Mar 07, 2023 Commissioners Court

>> THE POLICY DECISIONS WILL COME AT A LATER DATE.

>> COMMISSIONER CLAYTHOL.

>> I JUST HAVE TO COMMENT.

COMMISSIONER MOODY YOU TALKED ABOUT EQUAL OPPORTUNITY.

THAT'S WHY THIS STUDY IS SO IMPORTANT BECAUSE HISTORICALLY SMALL MINORITY OWNED AND WOMEN OWNED BUSINESSES HAVE NOT HAD EQUAL OPPORTUNITY AND ACCESS FOR CONTRACTS; GOVERNMENT CONTRACTS AND LOCALLY, STATE OR FEDERAL.

WE HAVE BEEN TRYING TO GET THIS DONE FOR A COUPLE OF YEARS NOW AND WE NEED TO GO AHEAD.

I'M SO HAPPY THAT IT'S ON HERE.

FINALLY, I'M HAPPY TO SUPPORT IT BECAUSE IT CONTINUES TO DELAY THE PROCESS.

SADLY, THE HISTORY OF RACISM IN OUR COUNTRY PROPELS US TO SPEND MONEY ON STUDIES LIKE THIS, SO THAT EVERYONE IN THIS COMMUNITY CAN HAVE EQUAL ACCESS AND OPPORTUNITY.

I'D LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE.

>> THERE'S A MOTION AND A SECOND.

ANY OTHER DISCUSSION? GO AHEAD.

[00:50:01]

>> WAIT, I MAKE ONE FOR THE COMMENT.

RENE, I KNOW YOU KNOW THIS.

I WAS ACTUALLY AT THE SWIMMING CONFERENCE.

I SPOKE AT THIS ONE AT THE CONFERENCE.

I WANTED TO BE VERY CLEAR THAT I SUPPORT EQUAL OPPORTUNITY FOR EVERY ONE OF OUR SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS.

I JUST DON'T AGREE WITH SOME OF THE CHANGES IN THE POLICY THAT I THINK WE'RE GOING FORWARD.

THERE HAS BEEN A MOTION AND SECOND.

>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, PLEASE SAY AYE.

WE WILL MOVE ON TO THE ITEM NUMBER 6,

>> ALL THOSE OPPOSED?

>> NO.

>> THE MOTION CARRIES.

[6. Filing for record the following legal and administrative documents and directing the Criminal District Attorney's Office to take action, if necessary:]

A FILING FOR RECORD OF THE FOLLOWING LEGAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE DOCUMENTS AND DIRECTING THE ATTORNEY'S OFFICE TO TAKE ACTION IF NECESSARY.

IS THERE A MOTION? WE DON'T NEED A MOTION ON ITEM 5, I APOLOGIZE.

IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE MINUTES FOR TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 21ST?

[7. Commissioners Court minutes for Tuesday, February 21, 2023.]

IS IT BEEN SECONDED? THERE'S A SECOND. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.

>> ALL THOSE WHO OPPOSE. MOTION CARRIES.

WE'LL MOVE ON TO COMMUNICATIONS FROM CITIZENS TO BE HEARD, ASSIGNED TO SPEAK.

[8. Communications from citizens who signed the register to speak.]

WE'LL START WITH LEONARDO WALKER IF SHE'S STILL HERE.

[APPLAUSE] LEONARDO GOOD MORNING.

THANK YOU FOR COMING.

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING US.

>> COMMISSIONERS COURT, I'M SO HAPPY TO BE HERE TODAY.

IT IS SUCH A HUMBLE HONOR AS A SMALL BUSINESS OWNER AND AS A BLACK WOMAN HERE IN SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS, IT'S BEEN SUCH A PRIVILEGE TO BE ABLE TO SERVE OUR COMMUNITY.

I WANTED TO SHOW YOU TODAY ARE SCHOLARS, WERE CALLED SCHOLARS BY THE WAY, WE ARE HERE TO CHANGE THE NARRATIVE FROM X CON, AND PHELAN.

WE PREFER SCHOLARS BECAUSE WE ARE EDUCATING AND WE ARE A LONG-TERM EDUCATORS.

I WOULD LIKE TO BRING IN A COUPLE OF PEOPLE THAT WOULD LOVE TO SPEAK.

A FEW OF OUR SCHOLARS TO SAY THANK YOU BECAUSE OF YOUR SUPPORT.

WE NOT ONLY HAVE BEEN CONTRACTED WITH YOU, BUT NOW THE CITY, WEST CARE BRIDGE, BLACK VOTERS MATTER AND IT CONTINUING OUR PARTNERSHIPS WITH OTHERS.

JUST WANTED TO SAY THANK YOU SO MUCH AND WE'LL HAVE OUR FIRST SPEAKER THAT'LL BE COMING UP RIGHT NOW, WHICH IS LORI OR SCHOLAR.

>> GOOD MORNING, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, COMMISSIONERS.

MY NAME IS LORI MILLER AND I'M A FREE TEXAS SCHOLAR.

THANKS TO THE GENEROSITY, SUPPORT, AND ENCOURAGEMENT OF MY LOCAL CIVIC LEADERS IN GOVERNMENT OF BARE COUNTIES SUCH AS YOURSELVES.

I'M 48 YEAR OLD, SINGLE MOTHER OF TWO, SOON TO BE A FIRST-TIME GRANDMOTHER THAT HAS BEEN IMPACTED PERSONALLY AND GENERATIONALLY BY THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM.

I FORMERLY LIVED A LIFE OF OPIOID ADDICTION AND SELF-IMPOSED INCARCERATION, WHICH IS NOT WHAT I'M YET WHAT I ALLOWED MY CIRCUMSTANCES TO BECOME.

I WENT FROM HAVING LETTERS BEHIND MY NAME AS A NURSE WITH A PROMISING CAREER IN THE MEDICAL FIELD TO INMATE 952112, IN TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS.

SEEING MY CHILDREN BEHIND THE GLASS.

TODAY, I STAND BESIDE YOU AND OUR COMMUNITY, A CHANGED WOMAN, THANKS TO THE GOD OF MY UNDERSTANDING AND COMMUNITY EFFORTS OF BEAUTIFUL PEER AND COMMUNITY SUPPORT IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM SET LIKE FREED TEXAS, RESTORE AND REHABILITATIVE JUSTICE, FROM WHICH I AM A HUMBLE AND GRATEFUL PRODUCT OF.

WE'RE NOT PERFECT.

WE'RE JUST FREE.

WE ARE NOT JUST NUMBERS.

I'M SORRY, WE'RE FACES.

TODAY WE BREAK THE CHAINS, NOT ONLY FOR OURSELVES, BUT FOR OUR FUTURE GENERATIONS AND FOR OUR COMMUNITY.

THANK YOU SO MUCH [APPLAUSE].

>> I WOULD LIKE TO START OFF BY SAYING, GOOD MORNING.

I CONSIDERED SHARING SOME OF MY LIFE WITH YOU TODAY, BUT BECAUSE OF MY PAST EXPERIENCES, HAS SHOWN THAT I'VE ALREADY BEEN PRE JUDGED.

I'LL INTRODUCE MYSELF. MY NAME IS CELINE BETTIS I CONTEMPLATED ON WHAT I WAS GOING TO SAY THIS MORNING, I HEARD ABOUT MILLION TIMES, BUT THE ONLY THING I CAN SAY RIGHT NOW IS THANK YOU.

DUE TO MY PAST EXPERIENCES, IT GAVE ME A REALLY DIFFICULT TIME TO JUST MAKE A LIFE FOR MYSELF AND MY CHILDREN.

I'VE MADE MISTAKES AND I'M IMPERFECT JUST LIKE YOU AND I'VE MADE MISTAKES JUST LIKE YOU HAVE IN THERE WAS NIGHTS WHERE I SPENT COUNTLESS HOURS WONDERING WHEN WAS GOING TO MAKE A CHANGE.

BUT MY GOD JEHOVAH MADE THAT CHANGE FOR ME AND OPENS DOOR AND THAT DOOR, RED FREE TEXAS.

FREE TEXAS HAS GIVEN ME SO MUCH.

I DON'T HAVE ENOUGH TIME HERE TODAY WHAT TO TELL YOU WHAT IT'S DONE FOR ME, BUT IT'S GIVING ME A PLACE TO HEAL.

IT'S GIVING ME A PLACE TO UNDERSTAND WHO I'M.

IT'S GIVEN ME A FAMILY THAT I'VE NEVER HAD BEFORE, AND I JUST WANTED TO TELL YOU THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR EVERYTHING ON YOUR TIME AND INVESTMENT TO GIVING BACK TO NOT ONLY ME, FUTURE SCHOLARS AND ALUMNI, BUT FOR MY CHILDREN AS WELL, AND I CAN'T SPEAK FOR ANYBODY ELSE HERE, BUT I WILL SPEAK BEHALF ON MY CHILDREN,

[00:55:01]

AND I WILL SAY THANK YOU SO MUCH, MS. WALKER, FOR YOUR DRIVE, DETERMINATION, FOR YOUR HARD WORK AND FOR YOUR TEARS AND PUTTING IT INTO THIS INTO THIS PROGRAM BECAUSE NOW I HAVE A NEW CHANCE AT LIFE. THANK YOU.

>> HELLO. MY NAME IS MARGARET GARCIA.

I'M FREE TEXAS SCHOLAR, I WAS BORN AND RAISED IN DALLAS, TEXAS, BUT I MOVED HERE, SAN ANTONIO ABOUT 10 YEARS AGO, I'M 33 YEARS OLD AND A FORMER INCARCERATED AND INDIVIDUAL.

WHEN I WAS YOUNGER, I ALWAYS WANTED TO DO SOMETHING TO HELP PEOPLE AS A CAREER CHOICE.

BUT THERE'S A MOVIES THAT GREW UP ON A QUICKIE MEMORIZE THE DRUG, YOUR LIFESTYLE AND SAW IT AS AN ANSWER TO MY FINANCIAL NEEDS, WHICH ONLY LEAD ME TO DESTROY LIVES INSTEAD OF HELPING PEOPLE AND ULTIMATELY MY INCARCERATION.

I WAS FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO HAVE MY FAMILY SUPPORT DURING INCARCERATION, BUT MY EYES WERE TRULY OPENED BY THINGS I SAW GO THROUGH DURING THEIR INCARCERATION.

ESPECIALLY HOW EASY IT WAS TO BE LOCKED UP AND TOTALLY FORGOTTEN, BUT EVEN HARDER TO FIND THE RESOURCES TO BE REHABILITATED IN A WAY THAT REALLY MATTERED OR THAT PEOPLE LIKE MYSELF TRULY WANTED.

I MADE THE DECISION TO BE PART OF THE SOLUTION, BUT PUTTING MYSELF ON THE FRONT LINES OF CHANGE AND BEING A POSITIVE ROLE MODEL TO THOSE DIRECTLY IMPACTED JUST LIKE ME.

DESPITE MOST PEOPLE'S IMMEDIATE REACTION TO MY APPEARANCE, I WANT YOU TO SHOW EVERYONE THAT WE ARE NOT GOING TO BE BOUND IN CHAINS, FORGOTTEN AS CRIMINALS OR STIGMATIZES EXPERIMENT IS NOT WORTHY OF LOVE OR ACCEPTANCE FROM OUR SOCIETY.

WITH OPPORTUNITIES LIKE FREE TEXAS, WE CAN AND WILL BECOME PRODUCTIVE MEMBERS OF SOCIETY.

I WOULD LIKE TO THANK COMMISSIONER TOM MCCAFFREY JUNIOR, COMMISSIONER, REBECCA CLAY-FLORES, AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, FREE TEXAS FOR ALLOWING ME THIS OPPORTUNITY TO SHOW THAT OUR PAST IS NOT LITERALLY WHAT MISTAKES, BUT LESSONS LEARNED BECAUSE THERE'S ONLY A MISTAKE IF YOU DID NOT LEARN AND GROW FROM IT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH [APPLAUSE].

>> JUST WANTED TO TAKE THEIR TIME.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY.

IT IS OUR CIVICS DAY AT FREE TEXAS.

WE THOUGHT WE WOULD COME IN SHARE OUR CIVICS WITH YOU.

THANK YOU SO MUCH HAVE A NICE TIME.

>> LAURA COME HERE.

>> COMMISSIONER.

>> PLEASE GO AHEAD, COMMISSIONER. GO AHEAD.

>> I JUST WANT TO APPLAUD MS. WALKER FOR THE WORK THAT SHE'S DOING AND YOU DON'T JUST TALK HIM, PREACH ABOUT STUFF, BUT YOU ARE DOING WHAT YOU SAY YOU'RE GOING TO DO AND CONGRATULATIONS TO THOSE OF YOU WHO CAME TO SPEAK.

YOU SPEAK MUCH BETTER PUBLICLY THAN A LOT OF PEOPLE I KNOW.

KEEP IT UP. CONGRATULATIONS AND I TOOK A PICTURE OF YOUR GROUP AND SET IT TO MARK AS A WHOLE, SEND IT TO YOU LATER.

>> THANK YOU COMMISSIONER. COMMISSIONERS, I JUST WANT TO SAY THERE'S SOMETHING VERY SPECIAL HAPPENING AT FREE TEXAS.

THIS IS REALLY A WONDERFUL OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO HEAR FROM PEOPLE WHOSE LIVES ARE CHANGING AND GETTING BETTER, AND I WANT TO THANK ALL OF THE BRAVE FOLKS WHO CAME TO THIS PLACE AND SPOKE YOUR TRUTH, AND WE ARE ENRICHED BY YOUR PROGRESS AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO MANY GREAT THINGS HAPPENING FOR YOU AND YOUR FUTURE, AND THANK YOU LEONORA, FOR YOUR VISION AND YOUR HEART AND THE WAY YOU DO IT, YOU'VE CLEARLY INSPIRED A LOT OF FOLKS TO FOLLOW YOU.

YOU'VE COME A LONG WAY SINCE THE DAYS WE WERE TALKING ABOUT YOUR BUSINESS PLAN IN MY OFFICE.

BUT I DON'T GET TO READ MANY NON-PROFITS FULL BUSINESS PLAN, BUT I'M SO HAPPY THAT I READ YOURS BECAUSE WHEN I READ IT, IT WAS SO UNIQUE AND I THOUGHT SO NEEDED, AND SO THIS COURT STARTED YOUR ORGANIZATION WITH $50,000.

YOU HAD SOME SCHOLARS COME BACK AND TALK TO US ABOUT BECOMING ELECTRICIANS AND DIFFERENT PROFESSIONS AND THEIR LIVES CHANGED.

YOU'VE DONE IT AGAIN.

YOU'RE GROWING, YOUR CLASSES ARE GETTING BIGGER, AND OBVIOUSLY THIS COMMUNITY LOOKS FORWARD TO SUPPORTING YOU.

YOU'RE AN ALL-STAR AS ARE ALL OF YOUR SCHOLARS, AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO THE SCHOLARS TEACHING THE NEXT-GENERATION HOW TO MAKE IT.

THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR INSPIRATION. I APPRECIATE YOU.

>> THANK YOU AND IF WE CAN GET A PICTURE TOGETHER WITH YOU ALL.

>> TODAY, LET'S DO A PICTURE. WILL YOU JUST STAY UP HERE, YOU'LL COME UP HERE.

WE'LL CONTINUE AS CITIZENS TO BE HEARD, JUDGE GONZALEZ.

>> BEFORE I BEGIN MY STATEMENT [NOISE] I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT I GET TO MAKE

[01:00:05]

THE FULL STATEMENT AND BE AFFORDED THE SAME AMOUNT OF TIME AS THE PRIOR CITIZENS TO BE HEARD.

THANK YOU.

I COME TO YOU AGAIN AS AN ELECTED OFFICIAL, A MEMBER OF THE JUDICIARY, A CONSTITUENT AND PRECINCT 2, AND A RESIDENT OF BEXAR COUNTY.

WE'RE BACK HERE AGAIN ON THE STATUS OF MY $150,000 REQUEST AND ASK TO FUND ADDITIONAL STAFF.

IN SEPTEMBER, THIS COMMISSIONERS COURT ASKED ME TO PROVIDE A PERFORMANCE REPORT AND THAT THE FUNDING WOULD BE CONTINGENT UPON THAT REPORT.

I PROVIDED IT WITHIN THREE WEEKS, AND TO THIS DAY I'VE HEARD NO RESPONSE ON THAT REPORT FROM ANYONE.

IN NOVEMBER, I WAS TOLD TO WAIT UNTIL JANUARY TO PURSUE THE FUNDING.

IN JANUARY PROMISES WERE MADE, INCLUDING WE WILL TOGETHER INNOVATE AND MODERNIZE COUNTY SERVICES.

COMMISSIONERS COURT WILL LISTEN MORE.

COMMISSIONERS COURT WILL FIX PROBLEMS. COMMISSIONERS COURT WILL SEEK COMMON GROUND, AND COMMISSIONERS COURT WILL SEEK, WILL WORK TO MAKE OUR COMMUNITY A BETTER PLACE TO LIVE, WORK AND PLAY.

IN REGARDS TO REFLECTIVE COURT AND THIS JUDGE THESE PROMISES HAVE YET TO BE KEPT.

I'VE BEEN TOLD SINCE THE LAST TIME I WAS UP HERE THAT OUR COURTS STATS ARE QUESTIONABLE.

BUT NO ONE ON THIS COMMISSIONER'S COURT OR WITH THE COUNTY HAS COME TO ME EITHER IN WRITING OR IN PERSON TO EXPLAIN ANY STATISTICS.

I'VE BEEN TOLD THAT THE POSITION WAS FUNDED, BUT THAT POSTING THE POSITION NEEDED THE PERMISSION OF COMMISSIONER'S COURT.

JUST LAST WEEK, I WAS TOLD THAT THE FEDERAL COURTS RFPS WERE LIKE LOW PRIORITY BECAUSE WE WERE COMPETING WITH OTHER SPECIALTY COURTS WHO ACTUALLY GET FUNDED IN THE HUNDREDS AND MILLIONS OF DOLLARS.

I'VE BEEN TOLD THIS ITEM WOULD BE PLACED ON THE AGENDA FOR COMMISSIONERS COURT. IT HAS NOT.

FROM THIS SPECTRUM, FROM MY VANTAGE POINT, IT REALLY LOOKS LIKE THERE'S A CONCERTED EFFORT TO SET US UP TO FAIL.

LET ME SAY THIS TO YOU NOW, IF YOU HAVEN'T NOTICED I'M HERE FOR THE LONG HAUL.

I'M NOT GOING AWAY AND I WILL BE BACK AT EVERY OPPORTUNITY TO REMIND THIS COMMISSIONER'S COURT OF THEIR OBLIGATION TO ANOTHER POPULATION THAT IS AT RISK AND IF WE DON'T HEAL THEIR TRAUMA AND IF WE DON'T CORRECT THEIR BEHAVIOR ARE ISSUES WITH DOMESTIC VIOLENCE IN THIS COMMUNITY WILL CONTINUE TO GROW.

I SAY THIS TO EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU.

AS LONG AS I I'M HERE, I WILL DO WHATEVER NECESSARY TO MAKE SURE THAT REFLECT COURT SUCCEEDS.

[APPLAUSE]

>> THANK YOU, JUDGE. DOUG HOPLEY. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

>> COMMISSIONERS, MY NAME IS DOUG HOPLEY.

I'M ADDRESSING THE COMMISSIONER'S COURT AS A CONCERNED CITIZEN.

I I'M CONCERNED ABOUT BEXAR COUNTY ELECTIONS.

MANY CITIZENS HAVE OR ARE LOSING CONFIDENCE IN OUR ELECTIONS.

THESE PEOPLE FALL INTO BASICALLY, I WOULD SAY THREE CATEGORIES.

THERE ARE THOSE THAT BELIEVE ELECTIONS ARE ACCURATE AND FULLY REFLECT THE VIEWS OF THE COMMUNITY.

THERE ARE THOSE PEOPLE THAT BELIEVE ELECTIONS HAVE ISSUES, BUT THE RESULTS REFLECT THE VIEWS OF THE VOTERS.

THEN LASTLY, THERE ARE THOSE THAT BELIEVE ELECTIONS THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY HAVE SERIOUS ISSUES AND DO NOT REFLECT THE VIEWS OF THE VOTERS.

AS A CONCERNED CITIZEN, I'M ATTEMPTING TO PROVIDE A POSITIVE INFORMATION THAT BEXAR COUNTY ELECTIONS ARE IN FACT REFLECT THE WILL OF THE PEOPLE.

BUT TO DO THIS, I NEED TO HAVE CASH VOTE RECORDS BY DATE AND TIME FORMAT.

I REQUESTED CASH VOTE RECORDS AND DATE TIME FORMAT, AND I RECEIVED A LINK TO A FILE THAT GAVE ME THE SUMMARY RESULTS BY PRECINCT WHICH IS NOT WHAT I ASKED FOR.

[01:05:04]

I REPLIED CASH VOTE RECORDS BY DATE THAT I ASKED FOR THEM BY DATE AND TIME.

ALSO THAT IF THERE WERE, SAY, 300,000 VOTERS, I WOULD EXPECT TO SEE 300,000 CASH VOTE RECORDS NOT A SUMMARY BY PRECINCT.

THEREFORE, I SUBMITTED ANOTHER FOIA REQUEST, FORECASTS VOTE RECORDS IN DATE TIME FORMAT.

ON TUESDAY, FEBRUARY THE 28TH, I CHECKED MY OPEN FOIA REQUEST AND SAW THAT IT HAD BEEN CLOSED.

THE NEXT DAY, I DID RECEIVE A LINK TO THE CASH BOAT RECORDS ON THE COMMISSIONERS BEXAR COUNTY ELECTIONS WEBSITE.

HOWEVER, I CONSIDERED THEM USELESS FOR THE FOLLOWING REASONS.

NUMBER 1, THE FILE THAT WAS NOT IN DATE AND TIME SEQUENCE.

THEY HAD ASSIGNED SEQUENCE NUMBERS.

>> COMMISSIONER THE TIME IS EXPIRED.

I'LL GIVE YOU ANOTHER MINUTE TO WRAP UP.

>> BASICALLY I'M ASKING THE COMMISSIONER'S COURT TO INSTRUCT BEXAR COUNTY ELECTIONS DEPARTMENT TO PROVIDE ME WITH A NOVEMBER 8TH GENERAL ELECTION CASH VOTE RECORDS IN DATE AND TIME FORMAT AND IN NO OTHER FORMAT. THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU FOR COMING. THANK YOU SO MUCH.

NICOLETTE ARDIENTE, BEXAR COUNTY YOUNG DEMOCRATS.

[APPLAUSE]

>> GOOD MORNING, COMMISSIONERS COURT. THAT WAS EXTRA LOUD FOR Y'ALL.

GOOD MORNING. I'M NICOLETTE ARDIENTE.

MY PRONOUNS ARE SHE HER, I RESIDE IN COMMISSIONER PRESSING 3.

I'M REALLY HAPPY TO BE IN FRONT OF YOU ALL AGAIN TODAY.

I WAS HERE ABOUT TWO AND A HALF WEEKS AT OUR LAST MEETING.

AS WALKING INTO THE COURT, I [LAUGHTER] WAS JOKINGLY TOLD NICOLETTE, WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE? ARE YOU GETTING INTO TROUBLE? OF COURSE, ALWAYS GOOD TROUBLE, ALWAYS NECESSARY TROUBLE.

I'M FOLLOWED HERE WITH A LOT OF OTHER YOUNG COLLEGE ADJACENT, OTHER YOUNG PEOPLE, OTHER YOUNG VOTERS THAT ARE CONCERNED ABOUT OUR UPCOMING ELECTION DAY VOTING SITES IN OUR EARLY VOTING ELECTION SITES.

I ALSO WANT TO POINT YOUR ATTENTION AGAIN.

WELL, THE LAST TIME THAT I WAS HERE, THERE WAS LEGISLATION THAT WAS FILED BEFORE THE STATE LEGISLATURE BY REPRESENTATIVE CARRIE ISAAC OUT OF WIMBERLEY IT'S CALLED HB 2390, AND IN THAT REPRESENTATIVE ISAAC IS TRYING TO REMOVE ALL COLLEGE CAMPUSES AND UNIVERSITIES FROM HAVING ELECTION DAY VOTING SITES AND EARLY VOTING SITES, CITING THAT IT IS FOR SAFETY REASONS.

WE KNOW IN TEXAS WE HAVE ONE OF THE LONGEST EARLY VOTING SITES AND EIGHT ELECTION DAY SITES AT COLLEGE CAMPUSES AND UNIVERSITIES.

WHAT I IMPLORE YOU AND WHAT I ASK AND YOU'LL HEAR FROM TESTIMONY OF OTHER YOUNG FOLKS WE'VE RECRUITED TO TALK IN FRONT OF YOU ALL TODAY TO EXPLAIN THEIR CONCERNS, WHY THIS MATTERS TO THEM AS YOUNG VOTERS, AS MAYBE FIRST-TIME VOTERS, AS SOMEBODY WHO MAY BE THE FIRST TIME VOTED IN THEIR ENTIRE FAMILY.

WHY THIS MATTERS TO THEM.

I AGAIN SAY THAT I'M AN ELECTION JUDGE AND I'M TAKING MY NUMBER ONE PRIORITY TO HIRE AN ELECTION CLERK SOMEONE WHO'S YOUNG, WHO'S NEVER DONE THIS BEFORE AND MAYBE A VOTED ONLY ONCE, AND I IMPLORE ALL OF OUR ELECTION JUDGES AND OUR ELECTION ADMINISTRATION TO KNOW THAT WE NEED TO CONTINUE HIRING AND TRAINING OTHER YOUNG FOLKS TO BE INVOLVED IN OUR DEMOCRATIC PROCESS, AND TO UNDERSTAND THAT THE FUTURE IS WITHIN OUR HANDS AND WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE PART OF IT.

I HOPE THAT ALL OF Y'ALL IN COMMISSIONERS COURT REALLY TAKE THE TIME SERIOUSLY TO TALK ABOUT WHETHER WE CAN ADD MORE POLLING PLACES ON OUR COLLEGE CAMPUSES, AND YOU'LL HEAR FROM WHERE FOLKS TODAY. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.

>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

RICARDO ROQUEJO JUNIOR. THANK YOU FOR COMING.

>> HELLO EVERYONE. I'M RICARDO ARCHEJO AND I'M A RESIDENT OF PRECINCT 2 I'M HERE JUST LIKE NICOLETTE AND WE'RE HERE TO REPRESENT A LOT OF YOUNG VOTERS.

WE ARE FACING A LOT OF ATTACKS RIGHT NOW.

PEOPLE ARE TRYING TO TAKE AWAY LIKE SHE SAID VOTING ON COLLEGE CAMPUSES, BUT THE THING IS COLLEGE CAMPUSES ARE HUBS FOR OUR COMMUNITIES.

[01:10:02]

NOT ONLY DO YOUNG VOTERS AND COLLEGE STUDENTS VOTE, BUT NEIGHBORS AROUND THE AREA OF GO THERE BECAUSE IT'S THE CLOSEST PLACE; PLACES LIKE PALO ALTO COLLEGE, OUR COMMUNITY HUBS WHERE PEOPLE CAN GO AND VOTE AND THEY'RE NEARBY.

ONE THING IS AS YOUNG VOTERS WE'VE SEEN A TREND THAT MORE YOUNG VOTERS ARE COMING OUT TO VOTE, BUT LINES ARE GETTING LONG.

DURING THE MIDTERM THERE WAS A THREE-HOUR WAIT AT UTSA.

WE BE NEED TO BE ABLE TO MAKE SURE THAT NOT ONLY ARE COLLEGE STUDENTS ABLE TO VOTE, BUT THE RESIDENTS WHO CHOOSE TO VOTE ON ELECTION DAY.

WE CAN'T SAY EVERY PERSON HAS A DIFFERENT LIFE STORY, THINGS HAPPEN AND SOMETIMES THEY DON'T HAVE THE TIME TO WAIT THREE HOUR VOTE.

LIFE CAN GET IN THE WAY, BUT THEY DESERVE THE RIGHT TO VOTE.

THE 15TH AMENDMENT IS SOMETHING THAT EVERYONE POSSESSES AND WE SHOULD MAKE SURE THAT WE ACCOMMODATE A PERSON TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY CAN TAKE TIME TO GO AND VOTE WHETHER IT'S EARLY VOTE OR ELECTION DAY VOTE.

THE THING IS WE SEE A LOT OF PLACES ARE GOING AGAINST YOUNG VOTERS AND THEY SEE US AND THEY THINK THAT WE AREN'T TURNING OUT TO VOTE, BUT THAT'S NOT THE CASE.

SINCE 2014 WE HAVE SEEN AN INCREASE, EVERY YEAR YOUNG VOTERS COMING OUT TO VOTE.

WE ARE TIRED, WE ARE FRUSTRATED, AND WE WANT TO TAKE CONTROL OF THE FUTURE THAT WE BELIEVE IN.

WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE ACTIVE AND WE CAN SAY THAT IN THESE INTERESTS WE BELIEVE AND THESE CAUSES AND WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR VOICES ARE HEARD.

EACH YEAR WE ARE TRYING OUR BEST TO MAKE SURE THAT WE CAN GET MORE VOTERS OUT THERE.

YOUNG VOTERS ARE ACTIVE AND WE'RE HERE AND WE'RE TRYING OUR BEST TO MAKE SURE THAT WE CAN GET ACCESSIBILITY NOT ONLY FOR US BUT FOR EVERYBODY, BECAUSE WE BELIEVE THAT THE 15TH AMENDMENT IS SOMETHING THAT WE SHOULD NOT CONTINUE TO ADD ADDITIONAL BARRIERS.

AS A COUNTY WE HAVE MANY CONSTRAINTS, BUT WE CAN GET CREATIVE AND DO OUR BEST TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR RESIDENTS CAN GET THE ACCESS TO VOTE AND THEN WE AREN'T PUTTING ANY BARRIERS FOR THEM. THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. [APPLAUSE] COLE BALLS, I THINK I SAID THAT RIGHT.

>> GOOD MORNING. MY NAME IS COLE BALLS, A RESIDENT OF COUNTY COMMISSION PRECINCT 1.

I'M A STUDENT AT BRENNAN HIGH SCHOOL, I'M KNOWN AS THE PRESIDENT OF VOTERS OF TOMORROW; A GEN-Z ACTIVATING ORGANIZATION GIVING YOU THE RESOURCES NECESSARY TO ENGAGE THEM IN THE DEMOCRATIC PROCESS.

I WANT TO THANK YOU ALL FOR GIVING THE TIME TO SPEAK BEFORE YOU TODAY ON THE AVAILABILITY OF EARLY VOTING AND ELECTION DAY POINT LOCATIONS ON COLLEGE CAMPUSES.

RECENTLY LEGISLATION BY REPRESENTATIVE KERRY ISAAC, 2390 WAS PROPOSED WHICH WOULD BAN ALL COLLEGES FROM HAVING POLLING LOCATIONS ON SITE.

FIRST OFF, THIS IS AN ATTACK ON THE MOST BASIC FOUNDATION OF OUR DEMOCRACY WHICH IS OUR VOTING ABILITY.

HERE IN BEXAR COUNTY IN THE RECENT 2022 MIDTERMS, WE HAD MORE THAN 1.2 MILLION REGISTERED VOTERS, BUT ONLY 43% OF THAT MASSIVE NUMBER PARTICIPATE IN THEIR CIVIC DUTY.

LOOK AT THE RACE FOR HOUSE DISTRICT 118 FOR EXAMPLE.

IF JUST 1% MORE OF REGISTERED VOTERS TURN OUT THAT COULD HAVE POTENTIALLY HAD AN IMPACT ON THE OUTCOME OF THAT INCREDIBLY CLOSE RACE.

IF WE CAN ALL AGREE HERE TODAY THAT THE TURNOUT NUMBER NEEDS TO INCREASE DRASTICALLY, THEN WE NEED A LOT MORE ACCESSIBLE POLLING LOCATIONS HINT ON COLLEGE CAMPUSES.

ALLOW US YOUNG PEOPLE TO HAVE A SAY IN OUR FUTURES, OUR INTERESTS, WELL-BEING AND HONESTLY JUST ALLOW US TO PARTICIPATE IN OUR GOD-GIVEN RIGHT TO VOTE.

WE ARE IN A STATE WHERE WE PUSH THIS AGENDA OF FREEDOM TO THE REPRESENTATIVE AND THOSE WHO STAND FOR THIS AND COMPETENT VOTER SUPPRESSION BILL TO PASS, HOW ABOUT YOU GIVE ME MY FREEDOM AND ALLOW ME TO EXERCISE MY RIGHT AT A POLLING LOCATION IN MY FUTURE COLLEGE CAMPUS? I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO ENSURE YOU THAT JUST LIKE MANY ORGANIZATIONS, VOTERS OF TOMORROW IS READY TO FIGHT THIS BILL.

THAT IS WHY I'M HERE SKIPPING HIGH SCHOOL TO SPEAK ON BEHALF OF YOUNG VOTERS AND THEIR RIGHTS. THANK YOU.

>> [APPLAUSE] THANK YOU. I USED TO COME TO COMMISSIONERS COURT WHEN I WAS IN HIGH SCHOOL TOO SO THAT MAYBE YOU MIGHT BE UP HERE SOON.

[APPLAUSE] VALERIE RIFERT.

>> THANK YOU AND GOOD MORNING.

I'M VALERIE RIFERT.

I'M A RESIDENT OF SAN ANTONIO PRECINCT 4.

I'M BORN AND RAISED IN SAN ANTONIO, I WAS BORN AT BMC HOSPITAL AND A GRADUATE OF ANY ISD SCHOOL.

I'M ALSO A CO-FOUNDER AND EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR AT RADICAL REGISTRARS.

WE ARE A NONPARTISAN, NON-PROFIT, GRASSROOTS ORGANIZATION AND WE DO VOTER REGISTRATION AND CIVIC EDUCATION.

WE DO CIVICS CLASSES AT THE JAIL AND THEY ARE TWICE A MONTH DOING A CLASS WHERE I GIVE A FREE TEXAS FLYER OUT TO ALL OF MY STUDENTS AT THE END OF EACH CLASS.

I'M REALLY GLAD THAT THEY WERE HERE AND GOT TO REPORT THE AMAZING THINGS THAT THEY'VE BEEN DOING.

WHY I'M HERE IS OF COURSE ABOUT POLLING LOCATIONS ON CAMPUSES AND VOTING.

[01:15:02]

SAN ANTONIANS ACROSS RACE DISTRICTS AND BACKGROUNDS DESERVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO VOTE.

AT MANY TEXAS COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES, STUDENTS HAVE DIFFICULTY VOTING ON-CAMPUS OR THEY ARE FORCED TO GO OFF CAMPUS TO FIND A POLLING LOCATION TO CAST THEIR BALLOT.

THE COUNTY ELECTIONS DEPARTMENT HAS FAILED TO PRIORITIZE THE VOTING EXPERIENCE FOR UNIVERSITY STUDENTS.

I WAS AT UTSA ON MIDTERM ELECTION DAY 2022, AND THE MISSION BEGAN AS GETTING AS MANY STUDENTS TO GO GET IN LINE AS POSSIBLE AND THEN THE MISSION QUICKLY TURNED INTO GETTING THESE PEOPLE TO STAY IN LINES BECAUSE THE LINES WERE HOURS AND HOURS LONG.

THESE STUDENTS WERE WAITING UPWARDS OF FOUR HOURS TO GO AND VOTE EVEN CASTING THEIR BALLOTS AT 11:00 PM.

THAT IS DEFINITELY VOTER SUPPRESSION.

THAT IS NOT AN EXPERIENCED THAT ANYBODY SHOULD BE HAVING VOTING.

I FEEL LIKE IF THE COLLEGE STUDENTS OR IF THEIR EXPERIENCE WAS PRIORITIZED ESPECIALLY AT UTSA, THAT EMPTY CONVOCATION CENTER COULD HAVE BEEN USED AS A POLLING LOCATION INSTEAD OF THE SMALLER STUDENT UNION THAT WAS USED.

I WENT TO THE LOCAL SAM'S CLUB TWICE TO GET SNACKS, TO GET DRINKS FOR PEOPLE TO KEEP THEM IN LINE SO THEY WOULD STAY IN LINE AND VOTE AS IT WAS GETTING TO BE 6:30.

THAT'S FINALLY WHEN SOMEBODY ACTUALLY SAID THAT PEOPLE COULD GO TO OTHER LOCATIONS, BUT PEOPLE WERE PANICKED, THAT THEY WOULDN'T MAKE IT IN TIME TO BE ABLE TO GO AND VOTE.

IT WAS AN ABSOLUTE MESS AND IT SHOULDN'T BE.

IF THEIR EXPERIENCE WAS PRIORITIZED, IF THE COLLEGE EXPERIENCE WAS PRIORITIZED, THIS WOULDN'T HAVE BEEN AN ISSUE AT ALL.

COLLEGE CAMPUSES AND POLLING LOCATIONS DURING EARLY VOTING ON ELECTION DAY, SO STUDENTS OF EVERY AGE AND SOCIOECONOMIC STATUS CAN GO HAVE EASY ACCESS TO THE POLLS.

I ASK YOU TO SUPPORT AND MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS, SEE YOUR ELECTIONS ADMINISTRATOR TO INCREASE POLLING LOCATIONS ACROSS THE COUNTY ON ALL COLLEGE AND UNIVERSITY CAMPUSES. THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE] GOOD FEEDBACK.

JAMES OBERWORTMAN.

>> HELLO. MY NAME IS JAMES OVERWORTMAN AND I'M A FRESHMAN AT TRINITY UNIVERSITY WHERE I LIVE ON CAMPUS.

I'M HERE TO SPEAK IN FAVOR OF RE-ESTABLISHING ALAMO STADIUM ON STADIUM DRIVE AS AN EARLY-VOTING LOCATION.

SINCE I TURNED 18 LAST YEAR, MY FIRST CHANCE TO EXERCISE MY RIGHT TO VOTE WAS IN THE 2022 MIDTERM ELECTIONS, AND I REGISTERED IN BEXAR COUNTY SO THAT I COULD VOTE IN PERSON.

BECAUSE I DO NOT OWN A CAR, I AM UNABLE TO DRIVE TO POLLING LOCATIONS.

I'M ALSO VERY BUSY DURING THE WEEK SO I CANNOT GO TO ALAMO STADIUM ON GENERAL ELECTION DAY TO VOTE.

FORTUNATELY, TRINITY OFFERED TO BUS STUDENTS TO THE LINES FIELD POLLING LOCATION FOR ONE DAY OF EARLY VOTING, AND SINCE ALAMO STADIUM IS NOT AN EARLY VOTING LOCATION, THIS WAS MY ONLY CHANCE TO VOTE.

I WAS THE LAST PERSON ON THE LAST VAN HEADING TO THE POLLS AND WAS ABLE TO CAST MY BALLOT.

HOWEVER, HAD I MISSED THAT VAN I WOULD HAVE BEEN DEPRIVED OF MY RIGHT TO VOTE SIMPLY DUE TO THE CIRCUMSTANCE BECAUSE THERE WAS NOT AN EARLY VOTING LOCATION WITHIN A WALKING DISTANCE OF THE TRINITY CAMPUS.

MAKING ALAMO STADIUM AN EARLY VOTING LOCATION WOULD MAKE IT EASIER FOR STUDENTS SUCH AS MYSELF WHO DON'T HAVE A CAR AND DON'T HAVE MUCH FREE TIME DURING THE WEEK TO VOTE.

THERE ARE MANY STUDENT GROUPS ON CAMPUS THAT ENCOURAGE THEIR MEMBERS TO VOTE, SUCH AS TU PROGRESSIVES, YOUNG CONSERVATIVES OF TEXAS, AND EVEN TRINITY'S THEATER CLUB.

THE DESIRE TO ACTIVELY PARTICIPATE IN ELECTIONS IS PRESENT AT TRINITY.

REOPENING ALAMO STADIUM AS AN EARLY VOTING LOCATION WOULD AFFORD MORE STUDENTS THE OPPORTUNITY TO EXERCISE THEIR RIGHT TO VOTE. THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE] COLIN HOUSTON.

MY HEART'S OVERJOYED WITH ALL THESE YOUNG FOLKS COMING, THIS IS GOOD.

>> HELLO. MY NAME IS COLIN HOUSTON AND I'M A SOPHOMORE AT TRINITY UNIVERSITY AND LIKE THE OTHER STUDENTS HERE TODAY, TRINITY AND OTHERWISE, I'M HERE TO SPEAK ABOUT THE NECESSITY OF EARLY VOTING LOCATIONS ON OR NEAR COLLEGE CAMPUSES, SPECIFICALLY ON STADIUM DRIVE.

STUDENTS AT TRINITY ARE EXTREMELY POLITICALLY ENGAGED, AS JAMES MENTIONED, AND THEY CARE VERY MUCH ABOUT POLITICAL ISSUES.

I SEE IN HERE EVERY DAY FROM MY FRIENDS AND ACQUAINTANCES WHETHER THEY ARE POLITICAL SCIENCE MAJORS LIKE I AM OR WHETHER THEY'RE IN FIELDS THAT HAVE VERY LITTLE TO DO WITH POLITICS.

HOWEVER, I'VE ALSO NOTICED A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF PESSIMISM IN THEIR POLITICAL ENGAGEMENT.

THERE ARE A LOT OF OVERARCHING REASONS FOR THIS, BUT A BIG PART OF IT IS WHAT SEEMS TO BE AN ALIENATION FROM POLITICAL PROCESSES.

[01:20:02]

COLLEGE STUDENTS HAVE BUSY SCHEDULES AND WE HAVE WHAT FEELS LIKE MILLION THINGS TO KEEP TRACK OF EVEN DURING FREE TIME.

WITH EVERY DECISION WE MAKE ON HOW TO SPEND OUR TIME, THE WEIGHT OF ITS POTENTIAL EFFECTS ON OUR FUTURE IS CONSTANTLY ON OUR MINDS.

NOW I'M NOT TRYING TO PLAY UP THE TRIBULATIONS OF BEING A COLLEGE STUDENT BECAUSE I COULD SAY A MILLION OTHER POSITIVE THINGS ABOUT THE EXPERIENCE.

BUT I JUST WANT TO SAY THAT IT CAN BE A STRESSFUL ENDEAVOR TO MANAGE WHAT TO DO AND WHERE TO GO WITH YOUR TIME.

THIS IS WHY I THINK IS VERY IMPORTANT FOR THERE TO BE EARLY VOTING ACCESS ON COLLEGE CAMPUSES AND ON STADIUM DRIVE.

OUR DEMOCRATIC SYSTEM IS CONTINGENT ON EVERYONE BEING ABLE TO VOTE FOR THEIR LEADERS, AND RIGHT NOW, STUDENTS AT TRINITY ARE FACED WITH UNNECESSARY HURDLES IN THE WAY OF EXERCISING THAT RIGHT.

I THINK OUR CAMPUS'S EFFORTS TO INCREASE VOTER TURNOUT HAVE BEEN AMAZING, AND I THINK IT'S AMAZING THAT 75.6 PERCENT OF TRINITY STUDENTS WERE ABLE TO VOTE IN 2020, ACCORDING TO THE NATIONAL STUDY OF LEARNING VOTING AND ENGAGEMENT.

BUT ASKING THESE VOTERS TO GO SIGNIFICANTLY OUT OF THEIR WAY TO DO SO IS NOT ACCEPTABLE.

WITH LOCAL ELECTIONS THIS YEAR BEING SCHEDULED DURING FINAL SEASON, EARLY VOTING NOT BEING ACCESSIBLE ANYWHERE WITHIN A 30-MINUTE WALK OF CAMPUS, AND TRANSPORTATION TO THE NEAREST POLLING CENTER AT LYONS FIELD ONLY BEING AVAILABLE DURING THE BUSIEST PART OF THE DAY ON, I BELIEVE ONE DAY OF THE YEAR.

IT'S HARDLY ANY WONDER TO ME WHY MY FELLOW STUDENTS ARE FEELING ALIENATED FROM THIS DEMOCRACY.

IT SHOULDN'T BE CONTROVERSIAL FOR ME TO SAY THAT VOTING SHOULD BE EASY.

TO ME, IT SEEMS LIKE A STATEMENT THAT SHOULDN'T NEED MUCH JUSTIFICATION.

BUT I HOPE I'VE JUSTIFIED IT WELL ENOUGH FOR AT LEAST THE SMALL SEGMENT OF SAN ANTONIO'S POPULATION, THAT IS TRINITY AND ITS SURROUNDING AREAS.

THAT IN THE LONG RUN, I WOULD VERY MUCH LIKE TO SEE A CITY IN A COUNTRY WHERE EARLY VOTING IS AVAILABLE WITHIN WALKING DISTANCE OF ANYWHERE NO MATTER WHERE YOU ARE.

BUT FOR NOW, A SMALL STEP CAN BE TAKEN BY MAKING IT AVAILABLE ON STADIUM DRIVE AND ON OTHER COLLEGE CAMPUSES THROUGHOUT SAN ANTONIO.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND I HOPE TO SEE A POLLING CENTER AT TRINITY IN THE NEAR FUTURE.

>> THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE] JONATHAN GUTIERREZ.

>> HI. GOOD MORNING, EVERYONE.

TODAY I'M HERE TO REPRESENT SOME STUDENTS WHO WEREN'T ABLE TO MAKE IT.

STUDENTS AT THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS HEALTH SCIENCE CENTER WHO HAD BEEN DOING INCREDIBLE WORK OVER THE PAST COUPLE OF YEARS TO MOBILIZE THEIR COMMUNITY TO BE ABLE TO GET INVOLVED.

THE FIRST STATEMENT I'LL BE READING IS FOR MARGOT FAVOURITE, A FOURTH-YEAR MEDICAL STUDENT AT THE UT HEALTH SCIENCE CENTER.

I'VE ALREADY WITNESSED HOW IMPORTANT AND VITAL THIS POLLING PLACE WOULD BE TO OUR COMMUNITY, AND AGAIN, FOR CONTEXTS, I'M TALKING ABOUT ADVOCATING FOR A POTENTIAL POLLING PLACE AT THE UT HEALTH SCIENCE CENTER.

MARGOT AND HER FELLOW ORGANIZERS HAVE TALKED WITH CAMPUS ADMINISTRATION.

THEY'VE TALKED TO THE STUDENT GOVERNMENT.

THEY HAVE PASSED A STUDENT RESOLUTION IN SUPPORT OF A POLLING PLACE, AND MARGOT HAS CONTINUED HER ADVOCACY, STARTED IN 2020, REGISTERING BOTH HER FELLOW STUDENTS AS A FIRST-YEAR MEDICAL STUDENT BUT ALSO REGISTERING FRONT-LINE HEALTHCARE WORKERS AT THE HOSPITAL, AND IN HER EXPERIENCE, HAS REALLY FOUND THAT THERE'LL BE INCREDIBLE OPPORTUNITY THROUGH A POLLING PLACE AT THE UT HEALTH SCIENCE CENTER.

DURING THE 2020 ELECTION, WE ORGANIZED A VOTER REGISTRATION DRIVE AND REGISTERED OVER 300 PEOPLE IN A MERE FEW DAYS.

MANY ASKED WHERE THEY COULD VOTE, AND MANY ASKED ABOUT A POLLING PLACE ON CAMPUS.

NOT ONLY IS THE UT HEALTH SCIENCE CENTER A LOCATION WHERE THOUSANDS OF OUR STUDENTS LEARN, BUT IT'S ALSO NEXT TO OUR UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL.

IT COULD POTENTIALLY SERVE A LARGE COMMUNITY OF HEALTH CARE WORKERS WHO WORK UNUSUAL AND UNEXPECTED HOURS.

HAVING A POLLING PLACE ON CAMPUS ALLOWS THEM TO TAKE A 10-20-MINUTE BREAK TO MAKE SURE THEIR VOTE IS CAST.

THIS COULD BE THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THEM VOTING AND NOT PARTICIPATING.

WE HAVE A STRONG INSTITUTIONAL SUPPORT FOR THIS POLLING PLACE.

AGAIN, OUR STUDENT GOVERNMENT ASSOCIATION APPROVED THE RESOLUTION, AS WELL AS OUR ASSOCIATE DEAN FOR STUDENT AFFAIRS AND THE CHIEF STUDENT AFFAIRS OFFICERS, AMONG OTHERS.

ALSO READING A STATEMENT FROM EMILY EDELMAN, A FOURTH-YEAR MEDICAL STUDENT.

HEALTH CARE WORKERS ARE AMONG THE MOST EFFECTED BY RECENT EVENTS BUT THEY ARE ALSO A GROUP WHOSE TIME IS EXTREMELY LIMITED.

HAVING A POLLING CENTER AT THE UT HEALTH SCIENCE CENTER WOULD ALLOW HEALTH CARE WORKERS TO ENSURE THEIR VOICES ARE HEARD IN UPCOMING ELECTIONS, AND I ALSO BELIEVE THE UT HEALTH SCIENCE CENTER REPRESENTS A CENTRAL AREA FOR THE CITY AND MANY PEOPLE ARE FAMILIAR WITH IT BECAUSE THEY COME HERE FOR TREATMENT.

I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO ADD FOR ADDITIONAL CONTEXTS WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT EARLY VOTING LOCATIONS, THE NEAREST EARLY VOTING LOCATION FOR THE UT HEALTH SCIENCE CENTER.

IT'S CURRENTLY THE WONDERLAND OF THE AMERICAS, AND THAT POSES AN INCREDIBLE CHALLENGE FOR MANY STUDENTS ON CAMPUS WHO, AGAIN, HAVE CHALLENGES WITH RELIABLE TRANSPORTATION AND AGAIN ARE BALANCING SIMILAR BUSY SCHEDULES. THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE] BAILEY VERMEULEN.

[NOISE]

>> HEY, EVERYBODY. MY NAME IS BAILEY VERMEULEN,

[01:25:02]

BUT EVERYBODY JUST CALLS ME KAT.

I USE SHE, THEY PRONOUNS.

I WANT TO START OFF BY ASKING YOU A QUESTION.

IT'S AN EASY ONE SO NOBODY PANIC.

WHO HERE HAS BEEN TO UTSA AS A STUDENT? THANKS, TOMMY. HE SAID HE HAS.

[LAUGHTER] AS A STUDENT, HAVE YOU DRIVEN BY IT, YOU VAGUELY KNOW WHERE IT IS? WE'RE FAMILIAR.

AWESOME. [LAUGHTER] IT'S NOT SUPER CLOSE BY.

IT'S NOT LIKE SEAWORLD FAR AWAY, BUT IT'S STILL PRETTY FAR AND IT'S NOT REALLY CLOSE TO ANYTHING EITHER.

DEFINITELY NOT WALKING DISTANCE AND THAT CAMPUS IS ENORMOUS.

IT'S LIKE A JOURNEY AND A HALF TO WALK ACROSS THE CAMPUS.

THE FIRST TIME I VOTED, I WAS 19 YEARS OLD.

I WAS A SCARED, BARELY ADULT TEENAGER ADULT, AND I WAS FAR AWAY FROM HOME AND I DIDN'T HAVE ACCESS TO A CAR.

BUT Y'ALL I WAS SO EXCITED TO VOTE.

THERE REALLY WASN'T A DISTANCE I WASN'T WILLING TO TRAVEL TO GO VOTE.

I WOULD HAVE GONE WITH THE HOBBITS TO DESTROY THE ONE RING IN MOUNT DOOM IN ORDER TO BE ABLE TO VOTE, BUT MY FRIENDS, NOT SO MUCH.

IF OUR POLLING PLACE WASN'T A FIVE-MINUTE WALK FROM THE CALF, THEY PROBABLY WOULDN'T HAVE VOTED.

NOW THAT WAS OVER A DECADE AGO, BUT NOT A WHOLE LOT HAS CHANGED SINCE THEN.

THERE ARE STILL THOUSANDS, IF NOT TENS OF THOUSANDS OF COLLEGE STUDENTS ALL ACROSS SAN ANTONIO WHO RELY ON THEIR CAMPUS POLLING PLACE TO BE ABLE TO MAKE THEIR VOICES HEARD.

SOME ARE PASSIONATE ABOUT VOTING LIKE I WAS, AND SOME MIGHT BE LIKE MY FRIENDS WHO MIGHT NOT REALIZE THROUGH NO FAULTS OF THEIR OWN, THAT THERE WAS AN ELECTION BEING HELD THAT DAY UNTIL THEY WERE ON THEIR WAY TO CLASS.

BUT THAT DOESN'T MEAN THEY DON'T DESERVE THE RIGHT TO VOTE.

WHEN YOU MAKE IT MORE DIFFICULT TO VOTE, YOU CHIP AWAY AT OUR DEMOCRACY BIT BY BIT, AND I DON'T KNOW ABOUT YOU-ALL, BUT I REALLY LIKE LIVING IN A DEMOCRACY.

WE CAN SIT HERE ALL DAY AND LISTEN TO PEOPLE TALK ABOUT HOW THIS MIGHT BE A SAFETY ISSUE OR THERE MIGHT BE AN ISSUE WITH STAFFING POLLING PLACES, AND WHILE THOSE MIGHT BE VALID CONCERNS, WE NEED TO FIND A SOLUTION THAT DOESN'T INCLUDE SIMPLY SHUTTING DOWN OUR POLLING PLACES.

THAT FEELS AN AWFUL LOT LIKE QUITTING, AND MY MAMA DIDN'T RAISE A QUITTER, AND JUDGING FROM WHERE YOU ALL ARE SITTING RIGHT NOW, I DON'T THINK YOUR MAMAS DID EITHER.

WE'RE SMART, WE CAN FIGURE THIS OUT, WE CAN FIND A BETTER SOLUTION.

LET'S BE DOERS, NOT QUITTERS.

LET'S STAND UP FOR OUR DEMOCRACY.

THAT'S ALL I HAVE TO SAY. THANKS. [APPLAUSE].

>> MATTHEW TOVAR.

>> THANK YOU, COMMISSIONERS.

MY NAME IS MATTHEW TOVAR AND I'M A PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION AND POLITICAL SCIENCE MAJOR AT SAN ANTONIO COLLEGE.

I'M A RESIDENT OF COMMISSIONER PRECINCT 3 AND A LIFETIME BORN AND RAISED RESIDENT OF BEXAR COUNTY.

I WANT TO THANK YOU ALL FOR GIVING ME THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK HERE BEFORE YOU TODAY ON THE AVAILABILITY OF EARLY VOTING AND ELECTION DAY POLLING LOCATIONS ON COLLEGE CAMPUSES HERE IN BEXAR COUNTY.

SAN ANTONIOAS ACROSS RACE, SCHOOL DISTRICTS, CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICTS, AND BACKGROUND DESERVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO VOTE, INCLUDING STUDENTS LIKE ME.

AT MANY TEXAS COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES, STUDENTS ARE FORCED TO GO OFF CAMPUS, AS WE HEARD HERE FROM OUR LOVELY STUDENTS THAT MOVED TEXAS TO FIND POLLING LOCATIONS TO CAST THEIR BALLOT.

THE COUNTY ELECTIONS DEPARTMENT HAS FAILED TO PRIORITIZE THE VOTING EXPERIENCE FOR UNIVERSITY STUDENTS WITH A SIMPLE FIX LIKE PLACING A VOTING SITE ON CAMPUSES ACROSS OUR DIVERSE AND HISTORIC BEXAR COUNTY.

EACH OF US CARRY MORE THAN ONE IDENTITY.

MORE THAN STUDENTS, WE ARE TRANSPLANTS, WE'RE MUSICIANS, WE ARE STUDENT ATHLETES, WE'RE CARETAKERS AND SO MUCH MORE.

WE DESPERATELY WOULD LIKE AN OPPORTUNITY TO EXPRESS OUR 15TH AMENDMENT RIGHT EASILY AND WITHOUT ADDITIONAL BARRIERS.

I LIVE NEAR BROOK HOLLOW LIBRARY, WHICH IS ONE OF, IF NOT THE BUSIEST POLLING SITE ON CAMPUS.

I GUESS SOMEBODY CAN CHECK THAT, AND SO IT'S NOT ALWAYS EASY FOR ME TO GO VOTE THERE BECAUSE IT'S ALWAYS VERY BUSY.

I WAS LUCKY THAT ON THE FIRST DAY OF EARLY VOTING IN THIS PAST NOVEMBER ELECTION, I WAS ABLE TO VOTE AT THE VICTORY CENTER AT SAN ANTONIO COLLEGE.

I WAS A LITTLE LATE TO MY FIRST CLASS, BUT MY MUSIC THEORY PROFESSOR UNDERSTOOD.

HE ACTUALLY LET ME TALK FOR A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE FACT THAT WE DO HAVE A POLLING LOCATION THERE ON CAMPUS AND MY PROFESSOR, SAID YEAH, I WILL GO AND VOTE DURING LUNCH, I'M GLAD IT'S RIGHT THERE AND A LOT OF MY FELLOW CLASSMATES SAID THE SAME THING THAT THEY WERE GLAD THAT THERE WAS A VOTING LOCATION ON CAMPUS.

[01:30:03]

I THINK THAT IS SOMETHING THAT IS VERY IMPORTANT THAT WE NEED ON ALL CAMPUSES SO THAT WAY STUDENTS HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO VOTE THERE ON CAMPUS.

I'M ASKING FOR ALL SCHOOLS AND UNIVERSITIES HERE IN BEXAR COUNTY TO BE A POLLING LOCATION THROUGHOUT EARLY VOTING ON ELECTION DAY FOR EVERY ELECTION STARTING WITH THIS UPCOMING MUNICIPAL ELECTION IN MAY.

I BELIEVE THAT THIS WOULD ALLOW FOR MY FELLOW STUDENTS THE OPPORTUNITY TO VOTE REGARDLESS OF IF THEY LIVE ON CAMPUS OR HAVE RELIABLE TRANSPORTATION, WHICH LUCKILY, I AM PRIVILEGED TO HAVE.

IN BEXAR COUNTY, WE COME TOGETHER ON COLLEGE CAMPUSES TO LEARN NOT JUST ABOUT OUR MAJORS AND OUR MINORS, BUT ABOUT EACH OTHER AND OUR DIFFERENT BACKGROUNDS AND CULTURES.

I'M AWARE THAT THERE'S A POLLING LOCATION NEARBY HOWEVER, THAT LOCATION CATERS TO AN OLDER DEMOGRAPHIC.

WE DESERVE A LOCATION THAT CATERS TO OUR DEMOGRAPHICS SPECIFIC NEEDS AS WELL.

>> COMMISSIONER, THE TIME HAS EXPIRED.

>> I'LL GIVE YOU A MINUTE TO WRAP UP.

>> THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER. I HUMBLY ASK THAT YOU SUPPORT AND MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE ELECTIONS ADMINISTRATOR TO INCREASE POLLING LOCATIONS ACROSS THE COUNTY ON ALL COLLEGE AND UNIVERSITY CAMPUSES, BOTH PUBLIC AND PRIVATE.

IN DOING SO, YOU ARE ADVOCATING FOR THOSE THAT ALLOW YOU TO SIT WHERE YOU ARE TODAY.

THANK YOU, AND GOD BLESS.

>> THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE] IRENE VALDEZ.

[NOISE]

>> IT WARRANTS MY HEART TO SEE ALL THESE YOUNG PEOPLE HERE.

IT'S SO WONDERFUL TO SEE THEM ENGAGED. I LOVE IT.

I'M ALSO GOING TO SPEAK ABOUT VOTER ELECTION INTEGRITY.

[NOISE] I WANTED TO JUST BRING UP ONE THING THAT THE KIDS ARE TALKING ABOUT.

I CAN CALL THEM KIDS BECAUSE I'M A SENIOR.

THE KIDS ARE TALKING ABOUT THE CONVENIENCE OF HAVING THE VOTING POLLING LOCATIONS AT CAMPUS AND I LOVE THE IDEA THAT THAT WOULD HAPPEN, THAT WOULD BE GREAT.

HOWEVER, MY CONCERN IS THAT SINCE NO ONE HAS SAID ANYTHING TO THEM, ELECTION CODE CHAPTER 42 SAYS THAT A VOTER OF A PRECINCT WILL NOT HAVE TO TRAVEL MORE THAN 25 MILES FROM THE VOTER'S RESIDENTS TO REACH THE POLLING PLACE.

THAT'S WHAT CHAPTER 42 SAYS.

WE NEED TO CHANGE THE LAWS.

IF THE LAW SAYS THAT IT HAS TO BE AT LEAST 25 MILES THEY CAN HAVE IT ACROSS TOWN AND THAT'S IT, SO WE NEED TO CHANGE THE LAWS IN REFERENCE TO THAT.

I DO NOT CONSENT TO VOTING ON THESE ELECTRONIC MACHINES FOR THIS ELECTION THAT'S COMING UP.

THE MACHINES HAVE NOT BEEN CERTIFIED.

I MENTIONED THAT BEFORE.

IN SECTION 122, WITH VOTING CODE IT SAYS THAT A VOTING SYSTEM MAY NOW BE USED IN AN ELECTION UNLESS THE SYSTEM OPERATES SAFELY, EFFICIENTLY, ACCURATELY AND COMPLIES WITH THE VOTING SYSTEM STANDARDS ADOPTED BY THE ELECTION ASSISTANT COMMISSION.

THE LAST TIME THOSE MACHINES WERE CERTIFIED WAS OVER TWO YEARS AGO, AT LEAST AND WHEN THEY WERE CERTIFIED, IF YOU LOOK AT THE CERTIFICATIONS LISTED ON THE STATE OF SECRETARY OF STATE WEBSITE, THEY WERE SIGNED NOT BY THE RIGHT PERSON, THE CHAIR DID NOT SIGN THOSE CERTIFICATES AND IT'S DATED, BUT IT DOESN'T HAVE AN EXPIRATION DATE.

THE EAC HAVE ACCESS THAT THOSE MACHINES NEED TO BE CERTIFIED EVERY TWO YEARS AND THEY SHOULD BE LISTING THE EXPIRATION DATE ON THERE.

IN 2019, I BELIEVE IT WAS OR 2020 THEY STOPPED PUTTING THE EXPIRATION DATE ON THAT CERTIFICATION FORM THAT THEY HAVE.

THE ELECTION ADMINISTRATOR IN BEAR COUNTY IS NOT DOING HER JOB.

SHE NEEDS TO KEEP YOU GUYS APPRAISED OF WHAT IS GOING ON.

IF THE MACHINES ARE NOT LEGAL, SHE'S NOT DOING HER JOB AND SHE NEEDS TO BE REMOVED.

[OVERLAPPING].

>> EXCUSE ME COMMISSIONER, TIME HAS EXPIRED.

>> I WILL GIVE YOU AN EXTRA MINUTE JUST TO WRAP UP.

>> BASICALLY PAPER BALLOTS, VOTING BY PRECINCT, SEQUENTIAL NUMBER BALLOTS, THE VOTING SYSTEM ALLOWS FOR US TO BE ABLE TO HAVE VOTING BY BALLOTS AND BY ELECTRONIC MEANS AND WE NEED TO DO IT BY PAPER THIS TIME. THANK YOU.

[01:35:05]

>> THANK YOU. WE HAVE HEATHER AIKLEN [APPLAUSE]

>> GOOD MORNING. MY NAME IS HEATHER AIKLEN, I AM A RESIDENT OF PRECINCT 3063.

THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK TODAY ON THE AVAILABILITY OF EARLY VOTING AND ELECTION DAY VOTE CENTERS ON COLLEGE CAMPUSES.

I'VE BEEN A CERTIFIED ELECTION JUDGE SINCE 2016 AND HAVE SERVED AS AN ALTERNATE JUDGE FOR MORE THAN A DOZEN ELECTIONS.

IN NOVEMBER, I RECRUITED TRINITY STUDENTS TO WORK EARLY VOTING ON ELECTION DAY WITH ME AND I'M RECRUITING ADDITIONAL STUDENTS TO WORK THIS UPCOMING ELECTION.

LAST FALL, I SERVED ON THE TRINITY UNIVERSITY VOTER ENGAGEMENT TASK FORCE AND WHILE VISITING WITH STUDENTS, I WAS QUICKLY REMINDED MY OWN STRUGGLES AS A COLLEGE STUDENT WITH COMMISSIONER TOMMY CALVERT AT TUFTS UNIVERSITY.

I REMEMBER THE FEELING, THE EXCITEMENT I HAD TURNING 18, KNOWING I CAN NOW VOTE AND YET HOW QUICKLY THAT RIGHT BECAME A CHALLENGE WHEN I WAS IN COLLEGE.

I'D INVITE YOU TO THINK ABOUT YOUR OWN VOTING EXPERIENCE WHILE YOU WERE IN COLLEGE.

WHAT CHALLENGES DID YOU FACE? WERE YOU EVEN ABLE TO VOTE WHEN YOU'RE IN COLLEGE? I KNOW I HAD TROUBLE, ESPECIALLY WITH MAIL-IN BALLOTS BACK THEN.

I WANT TO SHARE WHAT I LEARNED FROM TWO FIRST YEAR STUDENTS AT TRINITY DURING MY TIME ON THEIR VOTER ENGAGEMENT TASK FORCE.

THESE STUDENTS JUST TURNED 18 AND ARE REGISTERED TO VOTE AND EXCITED TO VOTE AND CIVICALLY ENGAGED ON CAMPUS.

THEY LIVE ON CAMPUS AND DO NOT HAVE CARS, AND THEY'RE NOT YET FAMILIAR WITH VOTES SO IN NINE HOURS AND LOCATIONS AND WHAT TO EXPECT WHEN GOING TO VOTE.

ONE STUDENT SHARED HOW SHE WAS TRYING TO CALCULATE THE TIME SHE WOULD HAVE IN BETWEEN CLASSES, THEN CALCULATE THE COST OF TAKING AN UBER OR WALKING TO LIONS FIELD AND THEN ESTIMATING HOW LONG THE LINE MIGHT BE, AND WE KNOW LIONS FIELD IS A POPULAR VOTE CENTER.

HOW LONG WOULD IT TAKE TO CAST YOUR BALLOT AND THEN THE COST OF AN UBER BACK TO CAMPUS IN ORDER TO MAKE IT BACK IN TIME FOR HER NEXT CLASS OR BEFORE DINING HALLS CLOSE.

FOR MOST STUDENTS, IT'S EASIER SIMPLY TO NOT VOTE.

HAVING AN EASILY ACCESSIBLE VOTE CENTER LIKE ALAMO CONVOCATION CENTER, AVAILABLE DURING EARLY VOTING AND NOT JUST ELECTION DAY ELIMINATES JUST ONE OF SEVERAL BARRIERS STUDENTS FACE.

MORE THAN 50 YEARS AGO, THE 26TH AMENDMENT LOWERED THE VOTING AGE TO 18.

RESEARCH SHOWS THAT THE YOUNGER PERSON IS THE FIRST TIME THEY VOTE, THE MORE LIKELY THEY ARE TO BECOME HABITUAL VOTERS, WHICH IS WHAT WE ALL WANT.

I ASK WHY THEN WOULD WE, AS A COUNTY, NOT WANT TO MAKE IT EASIER FOR COLLEGE STUDENTS TO ACCESS A VOTE CENTER AND FOSTER RATHER THAN HINDER STUDENTS CIVIC ENGAGEMENT TO INVEST IN THE FUTURE OF OUR DEMOCRACY? THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE]

>> MRS. AIKLEN DID I HEAR THAT YOU'RE FELLOW JUMBO? I'LL GO BROWN AND BLUE. ALL RIGHT.

IS IT DAVIN VIELLO? COME ON UP.

THANK YOU FOR COMING [APPLAUSE].

>> THANK YOU-ALL. HI EVERYONE.

MY NAME IS DYLAN VIOLONE I'M HERE REPRESENTING A CHAPTER OF STUDENTS BOTH AT ST. MARY'S AND TEXAS A&M, SAN ANTONIO, SO I'LL BE SPEAKING ON THEIR BEHALF TODAY.

BUT FIRST I WANT TO INTRODUCE MYSELF.

LIKE I SAID, MY NAME IS DYLAN VIOLONE.

I'M ONE OF THE BEXAR COUNTY COORDINATORS HERE IN SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS WE DO VOTER REGISTRATION AND CIVIC EDUCATION ALL ACROSS THE STATE OF TEXAS.

I ALSO WHERE A LOT OF OTHER HATS HERE IN SAN ANTONIO, WRITER FOR A STUDENT MAGAZINE, STUDENT FOR MY UNION, AMONGST A FEW OTHER THINGS AND I SAY ALL OF THESE THINGS, NOT TO TALK MY OWN STUFF, BUT IT IS BECAUSE FIRST AND FOREMOST, ABOVE ALL ELSE, ABOVE ALL OF THESE THINGS THAT I DO HERE IN SAN ANTONIO, I CONSIDER MYSELF TO BE A STUDENT.

I'M BORN AND RAISED HERE IN SAN ANTONIO.

FROM NORTH, AN ISD WENT TO SCHOOL AT WOODSTOCK ELEMENTARY, WENT TO WOOD MIDDLE SCHOOL, AND THEN GRADUATED HIGH SCHOOL FROM MADISON HIGH SCHOOL, ALL WITHIN A MILE OF EACH OTHER, UP ON THE NORTHEAST SIDE, EXCUSE ME, AND I WENT TO THE ALAMO COLLEGES, GRADUATED FROM SAN ANTONIO COLLEGE, AND THAT IS WHERE I GOT REGISTERED TO VOTE FOR THE FIRST TIME.

WHEN I REGISTER TO VOTE THERE AT SAN ANTONIO COLLEGE.

IT WAS A VERY EMPOWERING EXPERIENCE AND SET ME ON MY PATH OF CIVIC EDUCATION, VOTER REGISTRATION, AND REALLY GETTING IN TOUCH WITH THE SAN ANTONIO COMMUNITY HERE AND THAT LED ME TO TEXAS A&M SAN ANTONIO.

WHEN I GOT TO TEXAS A&M, SAN ANTONIO AND SAW THAT WE HAD A POLLING LOCATION THERE SIMILAR TO WHAT WE HAD AT SAC AT THE VICTORY CENTER.

I WAS PLEASANTLY SURPRISED.

IT WAS NICE TO SEE SOME CONSISTENCY GOING ON ACROSS THE COLLEGES THAT I WAS GOING TO AS FAR AS ACCESS TO POLLING LOCATIONS, BUT QUICKLY, THAT SURPRISE WAS TAKEN AWAY WHEN OUR POLLING LOCATION WAS OMITTED FROM THE LAST ELECTION THAT HAPPENED HERE IN SAN ANTONIO.

[01:40:03]

I'M SURE YOU ALL REMEMBER ME AND SOME OTHER STUDENTS FROM OUR LADY OF THE LAKE HAD TO MISS CLASS AND COME UP HERE AND REALLY ASK FOR OUR POLLING LOCATIONS BACK.

THANKFULLY, WE WERE GIVEN OUR POLLING LOCATIONS BACK, WHICH IS REALLY AWESOME, SO I AM HERE TODAY ON BEHALF OF THE STUDENT BODY AT BOTH ST. MARY'S AND AT TEXAS A&M, SAN ANTONIO.

I'M ASKING THIS COMMITTEE TO PLEASE NOT LEAVE US OFF OF THIS LIST THIS TIME.

I THINK REALLY THE IMPORTANCE OF HAVING POLLING LOCATIONS ON CAMPUS HAVE BEEN STATED BY ALL OF THE BEAUTIFUL YOUNG PEOPLE WHO HAVE COME UP AND TALK TO YOU GUYS TODAY.

I WON'T KEEP BEATING A DEAD HORSE WITH THAT, I THINK THE POINT HAS BEEN MADE.

I JUST HOPE TO REALLY SEE SOME INCLUSIVE ACTION FROM THIS COMMITTEE AND FROM THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO TO MAKE IT EASY FOR EVERY SINGLE STUDENTS HERE IN SA TO HAVE ACCESS TO VOTING.

AGAIN, I CONSIDER MYSELF A STUDENT ABOVE ALL ELSE AND IS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT TO ME AND I THINK TO ALL THE CAMPUSES HERE IN SAN ANTONIO THAT ALL OF OUR STUDENTS ARE ABLE TO PARTICIPATE IN THE COMMUNITY THAT THEY'RE GOING TO BE SPAT BACK OUT INTO AFTER THEIR COLLEGE CAREER.

THANK YOU GUYS FOR YOUR TIME AND I ALSO WANT TO USE THIS LAST SECOND TO CONGRATULATE ALL OF THE YOUNG PEOPLE WHO HAVE SPOKEN HERE TODAY.

[APPLAUSE] PLEASE GIVE THEM A ROUND OF APPLAUSE.

THEY DESERVE IT MORE THAN ANYBODY ELSE.

I KNOW THE FREED TEXAS KIDS BOUNCED ALREADY, BUT I ALSO WANT TO CONGRATULATE THEM FOR HAVING THE STRENGTH TO COME UP AND TALK TODAY.

THANK YOU, GUYS, SO MUCH AND YOU'LL HAVE A BLESSED DAY.

[APPLAUSE]

>> THANK YOU. LORI MILLER FROM FREED, TEXAS.

YOU MAY HAVE ALREADY SPOKEN.

LORI MILLER FROM FREED. I'LL MOVE ON.

MARCOS GARCIA. I SEE ALSO IS FROM FREED TEXAS, SO HE MAY HAVE ALREADY SPOKEN.

I HAVE KLENEY PERRET FROM FREED TEXAS MAY HAVE ALSO SPOKEN, KLENEY PERET.

DANA BARQUILLO, I KNOW I'M PROBABLY BUTCHERING THAT.

[APPLAUSE] IT'S VERY UNIQUE.

[LAUGHTER] HELP ME OUT.

WHAT IS YOUR NAME? [LAUGHTER]

>> DENAY BARKOWSI

>> I'M SORRY, SAY IT AGAIN.

>> DENAY BARKOWSI. YES, SIR.

>> WELCOME.

>> HELLO. MY NAME IS DENAY BARKOWSI AND I'M A CURRENT JUNIOR AT TRINITY UNIVERSITY.

I THANK YOU ALL FOR GIVING ME THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK BEFORE YOU TODAY ON THE NECESSITY OF BRINGING EARLY VOTING BACK TO ALAMO STADIUM DRIVE.

AFTER LIVING, WORKING AND SOCIALIZING ON TRINITY CAMPUS FOR TWO-AND-A-HALF YEARS, I WOULD TELL YOU THAT OUR STUDENTS ARE BOLD ADVOCATES FOR VOTER ENGAGEMENT AND CIVIC RESPONSIBILITY.

THE GROUP OF STUDENTS YOU'RE HEARING FROM THIS MORNING WHO I SHOULD NOTE FREELY GAVE THEIR TIME IN THE MIDDLE OF A REALLY BUSY MIDTERM EXAM SEASON IS JUST ONE EXAMPLE OF THE ADVOCACY WORK THAT WE CONTINUE EVERY DAY.

IN ADDITION, OUR CAMPUS HAS ESTABLISHED A VOTER ENGAGEMENT TASK FORCE AS PREVIOUSLY MENTIONED.

THE UNIVERSITY SPONSORED COMMITTEE REGISTERED STUDENTS TO VOTE IN BEXAR COUNTY PROVIDES INFORMATION ABOUT ELECTION RESOURCE AND DURING THE 2022 MIDTERMS, THEY ALSO BUSED STUDENTS TO LIONS FIELD, WHICH IS AS OF NOW OUR CLOSEST EARLY VOTING LOCATION.

THE INTEREST IN THESE SERVICES HAS BEEN OVERWHELMING.

DURING THE MIDTERM SEASON, 100 STUDENTS FROM OUR CAMPUS OF 2,500 USE THE BUSING SERVICE TO ACCESS LIONS FIELD.

I THINK THAT'S SOMEWHERE AROUND 4%, BUT I'M A POLITICAL SCIENCE MAJOR, SO I'M NOT GREAT AT MATH.

IT'S FANTASTIC THAT THESE RESOURCES HAS BEEN MADE AVAILABLE TO US AND HIGH PARTICIPATION SHOWS THAT THE STUDENT BODY HAS A REAL INTEREST IN CIVIC INVOLVEMENT.

NONETHELESS, THERE'S STILL LOTS OF BARRIERS THAT PREVENT OUR STUDENTS FROM SUCCESSFULLY EXERCISING THEIR RIGHT TO VOTE.

FIRST, AS MENTIONED BY MY WONDERFUL FELLOW STUDENTS, THERE'S THE ISSUE OF TRANSPORTATION.

DESPITE THE FACT THAT SAN ANTONIO IS A DRIVING CITY, MANY TRINITY STUDENTS, MYSELF INCLUDED, ALONG WITH AT LEAST HALF OF MY FRIENDS, DO NOT HAVE ACCESS TO A CAR.

THIS BECOMES ESPECIALLY PROBLEMATIC DURING ELECTION SEASONS.

OUR UNIVERSITY DOES NOT PROVIDE RIDES TO THE POLLS DURING LOCAL ELECTION SEASONS.

EVEN IN SEASONS WHEN RIDES ARE PROVIDED, THERE'S NEVER A GUARANTEE THAT EVERY STUDENT WILL BE FREE AT THE SAME TIME THAT THOSE RIDES ARE BEING OFFERED AND LIONS FIELD IS AT LEAST A 20-MINUTE WALK FROM OUR CAMPUS JUST ONE WAY.

ANOTHER ISSUE I'VE ENCOUNTERED IS THAT ELECTION DATES CLASH WITH MY RESPONSIBILITIES AS A STUDENT.

THIS YEAR, OUR SEMESTER FINALS WILL BEGIN ON MAY 6TH.

BEXAR COUNTY ELECTION DAY ALSO FALLS ON MAY 6TH, ALONG WITH THE CONFLICTING DATES, FRIENDS WHO VOTED ON ELECTION DAY DURING MIDTERMS HAVE SHARED WITH ME THAT WAIT TIMES BECAME SO LONG THEY HAD TO CROSS THE CITY TO GO TO A DIFFERENT VOTING LOCATION.

ALL OF THIS WOULD NOT BE AN ISSUE IF WE WERE ABLE TO WALK ACROSS THE STREET AND VOTE ON ANY DAY DURING EARLY ELECTIONS.

ABOVE ALL, I WOULD STRESS THAT THERE'S PRECEDENT FOR EARLY VOTING AT ALAMO STADIUM AND WE HAVE THE URGENT NEED FOR THAT KIND OF ACCESS.

THE LOCATION WAS AVAILABLE FOR EARLY VOTING AS RECENTLY AS 2017.

SINCE THEN, THE STUDENT BODY HAS BECOME MORE INVOLVED IN THE POLITICAL PROCESS, NOT LESS, THE RESULT OF THAT IS ALL THE STUDENTS YOU SEE STANDING BEFORE YOU HERE TODAY.

CIVIC PARTICIPATION IS THE BACKBONE OF DEMOCRACY IN BEXAR COUNTY AND AN ESSENTIAL ELEMENT OF OUR EDUCATION AND GROWTH AS YOUNG PEOPLE.

PLEASE INVEST IN THE FUTURE OF YOUR COMMUNITY BY

[01:45:02]

ALLOWING UNIVERSITY STUDENTS TO VOTE MORE EASILY. THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE] SONAR SOLIZ.

>> HELLO, EVERYONE.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME TODAY.

MY NAME IS SONAR SOLIZ.

I'M A JUNIOR AT TRINITY UNIVERSITY, MAJORING IN HISTORY AND MINORING IN CLASSICAL STUDIES.

WE CAME HERE TODAY, COLLIN, JAMES AND DENAY TO ASK THAT THE ELECTION DAY VOTING LOCATION AT STADIUM DRIVE BE MADE IN EARLY VOTING LOCATION.

STADIUM DRIVE IS THE CLOSEST VOTING LOCATION FOR TRINITY STUDENTS, BUT IT'S ONLY OPEN FOR ONE DAY DURING ELECTION CYCLES, MAKING IT EXTREMELY DIFFICULT FOR STUDENTS TO BE ABLE TO VOTE.

NOW, AS DENAY SAID, WE'VE BEEN ROOMMATES FOR TWO YEARS AT TRINITY AND NEVER ONCE HAVE WE GONE TO VOTE AT STADIUM DRIVE.

ELECTION DAY VOTING HAS NEVER MATCHED WITH OUR UNIVERSITY SCHEDULES.

WE'VE ALWAYS VOTED EARLY AT LIONS FIELD.

FOR THE MOST RECENT MIDTERM ELECTIONS, WE GOT UP AT 7:00 IN THE MORNING TO VOTE EARLY AT LIONS FIELD SO WE CAN MAKE IT BACK TO CAMPUS IN TIME TO AVOID MISSING OUR CLASSES.

WE'RE NOT THE ONLY TRINITY STUDENTS TO BE DOING THIS TO VOTE EARLY INSTEAD OF VOTE ON ELECTION DAY AT STADIUM DRIVE.

ACCORDING TO THE NATIONAL STUDY OF LEARNING, VOTING AND ENGAGEMENT, OVER 70% OF VOTING TRINITY STUDENTS VOTED EARLY IN 2020.

LET ME RESTATE THAT.

OVER 70% OF VOTING TRINITY STUDENTS VOTED EARLY IN 2020, MEANING ONLY 6% VOTED ON ELECTION DAY.

ONLY 6% OF US ACTUALLY USE STADIUM DRIVE.

THE MAJORITY OF US ARE UNABLE TO USE OUR CLOSEST VOTING LOCATION BECAUSE OF OUR SCHOOL SCHEDULES.

AS HAS ALREADY BEEN MENTIONED, THIS UPCOMING BEXAR COUNTY ELECTION DAY FALLS ON THE SAME DAY, TRINITY STUDENTS START THEIR FINAL EXAMS, AND MANY OF US WILL BE UNABLE TO VOTE ON THAT DAY.

IF STADIUM DRIVE WAS MADE INTO AN EARLY VOTING LOCATION, SO MANY MORE STUDENTS WOULD BE ABLE TO VOTE AND NOT JUST HAVE TO DRIVE ALL THE WAY TO LIONS FIELD.

MANY STUDENTS I'VE ALREADY TALKED TO YOU ARE VERY INTERESTED IN BECOMING POLL WORKERS FOR STADIUM DRIVE.

WE ALSO HAVE PARENTS.

MY PARENTS WOULD BE WILLING TO BECOME POLL WORKERS FOR STADIUM DRIVE, I JUST WANTED TO REITERATE THAT AND AGAIN, THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.

APPRECIATE IT. [APPLAUSE]

>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. CARL GILMORE.

>> LADIES AND GENTLEMEN OF THE COURTS, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN OF BEXAR COUNTY.

MY NAME IS CARL GILMORE AND I WAS BORN TO BEXAR COUNTY AND I'VE LIVED HERE FOR MOST OF MY LIFE.

WELL, MY CAUSE IS NOT RELATED TO VOTING RIGHTS, MIGHT CAUSE IS DIRECTLY RELATED TO THE DEMOCRATIC PROCESS.

MY DAUGHTER AND I HAVE BECOME THE VICTIMS OF PUBLIC CORRUPTION.

AS A DIRECT RESULT OF THIS, WE HAVE BEEN DENIED ACCESS TO COMPETENT LEGAL COUNSEL AS WELL AS ACCESS TO COMPETENT MEDICAL CARE.

I HAVE APPEARED BEFORE YOU TO PROVOKE THE OFFICIAL AUDIT PROCESS OF INTERNAL AFFAIRS.

LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, WHILE I MAY BE HERE ON BEHALF OF MY DAUGHTER AND MYSELF, IT MAY BE IN MORE IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT I'M HERE ON BEHALF OF THE REST OF THE HUMAN RACE. THANK YOU.

>> YES. COMMISSIONER RODRIGUEZ WOULD LIKE TO SAY SOMETHING.

>> THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER, I KNOW WE DON'T NORMALLY ENGAGE IN DIALOGUE, BUT JUST WANTED TO TAKE A POINT OF PERSONAL PRIVILEGE TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE STUDENTS. YOU CAN HAVE A SEAT.

I WAS JUST GOING TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE STUDENTS AND THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE AND ADVOCATING.

IF YOU NEED AN EXCUSE NOTE, LET US KNOW FOR MISSING YOUR CLASS FOR EXAM.

WE'RE HAPPY TO DO THAT. [APPLAUSE] BUT WHAT I WANTED TO SAY IS TWO THINGS RELATED TO WHAT YOU'RE ADVOCATING FOR.

I THINK NUMBER 1, THIS COURT, I THINK THERE'S SEVERAL ALLIES HERE THAT HAVE ADDED COLLEGE CAMPUSES OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS, SO WE APPRECIATE YOUR CONTINUED ADVOCACY.

I HOPE THAT YOU TAKE THAT ALSO TO, WHEN YOU HAVE TIME MAYBE DURING SPRING BREAK TO AUSTIN BECAUSE A LOT OF THE LAWS THAT ARE IMPACTING YOUR RIGHTS ARE RIGHTS ARE BEING DEBATED NOW IN AUSTIN.

I HOPE YOU TAKE THAT AND TAKE THE SAME PASSION AND FIGHT TO AUSTIN.

LASTLY, LET ME JUST SAY TWO THAT, SOME OF THE PUSH BACK WE GET OFTEN FROM ADDING MORE SITES IS THE LACK OF RESOURCES.

JUDGES AND CLERKS.

I THINK WE NEED MORE YOUNG PEOPLE TO GET INVOLVED AND ENGAGED IN THAT PROCESS.

TO THE EXTENT THAT YOU ARE INTERESTED AND YOU HAVE TIME, PLEASE GET THAT TRAINING SO THAT YOU CAN BE PART OF THAT POOL OF FOLKS WHO HELP ON ELECTION DAY DURING EARLY VOTE.

BECAUSE WE WANT TO TAKE AS MANY EXCUSES OFF THE TABLE AS POSSIBLE FOR ADDING AS MANY SITES AS POSSIBLE.

I THINK HIS LAST CYCLE AND COMMISSIONER CALVERT, CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG, I THINK WE HAD THE MOST NUMBER OF EARLY VOTING SITES THAT WE'VE HAD IN THE HISTORY OF BEXAR COUNTY.

[01:50:04]

I FIRMLY BELIEVE THAT THOSE ARE ALL ACCESS POINTS.

THE MORE ACCESS POINTS, THE BETTER OFF OUR DEMOCRACY WORKS.

THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE, AND IF YOU WOULD JUST TAKE THAT TO HEART IN TERMS OF THE LEGISLATURE AND THEN GETTING INVOLVED IN THE ELECTIONS OFFICE AND ELECTION DAY CLERK AND JUDGES BECAUSE WE NEED A LOT MORE YOUNG PEOPLE BE INVOLVED. THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER, I DON'T KNOW. COMMISSIONER CLAY-FLORES.

>> I'D ALSO JUST LIKE TO COMMENT AND REITERATE THAT AGAIN, THESE LAWS COME FROM THE STATE.

HOPEFULLY, YOU GUYS WILL BE GOING TO ADVOCATE AT THE STATE LEVEL.

ALSO, IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT I MAKE SURE THAT THERE ARE POLLING SITES IN MY PRECINCT WHICH WOULD BE AT THE COLLEGE SITES, MY PRECINCT, WHICH ARE TEXAS, A&M, PALO ALTO, AND NORTHWEST VISTA.

IN TURN, I WOULD ASK YOU ALL TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU WORK ON YOUR CAMPUSES AND ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO GO VOTE AND GET THE NUMBERS OUT.

BECAUSE ONE OF THE THINGS THAT'S DIFFICULT FOR US, FOR EXAMPLE, IN MY PRECINCT, PALO ALTO AND TEXAS A&M ARE PRETTY MUCH RIGHT ACROSS THE STREET FROM EACH OTHER.

IF WE PUT MANPOWER THERE TO THOSE SITES AND THEIR OTHER SIDE, BECAUSE I HAVE THE LARGEST GEOGRAPHIC AREA, FOR EXAMPLE, OUT IN THE COUNTY ON THE NORTHWEST PART AND ALMA RANCH AND THERE'S ONLY ONE POLLING SITE, THEN WE GET A LOT OF PUSH BACK.

IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT THAT IF WE HAVE SITES THAT ARE CLOSE TOGETHER LIKE PALO ALTO, TEXAS A&M, I'M GOING TO ASK YOU GUYS TO CONTINUE YOUR ENTHUSIASM, CONTINUE YOUR ADVOCACY, AND MAKES SURE YOU ENCOURAGE YOUR FELLOW STUDENTS TO RAISE THOSE NUMBERS AND TO GET OUT AND VOTE. THANK YOU.

LET ME THANK MY COLLEAGUES FOR THEIR COMMENTS AND LET ME THANK ALL OF THOSE WHO CAME, ESPECIALLY THOSE OF YOU WHO MAY HAVE MISSED THE CLASS.

WE ABSOLUTELY WILL GIVE YOU A LETTER TO GIVE TO YOUR PROFESSORS.

THIS HAS BEEN A LONG PROCESS OF THE EXPANSION OF VOTING RIGHTS.

I WAS LITERALLY SERIOUS WHEN I TOLD YOU YOUNG MAN, THAT I WOULD COME HERE AS A 17-YEAR-OLD AND EVEN BEFORE THAT TO THE COMMISSIONERS COURT BECAUSE THEY TRIED TO SHUT DOWN THE CLOUD BLACK COMMUNITY CENTER AND OTHER VOTING LOCATIONS IN THE BLACK COMMUNITY, HISPANIC COMMUNITY, AND ACROSS THIS COUNTY.

OVER TIME, WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO CHIP AWAY AT THAT ATTITUDE THAT NOT EVERYBODY WAS WANTING TO VOTE.

COLLEGE STUDENTS ARE NOW SQUARE TARGET 1.

IT HAS A LOT TO DO WITH, WITH THIS COURT DID IN THE LAST ELECTION.

APPARENTLY AUSTIN WAS WATCHING WHERE WE FOUGHT FOR ACCESS AT SAN ANTONIO COLLEGE AT PALO ALTO, AT NORTHWEST VISTA, AT NORTHEAST LAKEVIEW, SO MANY COLLEGES.

CLEARLY, WE ARE NEEDING TO EXPAND THAT.

IT ISN'T OUT OF THE REALM OF POSSIBILITY THAT WE COULD ACTUALLY PUT TWO LOCATIONS AT UTSA IN LIGHT OF THE FACT THAT THERE WAS A FOUR HOUR WAIT.

I DID NOT KNOW THAT. I THANK YOU ALL FOR THE FEEDBACK.

I DO KNOW THAT A NUMBER OF ORGANIZATIONS HAVE SUBMITTED TO THE ELECTIONS ADMINISTRATORS FOR YOUNG PEOPLE TO SERVE AS THE ELECTION JUDGES, BUT THEY WERE NOT ALWAYS ACCEPTED, ARE CONTACTED.

WE WILL WORK TO RECTIFY THAT IN THE VERY NEAR FUTURE.

I APPRECIATE ALSO MY FELLOW CONSTITUENTS BEXAR COUNTY WHO SPOKE TODAY ABOUT THEIR CONCERNS OVER ELECTION INTEGRITY.

I WILL SAY FOR THE RECORD THAT FOR THE YOUNG PEOPLE WHO CAME HERE TODAY, I WOULD LOVE TO SPONSOR A BUS, SOME PIZZA, SOME ICE CREAM, AND SOME VEGGIES FOR OUR VEGETARIAN FRIENDS TO GO TO AUSTIN FROM EVERY COLLEGE CAMPUS AND BEXAR COUNTY.

>> AMEN.

>> THANK YOU. [LAUGHTER] THANK YOU.

WE'RE GOING TO GET YOU IN FOR SPONSORSHIP WITH THOSE BUSES SO THAT WE CAN GO TO THE LEGISLATURE AND TESTIFY ABOUT THE EQUAL ACCESS THAT YOU DESERVE AS CITIZENS, AS TAXPAYERS, AS YOUNG PEOPLE, AND BY THE WAY, IT'S NOT JUST YOUNG PEOPLE AT COLLEGES.

THERE'S FOLKS WHO ARE OLDER AGE WHO THAT OPPORTUNITY WHO ARE WORKING AND GOING TO COLLEGE.

IT'S VERY IMPORTANT AND YOU'RE RIGHT.

WHEN YOU'RE IN COLLEGE, YOU WERE SCHEDULE IS BUSIER OFTEN THAN MOST ADULTS.

WE SHOULD IN FRANCHISE YOU IN THE PROCESS, IN MANY WAYS AS THE ELECTION OFFICERS, AS VOTERS.

WE WILL FIGHT TO DO THAT ALL RIGHTS DERIVED FROM VOTING RIGHTS.

I HAD SAID IN THE LAST MEETING WHEN YOU ALL WERE HERE THAT THIS WOULD BE SOMETHING THAT THOSE WHO ARE PROPOSING THIS WOULD REGRET.

BUT THIS WOULD MOBILIZE STUDENTS AND IT WILL MOBILIZE HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS.

WHETHER THEY PASS IT OR NOT, IT IS MOBILIZING MANY PEOPLE,

[01:55:02]

NOT JUST YOUNG PEOPLE, BUT THOSE OF US WHO HAVE BEEN DISENFRANCHISED IN THE PAST.

THANK YOU ALL FOR COMING. WE LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU.

WE'RE GOING TO MOVE ON TO AGENDA ITEM 49,

[49. Discussions and appropriate action regarding authorizing the Purchasing Agent to advertise a Request for Proposal (RFP) to solicit applications from nonprofit organizations to provide legal representation to indigent immigrants in detention, facing removal, or in danger of losing their immigration status, and who reside in or intend to reside in Bexar County, as requested by Commissioners Court.]

WHICH IS A DISCUSSION AND APPROPRIATE ACTION REGARDING THE PURCHASING AGENT TO ADVERTISE A REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL TO SOLICIT APPLICATIONS FROM NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATIONS TO PROVIDE LEGAL REPRESENTATION TO INDIGENT IMMIGRANTS IN DETENTION FACING REMOVAL ARE IN DANGER OF LOSING THEIR IMMIGRATION STATUS AND WHO RESIDED IN OR INTEND TO RESIDE AT BEXAR COUNTY AS REQUESTED BY COMMISSIONERS COURT, WE DO HAVE SEVERAL MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY SIGNED UP TO SPEAK, BUT I WANT A TORRES ARE PURCHASING AGENT TO, I'M SORRY, JIM.

THAT'S RIGHT. JIM IS ALSO VERY MUCH A PART OF THIS.

JIM IS GOING TO MAKE A PRESENTATION AND THEN WE'LL HAVE CITIZENS TO BE HEARD.

>> VERY GOOD. THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER.

I'M JIM BETHKE THE DIRECTOR OF THE MANAGED SIGN COUNCIL PROGRAM, AND WITH ME, I HAVE MANUELA ARCOSA WHO IS PART OF OUR OFFICE.

SHE IS OUR IMMIGRATION AND PADILLA ATTORNEY. I'VE GOT IT.

THIS SHOULD BE VERY BRIEF, BUT I WANTED TO PROVIDE A LITTLE BIT OF AN OVERVIEW AND HISTORICAL BACKGROUND OF HIS BACK IN JULY THAT THE COMMISSIONERS COURT HEARD FROM MANY MEMBERS OF THE SA STANDS COMMUNITY, AND I THINK WE DO HAVE SOME THAT ARE HERE TO TESTIFY.

THE COMMISSIONERS COURT AT THAT TIME DID GO AHEAD AND ADOPT $1 MILLION FOR IMMIGRATION LEGAL DEFENSE FUND.

IT WAS BASED ON ENLARGED PART TO KEEP FAMILIES TOGETHER AND A DIRE NEED THAT YOU REALLY DON'T WANT ANYONE GOING THROUGH THAT SYSTEM UNREPRESENTED.

THE PURPOSE OF THIS IS TO PROVIDE LEGAL REPRESENTATIONS FOR IMMIGRANT ADULTS, CHILDREN'S, OR FAMILIES FACING THE THREAT OF DEPORTATION, AND REALLY PROTECT AND KEEP FAMILIES TOGETHER TO SUPPORT INDIGENT RESIDENTS AND COMMITMENT TO ENSURING IMMIGRANTS HAVE ACCESS TO FAIR AND AFFORDABLE LEGAL REPRESENTATION AND DEPORTATION PROCEEDINGS.

ONE OF THE PROVISIONS THAT WE HAVE IN THE RFP IS FOR THE COUNTY TO JOIN VARIOUS SAFE CITIES NETWORK.

CITY OF SAN ANTONIO IS A MEMBER.

ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT THINGS ABOUT JOINING THIS ORGANIZATION IS IT'LL GIVE US A VALUABLE TOOL IN THAT THEY WILL ASSIST WITH THE PROGRAM PERFORMANCE, OUTCOME MONITORING AND REALLY WHAT TYPE OF IMPACT THIS PROGRAM IS HAVING.

THEY WILL ALSO OFFER TRAINING, TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE, AND THEY WILL OFFER UP TO $100,000 IN FUNDING AND PROVIDE STRATEGIC SUPPORT.

IN PUTTING TOGETHER THE RFP WITH PURCHASING AND THE COUNTY ATTORNEY AND OTHERS.

WE DID LOOK AT THE TESTIMONY FROM BACK SUMMER, AND THERE WERE A NUMBER OF ITEMS, AND COMMISSIONER RODRIGUEZ ALSO IDENTIFIED A NUMBER OF THESE ITEMS THAT NEEDED TO BE IN THERE, AND WE LOOKED REALLY CLOSELY AT THE ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA.

NEEDLESS SAY, IT NEEDS TO BE SOMEONE WHO IS IN FACT INDIGENT AND A NUMBER OF OTHER ITEMS. HOLISTIC REPRESENTATION, NOT JUST LOOKING AT THE INDIVIDUAL DEPORTATION, BUT LOOKING AT IT FROM THE HILLSIDE.

PROVIDING APPELLATE REPRESENTATION, NOT MANDATING APPELLATE REPRESENTATION, UNIVERSAL REPRESENTATION MODEL, CONTINUITY OF REPRESENTATION, AND ALSO PROVIDING AN ALTERNATIVE REPRESENTATION MODEL WHICH IS MORE OF A TRIAGE LOOKING AT POSSIBLY WHERE YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE THE BIGGEST IMPACT.

IS THIS A CASE THAT WE CAN MOVE QUICKLY AND REALLY HAVE A POSSIBLY A FAVORABLE OUTCOME, THEN THE LEGAL SERVICES PROVIDER REQUIREMENTS.

THE NEXT STEPS WILL BE TO ACTUALLY ISSUE THE RFP.

DURING THAT PROCESS, WE WOULD WANT TO FORMALIZE THE PARTNERSHIP WITH VERA, ESTABLISHED THE PERFORMANCE METRICS TO DETERMINE THE IMPACT OF THE PROGRAM AND THEN SELECT A PROVIDER.

AVAILABLE FOR ANY QUESTIONS.

>> COMMENTS, COMMISSIONER RODRIGUEZ?

>> I WAS GOING TO MAYBE WAIT TO I THINK THERE'S SOME CITIZENS SIGNED UP.

>> WOULD YOU LIKE TO HEAR THEM FIRST?

>> YEAH, WE FIRST HEAR THEM.

>> GREAT. JIM, WE'RE GOING TO HEAR FROM THE CITIZENS AND THEN WE'LL HAVE OUR QUESTIONS.

>> GOOD MORNING BUENOS DIAS.

THANK YOU COMMISSIONERS COURT FOR ONCE AGAIN, APPROVING THIS IMPORTANT LEGAL DEFENSE, ONE OF ONE MILLION THAT WE HAD AT LAST JULY, AND ESPECIALLY TO COMMISSIONER RODRIGUEZ, HER HELPING CHAMPIONING THIS ISSUE.

MY NAME IS CAROLINA CARIZZALES, I AM WITH IMMIGRANT LEGAL RESOURCE CENTER, ALSO WITH THE SA SENSE IMMIGRATION COALITION.

BOTH OF OUR GROUPS HAVE REALLY FIGHT TIRELESSLY

[02:00:02]

TO PROTECT AND SUPPORT IMMIGRANTS IN OUR COUNTY.

AS YOU KNOW, I GREW UP UNDOCUMENTED.

I AM NOW A DACA RECIPIENT, BUT I HAVE MANY FAMILY MEMBERS WHO ARE STILL UNDOCUMENTED.

WE'D BEEN IN SAN ANTONIO FOR MORE THAN 20 YEARS.

THIS LEGAL DEFENSE FUND WILL CREATE A SAFETY NET FOR PEOPLE LIKE MY FAMILY AND THE MORE THAN 175,000 NON-CITIZENS WHO RESIDE IN OUR COUNTY.

THIS LEGAL DEFENSE FUND WOULD ALSO SUPPORT OR GET MORE SUPPORT TO THOSE WHO ARE CURRENTLY DETAINED AND FACING REMOVAL PROCEEDINGS, WHICH IS AROUND 7,000 FOLKS.

AS YOU KNOW, IF YOU`RE FACING REMOVAL PROCEEDINGS AND IF YOU HAVE AN ATTORNEY, YOU'RE EIGHT TIMES MORE LIKELY TO WIN YOUR CASE.

THIS IS TREMENDOUSLY HELP THOSE WHO ARE CURRENTLY IN IMMIGRATION DETENTION.

TODAY'S REQUESTS FOR THE RFP INCLUDE MANY OF THE COMMUNITY RECOMMENDATIONS.

WE THANK THE COUNTY FOR WORKING WITH US ON DRAFTING THIS.

THIS RFP WILL ENSURE THAT THE FUND WILL BE PRIMARILY USED FOR UNIVERSAL REPRESENTATION FOR FOLKS WHO ARE INDIGENT AND GIVE A CHANCE AT HOLISTIC REPRESENTATIONS SO THAT ATTORNEYS CAN HAVE SERVICES LIKE MENTAL HEALTH AND OTHER THINGS THAT INCLUDE LIKE AN IMMIGRATION CASE.

IT'S NOT JUST ABOUT IMMIGRATION, THERE'S SO MUCH MORE NEED.

THIS RFP ALSO ALLOWS FOR IT TO BE MORE INCLUSIVE, NOT JUST WHO LIVE OR TO RESIDE LUNEBURG COUNTY, BUT THOSE WHO ARE IN THE TENSION AND PLAN TO LIVE IN OUR COUNTY ONCE THEY ARE FREE.

I JUST WANTED TO SAY THANK YOU FOR DRAFTING THIS AND I HOPE THAT YOU APPROVE THIS RFP TODAY SO THAT THIS CRUCIAL PROGRAM CAN BEGIN ROLLING OUT AND BENEFIT OUR IMMIGRANT COMMUNITY. THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU. SCOTT CASKEY

>> HELLO. MY NAME IS SCOTT CASKEY.

I'M AN ORGANIZER OF TEXAS RISING AND A PROUD MEMBER OF THE SA STANDS COALITION.

I'D LIKE TO UPLIFT THE SENTIMENTS OF MY FELLOW ORGANIZERS THAT COULDN'T MAKE IT HERE TODAY, AND THANK YOU FOR THE APPROVAL OF $1 MILLION FOR THE IMMIGRANT LEGAL DEFENSE FUND LAST JULY WITH SPECIAL RECOGNITION TO COMMISSIONER RODRIGUEZ AND HIS OFFICE FOR WORKING WITH US AND BEING SO SUPPORTIVE.

I BELIEVE THAT IT'S IMPORTANT TO HIGHLIGHT OUR ELECTED OFFICIALS WHO STAND UP FOR THEIR CONSTITUENTS AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS IN THE FACE OF ANTI-IMMIGRANT SENTIMENT AT THE LOCAL, STATE, AND FEDERAL LEVEL.

WITH THE CREATION OF THE IMMIGRANT LEGAL DEFENSE FUND, BEXAR COUNTY WILL BE ABLE TO PROVIDE FREE LEGAL REPRESENTATION TO OUR MOST VULNERABLE COMMUNITY MEMBERS.

TO QUANTIFY HOW IMPORTANT LEGAL REPRESENTATION IS HERE, LET ME SHARE A COUPLE OF STATISTICS.

IN BEXAR COUNTY ALONE, THERE ARE NEARLY 7,000 DETAINED AND NON DETAINED IMMIGRANTS CURRENTLY WITHOUT ACCESS TO LEGAL REPRESENTATION.

PEOPLE FACING DEPORTATION IN SAN ANTONIO ARE OVER EIGHT TIMES MORE LIKELY TO ACHIEVE A POSITIVE OUTCOME IF THEY HAVE A LAWYER.

WITH STATISTICS LIKE THESE, THE IMMIGRANT LEGAL DEFENSE FUND WILL CHANGE LIVES AND KEEP FAMILIES AND COMMUNITIES TOGETHER.

TODAY YOU'RE VOTING ON THE LANGUAGE FOR THE REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS THAT LEGAL SERVICE PROVIDERS WILL USE TO ACCESS THESE CRUCIAL FUNDS, AND OUR COALITION HAS CONSISTENTLY ADVOCATED FOR SEVERAL RECOMMENDATIONS.

FIRST, THAT THE ILDF, WILL PRIMARILY USE THE UNIVERSAL REPRESENTATION MODEL.

MEANING THE CASES THAT WILL BE TAKEN ON A FIRST-COME, FIRST-SERVE BASIS SO THAT EVERYONE WILL HAVE AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY AT RECEIVING SUPPORT.

SECOND, THAT THE RFPS RESIDENCY ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA IS INCLUSIVE TO ALL RESIDENTS OF BEXAR COUNTY, INCLUDING THOSE TRYING TO JOIN OUR COMMUNITY WHO ARE TRAPPED IN DETENTION.

THIRD, THAT THE RFP ALLOWS FUNDING TO BE USED FOR HOLISTIC REPRESENTATION, WHICH INCLUDES SERVICES LIKE MENTAL HEALTH EVALUATIONS THAT ARE A CRUCIAL PART FOR FIGHTING A DEPORTATION CASE.

FOURTH, THAT THE BEXAR COUNTY WILL APPLY FOR THE VARIOUS INSTITUTES, SAFE CITIES NETWORK, WHICH WILL MATCH SOME OF THE COUNTY FUNDS ALLOWING MORE PEOPLE TO RECEIVE LEGAL REPRESENTATION.

FINALLY, NOW THAT THE RFP HAS BEEN DRAFTED, THAT COMMISSIONERS COURT SHOULD APPROVE AND BEGIN THE PROGRAM AS SOON AS POSSIBLE TO START SERVING OUR COMMUNITY.

IN CONCLUSION, SAN ANTONIO IS COMMUNITY OF IMMIGRANTS, NEWCOMERS, AND DREAMERS.

THEY DESERVE A FAIR OPPORTUNITY TO STAY IN BEXAR COUNTY WITH THEIR FAMILIES.

PLEASE VOTE IN SUPPORT OF THE RFP THAT REFLECTS HOLISTIC REPRESENTATION THAT OUR COMMUNITY NEEDS. THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU. JESUS MORENO.

>> HI, MY NAME IS JESUS MORENO.

I'D LIKE TO USE MY TIME TODAY TO GIVE MY OWN PERSONAL TESTIMONY.

I'M AN IMMIGRANT FROM MEXICO.

I WAS BROUGHT HERE TO THE STATES WHEN I WAS FIVE MONTHS OLD.

WHEN I WAS ARRESTED, I FOUND MYSELF JUST AS SCARED JUST AS TERRIFIED TO GO BACK TO A COUNTRY THAT I'VE NEVER BEEN TO.

IT IS THE BEXAR COUNTY PUBLIC DEFENDERS OFFICE THAT PROVIDED THE LEGAL COUNSEL THROUGH

[02:05:05]

THEIR IMMIGRATION THAT LET ME UNDERSTAND THE RISKS AND THE CONSEQUENCES OF WHAT MY CHARGE IS BRINGING ME.

I STAND HERE TODAY AS AN ALUMNI OF ST. PHILIP'S ON MAY 20TH, I WILL GRADUATE FROM UTSA WITH MY DEGREE IN CRIMINAL JUSTICE AND I'M LOOKING FOR FORWARD TO LAW SCHOOL AFTER THAT.

TODAY I'M AN INTERN AT THE BURKE COUNTY PUBLIC DEFENDERS OFFICE.

I SAY ALL OF THIS JUST TO HOPEFULLY GET YOU GUYS TO UNDERSTAND HOW MUCH PROGRAMS LIKE THESE TRULY HELP THE COMMUNITY IN ITS MOST BASIC SENSE.

THANK YOU. I WANT TO GIVE YOU GUYS JUST SOMETHING TO PONDER ON AND THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU. THERE ARE NO OTHER CITIZENS SIGNED UP TO SPEAK. COMMISSIONER RODRIGUEZ?

>> JIM, COULD YOU COME BACK UP? JUST A COUPLE OF QUICK CLARIFYING QUESTIONS? FIRST OF ALL, THANK YOU FOR YOUR PERSONAL TESTIMONY THAT WAS VERY POWERFUL.

WE APPRECIATE YOU PUTTING A FACE TO THIS PROGRAM BECAUSE SOMETIMES WE MAKE THESE DECISIONS AND WE ALLOCATE DOLLARS AND YOU NEVER SEE IT IN ACTION.

YOU'RE JUST A LITTLE HEARTWARMING EXAMPLE OF HOW WE CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE.

THANK YOU. JIM, REAL QUICK.

FIRST OF ALL, I KNOW WE HAD A LONG DISCUSSION ABOUT THIS BACK WHEN WE APPROVED IT.

I KNOW YOUR OFFICE WORK WITH SOME OF THE ADVOCATES ON DEVELOPING THIS RFP.

THAT'S WHY IT TOOK A LITTLE TIME.

WE WANTED TO MAKE SURE WE DID IT RIGHT.

WE WERE SENSITIVE TO IT.

TELL ME A LITTLE BIT ABOUT AFTER THE COURT TAKES ACTION TODAY, IF THIS MOVES FORWARD, I KNOW YOU HAVE NEXT STEPS HERE, BUT ISSUING THE RP, I ASSUME THAT'LL GO OUT PRETTY QUICK ORDER. IS THAT RIGHT?

>> THAT IS CORRECT. THEN OF COURSE, WE'D BE COORDINATING WITH LARRY ROBERTSON WITH THE COUNTY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE AND THEN THAT WOULD BE PUBLISHED.

I'M NOT SURE IF IT'S 30 OR 60 DAYS.

THEN ONCE WE GOT THE APPLICATIONS IN WE'LL HAVE A TEAM OF COUNTY OFFICIALS THAT PARTICIPATE ON IT.

WELL, LIKE MIKE PLACIDO'S GROUP, BE A REPRESENTATIVE FROM OUR OFFICE PUBLIC DEFENDER, AND THERE'S LIKE TWO OTHERS.

THEN WE WOULD SCORE THAT APPLICATION, COME BACK TO THE COURT, MAKE A RECOMMENDATION ON THAT PROVIDER, AND DURING THAT TIME FRAME, THE VERA IS SAFE CITIES IS A FORM OF A GRANT.

ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE'D WANT TO DO ONCE THAT RFPS ISSUED IS ACTUALLY APPLY THROUGH THERE FOR THAT TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE AND FUNDING.

ONCE IT'S AWARDED, AND WE WOULD SELECT THE LEGO SERVICE PROVIDER.

IN HARRIS COUNTY, I HAVEN'T BEEN INTIMATELY INVOLVED IN THE RFP PROCESS HERE, BUT IT TYPICALLY TOOK ANYWHERE 3-4 OR FIVE MONTHS BEFORE THE WORD IS ACTUALLY ISSUED.

>> OKAY. YOU TOUCHED ON THIS THE VERA SAFE CITIES NETWORK.

TELL ME A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT THAT.

IT'S A NETWORK OF COMMUNITIES WHO HAVE SIMILAR INTERESTS IN PROVIDING THESE SERVICES. IS THAT RIGHT?

>> THAT IS CORRECT.

GEOGRAPHIC, I THINK THERE ARE RIGHT NOW IT SAYS THERE'S A GROUP 12 THAT ARE GEOGRAPHICALLY AND POLITICALLY DIVERSE LOCAL JURISDICTIONS AROUND THE COUNTRY.

THERE'S ONE IN HOUSTON, THERE'S ONE IN DALLAS.

THE BEGINNINGS OF ONE HERE IN BEXAR COUNTY BECAUSE THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO, IF I'M NOT MISTAKEN, IS A MEMBER OF THAT.

AS I MENTIONED, THE BIG VALUE THAT I SEE AND THIS CHALLENGING IN ANY TYPE OF PROGRAM IS LIKE, HOW IS THIS PROGRAM MOVE THE NEEDLE? THEY WILL WORK REALLY CLOSELY WITH OUR TEAMS HERE TO SET UP THOSE METRICS, HELP US WITH THOSE REPORTS COMING BACK, GIVING THEIR REPORTS TO THE COMMISSIONERS ON WHAT IMPACT IS THIS MONEY HAVING, IT JUST TAKES IT UP ANOTHER LEVEL OF ACCOUNTABILITY AND I THINK REALLY TRANSPARENCY.

>> I THINK THAT'S IMPORTANT. I KNOW THE NEED HAS BEEN ARTICULATED.

I THINK WHEN WE FIRST HAD DISCUSSIONS ABOUT THIS, OF COURSE, THE ASK WAS SIGNIFICANTLY HIGHER.

I THINK WE'LL FIND OUT IN PRETTY SHORT ORDER, IF $1 MILLION IS ENOUGH.

BECAUSE I KNOW THAT THAT OF COURSE, THE HARRIS COUNTY ONE'S MUCH LARGER.

BUT AGAIN, I THINK WHEN WE SET OUT ON THIS A YEAR AGO OR SO, IT WAS ABOUT MAKING SURE WE WERE TREATING PEOPLE HUMANELY, UNIFYING FAMILIES EVENING THE PLAYING FIELD.

THE COURT SYSTEMS INTIMIDATING AS IT IS MUCH LESS COMING FROM SOMEWHERE ELSE WITHOUT ANY RESOURCES.

[02:10:01]

THIS WAS REALLY ABOUT MAKING SURE PEOPLE HAD A FAIR SHOT AND AS MUCH AS WE COULD KEEPING PEOPLE, FAMILIES TOGETHER AND REUNIFYING FAMILIES.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORK ON THIS AND THANK YOU TO OUR ADVOCATES.

I KNOW MY COLLEAGUES MAY HAVE OTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS, BUT I'M GOING TO MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE THIS TODAY.

SECOND. I HAVE QUESTIONS.

>> MOTION AND SECOND. GO AHEAD, COMMISSIONER.

>> IT'S $1 MILLION AND YOU'RE GOING TO CHOOSE ONE ORGANIZATION OR ARE WE GOING TO CHOOSE SEVERAL ORGANIZATIONS TO WORK WITH?

>> MY UNDERSTANDING, AND I DON'T SEE LARRY HERE.

I WOULD THINK THAT MORE THAN ONE LEGAL SERVICE PROVIDER COULD BE PROVIDED.

>> NOW, I AGREE WITH THAT, BUT THE WAY IT WAS PRESENTED MADE IT SEEM LIKE AN RFP WAS GOING TO GO.

I JUST THINK THAT NEEDS TO BE CLEAR BECAUSE THERE'S MORE THAN ONE ORGANIZATION LOCALLY, HE'S DOING REALLY GREAT WORK FOR MIGRANTS.

>> SHEE, COULD YOU REPEAT.

>> THERE'S MORE THAN ONE ORGANIZATION LOCALLY[OVERLAPPING] THAT'S DOING REALLY GREAT WORK.

ALSO, CAN YOU TELL ME MORE ABOUT THE VERA?

>> YES.

IN REFERENCE TO THE VERY, THEY'RE REALLY A PUBLIC INTERESTS THINK TANK.

I'VE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO WORK WITH THEM IN OTHER AREAS IN HARRIS COUNTY.

THEY BRING AN INCREDIBLE AMOUNT OF TALENT, INTELLECT TO THIS TYPE OF PROGRAM.

THEY HAVE PEOPLE THAT HAVE EXPERTISE IN THIS PARTICULAR AREA [OVERLAPPING]

>> GUIDE YOU ALL AND WHAT SOME OTHER CITIES ARE DOING.

>> THEY BE GUIDING US ON REALLY SETTING THIS PROGRAM UP.

THIS IS NOT MY AREA OF EXPERTISE, BUT I'VE DEALT IN IT IN A LITTLE BIT IN HARRIS COUNTY.

AGAIN, THERE IS THE INTERSECTION ON THE CRIMINAL SIDE WITH THIS.

>> GREAT. THANK YOU. THANKS FOR YOUR WORK. I'M HAPPY TO SUPPORT IT.

>> COMMISSIONER MOODY.

>> THANK YOU, JIM. I JUST HAD A FEW QUESTIONS HERE.

CAN YOU HELP ME UNDERSTAND THEN HOW AN INDIVIDUAL THAN WOULD FALL INTO THIS PROGRAM? THEY'VE HAD SOME INTERACTION WITH OUR CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM.

NOW, THERE HAVE THERE FACING POTENTIAL DEPORTATION, IS THAT CORRECT?

>> IT DOESN'T MEAN THAT THEY NECESSARILY HAD AN INTERACTION WITH THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM.

ONE OF THE THINGS AND REFERENCES ARE RFP IS WE ARE PLACING A PRIORITY AS RECOMMENDED BY BEST-PRACTICES FOR THOSE PEOPLE THAT ARE BEING DETAINED, BUT THEM WITH THE IMMIGRANT BEING ACTUALLY DETAINED.

IT DOESN'T NECESSARILY MEAN THAT THEY'VE HAD SOME TYPE OF INTERACTION WITH THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM.

MIGHT WANT TO DEFER TO ME ON THIS, IF AM I CORRECT ON THAT?

>> YES. I'M MANUELA [INAUDIBLE] I'M THE IMMIGRATION ATTORNEY AT THE MANAGED ASSIGNED COUNSEL FOR BEXAR COUNTY.

I'VE WORKED IN THE IMMIGRATION COURTS BEFORE REPRESENTING UNACCOMPANIED MINORS, FOR EXAMPLE, HERE'S A PERSON THAT COMES IN CONTACT WITH THE IMMIGRATION SYSTEM IS NOT SOMEONE WHO NECESSARILY WAS ARRESTED FOR CRIMINAL OFFENSE OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT.

IT IS NOT NECESSARILY SOMEONE WHO HAS BEEN ARRESTED FOR A CRIMINAL OFFENSE.

MANY TIMES A PERSON CAN BECOME DEPORTABLE FOR MANY REASONS.

IT COULD EVEN BE A PERSON THAT WAS ILLEGAL, PERMANENT RESIDENT AT ONE TIME, BUT FOR OTHER REASONS OTHER THAN A CRIMINAL OFFENSE HAS NOW BECOME DEPORTABLE.

THERE ARE OTHER REASONS WHY A PERSON CAN BECOME DEPORTABLE.

THERE ARE ALSO MANY UNACCOMPANIED CHILDREN THAT HAVE COME TO THIS COUNTRY FLEEING PERSECUTION IN THEIR COUNTRIES.

THEY ARE ALSO MANY THAT ARE DETAINED.

NOT NECESSARILY, THEY ARE NOT GOING TO BE IN THE ADULT SYSTEM, BUT THEY WILL BE DETAINED WITHIN THE IMMIGRATION SYSTEM.

>> NO. THANK YOU FOR THAT. JUST FROM MY UNDERSTANDING, THERE'S NOT A LOT OF THOSE CASES THAT ARE DEPORTABLE SHORT OF INTERACTION WITH THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM.

CAN YOU HELP ME FOR THOSE OTHERS THAT I THINK WE'RE UNDER THE UNDERSTANDING OF THAT, FOR THOSE INTERACTIONS WITH THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM, ARE THERE ANY CONSTRAINTS ON WHAT CRIMES WOULD BE STILL ALLOWED TO PARTICIPATE IN THE PROGRAM?

>> COMMISSIONER, I'LL NEED TO GET BACK WITH YOU ON THAT.

I'M NOT EXACTLY CERTAIN.

>> I HAD ANOTHER QUESTION IN THE ARTICLE.

IT MENTIONED THE INTENT TO RESIDE IN BEXAR COUNTY.

CAN YOU HELP ME WITH THE CLARIFICATION THERE.

BECAUSE JUST OBVIOUSLY LIVING HERE VERSUS AN INTENT TO RESIDE HERE, THAT SEEMS TO OPEN IT UP MUCH MORE BROADLY.

[02:15:02]

>> IT DOES OPEN IT UP MORE BROADLY.

BUT THAT BEING SAID, THERE IS THE PREFERENCE FOR THE PERSON BEING A RESIDENT OF BEXAR COUNTY.

HOWEVER, IF THE PERSON IS RELEASED FROM THE DETENTION CENTER, REALLY THE LEGAL SERVICE PROVIDER HAS TO BE ABLE TO PROVE AND ESTABLISH THAT THIS PERSON DOES INTEND TO COME TO BEXAR COUNTY AND ARE CONTINUING TO RESIDE.

HE OR SHE MAY HAVE FAMILY HERE.

THEY MAY LIVE JUST ON THE OUTSKIRTS OF WHATEVER IT IS.

THERE IS A PROVISION IN THE WAY WE'VE GOTTEN IT WRITTEN IS THAT THEY HAVE TO SHOW AND IT'S NOT JUST SAY, OH, THEY'RE GOING TO COME BACK TO BEXAR COUNTY NOW, THERE ACTUALLY HAS TO BE PROOF EVIDENCE THAT THERE IS AN INTENT THAT THEY'RE COMING BACK HERE.

>> AS I'M TRYING TO THINK ABOUT THIS, WE'RE ESSENTIALLY ASKING THE TAXPAYERS TO PAY FOR THE LEGAL BILLS FOR NON-CITIZENS THAT HAVE POTENTIALLY BEEN CHARGED WITH A CRIME AND WE DON'T KNOW IF THERE'S LIMITATIONS ON THOSE CRIMES.

AT THIS POINT, THIS IS A BRIDGE TOO FAR FOR ME.

WITH PRIVATE DOLLARS OR NON-PROFITS, FEEL CALLED TO DO THIS WORK AND THEN THAT'S THEIR DECISION.

BUT FROM TAXPAYER STANDPOINT, I DON'T THINK, IT'S NOT SUPPORTABLE FOR ME.

I WOULD JUST ENCOURAGE, WHETHER THIS GOES FORWARD BASED ON THE VOTE OF THIS COURT, TO STILL CONSIDER WHAT THOSE CONSTRAINTS SHOULD BE BASED ON THE CRIMES COMMITTED.

BECAUSE OBVIOUSLY, SEVERE FELONIES WOULD BE AN ISSUE THAT I THINK A LOT OF PEOPLE WOULD HAVE GRAVE CONCERNS WITH. THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU. GO AHEAD, PLEASE. GO AHEAD.

>> YES I DID WANT TO ADDRESS THE CONCERN IN REGARDS TO WHETHER CERTAIN INDIVIDUALS CHARGED WITH CERTAIN CRIMES WOULD FALL, GAIN ACCESS TO THIS FUNDING.

I WOULD IMAGINE THAT WHEN THE ORGANIZATIONS THAT DO RECEIVE FUNDS TO REPRESENT PEOPLE IN THESE CASES, THEY MAY NOT.

MANY ORGANIZATIONS HAVE IN THEIR ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS.

THEY DON'T REPRESENT PEOPLE WITH CRIMINAL HISTORIES, BUT THERE ARE CERTAIN CRIMES THAT MAKE A PERSON INELIGIBLE FOR RELIEF FROM DEPORTATION.

I WOULD IMAGINE THAT DURING THEIR BEDDING PROCESS OR WHEN THAT PERSON APPLIES, THEY MAY NOT TAKE THOSE CASES THAT ARE NOT WINNABLE BECAUSE THEY HAVE MANDATORY DEPORTATION, FOR EXAMPLE. [OVERLAPPING]

>> CAN YOU BE MORE SPECIFIC ABOUT WHAT THOSE PARTICULAR CHARGES MIGHT BE UNDER-FIT?

>> THERE ARE MANY, FOR EXAMPLE, IF A PERSON WAS CONVICTED OF AN AGGRAVATED FELONY.

NOW, THE DEFINITION OF AN AGGRAVATED FELONY UNDER THE IMMIGRATION DEFINITION DOES NOT NECESSARILY MEAN THAT WAS A ACTUAL FELONY.

IT COULD EVEN BE A MISDEMEANOR THAT IS CONSIDERED AN AGGRAVATED FELONY.

THERE ARE SEVERAL CRIMES INVOLVING MORAL TURPITUDE THAT WOULD DISQUALIFY A PERSON.

BUT MAINLY THE AGGRAVATED FELONY CATEGORY IS SOMETHING THAT WOULD MAKE THE PERSON INELIGIBLE FOR RELIEF AND MORE LIKELY MANDATORY DEPORTATION WOULD RESULT IN THAT CASE.

>> JUST ONE FURTHER CLARIFICATION.

WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THOSE CASES, ARE WE TALKING ABOUT THE ACTUAL CASE THAT INITIATED THE INTERACTION WITH THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM OR A PREVIOUS CRIME THAT WAS COMMITTED AND THEY WERE CONVICTED OF AND NOT DEPORTED FOR WHICH IS [OVERLAPPING] TO ME, IF IF SOMEBODY IS CHARGED WITH A SERIOUS CRIME, WHETHER THEY'RE CONVICTED OF THAT CRIME OR NOT.

THEN THEY STILL FACE DEPORTATION.

BUT IN TERMS OF WHAT YOUR CONSTRAINTS ARE, IN TERMS OF THE PROGRAM AND WHAT YOU COULD SUPPORT OR WOULD SUPPORT.

I'M JUST TRYING TO UNDERSTAND THAT.

>> A PERSON DOESN'T NECESSARILY HAVE TO OR HAVE A PRESENT A MORE RECENT CONVICTION FOR AN AGGRAVATED FELONY TO RESULT TO END UP IN DEPORTATION PROCEEDINGS.

THIS COULD BE SOMETHING THAT WAS IN THEIR PAST.

LIKE I MENTIONED BEFORE, IT'S NOT NECESSARILY THAT THE PERSON COMMITTED A CRIME THAT HAS THAT PERSON NOW FACING DEPORTATION PROCEEDINGS.

IT COULD BE BECAUSE THE PERSON IS JUST HERE WITHOUT PERMISSION.

JUST THAT IN ITSELF WOULD CAUSE A PERSON TO END UP IN DEPORTATION PROCEEDINGS.

BUT BECAUSE IF A PERSON AT ANYTIME HAS IN

[02:20:02]

THEIR CRIMINAL HISTORY AN AGGRAVATED FELONY UNDER THE IMMIGRATION DEFINITION, THAT WOULD MAKE THE PERSON INELIGIBLE FOR RELIEF AND WOULD RESULT IN MANDATORY DEPORTATION.

>> ANY OTHER COMMENTS?

>> I JUST WANT TO COMMENT ON SOME THINGS.

FIRST OF ALL, THE WAY THIS WHOLE THING STARTED IS IN NO WAY ABOUT SUPPORTING UNDOCUMENTED PEOPLE WHO HAVE COMMITTED CRIMES.

THIS IS ABOUT SUPPORTING PEOPLE WHO ARE UNDOCUMENTED.

BECAUSE CHILDREN DON'T CHOOSE WHAT SIDE OF THE BORDER THEY'RE BORED ON.

THIS WAS STARTED BECAUSE OF MIGRANT AND IMMIGRANT ISSUES WITH FAMILIES BEING TORN APART AND BEING SEPARATED.

WHICH IS SOMETHING VERY PERSONAL TO ME AS A BLACK AND MEXICAN WOMAN.

THINKING OF THE HISTORY OF WHO I'M AS A BLACK WOMAN IN THIS COUNTRY AND MY ANCESTORS AND SLAVERY AND THEIR CHILDREN AND MOTHERS BEING SOLD ON SLAVE BLOCKS.

WE HAVE GENERATIONAL TRAUMA BECAUSE OF THAT.

THEN AS A MEXICAN, BECAUSE I HAVE DUAL CITIZENSHIP WITH MEXICO.

FAMILIES BEING SEPARATED BECAUSE BORDERS SEPARATE US.

EVEN THOUGH THIS LAND WHERE I SIT IN THE STATE OF TEXAS WHERE I WAS BORN USED TO BE MEXICO.

I THINK THIS IS SO IMPORTANT TO HAVE THIS FUND HERE, SPECIFICALLY IN BEXAR COUNTY BECAUSE OF THE CROSSROADS WHERE WE SIT IN THIS COUNTRY WITH I10 AND I35 AND SO CLOSE TO THE BORDER.

THIS IS NOT SOMETHING I TALK ABOUT PUBLICLY BECAUSE THIS IS JUST WHO I AM.

THIS IS WHAT I'VE DONE MY ENTIRE LIFE.

MY MOTHER WAS A MISSIONARY.

ONE OF THE HIGHLIGHTS OF MY WEEK IS EVERY SINGLE SATURDAY, I DO A WORSHIP SERVICE AT 3 O'CLOCK AT THE CITIES MIGRANT CENTER ON SAN PEDRO.

AS BUSY AND HECTIC IS MY SCHEDULE IS EVERY SINGLE SATURDAY AT 3 O'CLOCK, ME AND SOME FRIENDS FROM CHURCH GO AND SPEND HOURS THERE TO REMIND THE MIGRANTS WHO ARE PASSING THROUGH THAT THEY ARE WORTH JUST AS MUCH IN GOD'S EYES AS I AM.

IF YOU SIT AND LISTEN TO THEIR REASONS AND THEIR STORIES AND THEIR TESTIMONIES, OF MANY OF THEM TRAVELING FOR MONTHS AND THE THINGS THEY ARE FLEEING FROM, AND HOW GRATEFUL THEY ARE TO HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO JUST BE IN A CENTER LIKE THAT IN SAN ANTONIO, IT'S HEARTBREAKING.

THEY'RE NOT ALL LATINOS.

THIS LAST SATURDAY THERE WAS A GUY FROM IRAN, A GUY FROM NIGERIA, IT'S A PRIVILEGE THAT WE HERE IN BEXAR COUNTY CAN SERVE OUR GLOBAL CITIZENS IN THAT WAY.

I'M VERY GLAD THAT WE, AS THE COMMISSIONERS COURT, HAVE SUPPORTED THIS.

I'LL LOOK FORWARD TO GETTING UPDATES AND HEARING ABOUT THE GOOD WORK THAT WE'RE DOING IN STRIVING TO KEEP FAMILIES TOGETHER AND HELPING YOUNG PEOPLE TO BE CONTRIBUTING MEMBERS OF THIS SOCIETY.

LIKE THIS FUTURE LAWYER WHO'S SITTING HERE FROM MEXICO, WHO WAS BROUGHT HERE, WHO DIDN'T HAVE A DECISION BECAUSE DID YOU SAY FIVE YEARS OLD OR FIVE MONTHS OLD?

>> FIVE MONTHS.

>> HE DIDN'T KNOW WHAT WAS GOING ON. HE COULDN'T EVEN TALK.

SO I LOOK FORWARD TO YOU REPRESENTING PEOPLE IN BEXAR COUNTY AS YOU GRADUATE FROM LAW SCHOOL, HOPEFULLY IN THREE OR FOUR YEARS. THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. I JUST HAVE A FEW COMMENTS AND SOME QUESTIONS.

I REPRESENT A COMMUNITY THAT'S INDEPENDENT AND COMPASSIONATE.

SOME PEOPLE THINK THAT I'VE REPRESENTED BLACK DISTRICT OR PROGRESSIVE DISTRICT, BUT MY DISTRICT AND THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE ALWAYS SAT IN THE SEAT WERE VERY INDEPENDENT.

SOMETIMES YOU DIDN'T KNOW IF THEY WERE GOING TO BE ON THE CONSERVATIVE SIDE OR THE LIBERAL SIDE OF A PARTICULAR ISSUE AND THAT'S GOOD.

I THINK THAT FOR A LOT OF CONSTITUENTS IN AMERICA WHO ARE STRUGGLING WITH THEIR FEAR AROUND JOBS AND JUST THEIR FINANCIAL ENDS MEETING AND HAVE LEGAL NEEDS, THEY LOOK AT THIS AGENDA ITEM AND THEY ASK THE QUESTION, YOU'RE GIVING LEGAL REPRESENTATION TO SOMEONE WHO IS NOT A CITIZEN, WHAT ABOUT ME? I THINK THAT WE'VE HEARD SOME REASONS WHY, BUT I THINK THAT QUESTION DESERVES TO BE ANSWERED.

[02:25:03]

I HAVE MY OWN THOUGHTS ABOUT IT.

I DO THINK THAT THERE ARE MANY THINGS THAT THE COUNTY DOES TO PROVIDE REPRESENTATION TO ITS CITIZENS.

WE ARE PROVIDING REPRESENTATION TO OUR CITIZENS THROUGH LEGAL AID, OVER $1 MILLION THAT WE GAVE FOR PREVENTING PEOPLE FROM EVICTIONS.

WE ARE PROVIDING CRIMINAL DEFENSE, INDIGENT DEFENSE.

WE PROVIDE DISPUTE RESOLUTION.

THEY MAY NOT BE A LAWYER WHO DOES THAT RESOLUTION ON CIVIL MATTERS.

THERE ARE A NUMBER OF OTHER AREAS MAYBE THE DA'S OFFICE COULD OR YOUR OFFICE COULD ELABORATE ON THE WAYS THAT WE DO PROVIDE LEGAL COUNSEL TO OUR CITIZENS.

OF COURSE, WE HAVE OUR GP SYSTEM, WHICH IS THE PEOPLE'S COURT FOR SMALL CLAIMS AND ALL THOSE THINGS WHERE YOU CAN REPRESENT YOURSELF.

BUT I'D LIKE SOMEONE TO JUST ELABORATE A LITTLE BIT MORE TO THAT QUESTION THAT MANY PEOPLE THAT I REPRESENT HAVE.

>> YES, SIR. WELL, I THINK THAT WHAT'S IMPORTANT ABOUT THIS FUND TO HELP NON-CITIZENS IS THAT THEY HAVE TIES TO THE COMMUNITY.

THEY MAY BE PARENTS OF US CITIZEN CHILDREN.

THEY MAY HAVE PARENTS THAT ARE US CITIZENS.

THEY HAVE COME HERE TO THIS COUNTRY SEEKING WHAT THEY WOULD CALL THE GOLDEN TICKET TO FINALLY BECOME A US CITIZEN.

ULTIMATELY THAT IS THEIR GOAL AND IT ALL STARTS WITH WINNING THEIR CASE IN IMMIGRATION COURT AND GETTING THAT FIRST STEP TO BECOMING A LEGAL PERMANENT RESIDENT, HOLDING WHAT IS USUALLY A LOT OF TIMES CALLED THE GREEN CARD.

THAT IS THE FIRST STEP TO BECOME A US CITIZEN.

THEY COME HERE, THEY START BUSINESSES, FOR EXAMPLE, THEY ARE EMPLOYERS.

SURPRISINGLY, THEY PAY TAXES AND EVEN THOUGH THEY PAY INCOME TAXES, THEY DON'T GET TO BENEFIT FROM SOCIAL SECURITY AND ALL THOSE THINGS.

THEY ARE BIG CONTRIBUTORS TO OUR ECONOMY, TO OUR COMMUNITIES, TO OUR SOCIETY.

THERE ARE MANY NON-CITIZENS WHO ARE STUDENTS WHO UNFORTUNATELY NOW THEY GRADUATE AND THEY HAVE TO GO BACK OR THEY DON'T KNOW WHAT THEY'RE GOING TO DO.

THIS IS AN EXTREMELY IMPORTANT FUND THAT WILL HELP FUTURE CITIZENS OF THE UNITED STATES.

>> I'M GLAD YOU BOARD INTO THE QUESTION AND THANK YOU FOR ANSWERING THAT QUESTION ON THE SPOT.

I'M GLAD YOU BOARD INTO THE QUESTION OF TAXES BECAUSE AGAIN, PEOPLE WILL SAY, I'M A CITIZEN, I PAY TAXES AND THEY DON'T, BUT IF THEY ARE PURCHASING FOOD IN OUR STORES, THEIR SALES TAXES, IF THEY ARE RENTING A ROOM OR AN APARTMENT OR A HOUSE, THEY'RE PAYING THE LANDLORD.

THEY'RE PAYING THEM FOR THE PROPERTY TAXES THAT WIND UP IN BEXAR COUNTY.

THERE IS SOME SKIN IN THE GAME FROM A TAX REVENUE STANDPOINT, I THINK IN THE NEXT PRESENTATION, IT WOULD BE WISE TO LOOK AT SOME ESTIMATES OF WHAT THE TAX CONTRIBUTIONS ARE OF THOSE WHO MAY BE UNDOCUMENTED AND HERE, WORKING, SAN ANTONIO IS A PARTICULARLY IMMIGRANT COMMUNITY.

THAT NUMBER MAY BE SIGNIFICANTLY HIGHER THAN OTHER BIG CITIES.

BUT I THINK THAT'S AN IMPORTANT DISCUSSION TO HAVE AND SOMETIMES WE DON'T GET TO HAVE THIS CIVILITY OF THE DISCUSSION.

IT'S JUST TV PEOPLE YELLING AT EACH OTHER AND HOW THEY FEEL.

BUT I THOUGHT IT'S FAIR TO ASK THAT QUESTION BECAUSE A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVE RESENTMENT BECAUSE THEY ARE STRUGGLING WITH THINGS AND THEY FEEL LIKE THE SYSTEM IS WORKING MORE FOR SOMEONE ELSE THAN IT IS FOR THEM.

I JUST WANTED TO PUT THAT ON THE TABLE BECAUSE A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF PEOPLE I REPRESENT FEEL THAT WAY.

I WAS LOOKING A LITTLE BIT MORE INTO THE BEXAR ORGANIZATION.

AND THERE'S A LOT OF RESOURCES THERE, THERE'S A LOT OF GOOD INFORMATION THERE.

I FEEL A LITTLE BIT MORE COMFORTABLE THAN I DID BECAUSE I DIDN'T KNOW ABOUT THE SAID INITIATIVE AND THE NETWORK.

I THINK THERE IS SOME GOOD SYNERGY THAT CAN HELP US.

LET ME ASK YOU ABOUT THE RESULTS.

THE RESULTS FOR PEOPLE WITH REPRESENTATION.

WE'VE TALKED ABOUT, I THINK 80% OF FOLKS WHO HAVE A LAWYER AND UP I GUESS YOU'RE SAYING THAT THEY END UP HAVING THEIR CASES MOVE FORWARD IN THE LEGAL PROCESS SUCCESSFULLY FOR THEM TO GET A GREEN CARD OR TO BECOME CITIZENS.

IS THAT WHAT I'M HEARING YOU SAY?

[02:30:02]

>> YES.

STATISTICALLY, A NON CITIZEN AND IMMIGRANT WITH AN ATTORNEY IS FIVE TIMES MORE LIKELY TO SEEK RELIEF AND TO WIN THEIR CASE.

THAT'S FOR A NON DETAINED IMMIGRANT.

FOR A DETAINED IMMIGRANT, THEY ARE TWICE AS LIKELY TO SEEK RELIEF AND WIN THEIR CASE.

FOR CHILDREN, THE MOST VULNERABLE OF THE POPULATION, THEY ARE 73% MORE LIKELY TO WIN THEIR CASE, WHEREAS ONLY 14% ARE LIKELY TO WIN THEIR CASE WITHOUT AN ATTORNEY.

>> JUST TO BE CLEAR, IF YOU'RE WINNING YOUR CASE, THEN THE IMMIGRATION JUDGES ARE DETERMINING THAT YOU DO HAVE AN IMMIGRATION PATHWAY TO THE UNITED STATES AND THAT BECAUSE YOUR RIGHTS HAVE BEEN EXERCISE, THAT YOU'RE DOING IT IN A LEGAL WAY.

FOR THE VAST MAJORITY THEY DO HAVE A PATHWAY, BUT BECAUSE OF PROCEDURES LEGALLY, WHEN THE GOVERNMENT IS WORKING AGAINST SOMEONE WHO DOESN'T HAVE A PERSON OF LEGAL COUNSEL THEN THEY WERE ABLE TO JUST DISPENSE WITH THEM.

IS THAT BASICALLY WHAT I'M HEARING YOU SAY?

>> YES, THAT'S CORRECT.

>> IF THEY DO WIN THEIR CASE, THEY ARE GIVEN A GREEN CARD AND THEY NOW HAVE A PATHWAY TO CITIZENSHIP.

>> BEING A COUNTY COMMISSIONER IS A LAISSEZ-FAIRE HANDS-OFF SOMETIMES AND THERE'S A LOT OF HANDS ON TO A LOT OF WORK.

BUT HOT-BUTTON ISSUES, WE TEND TO STAY AWAY FROM THIS IS A HOT-BUTTON ISSUE.

IT GAVE ME SOME PAUSE JUST TO MAKE SURE THAT WE WERE THINKING IT THROUGH, BUT I FEEL A LOT BETTER WITH THE ANSWERS THAT HAVE BEEN PROVIDED FOR ME HERE.

WE SEE THAT STATE GOVERNMENT HAS ENTERED INTO THE IMMIGRATION DEBATE WITH BILLIONS OF DOLLARS BEING SPENT ON THE BORDER.

WHETHER IT'S WORKING, IT DOESN'T SEEM TO BE AS EVIDENCED BY INCREASED BUDGETARY NUMBERS.

FOR ME, THIS ISSUE BOILS DOWN TO A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO HEARING THE CRIES OF BABIES AND CHILD DETENTION CENTERS THAT WERE BEING TORN APART BY OUR SYSTEM FROM THEIR PARENTS.

I AM NOT A PARENT, BUT THAT WAS THE VERY FIRST TIME THAT I THOUGHT I KNEW WHAT IT WOULD BE LIKE WHEN I HEARD THOSE BABIES CRY.

[NOISE] SORRY, I FEEL A LITTLE EMOTIONAL.

BUT I THINK THAT IT'S THE RIGHT THING TO DO FOR A COMPASSIONATE CITY AND A COMPASSIONATE COUNTY, TO TRY TO KEEP FAMILIES TOGETHER WHEN THEY HAVE A LEGAL RIGHT AND PROCESS AND ARE TRYING TO FOLLOW IT APPROPRIATELY.

I DON'T KNOW ALL THE DETAILS OF HOW PEOPLE GET HERE.

THE ISSUE IS SO DISPERSED.

WHAT WE HAVE TO DO TO PROTECT, I THINK, THE INTEGRITY OF THIS PROCESS IS WE REALLY DO NEED MORE SPECIFICITY, JIM, ABOUT THOSE OFFENSES THAT WE'RE NOT GOING TO PROVIDE LEGAL COUNSEL FOR.

THERE'S GOT TO BE MORE DEFINITION WHEN YOU BRING THIS BACK TO THIS COURT.

I AM NOT FOR PROVIDING DEFENSE FOR THOSE WHO'VE COMMITTED PARTICULARLY HEINOUS CRIMES.

NOW THERE MAY BE CIRCUMSTANCES AND CHANGE AND ALL THAT KIND OF STUFF, YOU GOT TO HELP US WHO'VE NEVER DEALT WITH THIS, FIGURE OUT HOW DO WE GET TO THAT UNDERSTANDING OR WHAT HAVE YOU.

THIS IS NEW TO A LOT OF US, BUT BRING THAT BACK A LITTLE TIGHTER IN TERMS OF THE CRITERIA, A LITTLE BIT MORE SPECIFICITY.

BUT WITH THAT, THERE HAS BEEN A MOTION TO SECOND, AND WE'RE GOING TO TAKE A VOTE.

ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY, AYE.

>> ALL THOSE OPPOSED. [NOISE] MOTION CARRIES. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

[NOISE] WE'LL MOVE ON TO ITEM NUMBER 50.

[50. Discussion and appropriate action regarding Bexar County's Legislative Program and the 88th Session of the Texas Legislature.]

THIS IS A DISCUSSION OF APPROPRIATE ACTION REGARDING BEXAR COUNTY'S LEGISLATIVE PROGRAM AND THE ADA LEGISLATIVE SESSION OF TEXAS.

I THINK MELISSA SHANNON IS HERE TO GIVE US AN UPDATE. THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>> GOOD MORNING, COMMISSIONERS. HERE IS MELISSA SHANNON, GOVERNMENTAL AFFAIRS DIRECTOR.

AS I NORMALLY DO, I'LL GO THROUGH SOME OF OUR INITIATIVES AND BILLS, HOT TOPIC BILL ITEMS. THE INDIVIDUALS THAT SIGNED UP TO SPEAK JUST THEY WERE REFERENCING ONE PARTICULAR BILL.

THERE ARE SEVERAL BILLS ON BOTH SIDES OF THE ISSUE THAT WE'RE TRACKING CURRENTLY.

SO THOSE ARE IN YOUR WEEKLY TRACKING REPORTS THAT YOU GET.

IF YOU WANT SPECIFIC INFORMATION ON THOSE SPECIFIC BILLS JUST LET ME KNOW, BUT THERE ARE BILLS THAT HAVE BEEN FILED ON BOTH SIDES OF THE ISSUE.

[02:35:06]

AS OF LAST NIGHT, WE'RE UP TO ALMOST 5,700 BILLS THAT HAVE BEEN FILED AND WE ARE TRACKING 584.

BILL FILING DEADLINE IS FRIDAY.

AT THE CAPITOL YESTERDAY, THERE WERE ALREADY A FEW OFFICES THAT HAD NOTES UP ON THEIR DOOR THAT THEY WERE NO LONGER FILING ANY BILLS FOR ANYONE, SO NOT TO EVEN ENTER THEIR OFFICE AND ASK FOR IT, SO IT'S THAT TIME OF SESSION.

HEARINGS HAVE STARTED AS WELL.

FOR THE OFFICES AND DEPARTMENTS THAT ARE OUT THERE WATCHING, IF YOU ARE ON MY TRACKING LIST I'D APPRECIATE IF I CAN GET FEEDBACK FROM THOSE OFFICES AND DEPARTMENTS.

IT HELPS ME WITH THE SUBJECT MATTER EXPERTS IF THEY'LL GIVE ME THE SUBJECT MATTER FEEDBACK ON THOSE ITEMS. BECAUSE AS THOSE BILLS COME UP, THAT'S OUR OPPORTUNITY TO GET THINGS HOPEFULLY CORRECTED IF THERE ARE ISSUES THAT WOULD AFFECT THE COUNTY.

I'D LIKE TO GET THAT DONE PRIOR TO IT COMING UP IN A COMMITTEE AND BE ABLE TO SPEAK TO THE BILL AUTHOR ABOUT THAT.

THOMAS JUST HANDED OUT A DOCUMENT, STATE COST IMPOSED ON COUNTY TAXPAYERS.

THIS IS THE DOCUMENT THAT WE PUT TOGETHER EVERY LEGISLATIVE SESSION.

THESE ARE UPDATED NUMBERS THAT I JUST RECEIVED FROM THE BUDGET OFFICE.

WE'VE UPDATED IT THROUGH CURRENT DATA.

SO THIS IS A DOCUMENT THAT MOST OF YOU ARE USED TO SEEING.

IF THERE ARE NO OBJECTIONS, IF I'VE NOT HEARD FROM YOU OR YOUR OFFICE BY THE END OF THE DAY, THEN I'LL BE SHARING THAT THIS WEEK WITH OFFICES AND OUR OFFICERS.

>> MELISSA, GO AHEAD AND READ US SOME OF THOSE THINGS THAT ARE ON THIS DOCUMENT.

>> YOU MAY HAVE HEARD US REFER TO THESE ITEMS IN THE PAST AS UNFUNDED MANDATES, AND YOU'LL STILL HEAR THAT A LOT.

BUT REALLY WHAT WE SEE THESE ITEMS AS REALLY STATE AND POST-TAX INCREASES.

THESE ARE ITEMS THAT THE STATE IS RESPONSIBLE FOR.

THE STATE HAS MANDATED THAT COUNTIES ARE TO CARRY OUT THESE PARTICULAR ITEMS, BUT THEY DON'T ALSO SEND THE FUNDING DOWN TO US.

IN PARTICULAR, SINCE 2013, THE FOLLOWING ITEMS HAVE COST BEXAR COUNTY TAXPAYERS.

ADULT PROBATION, FOR INSTANCE, 14.8 MILLION FOR THOSE INDIVIDUALS WHO RECEIVE PROBATION IN LIEU OF STATE PRISON SENTENCE.

CPS, CHILD PROTECTIVE SERVICES, $29.8 MILLION IN COURT-APPOINTED ATTORNEYS FEES.

ELECTIONS, 14.5 MILLION DUE IN PART TO INCREASES IN STATE ELECTIONS WE'VE HAD TO HAVE QUITE A FEW MORE STATE ELECTIONS RECENTLY.

JUVENILE PROBATION, OVER $161 MILLION IN DEFERRED PROSECUTION OR COURT-ORDERED PROBATION.

STATE ROADS, 362.6 MILLION HAS BEEN FUNDED AND OR COMMITTED TO ACCELERATE PROJECTS ON STATE ON ROADS AND HIGHWAYS DUE TO FUNDING GAPS.

ADDITIONALLY, WE ALSO SPEND ABOUT TWO MILLION DOLLARS ANNUALLY TO DETAIN STATE TECHNICAL PAROLE VIOLATORS, THOSE THAT JOE HARRIS REFERRED TO AS BLUE WARRANTS.

INDIGENT DEFENSE, 13.2 MILLION IN THE LAST FISCAL YEAR.

WE ONLY RECEIVED ONE MILLION IN STATE REIMBURSEMENTS.

AS YOU KNOW, THAT'S ONE OF OUR INITIATIVES AT THE LEGISLATURE THIS SESSION TO WORK WITH THE INDIGENT DEFENSE COMMISSION TO TRY AND HELP THEM GET MORE STATE FUNDING THAT CAN ALSO FUNNEL DOWN TO THE LOCAL LEVEL TO THE COUNTIES.

JAIL OPS, WE'VE SPENT OVER 76 MILLION TO OPERATE THE ADULT DETENTION CENTER THIS LAST YEAR, AND THEN PAPER-READY INMATES, SO THOSE INMATES THAT ARE READY TO GO TO TDCJ, THAT'S BEEN 6.5 MILLION THAT WE SPENT LAST YEAR.

THEN ADDITIONALLY, THE COMMISSION ON GENERAL STANDARDS REQUIREMENTS HAVE MANDATED 66.4 MILLION IN MAINTENANCE PROJECTS IN OUR ADULT DETENTION CENTER SINCE 2010.

THIS DOCUMENT, LIKE I SAID, IF I'VE NOT HEARD FROM YOUR OFFICE OR DEPARTMENT, I'LL PASS THIS OUT TO OUR DELEGATION LATER THIS WEEK.

>> YOU'RE SAYING $1.1 BILLION IMPOSED ON COUNTY TAXPAYERS?

>> THAT'S YES. EXACTLY.

>> SINCE 2013?

>> THAT'S A LOT OF MONEY.

>> YES, IT IS.

>> MELISSA, JUST TO CONFIRM, YOU'RE GOING TO SHARE THAT WITH OUR STATE DELEGATION.

THAT'S NOT GOING TO OTHER PLACES AT THIS POINT.

[02:40:02]

IT'S JUST WORTH JUST MAKING OUR STATE LEGISLATORS AWARE OF THE SITUATION.

>> I WILL SHARE THIS WITH OUR BEXAR COUNTY DELEGATION AND THEIR STAFF, AS WELL AS YOU'LL SEE THE FINAL DOCUMENT, I'LL PUT IT IN YOUR FRIDAY EMAIL AS WELL, AND THEN YOU ALL ARE ABLE TO SHARE THAT IF YOU'D LIKE.

SPEAKER PHELAN HAS PUT OUT I GUESS OVER THE LAST WEEK, 10 DAYS, THERE'S BEEN THREE DIFFERENT ANNOUNCEMENTS ON HIS PRIORITIES, SO I'LL HIT THE HIGH NOTES ON SOME OF THOSE.

HB2, WHICH IS THE PROPERTY TAX RELIEF ACT.

THIS WAS FILED BY REPRESENTATIVE MEYER AND THE CAPTION READS RELATING TO PROVIDING PROPERTY TAX RELIEF THROUGH THE PUBLIC SCHOOL FINANCE SYSTEM AND PROPERTY TAX APPRAISAL AND ADMINISTRATION.

>> COULD YOU BE A LITTLE BIT MORE SPECIFIC? WHAT I'VE HEARD IS A LOT OF EXEMPTIONS, BUT NOT A LOT OF ADDITIONAL FUNDING TO SCHOOLS WHICH WOULD ULTIMATELY OVER THE LONG TERM PROVIDED.

ARE THOSE EXEMPTIONS ONE THAT THEY HAVE TO OPT INTO?

>> IT'S NOT GUARANTEED IT'LL HAPPEN.

>> YOU HAVE TO OPT-IN THROUGH THE APPRAISAL DISTRICT, BUT SAY YOU ALREADY HAVE EXEMPTIONS, YOU ALREADY HAVE A HOME, I CAN'T THINK OF THE.

>> HOMESTEAD.

>> HOMESTEAD. I WAS GOING TO SAY, HOMEOWNERS.

IF YOU ALREADY HAVE FILED YOUR HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION WITH YOUR APPRAISAL DISTRICT, THEN THAT'S BASICALLY A ONE-TIME DOCUMENT THAT YOU FILL OUT.

ANY NEW EXEMPTIONS THAT ARE APPROVED, THEN YOU AUTOMATICALLY GET THAT EXEMPTION THAT YOU QUALIFY FOR.

THIS PARTICULAR BILL WOULD LOWER THE SCHOOL DISTRICT PROPERTY TAXES BY 28 PERCENT AND ALSO REDUCE THE APPRAISAL CAP TO FIVE PERCENT ON ALL PROPERTIES.

>> I'M SORRY. SAY THAT AGAIN ABOUT THE APPRAISAL CAP, WHAT?

>> FIVE PERCENT.

>> IT WOULD DO WHAT? LOWER IT TO WHAT?

>> LOWER IT TO FIVE PERCENT.

>> FROM 10?

>> A LOT OF RAMIFICATIONS.

>> HOUSE BILL 5 BY REPRESENTATIVE HUNTER.

THIS IS REFERRED TO AS TEXAS JOBS AND SECURITY ACT.

THIS IS WHAT WE CURRENTLY KNOW OR I THINK IT MAY HAVE BEEN SUNSET AND NOW THAT I'M SAYING THAT, BUT IT'S CHAPTER 313.

THIS IS NOT A CHAPTER THAT AFFECTS THE COUNTY PER SE, BUT IT'S THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT INCENTIVE CHAPTER THAT SCHOOLS THAT ISDS USE TO WAIVE TAXES TO ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS.

SO HOUSE BILL 5, TEXAS JOBS AND SECURITY ACT.

HOUSE BILL 10 BY REPRESENTATIVE KING, WOULD BE THE WATER DEVELOPMENT PROJECT ACT TO FUNNEL BILLIONS OF DOLLARS UNTOLD INTO PROJECTS THROUGHOUT TEXAS.

HOUSE BILL 14, REPRESENTATIVE HARRIS IS SAID TO STREAMLINE THE APPROVAL PROCESS FOR PROPERTY DEVELOPMENT AND BUILDING REVIEWS.

HOWEVER, I NEED TO LOOK AT THIS BILL BECAUSE IT DOES AFFECT OUR TIMING ON HOW CITIES AND COUNTIES REVIEW THESE PROJECTS.

I DON'T HAVE MY ANALYSIS DONE ON THAT YET, BUT I'M NOT CERTAIN IF THAT'S A GOOD THING FOR US YET. HOUSE BILL 14.

ANOTHER ONE THAT WE ARE WATCHING IS SO THOSE WERE SOME OF THE SPEAKER'S PRIORITIES.

ANOTHER BILL THAT WE ARE WATCHING VERY CLOSELY, WHICH WAS FILED BY A MEMBER OF OUR DELEGATION, HOUSE BILL 2566 BY REPRESENTATIVE ALLISON.

THIS WOULD CREATE AND THIS ONE IS BRACKETED TO BEXAR COUNTY, SO IT ONLY AFFECTS US, IT WOULD CREATE A MINIMUM NUMBER OF 1.8 OFFICERS FOR EVERY THOUSAND RESIDENTS IN THE UNINCORPORATED AREAS OF BEXAR COUNTY SO THIS WOULD REQUIRE US TO ENSURE WE HAVE 1.8 PER EVERY 1,000.

>> DO WE HAVE ANALYSIS OF WHERE WE'RE AT?

>> BUDGET IS WORKING ON THAT TO PULL THAT TOGETHER.

>> ABOUT HALF THAT.

>> ABOUT HALF THAT SO THAT MEANS THAT WE WOULD DOUBLE THE AMOUNT OF LAW ENFORCEMENT DEPUTIES IN THE UNINCORPORATED COUNTY PHYSICALLY.

>> IF THAT'S HOW THE NUMBERS SHAKE OUT, IT WOULD REQUIRE US TO, WHERE ARE WE GOING TO FIND THESE OFFICERS?

>> WHICH COMMITTEE IS THAT GOING THROUGH?

>> I DON'T KNOW YET, IT HASN'T BEEN ASSIGNED TO COMMITTEE YET, MAYBE COUNTY AFFAIRS, BUT I DON'T KNOW IT, MAYBE THE PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE.

>> DO YOU KNOW THE ORIGIN OF THE GROUP OR GROUPS THAT BEGAN THIS DISCUSSION?

[02:45:04]

>> WHAT I HAVE HEARD AND I BELIEVE IT TO BE TRUE THE DSABCS ASKED THIS TO BE FILED.

>> COMMISSIONER, I CONFIRM THAT I HEARD ABOUT THIS LAST WEEK FROM ONE OF OUR DELEGATION MEMBERS WHO CALLED AND SAID, I SIGNED ON AS A COAUTHOR TO ONE OF YOUR PRIORITY BILLS AND I SAID WHICH ONE IS THAT AND THEY MENTIONED THIS BILL AND THEY SAID, WELL, IT WAS REPRESENTED TO US THAT THIS WAS ONE OF BEXAR COUNTIES PRIORITY BILLS AND I SAID, WELL THAT'S NOT THE CASE, AS A FIRST I'VE HEARD OF IT NOT THAT I'M UNSUPPORTIVE OF LAW ENFORCEMENT, BUT I THINK THERE'S TWO THINGS HAPPENING HERE.

ONE, WE NEED TO KNOW THE BUDGET IMPACT AND THEN SECONDARILY, WE NOW HAVE A RESTRICTION ON REDUCING LAW ENFORCEMENT ONCE WE ADD THAT TO THE BUDGET.

IT SEEMED LIKE THERE WAS SOME CONFUSION AS TO WHERE IT CAME FROM, AT LEAST HOW IT WAS REPRESENTED TO THIS MEMBER AND A SECOND MEMBER THAT ALSO SIGNED ON AS A CO-AUTHOR WHO I TALKED TO, SO I DID TALK TO SOMEONE AT DSABC AND IT IS ONE OF THEIR BILLS AND I'M NOT SAYING THAT I KNOW FOR CERTAIN THEY MISREPRESENTED ANYTHING I THINK THERE MAY BE SOME CONFUSION IN TERMS OF HOW IT WAS COMMUNICATED SO ANYWAY THERE I THINK NOW ON ALERT THAT IT DIDN'T COME FROM US WE NEED TO KNOW THE FISCAL IMPACT BECAUSE OF REALITY IS, IF IT GETS PASSED IN THAT FASHION, IT'S AN UNFUNDED MANDATE BECAUSE WE'RE NOT GOING TO BE GIVEN THE MONEY FROM THE STATE TO FUND THOSE POSITIONS.

ANYWAY JUST WANTED TO MENTION THAT.

>> LET ME JUST, THERE'S PROBABLY NO COMMISSIONER FRANKLY THAT HAS RECEIVED MORE CAMPAIGN CONTRIBUTIONS FROM DSABC THAN MYSELF AND I THINK WE'VE DONE A LOT OF GOOD TO INCREASE OUR NUMBERS TO 136 NEW SHERIFF'S DEPUTIES SINCE I BECAME COMMISSIONER.

RAISE YOUR WAGES 41% BUT WE NEED TO HAVE A MEETING WITH THE UNION TO BE VERY CAREFUL ABOUT MISINFORMATION AND OVERSTEPPING.

THIS COURT HAD THE UNION COME HERE AND TALK ABOUT DEFUNDING THE DEPARTMENT THAT WAS NOT TRUE WE WERE NOT DEFUNDING THE DEPARTMENT.

WHEN ENTITIES DO THAT THEY LOSE CREDIBILITY.

CREDIBILITY IS VERY IMPORTANT TO POLICYMAKERS.

INTEGRITY OF CREDIBILITY IS VERY IMPORTANT THAT WE CAN RELY UPON FACTUAL INFORMATION COMING FROM THE INTERESTS THAT COME BEFORE US.

WE NEED TO HAVE A POWER BECAUSE IT DOESN'T FEEL PARTICULARLY GOOD TO BE THE ONLY COUNTY PICKED ON IN THIS WAY.

WE BELIEVE IN INCREASING LAW ENFORCEMENT LIKE I SAID, WE'VE ADDED 136 NEW OFFICERS, WE'VE INCREASED WAGES BY 41%, WE'VE MADE HUGE STRIDES FROM THE DAYS WHERE WHEN I CAME IN HERE, THEY JUST HAD NO ROOM FOR EVEN THEIR FILES, OUR CAPTAINS WERE STRUGGLING WITH SPACE AND WE'RE STILL MOVING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION BUT THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO AND THEIR SEPOA CONTRACT BECAME THE SUBJECT OF LAW SCHOOL DISSERTATIONS AND ALL SPECIAL DOCUMENTARIES ON CNN.

BECAUSE IT MIGHT HAVE BEEN A LITTLE BIT TOO FAR AND WE'VE TRIED TO FIND BALANCE BY COMMUNICATING WITH EACH OTHER, AND IT WOULD HAVE BEEN NICE FOR THE COURT TO HAVE KNOWN THAT THIS WAS COMING BEFORE US, AS A BILL.

WE'VE GOT TO MAKE GOOD PUBLIC POLICY AND NONE OF US, WE ALL HAVE DREAMS AND ASPIRATIONS OF THINGS WE CHAMPION WHETHER ITS MENTAL HEALTH, WHETHER ITS TAX CUTS WHETHER IT'S HOUSING, WHATEVER THAT IS.

WE WOULD LOVE TO BE ABLE TO WAVE A WAND AND DO IT ALL IN ONE FELL SWOOP BUT WE HAVE TO BE MEASURED.

WE HAVE TO MEASURE ALL OF THE NEEDS OF THE COMMUNITY AND I JUST SAY THAT BECAUSE WE HAVE NEW LEADERSHIP THROUGHOUT THIS COURT AND THROUGHOUT THE UNION AND I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE WORK TOGETHER AT THIS TIME.

POLITICS HAS BECOME A VERY DIVISIVE GAME AND I THINK WE CAN DO A LOT BETTER WORKING TOGETHER SO I JUST WANT TO SAY THAT FOR THE RECORD.

>> I DO THINK WE SHOULD BE WORKING TOGETHER ON THIS AND I DON'T KNOW THE ENTIRE BACKGROUND AND COMMUNICATION PIECES OR MESSES THAT TOOK PLACE BUT I HAVE BEEN VOCAL BOTH PREVIOUSLY ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL AND SINCE SITTING IN THIS SEAT, THAT I DO THINK WE NEED MORE LAW ENFORCEMENT, ESPECIALLY IN THE UNINCORPORATED REGIONS OF BEXAR COUNTY AND THAT IS WHERE THE GROWTH IS TAKING PLACE SO I THINK WE NEED TO INVEST IN THAT.

[02:50:05]

I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE RIGHT NUMBER IS, AND THAT'S SOMETHING I THINK THAT THIS COURT NEEDS TO DISCUSS WITH STAFF AND WITH THE DEPUTY SHERIFFS ASSOCIATION, AND WITH THE SHERIFF BUT I DO THINK WE NEED MORE INVESTMENT THERE IN ORDER TO ENSURE AS WE CONTINUE TO GROW IN THOSE REGIONS OF THE COUNTY THAT WE'RE FULLY PREPARED AND WE CAN KEEP OUR CITIZENS SAFE.

>> I 100% AGREE, I THINK THIS IS AN ITEM THAT THIS COURT NEEDS TO WORK ON AND NOT SOMETHING THAT NEEDS TO BE BROUGHT UP IN THE LEGISLATURE SO I WILL TAKE DIRECTION FROM THE COURT IF YOU WOULD LIKE ME TO PULL A MEETING TOGETHER FOR A COUPLE OF YOU TO MEET.

>> WE DEFINITELY NEED A MEETING.

>> WITH THE SMBC AND THE AUTHOR OR IF WHATEVER YOU'D LIKE.

>> [OVERLAPPING] GO AHEAD, LET'S GET THAT MEETING WE NEED TO MEET.

>> OKAY.

>> I THINK THAT'S FINE AND AGAIN, I THINK IT WAS MORE AS HAS BEEN STATED, FINDING OUT ABOUT THIS THE WAY I FOUND OUT ABOUT IT.

AS COMMISSIONER CONFERENCE STATED, WE HAVE BEEN SUPPORTIVE AND WE WANT TO CONTINUE TO BE SUPPORTIVE, BUT WE DON'T APPRECIATE THINGS BEING SHOVED DOWN OUR THROATS AND HAND-CUPPING US TO DO WHAT WE NEED TO DO WITH THE BUDGET SO I THINK THAT'S PART OF THE ISSUE, BUT WE'LL HAVE THAT MEETING AND I THINK MELISSA, YOU CAN HELP COORDINATE THAT.

>> YES SIR.

>> THAT WILL BE GREAT.

>> DEFINITELY, NEXT BILL IS HB 2633 THIS WAS FILED BY REPRESENTATIVE CORTES AND THIS IS RELATING TO THE ESD RESOLUTION THAT YOU ADOPTED, LAST MEETING OR MEETING BEFORE TO REMOVE THE $20,000 DEBT LIMIT SO THAT BILL HAS BEEN FILED.

THERE ARE BILLS THAT ARE ALREADY COMING OUT I KNOW I MENTIONED SENATE COMMITTEES ARE MEETING.

HOUSE COMMITTEES ARE MEETING IN MOST LAST WEEK AND THIS WEEK ARE JUST ORGANIZATIONAL MEETINGS BUT THE SENATE COMMITTEES HAVE ALREADY VOTED OUT SOME BILLS, ONE OF INTEREST WAS SP2 SO THAT'S A LOW NUMBER, MEANS IT'S A PRIORITY FOR THE LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR AND SP2 WOULD INCREASE THE PENALTY FOR ILLEGAL VOTING FROM A MISDEMEANOR TO A SECOND-DEGREE FELONY SO THAT ONE HAS COME OUT OF COMMITTEE AND IT'LL GO BACK TO THE SENATE AND MY ASSUMPTION IS IT WILL PASS OUT OF THE SENATE AND THEN MOVE OVER TO THE HOUSE.

SENATE BILL 30, THE SUPPLEMENTAL BUDGET, AN ITEM TO NOTE HERE IS THIS BILL WILL BE HEARD IN SENATE FINANCE TOMORROW I BELIEVE THERE ARE SEVERAL OF US FROM THE URBAN COUNTIES THAT WILL SIGN UP TO SPEAK IN FAVOR, THERE'S 9.7, 9.8 MILLION DOLLARS APPROPRIATED FROM THE GENERAL FUND FOR THE JUVENILE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT TO REIMBURSE COUNTIES FOR THE COST OF HOLDING JUVENILES SO THAT'S A GOOD THING FOR THE COUNTY SB30, I BELIEVE IT'S UP FOR HEARING TOMORROW.

AN ITEM OF NOTE THAT'S NOT A GOOD NEWS STORY IS SB 651 BY PERRY, HB 2401 THIS IS THE HOUSE COMPANION, HB 2401 BY OLIVERSON, THIS AFFECTS, UHS SO WHAT THIS DOES IS, WELL LET ME READ THE CAPTION, FIRST OF ALL, RELATING TO THE REPEAL OF CERTAIN CONTRACTING REQUIREMENTS UNDER THE MEDICAID MANAGED CARE DELIVERY MODEL.

WHAT I AM TOLD BY UHS STAFF IS IF THIS WERE TO PASS THEIR HOSPITAL DISTRICT OWN PLANS, SO THEIR COMMUNITY FIRST PLAN WOULD BE IN JEOPARDY OF LOSING MEDICAID MANAGED CARE CONTRACTS SO THIS WOULD AFFECT THEIR FUNDING AND AFFECT OVER 200,000 MEMBERS IN BEXAR COUNTY AND SURROUNDING COUNTIES.

I DON'T REMEMBER THE NAME OF THE ORGANIZATION MAY BE ALLEGIANT, BUT PLEASE DON'T QUOTE ME ON THAT.

IT'S A HEALTHCARE ORGANIZATION THAT IS PUSHING THIS THROUGH.

THOSE ARE THE HIGHLIGHTS OF THE ITEMS THAT I WANTED TO BRING TO YOUR ATTENTION UNLESS Y'ALL HAVE QUESTIONS ON ANY OTHER BILLS.

>> COMMISSIONER RODRIGUEZ, I JUST WANT YOUR THOUGHTS ON THIS.

THERE'S A COUPLE OF CURVE BALLS THAT WERE BEING THROWN IN THIS SESSION AND IT MAY BE THAT WE NEED TO BRING BACK TO COURT A BOAT ON SOME OF THESE NEW BILLS SO THAT THE BOBBING TEAM CAN DO WHAT THEY NEED TO DO IN MANY TO BRING IT TO THE NEXT MEETING.

>> I WAS THINKING THERE'S JUST A TON OF BOB BILLS.

BUT I KNOW THAT WE MAYBE CAN'T TAKE A FORMAL POSITION ON EACH ONE,

[02:55:02]

BUT I THINK THERE ARE SOME FOR EXAMPLE WE HAD YOUNG PEOPLE IN HERE THIS MORNING ADVOCATING FOR AGAINST THIS BILL THAT WOULD BAN COLLEGE CAMPUSES FROM BEING POLLING SITES.

THOSE ARE THE THINGS THAT ARE SO OFFENSIVE AND OPPRESSIVE THAT WE PROBABLY SHOULD TAKE A POSITION ON SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

LET'S HAVE A DISCUSSION ABOUT WHAT WE SHOULD DO IN TERMS OF TAKING SOME FORMAL OR WHETHER IT'S A RESOLUTION OR SOME VOTE ON A POSITION ON CERTAIN BILLS.

I KNOW IT'S HARD TO GIVE YOU DIRECTION ON MELISSA, BUT I THINK COMMISSIONER, THERE ARE ISSUES THAT COME UP, BUT I THINK BEING SILENT IS BEING COMPLICIT.

I THINK THAT IS AN EXAMPLE OF ONE.

>> I THINK WE NEED TO HAVE A VOTE ON THE DEPUTY SHERIFF'S BILL, THE ELECTION BILL, THE INSURANCE BILL.

BUT WE'LL GO THROUGH THOSE AND THERE'S PROBABLY CONSENSUS, BUT WE'LL WORK ON THAT IN THE BACKGROUND.

>> I CAN DRAFT UP SOME RESOLUTIONS BASED ON WHAT I THINK YOU WANT AND I'LL SUBMIT THAT TO YOU IN MY FRIDAY, SATURDAY EMAIL.

>> SOME OF THESE FOR EXAMPLE THE BILL RELATED TO INCREASING OFFICERS MAY NOT REQUIRE A RESOLUTION.

IT MAY JUST REQUIRE A CONVERSATION WITH THE AUTHOR REPRESENTATIVE ALLISON IN THIS CASE, WHO I THINK FILED IT INITIALLY JUST TO CLARIFY, MAYBE IT'S A MISUNDERSTANDING.

I'M GIVING PEOPLE THE BENEFIT OF THE DOUBT.

WHEN I TALKED TO DSABC, JUST SO YOU KNOW COMMISSIONER, THEY SAID THE IMPETUS CAME FROM YOUR PREDECESSOR COMMISSIONER BERNARD IS WHERE THEY SAID THE LANGUAGE CAME FROM OR THE IDEA CAME FROM.

THERE'S CERTAIN ONES LIKE THAT THAT MAY JUST REQUIRE A CONVERSATION BEING AT THE SAME TABLE.

BUT I DO THINK THERE'S OTHERS, LIKE THE ELECTION BILL THAT REQUIRES SOME FORMAL ACTION.

>> SPEAKING ON THE REQUIREMENT FOR THE DEPUTIES, I ASSUMED WHAT YOUR THOUGHTS WOULD BE ON THAT, BUT I DIDN'T WANT TO ASSUME AND SO I'VE NOT HAD A CONVERSATION WITH REPRESENTATIVE ALICE AND MYSELF.

NOW THAT I'VE TALKED TO YOU ABOUT IT, IF I GET BACK INTO AUSTIN EARLY ENOUGH TODAY, I WILL GO TO THE CAPITAL AND CATCH HIM.

IF NOT, DEFINITELY TOMORROW.

>> I DO THINK WE NEED TO VOTE ON THAT BILL.

I THINK THAT IN POLITICS TODAY THERE IS A FASCIST FORCE THAT DOES NOT LIKE NEW FORCES TAKING OVER AND HAVING THE DISCRETION TO CONTROL THEIR BUDGETS.

THEIR MONEY FORCES BEHIND THOSE IN POLITICS BEYOND JUST THE UNION.

THE TACTIC IS TO DESTROY THE OPPORTUNITY FOR NEW LEADERS TO HAVE DISCRETION BY MAKING BUDGETARY ITEMS SO CUMBERSOME THAT THEY DO NOT REALLY HAVE FREEDOM.

OUR VOTERS SEND US AND ELECT US.

I JUST WENT THROUGH AN ELECTION.

SEVERAL OF US JUST WENT THROUGH AN ELECTION.

WE TAKE OUR CUE FROM WHAT WE HEAR GOING DOOR TO DOOR.

WHILE THERE IS CERTAINLY A CUE FOR INCREASED PROTECTION, I GUARANTEE YOU IF I WENT AND DID A TOWN HALL ON THE MERITS OF THIS BILL, THERE WOULD NOT BE SUPPORT FOR IT.

AS FACT, I PROBABLY WILL.

IN ANY EVENT, WE NEED TO GET THAT READY.

>> IT'S A SLIPPERY SLOPE AND ESPECIALLY IN LIGHT OF THE WHOLE DEFUNDING THE POLICE AND THAT MOVEMENT.

>> EXACTLY.

>> WE'RE UNDER THOSE STATUTES NOW, SO WE HAVE TO BE VERY CAREFUL WITH THAT.

BUT I WILL DRAFT UP THE OTHERS AND BRING THOSE BACK.

>> MELISSA, ONE QUICK COMMENT.

I KNOW THERE HAS BEEN SOME DISCUSSIONS SINCE OUR LAST COURT MEETING AROUND THE FORENSIC BED ISSUE AND OUR INITIAL ASK IN NUMBERS AND MAYBE THAT IS CHANGING AND MAYBE THERE'S A DIFFERENT NUMBER.

I JUST WANT TO HIGHLIGHT FOR STAFF AND FOR THE REST OF MY COLLEAGUES HERE ON THE COURT TO I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE GET ALIGNMENT AROUND WHAT THAT RIGHT NUMBER IS IN THE ASKS AND MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE ALL ADVOCATING FOR THE SAME NUMBERS GOING FORWARD.

I'M HAPPY TO SIT DOWN WITH YOU [OVERLAPPING].

>> I THOUGHT THE ONE-PAGER THAT WE'VE PASSED OUT WAS SOMETHING THAT BEXAR COUNTY STAFF HAD COME TO.

YES, DEFINITELY IF THAT NUMBER IS CHANGED, THEN I NEED TO.

BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT'S BEING DRAFTED NOW.

THOSE HAVE BEEN SUBMITTED FOR DRAFTING THE FORENSIC BED REQUEST.

>> WE'LL TALK TODAY.

>> YES, SIR. DEFINITELY.

>> COMMISSIONER, JUST ONE. I KNOW THIS WAS A STATE UPDATE, BUT IF WE CAN I KNOW THERE WAS AN EARLY DRAFT OF

[03:00:02]

FEDERAL PRIORITIES THAT WE CAN GET THAT GOING MAYBE FOR THE NEXT MEETING.

I KNOW YOU'VE BEEN WORKING ON IT, GETTING FEEDBACK FROM EVERYBODY, BUT I THINK IT'S PROBABLY IMPORTANT THAT WE CRYSTALLIZE THOSE PRIORITIES FOR OUR FEDERAL PROGRAM HERE IN THE NEXT FEW WEEKS, IF THAT MAKES SENSE.

>> YES, SIR. BECAUSE AS STATED, THE NEXT MEETING IS THE 21ST, AND ESSAY TO DC'S THE 27TH OR 28TH.

DEFINITELY, TIME IS OF THE ESSENCE.

I WILL SHARE THAT DOCUMENT IN MY WEEKLY EMAIL AS WELL.

I DID GET SOME QUESTIONS FROM ONE OF THE NEW OFFICES.

JUST SO EVERYONE KNOWS, THOSE ARE ITEMS THAT COME UP FROM OFFICES AND DEPARTMENTS WITHIN THE COUNTY, AS WELL AS FROM YOUR OFFICES.

THOSE ARE JUST MY SUGGESTION ON WHAT I'VE BEEN TOLD AND THOSE ARE NOT MY PRIORITIES, THOSE ARE THE COURT'S PRIORITY.

PLEASE, THERE'S NO FEELINGS ARE GOING TO BE HURT IF SOMETHING'S CHANGED OR EDITED OR DIFFERENT, ADDED, DELETED.

THAT'S FOR THE FIVE MEMBERS OF THIS COURT TO DIRECT ME AND PUT WHATEVER IN THERE, BUT WE DEFINITELY HAVE TO DO IT BY THE NEXT MEETING OR Y'ALL WILL GO TO ESSAY TO DC WITHOUT AN AGENDA, AND NO ONE WANTS TO BE IN THAT POSITION.

>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MELISSA, WE'RE GOING TO MOVE ON TO ITEM 51.

[51. Discussion and appropriate action authorizing the use of the power of eminent domain and approval of an Order declaring a necessity for the fee simple title acquisition of a 0.7868 of an acre tract of land, being out of a 13.372 acre tract of land, more or less, out of the J.M. McCullough Survey No. 30, Abstract 529, County Block 4710, as Conveyed in Volume 15847, Page 1576 of the Official Public Records of Bexar County, Texas, said 0.7868 acre tract being more particularly described by metes and bounds and shown in Exhibit "A", attached hereto and incorporated herein for all purposes, for the purposes of roadway reconstruction, including the addition of paved shoulders, necessary drainage and low water crossing improvements, and sidewalks, to increase roadway capacity to allow for projected growth, increase public safety and enhance regional mobility to advance and achieve the public use of Old Fredericksburg Road Project and authorizing the institution of condemnation proceedings to acquire these rights. Precinct Number 3. ]

RENEE GREEN IS GOING TO BRING TO US A DISCUSSION APPROPRIATE ACTION AUTHORIZING THE USE OF THE POWER OF EMINENT DOMAIN AND APPROVAL OF AN ORDER DECLARING A NECESSITY FOR THE FEE-SIMPLE TITLE ACQUISITION OF A 0.7868 OF AN ACRE TRACT OF LAND.

>> THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER. GOOD AFTERNOON.

THIS IS A 0.7868-ACRE TRACK OF LAND ALONG OLD FREDERICKSBURG ROAD.

THE TOTAL APPRAISED VALUE WAS $47,731.

WHEN WE PROVIDED THAT INFORMATION TO THE LANDOWNER, WHICH IS ALAMO FIREWORKS, THEY COUNTERED WITH $411,000.

THERE REALLY ISN'T ANYWHERE TO GO WITH THEM AND NEGOTIATION.

THEY SUBMITTED COMPS THAT WERE ALL OUTSIDE OF THE FLOODPLAIN.

WE RECOMMEND WE GO STRAIGHT TO CONDEMNATION ON THIS PARTICULAR PARCEL.

>> APPRECIATE THE BACKGROUND THERE RENEE.

WAS THERE ANY OTHER STEPS OR NEGOTIATIONS POSSIBLE THERE WITH THOSE?

>> NOT WHEN WE'RE THAT FAR APART, COMMISSIONER.

WE GOT A FAIR MARKET VALUE APPRAISAL AT 47,000 AND CHANGE.

WE PROVIDED THAT TO THEM.

THEY CAME BACK WITH A COUNTEROFFER OF 411,000.

I JUST DON'T SEE HOW WE WOULD GET THERE.

YOUR AUTHORIZATION TO JOE IS TO GO ABOUT 10% ABOVE THE FAIR MARKET APPRAISED VALUE AND THERE'S JUST NO WAY THEY'RE COMING DOWN.

WE DO NEED TO GO TO CONDEMNATION ON THIS.

>> WHAT DOES THAT PROCESS LOOK LIKE FROM THE COURT HERE TODAY AND GOING FORWARD? IS THERE STILL ADDITIONAL ONCE WE TAKE THAT INITIAL STEP, THEN THERE'S STILL A NEGOTIATION PERIOD OR [OVERLAPPING].

>> WE'LL BRING THAT SETTLEMENT BACK TO YOU FOR APPROVAL.

IN OTHER WORDS, WE'LL GO THROUGH THE PROCESS AND IF THE ONLY ISSUE IS THE VALUE, COMMISSIONER, THEN A LOT OF TIMES WE CAN GO AHEAD AND TAKE POSSESSION OF THE PROPERTY AND LET THE PROJECT MOVE FORWARD SO IT DOESN'T DELAY IT.

IT JUST DEPENDS. THEN AFTER THE CONDEMNATION HEARING, WHATEVER THAT DECISION IS, WE BRING BACK TO YOU FOR ACCEPTANCE.

>> COULD YOU ALSO JUST HIGHLIGHT FOR ALL THESE PROJECTS, THIS IS SURROUNDING THE OLD FREDERICKSBURG ROAD PROJECT.

>> CORRECT.

>> ALL THE DIFFERENT NEIGHBORHOODS THAT ARE TIED TO THAT ROAD AND WHY WE'RE WORKING AS A COUNTY TO DEVELOP IT AND BE ABLE TO IMPROVE TRANSPORTATION FLOW THERE?

>> THE NEXT CONDEMNATION IS RIGHT ACROSS THE STREET AND IT'S MR. W. FIREWORKS.

BUT IF I CAN CONTINUE TO UPDATE THE COURT AS I GO THROUGH THOSE, THAT WOULD BE GREAT, BUT I NEED TO STICK TO THIS ONE CONDEMNATION FIRST.

THEN WE'LL GO TO THE SECOND ONE, AND THEN THE LAST ONE DEALS WITH THAT PARTICULAR NEIGHBORHOOD.

>> MY JUST POINT WAS THAT THE ROAD PROJECT IS THE BASIS FOR ALL THREE.

>> ABSOLUTELY. I'M SORRY, COMMISSIONER. YES, ABSOLUTELY.

THIS ADDITIONAL RIGHT-OF-WAY IS NEEDED TO EXPAND THE ROADWAY TO THE NEEDS OF THE COMMUNITY AND THE EXPANDING AREA OUT THERE.

>> YOU WANT TO MAKE A MOTION?

>> I'LL MAKE A MOTION.

>> IT'S BEEN MOTION. SECOND, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR.

>> ALL THOSE OPPOSED. MOTION CARRIES.

ITEM 52 IS THE DISCUSSION APPROPRIATE ACTION AUTHORIZING

[52. Discussion and appropriate action authorizing the use of the power of eminent domain and approval of an Order declaring a necessity for the fee simple title acquisition of a 0.4510 of an acre tract of land, being out of a 5.00 acre tract of land, more or less, out of the J.M. McCullough Survey No. 30, Abstract 529, County Block 4710, as conveyed in Volume 11093, Page 2248 of the Official Public Records of Bexar County, Texas, said 0.4510 acre tract being more particularly described by metes and bounds and shown in "A", attached hereto and Incorporated herein for all purposes for the purposes of roadway reconstruction, including the addition of paved shoulders, necessary drainage and low water crossing improvements, and sidewalks, to increase roadway capacity to allow for projected growth, increase public safety and enhance regional mobility to advance and achieve the public use of Old Fredericksburg Road Project and authorizing the institution of condemnation proceedings to acquire these rights. Precinct Number 3.]

THE USE OF THE POWER OF EMINENT DOMAIN AND APPROVAL OF AN ORDER DECLARING NECESSITY FOR THE FEE SIMPLE TITLE ACQUISITION OF 0.4510 OF AN ACRE TRACT OF LAND. RENEE.

>> THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER.

THIS IS RIGHT ACROSS THE STREET FROM THE PRIOR CONDEMNATION.

IT'S MR. W. FIREWORKS.

IF YOU GO IN THE UNINCORPORATED AREA, YOU'LL SEE THOSE TWO RIGHT NEXT TO EACH OTHER.

THIS IS A 0.45-ACRE TRACK.

[03:05:03]

THE APPRAISED VALUE IS $37,499.

WHEN WE MADE THE FAIR MARKET VALUE APPRAISAL OFFER TO THE OWNER OF MR. W. FIREWORKS, THEY SAID THEY DECLINE THAT APPRAISED VALUE AND STATED THEY WOULD RATHER PROCEED DIRECTLY TO A CONDEMNATION HEARING.

THAT'S WHY WE'RE REQUESTING APPROVAL.

>> FOR DISCUSSION.

>> I'LL MOVE.

>> IT'S BEEN MOVED. IS THERE A SECOND?

>> IT'S BEEN MOVED AND SECONDED. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, PLEASE SAY AYE.

>> I'LL ALSO SUPPOSE, MOTION CARRIES.

WE'RE MOVING RIGHT ALONG TO ITEM 53, A SIMILAR DISCUSSION, APPROPRIATE ACTION AUTHORIZING THE USE OF THE POWER OF DOMAIN AND APPROVAL ON ORDER TO DECLARING THE PUBLIC USE AND NECESSITY OF THE ACQUISITION OF A FEE SIMPLE INTEREST BEING 0.1080 OF AN ACRE TRACT OF LAND. RENEE.

>> THANK YOU, AGAIN, COMMISSIONER.

THIS IS WHAT WE CALL A FRIENDLY CONDEMNATION.

THIS WAS WITH LOST CREEK HOMEOWNERS ASSOCIATION.

THEY OWN THE PROPERTY THERE.

WE'RE REQUIRED TO GET 50% OF THE HOMEOWNERS IN AN AREA TO AGREE IN ORDER TO ACQUIRE THE PROPERTY, YOU'RE NEVER GOING TO GET 50% OF HOMEOWNERS TO ATTEND AN HOA MEETING AND VOTE ON THIS.

SO WE GO THROUGH WHAT'S CALLED A FRIENDLY CONDEMNATION.

THEY DO NOT HAVE ANY ISSUE WITH THE VALUE OR US UTILIZING THE PROPERTY, WE JUST HAVE TO GO THROUGH THAT TO GET CLEAR TITLE TO IT.

LOST CREEK IS THE ONE OF THE SUBDIVISIONS COMMISSIONER THAT YOU HAD MENTIONED BEFORE.

THEY'RE VERY MUCH IN FAVOR OF THIS PROJECT.

I THINK I SENT YOU THE VIDEO THAT OUR TRAFFIC CONSULTANT DID.

THERE HAVE BEEN SIGNIFICANT ACCIDENTS AT THE INTERSECTION OF OLD FREDERICKSBURG ROAD AT RALPH FAIR ROAD.

WE'RE CLOSING OFF OLD FREDERICKSBURG FROM THAT INTERSECTION, RALPH FAIR WILL STILL OPERATE, AND PUTTING IN A ROUNDABOUT TO MANIPULATE THE TRAFFIC BETTER AND CUT DOWN ON THOSE TERRIBLE ACCIDENTS.

THEY ARE VERY MUCH IN FAVOR OF THIS PROJECT.

>> NOW, I APPRECIATE YOU BRINGING UP THE SAFETY ISSUE BECAUSE THAT INTERSECTION IS REALLY DANGEROUS AND I KNOW I'VE SEEN SOME OF THE DATA ON IT, BUT THIS WILL PROVIDE AN ALTERNATE PATH THAT'S ACTUALLY FASTER.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

>> FOR THOSE RESIDENTS TO GET TO WHERE THEY NEED TO GO.

BUT THERE WILL BE A SAFER PATHWAY AS WELL.

>> THEY'VE BEEN VERY SUPPORTIVE OF THIS COMMISSIONER.

>> GREAT TO HEAR.

I'LL MOVE APPROVAL.

>> IS THERE A SECOND?

>> IT'S BEEN MOVED AND SECONDED.

ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, PLEASE SAY AYE.

>> MOTION CARRIES. WE'RE GOING TO KEEP RENEE UP HERE FOR THE LAST ITEM NUMBER 54, DISCUSSION OF APPROPRIATE ACTION REGARDING AN APPROVAL OF THE ENGINEERING SERVICES AGREEMENT BETWEEN BEXAR COUNTY AND CP&Y FOR PROFESSIONAL ENGINEERING SERVICES IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $2,360,414.72 FOR FEES RELATED TO THE BLANCO ROAD PHASE III MPO BORGFELD DRIVE TO THE BEXAR COUNTY LINE IN PRECINCT 3.

>> THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER. BEFORE I GET STARTED, I WANTED TO MAKE SURE AND INTRODUCE YOU TO JAIME AGUILAR. HE IS RIGHT THERE.

HE IS THE VICE PRESIDENT OF CP&Y, AND HE'S HERE TODAY IF YOU HAVE ANY SPECIFIC QUESTIONS FOR HIM.

THIS IS THE LAST BLANCO PROJECT.

FOR THOSE OF YOU THAT MAY NOT BE AWARE, WE ACTUALLY STARTED WITH BLANCO ROAD INSIDE THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO, IT WAS ONE OF OUR FIRST INITIAL PASS THROUGH PROJECTS WITH TXDOT, AND WE RECONSTRUCTED THAT.

SINCE THEN WE'VE DONE BLANCO II, WHICH ARE THE HATCH LINES ALL THE WAY UP TO BLANCO III, WHICH IS THE SOLID GREEN LINE.

JUST FOR YOUR REFERENCE PURPOSES, WE WANTED TO PUT ALL THE WORK WE'VE DONE IN THAT PARTICULAR AREA TO SHOW THE CONNECTIVITY AND WHY THIS IS AN IMPORTANT PROJECT.

IN ADDITION TO THAT, AND COMMISSIONER, YOU'RE MORE THAN WELCOME TO CHIME IN, WE ARE TALKING TO COMAL COUNTY WHO ALSO HAS EXPANSION PLANS FOR BLANCO NORTH OF THE COUNTY LINE ON HOW WE CAN PARTNER AND WHAT'S THE BEST ALIGNMENT FOR THIS GOING FORWARD.

THIS PROJECT CAN MOVE FORWARD WITHOUT THOSE BEING FINALIZED.

THEY'RE PROBABLY ABOUT LITERALLY TWO YEARS BEHIND US.

BUT JUST SO WE ARE WORKING WITH OUR NEIGHBORING COUNTY TO THE NORTH TO COME UP WITH THE BEST ALIGNMENT.

WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DO, AS I SAID BEFORE, IT'S FROM BORGFELD DRIVE ALL THE WAY NORTH TO THE BEXAR COUNTY LINE.

WE'RE GOING TO ADD CAPACITY THAT AREA, DESPITE THE FACT THAT YOU HAVE CAMP BULLIS ON THE WEST SIDE OF THIS ROAD, THAT WHOLE AREA IS GROWING TREMENDOUSLY, AND EVERYTHING NORTH OF THE COUNTY LINE AND ALL THOSE RESIDENTS, BY THE WAY, I SHOULD MENTION, ARE DRIVING INTO BEXAR COUNTY.

THIS WAS SELECTED BY THE MPO, THE METROPOLITAN PLANNING ORGANIZATION, TO RECEIVE FEDERAL DOLLARS.

WHAT THAT MEANS IS 80% OF THE CONSTRUCTION COST WILL BE REIMBURSED BY THE FEDS.

WE ESTIMATE THOSE CONSTRUCTION COSTS TO BE A LITTLE UNDER $24 MILLION.

THIS IS THE TYPICAL THAT WE HAVE FOR THIS EXPANDED ROADWAY.

IT'S A MEDIAN WITH TWO TRAVEL LANES IN EACH DIRECTION, A FIVE-FOOT BIKE LANE, AND A FIVE-FOOT SIDEWALK.

[03:10:02]

THAT'LL ALL FIT WITHIN THE EXISTING RIGHT OF WAY.

ABOUT A YEAR AGO, WE DID ISSUE AN RFQ.

WE HAD FIVE ENGINEERING FIRMS THAT RESPONDED AND WE SCORED THEM, AND THEN ON JULY 12TH OF THAT SUMMER, YOU AUTHORIZED US TO NEGOTIATE WITH CP&Y FOR PROFESSIONAL ENGINEERING SERVICES.

I SHOULD MENTION TOO, THAT CP&Y ALSO WAS THE DESIGN CONSULTANT FOR BLANCO II AND BLANCO I, SO IT WORKED OUT VERY WELL, BUT THEY WERE THE HIGHEST SCORING FIRM.

WHAT I'M HERE TODAY, IF THERE ARE NO QUESTIONS TO REQUEST YOUR APPROVAL OF THE ENGINEERING SERVICES AGREEMENT BETWEEN BEXAR COUNTY AND CP&Y INC. FOR THE AMOUNT OF $2,360,414.72 FOR PROFESSIONAL ENGINEERING SERVICES IN CONNECTION WITH THE BLANCO ROAD PHASE III-BORGFELD DRIVE TO BEXAR COUNTY LINE PROJECT IN PRECINCT NUMBER 3.

>> COMMISSIONER, YOU WANT TO SAY ANYTHING ABOUT.

THIS GREAT PROJECT. CONGRATULATIONS.

>> WELL, THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER.

THANK YOU, RENEE FOR PRESENTING ON THIS AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP AND YOUR TEAM'S WORK IN MAKING THIS A REALITY.

AS YOU MENTIONED, I LOVE THE FACT THAT WE'RE COLLABORATING WITH COMAL COUNTY.

OBVIOUSLY, THE WIDENING WITHIN BEXAR COUNTY IS A GREAT THING AND WILL HELP THE RESIDENTS IN NORTHERN BEXAR COUNTY WITH THEIR TRANSPORTATION NEEDS.

BUT ULTIMATELY, BEING ABLE TO TIE THAT IN WITH 46, I THINK COULD RELIEVE PRESSURE ON 281 AND PROVIDE SOME ALTERNATE TRANSPORTATION OPTIONS GOING FORWARD.

SO I'M HAPPY TO CONTINUE TO ASSIST THERE.

IT'S AN HONOR TO SERVE ON THE MPO AND CONTINUE TO WORK ON MAJOR TRANSPORTATION ISSUES WE HAVE HERE IN BEXAR COUNTY.

>> YOU WHAT TO MOVE APPROVAL?

>> SO MOVED.

>> IS THERE A SECOND?

>> IT'S BEEN MOVED AND SECONDED.

ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, SAY AYE.

>> MOTION CARRIES.

>> THANK YOU. LARRY, YOU WANT TO GO ON EXECUTIVE BEFORE WE BRING BACK THIS ITEM.

[EXECUTIVE SESSION (DISCUSSION ONLY: CLOSED TO PUBLIC]

WE'RE GOING TO GO INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION.

THE COURT WILL NOW CONVENE INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION.

EXECUTIVE SESSION ITEMS MAYBE DISCUSS AND ACTED UPON IF APPROPRIATE, PURSUANT TO SECTION 551.071 OF THE TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE.

EXECUTIVE SESSION WILL BE HELD FOR CONSULTATION WITH THE COURTS ATTORNEY FOR ADVICE REGARDING THE FOLLOWING MATTERS.

THE KRISTI AND SMITH V. BEXAR COUNTY, JESSIE LOPEZ V. SHERIFF SALAZAR ET AL., JOE MARTINEZ ET AL.

V. BEXAR COUNTY, USAA ON BEHALF OF ITS INSURED V. BEXAR COUNTY, MIKE MARTINEZ V. BEXAR COUNTY, EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY COMMISSION CHARGE NUMBER 4512018-00824, MARIA BANDA, AND EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY COMMISSION CHARGE NUMBER 4512019-04080 BELINDA HERMAGO RODRIGUEZ. WE'RE GOING TO WAIT FOR IT.

>> [BACKGROUND].

[55. Discussion and appropriate action related to pending or contemplated litigation or a settlement offer in the matter of: i. USAA on behalf of its insured v. Bexar County]

>> THE COURT MET IN EXECUTIVE SESSION AND TOOK NO ACTION.

LARRY, YOU WANT TO BRING UP ITEM 55?

>> THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER. DURING EXECUTIVE, THE COURT MET AND CONSIDERED THE MATTER OF USAA ON BEHALF OF ITS INSURED V. BEXAR COUNTY, AND WE'RE REQUESTING SETTLEMENT IN THE AMOUNT OF $40,444.73 FOR PROPERTY DAMAGE RELATED TO AN AUTOMOBILE ACCIDENT.

>> IS THERE A MOTION?

>> [BACKGROUND].

>> [BACKGROUND].

>> ALL THOSE IN FAVOR.