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The public comment of the portion of the meeting will not exceed 60 minutes.

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In the event, the 60 minute time limit is reached, prior to public comments being completed,

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Public comment will be suspended in the business portion of the meeting will commence.

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Public comment will resume at the end of the meeting.

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Mr Chairman, remember so the board we have received 14 speaker cards here in Assembly Hall.

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Well, the first five speakers please come forward, L.A. Pink, Shreletta Hurst, Eugene Walls,

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RC, Montenirone, Desiree Thomas.

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Our speakers, we have 15 seconds remaining of your two minutes, I'll say 15 seconds which will be your clue to begin to conclude your remarks.

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First speaker.

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Good morning.

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While I was in the Fulton County jail, I was attacked by two 17-year-olds who were housed in the facility where I was at.

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was in the mental health and medical health department. I feel like those 17-year-olds should have

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not been in that department. I am a 52-year-old woman and I was attacked by 2, 17-year-olds being

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house at Rice Street. I have received eye injury when I was able to get out to go to my

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doctor. She's referred me to a specialist because I can't see out of the peripheral

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my peripheral vision. The officer Williams who was there to I guess try to, you know, break

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up the fight. He was just pretending like it was something they do every day. It was not professional

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at all. And like I said, I'm injured because of that. And then when I went to file a warrant

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against these children, they told me if I did not have, I had their names. They told me if I

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not have their addresses and their addresses and their date of births. I could not file a warrant

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against these individuals. These are children. I wasn't in jail for a major crime, but I just

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feel like those officers, they're not doing their job. 15 seconds, man. Thank you.

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So we give human rights

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Procumations, but we're not abiding by the rights of humans.

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How is that?

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Eighth Amendment, Fourth Amendment, Fourth Amendment,

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have been violated for our inmates.

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And nothing has been done.

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On tits, Dana, Ike, Aaronton, y'all run in for cheermen. I challenge y'all today. Today is a call-a-action since

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beer wants to put out stuff on other commissioners. Why don't you put out an investigation or ask for call of action to the sheriff?

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I know you all know, I mean, what's the name?

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The other sheriff that was taken down.

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Jackie Barrett.

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That's her name. Y'all know her, right?

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Everybody watch Jackie Barrett be removed.

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So why haven't the sheriff been removed?

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She got, he has way more on him than she could ever even imagine.

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Why haven't you all called for his removal?

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That's the question that I'm trying to better understand.

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Pits, you most definitely need to call for it.

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You're in charge right now.

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You call for bears.

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I need his to be called for.

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You want to continue to play games.

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You know, with these lives of inmates,

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we're challenging you today.

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You three, most definitely,

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So, you guys can look up the act of section 15-16-26.

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15 seconds.

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Absolutely, that is a law that you have to abide by,

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since you want to give out proclamations for human rights.

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Let's get some rights taking care of,

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because you are violating every right of inmates.

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My name is Eugene Wolves, I'm a housing manager with Pag, and I wanted to express to you

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all how vital this program has become to our process in serving those on housing

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the community.

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We utilize emergency housing and short-term shelter, temporary shelter.

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It has become a triage, right, for our participants, we're able to immediately access our participants, right, in a safe environment, and identify barriers, right, and work intensively to connect them with the resources in the community.

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from mental health, medical, substance use, and in some cases re-unification, right?

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We've assisted countless families to go home with their loved ones leaving Atlanta to other

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cities.

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Most recently, we had a diversion of a 74-year-old Air Force veteran in the early stages

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of dementia.

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Okay? We were able to place them in emergency housing. Okay? When we got them in housing, it was

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observed that he had an open wound on his leg, uncontrolled diabetes. We were able to

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connect this man with a veteran hospital and services. And today he has been successfully

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placed in a personal care home. You know even though he doesn't face the usual

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challenges that most of our participants face with 74 years old.

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52 seconds ago and serving his country, you know this is a vital piece to the

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process that we use in our community and we would love for you all to vote to keep it.

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Thank you.

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Good morning. My name is Eric and I'm the Leo Navigation Manager of Appad and in this

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through our post-booking process, I mean individuals who find themselves in custody, not because

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they are a threat to our community, but because they lack access to disability, resources, and

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support. Many of the individuals who have heard our unhoused, I'm living with untreated mental

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health and substance use challenges, and almost all of them have underlying needs that incarceration

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cannot meet. Our post-booking process was created to identify individuals who qualify for

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peer-vast diversion and offer an opportunity for diversion after a rest. Some of the individuals

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we've encountered were arrested for shoplifting food because they were hungry, answering vacant

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buildings because they were cold and wanted a warm place to sleep, or simply sleeping outside.

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Some were arrested for miscored dates, not out of disregard for the system, but because they

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are in house and never received the court notice. I've also had the privilege of witnessing

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what can happen when those same individuals receive support instead of punishment. We've had people

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released us directly from the jail with nothing but the clothes on the backs and nowhere to go.

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3, 2, 3.

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That support they were provided with their basic needs and placed in emergency shelters so that they did not

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have to sleep outside. We've also connected people directly from the jail-to-treatment programs. Sometimes

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the first opportunity they've had to address the issues that brought them in custody in the first

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place. Because they were offered an opportunity for case management through pad, we recently

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supported a young sex trafficking victim who is now safely reunited with her family out of state.

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Many who once had no housing options are living in a stable place of their own. We also have participants

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were celebrating months and even years of sobriety, and others who are now employed and finding

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a meaningful way to give back to the community.

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This stories are all different and unique, but one thing that they've all shared with me is

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Pat was there when no one else was, and they wouldn't be where they are now for one for

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pad.

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That is because incarceration did not meet the underlying needs.

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Pat's second.

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Thank you.

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Good morning.

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My name is Desiree Thomas.

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I'm the local campaign manager at the Amplified Georgia Collaborative.

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I'm here today to speak in support of three pieces of legislation.

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25, 09, 35, 25, 09, 36, and 25, 09, 37.

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These pieces of legislation, if passed, would affirm Fulton's county support of women, reproductive

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rights, and maternal health.

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For those of you who don't know, I have a master's degree in public health.

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For Fulton's own GSU, and I'm proud to say that my education informs my work in advocacy.

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So when I come to speak to you, I'll please know that I'm not only doing so as a citizen, and

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as an advocate for my organization, but also as a public health professional, who takes

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that role very seriously.

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With that said, I want to talk specifically about why allocating a million dollars in funds

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to the Healthy Women Healthy Families Initiative is so important.

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I live in South Fulton, and as all of you know, the southern part of the county lacks

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the same healthcare infrastructure and resources as the rest of the county.

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The people that live in that part of the county are overwhelmingly glad.

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When we think about social determinants of health, we know that people's zip code is an important

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indicator as to what their health outcomes can be.

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And by funding the Healthy Women Healthy Families Initiative, you will empower organizations

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that are addressing things like maternal health, women's cancers, mental health, senior

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women's health, gender-based violence prevention, chronic disease, management, and reproductive

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health to continue to do that work.

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I know that there are those on the Commission who want to paint this initiative and the formation

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of a women's commission in a negative light based on their own anti-abortion stances.

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However, that view is out of line with what the vast majority of Fulton residents believe.

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by using your own views to disallow half of the population of the county to have a body that represents their needs as a historically marginalized community.

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Because you assume and are afraid that they may possibly mention abortion sometimes, you are slapping the women of Fulton County in the face and showing that you don't take our needs seriously.

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I urge this commission to support all three of these resolutions today and I hope that you will show Fulton residents especially the women that you are willing to stand up for them in a political climate

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and that is growing increasingly harsh.

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Thank you.

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Next five speakers, Joseph Foster, Mohammed Huffies.

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The Shawna King, Robby Cobain, and Kayla Smith.

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Good morning, commission.

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My name is Joseph Foster, and I stand before you

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as a participant of the program, Pat.

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I was like many in the community

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who were facing significant struggles

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we've been involved with this visceral cycle of city ordinance violations until three years

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ago where I was asked where I'd be interested in being a part of this organization called

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Paul Fee, Attorney Division, Pat.

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I struggle with homelessness, mental health,

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I call it as an act to be in.

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I act to be in laws, I accept.

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So instead of looking at this planet as a punishment,

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I was signed as a cognitive and with Miss Eris,

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who was very compassionate and helpful.

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And I was assigned and also I was compassionate as well.

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Now we can connect with great housing because I was homeless, mental health, and healthcare.

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So as I explained my root cause of my issues, the life change in assistance.

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So today I am now in a healthy place to live.

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Two and a half years ago, there's still help to come up with funding for my medical.

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Mental Health, along with the program, that I also completed two years ago, pad has been in a valuable resource

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that saved my life. It has taken place from being a long term. Fifteen seconds, sir.

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State for the positive member of the Senate, being a productive member of the Senate, excuse me.

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a long-term investment of my future in public safety, lastly, if can be urged to continue with the pad.

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Thank you.

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Good morning, commissioners.

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Good to see you guys today.

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My name is Muhammad Hafiz and I stand before you as the Director of Community Engagement with Pad.

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In my role, I get a chance to meet with a lot of community members.

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I speak with a lot of residents.

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I get to speak with a lot of small business owners.

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even walk around the streets of Atlanta and see people who are struggling.

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And one thing that is clear, as I meet with people, is that they don't say they just

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want Pat, but they need what Pat provides.

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They want an alternative instead of punishing people who are suffering for being poor or

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in crisis.

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They want something that actually helps.

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And just the other day, I was in my neighborhood, I lived in English Avenue, and a man came

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to me who saw my pad sweater and he looked at me and asked me,

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are you still with Pat and I said, yes, and I said,

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he said, Matt, Pat was there for me when I needed help the most.

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I want to get reconnected with Pat and I hear stories like this all the time

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where people feel seen, they feel respected, they feel supported,

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they feel the need to come to me and say, man, thank you for what Pat has done for me

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and what is doing for the community and here's why your support matters.

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when someone is released to us, we're nowhere to go, housing matters, when someone is dealing

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with mental health issues, consistent support matters, when someone is trying to get stabilizing,

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take the next step forward, having a trusted care navigator matters. Funding allows us to keep

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people off the streets out of jail and connect to the real solutions, like emergency housing,

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transportation, food, treatment, support, and help getting documentation so they can have

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and housing. That's what changes lives. Pad is in a luxury for Fort McCowning. It is a necessity,

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15 seconds, and the community knows that. And I want you guys to just consider, as you guys,

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vote today, to support Pad, to support the needs that Pad has in the community has. Thank you.

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Good morning. My name is Deshaner King. I'm the communications manager. I will know the rise to your job.

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I'm here because our community deserves better than half measured just up as progress.

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There seems to be this idea that now that we have the Divergent Center in PAD,

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that the city has somehow solved the problem.

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As a real solution, just sprout up in the moment after a building or a program launches.

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But anyone who has lived through realities of incarceration, housing insecurity, or crisis,

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knows that that isn't true.

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Creating these programs is only the first step.

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The world work, the work that determines whether people actually get free,

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get stable, get hold, happens in the implementation.

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And that's exactly where the city continues to fall short.

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Two often, these decisions are made for optics.

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They're made to check a box or to fluff up press release,

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not to actually transform lives.

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Programs like PIE and the divergence center

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cannot thrive without a space to stretch, grow,

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and fully assert people.

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And that means investing in rural housing,

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not displacement disguised as development,

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not encampments, sleeps, to stay in the size of the city for the World Cup.

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We're sending people to the diversions center and then what, where do they go, what support is waiting for them when they walk out the door.

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I watch people come home from incarceration trying to survive housing insecurity, only to find our shelters,

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overrun, our systems completely unprepared, relating on a tiny handful of overwork solutions to try to undo harm,

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that's decades old, harm rooted in Jim Crow rooted in child slavery, harm that has shaped the various institutions that we're talking about today.

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And the truth is, communities that have been disproportionately harmed must be disproportionately

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helped.

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We cannot keep pouring money into so-called mental health facilities are expansion of a

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deadly jail and then pretend that we're investing in care.

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We know what works because we have the experience.

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Pad works, that versus dinner can work.

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15 seconds.

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Only if we fund these programs like we actually believe in them, if we want to save for city,

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a healthier city, a city that actually honors the humanity of us people, then we have to

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Anything less is an nervous solution and we deserve so much more. Thanks.

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My name is Kayla Smith and I'm the campaign and community organizer for women on the rise. I'm here today to speak and strong support of the continued use and increased funding of policing alternatives and diversion initiative better known as pad.

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There's been confusion about the difference between pad and the diversion center, which is strange to me because pad has been established and known in the community for years.

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Yes, the diversion center is useful but is grossly underutilized by Fulton County officers and pad offers different benefits and services such as emergency shelter and connection along term care.

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This is only made possible through continued and strong funding.

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We've seen padwork over the years and people's lives turn around due to being diverted.

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There's no reason to cut down the amount of alternate options for both officers and people

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facing quality of life charges. More than anything pad needs increased funding to continue

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providing direct services and reliefs our community. Pad has been around for years and is one of

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the most effective tools our county has to address concerns related to unmet mental health needs,

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substance use, poverty and survival behaviors. You guys may not know that

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And that's due to the seats that you're sitting in right now.

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The people who are out here on the ground,

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we see how people's lives have been changed

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and continue to be changed by programs such as Pat.

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Instead of cycling people through our overpopulated

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and mismanaged criminal legal system for issues

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that are rooted in lack of care.

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Pat connects people with care, not handcuffs.

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They reduce the burden on our officers

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and our overpopulated jail and provide services

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that actually reduce harm in increased community safety.

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The results speak for themselves.

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Pat decreases unnecessary arrest

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and strengthens trust between residents and public systems.

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It's a community center of strategy

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and it treats people dignity while also saving taxpayer dollars

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in the long term.

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That's a full-time counting taxpayer

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and just simply a human being with the heart and the conscious.

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Pat's presence in Atlanta and full-time counting matters to me.

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And for some people, it's a difference

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between a life of struggle, pain, and incarceration.

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Versus a fresh start with support and resources.

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I strongly urge this board not only to maintain,

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but increase supporting and continue.

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to go on. Thank you.

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Good morning. I am Ms. Hillel of Fulton County Resident and Advocate.

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I will continue to advocate and respectfully demand immediate action to end the ongoing

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deed fraud crisis. The facts are clear and well-documented and court and land records. First,

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I'll mention that the clerk of courts, Shay Alexander and the Commissioner Moe Ivory have both

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acknowledge Fultin County has no process or procedures internally for filing deeds, an administrative

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and a mission that reflects incompetence, oath violations, and a serious failure of duty.

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Secondly, deep productivity and related offenses may be part of a publicly funded system.

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residents who face these crimes, also face stalking, intimidation, retaliation, threats, and

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our drag into vixatious litigation simply for trying to protect their homes.

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Thirdly, seniors, women, veterans, disabled residents, and black and brown legacy communities

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are being systemically targeted and displaced.

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Property taxes are inflated using fabricated sales of stolen properties.

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Deed fraud crimes also fuels housing insecurity, homelessness, wrongful arrests.

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Inflated jail population and causes irreparable severe emotional and financial harm to vulnerable residents.

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is important to note also that a third of this current commission, this current board of

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commission, a third of you, are either personally involved or have personal experience

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and direct knowledge of this deep productivity. For these reasons and for and on behalf

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of public interest, I respectfully demand immediate actions to recent stolen these return

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properties referred to.

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Okay, thank you, ma'am.

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Good morning.

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My name is Robbie Cabana.

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I'm a Philcing County resident taxpayer and a Georgia real estate broker.

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First, I want to express my strong support from his

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Hill who just spoke and worked.

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Work, exposing deed fraud and predatory housing practices.

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It's a broker.

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I personally emailed and spoken with Atlanta City officials.

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The mayor is off.

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Members of this Board, in totality for the need of oversight and regulation, the combination of

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predatory investors, and a broken compromise politically influenced and puses some is harming residents to

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stabilize communities. Pense the need for pad, please fund them, and costing taxpayers. This board must

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address it. I also support ongoing calls for jail reform, street groomers and L.A.

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conditions under Sheriff Patrick LeBot remain inadequate unsafe and unacceptable, no resident,

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no resident, no sentient being, regardless of circumstance should be subjected to abuse or

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inhumane conditions that brings me to the animal control system, operated under the Sheriff

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Patrick LeBot who deputizes officers within the county's contracts. There's been a pattern of

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mismanagement, especially under lifeline, the county contractor. After serious attacks and deaths

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even deaths brought to this board.

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The county has only produced the 40-page incident report,

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and yet there's still been no independent audit of lifeline,

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an audit that Commissioner Thorn discussed

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and never followed through on, despite years of whistleblowers,

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photos, video evidence and testimony from employees, staff,

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and volunteers about being banned and the abuse.

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00:51:13,760 --> 00:51:16,420
And you still are paying lifeline and allowing them

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to run our county shelter with no audit.

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Lifeline still controls the shelters,

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still influences enforcement, and the county recently hired a lifeline employee.

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There's too much to go through in two minutes, but I did email county manager.

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Dick Anderson, that's right here at 1023 AM today.

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00:51:34,060 --> 00:51:38,740
You have a copy of an email from a commissioner who solicited his private firm

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to someone who was reaching out about animal control.

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Please confirm receipt of it.

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I will follow up with all of you to see what you're going to do about all this.

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Last four speakers and assembly hall, please come forward, Janet Hill, Miranda Estes,

452
00:51:56,930 --> 00:51:59,270
Nikki Buggs, and Josh Milton.

453
00:52:26,160 --> 00:52:26,740
Good morning, Commissioner.

454
00:52:27,500 --> 00:52:33,020
Good morning, Commissioner is my name, is Miranda Estes, and I live in District 3, Midtown,

455
00:52:33,380 --> 00:52:36,620
represented proudly and loudly by Commissioner Dana Barrett.

456
00:52:37,660 --> 00:52:43,300
And also I serve as a policy manager for Secus, except for social change.

457
00:52:43,300 --> 00:52:51,220
We're a national organization that focus on advancing a sexual and reproductive health care and rights through education and policy.

458
00:52:52,020 --> 00:52:58,600
I'm here today both as a constituent and as an advocate for the health dignity and well-being of women in Fulton County.

459
00:52:59,440 --> 00:53:05,360
I wanted to voice my strong support for the Commissioner Barrett's 30 pieces of proposed legislation,

460
00:53:10,060 --> 00:53:21,400
from my work in policy, I see how deeply and adversely health outcomes are affected by lack of access to information, services, and supportive environments.

461
00:53:22,140 --> 00:53:30,480
I also see this in my community. I'm the girl in my building where my neighbors know that they can come to me for plan B condoms,

462
00:53:30,480 --> 00:53:36,830
Dental dams and advice, but that's one building here in Fulton County and in the more

463
00:53:37,800 --> 00:53:44,460
affluent part of the city and that's not enough. People here are struggling to access

464
00:53:44,460 --> 00:53:49,640
even basic reproductive and sexual health care items and it shows Georgia is consistently

465
00:53:49,640 --> 00:53:55,120
ranked among the worst states for maternal mortality and has some of the most restrictive

466
00:53:55,120 --> 00:54:01,220
health policies in the country. And that has gained us national bad press. We are still

467
00:54:01,220 --> 00:54:06,820
really mourning from the deaths of Amber Thurman, Candy Miller, and Adriana Smith.

468
00:54:07,340 --> 00:54:13,000
In this community, the reality of harms that come from this state's restrictive policies are

469
00:54:13,000 --> 00:54:19,560
not abstract here in Fulton County, and we must do better. Based on the passage of commissioner

470
00:54:19,560 --> 00:54:26,740
our ovaries, a dedication to black maternal health, it's now a time that I urge this commission

471
00:54:26,740 --> 00:54:27,840
to do that.

472
00:54:27,940 --> 00:54:29,740
Fun, very yes.

473
00:54:38,990 --> 00:54:39,690
Good morning.

474
00:54:40,910 --> 00:54:42,110
My name is Nikki Boggs.

475
00:54:42,830 --> 00:54:45,130
I am a homeowner at the Lamar condominium.

476
00:54:46,010 --> 00:54:49,350
Our building is being taken over by predatory property investors.

477
00:54:51,350 --> 00:54:52,590
Predatory property investors.

478
00:54:53,030 --> 00:54:57,090
We have seniors in the building and what's happening is that they're taking over the building

479
00:54:57,090 --> 00:54:59,970
and the building is operating as a hotel. A motel.

480
00:55:01,240 --> 00:55:07,840
We have seen you in the building, we have people that are disabled in the building, and we have long-term home on this that deserve to keep their homes.

481
00:55:08,420 --> 00:55:18,920
We have no freedom of right. They treat us less than human. Our assessments are up to $1300 a month for a double-building of water, gas, electricity.

482
00:55:21,160 --> 00:55:25,900
Our common areas have been taken away. We have no security. We have no concierge.

483
00:55:26,360 --> 00:55:28,960
We have no one to contact if we are in trouble.

484
00:55:29,160 --> 00:55:29,880
We call the police.

485
00:55:30,040 --> 00:55:31,780
They'll ask if this criminal they'll show up.

486
00:55:32,120 --> 00:55:33,900
If they can't get in the building, they go away.

487
00:55:34,860 --> 00:55:35,120
Understood.

488
00:55:39,000 --> 00:55:41,600
The city and the state are profiting off of our suffering.

489
00:55:42,520 --> 00:55:46,080
We've been at this for four years, five months to the date.

490
00:55:47,760 --> 00:55:49,140
We do not deserve this.

491
00:55:49,160 --> 00:55:49,820
We are homeowners.

492
00:55:50,220 --> 00:55:51,000
We are taxpayers.

493
00:55:52,300 --> 00:55:55,120
If I've done a quarter of what these people have done to us,

494
00:55:56,580 --> 00:55:57,880
my outcome would be quite different.

495
00:55:58,000 --> 00:55:59,280
I would be in jail most likely.

496
00:56:00,630 --> 00:56:03,130
We deserve to come home.

497
00:56:03,970 --> 00:56:05,450
Our peace has been robbed.

498
00:56:06,710 --> 00:56:09,950
And it's just something that we've been fighting about for the last four years.

499
00:56:10,770 --> 00:56:13,510
So the human rights that we spoke of in the proclamation,

500
00:56:13,710 --> 00:56:17,250
within congratulations to the person, we don't have any.

501
00:56:18,510 --> 00:56:20,050
We're treated less than human.

502
00:56:20,470 --> 00:56:22,330
We've been to every government to agency.

503
00:56:22,930 --> 00:56:23,870
We've sent emails.

504
00:56:24,050 --> 00:56:25,030
We've asked for help.

505
00:56:25,270 --> 00:56:25,970
Fifteen seconds.

506
00:56:26,090 --> 00:56:26,610
Thank you.

507
00:56:26,610 --> 00:56:28,890
We have a lens and four closures.

508
00:56:28,890 --> 00:56:34,070
placed on people on justifiably. Exorbitant buys huge capital assessments.

509
00:56:36,800 --> 00:56:37,600
We've asked for help.

510
00:56:38,840 --> 00:56:43,500
Please do the right thing and help. Look at the entire picture. Thank you.

511
00:56:52,460 --> 00:56:55,460
Ms. Chairman, members of the board, we have nice speakers on Zoom.

512
00:56:56,960 --> 00:57:01,940
Good morning commissioners. The first person to speak is Tara Oversett.

513
00:57:06,440 --> 00:57:10,320
Hello, I just want to be sure I was good to speak in because I can't see a timer.

514
00:57:11,500 --> 00:57:13,180
We can hear you.

515
00:57:13,180 --> 00:57:14,040
Okay, wonderful.

516
00:57:14,940 --> 00:57:15,980
Good morning, commissioners.

517
00:57:16,100 --> 00:57:17,540
And thank you for allowing me to speak today.

518
00:57:17,780 --> 00:57:18,980
I'm Dr. Terror over that.

519
00:57:19,160 --> 00:57:23,380
And I'm a trauma therapist, educator, and community advocate in Sandy Springs, Georgia.

520
00:57:24,320 --> 00:57:26,080
I'm here to talk about women's health.

521
00:57:26,260 --> 00:57:28,440
It's a vital part of our communities well being.

522
00:57:28,980 --> 00:57:34,380
And this includes a wide spectrum of needs, physical health, mental health, and reproductive health.

523
00:57:34,780 --> 00:57:39,360
With recent cuts and research, women's health care and an increasing lack of accessibility and affordability

524
00:57:39,360 --> 00:57:44,780
ability of women's health services, the establishment of proposed grant programs like Agenda

525
00:57:44,780 --> 00:57:51,820
Item 25-0937 Healthy Women Healthy Futures. I healthy families fulfills a critical need.

526
00:57:52,420 --> 00:57:57,360
With over 1 million residents living in Fulton County, we have caused less than 90 cents per

527
00:57:57,360 --> 00:58:02,680
resident to establish these grants as support non-profits that promote women's health and well-being.

528
00:58:03,320 --> 00:58:08,220
I am one of the many women in Fulton County who have recently experienced a remarkable spike in

529
00:58:08,220 --> 00:58:13,020
care costs. And I know that there is a need for nonprofits who can provide preventative

530
00:58:13,020 --> 00:58:19,760
screenings and examinations for women in our community. In addition, agenda item 25-0936,

531
00:58:20,300 --> 00:58:26,280
which would establish a Fulton County Women's Commission, would highlight much needed voices

532
00:58:26,280 --> 00:58:31,940
the combat discrimination in the workplace, fix women's pay inequity, and address the affordability

533
00:58:31,940 --> 00:58:37,080
crisis for child care. Having a group focus on these concerns would help legislators and decision

534
00:58:37,080 --> 00:58:41,180
makeers to enact policies and programs that help women to thrive and succeed.

535
00:58:41,880 --> 00:58:46,700
Ultimately, the health and wellbeing of women is deeply connected to the health of the entire community.

536
00:58:47,240 --> 00:58:50,560
When there are structures in place to thoughtfully examine local needs,

537
00:58:50,840 --> 00:58:54,280
scavener reliable information, and elevate the lived experiences of women.

538
00:58:54,280 --> 00:58:54,880
15 seconds.

539
00:58:54,880 --> 00:58:58,900
Community or better equipped to make informed decisions that support long-term wellbeing

540
00:58:58,900 --> 00:59:00,140
for all our residents.

541
00:59:00,600 --> 00:59:01,760
Thank you for your time today.

542
00:59:03,070 --> 00:59:08,150
The next person to speak is Michelle Wilson.

543
00:59:12,010 --> 00:59:13,390
Good morning everyone.

544
00:59:13,890 --> 00:59:15,150
My name is Michelle Wilson.

545
00:59:15,470 --> 00:59:19,350
I am the Chief Operations Officer with women engaged a human rights advocacy

546
00:59:19,350 --> 00:59:23,410
nonprofit that's been doing work in Fulton County for over 11 years.

547
00:59:24,330 --> 00:59:27,470
And through that work, we do voter activation and community engagement

548
00:59:27,470 --> 00:59:30,710
and leadership development and that has called for us to survey

549
00:59:30,710 --> 00:59:33,830
residents in Fulton County for the last 11 years.

550
00:59:33,830 --> 00:59:38,750
asking them about the increased access to health care here in Georgia, and unfortunately over

551
00:59:38,750 --> 00:59:43,170
the last 11 years where we have seen across the state that's a continued restriction to access

552
00:59:43,170 --> 00:59:48,550
to services, and which has resulted now in medical deserts that are definitely impacting those

553
00:59:48,550 --> 00:59:53,450
who are here in Fulton County. Prior to all of these things that were going on, Fulton County is

554
00:59:53,450 --> 00:59:58,310
around the area of service a hub for the rest of the state, in order to actualize and use the

555
00:59:58,310 --> 00:59:59,950
is that we need it to improve the quality.

556
01:00:00,000 --> 01:00:29,340
We need to analyze and seek those services. That's why today I'm asking the Board to consider the proposed legislation for the creation of the Women's Health Grant Program, the Women's Commission, and making a bold statement stand in solidarity for reproductive rights, as human rights, and calling for the protection for those services for those in our community members. When we service those in the community, originally the 75% of people will report fact that we need to increase access. When we've seen over the last three to four years now, it's a death has to increase almost nearly 90% of respondents.

557
01:00:30,000 --> 01:00:35,520
And that particularly impacts those who are working class, black and brown people, young people,

558
01:00:35,940 --> 01:00:41,780
queer and trans folks, and everyone of the Southwest area. So we're definitely urgent for those

559
01:00:41,780 --> 01:00:47,080
considerations to be made, but we continue to protect those rights and increase access to the

560
01:00:47,080 --> 01:00:51,720
vital health care that people need, especially as we continue to traverse unprecedented times here in

561
01:00:51,720 --> 01:00:57,420
this day, along in this country. And so I thank you all so much for your time. As you continue to

562
01:00:57,420 --> 01:01:01,020
Listen to the residents here in 15 seconds, man.

563
01:01:01,180 --> 01:01:06,300
If their voices are important, and now we're understanding that regardless of our own personal

564
01:01:06,300 --> 01:01:11,520
of priorities or ideas, that people deserve a right to make decisions with their bodies,

565
01:01:11,600 --> 01:01:13,560
how they see fit and get the candidates deserve.

566
01:01:13,700 --> 01:01:14,560
Thank you.

567
01:01:16,400 --> 01:01:19,780
The next person to speak is Kevin Moldowni.

568
01:01:24,460 --> 01:01:25,080
Kevin Moldi.

569
01:01:25,160 --> 01:01:27,600
Good morning, commissioners, and thank you, Riko.

570
01:01:27,600 --> 01:01:39,460
Commissioner Barrett, I take exception with your women's commission. It sounds like D.E.I. to me and your proposed resolutions.

571
01:01:39,860 --> 01:01:44,640
You're talking about reproductive rights for women. Reproductive rights are just that.

572
01:01:44,840 --> 01:01:51,940
Rights to reproduce, not killed children. Black and brown women have the majority of abortions.

573
01:01:51,940 --> 01:01:58,100
it does in this country. Does it sound like there's any shortage of there what you call reproductive health?

574
01:01:59,380 --> 01:02:04,820
And then grant funding to an NGO for women's health. Why do we have a county health department?

575
01:02:04,960 --> 01:02:13,440
Sounds a little redundant to me. Funding NGOs continually invites waste, fraud, and abuse. Please

576
01:02:13,440 --> 01:02:17,640
do not vote for these resolutions. Thank you very much.

577
01:02:19,970 --> 01:02:21,570
The next person to speak is

578
01:02:23,030 --> 01:02:25,410
Rola Abhi Samrah.

579
01:02:28,350 --> 01:02:35,050
Hello, can you hear me okay? Yes. Okay, thank you. My name is Rula Abhi Samrah.

580
01:02:35,630 --> 01:02:41,850
I am a constituent in District 3. I'm also a part of a community club in District 6.

581
01:02:42,830 --> 01:02:57,990
I work with people and actually, you know, all over Fulton County, I am so happy to say that I appreciate the representation of all of the commissioners in the people that I work with and live with in our lives.

582
01:02:58,250 --> 01:03:06,270
And so as as your constituent and loved one of your constituents and as a health professional, I'm asking you to support the following resolutions.

583
01:03:06,270 --> 01:03:20,110
for the four-going resolutions for the Healthy Women Healthy Families Grant Program for the Women's Commission to exist in Fulton County and to oppose the criminalization of abortion care and a firm reproductive rights.

584
01:03:20,730 --> 01:03:27,150
These are relatively simple and straightforward yet would make a difference in our lives.

585
01:03:27,970 --> 01:03:34,990
My district stands to benefit from them, and DeCab County has passed similar legislation, and I have seen data.

586
01:03:35,210 --> 01:03:44,750
Health data for both counties, economic data for both counties, suggesting that together these can reduce disparities in health access and mitigate harm to the most vulnerable.

587
01:03:45,250 --> 01:03:46,930
If these are passed and implemented.

588
01:03:48,630 --> 01:03:56,870
And truly, it's for me as a health professional, it's about health and there are also so many other reasons that bodies like a women's commission can represent.

589
01:03:56,870 --> 01:04:04,650
can pay attention to the representation of people across our county, as well as our civic participation

590
01:04:04,650 --> 01:04:06,210
or economic opportunities.

591
01:04:07,870 --> 01:04:12,570
From a health perspective, I just want to say these programs, especially this grant program,

592
01:04:13,670 --> 01:04:19,120
I'm heartened because people having true access to affordable quality care in the full spectrum of our needs,

593
01:04:19,120 --> 01:04:23,940
of reproductive health needs is so essential to a community having healthy families and individuals.

594
01:04:25,960 --> 01:04:31,080
And I will say that decades of health and protection for our only a privileged view

595
01:04:31,080 --> 01:04:35,040
have really hurt all of us, even though the damage hits hardest on women of color

596
01:04:35,040 --> 01:04:36,920
and those working to make ends meet.

597
01:04:37,240 --> 01:04:42,340
And some people might never walk in those shoes, but their community does get affected too.

598
01:04:42,560 --> 01:04:47,960
And Fulton should be governed with the conviction for a more equitable future for all people in our health.

599
01:04:47,960 --> 01:04:49,900
So please do pass these through.

600
01:04:54,090 --> 01:04:57,610
The next person to speak is Alicia Stahlworth.

601
01:05:01,520 --> 01:05:03,340
Alisha Stahlworth,

602
01:05:05,560 --> 01:05:06,640
next person to speak,

603
01:05:08,860 --> 01:05:13,360
excuse me. Next person to speak is

604
01:05:13,360 --> 01:05:15,320
Kurt Beesley,

605
01:05:17,500 --> 01:05:24,620
Kurt Beesley. Good morning, commissioners, and chairman pits. My name is

606
01:05:24,620 --> 01:05:32,600
Kurt Beesley. I am calling in support of the creation of the $1 million women's health grant program that

607
01:05:32,600 --> 01:05:36,140
will support women as a whole.

608
01:05:36,760 --> 01:05:39,060
I strongly support women should have the right

609
01:05:39,060 --> 01:05:41,780
to do with their bodies as they choose.

610
01:05:42,440 --> 01:05:45,080
Meaning reproductive rights are human rights.

611
01:05:45,700 --> 01:05:48,300
Therefore, I am asking for the repeal

612
01:05:48,300 --> 01:05:52,960
and the renouncing of the states, six weeks abortion ban,

613
01:05:53,360 --> 01:05:56,080
additionally, all people have rights

614
01:05:56,080 --> 01:05:58,840
in course incarcerated or not.

615
01:05:58,840 --> 01:06:03,320
I support the continuation of the Pant Program.

616
01:06:03,720 --> 01:06:04,820
Thank you.

617
01:06:06,620 --> 01:06:12,260
The next person to speak is SEMA, Rotty.

618
01:06:16,540 --> 01:06:17,980
SEMA, Rotty.

619
01:06:22,950 --> 01:06:28,870
Next person to speak is Serena Darsaro.

620
01:06:29,530 --> 01:06:30,290
Excuse me.

621
01:06:31,190 --> 01:06:32,450
Serena Darsaro.

622
01:06:36,260 --> 01:06:39,000
Next person to speak is Shelly Steel.

623
01:06:41,970 --> 01:06:43,050
Shelly Steel.

624
01:06:45,930 --> 01:06:55,710
The next person to speak is Tina Hassan, Tina Hassan,

625
01:06:58,270 --> 01:07:01,330
next person to speak is Alicia Stahlworth,

626
01:07:04,270 --> 01:07:06,290
Alicia Stahlworth,

627
01:07:09,490 --> 01:07:12,630
and this concludes our Zoom public comments.

628
01:07:13,350 --> 01:07:13,900
Thank you.

629
01:07:14,550 --> 01:07:15,290
Continue metaphor.

630
01:07:16,790 --> 01:07:20,150
Continuing on the public hearings on page 6,

631
01:07:21,910 --> 01:07:26,530
250921 finance, public hearing for the fiscal year

632
01:07:26,530 --> 01:07:29,530
2026 proposed operating budget.

633
01:07:30,910 --> 01:07:31,390
How many speakers?

634
01:07:32,770 --> 01:07:35,530
We have received five speaker cards.

635
01:07:35,530 --> 01:07:46,050
L.A. Pink, Charlotte Hearst, Robbie Cobain, Janet Hill, and Miranda Estes.

636
01:08:26,940 --> 01:08:39,160
My name is Charlotte Hearst, and I was a resident at the Rice Street jail on Tuesday, September 23rd,

637
01:08:39,160 --> 01:08:43,780
when the led better and

638
01:08:43,780 --> 01:08:46,740
shenaya white situation occurred.

639
01:08:48,080 --> 01:08:52,100
I wanted to say that I feel that that

640
01:08:52,100 --> 01:08:53,900
incident could have been avoided

641
01:08:55,280 --> 01:08:57,580
because of negligence.

642
01:08:57,840 --> 01:09:00,080
They should have put not have put those two women

643
01:09:00,080 --> 01:09:02,700
in that room together.

644
01:09:04,820 --> 01:09:06,200
Sheriff's, I mean, not sheriff's,

645
01:09:06,200 --> 01:09:14,040
Officer Strosier that morning did a sat down. She sat down every other room

646
01:09:14,040 --> 01:09:21,880
but the room that led better and Shaniah White were in. After they removed

647
01:09:21,880 --> 01:09:27,520
Shaniah White out of that room, no one checked to see if led better was in that

648
01:09:27,520 --> 01:09:45,780
led better did not get found in that room until 530, a five o'clock. She had been in that room for over, she had been in that room for like 10 o'clock when they did the shake down.

649
01:09:46,640 --> 01:09:55,860
I'm sorry to her parents that they had to go through that. Also, the health care system in the jail is terrible.

650
01:09:56,480 --> 01:09:59,980
Um, we have, they have, uh, in,

651
01:10:00,000 --> 01:10:05,380
In the case, in their who have sleep acne, their sleep nap acne,

652
01:10:08,160 --> 01:10:15,260
the vice has not worked since August. And here we are in almost November.

653
01:10:15,780 --> 01:10:25,080
15 seconds. Another thing is they're not taking the injured people to their therapy sessions.

654
01:10:25,080 --> 01:10:36,660
Like we have there several people in wheelchairs there. They are not receiving therapy and I just feel that it's it's really sad that these people have

655
01:10:45,230 --> 01:10:46,650
Thank you, ma'am.

656
01:10:54,670 --> 01:10:56,610
This is a public hearing on the proposed

657
01:10:56,610 --> 01:10:59,110
26 operating budget

658
01:10:59,110 --> 01:11:05,150
Absolutely, but this is part of the budget. This is the reason why the budget is all screwed up screwed on

659
01:11:05,770 --> 01:11:10,870
So we we can talk about these type of things because this is the reason why

660
01:11:10,870 --> 01:11:17,050
are discussing a budget, because we have situations that's taking place in people's lives

661
01:11:17,050 --> 01:11:18,070
that isn't messing up.

662
01:11:18,130 --> 01:11:23,830
I mean, Dana, from my understanding, you're funding abortions out of town.

663
01:11:24,210 --> 01:11:30,470
And you won't even help the folks, the students, here in Fulton County, but you want

664
01:11:30,470 --> 01:11:35,190
and to help other people from not even in this county, not even in this state.

665
01:11:36,850 --> 01:11:40,110
with abortions. Y'all up here talking about in that's a

666
01:11:40,110 --> 01:11:43,550
ledge, okay, since you're making fine faces and if it is the truth,

667
01:11:43,550 --> 01:11:47,210
it's a shame. Regardless of the situation, y'all, you guys are talking

668
01:11:47,210 --> 01:11:51,690
about human rights, but y'all are on the take-a-life, like making makes

669
01:11:52,290 --> 01:11:56,070
sense. At the end of the day, regardless, you're right, whatever somebody

670
01:11:56,070 --> 01:12:00,110
want to do with a body, but for somebody to have to put it on a budget, for

671
01:12:00,110 --> 01:12:03,750
somebody to have to put it on, anything that has to do with voting,

672
01:12:04,950 --> 01:12:08,890
That's a problem, because everybody ain't with it.

673
01:12:09,150 --> 01:12:13,370
Just like everybody ain't against it, but it shouldn't even be on the roster.

674
01:12:14,870 --> 01:12:19,410
Y'all need to start taking your time and using it towards the things that matter.

675
01:12:19,670 --> 01:12:24,570
Y'all got to end mates up over here dying, and you ain't put no money over there?

676
01:12:24,950 --> 01:12:26,690
You ain't put no investigation up over there?

677
01:12:27,690 --> 01:12:31,330
Some of these people won't even make it back to their families, but I haven't turkeyed

678
01:12:31,330 --> 01:12:35,530
away. He's Thanksgiving Christmas. And these families are suffering.

679
01:12:35,530 --> 01:12:37,830
And you just got to imitate the came down here.

680
01:12:38,170 --> 01:12:41,410
Had to hear and witness lab better being slaughtered.

681
01:12:42,250 --> 01:12:46,250
And nothing has been done about it. This woman is on life support.

682
01:12:46,910 --> 01:12:49,910
And y'all can argue about a budget. 15 seconds.

683
01:12:50,010 --> 01:12:55,630
You can argue about a whole who should be transgender than who should be this.

684
01:12:56,590 --> 01:13:00,710
Go transgender up over there at that jail. Change some of that.

685
01:13:10,700 --> 01:13:18,880
I wanted to speak again, specific to the issue of budgeting and finance and relationship to the deep crisis.

686
01:13:22,040 --> 01:13:24,260
It is not true, Moe Ivory,

687
01:13:26,360 --> 01:13:34,120
that there is no funding available for these crimes. That is not true.

688
01:13:34,120 --> 01:13:44,620
So you need to stop gaslighting citizens, you need to stop inciting hostility, when we respectfully demand that you do your job.

689
01:13:46,680 --> 01:13:56,240
The last time I checked, it is free to report a crime that hasn't absolutely nothing to do with funding.

690
01:13:59,060 --> 01:14:24,760
I will propose that we find a way between the 800 million dollars that the state received to address these crimes, be utilized, and potentially portion of the 14 billion dollar surplus with the state to come up with a program to resolve these deep crime issues.

691
01:14:25,160 --> 01:14:26,100
Thank you again.

692
01:14:26,100 --> 01:14:26,760
Hello

693
01:14:37,350 --> 01:14:44,290
again. Hello again commissioners. I am back up here to speak for the fiscal year

694
01:14:44,290 --> 01:14:50,310
2026 proposed operating budget and asked that you all do affirm the resolutions brought

695
01:14:50,310 --> 01:14:58,510
forth by the spirit and also dedicate the money to the women's health program. This isn't just

696
01:14:58,510 --> 01:14:59,710
investment services.

697
01:15:00,000 --> 01:15:06,420
It's an investment, the stability of our families, the resilience of our communities, and the well-being

698
01:15:06,420 --> 01:15:12,960
of future generations. Local organizations like Amplified Georgia and Feminist Center are

699
01:15:12,960 --> 01:15:17,860
often the first, and sometimes the only points of access for many people, and that's not good enough.

700
01:15:18,200 --> 01:15:25,380
And to say that it is to fund one type of service is divisive and not true. These things cover

701
01:15:25,380 --> 01:15:32,380
a plethora of reproductive and sexual health care services that are necessary to strengthen vital

702
01:15:32,380 --> 01:15:37,460
public health infrastructure and are desperately needed here in Fulton County. In addition,

703
01:15:37,640 --> 01:15:41,700
the creation of a women's commission would ensure that the lived experiences of all people

704
01:15:41,700 --> 01:15:46,940
with uterus is in Fulton County, our knowledge, heard, and centered in policy making. That makes

705
01:15:46,940 --> 01:15:51,640
for all of our communities to be stronger. Black women, immigrant women, queer people, women

706
01:15:51,640 --> 01:15:57,280
with disability, young people, everyone, especially those who don't look like me are often left

707
01:15:57,280 --> 01:15:57,920
to the cold.

708
01:15:58,400 --> 01:16:03,740
It would give our county's structured, consistent mechanisms to respond holistically to real

709
01:16:03,740 --> 01:16:11,980
community needs, and I ask that you all will pass these three proposed measures,

710
01:16:14,160 --> 01:16:14,360
and

711
01:16:14,360 --> 01:16:19,320
while counties can't change state law, they can lead, and I hope that Fulton County will set

712
01:16:19,320 --> 01:16:21,380
a bold precedent here today. Thank you.

713
01:16:30,900 --> 01:16:42,040
I didn't intend on having another two minutes. I would encourage you all to increase the time for people because otherwise we have to keep coming down here when you don't correct the problems regarding this budget.

714
01:16:42,720 --> 01:16:44,280
There's several things that I want to address.

715
01:16:44,840 --> 01:16:47,660
But as a taxpayer, I just have to say, and I'll speak off the cuff.

716
01:16:48,200 --> 01:16:51,380
I'm mortified. I'm mortified that you have failed to address so many things.

717
01:16:51,380 --> 01:16:57,380
I'm horrified that our government is so sloppy that you run for profit real estate tours through

718
01:16:57,380 --> 01:17:01,740
south side communities without even warning the public, predatory investment occurs, you have

719
01:17:01,740 --> 01:17:07,580
multiple people speaking about it, and you all are apparently involved in even some of, you know,

720
01:17:07,720 --> 01:17:11,580
the leans or foreclosures on these properties when our people are suffering, then when they're put

721
01:17:11,580 --> 01:17:15,820
out of their homes, evicted, and again, I'm saying this is a real estate broker who's witnessed us directly,

722
01:17:16,020 --> 01:17:21,260
who have emails about all of this information with our corrupt MPs system, then you criminalize people

723
01:17:21,260 --> 01:17:23,360
for being homeless, then you send them to the jail,

724
01:17:23,660 --> 01:17:25,540
and they're abused in the jail by the very sheriff,

725
01:17:25,660 --> 01:17:26,740
who are supposed to protect them.

726
01:17:26,960 --> 01:17:28,540
And you have witnesses coming here,

727
01:17:28,580 --> 01:17:30,680
you have staff coming here, you have employees coming here,

728
01:17:30,680 --> 01:17:31,840
you have whistleblowers coming here,

729
01:17:32,040 --> 01:17:33,140
and you don't correct it.

730
01:17:33,140 --> 01:17:34,400
So this is clearly a pattern.

731
01:17:34,540 --> 01:17:35,780
It's a pattern with all of you.

732
01:17:35,880 --> 01:17:37,180
It's a pattern of lack of oversight,

733
01:17:37,360 --> 01:17:39,280
it's a pattern of corruption, it's a pattern of waste.

734
01:17:39,700 --> 01:17:40,620
So what are you going to do,

735
01:17:40,720 --> 01:17:42,260
expect us to just pay more and more?

736
01:17:42,480 --> 01:17:44,340
And yes, I'm going to bring up the animals again,

737
01:17:44,720 --> 01:17:46,260
because they don't deserve to suffer either.

738
01:17:46,600 --> 01:17:49,040
So why is it that a county contractor and NGO

739
01:17:49,040 --> 01:17:51,200
a lifeline who gives kickbacks to you,

740
01:17:51,280 --> 01:17:53,380
philanthropic dollars has never been investigated.

741
01:17:53,560 --> 01:17:55,080
When animals come back from their dead,

742
01:17:55,220 --> 01:17:57,220
they don't release bites, they allow people to do drugs

743
01:17:57,220 --> 01:17:58,680
on site, their whistleblowers,

744
01:17:58,880 --> 01:18:00,240
it's a toxic work environment.

745
01:18:01,000 --> 01:18:02,360
Literally, this is all over TikTok.

746
01:18:02,920 --> 01:18:04,220
And none of you will even respond.

747
01:18:04,700 --> 01:18:06,220
You won't even respond, except to say,

748
01:18:06,300 --> 01:18:08,600
you can hire my firm, you can hire my private firm

749
01:18:08,600 --> 01:18:11,200
when people contact you about animal control.

750
01:18:11,800 --> 01:18:13,520
Is that, oh yeah, I just send the email

751
01:18:13,520 --> 01:18:15,980
to the county manager, and I'm gonna forward it to you too.

752
01:18:16,640 --> 01:18:18,040
Can you fix this, please?

753
01:18:18,040 --> 01:18:20,040
Can you stop making us waste our money?

754
01:18:20,040 --> 01:18:20,620
15 seconds.

755
01:18:20,700 --> 01:18:21,980
I work really hard.

756
01:18:22,280 --> 01:18:23,720
I do not co-sign this.

757
01:18:24,000 --> 01:18:25,300
Not with my tax dollars.

758
01:18:25,660 --> 01:18:27,060
Stop criminalizing the homeless.

759
01:18:27,500 --> 01:18:28,220
Clean it up.

760
01:18:28,240 --> 01:18:29,120
Do you win audit?

761
01:18:29,620 --> 01:18:30,100
What is wrong?

762
01:18:30,120 --> 01:18:33,380
You said you were going to bring anti-corruption to Fulting County.

763
01:18:33,420 --> 01:18:34,040
Where's the audit?

764
01:18:34,200 --> 01:18:34,840
Bridget Thorne?

765
01:18:35,120 --> 01:18:35,740
Where is the audit?

766
01:18:49,880 --> 01:18:50,340
Joshua.

767
01:18:54,430 --> 01:18:57,050
For those of you who doesn't.

768
01:18:57,090 --> 01:18:58,350
Don't know me.

769
01:18:59,650 --> 01:19:01,170
Didn't get a chance to hear from me earlier.

770
01:19:01,170 --> 01:19:09,590
I'm here to speak for the voiceless, for those who cannot speak for themselves, and they're

771
01:19:09,590 --> 01:19:16,510
the ones that are trafficked from food and county jail, often, to the penal institution,

772
01:19:19,490 --> 01:19:26,030
on indictments that are not necessarily true indictment.

773
01:19:28,850 --> 01:19:35,990
If we're going to give money to any of these divisions in any of these departments, we have

774
01:19:35,990 --> 01:19:42,750
to essentially take a look at what's been done in these departments and not wash our hands

775
01:19:42,750 --> 01:19:49,450
once the money leaves our hands because as taxpayers we're all responsible for the dollars

776
01:19:49,450 --> 01:19:54,730
and cents done spent and we have to keep accountability on the money that's going

777
01:19:54,730 --> 01:19:59,930
Now, otherwise, take the name off.

778
01:20:00,240 --> 01:20:09,620
These indictments, these criminal bills that said you're speaking for the people's state of Georgia, that makes no sense.

779
01:20:11,640 --> 01:20:11,640
So,

780
01:20:13,810 --> 01:20:19,750
not to get into the, how these indictments are not being truly prosecuted.

781
01:20:20,590 --> 01:20:34,210
And I'll start from the top to the bottom, judges, prosecutors, public defenders, and private attorneys are all involved.

782
01:20:35,850 --> 01:20:37,750
The question is, not really to you guys.

783
01:20:38,130 --> 01:20:38,770
15 seconds.

784
01:20:38,790 --> 01:20:48,690
Question is, what are we going to do to make sure that the jobs that we paid you guys for is being done correctly?

785
01:20:48,690 --> 01:20:50,630
Thank you.

786
01:20:55,560 --> 01:20:58,760
Mr. Chairman of the Board, we have six speakers also.

787
01:21:01,330 --> 01:21:07,410
Hello, commissioners. The first person to speak will be SEMA Ratty.

788
01:21:13,620 --> 01:21:20,580
Hello, um, under the mayor and respect the councilmen, girls and the guests.

789
01:21:24,000 --> 01:21:28,440
My name is SEMA Ratty, a beautiful resident in the city of Atlanta.

790
01:21:28,440 --> 01:21:35,380
This Thanksgiving month from October to December is particularly meaningful for us, Hindus

791
01:21:35,380 --> 01:21:42,040
around the world, we celebrated Diwali, and this week the Holy Son, Gita, the Bhagavad-gita,

792
01:21:42,480 --> 01:21:51,740
5,000th anniversary has been celebrated, which is our tharmic, that is the beautiful duties

793
01:21:51,740 --> 01:21:58,120
prescribed for us as a person, how to live life in harmony in a societal response

794
01:21:58,120 --> 01:22:04,120
British, of respect and promote peace, stand up to the oppression in communities.

795
01:22:04,880 --> 01:22:12,260
Diwali has not, has got the status and recognize in few states as declared as a

796
01:22:12,260 --> 01:22:20,160
holiday. I am a volunteer of the HSS, Kona, different organizations that promote Hindu values

797
01:22:20,160 --> 01:22:23,820
and the spirit of that the world is one family.

798
01:22:24,460 --> 01:22:27,520
Saitlus service is in the heart of our daily lives.

799
01:22:28,120 --> 01:22:29,920
In this period, during Diwali,

800
01:22:30,300 --> 01:22:32,500
at national level projects have been called

801
01:22:32,500 --> 01:22:36,500
for Siva Diwali, where we are particularly made a difference

802
01:22:36,500 --> 01:22:42,280
in Atlanta serve the North Fulton County

803
01:22:42,280 --> 01:22:46,240
with 1,800 pounds of food and supplies.

804
01:22:46,240 --> 01:22:59,940
Last year in 2024, in 38 states, over 170,000 pounds of food and supplies were made, and we still don't have the total count for this year.

805
01:23:00,280 --> 01:23:00,760
50 seconds.

806
01:23:01,840 --> 01:23:07,720
And it has been by 250 organizations of the Hindu, Jain, Buddhists and Sikhs.

807
01:23:07,720 --> 01:23:13,560
We wish to share this light of hope in all of its all residents of Fulton and believe that

808
01:23:13,560 --> 01:23:18,240
every individual and regardless of faith, the color of background needs to be uplifted

809
01:23:18,240 --> 01:23:18,780
and respected.

810
01:23:19,340 --> 01:23:22,300
We look forward to combined service and support our data.

811
01:23:24,010 --> 01:23:26,850
The next person to speak is Kevin Moldownie.

812
01:23:36,580 --> 01:23:40,440
The next person to speak is Kurt Beesley.

813
01:23:47,360 --> 01:23:49,560
The next person to speak is Shelley Steele.

814
01:23:56,310 --> 01:23:58,130
This concludes our Zoom public comment.

815
01:23:59,150 --> 01:23:59,370
Hearing.

816
01:24:00,250 --> 01:24:00,730
Thank you.

817
01:24:00,730 --> 01:24:02,130
Continue Manimpler.

818
01:24:03,030 --> 01:24:05,690
Bottom of pace. Six presentations to the board.

819
01:24:07,370 --> 01:24:08,050
250922.

820
01:24:08,470 --> 01:24:09,930
Marda quarterly update.

821
01:24:42,970 --> 01:24:44,110
My name is Jonathan Hunt.

822
01:24:44,330 --> 01:24:46,630
I'm the interim general manager and CEO of your

823
01:24:46,630 --> 01:24:47,970
Marda transit system.

824
01:24:49,270 --> 01:24:52,750
Thank you to the Fulton Board members here.

825
01:24:53,250 --> 01:24:55,710
My Fulton Board members free to heartage.

826
01:24:56,430 --> 01:24:58,550
Fulton Board members pond as well as Elizabeth

827
01:24:58,550 --> 01:24:59,870
Bolton Harris listening.

828
01:25:00,000 --> 01:25:22,460
On line, it was great joining the Greater North Fulton Chamber's strategic leadership visit in Arizona, engaging with a delegation on transit plans, as well as partnerships and paths forward to a better transit system in the future, especially enjoyed spending time with Commissioner Thorne on the trip. Thank you. Now we're going to turn to our agenda.

829
01:25:26,520 --> 01:25:27,360
Next slide.

830
01:25:28,460 --> 01:25:35,740
Ridership capital programs are partially funded projects as well as other news is what I plan on covering today next slide.

831
01:25:38,060 --> 01:25:44,380
First on ridership, looking at a ridership, there was a general reminder that our street car is closed if present,

832
01:25:44,660 --> 01:25:49,060
due to work that Georgia power is conducting and making utility repairs below ground.

833
01:25:49,640 --> 01:25:55,180
Prior to the street car closures, we saw improved ridership to pre-pandemic levels.

834
01:25:55,180 --> 01:26:04,340
And across all modes, we're seeing cyclical increases coming out of the summer months and we expect those to increase and continue.

835
01:26:05,020 --> 01:26:20,280
We anticipate our ridership on bus and rail to increase by this time next year with the implementation of our better brief system, improve the Marta app, as well as the implementation of our next gen bus network, which I'm going to talk about later in my presentation.

836
01:26:21,720 --> 01:26:27,680
Next slide, we're going to turn to some of our capital program items.

837
01:26:28,360 --> 01:26:40,280
First, at airport station, we continue to see progression on the airport station with the installation of the second elevator, which has been completed, as well as near completion of our ride store at airport station.

838
01:26:40,960 --> 01:26:42,080
Next slide.

839
01:26:42,080 --> 01:26:48,460
I want to spend a little bit of time talking about our Marta Rapid A line and updated

840
01:26:48,460 --> 01:26:53,980
milling and paving program and design was approved by the city allowing construction

841
01:26:53,980 --> 01:27:01,120
to advance with fewer utility conflicts as well as accelerating paving on the southern portion

842
01:27:01,120 --> 01:27:03,780
of the route.

843
01:27:04,060 --> 01:27:12,060
We continue to coordinate with G dot on signal timing adjustments in the installation of the

844
01:27:12,060 --> 01:27:23,160
And all required drainage work in the downtown loop has been completed, which has allowed the pavement along the downtown loop to move forward rapidly toward completion.

845
01:27:23,520 --> 01:27:39,680
We're pleased to report that the panographs or the overhead chargers for the route have all now been installed, including the charger that you see in the image on the slide in front of you at Carver station, which is the southern terminus of the route closest to the outline.

846
01:27:39,680 --> 01:27:48,160
Please note that our bus manufacturer new flyer has had a recall on the nationwide recall

847
01:27:48,160 --> 01:27:52,140
on their bus batteries, which is impacting all of their orders.

848
01:27:52,420 --> 01:27:57,580
We are currently working with them on a work around so that the impact does not impact

849
01:27:57,580 --> 01:28:01,080
our project, but that present that is a risk item.

850
01:28:01,940 --> 01:28:08,500
Further on the rapid next slide, further on the rapid project, we've engaged in robust public

851
01:28:08,500 --> 01:28:14,520
engagement. Our rapid response for public engagement team has sent out construction updates via

852
01:28:14,520 --> 01:28:21,580
website, email, social media and the like. We also engaged with constituents and patrons at

853
01:28:21,580 --> 01:28:29,500
the October 2025 Atlanta streets alive event. We are now shifting to get ready to ride phase and we're

854
01:28:29,500 --> 01:28:37,440
going to begin preparing our customers for a new payment process. On the bus rapid transit, we have

855
01:28:37,440 --> 01:28:42,780
a proof of payment process for paying for fair and getting on the system.

856
01:28:43,420 --> 01:28:49,600
You pay for and validate your ticket before you get on the bus, which allows multi-dore

857
01:28:49,600 --> 01:28:55,940
bus boardings, which reduces the dwell time at each station, which increases the amount

858
01:28:55,940 --> 01:29:03,220
of time you have on the reduces the amount of time that you have along the alignment.

859
01:29:03,220 --> 01:29:09,200
excuse me. The picture on the right of the slide that you're looking at is our rapid response

860
01:29:09,200 --> 01:29:16,980
team placing construction, flyers, out-alerting drivers of upcoming construction, and relocations.

861
01:29:17,420 --> 01:29:18,200
Next slide.

862
01:29:20,740 --> 01:29:24,760
We're now going to turn to our five-point transformation project. As a reminder,

863
01:29:25,200 --> 01:29:30,100
the five-point transformation project is two projects in one. The first that we're going to

864
01:29:30,100 --> 01:29:36,220
about is the plasal and street level project or the transformation project. Interior overhead

865
01:29:36,220 --> 01:29:43,620
protections have been completed and those are in place way finding and signage and interior

866
01:29:43,620 --> 01:29:49,560
lighting has also been installed. We've also installed exterior lighting of course inside of our

867
01:29:49,560 --> 01:29:55,540
construction fencing but we've also installed exterior lighting along the construction fence line

868
01:29:55,540 --> 01:29:59,960
along the entire route around five.

869
01:30:00,000 --> 01:30:09,500
Point station to better illuminate the area. We are also salvaging as much of the materials as we can with demo, lights,

870
01:30:10,100 --> 01:30:29,980
benches and other items that we can use at other stations. We relocated our MPD office as well as

871
01:30:29,980 --> 01:30:35,720
below the plaza level on the platform levels, new reflective ceilings and wall

872
01:30:35,720 --> 01:30:41,700
tiles are in place much brighter lighting is in place the first and second image you can

873
01:30:41,700 --> 01:30:49,420
see a lot of the lighting on the floors and walls and as well as the tiles on the ceiling and

874
01:30:49,420 --> 01:30:55,340
on the third image you can see the new fans that have been installed I believe we all know

875
01:30:55,340 --> 01:31:01,120
manufacturer of these fans, which are very well received by our customers for removing air circulation.

876
01:31:01,360 --> 01:31:07,120
We won't no longer need platform level fans next slide.

877
01:31:08,740 --> 01:31:14,240
I want to turn the commission's attention to the Cleveland Metropolitan ART project.

878
01:31:14,660 --> 01:31:23,840
Picture on the left is a design of the typical ART bus stop being installed throughout the Cleveland Metropolitan ART project in the entire

879
01:31:23,840 --> 01:31:32,500
The project will span approximately 20 miles round trip, and within the corridor there will be 40

880
01:31:32,500 --> 01:31:39,620
signalized intersections with traffic signals that contain traffic signal priority, installed by GDOT,

881
01:31:39,900 --> 01:31:43,260
which will help improve the headways by reducing them.

882
01:31:43,540 --> 01:31:48,320
Other benefits of the ART project include two jump line at the eastbound Cleveland,

883
01:31:48,320 --> 01:31:55,500
have a new and Springdale Road intersection and four new midblock crossings which have

884
01:31:55,500 --> 01:32:02,140
signalization at them along Cleveland Avenue. There will also be 53 new total shelters

885
01:32:02,140 --> 01:32:09,540
as pictured above and 38 will be solar powered and there will be 54 bike racks that will

886
01:32:09,540 --> 01:32:18,140
come in pairs of three as pictured above at select locations. All shelters and kiosks

887
01:32:18,140 --> 01:32:24,040
along this route will have real-time arrival information provided digitally, and if you're

888
01:32:24,040 --> 01:32:33,440
wondering why there's fewer solar panels than there are entire bus stop amenities, it's

889
01:32:33,440 --> 01:32:38,620
because certain locations are more shaded or there's already power available, which is

890
01:32:38,620 --> 01:32:42,460
why there's a difference between the total shelters and the number of solar panels.

891
01:32:42,460 --> 01:32:50,500
I am happy to report that B-R-T-U construction, a Georgia-based forest park company, was awarded

892
01:32:50,500 --> 01:32:54,240
the project by the Marta Board, and we have signed that contract.

893
01:32:54,500 --> 01:32:59,780
We are targeting a February 26 groundbreaking to get construction underway.

894
01:33:00,760 --> 01:33:01,820
Next slide.

895
01:33:03,100 --> 01:33:10,540
The Marta Rapid Camelton Project, we are 30% design on the corridor, and 15% design stage for

896
01:33:10,540 --> 01:33:16,340
fly over bridge as well as for the transit hub at Green Breyer Mall. We are currently

897
01:33:16,340 --> 01:33:22,980
have the fly over bridge in the alignment to minimize impacts on the right of way to

898
01:33:22,980 --> 01:33:29,080
resonances and businesses as well as to further the transit only lane. The fly over bridge

899
01:33:29,080 --> 01:33:35,140
from Green Breyer Mall to Barge Road will have a parallel pedestrian access along the alignment

900
01:33:35,140 --> 01:33:40,520
and the final design call and tractor for this has been awarded. We continue to engage

901
01:33:40,520 --> 01:33:46,300
with the public through bus ride-alongs, neighborhood briefings, and we hosted a community leaders

902
01:33:46,300 --> 01:33:52,500
roundtable event on over 18th, and we recently sent out postcards to all businesses and residents

903
01:33:52,500 --> 01:33:58,340
along alignment to advise them of how they can continue to participate and engage as we

904
01:33:58,340 --> 01:34:04,320
go to move to final design. All of this is good news, but Morgan News is the project officially

905
01:34:04,320 --> 01:34:10,760
received a medium-high rating for the capital improvement grant funding from the FTA, which means

906
01:34:10,760 --> 01:34:16,980
it will be eligible for federal funding when we reach final design and we do plan on applying

907
01:34:16,980 --> 01:34:25,100
for that. Just another sign that this is headed in the right direction. Next slide, we are going

908
01:34:25,100 --> 01:34:31,560
to turn to some of our partially funded projects. The first being the Georgia 400 plus rapid transit

909
01:34:31,560 --> 01:34:32,280
project.

910
01:34:32,720 --> 01:34:38,660
Mark is continuing to advance the Georgia 400 BRT project by working towards 30% design on

911
01:34:38,660 --> 01:34:43,620
our proposed three line station stops.

912
01:34:44,060 --> 01:34:49,400
As you'll see on the picture on the right, there's four nodes noted as a stop.

913
01:34:49,660 --> 01:34:57,760
The old Milton Parkway stop is currently not within the agreement, but we're working to

914
01:34:57,760 --> 01:34:59,880
if we can work that in, depending on budgetary.

915
01:35:01,360 --> 01:35:09,340
We've got the $100 million state bond and a $26 million allocation from the state route 400 peach partners grew,

916
01:35:10,040 --> 01:35:16,100
which is the awardee from G.D. for the $400 redevelopment project in total, to help provide for

917
01:35:16,100 --> 01:35:23,100
transit station infrastructure. And we're going to continue to identify sources to plug the gap between

918
01:35:23,100 --> 01:35:28,720
what's been allocated and what is needed to complete all of the transit infrastructure for the project.

919
01:35:29,600 --> 01:35:34,020
We have worked with March true North CID and updated the cities specifically,

920
01:35:34,320 --> 01:35:38,200
Alphorehan and Roswell on the project and discuss how the cities and

921
01:35:38,200 --> 01:35:42,280
Martin can work together to deliver the best possible project and the best possible

922
01:35:43,060 --> 01:35:49,380
interface between where one might park to where one actually physically gets on the buses.

923
01:35:49,380 --> 01:35:56,860
We are waiting GDOT to mobilize with state route 400 peach partners prior to full engagement

924
01:35:56,860 --> 01:36:00,640
because we don't want to get ahead of GDOT on this project.

925
01:36:01,800 --> 01:36:02,320
Next slide.

926
01:36:05,270 --> 01:36:10,650
The automated transit network or ATN pilot for short, as a reminder, we're in partnership

927
01:36:10,650 --> 01:36:18,450
with the Atlanta Airport Community Improvement Districts or the ACIDs to study the deployment

928
01:36:18,450 --> 01:36:24,730
and pilot deployment of an automated transit network at GICC down by the airport in the South

929
01:36:24,730 --> 01:36:31,370
Metro region. The study is going to evaluate the potential benefits of an automated transit network

930
01:36:31,370 --> 01:36:37,070
as well as how a pilot would operate if it were fully implemented in a broader scale.

931
01:36:37,550 --> 01:36:43,350
The first governance committee meeting was held on October 14th and the next one will be in

932
01:36:43,350 --> 01:36:49,490
We look forward to full partnership again in participation in these meetings.

933
01:36:50,750 --> 01:36:58,290
Next slide, the AT&T's Ability Study will be conducted by Marta in conjunction with the pilot.

934
01:36:59,390 --> 01:37:06,350
The following this, we will progress to examining whether a broader build-out concept for an AT&T

935
01:37:07,570 --> 01:37:15,510
alignment is possible, but that pilot and that feasibility will probably not be completed

936
01:37:15,510 --> 01:37:21,990
until late 2026 early 2027, because we need the pilot to actually be constructed and operating

937
01:37:21,990 --> 01:37:25,590
before we dive deeply into the feasibility portion.

938
01:37:26,510 --> 01:37:29,250
I'd like to turn to some other news next slide.

939
01:37:30,970 --> 01:37:35,310
Thank you, and you all have probably heard me say that a better breeze is coming.

940
01:37:35,310 --> 01:37:40,590
By next spring, our Better Breeze Fair is easy for me to say.

941
01:37:41,110 --> 01:37:48,530
Fair payment system will allow riders to pay directly at our fair gates and our buses with credit cards,

942
01:37:48,670 --> 01:37:54,010
debit cards, virtual wallets, and just about any mode of payment that you would like.

943
01:37:54,610 --> 01:37:58,050
Late next year patrons will even be able to buy breeze cards from retailers.

944
01:37:58,890 --> 01:38:03,390
We will have new fair boxes and validators on our buses as well.

945
01:38:03,910 --> 01:38:08,450
We'll have new station gate arrays where you pass through,

946
01:38:08,690 --> 01:38:12,950
which are more aesthetically pleasing and harder to fair evade.

947
01:38:13,750 --> 01:38:16,770
The pilot fair gates have been installed at Limburg Station already,

948
01:38:17,150 --> 01:38:20,850
and I invite yourselves or the public who want to see what this might look like.

949
01:38:21,070 --> 01:38:24,470
We've kept the construction fencing at Limburg C through,

950
01:38:24,570 --> 01:38:26,710
so you can see what it's like if you'd like to see.

951
01:38:26,710 --> 01:38:30,130
But those TVMs at Lindberg were just to start.

952
01:38:30,270 --> 01:38:35,070
We are engaged in rigorous construction right now across our entire system.

953
01:38:35,330 --> 01:38:40,550
So you may go to your station and see construction fencing around one entrance in an entrance

954
01:38:40,550 --> 01:38:41,170
closed.

955
01:38:41,530 --> 01:38:43,490
That's the better-free system being installed.

956
01:38:44,350 --> 01:38:47,450
We're going to be conducting extensive public outreach campaign.

957
01:38:47,750 --> 01:38:51,270
That will begin in January and launch and go through next spring.

958
01:38:52,090 --> 01:38:56,550
We will be advising you all because I know that sometimes constituents feel more comfortable

959
01:38:56,550 --> 01:38:58,510
coming to you versus directly to us.

960
01:38:58,870 --> 01:39:01,030
So we'll be engaging with each of the commissioners

961
01:39:01,030 --> 01:39:02,570
to make sure that you have all the information

962
01:39:02,570 --> 01:39:04,550
on our better brief system.

963
01:39:05,350 --> 01:39:08,970
Additionally, in the spring next slide is our next gen bus

964
01:39:08,970 --> 01:39:11,110
network, which we're very excited to announce

965
01:39:11,110 --> 01:39:14,810
will be launching on April 18 of 2026.

966
01:39:15,250 --> 01:39:18,110
The new network will be smarter faster and better.

967
01:39:18,610 --> 01:39:21,790
It's going to provide more than triple the number of corridors

968
01:39:21,790 --> 01:39:26,770
and access to a bus with 15 minute headways are better.

969
01:39:27,410 --> 01:39:29,210
The service is going to be more consistent

970
01:39:29,210 --> 01:39:33,070
by delivering the same consistent bus availability

971
01:39:33,410 --> 01:39:37,490
of frequency each day and seven days a week.

972
01:39:37,790 --> 01:39:40,450
We'll be adding 12 new martyr-reach zones

973
01:39:40,450 --> 01:39:44,510
or on-demand zones where in you'll get curb-decorbed service

974
01:39:44,510 --> 01:39:47,390
if you have a trip that's within that zone,

975
01:39:47,690 --> 01:39:50,290
your point to point or you can take that

976
01:39:50,290 --> 01:39:53,750
to one of our fast frequent bus net work or the rail system

977
01:39:54,430 --> 01:39:57,430
to get to a longer trip that may be outside of that zone.

978
01:39:58,230 --> 01:39:59,970
Two days ago on December 1st, we...

979
01:40:00,000 --> 01:40:10,040
We started putting up signs, alerting folks about changes to their best routes, on the bus stops and at the bus amenities themselves.

980
01:40:11,140 --> 01:40:18,940
You likely start to get questions about that, but there are over 6,000 stops, and in order to get all the notices out, we need to start early.

981
01:40:19,760 --> 01:40:26,980
We do plan on engaging with your staff and providing information, but the best place to provide information is located on the slide.

982
01:40:26,980 --> 01:40:37,220
If you're watching online for those here at www.smarta.com forward slash next gen, which is where all the updates will be housed.

983
01:40:38,260 --> 01:40:48,360
Finally, if you have events or newsletters where you can communicate with your constituents about next gen, network, please do, please reach out to our external affairs team.

984
01:40:48,660 --> 01:40:52,780
We will provide whatever information or support that you may need.

985
01:40:53,340 --> 01:41:03,320
In the longer term, we're going to provide tool kits with detailed information to your staff so they'll have handy one or two pages right there in your offices as well.

986
01:41:04,440 --> 01:41:04,920
Next slide.

987
01:41:07,340 --> 01:41:09,620
For a moment, I want to talk about public safety.

988
01:41:11,060 --> 01:41:12,460
And it further requests for the commissioners.

989
01:41:12,520 --> 01:41:15,520
You can see how MPD has been keeping our brighter safe.

990
01:41:16,300 --> 01:41:19,800
As of December 1, our numbers are noted on the slide above.

991
01:41:19,800 --> 01:41:27,960
But of note, and they're all of note, but overall crime is down 29% which is an improvement

992
01:41:27,960 --> 01:41:33,680
upon what we reported with myself and Chief Career the last time we came before you, which

993
01:41:33,680 --> 01:41:35,260
were very, very proud about.

994
01:41:35,880 --> 01:41:42,100
We are one of the safest transit authorities in the nation, but we are aware that not everybody

995
01:41:42,100 --> 01:41:46,980
feels totally safe on our system, so we are continuing to strive to improve that.

996
01:41:46,980 --> 01:41:51,460
We work with neighboring public safety and law enforcement agencies.

997
01:41:51,700 --> 01:41:56,440
We have crime reduction units that partner with Atlanta, East Point College Park, South

998
01:41:56,440 --> 01:42:01,240
Folten, Sandy Springs, Dunwoody, just to name a few of the jurisdictions that we partner

999
01:42:01,240 --> 01:42:06,740
with as well as Georgia State Patrol and of course Sheriff's Department like Folten counties.

1000
01:42:07,640 --> 01:42:12,340
I want to thank Folten County and the commissioners as well as the Sheriff's Department for

1001
01:42:12,340 --> 01:42:20,100
seats and positions in the academy. We have MPD officers that are go future MPD officers that

1002
01:42:20,100 --> 01:42:25,400
are going through the academy right now. I attended a graduation for two last night that I'm

1003
01:42:25,400 --> 01:42:32,420
very proud of. We committed to this body. The last time I was here to have full

1004
01:42:32,420 --> 01:42:42,320
a lot of sworn officers by the end of the year, which is 250. I'm pleased to report that we

1005
01:42:42,320 --> 01:42:48,780
We committed to hiring an additional 30 sworn officers and 10 field protective specialists,

1006
01:42:48,960 --> 01:42:53,380
which are non sworn officers, who are foolish multipliers for our sworn officers.

1007
01:42:54,020 --> 01:42:59,360
They carry everything that a officer carries except for a gun and a taser.

1008
01:43:00,780 --> 01:43:06,460
And we've hired 10 additional folks to go into academies for our sworn officers.

1009
01:43:06,460 --> 01:43:12,800
were 10 out of the 40 additional positions have been higher. We're very excited about the

1010
01:43:12,800 --> 01:43:17,580
excitement around joining MPD and law enforcement generally, and I want to thank you for

1011
01:43:17,580 --> 01:43:20,500
the partnership to make that happen. Next slide.

1012
01:43:22,960 --> 01:43:29,100
I'm going to turn to our community public engagement. We have done an absolute ton of public engagement

1013
01:43:29,100 --> 01:43:35,840
under external affairs group. They have really ramped it up at the direction of our chief

1014
01:43:35,840 --> 01:43:39,720
staff, myself and our deputy general manager Ronda Allen.

1015
01:43:40,420 --> 01:43:41,800
So I'm going to highlight a few things here.

1016
01:43:42,000 --> 01:43:44,760
Don't worry, I'm not going to go through everything day by day,

1017
01:43:45,420 --> 01:43:47,080
but this is a strong sampling.

1018
01:43:47,880 --> 01:43:49,040
During the month of October,

1019
01:43:49,920 --> 01:43:53,300
we attended over a nine housing events at senior centers

1020
01:43:53,700 --> 01:43:56,660
to update them about the upcoming next-gen bus network,

1021
01:43:56,860 --> 01:44:01,520
better breeze, as well as a variety of new items coming forward.

1022
01:44:01,940 --> 01:44:04,440
In October, we hosted two senior staff,

1023
01:44:04,440 --> 01:44:11,480
of events and we're happy to host commissioners, Ellis, Thorne, Ivory, and Errington's staff.

1024
01:44:12,440 --> 01:44:17,420
And we are able to, we're going to have these throughout next year and on an ongoing basis.

1025
01:44:17,760 --> 01:44:22,780
So if you want your staff to come back and do it again, those who couldn't have staff to attend that other time,

1026
01:44:22,980 --> 01:44:26,080
there are other opportunities in 2026 coming soon.

1027
01:44:26,360 --> 01:44:29,440
And we look forward to hosting your staff for future 101's.

1028
01:44:29,440 --> 01:44:35,920
September 16th, we partnered with local civil groups for national voter registrations day

1029
01:44:35,920 --> 01:44:47,780
where we had folks register as well as disseminating nonpartisan civic engagement materials.

1030
01:44:49,020 --> 01:44:54,570
Next slide. October 23rd, I attended the Eritropolis Board meeting to talk about

1031
01:44:54,570 --> 01:44:59,770
projects and initiatives happening throughout Folten with the focus on South Folten.

1032
01:45:00,000 --> 01:45:27,980
In the greater airport area, and on Thursday, October 30th, in the middle picture, myself, Chief of Staff Parker, as well as our external affairs team, celebrated Atlanta's own outcast by releasing a custom wrapped martyr bus in honor of the 25th anniversary of their groundbreaking Stankonia album, which was released on October 31st, 2000, as well as their induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

1033
01:45:30,840 --> 01:45:36,800
The breeze cards that we've done around that event are wildly popular and they are limited.

1034
01:45:37,440 --> 01:45:40,420
I can't tell you that I have one for each of the commissioners.

1035
01:45:40,720 --> 01:45:45,960
My external staff, a fair staff, will be getting them to your staff outside of this meeting.

1036
01:45:46,660 --> 01:45:48,000
But they are here in the building.

1037
01:45:49,040 --> 01:45:54,040
In November, our external affairs, a research in analysis and MPD teams, we're also talking

1038
01:45:54,040 --> 01:46:01,380
riders in the Campbellton corridor about the Campbellton BRT project at length.

1039
01:46:02,000 --> 01:46:07,280
And then my last slide, I have our legislative agenda, next slide, I apologize.

1040
01:46:07,900 --> 01:46:09,000
Thank you.

1041
01:46:09,440 --> 01:46:14,560
Our legislative agenda, we have two core items that we're focusing on, which is the extension

1042
01:46:14,560 --> 01:46:21,220
of our core penny funding, as well as transit lane, camera, enforcement.

1043
01:46:21,220 --> 01:46:26,380
Our staff was able to visit with chair pits at length and thank you for your time.

1044
01:46:26,920 --> 01:46:33,180
We are sending a deck that kind of summarizes everything to the balance of the commission

1045
01:46:33,180 --> 01:46:40,480
and will make my external affairs in myself available for any follow-up meetings regarding these two legislative items.

1046
01:46:40,920 --> 01:46:43,560
So we can talk in depth to answer any questions.

1047
01:46:44,140 --> 01:46:47,540
With that, I think in terms of speaking, I think I've spoken enough.

1048
01:46:47,540 --> 01:46:49,800
And I'll open it up to questions.

1049
01:46:49,980 --> 01:46:52,280
Thank you all for the time and the opportunity to.

1050
01:46:52,460 --> 01:46:55,920
I'll thank you all for the presentation, Commissioner Harrington, Commissioner Barrett.

1051
01:46:56,320 --> 01:46:57,540
Commissioner Out of Vice-Terrorless.

1052
01:46:58,240 --> 01:46:58,920
Commissioner Carrington.

1053
01:47:00,120 --> 01:47:01,440
Thank you, Mr. Hunt.

1054
01:47:02,880 --> 01:47:05,160
I guess I'll get to the rest of my questions.

1055
01:47:05,300 --> 01:47:09,380
You answered the most important question about the Alcass Police card.

1056
01:47:09,840 --> 01:47:11,660
So I'll skip that question.

1057
01:47:14,500 --> 01:47:20,220
How long do we anticipate arms, street car being down, or when do you anticipate that coming

1058
01:47:20,220 --> 01:47:20,780
back up?

1059
01:47:21,140 --> 01:47:21,840
Good question.

1060
01:47:22,300 --> 01:47:24,100
We've been talking with Georgia Power.

1061
01:47:24,600 --> 01:47:27,220
We have a January 12th.

1062
01:47:27,220 --> 01:47:30,240
I'm going off the top of my head, January 12th date.

1063
01:47:30,880 --> 01:47:37,260
We are disseminating that publicly through our website, the other mode social media, but

1064
01:47:37,260 --> 01:47:41,520
it's really Georgia Power Schedule, but right now that's when we think that they'll

1065
01:47:41,520 --> 01:47:44,460
will be done and we'll be able to get the street car back up in running.

1066
01:47:45,580 --> 01:47:46,100
Okay, awesome.

1067
01:47:46,580 --> 01:47:54,420
And then with the summer here of BRT, what is the anticipated date that that will be open

1068
01:47:54,420 --> 01:47:55,220
or available?

1069
01:47:57,140 --> 01:47:59,800
So the summer hill rapid line is opening and phasier.

1070
01:47:59,860 --> 01:48:01,480
We're going to have the downtown loop done.

1071
01:48:02,080 --> 01:48:06,660
We're projecting having an alignment where we're servicing the downtown loop prior to

1072
01:48:06,660 --> 01:48:10,160
and through World Cup as well as the terminus at Carver Station.

1073
01:48:10,160 --> 01:48:18,680
And then coming back and finishing with the installation of the other stops, post world cup.

1074
01:48:19,920 --> 01:48:24,100
And that is partially why I was asking about the timing because of World Cup.

1075
01:48:25,200 --> 01:48:35,360
And then the five points, transformation was the S3206, all of that is in advance.

1076
01:48:35,600 --> 01:48:36,840
Two dates on the transformation.

1077
01:48:37,100 --> 01:48:41,160
On the transformation project was the big one with the crane street level.

1078
01:48:41,580 --> 01:48:43,860
That's four year project, 2029.

1079
01:48:44,520 --> 01:48:47,960
Below grade, the rehabilitation project will be done in the spring.

1080
01:48:48,720 --> 01:48:53,880
And if you go through the station, you can already see it lighter, brighter as we get closer to completion.

1081
01:48:53,880 --> 01:48:59,360
construction. All right, and then with the Cambodian Green

1082
01:49:00,100 --> 01:49:05,340
Breyer, what do you anticipate being a final design? Final design in

1083
01:49:05,340 --> 01:49:09,500
2026. Ideally, I'm pushing my team. We'd be able to go out to

1084
01:49:09,500 --> 01:49:13,720
procurement in 2026, but I may be getting a little ahead of myself, but

1085
01:49:13,720 --> 01:49:15,700
at least in 2026.

1086
01:49:20,650 --> 01:49:25,030
All right, I definitely would like to follow up with someone

1087
01:49:25,030 --> 01:49:32,190
you're off this or you're team about more on that Camelton World Greenbriar project.

1088
01:49:32,950 --> 01:49:34,010
Certainly, Commissioner Naked,

1089
01:49:39,400 --> 01:49:41,500
you covered a lot of them just trying to make sure I

1090
01:49:41,500 --> 01:49:42,060
got everything.

1091
01:49:48,670 --> 01:49:50,910
I think that's all that I have. Thank you so much.

1092
01:49:51,290 --> 01:49:55,830
Thank you, Mayor. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. And thank you, Mr. Hunt, for the thorough presentation.

1093
01:49:56,810 --> 01:49:59,370
Seems like there's a lot of good things coming. I'm excited for that.

1094
01:50:00,000 --> 01:50:05,760
Just had a quick question on public safety, in particular, is it relates to the five-point station.

1095
01:50:06,560 --> 01:50:12,100
We're seeing obviously a lot of building happening downtown, a lot of revitalization and retail

1096
01:50:12,100 --> 01:50:16,100
restaurants and things like that coming in. And I've heard from a couple of developers just

1097
01:50:16,100 --> 01:50:21,520
with some concerns, because it has been an area where the station itself has had some issues

1098
01:50:21,520 --> 01:50:27,100
around crime. And I think they're looking for reassurance that Marta's going to step up the

1099
01:50:27,100 --> 01:50:29,260
patrols at the station itself.

1100
01:50:29,960 --> 01:50:30,900
Thank you for the question.

1101
01:50:31,500 --> 01:50:34,640
We share the same concern as the residents down there

1102
01:50:34,640 --> 01:50:35,860
in the business community.

1103
01:50:36,400 --> 01:50:39,800
We've met with all the major stakeholders in and around,

1104
01:50:40,760 --> 01:50:43,820
as well as the city of Atlanta, Georgia State.

1105
01:50:44,020 --> 01:50:47,060
We've renewed the partnership on policing there

1106
01:50:47,060 --> 01:50:49,140
between the three of us.

1107
01:50:49,660 --> 01:50:52,140
Part of the lighting was we were directing lighting

1108
01:50:52,140 --> 01:50:53,640
outward to brighten it up.

1109
01:50:54,060 --> 01:50:56,200
We do patrol obviously our construction site

1110
01:50:56,200 --> 01:51:01,460
We have officers on site almost 24 hours a day, and I want to give away too much of our

1111
01:51:01,460 --> 01:51:06,540
policing, but I've instructed our chief to go ahead and have those folks patrol our

1112
01:51:06,540 --> 01:51:13,420
fence line as well, and I know that all of our partners are also doing the same as well

1113
01:51:13,420 --> 01:51:18,040
as South downtown and the whole broad street redevelopment we've collaborated with them

1114
01:51:18,040 --> 01:51:18,620
as well.

1115
01:51:18,980 --> 01:51:23,380
So it is a huge focus for us, and we don't want the site just because it's construction

1116
01:51:23,380 --> 01:51:25,120
in the area to deteriorate at all.

1117
01:51:25,120 --> 01:51:27,480
Yeah, and I also mean beyond that when it's back.

1118
01:51:27,620 --> 01:51:28,940
So you're going to be in the backstage right now.

1119
01:51:29,240 --> 01:51:30,780
Yes, it's going to be robust.

1120
01:51:31,080 --> 01:51:31,480
Okay.

1121
01:51:32,580 --> 01:51:33,240
Police presence.

1122
01:51:33,520 --> 01:51:33,760
Awesome.

1123
01:51:33,960 --> 01:51:35,420
Thank you.

1124
01:51:35,640 --> 01:51:36,520
Vice chair, Ellis.

1125
01:51:38,140 --> 01:51:40,820
Thanks, Mr. Chair, and thank you, Mr. Hunt, for the update.

1126
01:51:42,640 --> 01:51:47,440
Just one thing I guess we're, you know, we talked about this a little bit, I think, at

1127
01:51:47,440 --> 01:51:53,780
the prior update, but if there would be a way to sort of translate this back.

1128
01:51:54,720 --> 01:51:59,240
As we look at, as you're presenting kind of the projects that are in flight,

1129
01:52:03,280 --> 01:52:15,600
one of the things I asked at the prior meeting was did we have sort of specific, did you all have sort of specific impacts that this we're going to have in terms of ridership and usage associated with each project?

1130
01:52:16,160 --> 01:52:20,660
If that's something that could be added to these slides going forward, I think that would be.

1131
01:52:20,660 --> 01:52:24,060
absolutely bomb us. And we do with our especially with the

1132
01:52:24,060 --> 01:52:27,620
alignments we have to do right ridership analysis and

1133
01:52:27,620 --> 01:52:31,560
play for Grand Funding. That is no problem. Okay. I'll make sure to

1134
01:52:31,560 --> 01:52:35,280
add them as we when I come back to updates as well as provide it to

1135
01:52:35,280 --> 01:52:41,140
your office. Okay. That would be great. And then as we get into

1136
01:52:41,140 --> 01:52:43,980
you noted kind of in a legislative agenda,

1137
01:52:46,900 --> 01:52:49,280
the extension of the

1138
01:52:49,280 --> 01:52:51,200
penny, the core penny.

1139
01:52:54,090 --> 01:52:58,690
I do think it would be good for all of us to get misses and important

1140
01:52:58,690 --> 01:53:03,490
decision. Obviously, I want to help the transit system, but we also want to make sure we

1141
01:53:03,490 --> 01:53:11,190
got something that's in place that fosters that too occur, a lot of money involved in these

1142
01:53:11,190 --> 01:53:18,710
decisions. I think there'd be useful to get some not only whatever this presentation you're

1143
01:53:18,710 --> 01:53:25,090
share with us, but maybe some addendons with that, and I'll be glad to get this in specific

1144
01:53:25,090 --> 01:53:25,950
writing to you.

1145
01:53:26,110 --> 01:53:33,370
But I had sort of three or four core areas, I think number one, a list of the capital projects

1146
01:53:33,370 --> 01:53:38,530
that were completed in the prior tenure period, and the capital costs associated with those.

1147
01:53:40,810 --> 01:53:49,230
A list of the, at least the top 10, maybe the top 20 capital projects that were in flight, and

1148
01:53:49,230 --> 01:53:54,530
estimated cost on those in completion date, and then the impact on the ridership and usage

1149
01:53:54,530 --> 01:53:55,570
like we just talked about.

1150
01:53:57,950 --> 01:54:08,330
A 10-year look back of the sales tax proceeds received by the entity broken out by the

1151
01:54:08,330 --> 01:54:15,760
different jurisdictions, right, the signatures, and then a cost incurred by Marta for the

1152
01:54:15,760 --> 01:54:22,940
five years for administrative sort of non-operational, and then to the extent you could do it for planning.

1153
01:54:23,780 --> 01:54:23,880
Gotcha.

1154
01:54:24,300 --> 01:54:26,840
It might be a little bit more difficult in that last one than we've got to say.

1155
01:54:27,200 --> 01:54:28,060
We've got that.

1156
01:54:28,760 --> 01:54:31,720
We will provide it and sit down and.

1157
01:54:31,760 --> 01:54:31,960
Yeah.

1158
01:54:32,040 --> 01:54:36,580
And I'll send this list back to you, but I think, you know, certainly, I think all

1159
01:54:36,580 --> 01:54:42,440
our board members should have that, you know, is sort of thinking about that and looking at

1160
01:54:42,440 --> 01:54:44,460
that whole discussion around the corpending extension.

1161
01:54:44,460 --> 01:54:47,180
And I'll follow up and write 100% into you.

1162
01:54:47,380 --> 01:54:48,160
OK, thank you, Mr. Ron.

1163
01:54:48,460 --> 01:54:49,400
Thank you, Commissioner Ellis.

1164
01:54:49,760 --> 01:54:50,780
All right, Commissioner Ivory.

1165
01:54:51,260 --> 01:54:52,000
Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

1166
01:54:52,020 --> 01:54:53,040
Hello, CEO, hon.

1167
01:54:53,460 --> 01:54:56,220
Thank you very much for the outcast breeze thing.

1168
01:54:56,300 --> 01:54:58,140
I'll be using it.

1169
01:54:59,200 --> 01:54:59,960
I wanted to first.

1170
01:55:00,000 --> 01:55:05,820
So thank you for the advanced amount of work that's being done on this summer. He'll be RT. I come down,

1171
01:55:05,820 --> 01:55:13,180
Hank Aaron, every day as I live in that area and I have seen a major difference in the work.

1172
01:55:13,800 --> 01:55:23,200
And I wondered if you had any information on what is going to be that sort of neighborhood store that was on the corner of

1173
01:55:23,200 --> 01:55:27,800
on and Hank Aaron, that is at one of the stops.

1174
01:55:28,000 --> 01:55:29,320
What is that new construction?

1175
01:55:29,880 --> 01:55:32,280
Is that just in renovation of what was there before?

1176
01:55:32,360 --> 01:55:33,380
Or is that something new?

1177
01:55:33,700 --> 01:55:38,900
So the prior owner, very vigorous and adept real estate

1178
01:55:39,520 --> 01:55:45,960
negotiator, and subsequent to us getting construction entry

1179
01:55:45,960 --> 01:55:48,580
in a right-of-way rights belief that property

1180
01:55:48,580 --> 01:55:50,340
has been sold to a new entity.

1181
01:55:50,860 --> 01:55:52,360
So I don't know what's going on.

1182
01:55:52,360 --> 01:55:56,500
I can't have our real estate team do a reach out and try to figure out what they're doing there,

1183
01:55:56,500 --> 01:55:58,220
but I have noticed the construction as well.

1184
01:55:58,520 --> 01:56:04,400
Yeah, I'm getting a lot of questions from constituents about what that was a corner grocery store

1185
01:56:04,400 --> 01:56:06,060
that always had some problems.

1186
01:56:06,440 --> 01:56:11,920
And so the community is just trying to figure out what is that replacement thing going to be right there.

1187
01:56:12,300 --> 01:56:13,140
And that's a stop.

1188
01:56:13,460 --> 01:56:16,440
So it's going to be used heavily to make sure whatever it is.

1189
01:56:16,680 --> 01:56:20,400
Our real estate team maintains close contact so we reach out and get back to you.

1190
01:56:20,400 --> 01:56:21,060
Okay, great.

1191
01:56:21,560 --> 01:56:24,920
And then just wanting a refresher on how the summer hill line

1192
01:56:24,920 --> 01:56:26,880
is going to feed into the street car,

1193
01:56:27,120 --> 01:56:29,520
or if it does at any point,

1194
01:56:29,860 --> 01:56:32,720
or where does it, does it feed?

1195
01:56:32,720 --> 01:56:34,620
Does it connect past each other?

1196
01:56:34,760 --> 01:56:35,360
What does it do?

1197
01:56:35,920 --> 01:56:36,600
It will touch.

1198
01:56:36,880 --> 01:56:38,680
On the southern, starting from the south,

1199
01:56:38,780 --> 01:56:40,060
the southern term is the carber.

1200
01:56:40,060 --> 01:56:41,900
It will have a connection to the belt line.

1201
01:56:42,720 --> 01:56:44,200
It's there, they just need to do that.

1202
01:56:44,300 --> 01:56:47,020
Physical, vertical connection, which isn't easy,

1203
01:56:47,200 --> 01:56:48,580
but it'll have a direct connection to the belt line.

1204
01:56:48,580 --> 01:56:51,620
as you move north and you get into the downtown loop,

1205
01:56:51,860 --> 01:56:57,020
we will touch the Beltline, we will touch a couple of stations,

1206
01:56:57,240 --> 01:57:01,620
Georgia State front of the Sloppy Floyd building right there.

1207
01:57:02,360 --> 01:57:04,620
So students on the summer hill, Hank Aaron,

1208
01:57:05,040 --> 01:57:07,680
BRT, that go to Georgia State, can pick it up right there

1209
01:57:07,680 --> 01:57:10,600
at the Olympic rings and take it the rest of the way.

1210
01:57:11,340 --> 01:57:13,480
All the way down to the Bury of New Apartments of Carverestation

1211
01:57:13,480 --> 01:57:16,480
and go to Strait to Georgia State and have their day

1212
01:57:16,480 --> 01:57:18,360
and get back to 15 minutes or less.

1213
01:57:18,360 --> 01:57:21,320
Great. All right. Well, thank you so much. That's really cool. Thank you. Thank you.

1214
01:57:21,320 --> 01:57:22,880
All right. Commissioner Bridget Thorn.

1215
01:57:25,990 --> 01:57:30,570
Hi, CEO Hunt. Thank you for this extensive report here.

1216
01:57:32,190 --> 01:57:39,750
Could you give me just a little bit more detail on the transit lane camera enforcement that is on the agenda?

1217
01:57:41,110 --> 01:57:46,450
Absolutely. So what we're looking to do on the transit lane enforcement is we've had it.

1218
01:57:46,450 --> 01:57:54,190
introduced it in the legislative session last in 2024. In 2025 it made it out of the house

1219
01:57:54,190 --> 01:57:59,310
and it kind of sits in the committee. There's been a little bit of push back and a version

1220
01:57:59,310 --> 01:58:05,330
to Camerlain enforcement with really came out of the school bus, Camerlain enforcement.

1221
01:58:06,550 --> 01:58:11,970
So folks heard Camerlain enforcement and there was a little bit of hesitancy at the legislature

1222
01:58:11,970 --> 01:58:15,870
that it can kill it, so we plan on going back next year.

1223
01:58:16,790 --> 01:58:31,470
And in short, it's to allow us to be able to enforce and make sure people aren't in the bus only lane with their personal vehicles so that we can maintain the headways and allow the local jurisdiction issue a ticket necessary.

1224
01:58:32,090 --> 01:58:38,050
There are warnings that isn't an immediate ticket first time to get warnings before a ticket is issued.

1225
01:58:38,050 --> 01:58:43,030
but that's it in very, very brief for that.

1226
01:58:43,470 --> 01:58:44,730
Thank you, Commissioner Thorn.

1227
01:58:45,090 --> 01:58:45,810
All right, other questions?

1228
01:58:47,130 --> 01:58:48,130
Not, thank you very much.

1229
01:58:48,330 --> 01:58:49,070
You see you next morning.

1230
01:58:49,430 --> 01:58:49,730
Yes, sir.

1231
01:58:49,810 --> 01:58:50,110
All right.

1232
01:58:50,450 --> 01:58:51,150
Continue Madam Clerk.

1233
01:58:51,850 --> 01:58:55,050
On page seven, county managers renewal items.

1234
01:58:55,790 --> 01:58:59,170
25, 0, 9, 2, 3, registration and election.

1235
01:58:59,770 --> 01:59:05,410
Request the approval to renew existing contracts for ballot printing in the amount of 260,000,

1236
01:59:05,410 --> 01:59:06,350
$460.

1237
01:59:06,970 --> 01:59:10,710
All right, most into approval by Commissioner Abdurrah Khman, seconded by Commissioner Thorne

1238
01:59:10,710 --> 01:59:11,970
please vote.

1239
01:59:13,700 --> 01:59:13,820
Let's vote.

1240
01:59:13,820 --> 01:59:14,980
Let me vote as open.

1241
01:59:18,300 --> 01:59:19,780
In the motion passes unanimously.

1242
01:59:20,260 --> 01:59:23,000
$25,000, $0.9,4 information technology.

1243
01:59:23,580 --> 01:59:28,500
Recreased approval to renew it existing contract for countywide audio visual services and

1244
01:59:28,500 --> 01:59:34,220
systems in a total amount not to exceed $116,680,890.

1245
01:59:34,560 --> 01:59:34,860
$48.

1246
01:59:35,480 --> 01:59:39,460
Most into approval by Commissioner Abdurrah Khman, seconded by Commissioner Thorne,

1247
01:59:39,460 --> 01:59:59,960
Thank you Mr Chairman. I just wanted to ask to better understand this AV services request because we go through a lot of IT requests in our meetings that we don't really have much discussion on for very large amounts and I continue to see them each week in the millions and millions of

1248
02:00:00,000 --> 02:00:11,500
So, I just want to ask what exactly are these AV services that might amount to 1.6 million dollars?

1249
02:00:11,700 --> 02:00:22,980
No problem. Good morning. Say I owe care again. Commissioner Ivory, we have numerous facilities that have AV equipment needs to tidy their capital improvement projects or just refresh projects for that equipment.

1250
02:00:23,480 --> 02:00:26,400
So, we have a list of projects that we can share if you'd like to see the detail.

1251
02:00:26,400 --> 02:00:32,040
But it's really just the care and feeding support and upgrading of all of those AV systems throughout the county.

1252
02:00:32,560 --> 02:00:39,100
And so there's a lot of work that is done that equates to these dollar amounts but happy to have further conversation if you want to see those details.

1253
02:00:39,420 --> 02:00:41,420
Okay, yes, I would love to have that list.

1254
02:00:41,580 --> 02:00:42,040
Thank you.

1255
02:00:42,240 --> 02:00:42,640
No problem.

1256
02:00:42,980 --> 02:00:43,720
Commissioner Harrington.

1257
02:00:46,420 --> 02:00:50,420
I think we may have the, I think I spoke with the county manager about the issue.

1258
02:00:50,420 --> 02:00:52,720
But for example, I was at the Wolf Creek Library

1259
02:00:52,720 --> 02:00:57,080
and all of the screens are down with the screen

1260
02:00:57,080 --> 02:00:59,640
or the board was replaced because the technology

1261
02:00:59,640 --> 02:01:03,380
was all or there was a plan to replace those screens.

1262
02:01:03,600 --> 02:01:05,320
Is this part of that?

1263
02:01:05,460 --> 02:01:07,320
I don't have that answer right now,

1264
02:01:07,480 --> 02:01:08,840
but I could definitely look into Wolf Creek

1265
02:01:08,840 --> 02:01:10,560
and make sure that that's being addressed.

1266
02:01:11,300 --> 02:01:12,980
OK, yeah, because in the meeting rooms,

1267
02:01:13,200 --> 02:01:15,580
there was a visual board up.

1268
02:01:16,220 --> 02:01:18,940
But I wasn't there for a meeting two weeks ago,

1269
02:01:18,940 --> 02:01:22,640
and there's no board and no way to do audio visual,

1270
02:01:23,560 --> 02:01:24,620
or at least not the visual.

1271
02:01:25,540 --> 02:01:28,180
I will say we're having discussions to look

1272
02:01:28,180 --> 02:01:31,860
at a true refresh program for AV equipment needs.

1273
02:01:32,100 --> 02:01:34,080
Right now it's a lot of project-based work.

1274
02:01:34,500 --> 02:01:37,980
And so I think we would have a proposal

1275
02:01:37,980 --> 02:01:41,340
that would look at how can we have additional support

1276
02:01:41,340 --> 02:01:44,400
because we have limited staff that support the AV equipment today

1277
02:01:44,920 --> 02:01:47,400
with these vendors taking on more of that support.

1278
02:01:47,400 --> 02:01:49,900
and then doing more health checks

1279
02:01:49,900 --> 02:01:51,320
and caring feeding of those systems

1280
02:01:51,320 --> 02:01:54,200
so that we have them on a routine replacement cycle.

1281
02:01:54,960 --> 02:01:57,160
So I think there's things we could do to improve

1282
02:01:57,160 --> 02:01:58,940
how we manage a via across the county

1283
02:01:58,940 --> 02:02:01,920
and we're taking steps to implement that as well.

1284
02:02:02,220 --> 02:02:04,280
We can definitely look at the Wolf Creek item.

1285
02:02:05,740 --> 02:02:06,200
Thank you.

1286
02:02:06,560 --> 02:02:06,860
You're welcome.

1287
02:02:07,100 --> 02:02:08,640
All right, other questions, comments?

1288
02:02:08,860 --> 02:02:09,660
Not in the phone, please.

1289
02:02:11,020 --> 02:02:11,900
And the vote is open.

1290
02:02:16,570 --> 02:02:18,010
And the motion passes unanimously.

1291
02:02:18,410 --> 02:02:20,870
25, 0, 9, 2, 5, external affairs.

1292
02:02:20,870 --> 02:02:26,110
because of approval to renew existing contracts for communication and engagement services in the

1293
02:02:26,110 --> 02:02:29,850
amount of 477,875 dollars.

1294
02:02:30,050 --> 02:02:35,590
Yeah, I'm pushing to approve Commissioner Abdul-Rachman, seconded by Vice Chair of Ellis.

1295
02:02:36,450 --> 02:02:42,370
Ms. Corbett, I think it's, come on up, think we need to have some discussion about this.

1296
02:02:42,510 --> 02:02:42,970
Because it's a barrier.

1297
02:02:45,580 --> 02:02:49,880
If you want to give us a run, I was going to ask you to, what this specifically is for is the

1298
02:02:49,880 --> 02:02:55,140
experience full-time thing. Yeah, that's correct, Commissioner. So just to give you an update,

1299
02:02:56,280 --> 02:03:03,740
this year our focus has been on two big parts. One is activating on the experience full-time brand.

1300
02:03:03,920 --> 02:03:10,200
That has meant community outreach. So we've done a lot of outreach using that experience full-time

1301
02:03:10,740 --> 02:03:19,860
updated collateral. Some of which is completed. Some of which is in the very final edit stage to be

1302
02:03:19,860 --> 02:03:29,080
my working draft is one example fact sheets for your districts as well and then there's a

1303
02:03:29,080 --> 02:03:37,520
second or parallel to that work is public relations media outreach. So they have complimented the

1304
02:03:37,520 --> 02:03:45,400
work that our team does day to day with media engagement and really with a focus on both regional

1305
02:03:45,400 --> 02:03:53,340
national, as well as trade publications. So, for example, work in, there's a, there's a

1306
02:03:53,340 --> 02:04:00,180
publication called Managed Health, which is a national industry publication, and Dr. Ishal and

1307
02:04:00,180 --> 02:04:06,520
Latrina were both featured talking about our work with Project Care in addressing health equity

1308
02:04:06,520 --> 02:04:14,440
and access, especially with mental health. So, those are some examples of, they've just, we've done

1309
02:04:14,440 --> 02:04:19,760
a lot of work about our airport preparations for the World Cup, so stories that may not

1310
02:04:19,760 --> 02:04:26,620
to be really the day to day bread and butter stories that we work on with general government

1311
02:04:26,620 --> 02:04:33,840
operations, but more telling the story of some of our higher profile projects and work

1312
02:04:33,840 --> 02:04:42,040
in those ways. I'm going into 2026. There's a couple of special buckets that we've really

1313
02:04:42,040 --> 02:04:49,320
identified as priorities. One of course is our work in justice, so the work around the jail,

1314
02:04:49,800 --> 02:04:54,340
making sure that the community is aware of that, working with us to make sure

1315
02:04:54,720 --> 02:04:59,720
as projects come to light and construction begins that we're able to really effectively.

1316
02:05:00,000 --> 02:05:05,740
Communicate that. In supplement the work that we have in our team, obviously collaborating with the

1317
02:05:05,740 --> 02:05:14,440
Sheriff's Office. Another part of that is our work around health care. This board has had a lot of

1318
02:05:14,440 --> 02:05:21,000
interest in that. So specifically behavioral health, which I think you're next to agenda item, we've

1319
02:05:21,000 --> 02:05:27,100
really identified marketing of those behavioral health services as a high priority. So while our team

1320
02:05:27,100 --> 02:05:28,660
has done a lot of work.

1321
02:05:29,240 --> 02:05:32,220
We are not specialists in health care marketing,

1322
02:05:32,520 --> 02:05:35,940
and that is a very specific discipline,

1323
02:05:36,200 --> 02:05:37,880
so having a semeditional resources

1324
02:05:37,880 --> 02:05:39,640
to support our work there.

1325
02:05:40,320 --> 02:05:45,300
And then lastly, I know that you have a budget discussion today.

1326
02:05:45,820 --> 02:05:49,500
We did make a request that is not currently

1327
02:05:49,500 --> 02:05:53,540
one of the funded enhancements around marketing

1328
02:05:53,540 --> 02:05:54,660
for the World Cup.

1329
02:05:54,660 --> 02:05:58,800
This is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to really elevate

1330
02:05:58,800 --> 02:06:05,660
Fulton County's sort of a brand awareness as well as engagement

1331
02:06:06,240 --> 02:06:10,140
as a community around the events that are happening.

1332
02:06:12,380 --> 02:06:14,080
So there are many convention and visitors,

1333
02:06:14,320 --> 02:06:17,160
bureaus and chambers of commerce across Fulton County.

1334
02:06:17,380 --> 02:06:21,860
There is no single Fulton County convention and visitors

1335
02:06:21,860 --> 02:06:23,320
bureau or chamber of commerce.

1336
02:06:23,320 --> 02:06:31,380
So if we want to elevate Fulton County as a participant and as a host community, that we are

1337
02:06:31,380 --> 02:06:34,020
going to need to take some leadership with that.

1338
02:06:34,600 --> 02:06:38,440
So those are some of the initiatives that are planned for the upcoming year.

1339
02:06:39,240 --> 02:06:39,700
Thank you.

1340
02:06:40,140 --> 02:06:47,300
You mentioned some of the things that you've been working on this year that are more national,

1341
02:06:47,300 --> 02:06:49,740
like the health article that you mentioned.

1342
02:06:50,180 --> 02:06:53,420
What is the goal of this kind of outreach?

1343
02:06:54,580 --> 02:06:55,900
That's a great question.

1344
02:06:56,360 --> 02:07:01,300
What we have found is that while people in full and county

1345
02:07:01,300 --> 02:07:05,840
are enjoying a very positive quality of life,

1346
02:07:06,760 --> 02:07:10,300
that many people both locally and regionally and nationally

1347
02:07:10,300 --> 02:07:13,380
are not aware of the services that full and county provides,

1348
02:07:13,900 --> 02:07:16,520
this is a common issue, I think, especially

1349
02:07:16,520 --> 02:07:19,400
when you have a county government in a large city,

1350
02:07:20,940 --> 02:07:24,200
that there's sort of a,

1351
02:07:24,220 --> 02:07:27,220
and we've all experienced this in our day-to-day lives

1352
02:07:27,220 --> 02:07:29,420
that sometimes residents are not clear

1353
02:07:29,420 --> 02:07:31,620
about what services the county provides,

1354
02:07:31,820 --> 02:07:34,920
what versus what services the cities provide.

1355
02:07:35,200 --> 02:07:37,840
And so really our goal with all of this

1356
02:07:37,840 --> 02:07:40,180
is to raise awareness and understanding

1357
02:07:40,180 --> 02:07:44,220
of what Fulting County government is responsible

1358
02:07:44,220 --> 02:07:53,560
for both locally, and then again, we're very fortunate to have a county that is doing exceptional

1359
02:07:53,560 --> 02:07:59,100
work in many areas. And so we think it's appropriate to raise that awareness on a broader

1360
02:07:59,100 --> 02:08:06,240
stage as well. Okay, and is this, I know this is just a contract renewal here, but is this part

1361
02:08:06,240 --> 02:08:12,380
of your base budget for next year? This is included in the county's base budget, yes. Yeah, I think

1362
02:08:12,380 --> 02:08:16,500
service every year, but I just feel like, you know, we're so, you know, beholden to

1363
02:08:16,500 --> 02:08:20,040
tightening our belts, and we're talking about asking all the departments to cut

1364
02:08:20,040 --> 02:08:25,680
one percent, and all of that, that marketing just, and I'm a comms person, you know this,

1365
02:08:25,680 --> 02:08:30,280
and if we had, you know, if we were agreeing on having the means to do everything we need to do,

1366
02:08:30,300 --> 02:08:36,720
I would be all for it. But I do have concerns that we're spending on this and not on other things.

1367
02:08:37,060 --> 02:08:41,520
So, you know, I'm like I said, I think I say it every year, but, you know, it's nothing to do with

1368
02:08:41,520 --> 02:08:46,200
work that's being done there or what the efforts on, you know, your department's part.

1369
02:08:46,420 --> 02:08:49,380
I think what you're some of what you're talking about, I do think is really critical.

1370
02:08:50,040 --> 02:08:57,800
I guess I also just have a question slash concern about how effective we're being at

1371
02:08:57,800 --> 02:09:02,540
getting some of that messaging out about what county the county does in terms of services locally,

1372
02:09:02,700 --> 02:09:07,740
because I still, and it's very anecdotal what I'm saying right now, but I anecdotally still find

1373
02:09:07,740 --> 02:09:08,980
that most people don't know.

1374
02:09:09,440 --> 02:09:11,660
So I don't know how effective we're being at messaging

1375
02:09:12,580 --> 02:09:15,000
to our own citizens about our services.

1376
02:09:15,140 --> 02:09:17,100
I think we've done some work on saying

1377
02:09:17,100 --> 02:09:20,040
Fulton's a great place to live, but we really,

1378
02:09:20,520 --> 02:09:22,520
and like Citizens University is an example

1379
02:09:22,520 --> 02:09:25,720
teaches people how many people take advantage of that kind of thing.

1380
02:09:25,760 --> 02:09:28,580
So I don't know if we do go through with this

1381
02:09:28,580 --> 02:09:30,860
and it does pass and you have it next year,

1382
02:09:31,000 --> 02:09:33,760
is there a way to sort of reshape some of what we're doing

1383
02:09:33,760 --> 02:09:35,480
so it is more home-focused.

1384
02:09:35,480 --> 02:09:45,760
I think that's really great feedback, Commissioner, and I certainly understand that compared

1385
02:09:45,760 --> 02:09:51,520
to the many, many very important services that my colleagues provide, I understand that

1386
02:09:51,520 --> 02:09:58,100
communication can seem like a bell and whistle.

1387
02:10:00,000 --> 02:10:11,860
I would be remiss if I didn't say that I do think it is foundational and important, you know, and that the work that our team does to really try to connect people with services.

1388
02:10:11,920 --> 02:10:26,720
I think that's our ultimate goal. I hear you loud and clear and I do agree that there is an infinite pool of opportunity to continue to make an impact and make sure people are more aware and have greater understanding.

1389
02:10:26,720 --> 02:10:32,140
So I received that and I think that's we're aligned in that the importance of that work.

1390
02:10:32,140 --> 02:10:33,880
Thank you.

1391
02:10:34,080 --> 02:10:34,540
Commissioner Ivory.

1392
02:10:35,220 --> 02:10:39,780
Thank you Chairman and thank you Commissioner Barrett for those comments and thank you.

1393
02:10:39,780 --> 02:10:41,280
Jessica for all of your hard work.

1394
02:10:41,840 --> 02:10:47,240
I watch it and I see it happen on a daily basis and I just want to add that I share those concerns as well.

1395
02:10:47,660 --> 02:10:53,160
Considering that we have crises happening in our county and we're about to have a budget conversation.

1396
02:10:53,160 --> 02:10:57,620
And you know, we already know that we are probably going to have to raise the military.

1397
02:10:57,820 --> 02:11:03,400
So when I think about these kind of expenses, I think about ways that we could, you know,

1398
02:11:04,120 --> 02:11:07,120
more cheaply and more effectively reach more people.

1399
02:11:07,120 --> 02:11:09,600
And I think that that is with our online presence.

1400
02:11:09,800 --> 02:11:17,880
And I do think that we need, I haven't seen from the top right, folks, a real change

1401
02:11:17,880 --> 02:11:24,820
digital sort of a digital push that goes to the places where people are and people are

1402
02:11:24,820 --> 02:11:32,000
online on TikTok on Instagram. So while we might spend a lot of time printing things and

1403
02:11:32,000 --> 02:11:39,820
giving them out to folks, I think that we need to think about using FGTV and the YouTube page

1404
02:11:39,820 --> 02:11:45,820
and TikTok and Instagram a little bit more effectively and maybe with a little bit of a younger

1405
02:11:45,820 --> 02:11:55,480
approach to it to spread these messages because just like Commissioner Barrett said when I speak to constituents and I'm very much in the streets a lot

1406
02:11:55,480 --> 02:12:01,420
They just still do not know what Fulton offers. So I would just offer that one more piece of social media

1407
02:12:01,420 --> 02:12:09,380
That could be a cheap way to get a lot of exposure and might just take us a really smart college graduate

1408
02:12:09,380 --> 02:12:15,800
You know or or a high school intern or one of our youth ambassadors to come in and do

1409
02:12:15,820 --> 02:12:19,240
to some work on that. Thank you. Thank you very much.

1410
02:12:19,600 --> 02:12:22,020
Commissioner, up to Rock 1. Thank you, Chairman.

1411
02:12:25,020 --> 02:12:28,660
This is cool, but first of all, I want to thank you because I remember

1412
02:12:28,660 --> 02:12:33,220
in sitting down in five almost six years. We had a conversation that you all

1413
02:12:33,220 --> 02:12:38,600
were not doing enough. And we said that as a body, we would support the

1414
02:12:38,600 --> 02:12:43,000
resources that you need it because at one point the chairman did say and I

1415
02:12:43,000 --> 02:12:46,900
Remember, very clearly, Atlanta is Atlanta,

1416
02:12:47,460 --> 02:12:49,620
Fulton is Fulton, but Atlanta sits in Fulton.

1417
02:12:50,120 --> 02:12:52,760
And so a lot of times the messaging went out,

1418
02:12:53,020 --> 02:12:54,920
it would be Atlanta and not Fulton.

1419
02:12:55,320 --> 02:12:58,600
And so I want to thank you for the work that your department

1420
02:12:58,600 --> 02:13:03,660
has done to make sure that our messaging has been better.

1421
02:13:03,960 --> 02:13:09,860
And I also want to thank you in cooperation with,

1422
02:13:13,580 --> 02:13:18,960
the counter-managers staff in making sure our seniors,

1423
02:13:19,740 --> 02:13:24,000
a lot of our seniors are not social media savvy,

1424
02:13:24,520 --> 02:13:28,480
and we had a conversation of what efforts Dr. Rocher,

1425
02:13:28,640 --> 02:13:32,360
you remember back in the day, what could we do to make sure our seniors

1426
02:13:32,360 --> 02:13:35,300
were more engaged, had more information,

1427
02:13:35,800 --> 02:13:38,480
because everybody is not on TikTok,

1428
02:13:38,920 --> 02:13:41,000
all our seniors are not on Facebook,

1429
02:13:41,000 --> 02:13:45,540
and so what do we do to make sure that they're not left behind?

1430
02:13:46,280 --> 02:13:52,860
So I'm going to record saying thank you for that conversation, county manager, that we had previously,

1431
02:13:53,180 --> 02:13:58,980
that we know that we have to make sure that our lease of these, which is our seniors,

1432
02:13:59,440 --> 02:14:06,620
and our community, that may not be on social media, but needs to have access.

1433
02:14:06,620 --> 02:14:08,920
And so, thank you for doing that.

1434
02:14:09,100 --> 02:14:14,360
I will always support resources to make sure that we don't leave anybody behind.

1435
02:14:14,400 --> 02:14:19,300
But I remember the conversation clearly, County Manager, and Dr. Roscia, that we had,

1436
02:14:19,640 --> 02:14:25,800
that we needed to do more from a county level, not only to message and brand full-tank

1437
02:14:25,800 --> 02:14:33,000
county, we also needed to do what we needed to do in our capacity to make sure those that

1438
02:14:33,000 --> 02:14:40,560
not on social media, still had the very vital information of the services that are down here.

1439
02:14:40,760 --> 02:14:43,960
So I just want to take this time to thank you for all you have done.

1440
02:14:44,380 --> 02:14:46,160
Thank you, Commissioner. I appreciate that.

1441
02:14:46,240 --> 02:14:46,800
Commissioner Erie,

1442
02:14:49,940 --> 02:14:54,720
thank you, Jessica, as always, during your team do a great job. I'm just

1443
02:14:56,380 --> 02:14:59,980
I do have some pause about this marketing effort.

1444
02:15:00,000 --> 02:15:15,840
We're given our current financial status. And then I wonder also about how many of these that we bring up, what is the shelf life of these? We've got four elections make sure, right?

1445
02:15:16,060 --> 02:15:27,740
So you talk about premium stuff by district and per commissioner. And we might have four seats turn over makes sure, right? And so what is the shelf life of this stuff?

1446
02:15:28,380 --> 02:15:30,180
I think this is a great question.

1447
02:15:30,380 --> 02:15:36,600
The majority of the materials are focused on the departments and the work that they do,

1448
02:15:36,740 --> 02:15:41,020
but you're right, some of the pieces of course we want to feature our leadership and of

1449
02:15:41,020 --> 02:15:44,840
course we understand that next year is an important year.

1450
02:15:45,960 --> 02:15:54,100
So we're tapering that accordingly to make sure that we're not over-printing and we have

1451
02:15:54,100 --> 02:16:00,320
Also, to see that we have all the native design files to allow us to make updates easily.

1452
02:16:00,500 --> 02:16:03,980
So that was a important part of our negotiation that we weren't wrong.

1453
02:16:04,300 --> 02:16:09,820
If we needed to update a sheet that we wouldn't tie up more resources just on that,

1454
02:16:09,840 --> 02:16:12,700
that we could focus on new projects that make sense.

1455
02:16:13,260 --> 02:16:17,840
And then do we plan on making these items available digitally?

1456
02:16:17,900 --> 02:16:19,260
100% yes.

1457
02:16:19,860 --> 02:16:21,000
I think that's a great point.

1458
02:16:21,000 --> 02:16:27,960
in the one of the, not to believe or this, but one of the important parts of the work

1459
02:16:27,960 --> 02:16:33,760
of the fact sheets was that they, by gathering and kind of curating that information,

1460
02:16:34,000 --> 02:16:41,620
it allows us to use it not only in a fact sheet format, but also in video and social content

1461
02:16:41,620 --> 02:16:48,060
so they're sort of a building block that we can then use internal resources partner with

1462
02:16:48,060 --> 02:16:55,060
of GTV and our own staff and our design team to use that same content in other formats that makes sense.

1463
02:16:56,660 --> 02:16:56,720
Okay.

1464
02:16:57,280 --> 02:17:03,240
And then finally, are we experienced full-time?

1465
02:17:08,080 --> 02:17:09,600
I haven't really heard.

1466
02:17:09,600 --> 02:17:13,360
I haven't heard really or seen these advertisements.

1467
02:17:13,760 --> 02:17:17,020
And I haven't heard anyone approach me or talk about them.

1468
02:17:18,910 --> 02:17:28,930
So, I'm also questioning whether they're really getting through and then are we working or reaching out to the different

1469
02:17:28,930 --> 02:17:35,130
compensator, convention and visitors, bureaus and the cities because, you know,

1470
02:17:35,990 --> 02:17:38,650
the way to experience fault in this through the cities.

1471
02:17:40,110 --> 02:17:48,110
Yes, or just in the last three weeks, we have had a call specifically focused on the World Cup and working with our cities

1472
02:17:48,110 --> 02:17:57,570
to carry one to make sure they're prepared for the guidelines for participating in FIFA events.

1473
02:17:57,830 --> 02:18:03,830
They're aware of those, and as we go into that planning process, the team draw is this Friday,

1474
02:18:04,450 --> 02:18:12,350
is one example. So that's one element is how we've engaged. We've also through our outreach

1475
02:18:12,350 --> 02:18:17,970
strategies this year, been very intentional about participating in events that have been

1476
02:18:17,970 --> 02:18:27,090
hosted by the cities, so we've participated in Atlanta streets alive, and a live in Roswell

1477
02:18:27,090 --> 02:18:34,770
and the Palmello, I think it's a fall festival, and Chattaguchi Hills fall festival

1478
02:18:34,770 --> 02:18:44,470
on and on across the county. And so we absolutely think that really activating our partnerships

1479
02:18:44,470 --> 02:18:47,850
So their cities is very, very important and agreed.

1480
02:18:48,150 --> 02:18:51,290
We want to see that continue to grow and be stronger.

1481
02:18:52,110 --> 02:18:54,930
And I do want to clarify that we are not currently

1482
02:18:54,930 --> 02:18:56,810
doing any paid advertisement.

1483
02:18:57,370 --> 02:19:03,250
That is not, that is what we've saw additional resources for.

1484
02:19:03,270 --> 02:19:04,910
Excuse me, but we are not currently

1485
02:19:04,910 --> 02:19:07,430
doing paid advertisement.

1486
02:19:09,030 --> 02:19:12,510
So this contract is just what for the production and training

1487
02:19:13,310 --> 02:19:19,570
That's correct. And again, there's also PR and media outreach as well.

1488
02:19:23,490 --> 02:19:24,730
That's a lot of booklets,

1489
02:19:27,620 --> 02:19:29,880
400,000,000,000.

1490
02:19:30,880 --> 02:19:31,780
All right, thank you.

1491
02:19:31,880 --> 02:19:32,520
Thank you.

1492
02:19:32,580 --> 02:19:33,500
Vice-chair Ellis?

1493
02:19:35,200 --> 02:19:37,500
This is more than just booklets.

1494
02:19:37,760 --> 02:19:39,040
I mean, can you just tell me that?

1495
02:19:39,340 --> 02:19:39,500
I mean,

1496
02:19:44,550 --> 02:19:49,870
you asked your particular area to do a lot of things, right?

1497
02:19:53,250 --> 02:19:59,910
And it's been a pretty constrained area, there was a bigger ask before us, which we decided not to entertain because we're trying.

1498
02:20:00,000 --> 02:20:07,840
We're trying to do all the stuff that we're trying to do, but we also recognize that we've got, this is a necessary thing that we need to do.

1499
02:20:08,120 --> 02:20:16,200
And it's not been an area of strength for us to be able to do this stuff because it's been resource from strength.

1500
02:20:17,140 --> 02:20:22,560
So this is, you know, taking a measure to approach to it. So can you lead to some of the other things that this gets into?

1501
02:20:23,120 --> 02:20:31,080
Yes, thank you, Commissioner, so one other area I'd like to highlight is that they didn't mention earlier.

1502
02:20:31,680 --> 02:20:40,060
One of the ways you've all talked about this in different ways, that one of the ways the full county makes a tremendous impact is through partnerships.

1503
02:20:40,060 --> 02:21:09,240
So with our arts and culture grants, for example, with our community services program, another example is in the next meeting I believe you will be, and this is when we're using as our launch for this program, is you're basically funding of nonprofits and partners, and so a lot of times how that shows up in the community is very inconsistent.

1504
02:21:09,240 --> 02:21:17,160
Some have our logo nice and big and proud and some we never know that any dollars went to that

1505
02:21:17,160 --> 02:21:26,200
organization. So one of our projects has been to develop a framework and a tool kit so that

1506
02:21:26,200 --> 02:21:35,480
every time we're providing dollars to an agency they get a set of graphics they get a certificate or

1507
02:21:35,480 --> 02:21:39,720
that goes, hangs up in their physical location,

1508
02:21:40,300 --> 02:21:42,560
that they have materials to put in their newsletter,

1509
02:21:43,320 --> 02:21:46,860
that they have, again, graphics for their social media,

1510
02:21:47,480 --> 02:21:53,480
and that that has handled consistently throughout the, for every program.

1511
02:21:54,440 --> 02:22:00,220
So we chose the opioid funding, which is coming before you all very soon,

1512
02:22:00,260 --> 02:22:05,300
because it's a new program, and we wanted to really highlight that

1513
02:22:05,300 --> 02:22:09,060
is a starting point and then implement that for all of our other programs.

1514
02:22:09,280 --> 02:22:12,200
So that's something that you're going to see very shortly.

1515
02:22:12,240 --> 02:22:17,420
But that's one example where we really took the time to do the analysis of, like,

1516
02:22:17,440 --> 02:22:19,980
how are we not showing up?

1517
02:22:19,980 --> 02:22:25,300
This is one of the big places where we're investing a lot of money and not really getting

1518
02:22:25,300 --> 02:22:25,920
visibility.

1519
02:22:27,220 --> 02:22:31,540
The community isn't aware necessarily of how those dollars are being spent.

1520
02:22:31,540 --> 02:22:40,260
And so that's one example, Commissioner Ellis, of how that would show up differently than it has in the past.

1521
02:22:41,060 --> 02:22:46,000
So I realize it's hard to explain and it's hard without seeing and touching all of it.

1522
02:22:46,120 --> 02:22:53,860
But those are some of the examples of how we're trying to increase our impact and visibility in the community through communications.

1523
02:22:53,860 --> 02:23:01,980
And I think almost any organization of any substance or size is using external resources

1524
02:23:01,980 --> 02:23:03,360
to help them with communication.

1525
02:23:03,780 --> 02:23:04,680
I mean, that's almost a given.

1526
02:23:05,600 --> 02:23:10,580
We've not really done up until this, we've not really done a lot of that.

1527
02:23:11,540 --> 02:23:20,700
And these folks are also serving as a resource to you, in terms of, hey, when we get a complex

1528
02:23:20,700 --> 02:23:26,740
message that we're trying to deal with and respond to, they're there to help support you as

1529
02:23:26,740 --> 02:23:31,740
also in terms of how do we sort of tackle this thing. In a way that, you know, we've got

1530
02:23:31,740 --> 02:23:38,040
limited resources to do, but to get out of response to, you know, focus on a certain message

1531
02:23:38,040 --> 02:23:44,540
around, et cetera. So that's occurring also, right? That's absolutely true. And again,

1532
02:23:46,900 --> 02:23:47,100
our

1533
02:23:47,100 --> 02:23:52,740
report folio of crisis response is very significant, you know, that's, that's a

1534
02:23:52,740 --> 02:23:57,760
disappointing communications unto itself. And because we, you know, that's just

1535
02:23:57,760 --> 02:24:01,860
the nature of government sometimes things happen, you must respond to them. So

1536
02:24:01,860 --> 02:24:08,220
having professionals with different background and skillset to work with, to

1537
02:24:08,220 --> 02:24:14,300
collaborate with as those issues come up, I mentioned the jail as construction as

1538
02:24:14,300 --> 02:24:20,540
there it begins to move for some of those projects, there will be a lot of visibility, a lot of

1539
02:24:20,540 --> 02:24:29,380
community impact, and so those are examples of that. We, you know, again, healthcare

1540
02:24:29,380 --> 02:24:35,360
is a very complex issue, healthcare marketing for behavioral health, where you're also dealing

1541
02:24:35,360 --> 02:24:44,360
with the issues of stigma and access and trust that all can be barriers to people really

1542
02:24:44,360 --> 02:24:49,880
participating in that. So having a marketing strategy that takes all of that into account,

1543
02:24:50,060 --> 02:24:54,620
those are some other areas where having these resources has been very helpful.

1544
02:24:55,120 --> 02:24:56,500
Thank you.

1545
02:24:57,120 --> 02:24:57,760
Commissioner Thorne?

1546
02:24:59,380 --> 02:24:59,960
Yes.

1547
02:25:00,000 --> 02:25:07,040
I remember meeting with AVA, AVA, top right, having a Zoom meeting with them and you spent a couple

1548
02:25:07,040 --> 02:25:13,440
years, but I remember the necessity of trying to implement a program to get brand recognition.

1549
02:25:14,220 --> 02:25:22,400
I know I work with a lot of companies with web design and just developing a branding kit

1550
02:25:22,400 --> 02:25:29,000
is a huge expense to most companies and then enforcing those guidelines as another expense

1551
02:25:29,000 --> 02:25:37,220
expense as well. And I do remember that there was, this wasn't the complete ask. It was just

1552
02:25:37,220 --> 02:25:41,730
what we thought we could find at the time. That's correct, Commissioner. And this is,

1553
02:25:42,920 --> 02:25:48,180
we're in that similar position where we did make an additional enhancement ask that would have been

1554
02:25:48,180 --> 02:25:56,180
for additional paid advertising and things of that nature. And that is not currently funded. But this is,

1555
02:25:56,180 --> 02:26:01,960
continuation of that brand building work, storytelling, trying to raise awareness in the

1556
02:26:01,960 --> 02:26:07,240
community. I think the points about digital are very important. We've tried to internally

1557
02:26:07,240 --> 02:26:14,760
re-allocate resources to put more into our digital staffing. We've elevated a position in that area.

1558
02:26:14,980 --> 02:26:21,440
We've hired transitioned one person in additional position into digital because we think that's important.

1559
02:26:21,440 --> 02:26:28,760
And so I think that's heard and received that really making that a big focus as we go into

1560
02:26:28,760 --> 02:26:29,160
this.

1561
02:26:29,320 --> 02:26:30,720
And I appreciate that.

1562
02:26:30,720 --> 02:26:37,920
I know your staff work extreme amount of hours and weekends and holidays you guys are

1563
02:26:37,920 --> 02:26:43,000
always there having to deal with the crisis and messaging and all that.

1564
02:26:43,240 --> 02:26:51,100
And so I think the original ask was maybe like 1.2 million but we didn't fund that full

1565
02:26:51,100 --> 02:26:53,280
package, but it's not exact.

1566
02:26:54,220 --> 02:26:54,400
OK.

1567
02:26:54,760 --> 02:26:55,320
Thank you.

1568
02:26:55,340 --> 02:26:56,460
Thank you very much.

1569
02:26:57,100 --> 02:26:57,540
Excuse me.

1570
02:26:57,560 --> 02:26:58,320
Commissioner Ivory.

1571
02:26:58,620 --> 02:26:59,320
Thank you, Chairman.

1572
02:26:59,460 --> 02:27:01,000
And I just wanted to tell you real quick.

1573
02:27:01,580 --> 02:27:04,000
I was at one of the senior centers in my district.

1574
02:27:04,120 --> 02:27:08,040
And it happened to be one of the days where they were doing the digital, the

1575
02:27:08,040 --> 02:27:10,700
contractor that comes in and works with the seniors doing digital.

1576
02:27:10,880 --> 02:27:13,560
And they were having so much fun downloading apps on their phone.

1577
02:27:13,620 --> 02:27:14,060
And all that.

1578
02:27:14,060 --> 02:27:18,320
So if you have the digital toolkit that they can use to see these services.

1579
02:27:18,320 --> 02:27:23,080
perhaps we could send that to the contractor as one of the lessons because he did say to me

1580
02:27:23,080 --> 02:27:27,100
if you have things you want me to use in the center sense so I think that would be a perfect

1581
02:27:27,100 --> 02:27:33,140
partnership. I think that's a great idea especially in one of the other topics I know we're going to

1582
02:27:33,140 --> 02:27:40,540
discuss later is about senior homestead exemptions that is something where there are both the paper

1583
02:27:40,540 --> 02:27:45,960
and digital forms available so we want people to be able to access it however they're comfortable.

1584
02:27:45,960 --> 02:27:48,220
Great, thank you. Thank you so much.

1585
02:27:48,620 --> 02:27:51,440
All right, the motion on the floor is to approve. Let's vote.

1586
02:27:52,160 --> 02:27:53,140
And the vote is open.

1587
02:27:59,170 --> 02:28:01,330
And the motion passes six jays one day.

1588
02:28:01,650 --> 02:28:02,270
Thank you.

1589
02:28:03,050 --> 02:28:04,150
On page nine.

1590
02:28:05,990 --> 02:28:09,610
250926, request approval to renew existing contracts for

1591
02:28:09,610 --> 02:28:13,870
Fulton County behavior health network in the total amount not to see

1592
02:28:13,870 --> 02:28:15,170
15 million.

1593
02:28:20,450 --> 02:28:26,870
We have a motion to adopt my commission if Vice Chair Ellis, seconded by Commissioner Thorne.

1594
02:28:35,840 --> 02:28:36,600
Questions comments.

1595
02:28:37,740 --> 02:28:42,940
Dr. Rochelle, this is all of his total is about 15 million.

1596
02:28:43,100 --> 02:28:47,980
Can you just comment on the effectiveness of, I don't know how to measure this.

1597
02:28:49,230 --> 02:28:52,550
Thank you Chairman for that question.

1598
02:28:53,010 --> 02:28:58,810
The Department of Behavioral Health does conduct performance reviews and other reviews of

1599
02:28:58,810 --> 02:29:06,330
those contracts and performance and I will have Latrina Foster provide more details about

1600
02:29:06,330 --> 02:29:11,690
what the department undertakes to determine the effectiveness of those programs.

1601
02:29:21,710 --> 02:29:22,730
Good afternoon, commissioners.

1602
02:29:22,730 --> 02:29:25,170
Let's train a foster, behave your health.

1603
02:29:27,030 --> 02:29:33,030
Today, before you, I'm requesting to renew existing contracts, which creates the Fulton

1604
02:29:33,030 --> 02:29:36,910
County Behavioral Health Network as Jessica just spoke of.

1605
02:29:37,010 --> 02:29:45,250
It was very important to us that we created our brand and not emphasize the brand of the contractors

1606
02:29:45,250 --> 02:29:48,110
that were serving providing services on our behalf.

1607
02:29:48,110 --> 02:29:56,290
So with that said, in 2023, we created the Photon County Behavior Health Network, and these are the contracts before you.

1608
02:29:56,750 --> 02:29:59,970
Within these contracts, we have two contracts.

1609
02:30:00,000 --> 02:30:06,560
Members that provide child and adolescent services on our behalf, Chris 180, who provides services at our

1610
02:30:06,560 --> 02:30:12,940
atmosphere regional health center, as well as our north-photent service center. Their goal is to

1611
02:30:12,940 --> 02:30:21,960
serve 1,200 individuals each year. As of the end of quarter 3 of 2025, they have exceeded that

1612
02:30:21,960 --> 02:30:31,060
with those 1,200 plus individuals that they have been able to serve, they provide three or

1613
02:30:31,060 --> 02:30:38,660
more services to over 665 individuals that they provide services to, which speaks to their

1614
02:30:38,660 --> 02:30:44,040
ability to establish relationships with the individuals that they run their services to,

1615
02:30:44,260 --> 02:30:48,300
and that individuals trust them and return back for services.

1616
02:30:48,300 --> 02:30:52,720
Our other child medalist and provider is Georgia Hope.

1617
02:30:53,440 --> 02:30:57,440
Who continues to struggle in this space within this network.

1618
02:30:58,100 --> 02:31:02,100
However, there's still a crucial component of our behavior

1619
02:31:02,100 --> 02:31:02,860
of network.

1620
02:31:03,400 --> 02:31:06,940
They were in their services at O'Keele, child medalist and facility.

1621
02:31:07,760 --> 02:31:11,530
They have been able to provide services to 400 plus individuals

1622
02:31:12,360 --> 02:31:16,220
as of the end of quarter three of 2025.

1623
02:31:16,220 --> 02:31:21,740
However, they are not meeting their target goal, which is to serve 800 individuals.

1624
02:31:22,540 --> 02:31:26,820
The reason why their number is less, what the number of individuals they are slated

1625
02:31:26,820 --> 02:31:30,540
to serve is because their contractual amount is less.

1626
02:31:31,020 --> 02:31:37,480
If you look on the request for the approval, their award amount each year is $800,000.

1627
02:31:37,860 --> 02:31:44,500
What we're asking for in 2026 is to provide us with six months to renew their contract so

1628
02:31:44,500 --> 02:31:47,360
that we're able to implement in effective transition,

1629
02:31:47,760 --> 02:31:50,480
excuse me, in effective transition plan,

1630
02:31:50,660 --> 02:31:52,580
and look at bringing on a new provider

1631
02:31:52,580 --> 02:31:55,080
at O'Kill Child and Adolescent Family Center.

1632
02:31:55,840 --> 02:31:59,040
Our other two contractors for adult behavior health

1633
02:31:59,040 --> 02:31:59,900
is Grady.

1634
02:32:00,800 --> 02:32:04,000
Grady provides services at our South Folten Service Center

1635
02:32:04,000 --> 02:32:06,280
as of today, when I say today,

1636
02:32:06,300 --> 02:32:10,540
I mean the end of quarter three, which is October 31, 2025.

1637
02:32:10,540 --> 02:32:18,920
They have been able to provide over 1,400 individuals, services at the South Fulton Service Center.

1638
02:32:19,640 --> 02:32:25,720
They provide a lower number of services at our North Fulton Service Center where they're around

1639
02:32:26,960 --> 02:32:29,860
675 individuals where they have run their services.

1640
02:32:30,840 --> 02:32:36,280
However, based on their numbers, they have exceeded their KPI, which they are slated to serve

1641
02:32:36,280 --> 02:32:43,900
1,800 unique individuals throughout the year of 2025, and addition to that, out of the individuals

1642
02:32:43,900 --> 02:32:50,580
that they have served, they have been able to ensure that over 300 individuals have medication

1643
02:32:50,580 --> 02:32:56,120
management, which is a very costly service. These are individuals that do not have insurance,

1644
02:32:56,780 --> 02:33:01,320
but need access to medication. So through this contract, they are able to obtain their

1645
02:33:01,320 --> 02:33:06,960
education as well as their therapeutic services, which is your individual therapy group therapy sessions.

1646
02:33:08,520 --> 02:33:15,980
Our other adult behavior health provider is River Edge. River Edge provides services at the Center for Health and Rehabilitation.

1647
02:33:16,840 --> 02:33:24,740
Their annual goal is to serve 1200 individuals. Every year they exceed their goal of the number of individuals that they serve.

1648
02:33:24,740 --> 02:33:33,000
They are an excellent partner, they ensure that individuals have access to their medication, as well as individual group therapy as well.

1649
02:33:33,760 --> 02:33:46,220
In addition to the contracts before you, the renewal also involves our partnership, our IGA with the City of Atlanta, which is inclusive of our support to permanent support of housing units.

1650
02:33:46,220 --> 02:33:52,380
At this point, we are able to provide support to 296 individuals and PSA units.

1651
02:33:53,360 --> 02:33:57,280
Within those 298 units, we have two providers.

1652
02:33:57,880 --> 02:34:02,800
We have River Edge, we provide services to 88 PSA units.

1653
02:34:02,940 --> 02:34:09,520
In addition to that, they provide services to a little over 50 individuals in our land

1654
02:34:09,520 --> 02:34:15,240
housing voucher, which was a spin-off from our COVID response when we were hotel in the

1655
02:34:15,240 --> 02:34:21,440
was during COVID and then those individuals transition into permanent support of housing units.

1656
02:34:22,120 --> 02:34:28,560
And then we have step up on second who provides support services to 149 PSH units in

1657
02:34:28,560 --> 02:34:33,440
Fulton County and those are the contracts before you and the total amount of 15 plus million.

1658
02:34:42,420 --> 02:34:44,460
May just ask one other question.

1659
02:34:45,320 --> 02:34:45,460
Not one.

1660
02:34:45,880 --> 02:34:53,180
So you use the term serve frequently with each one.

1661
02:34:53,500 --> 02:34:59,660
The service equate to success or just serves means the number of people who walk through the door.

1662
02:35:00,860 --> 02:35:02,280
How do we measure?

1663
02:35:04,920 --> 02:35:17,740
We capture both. So we captured the number of unique individuals served. So that means if each one of you walk through the door, we have provided services to seven individuals. The surface is repeat that.

1664
02:35:17,980 --> 02:35:26,020
Repeat that please. So we captured the number of unique individuals served. So everyone is counted one time.

1665
02:35:26,020 --> 02:35:35,800
So if all seven of you walk through the door, that means we provide it seven unique services to each one of you.

1666
02:35:36,120 --> 02:35:36,960
So that's seven points.

1667
02:35:37,140 --> 02:35:41,020
So seven of us walk through the door and we're seven served.

1668
02:35:41,660 --> 02:35:45,300
But how do we determine, how do you determine, how is it determined,

1669
02:35:45,440 --> 02:35:49,360
whether or not the services that they, the seven of us,

1670
02:35:49,460 --> 02:35:51,620
receives is successful or not?

1671
02:35:51,620 --> 02:35:59,820
Absolutely. So we look at the return visits. So based on the 7 of you, if four of you return

1672
02:35:59,820 --> 02:36:05,460
for visits, we capture that number. So that is your ability to retain the individuals that

1673
02:36:05,460 --> 02:36:12,500
you render your initial service to. If out of the four of you, all four of you come back for

1674
02:36:12,500 --> 02:36:17,840
three or more services, that means you are truly engaged in the services that are being rendered to

1675
02:36:17,840 --> 02:36:19,800
at each respective site.

1676
02:36:20,200 --> 02:36:27,160
So we capture four different sets of data that will give us a holistic picture on, yes, we're

1677
02:36:27,160 --> 02:36:31,980
seeing individuals, are they returning for our services, and if they're returning for our

1678
02:36:31,980 --> 02:36:35,140
services, are we able to keep them engaged in services?

1679
02:36:35,880 --> 02:36:42,940
And then we also have clinical assessments where we're able to determine, I'm sorry, where

1680
02:36:42,940 --> 02:36:48,340
were at the point that you entered our door and then we'll do another assessment in 90 days

1681
02:36:48,340 --> 02:36:53,100
to see if there's a decrease in that number and look at you again in six months and then look

1682
02:36:53,100 --> 02:37:03,650
at you again in a year. Do you know off-hand how many individuals were served for this 15 million?

1683
02:37:05,130 --> 02:37:09,330
I didn't add them up as you were talking to each other. No, you're fine. So the total number

1684
02:37:10,330 --> 02:37:18,970
of individuals served across all programs at this particular point, which is October 31st of

1685
02:37:18,970 --> 02:37:25,670
2025, I believe, and I didn't write that number. But I think it's over 7,000 individuals

1686
02:37:25,670 --> 02:37:29,290
across all programs have been served for the $15 million.

1687
02:37:30,050 --> 02:37:36,610
Okay, and then if I heard you correctly of the firms that are listed here, the only one

1688
02:37:36,610 --> 02:37:38,950
that would be, and I mean, this is my term,

1689
02:37:39,210 --> 02:37:41,570
and on probation would be joined to hope.

1690
02:37:42,170 --> 02:37:42,650
Yes, okay.

1691
02:37:43,210 --> 02:37:45,090
All right, Commissioner Arlington, Vice Chair Ellis,

1692
02:37:45,250 --> 02:37:46,790
Commissioner Ivory, Commissioner Barrett.

1693
02:37:49,080 --> 02:37:52,360
Thank you for your comprehensive and thorough response

1694
02:37:52,360 --> 02:37:54,280
about the services being provided.

1695
02:37:55,880 --> 02:37:58,600
I guess I do have just a couple of follow-up questions

1696
02:37:58,600 --> 02:38:00,580
because I thought originally Chris A.D.

1697
02:38:00,620 --> 02:38:03,320
was a service in the Southful of some service in there.

1698
02:38:03,340 --> 02:38:05,920
So Wendy, great to take that over.

1699
02:38:05,920 --> 02:38:11,280
because I remember there were not a lot of people being serviced at the South

1700
02:38:11,280 --> 02:38:16,200
Fulton Service Center originally. So Wendy Grady took that over and it

1701
02:38:16,200 --> 02:38:22,380
sounds like there is there are now a lot of people being served at all of the

1702
02:38:22,380 --> 02:38:29,400
service centers. Yes. So originally when we initially launched the

1703
02:38:30,100 --> 02:38:35,680
contracted services in 2018 and we went through the renovation for the

1704
02:38:35,680 --> 02:38:42,140
Fulton Service Center, the very first contractor that rendered services out of that location was

1705
02:38:42,140 --> 02:38:49,140
River Edge on our behalf because it was always an adult outpatient clinic, and Chris 180 is one

1706
02:38:49,140 --> 02:38:56,560
of our child and adolescent provider. So the furthest south, Chris 180 was originally they were

1707
02:38:56,560 --> 02:38:57,820
our Oak Hill campus.

1708
02:39:00,400 --> 02:39:05,920
In 2023, when we released the new RFP in 2022 and 2023,

1709
02:39:06,380 --> 02:39:10,800
Grady was awarded the contract to render services at the South Folts and Services.

1710
02:39:11,800 --> 02:39:14,460
Okay. Thank you. You're welcome.

1711
02:39:16,160 --> 02:39:21,180
Thank you, Commissioner. So I'm next to the Q and Commissioner Aberrant Commissioner Barrett.

1712
02:39:23,200 --> 02:39:27,940
I just want to say, you know, just to reflect back on this, what a transformation this has been.

1713
02:39:28,100 --> 02:39:36,740
And for those of you who don't kind of fully kind of pay attention to the history that some of the folks who are here in the audience and so forth

1714
02:39:36,740 --> 02:39:44,960
You go back to probably 2016, right we had behavioral health and public health operating under the same

1715
02:39:44,960 --> 02:39:50,520
Same umbrella we were attempting to do all of these behavioral services in-house

1716
02:39:50,520 --> 02:39:54,760
We had vacancy rates in behavioral health that were about 60%

1717
02:39:56,060 --> 02:39:57,260
right and

1718
02:39:57,260 --> 02:39:59,960
and with providers like Sikot.

1719
02:40:01,420 --> 02:40:14,240
We were farming that out to local attendance person personnel. We were servicing an extremely low number of folks relative to kind of the population that we knew that was out there.

1720
02:40:15,080 --> 02:40:21,380
And there's been a tremendous, we're not perfect and we've got ways to go and I think all of us acknowledged that.

1721
02:40:21,380 --> 02:40:23,840
but this has been a tremendous transformation

1722
02:40:23,840 --> 02:40:25,280
over that period of time.

1723
02:40:25,440 --> 02:40:26,660
I think if you do the numbers right,

1724
02:40:26,780 --> 02:40:28,180
I think our number of folks in service,

1725
02:40:28,420 --> 02:40:32,280
we're up at least seven falls since that point in time.

1726
02:40:33,080 --> 02:40:36,440
And I think important too, this concept,

1727
02:40:36,860 --> 02:40:39,280
even when we started with this,

1728
02:40:39,860 --> 02:40:42,260
we, a few contract providers, right?

1729
02:40:42,260 --> 02:40:45,700
And it was still, you know, we're getting there,

1730
02:40:46,000 --> 02:40:48,400
but we were not operating with intentionality

1731
02:40:48,400 --> 02:40:49,680
and that's sort of a true network.

1732
02:40:49,680 --> 02:40:54,960
And that's a focus that you've really brought in here in the past couple of years.

1733
02:40:56,260 --> 02:41:01,720
And you know, I hear it from the providers who are contracted with, that's, they say that.

1734
02:41:01,780 --> 02:41:06,380
We're part of the Fulton County Behavioral Health Network.

1735
02:41:08,660 --> 02:41:13,480
And we're, and they're collaborating with each other, right, and talking to each other.

1736
02:41:13,600 --> 02:41:17,660
They're not competing with each other or fragmenting out,

1737
02:41:17,660 --> 02:41:22,700
even though some of them do their own thing outside of that the work that they just do for us.

1738
02:41:23,620 --> 02:41:29,260
So this has been a great success story. Obviously we've got much more work to do.

1739
02:41:30,900 --> 02:41:35,820
Mental health is like physical health and it's not as something that's solved for

1740
02:41:35,820 --> 02:41:40,360
which somebody goes and make a couple of visits if that works out for that person.

1741
02:41:41,660 --> 02:41:46,080
That's great, but the chances are that's most likely not the case.

1742
02:41:46,080 --> 02:41:51,520
that, you know, mental health and many people who have more severe mental health conditions,

1743
02:41:53,080 --> 02:41:56,920
they're needing to get served throughout the course of their life, just like we are with

1744
02:41:56,920 --> 02:42:00,440
primary care and other forms of physical health care.

1745
02:42:01,320 --> 02:42:09,020
And we've now got a network in place that catches that from, you know, preventative, right?

1746
02:42:09,240 --> 02:42:14,700
And some of the stuff that we're looking at with the great emphasis we've had on the youth

1747
02:42:14,700 --> 02:42:19,200
and children's programs to ongoing care for adults,

1748
02:42:20,320 --> 02:42:21,560
and when people were hitting themselves

1749
02:42:21,560 --> 02:42:22,480
in times of crisis.

1750
02:42:24,320 --> 02:42:25,100
So it's here.

1751
02:42:25,260 --> 02:42:26,140
We're in this moment.

1752
02:42:26,740 --> 02:42:28,680
So let's talk about and let's celebrate.

1753
02:42:28,920 --> 02:42:31,260
A lot of that success and great work that's been done.

1754
02:42:32,040 --> 02:42:34,340
And thank you for all of your leadership in this.

1755
02:42:34,620 --> 02:42:35,780
Thank you Commissioner Ellis.

1756
02:42:35,820 --> 02:42:38,140
I did forget to mention school basement to health.

1757
02:42:38,300 --> 02:42:40,140
So we do have two contractors that deliver

1758
02:42:40,140 --> 02:42:42,800
school basement to health services for us as well

1759
02:42:42,800 --> 02:42:47,660
as a part of this $15 million ass where we're present in 66 schools.

1760
02:42:48,040 --> 02:42:53,520
We have Summit who provides coverage at 28 schools and in 2025 they picked up the K-5

1761
02:42:53,520 --> 02:42:59,480
lead program and so that's an additional program that we're providing service and support to

1762
02:42:59,480 --> 02:43:04,440
as well as Chris 180 provides school basements of health for us as well in 38 folks in County

1763
02:43:04,440 --> 02:43:13,660
schools. Sorry I forgot that part. Mr. Aber. Thank you, Vice Chair. I just wanted to say

1764
02:43:13,660 --> 02:43:19,680
as the newest commissioner when I first came in and Oak Hill being in my district I wanted

1765
02:43:19,680 --> 02:43:28,100
to learn all about it and went there several times to learn more and make sure I could explain

1766
02:43:28,100 --> 02:43:35,300
what was being offered there. And at the same time learning how we are accountable to the

1767
02:43:35,300 --> 02:43:40,820
people who are providing services for us or how they are accountable to us and knowing that that

1768
02:43:40,820 --> 02:43:44,480
a procurement process that we are not involved in.

1769
02:43:44,640 --> 02:43:48,920
I wondered where that accountability was and how do we measure many of the questions that the

1770
02:43:48,920 --> 02:43:53,520
chairman asked about how do we measure and how do we know and so I just wanted to take

1771
02:43:53,520 --> 02:43:56,060
this moment to say thank you for teaching me.

1772
02:43:56,680 --> 02:44:03,300
You've been always available to meet with me and answer those questions for me and especially

1773
02:44:03,300 --> 02:44:08,400
in an area where I have a great grave concern because I know how much people need these services.

1774
02:44:08,400 --> 02:44:13,560
So I just want to thank you for when I thought that there was a problem and I just said

1775
02:44:13,560 --> 02:44:17,860
I'm just telling you I think there's a problem and I'm stepping away please look into it

1776
02:44:17,860 --> 02:44:24,040
You did and you're doing something about it and I hardly ever see that complete follow-through

1777
02:44:24,040 --> 02:44:30,620
And so I just wanted to recognize that a conversation we had nine months ago is coming and being taken care of now

1778
02:44:30,620 --> 02:44:36,860
Which is exactly the kind of action that we need in the services that we provide and especially at a place that's so important

1779
02:44:36,860 --> 02:44:43,060
like, okay, and I know everybody that sits on this commission has these services and their districts and

1780
02:44:43,060 --> 02:44:49,920
deem it to be as equally as important as this crisis, center as in my district. So I just wanted to say thank you for that.

1781
02:44:50,180 --> 02:44:59,980
I noticed it and you've always really helped to educate me on how this process works and also that I was at a Chris 180 event and people had great things.

1782
02:45:00,000 --> 02:45:29,980
I want to say about the way that you partner, and that you make the way you make yourself available. So I just really wanted to say thank you. This is money that when I start seeing these large figures, I get very nervous on these agendas and my team and I, we get together and we start breaking it all apart like what is this money? What is it doing? This is one of these multi-million dollar amounts that I feel 100% great about approving, because I know that this money is being spent for the people, with the people, and in the hands of the right person who is making sure we have money.

1783
02:45:30,000 --> 02:45:31,060
the White Contractors.

1784
02:45:31,180 --> 02:45:32,180
So thank you very much.

1785
02:45:32,600 --> 02:45:33,180
Thank you.

1786
02:45:33,180 --> 02:45:35,380
Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

1787
02:45:36,200 --> 02:45:37,620
I'll add my thanks.

1788
02:45:37,860 --> 02:45:41,360
I think we all agree that you do a fantastic job, Mr. Foster.

1789
02:45:42,660 --> 02:45:48,200
Obviously, I wasn't here in 2016 when some of this got started, but from the minute I got

1790
02:45:48,200 --> 02:45:51,120
here, I've been very impressed with our behavioral health services.

1791
02:45:51,400 --> 02:45:57,100
I just had a couple of political questions in terms of the way this has presented.

1792
02:45:57,100 --> 02:46:05,620
But I very much understand from a public perception that having a provider network is the way

1793
02:46:05,620 --> 02:46:07,920
to go, and it sounds like it's been very effective.

1794
02:46:08,500 --> 02:46:13,520
But I'm just wondering why these are sort of presented for approval as one big lump as

1795
02:46:13,520 --> 02:46:15,420
opposed to individual contracts.

1796
02:46:16,300 --> 02:46:16,960
Great question.

1797
02:46:17,660 --> 02:46:22,660
So when we release the RFP, we release the RFP as the behavior health network, and so

1798
02:46:22,660 --> 02:46:27,160
on the contracts I renewed is renewed under that RFP number,

1799
02:46:27,820 --> 02:46:29,840
and with that RFP number,

1800
02:46:30,000 --> 02:46:30,940
and that contract number,

1801
02:46:30,960 --> 02:46:34,440
all of these contracts fall under that one RFP.

1802
02:46:34,440 --> 02:46:36,120
Felicit at I explained it, correct?

1803
02:46:36,780 --> 02:46:38,040
You did an excellent job.

1804
02:46:38,260 --> 02:46:38,740
Thank you.

1805
02:46:38,920 --> 02:46:40,160
Yeah, I appreciate that, okay.

1806
02:46:40,160 --> 02:46:40,520
Thank you.

1807
02:46:40,740 --> 02:46:43,800
It does get a little hard to parse, who's doing what?

1808
02:46:44,620 --> 02:46:46,060
And maybe that could be better explained

1809
02:46:46,060 --> 02:46:48,900
on some of the sheets that are with it or something

1810
02:46:48,900 --> 02:46:50,140
because it does get hard to parse.

1811
02:46:50,180 --> 02:46:52,060
And you did a great job of breaking it down and explaining,

1812
02:46:52,060 --> 02:47:12,480
But there's a lot in there as you've been said, you know, you sort of forgot to mention the school's program and what have you so I think there's the downside of it this way from the board, not the board perspective, but from the from the discussion here is that we are doing some really incredible things and we sort of rush over them because they're all sort of lump together.

1813
02:47:12,480 --> 02:47:26,360
That said, I did have two other questions on the permanent support of housing, it sounded like we're doing that in a couple of different ways, but it reads like we're actually providing the support of housing, but that's not it, right?

1814
02:47:26,460 --> 02:47:30,600
We're providing wrap-around services at the support of housing units, correct?

1815
02:47:30,960 --> 02:47:36,860
So the language might need to be, because it literally reads to provide permanent support of housing, so that may be confusing to the public.

1816
02:47:36,860 --> 02:47:42,320
I think we should probably get that adjusted for future times

1817
02:47:42,320 --> 02:47:43,460
that it comes before us.

1818
02:47:43,700 --> 02:47:47,320
And then I just wondered if you could share some history

1819
02:47:47,320 --> 02:47:51,240
about the school-based program, when did that start?

1820
02:47:51,360 --> 02:47:52,680
How much have we done there?

1821
02:47:52,940 --> 02:47:55,680
And are we doing that in partnership with Fulton County Schools?

1822
02:47:55,780 --> 02:47:57,740
Or is that something I'm just wondering

1823
02:47:57,740 --> 02:47:59,260
about the rest of the funding for it?

1824
02:47:59,500 --> 02:47:59,740
Sure.

1825
02:48:00,320 --> 02:48:04,440
So we actually launched this program and response to COVID

1826
02:48:04,440 --> 02:48:13,060
to ensure that the students had access to behavior health services as they transition back into the school.

1827
02:48:13,680 --> 02:48:16,280
So, if I give you a little historical perspective,

1828
02:48:19,500 --> 02:48:23,620
we originally, we were originally receiving funding from the Georgia Department of Behavior

1829
02:48:23,620 --> 02:48:27,580
help in development of disabilities for what they call the Apex Project.

1830
02:48:28,200 --> 02:48:34,900
With the Apex Project agencies receive funding to place therapists within schools that

1831
02:48:34,900 --> 02:48:36,700
had to be a Title I school.

1832
02:48:38,020 --> 02:48:45,740
When we outsource, we lost that contractual funding for the Apex Project and at that time,

1833
02:48:45,900 --> 02:48:49,120
we may have been in eight schools, it was not a lot of schools.

1834
02:48:49,120 --> 02:48:56,500
So what Fulton County did in response to COVID and hearing from our various partners throughout

1835
02:48:56,500 --> 02:49:02,620
the community that the need was there to expand school basements of health, not just

1836
02:49:02,620 --> 02:49:09,000
focused on the apex project initiative, but making sure that all students had access

1837
02:49:09,000 --> 02:49:09,440
to care.

1838
02:49:09,440 --> 02:49:17,920
And so we pushed the needle to ensure that we were able to place

1839
02:49:17,920 --> 02:49:23,080
therapists within schools in Fulting County that were not eligible

1840
02:49:23,080 --> 02:49:25,540
for apex project funding.

1841
02:49:26,200 --> 02:49:31,280
And so with that said, we did a heavy focus in North Fulting.

1842
02:49:31,540 --> 02:49:38,460
We did a focus in kind of outside of it.

1843
02:49:38,460 --> 02:49:41,740
schools. So we're in the West Lake cluster in South

1844
02:49:41,740 --> 02:49:45,520
Fulton and then we have schools in North Fulton to include

1845
02:49:45,520 --> 02:49:48,140
Jones Creek, Roswell, Sandy Springs. So we're kind of

1846
02:49:48,140 --> 02:49:51,600
spread throughout the county, excluding the city of

1847
02:49:51,600 --> 02:49:51,960
Atlanta.

1848
02:49:55,260 --> 02:49:58,000
Okay, so and is it a partnership with the

1849
02:49:58,000 --> 02:49:59,980
Fulton County Schools or

1850
02:50:00,000 --> 02:50:04,740
With the school board. It's a partnership, but not a funding collaboration.

1851
02:50:05,140 --> 02:50:09,220
Okay, so the funding is just office. It's from us, yes. Okay, thank you.

1852
02:50:09,380 --> 02:50:11,500
You're welcome. All right, Commissioner, I'll do rock line.

1853
02:50:11,660 --> 02:50:15,180
Thank you, Chairman. I, I'll be quick.

1854
02:50:15,680 --> 02:50:21,580
Thank you for the work that you've done. I've seen the tremendous and we're not perfect.

1855
02:50:22,320 --> 02:50:29,000
We don't say that we are, but I have individuals that call my office.

1856
02:50:29,000 --> 02:50:35,740
You know seeking help and I direct them to the appropriate agency. Just for the listening public

1857
02:50:36,740 --> 02:50:45,160
If you were not in the schools, we know the schools have taken quite a hit in federal funding

1858
02:50:45,160 --> 02:50:48,900
When it comes to behavior health and resources

1859
02:50:49,560 --> 02:50:51,140
What is the alternative

1860
02:50:51,720 --> 02:50:53,560
for some

1861
02:50:53,560 --> 02:50:58,980
Of our fault in county residents if you were not in place or if you didn't

1862
02:50:59,000 --> 02:51:00,980
not have the paradigm that you have,

1863
02:51:01,360 --> 02:51:05,020
of trying to make sure that no one falls through the crack.

1864
02:51:05,200 --> 02:51:07,460
If we did not have that,

1865
02:51:08,040 --> 02:51:10,220
do they have any other resource?

1866
02:51:10,880 --> 02:51:12,180
So I can make assumptions.

1867
02:51:13,040 --> 02:51:15,240
I'm sure students would have attempted to connect

1868
02:51:15,240 --> 02:51:17,040
with the school social worker,

1869
02:51:17,860 --> 02:51:20,240
which I don't know if the capacity is there

1870
02:51:20,740 --> 02:51:23,680
to invest a time into clinical interventions.

1871
02:51:24,820 --> 02:51:26,980
We do more than just meeting with students.

1872
02:51:27,160 --> 02:51:28,260
We engage the parents.

1873
02:51:28,260 --> 02:51:31,080
we educate the parents on things to be aware of.

1874
02:51:31,360 --> 02:51:34,020
We've incorporated a text for help program in the school.

1875
02:51:34,660 --> 02:51:38,280
So it's not just a therapist's presence with the students,

1876
02:51:38,680 --> 02:51:42,120
but also engaging the parents, also engaging the school personnel

1877
02:51:42,120 --> 02:51:44,260
to ensure that they're aware of mental health.

1878
02:51:44,420 --> 02:51:47,400
If you notice something, say something, refer, connect.

1879
02:51:48,600 --> 02:51:53,440
So my assumption would be that they would attempt to filter

1880
02:51:53,440 --> 02:51:57,120
all of this through our school social worker school counselors,

1881
02:51:57,120 --> 02:52:09,740
which may not be impactful, or they may have to seek services outside of school hours, or seek services during school hours, and now your impact in their academic performance.

1882
02:52:10,640 --> 02:52:17,660
And one thing that I want to listen in public to know, this does sound like a lot of money, but it's not enough.

1883
02:52:18,200 --> 02:52:26,340
Just like when I talk about my advocacy prepared, all of this interrelate into trying to keep people from being homeless,

1884
02:52:26,340 --> 02:52:31,660
trying to keep people from being in the criminal justice system.

1885
02:52:32,160 --> 02:52:36,240
We have individuals that are acting out, that may not be diagnosed,

1886
02:52:36,520 --> 02:52:39,880
that may not have the resources, that may struggle with housing,

1887
02:52:39,920 --> 02:52:44,820
that may struggle with social, economic things that are going on.

1888
02:52:45,000 --> 02:52:51,440
And so when we talk about behavior, health, here, and the amount of money that we're getting,

1889
02:52:51,440 --> 02:52:56,260
We don't give enough, because government can't do everything.

1890
02:52:56,880 --> 02:53:04,640
But I want people to know that Fulton County is one of the pre-mear, because when I look

1891
02:53:04,640 --> 02:53:09,220
at other counties and what they're doing, they're doing the best that they can with the

1892
02:53:09,220 --> 02:53:10,660
amount of dollars they have.

1893
02:53:10,960 --> 02:53:17,860
But we are light years ahead, are there some things that we need to work on, of course,

1894
02:53:17,860 --> 02:53:27,060
But the way that we have came from what we were in 2016 versus where we are now is like

1895
02:53:27,060 --> 02:53:28,360
difference in night and day.

1896
02:53:28,880 --> 02:53:30,020
And so I thank you.

1897
02:53:30,020 --> 02:53:38,440
I thank that we as a board understand the need for behavior, health to be taken seriously.

1898
02:53:38,760 --> 02:53:46,340
And now we have a lot of focus on not only adolescents, we have focus on our seniors.

1899
02:53:46,340 --> 02:53:54,520
And so, here again, wanting to make sure that we understand the conversation of this looks

1900
02:53:54,520 --> 02:54:02,700
like a lot of money, but it's still not enough because we are moving ahead, but behavior,

1901
02:54:03,320 --> 02:54:11,240
mental health, the social economic factors, and all those things that are a derivative of

1902
02:54:11,240 --> 02:54:22,260
even in being in the criminal justice corridors, and being homeless, all a tied in with the

1903
02:54:22,260 --> 02:54:22,980
similar theory.

1904
02:54:23,100 --> 02:54:30,440
So, kudos to you and kudos to us understanding that this is a lot of money, but it's not

1905
02:54:30,440 --> 02:54:35,540
enough, it's a need for more federally.

1906
02:54:35,540 --> 02:54:45,460
we've seen a slash, especially with our youth and the health, the money that was available

1907
02:54:45,460 --> 02:54:53,800
to them for mental health services. So I just want to kind of give a different voice so

1908
02:54:53,800 --> 02:54:59,520
to speak because we can't do it all as government, but it is out duty as the government

1909
02:55:01,480 --> 02:55:15,000
So here again, I just wanted to thank you for not only the transformative work that you've done, but also the visionary work that I've seen you do and continue to do. So thank you.

1910
02:55:15,120 --> 02:55:16,080
Thank you, Mr. Thorin.

1911
02:55:18,320 --> 02:55:27,820
Thank you, Mr. Foster. I was just wondering if you could elaborate on a few things, what we do in the jail with mental health, the programs that we support.

1912
02:55:27,820 --> 02:55:34,800
question, thank you. So with this funding, we also have a screening and

1913
02:55:34,800 --> 02:55:40,320
rate entry unit which was in response to the recommendations from the

1914
02:55:40,320 --> 02:55:45,980
Justice and Mental Health Task Force and what this looks like is that every

1915
02:55:45,980 --> 02:55:52,020
eligible booking in the jail individuals are screened with the correctional

1916
02:55:52,020 --> 02:55:58,620
mental health screening and through the screening and the reentry unit, anyone that's

1917
02:55:58,620 --> 02:56:04,500
identified to have perhaps a mental health need based on the fact that they've scored

1918
02:56:04,500 --> 02:56:11,020
five or more on the correction on mental health screening, our team meets with the

1919
02:56:11,020 --> 02:56:15,960
individual to complete a gains assessment and that's just determining what are the barriers

1920
02:56:15,960 --> 02:56:24,280
in your life that perhaps contribute to your incarceration or contribute to unmet needs.

1921
02:56:25,120 --> 02:56:32,720
And from there, every morning, the Comability Courts re-entry teams receive an email from

1922
02:56:32,720 --> 02:56:38,700
our screen in the re-entry unit individual that sends out all the names of the individuals

1923
02:56:38,700 --> 02:56:44,080
that are currently in the jail that score five or more on the correctional mental health screening.

1924
02:56:44,080 --> 02:56:47,740
that is also a part of this $15 million asked.

1925
02:56:48,480 --> 02:56:51,340
In addition to that, we provide re-entry services.

1926
02:56:52,140 --> 02:56:54,720
This service is contracted with Grady,

1927
02:56:54,920 --> 02:56:57,460
who subcontracts with women on the rise.

1928
02:56:57,980 --> 02:57:00,500
This service provides re-entry services

1929
02:57:00,500 --> 02:57:02,460
who women who were incarcerated.

1930
02:57:03,120 --> 02:57:05,600
They begin working with them while they're in the jail

1931
02:57:05,600 --> 02:57:08,840
and help them transition back into the community

1932
02:57:08,840 --> 02:57:11,420
with the necessary support to be successful.

1933
02:57:12,200 --> 02:57:13,320
Thank you for the question.

1934
02:57:15,870 --> 02:57:17,090
Can Mr. Barrett?

1935
02:57:18,350 --> 02:57:19,330
Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

1936
02:57:20,270 --> 02:57:24,650
I just had, you've already shared a ton of information.

1937
02:57:25,150 --> 02:57:26,530
I should have had a PowerPoint also.

1938
02:57:26,730 --> 02:57:28,790
Well, it's sort of what I was going to ask.

1939
02:57:28,850 --> 02:57:32,130
I think we don't normally get regular updates from you.

1940
02:57:32,530 --> 02:57:35,610
And I think it might be worthwhile to include that in,

1941
02:57:35,610 --> 02:57:38,230
I don't know, how regularly makes sense if it's quarterly.

1942
02:57:40,310 --> 02:57:43,210
So, so that we can hear some of these stories and see some of these numbers

1943
02:57:43,210 --> 02:57:48,550
and showcase some of the great work that's happening in all these arenas. So we can get that on the list that would be great.

1944
02:57:48,570 --> 02:57:54,110
Well, the economy manager did request a power point and I missed a deadline. So I will take ownership for that.

1945
02:57:55,650 --> 02:57:59,450
He's a visionary. So he news, I have a power point today and I did not have it.

1946
02:57:59,450 --> 02:58:02,670
And you almost got all the way through without getting called out. So there you go.

1947
02:58:03,330 --> 02:58:05,210
All right, Chris Avery, too.

1948
02:58:08,550 --> 02:58:12,850
I wonder, we got a lot of our Pat people still here.

1949
02:58:13,110 --> 02:58:20,470
I wonder how much coordination do we work or do we have with Pat and or our diversion

1950
02:58:20,470 --> 02:58:27,650
center to the extent that you have a center that has low numbers and they may have people

1951
02:58:27,650 --> 02:58:30,850
that might need some of these resources that are available.

1952
02:58:30,850 --> 02:58:36,570
So I just wonder how much coordination do we have with pad and or our diversion ceremony?

1953
02:58:37,290 --> 02:58:42,010
So as a reminder, the Department of Behavior Health and Development of Disabilities

1954
02:58:42,010 --> 02:58:45,390
is the department that oversees pads contract.

1955
02:58:45,830 --> 02:58:53,490
And so we work hand in hand with pad on a weekly monthly basis ensuring that we're coordinating

1956
02:58:53,490 --> 02:58:58,230
services and ensuring that they have access to the behavior health and that work outpatient

1957
02:58:58,230 --> 02:58:59,230
clinics as well.

1958
02:58:59,230 --> 02:59:04,950
And we work hand in hand with Grady, a little overseas at the Diversity Center.

1959
02:59:05,430 --> 02:59:06,250
Thank you.

1960
02:59:06,290 --> 02:59:06,870
You're welcome.

1961
02:59:07,490 --> 02:59:08,450
Okay, any other questions?

1962
02:59:09,190 --> 02:59:14,790
So if my math is correct, that's about $2,100 per person it walks to the door.

1963
02:59:14,890 --> 02:59:16,230
It sounds like a good deal to me.

1964
02:59:16,570 --> 02:59:17,370
So thank you.

1965
02:59:17,370 --> 02:59:17,790
Thanks.

1966
02:59:17,790 --> 02:59:18,210
Next slide.

1967
02:59:20,890 --> 02:59:21,470
I'm sorry.

1968
02:59:22,130 --> 02:59:22,690
Let's vote.

1969
02:59:23,150 --> 02:59:24,190
In the vote it's open.

1970
02:59:31,100 --> 02:59:32,620
In the motion passes unanimously.

1971
02:59:33,300 --> 02:59:39,800
25 0 9 2 7 share request approval to renew an existing contract for in-mate medical services

1972
02:59:39,800 --> 02:59:47,380
a total not to exceed amount of 45 million 121,149 dollars in 72 cents.

1973
02:59:49,500 --> 02:59:51,000
So who's going to speak to this?

1974
02:59:51,560 --> 02:59:52,920
Just manage your home.

1975
02:59:56,620 --> 02:59:57,480
It's a strong Whitaker.

1976
02:59:57,900 --> 02:59:58,600
It's a lie.

1977
03:00:03,470 --> 03:00:13,290
Mr. Chairman, what's before you is the 8th renewal for the NAF care inmate medical services contract.

1978
03:00:13,290 --> 03:00:21,810
It does include the amount that the board increased the contract by during 2025.

1979
03:00:22,590 --> 03:00:33,450
The total amount for services will be 38 million, 521, 149 with medical pass-through costs estimated medical pass-through costs.

1980
03:00:33,450 --> 03:00:40,870
of 6,600,000, for the total amount of 4,000 and 1,1149.

1981
03:00:42,210 --> 03:00:44,450
So this is the last renewal.

1982
03:00:45,470 --> 03:00:48,730
There will be one more renewal under the contract.

1983
03:00:48,910 --> 03:00:52,310
In 2006, could I have heard that you are going to re-bid it next year,

1984
03:00:52,730 --> 03:00:53,930
except accurate or not accurate?

1985
03:00:54,690 --> 03:00:59,130
Actually, Mr. Chairman, in order to start a new contract,

1986
03:00:59,130 --> 03:01:03,690
But this is a very detailed, complex project and it will take some time.

1987
03:01:04,250 --> 03:01:04,770
I understand that.

1988
03:01:04,990 --> 03:01:08,130
I'm just simply asking, are we going to re-bid it in 26?

1989
03:01:08,870 --> 03:01:10,490
We were re-bidded in 27.

1990
03:01:11,010 --> 03:01:15,610
We need to start working on developing the RFP in 26.

1991
03:01:16,330 --> 03:01:20,650
But we would actually release the RFP in 27 for 28.

1992
03:01:21,330 --> 03:01:23,950
To can January 1 of 2028.

1993
03:01:23,950 --> 03:01:31,170
Okay, and would you explain the need for a consultant that I heard to help with the RFP?

1994
03:01:31,390 --> 03:01:34,250
I don't understand why we would need a consulting.

1995
03:01:34,470 --> 03:01:40,210
Maybe not a consultant commissioner, but we do need some assistance with,

1996
03:01:40,670 --> 03:01:47,230
I know there are some things in the consent degree around healthcare, medical healthcare.

1997
03:01:47,910 --> 03:01:53,850
And our RFP has not really been updated or revised since I started in the county.

1998
03:01:53,850 --> 03:02:00,990
in 2004. And so we know that the contract needs to be updated. Our requirements need to be updated.

1999
03:02:01,090 --> 03:02:09,910
It has been reviewed, but it has not significantly changed. And we are not sure if the RFP meets

2000
03:02:09,910 --> 03:02:17,610
the terms of the consent decree in some of those requirements. Those have changed. So I think a review

2001
03:02:17,610 --> 03:02:24,610
is necessary to make sure that a contract that is going to exceed 45 million dollars a year

2002
03:02:24,610 --> 03:02:29,350
is up to date and can take us through the next 10 years.

2003
03:02:29,710 --> 03:02:33,790
Okay, any idea what the cost of the review can solve to where you want to call that firm

2004
03:02:33,790 --> 03:02:34,990
and the vision will be?

2005
03:02:35,190 --> 03:02:41,050
Well, I'm not sure if we need to consult with that or if we need to go back to the monitor

2006
03:02:41,050 --> 03:02:47,110
that is working with the county, I'm not sure which way we need to go with that.

2007
03:02:47,110 --> 03:02:50,210
that's something I think we need to explore with senior management.

2008
03:02:52,270 --> 03:02:54,190
Okay, can we start off do rock line?

2009
03:02:54,510 --> 03:02:57,150
Thank you for bringing up that up chairman.

2010
03:02:58,030 --> 03:03:04,350
County manager, that's a concern and my concern is that we do need a consultant.

2011
03:03:05,210 --> 03:03:10,750
Because not only do we need to upgrade, we have a consent decree in place

2012
03:03:10,750 --> 03:03:16,390
and we've already known that dealing with the jail, dealing with NAF care,

2013
03:03:16,390 --> 03:03:20,270
that is an issue that is going to be under a spotlight.

2014
03:03:21,430 --> 03:03:28,330
And so I think it would be who was us to make sure that we have a subject matter expert,

2015
03:03:28,510 --> 03:03:35,590
especially in that area to make sure that the vision that we have 14 years out.

2016
03:03:35,830 --> 03:03:42,370
And when we're trying to rebuild it, that we cover areas of concern that 10 years ago,

2017
03:03:42,570 --> 03:03:44,190
we may not necessarily have had.

2018
03:03:44,190 --> 03:03:56,190
And so I would support that county manager and I would look forward to making sure that we look at that what is the pound of measures first of.

2019
03:03:56,730 --> 03:04:02,110
I mean, a beautiful measure pound of cure. I have what they say it. I think we need to be on the right side.

2020
03:04:02,450 --> 03:04:07,870
I know anytime we're talking about dollars, we must be fiscally responsible.

2021
03:04:07,870 --> 03:04:16,770
But to me part of me and physically responsible is understanding that we created a situation

2022
03:04:16,770 --> 03:04:22,950
and when I mean we, I mean at that particular time we built a jail that when the doors open

2023
03:04:22,950 --> 03:04:24,510
it was already overcrowded.

2024
03:04:25,250 --> 03:04:35,390
And so we have an opportunity now dealing with the medical needs and the mental needs to use the expertise

2025
03:04:35,390 --> 03:04:43,570
of a consultant for a visionary idea of how the contract needs to be and once it's

2026
03:04:43,570 --> 03:04:49,550
rebidded it will have an outlook of what it will look like 10 years down the road.

2027
03:04:49,910 --> 03:04:51,210
So I would support that.

2028
03:04:51,210 --> 03:04:52,450
Vice here, Alex.

2029
03:04:54,700 --> 03:04:58,700
Do we have reporting mechanisms built in this contract where

2030
03:05:00,000 --> 03:05:07,340
The vendors providing data back to us in terms of what they've done.

2031
03:05:08,140 --> 03:05:19,840
There is some performance metrics in the contract that we amended over various times. There is some reporting.

2032
03:05:20,440 --> 03:05:26,940
Is it with what sort of pace is it reported at the end of a year or throughout a year?

2033
03:05:29,180 --> 03:05:29,800
And maybe I don't know that.

2034
03:05:30,140 --> 03:05:35,340
I just, certainly I think as we're going into looking at a new structure, I think,

2035
03:05:37,200 --> 03:05:38,960
having a greater insight into this.

2036
03:05:39,040 --> 03:05:41,840
I mean, we've had very much fits and starts with this.

2037
03:05:43,300 --> 03:05:47,840
And there was a period of time where our management team was meeting directly with

2038
03:05:47,840 --> 03:05:49,500
Sheriff's Department and the provider,

2039
03:05:50,200 --> 03:05:56,740
You know, talking about the different issues that play in some like there were a lot of improvements.

2040
03:05:57,120 --> 03:05:59,860
That got shut down, away from that.

2041
03:06:00,000 --> 03:06:04,920
I got to get into the history that, whatever, but this seems like sort of reporting mechanisms

2042
03:06:04,920 --> 03:06:10,840
and all around that are very important given the, you know, given the size of this contract

2043
03:06:10,840 --> 03:06:12,760
and given the number of people that it impacts.

2044
03:06:13,060 --> 03:06:18,320
I mean, we just went through a discussion around very detailed sort of report back

2045
03:06:18,320 --> 03:06:22,860
different contract providers we have in the behavioral health area. We have very

2046
03:06:22,860 --> 03:06:25,100
little insight into this one.

2047
03:06:29,530 --> 03:06:31,490
All right, the motion on the floor is to approve.

2048
03:06:31,910 --> 03:06:34,570
Let's vote. And the vote is open.

2049
03:06:39,600 --> 03:06:41,060
And motion passes unanimously.

2050
03:06:42,320 --> 03:06:50,080
Bottom of page 825 0 928 finance discussion fiscal year 2026 proposed operating budget.

2051
03:06:50,080 --> 03:06:50,080
Mr.

2052
03:06:52,490 --> 03:06:53,030
Manager?

2053
03:06:54,630 --> 03:07:07,130
Yes, I'm going to defer to the CFO, but just sort of face to say we've tried to simplify the presentation from the last meeting, making it as clear as possible what is being assumed.

2054
03:07:07,870 --> 03:07:16,970
It also, we've laid out, there are some next steps and they're very significant next steps between now and the two meetings in January.

2055
03:07:16,970 --> 03:07:22,450
who want to cover those in the next two to three charts, and I'll defer to CFO with more.

2056
03:07:24,410 --> 03:07:27,630
Thank you, Mr. Manor, if we could go to the next slide, please.

2057
03:07:28,990 --> 03:07:35,070
Commissioners, because this is on the agenda day, as a discussion item, the document that

2058
03:07:35,070 --> 03:07:41,730
is before you was really just a recap of the 26 proposed budget. Next slide, please.

2059
03:07:43,330 --> 03:07:52,130
As a reminder, the 26-general Fund proposed budget is based upon a carry forward fund balance

2060
03:07:52,130 --> 03:08:06,130
of 232.7 million total revenue of 996 million an expenditure budget of 153 million and a projected

2061
03:08:06,130 --> 03:08:14,090
ending fund balance of 175.6 which does comply with the county's fund balance reserve

2062
03:08:14,090 --> 03:08:24,190
resolution. I'm on the of note on the revenue side. There is an additional 32 million

2063
03:08:24,190 --> 03:08:33,270
of property tax which corresponds with the 32 million in incremental spend associated with the

2064
03:08:33,270 --> 03:08:35,930
cent degree. Next slide, please.

2065
03:08:38,240 --> 03:08:45,940
We also wanted to review the assumptions for property tax one more time,

2066
03:08:46,240 --> 03:08:54,600
perhaps a little more clearly. We have built the property tax anticipation on the assumption

2067
03:08:54,600 --> 03:09:03,400
that we will experience growth in the digest at the same rate as we experience for the 2020-25

2068
03:09:03,400 --> 03:09:12,900
digest, which is 3.1% and that our collection rate would be 95.2% which is the collection

2069
03:09:12,900 --> 03:09:20,160
rate that we've averaged for the last three years. And then lastly that the estimated

2070
03:09:20,160 --> 03:09:27,440
milled rate would be sufficient to generate the appropriated property tax revenue based on

2071
03:09:27,440 --> 03:09:35,250
assumptions that military would currently be 9.26 mills. Next slide, please.

2072
03:09:37,980 --> 03:09:38,540
From a next

2073
03:09:38,540 --> 03:09:45,960
steps perspective today, as well as the next meeting, we expect that there will be

2074
03:09:45,960 --> 03:09:53,820
additional consent order compliance recommendations presented to the board. On the meeting

2075
03:09:53,820 --> 03:09:59,800
January 7, which is the first meeting in January, we will update and revise.

2076
03:10:00,000 --> 03:10:09,380
The proposed budget to include the actual 2020-25 results, revenue expenditure results, actual fund balance

2077
03:10:09,380 --> 03:10:17,660
carry forward, and then any adjustments that we may need to make to our revenue expectations in

2078
03:10:17,660 --> 03:10:25,580
2020-26. I'm from a timing perspective. We may have collected more in 2025 than we originally projected,

2079
03:10:25,580 --> 03:10:31,140
so we may have to reduce then what we are projecting in 26 for prior year property taxes,

2080
03:10:31,260 --> 03:10:37,180
things like that. So we'll bring that forward. We would also include in that document any

2081
03:10:38,660 --> 03:10:44,200
additional consent expenditure recommendations that may come from the board through the end of

2082
03:10:44,200 --> 03:10:51,760
this month. And then any other operational amendments, operational expenditure amendments as

2083
03:10:51,760 --> 03:10:57,180
be necessary. And then outline what the underlying military

2084
03:10:57,180 --> 03:11:02,940
assumption would be based on those updates. With that, with the revision

2085
03:11:02,940 --> 03:11:08,100
coming forward, then in January, at the first meeting in January, the board

2086
03:11:08,100 --> 03:11:14,220
would be able to adopt the budget and its final form in either of those two

2087
03:11:14,220 --> 03:11:18,380
meetings in January, because we did hold the legally required public hearing

2088
03:11:18,380 --> 03:11:36,080
earlier today. So that was the information that we just wanted to share in an attempt to help clarify what the proposed budget contemplated from a revenue perspective and a military perspective.

2089
03:11:37,440 --> 03:11:45,260
And then Mr. Chairman, it's really a discussion after that. So there's there's a few updates that we had today.

2090
03:11:45,260 --> 03:11:49,760
Thank you, Madam CFO, Commissioner Arrington, Commissioner Barrett, Commissioner Ivory.

2091
03:11:51,240 --> 03:11:58,080
Thank you, Madam CFO, and County Manager and team for pulling this together.

2092
03:11:58,260 --> 03:12:00,060
I think this is,

2093
03:12:02,460 --> 03:12:08,320
unfortunately, a lot more realistic because there is no such thing as an overlay,

2094
03:12:09,660 --> 03:12:17,760
I did think that we were also, I thought that there was mention that there would be 30 to 60 million

2095
03:12:17,760 --> 03:12:20,640
for the consent decree.

2096
03:12:21,180 --> 03:12:25,880
And so to the extent that this only, I think I heard you, madam, see if I would say that this

2097
03:12:25,880 --> 03:12:29,640
only anticipates 30 million.

2098
03:12:30,020 --> 03:12:32,300
And there could be potentially 60 million.

2099
03:12:32,420 --> 03:12:38,640
And I guess that's what you mean when you say we may come back and may have to add another 30 million.

2100
03:12:38,640 --> 03:12:41,380
I wonder if you have

2101
03:12:43,420 --> 03:12:48,700
thought about adding that additional 30 million or the full 60 million

2102
03:12:48,700 --> 03:12:54,720
and what the military assumption would be with another 30 million added.

2103
03:13:01,180 --> 03:13:06,680
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. If we add in, I mean, sorry. Thank you, Commissioner Errington.

2104
03:13:06,680 --> 03:13:15,320
If we add in another 30 million that would be about

2105
03:13:17,780 --> 03:13:23,280
maybe three tenths, somewhere between three

2106
03:13:23,280 --> 03:13:26,220
tenths and four tenths of a mill, so a little less than half a mill.

2107
03:13:31,200 --> 03:13:36,520
And so then that would be maybe 9.5 or 9.6 mills at 0.3.

2108
03:13:36,660 --> 03:13:37,640
Is that correct?

2109
03:13:38,040 --> 03:13:39,300
4.3 of 0.4.

2110
03:13:42,020 --> 03:13:47,020
If we, if we needed the whole half a mill, then it would take us up to about 9.7.

2111
03:13:47,340 --> 03:13:51,300
So I would say, you know, probably somewhere between 9.5 and 9.7.

2112
03:13:55,440 --> 03:13:55,820
All right.

2113
03:13:55,940 --> 03:13:56,740
Thank you.

2114
03:14:01,180 --> 03:14:04,680
And that's all that I have from Mr. Barrett.

2115
03:14:05,700 --> 03:14:06,760
Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

2116
03:14:10,080 --> 03:14:14,500
I appreciate that you've changed the presentation to just simplify the military assumption.

2117
03:14:14,500 --> 03:14:18,700
And I'm just wondering, does this live online somewhere?

2118
03:14:19,760 --> 03:14:20,560
Is this presentation?

2119
03:14:22,380 --> 03:14:23,740
Not yet, no, man.

2120
03:14:23,960 --> 03:14:24,600
But it will.

2121
03:14:25,040 --> 03:14:29,240
We can put it out in the budget section, where

2122
03:14:29,240 --> 03:14:31,360
we have the proposed budget as well.

2123
03:14:31,460 --> 03:14:32,200
We can put the presentation.

2124
03:14:32,660 --> 03:14:36,880
Yeah, because I mean, my concern is that, while this has now

2125
03:14:36,880 --> 03:14:40,220
now lays out clearly what the current proposed

2126
03:14:40,220 --> 03:14:42,700
milliderate is without any additional consent

2127
03:14:44,420 --> 03:14:47,960
The book does not say that at all.

2128
03:14:48,080 --> 03:14:51,240
The book does not say 9.26 anywhere I don't think.

2129
03:14:52,260 --> 03:14:53,760
And so, if people are looking up the budget

2130
03:14:53,760 --> 03:14:55,340
and trying to understand the assumptions,

2131
03:14:55,940 --> 03:14:58,280
they're still getting that same sort of confusing message

2132
03:14:58,280 --> 03:14:59,540
that was in the original.

2133
03:15:01,540 --> 03:15:07,580
Presentation last time. So I think anything we can do to make that clear to the public would be helpful.

2134
03:15:09,820 --> 03:15:31,260
I want to just express some concern about separating out on this page, and it was in this way and the other, as well, that 32 million is in some other category in the revenue on the

2135
03:15:32,180 --> 03:15:41,220
it is property tax. It should be the entire amount for property tax should be 815 plus 32, not two separate buckets.

2136
03:15:41,440 --> 03:15:46,220
It doesn't come in as a separate bucket. It is not a separate bucket. It is property tax revenue.

2137
03:15:47,200 --> 03:15:51,160
Trying to act like there is some consent decree revenue is just misleading.

2138
03:15:52,800 --> 03:15:59,520
And I understand what your intention was and trying to show that where you were going to pay for the consent decree expenses.

2139
03:15:59,520 --> 03:16:06,700
But I think presenting it this way again is very confusing for the reading public

2140
03:16:07,220 --> 03:16:14,160
If you look at this at a quick glance, you think we reduced the amount of property tax that we're bringing in down to 815

2141
03:16:14,160 --> 03:16:17,380
So it's just very confusing, and I don't think it's necessary

2142
03:16:17,980 --> 03:16:23,180
And it doesn't actually change anything. It's just a picture of it's trying to present something in a way that is

2143
03:16:24,760 --> 03:16:30,780
cloudy and I would also say the same is true on the expense side putting the consent decree 32 million

2144
03:16:30,800 --> 03:16:33,760
in its own bucket, feels misleading to me,

2145
03:16:34,020 --> 03:16:37,460
because we're not spending money on a consent decree.

2146
03:16:37,880 --> 03:16:39,320
We are under-consent decree.

2147
03:16:39,740 --> 03:16:42,040
And we are under-consent decree, a legal mechanism,

2148
03:16:43,020 --> 03:16:48,340
because we have failed to put enough money towards staffing

2149
03:16:48,340 --> 03:16:50,620
at the jail, and a variety of other things,

2150
03:16:50,880 --> 03:16:52,420
maintenance of the jail and all of those things.

2151
03:16:52,420 --> 03:16:56,260
So the 32 million, or maybe 60 million, in my opinion,

2152
03:16:56,260 --> 03:16:59,260
that we're going to spend, should be in the departments,

2153
03:17:00,060 --> 03:17:04,860
where it will be spent, and in some of those cases, it will be recurring expenses.

2154
03:17:05,300 --> 03:17:09,720
So to put it in a separate bucket, like it's a $32 million one time thing that's going

2155
03:17:09,720 --> 03:17:12,980
to be a checkwritten to something called consent decree is misleading.

2156
03:17:13,800 --> 03:17:17,920
These are either sheriff's operational items or their counties' maintenance items.

2157
03:17:18,080 --> 03:17:18,720
They're not separate.

2158
03:17:19,620 --> 03:17:24,800
And this is the same argument I've had year after year about this inmate services line item

2159
03:17:24,800 --> 03:17:25,440
on the budget.

2160
03:17:25,620 --> 03:17:26,920
I saw the same concern.

2161
03:17:27,580 --> 03:17:33,640
If inmate services are to be performed, those are operational expenses of the sheriff's, they

2162
03:17:33,640 --> 03:17:34,440
should be in his budget.

2163
03:17:35,280 --> 03:17:39,620
So I'm just going to continue to express those concerns every time, and I'll continue to

2164
03:17:39,620 --> 03:17:40,680
be ignored, I'm sure.

2165
03:17:41,100 --> 03:17:46,120
But this is not clear to the public what these things are, and I think it's very, very misleading.

2166
03:17:46,840 --> 03:17:49,400
And we should have transparency as a focus here.

2167
03:17:49,400 --> 03:17:51,100
And this is not transparent.

2168
03:17:53,640 --> 03:17:54,720
And to that end,

2169
03:17:57,490 --> 03:18:04,370
I asked this every year too, but we have, you know, a massive amount of money sitting in non-agency.

2170
03:18:05,030 --> 03:18:16,130
And I believe 80 million of it is non-agency other, which is, again, you know, just a mystery to anybody in the public who's looking at the budget.

2171
03:18:16,130 --> 03:18:21,710
And so I think we need a full accounting of what is in non-agency and what in particular is

2172
03:18:21,710 --> 03:18:23,010
in non-agency other.

2173
03:18:23,390 --> 03:18:27,750
If we're looking at cutting every dollar and every penny everywhere we can, you know,

2174
03:18:27,890 --> 03:18:32,750
how can we be asked to vote on a budget where $80 million worth is just a mystery?

2175
03:18:34,490 --> 03:18:37,450
I mean, this is like the thing we are elected to do.

2176
03:18:37,950 --> 03:18:40,870
So once again, this feels very cloudy.

2177
03:18:42,530 --> 03:18:46,130
So, you know, I'd like to see more information on that if possible,

2178
03:18:52,040 --> 03:19:01,360
you know, there's, I wasn't here last time, so I didn't, you know, wasn't able to sort of, I know a lot of work goes into this, I really do appreciate it.

2179
03:19:01,720 --> 03:19:02,080
But

2180
03:19:04,290 --> 03:19:15,430
I do think there's a lot of questions about how we're moving forward here, and I understand the goal that we're going to have to raise the military pretty significantly to pay for these items that we're going to need to,

2181
03:19:16,730 --> 03:19:20,850
to do in order to be in compliance with the consent to create.

2182
03:19:25,410 --> 03:19:29,530
But we just approved a contract for, I don't know,

2183
03:19:29,650 --> 03:19:32,450
what was a $2 million altogether for AV equipment.

2184
03:19:33,350 --> 03:19:40,710
And we approved a contract for 500,000 for PR and communications.

2185
03:19:41,490 --> 03:19:43,510
And then we're telling all the departments,

2186
03:19:43,670 --> 03:19:45,390
they have to cut 1%.

2187
03:19:45,390 --> 03:19:47,470
So I'm questioning that a little bit to you.

2188
03:19:47,470 --> 03:19:53,650
understand that this is a trade-off between the salary savings and the attrition calculations

2189
03:19:53,650 --> 03:19:57,430
versus doing the one percent. So I understand trying a different method to do this.

2190
03:19:57,770 --> 03:19:59,830
But I do have concerns and maybe you can speak to this.

2191
03:20:00,000 --> 03:20:06,520
However, there are some departments, and I saw this when I sat through the budget hearings, where

2192
03:20:06,520 --> 03:20:10,040
they are using almost all of their budget. There are some that are not. There are some that have

2193
03:20:10,040 --> 03:20:16,440
enough open positions that 1% is actually a better deal for them than the salary attrition

2194
03:20:16,440 --> 03:20:21,280
savings that was being used before. But for some, they are using almost all of their budgets.

2195
03:20:21,320 --> 03:20:27,500
They're fully staffed, and they're pretty close. So what happens to those departments? My concern

2196
03:20:27,500 --> 03:20:32,540
and I'll let you answer that. But my concern is that we're not really using a scalpel here

2197
03:20:32,540 --> 03:20:36,220
in figuring out where to cut. And we're sort of asking everybody to tighten their belt,

2198
03:20:36,280 --> 03:20:40,920
which is a very different ask for a six-person department that's fully using its budget than it

2199
03:20:40,920 --> 03:20:46,280
is for a several hundred-person department that has lots of vacancies. So I don't know if you want to

2200
03:20:46,280 --> 03:20:48,120
speak to that. Madam CFO or Mr. Manager.

2201
03:20:51,690 --> 03:20:53,070
Thank you Commissioner Barrett.

2202
03:20:55,130 --> 03:21:06,310
Yes, it was a trade-off, if you will, from following what we have done with attrition

2203
03:21:06,310 --> 03:21:13,270
because there seemed to be a lot of concern raised over how to implement attrition.

2204
03:21:14,350 --> 03:21:30,150
So, because we know that we don't spend 100% of what is placed in the budget, we went ahead and took a haircut, one percent of that.

2205
03:21:30,350 --> 03:21:43,600
And to your question about what will a small department have to do, we've asked them to work with their budget analyst to identify where

2206
03:21:43,600 --> 03:21:48,700
they will be able to absorb those reductions.

2207
03:21:50,140 --> 03:21:54,060
So we are looking at that with, you know, with each of the agencies,

2208
03:21:55,120 --> 03:21:58,140
and they each will have the opportunity to develop their plan.

2209
03:21:58,300 --> 03:22:01,600
In some cases, they may end up taking it as attrition

2210
03:22:01,600 --> 03:22:07,760
and just deferring a position for some period of time during the year.

2211
03:22:07,860 --> 03:22:08,740
If they have a vacancy.

2212
03:22:10,840 --> 03:22:12,180
And if they don't have a vacancy?

2213
03:22:13,380 --> 03:22:25,260
Then we will have to look at other places within their operating budget, where they may find the resources to cover their 1%.

2214
03:22:25,260 --> 03:22:30,540
Okay, so I guess what I'm getting at is, and I don't remember which departments were fully staffed like that.

2215
03:22:30,780 --> 03:22:33,940
It strikes me that it might have been diversity in compliance.

2216
03:22:34,180 --> 03:22:37,120
Compliance they might have been pretty close to full staff.

2217
03:22:37,240 --> 03:22:40,560
There were a few of the smaller departments in particular, I think that we heard from.

2218
03:22:40,560 --> 03:23:01,380
But again, you know, I have a concern about, you know, a haircut as you described it versus, you know, a scalpel and making decisions about budget cuts because, you know, I don't want to pick on a particular department, but if there's a smaller department with a smaller budget, and they're having to cut, then they are decreasing service,

2219
03:23:03,900 --> 03:23:11,420
but we're spending, you know, $450,000 on PR when we're saying we don't have money to spend.

2220
03:23:11,420 --> 03:23:15,700
or I think you still have the $10 million in there,

2221
03:23:15,820 --> 03:23:19,460
Madam CFO, under non-agency other for the bond debt

2222
03:23:19,460 --> 03:23:21,420
that we're probably not going to even have to issue those bonds

2223
03:23:21,420 --> 03:23:22,380
this coming year.

2224
03:23:22,880 --> 03:23:28,140
So why are we not being a little bit more precise in these cuts?

2225
03:23:28,520 --> 03:23:30,340
And cutting the things that are the least needed

2226
03:23:30,340 --> 03:23:33,900
versus just asking everybody to cut one percent?

2227
03:23:44,770 --> 03:23:48,070
We looked at the budget overall.

2228
03:23:48,070 --> 03:24:00,230
The last session I used the term massage and said I wouldn't use it again, but it is a process.

2229
03:24:01,530 --> 03:24:10,670
We had already built into the planning process attrition and after some heated discussion amongst ourselves.

2230
03:24:12,370 --> 03:24:23,510
We came to the conclusion that a tradition, although it sounds simple, seems to be difficult for many agencies to execute.

2231
03:24:25,730 --> 03:24:33,170
So, a 1% haircut did not seem insurmountable.

2232
03:24:33,170 --> 03:24:41,010
We could go in with a scalpel and make specific reductions.

2233
03:24:42,170 --> 03:24:54,390
It would not be to the debt service number because we are at a point where we will be bringing back to the board in the very near future.

2234
03:24:54,390 --> 03:24:59,970
some plans for moving forward with the...

2235
03:25:00,690 --> 03:25:23,590
Design work that needs to be done for the special purpose building, as well as a accelerated plan to address the housing need that we will have when the current agreement that we have with the city of Atlanta for the use of the detention center expires.

2236
03:25:23,590 --> 03:25:30,670
So, there is a need now for that and we will be bringing something forward to the board very soon.

2237
03:25:30,690 --> 03:25:39,970
So, we could go in with with the scalpel, but when we came to the board and we shared and made suggestions.

2238
03:25:40,870 --> 03:25:43,710
And we talked about, you know, specific programmatic expenses.

2239
03:25:44,430 --> 03:25:51,650
We did not get any specific direction back to reduce any one thing over the other.

2240
03:25:52,350 --> 03:25:57,830
And again, we had some pretty heated discussion about what are the kinds of things that we would

2241
03:25:57,830 --> 03:26:03,470
remove from the budget and we would certainly look first to those things that are not mandated,

2242
03:26:04,790 --> 03:26:17,430
that are not required services programs or services. So those would be the ones that we would look to, you know,

2243
03:26:19,410 --> 03:26:27,490
very popular services with constituents,

2244
03:26:29,730 --> 03:26:36,030
so a shared reduction to us seemed a little better than

2245
03:26:36,030 --> 03:26:40,970
going in and making those surgical cuts.

2246
03:26:41,070 --> 03:26:48,910
But if you have a recommendation for something for us to consider completely taking

2247
03:26:48,910 --> 03:26:54,070
out of the budget or eliminating which certainly be happy to take that under consideration?

2248
03:26:55,350 --> 03:27:03,070
Well, I appreciate that, but we're really only given the department level in terms of

2249
03:27:03,070 --> 03:27:04,850
how much budget each one has.

2250
03:27:05,650 --> 03:27:12,430
And then this year we got on paper, but not digitally, what the departments presented at

2251
03:27:12,430 --> 03:27:13,270
their budget hearings.

2252
03:27:14,030 --> 03:27:24,850
So, asking us to come up with recommendations is sort of backwards, I feel like you all should be recommending to us where the best cuts would be.

2253
03:27:25,230 --> 03:27:26,510
Where does it make sense to cut?

2254
03:27:27,190 --> 03:27:30,830
I can't, you know, put my finger in there and say this program versus that.

2255
03:27:31,070 --> 03:27:38,370
But you all have much more knowledge and more direct contact with the departments and all of those things to ask those kind of questions.

2256
03:27:38,370 --> 03:27:45,170
And I hate to keep picking on Ms. Corbett in the $450,000, but, you know, because she does

2257
03:27:45,170 --> 03:27:45,750
great work.

2258
03:27:46,610 --> 03:27:50,190
But, you know, that's the kind of thing where, you know, it's not mandated and it's in

2259
03:27:50,190 --> 03:27:57,130
the base budget and it's not a service that the constituents care about and, you know, again,

2260
03:27:57,350 --> 03:28:01,010
I hate to just keep picking on that one chunk, but it happened to come before us today.

2261
03:28:01,970 --> 03:28:06,170
So, you know, I think it's a little backwards to say that we should come up with suggestions.

2262
03:28:06,170 --> 03:28:14,990
I mean, you don't even let the departments talk to us without your participation, so, I mean, how would I do that?

2263
03:28:15,550 --> 03:28:21,030
When I asked some of the departments to share their budget documents with us, I was told they were not allowed to.

2264
03:28:21,810 --> 03:28:31,390
So, you know, I think you guys have a pretty tight reign and there's not really an opportunity for us to have that level of knowledge to even bring that forward.

2265
03:28:31,390 --> 03:28:46,480
So that's concerning, and I had one other question on the one percent, and that is I think there's a legal issue with the 1% cut, at least as it relates to the constitutional officers, is there not?

2266
03:28:48,210 --> 03:28:58,950
Well, there's a, so my knowledge there's a court case, there was a court case, I don't know, a Madam County attorney maybe you know about this, but not that long ago, I think it was Chattam County, where

2267
03:28:58,950 --> 03:29:06,030
the they did a 1% cut like that I think it was 1% I don't remember but and the sheriff's office

2268
03:29:06,030 --> 03:29:09,430
I think in Chattam County or it might have been one of the other constitutional officers

2269
03:29:10,310 --> 03:29:15,910
suit over it and one and they were told that they could not apply a 1% across the board

2270
03:29:15,910 --> 03:29:20,950
cut to the constitutional officers so we should probably check that before we lock it in.

2271
03:29:21,710 --> 03:29:23,830
Just that we all end up in court if that happens.

2272
03:29:25,710 --> 03:29:27,230
Just worth looking into.

2273
03:29:28,210 --> 03:29:29,950
That's all I have.

2274
03:29:30,210 --> 03:29:30,770
Mr. Ivory.

2275
03:29:31,570 --> 03:29:32,770
Thank you so much, Mr. Chairman.

2276
03:29:35,490 --> 03:29:40,690
I don't even know where to begin, but as a law professor, the thing I try to do for

2277
03:29:40,690 --> 03:29:45,910
my law students is always teaching the most simplistic way, speak plain English so that they

2278
03:29:45,910 --> 03:29:52,350
can walk away from my law classes, understanding what their role is as a new attorney

2279
03:29:52,350 --> 03:29:53,890
and what we've just learned.

2280
03:29:53,890 --> 03:29:59,210
And so I often just try not to convolut what I'm saying so that they can do that.

2281
03:29:59,250 --> 03:29:59,970
And I feel like that...

2282
03:30:00,000 --> 03:30:06,880
That's just what we've done here. And it's so hard for us as commissioners to understand this.

2283
03:30:06,960 --> 03:30:16,500
With the limited information we get with the updates that are not really flushed out, never mind what the citizens are able to understand.

2284
03:30:16,820 --> 03:30:23,580
And so I do concur with commissioner bear it about that. But we had a great meeting yesterday, almost two hours.

2285
03:30:23,580 --> 03:30:27,460
that we sat and we talked about my full concern,

2286
03:30:27,660 --> 03:30:30,320
which was at the top of the list,

2287
03:30:30,720 --> 03:30:32,760
can you present to me a budget

2288
03:30:32,760 --> 03:30:37,720
that looks to what the needs of the county are,

2289
03:30:38,000 --> 03:30:39,920
the costs of the consent decree,

2290
03:30:40,020 --> 03:30:42,200
the assumptions that have been assigned already,

2291
03:30:42,200 --> 03:30:45,580
which is a 30 million, and the ones we know are coming,

2292
03:30:46,100 --> 03:30:48,020
not that we think may be coming,

2293
03:30:48,140 --> 03:30:50,320
that we know for sure are coming,

2294
03:30:50,320 --> 03:30:57,500
which are 60 million or more and giving the enhancements that certain departments have been

2295
03:30:57,500 --> 03:31:01,320
asking for for year after year after year after year and I asked for that.

2296
03:31:01,760 --> 03:31:06,500
Can I see what a budget would look like and what that number would be if those things were

2297
03:31:06,500 --> 03:31:09,620
included and I still don't have that.

2298
03:31:10,320 --> 03:31:17,800
The idea that we are only going with one school of thought of how to approach this budget

2299
03:31:17,800 --> 03:31:25,680
is that what can we do to keep the milliderate, the closest to what it is right now, it blows

2300
03:31:25,680 --> 03:31:34,900
my mind? At the same time that we are claiming in not improving, not giving increased services,

2301
03:31:35,280 --> 03:31:43,420
taking a 1% decrease, cutting in half the consent decree costs to preserve and be as conservative

2302
03:31:43,420 --> 03:31:51,240
As a number, as to not shock the conscience of certain commissioners, is not what the public deserves.

2303
03:31:51,760 --> 03:31:58,200
The public deserves a number that they can look at and compare to different scenarios.

2304
03:31:58,840 --> 03:32:01,580
This is the scenario if we keep the military flat.

2305
03:32:01,980 --> 03:32:06,120
This is the scenario if we include all the costs of the consent decree.

2306
03:32:06,440 --> 03:32:10,220
This is the scenario if we gave all the enhancements that are being recommended.

2307
03:32:10,220 --> 03:32:19,460
That's a smart way to approach a budget and I've asked for that, but I just can't seem to get it.

2308
03:32:19,900 --> 03:32:26,480
There's a concept of trying to play down numbers all the time in finance.

2309
03:32:26,960 --> 03:32:28,140
I know why.

2310
03:32:28,600 --> 03:32:34,460
We shouldn't do it though, because the budget should not be political, but it is.

2311
03:32:34,460 --> 03:32:43,500
In conversations we had before, we said that 30 million was about a 0.39 of a mill.

2312
03:32:44,440 --> 03:32:50,860
When Commissioner Erranton just asked if we kept the 60 million in, what would that increase be?

2313
03:32:51,100 --> 03:32:55,780
Your response was about 0.5, a little less than 0.5.

2314
03:32:56,020 --> 03:32:58,240
And that's just mathematically incorrect.

2315
03:32:58,840 --> 03:33:03,720
If 30 million is 0.39, then 60 million is 0.74.

2316
03:33:03,720 --> 03:33:12,060
which you all included in your 10 year forecast plan document that you presented to us,

2317
03:33:12,640 --> 03:33:17,860
which took the military to 10.1 in 2026.

2318
03:33:18,960 --> 03:33:22,680
And I don't want to have to post that document.

2319
03:33:23,240 --> 03:33:25,000
I don't want to, it's not anywhere.

2320
03:33:25,600 --> 03:33:27,040
I have it, everybody else.

2321
03:33:27,260 --> 03:33:30,320
In fact, I think Commissioner Harrington has posted it before.

2322
03:33:30,320 --> 03:33:35,580
But it's like, let's just tell the scary truth.

2323
03:33:36,540 --> 03:33:43,400
If the scary truth is that we have to raise more revenue to bring into this county in order

2324
03:33:43,400 --> 03:33:50,900
to pay for the consent degree cost at what we know is at least $60 million could be more.

2325
03:33:51,220 --> 03:33:57,440
Because we know we have to staff, we have a staffing plan coming up that's going to be expensive.

2326
03:33:57,440 --> 03:34:01,360
So, it might even be more than 10.1.

2327
03:34:01,960 --> 03:34:07,960
But it's like we're trying so hard to stay away from telling the truth about these numbers.

2328
03:34:09,160 --> 03:34:15,820
We had a 10 year forecast plan that looked at 2026, 2027, 10 years down the line, and guess

2329
03:34:15,820 --> 03:34:19,520
what full in county the number continues to go up.

2330
03:34:19,520 --> 03:34:27,260
In 2026, it was 10.1 in 2027, it's higher, and it goes up, and it goes up until certain dollars

2331
03:34:27,260 --> 03:34:32,200
come back into the county and we can begin to bring it down.

2332
03:34:32,780 --> 03:34:36,400
And the truth is we should be telling you the truth about that.

2333
03:34:37,020 --> 03:34:38,400
And so I'm going to do that.

2334
03:34:39,020 --> 03:34:47,280
And I'm just going to keep doing it, and I feel, I feel just, it is not about where

2335
03:34:47,280 --> 03:34:53,820
you stand in any of your political views about raising taxes or not, it's where we are in

2336
03:34:53,820 --> 03:34:54,960
full and county right now.

2337
03:34:55,140 --> 03:34:59,740
The crisis we are in, there are right now 45 people sleeping on the floor of the jail.

2338
03:35:00,000 --> 03:35:10,000
Today, jail population 294, right street 1,960, 45 people sleeping on the floor in a facility that the federal

2339
03:35:10,000 --> 03:35:20,920
government has said is unconstitutionally uninhabitable. But we're playing games with the numbers that we need to make it constitutional, tell the truth.

2340
03:35:21,700 --> 03:35:31,640
A military increase is going to happen, and so we can say 9.2, 9.1, 10.1, but it's happening.

2341
03:35:32,120 --> 03:35:34,900
It's coming, in January, we'll see different numbers.

2342
03:35:35,340 --> 03:35:39,040
We're asking departments to do less with more so we can cram money in.

2343
03:35:39,320 --> 03:35:44,440
It just is not an effective way to run a government.

2344
03:35:44,980 --> 03:35:50,320
It is not an effective way to not tell the people the truth about what has been done with their

2345
03:35:50,320 --> 03:35:56,220
And what we need to do with the dollars that are coming in and that we need more of them

2346
03:35:56,220 --> 03:35:58,600
Because we've been flat for over a decade

2347
03:35:58,600 --> 03:36:06,300
And I don't know how many people in their house can use the same money for the last 12 to 15 years to pay the expenses of today

2348
03:36:06,920 --> 03:36:08,640
And fund a crisis

2349
03:36:09,580 --> 03:36:11,000
That's not our only crisis

2350
03:36:11,000 --> 03:36:12,960
We have other crises too

2351
03:36:12,960 --> 03:36:14,580
We don't talk about those hospitals

2352
03:36:15,440 --> 03:36:17,560
More funding for our court system

2353
03:36:17,560 --> 03:36:19,660
I could go on and on.

2354
03:36:20,040 --> 03:36:26,340
I would love to see a budget that funds all the things we need.

2355
03:36:27,560 --> 03:36:30,600
Can I get that?

2356
03:36:30,720 --> 03:36:33,760
Hello? Can I get that?

2357
03:36:34,200 --> 03:36:36,560
In a not in a three-page document,

2358
03:36:37,240 --> 03:36:40,780
but more in a go into the system,

2359
03:36:41,240 --> 03:36:42,460
you guys are so smart.

2360
03:36:43,320 --> 03:36:45,660
I know you're so smart, because you've taught me so much.

2361
03:36:45,660 --> 03:36:50,540
going to the system and put the other numbers in because you can just take this number out and put

2362
03:36:50,540 --> 03:36:57,260
take the 30 out and put the 60 in. Take the 1% away, the reduction away and let's see what those numbers

2363
03:36:57,260 --> 03:37:06,300
look like. Just show me another budget. I want to share an alternate reality or an alternate option

2364
03:37:06,300 --> 03:37:10,240
for my constituents. Can I please get that?

2365
03:37:13,450 --> 03:37:13,510
Yes?

2366
03:37:16,440 --> 03:37:20,420
Yes? I mean, it would be helpful to have a consensus

2367
03:37:20,420 --> 03:37:27,240
of what, either, what detail, what kind of scenarios, as you raise, because, by the way, you know,

2368
03:37:27,360 --> 03:37:31,380
winding the clock back, we've provided scenarios before, and I'm talking about in years

2369
03:37:31,380 --> 03:37:38,420
past. And that didn't exactly go well. Then the direction then was bring us a spot, you

2370
03:37:39,060 --> 03:37:45,340
know, proposal based on a discussion that we have in early, remember, so any of these things

2371
03:37:45,340 --> 03:37:45,940
are possible.

2372
03:37:45,940 --> 03:37:53,080
I get it and I understand that county manager and thank you and that those requests come from a form majority of the board

2373
03:37:53,080 --> 03:38:00,320
Not everyone on the board and so what I'm asking outside of that for is can I for my whether it would pass or not?

2374
03:38:00,320 --> 03:38:05,640
I'm not asking about whether it would pass. I just want to see what it would look like and so I can for sure

2375
03:38:05,640 --> 03:38:11,200
Send you a need to email with that detail. I think I have before and I can add more and make that request

2376
03:38:11,200 --> 03:38:14,160
But I would like to examine what that looks like and you began

2377
03:38:15,380 --> 03:38:43,680
And you began to do that in the 10 year forecast where you were setting out the assumptions that you know, which you know 60 million is coming, or more, because we've talked about this, we talked about it yesterday, but we're still working on for the 30 million with I think, which I think is just disingenuous. So I'm going to stop because I know you know what I'm talking about, because we have conversed about it. I think you all know that you deserve a true, the truth about what we need to run this county and suffix the jail.

2378
03:38:43,680 --> 03:38:45,680
And I'm going to stop there.

2379
03:38:45,980 --> 03:38:49,040
So I was a real similar tomorrow for no requests, OK?

2380
03:38:50,220 --> 03:38:52,460
Commissioner Thorn, and I'm going to give you

2381
03:38:52,460 --> 03:38:55,460
how to tell you how to solve this problem when we get finished.

2382
03:38:56,360 --> 03:38:57,560
Commissioner Thorn, you have the floor.

2383
03:38:59,260 --> 03:39:01,840
So are you guys not telling the truth about numbers?

2384
03:39:03,280 --> 03:39:05,380
I mean, that seems to be an accusation.

2385
03:39:05,380 --> 03:39:09,920
I just wanted you to respond if you could.

2386
03:39:13,040 --> 03:39:15,560
Are you not, I mean, laying down numbers or anything.

2387
03:39:15,560 --> 03:39:19,140
All numbers are developed with whatever the assumptions are.

2388
03:39:19,360 --> 03:39:23,740
We try to lay out what the assumptions are every time that we present.

2389
03:39:24,040 --> 03:39:27,980
So it's not a matter of is it true or not true?

2390
03:39:28,320 --> 03:39:31,760
It's if you don't agree with the assumptions, then you want to agree with the numbers.

2391
03:39:32,800 --> 03:39:34,160
It's really that something.

2392
03:39:34,960 --> 03:39:35,360
Thank you.

2393
03:39:35,380 --> 03:39:39,220
Thank you for laying that out and it's really not political either.

2394
03:39:40,220 --> 03:39:48,220
We have a lot of needs, I have a lot of needs in my house that I wish I could find but I just can't at this time.

2395
03:39:50,200 --> 03:39:55,980
Everybody can come up with a ton of needs and I looked at Gwynette County, our neighboring county.

2396
03:39:57,040 --> 03:39:59,980
They were able to identify. They realized.

2397
03:40:00,000 --> 03:40:05,160
The cost of inflation is hurting everybody. It's hurting government, it's hurting individuals.

2398
03:40:06,180 --> 03:40:13,100
And they were able to identify areas where they thought they could reduce spending, but not reduce services.

2399
03:40:13,420 --> 03:40:18,900
And they're reducing their budget by $66 million. So kudos to them.

2400
03:40:18,900 --> 03:40:27,260
Um, you know, I do appreciate you guys putting out the cost of the consent to Cree, that's

2401
03:40:27,260 --> 03:40:34,840
helpful for me to see we're funding because it is such a huge expense that where the taxpayers

2402
03:40:34,840 --> 03:40:39,440
are going to have to incur and we didn't know exactly and we still don't know exactly

2403
03:40:39,440 --> 03:40:40,740
how much we're going to pay.

2404
03:40:41,280 --> 03:40:47,140
So for me to have that as a separate item that's causing our millage rate to go up or increase

2405
03:40:47,140 --> 03:40:54,360
it makes it easier, actually more transparent, not less transparent, that I can explain it

2406
03:40:54,360 --> 03:41:00,920
to my constituents if we do have to raise, or we approve a budget that is not flat.

2407
03:41:01,720 --> 03:41:05,020
It makes it easier for me to explain to my constituents.

2408
03:41:05,320 --> 03:41:06,360
It's laid out.

2409
03:41:06,740 --> 03:41:06,960
It's there.

2410
03:41:07,180 --> 03:41:07,680
It's visible.

2411
03:41:07,820 --> 03:41:09,100
There's a graphic there.

2412
03:41:10,740 --> 03:41:19,460
I do have a concern with a ruling that just came out last week with our district attorney

2413
03:41:20,260 --> 03:41:24,280
that is likely going to cost the county millions of dollars.

2414
03:41:24,940 --> 03:41:31,400
And I want to know if that's been addressed, I understand we have 45 days where the 19

2415
03:41:32,200 --> 03:41:36,940
defendants will turn in their legal costs that the full county tax payers will be on

2416
03:41:38,380 --> 03:41:41,880
So are we going to wait to just throw that in the budget?

2417
03:41:42,160 --> 03:41:44,720
Are we just going to ignore that like that didn't happen?

2418
03:41:45,280 --> 03:41:47,140
Or what is the situation there?

2419
03:41:47,700 --> 03:41:49,860
So let me stress that quickly.

2420
03:41:50,100 --> 03:41:56,400
I think we need to to Madam County to help me out to discuss that special prosecutors

2421
03:41:57,880 --> 03:42:00,980
ruling in executive session and where we go from here.

2422
03:42:03,110 --> 03:42:07,410
So I'll wait for executive session, but obviously we're not putting that in the budget.

2423
03:42:10,190 --> 03:42:13,910
For me, I appreciate what you're doing.

2424
03:42:14,390 --> 03:42:15,310
We can do the math.

2425
03:42:15,430 --> 03:42:21,670
I know Hakeem, when he was here, he would sit down and he had a model where it was this

2426
03:42:21,670 --> 03:42:27,490
scenario he could plug it in the model and I could see what would happen with the millage rate.

2427
03:42:28,290 --> 03:42:30,970
I assume we still have that model if that's correct.

2428
03:42:31,830 --> 03:42:35,430
So I imagine a commissioner's want to add 300 million to the budget.

2429
03:42:35,430 --> 03:42:39,850
And I think the sheriff wants us to add 180 million to his budget.

2430
03:42:40,150 --> 03:42:45,030
You could see how much the millage rates can increase with adding that into the budget.

2431
03:42:45,870 --> 03:42:49,090
And I just want to thank you for all the work you're doing.

2432
03:42:49,570 --> 03:42:54,190
I like the simplified presentation here.

2433
03:42:54,830 --> 03:42:56,750
It's not overwhelming to look at.

2434
03:42:57,270 --> 03:43:01,670
And I would love to see if we could find areas to trim.

2435
03:43:01,670 --> 03:43:09,870
And we could make the impact of not having to raise the milled rate when we set the milled

2436
03:43:09,870 --> 03:43:10,630
rate in August.

2437
03:43:11,170 --> 03:43:16,370
Oh, I also wanted to point out, there's been a lot of talk about the $68 million surplus

2438
03:43:16,370 --> 03:43:24,630
that we have a surplus, we have money to spend, that $68 million is put into our fund balance.

2439
03:43:24,630 --> 03:43:33,190
It is located there in the 232.7 million fund balance that we're using towards this year of

2440
03:43:33,190 --> 03:43:36,490
budget and we're still going to come up short.

2441
03:43:37,690 --> 03:43:41,410
So anybody who's out there saying we have a surplus, let's just spend the money, let's

2442
03:43:41,410 --> 03:43:46,910
go, you're just asking to spend money that we're not going to have next year and you're

2443
03:43:46,910 --> 03:43:49,970
going to be raising the millage rate even more.

2444
03:43:50,210 --> 03:43:50,530
Thank you.

2445
03:43:50,710 --> 03:43:51,390
That's all I have to say.

2446
03:43:53,590 --> 03:44:20,710
Thank you Mr. Chairman, I just wanted to add something to what I was saying earlier, and I appreciate your comments, Commissioner Ivory, and I think maybe Commissioner Ivory did a better job of getting at what I was trying to say about the 32 million separated out on the chart here as additional property tax and consent decree.

2447
03:44:21,390 --> 03:44:26,750
But that separation, I think I just said, is confusing or isn't accurate or whatever.

2448
03:44:27,250 --> 03:44:33,150
But the reality is, that separation, that right there on page two of the document, this

2449
03:44:33,150 --> 03:44:39,890
PowerPoint you have up, is political, because there is no business case for drawing this

2450
03:44:39,890 --> 03:44:40,710
this way.

2451
03:44:41,510 --> 03:44:48,390
Writing this up is $32 million additional property tax, and $32 million to be sent on a

2452
03:44:48,390 --> 03:44:54,810
centricry is purely political. So I just have to reiterate that and make that more clear

2453
03:44:54,810 --> 03:44:59,050
because I think I wasn't clear enough about that. That is not a business decision.

2454
03:45:00,000 --> 03:45:06,220
Property tax is property tax. There's no such thing as a $32 million additional property tax to pay a consent decree.

2455
03:45:06,840 --> 03:45:14,240
And the other thing I want to say, and I think Commissioner Ivory alluded to this, you know, we're talking about

2456
03:45:17,540 --> 03:45:18,740
cutting everything.

2457
03:45:19,320 --> 03:45:26,740
And a 1% cut, like keeping everybody at prior year levels to, to cram everything into this, you know, lower amount.

2458
03:45:28,620 --> 03:45:35,900
But the reality is, the consens decree is not a random thing that just happened to us because

2459
03:45:36,960 --> 03:45:40,920
the consens decree isn't placed because we did not live up to our obligations.

2460
03:45:41,720 --> 03:45:46,240
And that comes from under investing in justice for decades.

2461
03:45:47,080 --> 03:45:52,540
As evidence by the fact that we were under a consent decree before, I think for nine years

2462
03:45:52,540 --> 03:45:57,740
or something, we finally got out of it and we continued not to invest enough and found ourselves

2463
03:45:57,740 --> 03:46:06,740
right back under consensus create that. So if we don't up the level of investment that we're

2464
03:46:06,740 --> 03:46:14,380
willing to make in the entire justice system and we are doing the minimum to get through and

2465
03:46:14,380 --> 03:46:21,100
get out of a consensus-cree, we're just going to find ourselves right back there again. So

2466
03:46:21,100 --> 03:46:27,260
cutting funding to justice or continuing to deny funding for things that improve the justice

2467
03:46:27,260 --> 03:46:31,660
system, like pad, who is still sitting here patiently waiting to see what we're going to do.

2468
03:46:32,460 --> 03:46:34,700
We're going to end up in the same situation.

2469
03:46:35,300 --> 03:46:40,980
So we can't just address only the concerns specifically that are listed in the consent

2470
03:46:40,980 --> 03:46:47,740
to career in the DOJ report and ignore the throughput of the court system, ignore diversion options,

2471
03:46:47,940 --> 03:46:52,640
ignore all the things that the programs that are our various justice partners are trying

2472
03:46:52,640 --> 03:46:59,400
put in place to make everything better because we're not going to spend on any of that and

2473
03:46:59,400 --> 03:47:03,740
only invest in the exact same things exactly what is listed in the consent to create and nothing

2474
03:47:03,740 --> 03:47:08,440
more. It's just going to get us right back in the same position however many years from now,

2475
03:47:08,520 --> 03:47:13,320
whether it's five years after we get to this one or ten or whatever it is. So I think we just need

2476
03:47:13,320 --> 03:47:20,060
to own the fact that our under-investment for a long period of time is responsible for this.

2477
03:47:20,060 --> 03:47:23,420
is not a consent decree didn't float down from nowhere.

2478
03:47:24,420 --> 03:47:26,020
It's on us for a reason.

2479
03:47:26,340 --> 03:47:28,020
And we are responsible for that.

2480
03:47:29,540 --> 03:47:33,960
So I just think, you know, we have to be really clear about what this is.

2481
03:47:33,980 --> 03:47:36,300
It's not some mystery thing that came out of nowhere.

2482
03:47:36,860 --> 03:47:38,320
It's a ruling.

2483
03:47:38,560 --> 03:47:41,920
It's a decision about the status of where we are

2484
03:47:41,920 --> 03:47:46,060
and requirements we need to not be under this,

2485
03:47:47,000 --> 03:47:48,640
you know, Department of Justice ruling.

2486
03:47:49,120 --> 03:47:50,960
And I'm probably using the wrong legal words,

2487
03:47:51,080 --> 03:47:51,800
so forgive me for that.

2488
03:47:52,160 --> 03:47:53,280
But you get my point.

2489
03:47:54,700 --> 03:47:59,520
I think whether or not you want to present options

2490
03:47:59,520 --> 03:48:01,260
for different versions of the budget,

2491
03:48:01,520 --> 03:48:02,540
as Commissioner Ivory suggested,

2492
03:48:02,780 --> 03:48:04,120
or you don't feel like you got that direction

2493
03:48:04,120 --> 03:48:05,960
from four members of the board or what have you,

2494
03:48:06,420 --> 03:48:09,660
I do think you have a responsibility to present a budget

2495
03:48:09,660 --> 03:48:13,260
that it is actually providing sufficient levels of service.

2496
03:48:13,600 --> 03:48:15,740
This is a word that gets used every year

2497
03:48:15,740 --> 03:48:18,680
in the budget book, sufficient levels of service.

2498
03:48:20,080 --> 03:48:23,580
Is it sufficient if people are still dying in the jail?

2499
03:48:24,180 --> 03:48:25,000
Like, is it sufficient?

2500
03:48:25,540 --> 03:48:26,960
I mean, I just want to be sufficient.

2501
03:48:27,720 --> 03:48:30,700
If we have people sleeping on the floor, is it sufficient?

2502
03:48:30,760 --> 03:48:33,400
If we have backlogs in the courts, is it sufficient?

2503
03:48:34,060 --> 03:48:37,780
So I do think you have a responsibility to tell us

2504
03:48:37,780 --> 03:48:39,720
whether we like it or not.

2505
03:48:40,060 --> 03:48:42,760
The cost to truly be at a sufficient level of service

2506
03:48:42,760 --> 03:48:45,400
that will not only get us out of this consent decree,

2507
03:48:45,400 --> 03:48:50,100
But we'll put us on the right path to stay out of consent decrees, long term.

2508
03:48:51,080 --> 03:48:56,000
And I do, by the way, Mr. County managers are very much respect that you did bring a lot of these numbers forward for us.

2509
03:48:56,080 --> 03:48:58,860
I think it was two or three years ago now. I don't remember now.

2510
03:48:59,460 --> 03:49:04,900
And we chose to ignore you. And I understand the frustration of not wanting to continue to do that over and over again.

2511
03:49:05,600 --> 03:49:11,560
I get it. I just, I would love for you to keep doing that. Keep telling us those numbers because they're true.

2512
03:49:11,560 --> 03:49:15,600
So, I think I've made my point.

2513
03:49:16,980 --> 03:49:18,280
All right, it's 141.

2514
03:49:18,440 --> 03:49:19,980
Vice chair, I'll let you have the floor.

2515
03:49:22,860 --> 03:49:26,120
This budget has a 12% increase in expenditure is correct.

2516
03:49:26,780 --> 03:49:28,160
So we're not cutting me.

2517
03:49:28,160 --> 03:49:28,380
Yes.

2518
03:49:28,840 --> 03:49:29,280
12%.

2519
03:49:30,400 --> 03:49:30,840
12%.

2520
03:49:30,840 --> 03:49:34,160
I don't think any of our households would see in jobs a 12%.

2521
03:49:34,160 --> 03:49:37,040
And I know there are a lot of people in this board.

2522
03:49:37,260 --> 03:49:37,680
Not a lot.

2523
03:49:38,060 --> 03:49:41,900
Who seem to be darned in determined that they're going to raise tax rates on people.

2524
03:49:41,900 --> 03:49:58,840
you know, regardless. And I'm not one of those folks. I heard specifically, very loud and clear, I've heard it during my time on this commission, that property taxes or a significant burden on our citizens.

2525
03:50:00,000 --> 03:50:12,740
And we've got an obligation to do everything possible to minimize that tax burden, and just layering on money on top of money is not the answer.

2526
03:50:13,000 --> 03:50:20,080
If we underinvested in justice, say we, in fact, we've invested more in justice than we have in many of the other areas.

2527
03:50:20,760 --> 03:50:28,740
We were out of a consent decree, and we got back in one when there was a change in leadership.

2528
03:50:30,020 --> 03:50:35,660
So sometimes we also applied a lot of money into that particular office decisions were made.

2529
03:50:36,280 --> 03:50:42,580
We can have a long discussion about the actions of that individual running that office in that department,

2530
03:50:42,760 --> 03:50:47,840
in the impact that that caused us to be in this consent decree, which maybe we would not have been.

2531
03:50:47,840 --> 03:50:51,520
had they chose to spend those dollars and run their operations differently.

2532
03:50:52,420 --> 03:50:53,780
That's a subject for another debate.

2533
03:50:54,380 --> 03:50:59,700
But it's not a given that we're in a consent decree because of under-investment.

2534
03:51:01,920 --> 03:51:04,600
We've invested a significant amount in justice.

2535
03:51:05,640 --> 03:51:06,780
And we continue to.

2536
03:51:06,940 --> 03:51:07,360
And we continue.

2537
03:51:07,620 --> 03:51:09,660
And we will continue to.

2538
03:51:10,140 --> 03:51:13,940
But my only comment this order in terms of budget direction to you all

2539
03:51:13,940 --> 03:51:19,360
is that a do think we all need to recognize

2540
03:51:20,320 --> 03:51:27,500
The voices we heard from our citizens and it's overwhelming in this county and in the state that the property tax burdens are too high.

2541
03:51:28,280 --> 03:51:36,500
And the decisions we make need to be undergirded with keeping that village rate is close as possible to where it is right now.

2542
03:51:38,760 --> 03:51:40,180
All right, anything else?

2543
03:51:40,480 --> 03:51:43,260
Before we break your recess for lunch in the executive session.

2544
03:51:43,720 --> 03:51:47,820
That's been brought to my attention that there's about 10 or 12 folk who are here.

2545
03:51:48,640 --> 03:51:53,960
And I am glad we thank you for not moving items up on the agenda today for that's

2546
03:51:53,960 --> 03:51:55,480
getting out of hand.

2547
03:51:56,020 --> 03:52:00,700
However, these people have been waiting on this pad and where this notion came from, we

2548
03:52:00,700 --> 03:52:05,680
were doing a wave of tad, maybe some misinformation is being sent out, I don't know, but

2549
03:52:05,680 --> 03:52:14,180
If we can dispose of the item on the bottom of the page 9, 25, 0, 8, 4, 1, any objections to that.

2550
03:52:14,500 --> 03:52:18,440
If you recall that, it will recess for lunch, Madam Parker, but you sound that one.

2551
03:52:18,600 --> 03:52:22,260
25, 0, 8, 4, 1, behavior health and developmental disabilities.

2552
03:52:22,420 --> 03:52:27,860
We request approval of a memorandum of understanding between Pulton County and the Pulton

2553
03:52:27,860 --> 03:52:30,760
Nancy Fulton, Pat, to resume financial support

2554
03:52:30,760 --> 03:52:33,460
for delivery of pre-risk diversion services

2555
03:52:33,980 --> 03:52:35,920
in the amount of $400,000.

2556
03:52:36,840 --> 03:52:38,340
All right, motion to adopt our commission

2557
03:52:38,340 --> 03:52:40,500
in the air in 10 second by commission of Barrett,

2558
03:52:40,620 --> 03:52:41,240
let's vote, please.

2559
03:52:42,100 --> 03:52:43,180
And the vote is open.

2560
03:52:46,540 --> 03:52:48,080
And the vote should pass this unanimously.

2561
03:52:50,900 --> 03:52:51,940
All right.

2562
03:52:52,240 --> 03:52:53,940
Interfying the motion to recess with lunch,

2563
03:52:54,040 --> 03:52:56,300
and we may consider items from the executive session

2564
03:52:56,300 --> 03:52:58,920
of real estate litigation and personnel.

2565
03:52:58,920 --> 03:52:59,660
We

2566
03:53:06,740 --> 03:53:10,040
need a second. We need a second. We got a second. Who is the ivory?

2567
03:53:11,940 --> 03:53:12,820
Okay, here.

2568
03:53:16,820 --> 03:53:17,840
And the vote is open.

2569
03:53:25,780 --> 03:53:28,620
And the motion passes, six shades, zero name.

2570
03:54:19,690 --> 03:54:20,370
All

2571
03:54:34,800 --> 03:54:43,040
right madam clerk without objection we will resume the regular order of business taking up items from the executive session Madam County attorney

2572
03:55:00,000 --> 03:55:07,680
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. We just have one action item from the executive session. Is there a motion to decline

2573
03:55:07,680 --> 03:55:11,740
the settlement offer in item four of the executive session agenda?

2574
03:55:12,440 --> 03:55:16,960
We have a motion to do so by commissioner. I'll do rock mine, seconded by commissioner thorn.

2575
03:55:17,200 --> 03:55:17,660
That's all, please.

2576
03:55:18,740 --> 03:55:19,640
And the vote is open.

2577
03:55:26,810 --> 03:55:28,330
And the motion passes unanimously.

2578
03:55:30,450 --> 03:55:31,350
No further items?

2579
03:55:31,350 --> 03:55:33,230
All right, continue your medical care.

2580
03:55:33,350 --> 03:55:34,310
On page 9,

2581
03:55:36,570 --> 03:55:41,150
25, 9 to 9, registration and election, request approval to increase spending

2582
03:55:41,150 --> 03:55:46,170
of $40 for temporary staffing in the amount of $352,000.

2583
03:55:47,150 --> 03:55:50,130
All right, I'm hosting to approve that commission after you rocked mine, seconded by

2584
03:55:50,130 --> 03:55:52,110
the commission that Eric didn't fully vote.

2585
03:55:54,620 --> 03:55:55,800
And the vote is open.

2586
03:56:03,380 --> 03:56:10,480
And the motion passes, 5v8, 0 nays, 25, 0, 9, 3, 0, real estate and asset management.

2587
03:56:10,480 --> 03:56:24,520
Request approval of a statewide contract in the mountain out to exceed 467,108,333 cents to provide preventive and corrective maintenance services for filtering county animal services facility.

2588
03:56:24,780 --> 03:56:29,520
All right, motion to approve by Commissioner Ivory, seconded by Commissioner Thorn, please vote.

2589
03:56:29,520 --> 03:56:31,460
And the vote is open and

2590
03:56:35,170 --> 03:56:36,650
the motion passed this unanimously.

2591
03:56:38,110 --> 03:56:42,290
25,0931, requests approval of a statewide contract in the Mount Nuts

2592
03:56:42,290 --> 03:56:49,250
XC, 428,860, 50 cents per vot preventive and corrected maintenance services

2593
03:56:49,250 --> 03:56:52,170
for the Fulton County South NXGL.

2594
03:56:52,210 --> 03:56:55,710
Motion to approve a commissioner after a month, seconded by a commissioner

2595
03:56:55,710 --> 03:56:57,010
to thaw on please vote.

2596
03:56:57,330 --> 03:56:58,310
And the vote is open

2597
03:57:04,040 --> 03:57:07,120
and the motion passed is six shades, zero nays,

2598
03:57:07,120 --> 03:57:13,700
$25,093,2 arts and culture across approval of a statewide contract for professional

2599
03:57:13,700 --> 03:57:17,980
temporary staffing and an amount not to exceed $105,000.

2600
03:57:18,220 --> 03:57:21,740
Motion to approve our commissioner after a rock line, seconded by Commissioner

2601
03:57:21,740 --> 03:57:23,700
Eric and police vote.

2602
03:57:24,080 --> 03:57:25,160
In the vote is open

2603
03:57:30,440 --> 03:57:35,840
and the motion passes five days, zero days, on page 10,

2604
03:57:38,610 --> 03:57:40,290
25,093,3

2605
03:57:40,290 --> 03:57:49,010
public works, request approval of a recommended proposal in an amount not 60, $400,000 to provide engineering services.

2606
03:57:49,390 --> 03:57:54,870
Motion to approve by Commissioner Ivory, seconded by Commissioner Barrick, please vote.

2607
03:57:55,130 --> 03:57:56,230
And the vote is open.

2608
03:58:01,080 --> 03:58:03,740
And the motion passes, six shades, zero nays.

2609
03:58:04,920 --> 03:58:07,740
25, zero, nine, three, four senior services.

2610
03:58:07,740 --> 03:58:13,280
Request approval of recommended proposal for seeing your in-home services in an amount that

2611
03:58:13,280 --> 03:58:19,200
to exceed 1,837,166 dollars and 32 cents.

2612
03:58:19,360 --> 03:58:23,080
All right, a favorable motion by Commissioner Barrett's second advice, Commissioner Ivory,

2613
03:58:23,180 --> 03:58:23,940
please vote.

2614
03:58:24,420 --> 03:58:25,340
In the vote of open,

2615
03:58:30,120 --> 03:58:34,420
in the motion passes unanimously, Commissioner's action items,

2616
03:58:34,420 --> 03:58:40,460
It's $0.25 or $0.42, because the approval of an ordinance to amend Chapter 2, Article 2,

2617
03:58:40,740 --> 03:58:45,470
Division 2 of the Code of Law, the Bolton County relating to the Code of Ethics Regarding,

2618
03:58:46,160 --> 03:58:50,840
and preliminary process for commissioners to seek to file Ethics Complaints against

2619
03:58:50,840 --> 03:58:55,320
other commissioners and for other purposes sponsored by Commissioner Thorne.

2620
03:58:55,560 --> 03:58:59,540
Motion to approve by Commissioner Thorne's second advice, Chair Pelis.

2621
03:58:59,840 --> 03:59:01,120
The question is comments.

2622
03:59:02,480 --> 03:59:04,040
And the vote is open,

2623
03:59:09,220 --> 03:59:18,260
the motion passes, 4a's, 3a's, 25, 0844, requests the approval resolution

2624
03:59:18,260 --> 03:59:23,400
to create a commercial property assessment task force to provide input to the members of

2625
03:59:23,400 --> 03:59:28,360
the Board of Commissioners in collaboration with the Fulton County Board of Tax Accessors

2626
03:59:28,360 --> 03:59:34,380
and its staff on the valuation of commercial properties and for other purposes sponsored

2627
03:59:34,380 --> 03:59:35,580
by Commissioner Ivory.

2628
03:59:38,080 --> 03:59:43,180
I'd like to call the question.

2629
03:59:43,560 --> 03:59:44,200
I'd like to call the question.

2630
03:59:44,200 --> 03:59:44,540
I'd like to call the question.

2631
03:59:45,000 --> 03:59:45,380
All right.

2632
03:59:45,500 --> 03:59:47,140
Questions being called.

2633
03:59:48,340 --> 03:59:49,980
Let's vote on the call of the question.

2634
03:59:57,820 --> 03:59:59,520
And the vote is open on call of the question.

2635
04:00:06,320 --> 04:00:09,440
And the motion fails, 3A's, 3A's, 3A's.

2636
04:00:09,600 --> 04:00:13,620
All right, back to the motion. It's on the floor. Commissioner, Vice Chair Ellis.

2637
04:00:15,000 --> 04:00:18,080
Thanks, Mr. Chair. I'd like to offer a substitute motion to tonight.

2638
04:00:19,080 --> 04:00:26,700
Substitute motion to the next. Substitute motion to tonight by Vice Chair Ellis, seconded by Commissioner, I'll be rocked by.

2639
04:00:26,940 --> 04:00:27,480
It's vote, please.

2640
04:00:30,810 --> 04:00:32,870
And the vote is open on the motion to deny.

2641
04:00:38,530 --> 04:00:40,730
And the motion passes, 4A's, 3A.

2642
04:00:40,890 --> 04:00:41,450
Next item.

2643
04:00:41,450 --> 04:00:49,470
25, 0892, request approval, a resolution directly in the county manager to include on an annual

2644
04:00:49,470 --> 04:00:55,610
basis funding and an amount not to exceed $1 million for the Fulton County Veterans Community

2645
04:00:55,610 --> 04:01:00,870
Services Grant Program to support services and programs for veterans residing in Fulton

2646
04:01:00,870 --> 04:01:06,030
County and for other purposes, sponsored by Commissioners, Airington Barrett at Ivory.

2647
04:01:06,030 --> 04:01:12,070
All right, motion to approve, by Commissioner Ivory, seconded by Commissioner Farrey.

2648
04:01:12,610 --> 04:01:17,810
The media objection to taking this up in the budget time is probably a lot of support for

2649
04:01:17,810 --> 04:01:17,910
it.

2650
04:01:18,410 --> 04:01:20,230
But it's time, it's three weeks away.

2651
04:01:20,670 --> 04:01:21,030
Yes.

2652
04:01:21,150 --> 04:01:21,590
I object.

2653
04:01:22,290 --> 04:01:23,190
Let's vote.

2654
04:01:23,590 --> 04:01:24,470
Motion to approve.

2655
04:01:28,640 --> 04:01:29,460
And the vote is open.

2656
04:01:35,590 --> 04:01:36,550
And the motion fails.

2657
04:01:36,630 --> 04:01:37,370
Three A's.

2658
04:01:37,530 --> 04:01:38,010
Two Nays.

2659
04:01:38,150 --> 04:01:38,770
Next item.

2660
04:01:39,390 --> 04:01:40,170
On page 11.

2661
04:01:41,610 --> 04:01:47,130
25, 0, 8, 9, 3, the press approval of an ordinance to amend Chapter 101, Article 2,

2662
04:01:47,310 --> 04:01:53,330
Division 2, Section 101, 163 of the Fulton County Code of Audence to clarify procedures

2663
04:01:53,330 --> 04:01:58,510
for debt to the decision of a presiding officer in the absence of the chairman and vice

2664
04:01:58,510 --> 04:02:01,930
chairman and for other purposes, sponsored by Commissioner Eringson.

2665
04:02:02,230 --> 04:02:02,310
All right.

2666
04:02:02,350 --> 04:02:03,430
Motion to approve.

2667
04:02:03,570 --> 04:02:06,950
I've commissioned a highly seconded by Commissioner Barrett, vice chair, all this

2668
04:02:06,950 --> 04:02:07,870
you have before.

2669
04:02:08,410 --> 04:02:13,350
Yes, thank you, Mr. Chair, given that we adopted a procedure for this at the last meeting

2670
04:02:13,350 --> 04:02:15,330
of month-off for a substitute motion to deny.

2671
04:02:15,830 --> 04:02:16,130
Second.

2672
04:02:16,990 --> 04:02:18,450
Substitute motion to deny

2673
04:02:21,360 --> 04:02:25,400
by Vice Chair Ellis, seconded by Commissioner of Duke Rockman.

2674
04:02:25,620 --> 04:02:26,280
Let's vote, please.

2675
04:02:26,660 --> 04:02:27,740
On the motion to deny.

2676
04:02:30,250 --> 04:02:32,370
And the vote is open on the motion to deny.

2677
04:02:35,380 --> 04:02:38,080
In the motion passes, four years, three days.

2678
04:02:38,980 --> 04:02:39,520
Next item.

2679
04:02:39,520 --> 04:02:46,220
25, 0895, requested approval of a resolution of the Fulton County Board of Commissioners,

2680
04:02:46,280 --> 04:02:50,820
amending policies, limiting the use of Fulton County staff for certain events by members

2681
04:02:50,820 --> 04:02:56,240
of the Fulton County Board of Commissioners and for other purposes sponsored by Vice Chair

2682
04:02:56,240 --> 04:02:58,320
Ellis and Commissioner Thorne.

2683
04:02:58,740 --> 04:03:03,660
Motion to approve by Commissioner Thorne's seconded by Vice Chair Ellis, Vice Chair

2684
04:03:03,660 --> 04:03:06,540
Ellis, Commissioner Harrington, Commissioner Hyverick, Commissioner Barrett.

2685
04:03:07,200 --> 04:03:08,580
Thank you, Mr. Chair.

2686
04:03:09,800 --> 04:03:12,340
Commissioners, this is a fairly straightforward resolution.

2687
04:03:13,600 --> 04:03:15,720
Then emphasizes that we, as commissioners,

2688
04:03:15,840 --> 04:03:18,600
when we do events with our name attached to them,

2689
04:03:18,800 --> 04:03:22,520
that we use our staff, which we have plenty of staff.

2690
04:03:23,060 --> 04:03:27,440
All of us have our strong, strong cadre of individual staffs.

2691
04:03:27,440 --> 04:03:30,060
We use our staff and the staff budget to conduct them

2692
04:03:30,060 --> 04:03:32,600
and promote them.

2693
04:03:32,600 --> 04:03:40,580
We have, we're entering into campaign season and a lot of folks are running for office and when events,

2694
04:03:40,680 --> 04:03:48,420
when events occur, there's a lot of instances where these events have been conducted and promoted by county staff

2695
04:03:48,420 --> 04:03:54,200
and sometimes there's a feeling that the lines of blur between west of commissioner of event and a campaign activity.

2696
04:03:54,420 --> 04:04:01,200
I think all of us want to avoid the appearance of that. This resolution doesn't limit the amount of events

2697
04:04:01,200 --> 04:04:06,900
or town halls or anything of that nature that a individual commissioner could do, it just

2698
04:04:06,900 --> 04:04:12,460
ask us all to put some constraint in terms of how we're utilizing and exercising our individual

2699
04:04:12,460 --> 04:04:19,920
other departments outside of our county paid staff. It does allow for four town halls to be supported

2700
04:04:19,920 --> 04:04:25,840
by external affairs and dream that's 28 collectively for all of us, which is a be a lot of time

2701
04:04:25,840 --> 04:04:28,700
for that staff to spend outside of their day-to-day activities.

2702
04:04:30,280 --> 04:04:33,800
So, commissioners could continue to have as many town

2703
04:04:33,800 --> 04:04:35,480
all events as they wanted to,

2704
04:04:35,640 --> 04:04:37,340
it doesn't matter wherever, whenever,

2705
04:04:37,960 --> 04:04:39,700
and whatever time they would just utilize

2706
04:04:39,700 --> 04:04:42,600
that their staff to conduct and promote those.

2707
04:04:42,940 --> 04:04:47,740
Furthermore, this resolution goes on to state that

2708
04:04:47,740 --> 04:04:50,260
when we are doing county-wide events that are put on

2709
04:04:50,260 --> 04:04:52,980
by external affairs and others,

2710
04:04:52,980 --> 04:04:57,360
or that those are what they are counting white events and they are promoted and

2711
04:04:57,360 --> 04:04:59,980
average has such not under just the name of an individual.

2712
04:05:00,000 --> 04:05:04,760
So I would ask for your favourable support. Commissioner Arlington?

2713
04:05:09,100 --> 04:05:09,500
So

2714
04:05:12,540 --> 04:05:22,360
I got elected in 2015 and I have been in office for 11 years.

2715
04:05:27,950 --> 04:05:39,170
For all 11 years I have hosted a minimum of three to four town halls three to four times a year.

2716
04:05:41,860 --> 04:05:54,920
And let's talk about those town halls, I typically host a text exemption town hall as well as a

2717
04:05:54,920 --> 04:06:03,130
from the text exemption town hall typically held in April or in March before the April 1st deadline.

2718
04:06:03,130 --> 04:06:14,610
And the reason that I host multiple ones is so that I can talk to different residents throughout my district.

2719
04:06:19,240 --> 04:06:34,560
Importantly, I invite the staff from the assessor's office because neither me nor my staff have the expertise to answer the questions that the constituents have about the exemptions.

2720
04:06:34,560 --> 04:06:46,260
And the staff works with people on site at those town halls.

2721
04:06:47,420 --> 04:06:58,740
The residents enjoy having qualified competence staff at the town hall who can answer their questions.

2722
04:07:00,470 --> 04:07:09,210
And so, I guess I'm somewhat befuddled by the need for this.

2723
04:07:12,030 --> 04:07:13,990
I've been going this for 11 years.

2724
04:07:14,990 --> 04:07:21,350
I've been inviting staff out to speak in my text exemption town hall and the text bill

2725
04:07:21,350 --> 04:07:25,130
town hall that we typically do in August before they get their bills.

2726
04:07:26,990 --> 04:07:27,550
And

2727
04:07:30,750 --> 04:07:34,830
the residents want to hear from me, but more importantly, they want someone near

2728
04:07:34,830 --> 04:07:40,690
can answer their questions at the text, at the property text town halls that we do in August

2729
04:07:40,690 --> 04:07:46,250
before the text bills are received. People bring their text bills and the staff works with

2730
04:07:46,250 --> 04:07:48,070
them right there on site.

2731
04:07:53,490 --> 04:07:56,090
And one of the reasons that was offered is because their elections

2732
04:07:56,090 --> 04:08:03,590
coming up. I've been here 11 years. We've had an election in 2018. It was an election in 2022.

2733
04:08:05,150 --> 04:08:08,650
So the fact that there's an election coming up next year is irrelevant.

2734
04:08:12,210 --> 04:08:21,310
House 3 to 4 town halls 3 to 4 times a year and have done so every year for the last 11 years.

2735
04:08:21,830 --> 04:08:29,110
And it is important to have the staff there so that they can answer the questions that the residents have.

2736
04:08:29,630 --> 04:08:35,670
They have the expertise, they have the knowledge, and they are happy and excited to do it.

2737
04:08:37,330 --> 04:08:38,290
And so,

2738
04:08:44,340 --> 04:08:53,540
you know, this is one of the reasons why I'm running for chair, because of resolutions, just like this.

2739
04:08:54,060 --> 04:08:58,060
The SNR and team, there's nothing in this resolution that restricts you if you continue to do what you do.

2740
04:09:11,240 --> 04:09:12,100
I'm done.

2741
04:09:13,120 --> 04:09:13,780
Who is to ivory?

2742
04:09:14,380 --> 04:09:16,580
Thank you so much, Mr. Chair.

2743
04:09:18,000 --> 04:09:23,040
I'll just make a prediction that this item will pass forward at three.

2744
04:09:23,040 --> 04:09:30,100
who shocked it will pass four to three from some of the very commissioners that say

2745
04:09:30,860 --> 04:09:35,400
transparency and being in the community is the most important point of what a point

2746
04:09:35,400 --> 04:09:38,040
excuse me

2747
04:09:38,580 --> 04:09:42,300
one of what is not speaking to the actual

2748
04:09:43,520 --> 04:09:45,500
issue at hand

2749
04:09:45,500 --> 04:09:48,780
it is not speaking to the issue at hand

2750
04:09:48,780 --> 04:09:54,000
Thank you, that's an ignorance statement, but that's fine.

2751
04:09:55,700 --> 04:09:59,980
And then commissioners will say there are committed to community, which town hall.

2752
04:10:00,000 --> 04:10:14,720
Part of community, many commissioners, due town halls, but then there will be a 4-3 vote. I promise you. So this is absolutely a political move because it is a campaign season coming up.

2753
04:10:14,800 --> 04:10:28,460
But it's said, because the very reason we are elected is to give you the information that you would and otherwise be able to get or be able to easily understand,

2754
04:10:28,460 --> 04:10:32,080
which is the very nature of town halls.

2755
04:10:33,040 --> 04:10:36,180
So, this resolution is not a minor administrative change,

2756
04:10:36,340 --> 04:10:38,080
while some language has been adjusted,

2757
04:10:38,320 --> 04:10:41,220
it's still limits meaningful public engagement.

2758
04:10:41,880 --> 04:10:44,800
Community access to elected officials is essential

2759
04:10:44,800 --> 04:10:49,260
and this resolution continues to shrink that access.

2760
04:10:50,000 --> 04:10:53,340
Transparency accountability and community engagement

2761
04:10:53,340 --> 04:10:55,940
are at the heart of public service.

2762
04:10:55,940 --> 04:10:59,820
watch your public servants wiggling out of that.

2763
04:11:00,380 --> 04:11:05,640
We have a responsibility to be present, accessible, and responsive to the people who elected

2764
04:11:05,640 --> 04:11:10,140
us, not to create barriers between ourselves and our constituents.

2765
04:11:10,440 --> 04:11:13,660
Townholds are the forms of democracy.

2766
04:11:14,380 --> 04:11:19,380
There are where residents ask questions they hold accountable, and they engage beyond a brief

2767
04:11:19,380 --> 04:11:22,540
moment in a meeting at public comment.

2768
04:11:22,540 --> 04:11:29,340
This resolution restricts us to only four town halls per year, virtual or in-person, requiring

2769
04:11:29,340 --> 04:11:36,060
these events to take place in county facilities, automatically, here's interesting language,

2770
04:11:36,440 --> 04:11:41,460
automatically engages county staff outside of a particular commission's office.

2771
04:11:41,840 --> 04:11:46,660
If we're going to have an event at a county facility, we have to engage with people that

2772
04:11:46,660 --> 04:11:49,540
are outside of our county office to do that.

2773
04:11:49,540 --> 04:11:55,420
If it's not a library, if it's had another location that is county owned, we must call.

2774
04:11:55,660 --> 04:11:57,320
We must ask them if the dates are open.

2775
04:11:57,540 --> 04:11:58,740
We must do a walkthrough.

2776
04:11:59,060 --> 04:11:59,940
We must do set up.

2777
04:12:00,160 --> 04:12:02,360
So they're going to be engaged no matter what.

2778
04:12:02,460 --> 04:12:07,720
Nobody just hands the keys over to a county facility and says, have your town hall.

2779
04:12:08,440 --> 04:12:13,580
Which is why this limit effect effectively caps anything that we want to do.

2780
04:12:13,780 --> 04:12:15,220
It just doesn't make any sense.

2781
04:12:15,900 --> 04:12:19,040
Some may argue that commissioners can hold events within their own staff,

2782
04:12:19,040 --> 04:12:20,780
But that misses the point completely

2783
04:12:20,780 --> 04:12:23,080
that we operate as a full, full, and county.

2784
04:12:23,240 --> 04:12:24,560
When I first became a commissioner,

2785
04:12:25,300 --> 04:12:27,520
one of the very things that my constituents asked

2786
04:12:27,520 --> 04:12:30,020
while I was running for office was to have a town hall

2787
04:12:30,020 --> 04:12:31,960
about commercial property assessments.

2788
04:12:32,320 --> 04:12:34,500
And it was the very first thing I did.

2789
04:12:35,020 --> 04:12:35,740
And you know what?

2790
04:12:35,940 --> 04:12:39,920
The tax commissioner told me and the chief assessor told me

2791
04:12:39,920 --> 04:12:41,800
that they hadn't been in a town hall together

2792
04:12:41,800 --> 04:12:44,300
for decades together.

2793
04:12:44,480 --> 04:12:46,980
And they were more than happy to do it.

2794
04:12:47,460 --> 04:12:48,440
And then we did it.

2795
04:12:48,440 --> 04:12:55,680
and it was great. So we want to do it again. And we did have to use county staff outside of

2796
04:12:55,680 --> 04:13:00,980
my county to do that. And it was a wonderful town hall. Restricting town halls to weekdays,

2797
04:13:01,160 --> 04:13:06,260
excluding working class residents who cannot attend during business hours. That's what this does.

2798
04:13:06,620 --> 04:13:11,520
Limiting events to county own facilities, shuts out local churches, schools, community theaters,

2799
04:13:11,880 --> 04:13:17,020
and small neighborhood businesses. Spaces where residents feel comfortable, gathering, and connecting.

2800
04:13:17,020 --> 04:13:22,800
Like the ones that I did at the Plaza Theatre and on Ponce de Leon, and the one that I did at the Academy Theatre in Havel,

2801
04:13:23,420 --> 04:13:27,680
which the residents of Havel said had never happened before in Havel.

2802
04:13:30,800 --> 04:13:34,640
This resolution still limits opportunities for residents to meet with their commissioners,

2803
04:13:34,900 --> 04:13:38,000
by restricting timing locations and the total number of events.

2804
04:13:38,220 --> 04:13:43,340
It shrinks windows for public participation and weakens the connection between government and community.

2805
04:13:43,680 --> 04:13:44,600
What are you hiding?

2806
04:13:45,480 --> 04:13:51,300
What information are you trying to hide by limiting the amount of contact that we can have with our constituents?

2807
04:13:52,080 --> 04:13:56,960
Hiding from constituents allows you to hide behind what you're doing as a commissioner.

2808
04:13:57,920 --> 04:14:01,780
That could be the whole reason that this four vote is going to pass.

2809
04:14:02,120 --> 04:14:05,580
Just a prediction, but let's see it happen in 10 minutes from now.

2810
04:14:05,840 --> 04:14:13,600
If this passes, residents lose dialogue, access, and connection, they lose the chance to meet with their commissioners and ways that foster understanding

2811
04:14:13,600 --> 04:14:17,060
understanding, excuse me, trust, and effective government.

2812
04:14:17,960 --> 04:14:23,680
But this is a part of a nationwide trend, limiting transparency, shrinking participation

2813
04:14:23,680 --> 04:14:25,880
and making government less accountable.

2814
04:14:26,360 --> 04:14:30,040
Supporting this resolution aligns with that pattern.

2815
04:14:30,740 --> 04:14:35,260
I cannot and will not support a measure that tells Fulton County residents your voices do

2816
04:14:35,260 --> 04:14:35,820
not matter.

2817
04:14:36,220 --> 04:14:40,520
They should not have a fight, they should not have to fight for access to their government.

2818
04:14:40,520 --> 04:14:46,780
I wanted to ask the county attorney just hosting a town hall violate any sort of campaign compliance issues

2819
04:14:46,780 --> 04:14:49,720
I see she's on here right now, but can you answer that for me?

2820
04:14:52,870 --> 04:14:57,910
Hi commissioner, not per se it does not assuming that you're not doing it specifically for your campaign

2821
04:14:57,910 --> 04:14:59,530
Thank you and Jessica

2822
04:15:00,000 --> 04:15:08,240
I wanted to ask you from external affairs standpoint. It's supporting commissioner events too much for your team to handle.

2823
04:15:11,340 --> 04:15:12,780
Point of order, chairman.

2824
04:15:13,520 --> 04:15:14,100
What's your point of order?

2825
04:15:14,220 --> 04:15:28,050
My point of order is that out of line, she's a person that actually, she is one of our reports. She reports to the commission here.

2826
04:15:28,050 --> 04:15:30,250
So to put her on a spot like that publicly.

2827
04:15:30,990 --> 04:15:34,670
And ask that question is not in line of what this is talking about.

2828
04:15:34,890 --> 04:15:35,090
Okay.

2829
04:15:35,350 --> 04:15:36,550
What do you do?

2830
04:15:37,390 --> 04:15:38,170
Did you just wait?

2831
04:15:38,790 --> 04:15:39,430
Just wait.

2832
04:15:41,650 --> 04:15:41,870
Yeah.

2833
04:15:41,950 --> 04:15:43,090
She reports to the county Jessica.

2834
04:15:43,270 --> 04:15:46,530
Supporting commissioner events for as to much further

2835
04:15:46,530 --> 04:15:48,470
to hand on of order.

2836
04:15:52,230 --> 04:15:56,510
Chairman, asking someone who reports to the county attorney.

2837
04:15:56,690 --> 04:16:00,270
Excuse me, to the county manager who ultimately reports to these

2838
04:16:00,270 --> 04:16:06,370
Board of Commissioners asking her that question is out of order.

2839
04:16:06,610 --> 04:16:07,110
It is mine.

2840
04:16:08,450 --> 04:16:09,430
Just a minute.

2841
04:16:09,510 --> 04:16:10,490
Just a minute.

2842
04:16:10,490 --> 04:16:11,070
Just a minute.

2843
04:16:11,350 --> 04:16:11,510
Just a minute.

2844
04:16:11,850 --> 04:16:13,110
I have to agree with that.

2845
04:16:13,390 --> 04:16:14,890
I have more background on this.

2846
04:16:15,210 --> 04:16:15,770
That's all right.

2847
04:16:15,930 --> 04:16:17,150
You all can overrule my room.

2848
04:16:17,290 --> 04:16:20,270
They're going to except for a point of order because they're motion to overrule.

2849
04:16:20,290 --> 04:16:21,250
A motion to overrule.

2850
04:16:21,250 --> 04:16:22,110
There's a second.

2851
04:16:22,610 --> 04:16:22,830
All right.

2852
04:16:22,890 --> 04:16:24,970
Prophecy move to the second to overrule the chair.

2853
04:16:25,010 --> 04:16:25,950
Let's vote please.

2854
04:16:36,250 --> 04:16:37,990
Most is to overrule my ruling.

2855
04:16:45,020 --> 04:16:45,200
All right.

2856
04:16:45,340 --> 04:16:45,640
We're sharing.

2857
04:16:45,640 --> 04:16:48,580
Yeah, I'm not actually finished the full again after her point of order.

2858
04:16:48,580 --> 04:16:50,240
All right, I'm going to vote on that.

2859
04:16:50,240 --> 04:16:50,620
Okay.

2860
04:16:50,620 --> 04:16:51,520
On there.

2861
04:16:51,520 --> 04:16:51,840
Overroading.

2862
04:16:52,000 --> 04:16:52,820
Come here to Harrington.

2863
04:16:53,360 --> 04:16:59,320
Yeah, so a point of order and the Roberts Rules of Order is a way for a member to

2864
04:16:59,320 --> 04:17:05,700
call attention to a violation of Parliamentary Procedure during a meeting.

2865
04:17:06,680 --> 04:17:14,280
This is not a violation of Parliamentary Procedure, it is not a valid point of order.

2866
04:17:14,860 --> 04:17:20,300
She doesn't write what she's saying, and she doesn't want it to be done, but what is

2867
04:17:20,300 --> 04:17:23,440
the violation Mr. Chair of Parliamentary Procedure?

2868
04:17:28,080 --> 04:17:34,620
The, your point about the reason for the point in order, I'll accept that, but what I'm

2869
04:17:34,620 --> 04:17:42,040
concerned about here, the reason I rule it for my dad, is because it's no secret that

2870
04:17:42,040 --> 04:17:49,320
the origin of this legislation, it's not from commissions, it has come from department heads.

2871
04:17:49,920 --> 04:17:53,400
That's why I think this motion, that's why I accepted it.

2872
04:17:53,400 --> 04:17:55,160
She might have used it wrong, but ruling.

2873
04:17:56,040 --> 04:17:59,120
If she had agreed with your interpretation, that's correct.

2874
04:17:59,360 --> 04:18:01,500
But my ruling was based upon something else.

2875
04:18:01,580 --> 04:18:05,580
So I will, again, the motion on the floor is to overrule my ruling.

2876
04:18:06,680 --> 04:18:18,140
Yeah, well, I mean, you just admitted that I was right, you just admitted that I was right and that there was no violation of parliamentary procedure.

2877
04:18:19,040 --> 04:18:24,380
I mean, we think that we have an answer that she can handle the events for commissioners.

2878
04:18:24,520 --> 04:18:30,420
We want to move on from silly questioning because of intellectual battles that I mean,

2879
04:18:32,800 --> 04:18:33,400
Mr.

2880
04:18:36,480 --> 04:18:40,580
Chair, there's no violation of Parliament to procedure. Madam County Attorney,

2881
04:18:44,110 --> 04:18:46,370
has there been a violation of parliamentary procedure?

2882
04:18:48,590 --> 04:18:58,050
I think based on what the chairman just mentioned his decision was not based on a violation of parliamentary procedure, but he is the presiding officer that makes the rulings.

2883
04:18:58,050 --> 04:19:02,270
I tell he's made that ruling and the court is free to overwhelm him.

2884
04:19:02,330 --> 04:19:03,330
I would you like a question.

2885
04:19:03,390 --> 04:19:03,870
Okay.

2886
04:19:05,830 --> 04:19:06,790
Thank you.

2887
04:19:07,290 --> 04:19:08,150
Based on ignorance.

2888
04:19:09,550 --> 04:19:09,570
Okay.

2889
04:19:09,930 --> 04:19:12,270
Vice chair, as you want to be heard.

2890
04:19:13,940 --> 04:19:14,080
All right.

2891
04:19:14,320 --> 04:19:15,600
Just a minute.

2892
04:19:15,960 --> 04:19:17,340
Just a minute.

2893
04:19:17,460 --> 04:19:18,000
Just a minute.

2894
04:19:18,120 --> 04:19:18,540
Just a minute.

2895
04:19:19,140 --> 04:19:19,620
Just a minute.

2896
04:19:19,620 --> 04:19:20,440
Just a minute.

2897
04:19:20,440 --> 04:19:21,960
Just a minute.

2898
04:19:23,420 --> 04:19:23,600
Well.

2899
04:19:25,300 --> 04:19:26,500
Take five minutes and breathe.

2900
04:19:26,580 --> 04:19:27,060
Yeah.

2901
04:19:30,550 --> 04:19:37,290
The motion on the floor is to overrule my room, and I'll let's vote that up or down.

2902
04:19:37,690 --> 04:19:38,610
In the vote is open,

2903
04:19:49,860 --> 04:19:52,660
in the motion bills, 3A's, 4A's.

2904
04:19:52,800 --> 04:19:56,160
All right, now back to the main motion, it's sound the main motion again, I don't clerk.

2905
04:19:59,620 --> 04:19:59,980
To approve.

2906
04:20:24,090 --> 04:20:32,430
All right. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

2907
04:20:35,900 --> 04:20:36,700
Vice-chair Ellis, thank you, Mr. Chairman.

2908
04:20:36,700 --> 04:20:46,540
you said in your remarks that this does not limit how many town halls can be done or where

2909
04:20:46,540 --> 04:20:54,400
they can be done or any of those things. But that is actually not what's written here. In particular

2910
04:20:54,400 --> 04:21:01,900
on an exhibit a number three, there is a sentence the last sentence of number three says town hall

2911
04:21:01,900 --> 04:21:06,740
events shall take place on weekdays and at a Fulton County facility.

2912
04:21:08,340 --> 04:21:13,840
That is very restrictive and it does not clarify that only you're only talking about

2913
04:21:13,840 --> 04:21:16,420
ones there that use county staff or whatever.

2914
04:21:17,060 --> 04:21:22,040
The reality is most of our citizens cannot be at point of order.

2915
04:21:22,260 --> 04:21:24,940
You did not read the entire, you read it wrong.

2916
04:21:25,000 --> 04:21:26,060
I read the whole thing.

2917
04:21:26,260 --> 04:21:26,700
Just a minute.

2918
04:21:26,960 --> 04:21:27,220
Just a minute.

2919
04:21:28,220 --> 04:21:29,420
He's not, I have the floor.

2920
04:21:29,620 --> 04:21:29,880
Just a minute.

2921
04:21:30,240 --> 04:21:31,260
Just a minute.

2922
04:21:31,960 --> 04:21:32,960
What's your point of order, Mr.

2923
04:21:33,140 --> 04:21:36,320
Not your, what do you, you've just stated she didn't rate it properly?

2924
04:21:36,720 --> 04:21:38,240
I would you read the whole thing, please.

2925
04:21:38,820 --> 04:21:43,340
A commissioner may only request county staff for up to four in person or virtual town halls.

2926
04:21:43,500 --> 04:21:45,040
Town hall events per year period.

2927
04:21:45,560 --> 04:21:49,920
A town hall is defined as an event that is open to the public and hosted by one or more commissioners,

2928
04:21:50,200 --> 04:21:54,800
where the commissioner answers questions presented by members of the public as a significant portion of the event.

2929
04:21:54,800 --> 04:21:57,480
Period? Town Hall events shall take place

2930
04:21:57,480 --> 04:22:00,020
on weekdays and at a Fulton County facility.

2931
04:22:00,820 --> 04:22:02,720
Period, I have read it perfectly clearly.

2932
04:22:03,180 --> 04:22:03,900
I have ten.

2933
04:22:03,900 --> 04:22:04,940
Just a minute, just to allemaal.

2934
04:22:05,060 --> 04:22:05,440
Just to all it logнали.

2935
04:22:05,560 --> 04:22:06,460
It has seemed all of it.

2936
04:22:06,460 --> 04:22:07,400
It says allevance that you have just .

2937
04:22:07,400 --> 04:22:07,740
I have four.

2938
04:22:08,920 --> 04:22:11,140
I just remain Oliver�에 A novelger.

2939
04:22:11,140 --> 04:22:11,980
Just a minute.

2940
04:22:12,540 --> 04:22:13,200
high, Canadians.

2941
04:22:13,200 --> 04:22:13,660
With allрийствekland's

2942
04:22:14,180 --> 04:22:16,520
there, the interruptions are so heavy.

2943
04:22:16,520 --> 04:22:16,880
You have.

2944
04:22:16,880 --> 04:22:17,680
Towqm.ue

2945
04:22:17,680 --> 04:22:18,940
you have the horror. It

2946
04:22:18,940 --> 04:22:21,580
says very clearly, here, Town

2947
04:22:21,580 --> 04:22:22,400
Hall events, all

2948
04:22:22,400 --> 04:22:24,080
takedays on weekdays and

2949
04:22:24,080 --> 04:22:28,220
a Fulton County facility. You may have intended it differently, but that is what it says.

2950
04:22:29,000 --> 04:22:34,540
First of all, I don't have any Fulton County facilities big enough to hold a town hall in my

2951
04:22:34,540 --> 04:22:39,780
district. So if I want to have a town hall for my district, there's nowhere for me to do it.

2952
04:22:40,420 --> 04:22:47,720
And most people cannot come to a Fulton County facility during the day on a weekday. That is why

2953
04:22:47,720 --> 04:22:53,740
I often the town halls are in the evening or on the weekends when people can come. So that is extremely

2954
04:22:53,740 --> 04:22:56,480
restrictive, and I cannot support that.

2955
04:22:58,360 --> 04:23:10,200
The definition of town hall presented here is arbitrary in that the wording of a significant

2956
04:23:10,200 --> 04:23:17,520
portion of the event is a question and answer. How much is a significant portion? If it's

2957
04:23:17,520 --> 04:23:22,460
an hour long event, is 15 minutes significant? Because I hosted an event that was a panel

2958
04:23:22,460 --> 04:23:26,960
discussion and most of the day, most of the time was spent doing a panel discussion, not Q&A,

2959
04:23:27,420 --> 04:23:32,300
but at the end, there was some Q&A. So I don't know what a significant portion means and I don't

2960
04:23:32,300 --> 04:23:37,860
know how county staff is supposed to interpret what significant portion means. So that's problematic

2961
04:23:37,860 --> 04:23:42,590
in terms of how county management is going to even interpret this when the four of you vote to pass it.

2962
04:23:45,980 --> 04:23:52,140
Exhibit A number four changed the original from a 14 day notice to a 30 day notice.

2963
04:23:54,820 --> 04:24:00,920
And even a 14 day notice can be problematic when one of the reasons that we may want to hold

2964
04:24:00,920 --> 04:24:04,840
some kind of a town hall is if some kind of emergency situation comes up.

2965
04:24:04,880 --> 04:24:09,340
Let's say for example, snap funding is cut off and we want to hold a town hall to talk about

2966
04:24:09,340 --> 04:24:12,800
what we're going to do as commissioners to address food and security.

2967
04:24:13,200 --> 04:24:18,000
Well now we have to get 30 days notice to do a town hall to get a staff member to come.

2968
04:24:18,700 --> 04:24:19,260
problematic.

2969
04:24:22,380 --> 04:24:27,300
It says here in Exhibit A4 that external affairs support for town halls will be

2970
04:24:27,300 --> 04:24:32,120
limited to providing publicity and promotion, so are they not allowed to send a photographer?

2971
04:24:32,840 --> 04:24:38,820
Because that's something that they often do. Are we not allowed to borrow a table or a podium

2972
04:24:38,820 --> 04:24:47,340
from external affairs? Because that has often something that has been done. And if the event itself

2973
04:24:47,340 --> 04:24:54,320
does not have a significant portion of questions, a Q&A does that mean they can come and do everything

2974
04:24:54,320 --> 04:24:59,800
else? Is this only restricting town halls, but every other kind of meeting they can send a photographer?

2975
04:25:00,000 --> 04:25:02,260
Or come or do whatever. It's not clear.

2976
04:25:05,600 --> 04:25:31,940
Let's see. A5, county staff selection, participation and scheduling for town halls is subject to the direction of the department head. Scheduling for town halls. So now the department head is going to schedule when we have a town hall. If my community is available on a Thursday night, and that's when I want to hold a town hall. I can't do that if I want the tax assessors office to come. They then get to schedule it.

2977
04:25:33,000 --> 04:25:41,160
whether they come or not should certainly be up to them, but they should not be responsible for scheduling the town hall.

2978
04:25:45,210 --> 04:25:46,450
Let's see, exhibit seven.

2979
04:25:52,470 --> 04:26:00,370
Yeah, so this one does say that if you have town halls or other outside of these limitations above that you should do them with your own staff, fine.

2980
04:26:01,410 --> 04:26:06,370
But again, number three has already restricted how many town halls I can have, where and when I can have them.

2981
04:26:06,710 --> 04:26:08,030
Not how many, but where and when.

2982
04:26:12,410 --> 04:26:15,950
So it also says I believe it is in seven.

2983
04:26:16,210 --> 04:26:17,830
That County staff,

2984
04:26:27,050 --> 04:26:30,130
I'm sorry, there's one here and I've lost the number, I've lost the plot a little bit.

2985
04:26:30,430 --> 04:26:32,270
But one of these, it says, oh, I think it's six.

2986
04:26:32,930 --> 04:26:40,170
It says that there's only certain things that the staff can do in terms of providing supplies and materials and all those things.

2987
04:26:43,520 --> 04:26:47,180
And there's also, I think the seven or eight says that they should not be Oh, here it is.

2988
04:26:47,320 --> 04:26:50,920
County staff should not be used to boost coverage of a conditioners attendance at third party events.

2989
04:26:50,920 --> 04:27:01,360
So again, not clear what you really mean by third party events, but external affairs, one of their tasks is to promote what the county is doing.

2990
04:27:01,720 --> 04:27:08,780
And so if a commissioner is doing good work, and it happens to be recognized at a different event, do we not want them to promote that?

2991
04:27:09,140 --> 04:27:18,800
I mean, you know, if the chairman is awarded the Nobel Peace Prize, do we not want to promote that, because it didn't happen on county property?

2992
04:27:18,800 --> 04:27:34,680
I mean, I think we would, so my point in going through all of these one by one is that while the intention I understand to limit the use of county staff or an over use of county staff or whatever that perception is.

2993
04:27:35,180 --> 04:27:47,800
But the way this is worded is very confusing and restrictive and I think gets in the way of the point of external affairs and gets in the way of our ability as Commissioner Ivory said to communicate easily

2994
04:27:47,800 --> 04:27:54,400
easily and regularly with our constituents and, as Commissioner Airens pointed out,

2995
04:27:54,540 --> 04:27:59,920
to bring the experts to the table. And I think it's also worth noting that those experts and

2996
04:27:59,920 --> 04:28:06,240
departments, departments often want us to do it. They want the tax assessor's office wants

2997
04:28:06,240 --> 04:28:11,720
us to get out and bring them out so that they can help explain this. It alleviates a ton of

2998
04:28:11,720 --> 04:28:16,440
calls to their office if they can come out and meet with people in person and answer some of these

2999
04:28:16,440 --> 04:28:20,420
questions, and that could be said for any of the other departments, whether it's information

3000
04:28:20,420 --> 04:28:26,760
about election and registrations or information about taxes or tax bills or tax assessments,

3001
04:28:27,140 --> 04:28:31,840
whether it's whatever it is, any county service, they have said to us, behavioral health,

3002
04:28:32,020 --> 04:28:34,480
they want to go out and talk to our constituents.

3003
04:28:35,420 --> 04:28:40,100
So I think

3004
04:28:42,600 --> 04:28:47,080
this is overzealous in what it's trying to do, and I think we should take a lot more

3005
04:28:47,080 --> 04:28:52,260
thought and consideration before we vote yes on something like this. Now I know you have

3006
04:28:52,260 --> 04:28:55,680
your four votes and you're going to get your way but I think it's going to open up a lot of

3007
04:28:55,680 --> 04:28:59,660
questions for staff and cause a lot of problems and I think at the end of the day I think we

3008
04:28:59,660 --> 04:29:04,920
just need to be really clear that restricting town halls and communication to our constituents

3009
04:29:04,920 --> 04:29:07,060
is a bad idea.

3010
04:29:09,360 --> 04:29:10,260
Commissioner Thorne.

3011
04:29:13,210 --> 04:29:16,850
I'm all about town halls, all about communication,

3012
04:29:16,850 --> 04:29:23,690
meeting with my people, meeting with my constituents. I've held four town halls this year,

3013
04:29:24,870 --> 04:29:32,770
two were virtual and two were live. I see the burden at places on staff.

3014
04:29:33,310 --> 04:29:39,350
Yes, the tax assessor's office is so willing to say yes to us. But what are they going to do?

3015
04:29:39,410 --> 04:29:46,550
Say, hey, no, we can't. Being commissioners in our position, we put up unnecessary

3016
04:29:46,550 --> 04:29:55,750
burden on them to say yes, to agree, to come to our town halls. I think it's considerate of

3017
04:29:55,750 --> 04:29:59,870
us to ask them do these dates work on your calendar.

3018
04:30:01,160 --> 04:30:25,820
We need to show up here at this time at this place at a law office, downtown somewhere that they've never been to. That's the whole point of holding it in government buildings, so that it's areas where they're familiar with and know with setup. I had to hold a discount haul in John's Creek, mainly because it was requested to me by the mayor.

3019
04:30:25,820 --> 04:30:33,040
And when I went to the use of their city hall, they were going to charge me, I think $150 or something like that.

3020
04:30:33,940 --> 04:30:39,980
And like, well, I'm going to use my government building, but the library wasn't big enough to hold my town hall.

3021
04:30:40,160 --> 04:30:48,340
But the library was gracious enough to work with me and to clear out a section of the library that was large enough to hold my town hall.

3022
04:30:48,680 --> 04:30:50,780
They made accommodations for me.

3023
04:30:51,600 --> 04:30:57,140
I look at this as just being a consideration, we're not limiting your town halls.

3024
04:30:57,720 --> 04:31:06,060
I'm glad you actually read the Exhibit A Commissioner Barrett because we're not limiting

3025
04:31:06,060 --> 04:31:07,840
how many town hall events.

3026
04:31:07,860 --> 04:31:10,820
You could have unlimited number of town hall events.

3027
04:31:11,640 --> 04:31:17,520
I've asked my staff, could you do a virtual town hall and they agreed that they could?

3028
04:31:18,720 --> 04:31:24,380
And I'm amazed that you got the tax commissioner to come honestly commissioner Ivory.

3029
04:31:24,440 --> 04:31:29,220
I asked him to come do a town hall and he said he couldn't come.

3030
04:31:29,380 --> 04:31:30,140
I know relationships.

3031
04:31:31,960 --> 04:31:35,960
So, and I think I do have a great relationship with Fernand.

3032
04:31:35,960 --> 04:31:38,580
I think the answer shows what kind of relationship we have.

3033
04:31:41,320 --> 04:31:51,980
And still, with engagement, with photography, I mean, Commissioner Ivory, you hire a guy that follows you around and all he does is, you know, do your social media and tape you.

3034
04:31:52,580 --> 04:31:53,980
So I think that that could be the same thing.

3035
04:31:53,980 --> 04:31:55,180
I know you love my social media.

3036
04:31:55,760 --> 04:31:56,880
That's why you have to bring it up.

3037
04:31:56,940 --> 04:31:57,540
I love it.

3038
04:31:57,540 --> 04:31:58,460
You have great social media.

3039
04:32:14,620 --> 04:32:20,260
Restricting it to weekdays, I think, is considerate of the external affairs staff.

3040
04:32:20,260 --> 04:32:28,920
They're time and effort because when they work on weekdays then we have to give them that time back in the form of comp time

3041
04:32:28,920 --> 04:32:38,560
And we know how stressed and how busy our external affairs department is and to have them have to do 27 or whatever

3042
04:32:39,040 --> 04:32:47,820
If each of us had a town hall 28 town halls a year that would be almost needing to hire an extra person

3043
04:32:48,800 --> 04:32:53,840
You said it weakens government, hiding information, hiding from your

3044
04:32:53,840 --> 04:32:56,000
constituents, limiting transparency.

3045
04:32:57,400 --> 04:33:00,120
No, you can do, you can do a town hall.

3046
04:33:00,500 --> 04:33:02,840
You can go out there and you can do a town hall.

3047
04:33:03,120 --> 04:33:09,580
You could do, you guys went out there and got on the podium and did your own little town hall

3048
04:33:09,580 --> 04:33:10,940
in the courthouse steps.

3049
04:33:11,480 --> 04:33:12,660
That's perfectly fine.

3050
04:33:12,740 --> 04:33:14,160
You're not restricted on that.

3051
04:33:17,060 --> 04:33:23,640
the point is that we have that we have ability to reach our constituents.

3052
04:33:27,990 --> 04:33:30,390
I accept your point of order.

3053
04:33:30,710 --> 04:33:34,890
Those aren't limited and those are ways of engaging with your,

3054
04:33:34,890 --> 04:33:37,150
this does not tackle press conferences,

3055
04:33:37,150 --> 04:33:41,170
another way of engaging and getting out your message to people.

3056
04:33:42,970 --> 04:33:50,350
Believe me, I do not want to limit anybody's ability to reach out to their constituents.

3057
04:33:50,690 --> 04:33:53,350
I just want to be considerate of our staff.

3058
04:33:53,870 --> 04:33:59,470
We sat here and nitpicked over $400,000 for Jessica's department, and they're doing all

3059
04:33:59,470 --> 04:34:01,730
they can with the resources that we have.

3060
04:34:02,150 --> 04:34:09,550
She has, and external affairs doesn't need an added strain of multiple town halls back to

3061
04:34:09,550 --> 04:34:16,170
back to back, and I know during the middle of June, what's your point of

3062
04:34:16,170 --> 04:34:16,410
decision?

3063
04:34:17,650 --> 04:34:21,470
If I am not allowed to refer to external affairs and the amount of

3064
04:34:21,470 --> 04:34:23,210
access to your point of order, thank you.

3065
04:34:23,630 --> 04:34:29,130
Yeah, so I know that during the middle of June we all held town halls, and I just can't

3066
04:34:29,130 --> 04:34:34,830
imagine how taxing that was on them, and I just believe it, be considerate of us to work

3067
04:34:34,830 --> 04:34:41,990
our departments, invite them to our town hall, give them the option to decline if they can't

3068
04:34:41,990 --> 04:34:46,730
staff our town hall, hold it in buildings that they're familiar with, whether they're not having

3069
04:34:46,730 --> 04:34:52,890
to drive and find some location and parking and all that. I think that's considerate and I think

3070
04:34:52,890 --> 04:34:59,890
that we as commissioners need to realize that we need to be considerate of the staff that works.

3071
04:35:00,000 --> 04:35:08,560
For us, and we have our own staff that can step up and help us with that transparency issue and hosting our town halls. Thank you.

3072
04:35:08,820 --> 04:35:14,040
Okay, Commissioner Errington, follow my Vice Chair, Alison. Let's vote up or down.

3073
04:35:14,160 --> 04:35:17,440
After that, please. Commissioner, Errington, you have a floor.

3074
04:35:21,600 --> 04:35:28,480
Yeah, I mean, this is again, this is, this is really ridiculous.

3075
04:35:29,440 --> 04:35:42,400
I got three town hall schedule this month on the budget because I want to hear from the residents on their budget, right?

3076
04:35:43,760 --> 04:35:50,660
But this is I'm not doing this because I'm running for chair next year. I'm doing it because I do it every year for the last 11 years.

3077
04:35:52,260 --> 04:35:59,040
I don't host homestead exemption town halls because I'm running for chair next year.

3078
04:35:59,820 --> 04:36:03,240
I've hosted them every year for the last 11 years.

3079
04:36:06,160 --> 04:36:10,680
So if I have a virtual town hall, I can't even invite the staff to my virtual town hall,

3080
04:36:10,740 --> 04:36:13,980
because a virtual town hall isn't in a county facility.

3081
04:36:17,740 --> 04:36:18,840
I mean, this is

3082
04:36:21,240 --> 04:36:24,480
maybe there are some issues that need to be addressed.

3083
04:36:24,660 --> 04:36:26,660
And I don't know what those issues are.

3084
04:36:26,660 --> 04:36:30,160
I heard the chair say, we all know what this is about.

3085
04:36:30,460 --> 04:36:37,740
I do not know what this is about because I have hosted a minimum of three to four

3086
04:36:37,740 --> 04:36:42,380
town halls every year for the last 11 years.

3087
04:36:43,300 --> 04:36:51,740
A minimum of three to four times a year and it's always optional for the staff to come.

3088
04:36:52,300 --> 04:36:55,760
We scheduled them in the beginning of the year.

3089
04:36:55,760 --> 04:37:03,980
I map out my whole year starting in January of every year for the last 11 years.

3090
04:37:04,680 --> 04:37:10,060
They know six, eight, nine, 11 months in advance.

3091
04:37:10,960 --> 04:37:18,020
What my request is, where it is, and all of my town halls have either been at county facilities

3092
04:37:18,020 --> 04:37:19,540
or been virtual.

3093
04:37:20,340 --> 04:37:26,260
be a zone. Don't cover it. We can only do it in a zone. So,

3094
04:37:29,300 --> 04:37:30,940
there may be some good

3095
04:37:30,940 --> 04:37:35,740
reasons, but this is just an example of how

3096
04:37:40,220 --> 04:37:43,280
functional this Board of Commissioners

3097
04:37:43,280 --> 04:37:53,480
is. I've been here for 11 years, 11 years, and I've never seen this level of dysfunctionality

3098
04:37:53,480 --> 04:38:00,860
on this board. If there's an issue we ought to be able to sit down and say, hey, here are

3099
04:38:00,860 --> 04:38:03,820
the issues, how do we address them?

3100
04:38:06,860 --> 04:38:10,860
I will be very surprised if someone has an issue with

3101
04:38:10,860 --> 04:38:17,720
my town halls that I've been hosting for the last 11 years because we've never had one complaint,

3102
04:38:18,760 --> 04:38:20,000
not one complaint.

3103
04:38:22,580 --> 04:38:27,340
And if there is a complaint, I want to hear it, I want to invite them to the

3104
04:38:27,340 --> 04:38:33,220
all so they can tell me what the complaint is. So I can hear the complaint. So I can respond

3105
04:38:33,220 --> 04:38:34,940
to it and adjust accordingly.

3106
04:38:40,200 --> 04:38:42,940
If there are issues that need to be addressed, let's address

3107
04:38:42,940 --> 04:38:48,820
those issues. Let's not do a wholesale change. I mean,

3108
04:38:51,260 --> 04:38:54,900
I mean, this is just, this is absolute insanity.

3109
04:38:56,640 --> 04:39:01,140
And I hope that the full-time county residents are watching and really paying attention

3110
04:39:01,840 --> 04:39:05,980
Because we've got to have people down here that are going to be functional and that are going

3111
04:39:05,980 --> 04:39:07,600
to move this county forward.

3112
04:39:08,540 --> 04:39:13,320
And right down we have people that want to move this county backwards and they don't want

3113
04:39:13,320 --> 04:39:14,620
to make anything happen.

3114
04:39:15,840 --> 04:39:18,780
I have not violated any parliamentary procedure, man.

3115
04:39:21,660 --> 04:39:25,960
We have people down here that don't even know what a damn port of order is.

3116
04:39:28,120 --> 04:39:31,040
They don't know that there's a violation of a parliamentary procedure.

3117
04:39:31,040 --> 04:39:35,080
They think they can say point of order. If they disagree with you

3118
04:39:35,080 --> 04:39:38,220
They think they can say point of order. If they disagree with you.

3119
04:39:41,910 --> 04:39:42,170
Please

3120
04:39:42,170 --> 04:39:44,210
sense them

3121
04:39:44,210 --> 04:39:46,050
Please, there's some reasonable

3122
04:39:46,670 --> 04:39:48,670
People down here

3123
04:39:49,920 --> 04:39:53,220
This is this functionality at its best

3124
04:39:54,840 --> 04:39:59,880
Please send reasonable people down here so that this government

3125
04:40:01,020 --> 04:40:08,040
If you want to know why the government is not functioning, it's because of the representatives that you send down here.

3126
04:40:08,560 --> 04:40:16,920
There are dysfunctional and they're incompetent and unable to proceed with the business of the county.

3127
04:40:18,080 --> 04:40:22,490
Vice Chair, I wish you have a floor. I don't know who that was describing.

3128
04:40:23,410 --> 04:40:30,650
So, the first off, you're right on your parliamentary piece, I would just quote this, using

3129
04:40:30,650 --> 04:40:35,450
the floor to publicly pressure or intimidate a staff member into taking a particular position

3130
04:40:35,450 --> 04:40:40,550
is inconsistent with standard parliamentary procedure and where the modern cozy conduct for public

3131
04:40:40,550 --> 04:40:40,990
bodies.

3132
04:40:41,590 --> 04:40:44,710
So you were correct on that Mr. Chair, didn't want to cite that.

3133
04:40:44,970 --> 04:40:51,490
Number two, I'm going to offer up just a couple of amendments to this resolution which

3134
04:40:51,490 --> 04:40:53,410
clarify what my intent was on this.

3135
04:40:53,410 --> 04:41:01,370
You can have as many town halls as you want, and I think Mr. Barrett, what I was trying to say is I believe you are reading from the prior version of things.

3136
04:41:02,090 --> 04:41:07,890
And I'm going to read provision three with the modification, with the modification I'm going to make.

3137
04:41:08,470 --> 04:41:15,530
And I'm going to ask Commissioner Commissioner Thorne to accept this since she was maker of the motion I was a second.

3138
04:41:16,170 --> 04:41:25,250
Is it where it says county staff in provision three will it will make it will be specific to external affairs and dream staff?

3139
04:41:25,790 --> 04:41:27,690
And this is a way it will read.

3140
04:41:27,910 --> 04:41:37,610
A commissioner may only request external affairs and dream county staff participation for up to four in person or virtual town hall events per year.

3141
04:41:37,610 --> 04:41:43,350
A town hall is defined as an event that is open to the public and hosted by one of

3142
04:41:43,350 --> 04:41:47,310
more commissioners, where the commissioners answer questions presented by members of the

3143
04:41:47,310 --> 04:41:50,070
public as a significant portion of the event.

3144
04:41:50,450 --> 04:41:55,870
Town hall events that utilize external affairs and dream county staff shall take place on

3145
04:41:55,870 --> 04:42:00,690
weekdays and I will add week nights at a county and at a county facility.

3146
04:42:01,610 --> 04:42:10,090
Note that this provision only places limitations on town hall events that utilize external

3147
04:42:10,090 --> 04:42:15,450
fares and dream county staff. Commissioners may use their district staff to conduct

3148
04:42:15,450 --> 04:42:21,710
as many town hall events as desired at any location and time of their choose.

3149
04:42:23,010 --> 04:42:28,550
And then in four, I will make a modification to say external fares supportive such town hall

3150
04:42:28,550 --> 04:42:33,270
We'll be limited to providing publicity and promotion and photography of the event.

3151
04:42:37,480 --> 04:42:42,980
That is clarified in item three, revolving external affairs and dream count and dream participation.

3152
04:42:44,160 --> 04:42:46,140
Welcome to welcome to invite whoever you want.

3153
04:42:46,380 --> 04:42:50,100
In any other, you know, any event you want to have outside of that for.

3154
04:42:52,810 --> 04:42:53,050
All right.

3155
04:42:54,090 --> 04:42:54,510
Let's see.

3156
04:42:54,870 --> 04:42:56,070
So that's that.

3157
04:42:56,190 --> 04:42:56,690
Just a minute.

3158
04:42:56,810 --> 04:42:56,950
Yes, sir.

3159
04:42:57,150 --> 04:42:58,350
Let me present.

3160
04:42:59,970 --> 04:43:01,230
You are the maker of the motion.

3161
04:43:01,410 --> 04:43:02,670
You accept it.

3162
04:43:02,670 --> 04:43:06,330
All right, now Commissioner Barrett.

3163
04:43:07,310 --> 04:43:08,570
Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

3164
04:43:10,330 --> 04:43:12,650
Vice-chair Allis, I appreciate the amendments.

3165
04:43:13,650 --> 04:43:17,390
I was reading the attachment that is on this week's agenda.

3166
04:43:17,690 --> 04:43:19,250
So I don't know if it's the wrong one,

3167
04:43:19,270 --> 04:43:21,790
but I was reading straight out of this agenda.

3168
04:43:22,950 --> 04:43:24,670
That said, Mr. Chairman, we have a tendency

3169
04:43:24,670 --> 04:43:27,550
on occasion to do things like this, which is fine,

3170
04:43:27,570 --> 04:43:28,650
where we make a friendly amendment.

3171
04:43:28,950 --> 04:43:31,270
And we pretty dramatically change the content

3172
04:43:31,270 --> 04:43:40,250
of what is in something we're then voting on and I think it would be wiser if we could

3173
04:43:40,250 --> 04:43:43,710
actually have a written copy of something before we vote on it to make sure that what was

3174
04:43:43,710 --> 04:43:50,130
said is translated before we vote. So I mean given that we're making a fairly substantial change to

3175
04:43:50,130 --> 04:43:56,210
the language here which I very much appreciate, I would make a motion that we hold until we can see

3176
04:43:56,210 --> 04:43:59,270
written version, and then we can vote on the official version.

3177
04:44:00,230 --> 04:44:01,850
All right, we have a substitute most of our commissioner,

3178
04:44:02,070 --> 04:44:04,430
bear it to hold, seconded by commissioner,

3179
04:44:04,570 --> 04:44:08,930
high-re, vice-unit, Jackson's.

3180
04:44:12,580 --> 04:44:14,260
The modification is fairly straightforward.

3181
04:44:14,640 --> 04:44:17,900
It's a substitute in county staff to say external affairs

3182
04:44:17,900 --> 04:44:21,000
and dreams staff, which is what you've all

3183
04:44:21,000 --> 04:44:23,700
vocalizes, complaint, and what my intent was.

3184
04:44:24,420 --> 04:44:24,780
Candleway.

3185
04:44:25,560 --> 04:44:25,560
So

3186
04:44:27,760 --> 04:44:29,720
we have a lot of stuff to take up and debate.

3187
04:44:29,720 --> 04:44:37,720
My preference is that we would just address it now, but let's just a chair is open and I'm not going to check.

3188
04:44:39,780 --> 04:44:44,760
I'm not sure it's going to, I mean, I don't have any objection to holding it to put it in writing,

3189
04:44:47,410 --> 04:44:52,210
because I think you've addressed the concerns that have been raised, and I'm not sure it's going to change in any votes,

3190
04:44:53,330 --> 04:44:58,610
but I won't, I'm okay with holding it until the next meeting to have reduced the writing.

3191
04:45:02,860 --> 04:45:16,060
I'm fine. I'm not going to hold it without objection in. We will hold to the next meeting. He'll be reduced to rise in, because I think what he said, captured the concerns that were raised.

3192
04:45:19,940 --> 04:45:23,540
We're going to hold it without objection. Next item.

3193
04:45:33,450 --> 04:45:51,990
25, zero, eight, nine, seven, request approval of a resolution by the Fulton County Board of Commissioners directly in the county manager to work with select Fulton and the Fulton County Development Authority to develop a senior property tax relief program and for other purposes, sponsored by Commissioner Ivory.

3194
04:45:52,290 --> 04:45:57,850
All right, but most into approval by Commissioner Barrett, seconded by Commissioner Ivory, Commissioner Ivory, you have the floor.

3195
04:45:57,850 --> 04:46:01,950
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. As this was brought over from the last meeting, this resolution

3196
04:46:01,950 --> 04:46:06,910
is about protecting the seniors who have built and sustained our communities, those who have

3197
04:46:06,910 --> 04:46:10,690
raised families, ran businesses, serving hospitals, hospitals, and help make floating

3198
04:46:10,690 --> 04:46:15,990
county the thriving places today. It focuses on seniors who face immediate risk of displacement

3199
04:46:15,990 --> 04:46:20,270
due to rising property taxes, ensuring they can remain in the homes they have called their

3200
04:46:20,270 --> 04:46:24,930
own for decades. This resolution directs the county manager and consultation with the county

3201
04:46:24,930 --> 04:46:29,830
attorney to design a fund in the most practical and effective way to determine eligibility

3202
04:46:29,830 --> 04:46:31,270
structure and funding.

3203
04:46:31,750 --> 04:46:35,550
Similar programs in Atlanta have demonstrated meaningful impact and this is the first

3204
04:46:35,550 --> 04:46:37,850
initiative of its kind proposed in Fulton County.

3205
04:46:38,290 --> 04:46:40,110
This measure failed last meeting.

3206
04:46:40,490 --> 04:46:44,390
I urge my colleagues to support our residents who have given so much to this county and take

3207
04:46:44,390 --> 04:46:48,810
this important step to preserve housing stability, dignity and community for our seniors.

3208
04:46:50,330 --> 04:46:52,030
All right, Vice Chair, all this you have before?

3209
04:46:55,750 --> 04:47:22,010
I think I've demonstrated a long-term track record of property tax relief, and I think as I said before in the last meeting, I think the way to do that, whether that's for seniors or any other entity, but particularly for our seniors is with the exemption tool, that's our power as a legislator, and we've done that in Fulton County, and we should encourage other, other bodies in Fulton County.

3210
04:47:22,010 --> 04:47:24,750
county that are taxing jurisdictions to do so.

3211
04:47:25,090 --> 04:47:30,510
The second thing is within our power to control the impact and property tax burden on citizens,

3212
04:47:30,750 --> 04:47:35,990
our seniors and citizens is keeping our middle rates constrained and our spending constraint

3213
04:47:35,990 --> 04:47:41,490
and being being thoughtful about the way that we go about spending taxpayer money.

3214
04:47:42,310 --> 04:47:47,590
So raising middle rates and promoting increased spending, you know, are not the things

3215
04:47:47,590 --> 04:47:50,330
that you're going to do to help provide seniors relief.

3216
04:47:51,090 --> 04:47:57,330
And I do not think that the function of government is to create non-profits to pay other people's taxes.

3217
04:47:58,450 --> 04:48:00,130
That's not what our role is.

3218
04:48:00,470 --> 04:48:03,470
If there are things that need to be considered, it needs to be exemptions.

3219
04:48:03,750 --> 04:48:11,770
It needs to be keeping our spending constrained so that militar rates, you know, are not going up and impacting,

3220
04:48:11,770 --> 04:48:14,770
enforcing gentrification and seniors out of their homes.

3221
04:48:15,270 --> 04:48:17,410
And with that, I'm going to offer up a motion to deny.

3222
04:48:20,500 --> 04:48:25,280
You have to substitute most into, well, the motion on the floor is to approve, by a commission

3223
04:48:25,280 --> 04:48:30,860
of mayor and second of the commission, or, can we finish the conversation?

3224
04:48:34,080 --> 04:48:35,920
Well, I'll just want to say, Bridgetson.

3225
04:48:38,110 --> 04:48:38,210
All right.

3226
04:48:38,710 --> 04:48:40,290
Vice, Mr. Thorne?

3227
04:48:43,250 --> 04:48:49,750
I fully agree that we don't create a problem by raising people's taxes so they can't afford

3228
04:48:49,750 --> 04:48:56,050
to stay in their homes and then create the solution to a symptom of a problem that we created

3229
04:48:56,050 --> 04:49:02,350
by raising taxes. It just makes no sense whatsoever. I don't think this is a very, as commissioner

3230
04:49:02,350 --> 04:49:07,070
bear always says, the way is word is not clear, and a lot more to consider. I mean, we're

3231
04:49:07,070 --> 04:49:12,650
just directing the county manager to come up with something. From my understanding, when I

3232
04:49:12,650 --> 04:49:18,770
reached out to the development authority or selectful, they were not even talked to, and yet

3233
04:49:18,770 --> 04:49:23,750
this burden is going to be put on them. So I feel like this is just something throwing out

3234
04:49:24,810 --> 04:49:30,970
to do. And then you also have to think about with a rising millage rates, rising taxes.

3235
04:49:31,250 --> 04:49:35,430
You have to think about the seniors who rent because their rents are going to go up.

3236
04:49:35,590 --> 04:49:40,170
So what do we have to create a nonprofit for the seniors that can't afford to pay in their rents

3237
04:49:40,170 --> 04:49:43,170
because the cost is going to be handed down to them.

3238
04:49:43,490 --> 04:49:51,250
And the list can go on and on and on to the people who can't afford young people who are trying to buy their first homes

3239
04:49:51,250 --> 04:49:55,490
and stay in their homes and can't afford the taxes as they rise and force to move out of

3240
04:49:55,490 --> 04:49:55,750
county.

3241
04:49:56,870 --> 04:49:59,510
So, for me, this is just not a very well thought out.

3242
04:50:00,640 --> 04:50:07,080
And it's addressing a symptom and not the real problem with our seniors.

3243
04:50:07,420 --> 04:50:11,000
All right, Commissioner Ivory, motion on the floor, downstairs, did I?

3244
04:50:11,440 --> 04:50:17,160
Okay, thank you, Mr. Chairman. Whenever I'm sitting here, I always have well thought out what I have to say.

3245
04:50:17,700 --> 04:50:23,380
So, I just want to make sure you thoroughly understand that, because we read everything that comes our way.

3246
04:50:23,380 --> 04:50:25,920
So, we're not creating a new problem.

3247
04:50:26,120 --> 04:50:29,960
We have historically underfunded this county,

3248
04:50:30,100 --> 04:50:33,200
which is why we're going to have a milliderate increase this year.

3249
04:50:33,360 --> 04:50:35,860
So, we're not creating an increase to the milliderate

3250
04:50:35,860 --> 04:50:39,180
because of something that has happened.

3251
04:50:39,400 --> 04:50:41,520
And now we want to address it to fix it.

3252
04:50:41,520 --> 04:50:44,280
It's already here because of the lack of underfunding

3253
04:50:44,280 --> 04:50:46,220
in all of the years that you've been sitting here.

3254
04:50:46,560 --> 04:50:48,300
So, let's just talk facts.

3255
04:50:48,560 --> 04:50:50,260
Facts actually do exist.

3256
04:50:50,260 --> 04:50:57,060
And so that is just not, that does not make any logical sense for decades in Atlanta and thankfully.

3257
04:50:57,840 --> 04:51:04,800
All across Georgia nonprofits have stepped in in amazing ways to help our citizens.

3258
04:51:05,500 --> 04:51:14,080
I can think of billions of dollars that Arthur Blank, that Home Depot, that Coca-Cola,

3259
04:51:14,080 --> 04:51:20,320
have given to help communities that is what makes our state and our city so

3260
04:51:20,320 --> 04:51:24,040
wonderful that nonprofits are willing to step up. And in fact in Atlanta,

3261
04:51:24,300 --> 04:51:28,840
nonprofits have stepped up to offer seniors help when they can pay their taxes.

3262
04:51:29,420 --> 04:51:33,140
So I didn't just pull this out from somewhere that you might say, you know,

3263
04:51:33,240 --> 04:51:39,040
I did. We actually researched it. We have evidentiary based research that shows

3264
04:51:39,040 --> 04:51:43,820
that nonprofits step in the gap for when people need extra help.

3265
04:51:44,020 --> 04:51:45,500
And that's all that this is saying.

3266
04:51:45,720 --> 04:51:49,160
So this is not creating a problem by taking any money from the general fund,

3267
04:51:49,240 --> 04:51:51,320
because it isn't any money from the general fund.

3268
04:51:51,360 --> 04:51:55,460
It's money from outside groups that the development authority and selectful

3269
04:51:55,460 --> 04:51:58,000
to already have relationships with.

3270
04:51:58,380 --> 04:52:02,060
So I did talk to folks that selectful to the development authority about it

3271
04:52:02,060 --> 04:52:05,160
who suggested nonprofits could step in the gap.

3272
04:52:05,640 --> 04:52:08,460
And that's where we started thinking about it in the first place.

3273
04:52:08,460 --> 04:52:14,600
So, like I said, we always research and read everything, and then we come back with well-fought

3274
04:52:14,600 --> 04:52:19,480
out resolutions that have also gone through the county attorney's office before they're

3275
04:52:19,480 --> 04:52:21,140
presented to you.

3276
04:52:21,140 --> 04:52:27,700
So, we're not dictating anything that we haven't already majorly discussed, and I'm glad that

3277
04:52:27,700 --> 04:52:28,620
you know it's a good idea.

3278
04:52:28,780 --> 04:52:32,260
Can I have a point of order for all this conversation going on down there while I have

3279
04:52:32,260 --> 04:52:32,600
the floor?

3280
04:52:32,600 --> 04:52:33,980
Just a minute.

3281
04:52:35,690 --> 04:52:36,170
Just continue.

3282
04:52:37,570 --> 04:52:37,830
Okay.

3283
04:52:37,930 --> 04:52:38,290
Thank you.

3284
04:52:38,430 --> 04:52:39,110
It's just.

3285
04:52:39,550 --> 04:52:40,550
Just continue.

3286
04:52:41,070 --> 04:52:41,390
Okay.

3287
04:52:41,770 --> 04:52:41,950
Yes.

3288
04:52:43,990 --> 04:52:44,550
Errington.

3289
04:52:44,550 --> 04:52:48,750
Deluded to the lack of respect on this commission many times.

3290
04:52:48,930 --> 04:52:50,810
And you see it every time we meet.

3291
04:52:51,690 --> 04:53:01,250
So the development authority and select food and are included because they have existing mechanisms to implement community programs and to raise funds in support of initiatives like this.

3292
04:53:01,250 --> 04:53:07,830
They bring extra expertise in economic development and community investment that can help ensure the program is structured effectively.

3293
04:53:08,330 --> 04:53:13,470
However, the ultimate responsibility for how the program operates, including eligibility structure and administration,

3294
04:53:14,190 --> 04:53:15,570
rest with the county manager's office.

3295
04:53:15,850 --> 04:53:22,430
And that is why I included in my resolution that it would be the county manager that would put this program together and direct how it would be operated.

3296
04:53:22,830 --> 04:53:27,530
If the county manager believes it's best to go in another direction, this resolution allows him that discretion.

3297
04:53:27,530 --> 04:53:33,570
This resolution ensures that the fund is designated practically while leveraging the expertise of our established partners.

3298
04:53:34,170 --> 04:53:39,530
And so it's a mechanism from the heart to help folks and not use our own money to do it.

3299
04:53:40,730 --> 04:53:42,390
All right, Mr. Thor, you want to be heard again.

3300
04:53:42,970 --> 04:53:45,410
Yes, I appreciate not using our own money to do it.

3301
04:53:45,650 --> 04:53:48,850
I just really appreciate that. I come from the nonprofit world.

3302
04:53:49,030 --> 04:53:55,570
I've set on many boards of nonprofits. I've worked with nonprofits across North Fulton and in downtown Atlanta.

3303
04:53:55,570 --> 04:54:00,350
and nonprofits are wonderful. I think they serve the community better because they are

3304
04:54:00,350 --> 04:54:05,310
created by a heart and a passion for the people they serve and the work they do. They're

3305
04:54:05,310 --> 04:54:14,910
not a government organized nonprofit, completely different. And I did reach out when this

3306
04:54:14,910 --> 04:54:19,450
was first put on the agenda. Maybe you've talked with Select Fulton and the development authority

3307
04:54:19,450 --> 04:54:26,190
sense, but I'm like, how does that work? You're supposed to generate business, you're not in the

3308
04:54:26,190 --> 04:54:31,450
nonprofit realm, which is completely contradictory to what the development authority and

3309
04:54:31,450 --> 04:54:37,410
select, pull and do. So with that being said, I love trying to help our seniors,

3310
04:54:37,710 --> 04:54:42,670
St. Vincent DePaul. I love to support organizations, Drake House, places like that,

3311
04:54:42,670 --> 04:54:50,070
that do with the star seniors with rent payments, home placement, if they've been unhoused,

3312
04:54:50,430 --> 04:54:55,090
helping them with home repairs, and helping them pay their taxes.

3313
04:54:57,310 --> 04:54:59,970
So, Arthur Blank, all of them, I am glad it's...

3314
04:55:00,000 --> 04:55:08,780
Tyler Perry paid back taxes one year for seniors. Those are great gestures to do. I encourage the community.

3315
04:55:09,320 --> 04:55:17,200
And I encourage maybe working with a nonprofit and helping that nonprofit raise money by the connections that we have.

3316
04:55:17,460 --> 04:55:21,380
Instead of forming a government nonprofit that we have to manage.

3317
04:55:21,380 --> 04:55:23,930
Thank you.

3318
04:55:23,930 --> 04:55:24,390
All right.

3319
04:55:24,530 --> 04:55:24,910
Thank you very much.

3320
04:55:24,910 --> 04:55:25,630
You want to be heard again?

3321
04:55:26,030 --> 04:55:27,370
Yeah, I just wanted to make one comment.

3322
04:55:28,630 --> 04:55:33,290
I sent on the investment land aboard, as you all know, and that is the city of Atlanta's

3323
04:55:33,290 --> 04:55:33,890
Development Authority.

3324
04:55:34,210 --> 04:55:38,190
And for the record, they actually do have programs that, for example, help residents

3325
04:55:38,190 --> 04:55:40,930
stay in their homes outside of the tabs, nothing to do with that.

3326
04:55:40,970 --> 04:55:42,890
But they have like a legacy resident program.

3327
04:55:43,070 --> 04:55:48,070
So it's not unheard of for development authorities to engage in some of these community-minded

3328
04:55:48,070 --> 04:55:48,850
practices.

3329
04:55:48,990 --> 04:55:50,270
Just wanted to point that out.

3330
04:55:51,390 --> 04:55:51,550
All right.

3331
04:55:51,550 --> 04:55:54,110
The motion on the floor is to deny, let's hope, please.

3332
04:55:55,310 --> 04:55:56,290
And the vote is open.

3333
04:56:03,900 --> 04:56:06,560
And the motion passes for yeas three days.

3334
04:56:07,360 --> 04:56:12,820
All right, let me make a general statement here.

3335
04:56:12,900 --> 04:56:14,420
The next five items.

3336
04:56:16,360 --> 04:56:19,620
And I think there's a merit and probably each of the five.

3337
04:56:19,960 --> 04:56:22,240
But they all have budgetary implications.

3338
04:56:23,800 --> 04:56:26,040
Most of them have some budgetary implications.

3339
04:56:26,040 --> 04:56:32,960
I would, the prudent thing to do with me to wait until we start with the budget in January or at a January.

3340
04:56:34,620 --> 04:56:36,940
But that's just a suggestion for

3341
04:56:39,270 --> 04:56:41,850
which a pleasure. Sound the next thing.

3342
04:56:42,330 --> 04:56:48,990
Just think it makes more sense because they all, for four of the five, have budgetary, general fund budgetary implications.

3343
04:56:49,130 --> 04:56:50,330
Chairman, are you making a motion?

3344
04:56:50,470 --> 04:56:51,430
No, I'm not making a motion.

3345
04:56:51,850 --> 04:56:55,350
I'm not suggesting because I'm not the author of either of the five.

3346
04:56:57,270 --> 04:57:01,910
25, zero, nine, three, five, request approval of the resolution to affirm the reproductive

3347
04:57:01,910 --> 04:57:08,690
rights that reproductive rights are human rights to condemn the criminalization of abortion

3348
04:57:08,690 --> 04:57:14,950
and related services to urge the Georgia State Legislature to repeal the six-week abortion

3349
04:57:14,950 --> 04:57:20,010
ban that endangers lives and for other purposes, sponsored by Commissioner Barrett.

3350
04:57:20,010 --> 04:57:26,650
All right, the motion of the floor is to approve by Commissioner Barrett, seconded by Commissioner Ivory, and

3351
04:57:26,650 --> 04:57:36,970
Commissioner Barrett, you have the floor. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. To be clear, there is no budget or money associated, but that's four of the five. I'm just saying.

3352
04:57:38,330 --> 04:57:43,570
All right. Well, folks, we all signed on to a proclamation today honoring human rights

3353
04:57:45,010 --> 04:57:46,930
Human rights days. Excuse me, which is on December 10th.

3354
04:57:46,930 --> 04:57:56,590
And with that timing in mind, I thought it was important to bring this resolution forward to affirm that reproductive rights are human rights.

3355
04:57:56,890 --> 04:58:05,410
And also to stand against the criminalization of women who seek care for miscarriages or the doctors who provide that often lifesaving treatment.

3356
04:58:05,410 --> 04:58:15,710
A 2025 survey of voters living in metro areas across the state of Georgia found that 79% support abortion rights.

3357
04:58:16,330 --> 04:58:20,450
75% are concerned about criminalization of women having miscarriages.

3358
04:58:21,230 --> 04:58:28,630
Only 9% would support Georgia's current abortion laws if they understood that miscarriage could be investigated and prosecuted.

3359
04:58:28,630 --> 04:58:36,410
And only 16 percent believe that law enforcement should spend any time or resources investigating pregnant people and providers.

3360
04:58:37,890 --> 04:58:43,890
Additionally, 73 percent of the voters surveyed are concerned about women's health and lives being put at risk

3361
04:58:43,890 --> 04:58:51,570
because doctors delay or deny care due to the fear that they will be prosecuted under Georgia's six-week abortion ban.

3362
04:58:52,390 --> 04:58:59,010
In fact, we already have had multiple documented cases of this happening in Metro Atlanta.

3363
04:59:00,110 --> 04:59:04,950
Both Amber Thurman and Candy Miller lost their lives after miscarrying.

3364
04:59:07,300 --> 04:59:13,560
You know, Mayor Dickens often talks about his group project and the goal of making Atlanta

3365
04:59:13,560 --> 04:59:15,200
the best place to raise a child.

3366
04:59:15,720 --> 04:59:18,860
And I think that's a goal that we share across all the full tank counting.

3367
04:59:18,860 --> 04:59:26,520
But we cannot truly be the best place to raise a child if the decision to have a child is putting

3368
04:59:26,520 --> 04:59:27,640
mother's lives at risk.

3369
04:59:28,180 --> 04:59:31,700
And that is the current reality under Georgia's six-week abortion ban.

3370
04:59:33,060 --> 04:59:37,140
Voting us on this resolution today is a strong statement to the women and families of

3371
04:59:37,140 --> 04:59:41,020
Fulton County that you care about their lives and their health.

3372
04:59:41,440 --> 04:59:43,560
So I'm asking for your affirmative vote.

3373
04:59:43,880 --> 04:59:44,600
Commissioner Ivory.

3374
04:59:45,600 --> 04:59:46,420
Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

3375
04:59:46,420 --> 04:59:49,640
And Commissioner Barrett, thank you for bringing this forward.

3376
04:59:49,860 --> 04:59:53,880
I stand and supported this resolution affirming that reproductive rights are human rights,

3377
04:59:54,380 --> 04:59:58,520
protecting access to essential reproductive care as part of our ongoing commitment to the

3378
04:59:58,520 --> 04:59:59,960
health and well-being of-

3379
05:00:01,040 --> 05:00:29,200
Just last week, we passed a resolution addressing maternal and infant mortality, particularly the staggering rates among black women in our county. The stories of Amber Thurman and Candy Miller are tragic examples of why this focus is so critical. As a black woman, I understand the stakes personally, and I know how disproportionately restrictive policies harm black women and women in marginalized communities. This resolution is an important reaffirmation of our commitment to health equity and human rights.

3380
05:00:29,200 --> 05:00:37,600
I will support this measures that we can send a clear message that Funt and County will continue to defend the health and rights of all women in our community.

3381
05:00:38,160 --> 05:00:39,600
Thank you.

3382
05:00:39,760 --> 05:00:41,260
Commissioner, I'll do a rock line.

3383
05:00:41,660 --> 05:00:47,500
Chairman Pitt, unfortunately for me, I won't be able to support this.

3384
05:00:48,000 --> 05:00:54,080
And the reason why I will not be able to support this, this is this is this is a feel good.

3385
05:00:54,640 --> 05:01:00,640
I want to get my face out there with this, I am pro-choice, I was pro-choice when I walked

3386
05:01:00,640 --> 05:01:07,820
the streets of Washington, D.C. for pro-choice. I was pro-choice when I had several

3387
05:01:07,820 --> 05:01:17,580
people to call my office with no place to live pregnant and need it help. But I do not support

3388
05:01:17,580 --> 05:01:24,080
this because I feel as though other ways that we can not only support women's issues,

3389
05:01:24,200 --> 05:01:32,380
but I take issue with individuals calling me dumb, calling me all these other names and saying

3390
05:01:32,380 --> 05:01:41,480
things, but they want me to support women's, women's issues. If I disagree with you, we can

3391
05:01:41,480 --> 05:01:48,300
agree to disagree and still have respect for each other. I personally don't feel that this

3392
05:01:48,300 --> 05:01:56,180
resolution does anything to change what has happened at the state, but you know what could

3393
05:01:56,180 --> 05:02:04,060
going down there to testify, what could is having conversations with individuals that made the

3394
05:02:04,060 --> 05:02:28,060
that they made, but to use a resolution to gas light, to put out misinformation, to say that if you don't support this, you don't support women's right, you are no different than the maga that is prevalent nowadays that says if you don't see things in my way, you're un-American.

3395
05:02:29,020 --> 05:02:39,540
I'm a woman, I am pro-choice, but this does nothing other than a feel-good or want to be seen

3396
05:02:39,540 --> 05:02:44,080
or want to use it as part of me campaigning because I'm running for chair.

3397
05:02:44,640 --> 05:02:49,360
Now, I say that openly, I'm not going to say what's being said about me out in the street

3398
05:02:49,360 --> 05:02:50,540
because it doesn't matter.

3399
05:02:50,620 --> 05:02:55,200
Innovative can look at my record and know that I have fought for women's issues.

3400
05:02:55,200 --> 05:03:01,740
What I will not fight for is someone using this platform because they can

3401
05:03:03,140 --> 05:03:04,420
to campaign

3402
05:03:05,000 --> 05:03:11,660
To put something feel good forward, but it has no teeth in it. If you want to go down there

3403
05:03:12,140 --> 05:03:18,280
To the state legislator if you want to go testify if you want me to share my own family stories

3404
05:03:18,280 --> 05:03:20,060
I don't have a problem doing that

3405
05:03:20,060 --> 05:03:31,130
But I am always going to agree to disagree respectfully, don't have to call in about out

3406
05:03:31,130 --> 05:03:31,550
their name.

3407
05:03:31,630 --> 05:03:38,010
You don't have to say the, I'm not going to repeat the things they haven't said about

3408
05:03:38,010 --> 05:03:41,780
me when it comes to this.

3409
05:03:42,340 --> 05:03:44,560
So no, I will not support it.

3410
05:03:44,640 --> 05:03:47,440
It does nothing, but make somebody feel good.

3411
05:03:47,840 --> 05:03:53,340
It's not going to move anything at the state legislation on what they have

3412
05:03:53,340 --> 05:03:59,360
as a decision. So I will not respectfully, I will not be supporting this.

3413
05:04:00,240 --> 05:04:04,400
All right, Chris, however you want to be heard. Thank you so much. Records are records and luckily

3414
05:04:04,400 --> 05:04:09,540
they are public and that's something that is so great about being an elected official is that

3415
05:04:09,540 --> 05:04:16,180
you can pull a record and you should. I agree 100% with Commissioner Abdura Rockman that you should pull

3416
05:04:16,180 --> 05:04:21,200
people's records and you should definitely look at the way they are voting. I think that is so important.

3417
05:04:21,200 --> 05:04:51,100
Thank you for that. I think that's a great point that you made. And I remember when I was working for Stacey Abrams, and this was this six week about abortion ban happened. I was down at the legislature. I guess indeed I was and we supported all the women that are pro choice Democratic women that are pro choice vote pro choice. That's how you know that they're pro choice. And that's how you know that they're real Democrats. So when something comes up, that's a pro choice issue. They vote pro choice. So I'm glad.

3418
05:04:51,200 --> 05:04:59,900
to be a black Democratic pro-choice woman that votes pro-choice and I'm glad to support Commission of Barrett.

3419
05:05:00,000 --> 05:05:17,220
In this pro-choice, even if ceremonial, so important for Fulton County to say that this is where we stand on that, and that's what I was taught by my mentors is to do in your votes, what you say you are about.

3420
05:05:17,220 --> 05:05:19,500
Commissioner Barry, do you want to be heard again?

3421
05:05:20,220 --> 05:05:20,280
Yeah.

3422
05:05:21,440 --> 05:05:26,460
I just want to say that with all due respect, Commissioner,

3423
05:05:27,900 --> 05:05:32,480
OptiRachman, you yourself have put urging resolutions up before this board.

3424
05:05:33,360 --> 05:05:37,700
So to say that something is an urging resolution is just for show,

3425
05:05:38,100 --> 05:05:40,580
then I guess that's a practice you two believe in.

3426
05:05:42,400 --> 05:06:07,460
I believe that standing together as a board and making a strong statement as a board with our votes that we affirm reproductive rights, our human rights, and that we condemn criminalization of women and doctors, and that yes, we urge the Georgia State legislature to repeal their devastating six week abortion ban is a strong statement if we all stand together.

3427
05:06:07,460 --> 05:06:14,440
And you yourself have said many times that you vote policy and not, you know, petty nonsense or whatever else.

3428
05:06:14,780 --> 05:06:20,640
This is the, if you object to some of the wording in here, then please by all means bring it up.

3429
05:06:21,340 --> 05:06:28,600
But to object on the basis that it's political is, if you're going to apply that you've got to apply to everything we do.

3430
05:06:28,740 --> 05:06:34,240
We are politicians. We sit here. Everything we do is politics. We do it whether we're running or we're not running.

3431
05:06:36,140 --> 05:06:42,060
So every statement you make on the day us and I make on the day us and the chairman makes on the day is political at some level.

3432
05:06:42,840 --> 05:06:45,880
So this one should not rise above or below any of that.

3433
05:06:46,000 --> 05:06:53,020
It is a statement that women need us to make for them because our rights are being stripped away day by day by day.

3434
05:06:53,920 --> 05:07:00,040
In this moment, in this era under this current federal administration, it is important that we stand up for women.

3435
05:07:00,040 --> 05:07:05,380
And in particular, as we approach international human rights day.

3436
05:07:05,700 --> 05:07:07,600
Can Mr. Thorn, you want to be heard again?

3437
05:07:08,660 --> 05:07:10,640
Yes, thank you.

3438
05:07:11,320 --> 05:07:13,660
So, if you want to talk about wording, you said,

3439
05:07:14,100 --> 05:07:16,880
whereas at least two metro Atlanta women, Amber Thurman,

3440
05:07:17,100 --> 05:07:21,160
and Candy Miller of Arty died is a result of the Georgia Six Week abortion ban.

3441
05:07:22,200 --> 05:07:25,500
While there's a being forced to carry non-viable pregnancies to term.

3442
05:07:27,260 --> 05:07:36,120
Amber Thurman and Candy Miller both took the abortion pill, and they died from complications of the abortion pill.

3443
05:07:37,160 --> 05:07:43,500
It is documented as factual. The state reviewed the death as preventable.

3444
05:07:44,160 --> 05:07:52,420
Therefore, the law did not block treatment. Poor clinical decisions and delay is what caused their death.

3445
05:07:52,420 --> 05:07:59,720
I feel sorry for them, but Kisha Akins, who is from New Mexico, New Mexico has the most

3446
05:07:59,720 --> 05:08:06,680
permissive abortion laws in the United States, and she died similarly from taking the

3447
05:08:06,680 --> 05:08:07,760
abortion pill.

3448
05:08:08,100 --> 05:08:14,300
It's a side effect that septus can occur if you don't fully abort the baby.

3449
05:08:14,880 --> 05:08:18,840
The pill causes you to expel the child.

3450
05:08:21,060 --> 05:08:26,780
I am talking about her statement here that the six-week ban killed.

3451
05:08:30,140 --> 05:08:34,960
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. The subject of what we're talking about is whether or not we want to pass this legislation.

3452
05:08:35,480 --> 05:08:37,420
Not the effectiveness of the abortion pill.

3453
05:08:37,620 --> 05:08:42,780
I am talking about her wording because she said, I will order correct wording.

3454
05:08:45,380 --> 05:08:48,520
It's 433. We've got five more pieces of legislation.

3455
05:08:48,520 --> 05:08:53,460
to, and we have a meeting tonight with our legislative delegation.

3456
05:08:55,240 --> 05:08:56,220
We have a capital audience.

3457
05:08:56,380 --> 05:08:57,140
Thank you.

3458
05:08:57,640 --> 05:08:58,260
And thank you.

3459
05:08:58,420 --> 05:09:04,660
I prefer not to be interrupted when I'm trying to argue for wording on this thing.

3460
05:09:05,180 --> 05:09:05,780
Please, please.

3461
05:09:05,880 --> 05:09:08,900
I will say this is divisive and unnecessary.

3462
05:09:09,540 --> 05:09:11,640
I ran on bringing this county together.

3463
05:09:11,780 --> 05:09:14,400
I have Republican friends that are pro-choice.

3464
05:09:15,860 --> 05:09:22,060
This is just a divisive piece of legislation and I would like to talk because I do not want to be

3465
05:09:22,060 --> 05:09:24,520
in a representation down there,

3466
05:09:27,500 --> 05:09:33,720
429 babies out of 1,000 black babies were afforded in the study in

3467
05:09:34,820 --> 05:09:37,160
2022, 40% of black children.

3468
05:09:37,340 --> 05:09:39,180
You got it, but you should just be there to do it.

3469
05:09:39,200 --> 05:09:45,700
So it's no wonder this is just keeping the gaggle, you can't just keep cranking the

3470
05:09:45,700 --> 05:09:52,560
rule on the point of order. She said point of order 10 times. You have to rule on the point of order.

3471
05:09:52,920 --> 05:09:58,340
You cannot keep playing in the gabel. You heard me.

3472
05:10:00,590 --> 05:10:05,750
Just a minute. Just a minute. Just a minute. Calm down everybody.

3473
05:10:07,790 --> 05:10:10,110
Commissioner Thorne stick to the legislation.

3474
05:10:10,230 --> 05:10:17,130
I am trying to stick to the wording of the legislation and saying that it is poorly awarded. It's not correct.

3475
05:10:18,110 --> 05:10:28,130
It's fear mongering that this law is killing people. The one lady who she referred to a non-biable pregnancy to term was put on life support.

3476
05:10:28,130 --> 05:10:32,110
And our attorney general car came out and said no,

3477
05:10:32,530 --> 05:10:33,710
once she's on life support,

3478
05:10:34,050 --> 05:10:36,070
the doctors have the right to do whatever they can.

3479
05:10:36,150 --> 05:10:38,930
They don't have to keep the mother on life support

3480
05:10:38,930 --> 05:10:43,930
to save the baby or the clump of cells, whatever you call it.

3481
05:10:44,530 --> 05:10:45,750
So with that being said,

3482
05:10:45,750 --> 05:10:48,830
I mean, this is just not a truthful statement,

3483
05:10:49,110 --> 05:10:50,910
and it should be brought up at the time

3484
05:10:50,910 --> 05:10:53,290
when we discuss our legislative agenda.

3485
05:10:53,510 --> 05:10:56,830
If you wanted on then, that is when we should put it on.

3486
05:10:56,830 --> 05:11:00,330
Not now, not as a divisive urging resolution,

3487
05:11:01,110 --> 05:11:03,650
we put it on as part of our legislative agenda

3488
05:11:03,650 --> 05:11:05,090
during the legislative season.

3489
05:11:05,150 --> 05:11:09,710
This is improper, and I know the block of three,

3490
05:11:09,870 --> 05:11:11,730
they got their block, their block of three,

3491
05:11:12,650 --> 05:11:13,390
they'll vote yes.

3492
05:11:13,570 --> 05:11:14,590
Thank you. All right.

3493
05:11:14,750 --> 05:11:18,170
Motion on the floor is to approve.

3494
05:11:19,110 --> 05:11:19,490
Let's vote.

3495
05:11:26,140 --> 05:11:26,940
And the vote is open.

3496
05:11:36,190 --> 05:11:38,550
And the motion fails, three A's, three NA's.

3497
05:11:38,550 --> 05:11:46,290
Next item. 25 0 9 3 6 because approval resolution to establish a full-ten counting women's

3498
05:11:46,290 --> 05:11:52,210
commission to advise the board of commission on policies, strategies and community partnerships

3499
05:11:52,210 --> 05:12:00,290
that advanced gender equity and address the systemic barriers impacting women and for other purposes.

3500
05:12:00,630 --> 05:12:03,090
All right, motion to a motion to approve.

3501
05:12:03,090 --> 05:12:06,250
by Commissioner Barrett, seconded by Commissioner Ivory,

3502
05:12:06,510 --> 05:12:07,990
Commissioner Barrett, you have the floor.

3503
05:12:08,190 --> 05:12:09,410
Followed by Commissioner Ivory.

3504
05:12:09,950 --> 05:12:10,630
Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

3505
05:12:13,190 --> 05:12:15,710
First of all, just for the record, this does not have any

3506
05:12:15,710 --> 05:12:17,510
costs associated with it either.

3507
05:12:19,170 --> 05:12:22,410
Women's commissions are not a new idea.

3508
05:12:23,090 --> 05:12:26,310
They began forming in the early 1960s after the President's

3509
05:12:26,310 --> 05:12:28,030
Commission on the Status of Women,

3510
05:12:28,250 --> 05:12:30,410
chaired by Eleanor Roosevelt issued the landmark

3511
05:12:30,410 --> 05:12:32,190
American Women Report.

3512
05:12:32,190 --> 05:12:38,150
The report identified systemic discrimination faced by women in employment, education, public

3513
05:12:38,150 --> 05:12:43,010
life, and access to services, and it recommended permanent commissions be established

3514
05:12:43,010 --> 05:12:44,270
at all levels of government.

3515
05:12:45,430 --> 05:12:50,950
Since then, approximately 160 women's commissions have been established most at the county

3516
05:12:50,950 --> 05:12:51,790
and city levels.

3517
05:12:52,750 --> 05:12:59,090
Georgia established its state-wide commission on women in 1992, Atlanta founded its women's

3518
05:12:59,090 --> 05:13:04,590
commission in 2000, and to cab county started the process of forming theirs this year.

3519
05:13:05,670 --> 05:13:10,530
Chairman, you always say, the Fulton County is a big deal and that we lead in so many areas

3520
05:13:10,530 --> 05:13:14,970
and so we should continue to demonstrate that leadership through a creation of a women's

3521
05:13:14,970 --> 05:13:19,670
commission here in Fulton County. Women have come a long way since Eleanor Roosevelt's

3522
05:13:19,670 --> 05:13:24,650
Day, but we still have a long way to go. Today women's rights are still not guaranteed

3523
05:13:24,650 --> 05:13:30,710
by the U.S. Constitution or the Georgia Constitution. While women make up over 50% of the population,

3524
05:13:30,950 --> 05:13:34,930
we are still vastly underrepresented in government and at the highest levels in business.

3525
05:13:37,290 --> 05:13:43,310
In Georgia, women still earn only 88 cents for every dollar a man makes even though they're

3526
05:13:43,310 --> 05:13:49,430
more highly educated and that number is way worse for black women who only earn 62 cents for every dollar

3527
05:13:49,430 --> 05:13:56,350
man makes. Women also face disproportionate health risks and inequities. As commissioner

3528
05:13:56,350 --> 05:14:00,110
I have already pointed out and as we all voted on last week a Georgia's maternal mortality

3529
05:14:00,110 --> 05:14:05,310
rate is among the highest in the nation and three times worse for black women. So what I'm

3530
05:14:05,310 --> 05:14:09,550
asking for today is that we establish a women's commission for Fulton County that will advise

3531
05:14:09,550 --> 05:14:16,110
us on policies, strategies and community partnerships that best address gender inequity and

3532
05:14:16,110 --> 05:14:21,290
systemic barriers that impact women. I would very much appreciate your favorable vote.

3533
05:14:21,690 --> 05:14:22,690
All right, Commissioner Ivory.

3534
05:14:24,150 --> 05:14:28,470
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I support the idea of establishing a full-en County Women's

3535
05:14:28,470 --> 05:14:33,810
Commission to address systemic barriers in advanced gender equity. I think it's an important

3536
05:14:33,810 --> 05:14:38,690
initiative. I'm looking forward to seeing how this will play itself out. I can't understand

3537
05:14:38,690 --> 05:14:45,310
why anybody would not want to be in support of creating a Women's Commission. There is no

3538
05:14:45,310 --> 05:14:51,570
money that is attached to this, it would seem odd that any woman on this commission would

3539
05:14:51,570 --> 05:14:57,410
vote against this, because this is one area where we should all be able to agree because

3540
05:14:57,410 --> 05:14:59,550
as far as I know, we are all women.

3541
05:15:00,000 --> 05:15:23,620
And this doesn't have anything to do with anything politically, but that maybe we could actually get together, talk to each other, and do something great as the women of this commission, because there's one, two, three, four of us, and I, you know, just by that chuckle and that immaturity, I already know what the vote is going to be, but watch everybody.

3542
05:15:23,620 --> 05:15:29,060
You're watching this. You see this. How could there be anything wrong with a woman's

3543
05:15:29,060 --> 05:15:33,780
commission that four women on this commission could work on together? So thank you

3544
05:15:33,780 --> 05:15:37,180
commissioner Barrett for bringing this up. I think it's a great idea and I look forward to

3545
05:15:37,180 --> 05:15:38,760
being able to work with you on it.

3546
05:15:38,760 --> 05:15:40,940
I'm Patricia Thorne.

3547
05:15:41,940 --> 05:15:47,000
I'll just say there is a cost. There is a cost of setting up a task force that has

3548
05:15:47,000 --> 05:15:50,360
that uses county staff that uses county time.

3549
05:15:50,760 --> 05:15:54,580
We're assigning that the county manager here

3550
05:15:54,580 --> 05:15:57,880
just to assign a department that will be under it

3551
05:15:57,880 --> 05:16:00,400
and run it, so we're giving added responsibilities

3552
05:16:00,400 --> 05:16:04,200
and jobs to our already busy county staff

3553
05:16:04,940 --> 05:16:08,280
as we're asking to real back things as well.

3554
05:16:09,140 --> 05:16:11,920
I really kind of feel like a women's commission

3555
05:16:11,920 --> 05:16:15,420
would be great under our county health department

3556
05:16:15,420 --> 05:16:21,960
If it was to be formed under there, ask them if they'd be willing to set up a women's commission.

3557
05:16:23,160 --> 05:16:30,840
That here at the county level, I just don't think we need to put tell our county departments to trim their budgets.

3558
05:16:31,080 --> 05:16:36,140
But here we're going to give you one more added responsibility to do, manage a women's commission.

3559
05:16:36,700 --> 05:16:44,780
And I'm sure this women's commission will, I don't know if the one million they input on that if that's tied together as well.

3560
05:16:44,780 --> 05:16:47,260
there's a reason that that's on the agenda,

3561
05:16:47,740 --> 05:16:50,880
afterwards, but perhaps Commissioner Barrett, you can let me know.

3562
05:16:51,700 --> 05:16:52,240
Commissioner Barrett.

3563
05:16:52,620 --> 05:16:53,300
Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

3564
05:16:53,920 --> 05:16:55,120
Yes, Commissioner Thorne, first of all,

3565
05:16:55,280 --> 05:16:56,000
just to make a correction.

3566
05:16:56,180 --> 05:16:57,880
There's no department being set up.

3567
05:16:58,020 --> 05:17:00,320
There's all that's asking the county manager to do

3568
05:17:00,320 --> 05:17:04,200
is to assign whoever he wants to assign to help with their meetings

3569
05:17:04,200 --> 05:17:05,800
in the same way that we have a staff member

3570
05:17:05,800 --> 05:17:09,080
help with the task force, reparations task work meetings

3571
05:17:09,080 --> 05:17:11,280
or any of the other boards, commissions and authorities

3572
05:17:11,280 --> 05:17:12,280
that we appoint people to.

3573
05:17:12,580 --> 05:17:14,180
So it's not, we're talking about a couple of hours

3574
05:17:14,180 --> 05:17:17,640
of somebody's time, not full-time staff or not any of that.

3575
05:17:18,240 --> 05:17:22,360
This would be just like any of our other board's commissions, et cetera, and while I appreciate

3576
05:17:22,360 --> 05:17:28,340
your suggestion about the Board of Health, the goal of this is not health is one area.

3577
05:17:28,480 --> 05:17:32,680
The whole point of this is that the Women's Commission, who will all have members appointed

3578
05:17:32,680 --> 05:17:37,640
by each of us, will come together and decide what are the biggest issues that we should be working

3579
05:17:37,640 --> 05:17:37,840
on.

3580
05:17:37,840 --> 05:17:40,200
And they may have nothing to do with health at all.

3581
05:17:40,200 --> 05:17:45,980
I mean, they may want to work solely on, you know, workplace discrimination or pay inequity.

3582
05:17:47,060 --> 05:17:55,620
So really, it's not a health, it's a broad women's commission to address all inequities for women, not just health inequities of which there are many.

3583
05:17:56,680 --> 05:18:04,540
And to, what was the last question you asked about the, the next item on the agenda, which is the Healthy Women Healthy Families grant program,

3584
05:18:04,540 --> 05:18:11,340
If approved, then this body would serve as the approval body, but that's in the same way

3585
05:18:11,340 --> 05:18:15,680
that the Veterans Commission serves as the approval body if we approve the million-dollar

3586
05:18:15,680 --> 05:18:16,380
veterans funding.

3587
05:18:16,640 --> 05:18:23,520
So again, just following the model that we've already followed here for many other boards

3588
05:18:23,520 --> 05:18:23,980
and commissions.

3589
05:18:24,660 --> 05:18:29,200
And if for some reason, this didn't pass, but the Healthy Women Healthy Families Grant

3590
05:18:29,200 --> 05:18:33,700
did pass, then I would leave it to the County Manager to figure out who the approval team

3591
05:18:33,700 --> 05:18:38,280
should be for those grants, but if it is the women's commission, then we all essentially

3592
05:18:38,280 --> 05:18:41,980
have, you know, through our proxies, votes on that.

3593
05:18:43,240 --> 05:18:44,600
All right, commission, I have to rock bond.

3594
05:18:44,960 --> 05:18:45,700
Thank you, Chairman.

3595
05:18:46,760 --> 05:18:52,320
People can have a difference of opinion without calling people out of their name, and I would

3596
05:18:52,320 --> 05:18:58,100
just ask this board if they can just make sure that they don't call people out their name

3597
05:18:58,100 --> 05:18:59,240
just because they can.

3598
05:18:59,240 --> 05:19:05,060
we are all can agree to disagree and you don't have to think to the level or

3599
05:19:05,060 --> 05:19:08,320
call it somebody at their name because you disagree with them.

3600
05:19:09,260 --> 05:19:13,780
News Flash I was a woman when I woke up this morning I would be a woman when I go

3601
05:19:13,780 --> 05:19:21,680
to be at tonight. So my femininity and me being a woman is not tied to this. Thank you.

3602
05:19:22,860 --> 05:19:26,020
All right, the motion on the floor is to approve.

3603
05:19:26,580 --> 05:19:28,960
Let's vote please, just for the record.

3604
05:19:29,400 --> 05:19:31,320
You referenced that, instead of Atlanta,

3605
05:19:31,440 --> 05:19:33,240
it was my legislation by the way.

3606
05:19:33,380 --> 05:19:33,860
I didn't know.

3607
05:19:34,140 --> 05:19:35,460
Well, I'm just for the information.

3608
05:19:35,920 --> 05:19:36,020
Yeah.

3609
05:19:36,360 --> 05:19:38,760
I will also say this before we vote.

3610
05:19:40,340 --> 05:19:41,300
It's not necessary.

3611
05:19:41,400 --> 05:19:43,680
You can set up, I have a woman's commission,

3612
05:19:44,040 --> 05:19:46,240
out of my office, it was not approved by the board.

3613
05:19:46,340 --> 05:19:48,720
That's advising me on women's issues.

3614
05:19:48,840 --> 05:19:51,540
So it's really not necessary to come before the board.

3615
05:19:51,540 --> 05:19:54,340
that is up to the board. Let's vote.

3616
05:19:55,040 --> 05:19:55,800
And the vote is open.

3617
05:20:02,610 --> 05:20:05,350
And the motion fails, 3a's, 3 abstention.

3618
05:20:05,430 --> 05:20:06,450
Next item.

3619
05:20:07,970 --> 05:20:14,490
25, 097, request approval of a resolution to establish a healthy women, healthy families grant program in

3620
05:20:14,490 --> 05:20:20,390
Fulton County to provide $1 million in annual funding for the grant program to fund organizations,

3621
05:20:20,890 --> 05:20:26,710
focused on improving women's health outcomes and ensuring access to quality care, sponsored by

3622
05:20:26,710 --> 05:20:27,450
Commission of Air.

3623
05:20:27,450 --> 05:20:34,230
most into approval by Commissioner Barrett, seconded by Commissioner Arrington.

3624
05:20:34,710 --> 05:20:38,510
Commissioner Abdul-Rachman, follow up, Mr. Barrett, you have the floor.

3625
05:20:39,610 --> 05:20:40,890
Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

3626
05:20:46,550 --> 05:20:50,070
As we all know, we're still facing an overall health care emergency

3627
05:20:50,070 --> 05:20:56,230
in Fulton County following the closure of the two Walstar hospitals. As you all know, those

3628
05:20:56,230 --> 05:21:00,630
closures further exacerbated the health inequities we had all along in Fulton County,

3629
05:21:00,630 --> 05:21:06,490
which include poor health outcomes for women, especially black women, across a variety of health issues.

3630
05:21:07,110 --> 05:21:12,630
That was all pointed out in the project care study that we had and has been talked about many times.

3631
05:21:13,290 --> 05:21:19,730
So what I'm proposing today with this resolution is a $1 million healthy women, healthy families grant program,

3632
05:21:20,010 --> 05:21:26,310
to fund nonprofit organizations that are focused on everything from women's cancers, like breast cancer and ovarian cancer,

3633
05:21:26,310 --> 05:21:32,130
to heart disease, which is the leading cost of death for women in Georgia, to domestic violence,

3634
05:21:32,530 --> 05:21:39,450
to reproductive and maternal health. Women, as you know, tend to be primary caregivers.

3635
05:21:40,190 --> 05:21:45,550
So, healthier women translate into healthier children, more stable households, and better

3636
05:21:45,550 --> 05:21:46,470
educational outcomes.

3637
05:21:48,510 --> 05:21:52,730
While $1 million won't magically address all of these issues, it will

3638
05:21:52,730 --> 05:21:57,510
make a difference to non-profit organizations who may have already lost federal funding, and

3639
05:21:57,510 --> 05:22:00,330
it will make a difference to the women those organizations serve.

3640
05:22:01,450 --> 05:22:06,570
And while it sounds like a lot of money, with over 1.1 million residents, a $1 million

3641
05:22:06,570 --> 05:22:11,930
fund equates to 88 cents per resident, I think women and families are worth that.

3642
05:22:12,430 --> 05:22:17,750
And here's the thing, according to the World Economic Forum, for every dollar invested in women's

3643
05:22:17,750 --> 05:22:21,670
health, $3 are generated in economic benefits and growth.

3644
05:22:21,670 --> 05:22:25,450
So from where I sit, spending $1 million on women's health,

3645
05:22:25,450 --> 05:22:28,770
$1 million on women's health is a far better investment

3646
05:22:28,770 --> 05:22:31,510
than giving a tax break to a data center.

3647
05:22:33,640 --> 05:22:35,940
The women of Fulton County have the right to be healthy

3648
05:22:35,940 --> 05:22:37,780
and they are a great investment.

3649
05:22:38,660 --> 05:22:40,740
So please remember that when you cast your vote.

3650
05:22:41,460 --> 05:22:42,620
To be sure I'll be right, fine.

3651
05:22:43,080 --> 05:22:43,800
Thank you, Chairman.

3652
05:22:44,220 --> 05:22:46,260
And Chairman, you may stop me.

3653
05:22:46,540 --> 05:22:48,040
I hope that you won't.

3654
05:22:48,300 --> 05:22:51,180
Because I need to have a transparent moment

3655
05:22:51,180 --> 05:22:54,620
with the listening audience.

3656
05:22:56,620 --> 05:23:03,820
This body appropriated and approved $250,000 a while ago

3657
05:23:03,820 --> 05:23:10,080
to the Safe Center in South Fulton.

3658
05:23:10,400 --> 05:23:15,600
The Safe Center is the area that you can go in

3659
05:23:15,600 --> 05:23:21,000
And anyone can use it at Bannocker High School.

3660
05:23:21,660 --> 05:23:23,320
They can go in and get food,

3661
05:23:23,920 --> 05:23:26,940
they can go in and get the odorant,

3662
05:23:26,980 --> 05:23:30,780
detergent, lotion, toothpaste, mouth wash,

3663
05:23:31,360 --> 05:23:33,020
they can go in and get clothes.

3664
05:23:34,560 --> 05:23:36,260
Now, the make of this,

3665
05:23:36,300 --> 05:23:41,560
vote it to define that $250,000.

3666
05:23:42,420 --> 05:23:48,900
which I took issue with this is no secret she's aware aware of it. I was called to the

3667
05:23:48,900 --> 05:23:55,420
principals excuse me. I was called to the chairman's office. To have a discussion about it,

3668
05:23:55,460 --> 05:24:02,080
which I was crystal clear that how can I just admit it, commissioner. I'll be right. What's

3669
05:24:02,080 --> 05:24:08,720
important? This is not relevant to the motion on the floor. I'll continue with the, keep your

3670
05:24:08,720 --> 05:24:16,720
It is chairman because I am given a reason why I am not supporting this because Commissioner

3671
05:24:16,720 --> 05:24:28,860
Barrett knows we had a discussion that she would support reinstating that $250,000 back to

3672
05:24:28,860 --> 05:24:36,620
If she wanted my support for this, there was an understanding and there was an agreement.

3673
05:24:37,560 --> 05:24:49,000
I don't see anything on this agenda that speaks to putting that $250,000 back to students,

3674
05:24:49,380 --> 05:24:55,640
to grandparents, to foster children, or any of those that get served by that safe center.

3675
05:24:55,640 --> 05:24:59,520
And so what I'm saying publicly, four.

3676
05:25:00,000 --> 05:25:10,400
The listening audience chairman, I cannot support this until Commissioner Barrett does what she and I had a conversation

3677
05:25:10,400 --> 05:25:19,980
in your office about in reference to how do you under unfund students who are here, how do

3678
05:25:19,980 --> 05:25:28,000
you unfund young ladies who don't have hygiene products, how do you unfund grandparents at

3679
05:25:28,000 --> 05:25:30,980
Bannaker, and then you won't support for this.

3680
05:25:31,340 --> 05:25:33,500
I cannot support this in good conscious.

3681
05:25:33,820 --> 05:25:35,440
All right, Chris, the bearer, you have the floor.

3682
05:25:36,560 --> 05:25:38,180
Well, I must have a time machine

3683
05:25:38,180 --> 05:25:40,060
because I don't see how I could have possibly

3684
05:25:40,060 --> 05:25:42,780
had a conversation with you to make some kind of a trade

3685
05:25:42,780 --> 05:25:44,880
about legislation that I was going to write two years

3686
05:25:44,880 --> 05:25:46,900
in the future from one that conversation occurred,

3687
05:25:46,900 --> 05:25:49,460
which is, by the way, being completely mischaracterized.

3688
05:25:49,960 --> 05:25:51,360
So this is new legislation.

3689
05:25:52,260 --> 05:25:55,720
The idea for it came about this year, in the last several months,

3690
05:25:55,720 --> 05:26:01,120
It has nothing to do with anything that's happened before and you yourself have said many times that you don't

3691
05:26:01,980 --> 05:26:10,920
You don't vote about with people or pettiness and you're about the policy only so either you believe in the policy of creating a million-dollar grant fund for women's health or you don't

3692
05:26:10,920 --> 05:26:15,840
But to blame it on some conversation that we allegedly had two years ago and some

3693
05:26:17,280 --> 05:26:23,120
Me going back on my word, which is not my characterization of what happened at all is

3694
05:26:23,120 --> 05:26:29,160
ridiculous, are we going to, is that going to be the case for every single piece of legislation I bring up with the rest of my term?

3695
05:26:29,420 --> 05:26:37,860
That because somehow we had a miscommunication about something two years ago that everything I put up from now on, you will never agree to whether it's great policy or not.

3696
05:26:39,880 --> 05:26:41,420
All right, it is.

3697
05:26:41,720 --> 05:26:48,540
For 51, we have a meeting with our legislative delegation at 6 o'clock and it's going to take about 20 minutes to get there.

3698
05:26:48,540 --> 05:26:50,120
Vice Chair, I'll let you have the floor.

3699
05:26:51,000 --> 05:26:51,600
Thanks, Mr. Chair.

3700
05:26:51,740 --> 05:26:57,300
I just would go and record to say that I'm not in support of women's health and health

3701
05:26:57,300 --> 05:27:03,780
families for darn sure and but I don't think from a public policy standpoint, this is

3702
05:27:03,780 --> 05:27:09,500
the best way to make use of taxpayer money to have an impact on those issues.

3703
05:27:10,380 --> 05:27:16,140
I think we've demonstrated and we've done a lot as a county when it comes to providing

3704
05:27:16,140 --> 05:27:22,020
for those gaps that we've seen in healthcare, and I think that's the kind of process that

3705
05:27:22,020 --> 05:27:29,100
we could continue to follow in terms of identifying what those are, as well as determining

3706
05:27:29,100 --> 05:27:34,980
how we will fund those in a way that are going to have their maximum impact. And I think

3707
05:27:34,980 --> 05:27:41,480
that comes through things like we are work with grade E to work to establish a hospital in South

3708
05:27:41,480 --> 05:27:47,160
starting with the opening of this emergency department followed by the desire to have a hospital

3709
05:27:47,160 --> 05:27:52,600
bill there. That comes from working with two entities that we provide funding funding

3710
05:27:52,600 --> 05:27:59,120
to, the Board of Health, Grady, as well as some of the stuff that we do on the behavioral

3711
05:27:59,120 --> 05:28:06,520
health side. And having those various entities in those, you know, collaborate with each other,

3712
05:28:06,520 --> 05:28:12,980
Identify situations where we could establish programs, fund them, and have a meaningful impact that we can measure.

3713
05:28:13,600 --> 05:28:16,180
And I think that's the way we go about getting health outcomes.

3714
05:28:16,600 --> 05:28:22,020
And I just respectfully just not think that a million dollar grant program,

3715
05:28:22,040 --> 05:28:30,580
if from a public policy standpoint, is the thing that's going to move the needle when it comes to terms of changing health outcomes in our county.

3716
05:28:31,040 --> 05:28:31,760
Thank you.

3717
05:28:32,140 --> 05:28:35,100
All right, motion on the floor is to approve. Let's vote.

3718
05:28:37,470 --> 05:28:39,010
And the vote is open,

3719
05:28:46,830 --> 05:28:49,950
and the motion fails 3A's, 3A's, 1 abstention.

3720
05:28:50,070 --> 05:28:50,690
Next item.

3721
05:28:52,570 --> 05:28:54,410
25, 0, 9, 3, 8.

3722
05:28:54,450 --> 05:28:57,310
We request approval of Resolution of the Fulton County Board of Commissioners,

3723
05:28:57,430 --> 05:29:03,530
Establishment and Program to provide funding to non-profit and other community services organizations

3724
05:29:03,530 --> 05:29:10,450
to carry out programs and services for individuals who come into contact with the Fulton County Justice System.

3725
05:29:10,450 --> 05:29:15,170
Directing the county manager to establish necessary policies and procedures for the program.

3726
05:29:15,830 --> 05:29:20,110
Directing the county manager and director finance to designate no less than $3 million

3727
05:29:20,110 --> 05:29:25,730
for the program for fiscal year 2026. Sponsored by Commissioner Ivory.

3728
05:29:26,350 --> 05:29:29,630
All right, motion to approve. Commissioner Ivory, seconded by Commissioner

3729
05:29:29,630 --> 05:29:31,410
Barrett, Commissioner Ivory, you have the floor.

3730
05:29:31,490 --> 05:29:36,610
Thanks, Mr. Chairman, and I want my colleagues to know that I'm bringing this forward in the effort

3731
05:29:36,610 --> 05:29:41,090
to help with our justice partners with our jail population.

3732
05:29:41,610 --> 05:29:47,110
So it is not just money, I'm thinking that wouldn't be used to further what we already

3733
05:29:47,110 --> 05:29:47,730
need to do.

3734
05:29:47,750 --> 05:29:51,610
So this program is modeled on the grant structure we use for arts and culture.

3735
05:29:51,710 --> 05:29:56,690
It provides dedicated funding to non-profit and community organizations that serve residents

3736
05:29:56,690 --> 05:29:59,070
interacting with the floating county justice system.

3737
05:29:59,410 --> 05:29:59,850
These organizations.

3738
05:30:00,000 --> 05:30:04,920
Relations, help residents navigate the system, access services, and resolve their issues efficiently.

3739
05:30:05,480 --> 05:30:10,940
Groups like Atlanta Legal Aid, Atlanta Volunteer Lawyers Foundation and the ACLU of Georgia are just

3740
05:30:10,940 --> 05:30:15,680
examples of the many organizations doing critical work that relieves pressure on our overburdened

3741
05:30:15,680 --> 05:30:19,780
courts. This funding allows them to continue providing these services, ensuring residents

3742
05:30:19,780 --> 05:30:24,700
get timely support and access to justice. The way the program will work is that the justice partners,

3743
05:30:24,940 --> 05:30:28,960
the departments and agencies within the Fulton County Justice System will jointly receive

3744
05:30:28,960 --> 05:30:31,600
and evaluate proposals from eligible organizations.

3745
05:30:32,160 --> 05:30:35,500
They will make recommendations to the board and the board will make the final approval

3746
05:30:35,500 --> 05:30:36,700
for funding awards.

3747
05:30:37,000 --> 05:30:41,000
This ensures that organizations selected are truly meeting the needs of residents while

3748
05:30:41,000 --> 05:30:44,120
aligning with the priorities of our phone and county justice system.

3749
05:30:44,660 --> 05:30:49,460
This is a fiscal responsible and strategic investment supporting these organizations now reduces

3750
05:30:49,460 --> 05:30:54,320
court backlogs, expands access to services, and saves the county money in the long run.

3751
05:30:54,700 --> 05:30:58,020
Without the support, we would either have to cover these services ourselves on a higher

3752
05:30:58,020 --> 05:31:01,960
or leave gaps in support for residents and navigating the justice system.

3753
05:31:02,540 --> 05:31:07,900
$3 million is a relatively modest investment considering the scope and impact of the work these organizations provide.

3754
05:31:08,340 --> 05:31:14,060
With federal grants shrinking for these providers, this program ensures we step into maintain continuity of services,

3755
05:31:14,300 --> 05:31:17,840
protect residents access to justice and strengthen trust in our county system.

3756
05:31:18,420 --> 05:31:18,840
Thank you.

3757
05:31:19,000 --> 05:31:19,500
Thank you.

3758
05:31:20,000 --> 05:31:20,860
Vice chair, Alice.

3759
05:31:24,240 --> 05:31:25,320
Thanks, Mr. Chair.

3760
05:31:25,900 --> 05:31:39,180
You know, like some of the same comments that just made that, you know, from a public policy standpoint, I don't think that this type of funding is going to have that material of impact versus

3761
05:31:39,180 --> 05:31:45,020
resources ordering ourselves and having our justice system function in certain ways.

3762
05:31:45,900 --> 05:31:53,080
And I also will say this that we just heard and we went through a budgetary discussion

3763
05:31:53,080 --> 05:32:00,440
and where we know that we have had to put certain constraints on ask for funding of our core

3764
05:32:00,440 --> 05:32:01,020
services.

3765
05:32:02,260 --> 05:32:09,160
So knowing that, and then adding an additional $3 million on top of that, which, which

3766
05:32:09,160 --> 05:32:12,440
If you had it, you would apply to strengthen core services.

3767
05:32:13,100 --> 05:32:13,780
It's contradictory.

3768
05:32:16,240 --> 05:32:19,820
You know, we all have things which we could bring forward,

3769
05:32:20,000 --> 05:32:23,320
which look great on paper and sound great,

3770
05:32:23,460 --> 05:32:25,420
and they're all well-intentioned.

3771
05:32:25,640 --> 05:32:29,320
But at the same time, we've got to run a government.

3772
05:32:29,420 --> 05:32:32,680
We've got to function and provide core services.

3773
05:32:33,720 --> 05:32:37,440
And to me, this does not get it those things.

3774
05:32:37,440 --> 05:32:58,220
And instead, this vote, bringing items like this forward and pushing them through instead of the votes for increased property taxes, not strengthly in our core services, more gentrification, they get harder to buy at home in our infant accounting, and ultimately knowing what we know is physically irresponsible to bring forward.

3775
05:32:59,860 --> 05:33:04,080
So I will not be supporting this and we'll offer a substitute motion to deny.

3776
05:33:04,380 --> 05:33:04,720
Second.

3777
05:33:04,720 --> 05:33:11,580
All right, substitute motion to deny, substitute motion by Vice Chair, seconded by Commissioner

3778
05:33:11,580 --> 05:33:17,040
Abdue Rockman, Commissioner Barrett, you have the floor on the most substitute motion

3779
05:33:17,040 --> 05:33:17,580
to deny.

3780
05:33:18,420 --> 05:33:19,400
Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

3781
05:33:20,180 --> 05:33:27,680
Commissioner Ivory, I certainly understand the reasoning behind trying to put this together.

3782
05:33:28,840 --> 05:33:32,820
I would have preferred more time to have some discussion around it.

3783
05:33:33,820 --> 05:33:47,780
You know, I think my only, I think there is money that we have in the budget that's without even increasing further to do some of these smaller things that are a million two million three million.

3784
05:33:48,140 --> 05:33:53,880
Well, I again realize that's a lot of money. It's like 0.00 something of our actual budget.

3785
05:33:53,880 --> 05:34:10,560
But I say all that because I think, you know, we have 35 million in enhancement requests from the justice partners that have not been addressed and I think like the 140 million or something from the sheriff.

3786
05:34:11,120 --> 05:34:23,720
And so I guess my preference is if we could carve 3 million out for justice, I would rather see it go to things like the

3787
05:34:23,720 --> 05:34:28,300
I'd love to see the Board of Equalsation get their pay raises, the seniors who work so hard,

3788
05:34:28,780 --> 05:34:33,980
doing that work, and we haven't agreed yet to increase their pay to $150 a day.

3789
05:34:34,900 --> 05:34:40,880
The $2 million is in the enhanced for our request for the Diaz Domestic Violence Family Justice Center,

3790
05:34:40,980 --> 05:34:43,220
which I think is a very worthy investment.

3791
05:34:44,800 --> 05:34:45,640
And there are a couple of others.

3792
05:34:46,020 --> 05:34:50,820
So I think, you know, while again, while I very much appreciate the intent, I feel like we should be looking

3793
05:34:50,820 --> 05:34:58,100
at all of the requests that the Justice Department just as partners have already brought forward, but, again, I appreciate it.

3794
05:34:58,380 --> 05:34:58,800
Hi, David.

3795
05:35:00,000 --> 05:35:06,100
The motion in such a motion is to deny, let's hope, and this one just as a previous one, I think

3796
05:35:06,100 --> 05:35:10,700
should be more appropriately taken up during the 26th budget. They both have merit from

3797
05:35:10,700 --> 05:35:11,320
my perspective.

3798
05:35:12,760 --> 05:35:13,720
And the vote is open,

3799
05:35:21,440 --> 05:35:26,480
and the motion passes, 48, 2, nays, 1 abstention. Next item.

3800
05:35:28,040 --> 05:35:35,800
On page 12, 25, 0, 9, 3, 9, and crest approval resolution by the Fulton County Board of Commissioners

3801
05:35:35,800 --> 05:35:41,060
reporting, it's ability to govern local affairs and urging the Georgia General Assembly to

3802
05:35:41,060 --> 05:35:47,120
preserve the board of commissioners, involvement, and matters affecting Fulton County residents.

3803
05:35:47,600 --> 05:35:49,600
Sponsor by Commissioner Iberley.

3804
05:35:49,880 --> 05:35:53,800
All right, most into approval by Commissioner Iberley, seconded by Commissioner Barrett,

3805
05:35:53,860 --> 05:35:55,140
Commissioner Iberley, you have the floor.

3806
05:35:55,260 --> 05:35:56,240
Thank you, Mr Chairman.

3807
05:35:56,320 --> 05:36:01,000
This resolution is just about preserving the authority of Fulton County to govern our local

3808
05:36:01,000 --> 05:36:04,540
affairs, keeping decisions as close to our communities as possible.

3809
05:36:04,540 --> 05:36:13,640
Local governance gives us the flexibility and insight to respond directly to the needs of our residents, ensuring accountability, transparency and responsiveness.

3810
05:36:14,100 --> 05:36:22,280
As the Julia elected board of commissioners, the people accountable to our constituents, we are in the best position to make decisions that reflect our residents' values and concerns.

3811
05:36:22,780 --> 05:36:31,760
If the state restricts or overrides our discretion over local matters, it risks imposing policies that may not reflect the needs or expectations of phone and counties diverse communities.

3812
05:36:31,760 --> 05:36:34,540
We are asking my colleagues in the State Legislative

3813
05:36:34,540 --> 05:36:36,460
to preserve the board's role in local governance

3814
05:36:36,460 --> 05:36:38,080
and to oppose efforts that would eliminate

3815
05:36:38,080 --> 05:36:40,520
or significantly reduce our authority.

3816
05:36:40,960 --> 05:36:44,100
This is up about protecting local control over key issues,

3817
05:36:44,280 --> 05:36:46,560
such as county services, development decisions,

3818
05:36:46,900 --> 05:36:48,920
public health and safety policies, elections,

3819
05:36:49,500 --> 05:36:51,080
spending decisions, and more.

3820
05:36:51,440 --> 05:36:52,900
In short, this resolution of firms

3821
05:36:52,900 --> 05:36:54,860
that faults in county through its elected board

3822
05:36:54,860 --> 05:36:56,860
should remain the decision-making for matters

3823
05:36:56,860 --> 05:36:59,220
that most likely affect the lives of our residents

3824
05:36:59,220 --> 05:37:01,400
and urge the State Legislative to respect

3825
05:37:01,400 --> 05:37:03,520
that responsibility. Thank you.

3826
05:37:04,120 --> 05:37:05,360
All right, Commissioner Thorne.

3827
05:37:07,190 --> 05:37:10,930
So what's the, can I ask you, Commissioner Ivey, what's the

3828
05:37:10,930 --> 05:37:12,910
impetus for this legislation?

3829
05:37:14,510 --> 05:37:15,290
Local control.

3830
05:37:16,470 --> 05:37:17,710
But is there a reason?

3831
05:37:19,010 --> 05:37:23,690
That we keep low because of the state of our nation right now.

3832
05:37:23,790 --> 05:37:27,110
There's many decisions that I mentioned, for example,

3833
05:37:27,910 --> 05:37:30,350
in here I mentioned such as county services,

3834
05:37:30,350 --> 05:37:35,050
development decisions, public health and safety, elections, spending decisions, and more.

3835
05:37:35,390 --> 05:37:40,470
And we hear more residents and more constituencies, days asking to understand about our local

3836
05:37:40,470 --> 05:37:42,670
control and that's why I'm doing it.

3837
05:37:42,950 --> 05:37:47,590
Does it have to do with the elections with appointment of board members?

3838
05:37:48,090 --> 05:37:52,690
It has to do with county services, development decisions, public health and safety policies,

3839
05:37:53,310 --> 05:37:56,370
elections, spending decisions, and more as we're in in the resolution?

3840
05:37:56,370 --> 05:38:00,450
So, it's just elections spending decisions.

3841
05:38:01,230 --> 05:38:05,570
It has to do it such as county services, development decisions, public health and safety policies,

3842
05:38:05,850 --> 05:38:07,970
elections spending decisions, and more.

3843
05:38:08,470 --> 05:38:08,650
Exitions.

3844
05:38:09,190 --> 05:38:16,070
So, yes, I think the emphasis is just to overall the law that's going to come down that's

3845
05:38:16,070 --> 05:38:21,530
going to standardize our elections across the state, which we all use the same voting equipment,

3846
05:38:21,530 --> 05:38:29,570
the same voting methods, and it's up to the Secretary of State to make sure that our

3847
05:38:29,570 --> 05:38:35,530
elections are performed uniformly across the state. So the state has all authority

3848
05:38:35,530 --> 05:38:42,870
to pass laws that make our elections uniform across the state. So I think that that is

3849
05:38:42,870 --> 05:38:51,310
the true trigger for this resolution, and I just simply cannot vote for it because I feel

3850
05:38:51,310 --> 05:38:56,290
like there's nothing that's really come up that we don't have our local control over.

3851
05:38:59,090 --> 05:39:03,190
And I believe in giving the cities the local control.

3852
05:39:03,330 --> 05:39:07,750
They're the ones who are the most closest to the people, except when it comes to elections.

3853
05:39:07,830 --> 05:39:10,530
I believe that elections should be uniform across the state.

3854
05:39:10,970 --> 05:39:12,270
And our city should be run.

3855
05:39:12,270 --> 05:39:16,490
Our county should be run the same as Gwynette County and counties of equal size.

3856
05:39:16,490 --> 05:39:25,870
And that the laws should be uniform and partisan officials, like us, should not be in there to dictate and vote how our elections are done.

3857
05:39:28,630 --> 05:39:28,750
All right.

3858
05:39:28,810 --> 05:39:30,890
Motion on the floor is to approve.

3859
05:39:31,190 --> 05:39:31,730
Let's vote please.

3860
05:39:32,830 --> 05:39:33,710
And the vote is open.

3861
05:39:43,560 --> 05:39:44,440
And the motion fails.

3862
05:39:44,580 --> 05:39:45,180
Three A's.

3863
05:39:45,300 --> 05:39:45,680
Two days.

3864
05:39:45,760 --> 05:39:46,380
One abstention.

3865
05:39:46,540 --> 05:39:46,880
All right.

3866
05:39:47,280 --> 05:39:47,760
504.

3867
05:39:47,840 --> 05:39:48,380
Next item.

3868
05:39:48,800 --> 05:39:49,100
25.

3869
05:39:49,400 --> 05:39:49,580
0.

3870
05:39:49,740 --> 05:39:49,840
0.

3871
05:39:49,840 --> 05:39:53,720
was zero across the approval of resolution by the Fulton County Board of Commissioners,

3872
05:39:53,840 --> 05:39:59,540
approving the purchase of automated external defibrillators for the use by the Fulton County Police Department.

3873
05:40:01,420 --> 05:40:12,260
Okay, this would allow for the purchase of approximately 40 AEDs to be used. Each one of our police

3874
05:40:12,260 --> 05:40:17,500
vehicles would have one and they would be in the office and would be trained to help save lives.

3875
05:40:18,160 --> 05:40:24,680
And the source of funds here is up to $250,000, not from the general fund, but from the opioid

3876
05:40:24,680 --> 05:40:32,860
settlement fund, which is a specific use of that money. So I would like to ask for your approval.

3877
05:40:33,080 --> 05:40:38,060
There's a motion to approve, I can wish Dr. Rock Lines, seconded by Commissioner Thorne.

3878
05:40:38,360 --> 05:40:38,820
Commissioner Alice?

3879
05:40:40,060 --> 05:40:45,400
Thank you, Mr. Chair. I'm in support of it. If I did, I just, just so we're all on

3880
05:40:45,400 --> 05:40:50,580
solid ground on this, I know that these settlement money has specific purposes for which

3881
05:40:50,580 --> 05:40:54,440
it can be used. I'm sure you've run this through, but I just want somebody to go and

3882
05:40:54,440 --> 05:41:01,040
staff from record that they looked at this and this is a proper use for funds coming out

3883
05:41:01,040 --> 05:41:01,280
of that.

3884
05:41:02,260 --> 05:41:04,460
Thank you for the question, Vice Chair.

3885
05:41:05,320 --> 05:41:12,280
So under the opioid settlement eligible uses, AEDs are permissible as a harm reduction mechanism.

3886
05:41:12,660 --> 05:41:12,700
All right.

3887
05:41:12,880 --> 05:41:13,820
Thank you.

3888
05:41:13,900 --> 05:41:14,160
All right.

3889
05:41:14,160 --> 05:41:14,960
Let's vote, please.

3890
05:41:16,820 --> 05:41:17,720
And the vote is open.

3891
05:41:21,340 --> 05:41:22,680
And the motion pass is unanimously.

3892
05:41:23,760 --> 05:41:24,000
All right.

3893
05:41:24,320 --> 05:41:25,820
Any other matters to come before us today?

3894
05:41:26,040 --> 05:41:26,760
No further item.

3895
05:41:26,760 --> 05:41:36,200
All right, before we adjourn and remind her, we're meeting with our legislative delegation at six o'clock, where is it open hand and hope to see everybody there for a few minutes, anyway.

3896
05:41:39,090 --> 05:41:41,470
Without further objection, any objection, we adjourn.

3897
05:41:41,770 --> 05:41:42,570
Thank you.

3898
05:41:45,200 --> 05:41:57,360
Or a written transcript of this meeting, or if you need reasonable accommodations including this communication in an alternative format due to disability, please contact the clerk to the Commission's office.

3899
05:41:57,360 --> 05:42:02,500
at 404-612-8232.

3900
05:42:29,960 --> 05:42:31,480
Or the social butterflies.

3901
05:42:32,460 --> 05:42:36,400
So represent how we help people revolutionize and change.

3902
05:42:36,800 --> 05:42:38,240
And it's been fun. This has been 2025.

3903
05:42:38,640 --> 05:42:39,340
And we have a good time.

3904
05:42:40,000 --> 05:42:40,840
It's good.

3905
05:42:41,260 --> 05:42:41,300
It's good.

3906
05:42:41,300 --> 05:42:41,660
It's good. It's good.

3907
05:42:42,060 --> 05:42:42,280
It's good.

3908
05:42:42,280 --> 05:42:42,340
It's good.

3909
05:42:43,140 --> 05:42:43,520
Yeah.

3910
05:42:47,440 --> 05:42:48,700
And we have some good exercise.

3911
05:42:49,100 --> 05:42:49,700
And indeed.

3912
05:42:49,740 --> 05:42:50,640
It's good.