>> [NOISE] ARE YOU READY? [1. Opening Prayer: Pastor Martha Fisher ] [00:00:06] >> [BACKGROUND]. >> [NOISE] I'M BRINGING THIS COMMISSIONER'S COURT TO ORDER. GOOD MORNING. I WOULD LIKE TO WELCOME EVERYONE TO THE BEXAR COUNTY COMMISSIONERS COURT MEETING FOR APRIL 18TH, 2023. THIS OBVIOUSLY IS A SPECIAL DAY. WE HAVE A LOT OF HONORED GUESTS AND THE POLLOCK IS HERE AND WALT IS IN THE ROOM. I HAVE TO BE VERY DEFERENTIAL TO THOSE HONORED GUESTS. AT THIS TIME, LET ME ASK COMMISSIONER GRANT MOODY TO INTRODUCE FOR OUR OPENING PRAYER. >> THANK YOU, JUDGE. I'D LIKE TO INTRODUCE PASTOR MARTHA FISHER. MARTHA FISHER HAS DEEP TEXAS ROOTS. SHE WAS BORN IN GLADEWATER, RAISED IN TAFT AND GRADUATED FROM GEORGE WEST HIGH SCHOOL, GRADUATE OF SOUTHWEST TEXAS STATE UNIVERSITY. MARTHA, AFTER SPENDING NEARLY 20 YEARS IN SALES AND HEALTH EXERCISE INDUSTRY, FOUND HER TRUE CALLING IN THE MINISTRY. IN JANUARY 2003, SHE BEGAN SERVING AS THE PASTOR TO WOMEN AT COMMUNITY BIBLE CHURCH, SPEAKING AT WOMEN'S EVENTS INTERNATIONALLY AND WRITING TWO CHILDREN'S BOOKS, AUBREY, THE LITTLE GIRAFFE, AND AUBREY TAKES THE LEAD. THANK YOU FOR JOINING US TODAY, MARTHA, YOU HAVE THE FLOOR. >> WOULD YOU PLEASE BOW YOUR HEADS. ALMIGHTY GOD, WE THANK YOU FOR THIS WORLD AND THE FREEDOMS WE ENJOY IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. WE THANK YOU FOR CALLING MEN AND WOMEN TO SERVE THE PEOPLE OF THIS COUNTRY, STATE, AND CITY. WE THANK YOU FOR EVERY SEAT THAT HAS BEEN FILLED HERE TODAY, AND FOR EVERY MIND AND HEART THAT FEELS THE PRESENCE OF THIS ROOM. ONLY YOU TRULY KNOW WHAT THE COURT IS SETTING OUT TO ACCOMPLISH TODAY. WE HAVE AN IDEA AND AGENDA. HOWEVER, ONLY YOU CAN SEE IN PERFECT DETAIL THE END OF EVERY BEGINNING, EVERY PROJECT, EVERY SEASON, EVERY LIFE. FORGIVE US FOR OUR PRIDE, THE PRIDE THAT POPS UP AND THE PRIDE THAT THREATENS TO DISQUALIFY US. STRENGTHEN OUR CONFIDENCE IN WHO YOU HAVE MADE US TO BE, SET US FREE FROM COMPARISON TO ENABLE US TO WORK TOGETHER EFFICIENTLY. WE ASK YOU TO GIVE EACH ONE OF US WISDOM, UNDERSTANDING, AND THE COURAGE TO DO AN ACT FROM A PLACE OF HUMILITY AND GRACE FOR ONE ANOTHER. BLESS THIS MEETING TODAY, ALL THOSE PRESENT, AS WELL AS THE LIVES OF THOSE WHO WILL BE AFFECTED BY THE ACTIONS AND DECISIONS MADE HERE TODAY. READY OUR HEARTS AND MINDS TO MAKE EVERY MOMENT IN THIS PLACE COUNT. IN JESUS NAME, WE PRAY. AMEN. >> AMEN. >> THANK YOU, MARTHA, PLEASE JOIN ME IN THE PLEDGE. >> AT THIS TIME, [3. CEREMONIAL ITEM(S)] THE FIRST MATTER WILL TAKE UP ARE THE CEREMONY ITEMS ARE GOING TO BE INTRODUCING OUR ROYALTY ONE AT A TIME. I'LL ASK THAT KING AND REY COME FORWARD, THEIR ENTOURAGE OR THEIR ADMINISTRATOR AND GIVE YOU A FEW MINUTES. FIRST IS PRESENTATION PROCLAMATION ON BEHALF OF COMMISSIONERS COURT REGARDING KEY ANTONIO C. KLYNE JOHNSON BEFORE. SORRY, REY. THAT'S THE WAY IT'S WRITTEN ON MY AGENDA. >> KING JOHNSON AND THE ROYAL COURT OF CAVALIERS, THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH FOR COMING. I LET MY SOUND PA BOOKS SEMI DOWN JUST A LITTLE BIT BECAUSE WE MAY HAVE A LITTLE BIT OF REVERBERATION. WE HAVE A PROCLAMATION FOR YOU. THE PROCLAMATION READS, WHEREAS THE TEXAS CAVALIERS, WHO WERE FOUNDED IN 1926 AND CURRENTLY CONSISTS OF OVER 600 BUSINESS, CIVIC, AND COMMUNITY LEADERS WHO ARE COMMITTED TO BETTERING THE LIVES OF SAN ANTONIO AREA CHILDREN THROUGH NUMEROUS PROGRAMS AND EVENTS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR. WE'RE ASKED THE TEXAS CAVALIERS PUT ON THE MUCH ENJOY TEXAS CAVALIERS'S RIVER PARADE BY UTILIZING THE HELP FROM ITS VOLUNTEER MEMBERS WHO CONSTRUCT BARGES, CARRY GENERATORS, SELL TICKETS, AND PERFORM ALL THE BEHIND-THE-SCENES JOBS THAT GO INTO PRODUCING A PARADE OF THIS MAGNITUDE. WE'RE ASKED BY TEXAS CAVALIERS THROUGH THE TEXAS CAVALIERS CHARITABLE FOUNDATION, SUPPORT CHILDREN IN OUR COMMUNITY BY RAISING OF DOLLARS OF 400 OF LOCAL CHILDREN'S CHARITIES. WHEREAS CLYDE JB JOHNSON, THE FOURTH, HAS BEEN ELECTED AS KING ANTONIO THE 100TH TO REPRESENT THE TEXAS CAVALIERS. YES, THAT'S 100 YEARS. [APPLAUSE] HE HAS BEEN [00:05:03] SELECTED TO REPRESENT THE TEXAS CAVALIERS DURING FIESTA WEEK ACTIVITIES. KING ANTONIO WILL VISIT LOCAL SCHOOLS, CHILDREN'S CHARITIES, NURSING HOMES, VETERANS HOMES AND PEDIATRIC UNITS AT LOCAL HOSPITALS, BRINGING KINGS MEDALS AND A BIT OF FIESTA VIVA TO EACH SPOT. NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED THAT THE COMMISSIONERS COURT OR THE COUNTY OF BEXAR HEREBY RECOGNIZES AND PROCLAIMS APRIL 18, 2023 TO HONOR KING ANTONIO THE 100TH. [APPLAUSE] >> WITNESS OUR SIGNATURES AND SYLLABUS. THIS 18TH DAY OF APRIL 2023, SIGNED BY YOUR COMMISSIONERS COURT. KING, WE'D LOVE TO HEAR FROM YOU. THANK YOU FOR COMING AND YOUR COURT. >> THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER CALVERT. THAT WAS GREAT. I'LL TOUCH ON A FEW OF THE THINGS THAT WERE SAID THERE JUST TO LET YOU GUYS KNOW WHAT THE CAVALIERS ARE UP TO AND WHAT WE'RE DOING. WE'RE SUPER EXCITED TO PUT ON THE RIVER PRAYED THIS YEAR. ITS FANTASTIC VOYAGES IS THE THEME. WE HAVE ABOUT 70 FLOATS THAT ARE GOING TO BE IN THE PARADE. IT TAKES 12,000 MAN HOURS TO PUT THAT PARADE ON. IT'S ALL VOLUNTEERS. PUT THE CHAIRS OUT TO BUILD THE FLOATS TO DO ALL THE THINGS THAT GO INTO IT. IT'S A LOT OF FUN WE'RE SUPER-EXCITED. WE RAISED MONEY USING THAT PLATFORM AND WE SELL TICKETS. THIS YEAR, I HAVE THE BLESSING OF GIVING AWAY ABOUT 2.5 MILLION TO 63 DIFFERENT CHILDREN'S CHARITIES AROUND BEXAR COUNTY, AS WELL AS SCHOOLS. WE ALSO DO AN ART CONTEST THAT HELPS TEACHERS THAT ARE UNDERFUNDED AND THERE AREN'T PROGRAMS TO GET ADDITIONAL FUNDING. THAT'S A LOT OF FUN TO DO AS WELL. WE WILL HAVE RAISED THIS YEAR BY THE CONCLUSION OF THE RIVER PARADE 3.4 MILLION DOLLARS THAT WE'LL GIVE AWAY NEXT YEAR. THE CAVALIERS ARE DOING GREAT THINGS. IT'S BECAUSE WE'RE IN A GREAT CITY NOW. I, AS YOU MENTIONED IN YOUR PROCLAMATION, GET TO GO AROUND TO ALL DIFFERENT TYPES OF EVENTS. I'VE CALCULATED THEM UP. I'VE GOT A 322 UP UNTIL THE 30TH, WHICH IS A WHOLE LOT OF PLACES. BUT I GET TO SEE THE BEAUTIFUL THING THAT WE SEEING IN SAN ANTONIO, THE DIVERSE CULTURE, AND ALL OF THE ORGANIZATIONS THAT ARE PUTTING IN TIME, EFFORT SO THAT WE NOT ONLY HAVE A FIESTA, BUT CAMARADERIE AND COMMUNITY. I REALLY TRULY BELIEVE THAT THAT'S BEEN ONE OF THE THINGS THAT HELPED US COME OUT OF COVID QUICKLY, IS THAT SAN ANTONIO RUNS FOR THE LAST 100 YEARS, CALL IT, HAVE GOTTEN TOGETHER ONE WEEK OUT OF THE YEAR AND DRANK A BEER AND A MARGARITA TOGETHER AND ATE CHICKEN ON A STICK. I JUST REALLY, TRULY BELIEVE, AND FROM MY VANTAGE POINT, THAT'S ONE OF THE GREATEST THINGS ABOUT OUR CITY. I THINK AS WE GROW AND AS WE BECOME MORE COSMOPOLITAN, I DON'T THINK WE'LL LOSE A LOT OF OUR HERITAGE AND CULTURE THAT WE'VE COME TO GROW THROUGHOUT THE PAST 150 YEARS, BECAUSE FIESTA. THE CITY LEADERSHIP, ALLOWING US TO TAKE OVER THE PLAZA, STREETS AND RIVERS IS SOMETHING OF A GREAT THING. YOUR LEADERSHIP AS WELL AS INVOLVED IN THAT. I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU FROM US AND THANK YOU FOR MYSELF. I HOPE EVERYBODY HAS AN ENJOYABLE FIESTA. IT'S GOOD TO SEE YOU, JUDGE SAKAI HERE. WE KNOW EACH OTHER WELL. >> VERY WELL. >> YES. MY DAD IS ALSO HERE. >> WHERE IS YOUR DAD? LET'S RECOGNIZE HIM. [APPLAUSE] YOU PUT OUT A LOT OF GOOD HERITAGE HERE. >> ON A PERSONAL NOTE, THAT EAST OFFICE TEAM. >> WE NEED COMMENTS. >> THANK YOU-ALL VERY MUCH. >> WOULD YOU ALL JOIN US UP HERE AT THE DYE. IS ALL THE CAVALIERS COME ON HERE. WE'RE GOING TO STAND. THERE'S SO MANY OF YOU. WE'RE GOING TO STAND BEHIND YOU. TAKE A PHOTO. >> [BACKGROUND]. >> WE GOT PEOPLE ARE GOING TO TELL YOU WHERE TO STAND SO THAT I CAN FIT IN HERE SOMEWHERE. >> THANK YOU. >> KLYNE, HOW ARE YOU DOING? I DIDN'T SEE YOU. >> IT'S A LONG TIME. [BACKGROUND] >> EVERYBODY, STAY BEHIND. [BACKGROUND] [00:10:27] >> CONGRATULATIONS. >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. APPRECIATE IT. THANK YOU. APPRECIATE IT. >> VIVA FIESTA. >> VIVA. [APPLAUSE] >> THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. [BACKGROUND] >> COMMISSIONER CALVERT, YOU HAVE THE FLOOR. [BACKGROUND] >> WE'RE ALL EXCITED. THE COUNTY EMPLOYEES ARE ALL EXCITED. MEDALS ARE IN THE HOUSE. >> I GOT TO END WITH THE VIVA FIESTA. >> VIVA. >> EL REY FEO AND YOUR COURT, PLEASE COME TO THE DAIS, WE HAVE A PROCLAMATION FOR YOU. [APPLAUSE] THANK YOU. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR COMING. YOU ALL LOOK WONDERFUL. THE PROCLAMATION READS, WHEREAS THE LEGEND OF EL REY FEO DATES BACK TO MEDIEVAL TIMES IN SPAIN WHEN THE COMMON FOLKS SELECTED ONE OF THEIR OWN TERRAIN AS THE UGLY KING. THIS CELEBRATION OF THE POPULACE ULTIMATELY TRAVELED TO THE NEW WORLD AND THE MEMBERS OF THE LEAGUE OF UNITED LATIN AMERICAN CITIZENS, LULAC. COUNCIL NUMBER 2 SELECTED ITS OBSERVANCE AS A MEANS TO RAISE SCHOLARSHIP FUNDS FOR UNDERPRIVILEGED AND DESERVING LOCAL STUDENTS AND NOW, WHEREAS EL REY FEO MERITS ROYALTY STATUS AND PARTICIPATES IN THE 11-DAY FIESTA FESTIVITIES IN ADDITION TO SERVING AS A GOODWILL AMBASSADOR, VISITING NURSING HOMES, HOSPITALS, ORPHANAGES, AND LOCAL ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS. WE'RE ASKED THROUGH THE SCHOLARSHIP EFFORTS, EL REY FEO PROGRAM HAS BECOME AN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ENHANCEMENT PROGRAM BASED ON THE HUNDREDS OF STUDENTS THAT HAVE RECEIVED A COLLEGE OR UNIVERSITY DEGREE TO THE BETTERMENT OF THIS COMMUNITY AND WHEREAS LAWRENCE LARRY KIRK HAS BEEN CHOSEN AS THE 74TH REY FEO AND WILL CONTINUE HIS COMMITMENT TO ASSISTING DESERVING STUDENTS AND FULFILLING THEIR DREAMS OF ATTAINING A COLLEGE EDUCATION. NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED THAT THE COMMISSIONERS COURT OF THE COUNTY OF BIHAR HEREBY RECOGNIZES AND PROCLAIMS LAWRENCE LARRY KIRK EL REY FEO 74. GIVE HIM A BIG ROUND OF APPLAUSE, IT'S A LOT OF WORK. [APPLAUSE] >> WHEN THIS OUR SIGNATURE AND SEAL OF OFFICE IS 18TH DAY OF APRIL 2023, SIGNED BY YOUR COMMISSIONERS, COURT. KING, PLEASE HAVE A FEW WORDS. >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. LAST NIGHT JUDGE AND COMMISSIONERS, I WAS SITTING WORRYING ABOUT WHAT I WAS GOING TO SAY WHEN I CAME BEFORE THIS AUGUST BODY. AND THEN I REMEMBERED THAT THE VERY FAVORITE THING THAT I LIKE TO DO DURING FIESTA AS THE KING IS TO MEET A REY FEO SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENT. THAT TOOK ME BACK TO OUR CANDLELIGHT AND THE BEST SPEECH I COULD MAKE HERE TO EVERYBODY IS TO POINT OUT THAT OUR COMMISSIONER CALVERT IS A REY FEO SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENT. [APPLAUSE]. >> THANK YOU, GUYS. >> GENTLEMEN AND MA'AM, THE GREATEST ELOQUENCE IS THAT WHICH GETS THINGS DONE AND COMMISSIONER CALVERT, YOU HONOR US, YOU HONOR THE REY FEO SCHOLARSHIP FOUNDATION, AND THANK YOU FOR ALL OF YOUR PARTICIPATION IN THAT. NOW, WHEN I GO OUT TO FIESTA, EVERYBODY, THEY ALWAYS ASK ME, I WANT THE GOOD MEDAL [LAUGHTER] SO DON'T BELIEVE ME THAT I WANT THE GOOD MEDAL. SO JUDGE, SAKAI, I WOULD NOT COME TO COMMISSIONER'S COURT WITHOUT THE GOOD MEDAL. >> YOU BETTER HAVE IT. [APPLAUSE]. >> IF JEFF WISEMAN HERE COULD HELP ME, MAY I APPROACH, YOUR HONOR? >> YES YOU MAY. [LAUGHTER] >> IT'S YOUR COURT, KING, IT'S YOUR COURT. [LAUGHTER] >> I HAVE A VERY GOOD MEDAL FOR THE COMMISSIONER OF CALVERT [APPLAUSE] AND THE REY FEO IS ABLE TO GIVE THIS OUT TO IMPORTANT PEOPLE WHO SHOW PHILANTHROPY IN THEIR HEARTS, SUPPORT THE KING, AND HELP THEIR COUNTY AND I CAN THINK [00:15:04] OF NO MORE WORTHY GROUP THAN OUR COMMISSIONERS COURT. SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH, JUDGE SAKAI [APPLAUSE] >> THANK YOU, REY. [APPLAUSE]. >> COMMISSIONER FLORES, THANK YOU. >> COMMISSIONER RODRIGUEZ, THANK YOU. >> COMMISSIONER MOODY, THANK YOU VERY MUCH. >> THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING YOU'VE DONE FOR US. THERE WE GO. [APPLAUSE] >> LET'S GET A PICTURE. >> [APPLAUSE] ONE MORE THING. >> YES, REY. [LAUGHTER] WHATEVER YOU SAY. >> THAT'S RIGHT. >> THEY CALL ME THE UGLY KING, BUT I HAVE TWO BEAUTIFUL QUEENS WHO GO WITH ME. >> OOH. >> YOU CAN'T BE A KING IF YOU DON'T HAVE QUEENS AND I'M GOING TO ASK LA REINA DE LA PERRIER DE LAS FLORES RENEE VASQUEZ TO SAY A FEW WORDS IF IT'S ALRIGHT WITH THE COURT. >> YES, YOU MAY. >> HELLO, GOOD MORNING. MY NAME IS RENEE VAZQUEZ AND I'M THIS YEAR'S REIGN DE LAS FLORES. I'M CURRENTLY IN LAW SCHOOL. I'M AT SMU IN DALLAS. I'M IN MY SECOND YEAR, SO I MADE IT PAST THE ONE L. I'M DEFINITELY COMING BACK TO SAN ANTONIO SOON, SO I'M GOING TO BE BACK HERE, MY DAD IS ACTUALLY HERE TODAY, SO I'M HOPING TO PRACTICE WITH HIM REALLY VASQUEZ OVER HERE. >> WELL, YOU NEED TO STAND TO BE RECOGNIZED, YOU'VE GOT A GREAT DAUGHTER THERE. THERE YOU GO. [APPLAUSE] >> YES AND MY MOM IS OVER HERE AS WELL, THEY'VE BEEN MY BIGGEST SUPPORTER, SYLVIA VASQUEZ TOO SHE'S OVER HERE. >> HI MAMMA. [APPLAUSE]. >> I OWE THEM EVERYTHING. IT'S AN HONOR TO BE HERE AND I CANNOT WAIT FOR FIESTA, SO THANK YOU GUYS FOR LETTING US COME IN VIVA FIESTA. >> VIVA. >> SECONDLY, I HAVE LORENA LINDA WITH ME, ALSO NATALIE GAMEZ. >> THANK YOU, KING. GOOD MORNING, MY NAME IS NATALIE GAMEZ LA REINA LINDA. IT'S AN HONOR TO BE HERE BEFORE YOU. WE'RE JUST SO EXCITED AND GEARED UP FOR FIESTA WE ARE DAYS AWAY AND EVERYBODY WOULD COME ACROSS IS, HEY, HANG IN THERE WE'RE PRAYING FOR YOU SO I'M WONDERING WHAT'S AHEAD OF US. I'M NOT SURE, [LAUGHTER] BUT WE ARE SO VERY EXCITED. THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU DO FOR THE COMMUNITY, AND IF WE CAN GIVE BACK JUST A SMALL FRACTION OF WHAT YOU DO, IT WOULD BE A REAL HONOR. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR HAVING US, MY MOTHER AND FATHER, JOE AND CARMEN GAMEZ ARE OFTEN HERE [OVERLAPPING]. >> WE'RE HERE. >> DON'T TELL HIM THAT I WAS HERE. I ACTUALLY TEXTED HIM ON THE WAY AND THEY SAID, "YOU'RE WHERE?" AND I'M SORRY, THERE'S SO MANY EVENTS BUT THEY'RE HERE IN SPIRIT. >> I AM SURPRISED YOU DON'T SAY, GAMEZ LOVE FIGHTS TODAY [APPLAUSE] >> JUDGE, SINCE YOU BROUGHT IT UP, I'D BE REMISS IF I DIDN'T SAY GAMEZ LOVES FIGHTS. [LAUGHTER] THANK YOU SO MUCH AND I'VE EXCITING NEWS. I JUST GOT INTO LAW SCHOOL HERE AT ST. MARY'S UNIVERSITY SO HOPEFULLY I'LL BE AMONG THE RANKS HERE, EVENTUALLY ONE DAY, AND WALK THESE SAME COURT HALLWAYS. THANK YOU VERY MUCH, AND VIVA FIESTA. >> VIVA. [APPLAUSE] >> THANK YOU, COMMISSIONERS COURT WE HAVE A FEW GIFTS FOR YOU ALSO, AS ALWAYS, THANK YOU FOR HONORING THE REY FEO AND THEIR COURT AND THE HARD WORKERS THAT I HAVE WITH ME BY LETTING US COME BEFORE YOU. IT'S GREAT. WE'RE ALL HERE BECAUSE WE WANT TO TRY AND EFFECT GENERATIONAL CHANGE FOR STUDENTS AND FAMILIES IN BEXAR COUNTY. AS LONG AS WE CONTINUE TO THINK ABOUT THAT AND TO RAISE THE MANTLE THAT THIS IS THE WAY TO RAISE YOUR FAMILY UP AND TO MAKE A REAL IMPACT IN THE FUTURE, THEN WE'VE DONE OUR JOB. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. I APPRECIATE IT. [APPLAUSE] >> COME ON NOW WE'LL HAVE YOUR COURT JOIN US, WE'LL TAKE A PHOTO. WE'LL STAND BEHIND YOU IF YOU WOULDN'T GIVE THIS TO THE KING. [BACKGROUND] >> JUST LEAVE A LITTLE SPACE FOR THE JUDGE HERE. JUST LEAVE A LITTLE BIT. NOT ALL THAT. GET A LITTLE CLOSER. YOU ARE OKAY. TOM, GET THEM ALL ORGANIZED. [BACKGROUND] [00:20:21] THANK YOU, GUYS. [SPANISH] [NOISE] >> THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU SEE YOU. >> THE THIRD PROCLAMATION, TODAY'S PRESENTATION PROCLAMATION ON BEHALF COMMISSIONERS COURT, RECOGNIZING THE CELEBRATED APRIL 24TH, MAY 4TH, AS LAW WEEK. IT'S MY PRIVILEGE AND HONOR TO READ THE PROCLAMATION. IS ANYBODY HERE ON BEHALF OF THE ASSOCIATION? I KNOW WE GOT A BUNCH HERE. WE'VE GOT A BUNCH OF FUTURE LAWYERS COMING. WHAT'S THAT? THIS IS FINE. THERE WE GO. I KNEW THEY WERE HERE. AT THIS TIME, WE HAVE A PROCLAMATION, WHERE LAW WEEK WILL COMMEMORATE THE NATIONAL HOLIDAY OF LAW DAY WITH A WEEK OF COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES TO CELEBRATE THE ROLE OF LAW IN OUR SOCIETY AND WHEREAS LAW DAY HAS BEEN PROCLAIMED BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES WITH THE UNITED STATES CONGRESS ENCODING THE PRESIDENTIAL PALACE PRACTICE INTO LAW IN 1961, STATUTORILY DESIGNATED MAY 1 AS LAW DAY. WHEREAS THE SAN ANTONIO BAR ASSOCIATION HIGHLIGHTS THE IMPORTANCE OF LAW DAY BY REACHING OVER 5,000 RESIDENTS TO THE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL READING PROGRAM AND THE JURY APPRECIATION POCKET CONSTITUTION DISTRIBUTION PROGRAM, AND WE'RE ASKED TO SAN ANTONIO BAR ASSOCIATION CULMINATES LAW DAY WITH A LUNCH THAT CELEBRATES THE RULE OF LAW. IN 2023 WE'LL FEATURE BEAR COUNTY JUDGE PETER SAKAI, WHO'S THAT GUY? AS THE KEYNOTE SPEAKER. WHEREAS THE 2023 LAW DAY THEME, CORNERSTONES OF DEMOCRACY, CIVIC, CIVILITY AND COLLABORATION ENABLES US TO REFLECT UPON REBUILDING TRUST IN OUR INSTITUTION, RESPECTING ONE ANOTHER, AND COLLABORATING TO ADDRESS OUR NATION'S CHALLENGES AND WHEREAS LAW WEEK IS AN OCCASION OF PUBLIC KNOWLEDGE OF OUR NATIONS, TEXAS AND BEAR COUNTY'S HERITAGE OF JUSTICE, LIBERTY, AND EQUALITY UNDER THE LAW. NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED THAT THE BEAR COUNTY COMMISSIONERS COURT RECOGNIZES AND PROCLAIMED APRIL 24TH, MAY 4 2023 AS LAW WEEK WITNESSED OUR SIGNATURES AND SEAL OF OFFICE THIS 18TH DAY OF APRIL 2023, SIGNED BY THE JUDGE AND ALL COMMISSIONERS. YOU HAVE THE FLOOR. >> THANK YOU, JUDGE AND COMMISSIONERS. MY NAME IS DONNA MCILROY AND I HAVE THE PLEASURE OF SERVING AS THE SAN ANTONIO BAR ASSOCIATION PRESIDENT AND ON BEHALF OF THE LEGAL COMMUNITY IN SAN ANTONIO, I GRATEFULLY AND HONORABLY ACCEPT THIS PROCLAMATION. I WILL SAY THAT I DIDN'T BRING MY TIARA AND I DIDN'T BRING MY A SASH BECAUSE I WASN'T WORN. THESE ARE TOO HARD TO FOLLOW. BUT LARRY KURT TALKED ABOUT GENERATIONAL CHANGE AND I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT FOR THIS COMMISSIONERS COURT TO KNOW THAT SAAB IS WORKING ON THAT AS WELL. WE HAVE SOMETHING CALLED THE THIN LAYS AND FELLOWSHIP SCHOLARSHIP, AND IT IS FOR FIRST-GENERATION UNDERGRAD STUDENTS AND LAW STUDENTS WHO WANT TO COME BACK TO SAN ANTONIO AND PURSUE LEGAL OR LAW TYPE CAREERS AND SO WE FEEL LIKE WE'RE ALL IN THIS TOGETHER AND I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT FOR YOU ALL TO KNOW THAT THAT'S WHAT WE'RE DOING. JUST A LITTLE HISTORY. PRESIDENT DWIGHT EISENHOWER PROCLAIMED MAY 1, 1958 AS THE FIRST LAW DAY TO MARK THE NATION'S COMMITMENT TO THE RULE OF LAW. EVERY YEAR ON THIS DAY, WE REFLECT ON THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THE RULE OF LAW AND REDEDICATE OURSELVES TO PROMOTE THE PUBLIC'S UNDERSTANDING OF ITS IMPORTANCE TO OUR AMERICAN DEMOCRACY. THIS YEAR, THE AMERICAN BAR ASSOCIATION HAS DESIGNATED LAW DAY 23 THEME TO BE CORNERSTONES OF DEMOCRACY, CIVICS, CIVILITY, AND COLLABORATION. WE INVITE THE PEOPLE OF THE UNITED STATES TO JOIN US IN REBUILDING TRUST IN ITS INSTITUTIONS, RESPECT FOR ONE ANOTHER, AND COLLABORATE TO ADDRESS THE CHALLENGES THAT OUR NATION FACES TODAY, THIS IS CERTAINLY SOMETHING THAT WE NEED TODAY. LAW WEEK IS CELEBRATED THROUGH CIVIC EDUCATION IN THE LOCAL ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS WHERE [00:25:04] WE VOLUNTEER ATTORNEYS AND JUDGES READ THE CUPCAKE THIEF TO STUDENTS, ENGAGING THEM TO DISCUSS WHAT MAKES A TRIAL A FAIR TRIAL. VOLUNTEER ATTORNEYS WILL DISTRIBUTE POCKET COPIES OF THE US CONSTITUTION'S TO OVER 2,000 BEAR COUNTY RESIDENTS WHEN THEY REPORT FOR JURY DUTY AS A THANKFUL TO THEM FOR PARTICIPATING IN THIS VERY IMPORTANT PROCESS AND FULFILLING THE PROMISE OF A JURY TRIAL BY OUR PEERS. AS THE PROCLAMATION NOTED, JUDGE SAKAI, DID NOT TELL ME NO WHEN I WENT TO HIM AND SAID, WILL YOU PLEASE BE OUR SPEAKER AT LAW DAY, SO HE WILL BE TO JOIN US ON MAY THE 4TH. THIS LAW DAY WE REALLY ARE REFLECTING ON THE IMPORTANCE OF FREE SPEECH, TEMPERED BY CIVILITY, PROMOTING CIVIC EDUCATION AND THE IMPORTANCE OF THE RULE OF LAW, AND WE WANT TO CONTINUE TO ENSURE THAT OUR NATION'S CONSTITUTIONAL IDEALS ARE OBSERVED. I ALSO WANT YOU TO KNOW WE'RE VERY EXCITED THAT WE'RE IN THE PROCESS OF MOVING INTO OUR NEW COUNTY SPACE, THANK YOU VERY MUCH. AND IT'S ABOUT TO BE FINISHED, AND IT'S GOING TO ALLOW US TO EXPAND OUR SERVICES TO FURTHER SUPPORT THE LEGAL COMMUNITY, THE JUDICIARY, AND THE PRACTICES LAW IN SAN ANTONIO. AS LAW WEEK IS CELEBRATED RIGHT AFTER FIESTA, WE'D LIKE TO HONOR THAT HERITAGE BY PRESENTING YOU AND THE COMMISSIONERS. WE DON'T HAVE GIFTS FOR EVERYBODY, BUT WE DO HAVE SABAH METALS TO COMMEMORATE THIS, AND I HAVE A FEW OF MY OWN AS WELL. THEN WE'D LIKE TO COME UP AND GIVE YOU AND WITH THAT, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THIS RECOGNITION OF LAW WEEK. >> THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE] DO YOU WANT TO GO DOWN OR STAND UP? >> STAND UP. >> [OVERLAPPING] YES, SIR. THAT'S RIGHT. >> WE'RE GOING TO TAKE A PICTURE. >> [BACKGROUND] >> THERE YOU GO. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER. THAT'S RIGHT. ALRIGHT ELECTEDS, COME ON. [OVERLAPPING] THANK YOU, MS. MCLLROY. THANK YOU, SAN ANTONIO VARGAS. I WILL SEE YOU ON MAY 4TH WITH MY RULE OF LAW SPEECH. LET ME ALERT THE COURT THAT MR. CLAY-FLORES AS A POINT OF PERSONAL PRIVILEGE, HAS ASKED THAT AN ALERTING STAFF AND THE PUBLIC THAT ITEMS 51, 53, 54, AND 55 BE TAKEN OUT OF ORDER. I'M GOING TO DO MY VERY BEST TO GET ALL THOSE MATTERS HEARD BEFORE NOON IN ORDER TO ACCOMMODATE COMMISSIONER CLAY-FLORES BUSY SCHEDULE. SHE IS GOING TO AUSTIN, I BELIEVE, IN ORDER TO REPRESENT BEXAR COUNTY, AND I'M GOING TO DO MY VERY BEST TO ACCOMMODATE THAT. SINCE WE HAVE TIME TO LIFT, [5. Request of Commissioners Court to identify items from the Consent Agenda for additional discussion and to approve remaining Consent Agenda items. ] LET'S GO AHEAD AND TAKE UP ITEM 5, REQUEST OF COMMISSIONERS COURT TO IDENTIFY ITEMS FROM THE CONSENT AGENDA FOR ADDITIONAL DISCUSSION AND TO APPROVE REMAINING CONSENT AGENDA ITEMS. ARE THERE ANY ITEMS TO BE PULLED? >> JUDGE? >> HEARING, NONE. >> SORRY, JUDGE. >> IS THERE ANYTHING TO BE PULLED? >> THERE'S A REQUESTED TO DEFER ITEM 31. >> WHICH ONE? >> 31. >> 31. DEFERRED AND PASS TO THE NEXT COMMISSIONERS COURT. >> JUDGE, MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE BALANCE OF CONSENT, [CONSENT AGENDA ITEMS] ABSOLUTE MINUS ITEM 31. >> MOTION BY COMMISSIONER RODRIGUEZ. >> SECOND. >> SECOND BY COMMISSIONER CLAY-FLORES. ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? ALL IN FAVOR SAY BY, AYE. >> AYE [BACKGROUND] [OVERLAPPING] >> AYE. ANY OPPOSE TO ANY ABSTENTION MOTION CARRIES. FORES WILL TAKE JUDICIAL NOTICE FOR FILING [6. Filing for record the following legal and administrative documents and directing the Criminal District Attorney's Office to take action, if necessary] A RECORD OR FILING AN ILLEGAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE DOCUMENTS AND DIRECTING THE CRIMINAL DISTRICT ATTORNEYS TO TAKE ACTION IF NECESSARY FOR ITEMS A, B, C, D, AND E. LET'S GO TO ITEM 7. [7. Commissioners Court minutes for Tuesday, April 4, 2023. ] COMMISSIONERS COURT MINUTES FOR TUESDAY, APRIL 4TH, 2023. >> MOVE TO APPROVE. >> SECOND. >> THERE'S A MOTION BY COMMISSIONER CLAY-FLORES, SECOND BY COMMISSIONER RODRIGUEZ. ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE. AYE. ANY OPPOSED. MOTION CARRIES. [8. Communications from citizens who signed the register to speak. ] I BELIEVE WE ONLY HAVE ONE CITIZEN TO BE HEARD, AND SO AT THIS TIME, WE'RE ON ITEM NUMBER 8. AND I'LL ASK JAVIER MORTA TO PLEASE STEP FORWARD. [00:30:03] MR. MARTHA, YOU HAVE THREE MINUTES. >> THANK YOU, JUDGE. COMMISSIONERS, MY NAME IS JAVIER MORTA, RETIRED ARMY ENGINEER, LIEUTENANT COLONEL. I'M MASTERS FROM ST. MARY'S UNIVERSITY, BEXAR COUNTY RESIDENT ALL MY LIFE. OVER 20 YEARS PROJECT MANAGEMENT EXPERIENCE. PURPOSE FOR MY BEING HERE IS JUST TO MAKE THE COURT AWARE OF SOMETHING THAT SEEMS TO BE OCCURRING THROUGHOUT THE UNITED STATES SUSPECTING COUNTIES, AND I WANT TO BE AN ADVOCATE FOR THAT. THE REMOVAL ELECTION MACHINES AND REPLACE THOSE WITH OUR CURRENCY GRADE PAPER BALLOTS AND HAND COUNT IT THE COUNTY LEVEL. I'M NOT HERE TO SAY ANYTHING BAD ABOUT OUR DEPARTMENT OF ELECTIONS, ARE DOING A GREAT JOB TO THE EXTENT THEY CAN. I WANT TO TALK ABOUT A FEW THINGS THAT I'VE SEEN THAT CONCERN ME. BEXAR COUNTY IN TEXAS CYBER HACKS IN 2020 ELECTION 63,686 BEXAR COUNTY VOTES WERE SWITCHED, OVER 900,000 TEXAS VOTES WERE SWITCHED BY CYBER HACK. THE RECORDINGS ARE AVAILABLE ON FRANKSPEECH.COM. CYBER SECURITY EXPERTS CONFIRMED ALL THAT DATA, 3,000 US COUNTIES WERE HACKED AND ALL THE PROOF IS THERE ONLINE. IT'S NOT BEING COVERED BY THE MAINSTREAM MEDIA. THE ELECTRIC MACHINES WERE NOT SECURED, BUT THEY'RE ALSO NOT TRANSPARENT. THE JUDICIAL BRANCH UPHOLDS PROPRIETARY CLAIMS, ELECTRIC MACHINES MANUFACTURERS. TINA PETERS AND MESA COUNTY COUNTY CLERK WAS PROSECUTED FOR MAKING IMAGES OF THE ROUTERS, AND THEN SHE BROUGHT IN CYBER SECURITY EXPERTS TO LOOK AT THOSE ROUTER IMAGES AND FOUND THAT THERE WERE CONNECTED TO THE INTERNET, THERE WERE RECURRING ALGORITHMS. ELECTION DATA WAS DELETED BEFORE THE 22 MONTH REQUIRED STORAGE. THEY CALL IT A TRUSTED BUILD, SO THIS MANUFACTURER IS ACTUALLY IN 26 COUNTIES, SO IT'S A LITTLE ALARMING THAT THEY DID THIS TRUSTED BUILD AND BASICALLY DELETED ALL THE 2020 ELECTION DATA. I MYSELF REQUESTED A FOYER AND WAS DENIED FOR IMAGES. A COUPLE OF CYBER SECURITY EXPERTS, RENOWNED DR. ALEX HALDERMAN, PROFESSOR CYBER SECURITY EXPERTS, GEORGIA LAW SUIT, HE MADE A DECLARATION, HE DETERMINED THAT THERE WERE NUMEROUS SECURITY VULNERABILITIES THAT ALLOW MALICIOUS HARDWARE WITH TEMPORARY PHYSICAL ACCESS OR REMOTELY FROM EMS, THE ELECTION MANAGEMENT SYSTEM. THEN HE DEMONSTRATED A HACK THAT TOOK LIKE FIVE-MINUTES OF A COMPUTER THAT THEY BROUGHT FORWARD. THEN THERE'S PATRICK COLBECK, THESE ARE JUST A FEW OF THE SOURCES THAT I FIND, THERE WAS A MULTITUDE OF THEM ONLINE THAT I'VE FOUND THAT CAUSED ME CONCERN. HE CALLED HIS BOOK THE 2020 COUP. HE'S RENOWNED MICHIGAN LAWYER, FORMER STATE SENATOR, ELECTION INTEGRITY PROPONENT. THAT'S REALLY ALL I WANT TO DO IS BE A PROPONENT AND GIVE THE COURT SOME INFORMATION. IN HIS BOOK, WHICH IS ABOUT THIS THICK WITH EVIDENCE [NOISE] OF CYBER SECURITY HACKS AND OTHER ELECTION RELATED FRAUD, HE SAYS THAT THE NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF STANDARDS TESTING THE NIST POST LIST OF KEY FILES AND FILE ATTRIBUTES NEEDED BY HACKERS ON THEIR WEBSITE, I DON'T KNOW WHY ANYBODY WOULD DO THAT. BUT THERE'S DIGITAL VOTING SYSTEMS MAKE IT EASIER THAN EVER TO STEAL AN ELECTION. IN HIS BOOK [OVERLAPPING] THERE IS PLENTY OF OTHER EVIDENCE. OSAGE COUNTY, MISSOURI, A MIRACLE COUNTY CAN HELP US PROGRESS FORWARD AS WE LOOK AT THEM AND SEE WHAT THEY'VE BEEN DOING. OSAGE COUNTY, MISSOURI MARCH[OVERLAPPING] >> MR. WALTER, YOU NEED TO WRAP IT UP, PLEASE. >> YES, SIR. OSAGE COUNTY, MARCH 2023, THEY MOVE TO PAPER BALLOTS AND THEY DID THEIR COUNTS ON THE SAME DAY WITH ZERO ISSUES. IN SUMMARY, I JUST WANTED TO LET THE COURT KNOW THAT THE ELECTION MACHINES ARE NOT TRANSPARENT, THEY'RE NOT SECURED. THANK YOU, SIR. >> I APPRECIATE IT. WE'VE ALSO RECEIVED YOUR MEMORANDUM AND I'M SURE THE COMMISSIONER'S COURT WILL REVIEW THE SAME. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. WE HAVE CONSTABLE RUBEN TEJEDA. CONSTABLE, YOU HAVE THREE MINUTES. [NOISE] >> JUDGE, COMMISSIONERS, GOOD MORNING. >> MORNING. >> I BOUGHT SOME INFORMATION FOR Y'ALL ON THE DISPARITY OF THE PAY DIFFERENCES FROM DEPUTY SHERIFF'S OR DEPUTY CONSTABLES. THIS HAS BEEN GOING FOR YEARS. NOW THAT WE'RE DOING MUCH MORE AND WE'VE TOOK OVER DOING THE PAPERWORK FOR THE DISTRICT COURTS AND COUNTY COURTS, NOW WE'RE DOING THE TAX PAPERS AND THE PROTECTIVE ORDERS, I WOULD PLEASE LOOK AT IT AND SEE THE DIFFERENCE IN PAY. WE'RE DOING THE WORK VERY WELL, WE'RE IN MY OFFICE WHERE PROBABLY AROUND IN THE HIGH 90S, PROBABLY 96% SERVICE, WHATEVER WE RECEIVE WE WERE SERVING. [00:35:03] ALSO THE WORK IS STARTING TO PICK UP A LITTLE BIT MORE, THE COURTS ARE STARTING TO OPEN UP, SO THERE'S GOING TO BE MORE PAPERWORK BEING SERVED SO PLEASE LOOK AT IT. I KNOW THERE'S RECOMMENDATIONS OF HIGHER PAY FOR THE DEPUTY SHERIFFS, AND I WOULD WANT TO BE INCLUDED AND IF WE CAN DISCUSS THIS IN A LATER DATE. BUT THERE'S A LOT OF DIFFERENCES. IN FACT, THE DEPUTY CHIEFS FROM THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE GET PAID MORE THAN THE CONSTABLES DO, AND WE HAVE TO RUN FOR OFFICE EVERY FOUR YEARS. THERE'S A LOT OF DISPARITY THERE. THE AMOUNT OF WORK, I HAVE A GOOD STAFF, THEY'VE BEEN DOING VERY WELL. ALSO, I'M TRYING TO CREATE A NIGHT SHIFT TO TAKE IN MORE TRIES IN THE AFTERNOON WHAT IS NOT SERVED DURING THE DAY. [NOISE] PLEASE CONSIDER AND THAT'S WHY I BROUGHT YOU THE INFORMATION. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU, CONSTABLE. CONSTABLE, LET ME ASK STAFF. WE HAVE A TIME CERTAIN 11:30 TO TAKE UP THE BAKER TILLY COMPARATIVE MARKET STUDY. ARE THE CONSTABLES GOING TO BE PART OF THAT? CONSTABLE, [OVERLAPPING] YOU MAY WANT TO STAVE. I'M GOING TO DO MY BEST TO CALL IT APPROPRIATE TIME. BUT AT 11:38 A.M, WE WILL BE TAKING UP THE BAKER TILLY MARKET STUDY FOR ALL BEXAR COUNT EMPLOYEES. YOU MAY WANT TO SEE THAT AND HEAR WHAT THE REPORT IS BY THE COUNTY MANAGER'S OFFICE. >> THANK YOU, JUDGE. >> THANK YOU. THAT CONCLUDES CITIZENS TO BE HEARD. I AM NOW GOING TO GO OUT OF ORDER. [54. Discussion and appropriate action regarding: ] COMMISSIONER CLAY-FLORES, YOU'VE ASKED THAT THE FIRST ITEM WE CONSIDER IS 54. DISCUSSION AND APPROPRIATE ACTIONS REGARDING A, AUTHORIZING 12 BEXAR COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE PATROL POSITIONS TO BE RELEASED FROM CONTINGENCIES AND THE FY2023 BUDGET TO INCLUDE THE APPROPRIATE BUDGET TRANSFER. B, ADDING 12 NEW BEXAR COUNTY SHERIFF'S PATROL POSITIONS AND QUARTER 4 OF FY2023 [NOISE] BUDGET YEAR. C, DEVELOPMENT AND PROPOSAL OF A PLAN FOR THE ADDITION OF 50 NEW LAW ENFORCEMENT POSITIONS IN THE BEXAR COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE FOR CONSIDERATION THE FY2023, 2024 PROPOSED BUDGET TO INCLUDE A MIX OF PATROL SERGEANTS AND INVESTIGATORS AND IMPLEMENTED EQUALLY THROUGH EACH QUARTER OF THE FISCAL YEAR 12 IN QUARTER 1, 13 IN QUARTER 2, ETC. D, COMMISSIONER STUDY TO DETERMINE THE APPROPRIATE NUMBER OF LAW ENFORCEMENT PERSONNEL NEEDED IN THE UNINCORPORATED BEXAR COUNTY TO BE COMPLETED TO JULY 31, 2023. E, CONTINGENT UPON THE RESULTS OF THE STUDY, IF APPROVED, DEVELOPMENT AND PROPOSAL OF A PLAN FOR ADDITIONAL LAW ENFORCEMENT PHYSICIANS BEYOND THE 50 TO BE PROPOSED IN THE FY2023, 24 BUDGET IF WARRANTED. F, A RESOLUTION OF SUPPORT FOR ADDING ADDITIONAL LAW ENFORCEMENT POSITIONS OF FUTURE PHYSICAL YEARS SUBJECT TO AVAILABLE REVENUES AND FUTURE APPROVAL, OTHER COMMISSIONERS COURT. COMMISSIONER MOODY, THIS IS YOUR MOTION. >> WELL, THANK YOU, JUDGE. I NORMALLY HAVE PRETTY BRIEF COMMENTS, AND I DON'T GIVE A LOT OF SPEECHES FROM THE DICE. BUT I BELIEVE THIS CRITICAL ISSUE DESERVES A MORE FORMAL AND COMPREHENSIVE RESPONSE. PUBLIC SAFETY SHOULD BE OUR FIRST CONCERN, AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT, IF WE DON'T HAVE PUBLIC SAFETY, WE CAN'T DO ANY OF THE HIGHER-ORDER EFFORTS THIS COURT WISHES TO PURSUE. I THINK THERE'S GENERAL CONSENSUS AROUND THE IMPORTANCE OF PUBLIC SAFETY ON THIS COURT. BUT SOME UNCERTAINTY AROUND HOW WE GET THERE. AS WE TRY TO ADDRESS THE ISSUE OF PUBLIC SAFETY, THERE ARE TWO FACTORS THAT ARE WORKING AGAINST US, A RAPID GROWTH AND UNINCORPORATED BEAR COUNTY AND THE RELATIVE UNDERSTAFFING AND UNDERINVESTMENT IN LAW ENFORCEMENT TODAY, AND THE LONGER WE WAIT TO ADDRESS THESE ISSUES, THE MORE DIFFICULT FIXING THE PROBLEM WILL BECOME. IF WE LOOK AT THE GROWTH IN BEAR COUNTY, WE'RE GROWING VERY QUICKLY, FROM A LITTLE OVER 2 MILLION RESIDENTS IN THE 2020 CENSUS TO AN ESTIMATED 2.9 MILLION BY 2030 BASED ON BEAR COUNTY BUDGET PROJECTIONS, UNINCORPORATED BEAR COUNTY POPULATION, HER THE BUDGET IS 460,000. WE ALL KNOW THAT THE VAST MAJORITY OF THIS FUTURE GROWTH WILL BE IN UNINCORPORATED BEAR COUNTY. THAT THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO AND SUBURBAN CITIES GREW 20% DURING THIS TIME PERIOD, FROM 1.5 MILLION-1.8 MILLION. THAT WOULD MEAN THAT UNINCORPORATED BEAR COUNTY WOULD HAVE TO MORE THAN DOUBLE TO OVER A MILLION RESONANCE TO REACH THAT POPULATION OF 2.9, [00:40:03] SO WHAT IS THE RIGHT NUMBER OF SHERIFF'S DEPUTIES FOR THIS EXPECTED POPULATION GROWTH? YOU WILL HEAR MANY DIFFERENT NUMBERS. PER THE FBI, THE AVERAGE ACROSS THE NATION IS 2.8 DEPUTIES PER 1,000 RURAL RESIDENTS. FOR THE FBI 2.3 OFFICERS PER 1,000 RESIDENTS NATIONWIDE, AND ICMA, WHICH IS A NATIONAL ORGANIZATION FOCUSED ON LAW ENFORCEMENT, RECOMMENDS 2.5 DEPUTIES PER 1,000 RESIDENTS. HOW DO WE COMPARE? WELL, IT'S BAD NEWS. WE AREN'T ANYWHERE CLOSE TO THESE NUMBERS. IF YOU ONLY LOOK AT OUR CURRENT PATROL OFFICERS, WHICH IS AROUND 270, WE ARE CLOSE TO 0.6 DEPUTIES PER 1,000 RESIDENTS. THAT'S 0.6 VERSUS ALL THOSE OTHER RECOMMENDATIONS OVER 2.0. EVEN IF YOU INCLUDE ALL LAW ENFORCEMENT DEPUTIES MINUS COURT SERVICES, WE'RE STILL ONLY UP TO 1.0, WHICH IS LESS THAN HALF THE AVERAGE REPORTED BY THE FBI, SO WE HAVE A COMPOUND PROBLEM HERE. WE'RE MORE THAN DOUBLING THE POPULATION, THE SHERIFF PATROLS, AND UNINCORPORATED BEAR COUNTY, AND WE'RE AT LESS THAN HALF THE AVERAGE STAFFING REPORTED BY THE FBI. TO PUT IT SIMPLY, I THINK WE HAVE A PROBLEM. HOW DO WE GET HERE? WELL, I BELIEVE WE HAVE UNDERINVESTED IN LAW ENFORCEMENT FOR SEVERAL YEARS, AND THAT INCLUDES CONSTABLES, WHO CAN ALSO PROVIDE LAW ENFORCEMENT PRESENCE AND BE PART OF THE SOLUTION. THE SHERIFFS REPORTS, THEY HAVE REQUESTED 292 LAW ENFORCEMENT POSITIONS OVER THE LAST SIX YEARS, WITH ONLY 28 ALLOTTED. THAT'S UNDER 10%. IN FY20, WE'RE ALLOTTED ONE, IN FY21,ZERO AND FY22, ZERO, IN FY23, 12 PATROL, FOUR INVESTIGATORS AND TWO SERGEANTS. I BELIEVE THAT CONSTABLES HAVE ACTUALLY LOST STAFFING DURING THIS TIME. THIS FRUSTRATING HISTORY HAS LED TO DSABC TO PETITION THE LEGISLATURE AND OUR DELEGATION FOR BILL, HOUSE BILL 2566, MANDATING A MINIMUM STAFFING OF 1.8 DEPUTIES PER 1,000, THAT WE'VE TALKED ABOUT IN PREVIOUS COURT SESSIONS. THIS WOULD BE A POLICY STRAIGHTJACKET THAT WOULD TIRE HANDS GOING FORWARD AND WITH LIMIT OUR FLEXIBILITY AND SOLUTION SETS. BUT THERE IS A BETTER PATH, A PATH OF COMPROMISE IN GOOD FAITH WITH THOSE WHO PROTECT AND SERVE OUR COMMUNITY. THIS AGENDA ITEM LAYS OUT THAT PATH BY UNFREEZING 12 CURRENT POSITIONS AND ADDING 12 MORE, WE IMMEDIATELY START WRITING THE SHIP AND OUR CURRENT FY AND SHOW OUR COMMITMENT TO ADDRESSING THE PROBLEM BY DIRECTING STAFF TO PROPOSE A BUDGET FOR FY24 WITH 50 NEW DEPUTY LAW ENFORCEMENT POSITIONS, WE MAKE AN HONEST EFFORT TO AT LEAST KEEP PACE WITH OUR RAPID GROWTH AND BEAR COUNTY. THE STUDY WILL TELL US MORE WHAT WE NEED TO DO IN FUTURE FY IS AND HOW THE SHERIFF CAN BETTER LEVERAGE THE DEPUTIES HE HAS GOING FORWARD, AND FINALLY, A RESOLUTION FOR SUPPORTING LAW ENFORCEMENT NEEDS AND FUTURE YEARS. WHAT I'VE HEARD FROM DSABC DIRECTLY IS THAT THEIR BOARD WILL ACCEPT THESE PROPOSALS, AND WE'LL PULL BACK ON THEIR LEGISLATIVE AGENDA. IF WE CAN PASS THESE ITEMS AS A SIGN OF GOOD FAITH AND OUR COMMITMENT TO PUBLIC SAFETY, SO WHETHER YOU WANT TO THINK ABOUT THESE INVESTMENTS IS MAKING UP FOR PAST UNDER-INVESTMENT OR ADDRESSING THIS FEATURE RAPID GROWTH, OR KEEPING UP KEEPING PACE WITH FBI POLICING RECOMMENDATIONS, OR KEEPING PACE WITH THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO, WHICH JUST RELEASED STAFFING ANALYSIS THAT SAYS THEY PLAN TO A 360 OFFICERS OVER THE NEXT 3-5 YEARS AND 100 NEXT YEAR. I SUGGEST WE MOVE FORWARD. I STRONGLY BELIEVE THESE ITEMS ARE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD COMPROMISE. DSABC WILL NOT GET WHAT THEY WANT. THIS COURT WILL NOT GET EVERYTHING THEY WANT EITHER. BUT THAT ISN'T WHAT A COMPROMISE IS, AND THE TAXPAYERS WILL GET WHAT THEY DESERVE AND LAW AND ORDER, SAFETY, AND SECURITY, AND WE CAN DO THIS WITHOUT BUSTING OUR BUDGET. WHAT WE WOULD BE COMMITTING TO ADDING 74 DEPUTIES IN THE NEXT 18 MONTHS PALE IN COMPARISON TO THE POTENTIAL OF A MANDATED 1,200 NEW DEPUTIES IN THE NEXT SEVEN YEARS. LET'S NOT PLAY CHICKEN AT THE STATE LEGISLATURE OVER $100 MILLION PER YEAR MANDATE. LET'S WALK BACK FROM THE BRINK HERE AND COMPROMISE WITH DSABC, THE SHERIFF, AND OUR CONSTABLES TO ENSURE WE HAVE THE LAW ENFORCEMENT WE NEED TO KEEP OUR RESIDENTS SAFE. I RESPECTFULLY ASK MY COLLEAGUES TO SUPPORT THIS COMPROMISE FOR THE GOOD OF BEAR COUNTY. THANK YOU. >> THANKS FOR COMMERCIAL MOODY, COMMISSIONER RODRIGUEZ? >> THANK YOU, JUDGE. FIRST OF ALL, LET ME ACKNOWLEDGE THE WORK BY COMMISSIONER MOODY. [00:45:02] I KNOW HE AND I HAVE HAD A NUMBER OF CONVERSATIONS BOTH AMONGST OURSELVES, BUT ALSO WITH THE SHERIFF AND FOLKS FROM DSABC OVER THE LAST FEW WEEKS, AND I KNOW HE IS DOING A LOT OF HARD WORK TO TRY AND COME UP WITH A COMPROMISE. INITIALLY, WE TALKED ABOUT PUTTING SOMETHING COLLECTIVELY INTO A RESOLUTION THAT WOULD ENCAPSULATE SOME OF THE THINGS THAT ARE NOW ITEMIZED, AND LET ME SAY, FIRST OF ALL, THERE ARE PARTS OF THIS THAT I CAN BE SUPPORTIVE OF TODAY. THERE ARE PARTS THAT I CANNOT COMMUNICATE IT TO OUR FRIENDS AT THE UNION AS RECENTLY AS LAST NIGHT. WHY? THE AGENDA ITEM IS LAID OUT. THE FIRST TIME I SAW IT, I GUESS IT WAS FRIDAY, AS ACTION ITEMS AND I THINK THAT UNDER NORMAL CIRCUMSTANCES, AS WE HAVE CONTEXTS, WE WOULD BE HAVING THESE DISCUSSIONS AS PART OF OUR BUDGET PROCESS AND IN A FEW MONTHS. I'M FULLY SUPPORTIVE OF ADDING LAW ENFORCEMENT. I KNOW SURE, IF YOU'VE BEEN ADVOCATING FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT. I DON'T KNOW WHAT THAT NUMBER IS, TO BE HONEST WITH YOU. I DON'T KNOW WHERE WE'VE LANDED ON A NUMBER OF 50 FOR NEXT FISCAL YEAR. I DON'T KNOW THAT OUR BUDGET STAFF HAS HAD TIME TO ANALYZE THAT AND COME UP WITH A FISCAL NOTE, I GUESS COMPREHENSIVELY AT NEW 74 POSITIONS. BECAUSE OF THAT, I CAN'T BE SUPPORTIVE TODAY OF MOVING FORWARD WITH ALL OF THESE ITEMS. AS COMMISSIONER MOODY MENTIONED, THE REASON WE'RE HAVING THIS DISCUSSION TODAY IS BECAUSE THERE HAS BEEN LEGISLATION FILED. I'VE BEEN UP IN AUSTIN A NUMBER OF TIMES TO TALK WITH OUR LEGISLATORS ABOUT THAT PIECE OF LEGISLATION THAT WOULD BE AN UNFUNDED MANDATE TO OUR COMMUNITY. THE SPIRIT OF THIS, AND I COMMEND COMMISSIONER MOODY'S TO TRYING FORGE SOME COMPROMISE, BUT I WOULD PREFER WE MAKE THESE DECISIONS ABOUT STAFFING UNDER OUR TIMEFRAME, WHICH IS THE BUDGET PROCESS FOR NEXT FISCAL YEAR. WE DON'T KNOW, AND DAVID, CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG, WE DON'T HAVE PROJECTED REVENUES FOR NEXT FISCAL YEAR YET. WE DON'T HAVE AN ANALYSIS ON THE 20% HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION THAT WE'VE PASSED LAST BUDGET YET, IS THAT CORRECT? >> CORRECT. >> I KNOW THE SHERIFFS AND OVER SOME NUMBERS ABOUT STAFFING. I DO THINK WE NEED TO STAFFING ANALYSIS, AND I THINK IT SHOULD BE DONE BY BOTH THE SHERIFF AND THE BUDGET OFFICE. MAYBE WE CAN COME UP WITH SOME NUMBER THAT'S MORE ACCURATE BASED ON THAT DATA. WE NEED DATA TO INFORM THESE DECISIONS. FRANKLY, LOOK, IT COULD BE 50, BUT IT COULD BE 80. I DON'T KNOW. BUT I KNOW LATER WE'RE ALSO DISCUSSING AN UPDATE ON THE SMART INITIATIVE THAT IS PUTTING LAW ENFORCEMENT, AND IN A DIFFERENT COMMUNITY POLICING STRATEGY WHERE WE'RE REACTING TO CALLS WITH MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONALS. THINGS ARE CHANGING AND SHIFTING, SO TO SPEAK, IN TERMS OF OUR EMERGENCY RESPONSE. THAT'S NOT TO SAY, WE DON'T HAVE THE NECESSITY FOR UNIFORM PERSONNEL AND OUR COMMUNITY AND SHERIFF I KNOW YOU'RE LEADING THAT EFFORT, BUT MY CONCERN MOVING TODAY WITH A FISCAL NOTE THAT WE'RE UNAWARE OF FOR NEXT FISCAL YEAR IS THAT THERE'S JUST A LOT OF UNCERTAINTY AND I FEEL LIKE WE COULD BE PERHAPS ON UNDERPERFORMING IN TERMS OF WHAT THAT NUMBER IS. THAT'S PART OF MY CONCERN. I THINK THAT WE'VE GOT PEOPLE UP HERE THAT HAVE BEEN SUPPORTIVE OF LAW ENFORCEMENT. I KNOW YOU DON'T ALWAYS GET WHAT YOU ASK FOR, I GET THAT AND I UNDERSTAND THAT, AND I UNDERSTAND THERE'S SOME FRUSTRATION LEVEL WITH THAT. BUT I DO THINK THE REALITY IS, AS A COURT, OUR JOB IS TO MAKE VERY TOUGH DECISIONS. THERE TO BE DECISIONS MADE, AS I MENTIONED, THAT ARE INFORMED, BUT ALSO ON OUR OWN TIMEFRAME. THAT'S MY CONCERN WITH PRESSING THIS BOARD. COMMISSIONER MOODY, I'M SURE AS WE MOVE FORWARD WITH YOUR FIRST BUDGET CYCLE, YOU'RE GOING TO PROBABLY WANT TO DISCUSS BECAUSE YOUR CONSTITUENTS ARE ASKING FOR IT, OTHER PROPERTY TAX RELIEF, WHICH TAKES AGAIN MONEY OFF THE TABLE IN TERMS OF SPENDING PRIORITIES. WE HAVE IF YOU TAKE THE ENTIRE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM, INCLUDING OUR LAW ENFORCEMENT, I WOULD GUESS IT'S SOMEWHERE AROUND 70% OF OUR BUDGET. THIS COURT HAS PUT THOSE RESOURCES IN. I'M COMFORTABLE IF WE WANT TO MOVE FORWARD TODAY WITH MOVING ITEM 54A, [00:50:03] WHICH IS OUR FREEZING THOSE POSITIONS. I'M COMFORTABLE WITH GIVING DIRECTION FOR A STAFFING ANALYSIS WHICH I GUESS IS ITEM D, AND PREFERABLY THE TIMELINE CAN BE ACCELERATED A LITTLE BIT. BUT FOR THE REST OF THESE, I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE MORE INFORMATION ON HOW IT'S GOING TO IMPACT OUR BUDGET FOR THIS NEXT FISCAL YEAR. I WOULD PUT FORWARD A MOTION, JUDGE, THAT WE APPROVE ITEM A, D, AND F, WHICH IS THE RESOLUTION SUPPORTING LAW ENFORCEMENT, AND THAT WE TABLE THE REST OF THE ITEMS UNTIL WE GET THE MORE INFORMATION. >> I WOULD SECOND THAT. IF I CAN MAKE A COMMENT. WE'VE BEEN TALKING A LOT ABOUT PROCESS AND TIMELINE. I HAD NOT SEEN THE SPECIFICS OF THIS UNTIL AFTER IT WAS POSTED. I REPRESENT THE FASTEST GROWING AREA OF BEXAR COUNTY, AND OBVIOUSLY THESE THINGS ARE IMPORTANT TO ME AS YOU KNOW SHERIFF AND I, WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT ONE OF OUR NEIGHBORHOODS IN THE ALAMO RANCH AREA WHERE I'M FREEZING THE 12TH POSITIONS WHERE AT LEAST THREE WILL BE GOING TO A NEW SUBSTATION THAT WE'VE TALKED ABOUT. I'M VERY SUPPORTIVE OF THAT. BUT LIKE COMMISSIONER RODRIGUEZ SAID, WITH SO MUCH INFORMATION AND NUMBERS, AND I HAVE NOT BEEN A PART OF THIS CONVERSATION. THAT'S WHY I SECOND TO SUPPORT TABLING THE REST OF IT UNTIL I HAVE MORE INFORMATION, UNTIL WE CAN DO A STUDY AND ALSO WORK WITH BUDGET TO SEE THE NUMBERS. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER CLAY-FLORES. COMMISSIONER CALVIN. >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH JUDGE AND COMMISSIONERS. I THANK YOU CHAIR VERY MUCH FOR COMING. I THANK COMMISSIONER MOODY FOR HIS WORK. I THANK COMMISSIONER RODRIGUEZ AND CLAY-FLORES FOR THEIR COMMENTS AS WELL. THERE ARE EIGHT LAW ENFORCEMENT PATROL POSITIONS THAT ARE CURRENTLY VACANT. SHERIFF, AND I JUST WANT TO COMPLIMENT YOU. I HAVE SEEN YOUR TEAM DO REALLY GREAT EFFORTS ON RECRUITMENT. IT'S BEEN VERY GOOD. BUT IT'S BEEN A TOUGH ENVIRONMENT TO HIRE. CAN YOU JUST TALK TO US ABOUT WHY THOSE VACANCIES OR SILVER IN PATROL. >> YES, SIR. WE ARE CURRENTLY LOOKING TO HAVE ANOTHER PATROL CLASS. THE REASON THAT WE CARRY PATROL VACANCIES QUITE FRANKLY SOMETIMES, IS BECAUSE THAT'S LESS OF A STRAIN ON OUR JAIL PERSONNEL, WHICH IS WHERE THE BULK OF OUR PATROL DEPUTIES COME FROM, IS FROM THE JAIL. EVERY TIME THAT WE MOVE ONE, WE HAVE TO DO IT VERY, VERY CAREFULLY KNOWING THAT IT'S GOING TO CAUSE US HURT ON THIS SIDE OF THE HOUSE. WE RECENTLY REACHED AN AGREEMENT WITH THE DSABC AN MOU, WHERE WE WERE TRYING TO TEST FOR PEOPLE OUTSIDE THE AGENCY TO COME IN AND TEST OVER TO THE LAW ENFORCEMENT SIDE. WE ARE CALLING THAT PROGRAM STRAIGHT TO THE STREETS. CURRENTLY THAT MOU IS TIED UP IN THE LEGAL PROCESS AND I DON'T KNOW THAT IT'LL BE UNTIED ANYTIME SOON. THAT'S WAY OUTPOURING. >> IS THAT PART OF THE ARBITRATION OF [OVERLAPPING] >> NO, THAT IS AN MOU THAT WE'VE SIGNED OFF ON. I BELIEVE THE UNION SIGNED OFF ON IT, AND AT LAST CHECK IT WAS SENT OVER TO LOWELL DENTON'S OFFICE FOR CONSIDERATION. QUITE FRANKLY, THAT PROCESS MOVES MOVES A BIT SLOW. WE'RE TRYING EVERYTHING WE POSSIBLY CAN TO FILL THOSE VACANCIES. ONCE THAT MOU IS SIGNED UP AND READY TO ROLL, WE HAVE THE ABILITY TO, FOR THE FIRST TIME IN A LONG TIME, THE FIRST TIME IN RECORDED HISTORY HERE, BRING PEOPLE INTO THE LAW ENFORCEMENT SIDE OF THE HOUSE FROM OUTSIDE THE AGENCY ALONG WITH THE DEPUTIES THAT ARE COMING IN. WE'VE GOT AS PART OF THE LAST COLLECTIVE BARGAINING AGREEMENT, WE'VE GOT A POINTS PROCESS, A PREFERENCE POINTS PROCESS FOR THOSE THAT ALREADY WORK IN THE JAIL, THEY WILL HAVE PREFERENCE POINTS ON THAT TEST. BUT THIS IS WAY OUTSIDE THE BOX THINKING AND IN AN EFFORT TO TRY TO FILL THOSE VACANCIES THAT WE'VE GOT. I'M CERTAINLY NOT CONCERNED WITH THE EIGHT THAT WE CURRENTLY HAVE AND THEN THE 12 THAT WE'RE HOPING TO UNFREEZE, HOPEFULLY WE GET SOME SUPERVISORS IN THE MIX ON THAT AS WELL BECAUSE WE NEED AN ADEQUATE NUMBER OF SUPERVISORS AS YOU KNOW, ANYTIME WE ADD COPS. WE GOT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE ADDING SUPERVISORS TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE DOING EVERYTHING AS EFFICIENTLY AND EFFECTIVELY AS POSSIBLE. THE NUMBER 50, THERE WAS A QUESTION ON HOW WE REACHED THE NUMBER 50, COMMISSIONER YOU YOURSELF PUT OUT A PRESS RELEASE A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO PLEDGING 50 PEOPLE, AND SO THAT WAS WHERE WE GOT THAT NUMBER FROM. THAT IN ADDITION TO THE 12 THAT WE'VE ALREADY GOT, HOPING TO GET UNFROZEN IN THIS NEXT BUDGET, WE'D LIKE TO HIT THE GROUND RUNNING WITH REGARD TO RECRUITMENT. NOW RECENTLY, I WAS BLESSED TO BE INVITED UP TO THE CAPITAL TO TESTIFY ON BEHALF OF A COUPLE OF BILLS THAT I MYSELF HAND WROTE. THANKFULLY, THEY'RE PICKING UP SOME STEAM WITH REGARDS TO RECRUITMENT. THAT WITH BEING ALLOWED TO LICENSE LEGAL PERMANENT RESIDENTS THAT HAVE SERVED HONORABLY IN THE MILITARY, [00:55:02] AND ANOTHER THAT WOULD HOPEFULLY GIVE US THE ABILITY TO OFFER FREE COLLEGE TUITION TO OUR FIRST RESPONDERS. AGAIN, THAT'S OUTSIDE THE BOX THINKING IN AN EFFORT TO RECRUIT AND RETAIN PEOPLE INTO THIS PROFESSION AND THEREBY THIS AGENCY. WE'RE WORKING VERY, VERY HARD, BUT WE DO NEED THE SUPPORT OF COMMISSIONERS TO HELP US KEEP UP WITH NOT JUST THE GROWTH IN BEXAR COUNTY, WE'VE GOT ROOFTOPS WHERE IT USED TO BE COW PASTURES. BUT A RISE IN VIOLENT CRIME. A RISE IN SCHOOL THREATS EVERY DAY IN MY SCHOOL SAFETY TASK FORCE THAT WAS FORMED UP IS RESPONDING TO ACTIVE SCHOOL THREATS EVERY DAY ALL OVER BEXAR COUNTY. WE DEFINITELY NEED MORE DEPUTIES AND WE'RE HOPING THAT YOU ALL WILL BE SUPPORTIVE OF ADDING MORE POSITIONS TO THIS. >> I'M JUST GOING TO SUMMARIZE VERY QUICKLY AS COMMISSIONER RODRIGUEZ JUST CAME BACK BECAUSE IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT WE HAVE THE SAME BIT OF INFORMATION TO MAKE THE RIGHT DECISION BECAUSE THEY'VE GOT A LOT ON THE TABLE RIGHT NOW, AND I WANT THE COURT TO MAKE THE RIGHT DECISION. THE FIRST THING IS THAT THE SHERIFF INDICATED THAT WE DO HAVE EIGHT VACANCIES AND THAT PART OF THE REASON IS BECAUSE IN THE JAIL WHEN THEY MOVE PEOPLE ONTO PATROL, IT PUTS PRESSURE ON THE JAIL WHEN THEY'RE MOVING THOSE FOLKS OVER IN THE JAIL. WE HAVE A COUPLE OF HUNDRED VACANCIES OR WHATEVER, SO THEY'VE HAD TO BE JUDICIOUS ABOUT MOVING THOSE FOLKS. NOW, COMMISSIONER CLAY-FLORES AND COMMISSIONER RODRIGUEZ, AND MYSELF MADE A MOTION IN THE LAST BUDGET THAT I THINK WAS VERY PRUDENT AND VERY WISE, AND IN OUR BUDGET, WE SAID WE WILL INCREASE 12 ADDITIONAL PATROL OFFICERS CONTINGENT UPON THOSE VACANCIES BEING FILLED, SO I JUST WANT TO CLARIFY THE LANGUAGE I PROVIDED. COMMISSIONER CLAY-FLORES, RODRIGUEZ, AND ALL THE MEMBERS OF THE COURT INFORMATION FROM TINA DEAN SMITH THAT THOSE 12 PATROL OFFICERS ARE NOT FROZEN. I JUST WANT TO BE CLEAR ABOUT OUR LANGUAGE, THEY ARE NOT FROZEN, THEY ARE JUST IN CONTINGENCY. THAT WAS A PRUDENT MOVE IN LIGHT OF THE STATE LEGISLATION THAT HAS REALLY HAMSTRUNG US IN TERMS OF ONCE IN THERE, YOU'D NEVER GET IT OUT KIND OF THING, AND SO WE WANT TO SEE MORE PATROL. WE ARE NOT HEAVY FISTING THIS, WE RESPECT THE SHERIFF'S ABILITY TO MANAGE THE JAIL WHICH HAS GOT A HIGH POPULATION. WE RESPECT YOUR BALANCE THAT YOU'RE TRYING TO MAKE WITH PATROL. THE OTHER THING IS WE HAVE ABOUT 27 VACANCIES IN ALL LAW ENFORCEMENT RANKS. I DON'T QUITE UNDERSTAND THAT SO EXPLAIN THOSE VACANCIES. >> WELL, I'M NOT SURE WHICH 27 VACANCIES YOU'RE SPEAKING OF SPECIFICALLY, COMMISSIONER, BUT I CAN TELL YOU WE ARE IN THE MIDST OF NOT ONLY THE FACT THAT THERE HAS BEEN A MASS EXODUS NATIONWIDE IN FIRST RESPONDERS, WE'RE ALSO DEALING WITH WHAT WE CALL A RETIREMENT TSUNAMI. THOSE OF US THAT BECAME LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS IN THE EARLY '90S, THIS IS MY 30TH ANNIVERSARY AS OF LAST WEEK IN LAW ENFORCEMENT. >> LOOKING GOOD, SIR. >> THANK YOU, SIR. WE'RE GETTING A BIT LONG IN THE TOOTH, AND AT THIS POINT, THAT GOLF COURSE IS LOOKING A LOT MORE INVITING THAN DODGING BULLETS AND DEALING WITH GUNS, SO A LOT OF FOLKS ARE TAKING THAT OPTION AND RETIRING, AND SO THAT IN ADDITION TO JUST THE GENERATIONAL SHIFT AWAY FROM LAW ENFORCEMENT, WE'RE DEALING WITH THAT RETIREMENT TSUNAMI. >> A MILITARY IS DEALING WITH THAT TOO, I HEARD YESTERDAY THEY'RE HAVING A REALLY HARD TIME WITH RECRUITING PEOPLE, THINK A WHOLE 5% LESS NUMBER OF PEOPLE COMING TO THE MILITARY AS WELL SO THOSE CAREERS OR MAYBE IN FLUX. >> EVERY INDUSTRY IS SEEING A MASS EXODUS BUT IN LAW ENFORCEMENT CIRCLES WE DON'T HAVE THE LUXURY LIKE SOME OF THE AIRLINES. WELL, LET'S JUST CANCEL FLIGHTS BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH PILOTS. LIKE A RESTAURANT SAYING, WELL, LET'S JUST LEAVE THIS SECTION OPEN, WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH WAITSTAFF. WE IN LAW ENFORCEMENT, ABSOLUTELY HAVE TO MAKE AN EFFORT TO GET COPS OUT THERE. HOWEVER, WE ALSO HAVE TO BE JUDICIOUS AND SELECTIVE ON WHO GETS IN AND WEARS THE UNIFORM AS WELL. IF YOU RELAX THE STANDARDS TO THE POINT WHERE YOU'RE LETTING ANYBODY IN WITH A PULSE, YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE A WHOLE DIFFERENT SET OF PROBLEMS SPEAKING FROM EXPERIENCE ON THIS. >> THAT'S RIGHT. >> WE'RE MAKING EVERY EFFORT TO FILL WHATEVER VACANCIES WE HAVE. AGAIN, THAT'S WHY I'M SO ADAMANT THAT WE NEED THESE MOUS SIGNED OFF BY THE COMMISSIONERS COURT SO THAT WE CAN CHANGE THE WAY WE'RE BRINGING PEOPLE INTO THE LAW ENFORCEMENT SIDE TO PLUG OUR HOLES ON THE LAW ENFORCEMENT SIDE WITHOUT CAUSING OURSELVES TOO MUCH PAIN ON THE DETENTION SIDE. >> I AGAIN, WANT TO SAY I THINK YOU'VE DONE A OUTSTANDING, I HAVEN'T SEEN THE RECRUITING AS STRONG AS YOU ALL HAVE BEEN DOING IT. IT HAS BEEN VERY AGGRESSIVE IN IT NEEDED TO BE RIGHT BECAUSE YOU'VE GOT A LOT OF POSITIONS THAT YOU'VE GOT TO FILL, SO IT'S ALMOST A TOP-FIVE PRIORITY THAT YOU'VE GOT TO DO THAT, SO THANK YOU. I WANTED THE COURT TO UNDERSTAND THESE POSITIONS ARE NOT FROZEN, THE COURT DID AUTHORIZE THREE OF US, SAY COMMISSIONER CLAY-FLORES, RODRIGUEZ, AND MYSELF, WE AUTHORIZED 12, BUT WE'RE IN CONTINGENCY SO THAT THE VACANCIES COULD GET FILLED. WE REALLY HAVE ABOUT 20 PATROL POSITIONS THAT ARE UNFILLED AND ARE BEING TRIED TO BEING FILLED. WE'VE GOT A CADET CLASS COMING UP, SO I JUST WANT THE COURT TO HAVE THAT PIECE OF DATA. [01:00:02] NOW, FISCAL NOTE, AND THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT TO JUDGE THE CHI, ALWAYS KNOWING THE FISCAL NOTE AND IT'S IMPORTANT TO ALL OF US. WHEN WE LOOK AT THE COST OF THIS TINA RANSOM NUMBERS FOR IF WE WERE TO ADD 40 OFFICERS IT WOULD BE 4.5 MILLION, 50 OFFICERS 5.6 MILLION. IN MY JUDGMENT, IN THE OVERALL SCHEME OF THE BUDGET, THAT IS A FAIR ENHANCEMENT TO OUR LAW ENFORCEMENT. I MUST SAY WE HAVE NOT HAD ENOUGH TIME TO ANALYZE THE BUREAU OF JUSTICE ASSISTANCE FBI METHODOLOGY, IT MAY BE PERFECT, BUT IT ALSO MAY BE NOT A ONE-SIZE-FITS-ALL, AND SO MANY TIMES I'VE SEEN THE DOJ BUREAU OF JUSTICE ASSISTANCE MODIFY SOME OF THESE NUMBERS OVER TIME AFTER THEY'VE GONE THROUGH THE WRINGER OF PRACTICE, AND SO EVEN WE LOOK AT THE SMART UNIT FOR EXAMPLE WHEN WE LOOK AT EUGENE OREGON, WHICH WAS OUR MODEL, IT WAS THE BEST, IT WAS THE BENCHMARK WE WERE USING. WHEN YOU GET DOWN TO THE POPULATION OF EUGENE OREGON, NOT JUST IN SIZE, BUT IN DEMOGRAPHICS AND INCOME AND PROBLEMS, IT'S VERY DIFFERENT THAN BEXAR COUNTY. WHAT THEY DID IN EUGENE, OREGON WITH CAHOOTS WE MODELED BUT AS WE ARE GOING THROUGH THE DETAILS THAT WE'LL HEAR FROM OUR SMART PRESENTATION TODAY WE MAY NEED TO MAKE MODIFICATIONS TO FIT BEXAR COUNTY BUT I THOUGHT THAT A FAIR BUDGETARY ALLOCATION THAT WOULDN'T BUST THE BUDGET BUT WOULD SHOW COMMITMENT TO THE DEPUTY SHERIFFS UNION OF THIS NEW COURT MIGHT BE 50 OFFICERS. I THINK THE CONTINGENCY PLAN IS A PRUDENT THING THAT COMMISSIONER CLAY-FLORES, COMMISSIONER RODRIGUEZ, AND MYSELF HAVE VOTED ON IN THE PAST TO PUT IT IN CONTINGENCIES PENDING THE VACANCIES, BUT IT IS ABSOLUTELY THERE THOSE WILL NOT BE FROZEN POSITIONS. THAT'S MY OPINION. WHAT I WOULD SAY IS WE DO NEED THAT STUDY TO LOOK AT BEXAR COUNTY AND TO LOOK AT RIGHT-SIZING THE COURT'S DECISIONS THAT ARE COMING IN THIS UPCOMING BUDGET AND AS COMMISSIONER MOODY HAS MADE IN HIS MOTION, IT SHOULD HAVE THE COMMISERATE MIX OF INVESTIGATORS, SUPERVISORS, AND THE OTHER RANKS AS WELL AS PART OF THE MIX. I WANT TO THROW THAT THERE IS A WAY FOR US TO DO IT. I DON'T KNOW WHETHER THIS WILL BE THROUGH IN FRIENDLY AMENDMENT. WHAT I WOULD SAY COMMISSIONER MOODY AND COMMISSIONER RODRIGUEZ, IF I WERE MAKING THEM, YOU'VE GOT MOTIONS HERE, BUT I WANT YOU TO HEAR WHAT I WOULD PROPOSE. WHAT I WOULD DO IS I WOULD MOVE TO AUTHORIZE THE COUNTY STAFF TO PROPOSE A PLAN FOR AN ADDITIONAL 50 NEW LAW ENFORCEMENT POSITIONS TO INCLUDE AN APPROPRIATE MIX OF PATROL SERGEANTS AND INVESTIGATORS FOR THE 2023, 2024 BUDGET IN CONTINGENCY UNTIL VACANCIES ARE FILLED. THAT'S NOT MAKING A MOTION ON ANYTHING RELATED TO THE 12 RIGHT NOW. IT DOESN'T GET INTO THE QUARTERLY 12 THING THAT I SAW, IT JUST SAYS LET'S LOOK AT 50. LET'S STUDY. I'M SORRY. SO THE SECOND PART OF THE MOTION WOULD BE TO AUTHORIZE THE COUNTY TO BUDGET OFFICE, TO COORDINATE WITH THE SHERIFF, TO COMMISSION A STUDY TO DETERMINE THE APPROPRIATE NUMBER OF LAW ENFORCEMENT PERSONNEL NEEDED AN UNINCORPORATED BEXAR COUNTY TO BE COMPLETED PRIOR TO JULY 31ST, SO THAT AS WE GO INTO BUDGET IN AUGUST AND SEPTEMBER, THAT INFORMATION, IT MAY SAY WE NEED 100. IT MAY SAY WE NEED 40. I DON T KNOW WHAT THAT STUDY WILL SAY, BUT WE WILL HAVE SOME MORE DETAILED ANALYSIS IN PARTNERSHIP WITH YOUR DEPARTMENT BECAUSE WE BELIEVE THAT'S IMPORTANT. I WOULD START WITH THOSE TWO AS WHERE I WOULD GO AND THERE'S PROBABLY A LITTLE BIT MORE THAN I CAN FILL, BUT THOSE ARE THE MOST IMPORTANT, I THINK GOING FORWARD TO SHOW THE UNION THAT WE ARE SERIOUS ABOUT MAKING SOME INCREASES IN STAFFING. >> GEORGIA IF I CAN JUST RESPOND BECAUSE I WAS THE ONE THAT MADE THE MOTION THAT'S ON THE FLOOR. I BELIEVE THE INTENT, OR AT LEAST THE SPIRIT OF WHAT YOU'RE SUGGESTING COMMISSIONER CALVERT IS COVERED IN ITEM 54D, WHICH WAS PART OF THE MOTION WHICH IS TO COMMISSION A STUDY TO DETERMINE THE APPROPRIATE NUMBER OF LAW ENFORCEMENT PERSONNEL NEEDED IN UNINCORPORATED BEXAR COUNTY. >> YES, SIR. >> I WOULD SAY IF WE CAN EVEN ACCELERATE THAT TIMELINE, I KNOW.. >> SURE. >> LOOK IN MY DISCUSSIONS WITH THEIR FRIENDS AT THE UNION, THE WORD STUDY SOMETIMES IS A DOWNER. IT'S A BUZZ KILL BECAUSE IT HAS IN THE PAST DENOTED SOME DELAY OR SOME SMOKESCREEN, AND YOU KNOW THAT SHERIFF, YOU'VE BEEN AROUND LONG ENOUGH, I CAN ASSURE YOU THAT I DON'T LIKE USING THE WORD EITHER, BUT IT'S AN ANALYSIS, AND WE HAVE TO HAVE AN ANALYSIS IN TERMS OF HOW WE INFORM THESE DECISIONS, [01:05:03] WHETHER IT'S LAW ENFORCEMENT OR WHETHER IT'S INFRASTRUCTURE GROWTH IN UNINCORPORATED. I'VE ASSURED THEM THAT WE'LL CALL IT A STAFFING ANALYSIS, WHATEVER IT MAY BE, I THINK THAT CAN BE SHORTER TERM THAN JULY 2023. I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT WE HAVE NUMBERS THAT YOU PRESENT SHERIFF IN THAT ANALYSIS AS WELL AS OUR BUDGET OFFICE AND WE COMPARE THE TWO. I WOULDN'T BE BEYOND HAVING SOME INDEPENDENT ANALYSIS DONE AS WELL, I WANT TO KEEP THIS SIMPLIFIED, BUT I THINK COMMISSIONER CALVERT, TO YOUR POINT, I'M COMFORTABLE MOVING FORWARD WITH THIS MOTION THAT IT ENCOMPASSES THAT. I KNOW YOU KEEP MENTIONING 50 AND AGAIN, I DON'T KNOW WHERE THAT NUMBER IS DERIVED FROM, IT DOES SOUND LIKE A GOOD SOLID NUMBER, BUT I THINK WE SHOULD BE OPEN TO THE POSSIBILITY THAT IT COULD BE MORE AS YOU MENTIONED, AND I MEAN, I DOUBT IT, BUT IT COULD BE LESS, JUST BECAUSE WE KNOW THE GROWTH OF THE COMMUNITY. I'M COMFORTABLE MOVING FORWARD AND CALLING FOR THE QUESTION ON THE MOTION WHICH IS MOVING FORWARD WITH A, D, AND F AND POSTPONING B, C, AND E. >> WELL, SO A POINT OF I GUESS IT'D BE ORDER, I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE I UNDERSTAND. COMMISSIONER, THERE HAS BEEN A NEW MOTION. WELL, THE NEW MOTION THAT I JUST HEARD WAS MOVING FORWARD WITH THE AND THEN TABLING THE OTHERS. >> THE MOTION THAT I MADE AND I HAVEN'T CHANGED IT WAS TO MOVE FORWARD WITH 54 A, D, AND, F AND THE LANE B, C, AND E UNTIL WE GET MORE IN POSITION. >> LET ME JUST SAY THAT I CANNOT SUPPORT MOVING 54 A BECAUSE I DON'T BELIEVE THAT IT WAS AN UNWISE DECISION FOR THE COURT, WHICH ALL THREE OF US VOTED ON, TO PUT THOSE IN CONTINGENCY. THEY'RE NOT FROZEN, THEY'RE WAITING FOR THOSE POSITIONS TO BE FILLED, THEY'RE THERE. I THINK IN LIGHT OF THE STATE LAW, TYING OUR HANDS WITH RESPECT TO ONCE WE PUT IT IN THE BUDGET. IT'S ALWAYS IN THE BUDGET. I THINK IT'S PRUDENT ALWAYS THAT MOVING FORWARD THE COURT DO VACANCIES CONTINGENT UPON FILLING. I THINK THAT'S VERY, VERY IMPORTANT TO PRESERVE OUR FISCAL, IT'S A FISCALLY UNRESPONSIBLE BILL THAT WAS PUT ON COMMISSIONERS AND LOCAL CITIES AND COUNTIES. I WOULD SAY RESERVE THE RIGHT OF DEMOCRACY FOR YOUR CONSTITUENCY, OUR BODY TO HAVE FREEDOM OVER THESE DOLLARS. THAT'S MY ISSUE. WE HAVE SET IT THERE. WE DON'T PLAN TO TAKE THEM AWAY. BUT WE ARE IN A DIFFERENT ENVIRONMENT THAN WE WERE BEFORE WITH RESPECT TO THE FREEDOM OF LOCAL GOVERNMENTS TO MAKE DECISIONS OVER THE DOLLAR. I COULD NOT SUPPORT THAT. WE CAN COME BACK AND I HOPE THAT PERHAPS WE CAN HAVE SOMETHING A LITTLE CLEANER WITH CONTINGENCY. >> LET ME HAVE A SHERIFF HERE IN FLORIDA. >> YES, SIR. THANK YOU, JUDGE. WITH REGARD TO THE FILLING OF THESE POSITIONS BEFORE THESE ARE TAKEN OUT OF CONTINGENCY, THE WAY OUR PROCESS WORKS AND LET ME JUST GIVE A WORD OF CAUTION THAT THIS IS A HIGHLY COMPETITIVE JOB MARKET. WE ALONG WITH SAP ARE LITERALLY FIGHTING OVER THE SAME APPLICANT POOL ALONG WITH THE MILITARY AND OTHER PRIVATE INDUSTRIES HERE. WE'VE GOT TO BE HIGHLY COMPETITIVE. WE'VE GOT TO MOVE ON A DIME. IN MANY TIMES IF SOMEBODY PASSES THE PROCESS AND THEY'RE READY TO GO, WE NEED TO ABSOLUTELY HIRE THAT PERSON NOW OR SOMEONE WILL COME ALONG TOMORROW AND HIRE THEM OUT FROM UNDER US. LET'S SAY FOR ARGUMENT'S SAKE, WE DO HAVE EIGHT VACANCIES RIGHT NOW AND WE HAVE TO FILL THOSE EIGHT BEFORE THESE 12 ARE REMOVED FROM CONTINGENCY. WHEN WE GIVE A PROMOTIONAL EXAM, WE MAY GET A LIST OF 40 APPLICANTS THAT WE'RE READY TO HIRE. I WON'T BE ABLE TO WAIT. THIS PROCESS WILL NOT BE ABLE TO WAIT FOR THOSE TO BE REMOVED FROM CONTINGENCY. LOOK, I'VE SEEN THE WAY THINGS MOVE AROUND GOVERNMENT. THEY MOVE AT THE SPEED OF GOVERNMENT. IF WE FILL THOSE EIGHT AND WE'VE GOT THESE OTHER 32 PEOPLE READY TO BE HIRED, I CAN'T WAIT TOO LONG, I KEEP USING THE WORD UNFREEZE TO UNCONTINGENSIZE THE OTHER 12 BECAUSE THOSE OTHER 12 WILL BE GONE, THEY'LL MOVE ON SOMEWHERE ELSE BY THE TIME I GET A CHANCE TO HIRE THEM. >> SHERIFF, I APPRECIATE THAT. WE ARE TALKING THE COUNTY MANAGER AND DEPARTMENT HEADS ARE TALKING ABOUT THE FACT THAT PERHAPS WE MAY NEED TO GIVE DEPARTMENT HEADS MORE FLEXIBILITY ABOUT EVEN THE MID-RANGE AND THE UPPER RANGE AND TO BE ABLE TO HAVE SOME PAY RANGES. YOUR CONTRACT WITH A UNION IS A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT THAN OTHER DEPARTMENTS, BUT WE'RE LOOKING AT THEIR FLEXIBILITY. BUT I WOULD SUBMIT THIS BY WAY OF FACT, [01:10:02] IT HAS BEEN SIX MONTHS SINCE WE PASSED THE BUDGET AND YOUR DEPARTMENT RESPECTFULLY HAS NOT HAD THAT SCENARIO, SO I DON'T BELIEVE IN THE NEXT COUPLE OF MONTHS THAT WE WILL HAVE A SUDDEN RUSH WHERE YOU'VE GOT AN ALLEVIATION OF YOUR JAIL VACANCIES SUCH THAT YOU CAN TRANSFER THOSE PEOPLE IN LAW ENFORCEMENT. IF THERE WERE MORE REAL-WORLD OPPORTUNITIES TO BRING THAT PARTICULAR EXAMPLE YOU JUST GAVE, I WOULD ABSOLUTELY SAY THE COORDINATES TO MOVE IN YOUR DIRECTION. BUT IN SIX MONTHS, WE HAVE NOT SEEN THAT AND I DOUBT THAT WE'RE GOING TO SEE IT. I WILL SAY THIS. WE CAN TRY TO GIVE DIRECTION IN A MOTION TO THE COUNTY MANAGEMENT THAT SHOULD THIS SCENARIO COME UP, YOU'LL BE GREEN-LIGHTED RIGHT AWAY. YOU DON'T NEED TO COME BACK TO COMMISSIONER'S COURT. WHY DON'T WE ADD THAT TO THE MOTION RATHER THAN GET IT OUT OF CONTINGENCY, WHICH IS A BIGGER DEAL? IT'S A MUCH BIGGER DEAL FOR THE LONG-TERM FISCAL HEALTH OF THIS COUNTY. I'M JUST TRYING TO BE PRUDENT. >> GO AHEAD, COMMISSIONER MARIE. I HAVE SOME REMARKS. >> JUST A COUPLE, I GUESS THESE ARE JUST RHETORICAL QUESTIONS, I WON'T ADDRESS IT TO ANY ONE INDIVIDUAL, BUT OVER THE LAST FOUR YEARS, FIVE YEARS, HOW MUCH IS UNINCORPORATED BEXAR COUNTY GROWN? >> WELL, I DON'T HAVE NUMBERS IN FRONT OF ME. I CAN TELL YOU EVERYWHERE YOU DRIVE AND I WOULD CERTAINLY URGE EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU TO GO ON A RIDE ALONG WITH A PATROL DEPUTY IN YOUR RESPECTIVE PRECINCTS. LET ME KNOW WHEN OR WE'LL CALL YOUR OFFICES AND TRY TO SET SOMETHING UP ASAP. WITH THAT BEING SAID, I CAN'T TELL YOU THE NUMBER OF GROWTH, BUT I CAN TELL YOU THERE ARE AREAS THAT ARE ROOFTOPS AND THEN ADJACENT TO ITS STREETS ALREADY BEING CUT IN. THE GROWTH IS UNDENIABLE. THE RISE IN VIOLENCE IS UNDENIABLE, AND I CAN TELL YOU WITH THE WAY THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO IS ABSOLUTELY STAFFING UP APPROPRIATELY LIKE THEY SHOULD BE IF WE DON'T AT LEAST MAKE THE EFFORT TO TRY TO KEEP UP SOMEWHAT, CRIME IS LIKE WATER, IT'S GOING TO TAKE THE PATH OF LEAST RESISTANCE. IF WE BECOME THE PATH OF LEAST RESISTANCE AND UNINCORPORATED BEXAR COUNTY THEN GOD HELP US AND GOD HELP THE RESIDENTS THAT ARE OUT THERE THAT ARE MOVING IN BUT IN DROVES. >> DO YOU THINK THE GROWTH IS MORE THAN THREE PERCENT? >> I BELIEVE SO. YES, SIR. >> I THINK IT'S WAY MORE THAN THREE PERCENT, AND THAT'S THE NUMBER OF DEPUTIES WE'VE GOTTEN IN THE LAST FOUR YEARS, IN TERMS OF PERCENTAGE. THE 100 NEW DEPUTIES, 100 NEW POLICE OFFICERS FOR SAPD, WHAT PERCENT GROWTH IS THAT, DO YOU KNOW IT? >> WELL, I THINK AT LAST COUNT THEY WERE AT 2,300 BODIES, AND IF THEY ADD THE 100 THIS YEAR AND THEN THE 300 OVER THE NEXT COUPLE OF YEARS, WHICH I THINK IS INAPPROPRIATE, IT'S A SMART MOVE ON THEIR PART, I DON'T KNOW PERCENTAGES, BUT I CAN TELL YOU THAT'S A LOT MORE THAN THREE PERCENT AS WELL. >> AND THAT WOULD BE ROUGHLY 15 PERCENT GROWTH. >> ABSOLUTELY. >> ON SAPDS FRONT, 15 PERCENT GROWTH FROM A 470 BASE FOR US WOULD BE APPROXIMATELY 75, 80 OFFICERS, CORRECT? >> YES, SIR. >> THAT'S THE MENTAL MATH, BUT APPROXIMATELY THAT WOULD BALANCE WITH WHAT SAPD IS PROVIDING. I WOULD ALSO JUST LIKE TO MAKE A POINT OF ORDER FOR CONSIDERATION BY THE CHAIR. THE MOTION ON THE FLOOR INCLUDES ITEMS FOR APPROVAL AND TO BE TABLED, IS MY UNDERSTANDING THAT THESE WOULD BE INDIVIDUAL ITEMS THAT WE VOTE ON, SO I JUST WANT TO MAKE THAT POINT OF ORDER. >> YES. >> JUDGE, THE WAY THIS WAS POSTED IS ONE INDIVIDUAL ITEM 54 WITH SUB ITEMS. MY UNDERSTANDING, AND I'M HAPPY TO HAVE, I GUESS OUR PARLIAMENTARIAN LARRY CHIME IN ON THIS, BUT I BELIEVE THAT THE MOTION IS A PROPER ONE BECAUSE IT WAS TO APPROVE PORTIONS OF 54 AND TO DELAY PORTIONS OF 54. I BELIEVE LARRY, IF YOU WANT TO CHIME IN ON THAT, I UNDERSTAND THIS BECAUSE THE WAY IT WAS POSTED AS ONE ITEM, SUBSETS THAT IT CAN BE TAKEN AS PROPOSED. >> CORRECT. JUDGE, THE ITEM WAS POSTED AS ONE. MY RECOMMENDATION WAS TO HANDLE THEM SPECIFICALLY JUST FOR THE MINUTES PURPOSES, BUT THE MOTION WAS MADE AND SECONDED, SO THAT'S THE MOTION ON THE FLOOR FOR THE COURT'S CONSIDERATION NOTWITHSTANDING THE POINT OF ORDER. >> LET ME SPEAK. I'M SURE EVERYBODY'S LIKE WHERE ARE YOU AT JUDGE SAKAI? FIRST OF ALL, LET ME TAKE THIS CONVERSATION AT A MUCH HIGHER PERSPECTIVE AND PERHAPS REFLECTIVE OF MYSELF AND WHAT I EXPECT MY COURT AND WHAT EXPECT TO STAFF. I WANT TO APPLAUD COMMISSIONER CALVERT. [01:15:02] I HAVE SEEN COMMISSIONER THAT YOU TOOK THE LEAGUE, YOU DO YOUR HOMEWORK, AND YOU'VE READ SOME VALID ISSUES THAT CONCERNS THAT I HAVE TAKEN INTO CONSIDERATION. COMMISSIONER MOODY AND COMMISSIONER RODRIGUEZ, YOU TOOK THE LEAD IN NEGOTIATING WITH THE DEPUTY SHERIFFS ASSOCIATION. I THINK IT'S HEALTHY THAT THE FACT THAT WE DON'T HAVE AN AGREEMENT HERE TODAY. BOTH YOU HAVE MADE STRONG ARGUMENTS TO EITHER ADOPTING FULL OR ADOPTING PART OF ISSUE. THAT'S THE TECHNICAL ISSUE. NOW, MAY I ASK LARRY TO COME BACK AND SEE IF PERHAPS A MIDDLE GROUND MOTION COULD SUFFICE. COMMISSIONER CLAY-FLORES IS BARELY INVOLVED AND SHE HAS CONFERRED WITH ME ON THESE ISSUES. EVERYBODY ON THIS DICE, INCLUDING MYSELF, SUPPORT THE DEPUTIES. BUT WE HAVE A FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY TO BE GOOD STEWARDS OF OUR TAXPAYER MONEY. I THINK COMMISSIONER MOODY, YOU'VE SAID IT OR COMMISSIONER CALVERT SAID IT. I WILL ALWAYS ASK FOR FISCALNOTE AND I'LL BE REAL BLURRED. THERE'S NO FISCALNOTE HERE, SO I'VE GOT TO WEIGH ALL THE ISSUES TO DETERMINE WHETHER I'M GOING TO SUPPORT OR OBJECT OR POSE THESE ITEMS ON THE AGENDA. SHERIFF, I WANT TO THANK YOU. WE HAVE HAD REALLY GREAT CONVERSATIONS EVER SINCE THE CAMPAIGN, AND EVEN WE CONTINUE PAST. I WANT TO THANK THE UNION BECAUSE I'VE SAT DOWN TO TALK TO THEM. I ALSO WANT TO POINT OUT THAT I'VE SAT DOWN AND I BELIEVE SHERIFF YOU'RE WITH ME. I TALKED TO THE DEPUTIES DIRECTLY. I WANT TO HEAR THREE ROW CALLS AT THE BEAR COUNTY JAIL. I THINK ONE WAS AT SEVEN IN THE MORNING? >> YES SIR. >> I THINK 3:00 IN THE AFTERNOON AND TEN O'CLOCK AT NIGHT. THAT WAS A LONG DAY. BUT THE ISSUE WAS AS I TALK TO YOU AND TO THE UNION AND TO THOSE DEPUTIES WERE, I NEEDED YOU TO ALL GET A LINE AND COME BEFORE THIS COURT WITH ONE VOICE. SOMETIMES THAT HAS NOT HAPPENED AND IT'S GOING TO BE IMPOSSIBLE FOR ME TO SUPPORT ANYBODY AS AN ORGANIZATION, UNLESS YOU-ALL SPEAK AS ONE VOICE. I THINK SHERIFF, YOU'VE MADE THE COMMENT THAT THIS IS THE FIRST TIME IN YOUR CAREER THAT YOU AND THE UNION HAVE COME TOGETHER? >> YES, SIR. >> I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU FOR THAT. I'M GOING TO ASSUME THAT DEPUTIES HAVE HAD THEIR VOICE AND THAT THEY WILL SUPPORT IT. NOW, UNDERSTANDING THAT ANYTHING THAT AFFECTS THE COLLECTIVE BARGAINING AGREEMENT HAS TO BE TAKEN AND RATIFIED AT A LATER DATE. THERE'S A LOT OF TECHNICAL ISSUES THAT WE'LL WORK THROUGH. THE ISSUES TODAY IS WHETHER WE MOVE FORWARD, WHETHER WE NOT MOVE FORWARD, OR WHETHER WE DELAY THE QUESTION AND COME BACK LATER. I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERYBODY UNDERSTANDS THAT. I THINK THE DISCUSSION TODAY HAS BEEN HEALTHY. IT'S BEEN OPEN, PERHAPS IN A BETTER FORM. NOW WE HAVE SAID THAT CONVERSATIONS WITH THE COUNTY MANAGER'S OFFICE THAT THIS PERHAPS WOULD HAVE BEEN REALLY HELPFUL IN A WORK SESSION. WE REALLY COULDN'T THRASHED IT OUT. WE'RE IN A PUBLIC HEARING, SO THE PUBLIC KNOWS WHERE WE'RE GOING, STAFF KNOWS WHERE WE'RE GOING, BECAUSE I AM CONCERNED AS COMMISSIONER CLAY-FLORES THAT WE DO THINGS AT THE LAST MINUTE. SHE HAS MADE IT THAT IT'S VERY DIFFICULT FOR HER TO MAKE AN INTELLIGENT DECISION WHEN AGENDA ITEMS GO ON ON FRIDAY AT FIVE O'CLOCK. I AM VERY SENSITIVE AS A MATTER OF BEING FAIR BECAUSE THAT'S WHERE I COME FROM AS A COURT OF LAW. I LIKE NO SURPRISES. I DON'T ALLOW ATTORNEYS TO DO SURPRISES IN A COURT OF LAW, AND I DON'T LIKE SURPRISES. I DON'T THINK THERE WAS ANY SURPRISES IN THIS CONCERN. IT SAYS THAT THERE WAS INTENSE NEGOTIATION, THERE WAS INTENSE WORK FOR WHICH I WANT TO APPLAUD EVERYBODY IN THIS ROOM. PEOPLE WON'T BE HAPPY AND PEOPLE MAY NOT BE HAPPY AS A RESULT OF THE VOTE TAKEN TODAY, BUT I WANT TO MAKE CLEAR THAT EVERYBODY ON THE DICE HAS WORKED IN GOOD FAITH. I THINK THIS IS AN EXAMPLE OF THE GREAT WORK THAT THIS COMMISSIONERS COURT CAN DO. I APPRECIATE THAT WE DO IT IN A SPIRIT OF COLLABORATION, WE DO IN A SPIRIT OF GOOD FAITH, AND WE DO IT IN THE SPIRIT THAT HOPEFULLY WE CAN ALWAYS AGREE TO DISAGREE. WITH THAT, I WILL SIGNAL THIS TO THE COMMISSIONERS. I AM SUPPORTIVE OF ALL THE MEASURES. I WOULD ASK AS A SUGGESTION, BECAUSE IT EITHER HAS TO BE ACCEPTED AS A FRIENDLY AMENDMENT OR WE CAN DISPERSE IT, I WILL OVERRULE THE POINT OF ORDER, AND WE WILL VOTE ON THE MOTION BY COMMISSIONER RODRIGUEZ. WITH THAT, I AM ASKING THAT IF WE COULD TAKE UP AND LARRY, [01:20:06] I THINK THAT YOU SAID THAT WE SHOULD TAKE IT UP AS ONE. MY QUESTION TO YOU IS, IS IT A PROBLEM FOR US TO TAKE IT UP INDIVIDUALLY? >> RIGHT NOW THE MOTION ON THE FLOOR, JUDGE, IS AS PRESENTED BY COMMISSIONER RODRIGUEZ. [OVERLAPPING] IF HE CAN WITHDRAW THE MOTION OR THERE COULD BE ANOTHER MOTION MADE AMENDING THE MAIN MOTION, EITHER WAY IS APPROPRIATE, BUT RIGHT NOW, THE MOTION ON THE FLOOR IS BECAUSE AS PRESENTED. >> IS THERE ANYTHING THAT PREVENTS US FROM IF WE WERE TO AMEND OR WITHDRAWAL THAT MOTION ON THE FLOOR TO THEN MAKEUP MOTION FOR EACH INDIVIDUAL ITEM? IS THERE ANYTHING THAT PROHIBITS US AS A MATTER OF LAW? >> THERE'S NOTHING THAT PROHIBITS SHOULD COMMISSIONER WITHDRAWAL HIS MOTION OR THAT AMENDMENT BE MADE TO THE MAIN MOTION, BUT RIGHT NOW, THE ISSUE ON THE FLOOR IS AS PRESENTED BY COMMISSIONER RODRIGUEZ. >> AS A MATTER OF PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE, THE POINT OF ORDER IS OVERRULED. COMMISSIONER, I DO PICK UP YOUR MOTION UNLESS YOU ARE WILLING TO AMEND. >> I JUST NEED TO HEAR THE MOTION IF I COULD AGAIN, TO MAKE SURE I UNDERSTAND THE MOTION. >> LET ME CLARIFY. THE MOTION WAS TO APPROVE ITEMS 54 AD AND F TODAY. >> I'M SORRY. >> AD IS IN DAVID, WHICH IS THE STUDY OR STAFFING ANALYSIS, AND THEN THE LAST IS THE RESOLUTION SHOWING SUPPORT FOR ADDITIONAL LAW ENFORCEMENTS ARE IMPORTANT POSITIONS IN FUTURE FISCAL YEARS SUBJECT TO AVAILABLE REVENUES AND FUTURE APPROVAL. IT WOULD BE TO APPROVE THOSE THREE ITEMS A, D, AND F, AND TO POSTPONE B, C AND E UNTIL WE HAVE A FISCALNOTE AND THE STAFFING ANALYSIS. >> JUDGE, COULD WE HAVE TIME TO SPEAK ON THIS MOTION? >> WE'VE DONE THAT,. >> YEAH, WE HAVE.. >> COMMISSIONER CALVERT, DO HAVE A FLOOR? >> I MEAN, I DON'T HAVE TO GO FIRST. I DON'T KNOW IF COMMISSIONER CLAY-FLORES WOULD. >> NO, I WAS JUST SAYING WE HAVE SPOKEN ON IT. >> THERE'S A CALL OF QUESTION. >> 45-MINUTE. >> IT WAS JUMBLED. I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT IT FOR ME IT WAS AT LEAST. I'VE BEEN TRYING TO LISTEN VERY CLOSELY. LET ME JUST REITERATE, IN CLOSING, IF THE COURT IS READY TO VOTE, THAT AT LEAST THREE OF US I THINK WE'RE PRUDENT IN THE WAY WE BUDGETED. IT WAS VERY IMPORTANT. THE RATIONALE WAS WE HAVE A NEW STATE LAW THAT IS DICTATING TO LOCAL COMMUNITIES THAT THEY CAN NEVER REDUCE THE LAW ENFORCEMENT BUDGET ONCE THEY'VE CREATED OR MOVE IT INTO DIFFERENT. IT'S VERY RESTRICTIVE, AND HOW RESTRICTIVE IT IS IS DETERMINED UPON THE ATTORNEY GENERAL AND THE COMPTROLLER. FOR EXAMPLE, BRING YOUR ATTENTION TO HARRIS COUNTY, WHERE IN BUDGETING, THE HARRIS COUNTY COMMISSIONERS COURT HAD ROLLED OVER CONSTABLES' MONIES FOR MANY YEARS. NORMALLY IN GOVERNMENT, IF YOU THINK ABOUT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, THEY SAY DEPARTMENTS BETTER USE THEIR MONEY OR THEY LOSE THEIR MONEY BECAUSE THE CONGRESS WILL REALLOCATE THAT INTO ANOTHER DEPARTMENT WHERE THEY USE ALL THEIR MONEY. WELL, THE COMMISSIONERS COURT OF HARRIS COUNTY CONTINUE TO FULLY FUND THE CONSTABLES BUDGET, BUT BECAUSE THEY DIDN'T DO THE ROLLOVER FUNDING, THE COMPTROLLER THREATENED TO SEIZE THEIR BUDGET. I SUBMIT TO THE COURT THAT IT IS PRUDENT AND CAREFUL TO RESERVE ALL RIGHTS TO LOCAL GOVERNMENT WITH RESPECT TO HOW YOU FUND THINGS. THEREFORE, ON A, I COULD NOT SUPPORT A, ONE, BECAUSE THIS COURT CAN SURELY CHANGE ITS WISDOM, AND NEW INFORMATION ALLOWS IT TO CHANGE. WE SHOULD ALWAYS CHANGE, BUT I STILL BELIEVE THAT FACT TO BE, IT IS PRUDENT THAT WE PUT IN CONTINGENCY THESE THINGS UNTIL THE VACANCIES ARE FILLED. I WOULD HAVE TO VOTE AGAINST COMMISSIONER RODRIGUEZ'S MOTION BECAUSE I BELIEVE VERY STRONGLY IN THAT RIGHT OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND LOCAL CONTROL. ON D, I AM SUPPORTIVE OF AUTHORIZING THE COUNTY MANAGER AND BUDGET OFFICE TO COORDINATE A STAFFING STUDY AND GET IT. I SUPPOSE COMMISSIONER RODRIGUEZ, COULD I JUST HEAR WHAT DATE YOU'D LIKE THAT STUDY COMPLETED BY? >> YEAH, I MEAN THE AGENDA ITEM SAYS JULY 31. I DIDN'T COME UP WITH THAT DATE. I THINK IT MIGHT HAVE BEEN COMMISSIONER MOODY SO I DON'T KNOW IF COMMISSIONER MOODY WANTS TO SPEAK TO THAT. I WOULD JUST PREFER THAT WE HAVE INFORMATION WELL AHEAD OF TIME FOR OUR NEXT BUDGET DISCUSSIONS. I THINK MOVING IT UP AT LEAST 30 DAYS. [01:25:02] >> JUNE 30? >> YES. >> OKAY. I COULD SUPPORT THAT. WITH RESPECT TO A RESOLUTION OF SUPPORT FOR ADDITIONAL FUNDING OF LAW ENFORCEMENT POSITIONS IN FUTURE FISCAL YEARS, I CAN SUPPORT THAT FOR SURE AS I'VE DONE IN A PRESS STATEMENT. IF WE'RE BEING AND I JUST WANT TO MAKE A POINT OF CLARITY, SO WE'RE BEING ASKED TO VOTE FOR A, D, AND F, JUST A MINUTE ON THE JUNE 30TH, IN ITS ENTIRETY. THAT'S WHAT WE HAD ON THE FLOOR? >> YES. >> OKAY. I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE AND THANK YOU FOR INDULGING ME JUST TO MAKE SURE I WAS CLEAR. >> THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER. >> THANK YOU. >> LOOK, I APPRECIATE WHAT COMMISSIONER CALVERT IS SAYING AND REMINDING US OF OUR PRUDENCE LAST BUDGET. BUT I ALSO BELIEVE THAT WHEN THE SHERIFF STANDS BEFORE US AND SAYS HE CAN FILL THESE POSITIONS, I ALSO THINK THERE'S SOME GOOD FAITH IN OUR NEGOTIATIONS WITH THE UNION ON FREEING UP THESE POSITIONS ASAP, AS A SHOW OF OUR GOOD FAITH IN TRYING TO GET THE DEPARTMENT WHERE IT NEEDS TO BE. OBVIOUSLY, WE PUT THE MONEY ASIDE, SO THE MONEY IS THERE. THAT'S ALSO WHY I CAN SUPPORT THIS AS OPPOSED TO GOING INTO A BUDGET NEXT FISCAL YEAR THAT WE'RE UNSURE OF. THAT'S THE REASON I THINK WE OUGHT TO PASS A TODAY. AGAIN, I TAKE IT AT YOUR WORD SHERIFF, YOU'RE GOING TO BE ABLE TO FILL THOSE RIGHT AWAY, PUT MEN AND WOMEN ON THE STREET WHO CAN MAKE OUR COMMUNITY SAFER. >> BUT IF I MAY, I WOULD JUST ASK THOUGH THAT PLEASE HELP ME GET THOSE MOUS THROUGH THE RED TAPE THAT THEY'VE BEEN PUT INTO. I KNOW IT HASN'T NECESSARILY BEEN DONE OUT OF MALICE, BUT I CAN TELL YOU, WE ABSOLUTELY NEED TO GET THESE RULES CHANGED TO BE ABLE TO FILL THOSE VACANCIES MORE EFFICIENTLY AND EFFECTIVELY. I'D BE HAPPY TO BRING YOU ALL AN INELIGIBILITY LIST SHOWING FOLKS THAT ARE READY TO GO BUT FOR US CHANGING THE MANNER OF HIRING. >> YOU'RE ON THE SAME PAGE WITH THE UNION ON THAT AS WELL? >> ABSOLUTELY, SIR. FOR ONCE, MYSELF AND THE DSA VC ARE IN LOCKSTEP ON THIS MEASURE. >> COMMISSIONER RODRIGUEZ, I KNOW YOU CALL FOR QUESTIONS, BUT COMMISSIONER MOODY ASKED. NO. THEY WEREN'T PREPARED. WE HAVE COMMISSIONER RODRIGUEZ'S MOTION ON THE FLOOR, I HOPE THAT EVERYBODY CLEARLY UNDERSTANDS THAT MOTION. IT'S BEEN SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER CLAY-FLORES. AT THIS TIME, I WILL DO A ROLL CALL VOTE. IN REGARDS TO THE MOTION BY COMMISSIONER RODRIGUEZ, COMMISSIONER 1, COMMISSIONER CLAY-FLORES HOW DO YOU VOTE? >> YES, I ALREADY SECOND IT. >> HOW DO YOU VOTE? >> YES. >> SUPPORTED. COMMISSIONER RODRIGUEZ? >> AYE. >> COMMISSIONER MOODY? >> NO. >> COMMISSIONER CALVERT? >> NO. >> JUDGE SAKAI SAYS NO. MOTION DEFEATED. IS THERE ANOTHER MOTION ON THE FLOOR? I WANT SOMETHING DONE TODAY AND I'M HOPING THAT YOU ALL WILL FOLLOW WHAT I'VE ASKED AND WE CAN TAKE UP EACH INDIVIDUAL ITEM OTHERWISE, ALL THESE COMBINATIONS WILL BE PROBLEMATIC SO COMMISSIONER MOODY? >> JUDGE, I'D LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE ITEM A WITHIN THE RECOMMENDED MOTION AUTHORIZING 12 BEXAR COUNTY SHERIFF OFFICER PATROL POSITIONS TO BE RELEASED FROM CONTINGENCIES IN THE FY 2022 TO 2023 BUDGET TO INCLUDE THE APPROPRIATE BUDGETARY TRANSFER. >> IS THERE A SECOND? >> SECOND. >> SECOND BY COMMISSIONER RODRIGUEZ. ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE. >> AYE. >> ANY OPPOSED? ANY ABSTENTIONS? >> I APOLOGIZE. I WILL GO WITH, AYE. >> ALL RIGHT. MOTION CARRIES. COMMISSIONER MOODY, YOU CAN HAVE THE FLOOR. >> JUDGE, I'D LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE ITEM B, AUTHORIZING THE COUNTY MANAGER TO ADD 12 NEW BEXAR COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE PATROL POSITIONS IN Q4 OF FY 2022/2023 BUDGET YEAR. >> IS THERE A SECOND? MOTION DIES FOR FAILURE OF SECOND. LET'S MOVE ON. >> JUDGE, I'D LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION ITEM C. DIRECTING THE COUNTY MANAGER TO DEVELOP AND PROPOSE A PLAN FOR THE ADDITION OF 50 NEW LAW ENFORCEMENT POSITIONS IN THE BEXAR COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE FOR CONSIDERATION IN THE FY 2023/2024 PROPOSED BUDGET TO INCLUDE A MIX OF PATROL SERGEANTS AND INVESTIGATORS AND IMPLEMENTED EQUALLY THROUGH EACH CORE OF THE FY. >> I SECOND. >> SECOND. MOTION BY COMMISSIONER MOODY, SECOND BY COMMISSIONER CALVERT. ANY FURTHER DISCUSSIONS? >> YEAH, I HAVE SOME QUESTIONS. >> GO AHEAD. >> COMMISSIONER MOODY, AGAIN, I HAVE NOT HEARD AN EXPLANATION OF THE NUMBER 50, COULD YOU PROVIDE US WITH THE FISCAL NOTE ON THAT, AS WELL AS THE RATIONALE FOR THE ADDITION OF 50 OFFICERS? >> YES, THE FISCAL NOTE IS 5.6 MILLION FOR THE FULL YEAR. [01:30:08] HOWEVER, BECAUSE THIS IS LOOKING AT SPACING THEM OUT ON A QUARTERLY BASIS, IT WOULD BE HALF THAT NUMBER. THAT WOULD BE $2.8 MILLION. >> JUDGE, JUST I WANT TO BE CRYSTAL CLEAR. THAT 5.6 NUMBER ASSUMED PATROL, IT DIDN'T ASSUME SERGEANTS BECAUSE I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY SERGEANTS, HOW MANY INVESTIGATORS. YOU'RE CORRECT IF YOU DID A QUARTERLY THAT WOULD REDUCE THE FISCAL IMPACT NEXT YEAR, BUT IN FUTURE YEARS YOU WOULD BEXAR THE FULL. TO GIVE YOU AN ACCURATE FISCAL NOTE, I'D HAVE TO KNOW THEY'RE IN PATROL, WHAT I'LL CALL JUST PLAIN PATROL AND NOT SPECIALIZED UNITS. THEN I HAVE TO KNOW HOW MANY SERGEANTS AND INVESTIGATORS GO WITH IT. >> TO THAT POINT AND SHERIFF IF YOU CAN SPEAK TO IT OBVIOUSLY, BUT I BELIEVE IF YOU LOOK AT THE BREAKDOWN, THE MIX BETWEEN THOSE POSITIONS AROUND 75% WERE PATROL. >> SURE. >> YOU MAY HAVE A HANDFUL OF THOSE, 50, MAYBE 10 OR 15, THAT ARE AT A SLIGHTLY HIGHER PAY GRADE. BUT IT SHOULDN'T DRAMATICALLY IMPACT THE FISCAL NOTE. >> I DID HAVE A QUESTION ABOUT AND WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THIS, COMMISSIONER MOODY. I DID HAVE A QUESTION ABOUT THE QUARTER. I GUESS IT'S QUARTER 1, QUARTER 2, QUARTER 3, QUARTER 4, ROLLOUT OF THE 50, IS THAT WHAT YOUR SUGGESTION IS? >> WELL THAT SUGGESTION JUST STEM FROM THE IDEA THAT THIS WOULD BE AN ONGOING GROWTH STEADY STATE THAT YOU CAN'T ON OCTOBER 1ST ADD 50 NEW DEPUTIES, IT TAKES TIME. THERE'S CLASSES THAT HAVE TO BE IMPLEMENTED. THAT IS JUST THE REALIZATION OF THAT. >> I APPRECIATE THAT. THAT MAKES SENSE. I DIDN'T UNDERSTAND IT BEFORE, I WAS JUST SAYING THAT IN THE PAST THE COURT AUTHORIZES THE FULL NUMBER AND THAT'S FULLY AVAILABLE TO YOU. I STILL BELIEVE THE WISE THING IS TO MAKE IT IN CONTINGENCY PENDING. BUT FOR YOUR FLEXIBILITY, AS YOU'VE MENTIONED, THAT YOU FEEL AS IF THERE'S SOME CONSTRAINTS IN MOVING THESE POSITIONS FORWARD THEN IF IT MAKES IT EASIER FOR YOUR DEPARTMENT, DO HIRING WITH THAT KIND OF QUARTERLY AND ACTUAL CAPACITY OF CLASS AND BUILD UP AND EVERYTHING THAT YOU DO. IF YOU AND THE UNION ARE IN AGREEMENT WITH THAT, I COULD GO WITH THAT. I JUST TRADITIONALLY HADN'T EVER SEEN US BUDGET THAT WAY. I WOULD SAY, I DON'T KNOW COMMISSIONER MOODY, IF IT MAKES SENSE TO DIRECT THE COUNTY MANAGER TO PROPOSE A PLAN FOR ADDITIONAL NEW 50 LAW ENFORCEMENTS WITH A STUDY DUE BY JUNE 30TH THAT WOULD INFORM THE COURT ON A FINAL NUMBER OF NEEDED LAW ENFORCEMENT PATROL SO THAT YOU CAN COMBINE THOSE, BUT I DON'T WANT TO COMPLICATE YOUR MOTION AND AN INFORMED THE TWO IN TANDEM, I MEAN, I'M OKAY WITH DOING IT IN SEPARATE TRANCHES, BUT JUST A THOUGHT. >> IS THERE A MOTION ON THE FLOOR, PLEASE? >> JUDGE, CAN I ASK ONE QUICK QUESTION? COMMISSIONER MOODY, IF YOU'D BE WILLING TO TAKE AS A FRIENDLY AMENDMENT BECAUSE AGAIN, THE ISSUE I'VE GOT IS WE'RE STUCK ON THIS NUMBER 50 THAT IS NEITHER SUBSTANTIATED IN PRACTICED OR ON PAPER, AND WOULD YOU ACCEPT A FRIENDLY AMENDMENT THAT JUST STRUCK THE NUMBER 50 IN THAT MOTION SO IT WOULD READ, DEVELOPMENT AND PROPOSAL OF A PLAN FOR THE ADDITION OF NEW LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS IN THE BEXAR COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE FOR CONSIDERATION IN THE 23/24 BUDGET? I THINK THAT WOULD GET US TO CONSENSUS HERE THAT WE'RE GOING TO MAKE OUR DECISION. PERHAPS IT'S 60 OFFICERS, MAYBE IT'S 75. I THINK THAT THE MOTION WITH A NUMBER THAT'S ARTIFICIAL IS THE PROBLEM THAT I'VE GOT. I THINK THAT WOULD BE HELPFUL IF YOU'RE WILLING TO TAKE THAT AS A FRIENDLY AMENDMENT. >> WELL, I APPRECIATE THE SUGGESTION. HOWEVER, I'M NOT ABLE TO ACCEPT THAT. I JUST FEEL LIKE FOR TOO LONG WE HAVEN'T PUT REAL NUMBERS ON THE PAPER AND THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO DO THAT. I WANT TO ENSURE THAT WE DO HAVE A NUMBER AND I KNOW THERE'S COMMENTS ABOUT THIS BEING ARTIFICIAL, BUT I COME BACK TO THE HARD NUMBERS THAT WE TALKED ABOUT IN GROWTH IN BEXAR COUNTY. THOSE ARE NOT ARTIFICIAL. IT'S CLEAR. [01:35:02] THOSE ARE PROJECTIONS FROM THE BUDGET OFFICE, THOSE ARE COMING FROM THE US CENSUS BUREAU. WE'RE CLEARLY GROWING RAPIDLY, 50 IS BASICALLY A 10% INCREASE IN OUR CURRENT LAW ENFORCEMENT PERSONNEL. IT'S NOT A 50% INCREASE, IS NOT 25, IT'S 10%. I DON'T CONSIDER THAT TO BE AN UNREASONABLE ASK IN TERMS OF A GOOD FIRST STEP WHEN WE KNOW WE'RE DRAWN OUT OF THAT. EVEN IF WE WERE RIGHT-SIZED TODAY, IN TWO YEARS, WE GROW OUT OF THAT. THAT'S WHY I DON'T HAVE ANY INTEREST WITH THE 50 NUMBER AND UNFORTUNATELY, I'M NOT ABLE TO ACCEPT THAT. >> JUDGE, I DO WANT TO ASK A FRIENDLY IF I COULD TO COMMISSIONER MOODY. I WANTED TO BE SUPPORTIVE OF MOVING THIS MOTION FORWARD, BUT I WILL SAY THIS. I CANNOT VOTE FOR THE MOTION OF C UNLESS THE 50 ARE PUT IN CONTINGENCY. IT CAN HAVE THE QUARTERLY TRANCHE, BUT THOSE SHOULD BE IN CONTINGENCY BUDGET. WOULD YOU ALLOW THAT TO BE A FRIENDLY AMENDMENT? >> WELL, CAN I ASK FOR SOME FEEDBACK FROM COUNTY STAFF AND FROM THE SHERIFF WITH REGARD TO THESE CONTINGENCIES. BECAUSE IF I UNDERSTAND CONTINGENCIES, THERE HAS TO BE SOME FLEXIBILITY. WE CAN'T HAVE WELL UNTIL EVERY SINGLE LAST INDIVIDUAL IS HIRED, THESE ARE IN CONTINGENCY. >> I WASN'T SURE WHAT COMMISSIONER CALVERT'S INTENT WAS, BUT JUST LET ME SAY THIS. TO FILL A POSITION, IT HAS TO BE MOVED OUT OF CONTINGENCIES. CONTINGENCIES IS JUST A BANK ACCOUNT THAT HAS A BUCKET OF MONEY EARMARKED FOR CERTAIN POTENTIAL USES. WHAT WOULD ACTUALLY HAVE TO HAPPEN IS YOU WOULD BE DIRECTING US TO AUTHORIZE 12 MORE LAWN PATROL POSITIONS IN THE SHERIFF'S BUDGET. HE CAN'T FILL IT WHILE IT'S IN CONTINGENCIES BECAUSE IT'S NOT A POSITION YET. IT'S JUST FUNDING. >> BUT I CAN TEST FOR IT THOUGH, CORRECT? >> YES. >> I COULD BRING YOU AND SAY, HEY, WE'VE GOT EIGHT VACANCIES. THERE'S 12 OVER HERE THAT I CAN'T TOUCH IT, BUT HERE I HAVE AN ELIGIBILITY LIST OF 30 PEOPLE THAT ARE READY TO HIRE IN. I JUST NEED THOSE 12 AND MOVE OUT OF CONTINGENCY AND WE CAN THEN HIRE AS MANY OF THOSE 30 PEOPLE AS WE POSSIBLY CAN SO I CAN TEST FOR IT. >> THAT'S IMPORTANT. THANK YOU FOR THAT CLARITY, DAVID. THANK YOU FOR THE QUESTION, COMMISSIONER MOODY. I WANT TO MOVE THIS ALONG. I THINK THAT I UNDERSTAND BETTER YOUR PROBLEM AND ALL OF OUR ISSUE. IF WE PUT IT IN CONTINGENCY, COMMISSIONER MOODY, BUT ALSO AUTHORIZED YOUR QUARTERLY PLAN OF 12 IN QUARTER 1, THEN I THINK IT WORKS. THEY'RE NOT EXCLUSIVE OF EACH OTHER. HE'S GOT THOSE POSITIONS ON THE BOOKS. HE'S GOT THE 50 ON THE BOOKS. HE HAS SOME OF IT IN CONTINGENCY, BUT THE FIRST 38 WILL BE IN CONTINGENCY, BUT 12 WILL BE AUTHORIZED QUARTER 1. I LIKE THAT. I THINK THAT THEY'RE NOT MUTUALLY EXCLUSIVE, THAT WE CAN STILL HAVE THE 50. WE CAN STILL BE PRUDENT ABOUT THE WAY WE WANT TO BE PRUDENT AND WE CAN GIVE YOU THE FLEXIBILITY TO HIRE IN A REASONABLE WAY, ABOUT A DOZEN OR SO OFFICERS PER QUARTER. IF YOU COULD GO WITH THAT, I DON'T THINK WE'RE EXCLUSIVE THAT THE TWO FACTS ARE EXCLUSIVE. >> COMMISSIONER, MAY I ALSO ADD THE STEPS THAT WE'RE TAKING BEHIND THE SCENES TO FACTOR IN THE QUARTERLY INFLUX OF POSITIONS. INITIALLY, WE WERE A BIT I WOULDN'T SAY PANIC, BUT WE HAD THE ISSUE OF HOW ARE WE GOING TO START FOR CADET CLASSES QUARTERLY BECAUSE WE'VE ONLY GOT A SET NUMBER OF ACADEMY'S STAFF AND THAT WOULD BE A BIT DAUNTING FOR THEM TO TAKE ON FOUR CLASSES QUARTERLY, FOUR SMALL CLASSES QUARTERLY. WE CAME UP WITH A PLAN ALREADY THAT IF THIS WERE TO BE GRANTED, MAYBE THAT FIRST 12 PLUS WHATEVER WE'VE GOT IN THE PIPELINE WOULD BE OUR FIRST CADET CLASS. THAT SECOND QUARTER ASKED WOULD NOT NECESSARILY BE FOR ANOTHER 12 PATROL DEPUTIES. THAT'S WHERE WE WOULD ASK FOR THE INVESTIGATORS OR SERGEANTS TO ALLOW THAT CLASS TO CONTINUE TO PROCESS THROUGH THE TRAINING PROCESS AND THEN THE SECOND GROUP WOULD BE OUR INVESTIGATORS AND OR SERGEANTS THIRD GROUP. LET'S GO AHEAD AND ASK FOR MORE PATROL DEPUTIES BECAUSE IN THAT TIME WE'VE GOT THESE 12 PLUS WHATEVER HAS RETIRED OR RESIGNED SINCE THE LAST. WE'VE GOT A PLAN IN PLACE TO FACTOR THAT IN AND BE ABLE TO ADEQUATELY PROCESS AND TRAIN THESE FOLKS. >> RECLAIMING MY TIME JUST VERY QUICKLY, I WANT TO SPEAK TO THE LEGISLATIVE PATTERN THAT WE HAVE IN THE LEGISLATURE AS TO INFORMING THE COURT WHY I THINK THE 50 NUMBER IS IMPORTANT. WE HAVE A PATTERN IN THE LEGISLATURE OF PICKING ON COUNTIES AND CITIES AND WE HAVE A PATTERN WHERE CPS, FOR EXAMPLE, HAS A BILL FILED AGAINST IT AND THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO [01:40:04] WERE HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS OF CPS MONEY WOULD NOT GO TO THE CITY. THEY'RE TRYING TO WEAKEN THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO. WE HAVE HARRIS COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT BEING TAKEN OVER. WE HAVE HARRIS COUNTY BUDGET BEING THREATENED BY THE COMPTROLLER. WE HAVE REPRESENTATIVE ALLISON SAYING ON THE RECORD AND COUNTY AFFAIRS COMMITTEE THAT WE WILL DO TO BEXAR COUNTY WHAT THEY DID TO HARRIS COUNTY. WE HAVE THE DA OF TRAVIS COUNTY, MR. GARCIA, POTENTIALLY BEING REMOVED BECAUSE THE LEGISLATURE DOESN'T LIKE HIM. I RECOGNIZE THAT THIS IS A VERY UNCOMFORTABLE POSITION THAT WE DON'T WANT TO SET A PRECEDENCE FOR. BUT I'M PLAYING A LITTLE BIT OF ROULETTE IF I DON'T SEND THE SIGNAL THAT WE'RE MAKING PROGRESS. I ALSO THINK THE BILL IS NOT GOING TO MAKE IT OUT OF COMMITTEE. I THINK IT'S A VERY BAD BILL, AND I THINK THE LEGISLATORS KNOW THAT. BUT I AM NOT A MEMBER OF THE REPUBLICAN PARTY. I DON T KNOW WHAT PROMISES ARE BEING MADE. I DON'T KNOW WHAT POLITICAL GAMES ARE BEING DONE. I HAVE AN IDEA, BUT I DON'T WANT TO MAKE A ROULETTE AND THAT IS WHY I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE HAVE SOME NUMBER THAT IS SUBSTANTIVE IN A REASONABLE FISCAL POSITION, AND I DON'T THINK IT'S UNREASONABLE FOR THIS COURT TO HAVE A FIVE OR 6, $6.5 MILLION ALLOCATION FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT IN THE NEXT BUDGET WITH CONTINGENCIES AND THE PROPER USE AS YOU SAID IN THE QUARTERLY. THAT I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE MY COURT UNDERSTOOD WHY I FELT THAT WAS IMPORTANT. BECAUSE WE HAVE AN ENVIRONMENT AND A PATTERN THAT IS ABNORMAL AND I DON'T THINK WE HAVE A CHOICE AT THE MOMENT TO DO ANYTHING LESS. THANK YOU. >> COMMISSIONER MOODY, I'M GOING TO ASK THAT WE WRAP UP OUR [OVERLAPPING] AND GET TO VOTE. >> JUST FINAL DIRECT QUESTION. FROM THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE PERSPECTIVE, THE CONTINGENCY, YOU DON'T BELIEVE THAT FUNDAMENTALLY HARMS YOUR ABILITY TO FILL THOSE POSITIONS OVER THE FY. >> NO, SIR. I THINK IT PRESENTS ITS CHALLENGES, BUT I THINK THOSE CHALLENGES ARE PRETTY EASILY OVERCOME JUST BY REFINING OUR PROCESS. IT'S JUST SOMETHING THAT WILL HAVE TO ACCEPT AS THE NEW NORMAL. BUT IF IT MEANS US BEING ABLE TO MORE EFFICIENTLY AND EFFECTIVELY PUT DEPUTIES OUT ON THE STREET, CHANGE THE WAY WE'RE DOING THINGS AT THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE, I THINK THAT EVERYBODY WILL BE ALL THAT MUCH SAFER. I THINK WE CAN OVERCOME WHATEVER OBSTACLES THAT PRESENTS. >> I'LL ACCEPT THE FRIENDLY AMENDMENT. >> AT WHAT POINT OF CLARIFICATION? WHAT'S THE MOTION NOW? >> THE MOTION IS FOR ITEM C. >> ITEM C. WHAT'S THE MOTION? >> AN AMENDMENT THAT IT'S IN CONTINGENCY WITH A ROLLOUT OF 12, 13, VARIOUS BREAKDOWNS PER QUARTER OR POSITIONS. >> YOU'VE ACCEPTED THAT. COMMISSIONER MOODY, IS THAT CORRECT? >> CORRECT. >> THERE'S A SECOND BY COMMISSIONER CALVERT. >> LAST THING, JUDGE, I STILL BELIEVE THAT WE'RE SHOOTING AT A MOVING TARGET HERE. I DON'T THINK WE SHOULD BE MAKING UNINFORMED DECISIONS FOR THE NEXT BUDGET CYCLE. I KNOW IT'S 5.6 MILLION. IN THE PICTURE, THAT'S NOT A WHOLE LOT, BUT WE DO HAVE OVER TWO BILLION BUDGET AND A LOT OF NEEDS IN OUR COMMUNITY. I'M GOING TO MOVE THE TABLE THAT MOTION BY COMMISSIONER MOODY >> WE HAVE A MOTION TABLED. >> SECOND. >> IS THERE A SECOND? >> SECOND BY COMMISSIONER CLAY-FLORES. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF THE MOTION TO TABLE SIGNIFY BY SAYING I. >> I. >> ALL THOSE OPPOSED? >> NO. >> NO. >> MOTION TO TABLES DENIED. WE GO BACK NOW TO THE MOTION WITH A FRIENDLY AMENDMENT AND I BELIEVE COMMISSIONER CALVERT, THE KEY OPERATIVE WORD IS CONTINGENCIES. IS THERE ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE. >> AYE. >> ALL THOSE OPPOSED. >> NO. >> LET THE MOTION CARRIES. >> NO, AND I'D LIKE TO STATE WHY. WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT PROCESSES YET I HAVE BEEN LEFT OUT OF THIS CONVERSATION UNTIL AFTER IT WAS POSTED. THOSE OF YOU WHO HAVE WORKED WITH ME KNOW THAT I REALLY BELIEVE IN BEING AWARE AND DOING MY HOMEWORK BEFOREHAND SO THAT I DON'T PUT ON A SHOW AT COMMISSIONER'S COURT. I DO MY HOMEWORK. THINGS GETTING ON TO THE LAST MINUTE ON FRIDAY IS RIDICULOUS. I VOTE NO, NOT AGAINST LAW ENFORCEMENT BECAUSE AS MY CONSTABLE IS HERE, HE KNOWS THAT I HAVE SUPPORTED THE LAW ENFORCEMENT AT MY PRECINCT AND HAVE FOUGHT TOOTH AND NAIL. [01:45:03] SHERIFF SALAZAR AND THE REST OF YOUR DEPUTIES KNOW THAT WHEN YOU GUYS MEET WITH ME, I'VE BEEN VERY SUPPORTIVE. I VOTE NO ON PRINCIPLE BECAUSE WE CANNOT CONTINUE TO PUT THINGS ON THE LAST MINUTE WITHOUT MAKING SURE THAT EVERYONE IS AWARE OF WHAT'S GOING ON, HOW IT'S GOING TO AFFECT US FISCALLY, AND WORKING WITH COUNTY STAFF TO MAKE SURE WE ARE GOOD STEWARDS OF TAXPAYER DOLLARS. COMMISSIONER CALVERT AND WE DON'T NEED TO GET INTO THESE QUESTIONS THIS IS GOING WAY TOO LONG, BUT I DON'T UNDERSTAND HOW YOU ARE AGAINST PUTTING THE 12 DEPUTY OFFICERS THAT WE PASSED IN LAST FISCAL YEAR OUT OF CONTINGENCY BUT YOU'RE FOR 50 MORE. THAT'S JUST CONFUSING FOR ME. FOR THE RECORD, VOTING NO, BUT THAT'S WHY. THANK YOU. >> NOTED. LET'S MOVE ON TO ITEM D. >> JUDGE, I'D LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION TO COMBINE D AND F, SINCE IT LOOKS LIKE THERE'S BROAD SUPPORT AUTHORIZING COUNTY MANAGEMENT AND THE BUDGET OFFICE TO COORDINATE WITH THE SHERIFF TO COMMISSION A STUDY TO DETERMINE THE APPROPRIATE NUMBER OF LAW ENFORCEMENT PERSONNEL NEEDED AND INCORPORATED PER COUNTY TO BE COMPLETED BY JUNE 30, IF POSSIBLE, OF 2023, AND A RESOLUTION OF SUPPORT FOR ADDING ADDITIONAL LAW ENFORCEMENT POSITIONS IN FUTURE FY SUBJECT TO AVAILABLE REVENUES AND FUTURE APPROVAL OF COMMISSIONER'S COURT. >> I'LL SECOND. >> THERE'S THE MOTION BY COMMISSIONER MOODY, SECOND BY CHRIS CALVERT. ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE. >> AYE. >> ANY OPPOSED? ANY ABSTENTIONS? MOTIONS TO PASS D AND F CARRIES. >> IT SAYS FINAL MOTION, ITEM E CONTINGENT UPON THE RESULTS OF THIS STUDY, DIRECTION TO THE COUNTY MANAGER TO PROPOSE ADDING ADDITIONAL LAW ENFORCEMENT POSITIONS BEYOND 50 TO BE PROPOSED IN THE FY2023-24 BUDGET IF WARRANTED. >> IT'S A MOTION BY COMMISSIONER MOODY, IS THERE A SECOND? FOR FAILURE OF A SECOND, MOTION DIES. [NOISE] I BELIEVE THAT CONCLUDES OUR ROBUST DISCUSSION OF ITEM 4054. WE WILL NOW GO BACK TO A TIME CERTAIN, AND IT WASN'T MEANT TO BE. >> THANK YOU. >> BUT THE NEXT MATTER WILL BE 10 O'CLOCK. WE WERE SUPPOSED TO DO IT, BUT HOPEFULLY, THEY ARE STILL PRESENT. THAT IS, [NOISE] DISCUSS AN INAPPROPRIATE ACTION REGARDING THE PRESENTATION BY RENE GONZALEZ OF ASSOCIATES OF THE COUNTY'S FY 2022, ANNUAL COMPREHENSIVE FINANCIAL REPORT, ACFR SINGLE AUDIT REPORT, AND REPORT ON CONDUCT OF THE AUDIT. MR. COLORADO, MR. GONZALEZ. >> THAT'S NOT THE FIRST ONE. >> WHERE WAS THIS FIRST ONE? >> [BACKGROUND] >> [OVERLAPPING] 10:00 A.M. >> WHAT'S THAT? >> IT'S 10:00 AM. ITEM. >> [OVERLAPPING] [BACKGROUND] >> I'M SORRY, I'M I MISREAD. I APOLOGIZE. THE LAST ONE WAS A BIT LONG, SO I'M TRYING TO GET MY BEARINGS BACK. WE'RE AT THE 10 O'CLOCK TIME-CERTAIN ITEM. [4.a. 10:00 a.m. -Discussion and appropriate action regarding a Letter Amendment to Non-Relocation Agreement with San Antonio Spurs, L.L.C. which would make an exception to the existing Non-Relocation Agreement for the 2023-2024 and 2024-2025 NBA Season as specifically set out in the letter amendment. ] I WILL STAND CORRECTED. DISCUSSION AND APPROPRIATE ACTION REGARDING A LETTER OF AGREEMENT AMENDMENT TO A NON-RELOCATION AGREEMENT WITH SAN ANTONIO SPURS LLC, WHICH WOULD MAKE AN EXCEPTION TO THE EXISTING NON-RELOCATION AGREEMENT FOR THE 2023-2024 AND 2024-2025 NBA SEASON, AS SPECIFICALLY SET OUT IN THE LETTER AMENDMENT. I AM THE PERSON THAT IS DESIGNATED. I AM ASKING THE COURT TO IMPROVE. I'LL ASK MR. BUFORD TO REALLY LAY OUT, WHICH I'LL ASK HIM FOR, LAY OUT YOUR VISION. IF THE COMMISSIONERS HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, I CERTAINLY WOULD ASK THEM TO DO SO. MR. RC BUFORD? >> JUDGE SAKAI, MEMBERS OF THE COURT, THANK YOU. I'M RC BUFORD,118T CENTER PARKWAY. WE'RE HERE TO ASK FOR YOUR SUPPORT ON ITEM 4A ON THE AGENDA. [BACKGROUND] I WANT TO START OFF BY EMPHASIZING SAN ANTONIO IS FULL. WE ALSO APPRECIATE THE SUPPORT YOU'VE GIVEN US TO TEST AND LEARN THROUGH OUR 50TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION SEASON. THESE ACTIVITIES HAVE GIVEN US A GREAT WAY TO ENGAGE WITH OUR COMMUNITIES, WITH OUR FANS, IN REALLY UNIQUE WAYS THAT HAVE BEEN RECOGNIZED ACROSS SPORTS AND HAVE RECOGNIZED SAN ANTONIO AND BEAR COUNTY AS ONE OF THE GREAT SPORTS MARKETS IN NORTH AMERICA. [01:50:03] I'VE BEEN ALMOST 40 YEARS WITH THE SPURS, AND OVER THAT TIME, IT'S BEEN INCREDIBLY ENLIGHTENING TO SEE HOW COMPETITIVE AND HOW COMPLEX SPORTS CONTINUE TO GROW AND TO BE. THE HOLT'S CLUB HAS BEEN HONORED TO REPRESENT SAN ANTONIO AND TO BUILD ONE OF THE MOST SUCCESSFUL PROGRAMS IN NORTH AMERICAN AND REALLY WORLDWIDE SPORTS IN PARTNERSHIP WITH BEAR COUNTY AND WITH SAN ANTONIO. AS WE'VE BUILT THIS SUCCESS, AS WE'VE GONE AROUND THE WORLD, WHEN YOU MENTIONED SAN ANTONIO, THE SPURS ARE ALWAYS ALIGNED AND WE REPRESENT THIS BRAND TOGETHER. WE'VE HAD GREAT CHAMPIONSHIP TEAMS, AND AS WE BUILD OUR CHAMPIONSHIP TEAMS OF THE FUTURES, IN THE 27TH SPORTS MEDIA MARKET IN AMERICA, WE BELIEVE IT'S PRUDENT TO ENGAGE THE FASTEST-GROWING REGION IN NORTH AMERICA TO DRIVE THE BEST OUTCOMES FOR OUR ORGANIZATIONS AND FOR SAN ANTONIO. WE BELIEVE THAT AS WE EXPAND OUR BRAND, IT WILL ONLY BRING GREAT THINGS TO SAN ANTONIO AND BEAR COUNTY. PROBABLY THE MOST APPARENT EXAMPLE OF THAT IS OUR PARTNERSHIP WITH THE COUNTY AND WITH THE CITY AT THE ROCKET LOCK IN TERA. WE ARE CURRENTLY PRESENTING TO OUR COMMUNITY ONE OF THE GREAT HUMAN PERFORMANCE CAMPUSES IN THE WORLD AND ALSO ENGAGING WITH OUR PARTNERS IN AN AMAZING PUBLIC PARK SPACE WHERE WE'RE TYING TOGETHER BIKE TRAILS THAT GO FOR HUNDREDS OF MILES, WHERE WE BUILT THE LARGEST DOG PARK IN ALL OF BEAR COUNTY. WE'RE PARTNERING WITH VICTORY CAPITAL FOR THEIR PRIOR NAMING RIGHTS ON OUR PERFORMANCE CAMPUS, ANOTHER LOCAL PARTNER BRAND. WE'LL HAVE THE RIBBON CAMP CUTTING AT THE CAMPUS IN THE NEXT MONTHS. WE'RE EXCITED TO HAVE THE COUNTY JOIN US TOGETHER IN THAT SPACE. AS BOBBY AND I PRESENT THE TIMELINE FOR OUR FUTURE, AGAIN, I WANT TO EMPHASIZE SAN ANTONIO IS OUR HOME. AS WE BUILD OUR NEXT-GENERATION CHAMPIONSHIP TEAMS, WE THINK IT'S INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT FOR US TO CAPTURE THE COMPETITIVE ADVANTAGES THAT ARE AVAILABLE TO US THROUGHOUT OUR REGION. I'D ASK BOBBY PERES TO COME UP AND SHARE MORE DETAILS. >> THANKS, RC. YOUR HONOR WITH YOUR PERMISSION, MEMBERS, JUDGE, FOR THE RECORD, BOBBY PERES IS THE CHIEF LEGAL OFFICER, SAN ANTONIO SPURS, 118T CENTER PARKWAY, AND IF WE CAN ROLL TO THE NEXT SLIDE, THE ITEM TODAY, WE'RE REQUESTING PERMISSION TO EXTEND A PILOT PROGRAM THAT THE COURT PERMITTED US TO ENTER INTO ONE YEAR AGO THIS MONTH. WHAT WE WANT TO DO IS START OFF BY GIVING YOU A REPORT ON THAT PILOT PROGRAM. FIRST, I'LL JUST ECHO RC'S STATEMENTS. THANKS TO THE PARTNERSHIP THAT WE'VE HAD WITH THE COUNTY, THE TIME THAT EACH ONE OF YOU HAS ENGAGED OVER THE LAST YEAR TO MONITOR, OBSERVE, GIVE FEEDBACK ON THE PILOT PROGRAM THAT THE COURT PERMITTED, AND WE THOUGHT IT WOULD BE PRUDENT TO JUST GIVE YOU A LITTLE BIT OF BACKGROUND OF WHAT HAPPENED. AS WE'VE TALKED TO YOU, THE GOAL HAS ALWAYS BEEN TO BUILD OUT OUR CORRIDOR MARKETING FROM MEXICO ALL THE WAY DOWN THE IH 35 CORRIDOR TO AUSTIN, TEXAS RIGHT THROUGH SAN ANTONIO. HERE'S THE REPORT. WE DID THIS WITH YOUR PERMISSION. OUR VERY FIRST GAME OUTSIDE THE AT&T CENTER WAS DECEMBER, 17TH IN MEXICO CITY. I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S AN NBA RECORD, BUT TODAY WE'RE SAYING IT IS. WE SOLD THAT GAME OUT IN 48 HOURS. IT WAS A LOT OF FUN FOR THE FANS, THE SPURS FANS IN MEXICO, AND THE SAN ANTONIO FANS THAT TRAVELED TO MEXICO CITY PLAYING IN THE ARENA. THE [FOREIGN] FROM THE BRANDING SIDE, THE VISUAL ISN'T AS GOOD AS IT COULD BE. BUT WE ALSO ABOUT THE SAME TIME LAST YEAR, ENTERED INTO A PARTNERSHIP WITH AN AIRLINE CALLED VIVA AEROBUS. THAT PLANE THAT YOU SEE HAS A BIG SPURS LOGO ON IT AND FLIES BACK AND FORTH FROM MEXICO TO SAN ANTONIO AT SAN ANTONIO INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT. I DON'T THINK WE WOULD'VE BEEN ABLE TO CLOSE THAT TRANSACTION, BUT FOR THE HELP OF THIS COURT IN ALLOWING THAT ONE-YEAR PILOT PROGRAM, IT'S BEEN EXCITING, IT'S BEEN FUN, AND IT CONTINUES TODAY. THAT'S PART OF THAT OPPORTUNITY OF EXPANDING OUR MARKET, [01:55:02] CAPITALIZING ON THOSE OTHER MARKET SPONSORSHIPS. I KNOW A LOT OF YOU HAVE GOT TO OBSERVE ON THE NEWS AND ON THE MEDIA, OR MAYBE SOME OF YOU FIRSTHAND OUR JANUARY 13TH GAME, WHICH WE ALSO DID WITH THE COURT'S PERMISSION. WE SET ANOTHER NBA RECORD THERE IN ATTENDANCE, ONE THAT HAD BEEN STANDING PROBABLY SINCE MAYBE THE LATE '80S. >> 1996, MICHAEL JORDAN'S LAST GAME IN ATLANTA. THEY PLAYED IT AT THE GEORGIA DOME AT THE TIME. WE BROKE THAT, IT WAS 62,000 AND WE BROKE IT WITH 68,323. A GREAT WAY FOR US TO CELEBRATE OUR HISTORY WITH OUR COMMUNITY. [APPLAUSE] >> NRC STATED A FANTASTIC WAY CELEBRATION OF 50 YEARS IN OUR COMMUNITY. IN THE PHOTO THERE ENCAPSULATES IT. ANOTHER, SOME GREAT ICONS, DAVID ROBINSON AND OF COURSE, THE COYOTE. THEN JUST A FEW WEEKS AGO, WE PLAYED THE FIRST TWO NBA GAMES EVER IN AUSTIN, TEXAS. AGAIN, WITH THE COURT'S PERMISSION. JUST A COUPLE OF HIGHLIGHTS THERE. THEY'RE HERE ON THE SCREEN, SET RECORDS AT THE MOODY'S CENTER IN AUSTIN, TEXAS. FROM A BRANDING SIDE, YOU SEE OUR SAN ANTONIO SPURS JERSEY THERE. I THINK ANOTHER OPPORTUNITY FOR OUR OUTER MARKET AGREEMENT WE WERE ABLE TO SECURE A NEW BRANDING PARTNERS, SELL FINANCIAL. THEY ARE IN AUSTIN BASED COMPANY THAT WANTS TO BE VISIBLE IN SAN ANTONIO AND THEY ARE GROWING IN SAN ANTONIO. SO ANOTHER CHECK MARK FOR THAT RELATIONSHIP. COMMISSIONER CALVIN, LAST YEAR, YOU WERE ASKING ABOUT SOME SPECIFIC DATA THAT I DON'T THINK WE HAD BECAUSE WE WEREN'T EXACTLY SURE ABOUT HOW THE FANS WERE GOING TO RECEIVE IT. BUT HERE'S WHAT WE'VE LEARNED FROM THE TEST AND LEARN THREE, THROUGH RCS LEADERSHIP, BEING A DATA DRIVEN ORGANIZATION AND TRYING TO TEST AND LEARN AND FAIL QUICKLY AND MOVE ON AND START AGAIN. SOME OF THE THINGS THAT WE'VE LEARNED JUST FROM THIS EXERCISE OF THE FANS AND OUR INTERNAL SURVEYS, 90% SAY, HEY, WE WANT TO GO TO SAN ANTONIO, THE AT&T CENTER, AND GO TO A GAME, FROM THE REGION. AND 77% OF THOSE SAY, WE WANT TO SPEND THE NIGHT AT A HOTEL IN SAN ANTONIO. THINGS THAT WE'RE LEARNING THAT ALLOW OUR MARKETING GROUPS NOW TO GO TARGET THOSE FOLKS AND FIGURE OUT HOW WE GET BETTER AND STRONGER. JUST DO THE LAST THESE TO AUSTIN GAMES, WHICH I KNOW SEEMS TO BE THE BIGGEST CONSTERNATION FROM THE COMMUNITY SIDE. WE HAVE DEVELOPED 28,000 NEW LEADS THAT OUR SALES AND MARKETING TEAM WILL AGAIN DRILL DOWN ON, FOCUS ON OUR CORE PRODUCT. BRING PEOPLE TO HOPEFULLY SPURS GAMES. IF NOT A SPURS GAME, MAYBE NSFC MATCH, IF NOT NSFC MATCH, A CONCERT AT THE AT&T CENTER. AND AGAIN, PUSHING THE SAN ANTONIO BRAND, PUSHING THE SPURS SPORTS AND ENTERTAINMENT BRAND. I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S THE FIRST OUT OF MARKET GAMES FOR NBA TEAMS. BUT IF IT IS, I WOULD JUST SAY UNDER THE LEADERSHIP OF RC, POP, THE WHOLE FAMILY. THIS IS JUST ANOTHER ONE OF THE FIRST THAT WE'VE BEEN FORTUNATE TO ENJOY. WHETHER IT'S THE FIRST FEMALE COACH IN THE NBA. WHETHER IT'S BEING ONE OF THE EARLIER ADOPTERS OF THE NBA G LEAGUE FRANCHISE. WHETHER IT'S THIS AUGUST, POP, TONY, BECKY, ALL GO INTO THE HALL OF FAME. A UNIQUE LIST OF FIRSTS FOR THE COMMUNITIES NBA FRANCHISE. WHAT WE'RE ASKING TODAY IS TO ALLOW US TO, IF YOU COULD GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE PLEASE, ALLOW US TO EXTEND THE PILOT PROGRAM, SWITCH IT TO A TWO-YEAR AGREEMENT. WE'RE GOING TO TAKE A GAME OUT INSTEAD OF FOUR GAMES IN IT. WE'RE GOING TO HAVE THREE GAMES IN IT. SO TWO IN AUSTIN, ONE INTERNATIONAL GAME FOR US, THAT'S MEXICO CITY AND ALL THIS IS SUBJECT TO NBA APPROVAL AND DO THAT FOR THIS COMING SEASON AS THE CAPTION SAYS, 23/24, AND 24/25, AND THEN DO IT FOR THE FOLLOWING SEASON. WE'D LIKE TO PLAY IN MEXICO CITY NEXT YEAR. WE'RE NOT SURE THAT THE LEAGUE WILL LET US. >> THE NBA CONTROLS ALL INTERNATIONAL GAMES OUTSIDE THE NORTH AMERICAN BORDERS OR REALLY UNITED STATES BORDERS. SO WE'RE AT THE MERCY OF THE NBA AS FAR AS SCHEDULING INTERNATIONAL GAMES, WE HAVE HAD AN INCREDIBLE INTERNATIONAL PRESENCE. WE'VE PLAYED MORE GAMES OUTSIDE OF THE UNITED STATES THAN ANY OTHER NBA TEAM. I THINK IT'S AGAIN, A WAY THAT WE'VE BUILT SAN ANTONIO'S BRAND AROUND THE WORLD. WE'VE ALSO HAD 28 COUNTRIES REPRESENTED FROM AROUND THE WORLD ON OUR ROSTER AND WE CONTINUE. YOU ALL HAVE SEEN THE STORY OF POUND THE ROCK [02:00:03] AS YOU GO THROUGH THE AT&T CENTER AND AS OUR PARTNERS, YOU'LL SEE ON THE PATHWAY FROM THE LOCKER ROOM TO THE COURT. THAT'S THE STORY OF THE STONE CUTTER IT'S TRANSLATED IN ALL OF THE LANGUAGES THAT WE HAVE CURRENTLY ON THE TEAM. THAT'S BEEN 28 DIFFERENT LANGUAGES. WE'RE NOW CURRENTLY TRYING TO FIND GEORGIA, WHICH IS A CHALLENGE IN SOUTH TEXAS. >> I WILL ADD ONE ADDITIONAL ITEM IN ADDITION TO OUR NBA PRODUCT JUST TO THE COURTS WHERE WE PLAYED THE FIRST EVER G-LEAGUE GAME IN LAREDO, TEXAS THIS YEAR ON DECEMBER 11TH, 2022. FOR US, IT WAS A FANTASTIC EVENT, SOLD OUT. IT'S THE SAMES AUTO ARENA IN LAREDO, 7,000 SEAT ARENA. WE WILL CONTINUE TO EXPLORE OPPORTUNITIES BY PLAYING IN SOUTH TEXAS. WE'VE HAD HAD THE GOOD FORTUNE TO HAVE SOME DISCUSSIONS WITH YOU ALL ABOUT HIDALGO COUNTY. WE WILL CONTINUE TO EXPLORE THAT, TRY TO WORK THROUGH THAT. I THINK THAT IS THE SUMMATION WE'RE GOING TO ASK THAT YOU APPROVED FOR. MY ONLY OTHER REQUESTS IS MAYBE I GET A STOOL THE NEXT TIME I HAVE TO STAND NEXT TO HIM. [LAUGHTER] >> JUDGE, I WOULD LIKE TO COMMENT. >> GO AHEAD, COMMISSIONER CLAY-FLORES. >> ON SUCH A TENSE MORNING AT COMMISSIONERS COURT, I'D LIKE TO THANK YOU FOR PUTTING THIS ON THE AGENDA TODAY SO WE CAN HAVE SOMETHING TO CLAP ABOUT. WITH THAT, I'D LIKE TO MAKE THE MOTION TO APPROVE A TWO-YEAR AGREEMENT FOR TWO GAMES IN AUSTIN IN ONE GAME IN MEXICO. >> SECOND. >> THERE'S THE MOTION BY COMMISSIONER CLAY-FLORES SECOND [OVERLAPPING]. >> JUST BRIEFLY, JUDGE, JUST TO CLARIFY, THE MOTION WAS FOR THE TWO YEARS. JUST BRIEFLY, JUDGE, I KNOW IT'S BEEN A LONG MORNING, RC AND BOBBY, THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. I THINK OUTSIDE OF SOME OF THE CONSTITUENT CALLS WE RECEIVE RELATED TO PUBLIC SAFETY LIKE WE HAD THIS MORNING OR INFRASTRUCTURE. THE NEXT HIGHEST RANKED ONE IS DON'T LET THE SPURS MOVE. WE GET THOSE CALLS ALL THE TIME. I'VE SHARED WITH YOU IN TERMS OF MY SENSE OF THE COMMITMENT THAT WE'VE RECEIVED FROM NOT JUST THE TWO OF YOU HERE, BUT OBVIOUSLY FROM PETER, JOHN, AND THE OWNERSHIP GROUP, AND ON TOP OF THAT, NOT JUST WORDS, THE LETTER HE PUT OUT LAST YEAR, BUT THE COMMITMENT FINANCIALLY AT THE ROCKET LUCK AND TARA. I KNOW I'M DUE TO GET BACK OUT THERE SOON, I THINK THAT WAS OUT THERE ABOUT SIX MONTHS AGO. BUT REALLY BUILDING UPON THE FOUNDATION THAT'S ALREADY SOLID HERE IN TERMS OF YOUR COMMITMENT TO SAN ANTONIO. AND I'VE TALKED TO THEM RIGHT IN THE FACE IN TERMS OF HOW WE ARE BUSINESS PARTNERS IN THIS TRANSACTION, THE COUNTY AND THE SPURS AND WE WANT OUR BUSINESS PARTNERS TO BE SUCCESSFUL BECAUSE IF THEY'RE SUCCESSFUL, WE ARE SUCCESSFUL. THAT WAS PART OF THE DISCUSSION LAST YEAR WHEN WE APPROVED THE ONE-YEAR PILOT PROGRAM AND NOW DEEPENING SOME OF THOSE ROOTS ON A PART-TIME BASIS. THEY'RE OUTSIDE OF SAN ANTONIO. SO I'M EXCITED ABOUT THIS. I THINK IT'S AN OPPORTUNITY AGAIN TO BUILD THE BRAND THAT WE ALL KNOW SO WELL HERE. BUT I THINK BEYOND WHAT YOU'RE DOING ON THE BASKETBALL COURT, IT'S WHAT YOU'VE DONE IN THE COMMUNITY AND THE LIVES THAT YOU'VE TOUCHED, NOT JUST HERE IN SAN ANTONIO, BUT WE'VE TALKED ABOUT HOW THE GAMES BECOME GLOBAL. WE ARE AT THE FOREFRONT OF THAT WITH SOME OF THE PLAYERS THAT WE'VE HAD OVER THE YEARS, FROM MANU AND TONY TO SOME OF THE LESSER KNOWNS, BUT FOLKS WHO COME FROM ALL OVER THE GLOBE WHO HAVE HELPED US GROW THAT BRAND AND I THINK IT'S AN IMPORTANT PART OF THAT. I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE YOU ALL KNOW THERE'S A COMMITMENT FROM MYSELF PERSONALLY TO MAKE SURE WE CONTINUE TO SUPPORT YOU. I THINK THE LAST THING WE HAVE TO DO IS GO HOME AND LIGHT SOME CANDLES BECAUSE I THINK MAY 16TH IS THE NEXT IMPORTANT DAY. THAT IS THE NBA DRAFT LOTTERY ON THE 16TH, AND WE GOT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE GET THE TO PICKS, SO WE'LL DO THAT AND THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR BEING HERE AND HAPPY TO SUPPORT YOU. >> COMMISSIONER MOODY. >> JUST REALLY QUICK. I'LL TAG ON TOP OF WHAT COMMISSIONER RODRIGUEZ SAID, BUT I APPRECIATE YOUR COMMITMENT TO OUR COMMUNITY, THE PERSONAL ASSURANCES THAT THE SAN ANTONIO SPURS ARE GOING TO REMAIN THE SAN ANTONIO SPURS LONG-TERM. FOR THOSE THAT QUESTION THAT I DID GO OUT TO THE ROCK AND I APPRECIATE THE TOUR YOU ALL GAVE ME LAST WEEK. AND IT'S REALLY IMPRESSIVE WHAT YOU GUYS ARE PUTTING TOGETHER. IT'S GREAT SEEING ALL THE PROGRESS. I BELIEVE JUST THE PRACTICE FACILITY NOW IS UPWARDS OF $130 MILLION. IS THAT CORRECT? >> THAT IS CORRECT. >> THE OVERALL COMPLEX WILL BE CLOSE TO HALF $1 BILLION? >> CORRECT. IN EXCESS OF THAT 1 BILLION. >> THAT'S A TREMENDOUS INVESTMENT IN OUR COMMUNITY. WE APPRECIATE THAT, AND WE'RE HERE TO SUPPORT YOU. THANK YOU. [02:05:01] >> COMMISSIONER CALVIN. >> THANK YOU, JUDGE. THANK YOU TO OUR SPURS TEAM FOR BRINGING THIS PROPOSAL TO US. YOU HAVE BEEN THE MOST INNOVATIVE TEAM IN THE NBA. AND I THINK THAT THESE MOVES ARE A GOOD THING FOR THE BRAND OF THE CITY. AND THIS COURT, I THINK, WANTS TO WORK CLOSER WITH THE SPURS ON BUILDING OUR BRAND IN SAN ANTONIO. I THINK THERE'S A ROLE FOR USAA AND VICTORY CAPITAL TO PLAY, TO WORK WITH US AS MILITARY CITY USA TO FURTHER STRENGTHEN THE BRAND BETWEEN THE NEW SPORTS CENTER AND ALL THE HEALTHCARE APPLICATIONS THAT MAY COME IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE AND OUR JOINT BASE. AND FOR ATHLETES AROUND THE WORLD IN PARTNERSHIP WITH INDUSTRY. AND REALLY THINK ON A HIGH LEVEL, HOW DO WE HELP MAINTAIN THAT NBA RELATIONSHIP WITH THE MILITARY AND THE COMMUNITY? I AM EXCITED TO SUPPORT THIS MOTION, I WILL SAY BECAUSE OF WHAT I HEARD FOR THE MOTION WITH RESPECT TO MEXICO THAT THE NBA MAY NOT ALLOW US TO DO MEXICO CITY AGAIN, I WOULD JUST SAY COMMISSIONER CLAY-FLORES, THAT YOU AMEND FRIENDLY AMENDMENT FOR TWO AUSTIN GAMES, ONE INTERNATIONAL GAME BECAUSE IT COULD BE BUENOS AIRES WHERE MANU GINOBILI IS FROM THAT THE NBA SAYS YOU CAN'T GO TO MEXICO CITY THIS YEAR, BUT WE WILL DO A BUENOS AIRES GAME OR WHEREVER IT MAY BE, COULD BE A CANADA GAMES, WITH ALL DUE RESPECT TO CANADA, I HOPE NOT, BUT WE'D LOVE TO SEE IT IN LATIN AMERICA SOMEWHERE. I'VE HAD A LITTLE BIT OF TIME TO MEDITATE, AND I SAY MEDITATE ADVISEDLY, ON THIS PARTNERSHIP BECAUSE THE SPURS ARE SO MUCH A PART OF THE SOUL OF THIS CITY. THEY ARE THE HEART THAT THE PEOPLE HAVE. I MEAN, THAT IS EMBLEMATIC. I MEAN, SAN ANTONIO AND BEAR COUNTY IS THE MOTHER THAT HAS GIVEN BIRTH. AND WE ALL KNOW THAT FOR MOST OF US, WE HAVE A GREAT RELATIONSHIP WITH OUR MOMS, WE'RE COMING UP ON MOTHER'S DAY AND MAMA WILL ALWAYS LOVE US. MAMA WILL ALWAYS LOVE US IN A WAY THAT NOBODY ELSE CAN. WE MAY GO HAVE GIRLFRIEND THAT LOVES HONEST GIFTS WITH GOOD SUGAR. BUT YOU CAN ALWAYS GO HOME TO MAMA'S HOUSE. AND SO WE KNOW THAT BEAR COUNTY IS BIG MAMA. HECK, WE MIGHT HAVE A NEW NAMING FOR THE, BIG MAMA'S HOUSE. I DON'T KNOW. [LAUGHTER] [OVERLAPPING] >> WE'RE NOT GOING TO GET A NAME CHANGE. THEY HAVE CHARGES. >> I MEAN BIG MAMA LOVES YOU. WE MIGHT HAVE TO COME UP WITH SOME MORE SUGAR FOR YOU. BUT I AM VERY EXCITED THAT WE WILL BE ABLE TO PROVE THAT IN THE YEARS TO COME. I THINK THAT THOSE RECORDS ARE A SIGN OF 68,000 ANGELS, SAN ANTONIO FANS WHO WERE CHEERING ON IN SPITE OF OUR LOSS. BIG MAMA STILL LOVES OUR SPURS. I THINK OBVIOUSLY COMMISSIONERS, WE TALK ALL OVER THE UNITED STATES. WE'RE COMMISSIONERS. SOME PEOPLE MAY GIVE A RUN. BUT I THINK ULTIMATELY, I BELIEVE VERY STRONGLY IN WHAT YOU SAY THAT THIS IS HOME AND YOU CAN ALWAYS COME HOME TO BIG MAMA BEAR AND YOU WILL. THAT'S WHY I'M SUPPORTIVE OF THIS. I KNOW SOME FANS HAVE HAD THAT SAME CONCERN THAT COMMISSIONER RODRIGUEZ HAS SAID, BUT WE'RE BIG MAMA BEAR AND WE'RE GOING TO LOVE YOU LIKE NOBODY CAN LOVE HERE. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. I HOPE I CAN COME UP TO SEE POP IN THE HALL OF FAME. I WOULD LOVE TO WISH WELL. IF I HAVE TO WATCH IT ON TV, IT WOULD BE GREAT. BUT I JUST THINK THAT THIS IS AN INCREDIBLE FRANCHISE FOR THE COMMUNITY. I THINK WE NEED TO CONTINUE THIS PARTNERSHIP THAT WE'VE STARTED OUT IN LA CANTERA AND WORK TOWARDS THE FUTURE WITH THIS SPURS. THANK YOU VERY MUCH JUDGE. IF THE COMMISSIONER WOULD ACCEPT AN INTERNATIONAL GAME AS THE FRIENDLY AMENDMENT. >> BOBBY, DO I NEED TO MEND OR WAS IT FINE? >> I THINK THE WAY WE HAVE IT IN THE ACTUAL LETTER AGREEMENT AND WORKING WITH THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE AND LARRY, IT'S TWO GAMES WITHIN 100 MILES WHICH ARE THE AUSTIN GAMES. THEN MY RECOLLECTION, LARRY, IS THAT IT'S ONE GAME INTERNATIONALLY OR ONE GAME MEXICO. I DON'T KNOW SAYING IT RIGHT. >> IT SAYS OUTSIDE OF THE UNITED STATES. >> OUTSIDE OF THE UNITED STATES. >> THAT'S THE WAY THE MBA REQUIRED IT TO BE. >> DO I NEED TO MEND OR NOT? >> NO. >> OKAY. THANK YOU. >> JUST APPROVE THE LETTER AGREEMENT. >> BOBBY, I'VE GOT A QUESTION FOR YOU. >> YOU AND I HAVE HAD SOME LOT OF CONVERSATIONS SINCE I'VE TAKEN OVER AS COUNTY JUDGE. A GROUP IN A VALLEY. YOU KNOW THAT SOUTH TEXAS IS, I BELIEVE, AN IMPORTANT PART OF THE REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT OF SAN ANTONIO, PRETTY MUCH AT THE TOP OF THAT APEX OF SOUTH TEXAS, PERHAPS THE BOTTOM OF THE APEX OF HOUSTON AND DALLAS. I THINK SAN ANTONIO IS WELL-POSITIONED FOR EXPLOSIVE GROWTH. I SEE THAT THE SPURS, OUR OUTREACH AND AUSTIN, [02:10:01] I'VE ASKED YOU TO LOOK AT SOUTH TEXAS WHERE YOU ALSO DO THAT IN ORDER. HOPEFULLY THAT GAME COULD BE PLAYED DOWN IN SOUTH TEXAS. JUST TO LET YOU KNOW, I GREW UP DOWN THERE, SO I KNOW THERE'S A LOT OF SPURS FAN, BUT THE ROCKETS THINK THEY OWN IT. I'D LIKE YOU ALL TO MAKE A PRESENCE DOWN THERE. >>JUDGE, WE THINK HARLAN GIN AND THE WHOLE RGB AREA IS FIRST COUNTRY. WE'LL KEEP ON WORKING ON THAT. WE'VE ALREADY STARTED SOME CONVERSATIONS AND I THINK I'VE SHARED SOME OF THAT FEEDBACK WITH YOU, BUT WE'LL DO OUR BEST EFFORTS, WE WILL ALWAYS BE CONSTRAINED BY THOSE MBA RULES. THE RGB BUILDINGS ONLY SEATS 7,500 PEOPLE. WE MIGHT HAVE TO LOOK AT DIFFERENT OPPORTUNITIES, BUT WE'LL CONTINUE TO EXPLORE AND WORK ON IT. >> LET ME MAKE THESE FINAL COMMENTS TO RC. THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP OVER THE SPURS ENTERTAINMENT. BOBBY, AS THEIR GENERAL COUNSEL, I BELIEVE THE SPURS ARE BEST GOODWILL AMBASSADORS. THEY BROUGHT NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL RECOGNITION TO OUR COMMUNITY. I CAN TELL YOU THAT MY WIFE'S FAMILY IN MEXICO CITY ARE ART AND SPORTS FAN. I'VE BEEN A FREQUENT COMMUNICATION WITH SPURS, SPORTS AND ENTERTAINMENT LEADERSHIP AND I TAKE THEM AT THEIR WORD. BEXAR COUNTY IS HOME FOR THE LONG HAUL. A PROVEN THESE HOME AWAY GAMES. IT'S NOT JUST ABOUT AUSTIN. THIS IS ABOUT A POTENTIAL OPPORTUNITY FOR AN INTERNATIONAL GAME. I'VE ASKED SPURS LEADERSHIP TO EXPLORE THE PROSPECT OF HOSTING THE GAME IN SOUTH TEXAS AND THEY'VE ALSO SAID THAT THEY WOULD DO THAT. IN CONCLUSION, WE HAVE INVESTED IN THE SAN ANTONIO SPURS, ALONG WITH THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO IN THE STATE OF THE ART TRAINING FACILITY AND HUMAN PERFORMANCE CENTER, ALONG WITH OTHER INITIATIVES THAT THE SPURS HAS SPONSORED. THE SPURS ORGANIZATION SEES OUR ACTIONS AND THEY TRUST US TO DO WHAT IS NEEDED FOR THE TEAM TO THRIVE IN BEXAR COUNTY FOR THE LONG-TERM, INCLUDING TODAY'S ACTION. I BELIEVE TODAY'S ACTION IS ABOUT TRUST AND I TRUST THE SAN ANTONIO SPURS. THERE A MOTION BY COMMISSIONER CLAY-FLORES. SECOND BY? >> MOTION BY COMMISSIONER CLAY-FLORES. >> I THOUGHT SO. MOTION BY COMMISSIONER CLAY-FLORES, SECOND BY COMMISSIONER RODRIGUEZ. ANY FURTHER DISCUSSIONS? HEARING NONE. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE. >> AYE. >> AYE. ALL THOSE OPPOSED. ANY ABSTENTIONS. MOTION UNANIMOUSLY CARRIES. >> THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. COMMISSIONER CLAY-FLORES. AS I FOREWARNED, WE'RE GOING OUT-OF-ORDER. WE NOW GO TO 51, MR. SMITH, [51. Presentation and discussion regarding the Organizational Review of Bexar County policies, procedures and processes to include] PRESENTATION AND DISCUSSION REGARDING THE ORGANIZATION REVIEW OF BEXAR COUNTY POLICIES, PROCEDURES, AND PROCESS TO INCLUDE A, BEXAR COUNTY INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY UPDATES AND B, AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN ACT. MR. SMITH. >> THE FIRST ONE IS FOR BCIT AND THAT WILL BE GIVEN BY MARK GAEGER OUR CIO. THEN THE SECOND DISCUSSION WILL BE ON THE ARPA PROCESS AND THOMAS GABBANA WILL LEAD THAT. >> THANK YOU. GOOD MORNING, JUDGE. GOOD MORNING, COMMISSIONERS. HOPEFULLY, WE CAN GET THE PRESENTATION HERE. I'LL TRY AND KEEP IT BRIEF. I KNOW THAT WE'VE HAD A LONG MORNING SO FAR, SO I'LL LEAVE TIME FOR ANY QUESTIONS ON ANY SLIDE OR AT THE END. A LITTLE BIT OF A BACKGROUND. THIS IS A NEWER COURT. I THINK THE BACKGROUNDS PERTINENT HERE. IN 2016, IBM PRESENTED FINDINGS OF A STUDY. COMMISSIONERS COURT HAD ASKED THEM TO PERFORM A STUDY OF THE STATE OF IT. THEY ASSESSED ALL ASPECTS OF IT TO INCLUDE LOOKING THROUGH DIFFERENT LENSES, PEOPLE PROCESS AND TECHNOLOGY. IN A NUTSHELL, IT WAS OPERATING ON A MATURITY LEVEL OF ONE ON A SCALE OF 1-5 ACROSS 38 DIFFERENT IT MANAGEMENT DOMAINS. THE COUNTY WAS IN DIRE STRAITS. IT OR THE INFRASTRUCTURE WAS AT RISK OF FAILING. COUNTY WAS AT RISK OF BEING WITHOUT SYSTEMS FOR DAYS, IF NOT WEEKS AT THE TIME. I WAS HIRED IN AUGUST OF 2016 TO HELP LEAD THE TRANSFORMATION. A LITTLE BIT OF THE FINDINGS ON THE PEOPLE AND THE PROCESS AND TECHNOLOGY PERSPECTIVES. EMPLOYEES LACK SKILLS AND TRAINING. THERE WAS NO TRAINING BUDGET FOR THE IT STAFF MORALE WAS LOW. PAY WAS NOT COMMENSURATE WITH THE MARKET. TITLES WERE INACCURATE. JOB TITLES AND JOB FUNCTIONS. FOOT FOLKS, WERE PERFORMING DUTIES THAT WEREN'T REALLY ALIGNED WITH THEIR SKILLS. FROM A PROCESS PERSPECTIVE, IT DID NOT COLLABORATE AND WAS NOT COLLABORATING WITH THEIR CUSTOMERS AS THEY SHOULD HAVE BEEN. THERE WAS NO CADENCE TO MEET WITH CUSTOMERS. THERE WAS NO PROJECT GOVERNANCE, NO PROJECT MANAGEMENT, AND NO CHANGE CONTROL. A BUNCH OF FUNCTIONS THAT YOU WOULD NEED AN IT TO RUN A BASIC IT DEPARTMENT DIDN'T EXIST, [02:15:03] SO WITHOUT THOSE FUNCTIONS THERE WERE NO PROCESSES BEHIND IT. FROM A TECHNOLOGY PERSPECTIVE, THERE WERE MULTIPLE SINGLE POINTS OF FAILURE. OLD AGING INFRASTRUCTURE, THE MAINFRAME WAS SO OLD YOU WOULD'VE HAD TO BUY REPLACEMENT PARTS OFF OF EBAY IF YOU WANT TO DO AT THE TIME. IT WAS IN REALLY BAD SHAPE. NO ARCHITECTURE. WE DIDN'T KNOW WHAT SYSTEMS OR IT WASN'T DOCUMENTED WHAT SYSTEMS WERE RESIDING ON, WHICH SERVERS WERE RESIDING IN WHICH DATA CENTER. IBM HAD PROPOSED A FIVE-YEAR STRATEGIC PLAN TO COURT IN 2016. OUR INITIAL STRATEGY REALLY TOOK US FROM 2017 THROUGH 2019. WE FOCUSED ON ADDRESSING A LOT OF THE RECOMMENDATIONS FROM THAT IBM STUDY. WE REORGANIZED IT. EVERY EMPLOYEE GOT A NEW JOB DESCRIPTION. WE REORGANIZED AND THE SERVICE LINES FOCUSED ON CULTURE AND IMPROVEMENT. WE STARTED SURVEYING THE STAFF IN 2017. WE DO A VOICE OF THE EMPLOYEE SURVEY, EMPLOYEE ENGAGEMENT, AND THAT IS EMPLOYEES THAT EITHER AGREED OR STRONGLY AGREED THAT IT WAS A GOOD PLACE TO WORK, WAS IN THE 40 PERCENTILE RANGE. WE'RE NOW AT THE 80 PERCENTILE RANGE. WE REALLY KNOW THAT WE NEEDED TO FOCUS ON OUR PEOPLE AND WE DO HAVE A GOOD STAFF NOW THAT REALLY BELIEVES IN THE MISSION OF THE COUNTY AND ALIGNING WITH OUR CUSTOMERS. FROM A PROCESS PERSPECTIVE, WE ADDED A NUMBER OF FUNCTIONS AND I'LL SHOW YOU SOME OF THEM HERE ON THE NEXT SLIDE. BUT WE ADDED PROJECT MANAGEMENT. WE ADDED INFORMATION SECURITY DIVISION THAT NEVER EXISTED BEFORE. THERE WERE NO SECURITY PERSONNEL. WE ADDED ENTERPRISE ARCHITECTURE, PROJECT GOVERNANCE, CHANGE MANAGEMENT, A CHANGE ADVISORY BOARD, INCIDENT RESPONSE PERSONNEL. I COULD GO ON AND ON. FROM A TECHNOLOGY PERSPECTIVE, WE FOCUSED ON EXITING THE OLD AGING DATACENTER AND REMOVING THOSE SINGLE-POINT FAILURES. I'LL SHOW YOU HERE IN A COUPLE OF SLIDES, WE HAVE A CLOUD-FIRST STRATEGY, IT IS EXACTLY WHAT IT SAYS CLOUD-FIRST, WE'RE NOT IN THE DATA CENTER BUSINESS. WE'VE MOVED 65 PERCENT OF OUR WORKLOADS TO THE CLOUD AND MICROSOFT AZURE IS THE PRIMARY CLOUD PROVIDER FOR OUR ECOSYSTEM, BUT WE ALSO DO BUSINESS WITH OTHERS AS WELL. WE ARE ALSO ABLE TO MOVE OUR MAINFRAME AND SOME OTHERS. I WON'T GO THROUGH THIS, BUT THIS IS INSTEAD OF SHOWING AN ORG CHART HOW WE'VE REORGANIZED. WE HAVE FIVE DIVISIONS YOU CAN SEE OFF TO THE LEFT AND MULTIPLE SERVICE LINES. IN FACT, I THINK WE'VE ADDED A COUPLE OF SERVICE LINES SINCE THIS GRAPHIC WAS PRODUCED AND SOLIDIFIED THOSE. WE HAVE A DEMAND MANAGEMENT SERVICE LINE NOW AS WELL, AND A BUSINESS RELATIONSHIP MANAGEMENT ON A SERVICE LINE THAT I DON'T SHOW ON HERE. I WON'T GO THROUGH ALL OF THESE, BUT YOU CAN SEE THESE ARE I THINK THE MESSAGE HERE IS WE ARE AN IT SERVICE ORGANIZATION, OUR CUSTOMERS OR THE OFFICES AND DEPARTMENTS IN BEXAR COUNTY. WE HAVE TO ORGANIZE IN A WAY WHERE WE CAN PROVIDE SERVICES TO MEET THEIR TECHNOLOGY NEEDS. OUR PREVIOUS STATE, AS I MENTIONED, WAS A PRIMARY DATA CENTER WITH A BACKUP CENTER AT THE EMERGENCY OPERATIONS CENTER. IT'S IMPORTANT TO NOTE HERE THAT WE DIDN'T BACKUP SYSTEMS, WE BACKED UP DATA. IN THE EVENT OF A MAJOR SYSTEM OUTAGE, WE MAY HAVE HAD DATA THAT WAS BACKED UP. FOR INSTANCE, IF OUR SAP SYSTEM, WHICH IS OUR HUMAN RESOURCE INFORMATION SYSTEM, WOULD HAVE WENT DOWN, WE WOULD HAVE HAD DATA, BUT WE WOULDN'T HAVE HAD THE ABILITY TO STAND UP AND DO INSTANCE OF SAP TO PROVISION THAT DATA AND ALLOW THAT SYSTEM IS STILL WORK. THAT WAS THE CASE ACROSS ALL OF OUR SYSTEMS. SINGLE POINTS OF FAILURE THROUGHOUT THAT INCLUDED OUR MAINFRAME THAT INCLUDED ARE WHICH RUNS OUR ENTIRE JUSTICE SYSTEM. WHAT DO WE DO? WE MOVE TO CLOUD OFFERINGS SOFTWARE AS A SERVICE INFRASTRUCTURE AS A SERVICE AND PLATFORM AS A SERVICE WITH A CO-LOCATION DATACENTER AND A BACKUP DATACENTER AT BROOKS CITY BASE WITH CONNECTIVITY ALL THROUGHOUT. WE ELIMINATE THOSE SINGLE POINTS OF FAILURE. OUR CO-LOCATION DATACENTER IS ACTUALLY AT THE REGIONAL OPERATIONS CENTER WHERE BEAR METRO 911 IS. THAT'S WHERE THE COUNTIES DISPATCH SERVICES ARE. THEY HAD DATACENTER SPACE. WE LEASE DATA-CENTER SPACE IN THAT FACILITY. I MENTIONED THAT THE ORIGINAL IT STRATEGY PRESENTED BY IBM WAS A FIVE-YEAR STRATEGY BUT THEN COVID HIT. FORTUNATELY, THE IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MATURITY THAT WE HAD GAINED OVER THE FIRST FEW YEARS OF EXECUTING THAT STRATEGY ALLOWED US TO PIVOT. WE PIVOTED INTO WHAT WE CALL A BEAR 2.0 STRATEGY. THESE ARE JUST SOME OF THE THINGS THAT WE WERE ABLE TO DO FROM AN AGILITY PERSPECTIVE WHEN COVID HIT, WE DEPLOYED 2,100 LAPTOPS, NEW REMOTE CONNECTIVITY TOOLS. WE REVAMPED OUR SUPPORT MODEL TO ENABLE TELEWORK ACROSS THE COUNTY. WE IMPLEMENTED A NUMBER OF TECHNOLOGICAL SOLUTIONS IN PUBLIC SAFETY, AS WELL AS THE COURTS TO ENABLE PUBLIC SAFETY AND VIRTUAL COURTROOMS TO CONTINUE. WE DEPLOYED ADOBE SIGN THROUGHOUT THE COURTS, [02:20:04] VARIOUS OFFICES, AND DEPARTMENTS, BOTH THE DISTRICT CLERK AND THE COUNTY CLERK. THERE'S ABOUT 200,000 ANNUAL DIGITAL TRANSACTIONS THAT ARE PERFORMED ON THAT PLATFORM NOW AND WE IMPLEMENTED A NUMBER OF OTHER SYSTEMS AND PROJECTS. NOW LET'S TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT PROCESS AND HOW WE ASSESS THE CURRENT PORTFOLIO. I MENTIONED WHERE A CLOUD-FIRST ENVIRONMENT, WHERE ALSO BUY FIRST BUILD LAST. WE'RE NOT A CUSTOM APPLICATION DEVELOPMENT SHOP WHERE WE WANT TO BUILD CUSTOM APPLICATIONS. THAT'S NOT EFFICIENT, THAT'S NOT THE WAY THE INDUSTRY IS GOING. WHAT WE DO IS WE WANT TO ASSESS THE CURRENT NEEDS OF THE COUNTY. COMPARE THOSE NEEDS AGAINST TOOLS AND SOLUTIONS THAT WE MAY ALREADY HAVE TO SEE IF WE CAN MORE QUICKLY AND RAPIDLY DEPLOY A SOLUTION. IF WE DON'T HAVE THAT, THEN WE WANT TO SCAN THE MARKETPLACE AND LOOK FOR SOLUTIONS OUT THERE THAT CAN MEET THE NEEDS OF THE COUNTY. WE WANT TO INTEGRATE THOSE SOLUTIONS WHERE POSSIBLE AND AS A LAST RESORT, WE WOULD BUILD SOMETHING CUSTOM. WE WORK WITH VENDORS AND INDEPENDENT RESEARCH FIRMS TO EVALUATE THE MARKET, WE WORK CLOSELY WITH OUR CUSTOMERS. WE HAVE A BUSINESS RELATIONSHIP MANAGEMENT TEAM THAT I TALKED ABOUT A LITTLE WHILE AGO. THEY MEET WITH ALL OF OUR CUSTOMERS IN THE COUNTIES SO THAT'S A MANAGER IN THREE BUSINESS RELATIONSHIP MANAGEMENT CONSULTANTS. THEY EACH HAVE ABOUT A THIRD OF THE COUNTY. IT'S ACTUALLY ORGANIZED MORE LOGICALLY LIKE PUBLIC SAFETY AND JUSTICE IN BACKEND BUSINESS CUSTOMERS AND THEN WE ALIGNED WITH THE BUDGETING PROCESS. WHEN BUDGET PROCESS IS KICKED OFF, IF WE DON'T CATCH IT BY TALKING TO OUR CUSTOMERS AND MEETING WITH OUR CUSTOMERS AND BY EVALUATING THE SYSTEMS AND THE HEALTH OF THE SYSTEMS. THEN THE LAST CATCHALL IS THROUGH THE BUDGETING PROCESS. WE HAVE FORMS THAT GO OUT AS PART OF THE BUDGETING PROCESS. THERE'S A TECHNOLOGY IMPROVEMENT FUND IN THE COUNTY. OFFICES AND DEPARTMENTS CAN REQUEST TECHNOLOGY SERVICES THROUGH THE BUDGET PROCESS. WE REVIEW THOSE. IF IT'S A CAPITAL REQUESTS, THEY WOULD SUBMIT A SCHEDULE C AND IF IT HAS AN IT COMPONENT THEN WE WORKED WITH THE BUDGET OFFICE TO REVIEW THOSE AS WELL. INPUTS FROM ALL OF THOSE FACTORS DRIVE OUR STRATEGY AND OUR STRATEGIC PLAN. I WON'T GO THROUGH THIS IN DETAIL, BUT THIS IS OUR SYSTEMS DEVELOPMENT LIFE CYCLE PROCESS. THIS IS HOW WE WOULD DEPLOY NEW TECHNOLOGY. OUR INTAKE PROCESS IS REALLY ABOUT IDEAS. IT'S TAKING THOSE IDEAS IN WHETHER THOSE IDEAS COME FROM IT, OR WHETHER THOSE IDEAS COME FROM OUR CUSTOMERS. WE DO MARKET ASSESSMENTS, WE EVALUATE CAPACITY AGAIN, I'VE MENTIONED BEFORE, WE LOOK AT OUR CURRENT TECHNOLOGY SUITE, WE REVIEW THOSE AND THEN WE DELIVER THEM EITHER THROUGH A WATERFALL APPROACH OR THROUGH A SOURCING OR PRESS RELEASE IT AND THEN SUPPORT IT. I WON'T GO THROUGH THIS IN TOO MUCH DETAIL, BUT ALL OF OUR WORK IS CATEGORIZED AND CATALOGED IN A SYSTEM ON IT SERVICE MANAGEMENT SYSTEM AS EITHER AN INCIDENT REQUEST, A SERVICE REQUEST, OR A PROJECT. INCIDENTS AND SERVICES ARE A BULK OF OUR OPERATIONAL WORK. LAST YEAR WE COMPLETED 10,000 INCIDENT REQUESTS, 22,000 AND SERVICE REQUESTS, AND SPENT ABOUT 8-7000 MAN HOURS ON PROJECT OR HOURS ON PROJECTS, I SHOULD SAY. THAT'S ABOUT 47% OF OUR AVAILABLE TECHNICAL HOURS. WE DO CUSTOMER SURVEYS AS WELL AS I MENTIONED, THE EMPLOYEE SURVEYS. LAST YEAR, 82.1% OF OUR CUSTOMERS AGREED OR STRONGLY AGREED THEY'RE SATISFIED WITH BCIT OVERALL, UP FROM 67.9% IN 2019, 54.5% IN 2017. THE IDEA AROUND THAT IS WE COLLECT FEEDBACK, COMMENTS, WE WORK WITH OUR CUSTOMERS, OUR GROWTH, AND OUR CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT IS BASED ON OUR SURVEYS. THAT'S ONE QUESTION OF 30 QUESTIONS THAT WE SEND OUT TO OUR CUSTOMERS AS THE VOICE OF THE CUSTOMER EXERCISE. SOME OF OUR CHALLENGES, PROJECT DEMAND IS ALWAYS, AND THIS IS IN ANY ORGANIZATION REALLY, BUT PROJECT DEMAND IS ALWAYS GREATER THAN RESOURCE CAPACITY. THERE ARE MULTIPLE ACTIVE AND PLANNED PROJECTS IN QUEUE. THIS IS A BIGGIE FOR US THERE IS NO PROCESS IN THE COUNTY TO DISTINGUISH BETWEEN MULTIPLE HIGHEST-PRIORITY PROJECTS. WE HAVE FOLKS THAT REPORT TO DIFFERENT FOLKS OR THEIR ELECTED OFFICIALS AND THEY DON'T REPORT TO ANYBODY AND SO I CAN HAVE A NUMBER ONE PROJECT FOR THE TAX OFFICE FOR BCSO, FOR THE DA, FOR MULTIPLE OTHER OFFICES AND DEPARTMENTS AND THERE'S NOBODY TO BREAK THE TIE TO SAY, HEY, WHO'S REALLY THE NUMBER 1 PROJECT? BECAUSE AT SOME POINT WITH THE RESOURCE CAPACITY CONSTRAINTS, YOU GET INTO WHICH ONES ARE WE GOING TO WORK IN WHICH ORDER. ORGANIZATIONAL AGILITY DOESN'T EXIST FOR BCIT TO RESPOND TO THESE UNPLANNED PRIORITY CHANGE REQUESTS THAT ARE PROJECTS. THERE IS A PROCESS IN THE COUNTY, BUT IT'S A PROCESS, RIGHT AND SO IF THERE'S A NEW REQUEST AND IT'S THE PURCHASE SOMETHING WE GO THROUGH THE BUDGETING PROCESS, WE GET IT APPROVED. THEN ONCE IT'S APPROVED, WE GO THROUGH THE PROCESS OF RELEASING AN RFP AND PURCHASING IT, AND THEN IMPLEMENTING IT. BUT SOMETIMES EFFORTS ARE SO CRITICAL THAT THEY CAN'T WAIT FOR THAT SO I'LL TALK ABOUT AN OPPORTUNITY, [02:25:03] AN IDEA THAT WHERE WE CAN BE MORE AGILE. ADOPTION AND THE ABILITY TO ADOPT NEW TECHNOLOGY IS SOMETIMES CONSTRAINED BY THE BUSINESS UNITS THEMSELVES. IT CAN TRY AND IMPLEMENT THAT TECHNOLOGY ALL DAY LONG. BUT THE NUMBER ONE REASON PROJECTS FAIL IN ANY INDUSTRY IS END-USER ADOPTION IS CDR, THE ABILITY TO ADOPT IT, OR THE DESIRE TO USE IT, WHATEVER THAT MAY BE. WHEN WE IMPLEMENT NEW PROJECTS AND NEW TECHNOLOGY HERE WE RELY ON DEDICATED RESOURCES FROM THESE OFFICES AND DEPARTMENTS TO ALSO WORK WITH US TO DEFINE REQUIREMENTS TO FIND THEIR BUSINESS PROCESS IMPROVEMENTS, BUT ALSO TO TEST THE SOLUTIONS, AND TO HELP US TRAIN ON THE SOLUTIONS. PROCURING A NEW TECHNOLOGY IS A LENGTHY PROCESS. MULTIPLE DIFFERENT OFFICES AND DEPARTMENTS INVOLVED. THERE'S THE PURCHASING DEPARTMENT, BUT THEIR PROCESSES, YOU'VE GOT THE CIVIL DA, WHICH IS OUR LEGAL COUNSEL THAT WORKS WITH US ON CONTRACTS THAT HAS THEIR PROCESSES. NONE OF THOSE FOLKS REPORT UP TO ONE BODY AND THERE'S NOT ONE PROCESS THAT IS OVER-ARCHING FOR THOSE SEPARATE OFFICES AND DEPARTMENTS THAT DON'T REPORT TO THE SAME INDIVIDUALS. SOME RECOMMENDED IMPROVEMENTS INVEST IN AN ENTERPRISE OR A BUSINESS ARCHITECTURE, PRACTICE THE FOCUS ON CAPABILITY OF MAPPING. THIS WILL ALLOW US TO BE MORE PROACTIVE, EVEN IN THE ABSENCE OF SOME CUSTOMER DIALOGUE. YOUR BUSINESS CAPABILITIES ARE THOSE BUILDING BLOCKS OF AN ORGANIZATION AND CAPABILITIES ARE EITHER ENABLED, OR ARE ENABLED BY ALL PEOPLE, PROCESS AND TECHNOLOGY. ALLOWING US TO TAKE AN OBJECTIVE VIEW AT BUSINESS CAPABILITIES TO MEASURE THE MATURITY OF THOSE BUSINESS CAPABILITIES. REVIEW AND SEE HOW TECHNOLOGY IS ENABLING THEM WILL ALLOW US TO MAKE MORE OBJECTIVE ASSESSMENTS AT WHERE TECHNOLOGY HAS ENABLED THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY AND BENEFITING THE COUNTY. IMPLEMENT A POST-IMPLEMENTATION REVIEW PROCESS TO EVALUATE THE REALIZED BENEFITS OF A PROJECT. THIS ISN'T A LESSONS LEARNED AT THE END OF A PROJECT. THIS IS GOING BACK OVER TIME AFTER A PROJECT IS IMPLEMENTED TO SEE HOW IT WAS ADOPTED AND WHETHER OR NOT THE BUSINESS BENEFITS, BUSINESS CASE BENEFITS WERE ACTUALLY REALIZED OVER TIME. IMPROVE AGILITY BY ADDING BUDGET THAT WOULD ALLOW US TO BRING IN CONTRACT RESOURCES ON SOME OF THOSE MORE PRIORITY AND CRITICAL OUT-OF-SAMPLE REQUESTS IS WHAT I WOULD SAY. THEN WORK WITH PURCHASING AND THE DA'S OFFICE TO ASSESS OPPORTUNITIES TO BETTER ALIGN IN THE RFP AND THE CONTRACTING PROCESSES, AS WELL AS WORK WITH COURT IN LEADERSHIP AND OTHER EXECUTIVES IN THE COUNTY TO IDENTIFY OPPORTUNITIES FOR IMPROVED VISIBILITY INTO ENTERPRISE STRATEGY AND PROJECT PRIORITIZATION. I HAVE THREE MORE SLIDES AND I'M NOT GOING TO GO THROUGH THESE UNLESS YOU GUYS HAVE QUESTIONS. BUT WE HAVE MANY PROJECTS THAT WE'VE COMPLETED. MANY THAT WE'VE STARTED WITH KILT COMPLETION DATES HERE WHEN I SAY EXECUTION, THAT MEANS THAT ACTUALLY HAS A PROJECT TIMELINE. WE HAVE MANY THAT ARE IN CONCEPT AND PLANNING. SOME OF THESE ARE OUT FOR RFPS, SOME OF THESE ARE JUST ABOUT TO KICK OFF AND THEN WE HAVE MANY THAT ARE NOT STARTED AND THESE ARE JUST SOME OF THEM. THESE AREN'T ALL OF THEM. SORRY IF I WENT TOO FAST, I TRIED TO. >> YOU WERE FINE WITH ME. COMMISSIONER CALVERT. >> JUST A COUPLE OF SERVICE PROVISION THINGS THAT YOU MAY HAVE HIGHLIGHTED ON THAT SLIDE AND I DON'T KNOW ALL THE PROGRAMS AND WHAT THEY DO. FROM THE TAXPAYER STANDPOINT, THERE'S ALWAYS AN ISSUE WITH RESPECT TO THEIR ABILITY TO PAY PAYMENT CREDIT, MERCHANT SERVICES, AND MAKING IT EASY FOR FOLKS. ALSO IN TERMS OF REPORTING PROBLEMS, WHETHER IT'S ILLEGAL DUMPING OR A POTHOLE OR SOMETHING IN THE COUNTY PURVIEW, THAT GIVES US A FEEDBACK LOOP. JUST TALK TO US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHAT YOU'RE IMPLEMENTING, WHAT'S BEEN NEW OVER THE COURSE THAT YOU'VE BEEN HERE, AND ANY ROOM FOR IMPROVEMENT. BECAUSE I HEAR VARYING COMPLAINTS FROM LAWYERS SOMETIMES ABOUT, WE GOT TO GO OUTSIDE TO GET A CASHIER'S CHECK FROM THE BANK AND ATM FROM AROUND THE CORNER OR WHATEVER IT IS. YOU'VE HEARD THOSE STORIES. [OVERLAPPING] >> THERE ARE A FEW DIFFERENT CASHIERING OR TWO DIFFERENT REALLY CASHIERING SOLUTIONS THE TAX OFFICE USES A PLATFORM THAT THEY'VE ADOPTED THAT BETTER INTEGRATES WITH SOME OF THEIR VENDORS. WE'VE WORKED WITH THEM ON IMPROVING THE ABILITY FOR FOLKS THAT ENGAGE IN THOSE SERVICES TO PAY. WITH THE ROLLOUT OF EC JUST WE'RE MOVING TO A DIFFERENT CREDIT CARD PLATFORM THAT WILL ALLOW US. THERE WERE SOME INSTANCES WITH CASHIERING PREVIOUSLY BECAUSE IT DIDN'T INTEGRATE WITH THE OLD-AGE MAINFRAME. A LOT OF THAT STUFF HAS TO DO WITH JUSTICE SYSTEM RELATED PAYMENTS AND SOME OF THE SYSTEMS THAT WE HAD IN PLACE BEFORE WEREN'T ABLE TO EASILY INTEGRATE WITH A CASHIERING SOLUTION. BY ROLLING OUT THE NEW ECG PLATFORM THE TYLER ODYSSEY PLATFORM, WE'RE ABLE TO START ROLLING OUT A DIFFERENT CREDIT CARD PLATFORM THAT WILL ALLOW US TO START TAKING SOME OF THOSE PAYMENTS. FOR INSTANCE, IN THE JP'S OFFICES AND THE CONSTANT, THOSE OFFICES, WE JUST WENT LIVE IN FEBRUARY WITH THE NEW SOLUTION, WE'RE GOING TO BE ABLE TO START ROLLING OUT THAT CREDIT CARD FUNCTIONALITY FOR THOSE OFFICES AS WELL. [02:30:02] AS WE ROLL OUT TECHNOLOGY SOLUTIONS THAT SUPPORT THE CASHIERING WE'RE ABLE TO BETTER RAMP UP AND SUPPORT A LOT OF CASHIERING FUNCTIONS. >> ARE THERE GAPS THEN? MAYBE THE BETTER WAY TO SAY IT'S NOT WHAT YOU'RE REPORTING TO US YOU'VE DONE, BUT WHERE ARE THE GAPS AS YOU SEE IT IN MERCHANT SERVICES AND OR PEOPLE GIVING US REPORTS OF PROBLEMS IN THEIR NEIGHBORS? >> YEAH. I THINK THERE PROBABLY ARE GAPS. I DON'T KNOW IF I COULD ARTICULATE ALL OF THEM HERE. WE ADDRESSED A LOT OF THINGS BY WORKING WITH OUR CUSTOMERS. FOR INSTANCE, ONLINE PAYMENT FOR PARKS RESERVATION, A NEW SYSTEM, NEW CASHIERING SOLUTIONS FOR THAT. BUT THERE MAY BE, AND THIS GOES BACK TO THE BUSINESS CAPABILITIES EXERCISE THAT I WAS TALKING ABOUT BEFORE. E-COMMERCE AND CACHIERING IS A CAPABILITY FOR AN ORGANIZATION. UNDERSTANDING WHICH BUSINESS PROCESSES NEED TO BE ENABLED BY A CASHIERING SOLUTION ISN'T AN EXERCISE THAT THE COUNTY HAS GONE THROUGH IN AN OBJECTIVE WAY. WHAT WE KNOW IS WHAT WE HEAR ABOUT FROM OUR CUSTOMERS, WHERE IT'S ENABLED IS PROBABLY WHERE OUR CUSTOMERS HAVE SAID WE HAVE CHALLENGES AND WE WANT TO ENABLE IT. WHAT WE DON'T KNOW IS WHICH CUSTOMERS IN WHICH OFFICES AND DEPARTMENTS MAY NOT BE COMING IN SAYING, HEY, THIS IS WHERE WE HAVE ISSUES. THIS IS WHERE WE MAY BE ABLE TO COLLECT PAYMENT AND THAT'S WHERE WE TRY TO HAVE THOSE CONVERSATIONS WITH OUR CUSTOMERS. BUT I DON T KNOW THAT WE ALWAYS HAVE THE CLEAR PICTURE EITHER SO WHAT WE WANT TO DO IS START TAKING OBJECTIVE APPROACH BY LOOKING AT BUSINESS CAPABILITIES. I THINK THAT OVER THE NEXT MANY MONTHS WILL BE ABLE TO START DRILLING DOWN TO THAT A LITTLE BIT. >> LET ME SET A GOAL. WE'RE IN THIS REVIEW OF EVERY DEPARTMENT. I THINK A GOAL SHOULD BE TO DO WHAT YOU JUST SAID, TO LOOK AT EVERY DEPARTMENT AND MAKING SURE THAT IT'S AS EASY AS POSSIBLE FOR PEOPLE TO REMIT THEIR PAYMENT OR ELECTRONIC SERVICE THAT CAN BE PROVIDED, WHETHER IT IS AT THE CLERK'S OFFICE WHERE YOU HAVE YOUR ELECTRONIC RECORDS, AND THE ABILITY TO SEARCH FOR ITEMS AND NOT COME TO THE COURTHOUSE TRULY DIGITIZING THE THINGS THAT WE NEED TO HAVE FOR PROCESSES REALLY WELL DONE AND MAKING SURE THAT YOUR DEPARTMENT BENCHMARKS. IF NEW YORK CITY DOES IT THE BEST OR SAN FRANCISCO DOES IT THE BEST, WHOEVER IT IS THAT YOU SEE, WE'VE GOT THIS PARTICULAR COUNTY THAT WE CAN LOOK TO AND SAY THAT THEY'RE REALLY PRETTY DIGITAL AND THEY REALLY KICK IN AND VERY SEAMLESS. I THINK THAT ALSO APPLIES TO SOME OF THE SATELLITE OFFICES AND THINGS LIKE THAT AS WELL. WE'VE TALKED ABOUT PARTNERSHIPS. I GIVE YOU FOR EXAMPLE YESTERDAY, ST. HEADWIG IS PUTTING IN AN APPLICATION FOR A MULTI GOVERNMENTAL CENTER. THE CONGRESSMAN IS OFFICE QUASAR HAD INDICATED THAT USDA PROVIDES THESE GRANTS, BUT THEY GET BETTER POINTS IF IT'S A REGIONAL SOLUTION. THE COUNTY MAY NOT BE ABLE TO STAFF A TAX ASSESSOR COLLECTOR OR PERSON OR A COUNTY CLERK PERSON IN THAT OFFICE FOR DB214 OR WHATEVER. BUT IF WE HAVE A KIOSK SYSTEM, WHICH WE HAVE SOME OF THOSE COMING, BUT THE ABILITY FOR US TO SPREAD OUT ONLINE IN GOVERNMENTAL ONE-STOP SHOPS AND THINGS LIKE THAT, I THINK THOSE ARE THINGS THAT ARE VERY IMPORTANT FOR THE FUTURE OF OUR TECHNOLOGY. I JUST WANTED TO PUT THAT AS A CHALLENGE. >> I AGREE WITH YOU 100 PERCENT. >> COME BACK TO COMMISSIONER'S COURT WITH WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE WITH THOSE PAYMENTS SOLUTIONS, DEFICITS ARE THE BIGGEST THING THAT I DON'T THINK WE'VE PUT ON THE AGENDA FOR THE COURT. WE HAVE VERY NEW COURT, SO IT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT THEY'RE NECESSARILY AWARE OF. IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING THAT MOST COMMISSIONERS AND THIS IS MAYBE SPECIFIC TO COMMISSIONERS. IT MAY EMANATE TO DAS AND OTHER OFFICES, I'M NOT EXACTLY SURE. BUT WHAT I'VE HEARD IS AROUND TEXAS, MOST COMMISSIONERS HAVE THEIR OWN IT DEPARTMENT BECAUSE OF THE POLITICAL ANIMAL NATURE OF WHAT WE DO, THEY CONFIDENTIALLY OF WHAT WE DO. BECAUSE THE INNER SEEN POLITICAL WARFARE THAT SOMETIMES HAPPENS IN THESE HIGH STAKES POSITIONS. I WANT TO KNOW WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE IN OTHER BENCHMARK COUNTIES, IN LARGE COUNTIES. HOW DO THEY DO THAT? WE DON'T HAVE TO ANSWER THAT NOW, I THINK YOU SHOULD COME BACK TO THE COURT AT A LATER DATE AND LOOK AT WHAT DOES THAT SYSTEM LOOK LIKE AS WELL. JUDGE, THAT'S IT FOR ME. I JUST WANTED TO BRING THOSE IT ISSUES UP. >> COMMISSIONERS. >> MARK, LET ME MAKE MY COMMENTS. WE NEED TO BE INVESTED IN IMPROVING OUR PROCESSES AND YOU'VE HIT THE NAIL ON THE HEAD BY UTILIZING TECHNOLOGY, WHICH IS YOUR EXPERTISE AND WORKING IT TO ENSURE THAT IT IS ADOPTED SEAMLESSLY. I THINK THAT'S PROBABLY THE BIG ISSUE IS HOW DO WE CONNECT THE COUNTY, CONNECT ITS EMPLOYEES, CONNECT THE PUBLIC, AND ON AND ON. I'M CONFIDENT IN OUR LEADERSHIP AND SUPPORT STAFF. I'M TALKING ABOUT YOU AND I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE EMPOWERING THEM TO USE THEIR CAPACITIES TO WORK WITH EACH DEPARTMENT STAFF, [02:35:01] ENGINEER THE CHANGES THAT WILL IMPROVE WITH QUALITY AND CONSISTENCY OF OUR SERVICES AND A BOTTOM LINE, THE END-USER EXPERIENCE, THE PEOPLE THAT USE IT, THE PEOPLE THAT COME TO THE COURTHOUSE AND NEED SERVICES OR NEED DOCUMENTS. I WANTED TO JUST POINT OUT SOME EXAMPLES WHERE I THINK WE NEED TO IMPROVE AND STREAMLINE TECHNOLOGY. I'M GOING TO ASK THAT YOU JUST TAKE IT AND THEN PERHAPS YOU AND I CAN GO INTO THE WEEDS SO TO SPEAK AND DO A DEEP DIVE. ONE IS PUBLIC INPUT. WE NEED TO UPDATE OUR TECHNOLOGY TO ALLOW FOR REMOTE PUBLIC INPUT AND TO SHARE THE BACKUP DOCUMENTS OF OUR AGENDAS. AS STANCE THERE'S NO READILY ACCESSIBLE REPOSITORY OF BACKUP DOCUMENTS FOR AGENDAS, AND THIS APPLIES TO BOTH STAFF AND GENERAL PALETTE AND I BELIEVE THAT'S GONNA BE JUST TO CHANGE A PROCESS FOR THIS NEW COURT. THE PERSON WE HAVE MANAGING THIS INFORMATION IS DOING A GREAT JOB AND I'M TALKING ABOUT YOU. BUT WE NEED MORE THAN A PERSON. WE NEED THE TOOLS AND WE NEED A PROCESS SO YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE TO LET ME KNOW WHAT YOU NEED. THEN YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE TO PUT A PHYSICAL NOTE TO SEE HOW CAN WE PUT IN THE BUDGET AND WHERE DO WE BALANCE IT ALL OUT? WE JUST SPEND A FEW DOLLARS FOR OUR DEPUTIES AND PREPARE TO SPEND A FEW DOLLARS FOR OUR TECHNOLOGY AND BCIT. THE COURTS AND I SEE THAT OUR DISTRICT CLERK IN OUR COUNTY CLERK IS IN THE ROOM. LUCY, A DYNAMIC CLERK, OUR COUNTY CLERK, GLORIA MARTINEZ, OUR DISTRICT COURT. RIGHT NOW, I'M ALSO INCLUDING THEM IN TO THIS DISCUSSION. WE HAVE TO ASK OURSELVES ARE WE PROVIDING THE ATTORNEYS, THE CLIENTS, THE LITIGANTS, THE DEFENDANTS, THE PROSECUTORS WHO USE OUR COURTS WITH SUFFICIENT DIGITAL NOTIFICATIONS AND DIGITAL OPTIONS TO GET COPIES OF COURT ORDERS AND OTHER IMPORTANT DOCUMENTS? ONE THING I'M GOING TO ALERT THE COURTS IS ALL WANT TO KNOW WHY WE'RE NOT TOTALLY ON E-FILING AND THAT WE SHOULD NOT BE USED PAPER IN OUR SYSTEM. I THINK WE'D BEEN MANDATED BY THE TEXAS SUPREME COURT TO DO THAT. I THINK MS. CLARK, I'M SURE YOU CAN GIVE US A REPORT AT ANOTHER TIME AND MS. MARTINEZ, I'LL BE ASKING FOR A REPORT AS TO WHAT IS IMPEDING BEAR COUNTY AND BECOMING PAPERLESS, AND TRULY PAPERLESS. I DON T THINK HAVING WORKED IN THE COURSE FOR 26 YEARS, WE'RE STILL REALLY DOING THE SAME THING OVER AND OVER AND I WANT IT TO BE IMPROVED. DATA COLLECTION IS ANOTHER BIG ISSUE. WE HAVE COUNTLESS DIFFERENT SOFTWARE AND PROGRAMS FOR DIFFERENT DEPARTMENTS THAT ARE ABLE TO COMMUNICATE AND INTEGRATE WITH EACH OTHER. I WANT TO ASK THE DISTRICT CLARK COUNTY COURT RIGHT NOW, CAN YOU TALK TO EACH OTHER AND CAN YOU ALL SHARE? IF NOT, WHY NOT? THIS MAKES IT DIFFICULT TO SIFT THROUGH ALL THE DATA AND THAT DEGENERATE AND SEE THE BIGGER PICTURE AND ULTIMATELY FOR THE POLLOCK INPUT. DATA STORAGE AND YOU ALREADY TOUCHED ON THAT. MANY DEPARTMENTS MAY NOT HAVE A DATA RETENTION POLICY. CONSEQUENTLY, BCIT IS HOLDING ON TO EVERYTHING AND PAYING MORE FOR SERVICE SPACE. IS THAT A CORRECT STATEMENT? >> IT'S CORRECT. >> WE NEED STANDARDS ACROSS DEPARTMENTS SO THAT EACH ONE HAS A STANDARD AND TAILORED POLICY, FOLLOWS THE LAW AND BCIT HAS GUY GUIDANCE FROM THE DEPARTMENTS ON DATA STORAGE AND FINALLY, PROCUREMENT WITH OUR PURCHASING AGENT. HOW CAN WE USE TECHNOLOGY TO TRACK AND PROCESS PROCUREMENT REQUEST AND IMPROVE OUR PROCUREMENT PROCESS? THOSE ARE THE ITEMS I WILL BE ASKING FOR, NOT TODAY, BUT AT LATER DATE I WANT REPORTS. MR. GAGER, I THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE AND COMMITMENT AND YOUR LET'S GET THINGS ROLLING, ALL RIGHT? >> YES, SIR. THANK YOU. >> MR. GUEVARA. >> THANK YOU. COMMISSIONERS WHILE WE'RE PULLING UP THE POWERPOINT, AGAIN, FOR THE RECORD, THOMAS GUEVARA, OPPOSITE THE COUNTY MANAGER. THIS ITEM IS GOING TO COVER A BRIEF HISTORY OF THE AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN ACT, THE COUNTIES CURRENT PROCESS AND PROCEDURES, AS WELL AS THE COUNTIES CURRENT PRIORITIES, AS WELL AS SUGGESTED POLICY CONSIDERATIONS INCLUDING REPROGRAMMING OF FUNDS. THE AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN ACT ESTABLISHED A SUBSTANTIAL INFUSION OF RESOURCES TO BOTH STATES AND GOVERNMENTS TO REBUILD A STRONGER AND MORE EQUITABLE ECONOMY AS THE COUNTRY RECOVERS. THE PROGRAM ENSURES GOVERNMENTS HAVE THE RESOURCES TO SUPPORT FAMILIES AND BUSINESSES STRUGGLING WITH ITS PUBLIC HEALTH AND ECONOMIC IMPACTS, MAINTAIN VITAL PUBLIC SERVICES, AND BUILD A STRONG, RESILIENT AND EQUITABLE RECOVERY BY MAKING INVESTMENTS THAT SUPPORT LONG-TERM GROWTH. BEAR COUNTY WAS GRANTED $389 MILLION IN STATE AND LOCAL FISCAL RECOVERY FUNDS AND ANOTHER $100,000 AND LOCAL ASSISTANCE FUNDS OF WHICH WE HAVE RECEIVED 50,000, [02:40:01] AND WE EXPECT THE REMAINING 50 IN THE NEXT 10-12 MONTHS. THIS SLIDE IS JUST A HIGHLIGHT OF KEY DATES OF RULES PUBLISHED BY TREASURY. FOLLOWING THE INTERIM RULE, TREASURY CONSIDERED FEEDBACK OVER 1,500 COMMENTS PROVIDED BY RECIPIENTS AND ISSUED THE FINAL RULE WITH THE GOAL OF PROVIDING BOTH BROADER FLEXIBILITY AND CLARIFICATIONS. ADDITIONALLY, I SHOULD MENTION THAT FUNDS MUST BE OBLIGATED BY DECEMBER 31ST, 2024 AND EXPENDED BY DECEMBER 31ST, 2026 AND I'LL REITERATE THAT THROUGHOUT THE PRESENTATION. THE FINAL RULE OUTLINE FOR STATUTORY ELIGIBLE USES LISTED ON THIS SLIDE. ADDITIONALLY, BEAR COUNTY MUST COMPLY WITH THE UNIFORM ADMINISTRATIVE REQUIREMENTS, COST PRINCIPLES, AND AUDIT REQUIREMENTS FOR FEDERAL AWARDS. THIS COVERS PROCUREMENT, CONTRACTING, AND CONFLICTS OF INTERESTS. I'D BE REMISS IF I DID NOT MENTION THAT THE PREMIUM PAY LISTED HERE EXPIRED ON APRIL 10TH FOLLOWING CONGRESS APPROVAL, EFFECTIVELY THE PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCY. PROPOSAL EVALUATIONS. CURRENTLY RIGHT NOW, THE RPA OFFICE AND COORDINATION WITH THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE EVALUATES THE PROJECT TO ENSURE THAT THE SUB RECIPIENTS BUDGET RESPONSE TO THE PANDEMIC AND IT'S PROPORTIONAL TO COVID-19. THIS SLIDE DETAILS THE NUMBER OF STEPS THAT WE TAKE TO ENSURE THE PROGRAM OR PROJECT NEEDS ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS. [NOISE] FOR THOSE PROJECTS THAT INCLUDE CAPITAL EXPENDITURES, WE ARE REQUIRED TO INCLUDE ADDITIONAL WRITTEN JUSTIFICATION. IF THE EXPENDITURE IS EQUAL TO OR ABOVE $1 MILLION, WE MUST PROVIDE A DESCRIPTION OF THE HARM OR THE NEED TO BE ADDRESSED, AND WE ARE REQUIRED AS THE COUNTY TO SHOW A COMPARISON OF THE PROPOSED CAPITAL EXPENDITURE AGAINST TWO ALTERNATIVES AND WHY THAT PROPOSED EXPENDITURE IS SUPERIOR. PART OF OUR EVALUATION INCLUDES THE RISK ASSESSMENT CONDUCTED BY BOTH THE ARPA OFFICE, BUDGET OFFICE, AND THE SUBJECT MATTER EXPERT FOR WHICH THE PROJECTS WILL RESIDE IN. WE DO THIS TO DETERMINE THAT THE SUB RECIPIENT HAS THE NECESSARY OPERATIONAL INFRASTRUCTURE AND EXPERIENCE TO COMPLETE THE PROGRAM. THESE ARE JUST A FEW STEPS THAT WE TAKE FOLLOWING THE EVALUATION, OF COURSE, PRESENTING THAT PROJECT TO COMMISSIONERS COURT, TO RECEIVE AUTHORITY TO NEGOTIATE THAT AGREEMENT. ONCE WE OBTAIN THE NECESSARY SCOPE OF WORK AND BACKUP FROM THE SUB RECIPIENT, WE START TO WORK UP THE AGREEMENT. IT IS AT THIS TIME, JUDGE, COMMISSIONERS, THAT THIS IS PROBABLY PART OF THE PROCESS THAT IT'S TAKEN US THE LONGEST. IF YOU RECALL, WE BACKED INTO SOME OF THESE PROJECTS, WE'RE GETTING THOSE PROJECTS INTO AGAIN, THE UNIFORM GUIDANCE REQUIREMENTS. WE WERE WORKING WITH EACH AND EVERY ENTITY TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE GOING TO BE ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE AUDIT. THERE HAVE BEEN SOME PROJECTS THAT WE DO WORK WITH THE PURCHASING AGENT TO ISSUE EITHER REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL, REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATION, OR PURCHASE ORDERS SUCH AS YOUR GUN SAFETY PROGRAM. THIS SLIDE IS A REMINDER OF THE COUNTIES OBLIGATIONS FOR BOTH TRANSPARENCY AND REPORTING. WE ISSUED OUR FIRST INTERIM REPORT BACK IN AUGUST OF 2021. THE COUNTY IS REQUIRED TO PERFORM RECOVERY PLAN PERFORMANCE REPORTS AND QUARTERLY PROJECT AND EXPENDITURE REPORTS. OUR RECOVERY PLAN PERFORMANCE REPORTS INCLUDES SUBSCRIPTIONS OF THE PROJECTS FUNDED AND INFORMATION OF KEY PERFORMANCE INDICATORS. I KNOW THAT'S A KEY AREA FOR YOU, JUDGE THAT YOU'VE MENTIONED TO US ON VARIOUS AGREEMENTS. THIS COVERS THE 12 MONTH PERIOD AND THEY ARE DUE BY JULY 31ST OF EACH YEAR. THE QUARTERLY PROJECT REPORTS INCLUDE FINANCIAL DATA AND INFORMATION ON CONTRACTS AND SUB AWARDS OVER 50,000. AGAIN, THESE COVER ONE CALENDAR QUARTER AND THEY MUST BE SUBMITTED WITHIN 30 DAYS AFTER THE END OF THAT CALENDAR QUARTER. THESE REPORTS ARE LISTED ON THE ARPA COUNTY'S WEBSITE UNDER THE ARPA OFFICE. I WANT TO TAKE THIS TIME TO JUST THANK LEO AND HIS TEAM AND IAN ON OUR TEAM FOR THE WORK THAT THEY DO TO GET THOSE REPORTS IN COMPLIANCE AND POST IT APPROPRIATELY AND ON-TIME. A BRIEF RECAP OF THE CURRENT PRIORITY IS ISSUED BY COMMISSIONERS COURT. AGAIN, TO DATE, YOU HAVE OBLIGATED A LITTLE OVER $388 MILLION. YOU HAVE A LITTLE OVER 301,000 OF UNALLOCATED FUNDS AND THE 100,000 OF THE LOCAL SYSTEMS FUNDS AVAILABLE. ATTACHED TO YOUR POWERPOINT, WE PROVIDED A HANDOUT OF THE PROJECTS THAT MAKE UP EACH OF THESE PRIORITY BUCKETS. WE HAVE EXECUTED 36 PROGRAMS AND COMPLETED FOUR PROJECTS TO DATE. [02:45:02] IF YOU ACCOUNT FOR THE INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT AGREEMENTS FOR OUR SCHOOL-BASED MENTAL HEALTH PROGRAM, WE HAVE ACTUALLY COMPLETED 48 AGREEMENTS DURING THIS TIME PERIOD. WE CURRENTLY HAVE APPROXIMATELY 84 PENDING AGREEMENTS IN NEGOTIATIONS OF WHICH 44 OF THOSE ARE YOUR ACCOUNTS ASSISTANCE TO THE ARTS PROGRAM AND THOSE THOSE AWARD LETTERS SHOULD BE GOING OUT THIS WEEK SO WE'LL BE ABLE TO REDUCE THAT NUMBER SUBSTANTIALLY HERE IN THE NEXT FEW WEEKS. THIS IS JUST A VISUAL REPRESENTATION, THE OBLIGATIONS THAT THE COURT HAS COMMITTED TO YOU. AS YOU CAN SEE BY THIS GRAPH, THE COURT HAS HEAVILY INVESTED IN BOTH THE BEHAVIORAL HEALTH AND PUBLIC HEALTH AREAS OF THE PANDEMIC RESPONDENTS. SO POSSIBLE CHANGES. AS WE WORKED THROUGH BOTH THE EXECUTED AGREEMENTS AND PENDING AGREEMENTS, WE'RE PREPARING TO RECEIVE A COST SAVINGS IN SOME OF THESE PROJECTS. THEREFORE, ONE POSSIBLE CHANGE WE WOULD ASK THE COURT TO CONSIDER IS TO ADOPT A RE-PROGRAMMING PROCEDURE. THIS WOULD GIVE THE COURT THE OPPORTUNITY TO REPURPOSE ARPA FUNDS. STAFF IS PROPOSING TO FOLLOW A SIMILAR FORMAT THAT YOU ALL CURRENTLY USE FOR YOUR CDBG HOME FEDERAL PROGRAMS. SO AGAIN, WE WOULD STANDARDIZE NOTIFICATION OF RETURN FUNDS, ELIGIBILITY, PRIORITIZATION, AND A TIMELINE. AGAIN, I WANT TO REITERATE. COMMISSIONERS COURT WERE OBLIGATED TO ALLOCATE FUNDING BY DECEMBER 31ST OF 2024, WHICH IS NEXT YEAR, AND THEN FULLY EXPAND THESE DOLLARS BY THE END OF 2026. SO SOME OTHER KEY CHANGES BASED ON OUR CURRENT EXPERIENCE IS, ARPA GRANT FUNDS CAN ONLY BE USED FOR SPECIFIC PURPOSES AS DISCUSSED IN TREASURIES FINAL RULE. DUE TO THE ARPA GRANT FUND REQUIREMENTS, IT'S NOT APPROPRIATE JUST TO FIND AN ENTITY AND AN AMOUNT OF AWARD AND SET THE COUNTY OR STAFF WHICH WE'RE ASKING IF YOU WOULD SEEK PROJECTS OR SERVICE PROVIDERS THAT MEET THE ARPA REQUIREMENT. IDEALLY, WE WOULD ASK THAT THE COURT, RE-LOOK AT YOUR PRIORITIES AND DETERMINE WHICH PROPOSALS WOULD BEST MEET YOUR NEEDS COMMISSIONERS. THIS PROCESS WOULD ALSO DECREASE ANY CONFLICTS OF INTERESTS OR ANY OTHER ISSUES ABOUT THE UNIFORM GUIDANCE. ALTERNATIVELY, THE COUNTY COULD ADMINISTER ITS OWN ARPA ELIGIBLE PROJECTS AND PROCURE VENDORS TO PERFORM THOSE SERVICES. AS MENTIONED EARLIER, CONSTRUCTION, THAT'S PROBLEMATIC FOR A VARIETY OF REASONS, MAINLY THE TIMELINE AND THE TIME THAT IT WILL TAKE TO GET THOSE PROJECTS UNDERWAY, INCLUDING PROCUREMENT, COMPLETION OF THOSE PROJECTS, AND THEN FEDERAL INTERESTS TO THOSE PROJECTS, WHETHER IT'D BE THE FACILITY OR THE EQUIPMENT PURCHASED WITH THOSE FEDERAL FUNDS. LASTLY, THE COURT MAY WANT TO CONSIDER IF YOU'D ADOPT A REPROGRAMMING PROCEDURE TO LOOK AT THOSE AGREEMENTS THAT ARE WORKING AND ADD FUNDING TO THOSE PROJECTS. WE'VE KICKED OFF A NUMBER OF OUR PROJECTS, WE'RE STARTING TO RECEIVE THOSE PERFORMANCE MEASURES BACK AS PART OF THOSE INVOICING. SO AS WE CONTINUE TO EVALUATE THOSE AND BRING THAT INFORMATION TO YOU AND TO YOUR STAFF, COURT, THAT MIGHT BE SOMETHING, IF THERE'S ADDED CAPACITY, FOR EXAMPLE THE SCHOOL-BASED MENTAL HEALTH PROGRAM, IF THOSE SCHOOLS ARE PERFORMING TO COURTS LIKING AND THEY CAN ADD THAT CAPACITY AND SPEND THAT MONEY DOWN APPROPRIATELY FOR THOSE ELIGIBLE USES, THAT'S JUST AN EXAMPLE THAT YOU ALL MIGHT WANT TO CONSIDER. IF THE COURT DOES DO A REPROGRAMMING PROCEDURE OR ADOPTS A REPROGRAMMING PROCEDURE, IT WOULD BE STAFFS INTERNAL GO TO GET THOSE PROJECTS UNDER CONTRACT AND GOING BY THE END OF THIS CALENDAR YEAR, THIS WOULD ALLOW US TIME TO EVALUATE THEM AND BRING YOU BACK FIRST QUARTER OF 2024 ANY ADDITIONAL REPROGRAMMING OPPORTUNITIES JUST TO GIVE YOU ENOUGH TIME TO PRIORITIZE AND SPEND THAT MONEY DOWN. WITH THAT COURT, TAKE ANY QUESTIONS. >> ANY QUESTIONS? >> OR COMMENTS. >> COMMISSIONER RODRIGUEZ? >> YEAH. THANK YOU THOMAS FOR THE OVERVIEW. I THINK THAT'S A GREAT GENERAL OVERVIEW. I KNOW THERE WAS NO BLUEPRINT FOR THIS. WE WERE TRYING TO GET NEEDS MET AS SOON AS POSSIBLE AND WE STILL ARE DEPLOYING THESE DOLLARS. THE ONLY THING I WANT TO ADD IS YOU MENTIONED THE POTENTIAL REPROGRAMMING. IN OTHER WORDS, WE ALLOCATED FUNDING BEFORE THE MONEY WAS ACTUALLY APPROPRIATED. FOR SOME REASON, A PROJECT MAY NOT HAVE HIT ALL THE CHECKLISTS ON THE REQUIREMENTS. SO I THINK IT'S PROBABLY IMPORTANT AND YOU MENTIONED THAT AND JUDGE AND COLLEAGUES, WE MIGHT MAYBE AT ONE OF THE NEXT COURT MEETINGS, [02:50:03] WE MAY TALK ABOUT HOW WE WANT TO PRIORITIZE THOSE DOLLARS. WE DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH YET, BUT I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT STAFF GET DIRECTION FROM THE COURT ON HOW WE SHOULD LOOK AT THOSE DOLLARS AND INVEST THOSE DOLLARS. I THINK IT MAKES SENSE TO LOOK AT OUR PAST PRIORITIES, BUT SOME OF THOSE MAY HAVE SHIFTED A YEAR OR SO LATER DEPENDING ON HOW WE MET NEEDS. I WILL SAY THAT, AND I JUST LEARNED ABOUT THIS YESTERDAY, WE HAVE AN ITEM COMING UP THAT STAFF IS RECOMMENDING USING SOME OF THESE ARPA DOLLARS. I'M GOING TO ASK DAVID TO MAKE SURE YOU LET DEPARTMENTS KNOW THAT THE COURT HAS NOT SPOKEN ON THAT YET AND TO USE ALLOCATION OF RE-PROGRAM ARPA DOLLARS AT THIS POINT IS PREMATURE BECAUSE WE'VE NOT GIVEN DIRECTION ON THAT. SO I'LL TALK A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT THAT WHEN WE GET TO THAT ITEM. BUT I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE IN SYNC ON THAT PROCESS AND THE COURT HAS AN OPPORTUNITY TO CHIME IN IN PARTICULAR, BECAUSE WE DO HAVE TWO NEW MEMBERS OF THE COURT INCLUDING THE JUDGE WHO WERE NOT HERE WHEN WE ESTABLISHED THOSE PRIORITIES. SO THAT'S ALL I'LL SAY. BUT AGAIN, I KNOW THE PROCESS HAS BEEN VERY ARDUOUS. THOMAS KUDOS TO YOU AND YOUR STAFF FOR TRYING TO GET THESE FLIP THE AUDITOR, THE DA'S OFFICE BECAUSE THE CONTRACTS WERE ALL TRYING TO GET OUT THE DOOR AND I KNOW IT'S STILL ONGOING. BUT AGAIN, I THINK THE MOST IMPORTANT THING IS AS WE FIGURE OUT WHAT THAT NUMBER IS ON REPROGRAM DOLLARS, GET THE INPUT FROM US AND THEN WE CAN FIGURE OUT HOW TO APPROPRIATELY SECURE THOSE FUNDING. >> YES, SIR. >> THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. >> COMMISSIONER MOODY. MR. CALVIN. >> THANK YOU. THOMAS, I THINK THE REPORT IS NEEDING MORE SPECIFICS. I THINK THE COURT NEEDS TO HAVE SOME DETAILS ABOUT THE PROBLEMATIC APPLICATIONS FROM PREVIOUS GROUPS AND THE PROBLEMATIC ISSUES THAT HAVE COME UP WITH THOSE APPLICATIONS SO THAT WE HAVE PLENTY OF TIME TO REVIEW, UNDERSTAND. WE MIGHT BE ABLE TO MAKE SOME SUGGESTIONS ABOUT IMPROVEMENTS THAT COULD BE MADE OR MODIFIED OR A SECOND CHANCE IF WE DID X, Y, OR Z. SO I THINK THAT I'VE ALWAYS BEEN CONCERNED ABOUT PROBLEMATIC APPLICATIONS. THAT'S WHY I ABSTAINED FROM THE PREVIOUS LAST TRANCHE OF VOTES. I DIDN'T THINK THAT THE VETTING OF THE STAFF WAS DETAILED ENOUGH TO GIVE ASSURANCES THAT THE FEDERAL TREASURY WOULDN'T HAVE SOME ISSUES LATER. I STILL STAND BY THOSE COMMENTS. SO I THINK WE NEED TO LOOK PRIOR TO COMING TO COURT WITH HAVING THOSE APPLICATIONS. I'M HEARING THAT A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE NOT GETTING FUNDED BECAUSE OF VARIOUS REASONS AND SO WE NEED TO HAVE A BEHIND THE SCENES LOOK AND OPPORTUNITY TO REVIEW THOSE PROBLEMS. THAT'S THE BIGGEST THING. LET ME JUST SAY A HIGH-LEVEL THOUGHT AS WE GO FORWARD ON POTENTIAL PRIORITIZATION. SAN ANTONIO HAS BEEN MILITARY CITY USA BECAUSE IT'S A COMMUNITY THAT HAS BEEN AFFORDABLE FOR THE MILITARY. BUT ONE THING THIS NEW COURT MAY NOT KNOW IS THAT IN THE LAND YOU SAID THAT WAS RECENTLY DONE ON CAMP BOULEZ AND ALL OF OUR INSTALLATIONS AT LACHLAN AND RANDOLPH AND FORT SAM, WAS THE MILITARY IN THAT REPORT SIGNAL TO US VERY CLEARLY THAT OUR PRIMACY IS THE LARGEST JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO OPERATION MAY BE IN DANGER BECAUSE THE COST OF LIVING IS BECOMING VERY HARD ON OUR SOLDIERS. THE BIGGEST THING THAT THEY NOTED IN THAT REPORT IN THAT LAND USE STUDY WAS HOUSING COSTS. WE'VE PUT SOME MONIES INTO HOUSING, BUT I THINK THAT THERE'S AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THE COURT TO GET WITH USAA AND GET WITH BANK OF AMERICA WELLS FARGO, THESE OTHER BANKS AND LEVERAGE SOME OPPORTUNITIES FOR MILITARY FAMILIES TO OWN A HOME. IN MEXICO, FOR EXAMPLE, THERE ARE PARTNERSHIPS WITH THE GOVERNMENT WHERE IF YOU HAVE A CERTAIN MANUFACTURING COMPANY OR A BUSINESS THAT YOU WORK FOR, THEY WORK TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU HAVE A HOME, THAT YOU'VE GOT AN INCOME, THAT INCOME IS COMING IN AND THAT THEY HELP TO DO THAT. I THINK IN THIS ECONOMY IN THE US SYSTEM, WE MAY BE ABLE TO DO SOMETHING SIMILAR, HYBRID, WHERE WE LOOK TO USING THE MARKET POWER OF THE COUNTIES ARPA DOLLARS TO LAND BANK PROPERTIES. THIS IS A PARTICULARLY GOOD TIME COURT BECAUSE A LOT OF HOUSING DEVELOPERS ARE STOPPING COMPLETELY THEIR DEVELOPMENTS UNLESS THEY'RE IN A PIT THAT THE COUNTY HAS CREATED, THEY'RE STOPPING ANY NEW HOUSING STARTS. THOSE HOME CREATIONS AND THE NEW STARTS, AS WELL AS THE PURCHASING OF PROPERTIES IS COMING TO A LITTLE BIT OF A STOP. WE COULD BE ABLE TO PUT TOGETHER NOT ONLY A PROGRAM WHERE ARPA DOLLARS ARE BROUGHT, [02:55:01] BUT LET'S SAY THAT WE GET WITH WELLS FARGO AND ALL THESE BANKS THAT ARE OUT THERE AND DEVELOP A DOWN PAYMENT ASSISTANCE PROGRAM FOR MILITARY FAMILIES. I SUBMIT TO YOU THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT TO LOOK AT ON A MACRO LEVEL, LIKE WHAT WOULD IT MEAN IF WE WERE TO GET 100,000 NEW HOMES COMMENSURATE WITH THE PAY SCALE OF THE MILITARY. IT WOULD BE GOOD FOR THE GENERAL POPULATION AS WELL, NOT JUST THE MILITARY POPULATION. THE GENERAL PUBLIC WOULD BE ABLE TO BENEFIT FROM DOWN PAYMENT ASSISTANCE, CREDIT REPAIR AND HOMES THAT ARE PRICED TO THE WAGES OF OUR POPULATION. I THINK THAT WHERE WE'VE PUT SOME IMPORTANT DOLLARS FOR IT EVERY SINGLE ONE OF OUR HOUSING PROJECTS AND THE MULTIFAMILY IS STRUGGLING TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THE EXCEPTION OF A FEW THAT GOT A LOT OF MONEY, BUT THEY'RE STRUGGLING TO MOVE FORWARD BECAUSE THE INTEREST RATES WENT UP, BECAUSE THE HOUSING COMMODITY PRICES WENT UP. WE NEED TO LOOK AT MAKING THOSE AFFORDABLE OPPORTUNITIES REALLY HAPPEN. AFFORDABLE IS NOT JUST FOR POOR PEOPLE, IT'S ABOUT THE ENTIRE MARKET, WHAT THE MARKET CAN AFFORD, THE MIDDLE-CLASS AS WELL IS INCLUDED IN THAT. I THINK THAT'S GOOD POLICY BECAUSE PEOPLE TOO OFTEN FEEL AS IF WE GIVE A LOT OF MONEY TO VARIOUS CORPORATIONS AND THEY DON'T SEE IT IN THEIR HOUSEHOLD, THEY DON'T SEE IT IN REHAB. WE'VE GOT THE SENIOR PROBLEM WHERE SENIORS ARE NOT ABLE TO RETROFIT THEIR HOMES TO LIVE IN PLACE AND BECAUSE OF MOST AFFORDABLE HOME YOU HAVE IS THE ONE YOU HAVE NOW. I THINK WE REALLY NEED TO BORE DOWN AND LOOK AT, HOW DO WE KEEP THE CONSTRUCTION JOB MARKET GOING IN A DOWN ECONOMY? HOW DO WE HAVE A BIG RESET IN TERMS OF OUR THINKING WITH RESPECT TO THE MILITARY AND BY EXTENSION OUR POPULATION, BECAUSE OUR POPULATIONS WAGES HAVE LARGELY BEEN PEGGED UPON THAT JUGGERNAUT OF OUR ECONOMY, I.E, THE MILITARY THAT'S HERE. THANK YOU VERY MUCH, JUDGE I JUST WANTED TO SAY THAT. >> THANK YOU COMMISSIONER. >> COMMISSIONER MARTIN. >> THOMAS, I WAS JUST WONDERING, DO YOU HAVE A NUMBER IN TERMS OF DOLLARS THAT HAVE BEEN RETURNED THUS FAR OR LINE-OF-SIGHT INTO CERTAIN BIG PROJECTS THAT WILL NOT GO FORWARD? >> WE DON'T HAVE ANYTHING OFFICIAL, WHICH IS WHAT WE WOULD STANDARDIZE IN OUR REPROGRAMMING. BUT WHAT I CAN TELL YOU RIGHT NOW OR OUTLAY RIGHT NOW IS WE'RE WRAPPING DOWN OUR ASSISTANCE TO THE NON-PROFIT PROGRAM. I'M EXPECTING ABOUT SEVEN MAIL TO BE RETURNED FROM THAT PARTICULAR PROJECT. THAT WILL PROBABLY BE ONE OF THE FIRST ITEMS THAT YOU'LL SEE FROM OUR TEAM AS A RETURN BACK TO THE COURT FOR RE-PURPOSING OF PROGRAMS. THAT'S ONE EXAMPLE OF A PROJECT THAT WE KNOW HAS COMPLETED AND WILL BE RETURNING THAT MONEY BACK UPON UNSPENT FUNDS. >> THAT'S A GREAT DATA POINTS. SEVEN MILLION JUST FROM THAT ONE PROGRAM. BUT ULTIMATELY DO YOU EXPECT TO SEE TENS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS RETURNED FROM THE ORIGINAL ALLOCATION? >> I DO. SOME OF IT, AGAIN, EARLIER POINT, THERE ARE SOME PROJECTS THAT WE'RE CERTAINLY WORKING THROUGH AS BEST AS POSSIBLE TO GET THOSE PROJECTS ALL ELIGIBLE. HOWEVER, SOME OF THOSE PROJECTS WILL PROBABLY ONLY SPENT HALF OF OR ONLY BE ABLE TO MAKE ELIGIBLE MAYBE HALF OF THAT ALLOTMENTS. I'M EXPECTING SEVERAL MILLION, A COME BACK ON TOP OF THAT SEVEN MILLION. >> I JUST WANTED TO MAKE THE POINT THAT THEY'RE LOOKED TO BE SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF FUNDING THAT'S GOING TO BE RETURNED, THAT WE WILL RE-ALLOCATE, REPROGRAM. THANK YOU. >> YES, SIR. >> THOMAS, IS THERE ANY OTHER COMMENTS? [NOISE]. >> FIRST, LET ME THANK YOU FOR THAT PRESENTATION. I'M PRETTY MUCH THE ONE THAT ASKED FOR IT AND SO YOU'VE DONE VERY WELL IN PRESENTING. ALSO KNOW THAT THE ISSUES I BRING FORTH TODAY COME FROM THE PREDECESSOR COURT. AS WE'VE DISCUSSED NOW IN RETROSPECT, PERHAPS THINGS COULD HAVE BEEN DONE DIFFERENT. I WANT TO WAIT, WIPE THE SLATE CLEAN, SO TO SPEAK, [NOISE] AND TO SAY, LET'S GO FORWARD. ALTHOUGH I MAY BRING UP ISSUES THAT I SEE NOW, I DON'T NEED YOU TO DEFEND IT ALL I NEED YOU TO SAY, JUDGE, WE HAVE A PLAN TO ADDRESS YOUR CONCERNS. SINCE I'VE COME INTO OFFICE, I'VE HEARD FROM SEVERAL GROUPS SAYING WE WERE PROMISED ARPA FUNDS. MY QUESTION IN ALL CIRCUMSTANCES HAS BEEN IS THERE SOMETHING IN WRITING? SOME HAVE RESPONDED THAT THEY DO FROM COURT ACTION AND MANY DON'T, AND I CAN'T HELP THOSE THAT DON'T HAVE THE DOCUMENTATION. I BELIEVE THAT SPEAKS TO LACK OF SUFFICIENT PROCESS. AS WE GO FORWARD, CAN WE BE MORE CLEAR AS TO WHAT IS REQUIRED OF OUR APPLICANTS, THAT WE HAVE A PROCESS, THAT THEY GET A PROPER SPONSOR RETURN WHICH DEALS WITH TIMELINESS. WE HAVE A DEADLINE TO USE THESE FUNDS. WE DON'T WANT TO BE PUT IN A POSITION OF FEELING RUSHED TO SPIN, [03:00:04] AS COMMISSIONER MOODY'S PUTS OUT $7 MILLION AT THE END OF A FOUR-YEAR WINDOW. WE WANT TO BE STRATEGIC AND WE WANT TO BE INTENTIONAL. THE FUNDING DELAY. AFTER COURT HAS TAKEN ACTION AND ALLOCATED FUNDS, I'VE HEARD FROM OTHER ORGANIZATIONS THAT SEEMED TO HAVE A DELAY IN RECEIVING FUNDS OR LIMITED COMMUNICATION ON THEIR STATUS WHILE AWAITING. WE'VE HEARD FROM THE ARTS ORGANIZATIONS, HEALTH ORGANIZATIONS AND MORE. THESE FUNDS WERE INTENDED TO PROVIDE TIMELY RELIEF TO STRUGGLING ORGANIZATIONS DURING THE PANDEMIC. THE PANDEMIC IS OVER. THE LONGER WE TAKE, THE MORE WE MISS THE OPPORTUNITY TO HELP THOSE MOST IN NEED. WE NEED TO DO A BETTER JOB IN GETTING APPROVED FUNDS ALLOCATED AND COMMUNICATING WITH PARTNERS WHEN THERE ARE OBSTACLES. LET'S EMPOWER THEM TO GET THE PAPERWORK DONE AND REMOVE THOSE OBSTACLES. THE PAST COURT HAS CARVED OUT BUCKET. WE'VE ALREADY SEEN AREAS WHERE RESOURCES ARE NOT FULLY UTILIZED, THE DIGITAL DIVIDE. COMMISSIONER MOODY, YOU'RE RIGHT. I'M EXCITED THAT OUR DIGITAL DIVIDE, ARPA MONEY AND PARTNERS ARE WILLING TO COVER A LARGE SHARE TO THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO. BUT AS OF NOW, WE'VE ONLY COMMITTED ROUGHLY 7 OF THE 25 NAMES, SO WE MAY HAVE EVEN MORE THAT WAS ALLOCATED. THE BIG QUESTION THAT IS ASKED, HOW ARE WE NAVIGATING THE POTENTIAL REPROGRAMMING FOR FUNDS? MAY I SUGGEST WITH THESE AND OTHER REMAINING FUNDS, I HOPE MY FELLOW COMMISSIONERS WILL SUPPORT MY CALL TO REDIRECT SOME OF THESE FUNDS TO OUR MOST PRESSING ISSUES AND THAT'S THE JAIL POPULATION AND THE CHALLENGES THAT ARE ATTACHED TO THAT. THAT'S OUR BIGGEST TICKET, SO TO SPEAK, AS WE COME IS THE MONEY THAT'S BEING USED FOR THE SHARE. LET'S FIND INNOVATIVE WAYS, STRATEGIC WAYS THAT WE CAN REDUCE THAT JAIL. THAT'S ALSO LOOKING AT THE DA'S OFFICE, THAT'S ALSO LOOKING AT THE COURTS, THAT'S LOOKING AT THE SHERIFF TO FIND EFFECTIVE AND EFFICIENT PROCESSES, AND IF WE CAN USE UNDERSTANDING ALL HAS TO FIT WITH CERTAIN CRITERIA. THE OTHER AREA OF CONCERN ARE ARTS, FUNDING THE ARTS IS ANOTHER AREA WHERE I'VE SEEN RESOURCES THAT ARE NOT FULLY UTILIZED AND UNTIMELY DELAYS REGARDING THE ARPA ART INVESTMENTS AND THE CIA USA ORGANIZATIONS. I SEE THAT FUNDS WERE COMMITTED AND PROVED BY THE COURT, BUT THEY STILL HAVE NOT BEEN DISBURSED. I HEAR SOME ORGANIZATIONS HAVE EXPRESSED THAT THEY DIDN'T HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO BE INCLUDED, OR THERE WERE OTHERS OUT THERE THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN INCLUDED FOR FUNDING CONSIDERATION. MORE THAN 1 MILLION WHICH WAS DEDICATED TO ART WAS SET ASIDE BUT I WANT FOLLOW-UP DISCUSSION. WHAT I SUGGEST IS THIS IS ANOTHER MATTER FOR WORK SESSION. AS YOU CAN SAY, THESE DISCUSSIONS CAN BE QUITE LONG AND I'VE ALREADY HAD TIME CERTAINLY AND THERE'S OTHER PEOPLE IN THE ROOM THAT ARE WAITING TO BE HEARD. IN CONCLUSION, I WANT TO REQUEST FOR A FULL REPORT ON ARPA, I THINK THE COURT HAS GIVING YOU DIRECTION. I WANT A FOLLOW-UP MEETING. I WOULD LOVE FOR THIS TO BE ON A WORK SESSION AND THAT WOULD BE OUR FIRST ONE. AS PART OF AN ORGANIZATION REVIEW, I'M ASKING FOR FULL REPORT OF THE ARPA FUNDS WHICH HAS BEEN PLEDGED BY THE COURT, WHAT FUNDS ARE REMAINING, POTENTIAL OPTIONS FOR REPROGRAMMING FOCUSING ON THE NEEDS THAT I'VE POINTED OUT. I'M SURE EACH COMMISSIONER HAS THEIR ISSUES THEY WANT TO ADDRESS. I'D LIKE TO CALL FOR HIS TIME CERTAIN OR THE NEXT AGENDA TO FOLLOW AN EXTENDED DISCUSSION ARPA FUNDING. THOMAS, COME BACK NEXT MEETING AND JUST GIVE US A REAL QUICK REVIEW OF WHAT YOU'VE BEEN ABLE TO COME UP WITH IN LIGHT OF ALL THE COMMENTS FROM THE DICE. >> ALREADY, JUDGE. >> THANK YOU FOR YOUR REPORT. >> THANK YOU, SIR. >> I'LL CONTINUE TO GO OUT OF ORDER. COMMISSIONER, CLAY FLOREN, [55. Discussion and appropriate action regarding the creation of a committee to bring a recommendation of a County Engineer/Public Works Director for Commissioners Court consideration and authorization to the County Manager to negotiate and execute an agreement for a Search Firm in an amount not to exceed $50,000. ] YOU'VE ASKED THAT WE PULL UP 55 DISCUSSION APPROPRIATE ACTION REGARDING THE CREATION OF A COMMITTEE TO BRING A RECOMMENDATION OF A COUNTY ENGINEER, PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR FOR COMMISSIONERS COURT, CONSIDERATION AND AUTHORIZATION TO THE COUNTY MANAGER TO NEGOTIATE AND EXECUTE AN AGREEMENT FOR A SEARCH FIRM AND AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $50,000. WHO WANTS TO OPEN THE COMMENT. >> IS THERE A PRESENTATION ON THIS? WELL, IF THERE'S NO PRESENTATION ON THIS, I'D ACTUALLY LIKE TO TAKE A POINT OF ORDER TO TABLE THIS AND THIS IS WHY. THIS GOES BACK TO MY EARLIER COMMENTS THAT THIS WAS NOT PRESENTED TO ME OR DISCUSSED WITH ME, AND I DIDN'T SEE THE SPECIFICS OF IT UNTIL AFTER IT WAS POSTED. BECAUSE OF THAT, I'D LIKE TO TABLE IT UNTIL WE CAN DISCUSS IT FULLY. [03:05:01] >> ANY DISCUSSION ON THE MOTION FOR YOUR SECOND? >> YEAH I'LL SECOND THAT, JUDGE, AND I JUST WONDERED IF WE COULD HAVE A BRIEF CONVERSATION. I THINK THAT PROBABLY WARRANTS A LONGER CONVERSATION, BUT I UNDERSTAND THE PREPOSITION WAS POSTED AT SOME POINT. AGAIN, I DON'T KNOW JUDGE HOW YOU WANT TO PROCEED WITH THE PROCESS, BUT I DO THINK THIS IS PRETTY UNIQUE BECAUSE IT'S PROBABLY THE ONLY POSITION AND ONE OF THE VERY FEW THAT BY STATUTE IS GIVEN TO MANDATED THAT THE ENTIRE COURT MAKE THIS RECOMMENDATION AND APPOINTMENT OF A PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR. I'M OKAY WITH GIVING IT A LITTLE BIT MORE TIME TO FIGURE OUT THE RIGHT PROCESS FOR DOING THAT. >> JUDGE, THIS MAY BE A FOOT PART ON THE STAFF'S PART. I BELIEVE THE COUNTY MANAGER'S OFFICE HAD THESE UPDATES ON TUESDAY WHERE THEY COULD HAVE BRIEFED EACH MEMBER IN THEIR COMMISSIONERS BRIEFING THAT WE HAVE. IF THAT DIDN'T HAPPEN, THAT IS A SURPRISE THAT SHOULD HAVE HAPPENED AND WE WILL DEAL WITH THAT LATER. BECAUSE IT SHOULD NOT HAVE BEEN A FRIDAY THING BECAUSE THE EDITS WERE GIVEN EARLY ENOUGH IN THE WEEK THAT EVERY MEMBER OF THE COURTS SHOULD HAVE BEEN BRIEFED. WHILE I HAVE SIGNED OFF AND MY CHIEF OF STAFF SIGNED OFF. NOW THIS IS AN IMPORTANT POSITION AND I BELIEVE IN TAKING THE TIME TO GET IT RIGHT AND WE DON'T HAVE ANY DEADLINE BY WHICH WE HAVE TO DO THIS. WE WOULD RATHER GET THIS GOING, I WOULD SAY. BUT IF THIS IS A GROWING PAIN OF PROCESS AND STAFFING AND THE JAILING AND ALL THESE THINGS OF A NEW WAY OF GOING AND A NEW WAY OF LEADING THEN THERE ARE SOME ISSUES THAT NEED TO BE IMPROVED. BASICALLY, THIS IS NOT ANYTHING DIFFERENT THAN WHAT THIS COURT HAS ALREADY DONE. WE JUST GOT TO PUBLIC DEFENDERS PROCESS VERY SIMILAR TO THIS, WHERE WE HAD MEMBERS OF THE COURT SIT ON THE PUBLIC DEFENDERS GROUP AND WE HAD MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY ON THE PUBLIC DEFENDERS GROUP. THEY ONLY ADDITION THING THAT THIS HAS IS A NATIONAL SEARCH, WHICH I THINK WE SHOULD GET STARTED. I DON T THINK IT'S PRUDENT TO DELAY THAT. THE COMPOSITION CAN BE WORKED THROUGH. BUT IF THE COURT WANTS TO DELAY THAT, IT IS WHAT IT IS, BUT I DO THINK THIS IS IN THE SPIRIT OF WHAT YOU READ. THERE'S NO CURVE BALLS HERE. THERE'S NOTHING SIDEWAYS HERE. THERE'S AMOUNT OF 50,000 OR LESS FOR A SEARCH FIRM, THERE'S ROOM FOR MEMBERS OF THE COURT, THERE'S ROOM FOR THE COUNTY MANAGER AND TWO MEMBERS COMMUNITY TO BE ON A COMMITTEE THAT BRINGS A RECOMMENDATION DOESN'T HAVE TO BE THE FINAL DECISION. THE FINAL DECISION IS ULTIMATELY THE COURTS. BUT THIS IS A SYSTEM BY WHICH WE HAVE ADOPTED IN THE PAST. IT'S AMAZING TO ME SOMETIMES HOW THINGS WHEN THEY WANT TO BE PUT IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION, THEY'RE PUTTING THE RIGHT WAY AND UNDERSTOOD IN THE RIGHT WAY AND THEN WHEN THEY DON'T THEY DON'T. I'LL JUST LEAVE IT AT THAT. THE RECORD IS WHAT THE RECORD IS. >> COMMISSIONER MOODY. >> I WAS JUST WONDERING IF WE CAN GET SOME MORE INFORMATION FROM STAFF ON WHERE THE PROCESS CURRENTLY STANDS. IT LOOKS LIKE THERE'S TWO ITEMS HERE. THERE'S THE COMPOSITION OF THE COMMITTEE, BUT THERE'S ALSO THIS POINT ABOUT THE SEARCH FIRM. I OBVIOUSLY I'M WILLING TO SERVE IF THE COURT RECOMMENDS THAT, BUT I'M ALSO NOT BEHOLDEN TO PUSHING A SPECIFIC MEMBERSHIP ON THAT COMMITTEE, BUT I'M TRYING TO UNDERSTAND WHERE WE CURRENTLY STAND AND WHAT ANY DELAY WOULD WOULD CAUSE IN TERMS OF MOVING FORWARD WITH ULTIMATELY A REPLACEMENT HIRE. >> COMMISSIONER MOODY, MAY I INTERJECT AT THIS POINT AS A MATTER OF PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE. COMMISSIONER CLAY-FLORES HAS RAISED THE POINT OF ORDER. SHE ALSO PUT A MOTION. I BELIEVE THOSE ARE TWO SEPARATE THINGS. I WANT TO AS A MATTER OF PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE, AND I MAY BE ASKING MR. ROBERTSON FOR INFORMATION IN REGARDS TO YOUR QUESTION. I TOO WAS SURPRISED, BUT MY SURPRISE WITH THE FACT THAT THIS POSITION WAS OPEN AND CLOSED, WHICH MEANS THERE ARE APPLICANTS OUT THERE THAT HAVE APPLIED FOR THIS POSITION AND I BELIEVE WE HAVE A DUTY TO GIVE THEM DUE PROCESS THAT THEY UNDERSTAND THERE'S APPARENTLY GOING TO BE A CHANGE OF PROCESS. [03:10:01] MR. ROBERTSON, THIS IS WHAT THE COURT WOULD LIKE TO DO. IN LIGHT OF THE COMMENTS MADE, I WILL SUSTAIN THE POINT OF ORDER. I WILL ORDER THAT THIS AGENDA ITEM AS WRITTEN, BE RESET FOR THE NEXT COMMISSIONERS COURT MEETING AND AS CHAIR OF COMMISSIONERS COURT, I'M GOING TO POINT COMMISSIONER CALVERT, COMMISSIONER CLAY-FLORES. YOU COME BACK AND GIVE HOPEFULLY BACK TO THE COURT AN AGREEMENT. IF THERE IS NONE, THEN OBVIOUSLY WE HAVE SEEN TODAY HOW A HEALTHY DISCUSSION WILL BE GOOD FOR THIS COURT. BUT AT SAME TIME, COMMISSIONER MOODY, I WILL ALLOW YOU TO, BUT MR. ROBERTSON, I WANTED TO BE VERY, VERY CAREFUL OF ALL THOSE APPLICANTS. I TAKE THE POSITION, ESPECIALLY AS A LAWYER, AS A JUDGE, THAT THEY HAVE TO BE GIVEN THE SAME CONSIDERATIONS, THAT EVERYBODY ELSE WILL GET. THE RULES OF CONDUCT CHANGING SO I WANT TO BE VERY CAREFUL THAT WE DON'T HAVE A COMPLAINT OR GRIEVANCE. WHAT SAY YOU. >> JUDGE, I JUST WANT TO UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU'RE DOING IS DEFERRING THIS ITEM ESSENTIALLY TO A LATER DATE TO BRING BACK SO THAT WILL, I'M NOT SURE OF THE UNDERLYING APPLICATIONS OR WHAT YOU MAY OR MAY NOT HAVE RECEIVED, BUT THAT'S A COLLATERAL ISSUE AS OF TODAY. RIGHT NOW, IT'S JUST DEFERRING THIS ITEM. >> RIGHT. I THINK MR. ROBERTSON, WILL YOU BE PART OF THE CONVERSATIONS OF COMMISSIONER CALVERT, COMMISSIONER CLAY-FLORES, AS THEY COME BACK IN TWO WEEKS TO REPORT TO THE COURT OR PROVIDE DIRECTION TO STAFF AS TO WHAT EXACTLY WILL BE PUT ON THE AGENDA AND WHAT WE BE PUT UP FOR A VOTE? HOPEFULLY, WE'LL HAVE UNANIMOUS CONSENT. I DIDN'T HEAR MUCH DIFFERENCE. >> I'M NOT SURE UNDER THE LEGISLATIVE ACTIONS OF THE COURT, IF YOU UNILATERALLY CAN TABLE IT. I THINK THE MOTION THAT THE COMMISSIONER MADE IS FINE. IT'S BEEN SECONDED. WE'LL HAVE TO VOTE ON IT AS A BODY IN ORDER TO TABLE IT. I'M OKAY WITH TABLING IT TEAM. >> WE'LL TAKE A VOTE, POINT WELL-TAKEN. ON THE MOTION TO TABLE BY COMMISSIONER CLAY-FLORES, SECOND BY COMMISSIONER RODRIGUEZ. ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? >> I JUST WANT TO BE CLEAR. I'M MOTIONING TO TABLE THIS BUT WITH THE ADDITION THAT YOU SAID JUDGE SAKAI, WE'RE NOT NECESSARILY BRINGING THE EXACT SAME CAPTION BACK IN TWO WEEKS. YOU SAID COMMISSIONER CALVERT AND I ARE GOING TO GET TOGETHER TO DISCUSS WHAT THE NEW CAPTIONS SHOULD BE, CORRECT? >> CORRECT. >> THANK YOU. JUST FOR THE RECORD. >> ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE. >> AYE. >> AYE. ANY OPPOSED? ANY ABSTENTIONS? MOTION CARRIES. MATTERS RESET FOR TWO WEEKS. STAFF PUT IT ON AND TAKE DIRECTION FROM THE TWO COMMISSIONERS. THEN PLEASE BRIEF THE REMAINING MEMBERS OF THE COURT AS TO WHAT THE AGENDA WILL BE [OVERLAPPING] AND THE WORDING OF THE AGENDA. I WOULD ALSO ASK THE COMMISSIONERS TO LOOK AT ALL THE PROCESSES AND SEE IF YOU CAN WORK OUT A PROCESS THAT WE CAN ALL AGREE TO. COMMISSIONER, CLAY-FLORES, I BELIEVE ISSUES YOU ASK TO TAKE. I'D LIKE TO GO BACK TO TIME STARTING, 53? I'VE BEEN ASKED TO CONSIDER OUT OF GROTTO WATER LINE ITEM 53 PRESENTATION, DISCUSSION, [53. Presentation, discussion, and appropriate action regarding Felony Courts, District Attorney's, and Office of Criminal Justice proposals to address pending felony court caseloads and outcomes and appropriate budgetary transfer of $1,619,690. ] APPROPRIATE ACTION REGARDING FILLING THE COURT'S DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE PROPOSAL TO ADDRESS PENDING FELONY COURT CASE LOADS OUTCOMES AND APPROPRIATE BUDGET TRANSFER OF $1,619,690. COMMISSIONER MOODY, THIS IS YOUR AGENDA ITEM. >> THOMAS, WERE YOU GOING TO GO AHEAD AND START PRESENTING ON THIS OR [NOISE]. >> WELL, MIKE COME FORWARD. >> THANK YOU, JUDGE. MIKE OFFICE OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE. MIKE, IF I COULD JUST UPFRONT JUST TEE THIS UP A LITTLE BIT. JUDGE, WE JUST HEARD FROM YOU AND TALKING ABOUT SOME PRIORITIES WHEN IT COMES TO ARPA REPROGRAMMING, I JUST WANT TO HIGHLIGHT I THINK THAT THIS ITEM SPECIFICALLY ADDRESSES THAT REQUEST. THIS IS A TIME SENSITIVE OPPORTUNITY, AND IN MY OPINION, NOT TRYING TO RUSH TO THE FRONT OF THE LINE FOR SOMETHING THAT'S JUST FOR PRECINCT 3. THIS IS A BENEFIT TO ALL OF BEAR COUNTY. I'D JUST LIKE TO SAY, IN MY OPINION, THIS IS THE BEST POSSIBLE WAY TO SPEND FEDERAL DOLLARS BECAUSE IN THIS CASE, THESE FEDERAL DOLLARS ON AN IMPACT COURT COULD REDUCE OUR JAIL POPULATION, REDUCE OUR STAFFING REQUIREMENT, [03:15:01] REDUCE OUR OVERTIME COSTS, AND SAVE BEAR COUNTY TAXPAYERS. JUST TIN THAT UP FOR YOU, MIKE. GO AHEAD. >> THANK YOU, COMMISSIONERS. YEAH, I'LL BE BRIEF AND WE'LL GO THROUGH ALL THE SLIDES ON HERE. BUT JUST BASICALLY THE FIRST SLIDE YOU SEE HERE IS ABOUT JAIL POPULATION. WHERE WE'RE AT, WHERE THESE ARE SNAPSHOTS IN APRIL OF EACH OF THE YEARS ON THERE. THEN YOU CAN SEE IN RED THERE THAT WE HAD A HIGH AROUND 4,635 INDIVIDUALS IN JANUARY. CURRENTLY WE'RE DOWN TO 4,291 JAIL POPULATION ON THERE. THERE BEEN A NUMBER OF THINGS THAT HAVE IMPACTED THE SYSTEM, WITH THE PANDEMIC AND SOME OF THE SUPREME COURT ORDERS FOR JURIES. WE HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO HAVE THE FLOW THAT WE NORMALLY WOULD HAVE. ALSO REFERENCING SOME OF OUR JUDICIAL MANAGEMENT REPORTS. WE HAVE THOSE OUT THERE GOING BACK TO 2013, 2014 ON THE COUNTY MANAGER'S WEBSITE. I JUST SHOW WHAT'S GOING ON WITH OUR JUDICIAL COURTS AND THE PROGRESS OF THOSE COURTS. YOU CAN SEE ON THE LATEST QUARTER, AND THIS QUARTER IS JANUARY, FEBRUARY, AND MARCH OF THIS YEAR. THIS IS JUST FRESHLY OUT. YOU CAN SEE THE CLEARANCE RATE FOR THE DISTRICT COURTS AND THIS IS FELONY DISTRICT CRIMINAL DISTRICT COURTS. YOU CAN SEE SO INCOMING CASES. SAY THERE'S 1,000 CASES COMING IN AND THE JUDGE TO DISPOSE OF 1,000 CASES, THAT WOULD BE 100% OF THEIR CLEARANCE RATE. YOU CAN SEE IN EACH OF THE SLIDE THERE, IN RED ON THE RED BARS THAT WE'RE CURRENTLY AT 122%. THE COURTS ARE DOING MORE OF THEIR WORKLOAD THAT'S COMING IN. THEY'RE KEEPING UP. IT'S ALSO INCREASING BY 5%. WE'RE SEEING A 5% INCREASE IN THE NUMBER OF FELONY CASES THAT ARE BEING ARRESTED. YOU CAN SEE THAT THE COURTS ARE WORKING VERY HARD TOWARD IT AS A PRIORITY. I KNOW, JUDGE, YOU HAD ASKED THE COURTS TO DO THIS AND I THINK THAT SIGNIFICANTLY, THEY ARE THEY ARE LOOKING AT IT. >> I ASKED HIM TO KICK IT IN GEAR. >> YEAH. >> MIKE, I'M TRYING TO UNDERSTAND THE NUMBERS HERE. HELPED ME UNDERSTAND YOUR CLEARANCE RATE OF 108%. IS IT SAYING THEY'RE CLEARING MORE CASES THAN THEY EVER HAVE? >> NO. IT JUST SHOWS SO EACH MONTH, SAY THE COURT BECAUSE THEY HAVE INCOMING CASES TOO ALSO SOME PEOPLE AT NEW PEOPLE ARE GETTING ARRESTED EVERY MONTH AND SO NEW CASES ARE BEING FILED. SAY 1,000 PEOPLE COME ARREST, COME IN AND THEN THE COURT TAKES CARE OF 1,000 DISPOSITIONS FOR THAT MONTH AND THEY'RE AT 100%. IF THEY'RE BELOW THAT, THEN THE NUMBER WOULD BE LIKE THOSE 94%, 87% WHERE THEY'RE NOT KEEPING UP WITH A NUMBER OF CASES THAT ARE COMING IN, SO THAT SETS THE CLEARANCE RATE. WHAT'S HAPPENING NOW, IF YOU LOOK AT THE SECOND QUARTER OF 2023, WHICH IS JANUARY, FEBRUARY, MARCH, YOU HAVE 122.4%. THEY'RE, THEY'RE DOING MORE CASES THAN ARE COMING IN. >> THAT'S A GOOD THING. >> THAT'S GOOD. THAT'S VERY GOOD. >> OKAY. >> JUST BOTTOM LINE, TO GO BACK ON THERE. WE HAVE THE STATE THOSE INDIVIDUALS THAT ARE STATE READY TO GO AND THAT'S UP TO THE STATE TO ADDRESS THOSE ISSUES. THAT WOULD PROBABLY HAVE ABOUT A 700 OF THOSE SO IN THE JAIL. THEN WE HAVE THOSE FROM SENATE BILL 6, THOSE INDIVIDUALS THAT CAN'T GET OUT ON A PR BOND THAT WE WOULDN'T NORMALLY BE ABLE TO GET PR BOND ABOUT 230 OF THOSE IN JAIL. THE ONLY AREA THAT YOU CAN REALLY SEE THAT WE CAN PROCESS ON THERE TO GET INDIVIDUALS OUT OF JAIL IS TO BE MORE EFFICIENT. THAT'S BY HAVING STAFFING TO BE ABLE TO PROCESS THESE CASES. BASICALLY, WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT IS HAVING THIS COURT, WHICH DURING THE LAST BUDGET CYCLE, YOU HAD AN ASSOCIATE JUDGE. I HAVE MIGUEL NARAHA, THAT'S HERE AND HE'S THE APPOINTED ASSOCIATE JUDGE. IT'S A PRE INDICTMENT COURT. THE OFFICE OF COURT ADMINISTRATION WAS DOING SOME FUNDING TO HELP COUNTIES OUT FOR BACKLOG. THEY DID FUND FOR HIS COURT, THE COORDINATOR FOR THE COURT, THE COURT REPORTER, A BAILIFF, AND A DISTRICT CLERK. THE STATE IS ACTUALLY FUNDING SOME OF THE POSITIONS. BUT AS YOU KNOW, IN THE PROCESS THAT WHEN YOU HAVE A COURT, YOU HAVE TO HAVE PROSECUTORS, YOU HAVE TO HAVE INVESTIGATORS COULD BE ABLE TO DO THE FULL LOAD TO BE ABLE TO BE 100% OF WHAT NEEDS TO HAPPEN. CURRENTLY, WHAT HE HAS TO DO IS HE HAS TO ASK OTHER COURTS TO BE ABLE TO BORROW THE PROSECUTORS. [03:20:03] THAT MEANS HE HAS TO TAKE THAT PROSECUTOR AWAY. THEN THE OTHER COURTS, IT'S SLOWED DOWN BECAUSE THEY DON'T HAVE THE PROSECUTOR THERE TO MAKE THE CASE. >> MIKE, I WANT TO UNDERSTAND SOMETHING QUALITATIVELY BECAUSE QUALITATIVELY, THE ISSUE IN THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE WHO MAYBE ARE LOW PAY, THE FACT THAT WE NEED TO INCREASE PAY IN ORDER TO ATTRACT TALENT. IT'S NOT NECESSARILY THE POSITIONS BECAUSE THE POSITIONS THEY'RE VACANT, THEY COULD BE FILLED BY AN APPLICANT, BUT BECAUSE OF OUR PAY, WE'RE LOSING A LOT OF PEOPLE. I'M JUST TRYING TO UNDERSTAND. I MEAN, I GUESS I'M NOT OPPOSED TO THIS. I JUST WANT TO UNDERSTAND IF WE OPEN UP NEW POSITION. >> MAYBE I CAN HELP. MY UNDERSTANDING, MIKE YOU AND JUDGE CAN CORRECT ME, IS THAT WITHOUT THE PROSECUTORS ASSIGNED TO THIS COURT, THEY CANNOT DISPOSE OR DISMISS CASES THEMSELVES. >> I GOT IT. OKAY. >> THEY CAN DEAL WITH MATTERS, PRE-TRIAL MATTERS LIKE BOND, BOND REDUCTIONS, BOND INCREASES. >> THERE NEEDS TO BE AN INCREASE IN STAFFING [OVERLAPPING]. >> THEY CAN ACTUALLY TAKE, PLEASE. >> UNDERSTOOD. >> PRIOR TO INDICT. >> STATUTORY ISSUE, I GUESS OR DEPARTMENTAL ISSUES? >> THANK YOU FOR GIVING ME AN OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK. I'M HAVING A LOT OF DIFFERENT TYPES OF CASES SENT TO ME AND THE WAY I'M TRYING TO HELP WITH THE JAIL POPULATION AS A EITHER HAVING BOND HEARINGS, THAT'S A BIG ONE BOND REDUCTIONS, THINGS OF THAT SORT. WHEN THOSE ARE FILED IN MY COURT, I HAVE TO BORROW THE PROSECUTORS FROM OTHER COURTS TO COME DOWN OF THOSE PROSECUTORS ALREADY IN TRIAL OR OTHERWISE DISPOSED. I CAN'T EVEN PROCESS THAT TAKES OUT THAT TIES MY HANDS UP. >> OKAY. >> I UNDERSTAND THE ISSUE WITH HAVING OPEN POSITIONS THAT AREN'T FILLED AND THAT'S CERTAINLY AN ISSUE THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED. BUT WITHOUT HAVING THOSE HOT BODIES IN MY COURTROOM TO BE ABLE TO HANDLE THOSE CASES AS THEY'RE COMING DOWN. I'M PUTTING A BURDEN ON THE EXISTING COURTS TO GIVE ME SOME. >> WHAT I'M HEARING YOU SAY IS THAT PERHAPS THE COMMISSIONERS COURT ONLY HOW OFTEN DID THE IMPACT COURT REFUND IT, THE JUDGE BUT WE DIDN'T FUND IT. PROSECUTORS, IS THAT WHAT BASICALLY HAPPENED? >> THAT'S CORRECT. >> WELL, IT WAS [OVERLAPPING] FEBRUARY AND UNPACK COURT. >> I'M SORRY. >> IT WAS NEVER AN IMPACT. >> OKAY. >> IT'S ASSOCIATE. >> IT'S A PRE INDICTMENT COURT. >> PREVENT. >> ESSENTIALLY, AS I UNDERSTAND IT, THE FELONY COURTS CRIMINAL COURTS CHANGED THE WAY THEY HANDLED INCOMING CASES LAST YEAR. >> OKAY. >> PREVIOUSLY, ONCE YOU WERE CHARGED, I BELIEVE YOU WERE ASSIGNED TO A COURT. WHAT THE PRE-INDICTMENT COURT DOES NOW IS IT HOLDS THAT CASE UNTIL SUCH TIME AS THERE'S AN ACTUAL INDICTMENT, AT WHICH POINT YOU ARE ASSIGNED TO A COURT. >> THAT IS CORRECT, CORRECT. MAYBE THE JUDICIARY SHOULD HAVE RECOMMENDED A DEDICATED PROSECUTOR WHEN THEY CAME TO THE COURT. I DON'T KNOW WHERE IT HAPPENED. I DON'T REMEMBER SAUSAGE MAKING. I'M JUST SAYING. A LIMIT ON GRANT FUNDING. COMMISSIONER WHERE IT SAYS THIS IS NOT A STATE GRANT, THIS IS A COUNTY RPO ALLOCATION THAT WE'RE REQUESTING OR IS IT A STATE? BECAUSE I SAW SOMETHING ABOUT STATEMENT. >> MAYBE MIKE, YOU CAN HELP CLEAR THIS UP. IN OUR CONVERSATIONS DATING BACK TO FEBRUARY IN TRYING TO ADDRESS THIS ISSUE, THERE WAS STATE GRANT FUNDING THAT HELPED FUND IMPACT COURT UP TO A CERTAIN EXTENT, BUT IT LEFT OUT CERTAIN POSITIONS. I WENT BACK TO THE STATE TO TRY TO SEE IF THERE WAS ADDITIONAL FUNDING FOR THESE PROSECUTORS. THERE WASN'T. WE TRIED THAT, IT DIDN'T WORK OUT. THIS WAS OUR NEXT OPTION. WAS ARPA FUNDS QUALIFY FOR THIS. THE ANSWER I GOT FROM COUNTY STAFF WAS YES. THAT'S WHERE MIKE STARTED WORKING ON THIS AND THIS WAS A RECOMMENDATION COMING FROM MIKE AND FROM JUDGMENT AND HELL AT THE TIME. BUT I'LL PASS IT BACK TO YOU. >> IT MAY HELP US GET PEOPLE ON PATROL THROUGH. BY THE WAY, IF THE JAIL WAS LESS CROWDED. I MEAN. >> HONESTLY THOUGHT IT IS STILL REDUCED OVERTIME. >> ONE OF THE DIFFERENCES BETWEEN THE PRINTED DOCUMENT COORDINATE AND IMPACT COURTS, THE IMPACT COURT HELPS WITH THE OVERFLOW OF TRIALS. AS AN ASSOCIATE JUDGE, I STATUTORILY DO NOT HAVE THE AUTHORITY. I CAN HELP IN THE SELECTION OF A JURY, BUT I CANNOT PRESIDE OVER A TRIAL. BY TAKING THESE THINGS AWAY FROM THE SITTING DISTRICT COURT JUDGES, THEY CAN FOCUS ON THE TRIAL DOCKETS, GET TRIALS PROCESS THROUGH WHILE I TAKEOVER, HANDLING BONDS AND TRYING TO GET PEOPLE OUT OF JAIL. >> COMMISSIONER RODRIGUEZ. >> MIKE, ARE YOU DONE WITH THE PRESENTATION? I DON'T WANT TO INTERRUPT YOU, BUT- >> I SUGGEST THE PROPOSAL ON THERE. WE'RE ASKING FOR THE PROSECUTOR 5, PROSECUTOR 4, DA INVESTIGATOR, AND THE BAILIFF, AND THEN THE SUPPLIES THAT GO WITH THAT PARTICULAR PERSON. >> OKAY. I TALKED TO COMMISSIONER MOODY ABOUT THIS. I'M SUPPORTIVE OF TRYING TO TACKLE THAT BACKLOG THAT WE'VE HAD FOR SOME TIME. [03:25:02] THE ISSUE I HAVE WITH THIS IS THE SOURCE OF FUNDING. WE JUST HAD A PRESENTATION ON ARPA AND PRIORITIZING THOSE HAVING INPUT FROM THE COURT ON HOW TO PRIORITIZE THAT. I'M OKAY SUPPORTING IT. BUT UNDERSTAND THAT IF THERE'S A ONE-OFF JUDGE THAT BEFORE WE HAVE THAT DISCUSSION COMPREHENSIVELY, THAT POTENTIALLY I CAN BRING TO COURT. I KNOW YOU CAN'T MAKE A COMMITMENT NOW, BUT I THINK THERE'S SOMETIMES EXIGENT CIRCUMSTANCES WHERE WE'VE GOT TO DO THINGS IN A CERTAIN DEGREE OUT OF ORDER. IF THIS IS ONE THAT THE COURT FEELS IS IMPORTANT, AND I CERTAINLY BELIEVE IT IS, I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE WE GO ON RECORD AS SAYING, LOOK, I'M NOT BLAMING YOU, MIKE. THE REALITY IS, IT JUST SO HAPPENS WE HAD A PRESENTATION ON ARPA AND WHAT TO DO WITH DOLLARS THAT ARE COMING BACK. HERE WE ARE ON THE SAME AGENDA APPROVING SOMETHING WITHOUT HAVING THAT DISCUSSION. I KNOW JUDGE YOU PREACH PROCESS AND WE'RE STILL RULING THAT OUT, BUT THAT IS THE HEARTBURN I HAVE WITH THIS IS THAT WE'RE TAKING IT OUT OF ORDER. JUDGE, THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORK. THERE'S NOTHING TO DO WITH YOU, AND WHAT YOU'RE DOING OUT THERE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE ADDRESSING THESE ISSUES. BUT AGAIN, THAT'S MY ONLY ISSUE JUDGE AND COLLEAGUES HAVE EXPRESSED THAT. BUT AGAIN, I THINK IT'S MAKING AN IMPACT, NO PUN INTENDED IMPACT FOR IT. BUT IT JUST THE PROCESS OF TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW WE REALLOCATE WHAT COULD BE SIGNIFICANT DOLLARS COMING BACK TO US IN THE COMING WEEKS AND MONTHS. YEAH. >> COMMISSIONER MOODY? >> I APPRECIATE THOSE CONCERNS AND I DO SUPPORT DEVELOPING THE FULL PROCESS. AGAIN, TO ME, THIS WAS [NOISE] TIME-SENSITIVE ITEM. I DON'T KNOW HOW LONG IT'S GOING TO TAKE TO DEVELOP THIS FULL PROCESS. BUT IF WE HAVE CONSENSUS AND WE CAN GET TO CONSENSUS THAT THIS SHOULD BE A HIGH PRIORITY ITEM THAT WE MOVE FORWARD WITH. JUST GIVEN THE FACT THAT WE KNOW WE'RE PAYING $3 MILLION OR MORE QUARTER AND OVERTIME AT THE JAIL EVERY DAY. I CAN DO THAT LITTLE MATH, BUT I DON'T WANT TO DELAY THIS ANY FURTHER IF WE CAN AGREE TO IT AS A COURT. MY ONE QUESTION AND THIS MAY GO TO COUNTY STAFF. BUT WHEN I'M LOOKING AT THE ACTUAL ITEM, IT LOOKS LIKE THE 1.6 MILLION IS ACTUALLY FOR THESE POSITIONS THROUGH 2026, AND SO MY QUESTION IS AROUND THE ACTUAL STATE GRANT FUNDING AND HOW LONG DOES THAT LAST? >> THAT'S FUNDED THROUGH AUGUST OF 2024, BUT FROM MY INDICATIONS, THEY'RE GOING TO EXTEND IT ALSO BECAUSE THEY'RE USING STATE ARPA FUNDS FOR THAT PROJECT ON THERE. IT'S JUST THAT THEY HAVE TO DO IT YEAR BY YEAR OR EVERY TWO YEARS AND THEN BIENNIUM. >> AS IT STANDS TODAY, WE HAVE THE JUDGE AND THE OTHER POSITIONS ON THE COURT THROUGH THE END OF 2024 FY, BUT WE WOULD BE ASKING FOR FUNDING FOR THE PROSECUTORS THROUGH 2026. >> RIGHT. I THINK ALSO BY HAVING BEING ABLE TO FUND IT THE FULL LENGTH OF IT, GETTING INDIVIDUALS TO APPLY FOR THOSE POSITIONS. ALSO, YOU KNOW THAT THEY KNOW THAT THERE'S A LONGER TERM. >> COMMISSIONER. I'M SORRY. COMMISSIONER, THE ORIGINAL GRANT WAS STATE ARPA MONEY. IF YOU APPROVE THIS ITEM, THAT COST FIGURE IS BASED ON FOUR YEARS OF FUNDING. THAT WOULD NOT BE, BUT IT'S SUBJECT TO ANNUAL APPROPRIATION. COMMISSIONERS COURT CAN CHANGE ITS MIND. BUT THIS IS IN THE INTERESTS OF YOU JUST UNDERSTANDING. THIS IS THE FULL FOUR-YEAR COST OF THOSE COUNTY ARPA-FUNDED POSITIONS. BUT YOU CAN CHANGE THAT ANY GIVEN BUDGET YOU WANT. >> YEAH. I GUESS THE ONLY QUESTION IN MY MIND IN TRYING TO FIND CONSENSUS ON THE COURT IS WHETHER, TODAY PROGRAMMING THROUGH THE EXISTING OCA GRANT TO THE END OF 2024 VERSUS GOING ALL THE WAY TO 2026, POTENTIALLY PULLING THAT BACK LATER IF THE COURT CHANGES ITS MIND, BUT I'M OPEN TO WHATEVER THE COURT'S MIND. >> I WANT TO TRY TO HELP HERE. LET ME MAKE SURE I HAVE THE COST-BENEFIT ANALYSIS TO THE TAXPAYERS AND TO THE DEPUTIES IN THE JAIL. YOU'RE SAYING THAT EVERY MONTH 47 CASES ARE GOING TO BE DISPOSED OF. THAT'S PROBABLY A CONSERVATIVE NUMBER, RIGHT? >> RIGHT. THAT'S WHAT HAPPENS CURRENTLY, RIGHT FOR JAIL CASES. >> IF WE HAVE THESE PROSECUTORS OR DOES IT INCREASE IF WE ADD THESE? >> WELL, I WOULD THINK THAT'D BE MINIMUM BECAUSE I DID [OVERLAPPING]. [03:30:03] >> GO AHEAD. >> NO, I THINK THAT'S CORRECT. THE IDEA IS TO LOWER THE JAIL POPULATION, TO INCENTIVIZE THE DEFENDANT AND HIS LAWYER TO COME TO COURT AND RESOLVE THIS CASE WITH SOME PLEA INSTEAD OF WAITING FOR A TRIAL THAT MAY HAPPEN. [OVERLAPPING] >> OKAY, SO THE COURT SHOULD UNDERSTAND THAT WOULD BE 564 LESS PEOPLE IN THE JAIL. THAT'S HUGE. THAT TAKES US DOWN FROM 4,291-37,700. OKAY, THAT'S BIG SAVINGS, GUYS. BIG SAVINGS [OVERLAPPING]. >> AS AN ANNUAL BASIS. >> AS AN ANNUAL BASIS, I UNDERSTAND. >> SNAPSHOT WOULD BE 50 LESS AT ANY GIVEN TIME. >> WELL, OKAY. YEAH. MAYBE 50. I DON'T KNOW WHO KNOWS. I DON'T KNOW WHAT KIND OF CASES THESE ARE. OKAY, SO MAYBE MY APPLES IS NOT QUITE RIGHT, BUT OKAY, YOU'RE GETTING US BACK DOWN INTO THE 4,200, MAYBE, MAYBE MORE. I DON'T KNOW. >> COMMISSIONER, IF I COULD BECAUSE NOBODY ANSWERED YOUR DIRECT QUESTION ABOUT WHERE WE GET THESE BODIES FROM BECAUSE HE TALKED ABOUT THE HOLES THAT WE HAVE IN OUR OFFICE. WHERE ARE WE GOING TO GET THESE PEOPLE? LOGICALLY, WHAT WE WOULD DO IS PROMOTE FROM WITHIN. I KNOW UP HERE SAYS PROSECUTOR 4 AND 5, THAT TRANSLATES INTO A SECOND OR FIRST CHAIR. BASICALLY, WE'LL BE PROMOTING A THIRD CHAIR INTO A SECOND, SECONDED TO A FIRST CHAIR. THAT'S WHAT WE'RE DOING IS TO FILL THESE HOLES, WE'RE BASICALLY OFFERING ENTRY-LEVEL POSITIONS TO PEOPLE THAT ARE COMING OUT OF LAW SCHOOL. THERE'S A COUPLE OF PEOPLE THAT JUST PASS THE BAR, AND SO WE'RE HOPING TO FILL SOME POSITIONS, [OVERLAPPING]. >> LITTLE HIGHER PAY MAYBE MORE ATTRACTIVE. >> WELL, HOPEFULLY, WE'LL GET SOME HIGHER PAY, BUT THERE'S STILL AGAIN, REMEMBER WE'RE COMPETING WITH OTHER OFFICERS. THEY'RE PAYING A LOT MORE THAN WE ARE. >> OKAY, SO 564 ANNUALLY COST PER DAY IN THE JAIL, ROUGHLY WHAT AGAIN? IT'S ABOUT $80 A DAY FOR AN INMATE. THAT'S NOT A SEVERE MENTAL HEALTH ISSUE. IF YOU GET SEVERE MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES, THEN YOU'RE TALKING PLUS 300 A DAY. >> I GOT IT. >> YEAH. >> OKAY, SO ROUGHLY 16.468 MILLION IN SAVINGS? >> YEAH. >> OKAY. THAT'S $16,468,800 IN SAVINGS. BECAUSE WHAT I DID WAS- >> WHAT'S THE AVERAGE LENGTH OF STAY FOR A FELON? >> ON A FELONY CASE RIGHT NOW, IT'S ABOUT 90 DAYS. >> OKAY. EACH OF THOSE 50*90*30. WELL, THAT'S 90. >> WE ALL FIGURED IT OUT. ANYWAY. I'M TRYING TO UNDERSTAND THE COST-BENEFIT ANALYSIS. WE'RE PUTTING 1.6 MILLION IN. >> WHAT ARE WE GETTING OUT? POTENTIALLY. HELP ME OUT, DAVID. >> THEN YOU'D HAVE TO FIGURE PER YEAR. WHAT IS THAT COST SAVINGS? >> OKAY, GOT IT. ANNUALLY. A COUPLE OF THINGS IN FAVOR I WOULD SAY WE WILL CALCULATE THE NUMBERS. ONE, YOU'VE GOT JUDGE RON HILL AND OFFICE JUST POLICY, THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY, YOU'VE GOT SOME CONSENSUS IN THE COMMUNITY. TWO, THE COUNTY JUDGES MENTIONED THAT THIS IS A TOP PRIORITY. THREE, WE'VE HEARD A LOT OF DISCUSSION ABOUT THE TENSION TO OUR OFFICERS IN DETENTION AND OUR TENSION IN THE PATROL BECAUSE WE CAN'T RELEASE THEM FROM THE JAIL BECAUSE ALL THAT STUFF. FOR ME, I ALSO HEAR COMMISSIONER RODRIGUEZ AND I AGREE BECAUSE ALL OF US HAVE PRIORITIES THAT WE WANT TO GET DONE AND WE DON'T WANT ALL THE MONEY TO BE USED UP. BUT THAT BEING SAID, THIS IS FOR ME A SITUATION OF DON'T LET THE PERFECT GET IN THE WAY OF THE GOOD. YES, THE PROCESS IS NOT EXACTLY PERFECT. YES, IT'S WHY WE SHOULD BE DOING MORE WORK SESSIONS. BUT IF IT'S A GOOD COST-BENEFIT ANALYSIS, DAVID WHAT'S THE NUMBER? HE'S STILL WORKING ON IT. THAT'S WHY [OVERLAPPING]. >> THE ANNUAL COST OF THESE POSITIONS IS ABOUT 460,000. FULL ANNUAL COST. THE ANNUAL SAVINGS, IF I'VE DONE IT RIGHT ON THE FLY HERE, IF IT HITS ITS NUMBERS WOULD BE ALMOST THREE TIMES THAT 1.3 MILLION. >> OKAY. >> FOUR HUNDRED VERSUS 1.3. >> OKAY. WHAT'S THE 400 NUMBER REPRESENT? >> THAT IS THE FULL ANNUAL COST OF THE POSITIONS BEING REQUESTED TODAY. >> OKAY. THE 1.6 MAYBE REPRESENTS MULTIPLE YEARS. >> YES. >> OKAY. UNDERSTOOD. SO 400,000 IS THE COST, 1.3 MILLION ANNUALLY IS THE SAVINGS? >> THAT'S WHAT I [OVERLAPPING]. >> JUST ABOUT A THREE-TO-ONE RATIO. WELL, THAT'S A PRETTY GOOD COST-BENEFIT ANALYSIS. >> THAT'S A GOOD INVESTMENT. >> THERE'S OTHER TRICKLES TO THE JUSTICE SYSTEM IN THE LAW ENFORCEMENT SYSTEM. WE SHOULD BE HAVING THOSE FISCAL NOTES AS PART OF THIS. THIS IS WHY THE WORK SESSIONS. WE'VE GOT TO BREAK AWAY FROM JUST HAVING A COMMISSIONERS COURT. BUT I CAN SAY BASED UPON THAT DATA, I CAN SUPPORT THIS TODAY. THAT'S WHERE I'M AT. >> JUST A COUPLE OF OTHER QUICK QUESTIONS. I HOPE WE CAN CLOSE THIS ITEM, BUT MIKE AND JUDGE, MAYBE YOU CAN SPEAK TO THIS. [03:35:02] MY ONLY CONCERN HERE IS THINKING ABOUT INVESTING IN THIS ONE COURT THROUGH 26 VERSUS POTENTIALLY A SECOND IMPACT COURT, WHICH WE'VE TALKED ABOUT IN THE PAST AS WELL, AND WHETHER WE INVEST THESE DOLLARS HERE, WE'D HAVE TO COME BACK AND CHANGE IT VERSUS GOING WITH FUNDING THROUGH THE END OF 24 AND POTENTIALLY HAVING ADDITIONAL ARPA MONEY THAT WE COULD PUT INTO A SECOND IMPACT COURT THAT WE PROBABLY NEED MORE TODAY THAN WE DO IN 2025 AND 2026. JUST LIKE TO GET YOUR RESPONSE ON THAT. >> I'M SURE I'M NOT SURE I UNDERSTAND THE QUESTION. AS FAR AS FUNDING A SEPARATE COURT. >> ANOTHER ONE. >> ANOTHER COURT. THE NUMBERS ARE GOING TO BE PRETTY HIGH. THERE'S NO WAY AROUND THAT. THE PRE-INDICTMENT CASES THAT ARE FILED DAILY FOR ONE COURT TO HANDLE THIS IS QUITE A BIT BUT IT'S SOMETHING I'M CERTAINLY TRYING TO HANDLE, AND I'M HAPPY TO WORK AS HARD AS I CAN TO HANDLE WHETHER A SEPARATE COURT WOULD HELP MOVE MORE CASES. IF THAT'S THE QUESTION THAT YOU'RE ASKING, IT CERTAINLY WOULD. BUT IT ALSO DEPENDS WHETHER THAT SECOND IMPACT COURT IS SUPPOSED TO BE A TRIAL COURT OR A PREDOMINANT COURT. THOSE ARE TWO SEPARATE ISSUES. >> MIKE, ANYTHING TO ADD? >> YEAH, HE'S CORRECT ON THAT. I THINK IT'S SOMETHING RIGHT NOW WE'RE HITTING THE SUMMER MONTHS AND THIS IS ONE IS GENERALLY OUR JAIL POPS IS GOING TO GO UP. THERE ARE MORE ARRESTS DURING THE SUMMER. TRYING TO MOVE RIGHT NOW TO GET AT LEAST THESE PROSECUTORS AND GET THIS COURT UP TO FULL SPEED TO BE ABLE TO CONDUCT AND GET INDIVIDUALS OUT AND THEN MAYBE, THE MORE OPERATE DOLLARS ARE AVAILABLE TO LOOK AT MAYBE THAT SECOND COURT AND SEE IF THAT CAN BE PLACED. >> JUDGE, I'D LIKE TO GO AHEAD AND MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE THIS ITEM, RE-PURPOSING AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN ACT FUNDS IN 1.6 MILLION TO FUND THE NECESSARY POSITIONS TO FULLY IMPLEMENT THE FELONY IMPACT COURT WITH THE PURPOSE OF WORKING THROUGH THE BACKLOG CASES DUE TO COVID-19 AND THE APPROPRIATE BUDGETARY TRANSFER WITH TWO CAVEATS THAT WE CONTINUE TO PROVIDE SOME QUARTERLY PERFORMANCE ASSESSMENTS SO WE CAN SEE THE PROGRESS THAT WE'RE MAKING IN THAT COUNTY STAFF CONTINUE TO LOOK AT THE OPPORTUNITIES WITHIN AN ADDITIONAL IMPACT COURT AND WHETHER SOME OF THIS FUNDING BEING PULLED INTO THAT MIGHT BE A GOOD OPTION FOR US GOING FORWARD. >> THERE'S A MOTION BY COMMISSIONER MOODY, SECOND BY COMMISSIONER CALVERT. IT'S MY TURN. MAY I ADDRESS MY QUESTION TO BUDGET AND COUNTY MANAGER? WE'VE ALREADY ENCOUNTERED A CIRCUMSTANCE OR ASSISTANCE TO THE JUDICIAL SYSTEM. SPECIFIC POSITIONS ARE SUPPORTED BY RPA AND DESIGNATED FOR DESIGNATED PURPOSES. THE REALITY IS, AND I WANT TO ALERT THE JUDGE AND THE DA ONCE THE RPA MONEY IS FINISHED, THERE IS NOT GOING TO BE A POSITION, CORRECT? >> YEAH. YOU WOULD HAVE TO IDENTIFY ANOTHER WAY TO PAY FOR IT. >> NOT THAT IT CAN'T CONTINUE, BUT AT THE END OF THE RPA DOLLARS, SOMEBODY'S GOT TO DO SOMETHING. THE SECOND ISSUE THAT WE'VE ENCOUNTERED WITH THE USE OF RPA MONEY FOR THE JUDICIARY. THE JUDICIARY, NICE TO UNDERSTAND THESE POSITIONS ARE DEDICATED UNDER RPA, AND THEN JUST WITH ALL DUE RESPECT TO MY JUDGES ON THE JUSTICE CENTER, THESE ASSOCIATE JUDGES ARE NOT THEIR EMPLOYEES IN THE SENSE OF FUNDING. THEY CAN'T MOVE THESE ASSOCIATE JUDGES BECAUSE THERE'S NO MORE WORK. THEY HAVE TO HAVE PERMISSION OF COMMISSIONER'S COURT. THAT WAY THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE, THE JUDGE, ALL THE STAFF UNDERSTAND THAT IF THERE'S GOING TO BE ANY CHANGE OF CIRCUMSTANCE OR WHATEVER THE SITUATION IS, I BELIEVE IS NOT A MATTER OF COURTESY, BUT THEY DO HAVE TO COME BACK FOR AUTHORIZATION OF COMMISSIONERS COURT IS ALSO A CORRECT STATEMENT. >> YES. FROM MY PERSPECTIVE, AS LONG AS THEY HAVE ANY COUNTY FUNDING ATTACHED TO IT, IT IS SUBJECT TO ANNUAL APPROPRIATION BY THIS COURT, SO YES, THEY HAVE. YOU COULD GET RID OF ANYTHING OTHER THAN A STATUTORY ELECTED OFFICIAL FORENSICALLY AT ANY GIVEN BUDGET AND THAT WOULD INCLUDE ASSOCIATE JUDGES, PERHAPS EVEN VISITING JUDGES, FUNDING FOR THEM AT LEAST. >> BECAUSE WE COULD ALWAYS ASK THE REGIONAL ADMINISTRATIVE JUDGE JED [INAUDIBLE] TO PUT VISITING SENIOR JUDGES INTO THOSE COURTS, CORRECT? [03:40:05] >> CORRECT. IN FACT, VISITING JUDGES HAVE THE ABILITY TO HEAR FULL TRIALS, WHICH AN ASSOCIATE JUDGE DOES NOT. >> WHAT ABOUT THE BAILIFF? BECAUSE IT'S A LAW ENFORCEMENT OF POSITION. >> THAT'S A GOOD POINT COMMISSIONER. >> NEW LAW. >> [LAUGHTER] LET ME THEN ADDRESS TO JUDGE. JUDGE, I WILL SUPPORT THIS. I WILL SUPPORT YOU AS TO, THEY BROUGHT ME A SOFT DRINK, THANK YOU. [LAUGHTER] BUT WHERE I WAS GOING WITH THAT THOUGHT AND COMMENT WAS THAT I'M GOING TO ASK THAT EVERY YEAR OR EVERY TIME PERIOD COURT MAYBE TILL YOU GET ROLLING. I WANT TO REPORT. IF YOU'RE NOT FINDING CASES, YOU BETTER GO LOOK AND YOU BETTER GO AND THEN JOE, DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE. I DON'T WANT TO HEAR CASES AREN'T RADIO OR THE PROSECUTORS AREN'T. THAT'S ALL PART OF THE ROCKET DOCKET. IT'S ALL PART OF MOVING THE DOCKET. IT'S ALL A PART GETTING THOSE COST SAVINGS THAT WE'VE CALCULATED. YOU GOT TO PRODUCE. >> UNDERSTOOD. >> I WANT TO SEE SOME STATS. BECAUSE THEN IF WE SEE THAT'S AN INTEGRAL PART OF OUR JUSTICE SYSTEM THEN I WILL CONSIDER USING GENERAL REVENUE AND YOU CAN KEEP YOUR JOB. >> UNDERSTOOD. >> UNDERSTOOD? THERE'S A MOTION BY COMMISSIONER CALVERT'S SECOND BY COMMISSIONER MOODY. ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE. >> AYE. >> AYE. ALL OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES. >> JUST TO CLARIFY FOR THE RECORD. [OVERLAPPING] >> THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. >> A MOTION BY COMMISSIONER MOODY, SECOND BY COMMISSIONER CALVERT. > PLEASE REVERSE THAT FOR PURPOSES OF THE RECORD. THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER RODRIGUEZ. LET ME ALERT EVERYBODY IN THE ROOM. AS YOU CAN SEE, WE STILL HAVE A LOT OF PEOPLE IN THE ROOM, AND WE STILL HAVE QUITE A FEW AGENDA ITEMS. I AS A COUNTY JUDGE, NEED TO TAKE A BREAK. YOU GOT IT. MY FIRST MEETING WE WENT SIX HOURS AND THEN I SAID I WOULD NEVER, MY WIFE RACHEL SAYS YOU'RE NEVER GOING TO DO THAT AGAIN. I WILL TAKE I THINK DR. GOMEZ YOU'VE TO BE TAKEN UP. I'M GOING TO TAKE UP ITEM NUMBER 50 AND I KNOW THAT WE HAD TIME CERTAIN AND I CAN SEE THAT ALL THE OTHER PEOPLE LOOKING AT ME WITH SAD EYES BUT WE'RE GOING TO TAKE A BREAK ABOUT 30 MINUTES. I'M ALERTING STAFF, ALERTING EVERYBODY THAT WE'LL TAKE A BREAK AFTER THE PRESENTATION. YOUR PRESENTATION IS RIGHT BEFORE OUR BREAK. I THINK YOU UNDERSTAND THE URGENCY. >> YOU GOT IT. >> MR. LOU? [50. Discussion and appropriate action regarding the American Rescue Plan Act Grant Agreement between Bexar County and El Centro del Barrio dba Centromed for a five-year period beginning October 1, 2021 and ending July 31, 2026 in the amount of $3,000,000 to include any appropriate budget transfer necessary. ] >> GOOD AFTERNOON. COMMISSIONERS, JUDGE, MANUALLY, I WILL GOVERNMENTAL AFFAIRS. THIS IS AN RPA GRANT FUNDING ITEM. COURT DIRECTED STAFF AND NEGOTIATED THREE MILLION DOLLAR RPA-FUNDED AGREEMENT FOR A DIABETES PREVENTION PROGRAM WITH A CENTRAL MED. THE PROGRAM WILL BE A FOUR-YEAR MULTIMODAL INTERVENTIONAL PROGRAM WITH THE GOAL OF PREVENTING ONSET TYPE II DIABETES. THE OBJECTIVES ARE GONNA BE DIABETES PREVENTION, LIFESTYLE COACHING, NUTRITIONAL COUNSELING, AND CLINICAL MONITORING. TODAY WE HAVE DR. ERNESTO GOMEZ WITH US PRESIDENT, CEO OF CENTRAL MED AND IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTION, PLEASE FEEL FREE. >> DR. GOMEZ, WELCOME. >> THANK YOU. I APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY. I WANTED TO SAY TO THE COURT THAT WE WELCOME THE OPPORTUNITY TO PROVIDE THIS SERVICE TO THE COMMUNITY. OUR CLINIC IS NON-FOR-PROFIT. WE SERVE OVER 121,000 PATIENTS ANNUALLY, 25 LOCATIONS THROUGHOUT BEAR COUNTY. AGAIN, OUR OPERATION WAS DISRUPTED AS WAS MOST OF OUR COMMUNITY WITH THE PANDEMIC AND SO WE'VE GOT DISRUPTION WE SAW THE CARE FOR MANY PATIENTS BEING INTERRUPTED AND SO WITH THIS PROGRAM, WE'RE GOING TO ENABLE US TO BRING THEM BACK INTO CARE AND FOCUS ON THE PREVENTION OF THE ONSET OF DIABETES. I'LL BE GLAD TO ANSWER QUESTIONS. >> MR. CAMACHO RODRIGUEZ? >> YES, JUDGE. THANK YOU. DR. GOMEZ, THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE AND SITTING THROUGH THIS. I KNOW WE HAD PLENTY OF DISCUSSIONS ABOUT THIS LAST YEAR WHEN WE WENT THROUGH THE RPA PROCESS. PART OF THE PRIORITY WAS OBVIOUSLY PUBLIC HEALTH AND ADDRESSING MAINLY PREVENTATIVE TYPE ISSUES IN OUR POPULATION HERE, NOT JUST PRECINCT 2, BUT ALL OVER BEAR COUNTY, WE HAVE A HIGH INCIDENCE OF DIABETES. WE'VE HAD EITHER FAMILY MEMBERS OR SOMEONE WE KNOW BEING IMPACTED. THIS WAS ONE OF THOSE THAT JUST AS WE TALKED ABOUT EARLIER DURING THE RPA PROCESS, [03:45:04] THE CONTRACT TOOK A WHILE TO GET BACK. THIS IS JUST RATIFYING OR FORMALIZING WHAT WE DID LAST YEAR IN TERMS OF THIS PARTNERSHIP AND AGREEMENT. JUDGE, I WOULD MAKE A MOTION THAT WE APPROVE ITEM 50. >> SECOND. >> MOTION BY COMMISSIONER RODRIGUEZ, SECOND BY COMMISSIONER CALVERT, ANY FURTHER QUESTIONS OR DISCUSSION? THERE BEING NONE, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE. >> AYE. >> ANY OPPOSE? MOTION CARRIES. HEY, DR. GOMEZ. >> THANK YOU SO MUCH. APPRECIATE IT. [OVERLAPPING] >> DO YOU HAVE A FIESTA MEDAL? >> YES, SIR. THANK YOU. [LAUGHTER] >> WE ARE TAKING A BREAK. WHAT I HAVE TO MAKE SURE EVERYBODY IS LIKE, WELL, AM I ON THE AGENDA? I HAVE ITEM 49, WHICH IS STRAPPED INTO SMART ISSUE BY DR. HARLOW. ITEM 52 THE BEAR COUNTY LEGISLATIVE BY MELISSA SHANNON. I HAVE ITEM 56, WHICH IS ISSUES OF THE CRIMINAL DISTRICT ATTORNEY IN THOSE CASES THEREIN, AND ALSO A EXECUTIVE SESSION. >> JUDGE SAKAI. >> YES. >> WE ADD A TIME CERTAIN ITEM FOR THE EXTERNAL AUDIT FOR 10:30. YOU COULD ADD THAT TO YOUR LIST. >> YES. OH, PLEASE. >> THERE ARE THREE. [OVERLAPPING] >> THE MILITARIES ALSO. WE HAVE THE AUDITOR. I WILL TAKE UP TIME CERTAIN RIGHT AFTER THE BREAK, AND THEN WE'LL GO BACK INTO THE REGULAR ORDER. WE'RE ALMOST DONE. GOT THREE MORE. PLEASE BEAR WITH US. TAKE A BREAK. >> SORRY, JUDGE. BEFORE WE GET ROLLING HERE, AS I HAD A FEW MINUTES TO REFLECT ON THE COST BENEFIT NUMBER I GAVE YOU REGARDING CHANGING THE PRE INDICTMENT COURT TO AN IMPACT COURT, THAT ASSUMES ALL 47 DISPOSITIONS WOULD HAVE OTHERWISE BEEN JAILED. JUST DANGERS OF BUDGETING ON THE FLY. >> WE'RE BACK ON THE SESSION. [4.b. 10:30 a.m. - Discussion and appropriate action regarding the presentation by Rene Gonzalez of Garza/Gonzalez & Associates of the County's FY 2022 Annual Comprehensive Financial Report (ACFR), Single Audit Report, and Report on Conduct of Audit. ] WE'LL GO TO THE TIME CERTAIN I WANT TO JUST PROFUSELY APOLOGIZE. IT'S BEEN A DAY THAT WE'VE HAD TO TRY TO ACCOMMODATE A LOT OF REQUEST, AND SO I BEG YOUR INDULGENCE. AT THIS TIME WE'LL PICK UP DISCUSSION, APPROPRIATE ACTION REGARDING THE PRESENTATION BY RENE GONZALEZ OF GARZA/GONZALEZ & ASSOCIATES OF THE COUNTIES FY 2022 ANNUAL COMPREHENSIVE FINANCIAL REPORT, THE ACFR SINGLE AUDIT REPORT AND REPORT ON CONDUCT OF AUDIT. MR. LEO CALDERA. >> HONORABLE, JUDGE SAKAI, HONORABLE COMMISSIONERS FOR THE RECORD, MY NAME IS LEO CALDERA, COUNTY AUDITOR. TODAY, THE COUNTY AUDITED FY 2022 AS PRESENTED IN THE ANNUAL COMPREHENSIVE FINANCIAL REPORT WHICH WE REFER TO AS ACFR, IS PRESENTED BY OUR EXTERNAL AUDITORS. THIS REPORT IS IMPORTANT BECAUSE IT PROVIDES ACCOUNTING INFORMATION AND MANAGEMENT DISCUSSION, PERTAIN TO THE FINANCIAL CONDITION OF THE COUNTY, IN PARTICULAR, AS REPORTERS IMPORTANT TO POTENTIAL INVESTORS AND BOND RATING COMPANIES, WE'RE REQUIRED TO FILE THE ACFR AND CONTINUING DISCLOSURE BY MARCH 31ST OF EACH YEAR. THAT'S OUR DEADLINE. IN ADDITION, THERE ARE VARIOUS STATE AND FEDERAL GRANTING AGENCIES THAT MAKE OUR SINGLE AUDIT, MAKE SURE THAT IT'S GOOD SO THAT WE CAN CONTINUE AS BORROWERS SINGLE AUDIT TO GET FEDERAL AND STATE FUNDING. THAT BEING SAID, LAST FY 22, WE GOT 105 MILLION IN GRANT AND EXPENDITURES, THAT OF WHICH 57 WAS ARPA EXPENSES AND 48 MILLION WAS NON ARPA. OBVIOUSLY, IT'S VERY IMPORTANT PART OF THAT SINGLE AUDIT. I WOULD LIKE TO NOTE THAT FOR SEVERAL CONSECUTIVE YEARS, WE THE AUDITOR'S OFFICE, HAS RECEIVED THE GFA CERTIFICATE OF ACHIEVEMENT FOR EXCELLENCE IN FINANCIAL REPORTING, AND THAT'S A VERY PRESTIGIOUS AWARD. AS YOU CAN SEE, I'VE ASKED MY STAFF TO JOIN ME BACK HERE. I USUALLY DON'T DO THAT, BUT THIS YEAR IN PARTICULAR WHERE WE HAVE SOME EXTENUATING CHALLENGES, WE LOST THREE EMPLOYEES THAT LEFT FOR HIGHER SALARIES. THEY WERE PART OF OUR REVENUE REPORTING, SO THAT MEANS OUR CREW HERE HAD TO REALLY PICK UP THEIR SLACK. A LOT OF THEM LEAVING 12 MIDNIGHT FOR SEVERAL WEEKS, I'M NOT EXAGGERATING. THE REPORTING IMPLEMENTATION FOR GASB 87, WE HAD TO IMPLEMENT THAT A NEW FORM OF LEASES, WHICH TOOK A LOT MORE TIME. THE APPLICATION AND TRAINING OF TWO ACFR RELATED SOFTWARE AS ALL DOING THAT WE'RE TRY AND GET THIS REPORT OUT. THAT SAID I WANTED TO GIVE NOTABLE RECOGNITION TO MY STAFF. I'M BLESSED WITH HIS STAFF. THEY'RE SUPER HARD WORKING, AND TO MEET THE ACFR DEADLINE. ALSO THANKS TO THE GARZ & GONZALEZ, [03:50:01] HELPING US MEET OUR DEADLINES WITH TIMELINESS. I WASN'T GONG TO DO THIS, BUT I KNOW WE JUST TOOK A BREAK. IT'S BEEN PRETTY LONG, BUT IF YOU'RE OKAY WITH IT, JUDGE SAKAI, I'M JUST TO COME UP AND JUST SAY THEIR NAME AND TITLE REALLY QUICK. >> NO, I WOULD LOVE FOR THEM TO INTRODUCE THEMSELVES AND JUST BRIEFLY TELL US WHAT YOU DO FOR BEXAR COUNTY. >> THANK YOU SO MUCH. I APPRECIATE IT. >> HELLO. MY NAME IS JUAN ARTEAGA, AND I'M THE DIRECTOR OF ACCOUNTING FOR THE AUDITOR'S OFFICE. WHAT I DO IS I OVERSEE THE FINANCIAL REPORTING SECTION, ACCOUNTS PAYABLE, THE GRANT SECTION, AND AS WELL AS OUR BANKING SECTION. THEN NUTSHELL. >> ARE YOU THE ONE I HAVE TO CALL SAY, HEY, WHERE'S THAT PAYMENT FOR US TO BE? >> WHERE DID YOU SAY JUDGE? >> WHENEVER I HAVE PEOPLE CALLING, WHERE'S MY CHECK? ARE YOU THE PERSON I CALL? >> NO. >> I WANT TO KNOW WHO THAT PERSON IS. >> WELL, I WILL BRING PAYROLL NEXT YEAR. >> OKAY. >> RAYMOND ORTA, I'M FINANCIAL REPORTING AND ACCOUNTING. I PRIMARILY WORK ON CAPITAL ASSETS AND DEBT AND FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE NOTES ALSO. >> HELLO, MY NAME IS NORMA JOSE I'M THE GRANTS ACCOUNTING MANAGER AND I MANAGE THE GRANTS TEAM. WE DO DEAL WITH ALL STATE, LOCAL AND FEDERAL GRANTS. >> ARPA? >> YES. >> OH, THAT'S THE ONE I WANT TO TALK TO. >> HI, I'M ELENA NEGLEY AND I DO A LOT OF EVERYTHING. I'M VERY SUPPORTIVE OF THE ENTIRE TEAM AND I DO SPECIAL PROJECTS AND ANYTHING TAX RELATED. >> SHE'S OUR ORS TAXES. >> OH I DON'T WANT TO TALK TO YOU. >> HELLO, I'M GETRIS FOX AND I AM A STAFF AUDITOR WITH SPECIAL PROJECTS. >> GOOD AFTERNOON. I'M MATT HARRISON. I'M THE REVENUE FINANCIAL REPORTING MANAGER, SO MANAGE EVERYTHING REVENUE AND MOST EVERYTHING FINANCIAL REPORTING RELATED, INCLUDING THE REVENUE FORECAST SO PLEASURE BEING HERE. >> MAY I HAVE CERTAIN GOOD CERTIFICATIONS READY TO HAVE TO BUSINESS CARDS. >> HE'S A KEEPER. >> GOOD AFTERNOON. I'M MARLENE NICHOLS. I WORK IN THE FINANCIAL REPORTING AREA AND I HANDLED QUITE A BIT. I DO THE CONTINUAL DISCLOSING. I ALSO HANDLE YOUR ELECTION PAYROLL. >> HI, I'M TONY RAMIREZ. I'M DIRECTOR OF SPECIAL PROJECTS AND I HANDLE ANYTHING AND EVERYTHING FOR THE AUDITOR'S OFFICE AND ALL THE OPEN RECORDS BECAUSE WE GET FOR THE AUDITOR'S OFFICE. >> THANK YOU, JUDGE. I REALLY APPRECIATE YOU. >> DO WE NEED TO TAKE ACTION? >> WELL, ACTUALLY SO AND HE PROMISES AND KEEP IT BRIEF, BUT THE EXTERNAL AUDITOR IS GOING TO JUST GIVE UP REALLY SUPER HIGH LEVEL OF THE AUDIT. I DON'T WANT TO STEAL HIS THUNDER, BUT WE CAME OUT PRETTY CLEAN. >> STEPH FLORIDA, INTRODUCE YOURSELF. >> GOOD AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS RICHARD GALINDO. I'M A CPA. I'M WITH GARCIA GONZALEZ FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS. WITH ME TODAY IS ELI MENDOZA HE'S A PARTNER WITH GARZA GONZALEZ. >> BRING THEM UP. >> I'M A MANAGER. BASICALLY, WE WANTED TO COME UP HERE AND TELL YOU THAT THESE PEOPLE DID A VERY FINE JOB. WHAT THEY DO IS THEY PREPARE PREPARE THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS, AND WE AUDIT THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS. THEY DO ALL THE ACCOUNTING AND REPORTING, AND WE REVIEW IN AN AUDIT THAT. THAT BEING SAID, WE WOULD LIKE TO DISCLOSE THAT WE ARE REPORTING AN UNMODIFIED OPINION ON THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS ITSELF. WE ALSO ISSUED TWO OTHER AUDIT REPORTS. AUDIT REPORT IN ACCORDANCE WITH GOVERNMENT AUDITING STANDARDS. THAT'S AN UNMODIFIED OPINION. NO MATERIAL WEAKNESSES, NO SIGNIFICANT DEFICIENCIES, AND NO NONCOMPLIANCE MATERIAL TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS. ADDITIONALLY, WE DO THE SINGLE AUDIT WHICH REPORT ON COMPLIANCE FOR EACH MAJOR PROGRAM AND ON INTERNAL CONTROLS OVER COMPLIANCE REQUIRED BY THE UNIFORM GUIDANCE, WHICH THIS YEAR DID INCLUDE THE ARPA FUND, WHICH IN THIS YEAR THERE IT'S REALLY GETTING STARTED AT THE MOMENT. BUT LISTENING TO THOMAS'S PRESENTATION, WE'RE READY TO GET STARTED FOR NEXT YEAR ALREADY. HE COVERED A LOT OF THE CONTROLS THAT WE'LL BE LOOKING AT NEXT YEAR. AS MENTIONED, WE AUDITED THE ARPA, CORONAVIRUS STATE AND LOCAL FISCAL RECOVERY FUNDS, THE LOW-INCOME HOUSING ENERGY ASSISTANCE PROGRAM, AND THE COVID-19 EMERGENCY RENTAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM. ALONG WITH THAT, WE ALSO DO A STATE SINGLE AUDIT. UNDER THAT PROGRAM, WE AUDITED THE STATE INDIGENT DEFENSE PROGRAM. [03:55:04] WE AUDITED FOUR MAJOR PROGRAMS, THREE, FEDERAL IN ONE STATE, AND THE PRIOR YEAR WE AUDITED FIVE FEDERAL PROGRAMS AND TWO STATE PROGRAMS. ON WHAT I'M READING FROM IS THE AUDIT SUMMARY THAT YOU SHOULD HAVE RECEIVED OUR YEAR THIS WEEK. I'M MOVING ON TO PAGE TWO WHERE WE LIST THE COMPONENT UNITS THAT WERE ALREADY INCLUDED IN YOUR REPORT. THIS IS THE REPORT THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT, AND THE AUDIT SUMMARY SUMMARIZES THAT. THE NEXT THING I'D LIKE TO MENTION IS THAT YOUR FUND BALANCE RESULTS YOU ACTUALLY INCREASE FUND BALANCE IN YOUR GOVERNMENTAL FUNDS BY $100 MILLION. THAT'S FOR ALL GOVERNMENTAL FUNDS. AS FAR AS YOUR GENERAL FUND BUDGET TO ACTUAL YOU EXPECTED TO THE INCREASE FUND BALANCED BY 22.8 MILLION. BUT THE ACTUAL INCREASE WITH 63.6 PART OF THAT WAS ARPA [NOISE] AND TRANSFERS FROM THE ARPA FUND FOR THE REVENUE REPLACEMENT. ONE OF THE MAJOR ITEMS THAT THE STAFF PROCESS THIS YEAR WAS TO IMPLEMENT GASB 87, AND I HAVE SOME HIGHLIGHTS THAT ARE TAKEN FROM THE REPORT TO SPEAK ABOUT GASB 87. [NOISE] SINCE YOU HAVE THE AUDIT SUMMARY THERE, WE CAN GO OPEN IT UP TO ANY QUESTIONS YOU MIGHT HAVE OVER THE AUDIT SUMMARY, WHICH INCLUDES ON THE FINAL PAGE 7 IS A REPORT ON THE CONDUCT OF AUDIT. THERE WE HAVE FOUR RECOMMENDATIONS, AND ONE IS THE TWO INCOMING GATSBY STATEMENTS THAT WILL BE APPLICABLE NEXT YEAR. THE OTHER ONE IS A REPEAT OF THE PRIOR YEAR COMMENT THAT THE UNIFORM GUIDANCE DOCUMENTATION AND COMPLIANCE REQUIREMENTS APPLICABLE SHOULD BE INCLUDED IN YOUR PURCHASING MANUAL. THERE'S TWO OTHER COMMENTS, ONE ON THE LOW INCOME HOME ENERGY ASSISTANCE AND THE OTHER ON THE RENTAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM THAT WE AUDITED. WE HAVE PROVIDED THOSE COMMENTS TO MANAGEMENT. WE HAVE RECEIVED MANAGEMENT COMMENTS RELATED TO THOSE ITEMS AND THEY ARE INCLUDED IN YOUR CONDUCT OF AUDIT, WHICH IS A SECOND REPORT THAT WE ISSUED, AND YOU ALSO SHOULD HAVE RECEIVED THAT DURING THE WEEK PRIOR TO THE MEETING.YOU WANT TO SAY ANYTHING THERE? >> SURE. I'M VILLAN MENDOZA, I'M A PARTNER WITH AUGUSTA GONZALEZ AND MY ROLE IN THE AUDIT WAS TO REVIEW YOUR QUALITY REVIEW ON THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS. I LIKE TO ADD ONE MORE OBSERVATION TO WHAT RICHARD BROUGHT OUT. [NOISE] IF YOU LOOK AT THE OVERALL FINANCIAL STATEMENTS OF THE COUNTY THIS YEAR, YOUR FINANCIAL POSITION IMPROVED BY APPROXIMATELY $121 MILLION SO IN ESSENCE, YOU WERE BETTER OFF. ONCE YOU CONSIDER ALL THE ASSETS, FIXED ASSETS, AND ALSO THE LONG-TERM LIABILITIES, INCLUDING PENSION FUNDS AND POST EMPLOYMENT, YOU WERE STILL ABLE TO INCREASE YOUR OVERALL NET POSITION BY ABOUT $121 MILLION, SO THAT'S POSITIVE FOR THE COUNTY. APART FROM THE FACT THAT WE RENDER PRETTY CLEAN OPINIONS AND THERE'S NO MATERIAL WEAKNESSES ON INTERNAL CONTROL, SO YOU HAVE A GOOD SYSTEM OF INTERNAL CONTROL IN PLACES. ALWAYS AREAS FOR IMPROVEMENT, AND WE'RE ALWAYS WORKING WITH YOUR STAFF TO PROVIDE THOSE. RICHARD HAS BEEN OUR LEAD AUDITOR, WE HAVE A TEAM OF WHAT ABOUT? FIVE OR SIX? >> WE HAVE TOTAL OF FIVE OR SIX. >> FIVE OR SIX PEOPLE THAT COME OUT HERE SPEND QUITE A BIT OF TIME DOING THE AUDIT, SO YOU'RE TO BE COMMENDED. THE OUTER RESULTS, REFLECT WELL ON THE COUNTY AND ALONG WITH YOU AS LEADERSHIP, SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH. >> ANY COMMENTS, QUESTIONS? >> MR. AUDITOR IS THE PROPER THING FOR US TO AFFIRM THE AUDIT RECOMMENDATIONS? >> YES, COMMISSIONER, THERE IS AFFIRM OF AUDIT. >> THE PROPER MOTION OR WHATEVER IS. >> I GOT IT. [OVERLAPPING] >> LET ME JUST THANK YOUR STAFF. I THINK THE AUDITOR'S OFFICE IS ONE OF THE BEST DEPARTMENTS THAT WE HAVE IN THE COUNTY, AND I DON'T GET TO SAY THAT OFTEN, BUT I MEAN IT, AND I APPRECIATE ALL OF THE THINGS THAT YOU HELP US NAVIGATE BECAUSE YOU REALLY HAVE THE TEAM THAT PUTS SOME OF THE NUMBERS AND ALSO HELPS BUSINESS PEOPLE SOMETIMES AS [LAUGHTER] THE JUDGE HAS SAID IN THE CONTRACTS AND ALL THOSE KINDS OF THINGS, THERE'S A LOT OF WORK. [04:00:03] WE APPLAUD AND COMMEND THOSE LATE NIGHTS AND THANK YOU FOR GOING ABOVE THE CALL OF DUTY TO DO THAT, JUST TO MAKE SURE THAT THINGS MOVE SMOOTHLY FOR A LOT OF THE END-USERS AND THE COMMUNITY. IT MATTERS TO US THAT WE HAVE EMPLOYEES LIKE YOU HAVE IN YOUR DEPARTMENT THAT AREN'T JUST HERE FOR A PAYCHECK, BUT REALLY FEEL A CALL TO PUBLIC SERVICE AND TO GO BEYOND THE PAYCHECK TO DO THE BEST FOR THEIR CONSTITUENTS, SO THANK YOU. TO OUR AUDITORS, AS ALWAYS, YOU DO A FANTASTIC JOB AND WE APPRECIATE YOUR STEWARDSHIP OF OVERSIGHT OVER OUR DOLLARS. THANK YOU, JUDGE. >> THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER. MEANS A LOT, APPRECIATE IT. THANK YOU. >> COMMISSIONER VEGAS. >>JUDGE, I JUST WANT TO ECHO THAT. LEO, I KNOW YOU AND YOUR TEAM DO A LOT OF THE WORK BEHIND THE SCENES, AND WE CERTAINLY APPRECIATE THE LONG HOURS AND EVERYTHING THAT GOES INTO MAKING SURE THAT WE HAVE A GOOD SYSTEM INTERNALLY. THE AUDITORS THANK YOU, JUST TELL ROONEY TO SHOP EVERY ONCE IN A WHILE, JUST KIDDING. TELL HIM I SAID THAT THOUGH. [LAUGHTER] THEN ALSO JUDGE AND COLLEAGUES, I THINK IT REFLECTS TOO ON THE STRENGTH OF OUR STAFF AND MAKING SURE THAT WE ARE DOING THINGS THE RIGHT WAY, THE TRANSPARENT WAY, AND I THINK WITH INTEGRITY. I WANT TO THANK THE STAFF, ALL OF THE EMPLOYEES AT BEXAR COUNTY, I KNOW IT'S A PROCESS THAT TAKES A FEW MONTHS BUT AGAIN, KUDOS TO STAFF FOR DOING THINGS THE RIGHT WAY. I WOULD MAKE THE MOTION THAT WE AFFIRM THE AUDIT, JUDGE. >> MOTION BACK, MR. RODRIGUEZ. >> SECOND. >> SECOND BY MR. CALVERT. HI RICHARD, HOW ARE YOU? >> GOOD >> LOOKS LIKE YOU'VE GOT A LITTLE INJURY LIKE ME. >> [LAUGHTER] I DO. >> WELL, THAT'S THE WAY IT GOES, PART OF AGING I ASSUME. I HAVE FEW QUESTIONS. IN REGARDS TO THE PENSION, THE TEXAS COUNTY DISTRICT RETIREMENT SYSTEM ARE WE ACTUARIALLY SOUND THERE OR ARE THERE ISSUES THAT WE NEED TO BE CONCERNED OF IN THE FUTURE? >> WELL, THERE YOU ARE CONTRIBUTING THE ACTUARIALLY REQUIRED AMOUNTS AND THAT WOULD BE REFLECTED IN THE REQUIRED SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION THAT'S IN PART OF THE REPORT. ALSO, YOU HAVE INCREASED YOUR FIDUCIARY NET POSITION AS A PERCENT OF YOUR TOTAL PENSION LIABILITY IN THIS YEAR IS ACTUALLY 103%, AND THAT'S AN INCREASE FROM THE PRIOR YEAR OF 89.91. >> WHICH MEANS WE'RE NOT RUNNING A DEFICIT. >> NO. >> RIGHT? >> THAT'S CORRECT. >> BUT AT SOME POINT WE ALSO HAVE TO BE VERY AWARE OF THAT AS THE EMPLOYEE'S AGE AND RETIRE, THEN THERE'LL BE AN ADDITIONAL DRAIN ON THE PENSION, WE'LL HAVE TO DEAL WITH THAT AT THAT TIME? >> THAT'S CORRECT. THAT BRINGS UP THE OPAY PLAN, AND THERE THAT IS RUNNING AT A DEFICIT BECAUSE IT TAKES INTO CONSIDERATION AT LONG RANGE OF WHAT THE HEALTH CARE NEEDS FOR YOUR RETIREES WILL BE. THE COUNTY HAS ELECTED TO OPERATE THIS OPAY PLAN ON A PAY-AS-YOU-GO BASIS, SO YOU ANNUALLY YOU MEET YOUR REQUIREMENTS THAT ARE PRESENTED, YOUR CLAIMS AND YOUR COSTS THAT ARE PRESENTED, YOU MEET THOSE ANNUALLY, BUT SINCE IT'S A LONG-TERM PROJECTION, THAT DOES NOT BRING DOWN THE LIABILITY THAT'S BEEN REPORTED ON THE OVERALL. >> WHAT'S THAT DEFICIT NUMBER? >> IT'S 187. >> MILLION? >> 187. >> WELL, WE MAY NEED TO START CHOPPING DOWN ON IT OR FIGURING OUT A LONG-TERM PLAN. IT COMES DUE AROUND WHAT YEAR? >> THIS IS ONGOING. ON AN ANNUAL BASIS, WE HAVE AN ACTUARIAL REPORT THAT WILL PROJECT THAT. >> THE AMOUNT THAT IS REPORTED IS KEEPING MINERS OF THE END OF THE YEAR, SEPTEMBER 30, 2022, AND THAT AMOUNT IS ALWAYS UPDATED ON AN ANNUAL BASIS. NOW, JUST WORK CONTEXT, MOST GOVERNMENTAL ENTITIES DO NOT SET UP RESERVES THAT MOST OF THEM FOLLOW THE PAY-AS-YOU-GO METHOD. BUT MORE AND MORE GOVERNMENTS, THIS IS PRECISELY WHY THE STANDARDS NOW REQUIRE THAT THESE LIABILITIES ARE SHOWN ON THE BALANCE SHEET SO THAT YOU AS DECISION-MAKERS, ELECTED OFFICIALS CAN TAKE CARE OF THAT. YOU HAVE THE OPTION OF EITHER CHANGING THE AMOUNT OF THE BENEFITS, I THINK TEXAS AND ANOTHER STATE IS THE ONLY STATE THAT ALLOWS THAT OR STATES OF THE NORTH THEY CANNOT CHANGE THOSE AMOUNTS OF THE BENEFITS THAT ARE PROVIDED TO THE RETIREES, BUT YOU HAVE THAT OPTION, AND OF COURSE, [04:05:03] YOU HAVE ALSO THE OPTION OF START SAVING UP MONEY RESERVES OR PUT THOSE INTO A TRUST FUND AND START TAKING CARE OF THAT. SOME GOVERNMENTS HAVE ELECTED TO EVEN ISSUE BONDS TO START SETTING THAT MONEY ASIDE. JUST TO GIVE YOU AN IDEA OF WHAT OTHER GOVERNMENTS ARE DOING. >> IT'S SOMETHING THAT I THINK THE COUNTIES ARE IN UNIQUE POSITION TO LOOK AT HOW UNIVERSITY HEALTH SYSTEM CAN HELP ON THE MEDICAL LIABILITY SIDE WITH THE INSURANCE AND ALL THE OTHER THINGS THAT ARE ACCRUING THERE. WE DEFINITELY WANT TO TAKE A LOOK AT SOME POINT IN THE NEXT COUPLE OF YEARS OF HOW WE ADDRESS THOSE SILVER TSUNAMI, AS WE CALL THEM. >> I UNDERSTAND, OPEB, O-P-E-B, LIABILITY IS DEALING WITH THE MEDICAL SELF-INSURANCE THAT THE COUNTY MAINTAINS FOR ITS EMPLOYEES. >>YES. FOR YOUR RETIREES. >> RETIREES. THAT OBVIOUSLY HAS TO BE FIDUCIARILY SOUND, CORRECT? REASON WHY I'M GOING THERE IS THAT A LONG-TERM LIABILITY THAT WE REALLY HAVE TO BE LOOKING AT BECAUSE THE AGING OF THE STAFF OR ARE WE VERY SOUND AT THIS POINT THAT WE DON'T HAVE TO BE SO ATTENTIVE, YOU KNOW WHAT I'M SAYING? >> THE COUNTY HAS BEEN OPERATING IT AS A PAY-AS-YOU-GO BASIS, AS I MENTIONED, AND SO IT'S MEETING THE COSTS THAT ARISE DURING THE CURRENT YEAR. IT'S NOT CUTTING DOWN ON THE LIABILITY, AND THAT MAY BE SOMETHING THAT YOU WOULD WANT TO ADDRESS IN THE FUTURE. >>THAT'S THE REASON WHY WELLNESS IS SO IMPORTANT PART OF THE BENEFITS WE OFFER THE EMPLOYEES AND THE FITNESS CENTER THAT WE HAVE FOR THEM TOO. ISN'T THAT ALL PART AND PARCEL? ISN'T THAT WHAT MS. GAETAN DOES ALL THE TIME MAKING SURE OUR EMPLOYEES ARE LOSING WEIGHT [LAUGHTER] >> JUST TO CLARIFY, THE OPEB RELATES ONLY TO RETIREES. >> RETIREES, UNDERSTOOD. >> THE LIABILITY THAT'S BEING REPORTED INCLUDES LIABILITIES THAT ARE PROJECTED FOR RETIREES AND ALSO FOR CURRENT EMPLOYEES. NOW KEEP IN MIND THAT THESE ARE ESTIMATES LOOKING AT THE FUTURE. BASED ON ACTUARIAL STUDIES, THEY'RE NOT AMOUNTS NECESSARILY THAT WILL COME TO YOU AT SOME PARTICULAR POINT IN TIME. BUT IF YOU SEE A TREND IN YOUR TABLES IN THE BACK OF THE REPORT, THERE ARE SOME TABLES WHERE IF YOU SEE A TREND WHERE THE LIABILITIES ARE INCREASING, THAT'S CERTAINLY AN AREA FOR THE COUNTY TO LOOK AT AND STUDY WHAT IT MAY DO, WHAT COURSE OF ACTION IT NEEDS TO TAKE, IF IT NEEDS TO CHANGE WHAT IS CURRENTLY DOING ON THE PAY-AS-YOU-GO METHOD. >> THERE'S THE MOTION BY COMMISSIONER RODRIGUEZ, SECOND BY COMMISSIONER CALVIN. ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? THERE'LL BE NONE. ALL IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE. >> AYE. >> ANY OPPOSED? ANY ABSTENTION? MOTION CARRIES. THANK YOU FOR YOUR REPORT. >> THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU, MR. CUTLER, AND THANK THE OTHERS YOUR STEP. ONE LAST QUESTION. ARE YOU GETTING ANY ARPA MONEY IN ORDER TO SEE HOW YOU COULD GET ADDITIONAL RESOURCES? >> THREE OF MY STAFF MEMBERS ARE GETTING SUPPLEMENTAL PAY, I APPRECIATE THAT, THANK YOU >> JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE YOU'RE GETTING SOME OF THAT TOO. >> THANK YOU. >> THE OTHER TIME CERTAIN IS SPECIAL PRESENTATION ON THE MILITARY VETERAN SERVICE FY-22, [4.c. 11:00 a.m. - Special Presentation on the Military and Veteran Service FY 22-23 Mid-Year Update. ] 23, MID-YEAR UPDATE. MR. KEITH WILSON. >> JUDGE SAKAI, COMMISSIONERS, COUNTY MANAGER, GOOD AFTERNOON. LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, MY NAME IS KEITH WILSON. I'M THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR FOR THE COUNTY'S MILITARY AND VETERAN SERVICES. BEFORE I BEGIN TODAY'S PRESENTATION, I'D LIKE TO FOCUS YOUR ATTENTION ON THE SCREEN. IN APRIL THE COUNTRY RECOGNIZES MONTH OF THE MILITARY CHILD. THIS PROVIDES A CHANCE FOR COMMUNITIES ACROSS THE NATION TO RECOGNIZE AND THANK THE CHILDREN OF OUR SERVICE MEMBERS AND OUR VETERANS. THIS PAST SATURDAY AT HEMISFAIR PARK, THE TEAM WENT OUT TO SUPPORT A LOCAL COMMUNITY EVENT AND I PRESENTED ON BEHALF OF THIS COMMISSIONERS COURT A PROCLAMATION RECOGNIZING THIS OCCASION. THE EVENT ON SATURDAY WAS ATTENDED BY COMMUNITY PARTNERS AND COMMUNITY LEADERS WHO CAME TOGETHER FOR THE SOLE PURPOSE OF PAYING TRIBUTE AND OFFERING GRATITUDE TO OUR MILITARY CHILDREN. WE WEAR PURPLE REPRESENTING CHILDREN FROM ALL BRANCHES OF SERVICE AND ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF THE HARDSHIPS THEY FACE, AND TO EXPRESS OUR GRATITUDE AND OUR SUPPORT FOR THEIR WELL-BEING. IT WAS A GREAT EVENT. JUDGE, COMMISSIONERS, I APPRECIATE Y'ALL SUPPORT ON THE PROCLAMATION, IT WAS WELL RECEIVED AND IT WAS EXCITING FOR US TO BE THERE TO REPRESENT THE COUNTY. >>THANK YOU. CAN YOU INTRODUCE WHO'S WITH YOU? >> YES, SIR. WITH ME I HAVE A FEW MEMBERS OF MY TEAM OVER ON MY RIGHT, STEVE MCKEE, HE OVERSEES OUR BENEFITS SERVICES, [04:10:02] SO THOSE ARE THE INDIVIDUALS GENERALLY FOCUSED ON SERVICE-CONNECTED DISABILITIES AND CLAIMS AGAINST THE GOVERNMENT FOR THOSE TYPES OF INJURIES ELEMENTS, ET CETERA. IN THE MIDDLE NANCY TAGOWATA HAS BEEN SERVING AS THE ASSISTANT DIRECTOR AND REALLY OVERSEES A LOT OF THE INITIATIVES THAT WE'RE DRIVING IN SUPPORT OF THE RESIDENTS. THEN ON MY LEFT DACHO, JUST CAME ON A FEW WEEKS AGO. HE OVERSEES OUR EMPLOYMENT TRANSITION SERVICES TEAM, SO REALLY FOCUSED ON TAKING OUR SERVICE MEMBERS AS THEY TRANSITION OUT OF THE MILITARY AND CONNECT THEM TO RESOURCES HERE IN THE COMMUNITY, AND THEN PUTTING SOME EMPHASIS ON EMPLOYMENT, AND I'LL TALK SOME OF THOSE AS WE GO THROUGH OUR PRESENTATION. >> ANY QUESTIONS, COMMENTS? COMMISSIONER? >> SURE, I'M JUST GETTING STARTED. >> [LAUGHTER] [OVERLAPPING] WRAP IT UP. >> I WAS TOLD TO BE QUICK AND I TOLD THE TEAM SOMETIMES FOLKS SAY THEY'RE GOING TO BE QUICK AND THAT'S THE BEGINNING OF A LONG SUBWAY. I PROMISE TO REALLY TRY TO BE QUICK, I HAVE STRUCK OUT SOME COMMENTS TO TRY TO CREATE SOME TIME BACK TO THE COURT. AS YOU KNOW, I'VE BEEN IN POSITION FOR JUST OVER SEVEN MONTHS, AND THE LEVEL OF SUPPORT I'VE SEEN FROM COUNTY LEADERSHIP, INTERNAL COUNTY DEPARTMENTS AND OUR COMMUNITY FOR MILITARY SERVICE MEMBERS, VETERANS, AND THEIR FAMILIES IS SECOND TO NONE. I THANK EACH OF YOU FOR THE LEADERSHIP AND THE EMPHASIS THAT YOU ALL PUT ON US TO ENSURE WE'RE PROVIDING THE QUALITY SUPPORT AND CARE TO THOSE THAT WE SERVE. THIS WONDERFUL COMMUNITY AND THE DEMOGRAPHIC THAT WE SERVE SPANS ALL RACIAL, ETHNIC, RELIGIOUS, ECONOMIC, SOCIAL, AND EDUCATIONAL BACKGROUNDS, AND WE'RE HONORED TO SUPPORT THEM. WHEN I FIRST ARRIVED, I BEGAN A COMPREHENSIVE REVIEW OF OUR OFFICES' INTERNAL PROCESSES, SYSTEMS, AND PROCEDURES. I LOOKED AT WHAT ARE STATUTORY REQUIREMENTS ARE, WHAT WE'D SPECIFICALLY BEEN CHARGED BY THE COUNTY LEADERSHIP, AND THEN WHAT WE WERE ACTUALLY DOING. WE LOOKED AT OUR SYSTEMS TO DETERMINE WHERE WE HAD INEFFICIENCIES AND INEFFECTIVENESS. I'LL ADDRESS SOME OF THE CHANGES THAT WE'VE IMPLEMENTED BRIEFLY TODAY AND WE CONTINUE TO ASSESS OUR ORGANIZATION METHODICALLY AND DELIBERATELY AS WE LOOK TO IMPROVE OURSELVES EVERY DAY. FIRST AND FOREMOST, I TOLD THE TEAM THAT WHATEVER SERVICE WE DO PROVIDE, WE WILL DO IT WITH EXCEPTIONAL PERFORMANCE AND WITH THE UTMOST OF COMPASSION AND PROFESSIONALISM BECAUSE OUR CUSTOMERS DESERVE IT. WE RENEWED OUR COMMITMENT TO PROVIDE WORLD-CLASS SUPPORT TO PROCESSING CLAIMS FOR SERVICE-CONNECTED INJURIES, ILLNESSES AND ELEMENTS WHILE EXPANDING OUR SUPPORT TO EDUCATION OPPORTUNITIES AND CAREER PATHWAYS THAT ALIGN WITH THE COUNTY'S EXPANDING INDUSTRIES. WE'RE ALSO CONTINUING OUR EFFORTS TO EXPAND A NETWORK OF RESOURCES THAT COMPREHENSIVELY SUPPORT OUR SERVICE MEMBERS, VETERANS, AND FAMILIES SO THAT WE CAN PROVIDE INFORMED REFERRALS AND FOLLOW-UP. ONE OF THE AREAS I'M MOST PROUD OF WAS OUR ABILITY TO LEVERAGE PARTNERSHIPS TO IDENTIFY PERMANENT SATELLITE OFFICE LOCATIONS TO ALLOW US TO EXPAND ACCESS TO OUR SERVICES BY OUR COUNTY RESIDENTS. IN THE PAST, AS YOU CAN SEE DEPICTED ON THE SCREEN OUR OFFICE OPERATED OUT OF A CENTRAL LOCATION JUST EAST OF DOWNTOWN, GENERALLY CENTER OF THE COUNTY. WORKING WITH PARTNERS JUST LAST MONTH, WE COORDINATED AGREEMENTS WITH THREE DIFFERENT ORGANIZATIONS TO PLACE A DEDICATED STAFF MEMBER, SPECIFICALLY IN SUPPORT OF PROCESSING SERVICE-CONNECTED CLAIMS. WE'RE PLANNING TO PLACE A STAFF MEMBER AT WORKFORCE SOLUTIONS ALAMO WURZBACH IN 19, WAYLAND BAPTIST UNIVERSITY OUT IN LIVE OAK, AND THE VA CENTER OUT AT HIGHWAY 151, JUST INSIDE 1604. WE ACTUALLY ALREADY HAVE A PERSON AT WAYLAND BAPTIST AND WE'RE JUST AWAITING IDENTIFICATION CARDS FROM THE VA TO OCCUPY THAT SPACE. WE'VE ALSO IDENTIFIED LOCATIONS THAT WE WILL VISIT ON A RECURRING BASIS TO PROVIDE CLAIMS-RELATED WORKSHOPS AND APPOINTMENTS. THESE LOCATIONS INCLUDE FLAGSHIP HEALTH ON CULEBRA, JUST OUTSIDE 410, THE BLUE SKIES FACILITIES, AND THE COUNTY'S OWN BIBLIO TECH LOCATIONS, WHICH I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO VISIT JUST A FEW MONTHS AGO. EACH OF MY TEAMMATES AT THE SATELLITE LOCATIONS HAS BEEN CHARGED WITH OUTREACH RESPONSIBILITY IN THEIR DESIGNATED AREAS, SO WE EXPECT THESE LOCATIONS TO GROW AS THEY BUILD THOSE RELATIONSHIPS. TO SUPPORT OUR EMPLOYMENT AND TRANSITION SERVICES, WE HAVE TWO MILITARY SERVICE OFFICERS ON POST AT FORT SAM HOUSTON THAT ARE FOCUSED ON WORKING WITH TRANSITION COUNSELORS TO CONNECT TRANSITIONING SERVICE MEMBERS TO COUNTY RESOURCES AND COMMUNITY RESOURCES, AS WELL AS SUPPORTING THEIR FILING OF PRE-SEPARATION DISABILITY CLAIMS. WE'RE WORKING WITH THE JBSA LEADERSHIP TO IDENTIFY OPPORTUNITIES AT LACHLAN AND AT RANDOLPH TO SUPPORT THE SERVICE MEMBERS THERE. WE'RE ALSO BEGINNING TO SCHEDULE VIRTUAL APPOINTMENTS AND WE'LL BEGIN LOOKING AT CONDUCTING EVENING AND WEEKEND APPOINTMENTS TO ACCOMMODATE INDIVIDUALS THAT MAY [04:15:01] NOT BE ABLE TO GET TO US DURING TRADITIONAL WORK HOURS, OR MAYBE LIMITED IN THEIR ABILITY TO SIMPLY GET TO US BECAUSE OF MOBILITY CHALLENGES. ALL OF THESE EFFORTS ARE INTENDED TO INCREASE ACCESS FOR OUR COMMUNITY RESIDENTS TO THE SERVICES AND THE RESOURCES THAT WE PROVIDE. IT'S HELPING US BRING THE COUNTY TO THE PEOPLE. ANOTHER AREA THAT I'M EXTREMELY EXCITED ABOUT IS THAT WE'VE NOW BEGUN TO LEVERAGE TECHNOLOGY TO STREAMLINE OUR SERVICES THROUGH AN ONLINE APPOINTMENT BOOKING SYSTEM THAT ALLOWS CUSTOMERS TO SCHEDULE APPOINTMENTS FOR A LOCATION AND TIME THAT IS MOST CONVENIENT TO THEM. WORKING WITH BCIT AND THE PROCUREMENT OFFICE WE WERE ABLE TO ACQUIRE THIS CAPABILITY TO IMPROVE EFFICIENCIES IN OUR APPOINTMENT MANAGEMENT PROCESSES, AS WELL AS CUSTOMER SATISFACTION FEEDBACK. WE OFFICIALLY LAUNCHED THIS ON THREE APRIL VIA OUR WEBSITE AND SOCIAL MEDIA, AND IT CAN BE ACCESSED AT BEAR.ORG/VETS FOR OUR CUSTOMERS. I MENTIONED EARLIER MY EMPHASIS ARE WORLD-CLASS SUPPORT DELIVERED WITH COMPASSION AND PROFESSIONALISM. I PULLED A FEW OF THE RECENT COMMENTS WE'VE RECEIVED TO DATE, RECOGNIZING SOME OF MY TEAMMATES. FOR EACH OF THESE COMMENTS LISTED, THERE ARE DOZENS MORE JUST LIKE THEM. I'M EXCITED ABOUT THIS TEAM AND I'M PROUD OF THEIR ACCOMPLISHMENTS. I LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING THIS PROGRESS AS WE MOVE FORWARD. AS WE LOOK AT SOME OF THE METRICS ASSOCIATED WITH OUR STATUTORY RESPONSIBILITIES TO PROVIDE CLAIMS, THE FIRST HALF OF THE FISCAL YEAR SAW LOWER THAN DESIRED NUMBERS IN VETERANS SERVED AND BENEFITS RECEIVED. AND THIS IS DUE SOLELY TO PERSONNEL TURNOVER. IN FIRST QUARTER, WE HAD TWO STAFF MEMBERS THAT WERE PROCESSING CLAIMS ON BEHALF OF THE COUNTY. IN NOVEMBER, WE HIRED FOUR ADDITIONAL SERVICE OFFICERS AND ONE ADDITIONAL ASSISTANT SERVICE OFFICER TO INCREASE INTAKE AND PROCESSING OF CLAIMS. THOSE NEW MEMBERS CONDUCTED AND COMPLETED THEIR TRAINING AND WERE FORMERLY ACCREDITED BY THE VA IN JANUARY AND YOU CAN ALREADY SEE THE SIGNIFICANT INCREASE IN WORKFORCE PERFORMANCE BETWEEN FIRST AND SECOND QUARTERS. AT THE END OF SECOND QUARTER, WE ARE ALREADY AT ABOUT 95% OF OUR FISCAL YEAR GOAL. THAT'S FOUR MILLION DOLLARS IN FEDERAL FUNDING COMING TO THESE VETERANS AND THEIR FAMILIES BACK TO OUR COMMUNITIES. THESE NUMBERS WILL ONLY GROW AS WE EXPAND ACCESS TO OUR SERVICES FOR THE RESIDENTS OF BEXAR COUNTY. IT'S A TESTAMENT TO THE HARD WORK AND DEDICATION OF STEVE MCKEE AND HIS TEAM. WE FOCUSED OUR EMPLOYMENT SERVICES ON FOUR PRIMARY SECTORS. INITIALLY, ADVANCED MANUFACTURING, TECHNOLOGY, HEALTH CARE, AND ROLES WITHIN THE COUNTY GOVERNMENT. WE'RE WORKING WITH THE COUNTY'S ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT TEAM TO HIGHLIGHT TRAINING AND CAREER OPPORTUNITIES, AND ADVANCED MANUFACTURING, NOT ONLY FOR RESIDENTS ALREADY HERE IN BEXAR COUNTY BUT FOR THOSE SERVICE MEMBERS AND THEIR FAMILIES COMING TO ARE OPEN TO THE IDEA OF COMING TO SAN ANTONIO. I'M SORRY, ONE OF MY CHARTS ISN'T UP THERE. BUT IT SHOWS THE FOUR SECTORS THAT WE IDENTIFIED. WE'RE LOOKING AT INSTALLATIONS LIKE FORT HOOD, FORT BLISS, DYESS AIR FORCE BASE, AND OTHERS. WILL CONTINUE OUR OUTREACH WITH THOSE INSTALLATIONS SO WE CAN CONNECT TO THEM EARLIER BEFORE THEY TRANSITION FROM THE MILITARY, MAKE SURE THEY HAVE ACCESS TO RESOURCES, AND OPPORTUNITIES BEFORE THEY COME HERE. >> KEITH, I JUST HAVE TO COMPLEMENT YOUR TALK ON THIS BROCHURE. IT SAYS, LET'S TALK ABOUT YOUR FUTURE AS OLD MARKETING GUY, THAT'S PRETTY GOOD, [LAUGHTER] VERY NICE. >> WE WENT TO FORT HOOD IN JANUARY AND I HAD A VERY SIMPLE LOGO, WITH BEXAR COUNTY VETERAN SERVICES, TRANSITIONS EMPLOYMENT AND BENEFITS, AND HAD A LOT OF FOLKS COME UP AND ASK ME WHERE BEXAR COUNTY IS. I SAID, I NEED TO BETTER PREPARE MY MARKETING SO THAT IT STANDS OUT AS TO WHAT IT IS. WE WORKED WITH SOME TEAMMATES TO COME UP WITH THIS DESIGN TO DRAW PEOPLE IN THAT ARE INTERESTED IN SAN ANTONIO. WE'RE GOING TO PUT THIS OUT IN A BACKUP FORT HOOD IN JUNE AND HOPEFULLY GET A LOT OF FOLKS COMING IN TO TALK ABOUT IT WITH US. WE'RE ALSO WORKING WITH THE VETERANS TREATMENT COURTS. WE'VE BEEN BRIEFING THEM ON SOME OF THESE OPPORTUNITIES AND LATER PHASES OF THE PROGRAMS, INTRODUCING THEM TO THESE OPPORTUNITIES AND WE ACTUALLY HAVE ONE OR TWO MEMBERS THAT ARE ATTENDING THE CURRENT COHORT DOWN AT TEXAS FAME. ALL OF THESE OPPORTUNITIES CONTINUE TO EVOLVE AND GROW. DO THE HARD WORK AND DEDICATION OF OUR EMPLOYMENT TRANSITION SERVICES LED BY JOE. LIKE I MENTIONED, JOE SHOWED UP ABOUT A MONTH AGO AND HE HAS REALLY HIT THE GROUND RUNNING. WE'RE GLAD TO HAVE HIM ON BOARD. I JUST WANTED TO GO OVER A COUPLE OF KEY INITIATIVES WE'RE FOCUSED ON. WE'RE FINALIZING OUR PARTNERSHIP WITH WORKFORCE SOLUTIONS, ALAMO AND JBSA TO CO-HOST THEIR ANNUAL RED WHITE NEW HIRING EVENT. THIS EVENT OCCURS IN NOVEMBER. IT WILL PROVIDE ACCESS AND AWARENESS OF COMMUNITY RESOURCES, COMPREHENSIVE CAREER SERVICES, AND A MAJOR LOCAL HIRING EVENT WILL BE HOSTED AT FREEMAN EXPO CENTER, WILL INCLUDE WORKSHOPS, EMPLOYER PANELS, AND MORE. THIS EVENT WILL CATER NOT ONLY TO TRANSITIONING SERVICE MEMBERS, BUT TO VETERANS AND FAMILY MEMBERS ALIKE. [04:20:04] I'M SORRY. WE'RE ALSO WORKING ON OPPORTUNITIES TO EXPAND SERVICES AND SUPPORT TO HOMELESS AND AT-RISK VETERANS. WE'VE BEEN WORKING WITH A NUMBER OF LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS TO FIGURE OUT HOW WE CAN EXPAND THE PARTNERSHIPS AND RELATIONSHIPS, AS WELL AS PURSUING GRANT FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES THAT SUPPORT OUR ENDEAVORS. WE WANT TO LEVERAGE THIS OFFICE WHEREVER WE CAN TO MAXIMIZE THE BENEFIT TO HOMELESS AND AT-RISK VETERANS AND SERVICE MEMBERS WITH THE SAME LEVEL AND EXPECTATION OF WORLD-CLASS SUPPORT DELIVERED WITH COMPASSION AND PROFESSIONALISM. WE'RE IN THE EARLY STAGES OF SOME OF THIS COORDINATION, SO I LOOK FORWARD TO PROVIDE NEW UPDATES AS WE PROGRESS FORWARD. THEN I KNOW IN THE PAST WE HAVE WORKED RESOURCE FAIR EVENTS FOR EACH OF THE COMMISSIONERS IN YOUR PRECINCTS AND WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE DOING THAT. WE'RE BRINGING ON A TEAM MEMBER TO HELP US FOCUS ON THE COORDINATION FOR THAT. I'LL REACH OUT TO YOUR TEAMS TO MAKE SURE WE GET THOSE ON THE CALENDARS ON YOUR SCHEDULES FOR THE REMAINDER OF THIS CALENDAR YEAR. JUDGE, I COVERED A LOT. I ONLY HIT THE WAVE TOPS, I KNOW THERE'S A LOT GOING ON AND WE'VE GOT A LOT INVOLVED. APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO UPDATE YOU. WE GET TO SERVE A PRETTY SPECIAL DEMOGRAPHIC OF OUR COMMUNITY, INDIVIDUALS THAT HAVE SERVED IN DIFFERENT CAPACITIES AND IT'S AN HONOR TO DO SO, AND WE'RE HONORED TO BE IN THIS POSITION TO SUPPORT OUR COMMUNITY BEYOND WHAT THEY'VE GIVEN TO US. APPENDING ANY QUESTIONS OR GUIDANCE AND DIRECTION FROM Y'ALL THIS CONCLUDES MY SEMIANNUAL UPDATE TO THE COURT. >> ANY QUESTIONS? COMMISSIONER CALVERT? >> I JUST WANTED TO THANK YOU AND YOUR TEAM FOR THE GOOD WORK IN THIS PRESENTATION. I APPRECIATE THE UPDATE. WE HAVE A VERY NEW COURT SO IT'S IMPORTANT FOR ME TO EMPHASIZE THE STATUTORY REQUIREMENTS OF THIS DEPARTMENT AS I DID WHEN YOU DID YOUR BRIEFING TO ME IN THE VERY FIRST MEETING. THAT WE HAVE TO ENSURE THAT THE PRIMARY ROLE OF THE DEPARTMENT IS IN THE BENEFITS' ADMINISTRATION. TO THAT END ANY RECOMMENDATIONS WITH RESPECT TO PAY, BECAUSE I THINK THAT THERE HAS SOMETIMES BEEN VERY LITTLE DETAILED DOCUMENTS AND MEDICAL RECORDS AND LEVEL OF CARE THAT'S NEEDED AND THE LEVEL OF EXPERTISE. IT'S A CUMBERSOME PROCESS. >> IT IS. >> IT MAY BE THAT BECAUSE OF THAT STRESS AND WORKLOAD, BECAUSE I THINK MOST OF THE FOLKS WORKING IN THE OFFICE ARE FORMER VETERANS THEMSELVES, AND I THINK THERE'S EVEN AN EMOTIONAL TIE TO TRY AND HELP THESE PEOPLE GET THESE BENEFITS AND THERE'S JUST A LOT TO THE STORIES AND THE NEEDS. I ALWAYS WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THE NEW COURT NEW MEMBERS UNDERSTAND THAT THE EMPLOYMENT SIDE IS A RELATIVELY NEW EVOLUTION THAT I THINK STARTED PROBABLY IN 2018, SOMEWHERE THEREABOUT, MAYBE 2019. I CAN'T EXACTLY REMEMBER. BUT IT'S AN IMPORTANT ONE AS WELL. IT'S A LAUDABLE ONE, BUT IT'S NOT OUR STATUTORY ROLE WITHIN THE DEPARTMENT. I ALSO REMIND YOU THAT ON THE BENEFIT SIDE, SAN ANTONIO CARRIES A SPECIAL BURDEN AS A CITY THAT IS HEAVILY RECRUITED FROM. SOMETIMES OUR FOLKS FROM SAN ANTONIO MAKE THEIR WAY BACK HERE HAVE BEEN ON THE FRONTLINES. THEY'VE BEEN INFANTRY MEN. THEY'VE TAKEN ALL THE GROUNDWORK, SOME OF THE HARDEST ASSIGNMENTS, AND THEY COME BACK WITH MEDICAL NEEDS THAT NEED TO BE ADDRESSED. WE HAVE A VERY IMPORTANT OBLIGATION TO ENSURE THAT THEIR FUTURE LIFE IS TAKEN CARE OF BECAUSE OF THE SACRIFICES THEY MADE AND SOME OF THOSE JOBS THAT NONE OF US WOULD NEVER HAVE TAKEN. I JUST WANT TO MAKE THAT POINT THAT ANYTHING THIS COURT CAN DO TO HELP YOU IN TERMS OF THE PAY BENEFITS OR ANY PROGRAM TO HELP WITH RETENTION OF THAT DEPARTMENT. PLEASE MAKE SOME RECOMMENDATIONS IN THE FUTURE AND LET'S WORK TOGETHER ON THAT. THAT'S IT JUDGE. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. >> MR. MOODY. >> KEITH. THANKS FOR SHARING THE WAVE TOPS HERE, I KNOW YOU AND YOUR TEAM ARE DOING A LOT OF WORK AND I APPRECIATE THE SLIDES OF THE PRESENTATION. I DID JUST WANT TO BRING UP ONE ITEM THAT WAS ON MY RADAR AND I THINK YOU HAD A CHANCE TO SIT DOWN WITH THE TEXAS VETERANS COMMISSION AND COMBINE ARMS. THEY WERE HERE I BELEIVE LAST WEEK SOMETIME, THEY SWUNG BY MY OFFICE. BUT ASKING YOU THE OPPORTUNITIES TO TIE IN WITH SOME OF THESE MORE COMPREHENSIVE TOOLS IN THE DIGITAL WORLD. JUST TO STREAMLINE THE ABILITY TO FACILITATE SERVICES AND WORK WITH THE TEXAS VETERANS COMMISSION, IS THAT SOMETHING YOU SEE AS AN OPPORTUNITY? >> ABSOLUTELY. IN THE PAST, THE COURT HAD ALREADY RESOURCED OUR DEPARTMENT TO ESSENTIALLY PURCHASE A CASE MANAGEMENT PORTAL-TYPE SYSTEM FOR SOME OF THE DIGITAL TRANSACTION IN CASE MANAGEMENT PIECE. WE ACTUALLY PUT A HOLD ON THE PROCUREMENT PROCESS PENDING THE STATE'S DECISION TO AWARD A GRANT FOR THE TEXAS VETERANS NETWORK. THE STATE ISSUED THAT EARLIER THIS YEAR TO COMBINED ARMS SO THAT THEY ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR [04:25:01] A STATEWIDE TEXAS VETERANS NETWORK THAT WILL CONNECT COMMUNITIES ACROSS THE STATE AND IT IS OUR PLAN TO BECOME PART OF THAT TEXAS VETERANS NETWORK. IN THE PAST, ACOG WAS PART OF THE MULTI-ORGANIZATION NETWORK. THEY ARE CREATING THEIR OWN STANDALONE ALAMO VETERANS NETWORK. WE WILL STILL HAVE A RELATIONSHIP WITH THEM AND THE SERVICES AND RESOURCES THEY PROVIDE BUT WE'LL ACTUALLY BE PART OF THE TEXAS VETERANS NETWORK WORKING WITH THE COMBINED ARMS. >> I APPRECIATE THAT AND I APPRECIATE YOU THINKING THROUGH THAT AND OBVIOUSLY TRYING TO STREAMLINE THIS FOR OUR VETERANS AND OBVIOUSLY SAVE TAXPAYER DOLLARS TOO. THANK YOU. >> YES SIR. >> COMMISSIONER RODRIGUEZ. >> THANK YOU, JUDGE. I'LL BE BRIEF. KEITH, I KNOW WE'VE SPENT SOME TIME, I GUESS LAST WEEK, SO I'VE SEEN THE UPDATE AND I APPRECIATE YOU DOING THIS AND YOUR TEAM. I KNOW YOU'RE BUILDING A TEAM OUT AND YOU'VE GOT SOME ASS COMING UP WITH RESPECT TO RESOURCES THROUGH THE BUDGET SO WE WANT TO TO BE SUPPORTIVE OF THAT. I ALSO LOOK FORWARD TO, WE'VE HAD ANNUALLY AND NANCY HAS BEEN GREAT ABOUT DOING OUR VETERANS FAIR IN PRECINCT 2 OUT AT WONDERLAND, SO I THINK WE'RE WORKING OUT SOME DATES FOR THAT, WHICH IS ALWAYS JUDGE, I'LL MAKE SURE YOU GET AN INVITE AS WELL AND MY COLLEAGUES TO COME OUT. WE USUALLY HAVE, I THINK CLOSE TO 100 DIFFERENT VENDORS AND SEVERAL HUNDRED PEOPLE SHOW UP SO WE LOOK FORWARD TO THAT PART OF THE OUTREACH PIECE OF YOUR JOB, WHICH YOU GUYS DO WELL AT, SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORK. WE APPRECIATE IT. >> YES, SIR. I ACTUALLY WALKED THROUGH THE WONDERLAND MALLS. I REMEMBER THAT, SO I WALKED THROUGH THE OLD MALL JUST THE OTHER DAY TO LOOK AT SOME OF THE SPACE AND BECOME MORE FAMILIAR MYSELF. >> I DON'T THINK WE HAVE TO TAKE ANY ACTION, BUT MR. WILSON, I HAVE A FEW QUESTIONS. I THINK YOU'RE RELATIVELY NEW AS I'M THE NEWEST MEMBER OF THE COMMISSIONERS COURT. WHAT'S YOUR EXPECTATION AS FAR AS REPORTING? I APPRECIATE THE EXCELLENT REPORT. WHAT'S YOUR EXPECTATIONS OF HOW OFTEN YOU REPORT INTO THE COURT? >> GENERALLY WHAT I'VE BEEN TOLD IS TWICE A YEAR, SO IN MORE OF A FORMAL SETTING LIKE THIS, OBVIOUSLY WE WORK WITH THE STAFFS TO PROVIDE UPDATES ON SOME OF THE DATA. THERE ARE ADDITIONAL METRICS THAT I DON'T PUT ON THESE SLIDES WITH REGARDS TO SOME OF THE INTAKE NUMBERS THAT COME THROUGH THE OFFICE, ETC. BUT GENERALLY IT HAS BEEN A TWICE A YEAR MORE OF A FORMAL PRESENTATION. >> COULD ALWAYS ASK THE COURT FOR DISCUSSION, NOT AS OBVIOUSLY IT THIS TIME, BUT I WOULD LIKE QUARTERLY REPORTS FROM OUR MILITARY BECAUSE THIS IS AN ISSUE THAT I'M VERY SENSITIVE TO AND VERY COMMITTED TO YOU AND I'M GOING TO DO A LITTLE DEEP DIVE ON THAT, BUT ALSO ALERTED ANYBODY BUT COMMISSIONER MOODY, YOUR MILITARY BACKGROUND? I WOULD SUBJECT TO THE APPROVAL OF THE COURT. I WOULD LIKE FOR YOU TO BE THE LAYER SONG FOR COMMISSIONERS COURT AND THE VETERANS OFFICE. OBVIOUSLY, OTHER COMMISSIONERS CAN TELL ME THEY WOULD PREFER, BUT I WOULD LIKE COMMISSIONER MOODY TO BE DESIGNATED AND WE CAN FORMALIZE THAT IF WE NEED TO. MR. WILSON, ONE OF THE ISSUES THAT I FOCUSED ON IN RUNNING FOR THIS OFFICE WAS THE HOMELESSNESS FOR THE VETERANS. I SAY THAT IT'S ON YOUR PRESENTATION, BUT I DON'T INFER ANYTHING, BUT IT'S AT THE VERY END. I WOULD LIKE TO SEE IT AT THE VERY FRONT. BECAUSE I THINK THAT'S ONE OF THE BIGGEST ISSUES FOR THE CHRONIC HOMELESS IS LIKE TRULY BELIEVE UNLESS YOU TELL ME DIFFERENT, THAT THAT IS A POPULATION THAT REALLY CONSISTS OF THE VETERANS WHO REALLY DON'T WANT OR REFUSE SERVICES AND ENGAGE INTO THE RELIEF OUT THERE SUCH AS HAVEN FOR HOPE OR ANY OTHER NON-PROFITS. THEY ARE THE PEOPLE THAT PERHAPS LIVE UNDER THE BRIDGE, LIVE IN THE CULVERTS, LIVE IN THE TREES, SO TO SPEAK. I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW, DO YOU HAVE A STRATEGIC PLAN FOR THAT? BECAUSE THAT IS PROBABLY THE MOST TOUGHEST CROWD. WE'RE PROBABLY DEALING WITH VETERANS WHO HAVE PTSD, PROBABLY HAS SIGNIFICANT MENTAL HEALTH ISSUE, POSSIBLY MENTAL ILLNESS, IN MY OPINION. I THINK THIS IS BASED ON ANECDOTAL EXPERIENCE FROM THE COURTS HAVING DEALT WITH VETERANS. I'M TRULY BELIEVED THAT THOSE VETERANS STILL BELIEVED THAT THERE ON THE BATTLEFIELD, AND THAT'S WHY THEY WON'T COME IN. THEY WON'T TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE SERVICES SUCH AS YOU OR ANYBODY ELSE, AND SO IT'S GOING TO TAKE A SPECIAL EFFORT. I'M HAVING CONVERSATIONS WITH THE LOCAL COMMAND OVER AT FORT BASE FORT SAM ABOUT HOW THE ACTIVE MILITARY AND ALSO THE VETERANS ASSOCIATE VA, HOW THEY CAN BE BETTER ENGAGED AND PERHAPS PARTNERING UP WITH THE COUNTY TO DIRECTLY INVOLVE IT. IN A SIMPLE WAY, [04:30:02] I WANT THEM TO GO OUT AND GET THOSE VETERANS AND ASK THEM AS A CALL OF DUTY FOR THESE VETERANS CHRONIC HOMELESS TO REPORT TO DUTY. I THINK THAT'S THE ONLY WAY WE'RE GOING TO HAVE ANY EFFECT ON THEM, AND SO I JUST WANTED TO PUT THAT ON YOUR RADAR AND ASK FOR A LITTLE BIT WHERE WE'RE GOING WITH THAT SPECIFIC ISSUE. >> JUDGE, WE HAVE JUST RECENTLY IN THE LAST FEW WEEKS, HAD SOME VERY SPECIFIC MEETINGS TO THIS. THE ONLY REASON IT'S WHERE IT'S AT, IT'S BECAUSE WE'RE STILL DEVELOPING. WE MET WITH THE LEADERSHIP FROM GI FORUM. I PUT A LOT OF EFFORT AND EMPHASIS INTO OUR VETERAN HOMELESS. ONE OF THE THINGS I HAD AN OPPORTUNITY A FEW YEARS BACK TO TRAVEL WITH SOME SENIOR LEADERS FROM THE VA TO NEW ORLEANS AND LOOK AT HOW THEY HAD REACHED FUNCTIONAL ZERO ACROSS NEW ORLEANS. THEY'RE LOOKING FOR BEST PRACTICES TO APPLY IN LOS ANGELES COUNTY. ONE OF THE THINGS THAT THEY DID IN NEW ORLEANS WAS WORKING WITH THE MILITARY LEADERSHIP, GETTING SERVICE MEMBERS IN UNIFORM TO WALK OUT WITH SOME OF THE VOLUNTEERS TO SOME OF THE DIFFERENT LOCATIONS AND HAVE THOSE ENGAGEMENT. WE STARTED THAT CONVERSATION. WE'RE ALSO LOOKING AT HOW WE CAN LEVERAGE SOME OF OUR PARTNERS OR RESOURCES TO EXPAND SOME OF THE PROGRAMS. OBVIOUSLY, WE'RE NOT RESOURCED TO DO A LOT OF DIRECT SERVICE FOR VETERANS BEYOND OUR BENEFITS CLAIM, WHICH WE CAN DO. BUT WHERE CAN WE LEVERAGE THE PARTNERSHIPS, AND SO WE'RE IN THE PROCESS RIGHT NOW OF EXPLORING THOSE WHO WILL ABSOLUTELY GIVE YOU A MORE DETAILED UPDATE MOVING FORWARD. >> YOU TOUCHED BASE ON THERE'S GROUPS OUT THERE THAT OUTREACH TO ME. I THINK THE AMERICAN GI FORUM, IS IT STEEP PROFIT, WHATEVER GROUP IS OUT THERE THAT ARE TRYING TO PUT SOME TYPE OF COALITION IN AN ESSENCE CREATES CENTERS. I HAVE FOUR MORNING THE COURT THAT THEY'RE PROBABLY GOING TO COME TO US FOR MONEY, AND SO THAT'S THE REASON WHY I WANT YOU TO BE PROACTIVE BECAUSE I'M GOING TO RELY ON YOUR EXPERTISE TO TELL ME THAT THOSE ARE VIABLE PROGRAMS, THAT THEY'RE SUSTAINED FUNDING, THAT THEY HAVE A DATA METRICS TO MEASURE, AND THESE ARE BIG GOOD INVESTMENTS FOR US IN ORDER TO BEST ADDRESS THE VETERANS. I DON'T WANT DUPLICATION OF SERVICES. I DON'T WANT US SAYING, WE'LL BE THERE TO FEED THEM OR TO CLOTHE THEM. NO, I WANT US TO INTERVENE AND GET THESE VETERANS ON A PATH OF SOBRIETY, GET A PATH OF RESTORATION, AND A PATH OF REHABILITATION. DO YOU UNDERSTAND WHERE I'M AT? >> I DO. YES, SIR. >> I WANT TO BE INVOLVED IN THOSE CONVERSATIONS AND I'M WILLING TO TAKE THE LEAD AND GO UP THE CHAIN OF COMMAND. AS YOU UNDERSTAND IT. >> ABSOLUTELY. I APPRECIATE THE SUPPORT AND THE EMPHASIS. >> ANY OTHER QUESTIONS, COMMENTS? I THINK WE DON'T HAVE TO TAKE ANY ACTION. THANK YOU, MR. WILSON. >> THANK YOU SO MUCH. >> THANK YOU FOR YOUR REPORT. WE'RE GOING TO TAKE TIME CERTAIN DISCUSS, DISCUSSION, [4.d. 11:30 a.m. - Discussion and appropriate action regarding] APPROPRIATE ACTION REGARDING ONE, A PRESENTATION FROM BAKER TILLY REGARDING A MARKET STUDY CONDUCTED ON ALL COUNTY AND PLANTS. TWO, RECOMMENDED CHANGES TO THE CIVILIAN PAY PLANS INCLUDING AN EXECUTIVE EXEMPT, NON-EXEMPT BEXAR COUNTY INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY BCIT PAY PLANS AND NEW ATTORNEY PAY PLAN. THREE, RECOMMENDED CHANGES TO THE SHARE STEP PAY PLANTS. CHRISTINA? >> GOOD AFTERNOON, JUDGE AND COMMISSIONERS TINA SMITH DEAN WITH COUNTY MANAGER'S OFFICE. I'M GOING TO PRESENT TO YOU TODAY ON THE RESULTS OF THE MARKET PAY TABLE STUDY CONDUCTED BY BAKER TILLY. THEY WERE HIRED LAST SUMMER AND THEY'VE DONE ALL OF THEIR WORK. THE TEAM IS HERE, JADA KENT AND SARAH TOWN. THEY'RE GOING TO PRESENT THE CONDUCT OF THE STUDY AND THEN I'LL COME UP AND PRESENT TO THE BOARD ABOUT IMPLEMENTATION RECOMMENDATIONS. >> PLEASE INTRODUCE YOURSELF AND YOUR PARTNER. >> GOOD AFTERNOON, JUDGE AND COMMISSIONERS. MY NAME IS JADA KENT. I LEAD THE PUBLIC SECTOR COMPENSATION PRACTICE AT BAKER TILLY. I'VE GOT SARAH TOWN, A SENIOR CONSULTANT ON MY TEAM WHO HELPED WITH THIS PROJECT. I WANT TO TALK ABOUT HOW WE GOT TO THESE RESULTS, AND I'M GOING TO HIT ON THE MAJOR PHASES OF THE PROJECT THAT WE WENT THROUGH. BEING THE MARKET STUDY ITSELF, HOW WE PLUG THAT INFORMATION INTO PAY PLAN AND THEN THE IMPLEMENTATION PHASE OF THAT. OVERALL, THE PROJECT RAN THROUGH THESE FOUR MAJOR PHASES. WE STARTED BY MEETING WITH THE COUNTIES PROJECT TEAM TO UNDERSTAND THE GOALS AND CHALLENGES FACED BY THE CURRENT PAY STRUCTURES, COLLECTED A WHOLE BUNCH OF INFORMATION FROM THEM, AND THEN WENT OUT TO THE MARKET. WE WORKED WITH THE COUNTY TO COME UP WITH WHO IS YOUR MARKET, WENT OUT AND COLLECTED THAT DATA. THEN ONCE WE HAD THAT IN OUR HANDS, WE LOOKED AT BUILDING NEW PAPER STRUCTURES AND THEN LETTING THAT DATA GUIDE WHERE WE PUT POSITIONS ONTO THOSE PAY PLANS. HERE WE ARE IN THIS LAST PHASE, JUST WRAPPING EVERYTHING UP AND HANDING IT OVER. I'LL GET INTO A LITTLE BIT OF THE PARAMETERS OF THE MARKET STUDY. THE PEER ORGANIZATIONS WE WORKED WITH THE COUNTY TO COME UP WITH A LIST OF PEERS, AND THOSE ARE ORGANIZATIONS THAT LOOK LIKE YOU AND WORK LIKE YOU. [04:35:04] THAT CAN BE SAME SIZE, CERTAINLY SAME SERVICE, BUT ALSO WHO YOU COMPETE FOR TALENT WITH. WHO ARE YOU LOSING EMPLOYEES TO AND GAINING THEM FROM AND MAKING SURE WE'RE FINDING OUT, WELL WHAT ARE THEY PAYING? WE HAD A LIST OF PEER ORGANIZATIONS THAT WE ASKED FOR DATA FROM. FOR THE PRIVATE SECTOR, WE USE PUBLISHED SALARY SURVEY SOURCES TO PLUG IN FOR THOSE POSITIONS THAT ARE ANALOGOUS IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR. A BENCHMARK POSITION BY DEFINITION, THAT'S JUST A POSITION THAT EXISTS COMMONLY THROUGH INDUSTRIES. WE KNOW WE'RE GOING TO FIND A GOOD MATCH FOR THAT. WE WANTED TO FOCUS ON POSITIONS WE KNOW WE'RE ACTUALLY GOING TO GET HITS ON. ONCE WE HAVE THE DATA, THE ADJUSTMENTS THAT WE MADE FOR WORKWEEK AS AN EXAMPLE, IF AN ORGANIZATION IS WORKING AT 37.5 HOUR WORKWEEK VERSUS A 40 HOUR, WE JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE WE'RE PLUGGING IN THE CORRECT HOURLY RATE BEFORE WE'RE DRAWING THOSE CONCLUSIONS. WE ALSO WOULD AGE THE DATA IF IT WAS NOT FOR THE CURRENT FISCAL YEAR, THAT USUALLY JUST APPLIES TO THE BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS. THEY'RE USUALLY ABOUT A YEAR BEHIND, SO WE'LL AGE THAT DATA. I'LL POINT OUT THAT WE DO NOT WAIT THE DATA. NO PEER IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN ANOTHER PEER. THEY ALL GOT PLUGGED IN AND TREAT IT EVENLY. WE MISSED ONE ON THE DATA ADJUSTMENT. WE DO A COST OF LABOR ADJUSTMENT AND I'M GOING TO GET INTO THAT BECAUSE IT'S NOT THE SAME AS COST OF LIVING, IT'S THE COST OF LABOR AND SO THAT MAKES IT MORE SIGNIFICANT WHEN YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT WHAT IS THE COST OF LABOR AND HOW DO WE ADJUST IT. BUT FOR THE QUALITY CONTROL, AS I MENTIONED, WE DON'T WAIT THE DATA. IT'S NOT JUST QUALITY, BUT IT'S ALSO QUANTITY OF DATA. MADE SURE WE HAD ENOUGH MATCHES PER BENCHMARKS BEFORE WE DREW A CONCLUSION ON WHAT IS THE MARKET VALUE. CALLING A GOOD MATCH IS A 75% OVERLAP IN THOSE DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES. HERE ARE THE 17 ORGANIZATIONS THAT WERE IDENTIFIED BY THE COUNTY, THE LIST 1 THROUGH 17, WE WERE ABLE TO COLLECT DATA FROM ALL BUT TWO THAT YOU SEE, A COMAL COUNTY AND GUADALUPE COUNTY WE DO NOT HAVE DATA FOR. THEN THOSE LAST THREE ARE GOING TO BE THE PUBLISHED SOURCES THAT WE USE THAT SERVE AS THAT PRIVATE SECTOR BENCHMARK. TALKING ABOUT COST OF LABOR, THIS IS NOT COST OF LIVING WHERE THE PRICE OF EGGS MAY BE GOING UP. THIS IS WHAT OUR EMPLOYER IS PAYING WAGES TO THEIR WORKERS. WE GET THIS DATA FROM THE ECONOMIC RESEARCH INSTITUTE. THEY PULL IT FROM THE BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS, AND IF YOU'LL SEE THIS TOP LINE, THE COST OF LABOR IN SAN ANTONIO IS 95.3. WE'RE TAKING THE COST OF LABOR FOR ALL OF THESE LOCALITIES AND THEN THE DIFFERENCE FOR WHAT IT IS IN SAN ANTONIO. AS AN EXAMPLE, WE'VE GOT AUSTIN, TEXAS ON HERE. THERE'S THIS 104.2. WE ADJUSTED AUSTIN'S DATA DOWN, 8.9%. THAT'S JUST TAKING THAT REGIONAL INFLUENCE OUT SO WE CAN DRILL DOWN TO WHAT IS THE GOING RATE OF THIS JOB IN DIFFERENT AREAS. >> LET ME DELVE IN A LITTLE BIT TO THIS METRICS OF COST OF LABOR VERSUS COST OF LIVING. IT'S A NEW MATRIX FOR ME. BUT I THINK THAT ONE OF THE BIGGEST ISSUES THAT PEOPLE ARE HAVING RIGHT NOW IS THE COST OF LIVING. PEOPLE ARE VERY CONCERNED ABOUT GROCERY COSTS, GAS COSTS, HOUSING COSTS, AND THEY'RE MAKING DECISIONS UPON JOBS BASED UPON THOSE COSTS AND WHETHER OR NOT TO STAY AT THE COUNTY BASED UPON THOSE COSTS. HOW DO YOU RECONCILE THAT FOR THE COURT? >> WELL, IT'S A SLIPPERY SLOPE. IF YOU THINK OF CPI HISTORICALLY, IT'S JUST ALWAYS UP AND DOWN AND RAPID FALLS SHARP GOING UPWARD. COST OF LABOR TAKES COST OF LIVING INTO CONSIDERATION, BUT AT A MUCH SLOWER PACE. OVER TIME IT'S JUST A VERY INCREMENTAL INCREASE CONSTANTLY UPWARD. >> I COULD ARGUE THAT THAT METHODOLOGY MAY NOT BE THE BEST METHODOLOGY SINCE WE'VE HAD UNPRECEDENTED INFLATION. HOW DO YOU RECONCILE THAT THOUGHT? >> MOST ORGANIZATIONS DO NOT TIE PAY INCREASES FOR AN EXAMPLE TO CPI OR INFLATION. ARGUABLY, ONCE INFLATION PLUMMETS, DO YOU TAKE THOSE RAISES BACK? IF YOU'RE TYING IT TO SOMETHING THAT IS SO VOLATILE, YOU NEED TO SET THE PACE AND EXPECT WHAT'S AN OVERALL AVERAGE OF THINGS GOING ON. >> DID YOUR TABLES AND PROJECTIONS HAVE AN ADJUSTMENT BECAUSE OF THE LAST TWO YEARS OF INFLATION? DID THAT INCREASE ANYTHING IN THE COST OF LABOR? >> IT IS GOING UP SLIGHTLY, BUT IT'S NOT AS RAPID AS OBVIOUSLY THE COST OF LIVING IS GOING UP. >> ALL RIGHT. I JUST NEEDED TO GET THROUGH THAT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. >> NO, YOU'RE FINE. IT'S ALWAYS THE SECTION THAT WE HAVE TO PAUSE ON. BUT ALL THAT IS TO SAY, LOOKING AT WHAT IS THE GOING RATE OF LABOR TAKING OUT THOSE REGIONAL INFLUENCES. ESPECIALLY BECAUSE IF WE NEED TO CAST A PRETTY WIDE NET TO FIND SIMILAR ORGANIZATIONS TO YOU ALL WE WANT TO MAKE SURE WE'RE COMPARING APPLES TO APPLES. OVERALL FROM THE MARKET RESULTS, [04:40:02] WE HAD 777 POSITIONS THAT WERE INCLUDED IN THE STUDY AS A BENCHMARK POSITION. THEN WE HAD OF THOSE 173 HAD INSUFFICIENT DATA AND THAT MEANS LESS THAN THREE MATCHES AND WE COULD NOT MAKE A MARKET VALUE, WE COULDN'T DRAW A CONCLUSION. BUT I'LL POINT OUT THAT FOR THOSE POSITIONS THAT EITHER WEREN'T ORIGINALLY INCLUDED IN THE STUDY OR WE DIDN'T GET ENOUGH DATA. WE DO HAVE OTHER INFORMATION TO MAKE SURE WE'RE KEEPING INTERNAL EQUITIES THE SAME AND GETTING THOSE POSITIONS SLOTTED APPROPRIATELY. BUT OVERALL, THE MARKET STUDY YIELDED 77% OF THE COUNTY'S POSITIONS WITH MARKET DATA, THAT'S A VERY HIGH SUCCESS RATE FOR THE MARKET STUDY. THE RESULTS THAT WE SHARED WITH THE PROJECT TEAM WAS AN AVERAGE OF THE MINIMUM, MIDPOINT AND MAXIMUM BASED ON THE NUMBER OF MATCHES PREPOSITION. BUT THEN ALSO A COMPARISON TO THOSE MIDPOINTS. WE FOCUS ON THE MID POINTS BECAUSE THAT'S COMMONLY OBSERVED TO BE THE "MARKET", SO LOOKING AT CURRENT MIDPOINTS RELATIVE TO THE MARKET. WE ALSO PREPARED US A COUPLE OF DIFFERENT THRESHOLDS LOOKING ABOVE THE MARKET, BELOW THE MARKET JUST TO HAVE THE CONVERSATION ABOUT COMPENSATION PHILOSOPHY AND WHERE DOES THE COUNTY WANT TO ALIGN ITSELF. THE PAID PLANS THAT WE'VE BUILT ARE ALL ALIGNED AT MARKET AT THE MIDPOINT. GETTING INTO THE DISCUSSION ABOUT PAY PLANS, THE COUNTY HAS CURRENTLY FIVE DIFFERENT STRUCTURES FOR EXEMPT, NON-EXEMPT, EXECUTIVE, IT, AND DETENTION AND LAW ENFORCEMENT. THE NUMBER OF PAY PLANS THAT YOU NEED IS REALLY, AS YOU KNOW, BASED ON THE DIVERSITY OF THE JOBS. LAW ENFORCEMENT FOR AN EXAMPLE, IS REALLY SENSITIVE TO THE MARKET. SOMETIMES YOU NEED TO TAKE A DIFFERENT APPROACH AND MAKING ADJUSTMENTS TO THAT PAY STRUCTURE. HAVING THOSE POSITIONS ON A SEPARATE PAGE STRUCTURE ALLOWS YOU TO DO THAT. BUT ANOTHER SET OF POSITIONS THAT ARE HAVING A SIMILAR EXPERIENCE ARE THE ATTORNEYS, AND SO WE BUILT A SEPARATE PAY STRUCTURE FOR THE ATTORNEY POSITIONS AS WELL. I'LL RUN THROUGH THIS, JUST CHARTS AND TABLES, AND NUMBERS AND GRAPHS. BUT I'VE GOT THE EXISTING PAY STRUCTURE FOR ALL FIVE OF THE CURRENT PAY PLANS AND THEN THE PROPOSED ONE THAT WE'VE PREPARED. THIS IS THE CURRENT EXEMPT PAY PLAN. IT'S AN OPEN RANGE PAY PLAN. THAT JUST MEANS THERE'S NOT DEFINED STEPS FROM THE MIN TO THE MAX, IT'S OPEN. THERE'S 15 GRADES IN THIS PAID PLAN, THE RANGE SPREADS, WHICH IS THE DISTANCE FROM THE MINIMUM TO THE MAXIMUM, START AT 37.5, BUT THEN JUMP UP TO 50 AND THEN TO 65. YOU CAN SEE THAT IN THIS CHART, JUST AS THOSE BARS GET WIDER OVER TIME. THE MIDPOINT DIFFERENTIAL IS GOING TO BE THE DISTANCE OF EACH GRADE AT THE MIDPOINT. A LITTLE BIT ALL OVER THE PLACE, 8%, 8.5, 10 AND THEN JUMPING DOWN AGAIN. WHAT WE'VE PREPARED INSTEAD IS MORE INTENTIONAL PROGRESSIONS. THOSE RANGE SPREADS STARTING AT 40-45% AND THEN THE MIDPOINT DIFFERENTIALS ALSO PROGRESSING VERY SLOW. YOU CAN SEE THAT THE STAIR-STEP OF THOSE GRADES IS MORE INTENTIONAL. AS I MENTIONED, WE'VE ALIGNED TO THIS PAY PLAN TO THE MARKET AT THE MIDPOINT. WHEN WE'RE LOOKING AT GETTING POSITIONS ASSIGNED TO THE PAY PLAN, WHAT'S THE MARKET VALUE? WHAT'S THE MIDPOINT THAT'S AS CLOSE TO THAT DATA POINT, AND THEN THAT'S HOW WE HAVE IT ALIGNED TO THE MARKET. NEXT IS A NON-EXEMPT PAY PLAN, ALSO AN OPEN RANGE. I'LL POINT OUT THAT THE RANGE SPREADS ARE ALSO INCONSISTENT HERE, STARTING AT 4% GOING UP TO 48. YOU SEE THERE'S A LOT OF OVERLAP IN THESE GRADES. FOR THAT MATTER, IT ALMOST MAKES IT DIFFICULT TO DISTINGUISH WHAT IS A GRADE 3 VERSUS A GRADE 5, THERE'S SO MUCH OVERLAP. WHAT WE'VE BUILT INSTEAD, MORE INTENTIONAL STEPPING STONES, THIS HAS FEWER GRADES, IT SAYS 12 GRADES. THE RANGE SPREAD IS MORE CONSISTENT AS WELL AS THE MIDPOINT DIFFERENTIAL. THE OTHER THING I WANT TO POINT OUT IS THAT THE NEW MINIMUM WAGE BASED ON THIS NON-EXEMPT PAY SCALE IS GOING TO BE 17.54 PER HOUR, WHICH IS ABOUT A 6% INCREASE OVER WHERE IT IS CURRENTLY. FOR THE EXECUTIVE PAY PLAN, THIS IS A LITTLE BIT SMALLER OF A PAY PLAN. IT'S ONLY GOT FIVE GRADES AND THAT'S BECAUSE WE'RE ACCOMMODATING POSITIONS THAT ARE BASICALLY AT THE SAME LEVEL, JUST DIFFERENT NATURE OF WORK. FEWER GRADES ARE NEEDED JUST TO BUILD OUT A PLAN THAT ACCOMMODATES THE MARKET DATA FOR THOSE POSITIONS. IT'S COMMON TO SEE PRETTY WIDE RANGE BREADTHS FOR EXECUTIVE LEVEL POSITIONS. THERE ARE 75% HERE THOUGH THAT'S PRETTY WIDE. WE'VE DROPPED THAT TO 60%. THAT'S CLOSER TO THE BEST PRACTICE. I JUST WANT TO POINT OUT THAT THE RANGE SPREADS FOR THIS PLAN IS A LITTLE BIT MORE NARROW. FOR THE IT, THIS IS ALSO AN OPEN RANGE PAY PLAN. YOU'LL NOTICE ON THE BAR GRAPH THAT THE MINIMUM TO MID POINT IS WIDER THAN IT IS FROM THE MIDPOINT TO THE MAXIMUM. I'M NOT REALLY SURE WHY, OVERALL THE RANGE SPREAD IS ABOUT 40-45%. BUILDING OUT THE NEW IT PAY PLAN, THIS IS POSITIONS THAT ARE OF THE SAME NATURE BUT JUST ACCOMMODATING DIFFERENT LEVELS. [04:45:02] SO WE'VE GOT 14 GRADES, A LITTLE BIT WIDER, 40%-50% TO ACCOMMODATE THE CAREER PATHS OF THOSE POSITIONS. THEN THE BRAND NEW ATTORNEY PAID PLAN, WHICH IS ALSO OPEN RANGE, IT HAS 11 GRADES. MIDPOINT PROGRESSIONS ARE CONSISTENT AT 8% AND THE SPREADS ARE 50% THROUGHOUT. THEN THIS IS THE CURRENT LAW ENFORCEMENT STEP PLAN AND DETENTION STEP PLAN. WITH THIS PLAN, THERE ARE A FEW YEARS WHERE YOU GO TWO YEARS BEFORE YOU RECEIVE A NEW STEP. ONE AND THEN TWO YOU SKIP AND THEN ONCE YOU GET TO THE THIRD YEAR YOU GET A NEW INCREASE. WHAT WE'VE PREPARED INSTEAD IS A SCENARIO WHERE AN INCREASE WOULD HAPPEN AT EVERY STEP. WE'VE ADDED TWO STEPS, THIS HAS 11 NOW, AND IT'S ABOUT A 7.23% INCREASE IN SALARY TO THE DETENTION CADETS. THEN JUST MAKING SURE THAT WE ARE ACTUALLY GIVING AN INCREASE FOR EVERY YEAR OF STEP. ONCE WE HAVE THESE PAY PLANS BUILT OUT, WE HAD TO GET POSITIONS ONTO THESE PLANS. WE LOOKED AT CURRENT MIDPOINTS FOR ALL POSITIONS AS A WAY TO INITIALLY GET POSITIONS INTO THIS PAY PLAN. IF THE CURRENT MIDPOINT IS 50,000, WHAT'S THE GRADE? WHO HAS A MIDPOINT, THAT'S AS CLOSE TO 50,000 JUST TO GET EVERYONE WHERE THEY CURRENTLY ARE, TO KEEP THAT CURRENT EQUITY. THEN LOOKING AT THE MARKET DATA, IF IT'S SUGGESTED THE POSITION MAY BE NEEDED TO MOVE UP. IF THERE'S A CAREER PROGRESSION WE NEEDED TO ACCOMMODATE, SUPERVISOR SUBORDINATE SEPARATION TO ACCOMMODATE, THOSE DIFFERENT FACTORS, WE MAY HAVE MOVED THE GREAT ASSIGNMENTS TO ACCOMMODATE THOSE. BUT ULTIMATELY OUR RECOMMENDATIONS ARE FOR YOU ALL TO APPROVE THE NEW PAY PLANS, INCLUDING THE ADDITION OF THE ATTORNEY PAY PLAN, ALONG WITH THOSE GREAT ASSIGNMENTS THAT HAVE BEEN ESTABLISHED WITH THE COUNTIES PROJECT TEAM. APPROVE AN IMPLEMENTATION SCENARIO THAT'S GOING TO ADDRESS YOUR PHILOSOPHY ABOUT HOW COMPENSATION IS ADMINISTERED. ONE THAT'S GOING TO ACHIEVE YOUR BUSINESS GOALS, BUT ONE THAT'S ALSO SUSTAINABLE FOR THE YEARS TO COME. MY BIGGEST RECOMMENDATION THOUGH, IS TO CONTINUE EFFORTS LIKE THIS, TO REVIEW YOUR CLASS AND COMP PLAN AND MAKE SURE THAT YOU'RE KEEPING PACE WITH THE MARKET, KEEPING JOB DESCRIPTIONS UP-TO-DATE, AND JUST ADOPTING MARKET ADJUSTMENTS AND MERIT INCREASES TO MOVE EMPLOYEES THROUGH THOSE RANGES. >> THANK YOU. THIS IS THE COUNTY STAFF RECOMMENDATION. WE ARE RECOMMENDING FOR CIVILIAN EMPLOYEES IF THEY MOVE TO THE MINIMUM OF THE NEW PAY GRADE OR RECEIVE A 2% ADJUSTMENT, WHICHEVER IS GREATER. FOR UNIFORMED EMPLOYEES, WE ARE RECOMMENDING THEY MOVE TO THE STEP THAT IS CLOSEST TO THEIR CURRENT SALARY WITHOUT ANY DECREASE. WE PROVIDED THE ANNUAL COST OF THESE ACTIONS THAT INCLUDES SALARY AND BENEFIT LOAD. THERE'S A TABLE HERE THAT SHOWS YOU THE BY PAY TABLE, THE AVERAGE PERCENT INCREASE, THE AVERAGE DOLLAR INCREASE, AND THEN HOW MANY EMPLOYEES RECEIVE CERTAIN PAY INCREASES PERCENTAGES. THIS LAST SLIDE HAS THE RECOMMENDED MOTION. >> MR. RODRIGUEZ, THANK YOU. TINA, YOU WANT TO TALK THROUGH THIS SEPARATELY? THERE'S ALSO A RECOMMENDATION MOTION ON THIS LAST PAGE THAT IS REGARDING OUR DEPUTY SHERIFF DEPUTIES. YOU WANT TO TOUCH BASE ON THAT? >> SURE. WHAT WE'RE RECOMMENDING FOR THE MEMBERS OF THE DEPUTY SHERIFFS ASSOCIATION IS THAT THE COURT APPROVE THE PAY PLANS AND IMPLEMENTATION OF THE SALARY INCREASES WOULD BE CONTINGENT ON APPROVAL BY A VOTE OF THE MAJORITY OF THE MEMBERS. IT WOULD BE EFFECTIVE THE FIRST FULL PAY PERIOD AFTER THAT CONTRACT AMENDMENT IS FULLY EXECUTED, MEANING IT'S BEEN SIGNED BY THE COURT, THE SHERIFF, AND THE DSADC. >> THAT WOULD NOT IMPACT WHAT WE ARE CONTRACTUALLY OBLIGATED TO WHAT THE DEPUTIES IN THE NEW FISCAL YEAR, THEY WOULD STILL GET WHAT THEY'RE ENTITLED TO UNDER THE CONTRACT. >> YES. 2.5% EFFECTIVE OCTOBER 2023. >> REMIND ME, AT LEAST SINCE I'VE BEEN ON THE COURT, WE'VE NOT DONE A STUDY LIKE THIS. WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME WE MADE THIS KIND OF ADJUSTMENT TO THE TABLE? >> WE HAVEN'T IN A LONG TIME DONE AN ADJUSTMENT ON ALL OF THE PAY TABLES. BEFORE THE PANDEMIC, WE WERE DOING A PE TABLES STUDY EVERY YEAR, [04:50:01] SO WE WOULD DO THE EXEMPT PAGE TABLE, THEN WE WOULD DO THE NON-EXEMPT AND THEN WE WOULD DO THE SHERIFFS IN AND TRYING TO MAKE THAT COORDINATE WITH THE COLLECTIVE BARGAINING PROCESS. PRE-PANDEMIC, I THINK YOU STARTED JUST RIGHT AROUND THAT. >>WE DID IT WHEN WE WERE MOVING THE MINIMUM WAGE AT THE COUNTY. >> WE DID IT. I THINK WE DID THAT IN PHASES. >> THREE YEARS. >> YES. WE DIDN'T ACTUALLY DO A PAY STUDY FOR THAT. WE JUST SAID HERE'S WHERE WE WANT TO BE AND LET'S WORK TOWARDS GETTING THERE. >> REGARDING THE COST OF 14.8 MILLION, DO WE HAVE THAT BUDGETED ALREADY? >> YES, WE HAVE FUNDS BUDGETED FOR THIS FISCAL YEAR, TWO FOR IMPLEMENTATION THIS FISCAL YEAR. THEN IN OUR PLANNING NUMBERS AND OUR LONG-RANGE FINANCIAL FORECASTS, WE HAD INCLUDED A $15 MILLION PLUG NUMBER. WORKING UNDER THE ASSUMPTION WOULD COME IN SOMEWHERE IN THAT AMOUNT. WHEN WE START TALKING TO THE COURT ABOUT THE UPCOMING BUDGET, YOU'LL SEE THAT NUMBER AS PART OF OUR FORECAST. >> OKAY. I GUESS THE PLAN FROM YOUR OFFICE, IF THIS IS APPROVED TODAY, IS WHAT THEN TO MEET WITH DEPARTMENTS, EMPLOYEES, HOW WELL YOU ROLLING THIS OUT? >> HOW WE'RE GOING TO ROLL IT OUT IS IF THE COURT APPROVES IT, THE HR DEPARTMENT HAS ALREADY STARTED WORKING ON COST SHEETS, WHICH HAS A LIST OF EVERYBODY'S EMPLOYEES, WHAT TABLE ARE IN GRADE THEY ARE NOW, WHAT THEY WILL BE, AND WHAT THE PERCENTAGE INCREASE WILL BE FOR THOSE EMPLOYEES WILL ASK OFFICES AND DEPARTMENTS TO REVIEW THOSE, TO SIGN OFF IF THERE ARE ANY QUESTIONS, CAN STILL HAVE OFFICES AND DEPARTMENTS REACH OUT TO BAKER TILLY ABOUT SPECIFICALLY HOW THEY DID THE ANALYSIS. BUT IT'S THE SOONER WE GET ALL OF THE PAPERWORK DONE AND SIGN, THE BETTER SO THAT WE CAN GET THIS IMPLEMENTED FOR THE FIRST FULL PAY PERIOD IN MAY, WHICH MEANS IT WOULD SHOW UP IN EMPLOYEES PAYCHECKS ON MAY 31ST. >> I'M SUPPORTIVE OF THIS BOARD. I KNOW NOT EVERYBODY IS GOING TO BE HAPPY. I MEAN, IF SOME PEOPLE ARE GOING TO WANT MORE. I GET THAT. THAT'S JUST PART OF THE DEAL. BUT I HOPE IT LIFTS A SIGNIFICANT NUMBER OVERWHELMINGLY. YOU CAN PICK A NUMBER OF OUR EMPLOYEES UP TO A COMPETITIVE WAGE BECAUSE I KNOW WE'VE LOST FOLKS OVER THE YEARS AND I THINK MAKE ENOUGH ADJUSTMENTS TO TRY AND ADDRESS THAT. I'M RELYING ON OUR CONSULTANTS HERE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE DOING THIS THE RIGHT WAY IMPLEMENTING IT. I THINK THAT TO THE POINT ABOUT NOT EVERYBODY BEING HAPPY, I THINK THE MORE THAT WE TRY TO DEVIATE FROM THEIR RECOMMENDATIONS, THE MORE COMPLICATED THIS BECOMES. BECAUSE OF THAT, JUDGE, I WOULD MOVE THAT WE APPROVE THE RECOMMENDED MOTION IS MADE BY STAFF ON ITEMS A, B, AND C. >> MOTION, BUCK COMMERCIAL RODRIGUEZ, SECOND BY COMMISSIONER CALVERT, ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION COMMISSIONER MR. MOODY? >> JUST A COUPLE OF COMMENTS AND A QUESTION. FIRST OF ALL, I JUST WANTED TO THANK YOU FOR WORKING THIS STUDY. I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE CONTINUE TO KEEP OUR EYE ON THE REST OF THE MARKETPLACE. THIS STUDY ALLOWS US TO DO THAT. YOU MENTIONED SOME BEST PRACTICES. I DON T KNOW. YOU MENTIONED ANNUALLY IN THE RECOMMENDATIONS, BUT WHAT HAVE YOU SEEN IN TERMS OF BEST PRACTICES WITH OTHER LARGE GOVERNMENT ENTITIES IN TERMS OF HOW OFTEN THEY GO OUT FOR A FULL MARKET STUDY VERSUS AN UPDATE AND WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE? >> TO DO A COMPREHENSIVE CLASSIFICATION AND COMPENSATION REVIEW. YOU COULD PROBABLY GET AWAY WITH EVERY 5-7 YEARS. IF YOU'RE HAVING A LOT OF TURNOVER LIKE IT, JOBS HAVE BEEN HOT JOBS FOR TWO DECADES. LAW ENFORCEMENT, I KNOW SKILLED TRADES ARE HOT JOB RIGHT NOW. IF YOU'RE HAVING PAIN POINTS, THEN OBVIOUSLY THOSE ARE THE ONES TO FOCUS ON SOMETHING THAT WORKS REALLY WELL THOUGH IT'S JUST MAYBE LOOKING AT HALF OR A THIRD EVERY YEAR AND JUST LOOKING AT THIS THIRD AND THEN THIS THIRD. THAT WAY YOU'RE KEEPING YOUR FINGER ON THE PULSE IN CASE THE MARKET IS MOVING FASTER FOR SOME PHYSICIANS AND OTHERS. >> THANK YOU. I JUST WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT ON THE LAW ENFORCEMENT AND DETENTION TABLE, IT LOOKS LIKE OVER 77% INCREASE FOR DETENTION CADETS. THOSE JUNIOR DETENTION OFFICERS THAT'S WHERE WE HAD THE MOST STRUGGLE WITH RETENTION AND BEING ABLE TO MAKE SURE WE CAN STAFF THE JAIL PROPERLY. [04:55:02] I THINK THAT THAT WILL BE A GOOD STEP FORWARD ON THAT FRONT. LAST QUESTION I HAD WAS AROUND THE ATTORNEY'S STRUCTURE. I DIDN'T HAVE THE OLD STRUCTURE TO COMPARE IT TO AND LOOK AT THE NUMBERS. BUT WHAT DOES THAT LOOK LIKE GENERALLY VERSUS THE CURRENT STRUCTURE VERSUS THE NEW STRUCTURE THAT YOU DEVELOP? >> CURRENTLY THE ATTORNEYS ARE ON THE EXEMPT PAY PLAN AND WE'RE PULLING THEM OUT AND PUTTING THEM ONTO THEIR OWN. THAT'S REALLY JUST, YOU GET TO TAILOR THE PAY PLAN TO THE DATA THAT YOU HAVE IN THE MARKET IS THAT'S ALSO A PAIN POINT. LOTS OF COUNTIES, ESPECIALLY IN TEXAS, ARE HAVING TROUBLE KEEPING ATTORNEYS. BUILDING THAT SEPARATE PAY PLAN SPECIFICALLY FOR THEM ALLOWS YOU TO BE MORE COMPETITIVE. IT'S JUST A MORE AGGRESSIVE APPROACH THAN THE EXEMPT PLAN FOR THOSE. >> GENERALLY SPEAKING, THERE WAS A SLIGHTLY BIGGER BUMP ON THAT PAY SCALE BASED ON THE FACT THAT YOU NEED TO DEVELOP A SEPARATE ONE OR? >> A BUMPED INDIVIDUAL SALARIES I MEAN SIMPLY FROM THE STANDPOINT OF THE NATURE AND LEVEL OF WORK BEING ACCOMMODATED BY THE RANGE SPREADS THAT WE BUILD OUT. >> COMMISSIONER, YES HE ANSWERS YOUR QUESTION. >> THANK YOU. >> LET ME ASK THIS TEAM LET ME ASK YOU TO STEP FORWARD. >> YES SIR. >> I WANT TO MAKE IT REAL CLEAR FOR THE RECORD. OBVIOUSLY, IT'S A PUBLIC RECORD. OBVIOUSLY NOT ALL THE EMPLOYEES IN THE ROOM. THIS INFORMATION HAS TO BE DISSEMINATED BACK TO THE EMPLOYEES. FIRST AND FOREMOST, WHAT STRIKES ME IS WHAT BAKER TILLY HE'S DONE AND I THINK THEY'VE DONE A GREAT JOB. THIS IS A MARKET STUDY FOR PAY ADJUSTMENT. IS THAT A CORRECT STATEMENT? >> THAT IS CORRECT. >> BECAUSE IF ANYBODY SAYS I DIDN'T GET THE PAY RAISE. THIS IS NOT A PAY RAISE STUDY. >> CORRECT. >> IT IS AN ORDER TO GET THE SALARIES EQUALIZED, AND WE'VE INCLUDED ALL THE MAJOR METROPOLITAN COUNTIES. WE DID NOT GO AROUND AND LOOK AT THE RURAL COUNTIES, IT LOOKS LIKE DID NOT GET INCLUDED IN THIS STUDY. IS THAT CORRECT? >> THAT IS CORRECT. >> HOW IS BUDGET OFFICE THEN GOING TO REACH OUT TO THE EMPLOYEES? HOW ARE YOU GOING TO DISSEMINATE THIS? ARE YOU GOING TO BE MEETING WITH THE ELECTED OFFICIAL DEPARTMENT HEADS OR ARE YOU JUST GOING TO GIVE THEM A MEMO, AND SAY THIS IS WHAT YOU GOT? I REALLY WOULD LIKE AN EXTRA EFFORT THAT BUDGET EXPLAINS SOME OF THE STUFF THAT I'VE JUST SAID AND THEN I'LL ANSWER THEIR QUESTIONS SO THAT WE HAVE DONE THE BEST WE CAN. IN REGARDS TO PAY RAISES I THINK IT'S APPROPRIATE TO SAY, WE'LL TAKE IT UP AT THE NEXT BUDGET. IF THERE'S A BUNCH OF PUSH-BACK ON THIS, THEY HAVE TO UNDERSTAND IT. WE'RE GOING TO TAKE THAT ON CONSIDERATION WHEN WE LOOK AT THE NEXT BUDGET. I THINK MY QUESTION WAS, HOW ARE WE GOING TO DISSEMINATE THE INFORMATION? >> THE OFFICES AND DEPARTMENTS ARE PRETTY FAMILIAR WITH THE COST SHEETS. IT'S A DETAIL. THEY ALL KNOW WHAT THEY ARE. IT'S A LIST OF ALL OF THEIR EMPLOYEES. THEY'LL SEE WHAT THEY'RE GETTING AND THEN WE WILL OFFER, THERE MAY BE SOME PEOPLE WHO MAY NOT NECESSARILY HAVE ANY ISSUES OR QUESTIONS, BUT WE WILL OFFER DEFINITELY OFFER MEETINGS OR PHONE CALLS OR WHATEVER IS REQUIRED TO MAKE SURE THEY UNDERSTAND HOW THIS WORKED AND HOW WE MIGHT MOVE FORWARD [OVERLAPPING] >> I'M GOING TO ASK THAT YOU BE PROACTIVE AND SET UP WORKSHOPS. ONE PERSON COMES, NOBODY COMES, OR THE WHOLE DEPARTMENT COMES. I DON'T WANT ANYBODY TO SAY, WE DIDN'T HAVE ANY INPUT OR IF THEY DIDN'T HAVE THEIR QUESTIONS ANSWERED. ALSO TOO COMMISSIONER CLAY-FLORES ASKED ME TO PUT THIS ON THE DICE. I JUST WANT TO BRING IT TO THE OTHER COMMISSIONERS' ATTENTION. IT'S AN ISSUE THAT I AM ALIGNED WITH COMMISSIONER CLAY-FLORES. THAT IS SHE HAS REQUESTED THAT THE EXECUTIVE LEVEL [OVERLAPPING] I THINK THERE ARE SOME PAY ADJUSTMENTS THAT WILL NOT BE EXCLUDED, BUT FOR THE 2%, SHE'S ASKED THAT THEY BE EXCLUDED, MOVE THAT MONEY DOWN TO THE NON-EXEMPT HOURLY WORKERS. I HAVE ALIGNED MYSELF WITH THAT. OBVIOUSLY, THAT IS NOT ALIGNED WITH THE MOTION. WOULD YOU PLEASE ADDRESS THAT QUESTION OR THAT CONCERN THAT COMMISSIONER CLAY-FLORES HAS THAT I'M CARRYING FORWARD TODAY BECAUSE I BELIEVE COMMISSIONER RODRIGUEZ HAS PUT A MOTION ON. I'M NOT PREPARED TO ASK FOR A FRIENDLY AMENDMENT. I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE IT'S ON THE RECORD THAT WE WERE SUPPORTING [05:00:01] THE HOURLY WORKERS AND THAT WE WERE ASKING OUR EXECUTIVE BRANCH TO SAY, WE'LL TAKE CARE OF YOU LATER, BUT NOT RIGHT NOW. CAN YOU ADDRESS THAT? BECAUSE I THINK IN DISCUSSING THIS ISSUE WITH THE BUDGET OFFICE AND DAVID SMITH, THE MOMENT AND WE START EXCLUDING OR GIVING SPECIAL TREATMENT FOR ANYBODY. EVERYBODY SAYS, WHY CAN I GET THAT? HELP ME UNDERSTAND COMMISSIONER CLAY-FLORES'S CONCERN, AND IF YOU COULD ADDRESS THAT ISSUE FROM THE BUDGET PERSPECTIVE. >> FROM A BUDGET PERSPECTIVE THE PLUGGED NUMBER THAT WE'RE USING IS $15 MILLION. THE PLAN THAT WE PRESENTED TO USE 14.8 MILLION. THE COST TO IMPLEMENT THE EXECUTIVE PAY TABLE INCREASES IS ABOUT 200,000% IF WE WERE TO TAKE THAT OUT, WE'D BE AT 14.6 MILLION, THE COST TO IMPLEMENT THE NON-EXEMPT TO TAKE THAT MONEY AND PUT IT TO THE NON-EXEMPT. I THINK IF YOU WERE JUST TO TAKE THAT 200,000 BACK OF THE NAPKIN, PROBABLY MAYBE 0.3% [OVERLAPPING] MINUSCULE. EXACTLY. THAT WOULD BE AN ORDER FROM A BUDGET PERSPECTIVE TO STAY WITHIN THE BUDGET. THIS IS THE PLAN THAT WE'VE RECOMMENDED. >> TINA, YOU CALCULATED EACH PERCENT INCREASE IN TABLE EARNINGS. >> AT 600,000. >> WE SPEND MORE MONEY OR WE AREN'T GOING TO STICK TO WHAT WE HAVE PLANNED. ANY FURTHER DISCUSSIONS. >> I'LL ADD A COMMENT ON THAT [OVERLAPPING] >> YOU GOT TO GET US TO SENSE PUT IT IN. HOPEFULLY, CAN YOU GET MORE THAN TWO CENTS IN? >> WELL, LET'S SEE. BUT JUDGE, YOU NAILED IT. THIS IS NOT TO GIVE PAY INCREASES. THIS IS A RE-CALIBRATION TO THE MARKET. AS SOON AS YOU START EXCLUDING CERTAIN GROUPS, 2% IS NOT HUGE, BUT IT WILL START TO CREEP INTO COMPRESSION TERRITORY IF YOU'RE NOT MOVING EVERYBODY AT SOME PACE TOWARD THE MARKET RECALIBRATION. YOU'RE TRYING TO ACHIEVE. >> MY BRIEFING, I THINK BUDGET AND I THINK WE'RE ON ZOOM AS I RECALL. ONE OF THE THINGS THAT YOU BROUGHT TO MY ATTENTION THAT THE GROUP OF EMPLOYEES THAT WOULD PROBABLY GET THE BEST ADJUSTMENT, WHICH SOME PEOPLE MAY STILL CALL A PAY RAISE WAS THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE AND THE MID-LEVEL ATTORNEYS. THOSE WERE THE POSITIONS THAT WERE MOST LIKELY GOING TO GET THE HIGHEST ADJUSTMENTS. OBVIOUSLY, THE EXECUTIVES WOULD GET OBVIOUSLY BARE MINIMUM ADJUSTMENT. IS THAT A FAIR STATEMENT? BECAUSE I WANT THE EMPLOYEES OF BEAR COUNTY UNDERSTAND WE'RE TRYING TO DEAL DIRECTLY TO ADJUST THE PAY ADJUSTMENT SO THAT WE CAN TRY TO RETAIN. THEN BY PUTTING THE STEP PAY PROCESS WERE PROVIDED INCENTIVIZATION FOR THEM TO STAY. ISN'T THAT THE ESSENCE OF THIS STUDY? IS THAT REALLY WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO IS REWARD THOSE EMPLOYEES WHO WILL STICK IT OUT AND STAY WITH BEAR COUNTY? >> ABSOLUTELY. THE PAY PLANS WE'VE BUILT OUR SET TO THE MARKET. YOUR PAY POLICIES IT'S WHAT'S GOING TO DO THE REST OF THE JOB. HOW EMPLOYEES MOVE THROUGH THOSE RANGES THAT WE'VE DEFINED AND HOW YOUR STRUCTURES GET UPDATED EVERY YEAR. YOUR PAY POLICIES AND THAT'S THE GUARANTEE OF THIS NEW PLAN. >> TINA, LET ME ASK THE SAME QUESTION. YOU'VE BEEN HERE A LONG TIME. >> YES. >> IS THAT A GOOD PLAN? >> I DO BELIEVE THIS IS A GOOD PLAN. >> I'M READY TO CALL FOR A VOTE. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE. >> AYE. >> ANY OPPOSED? ANY ABSTENTIONS? MOTION CARRIES. GET THE WORD OUT SOME PEOPLE ARE GOING TO GET ADJUSTMENTS AND WE'LL TAKE UP PAY RAISES LATER. I THINK THAT CONCLUDES THE TIME CERTAIN. I APOLOGIZE THAT WE WEREN'T ABLE TO GET TO YOU ON THE TIME CERTAIN I BELIEVE AND COMMISSIONERS HELPED ME OUT OR STAFF HELPED ME. I THINK WE THEN GO TO ITEM 49, [49. Presentation and discussion regarding the following] PRESENTATION DISCUSSION REGARDING THE FOLLOWING OVERVIEW OF THE SOUTHWEST TEXAS CRISIS COLLABORATION ADMINISTERED BY THE SOUTHWEST TEXAS REGIONAL ADVISORY COUNCIL, STRACK, AND ADDRESSING EXCESSIVE USE OF EMERGENCY ROOMS, THE JAIL FACILITIES WITHIN BEAR COUNTY. DUE TO HOMELESSNESS, MENTAL HEALTH AND CHRONIC ILLNESS BE SPECIALIZED, MULTI-DISCIPLINARY, ALTERNATE RESPONSE TEAMS, SMART PROGRAM, OVERVIEW, AND DATA COLLECTION IN 2022 THROUGH QUARTER 1, 2023. DR. BAJADO. >> GOOD AFTERNOON, JUDGE [OVERLAPPING] I WILL SPEAK AS SLOWLY AS I CAN AND STILL BE MINDFUL OF TIME [OVERLAPPING] THEY ALLOCATE TO YOU TODAY. YOU'D LIKE ME TO TALK FASTER [LAUGHTER] [OVERLAPPING] [05:05:03] THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO PROVIDE THIS BRIEFING. THIS IS FOR INFORMATIONAL PURPOSES, ONLY REQUESTED BY COURT MEMBERS. WE WON'T HAVE A RECOMMENDATION AT THE END OF THIS, BUT WE WILL BE GLAD TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS. THIS IS A BRIEFING ON THE SPECIALIZED MULTI-DISCIPLINARY ALTERNATIVE RESPONSE TEAM, ALSO KNOWN AS THE SMART TEAM. I'M ALSO JOINED MR. ERIC EPLEY WAS HERE EARLIER. WE HAD A PREVIOUS COMMITMENT THIS AFTERNOON, SO I APOLOGIZES FOR HIM NOT BEING HERE, BUT I'M JOINED BY KELLY BURNHAM, WHO IS THE DIRECTOR OF THE STCC, THE SOUTHWEST TEXAS CRISIS COLLABORATIVE. I'LL LET HER EXPLAIN HOW THAT RELATES TO STRAP AND ITS RELATIONSHIP. WE'VE HAD A LOT OF DISCUSSION IN COURT OVER THE LAST SEVERAL SESSIONS ABOUT RESTORATION PROGRAMS. OBVIOUSLY, THE JAIL POPULATION IS A HIGH PRIORITY FOR THIS COURSE AND FOR OUR DEPARTMENT OF BEHAVIORAL HEALTH. I'M DIVERSION PROGRAMS, SPECIALTY COURTS. TO PUT IT INTO CONTEXT, THE SMART TEAM IS REALLY ANOTHER TOOL IN THE TOOLBOX TO ADDRESS THAT JAIL POPULATION MUCH MORE UPSTREAM BEFORE FOLKS BECOME JUSTICE-INVOLVED WHO ARE EXPERIENCING MENTAL HEALTH CRISES AS OPPOSED TO CRIMINALIZING THOSE MENTAL HEALTH CRISES AND RESPONDING WITH JUST A PURELY LAW ENFORCEMENT RESPONSE. JUDGE, I APPRECIATE IN PAST SESSIONS THAT YOU'VE HIGHLIGHTED THE NEED TO KNOW WHERE WE'VE BEEN, WHERE WE ARE, AND WHERE WE'RE GOING. PLEASE EXPECT THAT FRAMEWORK GOING FORWARD FOR OUR PRESENTATIONS AND THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT YOU'LL HEAR TODAY. THIS IS A TIMELINE OF THE HISTORY OF HOW THE SMART TEAM HAS BEEN DEVELOPED. AUGUST 28TH, OF 2020, MR. DAMIEN DANIELS WHO IS A MILITARY COMBAT VETERAN RELATING TO THE DISCUSSION WE JUST HAD WITH VETERAN SERVICES, HAD A MENTAL HEALTH CALL AND WAS RESPONDED TO BY BEXAR COUNTY SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT. HE WAS SHOT AND KILLED BY A DEPUTY. IN RESPONSE TO THAT, THE COURT ASKED FOR AN ADJUSTMENT TO HOW MENTAL HEALTH CALLS ARE RESPONDED TO. SINCE SEPTEMBER 10TH, 2020, THERE WAS AN APPROVAL OF FUND AND CONTRACT WITH STRAC, THE SOUTHWEST TEXAS REGIONAL ADVISORY COUNCIL, TO COORDINATE HOW 911 MENTAL HEALTH CALLS ARE ANSWERED USING THE RESPONDER CONTROLLER MODEL. IN OCTOBER 5TH, OF 2020, THERE WAS THE FIRST IMPLEMENTATION OF THE SMART TEAM TO COVER 16 HOURS OF THE DAY MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY, AND THEN OCTOBER 6TH, THERE WAS THE APPROVAL TO EXECUTE THE SMART EXPANSION TO 24/7 COVERAGE TO INCLUDE ADDITIONAL EMS AND THE AGENCY COVERAGE FOR HEALTH CARE SERVICES, CRISIS RESPONSE CLINICIANS, AND ENHANCED FOLLOW-UP CARE. THE GOAL WAS TO APPLY BEST PRACTICES APPROACH TO PROVIDE LAW ENFORCEMENT, BUT ALSO PRIORITIZING NON-LETHAL OUTCOMES AND DECRIMINALIZING MENTAL HEALTH CALLS. >> LET ME JUST STOP YOU THERE, DR. [INAUDIBLE]. >> YES. >> SINCE DAVID SMITH'S JUST STEPPED UP TO YOU AND IF YOU WOULDN'T MIND IN THE STUDY THAT THE COURT ASKED FOR, FOR BUDGET PURPOSES, THE SMART UNIT HAS TO BE INCORPORATED INTO THAT CONVERSATION BECAUSE THIS IS PART OF THE POTENTIAL FUTURE OF POLICING BASED UPON THE NUMBER OF CALLS WITH MENTAL HEALTH ARE THESE CATEGORY CODES THAT WE RESPOND TO IN DISPATCH? HOW DOES THE SMART STAFFING PLAN TO THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT STAFFING? I THINK THAT IS PART OF THE THING THAT HAS NOT BEEN INCLUDED IN THE PAST PER SE. WE JUST TALKED GENERALLY ABOUT LAW ENFORCEMENT, BUT WE HAVE THOUSANDS OF CALLS THAT ARE BEING RESPONDED TO, SO THEY HAVE TO BE INCORPORATED IN THIS SETTING. THANK YOU. >> WE'LL ADDRESS THOSE VACANCIES HERE IN JUST A SECOND IN THE PRESENTATION. THE RECOMMENDED MODEL, COMMISSIONER CALVERT, YOU ALLUDED TO IT EARLIER IN DISCUSSION WITH SHERIFF SALAZAR WAS THE CAHOOTS PROGRAM WHICH IS OUT OF EUGENE, OREGON. OBVIOUSLY MUCH SMALLER POPULATION, DIFFERENT DEMOGRAPHICS, DIFFERENT CHARACTERIZATION OF THAT POPULATION. BUT THAT THE CAHOOTS SERVICES PROVIDED A MENTAL HEALTH CLINICIAN TEAM, PARAMEDIC PEER SUPPORT SPECIALISTS, AND SPECIALLY TRAINED LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS WITH THE 24/7 DISPATCH. NON-EMERGENCY CARE OF FIRST AID FOR NON-CRIMINAL CASES INCLUDING HOMELESSNESS, INTOXICATION, DISORIENTATION, SUBSTANCE ABUSE, AND MENTAL ILLNESS PROBLEMS. CURRENTLY, THE CAHOOTS PROGRAM REALLY ONLY HAS TWO MEMBERS OF THEIR TEAMS, SO THIS IS THE SMART PROGRAM IS AN EXPANSION OF THAT. WE TOOK A BEST PRACTICE AND WE BUILT ON IT, AND SO WE WOULD LIKE TO PRESENT TO YOU THE DATA FROM 2022 FROM LAST YEAR, SO I'LL TURN IT OVER TO KELLY. >> THANK YOU. GOING INTO WHAT THE SMART TEAM ACTUALLY DOES, THE SMART TEAM'S PROGRAM GOALS AND COVERAGE AREA LISTED ON THE SLIDE BEFORE YOU. THEIR GOAL IS TO RESPOND TO 911 MENTAL HEALTH CALLS WITHIN BEXAR COUNTY AND THAT'S ANY TYPE OF 911 CALL THAT COMES INTO BEXAR COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE THAT HAS ANY MENTAL HEALTH NEXUS TO IT. THE DISPATCHER IS NOT SENDING THEM TO JUST A PARTICULAR PROBLEM NATURE, BUT RATHER LISTENING FOR ANY INDICATIONS THAT THE CALLER IS EXPERIENCING OR IS CONCERNED ABOUT SOMEONE EXPERIENCING A MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS. THEIR GOAL IS TO UTILIZE THE LEAST RESTRICTIVE APPROACH TO TAKING CARE OF THAT INDIVIDUAL, AND SO THAT MEANS THAT THEIR FIRST OPTION IS NOT TO EMERGENCY DETAIN THE INDIVIDUAL, [05:10:04] BUT THERE COULD BE OTHER OPTIONS THAT ARE LESS RESTRICTIVE. MAYBE RESOLVING IT ON SCENE, SPENDING AN UNLIMITED AMOUNT OF TIME WITH THAT INDIVIDUAL TO GET THEM CONNECTED TO THE RESOURCES THAT THEY NEED RATHER THAN TYPICALLY YOUR ONLY OPTION AS A PATROL OFFICER TO EMERGENCY DETAIN OR NOT. THEN OF COURSE, WE HAVE A FOLLOW-UP COMPONENT, AS DR. GUAJARDO MENTIONED, TO THE SMART TEAM WHERE WE HAVE FOLLOW-UP CLINICIANS THAT CAN GO OUT EITHER LATER ON THAT DAY OR THE NEXT DAY AND CONNECT INDIVIDUALS TO SERVICES. IN THAT FOLLOW-UP TEAM NOT ONLY CONSIST OF CRISIS RESPONSE MENTAL HEALTH CLINICIANS BUT ALSO PEER SUPPORT SPECIALISTS AS WELL. ON THE MAP THAT YOU'LL SEE, WE ARE IN THAT GREEN, UNINCORPORATED AREA OF BEXAR COUNTY, NOT WITHIN THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO. SMART'S CURRENT RESPONSE IS AT FIVE DAYS A WEEK, THAT'S MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY, 16 HOURS A DAY, 6:00 AM-10:00 PM THEY WORK AS 6A TO 2P SHIFT AND THEN A 2P TO 10P SHIFT. WE HAVE DOUBLED IN SIZE FROM OUR ORIGINAL LAUNCH, SO WE'VE WENT FROM ONE TEAM TO TWO TEAMS. WE'VE GOT AN EAST TEAM THAT COVERS THE EAST SIDE OF THE COUNTY AND THEN A WEST TEAM FOR THE WEST SIDE OF THE COUNTY. THEY DO DRIVE AROUND IN TWO SEPARATE VEHICLES, AND THAT ACTUALLY GIVES THE TEAM THE OPTION TO CHOOSE IF THERE NEEDS TO BE AN EMERGENCY DETENTION AND THEY NEED TO GO IN A VEHICLE WITH A PARTITION OR IF THEY CAN BE TRANSPORTED VOLUNTARILY SOMEWHERE FOR SOME SOCIAL SERVICE OR EVEN INTO A BEHAVIORAL HEALTH FACILITY WITHOUT PARTITIONS. THE WAY THAT SPLIT UP IS THAT LAW ENFORCEMENT RIDES IN ONE VEHICLE AND THEN THE PARAMEDIC AND THE CLINICIAN ARE IN THAT NON-PARTITION VEHICLE. BOTH OF THEM ARE UNMARKED TAHOES THEY LOOK JUST LIKE THAT PICTURE RIGHT THERE. IT'S A VERY LOW-KEY RESPONSE. IT'S NOT SUPER VISIBLE THAT SOMEBODY'S ON SCENE DEALING WITH ANY ONE INDIVIDUAL WHEN THEY'RE THERE. >> HOW MANY VACANCIES DO WE HAVE IN THE SMART TEAM? >> I HAVE A SLIDE THAT LISTS THAT HERE IN JUST A SECOND. WE'RE AT FOUR BEXAR COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICERS TWO. I'M TRYING TO RECALL THE SLIDE. [LAUGHTER] I THINK IT'S ONE CLINICIAN AND THEN FOUR PARAMEDICS, BUT I'LL GO THROUGH EACH OF THOSE POSITIONS HERE IN JUST A SECOND. THEN WE'VE GOT OUR CRISIS RESPONSE CLINICIAN FOLLOW-UP TEAM, WHICH CONSISTS OF FOUR INDIVIDUALS AND THEN AN ADDITIONAL TWO PEER SUPPORT SPECIALISTS. THEIR ROLE ON SCENE OF EACH OF THOSE THREE INDIVIDUALS, THE BEXAR COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE MENTAL HEALTH UNIT OFFICER THAT'S ASSIGNED TO THE TEAM. THEIR ROLE IS PRIMARILY SECURING THE SCENE AND MAKING SURE THAT EVERYONE, BOTH THE PATIENT AND THE REST OF THE TEAM STAYS SAFE. THEN IF THEY NEED TO PERFORM AN EMERGENCY DETENTION, THE STATE OF TEXAS REQUIRES THE LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER DO THAT, AND THEN THEY ARE A METHOD OF TRANSPORTATION IF THEY DO DECIDE THAT THEY NEED TO GO IN THAT VEHICLE WITH THE PARTITION. THE PARAMEDIC'S ROLE ON SCENE IS TO MEDICALLY ASSESS THE INDIVIDUAL BECAUSE WE ALL KNOW THAT A LOT OF MEDICAL CONCERNS CAN LOOK LIKE MENTAL HEALTH CONCERNS, SO THEIR JOB IS TO MAKE SURE THAT THE PATIENT IS NOT EXPERIENCING SOMETHING MEDICAL THAT WOULD NEED TO GO TO AN EMERGENCY ROOM FOR TREATMENT. THEY ARE MOBILE INTEGRATED HEALTH CARE PARAMEDICS, SO THEY'RE ABLE TO DO A SOCIAL DETERMINANTS OF HEALTH ASSESSMENT AND HELP NAVIGATE THAT PERSON TO ANY RESOURCES THAT THEY MIGHT NEED AS WELL. THEN THE MENTAL HEALTH CLINICIAN'S ROLE ON SCENE IS REALLY TO SPEND THE MAJORITY OF THE TIME WITH THAT INDIVIDUAL DEESCALATING THE CRISIS AND ASSESSING THEM FOR ANY IMMEDIATE NEEDS THAT THEY MIGHT NEED AND THEN ALSO NAVIGATING THEM TO ANY SERVICES THAT THEY MAY NEED. ALL THREE OF THESE TEAM MEMBERS HAVE UNDERGONE THE CRISIS INTERVENTION TRAINING, SO ALL ARE PRETTY WELL-PREPARED TO DEAL WITH THE CRISIS THAT THEY'RE OUT IN THE COMMUNITY DEALING WITH. FROM 2022, WE HAVE HAD ZERO INCIDENCE OF USE OF FORCE BY SMART. IF YOU COMPARE THAT TO THE USE OF FORCE FROM EVERY OTHER BEXAR COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE UNIT, THEY WERE AT 86 USES OF FORCE THROUGHOUT 2022 OF THE 218,000 CALLS VERSUS SMART AT ZERO. THEY HAD JUST OVER 1,000 CALLS FOR SERVICE. SEVENTY SIX PERCENT OF THOSE CALLS WERE EITHER RESOLVED ON SCENE OR TAKEN TO THE APPROPRIATE LEVEL OF TREATMENT, SO THAT COULD HAVE INVOLVED THE TRANSPORT TO A FACILITY AS WELL. SEVENTY NINE PERCENT OF INDIVIDUALS RECEIVED CHCS, WHICH IS OUR LOCAL MENTAL HEALTH AUTHORITY SERVICES FOR THE VERY FIRST TIME, WHICH TELLS US THAT WE'RE REALLY FINDING A WHOLE NEW COMMUNITY OF INDIVIDUALS THAT WE WERE NOT NECESSARILY SEEING BEFORE. THEN 39 PERCENT OF INDIVIDUALS WERE CONNECTED TO A NEWER ESTABLISHED PROVIDER. THAT MEANT THAT WE GOT THEM EITHER BACK INTO THEIR EXISTING DOCTOR OR WE GOT THEM INTO ONE. >> DO WE KNOW HOW MANY TOTAL CALLS FOR SERVICE BEXAR COUNTY SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT GETS? >> THAT NUMBER OF 218,000 WAS FROM 2022. >> I JUST WANT TO UNDERSTAND. THAT'S A TOTAL? >> TOTAL CALLS FOR SERVICE ON ALL PROBLEM METRICS. >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. >> A LITTLE BIT FURTHER INTO THE DATA OF THE 2022 DISPATCHED RESPONSES. THESE ARE THE PROBLEM NATURES AS I INDICATED EARLIER, THE TEAM CAN GO TO ANY PROBLEM NATURE. THEY'RE NOT NARROWED DOWN TO JUST SPECIFIC ONES. BY FAR, WELFARE CHECKS AND DISTURBANCES LEAD THE PACK ON THE TYPE OF PROBLEM NATURES THAT THEY'RE GOING TO. [05:15:02] OUR AVERAGE RESPONSE TIME IS ABOUT 28 MINUTES. THAT'S ACTUALLY WAY DOWN FROM WHEN WE HAD ONE TEAM IN THE COUNTY AND THEY WERE HAVING TO DRIVE A PRETTY SIGNIFICANT LENGTH BACK IN EAST AND WEST. THEN THEY SPEND AN AVERAGE OF ABOUT AN HOUR ON SCENE, SO THEY HAVE MORE TIME TO ACTUALLY INTERACT WITH THE PATIENT AND TAKE THEIR TIME TO FIGURE OUT WHAT'S GOING ON. YOU CAN SEE OUR DAYS OF THE WEEK ARE PRETTY EQUAL, THE NUMBER OF CALLS THROUGHOUT EACH DAY. THEN OUR TIMES OF DAY RANGE FROM ABOUT 11:00 AND 12:00 IN THE MORNING TO SIX AND SEVEN O'CLOCK IN THE AFTERNOON. EVENING BEING OUR BUSIEST TIME. >> WE DON'T HAVE SATURDAY AND SUNDAY CALLS? >> WE DON'T HAVE A TEAM ON SATURDAY AND SUNDAY YET, AND THE REASON FOR THAT IS BECAUSE OF STAFFING. WE COMPARED THE SMART TEAM TO THE CAHOOTS TEAM AND PUT THIS INTO A MATRIX SO THAT YOU GUYS COULD SEE THE MODEL THAT WE WERE MODELING SMART AFTER. THE 24/7 TEAM IS STILL PENDING, SO WE'RE STILL PENDING THAT 10P TO 6A TIMEFRAME, WHICH IS ALL A STAFFING CONCERN IN THAT IT'S TRYING TO FIND THE RIGHT STAFF. BOTH DO HAVE A FOLLOW-UP COMPONENT TO IT. BOTH CAN RESPOND TO BOTH MENTAL HEALTH AND SOCIAL NEED-ONLY CALLS. SMART DOES HAVE PEER SUPPORT INVOLVED VERSUS CAHOOTS THAT DOES NOT. MEDICAL SUPPORT INCLUDED IN BOTH AND THEN THE BIG DIFFERENCE BEING IN LAW ENFORCEMENT IS ATTACHED TO THE SMART TEAM. >> HOW DID WE GET THE BEXAR COUNTY FIRE DEPARTMENT NUMBER 2 INVOLVED AND THE OTHER ONE'S NOT? >> WE HAD TO GO OUT FOR A REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS BECAUSE OF THE RPA FUNDING FOR THE EXPANSION, AND WHEN WE RELEASE THAT REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS WE HAD TWO EMS AGENCIES RESPOND, ACADIAN AMBULANCE AND BEXAR COUNTY FIRE DISTRICT. >> DOES ACADIAN HANDLE EAST PATROL AND BEXAR COUNTY TO WEST? >> RIGHT NOW WE HAVE FOUR ACADIAN PARAMEDICS ON THE TEAM, WE'RE PENDING FOR DISTRICT 2. THEY'RE GOING THROUGH THEIR HIRING PROCESS RIGHT NOW TO BE ABLE TO BRING ON THOSE INDIVIDUALS AND THERE'LL BE STAFFED ON BOTH. BC2 WILL SPLIT THE SHIFTS WHEREVER THE NEED IS, SO THEY WON'T JUST BE EAST OR WEST. THE ITEMS YOU SEE IN FRONT OF YOU ARE WHAT WE'RE PENDING FOR PROGRAM EXPANSION. WE NEED THE 10:00 PM TO 6:00 AM EAST AND WEST SHIFTS, WE NEED TO ADD SATURDAYS AND SUNDAYS. ALL OF THAT IS HELD UP DUE TO STAFFING. THE ACADIAN AMBULANCE AND BEXAR COUNTY DISTRICT 2 RESPONDED TO THE REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS FOR THE EMS SIDE AND THEN THE CENTER FOR HEALTH CARE SERVICES WAS OUR ONLY RESPONDENT FOR THE MENTAL HEALTH SIDE. AGAIN, OUR EXPANSION BARRIERS, OUR WORKFORCE, ALL OF OUR SUPPLIES, EQUIPMENT, EVERYTHING ELSE HAS BEEN PROCURED. IT'S STRICTLY A WORKFORCE CONCERN AT THIS POINT. IT'S FOUR PARAMEDICS, ONE CLINICIAN, AND FOUR DEPUTIES. THAT'S IT FOR MY PRESENTATION IF YOU HAVE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS. >> WHAT IS THE TIMELINE ON STAFFING THIS FULLY AS ACCORD INTENDED? WE REALLY ARE BEHIND, I THINK IN TERMS OF THE SATURDAY SUNDAY, AND THE 24/7. MOST OF THIS IS IN THE HANDS OF THE SHERIFF, I GUESS, AND THE DEPARTMENT. >> IT'S BOTH THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE AND THE AMBULANCE. WE NEED THE FOUR PARAMEDICS FROM DISTRICT TO LIKE I SAID, THEY JUST CLOSED THEIR HIRING PROCESS. THEY HAD, I THINK SIX RESPONDENTS FOR THE HIRING PROCESS. WE'RE HOPING THAT WE AT LEAST GET FOUR OUT OF THAT BATCH. THEY'LL GO THROUGH TRAINING AND WE'RE HOPING LATE SUMMER THAT WILL BE ABLE TO BRING THEM ON BOARD. >> FROM A PUBLIC SAFETY STANDPOINT, DISTURBANCES BEING TOP THING THAT PEOPLE HAVE, I THINK THE MOST FEAR AND CONCERN OVER. I THINK SATURDAY, SUNDAY IS A VERY IMPORTANT TIME WHERE PEOPLE ARE USING OR MISUSING DRUGS AND ALCOHOL AND THINGS GET OUT OF HAND. I THINK FROM A PUBLIC SAFETY STANDPOINT, WE REALLY NEED TO SEE SOME MOVEMENT IN TERMS OF THE STAFFING ISSUES. IT CONCERNS ME THAT WE'RE NOT ON WEEKENDS AND WE'RE NOT 24/7. SO THIS IS A GOOD DAY TO BRING THIS UP THAT I THINK IT'S THE INFORMATION THAT WE'RE NOT COVERING THAT DATA OF, EVEN HOW DOES A WEEKEND CHANGE THE OVERALL THE CALLS. >> I DIDN'T PROVIDE IT IN THIS SLIDESHOW, BUT I CAN CERTAINLY GET IT TO YOU THAT WE DO HEAT MAP ALL OF OUR CALLS EVEN ON SATURDAYS AND SUNDAYS. BEXAR COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE HAS HELPED US TO BE ABLE TO FLAG THE CALLS THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN SMART HAD A SMART UNIT BEEN ON, AND WE CAN SUPPLY THAT INFORMATION. SATURDAYS AND SUNDAYS ARE TYPICALLY LOWER VOLUME THAN MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY. >> HOW MANY CALLS DO YOU THINK HAVE COME IN ON WEEKENDS? >> I WOULD HATE TO. >> THAT'S ALL RIGHT. WE'LL GET IT LATER. JUDGE, THANK YOU VERY MUCH. >> COMMISSIONER MOODY. >> WELL, THANK YOU FOR THE UPDATE. I THINK THIS IS AN INNOVATIVE WAY TO DEAL WITH [05:20:03] CERTAIN SITUATIONS AND LOOK FORWARD TO LEARNING MORE AND FIGURING OUT HOW IT CAN BE PROPERLY UTILIZED AND EXPANDED. ON YOUR SLIDE, I'M NOT SURE WHICH SLIDE IT IS, BUT THE BEXAR COUNTY SHERIFF'S DEPUTY ROLES SECURE THE SCENE. CAN YOU JUST QUICKLY HIGHLIGHT IS THERE JUST ONE DEPUTY THAT THE RIDES ON THE RESPONSE AND THEIR FIRST OUT OF THE VEHICLE? >> YEAH. THAT'S EXACTLY RIGHT. BECAUSE THEY'RE IN TWO VEHICLES THAT ACTUALLY ALLOWS THEM A LOT OF FLEXIBILITY IN ALLOWING THE OFFICER TO APPROACH FIRST. JUST GET EYES ON THE SCENE, MAKES SURE THAT NOTHING APPEARS OUT OF THE ORDINARY AND THEN HE BACKS BACK AND THE CLINICIANS AND THE MEDIC WALK UP. >> OKAY. THANK YOU. >> CAN I JUST OFFER AS WELL, BUT ALL MEMBERS OF THE SMART TEAM ARE DRESSED SIMILARLY, SO YOU DON'T HAVE LAW ENFORCEMENT THAT ARE DRESSED IN FULL UNIFORM, BECAUSE IT IS A SENSITIVE SITUATION, ESPECIALLY FOR THE PERSON THAT IS FOR THE CALL. WANT TO DE-ESCALATE AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE. SO HAVING THE PRESENCE OF A LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER ON SCENE ISN'T IMMEDIATELY OBVIOUS, BUT THEY ARE THERE TO SECURE THE SCENE. >> OKAY. I KNOW YOU HIGHLIGHT THE ZERO INCIDENTS WITH USE OF FORCE, AND OBVIOUSLY THAT'S A GOOD THING. WE DON'T WANT TO HAVE INCIDENCE OF USE OF FORCE. I JUST ALSO WANT TO CAUTION IF YOU INDEX TOO FAR TO ENSURING THAT FORCE IS NEVER UTILIZED, YOU DON'T WANT TO PUT THAT DEPUTY OR ANYONE ELSE ON THE TEAM IN A BAD SITUATION WHERE THEY COULD BE AT RISK. WE JUST HAVE TO BE CAUTIOUS ABOUT THAT I THINK GOING FORWARD. TO THAT SAME POINT, OBVIOUSLY WHEN WE TALK ABOUT WELFARE CHECKS, SUICIDE, THREATENED, DISTURBANCES. THOSE CLEARLY MAKES SENSE HERE. I'M A LITTLE MORE CONCERNED THOUGH SOME OF THE CATEGORIES YOU HAVE HERE, YOU DO HAVE ONE SHOOTING. YOU HAVE 12 ASSAULT AND AGGRAVATED WEAPON. HOW DO YOU TALK TO THOSE AND WHY IS THE SMART TEAM BEING CALLED INTO WHAT COULD POTENTIALLY BE A GUNFIGHT? >> THAT ONE SHOOTING WAS ACTUALLY NOT A SHOOTING. SOME OF THOSE ARE THE WAY THAT THE DISPATCHER CODES THE CALL INITIALLY, WHICH COULD COME FROM MULTIPLE SOURCES. THERE COULD BE SEVERAL COLORS ON ONE EVENT AND THEY DON'T CHANGE THE PROBLEM NATURE TO WHAT THE CALL ACTUALLY BECOMES. IT COULD BE THAT PATROL MAYBE WENT OUT THERE, REALIZE THIS IS NOT A SHOOTING AND THEN CALLED FOR THE SMART TEAM TO MAKE THE LOCATION. >> OKAY. THAT MAKES ME FEEL BETTER. THANK YOU. >> MR. RODRIGUEZ. >> YEAH JUDGE, THANK YOU. THANKS FOR THE UPDATE. I APPRECIATE IT. IF I REMEMBER CORRECTLY, DAVID, CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG, BUT I THINK THIS WAS ONE OF THE FIRST INVESTMENTS WE MADE OUT OF ARPA WAS TO ESTABLISH THE SMART UNIT. >> IT WAS. >> IT WAS. THIS IS GOING TO BE ONE OF THOSE THAT DOWN THE ROAD WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO FIGURE OUT. I DON'T THINK WE'RE GOING TO DISCONTINUE IT BECAUSE IT'S INCREASINGLY A NEED IN OUR COMMUNITY BUT HOW DO WE SUSTAIN THAT FUNDING. IF IT'S A DISCUSSION FOR A FUTURE COURT MEETING. BUT I THINK YOU'RE DOING GREAT WORK, AND NOT TO BELABOR THIS EITHER BECAUSE WE HAD A LONG DISCUSSION THIS MORNING ABOUT LAW ENFORCEMENT, BUT IT'S PART OF THE REASON WHY I WANTED TO, I PREFER TO HAVE A MORE COMPREHENSIVE DISCUSSION ABOUT THE PUBLIC SAFETY NEEDS IN OUR COMMUNITY. I KNOW THERE WAS A DISCUSSION ABOUT 50 OFFICERS THIS MORNING. THE REALITY IS, WHEN WE LOOK AT IT COMPREHENSIVELY, THE SMART UNIT, EVEN THOUGH YOU'RE TAKING AN APPROACH THAT IS IN SOME WAYS ON UNIFORMED OR PLANE CLOSED FOLKS, THERE IS A ROLE FOR UNIFORMED OFFICER TO BE PRESENT. AS WE EXPAND THAT, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO CONSIDER THAT AS WELL IN ADDITION TO WHAT WE HAD THE DISCUSSION ABOUT THIS MORNING. ANYWAY, I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE WE PUT THAT IN CONTEXT. THAT AGAIN, WHEN IT COMES TO WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DO THIS BUDGET CYCLE, WE LOOK AT IT COMPREHENSIVELY BECAUSE THESE THINGS DON'T WORK INDEPENDENTLY. THEY ALL WORK TOGETHER. I HOPE THAT OUR FRIENDS AT THE UNION AND THE SHERIFF ARE ON BOARD WITH THAT BECAUSE IT NEEDS TO BE INTEGRATED. BUT AGAIN, I JUST WANT TO THANK YOU FOR THE UPDATE. I KNOW COMMISSIONER CALVERT, THANK YOU. I THINK YOU WERE THE ONE THAT ASKED FOR THIS UPDATE. I THINK IT WAS TIMELY AND CERTAINLY SOMETHING THAT WE WANT TO CONTINUE TO INVEST IN AS THE COMMUNITY GROWS, AND SO IT'S ALWAYS GOOD TO SEE THE RESULTS OF THE INVESTMENT THE COURT MADE BACK IN 2020. THANK YOU, JUDGE. THAT'S ALL I GOT. >> COMMISSIONER CALVIN. >> COMMISSIONER RODRIGUEZ ON ADDRESSING THE LONG-TERM SUSTAINABILITY, [05:25:01] THAT'S WHY I ASKED IN THIS STUDY THAT THE SMART PROGRAM BE INTEGRATED BECAUSE THERE SHOULD BE SOME RECOMMENDATION FOR THESE PARTICULAR ALLOTMENTS. >> ABSOLUTELY. >> I'M A NEW MEMBER, SO I WASN'T HERE WHEN IT STARTED. LET ME JUST GET CAUGHT UP. HOW DOES THE SMART TEAM GET ENACTED? IN OTHER WORDS, WHAT ACTIVATES THEM? IS IT THE DISPATCH? IS IT A BEXAR COUNTY SHERIFF OR SAPD OFFICER? HOW DOES SMART KICK IN? >> IT CAN BE A COMBINATION OF TWO THINGS. IT CAN BE A 911 DISPATCH FROM THE START OR IT CAN BE A PATROL UNIT THAT GETS DISPATCHED TO SOMETHING THAT MAYBE WE DIDN'T REALIZE WAS MENTAL HEALTH. THEY GET THERE AND REALIZE IT'S MENTAL HEALTH AND THEN THEY CAN CALL FOR THE SMART TEAM. >> HOW MUCH MORE TRAINING IS NECESSARY TO HAVE THE SYSTEM USE THIS AS A MATTER, OF COURSE, NORMALIZING THAT WE HAVE A LOT OF CALLS THAT DEAL WITH MENTAL HEALTH? OBVIOUSLY, I WOULD SUGGEST THAT A LOT OF CALLS ARE MISDIAGNOSIS, SO TO SPEAK. THEY ARE MENTAL HEALTH BUT THEY'RE TREATED AS CRIME SCENE. HELP ME UNDERSTAND THAT WORLD. WHAT ULTIMATELY THE SMART NEED AND WHAT IS THE SHERIFF NEED? WHAT DOES DR. ARNOLD NEED? >> THERE'S A LOT OF ANSWERS THERE. [LAUGHTER] WE DID AND HAVE CONTINUED TO DO ROLL-CALL VISITS WITH ALL OF THE PATROL DEPUTY SO THAT THEY'RE AWARE THAT THE SMART TEAM EXIST. THAT DID TAKE US SOME TIME TO GET ADOPTION FROM THE PATROL UNITS. I WILL SAY THAT SINCE WE WENT TO A SECOND TEAM AND WE WERE ABLE TO MOVE THOSE TWO TEAMS INTO THE SUBSTATIONS OF BCSO, NOW THAT RELATIONSHIP HAS BLOSSOMED AND PATROL OFTEN CALLS FOR SMART IF THEY GET THERE AND REALIZE. I DON'T WANT TO SPEAK FOR BCSO ON THE TRAINING THAT THEY DO. I'M POSITIVE THERE'S SOME CIT TRAINING INVOLVED IN THERE WITH THEIR CADETS, BUT CONSISTENT TALKING ABOUT HOW TO BETTER UTILIZE THIS SMART TEAM. THE OTHER PROBLEM NOT BEING 24/7 AND NOT BEING SEVEN DAYS A WEEK, IS THAT YOU HAVE TO REMEMBER WHEN THE TEAM IS ON AND WHEN THEY'RE NOT VERSUS JUST KNOWING I CAN CALL FOR THE SMART TEAM ANYTIME I'M WORKING A SHIFT, MAYBE THAT'S AN OVERTIME SHIFT THAT IS NOT MY NORMAL TIME. >> WELL, I'M GLAD YOU MENTIONED THAT BECAUSE THAT'S DYNAMIC I LEARNED FROM WORKING WITH CHILD PROTECTIVE SERVICES AND CASEWORKERS AND REFERRAL TO SERVICES ARE SUCH TURNOVER. I DON'T ASSUME THAT THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT HAS THAT SAME DYNAMIC THERE'S SUCH TURNOVER THAT YOU CONSTANTLY HAVE TO BE OUTREACHING. I WOULD SUGGEST THAT YOU HAVE TO TAKE CONTROL OF TRAINING, EITHER BEING PART OF THE TRAINING THAT THE DEPUTIES GO THROUGH OR ONGOING TRAINING. OTHERWISE, AT SOME POINT PEOPLE THEY'LL FORGET ABOUT YOU. WHAT'S THE LONG-RANGE PLAN IN REGARDS TO COVERING THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO, IS THAT SOMETHING THAT'S ON THE HORIZON OR IS JUST PURELY NOT? WE'RE GOING TO SAN COUNTY AND WE'LL STAY WITH THE UNINCORPORATED AREAS. HAVING SAID THAT, HOW DO WE HELP THE MUNICIPALITIES? >> THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO HAS LAUNCHED THEIR MULTIDISCIPLINARY TEAM AS WELL. THEY LAUNCHED THAT WOULD JUST HIT THE ONE-YEAR WITH THAT. THEY'VE GOT THE SAN ANTONIO COMMUNITY OUTREACH AND RESILIENCY EFFORT AS THE CORE TEAM THAT'S ALSO RESPONDING TO 911 MENTAL HEALTH CALLS THAT JUST COMPLETED ITS PILOT PHASE IN THEIR DISCUSSING EXPANSION AS WELL. >> IS THERE ANY COORDINATION WITH THE STRAP? >> YES. >> APPRECIATED. DARKER GUARANA, WHAT DO YOU NEED? >> I'M SORRY, REPEAT THE QUESTION. I DIDN'T HEAR WHAT YOU SAID. >> WHAT'S THAT? >> DID YOU ASK A QUESTION? >> YES. WHAT DO YOU NEED? >> WHAT DO I NEED? WELL, AS MR. LIBRETTO IS TRANSITIONING OUT OF HIS ROLE THERE, THE ENGAGEMENT AND ADMINISTRATIVE PIECE OF THIS AS MOVING OVER TOWARD BEHAVIORAL HEALTH. FOR US, CONTINUED SUPPORT, THE ABILITY TO BRIEF YOU AND UPDATE YOU IN THIS WAY, AND REALLY PARTNERSHIP WITH WITH STRACK, THEIR COUNTY IS OFFICIALLY A PART OF THE SOUTHWEST TEXAS CRISIS COLLABORATIVE. WE ATTEND THOSE MEETINGS MONTHLY WITH THEM. THAT'S WHAT WE NEED. >> I DON'T THINK YOU ANSWERED THE JUDGE'S QUESTION ABOUT THE SUBURBAN CITIES. ARE WE COVERING THEM WITH SMACK? >> YEAH >> YES. SORRY. I WAS SPEAKING TO THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO. SMACK CAN RESPOND TO THE CITIES THAT ARE WITHIN THE COUNTY. AREAS LIKE CONVERSE. >> IT'S NOT TYPICAL. WE HAVE TO BE CALLED THEM. >> WE WOULD HAVE TO BE CALLED BY THEN. >> WHO WOULD CITIES HAVE ASKED FOR HELP? >> CONVERSE, KIRBY, VON ARMY. THINKING GIVEN THE TOP OF MY HEAD. >> WE COULD DO A BETTER JOB OF OUTREACHING THROUGH THE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS THAT KNOW THEIR PRECINCTS WELL AND KNOW WHICH MUNICIPALITIES NEED SERVICES? >> IF THEY ARE DISPATCHED BY BEXAR COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE, [05:30:02] THEN THEY WILL GET A SMART RESPONSE. IF NOT, IT WOULD HAVE TO BE SOMEBODY CALLING SPECIFICALLY FOR THAT. >> THANK YOU. APPRECIATE IT. ANYTHING ELSE? >> KELLY, AGAIN YOU MIGHT BE ABLE TO EXPLAIN A LITTLE BIT BETTER, BUT I THINK IF YOU VISIT STRACK AND SORT OF SEE HOW THE 911 ROOM LOOKS, THEY'RE ACTUALLY CLINICIANS THAT SIT TO YOUR QUESTION ABOUT HOW DO WE DETERMINE WHO GETS SENT OUT AND WHEN THEIR CLINICIANS SITTING IN THE ROOM THAT CAN HELP DETERMINE WHETHER OR NOT THAT NEEDS TO BE CLASSIFIED AS A MENTAL HEALTH CALL. >> THAT CALL ACTUALLY COMES INTO THE PIECE APP NOT IN DISTRESS? >> YEAH. >> THERE ARE NO MENTAL HEALTH CLINICIANS AND DISPATCH. HOWEVER, BEXAR COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE HAS BEEN VERY, VERY INVOLVED FROM THEIR DISPATCH END IN THE CREATION OF SMACK I MEAN, WE HAVE A DISPATCHER THAT COMES TO OUR MEETINGS, THE DISPATCH SUPERVISOR. THEY'RE PRETTY PLUGGED IN ON MAKING SURE THEIR STAFF IS WELL TRAINED ON PICKING UP ON THOSE MENTAL HEALTH INDICATORS. >> GATE ONE, THAT'S THE NEW MENTAL HEALTH NUMBER. IS THAT PART OF THIS? >> NINE EIGHTY EIGHT? >> I'M SORRY, 911, RIGHT. WELL, ONE IS I THINK POWER OR SOMETHING. SORRY. >> IT IS NOT YET. THEY ARE REFINING THAT PROCESS JUST AS IT TOOK 911 A REALLY LONG TIME TO BE AS SOPHISTICATED AS IT IS, 988 IS STILL WORKING THROUGH SOME OF THAT. >> JUST HEAR THAT THERE ONCE 988 IS SET UP, THERE WILL BE A LOT MORE CALLS COMING IN FOR THIS UNIT A LOT MORE. >> WELL, LET ME THANK THE STRACK, THE BEXAR COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE, OUR NEW PUBLIC HEALTH ENTITY AND EVERYBODY INVOLVED MENTAL HEALTH, MR. GILBERT, THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. THANK YOU FOR EVERYONE THAT'S PART OF THIS WONDERFUL PROGRAM. YOU ALL HAVE A NICE DAY. YOU DON'T NEED ANY ACCIDENT, RIGHT? >> NO. >> I BELIEVE WE'RE COMING TO THE END HERE 52, DISCUSSION, [52. Discussion and appropriate action regarding Bexar County's Legislative Program and the 88th Session of the Texas Legislature. ] APPROPRIATE ACTION REGARDING BEXAR COUNTY'S LEGISLATIVE PROGRAM, THE ADA SESSION AND TECH'S LEAD CHANGE. MS. SHANNON. HOLD YOUR HARM. >> PARDON ME. >> HOLD YOUR ARM? >> SURGERY ON THURSDAY. >> YEAH. >> OKAY. >> IT'S GREAT. >> WHEN I HEARD ABOUT HER SURGERY OR HER INJURY, I SAID IT'S THE CAPITAL TWO BEXAR COUNTY NIL THIS AFTERNOON. [LAUGHTER] >> IT'S TOUGH MAN TO CATCH YOU ALL FROM BEXAR COUNTY, MEN. >> I'M GOOD. >> YEAH, WATCH OUT. NEXT TIME. GO AHEAD, CHRITIANA. >> JUST TO QUICKLY HIT THE TOP BILLS THAT WE'VE BEEN WATCHING RECENTLY. I THINK COMMISSIONER CALVERT MENTIONED TODAY THAT REPRESENTATIVE ALLISON'S HB 25, 66 THE REQUIREMENT FOR THE 1.8 DEPUTIES THAT IS STILL PENDING IN COUNTY AFFAIRS. HB 25, 67 ALSO BY REPRESENTATIVE ELLISON IS OUR PROBATE COURT NUMBER 3. THAT ITEM IS MOVING ALONG THAT WILL NO LONGER BE A STAND-ALONE BILL. IT IS BEING GROUPED INTO THE OMNIBUS COURTS BILL. THAT GIVES IT EVEN MORE PROMISE OF MOVING FORWARD. THAT'S PRETTY. I WOULD BET MONEY RIGHT NOW THAT THAT'S A DONE DEAL. HB 26, 33, AND SB 17, 94, BY CORTES AND MENENDEZ, RESPECTIVELY. THAT IS THE ESD $20,000 DEBT LIMIT BILL, AND THAT IS BEING HEARD TODAY IN SENATE. AS I WALKED OVER HERE, THE SENATE AND THE HOUSE ARE STILL IN SESSION ON THE FLOOR. THEY'VE NOT BROKEN AND GONE INTO COMMITTEES YET. THOSE ARE THE BIG ONES THAT WE'VE BEEN FOLLOWING SINCE THE BEGINNING. ALSO, THE TORT OF PUBLIC NUISANCE, THAT'S THE ONE THAT WOULD AFFECT OUR OPIOID SETTLEMENT. THERE ARE BOTH A HOUSE BILL AND A SENATE BILL. THE SENATE BILL WAS HEARD LAST WEEK IN COMMITTEE. IT'S STILL PENDING. THE HOUSE BILL IS PENDING IN THE CALENDARS COMMITTEE. THAT'S BEEN SITTING THERE SINCE 4TH OF APRIL. THAT'S IN CALENDARS AND THE NEXT STEP IS IT WOULD MOVE TO THE HOUSE FLOOR. IT'S STILL PENDING. >> IN TERMS OF THE CALENDAR, ABOUT HOW MANY MORE DAYS FOR COMMITTEES TO MOVE THINGS FORWARD? >> THE MAGIC DATE REALLY IS THE MAY 8TH, THAT MONDAY. FOR THAT, THEY NEED TO BE OUT OF THE HOUSE COMMITTEES BY THAT DATE AND HAD SOMETIME THAT WEEK. COMMISSIONER, WERE YOUR AT MOTHER'S DAY MASSACRE FOR THAT? THERE WAS THE 87, NO, 85 OR 86? >> EIGHTY SIX. >> IT'S ALWAYS THAT WEEK OF MOTHER'S DAY AND SO THAT THAT ONE WAS INFAMOUS THAT YEAR BECAUSE I DON'T EVEN REMEMBER THE AMOUNT OF BILLS THAT DIED ON THE HOUSE FLOOR BECAUSE THEY WERE, WHAT THEY CALL SHOVING AND JUST SPEAKING CONSTANTLY TO KILL CERTAIN BILLS. THEN THERE ARE OTHER ONES THAT ARE INNOCENT BYSTANDERS. [05:35:02] THAT MOTHER'S DAY WEEK. THE EIGHTH YES, SIR. THAT THEY NEED TO MOVE IN. [LAUGHTER] SO THAT'S IT. UNLESS YOU HAVE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS. >> QUESTIONS? >> THANK YOU, MS. SHANNON. >> THANK YOU. >> FOR SHARING THE REPORT. >> YES, SIR. THANK YOU. >> MR. ROBERTSON. >> THAT WAS THE BEST REPORT ALL DAY, THAT WAS QUICK. >> YES, SIR. ARE YOU ASKING HIM TO GO EXECUTIVE SESSION? [EXECUTIVE SESSION ] >> YES, SIR. >> AT THIS TIME, THE COURT WILL NOW CONVENE INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION. THE EXECUTIVE SESSION I'M MAYBE DISCUSS AN ACT UPON IT IF APPROPRIATE IN OPEN SESSION PURSUANT TO SECTION 551.071. ONE WITH TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE. EXECUTIVE SESSION WILL BE HELD FOR CONSULTATION WITH THE COUNTY'S ATTORNEY FOR ADVICE REGARDING THE FOLLOWING MATTERS PENDING OR CONTEMPLATED LITIGATION SETTLEMENT OFFERS AND THE FOLLOWING MATTERS. ONE, CHRISTINA AND SMITH VERSUS BEXAR COUNTY. TWO, JOE MARTINEZ ET AL, VERSUS BEXAR COUNTY. THREE, MARIA BOB VERSUS THE BEXAR COUNTY EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY COMMISSION. CHARGED NUMBER AS STATED. THE COURT WILL NOW GO INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION. THOSE THAT MAYBE STAY, YOU'LL STAY. I'LL ASK THAT THE REST BE EXCUSED AND WE SHOULDN'T BE ABLE TO COME BACK INTO OPEN SESSION. THE CODE IS NOW OPEN, MR. ROBERTSON. [56. Discussion and appropriate action related to pending or contemplated litigation or a settlement offers in the matters of] >> THANK YOU, JUDGE. I WILL NEED THAT THE COURT'S VOTE ON THESE MATTERS. BUT DURING AN EXECUTIVE, THE COURT CONSIDERED SETTLEMENT IN THE AMOUNT OF 100,000 IN THE MATTER OF CHRISTIANA SMITH VERSUS BEXAR COUNTY AS THE FIRST ITEM. >> MOVE APPROVAL OF THE SETTLEMENT. >> MOTION BY COMMISSIONER COWS, SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER MUDDY. ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE. AYE UNOPPOSED MOTION CARRIES. >> SECOND ITEM DURING EXECUTIVE, THE COURT CONSIDERED SETTLEMENT IN THE AMOUNT OF 165,000 IN THE MATTER OF JOE MARTINEZ ET AL VERSUS BEXAR COUNTY. >> MOVE APPROVAL OF THE 165 FOR SETTLEMENT. >> MOTION BY COMMISSIONER CLAY-FLORES, SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER MOODY. ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE. >> AYE. >> AYE. UNOPPOSED? >> THIRD ITEM, DURING EXECUTIVE, THE COURT CONSIDERED SETTLEMENT IN THE AMOUNT OF $8,000 IN THE MATTER OF MARIA AMANDA VERSUS BEXAR COUNTY EEOC CHARGE NUMBER 451-2018-00824. >> I MOVE APPROVAL AS REQUESTED. >> MOTION BY, COMMISSIONER CARVIS, SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER RODRIGUEZ. ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? THERE BEING NONE, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE. AYE UNOPPOSED. MOTION CARRIES. WE HAVE MOTION TO ADJOURN, COMMISSIONER RODRIGUEZ? >> YES. THANK YOU, JUDGE. I HAVE ONE ON BEHALF OF COMMISSIONER PRECINCT IS IN THE PRECINCT ONE. SHE'D LIKE TO ADJOURN IN THE NAME OF EDWARD THOUGHT IS AND THEN I'VE GOT A COUPLE OF YEAR FOR PRECINCT TO ADJOURN IN THE NAME OF JOSEPH ROY KAISER, EARNEST HERNANDEZ JUNIOR, DOLORES G. OPINIO, AND OUR FORMER STATE DEMOGRAPHERS, STEPHEN MURDOCK, WHO WAS A SAN ANTONIO. >> COMMISSIONER MOODY. >> THANK YOU, JUDGE. I WOULD LIKE TO ADJOURN IN THE MEMORY OF JANE AND LUCIO. MAJOR WILLIAM KAY THOMPSON, UNITED STATES ARMY RETIRED IN GEORGIA. KELLER CU BASSETT. >> COMMISSIONER CALVIN. >> I'D LIKE TO ADJOURN IN HONOR OF HERBERT JACK MCCARTHY, DOUGLAS RIDDLE, ALFRED MARSHALL, ROLLING CON, BILLY WYDED THEODORE MYELIN BUSH. >> THE JUDGE WOULD LIKE TO RECOGNIZE AGENCY FLOORS ON THE MOTION TO ADJOURN. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE. >> AYE. >> AYE, UNOPPOSED. MOTION CARRIES ME TO ADJOURN. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. * This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.