[00:00:09] >> I GOT TO LEARN HOW TO TURN MY MIC ON. [Items 1 & 2] I'M JUDGE PETER SAKAI, I'M YOUR BARE JUDGE, AND THERE'S MY SECOND MEETING. PLEASE BEAR WITH US AS WE MOVE FORWARD. COMMISSIONER RODRIGUEZ, PLEASE OPEN THIS READING WITH OPENING PRAYER PLEDGE LEAD. >> GREAT. THANK YOU. GOOD MORNING, EVERYBODY, JUDGE, COLLEAGUES. LET ME HAVE FATHER JOE COME UP TO THE PODIUM. WE KNOW HE WAS HERE THIS MORNING WHILE JOE COME ON UP, LET ME SAY A COUPLE OF THINGS AS HE WALKS UP. FATHER JOE MAN WHO GOES BY FATHER JOE IS FROM THE SOUTHWESTERN STATE OF INDIA CALLED KERALA, AND HE'S CURRENTLY THE PASTOR AT PRINCE OF PEACE CATHOLIC CHURCH HE IS A MISSIONARY PRIEST WHO BELONGS TO THE RELIGIOUS ORDER OF MISSIONARIES OF ST. FRANCIS DE SALES. AFTER COMPLETING VARIOUS DEGREES IN ECONOMICS, PHILOSOPHY, AND THEOLOGY, HE MOVED THROUGHOUT THE EAST AFRICAN COUNTRIES, TANZANIA, KENYA, AND UGANDA FOR MISSIONARY WORK [NOISE] HE ENJOYED TAKING CARE OF THE PARISH CHURCHES THERE. STARTING TO SCHOOLS, RUNNING ORPHANAGES, ASSISTING AND BUILDING HOUSES AND DIGGING WELLS IN THOSE COUNTRIES. AFTER 15 YEARS OF MISSIONARY WORK IN AFRICA, FATHER JOE MOVED TO SAN ANTONIO IN JULY 2019. HE'S CURRENTLY ASSISTING AT PRINCE OF PEACE CATHOLIC CHURCH, ENJOYING THE BEAUTY, CULTURAL DIVERSITY, AND OF COURSE, THE FIESTAS OF SAN ANTONIO. BUT ABOVE ALL, WHAT MAKES THEM FEEL AT HOME IS THE WARM HEARTS OF SAN ANTONIONS. FATHER JOE, I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR TAKING TIME OUT OF YOUR BUSY DAY OF ADMINISTERING AND BEING WITH US TODAY FOR THE OPENING PRAYER. PLEASE RISE FOR OUR PRAYER THIS MORNING. >> THANK YOU. LET'S BEGIN WITH A PRAYER IN THE NAME OF THE FATHER AND THE SON AND OF THE HOLY SPIRIT. AMEN, HEAVENLY FATHER, WE THANK YOU FOR OUR NATION AND ITS DEMOCRACY, LAWS, AND INTERACTIONS. WE THANK YOU FOR OUR FREEDOM, TEMPERED WITH RESPONSIBILITY AND MATURITY. THANK YOU FOR THIS DAY AND FOR ALLOWING US TO COME TOGETHER TO THIS OFFICE FOR THIS COURT SECTION. THANK YOU FOR THE JUDGES AND ALL THE OFFICERS OF THIS COURT, LIKE SOLOMON, WE PRAY FOR YOUR WISDOM, KNOWLEDGE, AND UNDERSTANDING UPON EVERY MEMBER INVOLVED IN THE PROCEEDINGS. WE INVITE THE HOLY SPIRIT'S PRESENCE TODAY, THAT THIS COURT'S PROCEEDINGS BE GUIDED BY DIVINE WISDOM AND DISCERNMENT TO ENABLE THE MEMBERS TO MAKE SOUND DECISIONS THAT WILL GUIDE THEM TO STAND FOR TRUTH AND RIGHTEOUSNESS. ITS APPROVAL GIVEN, AND THE DECISIONS MADE HERE. HOW A GREATER IMPACT ON THE LIVES OF THE CITIZENS OF THIS COUNTY. LET THE TRUTH AND MERCY MEET IN THIS HOUSE. LET THERE BE JUSTICE AND LOVE IN THIS PLACE. LORD, WE HEAR THE WORDS OF ST. JAMES. THE WISDOM THAT COMES FROM THE HEAVEN IS, FIRST OF ALL, PURE THEN PEACE, LOVING, CONSIDERATE, SUBMISSIVE, FULL OF MERCY AND GOOD FRUIT, IMPARTIAL AND SINCERE, MADE THIS HOUSE BE FILLED WITH THE CONFIDENCE OF YOUR WISDOM, THE GENEROSITY OF YOUR MERCY, AND THE POWER OF YOUR LOVE. BLESSED THIS NATION WE LOVE SO DEARLY, AND THOSE WHOM WE HELD CHOSEN TO GUIDE OUR PATH, MAY PEACE COME IN OUR LIFETIME, AND MAY YOUR WILL BE DONE ON EARTH AS IT IS IN HEAVEN. WE MAKE ALL THESE PRAYERS THROUGH JESUS CHRIST, OUR LORD. AMEN. >> AMEN. >> THANK YOU. >> FATHER JOE, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THOSE WONDERFUL WORDS. PLEASE JOIN US IN THE PLEDGE. >> >> THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER RODRIGUEZ. I BELIEVE THE FIRST ITEM IS CEREMONIAL PRESENTATION OF [Item 3] A PROCLAMATION ON BEHALF A COMMISSIONER COURT RECOGNIZING THE OFFICIAL RODEO SEASON, AND THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 2023 AS OFFICIAL DRESS WESTERN DAY, COMMISSIONER CALVERT YOU HAVE A FLOW. >> WELL, YOU ALL COME ON DOWN AND WE WANT TO INVITE OUR FRIENDS FROM THE RODEO TO COME TO THE DIAS HERE. WE'RE SO HAPPY TO SEE ALL OF THEM. I'VE GOT MY BOOTS ON TODAY AND MY TIES GOT SOME HORSES ON AND I DON'T KNOW IF YOU SAW IT THERE. [OVERLAPPING] BUT WE'RE GOING TO KICK OFF THE RODEO 74 YEAR OF THE RODEO. [00:05:02] >> MORNING. >> THANKS FOR ALL VOLUNTEERS COMING IN ALL YOUR WORK THROUGHOUT THE YEAR. THE PROCLAMATION READS, WHEREAS THE 74TH ANNUAL SAN ANTONIO STOCK SHOW AND RODEO, ONE OF THE LARGEST AND MOST PRESTIGIOUS EVENTS AND THE ALAMO CITY WILL BE HELD FEBRUARY 9TH THROUGH THE 26, 2023 AT THE AT&T CENTER FREEMAN COLOSSEUM, AND WHEREAS THE SAN ANTONIO STOCK SHOW AND RODEO IS A VOLUNTEER ORGANIZATION THAT EMPHASIZES AGRICULTURE AND EDUCATION TO DEVELOP THE YOUTH OF TEXAS. WHEREAS SINCE INCEPTION, OVER 243 MILLION HAS BEEN COMMITTED BY THE ORGANIZATION TO THE YOUTH OF TEXAS IN THE FORM OF SCHOLARSHIPS, GRANTS, ENDOWMENTS, AUCTIONS, CALF SCRAMBLED PROGRAM, AND SHOW PREMIUMS WITH 11.5 MILLION COMMITTED IN 2022. WHEREAS THE LIFEBLOOD OF THE ORGANIZATION IS A 6,000 PLUS VOLUNTEERS, CORPORATE PARTNERS, AND PATRONS WHO SUPPORT THE EVENT AND MISSION. WHEREAS IN 2022 OVER 1.5 MILLION VISITORS ENJOYED EXCITING ACTIVITIES SUCH AS WORLD-CLASS ENTERTAINMENT, A CARNIVAL, EDUCATIONAL EXHIBITS, FAMILY ACTIVITIES AND ATTRACTIONS, LIVESTOCK, HORSE SHOWS AND SELLS, MUTTON BUSTING CAPS, SCRAMBLE, EXTREME BOWLS, AND SHOPPING FOR THE ENTIRE FAMILY TO ENJOY. WHEREAS ON FEBRUARY 9, 2023, THE SAN ANTONIO STOCKS AND RODEO, WE'LL KICK OFF WITH ITS LIVESTOCK SHOW TO SUPPORT ITS MISSION OF EDUCATING FUTURE GENERATIONS. NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED THAT THE BEXAR COUNTY COMMISSIONERS COURT HEREBY RECOGNIZE THIS AND PROCLAIMS OFFICIAL RODEO SEASON IN SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS, AND THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 2023 AS OFFICIAL DRESS WESTERN DAY, AND WE CALL UPON THE PEOPLE AT BEXAR COUNTY TO JOIN US IN SUPPORTING THE ACTIVITIES AND MISSION OF THE SAN ANTONIO STOCKS ON RODEO AS A VOLUNTEER ORGANIZATION THAT EMPHASIZES AGRICULTURE AND EDUCATION TO DEVELOP THE YOUTH OF TEXAS. WITNESS OUR SIGNATURES AND SEAL OF OFFICE, SINCE 24TH DAY OF JANUARY 2023, SIGNED BY YOUR COMMISSIONERS. COURT WILL YIELD BEFORE WE'D LOVE TO HEAR FROM YOU [APPLAUSE] >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH, COMMISSIONER CALVERT, AND JUDGE SAKAI MEMBERS OF THE COMMISSIONER BOARD. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THIS HONOR. WELL, AS THE PROCLAMATION SAY, WE HAVE ANOTHER 18 DAYS OF UNFILLED FOR ALL THE FAMILIES HERE IN BEXAR COUNTY. SOME OF THE NEW THINGS THAT WILL BE HAPPENING IN 2023, IN THE 18TH T CENTER ON FEBRUARY THE 19TH, THE NOCHE DEL VAQUERO, THIS IS A CELEBRATION OF OUR SOUTH TEXAS HERITAGE, THE NOCHE DEL VAQUERO WILL HONOR THEIR TRADITIONS, ARTISTIC SKILLS AND PAGEANTRY OF OUR CULTURE. YOU'LL BE ABLE TO SEE [FOREIGN]. IT'S GOT A MOOSE BULL RIDING CHARLES MARIACHI EXHIBITIONS, AND THEN ON FEBRUARY THE 16TH IN THE BIG HOUSE, WE HAVE A RANCH WHERE YOU'RE RETURNING AS WELL. THIS IS A THROWBACK TO THE OLD WEST WHEN THE NEIGHBORING RANCHES WOULD GET THE BEST OF THE BEST COWBOYS TOGETHER TO SEE WHO HAD THE BEST RIDERS, THE BEST RUBBERS, AND GENERALLY THE TOUGHEST HANDS. OUR CARNIVAL GROUNDS WILL BE EXPANDED. THE FREEMAN CALLED SEEM AGAIN, WE'LL BE HOSTING OUR OLIVER HORSESHOW EVENTS OUR YOUTH RODEO AND OUR RANCH RODEO AS WELL IN OUR CHARTER EARLY EXPEDITIONS. WITH THAT WE BROUGHT SOME BAGS AND GIFTS FOR YOU GUYS MEMBERS OF THE COURT. IN THERE, YOU'LL FIND SOME FLAGS. THIS IS A RODEO SAN ANTONIO FLAG. I CHALLENGE EACH OF YOU ALL TO PUT THIS FLAG UP EITHER EITHER IN YOUR PLACE OF BUSINESS OR YOUR HOME AND HELP US BRING IN THE NEXT FEW WEEKS TO FEBRUARY 9TH TO BRING IN THE RODEO. YOU'LL FIND ONE OF THESE NEEDS TO EACH OF YOUR BAGS, AND WE'D LIKE TO OFFICIALLY CORDIALLY INVITE YOU AND THE CITIZENS OF BEXAR COUNTY TO OUR 74TH ANNUAL SAN ANTONIO STOCK SHOW AND RODEO FEBRUARY 9TH TO THE 26TH, AGAIN, THANK YOU FOR THIS HONOR. THANK YOU FOR THE SUPPORT. THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING US TO HELP EDUCATE AND SUPPORT THE YOUTH, TEXAS [APPLAUSE] >> ABSOLUTELY [BACKGROUND] SIR, WOULD YOU MIND MAYBE THE THREE OF YOU GO OVER ON THAT SIDE SO WE HAVE IT A LITTLE MORE BALANCED? LITTLE BIT. YES. YEAH. JUST GO OVER ON THAT SIDE AND THEN EVERYBODY NICE AND TIGHT. BEAUTIFUL. [LAUGHTER] [00:10:22] [BACKGROUND] >> THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER CALVERT. I JUST WANT TO REMIND EVERYBODY THAT I WILL BREAK OUT MY BLACK COWBOY HAT AND BOOTS. SO ON FEBRUARY 9TH, YOU'RE GOING TO SEE AN ASIAN COWBOY WALKING AROUND HERE. HOW'S THAT? THAT'S A LITTLE DIFFERENT; AIN'T IT? [BACKGROUND] OKAY. SPECIAL PRESENTATION ITEMS. THOMAS GUEVARA. [Item 4] >> YES, SIR. THANK YOU, JUDGE, COMMISSIONERS. FOR THE RECORD, THOMAS GUEVARA, CHIEF OF STAFF TO THE COUNTY MANAGER. THIS ITEM IS TO REQUEST COMMISSIONERS COURT TO CLOSE THE FOLLOWING COUNTY FACILITIES TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC ON FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 24TH, AT 12PM FOR THE PURPOSE OF AN ACTIVE SHOOTER TRAINING CONDUCTED BY THE BEXAR COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE. THE BUILDINGS INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING: BEXAR COUNTY COURTHOUSE, THE CADENA REEVES JUSTICE CENTER, THE PAUL ELIZONDO TOWER, THE BEXAR COUNTY ANNEX, HUMAN RESOURCES OFFICE, AND THE BEXAR COUNTY INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY OFFICE. THIS TRAINING IS FOR BEXAR COUNTY STAFF WHOSE PRIMARY WORKING LOCATION ARE THE AFOREMENTIONED BUILDINGS. THE COURTS SECURITY COMMITTEE CHAIRED BY JUDGE TONY ARTEAGA, VOTED UNANIMOUSLY ON JANUARY 6TH, IN SUPPORT OF THIS TRAINING AND PRELIMINARY PLANNING WAS COORDINATED WITH THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE, EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT, PUBLIC INFORMATION OFFICE, FACILITIES DEPARTMENT, AND THE COUNTY MANAGER'S OFFICE. THE TRAINING WILL CONSIST OF TWO PARTS, AN IN-PERSON TRAINING CLASS, FOLLOWED BY A MOCK ACTIVE SHOOTER EVENT. DURING THIS TIME, ALL BEXAR COUNTY ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS AND SERVICES SUCH AS PROTECTIVE ORDERS, MARRIAGE LICENSE, AND CORE DOCUMENT FILINGS, WILL CONTINUE AT OFF-SITE LOCATIONS TO BE ANNOUNCED IN COORDINATION WITH THOSE RESPECTIVE OFFICES. I WANT TO THANK COUNTY CLERK LUCY ADAME-CLARK AND DISTRICT CLERK GLORIA MARTINEZ FOR CONTINUING TO WORK WITH US, AND TO ENSURE THAT WE'RE NOT MISSING ANY ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS. WE'RE ESTIMATING BETWEEN 900-950 EMPLOYEES WILL BE TRAINED IN THIS, AND WE'LL HAVE THIS CONDUCTED IN THREE PHYSICAL LOCATIONS WHICH WE WILL INFORM COUNTY EMPLOYEES. WITH THAT, I WOULD LIKE TO RECOGNIZE JUDGE ARTEAGA, DISTRICT ATTORNEY GONZALES, SHERIFF SALAZAR FOR THEIR CONTINUED SUPPORT, AND I'M GOING TO TURN OVER THE MIC TO JUDGE ARTEAGA. >> I'M GOING TO INVITE THOSE ON MY PORT SECURITY COMMITTEE TO GO AHEAD AND COME ON IN. JUDGE SAKAI, COMMISSIONERS, GOOD MORNING? I THINK I KNOW ALL OF YOU. I'M JUDGE ANTONIO ARTEAGA, OF THE 57TH DISTRICT COURT. I'M ALSO THE PRESIDING JUDGE OF OUR COURT SECURITY COMMITTEE. AS YOU MAY KNOW, BACK IN 2017, THE TEXAS LEGISLATOR ENACTED THE JUDGE JULIE KOCUREK COURT HOUSE SECURITY ACT, AND THAT'S WHAT WE CAME HERE TODAY WITH. WE HAVE MEMBERS OF EVERY LEVEL OF COURT SYSTEM HERE, ALONG WITH THE DA'S OFFICE, ALONG WITH THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE. ON THE CRIMINAL SIDE WITH JUDGE RANGEL, THE DISTRICT COURTS, ON THE COUNTY COURT SIDE, MELISSA VADA, WHO'S THE NEW LOCAL ADMINISTRATIVE JUDGE FOR THE COUNTY COURTS AND OF COURSE, ON THE CIVIL SIDE. WE COME TO YOU TODAY BECAUSE WE SEE THAT THERE'S A GREAT NEED. WE'VE NEVER DONE THIS BEFORE. WE HAVE HAD ACTOR SHOOTER TRAININGS PERIODICALLY WAY BACK WHEN BEFORE THE JUDGE JULIE KOCUREK AT THE DISTRICT COURTS COMMITTEE WITH THE LEADERSHIP OF SOME OF OUR LEADERS JUDGE SAKAI INCLUDED, JUDGE LARRY NOH, WE BEGAN THE DISTRICT COURTS SECURITY COMMITTEE FIVE YEARS BEFORE THE LEGISLATOR ENACTED THIS. NOW, WE WOULD LIKE TO RECOMMEND TO YOU AS OUR LEGISLATIVE DUTY TO HAVE THIS ACTIVE SHOOTER TRAINING. I DON'T BELIEVE ANYBODY CAN ARGUE THAT WE WILL NOT GO UNTOUCHED BY SOME SORT OF VIOLENCE, BE IT A THREAT OUTSIDE THE COURTHOUSE, BE IT SOMEONE WHO TRIED TO BREAK IN UP ON TOP. WE DON'T KNOW. BUT FOR YEARS I'VE TOLD MY COMMITTEE AND ANYBODY WHO'D LISTEN, IT'S NOT A MATTER OF IF, IT'S A MATTER OF WHEN. I APPLAUD THOMAS GUEVARA WHO'S HELPED LEAD US IN THIS AS WELL. I AM GOING TO TURN IT OVER TO MY PARTNERS IN THIS, AND I'M GOING TO BEGIN WITH DA JOE GONZALES WHO IS HERE. IF YOU'D LIKE TO SAY A COUPLE OF WORDS, JOE. >> GOOD MORNING, JUDGE. GOOD MORNING, COMMISSIONERS. IT IS IMPERATIVE, UNFORTUNATELY, [00:15:02] WITH THE CLIMATE THAT WE SEE AROUND THE COUNTRY, TO BE PREPARED FOR AN ACTIVE SHOOTER SITUATION. WE HAVE SEEN SEVERAL INCIDENCES ACROSS THE COUNTRY, AND SO IN LIGHT OF THAT, I APPLAUD JUDGE ARTEAGA AND EVERYONE IN THIS COMMITTEE FOR THEIR VALIANT EFFORTS TO BE PREPARED. HOPEFULLY, WE WILL NEVER SEE THE DAY WHERE WE HAVE TO ACTIVATE THIS TEAM. BUT PLEASE REST ASSURED WE'RE GOING TO DO EVERYTHING WE HAVE TO DO TO KEEP OUR COMMUNITY SAFE. THANKS AGAIN. >> CHIEF JUSTICE, REBECCA MARTINEZ IS IN THE BACK, AND SO WITH THAT, SHERIFF SALAZAR, IF YOU'D LIKE TO SAY A FEW WORDS. >> GOOD MORNING JUDGE. GOOD MORNING COMMISSIONERS. AS YOU ALL KNOW, WE'VE SEEN 38 MASS SHOOTINGS IN THE COUNTRY JUST IN THE LAST 21 DAYS. TWO OF WHICH THE HIGH-PROFILE ONES THAT WE SAW IN CALIFORNIA. RIGHT NOW ON THE STREETS OF BEXAR COUNTY, WE'RE DEALING WITH AN UPTAKE IN VIOLENT CRIMES, AND WE ALL KNOW THAT TODAY'S VIOLENT CRIME RESULTS IN A TRIAL FOR A VIOLENT CRIME NEXT YEAR OR THE FOLLOWING, AND IT JUST SEEMS LIKE HERE AS OF LATE, WE'VE SEEN A PRETTY STEADY STREAM OF HIGH-PROFILE CASES COMING THROUGH OUR COURTHOUSE. AS JUDGE ARTEAGA MENTIONED, IT'S NOT A MATTER OF IF IT'S A MATTER OF WHEN, AND WE DO MAINTAIN A READY STATE OF PREPAREDNESS AROUND HERE. BUT ANYTHING THAT WE COULD DO TO BOLSTER THAT AND CERTAINLY LET THE PUBLIC KNOW THAT, LOOK, IF YOU'RE AMONG THE 3 MILLION PEOPLE THAT COME THROUGH THE DOORS OF THE BEXAR COUNTY COURTHOUSE ON A YEARLY BASIS, WE GOT YOU COVERED. WE GOT THIS. PROUD TO STAND BESIDE THE JUDGES AND OUR DISTRICT ATTORNEY AND OF COURSE, OUR FIRE MARSHAL TODAY IN SUPPORT OF THIS ACTIVITY. HOPEFULLY, IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE CAN BRING BACK TO YOU LATER ON AND SAY, HEY, IT WENT WELL, AND HERE'S WHERE WE ARE WITH IT. THANK YOU. >> WE REQUEST FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 24TH AT NOON, THAT YOU CLOSE THE FACILITIES AS STATED, SO THAT WE CAN CONDUCT THIS ACTIVE TRAINING. I'M OPEN TO ANY QUESTIONS IF YOU HAVE ANY. >> JUSTICE, I HAVE A FEW QUESTIONS. >> MR. CALVERT. >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU, JUDGE ARTEAGA AND THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY, THE SHERIFF. THANK YOU ALL AND ALL THE PARTIES THAT HAVE BEEN A PART OF THIS. MAYBE THIS IS FIRST FOR THE SHERIFF. DO YOU PLAN TO HAVE MULTIPLE AGENCIES TO BE A PART OF THIS DRILL? >> WAIT. GO AHEAD. >> YES, SIR. MUCH LIKE IT WOULD BE IN A REAL-WORLD SITUATION, IT'LL BE AN ALL HANDS ON DECK AND WE ABSOLUTELY NEED TO TRAIN WITH OUR CITY OFFICERS, OUR DISTRICT ATTORNEYS, INVESTIGATORS, CONSTABLE, SCHOOL POLICE. EVERYBODY SHOULD COME IN AND PLAY A PART IN IT. BECAUSE IN REALITY IT'S GOING TO BE A MIXED TEAM GETTING TO ONE OF THESE. IT MAY BE FOUR OR FIVE DIFFERENT UNIFORMS AND WE ALL NEED TO BE WORKING IN UNISON AND BE PREPARED TO MOVE AND A, STOP THE KILLING, B STOP THE DYING AND THEN NEUTRALIZE THE ENTIRE SITUATION. >> AGREE. THAT'S WHY I ASKED THAT QUESTION. WE SAW HOW INTER AGENCIES DIDN'T WORK AND THE EVOLVING CASE AND HOW IMPORTANT IT IS FOR US TO HAVE COMFORTABILITY WITH COMMAND CONTROL AND OPERATIONS OF SUCH A DRILL. I REALLY APPRECIATE THAT. AFTER THE FEBRUARY FREEZE, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I NOTED IN OUR FAILURE OF RESPONSE WAS OUR LACK OF INTER AGENCY COOPERATION IN FEBRUARY FREEZE. I'VE ASKED THAT WE DO MULTI-AGENCY AND I APPRECIATE YOU DOING THAT. NOW I DO KNOW THAT THERE IS AN AUDIT THAT WEEK AMONG THE JUDGES, AN ADMINISTRATIVE AUDIT THAT'S GOING ON, DOES THAT HAVE ANY CONFLICTS IN TERMS OF ATTENDANCE AND PARTICIPATION? ARE PEOPLE OUT? ARE ALL THE JUDGES GOING TO BE ABLE TO ATTEND? >> I DON'T KNOW EVERY INDIVIDUAL SCHEDULE. BUT AS FAR AS THE AUDIT, WE DO HAVE A NEW AUDIT THAT ACTUALLY BEGAN YESTERDAY WHERE WE WANT TO MAKE CERTAIN THAT WE TRACK THE ACTIVITIES OF EACH COURT, EACH JUDGE, AND THEIR FUNCTION IN HOPES THAT WE CAN GATHER DATA AS TO THE NEED FOR NEW COURTS. FEBRUARY 24TH IS THE LAST DAY OF THAT. THAT'S WHY SPECIFICALLY WE CHOSE A FRIDAY AFTERNOON. NOT ONLY WILL IT BE THE END OF THAT, AND FRANKLY, I DON'T KNOW HOW BUSY EVERYONE IS GOING TO BE ON THIS FRIDAY AFTERNOON, I THINK THAT THIS IS THE PRIME TIME TO DO IT. I INITIALLY HAD ATTENDED A TRAINING AT THE FEDERAL COURTHOUSE THIS SUMMER, AND SINCE THIS SUMMER I'VE ATTEMPTED TO GET THIS UNDERWAY. THANKFULLY, WITH THE GUIDANCE OF THOMAS GUEVARA AND YOUR WONDERFUL COMMISSIONER'S COURT STAFF, WE'VE ALREADY GOT THE WHEELS TURNING. WE'VE GOT A PUBLIC INFORMATION, NOTICES TO GO OUT, WE'VE PARTNER THANKFULLY, WITH THE DA'S OFFICE AND DEPUTY CHIEF SEGOVIA, WHO ARE ALSO GOING TO HELP WITH SOME OF THE MANPOWER THAT'S NEEDED FOR THE TRAINING [00:20:01] AND THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE HAS REACHED OUT ALREADY TO SAPD TO INFORM EVERYBODY AT WHAT'S GOING ON. WE'RE GOING TO HAVE EMS ON-SITE. IT MIGHT BE SOMETHING STRESSFUL, FOR SOME FOLKS WHEN THEY HEAR THOSE MOCK SHOTS. WE, I BELIEVE HAVE THOUGHT AND SHARED AND PARTNER WITH EVERYBODY WHO CAN ASSIST US AND I THINK WE'RE READY. >> ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WILL BE HELPFUL SHERIFF, IS A ROLL-CALL OF THE DEPARTMENTS THAT PARTICIPATED, IF POSSIBLE. YOU CAN GET THAT PROBABLY IN ADVANCE, WHO'S HERE, WHO'S NOT. THEN THAT WE MAKE SOME FOLLOW-UP FOR THOSE WHO MAY BE OUT OF TOWN OR HAVE OTHER DUTIES, THAT MAYBE IT'S VIDEOED AND THERE'S A REPLAY OR A WALKTHROUGH FOR YOUR OFFICERS ON YOUR FLOOR, THIS IS SOMETHING THAT YOU MAY HAVE TO DEAL WITH. IT'S OBVIOUSLY AN OPT-IN THING, BUT I THINK IT WOULD BE VERY WISE BECAUSE I THINK WE ARE GOING TO HAVE A NUMBER OF OFFICERS THAT MAY NOT BE ABLE TO PARTICIPATE ON THAT PARTICULAR DAY. SO I JUST WANT TO MAKE THOSE POINTS THAT THIS IS A GOOD THING, BUT WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE THE INTER-AGENCY COOPERATION AND THAT WE HAVE A FOLLOW-UP FOR THOSE WHO MAY BE UNABLE TO TEAM BUT WANT TO DO SOME TRAINING. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. >> THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER. >> COMMISSIONER MOODY. >> WELL, I THINK THIS IS A GREAT IDEA AND I APPLAUD EVERYONE WHO'S INVOLVED IN PUTTING IT TOGETHER. MY ONLY QUESTIONS WERE AROUND COMMUNICATION WITHIN THE BUILDING AND WITHIN ALL THE STAFF AGENCIES. WILL THOSE GO OUT VIA EMAIL, THERE'LL BE OTHER MEETINGS? I'VE BEEN INVOLVED CLOSELY WITH A LOT OF THESE DRILLS IN THE PAST ON THE DOD SIDE AS A MARINE RESERVIST. I JUST THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT EVERYONE UNDERSTANDS THE GROUND RULES, THE RULES OF ENGAGEMENT. WILL THERE BE ACTUAL WEAPONS, SIMULATED WEAPONS, HAVE CASUALTIES BEING IDENTIFIED PRIOR? HOW ARE THOSE CASUALTIES GOING TO BE EVACUATED? ALL THOSE RULES SO EVERYONE CAN UNDERSTAND THE SITUATION THAT'S DEVELOPING AS IT DEVELOPS. >> AS I MENTIONED, THROUGH THE HELP OF COMMISSIONERS, PUBLIC INFORMATION LEADERS, WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO GET MESSAGES TOGETHER, NOT ONLY THROUGH EMAIL. DO YOU EVER GET THOSE NOTICES FROM THE SCHOOLS AND THEY CALL YOU 10 TIMES ABOUT THAT ONE THING? YOU GUYS ARE GOING TO GET SO TIRED FROM HEARING FROM US BECAUSE WE'RE GOING TO SEND SO MANY NOTICES. BUT I'M GOING TO LET THOMAS, TELL YOU MORE ABOUT THAT. >> IT'S A GREAT QUESTION, COMMISSIONER. WORKING WITH THE PUBLIC INFORMATION OFFICE, AFTER TODAY'S CONSIDERATION, WE PLAN TO REACH OUT TO ALL OUR SUPERVISORS AND MANAGERS SO THEY UNDERSTAND WHAT WE'RE THINKING AND HOW TO MANAGE THEIR OFFICE, WHERE EMPLOYEES SHOULD REGISTER, ET CETERA. THEN WE'RE GOING TO FOLLOW THAT UP WITH A SERIES OF COMMUNICATIONS BOTH INTERNALLY AND EXTERNALLY. WE'LL ALSO BE FOLLOWING UP WITH OUR SURROUNDING AREAS. ALREADY PUT A CONTACT OUT TO CITY HALL. WE'LL CONTINUE TO KEEP THEM INFORMED WITH WHAT WE'RE DOING. MAIN PLAZA CONSERVANCY, SO WE'LL WANT TO ENSURE THAT WE'RE ALSO COMMUNICATING WITH OUR NEIGHBORS AS WELL WHAT TO EXPECT THAT DAY. BUT AS JUDGE ARTEAGA MENTIONED, YOU'RE PROBABLY GOING TO GET TIRED OF OUR NOTICES, BUT WE ARE GOING TO SHARE ALL THAT INFORMATION AS WELL IN ADVANCE, BOTH TO DEPARTMENT HEADS, ELECTED OFFICIALS, THOSE SUPERVISORS, AND THEN OBVIOUSLY THE EMPLOYEES AS TO WHAT TO EXPECT. >> THAT'S GREAT TO HEAR. I THINK THE MORE REALISTIC WE CAN MAKE THE SCENARIOS THE BETTER. BUT OBVIOUSLY THAT REQUIRES A LOT OF COMMUNICATION AND MAKE SURE EVERYONE'S ON THE SAME PAGE. I APPLAUD THOSE EFFORTS. THANK YOU. >> HOLD ON, THIS SIDE. BACK TO YOU MR. CALVERT. >> OH, I'M SORRY. I THOUGHT THERE WAS SOMEONE ELSE. I APOLOGIZE. AS A COMMISSIONER FOR MAJORITY OF DOWNTOWN, I JUST HAVE ONE REQUEST THAT WE GET THE APARTMENT COMPLEXES BETWEEN CESAR CHAVEZ AND COMMERCE AND NUEVA AND MAYBE NAVARRO HEADS UP THAT THIS IS COMING. I'D BE HAPPY TO SPEAK AT SOME OF THE APARTMENT WITH OUR PIO AND OTHER FOLKS ABOUT THIS DRILL BECAUSE PEOPLE COULD REALLY GET INTO A FRENZY IF THEY'RE NOT AWARE AND WE NEED TO REALLY WORK TO MAKE SURE OUR NEIGHBORS AREN'T HAVING ANY FEAR OR THOUGHTS OR WHAT HAVE YOU. IT'S VERY IMPORTANT. >> WE'VE TAKEN A STEP FURTHER, THE HOTELS AS WELL, ANY OF OUR NEIGHBORS AROUND. >> GOOD POINT. THANK YOU SO MUCH. >> I WANTED TO ALSO THANK THE GROUP HERE, JUDGE. RT I GOT TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP AT THE DISTRICT COURT LEVEL AND BRINGING THIS MATTER BEFORE THE COMMISSIONERS COURT. THANK YOU, ELECTED OFFICIALS. I WANT TO RECOGNIZE ONE OF OUR NEWEST, KRISTINA ESCALADE. JUDGE, WHAT COURT NUMBER? >> GOOD MORNING, COMMISSIONERS. THE 186 DISTRICT COURT. >> WE HAVE OUR 186 DISTRICT COURT. GIVE HER A ROUND OF APPLAUSE. SHE'S ONE OF OUR NEWEST JUDGES. [00:25:01] [APPLAUSE] THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH. I WANT TO ECHO WHAT COMMISSIONER MOODY AND COMMISSIONER CALVERT, LET'S NOT FORGET ABOUT OUR EMPLOYEES WHO WORK, NOT AT THE COURTHOUSE AND ALTHOUGH THE COURTHOUSE IS THE HEART OF THE COUNTY. WE HAVE THE INFRASTRUCTURE, WE HAVE OUR PARKS AND RECS. LET'S MAKE SURE THAT ALL COUNTY EMPLOYEES ARE PARTICIPATING IN THIS TRAINING AND ARE READY FOR THOSE UNFORTUNATE CIRCUMSTANCE. IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE? >> MOVED. >> MOTION BY COMMISSIONER RODRIGUEZ? >> SECOND. >> SECOND BY COMMISSIONER CLAY-FLORES. ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION IF NONE ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE. AYE. ANY OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES. CONGRATULATIONS, GUYS. HAVE A GOOD DAY. [APPLAUSE]. THE SECOND SPECIAL PRESENTATION, AUTHORIZATION OF SLIM DOWN SHOWDOWN, WEIGHT-LOSS CHALLENGE FOR 2023, PRESENTED BY BEAR COUNTY WELLNESS AND SUPPORTED THE HEALTH AND WELLNESS FOR ALL BEAR COUNTY EMPLOYEES, INCLUDING THE COUNTY JAIL. >> YOUR HONOR, MAY WE APPROACH? THERE'S BEEN A REQUEST FOR A PHOTO. >> OH, I'M SORRY. WE'RE ON A PHOTO. LET'S GO. THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER CALVERT. [LAUGHTER] >> HERE WE GO. IN THE COUNT OF THREE, 1,2,3. ONE MORE 1,2,3. >> THANK YOU. >> YOU'RE WELCOME. >> THANK YOU. >> SEE YOU, MR. CHRIS. WE'LL CONTINUE WITH ITEM 4B. I THINK I'VE ALREADY ANNOUNCED IT ON THE RECORD, NICOLE HALL. >> GOOD MORNING, JUDGE AND COMMISSIONERS AND THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME. MY NAME IS NICOLE HALL. I'M THE BEAR COUNTY WELLNESS COORDINATOR AND I'M EXCITED TO BE HERE TODAY TO ANNOUNCE OUR NINTH ANNUAL SLIM-DOWN SHOWDOWN WEIGHT-LOSS CHALLENGE. SLIM DOWN SHOWDOWN HAS BEEN OUR BIGGEST WELLNESS CHALLENGE FOR THE PAST EIGHT YEARS. IT IS AN EIGHT-WEEK CHALLENGE THAT ALLOWS EMPLOYEES TO COME TOGETHER AS A TEAM TO FOCUS ON BUILDING NUTRITION AND EXERCISE INTO THEIR DAILY ROUTINES. OVER THE PAST EIGHT YEARS, BEAR COUNTY EMPLOYEES PARTICIPATING IN THIS CHALLENGE HAVE LOST A COMBINED TOTAL OF OVER 10,000 POUNDS. IN 2022, WE HAD 431 EMPLOYEES PARTICIPATE AND LOSE 2,351 POUNDS, WHICH IS THE HIGHEST WEIGHT LOSS AND PARTICIPATION SINCE THE PROGRAM'S INCEPTION. THIS YEAR, WE AIM TO SURPASS LAST YEAR'S PARTICIPATION AND TOTAL WEIGHT LOSS NUMBERS. WE HAVE BROKEN UP THE GRAND PRIZES INTO TWO CATEGORIES FOR BOTH MEN AND WOMEN TO HAVE THE CHANCE TO WIN UP TO $850 TO ACADEMY FOR THE HIGHEST PERCENTAGE OF WEIGHT LOSS. ADDITIONALLY, THIS YEAR, WE NOT ONLY HAVE OUR 24-HOUR WELLNESS CENTER FOR EMPLOYEES TO UTILIZE AS A RESOURCE, BUT WE'RE ALSO LAUNCHING A BRAND NEW ONLINE WORKOUT PLATFORM CALLED BURN ALONG, BEGINNING NEXT WEEK ON FEBRUARY 1ST. THIS PROGRAM WILL ALLOW COUNTY EMPLOYEES AT ANY LOCATION AROUND THE COUNTY TO ACCESS LIVE, OR RECORDED WORKOUTS, COOKING DEMOS, AND EVEN CHRONIC MEDICAL CONDITION MANAGEMENT TOOLS FOR FREE ONLINE. WE ALSO JUST HIRED A BRAND NEW WELL-BEING COACH WHO WILL BEGIN WORKING NEXT WEEK AND WILL ACT AS A ONE ON ONE GUIDE, HELPING EMPLOYEES REACH THEIR HEALTH GOALS THROUGH PERSONALIZED WORKOUT PLANS, CONTINUED ASSESSMENTS, AND NAVIGATION OF ALL OF OUR AVAILABLE RESOURCES. WITH THE ADDITION OF ALL THESE NEW RESOURCES, WE HOPE TO SEE MORE EMPLOYEES REGISTER FOR THE SLIM-DOWN SHOWDOWN CHALLENGE THIS YEAR AND BEAT THE NUMBERS THAT WE HAD LAST YEAR. IF ANYONE IS INTERESTED IN PARTICIPATING, IT OFFICIALLY BEGINS NEXT MONDAY, JANUARY 30TH, BUT THE DEADLINE TO REGISTER IS TODAY, JANUARY 24TH. ANYONE THAT'S INTERESTED IN THE COUNTY, PLEASE GO ONLINE TO OUR BEAR PSYCHIC WEBSITE AND JOIN OUR CHALLENGE. THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE] >> ANY DISCUSSION? >> I AGREE. WE ALL NEED TO LOSE SOME WEIGHT. [LAUGHTER] >> I WAS JOKING THEN I WAS HOPING I MISSED THE DEADLINE, BUT IT SOUNDS LIKE [OVERLAPPING]. >> YOU STILL CAN REGISTER COMMISSIONER. >> COMMISSIONER MOODY CHALLENGED ME AS WE WALKED OVER THIS MORNING. >> HE'S ALREADY REGISTERED. >> I KNOW HE'S ALREADY REGISTERED. >> I SAW HIM REGISTER NOW YOU ALL HAVE TO REGISTER. >> I JUST WANT TO THANK NICOLE FOR ALL THE GOOD INCENTIVES THAT SHE DOES FOR THE WELLNESS PROGRAM HERE AT BEAR COUNTY AND JUST WANT TO CONTINUE HEALTHY EATING AND EXERCISING AND [00:30:01] DRINKING MORE WATER AND GETTING RID OF CAFFEINE AND ALCOHOL. THANK YOU SO MUCH BECAUSE THIS ISN'T JUST ABOUT THE CHALLENGE, BUT IT'S ABOUT PREVENTIVE HEALTH IN GENERAL AND PREVENTIVE HEALTH WE KNOW IS ALSO WHEN YOU DRINK MORE WATER, WHEN YOU EXERCISE AND EAT HEALTHY. IT'S ALSO ABOUT PREVENTIVE HEALTH FOR DIFFERENT CANCERS, BREAST CANCER AND KIDNEY DISEASE AND HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE AND DIABETES. THAT IS REALLY RAMPING IN OUR COMMUNITY. THANKS FOR THE WORK YOU DO. >> THANK YOU. >> COMMISSIONER CALVERT. >> I WOULD JUST MAKE A LITTLE JOKE. THAT'S ALL. LET'S MOVE ON. >> DO WE NEED ANY ACTION ON THIS? I DON'T BELIEVE SO. ITEM 5, REQUESTS FOR COMMISSIONER'S COURT, [Item 5] THEY IDENTIFY ITEMS FROM THE CONSENT AGENDA FOR ADDITIONAL DISCUSSION TO APPROVE REMAINING CONSENT AGENDA. IS THERE ANY ITEMS TO BE PULLED, COMMISSIONERS? >> YES. JUDGE. COUNTY STAFF HAS A FEW ITEMS THAT WE'D LIKE TO PULL FORWARD. THAT WOULD INCLUDE ITEMS 15, 49, AND 64. >> FIFTEEN, 49, AND 64. >> JUST TO CLARIFY, THOMAS, YOU'RE PULLING THOSE OFF COMPLETELY, OR FOR CORRECTION. >> ONE IS TO DEFER, ONE IS TO CORRECT, AND THE OTHER IS TO PULL ALTOGETHER. >> WE'LL ADDRESS THEM INDIVIDUALLY AFTER CONSENT. COMMISSIONER CALVERT TOMMY, COMMISSIONER MOODY, COMMISSIONER RODRIGUEZ, COMMISSIONER CLAY-FLORES. [Consent Items 9-14, 16-48, & 50-63] IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE REMAINING CONSENT AGENDA? >> I MOVE TO APPROVE THE REMAINING CONSENT AGENDA. >> MOTION BY COMMISSIONER CLAY-FLORES, SECOND BY COMMISSIONER RODRIGUEZ. ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY SAYING, AYE. AYE. ANY OPPOSED? MOTION APPROVED. NUMBER 6, IS THE FALLING FOR RECORD THE FOLLOWING LEGAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE DOCUMENTS [Item 6] ARE DIRECTING THE CRIMINAL DISTRICT ATTORNEYS TO TAKE ACTION IF NECESSARY. I THINK FOR THE FIRST MEETING, I DON'T BELIEVE WE HAVE TO TAKE ANY ACTION ITEMS. THE COURT TAKES JUDICIAL NOTICE OF THE THREE ITEMS LISTED IN TODAY'S AGENDA. IS THERE ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION ON ITEM 6? HEARING NONE. LET'S GO TO ITEM 7. [Item 7] COMMISSIONERS COURT MINUTES FOR TUESDAY, JANUARY 10TH, 2023. >> MOTION TO APPROVE THE MINUTES, JUDGE. >> MOTION BY COMMISSIONER RODRIGUEZ, SECOND BY COMMISSIONER MOODY. ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION ON ITEM 7? IF NONE, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY SAYING, AYE. AYE. ANY OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES. COMMUNICATION FROM CITIZENS WHO SIGNED. >> I THINK JUDGE, WE'VE GOT TO FINISH. WE PULLED THOSE TWO, OR THREE FROM CONSENT WILL WE NEED TO BRING THEM UP NOW. FIFTEEN I BELIEVE IS THE FIRST. >> I STAND CORRECTED. LET'S CONSIDER ITEM 15, [Item 15] AWARDING REQUIREMENT CONTRACTS TO VULCAN CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS AND ALL THOSE TAKE NOTICE OF THE AGENDA ITEM NUMBER 15. >> JUDGE, COMMISSIONERS, COUNTY STAFF WOULD LIKE TO DEFER THIS ITEM TO THE NEXT COURT MEETING IN FEBRUARY. >> MOVED TO TABLE UNTIL FEBRUARY. >> MOTION BY COUNTY COMMISSIONER CALVERT. >> SECOND. >> SECOND BY COMMISSIONER RODRIGUEZ ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE. AYE. ANY OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES. THE NEXT ITEM IS? >> FORTY NINE. >> FORTY NINE. [Item 49] >> YES, JUDGE, COMMISSIONERS, THIS ITEM TO REHIRE A RETIREE, THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE HAS ASKED TO PULL THIS ITEM. THIS ACTION IS NO LONGER NEEDED. >> MOVE TO TABLE ITEM 49. >> MOTION BY COMMISSIONER CALVERT. >> SECOND. >> SECOND BY COMMISSIONER RODRIGUEZ, ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE. AYE. ANY OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES. THE LAST ONE I BELIEVE WAS 64. [Item 64] >> JUDGE, COMMISSIONERS, THIS ITEM IS FOR THE CLERK TO CORRECT THE CAPTION. THE DATE OF APPOINTMENTS SHOULD READ JANUARY 24, 2023. THE AGENDA CURRENTLY STATES 22, SO WE JUST WANT TO MAKE THAT CORRECTION FOR THE RECORD. >> MOVE TO AMEND ITEM 64 FOR THE DATE OF APPOINTMENT TO BE JANUARY 24, 2023, FOR BOTH ALEJANDRO PENA AND JOHNNY LOKTA JUNIOR. >> MOTION BY COMMISSIONER CALVERT. >> SECOND. >> SECOND BY COMMISSIONER RODRIGUEZ, ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE. AYE. ANYBODY OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES. DOES THAT COMPLETE THE DISCUSSION OF THE CONSENT AGENDA ITEMS? ITEM 8 IS CITIZENS TO BE HEARD, [Item 8] [00:35:03] AND I BELIEVE I HAVE A LIST IN FRONT OF ME. JUDGE ROSIE SPEEDLIN GONZALEZ. >> GOOD MORNING, EVERYONE. TWO WEEKS AGO I WAS BEFORE YOU ON THE REQUEST TO FUND THAT EXTRA STAFF PERSON FOR THE FAO COURT. I WANT TO THANK COMMISSIONER RODRIGUEZ AND JUDGE SAKAI FOR MEETING WITH ME ON THAT ISSUE AND JUDGE HUFF ON ANOTHER ISSUE AS WELL. I JUST WANTED TO COME UP AND MAKE A RECORD THAT WE'VE HEARD NOTHING SINCE THEN. THAT'S IT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. >> THANK YOU, JUDGE. >> STEPHEN PRICE. I WILL REMIND ALL SPEAKERS THAT WE HAVE A THREE-MINUTE TIME LIMIT. IS THAT CORRECT, MR. NAVARRO? HE IS A TIMEKEEPER, NOT ME. MR. FLOORS, ARE YOU ALSO GOING TO JOIN AND MR. ROMO ARE YOU JOINING IN? >> WE'RE ALL HERE AS A COALITION FOR GUN CONTROL, BUT I HAVE A DOCTOR'S APPOINTMENT AT 10 O'CLOCK. >> I WANT TO ACCOMMODATE ANYBODY WHO NEEDS ACCOMMODATION, BUT AM I TO UNDERSTAND THAT AS A MATTER OF PROTOCOL, WE CAN HAVE EVERYBODY COME UP? I PRESUME YOU ALL ARE HERE ON A SPECIFIC ISSUE. WE WANT YOU TO BE HEARD. GOOD MORNING, MR. PENA. >> GOOD TO SEE YOU AGAIN. >> GOOD TO SEE YOU. HOLD ON. LET'S GET MR. PENA. >> SO HERE, HAND THESE TO THE CLERK. WERE YOU SUPPOSED TO DO THIS HANDED TO THE CLERK? >> [BACKGROUND]. >> TO THE CLERK? >> THEY ARE ALL WITH YOU. LET'S GET THE PAPERWORK UP HERE. >> I WAS ASKED TO COME AND SPEAK ON BEHALF OF THE COALITION BY SONYA, WHO, AS YOU ALL KNOW OR MAY NOT KNOW, REPRESENTS THE COUNTY. AS YOU KNOW, I'M A VETERAN SWAB, TAKE IT FROM A DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVE. WE HAVE A SERIOUS GUN CONTROL ISSUE. AS YOU CAN SEE, YOUR GUN SAFETY ISSUE. IT NOT ONLY IN THE NATION, BUT IN OUR COUNTY. MY BELLY WAG HAS ALWAYS BEEN VETERANS AND VETERANS SUICIDE, 18-20 VETERANS TAKE THEIR LIVES EVERY DAY. THE NUMBER OF HOMICIDES AND SUICIDES THAT YOU LOOK IN THE NUMBERS THAT YOU SEE INCLUDE A LARGE NUMBER OF THOSE VETERANS THAT ARE COMMITTING SUICIDE. THE NUMBERS THAT I'VE READ, AND TO KEEP IT SHORT AND YIELD TO THE REST OF THE GROUP. FOUR OUT OF THE 10 HOMICIDES IN EVERY CITY ON A DAILY BASIS ARE GUN-RELATED SUICIDES. OUT OF THOSE, A LARGE NUMBER OF MORE VETERANS. THERE IS AN INTERNET SITE THAT TALKS ABOUT EVERYTHING THAT THEY'RE GOING TO BRING FORWARD. THAT'S A VERY IN-DEPTH STUDY THAT WAS DONE BY NEW YORK STATE UNIVERSITY. SHE'S GOT SEVERAL POWERFUL LINKS THAT WE'RE GOING TO LOOK AT FOR DIFFERENT OPPORTUNITIES TO IMPROVE OUR GUN SAFETY LAWS IN BEXAR COUNTY. I'VE LEFT A COPY WITH YOU, AS YOU CAN SEE, IF YOU FLIP IT, LOOK AT THE VERY FIRST PAGE, THAT'S JUST THE COVER. THEN THE SECOND PAGE HIGHLIGHTS THE ISSUES OF GUN SAFETY AND SUICIDE FOR VETERANS. I HAVE A FEW MINUTES. FROM VETERAN'S PERSPECTIVE, I'M SURE THAT I CAN SPEAK FREELY AND SAY THAT WE ARE APPALLED AT WHAT'S HAPPENING AT OUR SCHOOLS. WHEN YOU VALIDATE, YOU COULD SEE THE POLICE OFFICERS STOOD OUTSIDE OF THE CLASSROOM, AND TOOK THEIR TIME AND GET IN. ANY ONE OF THOSE VETERANS HERE WOULD HAVE GONE THROUGH THE DOOR RIGHT AWAY. THEY WOULD HAVE HAD THE WHOLE WAY BACK. I ACTUALLY DID SEE SOME OF THE VETERANS AT RAN IN A FILM, THEY WERE ACTUALLY HELD HIM BACK. I KNOW THAT YOU CAN'T DO MUCH FROM MY COUNTY'S PERSPECTIVE BECAUSE THESE ARE STATE LAWS AND THEIR PRE-EMPTIVE LAWS. OR TO PUT IN PLACE BY THE NATIONAL GOVERNMENT AND BY THE STATE OF TEXAS. BUT I ASKED YOU TO LOOK AT ANY WAY THAT YOU CAN TO HELP US PREVENT NOT ONLY VETERAN SUICIDES BUT TO PUNISH THOSE THAT ARE VIOLATING THOSE LAWS PUBLICLY. THERE ARE YOUNG KIDS THAT ARE GOING TO SCHOOL CARRYING GUNS NOW, AND SHOOT OFF THOSE GUNS HERE, PUBLICLY, TURN IT INTO THE WILD WILD WEST. >> JUDGE COMMISSIONERS, THE TIME HAS EXPIRED. >> TIME. MR. ADRIAN FLORES? I'M JUST GOING INTO THE ORDER OR MR. ROMO, YOU WANT A YIELD? MR. ADRIAN FLORES IS YIELDING. [00:40:03] MR. ROMO. >> GOOD MORNING. MY COUNTY JUDGE AND THE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS. I'M LAWRENCE GUZMAN ROMO, AMERICAN GI FORUM NATIONAL LEGISLATIVE CHAIRMAN, FORMER UNITED STATES SILICA SERVICES DIRECTOR, FORMER NAMING COMMISSION COMMISSIONER, UNITED STATES AIR FORCE VETERAN, AND BORN AND RAISED IN BEXAR COUNTY CITIZEN. I REPRESENT THE AMERICAN GI FORUM ON A NEWLY CREATED CONCERN, BEXAR COUNTY GUN SAFETY COALITION, WHICH I SERVE AS THE CHAIR. OUR GUN SAFETY COALITION COMPRISED OF SINCERE BIPARTISAN COMMUNITY LEADERSHIP GROUP. RESPECTFULLY, REQUEST USE ALL THE LETTERS SITE OF TOOLS IN YOUR LEGISLATIVE TOOLBOX TO ENHANCE GUN SAFETY LAWS AND POLICIES TO PROTECT OUR BEXAR COUNTY CITIZENS, ESPECIALLY OUR YOUTH. JUDGE SAKAI, YOU ARE A STAR AS A JUDGE OF JUVENILE DISTRICT COURT AND UNDERSTAND THE IMPORTANCE OF TAKING CARE OF OUR CHILDREN AND GIVING THEM THE TOOLS AND OPPORTUNITIES AND SOCIETIES TO SUCCEED. I'M ASKING YOU TO USE YOUR EXPERTISE OF OUR LAWS TO WORK WITH THE OTHER COMMISSIONERS TO COME UP WITH A PLAN, USUALLY LAWS AND POLICIES TO OPTIMIZE GUN SAFETY AND BEXAR COUNTY WITHIN WHAT IS ALLOWED BY THE STATE AND FEDERAL LAW FOR YOU TO DO. OUR BEXAR COUNTY GUN SAFETY COALITION CAME UP WITH REALISTIC RECOMMENDATIONS, GOALS, WHAT WE SEE IN OPTIMIZING GUN SAFETY, AND WE'LL PROVIDE YOU THIS TODAY. WE'D LIKE BEXAR COUNTY CITIZENS TO LIFE, LIBERTY, AND PURSUIT OF HAPPINESS. WE SHOULDN'T BE AFRAID TO GO TO SCHOOLS, TO GROCERY STORES, TO CONCERTS, TO DANCES WITHOUT THE THREAT OF BEING MASSACRED. THANKS FOR GIVING US THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK TODAY, AND WE WISH YOU THE BEST SUCCESS ENHANCING THE WELLNESS OF BEXAR COUNTY. >> THANK YOU, MR. ROMO. EDUARDO AGUILAR. ARE YOU PART OF THIS? >> I'M CRYSTAL. >> YOUR NAME? >> HI. I'M CRYSTAL KUDA. >> MR. CRYSTAL KUDA? >> HI. I'M A SMALL BUSINESS OWNER. I'M A MOTHER OF TWO YOUNG CHILDREN IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS HERE IN BEXAR COUNTY. THE PURPOSE OF OUR COALITION HERE IS THAT WE'RE GATHERING DIFFERENT ORGANIZATIONS TOGETHER BECAUSE WE'RE ALL ADVOCATES FOR ALL OUR CHILDREN. THIS IS IN ORDER TO PREVENT FUTURE MASSACRES, WE ARE LITERALLY IN DAYS ZERO RIGHT NOW OF A SHOOTING. I AM BEGGING YOU, I KNOW IT MAY FALL ON DEAF EARS RIGHT NOW, BUT WE NEED TO BAN ALL ASSAULT WEAPONS. IN 1999, SINCE COLUMBINE HAPPENED, THERE HAVE BEEN MORE THAN 554 STUDENTS, EDUCATORS, AND SCHOOL STAFF. AGAIN, THAT NUMBER HAS CHANGED SINCE YESTERDAY. IT'S ABSURD. NO PARENT SHOULD EVER BE PUT IN THAT SITUATION WHERE ASSAULT WEAPONS MUTILATE CHILDREN'S BODIES SO BAD THAT WE HAVE TO IDENTIFY OUR CHILDREN BY THEIR CLOTHING OR SHOES. THAT IS UNNECESSARY. COMBAT TRAINING IS UNNECESSARY. AGAIN, OUR COALITION IS ABOUT GATHERING PEOPLE TO BE LOUDER ABOUT THIS CRISIS THAT OUR WHOLE COUNTRY IS SEEING, WE NEED OUR ASSAULT WEAPON BAN BACK ON. THIS IS NOT SOMETHING THAT WE'RE GOING TO NORMALIZE EVER. THE PRIESTS TODAY TALKED ABOUT WISDOM AND WHAT WE EXPECT AND WHAT WE KNOW. THIS IS NOT THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA I GREW UP IN. THIS IS NOT THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA YOU GREW UP IN, AND THIS IS NOT THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA I WANT OUR CHILDREN TO GROW UP IN. WE NEED TO PROTECT OUR KIDS FROM UNNECESSARY DRAMA. STILL KNOWING WHAT WE KNOW NOW, 20 YEARS LATER, WE KNOW BETTER. LET'S DO BETTER FOR OUR KIDS. WE KNOW BETTER. THESE KIDS IN UVALDE NEED TO BE REMEMBERED. I WAS ASKED TO BRING PICTURES BECAUSE THE COALITION WANTS TO BUILD MURALS OF THE CHILDREN TO REMIND US EVERY DAY THAT THIS IS HAPPENING IN OUR STREETS. WE HAVE PLANS OF GOING TO LEGISLATORS LATER ON IN AUSTIN, LATER THIS MONTH OR NEXT MONTH, TO WORK TOGETHER. WE ALL ARE ON THE SAME PAGE HERE. OUR GROUP IS JUST GOING TO GROW. WE WANT RED FLAGS ON BACK-END BEXAR COUNTY. AGAIN, WE'RE GOING TO WORK FOR BANDS. WE WANT TO IMPLEMENT A BUYBACK PROGRAM AT LEAST BECAUSE THIS IS NOT A WARFARE, OUR STREETS OR NOT A WARFARE. NOBODY SHOULD BE USED TO THIS. WE HAVE DIFFERENT ORGANIZATIONS FROM AMERICAN GI FORUM, LULAC, DEMOCRATS ALL OVER THE BEXAR COUNTY. AGAIN, WE'RE JUST ASKING FOR YOU TO LISTEN AND TO WORK TOGETHER IN ALL OF THIS. BUT YES, WE NEED CHANGE. AGAIN. WE KNOW BETTER. >> THANK YOU, MR. >> THANK YOU. >> SONYA WALKER. >> GOOD MORNING, JESSICA AND COMMISSIONERS. MY NAME IS SONYA DE LA GARZA WALKER, AND I'M A LULAC FOR 10 YEARS NOW. I'M A MOTHER AND I'M A GRANDMOTHER. I HAPPENED TO BE GOING BY UVALDE ON MAY 24TH, [00:45:03] COMING FROM A TRIP FROM LULAC IN THE VALLEY. I WAS SCARED. I DID NOT KNOW WHAT WAS GOING ON, BUT I SAW AN ARMY IN UVALDE. WHEN I CAME HOME AND FOUND OUT IT WAS THE SCHOOL, ALL I COULD THINK OF WAS MY CHILDREN AND MY GRANDCHILDREN. WHERE WERE THEY? ARE THEY OKAY. HOW DO THEY FEEL? AS THEY FOUND OUT WHAT HAPPENED IN THE DAYS AFTER WHICH WE TRIED TO SHELTER THEM AND NOT LET THEM KNOW EVERYTHING. THEY'RE SCARED, THEY'RE GOING TO BE ANOTHER VICTIM OF THOSE SHOOTINGS. WE NEED TO DO SOMETHING SAN ANTONIO. WE KNOW WHERE WE'RE AT STATE-WIDE. WE'RE NOWHERE STATEWIDE. BUT I DON'T KNOW IF YOU KNOW, THERE HAS BEEN 36 MASS SHOOTINGS IN THE UNITED STATES ALREADY. THAT IS MORE THAN THE DAYS THAT WE HAVE. IN 24 DAYS AS OF YESTERDAY, THERE WAS ALREADY 36 MASS SHOOTINGS IN THE UNITED STATES. WE'RE JUST WAITING. THE KIDS GO TO SCHOOL. NOT IF BUT WHEN IS IT GOING TO HAPPEN AT OUR SCHOOL? IS THAT RIGHT FOR US NOT TO DO ANYTHING? WE ARE HERE IN THE COALITION THAT WE'RE BUILDING AND WE'VE GOT EIGHT ORGANIZATIONS RIGHT NOW AND GROWING EVERY DAY TO ASK YOU FOR US TO COME TOGETHER AND DO SOMETHING FOR OUR CHILDREN. JESSICA, YOU AND I WORKED TOGETHER WITH FOR OUR CHILDREN MANY YEARS AGO AS I WAS A COUNSELOR. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. >> IS STELLA AROUND? >> ARANDA. >> ARANDA, I'M SORRY. >> SHE'S PASSING. >> SHE'S PASSING. HOW ABOUT NICK PENA? MR. NICK. >> I'M NEXT JUDGE. >> YOU'RE ALWAYS NEXT, MR. BRANDON. [LAUGHTER] GO AHEAD. >> IT'S GOOD TO COME AND SEE YOU ALL FOR THE NEW YEAR. WE CAME A FEW TIMES AND WHEN THE JUDGE WOLF WAS HERE. NOW WE'RE GOING TO START A NEW YEAR AND IT'S JUST SAD THAT WE HAVE TO START WITH THIS SUBJECT. AFTER WHAT HAPPENED IN CALIFORNIA WE DIDN'T EVEN HAVE TIME TO REALLY PREPARE OUR REMARKS TO ADDRESS THE TOTAL PICTURE OF WHAT THIS EMERGENCY IS. WE HEAR AMONG US THE ACTIVISTS GOT TOGETHER AND WE SAID WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO GO AND TALK THIS TUESDAY. WE HAVE ORGANIZED A ORGANIZATION MY BEXARCO COUNTY GUN SAFETY COALITION THAT IS COMPOSED OF A LOT OF GROUPS THAT WE'VE PUT TOGETHER. THEY HAVE BEEN INVOLVED IN THE COMMUNITY FOR MANY YEARS. WE THOUGHT THAT MAYBE NOW IS THE TIME FOR YOU TO LEAD AND FOR US TO BE RIGHT BEHIND YOU. NOW, AS YOU KNOW, I LIVE IN SAN ANTONIO AND I AM A STATE VICE COMMANDER OF THE AMERICAN GI FORUM AND TRUSTEE OF THE LOCAL MIGUEL ARANDAS CHAPTER HERE IN SAN ANTONIO. SINCE THE MASS SHOOTING IN UVALDE, A SMALL TOWN ABOUT 80 MILES WEST OF SAN ANTONIO THIS COMMITTEE HAS BEEN WORKING ON FINDING WAYS TO END THIS TYPE OF NIGHTMARES. WE DECIDED TO ORGANIZE A MULTICULTURAL COALITION WHICH AS YOU CAN SEE IS MADE OF WOMEN AND MEN, HISPANICS, LATINOS, AND ANGLOS, AND BLACKS TOO WE FORGOT CJ WAS SUPPOSED TO BE HERE. IN FACT, CJ IS THE ONE THAT GOT ME TO ORGANIZE THIS BUT HE IS I THINK SOMEWHERE IT WAS A MINISTRY. HE'S A MINISTER. BUT ANYWAY, WE SEE THAT THIS BODY HERE IS ALSO A MULTICULTURAL BODY. YOU ALL CAN UNDERSTAND US WELL OF WHAT WE'RE HERE TO DO. WE DECIDED TO ORGANIZE A MULTICULTURAL COALITION TO SEE IF TOGETHER WE CAN UNITE AND WE THE PEOPLE TO FIGHT THIS HATE THAT HAS OVERTAKEN MANY COMMUNITIES. THE HEADLINES READ, AFTER YOU VALIDATE BEFORE, WHAT'S THE NEXT SHOOTING? WELL, WE SAW MONTEREY PARK JUST YESTERDAY, A COUPLE OF DAYS AWAY. THEN WE SAW HALFWAY MOON IN CALIFORNIA, ALSO ANOTHER MASS SHOOTING. NOW TODAY BEFORE WE EVEN GOT HERE, THERE WAS ANOTHER ONE IN OAKLAND ANOTHER MASS SHOOTING. EIGHTEEN PEOPLE HAVE DIED COMBINED. NOW, HOW MANY TIMES CAN WE WATCH ANOTHER MASS SHOOTING TO HAPPEN? JUDGE, COMMISSIONERS, ENOUGH IS ENOUGH. >> JUDGE THE TIME HAS EXPIRED. [00:50:02] >> YEAH. >> RAP IT UP EXPLAINING. >> SHE'S GOING TO GIVE ME HER TIME. >> STELLA. >> STELLA. >> OKAY. >> NOW THOUSANDS MARCH ACROSS THE UNITED STATES FOR NEW GUN SAFETY LAWS BUT TO NO AVAIL. TEXAS HAS SOME OF THE WORST GUN LAWS IN THE COUNTRY. THIS YEAR WE HAVE A UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY, JUDGE, TO REFORM THE WORST GUN LAW IN AMERICA. TWO DEMOCRATIC SENATORS WHO ARE DEAREST AND SUFFERING ARE COMING TOGETHER AND PROPOSING A GUN REFORM BILL IN THIS LEGISLATIVE SESSION, AND THIS IS THE RIGHT TIME TO MAKE IT HAPPEN, JUDGE, WE CAN START SMALL, BUT WE CAN THINK BIG, AND AS COUNTY JUDGE, YOU CAN UNITE AS JUDGE INTO ONE UNITED PEOPLE BECAUSE WE HAVE TO BE ALL TOGETHER. REPUBLICANS, DEMOCRATS, INDEPENDENTS, ASIANS, MEXICAN AMERICANS SO THAT WE CAN GET THIS DONE BECAUSE WE HAVE TO SOMEHOW JUDGE, CONVINCE THE PUBLIC THAT THIS IS SERIOUS BUSINESS THAT THIS CAN SPREAD TO US HERE, AND YOU, AS A JUDGE, WITH ALL THE SUPPORT THAT YOU GOT IN YOUR REAL AND YOUR ELECTION. WE THINK THAT YOU ARE THE ONE THAT CAN UNITE US AND LEAD US, AND WE'RE ASKING YOU TODAY, NOT FOR MONEY YET, BUT YOU KNOW, YOU'VE GOT TO INVEST MONEY IN ANY PLAN BECAUSE THIS IS SERIOUS BUSINESS NOW, AND I DON'T KNOW IF JUDGE WOLF LEFT ANY MONEY IN THE TREASURY BECAUSE THE LAST MONTH OR SO HE GAVE ALL THE MONEY AWAY, AND SO MAYBE YOU CAN FIND SOMETHING THERE TO FUND IT BECAUSE WE ARE VOLUNTEERS AND VOLUNTEERS ONLY HAVE SO MUCH TIME. WE ARE OLD AND SOME OF US HAVE BEEN AROUND FOR TOO MUCH. JUDGE, COMMISSIONERS, WE ASK YOU THAT YOU TAKE THIS SERIOUSLY, AND YOU LEAD US BECAUSE YOU REPRESENT THE WHOLE COUNTY AND SEE IF WE CAN UNITE EVERYONE TO FIGHT AND SUPPORT WITH DEAREST AND SUFFERING ON THIS BILL. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. >> THANK YOU, MR. BRANDON. MR. PALACIO SALAZAR. >> NOW, HE IS REGISTERED TWICE. YOU'VE ASKED TO SPEAK, I ASSUME, ON GUN CONTROL AND GUS GARCIA STATUTE. MR. SALAZAR, I GIVE YOU THREE MINUTES. CAN YOU GET EVERYTHING DONE? [OVERLAPPING] >> GOOD MORNING, YOUR HONOR, AND GOOD MORNING, HONORABLE, BARROW COUNTY COMMISSIONERS. I REALIZED THAT THE ISSUE OF THE RAMP AND GUN ISSUE IS A STATE-LEVEL ISSUE, NOT AT THE COUNTY LEVEL, BUT WE NEED TO ADDRESS THIS CRAZINESS SOMEWHERE. THEREFORE, I ASKED YOU TO JOIN US IN THE FIGHT TO BRING SOME SENSE OF PROPER GUN CONTROL BEFORE ANY MORE INNOCENT HUMAN BEINGS CONTINUE TO BE SLAUGHTERED IN THEIR SCHOOL, CLASSROOMS, AT CHURCHES, AT THE MALL. EVERY DAY WE SEE THIS HAPPENING OVER AND OVER AGAIN AND EVEN IN THE SUPPORT SAFETY OF THEIR HOMES. THIS TEXAS GOVERNOR HAS MADE IT POSSIBLE FOR ANY INDIVIDUAL, REGARDLESS OF MENTAL SANITY, PAST CRIMINAL RECORD, OR ANY TYPE OF BACKGROUND CHECK, TO CARRY ANY TYPE OF HIGH-POWER WEAPON AND TO BUY ANY AMOUNT OF EMANATIONS THAT THEY CHOOSE. AS A FORMER VIETNAM WAR VETERAN, I KNOW PERFECTLY WELL THE TYPE OF BODILY DAMAGE WHICH THIS AR-15 TEAM CAN MAKE THAT WEAPON AND ITS EMANATION WERE DECIDED FOR THAT PURPOSE. IT WAS MEANT TO BE USED IN THE COMBAT ZONE AGAINST ENEMIES OF THE UNITED STATES, NOT AGAINST OUR YOUNG CHILDREN. IN THE NAME OF GOD FOR THE SAKE OF HUNDREDS OF INNOCENT VICTIMS, I URGE YOU TO DO EVERYTHING POSSIBLE TO LIMIT THE SALE OF THESE WEAPONS WITHIN THE BOUNDARIES OF BARROW COUNTY, SUCH AS FLEA MARKET, GUN SHOWS, WHATEVER IT TAKES TO DO OUR PART YOUR PART, TO RE-ESTABLISH CURRENCIES WHICH SEEMS TO BE ABSENT AT THE STATE CAPITALS. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU MR. DID YOU WANT TO TALK ABOUT THE GUS GARCIA STATUTE AT THIS TIME? >> ABOUT WHAT, THE STATUTE? >> GUS GARCIA? >> WELL, YES. >> GO RIGHT AHEAD. >> THANK YOU, JUDGE. MORE THAN HALF OF THE BARROW COUNTY RESIDENTS ARE MEXICAN-AMERICAN. WE HAVE BEEN WELL-REPRESENTED IN EVERY WAR. IT SEEMS THAT AS SOON AS THE WAR STARTS, THE GOVERNMENT HAS NO TROUBLE FINDING US AND SENDING US INTO THE COMBAT ZONE. OUR ETHNIC GROUP IS RECOGNIZED AS THE MOST DECORATED FOR BRAVERY BUT WHERE ARE THE STATUES COMMEMORATING OUR HEROES? WE NEED SOME STATUTES AND I URGE YOU TO VOTE [00:55:03] SOME FUNDING TO ERECT A STATUE OF GUSTAVO C. GUS GARCIA, WHO FOUGHT ALL THE WAY TO THE SUPREME COURT FOR OUR CIVIL RIGHTS. WHERE ARE OUR HEROES IN OUR HISTORY BOOKS? WELL, OBVIOUSLY, WE'RE NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO MAKE ANY HEADWAY AS LONG AS THE MAJORITY OF RACIST INDIVIDUALS ARE ON THE STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION. BUT LET'S START HERE IN BARROW COUNTY. LET'S ERECT A STATUE OF OUR HERO, ATTORNEY GUSTAVO C. GUS GARCIA AS A LIEUTENANT IN THE UNITED STATES ARMY. HE ALSO HELPED DRAFT THE CONSTITUTION FOR THE UNITED NATIONS, AND SO MUCH MORE THAN HE DID FOR OUR MERCADO. IT'S TIME TO RECOGNIZE GUSTAVO C. GUS GARCIA WITH A STATUE IN FRONT OF THE MERCADO. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. >> YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED. THANK YOU. MR. SALAZAR, IS THERE ANYBODY ELSE ON THIS PARTICULAR ISSUE? BECAUSE I BELIEVE AS A POINT OF PERSONAL PRIVILEGE, COMMISSIONER CALVERT HAS ASKED FOR THE FLOOR. COMMISSIONER, WITH ALL DUE RESPECT, I WILL ALSO LIMIT YOU TO THREE MINUTES. >> [BACKGROUND]. >> LET'S FINISH AND COMPLETE CITIZENS TO BE HEARD, SO IF YOU ALL HAVE A SEAT, I WANT THE COMMISSIONERS TO MAKE COMMENTS. COMMISSIONER CALVERT, YOU HAVE THREE MINUTES. >> THIS WILL BE QUICK AND I WANT COMMISSIONER RODRIGUEZ TO UPDATE EVERYONE ON THE LEGISLATIVE MATTERS THAT WE PUT FORWARD AS A COMMISSIONERS COURT FOR GUN SAFETY, FOR OUR LOBBYING TEAM IN AUSTIN. WE'VE ALSO TAKEN A NUMBER OF ACTIONS THAT YOU MENTIONED TODAY, INCLUDING BANNING THOSE CELLS OF FLEA MARKETS AND THINGS WITHIN THE COLISEUM AND THE AT&T CENTER AND OTHER COUNTY FACILITIES. IN ADDITION, THE COURT HAS ALLOCATED MONEY FOR GUN SAFETY LOCKS AND HAS SOME FUNDS IN I BELIEVE THE APA4, A PUBLIC CAMPAIGN OF MEDIA TO HELP. I WAS VERY INSPIRED BY ALL OF YOUR COMMENTS TODAY AND I THANK YOU FOR TAKING THE TIME, IT'S TRULY INSPIRING, WE HAVE VETERANS AND OTHER LEADERS THAT HAVE COME ALONG WITH MANY DIFFERENT WALKS OF LIFE THIS MORNING TO ADDRESS THIS ISSUE. I'D LIKE TO MAKE A RECOMMENDATION, NOT ONLY THAT WE WORK ON THE LEGISLATIVE PIECES WITH YOU THAT YOU'VE ASKED US TO, WE HAVE TO TAKE A VOTE ON IT AND IT WON'T BE A UNANIMOUS VOTE NECESSARILY DEPENDING ON WHAT WE PUT FORWARD, BUT IT JUST DEPENDS ON WHAT WE PUT FORWARD. BUT I DO THINK THAT THE FACES THAT YOU SHOWED IN THE MEMORIAL TO THOSE FACES IN SAN ANTONIO COULD BE A VERY POWERFUL RALLYING PLACE. I'D LIKE TO SUBMIT SOME THOUGHT PROCESS BEHIND DEVELOPING A MURAL WITH THE FACES OF THE VICTIMS OF GUN SHOOTINGS NATIONWIDE AS A CIVIC SQUARE FOR PEACE AND DEMOCRACY AND FREEDOM IN OUR COMMUNITY. WE'VE GOT PROPERTY ON THE 51 ACRE CAMPUS OUTSIDE OF RANDOLPH, WHERE WE WERE GOING TO BUILD A CIVIC SQUARE. PERHAPS ONE OF THE ART MEMORIAL PIECES THAT WE COULD BUILD COULD BE A PLACE THAT PEOPLE COME AND GATHER TO SEE THE FACES OF WAR, WHERE PEOPLE CAN PRAY AND SPEAK IN A AMPHITHEATER TO THE RALLYING CRY OF PEACE IN OUR STREETS FOR OUR COMMUNITY. THE OTHER THING I WANT TO WORK WITH THE COUNTY MANAGER'S OFFICE ON IS THE FUNDING FOR THE GUS GARCIA STATUE. I'D LIKE TO ASK YOU AND TINA TO TAKE A LOOK AT SAVINGS FROM A CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT FOR THE STATUE AND OR LOOKING AT THE PRECINCT FOR DISCRETIONARY FUND TO PAY THE DEBT SERVICE ON A CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT, WHEREAS I AMORTIZE 14 OR 15 PAYMENTS USING MY PRECINCT FOR DISCRETIONARY FUNDS SO THAT WE CAN GET THAT BUILT. IT'S LONG PAST DUE, SO THANK YOU ALL FOR COMING. THANK YOU, JUDGE. >> COMMISSIONER RODRIGUEZ, YOU HAVE THE FLOOR? >> YES. THANK YOU, JUDGE. >> THREE MINUTES. >> I WILL BE BRIEF AS WELL. I KNOW WE DON'T NORMALLY GET INTO A DIALOGUE WITH CITIZENS TO BE HEARD, BECAUSE IT'S YOUR TIME TO BE HEARD, BUT THIS IS I THINK AN IMPORTANT ISSUE THAT I THINK WE NEED TO MAKE SURE YOU UNDERSTAND THAT WE ARE I THINK IN LOCKSTEP WITH WHAT YOU'RE ADVOCATING FOR. I WAS GOING TO READ, BACK IN NOVEMBER, THIS COURT, WE ROUTINELY AS THE LEGISLATURE GETS READY TO MEET, AS THEY'RE MEETING NOW IN THE ADA, THE COURT COMES UP WITH LEGISLATIVE PRIORITIES, A LEGISLATIVE PROGRAM AND AGENDA. I WANT TO JUST SHARE WITH YOU WHAT THIS COURT PASSED BACK IN NOVEMBER FOR THE LEGISLATURE TO ADVOCATE FOR. ONE, OBVIOUSLY, YOU MENTIONED SCHOOL SAFETY, WE ALL KNOW ABOUT UVALDE AND THE LIVES THAT WERE TERRORIZED THAT DAY AND CONTINUE TO HAVE TO LIVE WITH THAT GRIEF, SO WE DO HAVE AN ITEM IN HERE REGARDING SCHOOL SAFETY TO SUPPORT LEGISLATION AND ADVOCATE TO IMPROVE THE SAFETY AND SECURITY OF SCHOOL FACILITIES FOR STAFF, STUDENTS AND VISITORS. WE HAVE AN ITEM IN HERE WITH RESPECT TO RED FLAG LAWS. [01:00:06] I'VE SERVED IN THE LEGISLATURE, I WAS THERE FROM 2013 TO 2019 AND I WILL TELL YOU THAT I'M HOPEFUL THAT WHAT HAS HAPPENED AND WHAT IS NOW PRESSED ON THE HEARTS OF FOLKS CHANGES THEIR MINDS AND THEIR HEARTS, BECAUSE THOSE BILLS HAVE FAILED IN THE PAST. UNFORTUNATELY, IF THEY HAD BEEN PASSED, MAYBE COULD HAVE PREVENTED SOME OF THESE TRAGEDIES. WE ALSO HAVE SOMETHING IN THERE REGARDING RAISING THE AGE, SUPPORT LEGISLATION THAT RAISES THE MINIMUM AGE TO PURCHASE A SEMI-AUTOMATIC WEAPON FROM 18 TO 21, TO YOU AND I, A NO-BRAINER, BUT FOR SOME REASON CANNOT GET THROUGH THE LEGISLATURE. THERE ARE THINGS AS COMMISSIONER CALVERT THAT WE CAN DO LOCALLY HERE FROM THE COUNTY LEVEL, FROM THE CITY LEVEL, TO HELP PROTECT FOLKS, BUT WHEN IT COMES TO THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF TEXAS, THE FEDERAL LAWS, WE'VE GOT TO PUT OUR COLLECTIVE EFFORTS TOGETHER TO MAKE SURE IN AUSTIN WE ARE IMPRESSING UPON THEM THE IMPORTANCE AND THE URGENCY TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY ARE CHANGING THESE LAWS, SO I JUST WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT WE ARE 100 PERCENT WITH YOU ON THIS, WE'RE VERY SUPPORTIVE OF ADVOCATING AND TRYING TO MAKE CHANGE, BECAUSE THAT'S THE ONLY WAY WE'RE GOING TO CREATE SAFER COMMUNITIES FOR ALL OF US. AGAIN, JUST WANT YOU ALL TO KNOW WHAT WE'RE DOING FROM THIS LEVEL, I KNOW SEVERAL OF US, INCLUDING JUDGE SAKAI, TALKED ABOUT GOING UP TO AUSTIN THIS SESSION AS WELL, TESTIFYING IN PERSON, SO WE WILL KEEP YOU POSTED AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU TO CREATE THESE BETTER AND SAFER COMMUNITIES. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU COMMISSIONER RODRIGUEZ. COMMISSIONER CLAY-FLORES, PERSONAL PRIVILEGE FOR THREE MINUTES. >> I DON'T NEED THREE MINUTES. ACTUALLY AM GOING TO A NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION MEETING TONIGHT, I'M GOING TO BE TALKING ABOUT THESE THINGS THAT WE'VE PASSED HERE AT COMMISSIONERS COURT. I KNOW MANY OF YOU ARE IN PRECINCT ON, SO THANK YOU FOR KEEPING THIS AT THE FOREFRONT. MY STAFF IS WORKING RIGHT NOW TO SET UP MEETINGS IN AUSTIN IN THE NEXT COUPLE OF WEEKS SO WE CAN MAKE SURE THAT OUR DELEGATION IN AUSTIN MAKE SURE THAT WE KNOW THAT THIS IS SOMETHING WE'RE CONTINUING TO FIGHT FOR. WE KNOW THAT THIS IS A STATE ISSUE AND SO TEXAS IS RED AND WE THINK, WELL, THE REPUBLICANS, IT'S NOT GOING TO PASS, BUT THAT DOESN'T MEAN THAT WE DON'T CONTINUE TO SPEAK UP AND FIGHT AGAINST, SO THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. >> THANK YOU. LET ME JUST SAY THIS, I WANT TO GIVE DIGNITY, RESPECT TO ALL OF YOU WHO'VE COME TODAY, ESPECIALLY IN THIS INCLEMENT WEATHER, TO MAKE YOUR VOICE TO BE HEARD. AND AS I PROMISED DURING MY CAMPAIGN AND I AM DOING TODAY, I WANT TO RECOGNIZE AND GIVE YOU RESPECT FOR THE VOICES, I'LL ASK THAT THE LETTERS THAT YOU ALL HAVE SUBMITTED BE MADE PART OF TODAY'S RECORDS SO THAT THE RECORD IS COMPLETE AS TO WHAT YOUR VOICES SAID TODAY AND WHAT EACH PARTICULAR COMMISSIONER SAID TODAY, SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH. OH, I'M SORRY, WE STILL HAVE. GIVE AN INSTRUCTION, YOU WANT TO STAND. >> WHY DON'T YOU ALL COME UP AND WE CAN TAKE A QUICK PICTURE. >> THANK YOU, GUYS. >> THANK YOU. >> WE'LL CONTINUE WITH ITEM 8, IRAM. >> THAT HISTORIC NAME WE GOT. >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. >> YOU CAN DO IT. >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. BYE, GUYS. HAVE A GREAT DAY. IRENE VALDES. MS. VALDES, STEP FORWARD AND MR. MEYER AND I HAVEN'T FORGOTTEN ABOUT YOU. YOU'LL BE AFTER MS. VALDES. MS. VALDES, YOU HAVE THREE MINUTES. >> YES. THANK YOU, JUDGE. GOOD TO SEE YOU HERE. YOU WERE THE JUDGE THAT HELP US GET OUR TWO BOYS IN 2005, SO THANK YOU, SIR. >> THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. MY YOUNGEST SON, I HAVE TO TELL YOU VOTED FOR YOU. >> THANK YOU. >> [LAUGHTER] NOW, THE REASON I'M HERE IS FOR ELECTION INTEGRITY. BACK IN 2021 SOME OTHER FRIENDS [01:05:02] AND I WENT TO GO SEE THE ELECTION ADMINISTRATOR IN REFERENCE TO ELECTION INTEGRITY. WE WERE VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THE 2020 ELECTIONS THAT WERE GOING TO BE HAPPENING. WE ADDRESSED A LETTER AND I WENT AHEAD AND WROTE UP AN AFFIDAVIT THAT WAS SUBMITTED IN A SUIT THAT WAS FILED AGAINST THE COUNTY. AT THAT TIME IN THE AFFIDAVIT, I WENT AHEAD AND ADDRESSED BRIAN METZLER, A TECHNICAL EXAMINER, HAD DONE AN EXAMINATION, NOT A CERTIFICATION FOR THE STATE ELECTION MACHINES AND HE HAD NINE OBSERVATIONS THAT HE WAS VERY CONCERNED ABOUT. MOST OF THEM HAD TO DO WITH THE HASHTAGS AND HOW THINGS ARE COUNTED AND THE FACT THAT WE DON'T HAVE ACCESS TO THAT INFORMATION BECAUSE OF MACHINE PROPIRIETY RIGHTS. VERY CONCERNED ABOUT WHAT'S BEEN HAPPENING WITH THAT, IN FACT, ONE OF THE COMMENTS THAT HE MADE WAS THAT IF THOSE NINE OBSERVATIONS RELATING TO THE HASH VERIFICATIONS WERE NOT FIXED, THAT HE WOULD NOT CERTIFY THE MACHINES IF HE HAD TO DO A CERTIFICATION, AT THE TIME HE WAS ONLY DOING AN EXAMINATION. ONE OF THE OTHER OBSERVATIONS THAT HE HAD WAS THAT THERE WAS PORTIONS THE EXPRESS LINK AND THE EXPRESS VOTE ACTIVATION CARD PRINTER WERE DEMONSTRATED DURING THE EXAM, BUT THEY WERE NOT WITHIN THE SCOPE OF THE CERTIFICATION EXAM NOR ARE THEY PART OF THE EAC CERTIFICATION, WHICH SHOULD BE BECAUSE THEY ALL AFFECT THE RESULTS OF MACHINES. THE OTHER THING WAS, THERE'S ANOTHER AREA THAT'S CALLED THE TOOLBOX. IT HAS THREE COMPONENTS, THE TEST DECK, THE TEXT-TO-SPEECH, AND THE DATA CONVERSION. THAT IS OPERATED ON A SEPARATE SYSTEM, THE WINDOWS 7, AND THEN THAT INFORMATION IS DOWNLOADED INTO THE MACHINES. WE'VE BEEN TOLD THAT THE MACHINES ARE NOT CONNECTED TO THE INTERNET, BUT YET THIS INFORMATION IS BEING LOADED FROM ANOTHER AREA INTO THE MACHINES AND SO THERE IS NO VERIFICATION AND NO ONE CAN AUDIT THAT, OR LOOK AT THAT INFORMATION. THERE'S A LOT OF PROBLEMS. MY BIG ISSUE IS I WANT TO SEE PAPER BALLOTS. I WANT TO SEE VOTING BY PRECINCTS SO THAT WE HAVE FAIR ELECTIONS. >> JUDGE, THE TIME HAS EXPIRED. >> THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU, MS. VALDES. >> THANK YOU. >> MR. MARK, WOULD YOU PLEASE STEP FORWARD, CAN WE MAKE ACCOMMODATIONS, PLEASE? MR. MARTIN, YOU HAVE THREE MINUTES. >> THANK YOU. [NOISE] COMMISSIONERS QUOTE, JUDGE SAKAI AND THE COMMISSIONERS, IT'S A PLEASURE BEING HERE TODAY. I'M SORRY THAT I CANNOT STAND AND GIVE YOU THE RESPECT THAT YOU DESERVE. BUT MIGHT NOT BEING ABLE TO STAND PHYSICALLY DOES NOT MEAN THAT I DON'T STILL STAND FOR JUSTICE AND EQUALITY. I WILL ALWAYS STAND FOR THAT. I'M HERE TO DISCUSS WITH YOU THE LAWSUIT THAT I HAVE FILED THAT HAS SERIOUS IMPLICATIONS AS A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT AGAINST THIS COUNTY. WE WANT THIS COUNTY TO BE A BEACON TO THE STATE OF TEXAS IN REGARD TO ITS INVOLVEMENT IN CIVIL RIGHTS, THAT ARE THOSE RIGHTS THAT THE GOVERNMENT MUST PROTECT OF AN INDIVIDUAL AS CIVIL LIBERTIES, THOSE EXACT SAME RIGHTS THAT THE GOVERNMENT IS PROHIBITED TO INFRINGE UPON. I HAVE GIVEN YOU IN SPECIFIC DETAIL THE ACTIONS THAT HAVE BEEN TAKEN AGAINST ME AS A CIVIL RIGHTS ACTIVIST AND AS A LAWYER IN BEXAR COUNTY, TO THE EXTENT THAT EVERY TIME I CAME TO THE BEXAR COUNTY COURTHOUSE, I WAS ATTACKED BY THE SHERIFF'S DEPUTIES. JUDGE SAKAI REMEMBERS THAT HE WAS A WITNESS TO THAT EXACT SAME THING THAT HAPPENED HERE IN THE BEXAR COUNTY COURTHOUSE WHEN THE GOVERNOR'S WIFE VISITED, HE HAD TO CALM ME DOWN. I WAS ARRESTED, TAKEN UNDER EMERGENCY COMMITMENT TO THE BEXAR COUNTY HOSPITAL BY THE BEXAR COUNTY SHERIFF BECAUSE I CAME AND SAT IN A COURTROOM AND THE PSYCHIATRIST FROM THE HOSPITAL ACTUALLY CONTACTED THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE AND TOLD HIM IT WAS A PURE SHAME THAT THEY DID THAT TO ME BECAUSE I WAS VIABLE. NOW, I HAVE WRITTEN AN EXTENSIVE EVALUATION, JUDGE SAKAI. [01:10:01] IT'S TIME FOR THIS COUNTY TO RESOLVE THIS COMPLAINT. IT'S BEEN TWO-AND-A-HALF YEARS. I'M EVEN SURPRISED I'M ALIVE TODAY TO COME TELL YOU ABOUT IT. THE JUDGE IN THE FEDERAL CASE DENIED THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S MOTION FOR SUMMARY JUDGMENT IN THIS CASE AND SAYS SPECIFICALLY MR. MARK, YOU CAN REFILE THESE LAWSUITS BECAUSE I'M GOING TO GIVE RECOGNITION TO YOUR ILLNESS AS WELL AS THE PANDEMIC. THE CLAIMS ARE STILL ALIVE. THEY NEED TO BE RESOLVED. I SAID HERE, THAT WAS GOING TO COST YOU A HALF-A-MILLION DOLLARS TO DEFEND THIS CASE. I ASKED FOR A $384,000 SETTLEMENT. NOW, IN CLOSING, [OVERLAPPING] I WANT TO SAY THIS. >> WRAP IT UP, MR. MARK. >> IN CLOSING, I WANT TO SAY AT A VERY MINIMUM, JUDGE, PLEASE GIVE THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY THE AUTHORITY TO SETTLE THIS CASE OR HAVE A MEDIATOR TO TAKE CARE OF IT AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR ATTENTION. >> I APPRECIATE YOUR APPEARANCE. I BELIEVE THAT CONCLUDES CITIZENS TO BE HEARD THAT I'VE OVERLOOKED ANYBODY THAT HAS SUBMITTED A WRITTEN REQUEST. THAT CONCLUDES ITEM 8, WE THEN GO TO THE INDIVIDUALS WHICH STARTS WHERE? >> SIXTY-FIVE. >> FIFTY WHAT? >> SIXTY-FIVE. >> SIXTY-FIVE. ITEM BROUGHT BY SHERIFF'S OFFICE, [Item 65] REQUEST FOR APPROVAL 12,624 HOURS OF PAID OVERTIME FOR UNIFORMED OFFICERS WHO WORKED MANDATORY OVERTIME HOURS IN THE ADULT DETENTION CENTER BETWEEN DECEMBER 16TH, 2022 AND DECEMBER 31, 2020 AND 69,376 HOURS OF PAID OVERTIME FOR UNIFORM OFFICERS WHO WORK MANDATORY OVERTIME AND THE ADULT DETENTION CENTER BETWEEN JANUARY 1 AND MARCH 31, 23, SHERIFF. GOOD MORNING. >> GOOD MORNING, SIR. WELL, ONCE AGAIN, GOOD MORNING, JUDGE, AND COMMISSIONERS. WE ARE HERE ASKING AGAIN FOR MOT MONIES TO CONTINUE TO PAY OUR DEPUTIES FOR TIME SPENT IN THE JAIL DEALING WITH A STILL HIGHER THAN NORMAL INMATE POPULATION, AND WE'RE CERTAINLY PREPARED TO GIVE THOSE NUMBERS. OBVIOUSLY, OUR NUMBER THAT WE'RE ASKING FOR DIFFERS SLIGHTLY THAN STAFF'S RECOMMENDATION. AS YOU MAY RECALL, WHEN WE CAME LATE LAST YEAR, THE COMMENT WAS MADE BY COMMISSIONER RODRIGUEZ THAT WE'RE GOING TO APPROVE THIS AMOUNT, BUT WE KNOW YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE TO COME BACK SOONER THAN ANTICIPATED ON THE NEXT GO ROUND. WELL, THIS IS THE NEXT GO ROUND, AND SO WE'RE NOW ASKING, SINCE WE FEEL THAT BY OUR ESTIMATES WE WERE IN ARREARS AFTER THAT LASTS COMMISSIONERS COURT THAT WE CAME TO WERE ASKING FOR THE LARGER AMOUNT IN ORDER TO KEEP UP WITH THE DEMAND. >> ANY QUESTION? >> HOW MUCH WOULD YOU SAY IF YOU HAVE AN ESTIMATE, HOW MUCH WOULD YOU SAY WE'RE SPENDING BECAUSE THE STATE HASN'T COME TO PICKUP INMATES WHO NEEDS TO BE TRANSFERRED. >> I DON'T THINK THAT'S COSTING US. >> I DON'T KNOW THE DOLLAR AMOUNT, COMMISSIONER, BUT I CAN TELL WE CAN GET THAT DOLLAR AMOUNT EASILY ENOUGH. BUT I CAN TELL YOU THAT AT PRESENT WE'VE GOT 731 INMATES THAT BY ALL ACCOUNTS SHOULD BE IN ANOTHER FACILITY OTHER THAN THE BEAR COUNTY JAIL. WE'VE GOT 112 PAROLE VIOLATORS, 141 PENDING TDC TRANSFER, 190 AWAITING A TREATMENT BED, AND 288 THAT HAVE BEEN RULED IN COMPETENT 288 AS OPPOSED TO PRE-PANDEMIC. WE WERE JUST TALKING IN THE BACK AND MIKE LOZITO WAS TELLING US THAT THAT NUMBER PRE-PANDEMIC WAS 59 IN COMPETENT INMATES, AND NOW WE'RE SITTING AT 288. ALL THOSE NUMBERS TOGETHER, WE'RE LOOKING AT 731 IF WE COULD SOMEHOW MIRACULOUSLY GET THAT CHUNK OF 731 OUT ELSEWHERE WHERE THEY NEED TO BE, THAT WOULD SERIOUSLY IMPACT OUR MOT NUMBERS. >> HOW MUCH ARE YOU REQUESTING TODAY? WHAT'S THE AMOUNT? >> WELL, THE AMOUNT WE'RE REQUESTING IS. >> THE DOLLAR AMOUNT. >> EIGHTY TWO THOUSAND. >> EIGHTY TWO THOUSAND HOURS. >> IT'S 3.7 MILLION. >> 3.7 MILLION, AND THEN THAT'S FROM THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE. WHAT'S THE STAFF RECOMMENDATION? >> 2.9, OR 64,000 HOURS. >> THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE IS REQUESTING 3.7 MILLION AND STAFF RECOMMENDATION IS 2.9 MILLION. >> YEAH. THE SHERIFF IS REQUESTING ONE-QUARTER OF THE AMOUNT YOU BUDGETED FOR A QUARTER OF THE YEAR IS WHAT HE'S SAYING. OUR ESTIMATE IS BASED ON ESTIMATED POPULATION, [01:15:02] ESTIMATED NUMBER OF VACANCIES. ANY REMAINING COVID RESTRICTIONS, THAT'S POST. >> BUT IT'S A 2.9 MILLION THAT STAFF IS RECOMMENDING IS THAT OURS ALREADY WORKED OR ANTICIPATED? >> IT'S SOME COMBINATION OF BOTH; ISN'T IT? >> IT'S BOTH. >> THANK YOU. >> COMMISSIONER MOODY. >> WELL. THANKS FOR COMING IN, SHERIFF, AND ANSWERING OUR QUESTIONS ON THIS AGENDA ITEM, COULD YOU GIVE US A QUICK UPDATE ON THE CURRENT NUMBER OF OPENINGS AND ANY PROGRESS IN TERMS OF HIRING AND RETENTION THAT YOU'VE SEEN OVER THE LAST FEW MONTHS? >> YES, SIR. RIGHT NOW WE'RE SITTING AT A LITTLE OVER 200 VACANCIES, TRUE VACANCIES ON THE DETENTION SIDE OF THE HOUSE. TRY AS WE MIGHT. WITH REGARD TO THAT. AS I MENTIONED BEFORE, RECRUITMENT IS NOT NECESSARILY OUR ISSUE. WE SUCCESSFULLY HIRED 300 PEOPLE LAST YEAR. IT'S RETENTION AND WE ARE FINDING THROUGH OUR STATISTICS AND I CAN CERTAINLY SHARE THESE WITH YOU THAT IN YEARS PAST, OUR ATTRITION RATE AND OTHERS PEOPLE WERE LEAVING THE AGENCY AT ABOUT 2.9 OR THREE YEARS INTO THEIR CAREER, THEY WERE LEAVING THE AGENCY TO GO ELSEWHERE. WE HAVE SEEN THAT NUMBER COME DOWN TO ALMOST THE TWO-YEAR MARK, EVEN EVEN AT TWO YEARS. WE ARE DOING SOME THINGS TO TRY TO HELP OURSELVES OUT THE WAY WE SEE IT. IF WE CAN JUST GIVE THESE FOLKS THAT ARE WORKING IN THE DETENTION CENTER. NOW, SOME OF THEM ARE CONTENT TO WORK IN THE DETENTION CENTER AND THEY FEEL LIKE, THIS IS WHERE I HAVE ARRIVED AND I'M HERE FOR THE NEXT 20 OR 30 YEARS. BUT MANY OF THEM CRAVE A LAW ENFORCEMENT CAREER, AND SO WE'VE FOUND THAT IF WE CAN JUST CREATE OPPORTUNITIES TO GIVE THEM SOME LIGHT AT THE END OF THE TUNNEL, LIKE AT SOME POINT YOU'RE GOING TO FIND YOUR WAY OVER TO THE LAW ENFORCEMENT SIDE OF THE HOUSE. WE'RE CREATING PROGRAMS THAT WE JUST ANNOUNCED LAST WEEK, OUR STRAIGHT TO THE STREETS PROGRAM, WHERE WE'RE GIVING THESE FOLKS THE OPPORTUNITY TO TEST OVER TO THE LAW ENFORCEMENT SIDE OF THE HOUSE SOONER. IN OTHER WORDS, IF YOU END UP WORKING IN THE JAIL BEYOND YOUR EXPECTATIONS, THEN THAT'S ON YOU. YOU'VE BEEN GIVEN THE OPPORTUNITY TO TAKE A TEST. WE'RE DOING SOME THINGS THAT AGAIN, RIGHT NOW I'M NOT EXPECTING OUR NUMBER OF YEARS TO GO FROM TWO TO THREE BUT WE'RE CERTAINLY GOING TO LOOK AT MOVING THE NEEDLE. WE'RE DOING SOME THINGS KNOWING THAT ONE OF THE THINGS THAT MOTIVATES EMPLOYEES TO STICK AROUND HIS FULFILLMENT, THE OPPORTUNITY TO PURSUE THEIR COLLEGE DEGREE. WILL HEAR RECENTLY WE MADE ANOTHER ANNOUNCEMENT THIS PAST WEEK THAT WE'VE GOT PARTNERSHIPS WITH ALAMO COLLEGES AND WITH WAYLAND BAPTIST UNIVERSITY, WHERE IF I'M NOT ABLE TO GIVE MY DEPUTIES TIME OFF TO GO STUDY AT THESE COLLEGE CAMPUSES. WE'VE ACTUALLY GOT PARTNERSHIPS WITH THESE COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES THAT THEY'RE ACTUALLY COMING TO OUR BUILDING AND TEACHING COLLEGE COURSES ON EVENINGS SO THAT WE'RE MAKING IT EASIER FOR THEM TO GO PURSUE THEIR DEGREE. WE ARE DOING SOME THINGS TO HELP WITH FULFILLMENT TO DO TO HELP WITH REGARD TO RETENTION, AND WE'RE HOPING TO GET THAT NEEDLE MOVING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION. >> THAT SOUNDS LIKE A GOOD PROGRAM. WITH REGARD TO RETENTION WHEN WE HAD THE CONSULTANT COME BACK HERE IN NOVEMBER AND REPORT OUT ON THE COUNTY. HE MENTIONED SOME RETENTION IDEAS. DID YOU EVER RECEIVE THOSE THAT LIST OF I THINK IT WAS A SURVEY THAT THEY HAD DONE AROUND WHAT MOTIVATED DEPUTIES OR DETENTION OFFICERS TO STAY. >> RIGHT. I REMEMBER HIM MAKING REFERENCE TO ONE THEY'D LIKE FOR EXAMPLE THE RETENTION OR THE HIRING BONUS WASN'T NECESSARILY NUMBER ONE ON THE LIST AND HE REFERENCED THE LIST FROM ANOTHER AGENCY. I REMEMBER YOU ASKING HIM TO PRODUCE THOSE. WE HAVEN'T SEEN THEM YET EITHER. WE CAN CERTAINLY ASK THEM AGAIN TO PRODUCE THOSE, IF YOU WOULD. HE WASN'T THE CONSULTANT WE HIRED, BUT WE'VE GOT A PRETTY GOOD RELATIONSHIP WITH THEM THAT WE COULD CALL HIM AND ASK HIM FOR THOSE NUMBERS. REGARDLESS OF THAT, I KNOW THAT ICP INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF CHIEFS OF POLICE HAS DONE SOME STUDIES WITH REGARD TO WHAT MOTIVATES TODAY'S EMPLOYEES TO STAY WITH AN AGENCY, AND THOSE ARE CERTAINLY SOME THINGS THAT WE WOULD LIKE TO LOOK AT. ONE OF THE RECOMMENDATIONS THAT WAS MADE WAS THE POSSIBILITY OF EXPLORING 12-HOUR SHIFTS. AGAIN, WE KNOW THAT THE NEWER GENERATION OF FIRST RESPONDERS RESPONDS WELL TO HAVING SOME FLEXIBILITY AS FAR AS YOUR WORK SCHEDULE TO ALLOW FOR A BETTER WORK-LIFE BALANCE. WE'VE GOT A LOT OF YOUNG PARENTS WORKING IN THIS FACILITY THAT DON'T WANT TO SPEND 80 HOURS AWAY FROM THERE YOUNG KIDS, AND UNDERSTANDABLY. WHAT WE'RE LOOKING AT IS IF WE CAN DO THESE THINGS TO HELP WITH RETENTION AND WE GET OUR STAFFING LEVELS TO A CERTAIN POINT, WE CAN TAKE A PART OF THE FACILITY, SO MAYBE ONE OF THE BUILDINGS AND CONVERT THOSE THAT WORK IN THAT BUILDING TO A 12-HOUR SHIFT, 12-HOUR SHIFTS, THE ADVANTAGE THAT IT GIVES YOU, IS IT GIVES YOU A ROTATING SCHEDULE. IN OTHER WORDS, YOU'D GET EVERY OTHER WEEKEND OFF. SOME WEEKS YOU'D HAVE FOUR DAYS OFF BECAUSE OF THE SCHEDULE, AND SO WHAT I WOULD LOVE TO DO AND UNDER [01:20:01] IDEAL CIRCUMSTANCES IS CONVERT AT LEAST ONE OF MY BUILDINGS TO THAT SCHEDULE. IF YOU WANT TO WORK AT 12 HOUR SCHEDULED AND ALL THE BENEFITS THAT COME WITH IT, THEN WORK IN THIS BUILDING. IF YOU WANT TO WORK AN EIGHT HOUR WITH SET DAYS OFF, THEN WORK IN THIS OTHER BUILDING. MAY PRESENT SOME CHALLENGES, BUT I THINK IT'S OUTSIDE THE BOX THINKING THAT, AGAIN AND KEEPING WITH THE RECOMMENDATIONS. >> YEAH, THAT MAKES SENSE. I DID WANT TO TOUCH ON A COUPLE OTHER ITEMS THAT THE CONSULTANT MENTIONED THAT REVOLVED AROUND MOVING SOME RESPONSIBILITIES TO CIVILIAN POSITIONS RATHER THAN UNIFORM POSITIONS. I THINK THERE WAS A YEOMAN, THERE'S CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM, THIS DISCUSSION THAT TOOK PLACE AS WELL. ANY PROGRESS ON THOSE OR OPPORTUNITIES THAT WE CAN PURSUE THOSE IN THE FUTURE? >> YES, SIR. ONE OF THE RECOMMENDATIONS WAS MADE TO ELIMINATE THE YEOMAN POSITIONS. IN OTHER WORDS, THERE HAS BEEN SOME POSITIONS THAT ARE SUPERVISORS NEED TIME TO SUPERVISE. THEY'VE GOT TO GET OUT AND MANAGEMENT BY WALKING AROUND AS YOU WELL KNOW, COMMISSIONER, FROM YOUR TIME IN THE MILITARY, YOU JUST GOT TO GET OUT THERE AND CHECK ON THE TROOPS. BUT UNFORTUNATELY MANY TIMES THEY'RE TIED DOWN WITH ADMINISTRATIVE DUTIES IN THEIR OFFICES, AND SO WHAT WE'VE HAD TO DO OVER THE YEARS WAS ALLOW DEPUTIES, UNIFORMED DEPUTIES TO DO SOME OF THOSE YEOMAN FUNCTIONS. IN OTHER WORDS, SOME OF THE PAPERWORK BEHIND THE SCENES. KNOWING THAT IF WE CREATED SOME CIVILIAN POSITIONS, WE COULD PUSH THOSE DEPUTIES OUT INTO THE LIVING UNITS AND HAVE THESE CIVILIANS DOING SOME OF THAT ADMINISTRATIVE WORK. CHIEF JANSEN ACTUALLY HAS LOOKED AT. HE'S ACTUALLY STARTED DOING SOME OF THAT ON HIS OWN SO AS POSITIONS ARE BEING ON FROZEN LIKE FOR EXAMPLE IN BOOKING FOR SOME OF THE BOOKING CLERKS. HE'S TAKING THOSE AND DISPLACING SOME DEPUTIES TO GO OUT INTO THE FLOOR IS LETTING THOSE BOOKING CLERKS. THE CAVEAT THAT I GAVE HIM IS WE DON'T WANT TO LEAVE OURSELVES SHORT IN BOOKING. BECAUSE THOSE CIVILIAN BOOKING CLERKS ARE THERE AND LOOKING FOR A REASON IF YOU TAKE FROM THERE AND PUT THEM OVER HERE, YES, IT SOLVES THIS PROBLEM, BUT IT CREATES A HOLE OVER HERE AND THEN YOU MAY RUN INTO MISSING PAPERWORK, ERRONEOUSLY RELEASING SOMEBODY THAT SHOULDN'T BE RELEASED OR HOLDING SOMEBODY LONGER THAN WHAT THEY SHOULD BE, AND SO I JUST CAUTIONED HIM THAT I APPLAUD HIS EFFORT IN DOING THAT, BUT WE GOT TO MAKE SURE AND WE DON'T LEAVE OURSELVES SHORT OVER HERE. WHAT I'D LIKE TO SEE US AT SOME POINT LATER ON, MAYBE CREATING SOME OTHER CIVILIAN POSITIONS TO BE ABLE TO DO THAT. WE'VE STILL GOT SOME FROZEN CIVILIAN POSITIONS THAT I'D LIKE TO SEE US GET ON FROZEN. THEN AS YOU MENTIONED, THE CLASSIFICATION POSITIONS. THAT WAS ONE OF THE RECOMMENDATIONS FROM THE CONSULTANT AS WELL AS CLASSIFICATION. ARE THOSE FOLKS THAT ARE BEHIND THE SCENES LOOKING AT THIS INMATE, IS WHERE'S THE BEST PLACE FOR THIS INMATE, THE SAFEST PLACE FOR THIS INMATE. HE CAN'T BE HOUSED WITH THIS ONE, BECAUSE THEY'RE RIVAL GANG MEMBERS. FOR EXAMPLE, THESE MENTALLY INCOMPETENT INMATES, THERE'S 288, WE HAVE TO HOUSE THOSE ONE BY ONE, WE CAN'T DOUBLE THEM UP, SO THAT CREATES A MANPOWER ISSUE. THOSE CLASSIFICATION IS DONE BY DEPUTIES NOW, BUT THE CONSULTANT RECOMMENDED THAT WE CIVILIAN EYES THOSE POSITIONS. THOSE DON'T EXIST AT PRESENT. BUT IF WE WERE ABLE TO CREATE THAT POSITION AND COME BACK TO YOU ALL AND SAY, "HEY, IF WE CREATED THESE, IT WOULD ALLOW US TO PUSH THESE MANY UNIFORMS OUT INTO THE FLOORS." >> YEAH, AND I THINK THE WHOLE GOAL WAS IF THERE'S THOSE SPECIFIC OPPORTUNITIES AND THE COURT NEEDS TO TAKE ACTION, THEN PLEASE LET US KNOW SO WE CAN DELIBERATE, HAVE CONVERSATIONS WITH STAFF ABOUT WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE GOING FORWARD. BUT GIVEN HOW CHALLENGING IT IS TO RECRUIT AND RETAIN THE DETENTION OFFICERS TODAY, IF THERE'S THOSE OPPORTUNITIES THAT THOSE ARE CIVILIAN EMPLOYEES OF THE COUNTY INSTEAD, THEN THAT MAY PRESENT AN OPPORTUNITY. I'LL JUST CLOSE WITH A COUPLE OF LAST POINTS. I SEE THERE'S MULTIPLE WAYS TO ATTACK THIS PROBLEM, AND OBVIOUSLY, ONE IS IN TERMS OF STAFFING, ADDITIONAL DEPUTIES, ADDITIONAL CIVILIANS, BUT IT'S NOT LOST ON ME THE ISSUES YOU MENTIONED AS FAR AS INMATES THAT ARE OR SHOULD BE THE STATE'S RESPONSIBILITY, AND SO I WOULD JUST HIGHLIGHT THAT WE'RE CONTINUING TO WORK ON THAT AND EXPLORE ALL POSSIBILITIES. BUT I WANT TO ATTACK THIS PROBLEM FROM ALL SIDES AND TRY TO WORK ON SOLVING IT TOGETHER. >> YES, IF I MAY, I KNOW THAT THERE'S ALSO A TOPIC OF LAW ENFORCEMENT OVER TIME. WOULD YOU LIKE ME TO ADDRESS SOME OF THAT NOW OR WOULD YOU RATHER WAIT TILL THAT ITEM COMES UP SEPARATELY? >> THAT'S A GOOD POINT. BECAUSE I KNOW THAT WAS ON THE CONSENT AGENDA, BUT IT'S RELATED, RIGHT? >> SURE. >> WE HAVE LAW ENFORCEMENT OVER TIME AND THEN WE HAVE JAIL OVER TIME. CAN YOU TELL THE COURT HOW THOSE ARE RELATED AND IMPACTING ONE IMPACTS THE OTHER? >> SURE, AND WE'VE GOT AN IDEA FOR THE, IT'S A LITTLE OUTSIDE THE BOX THAT WE WOULD LIKE TO PROPOSE. [01:25:03] COMMISSIONER RODRIGUEZ AND I SPOKE ABOUT IT AT THE END OF LAST BUDGET. THE IDEA WAS TOSSED AROUND, BUT I DON'T THINK IT WAS EVER FORMALLY PRESENTED, BUT IT'S CERTAINLY SOMETHING THAT WE'D BE OPEN TO IF YOU ALL WOULD BE OPEN TO US. ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE'VE SEEN GO UP AS A RESULT OF THIS IS LAW ENFORCEMENT OVER TIME. NOW, WE'VE DONE THAT IN ORDER TO HELP, NOT JUST WITH THE OVER TIME PAID OUT IN THE JAIL, IT'S TWO DIFFERENT BUCKETS AS YOU KNOW, BUT IT'S TWO DIFFERENT EMPLOYEE CLASSIFICATIONS ALSO. BUT, FOR EXAMPLE, LET ME GIVE YOU ONE EXAMPLE. RIGHT NOW, WE ARE SEEING STILL A HIGHER THAN NORMAL POPULATION OF CHRONICALLY ILL INMATES THAT HAVE TO GO TO THE HOSPITAL, DIALYSIS OR HEART TREATMENTS, DIET, WHATEVER IT MAY BE, THEY'VE GOT TO BE TAKEN. WELL, IF YOU PULL, AND ON ANY GIVEN DAY, IT COULD BE 15 OR 20 OF THESE THAT HAVE TO BE TRANSPORTED OUT, GUARDED ONE-ON-ONE, AND THEN BROUGHT BACK LATER ON DOWN THE ROAD. THAT'S VERY LABOR-INTENSIVE. IF THAT'S 15 INMATES, THEN THAT'S 15 ADDITIONAL JAIL DEPUTIES THAT I'VE GOT TO KEEP ON MOT, AND NOT ONLY THAT, IT ADDS UP AS FAR AS FATIGUE ON YOUR WORKFORCE. WHAT WE'VE HAD TO DO IS WE'VE TAKEN SOME LAW ENFORCEMENT FOLKS ON OVER TIME AND WE'RE PAYING THEM TO DO THE HOSPITAL TRANSPORTS, WHICH IS A NECESSARY FUNCTION. NOW, IT TRANSFERS THE HURT FROM THIS ARM TO THIS ARM, BUT IT DOES ADD TO OUR LAW ENFORCEMENT. WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO PROPOSE IS AT SOME POINT, WE FIGURE OUT WHAT JOBS COULD BE DONE, WHAT SUPPORT FUNCTIONS LIKE HOSPITAL TRANSPORTS, PERIMETER SECURITY, CANINE FUNCTIONS WITHIN THE JAIL THAT WE DON'T NEED A DETENTION DEPUTY FOR. I WOULD PROPOSE POSSIBLY THAT WE TAKE A CHUNK OF DETENTION VACANCIES THERE BECAUSE WE KNOW WE'VE GOT OVER 200 VACANCIES AT PRESENT, FIGURE OUT WHAT THAT TRANSLATES TO WHEN YOU TURN ONE OF THOSE VACANCIES INTO A LAW ENFORCEMENT POSITION, WE KNOW THERE'S A DOLLAR FIGURE DIFFERENCE BECAUSE THE LAW ENFORCEMENT DEPUTIES MAKE MORE. JUST FOR ROUND NUMBERS, 30 DETENTION VACANCIES MAY BECOME 25 LAW ENFORCEMENT DEPUTIES. THEN WE TAKE THOSE FULL-TIME LAW ENFORCEMENT DEPUTIES, LET THEM PERFORM SOME OF THESE HOSPITAL FUNCTIONS, AND NOW I'M PAYING THIS LAW ENFORCEMENT DEPUTY STRAIGHT TIME VERSUS OVER TIME TO TRANSPORT PEOPLE BACK AND FORTH TO THE HOSPITAL, OR DO PERIMETER SECURITY, THOSE SORTS OF THINGS. YOU MAY ASK, WELL, WHERE'S THE DOWNSIDE? THE ONLY DOWNSIDE THAT I COULD SEE, AND IT'S NOT EVEN A DOWNSIDE, IT'S JUST AN EVENTUALITY, THAT AT SOME POINT KNOCK ON WOOD, WE BECOME FULLY STAFFED AND WE HIT THAT CEILING, WE MAY COME BACK TO YOU, AND SAY, "HEY, YOU REMEMBER THOSE 30 DETENTION POSITIONS WE TOOK SOME TIME AGO AND CONVERTED? WE REALLY NEED THOSE BACK BECAUSE OUR JAIL POPULATION IS STILL REALLY HIGH AND WE NEED THOSE BACK." BUT THAT'S YEARS DOWN THE ROAD, UNLESS WE SUCCESSFULLY SOMEHOW BRING DOWN OUR JAIL POPULATION, IN WHICH POINT WE WOULD NEVER HIT THAT CEILING. >> YEAH. NO, I MEAN, I LIKE THE CREATIVE OUT-OF-THE-BOX THINKING AND EXPLORING THESE IDEAS. ULTIMATELY, I THINK THAT WOULD COME DOWN TO IS THE RETENTION IMPROVED ON THE LAW ENFORCEMENT SIDE. BY SHIFTING THOSE POSITIONS IN THE LAW ENFORCEMENT AND HAVING TO PAY MORE, DO YOU SEE ENOUGH BENEFIT FROM HIGHER RETENTION THAT WOULD ALLOW FOR IT, RIGHT? >> IF I'M SAYING, AS I MENTIONED, IF WE SAY THAT LIGHT AT THE END OF THE TUNNEL, THAT I'M GOING TO BE A STREET COP ONE OF THESE DAYS, IF I TELL THE DETENTION DEPUTIES, "HEY, WE'RE FLIPPING 30 VACANCIES TO 25 LAW ENFORCEMENT. THAT'S 25 NEW OPPORTUNITIES, THAT'S MORE LIGHT AT THE END OF THE TUNNEL FOR YOU TO ACHIEVE YOUR DREAM OF BEING A LAW ENFORCEMENT DEPUTY." I WOULD THINK WE'D SEE SOME EARS PERK UP ON THE DETENTION SIDE, AND AGAIN, TALKING ABOUT MOVING THAT NEEDLE, I WOULD TEND TO THINK THAT THAT WOULD MOVE THE NEEDLE BEING ABLE TO CREATE THAT. >> OKAY. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. >> MR. KELLER. >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH, JUDGE. THANK YOU, SHERIFF, FOR THE GREAT THINKING. I THINK THIS IS SOME OF THE MOST PRODUCTIVE CONVERSATION AROUND OUR MANPOWER HOURS WE'VE HAD IN A VERY LONG TIME. I WANT TO START WITH COMMISSIONER CLAY-FLORES'S COMMENT ABOUT THE AMOUNT OF MONEY THAT THE STATE NOT TAKING PRISONERS IS COSTING BEXAR COUNTY. FOR THOSE WHO ARE WATCHING, IT'S $80 A DAY PER INMATE FOR MOST INMATES, BUT FOR THOSE WHO HAVE THE SEVERE MENTAL ILLNESS, IT'S $300 PER INMATE. YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT 200 PLUS OF THOSE AWAITING STATE CUSTODY. WE ARE IN THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION AND WE'VE GOT TO BE ABLE TO EMPOWER OUR INTERGOVERNMENTAL AFFAIRS AND LOBBYING TEAM AND OUR LEGISLATORS BECAUSE I CALLED SENATORS ABOUT THIS WHEN I WAS ON VACATION OVER THE HOLIDAYS ABOUT WE NEED TO GET THESE FOLKS INTO STATE FACILITIES. I WOULD LIKE IN THE NEXT COMMISSIONERS COURT MEETING TO GET THAT NUMBER. I THINK WE NEED TO MAKE THAT NUMBER PUBLIC. YOU CANNOT RALLY THE PUBLIC AROUND THESE ISSUES WITHOUT MAKING THEM [01:30:01] AWARE OF HOW MUCH IT'S COSTING THE COUNTY AND LET'S JUST DO IT ON AN ANNUAL BASIS, OR SINCE THE TIME THAT THEY HAVE BEGUN TO STOP TAKING PRISONERS, WHICH IS AROUND 2020. LET'S GET A CUMULATIVE NUMBER BECAUSE THERE ARE SOME STATE LEGISLATORS, AS I HEARD FROM ONE OF OUR STATE SENATORS, WHO ARE ON THE REPUBLICAN SIDE OF THE AISLE WHO HAVE SAID THAT COUNTIES NEED TO BE REIMBURSED FOR THE STATE NOT TAKING THEIR PRISONERS. LET'S GET THAT NUMBER, LET'S BEGIN TO RALLY THE COMMUNITY, AND I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT THE BUDGET DEPARTMENT, THAT YOUR DEPARTMENT, AND THE INTERGOVERNMENTAL AFFAIRS DEPARTMENT ALL HAVE THOSE NUMBERS IN SYNC, AND THAT WE BEGIN TO CHIP AWAY TOGETHER ON THAT. THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER CLAY-FLORES FOR BRINGING THAT ISSUE BACK TO US. LET ME ALSO COMPLIMENT COMMISSIONER MOODY ON FOLLOWING THE CONSULTANT'S RECOMMENDATIONS BECAUSE SO MANY STUDIES SIT ON THE SHELF AND WE DON'T HAVE TO REINVENT THE WHEEL, WE HAVE EXPERTS WHO HAVE GOOD IDEAS, AND FOLLOWING THOSE THROUGH, WE'LL MAKE SUBSTANTIVE DIFFERENCE. I WORE MY MASK TODAY IN COURT FOR THE FIRST TIME IN A LONG TIME. I THINK THE COVID IS ABOUT TO, I ALREADY KNOW ABOUT WITHIN THE COUNTY COMPLEX, CERTAIN OFFICES GETTING COVID OUTBREAKS. BUT FOR THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT DETENTION CENTER, IT NEVER REALLY STOPPED, YOU'VE HAD TO QUARANTINE. YOU'VE NEVER STOPPED QUARANTINING IN THE JAIL, CORRECT? >> WE'VE STILL GOT SPACING THAT WE HAVE TO MAINTAIN AT THE JAIL AND IT BECOMES HARDER WHEN YOUR BUNK BEDS ARE BOLTED TO THE FLOOR BECAUSE THAT'S THE JAIL. YOU'VE GOT TO MAINTAIN THAT SPACING, YOU'VE GOT TO TAKE INSTEAD US HOUSING 64, YOU'RE GOING TO HOUSE 32. BUT NOW YOU'RE USING TWICE AS MANY DEPUTIES TO GUARD THOSE 64. THAT'S STILL DOES PRESENT SOME CHALLENGES. NOW, WITH THAT BEING SAID, AS OF YESTERDAY, SEVEN COVID-POSITIVE INMATES IN THE ENTIRE FACILITY. BEING THAT OUR NUMBER IS SKY-HIGH, WERE STILL MANAGING TO KEEP THIS ILLNESS IN CHECK. WE STILL GOT THE MASK MANDATE IN PLACE IN THE JAIL,100 PERCENT. WHAT WE'RE DOING IS WORKING. BUT AGAIN, IT DOES COME AT A COST. >> WELL, I GUESS I'M CONCERNED THAT WE'VE NEVER STOPPED REALLY HAVING QUARANTINES IN THE JAIL. THAT TROUBLES ME BECAUSE I THINK MOST OF THE GENERAL POPULATION HAS STOPPED WEARING MASK, HAS NOT REALLY WORRIED TOO MUCH ABOUT IT. IT'S A FACILITY'S QUESTION REALLY. I REMEMBER WE PUT SOME MONEY ASIDE FOR THE UV LIGHTING AND ALL THOSE THINGS. BUT DO WE NEED TO HAVE ANOTHER LOOK AT OUR FACILITIES AND HOW OUR COVID PROTOCOLS ARE WORKING? DO WE NEED MORE MASKS IN THE JAIL? I DO KNOW THAT AT ONE POINT SOME OF THE MASKS WERE NOT REALLY THE GRADE THAT WE NEEDED TO HAVE THEM. SHOULD WE BE GETTING MORE OF THOSE THROUGH ARPA PURCHASES OR OTHER EMERGENCY PURCHASES TO HELP WITH THE CONTAINMENT OF THE VIRUS WITHIN THE JAIL? >> I THINK ANYTIME YOU CAN UTILIZE THE ARPA MONEY FOR SOMETHING LIKE THAT. I DON'T THINK IT'S A BAD EXPENDITURE BECAUSE I THINK COVID IS HERE TO STAY. IT'S NOT LIKE WE'RE EVER GOING TO SAY, "HEY, WE WON, TOUCHDOWN DANCE." I THINK IT'S HERE TO STAY, AND OUR PROTOCOLS NEED TO ABSOLUTELY STAY AS WELL. >> DO WE HAVE THE FILTERS CHANGE, DO WE HAVE THE LIGHTING? >> THAT MIGHT BE A DAN CURRY QUESTION. NOT TO MY KNOWLEDGE. >> IT'S SOMETHING I'D LIKE TO LOOK INTO LATER BECAUSE IT DOES CONCERN ME THAT WE'VE HAD A CONSISTENT COVID CARRY WITHIN YOUR JAIL, AND THAT'S NOT REALLY THE CASE IN GENERAL SOCIETY. I'D LIKE TO LOOK DEEPER WITH FACILITIES ABOUT IF THERE'S SOME MORE THINGS THAT WE NEED TO DO BECAUSE IT HAS AN IMPACT ON MANPOWER. IT ALSO HAS AN IMPACT ON HEALTH IF OUR DEPUTIES GET SICK OR INMATES GET SICK. I WANT TO LOOK CLOSER INTO THAT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH JUDGE FOR THAT LINE OF QUESTION. >> BECAUSE WE ASK OUR BUDGET STAFF TO LOOK INTO THE NUMBERS AND DO THE WORK, I WANT TO GO AHEAD AND MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE 2.9 MILLION THAT STAFF IS RECOMMENDING. >> MOTION BY COMMISSIONER CLAY-FLORES. IS THERE A SECOND? >> I'LL SECOND THAT JUDGE. >> SECOND BY COMMISSIONER RODRIGUEZ. >> SOME QUESTIONS. >> GO AHEAD. >> YEAH. SHERIFF. I GUESS MY INITIAL QUESTION REALLY IT'S FOR STAFF FOR DAVID AND TINA. I KNOW SINCE 2019 AND THEN WE WENT INTO COVID, I THINK THE NUMBER WAS SOMEWHERE AROUND 13 MILLION A YEAR ON OVERTIME. IS THAT BEEN PRETTY CONSISTENT SINCE 2019? >> IT'S BEEN GOING UP, BUT I GUESS THE BEST THING I CAN SAY IS YOU BUDGETED 11 MILLION FOR THIS THIS FISCAL YEAR. >> THIS FISCAL YEAR. WHERE ARE WE? WE'RE ALMOST MID-YEAR. >> THIS IS YOU'RE REALLY YOU'VE DONE ONE QUARTER OF THE YEAR. >> OKAY. >> THIS WILL BE THE FIRST ALLOCATION OF THAT 11 MILLION. [01:35:03] >> OKAY. >> THE SHERIFFS ASKING FOR ONE-QUARTER AND WE'RE SAYING BASED ON OUR ESTIMATES, WE WOULD RECOMMEND SLIGHTLY LESS. >> OKAY. >> THEN, SHERIFF, I KNOW WE'VE HAD THIS DISCUSSION A NUMBER OF TIMES AND THIS IS THE LAST PLACE YOU WANT TO BE. NOT THAT YOU DON'T WANT TO SEE US, BUT I KNOW I KNOW THAT IT'S A CONCERN OF YOURS AS WELL IN YOUR TEAM IS TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WAYS TO MINIMIZE THE OVERTIME IMPACT. I'M OKAY WITH COMMISSIONER CLAY WHAT IS THIS RECOMMENDATION THAT WE BUDGET. ARE WE ALLOCATE BUDGETS? RECOMMENDATION? I GUESS MY QUESTION FOR YOU IS SOME OF THIS IS TIME WORKED ALREADY, AND I HAVE NO ISSUE PAYING MEN AND WOMEN WHO'VE ALREADY PUT IN THE TIME. BUT THE OTHER PART OF THIS IS AN ESTIMATE. I GUESS, YOU'RE ESTIMATING PRETTY CONSISTENTLY BASED ON RECENT HISTORY. >> SURE. >> COVID. WHAT I'M TRYING TO FIGURE OUT IN MY SIMPLE MIND IS HOW DO YOU THINK THROUGH AN INCENTIVE FOR COMING BELOW THAT ESTIMATE IF IT'S ALREADY BUDGETED. I MEAN, IF IN OTHER WORDS, IF WE GIVE YOU THE THE THE 3.7 MILLION THAT YOU'RE ASKING FOR. I THINK IT'S HUMAN NATURE THAT YOU'RE GOING TO USE THE 3.7 MILLION, SO MY BEST SOLUTION IS, WELL, LET'S GO ON THE LOWER END AND YOU'RE GOING TO PROBABLY HAVE TO COME BACK HERE. >> I WILL COME BACK. >> BUT I GUESS WHAT I'M TRYING TO FIGURE OUT IS MAYBE YOU DON'T HAVE AN ANSWER TODAY IS WHAT'S THE INCENTIVE FOR YOU GUYS TO STAY UNDER THAT NUMBER IF YOU'RE JUST GOING TO COME BACK NEXT QUARTER AND GET PAID FOR IT ANYWAY. I DON'T KNOW THE ANSWER TO THAT. I KNOW YOU'VE GOT TO BE REALISTIC WITH YOUR MANPOWER AND THE SIX STANDARDS. YOU'VE GOT TO HOLD YOUR FOLKS TOO. BUT IT WOULD BE NICE AT SOME POINT AND I'M SURE FOR YOU GUYS TO TO COME BACK AND SAY, YOU KNOW WHAT? WE DIDN'T USE IT ALL. WE DIDN'T USE ALL THAT WE NEEDED. >> THAT WOULD BE AWESOME. [LAUGHTER] >> YEAH. I DON'T KNOW. MAYBE I'M JUST THINKING OUT LOUD AND THAT'S SOMETHING THAT YOU HAVE GIVEN SOME THOUGHT TO, BUT I THINK IT JUST HUMAN NATURE THAT IF YOU ARE ALLOCATED SO MUCH FOR PROJECTED OVER TIME, YOU'RE GOING TO USE IT. >> COMMISSIONER. YEAH. YOU NAILED IT. THIS IS NOT MY FAVORITE THING TO DO. HOWEVER, WHEN IT COMES TO GETTING MY FOLKS PAID FOR THEIR WORK, I WOULD COME BACK EVERY TIME IF I HAD TO. I DON'T NECESSARILY MIND THAT. BUT WE HAVE DONE SOME, SOME THINKING. IF I MAY PRESENT AT LEAST ONE IDEA THAT I WOULD THINK WOULD WORK WOULD HELP US MOVE THE NEEDLE. ONE OF THE THINGS THAT, ADDS TO THE OVERTIME, QUITE FRANKLY, IS SICK LEAVE. PEOPLE CALL IN SICK FOR WHATEVER REASON THEY MAY CALL IN SICK BECAUSE STAFFING IS SUCH THAT THEY CAN'T GET A DAY OFF, OTHERWISE THEY'RE GOING TO CALL IN SICK. I WOULD PROPOSE THAT WE ENTERTAIN THE IDEA OF DOING WHAT'S CALLED A SICK LEAVE BUYBACK. AT THE CITY WHERE I USED TO WORK AT SAP, THEY DO A SICK LEAVE BUYBACK. AS A RESULT, NOBODY CALLS IN SICK. BECAUSE WHAT YOU DO AT THE END OF THE OF THE YEAR IS YOU SAY, HEY, FOR THOSE OF YOU THAT HAVE NOT CALLED IN SICK FOR THIS TIME PERIOD, WE'RE GOING TO BUY BACK AT THE END OF THE YEAR, DECEMBER WILL BUY BACK WHATEVER SICK LEAVE YOU DIDN'T UTILIZE. EVERYBODY, HORDES THEY'RE SICK LEAVE BECAUSE THEY WANT TO GET THAT BONUS BOUGHT BACK AT THE END OF THE YEAR. THE PLUS IS THAT IF I'M A DETENTION DEPUTY TODAY AND YOU BUY BACK MY SICK LEAVE THIS YEAR, YOU'RE PAYING ME IN DETENTION, DEPUTY DOLLAR 2020-2023 DETENTION DEPUTY DOLLARS. IF YOU LET ME WAIT UNTIL I RETIRE 20 YEARS FROM NOW, 2043, NOW YOU'RE PAYING ME 2043 CAPTAIN DOLLARS. TO ME IT'S MORE COST-EFFECTIVE TO BUY THEM OUT AT PERIODICALLY. AGAIN, IT WOULD HELP US CUT DOWN ON THE USE OF SICK LEAVE. >> I THINK THAT'S SOMETHING WE CERTAINLY SHOULD HAVE A DISCUSSION ABOUT. WHAT I WOULD CAUTION YOU IS SOME OF THOSE THINGS ARE COLLECTIVE BARGAINING ISSUES. >> SURE. >> BUT AS WE LOOK FORWARD, BECAUSE THIS YEARS GO BY FAST. I THINK IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE SHOULD TALK AND IT'S PROBABLY BEEN DISCUSSED IN PART OF THE CBA NEGOTIATIONS IN THE MOST RECENT YEAR. BUT YEAH, THOSE ARE GIVE AND TAKE THINGS. I WHOLEHEARTEDLY AGREE. >> THAT MAYBE. >> SURE. >> IT'S SOMETHING WHERE TO LOOK CLOSER AT, BUT I ALSO THINK IS SOMETHING THAT IT'S PROBABLY WE SHOULD DISCUSS IN THE NEXT CONTRACT. >> ABSOLUTELY. >> BUT I'M GLAD THAT YOU'RE THINKING AND YOU'RE GETTING FEEDBACK FROM YOUR FOLKS AND [01:40:01] YOU'RE I KNOW YOU ARE CONSISTENTLY TRYING TO FIGURE OUT A WAY TO REDUCE THOSE NUMBERS, HELP WITH THE QUALITY OF WORK IN MENTAL HEALTH FOR YOUR FOLKS, THE MORALE, ALL OF THOSE THINGS I KNOW ARE PRIORITIES FOR YOU. IT JUST LIKE I SAID, THIS IS ALWAYS AN UNCOMFORTABLE CONVERSATION AND IT'S STILL DOLLARS. BUT I THINK WE SHOULD START THOSE CONVERSATIONS EVEN IF IT'S AHEAD OF THE NEXT CBA CONTRACT. THOSE THINGS I THINK MAKE A BIG DIFFERENCE FOR EVERYBODY AND WILL HELP THE BOTTOM LINE AS WELL. >> ABSOLUTE. >> APPRECIATE YOUR EFFORT. >> YES, SIR. ABSOLUTELY. >> ANY FURTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? >> ALL RIGHT. I WILL JUST WAIT. SHERIFF, THANK YOU FOR COMING. I UNDERSTAND THAT THESE ARE HARD ISSUES AS PART OF THE NEW JOB, SO TO SPEAK. I AM CATCHING UP AS TO HOW WE TACKLE THIS PROBLEM, BUT I WANT TO THANK YOU BECAUSE WE HAVE MET ONE-ON-ONE. I HAVE MET WITH YOUR DEPUTIES ONE-ON-ONE. I HAVE MET WITH THE JUDGES ONE-ON-ONE, AND I'M TRYING TO PUT THINGS TOGETHER BECAUSE I RAN ON A PLATFORM OF FIXING THINGS. WE GOT TO GET THIS THING FIXED. >> ABSOLUTELY. >> I NEED EVERYBODY ALIGNED TOGETHER AND WE'VE GOT TO SAVE TAXPAYERS MONEY ON THIS THING. I UNDERSTAND AND RESPECT THE ISSUES THAT ENDED DISCUSSIONS MADE TODAY, BUT WE GOT A LOT OF WORK TO DO. >> YES SIR. >> THERE'S A MOTION ON THE FLOOR. ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY SAYING I. >> I >> ANY OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. >> THANK YOU, SHERIFF. HAVE A GOOD DAY. >> ALRIGHT. WE'RE GOING IF WHAT PERMISSION? >> COMMISSIONERS, CAN WE GO TO ITEM NUMBER 67? [Item 67] JUDGE, RANGEL, I BELIEVE THIS IS THE PUBLIC DEFENDER ITEM, IS THERE ANY OBJECTIONS? WE'LL GO TO 67, THEN WE'LL GO BACK TO 66. THE MANAGER ASSIGNED COUNCIL, MR. BAROFSKY. I BELIEVE, JUDGE RANGEL IS TRUMPED YOU THERE. JUDGE RANGEL? >> GOOD MORNING JUDGE SAKAI. GOOD MORNING MEMBERS OF THE COMMISSIONERS COURT, IT'S REALLY NICE TO SEE ALL OF YOU. I'M HERE AS IT RELATES TO THE PUBLIC DEFENDERS OFFICE. AS YOU KNOW, OUR CHIEF PUBLIC DEFENDER, MICHAEL YOUNG, IS TENDERED HIS RESIGNATION. THAT'S GOING TO BE EFFECTIVE ON FEBRUARY THE FIRST 2023. NOW, UNDERSTANDING THE PENDING VACANCY, I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE RECONSTITUTE THE PUBLIC DEFENDER OVERSIGHT BOARD. WHEN I WAS FIRST ELECTED LOCAL ADMINISTRATIVE JUDGE BY MY COLLEAGUES AT THAT PARTICULAR POINT WE WERE PART OF THE OVERSIGHT BOARD. WE MADE THE DECISION TO BRING IN MICHAEL YOUNG. HIRED HIM IN 2015, SO HE'S BEEN THERE AT LEAST EIGHT YEARS, OR ABOUT EIGHT YEARS. HE'S DONE A GOOD JOB IN TERMS OF EXPANDING THE OFFICE. THE OFFICE HAS REALLY GROWN AS IT RELATES TO PRESENCE IN EACH OF THE COURTROOMS, AND AS IT RELATES TO EVERYTHING THAT WE'RE SUPPOSED TO DO RELATED TO THE FUNDING THAT WE GET FROM TDIC. IT IS RECOMMENDED THAT WE RECONSTITUTE THAT BOARD IN ORDER TO CHOOSE AN INTERIM PUBLIC DEFENDER AS WELL AS SUBSEQUENTLY CHOOSING A PERMANENT CHIEF PUBLIC DEFENDER. I SENT YOU AN EMAIL, JESSICA, YOU'RE RESPONDING VERY PROMPTLY. WE HAD A GOOD CONVERSATION. I SPOKE TO COMMISSIONER RODRIGUEZ ABOUT IT THE OTHER DAY, AND SO I THINK WE'RE ALL ON THE SAME BOARD AS IT RELATES TO CONSTITUTING THAT PARTICULAR BOARD. RECOGNIZING THE STATUTORY AUTHORITY, AND WHAT THE STATUTE RECOMMENDS AND WHAT TDIC RECOMMENDS, I'VE RECOMMENDED A CERTAIN COMPOSITION OF THAT BOARD TO INCLUDE THE CRIMINAL DISTRICT COURT ADMINISTRATIVE JUDGE CURRENTLY, THAT'S MYSELF, COUNTY COURT ADMINISTRATIVE JUDGE, CURRENTLY, THAT'S MELISSA VADA. THE JUVENILE DISTRICT COURT, ADMINISTRATIVE JUDGE, JACQUELINE VALDEZ. COMMISSIONER RODRIGUEZ, I THINK IS GOING TO REPRESENT THE COMMISSIONERS COURT AS LONG AS YOURSELF, JUDGE SAKAI, AND ALSO THE PRESIDENT OF THE SAN ANTONIO CRIMINAL DEFENSE LAWYERS ASSOCIATION, THE SAN ANTONIO BAR ASSOCIATION, AND A LOCAL COMMUNITY REPRESENTATIVE WHO HAS MADE THE VERY SHORTLIST AND WE CONSTITUTED OUR MAC BOARD. NOW, WE CONSTITUTED OUR MAC BOARD TO BRING IN JIM BELSKY WHO'S ALSO PRESENT, WHO'S DONE A FABULOUS JOB IN TERMS OF BRINGING US ALONG AS IT RELATES TO INDIGENT DEFENSE, WE PLAN ON DOING THE EXACT SAME THING. MY IDEA IS THAT WE CONVENE TOMORROW, BRING THAT BOARD TOMORROW, AND IMMEDIATELY DO A SEARCH FOR THE INTERIM. THE BOARD WILL THEN RECOMMEND SOMEONE TO COME BEFORE COMMISSIONERS COURT, PROBABLY WITHIN THE NEXT COUPLE OF WEEKS. >> THANK YOU, JUDGE. ANY QUESTIONS, MR. RODRIGUEZ? >> REAL QUICK? JUDGE RANGEL, THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. I KNOW YOU HAVE TO GET BACK TO THE BENCH, AND WE APPRECIATE YOUR SERVICE ON THIS. WE WORKED TOGETHER ON THE MAGISTRATE ISSUES AND THE MAC AND WHATNOT, AND SO APPRECIATE YOU STEPPING FORWARD. I GUESS MORE OF A TECHNICAL QUESTION BECAUSE I THINK YOU SAID MICHAEL YOUNG LEAVES AT THE END OF JANUARY, IS THAT RIGHT? >> THAT'S CORRECT. >> YOU'RE SUGGESTING THAT THE BOARD OR THE COMMITTEE SHOULD GET APPROVED TODAY, [01:45:05] CONVENE THIS WEEK, I GUESS INITIALLY TO IDENTIFY AN INTERIM TO TAKE OVER THE OFFICE. I GUESS THE ISSUE IS THAT, WE DON'T MEET AGAIN UNTIL FEBRUARY 7TH, I THINK, IS THE COURT'S TIMELINE. THERE MAY BE SOME GAP THERE BETWEEN THE TIME THAT MICHAEL LEAVES AND WE CAN, I GUESS, FORMALLY RATIFY, OR ADOPT THE RECOMMENDATION IF WE SO CHOOSE. DO YOU HAVE A PLAN IN PLACE IN CASE, OR DOES THE OFFICE HAVE A PLAN IN PLACE TO COVER THAT WEEK OR SO GAP? >> AS IT RELATES TO TECHNICAL ISSUES, THE IT DEPARTMENT DID HAVE AN ISSUE RELATED TO HOW TO MOVE NAMES AS IT RELATED TO THE ACTUAL APPOINTMENT OF COUNSEL FROM MICHAEL YOUNG OVER TO SOMEBODY DIFFERENT. WE JUST IDENTIFIED THE PROBLEM AND WE'RE IN THE PROCESS OF FIXING IT. REALLY WITHIN THE NEXT WEEK, ALL APPOINTMENTS ARE NO LONGER GOING TO GO IN THE NAME OF MICHAEL YOUNG, THEY'RE GOING TO GO ON THE NAME OF THE PUBLIC DEFENDERS OFFICE. >> OKAY. >> I SPOKEN TO MR. YOUNG. HE'S ADVISED THAT HE'S LEAVING SOMEONE IN HIS PLACE TO TAKE CARE OF THINGS UNTIL WE HAVE AN INTERIM. THERE'S NO ISSUES WITH THAT. JUST AS THE CASES COME IN, THEY WILL BE DOLED OUT TO WHATEVER ATTORNEYS WITHIN THE OFFICE. THERE'S ONLY ONE APPELLATE DEFENDER IN THAT OFFICE. THEY DO HAVE CONSTITUTED ATTORNEYS THAT WORK OVER AT THE MAGISTRATE, AND THEN THEY HAVE DIFFERENT ATTORNEYS THAT WORK WITHIN THE SEPARATE COURTS. THAT SHOULDN'T BE A PROBLEM WITH THAT KIND OF A LAG. IN REALITY, THAT OFFICE COULD REALLY FUNCTION PROBABLY A FEW WEEKS WITHOUT HAVING A NAMED INTERIM PUBLIC COUNTER. >> THEN WITH RESPECT TO THE SEARCH, I KNOW THAT'S FURTHER DOWN, IT'S ITEM 67C. MY UNDERSTANDING IS STATUTORILY, ONCE THIS COMMITTEE IS IN PLACE, THEY WILL VET POTENTIAL CANDIDATES FOR THE PERMANENT POSITION, AND THEN EVENTUALLY, MAKE A RECOMMENDATION TO THE FULL COURT. IT IS THIS COURT'S RESPONSIBILITY AND AUTHORITY TO EITHER NAME THAT PERSON, OR REJECT THAT PERSON, OR HAVE THE FINAL SAY. IN OTHER WORDS, I THINK THAT'S WHAT I WANTED TO MAKE CLEAR. BUT THE PURPOSE OF THE COMMITTEE WILL BE DOING A LOT OF THE LEGWORK TO DO WHAT I WOULD ASSUME IS MAYBE A NATIONAL SEARCH, OR AT LEAST A REGIONAL SEARCH FOR A PUBLIC DEFENDER. IS THAT YOUR UNDERSTANDING, JUDGE? >> THAT'S CORRECT. THE COMMITTEE WOULD MAKE THE RECOMMENDATION, IT WOULD BE UP TO THIS PARTICULAR COURT THEN TO DETERMINE WHETHER THEY ACCEPT THAT RECOMMENDATION OR NOT. >> I WANT TO THANK JUDGE SAKAI, FOR HIS INCLUSION OF ME IN THIS PROCESS. WHAT I WANT TO REASSURE THE COURT, MY COLLEAGUES IS THAT I WILL STAY IN TOUCH AS THE PROCESS UNFOLDS. I KNOW THAT WE WANT TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE A WELL QUALIFIED APPLICANT POOL, BUT ALSO A DIVERSE APPLICANT POOL THAT IS REFLECTIVE OF OUR COMMUNITY AS WELL. I KNOW WE ALL SHARE THAT COMMITMENT, AND SO I WANT TO MAKE THAT COMMITMENT PUBLICLY TO TO MY COLLEAGUES. I KNOW JUDGE SAKAI AND I TALKED ABOUT THAT AS WELL. I APPRECIATE YOUR WORK ON THIS, JUDGE. >> [OVERLAPPING] MR. CLAY-FLORES. YOU HAVE THE FLOOR. >> I'D LIKE TO RECOMMEND. SO I JUST WANT TO BE CLEAR. THIS COMMITTEE IS GOING TO RECOMMEND AN INTERIM, AND THEN RECOMMEND SOMEONE TO BE THE FINAL? >> THAT'S CORRECT. >> FOR THE BREAKING TWO RECOMMENDATIONS TO US? >> YES. >> THE COMMISSIONER'S COURT WILL APPROVE OF THE INTERIM AS WELL AS THE FINAL CORRECT? >> THAT IS CORRECT. >> I'D LIKE TO INCLUDE IN THE MOTION, I'M NOT MAKING THE MOTION YET, BUT I'D LIKE TO INCLUDE IN THE MOTION THAT THE COMMITTEE BRINGS TO THE COMMISSIONERS COURT THE TOP THREE RECOMMENDATIONS. THEN THE COMMISSIONERS COURT DECIDES BECAUSE OFTENTIMES THERE'S COMMITTEES AND THEY BRING THE TOP PERSON, BUT THEN THAT'S JUST CHECKING ON A BOX SAYING, YEAH, THE COMMISSIONERS COURT APPROVED IT. BUT IF WE DON'T SEE WHO THE OTHER CANDIDATES WERE, THEN WE'RE JUST PUTTING THE SEAL ON WELL, WE DON'T KNOW WHO THE OTHER PEOPLE WERE. I'D LIKE TO SEE THE TOP THREE CANDIDATES, AND THEN THE COMMISSIONER'S COURT APPROVES THAT, MAKES A DECISION ON TOP THREE. >> NOW THAT'S NOT ACTUALLY HOW TDIC RECOMMENDS NOR HOW PUBLIC DEFENDER OVERSIGHT COMMITTEES ARE PUT TOGETHER. IT'S ACTUALLY, THE COMMITTEES MAKE THE RECOMMENDATION, THEN IT'S UP TO THIS PARTICULAR COURT TO MAKE THAT DETERMINATION OF WHETHER OR NOT THEY ACCEPT IT. JUST LIKE THE MAGISTRATES THAT WE HIRE. IT'S THE SAME IDEA. >> THEN WHAT IF WE DON'T ACCEPT THE RECOMMENDATION, THEN YOU HAVE TO START THE PROCESS OVER AGAIN? >> THAT'S CORRECT. >> THAT JUST SEEMS A LITTLE INEFFICIENT. LARRY, CAN YOU SPEAK A LITTLE BIT ON THAT? [01:50:02] IF THE COMMISSIONERS COURT HAS THE AUTHORITY TO APPROVE THE RECOMMENDATION, DO WE NOT THEN HAVE THE AUTHORITY TO ASK FOR THE TOP TWO OR THREE CANDIDATES TO THEN MAKE THE DECISION? >> THE STATUTE DOES NOT PROHIBIT THE COURT FROM ASKING FOR THOSE RECOMMENDATIONS. EDGES IS RECOMMENDATION, IT DOES NOT LIST A NUMBER, IT DOESN'T PROHIBIT IT DOESN'T SAY ONE OR THE OTHER. I THINK THE JUDGE IS SAYING THAT WHATEVER ORGANIZATION RECOMMENDS THAT PROCESS, BUT THE STATUTE DOES NOT REQUIRE IT. IF THAT'S WHAT I'M UNDERSTANDING JUDGE. >> IF THE COMMITTEE RECOMMENDS ONE PERSON, THEN THAT IS WHO IS BEFORE THE COMMISSIONERS COURT. IF THE COMMITTEE RECOMMENDS THREE PEOPLE, THAT'S BEFORE THE COMMISSIONERS COURT, BUT IT'S UP TO THE COMMITTEE TO MAKE THOSE RECOMMENDATIONS. >> THAT'S WHAT I'M SAYING. IF THE COMMITTEE CAN RECOMMEND THE TOP THREE PEOPLE IS WHAT I'M SAYING. >> THE COMMITTEE WOULD RECOMMEND WHOEVER THE COMMITTEE THINKS IS APPROPRIATE. >> DOES ANYONE ELSE HAVE A COMMENT? DOES ANYONE ELSE HEAR WHAT I'M SAYING OR I'M I JUST TALKING IN THE WIND. >> LET ME GO TO COMMISSIONER CALVERT. >> COMMISSIONER CALVERT, YOU'RE ASKED FOR THE FLOOR. >> THANK YOU JUDGE FOR RECONSTITUTING THE OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE, I COULDN'T REMEMBER WHEN WE CREATED IT BACK IN 2014/2015 ABOUT THE COMMITTEE. THERE'S A LOT OF COMMITTEES THAT WE ALL SERVE UNDER, BUT IT'S A VERY IMPORTANT THING AND AN IMPORTANT CHARGE, AND I WANT TO THANK COMMISSIONER RODRIGUEZ FOR SERVING AT IT AS A FORMER ASSISTANT DA AND MEMBER OF THE BAR. LET ME GIVE THE COURT SOME HISTORY. IN 2014, I WAS APPROACHED BY THEN STATE SENATOR RODNEY ELLIS IN HOUSTON ABOUT HOW HORRIBLE BEAR COUNTIES INDIGENT DEFENSE WISE. HE HAD READ ARTICLES IN THE SAN ANTONIO CURRENT, THE EXPRESS NEWS, HE CITED CASE INVERSE OF INSTANCES AND HE TOOK ME TO THE PUBLIC DEFENDERS OFFICE OF HARRIS COUNTY TO MEET THE PUBLIC DEFENDER OF HARRIS COUNTY. THAT WAS AN IMPORTANT VISIT BECAUSE ONE OF THE THINGS THAT'S IMPORTANT FOR THIS COMMITTEE GOING FORWARD, THE MOST IMPORTANT THING WHEN YOU'RE CHOOSING A LEADER IS A LEADER THAT THE BAR CAN RALLY AROUND, HAVE CONFIDENCE IN, AND HAVE THE PUBLIC DEFENDERS OFFICE, HAVE THE COOPERATION OF THE COURTS AND THE BAR. JUST AS A REFRESHER TO THIS OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE, IT'S IMPORTANT THAT THE PUBLIC DEFENDER HAVE THE CONFIDENCE OF THE BAR AND THE JUDGES, AND SO I IMPART THAT WISDOM BECAUSE I THINK MICHAEL YOUNG HAS BROUGHT THAT TO BUILDING THAT OFFICE THAT WE CREATED IN 2015, AND WE NEED TO KEEP IT. PART OF THE OVERSIGHT COMMITTEES' CHARGE INTO THE STATUTE IN THE CODE OF CRIMINAL PROCEDURE IS THAT THE PUBLIC DEFENDER PROVIDE A PLAN TO THE OVERSIGHT BOARD AND BY EXTENSION THE COMMISSIONERS COURT, I THINK THAT PLAN IS VERY IMPORTANT AND THERE'S A COUPLE OF THINGS THAT NEED SOME LOOKING INTO ACCORDING TO SOME CONVERSATIONS I'VE HAD WITH MEMBERS OF THE BAR. WE NEED TO FIGURE OUT IF THE PUBLIC DEFENDERS OFFICE IS FULLY STAFFED ON THE WEEKENDS WHEN A MAJORITY OF CRIMES ARE ACTUALLY HAPPENING OVERNIGHT AND THE MIDNIGHT HOURS AND PROVIDE A PLAN FOR FLEXIBILITY OF WORKFORCE. IF THAT MEANS THAT IN ORDER TO COVER THE HOURS OVERNIGHT WHEN PEOPLE ARE COMING IN AND BEING MAGISTRATED THAT WE HAVE THEM WORK A TUESDAY THROUGH SATURDAY WORK OR WEDNESDAY THROUGH SUNDAY OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT, THEN I THINK WE NEED TO HAVE SOME FLEXIBILITY OR ROTATION THAT PEOPLE ARE ON CALL. BUT I DO THINK THAT IN ORDER TO MOVE CASES WHEN WE TALK ABOUT THE JAIL AND THE CONDITION OF THE OVERCROWDING, WE MUST MAKE SURE THAT PUBLIC DEFENDERS OFFICE AND OTHER OFFICES OF THE COUNTY ARE FULLY STAFFED AND THAT WE HAVE SOME UNDERSTANDING THAT LIFE HAPPENS AND PEOPLE MAY NOT WANT TO TAKE THOSE WEEKEND OVERNIGHT HOURS AND WHAT IS THE BEST PLAN TO ADDRESS WHAT I'VE HEARD MAYBE ARE STAFFING ISSUE AT TIMES. I WANT TO BRING THAT TO THE ATTENTION OF THE OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE. THE OTHER THING IN TERMS OF A PLAN, MAY HAVE TO DO WITH THE PAY. I LOOK AT WHETHER OR NOT THE PAY OF THE PUBLIC DEFENDERS SHOULD BE COMMENSURATE WITH THE ADA SO THAT THE RECRUITMENT OF THE STAFFING BEST SAID, IT SHOULD BE IN THE BEST SPIRIT OF WHAT THE PUBLIC DEFENDERS OFFICE IS SUPPOSED TO DO AND ANY OTHER RECOMMENDATIONS THAT YOU FEEL ARE UNDER STATUTED OR NEED TO BE BROUGHT TO THE COURT'S ATTENTION. PLEASE BRING THOSE BACK TO US. THAT'S ALL I HAVE, JUDGE. I THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THE TIME. >> MR. RODRIGUEZ. >> THANK YOU JUDGE. >> A COUPLE OF THINGS. [01:55:04] INITIALLY THE PROCESS YOU LAID OUT IS I THINK FINE FROM MY PERSPECTIVE. KEEPING IN MIND THIS STATUTE IS PERMISSIVE LANGUAGE, IT'S NOT MANDATORY. WE DON'T HAVE TO SET UP THIS OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE. WE COULD HAVE A DOZEN PEOPLE LINE UP AND INTERVIEW IN FRONT OF THE COMMISSIONERS COURT. I DON'T THINK THAT'S THE WAY TO GO EITHER, I THINK THERE IS A PROCESS THAT IS OUTLINED PERMISSIBLY BY STATUTE BUT ALSO AS YOU MENTIONED BY STANDARDS SET FORTH WITH THE THE JUDICIAL COMMISSION OF STATE OF TEXAS BASICALLY. I THINK THAT THOSE GUIDELINES ARE THERE FOR A REASON, IT'S A PROFESSIONAL WAY TO HANDLE THIS. WHEN I MENTIONED AT THE OUTSET THAT I WOULD COMMIT TO STAYING IN TOUCH WITH MY COLLEAGUES, THAT IS HOW WE RESOLVE THE ISSUE OF MAYBE A LACK OF COMMUNICATION, THAT MAYBE THIS COMMITTEE BEING A LITTLE INSULAR, IS THAT WE STAY IN TOUCH ON WHO THE TOP THREE OR TOP FIVE ARE, BUT ULTIMATELY, THE COMMITTEE MAKES A RECOMMENDATION OF ONE. I SAT THROUGH A LOT OF THESE THINGS WITH YOU JUDGE WHEN WE WENT THROUGH THE MAGISTRATION OR THE JUDGES, MAGISTRATES, AND THERE'S NOT A PERFECT PROCESS FOR THIS, I GET IT BUT IF WE CHOOSE THIS PROCESS THAT IS LAID OUT IN STATUTE WE OUGHT TO FOLLOW IT. AGAIN, I MAKE THE COMMITMENT PUBLICLY TO MY COLLEAGUES THAT I WILL COMMUNICATE WITH YOU WITH RESPECT TO WHO THE TOP THREE OR FIVE OR 10 CANDIDATES LOOK. SOMETIMES YOU HAVE TO MAKE A TOUGH DECISION. I HOPE WE'RE IN THAT POSITION WHERE WE'VE GOT THREE OR FIVE GREAT CANDIDATES AND WE'VE GOT TO MAKE A RECOMMENDATION, BUT ULTIMATELY COMMISSIONER [INAUDIBLE] YOUR RIGHT. THIS COURT IS THE ONE WHO MAKES THE ULTIMATE DECISION, BUT WE OUGHT TO FOLLOW WHAT'S LAID OUT IN STATUTE AND I WILL COMMIT. I DON'T WANT TO SPEAK FOR JUDGE SAKAI, BUT I KNOW AS HE'S MENTIONED IT A FEW TIMES, THIS IS A NEW DAY, A NEW COURT, AND HE'S COMMITTED TO BEING TRANSPARENT WITH THE PROCESS AS WELL PARTICULARLY WITH OUR COLLEAGUES IN MAKING A VERY IMPORTANT DECISION IN FILLING SOME, THE BIG SHOES THAT MICHAEL YOUNG LEAVES. THAT WOULD BE MY COMMITMENT AND I'M WILLING TO MAKE THE MOTION, BUT I KNOW YOU HAVE SOME QUESTIONS. >> I DO STILL HAVE SOME QUESTIONS AND I UNDERSTAND THAT WHEN PEOPLE APPLY FOR THINGS, A LOT OF TIMES THEY WANT TO KEEP IT PRIVATE, BUT AT THE SAME TIME THIS IS A PUBLIC DEFENDER AND THIS IS THE COUNTY. AS YOU SAID COMMISSIONER RODRIGUEZ THAT NEEDS TO BE VERY TRANSPARENT AND WHO THE TOP CANDIDATES ARE. I'M NOT GOING TO MAKE THIS INTO A BIG ARGUMENT. I STILL THINK THAT WE SHOULD LOOK AT THE TOP THREE, BUT IF THAT'S NOT THE DESIRE OF THE COURT THEN WE CAN GO AHEAD AND PROCEED. I KNOW YOU MENTIONED SOME OF THE SEATS WHO ARE ON THERE YOU MENTIONED; SOME OF THE PEOPLE. HOW MANY WOMEN ARE ON THIS COMMITTEE VERSUS HOW MANY MEN? >> THERE ARE FOUR WOMEN AND THREE MEN. >> FOUR WOMEN. >> THREE MEN NOT NOT COUNTING JUDGE SAKAI WHICH WAS A SUBSEQUENT COMMUNICATION THAT WE HAVE. >> I'M SORRY. >> THE RECOMMENDATION OF THE BOARD IS FOUR WOMEN AND THREE MEN. >> FOUR WOMEN, THREE MEN. OBVIOUSLY, THEY'RE ALREADY LATINOS ON THERE WITH YOURSELF AND MY COLLEAGUE. ARE THERE ANY BLACKS ON THERE? >> YES. >> HOW MANY? >> ONE. >> JUST SO YOU KNOW, THESE POSITIONS WEREN'T ARRIVED AT BY REVIEWING THE DEMOGRAPHICS, THEY WERE ARRIVED AT BY POSITIONS AND QUALIFICATIONS. >> I UNDERSTAND THAT, BUT I STILL WANT TO ASK THE QUESTIONS BECAUSE AGAIN THIS NEEDS TO BE TRANSPARENT. >> ABSOLUTELY. >> AS I'M OUT IN THE COMMUNITY AND NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION MEETINGS AND DIFFERENT THINGS PEOPLE ASK ME THESE QUESTIONS, SO I NEED TO BE ABLE TO RESPOND TO THAT. THAT'S ALL FOR NOW. THANK YOU. >> IS THERE A MOTION? >> YEAH, I'LL MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE ITEM 67 A THROUGH C. >> IS THERE A SECOND? THERE IS SECOND BY COMMISSIONER CALVERT. ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE. >> AYE. >> ANY OPPOSED? ANY ABSTENTIONS? MOTION CARRIES. >> THANK YOU JUDGE RANGEL. >> THANK YOU JUDGE. >> GO TO WORK. >> IT WAS A PLEASURE SEEING ALL OF YOU. >> LET'S GO BACK TO ITEM NUMBER 66: PRESENTATION TO COMMISSIONERS COURT TO REPORT [Item 66] PROGRESS INFORMATION REGARDING MANAGE ASSIGNED COUNCIL DEPARTMENT. MR. BETHKE. >> JUDGE. [02:00:09] JUDGE, MEMBERS OF THE COURT, I'M JIM BETHKE, I'M THE DIRECTOR OF THE MANAGED ASSIGNED COUNSEL. >> CAN YOU SPEAK UP A LITTLE BIT PLEASE? [OVERLAPPING]. >> GOOD MORNING, JUDGE, MEMBERS OF THE COURT? I AM JIM BETHKE, THE DIRECTOR OF THE MANAGED ASSIGNED COUNSEL PROGRAM. THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO GIVE A STATE OF THE STATE OF OUR PROGRAM. I WAS HIRED BASICALLY A YEAR AGO, THIS MONTH, AND WHAT I'D LIKE TO DO, ESPECIALLY FOR COMMISSIONER MOODY, JUDGE SAKAI HAS INTRODUCED YOU TO OUR PROGRAM, IDENTIFY SOME OF OUR HIGHLIGHTS, AND THEN ALSO WHAT'S ON THE HORIZON. IT'S BEEN A VERY ENJOYABLE YEAR. I'M PLEASED WITH WHERE WE HAVE GOTTEN. THIS WAS FUNDED THROUGH A GRANT, THROUGH THE TEXAS INDIGENT DEFENSE COMMISSION. OVER THE FOUR YEARS, IT'S $3.7 MILLION THAT'S COMING INTO THE COUNTY. IT'S A 50/50 SPLIT, INSTEAD OF THE 13 CENTS ON THE DOLLAR, THAT WE GET IN THE FORMULA. WE ALSO APPLIED FOR ANOTHER GRANT IN THE SPRING THAT GOT AWARDED IN THE SUMMER, AND THAT IS FOR OUR MENTAL HEALTH DIVISION. THREE PEOPLE, WE HAD ASKED FOR SIGNIFICANTLY MORE, BUT THERE WEREN'T STATE FUNDS AVAILABLE. THAT'S APPROXIMATELY 1.1 MILLION OVER SIX YEARS. THE FIRST TWO YEARS OF THAT GRANT, ARE A 100 PERCENT FUNDED BY THE STATE, AND THEN THEY'RE DOING A STEP-DOWN, 80, 60, 40, 20. THE NEXT SLIDE. THIS IS OUR TEAM. I'M PLEASED TO REPORT THAT WE ARE FULLY STAFFED. WE DO HAVE ONE POSITION THAT WE JUST RECEIVED FUNDING THIS YEAR. IT'S OUR SENIOR RESEARCH DATA ANALYSTS POSITION. THAT APPLICATION IS GOING THROUGH HUMAN RESOURCES, AND I ANTICIPATE THAT WE'RE GOING TO BE ABLE TO POST THAT POSITION SOMETIME, EITHER LATER THIS MONTH, OR AT THE VERY BEGINNING OF NEXT MONTH. COMMISSIONER RODRIGUEZ, I REMEMBER WHEN WE WERE DOING A RECONSTITUTION OF OUR BOARD, YOU SPECIFICALLY ASKED IF WE WERE GOING TO GET THAT POSITION BACK. I INDICATED THAT WE WOULD. THE STATE HONORED IT'S OBLIGATION. OF THE 14 PERSONS I HIRED, SEVEN WOMEN, SEVEN SOUTHERN MEN, THANK YOU, NINE HISPANICS, FIVE WHITE, TEN PEOPLE FROM THE LOCAL COMMUNITY, AND FOUR FROM THE OUTSIDE. WE PULLED FROM EL PASO, LUBBOCK, SEGUIN, AND I'D COME FROM HARRIS COUNTY. WE ALSO HAVE ONE FROM AUSTIN. OUR CORE RESPONSIBILITIES ARE THREE, AND THERE'S A MULTITUDE OF TASKS THAT ARISE UNDERNEATH EACH ONE OF THEM. BUT ONE OF OUR PRIMARIES IS TO SUPPORT AND MONITOR OVER 300 PANEL ATTORNEYS. ONE OF THE FOOTNOTES THAT WE NEED TO DO IS, WE DO NEED TO GET THOSE NUMBERS UP. THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF ATTORNEYS, BOTH ON THE FELONY SIDE, AND ON THE MISDEMEANOR SIDE, THAT FOR WHATEVER REASON, HAVE GONE OFF. WE DO WANT TO GET BACK, WHERE WE HAVE A ROBUST IN MANY OF THE PRIVATE ATTORNEYS PARTICIPATING IN THIS. THE SECOND PART, AND THE COURTS ARE ENTRUSTING US TO ADMINISTER THE ASSIGNMENTS. EARLIER THIS MONTH, THE CRIMINAL DISTRICT COURTS HANDED OVER THE ADMINISTRATION ON THE FELONY ASSIGNMENTS. WE'RE USING EXISTING BACKBONE. OUR EXISTING BACKBONE WAS NOT BROKEN. WE'RE WORKING REALLY CLOSELY WITH MIKE LIZZIDO'S GROUP OVER A PRE-TRIAL. THERE'S AN ALGORITHM WITH BCIT. WE WILL BE POPULATING THE NAMES OF THE ATTORNEYS WHO WILL GET SELECTED, BUT WE ARE USING EXISTING INFRASTRUCTURE TO MOVE FORWARD ON THAT. WE'RE IN CONVERSATIONS WITH THE COUNTY CRIMINAL COURTS AND, I ANTICIPATE PRIOR SOMETIME NEXT MONTH, WHERE WE WILL BE ADMINISTERING THE ASSIGNMENTS FOR THE COUNTY CRIMINAL. WE PUT OFF THE JUVENILE. ONE OF THE REASONS THIS WAS QUITE APPEALING FOR ME IS, THIS IS THE ONLY JURISDICTION IN THE STATE, THAT LITERALLY WILL BE REPRESENTING ALL LEVELS OF COURT, JUVENILE, MISDEMEANOR, AND FELONY. BUT THE PRESSING AREA WAS IN REFERENCE TO THE CRIMINAL SIDE SO THAT'S WHERE WE FOCUSED OUR ATTENTION. THE THIRD PART OF OUR CORE RESPONSIBILITY IS THE REVIEW AND APPROVAL OF THE VOUCHERS. WE WILL BE ABLE TO COMMENCE ONCE EC JUST BECOMES LIVE, AND THEN TWO TO THREE WEEKS AFTER THAT, WE WILL BE HAVING E-INVOICE. [02:05:02] THERE'S NO WAY THAT OUR DEPARTMENT COULD ADMINISTER A PAPER-BASED SYSTEM. I EXPRESSED THAT TO THE COURTS, THEY'RE AWARE OF THAT. ONCE WE HAVE THIS AUTOMATED AND ELECTRONIC, WHICH WILL BE SOMETIME, IDEALLY THE SPRING, WE WILL BE ABLE TO BEGIN PROCESSING VOUCHERS. >> JUDGE MAY I ASK JIM, JUST TO CLARIFY FOR THE NEW MEMBERS OF THE COURT, YOU HAVE MEMBERS WHO WERE NOT A PART OF THE BAR, AND SO, I THINK IT WOULD BE HELPFUL TO JUST GO ON A QUICK ONE-ON-ONE DEFINITION OF THE REFORM, HOW THINGS WERE, AND HOW YOU CHANGED THINGS TODAY, IF YOU WOULDN'T MIND. >> VERY GOOD QUESTION COMMISSIONER CALVERT. PRIOR TO THE FORMATION OF OUR OFFICE, IT WAS AN AD HOC-ASSIGNED COUNSEL SYSTEM. AS YOU'D HEARD, FROM COMMISSIONER CALVERT EARLIER ON, THERE IS A LOT OF CRITICISM PREVIOUSLY OF OUR DEFENSE DELIVERY SYSTEM, SO THAT EACH INDIVIDUAL JUDGE, HAD A WHEEL, AND THEY WOULD GO AHEAD AND SELECT FROM SOMEBODY ON THAT WHEEL. THE JUDGES, WHEN IT WHEN IT COMES TO THINGS OF THAT NATURE, AND IT'S NOT BEEN RAMPED UP HERE, BUT I KNOW IN SOME OTHER JURISDICTIONS, THEIR JUDGES WILL GET ACCUSED OF CRONYISM, THAT THEY CONTINUE TO APPOINT THE SAME PERSON, OVER AND OVER. ONE OF THE AREAS THAT THIS WAS TO ADDRESS, AND AGAIN, I CAME TO A SYSTEM THAT WASN'T BROKEN, IT WAS A SYSTEM THOUGH THAT HAD OPPORTUNITIES TO BECOME BETTER, TO PROVIDE THAT LEVEL OF REPRESENTATION SO THAT WE DO GET EQUAL JUSTICE, AND IMPROVE OUR PROCESSES. PREVIOUSLY IT WAS JUST AD HOC-ASSIGNED COUNSEL, WITH THE PUBLIC DEFENDER'S OFFICE, AND I DO WANT TO COMPLIMENT MICHAEL YOUNG AND HIS TEAM. THEY'VE DONE A GREAT JOB. THEY HANDLE 15 PERCENT OF THE CASES THOUGH. THIS OFFICE, WE WILL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE REMAINING 85 PERCENT OF THE CASES GOING THROUGH THE SYSTEM. COMMISSIONER CALVERT DO THAT? ONE OF THE BIG AREAS, AND THIS IS THE PIECE WHERE WE'VE GOT TEAM OF ABOUT FIVE, THAT ARE PROVIDING SUPPORT TO THOSE PANEL LAWYERS. A LOT OF THE LAWYERS OUT THERE, THEY'RE TAKING THESE APPOINTMENTS AS SOLO PRACTITIONERS. THEY CAN TOUCH BASE WITH THEIR COLLEAGUES AND ALL OF THAT, BUT NOW THEY HAVE A TEAM, WITHIN OUR OFFICE, THAT CAN ASSIST THEM WITH A PRETRIAL MATTER, A BOND, IF THEY NEED HELP ON A WRIT, A POST CONVICTION MATTER. IF THEY NEED A SECOND CHAIR, WE CAN GO IN THERE AND PROVIDE THAT ASSISTANCE. IT'S LIKE WHAT WE'RE DOING, AND COMMISSIONER MOODY, THIS IS ONE OF THE REASONS LUBBOCK WENT WITH IT. THEY KNEW THAT THEY WANTED TO DO BETTER. THEY HAD AN AD HOC-ASSIGNED COUNCIL SYSTEM. THEY WERE THE FIRST IN THE STATE TO, THEY CALL IT A PRIVATE DEFENDER PROGRAM, BUT THE REASON LUBBOCK ESTABLISHED IT IS BECAUSE THIS TYPE OF PROGRAM DOESN'T GROW GOVERNMENT EXPONENTIALLY. YES, YOU DO HAVE A CORE SMALLER GROUP, BUT WHAT WE'RE DOING IS, WE'RE STILL UTILIZING THE PRIVATE BAR TO PROVIDE THESE SERVICES. A BIG PART OF WHAT WE DO IS TO LIFT UP, AND AGAIN, WITH THAT ALSO COMES THE OVERSIGHT PIECE. YOU'RE GOING TO SEE ON THE NEXT SLIDE, WE TALK ABOUT THE COMPLAINTS IN THOSE AREAS. >> SINCE THIS ISN'T MY AREA OF EXPERTISE, CAN YOU JUST QUICKLY EXPLAIN THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN MANAGED ASSIGNED COUNCIL, AND THE PUBLIC DEFENDERS PROGRAM? BECAUSE THEY [NOISE] SEEM SIMILAR [BACKGROUND] BUT DIFFERENT. >> A PUBLIC DEFENDER OPERATES WITH COUNTY EMPLOYEES, WHERE THE PUBLIC DEFENDER WILL HANDLE A CERTAIN NUMBER OF CASES, THEY'RE COUNTY EMPLOYEES. THE MANAGED ASSIGNED COUNCIL PROGRAM, WE CONTRACT WITH THE PRIVATE BAR TO PROVIDE THESE SERVICES. THEY WORK WITH OUR OFFICE, PREVIOUSLY, THEY WORKED WITH THE JUDGES, BUT THE JUDGES REALLY CAN'T MANAGE, OR SAY, HEY BETHKE, SHOULD YOU REALLY SHOULD BE DOING THIS IN THE TRIAL. OUR OFFICE CAN, AND THE JUDGES CAN CALL US AND SAY, HEY, THIS ATTORNEY IS SHOWING UP LATE, THIS ATTORNEY DOESN'T SEEM TO BE HAVING HIS OR HER A GAME. WHAT WE DO, IS [NOISE] WE WORK WITH THE PRIVATE BAR, PROVIDE THEM SUPPORT. WE'LL BE REVIEWING, MAKE THE ASSIGNMENTS, WE'LL BE REVIEWING AND APPROVING THEIR VOUCHERS, OFFERING TRAINING, AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE. THE PUBLIC DEFENDER, ON THE OTHER HAND, THEY'RE LIKE A LAW FIRM. THEY'RE HANDLING SPECIFIC CASES, WHETHER IT'S MENTAL HEALTH, OR MISDEMEANOR, OR FELONY. >> THAT LAST CAVEAT, IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT FOR COMMISSIONER MOODY TO UNDERSTAND, AND THE REST OF THE COURT, SO IN THE BEGINNING, THE PUBLIC DEFENDER'S OFFICE HAD MENTAL HEALTH CASES MANDATE. I THINK THERE HAS BEEN SOME EXPANSION. I CAN'T REMEMBER ALL THE AREAS, BUT THAT WAS THE NARROWNESS OF THEIR MANDATE. >> DID THAT ANSWER YOUR QUESTION, COMMISSIONER MOODY? >> I'M LEARNING. >> WE HAVEN'T HAD AN OPPORTUNITY THAT REALLY MEET, [02:10:03] BUT I'D BE HAPPY TO MEET WITH YOUR CHIEF OF STAFF, AND WE CAN GO OVER THIS IN MORE DETAIL AS WELL, I'D BE HAPPY TO DO THAT SIR. COMPLAINTS. ONE OF THE THINGS THAT OUR PROGRAM ALSO IS REQUIRED TO DO IS TO PROVIDE SOME GREATER TRANSPARENCY AS TO WHAT'S GOING ON. PUBLIC TRUST AND TRANSPARENCY, I THINK IS CRITICAL TO ANY TYPE OF GOVERNMENT PROGRAM. THIS WILL SHOW YOU WE STARTED HANDLING PROBABLY TWO, THREE MONTHS AGO, THE COMPLAINTS THE JUDGES USED TO, AND YOU CAN SEE THE PREDOMINANT IS NO CONTACT WITH MY LAWYER. WHAT HAPPENS, WE GET A COMPLAINT ON AN ATTORNEY, WE TOUCH BASE WITH THAT ATTORNEY. SOME ARE MERITORIOUS, BUT THEY'RE LIKE, YEAH. BUT SOME ARE, AND SO WE'LL TALK WITH THAT ATTORNEY, ADDRESS THE MATTER, AND THEN IDEALLY, WE GET TO MOVE ON. IF IT CONTINUES TO RECUR, THEN WE HAVE TO TAKE ADDITIONAL STEPS. >> JIM, DO YOU JUST CALL THE ATTORNEY OR DO YOU EMAIL THE ATTORNEY OR EMAIL ATTORNEY OR DON'T CALL HER? >> WHAT WE DO, OUR PROCESS IS WE GO AHEAD AND SEND AN EMAIL SAYING THAT THIS PARTICULAR CLIENT, OR IT COULD BE A JUDGE OR IT COULD BE A MEMBER OF THE PUBLIC HAS IDENTIFIED AN ISSUE. PLEASE CONTACT OUR OFFICE, IF WE DON'T HEAR BACK FROM THAT EMAIL, THEN WE PICK UP THE PHONE AND CALL THAT ATTORNEY. THAT'S A PRIORITY FOR OUR TEAM. SO WE ADDRESS THAT, EARLY ON WHEN WE STARTED SENDING THE EMAIL, THEY WEREN'T HAPPY THAT THEY WERE GETTING A CALL FROM US. NOW THAT THEY REALIZED THAT WE'RE NOT HERE JUST TO POLICE, THAT'S NOT A ROLE, BUT WE DO HAVE THAT RESPONSIBILITY TO MAKE SURE THE SYSTEMS MOVING ALONG THAT WE'VE GOT TO ADDRESS IT. SAME AS THE JAIL, WHEN THE JAIL CALLS, WE GO AHEAD AND ADDRESS IT, AND THERE IS IN THE MATERIALS YOU'VE GOT THE POWERPOINT. MY TEAM ALSO PUT TOGETHER WHO WE ARE, WHAT WE DO, AND WHO TO CONTACT FOR ASSISTANCE. YOU'LL SEE THERE'S A COMPLAINT LINE, STEPHANIE LUNA ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANTS, THE ONE WHO MONITORING THAT COMPLAINT LINE EVERY DAY. THEN HE SENT OUT TO ONE OF THE LAWYERS. THIS IS JUST THE PROCESS FLOW ON THE ADMINISTRATION OF ASSIGNMENTS. ONE OF THE THINGS WITH ME BEING NEW, I NEEDED TO REALLY UNDERSTAND HOW THESE CASES MOVE THROUGH THE SYSTEM. I THINK THERE'S ALWAYS OPPORTUNITIES ONCE YOU GET THESE THINGS, FLOW-CHARTED OUT TO FIGURE OUT IDEAS WHERE YOU CAN MAKE THINGS BETTER. THIS IS THE VOLUME WE'RE GOING TO BE LOOKING AT. JUST OVER PRIOR 30,000 CASES IN TOTAL, SO 14,000 FELONIES, 18,000 MISDEMEANORS GOING THROUGH THE SYSTEM AND 1,500 JUVENILES, SO WE'LL BE ADMINISTERING ASSIGNMENTS FOR ALL OF THOSE. NOW, THOSE NUMBERS DO REPRESENT, THESE ARE CASES, NOT INDIVIDUAL SO WHETHER IT'S 1.5 OR 2, SO THE TOTAL NUMBER OF ATTORNEYS WILL BE LOWER THAN THAT. THESE ARE THE CASES. THE OTHER AREA ON VOUCHERS. AGAIN, WE SAT DOWN, AND WELL, SOME OF OUR LOCAL LAWYERS KNEW THE PROCESS OF THAT. THEY DIDN'T EVEN REALLY KNOW THE PROCESS. WHAT WE HAD TO DO IS SIT DOWN AS A TEAM. WE DID A BETA TEST ON HOW DOES THE CURRENT VOUCHER GO THROUGH? BECAUSE WE'RE WORKING WITH THE INVOICE TEAM AND WE NEEDED TO SEE WHAT'S BEING PROGRAMMED ONCE WE GET THAT RESPONSIBILITIES. OUR TEAM SAT DOWN AND WE MAP THIS OUT, AND SO WE'RE READY TO GO. ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE'RE GOING TO BE PRESENTING AT A FUTURE CORE IS ON THE INVOICE. IT WAS PROGRAMMED JUST FOR FLAT FEES. YOU'LL BE HEARING A LOT MORE OF THAT. WE'RE GOING TO BE MOVING AWAY FROM THAT ON THE MISDEMEANOR SIDE. AS A RESULT, THERE'S GOING TO BE SOME PROGRAMMING CHANGES. THE GOOD NEWS IS I'M NOT GOING TO HAVE TO COME TO YOU ALL FOR THIS PROGRAMMING FEES. WE HAVE SOME LAP SALARIES, I'VE TALKED TO THE STATE WILL BE ABLE TO UTILIZE THAT FUNDING SOURCE TO PAY FOR THAT PROGRAM. >> JIM, I HAVE A QUESTION AT THE PRETRIAL SERVICES LEVEL. THE PRETRIAL SERVICES ARE AN IMPORTANT PART OF MOVING CASES IN THE DIRECTIONS THAT THEY NEED TO GO. IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING WE HAVE ABOUT 17 POSITIONS BUDGETED, BUT FOUR ARE ACTUALLY FILLED OR HALF A DOZEN OR WHATEVER IT'S UNDER STAFFED. HOW DOES THAT IMPACT THE MOVEMENT OF CASES WITH THAT PARTICULAR GAP? >> WITH THAT M, IT IMPACTS A TREMENDOUSLY. [02:15:01] I VISITED WITH MR. PLACIDO AND DR. GREENFIELD ON THAT. I SAID, WHATEVER I NEED TO DO, YOU NEED TO GET POSITIONS FILLED OR MORE POSITIONS. IT'S CRITICAL AT THAT FRONT END BECAUSE THEY'RE THE ONES DOING THE SCREENING TO DETERMINE WHETHER OR NOT SOMEBODY IS ELIGIBLE FOR COUNCIL, THEY GET A LOT, BUT NOT ALL OF THEM. THEN IF SOMEBODY DOESN'T GET IDENTIFIED AS COUNSEL AT THAT PRE-TRIAL, THEN WHAT HAPPENS IN JUDGE SAKAI IS AWARE OF THIS, THEN THEY COME TO COURT WITHOUT AN ATTORNEY, THEN YOU'VE GOT TO FIGURE OUT. WE NEED TO HAVE THAT SCREENING DONE EFFECTIVELY. WE'RE DOING AND FREE TRIAL HAS BEEN ABSOLUTELY INCREDIBLE TO WORK WITH DR. GREENFIELD PLACIDO. THEY'RE GOING TO ALLOW US TO DO THE TRAINING TO THEIR STAFF. WE ARE INVITING JUDGE HACKER WHO WAS ACTUALLY CONTRACT. HE WAS THE JUDGE WHO THEY THEY TAPPED TO DO THE SENATE BILL 6 TRAINING. HE'S DONE A LOT OF WORK IN THIS AREA, SO HE'S GOING ALLOWING US TO USE ALL OF HIS FORUMS. HE'S GOING TO COME DOWN SOMETIME IN FEBRUARY AND HELP KICK US OFF THE TRAINING. BOTH LEVELS AT WORK HAVE UPDATED THEIR PLANS, THEY PUT A NEW SCREENING BECAUSE WE MAY EVEN BE OVER ASSIGNING AND MISDEMEANORS, UP OVER 90 PERCENT. STATE AVERAGES AT 60 PERCENT. I WANT PEOPLE THAT ARE ELIGIBLE FOR COURT APPOINTED COUNSEL TO GET IT. BUT IF THEY HAVE THE ABILITY TO PAY THOSE WHO ARE NOT THE FOLKS THEY SHOULD BE GETTING IT. WORKING ON THAT PROCESS IMPROVEMENT WE NEED TO BE PART OF THE SOLUTION TO HELP THAT. >> THE COMMISSIONERS COURT DOES, TOO, WHICH IS WHY I BRING IT AT THIS MOMENT BECAUSE I'M GETTING A LOT OF COMMUNITY COMPLAINTS ABOUT PRETRIAL SERVICES AND I'M GETTING ANECDOTAL EMPLOYEE CONCERN ABOUT OVER WORKLOAD. WE MAY NEED TO MAKE ADJUSTMENTS TO SALARIES IF WE'RE NOT ABLE TO RETAIN PEOPLE BECAUSE THERE'S A TREMENDOUS TURNOVER WITHIN THE DEPARTMENT AS I UNDERSTAND IT. I JUST WANT TO FLAG THIS FOR THE MOMENT AND WE'LL COME BACK TO THIS. I'LL LET YOU GO AHEAD AND CONTINUE. >> YES, SIR. ANOTHER AREA AND I DON'T KNOW IF CHIEF JANSEN IS LISTENING. I VISITED WITH HIM EARLY ON AND I SHARED WITH HIM AND HIS TEAM AND TONY CASTILLO, AS OVER IT THE JAIL THAT WE WANT TO BE PART OF THE SOLUTION AND REDUCING THE JAIL POPULATION. I GENUINELY BELIEVE OUR TEAM CAN PLAY A VITAL ROLE, WE HAVE TO WORK WITH OTHER SYSTEM ACTORS, THE JAIL, THE DA'S OFFICE, PRE-TRIAL. BUT HE'S GOT MY COMMITMENT THAT WE'RE GOING TO BE DOING WHAT WE CAN IN COORDINATION WITH REALLY WITH THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE TO REDUCE JAIL POPULATION. WHATEVER WE CAN DO TO WORK WITH THE COURTS TO MINIMIZE THE NUMBER OF RESETS THROUGH TRAINING OF OUR ATTORNEYS, WE'RE GOING TO DO THAT. WE'RE WORKING WITH LAWYERS AND BUNCH OF PEOPLE CAN'T GET OUT TO GO AHEAD AND ASSIST THEM WITH THE BOND PROCESS. HIGHLIGHTS OF ACTIVITIES, OUR ADMINISTRATIVE INFRASTRUCTURE IS IN PLACE. TO BE HONEST, IT WAS A LITTLE CHALLENGING, LEARNING THE ROPES. TINA AND HER TEAM HUMAN RESOURCES BUDGET, I HAD TO RELY ON SO MANY DIFFERENT, LARRY LEO, I THINK ALL OF THE DEPARTMENTS THAT HELPED CRIMINAL DISTRICT COURTS WITH ANN AND AMISHI AND MARIA AND HER TEAM PROVIDED A TON OF SUPPORT AND ASSISTANCE, SO TO DT GARCIA WITH THE COUNTY CRIMINAL COURTS. THERE'S NO WAY WE WOULD BE WHERE WE'RE AT WITHOUT THE GENUINE AND TRUE SUPPORT OF THE VARIOUS COUNTY DEPARTMENTS. DAVID, I THANK YOU. BECAUSE I THOROUGHLY HAVE ENJOYED THE OPPORTUNITIES IN MIA, WHO'S NOW OUR BUDGET ANALYSTS. WE HAD A GREAT CONVERSATION WITH HER JUST EARLIER THIS WEEK, SO WE'VE GOT OUR STAFF HIRED. THE PLAN YOU WERE TALKING ABOUT COMMISSIONER CALVERT OR MAYBE IT WAS COMMISSIONER RODRIGUEZ. THAT YOU-ALL ADOPTED ON AUGUST 23RD. WE WORKED HARD ON THAT. IT'S NOT THE BE-ALL, END-ALL, BUT I THINK IT'S PRETTY DAMN GOOD, BUT IT'S NOT GOING TO BE STATIC. WE'RE GOING TO CONSTANTLY REVIEW THAT AND HOW IT CAN BE DONE EFFECTIVELY. WE WORKED WITH BOTH LEVELS OF CORE ON THEIR INDIGENT DEFENSE PLANS, WHICH BASICALLY GIVES US THE AUTHORITY TO DO THE ADMINISTRATION OF THE ASSIGNMENTS AND THE ADMINISTRATION OF THE FELONIES. WE'VE GOT OUR INITIAL STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURES DRAFTED. WE STILL HAVE MORE WORK TO DO IN THAT AREA. THOSE ARE CHALLENGING, BUT THEY'RE CRITICAL, ESPECIALLY OUR EXTERNAL ONES, BUT THEY'RE REPLACED ON A HIGH PRIORITY. I KNOW MY TIME IS RUNNING SHORT. THE MENTAL HEALTH DIVISION. I'M SUPER PLEASED THAT THE STATE PROVIDED US 1.1 MILLION BECAUSE THIS IS THE AREA THAT WE CAN HAVE SUCH A TREMENDOUS IMPACT. THERE'S ALREADY GREAT THINGS THAT ARE GOING ON IN THIS COUNTY REGARDING THAT. [02:20:05] TO START WITH OUR TWO SPECIALTY COURTS, OF COURSE, THE HAVEN FOR HOPE. BUT THIS IS TO ASSIST OUR PANEL LAWYERS TO IDENTIFY CLIENT'S ELIGIBLE FOR THE MENTAL HEALTH COURTS ALSO ASSIST CLIENTS IN THEIR APPLICATIONS TO MAYBE GET INTO TREATMENT COURT. BUT A BIG AREA IS, NOT MANY ACTUALLY ARE GOING TO QUALIFY FOR THAT. SO WHAT DO WE DO WITH THOSE OTHERS? THIS IS WHERE WE'RE ABLE TO COME IN AND FILL THAT GAP AGAIN. IT'S NOT A REAL LARGE DEPARTMENT, BUT WE DO HAVE SOME EXTREMELY TALENTED PEOPLE IN THAT. WE HAVE TWO, WE HAVE A SOCIAL WORKER AND A CASE MANAGER. ONE OF THE BIG THINGS THAT'S ON TAP AND I ASKED MY TEAM YESTERDAY, IS TO ESTABLISH A MENTAL HEALTH WHEEL OF ATTORNEYS THAT WANT TO DO MENTAL HEALTH THAT WILL PROVIDE ADDITIONAL TRAINING. BECAUSE RIGHT NOW IT'S HIT OR MISS. WHEN THEY GET SOMEBODY AT THE PUBLIC DEFENDER'S OFFICE, THEY HAVE PEOPLE THAT ARE SPECIALIZED IN THAT AREA. RIGHT NOW WE HAVEN'T IDENTIFIED THOSE LAWYERS. THAT'S A HIGH PRIORITY FOR OUR TEAM. IT'S ALSO A REQUIREMENT OF THE GRANT. WHAT ARE OUR OBJECTIVES? AGAIN, REDUCE JAIL POPULATION, REDUCE UNNECESSARY COMPETENCY EVALUATION. IDEALLY REDUCE RECIDIVISM. RECIDIVISM THROUGH SERVICES AND NEEDS AND EARLY INTERVENTION. REALLY JUST IMPROVE THE OVERALL QUALITY OF REPRESENTATION. DO WHAT WE CAN FOR EFFICIENCY IN THE COURTS THROUGH CASE PROCESSING. I'VE GOT EXPERIENCE IN THIS AREA. I'VE SPENT A LARGE PART OF MY CAREER UNDER THE UMBRELLA OF THE OFFICE OF QUALITY ADMINISTRATION. ALTHOUGH I'M A LAWYER AND DEFENSE, I'M MORE OF A SYSTEMS GUY THAN A PURE CRIMINAL DEFENSE LAWYER. WE'RE GOING TO HAVE AT LEAST 15 INITIALLY. I'M ASSUMING WE'RE GOING TO NEED MORE THAN THE 15 LAWYERS. WE'RE COORDINATING WITH THE UNIVERSITIES, THE SCHOOL OF DATA SCIENCE, THE COLLEGE OF HEALTH AND COMMUNITY, POLICY FOR SOCIAL WORKERS. I'M A READ, WRITER, WENT TO THE SCHOOL OF LAW UP THERE. THEY HAVE AN INCREDIBLE EXTERN PROGRAM. WE'VE MET WITH THEM, WE'RE GOING TO BE GETTING EXTERN. ST. MARY'S HAS BEEN ABSOLUTELY INCREDIBLE. THEY'RE PROVIDING US OF NO CHARGE, THEY'RE GIVING COLLEGE CREDIT. YOUNG MAN JOHNNY, I FORGET JOHNNY'S LAST NAME, BUT HE JUST STARTED WITH US. I REALLY APPRECIATE THE SUPPORT. PROFESSOR STEVENS IS ON OUR ADMINISTRATIVE OVERSIGHT BOARD AND SO SHE'S PROVIDED A LOT OF SUPPORT ON THAT. ON THE HORIZON, I'M WORKING WITH TINA'S TEAM AND DAVID'S TEAM ON A BUDGET ADJUSTMENT FOR THE LAB SALARIES, IDENTIFIED NOT AN INSIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF MONEY THAT I DIDN'T WANT TO LOSE. WE'RE GOING TO REALLOCATE THAT FOR APPROPRIATE PURPOSES. MIA IS REVIEWING THAT RIGHT NOW, LONG CONVERSATION WITH HER YESTERDAY, A GOOD, PRODUCTIVE ONE. WE'RE GOING TO BE IN THE FIRST WAVE OF THE ECJIS, THANK GOODNESS, ON FEBRUARY 6. THE REASON WE'RE ABLE TO GO IN THE FIRST WAVE IS WE DON'T HAVE DATA THAT HAD TO BE TRANSFERRED. WE HAVE REALLY ENJOYED WORKING WITH THE ECJIS TEAM AND BCIT. COME EARLY MARCH WE'RE GOING TO END UP SHARE WITH DAVID. WE'RE GOING TO BE PRESENTING A MISDEMEANOR FISH STUDY AND ASK THE COURT FOR SOME ACTIONS ON IT. THIS YEAR MARKS THE 60TH ANNIVERSARY OF GIDEON VERSUS WAINWRIGHT. WE WILL GET OUR SENIOR RESEARCH DATA ANALYSTS POSTED EITHER THIS MONTH OR EARLY NEXT MONTH. LAUNCH EINVOICE AND PROCESSING IN THE SPRING. WE'VE GOT TO COORDINATE WITH THE JUVENILE COURTS, THE JUVENILE BOARD. BECAUSE THAT PLAN HASN'T BEEN UPDATED AND IT IS A GRANT REQUIREMENT VISIT WITH LAURA ANGELINA, SHE KNOWS. WE'RE GOING BE WORKING WITH HER AND HER TEAM. SHE'S BEEN HELPFUL. WE'LL DO THAT AND THEN CONTINUE OUR WORK WITH MELISSA SHANNON TO GET THE STATE TO STEP UP AND PAY MORE OF ITS RESPONSIBILITY. TWO-THIRDS OF THE STATES ACROSS THE COUNTRY FULLY FUND INDIGENT DEFENSE. OUR STATE PROVIDES LIKE 13 CENTS ON THE DOLLAR. >> CAN I ASK JUST QUICKLY, IF YOU CAN TELL US WHAT'S GIDEON AT 60? >> GIDEON AT 60. IN MARCH 18, 1963, THE HALLMARK CASE, GIDEON VERSUS WAINWRIGHT, WHICH RECOGNIZED THAT A PERSON GOING THROUGH OUR CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM CAN'T HAVE A FAIR TRIAL WITHOUT ASSISTANCE OF COUNSEL. IT'S A LANDMARK DECISION. OTHER DECISIONS LATER ADDED TO IT AND SAME WITH THE MISDEMEANOR EXCUSE. GIDEON WAS IN REFERENCE TO THE FELONY, BUT IT'S REALLY THE HALLMARK DECISION ON SIXTH AMENDMENT RIGHT TO COUNSEL. VERY GOOD QUESTION. >> ANY FURTHER QUESTIONS, COMMISSIONERS? >> JUDGE, REAL QUICK. NO QUESTIONS. [02:25:02] I JUST WANT TO THANK JIM AND YOUR TEAM FOR ALL THE WORK IN REALLY, WHICH WAS GOOD. I GUESS THE CLOSEST WE GET TO A STARTUP HERE AT THE COUNTY AND IN PARTICULAR, THE INVESTMENTS YOU'RE MAKING IN THE MENTAL HEALTH DIVISION WILL HELP US ACHIEVE, I THINK, WHAT WE ALL WANT, AND THAT IS FEWER PEOPLE LOCKED UP WHO HAVE A MENTAL HEALTH DISEASE, BUT RATHER GETTING THEM HELP TO ADDRESS THOSE ISSUES. JUDGE, I JUST WANTED TO MAKE MENTION OF THAT. THEY'RE MAKING HUGE STRIDES AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO YOUR CONTINUED WORK. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU COMMISSIONER. JONES, FIRST TIME I'VE BEEN ABLE TO MEET YOU, BUT YOUR REPUTATION PRECEDES YOU. I THINK YOU WERE IN LUBBOCK COUNTY WITH DAVID SLATE AND OVER THERE AND THEN YOU ARE IN HARRIS COUNTY WITH, WHAT'S HIS NAME? THOMPSON? >> YES. >> THERE YOU GO. WHEN PEOPLE THAT WORK IN THE COURT SYSTEMS THERE. WELCOME ABOARD. LET'S MAKE OUR SYSTEM A BETTER SYSTEM. >> THANK YOU, JUDGE. >> THANK YOU. >> MR. SMITH. >> GOOD. THERE TWO THINGS THAT I WANT THE COURT TO BE AWARE OF IN HIS UPCOMING ISSUES THAT YOU'LL HAVE TO DELIBERATE ON. NUMBER 1, WHEN THEY MOVE AWAY FROM A FLAT FEE FOR MISDEMEANORS IN PARTICULAR, THAT MEANS YOU'LL GET MORE ITEMIZED BILLS AND THE COST WILL GO UP. WE ALWAYS KNEW THAT WOULD BE THE CASE WHEN THE COURT ESTABLISHED THE OFFICE, BUT I JUST WANT TO REITERATE THAT. YOU WILL ALSO HAVE LOWER CASE LOADS IN SOME CASES FOR THE ATTORNEYS AND THAT WILL MEAN YOU WOULD HAVE TO HAVE MORE ATTORNEYS, OBVIOUSLY. THE SECOND THING IS IT WAS THE HOPE OF THE COURT THAT THROUGH IMPROVEMENTS, PARTICULARLY IN THE SPEED OF ADJUDICATION, REDUCING THE NUMBER OF RESETS, WE COULD ACHIEVE SOME COST RECOVERY OR SAVINGS, PARTICULARLY IN REGARDS TO THE JAIL. THOSE ARE TWO THINGS THAT I'VE TALKED TO JIM ABOUT AND WE'LL BE KEEPING AN EYE ON. >> THAT'S WONDERFUL. >> MR. BETHKE, MR. SMITH HAS HIT THE NAIL ON THE HEAD. YES. THE COST OF INDIGENT REPRESENTATION IS GOING TO GO UP BECAUSE WE INSIST ON QUALITY OF REPRESENTATION. BUT WHAT, AND YOU ALREADY IDENTIFIED IT, WE NEED ACCOUNTABILITY. ONE OF THE ACCOUNTABILITY IS FOR QUALITY REPRESENTATION TO REDUCE RECIDIVISM, GET PEOPLE TO WHERE THEY GOT TO GO AND GET ESPECIALLY PEOPLE WITH SIGNIFICANT MENTAL HEALTH AND GET QUALITY CARE AND KEEP THEM ON OUR SYSTEM AND KEEP THEM OUT OF OUR JAIL. CAN YOU DO THAT FOR ME, PLEASE? >> YOU'VE GOT MY COMMITMENT TO GIVE IT MY BEST ABILITY AS LONG WITH ALL OF OUR TEAM. >> THANK YOU, MR. BETHKE. I APPRECIATE IT. >> THANK YOU ALL. >> ITEM NUMBER 68, [Item 68] DISCUSSION APPROPRIATE ACTION REGARDING AN AUTHORIZATION NEGOTIATE FOR THIRD PARTY WORKERS. COMPENSATION CLAIMS ADMINISTRATION SERVICES FOR A 504 NETWORK PROGRAM ADMINISTRATOR, AND MEDICAL COST CONTAINMENT SERVICES PROVIDER TO NOVARE TEXAS LLC, CORPORATE REMEDIES AND DIRECTION TO BRING CONTRACT DOCUMENTS BACK TO COMMISSIONERS COURT FOR APPROVAL. MS. TINA SMITH DEAN? >> GOOD MORNING, JUDGE AND COMMISSIONERS. TINA SMITH DEAN WITH THE COUNTY MANAGER'S OFFICE. WE ARE REQUESTING COURT'S APPROVAL TO TAKE THE FIRST STEP IN FORMING A WORKERS COMPENSATION NETWORK. IT'S CALLED A 504 NETWORK. SPECIFICALLY, WHAT WE'RE ASKING THE COURT TO DO TODAY IS TO PROVE THE AWARD OF TWO CONTRACTS, ONE TO CORPORATE REMEDIES FOR ASSISTANCE WITH FORMING THE ACTUAL WORKERS COMPENSATION NETWORK OF DOCTORS, AND ANOTHER TO NOVARE TEXAS FOR MEDICAL COST CONTAINMENT SERVICES. WE PUT OUT AN RFP FOR THESE SERVICES, WE RECEIVED THREE RESPONSES AND A COMMITTEE MADE UP OF REPRESENTATIVES FROM THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE, THE AUDITOR'S OFFICE, HUMAN RESOURCES, RISK MANAGEMENT, AND THEN WITH SUPPORT FROM OUR HEALTH INSURANCE CONSULTANTS SELECTED THESE TWO FIRMS TO ASSIST US WITH THE ADMINISTRATION OF THE NETWORK. WE ARE PROPOSING A 504 NETWORK AND BEAR COUNTY UNDER THE CURRENT PROCESS. EMPLOYEES CAN GO TO ANY DOCTOR THAT THEY WANT THAT ACCEPTS WORKERS COMPENSATION CLAIMS AND SO WHAT WE'RE PROPOSING IS TO FORM OUR OWN NETWORK TO TIGHTEN UP THAT PROCESS, TO HELP EMPLOYEES GET ACCESS TO CARE MORE QUICKLY, AND IT'S VERY SIMILAR TO HOW WE ALL WORK WITH OUR HEALTH INSURANCE NETWORKS OF DOCTORS. THE BENEFITS OF A 504 THAT WE'RE ANTICIPATING WE WILL ENJOY ARE AN ESTIMATED DECREASE IN COSTS OF ABOUT $400,000 ANNUALLY. WE CURRENTLY SPEND ABOUT 3-4 MILLION ANNUALLY ON WORKERS COMPENSATION CLAIMS. WE ESTIMATE A DECREASE IN LOST WORK DAYS OF ABOUT 15 PERCENT, WHICH IS AN AVERAGE OF EIGHT DAYS, AND WE OWN THE NETWORK SO WE CAN MAKE SURE THAT THE DOCTORS IN THE NETWORK OR FOR MEETING CERTAIN PERFORMANCE STANDARDS AND MAKING SURE THAT OUR EMPLOYEES ARE GETTING THE BEST CARE POSSIBLE. WE ANTICIPATE IMPLEMENTATION OF THIS WILL TAKE US ABOUT EIGHT WEEKS, [02:30:02] WE'LL BRING BACK THE CONTRACTS FOR COMMISSIONER'S COURT APPROVAL. ONCE WE'RE FINISHED NEGOTIATING, WE'LL OF COURSE, DO TRAINING WITH THE OFFICERS DEPARTMENTS TO MAKE SURE THEY UNDERSTAND HOW THIS ALL WORKS. WITH THAT, WE'RE REQUESTING COURT'S APPROVAL FOR CONTRACTS FOR NETWORK ADMINISTRATION TO CORPORATE REMEDIES AND FOR MEDICAL COST CONTAINMENT TO NOVARE TEXAS AND PERMISSION FOR US TO BRING THE CONTRACT DOCUMENTS BACK TO COURT AT A LATER DATE. >> COMMISSIONER CALVERT, GO AHEAD. >> WHAT WAS AGAIN THE PROCESS THAT WE USE FOR THIS PARTICULAR GROUP? >> WE DID AN RFP, I WANT TO SAY IT WAS LAST YEAR, AND WE HAD A COMMITTEE MADE UP OF THE REPRESENTATIVES. I NOTED AND WE SCORED AND WORKED WITH THE PURCHASING DEPARTMENT TO COME UP WITH THE AWARD. >> ROUGHLY HOW MANY FOLKS RESPONDED TO THE RFP? >> WE'VE GOT THREE RESPONSES. YES, SIR. >> MR. RODRIGUEZ? >> THANK YOU, JUDGE. I DON'T HAVE ANY QUESTIONS. I KNOW TINA AND I HAD A CHANCE TO VISIT. TINA, YOU ALSO, I THINK AFTER OUR MEETING, YOU'RE GOING TO MEET WITH THE DSABC, THE DEPUTIES. >> YES. >> HOW DID THAT MEETING GO? BECAUSE I KNOW THEY'RE ONE OF THE GROUPS THAT IS PROBABLY GOING TO BE IMPACTED THE MOST. >> YEAH, THE MEETING WENT VERY WELL. THEY'RE VERY RECEPTIVE AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH THEM. >> GREAT. I MAKE A MOTION FOR APPROVAL, JUDGE. >> MOTION, BUT COMMISSIONER RODRIGUEZ. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER TO CALVARY. LET ME JUST SAY QUICK, TINA AND GET MY BRIEFING WITH YOU. I APPRECIATE THE COST SAVINGS THAT THIS PLAN WILL INCORPORATE BUT I DON'T WANT IT AT THE COST OF QUALITY OF CARE TO OUR EMPLOYEES THAT AREN'T ESPECIALLY ON WORKERS COMPENSATION CLAIMS. LET'S MAKE SURE OUR QUALITY OF PROVIDERS ARE UP TO SPEED AND WE HAVE THAT ABILITY TO HAVE THE EMPLOYEES LET US KNOW WHEN THEY'RE HAVING ISSUES WITH PROVIDERS. THERE'S SOME MOTION ON THE FLOOR, ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE. >> AYE. >> ALL THOSE OPPOSED. MOTION CARRIES. >> THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU, MR. SMITH DEAN. ITEM NUMBER 67, MR. LOZITO, [Item 69] DISCUSSION APPROPRIATE ACTION IN REGARD TO AN AGREEMENT FOR CONTRACT SERVICES BETWEEN BEAR COUNTY AND SAN ANTONIO LIFETIME RECOVERY INC. IN THE AMOUNT OF $1,950,150 TO SECURE SUBSTANCE ABUSE SERVICES FOR ADULTS PARTICIPATE IN THE ALTERNATIVES TO INCARCERATION PROGRAM, A DIVERSION PROGRAM FOR TERMS BEGINNING IN OCTOBER 1, 2022, AND SEPTEMBER 31, 2023. MR. LOZITO. >> THANK YOU, JUDGE. I APPRECIATE. JUDGE, COMMISSIONERS, THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE HERE. MIKE LOZITO, I'M THE DIRECTOR OF THE OFFICE OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE. I JUST WANTED TO SHOW IN THE BIG PICTURE, I KNOW WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE LIFETIME RECOVERY, BUT JUST ON THE DIVERSION END OF IT, WHAT IS GOING ON AND HOW THE COUNTY IS PARTICIPATING IN PROGRAMS. THAT FIRST ITEM I HAVE ON THERE, SO THESE ARE BEHAVIORAL HEALTH DIVERSION PROGRAMS NONVIOLENT ENCOUNTERS. SO FY 2022, OVER 10,800 LAW ENFORCEMENT INTERVENTIONS. THIS IS THROUGH STRACK TO A PSYCHIATRIC FACILITY INSTEAD OF A JAIL. THIS IS WHERE A POLICE OFFICER, MOST OF US, PROBABLY ABOUT 96 PERCENT OF THE LAW ENFORCEMENT IN BEAR COUNTY OR WHAT THEY CALL CIT TRAINED, WHICH IS CRISIS INTERVENTION TRAINING THAT THEY HAVE. THEY'LL GET A CALL, THEY'LL COME ON THE SCENE AND IT MAY BE A LOW-LEVEL VIOLATION BUT THE POLICE OFFICER FEELS LIKE THEY NEED TO INTERVENE AND MAYBE DO PSYCHIATRIC INTERVENTION FOR THE INDIVIDUAL. PRIOR TO THIS PROGRAM, I THINK WE STARTED PROBABLY AROUND 2016. ON THERE, THE POLICE OFFICER HAD CHOICES ON THERE. ONE WAS EITHER TAKE HIM TO THE JAIL OR TAKE THEM TO AN EMERGENCY ROOM. THE EMERGENCY ROOM STAY WOULD BE PROBABLY 3,4 HOURS, THEY'RE WAITING FOR THE INDIVIDUAL TO SEE A DOCTOR AND THEN SEE WHAT THE OUTCOME OF THAT WOULD BE IN AN EMERGENCY ROOM, OR TO THE JAIL AND THE PROCESSING FOR THAT. THEY CAME UP WITH THIS LAW ENFORCEMENT NAVIGATION SYSTEM WHERE THE POLICE OFFICER CAN ACTUALLY TAKE THEM STRAIGHT TO A PSYCHIATRIC FACILITY, SO WE HAVE A 24/7 NAVIGATION SYSTEM. IT'S SIMILAR TO THE 911 WHERE THEY'RE WORKING WITH 911 AND WITH DISPATCHERS TO HAVE A POLICE OFFICER JUST TAKE THEM DIRECTLY TO THE CLOSEST PSYCHIATRIC FACILITY. OVER 10,800 OF THOSE ARE DONE PER YEAR ON THERE AND IT HAS A COST AVOIDANCE. RIGHT NOW OUR AVERAGE LENGTH OF STAY IS AROUND 72 DAYS IN JAIL, SO YOU CAN FIGURE A COST AVOIDANCE OF ABOUT 777,600 JAIL BED DAYS ARE AVOIDED BY HAVING THIS FRONT-END SYSTEM TO BE ABLE TO TAKE SOMEBODY RATHER THAN TO THE JAIL. THEN LOOKING AT THE NUMBERS, I WENT BACK TO SEE HOW MANY ACTUALLY OUT OF THOSE [02:35:03] 10,800 WHERE THEY MAY HAVE TAKEN THEM TO A PSYCHIATRIC FACILITY AND THEN MAYBE THEY MISBEHAVE THERE. THEY WEREN'T ABLE TO CONTROL THEM, I HAVE 83 OUT OF 10,800, SO THIS REALLY APPEARS TO BE WORKING ON THAT FRONT END. THEN IN FY 22, THERE WERE 722 INDIVIDUALS THAT WERE MENTAL HEALTH 911 CALLS AND THE SMART TEAM, WHICH IS OUR SHERIFF'S OFFICE TEAM THAT WE HAVE, SO WE HAVE A TRAINED MENTAL HEALTH DEPUTY, WE HAVE A LICENSED MENTAL HEALTH COUNSELOR, AND AN EMERGENCY TECHNICIAN, MEDICAL TECHNICIAN THAT GO OUT ON THE CALL. WE DID 722 OF THOSE DURING THE YEAR AND THE OUTCOMES ON THERE WERE NO EXCESSIVE USE OF FORCE OR ARREST FOR THOSE INDIVIDUALS. ABOUT COST AVOIDANCE OF 51,984 JAIL BED DAYS WHERE THESE TEAMS WERE ABLE TO GO OUT. IN FY 2022, WE HAD 663 DIVERSIONS AT THE JUSTICE INTAKE ASSESSMENT ANNEX. WE'RE ABLE TO DO 137 EMERGENCY DETENTION. WE HAVE CLINICIANS THERE AT THE JUSTICE INTAKE FACILITY AND THEY ASSESS THE INDIVIDUAL AND DETERMINED THAT WORKING WITH THE MAGISTRATE RATHER THAN FILING CHARGES ON THEM, THAT WE COULD DO AN EMERGENCY DETENTION TO A PSYCHIATRIC FACILITY, WHICH WE'RE ABLE TO DO. GENERALLY, THE NORM BEFORE WAS JUST IF THEY HAVE SUICIDAL TENDENCIES THAT THEY WOULD PUSH THEM INTO THE JAIL SO IT'S REALLY GOOD THAT WE'RE ABLE TO DO THAT AND HAVE THOSE CLINICIANS DO THE ASSESSMENT FOR THOSE INDIVIDUALS. THERE ARE ALSO 526 MENTAL HEALTH PR BONDS FROM THE CENTER FROM HEALTH CARE SERVICES THAT JUDGE HAS SIGNED OFF ON. WE HAD A COST AVOIDANCE OF ABOUT 47,736 JAIL BED DAYS. ALSO JUST TO LET YOU KNOW, AT JUSTICE INTAKE FACILITY, ABOUT 19,000 INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE RELEASED FROM THE FACILITY RATHER THAN BOOKED INTO JAIL, RELEASED ON BOND ON HERE, SO THAT COULD BE A COMMERCIAL BOND, SURETY BOND, OR A PR BOND. >> MIKE, LET ME SUGGEST A HELPFUL LOOK FOR THE COURT, WHICH WOULD BE A NET SAVINGS BECAUSE WE ARE INVESTING IN THE PROGRAM AND THE INFRASTRUCTURE WITH LIFETIME AND OTHER PROVIDERS THAT DO DIVERSION. FOR US TO FULLY ASSESS THE FULL SAVINGS, WE NEED A NET LOOK BECAUSE WE ARE PUTTING OUT OPERATIONAL AND CAPITAL AND IT PROBABLY WILL BE INCREASING OVER TIME PERHAPS, BUT JUST TO HELP US GET A FULL UNDERSTANDING OF THAT, NET SAVINGS WOULD BE HELPFUL. THANK YOU. >> COMMISSIONER, REPLY TO THAT. IF YOU'RE CALCULATING NET MIKE, IF WE HAVE THE DATA, WE SHOULD ALSO LOOK AT REDUCTION IN RECIDIVISM AS PART OF THAT AS WELL. >> YEAH. THANK YOU, DAVID. THAT'S AT THE JUSTICE INTAKE AND REALLY I WANTED YOU TO GET THAT PICTURE AND THEN THE COUNTY FUNDED ABOUT $3.2 MILLION FOR JAIL DIVERSION, SO INDIVIDUALS IN THE JAIL, WE BASICALLY FIND PLACES FOR THEM TO GO THAT WE WOULD BE ABLE TO PROVIDE SERVICES. WE HAVE 437 INDIVIDUALS WERE PLACED IN RESIDENTIAL TREATMENT PROGRAMS FROM THE JAIL. THAT WAS A 31,464 JAIL BED DAY SAVED, ABOUT 86 JAIL BEDS PER DAY, CLOSE TO A LITTLE OVER 2.5 MILLION AT $80 PER DAY COST. A STUDY WAS ALSO COMPLETED IN NOVEMBER OF 2022 BY THE UNIVERSITY OF NORTHERN COLORADO USING RE-ENTRY GRANT FUNDS FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE. THEY FOUND INDIVIDUALS PLACED FROM THE JAIL INTO LIFETIME RECOVERY HAD A 9% RECIDIVISM RATE AS COMPARED TO A SIMILAR RELEASE GROUP THAT DID NOT RECEIVE INPATIENT SERVICES WITH A 34% RECIDIVISM RATE. DAVID, THAT SHOWS ON THAT END THAT THESE ARE SOUND INVESTMENTS. IF YOU COULD DO TREATMENT AND GET INDIVIDUALS SO THEY'RE NOT RETURNING INTO THE SYSTEM, TO ME, THAT'S ALWAYS THE BEST COMMUNITY SAFETY. AS YOU HAVE SOMEBODY THAT'S NOT INTERACTING WITH THE POLICE OR HAVING VICTIMS OUT THERE THAT YOU'RE ADDRESSING WHAT THE NEED IS. ON THE LITTLE BACKGROUND COMMISSIONERS COURT ADOPTED THE 2020, 2023 ANNUAL BUDGET, AUTHORIZING 3.2 MILLION FOR JAIL DEPOPULATION STRATEGIES, PROVIDING JAIL DIVERSION RE-ENTRY PROGRAMMING TO REDUCE THE NUMBER [02:40:02] OF INDIVIDUALS BEING INCARCERATED IN THE BEXAR COUNTY, ADULT DETENTION CENTER. PROGRAMS FUNDED, SO SAN ANTONIO LIFETIME RECOVERY INPATIENT, OUTPATIENT SERVICES IS 1.9 AND THAT'S WHAT WE'RE HERE TO ADDRESS TODAY. BUT THERE'S ALSO THE ALPHA HOME FOR WOMEN, WHICH IS 270,000, CROSSPOINT RESIDENTIAL HOUSING 390,000, ROSETTA KEYS HOUSING 115,000, AND THEN $532,000 FOR OTHER TYPES OF HOUSING PROGRAMS. IN FY22-23, OUR PLACEMENT PROJECTION IS ABOUT 600 RESIDENTIAL INTO RESIDENTIAL TREATMENT GOING UP FROM THE 400 TO ABOUT 600 AND ABOUT 700 INDIVIDUALS IN OUTPATIENT TREATMENT. LIFETIME RECOVERY, YOUR HONOR, IF YOU'RE NOT AWARE, THEY'RE ON COUNTY PROPERTY, SO THEY'RE OUT AT SOUTHTON ROAD. THEY'RE UTILIZING THE FACILITY THAT THEY'VE HAD OUT THERE, PROBABLY CLOSE TO 40 YEARS OR SO THAT USED TO BE AN OLD JUVENILE FACILITY THAT THE COUNTY HAD, WAS BUILT IN THE 1930S. THEY'VE HAD A FACILITY WHERE THEY HAD 60 BEDS FOR SUBSTANCE ABUSE THAT WAS LOCATED ON COUNTY PROPERTY. THEN LAST YEAR, ADDITIONAL 55 BEDS WERE AUTHORIZED THROUGH UPPER FUNDING TO EXPAND THE CAPACITY FOR TREATMENT THAT WAS ABOUT 4.1 MILLION OF APRIL AND MARCH OF 2023. THEN YOU APPROVED PROBABLY IN THE FALL WAS AN ADDITIONAL 60 WOMAN'S BEDS THROUGH UPPER FUNDING FOR 4 MILLION WILL BE COMPLETED IN THE SPRING OF 2024. THEN LIFETIME ALSO REMODELING THEIR OLDER FACILITY ON THERE. DURING FY-2022, THE INPATIENT TREATMENT PROGRAM SERVED 187 INDIVIDUALS FROM THE JAIL. OUTPATIENT COUNSELING FOR SPECIALTY COURTS IN JAIL DIVERSION, ABOUT 615 INDIVIDUALS IN THE COMMUNITY. THE FY-2022, 2023 TOTAL CONTRACT WAS $1,900,150. WE'RE ASKING RECOMMENDED MOTION IS APPROVAL AND EXECUTION TO AN AGREEMENT FOR THE CONTRACTED SERVICES BETWEEN BEXAR COUNTY AND SAN ANTONIO LIFETIME RECOVERY INCORPORATED FOR $1,900,150. THE FUNDS WILL BE USED TO SECURE SUBSTANCE ABUSE SERVICES FOR ADULTS PARTICIPATING IN THE ALTERNATIVES TO INCARCERATION PROGRAM, DIVERSION PROGRAM. THE TERM OF THE FUNDING FOR THIS AGREEMENT IS OCTOBER 1ST, 2022 TO SEPTEMBER 30TH, 2023, FOR THE TOTAL NOT TO EXCEED $1,900,150 FOR FY 2023. ALSO HAVE JOHN WELLS IS HERE FOR LIFETIME. >> HOLD UP, COMMISSIONER MOODY HAS A QUESTION. >> THANK YOU, JUDGE. I APPRECIATE YOU BRINGING THIS ITEM AND I JUST WANTED TO FOLLOW UP ON THE POINTS THAT COMMISSIONER CALVERT AND DAVID MADE AS WELL, SO WHEN WE'RE THINKING ABOUT THIS IN THE FUTURE, WE CAN GET TO THAT NET IMPACT. DO WE HAVE A COST PER BED PER DAY NUMBER ON ANY OF THESE OPTIONS? >> YEAH. RIGHT NOW BED DAYS ARE AROUND $80 A DAY IS WHAT IT COSTS FOR A REGULAR BED. THEN RIGHT AROUND LITTLE OVER $300 A DAY FOR A MENTAL HEALTH BED IN THE FACILITY. THE REASON THAT THAT COST IS HIGHER BECAUSE IT'S MORE MEDICAL STAFF, IT'S MORE DETENTION OFFICERS WATCHING THOSE INDIVIDUALS. >> I HEARD THOSE NUMBERS FROM THE SHERIFF BUT WITHIN THESE PROGRAMS ARE THEY SIMILAR THAN THE 80 AND 300 OR? >> YES. >> MIKE, I THOUGHT THEY WERE LESS FOR THE LIFETIME BEDS THAN THE JAIL BEDS. >> WELL, NO. LIFETIME, SO THAT'S INPATIENT TREATMENT. THAT'S RIGHT NOW ON A CONTRACT, IT'S ABOUT $125 A DAY FOR AN INDIVIDUAL TO BE IN THERE. BUT WHEN YOU LOOK AT BECAUSE THAT'S A FUNDED PROGRAM BUT NOT LIKE INSURANCE PAYMENT. BUT IF YOU GO TO LIKE LAW RIDGE OR THOSE TYPES OF FACILITIES, IF YOU'RE IN AN INPATIENT PROGRAM, THAT'S AROUND $650 A DAY FOR TREATMENT SERVICES. BY UTILIZING HAVING THESE TYPES OF PROGRAMS LIKE ALPHA HOME AND LIFETIME RECOVERY, WE'RE ABLE TO DO IT AT A LOWER COST. BUT IT IS MORE EXPENSIVE BECAUSE YOU'RE WORKING WITH THE INDIVIDUAL TO ADDRESS THEIR DEFICITS. >> RECIDIVISM MAY LITTLE IT'S COST SAVINGS [02:45:01] >> YES. FOR THAT STUDY ON THERE FROM UNIVERSITY OF NORTHERN COLORADO, IT SHOWED THAT, THAT RATE OF 9 PERCENT IF YOU'RE IN THE FACILITY GO THROUGH A TREATMENT PROGRAM VERSUS A PERSON THAT DOESN'T HAVE THAT OPPORTUNITY. >> DON, I THINK THAT'S A GREAT STUDY AND A GREAT NUMBER TO THINK ABOUT. BUT ULTIMATELY UNDERSTANDING WHAT THOSE COSTS ARE ACROSS ALL THE DIFFERENT PROGRAMS WILL BE IMPORTANT. THEN COMBINING THAT WITH THE RECIDIVISM RATE AND MAKING SURE THAT ALL THE OUTCOMES ARE WHAT WE WANT. JUST TO CONFIRM, SO THE JUDGE DECIDES WHETHER THEY SHOULD ENTER ONE OF THESE PROGRAMS? >> YES. I'VE GOT TO ANTONIO SOLACE HERE, HE'S OUR NEW POPULATION IMPACT PATROL MANAGER. HIS TEAM WORKS THE CASES AND IDENTIFIES THEM IN THE JAIL. THEN I THINK MELISSA HAD TO LEAVE BECAUSE SHE'S DOING INTERVIEWS, BUT FROM GILBERT'S TEAM, FROM THE MENTAL HEALTH DEPARTMENT, WE HAVE MELISSA LUCIO, WHO'S A LICENSED CHEMICAL DEPENDENCY COUNSELOR, AND SHE GOES IN AND SHE INTERVIEWS IN THE JAIL THAT WOULD QUALIFY. THERE'S A STEP IN THERE THAT THEY HAVE TO BE CERTIFIED TO BE ABLE TO ENTER THE PROGRAM. THEN ONCE WE GET THE BUY-IN FROM THE INMATE THAT THEY WANT TO PARTICIPATE, THEY QUALIFY. THEN WE GO TO THE JUDGE AND ASK THEM IF THEY'RE WILLING TO ALLOW US TO DO A PR BOND FOR THE INDIVIDUAL TO GO TO TREATMENT FACILITY. >> THANK YOU. THE 1.9 MILLION, THAT'S FOR OPERATIONAL FUNDS TO RUN THE PROGRAMS? >> YES. FOR LIFETIME RECOVERY FOR BOTH OUTPATIENT SERVICES AND INPATIENT SERVICES. YOU HAVE TO HAVE THE OUTPATIENT SERVICES BECAUSE ONCE SOMEBODY FINISHES THE TREATMENT, YOU WANT TO CONTINUE WORKING WITH THEM TO MAKE SURE THEY'RE NOT GOING BACK TO USE DRUGS AND THAT THEY CAN REMAIN IN THE COMMUNITY WITHOUT BEING REARRESTED. I HAVE TO SAY ONE THING, I'M SO PROUD OF THIS COUNTY FOR TAKING THAT INITIATIVE TO HAVE THESE DIVERSION FUNDS BECAUSE I GO TO MY COUNTERPARTS IN A LOT OF THE OTHER COUNTIES AND THEY DON'T PUT MONIES INTO THE PRE-TRIAL END OF IT. VERY FEW HAVE FUNDS FOR THAT. I REALLY MAN BUDGET AND DAVID FOR TRYING TO ADDRESS THAT ISSUE BECAUSE ALL THE STUDIES HAVE SAID IS IF YOU CAN INTERVENE AS EARLY AS POSSIBLE WITH THAT PERSON, YOUR OUTCOMES ARE GOING TO BE BETTER ON THERE AND YOU HAVE THAT COST AVOIDANCE OF FUTURE ARRESTS AND SO FORTH ON. >> THANK YOU. >> COMMISSIONER RODRIGUEZ. COMMISSIONER CLAYFORD? >> MIKE. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. I NOTICE THAT YOU WORK IN COLLABORATION WITH STRAC, WHAT'S THAT? SOUTHWEST TEXAS REGIONAL ADMINISTRATOR OR ADVISORY COUNCIL THAT'S ERIC [INAUDIBLE] OUT THERE. >> YES, SIR. >> I REALLY APPRECIATE BECAUSE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS COURT, HE REALLY HAS BROKEN DOWN OUR PROCESSES DOWN TO WHERE HE THEN AND DEVELOPS ALGORITHM. HE CREATES AN EFFICIENCY. I APPLAUD YOU-ALL TO CONTINUE TO WORK WITH ERIC OUT THERE AND MAKE OUR PROCESS BETTER AS PEOPLE COME IN, PEOPLE PROCESS, PEOPLE GET TO YOUR PROGRAM. SOMETIMES THAT'S WHERE THINGS BREAK DOWN AND THAT'S WHY WE GET PEOPLE LANGUISHING IN OUR BEXAR COUNTY JAIL. MIKE, YOU NEED TO STAY ON TOP OF THAT. IS THERE A MOTION? >> MOTION APPROVED, JUDGE. >> MOTION BUG, COMMISSIONER RODRIGUEZ, COMMISSIONER MARK CALVERT, ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SIGNIFY SAYING AYE. AYE. ANY OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES. THANK YOU, MR. [INAUDIBLE]. >> THANK YOU. >> ITEM NUMBER 70. [Item 70] RENEE GREEN, LAST BUT NOT LEAST, DISCUSSION, APPROPRIATE ACTION REGARDING APPROVAL OF AN ENGINEERING SERVICES AGREEMENT BETWEEN BEXAR COUNTY AND SANCHEZ SALAZAR ASSOCIATES, LLC, SMWBE IN THE AMOUNT OF $946,848 FOR THE PROFESSIONAL ENGINEERING CONTRACT FOR THE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS PROJECT. CROWNWOOD PHASE II TO PRECINCT FOR. MS. GREEN. >> THANK YOU, JUDGE. AFTERNOON, COMMISSIONERS. TODAY I'M HERE TO REQUEST YOUR APPROVAL FOR AN ENGINEERING DESIGN SERVICES CONTRACT FOR SANCHEZ SALAZAR, I WOULD LIKE TO INTRODUCE THE TWO PRINCIPLES WITH THAT COMPANY. CARLOS SANCHEZ, IS THE PRESIDENT AND FERNANDO SALAZAR IS THE VICE PRESIDENT. THEY'RE HERE TODAY IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS ON THAT. THIS IS PHASE 2. THE DARKER YELLOW STREETS ARE PHASE 2. THIS SUBDIVISION IS IN PRECINCT 4. THEY HAVE A HIGH CLAY CONTENT, SO THE STREETS ARE STARTING TO DETERIORATE, AND THIS DESIGN WILL ALLOW US TO RECONSTRUCT THE STREETS AS WELL AS BRING THE SIDEWALKS UP TO CODE. [02:50:02] YOU MIGHT NOTICE THE FAINTER YELLOW, THAT IS ACTUALLY PHASE 1. I WILL BE BRINGING THAT DESIGN CONTRACT TO YOU IN FEBRUARY WITH ANOTHER ENGINEERING FIRM, K FRIESE. HOW WE SELECTED OR HOW WE RECOMMENDED TO YOU TO UTILIZE SANCHEZ-SALAZAR, IT WAS AN EXTENSIVE RFQ PROCESS, A REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATIONS. WE SENT THAT OUT IN OCTOBER AND WE HAD 35 RESPONSES. WE RECOMMENDED EIGHT PROJECTS FOR THOSE 35 RESPONSES, AND SANCHEZ-SALAZAR WAS ONE OF THE HIGHER RANKING ONES, AND THEY WERE RECOMMENDED BASED ON THEIR QUALIFICATIONS AND THEIR PREVIOUS WORK EXPERIENCE. BACK IN APRIL OF 2022, WE CAME TO COURT WITH THE LIST OF EIGHT FIRMS AND YOU APPROVED US TO MOVE FORWARD WITH NEGOTIATION. NOW WE'RE IN THE PROCESS OF BRINGING THOSE CONTRACTS BACK TO YOU FOR APPROVAL. AS I MENTIONED BEFORE, K FRIESE IS GOING TO DO PHASE 1, AND YOU SHOULD SEE THEIR CONTRACT COME BACK TO COURT IN FEBRUARY 7TH. OVERVIEW, AS I SAID BEFORE, THIS IS THE SECOND PHASE OF STREET RECONSTRUCTION. THE LIST OF THE STREETS ARE INCLUDED. THE SIDEWALKS ARE ALSO GOING TO BE RECONSTRUCTED AND THE EXISTING UTILITIES WILL BE RELOCATED AS NECESSARY. THE BENEFITS OBVIOUSLY IS THAT PARTICULAR SUBDIVISION IS GOING TO GET BRAND NEW ROADS THAT ARE AT THE END OF THEIR LIFE CYCLE. WE'RE GOING TO IMPROVE THE DRAINAGE FACILITIES ALONG THE EXISTING STREETS, AND WE'RE GOING TO RECONSTRUCT THE SIDEWALKS TO CURRENT BEXAR COUNTY STANDARDS. MY RECOMMENDATION TODAY IS THE APPROVAL OF THE ENGINEERING SERVICES AGREEMENT BETWEEN BEXAR COUNTY, SANCHEZ-SALAZAR AND ASSOCIATES IN THE AMOUNT OF $946,848 FOR THE PROFESSIONAL ENGINEERING SERVICES CONTRACT FOR THE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROJECT, CROWNWOOD PHASE 2, AND PRECINCT 4. >> JUDGE, I'M READY TO MOVE THIS FORWARD, BUT I JUST HAD A QUESTION. >> SURE. >> IS THE REASON OF THE PHASE 1 GROUP NOT READY BECAUSE THERE'S CONTRACT NEGOTIATIONS ONGOING? I WAS JUST CURIOUS. >> THEIR CONTRACT IS READY. IT JUST MAYBE BY TWO WEEKS, SANCHEZ-SALAZAR WAS AHEAD OF THEIRS. THAT'S WHY THEIR CONTRACT IS ON TODAY FOR PHASE 2 AND K FRIESE'S CONTRACT WILL BE ON FOR PHASE 1, BUT THEY'LL GO AT THE SAME TIME. WE WILL PROBABLY STILL LET THIS SEPARATELY BECAUSE THIS PARTICULAR PROJECT, PHASE 2, IS AROUND A SIX-AND-A-HALF MILLION DOLLAR PROJECT. IF WE COMBINE IT WITH PHASE 1, THAT'S A MUCH BIGGER PROJECT, AND WHAT HAPPENS IS WE LIMIT THE NUMBER OF BIDDERS IF WE GO BECAUSE OF THE BONDING CAPACITY. YOU'RE NOT GOING TO GET THEM BOTH UNDER CONSTRUCTION AT THE SAME TIME, BUT WE'RE GOING TO GET THEM DESIGNED. WE HAD SO MANY GOOD RESPONSES TO THAT RFQ, COMMISSIONER, 35 THAT WE REALLY FELT WE NEEDED TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THAT. >> IS NOT MOVING THE PHASES MORE TO DO WITH THE FINANCE SIDE OF THE BOND PROGRAM, OR IS IT JUST BECAUSE IF WE COULD MOVE THEM BOTH AT THE SAME TIME, WE GET IT OVER FASTER? I WAS JUST CURIOUS. >> WE HAVEN'T APPROACHED THAT SUBJECT WITH THE BUDGET DEPARTMENT. THAT'S A VERY GOOD POINT. THE ONLY REASON WHY WE WERE ABLE TO MOVE UP THE DESIGN SERVICES A LITTLE QUICKER WAS BECAUSE NOT ALL THE MONEY, I BELIEVE THAT WAS PROGRAMMED FOR THE FIRST YEAR. BUT WE WENT THROUGH THE BUDGET DEPARTMENT AND SAID, IF WE ACCELERATE THIS DESIGN CONTRACT, CAN WE HANDLE THAT? BUDGET GRACIOUSLY AGREED. HE SAID YES, WE COULD DO THAT. >> WELL, LET ME JUST TELL YOU, BUDGET, THIS NEIGHBORHOOD HAS WAITED 43 YEARS TO HAVE THEIR STREETS REPAVED, SO I'M GOING TO GO AHEAD AND MOVE AND LET'S GET THIS DONE. MOVE APPROVAL OF THE RECOMMENDED MOTION. >> MOTION BY MR. CALVERT. >> SECOND. >> SECOND. >> SECOND BY MR. RODRIGUEZ. ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE. >> AYE. >> ANY OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES. >> THANK YOU, GUYS. >> GET THE JOB DONE, MS. GREEN. THANK YOU. COUPLE OF MATTERS BEFORE WE GO TO EXECUTIVE, I UNDERSTAND WE HAVE A CITIZEN BE HEARD THAT WE JUST DIDN'T CALL IT. MR. JIMMY POUTITAKUS, COME ON UP HERE. COMMISSIONERS, WITH YOUR PERMISSION, I WANT TO ASK THAT WE REOPEN CONSENT ON ITEMS 44, 45, 46, 47, ALL ITEMS BROUGHT BY CIVIL DISTRICT COURTS. OBVIOUSLY, YOU ALL KNOW WHERE I CAME FROM. IN LIGHT OF THOSE ITEMS, COULD YOU PLEASE NOTE MY ABSTENTION. FOR THE RECORD ON THE CONSENT AGENDA ITEMS 44, 45, 46, AND 47. MOVED BY COMMISSIONER CALVERT. >> SECOND. >> SECOND BY COMMISSIONER MOODY. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE. >> AYE. >> I SHOULD WITHDRAW THE AYE AND ABSTAIN AGAIN ON THAT MOTION. [02:55:01] I'M GETTING USED TO IT. THANK YOU ALL. MR. POUTITAKUS, JIMMY, WHERE ARE YOU? HE LEFT AGAIN, APPARENTLY STEPPED OUT? DID HE STEP OUT AGAIN? THEN I WILL MOVE INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION. [EXECUTIVE SESSION] THE COURT WILL NOW CONVENE INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION. EXECUTIVE SESSION ITEMS MAYBE DISCUSSED AND ACT UPON IF APPROPRIATE IN OPEN SESSION. PURSUANT TO SECTION 551.071 OF TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE, EXECUTIVE SESSION WILL BE HELD FOR CONSULTATION WITH THE COURTS ATTORNEY FOR ADVICE REGARDING THE FOLLOWING MATTERS. A MATTER IN WHICH THE DUTY OF AN ATTORNEY TO THE GOVERNMENTAL BODY UNDER THE TEXAS DISCIPLINARY RULES OF PROFESSIONAL CONDUCT OF THE STATE BEXAR OF TEXAS CLEARLY CONFLICTS WITH CHAPTER 551 OF THE GOVERNMENT CODE, SPECIFICALLY A CONTRACT FOR FOOD SERVICES IN THE BEXAR COUNTY ADULT DETENTION CENTER ENTERED INTO BETWEEN BEXAR COUNTY, AND SO RICO SERVICES INC BE PENDING OR CONTEMPLATED LITIGATION SETTLEMENT OFFER IN THE FOLLOWING MANNER, LISA FLANAGAN-ZAIONTZ VERSUS JACK FARMER. THE COURT WILL NOW GO INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION AND STAFF, PLEASE ASSIST ALL THOSE THAT NEED TO BE ASSISTED. THE COURT MET IN EXECUTIVE SESSION AND TOOK NO ACTION. COMMISSIONER CLAY-FLORES? >> I MAKE A MOTION TO ADJOURN IN MEMORY OF JOHN HAYES. IF ANY OF YOU KNEW HIM, HE WAS A DEVELOPER, DID A LOT OF GOOD DEVELOPMENT ON THE FAR SOUTH SIDE OF BEXAR COUNTY AND HE'LL BE MISSED. >> WE GET A COUPLE, JUDGE. >> COMMISSIONER RODRIGUEZ. >> THANK YOU, JUDGE. I MOVE THAT WE ADJOURN TODAY IN THE NAMES OF THE FOLLOWING: MICHAEL A. URIBE, SALVADOR DOMADES WHO'S THE FATHER OF ED DOMADES WHO USED TO WORK AT THE CITY, ROGER D. MALEY, EMMA DORA CAVAZOS, AND JOHN AGUIANO. >> COMMISSIONER MOODY. >> JUDGE, I'LL MOVE ADJOURNMENT IN HONOR AND MEMORY OF SAMUEL DEBRIL FROM PRECINCT 3. >> COMMISSIONER CALVERT. >> I MOVE TO ADJOURN IN HONOR OF THE HONORABLE BEVERLY VOLLE, FORMER UNIVERSAL CITY COUNCIL MEMBER; JOHN LYMAN, DIANE REMLING, RETIRED LIEUTENANT COLONEL RICHARD CALLAHAN, RETIRED COLONEL NANCY MUELLER, AND VIRGINIA CALDWELL, AND THE VICTIMS OF THE TWO SHOOTINGS IN CALIFORNIA. >> ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SIGNIFY, BY SAYING AYE. AYE. >> AYE. >> ANY OBJECTIONS? [NOISE] MEETING ADJOURNED. * This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.