[00:00:07] >> GOOD MORNING. [1. Opening Prayer: Pastor Rob Johnson, Christian Family Baptist Church ] >> GOOD MORNING. >> I WOULD LIKE TO WELCOME EVERYONE TO THE BEXAR COMMISSIONERS COURT MEETING FOR JUNE 6TH 2023. COMMISSIONER CLAY-FLORES WOULD YOU PLEASE INTRODUCE PASTOR ROBERT JOHNSON? >> GOOD MORNING, PASTOR ROBERT, YOU CAN COME FORWARD. PASTOR ROB JOHNSON SERVES AS FOUNDER AND PASTOR OF CHRISTIAN FAMILY BAPTIST CHURCH, WHICH STARTED AS A WEEKLY BIBLE STUDY IN HIS HOME AND GREW INTO THE CHRISTIAN FAMILY BAPTIST CHURCH. THEIR MINISTRIES INCLUDE A MOBILE FOOD PANTRY, AND THEY NOW SERVE AS A VOTING SITE IN AN UNINCORPORATED AREA FAR WEST BEXAR COUNTY BECAUSE WHEN I [INAUDIBLE] FOR IT, THERE WAS NOT AN EARLY VOTING SITE IN THE FAR WEST PART OF MY PRECINCT. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR OPENING YOUR DOORS FOR THAT. PASTOR ROB RECEIVED A BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN OCCUPATIONAL EDUCATION AND RELIGION, AND A MASTERS IN CHRISTIAN MINISTRY FROM WAYLAND BAPTIST UNIVERSITY. HE IS ALSO A RETIRED AIR FORCE VETERAN. THANK PASTOR FOR BEING HERE. THE TIME IS YOURS. >> YES, MA'AM. LET US BOW OUR HEADS FOR JUST A MOMENT. LORD, WE'RE SO GRATEFUL THAT YOU CONTINUE TO LEAD US IN WAYS THAT OFTEN LEAVE US AT ALL WITH YOU. NOW MASTER, WE'VE COME HERE TODAY TO MAKE SOME VERY IMPORTANT DECISIONS, TO SOME REGARDS, DECISIONS THAT YOU ALREADY KNOW WE'RE GOING TO MAKE. BUT MASTER, WE LEAN ON YOUR GRACE AND YOUR MERCY, YOUR KINDNESS, AND THE JOY THAT COMES FROM TRUSTING YOU. WE KNOW WE CAN TRUST YOU BECAUSE AS WE LOOK BACK OVER OUR LIVES, WE KNOW THAT YOU HAVE BEEN THERE. NOW, MASTER TODAY AS THE PEOPLE, THE COMMISSIONERS, AND THE JUDGE LOOK TO MAKE DECISIONS THAT ARE CONSISTENT WITH YOUR WILL, WE'RE REMINDED THAT YOUR WILL MUST BE DONE. YOU HAVE LAID IT OUT. HELP US TO WALK IN UNITY THAT WE MAY DISCOVER TOGETHER WHAT YOU HAVE IN MIND AND HELP US TO DEAL WITH THE CHALLENGES LOT OF OFTEN NOT KNOWING EXACTLY WHAT YOUR WILL IS, BUT MASTER, GIVE US THE COURAGE, GIVE US THE WISDOM THAT WE NEED TO PERSEVERE. MASTER, WE SAY ALL THESE THINGS IN JESUS NAME. AMEN. >> AMEN. THANK YOU, PROFESSOR ROB, PLEASE JOIN ME IN THE PLEDGE. >> FIRST, WE'LL DEAL WITH CEREMONIAL ITEMS, [3. CEREMONIAL ITEM(S): ] PRESENTATION AND OBSERVATION OF MEMORIAL DAY BY MILITARY AND VETERAN SERVICE CENTERS. MR. WILSON, COME FORWARD. >> JUDGE SAKAI, COMMISSIONERS, COUNTY MANAGER SMITH, GOOD MORNING. LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, MY NAME IS KEITH WILSON AND I SERVE AS THE COUNTY'S EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF MILITARY AND VETERAN SERVICES. OUR NATION RECENTLY COMMEMORATED MEMORIAL DAY SO IT'S AN HONOR AND A PRIVILEGE TO LEAD THIS MORNING CEREMONY AS WE RECOGNIZE AND HONOR THOSE WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES IN SERVICE TO OUR NATION. WE WILL SPECIFICALLY RECOGNIZE A FEW INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE A CONNECTION WITH BEXAR COUNTY EMPLOYEES. THEY ARE AMERICAS HEROES AND THEY ARE OUR HEROES. LAST NOVEMBER FOR VETERANS DAY, WE HONORED AND CELEBRATED ALL OF THOSE AMONG US WHO HAVE SERVED IN UNIFORM, BUT TODAY WE REFLECT ON MEMORIAL DAY, THERE IS A DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE TWO. NOW MANY PEOPLE ASSOCIATE MEMORIAL DAY WITH THE KICKOFF TO SUMMER, TIME SPENT ON THE LAKE OR IN THE RIVER, OUTDOOR BARBECUES AT PICNICS WITH FAMILY. MAYBE THE EXTRA DAY WE TOOK OFF FROM WORK. BUT FOR MANY, THIS HOLIDAY WAS DIFFERENT, THIS HOLIDAY WAS UNIQUE. MEMORIAL DAY HONORS THOSE WHO DIED SERVING THEIR COUNTRY TO PROTECT AND CARE FOR US, TO GIVE US FREEDOM AND OPPORTUNITIES. TODAY WE HONOR THOSE THAT DID NOT GET TO COME HOME TO BARBECUES, OR PICNICS, OR THEIR FAMILIES. AT THIS TIME, PLEASE DIRECT YOUR ATTENTION TO THE SCREENS AS WE REFLECT ON FAMILY, FRIENDS, AND COLLEAGUES OR SOMEWHAT BEXAR COUNTY'S EMPLOYEES. [00:05:08] JESUS SALAZAR, BEXAR COUNTY PROBATION REMEMBERS MARINE SERGEANT CORY WADE BELL, HIS FRIEND AND SQUAD MAN. PAUL RIVERA, BEXAR COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE REMEMBERS HIS GREAT UNCLE, ARMY PRIVATE, FIRST-CLASS, ERNESTO CANTU. RODRIGO RODRIGUEZ, BEXAR COUNTY HUMAN RESOURCES REMEMBERS HIS FRIEND AND BATTLE BUDDY, ARMY SPECIALIST, AHMEN AKIL CASON. COMMISSIONER GRANT MOODY, PRECINCT THREE, REMEMBERS HIS CLASSMATES, TEAMMATES, AND FRIENDS. FELLOW MARINES, FIRST LIEUTENANT TRAVIS MANDARIN, FIRST LIEUTENANT JP BLACKSMITH, FIRST LIEUTENANT RON WINCHESTER, FIRST LIEUTENANT BRIAN DEFORGE, CAPTAIN MICHAEL QUINN, MAJOR SAM GRIFFITH, AND NAVY LIEUTENANT BRENDAN LOONY. JUDGE GLORIA SALDANA, DISTRICT COURT 9 REMEMBERS HER UNCLE, ARMY PRIVATE FIRST-CLASS CONRAD GONZALEZ. SARAH NINO, BEXAR COUNTY EARLY CHILDHOOD COURT REMEMBERS HER FRIEND, ARMY STAFF SERGEANT JOSHUA CALEB GORE. CHRISTINA CARREON, COUNTY DISTRICT CLERK RECORDS DEPARTMENT REMEMBERS HER NEPHEW, AIR FORCE STAFF SERGEANT RAY RANGEL. TODD VICIAN, BEXAR COUNTY MILITARY AND VETERANS SERVICES REMEMBERS HIS FRIEND, AIR FORCE LIEUTENANT COLONEL JOHN STEIN. CURT BASS, BEXAR COUNTY MILITARY AND VETERAN SERVICES REMEMBERS ARMY LIEUTENANT COLONEL GARNET DERBY, ARMY SPECIALIST ALBERT JACK'S, ARMY PRIVATE THOMAS LEE, ARMY PRIVATE, FIRST-CLASS JONATHAN ROBERT, ARMY SERGEANT STEPHEN TOULMIN TEZ, AND ARMY SERGEANT JOSHUA AWARD. I REMEMBER MY SEVEN WEST POINT CLASSMATES WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES IN IRAQ AND AFGHANISTAN. ONE OF THEM, LIEUTENANT COLONEL JIMMY LEONARD, IS THE MOST SENIOR FEMALE US MILITARY OFFICER TO BE KILLED IN COMBAT. OUR COMMUNITY REMEMBERS JORGE JV, VILLARREAL, A YOUNG MARINE FROM SAN ANTONIO'S WESTSIDE WHO WAS KILLED BY ROADSIDE BOMB AT THE YOUNG AGE OF 22. ERNEST HEMINGWAY ONCE SAID, EVERY MAN HAS TWO DEATHS, WHEN HE IS BURIED IN THE GROUND AND THE LAST TIME SOMEONE SAYS HIS NAME. EACH OF THE MEN AND WOMEN IN THESE PHOTOS MADE AN IMPACT IN OUR LIVES AND TODAY WE REMEMBER THEM. THEY ARE NOT FORGOTTEN. DAY IS DONE, GONE THE SUN, FROM THE LAKE, FROM THE HILL, FROM THE SKY, ALL IS WELL, SAFELY REST. GOD IS NIGH. FOR THOSE OF YOU IN THE AUDIENCE THAT ARE ABLE, WOULD YOU PLEASE RISE FOR THE PLANE OF TAPS BY SARAH GUA HARLOW, A BEXAR COUNTY VETERAN AND VOLUNTEER WITH BUGLES ACROSS AMERICA, WHICH PERFORMS TAPS WHEN REQUESTED AT VETERAN FUNERALS. >> [MUSIC] >> LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, PLEASE BE SEATED. THESE MEN AND WOMEN ON THE SCREEN REPRESENT THE BEST OF OUR COUNTRY. THEY'RE A WONDERFUL SLICE OF AMERICA. THEY COME FROM ALL WALKS OF LIFE AND THEY GAVE THEIR LIFE FOR US. THEY ARE OUR HEROES. THEY ARE AMERICA'S HEROES. TODAY IN HONOR OF MEMORIAL DAY, WE REMEMBER THEM. [00:10:02] WE HONOR THEM. EACH OF THESE INDIVIDUALS ALSO REPRESENT FAMILIES AND FRIENDS. THEY REPRESENT FELLOW SERVICE MEMBERS AND VETERANS RETURNING TO COMMUNITIES WITH THE SCARS OF WAR. AS COMBAT IN IRAQ AND AFGHANISTAN DREW TO AN END, OUR SOCIAL AWARENESS OF THOSE WHO SERVED AND SUFFERED EXTREME TRAUMA WANED. WE MUST ENSURE WE DO NOT LEAVE ANYONE BEHIND. THAT IS WHERE OUR RESPONSIBILITIES AS A COMMUNITY BEGIN. IF YOU REALLY WANT TO HONOR THE SACRIFICES OF THESE HEROES, FIND A WAY THAT YOU CAN GIVE CARE AND COMPASSION. FIND A WAY THAT YOU CAN MAKE OUR COMMUNITY A BETTER PLACE FOR OUR CHILDREN AND OUR GRANDCHILDREN. BY DOING THIS, BY HELPING OTHERS YOU CAN HELP HONOR THOSE THAT WE REMEMBER TODAY. FOR THOSE OF YOU THAT ARE HERE, TELL THOSE THAT ARE NOT, WHY WE REMEMBER AMERICA'S HEROES. LET THEM BE OUR CATALYST FOR CHANGE. LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, THANK YOU FOR LETTING ME TAKE A MOMENT TO REMEMBER OUR HEROES. TO REMEMBER MY HEROES. THANK YOU, JUDGE >> THANK YOU, MR. WILSON. WE'LL NOW HAVE THE PRESENTATION OF A PROCLAMATION ON BEHALF OF COMMISSIONERS COURT RECOGNIZING TEXAS WOMEN VETERANS DAY, HONORING BOTH THEIR ACCOMPLISHMENTS AND DAILY SACRIFICES FOR THE BETTERMENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. COMMISSIONER MOODY. >> WELL, THANK YOU KEITH FOR THAT TRIBUTE TO THOSE WHO HAVE FALLEN. WE'D LIKE TO ALSO SEND A SPECIAL THANK YOU TO ALL OF OUR STATES WOMEN'S VETERANS TODAY. JUNE 12TH IS TEXAS WOMEN VETERANS DAY. WE'D LIKE TO HIGHLIGHT THOSE WHO SERVED WITH THIS PROCLAMATION. ON JUNE 12TH, 1948, PRESIDENT HARRY S. TRUMAN SIGNED IN A LAW THE WOMEN'S ARMED SERVICES INTEGRATION ACT, ALLOWING WOMEN TO SERVE AS PERMANENT MEMBERS OF THE UNITED STATES ARMED FORCES DURING TIMES OF WAR AND PEACE. ON JUNE 9TH, 2017, GOVERNOR GREG ABBOTT SIGNED IN A LAW SENATE BILL 805, DESIGNATING JUNE 12TH AS WOMEN'S VETERANS DAY, COMMEMORATING THE SACRIFICES AND VALOR DISPLAYED BY TEXAS WOMEN'S VETERANS. WHEREAS TEXAS WOMEN'S VETERANS HAVE PLAYED AN INTEGRAL ROLE IN OUR COUNTRY'S DEFENSE, DEMONSTRATING REMARKABLE STRENGTH, DEDICATION, AND RESILIENCE WHILE SERVING IN THE US MILITARY. WHEREAS WOMEN'S VETERANS ACROSS THE COUNTRY HAVE FAITHFULLY SERVED TO PROTECT OUR CHERISHED FREEDOMS AND RIGHTS TO ENSURE THAT AMERICA CONTINUES TO BE A BEACON OF HOPE, DEMOCRACY AND OPPORTUNITY. NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED THAT THE BEXAR COUNTY COMMISSIONERS COURT HEREBY RECOGNIZES TEXAS WOMEN VETERANS DAY IN BEXAR COUNTY, TEXAS AND ENCOURAGES EVERYONE ACROSS THE COMMUNITY TO HONOR TEXAS WOMEN'S VETERANS THROUGH RECOGNIZING BOTH THEIR ACCOMPLISHMENTS AND DAILY SACRIFICES FOR THE BETTERMENT OF OUR NATION. THE COMMISSIONERS COURT TO BEXAR COUNTY EXPRESSES ITS SINCERE APPRECIATION FOR THE SERVICE THEY HAVE PROVIDED TO THE STATE AND THE COUNTRY SIGNED YOUR BEXAR COUNTY COMMISSIONERS COURT. THIS MORNING I LIKE TO WELCOME ALL OF YOU HERE. SPECIFICALLY, I'D LIKE TO WELCOME THE CHAIRMAN OF THE TEXAS VETERANS COMMISSION, MY FRIEND, LAURA TURNER. HE'S ALSO A NAVAL ACADEMY GRAD SURFACE WARFARE OFFICER, THAT CHAIRMAN TVC, FAIR OAKS RANCH CITY COUNCIL WOMAN, AND MY FRIEND, AS WELL AS DR. SHAUN T. HALL, US AIR FORCE RETIRED, THE CO-FOUNDER OF CENTURION MILITARY ALLIANCE AND THE FOUNDER OF EHRMANN HERITAGE GROUP. I'D LIKE YOU BOTH TO SAY A FEW WORDS. >> THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER MOODY, AND NICE TO SEE YOU AGAIN, JUDGE SAKAI AND COMMISSIONERS COURT. THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME HERE TO SPEAK TO YOU ON BEHALF OF THE TEXAS VETERANS COMMISSION. AS GRANT MENTIONED, I AM A CHAIRWOMAN OF THE TEXAS VETERANS COMMISSION, WHERE WE HAVE FIVE COMMISSIONERS WHO OVERSEE THE STATE AGENCY FOR VETERAN AFFAIRS FOR THE STATE OF TEXAS, WHERE WE ADVOCATE FOR THE BENEFITS OF ALL VETERANS IN THE STATE OF TEXAS AND THEIR SURVIVORS AND THEIR FAMILIES. WE HAVE THE LARGEST NUMBER OF WOMEN VETERANS OF ANY STATE IN THE COUNTRY. WE HAVE OVER 190,000 WOMEN VETERANS IN THE STATE OF TEXAS. IT'S RIGHT THAT WE HAVE A GOOD TEXAS VETERANS DAY OF COMMEMORATION, WHICH WE DO EVERY YEAR ON JUNE 12TH. WE HAVE A SPECIAL WOMEN'S PROGRAM WITHIN THE STATE WHICH WE ACKNOWLEDGE THE UNIQUE NEEDS THAT WOMEN VETERANS MAY HAVE AND FINDING THE BENEFITS AND THE SERVICES THAT THEY NEED. WE ENCOURAGE THAT OUTREACH TO WOMEN IN AREAS THAT MAY NOT NORMALLY BE REACHING OUT TO WOMEN VETERANS. WE ENJOY A VERY GOOD PARTNERSHIP WITH BEXAR COUNTY, [00:15:01] AND I KNOW WE HAVE SEVERAL GRANTS THAT WE PROVIDE TO YOUR VETERAN TREATMENT COURT AND HAVE A GREAT WORKING RELATIONSHIP WITH THE VETERAN COUNTY SERVICE OFFICE. THANK YOU AGAIN FOR HAVING ME AND FOR HONORING WOMEN VETERANS IN OUR COUNTY. >> WELCOME. ANY FURTHER COMMENTS? WHY DON'T WE ASK EVERYBODY TO PLEASE INTRODUCE THEMSELVES SO THAT WE CAN PROPERLY THANK YOU AND GIVE YOU OUR GRATITUDE FOR YOUR SERVICE AND SACRIFICE? PLEASE EITHER INTRODUCE EVERYBODY. >> THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU, AGAIN. WOMEN VETERANS DAY. WE TALK ABOUT THESE THINGS WE SHARE, BUT THERE'S A REASON WHY IT EXISTS. I RECENTLY HAD THE QUESTION POSED TO ME WHY A SEPARATE VETERANS DAY? WE STILL GO TO EVENTS WHERE WE'RE NOT RECOGNIZED. AS A PROFESSOR AT UIW FOR HR CLASSES, I ALWAYS TELL THEM, YOU LOOK AT ME AND YOU JUDGE ME WITHIN 20 SECONDS. I ALWAYS ASK, WITH ALL MY COLLEAGUES HERE, WITH ALL MY FRIENDS AND SISTERS IN ARMS, WE'RE LESS THAN 10% OF THE VETERAN POPULATION. THIS MORNING IN MY UBER SHOOK IT UP. THEY GOT INTO A MINOR ACCIDENT. BUT HE WAS A MARINE VETERAN AND HE'S LIKE, YOU'RE A VETERAN BECAUSE HE HAD JUST HEARD A CALL BECAUSE WE JUDGE EACH OTHER WITHIN THE FIRST 20 SECONDS. WE HAVE VETERAN BENEFITS HERE. WE HAVE VETERAN DISCOUNTS AND ORGANIZATIONS. I WOULD ASK ON BEHALF OF ALL OF US THAT IF WE'RE GOING TO HAVE THE DISCOUNT, ASK EVERYBODY, DON'T LOOK AT US AND SAY BECAUSE I STILL DO IT AT THE AIRPORT. THEY GIVE A VETERAN DISCOUNT AT THE AIRPORT AND I WALK IN. THEY NEVER OFFER IT TO ME. I ALWAYS WAIT. THEN THE GUY WILL COME UP BEHIND OR THE GUYS BEFORE. THAT'S WHY WOMEN VETERANS DAY EXISTS. TO MY SISTERS IN ARMS, THANK YOU. WE ARE LESS THAN 10%, WE'RE LESS THAN 2% OF ALL WOMEN WHO SERVE AND THIS IS WHY WE CONTINUE TO SHARE OUR MISSION AND OUR VISION OF WOMEN VETERANS DAY. THANK YOU. >> WOULD YOU PLEASE IDENTIFY YOURSELF AND BRANCH OF SERVICE? >> YES. DR. SHAUN T. HALL, AIR FORCE. >> NEXT. >> MY NAME IS YVONNE KRAUSE, RETIRED MASTER SERGEANT ARMY HOOK [LAUGHTER] >> GOOD MORNING. PAMELA NASH, UNITED STATES AIR FORCE. >> GOOD MORNING. LAURIE PIMENTEL-JOHNSON, UNITED STATES ARMY VETERAN. >> KRISTEN SMITH, RETIRED UNITED STATES AIR FORCE. >> I'M THEOPHILA RAMIREZ, UNITED STATES AIR FORCE VETERAN. I ALSO WORKED AT THE VA HOSPITAL FOR 22 YEARS. I'M VERY AWARE OF THE BENEFITS AND COMPENSATION AND ALL THE MENTAL HEALTH PROBLEMS AND VETERANS AND THE VA IS OPENING UP MORE TO AIM VETERANS. I'M ALSO A MEMBER OF THE WOMEN VETERANS AT ST. ANTONIO. WE HAVE ABOUT 180 MEMBERS AND WE DO ATTEND EVENTS. WE GIVE EVENTS TO HELP FEMALE VETERANS WHEN THEY GET OUT OF THE MILITARY, TO TRANSITION BACK INTO CIVILIAN LIFE AND TO HELP THEM WITH ALL THE RESOURCES THAT ARE AVAILABLE TO THE WOMEN VETERANS. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE PROCLAMATION. >> GOOD MORNING. I'M SARAH GOHARDER IN AIR FORCE. >> GOOD MORNING. MY NAME IS IRENE ESTRADA, UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS. >> MARIA JUANA LUPE, [INAUDIBLE] UNITED STATES AIR FORCE REGISTERED NURSE. I'M ALSO RETIRED LIEUTENANT COLONEL. >> [NOISE] EXCUSE ME, ALLERGIES. BETSY PRATO, UNITED STATES AIR FORCE FLIGHT NURSE, RETIRED FROM TEACHING NURSING AND ALAMO COLLEGES. I'M STILL SERVING WITH THE VFW POST 9186 ON THE SOUTH SIDE. >> ANY FURTHER COMMENTS? >> LET'S GIVE THEM A ROUND OF APPLAUSE [APPLAUSE] WE SALUTE YOU FOR YOUR SACRIFICE. THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH. HAVE A GREAT DAY. PICTURE. WE'RE GOING TO GO DOWN [BACKGROUND] STAY UP. >> WANT Y'ALL COME FORWARD [BACKGROUND] HOLD THAT [BACKGROUND] [00:20:25] >> THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. [BACKGROUND]. >> THANK YOU. >> IT'S MINE? I'M HONORED. PRESENTATION OF SERVICE PINS RECOGNIZING EMPLOYEES OF 25 PLUS YEARS OF SERVICE. I BELIEVE WE'RE GOING TO RECOGNIZE THERESA ALCANTAR, WHO'S GOING TO MAKE THAT PRESENTATION TO OUR LOYAL AND DEDICATED EMPLOYEE? DO THEY GET MORE THAN A PIN FOR 25 YEARS? [LAUGHTER] I DIDN'T GET ANYTHING. DIDI, YOU GOING TO WANT YOU INTRODUCE YOURSELF AND RECOGNIZE THIS VALUED EMPLOYEE. >> YES. IT'S ACTUALLY 30 YEARS, RIGHT? >> YES. >> THIRTY? >> MY NAME IS DIANE GARCIA AND I'M THE GENERAL COUNSEL FOR THE COUNTY COURTS, AND THIS IS THERESA ALCANTAL AND SHE HAS BEEN WITH THE COUNTY COURTS SINCE 2016. SHE'S BEEN WORKING IN OUR JAIL COURT EXCLUSIVELY DURING THAT TIME AND EVEN DURING THE PANDEMIC WHEN WE HAD TO GO TO REMOTE INMATE HEARINGS AND DO PAPERWORK BY ADOBE SIGN AND ZOOM. TERRY WAS THERE DURING ALL OF THAT IMPLEMENTATION AND ALL OF THAT DRASTIC CHANGE. THEY'RE STILL DOING INMATE HEARINGS REMOTELY. BUT SHE IS THERE PHYSICALLY. HER OFFICE IS THERE AT THE JAIL COURT. ON A SIDE NOTE THAT JOE CORD HAS DISPOSED OF OVER [LAUGHTER] ABOUT 5,600 CASES SINCE OCTOBER 2021. THAT'S TO DATE? >> MR. THERESA, IS THERE ANYTHING YOU'D LIKE TO SAY, WE VALUE YOUR DEDICATED SERVICE TO OUR COUNTY. >> THANK YOU, JUDGE. I APPRECIATE THAT. YES, IT'S BEEN AN HONOR AND A PLEASURE. THIRTY YEARS IS A LONG TIME AND I STILL GOT A STILLBORN YEARS TO GO. >> HOW OLD WERE YOU? TWELVE YEARS OLD? [LAUGHTER] >> LIKE 23 OR SO. YES, JUDGE. THANK YOU, JUDGE. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. >> WHAT WOULD YOU TELL THESE YOUNG EMPLOYEES THAT ARE STARTING WITH THE COUNTY? >> OH, GOODNESS. >> HOW DID YOU HANG IN THERE? >> I HUNG IN THERE BECAUSE OF PEOPLE LIKE DIDI ACTUALLY, WHEN YOU HAVE A GOOD SUPERVISOR, YOU HAVE A GOOD BOSS, WHEN EVERYTHING FLOWS SMOOTHLY, THAT'S HOW IT WORKS. WHEN YOU GOT OTHER GOOD BEXAR COUNTY EMPLOYEES THAT ARE ALSO HELPING YOU SUCCEED AS WELL. >> WELL SAID. >> I APPRECIATE THAT. >> ANY COMMENTS? >> THANK YOU GUYS. >> WE GOT OUR PAN. [APPLAUSE] >> THANK YOU. >> IF YOU WANT TO COME FORWARD AND TAKE A PICTURE, YOU'RE GOING TO TAKE PICTURES DIDI? GIVE THEM THE PICTURE. >> THANK YOU, JUDGE, I APPRECIATE IT. [OVERLAPPING] >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. >> I APPRECIATE THAT. [BACKGROUND] >> THE NEXT WILL BE A PRESENTATION OF PROCLAMATION ON BEHALF OF COMMISSIONERS COURT, RECOGNIZING DR. SAUL HINOJOSA FOR HIS WORK AND CONTRIBUTIONS AS SUPERINTENDENT OF THE MIGHTY SOMERSET INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT, DR. HINOJOSA. >> DR. HINOJOSA, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE. HE JUST RETIRED FROM SOMERSET. HE REALLY TOOK THAT DISTRICT TO JUST AN EXCEPTIONAL DISTRICT NOW, [00:25:01] SO I HAVE A PROCLAMATION TO HONOR YOUR RETIREMENT. WE'RE ASKED DR. SAUL HINOJOSA BEGAN HIS CAREER AT SOMERSET INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT AS THE PRINCIPAL, SERVING IN 2000-2008, AND EVENTUALLY BECAME SUPERINTENDENT OF ISD IN 2008. HE SERVED AS SUPERINTENDENT FOR SOMERSET ISD 2008-2023, AND LEFT HIS MARK AND THE DISTRICT WITH NUMEROUS AWARDS AND ACCOMPLISHMENTS DURING HIS TENURE. UNDER HIS LEADERSHIP, IT WAS RATED AS AN A DISTRICT WITH FIVE CAMPUSES HAVING ACHIEVED A RATINGS AND TWO CAMPUSES HAVING ACHIEVED B RATINGS. FOR THOSE OF US WHO HAVE A BACKGROUND IN EDUCATION, WE REALIZE WHAT A BIG DEAL THAT IS. WE'RE ASKED SOMERSET ISD EARNED 24 DISTINCTIONS AS A DISTRICT AND WAS ONE OF THE NINE DISTRICTS IN THE STATE OF TEXAS TO IMPROVE IN READING AND MATH DURING COVID, WHEN SO MANY OTHER DISTRICTS WERE FALLING BEHIND. UNDER HIS LEADERSHIP SOMERSET ELEMENTARY WAS DESIGNATED AS A BLUE RIBBON CAMPUS. IN ADDITION, THEY WERE ALSO RECOGNIZED AS FOUNDER'S AWARD FINALISTS BY THE NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF EXCELLENCE IN TEACHING. WE'RE ASKED HE RECEIVED HIS BACHELOR'S SPORTS SCIENCE IN 1992 FROM SOUTHWEST TEXAS STATE UNIVERSITY, AND HE EARNED HIS MASTERS OF EDUCATION ADMINISTRATION FROM TEXAS A&M, GAINESVILLE IN 2001, AND FINALLY HIS DOCTORATE OF EDUCATION FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT AUSTIN IN MAY OF 2015. NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED THAT THE BEXAR COUNTY COMMISSIONERS COURT HEREBY RECOGNIZE AND CONGRATULATE DR. SAUL HINOJOSA ON HIS RETIREMENT FROM SOMERSET ISD AFTER SERVING 20 YEARS, IT PROCLAIMS JUNE 6, 2023, AS DR. SAUL HINOJOSA DAY. SIR, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR SERVICE. I ALSO WANTED TO SAY THE WORK THAT I'VE DONE TO PUSH FOR FUNDING FOR ISDS, TO PARTNER WITH NON-PROFITS SO THAT WE CAN PAY FOR MORE THERAPISTS IN OUR SCHOOLS. YOU GUYS ARE ONE OF THE FIRST SCHOOL DISTRICTS. YOU HAVE THE THRIVE CENTER. THAT'S NOT JUST FOR STUDENTS, BUT IT'S ALSO FOR PARENTS AND THE COMMUNITY. THAT'S REALLY AN EXAMPLE OF WHAT WE NEED IN OUR COMMUNITY. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR WORK. I DON'T KNOW IF YOU WANT TO SAY A FEW WORDS? [APPLAUSE] >> FIRST OF ALL, I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR THE RECOGNITION AS A SUPERINTENDENT. MANY TIMES WE'RE NOT RECOGNIZED IN A POSITIVE MANNER HERE. IT DOESN'T HAPPEN VERY OFTEN, BUT IT'S BEEN MY PRIVILEGE TO SERVE THE STUDENTS AND THE COMMUNITY OF SOMERSET ISD. WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT THE A RATING, ALL OF YOU HAD A BIG PART OF THAT. I DON'T KNOW IF YOU REMEMBER A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO, I WAS HERE WITH MR. GRAHAM WESTON AND COMMUNITY LABS ADVOCATING FOR OUR STUDENTS TO HAVE THE ABILITY TO COVID TESTS. THE COUNTY STEPPED UP AND ALLOCATED RESOURCES. AS A RESULT, WE WERE ABLE TO GET OUR STUDENTS BACK IN SCHOOL AND THAT'S WHY OUR SCHOOL DISTRICT THRIVE. BUT I DO WANT TO SPECIFICALLY THANK COMMISSIONER CLAY-FLORES FOR ALL HER SUPPORT OR ADVOCACY, ESPECIALLY IN THE AREA OF MENTAL HEALTH. NOW THAT COVID IS SOMEWHAT PAST US, WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO SERVE OUR STUDENTS, OUR PARENTS, AND OUR COMMUNITY WITH OUR THRIVE CENTER, AND IT COULDN'T HAVE BEEN DONE WITHOUT HER ASSISTANCE, AND AGAIN, ALL OF YOU AS WELL. I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT OVER THESE 31 YEARS OF EDUCATION AND JUST BLESSED TO BE HERE. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU SO MUCH. >> THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE] >> HEY, SUE, DO YOU GET A MEDAL FOR PUTTING IN 20 YEARS BECAUSE YOU KNOW HOW THOSE SHELF-LIFE FOR SUPERINTENDENT ARE? WHAT'S THE SECRET? >> THE SECRET IS, I PRAY EVERY MORNING THAT I CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN STUDENTS AND THE COMMUNITY. I JUST HAVE FAITH. THAT'S SECRET. [BACKGROUND] >> THANK YOU. [LAUGHTER] [BACKGROUND] >> [NOISE] THE NEXT PRESENTATION OF A PROCLAMATION ON BEHALF OF COMMISSIONERS COURT, RECOGNIZING AND PROCLAIMING JUNE AS NATIONAL SCLERODERMA AWARENESS MONTH. COMMISSIONER CALVIN. >> THANK YOU SO MUCH. I WANT TO ASK DEBBIE CHARLTON AND KEITH TO COME TO THE DIAS. WE HAVE A PROCLAMATION FOR YOU AND ANYONE ELSE WHO'S HERE THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR COMING. [00:30:07] IT READS, SCLERODERMA IS A RARE GROUP OF DISEASES THAT CAUSES SKIN AND CONNECTIVE TISSUE TO HARDEN AND TIGHTEN COMPREHENSIVE AND COORDINATED HEALTH SERVICES FOR PEOPLE WITH SCLERODERMA ARE CRITICALLY IMPORTANT TO ACHIEVING POSITIVE PATIENT OUTCOMES. ADDRESSING THE COMPLEX HEALTH NEEDS OF PEOPLE WITH SCLERODERMA IS IMPORTANT TO BEXAR COUNTY. WHEREAS IT IS APPROPRIATE TO RECOGNIZE JUNE AS NATIONAL SCLERODERMA AWARENESS MONTH THROUGH A PUBLIC AWARENESS, THE BEXAR COUNTY COMMISSIONERS COURTS SEEKS TO FOCUS ON THE NEEDS OF PEOPLE WITH SCLERODERMA AND THE CONTINUING IMPROVEMENT OF SERVICES TO THOSE PEOPLE AND THEIR FAMILIES. WHEREAS COMMISSIONERS COURT AND ITS CONSTITUENTS ARE ENCOURAGED TO WEAR TO DURING THE MONTH OF JUNE IN SUPPORT SCLERODERMA AWARENESS AND TO PARTICIPATE IN SCLERODERMA AWARENESS RELATED EVENTS THROUGHOUT THE MONTH. THE TEXAS BLUE BONNET CHAPTER, SAN ANTONIO, THROUGH ITS COLLABORATION WITH THE NATIONAL SCLERODERMA FOUNDATION AND OTHER ORGANIZATIONAL PARTNERS, SEEKS TO RAISE AWARENESS IN OUR COMMUNITIES THROUGH SUPPORT, EDUCATION, AND RESEARCH TOWARD FINDING A CURE FOR SCLERODERMA. NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED THAT THE BEXAR COUNTY COMMISSIONERS COURT HEREBY RECOGNIZES AND PROCLAIMS A MONTH OF JUNE AS NATIONAL SCLERODERMA AWARENESS MONTH. WITNESS OUR SIGNATURE IN CIVIL OFFICE IS SIX DAY OF JUNE 2023, SIGNED BY YOUR COMMISSIONERS COURT, WE'D LOVE TO HEAR A FEW WORDS FROM YOU. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR COMING. WE HAVE A CHECK, $2,500 CONTRIBUTION FROM BEXAR COUNTY TOWARDS THE CURE FOR SCLERODERMA. >> THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER. THANK YOU, JUDGE AND COMMISSIONERS FOR HONORING THE NATIONAL SCLERODERMA FOUNDATION. I AM A PATIENT OF SCLERODERMA. I WAS DIAGNOSED 23 YEARS AGO. WHAT DOES THE WORD SCLERODERMA MEAN FIRST OF ALL? SCLERODERMA, THE WORD, THE FIRST PART OF SCLERODERMA IS SCLERA. IT'S A GREEK WORD FOR HARD. SCLERA MEANS HARD. DERMA OBVIOUSLY IS SKIN AND WHAT IT IS IS OVERPRODUCTION OF THE COLLAGEN THAT CAUSES THE BODY TO HARDEN. THERE'S NO KNOWN CURE FOR THIS DISEASE. THIS IS WHY WE ADVOCATE SO PASSIONATELY TO FIND A CURE FOR THIS DISEASE. IT IS AN AUTO-IMMUNE DISEASE. IT AFFECTS INTERNAL ORGANS AS WELL AS THE HARDENING OF THE SKIN. ONCE THE DISEASE PROGRESSES, THERE'S NO REVERSE. THAT'S WHY EARLY DETECTION IS KEY. THAT'S WHY IT'S VERY IMPORTANT FOR THE SUPPORT THAT WE ASK THE COMMUNITY IN HELPING US FIND A CURE FOR THIS DISEASE. TODAY, I HAVE PRESENT WITH ME, ROGER. ROGER CAN SAY A FEW WORDS ON HIS ROLE WITH SCLERODERMA AND WHAT IT HAS AFFECTED HIS LIFE. >> HELLO. MY NAME IS ROGER PLACIDO. I'M ACTUALLY HERE ON BEHALF OF MY WIFE. I WAS INTRODUCED TO SCLERODERMA WHEN WE MET JUNE 11TH THIS YEAR WILL BE TWO YEARS THAT SHE PASSED AWAY. I DIDN'T KNOW MUCH ABOUT SCLERODERMA, BUT SHE TAUGHT ME A LOT ABOUT WHAT IT IS AND WHAT IT CAN DO. SO BEING HERE IS ULTIMATELY VERY MEANINGFUL TO ME BECAUSE IT MEANS THAT I AM CONTINUING HER MISSION. I AM CONTINUING TO HONOR HER AND HER LEGACY THAT HE LEFT BEHIND. I THANK YOU FOR THIS RECOGNITION. I THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU ARE DOING THAT'S WHAT IT MEANS TO ME. THANK YOU. [BACKGROUND] >> GOOD MORNING JUDGE [NOISE] AND COUNTY COMMISSIONERS. I'D LIKE YOU TO KNOW THAT MY WIFE HAS BEEN A VERY CHAMPION OF THIS DISEASE. SHE WAS DIAGNOSED IN 1999, BELIEVE IT OR NOT, AT THAT TIME, THERE WAS ONLY APPROXIMATELY, I SAY ABOUT 200 TO 250,000 PEOPLE IN THE WHOLE UNITED STATES THAT HAD THIS DISEASE. IT WAS VERY LIMITED IN REGARDS TO THE KNOWLEDGE OF THIS DISEASE. SHE HAS BEEN NOW PROMOTED TO THE CHAIR FOR THE WHOLE STATE OF TEXAS HERE IN SAN ANTONIO, HOUSTON, AND DALLAS. SHE'S IN CHARGE OF ALL THE WALKS FOR RAISING MONEY FOR SCLERODERMA IN THOSE MAJOR CITIES HERE IN THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO, HOUSTON, AND DALLAS. SHE HAS BEEN AT THE FRONT OF THE ORGANIZATION AND WE ARE DEEPLY GRATEFUL FOR THE CONTRIBUTION THAT THE COUNTY HAS GIVEN, AND I REALLY WANT TO THANK TOMMY CALVERT BECAUSE HE WALK WITH ME SATURDAY. WE WALKED THE WHOLE 5K IS NOT RIGHT, JUDGE. I'M SORRY, TOMMY COMMISSION. WE HAD A GREAT TIME AND I JUST WANT TO THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING THAT YOU'RE DOING TO ASSIST THIS DISEASE. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. [00:35:02] >> THANK YOU. YOU WANT TO COME DOWN OR YOU WANT TO STAY UP THERE, COMMISSIONER, HOW DO YOU WANT? >> GO DOWN. >> GO DOWN. [BACKGROUND] SURE. YOU ARE WELCOME [BACKGROUND] WE'VE GOT TO COVER [BACKGROUND]. >> 3, 2, 1. >> THANK YOU. [BACKGROUND] WE WANT TO ASK VIRGINIA BOUCHER TO COME TO THE DAIS IF YOU COULD. THANK YOU. I'M SORRY GO AHEAD JUDGE. >> NO PROBLEM. PRESENTATION OF PROCLAMATION ON BEHALF OF COMMISSIONERS COURT RECOGNIZING AND PROCLAIMING SUNDAY, JUNE 11, 2023, AS RACE AMITY DAY COMMISSIONER CALVIN. >> THANK YOU SO MUCH. IT'S GOOD TO HAVE YOU ALL HERE. THE PROCLAMATION READS, WHEREAS BEXAR COUNTY'S GREATEST ASSET IS ITS PEOPLE. WHEREAS BEXAR COUNTY IS COMPRISED OF MULTICULTURAL, MULTI-ETHNIC, MULTI-RACIAL CITIZENS. WHEREAS FRIENDSHIP, COLLEGIALITY, CIVILITY, RESPECT, AND KINDNESS ARE COMMONLY SHARED IDEALS OF THE BEXAR COUNTY CITIZENRY. WHEREAS THE TOWARDS E PLURIBUS UNUM INITIATIVE INVITES COMMUNITIES ACROSS THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA TO JOIN AN INTROSPECTION REFLECTION ON THE BEAUTY AND RICHNESS OF THE DIVERSE PEOPLES OF THIS GREAT NATION WHILE REACHING OUT WITH A SPIRIT OF AMITY TO ONE ANOTHER ON THE SECOND SUNDAY OF JUNE. NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED THAT THE BEXAR COUNTY COMMISSIONERS COURT HEREBY RECOGNIZES AND PROCLAIMS SUNDAY, JUNE 11TH, 2023, AS RACE AMITY DAY AND BEXAR COUNTY, AND URGES THE RESIDENTS OF OUR COMMUNITY AND COMMUNITIES ACROSS THE COUNTRY TO SUPPORT EQUITY, ACCESS, JUSTICE, AND UNITY ON THIS DAY AND THROUGHOUT THE YEAR. WITNESS OUR SIGNATURES IN CIVIL OFFICES SIXTH DAY OF JUNE 2023, SIGNED BY YOUR COMMISSIONERS COURT, WE WOULD LOVE TO HEAR A WORD FROM YOU >> THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER CALVERT. THANK YOU, JUDGE SAKAI. OTHER COMMISSIONERS. WE'RE GLAD TO BE HERE, WERE REPRESENTATIVES OF AN INTERFAITH INITIATIVE TRYING TO IMPROVE THE FRIENDSHIP AMONG THE CITIZENS OF OUR GREAT CITY AND COUNTY. WE ARE HOLDING A FESTIVAL THAT WILL HELP CELEBRATE THIS, THAT WILL PROVIDE INFORMATION AND ACTIVITIES AND SPEAKERS FOR EVERYONE WHO WANTS TO COME OUT. RACE AMITY IS IMPORTANT BECAUSE PEOPLE ARE PART OF THE SAME FAMILY. THERE IS A LOT OF DIVISION IN THE COUNTRY, IN THE WORLD AND WE WANT TO DO OUR PART TO SHOW THAT PEOPLE CAN BE FRIENDS. IF YOU KNOW, PEOPLE, IF YOU'RE FRIENDS WITH PEOPLE, THEN YOU CAN WORK TOGETHER AND IMPROVE THE SITUATION FOR EVERYONE. >> THAT'S TRUE. >> AGAIN, THANK YOU FOR HAVING US HERE TODAY. >> GREAT. >> THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU ALL FOR COMING. >> WOULD YOU PLEASE INTRODUCE YOURSELF AND ALL THE OTHERS THAT ARE HERE TODAY. >> I'M VIRGINIA BOUCHER. I'VE LIVED IN SAN ANTONIO ENVIRONS FOR 31 YEARS. I'M A RETIRED AIR FORCE CHIEF MASTER SERGEANT. >> MY NAME IS NORMA CUSHMAN AND I'M A RETIRED SCHOOL TEACHER FOR 10 YEARS. >> HOW ARE YOU DOING? I'M MUSTAFA SHAKIR SHABAZZ, RETIRED MARINE FROM GARY, INDIANA. >> I AM BILL DAVIS. I'M A MEMBER OF THE BAHAI FAITH COMMUNITY HERE IN SAN ANTONIO AND A US AIR FORCE VETERAN. >> MORNING, I'M JOHN FALTERSET, WAS A YANKEE NOW 50 YEARS HERE. >>THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH. >> LET'S TAKE ANOTHER PICTURE. [BACKGROUND] [00:40:28] >> THANK YOU. [BACKGROUND] >> COMMISSIONERS, WITH YOUR PERMISSION, I JUST WANT TO SIGNAL I WANT TO GO OUT OF ORDER. NOT RIGHT NOW. THIS IS WHAT I WANT TO DO. I WANT TO GO AHEAD AND TAKE UP THE CONSENT AGENDA. I'M GOING TO ASK THE Y'ALL SIGNAL AS TO WHAT ITEMS NEED TO BE PULLED, WILL VOTE ON CONSENT AND HOLD THE POOL ITEMS FOR INDIVIDUAL CONSIDERATION. WANT TO GO TO ITEM 5, WHICH IS THE FILING RECORD OF LEGAL ADMINISTRATIVE DOCUMENTS. SIX, COMMISSIONERS COURT MINUTES, SEVEN, COMMUNICATIONS FROM CITIZENS TO BE HEARD. THEN I WILL ASK THAT WE TAKE A BREAK. THE POLICS COULD ASK TO STEP OUT SO THAT WE CAN GO INTO AN EXECUTIVE SESSION IN ORDER TO DISCUSS, I BELIEVE, SOME LEGAL ISSUES. LARRY, I NEED THE SCRIPT THERE. IS THERE ANY OBJECTIONS IN THAT ORDER THAT I'VE PROPOSED? LET US NOW TAKE UP CONSENT REQUEST OF COMMISSIONERS COURT TO IDENTIFY ITEMS [4. Request of Commissioners Court to identify items from the Consent Agenda for additional discussion and to approve remaining Consent Agenda items. ] FROM THE CONSENT AGENDA FOR ADDITIONAL DISCUSSION AND TO APPROVE THE REMAINING CONSENT AGENDA ITEMS. COMMISSIONER CLAY-FLORES. MR. RODRIGUEZ. >> ITEM 45. >> ITEM 45. COMMISSIONER MOODY. >> ITEM 44. >> ITEM 44. COMMISSIONER CALVERT. >> NONE. >> NONE. >> JUDGE, I'M SORRY. WE CAN ALSO PULL ITEM 12 FOR A CORRECTION. >> ITEM 12. I HAVE ITEMS 12, 44, AND 45 FOR INDIVIDUAL CONSIDERATION. IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA. >> MOVE TO APPROVE. >> SECOND. >> MOTION BY COMMISSIONER CLAY-FLORES, SECOND BY COMMISSIONER RODRIGUEZ. ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE. AYE. ANY OPPOSE? MOTION CARRIES. LET US NOW TAKE UP ITEM 5, [5. Filing for record the following legal and administrative documents and directing the Criminal District Attorney's Office to take action, if necessary: ] WHICH IS FILING FOR THE RECORD OF THE FOLLOWING LEGAL ADMINISTRATIVE DOCUMENTS AND DIRECTING THE CRIMINAL DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE TO TAKE ACTION IF NECESSARY, FOR ITEMS A, B, C, D. THE ITEMS 6, [6. Commissioners Court minutes for Tuesday, May 16, 2023. ] COMMISSIONERS COURT MINUTES FOR TUESDAY, MAY 16TH, 2023. IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE? >> MOVED. >> MOTION BY COMMISSIONER RODRIGUEZ, SECOND BY COMMISSIONER CALVERT. ANY FURTHER DISCUSSIONS? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE. AYE. ANY OPPOSE? MOTION CARRIES. NUMBER 7, [7. Communications from citizens who signed the register to speak. ] COMMUNICATIONS TO BE HEARD, SO CITIZENS WILL GO IN THIS ORDER. MR. STEPHEN PRICE, YOU'RE NUMBER 1 FOR TODAY. COME FORWARD. >> GOOD MORNING, YOUR HONOR. >> GOOD MORNING. >> GOOD MORNING, COMMISSIONERS. GOOD MORNING MEMBERS OF THE COURT. I HAVE TWO THINGS HERE. ONE IS A SURPRISE, THE SECOND IS NOT IT'S ACTUALLY A REITERATION OF A REQUEST THAT I MADE EARLIER THIS YEAR, MR. CHAIR, TO BRING TOGETHER THE VETERANS GROUP AND HAVE A MEETING WITH THE JUDGE HIMSELF. BUT I'VE TALKED TO COMMISSIONER CALVERT, COMMISSIONER RODRIGUEZ OVER THE PAST SIX YEARS AND EVEN IN THE LAST YEAR OVER SOME OF THE ISSUES THAT WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON. ONE OF THE ASKS YOU IF POTENTIALLY, YOUR HONOR, NOW THAT WE HAVE CHAIRMAN MOODY ON BOARD, THE VETERAN ON THE COMMITTEE, THAT HE COULD LEAD POTENTIALLY THAT MEETING. YOU RECALL OUR LAST DISCUSSION, YOU ASKED ME TO BRING THOSE FOLKS TOGETHER SO THAT WE WOULDN'T GET INTO TOO MUCH OF DEBATE. I WOULD LIKE TO ASK COMMISSIONER MOODY IF YOU WOULD TAKE THE LEAD [00:45:04] ON BRINGING TOGETHER SOME OF THE LOCAL COMMUNITY LEADERS AND BRINGING A LIST OF ACTION ITEMS FOR YOUR REVIEW. THEN WE CAN TAKE THEM BACK TO THE REST OF THE COMMITTEE FOR DISCUSSION. SOME OF THEM LION IN EACH ONE OF YOUR PRECINCTS TO INCLUDE MS. FLORES. I'M GOING TO HAND OUT THIS MEMO. IT IS A MEMO THAT I SENT OUT IN THE BEGINNING OF THE YEAR, JANUARY THE 24TH, AGAIN, TO SEE IF WE CAN RESCHEDULE WITH COMMISSIONER MOODY. ON THE VETERAN'S DAY, JUST HAPPENS THAT I HAVE THIS WAR THAT I'VE BEEN HOLDING ONTO FOR ALMOST THREE YEARS NOW. THE REASON I HELD ONTO IT SO LONG AS BECAUSE I COULDN'T GET IT TO THE INDIVIDUAL BECAUSE OF THE PANDEMIC. WE'VE BEEN LOCKED IN OUR HOUSES AND IT WASN'T REALLY UNTIL MID LAST YEAR THAT I MYSELF GOT OUT INTO THE PUBLIC THROUGH THE FACT THAT I'VE GOT SOME PHYSICAL THING. BACK DURING THE PANDEMIC, JUSTIN CAME OUT AND HELPED US DELIVER MEALS. WE DID MEALS ON WHEELS. WE WERE MASKING BACK THEN AND ACTUALLY SPRAYING. WE WERE STILL USING BLEACH. THERE WERE ABOUT 30 REPS THAT WE GOT PHONE CALLS FROM THAT COULDN'T GET MEALS TO THEIR HOUSE. I REACHED OUT TO THE COMMUNITY, COMMISSIONER CALVERT, MAYOR RILEY. SEVERAL OTHER FOLKS ANSWERED THE CALL. WE DISHED OUT MORE THAN CLOSE TO 7,000 MEALS OVER THREE, FOUR MONTH PERIOD. I HAVE THIS LETTER, JUSTIN, FOR ALL THIS TIME AND WANTED TO GIVE IT TO YOU ON A SPECIAL OCCASION. TODAY'S THAT OCCASION, SO I'M GOING TO TAKE THE LIBERTY TO READ IF Y'ALL WOULDN'T MIND. >> COMMISSIONERS TIME HAS EXPIRED. >> GO AHEAD AND WRAP UP MR. PRICE. >> CERTIFICATE OF APPRECIATION. THE CERTIFICATE IS AWARDED ADJUSTING RODRIGUEZ BEXAR COUNTY COMMISSION, APPRECIATE TOO IN RECOGNITION OF THE EXTRAORDINARY CONTRIBUTION YOU MADE TO OUR ELDERLY AND DISABLED VETERAN FOOD DELIVERY PROJECT. YOU HAVE SET THE EXAMPLE FOR OTHERS TO EMULATE BY VOLUNTEERING AND GOING THE EXTRA MILE AND HELPING OUR TEAM WITH DELIVERY OF OVER 3,000. THIS WAS AT THAT TIME 3,000 MEALS TO THOSE IN NEED. IN THE MIDST OF A NATIONAL CHALLENGE OR LOYALTY TO OUR VETERANS THROUGHOUT THIS COLLABORATIVE EFFORT IS QUITE NOTEWORTHY. SURELY HAD A SIGNIFICANT IMPACT ON OUR OVERALL COMMUNITY SUCCESS. STEPHEN PRICE, THE FOUNDER AND LEADER OF THE VOICES OF OUR VETERANS FOUNDATION, SIR. THANK YOU TONY. [APPLAUSE] >> THANK YOU MR. PRICE. >> THANK YOU REBECCA. >> THANK YOU, STEVEN. >> THE NEXT CITIZEN WE HEARD. I HAVE A QUESTION. I HAVE A CATHERINE ARCHIE LETTER AND THEN I HAVE A MARY CATHERINE ARCH LETTER. ARE THOSE TWO SEPARATE PEOPLE? >> YES. >> DO Y'ALL WANT TO COME TOGETHER OR DO YOU WANT TO COMBINE YOUR TIME? >> I'M GOING TO LET MY MOM TAKE THAT TIME FOR BOTH OF US. >> YOU'RE MOTHER-DAUGHTER. >> I DON'T THINK YOU REMEMBER US. >> I REMEMBER YOU. Y'ALL PLAYED IT ONE OF MY CEREMONY. >> LONG TIME AGO. >> LONG TIME AGO YOU CAN'T RECALL. >> WOULD YOU PLEASE IDENTIFY YOURSELF AND YOU'VE GOT THREE MINUTES. >> WE HAVE SOME BROCHURES THAT WE'D LIKE TO GIVE TO EACH OF THE COMMISSIONERS. >> GO AHEAD. >> IN 2005, DREAMS FULFILLED THROUGH MUSIC BECAME REGISTERED AS A 501C3 NON-PROFIT WITH THE SPECIFIC MISSION TO PROVIDE ADAPTIVE MUSIC EDUCATION AND PERFORMANCE OPPORTUNITIES FOR CHILDREN AND ADULTS WITH SPECIAL NEEDS, WE ARE GOING ON 18 YEARS NOW AND HAVE MADE MUCH PROGRESS. A YEAR-AND-A-HALF AGO, WE BEGAN WHAT HAS PROVEN TO BE ONE OF THE BEST PROJECTS THAT WE'VE EVER HAD, AND THAT IS TO SERVE THE ISS CENTERS, FORMERLY KNOWN AS GAY HUB CENTERS, WHERE WE ACTUALLY PROVIDE SPECIALIZED MUSIC CLASSES FOR THE YOUNG ADULTS. WELL, THE ADULTS AGE 18 ALL THE WAY TO 65. WE BASICALLY JUST WANT TO INTRODUCE TO ALL OF THE COMMISSIONERS NOW AND TALK ABOUT OUR PASSION TO CONTINUE PROVIDING WEEKLY ADAPTIVE MUSIC EDUCATION CLASSES USING THE COLORS FOUNDATION CURRICULUM TO ADULT CLIENTS WITH IDD FOR THE BALANCE OF FISCAL 23 AND GOING ON INTO FISCAL 24. [00:50:08] IN ORDER TO MAKE THAT HAPPEN, WE'RE NEEDING TO HAVE AN ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT FOR THE CENTERS SO THAT WE CAN REALLY CONTINUE PROVIDING THE SERVICE. WE'RE WORKING VERY HARD TO IDENTIFY THE BIG PICTURE, WHICH IS TO ENABLE PARTICIPANTS TO LEARN AND UNDERSTAND VERY FUNDAMENTAL BASIC CONCEPTS OF MUSIC THEORY AND PERFORMANCE FOR AUDIENCES THAT WOULD NOT OTHERWISE BE EXPOSED TO LIVE MUSICAL PERFORMANCE. BY DOING THIS, WE ARE ENABLING THE TARGET POPULATION WHOSE ONLY FISCAL SUPPORT COMES FROM GOVERNMENTAL SUBSIDIES. THE OPPORTUNITY TO LEARN TO USE THEIR HIDDEN TALENTS AND ABILITIES SO THEY CAN BRING JOY AND HAPPINESS TO OTHERS. THIS IN TURN, HELPS THEM TO REALIZE THAT THEY CAN BECOME AN ACTIVE PART OF A SOCIAL COMMUNITY THAT GIVES THEMSELVES RATHER THAN ONLY RECEIVE FROM OTHERS. AS A DIRECT RESULT OF LEARNING TO PARTICIPATE IN A MUSICAL PERFORMANCE, MANY FOR THE FIRST TIME EVER, THEY BEGIN TO UNDERSTAND THAT THEY HAVE ABILITIES WHICH CAN CONTRIBUTE TO SOCIETY RATHER THAN ALWAYS BEING A DRAIN ON SOCIETY. WHAT WE HAVE DISCOVERED IN THE LAST YEAR-AND-A-HALF, THAT THERE ARE 38 ISS LICENSED CENTERS IN BEXAR COUNTY SO FAR, DREAMS FULFILLED THROUGH MUSIC HAS ONLY BEEN ABLE TO PROVIDE SERVICES FOR THREE OF THESE FACILITIES, WHICH MEANS WE'RE PROVIDING SERVICES FOR 7% OF THE TOTAL NEED. WE'RE HOPING GRADUALLY TO INCREASE THAT OVER THE NEXT YEAR. THIS YEAR WE HOPE TO INCREASE TO 6 OR 14%. OUR LONG-TERM GOAL IS TO BE ABLE TO PROVIDE SERVICES TO AT LEAST 50% OF THE QUALIFIED ISS CENTERS WITHIN FIVE YEARS. OF COURSE, THAT MEANS HIRING ADDITIONAL STAFF AND, HATE TO SAY IT, BUT IT MEANS THAT AWFUL WORD CALLED M-O-N-E-Y. NOW, OTHER THAN THE PROGRAMMING PROVIDED BY DREAMS FULFILLED THROUGH MUSIC, THERE IS ZERO FUNDING BY STATE, FEDERAL, OR OTHER GOVERNMENTAL PROGRAMS FOR MUSIC SPECIALISTS AT ANY OF THE ISS CENTERS. THE AVERAGE INCOME FOR THE INDIVIDUAL CLIENT IS ONLY ABOUT $850 A MONTH. THAT LEAVES HIM LESS THAN $35 PER MONTH FOR ALL THEIR PERSONAL ACTIVITIES AND NEEDS. THAT MEANS THERE'S NO OTHER WAY TO GET SOMETHING SPECIAL LIKE THE MUSIC. WE ARE IN HOPES THAT MY COMING TO THE COUNTY THAT WE CAN ENCOURAGE OUR COMMISSIONERS TO HELP US PROVIDE THE SERVICES. AT THE NEXT MEETING ON THE 20TH, WE WILL HAVE OUR BOARD CHAIR, HE WILL BE ABLE TO BE HERE. OUR BOARD CHAIR IS FRANK VILLANI, WHO IS THE CEO OF THE MAGIK THEATRE, WHERE WE ARE GOING TO HAVE A SPECIAL CONCERT ON SUNDAY, JUNE 11TH. WE'VE GIVEN YOU ALL INFORMATION ABOUT THAT. >> RESEARCHER LETTER. WOULD YOU PLEASE WRAP IT UP? >> YES. I JUST WANT TO THANK YOU ALL FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO COME AND SPEAK IN FRONT OF YOU TODAY. >> THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE TO THE COMMUNITY, AND ALL THE STUDENTS YOU SERVE ARE MUCH APPRECIATED. >> THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. >> I HAVE MS. FAITH CASTIEL. [00:55:16] MS. CASTIEL, WE'RE PASSING. LAST BUT NOT LEAST, PRISCILLA OLIVAREZ. >> GOOD MORNING. >> GOOD MORNING. >> I'M HERE TO TESTIFY IN SUPPORT OF ITEM 58 BROUGHT BY THE PUBLIC DEFENDERS OFFICE. >> COULD YOU SPEAK UP A LITTLE BIT, PLEASE? >> YES. I'M HERE TO TESTIFY IN SUPPORT OF ITEM 58, PRESENTED BY THE PUBLIC DEFENDERS OFFICE. MY NAME IS PRISCILLA OLIVAREZ, AND I'M A POLICY ATTORNEY WITH THE IMMIGRANT LEGAL RESOURCE CENTER. THE IMMIGRANT LEGAL RESOURCE CENTER IS A NATIONAL NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION THAT WORKS EXTENSIVELY WITH PUBLIC DEFENDERS WHO REPRESENT NON-CITIZENS. THROUGH OUR WORK SUPPORTING PUBLIC DEFENDERS AND THEIR CLIENTS, WE HAVE WITNESSED THE SIGNIFICANT AND MEANINGFUL IMPACT PUBLIC DEFENSE ATTORNEYS CAN HAVE ON PROTECTING THE DUE PROCESS RIGHTS OF COMMUNITY MEMBERS. FOR THIS REASON, WE RESPECTFULLY URGE COMMISSIONERS COURT TO ALLOW THE BEXAR COUNTY PUBLIC DEFENDERS OFFICE TO SUBMIT THEIR GRANT PROPOSAL TO CREATE AN IMMIGRATION DIVISION. THE CREATION OF AN IMMIGRATION DIVISION WILL HELP BETTER PROTECT THE CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS OF THEIR COUNTY RESIDENTS, BOTH NON-CITIZEN AND CITIZEN. IT WILL HELP PREVENT PERMANENT SEPARATION OF FAMILIES DUE TO NEEDLESS DEPORTATIONS AND IT WILL HELP SAVE DEFENSE PROSECUTION AND COURT RESOURCES. LIKE THE REST OF THE STATE, BEXAR COUNTY IS A RICHLY DIVERSE AREA. NEARLY 300,000 IMMIGRANTS LIVE IN BEXAR COUNTY AND NEARLY 130,000 CHILDREN IN SAN ANTONIO LIVE WITH AT LEAST ONE IMMIGRANT PARENT. IF THESE PARENTS HAVE INTERACTIONS WITH THE CRIMINAL LEGAL SYSTEM, THEY COULD BE AT RISK OF DEPORTATION AND PERMANENT SEPARATION FOR THEIR LOVED ONES. THE REASON FAMILIES COULD BE AT RISK OF DEPORTATION IS BECAUSE IMMIGRATION PENALTIES ARE INTIMATELY CONNECTED TO CRIMINAL DISPOSITIONS. US IMMIGRATION LAWS TREAT CRIMINAL OFFENSES IN A VERY SPECIFIC AND TECHNICAL WAY. THE DEFINITION OF A CRIMINAL CONVICTION DIFFERS FOR STATE LAW PURPOSES AND IMMIGRATION PURPOSES THIS OFTEN MEANS WHAT MAY BE A DISMISSAL IN A CRIMINAL CASE IS CONSIDERED A CONVICTION FOR IMMIGRATION PURPOSES. BECAUSE THE CRIMINAL PROCESS IS INTIMATELY RELATED TO IMMIGRATION PROCEEDINGS, THE US SUPREME COURT IN BEXAR VERSUS KENTUCKY MANDATED CRIMINAL DEFENSE COUNSEL TO AFFIRMATIVELY AND COMPETENTLY ADVISE NON-CITIZEN DEFENDANTS OF THE ADVERSE IMMIGRATION CONSEQUENCES OF A GUILTY PLEA OR DISPOSITION. CURRENTLY, BEXAR COUNTY HAS ONLY ONE ATTORNEY DEDICATED TO MEETING THIS ESSENTIAL OBLIGATION. THIS IS CLEARLY INSUFFICIENT TO MEET THE CURRENT NEEDS IN OUR COUNTY. AS A RESULT, OUR RESIDENTS AND THEIR FAMILIES ARE HARMED. MANY PUBLIC DEFENDER OFFICES IN TEXAS HAVE MULTIPLE IMMIGRATION SPECIALIST ON STAFF TO FULFILL THIS NEED. FOR EXAMPLE, TRAVIS AND HARRIS COUNTY HAVE SEVERAL ATTORNEYS DEDICATED TO PROVIDE AN IMMIGRATION ADVISORS KNOWN AS PDA ADVISORS TO THEIR RESIDENTS. THE CREATION OF IMMIGRATION DIVISION WILL HELP BEXAR COUNTY SAVE RESOURCES. THE SUPREME COURT SUPREME NOTED THAT THE INFORMED CONSIDERATION OF POSSIBLE DEPORTATION CAN ONLY BENEFIT BOTH THE STATE AND NON-CITIZEN DEFENDANTS DURING THE PLEA BARGAINING PROCESS. THE CREATION OF IMMIGRATION DIVISION WILL PERFORM A CORE CONSTITUTIONALLY MANDATED [OVERLAPPING] JUDGE TO PROVIDE COMPETENT REPRESENTATION IN CRIMINAL PROCEEDINGS. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. THAT CONCLUDES THE CITIZENS TO BE HEARD SO AT THIS TIME, [EXECUTIVE SESSION ] AS I SIGNALED, I WILL NOW CALL THE COURT INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION. I'M GOING TO ASK THE PUBLIC TO PLEASE STEP OUT. EXECUTIVE SESSIONS MAY BE DISCUSSED AND ACT UPON OF APPROPRIATE AND OPEN SESSION PURSUANT TO SECTION 551.071 OF TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE. EXECUTIVE SESSION WILL BE HELD FOR CONSULTATION WITH THE COURT'S ATTORNEY FOR ADVICE REGARDING THE FOLLOWING MATTERS: A, DISCUSSION APPROPRIATE ACTION REGARDING THE PENDING OR CONTEMPLATED LITIGATION OR SETTLEMENT OFFERS IN THE MATTERS OF ONE, JULIO GONZALES VERSUS BEXAR COUNTY. TWO, GARCIA SANTOS AND GARCIA VERSUS BEXAR COUNTY. THREE, NOTICE OF POTENTIAL CLAIM WISCONSIN INSTITUTE FOR LAW AND LIBERTY, CONSULTATION WITH THE ATTORNEY FOR ADVICE REGARDING A MATTER IN WHICH THE DUTY OF THE ATTORNEY TO THE GOVERNMENTAL BODY, UNDER TEXAS DISCIPLINARY RULES OF PROFESSIONAL CONDUCT AND STATE BAR TEXAS CLEARLY CONFLICTS WHAT CHAPTER 551 OR THE GOVERNMENT CODE SPECIFICALLY, 1; LEGAL ISSUES RELATED TO COUNTY AGREEMENT FOR THE PROVISION OF FOOD SERVICES WAS RICO SERVICES INCORPORATED. 2, LEGAL ISSUES RELATED TO REVIEW OF PROPOSED AMENDMENTS TO THE BEXAR COUNTY PURCHASING MANUAL BASED ON [01:00:03] THE FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE BEXAR COUNTY DISPARATE A STUDY. AT THIS TIME, THE COURT WILL NOW GO INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION. STAFF PLEASE HELP ALL THOSE THAT NEED TO BE EXCUSED. THE COURT'S NOW BACK IN OPEN SESSION. WE MET AN EXECUTIVE SESSION AND I BELIEVE THERE IS AN ACTION ITEM ON MR. ROBERTSON. >> ACTUALLY JUDGE, I JUST NEEDED THE AUTHORITY. I DROPPED THAT OTHER ITEM INTO ANOTHER WEEK. >> NO ACTION. CLERK, WE DON'T HAVE TO TAKE ANY ACTION. ALSO IN REGARDS TO THE BEXAR COUNTY DISPARITY STUDY, I JUST WANT TO GO ON RECORD TO SAYING THAT THAT STUDY IS OPEN IN PUBLIC AND IT'S ON THE BEXAR COUNTY WEBSITE FOR THOSE THAT ARE INTERESTED IN LOOKING AT IT. LET'S NOW GO BACK TO THE INDIVIDUAL ITEMS THAT WE PULLED OFF CONSENT. [12. Authorization to distribute upcoming payroll, including overtime, uniform allowances, and auto allowances to be paid on Wednesday, May 31, 2023. ] I BELIEVE WE APPROVE CONSENT, CORRECT? >> YES. >> IS NUMBER 12, THE FIRST ONE, MR. THOMAS, I THINK YOU ARE THE ONE? >> YES, JUDGE. THIS IS SIMPLY A CORRECTION ON THE CAPTION. FOR THE RECORD, IT SHOULD READ AUTHORIZATION TO DISTRIBUTE UPCOMING PAYROLL, INCLUDING OVERTIME UNIFORM ALLOWANCE AND AUTO ALLOWANCES TO BE PAID ON THURSDAY, JUNE 15TH, 2023. >> JUDGE, I'D MAKE THAT IN THE FORM OF A MOTION. >> SECOND. >> MOTION BY COMMISSIONER GREG, SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER CALVERT. ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE. >> AYE. >> ANY OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES. NEXT ONE. [44. Approval of an out-of-cycle budget request by the Specialty Court Coalition in the amount of $52,992 to fund 24 specialty court staff to attend the National Association of Drug Court Professionals (NADCP) in Houston, Texas from June 26-29, 2023. ] ITEM 44, APPROVAL OF AN OTTO CYCLE BUDGET REQUEST BY THE SPECIALTY CORD COALITION IN THE AMOUNT OF $52,992 TO FUND 24 SPECIALTY COURTS STAFF TO ATTEND THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF DRUG COURT PROFESSIONALS, NADCP IN HOUSTON, TEXAS FROM JUNE 26TH-JUNE 29, 2023. WHO PULLED THAT? COMMISSIONER MOODY. >> WELL, AND I DON'T KNOW IF STAFF ARE GOING TO SPEAK TO THIS ITEM. >> I BELIEVE IF WE HAVE REPRESENTATIVES FROM THE COUNTY COURTS OF LAW. [NOISE] >> GOOD MORNING, EVERYONE. I AM A JUDGE [INAUDIBLE] I PRESIDE OVER A COUNTY COURT 12, THIS IS A CRIMINAL MISDEMEANOR BENCH, AND I ALSO PRESIDE OVER THE MENTAL HEALTH COURT FOR BEXAR COUNTY. NOW, WHAT I'M HERE TODAY IS I'M ASKING, LIKE WHAT JUDGE SAKAI SAID, THAT OUT OF BUDGET BUTTONING TO GET 24 MEMBERS OF THE 40 SPECIALTY COURTS TO THIS NATIONAL CONFERENCE. NOW, WHAT WE ARE PASSING OUT IS THE RESOURCE BOOK FOR THE COALITION. A BRIEF HISTORY THAT IN 2019, SOME OF YOU GUYS WEREN'T HERE AT THAT TIME, THE BEXAR COUNTY SPECIALTY COURTS WAS UNITED. ALL THE 14 SPECIALTY COURT UNITED, AND WE FORMED THE BEXAR COUNTY SPECIALTY COURTS COALITION. ALL OF THE 14 COURT JUDGES THAT PRESIDE OVER SPECIAL COURTS ARE IN THAT BOOKLET. THAT BOOKLET WAS CREATED JUST TO EDUCATE THE COMMUNITY ABOUT WHAT THESE PROGRAMS DO. WHAT IS THE PURPOSE? KEEP PEOPLE OUT OF JAIL, AND THESE UNIQUE ISSUES THAT APPEAR IN THE JUDICIARY, VETERANS, SUBSTANCE ABUSE, MENTAL HEALTH. THESE COURTS STOP RECIDIVISM. RECIDIVISM I THINK IS THE THING THAT CAUSED ALL OF US MONEY BECAUSE PEOPLE ARE AGAIN ARE CYCLING IN AND OUT OF THE JAIL SYSTEM. HOW DO WE KEEP INDIVIDUALS OUT OF THE JAIL? THIS IS WHAT THESE PROGRAMS DO. I DON'T KNOW THAT A LOT OF YOU GUYS KNOW WHAT THESE PROGRAMS ARE. YOU'RE WELL VERSED BECAUSE I INVITE EVERY LAST ONE OF YOU GUYS TO SPEAK AT THE SEMINARS THAT THIS COALITION PUTS ON. I KNOW JUDGE SAKAI WAS THERE TWO WEEKS AGO TO SPEAK AT THE LAST ONE THAT WE HAD. TRAINING IS VERY IMPORTANT TO THESE TEAM MEMBERS. THAT IS BEST PRACTICES AND THIS SEMINAR, SINCE I'VE BEEN ON THE BENCH AND GOING ON FIVE YEARS NOW, THIS IS THE FIRST TIME THIS NATIONAL SEMINAR HAS BEEN IN TEXAS. THIS IS A BIG SEMINAR, ITS THE LARGEST ONE FOR SPECIALTY COURSE, BETWEEN 8 AND 10,000 PEOPLE WILL APPEAR AT THIS SEMINAR AND FOR ONCE IT'S IN HOUSTON. I'M TRYING TO GET AS MANY TEAM MEMBERS TO THIS SEMINAR AS POSSIBLE. TAKING ALL THE 14 SPECIALTY COURTS TOGETHER, I WOULD SAY ROUGHLY WE HAVE OVER 280 TEAM MEMBERS. WE'RE ASKING THE COMMISSIONERS COURT TO FUND JUST 24 MEMBERS. A LOT OF THE COURTS HAVE SOME FUNDING TO GET TEAM MEMBERS THERE. IT'S THE TEAM ROOMS THAT DID NOT HAVE ANY FUNDING IS WHAT I'M ASKING YOU GUYS AND THAT'S 24 OF THE TOTAL OF SAY, CLOSE TO 300. [01:05:04] THAT'S LESS THAN 10%. I THINK YOU GUYS WOULD AGREE THAT LEARNING NEW BEST PRACTICES FOR TEAM MEMBERS IS SO IMPORTANT AND CRUCIAL. I'VE NEVER ASKED COMMISSIONERS COURT, ANY KIND OF FUNDING LIKE THIS, PROBABLY WON'T EVER ASKED IT AGAIN. I'M ASKING IT BECAUSE JUST THIS FACT THAT THIS CONFERENCE IS IN TEXAS THIS YEAR. AGAIN, THIS IS SOMETHING THAT MOST OF OUR TEAM MEMBERS WOULD NOT GET A CHANCE TO EXPERIENCE BECAUSE OF THE COST. I'M HOPING THAT YOU GUYS WILL CHOOSE TO INVEST IN US, CHOOSE TO INVEST IN MEMBERS OF THE COUNTY, CHOOSE TO INVEST IN YOUR CONSTITUENTS BECAUSE THESE PROGRAMS BENEFIT EVERY SINGLE CITIZEN OF BEXAR COUNTY. THAT'S WHAT I'M ASKING NOW. I HAVE WITH ME TODAY, JUDGE ERICA DOMINGUEZ. SHE PRESIDES OVER THE VETERANS COURT. >> GOOD MORNING. I PRESIDE OVER THE VETERANS TREATMENT COURT. I DO WANT TO MENTION THAT THE VETERINARIAN TREATMENT COURT HASN'T BEEN TO THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF DRUG COURT PROFESSIONALS CONFERENCE IN THE LAST FIVE YEARS. GETTING EVERYONE ON THE TEAM ON THE SAME PAGE, UNDERSTANDING THE BEST PRACTICES IS THE ONLY WAY THAT WE'RE ABLE TO TREAT THOSE IN THE SPECIALTY COURT INCLUDING THE VETERANS AND VETERANS TREATMENT COURT. AS JUDGE HAVE SAID, THIS IS THE FIRST TIME IT'S BEEN IN TEXAS IN THE LAST FIVE YEARS AND DRIVING DISTANCE SO WE WANT TO TRY TO GET AS MANY TEAM MEMBERS AS POSSIBLE TO THAT TRAINING. IT IS IN JUNE 26TH TO THE 29TH. WE DO HAVE GRANTS AND OTHER FUNDING FOR OTHER MEMBERS OF OUR TEAM, BUT WE HAVE SOME THAT ARE LACKING, ESPECIALLY IN OUR TEXAS VETERANS COMMISSION GRANT, WE ONLY ARE ALLOWED FOUR MEMBERS TO BE ABLE TO PAY FULL EXPENSES INCLUDING THE JUDGE WITH THE COUNTY COURTS, THEY ARE PAYING FOR THAT. BUT WE HAVE 120 ACTIVE PARTICIPANTS IN THE VETERANS TREATMENT COURT. WE HAVE TWO PROBATION OFFICERS, WE HAVE A CASE MANAGER, WE HAVE TWO TREATMENT PROVIDERS, WE HAVE A COURT MANAGER AND WE ALSO HAVE A DIRECTOR. GETTING EVERYONE IN THE STAFF, GETTING ON THE SAME PAGE FOR THE BEST PRACTICES AND THIS IS FOR THE SPECIALTY COURTS ACROSS THE BOARD IS REALLY NECESSARY TO MANAGE THESE SPECIALTY COURTS HERE IN BEXAR COUNTY. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. I WANTED TO UNDERSTAND, FIRST OF ALL, WHAT'S THE TOTAL FOOTPRINT? BECAUSE YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT STAFF AND OUTSIDE PARTNERS WHO ARE BEING FUNDED THROUGH OTHER SOURCES. HOW MANY PEOPLE TOTAL ARE YOU TRYING TO BRING INTO HOUSTON? >> TOTAL? >> YEAH, TOTAL. >> I WOULD SAY PROBABLY CLOSE TO 200. THE 200, THE 300 IS STAFF MEMBERS. TEAM MEMBERS THAT ARE ON EVERY SPECIALTY COURT IN BEXAR COUNTY? PROBABLY CLOSE TO AROUND MAYBE 150, 200. >> WHAT ARE THEY BEING FUNDED THROUGH? >> BECAUSE OF ALL OF THE 14 SPECIALTY COURTS, WE DO HAVE THROUGH GRANTS, A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF FUNDING FOR TRAINING. BUT THAT FUNDING LIKE JUDGE DOMINGUEZ JUST SAID, MAYBE IT WILL FUND 4,5 MEMBERS OF OUR TEAM. EACH SPECIALTY COURT TEAM COMPRISES ROUGHLY ABOUT 15 - 20 INDIVIDUALS. THAT INCLUDES THE JUDGE, THE PROBATION OFFICERS, THE OFFICERS THEMSELVES, TREATMENT, CASE MANAGERS, THERAPISTS. I'M GOING TO LET YOU GUYS LISTEN TO ROBERTO. ROBERTO HAS BEEN DOING THIS FOR SO LONG. I THINK YOU CAN GIVE A GOOD PERSPECTIVE ON THIS. >> GOOD AFTERNOON, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN. MY NAME IS ROBERTO LUIS. I'VE BEEN WORKING WITH THE DRUG COURTS FOR OVER 20 YEARS. I'M ALSO A CONSULTANT FOR THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION FOR DRUG PROFESSIONALS. I'M CURRENTLY SERVING AS THE DIRECTOR FOR THE VETERANS TREATMENT COURT. EXCUSE ME. IT IS MY UNDERSTANDING THAT WE HAVE 75 DRUG COURT PRACTITIONERS AMONG ALL THOSE SPECIALTY COURTS IN BEXAR COUNTY, THAT ARE CURRENTLY BEING FUNDED FOR THE TRAINING. IT IS THE COALITIONS REQUESTS THAT WE FUND ANOTHER 24 TO ATTEND THIS CONFERENCE WHICH WILL TAKE PLACE IN OUR STATE. >> CAN I JUST ASK A CLARIFYING QUESTION COMMISSIONER? >> YEAH. >> ARE YOU ALL SAYING WE ALREADY PASSED IN THE BUDGET? IT'S ALREADY APPROVED. WE ALREADY PASSED IN THE BUDGET TO FUND 75 COUNTY EMPLOYEES TO GO, IS THAT CORRECT? >> NOT COMMISSIONERS COURT PER SE BECAUSE A LOT OF THE FUNDING THAT'S GOT FROM GRANTS, FEDERAL GRANTS, STATE GRANTS, THE GOVERNORS GRANT. WHATEVER THE SPECIALTY COURTS HAVE SET ASIDE IN THEIR PARTICULAR BUDGET, IT NOT PER SE COMING. >> YOU GUYS ALREADY HAVE FUNDING FROM DIFFERENT SOURCES INCLUDING COMMISSIONERS COURT, FOR 75 COUNTY EMPLOYEES ARE ALREADY GOING. IS THAT CORRECT? >> YES, THERE ARE 75 ALREADY GOING UNDER DIFFERENT FUNDING STREAMS. EACH COURT HAS EITHER ACCESS TO DIFFERENT FUNDS, DIFFERENT GRANTS, DIFFERENT DEPARTMENT BUDGETS, OR STIPENDS THAT WERE PROVIDED BY THE TEXAS ASSOCIATION FOR SPECIALTY COURTS OR EVEN THE THERAPY JUST FOUNDATION HAS FUNDED SOME OF THE [OVERLAPPING]. >> I'M JUST TRYING TO UNDERSTAND THE BASIC, AND THEN YOU GUYS ARE ASKING FOR 24 MORE AND THEY'RE ALL COUNTY EMPLOYEES? >> NO. SOME OF THEM ARE NOT. SOME OF THESE LIKE TREATMENT, PUBLIC DEFENDERS, SOME OF THEM ARE NOT PER SE BEXAR COUNTY EMPLOYEES. TO ME, THAT DOESN'T MATTER BECAUSE WE'RE ALL HERE FOR A COMMON GOOD. [01:10:05] WE'RE ALL CITIZENS OF BEXAR COUNTY AND THESE PEOPLE THAT WE'RE ASKING FOR ARE CORE MEMBERS OF THE TEAM. >> BUT I'M JUST ASKING BECAUSE I JUST NEED TO BE CLEAR ON WHO WE'RE FUNDING SO I JUST WANT TO ASK THOSE QUESTIONS. >> THANK YOU. [OVERLAPPING] I HEARD THAT THAT WAS A STICKING POINT FOR SOME OF THE COMMISSIONERS ABOUT SOME OF THE TEAM MEMBERS THAT WERE NOT PER SE BEXAR COUNTY EMPLOYEES. BUT HOW WE LOOK AT IT AT SPECIALLY COURSE, WE ALL ARE A TEAM LIKE TREATMENT AND THERAPISTS, EVEN THOUGH THEY MAY NOT BE DIRECTLY ON MY TEAM, THEY'RE ON MY TEAM BUT NOT BEING FUNDED BY BEXAR COUNTY BUT PART OF THE CONTRACT THAT I WOULD HAVE. HOPE THAT MAKES SENSE. I JUST WANT TO SAY ANOTHER THING IS THAT BEXAR COUNTY IS ON THE FOREFRONT OF THIS. LIKE OTHER COUNTIES, WHAT WE'RE DOING HERE IN BEXAR COUNTY IS JUST SO SPECTACULAR THAT UNITING ALL THOSE SPECIAL COURTS, FORMING THE CORRELATION, EVEN THOSE RESOURCE BOOKS, HAVING A SERIES OF SEMINARS AND IT'S ALL DONE WITH THE MISSION OF EDUCATING THE PUBLIC ABOUT THESE PROGRAMS. THERE ARE A LOT OF HURTING FAMILIES IN BEXAR COUNTY PEOPLE DON'T KNOW THAT THESE RESOURCES EXIST AT THE COURTHOUSE. PEOPLE ARE REALLY SURPRISED WHEN I TELL THEM THAT WE HAVE A MENTAL HEALTH COURT, A DRUG COURT, A DWI COURT, A [INAUDIBLE] COURT, VETERAN COURT. THIS IS MILITARY CITY USA. A LOT OF THE MILITARY DON'T KNOW THAT WE HAVE A MISDEMEANOR VETERAN'S COURT, WE HAVE A FELONY VETERAN'S COURT. IS SHARE OF THIS COALITION HAVE BEEN PRETTY DOING A BIG PUSH TO EDUCATE THE COMMUNITY. ALBERT SAYS, TEXAS ASSOCIATION, SPECIALTY COURT, HAS BEEN GIVEN OUT AN AWARD FOR A SPECIALTY COURT JUDGE OF THE YEAR, THE LAST 20 YEARS. FIVE OF THOSE AWARDS HAVE GONE TO BEXAR COUNTY JUDGES, JUDGE CEKER GOT AWARD. JUDGE GONZALEZ GOT IT. JUDGE ALI GLENN RECEIVED ONE. JUDGE ALONZO RECEIVED ONE AND I'LL BE RECEIVING IT THIS YEAR. I JUST WANT YOU GUYS TO KNOW WHAT A GREAT JOB THAT BEXAR COUNTY IS DOING ON THIS PATH FOR SPECIAL COURTS. >> AGREE. THIS DISCUSSION TODAY HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THE SUPPORT THAT I THINK THIS COURT HAS SHOWN INVESTING MILLIONS AND MILLIONS OF DOLLARS INTO OUR SPECIALTY COURTS OVER THE YEARS AND SUPPORTING THE EFFORTS OF THOSE COURTS. SOME OF THIS FUNDING IS FOR STAFF, SOME OF IT'S FOR OUTSIDE GROUPS AND I KNOW THEIR PARTNERS THAT YOU WORK WITH. A LOT OF THOSE PARTNERS ARE PROBABLY ALSO SUPPORTED BY COUNTY FUNDS. THEY PROBABLY HAVE THEIR OWN TRAVEL BUDGETS AS WELL. I DON'T KNOW ENOUGH ABOUT THAT TO BE ABLE TO SPEAK TO IT. I DO THINK THERE'S A QUESTION HERE, WE'RE LESS THAN THREE WEEKS OUT FROM THIS CONFERENCE. THERE'S CLEARLY A BUDGET THAT YOU HAD FOR TRAVEL FOR ACROSS ALL THOSE SPECIALTY COURTS THAT'S BEEN EXHAUSTED, I GUESS ON ALL THOSE OTHER INDIVIDUALS THAT ARE ALREADY GOING THERE. NOW YOU'RE ASKING FOR ADDITIONAL FUNDS AND MAKING THE POINT THAT THIS IS IN HOUSTON. BUT TYPICALLY THESE CONFERENCES ARE DECIDED A YEAR OR TWO OUT AND SO I DON'T KNOW IF THE PLAN CHANGED FROM WHEN YOU REQUESTED YOUR BUDGET FOR TRAVEL AND TRAINING OR WHETHER THIS HAS BEEN A RECENT DEVELOPMENT. CAN YOU SPEAK TO THAT AT ALL? >> WELL, YEAH. WE'VE BEEN TRYING TO DO THIS SINCE FEBRUARY. YOU GUYS WE HAVE BEEN ASKING THIS. I'VE TRIED TO VISIT WITH SOME OF YOU GUYS TO EXPLAIN WHAT WE WANTED. WE KNOW THAT THIS WAS COMING OUT THAT DEAL, THAT IT WAS GOING TO BE IN HOUSTON. I START TO START BACK IN JANUARY, FEBRUARY, WE'RE TRYING TO GET THE FUNDING APPROVED FOR THE TEAM MEMBERS THAT WE KNEW THAT WOULDN'T HAVE FUNDING. WE'VE ALREADY PASSED THE EARLY BIRD SPECIAL, THERE WAS $50 TACKED ON. BELIEVE ME, WE'VE BEEN WORKING DILIGENTLY ON THIS FOR ALMOST FIVE, SIX, WE'RE IN JUNE NOW. WE STARTED BACK IN JANUARY, FEBRUARY. WE'VE BEEN TRYING TO GET THIS FUNDED GOING. EXPLAIN IT TO YOU ALL WHAT THIS MEANS, HOW THIS WOULD GO TRYING TO BEAT THAT EARLY BIRD SPECIAL TO GET THAT DONE. >> THAT CHANGED FROM LAST FALL WITH YOUR TRAVEL BUDGET OR? >> I DON'T REALLY KNOW WHAT YOU'RE ASKING BECAUSE WE ALL HAVE A BUDGET. BUT THAT BUDGET, EVEN THE FUNDING THAT I WOULD HAVE IN MY BUDGET IS STILL NOT GOING TO FUND THE PEOPLE THAT I'M ASKING TO BE FUNDED. IF I ONLY HAVE ROOM FOR FIVE PEOPLE, I WILL STILL HAD TO COME BEFORE YOU GUYS TO ASK FOR ANOTHER FIVE OR SIX PEOPLE TO BE FUNDED. NO MATTER WHAT IF I ASKED YOU TODAY OR LAST YEAR BECAUSE I ONLY HAVE FIVE PEOPLE IN THE BUDGET. I'M GIVING YOU AN EXAMPLE OF ALL THE SPECIAL BECAUSE WE ALL WORK ON THE VERY TIGHT BUDGETS, A GRANT. WE HAVE A LIMITED AMOUNT TO SET ASIDE TO BUDGET FOR TRAINING AND CONFERENCES. IF THAT'S FOUR OR FIVE, NO MATTER WHAT, WE WERE GOING TO HAVE TO COME AND ASK YOU GUYS, HEY, IT'S IN TEXAS THIS YEAR. HE HASN'T BEEN IN TEXAS IN FIVE-YEARS. CAN YOU GUYS HELP US GET AS MANY TEAM MEMBERS TO THIS CONFERENCE? BECAUSE USUALLY IT'S IN DC OR TENNESSEE OR ANAHEIM. THIS IS THE FIRST TIME IT'S BEEN IN TEXAS. [01:15:01] WE DON'T HAVE TO FLY PEOPLE OUT THERE. PEOPLE CAN CARPOOL, PEOPLE'S SOMEBODY JUDGES ARE RUNNING VANS. WE'RE DOING ALL THAT WE CAN TO LESSEN THE COST. >> I UNDERSTAND. I'LL JUST GIVE YOU A FRAME OF REFERENCE THOUGH, FROM MY BACKGROUND IN CORPORATE AMERICA, AND MY MOST RECENT EXPERIENCE ON A TEAM FOR FORTUNE 100 COMPANY. WE WOULD GO TO CONFERENCES EITHER BY OURSELVES OR MAYBE AS A PAIR, AND THE IDEA WOULD BE WE WOULD GO THERE, WE WOULD TAKE NOTES, WE WOULD MEET WITH FOLKS, GET CARDS, BRING THOSE CONTEXTS, BRING THOSE LEARNINGS BACK AND THEN SHARE WITH THE BROADER TEAM. I DON'T THINK THAT THAT'S NOT A BEST PRACTICE OUT THERE TO TRY TO MINIMIZE THOSE COSTS WHEN IT COMES TO TRAVEL AND WHEN IT COMES TO CONFERENCES. ESPECIALLY WHEN I THINK THAT AS YOU SAID, BEXAR COUNTY'S LEADING IN SOME OF OUR JUDGES, I THINK INCLUDING YOURSELF ARE ACTUALLY THE SPEAKERS AND PRESENTERS AT THE CONFERENCE. OBVIOUSLY WE COULD DO THAT HERE TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERYONE UNDERSTANDS WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO, BUT THOSE ARE JUST SOME OF MY THOUGHTS AND CONCERNS ABOUT THIS FUNDING COMING UP SO LATE AND COMING UP FOR A CONFERENCE WHERE WE'RE TRYING TO BASICALLY BRING 200, YOU SAID? OVER 200? >> NO. THAT WAS JUST A TEAM MEMBER. I DON'T FEEL THAT IT'S SO LATE. LIKE I SAID, I'VE BEEN ASKED HIM FOR SIX MONTHS AGO. WOULD YOU AGREE WITH ME THAT FIRSTHAND EXPERIENCE IS THE BEST EXPERIENCE? WE'RE NOT ASKING FOR THIS EVERY YEAR. WE USUALLY ONLY SEND TWO OR THREE PEOPLE. WE'RE ONLY DOING THIS OUT OF BUDGET PROBABLY FOR THE FIRST TIME EVER PROBABLY BELIEVED ME PROBABLY THE LAST ASKED IS BECAUSE IT IS IN HOUSTON THIS YEAR AND IT REALLY BENEFITS TEAM MEMBERS WHEN THEY'RE THERE THEMSELVES, LEARN IT FIRSTHAND. OF COURSE WE COULD ALL GO AND COME BACK AND GIVE PEOPLE OUR NOTES. BUT THAT'S NOT WHAT I'M ASKING BECAUSE IT IS IN TEXAS THIS YEAR. I WOULDN'T COME TO YOU GUYS AND SAY CAN'T YOU FLY WHILE THESE PEOPLE TO DC? WE'RE GOING TO OF COURSE DRIVE IN CARPOOL THERE TOGETHER. I DO BELIEVE THAT FIRSTHAND EXPERIENCE AT A CONFERENCE OF SOMETHING LIKE THIS, THAT TEAM MEMBERS ARE GOING TO SEE IS THE BEST PRACTICE. >> THANK YOU. >> JUST REAL QUICK, THE PRIOR CONFERENCES HAVE BEEN IN EITHER DC OR CALIFORNIA. OBVIOUSLY YOU HAVE TO FIGHT FOR THOSE LOCATIONS AND TRYING TO SAVE MONEY WHEN WE ARE FUNDED WITH THE CURRENT GRANTS THAT WE HAVE. IT'S SITTING THE MINIMUM AMOUNT OF PEOPLE TO GET THE BENEFIT AND THEN COMING BACK AND TEACHING THE REST BECAUSE IT IS IN TEXAS. I KNOW I'M SHARING A ROOM. I KNOW PROBABLY JUDGE HALF IS SHARING A ROOM. WE ARE TRYING TO SAVE MONEY AND THAT IS THE COST OF SAVING MONEY AS WELL, WHERE WE'RE CARPOOLING. I KNOW ONE JUDGE IS RENTING IN AN AIRBNB. THAT WAY WE CAN GET AS MANY PEOPLE INTO THAT HOME BECAUSE WE'RE NOT ASKING FOR EVERYONE TO GET THEIR OWN HOTEL AND A RENTAL VEHICLE AND HAVE EVERYTHING PAID FOR, WE ARE TRYING TO SAVE THAT MONEY. ALSO WANT TO MENTION WITH THE VETERANS STREAM RECORD SPECIFICALLY WHEN I CAME ON THE BENCH IN JANUARY, THAT IS WHEN MY TIME TO START PLANNING TO GO TO THE CONFERENCE BEGAN. FOR ME, IT'S ONLY BEEN THE LAST SIX MONTHS. I KNOW THE VA HAS IN THE PAST, THE VETERAN AFFAIRS PROGRAM HAS IN THE PAST FUNDED BOTH OF MY VJOS. THIS TIME THEY'RE NOT. THEY'RE DOING A ONE FOR ONE. THEY ARE ONLY FUNDING ONE AND I HAVE TO FIGURE OUT HOW I'M GOING TO PAY FOR THE SECOND ONE. PROBATION KINDLY AGREED TO PAY FOR BOTH OF MY PROBATION OFFICERS THIS TIME BEFORE THEY HAVE NOT. WE ARE WORKING WITH THESE OTHER AGENCIES TO TRY TO GET THE FUNDING, AND THIS IS JUST WHAT'S LEFT. BECAUSE IT IS IN TEXAS THAT'S WHY WE WERE JUST TRYING TO GET THE MAXIMUM OUT OF PEOPLE TO GET TO THAT LOCATION THAT WE CAN SAVE THE MOST MONEY ON AND GETTING EVERYONE TRAINED UP. >> THANK YOU. MAINLY MY CONCERNS ARE JUST WITH THE PROCESS AND THE FACT THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THIS TWO WEEKS BEFORE THE CONFERENCE AND NOT AWARE OF ALL THE BACKGROUND AND SOME OF THE INFORMATION THAT HAS COME OUT HERE IS TOTALLY NEW. THANK YOU. >> JUDGES JUST A COUPLE OF QUICK QUESTIONS. LOOK, I DON'T HAVE AN ISSUE WITH EMPLOYEES INVESTING IN THEMSELVES THE COUNTY INVESTING IN EMPLOYEES TO GET EDUCATED AND IMPROVE. I THINK PART OF WHAT COMMISSIONER MOODY WAS HITTING ON WAS, I THINK BEING ABLE TO PLAN FOR THESE THINGS AND I GET IT. IT'S NOT ALWAYS HERE IN TEXAS, BUT I THINK GOING THROUGH A CALENDAR FOR THE YEAR, JUST LIKE WE DO, IN TERMS OF EXPECTATIONS FOR THE YEAR, WOULD CERTAINLY HELP. I THINK YOU DID REACH OUT A FEW WEEKS AGO TO MEET WITH MY OFFICE ON THIS. I THINK IT'S JUST THE NATURE OF THE SIGNIFICANT NUMBER OF PEOPLE THAT ARE GOING THAT IS PROBABLY WHY WE HAVE QUESTIONS ABOUT IT. MY OTHER QUESTION IS MORE RELATED TO WHO'S GOING TO STAY BEHIND DURING THAT WEEK BECAUSE I GUESS IT'S FOUR OR FIVE DAYS MONDAY THROUGH THURSDAY. I ASSUME YOU'VE GOT FOLKS THAT ARE GOING TO BE COVERING THE COURTS OR WILL YOU BE SHUTTING THE COURTS DOWN FOR THAT WEEK AS PEOPLE GO OFF TO THE CONFERENCE. >> YEAH. IN MY COURT I'M TRYING TO KICK AS MANY TEAM MEMBERS, [01:20:04] WHICH IS ME, MY COURT COORDINATOR, THE DAS, THE PUBLIC DEFENDERS. FOR THAT WEEK, WE WILL NOT HAVE COURT THAT WEEK. NOT EVEN A VISITING JUDGE BECAUSE THE COURT REPORTER IN THE COORDINATOR WILL NOT BE THERE, BECAUSE ALL OF THOSE PEOPLE ARE PART OF THE TEAM. >> WELL, LIKE I SAID, IT ISN'T UNUSUAL NUMBER OF PEOPLE, BUT I UNDERSTAND THE FACT THAT IT'S NEARBY. IT'S A NATIONAL CONFERENCE, YOU'RE TRYING TO GET FOLKS. WHETHER THEY REQUIRE CONTINUING IT OR NOT, IT'S ALWAYS GOOD TO KEEP UP WITH BEST PRACTICES. I GET THIS IS A ONE-OFF, BUT I WOULD JUST SAY WHETHER IT HAPPENS AGAIN IN THE FUTURE OR NOT, AS COMMISSIONER MOODY MENTIONED, THESE THINGS ARE SCHEDULED OUT. YOU'LL KNOW ALREADY WHERE IT'S GOING TO BE NEXT YEAR, AND MAYBE EVEN THE HEREAFTER. TO JUST GIVE US SOMEWHAT OF A EXPECTATION AS WE GO THROUGH THE BUDGET PLANNING PURPOSES TO PLAN FOR THAT UNUSUAL AND UNEXPECTED COSTS. THAT'S THE ONLY POINT I WOULD MAKE. BUT AGAIN, I REALLY DON'T HAVE AN ISSUE WITH YOU AND YOUR COLLEAGUES, THE OTHER JUDGES TRYING TO MAKE SURE THAT YOUR FOLKS HAVE OPPORTUNITIES TO LEARN AND IMPROVE THE SYSTEM. I THINK IT'S ABOUT INVESTING IN OUR EMPLOYEES, BUT I THINK IT'S JUST BEING CONSCIENTIOUS OF THE COST GOING FORWARD. IF IT'S GOING TO BE AN OUT OF CYCLE TYPE REQUEST OR YOU EXPECT A CERTAIN NUMBER OF FOLKS TO COME OR TO GO, IT SOUNDS LIKE EVERYBODY IS TRYING TO MINIMIZE COST. YOU'RE DRIVING, YOU'RE CARPOOLING, MAYBE EVEN SHARING ROOMS. BUT AGAIN, I THINK IT'S JUST MAKING SURE THAT WE PLAN FOR IT PROPERLY GOING THROUGH THE BUDGET CYCLE. KEEP THAT IN MIND FOR NEXT YEAR AND FOLLOWING YEARS I'D BE HELPFUL. >> THAT CANNOT BE, BECAUSE YOU GUYS ARE NOT FUNDING ALL THOSE OTHER COURTS. THE ONLY COURT THAT YOU GUYS 100% FUND IS THE MENTAL HEALTH COURT. THAT'S THE ONLY COURT YOU FUND. ALL THE OTHER COURTS GET GRANTS AND OTHER STREAMS, WHAT YOU'RE ASKING AND WHAT YOU'RE SAYING JUST CAN'T BE BECAUSE OF THE VERY NATURE OF HOW THOSE OTHER COURTS. I'M HERE ASKING THIS, BELIEVE ME, I WILL PROBABLY NEVER COME BACK AND ASK THIS AGAIN. I DON'T KNOW WHEN IT WILL BE IN TEXAS AGAIN. THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WE LEARNED. LIKE I SAID, I STARTED THIS PROCESS SIX MONTHS AGO. WHAT YOU'RE ASKING, I KNOW LIKE IN A CORPORATION MAYBE YOU COULD, BUT YOU GUYS DO NOT FUND THE OTHER SPECIALTY COURTS. YOU GUYS ONLY FUND THE MENTAL HEALTH COURT. >> I JUST WANT TO SAY THAT WE CAN WORK WITH YOUR OFFICES ON THE PLANNING PROCESS AND THE BUDGET. I THINK IN GENERAL TRAINING AND EDUCATION WITH OUR EMPLOYEES IS REALLY IMPORTANT, PARTICULARLY WITH THE SILVER TSUNAMI OF BABY BOOMERS WHO ARE RETIRING. THERE'S A LOT OF EXPERTISE THAT IS RETIRING AND GOING BY THE WAYSIDE, AND I THINK THAT IT IS IMPORTANT FOR US TO THINK ABOUT THE DIFFERENT WAYS THAT WE PROVIDE CONTINUING EDUCATION, TRAINING, A HIGHER EDUCATION, ETC. I THINK THIS IS PART OF AN OVERALL LOOK IN TERMS OF THE RECRUITMENT, RETENTION AND OTHER EFFORTS AS WELL. WE TEND TO THINK IN OUR WORLD THAT THE CONFERENCES ARE A YEAR OR TWO OUT. I DON'T KNOW IN THIS CASE, WE CAN TALK TO YOUR ASSOCIATION DIRECTOR OR WHATEVER TO SEE IF THEY KNOW THOSE KINDS OF THINGS SO THAT WHEN IT'S BACK IN TEXAS. IN ANY EVENT, BECAUSE YOU'VE TAKEN A PRUDENT AND CAREFUL CONSIDERATION, I'M GOING TO GO AHEAD AND MOVE APPROVAL. >> COMMISSIONER CLAY-FLORES. >> I WAS JUST GOING TO SECOND THAT. BUT JUST SO YOU KNOW, I CHECK WITH MY STAFF AND NO ONE REACHED OUT TO SET UP A MEETING WITH ME. THIS IS JUST THE FIRST TIME THAT I'M HEARING ABOUT IT A COUPLE OF DAYS AGO ON THE AGENDA REVIEW. BUT I SECOND. >> WELL, I TRIED TO HAVE A MEETING WITH ALL OF YOU GUYS, BUT I WAS TOLD THAT THAT WOULD BE A VIOLATION OF THE OPEN MEETINGS ACT. >> THAT WAS NOT CORRECT. BUT ANYWAY, WE GOT A MOTION AND A SECOND. >> MOTION BY COMMISSIONER CALVERT'S SECOND BY COMMISSIONER CLAY-FLORES. ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? I WILL PUT ON RECORD THAT I REMAIN SILENT BECAUSE I WILL ABSTAIN. ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE. >> AYE. >> ALL THOSE OPPOSED. >> MOTION FAILS. [BACKGROUND] LET'S GO ON A VOICE VOTE, PLEASE. COMMISSIONER CLAY-FLORES, ARE YOU IN FAVOR OR NOT IN FAVOR? >> I SECOND IT, YES. >> COMMISSIONER RODRIGUEZ. >> AYE. >> MR. MOODY. >> AYE. >> MR. CALVIN. >> AYE. >> MOTION CARRIES. CONGRATULATIONS. >> THANK YOU GUYS FOR INVESTING IN YOUR CONSTITUENTS, [01:25:02] THE CONSTITUENTS FOR ALL OF THEIR COUNTING UP. THANK YOU GUYS AND I APPRECIATE IT SO MUCH. [45. Approval of a Professional Services Agreement between Bexar County and Lopez Salas Architects, Inc. (HUB, ESBE, HABE, MBE, SBE, DBE) for Architectural and Engineering services in connection with design documents of the Bexar County Criminal Investigation Laboratory located at 7838 Barlite, San Antonio, Texas; in an amount not to exceed $573,570. ] >> ITEM 45, APPROVAL OF PROFESSIONAL SERVICES AGREEMENT BETWEEN BEXAR COUNTY, LOPEZ SALAS ARCHITECTS INC. FOR ARCHITECTURAL ENGINEERING SERVICES OR CONNECTION WITH DESIGN DOCUMENTS OF THE BEXAR COUNTY CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION LABORATORY LOCATED AT 7838 BAR LIGHT, SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS, AND THE AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $573,570. MR. KUHRT. >> THANK YOU. >> JUDGE, I PULLED THIS JUST FOR DISCUSSION. A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS. DAN. I DON'T KNOW IF I NECESSARILY NEED YOU TO RUN THROUGH THE WHOLE PRESENTATION. BUT I WANTED A LITTLE BIT OF BACKGROUND JUST FOR THE RECORD ON BECAUSE I KNOW WE HAD THE MEDICAL EXAMINER HERE A FEW WEEKS AGO. WE TALKED QUITE A BIT THAT DAY ABOUT THE OFFICES NEEDS IN TERMS OF PERSONNEL, BUT WE DIDN'T TALK SPECIFICALLY ABOUT SOME OF THE UPGRADES THAT WE'RE MAKING TO THE FACILITIES, AND I WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HIGHLIGHTED THAT. THIS PARTICULAR ITEM IS FOR I THINK IT'S ARCHITECTURAL AND ENGINEERING SERVICES FOR THE CRIME LAB, AND WE HAD TO PIVOT A LITTLE BIT. I THINK WE HAD A DIFFERENT FIRM THAT WAS DOING, I GUESS, SOME PRELIMINARY DESIGN WORK AND NOW YOU'RE PROPOSING WE UTILIZE A DIFFERENT FIRM. SO IF YOU COULD JUST TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE CHANGE THERE. >> SURE. LET ME RECAP FOR YOU THE OVERALL PLAN FOR THE CRIME LAB IN THE MEDICAL EXAMINERS SPACE NEEDS. THEY CAME TO US MULTIPLE YEARS AGO IN BOTH EXPRESSED DESIRES TO GROW, AND THE FORENSIC SCIENCE CENTER, WHICH CURRENTLY HOUSES BOTH OF THEM, IS LANDLOCKED IN SPACE. WE'VE DONE NUMEROUS STUDIES ON CAN WE EXPANDED THE BUILDING, CAN WE ADD TO THE BUILDING ALL THESE FUNCTIONS ON THE UT HEALTH CAMPUS. IN THE END, THE RESULTING RECOMMENDATION WAS TO BUY A BUILDING THAT WAS IN PRECINCT ONE ON BARLEY BOULEVARD AND RENOVATE THAT 40,000 SQUARE FOOT FACILITY FOR THE CRIME LAB FUNCTION ITSELF, RETAIN THE MEDICAL EXAMINER FUNCTION AT THE UT HEALTH CAMPUS BECAUSE THAT'S HOW IT HAS MOST CONSISTENCY AND CONGRUENCY WITH THOSE OPERATIONS AND THEN ALLOW THE MEDICAL EXAMINERS OFFICE TO EXPAND IN THAT FACILITY. AGAIN, WE'RE VACATING ABOUT 20,000 SQUARE FEET WITH THE CRIME LAB FUNCTION OVER THE BAR LIGHT, AND THEN A MEDICAL EXAMINER EXPAND INTO THOSE SPACES, WHICH I KNOW SHE MENTIONED TO YOU. A LOT OF HER ISSUES ARE WITH OFFICE SPACE. SHE NEEDS OFFICES FOR FORENSIC ANTHROPOLOGISTS, SHE NEEDS OFFICES FOR DOCTORS. THIS WILL ALLOW HER THAT SPACE TO DO THAT. IT'S NOT GOING TO HAPPEN RIGHT AWAY. OBVIOUSLY, WE NEED TO DESIGN AND BUILD THE SOLUTION. BUT THE FASTEST DELIVERY FOR US WAS TAKING EXISTING BUILDING, RENOVATE IT, AND THEN MOVE THE CRIME LAB INTO THAT AS QUICK AS WE CAN. YOU ARE CORRECT. WE INITIALLY CAME TO YOU GUYS SEVERAL MONTHS AGO WITH A RECOMMENDATION WITH JOHNSTON LLC, WHICH IS A HOUSTON BASED FIRM, TO DO THE DESIGN FOR THE CRIME LAB. AFTER WE RECEIVE AUTHORITY TO NEGOTIATE, WE'VE TALKED WITH JOHNSTON. WE WEREN'T EXACTLY ON THE SAME PAGE WITH EXACTLY WHAT THEY BELIEVED THE PROJECT SCOPE WAS AND WE HAD THE SCOPE WAS AND WHAT'S BUDGETED FOR, WHICH WAS A RENOVATION IN THE EXISTING BUILDING. WE DIPPED OUR TOE IN WITH THAT PARTICULAR CONTRACT WAS ABOUT $80,000. DID IN-DEPTH PROGRAMMING WITH ORIN AND HIS TEAM AND EXACTLY WHERE THE CRIME LAB ADJACENCIES WOULD BE. AT THE END OF THAT PROGRAMMING STUDY, WE DISCOVERED THAT THEY, AS A CONSULTANT'S IN THEIR SUB-CONSULTANTS, WHICH ARE OUT OF CALIFORNIA, WEREN'T REALLY PAIRING UP WITH WHAT OUR EXPECTATIONS WERE FOR THE PROJECT, AND THEY WERE, WE BELIEVE IS OVER DESIGNING THE SOLUTION TO THE PROJECT. AGAIN, WE TERMINATED CONVERSATIONS WITH THEM. WE LET THEM KNOW IT WAS AMICABLE, AND ON THE ORIGINAL SOLICITATION, THE SECOND HIGHEST RANK RESPONDENT WAS LOPEZ SALAS, WHICH IS A LOCAL MINORITY FIRM. WE REACHED OUT DIRECTLY TO THEM, WENT THROUGH THE PROGRAMMING EXERCISE WE HAD WITH JOHNSTON. ROCKY LOPEZ IS HERE. IF YOU WANT, HE CAN SPEAK TO YOU ABOUT HIS FIRM SPECIFICALLY. BUT WE FELT VERY CONFIDENT THAT HE UNDERSTANDS EXACTLY WHAT THE SCOPE IS. WE'RE BRINGING FORWARD THE FULL DESIGN GOOD AGREEMENT FOR LOPEZ SALAS TODAY. >> WE SPENT, YOU SAID ABOUT 80,000 ALREADY? >> CORRECT. >> THIS AMOUNT THAT YOU'RE ASKING FOR, THE 573,000, IS ADDITIONAL AMOUNT. >> IT IS. NOW, THE $80,000, IT WASN'T LOST CONTENT. WE ACTUALLY PAY THEM OUT ABOUT 77,000 OF THAT $80,000. BUT IT WAS A VERY GOOD IN-DEPTH PROGRAMMING EXERCISE. LOPEZ SALAS WILL TAKE THAT DATA THAT WE GOT FROM THEM AND TRANSLATE IT INTO PLANS AND SPECIFICATIONS. IT WASN'T AN LOST EFFORT. WE DID A VERY IN-DEPTH PROGRAMMING EXERCISE ON THE PRECINCT 4 BUILDING WHERE WE GOT AN INDIVIDUAL COMPONENTS ADJACENCY. I DON'T WANT TO SAY IT'S LOST EFFORT, BUT WE WILL STILL USE THAT DATA. >> JUST BIG PICTURE, DAN, THIS IS DESIGN ENGINEERING. REMIND ME WHAT THE TOTAL INVESTMENT WE'RE MAKING IN THE FACILITY IS CAPITAL WISE. >> IT'S AROUND $11 MILLION. WE BOUGHT THE BUILDING FOR AROUND SIX AND WE'RE SPENDING ABOUT $5 MILLION. [01:30:04] >> WHAT'S OUR TIMELINE LOOKING LIKE? >> WE HOPE TO WHEN WE EXECUTE THIS AGREEMENT, WE'VE TOLD ROCKY HE HAS TO MOVE REALLY FAST. HE'S WILLING TO PUT THE PEDAL TO THE METAL THIS WEEK. WE BELIEVE WE HAVE THE PLANS AND SPECIFICATIONS WITHIN SIX MONTHS AND THEN PUT THOSE ON THE STREET FOR RENOVATION. >> THEN WE'VE NOT SELECTED YET THE CONTRACTOR OR WHO THAT WILL CARRY ON. >> THIS WILL BE A SIMPLE DESIGN-BID-BUILD WHERE WE DESIGN IT AND HAVE DOCUMENTS AND THEN WE'LL PUT THEM OUT TO THE STREET. >> GREAT. THAT'S ALL I GOT, JUDGE. I'D MOVE APPROVAL. >> SECOND. >> MOTION BY COMMISSIONER RODRIGUEZ. >> SECOND BY COMMISSIONER CLAY-FLORES. ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE. >> AYE. >> ANY OBJECTIONS SIGNIFY BY SAYING NO? MOTION CARRIES. COMMISSIONERS, WITH YOUR PERMISSION, [58. Ratification of approval to submit an electronic grant application to the Texas Indigent Defense Commission (TIDC) under the solicitation FY2024 Indigent Defense Improvement Grant program for the Bexar County Public Defender's Office to establish an Immigration Division in the amount of $1 over four years. The total amount for year 1 is $478,751, with TIDC funding $383,001, or 80 percent; and Bexar County matching $95,750, or 20 percent. In subsequent years funding from TIDC will be 60% in year 2,40% in year 3, and 20 percent in year 4, and in year 5 the County fully funding the program; and approval to apply the digital signature of the County Judge on the application and acceptance of funds upon award. The term of the grant would begin October 1, 2023, through September 30, 2026. ] I'D LIKE TO GO TO ITEM 58 IS RATIFICATION APPROVAL SUBMIT ELECTRONIC GRANT APPLICATION TO THE TEXAS INDIGENT DEFENSE COMMISSION UNDER THE SOLICITATION OF FISCAL YEAR 2024. INDIGENT DEFENSE IMPROVEMENT GRANT PROGRAM FOR THE BEXAR COUNTY PUBLIC DEFENDERS OFFICE TO ESTABLISH AN IMMIGRATION DIVISION IN AMOUNT OF $1 FOR FOUR YEARS. THE TOTAL AMOUNT OF YEAR ONE IS 478,751 WITH TIDC FUNDING OR 383 $1 OR 80% AND BEXAR COUNTY MATCHING AND 95,750 OR 20%. IN SUBSEQUENT YEARS, I'M DEALING WITH TIDC WILL BE 60% IN YEAR 2, 40% IN YEAR 3, 20% IN YEAR 4, AND YEAR 5, THE COUNTY FULLY FUNDING THE PROGRAM AND APPROVAL TO APPLY THE DIGITAL SIGNATURE OF THE COUNTY JUDGE ON THE APPLICATION ACCEPTANCE OF FUNDS UPON AWARD DETERMINE THE GRANT WOULD BEGIN OCTOBER 1ST, 2023 TO SEPTEMBER 30TH, 2026. >> JUDGE, COMMISSIONERS, JUST FOR ONE POINT OF CLARIFICATION, THAT TOTAL AMOUNT SHOULD NOT BE $1 AND SHOULD BE $1,926,135. >> SAY THAT ONE MORE TIME. >> $1,926,135. >> I'M SORRY. BRING ME UP TO DATE. [OVERLAPPING] LET'S GO. >> GOOD MORNING, COMMISSIONERS. TO SPEAK MORE ABOUT OUR GRANT, I'M GOING TO INTRODUCE ASSISTANT PUBLIC DEFENDER, SARAH MAY. SHE'S WORKED DILIGENTLY AFTER FINDING AN EFFICIENCY WHERE WE BELIEVE WE CAN SAVE THE COUNTY MONEY IN ADDITION TO MOVING PEOPLE THROUGH THE GEL MORE QUICKLY WHEN THEY HAVE ICE AND IMMIGRATION HOLDS. >> HI, I'M ASSISTANT PUBLIC DEFENDER SARAH MAY. I'VE BEEN WORKING FOR THE COUNTY FOR ABOUT 4.5 YEARS. I STARTED THREE YEARS IN MAGISTRATION AND I'VE BEEN IMMIGRATION ATTORNEY AT THE BEXAR COUNTY PUBLIC DEFENDERS OFFICE FOR A YEAR-AND-A-HALF. AS OF TODAY, I AM THE ONLY IMMIGRATION ATTORNEY FOR BEXAR COUNTY THAT HELPS ASSIST INDIGENT DEFENSE. AS IMMIGRATION ATTORNEY, I SEE INEFFICIENCY AND I'M HERE TODAY TO ASK FOR FUNDING FOR ADDITIONAL POSITIONS TO HELP WITH THE INEFFICIENCY, TO HELP WITH COURT COSTS, AND FOR JAIL COSTS. AS IT IS TODAY, I WAIT FOR CRIMINAL DEFENSE ATTORNEY TO ASK ME FOR AN IMMIGRATION ADVISAL. IT IS THE RIGHT OF A NON-CITIZEN TO KNOW THE IMMIGRATION CONSEQUENCE OF THEIR CRIMINAL CASE. THIS ASKING FOR AN IMMIGRATION ADVISAL WILL USUALLY COMES AT THE SECOND OR THIRD HEARING IN THEIR CASE. MOST TIMES IT HAPPENS RIGHT BEFORE A PERSON TAKES A PLEA. WITH THIS PROPOSAL, IT'S A PILOT PROGRAM, WE ARE GOING TO DO THE IMMIGRATION CONSEQUENCES BEFORE THE FIRST HEARING. IT SAVES THE DELAY OF ASKING THE COURT FOR MORE TIME FOR A RESET FOR THE IMMIGRATION ADVISOR, SPECIFICALLY FOR ICE DETAINERS, FOR PEOPLE THAT ARE HELD AT BEXAR COUNTY CUSTODY. THE COUNTY SPENDS $1.75 MILLION IN 2021 TO HOUSE PEOPLE WITH ICE DETAINERS. >> HOLD ON ONE SECOND WE GET THE MICROPHONES FIXED BECAUSE WE WANT TO MAKE SURE WE HEAR YOU. TRY IT AGAIN. >> OKAY. >> SEE IF IT PICKS YOU UP. I THINK, JUST ONE MINUTE. [01:35:02] >> WE NEED SOME ADJUSTMENTS ON THE MICS, PLEASE. >> TRY PUSHING ON AND OFF TO SEE IF IT RESETS. >> HELLO. >> THERE YOU GO. >> OKAY. MAYBE I'M TOO CLOSE. [LAUGHTER] IN 2022, IT COSTED BEXAR COUNTY $2.6 MILLION TO HOUSE PEOPLE WITH ICE DETAINERS. WITH THIS PROGRAM, WE WANT TO CUT THOSE COSTS. WE WANT TO BE MORE JUDICIAL ECONOMY SAVE THE LIMITED RESOURCES OF THE COURT BY TAKING ON CASES THAT HAVE ICE DETAINERS. WE ARE UNIQUE IN A SENSE THAT WE HAVE A MAGISTRATE IN OFFICE IN THE JAIL. WE ALSO KNOW WHEN SOMEONE HAS AN ICE HOLD. HAVING THESE TWO ADDITIONAL PERSONS, BEING ABLE TO GO TO THE JAIL AND TALK TO PEOPLE, LET THEM KNOW THAT THEY HAVE AN ICE DETAINER, ADVISE THEM OF THE IMMIGRATION CONSEQUENCES BEFORE THE FIRST HEARING. WE'RE GOING TO CUT THAT RESET DAY, AT LEAST A MINIMUM OF 30 DAYS. WE'RE EXPEDITING THE DECISION-MAKING OF THE CLIENT BECAUSE WE'RE INFORMING THE CLIENT OF THEIR CRIMINAL CASE AND OF THE IMMIGRATION CONSEQUENCES. THE SAVINGS THAT WE HAVE IN OUR PROPOSAL IS ONLY JAIL COSTS. THE PROGRAM WOULD SAVE A MINIMUM OF $900,000. THE WAY THAT WE CALCULATED IT WAS WE'RE ADVISING THE CLIENT OF THE IMMIGRATION CONSEQUENCES, ALSO DOING REPRESENTING THEM IN A CRIMINAL CASE, AND ALSO NOT COSTING THE JAIL TIME WITH THE THREE-DAY RESET. IN ADDITION TO THE TWO ASSISTANT PUBLIC DEFENDERS, WE'RE ASKING FOR A FOREIGN LANGUAGE SPECIALISTS. THIS PERSON IS A COURT INTERPRETER THAT CAN TRANSCRIBE, INTERPRET FOR THE ATTORNEYS, ALSO FOR THE REST OF THE PEOPLE IN OUR OFFICE. WE HAVE INVESTIGATORS THAT DON'T SPEAK SPANISH SO THE COURT INTERPRETER COULD HELP THE INVESTIGATORS WITH THE SPANISH. WE'RE ALSO ASKING FOR AN OFFICE ASSISTANT SO THAT THE ATTORNEYS AND THE FOREIGN LANGUAGE SPECIALIST CAN FOCUS THEIR TIME ON DIRECT LEGAL SERVICES. THE PROPOSAL IS A WIN-WIN SITUATION. MOST IMPORTANTLY, IT'S A WIN-WIN SITUATION FOR THE CLIENT BECAUSE THEY ARE GIVEN INFORMATION ABOUT THEIR CASE UPFRONT. IT PRESERVES THEIR CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHT TO THE IMMIGRATION CONSEQUENCE. IT'S A WIN-WIN FOR THE COURT BECAUSE THE CLIENT CAN MAKE AN INFORMED DECISION ABOUT THEIR CASE UPFRONT. IT'S A WIN-WIN FOR THE JAIL BECAUSE IT'S LESS TIME SPENT IN THE JAIL FOR ICE DETAINERS. >> ANY QUESTIONS? >> YEAH, I JUST HAVE A COMMENT. THANKS FOR MEETING WITH ME, YOU MET WITH ME A FEW WEEKS AGO TO UNDERSTAND THE INS AND OUTS OF IT. I UNDERSTAND IT'S A GRANT PROGRAM AND WE HAVE, I'M VERY SUPPORTIVE OF GRANT PROGRAMS TO HELP US GET THINGS STARTED AND THEN PROGRESSIVELY WE MOVE FORWARD AND WITH ALL THE TALK THAT WE'RE ALWAYS DOING HERE IN THE GELATIN OFF THE SHERIFFS HERE. BUT ALL THE TALK THAT WE'RE DISCUSSING IN TERMS OF OVERTIME PAY AND THIS IS ACTUALLY A COST SAVING TO THE COUNTY BECAUSE IT HELPS TO GET PEOPLE OUT QUICKER. I AM HAPPY TO MOVE FOR APPROVAL OF THIS. >> THANK YOU. >> ALL RIGHT. MOTION BY COMMISSIONER CLAY-FLORES, SECOND BY COMMISSIONER ARDUAS. ANY FURTHER DISCUSSIONS? COMMISSIONER MOODY. >> I HAD SOME QUESTIONS AND CONCERNS REGARDING THIS ITEM. FIRST OF ALL, I MEAN, ON THE PROCESS SIDE, I THINK THIS WAS ADDED FRIDAY AFTERNOON AND SO OUR STAFF TRIED TO PLAY CATCH UP HERE AND GETTING CAUGHT BACK UP ON WHERE THIS WAS AT. I KNOW WE SPOKE BEFORE ABOUT THIS, BUT DIDN'T REALIZE IT WAS GOING TO BE BROUGHT BACK TO THE COURT TODAY. I GUESS MY FIRST COMMENT AND QUESTION IS AROUND, YOU MENTIONED IMPROVING THE PROCESS AND I'M A BIG BELIEVER IN THAT. BUT THOSE ITEMS YOU MENTIONED ABOUT THE TIMELINE AND REDUCING THE TIME IN JAIL, WHY CAN WE NOT MAKE SOME OF THOSE CHANGES WITH OUR CURRENT RESOURCES? BECAUSE WE DO HONOR OUR INMATE'S CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS TODAY AND WE DO HAVE RESOURCES. CAN WE NOT CHANGE THAT PROCESS WITH OUR CURRENT RESOURCES? >> AS IT IS NOW, WE WAIT FOR A CRIMINAL DEFENSE ATTORNEY. WHEN SOMEONE IS MAGISTRATED, THEY HAVE TO WAIT TO BE APPOINTED TO A CRIMINAL DEFENSE ATTORNEY, AND THEN YOU HAVE TO WAIT FOR THAT CRIMINAL DEFENSE ATTORNEY TO MEET WITH THEIR CLIENT, WHICH IS USUALLY AT THE FIRST SITTING. THEN IT TAKES A WHILE FOR THE CRIMINAL DEFENSE ATTORNEY TO FINALLY TO UNDERSTAND, THIS PERSON IS A NON-CITIZEN THEY NEED AN IMMIGRATION CONSEQUENCE. [01:40:03] AS IT IS NOW WITH THE PROCESS THAT IT IS THERE'S A LOT OF WAIT TIME AND I THINK IT'S DIFFERENT BECAUSE IN MAGISTRATION, OUR OFFICE IS SITUATED WHERE WE KNOW IT'S A NON-CITIZEN THE TIME THEY WERE ARRESTED, AND THAT'S HOW WE CAN IMPROVE THE PROCESS. IT'S A PILOT PROGRAM. IT'S A HYBRID SYSTEM WHERE THE CRIMINAL DEFENSE ATTORNEY DOES BOTH. I THINK THE SUCCESS OF THIS PROGRAM IS SOMETHING THAT THE MAC AND OTHER COUNTIES CAN FOLLOW. >> SINCE YOU JUST MENTIONED IT THERE, I DID WANT TO BRING THAT UP TO, I KNOW THE SCORE PREVIOUSLY ALREADY APPROVED SOME FUNDING FOR THE MANAGED ASSIGNED COUNCIL PROGRAM, AND NOW WE'RE ASKING FOR ADDITIONAL FUNDS FOR THE PUBLIC DEFENDER PROCESS. CAN YOU HELP ME UNDERSTAND WHY THAT'S NOT A REDUNDANCY? >> YES. THE $1 MILLION THAT BEXAR COUNTY HAS APPROVED WAS FOR REMOVAL DEFENSE. THAT'S ON THE CIVIL SIDE. THAT'S FOR AN IMMIGRATION CASE. >> IT'S ALSO FOR OUTSIDE AGENCIES, CORRECT? >> CORRECT. >> BUT THIS IS FOR OUR COUNTY STAFF OR ONE OF OUR COUNTY DEPARTMENT? >> IT'S COMPLETELY SEPARATE. THIS PROPOSAL IS FOR CRIMINAL DEFENSE ONLY FOR THE CRIMINAL CASE. IN IMMIGRATION, NON-CITIZENS DON'T HAVE A RIGHT TO AN IMMIGRATION ATTORNEY. KIDS IN IMMIGRATION PROCEEDINGS DON'T HAVE A RIGHT TO AN ATTORNEY. BEXAR COUNTY HAS PROVIDED FUNDING FOR NON-PROFITS TO PROVIDE LEGAL SERVICES TO PEOPLE SUCH AS UNACCOMPANIED MINORS THAT COME OVER. BUT IT'S TOTALLY SEPARATE. THIS PROGRAM IS SPECIFICALLY FOR THE CRIMINAL DEFENSE SIDE. >> UNDERSTAND. ANOTHER QUESTION, AND COMMENT IS REGARDING THE PROGRAM IMPLEMENTATION. THIS GRANT STARTS OUT WITH PROVIDING 80% FUNDING AND THEN IT DROPS TO 20%. YOU BASICALLY CREATE, OVER THE COURSE OF FIVE YEARS, AN ENTIRELY COUNTY FUNDED NEW ORGANIZATION THAT THE COUNTY WILL LIKELY THEN HAVE TO FUND IN PERPETUITY. IS THAT NOT CORRECT? >> AFTER THE FOUR YEARS, THE COUNTY CAN DECIDE WHETHER THEY WANT TO FUND FULLY THE PROGRAM OR NOT. >> EVERY SINGLE YEAR WE'LL END UP PAYING MORE AS THE GRANT REDUCES THE AMOUNT THAT THEY'RE PROVIDING FOR THIS FUNDING? >> CORRECT. IT GOES TIDC, TEXAS INDIGENT DEFENSE COMMISSION WILL PROVIDE 80%, THEN 60, 40, AND THEN 20. >> THEN I JUST WANTED TO MAKE A COMMENT TO YOU. YOU MENTIONED THE 2.6 MILLION THAT IS SPENT ON ICE HOLDS. IS THAT CORRECT? >> PEOPLE WITH ICE DETAINERS IN BEXAR COUNTY. THE STAT THAT I TOOK IS POSTED ON THE TEXAS COMMISSION JAIL STANDARD. >> WELL, I JUST WANT TO HIGHLIGHT THAT NUMBER BECAUSE THAT IS A FEDERAL COST THAT'S INCURRED BY OUR COUNTY BY FAILING TO HAVE A FUNCTIONING, AN OPERABLE IMMIGRATION SYSTEM AND A SECURE BORDER. THE 2.6 MILLION, WE SHOULD EXPLORE WAYS TO BE REIMBURSED BY THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT FOR THOSE FUNDS THAT WE'RE SPENDING ON BEHALF OF THOSE INDIVIDUALS. I JUST WANTED TO MAKE THAT COMMENT. BUT I HAVE CONCERNS ABOUT CREATING A NEW ORGANIZATION, A NEW BUREAUCRACY WITHIN THE DEPARTMENT THAT ULTIMATELY WILL BE BORNE BY THE COUNTY ONCE THIS GRANT RUNS OUT. FOR THAT AND SOME OF THE OTHER REASONS I MENTIONED AT THIS POINT, I CAN'T SUPPORT THIS. >> JUDGE. >> COMMISSIONER CALVERT? >> JUDGE, THANK YOU VERY MUCH. MS. LAMBERSON, WERE YOU AT THE OFFICE IN 2015 WHEN WE ESTABLISH THE PUBLIC DEFENDERS OFFICE? I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY. >> I JOINED IN 2015 AS A PART-TIME MAGISTRATE ATTORNEY, I WAS IN A PRIVATE PRACTICE AND WAS ASSISTING THE PUBLIC DEFENDERS OFFICE ON WEEKENDS AND NIGHTS. >> WELL, WHEN THE COURT FOUNDED THE PUBLIC DEFENDERS OFFICE AND I PUT THIS DEPARTMENT UNDER MY WING, THE HARRIS COUNTY PUBLIC DEFENDER WAS THE ONE THAT I WENT TO STUDY. WHAT THE HARRIS COUNTY PUBLIC DEFENDER SAID TO ME WAS THAT THE PUBLIC DEFENDER LEADER IS VERY IMPORTANT IN TERMS OF GETTING CONSENSUS FROM THE BAR, FROM THE COMMISSIONERS COURT, FROM THE COMMUNITY AT LARGE ABOUT WHAT IS GOING TO BE DONE. WHEN THIS COURT ESTABLISHED THE PUBLIC DEFENDERS OFFICE, IT IS A NARROWLY TAILORED OFFICE TOWARDS PRIMARILY MENTAL HEALTH CASES. THIS FEELS TO ME LIKE A MISSION CREEP THAT WE HAVEN'T FULLY VETTED. I'M GOING TO EXPLAIN A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THAT. I DON'T THINK THAT THERE'S ANY QUESTION [01:45:01] THAT WE WANT TO TRY TO PREVENT FAMILIES FROM BEING SEPARATED, WE CERTAINLY HAVE WORKED TO ENSURE THAT, THAT DOESN'T HAPPEN THROUGH THE MILLION DOLLARS THAT WE GAVE ON THE CIVIL SIDE. BUT IT'S HARD. I PULLED FROM THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT A LIST OF THE TYPES OF OFFENSES OF THOSE ON IMMIGRATION DETAINER HOLD. I BELIEVE WHOLLY IN THE CONSTITUTION IN THE RIGHT THAT YOU ARE INNOCENT UNTIL PROVEN GUILTY. BUT SOME OF THOSE I JUST WANT TO READ FOR THE FOR THE KNOWLEDGE OF THE COURT, EVADING ARREST, DETENTION, AGGRAVATED ASSAULT WITH A DEADLY WEAPON, BURGLARY OF VEHICLES, INJURY OF A CHILD WITH BODILY INJURY, ASSAULT BODILY INJURY, ILLEGAL ENTRY, ASSAULT FAMILIES SECOND OFFENSE, MURDER, CONTINUOUS SEXUAL ABUSE OF A CHILD. I THINK FOR A LOT OF TAXPAYERS, THE QUESTION IS LOOK, I'M HAVING A HARD TIME JUST MAKING GROCERIES AND GOING TO THE DOLLAR STORE. WHY AM I FUNDING A DEFENSE? THE STATUS CAN BE VARIED, IT COULD BE A WORK VISA. I HAVE NOT HEARD ANY AGAIN, NARROW TAILORING BECAUSE YOU DON'T SERVE EVERY CITIZEN OF BEXAR COUNTY. BUT YOU'RE MAKING A MOVE IN THE DEPARTMENT TO SERVE EVERYONE WITHIN A DETAINER HOLD. THAT CONSIDERATION IS TO ME, BEYOND JUST COST. I MEAN, THERE ARE SOME THINGS, GOVERNMENT IS NOT ALWAYS HERE FOR EFFICIENCY AND IT CAN'T DO ALL THINGS. WHEN YOU MENTIONED THESE OTHER COUNTIES, I DON'T KNOW WHETHER TRAVIS OR WHOEVER ELSE HAS RESTRICTIONS ON THE CASES THERE ARE PUBLIC DEFENDERS ARE. I MEAN, AGAIN, IN MY MIND, THIS COURT HAS NOT REALLY AMENDED THE MANDATE OF YOUR OFFICE TO GO BEYOND MENTAL HEALTH CASES. IF THERE ARE FOLKS WHO ARE IN IMMIGRATION HOLD WHO HAVE MENTAL HEALTH CASES, I CAN GO WITH THAT. BUT THESE OTHER OFFENSES, I'M NOT SO SURE THAT THE PEOPLE OUT THERE WILL UNDERSTAND WHY ARE WE DOING THAT? CAN YOU EXPLAIN THAT TO US? >> AS YOU KNOW, I'VE BEEN IN THIS POSITION SINCE MARCH 7TH, SO I DON'T HAVE A FULLY INFORMED COMPLETE ANSWER FOR YOU. I'LL BE HAPPY TO SPEAK TO YOU MORE AFTER DOING A LITTLE RESEARCH. HOWEVER, I DO KNOW THAT WE DO HAVE MULTIPLE ATTORNEY TRIAL POSITIONS THAT DO NOT REQUIRE A MENTAL HEALTH DIAGNOSIS CURRENTLY. WE ARE TAKING SOME OF THOSE. WE HAVE FIVE FELONY COURTS AND THREE MISDEMEANOR COURTS THAT ARE PURELY, NO, FIVE MISDEMEANOR POSITIONS THAT ARE PURELY TRIAL THAT DO NOT REQUIRE THAT MENTAL HEALTH DIAGNOSIS. AS FAR AS WHAT I'VE SEEN IN PRACTICE BEING WITH THE OFFICE, IT IS WHEN WITHIN WHAT WE'VE BEEN DOING. ADDITIONALLY, AND I DON'T THINK SARAH HAD MENTIONED THIS, THE ATTORNEYS THAT WOULD BE PLACED WITH THIS GRANT WOULD BE COMPLETING THE COMPLETE CRIMINAL FUNCTION AND THE COMPLETE IMMIGRATION FUNCTION. I BELIEVE THAT CALCULATION THAT SARAH GAVE Y'ALL WAS MERELY SPEAKING TO THE EMIGRATION FUNCTION. THIS WOULD INCLUDE BOTH. WE WOULD NOT BE PAYING ANOTHER CRIMINAL ATTORNEY ON TOP OF WHAT WE WOULD BE PAYING THESE PEOPLE TO DO BOTH FUNCTIONS, IDENTIFY QUICKLY THAT, THAT PERSON NEEDS THAT ADVICE, PROVIDE THAT ADVICE, AND THEN LET THE COURTS KNOW, HEY, THIS WILL BE A PLEA, WE'VE GOT SOMETHING WE CAN WORK WITH OR FAST-TRACK US FOR TRIAL, THERE'S NO PLEA WE CAN TAKE. THAT'S WHERE YOU'LL REALLY SEE THAT SAVINGS AND THAT'S WHY WE WANTED TO BRING THIS TO Y'ALL. BECAUSE BOTH WE CAN START IT AS A GRANT AND PROVE THAT WE CAN DO THIS AND ALSO THAT WE WOULD BE ABLE TO PROVIDE THOSE SAVINGS. >> WAS THIS AN INITIATIVE THAT WAS FROM THE PREVIOUS PERMANENT PUBLIC DEFENDER? WAS THIS AN APPLICATION THAT MR YOUNG HAD DEVELOPED? OR IS THIS A NEW APPLICATION? >> THIS IS A NEW APPLICATION. THIS IS SOMETHING THAT MS MAY HAD IDENTIFIED AS BEING A PLACE WHERE WE ARE VERY INEFFICIENT, WHERE THIS INFORMATION OFTEN IS NOT COMING TO DEFENSE ATTORNEYS UNTIL THE FIRST SETTING, WHICH CAN BE ANYWHERE BETWEEN 30-60 DAYS OUT. THAT'S 30-60 DEAD DAYS PER PERSON IN OUR JAIL WHERE WE CAN BE PROACTIVE AND BE MOVING THOSE PEOPLE QUICKER. >> WE HAVE THE JIM BETHKE'S OFFICE NOW AND THEY ARE PROVIDING OVERSIGHT IN TERMS OF MAKING SURE THAT THE CRIMINAL DEFENSE APPOINTMENTS ARE UP TO PAR. IT SEEMS TO ME THERE ARE TWO ADDITIONAL AVENUES THAT THIS COULD BE DEALT WITH. [01:50:04] ONE COULD BE THROUGH JIM BETHKE'S OFFICE THAT WHENEVER THEY SEE AN IMMIGRATION HOLD THAT IN ORDER TO GET PAID BY THE COUNTY, THEY DO TRAINING, THEY DO RESOURCE, THEY DO THIS FLAGGING UPFRONT. THAT'S ONE. TWO, IT MIGHT BE POSSIBLE THAT THE APPLICATION THAT WE CURRENTLY HAVE OUT FOR THE NON-PROFITS TO RESPOND, THAT WE COULD ADD AN AMENDMENT TO THAT PARTICULAR PROPOSAL FOR FUNDING SOME OF THOSE ORGANIZATIONS. I REALLY DO THINK THAT IT IS BEST TO WAIT UNTIL THERE IS A PERMANENT PUBLIC DEFENDER, I MEAN CHIEF PUBLIC DEFENDER RATHER. I DO KNOW THAT THERE ARE REAL ISSUES, I DON'T DISPUTE THAT. WE CERTAINLY WANT THE EARLY NOTIFICATION, BUT I THINK THERE'S MULTIPLE WAYS TO ACHIEVE THAT OTHER THAN YOUR OFFICE. DAVID SMITH, DID YOU WANT TO SAY SOMETHING? I SAW YOU, DAVID. DAVID, DID YOU WANT TO SAY SOMETHING? I SAW YOU. >> I BELIEVE THE MANAGED ASSIGN COUNCIL PROGRAM HAS A BIT A LAWYER ASSIGNED TO THEM ALREADY. >> HAS A WHAT LAWYER? >> IMMIGRATION ATTORNEY. >> ASSIGNED TO THOSE CASES FOR IMMIGRATION DETAINER? >> IN OTHER WORDS, YOU AND THE STATE ARE ALREADY FUNDING AN IMMIGRATION ATTORNEY IN JIM BECKY'S OFFICE AS WELL. >> I THINK THERE'S SOME DETAILS THAT NEED TO BE WORKED OUT. I KNOW THIS IS A RATIFICATION ISSUE, BUT I WOULD SUBMIT TO YOU THAT THE STATE INDIGENT DEFENSE FUND WOULD ALLOW THE COURT THE TIME TO FLUSH OUT, MORE NARROW TAILORING BECAUSE SOME OF THESE CHARGES I'M NOT SO SURE WE'LL PASS MUSTER FOR A LOT OF THE TAXPAYERS TO SUPPORT, AND I THINK IT ACTUALLY HURTS THE PUBLIC [NOISE] DEFENDERS OFFICE LONG-TERM IF WE DON'T DO A LITTLE BIT MORE VETTING WITH THE COURT AND DEVELOP A POLICY THAT WOULD BE ACCEPTABLE. I WOULD MOVE TO TABLE THIS TO WORK OUT SOME OF THOSE DETAILS. GET WITH JIM BECKY, GET WITH THE NON-PROFIT SECTOR. I UNDERSTAND THE SUPPORT, THE TRANSLATION, ALL OF THOSE THINGS. THOSE THINGS THE COURT COULD CERTAINLY BUDGET FOR. I DON'T HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THAT, BUT I DO THINK SOME OF THE OFFENSES MIGHT NOT BE UP TO PUBLIC STANDARDS. I'M GOING TO MOVE TO TABLE THIS. >> I'LL SECOND THAT. >> MAY I RESPOND TO COMMISSIONER CALVERT? >> PLEASE GO AHEAD RESPOND. YES. >> THANK YOU SO MUCH. [OVERLAPPING] >> I HAVEN'T WEIGHED IN AND I WOULD LIKE TO WEIGH IN UNLESS COLLEAGUES YOU GOT OVER FIRST, DO WE HAVE A MOTION TO PROVE? >> YEAH. I ALREADY MADE A MOTION [OVERLAPPING] AND I HAVE A SECOND. >> POINT OF ORDER. WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND TO APPROVE THIS RATIFICATION. I HEAR A MOTION TO TABLE AND A SECOND. BUT BEFORE WE GET TO DO THAT, LET ME PUT ON THE RECORD. I BELIEVE THIS MATTER CAME UP IN A PRIOR COMMISSIONERS COURT MEETING AND I THINK I PULLED IT CORRECT. WAS TO GET FURTHER CLARIFICATION TO DEAL WITH THE ISSUES THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT TODAY. I BELIEVE MS. LAMBERSON, YOUR COUNCIL CAME IN AND TALKED TO ME PERSONALLY AND I BELIEVE WE HAD A REALLY ROBUST DISCUSSION. OBVIOUSLY, THIS IS IN MY WHEELHOUSE. I KNOW HOW THE SYSTEM WORKS AND BASICALLY, YOU'VE HIGHLIGHTED WHAT I BELIEVE COMMISSIONER MOODY HAS POINTED OUT. WE'VE GOT A DUPLICATION OF SERVICE. IT'S THE FIRST THRESHOLD QUESTION FOR THE DEEPER QUESTION OF HOW THE PUBLIC DEFENDER SYSTEM AND THE MANAGER ASSIGNED COUNCIL IS WORKING. BECAUSE THE WAY IT IS PRESENTED, AND I DO HAVE A PROBLEM WITH IT. IT'S DUPLICATED. YOU'RE BASICALLY COME IN AS CO-COUNSEL. THE THING IS WE'RE PAYING THE PUBLIC DEFENDER AND WE'RE PAYING A MANAGER ASSIGNED COUNSEL. OBVIOUSLY, SOMEBODY'S GOT TO TAKE THE LEAD ON THIS. I BELIEVE THE MORE EFFICIENT WAY OF TAXPAYER MONEY IS TO USE PUBLIC DEFENDER AS OPPOSED TO MANAGED ASSIGNED. THAT'S A BUDGET ISSUE THAT I'D LIKE TO ULTIMATELY LOOK AT. BUT THE BIGGER PICTURE IS HOW DOES THE PUBLIC DEFENDER SYSTEM AS A WHOLE WORK WITH MANAGED ASSIGNED COUNSEL? THERE'S A CERTAIN ASPECT OF, DO WE WANT BOTH OR WE JUST WANT ONE? THAT'S A QUESTION LATER DOWN THE LINE AS WHAT WE HAD TO DECIDE AS WE DECIDE WHETHER OR NOT, AND I WANT THE PUBLIC DEFENDERS OFFICERS THEN ONCE THE GRANT RUNS OUT, JUST BECOMES A LEGACY COST. THAT'S THE THING THAT WHEN ANYBODY COMES FOR GRANT BEFORE THIS COURT, I GOT TO LOOK AT IT, IS SHOULD WE OR IS IT EFFICIENT USE OF TAXPAYER MONEY TO ULTIMATELY LET THE COUNTY GENERAL REVENUE MONEY FUND THIS? IT'S A GRANT, MONEY FROM THE STATE. [01:55:03] IT'S ALL PART AND PARCEL. AS FAR AS I THINK FAIR REPRESENTATION OBVIOUSLY. YOU HAVE AN EXPERTISE THAT I THINK IS NEEDED. BUT MY QUESTION IS, WHY IS IT THE PUBLIC DEFENDER SYSTEM APPOINTED AT THE POINT OF ENTRY OF THAT JAIL? WE ALREADY GOT A LIST. HERE'S YOUR CLIENTS. THESE ARE YOUR CLIENTS RIGHT HERE. NOW, COMMISSIONER CALVERT POINTS OUT, THERE'S PERHAPS SHOULD BE SOME RULES, SOME TYPE OF RESTRICTIONS AS TO THE TYPE OF CASES, ESPECIALLY IF THEY'RE AGGRAVATED FELONY CASES. BUT I WOULD ASSUME ANY MISDEMEANOR ICE HOLES, YOU SHOULD BE ABLE TO HANDLE IT FROM DAY 1, AND WHAT YOU'VE ARGUED IS THAT THOSE ARE THE CASES YOU COULD PROBABLY RAPIDLY MOVE INTO THE SYSTEM. THE PROBLEM WE HAVE WITH THE MANAGED ASSIGNED COUNCIL IS THAT WE ULTIMATELY GET A PRIVATE ATTORNEY WHO IS SUPPOSED TO SEE THE CLIENT PROMPTLY. BUT MY QUESTION TO YOU IS, AND IF THEY WANT ASSISTANCE, THEY HAVE TO CALL YOU. I THINK THERE'S A DISCONNECT. EACH COWLING HAS BROUGHT UP A VALID POINT TO THIS PROGRAM AND WHERE I THINK THE SHORTFALLS ARE. WHAT I'VE INDICATED TO MS. LAMBERSON IS, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO HAVE A BIGGER DISCUSSION OF WHAT THE PUBLIC DEFENDER SYSTEM IS GOING TO BE AND WHAT DO WE WANT IT TO BE. BECAUSE IT COULD EASILY BE COST-EFFICIENT FOR PUBLIC DEFENDERS TO REPRESENT THE ENERGY. OR WITH BUDGET ANALYSIS, MAYBE IT'S A MANAGED ASSIGNED COUNCIL. I DON'T KNOW. BUT MANAGED ASSIGNED COUNCIL GOES WITH AN ATTORNEY FEE SCHEDULE [NOISE] THAT IS GOING TO HAVE TO BE DEALT WITH. COLLEAGUES, I'M JUST LETTING YOU KNOW. THIS IS PART OF A BIGGER DISCUSSION. I THINK ALL WE NEED TO DO IS ARE WE GOING TO GO FORWARD WITH THIS PARTICULAR MOTION, AND SO I'M CALLING THE VOTE. >> JUDGE, JUST TWO QUICK THINGS. >> GO AHEAD. >> THE FIVE ADDITIONAL TYPES OF CASES THAT THE PUBLIC DEFENDERS OFFICE HAS GOTTEN INTO. WE DO NEED TO HAVE A CONVERSATION AS A COURT. I'M NOT SAYING IT'S WRONG, BUT I DON'T THINK WE'RE AWARE BECAUSE WHEN WE CREATED THE MANDATE FOR THE DEPARTMENT, IT WASN'T MENTAL HEALTH MANDATE. I JUST WANT TO MAKE THAT CLEAR, MENTAL HEALTH EMERGENCY CLEAR. THE QUESTION IS OPEN WITH RESPECT TO DOCUMENTATION STATUS. WE DIDN'T ADDRESS THAT ISSUE, BUT IT'S A POLICY ISSUE THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED BY THE COURT, AND THAT'S WHY I FEEL AT THIS TIME IT'S PREMATURE TO DO THE APPLICATION BECAUSE WE STILL HAVE SOME QUESTIONS ABOUT SCOPE. NOW I WILL SEE YOU ON THE POINT OF ORDER, BECAUSE I WILL BRING UP A POINT OF ORDER. A MOTION TO TABLE IS WHAT YOU CALL A PRIVILEGED MOTION AND IT SUPERSEDES A MOTION FOR A VOTE. I THINK THAT MOTION HAS TO BE VOTED ON FIRST AND THEN THE MOTION TO. >> I STAND CORRECTED. MR. COMMISSIONER MOODY. >> WELL, I APPRECIATE THE COMMENTS BY MY COLLEAGUES. I WANT TO THANK COMMISSIONER CALVERT FOR BRINGING THIS BACK TO LIGHT. WE HAD PART OF THIS DISCUSSION BACK WITH THE DISCUSSION AROUND MANAGED ASSIGNED COUNCIL WHEN IT COMES TO RESTRICTIONS, OR LIMITATIONS ON WHAT WE ARE COMFORTABLE FUNDING AS A COUNTY FROM A TAXPAYER FUNDED. INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE COMMITTED EGREGIOUS CRIMES. I THINK THAT, AGAIN, GIVEN CONSTITUTIONAL REQUIREMENTS. BUT GOING BEYOND THAT, I CAN'T BE COMFORTABLE ASKING TAXPAYERS CITIZENS TO PROVIDE ADDITIONAL RESOURCES TO DEFEND NON-CITIZENS WHO COMMITTED A CRIME. THAT'S WHERE I LAND ON THAT, AND I JUST WANTED TO AGAIN, HIGHLIGHT THAT I HAVE CONCERNS. >> JUDGE, MAY I PLEASE RESPOND? >> GO AHEAD. >> I THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONCERNS AND THOUGHTS. I REALLY APPRECIATE THE FEEDBACK. I DIDN'T MENTION THAT THERE WAS A LOT OF WORK BEFORE THIS GRANT, WE DID TALK WITH MAC. I WAS IN COMMUNICATION WITH ME, THE IMMIGRATION ATTORNEY THAT IS NO LONGER THERE TO SEE HOW WE COULD BE MORE EFFICIENT, TO HOW WE COULD PROVIDE THE VIDEO LETTERS BEFORE THEIR FIRST HEARING, AND WE WEREN'T ABLE TO. THE FASTEST WAY AND THE BEST WAY WAS TO HAVE US APPOINTED AND TO BE ABLE TO DO THE VIDEO BECAUSE THERE'S SOME OTHER ISSUES THAT GET IN THE WAY. AS YOU MENTIONED, THE LIST OF PEOPLE WITH ISOTONIC THAT HAVE DIFFERENT TYPES OF CHARGES. ACCORDING TO GIDEON, IT DOESN'T MATTER THEIR STATUS, AND IT DOESN'T MATTER WHAT TYPE OF CASE. INNOCENT UNTIL PROVEN GUILTY. EVERYONE THAT COMES THROUGH MAGISTRATE IS ALLOWED A PUBLIC DEFENDER. IF THEY'RE INDIGENT, THEY'RE ALLOWED DEFENSE OF THEIR CASE. [02:00:06] AS FUNDING A PROGRAM THAT SPECIFICALLY FOR NON-CITIZENS AND WASTING TAXPAYERS MONEY, I WOULD SAY THAT RIGHT NOW THE PUBLIC DEFENDER OFFICE GETS APPOINTED ANY TYPE OF CASE. FOR FAMILY VIOLENCE, FOR MENTAL HEALTH, FOR VIOLENT OFFENSES. >> IT'S NOT JUST MENTAL HEALTH? >> NO, JUDGE. THE FIVE FELONY POSITIONS THAT WERE APPROVED IN LATE 2019 ARE FOR ALL TYPES OF OFFENSES AND THEY ARE ASSIGNED TO INDIVIDUAL COURTS. RIGHT NOW WE'RE IN THE 144TH WITH JUDGE MARRY. THE 226 WITH JUDGE MESA. JUDGE WENHOUSE COURT. JUDGE ESCALANA'S COURT. BUT YES, WE TAKE ALL TYPES OF OFFENSES. >> MR. SMITH, WEIGH IN. >> MAYBE I CAN SHED A LITTLE LIGHT ON THE HISTORY WHEN IT WAS FIRST ESTABLISHED. NO IT WAS BACK. THE PAUL ELIZOCONDO TOWER DIDN'T EVEN EXIST BACK THEN. THIS WAS PRE 2011. I WAS STILL OFFICING AT A BUILDING THAT NO LONGER EXIST HERE. BUT ANYWAY, WHEN IT WAS FIRST ESTABLISHED, YOU'RE EXACTLY RIGHT. IT WAS STRICTLY FOR MENTAL HEALTH PURPOSES. IT WAS A PELLET MENTAL HEALTH CASES ACTUALLY. LATER ON, THE COURT, IN CONSULTATION WITH WHATEVER THE OVERSIGHT COMMITTEES NAME WAS, AGREED TO ALLOW A LIMITED EXPANSION OF THE PUBLIC DEFENDERS OFFICE TO BE A CENTER OF EXCELLENCE, I BELIEVE, THEY WERE SUPPOSED TO PROVIDE AN EXAMPLE TO THE DEFENSE COMMUNITY ABOUT THIS IS THE RIGHT WAY TO HANDLE CASES. SINCE THEN THE NOTION THAT WAS ESTABLISHED AT THAT TIME WAS THAT THEY WOULD NEVER HANDLE MORE THAN 7% OF THE CRIMINAL CASELOAD. I DON'T KNOW THAT WHERE WE'RE AT COMPARED TO THAT ANYMORE. BUT OVER THE YEARS, AS MICHAEL YOUNG WOULD COME IN AND SAY, THIS JUDGES ALLOWED US TO PRACTICE AND ASK THE COURT FOR ATTORNEYS. >> I'LL CALL IT A PORTAL ORDER. I WANT A RULE ON THE TABLE SO THAT WHETHER WE'RE GOING TO STOP THE DISCUSSION OR WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE ON THE MOTION THAT COMMISSIONER CLAY-FLORES. I WILL CALL A VOTE ON THE MOTION TO TABLE. I'LL ASK FOR A VOICE VOTE. COMMISSIONER CLAY-FLORES. ON A MOTION TO TABLE. >> NO. >> COMMISSIONER RODRIGUEZ? >> NO. >> COMMISSIONER MOODY? >> YES. >> COMMISSIONER CALVERT? >> YES. >> JUDGE SAKAI, SAYS. >> NO. >> THEN THE MOTION NOW BY COMMISSIONER CLAY-FLORES IS NOW PENDING TO MR. RODRIGUEZ. >> THANK YOU, JUDGE. I HAVE A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS, NOT TO BELABOR THIS, BUT I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT I'M CLEAR. I HAD SOME DISCUSSIONS WITH MR. CALVERT ABOUT POTENTIALLY DOING SOME OTHER THINGS HERE, BUT THE REASON WHY I FIND THIS OPPORTUNITY INTRIGUING, I AGREE WITH A LOT OF MY COLLEAGUES THAT THERE NEEDS TO BE SOME BETTER COORDINATION IN SYNERGY BETWEEN WHAT YOU'RE DOING, WHAT JIM BETHKE'S OFFICE IS DOING. THE REASON I'M SUPPORTIVE OF THIS IS, AS YOU MENTIONED, IT'S A PILOT PROGRAM. I GET IT THAT AFTER YEAR 4, WE'VE GOT TO DECIDE WHETHER TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THESE COSTS OR NOT, BUT I THINK IT GIVES US AN OPPORTUNITY TO WORK THROUGH SOME OF THOSE ISSUES. WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT DOLLAR VALUE, WE'RE GETTING VALUE FROM THE STATES LEVERAGING THEIR FUNDS OVER THE FOUR YEARS, IT'S 2:1. WE'RE PUTTING IN A MILLION, THEY'RE PUTTING IN OVER A MILLION. I DO THINK THAT THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR US. LET ME ASK YOU A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE OFF-RAMPS AS A PILOT PROGRAM. WHAT IS OUR OBLIGATION? IS IT YEAR-TO-YEAR OR IS IT ALWAYS SIGNING A FOUR-YEAR OR FIVE-YEAR CONTRACT WITH THE STATE ON THIS? DO YOU KNOW? >> IT'S A FOUR-YEAR. >> IT'S A FOUR-YEAR COMMITMENT. I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT EVEN AFTER THE FIRST YEAR, IF NOT BEFORE, THAT WE HAVE SOME REPORT BACK FROM YOU ALL IN TERMS OF SOME MEASURABLE OUTCOMES ON THIS. I KNOW WE ONLY HAVE A 20% COST IN YEAR 1, BUT I JUST THINK, AS A LOT OF US HAVE MENTIONED HERE, [02:05:01] THERE'S SOME CONCERNS OVER WHO'S DOING WHAT BETWEEN YOUR OFFICE AND JIM'S OFFICE. BUT I THINK SOME KIND OF METRICS I ASSUME YOU'LL BE KEEPING, IS THAT RIGHT, JACKIE? >> THAT'S CORRECT. WE WILL BE KEEPING METRICS AND I FULLY BELIEVE THAT WE WILL BE ABLE TO SHOW YOU A SAVINGS. >> SOME THINGS YOU CAN'T MEASURE, I MEAN, COMMUNITY, SAFETY, AND PUBLIC SAFETY, IT'S HARD TO MEASURE. BUT I THINK THE DOLLARS AND CENTS ARE IMPORTANT BECAUSE AS WE MOVE FORWARD, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO DECIDE AFTER YEAR 4 I THINK WE'LL HAVE AN EXPENDITURE OF ABOUT A MILLION DOLLARS OVER FOUR YEARS ON OUR SIDE WHAT THAT COST MAY BE GOING INTO YEAR 5. AGAIN, I HAVE A LITTLE BIT OF ANGST IN TERMS OF HOW THIS IS GOING TO GET ROLLED OUT. BUT I'M RELIEVED IN THE FACT THAT IT IS A PILOT PROGRAM. I THINK IT DOES DO A SERVICE NOT JUST TO PEOPLE WHO NEED PROPER REPRESENTATION, BUT TO THE COMMUNITY IN TERMS OF DOLLAR VALUE. THAT'S WHY I'M SUPPORTIVE. I GET IT THAT IT STILL NEEDS TO BE FLESHED OUT. I UNDERSTAND THE APPLICATION HAS BEEN SUBMITTED, IS THAT RIGHT? >> THAT'S CORRECT. >> THEN WHEN DO YOU ANTICIPATE HEARING BACK? BECAUSE I ASSURE BEGINNING DATE OF OCTOBER 1. >> AT THE END OF JUNE. >> THE END OF JUNE? >> THIS MONTH. >> ARE WE COMPETING WITH OTHER COMMUNITIES FOR THIS OR HOW DOES THAT WORK? >> THERE'S OTHER COUNTIES WITH OTHER REQUESTS FOR IT. IT'S UNDER THE IMPROVEMENT GRANT. >> IS IT POSSIBLE THAT WE MAY NOT EVEN RECEIVE THESE FUNDS, THIS GRANT? >> RIGHT. YES. >> YOU'LL HAVE TO COME BACK TO US, I WOULD IMAGINE, PRIOR TO OCTOBER TO LET US KNOW, NUMBER 1, WHETHER OR NOT WE RECEIVED IT, BUT THEN TO PROCEED WITH ESTABLISHING THE DIVISION, IS THAT RIGHT? >> YES. >> I WISH, JUDGE, THIS WAS THE END OF THE CONVERSATION, BUT IT SOUNDS LIKE WE'RE GOING TO HAVE MORE CONVERSATIONS. I'M SUPPORTIVE OF YOU MOVING FORWARD, SUBMITTING THE APPLICATION, GETTING THE PLAN TOGETHER. THAT'S JUST REALLY THE BEGINNING OF THE HARD WORK BECAUSE WE'VE GOT TO FIGURE OUT BETWEEN YOUR OFFICE AND THE COURT, HOW WE'RE GOING TO DO THIS AND HOW WE'RE GOING TO MAKE IT WORK IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE MAC, SO I LOOK FORWARD TO THAT DISCUSSION AND APPRECIATE YOU BEING HERE TODAY. THANKS, JUDGE. >> COLLEAGUES, THERE ARE TWO CITIZENS TO BE HEARD. APPARENTLY, ONE WAS CALLED DURING THE AGENDA ITEM. NOW, I'M GOING TO LET THESE CITIZENS TALK. I HAVE A JESUS MORENO WITH THE COUNTY PUBLIC DEFENDER. IS THAT ONE OF YOUR EMPLOYEES? >> HE INTERNED FOR US LAST SEMESTER? >> DOES HE SPEAK SEPARATELY FROM WHAT YOU TWO ARE SAYING? HE'S GOT AN OPPORTUNITY, BUT HE MAY OPEN THE DOOR ON OTHER QUESTIONS. MS. LAMBERSON, YOU'RE HIS SUPERVISOR, CORRECT? >> YES, JUDGE. WE'LL PASS. >> I AM OPENING THE DOOR TO ALLOW HIM TO SPEAK. DO YOU WANT HIM TO SPEAK OR NOT? >> NO. I UNDERSTAND, JUDGE, AND I THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME, WE'LL PASS. >> THANK YOU. I HAVE A FAITH CASTILLO. I CALLED YOU DURING THE CITIZENS TO BE HEARD. LET'S PUT THE TIMER ON, MR. GUEVARA. GO AHEAD. >> GOOD MORNING, COMMISSIONERS. MY NAME IS FAITH CASTILLO AND I'M AN ATTORNEY THAT LIVES HERE IN BEXAR COUNTY. I'M HERE TODAY TO SPEAK IN SUPPORT OF THIS PROPOSED IMMIGRATION DIVISION. IN A TRADITIONAL PUBLIC DEFENDER'S OFFICE, COUNTIES HAVE EMBEDDED IMMIGRATION ATTORNEYS WITHIN THEIR STAFF TO HELP FACILITATE OUTCOMES FROM MIGRANT INDIGENT CLIENTS WHO HAVE CRIMINAL ALLEGATIONS PENDING AGAINST THEM. WHILE PUBLIC DEFENDERS HANDLE IMMIGRANTS' CRIMINAL CASE, AN IMMIGRATION ATTORNEY IS CONSULTED IN ORDER TO INFORM AND MITIGATE THE EFFECT OF CRIMINAL CHARGES AND WHAT THEY MAY HAVE ON SOMEONE'S STATUS. HOWEVER, THIS MODEL OFTEN LEAVES OUT IMMIGRATION ATTORNEYS UNTIL PUBLIC DEFENDERS DECIDE TO REQUEST AN ADVISAL AND CAN LEAVE CLIENTS CONFUSED INADEQUATELY INFORMED, AND WITHOUT PROPER GUIDANCE AS TO HOW TO NAVIGATE BOTH THEIR CRIMINAL CASE AND IMMIGRATION STATUS. ALL OF THIS IS THEN MAGNIFIED IF THERE IS A LANGUAGE BARRIER IN PLACE BETWEEN CLIENTS AND ATTORNEYS. THIS PROPOSED DIVISION SOLVES THESE PROBLEMS. BY HIRING PUBLIC DEFENDERS WITH IMMIGRATION EXPERIENCE, THE RESULT IS AN EXPEDITED PROCESS WHERE CLIENTS CAN MAKE AN INFORMED DECISION WHILE RECEIVING CLIENT-CENTERED REPRESENTATION. THE PROCESS WOULD BE EFFICIENT AS THESE HYBRID PUBLIC DEFENDERS WOULD BE ABLE TO REPRESENT CLIENTS AT THE INCEPTION OF THE CASE. THIS PROCESS WOULD ALSO BE EFFECTIVE AS PUBLIC DEFENDERS WOULD BE ABLE TO HANDLE THE CASE DIRECTLY BECAUSE THEY WOULD KNOW THE CLIENT'S IMMIGRATION STATUS AND CONSEQUENCES AND POTENTIALLY FREE UP OTHER PUBLIC DEFENDERS TO FOCUS ON A MORE TRADITIONAL CASE, WHICH OFTEN INVOLVE US CITIZENS. [02:10:02] FINALLY, THE FOREIGN LANGUAGE SPECIALIST WOULD BE ABLE TO FILL THE COMMUNICATION GAP BETWEEN ATTORNEYS AND CLIENTS WHO SPEAK DIFFERENT LANGUAGES, FURTHERING STRONG CHANNELS OF COMMUNICATION. THIS PROPOSED DIVISION TAKES A PATCHWORK SYSTEM BETWEEN PUBLIC DEFENDERS AND ATTORNEYS AND PROVIDES A CLEAR PATH TOWARDS JUDICIAL EFFICIENCY, EFFECTIVE REPRESENTATION, AND ACCESS TO JUSTICE. PLEASE CONSIDER VOTING IN FAVOR OF THIS GRANT APPLICATION. >> THANK YOU. IS THERE ANY FURTHER COMMENT? >> I HAVE ONE QUICK ONE. >> GO AHEAD. >> I THINK THERE'S NO QUESTION THAT IN LIGHT OF THE 2010 SUPREME COURT RULING WITH RESPECT TO THE RIGHT OF THOSE FOLKS WHO HAVE COUNSEL ABOUT THEIR IMMIGRATION STATUS PRIOR TO ANY PLEA, THAT FOR THE COUNTY, CONTINUING EDUCATION, THE BEST SELECTION IS PROBABLY WHERE THE MANAGED ASSIGNED COUNCIL DETERMINES LAWYERS AMONGST THE ENTIRE BAR WHO HAVE IMMIGRATION EXPERIENCE AND CRIMINAL DEFENSE EXPERIENCE. THERE ARE LAWYERS WHO FALL INTO THAT. THERE'S PROBABLY 100 AT LEAST THAT FALL INTO THAT CATEGORY AMONG THE MANY HUNDREDS OF LAWYERS IN THE BAR. THE MANAGED ASSIGNED COUNSEL CAN GIVE THOSE CASES WITH A DETAINER TO THOSE EXPERIENCED LAWYERS. OVERALL, THE MANAGED ASSIGNED COUNSEL AND THE COURT COULD BE FUNDING ADDITIONAL CONTINUING EDUCATION, CLE, ETC, TO HELP BUILD THE CAPACITY OF THOSE LAWYERS TO DO THAT. I'M, AGAIN, A LITTLE CONCERNED THAT WE DON'T HAVE A PERMANENT DIRECTOR. THIS WOULD HAVE BEEN A GREAT WORK SESSION CONVERSATION TO TRY AND LOOK AT THE NARROW TAILORING BECAUSE THE PUBLIC DEFENDER'S OFFICE IS A SMALL OFFICE, IT CANNOT DO EVERYTHING AND IT MUST MAINTAIN QUALITY. I THINK THAT IT WILL. I'M NOT GOING TO SAY ANYTHING AT ALL PEJORATIVE. I APPRECIATE THE RESPONSE. I THINK THERE IS VERY GOOD INTENT, BUT I THINK THE DEVIL'S IN THE DETAILS, AND WE DO HAVE POTENTIAL DUPLICATION ON SOME THINGS THAT ARE PART OF THE GROWING PAINS. WE HAVE A BRAND NEW MANAGED ASSIGNED COUNSEL, AND SOMETIMES THE COUNTY, EVERYBODY'S NOT TALKING TO EACH OTHER. IN ANY EVENT, I WILL LOOK FORWARD TO THE VOTE, BUT I JUST WANTED TO MAKE THAT COMMENT. WE HAVE TO RAISE THE ENTIRE BAR, AND I THINK THAT THAT'S PART OF WHAT THE SUPREME COURT DECISION TOLD LOCAL JURISDICTIONS. >> ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? IF NOT, I'LL CALL FOR A VOTE. MOTION BY CLAY-FLORES, SECOND BY COMMISSIONER RODRIGUEZ. LET'S GO WITH THE VOICE VOTE. COMMISSIONER CLAY-FLORES? >> YES. >> COMMISSIONER RODRIGUEZ. >> AYE. >> COMMISSIONER MOODY, COMMISSIONER CALVERT. >> ABSENT. >> JUDGE SAKAI SAYS YES. MOTION CARRIES. ONE FINAL COMMENT AND MR. SMITH, THAT REALLY GOES TO YOU IN LIGHT OF TODAY'S DISCUSSION, I TOTALLY AGREE WITH COMMISSIONER CALVERT. HAD WE BEEN ABLE TO THRASH IT OUT ON A WORK SESSION PROGRESS, WE WOULDN'T HAVE TAKEN SO MUCH TIME. BUT I WANT THE FOLLOWING QUESTION ANSWERED. WHO DOES THE PUBLIC DEFENDER OFFICE AND WHO DOES A MANDATE ASSIGNED COUNCIL ANSWER TO? DO WE HAVE ANY AUTHORITY OVER THOSE TWO ENTITIES? I DON'T WANT AN ANSWER. I JUST WANT YOU TO COME BACK WHEN YOU GET AFTER DUE DILIGENCE. THEN LET ME TELL THE PUBLIC DEFENDER SYSTEM, THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE, BUT ALSO GOING TO WANT TO KNOW THE DATA OF THE METRICS WHEN YOU COME BACK HERE AND ASK FOR GENERAL REVENUE MONEY. DON'T ASSUME ANYTHING. >> I HAVE A CLARIFYING QUESTION FOR THE COUNTY MANAGER'S OFFICE. ON THE FOURTH LINE, IT SAYS AN AMOUNT OF $1 OVER FOUR YEARS, IS THAT CORRECT OR DO WE NEED TO? >> NO TOM HAS CORRECTED THAT ONE. >> WHAT WAS THE AMOUNT? I DIDN'T REALIZE WHAT HE WAS TALKING ABOUT. >> 1.9 MILLION, I THINK. >> OKAY. THANK YOU. >> THAT'S A BIG DIFFERENCE THERE, MR. SMITH. >> THANK YOU. >> THAT ITEM STANDS AS $1 MILLION OVER THE FOUR YEARS. >> CORRECT. >> I JUST WANT TO MAKE THE MOTION AND THE VOTE TO SO AMEND. I WILL BEG THE INDULGENCE OF MY COLLEAGUES. I HAVE A COMMITMENT THAT I MUST GET TO, AND I'M GOING TO ASK COMMISSIONER CALVERT TO TAKE OVER THE MEETING. >> THANK YOU, JUDGE. I BELIEVE WE HAVE ITEM 54 [54. Discussion and appropriate action authorizing the use of the power of eminent domain and approval of an Order declaring a necessity for the fee simple title acquisition of a 10.705 acre tract of land located in the Fernando Rodriguez Survey No. 16, Abstract No. 15, County Block 4005, City of San Antonio, Bexar County, Texas being that tract of land described in a Deed to Paul B. Carter and Marline Carter Lawson, and of record in Document 20230072893 of the Official Public Records of Bexar County, Texas, said 10.705 acre tract being more particularly described by metes and bounds and shown in Exhibit "A", attached hereto and incorporated herein for all purposes, for the purposes of constructing a new residential intake building to increase the total number of available residential treatment beds, expanding, remodeling and updating the Dual Diagnosis Residential Facility and achieve the public use of the 10975 Applewhite Road Facility Expansion Project and authorizing the institution of condemnation proceedings to acquire these rights. Precinct Number 1. ] DISCUSSION AND APPROPRIATE ACTION AUTHORIZING THE USE OF THE POWER OF EMINENT DEMAND AND APPROVAL OF AN ORDER DECLARING A NECESSITY FOR THE FEE SIMPLE TITLE ACQUISITION OF A 10.705 ACRE TRACK OF LAND LOCATED IN THE FERNANDO RODRIGUEZ SURVEY NUMBER 16, ABSTRACT NUMBER 15, COUNTY BLOCK 4,005, CITY OF SAN ANTONIO, BEXAR COUNTY, TEXAS. BEING THE TRACT OF LAND DESCRIBED IN A DEED TO PAUL B CARTER AND MARLENE CARTER LAWSON AND OF RECORD IN DOCUMENT 2023-007-2893 OF THE OFFICIAL PUBLIC RECORDS OF BEXAR COUNTY, [02:15:04] TEXAS SAID 10.705 ACRE TRACK BEING MORE PARTIALLY DESCRIBED BY MEETS AND BOUNDS AND SHOWN IN EXHIBIT 8. ATTACHED HERE TO INCORPORATE HERE IN FOR ALL PURPOSES FOR THE PURPOSES OF CONSTRUCTING A NEW RESIDENTIAL, INTAKE BUILDING TO INCREASE THE TOTAL NUMBER OF AVAILABLE RESIDENTIAL TREATMENT BEDS, EXPANDING, REMODELING AND UPDATING THE DUAL DIAGNOSIS RESIDENTIAL FACILITY, AND ACHIEVE THE PUBLIC USE OF THE 10975 APPLEWHITE ROAD FACILITY EXPANSION PROJECT AND AUTHORIZING THE INSTITUTION OF CONDEMNATION PROCEEDINGS TO ACQUIRE THESE RIGHTS IN PRECINCT NUMBER 1. DAVE WEGMAN, YOU HAVE THE FLOOR. >> GOOD AFTERNOON AND THANK YOU COMMISSIONERS. AS YOU MENTIONED, THE EMINENT DOMAIN IS REGARDING THE PURCHASE OF THE DUAL DIAGNOSIS RESIDENTIAL FACILITY ON APPLEWHITE ROAD, BEXARS NOTING THAT THE PROPERTY IS OWNED BY A BROTHER AND SISTER. OUR ASSET DEPARTMENT HAS ALREADY NEGOTIATED WITH THE BROTHER AND SISTER AND WE'VE AGREED UPON AN AMOUNT FOR THE PURCHASE OF SAID PROPERTY. THIS IS GOING TO PROCEED AS WHAT WE'RE GOING TO CALL A FRIENDLY CONDEMNATION. THE BROTHER AND SISTER COULD NOT AGREE ON HOW TO DISTRIBUTE THE MONEY SO THEY'VE ASKED IF WE CAN DO THE FRIENDLY CONDEMNATION. THAT WAY THE MONEY WILL BE DEPOSITED INTO THE COURT REGISTRY, AND THEN WHEN THEY'VE WORKED OUT THEIR DIFFERENCES, THEN THEY CAN DRAW DOWN THOSE FUNDS. I BELIEVE BACK ON MAY 2ND, OUR ASSET MANAGER, JOE NEWTON, DID BRIEF COURT MEMBERS IN EXECUTIVE SESSION ON THIS PARTICULAR ITEM. >> ANY DISCUSSIONS? I DON'T KNOW IF THE CLERK HAS ANYBODY SIGNED UP TO SPEAK. >> I DON'T HAVE ANY QUESTIONS ON THIS. THIS IS SOMETHING WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON FOR A WHILE. IT'S SOMETHING THAT NEEDS TO GET DONE SO THAT WE CAN MOVE FORWARD WITH THE MONEY THAT WE ALREADY ALLOCATED SO WE CAN IMPROVE ON APPLEWHITE AND MENTAL HEALTH AND SUBSTANCE ABUSE, SO I MOVE FOR APPROVAL. >> IT'S BEEN MOVED. IS THERE A SECOND? A SECOND BY COMMISSIONER RODRIGUEZ? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR PLEASE SAY AYE. >> AYE. >> ALL THOSE OPPOSE? MOTION CARRIES. THANK YOU SO MUCH, DAVE. >> I THINK WE ALREADY DID DAN QUERY 55, CORRECT? [OVERLAPPING] I'M SORRY. >> WE DID PULLED ITEM FROM CONSENT, SO YES. >> I'M SORRY. ITEM 55, [55. Discussion and appropriate action regarding the proposed Short-Listed Offerors to RFQ/P-RFP Event #1009 Phase I for the Design-Build Services of the Bexar County Dual Diagnosis Recovery Facility Intake Center and Campus Renovations; and proceeding to Phase II Request for Proposals. A recommendation will be brought to Commissioners Court at a later date for consideration and award. ] A DISCUSSION IN APPROPRIATE ACTION REGARDING PROPOSED SHORTLISTED OFFERS TO THE RFQ, RFP EVENT NUMBER 1009, PHASE 1, FOR THE DESIGN-BUILD SERVICES AT THE BEXAR COUNTY DUAL DIAGNOSIS RECOVERY FACILITY INTAKE CENTER ON CAMPUS RENOVATIONS AND PROCEEDING, TO PHASE 2 REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS. A RECOMMENDATION WE BROUGHT TO THE COMMISSIONERS COURT A LATER DATE FOR CONSIDERATION OF THE AWARD. DAN, YOU HAVE THE FLOOR. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER. IN PERFECT CONCERN WITH THE ITEM THAT YOU JUST APPROVED, WHICH IS THE PURCHASE OF THE APPLEWHITE FACILITY, WE'RE GOING TO BRIEF YOU ON THIS CURRENT RENOVATION PROJECT. FORGIVE ME, THERE'S A LOT OF BACKGROUND IN THESE SLIDES, BUT I'LL MAKE SURE YOU GUYS HAVE THE FULL PICTURE. AGAIN, IN COOPERATION WITH THE OFFICE OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE, AND COMMUNITY SUPERVISION, WE CREATED A PROJECT AND BROUGHT THAT PROJECT TO YOU GUYS FOR APPROVAL TO EXPAND THE EXISTING DUAL DIAGNOSIS TREATMENT FACILITY, WHICH IS COMMONLY KNOWN AS APPLEWHITE ROAD. THIS WAS DONE IN CONCERN TO REDUCE JAIL POPULATION AND GIVES ALTERNATE PATHWAYS FOR DIVERSION FOR SOME OFFENDERS. THE PROJECT WAS CREATED THROUGH THE RPA FUNDS, $25 MILLION, $18 MILLION OF THAT WAS FOR NEW RESIDENTIAL BUILDING, 4 MILLION FOR REPAIRS, AND ABOUT $3 MILLION FOR PROPERTY ACQUISITION. WE DO KNOW THE PROPERTY ACQUISITION CAN BE A LITTLE BIT MORE THAN THAT. WE UNDERSTAND THAT WE'RE COMFORTABLE WITH IT. WE'RE GOING TO NAVIGATE THAT COST AVERAGES AS WE GO THROUGH THE PROJECT. WE ALSO RECEIVED FROM YOU AND AUTHORITY TO RELEASE A TWO-STEP DESIGN-BUILD SOLICITATION BECAUSE WE FEEL THAT'S THE FASTEST WAY TO DELIVER THIS PROJECT TO YOU GUYS. WE'RE GOING TO GIVE YOU A LITTLE BACKGROUND ON THAT. FIRST OF ALL, BACKGROUND ON THE SITE. THIS IS THE EXISTING 10 ACRE PARCEL THAT YOU GUYS CURRENTLY MENTIONED IN THE PREVIOUS AGENDA ITEM AND INCLUDES THREE BUILDINGS, 300,100 AND 200. TWO HUNDRED IS THEIR LARGE TRAINING FACILITY, 100 IS THEIR KITCHEN AND 300 IS THEIR MAIN HOUSING FACILITY AND INTAKE FACILITY. THE PLAN NEW BUILDING IS TO BUILD ANOTHER NEW FACILITY WITH NEW INTAKE FUNCTIONS, NEW HOUSING FUNCTIONS TO INCREASE THAT CAPACITY BY 130 BEDS. THAT ALLOWS DIVERSION FROM THE EXISTING BEXAR COUNTY JAIL TO THOSE BEDS AND GETS THEM OUT OF SHERIFF'S SUPERVISION. HERE'S A CONCEPTUAL LAYOUT THAT WE HAVE. OBVIOUSLY THIS WILL CHANGE AS WE GET THE DESIGN FURTHER ALONG. BUT IN OUR PRELIMINARY DESIGN EFFORTS, WE WERE JUST VALIDATING THAT IT ACTUALLY FITS ON THE SITE AND THAT'S THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE THAT WE NEED. OBVIOUSLY, I'M NOT GOING TO RUN THROUGH ALL THESE, BUT AS WELL, THERE'S SOME DEFERRED MAINTENANCE ON THE CAMPUS AS WELL. THOSE CAMPUS IMPROVEMENTS WILL INCLUDE REPLACING BUILDING SEALANTS, REPLACING ROOFS, HVAC WORK, AND OTHER THINGS THAT ARE TO BRING THEM UP TO [02:20:01] CURRENT COUNTY BUILDING STANDARDS SO IT CAN MAINTAIN IT AFTER WE'VE HAVE OWNERSHIP. THE DESIGN-BUILD DELIVERY METHOD IS A SINGLE SOLICITATION, IT'S GENERALLY IN TWO STEPS. WE HIRE A TEAM THAT INCLUDES A CONSULTANT AND A CONTRACTOR AT ONE TIME, AND THEY DELIVER THE PROJECT TO US WITHOUT HAVING TO DO THE TRADITIONAL, SELECT A CONSULTANT, DO THE DRAWING, SPIT IT OUT SEPARATELY. WE'RE TRYING TO ACCELERATE THE DELIVERY OF THIS PROJECT NOT ONLY TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE USE OF RPA FUNDS, BUT BECAUSE WE KNOW THERE'S A REAL CONSTRAINT ON JAIL BEDS RIGHT NOW. AGAIN, WE CONTRACT WITH ONE ENTITY AND THEN THEY HAVE A DESIGN CONSULTANT WITH THEM. WE ISSUED STEP 1 IN ACCORDANCE WITH YOUR DIRECTION. WE HAD STATEMENTS OF QUALIFICATIONS, SO THERE IS NO PRICING ON THIS FIRST PHASE. THIS IS TO JUST TELL US HOW GOOD YOU ARE AT YOUR JOB, BOTH YOUR DESIGN CONFIRMS AND YOUR CONTRACTING FIRMS. WE RECEIVE THOSE TWO PROPOSALS AND WE'RE GOING TO MOVE ON TO STEP 2, WHICH WAS YOUR ASKING AUTHORITY TO DO TODAY. MARCH 10TH, WE RELEASED DESIGN-BUILD SOLICITATION THROUGH THE PURCHASING AGENT'S OFFICE. WE DID PROVE PROPOSAL MEETINGS, QUALIFICATIONS ARE DUE ON APRIL 4TH. WE RANKED THOSE QUALIFICATIONS ONLY ON THE QUALIFICATIONS. AGAIN, WE HAVEN'T SEEN ANY PRICES AT THIS POINT. TODAY WE'RE ASKING YOU TO ALLOW US TO SHORTLIST THESE SELECTED FIRMS TO GET THEM TO PROVIDE PRICING AND THEN WE'LL BRING BACK TO YOU A FULL RECOMMENDATION. I KNOW WE'VE GOT A LOT OF QUESTIONS ON DELIVERING OF THIS PROJECT. WE HOPE IN JUNE 7TH, WE RELEASE THE PHASE 2, WHICH WILL BE TOMORROW. WE'VE WORKED WITH THE PURCHASING AGENT ON THOSE LOGISTICS. AUGUST, SEPTEMBER, WE BRING BACK TO YOU AND SAYING, THIS IS THE HIGHEST RANK RESPONDENT. WE WANT AUTHORITY TO NEGOTIATE AND THEN SOMETIME IN NOVEMBER, HAVE THOSE TEAMS OFFICIALLY ON BOARD AND START RUNNING FORWARD. THE RESPONDENTS WE HAVE AND WENT UPTO TO OVER 500 VENDORS, WE HAD TWO VERY QUALIFIED RESPONDENTS. THE GENERAL CONTRACTORS WERE BUTLER-COHEN DESIGN BUILD ALONG WITH ALTA ARCHITECTS, WHICH IS A LOCAL DESIGN FIRM, THEN JOERIS GENERAL CONTRACTORS AND RVK, WHICH ARE BOTH LOCAL FIRMS. WE'RE RECOMMENDING THAT BOTH OF THOSE MOVE FORWARD TO THE PHASE 2. HERE'S THE EVALUATION CRITERIA AND THE ORIGINAL RFQ, RFP. AS YOU CAN SEE, GENERAL EXPERIENCE PAST PERFORMANCE, DEMONSTRATED ABILITY OF UNDERSTANDING THE PROJECT PLAN WE ALREADY EVALUATED. REALLY WE'RE JUST LEANING ON THE LAST 20% OF THAT EVALUATION, WHICH IS PRICE, WHICH WE'RE ASKING TO BE RELEASED TODAY. THE EVALUATION COMMITTEE WAS INCLUDED PEOPLE FROM MY STAFF, PEOPLE FROM THE OFFICE OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE, JARVIS ANDERSEN WITH ADULT PROBATION, AS WELL AS ANOTHER PERSON FROM THE OFFICE OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE. AGAIN, OUR PLAN SCHEDULE NOW AS I APOLOGIZE, I'M RUNNING THROUGH THIS REALLY QUICKLY. PLEASE STOP ME IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS. IS TOMORROW RELEASE THE RFP PORTION OF THE RFQ, RFP FOR PROPOSALS? PROPOSALS, HAVE THOSE DUE ON JULY 28, AND THEN BRING YOU BACK IN EARLY AUGUST, HOPEFULLY NOT UNTIL SEPTEMBER. THE AUTHORITY TO NEGOTIATE WITH THE HIGHEST RANK RESPONDENT WITH THOSE TWO COMBINED SCORES. AGAIN, PHASE 2 RESPONSES WILL INCLUDE GENERAL CONDITIONS, COST OF CONSTRUCTION PHASE FEE OF THAT BREAKDOWN OF THAT 20%. JUST WANT TO GET FULL CLARITY ON EXACTLY WHAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR. OUR SHORT-LIST RECOMMENDATIONS IS BOTH OF THOSE RESPONDENTS. BOTH OF THESE FIRMS HAVE DONE WORK FOR US BEFORE. ALL OF THESE CONSULTANT FIRMS HAVE DONE WORK FOR US BEFORE, SO WE'RE FAMILIAR WITH THEM. I'LL RECOMMENDED MOTION TODAY AS APPROVAL OF THE PROPOSED SHORTLISTING AND RESPONDENTS TO THE PHASE 2 DESIGN-BUILD RFP SOLICITATION FOR THE SELECTION OF A DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION TEAM FOR THE PROPOSED DDRF INTAKE FACILITY AND CAMPUS IMPROVEMENTS. >> WE LOOK TO THE CLERK AGAIN. ARE THERE ANY CITIZENS SIGNED UP TO SPEAK? NO. OKAY. ANY COMMENTS FROM THE MEMBERS OF THE COURT? >> I HAVE SOME QUESTIONS. >> OKAY. >> YOU PUT THIS OUT AND ONLY TWO PEOPLE RESPONDED. IS THAT NORMAL TO ONLY HAVE TWO PEOPLE RESPOND? [OVERLAPPING] >> IT'S A VERY SPECIFIC BUILDING TYPE. I CAN'T TELL YOU WHAT THE MARKET SEE'S. SOME PEOPLE HAVE A LOT OF WORK, A LOT OF BACKLOG BUT WE HAVE THESE TWO PARTICULAR CONTRACTORS ALWAYS PURSUE OUR WORK SO WE KNOW THEY'RE PRETTY REGULAR, FOR LACK OF A BETTER TERM, AT PURSUING OUR WORK. THE BUILDING IS NOT A ARCHITECTURAL MASTERPIECE, IT IS BUILT FOR A FUNCTION AND NOT FOR FORM. SOME OF THAT MAY HAVE TURNED SOME DESIGN FIRMS OR OTHER CONTRACTORS OFF BECAUSE IT DOESN'T MAKE THEIR MAGAZINES OR THEIR PROPOSALS. BUT THIS WILL PUT REAL PEOPLE IN BEDS THAT WILL HELP WITH THROUGHPUT. THE MARKET SOME PEOPLE HAVE A LOT OF BACKLOG OF WORK, WE KNOW THAT THE MARKET IS SOFTENING RIGHT NOW, BUT WE'VE GOT THESE PROPOSALS MAYBE A MONTH AGO SO MAYBE IF SOME OF THAT WAS [OVERLAPPING] >> YOU AREN'T SURPRISED THAT THERE ARE ONLY TWO PEOPLE? >> NO. IT'S A LARGE PROJECT. WE'RE TALKING ABOUT $22 MILLION IN WORK, SO IT HAS TO BE A PRETTY GOOD FIRM TO BE ABLE TO TAKE ON THAT KIND OF EFFORT. >> ALSO HAVE A QUESTION ON PAGE 14 OF THE SLIDE, THE EVALUATION COMMITTEE. IS THIS IS GOING TO BE THE SAME EVALUATION COMMITTEE FOR THE REST? >> THE SUBJECTIVE EVALUATION PORTION IS OVER. WHEN WE GET THE PROPOSALS [INAUDIBLE] WILL TAKE THOSE NUMBERS, [02:25:02] BLINDLY COMPARE THOSE WITH THE EVALUATION SCORES THAT WE'VE ALREADY GIVEN THEM, AND THEN GIVE US THE RESULTS. >> THEN THIS EVALUATION COMMITTEE OF TONY FERNANDO, TONY JARVIS, AND ANTONIO, THAT EVALUATION COMMITTEE IS NO LONGER GOING TO BE INTACT? >> THEY STAND AS THE EVALUATION COMMITTEE ON THE SOLICITATION, BUT THERE'S NO MORE WORK FOR THEM TO DO. THERE IS NO MORE EVALUATION. >> I JUST NEED TO MAKE A COMMENT. >> SURE. >> I CAN'T HELP TO NOTICE BEING THE ONLY WOMAN ON COMMISSIONERS COURT THAT THERE ARE NO WOMAN ON THIS EVALUATION COMMITTEE. MOVING FORWARD, I WOULD JUST APPRECIATE YOU ALL BEING MORE MINDFUL OF THAT BECAUSE THE DEPARTMENTS, IT'S BEXAR COUNTY FACILITIES MANAGER, TWO FROM THERE, TWO FROM OFFICE OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE. UNLESS YOU TELL ME WE HAVE NO WOMAN WHO ARE QUALIFIED IN THOSE COUNTY DEPARTMENTS TO SIT ON EVALUATION COMMITTEE, WE NEED TO BE MORE MINDFUL TO HAVE DIFFERENT VIEWPOINTS AND DIVERSITY. >> ABSOLUTELY. MY APOLOGIES. >> THANK YOU. >> WE WILL ACTUALLY DO THAT. >> THANK YOU. ANY OTHER COMMENTS, QUESTIONS? I JUST HAVE ONE. IS ENGINEERING A PART OF THIS PARTICULAR DESIGN? >> THE DESIGN-BUILD SOLICITATION IS A TEAM OF A CONTRACTOR, AN ARCHITECT, AND ENGINEER. IT'S PRIMARILY AN ARCHITECTURE FIRM WHICH ALTON RVKR THEY WILL HAVE SUB-CONSULTANTS, THAT'LL BE CIVIL, MECHANICAL, ELECTRICAL ENGINEERS WITHIN THE RVK TEAM, SO YES. >> I DIDN'T LOOK DEEPLY AT THE PEOPLE ON THE COMMITTEE. WAS THERE AN ENGINEER ON THE COMMITTEE? >> AGAIN. ONE OF THEM MAY BE A LICENSED ARCHITECT BUT NO. >> WELL, SO I JUST ASKED THAT QUESTION BECAUSE I RECALL THAT THE ACEC HAD SENT A LETTER TO US SAYING THAT UNDER STATE LAW, IF THERE WASN'T AN ENGINEER, THEY COULDN'T PARTICIPATE IN THE SCORING OF THOSE PARTICULAR. HOW DO YOU RECONCILE THAT? >> FORGIVE ME COMMISSIONER, I'M NOT UPDATED ON THAT PARTICULAR STATUTE OR THAT PARTICULAR OPINION. WE'VE NEVER REQUIRED LICENSURE FOR OUR RFQ EVALUATIONS ON THE FACILITY SIDE. I KNOW THERE MAY BE OTHER STATUTES OR REQUIREMENTS ON THE PUBLIC WORKSITE, AND I CAN'T SPEAK TO THAT, BUT FOR US, WE'VE NEVER HAD THAT FIRM REQUIREMENT. >> OKAY. ANY OTHER? GO AHEAD. >> JUST ONE COMMENT AND THIS IS PROBABLY NOT SPECIFICALLY RELATED TO THIS, BUT INDIRECTLY, FOR STAFF. I'VE HAD SEVERAL CONVERSATIONS IN THE LAST WEEK AND I THINK IT'D BE REALLY HELPFUL AT LEAST FOR MYSELF AND PROBABLY THE REST OF THE COURT TO REALLY UNDERSTAND ALL THE DIFFERENT ASSETS THAT WE HAVE, WHETHER IT'S FOR MENTAL HEALTH, WHETHER IT'S RESIDENCY, PROGRAMS, MEN, WOMEN, CO-ED, CHILDREN, ONES THAT WE OWN, ONES THAT WE SUPPORT FINANCIALLY AND OTHER RESOURCES WITHIN THE COMMUNITY AND JUST BE ABLE TO UNDERSTAND THE LAY OF THE LAND HERE BECAUSE THESE THINGS POP UP FROM TIME TO TIME AND I JUST DON'T UNDERSTAND ALL THE RESOURCES THAT ARE OUT THERE AND HOW THEY OVERLAP OR INTERACT, AND THAT WOULD BE HELPFUL TO ME. >> IT'S GOOD WORK SESSION TOPIC POTENTIALLY. DO WE HAVE A MOTION, COMMISSIONER? >> I'LL MOVE TO APPROVE. >> SECOND. >> MOTION SECONDED. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, PLEASE SAY AYE. >> AYE. >> ALL THOSE OPPOSED. MOTION CARRIES. THANK YOU VERY MUCH, DAN. >>THANK YOU. >> LET'S SEE. WE'VE GOT ITEM 56, [56. Approval and Execution of the First Amendment to the American Rescue Plan Act Grant Agreement between Bexar County and the Southwest Texas Regional Advisory Council (STRAC) for a five-year period beginning October 1, 2021, and ending on September 30, 2026, in the amount of $24,368,090 to include any appropriate budget transfer necessary. ] APPROVAL AND EXECUTION OF THE FIRST AMENDMENT TO THE AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN ACT GRANT AGREEMENT BETWEEN BEXAR COUNTY AND THE SOUTHWEST TEXAS REGIONAL ADVISORY COUNCIL, STRAC, FOR A FIVE-YEAR PERIOD BEGINNING OCTOBER 1ST, 2021 AND ENDING ON SEPTEMBER 30TH, 2026, IN THE AMOUNT OF $24,368,090. TO INCLUDE ANY APPROPRIATE BUDGETARY TRANSFER THAT'S NECESSARY, THOMAS. >> THANK YOU COMMISSIONER. FOR THE RECORD, THOMAS GUEVARA, OFFICER OF THE COUNTY MANAGER. IF YOU RECALL COMMISSIONERS, COURT CURRENTLY HAS AN AGREEMENT WITH STRAC, AN ARPA AGREEMENT FOR A FIVE-YEAR PERIOD FOR THE SMART PROGRAM. THE PURPOSE OF THIS AMENDMENT IS TO ADD $7.3 MILLION FOR STRAC'S PSYCHIATRIC INPATIENT CARE SERVICES. COMMISSIONERS COURT DIRECTED US TO NEGOTIATE THAT AGREEMENT WITH STRAC BACK IN JUNE OF '22. WE DO HAVE KELLY BURNHAM HERE, THE DIVISION DIRECTOR, WHO HAS A SHORT PRESENTATION FOR YOU ON THIS PARTICULAR PROGRAM AND AMENDMENT. >> I LIKE THAT YOU SAID SHORT PRESENTATION. >> IT IS VERY SHORT. GOOD AFTERNOON, COMMISSIONERS. I'LL RUN THROUGH REALLY QUICK OUR INPATIENT BEDS AND HOW WE MANAGE THOSE AT STRAC IN OUR REGIONAL CALL CENTER UPSTAIRS AT THE STRAC OFFICE IF YOU GUYS HAVE BEEN OVER THERE, CALLED MEDCOM. CURRENTLY, WE HAVE THREE DIFFERENT TYPES OF BEDS THAT WE MANAGE IN THAT CALL CENTER. [02:30:06] CHILDREN'S CONTRACT BEDS, MEANING ANYBODY UNDER 18. THOSE CONTRACT BEDS ARE MANAGED BY THE LOCAL MENTAL HEALTH AUTHORITY, BUT THEY'VE GOT A LICENSED CLINICIAN SITTING IN MEDCOM THAT HELPS TO MANEUVER AND SEND INDIVIDUALS TO THE CORRECT TYPE OF BED IF THEY MEET THE REQUIREMENTS. PSYCHIATRIC EMERGENCY SERVICE BEDS. WE HAVE 14 OF THOSE BEDS THAT ARE ALSO MANAGED THROUGH MEDCOM. THOSE ARE FOR IMMEDIATE EMERGENCY ROOM RELIEF. IF A PSYCHIATRIC PATIENT IS IN AN EMERGENCY ROOM AND NEEDS A DECOMPRESSION PERIOD IN-BETWEEN MAYBE GOING INPATIENT OR MAYBE BEING RELEASED TO OUTPATIENT SERVICES, THEY CAN UTILIZE THOSE PES BEDS. THOSE ARE ALSO MANAGED BY THAT SAME LICENSED CLINICIAN. THEN WE'VE GOT 47 CURRENTLY PRIVATE PSYCHIATRIC BEDS. THOSE ARE ALSO STATE-FUNDED BEDS BY THE LOCAL MENTAL HEALTH AUTHORITY. THE ADDITIONAL EIGHT BEDS THAT WE'RE REQUESTING THROUGH THE ARPA FUNDS WILL BE LOOPED IN WITH THE PPB, THE OTHER EXISTING BEDS BRINGING US TO 55 TOTAL INPATIENT ADULT PSYCHIATRIC BEDS. REAL QUICK, THE LOCATIONS, [OVERLAPPING] >> CAN I ASK, WHAT DOES MUST BE UNFUNDED MEAN? >> BECAUSE OF THIS STATE REQUIREMENTS, THOSE ARE FOR UNFUNDED INDIVIDUALS, MEANING THEY DON'T HAVE INSURANCE. >> SO THE BEDS MUST BE FOR AN INDIVIDUAL? OKAY. GOT IT. >> YES, MA'AM. THE LOCATIONS OF THOSE TYPES OF BEDS, WE'VE GOT CLARITY CHILD GUIDANCE CENTER PROVIDING THE CHILDREN'S CONTRACT BEDS AND THEN THE OTHER 47 CURRENT BEDS PLUS THE 14 PES BEDS ARE DIVVIED UP AMONG SAN ANTONIO BEHAVIORAL, LAUREL RIDGE, AND METHODIST SPECIALTY AND TRANSPLANT. THOSE ARE OUR REMAINING INPATIENT FACILITIES. THE ADDITIONAL BEDS THAT ARE COMING ONLINE WILL POTENTIALLY GO TO ANY OF THE THREE OF THESE. ONCE WE GET THROUGH THE PROCESS WITH YOU ALL, THEN WE'LL OPEN IT UP FOR REQUESTS FOR PROPOSALS AND FIGURE OUT WHERE THOSE BEDS WILL BE LOCATED. LAST SLIDE, THIS WILL BE QUICK. THE PROCESS OF HOW THAT WORKS IS BASICALLY, ANY FACILITY CAN CALL IN AND PLACE THAT PATIENT ON WHAT WE CALL A QUEUE. THEY GO THROUGH THEIR LIST OF QUESTIONS TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY'RE ELIGIBLE, THAT MEDCOM CLINICIAN GOES THROUGH AND CHECKS ALL THE BOXES THAT THEY NEED TO, AND THEN FACILITATES MOVING THE PATIENT ACTUALLY FROM AN EMERGENCY ROOM OR WHICHEVER FACILITY THEY'RE LOCATED AT INTO THE CORRECT BED TYPE. WE REALLY DO OUR BEST TO EXPEDITE MOVING PATIENTS INTO THEIR INPATIENT BED AS QUICKLY AS WE CAN SO THAT THEY'RE GETTING THE RIGHT LEVEL OF CARE. THAT'S IT. IT WAS A QUICK PRESENTATION. QUESTIONS? >> THAT WAS VERY GOOD. CONGRATULATIONS, GILBERT. WELL DONE. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS, COMMENTS, CONCERNS? YES. GO AHEAD. >> JUST A QUESTION. THIS IS AN AMENDMENT TO THE FUNDING FROM THE ARPA DOLLARS, IS THAT CORRECT? WHAT IS THE CHANGE THAT WE'RE ACTUALLY LOOKING AT? >> AGAIN, THE ORIGINAL AGREEMENT WITH STRAC WAS FOR THE SMART PROGRAM THAT WAS 16.9 MILLION DOLLARS FOR STRAC TO HANDLE THE SMART PROGRAM EXPANSION. INSTEAD OF HAVING A WHOLE NEW AGREEMENT, WE JUST AMENDED THAT CURRENT AGREEMENT TO ADD SINCE THIS WAS ALSO FUNDED THROUGH THE AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN ACT. AGAIN, THIS TOTAL COMMISSIONER, IS $7,395,000 FOR THE PERIOD OF ARPA. >> SO WE'RE ADDING SEVEN MILLION AND SOME CHANGE TO ADD THESE ADDITIONAL BEDS INTO THE MIX WITH STRAC? >> CORRECT. >> OKAY. THANK YOU. >> THAT JUST MADE ME HAVE ANOTHER QUESTION. THOMAS, I CAN'T QUITE HEAR YOU. THE SEVEN MILLION, DID YOU MENTION SMART? CAN YOU TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THAT? >> YES, COMMISSIONER. AGAIN, THE ORIGINAL AGREEMENT WITH STRACK WAS PART OF OUR SMART EXPANSION THAT WAS THE 16.9 MILLION THAT WE ORIGINALLY APPROVED BACK IN EARLY 2022. INSTEAD OF BRINGING UP A BRAND NEW AGREEMENT WITH STRACK, IT WAS FASTER FOR THE PURPOSE OF EXPEDIENCY TO JUST AMEND THIS CONTRACT TO ADD THE PSYCHIATRIC BEDS. >> PART OF THIS 24 MILLION IS TO SUPPORT OUR SMART PROGRAM. >> CORRECT. >> [OVERLAPPING] A LARGE PART OF THAT. >> THAT'S THE 16.9 AT THE 7.3 AND THAT'S WHERE YOU GET THE TOTAL, YES, MA'AM. >> OKAY, THANK YOU. >> YES, MA'AM. >> IS THERE A MOTION? >> MOVE FOR APPROVAL. >> IS THERE A SECOND? >> SECOND. >> IT'S BEEN MOTION SECOND. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, PLEASE SAY AYE. >> AYE. >> THOSE WHO OPPOSE? THE MOTION CARRIES. THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH. CONGRATULATIONS STRACK. [57. Discussion and appropriate action regarding Bexar County's Legislative Program and the 88th Session of the Texas Legislature. ] I SEE MELISSA FOR OUR LEGISLATIVE PROGRAM. COME ON DOWN. DISCUSSION OF APPROPRIATE ACTION REGARDING BEXAR COUNTY'S LEGISLATIVE PROGRAM IN THE 88TH SESSION OF THE TEXAS LEGISLATURE. YOU MADE IT BACK. >> YES. WE SURVIVED. >> WE'RE JUST GOING BACK TOO. >> PARDON ME. >> YOU'RE GOING BACKWARD FOR A SPECIAL SESSION. [02:35:02] >> YES. WE ARE IN WHAT HAS BEEN CALLED THE FIRST SPECIAL SESSION. APPARENTLY FROM WHAT THE GOVERNOR HAS INTIMATED, THERE WILL BE MORE, BUT THIS FIRST SPECIAL SESSION THAT WE'RE IN, IT DOESN'T AFFECT COUNTIES AT THE MOMENT. I DON'T THINK WILL BE PULLED INTO IT AT THIS POINT. IT'S STRICTLY FOR BORDER SECURITY AND SCHOOL ISD TAX ISSUES. THE HOUSE HAS ALREADY SIGNED IT OUT. THEY'VE ALREADY GATHERED OUT AND HAVE ADJOURNED AND SENT THEIR TWO BILLS OVER THE SENATE. WHAT IF YOU BELIEVE WHAT YOU READ IN SOCIAL MEDIA, BECAUSE THAT'S WHERE I'M GETTING THE NEWS ON IT NOW. THERE MAY BE SOME DISAGREEMENTS WITH BOTH SIDES. THE SENATE WILL COME BACK IN THIS EVENING, I BELIEVE AT 6:00 PM. WE'LL GET SOME INDICATION THIS EVENING AS TO WHAT MAY HAPPEN MOVING FORWARD. WHERE WE ARE AT NOW WITH THE REGULAR SESSION AND I KNOW I'VE BEEN RECEIVING QUITE A FEW QUESTIONS ABOUT FINAL STATUTES AND BILLS THAT ARE ENACTED. WHAT WE HAVE TO WAIT FOR NOW IS JUNE 18TH. THE GOVERNOR NOW WE'RE IN A PERIOD WHERE HE CAN VETO OR SIGN BILLS. MOSTLY WE'RE WAITING FOR THOSE BILLS TO BE VETOED. HE'S VETOED TWO SO FAR. WE'RE IN A HOLDING PATTERN BECAUSE I KNOW PEOPLE ARE WANTING TO KNOW WHAT HAS BEEN FINALIZED. I'VE DID FINISH MY DRAFT REPORT YESTERDAY, SO WE'RE UP TO ABOUT 80 SOME ODD PAGES OF NEW BILLS THAT WOULD AFFECT THE COUNTY BUT WHAT I NEED TO WAIT ON IS THIS IS EVERYTHING THAT HAS GONE TO THE GOVERNOR AND SOME OF THESE WILL FALL OFF BECAUSE THEY DON'T BECOME LAW. AFTER THE 18TH, THAT WEEK I SHOULD BE ABLE THEN TO DELETE OUT THE ITEMS THAT DON'T AFFECT US AND HAVE A FINAL REPORT TO THE FULL COUNTY BY SOMETIME THAT WEEK OF THE 18TH. THAT'S WHAT WE'RE WAITING ON NOW. JUST FOR COMMISSIONER MOODY, THIS WILL BE YOUR FIRST LEGISLATIVE SESSION REPORT WITH US. THIS REPORT THAT I PUT TOGETHER IS EVERYTHING AND ANYTHING THAT AFFECTS ANY TYPE OF COUNTY PROCESS FROM THE COURTS TO THE DA TO THE COMMISSIONERS COURT, WHATEVER. BUT THIS IS JUST A SYNOPSIS WITH THE ACTIVE LINK TO EACH OF THE BILLS. A PARAGRAPH ON EACH BILL AND THEN THE OFFICE AND DEPARTMENTS THAT IT AFFECTS, AND THEN THEY HAVE A LINK TO GO TO THE BILL TO FIND OUT MORE INFORMATION. THAT WEEK I'LL BE ABLE TO TELL YOU EXACTLY WHAT WAS FINAL. >> BIGGEST HIGHLIGHTS AFFECTING THE COUNTY IN THIS STEP. >> BUDGET IS A BIG ONE, SO IN HOUSE BILL 1 IN THE GENERAL APPROPRIATIONS ACT, THE FULL BUDGET FOR THE HOUSE BILL 1 IS $321.3 BILLION. THAT'S ALL FUNDS FOR THE GENERAL BUDGET. WHAT I'VE FOUND SO FAR ARE QUITE A FEW MENTAL HEALTH PROGRAMS. THAT WAS A BIG ISSUE THAT THE STATE HAS SEEN THAT WE NEED MORE FUNDING, JUST SOME HIGHLIGHTS ON THAT. THERE'S A $7.5 MILLION FOR AN INNOVATION GRANT PROGRAM, $40 MILLION, SO THAT SEVEN-AND-HALF MILLION IS REALLY 15 MILLION, SO THAT WAS FOR EACH FISCAL YEAR, SO 15 MILLION FOR THE BIENNIUM FOR MENTAL HEALTH GRANT PROGRAMS FOR HHS, HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, $40 MILLION FOR THE BIENNIUM FOR EFFORTS TO REDUCE RECIDIVISM, ARREST, INCARCERATION AMONG INDIVIDUALS WITH MENTAL ILLNESS. A BIG PUSH FOR THAT. PSYCHIATRIC BEDS, MORE FUNDING FOR PSYCHIATRIC BEDS. LET ME LOOK AT THE SUPPLEMENTAL BUDGET. [OVERLAPPING] GO AHEAD. >> SORRY TO INTERRUPT. IS THAT GOING TO INCLUDE FIXING SOME OF THE GAPS WHEN IT COMES TO COMPENSATION FOR THOSE WHO ARE STAFFING THOSE BEDS? BECAUSE I KNOW THAT BECAME AN ISSUE. WE CAN BUILD THE BEDS IN CAPACITY, BUT WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ALSO HAVE THE STAFF TO MAN THEM. >> I BELIEVE SO. THE PROBLEM WITH THE BUDGET IS IT ELICITS A STRATEGY AND THEN YOU'VE GOT TO DIG DOWN INTO THOSE STRATEGIES. I'VE NOT GOTTEN TO THE POINT, I JUST FINISHED THIS LAST NIGHT PUTTING IT TOGETHER. BUT I BELIEVE I DID SEE SOMETHING WHERE THERE WAS MORE FUNDING FOR THE FACILITIES AS WELL AS THE STAFFING. YES, SIR. I THINK THEY'VE REALIZED THAT GAP AS WELL. [02:40:04] EACH YEAR IT'S THE HOUSE TAKES THE MAIN BUDGET AND THEN THE SENATE WILL TAKE THE SUPPLEMENTAL BUDGET, AND THEN THE NEXT BIENNIUM THEY FLIP. THIS YEAR IT WAS THE HOUSE HAD THE MAIN BUDGET, AND SENATE HAD THE SUPPLEMENTAL BUDGET, WHICH IS THE BUDGET THAT GETS THEM THROUGH THE NEXT FISCAL YEAR. THAT IS WHERE ONE OF OUR INITIATIVES, THE STATE TOOK UP FOR THE MAXIMUM SECURITY BEDS TO REFURB THE ALAMO FACILITY AT THE STATE HOSPITAL. FOR $15 MILLION FOR 40 MAXIMUM SECURITY BEDS. THERE'S ALSO FUNDING IN, YOU'LL SEE IN MY REPORT I WANTED TO MENTION THAT THIS IS NOT NEW FUNDING, BUT YOU'LL SEE IN REGARDS TO SP30 WITH THE STATE HOSPITAL, THERE'S A 152.4 MILLION FOR THE REPLACEMENT OF SASH. THAT JUST A CARRY OVER. YOU'LL SEE THAT IN MY REPORT WHEN IT COMES OUT THAT'S NOT NEW FUNDING, THAT'S JUST TO CONTINUE, JUST CARRY IT OVER. >> DON'T THEY NEED AN ADDITIONAL 150 OR NOT? THEY NEED 300 MILLION TOTAL, CORRECT? >> YES. THEY HAVE THAT. >> OKAY. GO IT. >> YES. THIS IS A CONTINUATION OF THAT. YES, SIR. I MENTIONED THE ALAMO FACILITY. THERE'S A $100 MILLION IN THE SP34 COMMUNITY MENTAL HEALTH GRANTS. SO HHS, HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES WILL HAVE AN ADDITIONAL 100 MILLION. THERE IS ALSO 15.9 MILLION FOR COMMUNITY MENTAL HEALTH GRANT PROGRAMS TO ESTABLISH A ONETIME CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL CONSTRUCTION GRANT PROGRAM. LIKE I MENTIONED, BOTH BUDGETS SEE A PUSH TOWARDS MENTAL HEALTH. SO THAT'S SOMETHING THAT'S GOOD FOR US. ANOTHER GOOD ITEM FOR US. THIS IS [NOISE] A BILL THAT WE'RE STILL WAITING ON. I'M QUITE SURPRISED THAT IT MOVED AS FAR AS IT DID. BUT THIS IS ONE WHERE THE STATE TDCJ IS SUPPOSED TO COME IN AND PICK UP THEIR PRISONERS BY 45 DAYS. IF WE'RE HOLDING THEM OVER THOSE 45 DAYS, IT'S ALWAYS JUST BEEN ON US. WELL, THERE WAS A BILL THAT WAS FILED UP, IT'S ON THE GOVERNOR'S DESK, HB20 TO 620, TO REIMBURSE US FOR THOSE DAYS OVER. WHAT I DON'T KNOW YET IS [OVERLAPPING]. >> HOW MUCH? >> THAT'S WHAT I WAS JUST GOING TO SAY. I DON'T KNOW YET WHAT THAT AMOUNT IS BECAUSE IT DOESN'T DEFINE AN AMOUNT. IT JUST SAYS COST OF CONFINEMENT. RIGHT NOW TDCJ'S COST IS RIGHT ABOUT $62.30, SOME ODD CENTS, AROUND THERE. THEY WOULD REIMBURSE US FOR THEIR COST OF CONFINEMENT. THIS BILL WILL BECOME EFFECTIVE THE DATE. THERE'S THE OTHER NUANCE IN EFFECTIVE DATES, YOU'LL SEE IN HERE, MAJORITY OF BILLS ARE ALL EFFECTIVE SEPTEMBER 30TH. THERE ARE SOME BILLS THAT DEPENDING IF THEY GET 2/3 MAJORITY APPROVAL IN EACH OF THEIR HOUSES, THEN IT GOES TO THE GOVERNOR'S DESK AND HE SIGNS IT, IT BECOMES EFFECTIVE THAT DAY. THIS IS ONE OF THOSE BILLS WHEN HE SIGNS IT, IT BECOMES EFFECTIVE THAT DAY. BUT WHAT WE DON'T KNOW IS THE BILL MENTIONED BY THE END OF SEPTEMBER THAT TDCJ WILL SET OUT THEIR SCHEDULE AND HOW THIS HAS TO BE DONE. THAT'S WHERE WE'LL GET MORE DETAILS IN THE FALL, AT THE END OF SEPTEMBER. THOSE ARE SOME GOOD ONES. I KNOW THAT ELECTIONS WERE SOME OF THE BAD BILLS. SPECIFICALLY PUSH TOWARDS ISSUES IN HARRIS COUNTY. I'M SURE YOU'VE ALL HEARD THAT ONE WAS TO ABOLISH THE ELECTIONS ADMINISTRATOR. IT WAS WHAT WE CALL A BRACKET BILL. THEY BRACKET IT TO A SPECIFIC POPULATION, AND THAT BRACKET ONLY CATCHES HARRIS COUNTY. IT'S ELIMINATED THE HARRIS COUNTY ELECTIONS ADMINISTRATOR, AND THOSE DUTIES THEN GO BACK TO THE TAX ASSESSOR COLLECTOR AND THE COUNTY CLERK. THERE WERE SOME OTHER ELECTIONS BILLS THAT YOU'LL SEE IN THE REPORT THAT FOR ELECTIONS ISSUES, IF A CRIME HAS BEEN COMMITTED IN A VOTER ISSUES. THEY'VE INCREASED SOME OF THOSE PENALTIES. ELECTIONS WERE A BIG HIT THAT COUNTIES TOOK THIS SESSION. [02:45:07] ANOTHER ONE THAT DAVID AND I WERE TALKING ABOUT THE OTHER DAY WAS THE PREEMPTION BILL. I DO HAVE IT MARKED HERE. THAT WAS HB21, 27. THE IMPETUS BEHIND THAT BILL WAS REGULATORY CONSISTENCY ACROSS THE STATE TO GET CITIES AND COUNTIES TO A POINT WHERE WE WERE FOLLOWING STATE CODE AND NOT CREATING ORDINANCES AND ORDERS ON OUR OWN. WE AS THE COUNTY GENERAL, WE DON'T DO THAT BECAUSE WE'RE AN ARM OF STATE GOVERNMENT AND WE FOLLOW WHAT THE STATE TELLS US WE CAN OR CANNOT DO. I BELIEVE SAW CITY STEPPING OUTSIDE OF THEIR BOUNDS AND THEY WERE TRYING TO CONTROL THAT MORE. YOU HEARD A LOT ABOUT PREEMPTION. I DON'T THINK THERE'S ANYTHING TOO EXCESSIVELY MAJOR IN THERE. I HAD THOUGHT THAT THERE WAS ONE ISSUE THAT WOULD AFFECTED US WITH IMMUNITY AND LAW ENFORCEMENT IF SOMEONE HAD FILED SUIT AGAINST THE COUNTY, BUT LARRY AND I SPOKE ABOUT IT YESTERDAY AND WE'RE OKAY THERE. [NOISE] THAT'S THE BIG ONES THAT I CAN THINK OF. >> DID IT PASS? >> THAT'S ONE THAT WE'RE WAITING ON THE GOVERNOR TO SIGN. >> IF HE SIGNS IT, DO CITIES LOSE THEIR ORDINANCE MAKING THE ABILITY OR WHAT? >> THEY LOSE THEIR ORDINANCE MAKING ABILITY AS IT APPLIES TO EIGHT CODES. I HAVE NOT DELVE INTO THEM, BUT AGRICULTURE, BUSINESS AND COMMERCE, IT WANT TO AFFECTS US TOO IF WE HAVE SOMETHING THAT IS OUT OF BOUNDS ON THESE CODES. AGRICULTURE, BUSINESS AND COMMERCE, FINANCE, INSURANCE, LABOR, NATURAL RESOURCES, OCCUPATIONS, AND PROPERTY. THOSE WERE THE SPECIFIC CODES THAT WERE HIT IN THE PREEMPTION BILL. >> ANY QUESTIONS? MELISSA, THANK YOU SO MUCH. >> YES, SIR. [NOISE] >> LARRY, DO WE NEED TO DO ITEM 59? >> NO, COMMISSIONER, I'M GOING TO DEFER THAT TO NEXT MEETING. >> OKAY. WITH THAT, WE WILL ASK THE COURT FOR A GERMANS COMMISSIONER CLAY-FLORES. >> I MOVE TO ADJOURN IN MEMORY OF SARAH DIXON AND EARL GARVEY. SADLY, I FOUND OUT ABOUT TWO COUNTY EMPLOYEES WHO WERE CUSTODIANS WHO PASSED AWAY. DOMINIC ANGELO AWAYO AND MARTHA ALICE FUENTES. >> I WOULD LIKE TO ADJOURN IN THE NAMES OF THE FOLLOWING BEATRICE YAMAS LOPEZ, THERESA AND MORENO, JOE PHILLIP GARZA, YOUNGCHEW DINNER, AND ORTEGA, AND GLORIA SALAS. >> FOR THE JUDGE, VELMA LOZANO OR RILEY TYLER MONTES, AND TERESA CANALES WHO WORKED IN MY OFFICE. CHARLES EDDIE LEE, JANIE LEONHARD, BEXAR COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE, CANINE FIASCO, ALBERTO, YOUR ST. JUNIOR, ALBERT YOUR SES FATHER, BRANDON SHIRAZ, DR. ANTONIO CRUISE. BETTY TIERINA, KIMBERLY DICE, ABLE CANDIA JUNIOR, WILLBROAD SILVA, AND STEVE WALKER. MANY OF YOU KNEW JUDGE STEVE WALKER OF PRECINCT 2, I BELIEVE PASS. WITHOUT OBJECTION, THE COURT IS ADJOURNED IN HONOR OF THESE AFOREMENTIONED NAMES. THANK YOU. * This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.