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[1. Opening Prayer Reverend Dr. L. A. Williams, Wheatley Heights First Baptist Church]
GOOD MORNING. ALL RIGHT.I'D LIKE TO WELCOME EVERYONE TO THE BURKE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS COURT MEETING FOR OCTOBER 10TH, 2023.
HAPPY NEW YEAR. HAPPY NEW YEAR.
COMMISSIONER CALVERT, WILL YOU PLEASE INTRODUCE THE REVEREND FOR OPENING PRAYER? AND THEN ALSO TO COMMISSIONER GRANT MOODY.
I THINK YOU'RE ON BY ZOOM AND YOU'LL BE PARTICIPATING IN VOTING IN TODAY'S AGENDA.
WE WILL HAVE TWO PRAYERS IN LIGHT OF THE CURRENT CIRCUMSTANCES.
SO AT THIS TIME, COMMISSIONER CALVERT, PLEASE INTRODUCE REVEREND WILLIAMS. THANK YOU, JUDGE.
IT'S MY DELIGHT TO WELCOME ONE OF MY FAVORITE PASTORS IN TOWN, THE REVEREND ELI WILLIAMS. I KIND OF GIVEN YOU THE IN MY OWN HOUSE, THE MONIKER OF THE JESSE DUPLANTIS OF SAN ANTONIO.
NOT ENOUGH OF PEOPLE IN THIS ROOM ARE WATCHING TBN.
THEY DON'T KNOW WHO JESSE DUPLANTIS IS.
SINCE 1984, REVEREND WILLIAMS HAS BEEN THE PASTOR AT WHEATLEY HEIGHTS BAPTIST CHURCH.
HE RECEIVED PASTORAL MINISTRY AT SAINT JAMES BAPTIST CHURCH IN ORANGE, TEXAS.
HE HAS SERVED AS MODERATOR FOR THE GUADALUPE DISTRICT ASSOCIATION, MEMBER OF THE COMMUNITY OF CHURCHES FOR SOCIAL ACTION, MEMBER OF THE BAPTIST MINISTERS UNION OF SAN ANTONIO AND MEMBER OF THE MINISTERS UNITED FOR MINISTERIAL DEVELOPMENT IN THE GREAT FLOOD OF OCTOBER 1998.
THE CHURCH'S ORIGINAL LOCATION ON F STREET WAS DESTROYED.
ONLY A FEW THINGS WERE SALVAGEABLE.
A PICTURE THE CORNERSTONE AND A FEW PIECES OF FURNITURE.
WITH THE HELP OF THE CONGREGATION AND COMMUNITY.
THE FIRST WORSHIP SERVICE IN THE NEW SANCTUARY TOOK PLACE ON JANUARY 17TH, 2003.
SERVICES HAVE BEEN THERE SINCE AND THEY HAVE BEEN FOCUSING ON FAITH, FAMILY, FELLOWSHIP AND FUN.
I THINK REVEREND DOCTOR WILLIAMS FOR JOINING US TODAY.
AND I'LL ASK YOU ALL TO RISE AS HE LEADS US IN PRAYER.
THANK YOU. HEAVENLY FATHER, WE THANK YOU FOR THIS DAY THAT YOU'VE GRANTED AND GIVEN UNTO US.
WE THANK YOU FOR THE LABOR THAT YOU PERMIT US TO DO ON YOUR BEHALF AND ON THE BEHALF OF PEOPLE.
OH, GOD, THAT HAS ALREADY BEEN ESTABLISHED BY THOSE WHO HAVE COME BEFORE US.
MAY WE LABOR IN SUCH A WAY THAT WE EVEN SO, LORD, AS WE STAND ON THEIR SHOULDERS, DO GREATER THINGS? FATHER, I PRAY FOR THESE LEADERS WHO SEEK TO SERVE AS INSTRUMENTS AND YOUR BLESSING UPON ALL WHO ARE PRESENT IN THIS SETTING.
I PRAY FOR CLEAR UNDERSTANDING IN THEIR DELIBERATIONS.
I PRAY FOR COURAGE TO DO WHAT'S RIGHT.
LEAD THEM ALWAYS TO PUT THE INTERESTS OF OTHERS ABOVE THEMSELVES.
EVEN SO, LORD, I PRAY THAT YOU WOULD USE THEM TO PROMOTE PROSPERITY AND NOT ONLY PROSPERITY, BUT EVEN SO, TO DO ALL IN THEIR POWER TO END ANY INJUSTICES IN OUR SOCIETY, TO ADVANCE THE WELFARE AND WELL-BEING OF ALL IN OUR CITY AND IN OUR COUNTY. HELP US TO BE GOOD LEADERS, GOOD EXAMPLES, GOOD CITIZENS AND GOOD NEIGHBORS WHOSE CHIEF AIM IS TO BE A BLESSING TO THOSE WHO DEPEND UPON US TO DO THE RIGHT THING.
AMEN. GOOD MORNING, COMMISSIONER MOODY.
IF YOU'D LIKE TO WELCOME THE RABBI.
THANK YOU. CAN YOU HEAR ME? YES. WELL, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
AND IF I COULD JUST TAKE A MOMENT OF PERSONAL PRIVILEGE, UM, DUE TO MY MY PERSONAL CONNECTION AND OBVIOUSLY THE WEIGHTINESS OF THIS MOMENT, UM, FOR OUR COMMUNITY AND FOR THE WORLD, IN THE PAST 96 HOURS, ISRAEL HAS EXPERIENCED THEIR OWN NINE OVER 11 WITH NEARLY A THOUSAND DEAD, EVEN MORE INJURED, AND MORE THAN 100 CIVILIAN HOSTAGES TAKEN INTO GAZA.
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AMERICANS ARE MISSING, TOO.IN 2018, I WAS IN ISRAEL IN THE TOWN OF SDEROT.
IT WAS ONE OF THE TOWNS OVERRUN BY HAMAS.
THIS WEEKEND WHERE CIVILIANS WERE MURDERED IN THE STREETS.
THE LADY I BEFRIENDED THAT DAY, SHIN KOTLER ABRAHAMS, HAD HER FAMILY KIDNAPED THIS WEEKEND AS A CAREER MARINE OFFICER WHO FOUGHT IN IRAQ AND AFGHANISTAN IN OUR OWN GLOBAL WAR ON TERRORISM.
I CAN ASSURE YOU THAT THESE ACTS BY HAMAS ARE WAR CRIMES.
NOW WE SEE HAMAS USING HUMAN SHIELDS, WHICH IS ALSO A WAR CRIME.
THE PALESTINIAN CIVILIAN CASUALTIES OVER THE COMING MONTHS IS ON THE HANDS OF HAMAS.
THEY WERE ATTACKED VICIOUSLY BY THESE TERRORISTS AND THEY MUST RESPOND TO PROTECT THEIR PEOPLE.
ISRAEL DOESN'T WANT TO HARM A SINGLE PALESTINIAN CIVILIAN, BUT HAMAS IS ENSURING THAT IT IS AN IMPOSSIBILITY BY CONTINUING TO HIDE THEIR WEAPONS, THEIR FIGHTERS AND NOW LIKELY HOSTAGES AND POPULATED AREAS OF GAZA, ENSURING COLLATERAL DAMAGE THAT THEY WILL USE AS PROPAGANDA GOING FORWARD.
IT'S WRONG, AND THE TRUTH NEEDS TO BE TOLD.
WE PRAY FOR THOSE KILLED AND INJURED THEIR FAMILIES.
WE PRAY FOR THOSE HOSTAGES IN GAZA TODAY.
WE PRAY FOR THE SONS AND DAUGHTERS OF ISRAEL WHO WILL FIGHT TO BRING THEM HOME.
MAY GOD BLESS THEM ALL AND KEEP THEM ALL SAFE.
NOW I'D LIKE TO INTRODUCE A FRIEND OF OUR COMMUNITY AND A FRIEND OF ISRAEL.
RABBI ABRAHAM SCHEINBERG IS THE RABBI OF CONGREGATION RODEPH SHALOM, AND HIS FATHER HAS SERVED AS THE RABBI BEFORE HIM IN SAN ANTONIO FOR 51 YEARS.
HERE HE WAS BORN AND RAISED IN SAN ANTONIO AND STUDIED IN ISRAEL FOR EIGHT YEARS.
HE AND HIS WIFE, MAHAL, ARE PROUD PARENTS TO FIVE GIRLS AND TWO BOYS.
IS YOURS. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR HAVING ME HERE ON THIS SAD DAY.
I'D LIKE TO OFFER A PRAYER, ESPECIALLY FOR THOSE WOMEN AND CHILDREN THAT HAVE BEEN KIDNAPED AND TAKEN AWAY FROM THEIR FAMILIES AND ARE BEING HELD CAPTIVE AND ARE BEING HELD HOSTAGE. WE NEED THE VOICES OF THOSE IN BEXAR COUNTY AND SAN ANTONIO TO RISE UP AND TO PROCLAIM THIS INJUSTICE FOR THE ONLY THING NECESSARY FOR EVIL TO FOR THE TRIUMPH OF EVIL IS FOR GOOD MEN TO DO NOTHING.
VERMEER MERE MERE FEET AWAY FROM THE FROM THE ALAMO.
I'D LIKE TO OFFER A PSALM TODAY, PSALM 121, A SONG OF ASCENTS.
I SHALL RAISE MY EYES TO THE MOUNTAINS.
FROM WHERE WILL MY HELP COME? MY HELP IS FROM THE LORD, THE MAKER OF HEAVEN AND EARTH.
HE WILL NOT ALLOW YOUR FOOT TO FALTER.
YOUR GUARDIAN WILL NOT SLUMBER.
BEHOLD THE GUARDIAN OF ISRAEL, NEITHER SLUMBER NOR SLEEP.
HE IS BY YOUR RIGHT HAND BY DAY.
THE SUN WILL NOT SMILE, SMITE YOU, NOR WILL THE MOON AT NIGHT.
THE LORD WILL GUARD YOU FROM ALL EVIL.
THE LORD WILL GUARD YOUR GOING OUT AND YOUR COMING IN FROM NOW UNTIL ETERNITY.
THANK YOU, RABBI. IF YOU'LL JOIN US IN THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.
ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.
IF I'D ASKED EVERYBODY, PLEASE REMAIN STANDING.
RABBI SCHOENBERG, THANK YOU FOR YOUR PRAYERS.
LAST NIGHT I WAS PART OF A VERY MOVING SOLIDARITY GATHERING FOR ISRAEL.
LAST NIGHT AT THE TEMPLE BETH EL SYNAGOGUE.
I WAS THERE ON BEHALF OF BURKE COUNTY AND THE COMMISSIONERS COURT TO SHOW THAT WE STAND WITH ISRAEL.
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ARE MOURNING TODAY IN BEXAR COUNTY AND AROUND THE WORLD.AT THIS TIME, I ASK FOR A PAUSE AND A REFLECTION IN PRAYER.
COMMISSIONER. DID YOU WANT TO SPEAK RIGHT NOW? OKAY. OKAY. OKAY.
ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER CALVERT.
THANK YOU, REVEREND WILLIAMS. THANK YOU, RABBI STEINBERG.
AT THIS TIME, WE'RE GOING TO TAKE UP THE CEREMONIAL ITEMS.
[3. CEREMONIAL ITEM(S):]
COMMISSIONERS. I'LL ASK FOR YOUR INDULGENCE.I THINK IN LIGHT OF THE ALL THE PRESENTATIONS MADE.
I'D ASK THAT WE STEP DOWN IN FRONT SO THAT WAY WE CAN MAKE THOSE PRESENTATIONS.
COMMISSIONER CALVERT, I THINK YOU HAD THE FIRST ONE.
THE SECOND ONE? YEAH, THE THIRD ONE AND FOURTH ONE.
AND THEN COMMISSIONER RODRIGUEZ, YOU HAVE THE LAST ONE.
GLORIA WANTS TO STEP FORWARD WITH YOUR FAMILY OR FRIENDS.
THE NOT SURE IF THE DISTRICT COURT.
I'M SORRY. I SAW I SAW CLERK FOR A SECOND.
JUDGE WOULD YOU LIKE TO SAY A FEW WORDS JUST TO LET US KNOW A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE HISTORY OF GLORIA? YES, BRIEFLY.
GOOD MORNING, COMMISSIONERS AND JUDGE SAKAI.
I AM THE JUDGE OF THE 437TH DISTRICT COURT.
I'VE KNOWN GLORIA FOR MANY YEARS.
I WON'T SAY HOW MANY, BUT, YOU KNOW, IT GOES BACK A LONG WAY.
AND WAY BACK THEN, YOU COULD SEE THAT SHE IS A VERY HARD WORKER, VERY KNOWLEDGEABLE.
BUT MORE THAN THAT, ON A DAY TO DAY BASIS, HER ATTITUDE, HER PERSONALITY, HER FRIENDLINESS TO ANYONE THAT WALKED INTO THAT COURT. AND IT REMAINS TODAY.
NEXT, SHE WENT AND BECAME A SUPERVISOR FOR THE CRIMINAL COURTS OF THE DISTRICT CLERKS.
AND NOT THAT THEY DON'T KNOW, BUT SHE JUST HAS THAT KIND OF KNOWLEDGE AFTER ALL THESE YEARS.
AND THAT'S WHO SHE WAS, THE GO TO PERSON.
AND SO YOU NEVER SEE HER WITH WITHOUT A SMILE.
AND NOW I'M GLAD THAT I TOOK HER AWAY FROM THE DISTRICT CLERK'S OFFICE.
AND NOW SHE'S THE COORDINATOR FOR THE 437TH.
SO I THINK THE CITIZENS OF BURKE COUNTY, THE DISTRICT CLERKS AND NOW THE 437TH ARE LUCKY TO HAVE SOMEONE OF THE CALIBER OF MS..
GLORIA TAMAYO. SO CONGRATULATIONS, GLORIA.
I JUST WANT TO THANK EVERYBODY FOR BEING HERE.
I AM SO EXCITED TO RECEIVE MY PIN AFTER 30 YEARS.
DOES ANYBODY WANT? THERE WE GO.
YOU WANT FAMILY UP HERE? YES. COME ON.
COME ON. ARE YOU GOING TO BE WITH US ANOTHER 30? PROBABLY. COULD WE HAVE A SEAT TO YOUR PITCH? WE'LL MAKE ONE. WE'LL MAKE ONE.
I'LL COME IN THE PICTURE. COME ON.
COME ON. CAN WE GET A COPY OF IT? THANK YOU.
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THANK YOU. HAVE A GOOD DAY.THANK YOU. THIS IS FOR CALVERT.
OH, GOOD TO SEE YOU. THANK YOU.
WELL, WE'D LIKE TO INVITE THE ESTEEMED DR.
ELIZONDO AND HIS WIFE TO COME TO THE DAIS, IF YOU WILL COME.
DR. ELIZONDO HAS A LOT OF HISTORY IN THIS CITY, DATING BACK WITH HENRY B GONZALEZ AND SAN ANTONIO INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT AND SO MANY CIVIL RIGHTS BATTLES.
AND HE'S STILL DOING GREAT THINGS.
THANK YOU ALL FOR COMING. LET ME READ FROM THE BEXAR COUNTY HISTORICAL COMMISSION.
THIS HIDALGO SAYS, IS A NOBLE MAN OR WOMAN, A PERSON OF NOBLE DESCENT, ONE WHO IS ENNOBLED THE TITLE OR STYLE OF HIDALGO WAS CONFERRED BY DECREE OF THE SPANISH KING ON THE SETTLERS OF THE CANARY ISLANDS, WHO RESPONDED TO THE CROWN'S APPEAL FOR PEOPLE TO COME TO THE PROVINCE OF THE NEW PHILIPPINES, WHICH WAS TEXAS IN 1718.
TODAY, BY ORDER OF THE COMMISSIONERS OF THE COUNTY OF BEJAR, IT IS CONFERRED ON THOSE DEEMED WORTHY OF SO HISTORIC AND EXALTED A TITLE IN THE NAME OF AND BY THE AUTHORITY OF THE COUNTY OF BEJAR.
I CONFER ON YOU THE NOBLE TITLE OF HIDALGO.
THANK YOU. AND LET ME JUST SAY SO THAT IT'S KNOWN IN THE STREETS FROM EVERY TOWN SQUARE.
THE THE HIDALGO SAYS GREETINGS KNOW YE BECAUSE WHEN WE'RE SERIOUS FOR WRITING AN OLD ENGLISH KNOW YE THAT DOCTOR WILLIAM ELIZONDO IS HEREBY APPOINTED HIDALGO DE SAN ANTONIO DE BEJAR UNDER THE UNDER THE LAWS OF THE COUNTY OF BEXAR WITH ALL RIGHTS, PRIVILEGES AND EMOLUMENTS APPERTAINING TO SAID OFFICE IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF I HAVE HEREUNTO SIGNED MY NAME AND CAUSE A SEAL OF THE COUNTY TO BE AFFIXED AT THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO, STATE OF TEXAS, THIS 10TH DAY OF OCTOBER 2023, SIGNED BY YOUR COUNTY JUDGE, PETER SAKAI, AND ATTESTED TO BY OUR COUNTY CLERK, LUCY ADAME-CLARK.
DOC, BEFORE YOU SAY ANYTHING, LET ME JUST THANK JUDGE SAKAI FOR BESTOWING THIS HONOR ON YOU.
DR. LIZONDO IS A PRECINCT TWO RESIDENT, LONG TIME, HAS A LONG HISTORY OF SERVICE IN OUR COMMUNITY, FROM THE SCHOOL BOARD TO MANY YEARS OF PRACTICE IN OPHTHALMOLOGY, BUT ALSO GIVING BACK TO OUR COMMUNITY.
AND IF WE COULD GIVE TWO OF THESE, I'D SAY GIVE THE OTHER ONE TO ORALIA HIS WHO'S BEEN HIS.
LET'S GIVE HER A ROUND OF APPLAUSE.
SHE HAS BEEN BY HIS SIDE A VERY LONG TIME.
AND I THINK WE'RE I THINK WE'RE RELATED.
YOU MEAN JUST TIRELESS? YOU ARE BOTH MY IDOLS BECAUSE I WANT TO BE JUST LIKE YOU WHEN I GROW UP.
BUT. BUT REALLY, THEY HAVE GIVEN SO MUCH TO SAN ANTONIO, SO MUCH HISTORY.
WE'VE SEEN PHOTOS OF YOU, DOC, WITH JFK WHEN HE WAS IN HOUSTON.
I THINK IT WAS JUST WANT TO SAY ONE OF A KIND, BOTH OF YOU.
SO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE.
AND AT THIS TIME, I'D LIKE TO ASK YVETTE, THE OWNER OF LA PRENSA, TEXAS, IF SHE'D COME UP ALSO IF SHE WOULD. AND THEY'VE BEEN VERY GRACIOUS AND HONORING US LAST WEEK, I BELIEVE IT WAS.
AND WE APPRECIATE HER AND WHAT SHE'S DOING.
AND I'LL GO OVER A FEW THINGS HERE WITH YOU IN A LITTLE BIT.
BUT AT ANY RATE, AFTER FIGHTING WITH THE FIRST MARINE CORPS IN IN KOREA AND FIGHTING THE NORTH KOREANS AND THE CHINESE UP THERE IN 1951 CAME BACK TO SAN ANTONIO AND STARTED IN ACOG AND STARTED IN
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DIFFERENT ORGANIZATIONS, ALONG WITH BEING VERY ACTIVE IN THE MIDDLE 1950S AND IN THE POLITICAL WORLD OF OF OBTAINING DIFFERENT ORGANIZATIONS AND ALSO GETTING SOME REPRESENTATION FROM BLAIR COUNTY, WHICH WE DID IN 1956, AS YOU PROBABLY KNOW OR REMEMBER.OTHER THAN THAT, WE WE WERE IMMERSED INTO THE CAMPAIGNS OF PRESIDENT JFK IN 1960 AND THEN LATER ON, THE STATE REPRESENTATIVES JOHN ALANIZ AND RUDY ESQUIVEL.
AND LATER ON AFTER THAT WAS INSTALLED BY U.S SECRETARY ARTHUR GOLDBERG AND LULAC IN 1961, WHICH IS A BIG EVENT HERE IN SAN ANTONIO.
AND AFTER THAT BECAME A PRESIDENT OF IRAQ.
AND THEN LATER ON, AS TIME WENT ON, WE WENT ON TO THE SCHOOL BOARD AND AND ALSO THE COUNTY HOSPITAL WAS ON THE COUNTY HOSPITAL IN 1965, 66, 67.
I'LL TELL YOU A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THAT IN JUST A LITTLE BIT.
BUT AT ANY RATE, THAT WAS THAT WAS PART OF OUR HISTORY.
THEN LATER ON IN FIGHTING THE CITY CITY PUBLIC SERVICE BOARD AT THAT TIME, BECAUSE WE DIDN'T HAVE THE PROPER KIND OF REPRESENTATION IN THE COUNTY.
AND SO WE TOOK ON A CHALLENGE PUBLICLY FIGHTING THEM.
AND WE WENT THROUGH TO THE BIG COMMITTEE THAT THE CITY COUNCIL PUT TOGETHER AND WERE ABLE TO GET SOME CONCESSIONS OUT OF THEM THAT WE WOULD GET THE FIRST PERSON ON THE BOARD OF OF CITY PUBLIC SERVICE, WHICH IS ELOY SANTANA.
AND THEN LATER ON THROUGH THE YEARS, OTHER INVOLVEMENT OF THE 1960, 68, 69 CAMPAIGNS AND THEN 1972, THE PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGNS AND THEN 1974, THE THE SCHOOL DISTRICT.
I DECIDED THAT I SHOULD HELP IN THAT REGARD AND WENT AND AND WENT ON TO OBTAIN A CAMPAIGN IN 1974 AND WAS LUCKY ENOUGH TO GET ELECTED AND FOUGHT SOME BIG ODDS, AS SOME OF YOU KNOW ABOUT THOSE BIG ODDS THAT AT THAT TIME YOU REALLY COULDN'T GET ON THE BOARD UNLESS YOU KNEW SOMEBODY OR KNEW THE THE PEOPLE THAT WERE CONTROLLING EVERYTHING.
AND THEN LATER ON THROUGH THE YEARS, WE WERE ABLE TO BRING IN QUALITY EDUCATION AND AND ALSO BRING IN A LOT OF PROGRAMS IN THE SCHOOL DISTRICT, SUCH AS THE PRE ENGINEERING PROGRAM, THE PRE-MED PROGRAM, THE SOCCER PROGRAM, THE AQUATICS PROGRAM, THE MULTILINGUAL SCHOOL PROGRAM, AND OTHER OTHER ONES THAT THAT I'M SURE THAT COMMISSIONER RODRIGUEZ KNOWS ABOUT BECAUSE HE WAS ON BOARD ALSO AND AND THEN THROUGH THE YEARS. BUT AT ANY RATE, THOSE WERE PART OF THE HISTORY OF THINGS THAT WENT ON AND OF COURSE, THEN WAS INVITED TO THE TO SEE THE LANDING OF THE ROVER ON MARS. AND ONLY WE WERE THE ONLY ONES FROM TEXAS THAT WERE INVITED THERE.
AND AND I'VE GOT SOME PICTURES HERE IF YOU WANT TO SEE THEM REAL QUICK.
ONE PICTURE THAT FROM MARS THAT'S 40 MILLION MILES AWAY.
AND YOU'RE GOING TO SEE A ROVER OPPORTUNITY THERE IN THREE DIMENSION THERE.
CHARLES ELACHI, WHO WAS THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF JPL.
AND LABRADOR WAS THE ONE THAT GAVE US THESE PICTURES, THEIR UP CLOSE PICTURES OF MARS.
AND BUT THESE ARE THE UP CLOSE PICTURES AND A LARGE PICTURE OF THIS WE GAVE TO TO UTSA OUT HERE.
AND THEY HAVE IT OVER THE SCIENCE BUILDING.
IT'S A 12 FOOT PICTURE UP CLOSE PICTURE OF MARS THAT THAT WE HAVE HERE IN SAN ANTONIO.
NO ONE ELSE IN THE STATE OF TEXAS HAS THAT.
SO IT'S IT'S KIND OF AN UNUSUAL PERSON.
AND THEN, OF COURSE, THE OTHER THE OTHER PARTS OF MY LIFE WHERE THEY OBTAINED A DR.
THEY COLLABORATED AND PUT TOGETHER THE A A A PROGRAM IN HOUSTON AND HOUSTON WHERE THEY HAVE THE A AN AWARD THERE THAT'S IN OUR NAME.
SO ANYWAY, WE BOUGHT THAT AND IT'S SOMETHING NICE TO KNOW.
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NICE TO SEE NICE THAT SAN ANTONIO'S REPRESENTING ELSEWHERE.BUT AT ANY RATE, WHILE WE'RE DOING THAT, I'D LIKE TO INTRODUCE NOT ONLY YVETTE TEO AS THE OWNER OF LA PRENSA, TEXAS, BUT ALSO MY WIFE, MY WIFE OF ABOUT 60 YEARS, ABOUT ABOUT 60 YEARS, GIVE OR TAKE, JUST A TINY BIT OF TIME.
AND THEN, OF COURSE, ALSO THE THE OTHER THING THAT THAT IS SOMETHING ELSE THAT WE BROUGHT UP BESIDES THE IS THE I THINK IT'S AN EXQUISITE BAG.
I THINK IT'S INTERESTING TO NOTE WE THAT WAS THE RINGSIDE EYE DOCTOR FOR THE OSCAR DE LA HOYA FIGHTS HERE IN SAN ANTONIO WHEN HE HAD A FIGHT BACK IN ABOUT 1997 OR THE OTHER ABOUT AS ONE OTHER THING.
I WANTED TO KIND OF SHOW YOU THAT BECAUSE I THINK AND AND OF COURSE, IT'S THE HISTORY.
OKAY. AND AND THE THE RINGSIDE DOCTOR THAT YOU HAVE TO HAVE TO BE.
I THOUGHT. I THOUGHT WE'D BRING HIM ALONG.
ALONG WITH THESE PICTURES AS SOMETHING EXTRA THAT YOU MIGHT LIKE TO KNOW ABOUT.
I'D LIKE TO INTRODUCE ALSO BJ AVERY AND SILMARIL OVER HERE.
ALSO BJ AVERY IS OUR STATE DIRECTOR.
AND BUT I'D LIKE TO BE ABLE TO STAND UP SO WE CAN SEE HER, HER AND SILMARIL IF IT WERE BJ AREA.
LET'S GIVE HER A BIG ROUND OF APPLAUSE FOR PARADE.
BUT PFISTER 30 YEARS AND SO DOES OUR STATE DIRECTOR.
ELIZONDO, CAN WE GIVE ANOTHER ROUND OF APPLAUSE FOR DOCTOR ELIZONDO? MRS RILEY ELIZONDO.
THE ELIZONDO FAMILY, AND FOR WHAT THEY HAVE GIVEN TO OUR COMMUNITY.
PLEASE COME FORWARD AND GET YOUR ACCEPT YOUR HIDALGO AND TAKE A PICTURE WITH US, PLEASE.
HERE WE GO. GOOD TO SEE YOU, DOCTOR.
I LOVE YOU, MARIE. HERE WE GO.
IT WAS AN HONOR TO SEE YOU. OH, I KNOW.
AND JUDGE STALIN AND JUDGE STALIN.
YOU GUYS TELL HIM. TELL HIM, YOU KNOW, ONE MORE TIME.
ALL RIGHT, HERE WE GO. BE SURE YOU TAKE IT DOWN.
ALL RIGHT. THANK Y'ALL. THANK YOU.
GOD BLESS YOU. THANK YOU. GOD BLESS.
THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU.
GOOD TO SEE YOU. COME ON, GET HIM OFF! GET HIM OFF! GET HIM OFF. ALL RIGHT.
THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER. TELL YOUR SONS I ALWAYS.
[00:30:04]
I JUST WATCHED THAT. OKAY.THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
WHEN DOES THIS. COME ON? I GOT IT.
ALL RIGHT. THANK Y'ALL VERY MUCH.
ALL RIGHT. THE NEXT PRESENTATION.
ARE YOU WELCOME. WE HAVE A PRESENTATION OF A PROCLAMATION IN BEHALF OF COMMISSIONER'S COURT, RECOGNIZED IN OCTOBER 2023 AS MANUFACTURING MONTH.
SO EVERYBODY ON MANUFACTURING MONTH.
AND AS I WAS TOLD, I WORE MY MANUFACTURING TIE.
SO THIS TIE IS DEDICATED TO SEE.
SO. MR. DAVID MARQUEZ WELL, THANK YOU, JUDGE AND COMMISSIONERS, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
THIS IS A REALLY OCTOBER BEEN MANUFACTURING MONTH.
COULDN'T COME AT A BETTER TIME.
WE'VE REALLY HIT A SOME MAJOR MILESTONES OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS.
LATER THIS MONTH, WE'LL CELEBRATE THE 20TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE ARRIVAL OF TOYOTA.
ONE, IT GROWS OUR ECONOMY IN A VERY HEALTHY, SUSTAINABLE WAY.
IT'S GOOD FOR OUR COUNTY, GOOD FOR OUR COUNTRY.
THE SECOND THING IS THAT THESE ARE JOBS THAT ARE WONDERFUL FOR OUR COMMUNITY.
THEY ARE EVERYTHING FROM ENTRY LEVEL TO THE HIGHEST LEVEL OF ENGINEERING IS NOW OCCURRING IN SAN ANTONIO AND BEXAR COUNTY BECAUSE OF THESE JOBS THAT ARE HAPPENING, BECAUSE OF THE GOOD WORK THAT YOU ALL DO AS COMMISSIONERS TO TO HELP RECRUIT COMPANIES IN.
WE'LL HAVE SOME ANNOUNCEMENTS.
VERY EXCITING, VERY, VERY SOON ABOUT FURTHER GROWTH IN THIS INDUSTRY.
SHE IS ASSISTANT VICE PRESIDENT OF ADMINISTRATION AT TOYOTETSU, TEXAS.
I WOULD SAY PERHAPS THE BEST AT COLLABORATING AMONGST THEMSELVES, DUE IN NO SMALL PART TO THE WORK THAT MARY AND OTHERS IN THE FEDERATION FOR ADVANCED MANUFACTURING EDUCATION DO TODAY WITH THAT ORGANIZATION.
WE ALSO HAVE WITH US RAMONITA MATA BARRERA, THE CHIEF WORKFORCE OFFICER FOR GREATER BEXAR WORKS INITIATIVE, ALONG WITH CHRISTOPHER MA'AM, HER DIRECTOR OF TALENT DEVELOPMENT. WE HAVE ON MY TEAM, OF COURSE, DEBORAH CARTER, THE DIRECTOR OF ECONOMIC AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT, WHO HEADS UP ALL OF OUR WORKFORCE INITIATIVES.
AT THE HEART OF IT ALL, OUR SUCCESS IS GOING TO BE BUILT AROUND OUR TALENT.
WE ALSO WANT TO RECOGNIZE MR. DAN YOXALL, WHO HAS STEPPED INTO A ROLE AS PRESIDENT AND CEO OF THE SAN ANTONIO MANUFACTURERS ASSOCIATION, AND JUST DONE A REMARKABLE JOB.
I HAD A HUGE RESPECT FOR RAY, HIS PREDECESSOR.
BUT DAN HAS JUST REALLY TAKEN SALMA IN A WHOLE NEW DIRECTION AND REALLY EMBRACED THE IDEA OF COLLABORATING ONCE AGAIN, LEADING THE MANUFACTURERS TO A GREATER DEGREE OF COLLABORATION.
ALSO ON MY TEAM, I HAVE A NEW DATA ANALYST.
WE WERE ABLE TO FILL THAT POSITION WITH A LOT OF HELP TO YOU ALL FOR THANK YOU FOR HELPING WITH ALL OF THE SALARY ADJUSTMENTS AND EVERYTHING MADE US COMPETITIVE TO BRING IN A REALLY TOP TALENT.
RICHARD ALCABES IS OUR DATA SPECIALIST.
WE ALSO HAVE NICOLE GALINDO, OUR COMMUNICATIONS SPECIALIST, WHO IS CRITICAL TO THAT, AS WELL AS STEPHANIE STEPHANIE ROSENMEYER, WHO IS ONE OF THOSE PEOPLE WHO IS LARGELY BEHIND THE SCENES, BUT WITHOUT WHICH THESE EFFORTS WOULD NOT WORK.
STEPHANIE IS THE GLUE THAT KEEPS ALL THE RECRUITING, GETTING PEOPLE CONNECTED TO THESE CAREERS.
THAT'S WHAT MANUFACTURING BRINGS US.
JUDGE AND COMMISSIONER. CAREER OPPORTUNITIES WHERE BASED ON YOUR WORK AND YOUR ABILITY AND YOUR TALENT, YOUR DESIRE, YOU CAN RISE FROM AN ENTRY LEVEL MANUFACTURING POSITION IN A HUMBLE COMPANY TO THE TOP OF THE OF THE FOOD CHAIN AT TOYOTA OR NAVISTAR OR ANY OF THESE OTHER LARGE COMPANIES.
THAT'S WHY WE LOVE MANUFACTURING SO MUCH.
SO I'M VERY GRATEFUL FOR YOUR PROCLAMATION TODAY ON MANUFACTURING MONTH.
CONGRATULATIONS. GOOD TO SEE EVERYONE OUT HERE.
I'M JUST GOING TO READ THE PROCLAMATION.
WHEREAS THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF MANUFACTURERS OBSERVES NATIONAL MANUFACTURING DAY ON THE FIRST FRIDAY OF EVERY OCTOBER, THIS GIVES MANUFACTURERS A PLATFORM TO OPEN THEIR DOORS AND SHARE WHAT THEY DO WITH THEIR COMMUNITIES, HELPING TO ADDRESS THE COMMON MISCONCEPTIONS ABOUT MANUFACTURING.
AND. WHEREAS, BECKER COUNTY IS COMMITTED TO HELPING OUR MANUFACTURING.
[00:35:02]
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE. JUDGE AND COMMISSIONERS, THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME THIS MORNING AND THANK YOU FOR THE PROCLAMATION ON BEHALF OF OUR TEXAS FARM CHAPTER.I JUST WANT TO SAY WE GREATLY APPRECIATE THE CONTINUED SUPPORT AND THE COMMITMENT TO OUR INDUSTRY.
AS DAVID WAS SHARING, OUR CHAPTER IS VERY COMMITTED TO MAKING SURE THAT WE PROVIDE AMAZING CAREER PATH OPPORTUNITIES FOR ALL OF THE RESIDENTS IN OUR COUNTY AND THE SURROUNDING COUNTIES.
SO AGAIN, THANK YOU FOR ALL OF THE SUPPORT OF OUR INDUSTRY AND OUR COMPANIES.
SO YOU WANT TO SAVE THE VIRGIN MARY? HERE YOU GO.
THANK YOU. NO, I MEAN, HERE WE GO.
I BOUGHT ESPECIALLY FOR THIS GROUP.
CONGRATULATIONS, GUYS. THANK YOU.
UH, COMMISSIONER CALVERT, YOU HAVE THE NEXT TWO.
OKAY. JUST KEEP THE MIC RIGHT BEHIND.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THIS INITIATIVE WITH FOSTER YOUTH.
THEY ARE STEWARDS OF PUBLIC FUNDS AND TRUSTS SERVING ALL CUSTOMERS WITH RESPECT AND COMPASSION.
THE HOUSING AUTHORITY OF BURKE COUNTY TEAM GUIDES PARTICIPANTS IN BECOMING ECONOMICALLY SELF-SUFFICIENT AND IMPROVES THE LIVELIHOODS OF CITIZENS WHO ARE IN NEED WITHIN THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO AND THE COUNTY OF BEXAR.
AND. WHEREAS, THE AGENCY'S FOSTER YOUTH INITIATIVE PROGRAM, FUNDED BY HUD, ALLOWS THEM TO PARTNER WITH LOCAL PUBLIC CHILD WELFARE AGENCY TO PROVIDE HOUSING VOUCHERS TO ELIGIBLE YOUTH WITH A HISTORY OF CHILD WELFARE INVOLVEMENT WHO ARE HOMELESS OR AT RISK OF HOMELESSNESS.
AND. WHEREAS, THROUGH PARTNERSHIP WITH SCANDINAVIAN FURNITURE AND HOUSEWARE CHAIN IKEA, THE HOUSING AUTHORITY OF BURKE COUNTY, IS HELPING TO PROVIDE A SENSE OF HOME AND COMFORT FOR YOUNG ADULTS WHO ARE BUILDING THEIR ADULT LIVES FROM THE GROUND UP, SUPPORTING THEMSELVES AFTER AGING OUT OF THE FOSTER CARE SYSTEM.
AND. WHEREAS, THROUGH THE FOSTER YOUTH INITIATIVE PROGRAM, THE HOUSING AUTHORITY OF BURKE COUNTY HAS BEEN ABLE TO SERVE 25 YOUNG ADULTS IN BURKE COUNTY WITH A COMMITMENT TO PROVIDING A HAND UP AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR THESE YOUTHS TO BUILD THEIR LIVES ON THEIR JOURNEYS TO INDEPENDENCE.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED THAT THE BURKE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS COURT HEREBY RECOGNIZES THE HOUSING AUTHORITY OF BURKE COUNTY'S FOSTER YOUTH INITIATIVE PROGRAM SIGNED BY YOUR COMMISSIONERS COURT.
WHOEVER WANTS TO SAY SOMETHING.
HI, GOOD MORNING AND THANKS SO MUCH FOR HAVING US.
I'M THE DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS AT THE HOUSING AUTHORITY OF BURKE COUNTY.
A FEW MONTHS AGO WHEN WE HAD THIS IDEA TO PARTNER WITH IKEA.
THEY ORIGINALLY THEY WERE SUPER EXCITED.
THEY, THEY EXCITED TO HELP THE, THE FOSTER COMMUNITY.
THEY CAME BACK TO US AND SAID, YOU KNOW WHAT? WE LOVED IT SO MUCH THAT WE WANT TO GO AHEAD AND DO THAT FOR 25 OF YOUR OF YOUR FOSTER YOUTH VOUCHER HOLDERS.
WE WERE GIFTED OVER $100,000 WORTH OF FURNITURE FROM IKEA.
SO WE HAD, WHICH WAS GREAT, BUT WE HAD SOMEPLACE TO PUT IT.
[00:40:04]
MR. HOWARD AND MISS NICO.I DO WANT TO INTRODUCE SOME PEOPLE HERE.
AND THEN WE HAVE MR. TYLER JACKSON, WHO IS OUR FYI PARTICIPANT.
SO IF YOU GUYS WANT TO SAY A FEW WORDS.
THEY WERE AN INCREDIBLE PARTNER AT IKEA.
WE BELIEVE IN CREATING A BETTER, EVERYDAY LIFE FOR THE MANY PEOPLE, AND THAT INCLUDES ANYBODY, NO MATTER YOUR BACKGROUND AND ANY ANY LITTLE BIT THAT WE COULD DO TO HELP IS WHAT WE WANT TO DO. SO IT'S REALLY A TESTAMENT TO WHAT A GREAT PROGRAM THEY RUN THAT WE WANTED TO COME BACK TO BE ABLE TO FURNISH EVERYONE WE COULD.
MY NAME IS TYLER. WAS VERY APPRECIATIVE FOR ALL THE THINGS YOU GUYS DO WITHOUT ALL THE THINGS WITHOUT THE OPPORTUNITIES LIKE THIS, LIFE WOULD BE SO MUCH HARDER FOR ME AND I JUST HAVE TO STRUGGLE WAY HARDER.
ALL THE SUPPORT THAT YOU HAVE BEEN PROVIDED.
RIGHT. AND CONTINUE HELPING MORE FAMILIES IN THE COMMUNITY.
THANK YOU. LIKE I SAID, I GOT A FEW BLISTERS.
YOU KNOW WHAT? I GOT TO THANK YOU.
I HEAR THE DRUM AND I LOVE IT.
WE HAVE A PROCLAMATION FOR YOU.
IN THE NAME AND BY THE AUTHORITY OF THE BEXAR.
AND. WHEREAS, THE 2007 UNITED NATIONS DECLARATION ON THE RIGHTS OF INDIGENOUS PEOPLES IS A CLEAR MESSAGE THAT WORLD GOVERNMENTS ARE DEVELOPING A NEED TO FOCUS ON INDIGENOUS IDENTITY.
AND. WHEREAS, THE INDIGENOUS PEOPLE OF THE YANAGUANA ALSO RECOGNIZE THE NEED FOR EDUCATION OF THEIR HERITAGE AND CULTURE, SO THEY MAY BEGIN TO INSTILL MUCH NEEDED PRIDE TO A COMMUNITY DEVASTATED THROUGH YEARS OF COLONIZATION.
AND. WHEREAS, INDIGENOUS PEOPLE, BY THEIR CLOSENESS TO MOTHER EARTH, HAVE CONTRIBUTED IN CREATING MANY OF THE AGRICULTURAL MAINSTAYS, PRINCIPALLY CORN BEANS, SQUASH, CHOCOLATE, AVOCADO, PEANUTS AND SO MANY MORE.
INDIGENOUS PEOPLE MAINTAINED THE NATURAL RESOURCES THAT FUELED THE ECONOMY OF AMERICA AND ARE DESERVING OF AN HONORABLE MENTION, SUCH AS INDIGENOUS PEOPLES DAY. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED THAT THE COMMISSIONERS COURT OF BEXAR COUNTY HEREBY RECOGNIZE THE INDIGENOUS PEOPLE OF THE AND DESIGNATES OCTOBER 12TH AS INDIGENOUS PEOPLES DAY.
SIGNED BY YOUR COMMISSIONERS COURT.
ANTONIO, WE'D LOVE TO HEAR FROM YOU.
IT IT PAINS ME, BUT IT MUST BE DONE.
MY BEGINNING IS SPEAKING TRUTH TO POWER.
I'M GLAD THAT TODAY'S GOVERNMENTS ARE BEGINNING TO RECOGNIZE OUR TRUE IDENTITY.
[00:45:06]
WE ARE NOT HISPANIC.WE WERE COLONIZED BY THE SPANIARDS AND THROUGH THE LATIN CHURCH.
THESE ARE TRUTHS, TRUTHS, FACTS, OUR PEOPLE OR OUR COLONIZED PEOPLE IN BEXAR COUNTY.
I THINK WE ARE CONSIDERED TO BE 0.7 OF THE ACTUAL CENSUS POPULATION WHEN WE ARE MAYBE 50 TO 60%.
IN ACTUALITY. EXCEPT WE DON'T.
WE'VE BEEN COLONIZED FOR OVER 530 YEARS.
SO IN ORDER TO MOVE FORWARD, WE'VE HAD TO ACCEPT THIS.
AND I AM SO GRATEFUL THAT MY ANCESTORS DID BOW DOWN AND KISS THE CROSS OR I WOULD NOT BE HERE.
AND MANY OF MY PEOPLE WOULD NOT BE HERE.
BUT IT IS TIME FOR US TO SPEAK UP.
IT IS TIME FOR US TO SAY WHO WE TRULY ARE.
BECAUSE THAT'S THE ONLY WAY THAT WE CONTINUE TO EDUCATE OUR CHILDREN ABOUT THE STRUGGLE OF THEIR ANCESTORS, WHICH HAS BEEN A MIGHTY ONE, A CONTINUOUS ONE.
WE ARE A VERY RESILIENT PEOPLE OF MANY DIFFERENT NATIONS, MANY DIFFERENT TRIBES, MANY DIFFERENT TONGUES LIVING ON THIS CONTINENT THAT WE THAT SPEAK NAWAT CALLED CEMANAHUAC.
AND WE SEE WE'RE STILL HAVING TO DIE JUST TO CROSS A RIVER THAT OUR ANCESTORS USED TO CROSS FREELY.
WE ONCE MIGRATED FREELY ON OUR LAND, AND NOW WE CAN'T.
WE ARE LIVING UNDER OCCUPATION.
WE KNOW VERY MUCH WHAT THE PALESTINIANS ARE GOING THROUGH.
WE KNOW THEIR PAINS OF BEING OCCUPIED.
WE NO LONGER WOULD GO DOWN THE ROAD OF VIOLENCE AND WAR, THOUGH.
AND I HOPE THAT WE CAN CONTINUE TO NEGOTIATE WITH THE GOVERNMENTS, NOT JUST OF THE UNITED STATES AND CANADA, BUT THROUGHOUT MEXICO, CENTRAL AND SOUTH AMERICA, TO START RECOGNIZING THIS AS WHO WE ARE AND START NEGOTIATING MIGRATION RIGHTS FOR OUR PEOPLE TO STOP THIS INHUMANITIES THAT OCCUR BECAUSE ALL THE HUMAN TRAFFICKING AND ALL THE ABUSES THAT OCCUR OCCUR BECAUSE ANTI ANTI-IMMIGRATION LEGISLATION THAT IS PLACED UPON US AND THAT WE MUST NEGOTIATE.
I AM JUST AN ACTIVIST OF TEXAS.
I'VE ALSO PROTESTED IN MEXICO.
I'VE ALSO FORMED RALLIES IN MEXICO.
BUT NOW AS I GET OLDER, I'M JUST HERE AND I'M TRYING TO MAINTAIN SOME SORT OF PEACE HERE.
BUT I WILL SPEAK THE TRUTH, AS ABRASIVE AS IT MAY SEEM TO THOSE IN POWER.
AND I THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR RECOGNIZING THESE TRUTHS.
HOW WOULD I? WAS I PRACTICING THIS IN BEING APPRECIATIVE? I CANNOT BE SO I WILL NOT APOLOGIZE FOR MY WORDS.
THEY MUST BE SAID. HOPEFULLY, AS TIME GOES ON BY SOMEONE MORE ELOQUENT THAN I.
AND THEY WERE WE WERE HUMAN BEINGS ALL ALONG.
WHAT DO YOU WANT TO SAY? GOOD MORNING, AND THANKS FOR HAVING US HERE.
UH, I JUST WANT TO EXPLAIN MY PAINTING.
THIS SIDE IS FOR INDIGENOUS, AND THIS SIDE IS FOR COLUMBUS WHEN HE MURDERED GENOCIDES.
[00:50:07]
YOU KNOW OUR PEOPLE.I GOT ONE SONG I WANT TO SING, UH, PRETENDING TO EVERYBODY.
SO HERE'S MY SONG FOR THOSE IN ARE IN ISRAEL THE WAR.
REALLY. DOESN'T MATTER IF WE'RE INNOCENT OR GOOD.
FOOD FOR LIFE HAS TREATED ME SO SWEET, BUT SOMETIMES FULL OF PAIN.
THESE ALL RISE ABOVE THE PAIN.
YES. I'LL RISE TO NEVER BE THE SAME.
CAN YOU HEAR THE ANGELS CALLING? CALLING OUT MY NAME.
HE. BUT DON'T CRY FOR ME, FOR I AM FREE.
E NOW I HAVE TO THANK YOU FOR LIFTING ME WITH YOUR LOVE.
NOW MY FAITH CAN GUIDE ME TO MY HOME UP ABOVE.
CAN YOU HEAR THE ANGELS CALLING? CALLING OUT MY NAME.
WE DON'T CRY FOR ME, FOR I AM FREE.
OH. WAR CRY FOR YOUR CHILDREN.
BECAUSE THEY KEEP GOING AND OUR SUFFERING CONTINUES.
WHEN WILL IT END? LET THE WAR IN AGAINST INDIGENOUS PEOPLE.
WE HAVE THE RIGHT TO MIGRATE HERE AND THERE, EVERYWHERE BECAUSE THIS IS OUR LAND.
WHEN ARE YOU GOING TO REALIZE IT?
[00:55:06]
LIVING.AND YOU? OKAY. OUR FINAL PROCLAMATION THIS MORNING IS TO RECOGNIZE OCTOBER AS DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AWARENESS MONTH FOR THOSE THAT ARE HERE FOR THAT PROCLAMATION. IF YOU WOULD, PLEASE STEP FORWARD TO THE PODIUM.
AND AS YOU GATHER, I'LL START TO READ THE PROCLAMATION IT STATES.
ACCORDING TO THE CDC AND PREVENTION, 1 IN 3 WOMEN AND 1 IN 4 MEN HAVE EXPERIENCED SEVERE PHYSICAL VIOLENCE FROM AN INTIMATE PARTNER IN THEIR LIFETIME. AND.
WHEREAS, DURING THE MONTH OF OCTOBER, BEXAR COUNTY JOINS OTHER COMMUNITIES, NATIONAL, STATE AND LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS TO OBSERVE NATIONAL DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AWARENESS AND PREVENTION MONTH.
WE UPHOLD OUR COMMITMENT TO SUPPORTING VICTIMS AND SURVIVORS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE BY INCREASING PUBLIC AWARENESS AND ADDRESSING CONDITIONS AND RISK FACTORS IN OUR COMMUNITY THAT ALLOW FOR THE PREVALENCE OF THIS TYPE OF VIOLENCE.
AND. WHEREAS, AS PART OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AWARENESS MONTH THIS OCTOBER, WE ARE ASKING BEXAR COUNTY RESIDENTS TO JOIN US IN THE PURPLE PORCH CAMPAIGN TO HIGHLIGHT THE IMPORTANCE OF MAINTAINING HEALTHY RELATIONSHIPS THROUGHOUT OUR COMMUNITY.
WE ASK THAT BEXAR COUNTY SIMPLY SWITCH THEIR PORCH LIGHT FOR A PURPLE BULB OR DECORATE THEIR PORCH WITH A PURPLE WREATH TO SIGNIFY THEIR SUPPORT FOR SURVIVORS. AND.
HELP IS AVAILABLE, AND WE ALL DESERVE TO LIVE IN A SAFE AND VIOLENT FREE BEXAR COUNTY.
WITNESS OUR SIGNATURES SIGNED BY YOUR COUNTY JUDGE AND YOUR COMMISSIONERS COURT.
JUDGE DIAZ, THE FLOOR IS YOURS.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH, COMMISSIONER, JUDGE, COMMISSIONERS, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR HONORING THE LIVES OF SO MANY THAT WE HAVE LOST AND THE LIVES THAT SADLY WILL BE LOST DUE TO DOMESTIC VIOLENCE.
I DON'T WANT TO TAKE UP TOO MUCH OF YOUR TIME RIGHT NOW.
IF WE CAN BUMP THAT UP, WE WOULD APPRECIATE IT.
I'D LIKE HER TO SHARE SOME REMARKS ACCEPTING THE PROCLAMATION.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ONCE AGAIN RECOGNIZING THIS ISSUE.
EVERY YEAR IT GETS MORE AND MORE ATTENTION, AND THAT'S PRECISELY WHAT WE NEED.
UM, IT'S VERY IMPORTANT THAT BEXAR COUNTY CONTINUES TO SUPPORT ALL THE EFFORTS THAT WE'RE DOING.
JUST LAST WEEK, MARTA PELAEZ, THE DIRECTOR OF THE SHELTER, REPORTED THAT IN TWO WEEKS SHE HAD TO SHELTER SIX MEN AND THEIR CHILDREN. SO THE DYNAMICS ARE STILL OUT THERE, VERY RAMPANT.
[01:00:07]
THREE CHILDREN.SO THIS IS AN INTERGENERATIONAL PROBLEM.
IF OUR FAMILIES FALL APART, EVERYTHING FALLS APART.
OH, WAIT, WAIT, WAIT. NO, THAT'S.
COMMISSIONER MOODY, ARE YOU STILL WITH US? I AM. OKAY.
THE COURT'S GOING TO TAKE UP AGENDA ITEM NUMBER FIVE.
[5. Request of Commissioners Court to identify items from the Consent Agenda for additional discussion and to approve remaining Consent Agenda items.]
REQUEST OF COMMISSIONERS COURT TO IDENTIFY ITEMS FROM THE CONSENT AGENDA FOR ADDITIONAL DISCUSSION AND APPROVE REMAINING CONSENT AGENDA ITEMS AT THIS TIME.COMMISSIONER CLAY-FLORES, DO YOU HAVE ANY ITEMS TO PULL? I'D LIKE TO PULL ITEM 41.
ANYTHING ELSE, COMMISSIONER RODRIGUEZ? I'M GOOD, JUDGE. COMMISSIONER MOODY.
CAN YOU REPEAT THAT, PLEASE? 34. 34.
I HAVE NOTHING, JUDGE. ALL RIGHT.
[CONSENT AGENDA ITEMS]
I BELIEVE IT'S 21 AND 34.41. I DID NOT HEAR 21 PULL, JUDGE.
I THINK IT WAS JUST 34 AND 41, 34 AND 41.
SO I'D MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE BALANCE OF THE CONSENT WITH THE EXCEPTIONS OF 34 AND 41 SECOND MOTION BY COMMISSIONER RODRIGUEZ, SECOND BY COMMISSIONER CLAY-FLORES. ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE.
AYE. ANY OPPOSED MOTION CARRIES.
LET US NOW TAKE UP THOSE INDIVIDUAL ITEMS. FIRST ONE WILL BE ITEM 21, NOT 2141, 34 3434.
[34. Approval of a request for authority to proceed with the negotiation of a formal agreement with AXON Enterprise, Incorporated related to Event # 976 issued on behalf of the Bexar County District Attorney for the procurement of a new evidence management system. A final agreement will be brought to Commissioners Court at a later date for consideration and approval.]
COMMISSIONER MOODY.RELATED TO EVENT 976 ISSUED ON BEHALF OF THE BAIRD COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY FOR THE PROCUREMENT OF A NEW EVIDENCE MANAGEMENT SYSTEM, A FINAL AGREEMENT WILL BE BROUGHT TO COMMISSIONERS COURT AT A LATER DATE FOR CONSIDERATION AND APPROVAL.
AND I CAN'T SEE THE PODIUM, BUT, UM, IS THE DA AVAILABLE TO SPEAK ON THE ITEM? I AM. COMMISSIONER, I'M PREPARED TO SPEAK, IF I MAY APPROACH THE PODIUM.
[01:05:04]
COMMISSIONERS. JUDGE SAKAI.I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING US TO SPEAK ON THIS VERY ISSUE AND TO PLACE IT ON THE AGENDA.
THIS REQUEST IS IN THE CATEGORY OF PROMOTING PUBLIC SAFETY.
WHAT WE'RE ASKING FOR TODAY IS PERMISSION TO PROCEED WITH THE NEGOTIATION OF A FORMAL AGREEMENT WITH A COMPANY CALLED EXXON ENTERPRISES, INC..
EXXON IS AN EVIDENCE MANAGEMENT PLATFORM THAT WOULD MAKE THE SUBMISSION OF EVIDENCE BY LAW ENFORCEMENT TO OUR OFFICE MORE SEAMLESS, EASY AND EFFICIENT.
I WILL TELL THE THE COURT THAT FROM THE VERY BEGINNING THAT I CAME INTO OFFICE, ONE OF MY GOALS WAS TO BRING THIS OFFICE AND THE PROSECUTION OF CASES INTO THE 21ST CENTURY FOR THE FIRST TIME EVER.
WE HAVE OVER 60 DIFFERENT LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES.
THERE ARE TIMES NOT COMPATIBLE.
WE'RE LOOKING FOR A SYSTEM THAT WILL INTEGRATE BETTER.
AND SO WHAT HAPPENS IS IF THESE SYSTEMS HAVE A DIFFICULT TIME INTEGRATING, THAT CAUSES DELAYS.
AND OF COURSE, IF WE HAVE DELAYS IN SUBMITTING CASES AND REVIEWING CASES AND THEN MAKING PROSECUTION DECISIONS, THAT DELAYS JUSTICE, I'M SURE EVERYBODY HAS HEARD THE ADAGE JUSTICE DELAYED IS JUSTICE DENIED.
THIS IS A SIGNIFICANT PROBLEM BECAUSE OUR OFFICE HANDLES BETWEEN 55,000 TO 60 60,000 CASES ANNUALLY, FELONY AND MISDEMEANOR CASES, NON-FAMILY VIOLENCE, FAMILY VIOLENCE AND JUVENILE CASES ALIKE.
PREVIOUSLY IN THE PAST, FOR EXAMPLE, A CASE WOULD CONSIST OF MAYBE AN OFFENSE REPORT, A STATEMENT FORM FROM A VICTIM, MAYBE A WITNESS OR TWO, AND AN INTERROGATION OF A SUSPECT.
TODAY, THOUGH, WE HAVE A LOT MORE INVOLVED IN THE SUBMISSION OF A OF A OF A CASE, FOR EXAMPLE, BECAUSE OF THE THE ADVENT OF POLICE BODY CAM BODY CAMERAS AND OTHER SURVEILLANCE DEVICES THAT ARE FOUND IN HOMES.
EVERYBODY TODAY HAS A RING CAMERA.
AND OF COURSE, THE CELL PHONES, EVERYBODY'S GOT A CAMERA ON THE CELL PHONE.
IT INCREASES THE AMOUNT OF EVIDENCE THAT WE HAVE TO REVIEW EXPONENTIALLY.
BECAUSE OF THAT, THE EVIDENCE THAT WE REVIEW IN THE DA'S OFFICE HAS INCREASED EXPONENTIALLY.
FOR EXAMPLE, SINCE 2014, THE VIDEO EVIDENCE THAT WE MUST REVIEW HAS INCREASED NEARLY 800%.
EXCUSE ME. PHOTO EVIDENCE HAS INCREASED BY 23,000%.
YOU CAN TELL JUST BY THOSE NUMBERS WHAT AN INCREASE THAT IS BECAUSE OUR SYSTEMS ARE NOT COMPATIBLE WITH WHAT LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES SUCH AS SAPD AND THE BURKE COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE AND OTHER SUCH AGENCIES USE.
THEN THIS BECOMES A HUGE CHALLENGE THAT REQUIRES OR RESULTS IN PATCHES, BRIDGES AND EVEN SPENDING SOME TIME TRYING TO PUT TOGETHER HARD COPIES TO SUBMIT TO OUR OFFICE WHEN THERE ARE COMPATIBILITY ISSUES.
WHAT I'D LIKE TO DO NOW IS, IS IS PRESENT OR INTRODUCE OUR INTAKE CHIEF, EMILY ANGULO, WHO WILL FURTHER DISCUSS THE ISSUE.
I'VE GOT TO TAKE LEAVE OF THE COURT.
I APOLOGIZE, BUT I'M REQUIRED TO BE IN AUSTIN IN TWO HOURS, SO I'VE GOT TO GET ON THE ROAD.
SO IF I CAN ASK EMILY ANGULO, OUR DIVISION.
INTAKE DIVISION CHIEF TO TAKE IT OVER.
SO IS IT MY UNDERSTANDING, MR. GONZALEZ, YOU YOU HAVE A COMMITMENT IN AUSTIN AND COMMISSIONER MOODY, IS THERE ANY QUESTIONS OF.
[01:10:01]
GONZALES. OTHERWISE I WOULD EXCUSE HIM AND ALLOW HIM TO GET TO AUSTIN FOR BUSINESS, I'M SURE.WELL, I WAS YOU KNOW, I WANTED TO MAKE SOME COMMENTS.
FIRST OF ALL, I MEAN, I'M GLAD WE'RE BRINGING THIS FORWARD.
IT SOUNDS LIKE IT'S GOING TO IMPROVE THE EVIDENCE COLLECTION MANAGEMENT AND USE PROCESS.
AND FOR THAT, YOU KNOW, I'M I'M VERY SUPPORTIVE.
AND I BELIEVE THAT IT WILL, UM, YOU KNOW, IMPROVE PUBLIC SAFETY, AS THE DA MENTIONED THERE.
HOWEVER, YOU KNOW, THERE'S THERE'S OTHER QUESTIONS HERE THAT, YOU KNOW, REMAIN UNANSWERED.
AND I WAS HOPING WE COULD HAVE A BROADER DISCUSSION BEYOND THE NARROW SCOPE HERE WITH THE, UM, THE SOFTWARE SYSTEM, BUT MORE BROADLY IN TERMS OF POLICIES AND OTHER GAPS THAT WE HAVE IN TERMS OF THE MAGISTRATE PROCESS, IN TERMS OF THE THE, YOU KNOW, CASES THAT THAT ARE DECLINED TO BE PROSECUTED AND OTHER MATTERS.
UM, YOU KNOW, I'M HAPPY TO BRING THIS BACK AT A FUTURE COURT.
BUT I DO, I DO FULLY SUPPORT THIS ITEM.
AND I HOPE THAT THE DA WILL WORK WITH US TO, TO GET THAT DONE SOONER RATHER THAN LATER BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, THAT'S WHAT OUR CITIZENS DEMAND AND THAT'S WHAT I'M WORKING ON AND THAT'S WHO I'M ANSWERING TO EVERY DAY.
BUT IS THERE ANY QUESTIONS OF DA GONZALES BY ANY MEMBER OF THE COURT? I HAVE QUESTIONS, BUT I CAN ASK HIS STAFF.
ALL RIGHT. COMMISSIONER RODRIGUEZ.
I'LL LET THE COMMISSIONER ASK HER A QUESTION FIRST, BUT GO AHEAD.
NO, THE DA NEEDS TO GO, SO I'LL ASK HIS STAFF.
I'M FINE. ASK A STAFF, HAVE ANY QUESTIONS.
ALL RIGHT, JOE, LET ME JUST SAY THANK YOU FOR THIS PRESENTATION.
AND JUST TO ANSWER THIS QUESTION, ISN'T THIS ONE BIG STEP TO HAVE THAT COMMUNICATION BETWEEN THE LAW ENFORCEMENT, POLICE DEPARTMENT, SHERIFF'S OFFICE, CONSTABLE'S ANY, LAW ENFORCEMENT AND YOUR DA'S OFFICE, IS THIS GOING TO IMPROVE THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM IN BEXAR COUNTY? JUDGE, THIS WOULD BE A HUGE GAME CHANGER FOR US IF WE WERE ABLE TO ADOPT A SYSTEM THAT WOULD EASILY INTEGRATE WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT.
SO, ABSOLUTELY, THIS WOULD BE A HUGE IMPROVEMENT.
ALL RIGHT. YOU NEED TO GET ON TO AUSTIN.
COMMISSIONER CLAY-FLORES, MAY I ASK, IS THERE A QUESTION SO THAT WE CAN DETERMINE WHICH STAFF PERSON NEEDS TO APPROACH? YEAH, I'M JUST TRYING TO LET THE DA GET ON THE ROAD AND THEN WE CAN I DON'T KNOW WHO'S GOING TO ANSWER IT WHEN I ANSWER IT.
WHOEVER WANTS TO. I'M LETTING JOE GO BY.
SO I JUST WANTED TO KNOW, HOW MUCH IS THIS GOING TO COST? IS THERE AN ESTIMATE? I RECOGNIZE THEY'RE GOING TO BRING THE CONTRACT BACK.
WHAT'S THE ESTIMATE OF IT? YEAH, THAT'S PROBABLY BETTER TO ANSWER THAT QUESTION.
MORNING, JUDGE. COMMISSIONERS.
NICK HAHN DEPUTY CHIEF TECHNOLOGY OFFICER, BCIT.
SO THE FIRST YEAR COSTS WILL BE $882,400.
OKAY. SO OBVIOUSLY WE JUST STARTED THE NEW FISCAL YEAR.
SO MY QUESTION IS, IS THIS ALREADY DID WE ALREADY PASS THIS IN THE BUDGET OR IS THIS SOMETHING BEING ADDED ALREADY SO SOON INTO THE NEW FISCAL YEAR? THERE IS A CAPITAL PROJECT FOR DIGITAL EVIDENCE MANAGEMENT REPLACEMENT.
SO THAT WOULD COVER IMPLEMENTATION PLUS FIRST YEAR OF SUBSCRIPTIONS.
OKAY. SO BUDGET PEOPLE, THIS IS WE ALREADY PASSED IT IN THE BUDGET.
SORRY, I JUST HAD SOMETHING IN MY EYE.
[01:15:08]
WANT TO DO.WE'VE HAD THAT SYSTEM FOR OVER TEN YEARS.
IT IS INCOMPATIBLE WITH EVERY LAW ENFORCEMENT SYSTEM THAT THEY USE.
CURRENTLY, SAPD USES AXON, WHICH IS WHAT WE ARE ASKING TO MOVE TO.
EVEN WITH THEIR INTEGRATIONS, WHAT THEY HAVE TO DO WITHIN THEIR AXON SYSTEM, NOT TO GET TOO TECHNICAL, BUT THEY HAVE TO GO AND MARK EACH INDIVIDUAL ITEM OF EVIDENCE, WHICH COULD BE HUNDREDS OR THOUSANDS.
AND IF WE HAD THE AXON SYSTEM, THEY WOULD JUST BE ABLE TO GROUP A CASE AND SHARE IT.
THE INTEGRATION THAT THEY HAVE ONLY COMES OVER ABOUT 50 TO 60% OF THE TIME.
OUTSIDE OF THAT, THE PROSECUTORS ARE HUNTING FOR WHAT DASH CAMS WE DON'T HAVE.
AND THEN LAW ENFORCEMENT IS HAVING TO TAKE TIME TO UPLOAD THAT EVIDENCE INTO THEIR SYSTEM AND THEN UPLOAD IT INTO OUR SYSTEM, WHICH IS VERY QUICK. THIS TAKES OFFICERS OFF THE STREET.
IT PUTS THEM IN THEIR FRONT OF THEIR COMPUTERS, AND THAT'S NOT WHERE THEY NEED TO BE.
THEY NEED TO BE CONCERNING THEMSELVES WITH PUBLIC SAFETY.
IT'S OUR UNDERSTANDING THAT THEY ARE IN NEGOTIATION WITH THEIR DASH CAM SYSTEM TO ALSO MOVE TO AXON.
AND SO THAT WOULD BE A GREAT STEP FORWARD AS WELL.
OUTSIDE OF THE INTEGRATION THAT SAPD HAS WITH VERA PICK, THERE IS NO OTHER INTEGRATION.
BCSO WHO HAS HAD BODY WORN CAMERAS SINCE 2019.
WE HAVE NO INTEGRATION BUILT WITH THEM OR ANY OTHER LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY IN BECKER COUNTY.
WHAT THAT MEANS IS THAT MEANS THAT EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THEM HAVE TO UPLOAD MANUALLY EVERY ITEM OF EVIDENCE THAT THEY SEND OVER TO OUR OFFICE. NUMBER ONE, THIS LEADS TO EVIDENCE MISSING IN CASES.
AND NUMBER TWO, IT TAKES OFFICERS AND LAW ENFORCEMENT OFF THE STREETS PROTECTING OUR COMMUNITY WHERE THEY NEED TO BE AND PUTS THEM IN FRONT OF A COMPUTER, WHICH IS NOT WHERE THEY NEED TO BE.
PROSECUTORS, WE HAVE TO REVIEW EVERY ITEM OF EVIDENCE THAT COMES BEFORE US.
WE ARE CONSTANTLY HAVING TO REQUEST EVIDENCE FROM LAW ENFORCEMENT.
AND WE DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY THIS EVIDENCE IS NOT COMING OVER A LOT OF TIMES.
AND IT TAKES TIME ON BOTH SIDES, TIME THAT BOTH OF US SHOULD BE SPENT WITH PUBLIC SAFETY.
RIGHT NOW, A LOT OF CRITICAL TIME IS BEING WASTED BECAUSE OF OUR CURRENT SYSTEMS. SO WE HAVE TWO GOALS IN ASKING FOR AXON.
NUMBER ONE IS THE COMPATIBILITY.
BOTH SAPD AND BCSO FULLY USE AXON.
AND SO AGAIN, THERE WOULD BE NO TRANSFERRING OF EVIDENCE WITH OUR TWO BIGGEST CONTRIBUTORS.
IT WOULD JUST BE SHARING INFORMATION.
THERE ARE ALSO 15 OTHER LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES THAT CURRENTLY USE AXON FULLY, AND THERE ARE OTHER AGENCIES THAT USE THEM, SOMETIMES EVEN WITH THE LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES.
SEES THAT DON'T CURRENTLY USE AXON.
IF THE COUNTY WERE TO GO TO AN AXON SYSTEM, THEY WOULD GET FREE INSTANCES OF AXON, WHICH MEANS THAT THEY WOULD BE ABLE TO SHARE THEIR FILES WITH US AT NO COST.
FOR SMALLER AGENCIES, WHICH WE HAVE MANY OF THEM IN BEXAR COUNTY, IT WOULD SAVE LAW ENFORCEMENT DAYS AND WEEKS OF UPLOADING EVIDENCE MANUALLY. IT WOULD BE A HUGE GAME CHANGER TO PUBLIC SAFETY.
NUMBER TWO IS ELIMINATING CASES, ELIMINATING THE BACKLOG AND MOVING OUR CASES.
AND I THINK, COMMISSIONER MOODY, THIS GOES TO SOME OF YOUR OTHER QUESTIONS.
THE THINGS THAT THE TOOLS THAT AXON CAN PROVIDE US, THE AUTOMATIC REDACTION, THE TRANSCRIPTIONS OF VIDEOS, THESE THINGS WILL HELP US IN COURT.
IT WILL HELP US ELIMINATE THE BACKLOG.
AND THIS IN TURN WILL HELP US BE ABLE TO INCREASE PUBLIC SAFETY THROUGH OUR JUSTICE SYSTEM.
[01:20:03]
SO THEY'LL SEND SOMETHING OVER FROM AXON BECAUSE AXON ACCEPTS IT ALL AND WE WON'T BE ABLE TO VIEW IT.SO THEN WE'LL HAVE TO ASK LAW ENFORCEMENT TO TAKE THEIR TIME TO DOWNLOAD IT IN A HARD COPY FORM ON A DISK AND BRING IT OVER TO OUR OFFICE, WHICH AGAIN WASTES LAW ENFORCEMENT TIME. AND THAT'S NOT WHAT WE WANT TO DO.
JUST TO SUM UP, THERE HAVE BEEN A LOT OF HIGH PROFILE DISAGREEMENTS AND FRUSTRATIONS RECENTLY.
WE WANT FOR OUR COMMUNITY TO BE SAFE.
THE REAL JOB SHOULD BE FIGHTING CRIME AND NOT FIGHTING OUTDATED TECHNOLOGY.
AND SO WE WANT TO MAKE BEXAR COUNTY SAFER JUST AS LONG AS LAW ENFORCEMENT DOES.
AND I THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND ATTENTION.
THANK YOU. MISS EMILY, ANY FURTHER QUESTIONS? GO AHEAD, COMMISSIONER RODRIGUEZ.
YEAH, JUST REAL QUICK, JUDGE, AND IT MAY BE FOR FOR CHIEF CERATA IN THE BACK.
UM, THE AND YOU MAY HAVE COVERED THIS.
I KNOW THE CITY IS USING, I THINK AXON DO OUR DEPUTIES ALSO WITH THEIR BODY CAMS USE AXON.
USES AXON. I JUST COULDN'T REMEMBER.
I GET IT. IT TAKES A LITTLE TIME TO GET THIS DONE.
I KNOW THE JUDGE MENTIONED THAT YOUR PARTICIPATING IN SOME OF THOSE MEETINGS, JUDGE, AND I APPRECIATE THE FACT THAT I THINK PROGRESS IS BEING MADE NOT JUST THROUGH THE COUNTY PRISM, BUT ALSO WITH OUR PARTNERS AT THE CITY, BECAUSE IT'S IT'S GOT TO BE INTEGRATED.
ANYTHING ELSE? IS THERE A MOTION MOTION TO APPROVE? IS THERE A SECOND? SECOND JUDGE, IF I COULD.
YEAH, LET ME JUST GO. MOTION BY COMMISSIONER RODRIGUEZ.
SECOND BY COMMISSIONER CLAY-FLORES.
YEAH. I JUST WANTED TO, UH, TO FOLLOW UP.
IT SEEMS LIKE IT'S GOING TO HELP, UH, INTEGRATION WITH, WITH THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO POLICE DEPARTMENT, OUR, OUR, OUR COUNTY SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT AND, UH, MAKE THE, THE PROCESS SMOOTHER.
AND, YOU KNOW, OBVIOUSLY THAT'S, THAT'S A WIN FOR PUBLIC SAFETY.
BUT I ALSO DON'T WANT TO, UH, TO PAPER OVER LARGER PROBLEMS, UH, OTHER POLICY ISSUES, OTHER GAPS IN THE PROCESS THAT WE NEED TO ADDRESS. AND, YOU KNOW, I WANT TO ENGAGE ON THAT.
I WANT TO I WANT TO BE PART OF THE SOLUTION.
I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE CAN BRING PROGRESS TO TO THIS ISSUE GOING FORWARD.
AND I HOPE THAT THE DA AND HIS TEAM WILL WORK WITH WITH ME AND THE REST OF THE COURT ON THAT AS AS WE GO FORWARD HERE, BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT I CONTINUE TO HEAR FROM FROM CITIZENS.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR THE DISCUSSION, COMMISSIONER CALVERT.
ALL RIGHT. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF THE MOTION SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE.
AYE. ANY OPPOSED MOTION CARRIES.
ALL RIGHT, LET'S TAKE UP THE LAST MATTER OF CONSENT, AND THEN WE GOT TO GIVE SOME INSTRUCTIONS TO.
WE'RE MOVING AROUND ON THE AGENDA TO TRY TO ACCOMMODATE EVERYBODY AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE.
[41. Request approval authorizing the County Auditor to pay FY 23 invoice(s) for Facilities Management for purchases provided by Amazon for the Sheriff's Office recharge room project in the total amount of $2,406.44.]
RECHARGE ROOM PROJECT.I KNOW THIS IS ONE OF THE THINGS THAT CAME OUT OF THE CONSULTING, SO CAN YOU JUST TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THIS AND WHAT WE'RE GOING TO BE DOING AND WHY WE NEED THAT? SURE. AS YOU CAN.
AND WE IMMEDIATELY STARTED IN EARNEST.
THOSE SPACES ARE INSIDE THE SECURE PERIMETER, SO THEY HAVE QUICK ACCESS FOR THE DEPUTIES AS WELL.
THEY'LL HAVE SLEEPING ROOMS FOR THOSE THAT ARE WORKING MULTIPLE SHIFTS OR TO SLEEP BEFORE THEY DRIVE HOME, DINING AREAS, GAMING AREAS, AS WELL AS OTHER AREAS WHERE THEY CAN JUST SIT, RELAX AND KIND OF DECOMPRESS FROM THE VERY DIFFICULT JOB THEY HAVE.
WE HAVE A SMALL DELAY ON THE PROJECT.
[01:25:01]
WE ORIGINALLY PLANNED TO BE DONE THIS WEEK, BUT WE HAD A PLUMBING ISSUE AT THE ANNEX THAT WE NEED TO RESOLVE.SO AT THE END OF THIS MONTH WE SHOULD BE COMPLETED.
WE'RE COORDINATING FURNITURE DELIVERY IN THE LAST KIND OF COSMETIC ADDITIONS TO THE SPACE.
AGAIN, WHEN I TALKED TO THE SHERIFF ABOUT THIS PROJECT, HE SAYS, I DON'T WANT THEM TO FEEL LIKE THEY'RE STILL IN THE JAIL WHEN THEY'RE IN THESE ROOMS. SO WE DID A LOT OF THINGS TO TRY TO SOFTEN THE EDGES OF THOSE SPACES.
WE WANT THEM TO FEEL LIKE THEY THEY ARE STILL IN THE JAIL.
THEY ARE, BUT THEY DON'T WANT THEM TO TO FEEL LIKE IT.
SO THEY'RE LIKE, THEY'RE NOT IN THE JAIL.
EXACTLY. SO LIKE, THEY'RE NOT IN JAIL.
SO WE DID A LITTLE BIT MORE THINGS TO KIND OF SOFTEN THE EDGES OF THAT AND MAKE SOME MORE PLEASING AMENITIES FOR THESE DEPUTIES BECAUSE WE KNOW IT'S A DIFFICULT, DIFFICULT TASK THEY HAVE. OKAY.
WELL, THANK YOU SO MUCH. UM, SHERIFF, DO YOU WANT TO COMMENT ON THE IMPORTANCE OF THIS? BECAUSE THIS IS REALLY ABOUT MENTAL HEALTH AND ABOUT RETENTION.
ABSOLUTELY. THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER.
AND LOOK, WE'RE DOING WELL WITH REGARD TO MORALE.
THE PAY RAISE WAS WAS A NICE BOOST.
RECRUITING IS GOING OUTSTANDING RIGHT NOW.
NOW, WITH THE ADVENT OF STRAIGHT TO THE STREETS, THINGS ARE GOOD.
THIS IS YET ANOTHER PIECE THAT WE CAN ADD TO THAT.
WE KNOW THAT THEY'RE STILL WORKING SOME LONG HOURS IN THE JAIL.
BUT WITH WITH REGARD TO THAT, THEY NEED A PLACE WHERE THEY CAN JUST UNWIND AND CALL THEIR OWN AND TAKE A POWER NAP IF THEY NEED TO, YOU KNOW, STUDY IF THEY NEED TO CALL HOME AND CHECK ON A SICK CHILD IF THEY NEED TO.
AND THAT'S WHAT THESE ROOMS ARE GOING TO DO.
BUT WHEN IT WHEN IT COMES ALONG, IT'S GOING TO BE A GREAT THING.
AND I KNOW IT'LL BE VERY MUCH APPRECIATED BY THE DEPUTIES AND THEIR FAMILIES.
WELL, I'M GLAD THIS IS MOVING FORWARD.
WHEN WE GET THIS DONE, CAN WE JUST GET SOME FEEDBACK AND STORIES ABOUT HOW THE DEPUTIES ARE LIKING IT OR NOT LIKING IT? ABSOLUTELY. THANK YOU SO MUCH.
THANK YOU, MA'AM. I MOVE TO APPROVE.
MR. CLAY-FLORES. LET ME GET THE.
A MOTION CLAY-FLORES SECOND BY COMMISSIONER RODRIGUEZ.
ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? COMMISSIONER MOODY? WELL, JUDGE, I WAS JUST GOING TO SECOND IT.
I'M GLAD TO SEE US MAKING SIGNIFICANT PROGRESS ON THIS.
I THINK IT'S A GREAT, GREAT THING FOR THOSE DETENTION OFFICERS AND THEY DESERVE IT.
THEY'RE WORKING SO HARD FOR ALL OF US.
AND I APPRECIATE THE SHERIFF AND DAN AND EVERYONE ELSE WHO'S BEEN INVOLVED.
UM, I JUST WANT TO THANK THEM ALL.
ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. COMMISSIONER MOODY.
THAT'S HOW COMMISSIONER RODRIGUEZ GOT YOUR SECOND BEFORE YOU.
SO IT WASN'T INTENTIONAL ON MY PART.
ALL RIGHT. ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION, COMMISSIONER CALVERT? ALL RIGHT. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF THE MOTION SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE.
AYE. ANY OPPOSED MOTION CARRIES.
I'M GOING OUT OF ORDER AS THE PRESIDING JUDGE OF THIS.
AND WE ALSO HAVE ONE, TWO, THREE, FOUR CITIZENS TO BE HEARD.
JUDGE MONIQUE DIAS, JUDGE MYRLIE ALVAREZ, PATRICIA CASTILLO, JULIE RODRIGUEZ.
AND THEN WE ALSO HAVE A TIME CERTAIN FOR WHICH WE'VE ALREADY HIT.
AND I BELIEVE WE HAVE THE TWO CANDIDATES THAT ARE HERE.
AND SO AND THEN WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO GO INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION.
SO TRYING TO BALANCE THIS ALL THIS IS WHAT I'M GOING TO DO.
[8. Communications from citizens who signed the register to speak. (Part 1 of 2)]
IF YOU'RE TRYING TO GET BACK TO YOUR COURT AND TAKE CARE OF BUSINESS.SO AT THIS TIME, IF THERE ARE NO OBJECTIONS, I'LL LET.
JUDGE ALVAREZ, YOU GO SECOND, JULIE RODRIGUEZ THIRD AND PATRICIA CASTILLO.
YOU CAN GO FOURTH IF YOU WISH TO DO SO AT THIS TIME.
OR YOU CAN WAIT TILL ITEM 58 IS CALLED.
BUT I'M GOING TO HAVE TO FIGURE OUT, DEPENDING ON THE TIME TAKEN, BECAUSE AS ELECTED OFFICIAL, I WON'T PUT YOU ON THE CLOCK, JUDGE DIAZ, BUT BE MINDFUL THAT I'M BALANCING EVERYTHING.
WE HAVE A PHYSICAL COPY, IF YOU DON'T MIND.
NOAH FUENTES WALKING ONE UP TO YOU WHILE I BEGIN READING THIS TO YOU.
[01:30:01]
ALL RIGHT. THIS ISN'T A LETTER IN SUPPORT OF ITEM.THE ON CALL, SPECIFICALLY THE ON CALL HIGH RISK CASE MANAGERS PROPOSED IN PARTNERSHIP BY BCSO STRACK, UNIVERSITY HEALTH FVPSA AND THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO. THIS NAVIGATION LINE WAS CREATED THROUGH THE CDV, WHICH WAS STARTED BY YOU, JUDGE SAKAI.
WE APPRECIATE YOUR LEADERSHIP IN DOING SO.
IT'S VERY IMPORTANT AND WE ARE HERE TO ASK YOU FOR CONTINUATION OF FUNDING AS THE GRANT THAT FUNDED THE ON CALL HIGH RISK MANAGERS EXPIRED SEPTEMBER 30TH, 2023.
AS YOU KNOW, IN 2018, WE HAD THE HIGHEST NUMBER OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE HOMICIDES COMMITTED BY A MAN AGAINST A WOMAN IN THE ENTIRE STATE OF TEXAS, WHICH WAS THE IMPETUS TO THE CREATION OF THE CCTV.
ALL OF THE MEMBERS YOU SAW STAND UP HERE AND RECEIVING THE PROCLAMATION EARLIER ARE MEMBERS OF THE CCTV AND WORKING HARD TO IMPLEMENT EVIDENCE BASED STRATEGIES THAT WILL REDUCE OUR GAPS IN DOMESTIC VIOLENCE.
WE HAVE SEEN A FLUCTUATING DECREASE IN DOMESTIC VIOLENCE SINCE 2018, BUT WE HAVE ALSO EXCUSE ME, IN HOMICIDES SINCE 2018, BUT WE'VE ALSO WITNESSED A STEADY INCREASE IN DOMESTIC VIOLENCE CALLS.
WE WOULD LIKE TO THINK THAT THE WORK WE'RE DOING WITH OUR COMMUNICATIONS CAMPAIGN IS ENCOURAGING FOLKS TO COME OUT AND GET HELP IN WAYS THAT THEY OTHERWISE WOULD NOT HAVE PREVIOUSLY. NOT NECESSARILY THAT THERE IS A HIGHER INCIDENCE OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE.
I WANTED TO NOTE ONE THING, HOWEVER.
I BELIEVE WE'VE MADE ALL OF YOU AWARE ONE ON ONE OF THIS CONCERN OF OURS.
WE ARE TREMENDOUSLY GRATEFUL FOR YOUR SUPPORT OF THE NAVIGATION LINE.
IT IS A PUBLIC HEALTH PRIORITY AND I APPRECIATE THAT IT'S BEEN ACKNOWLEDGED AS SUCH BY ALL OF YOU.
WE DO NOT MEAN TO TAKE AWAY FROM THAT IN ANY WAY WHATSOEVER.
HOWEVER, IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING THERE IS A RECOMMENDATION THAT WILL BE PROVIDED TO YOU ALL FROM THE BUDGET OFFICE TO AT LEAST IN PART, FUND THAT NAVIGATION LINE WITH SOME FUNDS THAT WERE PREVIOUSLY ALLOCATED TO FUND THE FIRST YEAR OF A THREE YEAR DOMESTIC VIOLENCE ASSESSMENT OF OUR JUSTICE SYSTEM'S RESPONSE TO DOMESTIC VIOLENCE.
I WILL I JUST WANT TO REMIND YOU ALL, THIS IS SOMETHING WE HAVE BEEN WORKING ON THAT GOES BACK AS FAR AS JANUARY OF 2021 WAS THE FIRST TIME THAT COMMISSIONER RODRIGUEZ, YOU LED THE WAY IN SECURING $100,000 FOR FOR AN ASSESSMENT THAT WAS LATER EXPANDED UPON.
AND THIS COURT CONSIDERED IT AT THE URGING OF MIKE LOZITO LAST OCTOBER.
IT'S A THREE YEAR STUDY AND IT WOULD IN THE FIRST YEAR.
THE SECOND YEAR, IT WOULD BE THE CRIMINAL COURTS AND LAW ENFORCEMENT.
SO WE ARE HERE TODAY TO URGE YOU TO FUND THE NAVIGATION LINE, BUT TO RESPECTFULLY REQUEST YOUR STAFF TO IDENTIFY AN ALTERNATIVE SOURCE OF FUNDING FOR THE NAVIGATION LINE.
AND IN THE IN THE ALTERNATIVE, WE HOPE TO WORK WITH YOU.
I THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND I WILL PASS THE MIC TO JUDGE MARY LOU ALVAREZ.
THANK YOU FOR BUMPING US UP, JUDGE.
GOOD MORNING, JUDGE. GOOD MORNING, COMMISSIONERS.
THANK YOU FOR GIVING US AN OPPORTUNITY TO BE HEARD.
JUDGE SAKAI, I KNOW THAT YOU RECOGNIZE THE IMPORTANCE, BUT IN THE PROTECTIVE ORDER STATUTE, THERE ARE PROVISIONS FOR POSSESSION, ACCESS AND SUPPORT, AND THERE ARE BEST PRACTICES BY WHICH TO INCORPORATE THOSE PROVISIONS IN OUR PROTECTIVE ORDERS AND TO GIVE VICTIMS, ESPECIALLY CHILD VICTIMS, PREDICTABILITY AND STABILITY RIGHT AWAY FROM THE ONSET.
AS SOON AS THE APPLICANTS COME TO THE JUSTICE INSTITUTION SEEKING PROTECTION.
AND SO I THINK THE DOMESTIC VIOLENCE ASSESSMENT IN ITS ENTIRETY, BUT ESPECIALLY IN THE FIRST YEAR, ANALYZING HOW THE CIVIL COURTS AND THE PROTECTIVE ORDER PROCESSES ARE WORKING AND CAN BE IMPROVED WILL BE HELPFUL NOT JUST TO OUR COURTS, BUT TO OUR COMMUNITY AND WILL GET US QUICKER TO SAFETY AND PREDICTABILITY, NOT JUST FOR THE ADULT VICTIMS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, BUT IN PARTICULAR FOR THE CHILD VICTIMS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE.
SO I ENCOURAGE YOU TO FUND BOTH.
I THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR TIME, COMMISSIONER MOODY.
I DIDN'T MEAN TO IGNORE YOU UP THERE, BUT THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH.
I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS NOW OR AS YOU FIND ME.
[01:35:01]
THANK YOU. NO QUESTIONS.ALL RIGHT. JULIE RODRIGUEZ, DO YOU WISH TO SPEAK AT THIS TIME? YES. THANK YOU, JUDGE.
THANK YOU, COMMISSIONERS. MY NAME IS JULIA RENEE RODRIGUEZ.
I AM AN ATTORNEY WITH TEXAS RIO GRANDE LEGAL AID.
I HAVE REPRESENTED SURVIVORS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE FOR OVER 20 YEARS.
AND I'M ALSO ON THE CDV AND HAVE BEEN SINCE IT WAS CREATED.
I AM HERE TO ASK THAT THIS COURT FUND, BOTH THE NAVIGATION SYSTEM AND ALSO THE THE OVERALL ASSESSMENT, AND PARTICULARLY BECAUSE WHEN WE FIRST STARTED THE COMMISSION, ONE OF THE REASONS THAT THE CCTV WAS CREATED WAS BECAUSE THERE WAS A SURVEY OF SURVIVORS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE IN THIS COMMUNITY. AND OVERWHELMINGLY THEY SAID THE SYSTEMS FAILED THEM.
BUT I THINK INDIVIDUALLY WE CANNOT MAKE OUR OWN KIND OF OVERALL ASSESSMENTS.
AND I THINK THIS COMMUNITY AS A WHOLE AND SURVIVORS AND OUR FAMILIES IN THIS COMMUNITY WOULD REALLY BENEFIT FROM SOMEBODY EXTERNALLY COMING IN AND DOING AN ASSESSMENT ON WHAT IS HAPPENING IN EACH OF OUR SYSTEMS SO THAT TOGETHER WE CAN CONTINUE TO IMPROVE.
VICTIMS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, ESPECIALLY IN BEXAR COUNTY, WHERE THE NUMBERS ARE INTOLERABLY HIGH.
THANK YOU. IS DOES PATRICIA CASTILLO WISH TO SPEAK? PATRICIA? SHE SENT SOME REMARKS THAT JULIE IS GOING TO READ ON HER BEHALF AS WELL.
I'LL CALL UP PATRICIA CASTILLO WITH COMMENTS TO BE READ BY MS..
I AM VERY MUCH IN SUPPORT OF CONTINUED AND PERMANENT FUNDING FOR THE NAVIGATION LINE.
IT IS SERVING A TREMENDOUS PURPOSE IN OUR COMMUNITY.
UNFORTUNATELY, THE PREVALENCE OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE IN OUR COMMUNITY REMAINS HIGH.
WE NEED EVERY OPPORTUNITY FOR INTERVENTION POSSIBLE.
WE DILIGENTLY WORKED TO CHANGE AND IMPROVE OUR CITY AND COUNTY RESPONSE IN THE FUNDED ASSESSMENT, AND THE FUNDED ASSESSMENT WILL EXPERTLY GUIDE THE IMPROVED EFFORTS NEEDED. PLEASE FIND ANOTHER FUNDING SOURCE FOR THE NAVIGATION LINE AND KEEP THE UPCOMING ASSESSMENT IN TACT.
I GET FEEDBACK FROM EMAILS, SOCIAL MEDIA, UNSOLICITED COMMENTS EVERYWHERE.
THE CONSTITUENTS WE SERVE MERIT THE POSITIVE OUTCOMES OF SAID ASSESSMENT.
PLEASE DON'T LET, PLEASE DON'T LET OFF A WE DON'T HAVE THE FUND.
PLEASE DON'T LET THIS FALL OFF.
PLEASE HAVE THE ASSESSMENT FUNDS.
ALL RIGHT. I'M GOING TO GO AHEAD.
AT THIS TIME BECAUSE OF THE TIME CERTAIN I'M WALKING, LOOKING AT THE CLOCK.
I THINK I AM COMPELLED NOW TO SHIFT.
I WILL NOW SHIFT TO THE TIME CERTAIN.
AT THIS TIME, WE'RE GOING TO DISCUSS FOR THE JUDGE, FOR JUDGE DIAZ, I HAVE A QUESTION FOR JUDGE.
JUDGE DIAZ. JUDGE DIAZ, I HAVE A QUESTION FOR COMMISSIONER CALVERT HAS A QUESTION.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP.
SO LET ME TRY TO HELP THE COURT GET TO THE HOW DO WE GET BOTH OF THESE THINGS DONE? UM, FIRST OF ALL, WHEN WE DO CONTRACT NEGOTIATIONS, WE HAVE THE ABILITY TO NEGOTIATE WITH A VENDOR WHAT OUR BUDGET IS, AND IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING THAT THERE IS $25,000 DIFFERENCE BECAUSE SOME OF THE VARIABLES WEREN'T KNOWN.
CAN YOU EXPLAIN WHAT THOSE VARIABLES ARE AND HOW PERHAPS THEY'VE BEEN BROUGHT UP TO DATE THAT THEY CAN RECONCILE THE COST ISSUES? THANK YOU FOR THE QUESTION, COMMISSIONER CALVERT.
LAST YEAR IN OCTOBER OF LAST YEAR, THE COURT VOTED TO FUND THE FIRST YEAR OF THE ASSESSMENT.
IT WAS SUBSEQUENTLY IDENTIFIED THAT AN RFQ NEEDED TO BE ISSUED FOR THOSE FUNDS.
AN RFQ WAS THEN ISSUED IN APRIL OF THIS YEAR.
[01:40:09]
WHAT HAPPENED LAST OCTOBER IS THAT MIKE LOZITO WORKED WITH THOSE TWO ENTITIES TO RECEIVE AN INITIAL PROPOSAL FROM THEM FOR 12 MONTHS OF WORK. AT A CERTAIN AMOUNT.HE WENT BACK AND ASKED THEM IF THEY COULD NEGOTIATE, IF HE COULD NEGOTIATE IT TO COME DOWN, SO THAT THE ENTIRETY OF THE STUDY FOR THOSE THREE YEARS WOULD FALL WITHIN THE $750,000 RANGE WHEN THE RFQ WAS LATER ISSUED IN APRIL THERE MY UNDERSTANDING AND MY REVIEW OF THE RFQ, THE RFQ, RATHER THAN ASKING FOR JUST ONE YEAR OF THE ASSESSMENT, ASKED FOR THE ENTIRE THREE YEARS, IT DID NOT INCLUDE LAW ENFORCEMENT AS A COMPONENT OF THE ASSESSMENT, WHICH IS WHAT WAS VOTED ON BY THE COURT, AND IT DID NOT INCLUDE A DOLLAR AMOUNT.
SINCE THEN, I HAVE COMMUNICATED TO THEM THAT THAT'S BEEN IDENTIFIED AS AN ISSUE.
THEY HAVE REDRAFTED THE PROPOSAL TO WHERE IT NOW DOES FALL WITHIN THE AMOUNT ALLOCATED FOR THE FIRST YEAR AND NOT EXCEEDING 750,000 AGAIN FOR ALL THREE YEARS.
AND THEY ARE EAGER TO TO BEGIN THE WORK IF AND WHEN WE CAN CONFIRM THAT THE FUNDS ARE AVAILABLE FOR THEM TO DO SO AT THE PREVIOUSLY ALLOCATED AMOUNT.
ALL RIGHT. AND SO GETTING TO THE HOW OF HOW DO WE DO BOTH OF THESE THINGS THE WAY THE COMMISSION INTENDED? WE HAVE A PATHWAY.
WE HAVE A WILLING VENDOR THAT HAS SAID THEY WILL COME WITHIN THE BUDGET.
SO THERE IS NO REASON TO TAKE ANYTHING OUT OF THE STUDY BUDGET IN ORDER TO SHIFT IT TOWARDS THE THE HOTLINE BUDGET.
SO IT SEEMS TO ME, I WOULD THINK THAT SINCE WE HAVE THE BUDGETARY ISSUES RESOLVED, WE HAVE BUDGET FOR BOTH OF THESE ENTITIES AND THE COUNTY HAS A SURPLUS OF ABOUT 45 MILLION IN CONTINGENCY AND HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN SURPLUS AND RESERVE FUNDS AND OTHER SURPLUS FUNDS THAT WE HAVE ACCESS TO. WE SHOULD BE ABLE TO, EVEN IF IT WAS A $25,000 COST, WE SHOULD BE ABLE TO AFFORD IT.
DAVID, ANY THOUGHTS ON THAT RECONCILIATION? SO MY OFFICE RECEIVED NOTICE OF THE DEMAND.
ARE WE ARE WE ACTUALLY TAKING UP ITEM 58? BECAUSE IF WE ARE, I BELIEVE WE SHOULD.
WELL, JUDGE, YOU CAN IF YOU WANT TO PULL IT OUT OF ORDER, YOU CAN YOU CAN DISCUSS.
THAT'S THE PROBLEM. I'M TRYING TO ACCOMMODATE THEIR SCHEDULE.
I'M TRYING TO ACCOMMODATE THE TIME CERTAIN I'M GOING TO GET TO 58.
SO I'M HAPPY TO RETURN WHEN THE ITEM IS CALLED.
IF SOMEONE CAN NOTIFY ME, I'M JUST.
DOWN THE HALL AND WE CAN CONTINUE THE DISCUSSIONS AT THAT TIME.
ALL I WANT TO KNOW IS, CAN WE CONTINUE THIS CONVERSATION? LARRY, YOU CAN JUDGE.
WE WOULD HAVE TO DEFER THE 1030 ITEM FOR A LITTLE BIT LONGER.
58 HAS NOT BEEN CALLED UP, ARE YOU? THERE'S A CITIZENS TO BE HEARD.
THERE'S A CITIZENS TO BE HEARD.
I THINK DELIBERATING IT WOULD BE TOO PREMATURE IF YOU'RE NOT GOING TO CALL THE ITEM.
I'M JUST TRYING TO KEEP THE COURT OUT OF TROUBLE.
SO, COMMISSIONER, DO YOU WISH TO CONTINUE YOUR CONVERSATIONS? I THINK I'M GOOD. WE'LL DEAL WITH IT AT THE APPROPRIATE TIME.
ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU FOR YOUR INQUIRIES.
LET'S MAKE SURE THAT THE JUDGES ARE AWARE OF WHEN WE'RE GOING TO RECALL ITEM 58.
[4.a. 10:30 a.m. - Discussion and appropriate action concerning an appointment to fill the Probate Court No. 3 Judge position; the approval and payment of a public official's bond for the appointee. (Presentation Time: 20 minutes) (Thomas Guevara) (Part 1 of 2)]
NUMBER THREE POSITION THE APPROVAL AND PAYMENT OF A PUBLIC OFFICIALS BOND FOR THE APPOINTEE.I'LL LET YOU KNOW. OKAY? ALL RIGHT, THOMAS, GO AHEAD.
THANK YOU, JUDGE. COMMISSIONERS, FOR THE RECORD.
THOMAS GUEVARA, CHIEF OF STAFF TO THE COUNTY MANAGER.
JUST FOR A MATTER OF RECORD FOR THE PUBLIC.
ON SEPTEMBER 12TH, 2023, THE BECKER COUNTY JUDICIAL SELECTION COMMITTEE REPORTED ON THE SELECTION PROCESS AND MADE A RECOMMENDATION TO THE COMMISSIONERS COURT TO CONSIDER APPLICANTS BARBARA SCHAAF ZELDIS AND CARMEN SAMANIEGO TO INTERVIEW AT THE NEXT COMMISSIONERS COURT, WHICH IS TODAY.
[01:45:01]
FOLLOWING THE COMMITTEE'S RECOMMENDATION, COMMISSIONERS COURT UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED A MOTION TO INVITE BOTH CANDIDATES TO INTERVIEW.AND WHAT WE'VE DONE TODAY, JUDGE, IS WE'VE COORDINATED WITH THOSE TWO APPLICANTS TO COME IN INTERVIEW FOR THIS POSITION IF THE COURT WANTS TO CONSIDER FURTHER DELIBERATION AND EXECUTIVE.
WE'VE ALSO AGENDIZE THIS FOR FURTHER DELIBERATION FOR COMMISSIONERS COURT.
IF THE COURT IF YOU HAVE ANY ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS, IF NOT, WE HAVE BOTH APPLICANTS AVAILABLE.
GUEVARA. SO AT THIS TIME, I BELIEVE THE PROCESS WILL USE WE WILL INTERVIEW THE TWO APPLICANTS WILL FIRST START WITH JUDGE CARMEN SAMANIEGO AND THEN SECOND JUDGE BARBIE CHAVEZ.
ZELDIS. I'LL ASK THAT THE SECOND APPLICANT PLEASE STEP OUT.
I THINK STAFF WILL ESCORT HER.
FINALLY. IT'S BEEN A LONG HAUL.
CAN YOU ALL HEAR ME OKAY? ALL RIGHT. OKAY.
MY POSITION WITH THE OIG AS AN AUDITOR FOR USAID AND MY LEGAL EXPERIENCE AS A CIVIL LITIGATOR FOCUSING ON PROBATE AND GUARDIANSHIPS, I'M PREPARED TO RUN FOR THIS POSITION IN THE NEXT ELECTIONS.
AND WITH YOUR SUPPORT AND YOUR VOTE OF CONFIDENCE, I WILL WIN.
I WILL WIN BECAUSE I AM PASSIONATE ABOUT THE LEGAL WORK I HAVE DONE FOR 23 YEARS FOR PERSONS AT RISK FOR THE ELDERLY AND PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES.
I'M A FIRM BELIEVER THE LAW IS FOR ALL PEOPLE AND ALL SHOULD HAVE ACCESS TO THE COURTS.
HERE IN BEXAR COUNTY WE HAVE MANY UNDERSERVICED AREAS AND ACCESS TO THE COURTS CAN BE DIFFICULT DUE TO PHYSICAL OR MONETARY BARRIERS. IN RESPONSE, OUR COURT, PROBATE COURT NUMBER TWO WORKED HARD TO MAINTAIN TELEPHONIC AND VIDEO ACCESS FOR OPEN COURT PROCEEDINGS. THIS AFFORDABLE AND EFFICIENT PROCESS RESULTS IN A HIGHER PARTICIPATION RATE, ESPECIALLY FOR INDIVIDUALS AND THEIR FAMILIES WHO ARE GOING THROUGH A GUARDIANSHIP PROCEEDING, WHO MAY BE IN NURSING HOMES OR HAVE THE MENTAL CAPACITIES THAT MAKE IT DIFFICULT FOR THEM TO APPEAR IN PERSON.
REMOVING IMPEDIMENTS LEADS TO A FAIR AND OPEN JUDICIAL PROCESS.
SINCE MY APPOINTMENT OVER TWO YEARS AGO, OUR COURT DEVELOPED EXTENSIVE CHECKLISTS AND GUIDELINES FOR ATTORNEYS, AND WE HAVE AN ONLINE PORTAL WHERE ATTORNEYS CAN SEE THE COURT'S AVAILABILITY AND SET THEIR UNCONTESTED PROCEEDINGS ON THEIR OWN.
TAKING FULL ADVANTAGE OF ODYSSEY, WHICH IS BEXAR COUNTY'S CASE MANAGEMENT SYSTEM.
I AM EXPERIENCED AND CAPABLE OF MANAGING STAFF TO UPHOLD OUR LEGAL OBLIGATIONS OF OVERSIGHT.
THESE THESE ARE ALSO TRIAL COURTS INVOLVING COMPLEX LITIGATION AND NOVEL ISSUES.
I HAVE EXTENSIVE GUARDIANSHIP, EXPERIENCE AND PERSONAL EXPERIENCE WITH FAMILY MEMBERS AND FRIENDS DEALING WITH MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES, AND I AM CAPABLE AND READY TO ASSIST.
PROBATE COURT. NUMBER ONE ON THEIR MENTAL HEALTH DOCKETS.
IF AND WHEN THAT BECOMES NECESSARY, I BELIEVE I MUST BE ABLE TO DO WHATEVER JOB I ASK OTHERS TO DO.
I ENCOURAGE CROSS TRAINING SO STAFF CAN IMPROVE AND EXPAND THEIR SKILLS.
HAVING RUN MY OWN LAW PRACTICE FOR DECADES, I UNDERSTAND THE IMPORTANCE OF LEADING BY EXAMPLE.
AND WITH THAT, WITH MY COLLEAGUES, I HAVE BEEN SEEN AS A LEADER AMONGST MANY THROUGHOUT TEXAS.
I'VE BEEN. ELECTED TO NUMEROUS BOARDS AND CHAIRED SEVERAL BAR SECTIONS, INCLUDING REPRESENTING REPRESENTING THOUSANDS OF ATTORNEYS OF GENERAL AND SOLO PRACTITIONERS ACROSS THE STATE AND MY LEADERSHIP ROLES.
I ENCOURAGE AND DEVELOP EDUCATION PROGRAMS FOR ATTORNEYS AND THE PUBLIC.
I ALSO BELIEVE A GOOD TEMPERAMENT IS WHAT YOUR CONSTITUENTS DESERVE AND EXPECT IN A JUDGE.
[01:50:02]
I WOULD DESCRIBE MY JUDICIAL TEMPERAMENT AS HELPFUL, INFORMATIVE AND ENCOURAGING.MY FAMILY AND I HAVE DEDICATED OURSELVES TO SERVING THIS COMMUNITY FOR OVER 50 YEARS.
MY FATHER IS A SURGEON AND FAMILY PRACTITIONER ON THE WEST SIDE OF SAN ANTONIO AND MY FAMILY, INCLUDING ALL MY SIBLINGS, HAVE CONTINUED TO SERVE THIS COMMUNITY. I HOPE THAT YOU WILL GIVE ME THIS OPPORTUNITY TO SERVE OUR COUNTY AS THE PRESIDING JUDGE FOR PROBATE COURT THREE.
I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR THE SELECTION.
I'M USUALLY ABLE TO TALK OFF THE CUFF, AND I WOULD APPRECIATE IT IF WE COULD JUST TALK.
COMMISSIONER CLAY-FLORES. ANY QUESTIONS? YES, I HAVE SOME QUESTIONS.
SO I DON'T KNOW WHO CAN ANSWER THIS.
IF IT'S LARRY OR STAFF, WHOEVER WE END UP APPOINTING TODAY, WHAT HAPPENS TO THE CURRENT TWO ASSOCIATE JUDGE POSITIONS? MY UNDERSTANDING WAS THERE WERE NO CHANGES TO THAT, BUT IT SHOULDN'T IMPACT THOSE POSITIONS.
IS THAT CORRECT? THAT'S MY UNDERSTANDING, YES.
OKAY. THAT WAS THE WAY I UNDERSTOOD IT.
DECIDE IT. THAT'S THAT IS WHAT IS IN THE BUDGET FOR THIS YEAR.
SO WE HAVEN'T DECIDED THAT YET.
SO COMMISSIONER CLAY-FLORES, I THINK PERHAPS IS YOUR QUESTION, AS I UNDERSTAND IT, FROM THE BUDGET PROCESS IN REGARDS TO PROBATE COURT THERE, OBVIOUSLY THE ELECTED JUDGES ARE ELECTED JUDGES, THEY'RE STATUTORY.
THE COURT HAS THE POWER TO CREATE THE ASSOCIATE JUDGES, AND THERE'S TWO CURRENT ASSOCIATE JUDGES WHO ARE ACTUALLY APPLYING FOR THE THIRD PROBATE COURT. THREE IF ONE ONE OF THEM IS GOING TO GET APPOINTED TODAY, WHICH WILL VACATE, THOSE TWO POSITIONS ARE IN THE BUDGET.
IS THAT A CORRECT STATEMENT OF THE BUDGET? YES, SIR, THAT'S CORRECT.
SO WE'RE GOING TO APPOINT ONE OF THE ASSOCIATE JUDGES.
IF THE OTHER ASSOCIATE JUDGE DECIDES TO RUN FOR THAT POSITION, THEN THEY RESIGN TO RUN.
AND THEN THE CURRENT PROBATE JUDGE WOULD THEN APPOINT ANOTHER ASSOCIATE JUDGE.
CORRECT? YEAH, THAT'S MY UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT THE LAW IS.
SORRY. SAY THAT AGAIN. I WILL HAVE TO REVIEW THE CONSTITUTIONAL RESIGN TO RUN PROVISION.
I'M NOT I'M NOT CERTAIN THAT IT APPLIES TO APPOINTED OFFICIALS AND THE NAMED OFFICIALS WHO THAT APPLIES TO ARE SPECIFICALLY NAMED IN THAT CONSTITUTIONAL PROVISION. BUT I CAN LOOK. SO YOU'LL FIND OUT.
AND IS THERE A POSITION SPECIFICALLY IN TEXAS, IF YOU ARE AN EMPLOYEE OF A COUNTY THAT HAS THAT PROVISION, THEN YOU MUST VACATE YOUR POSITION. SO I'D APPRECIATE IF IT WAS LOOKED INTO, BUT IT IS MY UNDERSTANDING THAT YOU DO HAVE TO VACATE.
SO THIS IS MY PRETTY MUCH MY MAIN QUESTION FOR YOU AND THEN I'LL ALSO ASK THE NEXT CANDIDATE.
ONE OF MY CONCERNS IS THAT THE COMMITTEE BROUGHT TO US THE TWO MOST QUALIFIED CANDIDATES TO BE THE NEXT TO BE APPOINTED TO THE NEXT THIRD FOR OUR THIRD PROBATE COURT.
[01:55:01]
IN THOSE TWO CANDIDATES ARE THE TWO ASSOCIATE JUDGES OF THE TWO CURRENT PROBATE JUDGES.SO MY CONCERN IS WHOMEVER THE COURT DECIDES TO APPOINT TODAY, IF THERE WILL BE A POWER PLAY WITH SOME KIND OF LOYALTY OR ALLEGIANCE WITH WHOEVER, WHICHEVER ASSOCIATE JUDGE WE CHOOSE TODAY, BECAUSE THEN THAT MAKES THREE ASSOCIATE JUDGES.
SO HOW DO YOU THINK YOU WOULD? WELL, AS I TALKED ABOUT MY TEMPERAMENT AND HOW PEOPLE HAVE PERCEIVED ME OVER MY CAREER, I'M PRETTY BALANCED.
EACH COURT IS ENTITLED TO RUN THEIR COURT THEIR WAY.
I JUST DON'T THINK IT'S GOING TO BE A PROBLEM.
AND QUITE FRANKLY, JUDGE BARBEE AND MYSELF WERE IN WE'RE OLDER, WE'RE EXPERIENCED, AND NEITHER ONE OF US HAVE THAT KIND OF TEMPERAMENT FOR FOR SOMETHING LIKE THAT TO OCCUR.
EACH JUST HAS THEIR OWN COURT.
I THINK THAT'S REALLY IMPORTANT EDUCATION, LETTING PEOPLE KNOW WHAT WE EXPECT OF THEM.
AND IF YOU LOOK AND SEE THE WEBSITES ARE VERY DIFFERENT.
AND IF YOU LOOK IN EVERY OTHER COUNTY, EACH COURT KIND OF LAYS OUT HOW THEY DO THINGS.
OKAY. ALL RIGHT. GOOD TO KNOW.
YOU KNOW, I DIDN'T KNOW EITHER YOURSELF OR JUDGE BARBEE BEFORE LAST WEEK.
AND SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR SINCERITY AND YOUR CARE TO TO OUR CONSTITUENTS IN THE COMMUNITY AT LARGE.
AND ALSO JUST YOUR EXPERIENCE IN THE BACKGROUND, YOU HAVE ALL YOUR INTERNATIONAL EXPERIENCE, I THINK HAS BROUGHT A LOT OF CREDIBILITY TO THE WORK YOU DO HERE IN BEXAR COUNTY. SO THANK YOU SO MUCH.
NO FURTHER QUESTIONS. COMMISSIONER RODRIGUEZ THANK YOU, JUDGE.
UM, I THINK YOU MENTIONED AT THE OUTSET.
WELL, FIRST OF ALL, LET ME LET ME THANK YOU FOR PUTTING YOUR NAME FORWARD AND STEPPING UP.
I THINK, JUDGE, THE COMMITTEE THAT YOU PUT TOGETHER, UH, DID A GREAT JOB.
AND I THINK EITHER ONE OF THE CANDIDATES CAN DO A GREAT JOB.
I KNOW YOU HAVE A LONG HISTORY OF PRACTICING HERE LOCALLY.
I THINK YOU MENTIONED IN YOUR OPENING REMARKS THAT YOU AND CORRECT ME IF I HEARD THIS WRONG, THAT YOU WERE GOING TO RUN FOR THIS POSITION, WHETHER YOU'RE APPOINTED OR NOT.
WELL, I'M PREPARED TO RUN SOMETIMES.
I HAVEN'T MADE THAT DECISION YET, BUT ONE STEP AT A TIME.
YOUR APPOINTMENT EFFECTIVELY AND WE GOT TO WHO? WHO? WE. WHOEVER GETS IT HAS TO GET ON THE BALLOT IMMEDIATELY GET SIGNATURES.
AND SOME PEOPLE ASK I KNOW IN I BELIEVE IT WAS IN HARRIS COUNTY, THEY DID A PLACE HOLD.
AND I WANTED IT TO BE CLEAR THAT I INTEND TO, YOU KNOW, I'M PREPARED TO RUN IF I GET APPOINTED.
I'M PREPARED TO RUN AND GET OFF THE GROUND.
BUT AS FAR AS ANYTHING ELSE OF VACATING OR THAT'S THAT'S ANOTHER DAY.
YEAH, I NEED TO SLEEP ON THAT.
SURE. NO, I DON'T WANT TO COMPLICATE MATTERS BY.
BY GOING DOWN THAT RABBIT HOLE.
COMPLICATED. YEAH, BUT JUST TO BE CLEAR, AND LARRY, IF YOU CAN HELP ME WITH THIS, THE POSITION THAT WAS CREATED BY THE LEGISLATURE THAT WE ARE CHARGED WITH FILLING WILL BE ON THE BALLOT IN 2024.
IS THAT ACCURATE? THAT'S ACCURATE. OKAY.
I JUST WANT. SO WHICH MEANS A MARCH PRIMARY AND THEN NOVEMBER.
UM, SO AGAIN, I DON'T WANT TO COMPLICATE MATTERS.
LET ME ASK YOU ABOUT YOUR EXPERIENCE DEALING WITH, I GUESS, INDIGENT FOLKS WHO COME IN YOUR IN YOUR
[02:00:06]
COURTROOM. YOU KNOW, YOU ARE MAKING TOUGH DECISIONS YOU ARE HAVING TO DEAL WITH, IN SOME CASES, SIGNIFICANT ASSETS AND VERY EMOTIONAL CASES.WHEN YOU WHEN YOU DEAL WITH PROBATE AND POTENTIALLY, YOU KNOW, LOST LOVED ONES.
UM, WHAT IS YOUR GENERAL PHILOSOPHY ON GUESS THE INDIGENT CLIENTS? HOW DO YOU NOT NOT NECESSARILY GIVE THEM A LEG UP, BUT HOW DO YOU MAKE SURE THE FOOTING IS EQUAL IN THE COURTROOM? YEAH, IT'S DIFFICULT.
WE'RE MANDATED WHEN WE HAVE PROCESSES COME IN AND THEY'RE NOT REPRESENTED WITH AN ATTORNEY, WE ARE EXPECTED TO HOLD THEM TO THE EXACT SAME STANDARD AS IF THEY'RE AN ATTORNEY. BUT, YOU KNOW, YOU CAN'T WAIVER TOO MUCH OFF OF THAT.
IT'S IT'S YOU HAVE TO GO THROUGH IT CAREFULLY.
AND SO WHAT I TRY TO BE IS EDUCATIONAL.
I BELIEVE THE LAW IS FOR EVERYONE.
AND SO EXPLAINING THINGS, GOING A LITTLE SLOWER, BEING REALLY PATIENT, UNDERSTANDING THEIR FRUSTRATION, BUT THEIR RIGHT TO BE THERE, UM, IS REALLY IMPORTANT.
AND I HAD A WOMAN THE OTHER DAY WHERE I HAD TO TELL HER SHE COULD NOT FILE ANYTHING ANYMORE AND SHE HAD NO STANDING TO BE THERE, EVEN THOUGH THIS CONCERNED HER FATHER UNDER A GUARDIANSHIP.
AND SHE SHOOK MY HAND AND THANKED ME AFTERWARDS.
AND SHE WAS UP FOR SANCTIONS ON THAT.
AND I TOLD HER I WAS GOING TO HAVE TO SANCTION HER.
BUT IT'S THE WAY I APPROACHED IT IS I MADE HER UNDERSTAND.
YOU JUST EXPLAIN AND YOU EXPLAIN IT IN BASIC TERMS SO THAT EVERYONE UNDERSTANDS.
EVERYONE COMES ON THE SAME PAGE.
I GUESS IT'S MORE OF A IT'S JUST A DIFFERENT APPROACH.
I'M NOT THAT DIFFERENT THAN THEY ARE.
AND I UNDERSTAND I'VE LOST, YOU KNOW, MY PARENTS.
I HAVE PEOPLE WITH MENTAL ILLNESS IN MY FAMILY.
I UNDERSTAND WHAT THEY'RE GOING THROUGH.
SO I THINK JUST SOME EMPATHY AND COMPASSION HELPS.
GREAT. THINK THAT'S ALL I'VE GOT, JUDGE? COMMISSIONER MOODY, YOU HAVE THE FLOOR.
AND SO I JUST WANT TO THANK YOU FOR THAT, FIRST OF ALL.
SO REGARDLESS OF WHICH JUDGE WE SELECT TODAY, THERE WILL HAVE TO BE A NEW ASSOCIATE JUDGE, UH, SELECTED FOR ONE OF THE COURTS.
WILL THAT BE SELECTED FROM THIS POOL OR WOULD THAT BE COMING FROM THAT INDIVIDUAL JUDGE OF PROBATE COURT? 1 OR 2 COMMISSIONER.
THAT'LL BE FOR THAT JUDGE TO SELECT.
OKAY. SO THE THE COURT WILL NOT HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY IN THAT.
THAT WILL BE THE INDIVIDUAL JUDGE.
AND AGAIN, I DON'T HAVE ANY FURTHER QUESTIONS AT THIS TIME.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR OFFERING YOUR SERVICE TO THE COUNTY OVER THE LAST TWO YEARS.
IS THAT ARE THERE AREAS THAT YOU'RE SPECIALIZE? SO AS FAR AS BOARD CERTIFICATION THERE, YOU CAN BE A BOARD CERTIFIED ESTATE PLANNER.
USUALLY THAT INVOLVES A LOT OF DRAFTING OF TRUSTS, TAX STUFF.
THERE IS ANOTHER CERTIFICATION.
YOU HAD MENTIONED KATIE WHITEHEAD ONE TIME WHEN THIS WAS COMING UP.
WE WORKED A LOT TOGETHER OVER THE MANY YEARS UNTIL HER RETIREMENT.
SHE WAS BOARD CERTIFIED ON A NATIONAL LEVEL IN ELDER LAW.
[02:05:04]
THERE IS NO SUCH CERTIFICATION HERE IN TEXAS FOR THAT.AGAIN, IT WAS SOMETHING I LOOKED INTO WHETHER I SHOULD DO THAT OR NOT.
BUT YOU DIVE A LOT DEEPER INTO MEDICAID PLANNING.
AND JUST ANOTHER AREA OF HOUSEKEEPING, IF YOU WILL.
UM, YOUR LAW PRACTICE, IS IT OPEN OR IT'S CLOSED NOW? NO, NO, IT'S CLOSED.
OKAY. THAT'S WHAT I THOUGHT WHEN I.
OKAY, ALL THAT'S BEEN SHUT DOWN.
OKAY, THAT'S ALL THE HOUSEKEEPING.
JUST IN TERMS OF THE PROBATE COURT AND THE THE CASELOAD, WHAT ARE WHAT DO YOU SEE LOCALLY AS SOME OF THE VERY UNIQUE CHALLENGES FOR A PROBATE COURT JUDGE? WE HAVE A LOT OF CASES.
THAT'S WHY I CHOSE THIS AREA OF LAW BECAUSE I KNEW IT WAS GOING TO BE A GROWING COHORT OF PEOPLE.
IT'S JUST GROWING EXPONENTIALLY.
IT IS TREMENDOUS THE AMOUNT OF CASES THAT WE'RE DEALING WITH.
AND WE REALLY ARE KIND OF OVEREXTENDING ALL OUR STAFF.
AND HOPEFULLY OVER TIME THEY WILL BE FULLY BUDGETED WITH THEIR ADDITIONAL ASSOCIATE JUDGE.
OUR CHALLENGE RIGHT NOW IS WE'VE GOT SO MANY UNCONTESTED HEARINGS AND CONTESTED HEARINGS THAT JURY TRIALS ARE VERY HARD TO SET.
AND THAT'S WHY I HAD OFFERED THAT BECAUSE OF MY LITIGATION EXPERIENCE.
I CAN JUST BORROW SOMEONE'S COURTROOM.
ALL I NEED IS MY COURT REPORTER AND MYSELF, AND WE CAN BE UP AND RUNNING HEARING A JURY TRIAL.
IF SOMEONE WANTS TO GO, LET'S GO.
I KNOW THERE'S GOING TO BE CHALLENGES WITH SPACE, AND THAT'S FINE BECAUSE LIKE I SAID, PEOPLE ARE VERY WILLING TO LEND THEIR COURTROOMS, NOT ONLY PROBATE COURT ONE AND TWO, BUT I'M SURE THROUGHOUT THE COURTHOUSE PEOPLE ARE MORE THAN HAPPY TO ACCOMMODATE BASED ON THEIR SCHEDULES.
BUT I THINK RIGHT NOW IT'S THE JURY TRIAL SETTINGS AND JUST BENCH TRIAL SETTINGS THAT ARE MORE THAN THREE DAYS ARE CHALLENGING BECAUSE WE HAVE SO MANY HEARINGS EVERY WEEK.
I HEAR ABOUT 50 TO 60 HEARINGS, AND THAT'S PREPARING FOR THOSE HEARINGS.
AND THEN IN ADDITION, SIGNING A BUNCH OF ORDERS.
IT'S VERY HIGH VOLUME AND TAKING YOUR JUDICIAL HAT OFF FOR A SECOND, JUST AS A MEMBER OF THE BAR WHO IS SEEING THESE CASES COME BEFORE US, IF YOU WERE TO TALK TO THE COMMUNITY, TALK TO THE LEGAL COMMUNITY ABOUT THINGS THAT TEND TO TRIP PEOPLE UP WHEN THEY GET TO THIS COURT, WHAT WOULD YOU HAVE THE BAR OR THE COMMUNITY DO? IS THERE ANYTHING YOU'D HAVE THEM RALLY AROUND? I GIVE A LOT OF CLUES.
I ALWAYS HAVE IN MY PRIVATE PRACTICE, AND I'M CONTINUING WHILE I'M ON THE BENCH.
UM, IT'S VERY TECHNICAL AREA OF LAW AND PEOPLE DO GET TRIPPED UP, EVEN VERY GOOD PRACTITIONERS.
AND IF YOU JUST DON'T DO THE PROPER SERVICE, DON'T PLEAD THE PROPER THINGS.
SO IT'S JUST CONSTANT EDUCATION.
BUT IT'S KIND OF ONE OF THE ONLY AREAS OF LAW WHERE WE TELL PEOPLE HOW TO PRACTICE IT, BECAUSE YOU DO WANT TO ENCOURAGE PEOPLE COMING INTO THIS AREA, ESPECIALLY IN GUARDIANSHIPS.
AND THEN A LOT OF THEM GET BURNED AND THEY LEAVE.
WE ARE CONSTANTLY TRYING TO RECRUIT PEOPLE TO COME IN.
THIS IS A GREAT AREA FOR YOUNG PEOPLE TO PRACTICE IN.
SO IT'S JUST CONSTANT EDUCATION AND TRYING TO PUT UP AS MUCH INFORMATION UP ON THOSE WEBSITES.
GUIDELINES FOR THE PRACTITIONERS.
[02:10:01]
THANK YOU FOR AGAIN YOUR SERVICE.GOOD MORNING. HOPE IT HASN'T BEEN TOO LONG OF A MORNING FOR YOU.
FIRST AND FOREMOST, LET ME THANK YOU FOR PUTTING YOUR NAME IN.
UH, YOU AND JUDGE SHAR ZELDIS.
I KNOW BOTH OF Y'ALL THINK I WOULD PUT ON THE RECORD THAT I KNOW YOU MAINLY THROUGH YOUR FAMILY.
YOUR FAMILY HAS BEEN A DOCTOR.
HECTOR SR WAS A PHYSICIAN IN THE SOUTH SIDE WEST SIDE, SERVING THE UNDERSERVED FOR MANY YEARS AND SERVED WITH GREAT DISTINCTION AS A PHYSICIAN WHO CARED DEEPLY ABOUT HIS COMMUNITY.
I BELIEVE YOUR BROTHER, DOCTOR HECTOR JR IS IN THE FIELD OF PSYCHIATRY AND HAS WORKED WITH CHILDREN AND FOSTER CHILDREN, AND THAT'S WHERE OUR PATHS HAVE CROSSED. AND I THINK HIS DAUGHTER, YOUR NIECE, WHO HAS DONE POSTGRADUATE STUDIES AT STANFORD, HAS WORKED WITH ME ON HER STUDIES THROUGH THE CHILDREN'S COURT.
SO I'M VERY HONORED THAT THE SAMANIEGO FAMILY HAS CONTINUED ITS PUBLIC SERVICE THROUGH YOU AS AN ASSOCIATE JUDGE AND POSSIBLY AS THE NEW PROBATE COURT. THREE, I WANT THE PUBLIC TO UNDERSTAND THAT I BELIEVE THE SELECTION PROCESS HAS REALLY PUT THE BEST CANDIDATES FORWARD AND THAT WE HAVE WE WON'T LOSE IF WE PICK ONE OR THE OTHER.
HOWEVER, WE WILL HAVE TO MAKE A DECISION AND WE'LL BE TAKING THAT UP INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION SHORTLY.
SO I INTERVIEWED BOTH YOU AND JUDGE ZELDIS.
I THINK BOTH WENT ABOUT AN HOUR, HOUR AND A HALF.
IT WAS PROBABLY ONE OF A DIFFERENT TYPE OF INTERVIEW.
I THINK I DID MOST OF THE TALKING AND.
MY QUESTION TO YOU IS, WHAT WAS YOUR TAKE AWAY FROM OUR INTERVIEW? UM. OH, LET ME THINK ABOUT THOSE TAKE AWAY.
I THINK YOU HAVE A CONCERN ABOUT MAKING SURE THAT PEOPLE SHOW UP, THAT THEY CONTINUE THEIR HARD WORK. YOU HAD MENTIONED, YOU KNOW, ASSOCIATE JUDGES TEND TO BE THE WORKHORSES, WHICH IS TRUE.
WE WORK UNDER THE JUDGE THAT APPOINTS US.
WE I KNOW IN OUR COURT, FOR EXAMPLE, WE HAD TALKED ABOUT SIGNATURES AND EVERYTHING.
EVERYONE HAS A DIFFERENT WAY THEY MANAGE.
AND WILL SOMETHING CHANGE, YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU BECOME THAT POLITICAL PERSON? AND AND I THINK MY RESPONSE WAS, I DON'T THINK I CAN.
I WAS RAISED BY A GERMAN MOTHER, SO THIS IS WHAT I KNOW.
I KNOW JUDGE VASQUEZ HAD EVEN TOLD ME YOU CAN HAVE THE REST OF THE DAY OFF TODAY.
AND I'M THINKING, WHAT AM I GOING TO DO WITH MYSELF? THERE'S JUST SO MUCH WORK TO DO, AND THIS IS SOMETHING I ENJOY.
SO THAT'S WHAT I TOOK AWAY FROM IT, IS THAT YOU WERE CONCERNED THAT PEOPLE JUST DON'T KIND OF SLIDE INTO A COMFORT ZONE AND AND SLIDE ALONG, BUT THERE'S JUST TOO MUCH WORK.
AND I WOULD SAY NONE OF OUR PROBATE COURTS OPERATE THAT WAY.
EVERYONE IS OPERATING AT FULL TILT CONSTANTLY.
THAT'S QUITE CLEAR TO ME AFTER OUR INTERVIEW.
ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH.
IF THERE ARE NO FURTHER QUESTIONS, I JUST HAD ONE QUICK ONE.
HAVE YOU RUN FOR OFFICE BEFORE? YES. I RAN FOR THE FOURTH COURT OF APPEALS.
SHE'S AN ATTORNEY, DOUBLE BOARD CERTIFIED, HAVE A GREAT REPUTATION.
AND WHAT YEAR WAS THAT, BY THE WAY? WHAT? WHAT YEAR? OH, I CAME BACK FROM PAKISTAN.
AND REBECA MARTINEZ WAS IN THE PRIMARY AND SHE DID EXTREMELY WELL.
AND THAT IS SOMETHING THAT JUDGE SACCHI AND I DISCUSSED, IS YOU HAVE TO STRIKE THAT BALANCE WHEN WE HAVE SUCH A HUGE WORKLOAD AND THEN YOUR EVENINGS ARE OBVIOUSLY GOING TO BE CONSTANTLY CAMPAIGNING, AND I'M FULLY AWARE OF THAT.
SO THANK YOU. THANK YOU, JUDGE.
I'LL ASK THAT YOU BE EXCUSED AND I'LL ASK THAT JUDGE SHARP, ZELDA'S BE BROUGHT BEFORE YOU.
THANK YOU. THE COURT AND THEN TO FURTHER EXPLAIN THE PROCESS, AFTER WE COMPLETE BOTH SESSIONS, WE WILL MOVE INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION.
SO THAT MEANS ONLY THOSE THAT ARE ALLOWED TO BE IN THE ROOM WILL STAY.
EVERYBODY ELSE WILL BE ASKED TO LEAVE.
[02:15:02]
WE WILL THEN HAVE A DISCUSSION AMONG THE COURT AND THEN WE WILL EXIT THE EXECUTIVE SESSION WITH OUR VOTE.I WANT TO MENTION TO YOU THAT INSTEAD OF EMPTYING THE.
WE WILL NOT ASK ANYBODY TO EXIT THE COURT.
WE'LL COME BACK OUT WHEN WE COME BACK OUT.
GOOD MORNING, JUDGE SACCI COMMISSIONERS.
I DO HAVE PARTY FAVORS BECAUSE EVERYBODY SHOULD HAVE PARTY FAVORS.
ONE FOR EACH COMMISSIONER. AND I APOLOGIZE.
YOU'VE PROBABLY SEEN THE RESUME BEFORE.
THE OTHER ONE, YOU MIGHT HAVE SOMEBODY MIGHT HAVE SLIPPED THAT TO YOU AT SOME POINT.
AND I HAVE A COPY FOR YOUR STAFF AS WELL.
THANK YOU. YOU HAVE THE FLOOR.
ALL RIGHT. WELL, GOOD MORNING AGAIN, JUDGE SAKAI AND COMMISSIONERS.
THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SHARE MY BACKGROUND AND MY QUALIFICATIONS WITH YOU.
I'VE BEEN INTERESTED IN THIS POSITION LONG BEFORE IT WAS CREATED.
PRIOR TO MY APPOINTMENT AS ASSOCIATE PROBATE JUDGE IN NOVEMBER OF 2021, I SERVED AS IN-HOUSE COUNSEL FOR THE SAN ANTONIO FIRE AND POLICE, REPRESENTING ITS MEMBERS IN THE AREAS OF PROBATE, GUARDIANSHIP, ESTATE PLANNING AND FAMILY LAW.
THE BEXAR COUNTY PROBATE COURTS AND THEIR SISTER COURTS IN 11 OTHER COUNTIES.
IN ADDITION TO MY REGULAR PRACTICE, I WAS A MEDIATOR, AN ASSOCIATE JUDGE FOR THE MENTAL HEALTH COURT AT THE STATE HOSPITAL AND A SPECIAL COMMISSIONER FOR EMINENT DOMAIN CASES.
I'VE PLAYED AN INSTRUMENTAL PART IN PROBATE COURT.
NUMBER ONE, PRESIDING OVER CONTESTED AND UNCONTESTED MATTERS ALIKE.
EQUALLY IMPORTANT FOR THIS NEW COURT IS THE MANAGEMENT OF THE STAFF.
I'VE EXPERIENCED MANAGING A TEN PERSON LAW PRACTICE AND IN MY CURRENT POSITION I HAVE SERVED IN AN ADMINISTRATIVE ROLE ASSISTING JUDGE KAZIN WITH THE MANAGEMENT OF OUR TEN PERSON STAFF.
YOU NEED A JUDGE WHO HAS THE EXPERIENCE TO MANAGE THAT STAFF AS WELL AS THE DAILY DOCKET.
AND OF COURSE, YOU NEED A JUDGE WITH MORE THAN JUST EXPERIENCE.
YOU NEED A JUDGE WHO WILL LISTEN AND RULE FAIRLY.
TO DATE, I HAVE SIGNED APPROXIMATELY 18,000 ORDERS WITHOUT COMPLAINT, APPEAL OR REVERSAL.
I'VE RESIDED IN BURKE COUNTY FOR 33 YEARS.
I'VE SUPPORTED OUR CITIZENS BY DONATING MY TIME AND MY LEADERSHIP SKILLS THROUGH INVOLVEMENT IN SUCH INSTITUTIONS AS THE SAN ANTONIO LIGHTHOUSE FOR THE BLIND AND MY SYNAGOGUE CONGREGATION.
EDUCATION IS AN OBLIGATION OF THIS COURT AND ONE THAT I INTEND TO CONTINUE.
[02:20:02]
THANK YOU. COMMISSIONER CLAY-FLORES.UM, THIS IS THE SAME QUESTION I ASKED JUDGE CARMEN.
SO MY MAIN CONCERN, OBVIOUSLY, THE COMMITTEE BROUGHT FORTH ARE THE TWO MOST QUALIFIED CANDIDATES, WHICH WERE HAPPEN TO BE OUR TWO ASSOCIATE JUDGES.
AND IF THERE'S GOING TO BE ANY KIND OF POWER PLAY, UM, NOW THAT THERE'S GOING TO BE A THIRD KIND OF BREAK, THE TIE KIND OF THING AND HOW YOU THINK YOU WOULD DO IN THAT KIND OF ROLE.
I DON'T THINK THERE'S GOING TO BE ANY POWER PLAY.
UM, I HAVE BEEN CALLED BY MY BOSS.
AND IT WOULD BE MY GOAL TO WORK WITH BOTH PROBATE COURT ONE AND PROBATE COURT TWO JUDGES TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE ALL AT THE TABLE AND DOING WHAT'S BEST FOR ALL THREE COURTS, AS WELL AS THE PROBATE COMMUNITY.
SO YOU DON'T THINK YOU'LL HAVE ANY SENSE OF LOYALTY OR PRESSURE? I WILL TELL YOU HONESTLY, I DON'T ALWAYS AGREE WITH JUDGE KAZIN.
HE DOESN'T ALWAYS AGREE WITH ME.
I DON'T ALWAYS AGREE WITH JUDGE VAZQUEZ.
SHE DOESN'T ALWAYS AGREE WITH ME.
IT'S ABOUT THE COMMUNITY THAT'S COMING BEFORE US AND MAKING SURE THAT WE'RE SERVING THEM.
GOOD MORNING. GOOD MORNING. RIGHT.
AND THAT IS THANK YOU FOR PUTTING YOUR FOOT FORWARD.
UM, WE HAVE A TOUGH DECISION BECAUSE YOU'RE BOTH A VERY HIGHLY QUALIFIED, UM, IMPECCABLE RESUMES.
UM, COMMUNITY LEADERS AND GOOD JUDGES.
SO, UM, THANK YOU FOR, FOR PUTTING YOUR NAME FORWARD.
UM, THE POSITION, AS I SEE IT, IS PRETTY CLEAR THAT YOU'LL HAVE TO RUN FOR THE POSITION. UM, ONCE YOU'RE APPOINTED.
UM, DO YOU PLAN TO RUN FOR THE POSITION WHETHER OR NOT YOU'RE APPOINTED? THE ONLY WAY I'M RUNNING IS IF I'M APPOINTED.
OKAY. UM, AND THEN MY OTHER QUESTION IS MORE RELATED TO, I GUESS, YOUR PHILOSOPHY.
UM, I KNOW THAT YOU GOT TO BE IMPARTIAL AS A JUDGE, BUT YOU HAVE FOLKS THAT COME BEFORE YOU IN PROBATE COURT WHO ARE, UM, IN UNFORTUNATE CIRCUMSTANCES, FINANCIALLY, EMOTIONALLY.
UM, WHAT'S YOUR PHILOSOPHY WITH RESPECT TO HOW YOU'RE BEST ABLE TO EQUAL THE FOOTING FOR THOSE WHO DON'T HAVE THOSE RESOURCES? UM, WELL, I CAN ACTUALLY GIVE IT TO YOU, EXPLAIN IT TO YOU BY EXAMPLE, BECAUSE I'VE HAD THOSE EXPERIENCES IN COURT, WHETHER IT'S BEEN A FULL HEARING OR JUST TRYING TO ACCOMMODATE SOMEBODY WHO'S TRYING TO HAVE ACCESS, WHETHER IT'S THROUGH APPLYING FOR PROBATE OF A WILL, AN UNCONTESTED PROBATE.
I DON'T AGREE WITH THAT 100%, BECAUSE NOT EVERYBODY HAS THE FUNDS TO HIRE AN ATTORNEY.
THE SUPREME COURT HAS PUT OUT FORMS THAT WE CAN USE.
THE PROBLEM WITH THAT IS WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY MATCH WHAT'S IN THE CODE.
AND IF THEY'RE IN COURT, IT'S A CONTESTED MATTER.
I LET EVERYBODY HAVE A SAY, EVEN IF MAYBE YOU WEREN'T THERE WITH YOUR OWN PLEADING, IF YOU SHOW UP AND YOUR FAMILY MEMBER, I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERYBODY HAS HAD THEIR OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE THEIR DAY IN COURT, BECAUSE THAT MIGHT BE THE ONLY TIME THEIR VOICE GETS HEARD.
GREAT. THANK YOU. THAT'S ALL I HAVE, JUDGE.
SORRY, I WAS TRYING TO UNMUTE MYSELF THERE.
UM, I DON'T THINK I HAVE ANY, UH, ANY QUESTIONS THIS MORNING.
JUDGE. UH, AGAIN, I JUST WANT TO ECHO MY COLLEAGUES COMMENTS.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE BOTH ON THE BENCH AND TO OUR COMMUNITY.
I KNOW YOU'VE BEEN VERY ACTIVE AND INVOLVED, SO THANK YOU FOR THAT.
[02:25:01]
THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER CALVERT.IT SAYS THAT YOU WERE VOLUNTEER OF THE YEAR AT THE BARSHOP JEWISH COMMUNITY CENTER IN 2023.
AND I HAVE NO IDEA HOW YOU DID THAT, BEING A JUDGE AND HAVING CHILDREN TO EXPLAIN TO ME, YOU KNOW, WHAT WHAT THEY WERE RECOGNIZING THERE.
UM, THIS IS ACTUALLY MY SECOND YEAR NOW WHERE I'M CHAIRING THE JEWISH FILM FESTIVAL COMMITTEE AND WE'VE BEEN SCREENING FILMS AND I WAS JOKING WITH THEM.
I SAID I WOULD STILL COME TO THE ANNUAL MEETING.
THEY DIDN'T NEED TO GIVE ME AN AWARD TO GET ME THERE, BUT IT'S NICE TO BE HONORED.
YEAH. UM, SO, YOU KNOW, I THINK THAT I'M GOING TO ASK THIS QUESTION.
I'VE ASKED THIS TO BOTH CANDIDATES.
UM, TAKING ASIDE YOUR JUDICIAL HAT FOR A MOMENT, YOU CAN KEEP ON YOUR HAT WITH THE BAR, BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY, YOUR HAT AS A COMMUNITY PERSON AND OBSERVING THE PEOPLE THAT COME THROUGH THE PROBATE COURT AND PARTICULARLY THOSE WHO MAY BE A BIT DISADVANTAGED.
WHAT DO YOU THINK THOSE FOLKS NEED? WHAT DOES THE COMMUNITY NEED IN TERMS OF UNDERSTANDING THE PROBATE COURT? IF YOU WERE TO MAYBE EVEN WORK WITH ONE OF THE BAR ASSOCIATIONS OR A COMMUNITY ORGANIZATION TO HELP PEOPLE BE BETTER PREPARED WHEN THEY COME BEFORE THE PROBATE COURT, ANY THOUGHTS? THIS IS SOMETHING THAT I WAS DOING AS AN ATTORNEY.
IT'S WHAT I'VE THOUGHT ABOUT AS A JUDGE.
UM. AND WHAT I WAS JUST TALKING ABOUT IN THE BACK ROOM THERE.
WE ARE CHALLENGED WITH EDUCATING OUR COMMUNITY.
HAVING A WILL AND POWERS OF ATTORNEY THAT HITS YOU WHEN YOU TURN 18.
AND I'M SURE MOST OF THESE PEOPLE DIDN'T KNOW THAT.
I DON'T KNOW IF PEOPLE STILL DO THAT, BUT WHAT ARE THE BASICS OF FUNCTIONING IN OUR SOCIETY? ONCE YOU TURN 18, WHAT IS IT THAT YOU NEED TO KNOW? I'VE ALWAYS WANTED TO HAVE THAT, BUT I THINK ALSO GOING OUT TO.
THE SCHOOL'S GOING OUT TO THE CHURCHES, GOING OUT TO THE NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATIONS.
IT DOESN'T. I TELL PEOPLE IN EVERY HEARING, WHEN I GET DONE WITH AN UNCONTESTED PROBATE AND MY FAVORITE STORY IS THE ONE NOT TOO LONG AGO, MOM HAD PASSED AWAY. SHE WAS, I THINK, IN HER LATE 80S AND I HAD FOUR BOYS.
BUT I KNEW THERE WERE FOUR BOYS AND THEY WERE SITTING THERE AND GIVING ME THAT LOOK LIKE, ARE WE DONE YET? ARE WE DONE YET? AND I SAID, OKAY, WE'VE GONE THROUGH THE PROCESS.
NOW RAISE YOUR HAND. HOW MANY OF YOU HAVE A LAST WILL AND TESTAMENT? AND ONE OF THEM ACTUALLY SAID, WELL, IF IT HAS TO DO WITH NUMBERS, I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO.
AND THE ATTORNEY IS LOOKING AT ME WITH FEAR IN HER EYES AND SAYING, JUDGE, I'LL TALK TO THEM.
I SAID, NO, LET'S CHAT ABOUT THIS.
AND I SAID, YOU GUYS UNDERSTAND HOW IMPORTANT THIS IS TO HAVE A WILL.
YOUR MOM HAD A WILL, RIGHT? YES, YES, YES.
AND THEY THEY SAID, YES, YES, YES.
ALL RIGHT. SO I NOTICE YOU HAVE BEEN AN AUTHORITY WITH THE BAR ON A NUMBER OF THINGS RELATED TO THIS COURT IN LOOKING AT THIS RESUME THAT YOU PROVIDED.
AND THANK YOU FOR THAT. I WILL ASK YOU THE SAME QUESTION THAT I ASKED BEFORE, WHICH IS ARE YOU CERTIFIED IN AREAS OF THE LAW THAT PERTAIN TO LEGAL SPECIALIZATION FOR THIS PARTICULAR COURT? OR CAN YOU EXPLAIN SOME OF THE OTHER AREAS WHERE YOU HAVE BEEN PART OF THE REVIEW PROCESS FOR THE BAR, FOR AREAS OF PRACTICE HERE? I WAS LICENSED IN 1993, AND I'VE BEEN PRACTICING EVER SINCE.
MY HUSBAND SAYS ONE OF THESE DAYS I'LL GET IT RIGHT.
UM, I WAS PRACTICING 28 YEARS BEFORE COMING TO THE BENCH.
[02:30:03]
COMES FROM. I DO HAVE OTHER CERTIFICATIONS THAT WERE REQUIRED FOR GUARDIANSHIP WORK AND THINGS LIKE THAT, BUT I DON'T HAVE THE BOARD CERTIFICATION.WELL, IN TERMS OF CAN YOU EXPLAIN, I WOULD THINK THERE WAS SOME RELEVANCE IN SERVING ON THE BAR'S ELDER LAW HANDBOOK COMMITTEE, FOR EXAMPLE, WITH THE BEXAR COUNTY WOMEN'S BAR ASSOCIATION. THERE'S ALL KINDS OF THINGS THAT YOU HAVE SERVED.
YES. SO I'VE BEEN INVOLVED IN A NUMBER OF ORGANIZATIONS, ONES THAT ARE RELATED TO DIFFERENT BARS, NO ALCOHOL INCLUDED, BUT, UM, WORKING WITH THE COMMUNITY, THE ELDER LAW SECTION, UM, THAT WAS BASICALLY TO CREATE A HANDBOOK.
UM, SPEAKING TO OUR, OUR PROBATE SECTION THAT WE HAVE WITH OUR LOCAL BAR, ALSO SPEAKING TO STATE BAR, UM, STATE BAR MEETINGS, WE HAVE WHAT'S CALLED A DOCKET COLUMN, PROBATE COURT SPEAKING THERE, SPEAKING AT A LOT OF DIFFERENT SEMINARS ACROSS THE STATE SO THAT PEOPLE SO OUR ATTORNEYS ARE UP TO DATE ON THE LAW.
YEAH, I THINK THAT ANSWERS ALL THE QUESTIONS THAT I ASKED BEFORE.
I THANK YOU FOR YOUR YOUR LONG SERVICE TO THE COMMUNITY.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE IN THE COMMUNITY.
THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER. GOOD MORNING, JUDGE.
UM, I'LL DISCLOSE ON THE RECORD YOU AND I GO BACK A LONG TIME.
AND HAVE THEY NOW GRADUATED FROM COLLEGE? THANK GOODNESS. YES.
WE HAVE TWO FINE, QUALIFIED ASSOCIATE JUDGES WHO HAVE BEEN WORKING HARD IN THE PROBATE COURT AND NOW HAVE PUT THEIR NAMES UP TO THE ELECTED POSITION, KNOWING WHAT THE WORLD OF POLITICS AND THE ELECTORAL POLITICS CAN BE AND AND THE THE THE TOUGHNESS THAT IS REQUIRED FOR THAT.
AND I BELIEVE YOU HAVE RUN FOR THE PROBATE COURT.
SO YOU'RE VERY FAMILIAR WITH WHAT YOU HAVE TO DO FROM AN ELECTORAL PROCESS, IS THAT CORRECT? YES. OKAY.
ALSO, TOO, I WANT TO THANK THE.
JUDICIAL QUALIFICATIONS COMMITTEE THAT JUDGE MR. FIDEL RODRIGUEZ CHAIRED, ALONG WITH THE PRESIDENTS OF THE SAN ANTONIO WOMEN'S BAR, THE MEXICAN AMERICAN BAR, THE SAN ANTONIO BLACK LAWYERS BAR, AND THE SAN ANTONIO BAR, AND EX-OFFICIO THE RETIRED JUDGE, POLLY JACKSON SPENCER.
THEY HAVE TRULY CALLED, SO TO SPEAK.
I THINK WE HAD ALL QUALIFIED CANDIDATES APPLY, BUT THEY WERE ABLE TO JUST KIND OF NARROW IT DOWN.
AND NOW IT'S WITH YOU AND JUDGE SAMANIEGO.
WE SPENT ABOUT AN HOUR, HOUR AND A HALF, PROBABLY CLOSE TO AN HOUR AND A HALF IN AN INTERVIEW.
AND I HANDLED THE INTERVIEW THE SAME WAY WITH YOU AS I DID WITH JUDGE SAMANIEGO.
SO MY QUESTION TO YOU IS, I ASKED JUDGE SAMANIEGO, WHAT WAS YOUR TAKE AWAY FROM MY HOUR AND A HALF DIALOG WITH YOU? MAKE SURE YOU HAVE BALANCE.
WAS THAT MAKE SURE YOUR LIFE IS BALANCED.
MAY JUDGE MORALES REST IN PEACE, MAY REST IN PEACE.
DON'T HAVE TO GO TO EVERYTHING.
MAKE SURE YOU HAVE SOME TIME FOR YOU, BUT MAKE SURE YOU GET THE JOB DONE.
THINK THAT? IS THERE ANY FURTHER COMMENTS? QUESTIONS? COMMISSIONER MOODY, IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE YOU NEED TO COMMENT ON? SO AT THIS TIME, I BELIEVE WE HAVE COMPLETED THE QUESTION AND ANSWER SESSION WITH BOTH CANDIDATES AT THIS TIME.
I WILL NOW REQUEST THAT WE NOW CONVENE INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION.
[EXECUTIVE SESSION (DISCUSSION ONLY: CLOSED TO PUBLIC) (Part 1 of 2)]
THE EXECUTIVE SESSION ITEMS MAY BE DISCUSSED AND ACT UPON, IF APPROPRIATE, IN OPEN SESSION PURSUANT TO SECTION 551.074.A DISCUSSION REGARDING THE APPOINTMENT TO FILL PROBATE COURT NUMBER THREE JUDGE POSITION.
SO AT THIS TIME THE COURT WILL MOVE INTO THE SIDE CONFERENCE ROOM.
I'LL ASK STAFF TO PLEASE ASSIST US TO SET UP COMMISSIONER MOODY.
[02:35:04]
I HOPE WE PREPARED FOR YOU TO PARTICIPATE IN EXECUTIVE SESSION.SO AT THIS TIME EVERYBODY CAN REMAIN THE COURT.
THE COURT WILL NOW RETIRE AND HOPEFULLY COME AS SOON AS POSSIBLE WITH A FINAL DECISION.
THE COURT IS MET IN EXECUTIVE SESSION AND WE'RE NOW BACK IN OPEN SESSION TIME, 11:56 A.M.
AT THIS TIME. I'LL ASK IF THERE IS A MOTION.
[4.a. 10:30 a.m. - Discussion and appropriate action concerning an appointment to fill the Probate Court No. 3 Judge position; the approval and payment of a public official's bond for the appointee. (Presentation Time: 20 minutes) (Thomas Guevara) (Part 2 of 2)]
JUDGE, I'D LIKE TO THANK AGAIN BOTH CANDIDATES FOR THEIR SERVICE, BUT I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION FOR BARBIE CHAVEZ.THERE'S A MOTION BY COMMISSIONER COWART, SECOND BY COMMISSIONER RODRIGUEZ.
ANY FURTHER DISCUSSIONS? I WILL NOW TAKE.
YES, COMMISSIONER. YEAH, I'D JUST LIKE TO COMMENT.
WHOEVER ENDS UP WINNING TODAY, I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT BECAUSE OF MY QUESTION, TALKING ABOUT POWER PLAYS, WHOEVER ENDS UP WINNING, I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT NEITHER OF THE CURRENT PROBATE JUDGES OR THE COMMUNITY THINK THAT THIS IS ANY KIND OF ENDORSEMENT OF ANY JUDGE OR ANY COURT.
ALL RIGHT. ANY FURTHER DISCUSSIONS? HEARING NONE, THE COURT WILL ASK FOR A ROLL CALL.
COMMISSIONER CLAY-FLORES I ABSTAIN.
COMMISSIONER RODRIGUEZ, HIGH COMMISSIONER MOODY.
I ABSTAIN. COMMISSIONER CALVERT JUDGE SCOTT VOTES I.
CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL WHO PARTICIPATED.
I HOPE EVERYBODY UNDERSTANDS THAT WE WERE HOPING TO BE AS TRANSPARENT AND OPEN AS WE CAN.
WE HAD A GREAT DISCUSSION AND I THINK WE HAD A GREAT PROCESS AND I WISH ALL THE APPLICANTS WELL AND AS SOON AS YOU CAN GET TO WORK. WITH THAT, WE WILL MOVE ON TO THE NEXT AGENDA ITEM.
[6. Filing for record the following legal and administrative documents and directing the Criminal District Attorney's Office to take action, if necessary:]
OFFICE TO TAKE ACTION IF NECESSARY.ITEMS A THROUGH S WILL BE NOTED FOR THE RECORD.
[7. Commissioners Court minutes for Monday, September 11, 2023 & Tuesday, September 12, 2023.]
A MOTION TO APPROVE THE MINUTES.MOTION BY COMMISSIONER RODRIGUEZ.
SECOND BY COMMISSIONER CALVERT.
ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE.
AYE. ANY OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES.
WE ARE NOW GOING TO GO BACK TO CITIZENS TO BE HEARD.
[8. Communications from citizens who signed the register to speak. (Part 2 of 2)]
I APOLOGIZE THAT WE'RE JUST GETTING TO YOU, BUT I HOPE THAT YOU UNDERSTOOD THE ISSUES THAT WE HAD TO DISCUSS.AND SO AT THIS TIME, I HOPE THE CITIZENS ARE STILL HERE.
JUST ASK IF YOU WISH TO SPEAK SEPARATELY OR IF YOU WISH TO YIELD YOUR TIME OR DO YOU WANT TO.
THIS IS YOUR TIME. SO DAN, HOW DO YOU.
HOW DO YOU WANT. I'D LIKE TO YIELD MY TIME TO K.
ALL RIGHT. SO K WHY DON'T YOU COME FORWARD AND WE'LL GIVE YOU SIX MINUTES? I DIDN'T THREATEN HIM TO MAKE HIM DO THAT, SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
AND IT'S NICE TO SEE YOU AND I.
MY GOODNESS, I AM SO IMPRESSED HOW HARD YOU WORK.
I'M HERE ON BEHALF OF SOME OF YOUR CONSTITUENTS.
THEY'RE ACTUALLY REGISTERED VOTERS.
AND I WANT TO START AT THE VERY BEGINNING BEFORE I GET INTO THE ISSUE.
IT ACTUALLY IS THE THIRD MOST TAUGHT FOREIGN LANGUAGE IN OUR COLLEGES.
WITH THAT SAID, I'D LIKE TO POINT OUT THAT WHEN A DEAF PERSON OR A DEAF BLIND PERSON GOES TO A HOSPITAL TO SAN ANTONIO POLICE DEPARTMENT, WHEN THEY SHOW UP, THEY HAVE ACCESS IN THEIR CAR WHERE THEY CAN BRING UP AN INTERPRETER.
IT'S CALLED VRI VIDEO REMOTE INTERPRETING AND BE ABLE TO PROVIDE CLEAR AND EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATION.
OCEAN. THIS IS REQUIRED, OF COURSE, BY THE ADA AND OTHER FEDERAL LAWS.
I CAN REMEMBER WHEN HELP AMERICA VOTE ACT.
THE FUNDS WERE FIRST MADE AVAILABLE TO BEXAR COUNTY.
I APPROACHED WITH A GROUP OF DEAF PEOPLE, THE ADMINISTRATOR, MISS JACKIE COLON, ASKING FOR FUNDS TO MAKE VOTING SITES ACCESSIBLE. THAT WAS A LONG TIME AGO AND TO THIS DAY, THE LAST PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION, THERE
[02:40:08]
WERE ONLY TWO LOCATIONS MADE ACCESSIBLE FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE DEAF OR DEAF BLIND AND REQUIRED SIGN LANGUAGE PEOPLE.I GOT VIDEO CALLS FROM DEAF AS FAR AS BERNIE AND SOMERSET AND SOME OTHER PLACES.
I AM A STATE CERTIFIED INTERPRETER AND THEY ASKED ME, PLEASE HELP, I'M DEAF AND BLIND.
AND I THINK SOME OF THE MILES FROM FAIR OAKS, IT WAS 25 MILES FROM NEAR BERNIE.
SO AND THERE'S OTHERS AS WELL.
AND THEY SAID, I'M NOT ABLE TO VOTE.
I HAD A GENTLEMAN WHO IS DEAF BLIND THAT WANTED TO VOTE AT SAINT PHILIP'S BECAUSE HE LIVED ACROSS THE STREET AND HE COULD MAKE HIS WAY WITH HIS CANE TO AND HE VIDEO CALLED ME AND SHOWED ME ON HIS PHONE WITH THE HELP OF ONE OF HIS CARETAKERS THAT HE WAS AT SAINT PHILIP'S, BUT THEY COULD NOT HELP HIM VOTE. YES, WE SHOWED UP.
WE TEND TO DO THAT AND WE TACTILE TILED THE WHOLE BALLOT TO HIM AND HE WAS ABLE TO VOTE.
WE HAVE DISCUSSED THIS ON MULTIPLE TIMES WITH THE ADMINISTRATOR, MISS COLON.
I AM A BIG ADVOCATE OF EDUCATION.
I'VE HEARD THAT WORD USED A LOT TODAY.
OH, THAT'S SUCH A SMALL POPULATION.
THE SARAH FILIPPONE WHO WORKS FOR THE STATE IS A RESOURCE SPECIALIST FOR DEAF BLIND.
SHE SAID IN SAN ANTONIO, YOUR DEAF HARD OF HEARING AND DEAF BLIND IS ABOUT 8% OF THE POPULATION.
PLEASE DON'T MAKE ME DO MATH, BUT I THINK IT'S SOMEWHERE AROUND 116,000 OR SO, GIVE OR TAKE.
VIDEO REMOTE INTERPRETING IS VERY SIMPLE.
IF I WAS HERE TODAY, YOU COULD HAVE AN IPAD OR TABLET.
DOESN'T HAVE TO BE AN IPAD IN FRONT OF ME.
AND AS I'M SIGNING EVERYTHING, THE INTERPRETER WOULD VOICE INTO THE MIC FOR ME.
THIS WAS I WAS ASKED TO COME HERE BY THIS COMMUNITY TODAY BECAUSE IT'S THEIR LAST PLEA.
THEY'VE BEEN BEGGING FOR A LONG TIME FOR THIS SIMPLE RIGHT TO VOTE.
AND I WANT TO KNOW IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT ACCESS, HOW SIMPLE IT IS, THESE TABLETS, IF YOU PUT THEM IN PLACE SO SOMEONE CAN VOTE LIKE I DO AT THE MOST CONVENIENT PLACE NEAR MY HOME, THAT'S IMPORTANT.
I THINK ONE OF THE DISTRICT JUDGES AND IN 2020 AND HER NAME WAS I PUT IT ON HERE SO BEXAR WITH ME.
SHE SAID THAT EVEN INCREASING A QUARTER OF A MILE EXTRA TO DRIVE WOULD IMPACT SOMEONE GOING TO VOTE.
AND SO AND THEN WE HAD THEM THAT DID RECALL THE OFFICE AND REQUEST, WHICH IS WHAT THE ADA SAYS, REASONABLE TIME, AT LEAST A WEEK BEFORE YOU CALL AND YOU ASK, PLEASE, I WILL BE THERE ON THIS DATE.
THIS TIME, PLEASE PROVIDE ME AN INTERPRETER.
YOU NEED TO BRING YOUR OWN TODAY.
SO I'M HERE TO ASK YOU, PLEASE, PLEASE MAKE VOTING SITES ACCESSIBLE AND THEN YOU CAN USE THOSE TABLETS WHEN IT'S NOT VOTING TIME IN YOUR COURTS.
WHEN YOU GO TO GET A WHEN YOU WANT TO PUT A SIDEWALK IN YOUR BACKYARD, WHATEVER DEPARTMENT THAT IS, IF YOU WANT TO GET A MARRIAGE LICENSE, THEY WRITE NOTES AND THEY BRING THEM TO ME.
WHAT IS THIS NOTE SAY? IT SAYS, WE DO NOT HAVE INTERPRETERS HERE.
YOU NEED TO BRING YOUR OWN JUDGE.
COMMISSIONERS, THE TIME HAS EXPIRED.
OKAY. GO AHEAD AND WRAP IT UP.
I'LL LET YOU WRAP UP. SO PLEASE.
AND THANK YOU FOR JUST A POINT OF PERSONAL PRIVILEGE.
I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR BEING AN ADVOCATE.
I DON'T KNOW I DON'T WANT TO SAY DID WE MEET 20 YEARS AGO? I DON'T KNOW HOW LONG AGO IT WAS.
IT'S BEEN IT'S BEEN A LONG TIME.
[02:45:06]
NOT COMPLIANT IN THE WAYS THAT WE NEED TO BE AND THE WAYS AT THE HEART OF THE COUNTY ARE I MEAN, WE HAVE A WE HAVE A WE HAVE A WE HAVE MORE COMMON SENSE AND A BIGGER HEART THAN WE'VE DEMONSTRATED IN THE OUTREACH WE'VE DONE.SO THANK YOU FOR BEING AN ADVOCATE.
I JUST HAD TO SAY YOU'RE AN IMPORTANT LEADER AND THANK YOU FOR THE EDUCATION YOU GAVE ME YEARS AGO, THAT, YOU KNOW, FOLKS WHO ARE, YOU KNOW, DEAF AND THEY CANNOT YOU KNOW, THEY CANNOT NECESSARILY READ THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE THAT THEY NEED SIGN INTERPRETATION.
AND SO WE'VE GOT TO WORK ON THAT.
SO WE NEED WE NEED TO KIND OF GET TO THE 21ST CENTURY.
DEAF LINK PROVIDES AN OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO DO THAT.
AND YOU'RE ABSOLUTELY CORRECT.
SO I'LL TAKE A LOOK UNDER THE HOOD.
BUT I MISS CALLAN SET IT UP ONLY AT HER OFFICE AND THERE WAS NO PRIVACY.
AND THE COMMENTS WERE HORRIBLE FROM THE PEOPLE WAITING IN LINE.
YOU KNOW, IF THEY'RE DEAF AND DUMB, WHY ARE THEY HERE IF THEY CAN'T READ? IT WAS A SPECTACLE AND IT EMBARRASSED US.
WE NEED TO GIVE DIGNITY TO EVERYONE, SO WE WILL WORK WITH YOU.
WELL, YOU KNOW HOW TO GET HOLD OF US AND WE WILL GLADLY HELP YOU AT NO COST.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH. COMMISSIONER RODRIGUEZ.
YEAH. AND JUST BRIEFLY, WE DON'T NORMALLY ENGAGE BECAUSE IT'S YOUR TIME TO SPEAK, BUT THIS IS AN IMPORTANT ISSUE AND I THINK WE ARE ALL SUPPORTIVE OF WHAT COMMISSIONER CALVERT SAID. WE'RE GOING TO GET THIS FIXED.
I'M CURIOUS WITH RESPECT TO MS..
CALLANAN AND OUR ELECTIONS ADMINISTRATOR, WAS THE REASONING, GIVEN THE COST OF ADDITIONAL EQUIPMENT OR WHAT WAS THE WHAT WAS THE RATIONALE FOR NOT PROVIDING BETTER ACCOMMODATIONS? I WAS TOLD ABOUT THE MONEY SHE HAD IN HER RAINY DAY FUND AND I QUESTIONED HER TO USE THAT AND SHE SAYS, NO, NO, NO, WE CAN'T DO THIS.
WE HAVE TO DEAL WITH COVID AGAIN.
OKAY. WELL, IT'S JUST GOOD FOR US TO KNOW BECAUSE I THINK WE HAVE CONSISTENTLY, EVEN THROUGH COVID, OPENED UP THE CHECKBOOK TO MAKE SURE PEOPLE HAVE ACCESS TO THE BALLOT BOX.
AND WE NEED TO GET THIS RIGHT.
SO AS COMMISSIONER CALVERT MENTIONED, THIS COURT IS COMMITTED TO FIGURING OUT WAYS TO DO THAT.
AND WE'LL WE'LL WORK WITH YOU AS WELL.
COMMISSIONER CLAY-FLORES, DO YOU HAVE ANY COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS? UM, IN THE ACTIVISM WORK THAT I'VE DONE, I ALWAYS TALK ABOUT BEING A VOICE FOR A VOICELESS AND YOU ARE LITERALLY DOING THAT.
SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR PRESENCE AND THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.
AND I GOT TO SEE HOW HARD YOU WORK.
OKAY. WE STILL GOT COMMISSIONER.
COMMISSIONER MOODY, DID YOU WANT TO MAKE ANY COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS? AND THEN I HAVE ONE, TWO, UH, NO COMMENTS AT THIS TIME.
WELL, OKAY, LET ME THANK YOU FOR COMING FORWARD.
YOU AND I HAVE GONE BACK, ESPECIALLY AND WORKING WITH THE COURT SYSTEM, AND I APPRECIATE ALL THE HELP THAT YOU PROVIDE FOR YOUR COMMUNITY AND OUR COURT SYSTEM, ESPECIALLY THE CHILDREN'S COURT. SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
UH, LAST BUT NOT LEAST, I HAVE ANTONIO DIAZ, TEXAS INDIGENOUS COUNCIL.
ALL RIGHT. THAT CONCLUDES CITIZENS TO BE HEARD.
IS THERE ANY OTHER CITIZENS WHO SIGNED UP THAT I DIDN'T CALL? ALL RIGHT. I AM NOW GOING TO GO OUT OF ORDER AGAIN TO ACCOMMODATE.
[58. Discussion and possible action related to the authorization of negotiations with the City of San Antonio for a three-month extension of case management services for the Domestic Violence Navigation Line and appropriate budgetary transfer in the amount of $219,993; and direction to the County Manager's Office to assess the staffing needs for this tool and return to Commissioners Court with a recommendation before the end of the three-month period. (Estimated Presentation Time: 10 minutes) (Thomas Guevara/Dr. Andrea Guajardo)]
EXTENSION OF CASE MANAGEMENT SERVICE FOR THE DOMESTIC VIOLENCE NAVIGATION LINE.AN APPROPRIATE BUDGET TRANSFER IN THE AMOUNT OF $219,993 AND DIRECTION TO THE COUNTY MANAGER'S OFFICE TO ASSESS THE STAFFING NEEDS FOR THIS TOOL AND RETURN TO COMMISSIONERS COURT WITH A RECOMMENDATION BEFORE THE END OF THE THREE MONTH PERIOD.
DR. GUERRERO, GOOD MORNING OR GOOD AFTERNOON.
SO THIS ITEM IS BEING BROUGHT TO YOU TO REQUEST FUNDING.
[02:50:02]
TO THE DOMESTIC VIOLENCE NAVIGATION LINE AT MEDCOM LOCATED AT STRACK.THIS LINE HAS BEEN IN CONTINUOUS USE FOR OVER TWO YEARS AND HAS WE'VE BEEN IN RECEIPT OF SEVERAL PRESENTATIONS FROM STRACK AND FROM BURKE COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE, PARTICULAR CHIEF SANFORD, WHO HAVE PROVIDED METRICS.
THERE HAVE BEEN APPROXIMATELY 2786 PERSONS IN THE UNINCORPORATED AREAS OF BEXAR COUNTY WHO HAVE BEEN NAVIGATED OR AT LEAST ASSESSED.
656 OF THOSE PERSONS WHO ARE VICTIMS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE WERE DEEMED TO BE HIGH RISK, MEANING THAT THEY HAD A HIGH LETHALITY SCORE AS ASSESSED BY BURKE COUNTY SHERIFF'S DEPUTIES AND ARE NAVIGATED TO DOMESTIC VIOLENCE ADVOCATES AND TO CASE MANAGERS FOR BOTH SHORT, INTERMEDIATE AND LONG TERM DOMESTIC VIOLENCE SERVICES.
SO WE'RE REQUESTING THIS TO PROVIDE SERVICE, TO CONTINUE TO PROVIDE THESE SERVICES TO THE COMMUNITY.
ALL RIGHT. ANY QUESTIONS? COMMISSIONER CLAY-FLORES? YES. SO MY UNDERSTANDING THIS IS GOING TO GO TO HELP PROVIDE FOR METROHEALTH STAFF.
WHO'S GRANT ENDED, IS THAT CORRECT? THE THE GRANT THAT METROHEALTH HAD EXPIRED AT THE END OF LAST MONTH ON SEPTEMBER 30TH.
AND SO, YES, WE WERE WE ARE ASKING FOR THIS FUNDING TO CONTINUE THE PROGRAM AND STATUS QUO SO THEY WOULD CONTINUE TO BE EMPLOYEES OF METROHEALTH WHILE WE BEXAR COUNTY STAFF AND BEXAR COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE CREATED EXECUTE A PLAN TO CREATE OUR OWN PROGRAM.
RIGHT. OKAY. SO THE METROHEALTH STAFF, ARE THEY FULL TIME EMPLOYEES? ARE THEY CONTRACT? HOW IS MY UNDERSTANDING THEIR FULL TIME METRO HEALTH EMPLOYEES? SO WITHOUT US DOING THIS THEN AND THEY WORK ON ON THIS PROJECT FULL TIME.
YES. SO WITHOUT US DOING THIS, THEIR JOBS WOULD GO AWAY? SOME OF THEM WOULD, YES. AT LEAST 11 CASE MANAGERS WOULD WOULD NOT BE RETAINED BY KOSA.
SO I'M SUPPORTIVE OF THIS, OBVIOUSLY NOT FOR KOSA, BUT BECAUSE THIS IS WHAT WE NEED FOR THE COMMUNITY SO WE CAN MAKE SURE THAT WE CAN KEEP SUPPORTING THE CALLS AND THE SUPPORT THAT WE HAVE.
BUT I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THESE EMPLOYEES UNDERSTAND THAT THIS IS BEXAR COUNTY STEPPING IN AND SAVING IT BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, HAVING WORKED WITH GRANTS.
PEOPLE SHOULD KNOW WHEN THE DEADLINE IS COMING IN AND WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN, AND THEY PREPARE ACCORDINGLY AND NOT ALLOW STAFF IF THEY REALLY CARE ABOUT THEM, TO JUST LET THEM GO AT THE 11TH HOUR AND THEN SOMEONE ELSE HAS TO STEP IN.
SO I WANT TO MAKE SURE WHOEVER'S COMMUNICATING WITH US, HOWEVER THE MONEY IS GOING TO BE TRANSFERRED TO WHOEVER THAT'S GOING TO WORK, THAT THOSE INDIVIDUAL EMPLOYEES AT METROHEALTH UNDERSTAND THAT BEXAR COUNTY, WHO'S STEPPING IN.
I WILL MAKE THAT COMMUNICATION.
THANK YOU. YES, COMMISSIONER RODRIGUEZ.
YOU KNOW, I'M NOT SURE IF MY QUESTION IS FOR YOU, DOCTOR GUAJARDO, OR FOR FOR BUDGET STAFF.
UM, SO, YOU KNOW, MY, MY UNDERSTANDING IN KIND OF MOVING SOME MONEY AROUND IS A LITTLE BIT OF THE EXIGENCY OF THE CIRCUMSTANCES. WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THE NAVIGATION LINE, THERE'S NO DISRUPTION IN SERVICE THERE, THAT THAT IT CONTINUES TO BE A RESOURCE.
BUT WE ALSO DID MAKE THAT COMMITMENT, I GUESS, LAST YEAR OR THE YEAR BEFORE.
I CAN'T REMEMBER TO DO THE FULL ASSESSMENT ASSESSMENT.
I THINK WE HAVE STILL THE RESOURCES TO DO BOTH THESE THINGS.
I KNOW WE DO, WHETHER IT COMES FROM ARPA OR SOMEWHERE ELSE.
BUT CAN YOU KIND OF ADDRESS THIS, I GUESS, STOPGAP TO TO PUT THE FUNDING IN QUICKLY? YES, BECAUSE WE BECAME AWARE OF THE NEED TO CONTINUE THIS FUNDS WITH A MATTER OF WEEKS.
RIGHT. AND LIKE ONE MEETING TO TRY AND GET THE COURT TO ADDRESS IT.
NOW, THE JUDGE'S OFFICE HELPFULLY STEPPED IN TO GET WITH THE CITY, UPPER LEVEL CITY MANAGEMENT, TO MAKE SURE THERE WASN'T SOME KIND OF BUREAUCRATIC SNAG THAT GOT THESE PEOPLE RELEASED BACK ON OCTOBER 1ST, EVEN THOUGH WE WERE GOING TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THE FUNDING.
WHAT WHEN I BECAME AWARE OF IT AND STARTED LOOKING AT IT, THOUGH, SOME QUESTIONS CAME TO MIND.
AND THAT'S WHY I'M ASKING FOR JUST A LITTLE TIME TO LOOK AT THIS, BECAUSE WHEN YOU LOOK THE WAY I UNDERSTAND THIS WORKS IS YOU'VE GOT BOTH CASE MANAGERS AND ADVOCATES. AND IF I'M UNDERSTANDING CORRECTLY, AND YOU CAN CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG, THE CASE MANAGERS ARE AVAILABLE 24 OVER SEVEN, AND THEY DO AN INITIAL INITIAL LETHALITY AND RISK ASSESSMENT.
[02:55:03]
WHEN A CALL COMES IN, THOSE CASE MANAGERS THEN DETERMINE WHETHER THE VICTIM OR WHETHER THE VICTIM AND OR DEPENDENTS NEED IMMEDIATE RELOCATION AND ASSISTANCE.AND THAT'S AVAILABLE 24 OVER SEVEN.
THE ADVOCATES THEN STEP IN USUALLY THE FOLLOWING DAY OR MORNING TO ASSESS THE LONGER TERM PLAN FOR THIS THIS VICTIM OR GROUP OF PEOPLE.
WHAT I LOOKED AT, THOUGH, WAS THAT THE STAFFING LEVELS YOU WOULD EXPECT WITH 80% OF THE POPULATION, LET'S JUST GUESS 80% OF THE CALLS COME FROM CITY OF SAN ANTONIO RESIDENTS AND THE CITY STAFFING.
I WOULD EXPECT TO BE LARGER AND IT IS.
BUT WHAT PUZZLED ME WAS THE CITY IS MUCH MORE EVENLY BALANCED.
I'M NOT SAYING 1 TO 1, BUT EVENLY BALANCED BETWEEN CASE MANAGERS AND ADVOCATES, WHEREAS THE PEOPLE SERVING COUNTY RESIDENTS, IT'S MUCH MORE HEAVILY ON CASE MANAGERS AND ONLY A HANDFUL OF COUNTY COUNTY SERVICE ADVOCATES.
11 CASE MANAGERS, THE COURT IS ALREADY BUDGETED FOR.
I THINK THE TWO ADVOCATES OUT OF THE GENERAL FUND IN THE PAST.
SO MY QUESTION IS, DO WE NEED TO HAVE MORE ADVOCATES LIKE THE CITY DOES? AND I WANTED TO BE ABLE TO ANSWER THAT QUESTION AND WE JUST NEED A LITTLE TIME TO DO IT.
AND SO THIS IS THIS IS AN EXPEDIENCE.
AND THAT WAS MY UNDERSTANDING IS, IS WE WE COULD NOT LET THAT LAPSE OR EVEN GET CLOSE TO LAPSING.
AND SO I THINK IT'S THE RIGHT THING TO DO TO GET IT DONE.
JUST SO I'M CLEAR, ON THE 219,000 THAT'S BEING TRANSFERRED, IS THAT ALL COMING FROM WHAT WAS SET ASIDE FOR THE ASSESSMENT FOR YEAR ONE? YES, FOR YEAR ONE. OKAY.
UM, I WANT TO MAKE SURE HOW DO WE ENSURE THAT THAT'S NOT DELAYED? I MEAN, DO WE NEED TO FIGURE OUT ON THE ASSESSMENT WHAT WHAT ELSE DO YOU NEED, EITHER FROM THE PARTNERS OR FROM THE CITY TO MAKE SURE THE COURTS WILL IS FOLLOWED THROUGH? AND THAT WAS TO. TO DO THE FULL ASSESSMENT.
I JUST NEED TO COME BACK TO YOU WITH AN ALTERNATIVE FUNDING RECOMMENDATION FOR THIS STUDY.
YES. AND THAT CAN HAPPEN PRIOR TO THE THREE MONTHS THAT WE'RE BUYING WITH.
OKAY. I MEAN, I THINK WE NEED TO BE CLEAR TO OUR OUR SEE THE SHERIFF AND THE JUDGE HERE THAT, YOU KNOW, THIS WAS A MATTER OF TRYING TO SHIFT MONEY AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE.
THERE'S STILL A STRONG COMMITMENT TO FULLY FUND THAT ASSESSMENT.
AND IT SOUNDS LIKE IT'S JUST A MATTER OF FIGURING OUT WHERE IT'S GOING TO COME FROM.
PART OF SOLVING THIS ISSUE IS THE ASSESSMENT.
JUDGE, I WANTED TO CLARIFY THAT.
UM, JUST JUST A COUPLE THOUGHTS HERE.
UM, YOU KNOW, APPRECIATE DAVID, YOUR YOUR COMMENTS THERE.
I DO. UH, YOU KNOW, I SUPPORT MAKING SURE THAT WE DON'T END UP WITH INADVERTENTLY END UP WITH A GAP IN SERVICES. UH, I DO HOPE THAT OVER THE NEXT 90 DAYS AND NOT WAITING 90 DAYS, BUT, YOU KNOW, IN 30 DAYS OR 60 DAYS, GET, YOU KNOW, MORE DETAIL AROUND, YOU KNOW, THE PROPER STAFFING RATIOS, UH, ENSURING THE CASE MANAGERS, THE ADVOCATES AND HOW WE WORK TOGETHER WITH THOSE CITY EMPLOYEES AS WELL WITHIN THE CONSTRUCT THERE THAT, YOU KNOW, WE'RE, WE'RE OBVIOUSLY PROVIDING A SERVICE TO OUR COMMUNITY, BUT AT THE SAME TIME DOING IT AS EFFICIENTLY AS POSSIBLE.
AND, YOU KNOW, I, I LEAN ON COUNTY STAFF TO TO ENSURE THAT THEY PROVIDE THAT DATA TO ALL OF US SO WE CAN MAKE A A GOOD DETERMINATION ON A PATH FORWARD FROM THAT POINT.
UM, YOU KNOW, BEFORE THE 90 DAYS.
COMMISSIONER CALVERT, THIS IS A REAL MANAGEMENT PROBLEM AND IT'S A REAL INTERGOVERNMENTAL RELATIONS PROBLEM AND IT'S A BUDGET PROBLEM AND IT'S A PUBLIC SAFETY PROBLEM.
[03:00:07]
AND I HOPE THAT WE HAVE SOME SORT OF LESSON LEARNED.IT'S EMBARRASSING, QUITE FRANKLY, TO ME THAT WE HAVE THIS HOTLINE HAVING TO BE SALVAGED, BUT IT'S WORSE THAT WE'RE TAKING IT OUT OF OBJECT CODE THAT WE ARE IN THE FISCAL ASSESSMENT BECAUSE IT'S DELAYING SOLUTIONS TO THE MACRO LEVEL PROBLEM BY NOT HAVING AN ASSESSMENT. AND WHY ARE WE THE WORST IN TERMS OF DEATHS IN THE STATE OF TEXAS? I MEAN, THAT'S THAT'S THE THAT'S THE SAD HANDOFF THAT WE'RE BEING OFFERED TODAY, WHICH I DON'T FIND ACCEPTABLE.
I DON'T WANT TO VOTE FOR THAT.
I DO WANT TO VOTE TO KEEP THE HOTLINE OPEN.
THIS SHOULD HAVE BEEN HANDLED IN THE BUDGET.
BUT, UM, I GUESS I'M GOING TO HAVE TO VOTE FOR THIS.
I THINK THIS IS A SLOPPY WAY TO DO THE FUNDING.
WE BRING IT BACK IN ANOTHER MEETING.
BUT THIS IS A MANAGEMENT FAILURE.
THIS IS AN INTERGOVERNMENTAL RELATIONS FAILURE AND IT'S A BUDGET FAILURE.
AND THAT'S OUR NUMBER ONE GOAL, IS WE'VE GOT TO PROVIDE FOR PUBLIC SAFETY.
AND, YOU KNOW, IF IT HADN'T BEEN FOR A LAST MINUTE WARNING, WE WOULDN'T HAVE KNOWN.
AND WE CAN'T WE CAN'T HAVE THAT HAPPEN AGAIN.
ANYWAY, I'LL SUPPORT WHATEVER THE COURT WANTS TO DO, BUT LET'S JUST KEEP IT REAL.
WELL, LET ME TAKE ALL THE COMMENTS I'VE HEARD AND INTERJECT HOW IT CAME TO ME.
EVERY COMMENT THAT'S BEEN SAID ON THE DAIS TODAY IS TRUE AND IS CORRECT.
THE FACT THAT WE NEED TO STAY COMMITTED TO THIS, IT IS NOT A BINARY DECISION OF EITHER OR.
WE DO HAVE A MANAGEMENT ISSUE.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT HAPPENED THERE.
I DON'T NEED TO POINT FINGERS.
ALL I'M GOING TO SAY IS AFTER THE BUDGET CLOSED, WE WERE HIT WITH THE FACT THAT IF WE DID NOT SUPPORT FINANCIALLY THIS PROGRAM, THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO WAS PREPARED TO CLOSE DOWN SERVICES AT THE VERY LEAST, NOT PROVIDE ANY SERVICES TO THE COUNTY RESIDENTS, WHICH I FOUND UNACCEPTABLE WHEN I LOOKED INTO IT.
I WILL ALERT THE COURT WE'RE STILL IN THOSE SHORT ANOTHER 750.
THERE'S I UNDERSTAND THE TOTAL BILL TO THE COUNTY WILL BE NEARLY $1 MILLION.
AND THAT GOES TO THE INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT.
CORRECT? DAVID, SHOULD THERE BE? IF WE HAVE ONE, IT MIGHT BE WITH STRACK, ACTUALLY.
BUT I DON'T KNOW THAT JUDGE LIKE YOU.
I SAW THAT SAME MEMO AND THAT'S WHEN WHAT? SO AGAIN, I'M NOT POINTING FINGERS.
I'M NOT SAYING ALL I'M SAYING ALL THE COMMENTS SAID ON THE DICE ARE CORRECT.
THIS IS NOT BEEN SET UP IN THE MOST PROPER WAY, SO TO SPEAK, AT LEAST FROM A LEGAL PERSPECTIVE.
SO I, AS A COUNTY JUDGE, HAVE TO FIGURE OUT AND WITH THE FIDUCIARY DUTY TO THE TAXPAYERS HOW TO FIGURE OUT HOW DO WE ENSURE PUBLIC SAFETY, WHICH IS FIRST AND FOREMOST, BUT HOW ARE WE GOING TO PAY FOR IT, ESPECIALLY WHEN WE USE TAXPAYERS MONEY? I KNOW THERE'S A COMMENT OF WHERE'S ALL THAT FEDERAL MONEY? AND ALL I CAN SAY IS THAT ALL THAT MONEY HAS BEEN PROGRAMED.
NOW, WHETHER SOME OF THAT MONEY CAN COME BACK, THAT'S A DISCUSSION I NEED TO HAVE WITH BUDGET.
IS THERE MONEY THEN AVAILABLE FOR THOSE ORGANIZATIONS, THOSE NONPROFITS THAT GOT COMMITMENTS OF MONEY FROM THIS COURT, ESPECIALLY FROM THE PREDECESSOR COURT? THIS IS THE ISSUE THAT JUST DID NOT COME UP JUST NOW.
THIS IS AN ISSUE THAT HAS BEEN GOING ON.
AND SO I AM CALLING FOR A PAUSE, SO TO SPEAK, TO LET BUDGET ANSWER MY QUESTIONS AS TO, ONE, WHAT IS THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE CITY AND THE COUNTY.
[03:05:02]
I WANT TO KNOW WHAT YOU GET OUT OF THIS PROGRAM, IF ANYTHING.WHAT DOES THE CITY GET? AND DR.
ANDREA GUERRERO, YOU UNDERSTAND THAT THIS NOW FALLS UNDER OR WE'RE PUTTING YOU IN CHARGE.
GIRL, PLEASE HELP ME UNDERSTAND.
GIVE ME YOUR THOUGHTS AS TO DIRECTION AS TO WHERE THE COURT SHOULD GO, DIRECTION AS TO WHETHER OR NOT YOU SHOULD APPROVE THIS ITEM OR DIRECTION. THIS COURT'S MOVING FORWARD.
SO HOW ARE WE GOING TO UNWIND? YES, PATH FORWARD.
CHIEF SANFORD AND I HAVE ALREADY BEEN DOING A LOT OF DIGGING INTO THE DATA TO IDENTIFY CURRENT VOLUMES, THE TYPE THE AMOUNT OF STAFFING THAT WOULD BE NEEDED TO COVER OUR OWN ITERATION OF THIS PROGRAM.
THEY DO NOT USE A MEDCOM LINE.
BEXAR COUNTY DOES USE A MEDCOM LINE.
SO BUILDING ON THE FACT THAT WE HAVE A DIFFERENT MODEL USING OUR CURRENT VOLUMES, THE NUMBER OF ADVOCATES THAT WE HAVE, THE NUMBER OF CASE MANAGERS THAT WOULD BE NEEDED TO MEET THE NEED FOR THE FOLKS THAT THAT WE ANTICIPATE WOULD BE USING THAT MEDCOM LINE.
WE'VE ALREADY PUT TOGETHER A PRELIMINARY PROPOSAL FOR WHAT COSTS WOULD BE GOING FORWARD.
SO DO YOU AGREE WE NEED TO REASSESS OR IS IT JUST A MATTER OF LET'S FUND IT AND MOVE ON? NO, NOT NOT, NOT GET INTO THE WEEDS, SO TO SPEAK? OH, NO, I DON'T I DON'T THINK THERE'S A NEED FOR A REASSESSMENT.
I'M JUST TALKING ABOUT A PATH FORWARD.
THIS IS WHAT IT IS TO MAINTAIN STATUS QUO FOR THE TIME BEING.
SO THERE'S NO INTERRUPTION OF SERVICES, BUT WE'RE ALREADY IN PROCESS ON WORKING ON HOW TO BUILD OUT A MODEL THAT IS UNIQUE TO BCSO AND TO BEXAR COUNTY TO SERVE THE FOLKS IN THE COUNTY AREA. SO ULTIMATELY, THIS THE CORE ISSUE HERE IS THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN BEXAR COUNTY, THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT, THE CITY POLICE AND THE ADVOCATES THAT PROVIDE THE SUPPORT TO THE VICTIMS THAT ARE CALLING IN.
SO THERE WERE AND CHIEF SANFORD'S HERE.
SO SHE MIGHT BE ABLE TO CLARIFY MORE.
BUT BEXAR COUNTY HAD ADVOCATES ONE AT EACH SUBSTATION.
AND SO WHEN THE MEDCOM LINE WAS ANSWERED FROM BCSO DEPUTY THAT THEY WERE AT A DOMESTIC VIOLENCE CALL AND THEY WANTED TO PUT THE VICTIM IN CONTACT WITH THE DOMESTIC VIOLENCE ADVOCATE, THEN THAT ADVOCATE FOR HIGH RISK VICTIMS, PEOPLE WHO HAD.
POTENTIAL LETHALITY WOULD THEN BE REFERRED TO CASE MANAGERS EMPLOYED BY METROHEALTH.
AND SO THE PATH FORWARD IS TO CREATE POSITIONS FOR CASE MANAGERS FOR WHICH OUR DOMESTIC VIOLENCE ADVOCATES COULD REFER DIRECTLY TO BEXAR COUNTY SHERIFF OR BEXAR COUNTY CASE MANAGERS, AS OPPOSED TO KEEPING REFERRING THEM TO TO METROHEALTH.
WELL, THEN THIS IS NOT THE MODEL, IS IT? NO. THE ONE THAT THE CURRENT THAT WE EMPLOY, IT'S WE'RE WE'RE ALL PUTTING THE IT SOUNDS LIKE THE COUNTY IS FUNDING THIS ENTIRE PROCESS FOR BOTH THE COUNTY AND THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO. NO, NO, WE'RE WE'RE WE'RE BASICALLY THIS THIS ITEM TODAY IS TO CONTINUE THE SERVICES AS THEY ARE RIGHT NOW, CURRENT STATE STATUS QUO, MEANING THAT THE MODEL IS THAT WE STILL REFER OVER TO BEXAR COUNTY ADVOCATES WOULD REFER TO CITY OF SAN ANTONIO, METRO HEALTH CASE MANAGERS.
AND SO THE MODEL WOULD REMAIN THE SAME GOING FORWARD.
THOSE TWO MODELS WOULD SEPARATE AND BEXAR COUNTY WOULD CREATE ITS OWN PROGRAM.
THAT WOULD BE BASICALLY MAYBE I CAN HELP A LITTLE BIT, PLEASE.
WHAT WAS SURPRISING TO ME AS WE DUG IN WAS THAT YOU HAD STRAC THROUGH THEIR MEDCOM LINE THAT WAS ACTING AS THE PHONE NUMBER, RIGHT? AND THEN IT WOULD GO TO A CASE MANAGER FOR ASSESSMENT.
AUSTRAC WOULD DO AN INITIAL KIND OF SCREENING.
BUT WHEN WE LOOKED AT IT, THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO DOESN'T USE THE MEDCOM LINE AT ALL.
I DON'T KNOW WHEN AN WHEN WHEN AN SAPD OFFICER RESPONDS TO A DOMESTIC VIOLENCE CALL, THEY DO NOT USE THE MEDCOM LINE. THEY THEY REFER DIRECTLY TO THEIR CASE MANAGERS.
THOSE THOSE. THAT'S WHERE THE POINTS DIVERGE.
CAN YOU GUARANTEE ME THAT A COUNTY RESIDENT GETTING THE SAME SERVICE AS THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO OR VICE VERSA, OR ARE THEY TREATED DIFFERENTLY? BECAUSE THAT IS THE CONFUSION OF THE SYSTEM? AND THAT'S WHAT FRUSTRATES ME.
IT'S FRUSTRATING ME EVER SINCE I CREATED THE CCTV AND IT FRUSTRATES ME.
NOW THERE SEEMS TO BE NO COORDINATION, SO PERHAPS I NEED SHERIFF OR CHIEF SANFORD COME FORWARD.
[03:10:07]
HELP ME UNDERSTAND THIS PROGRAM.NOW THAT WE'VE GOT, IT APPEARS THAT WE'RE GOING TO PAY FOR IT.
COMMISSIONERS. SO WHEN WE STARTED BACK IN 2019 AND JUDGE, YOU AND I WERE AT SOME LEADERSHIP MEETINGS, WE IDENTIFIED GAPS BEING PART OF THE LAW ENFORCEMENT COMMITTEE.
THERE WERE GAPS IDENTIFIED FOR WHY DOMESTIC VIOLENCE IS SUCH A HORRIFIC ISSUE IN OUR COUNTY.
SAPD ALREADY HAD A LONGER TYPE LETHALITY ASSESSMENT.
I WAS SHOCKED WHEN I CAME HERE IN 2017 UNDER SHERIFF SALAZAR THAT BEXAR COUNTY HAD NO LETHALITY ASSESSMENT, NO WAY TO ASSESS, TO ASSESS OUR DOMESTIC VIOLENCE VICTIMS. SO AS WE WENT ALONG WITH THOSE MEETINGS, WE WERE TOGETHER AS A COLLABORATIVE COALITION.
AND IT WAS JENNY HIXON BACK THEN FROM METRO HEALTH.
AND I SAID, BOY, WE COULD REALLY USE THAT DOMESTIC VIOLENCE HOTLINE.
WE HAVE NO LETHALITY ASSESSMENT.
THEY THEY WERE LOOKING INTO THE GEIGER INSTITUTE.
IT'S AN 11 QUESTION ASSESSMENT THAT THE FIRST RESPONDER, THE DEPUTY THAT FIRST GETS TO THE CALL OUT THERE ON THE SCENE ACTUALLY CALLS MEDCOM AND RELAYS THE ANSWERS.
YES OR NO, DOES THIS DOES THE SUSPECT HAVE GUNS? IS HE CONTROLLING? HAS HE TALKED ABOUT KILLING YOU, THREATENING YOU? THOSE ARE, YOU KNOW, THE BASIC QUESTIONS.
AFTER THOSE QUESTIONS ARE ASKED, THE THE PERSON THE VICTIM IS ASSESSED IMMEDIATELY.
AND THEY'RE EITHER NOW IT'S EITHER AT RISK OR IT'S HIGH RISK.
NOW, THE HIGH RISK, WE'RE WORRIED ABOUT ALL OF THEM, BUT THE HIGH RISK NEED IMMEDIATE ATTENTION THAT HAS NEVER BEEN GIVEN IN BEXAR COUNTY TO BEXAR COUNTY RESIDENTS.
WITH THAT ASSESSMENT, THEY ARE IMMEDIATELY PUT IN TOUCH WITH A CASE MANAGER.
WE'VE HAD ONE CRIME VICTIM ADVOCATE, AND THEN IN 2019, I BELIEVE WE GOT A SECOND.
WE HAVE TWO CRIME VICTIM ADVOCATES.
I'M SORRY, CAN I JUST CLARIFY, ARE YOU SAYING CURRENTLY BEXAR COUNTY RESIDENTS ARE NOT GETTING THAT KIND OF ATTENTION? NO, NOW WE ARE.
YES. AND NOW WITH THE FUNDING WE'RE PUTTING IN NOW, THEY AREN'T.
OKAY. THANK YOU. YES. THAT'S WHY IT'S SO IMPORTANT.
SO WITHIN AN HOUR OF BEING ASSESSED AT HIGH RISK, THIS VICTIM GETS A PHONE CALL FROM METRO HEALTH.
WE DON'T HAVE THE 24 OVER SEVEN COVERAGE THAT SO WHAT HAPPENS AFTER HOURS? SO AFTER HOURS, IF THERE'S A CALL AT 10:00 AT NIGHT AND THIS PERSON IS AT HIGH RISK, POSSIBLY THE SUSPECT GOT AWAY IS OUT THERE IN THE WIND.
THE THE INDIVIDUAL IS GIVEN A CALL BACK BY THE CASE MANAGER AND IMMEDIATELY GIVEN ANY KIND OF SAFETY PLAN, THEY ARE ASKED IF THEY WOULD LIKE TO GO TO THE BATTERED WOMEN'S SHELTER IF THEY CANNOT MAKE IT THERE OR DO NOT WANT TO GO THERE, WE ARE ABLE TO TRANSPORT THEM TO A HOTEL OR TO A FRIEND AND FAMILY LOCATION.
IT THEY ARE GIVEN FOOD COUPONS IF THEY NEED GIFT CARDS.
I THOUGHT YOU SAID THE COUNTY MANAGERS ONLY WORK FROM.
AFTER HOURS, WE DON'T HAVE THAT AVAILABILITY AT BEXAR COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE.
THERE'S TWO POSITIONS, CASE MANAGER AND THERE'S A POOL OF CASE MANAGERS OF WHICH THIS GRANT WAS PAYING FOR 11 WHO WERE. BUT BASICALLY, AS I UNDERSTAND IT, EVERYBODY ACCESSED THE POOL OF CASE MANAGERS OR DID WE ONLY ACCESS OUR 11 OUR ONLY HOURS? OKAY. WE ALSO HAVE THE COURT HAS ALSO FUNDED TWO ADVOCATES.
[03:15:01]
THEY DON'T WORK 24 OVER SEVEN, OBVIOUSLY.RIGHT. SO THE CASE MANAGERS PROVIDE THE 24 OVER SEVEN IMMEDIATE RESPONSE FOR HIGH RISK INDIVIDUALS.
AND THAT'S WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO COVER.
AND THAT'S RIGHT NOW COVERING WITH THIS ITEM.
BUT MY QUESTION TO YOU WAS, WHEN I LOOK AT THE STAFFING MODEL THAT THE CITY HAS VERSUS THE STAFFING MODEL, THAT WAS COUNTY, THE CITY HAS MANY HAS A CLOSER RATIO OF ONE CASE ADVOCATE, ONE CASE MANAGER TO ONE ADVOCATE.
SO MY QUESTION IS, DOES THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO TREAT THE FAMILY VIOLENCE VICTIMS IN ANY DIFFERENT WAY FROM A LETHALITY ASSESSMENT TO A TO A CALL REFERRALS FOR SERVICES? IS IT CONSISTENT AS TO WHAT WE'RE PROVIDING FOR OUR COUNTY? IT SOUNDS LIKE OUR COUNTY RESIDENTS ARE GETTING THE SERVICES THEY NEED, ALTHOUGH THERE'S PERHAPS SOME GAPS, AND THAT'S THE REASON WHY I'M ASKING.
PERHAPS WE NEED TO INVEST MORE MONEY INTO THIS.
BUT I CAN'T JUST KEEP THROWING MONEY AND JUST NOT REALLY UNDERSTANDING.
TODAY I'M BEGINNING TO UNDERSTAND WHAT Y'ALL ARE DOING.
SO, CHIEF, WHAT'S WHAT HELP ME UNDERSTAND IS THE CITY AND THE COUNTY PROVIDING CONSISTENT SERVICES TO FAMILY VIOLENCE VICTIMS. SO I CAN REALLY ONLY SPEAK ON THE COUNTY SIDE BECAUSE WE HAVE BEEN INVOLVED WITH THIS PROJECT SINCE 2021.
IT WAS CONSIDERED A PILOT PROJECT.
THEY COULD HAVE, BUT THEY DID NOT START THERE AS THEY WEREN'T READY TO START THEIRS.
THEY ALSO HAD THEIR LONGER LETHALITY ASSESSMENT.
SO I DON'T THINK THEY WERE IN AS BIG A HURRY.
WHAT I HAVE HEARD AS IS THAT OUR OUR VICTIMS IN BEXAR COUNTY ARE GETTING MUCH QUICKER ATTENTION.
IT JUST DOESN'T END THAT NIGHT.
THEY'RE GIVEN CONTINUED RESOURCES, CONTINUED ADVOCACY.
THEY'RE PART OF THE THEY CAN BE PART OF THE WHAT THEY CALL THE DOMESTIC VIOLENCE HIGH RISK TEAM.
WHERE THEY CAN GO. WE WE HAVE A MULTIDISCIPLINARY TEAM FOR THEM TO GO TO, TO CONTINUE TO GET.
EXCUSE ME. TO CONTINUE TO GET HELP.
ONE OTHER THING THAT'S I THINK IS VERY IMPORTANT.
WHEN WE WHEN WE STARTED WHEN WE GOT INTO THIS PROJECT, THE SHERIFF RECOGNIZED THAT THESE HIGH RISK VICTIMS, SOME OF THE SUSPECTS ON THOSE CASES, HAD FLED THE SCENE, WERE NOT ARRESTED.
AND WE WERE LOOKING AT THEM ON A DAILY BASIS.
THEY NEED TO BE ARRESTED IMMEDIATELY.
AND WE STARTED DOING THAT ABOUT SIX, 8 OR 10 MONTHS AGO, I BELIEVE.
AND WE HAVE HAD VERY GOOD SUCCESS ON PICKING UP THOSE INDIVIDUALS.
AND TO ME, YOU KNOW, THAT IS THAT'S HUGE.
THAT MAKES THIS WHOLE PROGRAM WORTHWHILE.
BUT YOU UNDERSTAND, NOBODY'S REALLY ANSWERING MY QUESTION.
I WANT TO MAKE SURE YOU ACTUALLY HAVE SAID YOU DON'T KNOW.
AND THAT'S THIS IS THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO GETTING THE SAME TYPE OF SERVICES BECAUSE WE'RE PAYING FOR THIS NOW, AS I UNDERSTAND IT, WE'RE PICKING UP THE TAB FOR ALL THIS NAVIGATION. IS THAT CORRECT? NOT FOR THEM, NO.
WHAT WE'RE GOING TO BE LOOKING AT IS PICKING UP THE NAVIGATION FOR COUNTY'S OWN RESIDENTS.
THE CITY. WELL, THEY TOLD ME IT WAS A IS IT A MILLION BUCKS TICKET? OH, IT MIGHT BE.
IT WOULD HAVE BEEN A MILLION FOR A YEAR.
SO THE GRANT THAT ENDED ON SEPTEMBER 30TH, IF THAT MONEY HAD BEEN AVAILABLE FOR ANOTHER TWO YEARS, WE WOULD BE VERY HAPPY WITH THE WAY THAT THE PROGRAM IS OPERATED.
AND IT'S A FUNCTION OF THE ABILITY TO REACH MEDCOM VERY QUICKLY IN IMMEDIATE CASE MANAGEMENT.
SO IF THAT MONEY, THAT GRANT WAS WAS CONTINUED, WE WOULD BE HAPPY WITH THE OPERATION BECAUSE THE GRANT WAS DISCONTINUED AND THE METRO HEALTH COMMUNICATED TO US THAT IT WOULD CEASE SERVICES TO COUNTY RESIDENTS, THEN THEN THERE WOULD BE A DISPARITY IN THE IN THE LEVEL OF SERVICE TO COUNTY RESIDENTS.
SO THAT IS WHY WE'RE COMING HERE.
SO THE SOLUTION IS THE SOLUTIONS AS THEY ARE.
[03:20:06]
OR WE COULD WE HAD THE OPTION TO SAY, LET US FUND FOR A PERIOD OF TIME, IN THIS CASE THREE MONTHS TO GIVE US TIME.AND WHEN I SAY US, US AND BCSO AND SRAC TO LOOK INTO THE DATA TO SEE WHAT LEVEL OF STAFFING WOULD BE APPROPRIATE SO THAT WE CAN CONTINUE TO PROVIDE THE SERVICES AS THEY ARE, OR IN AN IMPROVED AND ENHANCED WAY TO COUNTY RESIDENTS WHERE WE'RE NOT RELYING ON FUNDING METRO HEALTH POSITIONS, WE WOULD FUND OUR OWN POSITIONS.
SOMETIMES PEOPLE FORGET THAT THE COUNTY CAN DO THINGS EVEN BETTER, RIGHT? I'M NOT TRYING TO CREATE THE PROBLEM.
EVERYBODY WANTS CITY AND COUNTY TO CONSOLIDATE AND COME TOGETHER.
SOMETIMES THE MODEL DOESN'T WORK WELL, AND IF WE'RE DOING THINGS AT A MUCH HIGHER LEVEL, WHY AM I SUBSIDIZING? AND I REALIZE I'M NOT, BUT IT'S WELL, IN THIS CASE, THERE ARE ALREADY TWO DIFFERENT MODELS.
I'D RATHER I'D RATHER HAVE THAT ENTIRE OPERATION UNDER YOU OR A DIRECT COUNTY DEPARTMENT OR THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT SO THAT WE HAVE A CHAIN OF COMMAND TO UNDERSTAND SO THAT I DON'T HAVE TO GET NOW A BRIEFING.
AND IT'S TAKEN HOW LONG FOR ME NOT TO? OH, I THINK I'VE FIGURED IT OUT.
AND SO, SHERIFF, LET ME GIVE YOU, JUDGE DIAZ, YOU'RE HERE.
SO LET ME GIVE YOU AN OPPORTUNITY.
CAN I JUST COMMENT ON WHAT JUDGE SACCHI IS SAYING? I TOTALLY AGREE WITH YOU.
AND THE FACT THAT IS THERE NO ONE HERE FROM THE CITY OR FROM METRO HEALTH TO ANSWER THESE QUESTIONS, THAT IN ITSELF SAYS A LOT THAT WE'RE ABOUT TO HELP FUND TO CONTINUE THIS PROGRAM FOR RESIDENTS AND THAT NO ONE COULD TAKE A TIME TO COME AND ANSWER QUESTIONS.
AND THE FACT THAT THEY CAN'T SHOW UP SAYS A LOT.
OKAY, SHERIFF JUDGE, GOOD AFTERNOON.
GOOD AFTERNOON, JUDGE. THANK YOU SO MUCH.
NO, I YOU KNOW, WE I HEAR YOU.
WE ARE HAPPY THAT THIS THIS PROGRAM HAS DONE SO WELL FOR OUR DEPUTIES TO THIS POINT.
WE'VE MADE A LOT OF CHANGES WITH WORKING WITHIN THIS PROGRAM.
YOU KNOW, IT WE'RE WE'RE ECSTATIC THAT THIS PROGRAM MAY, MAY, MAY CONTINUE.
I REALLY HOPE THAT THAT YOU DO VOTE THAT WAY.
I DON'T KNOW THAT THEY'VE EVEN STOOD UP THEIR PROGRAM YET, CHIEF.
THEY STARTED IN TWO SUBS, OKAY? THEY STARTED AT TWO SUB STATIONS.
RIGHT. SO I CAN'T SPEAK SUB STATIONS.
I CAN'T SPEAK TO WHAT THE CITY IS DOING AT THEIR TWO SUB STATIONS.
BUT I KNOW FOR US IT'S BEEN A RESOUNDING SUCCESS.
I HAVE NO DOUBT YOUR DEPARTMENT IS STEPPING UP.
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I'VE PICKED UP, YOUR YOUR AGGRESSIVE UNITS TO LOOK FOR WARRANTS ARE ALSO PICKING UP REPEAT OFFENDERS, AREN'T THEY? ABSOLUTELY, WE ARE.
AND THAT'S WHERE IT CAN ALL TIE IN, RIGHT? ABSOLUTELY. IT'D BE THE SAME.
WE GOT TO IDENTIFY THE PEOPLE THAT NEED TO BE TAKEN OFF THE STREETS.
SURE. AND UNFORTUNATELY, WE HAVE TO PUT THEM IN THE JAIL.
ABSOLUTELY. WE HAVE TO ALSO TRY TO MOVE OUT PEOPLE WHO DON'T BELONG THERE.
WE NEED TO USE MAKE THE HAVE THE DO CORRECT USE OF THAT JAIL SPACE, GETTING OUT THE PEOPLE THAT ARE NONVIOLENT, THE HOMELESS, THE MENTALLY ILL THAT NEED HELP ELSEWHERE AND RESERVED THAT SPACE FOR PEOPLE THAT SOCIETY IS TRULY AFRAID OF.
WELL, I HAVE MUCH MORE CONFIDENCE IN EVERYTHING THEY SAY.
THANK YOU. JUDGE DIAZ DIDN'T WANT TO LEAVE YOU OUT.
YOU CAME BACK. SORRY. NO, I JUST WANTED TO PROVIDE SOME BRIEF CONTEXT FOR FOLKS AS WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE CITY AND US PICKING UP THE SLACK FROM THE CITY, I WANT TO REMIND EVERYONE THAT THE COLLABORATIVE COMMISSION ON DOMESTIC VIOLENCE IS A JOINT CITY COUNTY COMMISSION FOR A REASON.
IT'S NOT EASY TO COLLABORATE BETWEEN TWO GOVERNMENTAL ENTITIES AT ALL, BUT WE HAVE DONE IT.
THIS NAVIGATION LINE WAS BORN THROUGH THE COLLABORATIVE COMMISSION ON DOMESTIC VIOLENCE.
AND I'M GOING TO BE VERY CANDID WITH YOU ALL.
THE CITY, IN MY OPINION, STEPPED UP AT A TIME THEY DIDN'T HAVE TO, AND THEY OFFERED IDENTIFIED THIS GRANT AND OFFERED TO RUN THE PROGRAM THROUGH THEIR METRO HEALTH FOR THE BENEFIT OF OUR BEXAR COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE.
[03:25:07]
AS A PILOT, I ACKNOWLEDGE THE TIMING ON ALL OF THIS.REQUESTS PRESENTED TO YOU IS NOT GREAT, BUT I DO WANT TO GIVE CREDIT WHERE CREDIT IS DUE AND THANK THE CITY AND THANK METRO HEALTH FOR STEPPING UP FOR CREATING SOMETHING THAT DID NOT EXIST BEFORE THAT NOW WORKS.
BUT I DO WANT TO GIVE DEFERENCE AND GIVE GRATITUDE TO WHAT THEY HAVE BROUGHT TO THE COUNTY.
WHAT MATTERS IS THAT WE'RE SERVING OUR FAMILIES IN NEED.
WE'RE SERVING THOSE CHILDREN, THE VICTIMS AND THE THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE HARMED COLLABORATIVELY.
Y'ALL, I APPRECIATE YOUR COMMITMENT TO WORK WITH US TO IDENTIFY FUNDING FOR THE ASSESSMENT.
THAT'S ALSO A NEED IDENTIFIED THROUGH THE CDB.
WE ASKED HER TO BE HERE AND SHE'S OUT OF TOWN TODAY AND WAS UNABLE TO MAKE IT.
IT WAS A PLANNED DEPARTURE, SO I UNDERSTAND.
AND THIS PROGRAM WAS GOING TO CONTINUE.
THE OTHER THING THAT FRUSTRATES ME THE MOST, HAVING STARTED CCTV AND YOU ALREADY HIT IT, WAS THE COLLABORATION TO MAKE SURE BOTH GOVERNMENTAL ENTITIES WORK TOGETHER. SO MY QUESTION TO YOU REALLY IS THE SAME QUESTION I'VE BEEN ASKING ALL MORNING IF THE COUNTY IS DOING THIS GREAT JOB AND I TAKE THEIR WORD FOR IT.
AND I TRULY. BELIEVE THEY'RE DOING WHAT THEY'RE DOING.
SO WHY ISN'T THE CITY DOING THE SAME? IT SEEMS THAT FOR WHATEVER REASON, THEY HAVE EITHER POLICY ISSUES OR PERHAPS THEIR OWN BUDGET ISSUES.
IF IT'S PART OF CDV, THEN I HAVE TO SEE THE CITY AND COUNTY WORKING HAND IN HAND.
TELL ME WHAT WHAT THE PROBLEMS ARE.
IS IT A STATUTORY ISSUE? IS IT A POLICY ISSUE OR IS IT A PERSONALITY ISSUE THAT I MAY HAVE TO TALK TO THE PEOPLE THAT MAKE THE DECISIONS AND I'M PREPARED TO DO THAT.
I HAVE CONSTANT CONVERSATIONS WITH THE MAYOR AND ERIC WALSH, AND I WILL CONTINUE.
THAT'S HOW I GOT NOTIFIED THAT WE NEEDED TO STEP UP AND TAKE CARE OF THIS PROGRAM.
BUT IS THIS FRUSTRATING THAT IT WAS DONE AFTER WE CLOSED THE BUDGET AND WE NOW ARE IN THE NEW BUDGET AND I GOT TO GO FIND ANOTHER 750,000, MORE OR LESS.
I UNDERSTAND THE FRUSTRATION AND TAKING THE MONEY AWAY FROM A WORTHY AND PROJECT OF THIS ASSESSMENT.
BUT YOU UNDERSTAND THE TOUGH, TOUGH DECISIONS THIS COURT HAS TO MAKE.
AND IN RETURN, I NEED TO SEE THE RETURN OF INVESTMENT.
AND I'M QUITE CLEARLY PROUD THAT THE COUNTY HAS PRODUCED AND IS GIVING US A RETURN.
I'D LIKE TO ALSO KNOW, AND PERHAPS THAT'S A DISCUSSION WE CAN HAVE, YOU CAN HAVE WITH CDV AND EITHER REPORT BACK WHAT THAT CONVERSATION IS OR PERHAPS THE CITY NEEDS TO COME OVER HERE AND HELP US ANSWER THOSE QUESTIONS.
I THINK THAT WOULD BE WISE, JUDGE, BECAUSE MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT THEY ARE DOING THIS WORK.
AND WE ARE JUST TAPPING INTO THOSE SIMILAR THE SAME POSITIONS.
THEY WERE EXPANDED AND WERE TAPPING INTO THEM.
THAT'S MY RUDIMENTARY UNDERSTANDING.
[03:30:03]
RESIDENTS. IT'S JUST NOT THROUGH THIS SAME MECHANISM.I CAN CONTINUE THIS CONVERSATION BECAUSE THIS IS ALSO JUST, I THINK, A GREAT CONVERSATION SO THAT EVERYBODY CAN UNDERSTAND FROM THE COURT TO THE PUBLIC TO THE STAFF WHAT THE COMPLEXITY, ESPECIALLY DOMESTIC FAMILY VIOLENCE.
MY ONLY COMMENT TO YOU ON THAT IS, WHAT DOES IT LOOK LIKE ON THE STREET? WHAT'S IT LOOKING LIKE TO THAT VICTIM WHO IS IN IMMEDIATE CRISIS, HAS BEEN ASSAULTED, IS THREATENED TO BE ASSAULTED, AND WHO'S THE FIRST RESPONDER IS IT A PATROL OFFICER THAT TREATS IT WITH THE SENSITIVITY AND THE THE COMPLEXITY THAT THESE ISSUES ADDRESS? OR IS IT A MENTAL HEALTH OFFICER? IS IT THE SYSTEM KICKING IN AND GETTING A CRISIS UNIT OUT THERE? I STILL SEE GAPS AND THAT'S WHAT I WILL CONTINUE TO ASK THOSE QUESTIONS AND ASK THAT WE SHOW THAT WE BOTH CITY AND COUNTY ARE PROVIDING THE BEST. I WANT THIS THING TO BE A NATIONWIDE EXAMPLE, AND I GOT TO BE ASSURED THAT WE ARE DOING WHAT YOU ALL ARE SAYING YOU'RE DOING.
BUT I APPRECIATE YOUR LEADERSHIP.
I APPRECIATE THE LEADERSHIP OF MARIA VILLAGOMEZ.
I WILL CONTINUE TO SUPPORT KHEDIVE.
SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR THANK YOU.
I APPRECIATE IT. I JUST WANT TO SAY, I MEAN, I USED TO WORK FOR METROHEALTH.
SO WHEN I SAY SOMEONE COULD HAVE BEEN HERE, DIDN'T HAVE TO BE AN ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER, SOMEONE COULD HAVE BEEN HERE FOR METRO HEALTH AND AT THIS TIME, I'D LIKE TO MOVE TO APPROVE SO THAT WE CAN PLEASE MOVE ON.
THANK YOU. MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE.
SECOND, GOT A MOTION BY COMMISSIONER CLAY-FLORES.
SECOND BY COMMISSIONER RODRIGUEZ.
ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE.
AYE. ANY OPPOSED MOTION CARRIES.
JUDGE, CAN YOU HEAR ME? OH, JUDGE. COMMISSIONER MOODY, DID I OVERLOOK YOU? UM, YEAH.
I WAS TRYING TO MAKE A COUPLE COMMENTS THERE, BUT LISTEN, JUST REALLY BRIEFLY, I MEAN, AND THIS IS NOT JUST ABOUT THIS DISCUSSION, BUT ANY TIME WE HAVE A COMPLEX PROCESS, I MEAN, I DON'T KNOW, WE SPENT 30 MINUTES OR MORE TRYING TO UNDERSTAND WHAT THIS PROCESS LOOKS LIKE.
THE DIFFERENT NUMBER OF STAFF CASE MANAGERS.
GUAJARDO SHARED SOME OF THAT WITH ME IN MY OFFICE.
UM, WHAT IS OUR STAFFING LOOK LIKE COMPARED TO THE CITY? ALL THOSE QUESTIONS WOULD BE EASIER TO UNDERSTAND AND ANSWER IF WE HAD SOME SOME GRAPHICS AND SOME FLOW CHARTS AND TABLES AND EVERYTHING.
SO I HOPE AS WE GO FORWARD AND NOT JUST THIS CONVERSATION, BUT OTHER TOUGH CONVERSATIONS AS WELL, YOU KNOW, WE CAN DETERMINE IF THERE'S AN ROI, IF WE DON'T HAVE DATA BEHIND IT AND UNDERSTAND EXACTLY WHAT WE'RE PRODUCING.
SO I JUST WANT TO MAKE THAT COMMENT.
[57. Discussion and appropriate action regarding a Grant and Development Agreement between Bexar County and Texas A&M University-San Antonio in the amount not to exceed $10,000,000 for the construction of Softball and Track & Field Athletic Facilities to be located at Texas A&M University-San Antonio. (Estimated Presentation Time: 10 minutes) (Dan Curry)]
SAN ANTONIO IN THE AMOUNT OF NOT TO EXCEED $10 MILLION FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF SOFTBALL AND TRACK AND FIELD ATHLETIC FACILITY TO BE LOCATED AT TEXAS A&M UNIVERSITY, SAN ANTONIO.GOOD MORNING. GOOD AFTERNOON, JUDGE.
COMMISSIONERS TONY CANEZ WITH THE FACILITIES MANAGEMENT DEPARTMENT.
SALVADOR HECTOR OCHOA, WHO IS THE NEWLY APPOINTED PRESIDENT OF TEXAS A&M UNIVERSITY AT SAN ANTONIO.
HE'D LIKE TO COME UP AND INTRODUCE HIMSELF AND SAY A LITTLE TO THE COURT.
I WISH WE COULD HAVE CALLED YOU ALL UP EARLIER.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE SINCE 9 A.M.
AND CONGRATULATIONS FOR BEING IN THE NUMBER ONE PRECINCT, NOT WHERE YOU ONLY SERVE AS OUR NEW PRESIDENT OF TEXAS A&M, BUT ALSO AS A CONSTITUENT. AND I KNOW DARNELL, OUR THE ATHLETICS DIRECTOR, ALSO IS A GRADUATE OF TAFT HIGH SCHOOL, ALSO IN PRECINCT ONE. SO THANK YOU SO MUCH.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR PATIENCE AND THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.
COURT COMMISSIONER REBECCA CLAY-FLORES.
[03:35:01]
IT WAS A PLEASURE TO MEET WITH YOU LAST WEEK TO GIVE YOU AN UPDATE ABOUT TEXAS A&M SAN ANTONIO.WE'VE BEEN IN EXISTENCE FOR 14 YEARS.
WE'LL BE CELEBRATING OUR 15TH ANNIVERSARY NEXT MAY OF 2024.
IT'S BEEN AN EXCITING JOURNEY.
WE DURING THAT TIME WE AWARDED OVER 17,000 DEGREES.
WE WE'RE NOW OFFERING 39 UNDERGRADUATE AND 23 GRADUATE PROGRAMS THIS FALL.
GIVEN THIS RATE OF GROWTH, OUR ROLE IS TO IMPACT AND SERVE THE NEEDS OF OUR COMMUNITY, THE WORKFORCE NEEDS OF BEXAR COUNTY. GIVEN THIS GROWTH, WE ARE FACILITIES HAVE CONTINUED TO EXPAND THIS PAST SPRING.
JUST A FEW MONTHS AGO, WE OPENED UP OUR NEW LIBRARY AND WE OPENED UP OUR BUSINESS BUILDING.
AND GIVEN THIS GROWTH, WE APPRECIATE THE SUPPORT OF THIS COURT.
WHILE WE HAVE REACHED AN AGREEMENT IN THE TERMS OF THE MEMORANDUM OF AGREEMENT, I WOULD LIKE FOR OUR OUR DIRECTOR OF ATHLETICS TO SPEAK ABOUT THE TERMS OF THE AGREEMENT, BECAUSE THIS AGREEMENT STARTED PRIOR TO ME COMING AND JOINING THIS COMMUNITY.
ALL RIGHT, I'LL CALL FOR NEXT SLIDE.
GOOD AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS DARNELL SMITH.
I'M THE DIRECTOR OF ATHLETICS AT TEXAS A&M UNIVERSITY-SAN ANTONIO.
JUST WANT TO THANK YOU ALL FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE HERE, TO BE ABLE TO TALK ABOUT THESE EXCITING FACILITIES AND THE COLLABORATION BETWEEN TEXAS A&M UNIVERSITY, SAN ANTONIO ATHLETICS AND BARROW COUNTY.
SO WITH THE APPROVAL OF I WANT TO GIVE A LITTLE BIT OF BACKGROUND OF A&M SAN ANTONIO ATHLETICS, WITH THE APPROVAL OF A&M, SAN ANTONIO UNIVERSITY SYSTEM, BOARD OF REGENTS AND HOUSE BILL 1439.
SAN ANTONIO ESTABLISHED THE FIRST EVER INTERCOLLEGIATE SPORTS PROGRAM IN SOUTH BARROW COUNTY.
SO TEXAS A&M UNIVERSITY, SAN ANTONIO JAGUARS WERE EXPANDING, AS DR.
WE WANT TO BE GOOD STEWARDS IN OUR COMMUNITY.
AND ONE OF THE WAYS THAT WE CAN BE GOOD STEWARDS IS THROUGH OUR FACILITIES.
INITIALLY THE CHALLENGE CAME IN WHERE THERE WAS A DISPARITY WHEN IT CAME TO FACILITIES.
OF THE 13 COMMUNITY YOUTH AND AMATEUR SPORTS FACILITIES SUPPORTED BY BARRY COUNTY AND AVAILABLE FOR PUBLIC USE, ONLY FOUR WERE LOCATED SOUTH OF HIGHWAY 90 AND ONLY ONE WAS LOCATED SOUTH OF INTERSTATE 410.
THIS IS A DISPARITY THAT'S DEDICATED DISPARITY OF THE SPORTS FIELDS IN AN AREA THAT IS LARGE AND HAS A GROWING POPULATION. SO IF YOU LOOK AT THE MAP THAT WE HAD BEFORE HERE, BEFORE YOU BEXAR COUNTY COMMUNITY SPORTS FACILITIES. IF YOU LOOK IN PRECINCT ONE AND THAT AREA IS SOUTHWEST, THERE'S A BIG HOLE, A BIG GAP AS FAR AS SPORTS VENUES OR SPORTS FACILITIES.
WE'RE LOOKING AT SOME OF THE DATA HERE IN BURKE COUNTY, EVEN IN SAN ANTONIO, THAT CHRONIC ILLNESSES SUCH AS DIABETES OR KIDNEY DISEASE, HEART DISEASE, THESE THINGS WERE VERY RAPID AND THEY WERE VERY HIGH.
[03:40:05]
WAS AT THE FRINGES, 20 YEARS ON AVERAGE, WE'RE LOOKING AT TEN YEARS.AND IT'S NOT JUST FOR THE SOUTH.
ALTHOUGH WE ARE LOCATED IN THE SOUTH, IT'S FOR ALL RESIDENTS IN BEXAR COUNTY.
SO WE WANT TO FILL THAT STAR RIGHT THERE THAT YOU SEE.
THAT'S WHERE WE'RE LOCATED AT.
AND AGAIN, THERE'S A GREAT POPULATION THAT'S THERE.
SO WHAT'S TO COME? I'M VERY GRATEFUL FOR THE COURT TO BE ABLE TO APPROVE THE SUPPORT FOR $10 MILLION FOR OUR FACILITIES AS WE TALK ABOUT WHAT THE TRACK.
I KNOW COMMISSIONER CLAY-FLORES, YOU TALKED ABOUT GETTING PRECINCT ONE ACTIVE.
THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS WE DEFINITELY WANT TO DO.
WE TALKED ABOUT FIELDS, YOUTH, AMATEUR, EVEN COLLEGIATE, BEING ABLE TO USE OUR FACILITY IN A LOCATION THAT IS IDEAL, BUT ALSO AN ENVIRONMENT THAT ALLOWS FOR THEM TO SEE THEMSELVES IN EDUCATION, FOR PEOPLE TO BE ABLE TO SEE THEIR SELF BE ABLE TO ADVANCING IN OUR COMMUNITY.
SO IF YOU SEE ON YOUR SCREEN HERE, WE HAVE A CONCEPTUAL RENDERINGS.
AND AGAIN, JUST TO NOTE THAT THESE ARE CONCEPTUAL, THIS IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE, NOT THE FINAL DESIGN.
ON OUR CAMPUS, WE HAVE AN EIGHT LANE TRACK, A MULTIPURPOSE FIELD IN THE CENTER THAT CAN HOLD SOCCER, WHETHER IT BE FIELD HOCKEY, LACROSSE, WHATEVER IT MAY BE. AND IT'S GOING TO BE SYNTHETIC TURF.
IDEALLY, WE HAVE GRANDSTAND BLEACHERS THAT CAN HOLD ABOUT 500 PEOPLE.
NEXT UP, WE HAVE A CONCEPTUAL RENDERING OF OUR SOFTBALL STADIUM.
CURRENTLY, OUR SOFTBALL FIELD IS WE USE FOR PRACTICE, BUT WE WANT THE COMMUNITY.
WE DO ALREADY HAVE COMMUNITY RESIDENTS UTILIZING OUR FIELD.
WE WANT TO MAKE SURE WE CAN IMPROVE UPON THAT.
WE'LL HAVE ALL THE WORKS TO BE ABLE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE CAN COMPETE ON CAMPUS BECAUSE THIS IS GOING TO SERVE INTERCOLLEGIATE ATHLETICS, BUT IT WILL ALSO SERVE OUR CAMPUS AND OUR COMMUNITY.
AGAIN, WE ALREADY HAVE PEOPLE REACHING OUT THAT ARE INTERESTED AND OUR COACHES WANT TO HOST CAMPS.
SO IT'S AN ECONOMIC DRIVER AS WELL.
AND THIS IS AN AERIAL VIEW OF OUR CAMPUS TO BE ABLE TO SHOWCASE WHERE IT MAY BE PLACED.
AGAIN, CONCEPTUAL RENDERINGS HERE WHERE IT MAY BE PLACED ON OUR CAMPUS AS WE SPEAK.
SO WE CURRENTLY SIT ON 700 ACRES OF LAND AND WE ARE GROWING NOT JUST WITH THE SPORTS FACILITIES.
WE DO HAVE DORMS THAT WE'RE PUTTING UP RIGHT NOW, AND THE COMMUNITY AROUND US IS GROWING AS WELL.
SO JUST SOME OF THE BENEFITS FOR BLAIR COUNTY, OUR SPORT VENUES WILL INCREASE ACCESS TO PHYSICAL ACTIVITIES, INCREASE ACCESS TO PHYSICAL ACTIVITIES, WILL HELP REDUCE CHRONIC ILLNESSES, AND OUR SPORTS VENUES WILL HELP IMPROVE THE OVERALL MENTAL AND PHYSICAL HEALTH OF RESIDENTS.
IN ADDITION TO THAT, THE TRACK MULTIPURPOSE FIELD AND SOFTBALL STADIUM WILL SERVE OF PUBLIC PURPOSE OF PROMOTING TOURISM, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, RECREATION, WELLNESS, AS WELL AS OTHER ASPECTS.
WHEN IT COMES TO SPORTS COMPETITIONS, TOURNAMENTS AND EVERYTHING ELSE.
I KNOW THAT IT'S BEEN A LONG TIME COMING TO GET TO THIS POINT.
[03:45:04]
FOR THE RESIDENTS.AND TONY, IF YOU WANT TO GO AHEAD AND STEP UP AND TALK ABOUT MORE OF THE SPECIFICS.
WELL, I THINK MR. SMITH, HE COVERED THE BASIC TENANTS OF THE OF THE PROJECT.
HE EXPLAINED THE SCOPE OF WORK THAT WE WERE WE'RE LOOKING FOR.
UM, AGAIN, THE, THE FUNDING HAS BEEN IDENTIFIED THROUGH THE BUDGET PROCESS OF THE 2223 BUDGET.
UM, AND WE'LL BE HERE FOR QUESTIONS.
GUESS, GUESS. AT THIS POINT, IF THERE'S ANY OTHER QUESTIONS REGARDING THE PROJECT, WE'RE HERE.
WE ALSO NEED MORE SAFE PLACES.
IN PRECINCT ONE. WE HAVE A REAL ISSUE WITH STRAY DOGS, AND I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO JUST HAVING THE COMMUNITY AND HAVING SOME COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIP DAYS WHERE WE HAVE DIFFERENT THINGS GOING ON WHERE THE COMMUNITY CAN COME OUT.
SO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THAT.
AND I'D LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE.
SECOND. I JUST HAVE A FEW QUESTIONS.
ALL RIGHT. COMMISSIONER CALVERT, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE GREAT PRESENTATION.
MR. PRESIDENT. WELCOME ABOARD.
WE'RE VERY SORRY WE HAD YOU WAIT ALL DAY.
I APOLOGIZE. I DIDN'T KNOW YOU WERE HERE, BUT THAT'S FINE.
NO PROBLEM. YEAH. SO A COUPLE OF THINGS.
HAS TEXAS A&M CONDUCTED A DISPARITY STUDY ON ITS CONTRACTING? HAVE YOU DO YOU DO YOU ALL HAVE A DISPARITY STUDY ON CONTRACTING AT THE AT THE UNIVERSITY? MR. COELHO IS OUR CHIEF FINANCIAL CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER FOR THE UNIVERSITY.
BUT I DON'T KNOW, ARE YOU AWARE HAS HAS THE UNIVERSITY OR THE SYSTEM MAYBE DONE A DISPARITY STUDY? WE FILL OUT FORMS. AND I'M SORRY, I'M A LITTLE HARD OF HEARING.
IF YOU COULD JUST SPEAK A LITTLE CLOSER.
YES, I THINK WE WE DO THAT IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE SYSTEM AND WE FILE THOSE ON AN ANNUAL BASIS.
OKAY. AND TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE LOOKING AT UNDERSERVED COMMUNITY BUSINESSES.
SO THERE'S A DIFFERENCE BETWEEN YOUR ANNUAL FILINGS ON YOUR PARTICIPATION AND WHAT THE SUPREME COURT MANDATES WITH RESPECT TO PROGRAMS THAT HELP WITH INCLUSION.
YOU HAVE TO CONDUCT A DISPARITY STUDY IN ORDER TO NARROWLY TAILOR YOUR GOALS BASED UPON THE FINDINGS OF UTILIZATION AND CAPABILITY WITHIN A LOCAL COMMUNITY. ARE YOU DO YOU DO YOU RECALL IF YOU'VE.
I'M NOT FAMILIAR WITH THAT, I CAN CHECK INTO THAT.
THANK YOU. ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I THINK IS IMPORTANT WHEN WE HAVE PUBLIC.
DOLLARS FOR THESE PROJECTS IS TO ENSURE THAT THE, YOU KNOW, THE ENGINEERS, THE ARCHITECTS, THE LOCAL COMMUNITY, PEOPLE CAN PARTICIPATE IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF THOSE.
DO YOU KNOW IF THERE ARE ANY HISPANIC OWNED, ASIAN OWNED, AFRICAN-AMERICAN OWNED BUSINESSES WHO WERE PART OF THE ARCHITECTURAL ENGINEERING OR OTHER SERVICES GETTING THIS PARTICULAR DESIGN AND PLAN UP TO DATE? WERE THERE ANY CONTRACTORS IN THAT REGARD? NO, I'M NOT AWARE OF ANY.
AND WHO WAS WHO? WHO ARE THE DESIGNERS OR ENGINEERS ON THIS ONE? DO YOU KNOW AS FAR AS WITH THE THE ARCHITECTS OR AT LEAST THE DESIGNERS FOR THIS, IT WOULD BE BROUGHT US USA.
OKAY. ANY OTHERS THAT ARE A PART OF IT THAT THAT HAVE BEEN WORKING WITH YOU ON THE THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE PLAN OR ANYTHING OF THAT NATURE? NOT YET. YEAH. I THINK I THINK PART OF THE THE SCHEDULED TIMELINE FOR THE FOR THE PROJECT IS TO ACTUALLY PUT OUT A REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATIONS FOR A DESIGN FIRM TO TO FINISH.
AND THERE'S A DESIGN TIMELINE THAT WOULD THAT WOULD GET THEM TO CONSTRUCTION.
I THINK THEY'RE SHOOTING FOR I DON'T KNOW IF YOU HAVE A ROUGH IDEA WHEN YOU'D BE IN CONSTRUCTION.
[03:50:06]
BUT AS FAR AS LIKE WITH THE TIMELINE, WE WANT TO MOVE AS QUICKLY AS WE POSSIBLY CAN.AND IDEALLY, IF WE COULD MAYBE BEGIN CONSTRUCTION BEFORE THE END OF THE YEAR, THAT'D BE GREAT.
THEN WE COULD PUT THE BID OUT AND THEN GO ACCORDING TO THE, I GUESS, THE A TIMELINE OF COMMANDER.
SO TO THAT END, YOU KNOW, PRECINCT ONE IS AN INCREDIBLY HARD WORKING PRECINCT OF PEOPLE.
THERE ARE MANY PEOPLE WHO ARE IN THE CONSTRUCTION TRADES.
IT'S REALLY THE IT'S REALLY THE PIPELINE OF TALENT THAT WE HAVE IN CONSTRUCTION THAT ACTUALLY THE PEOPLE OF THE SOUTHWEST AND SOUTH CENTRAL AREA REALLY ARE A BIG DRIVER OF THE CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS COUNTYWIDE.
BUT TO THAT END, HAS THERE BEEN ANY THOUGHT IN DE BUNDLING THE OPPORTUNITY? I MEAN, TYPICALLY WHEN YOU HAVE OUTDOOR PARKS LIKE PROJECTS, THOSE ARE GREAT OPPORTUNITIES FOR SMALL MINORITY WOMEN OWNED BUSINESSES TO BE ABLE TO TAKE, YOU KNOW, A $300,000 CONTRACT, A $500,000 CONTRACT AND BREAK THAT UP SO THAT OPPORTUNITY CAN BE GIVEN TO PEOPLE WHO MAY HAVE A BUSINESS ON THE SOUTHWEST SIDE OR SOUTH CENTRAL AREA OF THE COUNTY.
ANY THOUGHT ABOUT DE BUNDLING THE OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE CONSTRUCTION SIDE? HAS THAT BEEN PART OF THE CONVERSATION YET? WELL, AS FAR AS LIKE WHEN WE PUT IT OUT, WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT IT'S FAIR AND OPEN FOR ANYONE TO BE ABLE TO, YOU KNOW, PUT IN A BID.
OBVIOUSLY, WE'RE GOING TO BE WORKING WITH THE A&M SYSTEM THROUGH OUR FACILITIES PLANNING AND CONSTRUCTION TEAM THAT'S THERE AND KIND OF LEANING ON THEM AS FAR AS WHAT THEIR THEIR THOUGHTS OR IDEAS ARE.
BUT WHENEVER WE DO PUT IT OUT, YES, WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THAT THE PARAMETERS AND THE QUALIFICATIONS OF THE SCOPE OF WORK, THAT THAT INDIVIDUALS DO HAVE A FAIR OPPORTUNITY TO BE ABLE TO PUT THE BID IN AND ASK QUESTIONS.
AND THEN WE GET TO DECIDE WHERE TO GO FROM THERE.
I THINK ONE OF THE THINGS IN THIS CITY IS THAT MANY SMALLER BUSINESSES HAVE NOT HAD AN OPPORTUNITY AT PROJECTS LIKE THIS BECAUSE IT'S NOT PUT INTO A BITE SIZE THAT THEY CAN ACTUALLY SUCCEED AT WITH THE BONDING CAPACITY THAT THEY MAY REQUIRE IN ORDER TO BE CERTIFIED ON THE PROJECT.
AND I WANT YOU TO TAKE PARTICULAR ATTENTION BECAUSE THIS IS A LAYUP, IF YOU WILL, TO USE A BASKETBALL ANALOGY, FOR IT'S A LAYUP BECAUSE YOU'RE NOT YOU KNOW, YOU'RE NOT BUILDING THE TAJ MAHAL OF TEXAS A&M, YOU'RE BUILDING A SPORTS AND ATHLETIC FIELD.
AND THERE ARE LANDSCAPE BUSINESSES, SMALL BUSINESSES.
BUT IT REQUIRES POLITICAL WILL.
IT REQUIRES LEADERSHIP WILL TO MAKE THAT INCLUSION HAPPEN.
AND SO I JUST WANT TO BRING THOSE ISSUES BECAUSE I'VE BEEN A SMALL BUSINESS PERSON WHO HAS HAD EVERYONE FROM THE CITY OF LA AS A CLIENT TO THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES AS A CLIENT OF THE UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT.
WILL THAT HELP GET THOSE OPPORTUNITIES FOR MY BUSINESS RIGHT? AND SO IF POLITICAL LEADERS DON'T ASK THE QUESTIONS OF INCLUSION, PARTICULARLY HAVING RIGHT OUTSIDE THE DOORS, YOU KNOW, THE GREATEST SOCIAL VULNERABILITY INDEX.
RIGHT. AND AND SO ONE OF THE THINGS THAT'S REALLY IMPORTANT TO REMEMBER AS A HISPANIC SERVING INSTITUTION IS THAT HISPANIC OWNED BUSINESSES ARE THE NUMBER ONE HIRES OF HISPANICS.
BLACK OWNED BUSINESSES ARE THE NUMBER ONE HIRES OF AFRICAN-AMERICANS.
BUT YOU HAVE TO BE VERY CAREFUL UNDER THE LAW ABOUT HOW YOU DO THAT.
SO I CAUTION YOU ABOUT THE PROCESS THAT YOU'RE USING.
AND IN PARTICULARLY IN THIS ENVIRONMENT WHERE ADA HAS BEEN SUSPENDED BECAUSE OF A RULING IN THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF TENNESSEE, I YOU KNOW, YOU'VE GOT TO BE YOU'VE GOT TO REALLY BE CAREFUL.
YOU KNOW, IT DOES US NO GOOD TO GRADUATE ENGINEERING MINDS AND WHAT HAVE YOU OUT OF SAN ANTONIO.
SO THIS IS SOMETHING THAT HAS TO BE DONE WITH GREAT INTENT.
AND I WOULD BE REMISS IF I DIDN'T BRING IT UP.
I AM GOING TO SUPPORT THIS AS I'VE ALWAYS SUPPORTED THINGS IN PRECINCT ONE BECAUSE IT IS AN AREA THAT HAS, AS YOU, MATT POINTED OUT, BEEN DEPRIVED OF MANY, MANY OPPORTUNITIES.
BUT AS WE GET THESE OPPORTUNITIES, WE MUST BE GOOD STEWARDS TO ENSURE THAT THE HIRING AND THE INCLUSIVITY IS LOCALIZED BECAUSE ECONOMIC GARDENING, WHICH IS A ECONOMICS PRINCIPLE THAT YOU BUY FROM AROUND WHERE YOUR BUSINESS IS LOCATED IN THE REGION, IT IS IS
[03:55:06]
A POWERFUL TOOL TO HELP YOU ACCOMPLISH THE MASTER PLAN THAT I THINK IS CALLED VERANO OR WHATEVER.I FORGET WHAT THE MASTER PLAN IS FOR THE WHOLE 2000 ACRES OR SO AROUND YOU, BUT YOU'LL BE ABLE TO GET THOSE COLLEGE GRADUATES WHO GET THE APARTMENTS AND IN THE TOWNHOME AND THE HOUSE THAT IS NEXT TO YOU ALL AS PART OF YOUR GRAND VISION IF THEY HAVE OPPORTUNITIES IN THEIR HIRED.
AND I REPRESENT SOUTH, CENTRAL AND SOUTHEAST.
THOSE ARE VERY IMPORTANT THINGS TO CHANGE THE POVERTY DYNAMICS THAT HAVE EXISTED FOR SO LONG.
WE WE HAVE AN ECONOMIC APARTHEID THAT HAS THAT HAS EXISTED IN THIS TOWN FOR A LONG TIME.
AND PUBLIC INSTITUTIONS ARE A BIG PART OF TURNING IT AROUND.
COMMISSIONER, ANY FURTHER COMMENTS? I'LL MAKE SURE. I'M SORRY.
GO AHEAD. I'M SORRY COMMISSIONER CALVERT.
I'LL MAKE SURE THAT YOUR SENTIMENTS ARE EXPRESSED TO THE A&M FACILITIES AS WE PROCEED.
AND COMING FROM A FAMILY OF A FAMILY OF ENTREPRENEURS IN THE RIO GRANDE VALLEY, I CAN REALLY UNDERSTAND THE PERSPECTIVE THAT YOU'RE COMING FROM ABOUT ENTREPRENEURSHIP AND INVESTING IN YOUR OWN COMMUNITY.
THANK YOU. OF COURSE, WE GOT THE VIDEOTAPE.
WE CAN SEND YOU THE LINK TO THIS CONVERSATION.
COMMISSIONER MOODY, DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? UH, YES, JUDGE.
THANK YOU. UM, AND I THINK MY QUESTIONS ARE MAINLY FOR FOR TONY.
UM, COULD YOU SPEAK MORE TO THE FUNDING MECHANISM? BECAUSE YOU MENTIONED THE BUDGET.
MY UNDERSTANDING WAS THIS WAS ARPA FUNDED.
UM, CAN YOU HELP CLARIFY ON THAT POINT? YES. SO, COMMISSIONER, THE UM, ONE OF THE FASTEST OF ARPA WAS FOR REVENUE REPLACEMENT OF A OF A FUNDS THAT WERE NOT ABLE TO BE COLLECTED BECAUSE DUE TO COVID.
SO, SO THERE WERE, THERE WERE DIFFERENT OPPORTUNITIES THERE.
WHEN I MY UNDERSTANDING IS THE VENUE FUND WHICH WHICH IS THE VISITOR TAX THAT THAT RECEIVES HOTEL AND CAR RENTAL TAXES WAS IMPACTED BY COVID AND BUDGET WAS ABLE TO IDENTIFY A TOTAL OF $13 MILLION IS WHAT I UNDERSTAND FROM ARPA THAT WOULD BE MOVED TRANSFERRED TO THE VENUE FUND FOR THAT PURPOSE AND THOSE FUNDS WERE IDENTIFIED AS BEING AVAILABLE FOR THE PROJECT THAT WE'RE PRESENTING TODAY.
SO ARPA IS REPLACING LOST HOTEL TAXES THAT THAT ARE PART OF THIS VENUE FUND.
CAN YOU HELP ME WITH THE VENUE FUND BECAUSE WE REALLY HAVEN'T HAD ANY DISCUSSIONS ABOUT THAT.
UM, WHAT, WHAT IS THE PROCESS FOR IDENTIFYING PROJECTS WITHIN THE VENUE FUND AND IS THAT EPISODIC IN NATURE? UM, JUST HELP US UNDERSTAND THAT BETTER.
SO THE VENUE FUND WAS, WAS CREATED.
UM, BY THE TEXAS LEGISLATURE, AND IT IS ESTABLISHED TO FUND PROJECTS THAT WERE APPROVED THROUGH A VOTER REFERENDUM.
SO WE HAD IN 99 ESTABLISHED A VENUE FUND TO HELP US BUILD THE.
NOW IT'S THE AT&T. WELL, NOW IT'S THE FROST BANK CENTER, EXCUSE ME.
AND THAT WAS THAT WAS THE FIRST ITERATION OF THE VENUE FUND.
THERE WAS A REFERENDUM TO EXTEND THE THE VISITOR TAX TO THE TO ADD THE THE 13 SPORTS COMPLEXES AND SEVERAL OTHER PROJECTS THAT WERE THAT WERE INITIATED THROUGH THAT FUND. AND CURRENTLY THE FUND IS IS IS WE FINISHED ALL THE PROJECTS THAT WERE IN THAT IN THAT IN THAT THOSE PROPOSITIONS. AND SO NOW THE THE FUND IS IS IS USED TO PAY OFF DEBT SERVICE.
THAT'S THAT'S THAT'S THE PURPOSE OF THE FUND OR.
WELL BUT THE MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT IT BECAUSE IT WAS IMPACTED BY COVID THE ARPA FUNDS WERE STILL AVAILABLE TO TO COMPENSATE THAT FUND AND THOSE WERE THE FUNDS THAT WERE BECAME AVAILABLE TO AGAIN USE FOR, FOR THE PROJECT THAT WE HAVE IN FRONT OF US.
SO THERE'S THE THERE'S NO CURRENT PROJECTS THAT THAT ARE TO BE FUNDED YET BY THE VENUE FUND.
IS THAT WHAT YOU SHARED? CORRECT. AND I'LL ASK THE.
YEAH, THAT'S CORRECT, COMMISSIONER.
IN ANY FUTURE USE OF THOSE FUNDS BASICALLY COMES FROM TWO DIFFERENT SOURCES.
[04:00:04]
ONE WOULD BE TO THE EXTENT YOUR REVENUES ARE IN EXCESS OF THE ANNUAL DEBT SERVICE, THAT CREATES AN ESTIMATE OF FUTURE CAPACITY, WE CALL IT, FOR OTHER PROJECTS AND ALSO TO THE EXTENT THERE'S ANY ACCUMULATED CASH THAT'S IN EXCESS OF ANNUAL DEBT SERVICE, YOU COULD UTILIZE THAT CASH FOR ADDITIONAL PROJECTS.THE ISSUE IS IT REQUIRES A VOTE TO AUTHORIZE ANY ADDITIONAL PROJECTS.
ARPA REVENUE REPLACEMENT DID NOT.
IT'S PURELY IT'S BASICALLY LIKE GENERAL FUND MONEY.
SO HOW DID WE PAY FOR DEBT SERVICE IN THOSE YEARS OUT OF THE VENUE FUND IF IF THERE WEREN'T ANY FEES BEING TAKEN IN FROM THE HOTEL? WELL, THERE WERE FEES BEING TAKEN IN.
THOSE FEES DECLINED THAT YEAR.
THE LAST TIME I CHECKED, WE HAD MORE OR LESS RECOVERED COMPARED TO PRE-PANDEMIC PRE-PANDEMIC LEVELS, AND IF THE COURT WANTED TO, WE COULD BEGIN TO LOOK AT FUTURE REFERENDUMS WITH THE VOTERS FOR FUTURE PROJECTS.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE POTENTIAL CAPACITY OF THAT WOULD BE, THOUGH, BASED ON THE CURRENT VENUE FUND PAYING OFF EXISTING DEBT SERVICE. SO YOU'RE SAYING THERE'S NOT ADDITIONAL REVENUES BEYOND WHAT WHAT WE'RE CURRENTLY PAYING OFF, CORRECT? NO, THERE THERE PROBABLY IS.
BY NOW, I WOULD HAVE TO GO BACK AND CHECK THE LATEST MONTHLY REPORT.
I MEAN, YOU'RE TALKING IF OUR ANNUAL DEBTS I'M MAKING UP NUMBERS HERE, BUT IF OUR ANNUAL DEBT SERVICE IS 25 MILLION AND WE'RE COLLECTING 30, THEN THAT EXTRA FIVE OVER 20 YEARS CREATES A CERTAIN CAPACITY FOR A CAPITAL PROJECT.
SO THEY START WITH COMMISSIONERS COURT AND VARIOUS.
THE SBC CENTER WAS VERY SPECIFIC.
THAT WAS THE ONLY USE TARGETED FOR THAT INITIAL ISSUANCE.
AND THEN THE LIST OF 2008 PROJECTS CAME ABOUT IN A MORE PUBLIC WAY BECAUSE IT ALSO THERE WERE DIFFERENT CATEGORIES AND DIFFERENT ORGANIZATIONS CAME FORWARD FOR FUNDING REQUESTS AND THE COURT ENDED UP APPROVING A LIST WITHIN EACH CATEGORY.
SO FOR INSTANCE, THE TOBIN CENTER WAS ONE OF THOSE PROJECTS.
13 SPORTS FIELDS, I THINK WAS ANOTHER.
THE ALAMEDA RESTORATION WAS PART OF THAT.
THE RIVER. OH YEAH, THE SAN ANTONIO THE MISSION REACH WAS ALSO A LOT OF WORK AT THE AT THE AT&T CENTER AND THE AND THE COLISEUM UPGRADES TO WHAT WAS THEN THE AT&T CENTER.
WELL THANKS. THANKS FOR THE BACKGROUND ON ALL THIS.
YOU KNOW, IT'S JUST SOMETHING WE DON'T WE DON'T TALK ABOUT VERY OFTEN.
UM, YOU KNOW, I'M GOING TO BE WILLING TO, TO SUPPORT IT.
I DO WANT TO, UH, A NOTE OF CAUTION, THOUGH.
YOU KNOW, AS WE TALK ABOUT THESE THESE PROJECTS GOING FORWARD, ESPECIALLY WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT, UM, WITH, UH, WITH OUR UNIVERSITIES AND OTHERS, IS MAKING SURE THAT WE'RE, WE'RE A PARTNER IN SOME OF THIS DEVELOPMENT WORK, BUT WE'RE NOT, UH, TYPICALLY OR SHOULD NOT BE, YOU KNOW, SHOULDERING THE ENTIRE BURDEN.
BUT, YOU KNOW, I THINK, YOU KNOW, THERE'S BEEN SOME OTHER GOOD EXAMPLES WHERE THE CITY'S CHIPPED IN AND THE COUNTY'S CHIPPED IN, BUT PUBLIC FOUND, YOU KNOW, THE FOUNDATIONS OF THE UNIVERSITIES HAVE COME IN IN A MAJOR WAY, TOO, RIGHT.
AND SO EVERYBODY'S CHIPPING IN ON A PROJECT THAT THAT'S DEEMED WORTHY.
AND SO I JUST WANT TO BE CAUTIOUS THAT THAT FOR FUTURE PROJECTS WE'RE THINKING ABOUT, YOU KNOW, PARTNERSHIPS, NOT NECESSARILY THAT THE COUNTY IS GOING TO GOING TO OWN THESE THINGS GOING FORWARD.
SO JUST WANTED TO MAKE THOSE COMMENTS FOR THE RECORD.
THANK YOU. JUDGE? YES. YOU KNOW, I THINK THAT COMMISSIONER MOODY HAS A SAGE POINT, AND IT'S A POINT I'VE STEPPED INTO A NUMBER OF THE BOND COMMITTEE HEARINGS AT THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO AND HEARD MANY CITIZENS ACROSS THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO TESTIFY IN OPPOSITION TO LARGE AMOUNTS OF MONEY FOR OUR VARIOUS UNIVERSITIES, AS MUCH AS WE LOVE THEM BECAUSE THEY FELT THAT THOSE UNIVERSITIES HAD THE ABILITY TO LEVERAGE PRIVATE DONORS, THEY HAD THE ABILITY TO GO OUT AND RAISE, YOU KNOW,
[04:05:09]
NAMING RIGHTS AND SO ON AND SO FORTH.SO TYPICALLY, THE HISTORY OF THIS COURT HAS BEEN THAT WE ARE THE LAST 25% TO THE LAST 33%.
WE'RE YOU'RE TIPPING OVER MONEY IN TERMS OF WE DON'T NECESSARILY FUND THE WHOLE THING.
WE JUST LET YOU DO A CAPITAL CAMPAIGN.
AND SO, YOU KNOW, I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE PERCENTAGE IS.
THANK YOU. ANY FURTHER QUESTIONS? I THINK THERE'S A MOTION BY COMMISSIONER CLAY-FLORES SECOND BY COMMISSIONER RODRIGUEZ.
ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE.
AYE. ANY OPPOSED? ANY ABSTENTIONS? MOTION CARRIES.
OKAY. I BELIEVE ITEM 59, IS THAT WHERE WE'RE AT?
[59. Discussion and appropriate action regarding: a. Approval of an amendment to the contract with Aetna Life Insurance Company to include the PrudentRx program, which will allow for lower-cost specialty medications; and b. Approval of a contract with Aetna Life Insurance Company for the provision of voluntary dental benefits for Bexar County employees. (Estimated Presentation Time: 10 minutes) (Tina Smith-Dean)]
DISCUSSION APPROPRIATE ACTION REGARDING APPROVAL OF AN AMENDMENT OF THE TO THE CONTRACT WITH AETNA LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY AND INCLUDE THE PRUDENT PROGRAM WHICH WILL ALLOW FOR LOWER COST, SPECIAL MEDICATIONS AND APPROVAL OF CONTRACT WITH AETNA LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY FOR THE PROVISION OF VOLUNTARY DENTAL BENEFITS FOR BEXAR COUNTY EMPLOYEES. MS. SMITH DEAN THANK YOU, JUDGE.GOOD AFTERNOON, JUDGE AND COMMISSIONERS.
TINA SMITH DEAN WITH THE COUNTY MANAGER'S OFFICE.
I ALSO HAVE YOUR EMPLOYEE BENEFITS TEAM HERE, AS WELL AS OUR HEALTH INSURANCE CONSULTANTS.
SO THEY PUT A LOT OF WORK INTO THIS, AND I'M JUST GOING TO RELAY THE MESSAGE.
SO WE'RE REQUESTING YOUR APPROVAL OF TWO ITEMS TODAY.
THE FIRST IS RELATED TO AETNA AND PRUDENT AND SPECIALTY PRESCRIPTIONS.
THE SECOND IS IN REGARDS TO THE RENEWAL OF THE CONTRACT WITH AETNA FOR DENTAL INSURANCE.
SO PRUDENT X IS A PROGRAM THAT THEY HAVE PARTNERED UP WITH AETNA AND THEY ARE GOING TO ASSIST US WITH DECREASING THE COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH OUR SPECIALTY MEDICATIONS.
THEY DO ALL OF THAT IN THE BACKGROUND.
SPECIALTY MEDICATIONS ARE THINGS TYPICALLY MORE EXPENSIVE.
AND SO WE'RE ASKING THE COURT TO APPROVE US PARTNERING WITH PRUDENT, PRUDENT SO THEY CAN WORK IN THE BACKGROUND TO DECREASE THE COST TO THE EMPLOYEES AND THE COST TO THE COUNTY. SO RIGHT NOW, MEMBERS WHO ARE TAKING THESE DRUGS PAY $150 PER PRESCRIPTION AND AFTER THAT'S AFTER THEY'RE $100, $100 DEDUCTIBLE.
SO IF THEY'RE TAKING ONE OF THESE MEDICATIONS, IT'S GOING TO COST THEM $1,300 OVER THE YEAR.
SO UNDER THIS PROGRAM, OUR MEMBERS WHO ARE TAKING THESE MEDICATIONS WILL PAY ZERO.
I'M SORRY. SO IT'S GOING TO COST $1,300 OVER THE YEAR PLUS WHATEVER THEY'RE THAT'S HOSPITAL OR.
CORRECT. THAT'S JUST FOR PHARMACY.
THAT'S JUST WHAT THEIR FOR THEIR MEDICATIONS.
AND THAT'S ONLY IF THEY'RE TAKING ONE OF THESE SPECIALTY MEDICATIONS.
SO UNDER THIS PROGRAM, MEMBERS WILL PAY ZERO OUT OF POCKET.
MEMBERS WILL BE AUTOMATICALLY ENROLLED IN THE PROGRAM.
ALL OF THE PRESCRIPTIONS WILL COME IN THE MAIL.
AND THIS PROGRAM WILL ALSO HELP THE COUNTY SAVE MONEY.
AND WE'RE ESTIMATING COUNTY COSTS WILL BE DECREASED BY ABOUT $800,000.
THE SECOND IS FOR DENTAL INSURANCE.
ONE, A COUPLE OF THE THINGS THAT THE EMPLOYEES WANTED WAS MORE COVERAGE.
AND THEY THEY TOLD US DENTAL COVERAGE.
DENTAL INSURANCE IS THE THIRD MOST IMPORTANT BENEFIT TO THEM.
SO AS WE WERE WORKING WITH AETNA TO RENEGOTIATE THIS CONTRACT, WE WORKED TOWARDS THE GOAL OF PROVIDING MORE COVERAGE AT THE SAME COST TO EMPLOYEES. SO AS WE'RE DOING THAT, THE COST TO THE COUNTY WILL BE ABOUT $600,000, WHICH WITH THE FIRST ITEM, THE
[04:10:05]
DECREASE IN COST OF 800,000, WE WILL BE ABLE TO USE THAT 800,000 TO PAY THIS ADDITIONAL COST.SO A FEW THINGS CHANGES THAT WE MADE.
RIGHT NOW OUR OUR DENTAL PLANS ARE CALLED DMO 2001 THOUSAND.
IT'S NOT VERY HELPFUL TO THE EMPLOYEES.
SO WE RENAMED THE PLANS TO BRONZE, SILVER AND GOLD.
SO SO THEY GET AN IDEA OF WHAT IT IS THAT THEY'LL BE GETTING.
WE'VE ELIMINATED THE 12 MONTH WAITING PERIOD ON ALL PLANS PRIOR TO THIS.
THAT WAS ALSO VERY CONFUSING FOR EMPLOYEES.
THE BRONZE PLAN STAYS THE SAME.
THERE'S A SLIGHT DECREASE IN THE IN THE MONTHLY PREMIUMS OF ABOUT 1%.
AND THEN THE SILVER PLAN, I'M JUST GOING TO READ OVER THESE CHANGES VERY QUICKLY.
THE COVERAGE FOR PREVENTIVE CARE WILL INCREASE FROM 80% TO 100% BASIC SERVICES.
SO THINGS THAT ARE COMING OUT WHICH ARE ENDODONTICS, PERIODONTICS AND ORAL SURGERIES, THE COVERAGE WILL INCREASE FROM 60 TO 80% MAJOR SERVICES, THINGS GOING IN, BRIDGES, DENTURES, IMPLANTS AND CROWNS COVERAGE WILL INCREASE FROM 40 TO 60%.
ON THE GOLD PLAN, MAJOR SERVICES COVERAGE WILL INCREASE FROM 60 TO 80%.
THE MAXIMUM ANNUAL BENEFIT PER MEMBER WILL INCREASE TO 2500 FROM 1000.
THE LIFETIME BENEFIT FOR ORTHODONTIA WILL INCREASE FROM 1000 TO 2000.
CURRENTLY, CHILDREN ARE ONLY ONLY COVERED.
SO WITH THAT, THAT'S A SUMMARY OF WHAT WE'RE ASKING THE COURT TO APPROVE TODAY.
AND THE SLIDE NUMBER NINE SHOWS THE RECOMMENDED MOTION.
ANY QUESTIONS? I DON'T HAVE ANY QUESTIONS.
MOVE FOR APPROVAL. SECOND MOTION BY COMMISSIONER CLAY-FLORES.
SECOND BY COMMISSIONER CALVERT.
ANY FURTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? COMMISSIONER MOODY. NO COMMENTS.
ALL RIGHT. ANY FURTHER? NO FURTHER DISCUSSION BEING HEARD.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE? AYE. ANY OPPOSED MOTION CARRIES.
I BELIEVE WE'RE LARRY GOING TO EXECUTIVE SESSION.
[EXECUTIVE SESSION (DISCUSSION ONLY: CLOSED TO PUBLIC) (Part 2 of 2)]
CORRECT, JUDGE? ALL RIGHT.COURT WILL NOW RECONVENE INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION.
THE TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE EXECUTIVE SESSION WILL BE HELD FOR CONSULTATION WITH THE COURT'S ATTORNEY FOR ADVICE REGARDING THE FOLLOWING MATTERS A DISCUSSION APPROPRIATE ACTION RELATED TO PENDING OR CONTEMPLATED LITIGATION OR SETTLEMENT OFFERS IN THE MATTERS OF RENTERIA VERSUS BEXAR COUNTY, FISHER VERSUS BEXAR COUNTY AND REID VERSUS BEXAR COUNTY. THE COURT NOW IS IN EXECUTIVE SESSION.
READY TO GO, JUDGE. ALL RIGHT.
[60. Discussion and appropriate action regarding pending or contemplated litigation in the matter of Justin Fischer v. Bexar County Texas (Estimated Presentation Time: 5 minutes) (Larry Roberson)]
THE MATTER OF FISHER VERSUS BEXAR COUNTY.OKAY. MOVE BY COMMISSIONER CALVERT SECOND BY COMMISSIONER RODRIGUEZ.
ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE.
AYE. ANY OPPOSED MOTION CARRIES.
THANK YOU. IS THERE A MOTION TO ADJOURN AND A SECOND.
MOTION BY COMMISSIONER RODRIGUEZ.
SECOND BY COMMISSIONER CLAY-FLORES.
COMMISSIONER FLORES CLAY-FLORES.
I MOVE TO ADJOURN IN MEMORY OF MY STEPFATHER, BOB MCGIBNEY AND PAULA QUARLES.
I WOULD MOVE TO ADJOURN IN THE MEMORY OF LAURA LYNN SPARKLE HARLAN, THE DAUGHTER OF LESLIE HARLAN AND NEIGHBORHOOD LEADER IN PRECINCT THREE AND LONGTIME EMPLOYEE AT SAMCO. MR. CALVERT. JUDGE, I MOVE TO ADJOURN IN HONOR OF MARIA EMERICH, JOHN NOLAN, BARBARA SMITH, THE GREAT JAMES MERRITT, WHO I WILL PAUSE JUST TO SAY I BELIEVE HAS THE RECORD FOR THE MOST LAWSUITS OR LEGAL FILINGS IN THE AND I MEAN IT SERIOUSLY IN THE HISTORY OF BEXAR COUNTY.
[04:15:04]
BUT HE ALSO WAS A A CIVIL RIGHTS LAWYER WHO HAD NATIONAL IMPACT WITH A $2 BILLION SETTLEMENT HE WON AGAINST US DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE FOR DISCRIMINATION AGAINST BLACK FARMERS.HE HE WAS IN HIS PEAK, THE BEN CRUMP BEFORE BEN CRUMP, AND HE WAS REPRESENTING CASES OF OFFICER INVOLVED SHOOTINGS.
HE HE EVEN ONCE REPRESENTED THE HEAD OF THE MEXICAN MAFIA AND WON AGAINST THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.
SO HE I READ SOME OF HIS PLEADINGS MANY, MANY YEARS AGO THAT HE WOULD SHOW ME.
AND THEY WERE THEY WERE VERY BRILLIANT, ALMOST POETIC IN TERMS OF LEGAL WRITING.
SO A A NATIONAL LOSS IN THE CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT.
JAMES MERRITT, EDWIN GORHAM, ELOISA GONZALEZ, WILLIAM MICHAEL WADSWORTH JR, KATHERINE KAY ALLEN, RAYNETTE ROBINSON AND BARBARA HILL.
CHARLES EDWARD CAMPION, AN OFFICER AND GENTLEMAN AS AN ATTORNEY WHO PRACTICED LAW, ESPECIALLY CRIMINAL LAW, FOR OVER 55 YEARS, I JOIN IN WITH COMMISSIONER MOODY IN REGARDS TO LAURA LYNN, SPARKLE.
HARLAN AND I WILL ALSO JOIN IN WITH COMMISSIONER CALVERT TO THE ESTEEMED JAMES MEYER.
THERE'S A MOTION BY COMMISSIONER CLAY-FLORES, SECOND BY COMMISSIONER RODRIGUEZ.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF THE MOTION TO ADJOURN SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE.
AYE. ANY OPPOSED MOTION CARRIES MEETING ADJOURNED.
YOU ALL HAVE A GREAT DAY.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.