[0:14] Good morning, everyone did it a 9:04 and I would like to call this meeting of the commissioners court order.
[0:23] commissioner, baucom. So I will let commissioner rose
[0:31] introduced piers. >> it is my honor to introduce
[0:36] reverend eleanor l. Colvin, the senior pass there of westbury united methodist church. She made history as being
[0:43] appointed as senior pass there of westbury and she is a fourth-generation methodist and she is a houston native, a
[0:52] graduate of texas a&m and a masters in fine arts at the
[0:56] university of houston and a masters at the seminary in dc
[1:03] she lives out her faith in action and inspires actions those others to do the same. It is so moving that your churc
[1:13] is celebrating the 70th anniversary or last year celebrated its 70th anniversary and is our privileg
[1:19] to partner with you. The proclamation and during pride month and throughout the year, westberry umc continues t
[1:29] model what it means to show compassion and peace and love. So thank you for joining us today at commissioners court an
[1:38] for your service to the residents of harris county so
[1:49] thanks for being history maker and it is more loving and
[1:55] compassionate and just. Thank you for the invitation to
[2:05] be here today. Let us pray.
[2:10] god of love, we give you thanks for the gift of a new day give
[2:15] you thanks for the joy of being your children and for the
[2:19] privilege to partner with you s that your kingdom might come on
[2:23] earth as it is in heaven and fo the privilege of serving you so
[2:29] that others might come to know love of god and love of neighbor
[2:34] . We seek you this day.
[2:40] kronos with the wisdom for the work of the day.
[2:46] give us the insight to know whe to speak and to know when to be silent and help us to listen well, advocate well, give us
[2:58] your wisdom from on high god of justice, have your way in this
[3:05] court, this day boot your words teaches us to seek the welfare
[3:11] of the city for it in its welfare we will find our own prosperity. Help us to seek what is best fo
[3:18] the county. Help us to seek what is best fo
[3:24] all residents of the county and those with great means and thos
[3:30] pressed into the margins and al residents in between, lord god.
[3:35] god of justice, remind us that we are inextricably tied
[3:39] together in a web of mutuality and what impacts one, impacts
[3:46] another so help us to bear one another's burden this day.
[3:52] we have an agenda for the day but we are open to your agenda.
[4:01] may it be so respectful of the many names by which people pray
[4:06] to you all over the world and I pray in the name of jesus the
[4:12] christ, amen. >> thank you. >> thank you so much and welcome .
[4:19] we will not recite the pledge. I pledge allegiance to the flg
[4:32] of the united states of america and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under god, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. Honor the texas flag.
[4:38] I pledge allegiance o thee, texas, one state under god, one and indivisible. >> before we get started I want
[4:53] to take a moment to recognize the start of the fifa  world cup
[5:02] . That is very exciting.
[5:06] I have one at the fan fest so I is a big deal and we are all wearing our fifa  pins. Hits a one on lifetime
[5:20] experience. Billions of people around the
[5:26] world would dream to be in the position we are to be hosting world cup. Commissioner ellis will be
[5:36] joining virtually. We will have a lunch recess
[5:41] between 1-130 since we have thi tight overlapping timeline and
[5:48] I've requested a break between 3 -4 because people lose court
[5:53] during that time. It is a privilege to honor the
[6:02] dean of the rice school of business and has taken it to
[6:06] incredible heights in terms of enrollment and prestige and he'
[6:11] he so good these been recruited to be its next president and
[6:16] sole if you would join us here at the microphone, I will reach
[6:24] your resolution and that I know you have a proclamation as well.
[6:29] so thank you for accommodating this personal privilege and you
[6:33] can imagine he is very busy managing his current roll in th
[6:39] future point so. Were as he's been named the 15
[6:46] th president university, a distinguished institution of higher learning. He's a respected economist and
[6:53] scholar and academic leader, jones graduate school of
[6:57] business and has led significan growth in business throughout his career he expands access to quality education and leadershi
[7:08] in the program and fostering students to lead in the global
[7:12] economy. During his leadership, price
[7:18] business expanded enrollment an increased faculty strengthen th development of new student success and opportunity.
[7:26] his appointment as president of wake forest university reflects
[7:30] his exceptional record, visionary leadership and
[7:34] dedication to institutional excellence and brings us great pride even though we lose you, brings us great pride to see yo
[7:42] as the president of wake forest and they are so lucky to have you. We are going to miss you here
[7:47] two that end, I do hereby designate june 11, 2026, being
[7:56] today, as dr. . Rodriguez today in harris county
[8:02] , texas. Congratulating him on his appointment as the 15th president of wake forest
[8:10] university and extend can see I congratulations.
[8:17] >> I can't thank you enough. We had wonderful years here in
[8:24] texas. I can tell you there's no bette place in the country to raise a family and I certainly have bee
[8:31] proud of that so it is with great pride that I received thi incredible honor and is the honorable life time.
[8:38] I will just say from my family, my great-grandparents moved to
[8:43] houston in 1915 and then left o navigation boulevards boulevard
[8:51] said to be back here, it's been a great privilege for me so I
[8:55] keep the county in the city nea and dear to my heart. Thank you very much for all tha you've given us.
[9:04] we got the appreciate at. >> congratulations bit it makes
[9:11] us so proud to act out that. Thank you for everything you have done for the future leadership of our nation.
[9:20] wake forest is blessed to have your vision and commitment and look forward to many more decades of seeing what you have
[9:27] across the country and speaking of students,  I know we have many in the audience today so I you could raise your hands.
[9:37] and to so many. All think it to our students an everyone else whose lives you have touched.
[9:44] >> thank you. Thank you. So if you -- I am so sorry.
[9:50] >> thank you for all thieves done and I really want to take
[9:59] special attention to your trajectory to now becoming a
[10:10] national leader and thank you for making rice the diversity
[10:17] that it is, but in its capacity. So you also are among giants
[10:30] most recently and acknowledged him so very, very proud of you.
[10:46] I will just tell you what my da just told me. Congratulations. >> thank you very much.
[10:53] thank you. >> dean come if you have a moment, I'm hoping we can take pictures with both of the
[11:02] honorees. Go ahead, commissioner. >> the resolution is about -- do you want to call him up?
[11:22] county attorney, would you please join us.
[11:26] >> I say we take pictures with dean rodriguez and we both
[11:31] recognize him later. He's probably hard at work. Dry need to take a little break for this?
[11:40] >> excuse me. Take pictures. So if you will just humor is us here for a minute.
[13:53] we will now take the speakers. Yes, commissioner ramsey.
[14:00] recognizing the complexities of keeping everybody into corm
[14:04] today,  I think there's been a couple of items we would like t look at first and I think it ha been mentioned 125 and 418 woul
[14:16] be executive session and 483 executive session items so I
[14:20] what ask that we take 125 and 418 and 483 and hear the
[14:28] speakers of those first and the take those items and obviously
[14:34] 125 well be the presentation by flood control and 418 and 43
[14:41] will be executive session and take those before we take the remaining speakers in today's -- commissioner ellis is on virtua
[14:48] and I want to make sure we don' lose him in the process.
[14:55] >> so we have a motion and a second to take only the speaker
[15:00] for 125, 418, and 483. Would have to take 419 also be
[15:07] diving there speakers on that. That should be brief is there a
[15:12] second, all in favor. Any opposed.
[15:16] all in favor and it carries unanimously. If you wouldn't mind please calling any speakers for item
[15:22] 125 and 418 or 419 and 483. >> speaking on item for hundred
[15:32] 83, you have one minute. >> depending on the articles
[15:46] I've been reading. At my name is mary. -- speck.
[15:53] and the articles are saying ite 12, only one is completed, you
[15:58] fire the person that was in charge when you took over and I took 18 months to hire a new person.
[16:04] did you not take that into account what all these things are due and not article two day ago you said you're going to
[16:12] reclassify it and put it under something dated 2028. These are 2027 february. Your succession ends every 21 o
[16:22] the person you hired is febrile and you gave her an $80,000
[16:29] raise last year for not doing her job.
[16:33] you are feeling failing the citizens. Seven years and one project done .
[16:41] thank you. 14 sessions you missed.
[16:48] 14 sessions you missed and he missed it. >> thank you comic your time is of.
[16:53] >> you need to be accountable. >> thank you, ma'am.
[16:58] any other speakers? >> that is all, judge. >> so it is 9:21. Will go to executive session on
[17:08] 125, 418 and 419 and 483. >> 125 should be done now.
[17:15] >> I thought I said 125. >> but not two executive session
[17:20] . It should be done now for presentation. So we will do 125, the public
[17:30] presentation. They are on their way.
[17:51] good morning, judge. We do have a presentation that
[17:57] has been submitted. >> dr. Peterson,  I don't have
[18:09] the presentation. >> give us just a moment. We will get that over to you. In the meantime we will go ahea
[18:17] and start and really well we ar getting the presentation, I wil
[18:22] just start with the bottom line up front, so we are making
[18:30] progress and are delivering projects in this work is keepin our communities safe and we are here today to talk about a
[18:41] solution that will deliver the resolution of the cdbgr funding.
[18:58] it requires a full court press and the team is here with me today to demonstrate the commitment to get this work don
[19:06] so so I will go ahead and help everyone decides to go along
[19:12] with that but I will just be to the issues that we want to cover . So one of the things that we
[19:18] have included in the transmitta that we submitted in court is a map and an outline of the different funding sources that
[19:25] are associated with these dollars and certainly the
[19:30] program is a very complex program and a lot of different rules and regulations and it is administered and administered
[19:38] locally. There's two different funding
[19:46] sources, dr and mitigation. It's very important to know
[19:51] these dollars have some of the most complex regulations.
[19:55] and we need to make sure that w meet all the income requirements
[20:02] . There are a total of 20 project in both programs we are going t focus today cdgr.
[20:20] progress is happening. We're making progress.
[20:27] projects are under construction and this light shows you some o the work there are a total of seven out of the 11 projects
[20:33] that are under construction. Three more are moving to
[20:38] construction by the end of this month that we have one project
[20:42] that is still awaiting environmental clearance we have
[20:49] had two additional projects. And the goal of what we're goin
[20:56] talking about today is to keep that momentum going and make
[21:01] sure that these projects are protected.
[21:08] let's go to the next slide and let's talk about the plan that
[21:13] we have been executing. In late 2025, the district, the
[21:21] gl low, we sat down and agreed to a strategy for how we needed
[21:26] to move forward. We knew the most critical stuff
[21:30] in the process was getting thes under construction so we set a goal. We set a goal to make sure that
[21:35] we got all of the projects out by the end of the first quarter
[21:39] of this year and we set a goal to get all of the projects that
[21:44] were environmentally cleared ou to construction by the end of june and that required celebration and moving faster
[21:50] than the schedules showed and the projects moved and we are o
[21:55] track to get this done the othe thing that this included was an
[22:01] acknowledgment that we would be gathering data as a result of
[22:06] the information that we gained from the bids to fully understand the extent of what the opportunities were in this
[22:13] program and what were the constraints. Difficult of the next slide, we can talk a little bad about that
[22:19] . So we knew from beginning this program had constraints in term of very strict timeline so we
[22:25] knew that there were environmental regulations that had to be followed in the exten of the changes in those
[22:33] regulations could not have been anticipated and yet we have continued to stay focused on delivering this one.
[22:40] we did realize as part of putting these projects out of I that there was an opportunity. We had an opportunity because
[22:48] the market was coming in lower than our engineers thought it would. That is a good thing.
[22:53] that means we can deliver more for the residents of harris county with the information tha we were able to gather for all
[23:00] of the work that we have been doing, we have been able to
[23:04] leverage joel's strong relationship we have with the
[23:08] glo to problem solve to come up with a solution that was not on
[23:14] the table previously but based on the information we have, we
[23:18] were able to find a way to afford and achieve multiple
[23:23] goals so if we could go to the next slide the approach that we
[23:29] have laid out is one that involves different steps.
[23:40] we know we have to preserve the projects and we know who want t
[23:44] make sure to deliver more for the residents of harris county as a result of our project coming in lower than expected
[23:50] and it is critical that we also address the point where we are
[24:02] at. In involves three different steps. Phrasing the projects to addres
[24:10] the challenges and moving certain projects into dr to leverage all the dollars we can for the benefit of the resident
[24:18] of harris county and actively manage the capacity to ensure w are using as much of those dollars as possible to deliver
[24:26] fair and so scott is going to walk us through very quickly th
[24:32] details of this plan. >> thank you county judge and
[24:41] commissioners. We are still honoring the
[24:48] promise to the constituents of harris county. This is where the strategy becomes simple.
[24:54] were not changing the promise t the communities. For changing the delivery of th program the program are going t
[25:04] lay out during this coordinated program, cost agency funding
[25:10] alignment to protect funding dollars and maximize community benefits. For a longer duration projects,
[25:20] the plan is to define the paperwork they could be
[25:27] substantially completed with in the cdbg-dr deadline with remaining to be delivered by th cdbg-mit program.
[25:36] the key point is that the projects remain single projects under the current contract and with the funding source, clearl
[25:47] defined portions for each of those projects. Next slide. The most tangible example is th
[26:01] transfer of some projects, seve projects currently managed and operated by hcb and those can b moved and still maintained and
[26:13] operated by funding them out of the dr program, we can maximize
[26:24] the dr spending and get up but 125 million in additional
[26:30] projects eligible for harris county through the hcd program.
[26:36] next, please. We also have strategies to
[26:42] manage the remaining funds and we have spoken with glo from th
[26:47] very beginning of the program using construction incentives,
[26:52] those types of incentives have federal doubt, however, we are allowed to use acceleration strategy.
[26:59] for example, paying for additional crews to speed up projects on additional projects of looking at other celebration
[27:06] methods. One of those that we have already implemented is the use of competitive sealed proposals
[27:14] in the bidding process where we can take in time of completion
[27:18] in the award criteria. From looking at the possibility
[27:23] of upgrading our flood warning system and this would benefit all the residents of harris county by making them more
[27:30] reliable and more up-to-date in the system. We have a possibility of additional draining projects an
[27:40] the possibility of moving additional projects from the harris county flood control program and the dr program and
[27:49] recently a possibility of additional planning studies tha can be included in this program. So how does this all book when
[27:58] it comes to funding sources? If we go to the next slide --
[28:04] >> I think we need to have a motion to extend discussion.
[28:10] >> motion by kurt commissioner garcia and second by
[28:16] commissioner williams ep are carried unanimously.
[28:21] >> $322 million. So what we are looking at is about 105 of the existing projects that would be funded
[28:28] out of the dr program paid abou 23 million are existing under
[28:35] construction and that would be partial fully funded out of the dr program. The full scope of all the dr
[28:42] projects would be completed, were just looking at two source of funding and we would be completing these contracts unde
[28:50] the same contractors that are currently working there would b
[28:55] no stopping work and rebidding the contracts. About $127 million in harris county flood control funding th
[29:04] highline community development, seven projects, which with that
[29:09] open up that space for additional projects on the hcd
[29:17] program. About 40 million in acceleratio
[29:22] strategies on construction and then $27 million that were looking at on transferring either additional mid-projects
[29:31] or additional planning studies on the flood upgrades.
[29:41] >> so we will go to the next slide, please.
[29:50] sought this proposal to conside is one that does really focus o
[29:55] things that have to change. This a lot that won't have to
[30:01] change. We discussed the funding strategy of this program and changing the commitment of the
[30:07] community to get these projects done will not change not changing benefit and the accountability we have within
[30:16] these projects. Importantly this program that w are approaching and proposing a solution for is going to delive
[30:23] higher benefits and we have the opportunity for additional
[30:29] funding to benefit our most vulnerable communities pairs so the path we are on, we will go to the next slide, please.
[30:35] of the action we need today in court is related to really four
[30:42] motions and one is we do need a provost of the list so we can
[30:46] work -- and we need to be authorized an
[30:53] negotiate agreements both with hcd as well as yellow to implement these programs were talking about ever asking for
[31:04] double and triple assurance, approval that implements this approach. This approach I have to stress
[31:11] was developed in collaboration with the office but repented
[31:16] deep communication with them an freely extensively over the las
[31:20] several years of this program, specifically on this plan.
[31:26] we have been inviting their commitment that this plan will address the cdgr guidelines. Their artwork into the
[31:38] operational steps to get this done so time is of the essence
[31:42] and we appreciate the court's consideration of these moments
[31:46] that I believe we will end with a reminder of --
[31:53] we will go to the next slide please. We have a copy of the dr list additions on the next list is
[31:58] the mit list additions I would like to close with a reiteratio
[32:07] of exactly what this plan provides for the court's consideration. The proposal will meet the dr
[32:15] deadline and preserve the scope of the work of the benefits and they will protect the federal investment creekmore
[32:22] opportunities to deliver more for the residence.
[32:29] and we are delivering the projects and this plan will continue to help keep our communities community safe from
[32:37] flooding. >> I imagine, commissioner ellis
[32:45] , -- >> thank you for thank you for
[32:50] your presentation and congratulations on working to get us this particular plan. On that point, we always had
[33:05] issues with how this bond program came to be picked they
[33:11] had mixed failures and inefficiencies and it was not
[33:15] put together and was stopped together in a meaningful way,
[33:21] yet you have figured out how to unravel that big ball of yarn.
[33:33] and we just had some torrential rains this week and you do how
[33:40] many of water we got? >> I do not.
[33:47] what really mattered was the intensity and the amount of rai and you have very intense periods of rainfall.
[33:52] your. >> that is correct.
[33:58] any structures reporting flooding that you are aware of? >> not that we are aware of his. >> I am the balustrade
[34:05] balustrade of five counties and I have gotten zero reports of any structural -- don't work the flight control I
[34:14] doing is absolutely working. The prime example was after working, it is most comparable event in terms of water was a
[34:28] 2015 memorial day flood we had more than 3,000 structures that
[34:42] flooded and I think it around 12 .
[34:47] so the work that has been done is absolutely working.
[34:53] also I want to thank you and your team for her collaboration
[35:00] with the team this plan is not just an idea that you have and
[35:12] it is a plan that has been coordinated with and they are I
[35:22] agreement that this is a path forward and appalls with that all of the guidelines, all of the rules and ultimately it
[35:31] helps get to the timelines and they have long been absolutely
[35:39] concerned about. The recent conversations in these projects, they've gone from communication to projects
[35:50] that get under construction and whether projects will be delivered but the presentation you just made shows that what w
[36:03] should be most concerned about is whether things get done.
[36:11] and there is no perfection when you're bracing to a finish line
[36:17] so I appreciate all the work that you done to help us get
[36:22] there as quickly as possible an a meaningful way in which the
[36:31] office supports but I want to thank dr. Bellingham because of
[36:36] her. G --
[36:40] we need shovels we don't need scapegoat speed we need to communicate in unison so there' no confusion in the public.
[36:52] these recent conversations have had many of those calls come to me with what's happening but th project and I've communicated
[37:00] with them and nothing is happening in an adverse way.
[37:06] moving forward the plug control district is working and people at the helm, I again want to thank you for all the work you
[37:15] are doing now on this particula plan, are you confident the pla
[37:21] will meet that deadline. >> commissioner, based on the
[37:27] work we have done this far, just . We will have to break sure that we get our phasing why do we
[37:35] absolutely believe this is the path forward. >> and so these challenges that you face a going to be real
[37:43] careful. They were outside largely
[37:49] outside of the control of the flood district. As I mentioned from the very beginning, all of these plans,
[38:03] spoke to someone who led the campaign on this line and I ask
[38:08] them the question early on when I got here. I wanted to make more sense of the funding and investments.
[38:25] >> motion carried unanimously. >> I wanted to move to open up
[38:31] the bond program at least in th precinct that is $150 million
[38:35] that is currently going to be used just for the right-of-way
[38:40] acquisition. Not a project. I think there is some 50 odd houses that remain in benefit.
[38:49] I wanted to move that over to places that will support more
[38:54] structures and keep more families out of harms way. I lost that vote because there was a thought that there was --
[39:06] there were compliments made on these specific points. According to the campaign manager on this bond program,
[39:13] that was not true so they had a opportunity to make better sens
[39:18] of this. We have since found that there
[39:23] is at least, at least for me, some projects that were not
[39:29] feasible as they were recently because there is no separation of work the vilardi been done and as a result, community led
[39:41] project demonstrated of retention capacity made the bon
[39:50] program or project in my precinct unfeasible.
[39:55] so all of these things and they were largely outside the purvie
[40:03] so and for the residence you ha been asking what does all this
[40:15] plan mean and ultimately just t confirm it's going to mean that
[40:21] it creates the opportunity for approximately 125 million in
[40:25] additional litigation work and there is no protection work fro
[40:30] real neighborhoods. >> --
[40:35] and what would your message be going into those that feel frustrated to that. There's also been conversations
[40:44] about not following the framework.
[40:54] has any of that been accurate t anything. >> commissioner but I would say is I think an answer to the
[41:03] conditions that you were just talking about, I would say we
[41:09] haven't focused on solving problems. They've been long-standing problems but are sis no certain
[41:18] projects -- we also reprioritize the bond
[41:24] program based on the framework. >> so we followed it.
[41:29] we followed the framework. My role here is to be bullish o
[41:39] getting the projects done and his folks have heard me say,  I
[41:46] don't care how you get there as long as we get there and we get there within the rules that wer provided.
[41:58] and so I applaud you for the work that you and your team hav done and unless week I want to just say to the public that all
[42:09] of this conversation has create an incredible amount of anxiety
[42:15] at the wrong time. We are in hurricane season and
[42:20] so folks are concerned and at the end of the day we should be
[42:25] getting out of your way so you can get the job done and I hope
[42:30] that we will understand the logic in that as we continue to move forward a lot of think the director of the land office for
[42:50] her support. Let's get the money spent so none of it has to go back and the plan that you have going
[42:57] forward gives us a pathway to accomplishing that.
[43:01] that is what she wants and that is the conversation we've had with her and that is what we want and ultimately that is wha
[43:09] the residence of my precinct I believe harris county wants to
[43:13] see. And they'll allow them to take
[43:25] that pathway forward. Thank you for your leadership.
[43:29] and I hope that we will be focused on results versus
[43:37] backroom deals are any politics but it is the residents that ar at risk and money, real money our make sure there were not
[43:53] doing anything -- >> commissioner ramsey and ellis
[43:59] . >> think you and your team for coming forward with this solution and thank you for your
[44:06] tireless efforts over these years.
[44:11] to mr. Williams and all your team, we appreciate you so very much and I am so grateful for commissioner dr. Buckingham
[44:23] pitch she has been fair collaborative partner and all
[44:28] her team prints I have deep gratitude. The reason this matters, for everyone listing, so in 1937
[44:37] harris county flood control district was created. Harris county, we all know we have a problem with flooding.
[44:44] harris county, we have 23 watersheds.
[44:49] harris county we have 2,500 miles of channels that we
[44:54] are responsible for taking care of in harris county would have billions of dollars in capital projects, new projects.
[45:01] and things to the harris county community, we have approximatel
[45:06] 100 million now invested to maintain the 2500 miles of
[45:14] channel. >> so today what you are asking the court to improve is a bold solution to make sure we meet
[45:24] that deadline and deliver the projects within the community and make sure we don't send the money back to the federal
[45:30] government so I call this the swap solution plan.
[45:35] for sake of ease I will refer t it as such periods of this plan
[45:40] is a solution and if we don't get any extensions, we will not
[45:47] get an extension, but this is a forkball, aggressive plan that
[45:53] we executed with urgency so tha we hit that deadline, which, by
[45:58] the way, the deadline for the deer projects is peppered 28,
[46:03] 2027. Is that what we are trying to
[46:07] achieve by swapping some projects in accordance with all
[46:13] rules and all regulations and w deliver to the people of harris
[46:17] county what we said we would. >> we are focused on the dr
[46:21] program and making sure we can spend those dollars within that program on that timeline. >> thank you.
[46:29] again, commissioner buckingham, those partners we have talked t
[46:34] before her letter and after her letter and I'm grateful for her leadership and I am 100% sure w need shovels and not scapegoats.
[46:43] this can be done as a team to protect texas.
[46:48] but just for sake of being crystal-clear, and I've gotten in my communications also, the clarity, but for everybody sake
[46:57] could you please going to more detail about the recent
[47:01] collaboration in terms of the swap solution plan that we are
[47:07] discussing today. >> there has been collaboration
[47:14] since the beginning and they've worked with someone closely coming on board to get these dollars.
[47:19] they were a tremendous partner in terms of having --
[47:26] to make sure we work together t drive this program. Over the last several months we have been in close communicatio
[47:35] laying out goals, accountability , in terms of what we deliver and targeting this time to be coming back to the
[47:42] table with a solution and a strategy for how we are going t
[47:49] complete this work and what we have been able to achieve is
[47:53] something that is greater than the sum of its parties.
[47:58] that's a very specific way of thinking of things. In we will put the entirety of the solution on the table based
[48:08] on the parts we were able to come up with something that neither of us probably would've come to the table but we were
[48:15] able to identify it going forward and it is really, reall
[48:20] fulfilling to me come in exampl love we can deliver this allow
[48:24] also just have to say -- >> can we motion to suspend the
[48:30] ten minute rule period. >> all in favor.
[48:37] aye. >> motion carries. >> I know you did not ask that specifically but I think that
[48:44] has been key to making sure we are thinking through the holistic solution, which I thin that is what we are able to
[48:50] achieve in partnership is not holistic solution.
[48:55] so but I am hearing and please correct me if I'm wrong, based
[48:59] on what you said today, I have read e-mails on the conversation
[49:04] . The glo has cocreated this swap
[49:10] solution and has every confidence if we continue meeting all the requirements, this will be --
[49:18] >> is that correct? >> yes. >> the other thing I wanted to talk about is what you just
[49:25] alluded to. Every courts patience is not a virtue, especially when we know that when hurricane season and
[49:32] we know that our families have waited for these projects, so m question as I know the court ha taken and approved several
[49:41] actions to help accelerate and speed up the work. For example the delegation of authority and for example,
[49:48] allowing alternative procuremen methods that have sealed bid
[49:54] proposals which you referenced and now the projects will be in construction and I know in term off delegation of authority to
[50:04] certain amount of change orders. So my question to you is would
[50:14] you please recap what we have already done to reduce
[50:21] bureaucracy and what other idea and how can this court support
[50:26] you because we want to support result want to interfere bid what else can we do to maximize success.
[50:35] >> I would say we have done a lot within the flood control district to advance this progra and we have stood up and focuse
[50:46] the team to deliver the program and deliver all of those with
[50:53] deliberate resources. We really embedded them altogether so that they can mak decisions quickly and if not ge
[51:00] caught up in decision paralysis. We have also made sure that we
[51:05] have a broad delegation of authority but the delegation of authority also fits within with the county attorney thinks is
[51:13] appropriate at terms of being able to move forward. That was the same thing as far as the purchasing.
[51:20] that was properly bounded periods of the sessions and the information that is coming to court are what should be coming
[51:28] to court and other things don't have to sew to your point about change orders, do you believe there is something to be workin
[51:36] on with the county attorney in terms of making sure that we ca
[51:42] properly train. The clarity that we have is we need to be clear about what the delegation is but I will also
[51:49] say there are other conversations we are having wit other county departments in terms of doing a similar thing
[51:55] about we have done with our tea and certainly purchasing in one
[52:02] area where we had a lot of activity early in our. Agreement stuff slowed during the execution because of change
[52:13] orders and lots of data and information that we are changin between the teams, and also at that close also also we are in
[52:22] conversation to bring to court plan to embed additional purchasing support and that is something I think will
[52:28] potentially make a big difference for us and we have t have a great partner in william and I think this will extend an
[52:38] improve our ability to work together. >> so I am hearing is we will both continue to meet every rul
[52:48] and regulation and be aggressiv and innovation.
[52:53] so that is why the engagement I so critical because we need a
[52:59] strong oasis that we meet that document because we know there
[53:04] are roles or requirements that we have to meet with those dollars as well and that is not negotiable I am smiling.
[53:13] miss abernethy has been shaping her head because I know how deeply you've been collaborating .
[53:19] up at the end of the day honestly, it goes back to needing a mom and I was super pregnant when harvey hit my
[53:27] whole neighborhood was flooded and I thought I was so grateful
[53:33] my home didn't flood but there were homes were flooded I was worried I was going to have to have my youngest daughter in a
[53:41] bathtub by the grace of god she stayed inside bn was born in a
[53:45] hospital but this weighs on me every day and not have the
[53:50] opportunity to represent wester harris county, which we have to
[53:54] a.m. You remember what happened afte harvey. And every day it waves on me.
[54:02] there is no room and you and your team are stepping on the
[54:18] gas. Think thank you as well.
[54:23] so in conclusion, we will get this project done for the peopl
[54:30] of harris county. That is the plan that we will
[54:38] accomplish. This is but were calling those
[54:44] swap solution. This is what we put told the
[54:51] people of harris county, is tha correct? >> that is what we are proposin at this point.
[54:56] under don't want to speak for m colleagues.
[55:00] we want to support in away that doesn't create more red tape.
[55:05] we want to be one of your partners in this action compare
[55:10] I appreciate you tremendously, dr. Peterson.
[55:15] god bless you. She keeps sneezing.
[55:19] we have to get this done. Commissioner buckingham and her
[55:28] team -- with that I have motions to rea
[55:34] and I will absolutely be supporting the solutions and I
[55:39] appreciate the solutions oriented commitment to protect the people of harris county. What we're about to enter into
[55:57] is the most difficult phase of the projects. In what would dennis sounds ver complicated.
[56:18] so I know a bit about getting the job done.
[56:25] preceding 3 is really the gateway to water coming into harris county for properties 75 plus the water comes in and is
[56:34] strikes first before it goes in other areas.
[56:43] I don't have questions but I do have remarks based on the plan will tell you that the framewor of this plan is put together
[56:51] four months ago. And to have it come this late I
[56:56] that discouragement to me is a concern to me so the framework
[57:01] was put together four months ag wanted took this long to get
[57:05] here and we can have those conversations and again the partnership of mr. Buckingham has been extraordinary as she
[57:17] issued a very timely manner, a letter to judge hidalgo
[57:28] expressing her concerns, I think .
[57:38] with munication medication from mr. Buckingham this week and
[57:43] here mr. Buckingham's concern related to harris county, flood
[57:50] control district and completing projects. And I quote, despite the extensive support, harris count
[57:59] missed deadlines and we prioritize projects repeatedly
[58:05] and that is a communication submitted incomplete and
[58:12] inaccurate documentation that failed to grant regulations.
[58:18] failed to respond to requests for correcting petrol processes but if you remember I came to court on april 16 asking for
[58:27] certain data related to these projects which was provided to
[58:32] kent on april 30. I didn't make up that data. That is what the glo was asking for that they could not get so
[58:40] it took a action to get down that the glo was asking for.
[58:50] commissioner buckingham and her office pointed out the
[58:55] experience significant employee turnover in terms of who is working with the glo, loss experience.
[59:03] in the last item that's referenced has failed to achiev timely design, environmental clearance, procurement, vendor
[59:13] contracting, and construction start. It is absolutely critical that we maintain our relationship
[59:23] with our significant funding partner, the glo. This is what they're saying about their concerns but in the
[59:30] context, were going into the most complicated things --
[59:35] the most complicated phase of the project. We better be on our toes and we better be able to not do six
[59:43] things that commissioner buckingham mentioned in her
[59:48] letter on monday. This plan come again, should
[59:54] have started this concept in this discussion and it should'v
[59:58] started months ago and I'm goin to go through a summary of
[1:00:08] engineering details. Here is the details, 87 million
[1:00:15] from the dr program to the mit program I know this sounds
[1:00:20] complicated and it is probably not as complicated as it sounds
[1:00:24] but these are details related t what we are going to have to do
[1:00:32] to add to the mit program of 52 million. A projects coming under budget, which has struck in the last fe
[1:00:39] months, that is what has been happening. Were going to have to figure ou how to spend that money and
[1:00:45] identify more projects. And let me give a shout out.
[1:00:52] raised your hand, thank you. Because of the seven projects
[1:00:59] you kept on schedule, forfeit those subprojects seven projects , we would not have a solution here because we are
[1:01:06] transferring those projects ove to even make this possible so
[1:01:10] thank you for keeping on schedule and making that part
[1:01:15] happened. Of the 325 million that they
[1:01:21] prepare to spend, that is less than a third.
[1:01:27] so we are working out all those details and is holding
[1:01:34] 67,000,040,000,000 are change orders. How do I do that math, the typical change order is roughly
[1:01:42] 25% that this is going to be roughly 27 million bits of
[1:01:46] recording have to work through that change order issue again.
[1:01:51] these are all issues we can wor on.
[1:01:56] we are going to need to come up with projects that we are going
[1:02:02] to again turn over and she's going to be packed tasks with doing the difficult thing of taking projects and being sure
[1:02:08] that they can meet hurt that plan, which is a year after
[1:02:13] these, so my point in reading through that, we have got to
[1:02:18] have leadership and we've got t have leadership that you can
[1:02:26] trust I'm glad it is here now. I'm going to agree with mr.
[1:02:47] briones and I noticed she's got a couple of motions spared
[1:02:52] know motion 1 I'm going to be obliged to. So I support the motion on the planet we've got to move overpa
[1:02:59] or I continue to have concern about the building with a plan that is on the table. >> thank you, commissioner.
[1:03:09] behalf commissioner ellis. >> then going support both
[1:03:16] motions. This what a particular thing that is almost a political cause , the county engineering
[1:03:26] particularly this will impact some of the projects pretty can
[1:03:31] be done but it is not the easiest thing to do.
[1:03:40] it is always a challenge. Is generally a line of strings
[1:03:49] and I think I made reference a couple of times when I was on city council that we would have come in and explain and it was
[1:04:00] always a big challenge. I appreciate the patience but I
[1:04:11] do want to make a couple of comments.
[1:04:17] I happen to be the only person come out will we put that on th
[1:04:26] agenda. It was a big deal. And any of the to zero to 54 counties in texas, harris count
[1:04:32] stepped up, the board. And they put $2.5 billion and I
[1:04:44] was a leap of faith. Evan I was still into texas,
[1:04:50] 2016 I had been sworn in. Your predecessor came in to tal
[1:05:03] about the cost-benefit analysis in saying that they thought tha
[1:05:08] because I been in the legislature, but it would be th
[1:05:13] one to get the message to washington. You should have talked to me some time ago to try to change
[1:05:22] that language. Everybody was agreeing on
[1:05:28] commissioners court what areas you represented and taking care
[1:05:35] of the wealthier neighborhoods first. It just makes sense so one of m staffers really crafted a littl
[1:05:42] bit of language but a staffer I particular, you ended up taking
[1:05:48] what you've got there. And then you crafted that
[1:05:53] language that we came up with s our framework was part of the
[1:05:58] process when the package was pu on in my judgment it was not
[1:06:05] followed until we really dug into it.
[1:06:12] we had asked the auditor go in and look at it. It is because of what we are being told was not happening.
[1:06:19] the first big change I remember making.
[1:06:32] and we get it. And we did it.
[1:06:37] I've argued against it but we kept moving forward.
[1:06:45] we had a presentations that at everybody says this is as good
[1:06:55] as the slice of bread. I do believe in this plan.
[1:07:00] I do think it could've been don along time ago.
[1:07:07] it is going to be a challenge t get it done.
[1:07:26] just added to the mix of that discussion was.
[1:07:36] and that has to go to voters countywide.
[1:07:51] they tried to come up with the process which is more inclusive and they have tried to track them.
[1:07:59] but that is behind us now. And they wanted to do direct
[1:08:09] allocations to every city and county because of you have to
[1:08:14] have a call back and you want t be put 50 states in the hundred or thousands around the country. And that is generally not the
[1:08:29] norm. I do think that we've got to move decisively and I do think decisively the issues would
[1:08:38] provide accurate data even to this body and I will close on this comment. This issue with flood control
[1:08:47] and I coined the phrase I have healthy distrust of the progres but normally those if that is something I want to say, I will
[1:09:03] say it in private. I don't think that is my nature but but I don't think that they have been transparent.
[1:09:10] I hope it does not happen again. If I don't have the three votes
[1:09:16] on the commissioners court, I have to live with that and I
[1:09:21] have stressed this to all department heads but if somebod
[1:09:26] does just say you've got some good points, rodney, but you don't have three votes and if you're in doubt about it, just
[1:09:34] put it on the agenda. Just make it clear.
[1:09:42] and I think going forward we would all be better served if w
[1:09:48] take that same approach. >> thank you.
[1:09:53] let me make my comments here before we circle back around.
[1:10:00] my verses for commissioner ramsey. You mentioned the change order. The project scopes bullet chain
[1:10:07] I want to understand what you'r referring to.
[1:10:11] >> part of the plan here, which I agree with plan.
[1:10:19] one a project comes in under bid , that lays some room for
[1:10:24] some change orders and this pla involves 40 million of change order so you need to define within scope of that project,
[1:10:34] other things you can do and deliver with the glo and others.
[1:10:42] but again can, you've got to have someone that is able to
[1:10:46] process that come, execute that make that happen.
[1:10:52] this is going to be a complicated plan to execute.
[1:10:57] so forgive me if I'm being dens but I'm trying to understand
[1:11:02] this so the funds, if the costs come under the estimates, that
[1:11:09] would go to making the project even better or over to go to
[1:11:16] some projects are portico to some of the projects that are
[1:11:21] paused. >> I think in general but I understand more trying to find as many areas as fast as
[1:11:29] possible within the guidelines within the own guidelines and
[1:11:36] requirements. It is investments, $40 million worth of investments on flood mitigation.
[1:11:42] that is the good news. We will pick exactly work goes.
[1:11:50] >> be affordably and dedicated to acceleration strategies as
[1:11:55] well as making sure that we hav enough money to complete this because as you know, construction is complicated and
[1:12:04] when we are accelerating and getting to construction quickly there are potential risks and s change orders help us make sure
[1:12:13] that we have the dollars to be able to manage any potential
[1:12:19] issues that come up in construction. Okay. Okay. It sounds like dynamic circle back because I would think that
[1:12:29] this means that things came under budget. I will circle back. Other questions.
[1:12:38] what I spoke to commissioner buckingham, moving the funds is possible in legal and it's stil a huge lift and so I want to
[1:12:48] understand from you and from purchasing folks, why is that a
[1:12:53] huge lift and can we speed that up and what can we do to make I
[1:12:59] less huge. >> that is a great question.
[1:13:03] the challenge with these dollar is there are a number of rules
[1:13:08] and regulations and processes, audits that will be required in
[1:13:13] terms of spending these dollars but it is a very complex progra
[1:13:18] and the glo has very tight controls over how they operate so we have to follow the processes they have laid out
[1:13:27] that are in alignment with hud, so we have steps that we have t
[1:13:31] taken they have steps they have to take it we have to be sure
[1:13:35] that all the documentation is I place that if and when an audit occurs we are solid. The complexity is something tha
[1:13:49] can be done. And I think the shift in our
[1:13:55] understanding in the pools that are made available was really being able to phase that projec or that was really a key so tha
[1:14:02] will take some effort to make sure we have discreetly defined
[1:14:07] the phase of work that will be completed because frankly we
[1:14:12] need to be accountable for what we deliver and so we have to be able to put on the table and this is what we delivered for
[1:14:19] these dollars and so that will take some engineering work and we have to make sure that our contracting mechanisms are able
[1:14:26] to accommodate the additional funding sources and we have one
[1:14:30] construction contract and that will reduce the paperwork tremendously for us we only hav to have one contract that finds
[1:14:39] two different funding sources for two different programs.
[1:14:45] >> I am not sure. And trying to get to more specific questions and that is when we switch the sources of
[1:14:54] funding, we switch these source of funding.
[1:15:01] what bureaucratic processes do we have to go through
[1:15:06] specifically. >> I could start and I will let
[1:15:10] you fill in. So basically there are dollars
[1:15:21] entered into our system and there is journal entries and
[1:15:25] different pieces, different processes that have to be done
[1:15:31] on the backside to facilitate those changes. That is my question. So you've got the dollars from
[1:15:37] the other part of the money, is that what you are saying?
[1:15:45] >> so every project has a project code in our accounting system along with the funded number that corresponds whether
[1:15:52] it is dr, a bond funding and essentially it creates a new
[1:16:00] project code with new funding code so it's a two-step process
[1:16:06] and one is moving it in existin expenses.
[1:16:10] the second part of it is moving all purchase orders or futures
[1:16:18] purchase orders into that new project. So on the who does the, creatin a project code and moving
[1:16:28] expenses and moving purchase order so who is responsible for those three steps. Though it's between the auditor
[1:16:36] and my office. So I guess this is a question
[1:16:41] for you guys. How quickly can you do this and
[1:16:49] if it is not fast, why, what is the obstacle.
[1:16:59] >> it is generally not timely and it is not a huge left.
[1:17:07] days and weeks. >> a week. >> okay. That is for step one.
[1:17:15] is that the funding codes. >> I would assume there are
[1:17:21] other layers of approval. >> so auditor post but thanks
[1:17:28] for joining us for so we are talking about as we look to mov
[1:17:35] the main sources for these projects to meet the deadlines coming trying to understand if this is going to cause a delay
[1:17:41] and so because of my -- it sounds like this is
[1:17:49] complicated. And so the steps that we just came up with, you create a new project code and then you move
[1:17:57] things to a new account number and then you move all purchase
[1:18:02] orders. Does your office have a roll in any of this and if so which one and how long does it take to
[1:18:08] ensure that. >> yes.
[1:18:12] we have a role in what you just laid out. So you are going to create, those can be created and once w
[1:18:25] have once we have that request signed and approved, it doesn't take that long once the documents get to us but would b
[1:18:34] responsible to take the requested action to create the
[1:18:41] new accounts and actually make that happen in our current
[1:18:46] system again if the forms the paperwork gets done with the
[1:18:59] approvals, there is approval by the departments budgets that ar affected, the actual mechanics of doing those transfers is
[1:19:08] quick and it is like a day. So to play a role, it does not
[1:19:14] take as long to do our part, bu it does require everything to b
[1:19:25] documented and requested in a proper way. That is hopeful. Salt flood control, is that
[1:19:35] purchasing, who does that. That would be primarily flood
[1:19:43] control. If there is some part of this that is in another department, howdy those housing the
[1:19:54] community development. We will work with the departmen
[1:20:05] and when they get us the proper requests with the proper
[1:20:10] approvals, the auditor can move very quickly to make those
[1:20:15] things happen. >> it sounds like legal but hav that as well. So just between the three of yo
[1:20:23] guys, how long do you think tha would have to halfstep proper
[1:20:29] workforce with the proper approval. I would tell you that we have started working on this and we
[1:20:37] had a call and you are not on the call but your staff are on the call with my finance team. >> I'm sorry to keep you.
[1:20:52] my colleagues have a certain amount of time.
[1:20:56] can you give me an answer, how long. A day, week, months. >> via working on it right now.
[1:21:08] and we are actively as of today putting a comprehensive list
[1:21:17] together to send over took them to maintain alignment. >> so there's not a number they are.
[1:21:22] I believe there is somebody here , perhaps they are not here to speak but is there any chance , would you be able to
[1:21:28] answer that question? So first of all, thank you so
[1:21:37] much for your support we are going over the main issue here
[1:21:42] that has been the ladies. And so right now there is this idea of switching the funding code so that we can meet that
[1:21:48] that line so we are on the same playing sure they are.
[1:22:02] and it is not as easy as switching a number on the computer putative is still a huge left.
[1:22:09] so it's a concern that we will find no delays in that huge lef
[1:22:14] so I'm asking the different parties what exactly other
[1:22:21] bureaucratic steps that we have to do that switch.
[1:22:25] so if I'm understanding correctly of the auditor's
[1:22:33] office can do that peacefully but the bulk of the work needs
[1:22:38] to be done within flood control county attorney and our housing
[1:22:44] office but so how long would this take. As she said it depends on the glo so that's what I want to
[1:22:50] know if you have an estimate of how long it takes to put
[1:22:54] together a proper request with the proper approvals to that send to the auditor in the budget office.
[1:23:00] does that make sense? >> I'm sorry.
[1:23:05] if you could at them speak directly into the microphone.
[1:23:09] >> I'm so society pages because we have to be on the record, would you mind joining us at th microphone.
[1:23:17] >> and just stating your name for the record, please.
[1:23:34] >> my name is georgina with the general land office.
[1:23:39] I'm not the grant administration .
[1:23:47] this is a very complex program. >> I will have my team check with you to see if they have an estimate at all by the end of
[1:23:56] today that I can sort of wrap m head around and the reason I'm
[1:24:04] trying to understand is to set expectations for the community
[1:24:09] because I think the way this is presented is it is good but I
[1:24:17] don't want to have any more surprises for the community.
[1:24:24] is there an extent that you guy can do to help us put in the brown it and then the next step from I'm doing.
[1:24:37] how can we speed up. Obviously we cannot speed this
[1:24:42] up that it's in their purview but how can we speed up the
[1:24:48] flood control, community, the county attorney piece because that seems to be worth the bulk the wait would be.
[1:24:58] >> I cannot speak for the count attorney but they are putting all their staff time and will b laser focused on their role jus
[1:25:08] to get to this point. Thank you.
[1:25:16] are there any other steps after that, director peterson.
[1:25:23] we have moved all the purchase orders. Really I think there are keys I terms of making sure we have
[1:25:31] proper contracting in place and that actually has to happen in
[1:25:36] some cases before we had fundin switches.
[1:25:40] in the good news is were alread working on it and coordinating with the g yellow and this change, the strategy and proces
[1:25:49] in the approach that has been laid out does not going to be
[1:25:54] dependent, the execution of the project is going to happen.
[1:25:59] that is happening now pay or projects are under construction I just want to be clear the projects are under construction
[1:26:07] and we are moving as fast as possible to get these administrative pieces in place so after the proper contracting
[1:26:14] is there anything else. >> and then when you talk about
[1:26:21] the projects are not dependent come is what you are saying, this huge left of switching the codes, you are saying that has
[1:26:29] no bearing on how long the project takes to deliver.
[1:26:37] I am thinking through your question to make sure going to answer it fully, judge. The intent here I can jump in
[1:26:50] there appear to think what she' saying is we are continuing
[1:26:56] based on the construction. Is that a one time, the expenses
[1:27:03] , we can always go back to the auditor so that the bill
[1:27:10] continue to get paid regardless. >> or just be more specific,
[1:27:17] there's 11 projects here, six that are really at risk of missing the deadline so if you pick one of them in that projec
[1:27:26] come if everything stayed the same, that the project was goin to be finished now that we are switching the codes, will it be
[1:27:34] done still in one year or a yea and six months.
[1:27:38] >> I can tell you the account codes does not have any bearing
[1:27:44] because of that point it is moving the expense to the
[1:27:51] appropriate place. >> so basically you would have to do it before the deadline, s before february.
[1:27:58] all the accounts are tied up by then. >> so I guess that is the question is can we make sure we
[1:28:06] can get that done. >> thank you for giving us a
[1:28:10] chance to ask those questions and that is all I've got.
[1:28:16] >> commissioners ellis, garcia, and briones.
[1:28:25] ellis just spoke so garcia and briones.
[1:28:31] >> thank you, director, for you response and the answers to the
[1:28:36] questions that are being provided. I'm going to begin with one question.
[1:28:47] this should have been done alon time ago by now.
[1:28:52] what is your response to that. >> we've been working on a plan
[1:28:58] and we have been working a lockstep with the intent to get
[1:29:04] these under construction. This information that we gained in terms of that we put not hav had until this moment.
[1:29:21] we have projects that are split between both programs.
[1:29:34] finding ways and that option an that was on the table.
[1:29:43] this comprehensive solution als is a comprehensive solution.
[1:29:47] thank you for that response. Just a bit of reflection.
[1:29:57] I was applying for money and grants and the consistent
[1:30:01] question I would get is are you sure you want to go after this.
[1:30:10] there are strings attached and requirements.
[1:30:16] a lot of times we didn't get to have fun with program because w had so much to do administratively.
[1:30:25] and right now aside from gettin to that construction, there is lot of digital threes and there's the administrative
[1:30:40] report. >> if I could clarify, I did just get some communication fro our funding partners and I do
[1:30:45] want to clarify on that point some of the things we do need t make sure. And I know I did articulate thi
[1:30:58] just to be super clear. Good deal, thank you.
[1:31:09] and, yes, it is a huge left and I appreciate you being willing
[1:31:16] to even make the effort. So it is the huge left so we do
[1:31:25] nothing and doing nothing is absolutely unacceptable soy do
[1:31:30] appreciate the effort to take o the task and that is what we
[1:31:36] expected to do so thank you. So there has been some points about missing data lines about the incomplete and inaccurate
[1:31:50] documentation then the failed response the glo requests and
[1:32:00] the environmental clearance, what is your response to those.
[1:32:07] >> but of things I would say, commissioner, is some of these
[1:32:13] issues like the missed deadlines , those have been solved for with this approach. We have to pray toward ties the
[1:32:21] project but with this approach that will not be necessary.
[1:32:26] the staffing certainly come we have a dedicated team for our
[1:32:33] program. And that she has been multiple
[1:32:43] levels of staff and certainly want to make sure that we have
[1:32:47] robust team and we also need to have the --
[1:32:55] this team turnover reflects turnover that is overall pretty
[1:32:59] the other thing and just the program.
[1:33:06] we have individual projects happening at a project level.
[1:33:12] conversations happening at the program level for projects we have regulatory conversations happy we have clients in
[1:33:19] purchasing an auditor's. So are not aware of any specifi
[1:33:27] issues that we can pinpoint we take pin --
[1:33:31] feedback like this seriously an we make sure there are no gaps
[1:33:36] but we have a dedicated compliance team who has focused
[1:33:42] on these issues. >> good deal.
[1:33:46] >> lastly I just want to reiterate this was a poorly
[1:34:06] constructed bond program from the very beginning.
[1:34:26] in those studies, no environmental impact or very
[1:34:32] little and probably we should say their little understanding.
[1:34:42] there is -- but because of the federal
[1:34:55] regulations, it took another year, year and a half.
[1:35:01] the federal strings attached to these points are very different
[1:35:05] from what we could do at the local level. And then right away we didn't know how much right-of-way
[1:35:14] position we were going to acquire enemy just say you don'
[1:35:22] always -- and that takes time, generally
[1:35:32] what I hear, the first thing we do at the beginning of projects.
[1:35:51] so you've got two major time-consuming steps to take
[1:35:55] before any other meaningful work .
[1:36:01] and then cost estimates. We didn't know real cost
[1:36:06] estimates for any of these projects.
[1:36:20] thankfully renegotiations have been able to have some impact o those. But again things we did not kno
[1:36:27] fully when we engaged so, we started with a two-year hiccup.
[1:37:03] and we got everything we needed to give that confidence and
[1:37:15] things that don't happen easily. I would just say that I would g
[1:37:29] back to the lines in dr. Buckingham's letter.
[1:37:35] we need shovels, we don't need scapegoats and this is not --
[1:37:44] this is about people and we are going to make a decision.
[1:37:50] but don't really -- we just care about protecting
[1:37:55] people. I agree wholeheartedly.
[1:38:05] we could be sitting here making excuses with ears on the clock.
[1:38:17] we could be talking about relitigating years of challenge
[1:38:24] and problems but the end of the day this is highly complicated
[1:38:29] and incredibly complex and this is hard. But what I appreciate about you dr. Peterson come as you are no
[1:38:39] sitting here making excuses and relitigating this past. You are here today saying we ar taking decisive action.
[1:38:46] we owe it to the people of harris county to get it done an
[1:38:50] I respect that tremendously and I think you for how
[1:38:55] collaborative they have been paid so think you.
[1:39:01] I have two motions that I would like to lead --
[1:39:05] read. Motion 1, I move the
[1:39:10] commissioners court approve the additions to the cdbg-dr and
[1:39:18] cdbg-mit project list, authoriz the harris county flood control
[1:39:23] district and housing and community development to negotiate any agreements necessary to advance projects.
[1:39:31] to authorize the two department to coordinate with the texas
[1:39:36] general land office on contract amendments, program updates, an
[1:39:41] related approvals. And direct the flood control
[1:39:47] district to implement the phasing facing and funding realignment strategy. >> do you want to vote on them
[1:39:56] separately quick. >> I thought we would just vote on both of them. >> thank you, colleagues.
[1:40:04] moved to direct a flood control district to work with county
[1:40:09] attorney's office and other relevant departments to compile
[1:40:13] a list of vetted recommendation on what commissioners court can do to help expedite projects under the cdbg-dr and cdbg-mit
[1:40:25] programs a return to commissioners court with recommendations for consideration and possible
[1:40:30] approval. >> so we have two motions and a
[1:40:35] second by commissioner garcia. Any oppose?
[1:40:40] motion carried unanimously. Thank you.
[1:40:45] an ipo say on the point about the glo, I've got to give credi
[1:40:51] where credit is due but commissioner ellis and I went
[1:40:56] and sat with secretary marcia fudge and got a $750 million investment for harris county so that is saying the funds did no
[1:41:08] arrive until later is the alternative fax and obviously w
[1:41:14] worked with commissioner busch to hold back the 300 million
[1:41:21] because of community projects were not moving fast enough so that came back later as flood control as promised so I think
[1:41:28] obviously people work a lot better but commissioner buckingham and we would've had to do that but it is one of my
[1:41:36] proudest achievements to bring 750 million here and really 350
[1:41:41] more that we had held back for flood control, which did end up
[1:41:47] arriving thanks to commissioner buckingham. Commissioner ellis -- commissioner ellis.
[1:41:58] >> they did a tremendous gift t all of us.
[1:42:02] >> 100%. It was a shared effort and unanimous bipartisan outreach. It helped us well on
[1:42:14] commissioners court. >> we will go to executive session. >> yes, commissioner garcia.
[1:42:20] >> I just want to make one fina point paper with all of the complexities of what it has taken to manage this particular
[1:42:28] program, all of the things that are outside of the flood contro
[1:42:38] purview, all of the unknowns that we know now and I didn't
[1:42:44] know then at the very beginning of this, the structure of how
[1:42:51] this bond was put together, the idea of how many changes this
[1:43:02] particular court has made, to not forgetting that aside from
[1:43:12] glo, you have received both additional state earmarks, whic
[1:43:18] brings all whole other level of complexity in addition to the
[1:43:23] complexity of the existing cdbg dollars.
[1:43:33] all of those do not have dr. Peterson's name on and they have nothing to do with the performance of your
[1:43:40] administration and the flood control district. They have everything to do with the bureaucracy of what is
[1:43:49] typical between federal and state and local governments and it is frustration by example of the frustration by people say
[1:43:56] why can't you just get it done. It is not that easy.
[1:44:01] so I just want to make sure to make the point, you have
[1:44:06] delivered and put together a plan, hard, heavy left, whatever
[1:44:15] . It makes no sense because we as for a plan you've been working on this plan for months and if
[1:44:23] things were copacetic, as they say months ago, this would've
[1:44:30] been approved and was set because there compromises and
[1:44:34] what was originally been as the that could not be done so I jus
[1:44:41] want to say this is not about performance. This is about governmental bureaucracy and absolutely
[1:44:51] better reform. Thank you. >> I actually do have one more thing, which is commissioner
[1:45:00] buckingham's. One of the main points here is
[1:45:07] that regardless, compelling to repeatedly address the court fo
[1:45:17] every minor change, and there I chance of success and that is I the first paragraph and in the second of the last paragraph, m
[1:45:24] vices simple, get it out of the way.
[1:45:29] I know this is based on conversations that the glo had
[1:45:35] with flood control and flood control must be end of the impression that we are requesting they come to meeting
[1:45:42] to address the court for every minor change. I am not aware of that so I would like to know what that is
[1:45:50] about so that we can indeed get out of the way.
[1:45:55] >> that is not any information that the flood can dress -- flood control district would've shared and our job is to bring
[1:46:06] information and when we need court action, we work with county attorney to make sure th court actions made and we bring
[1:46:12] it at the appropriate time. >> but are we delaying your ability to take action question. >> be followed the process.
[1:46:22] >> is the answer yes, no. See, this is the issue I have
[1:46:27] come a director, will you pleas just answer my questions that there are no delays. There are no delays.
[1:46:35] 16 gets to court, are you waiting for it to get the court.
[1:46:40] by can't you just say there are no delays because I'm not aware of them anything that needs com in a time sensitive manner has
[1:46:51] improved at business court and I'm not aware of the items on contracts, on changes that have been flagged for regular court,
[1:47:00] so I know there are very professional office or they wer not a put this in there if they'd not gotten it from
[1:47:07] somewhere. I'm not saying it is you but I just want to set the record straight that we are not asking
[1:47:12] every little thing, certainly I'm not everything that happens
[1:47:22] purchasing, whatever it is, tha gets addressed at a consistent
[1:47:28] path in a copacetic manner so I am not sure of examples from
[1:47:37] this letter. >> so if you are okay, can be
[1:47:42] adjourned to executive session. Didn't we vote already?
[1:47:47] thank you, director and dean. Didn't leave vote already? So can we go to executive session now.
[1:47:53] all right. So we are going to executive
[1:47:58] session on 125, 418, 419, and 483 to consult with attorneys a
[1:48:10] well as personnel matters. It is 10:52 a.m.
[1:48:16] >> you are not going on 125, ar you?
[1:48:22] it already passed >> it's 12:04, we are back from
[1:48:34] executive session. We will go over the items we
[1:48:39] took to executive session, we will go over them in order. The first one that is item 418 -- I did not receive the
[1:48:49] language for that. I'll go grab --
[1:49:13] we asked to codify what commissioner ellis had pres
[1:49:20] presented. >> it should be option b -- I
[1:49:25] don't know what level of specificity want to get the working group or steering committee.
[1:49:31] >> I said I would do that but then you said you were going to draft something, do we need to wait or do you guys want me to
[1:49:37] read it? >> I have it.
[1:49:42] >> I know you have it, I'm just asking about the motion, we all have it. Thank you.
[1:49:55] I have it, the question is you guys said you were going to give
[1:49:59] me a particular motion, what do you want me to say -- >> you can read the whole thing or you can just read the first
[1:50:07] part. >> the chair: motion to establish a reliant parking negotiations governance
[1:50:13] structure that includes the steering committee and the working group. The reliant park steering committee should be responsible for developing recommendations
[1:50:19] and elevating key issues related to reliant park for
[1:50:23] consideration. The steering committee should be
[1:50:28] composed of court members, chief of staff, of precinct one of the county administrator as a nonvoting member pick up a chair
[1:50:32] shall work with the steering committee and reliant park working group to develop key county goals and positions to be
[1:50:38] approved by commissioners court for all negotiation matters and
[1:50:45] serve as lead negotiators and set the negotiation strategy based on the direction provided by commissioners court.
[1:50:50] the lead negotiators reps at the county in negotiations between the tenants and serve as the main point of county staff
[1:50:56] contact for the executives of rodeo.
[1:51:05] escalation to commissioner court matters for requiring policy direction for my financial commitments are material changes
[1:51:11] negotiation strategy will be elevated to commissioners court to the scheduled briefings or formal agenda items.
[1:51:17] the reliant park working group will be established by the steering committee and it shall be composed of relevant county
[1:51:23] departments and consultants responsible for conducting research, providing relevant information, and evaluating a
[1:51:29] developing recommendations related to reliant park under
[1:51:35] the guidance of the steering committee at commissioners co court. >> I'll make the motion and
[1:51:41] stress that I think it's a good process and we should use that
[1:51:46] on projects in all commissioners precincts. As the commission happens to represent reliant park and proud
[1:51:51] to make a motion. >> second.
[1:51:57] >> the >> I was just going to ask is
[1:52:01] there anything -- >> I think this looks fine.
[1:52:05] >> thank you commissioner ellis. >> the chair: we have a motion
[1:52:10] and a second, all in favor? Any opposed? Motion carried unanimously. Item 419, we need a motion to
[1:52:20] approve that settlement as presented.
[1:52:26] motion by commissioner briones. Any opposed?
[1:52:31] motion carried unanimously. 483, commissioner ramsey.
[1:52:39] >> no action? >> I think that was the understanding. >> the chair: no action on
[1:52:49] that item? >> correct.
[1:52:56] >> the chair: all right, that is 483.
[1:53:03] let's move on -- okay. Let me move on to -- we should
[1:53:13] move out of the speakers, right? If that's okay? Let's keep going with the speakers, tiffany, please.
[1:53:27] >> items to 29 at 2:30 for, christopher rivera items to 20 died in 2:30 four, you each have one minute.
[1:53:57] >> thank you, my name is christopher rivera I work with the texas civil rights project and I'm here opposed to
[1:54:04] contracts for forensic logic contracts, items 229 into 34.
[1:54:14] we already had a contentious debate a couple weeks ago in regards to this, it's very disappointing to see the county
[1:54:25] continue to invest in these software, to give you information about vigilant solutions they have already been
[1:54:30] partnering with ice since 2018 to facilitate over 1.5 billion
[1:54:37] data points for them to facilitate their deportation efforts. There is over 9,200
[1:54:42] I.c.e. Agents who have access to vigilant solutions database. If you continue to partner with them you're effectively building
[1:54:47] out the database for them to facilitate these deportations. Instead of funding this, you should support item 481 to
[1:54:55] support lgbtq community and at 4:30 three -- >> thank you your time is up. >> the chair: thank you.
[1:55:05] >> oh one rock on item 140, maximilian diaz.
[1:55:17] jasmine gonzales, item 229 and jake implemented should item
[1:55:25] 328. >> good afternoon, I'm from
[1:55:40] precinct one. I'm an intersex organizer, I
[1:55:46] want y'all to vote yes to all of the first, fourth and 14th
[1:55:53] amendment rights of every resident of harris county and the world cup visitors and the way you do that is by saying no
[1:56:00] to 229, noted 2:30 four and yes to 433 to support all residents
[1:56:09] of harris county. >> my name is jasmine gonzales I
[1:56:19] work on the policy team, we are a legal and social services
[1:56:25] organization that serves survivors of gender-based violence. Al p.r. Cameras do not prevent
[1:56:31] violence but what we see in the do was enable and perpetuate
[1:56:35] violence against survivors, immigrants and against all of us. The price for safety cannot be
[1:56:40] contingent on the separation of families and the oppression of another group of innocent people.
[1:56:45] vigilant solutions allows for data collected for one purpose to be exploited for a completely unrelated unaccountable and
[1:56:53] immoral purpose. Does harris county give bikes access to the solutions database, if anyone from dhs
[1:56:58] asks a constable or sheriff access for a database or to run the license plate will harris county comply?
[1:57:04] we deserve to know how our data is being used? I'm a resident of precinct 4 to urge the court to vote no to
[1:57:11] renew the contract with vigilant solutions. Please don't contribute to mass surveillance dragnet the targets
[1:57:16] our families. Thank you.
[1:57:43] >> good afternoon, on tuesday I was set the convention port and
[1:57:53] there I ran into a publisher. I have this thing to give to --
[1:58:09] today is -- the month is june, also known as black history
[1:58:17] music month. It's party time.
[1:58:24] ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪
[1:58:45] [laughter] >> thank you, your time is up.
[1:58:50] >> let's celebrate. >> thank you, your time is up.
[1:59:02] ♪ ♪ >> we could keep it on if it
[1:59:09] brings down the temperature a little bit. [laughter] thank you, that was really nice.
[1:59:19] >> next is julia on item 383, item 4:30 three.
[1:59:28] you each have one minute. >> I live in precinct two and
[1:59:47] I'm here to speak on agenda item for 33.
[1:59:52] as a kid who had to quickly learn how to interpret and translate important documents for my parents I was 25 years
[1:59:58] ago support like what the language access coordinator
[2:00:02] positions provide two key departments and harris county had existed to. When language barriers exist
[2:00:08] residents miss out on important information, expense delays and services and are unable to fully access programs funded by their
[2:00:15] tax dollars. I ask for a "yes" vote on item
[2:00:19] 4:30 three but I also ask on agenda items 221 and 234.
[2:00:35] >> I am the houston policy manager with the justice center
[2:00:41] I'm here to speak in support of ongoing funding for the language access office and the vital work they do in the community.
[2:00:49] language access is critical for survivors safety and healing from being able to understand what is happening in court to
[2:00:55] getting information about public services to being informed of
[2:00:59] disaster operations and even including the ability to make your voice heard on the issues you care about.
[2:01:05] all of these things help a survivor heal and to build a life of dignity. We have made good progress in
[2:01:11] insuring interpretation is available that staff know how to access it and limited english proficient committee members
[2:01:16] know it exists. There is still work to do
[2:01:21] ensuring the language access office remains staffed and is able to continue working towards its goals means we can continue
[2:01:28] to close gaps. Language access isn't optional, its baseline to make sure our our county programs function
[2:01:33] efficiently and effectively. >> thank you, your time is up.
[2:01:43] >> julia or dona on item 383. Brandon mack on item 481, you
[2:01:52] each have one minute. >> good afternoon, commis
[2:02:07] commissioners. I'm the founder of we the people organize, I'm speaking about the river oaks district constable
[2:02:13] contract for 48. This is not anti-police.
[2:02:19] this is pro-taxpayer, pro-transparency and pro-public
[2:02:25] safety. Before harris county creates nine dedicated law enforcement positions for a private luxury
[2:02:31] district, please table this item today and give the public more time to review the contract to full costs and legal risks.
[2:02:41] county deputies are not mall cops. They carry public authority. If something goes wrong,
[2:02:47] harris county may be pulled into a lawsuit two county lawyers and
[2:02:53] public resources may be used to defend the case and a sworn officers may raise legal defenses that private security
[2:03:00] guards do not have. This is a much bigger than the posted contracted price. >> thank you, your time is up.
[2:03:18] >> I live in precinct one and I previously interned at the travis county public defender's office where I saw firsthand how
[2:03:26] critical language access is. I worked with clients for the
[2:03:30] moments of registration through investigation of the cases. I remember one client who spoke only spanish she was always
[2:03:36] grateful our team could communicate with him in his native language and help them understand what was happening at
[2:03:41] every stage of his case. Many times he told us how much it meant to be informed and heard showing how important
[2:03:48] language access is to making sure the system treats all people with dignity. Being able to understand and
[2:03:54] communicate in the language you feel most comfortable in is essential especially in situations that can affect your
[2:04:00] freedom, safety, and future. I hope the stories and experiences of this community stay with you as you consider
[2:04:07] continued investment in language access services. Thank you for your time. >> thank you.
[2:04:16] >> my name is brandon mack, I'm speaking as chair of the harris county alta b to ia commission.
[2:04:24] president of the political caucus to urge an update to the
[2:04:28] facilities design manual requiring at least one single occupancy restroom and all new constructed county facilities.
[2:04:34] this is a practical low cost steps that strengthens access,
[2:04:40] safety, dignity and public buildings. For many transgendered and nonbinary residents, restroom
[2:04:44] access can determine whether a public space is usable at all. Single occupancy restrooms also support broader community needs.
[2:04:53] parents with young children, caregivers assisting someone of a different gender, older adults and people with disabilities all
[2:05:00] benefit from flexible, private facilities.
[2:05:04] national accessible guidance increasingly recognizes single-user restrooms as a commonplace inclusion measure,
[2:05:09] not a specialized accommodation. On behalf of the commission I
[2:05:13] respectfully ask the harris county commissioners court to adopt the standard for all.
[2:05:17] >> thank you and welcome. >> thank you.
[2:05:23] >> item 481, maria gonzales. You each have one minute.
[2:05:39] >> I maria gonzales, I am here to speak on behalf of the single
[2:05:46] occupancy restrooms at the university of houston, it's had such a proposal for many years now that all new constructions
[2:05:55] and renovated buildings now have single occupancy restrooms.
[2:06:01] this is really valuable. Of the easiest, quickest example I can give you is our security personnel can now have some
[2:06:08] privacy when they need it and can take their equipment off
[2:06:14] their bodies when using the facilities.
[2:06:18] I encourage you all to consider the rolling effects, ripple
[2:06:24] effects of such a solid plan, and to update the design manual
[2:06:35] to acquire this in all new buildings and if possible
[2:06:39] rebuild buildings, thank you. >> thank you.
[2:06:52] >> I am intersex and nonbinary and I don't know which restroom the state wants me to use anymore.
[2:06:57] I'm here to speak in favor of item 481.
[2:07:01] last session house bill 229 defined male and female and state law it said intersex texans may receive disability
[2:07:08] accommodations under state and federal law. The biggest federal accommodation lobbying the
[2:07:13] american with disabilities act. During the same session, senate
[2:07:18] bill 8 past regulate and shared restrooms by states defined by but it does not outlaw single occupancy gender-neutral
[2:07:25] restrooms and recognized the disability accommodations still must be made to pick out at a gender-neutral restrooms
[2:07:31] and county facilities is an accessibility issue and it keeps the county on the right side of both laws.
[2:07:36] I'm tired, y'all I'm tired of not feeling safe in a restroom I'm tired of not knowing was restroom the state wants me in.
[2:07:43] adding this restrooms going forward protects the county and it makes gender diverse restaurant mike residents safe
[2:07:49] at home. >> thank you so much and wel
[2:07:55] welcome. >> my name is jake markell and I'm just a dad in precinct 2. Thank you commissioners for the
[2:08:05] opportunity to support item 481 which is not only needed, it's
[2:08:09] such a simple, inexpensive way of having a great, positive impact on our community in the face of bizarre, cruel, and
[2:08:17] capricious state bathrooms laws this will not only help ensure our transgender and intersex community's have safe base
[2:08:24] accommodations in harris county supported buildings which is paramount, it will also benefit a wide diversity of people
[2:08:30] including parents and caregivers, elders, and people with disabilities. I'm here as a cisgendered man
[2:08:35] and a father of us is gender child to voice the safety and
[2:08:40] well-being of transgender and intersex committees is central to all of our safety and well-being.
[2:08:45] I'm grateful and proud to have a commissioners court that advances pragmatic, easy and hugely impactful initiatives
[2:08:51] like this, thank you. >> thank you.
[2:08:59] >> I'm speaking on behalf of the harris county ltb to q ia
[2:09:05] commission, urging the court to update the blueprint require at least one single occupancy restroom in every new county
[2:09:10] facility. This is a safety and dignity measure for transgender or nonbinary restaurant though mike
[2:09:15] residents restroom access can determine whether a public building is usable. Anointed aptitudes between civic
[2:09:21] participation and personal privacy. Restrooms serve parents with young children, caregivers
[2:09:25] assisting someone of different gender, older adults and people with disabilities. As a father of a 6-year-old I
[2:09:30] know what the value of a private option to help families feel
[2:09:34] safe, comfortable and respected. I will no longer have to say baby girl close your eyes. I respectfully ask the
[2:09:44] harris county commissioners court to adopt and ensure every new county facility reflects safety, dignity and equal access
[2:09:49] for all, thank you. >> thank you.
[2:09:59] >> I am here to speak in support of this agenda item. It is a great agenda item that has a low financial lift, it
[2:10:07] helps everyone -- one senate bill 8 came out it was a
[2:10:13] horrible bill and we can't change that here but we can make sure there is somewhere safe to use the restroom in as many
[2:10:19] county buildings as possible and I would urge you to go further than just new construction but also major renovation.
[2:10:25] any certificate changes that will affect things like layout and plumbing that we still include adding a single
[2:10:31] occupancy restroom because this does help everyone. The bill was unspecific and asks that you enforce this bathroom
[2:10:40] bill but realistically the only way to check people's internal sex organs is with an ultrasound machine outside of every
[2:10:48] restroom, that sounds expensive and invasive. I would encourage you to take this step instead and hopefully we can feel safe or go to the restroom and all of our county
[2:10:54] buildings because there's a lot of them and we use them, thank you. >> nonagenda speaker michelle
[2:11:10] blackwell, you each have 1 minutes.
[2:11:21] >> I am here asking for the court to respectfully consider
[2:11:25] an adjustment to the nonconsent towing fee. We are facing drastic times in our community.
[2:11:33] our operators are there 24 hours a day, seven days a week. We are in inclement weather, out there in dangerous traffic
[2:11:40] situations. We invest in specialized equipment, we spend money on training and we ensure we have
[2:11:46] the most professional drivers and employees on the roadways.
[2:11:54] it becomes a gruesomely difficult to continue to absorb the rising operational cost while delivering the same level
[2:12:00] of services that's expected by the county. Our industry is facing the pain and rising costs but all
[2:12:06] consumers and businesses are facing come everyone of us in this room have felt the price the gas pump.
[2:12:12] businesses are telling the increase in wages that are necessary. Not to mention equipment.
[2:12:17] >> can you state your name for the record?
[2:12:25] >> amy milstead. >> the chair: which item is
[2:12:29] this on again? >> 482. >> the chair: the issue is to update the fines and fees?
[2:12:40] you're concerned that fees for your industry will change? >> I did get my point but we have not had a rate increase in
[2:12:48] 15 years for the nonconsent towing and all the other costs have gone up drastically. >> the chair: what would you
[2:12:56] like to see? >> we would like to see a rate, review and increase that reflects today's economy and
[2:13:03] reality that we are operating in.
[2:13:09] >> the chair: this is still under negotiation, we aren't voting on an actual rate today? It's a study to come up with the
[2:13:27] rates and right now  -- >> I'm asking you all to
[2:13:34] consider and please review. >> the chair: perfect I need to inform myself more, than thank you.
[2:13:48] >> my name is ms. Blackwell I live in precinct 2, I'm a
[2:13:53] stakeholder on the advisory committee for the early learning coley network. I did get permission to use the
[2:14:02] slogan what we did matter. It was community driven, we are
[2:14:06] giving people a seat at the table. We address child care deserts. A lot of resources benefit of
[2:14:14] the families, the children, also the children of special needs,
[2:14:19] day care facilities and anyone benefited with the resources, thank you. >> the chair: can you share a
[2:14:23] little bit more of exactly what you did and when the program will expire and what that will mean for your community?
[2:14:34] >> what I did was for instance I thought a lot of volunteer work
[2:14:41] within the schools from elementary, middle school, high school, I even got chance to work in a special education
[2:14:48] classroom from pre-k to mac fifth grade to. I got to use although experiences helping to make
[2:14:55] decisions when they have different breakout groups. The group I was in dealt with a lot of difficult tasks, trying
[2:15:02] to make sure those resources that would benefit the families.
[2:15:09] you were mentioning about when this program will end and the
[2:15:15] impact -- we have two people here that can speak more on that if you would like for them to come up, I don't -- I'm always
[2:15:21] taught if you're not going to say something -- if you're going to say something if it's incorrect you don't know if it's
[2:15:27] whatever, bring somebody to the podium that will help you.
[2:15:32] if I can look back and call on them to come forth they can explain more about this. >> I would appreciate that,
[2:15:40] because there are some discussions about early childhood -- end of the greater houston partnership has those
[2:15:47] discussions as well. That's fine and good but the
[2:15:52] fact is that programs for tens of thousands of kids and
[2:15:57] families and parents are ending. To me, it is necessary that we
[2:16:04] shine a light on what is ending rather than get distracted on a
[2:16:13] discussion of this idea frankly overlaps with what we had to.
[2:16:20] >> I'm sorry the reason why you came here today I was reflecting
[2:16:24] on -- I was giving some reflections on what I felt during the time I was on the program, I was giving comments
[2:16:31] on a reflection of what I felt. I was happy to be here. I know I scheduled three months in advance to come here and talk
[2:16:37] on it. That is what I was coming here to reflect on. If there's anything else any
[2:16:42] further, I know there's someone here that represents it, they can speak more on this. >> the chair: would you mind
[2:16:50] if state your name for your record, however you would like to join you. The reason I ask this I was
[2:16:55] visiting with a community leader just yesterday maybe two days
[2:17:00] ago. He's part of one of the programs
[2:17:05] that is taking place and he told me the moms are crying when they
[2:17:10] found out the program would end. I need that to be front and
[2:17:15] center. The story shouldn't be where their kids here or not -- the story needs to be you're taking
[2:17:22] education away from those kids. If you wouldn't mind speaking to
[2:17:30] the program -- she's behind you. >> I'm going to let her come up
[2:17:37] here. I'm sorry, I'm also stating the
[2:17:41] reason why I came here today was just to reflect on what I
[2:17:46] thought about the program. I came here to mention about the
[2:17:51] positive things, what we have done and what we have accomplished. I'm just reiterating and making
[2:17:56] it straight that this is why I came here today, I'm reflecting
[2:18:01] on the positivity. Reflecting on the hard work that was done during the time I was on here.
[2:18:07] this is not something positive. >> the chair: it was hard
[2:18:13] work, it's positive. My disappointment is that
[2:18:17] something positive is being allowed to just end and we can still save it. The positivity can continue.
[2:18:26] >> I'm the program -- with a local organization for
[2:18:35] precinct 2. We are in charge on the child care deserts in that area which is -- I didn't prepare
[2:18:43] anything I came here for moral support for ms. Blackwell.
[2:18:48] we did create an advisor committee that is consistent from the committee members from the communities that we are
[2:18:55] trying to serve to inform the decisions and initiatives that were created through the program.
[2:19:01] one of them being emergency and temporary care which is coming to an end this summer. There are parents who are
[2:19:11] panicking at the fact that the program funding is running out in the program is coming to an end.
[2:19:16] it is set to end later this year, november 2026 and parents
[2:19:23] and family members, stakeholders come everybody's asking what's
[2:19:28] the plan, what's going to happen once funding is running out. It's very hard for us to see -- not having an answer prepared
[2:19:36] for these families need this early childhood care and not
[2:19:44] just that but quality childhood care and like I mentioned they
[2:19:50] are in child care deserts. There is not enough child care providers available for the number of children that are in
[2:19:57] desperate need. >> the chair: would you share
[2:20:01] a bit about what the program is about, how does it work?
[2:20:06] >> we did take out a number of children out of the wait-list
[2:20:12] and we were able to provide months -- we paid off their
[2:20:18] child care for a period of time for the emergency, whether
[2:20:22] families are going through a time of crisis we were able to cover child care for them. If a loved one died or unplanned
[2:20:33] unemployment. >> thank don't act on my can.
[2:20:40] >> the chair: the answer is values can only take you so far. The values to say we care about the children, we are parents,
[2:20:47] therefore we care about the children, that's a value.
[2:20:52] but you need money behind the value.
[2:20:57] what happened at the city -- they have spent all this money they couldn't afford and now they are having to charge
[2:21:05] residence a trash fee -- what happened at the county is some members here spent all this money we can't afford and now
[2:21:13] they are forcing and refused to put this question on the
[2:21:18] ballots, that's really the biggest sin here, refused to let the voters decide whether or not they wanted early childhood
[2:21:27] programs to continue and instead they are ending the programs. What's the answer? I know folks don't like feeling
[2:21:35] uncomfortable when members of the community came, but that's
[2:21:40] it. You can try to change the story
[2:21:45] into -- what they call it? A censure or something but the
[2:21:51] fact the matter is -- had you and I talked before, had asked
[2:21:58] her to come here and speak? This is not prepared to. If you are hearing from a real member of the community who is
[2:22:05] agonizing trying to answer why are these successful programs
[2:22:10] ending? There is this proposal here. Let's talk to the community, talk to the organizations, we
[2:22:16] already talked to the community, that was the whole program. We talked to the community at organizations years ago,
[2:22:21] literally years ago. Look: I think just like those
[2:22:27] kids that came, I said to your parents work, all of them raised
[2:22:31] their hands. Up one of those parents supposed to do? You can focus on I didn't want the kids here but that's not it. I invite you to help me shine a
[2:22:40] light on the fact that in every country, early childhood is
[2:22:47] obvious. What's not something we even debate whether it's good, bad, we studied this, it could still
[2:22:52] go on the ballot. We can still ask people whether
[2:22:56] they want to continue these programs instead of just pulling the rug from under these people. It costs more money, you can
[2:23:04] look this up and I did it cost more money to send a kid to
[2:23:08] early childhood education that it does to put them through the university of houston. You know the folks that voted
[2:23:16] against asking the voters, they put their kids in early childhood education. But they are cutting other
[2:23:22] people's early childhood education would only need to do is ask the boaters. The programs are going to end
[2:23:30] because we didn't ask the voters last year, inconceivable to me, irrational. How hard can it be to just let
[2:23:34] the people vote yes or no? People want it, we did a poll.
[2:23:40] you can still do it this year it may then you will talk to the children next time they come -- less time they didn't even dare
[2:23:46] agree to them. I'm sorry, hearing you speak, it
[2:23:50] is beautiful and that's what breaks my heart for it to end and even more for there to be a conversation about our shiny new
[2:23:57] object over here about a new program when all of this is
[2:24:02] collapsing. Thanks and I hope folks here I see a lot of folks and nodding please help us draw attention to
[2:24:08] this. It's totally irrational, thank you. >> item 433, nonagenda
[2:24:27] speakers -- go to have one minute. >> I'm president of the wingate forest view homeowners
[2:24:34] association a community up over thousand homes in the west side of the county. Our main road is the north-south
[2:24:42] road that runs between westpark and westheimer used by many people to shortcut cut from one to the other and holds two's
[2:24:50] topsides. Nonresident street this road like a racetrack often driving more than 50 miles per hour and ignoring our stop signs. One stop sign is next to our
[2:24:58] playground and pool. On numerous occasions we called hcf so to get some relief, they sent out a cop, the patrol for a
[2:25:04] half an hour and they leave. I understand speed bumps are no
[2:25:13] longer approved -- allowed in the county. The argument is they slow emergency vehicles but the
[2:25:17] speeders are going to strike another vehicle or worse, a
[2:25:22] child's. I'm asking to consider an exception to this rule and install speed bumps to the
[2:25:26] stop signs in open areas to help control traffic in our neighborhood. Thank you for your time.
[2:25:33] >> I want to point out the county now has a speed bump
[2:25:39] program it's a matter of reaching out to your respective commissioner's office if you live in the unincorporated area
[2:25:44] of the county -- we do not have a program. I worked on that for almost two years but we now have it.
[2:25:54] >> thank you commissioner garcia and commissioner briones, this is yours. >> I'm a resident in precinct
[2:26:05] one here to support item 433 funding like which excess office. As a language researcher working
[2:26:11] with many multilingual students and communities, and immigrants myself I know how accessing basic rights is a daily str
[2:26:22] struggle. My family and other language minority has committees often express miscommunication play
[2:26:27] feeling misheard or disrespected and overall ineffective to
[2:26:33] medication services. Every semester of a class that I teach I have students who have to miss the class to translate
[2:26:38] or interpret for their family members because there isn't a
[2:26:43] reliable or trustworthy interpretation or translation available or know ai can do this job precisely with full cultural
[2:26:50] nuances. Students should have to commit
[2:26:55] their time and effective care and services. Please continue funding and expanding language access in
[2:27:02] harris county. >> the chair: thank you.
[2:27:13] >> good afternoon emmett district 3. I have questions regarding texas regulation 822 and
[2:27:19] harris county's variation of that.
[2:27:23] there's been laws that make it illegal to have dangerous and wild animals as they are quoted but I can't find any of the
[2:27:32] commissioners records showing that any of this was elected,
[2:27:36] voted on but animal control seems to think they can change
[2:27:41] the rules to fit their directive and not allow people to have
[2:27:48] permits but the state texas allows. Let's all I have. >> we'll have someone follow up
[2:27:56] with you. >> unincorporated precinct
[2:28:12] three. I'm writing to ask if you will explain in detail where my property tax dollars are being
[2:28:16] allocated to. They are not visibly being put back in the community to which I pay.
[2:28:24] I own property in a neighborhood whose sewers and streets are not maintained at all by the county to which I pay taxes.
[2:28:33] the sewers do not drain, the leaf standing water for many
[2:28:38] days. Even after a moderate rain, the water will block access to residents leaving them to trek
[2:28:43] through a cesspool to reach their door.
[2:28:47] the health hazard there is a real concern. I've put in a call to the health department, no reply.
[2:28:54] the streets also are not maintained. Many filled with potholes that will very soon become
[2:29:01] undrivable. There's no parking restrictions on the streets, parking on both sides of the streets --
[2:29:09] >> the chair: go ahead if you would like to conclude.
[2:29:14] speak of this parking on both sides of the streets makes not only driving between impossible for large vehicles but it's an
[2:29:21] accident waiting to happen as kids play and pets play between the cars and run into the streets.
[2:29:29] I believe routine sewer maintenance, street repaving and
[2:29:34] strategically placed no parking signs will alleviate these
[2:29:39] issues. I'm asking why are these issues not being addressed? Taxes are designed to sustain a
[2:29:45] community, not neglect it. That's it.
[2:29:50] >> the chair: thank you, we'll visit with you.
[2:29:56] >> nonagenda speakers quincy collins, eric sanchez, ramesh
[2:30:06] kapur, and richard hyde. >> my name is eric sanchez.
[2:30:21] in november of 2025 detective john patrick morello rated my
[2:30:25] home with a dozen officers after tracking my vehicle using flock for 30 days in regards to false allegations of aggravated
[2:30:32] assault with a deadly weapon from 2023. They broke my door down and pointed rifles at me and my
[2:30:38] family including children. I was arrested and interrogated but he wasn't interested in the alleged crime he was interested
[2:30:45] in my facebook posts regarding attorneys rusty harding and a
[2:30:51] murder connected to a funeral home and a dozen other cases I
[2:30:56] wrote articles on being murderers falsely ruled as suicides by the chief medical examiner.
[2:31:02] I was no build on the charge but detective marella needs to be
[2:31:07] investigated and the cover-up of all this footage and records needs to end of the citizens are expected to put their trust in
[2:31:13] the public. And the police. Please show the public if you have nothing to hide.
[2:31:20] thank you. >> the chair: thank you, we'll visit with you. >> my name is quincy collins, I
[2:31:32] am the founder of families helping families. For 13 years families helping families has been dedicated to
[2:31:38] ensuring hardworking families have food on their tables during the thanksgiving season. What began with helping just one
[2:31:45] family has grown into a community-wide movement. Today every family we serve receives a full week of
[2:31:51] groceries including a complete thanksgiving dinner. Including 35 grocery items such as 5 pounds of ground beef,
[2:31:59] 10 pounds of chicken leg quarters, 9-pound turkey breast,
[2:32:04] 32-ounce bag of frozen fish, pantry staples like canned goods, bread, pasta, pasta sauce.
[2:32:10] all of our food comes directly from the distributor allowing us
[2:32:14] to maximize every donated dollar. Last year we served 1700 families across eight locations
[2:32:21] distributing nearly 80 tons of food.
[2:32:26] three of those locations were and commissioner briones' precinct, one was in commissioner ellis' precinct.
[2:32:31] >> your time is up. >> the chair: go ahead and close out your cap. >> along the way we have an
[2:32:36] honor to receive proclamations from the city of missouri city.
[2:32:42] this year we have raised emma we are looking to serve 5,000
[2:32:49] families in 16 locations including four and
[2:32:53] commissioner -- four in the commissioner briones commissioner briones' precinct, one of commissioner garcia, ls,
[2:33:01] and ramsey. We are able to accomplish this through partnerships with 12 local law enforcement agencies,
[2:33:08] five school districts, one church all working together to serve the community. Threesome I'm coming here today
[2:33:14] is because we are raising awareness about what we are doing and the impact we have of the community but also
[2:33:21] soliciting the help of the commissioners that we have in
[2:33:27] our speech to help us with raising funding to continue our growth. Thank you so much.
[2:33:35] >> thank you for your work. >> richard hyde northeast corner
[2:33:45] bear creek village, the 100 year floodplain against the floodway to go on rest of the neighborhood -- placed at drive
[2:33:57] measuring 16 feet wide, exiting into a 30-foot wide swell.
[2:34:09] despite major storms including a july 20th storm, elder 2019,
[2:34:20] bear creek drainage project has no mention of floodgates in the
[2:34:27] 50-year-old neighborhood resulting in plans to -- and
[2:34:33] causing permanent increase in noise from clay road.
[2:34:37] I asked the engineering department cease department cease and desist plans behind mill holland drive until this
[2:34:41] matter can be properly -- >> the chair: go ahead.
[2:34:47] >> I am for flood control I'm definitely for dr. Tina
[2:34:52] peterson's work that she wants to do over in the golf course,
[2:34:56] about 400 feet away. This particular project is
[2:35:04] unnecessary in this area because we already have the floodgate if they want to build the canal and connected the floodgate and take
[2:35:13] it up that way, because we don't flood.
[2:35:19] harvey got us -- I have 6 feet of water in my house.
[2:35:23] I am pro-flood control. I lost everything. I took everything out of the house, everything.
[2:35:30] sheet rock, plumbing, wire, air-conditioning, lamps.
[2:35:38] all my photographs from the amazon and from new guinea, all
[2:35:44] lost. I'm pro flood control, but this isn't it. There's a better way to do this.
[2:35:53] >> the chair: thank you, we'll visit with you.
[2:36:01] >> thank you. >> nonagenda speakers ruby
[2:36:07] garza, christopher mcki mckinney, --
[2:36:13] >> good afternoon, honorable commissioners and honorable
[2:36:19] judge. My name is dr. Kapur I'm here to
[2:36:25] report a critical breakdown in judicial integrity keeping with the public rest or act electronic record-keeping.
[2:36:38] in our digital court system, litigants can no longer see a
[2:36:47] judge's physical signature, we rely entirely on the clerks
[2:36:53] electronic -- this has created a dangerous point of -- emesis and
[2:37:01] designer, I will help no charge. The case number is 20201294 in
[2:37:13] district court. >> the chair: go ahead to.
[2:37:19] >> as documented in the file the honorable judge granted my
[2:37:29] motion to reinstate my case -- instead of recording this
[2:37:41] accurately, and it that completely falsified records
[2:37:48] dating the motion was denied. >> the chair: we'll visit with you. Thank you.
[2:37:53] speak of this is a very important points. An electronic document directly contradicts a judge's actual
[2:38:02] ruling the public record is compromised. I brought this special evidence to the district clerk but no
[2:38:13] corrective action or investigation.
[2:38:18] it's very important in the digital world.
[2:38:23] I'm asking the court what safeguards are being implemented
[2:38:33] to order these entries? And how will we ensure clear --
[2:38:46] >> the chair: I get people to slow bit of time to wrap up but will make visit with you. I'm afraid I need to ask you to
[2:38:52] to go and visit with my staff right now so they can get the rest of the details. Thank you.
[2:39:04] >>  they'll find you in just a second. Director. They are right there.
[2:39:18] >> I'm the texas chapter president and we are here today
[2:39:22] because we are tied up used in workers being left behind, houston being the fourth largest city in the country over the
[2:39:28] years we've seen our city transform into a world-class tourist destination with more and more major events coming
[2:39:35] here but the workers across the city that make these events
[2:39:39] possible or living check to check working multiple jobs to get by. We know the companies can have
[2:39:46] more than enough to pay the workers what they deserve, we seen workers, members of our union fight over last year and
[2:39:53] go on strike and win races like they never have before across
[2:39:57] the airport, setting a new standard for the hospitality
[2:40:06] industry. The reality is different for stadium workers, stadium workers are falling further and further
[2:40:11] behind us by the pricing of the food and drinks going up at the
[2:40:16] stadium, workers do not see an increase in their check. Many of them continue to make $12 or less in 2026, how can you
[2:40:28] survive and provide for your family? Used in workers deserve better and we will continue to take
[2:40:32] action and call attention to this issue, thank you. >> the chair: thank you so much.
[2:40:41] >> my name is ruby garza on a vendor at some of the stadiums. I've been working at the stadiums for over 20 years
[2:40:49] already. 11 and $12 does not help me out at all. I have a grandson that she is
[2:40:57] autistic and I help my son out a lot.
[2:41:03] there is times, there's events in one place, an event in
[2:41:08] another place and we can't make our ends meet because there's a
[2:41:13] lot of medical bills with my grandson.
[2:41:18] I'm there to help making 11-$12 is not making it to help them
[2:41:25] with their medical bills. I would like a lot of respect
[2:41:33] and dignity for us to get more than 11-$12 an hour.
[2:41:41] thank you. >> thank you all for coming down
[2:41:46] I appreciate y'all speaking up. >> the chair: I want to make a
[2:41:52] comment on this or is is one of the ones I can't? Is is nonagenda? I had brought this up before I'm
[2:42:01] a little confused. Any other speakers?
[2:42:16] >> christopher mckinney. >> good afternoon, my name is
[2:42:22] chris for mckinney, that's my wife, we are residents here in
[2:42:30] harris county, we are business owners and true believers and potential of the astrodome, we believe the astrodome deserves a
[2:42:43] future where the of its history. I am currently with that understanding now developing a privately funded concept that
[2:42:53] focuses the preservation and structure at whole scale while creating long-term economic value for harris county.
[2:42:59] I know the future of the astrodome is greatly complex and talked about for many years. I'm here to simply introduce
[2:43:07] myself and let you know there are citizens here that are
[2:43:12] currently working towards private solutions, thank you for your time. >> the chair: thank you so
[2:43:29] good afternoon. I am from precinct 2.
[2:43:36] I'm ed teacher in the houston chapter and we has an organization bring awareness to two teenage deprivation.
[2:43:43] school starts at the summer clock hour. In texas the houston area has the largest cluster of early
[2:43:50] start times in the 7:00 hour. Now it is summertime.
[2:43:54] students stay up late and rathe wake up late the arno terrace
[2:43:59] night foul's. Many have activities in the
[2:44:03] mornings that their parents wan them to attend like swim practice. I'm here to request
[2:44:08] commissioners and judge hidalgo to provide awareness through
[2:44:15] education for communities than public service announcements to the importance of sleep for our teenagers for them to sleep
[2:44:21] adequately rather than pop and energy drink. Now there's too many available of those energy drinks and to
[2:44:29] bring awareness and to bring awareness to instructors to
[2:44:37] start no earlier than 8:30 for the physical and mental health and academics and safety of our children.
[2:44:42] thank you for starting court at 9:00 a.m. And not at 7:15 am.
[2:44:49] thank you. >> thank you for your work.
[2:44:58] thank you to all the speakers purely continue here. Specter would please do the resolution he's back.
[2:45:08] okay, commission or ellis. >> we are honored to be honorin
[2:45:16] the county attorney. I'm going to read the resolutio
[2:45:20] that was read by the officer teams because it is powerful
[2:45:25] with everything you have accomplished in the way you advance just as for harris county bird this is resolution.
[2:45:36] during the attorney's office an generally 2020. He dedicated himself to the pursuit of justice on behalf of
[2:45:41] of the more than 5 million residents of harris county.
[2:45:47] and whereas during his tenure h served as both the deputy count attorney and assistant assistan over former county attorney now
[2:45:57] congressman he led legal strategy ends elected officials
[2:46:02] and department heads and high-profile litigation from
[2:46:09] public law, challenges to complex, corporate and
[2:46:13] environmental places, whereas o january 8 matt, 2026, he was
[2:46:20] appointed county attorney any unanimous vote by commissioners
[2:46:24] paid as county attorney he manage the office of over 300 attorneys and staff who represent the county and its 60
[2:46:32] elected officials and more than 18,000 employees in all matters
[2:46:38] while maintaining the highest standards the office has known. And, whereas, as county attorney , he committed himself
[2:46:48] to advancing environmental justice, protecting workers rights and fighting for opportunities.
[2:46:53] and whereas he secured a settlement that brought two
[2:47:01] concrete plans into compliance, recovered hundreds of thousands of dollars of penalties during states and counties and cities
[2:47:12] challenging the us environmenta protection agency's attempt to
[2:47:16] we said that 2009 engagement line which serves as the legal
[2:47:22] foundation for regulating greenhouse gases, seeking to
[2:47:27] extend community petitions and permit. And whereas, county attorney bonbon achieves significant wind
[2:47:38] 's, depending harris county 's contractor safety record policy to protect the rights and safety of harris
[2:47:44] county workers and fighting to restart texas is historically
[2:47:51] underutilized business program, reversing changes that remove many minority women need for eligibility for state
[2:47:59] contracting opportunities and challenging the attorney general
[2:48:04] 's attempts to force local district attorneys to tur
[2:48:10] over sweeping prosecutorial those prosecutorial data and wears a strong defender of immigrant communities my he
[2:48:17] successfully had efforts to end of the services had enjoyed the
[2:48:21] national coalition proposing us customs operation metro search
[2:48:28] and whereas harris county commends him for his service,
[2:48:36] dedication, and leadership and recognizes the profound and
[2:48:41] lasting contributions he has made during his tenure as harri
[2:48:45] county attorney. Now there for be it resolved that the harris county commissioners court hereby
[2:48:51] respectfully honors jonathan bonbon and this was a joint
[2:48:56] resolution between the -- and commissioners office and my
[2:49:01] office I will say you are lawyer 's lawyer, one of the most
[2:49:08] brilliant lawyers I've ever met and you have justice in your
[2:49:14] veins and, by the way, he is always a renaissance man paid h plays music and is a chef and speaks french fluently.
[2:49:25] soccer, band, you can go on and on preview are really an ambassador. Thank you for making harris
[2:49:30] county in the state of texas an the united states a better plac
[2:49:35] because of your brilliance and putting that into action for
[2:49:40] people. For that we honor you. [applause] we will hear from commissioner
[2:50:01] garcia and commissioner ellis. >> thank you for that resolutio
[2:50:11] I'm going to make an amendment. We just learned that he plays
[2:50:20] french music so what is that famous song.
[2:50:30] there you go, you knew that one. Lesson.
[2:50:39] all it that was said is absolutely true and I will
[2:50:44] reflect back, congratulations for having become the county
[2:50:53] attorney but I understand you guys were partners or colleague
[2:50:58] with the firm and I want to thank you for your willingness
[2:51:06] to take a leap of faith and to join him in this endeavor. You could've stayed there and made a ton more money but you
[2:51:20] chose public service and we are absolutely grateful.
[2:51:27] I just want to thank you for about whether you are with your
[2:51:34] kids are on the road you been traveling somewhere, he and you
[2:51:40] number happens to be the fun thing thinking about calling to be always trim up and return th call and you did your very best
[2:51:46] to help answer the question I can't thank you enough on behal
[2:51:52] of our constituents and our staff because of those
[2:51:57] respective issues sometimes do have a sense of urgency. John, thank you very much. I know everyone of our offices
[2:52:07] sometimes has our hair on fire and undoubtably the county
[2:52:11] attorney it's office probably has an ongoing sprinkler in their because there's always a fire going on but you've never
[2:52:22] been out of sorts without time to answer question or have a
[2:52:33] conversation. You've always been willing to meet and talk and you have just click the easy.
[2:52:42] and let me say this, coming fro the private sector, I would
[2:52:52] venture to say maybe more often than not.
[2:53:09] you may have had more ability t plan your life for especially I
[2:53:24] times of disaster in times of emergencies. Issues that come up and were in litigation with any anyone of
[2:53:33] our respective entities, your family has suffered so I just
[2:53:39] want to say your family think you for their support of you an
[2:53:47] I want to thank you for your willingness to sacrifice becaus it is a big ask that you have accepted when christian invited
[2:53:56] you over. I can tell you how much better
[2:54:04] we are because of your presence here.
[2:54:11] and I'm going to do my best to keep you here.
[2:54:23] commissioner ramsey. >> thank you again produces a
[2:54:28] common a common thing. That's important you do address
[2:54:37] things in a very bipartisan don't misunderstand that.
[2:54:56] I was hoping you would certainl be end-of-the-year.
[2:55:03] thank you for being that calm source of direction when we
[2:55:08] needed from time to time. >> commissioner lesley briones.
[2:55:21] >> I'm so glad you decided to walk away from making all that money to do something I think was rewarding for you.
[2:55:38] this has been a pleasure to wor with.
[2:55:49] commissioner briones, thank you john, to your family and your amazing team so I think your phenomenal team paid can you
[2:56:02] also stand up, please. We appreciate you tremendously.
[2:56:13] [applause] and we look forward to what is
[2:56:21] to become I know there's variou folks who think you.
[2:56:38] I want to say something. Were you going to say something.
[2:56:49] please go ahead. What if I learn something important. Go-ahead you all, go ahead.
[2:57:05] >> I'm trying to figure that ou right now.
[2:57:13] >> my name is jamie mcmahon. Of course there are somebody
[2:57:28] tremendous accomplishments externally we are down here
[2:57:33] today about the joys of living. Is an incredible leader and
[2:57:42] builder of teams and builder systems on the office and the
[2:57:48] plans that have been built over the last five years and establishing the culture that I based on integrity and service
[2:57:57] and community and justice. You see that played out in the office but that lives and breathes inside the office.
[2:58:07] and we had our staff acknowledging him yesterday and
[2:58:11] we were all inspired by reflecting on a folktale and my
[2:58:22] colleagues drew beautiful metaphors to the story about
[2:58:27] friendship and curiosity in cultivating love and empathy fo
[2:58:34] each other and for what is right .
[2:58:39] was secret at the end the story in the secret that was revealed to all of us and it is a very simple secret and is only with
[2:58:50] heart that can see rightly and what is essential is invisible
[2:58:59] to the eye. People's hearts are one on thei
[2:59:03] sleeve. Thank you.
[2:59:11] [applause] good afternoon.
[2:59:20] I had the pleasure of working with john when he started in a different capacity in my role a division director.
[2:59:31] there's two things that stand out for me.
[2:59:37] what is his support for the staff and unparalleled support
[2:59:43] getting us a new building, resources to modernize the office, creating an office that was supportive of staff when
[2:59:53] they had significant events in their lives such as having children and bereavement. It gave us a wonderful morale
[3:00:00] and a place that we were proud to come to work.
[3:00:09] on the also created a structure to meet critically and creatively and wasn't afraid to take a chance often leading fro
[3:00:21] the front. Those are things that will be I place long beyond john is gone with thank you for your
[3:00:29] leadership and the staff. Many of us are better off
[3:00:33] because of your time. >> thank you. [applause] good afternoon, commissioners o
[3:00:43] the court, and the managing counsel for the harris county attorney's office and I've had the pleasure to serve underneat
[3:00:50] the county attorney as my count attorney and his assistant.
[3:00:58] he let the office during a time of transition and change but understood the importance of public service on the commitmen
[3:01:07] required to serve the people of harris county. What I remember most is his passion for public service
[3:01:15] throughout his time. He brought energy, passion, dedication, and a strong committed serving county and it
[3:01:24] residents been his news he had them for work was evident and helped move the office forward. We are especially grateful for
[3:01:33] the collaborative soirit. Your collaboration has set a
[3:01:40] positive tone in the county attorney's office.
[3:01:47] thank you and good luck that's about 110 people in the office.
[3:02:09] I will repeat what everybody else said it I will just say it is a pleasure to be able to com to work and actually smile and
[3:02:17] so some people say tiffany smells of the time but I don't
[3:02:22] really like this morning I passed john out of the state ba
[3:02:29] meeting and it's a good feeling to book for people you like.
[3:02:35] and I like you. And I like that you just like
[3:02:43] christian and gene foster an environment for us to be innovative and for us to come u with trainings that are
[3:02:49] different and you never tell me know and you listen and I
[3:02:54] appreciate it and I think you and I know you will go on to do great things. [applause]
[3:03:05] >> good afternoon, commissioners , judge.
[3:03:11] john has truly been as betty trusted partner but especially
[3:03:17] for iga. He was deputy county attorney
[3:03:25] and county attorney. He has always been there for iga
[3:03:35] . The broad range of issues that come across my-sometimes are scary but I know that john is
[3:03:42] always a phone call or a text o an e-mail away and I appreciate
[3:03:47] that of most support and the partnership or you are going to
[3:03:51] be missed and I do know that you're going to do great things and I hope you stay in contact but I don't think that any of
[3:04:00] the successes at iga has accomplished would've been possible without that partnership so thank you.
[3:04:13] >> now we will hear from our budget director.
[3:04:18] >> thank you. John, thank you for everything. I can't tell you the amount -- pretty much everybody I work
[3:04:29] with when they knew you were leaving. I still remember I came here four years ago knowing
[3:04:35] absolutely anybody in texas beauty don't know who you can
[3:04:39] trust and who you can rely on. And I remember meeting you on day one and I don't know if you remember but I remember being o
[3:04:50] the phone with you and all I could think about was thank god
[3:04:54] there is a letter that understands bath.
[3:04:58] we almost got the budget passed. Thank you for everything for
[3:05:04] natalie being my attorney but m friend and confidant.
[3:05:09] >> I just wanted to know whethe I could still say if there is something that was going to com up.
[3:05:16] thank you. I love what everybody said.
[3:05:21] you've got something special going. People felt like you and you ar smart and easy to talk to.
[3:05:30] to be able to explain things a human and not get bogged down I
[3:05:37] the legal language. Whenever I have a question, I
[3:05:42] know I can call you and you're going to have a clear response yes, no, I don't know, this is the answer.
[3:05:48] or that matters a lot just the attitude and obviously the
[3:05:59] values that you carry it means lot and I'm going to go watch
[3:06:10] the piano playing before I agre with the renaissance comment.
[3:06:18] thank you so much. Expect everyone is hungry so I
[3:06:24] will go real quick if I can fin this on my phone.
[3:06:34] thank you so much. Thank you for this resolution.
[3:06:40] it means a great deal. I understood the assignment.
[3:07:00] and make sure the office kept running.
[3:07:13] I think we did that but honestl this county has had my heart fo
[3:07:18] a lot longer than that it I had the privilege of helping build something, you heard from our folks who were instrumental in
[3:07:25] doing that when christian asked me to come overcome a few thing attracted me and one is I -- I had a lot more in private
[3:07:34] practice owed to be able to begin a place what I could actually spend more time with m family, which I had been,
[3:07:40] although I didn't say it was less stressful. That was one piece of that on the other was to help
[3:07:48] professionalize this office. There are incredible people in the office but I think they nee at the rate structure and I
[3:07:55] think that is what we were able to boring and looking back took
[3:07:59] what we are now and I think we have really achieved that and w can hear from some of those folks at the day.
[3:08:08] and that is the biggest thing w wanted to achieve.
[3:08:12] so I am really proud of that. I've been really lucky to work
[3:08:17] along some of the most dedicate public servants.
[3:08:22] some people do things we don't talk about much for you can't put it in a press release because it's not something that
[3:08:28] people want to talk about. Some of our protective work is heart heart-wrenching but incredibly important.
[3:08:35] our job is to collect money for the county that helps the count
[3:08:39] run. Knowing the things you see in the media but things that are important to the county.
[3:08:44] so I leave knowing that this office is well prepared with
[3:08:50] this group of folks to continue leading the way unwell staff an well-positioned. In the county attorney is going
[3:08:59] to have a great staff in her hand. On the last thing, I was thinking something of a less
[3:09:04] generic to say and I want to talk about something that is going to sound weird coming fro me, talking about diversity.
[3:09:14] we talk a lot about how day versus county is.
[3:09:18] one of the most diverse places in the country. What makes our diversity work I our openness page you can be a
[3:09:26] tenth generation texan here or you can be a guy who was dragge from new york to texas against their will because their wife
[3:09:32] got a job at rice university. And you will come here and
[3:09:37] you're willing to work hard and people will help you and suppor you and you will achieve great things.
[3:09:45] so I think we were only able to do what we were able to do --
[3:09:50] I don't think I could've done this in dallas, for example. I'm really grateful here. You are all incredible public
[3:10:01] servants. You can call me anytime. Those conversations may not be privileged anymore so be carefu
[3:10:10] what you tell me. Out really stay in touch.
[3:10:14] it's been an honor to work with you. [applause] why don't we take a picture rea
[3:10:30] quick, if that is okay. We do need to go through the
[3:10:37] consent before we break for lunch. Or should we do that and then d a picture?
[3:10:44] >> so just very quickly here, colleagues, any corrections,
[3:10:52] item 12 request no action. Item 137 no action and 176 no
[3:10:59] action. 219, performance versus versus
[3:11:04] detailed in number 25 through april 27, 2026.
[3:11:10] can retrace six through december .
[3:11:15] this moved. Through december 31, 2026.
[3:11:33] justification for 0% participation goal exempt in th local cooperative agreement. 345, no action.
[3:11:41] 373 no action. 383 no action.
[3:11:46] 420 remove precinct rule number three met. So now it reads a request for commissioners precinct 1 and 2
[3:11:52] and 4 and then for hundred 36, so it now reads two requests
[3:12:02] budget for approval and paper finding for county engineer et
[3:12:08] cetera et cetera. 437 request no action and then
[3:12:15] the public hearings, let's begi with 367.
[3:12:30] consider approval of the subdivision plat and tighter bedford creek section 5 bid the commissioners court hold a
[3:12:37] public hearing for the proposed plot precinct 4 pitt is there
[3:12:42] anyone here to speak for or against this item? Since there are no speakers or discussion, I now close this
[3:12:50] public hearing it is their motion on this item?
[3:12:55] >> motion. >> motion by commissioner brion z. All in favor good any oppose
[3:13:00] opposed. Motion carried unanimously approval of the subdivision plo entitled creek section 6 to
[3:13:09] proceed at commissioners court in the public plat three --
[3:13:16] this is for item 368 pitt is there anyone to speak forget
[3:13:21] this item. Its rainy discussion? To close this public hearing. Is their emotion?
[3:13:27] >> make a motion. >> motion by commissioner ramse
[3:13:33] and second by commissioner briones. All in favor. Any opposed.
[3:13:39] motion carried unanimously. Vinyl final 1369.
[3:13:44] consider approval of the subdivision plat of eagles cove
[3:13:49] and hold a public hearing for the proposed plat 232 points 009
[3:13:55] c-1. As anyone to speak on this, any
[3:14:01] discussion. I close this public hearing and
[3:14:05] is there discussion on this item . Motion by economic commissioner garcia.
[3:14:11] second by commissioner ramsey. Any opposed? Motion carries unanimously. So were going to be talking
[3:14:18] about the discussion items so item 1 remains discussion and
[3:14:23] item two -- item 5?
[3:14:29] >> 6? >> yes.
[3:14:34] >> 7. >> yes mac. >> forty? >> 125 we already discussed and
[3:14:43] we chatted about it, so that is done. 140. That is commissioner ellis'.
[3:14:53] 145. >> yes. >> 151. Healthy in harris county.
[3:15:00] with you like to just vote on those? >> yes. We can just vote.
[3:15:06] motion on both. All in favor.
[3:15:11] any opposed? All in favor, motion carries.
[3:15:17] >> we can do 152 as well. >> motion by commissioner garcia
[3:15:24] . Any opposed? >> motion carries 4-1 on 152. 198.
[3:15:31] commissioner ramsey. >> we just need a vote.
[3:15:38] I think that we can -- all in favor.
[3:15:45] any opposed. Motion carries 4-1. That is item 196. So if there motion for item 189?
[3:15:57] >> yes. >> motion by commissioner garcia . Second by commissioner ellis.
[3:16:02] all in favor. Any opposed. I thank you for that one. It is without row 24.
[3:16:09] you've got it. >> yes pierce out that carries unanimously. Is their motion for 124?
[3:16:18] >> yes. >> motion by commissioner garci and second by commissioner ellis .
[3:16:23] all in favor. Any opposed. Motion carries 4-1 pete is ther a motion for item 200.
[3:16:32] motion by commissioner ellis, second by commissioner briones. All in favor. Any opposed.
[3:16:39] motion carries unanimously. As their motion for row 74?
[3:16:43] >> you don't want this one. >> are you sure.
[3:16:50] >> you want it? >> precinct 2 pulled at. You just want to discuss it? >> no.
[3:16:55] I want to vote against it. >> commissioner by mc and secon
[3:17:02] by commissioner ellis. All in favor. Motion carries 4-1. And then 215.
[3:17:11] 259. Precinct 3.
[3:17:16] 284, precinct 2. 322.
[3:17:22] yes. 330. >> yes. >> 322.
[3:17:31] >> yes. >> 322 or 3?
[3:17:35] >> excuse me, 332. >> 344.
[3:17:41] 370. >> yes. >> 408. >> yes.
[3:17:47] >> 418. >> yes. >> 435. >> 449.
[3:17:53] 481. Do you want to just vote on tha one? No.
[3:18:04] >> 482. That was commissioner ellis and
[3:18:11] gracie. And then these items were not
[3:18:16] added to the special list. For 28 and 424.
[3:18:21] 434. Those are approved as presented.
[3:18:33] so I will say I still am runnin down some questions on 229 and
[3:18:41] 234. Those of the ones at the speake was concerned about. I will get those back if that's
[3:18:47] okay. So let me discuss and go over the list one final time. No executive session items, 1
[3:18:55] and 2 and 5. >> can you add 4.
[3:19:00] >> 4? Okay. Alright, I've 4 is on mw b disparity study.
[3:19:07] 4 is now in there. So we are looking at items 1, 2
[3:19:15] , 4, 5, 6, 7, 40, 140, 215, 229, 234, 259, 284, 322.
[3:19:39] 330, 332, 344, 370, 408, 415, 435, 449, 481, 482, and 484.
[3:19:58] >> and one other, 421. >> okay, 421.
[3:20:11] that is a joint resolution on national immigrant heritage month. Okay, 421.
[3:20:20] all right, anything else before we take a look at the consent
[3:20:25] agenda? >> motion. Motion by commissioner garcia, second by commissioner ramsey.
[3:20:34] all in favor, motion carries unanimously.
[3:20:41] second by commissioner ramsey. So, okay, so we were going to take a 30 minute lunch since time is tight.
[3:20:49] dq one to be back at like 2:15? So we will take a picture with
[3:20:54] john and we will be back.
[3:22:37] we had two football players las year and as simple winner and
[3:22:43] very meaningful to help these big strong guys.
[3:22:48] in fact my friends ex-husband just died and he was depressed
[3:22:55] and whatnot seek help. This happens, which is why it I
[3:23:02] important if your work and your feeling anxious, whatever those
[3:23:22] mental health related, just continuing on and powering
[3:23:28] through is not going to make it better. Eventually it's going to come out and so the idea is if there
[3:23:37] is an employee, they're having really hard day, this may be,
[3:23:44] there was just something that happened in their life that is making them sad. Maybe there have been in this
[3:23:52] issue that is causing them anxiety, whatever it is, they can say to their colleagues, hey , I'm feeling really anxious
[3:24:01] about this project and the colleague could say you know what, here's what I think and here's how I'm handling it just
[3:24:08] like today, I am so stuffy and somebody said it is allergies,
[3:24:13] why don't you take this. Like that.
[3:24:18] instead of suffering in silence. So let's say the solution, so
[3:24:25] you're not having to take a health day.
[3:24:31] not two go into a facility, but to reset and make sure that I
[3:24:39] can power through, so to speak and we don't have that that wil
[3:24:46] be really mean, you know, other people, people that are not
[3:24:54] performing and more likely than not come all the idea is to do,
[3:25:02] so the panelists had a professo from rice university.
[3:25:11] and that would've been top psychiatry, moore over at menta
[3:25:18] health and then we had differen people so they all said the way
[3:25:23] to do this is to have around three mental health days each
[3:25:28] year and I found out the public health does this end we have
[3:25:34] proof of concept in many departments deal with trauma, whether you're working with foster kids or whether you're
[3:25:41] working with victims of domesti violence, with the elderly
[3:25:49] veterans. That stuff is heavy. You might need a day just to clear your mind.
[3:25:55] so I think we ought to people. So that is this.
[3:26:03] and the proposal is not to pass anything, it is just to ask
[3:26:10] county attorney, et cetera to draft a policy and this is goin
[3:26:14] to come out during budget. Bottom line, doing nothing
[3:26:22] because more than those doing something means more than doing
[3:26:32] nothing. And this takes away the stigma as well. I am not doing right people end
[3:26:46] up dying when they don't take care of this stuff. I would appreciate it just a couple of questions.
[3:27:05] are we doing a financial impact. >> we will do a financial impact . The cause will largely depend o
[3:27:18] throws or are we designating tw existing days.
[3:27:23] in terms of our overall lead. Its new.
[3:27:32] and that is the difference between nsp flick at the option
[3:27:47] right now, we are pursuing options.
[3:27:57] so that they fully understand what their options are so if
[3:28:04] you're asking to take a mental health day, how is that different than being sick leave. Is there a pool somewhere?
[3:28:16] there is a lot of different parts to our benefit problems
[3:28:26] and I think it needs good context for our complete packag
[3:28:30] and how it compares to others t some degree.
[3:28:36] I think we are probably on the top of the list as benefits. Just how are we dealing with it now in terms of people being
[3:28:45] able to take time off so the action today is simply if we ha
[3:29:28] august 6 and we could discuss I in july 15 and then it would be
[3:29:34] ready. I would respectfully ask for
[3:29:39] august 6. >> sure. Or change the date to august 6. I propose we change it to augus.
[3:30:01] and then coming back in their recommendations. And that would be a good approach.
[3:30:09] thank you. And this is an item that I care
[3:30:15] about. And there is still a stigma in
[3:30:32] types of this. Employees only had I think it
[3:30:50] was two paid opportunities in insurance.
[3:31:08] in the conversation I had my staff at the time was and
[3:31:22] they're afraid it will get back to the sheriff.
[3:31:26] and so and do they turn it into paid time off description.
[3:31:56] maybe that would help folks mak better decisions about how to
[3:32:01] use those that time that way people cannot have to think
[3:32:08] about it as well. This is I feel differently
[3:32:16] versus ill. So maybe I would just ask you t think about that or just change the description of the sick
[3:32:25] leave may be may be more supportive and more helpful.
[3:32:33] >> we will definitely look into that. That there is another thing tha actually made me think of, whic
[3:32:40] is just looking at other jurisdictions than our own. So here they have mental health leave and their utilization of
[3:32:50] the mental health leave has -- from 2068 in 2023 to 10,038 in
[3:32:59] 2025 so I think that is something about the need, which
[3:33:04] is totally logical but also I think about the fact that this can reduce the stigma, which I think is a goal in and of itsel
[3:33:14] and then also, so there is more normalization of the policy in
[3:33:22] dallas has a mental health leav and then they had sick leave fo
[3:33:30] wellness days in cook county's sick leave for mental health, think that just taking a look a them and seeing why did you
[3:33:38] create a separate docket is tha helping and is that helping wit
[3:33:46] the stigma. >> I agree if things aren't going to make a difference, that's one thing.
[3:33:52] I think it will appear at obviously we need to look at th
[3:33:57] data. Commissioner ellis?
[3:34:01] >> I was going to raise a concern.
[3:34:05] >> I would like to make a motion , commissioner.
[3:34:10] all in favor. Any opposed? Motion carries. 4-0.
[3:34:21] >> that is correct. And just to be clear for the
[3:34:26] record, presented with the change to august 6. Thanks for clarifying. Cell thanks for that.
[3:34:33] and then let me, so we did not want to discuss item one yet.
[3:34:39] do dupont to discuss item two? >> did I hear that?
[3:34:49] >> that was part of it. >> I think were doing it when she comes back I think. When she comes back, I'm
[3:34:58] probably going to be calling. Let's move to item to make a
[3:35:02] list he would like to do anothe item.
[3:35:08] >> so who is presenting that one .
[3:35:12] thank you. >> I got slides but I would hav
[3:35:17] to go through all of them. I can just do highlights. This proposal, of course is tha come on board, not only
[3:35:26] statutory, each of you cares deeply about ensuring all of ou
[3:35:38] departments could so we have fo to develop a performance
[3:35:42] committee and this would help -- in 2025 through over 680
[3:35:50] projects led by our infrastructure department. Next slide. Sorry.
[3:35:54] which included the county of engineering.
[3:35:59] >> I just want to make sure we are on the same page.
[3:36:03] it is to create that? >> this is to create a committee
[3:36:07] . There is a separate number 6 on a designation. >> so 2 goes along with 6 and
[3:36:14] they can be taken separately. >> I just want to make sure we are on the right item. We are item two.
[3:36:19] thank you. Harris county flood control
[3:36:26] district. Next slide.
[3:36:31] so considering all those projects in 2025 and left for
[3:36:36] billion dollars it was spent on infrastructure and our project
[3:36:41] totals are much, much more, thi committee, make sure we stay
[3:36:47] laser focused and we would try to have more consistent protocols and we want to make sure constant budgeting
[3:36:58] schedules had reduced bureaucracy and red tape and we
[3:37:02] put look at our delivery speed and of course an overall rating
[3:37:10] of excellence. Next slide. These would be the primary functions.
[3:37:15] I'm not going to go through all of them but I want to highlight
[3:37:21] getting a better form and operational challenges. Each department has a lot of areas where they excel and have
[3:37:30] ideas in a strategic form in place for that.
[3:37:38] and there's a different infrastructure department.
[3:37:43] a little bit more consistent. We have course want to keep
[3:37:50] focused on the fire roles. And that would be the departmen
[3:37:56] heads and the three infrastructures that we are
[3:38:02] reporting. And then sending your
[3:38:06] infrastructure league. At the other thing after that
[3:38:20] slide that I want to point out is that there are a lot of infrastructure transportation related communities and
[3:38:26] workgroups and there's no clear way to receive questions from
[3:38:32] each each of you. When is the updated one is that coming. By this I think they would allo
[3:38:39] a clear place to point out a making sure it is properly
[3:38:43] elevated to the court as needed and the decision-making, so thi
[3:38:48] would not be a decision-making body, just to have more clarity
[3:38:56] together because sometimes ther are topics that are actually related. Thank you.
[3:39:05] that was my last slide. Thank you. >> thank you. >> thank you, administrator for
[3:39:13] your presentation and thank you for giving this some thought. This is something you have been talking about for quite some
[3:39:20] time and I do believe by having them work together that we will
[3:39:28] be able to improve on standardization I don't want to
[3:39:38] bother them right now but I do want to have conversation to ensure it is not create more bureaucracy and it is absolutel
[3:39:53] to affect the efficiency and more timeliness so that we can
[3:39:58] get more things done sooner rather than later. So thank you for the presentation.
[3:40:03] I'm going to be making a motion on this item.
[3:40:07] >> commissioner ellis and commissioner ramsey.
[3:40:21] >> any others? >> those are the members of tha
[3:40:25] committee. >> and two questions.
[3:40:33] does any other county do it. And have any of them had any
[3:40:44] concerns about slowing down? >> I would say not in this exac
[3:40:54] format. Our infrastructure is not set up
[3:40:58] . And that will slow down work.
[3:41:09] that is not like and every step of the way approval committee.
[3:41:16] I like the concept. I might beyond vacation.
[3:41:37] on the commissioners on the webex.
[3:41:52] so are they familiar with that? Loosely.
[3:42:02] I would say on my check-in and my conversation, no one asked
[3:42:10] especially but all the various workers and committees, they also have a lack of coordinatio between that committee.
[3:42:21] >> I have been talking about this for quite some time.
[3:42:32] and there is obviously a question because this is something new. But what I get from them is as
[3:42:40] long as it is the process, things move along faster and
[3:42:47] previously was about how many they could generate over
[3:42:53] something that others were trying to figure out so I think
[3:42:57] you're going to have a lot better coordination.
[3:43:02] >> I'll put like to hold this one until I hear from somebody
[3:43:06] in engineering. There he is there he is.
[3:43:18] sorry, my camera is not working. >> you are in pretty good shape.
[3:43:31] this committee will hinder our speed of the project. I have not seen the proposal myself.
[3:43:40] to make it smooth that way paid. >> I just want to know what I
[3:43:46] want to make sure we get on record. I don't want us to go do wood and then I hear from people
[3:43:52] later. I think it is a good
[3:43:58] administrative card. I see you doing that more perks
[3:44:09] we need to slow down a little bit so the left hand knows what the right hand is doing. >> thank you.
[3:44:30] so are we moving on that one? >> sorry, commissioner ramsey.
[3:44:38] >> anytime we get the broome to talk about infrastructure, the committee that needs to have representatives from the three
[3:44:47] major infrastructure groups, an then you have folks in core offices, just come up the infrastructure.
[3:45:04] >> one official person. And what we don't want is peopl
[3:45:14] waiting for the next infrastructure committee meetin to meet before we make a decision.
[3:45:19] as long as the committee is as long as I haven't been agenda
[3:45:31] and are providing feedback were not waiting for them to make a decision, those sorts of things I find our core offices, the
[3:45:45] court offices are working well together on infrastructure
[3:45:49] issues so there is I will call it an ad hoc group, if you will.
[3:45:58] it could be county engineering related. It could be and as we taught before I met interested in doin
[3:46:12] a lot of committee meetings and our people spending a lot of time doing that. I think there is great benefit
[3:46:19] and when they leave the meeting they should say we solved three problems today, not I can't believe we just met for two and
[3:46:29] have hours and I'm not sure what's happening.
[3:46:35] you are monitoring that making sure. The other thing is we've got items 6 and so we as we conside
[3:46:44] the infrastructure, it seems like this would be a complement
[3:46:48] of that. These should not be two separat ideas, and nation it be two separate functions and the chie
[3:46:57] infrastructure officer should b weighing in on this as well we
[3:47:05] would like to see that input from that side of it once we ge
[3:47:13] that set up and probably need a little bit more information on that before I'm ready to move forward with that.
[3:47:19] I get the concept but I just want to know who is going to be
[3:47:26] on that I see a listing general just my concern in general abou
[3:47:35] committees, if they are a great resource committee, great.
[3:47:43] it is a great source. Our folks, I think I speak for
[3:47:51] our court offices in that department or maybe we are just
[3:47:57] weaning out and we haven't even started the budget process. So just a good idea, would like to know how this compliments
[3:48:06] items 6 and you'll probably kno before I.
[3:48:12] >> I think that is fine. >> did you want me to comment o
[3:48:22] that? >> originally I had those together because I did think if it as a pair  designation.
[3:48:33] we had multiple meetings with your staff and there was a lot of questions and comments so I chose to do this separately.
[3:48:48] and at least my feedback, there was a lot of concern from the
[3:48:54] people that were part of that call.
[3:49:04] so is the thought to bring it back now I think by virtue of
[3:49:16] the boy it's been laid out as the administrator, I don't want
[3:49:23] that committee run like this committee.
[3:49:30] an the principles meet and ther is some refinement and there's
[3:49:38] two other entities. And I think I think having that
[3:49:51] would absolutely speed along those projects. And making sure will help resolve a lot of issues is all.
[3:50:08] and he will try to find his little hand on that thing. What makes sense to ask the administrator with some plan
[3:50:21] that does both. And they have some consensus to
[3:50:26] it and select when it brought back a reminder, I just want to hear it. You just have to have some hot
[3:50:34] old heartburn about it. And in the administrator would
[3:50:44] meet with them and hear them out , including the two
[3:50:50] departments and then bring it back to them.
[3:51:00] and you can bring in that business court.
[3:51:06] so for now, no action. That is the direction and that
[3:51:13] is what we heard the three of them say.
[3:51:18] and obviously it would not be delayed.
[3:51:26] I understand. And looking to item 3, excuse me
[3:51:30] , item 4. >> that is not one that I pulled
[3:51:38] . I just want to be, accent polic
[3:51:50] to continue the program through june 20, june 30, 2027.
[3:51:56] it looks like we are putting an aunt -- and end date on there. >> since that time you will hav
[3:52:10] been doing various extensions and understanding the middle
[3:52:18] right now. And so far the motion and and
[3:52:34] then you could decide to have another kind of a date in there.
[3:52:43] just make sure you get that taken care of that would be
[3:52:56] defensible in court. >> okay.
[3:53:06] I know that this is not a goal. It is a mandate because we are
[3:53:10] currently turning contracts dow and they are determined that they don't meet. So I guess there are still
[3:53:22] questions related to how we are implementing the program in general and I've only worked on projects for the last four year
[3:53:30] so I get it and I am supportive of it.
[3:53:39] and so we are making decisions on the policy.
[3:53:51] so I could see going through june 30, 2027, mainly for the
[3:54:03] disparity study. My support is going to be with concerns related to how we are currently managing that because
[3:54:10] there is judgment and discernment in that and I
[3:54:15] questioned the judgment discernment and what we are doing. >> may be some days it is
[3:54:23] impaired. >> all I would move for an make
[3:54:31] sure they are be repaired for discernment sticks.
[3:54:35] >> of that is all in favor?
[3:54:41] any opposed? Motion carries 4-0, that is item
[3:54:46] four. Colleagues, I have to go to my commitment. >> that was presented?
[3:54:52] >> so I have to go to my commitment. So commissioner, we are on item five.
[3:54:58] >> commissioner, I may try to do it from over here. I'm having trouble trying to get the thing to raise the hand.
[3:55:05] so lead us through it. >> so commissioner, one, two,
[3:55:11] three, for, five, six, seven items are being held for when she is back. I'm requesting to hold four.
[3:55:19] number 1 -- I will request three.
[3:55:23] so if you guys would please do the courtesy -- >> just as a reminder, if there is not three people in the room,
[3:55:30] we are just going to take -- we're going to lose coram.
[3:55:35] so I think -- what I understood, commissioner, we will be back at four? >> she said she will be back at
[3:55:45] four but then his living at five which seems odd. >> if we take a break --
[3:55:51] >> I thought there was an hour break. >> that's what I'm saying we need to get moving on this
[3:55:56] stuff. I didn't know that she was going to leave for two different things.
[3:56:02] so everybody knows about that. >> just if you would all make
[3:56:06] sure somebody calls me to let me know and I will hop back on when
[3:56:11] she comes back. You want to set a timer you want
[3:56:15] to try for a time and if it doesn't work --
[3:56:19] >> we are effectively out of coram. So you are being censored, commissioner.
[3:56:25] [laughter] >> unfortunately the meeting is now -- >> just call me.
[3:56:33] obviously we knew this was going to happen.
[3:56:38] >> the meeting is called at 3:01. >> at 3:01 the meeting is adjourned.
[3:56:47] we are >> it is for 29:00, it is back
[3:57:03] in session. Commissioner garcia, where did we leave off? >> I think item one, judge.
[3:57:13] >> we will go to item one. That is -- go ahead.
[3:57:21] >> good afternoon, judge, commissioners, justice innovation and the officer county administration.
[3:57:26] do we have the presentation? Next slide, please.
[3:57:34] next slide. Next slide.
[3:57:39] we will go through some of this, go ahead. So as of 63, the popular asian was thousand 800 and 84.
[3:57:48] of note on the slide, there individuals in custody or 65
[3:57:54] years old and they really good point is that there were only
[3:58:00] 167 people with stays over 1000 days which is down 52 from
[3:58:05] december 2025. So we are still having meaningful impact on some of the backlog.
[3:58:10] next slide, please. Here we are looking at the
[3:58:18] average daily population comparing 25 -- fiscal year 25 to fiscal year '26. And at the bottom we have the
[3:58:25] average stay with the same comparisons. As we all have been noting and enjoying throughout this year,
[3:58:33] we have continued to enjoy the decreases from 25 and had an
[3:58:37] incredibly stable jail population so far in 2026.
[3:58:42] that is by way of a significant decrease in the custody average length of stay. Through june third, we were at
[3:58:50] 141 days in custody with the average length of stay in jail which is outstanding. Back in september of last year,
[3:58:59] as we are implementing sb nine, that my team had done some analysis to understand what we would need to stabilize the jail
[3:59:07] population. And with sb nine being in effect and having an average length of stale was what we needed to help
[3:59:14] us stabilize the jail population we have been able to manage
[3:59:19] that, that has been good. Next slide, please.
[3:59:25] here we are looking at the felony case backlog. It continues to decrease, it is down 28% from december, down to
[3:59:33] 600. It is about a 29 person decrease. There are 128 people with
[3:59:37] undisclosed charges in custody over 1000 days.
[3:59:43] that is down 57 from 10085 in december report.
[3:59:49] still really good work by all the courts, there are a few courts that you see at the top end of the scale that really
[3:59:56] need to try to focus on some of those 1000 day cases in the backlog cases. Next slide, please.
[4:00:06] so intakes have been the thing we have been watching a little bit this year. And then the next slide I will
[4:00:12] expand on why it is concerning. But right now we are projecting
[4:00:16] to see a 4% increase in bookings in fy26 over fy27.
[4:00:22] it is an increase in intakes. You can see we spent most of 26
[4:00:29] over bookings over 2025. The bottom part of your screen,
[4:00:37] you are looking at releases compared to last year. Releases have been higher in some months then last year,
[4:00:43] which has been good. But one of the things you have heard me say, probably every single jail update I give is
[4:00:49] that in order for us to have a meaningful impact on managing
[4:00:53] the jail population and reducing the jail population, releases must outpace bookings. And we have a net of releases
[4:01:01] over bookings of only seven so far this year or through this point this year. So it is getting dangerously
[4:01:08] close as the intakes go up. The releases are not keeping pace with the increase in intakes so we will want to
[4:01:16] monitor that pretty closely. Next slide, please.
[4:01:23] so here is a new slide. I'm calling this emerging trends to monitor. The capacity at the gpc is 300.
[4:01:32] so when we start seeing months like may or april and may over
[4:01:37] 300 for the monthly average, it kind of becomes concerning.
[4:01:41] so I have added at the bottom, a 30 day running average or you can see we had days at 399. What happens when we are flying
[4:01:50] that close to the sun is we run the risk of creating some
[4:01:55] operational impact to the jail and the jp c. Where in order to maintain capacity, they are likely moving
[4:02:01] inmates to housing areas to turn around and move them back very
[4:02:06] shortly thereafter. So it is creating a lot of unnecessary movement. If this trend continues, it will
[4:02:11] be imperative that all of the stakeholder processes like probable cause hearings, determinations and all of the
[4:02:18] other stakeholder engagements of the jp c run like clockwork. We cannot have probable cause hearings being three or four or
[4:02:25] five hours behind. It will cause capacity issues at the jp c. Next slide, please.
[4:02:34] this has been one of my favorite slides.
[4:02:39] the green represents the jail case backlog and you see the steady decrease that really took a steep turn down since
[4:02:46] january 2025. That has been incredibly helpful to controlling the adp -- the reason this is been one of my
[4:02:54] favorite slides is the period between about january 20252
[4:03:03] really october of 2025. Maybe a little after was the separation between dispositions, total felony dispositions and
[4:03:11] new filings. That separation is why we have enjoyed the dramatic decreases we have seen in the jail
[4:03:18] population. And that separation is starting to narrow or thin, again with the increase is coming up,
[4:03:23] particularly those that are felony intakes that have potential staying power. We will want to monitor pretty
[4:03:29] closely, that we are keeping dispositions and releases over
[4:03:33] intakes. Next slide, please.
[4:03:39] I won't spend a whole lot of time here, other than this is your look at -- this court made substantial investments in
[4:03:46] reducing the jail backlog, it predates my tenure with
[4:03:53] harris county. There was a substantial increase made in both felony bond cases and felony jail cases.
[4:04:02] across that time period. The orange line is representing the bond cases. You can see that it fell
[4:04:07] dramatically faster than it did the jail cases. The piece -- and again, looking at beginning in january 2025, we
[4:04:16] can see a marked decrease in jail cases. That is where we started enjoying the relief of the jail
[4:04:22] and we will want to see that trend continue. Next slide, please. So to wrap up, this may be my
[4:04:30] shortest general update ever. Overall, things are working like
[4:04:36] we wanted them to work in the jail. We have had tremendous collaboration and good-faith
[4:04:41] partners throughout the justice system that has also dug in and rolled up their sleeves and try to find ways to help us have an
[4:04:47] impact on the jail population so that we can have reducing
[4:04:51] outsourcing and reduce cost of the system and that has worked.
[4:05:00] we had great partnerships with the district attorney's office, courts back public defender office.
[4:05:05] and so all of this has been possible as a result of that
[4:05:09] collaboration and partnership. The things to watch going forward are going to be the intake increases in both the
[4:05:18] jail and criminal court cases. And again, keeping and I on things being as efficient as they can with the gpc for that
[4:05:25] capacity. But also, the dispositions have
[4:05:31] a cadence. There is a finite resource and district courts. So those cases have a cadence
[4:05:38] and as intakes go out, we can't necessarily expect that the dispositions are going to follow.
[4:05:43] what we will want to watch for will be the converse of what we saw with the decrease. We saw the income city average
[4:05:50] of the state come down, which pulled the average daily jail population down. Going forward, we want to watch
[4:05:57] the adp leading. So we want to watch for the average daily jail population to start creeping up on us.
[4:06:05] it will be followed by an increase in the average length of stay because we're seeing so many new entrants into the
[4:06:10] system that some are felony level cases. Next slide, please. Judge, you had asked in february
[4:06:20] that we bring back mental health initiatives that we expected to
[4:06:24] see whether they were from the sea jcc. We added some that will be included in the budget this
[4:06:31] year. Some of things being worked on related to mental health is hard expansion.
[4:06:38] this will be a budget submission through public health. It is a budgets mission through public health this year.
[4:06:44] there's a mental health public defender pilot that has been spearheaded out of the system processing improvement committee
[4:06:52] that is a low-cost no-cost pilot being done, there is not a budget solution for it, it is being done internally.
[4:06:59] this pilot is mimicking on the district court side, what has been effective in in the county courts with ensuring
[4:07:05] appointments to the pdo. It is automated and there is an algorithm that helps identify cases that should be appointed
[4:07:12] and it will prioritize mental health cases. And then the civil commitment pathways, the d.a.'s office has
[4:07:18] been working very astutely on that.
[4:07:24] we are seeing a large increase in the number of folks who are getting a civil commitment rather than staying in jail.
[4:07:33] on the sheriff's office side, there are three programs that they have submitted in the budget this year, connect and
[4:07:39] protect, attention crisis response unit, this is additional clinicians to expand on the sheriff's office
[4:07:45] receiving a grant to start this program, they have seen successes with it. This ensures that clinicians are
[4:07:50] going and responding to calls in the jay so that a clinician is there to try to talk folks down, see if they are decompensated
[4:07:57] and, see if we need additional resources. It has been highly effective and they are asking for resources to
[4:08:02] expand that. They mental health care coordination, they are asking for case management support.
[4:08:10] I don't know if anybody has ever court watched, but there is a guy from the sheriff's office that runs from courtroom to
[4:08:17] courtroom answering questions for judges and finding resources when they need to get somebody out, but they need resources
[4:08:22] when they want to have somebody out in bond and they need resources. He is connecting,'s name is gary
[4:08:28] , he is a legend in the courthouse. He is getting them connected. This is to expand on that and
[4:08:33] provide some support and expand the reach.
[4:08:39] in the last is an idd identification program that they are asking one clinician and one case manager.
[4:08:45] >> is there a motion to continue discussion?
[4:08:49] >> almost done. >> questioned by the commissioner. Is there a second?
[4:08:54] second. All in favor? And a? Motion carried unanimously.
[4:09:00] rodney, are you on there? Commissioner ellis? I guess it is 4-0. He is there, yes.
[4:09:07] go ahead. >> so these programs in the
[4:09:13] sheriff office submission, as they got put into the budget software, they were rolled up in one case management reentry
[4:09:22] program. So it is a little hard to distinguish these. But if at any point, and if you
[4:09:27] would like the specifics on the costs for the individual or to break them out, we can do that with the budget.
[4:09:35] >> commissioner ellis, did you have your hand up or is this from before? >> must be an old hand.
[4:09:43] >> okay, commissioner briones and then ramsey. >> thank you for these updates. A few quick questions.
[4:09:50] first, can you talk about some of the key factors we see in the
[4:09:57] bookings we are seeing? And then the sb nine impact specifically, if any? >> let me pull up the dashboard
[4:10:06] real quick. >> and then my next question is for you, chief, if you were on. >> commissioner, I think the
[4:10:15] intakes -- sb-9 would necessarily have an intake
[4:10:19] impact, right? I think the impact would have
[4:10:23] more people coming to jalon moore people being arrested and brought to jail. Where sb-9 is having an impact
[4:10:29] is we have watch pretty closely, the number of people who are
[4:10:33] released in less than three days. So almost my entire time here prior to sb-9, it has been right
[4:10:40] around 61% of everybody booked into jail was released in less than three days. That percentage has gone down
[4:10:46] to, as of today, 55.2%. So what we're seeing is the fast
[4:10:52] releases, those people being released at the last bonding opportunity has declined after sb-9.
[4:10:57] now we are seeing that some of it is just a slowed process.
[4:11:01] we're seeing it pick up and some of the other days, three and 30 days, that has been an increase. It is just taking a little
[4:11:08] longer to get it out. We have seen a modest increase in the number that were ultimately detained.
[4:11:15] so I don't know that sb-9 has a direct impact on people coming into the system, but it has changed how quickly people are
[4:11:21] released. >> thank you. One other quick question for you.
[4:11:26] my understanding is that even though we approved additional hearing officers so that we could be having the hearings on
[4:11:33] parallel tracks to be more efficient and deliberate, my understanding is that we haven't been able to hire and/or keep
[4:11:41] the folks that we hire. So essentially right now we are not having the hearings, is that correct?
[4:11:48] >> that is correct. >> what are we doing to fix it? Because we are burning so much time on the clock.
[4:11:55] >> I know that the county courts expect to have a request -- a
[4:12:01] budget request expected to raise the salary of the officers so
[4:12:06] that we can convert the staff attorneys that were hired to
[4:12:10] hearing officers that would allow us to run both of those courtrooms at the jp see. That would be a game changer for
[4:12:16] capacity issues. I understand, and the county
[4:12:23] court since probably speak better to this, but we are having issues hiring existing officer positions.
[4:12:29] so I think that some of that has to get -- my understanding is
[4:12:36] there a pretty big disparities between what the hearing officers make and even what an attorney in the d.a.'s office
[4:12:42] that has similar experience to what is required to be a hearing
[4:12:46] officer. And then the hearing officers have to work 24/7 in jail. So I think there is going to
[4:12:52] have to be some work on the hearing officer salaries. >> and please work together, know you were talking to
[4:12:58] mr. Wells but we need to solve for this because this was improved a long time ago. I have many other questions but
[4:13:04] I will save them for next time, I'm especially interested in the emerging issues dockets and the progress we are having there.
[4:13:10] but very quickly, in terms, could you please provide a quick
[4:13:14] update on outsourcing and when we can expect to see the next
[4:13:18] set of reductions? Thank you.
[4:13:30] >> if chief is not on, I can answer those.
[4:13:37] so the plan for this year is a total of 250.
[4:13:43] their jails in the process negotiating the first 100 to come back, that was the amendment that was put on the
[4:13:48] contract very recently to account for the number of
[4:13:52] individuals we expect to bring back in and this year it will be a total of 250 this fiscal year. 100 in around june and about 150
[4:14:00] in december. There is a staff request submitted in the sheriff's office budget to accommodate for
[4:14:10] the 150 in december. Then in calendar year 2027 there will be another 400 coming back. It will be into buckets.
[4:14:17] it will be from spring to summer, 200, and then again late in the calendar year, another 200.
[4:14:24] that will close the contract in louisiana and have our
[4:14:29] outsourcing cut in half. We will then be in a holding pattern and believer -- either need the variance back or the
[4:14:35] construction beds back online to continue to reduce outsourcing.
[4:14:39] >> thank you for the update and I look forward to hearing about it, especially on the improvements construction and
[4:14:44] how that interplay is. So thank you.
[4:14:49] >> commissioner ramsey? >> , commissioner briones asked
[4:14:55] most of my questions. You are monitoring many different parameters related to our jail population.
[4:15:02] could be related to the d.a., could be related to the courts, it could be many other factors. So you gave the numbers that you
[4:15:13] are looking for, that you should be able to accomplish.
[4:15:17] and even if we get through 2020, you say seven, you bring in 400
[4:15:23] back in 2027. That will leave how many outsourced? >> it would cut it almost in
[4:15:28] half. It would be just under 600 still up. >> so as we look at -- and some
[4:15:36] of that is related to continued pushes in terms of a lot of
[4:15:45] these other issues. You really haven't gotten to the point to say in 2028, I think that we can be done.
[4:15:52] >> I think we will. If the construction is back online, I think we will be there.
[4:15:57] >> so it leads to being realistic, working and trying to get as much done as you can. There are other factors that
[4:16:03] could help or hurt it. But 2028 would be a number --
[4:16:07] that is the first year we have had a number to work for. That is good. >> commissioner, one of the
[4:16:15] things we are working on collaboratively with the jail and director mills office is kind of a cash flow.
[4:16:22] so what it looks like when we are bringing on staff, where we are bringing back the inmates so we have a very clear picture on
[4:16:30] how much outsourcing is going to cost us over the next two years.
[4:16:35] >> one issue I continue to focus on is this step forward. We've got a date of july, and we will talk again in july and the
[4:16:43] talk again in august. But I think that us being aware
[4:16:49] that the renovations are going, that is the first floor redo and then I think there are four or five more force that we do.
[4:16:56] and I think just stay on top of those details in terms of what is being done. And the last thing, I want to
[4:17:03] really acknowledge, chief, he has done a great job.
[4:17:10] he has created a geriatrics group, and mental health group.
[4:17:20] so what I like about that, he has taken the circumstances he is in, he is making it better for the people that are there.
[4:17:28] so even though we have resources and there are other things going on, he is making improvements just by the separation by age
[4:17:37] and by mental health. Just a great job. Just can't say enough good things about the chief.
[4:17:43] thank you. >> thank you. >> quick question. In terms of the courts that have
[4:17:51] the significant number of more than thousand day backlog, what
[4:17:59] is the conversation with those particular judges?
[4:18:05] >> so we have actually worked with the administrative judge
[4:18:11] and she is starting to bring more data to all of the judges.
[4:18:15] we have had some judges that have reached out individually and work with us. But I think she is working with
[4:18:24] the felony board and the judges to continue to highlight and leverage things that are happening in some of the courts
[4:18:32] that are managing their dockets pretty well. And seeing what can be implemented in the courts that
[4:18:37] are -- that still have pretty significant backlogs.
[4:18:43] one of the things that I think the system process improvement committee will bring up -- and the judges talked about it, is
[4:18:50] starting to set targets on what we think will be appropriate as
[4:18:55] active cases pending in any court, that number is about 150.
[4:18:59] if we can get all courts with their active pending showcases to be a 150 or less. >> all in favor?
[4:19:08] and imposed? Motion carries. Go ahead. >> if we could get all courts to
[4:19:15] have 150 or fewer active pending jail cases, that would really go a long way to help manage the jail population and really keep
[4:19:22] us out of being back in a position where we are backlog.
[4:19:27] >> so what is the -- is there hope that the judge can get them
[4:19:34] in line? >> absolutely. She will be a part of the system process improvement committee to
[4:19:43] leverage that work. And I think she is the right person for the job. There's a lot of judges that are
[4:19:49] trying to impact change across the courts.
[4:19:56] >> I will be looking for a very specific conversation on your
[4:20:00] next report. Additionally, of those -- redo
[4:20:05] the capital cases sit? Do they sit in those particular courts were there somewhere else , more spread out?
[4:20:12] >> shameless plug on the jail population dashboard, I can tell you right now we have 207 capital cases.
[4:20:20] and they stretch along many of the courts, but the ones you would expect, some of the courts at the higher end have the
[4:20:27] higher number of pending capital cases. >> and I'm glad I asked that question.
[4:20:33] so in fairness, I would suggest a different way to see that.
[4:20:38] because it is not fair to those judges to have 1000 plus days
[4:20:44] listed on their dockets and not know that they are capital
[4:20:49] cases. I think that is important to understand. >> we can highlight within the
[4:20:54] 1000 day pending, the number of capital. >> thank you. >> I agree.
[4:21:00] very briefly, I agree. It will be so helpful and agree
[4:21:05] with commissioner ramsey on his comments. Very quickly, director mills, you have just been one of the
[4:21:11] mvps of harris county. I understand this is your last term before you transition to work at the sheriff's office, is
[4:21:17] that correct? >> yes, ma'am,. >> I'm happier staying in the harris county family.
[4:21:21] and to this next report that I know we are all eager to hear about, all of these different metrics.
[4:21:27] administrator, can you please share with us will be providing the next update? >> it might be a outstanding
[4:21:36] data team that helps feed into this report with a lot of
[4:21:40] expertise, we will have the data, will have the conversations and some managers under her that help.
[4:21:45] it is a team effort, even though she has been the face. So as long as I get your questions, over you can give me
[4:21:52] seven days and we will have answers. >> thank you for staying with the harris county family.
[4:21:59] thank you. >> thank you. What is the next item? >> house show no item on action
[4:22:06] one. >> may I please cast my vote for the items when I was gone at the state bar of texas conference?
[4:22:13] for items four and 322, I vote yes. Thank you. >> item five, commissioner?
[4:22:20] >> item five was pulled by judge and commissioner ramsey.
[4:22:29] this is the request for approval to establish a purchasing optimization procurement speed and service project led by the
[4:22:37] county administration and purchasing stakeholder committee
[4:22:43] from each office and the department of economic equity and health services at county engineer, the tax office and
[4:22:53] county attorney's office to provide input and support for
[4:22:58] project findings, recommendations and the rest. >>  county administrator and I had a good conversation on this
[4:23:03] earlier in the week. I will not go into a lot of
[4:23:08] details. I was good little nervous we are about to hire consultants, what they're going to be and if
[4:23:14] they're going to come in and fix everything.
[4:23:19] so one, I think the very diligent on who we picked to
[4:23:24] come in to quote, unquote help us. Obviously, center if that director, as gauld go through
[4:23:37] the process of evaluating what you want to do, who you want to help you, just be sure it is helpful and doesn't end up
[4:23:43] creating more confusion than we had. So I'm assuming you are on board with this?
[4:23:54] >> yes commissioner, we are on board. And we appreciate the partnership with the county
[4:23:58] administration's office to facilitate.
[4:24:04] it is signed to be a sprint, using lean six sigma processes
[4:24:10] and techniques. So we don't anticipate that this is going to be an expensive endeavor and we will have a very
[4:24:18] focused consultant helping us with that. >> the hour or so you came to our office to give us on update
[4:24:24] on where you're headed was quite impressive. Thank you for what you are doing.
[4:24:29] hopefully this will help, in terms of moving forward with it.
[4:24:36] in an efficient speed. >> appreciate it, thank you. >> thank you miss williams. Next item is?
[4:24:45] >> of where we vote? I don't know if we were waiting for the judge or not. >> we can reconsider it.
[4:24:52] do you want to make a motion? >> I make a motion.
[4:24:57] >> all in favor? All oppose? The motion carried unanimously. >> marker absent until she comes
[4:25:08] back. >> item six, this is the infrastructure officer. >> I think we had that
[4:25:14] conversation, commissioner, we want to have more conversation.
[4:25:20] so no action on that one. And next is item seven.
[4:25:29] item seven has been called by commissioner briones. Looking for action on the county contract control program.
[4:25:37] >> yes, I pulled item seven to essentially say thank you for
[4:25:42] the cross county departmental collaboration in the collaboration with our law enforcement partners, are
[4:25:49] constables as well as our sheriff's office. As you may recall, and house bill 26, passed in 2025, it
[4:25:57] allows our law enforcement agencies to enter directly into any contracts. So I really appreciate the
[4:26:02] collaboration that balances ever desire to make sure we are
[4:26:06] enhancing public safety across harris county, making sure we are implementing the pay parity that we passed, as well as
[4:26:15] access to contract patrol services that is affordable.
[4:26:20] so what this essentially does, this is based on months of collaboration and agreed-upon floor rate rate of 60 5:30 five
[4:26:29] and for underserved neighborhoods, then there could
[4:26:34] be a hardship exemption. And I have two motions that
[4:26:38] essentially -- and I'm happy to read them now, unless my colleagues have any feedback. But the bottom line is that I
[4:26:47] appreciate that it gives quite a bit of poetic license.
[4:26:52] and I appreciate everybody working as a team. So we have the collaboration, the foresight, the planning and
[4:26:59] coming up with processes together. So the two motions are a motion amended the counties policy
[4:27:07] allowing for 65% contractor and 35% county split contracts, the
[4:27:12] motion requesting that the county attorney's office and the office of the county administration, and consultation
[4:27:19] with the and consultation with the office of management and budget and county law enforcement agencies returned to court with a proposed process and eligibility
[4:27:25] criteria, allowing -- this is the hardship exemption, the six
[4:27:31] de40 contract patrol agreement in cases where neighborhoods are significantly economically disadvantaged.
[4:27:36] so those are the two motions, and an ecosystem that there was
[4:27:40] still be the 70 have been 30, a-20 and the 30%.
[4:27:45] that will and it oessentially other adopts
[4:27:49] the floor of 650, 35, as well as helping to create a exception
[4:27:56] forunder served neighborhoods. Thank you to all of the stakeholders who helped us reach the solution.
[4:28:02] >> two motions is there a second? >> the second has been made. Discussion.
[4:28:06] I in tend to vote for your first item, commissioner.
[4:28:10] I do have concerns about the second motion. My only concern is that we do want to help underserved areas.
[4:28:19] however,iun served areas may not be able to afford the 60-40.
[4:28:24] I would just ask for a friendly amendment to look at other and
[4:28:31] include other strategies in addressing thoseunder served areas outside of a contract program.
[4:28:37] >> yes, absolutely accepted. >> thank you, commissioner. >> commissioner. >> yes, sir.
[4:28:42] >> if I might. I'm going to vote no at this-point on both motion. Until something comes back to
[4:28:50] benefit the low income communities. I just vote no. At this time.
[4:28:55] >> james d you vote for the amendment? >> no, that a additional strategy be concerned for
[4:29:03] underserved areas, outside of the contract program. >> okay, I will allow that to the end of the second motion.
[4:29:11] >> alright, motion on both second by commissioner ramsey. All in favor? >> aye.
[4:29:16] all opposed? >> commissioner ellis is opposed I would assume judge hidgo would oppose, it would be, 3-2.
[4:29:26] >> vote, until she comes back. That motion was by commissioner
[4:29:30] brownis. >> made by me. Seconded by commissioner ramsey. >> voted by the three of us, 3-
[4:29:36] 1 until amends our votes. Thank you. >> all right, next item is item 40, is that correct?
[4:29:43] >> that is correct, sir. This is pulled by commissioner
[4:29:47] brownis. Request to purchase a certain track of neighborhood price for the harris flood control
[4:29:54] district for public project known as keegan storm water detention basis phase three. I won't read the rest of the
[4:30:01] numbers, which is 250,000 over the appraised value.
[4:30:06] >> yes, I just, flagged this item to community my gratitude
[4:30:10] to flood control, and the community. This keegan storm water detention basin is in the heart
[4:30:17] of a leaf. So, in this keegan bay ow over
[4:30:21] 1000 structures flooded during harvey. And the first basin is in progress.
[4:30:27] this will help implement the second and the third basin compartments. This is really amazing.
[4:30:32] just to drive home the point, this project consists of three
[4:30:36] base thanes will be spread over 63 acres
[4:30:42] just how in tense and complicated and vast these projects are. Each of the three basin also
[4:30:49] hold 400 acre feet of water to put it in a lay person's term,
[4:30:53] each basin will hold 200 olympic-sized pools worth of
[4:30:58] batter. Think about the protection that will offer our community and beyond.
[4:31:10] construction is underway and allow us to build the two additional contention basin. In sum this keegan project will
[4:31:17] reduce the flooding risk for over 23,000 residents and over
[4:31:24] 500 structures I'm very grateful to harris flood district, for
[4:31:29] their work driving this progress protecting our families from
[4:31:36] flooding is our top priority. And will be laser focused. As such I proudly and thank youfully move item 40, as
[4:31:44] presented. >> second. >> second. All in favor, aye. >> motion carries. All right.
[4:31:50] next item, I have 140, is that correct, jake?
[4:31:55] I this has been pulled by commissioner ellis request for approval of the selected census track for nomination of
[4:32:03] opportunity zone 2.0 for the sd tracks. Either support dynamic areas of investment or seek to attract
[4:32:10] investment to economically depressed communities. And authorization to submit the nomination packet to the texas
[4:32:17] governor's office of economic development and tourism for potentials designation by the u.s. Treasury.
[4:32:22] commissioner ellis you've got a motion? >> yeah, a quick motion. I think I sent around to direct
[4:32:29] iga to work with deeo to assure alignment between opportunities
[4:32:35] zone 2.0 for potentials submission of harris census track to be considered. At the 625 business court.
[4:32:43] I move it with that friendly miami. Yeah. >> I'll second.
[4:32:48] the motion. All in favor? >> aye? >> opposed? >> the motion passes unanimously.
[4:32:54] >> just to be clear for the record. The the motion that was spoken what was approved?
[4:33:00] >> correct. >> that's what what is approved I'm sorry. >> thank you.
[4:33:06] >> okay. So next item 215.
[4:33:11] that is the arpa general fund. And this has been pulled by
[4:33:17] commissioner brunis and I. So commissioner, this is request
[4:33:22] by the office county administration to approve request to reallocate the total up to five,624,299.21 in funds
[4:33:36] to support the fiscal year 2027 general fund budget.
[4:33:42] >> yes, I second that. >> okay. Motion has been made. And, let me check here.
[4:33:48] I also have a motion to direct omb to include in the proposal
[4:33:54] fiscal year 2027 budget a proposal to increase funding for the domestic violence assistant fund by $900,few for 2027 and an
[4:34:07] additional $9 20,000 for 2028, using 1.8 million.
[4:34:14] >> I second that. >> two mission advise been made. Second have been made. All in favor?
[4:34:19] >> aye. >> all 70 posed? >> motion is carried unanimous. >> need to get clarification.
[4:34:26] the item itself was approved? >> yes, and the second motion to the item. >> so it was gasser yaw.
[4:34:33] you made the second by the commissioner brownis. >> all right. Thank you.
[4:34:38] next item is 229. This is pulled by the judge.
[4:34:44] we'll hold that one. 234 has also been held.
[4:34:49] we'll pull that for the judge. 259 is pulled by commissioner
[4:34:55] ramsey. Request for approval for a renewal option and the order permitting the assignment of a
[4:35:02] contract with horn llp a signer to be bdo government llc a
[4:35:09] signee for compliance services for the texas solar for alogical
[4:35:14] lition for harris county for the period of june ten, 2026,
[4:35:19] through june nine, 2027 at cost of $694,000.
[4:35:26] n wbe is 14 spoken 3%. Commissioner ramsey.
[4:35:31] >> it is still, some of this is related to grant. I know it is no budget impact. But we're still getting a
[4:35:39] commercial pieper. We just need to vote. >> commissioner, thank you. I just want to say that on this,
[4:35:45] particular item t represents for me, another important step in building out the access to health program in precinct 2 as
[4:35:54] a hub for community-based care and support. At the newly launched channel complex, the gustava, it is 284,
[4:36:08] I'm sorry. You should have caught me on that one. Commissioner ramsey it needs a
[4:36:12] vote. Is there a second? >> 259, I will move 259, as presented and happy we're moving
[4:36:18] the solar for all work forward. It is critical to help our
[4:36:22] underserved communities and critical to community the energy
[4:36:27] transition so, we can continue dominating and make sure we're protecting and preserving the environment I move as presented.
[4:36:33] >> second, all in favor? >> aye. Opposed? >> no.
[4:36:40] >> which item is it 259. >> yeah, that's fine. So, I will say, I requested kindly of my colleagues that we
[4:36:48] hold 250, 240, and 344. >> I did?
[4:36:53] >> it doesn't sound like it. >> yeah. >> so let's go to 215, then. >> all right, 215--
[4:37:04] real quickly, judge. For your clarification. James there's a couple of votes that we took.
[4:37:10] I indicated that judge would likely vote against one.
[4:37:16] and would vote and support another. Could you give her that information. >> but see, you didn't hold it is the point.
[4:37:22] so I want to go back to item 215. >> no these are prior to 215. >> I'm concerned about 215 right
[4:37:29] now. >> all right so, 215 the
[4:37:41] shifting of arpa funds. Is that a ramos thing?
[4:37:51] >> yes, judge. This was a directive, a court motion that the oca do the arpa work with each of your offices.
[4:37:59] the initial effort was to try to find up to $10 million of
[4:38:05] reallocation that would have minimal or almost no programattic impact. As arpa winds down each month
[4:38:11] they check with each program to understand how well they're spending in each category. Working each of your offices
[4:38:18] they found $5.6 million, that would have minimal or almost no
[4:38:23] impact that received consensus. That is what the proposal was
[4:38:27] from the court for consideration.
[4:38:37] >> okay. Commissioner elis? >> so, just to make sure, I think we did vote on this one.
[4:38:42] so you came up with a consensus that you would have $5.6 million
[4:38:50] to put towards the deficit? >> yes, put back in the general
[4:38:54] fund. >> and so, what we just did a
[4:38:58] second ago, so we agree to the $5.6, but took $1.6 out of it?
[4:39:07] we earmarked $1.6 million to go somewhere else?
[4:39:11] >> yes. >> so, so that means you really
[4:39:17] end up with $5.6 towards the deficit minus the 1.8.
[4:39:25] >> I'm sorry commissioner, it is $900,000 for next year.
[4:39:29] >> yes, so my preference would be we just decide, when we go through the budget process. The domestic violence is a major
[4:39:36] issue. I'm for it, my preference would
[4:39:40] be, I don't think I caught it. It is a little late where I am. My preference would be, we just decide that in the budget
[4:39:48] process. Because if we had a consensus on $5.6 million towards the deficit, that we know we have to
[4:39:58] live with. I would be for the $900,000py
[4:40:03] but my preamps would be when we get to it in the budget.
[4:40:07] my preference would be when we get to it in the budget. >> so has 215 been voted on yes, or no?
[4:40:15] >> but I just heard we didn't go over it. So just for the record. >> no, I said I wanted 2   15 I
[4:40:23] said 215. So, but the commissioner ellis I'm not catching you. Are you saying you want to
[4:40:28] change your vote? >> yeah, I would like to vote to bring the item back up and prefer when we go through the
[4:40:34] budget process. I think that's how we ended up sort of the in the position that we're at.
[4:40:39] just go through the budget process. I'm pretty sure I would be for the $900,000 on domestic
[4:40:46] violence. But we want to see what elsewhere want to apply some of it toward.
[4:40:51] instead of now. If not, why don't we divey it all up? I would make a motion to send
[4:40:55] the rest of it somewhere, if we will do it without going through the budget process. But the motion I'm making is to
[4:41:02] bring that back up. >> mr. Ramos, this goes through
[4:41:07] a committee process, correct? >> the arpa reallocating.
[4:41:13] that's correct. >> this has been an ongoing process? >> correct, since our committee
[4:41:19] was formed. Then, this, particular was a direct from court in april, I believe.
[4:41:25] >> and we've already taken other votes on reallocating arpa
[4:41:31] correct? >> yes,. >> I stand behind my initial vote.
[4:41:37] >> I will stay with my vote. >> I just want to understand the initial vote. You know I did assume that you
[4:41:44] would have the colleagues would have the courtesy to wait for me, as requested. I'm just catching up here.
[4:41:51] and my understanding is that there was a motion--
[4:41:55] there's basically a motion to take funds from certain arpa
[4:42:01] projects and then give them to the budget?
[4:42:08] >> essentially close the deficit. >> to close the deficit. >> right.
[4:42:12] >> that was the initial motion, commissioner gasser yaw made and commissioner made the subsequent motion.
[4:42:18] >> yeah, so okay. So I see here. Harris public health said we could release up to $35,000
[4:42:26] without effecting performance. Cool. I'm for that. Led screening advertising and
[4:42:32] conference-related costs. No impacts to services. Fine. Abaitment to travel and medical
[4:42:38] supplies. Fine. Frankly I still think it is important and the people should
[4:42:42] have been allowed to decide, whether they wanted to cut medical supplies and better train personnel, but fine.
[4:42:50] reproductive access fun. No impact expected food and nutrition surplus remaining after a vendor close out.  Early
[4:43:00] reach I'm just kind of really puzzled by that I'll come back to it. Then, so the people were not in
[4:43:11] favor elqn disparity. Allocated  to lone star college.
[4:43:16] lone star has declined okay. Harris hub expected surplus,
[4:43:21] okay. Rapid ec survey, expected surplus okay. Women empowerment center, no
[4:43:29] impact. Detention officers no impact. That's fine. Pre-trial analytics no impact.
[4:43:35] so fine. Voter outreach inform impact surplus from a closed program. Fine.
[4:43:40] affordable housing administration. Equivalent to two positions in admin and compliance.
[4:43:45] confident we can maintain service levels all right. So I have concern on two of these.
[4:43:51] domestic, taking money from domestic violence and taking
[4:43:56] money from children education slots.
[4:44:01] so I think on the domestic violence my motion would be to
[4:44:10] allocate the entirety of these funds to domestic violence.
[4:44:16] to initiatives around domestic violence no matter where it is.
[4:44:23] >> you said, the whole. >> second motion. Can you walk through the court asked to find $10 million.
[4:44:30] the arpa committee met and came back with $5.6.
[4:44:34] it is approving $5.6 to move to general. The history, and please add to this.
[4:44:39] that the short version of the history is the the houston area
[4:44:44] women center was not able to spend is the arpa grant funds. So they returned them what the second motion gasser yaw read is
[4:44:53] taking the grant funs never used and putting them in the harris
[4:44:58] domestic violence occurred fating council because they can deploy them and put them to work in our community.
[4:45:03] that is what was achieved by the second part of the motion.
[4:45:18] houston area women center came on they working closely with our
[4:45:23] arpa team pmo and their spending was not able to get off the
[4:45:28] ground at the speed neated  to make the strict deadlines. They presented about that. They apologized perfusely that's
[4:45:36] why the $3.8 million is available. >> that's correct. >> okay.
[4:45:48] what was it reallocated to? That would be the motion.
[4:45:54] clerk do you want to read the motion? >> so the first motion was to approve the item, as presented
[4:46:01] for the $5.6. >> I'm sorry, what you mean
[4:46:07] $5.6. I need complete sentences james, because I'm catching up here. >> sorry, the motion I have was
[4:46:13] to basically approve item 215 as presented on the agenda.
[4:46:18] >> approve item 215 as presented. Well what is as presented? >> as presented was to
[4:46:27] reallocate $5,625,299 in funds to support the f y general 27
[4:46:35] budget. >> right that sort of general, but specifically there's darrenriesy 3.8 million for
[4:46:41] domestic violence supports. So, I get it. Hawk was not able to work on that.
[4:46:47] so all of the $3.8 million are going to what, exactly?
[4:46:52] >> with that motion it would just be money that you all could then make particular. But that is just going into a
[4:47:00] broad bucket for f y27. That was the first motion.
[4:47:04] >> if I might. >> commissioner, I'm sorry, I'm trying to catch up here, too you'll let me.
[4:47:09] then what was the second motion? >> the second motion was motion
[4:47:15] to direct omb to include in the proposed physical year 2027
[4:47:19] budget a proposal to increase funding for the domestic violence assistance fund by $900,000 for fiscal year 2027
[4:47:31] and additional $900,000. For 2028. Using up to $1.8 million in allocated funds.
[4:47:38] >> no, I'm not okay with that. Basically you're saying you will take $3.8 million from domestic violence.
[4:47:45] then you're going to give less than $2 million over two years,
[4:47:51] instead of having this as a reoccurring expense for domestic
[4:47:55] violence. I believe that's a really, big issue. And the fact that one
[4:48:00] organization for whatever reason wasn't able to see it through. I mean there's so many worthy organizations in harris county
[4:48:07] that work to support mostly women, who are victims of
[4:48:12] domestic violence. Harris county, fox 26,
[4:48:18] october 20, 2025. Harris county shows disturbing rise in murders tied  to domestic violence.
[4:48:23] from a public safety standpoint, from a just basic human at this
[4:48:30] standpoint. No way. I'm a no on that one. And then, so the other one is
[4:48:40] take what is this-- I would like to vote on these
[4:48:44] individually. I'm for some and I'm against some. I don't think we can just vote
[4:48:49] on them in bulk. So can I please take each of
[4:48:54] them? So I can express my vote?
[4:48:58] >> so I think we will need a motion to reconsider the item, since it has already been approved.
[4:49:04] and. >> but if they don't want to reconsider it, then I don't get to vote the way I vote.
[4:49:09] I requested it is on the record. I requested that this be held. >> I understand that judge. >> so I would like to record my
[4:49:15] vote and my vote is not for or against all of them. It is for some, and against some.
[4:49:22] so how do I do that? >> I think unfortunately the way the motion was voted on was, essentially in totem.
[4:49:28] so it is either yes, or no to that can be added. Or we need to reconsider the whole item some that needs to be
[4:49:35] a motion to reconsider it. >> but they're not going to reconsider it. I do appreciate all of you guys
[4:49:41] are, you know going on with this clearly. It is an important issue. Not only are we taking money
[4:49:48] away from domestic violence and early childhood but not allowing
[4:49:52] me to be in the room when we do that and enheard my request. So is there a motion to allow me to vote no on two of these?
[4:49:59] and yes, on the rest? >> you can make the motion.
[4:50:08] you just need a second. >> there's an a motion. There's not a second. >> you can make the motion,
[4:50:15] judge. >> I'm making the motion. >> I'll second it. >> okay. >> all right, so I'm trying to be able to vote no on taking
[4:50:25] money from domestic violence and from early childhood education.
[4:50:30] I would like to be able to record my vote per my duty and
[4:50:35] responsibility, as an elected official, that represents all of
[4:50:40] the residents of harrisco county. So all in favor? >> aye.
[4:50:46] >> any opposed? >> part of the money is being reallocated  to domestic violence?
[4:50:51] >> it is the little part. >> but I want to vote. >> if you could be more specific that would be easier to vote.
[4:50:58] >> I would like to be able to vote the way I would like to vote. >> I'll vote, so you can vote
[4:51:04] and we will move on. And with-- and you can vote. >> motion carries for me to be
[4:51:10] able to vote, yes,. >> thank you. >> it is agreed to. >> so then, let's move to, so
[4:51:17] access harris is there a motion to take 246 from access harris
[4:51:24] without impacting program performance? Just to be clear though, it is not just some of them.
[4:51:29] some of them the work hasn't been done. Can you give the reasons? I know the committee spent
[4:51:36] countless hours. >> but my representative voted no. So, everyone can vote their own
[4:51:42] way, but some of the programs, unfortunately haven't begun so, with the arpa deadline, know we having until the end of the year
[4:51:49] what is viable and not viable. Could you police give us
[4:51:54] actually facts to make actually decisions. >> I'm okay, with access harris, they don't need it fine,
[4:52:00] reallocate it. I'm opposed to reallocating funds that go to children, and go to battered women.
[4:52:07] that's all. Irrespective the majority of the
[4:52:11] committee representatives might have thought it wise to
[4:52:15] reallocate, to take funds from domestic violence and early childhood programs. My staff and I do not.
[4:52:21] that's it. If you want him to go every, single one we can. If you would like to express.
[4:52:27] >> just, in the interests of san at this. >> like ■me, I votea lot. I'm the only one voting no.
[4:52:35] and I'm recorded. I support every one of the ones
[4:52:41] listed here I think we have a majority supporting it.
[4:52:45] >> we can record your vote to officially be on record.
[4:52:53] but all of these have been approved already.
[4:52:57] so you can record your vote, much like I do every meeting on
[4:53:02] there's some of these I don't agree with and record the vote. Which one are you no. We don't have to talk about it.
[4:53:09] >> no, but I think I have a right to talk about it. It is a really, really important item.
[4:53:15] I mean, representatives from all of our offices voted to give
[4:53:20] over $140 million to initiatives supporting early childhood
[4:53:27] education. So I think that was--
[4:53:32] when we made that promise and we made the promise to then figure
[4:53:37] out a way to continue them, we reneged on that promise last year. When we decided that we didn't
[4:53:45] want to trust the voters. At the may be the majority
[4:53:49] didn't trust the voters as much as I did. To see if they were willing to pay a penny more to keep these
[4:53:55] successful programs going. You know-- I for one happyilly live with the verdict of the voters of
[4:54:01] harris county. But certainly if we're going to default on the promise we made, when we decided to support these
[4:54:07] programs. Let us now accelerate the damage by ending programs, once earlier than was originally planned.
[4:54:15] so that is my statement for that reason, I vote no on ending the
[4:54:22] early childhood program earlier, national teamed to not letting it go to the voters. Motion to extend discussion?
[4:54:30] >> nope. >> ah, I'll make a motion to be
[4:54:35] able to extend discussion? >> so people, so how am I going
[4:54:42] to record the vote, if I can't have discussion. >> look I'll second to extend the motion.
[4:54:47] I want to say on some of these funds the issue is, we couldn't spend it to meet the deadline. >> right, that's not this
[4:54:53] though. That's not this. >> yes, it is. >> I think it is.
[4:54:59] >> it is. >> that's why I said. >> commissioner ellis, on this one --
[4:55:06] >> I think this is money that our staff members got together. The money has to be reallocated because we couldn't meet the
[4:55:13] deadline. We would apply it towards the deficit what we did, then what we did early
[4:55:18] year was go and say, okay, but we're not going to put it all towards the deficit. That was a motion to say, carve
[4:55:26] out x amount to go to domestic violence. When you were not in the the room, I said, I think I'm for
[4:55:33] that, but I prefer we do it, when we get to the budget process. Because we do have a deficit,
[4:55:38] that we have to deal with. And this $500 million is only a
[4:55:44] drop in the bucket for the deficit we have to deal with. Look, the houston area women center is my neighborhood.
[4:55:52] so I'm going to be supportive, but I think it would be better for all of us f we just did it when we go through the budget
[4:55:59] process. >> but you already voted yes, on all of this. And didn't give me a chance to
[4:56:05] vote. I thought james, you said that the people voted for this entire reassignment?
[4:56:12] >> yes, mam. >> how am I to believe what comes out of here f it is literally, we just heard that it
[4:56:18] was voted. I'm hearing no, we didn't. I said, you guys didn't wait for me.
[4:56:23] you said yes, we did. So yes, we voted for it. Commissioner if you would like to wait, until the budget, we
[4:56:30] would have to vote again. And the majority would have to vote no. Maybe I'm just really not.
[4:56:37] >> to get us off the here this evening. Colleagues, I would successful goaling, I think the votes will
[4:56:41] be there to put into domestic violence. I was asking earlier and didn't have the votes.
[4:56:47] I said let's do it when we get to the budget process. What's the budget mr. Ramos, what is the shortfall.
[4:56:54] >> $129 million, commissioner. >> out of $129 million, I know that's a leap to say where we get something today.
[4:57:01] trust me, that's $129 million we will have to cut. The question is, do you want to cut that down to $124 right now
[4:57:12] and figure it out later or cut it to $120, you want to leave,
[4:57:19] $800,000 off of the table right now? That's really the crux am I right mr. Ramos or not?
[4:57:26] >> yes, sir. >> james for the record so everyone is level setting could you please read the votes for
[4:57:31] the first motion on 215, and the second? Then if anyone wants to vote differently they can.
[4:57:40] >> I show. >> they record their own vote. >> the first motion was 4-0. Judge you were absent.
[4:57:46] >> right, that's why I'm saying let's go through each of them. That's what I've been asking for.
[4:57:51] >> and the second motion was also 4-0. >> but going over it doesn't do anything, if I'm not allowed to
[4:57:58] record my vote, james. >> I need to go every each one. >> point of order, we have, we have not voted on the motion to
[4:58:05] extend the time. >> okay make a motion to extend the time. >> all right.
[4:58:10] second. >> all in favor of tensioning the time to allow discussion? Any opposed?
[4:58:15] >> no. >> yeah. I just, you know. So judge, I think at this stage,
[4:58:23] what probably needs to happen as you said. Go through those individual items and the body can vote on
[4:58:30] each, individual item. Then following those individual items, the motion that commissioner garcia made that
[4:58:38] commissioner brinoa related to the $900,000. >> I'm not okay. Want to go item by item.
[4:58:45] >> you can start on each individual item. >> that's what I'm trying to do. On public health this does not
[4:58:52] impact current performance? >> are we? We didn't vote. We voted no to extend the time.
[4:58:59] >> I know this is a vote. I think we're actually taking the vote now as I understand it? >> it is just so fiduciary not
[4:59:05] to allow the county executive that represents 5 million people
[4:59:09] to speak. It is fiduciary. It is not the first time, you guys.
[4:59:14] you know. Just putting that out there. >> all right. You realize all of this is
[4:59:18] recorded. >> okay, so then screen nog
[4:59:23] impacts to services. So I'm for that one. Let abaitment it says, reduction to travel and training.
[4:59:31] some medical supplies. I'm not for that. I don't want to reduce travel and training and medical
[4:59:38] supplies it. Seems pretty important. Then, reproductive health fund. No expected impact.
[4:59:44] not expected to impact program performance. I'm for that one. Food and nutrition surplus
[4:59:50] remaining, after vendor close out.  I'm for reallocated those
[4:59:54] funds. Early reach on, this impact to
[5:00:01] childcare providers. Staff layoff, as I said, I think it would really be adding injury to insult to not only put this
[5:00:07] to the voters, but end it earlier than it is means to.
[5:00:12] so I would call attention to this later. Then, elqn. >> judge is that a yes, or no?
[5:00:19] >> it is a, it is absolutely a no.
[5:00:24] you'll see this isn't going to go away. >> elqn. Minimal impact on but would
[5:00:30] reduce check in conducted by children. I mean I think children at risk, as someone abused as a child, I
[5:00:36] think that's pretty important. I don't want to reallocate check
[5:00:40] in with children, who have been sexually abused.
[5:00:45] disparity fund emphasis on funds that lonestar college has design
[5:00:51] loined yes, we reallocate. Harris hub an expected surplus, so yes, I'm okay to reallocate that.
[5:00:58] rapid e survey. There is a surplus.
[5:01:02] so yes, lie reallocate that. Women empowerment center. No impact to performance, sure. We'll reallocate that.
[5:01:10] the detention officer no impact. Yes, to reallocating pre-trial
[5:01:15] analytics no impact surplus. Yes, to reallocating voter
[5:01:19] outreach from a closed program. Agree reallocating affordable
[5:01:24] housing, confident can maintain service levels equivalent to two positions in administration and compliance.
[5:01:32] okay. We'll reallocate that I think compliance is pretty important. And another sort of adding
[5:01:40] injury to insult no, pun in tended  to battered women, the
[5:01:47] program this program, in particular has not been successful. But it can be $3.8 million
[5:01:53] reallocated  to domestic violence. Only $1.8 is reallocated and only over the course of several
[5:02:00] years. So, to cut $3.8 to $900,000 for
[5:02:05] domestic violence, absolutely no way. Absolutely no way. Those are my votes.
[5:02:09] commissioner ellis you had your hand up. >> judge, just to clarify. I just want to make sure.
[5:02:15] those were individuals motions on each item.
[5:02:20] so, it really should be motion to this allocation, because the
[5:02:25] rest of the court members we did a motion considering everyone
[5:02:29] needs to revote effectively. >> so motion to reallocate?
[5:02:36] >> no, if you can read what you just said on each one.
[5:02:40] >> I am voting for each one of those. And she voted against some of those it is our recorded vote.
[5:02:46] >> it is hard to tell. What do you want me to read for each one? What would you say for the
[5:02:53] access harris one. >> motion to approve. >> okay. >> all of them, except for the
[5:03:00] specific ones you're voting against. >> motion to approve all of the reallocations, except for elqn,
[5:03:08] check ins on sexually abused children.
[5:03:14] and domestic violence supports funding for domestic violence
[5:03:23] initiatives severely reducing that. And then the early reach curting children's education programs
[5:03:35] earlier than everybody was expecting. Is there a motion to approve all of them, except for those three?
[5:03:48] >> executive motion. >> sure that, can be my motion. >> I'll second it. >> make a motion seconded by
[5:03:53] commissioner ellis? All in favor? >> aye. >> no. Because again, these dollars are parts of programs that otherwise
[5:04:00] are not going to meet the spending deadlines and our arpa
[5:04:05] committee be spent countless hours reviewing each program I stand behind the initial 215, motion one and two.
[5:04:13] >> no. I think we're voting to
[5:04:18] reconsider. So you've deleted what we already did. But that's gone.
[5:04:22] >> we're voting. >> so your not approving all of the other reallocations?  You just voted nonon reproductive
[5:04:31] health, nutrition. >> point of order, judge. We have already considered the item.
[5:04:35] the vote has been taken. Can we please take another item. >> commissioner garcia I think what's happened is there a vote
[5:04:43] to reconsider all of the votes, in order to do the individual some the motion was, that's now on the table.
[5:04:48] that the specific items that two past things that I believe that
[5:04:54] the judge would vote for some then those items that are left are the ones she would not vote for.
[5:05:01] so, baited on the way we have done it in the past. You could all approve those. And then, and then go back.
[5:05:08] >> and the remainer could be voted on in which she could record a no vote, if that makes sense.
[5:05:14] >> if you want to do the same before, you needed to vote yes. Otherwise you're saying you don't want to reallocate
[5:05:20] anything. I'm fine, thatz what commissioner ellis and I want to do it in the budget.
[5:05:25] okay, I'm a no. She's a no, he's a no. So we do not want to reallocate anything so, that motion
[5:05:33] carries. >> was the motion to reconsider. >> it was the motion to reconsider the whole item n
[5:05:39] which it was 4-1 vote some the motion come back. So she's now, we're now taking them individually.
[5:05:46] she's identified the three that she would support and the two she would not. >> the three, the three that I
[5:05:52] would not support and the nine. >> and back on the docket but it
[5:05:56] is the way you want to structures it. The way you have done it in the the past.
[5:06:00] >> and I made that clear earlier. That her vote would be recorded. So, do we have her listed as a
[5:06:11] vote earlier, james? >> which because I put her down
[5:06:16] voting the way rodny would vote. >> no, we made it clear, that at
[5:06:21] the time that she was absent, she would have to come back and voice her vote. >> I mean you can't vote for me,
[5:06:29] commissioner, as much as you wish I weren't here. I'm afraid I was elected twice and don't get to vote for me.
[5:06:36] right so, we both, our votes weigh the same. And I have a right to vote on behalf of my constituents.
[5:06:43] so I was making a motion for all of these, but to reallocate the
[5:06:50] funding for all of these. Except for the visits to
[5:06:56] sexually children sexually abused children. The cutting of the earlier childhood programs, earlier, and
[5:07:03] the reduction in money for battered women. So, if people would like to have those reallocations to the
[5:07:10] general fund, they should vote yes. I would like for it all to go to budget.
[5:07:17] I would vote no. If you guys want to agree with
[5:07:21] me. That's fine. I feel very, I commit to letting you guys vote.
[5:07:27] >> yes, commissioner. >> I think commissioner ramsey. >> again, there are, when we vote on instead of voting on
[5:07:35] every, one of these, historically what we've done is pulled one or two out. >> that's what I'm trying to do.
[5:07:41] >> and voted what I'm saying is I support the reallocation as
[5:07:46] state I'd should be recorded as a yes, on all of these. That's what I would be. Yes, on all of these.
[5:07:53] >> yes, so commissioner ramsey. >> my recorded vote. >> do I have a second. I made any motion already
[5:07:59] before. Do I need a second again? Or does commissioner ellis second?
[5:08:04] >> I seconded it before. So we're fine. So all in favor we're doing what you've said.
[5:08:12] we're smart people. It is not complicated. >> commissioner ramsey. >> doing exactly what you're
[5:08:18] asking. So right now we're voting for all of them, but the ones that I'm concerned about.
[5:08:24] and you are voting yes, to reallocate all of them, but the
[5:08:28] ones I'm concerned about. And presumably once those three I'm concern beside you will vote yes, and I will vote nos.
[5:08:36] so right now I've made the commission, commissioner ellis. >> just to be clear, judge this is a motion for all of the items
[5:08:42] except for the led abaitment. >> no. Except for, except for elqn that check in conducted by children
[5:08:51] at risk. On sexually assaulted children.
[5:08:56] and then, early reach, judge, can you please refer to them
[5:09:02] under the rca. >> it just says early reach. My table says, the name of the program.
[5:09:10] >> yes, what am I supposed to be looking at? >> what I have right now it is called for the kids with the
[5:09:22] sexual assault. That one is called elqn.
[5:09:27] that's what I have written here. What am I supposed  to call it?
[5:09:32] >> answering that, can I ask a legal question, please. If this motion by motion, if it fails, then we can just reurge
[5:09:40] the motions as originally presented and just vote for clarity so, that the record is clear.
[5:09:45] >> sure, you can. I understood that the, this was going to be on the way we normally do for example travel
[5:09:52] and training. We vote on the ones that, and
[5:09:56] just in order for her to record a no vote. >> if she wants to record a no vote.
[5:10:01] it is not just a value proposition. These were programs that cannot meet the spending deadline and
[5:10:06] the money will be lost e virusus repurposing it proactively to
[5:10:10] put it to work for the people of harris county.
[5:10:15] so it doesn't to quote unquote save is it lose it because they
[5:10:20] are identified as not able to be completed so let's be superclear
[5:10:24] I would rather be clear and just vote on the original motions to make it straightforward. >> understood.
[5:10:34] you can do it either way you want to do it take it the way we do travel or training or as you successful goalinged.
[5:10:40] it is your choice. >> so, if I might.
[5:10:45] I've been real quiet.  If we vote the way the judge is troying to have a vote. We can let her record her vote.
[5:10:53] when we go back and vote are we at risk of losing any of this
[5:10:57] money. I'm not going to vote to lose any money. So I think we get there, but we
[5:11:01] can move on. >> so do the texas two-step
[5:11:06] commissioner. >> I see the confusion we have with james. The table he has nowhere on the
[5:11:11] table does it say elqn. So what, where is that one on
[5:11:16] his table? >> that was not, when the
[5:11:21] steering committee came to their final recommendations elqn was
[5:11:26] not on there. >> I'm only opposed  to two. That was the confusion. Let's then, making a motion to
[5:11:33] approve all of these reallocations, except for the
[5:11:39] reallocation called early reach, which would end early, children,
[5:11:44] babies education early. And, the one called domestic violence supports, which would reduce the money going to women,
[5:11:52] who have been beaten. All in favor of all of these
[5:11:57] other ones? >> I second that.
[5:12:02] I think we're going to get to the same place everyone is trying to get. >> we are.
[5:12:06] we are doing what we always do. >> look. I'm not making the motion. I'm actually opposed I think it
[5:12:13] should be done through the budget, commissioner ellis I'm with you. I don't think it has to be done
[5:12:18] today. >> that would get the work. I'll make that motion you just stated  to get-going.
[5:12:23] >> commissioner ellis makes the motion to approve all of but those two. >> all but two?
[5:12:28] is that what the motion is? >> yes. >> yes. >> so commissioner ramsey, can I
[5:12:33] put you down as a second? >> second. All in favor. >> aye.
[5:12:38] >> aye. Any opposed?
[5:12:42] so garcia and brunis are you in favor?
[5:12:47] >> passed unanimously, I think. >> they're not. >> the thing it is highly contradictory.
[5:12:53] if you were to carve out the $3.8 million, so it is not to
[5:12:57] reallocate it. But then, at the end of the day, we know the $3.8 we're really allocating because the grant tee
[5:13:07] could not do the work. It is contradict arery and does not make sense. I'm vote no, because I want to
[5:13:13] vote on clear, sensible motions to reallocate the money not used per the countless hours of analysis by the arpa steering
[5:13:21] committee and I am prepared to vote as before with regard to
[5:13:26] domestic violence, because that we can put to work immediately with the domestic violence coordinating council, which
[5:13:32] works with over 15 mon profits and keep doing that work, because the initial grant tee could not.
[5:13:37] in sum, I don't think it makes sense the way she's doing it. I'm sorry, it is not like travel and training it is not that
[5:13:44] straightforward. >> I just don't know we're on
[5:13:50] the same page commissioner. We're not talking about domestic violence. We're talking about everything
[5:13:55] but domestic violence. And childcare.
[5:14:00] >> the motion. >> the arpa money is moving to the general fund. We don't want to reallocate
[5:14:08] domestic violence. The arpa grant tee could not use the money. So we will lose it.
[5:14:13] we're making a motion. >> see, we can be smarter than that. Because my motion on domestic
[5:14:19] violence would to be allocate all of the $3.9 million.
[5:14:23] I don't believe we should only keep $900,000 one year and
[5:14:28] $900,000 the whole year. I believe we should keep $3.8 million in domestic violence. >> so judge there was a vote.
[5:14:35] it is 3-2, is that correct? Passes 3-2 is there a motion.
[5:14:41] >> to approve everything but those two. >> is there a motion for the other two items?
[5:14:45] >> yes, please. >> I think we should take them separately, because I have a motion. Okay, fine. >> could you read out the two?
[5:14:52] >> so the first, so the first item is early reach on my table and james' table. So it is the motion to take out
[5:15:00] money that they will spend to have the childcare programs end
[5:15:10] early. Is there a motion. >> that's too ambiguous of a motion.
[5:15:14] >> to end the programs early. >> motion dies for lack of
[5:15:21] second. >> and then, there is, is there
[5:15:27] a motion to take the $3.8 million from hawk, and only
[5:15:35] reallocate $900 million this year and next year to domestic violence? $900,000.
[5:15:45] that means that domestic violence. >> that was the original motion made.
[5:15:49] I will second that. Correct, james that was the
[5:15:56] original motion? >> I'm unclear what this motion is at this moment. >> so am I.
[5:16:03] judge, just so I'm clear in the original motion or the, what the
[5:16:09] arpa steering committee and oca presented are lists. You have identified all, but two that you are in favor of.
[5:16:17] >> correct. >> so we need a motion for those two. >> right. >> we did. >> we did, right.
[5:16:22] so there was no, there was no second to the motion for the
[5:16:26] first one fine. For the second one I'm trying to figure out if there is a motion.
[5:16:31] I believe one of my colleagues made the motion, if you don't mind saying it again. >> if I can read the motion, as
[5:16:37] it was presented earlier. The motion is to direct omb to include in the proposed fiscal year 2027 budget a proposal to
[5:16:47] increase funding for the domestic violence assistance fund by $900,000 for fiscal year 2027, and an additional $900,000
[5:16:55] for fiscal year 2028, using up to $1.8 million in the
[5:17:01] reallocated funds. >> I will second that. >> that was the original motion. >> okay.
[5:17:06] so, I have, I have a really important voice on the phone. It is alicia newsy with the coordinating council.
[5:17:15] my question is can you use all $3.8 million on domestic
[5:17:19] violence funding or only capable of using $900,000 this year and
[5:17:24] next year, full stop. So $2 million divided over two years? Is there a reason why you will
[5:17:32] giveaway $1.8 million in domestic violence funding to other programs? I've got you on speaker here at
[5:17:39] court. Miss newsy.
[5:17:48] >> jay, I think we're way out-of-bounds. >> well, she. >> judge, there's a motion and a
[5:17:52] second on this item. >> and the discussion is that
[5:17:56] alicia newsy can you hear me. >> yes, I can. She has been asked whether she could use $3.8 million in
[5:18:05] domestic violence funding towards domestic violence. Or does it have to be kept at $2 million.
[5:18:12] in other words is there a reason you want only nine00,000 this
[5:18:18] year and next year and surrender the opportunity to have $3.8
[5:18:22] million this year and possibly future years. Is there not enough need? Is there not enough capacity?
[5:18:28] >> I think there is judge, first we would be grateful for any
[5:18:33] kind of allocation, whatsoever. I know what you're asking is a large sum of money. Our system, our dv system, in
[5:18:39] general is very much in need for whatever can be allocated to the
[5:18:44] system overall. And to our providers and obviously to survivors. So your question of the $3.8, is
[5:18:52] that something that we can insure that we build
[5:18:59] partnerships and use. We will definitely do our best to be able to do that, for sure. It is desperately needed.
[5:19:07] for many of our, for many of our partners and in the system of
[5:19:13] law. >> thank you. Okay we're just making a motion whether to keep the $3 spoken 8
[5:19:20] million on domestic violence projects or only keep $2 million spread across two fiscal years I dib want to fight for the $3.8
[5:19:28] if I was going to hear from the leaders in the field. You know we don't have the ability to use $3.8.
[5:19:34] we don't have the need or capacity. >> jay, are speakers supposed to be on the video?
[5:19:41] >> no, unless she's not employee, she doesn't have to be on. It can be a call in.
[5:19:45] but there's a motion on the floor right now that made by commissioner garcia and second by bryanis on the $900,000
[5:19:55] allocation. >> all right. We're cutting money that these domestic violence organizations
[5:20:00] can use some there's a motion and a second. All in favor to cut their allocation by $1.8 million.
[5:20:08] >> aye. >> aye. Aye. >> so the motion that will be
[5:20:15] recorded in the minutes is the motion that commissioner garcia read, because we have to finish voting on that points of order.
[5:20:21] then subsequent motions can be taken, correct. By the way alicia newsy and barbie, thank you and taliyah
[5:20:29] morris and team. I know they talked extensively with my team and other members of the arpa steering committee.
[5:20:36] they committed  to us for the capacity support grant that, the $1 spoken 2, to $1.9 is what they could confidently execute
[5:20:45] on. >> we just heard from the woman herself, I'm sorry. Please vote on reducing the
[5:20:50] fund. >> we already did. Thank you. >> we have a motion, a second to in favor. Commissioner ramsey aresy are
[5:20:56] you in favor? >> okay I am opposed  to
[5:21:00] reducing domestic funding commissioner ellis? >> I will vote no. Because I prefer we do it in the
[5:21:05] budget process. We should not look at $127 million shortfall I prefer, as I said earlier I didn't vote that
[5:21:13] way. Just do it in the budget process, I vote no. >> thank you for all of the
[5:21:18] ammunition guys. All right let's that. Let's go on the next item. >> we still need to do the two
[5:21:23] items removed. >> we just did that. >> no, we did not do the two. You did the motion to
[5:21:30] reallocate, you. The two remaining. >> the motion to define the two. >> early reach.
[5:21:37] >> you've allocated the $900,000. You have passed on. You've done it for the three or
[5:21:42] four of the items you voted yes. This is the ones that remain.
[5:21:48] >> domestic violence. >> to reallocate. Second. >> I thought that's what we just
[5:21:54] voted? >> what did we vote on? We voted on reallocating to the general fund it was no on one
[5:22:00] and yes, on the other. If it was not that, then what were we voting on administer? >> it is not this hard.
[5:22:07] >> the one you went three is all of them and removed two.
[5:22:12] >> now the next one was a motion. >> no, no if you go back to james we did all of them and
[5:22:18] removed two. One was early reach. One was domestic violence supports.
[5:22:23] we got to early reach. We took a vote on that did we not? >> so the the first vote is all
[5:22:28] of them, except for early reach and domestic violence.
[5:22:33] >> we took another vote, and another vote. We have three votes. >> the early, the early reach
[5:22:39] died for lack of a second. >> and then what about the domestic violence supports? >> the next motion I have is
[5:22:47] commissioner garcia making his motion, second by commissioner bryanis and it passed 3-2 with us, guys, I know commissioner I
[5:22:57] know, you went to stanford. But come on. >> not like that. I think we're done with this
[5:23:03] item. >> thank you so much
[5:23:11] miss brasher and newsy for your partnership. We appreciate you taking baton and execute only this investment
[5:23:17] for the protection of those being victimized thank you.
[5:23:22] >> all right. We have a few more items to vote on. >> yes.
[5:23:27] >> let's move on to the next item. >> judge, 229 is the next item. >> all right, 229.
[5:23:35] so 229 is competitive bid for vigilant solutions.
[5:23:42] is there a motion on 229? Who pulled that one?
[5:23:50] >> I did commissioner, because the community was against it. I didn't have the chance to explore it.
[5:23:57] motion by commissioner garcia. >> second. >> second by commissioner ramsey all in favor, aye.
[5:24:03] >> any opposed the same thing I will abstain. The motion carries, 4-0. All right.
[5:24:11] and then so he said 4-1. What is the final vote?
[5:24:19] >> the final will be 4 yes,s, zero no, one abstention.
[5:24:24] >> okay, got it. 234.
[5:24:32] >> 234. >> alright, 234.
[5:24:38] commissioner garcia makes a motion. Second by commissioner ramsey. All in favor.
[5:24:44] >> aye. >> any opposed? >> I am abstain for the same reasons.
[5:24:49] motion carries, 4-0,-1. Thank you.
[5:24:55] all right, 259. Okay, 284.
[5:25:07] that is flagged by precinct 2. >> okay this item represents
[5:25:13] another important step in building out the capacity at access to health program in precinct   2 as a hub for
[5:25:22] community-based care and support at the newly launched channel pod complex. Gust afterra pearl women
[5:25:29] outreach will provide support for individuals impacted by domestic violence. With a particular focus on
[5:25:36] survivorship. These are critical services that can have a lasting impact on health, safety and wellbeing of
[5:25:42] our residents. By greating into the wellness pod complex. We creating a stronger cont um
[5:25:49] of care where residents can access support and a trusted and
[5:25:53] community-base based setting and be connected to additional resources when needed this partnership also compliments the
[5:26:00] deployment of heart, from the channel view campus. The collocation of these services creates a natural
[5:26:06] referral pathway. Insuring individuals, who come into contact with heart, can be checked with specialized
[5:26:13] support, while clients receiving services through gustaffa pearl
[5:26:19] can be linked to other county row sources as appropriate our goal is to continue building a model that brings behavioral
[5:26:26] health and support services together in one place. Making care more accessible better coordinated for the
[5:26:33] communities we serve and also like to give a shoutout to director barton and the entire harris public health team.
[5:26:40] as this vendor was a previous partnant their capacity
[5:26:45] strengthening program. This item makes it evident that when communities are invested the return is greater for all.
[5:26:51] I move on this item as presented.
[5:26:56] >> second by commissioner brownis all in favor? >> any opposed? >> no.
[5:27:00] motion carries, 4-1 in favor. Congratulations, commissioner. Moving on to item 330. Have we gone through that one
[5:27:09] already? Precinct 4 asked for us to wait for her. April 16 direct us to reduce
[5:27:15] strengthen support for early childhood providers for families in harris county. >> so that one, commissioner
[5:27:24] garcia is the 330 and 344. Do you want to go first.
[5:27:29] >> sure. Thank you. This is item follows up on the april 16 action this court took
[5:27:37] to strengthen the harris county early childhood system.
[5:27:42] we now have initial reports back on childcare provider navigation, family outreach and provider business support.
[5:27:48] the report shows the same, basic issue from different angles harris county has resources but family and providers still have
[5:27:55] to navigate too many disconnected systems. On the provider side, the process map gives us a practice
[5:28:02] tool to help childcare providers understand childhood county
[5:28:07] committing. Inspections and common delays. On family outreach oca identified clear next steps a
[5:28:14] centralized early childhood resource hub. Ber use of 211, and 311 employee those services.
[5:28:22] as well as employee outreach through hr it, and a standing
[5:28:27] internal coordination work group on provider support deo has
[5:28:32] owled a business accelerator model and stay open.
[5:28:37] my ask that we keep moving on the next steps I have the
[5:28:43] following motions to keep this momentum going.
[5:28:47] I want to say thank you to oca and deo for their collaboration
[5:28:52] and their insight to help this program move forward. Especially on the business accelerator side.
[5:28:59] I also want to think commissioner for the work being
[5:29:07] done everyone is spending many hours to come one these viable solutions to help us really move forward and bring things to the
[5:29:14] community in a very structured, planned studied and program
[5:29:20] matic way to have maximum impact and maximum success. So my first motion is to direct deo to work with precincts 2 and
[5:29:31] 4 to monitor and evaluate the u of h, ure to identify best
[5:29:43] practices and components to a childhood business accessrator
[5:29:47] with providing quarterly updates with the draft recommendation by
[5:29:57] december 17. Thank you again. That's my first motion. Coordinate across departments
[5:30:06] and transmit a status update to court by september 17.
[5:30:11] and on this let me just add this administer.
[5:30:17] a lot of times when we make in relative departments it is never
[5:30:32] expressed that purchasing being thought of as we say all relevant departments that purchasing always be included
[5:30:42] based on conversation with miss williams it is a critical
[5:30:47] conversation we have I want to say that those are my two motions to help us move forward.
[5:30:55] I second your motions and have two, additional ones to add. Thank you, again. First of all commissioner you
[5:31:02] ask your team are phenomenal to work with. I appreciate your leadership. I think all of the court
[5:31:07] members, as you all may recall in unanimously we have by part
[5:31:13] salju san support for a package of items aimed at reducing barriers for family and providessers.
[5:31:18] by finding ways to already use as we he local progress as we
[5:31:27] prepare for this next legislative session. So we launched the harris coalition with public-private
[5:31:34] and philanthropic and community partners in january. They have been regularly and making marked progress in
[5:31:42] identifying actions. Specifically in april with the court unanimously approved I'm so thankful to administrator
[5:31:51] carter a phenomenal quarterback working and coordinating with all of the departments really looking for challenges in the
[5:31:57] permitting and inspection process. We have so many entry points for family and providers how can we
[5:32:05] harness to provide clear, concise information to navigate current resources? As well as precinct 2, and
[5:32:11] precinct 4, we're using our own dollars. We already do business accelerators.
[5:32:16] now partsnerring with u of h we will do business accelerators
[5:32:21] focused on on the providers and working iga and all of our
[5:32:26] community and harris county partners to develop a bipartisan
[5:32:30] pathway and asks for this state. So, I have a few, quick
[5:32:34] questions. So I'll read my motions and then I will ask administer carter some questions, because there's
[5:32:40] some really exciting progress. Again I appreciate you and all of the departments. At the end of the day we know
[5:32:46] there's over 90,000 kids in texas on the waiting list we
[5:32:50] need to be accessible and affordable and high quale. We're taking local solutions, as we continue to work up the plan.
[5:33:00] so my motions to compliment the two that I second of
[5:33:04] commissioner garcia is move that oca finalize and post the oca
[5:33:09] drafted provider guide that explains county permitting. Fire review inspections and common delays so it is clear
[5:33:19] when navigating the approval process. And two, move that oca coordinate communications across
[5:33:25] departments to better connect families with availablable early childhood education and care resources using existing county
[5:33:32] touch points. >> second. And so administer carter could you please give a brief update
[5:33:40] on the initial findings you have worked on in coordination with
[5:33:45] all of our fabulous departments? >> sure, thank you again to the court for your unanimous support of this effort and departments
[5:33:53] took that very seriously. On the entry points to potentially new or expanding childcare permitting I want to
[5:34:00] thank engineering and fire marshal office, chief
[5:34:04] christensen and public health, for really developing a template to lead to your guidebook. There are various licensing fees
[5:34:11] ranging from $300 to, $800. We will have that listed out in
[5:34:16] kind of a job-aid format with visuals to help those smaller
[5:34:21] businesses that don't have the time or capacity. We were able to do a survey. We had 16 departments that
[5:34:28] responded, ranging from, of course, the fire marshal. Veteran services and of course our great library, our sheriff,
[5:34:35] public health. You things you wouldn't think of and pre-trial community service those individuals may have among
[5:34:42] children. We touch over 300,000 not touch
[5:34:47] them, but have interactions with those families with over 300,000
[5:34:52] children zero to five. Whether it is actually coming into the library, or engaging with their parents.
[5:34:57] but they spoke a lot of the silos. So, I think this efforts, which you all understand will help us
[5:35:04] to continue continue to break it down. You have a long report some may read and can share with
[5:35:12] stakeholders ideas anddition to the motions include repository, a website to insure we're cataloguing areas that families
[5:35:20] can access of county programs. Of course, a quarterly meeting,
[5:35:25] to make sure and create a space optional. Commissioner ramsey, but want to get our departments together.
[5:35:32] and some have already started. What they put in the packets, how they community. Just that spark that you all
[5:35:38] gave. They already started to execute. >> thank you so much for your lead sheri administer carter and
[5:35:44] all of the departments harnessing current resources to make it easier, clearer and help navigate.
[5:35:50] thank you. As such I second commissioner garcia. Thank you for seconding mine.
[5:36:04] >> okay, so do you guys want to vote for them all at the same
[5:36:10] time? >> yes. >> okay since you guys, who would you guys want to have made
[5:36:14] all of the motions? And the second?
[5:36:21] in that case, I think we need to take them separately. How would you like to do it? >> would you like us to reread
[5:36:29] them? >> okay. Commissioner would you like to to go please.
[5:36:37] >> my two motions are, direct the eo to work with precinct 2
[5:36:43] and 4 to monitor and evaluate u of h and sure and sure plus
[5:36:48] pilot programs to identify best practices and components to inform a county-led childcare business accelerator.  Deo
[5:36:55] providing quarterly updates with oc, and court offices with a draft recommendation to commissioners court by
[5:37:02] december 17. That's the first motion. >> second. >> the second motion is, move that oca coordinate across all departmentses and transmit a
[5:37:10] status update to court by september 17. >> second. >> all right so, we have a
[5:37:16] motion and second on those two. Any discussion?
[5:37:23] I would like to add that this early childhood proposal is
[5:37:28] innocuous, if repetitive addition to harris county early education work it does no harm but proposes initiatives that
[5:37:36] already exist and does not allocate any significant funding to continue those initiatives. To be clear, the proposal last
[5:37:44] august was to let the public decide, up or down, whether they, the public would support a penny tax to continue early
[5:37:51] childhood programs. I have records here from talking transition in 2019. The partners we worked with back
[5:38:02] eight years ago, so you know we already did that. Have been doing that have spent money on that
[5:38:08] in fact we're at a deficit. I don't think it makes sense to repeat work we have already done.
[5:38:14] we have catholic charity classic center for unit urbanism and
[5:38:19] houston, good government support first three years texts anyway, what you have and more. We did that in 2019.
[5:38:27] so created early childhood business early outreach include
[5:38:33] acquellen development for providers and conduct, review and identify opportunities to stream line requirements and
[5:38:39] reduce delays and potentially lower cost. The coalition on early childhood education and care leaves out
[5:38:46] respective community partners interested in leading similar efforts then better connect families with childcare by
[5:38:53] identifying gaps in outreach in awareness of childcare. The fact is harris county outreach program identified gaps
[5:39:01] and developed a plan years ago it directly connects families to care by offering additional childcare slots to the
[5:39:08] community. Early learning quality network does that too. Number four, create a plan to
[5:39:14] advocate at the state level I'll defer to my colleague at the legislature for decades. But state currently does not
[5:39:21] include any representative from harris county on the governor tax force on early childhood education and care.
[5:39:28] any investments have been min mull with only $100 million to the whole state. That's why years the ago the
[5:39:34] court decided  to allocate $150 million to early childhood
[5:39:39] program with the taking the proposal to the voters we have been waiting on colleagues to the state would give us money
[5:39:49] and harris county 16 zip codes are considered deserts and three times gater than the supply of working families according to
[5:39:56] the 2023 for airlinely education research I will support this.
[5:40:00] frankly I think it is not a good use of resources and we should focus on revisiting the conversation we had last year.
[5:40:08] and letting people decide whether a penny is too much for early childhood programs to continue.
[5:40:14] anyway commissioner ellis how do you vote? >> yes. >> okay
[5:40:18] I'm in favor. So motion carries unanimously I guess we have two more motions. >> we have two more motions.
[5:40:29] motion that oca finallyize and post the oca drafted simple
[5:40:34] provider guide. That explains county permitting fire review inspections and common delays.
[5:40:47] >> the fourth and final motion move that oca coordinate
[5:40:51] communications across departments to better connect to families with available early childhood education care
[5:40:58] resources. Using existing county touch points. >> second.
[5:41:02] >> all right. Two motions by commissioner bryanes all in favor. >> any in favor in opposed
[5:41:09] motion carries unanimously. All right let's move on to 332. My comments on the first and the second one too.
[5:41:26] >> take we're taking an important stop bring more investment and resources to communities by entering into
[5:41:33] four, new agreement was the city of houston to participate.
[5:41:42] >> to regrowth and reinvest back into the neighborhoods where
[5:41:47] they're generated for residents means improvements they can see and use every day. Better roads, sidewalks,
[5:41:54] drainage, parks, and other public infrastructure that supports safer and more connected communities.
[5:41:59] these agreements also help attract private investment, support local businesses create jobs.
[5:42:06] while insuring public improvements keep pace with growth. By working together with the
[5:42:11] city of houston, we can stretch taxpayer dollars during and
[5:42:16] deliver projects that improve quality of life for families across precinct 2. I want to thank the county
[5:42:22] attorney office and omb for the hard work on these agreements
[5:42:27] and our partners at the city of houston for their commitment in
[5:42:31] making strategic investments that will create lasting benefits for residents for years to come.
[5:42:36] I move on these items, as presented. >> second. >> motion by commissioner garcia
[5:42:42] and bryan necessary all in brioness. The motion carries unanimously. Congratulations, commissioner.
[5:42:48] now we're moving to 370 flagged by commissioner ramsey.
[5:42:55] am I making a mistake here? >> it is 370. Just looking at this is a transmittal by the office of the
[5:43:02] county administer on changes in pre-trial outcomes under reform
[5:43:07] and pandemic conditions. I think there's been recent
[5:43:11] incidents, including the realed to anchor monitoring. And just a comment. We don't have time to deal with
[5:43:18] it tonight. But can administer if you could get an update on that whole program of our ankle monitoring
[5:43:27] program. I know that we had funding issues before. And I would just like to know
[5:43:34] where we are, on the number of ankle monitors out there.
[5:43:39] are they being monitored? What are the issue there's? >> I don't want to portray something to the public that
[5:43:46] we're actually doing something, when in fact no one is
[5:43:50] monitoring those issues. Just transmittal reminded me
[5:43:56] that issue is out there. If you could look at that and
[5:44:00] give us a bit or just update me at some-point. >> understand, thank you. >> is there a motion on that
[5:44:09] one? >> transmittal note. >> all right h08, commissioner garcia.
[5:44:14] >> yes, I'm excited to announce upcoming street improvements
[5:44:18] within the beaumont place subdivision. This project is part of the precinct 2 better streets and
[5:44:24] neighborhoods which is focused on improving drivability and creating a safer driving environment for our residents.
[5:44:31] through this effort, we will repair approximately 13 miles of
[5:44:36] the deteriorated roadway across 25 streets.
[5:44:40] representing a $5 spoken 5 million investment in the community. Construction is set to begin in
[5:44:45] august and is expected to be completed within one year. Safe, reliable roads should be a given in every community.
[5:44:53] residents shouldn't have to worry about impassable streets or damage to their vehicles. Just to get where they need to
[5:44:58] go.  I'm especially excited to see the repair move forward as part of the revive to thrive. Reinvesting in our
[5:45:05] infrastructure. It is one of the most important ways we can strengthen neighborhoods.
[5:45:09] it improves quality of life and insure our communities continue moving forward in a positive manner.
[5:45:15] I want to thank my engineering team, faultino byron and
[5:45:20] everyone in the public works department, as well. Thank you guys for all of the incredible work that you do.
[5:45:27] this item will justep us do even more. So thank you very much. It is transmittal.
[5:45:33] no action. >> so we accept the transmittal.
[5:45:40] >> now we're going to 415 by commissioner ramsey. >> just a quick comment. I notice this on the agenda.
[5:45:46] I'm not sure why it is on the agenda. But it is a public hearing. Notice of a public hearing by
[5:45:53] the board of directors at the harris galveston district at
[5:45:57] 10:00 am on wednesday, june ten, yesterday. So I don't know what the reason for putting a notice the day
[5:46:09] after. Is there some legal reason why they send that to the commissioner court?
[5:46:13] and we postit on our agenda? >> I'm not sure.
[5:46:17] I would assume that sounds right. >> just look at that. >> absolutely.
[5:46:23] >> their expectation, in terms of satisfying some rule, in
[5:46:27] terms of them having to post it. >> understood, thank you, sir.
[5:46:31] >> so, no action on that, correct? >> no action. >> all right, thank you
[5:46:35] commissioner. 421 flagged by commissioner ramsey. >> just need to vote.
[5:46:43] >> so moved. >> motion by commissioner brioness. Second by commissioner garcia.
[5:46:47] all in favor aye. >> any opposed?  No. Motion carries, 4-1. >> 435, commission ramsey.
[5:46:59] >> we just need to extend the vote. >> so moved. >> motion by commissioner
[5:47:03] brioness and second by commissioner garcia all in favor? Any opposed?  No, the motion
[5:47:11] carries, 4-1, 449 commissioner garcia. >> yes, on this item, you know I have supported our constables
[5:47:21] and respective work. That support was based on the understanding that in return, we would pursue operational
[5:47:28] efficiencies and cost-saving measures that would benefit harris county taxpayers. Two, key areas were identified
[5:47:34] as opportunities to achieve those efficiencies. The consolidation of property room operation and consolidation
[5:47:42] of dispatch services I want to commend the constables for their work on the property room initiative.
[5:47:48] most officer advise already enter into agreements with the sheriff's office. And the remaining offices have
[5:47:54] made significant progress towards that goal. I appreciate, I really do appreciate the collaboration.
[5:48:00] and commitment shown by everyone involved. Unfortunately we have not achieved the same progress with
[5:48:06] the dispatch consolidation initiative side of things. Many of the constable advise toured the sheriff's office
[5:48:11] state-of-the art dispatch center and have seen firsthand, the
[5:48:16] technology, staff and capable and operational efficiencies it provides and can provide. The fast analysis was designed
[5:48:23] with the capacity to accommodate additional dispatch operations and has the infrastructure necessary to support a
[5:48:31] consolidated model. Given the significant investment
[5:48:35] already made by harris taxpayers I believe we have an obligation to dont maximize its use, before investing in additional public
[5:48:44] dollars and coupe katetive services and systems and facilities at a time when we're asking tax payers to support
[5:48:50] critical county service infrastructure needs it is
[5:48:54] difficult to just funding a separate dispatch request when a
[5:48:59] viable existing alternative is already available. So for those reasons, while I appreciate their work on this,
[5:49:07] particular item, because of conversations I've had. I am unable to support this item at this time.
[5:49:15] >> is there a motion for 449? >> yes, I would move as presented I too, commissioner garcia I look forward to our
[5:49:23] coordinated, centralized emergency dispatch system. And we know realistically that could be potentially several
[5:49:30] years of continuing working group to get there I really hope
[5:49:35] everyone collaboration continues. In the meantime, so constable herman is one of my constable
[5:49:40] partners. His office and team is the largest constable office in the country. And they answer over 600,000 calls, 9-1-1 calls directly and
[5:49:49] rolled over from the sheriff's office. This work basically it is construction work has already
[5:49:54] started. And so this is their first time coming to court for cip funding to the dest of my knowledge
[5:50:02] director confirm that. >> I can only confirm for while I have been here. >> so, he is constable herman
[5:50:09] has already made investments this work is ongoing it is a very cramped room. Basically this would breakdown a
[5:50:16] wall and create a larger space so, they can answer more calls
[5:50:20] and hopefully more rollover from the sheriff. I will support it and hopefully we have the votes.
[5:50:26] I will move item 449, as presented. >> I'm going to second. Thank you commissioner for going
[5:50:32] out to the site. Sometimes these 400 items we
[5:50:36] don't really get to put our eyes on it. Thank you I'll be happy to support is.
[5:50:44] >> motion by commissioner brioness. Second by ramsey. All in favor.
[5:50:48] oppose? I'm in favor the motion carries 4-  1.  481 commissioner garcia. This is the lgpq commission.
[5:51:04] you know our own commission on lg lgbtq+ brought this this item
[5:51:15] in particular. I was proud to put it on the court agenda. They brought it because there's
[5:51:21] been a lot of fear of transgender people using public
[5:51:26] restrooms. There's no one the fear has impacted more than transgender people. The simple act of using a public restroom can be dangerous for a
[5:51:34] transgender person. Or at the very least induce extreme anxiety. A single occupancy restroom can
[5:51:42] relieve that anxiety it. Isn't just a good change for transgender people. These restrooms are good for
[5:51:48] parents of small children. They are good for people with certain disabilities by adopting this today, we are working
[5:51:55] towards a harris county that will be more welcoming to all
[5:51:59] people. So, I'm excited to move on this item. This item motion is to direct
[5:52:04] the office of county engineering to include in the next update to
[5:52:10] the facility design guidelines and standards, a specification that all new harris county facility also include one,
[5:52:17] single occupancy restroom and that in family outreaches with a
[5:52:21] public-facing aspect, the single occupancy restroom will be in a public area. And, motion to direct the office
[5:52:29] of the county engineer to make best efforts to include the
[5:52:34] above specification in new construction. That is developed prior to the completion of the next update of
[5:52:40] the fast analysis design guidelines and standards. >> second. >> those are my two motions and
[5:52:45] want to thank our commission for their incredible work and my commission, in particular. >> yes.
[5:52:51] I proudly second it commissioner. I too thank our lgbtq+ commission.
[5:52:55] we were proud to start the first harris lgbtq+ commission three
[5:53:02] years ago and thank you for bringing forward actionable recommendations to make harris county a more fair, inclusive
[5:53:09] respectful place. Not only will the single occupancy restrooms remember minutes of our lgbtq+ community
[5:53:15] and as commissioner garcia said. It will help, I know as a parent
[5:53:19] of three, sometimes when you're trying to change diapers or having some interesting moments with sick kids, it is really
[5:53:27] helpful, caregivers existing family members. People with disabilities I know I'm having trouble sometimes
[5:53:32] with the walker. So I just think again it continues to advance our commitment to justice and
[5:53:38] fairness and inclusion. And again, thank you to our commission. And thank you to dr. Roman I see
[5:53:44] you here. You seem excited is there anything you wanted to say? If not we're happy to vote.
[5:53:52] >> thank you commissioner. We will implement as directed.
[5:53:56] >> thank you. >> thank you so much. >> drug users for your work. >> so we have two motions by
[5:54:01] commissioner garcia second by commissioner brioness, all in
[5:54:06] favor any opposed no. >> motion carries 4-  1 thank
[5:54:12] you colleagues dr. Roman and your team everyone and involved. >> moving on to 484. Commissioner ramsey.
[5:54:18] >> 482 was also on the list. >> I thought it was 482.
[5:54:23] >> 482 is over the past, several months I received numerous concerns from towing operateos, regarding harris county
[5:54:31] non-consent towing fees. Upon review I learned these fees
[5:54:36] have not been updated in approximately 16 years. During that time, the towing industry has experienced
[5:54:44] significantly increases in operating costs, including fuel prices, equipment expenses and insurance costs, and labor, and
[5:54:52] broader inflationary pressures. While commissioner court recent
[5:54:57] lived a county wide fee review policy in february. Noncontent towing fees were not included in that process,
[5:55:03] because these fees are not directly collected by the county. Given the length of time since
[5:55:10] the lasted justment and the importance of maintaining a fair and sustainable fee structures, I believe these fees should be
[5:55:16] evaluate ad long side other county established fees and finds. Therefore, I've got the
[5:55:21] following motion. The motion is to direct omb to
[5:55:27] return to the july nine court with an updated fee policy that
[5:55:31] includes all fees, and finds set by harris county commissioners
[5:55:36] court and the july nine give you enough run way? >> we can come back with the policy.
[5:55:42] it will take us a little bit to actually do the work of update
[5:55:47] coming with recommendations on this in particular, my staff from hso has already coordinated and ready to make a
[5:55:54] recommendation on that much faster than some of the other
[5:55:58] ones. >> thank you for that. And I, I also want to thank the sheriff's office and my team
[5:56:06] roberto villa franka in particular, for catching this and I want to thank the towing industry.
[5:56:14] look, whenever you have a crash on a freeway, you want a tow
[5:56:19] truck there as fast as possible. And this has me reflecting on my
[5:56:24] time on city council when we created the safe clear program. A program that has actually reduced significantly the
[5:56:33] secondary crashes. Making our roadways safer for everyone involved. And then, you know the sheriff's
[5:56:40] office has the motor assistance program. I want to thank those deputies. They're out there in all weather
[5:56:47] conditions. When it is freezing, when it is hot, and sizzling, and when it is raining.
[5:56:53] those guys are out there helping people get a gallon of gas to
[5:56:58] help them get moving or changing a flat tire. You know they're just out there doing some very, very important,
[5:57:05] but also very dangerous work. So, I want to commend them for
[5:57:09] their dedication and keeping our roadways safe. But overall I just want to say that this is not raising of the
[5:57:17] fees. But rather the creation of a policy. I move on the item.
[5:57:23] as presented. >> second. Thank you, commissioner garcia. >> motion by commissioner garcia
[5:57:28] and second by commissioner brioness. All in favor? Aye. Any opposed carries unanimously. >> final commissioner ramsey.
[5:57:39] >> the work site policy is scheduled  to go into effect
[5:57:43] july one. I know that it is phased. I know that we've got a lot of different departments involved
[5:57:49] with it. I see some our folks here at the
[5:57:54] deo and others. We don't need to go into a lot
[5:58:00] of discussion tonight related to it. But I would like to know the status of the implementation
[5:58:08] plan. This effects a lot of training from harris flood control district to dr. Ramman's group
[5:58:18] as well. Is july one still a realistic
[5:58:22] date for implementation? Should we consider a more phase ad approach? So just an update on the
[5:58:31] program, without a lot of detail. And you may need to take time to really, see where we are, but it
[5:58:37] is scheduled  to go into effect july one. So something is going to happen on july one.
[5:58:42] it would be nice to know what the deaf next of that something is. >> thank you, commissioner.
[5:58:47] >> I'm going to turn it over to mark pearla leading that effort to give you a brief summary. >> yes, just for an update for
[5:58:57] july one we will have everything ready time implement work site
[5:59:01] safety policy we're working on a long-term solution in
[5:59:06] procurement. Short-term solution we already have that in place already. And that is not going to cost
[5:59:11] the county any money, because that's already in place. We have ongoing meetings with all infrastructure leadership.
[5:59:18] we have ongoing implementation meetings that are still ongoing. We also using our consultant. We're right now in the final
[5:59:27] phases of completing the work blows the sops and the safety
[5:59:31] monitor forms. And the safety inspection forms. Those are been completed. Those have been reviewed by
[5:59:37] infrastructure leadership. They are align and in agreement regarding those process as to. >> if you could provide our
[5:59:44] offices just a brief summary in writing of where we, what is being implemented on july one? And I suspect there will be a
[5:59:53] few other thing we have to do on july   1 but putting that helps
[5:59:59] us understand where we're coming from. >> sure I'll give you the full run down for july one the
[6:00:05] implement of the work safety policy that the operation begins. The recommendations will be
[6:00:12] submitted to commissioners court for there will be four
[6:00:16] recommendations slighted in july court. Those will be done in the annual review that happens august six.
[6:00:21] those are the pending contingencies we have. >> thank you for your work. Appreciate you all.
[6:00:27] >> thank you. >> I too just wanted to say thank you. We wanted best support so your
[6:00:32] best position for success in implementation. We know it is another harris county team effort between the
[6:00:38] key engineering group. Your group and beyond please
[6:00:43] clearly community the updates and progress and what we can do to support. The safety of our residents,
[6:00:49] workers ask team members and contractors is of paramount importance. Thank you for being on the front
[6:00:55] leans. We appreciate it. >> thank you. >> thank you.
[6:00:59] all right I believe that was the last item. >> no action. >> no action.
[6:01:03] all right, anything else? All right, it is 6:33
[6:01:09] commissions court is now