69. Discussion and possible action related to the process of the Bexar County Judicial Selection Committee in its outreach to potential applicants, evaluation of candidates who applied, and candidate recommendations for appointment to the vacant position of Probate Court Judge in the newly created statutory Probate Court No. 3.

[69. Discussion and possible action related to the process of the Bexar County Judicial Selection Committee in its outreach to potential applicants, evaluation of candidates who applied, and candidate recommendations for appointment to the vacant position of Probate Court Judge in the newly created statutory Probate Court No. 3.]

I'M ASKING THE COURT'S PERMISSION.

I'D LIKE TO TAKE UP ITEM NUMBER 69, WHICH IS DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION RELATED TO THE PROCESS OF THE BEXAR COUNTY JUDICIAL SELECTION COMMITTEE IN ITS OUTREACH TO POTENTIAL APPLICANTS.

EVALUATION OF CANDIDATES WHO APPLIED AND CANDIDATE RECOMMENDATION FOR APPOINTMENT TO THE VACANT POSITION OF THE PROBATE COURT JUDGE IN THE NEWLY CREATED CREATED STATUTORY PROBATE COURT NUMBER THREE.

[00:30:01]

SO WITH ALL THOSE THAT ARE PART OF THAT COMMITTEE, PLEASE STEP FORWARD TO THE PODIUM.

I PRESUME WE HAVE THE CHAIR.

I'LL ASK THE CHAIR TO PLEASE INTRODUCE THE COMMITTEE AND TO MAKE YOUR REPORT.

GOOD MORNING, JUDGE AND COMMISSIONERS COURT.

I AM FIDEL RODRIGUEZ JR, AN ATTORNEY HERE IN SAN ANTONIO.

WITH ME TODAY ARE COMMITTEE MEMBERS, DONNA MCELROY.

OVER HERE TO MY RIGHT.

I'M SORRY. GET MY RIGHT IN MY LEFT MIXED UP SOMETIMES AS BEING AN AGGIE.

THAT'S NORMAL. AND ALSO HERE TODAY IS PRESIDENT ELECT LAURA BROCK WITH THE BEXAR COUNTY WOMEN'S BAR ASSOCIATION. LAURA AND ALSO NATHANIEL.

WE HAVE NATHANIEL MACK WITH THE SAN ANTONIO BLACK LAWYERS ASSOCIATION.

WE ARE MISSING TWO MEMBERS, ONE BECAUSE OF AN ILLNESS IN THE FAMILY, AND THAT WOULD BE MARISSA SANCHEZ WITH THE MEXICAN AMERICAN BAR ASSOCIATION AND THE HONORABLE POLLY JACKSON.

SPENCER. JUDGE SPENCER IS NOT HERE.

SHE WAS A NON-VOTING, EX-OFFICIO, EX-OFFICIO MEMBER OF THE COMMITTEE.

DURING OUR ASSIGNMENT.

WE WERE WORKING VERY CLOSELY AND WE'RE VERY THANKFUL FOR THE COOPERATION AND EFFORT THAT WE RECEIVED FROM THOMAS GUEVARA, CHIEF OF STAFF, OFFICE OF THE COUNTY MANAGER, JIM LEFKO.

I SAW JIM HERE EARLIER TODAY, DIRECTOR OF COMMUNICATIONS FOR YOU, JUDGE SAKAI, AND ALSO STEPHANIE CASIANO, SENIOR HUMAN RESOURCES PARTNER WITH THE BEXAR COUNTY HUMAN RESOURCES DEPARTMENT.

LET ME GIVE THE COMMISSIONERS COURT A VERY SHORT TIMELINE OF HOW WE CAME TO BE AND WHAT OUR EFFORTS HAVE BEEN WITH REGARDS TO THE ASSIGNMENT GIVEN TO THE COMMITTEE.

WE RECEIVED A LETTER ON JULY THE 14TH OF THIS YEAR APPOINTING MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE THAT I'VE MENTIONED TO THE COMMISSIONERS COURT.

BY JULY THE 28TH, WE HAD OUR FIRST MEETING OF THE COMMITTEE.

JULY THE 31ST, WE STARTED ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS FOR THE OPEN BENCH FOR THE NEW PROBATE COURT.

NUMBER THREE STATUS REPORTS WERE PROVIDED TO US ON A DAILY BASIS BY THOMAS AND JIM, AND THEY WERE VERY MUCH APPRECIATED.

THE APPLICATION DEADLINE WAS EXTENDED TO AUGUST THE 14TH, GIVING APPLICANTS 11 BUSINESS DAYS WITHIN WHICH TO APPLY FOR THIS OPEN SEAT. AND IN THE END WE RECEIVED EIGHT APPLICANTS THAT SUBMITTED THEIR APPLICATIONS.

ALL OF THESE PEOPLE WERE HIGHLY QUALIFIED.

IF I MAY GO THROUGH THE LIST VERY QUICKLY, ASSOCIATE PROBATE JUDGE BARBARA SCHARF ZELDIS, SARAH BACHELOR HARDER ASSOCIATE PROBATE JUDGE FOR PROBATE COURT NUMBER TWO CARMEN SAMANIEGO.

ARTHUR ROSSI.

DAVID IRON.

RETIRED JUDGE H.

PAUL CANEZ AND DAVID MCCLAIN AND JOE R HINOJOSA.

FROM THOSE EIGHT APPLICANTS, THE DECISION WAS MADE BY THE COMMITTEE TO INTERVIEW FOUR OF THE APPLICANTS, AND WE DID SO ON AUGUST THE 18TH.

WE IMMEDIATELY MET THEREAFTER, AND WE ARE NOW PROUDLY AND UNANIMOUSLY MAKING OUR RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE COMMISSIONERS COURT FOR THIS OPEN SLOT.

PROBATE COURT NUMBER THREE.

THEY ARE AS FOLLOWS ASSOCIATE PROBATE JUDGE, PROBATE COURT NUMBER ONE, BARBARA ZARF.

ZELDA'S RECOMMENDATION NUMBER TWO, ASSOCIATE ASSOCIATE PROBATE JUDGE, PROBATE COURT NUMBER TWO, CARMEN SAMANIEGO.

WE AGAIN WHOLEHEARTEDLY AND UNANIMOUSLY RECOMMEND THESE TWO INDIVIDUALS TO THE COMMISSIONERS COURT FULLY KNOWING AND REALIZING THAT THE FINAL DECISION WILL BE MADE BY THE COMMISSIONERS COURT.

WE ARE HERE TODAY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS THAT YOU MAY HAVE, AND WE'LL GLADLY DO SO.

THANK YOU. ANY QUESTIONS? MR. COMMISSIONER RODRIGUEZ.

THANK YOU, JUDGE FIDEL.

FIRST OF ALL, LET ME THANK YOU AND THE COMMITTEE FOR DOING THE WORK.

I KNOW IT'S NOT EASY WHEN YOU HAVE HIGHLY QUALIFIED INDIVIDUALS TO KIND OF WILLOW THAT DOWN, WINNOW IT DOWN AND MAKE A RECOMMENDATION ULTIMATELY.

AS YOU KNOW, THIS IS AN APPOINTMENT OF THE COURT AND THE WORK THAT YOU'VE DONE HAS HELPED, I THINK, PUT US IN A POSITION TO MAKE A SELECTION OF THE BEST QUALIFIED CANDIDATE.

SO, JUST TO BE CLEAR, FIDEL, OUT OF THE EIGHT, YOU'VE NOW THE COMMITTEE'S NOW RECOMMENDED TWO TO GO FORWARD FOR CONSIDERATION

[00:35:08]

BY THE COMMISSIONER'S COURT, IS THAT RIGHT? AND THAT WAS BARBIE CHAVEZ, ELVIS AND CARMEN SAMANIEGO.

THAT IS CORRECT, COMMISSIONER.

OKAY. JUDGE, I KNOW THAT OTHERS MAY HAVE SOME QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS, BUT I DO WANT TO MAKE A MOTION.

I KNOW WE'RE NOT MAKING A SELECTION TODAY THAT THAT IS GOING TO COME LATER.

SO, MY MOTION WOULD BE THAT WE INVITE THE TWO THAT HAVE BEEN IDENTIFIED AS THE RECOMMENDATIONS RECOMMENDED CANDIDATES TO THE NEXT AVAILABLE COMMISSIONERS COURT MEETING FOR AN IN-PERSON INTERVIEW, CONFER AN EXECUTIVE SESSION TO DELIBERATE ON THE APPOINTMENT AND THEN RECONVENING AT THAT TIME AS THE COURT TO VOTE ON AN APPOINTMENT FOR PROBATE COURT NUMBER THREE.

IS THERE A SECOND? SECOND.

SECOND BY COMMISSIONER CLAY-FLORES.

ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? COMMISSIONER CLAY-FLORES.

I ALSO WANT TO THANK THE PEOPLE ON THE COMMITTEE.

I KNOW IT TAKES A LOT OF TIME TO REVIEW.

IT'S GOOD TO SEE YOU.

SO JUST THANK YOU FOR THE WORK THAT YOU ALL ARE DOING, AND I LOOK FORWARD TO DELIBERATING.

COMMISSIONER MOODY.

I'LL JUST ECHO MY COLLEAGUES' COMMENTS.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORK ON THIS.

I KNOW YOU'VE SPENT A LOT OF TIME, AND IT DOESN'T GO UNNOTICED.

THANK YOU. COMMISSIONER CALVERT.

I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU.

THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH FOR STEPPING UP TO THE PLATE.

A VERY IMPORTANT JOB.

YOU HAVE THE BEST CHOICE.

THANK YOU FOR TRYING TO WHITTLE IT DOWN AND.

FIDEL, WOULD YOU INTRODUCE YOUR OTHER MEMBER THAT JUST WALKED IN? I'M NOT CALLING HER OUT, BUT I THINK SHE'S A FORMER JUDGE.

I WAS GOING TO RAISE MY HAND ON THAT JUDGE.

OKAY. ALL RIGHT. BUT YES, I WOULD LIKE TO INTRODUCE OUR VERY ACTIVE MEMBER OF THE COMMITTEE, RETIRED JUDGE POLLY JACKSON SPENCER.

WE REALLY LEANED ON HER AND ASKED HER FOR ADVICE AS WE WENT THROUGH THE PROCESS.

AND SHE CAME THROUGH EACH AND EVERY TIME.

SO HERE SHE IS, JUDGE POLLY JACKSON.

SPENCER, COME TO THE PODIUM.

I JUST WANT TO SAY, AS YOU KNOW, AS A FORMER JUDGE, WE DO CALL PEOPLE OUT OR LATE TO COURT.

SO PLEASE, PLEASE ACCEPT MY ADMONISHMENT.

BUT WOULD YOU HAVE A FEW WORDS TO SAY? I'M ONLY GOING TO SAY I HAVE A SHOUT OUT TO THE COUNTY.

I PARKED IN THE GARAGE A FEW WEEKS AGO, BUT TODAY, BECAUSE I WAS CLEARLY RUNNING LATE, I THOUGHT IT WAS FASTER FOR ME TO PARK IN THE CITY GARAGE OVER THERE.

BUT I'M ON THE EIGHTH FLOOR AND WHEN I WENT TO GET ON THE ELEVATOR, THEY SAID, THIS ELEVATOR IS OUT OF SERVICE.

SO IN ORDER FOR ME TO GET BACK TO MY CAR, I'M GOING TO HAVE TO CLIMB EIGHT FLIGHTS OF STAIRS.

SO I JUST WANT YOU TO APPLAUD ME FOR MY DEDICATION.

ALL RIGHT. AND, JUDGE, SINCE YOU PARKED IN THE CITY GARAGE, WE'RE NOT GOING TO VALIDATE YOUR PARKING.

SORRY. AND I DO WANT TO SAY IT'S BEEN AN HONOR TO WORK WITH THESE FINE ATTORNEYS, SOME OF WHOM I DIDN'T KNOW UNTIL NOW.

BUT IT'S BEEN VERY GOOD TO DO THAT.

THEY'VE BEEN VERY DILIGENT.

AND I'VE BEEN ONLY AN ADVISORY MEMBER, NOT A VOTING MEMBER.

BUT YOU HEARD THEM SAY THAT THEY UNANIMOUSLY OPTED FOR THESE TWO CANDIDATES.

THANK YOU, JUDGE.

ALL RIGHT. THERE'S A MOTION.

CAN I JUST SAY YES? COUNCILMAN COURAGE IS HERE.

I BELIEVE THAT. I SEE HIM EARLIER.

NO. DID HE LEAVE ALREADY? YEAH. COUNCILMAN COURAGE IS HERE.

SO, IF YOU CAN TAKE THAT COMPLAINT ABOUT THE.

THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN.

IF I MAY ADD ONE LAST THING, AND THEN WE'LL BE ASKED OR WE'LL ASK TO BE EXCUSED.

BUT IF ANY OF THE STAFF FROM THE COMMISSIONERS COURT FOR ANY OF THE COMMISSIONERS WISH TO CONFER WITH US, WE ARE AVAILABLE.

IT'S JUST, WE'RE A PHONE CALL AWAY.

THOMAS AND JIM HAVE OUR PHONE NUMBERS AND EMAILS, AND I ASSURE YOU THAT WHATEVER QUESTIONS MAY BE ASKED, WE WILL RESPOND IMMEDIATELY.

ALL RIGHT. THERE'S A MOTION TO SECOND.

IS THERE ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE.

AYE. ANY OPPOSED? ANY ABSTENTIONS. MOTION CARRIES.

ONE MORE THING, FIDEL.

HOW ABOUT THEM HORNS? OH, MY. I KNEW THAT WAS COMING.

JUDGE MAY WE BE EXCUSED, YOUR HONOR? YES, YOU MAY.

THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT, LET'S GET BACK ON SCHEDULE.

[4.a. 9:30 a.m. Public Hearing: Accept public comment on setting the 2023 tax rate for the Bexar County Hospital District d/b/a University Health.]

WE'RE GOING TO TAKE UP PUBLIC HEARING ACCEPT PUBLIC COMMENT ON SETTING 2023 TAX RATE FOR THE BEXAR COUNTY HOSPITAL DISTRICT, DBA UNIVERSITY HEALTH.

IS THERE ANYBODY HERE THAT WISHES TO SPEAK AND IS SIGNED UP? I'M CHECKING OUR CITIZENS TO BE HEARD.

IS THERE ANYBODY HERE? PUBLIC'S PUBLIC CITIZENS.

PUBLIC COMMENT ON THE BEXAR COUNTY HOSPITAL DISTRICT? IT APPEARS THAT NOBODY HAS SIGNED UP TO SPEAK, SO THEREFORE I WILL CLOSE THE PUBLIC COMMENT AND

[00:40:09]

WILL IMMEDIATELY THEN GO TO DISCUSSION.

[4.b. Immediately following item 4a: Discussion and appropriate action regarding a motion to set the 2023 ad valorem tax rate for the Bexar County Hospital District d/b/a University Health and approval of an order of Bexar County Commissioners Court setting the 2023 tax rate and levying the 2023 taxes for Bexar County Hospital District d/b/a University Health.]

APPROPRIATE ACTION REGARDING A MOTION TO SET THE 2023 AD VALOREM TAX RATE FOR THE BEXAR COUNTY HOSPITAL DISTRICT, DBA UNIVERSITY HEALTH AND APPROVAL OF THE ORDER OF THE BEXAR COUNTY COMMISSIONERS COURT, SETTING THE 2023 TAX RATE AND LEVYING THE 2023 TAXES FOR BEXAR COUNTY HOSPITAL DISTRICT DBA UNIVERSITY HEALTH. MR. JORGE HERNANDEZ. GOOD MORNING.

GOOD MORNING, JUDGE.

COMMISSIONERS, WE DON'T HAVE A PRESENTATION.

I'M HERE TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS.

YOU MAY HAVE ANY QUESTIONS.

COMMISSIONER CALVERT? YES.

CAN YOU JUST TALK TO THE COURT AND THE COMMUNITY ABOUT OUR EXEMPTIONS THAT HAVE BEEN IMPLEMENTED AT THE HOSPITAL DISTRICT, SOME OF THE NEW TAX RATE INFORMATION THEY MAY NEED TO KNOW? YEAH. CURRENTLY WE HAVE A 30,000 SENIOR CITIZEN OVER 65 EXEMPTION AND A 5% HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION.

THANK YOU. COMMISSIONER MOODY.

WELL, GEORGE, THANKS FOR BEING HERE THIS MORNING.

I KNOW WE'VE TALKED AT SOME LENGTH AROUND THE HOMESTEAD EXEMPTIONS, AND WE WERE EXCITED TO SEE, YOU KNOW, THE 5% HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION.

CAN YOU TELL US ABOUT THE FUTURE OF THAT? OBVIOUSLY, I THINK THERE'S THERE'S MEMBERS OF THE COURT THAT WANT TO SEE THAT EXPANDED AS QUICKLY AS WE CAN.

CAN YOU SPEAK TO THAT? SURE.

YOU KNOW, THE WE TRY TO MODEL OUR HOSPITAL DISTRICT OVER ACTIONS THE COURT HAS TAKEN HERE OVER THE COUNTY.

AND SO, FOR EXAMPLE, COMMISSIONER, BEFORE YOU CAME ON THE COURT, THERE WAS A LOT OF CONCERN WITH THE LOW WAGES IN SAN ANTONIO.

AND SO THE COURT, IN ITS WISDOM, DECIDED THAT IT WAS GOING TO SUPPORT A LIVING WAGE IN SAN ANTONIO.

AND SO WE FOLLOWED SUIT AT THE HOSPITAL DISTRICT WHERE THE LIVING WAGE, JUST LIKE THE COURT DID, WE KNOW THAT THE COURT HAS ENACTED A 20% HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION AND OUR PLAN IS TO DO THE SAME.

SO WELL, I APPRECIATE YOU YOU SAYING THAT, AND THAT'S ENCOURAGING TO HEAR, AS YOU MENTIONED, THE THE FACT THAT THIS COURT GOT TO 20% LAST YEAR AND NOW THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO IS FOLLOWING THAT LEAD.

I THINK THAT THAT WOULD BE BE GOOD FOR FOR TAXPAYERS.

AND I THINK, YOU KNOW, IT HELPS BALANCE THE THE GROWTH OF UNIVERSITY HEALTH WITH THAT THAT EYE ON THE TAXPAYER BURDEN AS WELL.

AND SO THAT'S GOOD TO HEAR.

AND I APPRECIATE YOU COMING FORWARD AND SHARING IT.

THANK YOU. I'LL CALL THIRD COMMISSIONER RODRIGUEZ.

THANK YOU, JUDGE GEORGE, LET ME I KNOW WE'VE HAD A COUPLE OF DIFFERENT DISCUSSIONS, BOTH IN PRIVATE AND PUBLICLY ABOUT YOUR MANAGEMENT AND YOUR TEAM'S MANAGEMENT OF OF THE HOSPITAL DISTRICT. LET ME THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP.

AGAIN. UM, AND I THINK TO COMMISSIONER MOODY'S POINT, YOU KNOW, WE'RE ALSO THANKFUL THAT YOU AND YOUR BOARD COMMITTED TO THE 5% EXEMPTION AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO FUTURE DISCUSSIONS ABOUT WORKING ON THAT AS WELL.

I DO THINK IT'S SMART THAT WE DO THAT INCREMENTALLY, IF POSSIBLE.

I THINK, IF ANYTHING, WHAT WE'VE SEEN, PARTICULARLY OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS WITH THE PANDEMIC, IS YOU NEED RESOURCES TO BE ABLE TO PIVOT TO DELIVER PUBLIC HEALTH TO OUR COMMUNITY, WHETHER IT'S THROUGH A PANDEMIC OR OTHERWISE.

AND I HAVE A LOT OF FAITH IN YOUR ABILITY TO DO THAT.

IT WAS SHOWN OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS, AND WE WANT TO MAKE SURE YOU HAVE THAT FLEXIBILITY, FLEXIBILITY FINANCIALLY AND OTHERWISE TO TO BE ABLE TO TO RESPOND, NUMBER ONE, BUT ALSO TO YOUR MOST IMPORTANT ROLE IN PREVENTATIVE HEALTH AND MAKING SURE THAT WE'RE, YOU KNOW, CREATING MORE RESILIENT AND HEALTHY COMMUNITIES.

SO THANK YOU, GEORGE, FOR THAT.

UM, JUDGE, I KNOW THAT WE ARE YOUR BOARD HAS ADOPTED A FLAT TAX RATE AND WE'RE IN AGREEMENT WITH THAT. I BELIEVE AS A COURT, I DO HAVE A STATUTORILY REQUIRED MOTION WHEN YOU'RE READY, THAT THE LEGISLATURE AND THE WISDOM MAKES IT A LITTLE BIT DIFFICULT.

BUT, JUDGE, I'LL READ THAT WHENEVER THE COURT'S READY.

LET ME ASK COMMISSIONER CLAY-FLORES COMMENT, PLEASE.

OR QUESTIONS. YEAH, NO QUESTIONS.

I JUST WANT TO THANK YOU AND YOUR STAFF WHO ARE HERE.

I'VE SAID THIS BEFORE WITH ALL OF THE NEW HOSPITALS THAT WE ARE BUILDING FINALLY ON THE SOUTH SIDE, IT WOULD BE VERY EASY FOR YOU ALL AND YOUR FINANCE PEOPLE AND YOUR BOARD TO RAISE TAXES.

AND OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS YOU FOUND WAYS TO GIVE MORE HOME EXEMPTIONS AND CONTINUE TO CUT FOR 65 AND OLDER.

SO I JUST WANT TO THANK YOU GUYS FOR BEING GOOD STEWARDS OF OUR TAXPAYER DOLLARS AND DOING THE PUBLIC HEALTH WORK THAT'S SO NEEDED HERE.

SO APPRECIATE IT.

ANY FURTHER COMMENTS? IS THERE A MOTION? YES, JUDGE, I WOULD MOVE THAT THE PROPERTY TAX RATE BE INCREASED BY THE ADOPTION OF A TAX RATE OF 0.27623 $0.05, WHICH IS

[00:45:10]

EFFECTIVELY AN 8.32% INCREASE IN THE TAX RATE.

I FURTHER MOVE TO APPROVE AN ORDER SETTING THE 2023 AD VALOREM TAX RATE FOR BEXAR COUNTY HOSPITAL DISTRICT DOING BUSINESS AS UNIVERSITY HEALTH FOR FISCAL YEAR 2024 AT THE EXISTING TAX RATE OF 0.27623 $0.05 PER $100 VALUATION AND APPROVE UPON EACH MOTION AS FOLLOWS A MAINTENANCE AND OPERATION TAX RATE.

I HEREBY MOVE TO ADOPT THE 2023 AD VALOREM TAX RATE FOR MAINTENANCE AND OPERATION AT THE RATE OF 0.23633 $0.05 PER $100.

VALUATION OF ALL TAXABLE PROPERTY SITUATED IN BEAR COUNTY, TEXAS, AND BE THE DEBT SERVICE TAX RATE, I FURTHER HEREBY MOVE TO ADOPT THE 2023 AD VALOREM TAX RATE FOR PRINCIPAL AND INTEREST AT A RATE OF 0.03990 $0.00 PER $100 VALUATION OF ALL TAXABLE PROPERTY SITUATED IN BEAR COUNTY, TEXAS.

MOTION BY COMMISSIONER RODRIGUEZ, SECOND BY COMMISSIONER CALVERT.

ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE.

AYE. ANY OPPOSED? ANY ABSTENTIONS? MOTION CARRIES.

CARRY ON THE GOOD WORK, GEORGE.

THANK YOU, JUDGE. THANK YOU, COMMISSIONERS.

ALL RIGHT. WE HAVE A LITTLE TIME HERE BEFORE THE NEXT TIME CERTAIN AT 10 A.M..

THERE'S ANOTHER POINT OF PERSONAL PRIVILEGE.

I'VE BEEN ASKED TO SEE IF ITEM NUMBER 70 IS READY OR NOT.

DO WE HAVE THE CITY OF VON ORMY HERE? MANUEL? ARE THEY READY? MANUEL LEAL, WHERE ARE YOU? I THINK THEY'RE IN THE BACK, AREN'T THEY? I JUST SAW WALKING BY IS THE CITY COUNCIL HERE FROM VON AMI? OKAY. WELL, AND MAYOR.

OKAY, GREAT. THANK YOU.

LET'S CALL UP.

I'M GOING TO ASK IF THERE'S NO OBJECTIONS.

[70. Approval and Execution of the American Rescue Plan Act Grant Agreement between Bexar County and City of Von Ormy for a five-year period beginning upon execution and ending December 31, 2026 in the amount of $3 million to include any appropriate budget transfer necessary.]

ITEM NUMBER 70 APPROVAL EXECUTION OF THE AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN ACT GRANT AGREEMENT BETWEEN BEAR COUNTY AND CITY OF VON ORMY FOR A FIVE-YEAR PERIOD BEGINNING UPON EXECUTION ENDING DECEMBER 31ST, 2026, IN THE AMOUNT OF $3 MILLION TO INCLUDE ANY APPROPRIATE BUDGET TRANSFER NECESSARY.

MR. LIAO. SO I'D JUST LIKE TO INTRODUCE THIS.

SO I'M REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THIS.

THIS IS SOMETHING THAT I'VE BEEN WORKING ON SINCE I CAME INTO OFFICE, AND IT'S THE BEGINNING OF THE SEWER PROJECT FOR VON ORMY.

WE KNOW WE NEED MANY, MANY, MANY MILLIONS OF DOLLARS MORE, BUT THIS IS A START.

AND SO WE'RE REALLY EXCITED TO BE ABLE TO HAVE THAT FOR THIS COMMUNITY.

AND I ALSO HAVE TO SAY THAT I PARTNERED WITH TONY GONZALEZ TO MAKE SURE WE WERE ABLE TO LEVERAGE FUNDS AND TO MATCH OUR 3 MILLION FROM THE COUNTY.

SO HE WAS ABLE TO GET 3 MILLION FROM THE FEDERAL.

SO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE.

JULIO CERDA IS HERE.

DROVE ALL THE WAY UP FROM THE VALLEY.

SO THANK YOU FOR MAKING THAT.

IT SHOWS WHAT A BIG DEAL THIS IS FOR VON ORMY AND PRECINCT ONE.

MAYOR HOMER IS HERE IN HIS FIRST YEAR.

SO, THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. AND ALSO, WE HAVE OUR CITY COMMISSIONERS, SAMMY MARTINEZ AND RAYMOND GUZMAN.

SO, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO YOUR PRESENTATION, MANUEL.

GOOD MORNING, JUDGE.

COMMISSIONERS, HOW ARE YOU TODAY? WE ARE HERE TO CONSIDER AN ARPA GRANT AWARD TO VON ORMY WASTEWATER INFRASTRUCTURE.

WHAT YOU HAVE IS A PHASE ONE OF AN ENTIRE PROJECT.

ON OCTOBER 22ND, COURT GRANTED THIS AWARD TO VON ORMY AS UNDER ITS INITIAL ARPA AWARD.

THE VALUE IS $3 MILLION.

THE ACTUAL PROJECT IS 14.5 MILLION.

AS YOU CAN SEE, THERE'S 11.5 FOR CONSTRUCTION, AND MOST OF OUR MONEY IS GOING TOWARDS THE SOFT COSTS FOR PLANNING AT $3 MILLION.

THEY DO HAVE A PROJECTED FINISH DATE OF OCTOBER 25TH.

IMMEDIATELY, THERE ARE ABOUT 400 HOUSEHOLDS THAT BENEFIT.

BUT THE MOST IMPORTANT PART IS THAT THIS PROJECT IN ITS ENTIRETY WILL BE AN ECONOMIC CATALYST.

MANY BUSINESSES HAVE APPROACHED VON ORMY, UNFORTUNATELY, THEY DO NOT HAVE UNDERGROUND SEWER CONNECTED TO SOURCE, AND THAT IS A DETERRENT FOR ECONOMIC GROWTH.

AND YOU'LL SEE HERE IS THE LOCATION IS PRECINCT ONE ALONG 35.

AND THE RED LINE, WHICH I HOPE YOU CAN SEE IS THE PHASE ONE, AND THAT RUNS ALONG 35 TO CONNECT TO AN EXISTING SOURCE SEWER LINE.

THAT FIRST PHASE WILL HAVE TWO LIFT STATIONS TO PUMP UPHILL TO THAT SEWER LINE.

AND THEN WHAT YOU'LL SEE TO THE NORTH AND SOUTH ARE ORANGE LINES.

AND THAT'S WHERE THE GROWTH IS GOING TO HAPPEN.

THEY'LL BE ABLE TO COLLECT, CONNECT INTO THIS PHASE ONE LINE AND PROVIDE UNDERGROUND SEWER TO THE HOUSING DEVELOPMENTS,

[00:50:04]

THE CURRENT RESIDENTS AND ANY FUTURE BUSINESSES THAT WOULD LIKE TO LOCATE WITHIN BON AMI.

TODAY. THE RECOMMENDED MOTION IS AN APPROVAL EXECUTION OF THE AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN ACT GRANT AGREEMENT BETWEEN BEXAR COUNTY AND THE CITY OF VON ORMY FOR A FIVE-YEAR PERIOD BEGINNING UPON EXECUTION AND ENDING DECEMBER 31ST, 2026, IN THE AMOUNT OF $3 MILLION TO INCLUDE ANY BUDGET TRANSFER NECESSARY.

AND AS COMMISSIONER CLAY-FLORES MENTIONED, WE HAVE MAYOR CASEY HOMER HERE, COMMISSIONER RAMON GUZMAN JR AND COMMISSIONER SEBASTIAN MARTINEZ, AS WELL AS VALERIE NAFF, THE CITY ADMINISTRATOR.

IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, I'D LIKE TO INVITE THE MAYOR TO COME FORWARD, SAY A FEW WORDS AND THEN I'LL OPEN UP FOR DISCUSSION.

YES, THANK YOU FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY.

AND FIRST OF ALL, I'D LIKE TO SAY THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER REBECA CLAY-FLORES FOR BEING A CHAMPION FOR VON ORMY, AND THANK YOU TO ALL OF THE COMMISSIONERS COURT FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY. THIS WOULD BE A VERY MEANINGFUL FIRST STEP ON A LONG TERM PROJECT TO BRING SEWER TO BON AMI.

WE ARE CONFIDENT IN THE OPPORTUNITIES THAT THIS WOULD CREATE FOR POSITIVE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT GROWTH AS WELL AS INCREASES TO OUR PUBLIC HEALTH AND SAFETY.

SO, ON BEHALF OF ALL OF BON AMI, WE THANK YOU GREATLY.

ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? YEAH. I ALSO WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE OUR FORMER CITY ADMINISTRATOR.

I'M SORRY, OVERLOOK THAT EARLIER.

IF WE CAN JUST GO BACK TO THE MAP ON SLIDE THREE, I JUST WANT TO POINT OUT THAT THIS IS SO COMMON THROUGHOUT THE UNINCORPORATED THE RURAL AREA OF PRECINCT ONE WHERE WE HAVE LACK OF SEWER OR LACK OF RUNNING WATER, AND IT'S SO CLOSE TO A MAIN LINE FOR WATER OR FOR SEWER, BUT BECAUSE OF LACK OF INFRASTRUCTURE THAT I'VE CONTINUALLY SPOKEN ABOUT, THE LACK OF INFRASTRUCTURE BEING UNDEVELOPED AND OVERLOOKED ON THE SOUTHERN SECTOR OF BEXAR COUNTY.

AND SO, I'M REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THIS.

THIS IS JUST THE BEGINNING OF MUCH MORE ADVOCATING FOR MORE FUNDING SO WE CAN GET THE REST OF PRECINCT ONE CONNECTED.

SO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR Y'ALL'S EFFORTS AND FOR WORKING WITH ME, AND I'M HAPPY TO MAKE THE MOTION AT THIS TIME.

SECOND MOTION.

COMMISSIONER CLAY-FLORES SECOND BY COMMISSIONER RODRIGUEZ.

NO COMMENTS, JUDGE. COMMISSIONER MOODY.

WELL, THANKS FOR PROVIDING THIS INFORMATION ON THIS PROJECT.

AND, YOU KNOW, I DO THINK THAT INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS ARE ENTIRELY NECESSARY, AND WE HAVE TO TAKE A LOOK AT THEM.

I WANTED TO BREAK DOWN THE FUNDING, THOUGH.

THE $3 MILLION.

THIS IS FOR JUST PLANNING AND ENGINEERING DESIGN FOR PHASE ONE OR PHASE ONE AND TWO.

PHASE ONE ONLY THE WHOLE PROJECT FOR PHASE ONE ONLY IS 14.5 MILLION.

THE CONSTRUCTION WILL COME AFTER THE PLANNING THIS YEAR.

OKAY. AND THE 14.5 MILLION IS FOR JUST PHASE ONE AS WELL.

CONSTRUCTION, CORRECT.

OKAY. AND TODAY, DO YOU HAVE LINE OF SIGHT INTO CONSTRUCTION FUNDING OR ANY KIND OF GRANT FUNDING THAT THAT COULD COVER ANY OF THAT BEYOND THE.

RIGHT. YOU KNOW, ARPA REQUEST.

GOOD MORNING, COMMISSIONER. MOODY CASTLE.

WE'VE ALREADY SECURED $3 MILLION IN FEDERAL FUNDING FOR THIS PROJECT.

THAT'S AN INITIAL TRANCHE THAT COMMISSIONER CLAY-FLORES ASSISTED US WITH.

THE REMAINING OF THE FUNDS WILL BE PAID THROUGH LOCAL FUNDS AND ALSO THROUGH A COMBINATION OF GRANTS AND LOANS.

SO, WE DO NEED TO GET THE PROJECT SHOVEL READY BEFORE WE CAN START INCURRING THOSE COSTS.

BUT THERE'S A PATH TO SECURE THE FUNDING FOR CONSTRUCTION.

AND ALSO, THIS IS ATTRACTIVE TO DEVELOPERS TO COME IN.

AND AS DEVELOPERS COME IN KNOWING THAT WE ALREADY HAVE SOME INITIAL STRUCTURE, THEN THEY PUT IN THE REST OF THE MONEY.

BUT I'M HAPPY TO ACCEPT A MOTION IF YOU WANT TO MAKE IT FOR THE REST OF THE 14 MILLION.

I'LL SECOND IT, COMMISSIONER.

HOLD ON, HOLD ON. HOLD IT, HOLD IT, HOLD IT, HOLD IT, HOLD IT.

WE GOT A MOTION. AND A SECOND IS COMMISSIONER MOODY, YOU HAVE THE FLOOR.

I'M TRYING TO THINK IF THERE'S ANYTHING ELSE.

YEAH, OBVIOUSLY, WHEN WE JUST WHEN WE TALK ABOUT FUNDING FOR.

FOR ENGINEERING AND DESIGN, I JUST THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE ALSO TAKE THAT NEXT STEP AND THINK ABOUT WE CAN HELP ON THIS FRONT SIDE WITH THE COST SHARE.

BUT ULTIMATELY, IT DOESN'T DO ANY GOOD TO DO ENGINEERING AND DESIGN IF YOU DON'T HAVE A PATH TO COMPLETION.

AND SO, IT'S GOOD TO HEAR THAT YOU'RE THINKING ABOUT THAT AND HAVE SOME IDEAS.

THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER. YES, SIR.

THANK YOU. COMMISSIONER CALVERT.

NOPE, NOPE. HAVE ANY COMMENTS? I JUST WANT TO THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR GOOD WORK.

I'M EXCITED FOR COMMISSIONER CLAY-FLORES IN THE PRECINCT.

SO FOR THE 125TH MILLIONTH TIME, I'M VOTING I.

[00:55:01]

ALL RIGHT. ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? IT'S A MOTION BY COMMISSIONER CLAY-FLORES, SECOND BY COMMISSIONER RODRIGUEZ.

ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE.

AYE. ANY OPPOSED? ANY ABSTENTIONS? MOTION CARRIES.

CARRY ON. GET THAT THING GOING.

THANK YOU ALL. THANK YOU, JUDGE. THANK YOU, COMMISSIONERS.

YOU'RE WELCOME. I THINK I HAVE A POINT OF PERSONAL PRIVILEGE.

AGAIN, AND I'M.

I BELIEVE COUNCILMAN COURAGE'S HERE.

DID HE LEAVE? OKAY, WELL, I WAS GOING TO GIVE HIM THE FLOOR.

IF HE COMES BACK, WOULD YOU PLEASE LET ME KNOW? ALL RIGHT, WE WILL.

10:00. YES, WE WILL CONTINUE.

[4.c. 10:00 a.m. Public Hearing: The Commissioners Court invites public input regarding the Bexar County Proposed Operating and Capital Budget for Fiscal Year 2023-24.]

AT THIS TIME. I WILL CALL FOR A PUBLIC HEARING.

TIME IS. 10:04 A.M..

THE COMMISSIONERS COURT INVITES PUBLIC INPUT REGARDING THE BEXAR COUNTY PROPOSED OPERATING AND CAPITAL BUDGET FOR FISCAL YEAR 2024.

AT THIS TIME I WILL CALL FOR PUBLIC INPUT.

I'VE CHECKED THE CITIZENS TO BE HEARD.

IT DID NOT APPEAR THAT ANYBODY SIGNED UP.

I WILL CALL FOR ANYBODY WHO WISHES TO MAKE PUBLIC COMMENT ON THE COMMISSION ON THE BEXAR COUNTY PROPOSED OPERATING CAPITAL BUDGET.

ALL RIGHT. WOULD YOU PLEASE STEP FORWARD AND IDENTIFY YOURSELF FOR THE RECORD? HONORABLE COMMISSIONERS, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME TODAY.

MY NAME IS VERONICA FLORES.

I'M THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF NONPROFIT SENIORS IN PLAY.

WE'D LIKE TO EXTEND OUR SINCERE APPRECIATION FOR YOUR SUPPORT IN 2023.

WE ARE PRESENT TODAY, AND SOME OF OUR SENIORS ARE WITH US AS A CONTINUED FUNDING REQUEST TO BROADEN THE REACH OF OUR PROGRAM TO TO SERVE MORE SENIOR CITIZENS. SENIORS IN PLAY, IF YOU'RE NOT FAMILIAR, IS A NONPROFIT THEATRICAL PROGRAM DESIGNED BY AND FOR SENIOR CITIZENS.

IT'S FITTING BECAUSE THIS MONTH IS ACTUALLY SENIOR CITIZEN CENTER MONTH.

OUR PROGRAM WAS CREATED BY ACCLAIMED ACTOR AND ARTS ADVOCATE TONY PLANA THIS YEAR.

THANK YOU TO YOUR FUNDING.

THANKS TO YOUR FUNDING, WE EXPANDED FROM CONDUCTING FREE CLASSES IN SIX LOCATIONS TO 13 LOCATIONS ACROSS BEXAR COUNTY.

THAT'S FROM THE SOUTH SIDE TO THE NORTH SIDE, WEST SIDE AND THE EAST SIDE, SERVING OVER 3000 SENIOR CITIZENS IN THE COUNTY.

SENIORS IN PLAY IS A TRULY TRANSFORMATIVE PROGRAM FOR OUR PARTICIPANTS.

THEY'LL TELL YOU A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THAT SHORTLY.

OUR PROGRAM IS CENTERED ON AUTHENTIC LEARNING, WHICH INVOLVES THE SHARING OF THEIR VERY RICH LIFE STORIES.

THE CREATION OF PERFORMANCES, WHETHER THROUGH MONOLOGUES OR ONE ACT PLAYS AND PRESENTED TO THEIR FELLOW SENIORS AT THOSE SENIOR CENTERS.

AND THEY ALSO PRESENT TO THEIR FAMILY MEMBERS, TOO.

IT'S REALLY SPECIAL.

WE ENCOURAGE YOU TO VISIT AND WATCH SOME OF THOSE PERFORMANCES, WHICH ACTUALLY NURTURES COMMUNITY BONDS AND FOSTERS MEANINGFUL CONNECTIONS.

SENIORS IN PLAY HAS A PROFOUND IMPACT ON THE LIVES OF SENIORS, OFFERING THEM A PLATFORM FOR SELF-EXPRESSION.

THROUGH THE PERFORMING ARTS.

WE UTILIZE IMPROV GAMES AND ACTIVITIES TO INCREASE PHYSICAL ACTIVITY AND PLAYFULNESS, AND A PROPRIETARY CURRICULUM ENCOURAGES LOTS OF LAUGHTER AND FUN.

THIS. REPRESENTS AN INNOVATIVE APPROACH WHICH PLAYS A VITAL ROLE IN PRESERVING COGNITIVE HEALTH AND ENHANCING MENTAL AND SOCIAL WELL-BEING FOR SENIORS.

COMBATING ISOLATION AND DEPRESSION.

AN EXAMPLE OF IMPROV IS TYRESÖ, A SENIOR AT WEST END, DISCLOSED THAT HE SPENT HIS EARLY YEARS WORKING AS A FIELD LABORER AND NEVER TRULY EXPERIENCED A REAL CHILDHOOD.

HE EXPRESSED THAT THE THEATRICAL ACTIVITIES IN CLASS PROVIDED HIM WITH A SENSE OF LIBERATION, ALLOWING HIM TO REDISCOVER THE JOY OF PLAY.

THIS YEAR, WE ALSO BROADENED OUR PROGRAM BY ORGANIZING FIVE FIELD TRIPS TO LIVE PRODUCTIONS HOSTED BY THE PUBLIC.

WE HAD THE PRIVILEGE OF HOSTING SENIORS TO ATTEND PERFORMANCES OF A CHRISTMAS CAROL, NINA SIMONE, FOUR WOMEN AND FOOTLOOSE, TO NAME A FEW.

FOR MANY OF OUR SENIORS, THIS WAS THEIR FIRST EVER EXPERIENCE OF LIVE THEATER, EVER.

THEY'D NEVER BEEN. AN EXAMPLE IS MARTHA FROM NORMOYLE, WHO AUTHORED A ONE ACT PLAY.

FOLLOWING HER FIRST EVER EXPERIENCE OF THEATER, SHE PROUDLY SHOWCASED THAT ORIGINAL PLAY TO HER FELLOW SENIORS, AND THAT PERFORMANCE CULMINATED IN AN IMPROMPTU SING ALONG. MS. FLORES, I HATE TO ROB YOU.

SURE, WE HAD A THREE-MINUTE LIMIT, BUT I DIDN'T ANNOUNCE IT.

SO I'M GOING TO LET YOU FINISH.

BUT. WELL, FOR PUBLIC INPUT, WE ARE INSTITUTING OUR THREE MINUTES PRACTICE.

BUT YOU MAY. YOU MAY FINISH.

GO AHEAD. THANK YOU.

SO, IT'S THESE MOMENTS THAT SHOW THE POWER OF SENIORS IN PLAY AND HOW WE POSITIVELY IMPACT SENIORS.

WE URGE YOU TO CONTINUE FUNDING SENIORS AND PLAY FOR BEAR COUNTY SENIORS.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.

SO IF I MAY COMMENT.

SO I DID ALLOCATE 25,000 LAST THE LAST COMMISSIONER'S COURT FOR YOU ALL.

[01:00:02]

AND I THINK SOME OF THE OTHER COMMISSIONERS HAVE ALSO ALLOCATED FROM THEIR INDIVIDUAL ALLOTMENT.

SO WE ARE VERY SUPPORTIVE AS A COURT.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THAT SUPPORT.

SO I'M I WANT TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE THE CORRECT TOTAL.

SO WAS 25,000 FROM YOUR DISCRETIONARY FUND COMMISSIONER LAST COMMISSIONERS COURT.

YES. I THINK YOU ALSO ALLOCATED SOME NOT.

YES, I DON'T KNOW. COMMISSIONER, HAVE YOU ALLOCATED RODRIGUEZ AND WE'VE ALSO COMMITTED 25,000 AS WELL.

OKAY. WAS THAT IN THE LAST MEETING OR IN A FUTURE MEETING NOT BEEN BROUGHT TO THE COURT YET? OKAY. NOT TO THE COURT. YEAH.

MINE'S NOT BROUGHT TO THE COURT YET EITHER.

SO RIGHT NOW IT'S A $75,000 CUT, BUT THE COURT WILL HAVE TO WORK ON FIXING SO MUCH.

WE ARE SO GRATEFUL FOR THAT SUPPORT.

ANY FURTHER COMMENT? NOBODY'S ASKED ME.

SO, YOU ALL HAVE WORK TO DO.

ALL RIGHT. IS THERE ANY OTHER? I THINK ANGELES WAS CALLING YOU ABOUT THAT, ACTUALLY.

OKAY, JUDGE, JUST THERE MAY HAVE BEEN SOME CONFUSION BECAUSE I THINK YOU MENTIONED SOME OTHER OF THE SENIORS ARE HERE.

I DON'T KNOW IF THEY SIGNED UP UNDER THE CITIZENS PORTION OR ON THE PUBLIC HEARING FOR THE BUDGET.

SO I DON'T KNOW IF YOU WANT TO CLARIFY THAT, JUDGE.

WE'RE JUST GOING WITH PUBLIC HEARING.

CORRECT. AND THEY ARE HERE, AND THEY SIGNED UP FOR PUBLIC HEARING.

OKAY. PUBLIC HEARING, CITIZENS TO BE HEARD OR FOR THIS, BUT FOR THE BUDGET, FOR JUST PUBLIC HEARING IN THIS PORTION RIGHT HERE.

OKAY. WELL, THEN WE WILL CONTINUE, UH, AS THE SIGN UP.

I'M GOING IN THE ORDER. SIGN UP.

LET ME HEAR FROM VERONICA BEAR, AND I WILL NOW ADMONISH ALL OF YOU ALL I'M ACTUALLY VERONICA BEAR.

SO I SOMEHOW USED MY MAIDEN NAME AND MY EXCITEMENT.

OKAY. ALL RIGHT.

OKAY, THEN WE'LL GO WITH IDA STEELE.

GOOD MORNING. GOOD MORNING.

THANK YOU FOR HAVING US HERE TODAY.

I REPRESENT THE SENIORS IN PLAYGROUP AND IT HAS BEEN A WONDERFUL THING FOR US SENIORS.

AS A SENIOR, I'VE BEEN HERE IN SAN ANTONIO 24 YEARS AND I DIDN'T HAVE ANY REALLY PLACES TO GO.

SO I STARTED GOING TO THE SENIOR CENTERS AND GOT INVOLVED WITH A LOT OF DIFFERENT THINGS.

AND THEN I WAS APPROACHED TO JOIN SENIORS IN PLAY, WHICH BASICALLY I AM AN ACTRESS.

BUT THIS SENIORS IN PLAY HAS BROUGHT SO MANY SENIORS OUT OF THEIR LITTLE SHELL, YOU MIGHT SAY, BECAUSE THERE'S YOU'RE SHY.

YOU DON'T WANT TO GET UP AND TALK.

BUT SENIORS IN PLAY HELPS THEM TO GET UP AND SPEAK, PERFORM, PARTICIPATE.

AND THAT'S WHAT WE NEED AS SENIORS.

WE DON'T WANT TO SIT IN OUR HOUSES OR APARTMENTS WAITING TO DIE.

THAT'S NOT A GOOD THING.

I DON'T WANT TO DO THAT.

BUT WE HAVE A LOT OF SHY PEOPLE THAT HAVE COME OUT OF THEIR SHELL BECAUSE OF THIS.

SENIORS IN PLAY.

I RECOMMEND IT.

IF ANY OF YOU GUYS WANT TO JOIN, COME JOIN US.

WE'D LOVE TO HAVE YOU.

THANK YOU FOR HEARING ME TODAY.

DO APPRECIATE IT.

THANK YOU. HAVE A GREAT DAY.

I HAVE [INAUDIBLE].

OKAY. 30 MINUTES, [INAUDIBLE].

GOOD MORNING.

MY NAME IS ROSALIE VARDA AND I AM A MEMBER OF SENIORS IN PLAY.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE GRACIOUSNESS OF YOUR TIME AS A REPRESENTATIVE OF A SENIOR IN SAN ANTONIO.

I'D LIKE TO SAY THANK YOU TO MR. TONY PLANA FOR BRINGING THIS UNIQUE ART FORM TO THE SENIOR CITIZEN COMMUNITY OF OUR CITY.

AND THANK YOU TO THE BEXAR COUNTY COMMISSIONERS FOR HELPING TO CONTRIBUTE TO THIS FORUM OF SOCIAL INFRASTRUCTURE.

PLEASE PERMIT ME TO READ A SHORT EXCERPT FROM THE US SURGEON GENERAL'S LETTER, RELEASED EARLIER THIS YEAR ON THE EPIDEMIC OF LONELINESS AND ISOLATION. LONELINESS IS FAR MORE THAN JUST A BAD FEELING.

IT HARMS BOTH INDIVIDUALS AND SOCIETAL HEALTH.

IT IS ASSOCIATED WITH A GREATER RISK OF CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASE, DEMENTIA, STROKE, DEPRESSION, ANXIETY AND PREMATURE DEATH.

THE MORTALITY IMPACT OF BEING SOCIALLY DISCONNECTED IS SIMILAR TO THAT CAUSED BY SMOKING UP TO 15 CIGARETTES A DAY AND EVEN GREATER THAN ASSOCIATED WITH OBESITY AND PHYSICAL INACTIVITY AND THE HARMFUL CONSEQUENCES OF A SOCIETY THAT LACKS SOCIAL CONNECTION CAN BE FELT IN OUR SCHOOLS, WORKPLACE AND CIVIC ORGANIZATIONS WHERE PERFORMANCE, PRODUCTIVITY AND ENGAGEMENT ARE DIMINISHED, END OF QUOTE.

BABY BOOMERS ARE THE SECOND FASTEST GROWING DEMOGRAPHIC IN OUR NATION.

WITH THE SENIOR COMMUNITY LIVING LONGER, WE MUST ENSURE THAT WE LIVE HEALTHIER AS WELL.

I BELIEVE WE ARE MORE SUSCEPTIBLE TO LONELINESS THAN OTHER GROUPS WITH PARTNERS OF MANY YEARS, FRIENDS AND FAMILY MEMBERS DYING OFF TO OUR CHILDREN, MOVING

[01:05:06]

AWAY, OR JUST UNABLE OR UNWILLING TO GIVE US THEIR TIME.

IT IS IMPERATIVE THAT WE HAVE PROGRAMS LIKE SENIORS IN PLAY TO ENSURE OUR PHYSICAL, MENTAL, MENTAL AND EMOTIONAL HEALTH. THIS CLASS OFFERS A SOCIAL COHESION, WHICH IS TO SAY, IT PROVIDES A SENSE OF SOLIDARITY WITHIN THE GROUP THAT IS DISPLAYED HERE TODAY. IT IS MARKED BY STRONG SOCIAL CONNECTIONS AND HIGH LEVELS OF SOCIAL PARTICIPATION THAT GENERATES TRUST AND A SENSE OF BELONGING. SOME MEMBERS ATTEND CLASS AT MORE THAN ONE CENTER PER WEEK, MAKING A TREK TO TWO OR EVEN THREE CLASSES JUST TO ATTEND AND PARTICIPATE. AS WE AGE, IT BECOMES MORE CHALLENGING FOR US TO COMMUTE.

BUT THE VALUE THAT SENIORS IN PLAY HAS BROUGHT TO OUR LIVES HAS BEEN EXTRAORDINARY.

AS A SENIOR, I HAVE SEEN THE FRUIT OF THIS PROGRAM THAT THIS PROGRAM HAS PRODUCED, AND I WOULD VERY MUCH LIKE TO SEE OUR PROGRAM CONTINUE TO FLOURISH AND EXPAND. THANK YOU.

THANK YOU. LET ME HAVE HOPE.

GOOD MORNING, EVERYONE.

IT'S GREAT TO BE HERE.

AND I'M ONLY BRINGING YOU AN EXAMPLE OF SOME OF THE THINGS THAT WE DO IN SENIORS IN PLAY.

I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT AND I THINK YOU CAN UNDERSTAND ME FAIRLY CLEARLY.

I'VE BEEN GETTING OVER SOME ALLERGIES.

SO HERE IS AN EXAMPLE OF SOME OF THE THINGS THAT WE DO.

SOME OF US ARE WRITERS.

SOME OF US BECOME WRITERS AS WE FUNCTION WITHIN THIS ORGANIZATION.

HERE'S A LITTLE EXCERPT.

SPIDERS ON THE WALL.

SOMETHING I WROTE.

I LET THE LITTLE SPIDERS LIVE ON THE WINDOWSILL OF MY KITCHEN WINDOW, AND IN THE SEAL OF MY LIVING ROOM, I ASKED MYSELF ONE DAY WHY I DO THAT.

AS I PONDERED ON THE QUESTION, I REALIZED THAT THERE IS A PURPOSE FOR EVERYTHING I DO.

EVEN THOUGH I MAY NOT REALIZE IT AT THE TIME, PEOPLE VISITING MAY THINK I DON'T CLEAN, BUT I DO.

I JUST DON'T CLEAN EVERYTHING.

SPIDER WEBS REALLY BUG ME, BUT ESPECIALLY THE ONES THAT BEGIN TO HANG DOWN COBWEBS.

I THINK THEY'RE CALLED.

I CAN UNDERSTAND THE WEB PART, BUT I DON'T UNDERSTAND THE COB PART.

I HAVE NEVER SEEN CORN HANGING FROM THEM AND FURTHERMORE, I'VE NEVER SEEN SPIDERS ON THEM.

IT JUST SEEMS THAT HOWEVER THEY GET THERE, ALL THEY DO IS COLLECT DUST.

WHEN THOSE ARE DARK AND VISIBLE, I REMOVE THEM WITH THE BROOM.

IF THERE ISN'T A SPIDER LIVING THERE, WHAT'S THE POINT? THE SPIDERS ON THE WINDOWSILL HAVE A PURPOSE.

THESE LITTLE GUYS OR GALS MAKE THEIR TINY LITTLE WEBS AND COLLECT ANYTHING FLYING AROUND MY KITCHEN AND DINING ROOM.

MOST FLIES WILL GRAVITATE TOWARD WINDOWS, SO WHEN THEY DO, THEY GET CAUGHT.

I CAN ALWAYS TELL WHEN THE SPIDERS ARE EARNING THEIR KEEP.

I WILL ALWAYS FIND FLIES OR BUGS IN THEIR WEBS OR THEIR CARCASSES DISCARDED ON THE WINDOWSILL.

THE DEAD DRIED FLIES ARE KICKED TO THE CURB, AS THEY SAY.

I DIDN'T WIPE DOWN THE WINDOWSILL WITH THE DAMP CLOTH WHEN THE SPIDER WEB HAS COLLECTED LOTS OF DEBRIS, I REMOVE THE WEB COMPLETELY AND LEAVE THE SPIDER. SOMETIMES THE SPIDER WILL COME OUT FRANTICALLY, THINKING THAT THEY CAUGHT SOMETHING REALLY BIG AND FREAK OUT, THINKING IT'S GOING TO BUST UP THEIR WEB.

THEN THEY REALIZE THAT A STORM HAS HIT THEIR PLACE AND SCRAMBLE FOR COVER.

I LEAVE THEM ALONE TO REBUILD.

I WANT THEM TO HAVE A SENSE OF PURPOSE.

ISN'T THAT WHAT WE ALL NEED? I TAKE A LESSON FROM THE SPIDER.

WE ALL NEED A SENSE OF PURPOSE.

WHEN OUR LIVES ARE HIT WITH A STORM THAT WE CANNOT COMPREHEND AND MOST TIMES WE DON'T UNDERSTAND.

WE NEED TO UNDERSTAND THAT THERE IS ALWAYS A HAND AT WORK, WHETHER IT BE TO CLEAN YOUR SEAL OR COMPLETELY CLEAN AWAY YOUR WEB BECAUSE IT HAS COLLECTED TOO MUCH DUST AND DEBRIS.

IT IS A HAND THAT IS NOT OUT TO DESTROY YOU BECAUSE YOU DO HAVE A PURPOSE.

WHETHER THAT PURPOSE IS TO CATCH FLIES ON THE WINDOWSILL OR TO BUILD A WEB AND COLLECT DUST, IT IS A PURPOSE.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR ATTENTION.

CAN I GET A ROUND OF APPLAUSE FOR THAT BEAUTIFUL POEM? THANK YOU FOR SENIORS AND PLAY.

I THINK THAT CONCLUDES YOUR PUBLIC COMMENT FOR THE BUDGET.

CAN I SAY ONE, I KNOW WE DON'T ENGAGE TYPICALLY, BUT I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THEY'RE CLEAR THAT THERE IS A COMMITMENT FROM IT SOUNDS LIKE THE GOOD PORTION OF THE COURT TO CONTINUE FUNDING.

AND I ALSO HAVE CONNECTED TONY PLANA WITH GEORGE HERNANDEZ AT UNIVERSITY HEALTH BECAUSE OF THE FOUNDATION DOLLARS THERE.

SO WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO SUPPORT YOU ALL.

[01:10:01]

AND WE JUST WANT TO THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE, BY THE WAY.

GREAT. THEY'VE GOT A BIG EVENT COMING UP.

IS IT THE 26TH NEXT WEEK OR TWO WEEKS? A BIG GALA RECOGNITION AT THE TOBIN CENTER.

SO AND THEY'RE GOING TO BE PERFORMING.

SO THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.

I'LL DO ONE STEP FURTHER.

WHERE'S DR. A? YOU GET THEIR CONTACT INFORMATION, YOU KNOW WHAT I'M SAYING? RIGHT. OKAY, JUDGE, GO AHEAD.

I JUST WANT TO UPDATE THE SENIORS IN PLAY.

SO I BROUGHT SENIORS IN PLAY TO SAN ANTONIO PARTNERING WITH TONY PLANA.

AND I'M REALLY PROUD OF THEIR FIRST WORK IN THE DISTRICT THREE SOUTHEAST SIDE SENIOR CENTER.

AND IT HAS EVOLVED INTO WHAT WILL BECOME THE SAN ANTONIO'S.

WE'RE EXCITED FOR YOU TO HAVE THE SAN ANTONIO AWARDS AT THE TOBIN AND I'LL BE THERE WITH YOU CELEBRATING.

I DID PROPOSE $100,000 IN THE BUDGET FOR YOU, BUT IT WAS DENIED YESTERDAY AND COMMISSIONER'S COURT.

SO FROM HERE ON OUT, WHAT WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO DO IS PIECEMEAL THE DOLLARS TOGETHER.

I'M GRATEFUL THE COMMISSIONER CLAY-FLORES FOR $25,000.

IT SOUNDS LIKE THERE'S A $25,000 COMMITMENT FROM COMMISSIONER RODRIGUEZ AND HOPEFULLY SOMETHING THE UNIVERSITY HEALTH SYSTEM CAN DO.

I WILL COMMIT $25,000 AS WELL, AND I'LL COMMIT 25,000 FOR THE 100,000 COMMISSIONER CALVERT YEAH.

SO WE'LL SEE. WE'LL SEE HOW WE GET IT TOGETHER.

THE BUDGET PROCESS HAS BEEN LESS COHESIVE, BUT YOU HAVE DEMONSTRATED THAT IN ALL AREAS OF THE COUNTY, YOU HAVE, YOU HAVE HAD AN IMPACT ON THE LIVES OF SENIORS.

SO I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR BRINGING LIFE.

AND ONE DAY I WILL BE A THESPIAN IN YOUR PLAY.

THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH.

THANK YOU. COULD I I'LL MAKE THIS COMMENT BECAUSE SOMETHING VERY SIGNIFICANT HAS JUST HAPPENED.

WE HAD A BIG DISCUSSION YESTERDAY.

AND COMMISSIONER CALVERT, YOU'RE RIGHT, THE REQUEST FOR CHANGE ORDER WAS NOT APPROVED.

BUT I THINK WITH THEIR PUBLIC INPUT AND COMING BEFORE THE COURT AND HAVING THE COURAGE TO TELL THEM AND SHOW US WHAT THEY DO ON A DAILY BASIS, THEY'VE LEARNED THAT THIS COURT IS RESPONSIVE TO THE NEEDS OF THIS COMMUNITY.

SO THANK YOU. SENIORS IN PLAY.

YOU'VE HELPED HOPEFULLY SHOW OTHER PEOPLE THAT IF THEY HAVE NEEDS, THEY NEED TO LEARN TO COME TO COURT AND LET US KNOW BECAUSE SOMETIMES WE JUST DON'T HEAR.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THAT.

WE REALLY APPRECIATE IT.

OBVIOUSLY, THE SENIORS APPRECIATE IT MORE THAN ANYTHING.

THERE ARE STARS. THANK YOU FOR JOINING US AND OUR BIG EVENT.

WE HOPE YOU DO, TOO.

ALL OF YOU ARE INVITED TO JOIN US.

THANK YOU AGAIN. THANK YOU.

ALL RIGHT. IS THERE ANY OTHER PUBLIC INPUT IN REGARD TO THE BEXAR COUNTY PROPOSED OPERATING CAPITAL BUDGET FOR FISCAL YEAR 2023 2324? I WILL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING.

WE WILL NOW DISCUSS AN APPROPRIATE ACTION REGARDING THE ADOPTION OF THE PROPOSED BEAR COUNTY FY 20 2324 OPERATING CAPITAL BUDGET, INCLUDING THE

[4.d. Immediately following item 4c: Discussion and appropriate action regarding the adoption of the proposed Bexar County FY 2023-24 Operating and Capital Budget, including the proposed changes documented in the memorandum from the Budget Officer dated September 11, 2023.]

PROPOSED CHANGES DOCUMENTED IN THE MEMORANDUM FROM THE BUDGET OFFICER DATED SEPTEMBER 11TH, 2023.

MS. GAITAN.

GOOD MORNING, JUDGE AND COMMISSIONERS.

TONY, YOU'RE GOING TO GIVE US MORE FROM YESTERDAY.

YEAH, ONE MORE TIME AND THEN YOU'RE DONE.

WELL, WE WANT TO PRESENT THE CHANGE ORDER AS UPDATED YESTERDAY AT THE DIRECTION OF COMMISSIONERS COURT.

ALL THE ATTACHMENTS REMAIN THE SAME WITH AN UPDATED ATTACHMENT, ONE WHICH IS A CHANGE MEMORANDUM.

SO I WILL GO THROUGH THAT THOROUGHLY AS WELL.

AND IF YOU WOULD LIKE ME TO GO THROUGH THE OTHER ATTACHMENTS FOR RECORD, I CAN GO THROUGH THOSE QUICKLY AS WELL.

AS I MENTIONED BEFORE, WE ARE PRESENTING THE CHANGE ORDER IN THE FIRST SECTION IS A NARRATIVE WHICH DESCRIBES WHAT THE CHANGE ORDER PROVIDES AS FAR AS THE COUNTY STRUCTURE AND HOW IT SHOULD BE SET UP.

ATTACHMENT ONE IS A CHANGE MEMORANDUM, WHICH I WILL GO THROUGH EACH LINE ONE BY ONE AS PRESENTED YESTERDAY AND WITH YOUR RECOMMENDATIONS.

THE FIRST SECTION IS THE GENERAL FUND.

WE HAD AN ENDING BALANCE OF $177,678,288.

WE ARE INCREASING THE GENERAL FUND BY $923,504 AND I'LL GO THROUGH ONE BY ONE ON THOSE CHANGES.

CONSTABLE PRECINCT ONE, WE ARE FUNDING TWO TEMPORARY PART TIME ADMINISTRATIVE CLERK ONES FOR 19,671.

PRECINCT TWO WERE INCREASING THE PERSONNEL APPROPRIATION TO FUND TWO TEMPORARY PART TIME ADMINISTRATIVE CLERKS FOR 19,671 CONSTABLE.

PRECINCT THREE WERE INCREASING THE PERSONNEL APPROPRIATION TO FUND TWO TEMPORARY PART TIME ADMINISTRATIVE CLERK ONES FOR 19,600 AND.

71 AND WE'RE INCREASING THEIR SUPPLIES APPROPRIATIONS TO FUND THE REPLACEMENT OF THEIR ARMORY, AS WELL AS PROVIDE UNIFORM SAFETY SUPPLIES AND RADIOS FOR THEIR EXISTING SCHOOL RESOURCES OFFICERS.

AND THE AMOUNT OF $68,710.

CONSTABLE PRECINCT FOUR WE'RE INCREASING THEIR PERSONNEL APPROPRIATION TO FUND TEMPORARY PART TIME ADMINISTRATIVE CLERKS, TWO OF THEM IN THE AMOUNT OF 19,671.

COUNTY CLERK WE'RE FUNDING AND AUTHORIZING TWO.

DEPUTY CLERK. COUNTY DEPUTY COURT CLERK.

[01:15:03]

SPECIALIST TWO FOR CRIMINAL SECTION AND DELETING TWO DEPUTY COURT CLERK SPECIALIST ONES FOR A NET COST OF 8473.

WE ALSO FUNDING AND AUTHORIZING ONE TRAINING AND DEVELOPMENT SPECIALIST AND DELETING AN ADMINISTRATIVE SUPERVISOR WHICH IS VACANT AT NO COST.

COUNTY COURTS AT LAW INCREASING THE OPERATIONAL APPROPRIATION TO ADJUST THE PRICE INCREASE FOR COPIERS AND THE AMOUNT OF 2174.

CRIMINAL DISTRICT ATTORNEY WE'RE TRANSFERRING ONE COMMUNITY RESOURCE MANAGER POSITION FROM THE GRANDSON AIDS FUND DUE TO THE GRANT ENDING ON SEPTEMBER 30TH, IN THE AMOUNT OF 83,956 ELECTIONS WERE FUNDED AND AUTHORIZING ONE ELECTIONS TRAINING COORDINATOR FOR THE AMOUNT OF 79,541. FACILITIES MANAGEMENT.

ADULT DETENTION. WE'RE INCREASING THE OPERATIONAL APPROPRIATIONS TO PROVIDE FUNDING FOR THE RENTAL OF A CHILLER TO CONTINUE THE PROJECT AS THEY REPLACE IT AT THE ADULT DETENTION CENTER THROUGH FEBRUARY AND THE AMOUNT OF $100,000.

MEDICAL EXAMINER WE'RE REGRADING ONE TOXICOLOGY LAB MANAGER POSITION FROM AN E-7 TO AN E-9.

THIS IS A NEW POSITION THAT WE'RE ADDING IN THE NEXT FISCAL YEAR IN THE AMOUNT OF 17,341 MILITARY SERVICES OFFICER WERE REALLOCATING FROM CONTINGENCIES.

ONE MILITARY SERVICE OFFICER AND ONE ASSISTANT MILITARY SERVICE OFFICER FOR A COST OF $168,410.

MOVING ON TO THE SECOND PAGE OF THE CHANGE MEMORANDUM NON-DEPARTMENTAL.

WE'RE REMOVING THE FUNDING FOR AN SBA CONTRACT COMPLIANCE SPECIALIST AND AN SBA DATA COMPLIANCE COORDINATOR POSITION FOR THE PURCHASING DEPARTMENT TO OFFSET THE COST OF THE NEW POSITIONS IN THE PURCHASING DEPARTMENT TO FOLLOW THE PURCHASING BOARD'S ORDER.

WE ARE REDUCING CONTINGENCIES IN THE AMOUNT OF $207,823.

WE'RE REALLOCATING FUNDING FROM CONTINGENCIES, AS MENTIONED EARLIER, TO THE MILITARY SERVICES OFFICER TO FUND ONE MILITARY SERVICE OFFICER AND ONE ASSISTANT MILITARY SERVICE OFFICER FOR NET DECREASE, OR IT'D BE A NET ZERO DECREASING CONTINGENCIES BY $168,410.

WE'RE INCREASING OPERATIONAL EXPENSE APPROPRIATIONS TO INCLUDE THE FUNDING OF CAMERA EQUIPMENT AND TASERS FOR THE NEW POSITIONS OF THE CONSTABLE'S OFFICE AS PART OF THE AXON AGREEMENT AND THE AMOUNT OF $268,268, REDUCING THE PRECINCT FOUR ALLOCATION FOR OUTSIDE AGENCIES TO FUND THE SPECIFIC PROJECTS.

I WILL GO THROUGH THOSE PROJECTS ONE BY ONE.

AS MENTIONED YESTERDAY, IN THE AMOUNT OF $263,695, THIS WILL BE REALLOCATED SPECIFICALLY TO KING'S COMPASSION FOR PRECINCT FOUR RESIDENTS IN THE AMOUNT OF $8,000 SALUTE TO TROOP SPONSORSHIP SPONSORSHIP FOR PRECINCT FOUR RESIDENTS IN THE AMOUNT OF $50,000 BUSINESS CORRIDOR. PROJECT SPONSORSHIP FOR PRECINCT FOUR RESIDENTS.

$50,000. OLD SPANISH TRAIL CULTURAL CORRIDOR SPONSORSHIP FOR PRECINCT FOUR RESIDENTS.

$50,000. ESSER FILMS SPONSORSHIP FOR PRECINCT FOUR RESIDENTS $6,000.

MARIACHI EXTRAVAGANZA SPONSORSHIP FOR PRECINCT FOUR RESIDENTS.

7195. RIVER CITY DOG SHOW RENT TO FREEMAN COLISEUM FOR PRECINCT FOUR RESIDENTS $2,000.

RIVER AID SAN ANTONIO SPONSORSHIP FOR PRECINCT FOUR RESIDENTS $25,000.

NAACP SPONSORSHIP FOR PRECINCT FOUR RESIDENTS $500.

CITY WEAPONS EXCHANGE FOR PRECINCT FOUR RESIDENTS.

$20,000. URBAN CHAMPIONS ACADEMY FOR PRECINCT FOUR RESIDENTS $15,000.

LUMINARIA SPONSORSHIP FOR PRECINCT FOUR RESIDENTS $30,000.

THE NEXT OFFICE WILL BE PREVENTATIVE HEALTH AND ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES.

WE'RE AUTHORIZING AND FUNDING ONE GRANT WRITER IN THE AMOUNT OF $145,552.

WE'RE RECLASSIFYING ONE EXISTING SANITARIAN ONE POSITION TO A LEAD SANITARIAN POSITION WITHIN ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES DIVISION IN THE AMOUNT OF $5,036, WE'RE INCREASING SUPPLIES APPROPRIATION FOR FOOD EXPENSES ASSOCIATED WITH VARIOUS TRAINING EVENTS FOR THE PREVENTATIVE HEALTH DEPARTMENT.

IN THE AMOUNT OF $3,000, WE'RE INCREASING OPERATIONAL EXPENSES TO FUND REPAIR AND MAINTENANCE OF THEIR EXISTING VEHICLES BY $1,500 PURCHASING WE'RE AUTHORIZING AND FUNDING ONE AUTHORIZED ASSISTANT PURCHASING AGENT TO INCLUDE THEIR SUPPLIES TECHNOLOGY IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE PURCHASING BOARD ORDER IN THE AMOUNT OF $138,056.

REMOVING IN AUTHORIZING AND WERE MOVING AUTHORIZATION AND FUNDING.

OF ONE ASSISTANT FOR AND REPLACING THAT WITH AN EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT POSITION IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE PURCHASING BOARD ORDER IN THE AMOUNT OF 18,699.

WE'RE FUNDING A 9.4% INCREASE FOR THE PURCHASING AGENTS IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE PURCHASING BOARD ORDER AND THE AMOUNT OF $14,062.

WE'RE INCREASING TRAVEL FOR A TOTAL AMOUNT OF $75,000.

THIS IS AN INCREASE OF 31,924, AS ACCORDING TO THE PURCHASING BOARD ORDER, SMALL BUSINESS AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP WERE INCREASING THE OPERATIONAL EXPENSES TO FUND

[01:20:09]

DATA CABLING AND PHONE SYSTEM INSTALLATION FOR THEIR NEW LEASED FACILITY IN THE AMOUNT OF $57,048.

MOVING ON TO THE LAST PAGE OF THE CHANGE MEMORANDUM, I WILL BE GOING THROUGH THE OTHER FUNDS NOW.

CAPITAL PROGRAM.

CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM FUND.

WE'RE ADDING FUNDING TO PURCHASE ONE ADDITIONAL VEHICLE FOR A NEW POSITION FOR THE OFFICE OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT IN THE AMOUNT OF $65,000, WE'RE ADDING FUNDING FOR INOVA CASHIERING APPLICATION CLOUD MIGRATION PROJECT AND THE AMOUNT OF $60,000 WE'RE INCREASING THE PROCEEDS FROM THE DEBT ISSUANCE REVENUE LINE BY 9,923,375 TO FUND THE FOLLOWING PROJECTS AS DIRECTED TO BE ADDED YESTERDAY.

I'LL GO THROUGH THESE ONE BY ONE.

WE'RE ADDING FUNDING FOR PRECINCT FOR SOLAR STREETLIGHT PROJECT IN THE AMOUNT OF 173,375, ADDING FUNDING FOR BARE BRANCHES ALLIANCE PROJECT PRECINCT FOR ALLOCATION 70,000.

WE'RE ADDING FUNDING FOR VFW POST 8541 PRECINCT FOUR ALLOCATION, THE AMOUNT OF $25,000.

WE'RE ADDING A PROJECT FOR TOWN TWIN VILLAGE TOWN, TWIN VILLAGE IN PRECINCT FOUR FOR $250,000.

HAYS STREET LOFTS LAND PROJECT FOR PRECINCT FOUR ALLOCATION $2.8 MILLION.

PRECINCT FOUR HALT.

ARMS PROJECT $70,000.

ROCKET LANE 51.

AREA ACRES PROJECT $5.5 MILLION.

CITY OF WINDCREST SWIMMING POOL PROJECT FOR PRECINCT FOUR ALLOCATION $535,000.

SMALL BUSINESS ACCELERATOR AT THE ANDY PROJECT FOR PRECINCT FOUR $500,000.

NEXT FUND WILL BE GOING OVER IS COUNTY ROAD AND BRIDGE.

WE ARE DECREASING THE OPERATIONAL ESTIMATE IN THE AMOUNT OF 551,985 TO REALLOCATE THE FUNDING NEXT YEAR FOR PROFESSIONAL SERVICE AND TRACK TRAFFIC EQUIPMENT.

THESE ARE PROJECTS THAT WEREN'T COMPLETED IN TIME AND THEY NEED IT FOR NEXT YEAR.

THIS WILL BE A NET ZERO INCREASE TO THE BUDGET.

THE ENDING BALANCE WILL REMAIN AT 9,083,980 FLEET ACQUISITION FUND.

WE'RE INCREASING THE TRANSFER FROM CIP IN THE AMOUNT OF $65,000 TO FUND THE EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT VEHICLE THAT I MENTIONED EARLIER IN THE SAME AMOUNT OF $65,000. THERE'S NO NET INCREASE TO THE FUND.

THE ENDING BALANCE WILL BE 4,867,285 GRANTS AND AID FUND HAS MENTIONED IN THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S BUDGET WE ARE TRANSFERRING ONE COMMUNITY RESOURCE POSITION FROM THE GRANTS AND AID FUND.

SINCE THE FUND, THE FUNDING FOR THE GRANT HAS ENDED.

THIS WILL BE A NET IMPACT TO THE GRANTS AND AID FUND.

JUSTICE OF THE PEACE SECURITY FUND.

WE'RE INCREASING THE CAPITAL APPROPRIATION TO FUND A NEW X-RAY MACHINE FOR PRECINCT THREE IN THE AMOUNT OF $32,000.

THIS WILL LEAVE AN ENDING BALANCE OF 706,922 LAW LIBRARY FUND.

WE'RE FUNDING A CONTINGENCY OF FOR TWO PARALEGALS WITHIN THEIR CONTINGENCY IN LAW LIBRARY FOR THE SELF-REPRESENTED LITIGANT PROGRAM, PENDING A PLAN OF THAT NEW PROGRAM IN THE AMOUNT OF $158,333.

THIS WILL IMPACT THE ENDING BALANCE TO $848,837 TECHNOLOGY IMPROVEMENT FEE.

ALL THE NEW POSITIONS THAT WERE ADDING WERE TRANSFERRING THE MONEY FROM THE APPROPRIATE FUNDS INTO THIS TECHNOLOGY IMPROVEMENT FUND IN THE AMOUNT OF 23,432 AND CREATING A BUDGET FOR THOSE NEW POSITIONS FOR THEIR TECHNOLOGY IN THE SAME AMOUNT.

THIS WILL IMPACT THE APPROPRIATED FUND BALANCE IN THE IT WOULD END THE BALANCE AT 262,910.

THAT IS THE END OF THE CHANGE MEMORANDUM AS WE'RE PRESENTED TODAY FOR ADOPTION.

I WILL GO BRIEFLY OVER THE ATTACHMENTS AGAIN JUST FOR RECORD ATTACHMENT TWO INCLUDES THE ADMINISTRATIVE CHANGES TO THE PROPOSED BUDGET.

THIS DOES NOT PROVIDE ANY FISCAL IMPACT TO THE BUDGET.

THIS SIMPLY CORRECTS ANYTHING THAT'S NECESSARY SO WE CAN ADOPT THE BUDGET.

ATTACHMENT THREE IS ASSIGNED CERTIFICATIONS FROM THE COUNTY AUDITORS AND THEIR REVENUES.

NO CHANGES HAVE BEEN PROPOSED OR EXCUSE ME, RECOMMENDED SINCE THE PROPOSED BUDGET, SO THEY REMAIN THE SAME.

TANYA, LET ME JUST ASK YOU.

YES, SIR. WE HAD CORRECTED SEVERAL PROJECTS THAT WERE LISTED AS IN PRECINCT ONE, WERE ACTUALLY IN PRECINCT FOUR, LIKE THE ARBORETUM IS IN PRECINCT FOUR WHERE THOSE CORRECTED.

SO THAT'S A GOOD POINT, COMMISSIONER.

SO WE I THINK IT WOULD BE HELPFUL IS WE IDENTIFY THEM IN THE BUDGET BOOK, BUT AS RIGHT NOW WE DON'T HAVE THEM IDENTIFIED BY PRECINCT.

IT WAS JUST AN ADDITIONAL LIKE SIDEBAR, SO WE DIDN'T NEED TO MAKE ANY CORRECTIONS TO THE ACTUAL BUDGET.

JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE. YEAH, BUT WE'LL MAKE SURE TO MARK THAT FOR SURE.

THANK YOU. GOING ON TO ATTACHMENT FOUR, IF I CAN TURN THE PAGE, THIS WILL BE THE VEHICLE REPLACEMENT COMMITTEE'S RECOMMENDATIONS FOR THE EXISTING REPLACEMENT OF VEHICLES TO INCLUDE THE LIST OF THOSE VEHICLES.

THIS IS FUNDED IN THE FLEET ACQUISITION FUND.

[01:25:01]

ATTACHMENT SIX IS THE BEAR COUNTY HOLIDAYS FOR 2024.

ATTACHMENT SEVEN IS THE MEMORANDUM AND THE LIST OF THE CHANGES TO ELECTED OFFICIAL SALARIES.

ATTACHMENT EIGHT LISTS ALL OF THE PAY PLANS AND THE PAY GRADES FOR EACH OF THE THE TABLES TO INCLUDE EXECUTIVE EXEMPT NONEXEMPT ITS PAY TABLE AS WELL AS THE ATTORNEY'S PAY TABLE.

ATTACHMENT NINE PROVIDES THE COMPRESSION IMPLEMENTATION PLAN.

ATTACHMENT TEN INCLUDES A STEP PAY PLANS FOR DETENTION AND LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS AS APPROVED BY CBA AND THE COURT COORDINATOR STEP PLANS, AS WELL AS THE MS HIRING MATRIX TO ADJUST TO THE MARKET.

ATTACHMENT 11 IS THE COUNTY CLERK'S RECORDS ARCHIVE PRESERVATION AND RESTORATION PLAN.

ATTACHMENT 12 IS THE DISTRICT CLERK'S PRESERVATION AND RESTORATION PLAN.

ATTACHMENT 13 PROVIDES A LIST OF THE CONTINUED FROZEN POSITIONS.

THESE ARE AUTHORIZED POSITIONS IN THE COUNTY'S BUDGET WITH NO FUNDING ATTACHED TO IT.

ATTACHMENT 14 IS A CORRECTION TO THE STORMWATER MITIGATION FUND AND THE FINAL ATTACHMENT WILL BE THE ORDER APPROVING THE COUNTY AUDITOR'S BUDGET, WHICH WE MATCHED IN THE PROPOSED AND THE PROPOSED BUDGET, AS WELL AS RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE ADOPTED BUDGET AND ANY INCREASES TO THE COUNTY AUDITOR AND COURT REPORTER SALARIES.

THAT'S THE END OF MY PRESENTATION.

WE HAVE SOME MOTIONS AVAILABLE FOR YOU ALL FOR THE TAX RATE AS WELL TO ADOPT THE BUDGET.

ANY COMMENTS, COMMISSIONER MOODY? WELL, THANK YOU, TANYA, FOR FOR WALKING US THROUGH THAT.

FIRST OF ALL, I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO DAVID, TINA, TANYA, THE ENTIRE BUDGET STAFF I KNOW THESE WEEKS HAVE BEEN CHALLENGING.

BUDGETS ARE CHALLENGING, BUT I THINK WE'VE WE'VE MADE A LOT OF PROGRESS HERE.

I ALSO WANT TO JUST HIGHLIGHT IN THIS BUDGET A SIGNIFICANT INVESTMENT IN PUBLIC SAFETY.

THE 50 ADDITIONAL DEPUTIES, AS WELL AS THE PAY FIX, I THINK IS A A SIGNIFICANT INVESTMENT IN PUBLIC SAFETY THAT THE PUBLIC DEMANDS AND IS ASKING FOR.

AND SO I'M GLAD WE GOT THAT IN THERE AND I'M GOING TO SUPPORT THAT TODAY.

I DO WANT TO BRING UP THERE'S MANY COMPETING PRIORITIES, SOME OF WHICH YOU'VE HEARD TODAY, SOME OF WHICH WE HEARD ABOUT YESTERDAY FROM FROM THIS DAIS AND ALSO FROM OUTSIDE GROUPS.

BUT ULTIMATELY, WE HAVE TO MOVE FORWARD BUDGETS, STATUTORY ITEM.

IT NEEDS TO BE COMPLETED AND WE CAN'T DELAY IT.

BUT I DO WANT TO HIGHLIGHT SOME ITEMS THAT I BELIEVE WE MUST ADDRESS IN THE COMING WEEKS, AND I'D JUST LIKE TO WALK THROUGH THOSE NOW.

THE FIRST ITEM IS THE BEAR COUNTY MEDICAL EXAMINER'S OFFICE HAS OFFERED TO SHIFT ONE OF ITS MEDICAL EXAMINERS TO A FORENSIC ANTHROPOLOGIST.

AND I BELIEVE WE SHOULD ALLOW THEM TO DO THAT.

AND I WILL LOOK TO DAVID AGAIN IN TERMS OF WHETHER THIS IS AN ITEM THAT WE NEED TO BRING FORWARD ON OUR NEXT AGENDA OR WHETHER THIS IS SOMETHING WE CAN WE CAN DO FROM FROM A STAFF POSITION.

BUT I THINK THAT WILL ACTUALLY BE A COST SAVINGS.

AND I THINK THAT IS A POSITION THAT SHE FEELS SHE'LL BETTER BE ABLE TO RECRUIT FOR.

AND SO I THINK IT'S A WIN WIN FOR EVERYONE IF WE CAN GET THAT POSITION FILLED AND TAKE SOME OF THE BURDEN OFF THE MEDICAL EXAMINER'S OFFICE.

OH, SORRY. I DIDN'T KNOW IF DAVID, IF YOU'RE GOING TO RESPOND TO THAT OR NOT.

YES, I BELIEVE WE CAN ADDRESS THAT ADMINISTRATIVELY.

OKAY. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

THE SECOND THING I WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT IS CONSTABLE PAY.

OUR CONSTABLE SPOKE TO US LAST WEEK ABOUT THE DISPARITY IN PAY THAT IS CHALLENGING THEIR ABILITY TO HIRE AND FILL NEW POSITIONS IN THIS BUDGET.

WE'VE GIVEN EACH OF THE CONSTABLES FOUR.

FOUR ADDITIONAL POSITIONS, BUT THEY NEED TO BE ABLE TO HIRE INTO THOSE ROLES AND MAKE SURE THAT WE ADDRESS THEIR PAY CONCERNS AS WELL AND MAKE SURE THEY'RE COMPETITIVE WITH THE MARKET.

THEY MADE A PROPOSAL LAST WEEK THAT I BELIEVE IS FAIR AND REASONABLE.

HOWEVER, I KNOW STAFF IS ALSO WORKING ON A BROADER PAY TABLE THAT WOULD COVER OTHER GROUPS AS WELL.

AND I WANT TO GIVE STAFF AN OPPORTUNITY TO COMPLETE THAT.

I WOULD ASK THAT WE COULD COMPLETE THAT BY THE END OF THE MONTH IN ORDER TO BE ABLE TO BRING SOMETHING BACK TO THIS COURT BY THE OCTOBER 24TH MEETING.

ULTIMATELY, THIS IS JUST AGAIN, ABOUT PUBLIC SAFETY, BUT IT'S ALSO ABOUT MAKING SURE THAT THAT OUR HOSPITALS CAN FILL THOSE POSITIONS IN A TIMELY MANNER.

AND SO I'D ASK COUNTY STAFF TO BE SUPPORTIVE IN THAT.

AND I WILL ALSO ASK MY COLLEAGUES ON THE COURT TO BE SUPPORTIVE IN THAT AS WE GO FORWARD AND TRY TO MAKE THAT FIX AS WELL.

THE THIRD THING I JUST WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT WAS OUR JP'S.

[01:30:03]

WE DO HAVE SOME FIXES IN THIS BUDGET.

HOWEVER, THERE WERE SOME ADDITIONAL REQUESTS THAT WERE BUDGET NEUTRAL, AND ULTIMATELY I BELIEVE THAT WE SHOULD ALLOW THOSE ELECTED OFFICIALS, IF THEY'RE BUDGET NEUTRAL AND THEY DECIDE THAT THEY WOULD RATHER SPEND THOSE FUNDS IN A PAY RAISE VERSUS A NEW POSITION, THEN WE SHOULD ALLOW THAT FLEXIBILITY FOR THOSE ELECTED OFFICIALS. THEY KNOW THEIR OFFICES BETTER THAN WE DO, AND I WOULD SUPPORT THAT IN AN UPCOMING SESSION.

AND I HOPE MY COLLEAGUES WILL AS WELL.

THE FINAL THING I WANTED TO BRING UP TODAY IS THE IMPACT COURTS THAT WE HAVE.

IMPACT COURTS ARE A RESOURCE AND WE HAVE INVESTED IN THEM.

WE INVESTED SOME ADDITIONAL ARPA FUNDS IN THEM.

WE'VE HAD GRANTS FROM FROM THE STATE.

THEY PROVIDE AN ROI FOR THIS COUNTY WHEN THEY'RE USED PROPERLY.

HOWEVER, MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT THE BACKLOG THAT OUR CURRENT IMPACT COURTS HAVE BEEN WORKING THROUGH, THEY'VE BEEN SUCCESSFUL, THEY'VE COMPLETED THAT, IT'S TIME TO GO AHEAD AND MOVE THOSE IMPACT COURTS TO A PLACE WHERE THEY CAN CONTINUE TO PROVIDE AN ROI FOR THE COUNTY.

MY UNDERSTANDING FROM THE CONVERSATIONS I'VE HAD ARE THAT WOULD BE IN FELONY CASES AT THE JAIL.

HOWEVER, I'M OPEN TO THAT DISCUSSION ABOUT WHERE THEY SHOULD BE PLACED.

HOWEVER, I DON'T THINK THAT HAVING THEM STAY IN THEIR CURRENT PLACE WHEN THEY ARE NO LONGER PROVIDING AN ROI FOR THE COUNTY IS THE BEST ANSWER.

AND SO I'D ASK THIS COURT AND MY COLLEAGUES TO ADDRESS THAT IN THE COMING WEEKS OR MONTHS.

SO I JUST WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT THOSE THINGS.

AGAIN, THEY'RE NOT GOING TO BE PART OF THIS BUDGET, BUT I THINK AS WE GO FORWARD, WE NEED TO TRY TO ADDRESS AS QUICKLY AS WE CAN.

AND THOSE ARE SOME OF THE BIGGEST ITEMS THAT THAT I'VE SEEN AND I JUST WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT HERE TODAY.

SO THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER CALVERT.

COMMISSIONER RODRIGUEZ.

THANK YOU, JUDGE TANYA AND BUDGET STAFF, LET ME ALSO THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORK.

I KNOW THE LAST FEW DAYS HAVE BEEN A LITTLE BIT FRENZIED, BUT YOU'VE BEEN WORKING ON THIS BUDGET, I KNOW, FOR MONTHS, AND WE APPRECIATE THE WORK.

A LOT OF TIMES THAT OCCURS BEHIND THE SCENES TO GET US TO THIS POINT.

SO THANK YOU FOR THAT.

I WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT A COUPLE OF THINGS AND REITERATE WHAT SOME OF THE THINGS COMMISSIONER MOODY MENTIONED, PARTICULARLY THIS HISTORIC INVESTMENT IN PUBLIC SAFETY.

I THINK THIS IS AT LEAST I THINK THE HIGHEST NUMBER OF DEPUTIES WE'VE ADDED IN MY FIVE YEARS HERE.

SO I THINK IT'S A SIGNIFICANT STEP IN PROMOTING PUBLIC SAFETY, PARTICULARLY IN THE UNINCORPORATED AREAS WHICH ARE GROWING SO, SO SO WE APPRECIATE OUR LAW ENFORCEMENT AND WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE PUTTING OUR MONEY BEHIND WHERE OUR MOUTHS ARE.

A COUPLE OF THINGS I WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT AND TALK ABOUT.

I KNOW COMMISSIONER MOODY MENTIONED THE MEDICAL EXAMINER.

I THINK THAT WE SHOULD STILL HAVE A FUTURE DISCUSSION ABOUT THE RETENTION BONUS.

I KNOW, DAVID, WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THAT AND I DO I DO BELIEVE WE CAN DO IT WITHOUT IMPACTING THE GENERAL FUND BY USING THE OPIOID SETTLEMENT LITIGATION MONEY OR A PORTION OF THAT.

SO THAT'S SOMETHING I'D LIKE FOR US TO CONTINUE THAT CONVERSATION.

I KNOW IT WAS KIND OF A LATER REQUEST AND IT'S HARD TO FIGURE THAT OUT, BUT I THINK IT'S IMPERATIVE THAT WE KEEP AND ATTRACT THOSE IN THAT IN THAT PROFESSION THAT ARE HARD TO FIND.

THE OTHER THING I WANT TO JUST MENTION, TOO, I KNOW THAT I HAD A CONVERSATION WITH WITH YOU, JUDGE SAKAI, ABOUT THIS, AND WE'RE VERY APPRECIATIVE OF OUR COUNTY EMPLOYEES.

I THINK THAT ONCE WE GET THROUGH THE STAFFING ANALYSIS AND THE BAKER TILLY STUDY AND I KNOW THE DUST IS STILL SETTLING ON THAT, SO TO SPEAK, WE OUGHT TO LOOK FOR A WAY TO REWARD OUR COUNTY EMPLOYEES.

AND I MEAN THAT NOT JUST BECAUSE OF THEIR THEIR HIGH PERFORMANCE AND HOW MUCH WE REALLY APPRECIATE THEM, BUT ALSO THE RATE OF INFLATION.

I KNOW WE'VE DONE SOME THINGS OVER THE PAST FEW YEARS.

I KNOW WE DON'T HAVE A COLA IN THIS BUDGET, BUT I WOULD LIKE FOR US TO THINK ABOUT AND LOOK AT THAT MAYBE EVEN IF IT'S OUT OF CYCLE.

SO I'D LOOK FOR A CONTINUED CONVERSATION ABOUT THAT DOWN THE ROAD.

AND THE ONLY OTHER THING I WANTED TO MENTION, I KNOW THAT IN THE CHANGE ORDER, TANYA, YOU KIND OF READ OUT ESSENTIALLY WHAT I GUESS THE CHANGES FROM.

THE PROPOSED BUDGET.

A LOT OF US HAD OUR WISH LIST, SO TO SPEAK, IN THE PROPOSED BUDGET, SO IT WAS NOT READ OUT IN THE CHANGE ORDER.

SO I JUST WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT A COUPLE OF THINGS AS IT RELATES TO PRECINCT TWO, BECAUSE SOME WOULD SAY, WELL, WHY DID ALL THESE ITEMS GET IN FOR PRECINCT FOUR? THE REALITY IS, I THINK THE REST OF US HAD ITEMS THAT WERE IN THE PROPOSED BUDGET THAT WE THAT WE PUT IN EARLY ON.

AND I WANT TO JUST MENTION A COUPLE OF THINGS THAT I THINK ARE IMPORTANT TO MY PRECINCT.

[01:35:05]

ONE, WE'VE CONTINUED AN INVESTMENT IN PROSPER WEST, WHICH IS DOING GREAT WORK ON IDENTIFYING HOUSING IN THE NEAR WEST SIDE, HELPING TO REHABILITATE AND PROVIDE AFFORDABLE HOUSING FOR OUR COMMUNITY.

THE BIBLIOTHEQUE THERE AT LERMA'S.

I KNOW WE'RE CONTINUING TO BUILD THAT OUT IN ADDITION TO FINDING PARKING IN AND AROUND THERE.

I KNOW I SAW SARAH HERE FROM MACRI.

I KNOW WE'VE GOT SOME MONEY IN FOR THE MEXICAN AMERICAN CIVIL RIGHTS INSTITUTE AS WELL.

A VERY IMPORTANT WORK THEY'RE DOING TO TO ENRICH THE COMMUNITY AND OUR HISTORY.

AND THEN THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF TALK ABOUT INFRASTRUCTURE OVER THE PAST WEEK OR TWO.

AND I KNOW WHEN FOLKS SEE NUMBERS ON WHERE MONEY IS GOING, THE REALITY IS PRECINCT TWO HAS THE SMALLEST UNINCORPORATED AREA.

SO A LOT OF TIMES WE WON'T GET AS MUCH MAYBE IN STREETS AND SIDEWALKS, BUT WE TRY TO BALANCE THAT OUT BY GETTING MORE IN, MAYBE CDBG OR OTHER DOLLARS.

WE HAVE PUT MONEY INTO THE WEST SIDE FLOOD CONTROL ENHANCEMENTS, NOT JUST THIS CYCLE, BUT IN LAST CYCLE TO MAKE SURE AS THE WEST SIDE CREEK ECOSYSTEM RESTORATION PROJECT, WHICH IS A WHICH IS AN ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS FEDERAL PROGRAM AS THEY GO THROUGH AND RESTORE THE CREEKS ON THE WEST SIDE, THERE IS MONEY THERE TO LOOK FOR WAYS TO MITIGATE FLOODING IN THE HISTORIC WEST SIDE, WHICH I KNOW HAS BEEN A GENERATIONAL ISSUE ON THE WEST SIDE.

SO, I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE I THINK IN THIS CYCLE WE HAVE ABOUT $5 MILLION IN THERE TO LOOK FOR THOSE OPPORTUNITIES.

WE'VE REACHED OUT TO OUR COUNTERPARTS AT THE CITY TO CONTINUE TO PARTNER WITH THEM AND LEVERAGE DOLLARS.

SO SO JUST I THINK OVERALL, JUDGE AND COLLEAGUES, I THINK THIS IS A VERY SOLID BUDGET.

IT'S A, I THINK A VERY STREAMLINED BUDGET BASED ON FOCUSING ON WHAT WE ARE THE CORE SERVICES OF OUR COMMUNITY, WHAT OUR CONSTITUENTS WANT.

AND SO, I KNOW COMMISSIONER CLAY-FLORES MAY HAVE SOME REMARKS, BUT I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION JUDGE TO ADOPT THE BEAR COUNTY FISCAL YEAR 2324 OPERATING AND CAPITAL BUDGET, INCLUDING THE CHANGES TO THE PREVIOUSLY FILED PROPOSED BUDGET, WHICH ARE DOCUMENTED IN THE MEMORANDUM FROM THE BUDGET OFFICE DATED SEPTEMBER 11TH, 2023.

SECOND MOTION BY COMMISSIONER RODRIGUEZ, SECOND BY COMMISSIONER CLAY-FLORES WILL CONTINUE DISCUSSION.

COMMISSIONER CLAY-FLORES YEAH, AGAIN, I JUST WANT TO THANK THE BUDGET STAFF FOR ALL OF THEIR HARD WORK.

I ALWAYS, I'M AMAZED AT HOW SMALL THEIR TEAM IS.

I DON'T KNOW WHY YOU GUYS, SINCE I'VE BEEN HERE, YOU HAVEN'T ASKED FOR MORE BUDGET MONEY IN THE BUDGET TO TO HIRE NEW PEOPLE.

SO I DON'T REALLY UNDERSTAND THAT.

BUT YEAH, SO THANK YOU AGAIN FOR ALL OF YOUR WORK AND ALSO TO THE COUNTY MANAGER'S OFFICE.

AND WE ARE EXCITED THAT WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO PASS, LIKE MY COLLEAGUES HAVE SAID, IN SUPPORT MORE DEPUTIES ON THE STREETS, SPECIFICALLY 50 MORE FOR THIS COMING YEAR.

AND I ASKED CHIEF GARZA TO COME OUT TO GIVE HIM A SHOUT OUT BECAUSE HE'S NOT ONLY MY IN MY PRECINCT, IT'S MY CONSTITUENT.

BUT LAST FRIDAY, WE DID A DRIVE ALONG BY 211 REDBIRD RANCH WHERE THERE ARE A LOT OF WRECKS AND THE NORTHWEST PART OF THE PRECINCT.

AND SO I'VE BEEN WORKING WITH THE SHERIFF SINCE LAST YEAR TO GET A MINI SUBSTATION IN THAT AREA.

AND SO, WE'VE DECIDED ON A ON A PLACE DURING THE RIDE ALONG.

SO, I'M EXCITED ABOUT THAT AND I WANTED TO PUSH FOR MORE FUNDING FOR THAT.

BUT IT'S BEEN A LITTLE CHAOTIC THE LAST COUPLE OF DAYS, SO I DECIDED TO LET THE BUDGET STAFF REST A LITTLE BIT.

AND SO, THE REMAINING AMOUNT, I BELIEVE, WAS 472,000 FROM MY 10.5 MILLION.

DAVID, YOU'LL HAVE TO CHECK MY NUMBERS, BUT THAT'S GOING TO BE ALLOCATED FOR THAT.

CHIEF GARZA SO I TOLD YOU I'D FIND SOME MONEY FOR THAT.

SO THAT'S ALREADY IN THE BUDGET.

SO I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO, TO, TO TAKING CARE OF THAT.

AND THEN I ALSO HAVE A QUESTION.

I DON'T KNOW IF SHERIFF IS HERE.

SO WE PASSED 50 MORE LAW ENFORCEMENT.

AND SO, FOR THE BUDGET, I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE ARE THE VEHICLES INCLUDED IN THAT? IS THAT ALREADY INCLUDED? NO, MA'AM, THEY ARE NOT.

THAT WAS PART OF ONE OF OUR REQUESTS THAT WE MADE LAST WEEK WAS A NUMBER THAT BY OUR ESTIMATION WOULD BE A SUITABLE NUMBER FOR THOSE 50 DEPUTIES.

OKAY. SO, TANYA, WE PASSED 50 LAW ENFORCEMENT, BUT WE DON'T WE DON'T HAVE THE VEHICLES FOR THEM, NOT THE CARS TO GO WITH THEM.

NO, MA'AM. EXCUSE ME.

SURE. WE FUNDED EIGHT OF VEHICLES, BUT ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE RECEIVED DIRECTION WAS ONCE WE GO THROUGH THE STAFFING STUDY, THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE'RE GOING TO ANALYZE TO ENSURE THAT WE GIVE THEM SUFFICIENT VEHICLES.

WE JUST NEED TO KNOW WHERE THEY'RE AT AND WHERE THE OFFICERS ARE.

[01:40:01]

OKAY. OKAY. SO I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE I DIRECT STAFF TO MAKE SURE THEY WORK WITH THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE.

BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, IF WE PASS 50 MORE LAW ENFORCEMENT PATROL, BUT WE DON'T THEY DON'T HAVE THE VEHICLES TO PATROL, THEN THAT DOESN'T REALLY MAKE SENSE.

I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT HAPPENS.

YES, MA'AM. AND IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING THAT THAT EIGHT KIND OF BRINGS US UP TO SPEED WITH THE 12 THAT WE WERE GIVEN EARLIER IN THE YEAR.

SO THE 50 WOULD REQUIRE ADDITIONAL.

AND I KNOW THAT, YOU KNOW, IT'S JUST A NUMBERS GAME BECAUSE ALSO WE TALK ABOUT RETENTION, RIGHT? SO IF WE HAVE PEOPLE WHO ARE COMING IN BUT THEN GOING OUT THE BACK DOOR, THEN THEY CAN USE THOSE CARS OR WHATEVER.

BUT I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE IT'S ON THE BUDGET'S RADAR TO MAKE SURE THAT THAT HAPPENS.

THANK YOU, MA'AM. AND I'VE SPOKEN WITH MY COLLEAGUE, COMMISSIONER MOODY, AND BEEN WORKING WITH MY CONSTABLE SINCE I GOT HERE.

AND TO MAKE SURE THAT, YOU KNOW, YOU AND I WORK TOGETHER TO MAKE SURE WE LOOK AT THE CONSTABLE'S PAY AND NOT JUST THE THE CONSTABLES, THE DEPUTY CONSTABLES PAY, BUT ALL OF LAW ENFORCEMENT. I KNOW WE HAVE PEOPLE HERE FOR ENVIRONMENTAL AND WE OFTEN FORGET THAT THEY TOO HAVE LAW ENFORCEMENT, AND THEY GO OUT TO OUR RURAL AREAS AND TAKE CARE OF PEOPLE WHO ARE DOING ILLEGAL DUMPING AND THINGS.

SO, THEY ARE ALSO LAW ENFORCEMENT.

SO, I WANT TO MAKE SURE WE LOOK AT THEIR PAY AS WELL.

AND I ALSO WANTED TO DIRECT STAFF.

THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF NUMBERS THAT HAVE BEEN THROWN AROUND.

AND I JUST WANT TO DIRECT STAFF AND I KNOW YOU GUYS NEED SOME DOWNTIME RIGHT NOW, SO I DON'T NEED THIS TOMORROW OR ANYTHING.

TAKE A BREAK, SOME DEEP BREATHING, GO WALK, GET SOME FRESH AIR.

BUT I DO WANT TO DIRECT BUDGET STAFF.

IF YOU GUYS CAN CONFIRM THE NUMBERS, I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE PUT ACCURATE NUMBERS OUT TO THE PUBLIC BECAUSE THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF NUMBERS THAT WERE TALKED ABOUT IN 62 MILLION, SPECIFICALLY FOR PRECINCT ONE WAS FLOOD FOR FLOOD CONTROL THAT WE PASSED MY FIRST YEAR HERE FOR TEN YEARS.

SO, IF YOU GUYS CAN KIND OF DO AN AUDIT OF SORTS SINCE I'VE BEEN HERE SINCE FOR THE 21-22 BUDGET, SO FOR THE LAST THREE BUDGETS TO SEE THE FUNDING THAT'S BEEN DIRECTED, I KNOW THAT WE AS COMMISSIONERS HAVE THE AUTHORITY TO CHANGE SOME FUNDING AROUND WITHIN OUR PRECINCTS AND WE KIND OF ALLOW EACH OTHER THE PRIVILEGE OF DOING THAT.

SO IF YOU GUYS CAN LOOK AT THAT, I'D APPRECIATE THAT.

SO THANK YOU SO MUCH.

AND I'M HAPPY TO SECOND THIS SO WE CAN MAKE SURE WE HAVE A BALANCED BUDGET AND SERVE THE CONSTITUENTS OF OUR COUNTY.

THANK YOU. ANY FURTHER COMMENT? SURE. LET ME THANK ALL OF OUR STAFF FOR THE WORK AND ALL THE COUNTY EMPLOYEES.

BUT I WANT TO MOST IMPORTANTLY THANK THE COMMUNITY FOR COMING AND SPEAKING.

I KNOW I SEE RENEE, A FORMER ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR FOR THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO HERE WITH VELOCITY, TEXAS.

DID DID VELOCITY GET IN THE BUDGET, DAVID? THE $3 MILLION FOR THE MILITARY JOBS? NO, NOT YET.

THAT WOULD BE ADDRESSED IN CAPITAL WHEN WE HAVE THE DETAILS OF THE PROJECT AND WHAT WE'RE ACTUALLY FUNDING.

I KNOW THEY'RE WORKING ON IT AND I'VE KNOWN FOR OVER 12 MONTHS.

I WOULD HAVE TO IDENTIFY THAT FUNDING WHEN THE TIME I JUST WANT TO POINT OUT ANOTHER JOB THING THAT WE DIDN'T ADDRESS.

I THANK THE COMMUNITY FOR COMING AND TALKING ABOUT HOW WE SHOULD SPEND OUR DOLLARS.

UNFORTUNATELY, THIS COURT IS THE TALK OF THE URBAN COUNTIES CAUCUS AROUND TEXAS, AND IT'S NOT FOR A GOOD REASON.

IT'S BECAUSE WE DID SOMETHING THAT GOVERNOR ABBOTT AND LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR PATRICK COULDN'T.

WE CAPPED OUR ABILITY TO CONTROL OUR LOCAL DOLLARS AT A TIME THAT WE ACTUALLY PUT FORWARD LEGISLATIVE LOBBYISTS IN THE LEGISLATURE TO KILL BILLS THAT WOULD DO THAT.

WE ACTUALLY DID IT TO OURSELVES.

I VOTED NO.

MY CONSTITUENTS KNOW WE FOUGHT HARD FOR THEM IN TERMS OF GETTING THE THINGS THAT THAT THEY REQUESTED IN THE BUDGET.

I CONDUCT 3000 MEETINGS A YEAR AND WAIT ALL YEAR ROUND IN ORDER TO DELIVER ON PROJECTS THAT THE COMMUNITY HAS REQUESTED.

THESE ARE NOT OUR DOLLARS.

WE DON'T PUT CAPS ON OURSELVES.

WE PUT CAPS ON THE PEOPLE.

AND I WANT TO THANK COMMISSIONER MOODY YESTERDAY FOR POINTING OUT SOMETHING I'VE POINTED OUT FOR EIGHT YEARS.

THE AMOUNT THAT WE HAVE IN RESERVE IS TWICE AS AMOUNT, TWICE THE AMOUNT THAT THE BOND RATING AGENCIES LIKE MOODY'S REQUIRE THIS COUNTY TO KEEP ON HAND IN ORDER TO HAVE A TRIPLE A BOND RATING.

WHY NOT PUT THAT MONEY INTO A JOB CREATOR? AT BROOKS? WE ARE GOING TO HAVE COST ESCALATION TO THE TAXPAYERS BECAUSE WE'VE JUST WASTED $3 MILLION ON CONSULTANTS FOR A $20 MILLION PROJECT THIS COURT HAS ALLOCATED MONEY FOR AT THE REQUEST OF STAFF.

IT HAS A $6 MILLION INCREASE IN COST AND THEY'VE BEEN TOLD TO SHELF IT FOR A YEAR.

[01:45:02]

THE MANUFACTURING COMMUNITY WAS CONFUSED BY WHAT THE COUNTY MANAGER SAID YESTERDAY IN TERMS OF THE TEXAS FAME BOARD VOTING FOR COMMUNITY SMALLER TRAINING CENTERS, WE HAVE INVESTED $20 MILLION ALREADY AND $3 MILLION ALREADY IN CONSULTANTS.

WHAT A WASTE OF MONEY.

IT'S A GREAT INVESTIGATIVE NEWS REPORT.

IT IS A GREAT EXPOSÉ.

THERE'S A COUPLE OF OTHER THINGS THAT NEED TO BE SAID.

THIS CAP WAS RANDOM IN THE FIRST MEETINGS WHERE THE COUNTY MANAGER SAID, YOU KNOW, THE MAJORITY OF COMMISSIONERS WERE GOOD WITH THAT NUMBER. THAT IS A THAT IS A THREAT TO A DATA DRIVEN PROCESS WHEN WE HAVE RANDOM NUMBERS AND RANDOM CAPS.

I HAD GONE THROUGH THE LIST OF THINGS THAT WERE NEEDED, SENT THOSE TO THE OFFICES IN IN ADVANCE.

WE HAVE DOCUMENTATION OF THAT.

THE BACKGROUND IS BEFORE US AND I HOPE IN THE NEW YEAR AND I PRETTY SURE WE'RE GOING TO END UP FUNDING SOME OF THE THINGS THAT WE DIDN'T BECAUSE OF A RANDOM CAP. AFTER LOOKING AT THE OVERALL CATEGORIES, YOU MIGHT IN THE BUDGET DEPARTMENT FIND, YOU KNOW, A COUPLE THOUSAND OR EVEN $200,000 DIFFERENCE IN THE TOTALS.

BUT THE DATA IS FROM THE BOOKS OF THE COUNTY.

THEY ARE NOT MADE UP.

I DON'T LAY AWAKE AT NIGHT HAVING A SCOTCH, FIGURING OUT HOW CAN WE MANIPULATE NUMBERS TO MAKE US LOOK GOOD.

WE JUST LET THE NUMBERS FALL WHERE THEY WERE AND THEY ARE WHERE THEY ARE.

THIS PROCESS IS BROKEN.

IT ISN'T WITH INTEGRITY AND IT ISN'T TRANSPARENT AND IT ISN'T COMMUNITY CENTERED, AND WE NEED TO WORK ON THAT.

I THINK THERE'S A LOT OF THINGS THAT WE'RE GOING TO START WORKING ON.

THERE IS NO OPTION FOR THE COURT WITH RESPECT TO A CITIZENS COMMITTEE TO LOOK AT THE BUDGET.

IT'S CONVENING ON OCTOBER THE 4TH.

PEOPLE FROM EVERY COMMISSIONERS PRECINCT WILL BE REPRESENTED.

PEOPLE CALLED ALL DAY YESTERDAY SAYING THEY WANTED TO SERVE ON IT.

AFTER WATCHING THIS COURT, THIS BUDGET WILL BE SCRUTINIZED AND THE DAYS OF THE COUNTY DOING THINGS IN THE DARK AND.

PEOPLE NOT KNOWING WHAT WE'RE DOING ARE OVER.

THE PUBLIC CAME TO SPEAK SOME ON SMALL BUSINESS NEEDS.

THE DISPARITY STUDY IDENTIFIED UNTIMELY PAYMENTS, YET LEGAL TOOK AIM AT REMEDIES PROPOSED.

AND ONE OF THE THINGS IN REVIEWING THE AUDIO, THAT'S WHY MY AUDIO WAS GOING OFF WHEN WHEN YOU WERE TALKING I APOLOGIZE.

THE LARRY, YOU INDICATED THAT THE PURCHASING DEPARTMENT CANNOT SUPERSEDE WITH A LAWYER.

THEIR INTENT IS NOT TO SUPERSEDE THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE.

YOUR OFFICE ALWAYS HAS FINAL SAY.

SO WE WOULD LIKE TO HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY FOR ALL MEMBERS OF THE COURT TO SEE YOUR OPINION.

AND I DON'T BELIEVE THE INTENT OF THE PURCHASING AGENT IS TO EVER SUPERSEDE.

BUT TO HELP MOVE CONTRACTS FORWARD, THEY WILL BE ABLE TO PROVIDE TO THE COMMUNITY A LIST OF HOW MANY CONTRACTS WERE WAITING IN QUEUE, AND MANY OTHER PEOPLE WILL HAVE THAT SAME OPPORTUNITY.

AND IT'S A MATTER OF OPEN RECORD AND PUBLIC RECORD, AND THE PUBLIC WILL BE ANALYZING IT.

THERE IS A PRESSURE TO DELIVER EQUITY THAT WILL BE BUILDING IN THIS COMMUNITY.

THERE IS A PRESSURE FOR TRANSPARENCY THAT WILL BE GROWING.

THERE IS A PRESSURE TO COMMUNICATE BETTER.

AND SO MY TARGETS ON THE 2425 BUDGET, WE'RE STARTING OCTOBER THE 4TH, AND EVEN BEFORE, I AM DISAPPOINTED ON MANY LEVELS. I'M DISAPPOINTED.

I CAN'T IN GOOD CONSCIENCE VOTE FOR THIS THIS BUDGET BECAUSE IT IS ONE OF MY IN TERMS OF THE SHERIFF'S DEPUTIES, IT IS ONE OF MY MOST PROUD MOMENTS THAT WHEN WE REVIEW THE VIDEO AND THE TAPE OF THE MEETING, I HELPED ALONG WITH THIS COURT LEAD THE EFFORT FOR THE 50 NEW OFFICERS.

OBVIOUSLY, THE OFFICERS HAVE THANKED ME.

I THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE.

I APPRECIATE THE WORK WITH THE COURT TO GET THE RAISES THAT WE NEEDED.

BUT I WILL HAVE TO ABSTAIN ON THIS BUDGET BECAUSE OF THE STAINS ON THIS BUDGET.

TOMORROW IS ANOTHER DAY TO MAKE THINGS BETTER WITH THE CITIZENS TO BE INCLUDED.

WE HAVE CREATED A HUNGER GAMES BUDGET WHERE ORGANIZATIONS WERE CUT, SENIOR PROGRAMS WERE CUT, MILITARY PROTECTION WAS CUT, JOB CREATING ITEMS WERE CUT, ENVIRONMENTAL LIFE SAVING ENVIRONMENTAL INITIATIVES WERE

[01:50:01]

CUT. IT DID NOT HAVE TO BE THIS WAY.

WE ARE NOT IN A BUDGET CRISIS.

WE HAD A RANDOM CAP PREVENT US FROM DOING THINGS LIKE PLANTING MORE TREES IN OTHER PARTS OF THE COUNTY.

SO WE'VE GOT TO DO BETTER THAN THIS.

BUT I'LL EMBRACE THE CHANGE AND I HOPE THE COMMUNITY AND THE COURT WILL TOO.

ANY FURTHER COMMENTS? I'LL CALL FOR A VOTE.

THERE'S A MOTION BY COMMISSIONER RODRIGUEZ, A SECOND BY COMMISSIONER CLAY-FLORES.

ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? YEAH, I JUST WANT TO KNOW, TONYA, CAN YOU TELL US WHAT IS THE FINAL NUMBER? WHAT'S OUR BUDGET THAT WE'RE ABOUT TO PASS? CAN YOU GET THE EXACT NUMBER? JULY 2ND.

IT'S JUST ABOVE 3 BILLION AND WE ADDED A MILLION.

SO IT'S PROBABLY 3 BILLION PLUS THAT 1 MILLION.

BUT WE'LL GET YOU THE EXACT NUMBER.

OKAY, SO THREE.

TO. I SEE IT REALLY QUICK.

2,952,000,700. SEE IT? THAT'S A BIG NUMBER. OKAY.

2 BILLION. 2 BILLION.

952,773,527. 527.

OKAY, GREAT. THANK YOU SO MUCH. YOU'RE WELCOME.

THANK YOU. SO SO BASICALLY, WE HAVE A $3 BILLION BUDGET, WHICH IS HUGE.

AND I JUST FIND IT A PRIVILEGE TO BE ABLE TO SIT HERE WITH MY COLLEAGUES AS COMMISSIONERS COURT THAT WE ARE ABLE TO PLAY WITH THESE NUMBERS AND SEE WHAT THE MOST IMPORTANT THINGS ARE FOR OUR CONSTITUENTS.

AND HOW THE BUDGET SEASON ALWAYS STARTS IS WE START WITH WHAT WE HAVE LAST YEAR AND THEN WE GROW FROM THAT AND THINGS ARE NOT CUT UNLESS THEY'RE DISCUSSED WITH US AND WE AS A COURT DECIDE THAT.

SO I'M JUST REALLY GRATEFUL THAT WE'RE ABLE TO PUT FORWARD A BALANCED BUDGET WITHOUT CUTTING NEEDS FOR THE COMMUNITY AND INDEED ENHANCING THE THINGS THAT WE NEED. SO I'M HAPPY TO SUPPORT THIS BUDGET.

THANK YOU. ANY FURTHER COMMENTS? I'LL CALL FOR A VOTE.

COMMISSIONER CLAY-FLORES PRECINCT ONE HAPPY TO SUPPORT I COMMISSIONER TO COMMISSIONER RODRIGUEZ HIGH COMMISSIONER THREE.

COMMISSIONER MOODY.

HIGH COMMISSIONER FOR COMMISSIONER CALVERT TO JUDGE SAKAI VOTES IN SUPPORT.

MOTION PASSES.

BUT BEFORE YOU GO, I HAVE A FINAL SAY.

LET ME TELL YOU WHY I THINK THIS HAS BEEN A GOOD, HEALTHY AND I HAVE SOME IMMEDIATE FEEDBACK FOR BUDGET.

WE'VE HEARD CLEARLY FROM EACH COMMISSIONER WHAT THEIR PRIORITIES ARE, WHAT THEIR VIEWS ARE, WHAT THEIR OPINIONS ARE.

I WANT THE PUBLIC TO KNOW THAT IT'S ALWAYS BEEN DONE RESPECTFULLY AND CIVILLY, EVEN THOUGH THERE PERHAPS HAVE BEEN SOME INTENSE CONVERSATIONS, PERHAPS SOME VERY STRONG CONVERSATIONS, PERHAPS SOME VERY STRONG DISSENT.

THAT'S THE AMERICAN WAY.

THAT'S WHAT MAKES GOOD GOVERNMENT.

WHAT'S ALSO BEEN VERY POWERFUL IS WE HEARD THE POWER OF THE PEOPLE EVEN TODAY.

AND THEY WERE ABLE TO BASICALLY SECURE, AT LEAST ON THE RECORD THAT THEY GOT THE MONEY THEY REQUESTED.

WE HEARD QUITE CLEARLY DURING THE PROCESS.

BUT NOW I WILL GIVE YOU IMMEDIATE FEEDBACK TO THE BUDGET OFFICE.

WE HAVE WORK TO DO.

I'VE HEARD ALL THE COMMISSIONERS AND THEIR OPINIONS.

ONE OF THE THINGS OUR BUDGET OFFICE WE COULD HAVE DONE IS WE COULD HAVE PUT A POWERPOINT PRESENTATION AND PUT THOSE NUMBERS UP ON THE BOARD.

WE COULD HAVE HAD THOSE INFORMATION PUT ON THE WEBSITE, ALTHOUGH I REALIZE THAT PROBABLY WOULD HAVE BEEN HAD TO BE DONE LAST NIGHT.

BUT WE COULD HAVE DONE THAT.

WE COULD HAVE STARTED THIS BUDGET PROCESS MUCH EARLIER.

AND I'M GOING TO SUGGEST GIVING DEFERENCE TO COMMISSIONER CALVERT AND HIS CITIZENS COMMITTEE.

I WANT THE COURT TO START IMMEDIATELY GETTING FEEDBACK TO THE BUDGET FOR NEXT YEAR'S BUDGET AND THAT WE CAN GET THE DISCUSSION OF PRIORITIES, THAT WE CAN GET DISCUSSION OF WHAT DIFFERENCES WE HAVE AND WHAT PROGRAMS WE WANT TO SUPPORT.

IT IS QUITE CLEAR AFTER WHAT WE'VE JUST DONE BY THE PASSING OF YESTERDAY'S CHANGE ORDER UNANIMOUSLY, TODAY'S APPROVAL OF THE BUDGET FOR APPROVAL, ONE ABSTENTION.

WE HAVE MAJORITY APPROVAL.

AND REGARDLESS OF HOW WE THINK IS HAPPENED TODAY, MAJORITY RULES.

[01:55:04]

THAT'S THE AMERICAN WAY.

THAT'S DEMOCRACY IN ACTION.

AND EVEN THOUGH WE MAY STILL HAVE DIFFERENCES AND WE MAY HAVE STRONG FEELINGS, WE MUST COME TOGETHER.

AND THAT WAS WHAT I ASK OF ALL OF YOU, INCLUDING MY COLLEAGUES, INCLUDING THE COURT EMPLOYEES, AND ESPECIALLY THOSE THAT ARE OUR FIRST RESPONDERS.

WE'VE SHOWN CLEARLY THAT WE SUPPORT OUR LAW ENFORCEMENT FROM TOP TO BOTTOM, AND WE WILL CONTINUE TO DO SO.

AND WE PERHAPS HAVE SOME ADJUSTMENTS.

AND I REALIZE SOME OF THESE ADJUSTMENTS MAY BE OUT OF CYCLE.

BUT LET ME SAY THIS.

EVEN THOUGH WE PERHAPS SHOULD HAVE HAD EVERYTHING WRAPPED UP WITH A NICE BOW AND EVERYBODY COULD GET WHAT THEY WANT, WE CAN'T WE HAVE TO STILL BALANCE THE BUDGET.

AND SO THERE STILL MAY BE DIFFERENCES AS TO HOW WE SPENT THE TAXPAYER MONEY.

AND WE WILL CONTINUE TO HAVE DIFFERENCES.

I'M SURE THERE'S ELECTED OFFICIALS IN THE ROOM THAT ARE SAYING THEY DIDN'T GET WHAT THEY WANT OR WHAT THEY NEEDED, BUT I WILL PROMISE ALL OF THEM THAT I WILL LISTEN. BUT I THINK WE NEED TO HAVE A BETTER PROCESS.

AND THAT'S WHAT I'M ASKING UPON MY COURT.

LET'S START AS THE COURT TO CREATE THIS BUDGET PROCESS, BECAUSE THIS HAS BEEN MY FIRST BUDGET.

I HAVE EXPRESSED SOME ISSUES WITH THE BUDGET PROCESS.

I THINK BUDGET OFFICE HAS HEARD FROM ME AND I THINK THEY'VE DONE THEIR BEST TO RESPOND.

BUT WE CAN DO BETTER AND I DEMAND THAT WE DO BETTER.

SO LET'S CLOSE WITH THIS.

WE WILL CONTINUE TO WORK IN THE BEST INTEREST.

I HAVE NO DOUBT THAT EACH COLLEAGUE AND EACH COMMISSIONER HERE DOES WHAT THEY THINK IS BEST FOR THEIR CONSTITUENTS.

MAY I REMIND EVERYBODY I REPRESENT ALL CONSTITUENTS AND ALL FOUR PRECINCTS.

SO WITH THAT, MS..

GAITAN. MS..

SMITH. MR..

MS.. DEAN. MR. SMITH, THANK YOU FOR PRESENTING THE BUDGET.

WE HAVE WORK TO DO.

I'D ASK THAT EVERYBODY EXPRESS THEIR APPRECIATION WITH THE ROUND OF APPLAUSE.

ALL RIGHT, LET'S CONTINUE ON.

COMMISSIONERS COURT INVITES PUBLIC INPUT REGARDING THE 2023 BEXAR COUNTY PROPOSED PROPERTY TAX RATE.

[4.e. Immediately following item 4d Public Hearing: The Commissioners Court invites public input regarding the 2023 Bexar County proposed property tax rate.]

I'LL OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING ON THE DISCUSSION OF BEXAR COUNTY PROPOSED PROPERTY TAX RATE.

I HAVE NO ONE THAT HAS SIGNED UP.

IS THERE ANYONE HERE THAT WISHES TO PROVIDE PUBLIC INPUT ON THE PROPOSED PROPERTY TAX RATE? THE TIME IS 11:06 A.M..

I WILL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING.

WE WILL TAKE UP DISCUSSION AND APPROPRIATE ACTION REGARDING ADOPTING THE 2023 BEXAR COUNTY PROPERTY TAX RATE OF OH BOY

[4.f. Immediately following item 4e: Discussion and appropriate action regarding adopting the 2023 Bexar County property tax rate of $0.299999 and approval of an Order of Bexar County Commissioners Court adopting the 2023 tax rate of $0.299999 consisting of a $0.023668 road and flood control tax rate and a $0.276331 general fund tax rate and levying the 2023 taxes for Bexar County in support of its Operating and Capital Budget for FY 2023-24.]

0.299999 AND APPROVAL OF AN ORDER OF BEXAR COUNTY COMMISSIONERS COURT ADOPTING THE 2023 TAX RATE OF SAME AMOUNT.

I'M NOT GOING TO REPEAT ALL THOSE NINES CONSISTING OF A .023668 ROAD AND FLOOD CONTROL TAX RATE AND A 0.276331 GENERAL FUND TAX RATE LEVYING THE 2323 2023 TAXES FOR BEXAR COUNTY AND SUPPORT OF ITS OPERATING AND CAPITAL BUDGET FOR FY 2324.

ARE YOU GOING TO SAY A FEW WORDS, MS. GUYTON? NO, SIR.

I DID PROVIDE THE EXACT LANGUAGE THAT YOU NEED TO MOVE.

IS THERE A MOTION OR COMMENT? JUDGE, I THINK WE HAVE TO TAKE THREE DIFFERENT VOTES BECAUSE OF THE LEGISLATURE.

SO I DON'T KNOW IF ANYBODY ELSE HAS COMMENTS ON THIS.

I KNOW WE'RE KEEPING THE TAX RATE FLAT, BUT IF NOT, I WILL MAKE THOSE MOTIONS.

GO AHEAD. GO AHEAD.

TANYA JUST WANTED TO YOU KNOW, I DON'T WANT TO BELABOR THIS POINT.

I MADE SOME COMMENTS YESTERDAY, BUT FOR THOSE WHO WEREN'T IN ATTENDANCE AND TO MAKE SURE THIS ISN'T COUNTERINTUITIVE FOR ANYONE, THERE WAS IN THIS BUDGET, WHICH I SUPPORTED, $20 MILLION IN ADDITIONAL FUNDING FOR THE GENERAL FUND RESERVE.

MY BELIEF IS THAT ALL OR AT LEAST PART OF THAT COULD BE GIVEN BACK TO TAXPAYERS, WHICH IS WHY I ASKED FOR AN AMENDMENT YESTERDAY WHICH WAS NOT SUPPORTED. HOWEVER, I DO THINK THAT WHENEVER WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO REDUCE THE TAX BURDEN ON OUR TAXPAYERS, WE SHOULD TRY TO TAKE THAT.

AND I JUST WANTED TO MAKE THAT CLEAR IN TERMS OF WHY I WON'T SUPPORT THE TAX RATE HERE TODAY.

[02:00:02]

THANK YOU. ANY FURTHER COMMENT? JUST A CLARIFYING QUESTION MAYBE FOR THE BUDGET OFFICE.

I DON'T KNOW IF IT WAS LAST YEAR, BUT THE YEAR BEFORE, I THINK WE DID REDUCE THAT RATE A LITTLE BIT.

CAN YOU JUST PUT SOME HISTORICAL CONTEXT ON THE TAX RATE FOR THOSE THAT ARE WATCHING? SO THIS THIS AND PREVIOUS THIS COURT AND PREVIOUS COURTS HAS NEVER SINCE 1993 INCREASED THE TAX RATE.

YOU'VE EITHER HELD IT FLAT OR REDUCED IT.

IN FACT, IN 1994, IT WAS 38.8 CENTS.

IF YOU VOTE FOR THIS TAX RATE, IT'S ALMOST $0.10 LESS THAN THAT OR A THIRD.

GREAT. THANK YOU, DAVID. SO SO I APPRECIATE COMMISSIONER MOODY'S COMMENTS.

I THINK WE ARE BEING GOOD STEWARDS HERE BY BY TRYING TO KEEP THAT IN CHECK.

AND IN FACT, AS THE COUNTY MANAGER MENTIONED, WE'VE ACTUALLY KEPT IT FLAT OR REDUCED.

IT NEVER RAISED IT SINCE, I GUESS 30 PLUS YEARS AGO.

SO, UM, JUDGE, I DO HAVE THE MOTIONS.

WE GOT TO TAKE THREE VOTES.

THE FIRST ONE I WOULD MOVE THAT THE PROPERTY TAX RATE BE INCREASED BY THE ADOPTION OF A TAX RATE OF 0.29999, WHICH IS EFFECTIVELY A 6.5% INCREASE IN THE TAX RATE.

IS THERE A SECOND SECOND MOTION BY COMMISSIONER RODRIGUEZ? SECOND BY COMMISSIONER CLAY-FLORES? ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? COMMISSIONER MOODY. OKAY.

ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE? AYE. ANY OPPOSED? SO NOTED.

ALL RIGHT. SECOND. SECOND MOTION.

JUDGE, I WOULD HEREBY MOVE THAT THE DEBT SERVICE COMPONENT OF THE TAX RATE BE APPROVED AT A RATE OF 0.05213 $0.02.

AND I'LL NEED A VOTE ON THAT IN A SECOND.

IS THERE A SECOND? SECOND.

MOTION BY COMMISSIONER RODRIGUEZ.

SECOND BY COMMISSIONER CLAY-FLORES.

ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE? AYE. ANY OPPOSED? SO NOTED. AND I LIED.

I HAVE TWO MORE MOTIONS. THE THIRD ONE IS I HEREBY MOVE THAT THE MAINTENANCE AND OPERATION COMPONENT OF THE TAX RATE BE APPROVED AT A RATE OF 0.24786 $0.07.

SECOND. MOTION BY COMMISSIONER RODRIGUEZ.

SECOND BY COMMISSIONER CLAY-FLORES.

ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? I'LL CALL FOR A VOTE. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE.

AYE. ANY OPPOSED? OKAY, LET'S. THEN LET'S DO A VOICE VOTE.

MAKE SURE IT'S CLEAR.

COMMISSIONER CLAY-FLORES ON THIS MOTION.

WHAT SAY YOU? AYE.

COMMISSIONER RODRIGUEZ? AYE. COMMISSIONER MOODY.

COMMISSIONER CALVERT.

JUDGE SACCHI SAYS I.

ARE WE ABLE TO MOVE FORWARD OR ARE WE NEEDING FURTHER DISCUSSION ON THIS VOTE? I BELIEVE IT'S IT JUST NEEDS A MAJORITY.

YOU HAVE TO HAVE FOUR COURT MEMBERS PRESENT TO ADOPT IT, BUT A SIMPLE MAJORITY PASSES IT.

THEN THE COURT OR THE THE COUNTY JUDGE APPROVES AND FINDS THAT THE MOTION PASSES.

LAST MOTION JUDGE REGARDING THE FLOOD ROAD AND FLOOD CONTROL TAX, I HEREBY MOVE TO APPROVE AN ORDER ADOPTING AND LEVYING THE TAX RATE OF 0.299999 FOR THE YEAR CENTS FOR THE YEAR 2023.

SUCH TAX RATE, CONSISTING OF 0.02366 $0.08.

ROAD AND FLOOD CONTROL TAX RATE AND 0.276331 CENTS.

GENERAL FUND TAX RATE.

IS THERE A SECOND. SECOND.

COMMISSIONER RODRIGUEZ MOVES SECOND BY COMMISSIONER CLAY-FLORES CLAY-FLORES.

ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE.

AYE. ANY OPPOSED MOTION CARRIES.

ALL RIGHT. DOES THAT CONCLUDE THAT PARTICULAR AGENDA ITEM? YES, JUDGE. AND JUST LET ME ADD MY THANKS TO THE BUDGET AND HUMAN RESOURCES STAFF WHO'VE WORKED REALLY HARD TO TRY AND BRING US TO THIS POINT.

SO THANK YOU. I'LL GIVE YOU A LITTLE BREAK, BUT I'M READY TO GO TO START TALKING ABOUT THE NEXT BUDGET.

BUT I'LL LET YOU ALL REST A LITTLE BIT.

ALL RIGHT. POINT OF PERSONAL PRIVILEGE.

I KNOW WE GOT A SPECIFIC 1030 ITEM.

[Additional Item*]

IT'S THE 11TH ANNUAL BARBACOA AND BIG RED FESTIVAL.

I'M GOING TO CALL A TIMEOUT.

I'M GOING TO ASK ASK IF THERE'S NO OBJECTION.

I'M ASKING COUNTY CLERK LUCY ADAME-CLARK.

YOU HAVE SOME CERTIFICATES OF APPRECIATION.

AND I BELIEVE AND I JUST WANT TO GET CLARITY, THERE ARE PEOPLE THAT HAVE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK.

ASPEN WALKER FROM CONGRESSMAN COOPER'S OFFICE.

I HAVE ERINA MADRIGAL AND PRISCILLA HERNANDEZ, BOTH ALL FROM YOUR OFFICE.

[02:05:06]

ARE THEY PARTICIPATING WITH YOU? NO. THEY'RE GOING TO GIVE THEIR TIME TO ME.

OKAY. WELL, WITH ALL DUE DEFERENCE, YOU YOU HAVE NO TIME.

I'M NOT PUTTING A TIME LIMIT, SO.

OH, THANK YOU. LET'S GET IT. LET'S GET.

CAN WE GET IT DONE BY LUNCHTIME? I WILL MAKE SURE WE GET DONE BEFORE LUNCH.

PROCEED. MISS LUCY ADAME-CLARK.

GOOD MORNING, JUDGE. GOOD MORNING, COMMISSIONERS.

I COME BEFORE YOU TO RECOGNIZE MY STAFF MEMBERS.

IF PRISCILLA HERNANDEZ CAN PLEASE COME UP.

RAQUEL MONTALVO, RINO MADRIGAL, EDDY PRECIADO, DEBORAH GRINER, RAQUEL MONTALVO AND SUSAN SEPULVEDA.

I COME TO YOU TO RECOGNIZE THESE EMPLOYEES WHO HAVE LED MY COUNTY CLERK'S OFFICE WITH AMAZING PUBLIC SERVICE TO OUR CONSTITUENTS AND THEIR NEEDS TO START A BUSINESS, RUN THE COURTS, MENTAL HEALTH, PROBATE AND SO MUCH MORE.

DURING THE PANDEMIC AND AS A NEWLY ELECTED, WE TOOK OUR OFFICE BY THE HORNS AND NEVER CLOSED OUR DOORS TO THE PEOPLE WE SERVE AND THE COUNTY THAT WE BUILT. THEY WORKED HARD AND MADE SURE THEY WORKED DAY IN AND DAY OUT TO SAVE THEIR FELLOW COLLEAGUES FROM THE BUDGET THAT WE FACED.

THEY FOUGHT SO HARD THAT THEIR COURT CLERKS AND LEE CLERKS ARE NOW BROUGHT UP A GRADE AND CHANGE ABOUT 50 JOB DESCRIPTIONS IN LESS THAN THREE WEEKS.

BUT AT THIS POINT, I COULDN'T HAVE LET THIS OFFICE AND CONTINUE TO LEAD THE OFFICE WITHOUT THE DEDICATION, DETERMINATION AND SELFLESS SERVICE OF THIS LEADERSHIP STAFF THAT STANDS BESIDE ME, WHO HELPED ME SUPPORT AND IDENTIFY UPWARDS OF 5 TO $8 MILLION THAT WE KEPT AND WE GAVE TO COUNTY GOVERNMENT, EITHER BUDGET OR RECORD MANAGEMENT OFFICER IN THE LAST FIVE YEARS.

AND MANY TIMES WE ELECTED OR ALWAYS BEING RECOGNIZED AND APPRECIATED AND ACKNOWLEDGED.

BUT WE LEAVE OUT OUR STAFF AND OUR TEAM WHO ACTUALLY LEADS BESIDE US.

OUR EMPLOYEES AND MY EMPLOYEES LED MY TRIP RIGHT BESIDE ME AT ALL TIMES DURING THIS PANDEMIC THAT WE ALL FACE TOGETHER.

MY OFFICE HOLDS OVER 250 YEARS OF COUNTY GOVERNMENT ALL TOGETHER.

PRISCILLA HERNANDEZ, WHO IS NUMBER ONE CHIEF DEPUTY, WAS ACTUALLY NUMBER TWO CHIEF DEPUTY TO MISTER RICKHOFF.

RAQUEL MONTALVO, WHO STARTED UNDER MISTER BOB GREEN IN THE 1990S, WAS ACTUALLY A MANAGER UNDER MISTER RICKHOFF AND NOW IS MY SECOND CHIEF DEPUTY, COMES WITH 33 YEARS.

MADRIGAL, WHO WAS A MANAGER FOR MISTER RICKHOFF, IS NOW MY SENIOR DIVISION CHIEF OF JUDICIAL AND TREASURY, COMES WITH 16 YEARS.

SUSAN SEPULVEDA, WHO WAS A SUPERVISOR WHEN I FIRST CAME INTO OFFICE, IS NOW ONE OF MY SENIOR DIVISION CHIEFS WHO SERVES 18 YEARS, AND HER MOM RETIRED WITH 30 YEARS FROM THE COUNTY CLERK'S OFFICE.

EDDIE PICHARDO, WHO DID 22.5 YEARS WITH HIS DISTRICT CLERK'S OFFICE, HAS NOW BEEN WITH ME TWO AND A HALF YEARS AND NOW HAS OVER 25 YEARS.

MY MANAGERS WHO ALSO SERVE, WHO ARE ACTUALLY DOWN AT THE OFFICE HAVE OVER 100 YEARS.

I COME TO YOU WITH OVER 27 YEARS MYSELF TO IN JANUARY I COME TO YOU WITH HENRY CUELLAR'S RECOGNITION WITH TOTO MARTINEZ, AND WE ALSO HAVE REPRESENTATIVES ALSO FROM MISTER HENRY ROGERS, CONGRESSMAN HENRY CUELLAR, ASPEN WALKER, LAUREN, ELIZABETH MUELLER, MATTHEW GERSON AND RAYMOND MAX THAT DID ALL THIS WORK TO PROVIDE THEM WITH RECOGNITION AND APPRECIATION FOR COUNTY GOVERNMENT.

WE HAVE MISS ASPEN AND TOTO.

YOU CAN COME FORWARD. GOOD MORNING, EVERYBODY.

WE ARE HERE ON BEHALF OF THE OFFICE OF CONGRESSMAN HENRY CUELLAR TO EXPRESS OUR GRATITUDE FOR COUNTY CLERK ADAME-CLARK STAFF AND THEIR HARD WORK AND ALL THE EFFORT THAT THEY PUT IN TO CONTRIBUTE TO THIS TO THE BEAR COUNTY.

AND SO WE ARE VERY THANKFUL FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO PRESENT AND SHOW OUR GRATITUDE FOR THESE STAFF.

THANK YOU. AND THEN I COME TO YOU WITH DEBORAH GRINER.

DEBORAH GRINER HAS BEEN WITH THE COUNTY GOING ON 37 YEARS.

SHE IS MY HUMAN RESOURCE SUPERVISOR, WHO WAS A COUNSELOR, WHO BECAME THE MENTOR, WHO BECAME THE INCOMING FOR INCOMING EMPLOYEES AND OUTGOING EMPLOYEES. MY STAFF DEALT WITH SO MANY MENTAL ANGUISH DURING THE COVID PANDEMIC THAT DEBORAH GRINER IS ONE OF THE LONGEST SERVING COUNTY CLERKS.

SHE WILL BE RECOGNIZED TODAY FOR HER SERVICE TO BEAR COUNTY.

I WANT TO THANK BUDGET FOR WORKING WITH US TIRELESSLY.

JASMINE JOSEPH, YOU WERE OUR NUMBER ONE GUY, TANYA, TINA AND DAVID.

WE HAD AN AMAZING FOUR YEARS NOW, OUR FIFTH YEAR OF BUDGET.

AND I KNOW WE WON'T STOP WORKING EVEN THOUGH WE DIDN'T GET CERTAIN THINGS.

I'LL BE KNOCKING ON YOUR DOOR.

SO JUDGE, IT IS YOUR FIRST BUDGET.

MY FIRST FOUR YEARS OF BUDGET WERE VERY SUCCESSFUL.

WE NEVER HAD ANY HICCUPS.

THIS IS THE FIRST TIME I'VE EVER FACED A CRISIS OR AN ISSUE WITH BUDGET.

[02:10:04]

THE LAST FOUR WERE JUST AMAZING.

COMMISSIONER MOODY, IT'S YOUR FIRST YEAR.

IT'S AN EYE OPENING.

SO WELCOME TO OUR FAMILY AND WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO THE REST OF THE PARTNERSHIP.

LEO, YOU AND OUR PARTNERS WHEN IT COMES TO TREASURY AND BOOKKEEPING, PATRICIA TORRES IS ALWAYS ON POINT WITH ALL OUR PURCHASING, AND DAN CURRY FACILITIES IS ALWAYS TRYING TO HELP US OUT.

SO ALL OUR TEAM MEMBERS, THANK YOU FOR THIS AMAZING JOURNEY THAT WE'VE ALL FACED TOGETHER.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

THANK YOU. GIVE HIM A ROUND OF APPLAUSE.

ALL RIGHT, LET'S TAKE UP THE TIME.

CERTAIN. AND WE'RE RUNNING A BIT BEHIND.

THE COURT WILL INVITES PUBLIC INPUT AND WILL TAKE APPROPRIATE ACTION ON AN APPLICATION BY.

OH, SURE. THEN DO YOU WANT TO STAY UP HERE OR DO YOU WANT.

Y'ALL GET IN THE FRONT.

WE'RE GOING TO STAND UP.

COME ON BACK. OH, MY GOSH.

EDDIE. Y'ALL GET TO KEEP THAT.

HEY, JASPER, WHERE'S OURS? NEXT DOOR.

WE NEED OURS. OKAY.

OKAY. HERE.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU.

SHH. SHH.

I SEE YOU.

OOPS. ALL RIGHT.

THE COMMISSION ACCORDS INVITES PUBLIC INPUT ON AND WILL TAKE APPROPRIATE ACTION ON THE APPLICATION BY ALL OF ESSER FOUNDATION TO HOLD THE 11TH ANNUAL

[4.g. 10:30 a.m.: The Commissioners Court invites public input on and will take appropriate action on an application by All of SA Foundation to hold the "11th Annual Barbacoa and Big Red Festival" on October 7th from 4:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. and on October 8th from 10:00 a.m. to 11:59 p.m. at R&J Music Pavilion, located at 18086 Pleasanton Road, San Antonio, TX 78221.]

BARBACOA BIG RED FESTIVAL ON OCTOBER 7TH FROM 4 P.M.

TO 11 P.M. AND OCTOBER 8TH FROM 10 A.M.

TO 11:59 P.M.

AT RJ MUSIC PAVILION, LOCATED AT 18086 PLEASANTON ROAD, SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS.

7822, ONE.

CHRIS, COME FORTH.

YEAH. WHERE'S THE BIG RED AND BARBACOA? YEAH, WE HAVE. NO, NO, NOBODY SHOWED UP TO SPEAK AGAINST IT, I HOPE.

COMMISSIONER, DID YOU WANT TO GO AHEAD AND JUST OPEN FOR PUBLIC INPUT? JUST HELP THE COMMUNITY TO UNDERSTAND.

YES, SIR. WHAT YOU'RE WHAT WE'RE APPROVING OR NOT APPROVING AGAIN THIS YEAR.

WE'VE GOT BIG RED AND BARBACOA IN THE IN OUR AREA AND PRECINCT ONE UNINCORPORATED AREA OF THE COUNTY.

THIS IS A IT'S BEEN A GOOD, SUCCESSFUL EVENT.

IT DOES REQUIRE THE PERMIT.

THAT'S WHY WE'RE HERE TODAY FOR A MASS GATHERING PERMIT.

AND I GUESS WE HAVE.

SHE'S SHE'S WITH BIG RED AND BARBACOA, SO SHE'S NOT HERE TO SPEAK AGAINST IT, SO.

WELL, NO, SHE SHE CAN BE HERE IN FOR IT.

SO LET'S ALLOW HER PUBLIC INPUT.

GO AHEAD, IDENTIFY YOURSELF.

I'M JANET BOTELHO. I DO VENDORS AND CORPORATE SPONSORS FOR THE FESTIVAL, AND I'VE BEEN WITH THEM SINCE YEAR TWO.

AND WE'RE JUST COMING TO THE COURT TODAY TO ASK IF WE CAN GET OUR MASS GATHERING PERMIT AND CONTINUE ON BUILDING OUR FESTIVAL AGAIN.

SOUNDS GOOD TO ME.

ANY OTHER COMMENT? THE COURT IS SEEKING PUBLIC INPUT.

IS THERE ANYBODY IN THE COURTROOM? NOBODY HAS SIGNED UP FOR THE PURPOSE OF THE RECORD MOVE APPROVAL OF THE PERMIT MOTION BY COMMISSIONER CALVERT SECOND BY COMMISSIONER MOODY.

ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? YES, I HAVE COMMENTS.

SO THANK YOU FOR BEING IN MY PRECINCT ONCE AGAIN.

AND I ALSO JUST WANT TO SAY HOW THAT'S GOING TO BE A VERY BUSY WEEKEND IN PRECINCT ONE.

SO I ENCOURAGE YOU TO GO OUT TO THE FESTIVAL.

AND THEN THAT NIGHT, OCTOBER 7TH, I DON'T KNOW, LAURA COLE HERE.

I DON'T SEE HER. SO WE ARE HAVING BIBLIO FEST AT THE BIBLIOTHEQUE ON THE SOUTH SIDE AT THE SATELLITE OFFICE.

SO WE ENCOURAGE YOU TO COME OUT TO THAT FROM YOU CAN YOU CAN TAKE YOUR PENS OUT AND WRITE NOTES AND GET ON YOUR CALENDAR.

JUST I'M JUST SAYING. OR GET YOUR PHONES, GET ALL YOUR CALENDARS SO YOU CAN SHOW UP.

SO BIBLE FEST AT THE BIBLIOTHEQUE IS GOING TO BE FROM 4 TO 9.

WE'RE ALSO GOING TO SHOW A MOVIE AT SUNSET AND THEN YOU CAN WAKE UP THE NEXT MORNING, WORK OFF ALL THE BIG RED AND BARBACOA AND COME TO MY FIVE K THAT WE ARE DOING ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE PRECINCT AT NORTHWEST VISTA COLLEGE AT 8 A.M.

THAT SUNDAY MORNING BECAUSE WE CAN EAT WELL.

[02:15:02]

BUT THEN WE ALSO HAVE TO HAVE PREVENTATIVE HEALTH AND MAKE SURE WE WALK ALL THAT OFF.

SO IT'S GOING TO BE A BIG WEEKEND IN PRECINCT ONE.

SO I'M HAPPY TO SUPPORT THIS.

THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT.

WE HAVE A MOTION FOR COMMISSIONER CALVERT SECOND BY COMMISSIONER MOODY.

IS THERE ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE.

AYE. ANY OPPOSED? GOOD LUCK.

SEE YOU AT THE BARBARA COLON BIG RED FESTIVAL.

ALL RIGHT. AGENDA ITEM NUMBER FIVE REQUEST OF COMMISSIONERS COURT TO IDENTIFY ITEMS FROM THE CONSENT AGENDA FOR ADDITIONAL DISCUSSION AND APPROVE

[5. Request of Commissioners Court to identify items from the Consent Agenda for additional discussion and to approve remaining Consent Agenda items.]

REMAINING CONSENT AGENDA ITEMS. I'LL START WITH COMMISSIONER CLAY-FLORES.

ANYTHING TO PULL? YES, I'D LIKE TO PULL 23 TO 30.

23 TO 30.

ALL RIGHT. LOOKS LIKE THOSE ARE PUBLIC WORK ISSUES.

CORRECT. ALL RIGHT. JUST WANT TO ALERT PUBLIC WORKS.

WE'LL HAVE A DISCUSSION.

ANY FURTHER ITEMS TO PULL? NOT FOR ME. COMMISSIONER RODRIGUEZ.

COMMISSIONER MOODY.

YES, JUDGE, I'D LIKE TO JUST PULL ITEM 68.

68, 68.

ALL RIGHT. THAT'S THE REQUEST FOR APPOINTMENT TO THE FAIR COUNTY HOSPITAL DISTRICT.

ALL RIGHT, COMMISSIONER CALVERT.

JUDGE. JUDGE.

YES, STAFF, WHERE'S.

THERE'S A VOICE OUT THERE.

LIKE IF A STAFF CAN DEFER ITEM 21, REQUEST TO DEFER TO DROP 21.

CORRECT. ALL RIGHT, WE'RE DROPPING 21.

[21. Approval of a First Amendment to the Right-of-way Improvements License Agreement between Bexar County and Spectrum Association Management/Marbach Place Homeowners Association to install and maintain solar streetlights covered by the agreement at no cost to the County. ]

IS THERE ANY DO WE NEED TO TAKE ACTION ON THAT? ALL RIGHT. THERE'S A MOTION THAT TABLE 21, IS THERE A SECOND SECOND BY COMMISSIONER RODRIGUEZ? ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE.

AYE. ANY OPPOSED MOTION CARRIES.

21 IS DROPPED.

ALL RIGHT. LET US NOW TAKE UP COMMISSIONER CLAY-FLORES.

[23. Approval of Field Alteration Request Number two between Bexar County and Capital Excavation requesting to increase the contract amount by $5,775 in connection with the Watson Road Phase I (MPO) Project. Precinct Number 1. ]

SINCE YOU WOULDN'T WANT 23 TO 30.

ARE YOU ASKING THAT WE INDIVIDUALLY.

YES. INDIVIDUALLY, PLEASE.

WELL, I'M. I DEFER TO YOU, DAVID.

YEAH. SO CAN YOU JUST SUMMARIZE NUMBER 23, PLEASE? YES. NUMBER 23 IS ONE OF OUR CAPITAL PROJECTS IN PRECINCT ONE ON WATSON ROAD.

THERE IS A FIELD ALTERATION REQUEST WITH CAPITAL EXCAVATION AND BEAR COUNTY TO INCLUDE SOME LIMESTONE BLOCKS WITHIN THE ROUNDABOUT ITSELF TO KEEP VEHICLES FROM DRIVING OVER THAT TO PROTECT THE SIGNAGE IN THAT AREA.

AND THAT'S AN MPO PROJECT, MEANING THEY'RE PAYING FOR IT.

YES. IT'S BEING REIMBURSED 80% BY FEDERAL FUNDS.

YES, MA'AM. OKAY, GREAT.

SO I JUST WANT TO PULL THIS TO POINT OUT POINT OUT THE FACT THAT THERE'S SO MUCH THAT WE CAN CONTINUE TO LEVERAGE WHEN WE PARTNER TOGETHER IN TERMS OF AT THE LOCAL LEVEL, IN TERMS OF COUNTY AND ALSO WITH FEDERAL FUNDING.

SO I'M GLAD THAT THAT'S FINALLY GETTING COMPLETED.

THANK YOU. I MOVE FOR APPROVAL.

SECOND. ALL RIGHT.

THERE'S A MOTION AND A SECOND ON ITEM 23.

ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE.

AYE. ANY OPPOSED MOTION CARRIES CONTINUED.

COMMISSIONER CLAY-FLORES 24.

DAVID YES, MA'AM.

[24. Approval of Final Recapitulation of project costs between Bexar County and Salinas Construction Technologies, Ltd (HABE, MBE, SBE, DBE) in connection with the Highland Oaks Project. The recapitulation shows a total increase of $228,690.53 and a final total construction amount of $4,107,958.21 with an appropriate budget transfer. Precinct Number 1. ]

NUMBER 24 IS A RECAPITULATION OF THE FINAL.

ON ITS ON OUR HIGHLAND OAKS SUBDIVISION PROJECT.

THAT WAS A LONG TIME COMING.

THOSE WERE UNPAVED STREETS THAT WERE PLATTED BACK IN THE 50S.

COMMISSIONERS COURT DID APPROVE FUNDING TO COMPLETE THOSE STREETS, AND THIS COMPLETES THE PROJECT WITH OUR CONTRACTOR.

SO I WANTED TO PULL THIS BECAUSE THIS IS HUGE.

HIGHLAND OAKS.

THAT COMMUNITY HAS DEALT WITH A LOT OF INJUSTICE FOR A LONG TIME, AND WE KNOW THAT THESE TYPES OF CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS TAKE A LONG TIME.

AND SO I'M REALLY GLAD THAT THIS IS FINALLY DONE.

I DID A RIDE ALONG OUT THERE WITH PUBLIC WORKS THIS SUMMER AND IT LOOKS REALLY GOOD COMPARED TO THE FIRST TIME I WENT OUT THERE WHEN I WAS RUNNING FOR OFFICE. SO I AM SO GRATEFUL THAT THIS IS FINALLY, FINALLY DONE.

AND THIS IS A HUGE WIN FOR FOR THAT NEIGHBORHOOD.

SO I MOVE FOR APPROVAL.

SECOND. MOTION BY COMMISSIONER CLAY-FLORES.

SECOND BY COMMISSIONER RODRIGUEZ.

ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE.

AYE. ANY OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES.

CONTINUE. COMMISSIONER CLAY-FLORES 25.

[25. Approval to negotiate a contract for the provision of Professional Construction Engineering and Inspection Services for Talley Road Phase n - Wiseman Boulevard to Tamaron Pass (MPO) Project with Lamb-Star Engineering, LLC (SMWBE). Precinct Number 1.]

YES, MA'AM. ITEM 25.

AS YOU MENTIONED EARLIER, THIS IS ANOTHER, ANOTHER PROJECT THAT WE'RE LEVERAGING FEDERAL FUNDS BY.

WHENEVER I HAVE A PROJECT THAT HAS FEDERAL FUNDS.

WHEN I GO INTO CONSTRUCTION, WE DO THIRD PARTY CONSTRUCTION MANAGEMENT AND INSPECTIONS FOR THESE PROJECTS.

[02:20:03]

THIS PARTICULAR ITEM STAFF RECOMMENDS LAMB STAR ENGINEERING, AND WE DO HAVE REPRESENTATIVES FROM LAMB STAR ENGINEERING, IF YOU'D LIKE THEM TO SAY A FEW WORDS.

ALSO, THEY WERE THE HIGHEST RANKED FIRM.

THEY HAVE A 70% PARTICIPATION AS WELL.

AND THAT STAFF RECOMMENDATION ON THAT.

SURE. SINCE YOU'RE HERE, DO YOU WANT TO COME FORWARD? PLEASE IDENTIFY YOURSELF.

AND WHO IS WITH YOU? I'M CLINT KARANOVIC, THE PROJECT MANAGER FOR STAR ENGINEERING.

CRISTINA CRUZ, UTILITY COORDINATOR FOR LAMP STAR ENGINEERING.

JASON GRANATO. I'M THE SUPPORT ENGINEER AS WELL.

CAN YOU JUST SPEAK A LITTLE BIT TO WHAT THIS MEANS TO THE COMMUNITY IN THE NORTHWEST PART OF THE PRECINCT? SURE. SO AS A PROJECT MANAGER, I WANT TO THANK THE COURT FOR CONSIDERING STAR ENGINEERING FOR THIS GREAT PROJECT.

I WANT TO ALSO THANK MR. WEGMAN AND MR. FOUNTAIN FOR THEIR DEDICATED SERVICE.

YOU KNOW, WE'RE HONORED TO SERVE THIS GREAT COUNTY AND BE STEWARDS OF THE PROJECT FOR FOLKS AND PRECINCT ONE THAT WE LIVE AND WORK WITH EVERY DAY.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU.

SO TALLY ROAD IS ANOTHER ONE THAT'S BEEN LONG.

HAD TO FIELD A WHOLE BUNCH OF CONSTITUENT COMPLAINTS.

BUT NOW THAT THE FIRST PHASE IS DONE, WE DON'T HAVE ANY MORE COMPLAINTS.

AND IT'S JUST GOOD TO DRIVE OUT THERE AND HAVE SO MUCH MORE OPEN SPACE TO RIDE.

SO I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO THE SECOND PHASE.

I MOVE FOR APPROVAL.

MOTION BY COMMISSIONER CLAY-FLORES.

SECOND BY COMMISSIONER RODRIGUEZ.

ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE.

AYE. ANY OPPOSED MOTION CARRIES.

COMMISSIONER CLAY-FLORES.

THANK YOU. I'M SORRY. THANKS FOR BEING HERE.

THANK YOU. 26.

[Items 26 - 30]

DAVID. YES, 26.

ACTUALLY, THE BALANCE. 26, 27, 28, 29 AND 30 ARE ALL INDICATIVE OF THE EXPLOSIVE GROWTH THAT'S HAPPENING IN PRECINCT ONE RIGHT NOW. WE HAVE SUBDIVISION PLOTS PREDOMINANTLY IN THE UNINCORPORATED AREAS OF BEAR COUNTY WITHIN BEAR COUNTY NOW, AND LESS AND LESS WITHIN THE INCORPORATED LIMITS OF THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO.

AS CONFIRMED WITH MY DEVELOPMENT SERVICES STAFF, THE MAJORITY OF ALL NEW SUBDIVISION PLOTS HAPPENING IN BEAR COUNTY ARE PRECINCT ONE PROJECTS, FOLLOWED CLOSELY BY PRECINCT FOUR. BUT INDEED, THE MAJORITY OF THE UNINCORPORATED AREA GROWTH IS HAPPENING IN PRECINCT ONE.

AND AS YOU KNOW, A LOT OF IT IS CENTERED AROUND THAT TALLY ROAD, POTRANCO ROAD AREA, WISEMAN BOULEVARD.

THAT AREA HAS JUST TAKEN OFF LIKE CRAZY.

WELL, I'M HAPPY TO SEE ALL THE NEW CONSTRUCTION THAT WE'RE DOING OUT THERE TO HELP LESSEN CONGESTION.

AND I KNOW WE HAVE A LONG ROAD AHEAD OF US STILL, NO PUN INTENDED.

AND WE'LL CONTINUE TO ADVOCATE FOR MORE FUNDING SO THAT WE CAN HELP TO LESSEN THE CONGESTION.

SO AT THIS TIME, I'D LIKE TO MOVE FOR APPROVAL FOR THE REMAINING OF THE ITEMS I PULLED.

ITEMS NUMBER 26, 27, 28, 29 AND 30.

ALL RIGHT. THERE'S MOTION BY COMMISSIONER CLAY-FLORES FOR ITEMS 26, 27, 28, 29 AND 30.

THERE'S A SECOND BY COMMISSIONER CALVERT ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE.

AYE. ANY OPPOSED MOTION CARRIES.

WE NOW HAVE APPROVED ITEMS 23 TO 30.

LET'S TAKE UP THE ONE AND IT WILL COME BACK AND APPROVE THE CONSENT, I BELIEVE.

ITEM NUMBER 68.

[68. Approval of a request from Commissioner Grant Moody, Precinct 3, to appoint the following individual to the Bexar County Hospital District Board of Managers (University Health): ]

COMMISSIONER MOODY, YOU HAVE THE FLOOR.

THANK YOU, JUDGE. I JUST WANTED TO TAKE A MINUTE HERE TO HIGHLIGHT THIS APPOINTMENT OF DR.

DAVID COHEN TO THE UNIVERSITY HEALTH BOARD.

I'VE SPENT MANY MONTHS SEARCHING FOR SOMEBODY.

I FIND UNIVERSITY HEALTH BOARD ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT BOARDS, IF NOT THE MOST IMPORTANT BOARD THAT WE MAKE APPOINTMENTS TO.

AND I THINK DAVID COHEN IS UP TO THE TASK.

HE'S HE'S GOING TO BE A VERY VALUABLE RESOURCE FOR THAT BOARD AND FOR OUR COMMUNITY.

BUT I JUST WANTED TO MAKE A PUBLIC INTRODUCTION OF HIS BACKGROUND.

HE WAS BORN HERE IN SAN ANTONIO, WENT TO MACARTHUR HIGH SCHOOL, HAS A BIOCHEMISTRY DEGREE FROM RICE UNIVERSITY.

MD DEGREE FROM WASHINGTON, UNIVERSITY OF SAINT LOUIS.

BUT THAT WASN'T ENOUGH.

HE HE HAS TWO ADDITIONAL DEGREES, ONE IN MECHANICAL ENGINEERING FROM UTSA AND A MASTERS IN PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION FROM HARVARD UNIVERSITY.

HE'S HE'S TAUGHT AT UT HEALTH.

HE'S BEEN THE DIRECTOR OF CARDIOTHORACIC SURGEON AT OUR VA HOSPITAL.

HE'S SERVED AT WALTER REED MEDICAL CENTER.

HE'S ALSO SERVED AT BETHESDA NAVAL HOSPITAL, AS WELL AS BMC.

AFTER SERVING IN THE UNITED STATES ARMY, HE RETIRED BUT CAME BACK TO ACTIVE DUTY TO SERVE ON THE TEXAS STATE GUARD

[02:25:02]

AS THE CHIEF MEDICAL OFFICER HERE IN TEXAS AND ULTIMATELY PROMOTED TO THE RANK OF BRIGADIER GENERAL.

SO I WON'T BELABOR ANY FURTHER, BUT REALLY IMPRESSIVE INDIVIDUAL, HIGHLY QUALIFIED.

I THINK HE'S GOING TO BRING A LOT TO THE BOARD AND I JUST WANTED TO BRING THAT FORWARD PUBLICLY.

I'LL MOVE APPROVAL.

I'LL SECOND THAT. HE'S A BAD MAMA JAMA.

MOTION BY COMMISSIONER.

I WAS LIKE, CALVERT. NO, NO.

COMMISSIONER MOODY'S MOTION SECOND BY COMMISSIONER.

ARE YOU ASKING THAT THAT GO ON THE RECORD COMMISSIONER.

KYRA AND HE ACCEPT THAT.

COMMISSIONER MOODY ANY FURTHER DISCUSSIONS? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE.

AYE. ANY OPPOSED MOTION UNANIMOUSLY CARRIES.

ALL RIGHT. I BELIEVE THAT TAKES ALL THE POOL ITEMS. I'LL ASK FOR A MOTION TO APPROVE THE REMAINING ITEMS OF CONSENT.

[CONSENT AGENDA ITEMS:]

SO MOVE, JUDGE. SECOND.

MOTION BY COMMISSIONER RODRIGUEZ.

SECOND BY COMMISSIONER CLAY-FLORES.

ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE.

AYE. ANY OPPOSED MOTION CARRIES.

WE NOW WILL CONTINUE.

AND I THINK WE'RE GETTING THERE.

COLLEAGUES, LET'S SEE.

LET ME GO BACK.

WE'RE STILL AT THE FRONT END OF THE AGENDA.

FILING NUMBER SIX, FILING FOR RECORD, THE FOLLOWING LEGAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE DOCUMENTS DIRECTING THE CRIMINAL DISTRICT ATTORNEY TO TAKE ACTION IF NECESSARY.

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

A BEAR COUNTY AUDITOR'S YEAR IN MONTHLY FINANCIAL REPORT UNAUDITED AND UNADJUSTED FOR APRIL 30TH, 2022 THROUGH JUNE 30TH, 2023. B CHAPTER 381 GRANT AGREEMENTS WITH FOUR NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS APPROVED MAY 2ND, 2023 ONE BILL SAN ANTONIO TO BILL HOUSE ARTS THREE CARVER COMMUNITY CULTURE CENTER AND FOUR CACTUS PEAR MUSIC FESTIVAL.

THE COURT TAKES JUDICIAL NOTICE OF THOSE DOCUMENTS.

COURT IS GOING TO CONSIDER ITEM SEVEN COMMISSIONER'S COURT MINUTES OR TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 5TH, 2023, AND WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 6TH,

[7. Commissioners Court minutes for Tuesday, September 5, 2023 & Wednesday, September 6, 2023]

2023. MOTION TO APPROVE THE MINUTES.

MOTION BY COMMISSIONER RODRIGUEZ.

SECOND BY COMMISSIONER MOODY.

ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE.

ANY ANY OPPOSED MOTION CARRIES.

WE'LL NOW GO TO AGENDA ITEM NUMBER EIGHT COMMUNICATION FROM CITIZENS WHO SIGNED TO REGISTER TO SPEAK.

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

I HOPE. MR. DANIEL GONZALEZ WITH THE DISTRICT CLERK'S OFFICE.