[00:00:04]
GOOD MORNING. I'D LIKE TO WELCOME EVERYONE TO THE BURKE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS COURT MEETING FOR OCTOBER 24TH, 2023.I'LL ASK COMMISSIONER GRANT MOODY TO PLEASE INTRODUCE MR.
[1. Opening Prayer: Michael Pinkston, Superintendent of The Christian School at Castle Hills (Grant Moody)]
MICHAEL PINKSTON AND DO THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.SO THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE THIS MORNING.
SO LET ME PRAY OVER ALL OF YOU.
IF EVERYONE WOULD PLEASE RISE.
SO, DEAR LORD JESUS, I JUST WANT TO THANK YOU FOR ALL THOSE WHO HAVE GATHERED HERE TODAY AT THIS COMMISSIONERS COURT, JUST REPRESENTING THE FOUR CORNERS OF THIS GREAT CITY AND AND BURKE COUNTY.
AND WE ARE GRATEFUL FOR ALL THOSE WHO ARE HERE, WHO ARE PART ARE PART OF THE LARGER COMMUNITY OF PEOPLE WHO COME TO THIS COURT, DEPARTMENTS AND OFFICES ACROSS OUR COUNTY WHO JUST SEEK ASSISTANCE, HELP, JUSTICE AT TIMES, DOORS OF OPPORTUNITY FOR THE THINGS THAT THEY REPRESENT.
I PRAY THAT TODAY EACH OF THESE COMMISSIONERS WOULD HAVE THE MIND, THE WISDOM, THE DISCERNMENT TO MAKE STRONG, FORWARD THINKING, JUST DECISIONS TO SEE THE FAIR AND THE RIGHT LORD.
WE KNOW THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN RIGHT AND WRONG, GOOD AND EVIL.
AND SO I JUST PRAY THAT WE SPEAK INTO THAT TODAY.
THANK YOU AGAIN FOR THESE COMMISSIONERS WHO'VE HELPED MAKE OUR CITY AND COUNTY A LIGHT ON THE HILL, A SHINING EXAMPLE OF WHAT IT MEANS TO TAKE CARE OF PEOPLE AND TO LOOK TO THE BEST INTEREST OF OUR CITY'S CITIZENS.
AND NOW, IF EVERYONE WOULD PLEASE JOIN ME IN THE PLEDGE, . ALL RIGHT.
[3. CEREMONIAL ITEM(S)]
WE GOT QUITE A FEW PROCLAMATIONS.I WOULD ASSUME THAT'S THE REASON WHY WE HAVE A COURTROOM FULL.
AND SO WE'RE GOING TO TAKE ALL THE PROCLAMATIONS THAT WE HAVE, ABOUT 11 OF THEM, I BELIEVE.
I'M ALSO GOING TO ASK ALL THOSE THAT ARE HERE FOR EACH PARTICULAR PROCLAMATION.
YOU CAN COME FORWARD AS A GROUP TO THE TO THE SPEAKER, TO THE PODIUM.
I JUST ASK THAT YOU WE TRY TO LIMIT OUR COMMENTS SO THAT WE CAN GET THROUGH THIS.
OTHERWISE WE COULD MAYBE BE HERE ALL MORNING.
SO WITH THAT, LET US BEGIN OUR PROCLAMATIONS.
COMMISSIONER MOODY, YOU CAN START AND THEN WE'LL GO DOWN THE LINE.
AND I BELIEVE WE HAVE SOME REPRESENTATIVES THIS MORNING FROM THE.
THE COUNTRY WAS BESIEGED BY THE TERRORIST GROUP HAMAS IN A SURPRISE ATTACK.
[00:05:01]
AND WHEREAS THOUSANDS OF INNOCENT LIVES WERE CUT SHORT BY THESE BRUTAL ATTACKS.NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, THAT THE BECKER COUNTY COMMISSIONERS COURT HEREBY RECOGNIZES AND PROCLAIMS ITS SUPPORT TO STAND WITH ISRAEL AND RECOGNIZE ISRAEL'S INHERENT RIGHT TO SELF-DEFENSE, AND CALLS FOR THE IMMEDIATE RETURN OF ALL HOSTAGES BY HAMAS, AS WELL AS AN END TO THE TERRORIST OPERATIONS IN THE GAZA STRIP.
SIGNED BY YOUR COMMISSIONERS COURT.
IF YOU COULD PLEASE SAY A FEW WORDS.
THANK YOU. DEAR MEMBERS OF THE BEXAR COUNTY COMMISSIONERS COURT, MR. GRANT MOODY, MY NAME IS NAMI ICHILOV, AND I'M THE PRESIDENT AND CEO OF THE JEWISH FEDERATION OF SAN ANTONIO.
I'M HERE THIS MORNING TO EXPRESS THE JEWISH COMMUNITY'S HEARTFELT THANKS AND APPRECIATION FOR TODAY'S PROCLAMATION IN SUPPORT OF THE STATE OF ISRAEL'S RIGHT TO DEFEND ITSELF AGAINST THE HORRIFIC ACTS OF TERRORISM COMMITTED BY HAMAS ON OCTOBER 7TH, 2023.
WE RECOGNIZE THAT THIS PUBLIC SUPPORT SHOWN FOR ISRAEL IS NOT A POLITICAL STATEMENT.
IT IS A TESTAMENT TO THE VALUES OF FREEDOM, DEMOCRACY AND THE RIGHT TO SELF-DETERMINATION.
ISRAEL HAS LONG BEEN A BEACON OF DEMOCRACY IN THE MIDDLE EAST, AND THE PROCLAMATION REAFFIRMS FOR OUR COMMUNITY'S COMMITMENT, OUR COMMUNITY'S COMMITMENT TO THESE SHARED VALUES. THE CONDEMNATION OF TERRORISM AND RECOGNITION OF THE HEINOUS ACTS COMMITTED BY HAMAS.
BY TAKING A STAND SUCH AS AGAINST SUCH ACTS.
AND LEST WE NOT FORGET THE 2220 HOSTAGES STOLEN FROM THEIR EVERYDAY PEACEFUL LIVES.
I STAND HERE RECOGNIZING THAT ALL INNOCENT LIVES LOST, INCLUDING THE INNOCENT PALESTINIANS LIVING UNDER THE REGIME AND DICTATORSHIP OF THE MILITANT AND TERRORIST GROUP HAMAS IN GAZA IS PAINFUL AND DEPLORABLE.
BUT ISRAEL DID NOT BRING THIS ABOUT LIKE MANY WOULD LIKE TO BELIEVE.
HAMAS, BY THEIR OWN VIDEOGRAPHY AND DOCUMENTATION, ARE AN ORGANIZATION FOUNDED ON PURE EVIL, AND FOR ANYONE IN OUR COMMUNITY TO RALLY IN SUPPORT OF SUCH HEINOUS CRIMES, IS ONLY THROWING FUEL ON A RAGING FIRE TOTALLY OUT OF CONTROL IN THE REGION.
I'M HERE TO NOT ONLY THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR COURAGEOUS DECISION TO PUT FORTH THIS PUBLIC STATEMENT, BUT I'M HERE TO BEG, PLEAD AND PRAY BEFORE YOU THAT YOU HELP LOWERING LOWER THE GROWING LEVELS OF PUBLIC HATE, RISING ANTI-SEMITISM AND INCITEFUL BEHAVIORS, INCLUDING THE MICROAGGRESSIONS AGAINST JEWS.
AS I MENTIONED BEFORE, TODAY IS THE 18TH DAY OF THIS WAR.
18, IN THE JEWISH TRADITION, SPELLS THE WORD HI, WHICH TRANSLATES AS LIFE.
MAY WE ALL PRAY FOR A SPEEDY AND UNCONDITIONAL RELEASE OF THE 220 HOSTAGES.
IT SIGNIFIES OUR SHARED COMMITMENT TO PEACE, JUSTICE, AND A WORLD FREE FROM TERROR.
TO THE FAMILIES OF THE VICTIMS, WE SAY HAMAKOM AND.
VIRUDHACHALAM. MAY THE OMNIPRESENT COMFORT YOU AMONG THE REST OF THE MOURNERS OF ZION AND JERUSALEM.
PLEASE, GOD, WATCH OVER THEM, SHELTER THEM, BRING THEM HOME, BRING PEACE.
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SO ODD. AND I, WE BESEECH YOU, LET IT RAIN DOWN FROM THE HEAVENS LIKE A MIGHTY STORM.LET IT WASH AWAY ALL HATRED AND BLOODSHED.
WOULD YOU COME FORWARD AND ACCEPT THE PROCLAMATION? ALL RIGHT. LET'S HAVE THE PRESENTATION.
PROCLAMATION ON BEHALF OF COMMISSIONERS COURT RECOGNIZING CELEBRATING THE 15TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE DIWALI FESTIVAL IN COMMEMORATION OF SAN ANTONIO SISTER CITY RELATIONSHIP WITH CHENNAI, INDIA.
PROCLAMATION. WHEREAS 2023 MARKS THE 15TH ANNIVERSARY OF DIWALI, WHICH CELEBRATES INDIAN AND SOUTH ASIAN CULTURES RICH WITH VIBRANT COLORS, DELICIOUS FLAVORS, AND DISTINCTIVE MUSIC AND DANCE.
AND WHEREAS DIWALI ESSER IS PRODUCED BY ANUJA ESSAR, A LOCAL VOLUNTEER, VOLUNTEER LED NONPROFIT FOUNDED IN 2008 TO SUPPORT THE SISTER CITY RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN SAN ANTONIO AND CHENNAI, INDIA.
AND WHEREAS, DIWALI IS ALSO KNOWN AS THE FESTIVAL OF LIGHTS, CELEBRATES THE TRIUMPH OF LIGHT OVER DARKNESS, GOOD OVER EVIL AND THE HUMAN ABILITY TO OVERCOME.
AND WHEREAS THE POPULARITY OF DIWALI ESSER ACROSS RACIAL AND ETHNIC LINES DEMONSTRATES THE TRUE DIVERSITY AND THE MULTICULTURAL CHARACTER OF OUR CITY AND THIS REGION, NOW THEREFORE BE RESOLVED, THAT THE BECKER COUNTY COMMISSIONERS COURT HEREBY RECOGNIZES AND PROCLAIMS NOVEMBER 4TH, 2023, AS DIWALI FESTIVAL DAY. WITNESS OUR SIGNATURE AND SEAL OF OFFICE THE 24TH DAY OF OCTOBER 23RD, SIGNED BY ALL MEMBERS OF THE COMMISSIONERS COURT.
CAN WE PLEASE GIVE A ROUND OF APPLAUSE FOR DIWALI USA? OUR NEXT PROCLAMATION IS COMMEMORATING HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH.
IT STATES, WHEREAS IN 1968, PRESIDENT LYNDON B JOHNSON FIRST ISSUED AN ANNUAL PROCLAMATION DESIGNATING THE WEEK, INCLUDING SEPTEMBER 15TH AND 16TH AS A NATIONAL HERITAGE WEEK.
AND WHEREAS THE INSPIRATION FOR THE NATIONAL HISPANIC MONTH CELEBRATION CAN BE CREDITED TO A SAN ANTONIO WEST SIDE NATIVE, COLONEL GIL CORONADO RETIRED FOR VOICING HIS CONCERN THAT A WEEK WAS INSUFFICIENT TO PAY SPECIAL TRIBUTE TO THE RICH AND ENDURING PLETHORA OF HISPANIC TRADITIONS.
AND WHEREAS THE CELEBRATIONS REVEAL A RANGE OF DIFFERENT CULTURAL TRADITIONS, THERE ARE DISTINCTIONS AMONG LATINOS IN THEIR HISTORIES, IMMIGRATION STATUS, SPANISH DIALECTS, FOOD, MUSIC AND RELIGION.
WITNESS OUR SIGNATURE SEAL OF OFFICE.
24TH DAY OF OCTOBER, 2023, SIGNED BY YOUR COMMISSIONERS COURT.
COLONEL, PLEASE, IF YOU WOULD SHARE A FEW WORDS WITH US.
WELL, FIRST OF ALL, THANK YOU.
IT'S A REAL HONOR TO BE HERE WITH.
WITH ALL THE IN FRONT OF ALL THE COMMISSIONERS.
I, I DO KNOW THAT THERE WERE MANY, MANY PEOPLE INVOLVED IN THIS EFFORT.
A WEEK ESTABLISHED BY PROCLAMATION.
A WEEK ESTABLISHED IN 1968, WAS NOT DOING THE JOB FOR THE HISPANIC COMMUNITY.
WE HAD IN THAT ONE WEEK AIR FORCE, WE HAD THE AIR FORCE ANNIVERSARY.
[00:15:07]
IT WAS NOT SOMETHING I DREAMED UP AND BECAME A GENIUS OVERNIGHT.SO I THANK YOU FOR THE PROCLAMATION.
I WANT TO THANK ESPECIALLY THE AMERICAN GI FORUM FOR INITIATING THIS EVENT.
JOSE ARZOLA, THE COMMANDER AND THE LEADERSHIP OF THE GI FORUM.
IT WAS INITIATED BY RICHARD GONZALEZ, LARRY COSME BARCELONA, AND A BUNCH OF OTHERS.
I WANT TO SPEAK BRIEFLY ON THE PREVIOUS PROCLAMATION.
YOU HAD VERY SERIOUS SITUATION THAT WE'RE FACED WITH RIGHT NOW.
WE ALSO HAVE A PROBLEM IN THE AMERICAS.
LATIN AMERICA NEEDS TO BE LOOKED AT A LITTLE MORE CLOSER.
I REMEMBER SIGNS YEARS AGO SAN ANTONIO, THE GATEWAY TO THE AMERICAS.
IF THAT BE TRUE, THEN WE HAVE AN OBLIGATION TO LOOK AT THE SITUATION THAT IS BOILING OVER RIGHT NOW IN CENTRAL AND SOUTH AMERICA. AND I PARTICULARLY WANT TO POINT OUT PERU.
AND THEIR TERRORIST GROUP IS CALLED THE SHINING LIGHT.
THEY'RE DOING A LOT OF BAD THINGS, AND THEY'RE NOT THAT FAR AWAY WITH THE COURT'S PERMISSION.
I WANT TO LEAVE YOU WITH SOME PAPERWORK ON THIS SAME SUBJECT.
AND AGAIN, MY HONOR, MY PLEASURE.
COME UP FOR A PICTURE, PLEASE.
WHY DON'T YOU STAND IN THE MIDDLE THERE? EVERYBODY COME FORWARD.
ARE YOU ALL RIGHT? JUST TURN AROUND. GIVE HIM A LITTLE CLOSER.
A LITTLE CLOSER. IS IT ALL STRAIGHT? WE THANK YOU FOR.
HEY. HOW ARE YOU? EMILIO. I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU.
ALL RIGHT. WE'RE GOING TO DO THE PRESENTATION.
PROCLAMATION ON BEHALF OF COMMISSIONER'S COURT RECOGNIZED CELEBRATING THE ACHIEVEMENTS AND POSITIVE IMPACT OF THE SAN ANTONIO HISPANIC CHAMBER OF COMMERCE'S LATINA LEADERSHIP INSTITUTE. EVERYBODY, ON BEHALF OF THE HISPANIC CHAMBER AND ALL THOSE THAT ARE AFFILIATED, PLEASE COME FORWARD. AND AS I READ, AS YOU COME FORWARD, I WILL READ THE PROCLAMATION IN THE NAME OF THE AUTHORITY BY THE AUTHORITY OF THE COMMISSIONERS COURT OF BEXAR COUNTY.
PROCLAMATION. WHEREAS THE SAN ANTONIO HISPANIC CHAMBER OF COMMERCE HAS BEEN A PILLAR OF THE SAN ANTONIO COMMUNITY, SERVING AS THE LEADING ADVOCATE FOR HISPANIC BUSINESSES AND HISPANICS IN BUSINESS, PROMOTING ECONOMIC GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT, AND FOSTERING LEADERSHIP IN THE REGION.
AND WHEREAS, THE SAN ANTONIO HISPANIC CHAMBER OF COMMERCE LATINA LEADERSHIP INSTITUTE HAS DEMONSTRATED A STRONG COMMITMENT TO EMPOWERING AND ADVANCING LATINO LEADERS IN OUR COMMUNITY, PROVIDING EDUCATION, MENTORSHIP, AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR PERSONAL AND PROFESSIONAL GROWTH.
AND WHEREAS, THE LATINA LEADERSHIP INSTITUTE WAS ESTABLISHED IN 2015 WITH THE MISSION OF ACHIEVING GREATER REPRESENTATION FOR HISPANIC WOMEN IN ELECTED AND APPOINTED OFFICES AT THE STATE, LOCAL AND NATIONAL LEVELS.
AND WHEREAS, PARTICIPANTS BENEFIT FROM A SUPPORTIVE ENVIRONMENT FOR LEARNING AND SKILL PRACTICE, AND FROM THE PERSONAL INSIGHT AND PERSPECTIVE OF A GROUP OF FACILITATORS AND KEYNOTE SPEAKERS.
[00:20:03]
TAKE ON LEADERSHIP ROLES AND MAKE A POSITIVE DIFFERENCE IN OUR COMMUNITY, STATE, AND NATION.NOW, THEREFORE, BE RESOLVED THAT THE CAMBRIA COUNTY COMMISSIONERS COURT HEREBY RECOGNIZES AND PROCLAIMS OCTOBER 24TH, 2023 AS LATINA LEADERSHIP INSTITUTE DAY, WHEREAS OUR SIGNATURES AND SEAL OF OFFICE ON THE 24TH DAY OF OCTOBER 2023, SIGNED BY ALL MEMBERS COMMISSIONERS COURT, LET'S GIVE THEM A ROUND OF APPLAUSE. I WOULD LIKE TO THANK THE COMMISSIONERS COURT TODAY FOR, NUMBER ONE, ALLOWING US TO BE HERE AND FOR THIS AMAZING PROCLAMATION.
LATINA LEADERSHIP INSTITUTE WAS CREATED EIGHT YEARS AGO.
I MY NAME IS ELIZABETH BAY VAN SICKLE.
I AM THE CO-CHAIR OF LIE EIGHT AND WE ARE SO PROUD TO BE HERE.
I'D LIKE TO SAY A COUPLE OF THINGS.
TO DATE, WE HAVE OVER 180 GRADUATES.
WE HAVE THREE WOMEN THAT HAVE BEEN ELECTED CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS.
AND WE HAVE EIGHT HIGH LEVEL BEXAR COUNTY EMPLOYEES WITHIN OUR GRADUATES.
SO THANK YOU AGAIN FOR YOUR COMMITMENT TO LATINA EXCELLENCE.
WOULD YOU COME FORWARD? TAKE A PICTURE. THANK YOU SO MUCH GUYS.
THANKS. CAN WE HAVE A FEW OF YOU MOVE OVER HERE BECAUSE IT'S.
ALL RIGHT. THE NEXT ONE IS PRESENTATION AND PROCLAMATION.
ON BEHALF OF BURKE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS COURT RECOGNIZING OCTOBER 2023 AS CHIROPRACTIC HEALTH MONTH.
JUST IN TIME. I THINK I NEED AN ADJUSTMENT.
JUDGE WHO'S HERE FOR OUR PROCLAMATION.
PLEASE STEP TO THE TO THE DAIS.
AS YOU DO THAT, LET ME READ THE PROCLAMATION.
IT STATES. WHEREAS DOCTORS OF CHIROPRACTIC PLAY A KEY ROLE IN HELPING PATIENTS MANAGE PAIN AND LESSEN THEIR RELIANCE ON PRESCRIPTION PAIN MEDICATIONS WITH THEIR EVIDENCE BASED, PATIENT CENTERED, NON-DRUG APPROACH.
AND WHEREAS, LOW BACK PAIN, WHICH RANKS AMONG THE MOST COMMON FORMS OF CHRONIC PAIN, HAS BEEN ONE OF THE LEADING REASONS WHY PEOPLE ARE PRESCRIBED OPIOIDS, THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE WORLDWIDE LIVING WITH BACK PAIN IS PROJECTED TO INCREASE BY 36% TO 843 MILLION OVER THE NEXT 30 YEARS, AND WHEREAS THE AMERICAN COLLEGE OF PHYSICIANS LOW BACK PAIN TREATMENT GUIDELINES PROMOTE THE USE OF NONINVASIVE, NONINVASIVE LOST MY SPACE HERE, NONDRUG APPROACHES SUCH AS SPINAL MANIPULATION AS A FIRST LINE OF DEFENSE AGAINST BACK PAIN BEFORE THE USE OF PAIN MEDICATIONS AND SURGERY.
AND WHEREAS, THE CENTER FOR DISEASE CONTROL'S 2022 CLINICAL PRACTICE GUIDELINE FOR PRESCRIBING OPIOIDS PROMOTES DIVERSE APPROACHES AND VARIED PAIN MANAGEMENT SOLUTIONS, AND SPECIFICALLY ENCOURAGES USE OF NON-OPIOID NON-PHARMACOLOGICAL THERAPIES AS A FIRST LINE OF TREATMENT AGAINST SUBACUTE AND CHRONIC PAIN.
AND WHEREAS WITH THE THEME CHIROPRACTIC RELIEVE, RESTORE, RESUME, NATIONAL CHIROPRACTIC HEALTH MONTH 2023 REMINDS CITIZENS OF BEXAR COUNTY THAT NON-DRUG TREATMENTS FOR LOW BACK PAIN, NECK AND JOINT PAIN SUCH AS SPINAL MANIPULATION AND OTHER CHIROPRACTIC SERVICES CAN HELP RELIEVE PAIN AND RESTORE JOINT FUNCTION, HELPING PEOPLE TO RESUME THEIR LIVES AND THE ACTIVITIES THAT MATTER MOST NOW.
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, BEXAR COUNTY COMMISSIONERS COURT HEREBY RECOGNIZES OCTOBER 2023 AS CHIROPRACTIC HEALTH MONTH, SIGNED BY YOUR COMMISSIONERS COURT. BIG ROUND OF APPLAUSE.
PLEASE SHARE A FEW WORDS WITH US.
[00:25:02]
JOSH BONINE AND TO MY RIGHT IS LORENA GUTIERREZ.AND I HEARD IN THE BEGINNING, BE BRIEF.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH. WHY DON'T YOU COME FORWARD AND TAKE A PICTURE.
I AM HOLDING THAT SQUARE BECAUSE IF IT'S OUT OF ALIGNMENT, THAT'S NOT VERY NICE.
YOU WANT TO BE IN THE PICTURE? DO YOU WANT TO BE IN THE PICTURE YET? OH, NO. I'M GOOD. ARE YOU SURE? THANK YOU SO MUCH. ALL RIGHT.
PROCLAMATION ON BEHALF OF COMMISSIONERS.
COURT RECOGNIZED IN OCTOBER AS BREAST CANCER AWARENESS MONTH.
ALL THOSE HERE FOR BREAST CANCER AWARENESS.
MISTER RUSTY, GO AHEAD AND READ THE PROCLAMATION AND THE NAME.
AND BY AUTHORITY OF THE COMMISSIONERS COURT OF BLAIR COUNTY.
PROCLAMATION. WHEREAS 1 IN 8 WOMEN WILL BE DIAGNOSED WITH BREAST CANCER IN HER LIFETIME, WITH 85% OCCURRING IN WOMEN WITH NO FAMILY HISTORY OF BREAST CANCER. AND WHEREAS, BREAST CANCER AWARENESS MONTH BEGAN IN 1985 WITH ONE WEEK LONG CAMPAIGN BY THE AMERICAN CANCER SOCIETY, WHICH WAS LATER EXTENDED TO THE FULL MONTH OF OCTOBER.
IN 1992, THE PINK RIBBON WAS ADOPTED AS A SYMBOL OF HOPE, AND WHEREAS THE AWARENESS MONTH AIMS TO PROMOTE SCREENING TO AND AID IN EARLY DETECTION AND TO EDUCATE EVERYONE ON THE RISK FACTORS, AND WHEREAS THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THIS MONTH IS NOT ONLY ABOUT SPREADING AWARENESS, BUT IS ALSO ABOUT FOSTERING A SENSE OF COMMUNITY, ENCOURAGING REGULAR SCREENINGS AND CHAMPIONING THE RESILIENCE OF SURVIVORS.
AND WHEREAS, THE TAX ASSESSOR COLLECTOR'S OFFICE UNDER ALBERT ERNST'S ADMINISTRATION HAS LED THE ADVOCACY BATTLE FOR BURKE COUNTY AND HAS RAISED AND FLOWN THE PINK COURAGE FLAG THE ENTIRE MONTH OF OCTOBER FOR THE LAST 11 YEARS TO REMIND THE COMMUNITY IN BURKE COUNTY NO ONE FIGHTS ALONE. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED THAT THE BURKE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS COURT HEREBY RECOGNIZES, PROCLAIMS THE MONTH OF OCTOBER 2023 AS BREAST CANCER AWARENESS MONTH, AND WE CALL UPON THE PEOPLE OF BURKE COUNTY TO JOIN US IN SUPPORTING THE SURVIVORS OF BREAST CANCER AND THEIR LOVED ONES, WITNESS THEIR SIGNATURES AND SEAL OF OFFICE. THIS 24TH DAY OF OCTOBER 23RD, SIGNED BY ALL MEMBERS, THE COMMISSIONERS COURT, MISTER RUSTY.
I WANT TO THANK COMMISSIONERS COURT AND JUDGE PETERSON SAKAI FOR THIS PROCLAMATION.
THE TAX ASSESSOR COLLECTOR'S OFFICE, TOGETHER WITH OTHER COUNTY OFFICIALS AND DEPARTMENTS, KICKED OFF IN OCTOBER, AN ENTIRE MONTH OF EVENTS TAILORED TO RAISE AWARENESS ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF EARLY DETECTION.
THE PINK COURAGE FLAG HAS FLOWN AT THE DOWNTOWN AND SOUTH SIDE TAX ASSESSOR COLLECTOR'S OFFICE ALL MONTH, AS A REMINDER TO HAVE AN EXAM DONE TO SUPPORT THOSE WHO HAVE FOUGHT OR ARE CURRENTLY FIGHTING BREAST CANCER, TO HELP THOSE SEARCHING FOR A CURE, AND TO MAKE SURE THAT NO ONE FIGHTS ALONE.
IN ADDITION, WE ALSO HAVE COURAGE BANNERS AT ALL FOUR OF OUR LOCATIONS.
IF YOU LOOK AROUND, YOU WILL SEE MANY OF OUR EMPLOYEES WEARING PINK TODAY.
GOOD. THEY'RE ALL WEARING PINK, RIGHT? SO BREAST CANCER AWARENESS IS ABOUT SUPPORTING THE FIGHTERS, ADMIRING THE SURVIVORS, HONORING THE TAKEN, NEVER GIVING UP AND FINDING A CURE. NO ONE CAN FIGHT A BATTLE ALONE, ESPECIALLY AGAINST CANCER.
WE STAND TOGETHER WITH OUR CITIZENS, OUR MOTHERS, OUR DAUGHTERS, OUR GRANDDAUGHTERS, OUR SISTERS, OUR FRIENDS, OUR FELLOW EMPLOYEES, AND OF COURSE, OUR SPOUSES WHO HAVE BEEN AFFECTED.
I'D LIKE TO ACKNOWLEDGE OUR EMPLOYEES WHO ARE BREAST CANCER SURVIVORS AND IF I CAN HAVE THEM STEP FORWARD, I HAVE GWEN BARKER, MARY LOU FLORES, AND MARTHA HERNANDEZ.
YOU KNOW, AT THE TAX OFFICE WE HAVE LIKE 90%, 95% FEMALE WORKFORCE.
SO THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WE REALLY, REALLY TAKE TO HEART AND SOMETHING THAT OUR OFFICE COMPLETELY, YOU KNOW, JUST ABSORBS IT INTO OUR EVERYDAY OPERATIONS.
I'D ALSO LIKE TO INTRODUCE THE BOARD PRESIDENT FROM THRIVE WELL, MR. BOB WYNDHAM AND THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR AARON ERCOLINI.
[00:30:05]
THRIVE WELL IS ONE OF THE TWO CANCER AGENCIES THAT THE TAX OFFICE IS COMMITTED TO.WE'VE ALSO COMMITTED TO AN ALZHEIMER'S AGENCY.
WHAT AN HONOR TO BE HERE THIS MORNING.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE INVITATION AND FOR YOUR HONORING US.
SO IN CLOSING, I'M GRATEFUL TO OUR TAX OFFICE EMPLOYEES FOR THEIR SUPPORT FOR BREAST CANCER AWARENESS AND THEIR MONETARY SUPPORT TO CANCER PROGRAMS SUPPORTED BY THE UNITED WAY. PLEASE NOTE THAT PLEASE KNOW THAT THIS BATTLE IS PERSONAL FOR ME, AS MY WIFE IS A BREAST CANCER SURVIVOR FOR OVER 20 YEARS NOW.
I ASK THAT YOU PLEASE JOIN ME IN THIS FIGHT SO THAT THE DAY WILL COME WHEN THERE IS FINALLY A CURE FOR BREAST CANCER, AND WOMEN AND MEN WILL NO LONGER HAVE TO BATTLE THIS DISEASE.
MEMBERS. ARE YOU SURE? THANK YOU, THANK YOU.
THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU.
THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU.
MR. WYNDHAM WAS MY HEAD OF SCHOOL AT SAINT MARY'S HALL.
SO WE WANT TO INVITE NELDA SPELLER AND OUR FRIENDS CELEBRATING NATIONAL FOUR-H WEEK.
KEVIN KNAPIK IS ALSO HERE, AND WE HAVE A PROCLAMATION FOR YOU.
IT READS, WHEREAS THE COUNTY OF BEXAR IS PROUD TO HONOR THE FOUR-H YOUTH DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM OF THE TEXAS A&M AGRILIFE EXTENSION SERVICE FOR 112 YEARS OF PROVIDING EXPERIENCE BASED EDUCATION TO YOUNGSTERS THROUGHOUT THE LONE STAR STATE.
AND WHEREAS, THIS ADMIRABLE PROGRAM, WHICH SEEKS TO PROVIDE A LEARNING EXPERIENCE FOR THE WHOLE CHILD, INCLUDING HEAD, HEART, HANDS AND HEALTH HELPS YOUNG TEXANS ACQUIRE KNOWLEDGE, DEVELOP LIFE SKILLS AND FORM ATTITUDES, ENABLING THEM TO BECOME SELF-DIRECTED, PRODUCTIVE AND CONTRIBUTING MEMBERS OF OUR SOCIETY.
AND WHEREAS IT'S MORE THAN 550,000 URBAN, SUBURBAN, AND RURAL YOUTH PARTICIPANTS RANGING IN AGE FROM 8 TO 19 HAIL FROM DIVERSE ETHNIC AND SOCIOECONOMIC BACKGROUNDS AND TRULY REPRESENT A CROSS SECTION OF THE STATE.
AND WHEREAS THE PROGRAM UNDOUBTEDLY COULD NOT HAVE ACHIEVED THE SUCCESS IT HAS TODAY, WERE IT NOT FOR THE SERVICE OF ITS MORE THAN 22,000 VOLUNTEERS WHO HAVE GIVEN GENEROUSLY OF THEIR TIME, TALENTS, ENERGIES AND RESOURCES TO THE YOUTH OF TEXAS.
AND WHEREAS, THROUGHOUT ITS PROUD HISTORY, THE FOUR-H YOUTH DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM HAS DEVELOPED POSITIVE ROLE MODELS FOR COUNTLESS TEXANS AND THROUGH ITS INNOVATIVE AND INSPIRING PROGRAMS, CONTINUES TO BUILD CHARACTER AND INSTILL THE VALUES THAT HAVE MADE OUR STATE STRONG AND GREAT.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED THAT THE BEXAR COUNTY COMMISSIONERS COURT HEREBY DESIGNATES OCTOBER 1ST THROUGH THE SEVENTH, 2023 NATIONAL FORAGE WEEK IN TEXAS AND COMMENDS THE FOUR-H YOUTH DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM OF THE TEXAS A&M AGRILIFE EXTENSION SERVICE AND THE MANY MEN AND WOMEN WHO HAVE MADE THE PROGRAM A SUCCESS.
HE'S PROBABLY HAD A LOT OF EXPERIENCE.
IT'S ALSO WHERE I FIRST LEARNED PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE.
WE'D LOVE TO HEAR FROM YOU. THANK YOU.
WHAT AN HONOR IT IS TO STAND HERE AND REPRESENT OUR NEARLY 3200 MEMBERS HERE IN BEXAR COUNTY.
[00:35:04]
OF THOSE 3200 MEMBERS, OVER 50% OF THEM ARE ACTUALLY ON OUR MILITARY INSTALLATIONS HERE IN SAN ANTONIO, JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO.BUT ONE OF THE THINGS WE'RE MOST PROUD OF, AS YOU MENTIONED, COMMISSIONER CALVERT, IS THE AMAZING KIDS THAT WE HAVE OVER 70% OF OUR FOUR HOURS HERE IN BEXAR COUNTY IDENTIFY AS A MEMBER OF A MINORITY COMMUNITY.
AND THAT'S SOMETHING WE'RE EXTREMELY PROUD OF.
AND WE TAKE A LOT OF PRIDE IN EVERY SINGLE DAY.
ONE OF OUR MAJOR GOALS MOVING FORWARD IS TO WORK WITH OUR LOW INCOME COMMUNITIES HERE IN BEXAR COUNTY, ESPECIALLY IN OUR SCHOOLS, TO BRING THIS AMAZING FOUR-H PROGRAM SPECIFIC PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURES TO OUR YOUTH AND ENCOURAGE THEM TO BE LEADERS OF TOMORROW.
BECAUSE SWAGIT MOTTO IS TO MAKE THE BEST BETTER, WE STRIVE TO DO THAT IN FIVE MAJOR PROJECT AREAS.
OUR FAMILY COMMUNITY HEALTH PROJECTS TEACH A HEALTHY LIVING.
AND FINALLY, OUR SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING AND MATHEMATICS.
TEACH AMAZING LOVE OF SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY AND TRULY TEACH OUR YOUTH TO SHOOT FOR THE STARS.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ALLOWING ME TO BE HERE TODAY.
WE REALLY APPRECIATE ALL THAT YOU DO FOR OUR FOUR-H PROGRAM.
AND FOUR-H IS REALLY JUST SOMETHING THAT ALL OF US, IT JUST REALLY HITS HOME FOR US.
COME ON UP. WE'LL TAKE A PICTURE.
HERE, YOU HOLD THE CARD. THANKS FOR BEING HERE.
GOOD TO SEE YOU. GLAD TO HAVE YOU ALL.
ALL RIGHT, Y'ALL SMILE FOR THE PICTURE.
THAT SHOULD WORK. THANK YOU SIR.
I RAISED ALL THE OTHERS. WELL THAT'S RIGHT, YOU ARE YOURSELF.
WANT TO INVITE OUR FRIENDS FROM OMEGA PSI PHI FRATERNITY TO COME TO THE DAIS.
WE HAVE A PROCLAMATION FOR YOU.
GOOD TO SEE ALL THE BROTHERS HERE FOR 83 YEARS OF SERVICE IN THE COMMUNITY.
YOU'LL STAND RIGHT THERE. I'VE GOT THIS PROCLAMATION FOR THE TEAM.
WILLIAM VIRGIL HURD, DENTIST AND WORLD WAR ONE VETERAN.
VAL MOE BELLINGER, BUSINESSMAN AND EDITOR ERNEST M FOX, EDUCATOR.
DR. MADISON L, PREACHER, PHYSICIAN AND BUSINESSMAN SAMUEL DE CAIN, EDUCATOR AND PRINCIPAL GP.
AND DR. RICHARD KIDD, PROFESSOR AND UNIVERSITY DEAN.
THESE EIGHT MEN HAD BECOME MEMBERS OF THE OMEGA PSI PHI FRATERNITY, INC.
MANY NOTABLE PSI ALPHA MEN ARE RECOGNIZED AS LEADERS IN THE ARTS, SCIENCES, ACADEMICS, ATHLETICS, BUSINESS, CIVIL RIGHTS, AND GOVERNMENT AT LOCAL, NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL LEVELS. AND WHEREAS, PSI ALPHA CHAPTER AND PSI ALPHA SCHOLARSHIP FOUNDATION ARE PRIVATE, NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS OF COLLEGE EDUCATED MEN WHOSE MEMBERS PERFORM PUBLIC
[00:40:03]
SERVICE GUIDED BY MANDATED PROGRAMS INCLUDING SOCIAL ACTION PROGRAMS, HIGH SCHOOL TALENT HUNTS, HEALTH INITIATIVES, VOTER EDUCATION AND REGISTRATION, NAACP PARTICIPATION, AND AWARDING SCHOLARSHIPS TO DESERVING COLLEGE BOUND STUDENTS.AND WHEREAS, THE PSI ALPHA CHAPTER OF OMEGA PSI PHI, INC.
WILL HOLD ITS PSI ALPHA CHAPTERS 8380 THIRD ANNIVERSARY ON TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 1ST, 2023.
PSI ALPHA MEN CONTINUE TO BE INSTRUMENTAL IN LOCAL POLITICS, EDUCATION, MEDICAL PROFESSIONS, MILITARY SERVICE, FEDERAL SERVICE AND THE PRIVATE SECTOR, HOLDING VARIOUS DISTRICT AND NATIONAL POSITIONS WITHIN THE FRATERNITY WHILE SERVING OUR LOCAL CHAPTER AND COMMUNITY CONCURRENTLY.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED THAT THE BECKER COUNTY COMMISSIONERS COURT HEREBY RECOGNIZES PSI ALPHA CHAPTER, NOVEMBER 1ST, 2023, FOR 83 YEARS OF SERVICE IN BEXAR COUNTY AND URGES ALL CITIZENS TO CELEBRATE THE HARD WORK OF THE MEMBERS OF PSI ALPHA CHAPTER WHO SEEK TO CONTINUE TO OCCUPY A PROGRESSIVE, COOPERATIVE AND CONSTRUCTIVE PLACE IN THE CIVIC AND POLITICAL LIFE OF THE ALAMO CITY.
SIGNED BY YOUR COMMISSIONERS COURT, WE WOULD BE HONORED TO HEAR FROM YOU.
COUNTY LEADERS I AM JON LESTER, VICE PRESIDENT OF ALPHA CHAPTER HERE IN SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS.
ON BEHALF OF THE MEN OF THE OMEGA PSI PHI FRATERNITY, INC., WE THANK YOU FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY.
TODAY, THE OMEGA PSI PHI FRATERNITY, INC.
WAS FOUNDED OVER 112 YEARS AGO AT HOWARD UNIVERSITY ON NOVEMBER 17TH, 1911, BY THREE UNDERGRADUATE ADVISORS AND A GRADUATE ADVISOR, THREE UNDERGRADUATES, AND A GRADUATE ADVISOR.
OUR ACHIEVEMENT WEEK, WHICH YOU ACKNOWLEDGE WILL BE COMING UP, ACKNOWLEDGES EACH AND EVERY ONE OF OUR LEADERS IN THE COMMUNITY, AND WE AWARD THEM THROUGH DIFFERENT AWARDS THAT WE PRESENT TO THEM THAT EVENING.
WHAT A LEGACY. THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE.
APPRECIATE YOU. THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.
I WANT TO GET IN HERE. COME ON.
WE PROBABLY SHOULD TAKE YOU TO OVER HERE.
COME ON AND STAY OVER HERE. TOM, WE GOT IT.
THANK YOU SIR. THANK YOU GUYS.
CONGRATULATIONS. WHAT? KEEP IT UP.
HERE'S. BEXAR COUNTY AND PROCLAMATION.
THIS RICH HISTORY CONTINUES TODAY THROUGH JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO, WHICH BRINGS IN $4.3 BILLION TO THE COUNTY AND IS THE SITE OF MANY UNIQUE AND VITALLY IMPORTANT MISSIONS FOR THE DEFENSE OF OUR CITIZENS.
AND WHEREAS MORE THAN 67,000 ACTIVE DUTY, NATIONAL GUARD, RESERVE AND CIVILIAN PERSONNEL SERVE IN BEXAR COUNTY, MAKING IT THE LARGEST MILITARY POPULATION IN THE STATE OF TEXAS. AND WHEREAS, THE GREAT GREATER CHAMBER OF COMMERCE HAS ORGANIZED AN ANNUAL TRIBUTE TO OUR NATION'S MILITARY SINCE 1970, IT HAS BECOME THE LARGEST EVENT OF ITS KIND NATIONWIDE AND PROVIDES A WAY FOR THE COMMUNITY TO EXPRESS APPRECIATION TO THE MEN AND WOMEN WHO SERVED AND HAVE SERVED AND THEIR FAMILIES.
AND WHEREAS WE HAVE A COMMITMENT TO SHOW GRATITUDE TO THE PATRIOTS WHO SERVE ACTIVE DUTY, GUARD AND RESERVE, AND IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE COMMUNITY LED BY THE GREATER SAN ANTONIO CHAMBER, WE PAY TRIBUTE TO ALL WHO ANSWER OUR NATION'S CALL BY SERVING.
[00:45:01]
MILITARY DAYS IN BEXAR COUNTY.SIGNED YOUR COMMISSIONERS COURT.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER MOODY.
AND UNLIKE SO MANY OTHER MILITARY FOCUSED EVENTS, THIS ONE IS FOCUSED ON THOSE ACTIVELY SERVING THE ACTIVE DUTY THE GUARD RESERVE, THE CIVILIANS THAT SERVE DAY IN AND DAY OUT. AND SO WE'RE VERY PROUD TO CONTINUE THAT, AND WE REALLY APPRECIATE THE RECOGNITION I'M JOINED WITH BY OUR VICE PRESIDENT OF MILITARY AFFAIRS AND LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT, LORI STINSON. I'M JOINED BY OUR VICE PRESIDENT OF IMAGE AND COMMUNICATIONS, SAMANTHA RENDON, AND ALSO OUR CAM CHAIR FOR THIS YEAR, RICHARD DELGADO OF THE BOEING COMPANY.
WE CAN'T DO ANY OF THE THINGS WE DO AT THE CHAMBER WITHOUT OUR GREAT PARTNERS.
I'M GOING TO ALLOW HIM TO SPEAK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THIS YEAR'S EVENTS.
THANK YOU DAVE. THANK YOU. COMMISSIONERS.
COURT. SO AS DAVE MENTIONED, THIS IS REALLY A WAY TO BRING EVERYBODY TOGETHER.
SO THOSE THAT ARE SERVING AS YOU MENTIONED, BUT ALSO THOSE VETERANS.
SO THERE'S OVER 25 EVENTS THAT ARE HAPPENING DURING THIS TIME FRAME.
SO PICK SOMETHING THAT INTERESTS YOU FROM OUR EVENTS AT THE CEMETERY TO PARADES TO SOME SIGNATURE EVENTS THAT THE CHAMBER IS DOING WITH THE SPIRIT OF AMERICA DINNER, THERE'S SOMETHING FOR EVERYBODY, SO GET OUT.
LET'S ALL CELEBRATE YOUR SERVICE AND YOUR CONTINUED SERVICE.
SO THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR SERVICE TO OUR COUNTY.
SO THANK YOU. IT'S TRYING THAT RIGHT NOW.
WE GOT ONE MORE MILITARY RELATED HERE WITH VETERANS DAY COMING UP.
WHEREAS NOVEMBER IS NATIONAL HOMELESS AWARENESS MONTH, AND MILITARY VETERANS CONTINUE TO BE OVERREPRESENTED IN AMERICA'S HOMELESS POPULATION DESPITE LAUDABLE GAINS NATIONALLY AND LOCALLY IN REDUCING THE NUMBER OF VETERANS WITHOUT A PLACE TO CALL HOME.
AND WHEREAS THE AMERICAN GI FORUM FOUNDED THE NATIONAL VETERANS OUTREACH PROGRAM IN 1972, IN SAN ANTONIO AND FOR OVER 50 YEARS HAS PROVIDED NATIONALLY LEADING AND RECOGNIZED TRANSITIONAL, PERMANENT AND PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING ASSISTANCE, EMPLOYMENT ASSISTANCE, AND MENTAL HEALTH COUNSELING FOR VETERANS, VETERAN DEPENDENTS, AND SURVIVING SPOUSES IN SAN ANTONIO, AUSTIN, DALLAS, FORT WORTH, PLANO, HOUSTON, EL PASO, AND CAMPBELLTON.
AND WHEREAS, THE AMERICAN GI FORUM NATIONAL VETERAN OUTREACH PROGRAM IS BRINGING TOGETHER NATIONAL, STATE AND LOCAL RESOURCE PROVIDERS TO SERVE HOMELESS AND UNEMPLOYED VETERANS DURING ITS 25TH ANNUAL STAND DOWN IN SAN ANTONIO, NOVEMBER 2ND AND THIRD.
AND WHEREAS BEXAR COUNTY SUPPORTS AND APPRECIATES THE NATIONAL VETERAN OUTREACH PROGRAM FOR TIRELESSLY WORKING TO PROVIDE A WHOLE OF COMMUNITY AND GOVERNMENT RESPONSE TO VETERANS IN OUR COMMUNITY WHO SERVE THEIR NATION BUT DON'T HAVE A PLACE TO CALL HOME.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED THAT THE BURKE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS COURT HEREBY RECOGNIZES AND PROCLAIMS NOVEMBER 2ND AND THIRD TO BE VETERANS STAND DOWN DAYS SIGNED YOUR COMMISSIONERS COURT.
I'M THE PRESIDENT CEO OF THE AMERICAN G.I.
FORUM NATIONAL VETERANS OUTREACH PROGRAM, OR SIMPLY VOP.
TOGETHER. WE HAVE MY CO COO, PAUL BERNAL.
WE HAVE JEN, WHICH IS ACTUALLY GOING TO BE PUTTING TOGETHER THE EMPLOYMENT PIECE OF THAT.
WE HAVE KEITH, AND WE HAVE NANCY AND HIS TEAM FROM THE BEXAR COUNTY MILITARY AND VETERANS SERVICES.
I'M PROUD TO ANNOUNCE THAT ON THURSDAY AND FRIDAY, WE WILL HOST THE FIRST TWO DAY STAND DOWN EVENT.
THE FIRST DAY, AN EMPLOYMENT EVENT WILL OPEN TO BOTH VETERAN AND CIVILIAN COMMUNITIES.
[00:50:01]
THE SECOND DAY, THE TRADITIONAL VETERANS STAND DOWN EVENT WILL BE OPEN TO THE FIRST 300 VETERANS EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS.THE MVP HAS BEEN HOSTING THE VETERANS STAND DOWN EVENT FOR THE PAST 26 YEARS AS PART OF THE COMMUNITY'S MISSION TO END VETERAN HOMELESSNESS, AND IT IS GRATEFUL FOR THE SUPPORT OF THE LOCAL VETERANS, THE COUNTY, STATE AND FEDERAL SOCIAL SERVICE ORGANIZATIONS THAT PARTICIPATE TO BRING THIS MISSION TO FRUITION.
MY PLEASURE. THANK YOU SIR. THANK YOU VERY MUCH SIR.
THANK YOU MA'AM. CONGRATULATIONS.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.
WHAT? THE REPRESENTATIVES IN SAN ANTONIO.
KARATE KIDS OF AMERICA, PLEASE COME FORWARD.
YEAH, WELL, WE WILL GET THIS TO THEM.
AND WE PROCLAIM ON BEHALF OF THE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS COURT, WE PROCLAIM SAN ANTONIO KARATE KIDS OF AMERICA FOR THEIR ADVOCACY OF ENCOURAGING THE YOUNG PEOPLE OF BEXAR COUNTY TO JUST SAY NO TO DRUGS, ALCOHOL AND GANGS.
DO YOU WANT TO COME? DID YOU WANT TO DO YOUR SPECIAL.
[4.a. Special presentation on behalf of San Antonio Rising Stars & Winners Circle Tactical Solutions discussing mentoring and coaching of males from marginalized communities in Bexar County]
AND COACHING OF MALES FROM MARGINALIZED COMMUNITIES IN BEXAR COUNTY.COMMISSIONER CALVERT, THANK YOU.
I'D LIKE TO INVITE TROY SMITH AND CHARLES SATTERWHITE TO COME UP AND MAKE OUR MAKE THE PRESENTATION.
IT'S GOOD TO SEE YOU. THANK YOU FOR INFORMING THE COURT ABOUT THIS IMPORTANT INITIATIVE.
YES, SIR. MY NAME IS CHARLES SATTERWHITE.
I'M THE FOUNDER OF SAN ANTONIO RISING STARS NONPROFIT.
HE THE FOUNDER OF WINNER'S CIRCLE RIGHT NOW IN SAN ANTONIO.
CRIME RATE AND JUVENILES AT ALL TIME HIGH.
BUT SO WE CHANGED THE NAME FROM MIDNIGHT BASKETBALL LEAGUE TO COMMUNITY BASKETBALL LEAGUE.
AND IT'S MORE THAN JUST BASKETBALL.
AND AS THEY DOING THAT, WE LEARN.
WE'RE TEACHING THEM HOW TO FIGHT AND GIVING THEM TOOLS ON HOW TO FIGHT.
THAT WAY THEY CAN FIGHT AGAINST CRIME IN THE COMMUNITY.
WE ALSO BRIDGING THE GAP BETWEEN LAW ENFORCEMENT AND OUR COMMUNITY AS WELL.
SO WE'D LIKE TO THANK Y'ALL FOR TEACHING US FROM AFAR AND UP CLOSE, GIVING US THE MINDSET TO, YOU KNOW, THAT THIS IS BIGGER THAN US, THAT WE NEED TO BE A VILLAGE. SO TODAY WE'VE HEARD YOU GUYS MAKE A LOT OF PROCLAMATIONS AND GIVE TO EVERYBODY ELSE.
WE WANTED TO TAKE THE TIME TO GIVE BACK TO YOU GUYS.
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, COMMISSIONERS COURT, AND ESPECIALLY TOMMY CALVERT, RENEE WATSON, YOU WANT TO COME UP AND CONSTABLE BROWN, SHE'S NOT HERE. I'M GOING TO STAND IN HER STEAD.
WE TOOK 80 YOUNG MEN THAT MOST PEOPLE WOULD BE AFRAID TO BE AROUND.
WE STARTED THIS BASKETBALL PROGRAM.
WE HAD THEM BRING THEIR FAMILIES.
WE FED EVERYBODY ON FRIDAY NIGHTS AND SATURDAY NIGHTS.
THEY WEREN'T IN THE STREETS BECAUSE OF WHAT THEY WERE ABLE TO DO.
WE ACTUALLY FORMED A SISTER CITY IN NEW YORK CITY IN BROOKLYN, AND IN JUNE, WE TOOK 28 PEOPLE TO NEW YORK CITY TO PLAY IN THE BASKETBALL GAME AS A SISTER CITY BRIDGE TO BRIDGE THAT GAP BETWEEN US AND THE REST OF THE WORLD.
[00:55:04]
IN 28, PEOPLE WENT TO NEW YORK CITY AND PLAYED IN THE BASKETBALL GAME.AND THEY LOOKED AT ME AND SAID, WE DIDN'T KNOW YOU WERE A COP.
I SAID, I DIDN'T, I DIDN'T TRY TO DECEIVE YOU.
I JUST WANTED YOU TO SEE ME FOR ME.
WE TOLD THEM ABOUT EVERYBODY THAT PARTICIPATED.
SHE WENT IN HER POCKET AND GAVE US MONEY.
YOU KNOW WHO DOES THAT? YOU KNOW. THE CONSTABLE.
SHE COULDN'T WAIT TO COME OUT TO THE VENUE.
A LOT OF TIMES PEOPLE WOULDN'T COME OUT.
WE INVITED ALL THE MEDIA OUT THERE.
THE ONLY ONE WHO CAME OUT WAS KSAT 12, AND WE ACKNOWLEDGED THEM LAST WEEK FOR WHAT THEY'VE DONE.
SO TODAY WE WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE TOMMY RENE, IF YOU ALL GO COME UP, WE'RE GOING TO PRESENT YOU WITH THE TROPHIES THAT WE GAVE TO NEW YORK CITY AND WE GAVE TO SAN ANTONIO, ALONG WITH HONORARY JERSEYS.
YOU GUYS ARE NOW HONORARY MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY BASKETBALL LEAGUE.
DON'T TRY TO PLAY BECAUSE WE DON'T WANT TO PAY FOR ANY INJURIES.
I WAS SUCH A BAD BASKETBALL PLAYER.
THIS IS THE ONLY TROPHY IN BASKETBALL AND WE ONLY PLAY ON HALF COURT WHEN I WAS.
I JUST WANT TO SAY A QUICK WORD BEFORE YOU GO.
COMMUNITY AND LAW ENFORCEMENT WORKING TOGETHER AND SHOWING THAT LAW ENFORCEMENT CARES AND REALLY DOESN'T WANT TO HAVE MANY YOUTH AND OTHERS COME THROUGH THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM.
SO YOU'RE FILLING THE GAP, AND I'M JUST SO EXCITED THAT THE COMMUNITY HAS PEOPLE LIKE YOU IN IT, BECAUSE GOVERNMENT CAN'T DO IT BY ITS OWN, AND YOU CAN'T DO IT ON YOUR OWN.
AND SO WE'RE MAKING PEACE BETWEEN NEW YORK AND SAN ANTONIO.
AND I MUST SAY, AFTER ALL MY YEARS OF BASKETBALL, THIS IS I WAS SUCH A BAD BASKETBALL PLAYER.
THIS IS THE ONLY BASKETBALL TROPHY I'LL EVER RECEIVE.
SO I'LL TAKE THIS WITH MUCH PRIDE.
I WAS I WAS A DEFENSIVE PLAYER.
WE WE OWE YOU A GREAT DEBT OF GRATITUDE.
ALL RIGHT. I THINK THAT CONCLUDES OUR PRESENTATION.
THANK YOU TO ALL THE RECIPIENTS AND THE PROGRAMS THAT WE'VE RECOGNIZED TODAY.
WE'LL TAKE UP ITEM NUMBER SIX AT THIS TIME.
[6. Request of Commissioners Court to identify items from the Consent Agenda for additional discussion and to approve remaining Consent Agenda items. ]
EXCUSE ME. REQUEST THE COMMISSIONERS COURT TO IDENTIFY ITEMS FROM THE CONSENT AGENDA FOR ADDITIONAL DISCUSSION AND APPROVE REMAINING CONSENT AGENDA ITEMS. ARE THERE ANY ITEMS TO PULL, COMMISSIONER CLAY-FLORES? NUMBER 21, PLEASE.21. OKAY, COMMISSIONER RODRIGUEZ, ITEM 16, ITEM 16 ONE SIX. YEAH.
OKAY. DID YOU SAY 33? YES. 33.
I'M GOOD. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
[CONSENT AGENDA ITEMS (Part 1 of 2)]
ALL RIGHT, ALL RIGHT.IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE CONSENTS THAT HAVE NOT BEEN PULLED? SO MOVED? MOTION BY COMMISSIONER MOODY, SECOND BY COMMISSIONER RODRIGUEZ.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE.
AYE. ANY OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES.
LET US NOW TAKE UP THE INDIVIDUAL ITEMS.
[01:00:02]
I WILL TAKE IT UP ACCORDING TO THE NUMERIC NUMBER.I BELIEVE THE FIRST ONE WAS 11.
COMMISSIONER MOODY, YOU'VE ASKED FOR TO DISCUSS THE ACCEPTANCE OF AN FLSA SUMMARY REPORT REGARDING NON EXEMPT COUNTY PERSONNEL THAT HAVE ACCRUED FLSA HOURS IN EXCESS OF 199, BUT LESS THAN 240, AND LAW ENFORCEMENT PERSONNEL FLSA HOURS IN THE EXCESS OF 439, BUT LESS THAN 480 AS OF THE MONTHS ENDING SEPTEMBER 2023.
NOTIFICATION OF PAYMENT TO THOSE EMPLOYED.
EMPLOYEES WHO HAVE ACCUMULATED HOURS IN EXCESS OF THE FLSA MAXIMUM LEVEL FOR AN ESTIMATED AMOUNT OF $903,346, AND APPROVAL OF THE APPROPRIATE BUDGET TRANSFER IN THE AMOUNT OF $417,342.
COMMISSIONER MOODY. WHEN I DON'T KNOW IF SHERIFF OR ANY OF YOUR DEPUTIES WANTS YOU TO SPEAK ON THIS.
I PULLED THIS ITEM BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, I APPRECIATE THE DATA THAT I RECEIVED IN THE LAST 24 HOURS.
IT HELPS BREAK OUT THIS OVERTIME PAY, BUT I'D LIKE TO GET A BETTER OVERALL SENSE BETWEEN THE DETENTION OVERTIME AND THIS LAW ENFORCEMENT OVERTIME.
THE BREAKDOWN, HOW WE'RE MONITORING IT AND HOW WE'RE GOING TO REPORT ON IT IN THE FUTURE SO WE CAN KIND OF SEE TRENDS AND SEE IF THINGS ARE IMPROVING OR NOT, OR ARE THERE SOME FUNDAMENTAL PIECES OF OVERTIME THAT WE JUST CAN'T GET AROUND BECAUSE OF STRUCTURE OR TRAINING OR WHATEVER? BUT I'D LIKE TO GET A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF IT.
YES, SIR. WELL, AND YOU KNOW, WHILE WE DO TRY TO MANAGE IT A GREAT DEAL OF OUR OVERTIME, IT'S JUST INHERENT TO LAW ENFORCEMENT, YOU KNOW, PERFECT EXAMPLE THIS MORNING, RIGHT AT THE END OF GRAVEYARD SHIFT, AS THE DOG WATCH OFFICERS WERE GETTING OFF, THERE WAS A SHOOTING, SOME A HOMEOWNER INTERRUPTED A CAR BURGLARY, GOT SHOT AT, SHOT BACK.
AND SO AS WE'RE BRINGING IN DAYLIGHT DEPUTIES, THEY'RE RELIEVING.
BUT THAT RIGHT THERE IS A PERFECT EXAMPLE OF WHAT HAPPENS TO US ON A DAILY BASIS.
THERE ARE THINGS THAT HAPPEN THAT CAN'T BE INTERRUPTED.
SO WE CAN TELL YOU THAT AN EXAMPLE OF THAT WOULD BE THE JAIL PERIMETER.
WE'VE GOT TO HAVE SOMEBODY PATROLLING THE PERIMETER OF THE JAIL ON A CONSTANT BASIS.
AND BECAUSE OF THE SHORTAGES IN THE DETENTION CENTER, WHAT WE'VE HAD TO DO WAS TAKE A LAW ENFORCEMENT DEPUTY AND PUT THEM THERE SOMETIME, MOST OF THE TIME ON AN OVERTIME BASIS, SO THAT WE CAN FORCE DETENTION DEPUTIES UP INTO THE JAIL TO DEAL WITH STAFFING SHORTAGES THERE.
THANKFULLY, OUR RECRUITING AND HIRING OUTLOOK IS IS STELLAR RIGHT NOW.
IT LOOKS GREAT, THANKS IN LARGE PART TO THE PAY RAISE AND SOME OF THE THINGS THAT WE'RE DOING.
WE'VE GOT A LOT OF PEOPLE IN THE PIPELINE, WE'VE GOT A LOT OF CADET CLASSES GOING ON.
SO WITH THAT BEING SAID, OUR SITUATION HAS REACHED A POINT WHERE THAT LAW ENFORCEMENT, JAIL PERIMETER POSITION IS BEING DONE AWAY WITH AND DETENTION WILL ASSUME THAT ROLE AS STAFFING IS, IS GETTING CONTINUING TO GET BETTER.
I CAN BRING UP CHIEF RAUL GARZA.
AND AS FOR HOW IT'LL BE REPORTED IN THE FUTURE, THAT'S UP TO YOU ALL.
HOWEVER, YOU ALL WOULD LIKE TO SEE THIS INFORMATION PRESENTED.
WE'D BE MORE THAN HAPPY TO OBLIGE.
BUT JUST JUST A COUPLE MORE QUESTIONS AND WHOEVER'S BEST PREPARED TO ANSWER IT.
BUT UNDERSTAND ON THE THE PATROL SIDE.
BUT YOU KNOW, LOOKING AT THE ACADEMY OR JUDICIAL SERVICES.
SO WHERE DOES THAT OVERTIME COME IN.
MAYBE I'M WRONG, BUT CAN YOU HELP ME UNDERSTAND SOME OF THOSE OTHER CATEGORIES AND WHY THEY'RE STILL OVERTIME THERE? YES, SIR. GOOD MORNING. FOR THE ACADEMY, FOR INSTANCE, TRAINING INHERENTLY INVOLVES TRAINING DEPUTIES AND A VARIETY OF DIFFERENT SECTIONS.
FOR EXAMPLE, THE PATROL DEPUTIES HAVE TO DO RIDE ALONGS PERIODICALLY THROUGHOUT THEIR COURSE.
SO THEY LEARN THE ENTIRE PROCESS OF WHAT IT'S LIKE TO BE A DEPUTY SHERIFF.
THE 18 WEEK PATROL DEPUTY CADET IS GOING TO HAVE TO DO THE SAME THING.
[01:05:03]
THAT EXPLAINS SOME OF THE ACADEMY OVERTIME.AND THEN WITH THAT, YOU'VE GOT THE INSTRUCTORS.
WE HAVE TO HAVE NIGHT TIME TRAINING.
WE HAVE TO HAVE NIGHT SHOOTING EXERCISES.
WE HAVE TO HAVE REALITY BASED TRAINING.
THAT'S TWO WEEKS LONG. THAT'S BOTH DAY AND NIGHT.
AND THEN WHEN YOU LOOK AT JUDICIAL SERVICES AND OTHER SECTIONS LIKE THAT, AS THE SHERIFF ALLUDED TO A MINUTE AGO, LAW ENFORCEMENT HAD BEEN HELPING THE DETENTION FOLKS BY COVERING THE PERIMETER HOSPITAL RUN OR TRANSPORT POSITIONS.
AND THAT MEANT YOU COULD BE SOMEBODY THAT'S IN JUDICIAL SERVICES, SOMEBODY IN THE COURTHOUSE.
SO EITHER ONE OF THOSE DEPUTIES CAN COME FROM ANYWHERE TO COVER THOSE.
HAVE WE MADE ANY PROGRESS ON THAT FRONT? ABSOLUTELY. THAT NUMBER IS NOW 209 OF UNFILLED VACANCIES.
HOW MANY? TWO. ZERO NINE FROM WE WERE UP UPWARDS OF 2 TO 60 AT ONE POINT.
RIGHT NOW IN OUR WE'VE GOT THREE DETENTION CADET CLASSES, ABOUT 79 PEOPLE TOTAL IN THOSE THREE DETENTION CADET CLASSES, AND ABOUT 120 PEOPLE IN THE PIPELINE WAITING TO BE HIRED.
THEY'RE PROCESSING THROUGH AND WAITING TO BE HIRED ON THE LAW ENFORCEMENT SIDE OF THE HOUSE.
I'VE GOT TWO PATROL CADET CLASSES WITH A TOTAL OF ABOUT JUST ALMOST 40 PEOPLE IN THOSE TWO CLASSES, AND 122 PEOPLE WAITING TO BE HIRED INTO REGULAR LAW ENFORCEMENT, AND THEN THE STRAIGHT TO THE STREETS PROGRAM AS WELL.
SO THE THE PROGNOSIS IS GREAT.
BUT WE'RE CERTAINLY DOING OUR BEST AT PRESENT.
GOING FROM 260 TO 209, THAT'S GOOD PROGRESS.
UM, SO I WOULD ASSUME THAT THAT WOULD BEXAR OUT IN THE OVERTIME COSTS ON THE DETENTION SIDE.
ARE WE STARTING TO SEE THAT? I HAVEN'T SEEN ANY DATA ON THAT YET, BUT.
WELL, WE I MEAN, I KNOW THAT WE'VE MADE IMPROVEMENTS ON IT, BUT IT'S GOING TO BE A CONTINUING THING.
YES, YES WE ARE IS THE SHORT ANSWER.
WELL, AND, YOU KNOW, IF WE COULD ALSO JUST GET SOME REPORTING ON THAT BEFORE YOU COME BACK TO COURT AGAIN, IT WOULD BE NICE TO KIND OF SEE THAT AS WE'VE SEEN THAT NUMBER OF OPENINGS COME DOWN.
WE'VE ALSO SEEN THE OVERALL POPULATION AT THE JAIL COME DOWN.
WE SHOULD BE SEEING SOME SIGNIFICANT IMPROVEMENT ON THAT FRONT.
IT WOULD BE NICE TO JUST SEE THE DATA BEHIND IT.
ABSOLUTELY. NOW BEXAR IN MIND, COMMISSIONER, THERE ARE STILL SOME SOME SPECIAL CIRCUMSTANCES IN THE JAIL, FOR EXAMPLE, THE OVERWHELMING NUMBER OF MENTALLY ILL INMATES THAT WE STILL HAVE, THOSE ARE A LOT MORE LABOR INTENSIVE THAN A REGULAR INMATE.
FOR EXAMPLE, YOU KNOW, 1 TO 40 811 DEPUTY TO 48 INMATES IS THE NORMAL RATIO.
BUT SOME OF THOSE MENTALLY ILL INMATES ARE I'VE GOT THEM DOWN TO A ONE ON ONE.
WELL THREE ON ONE. IT TAKES THREE DEPUTIES A DAY TO GUARD THAT ONE PERSON.
IN SOME INSTANCES THOSE ARE EXTREME EXAMPLES, BUT WE STILL DO HAVE SOME OF THAT GOING ON.
IT'S GOING TO BE WHAT TYPE OF INMATES.
APPROVAL. SECOND MOTION BY COMMISSIONER MOODY.
SECOND BY COMMISSIONER CALVERT.
ANY FURTHER COMMENT OR QUESTIONS? HEARING NONE. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE.
AYE, AYE. ANY OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES.
THANK YOU. WE'LL GO TO ITEM 16.
I BELIEVE, COMMISSIONER RODRIGUEZ, YOU PULLED AUTHORIZED THE NEGOTIATION OF AGREEMENT WITH INMATE CALLING SOLUTIONS, LLC, PROVIDING FOR THE PURCHASE OF AN INMATE VIDEO VISITATION SYSTEM FOR BURKE COUNTY INMATES THROUGH REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL RFP EVENT 892 CONTINGENT UPON SUCCESSFUL NEGOTIATIONS.
AGREEMENT WILL BE BROUGHT TO COMMISSIONERS COURT AT A LATER DATE FOR CONSIDERATION AND AWARD.
DO DO WE HAVE A PRESENTATION ON THIS? OKAY. I CAN PASS IT OUT IF YOU WOULDN'T MIND.
WHAT'S THE I GUESS I KNOW THIS IS AN AUTHORIZATION TO NEGOTIATE, BUT WHAT IS WHAT IS THE VALUE? THE RANGE ON THIS CONTRACT.
YEAH. I GUESS LET ME BACK UP IS WHO'S THE CURRENT VENDOR FOR THIS SERVICE RIGHT NOW? CORRECT. THAT'S THE INCUMBENT.
THAT'S THE ONE THAT HAS THE CURRENT CONTRACT OKAY.
SO THEY HAVE A LOT OF THE SETUP ALREADY IN PLACE OKAY.
SO THEY'RE DEFINITELY THE MOST COST EFFECTIVE.
THEY DON'T HAVE TO PUT IN ANY NEW TECHNOLOGY IN THERE.
SO THAT RANGE IS GOING TO BE CAN WE TURN UP OUR VOLUME A LITTLE BIT? I'M HAVING A HARD TIME HEARING.
COULD WE TURN UP OUR VOLUME? THANK YOU.
IS THE POWERPOINT GOING TO COME UP OR.
[01:10:02]
YEAH, WE'RE HAVING A LITTLE HARD TIME HEARING YOU.MAYBE IF YOU COULD STEP CLOSER TO THE MIC.
SORRY ABOUT THAT. AND SO I'M SORRY YOU SAID OKAY.
THE THE ITEM IS TO NEGOTIATE WITH THE CURRENT VENDOR.
RIGHT? CORRECT. UM, AND I GUESS I ASKED A QUESTION ABOUT WHAT THE WHAT THE VALUE OF THE CONTRACT IS.
YES. SO THE NEW ONE, WE'RE LOOKING AT ABOUT 1,900,000 916,942 IS WHAT ONE OF THE OPTIONS THEY HAVE. OKAY. AND AND THAT'S OVER HOW MANY YEARS THIS WILL BE FOR FIVE YEARS.
SO IS IT 1 MILLION APPROXIMATELY PER YEAR OR 1 MILLION.
THAT'S THE FIVE YEAR TOTAL. THAT'S THE FIVE YEAR TOTAL.
OKAY. UM, SO TELL ME A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE PROCESS AND THE EVALUATION COMMITTEE. SURE.
WHO WAS ON THAT? AND WE CAN GET TO THE SCORING.
YES, SURE. SO WE WE PUT THIS SOLICITATION OUT MARCH 27TH, 2023.
IT WAS RELEASED TO 192 SUPPLIERS AND WE RECEIVED FOUR RESPONSES.
THAT WAS INMATE CALLING SOLUTIONS LLC, THE CURRENT CONTRACT HOLDER, NETWORK COMMUNICATIONS INTERNATIONAL CORP, SKILLS ACQUISITION CORPORATION, DBA, SECURUS TECHNOLOGIES AND SMART COMMUNICATIONS HOLDING.
AND THEN WE HAD AN EVALUATION PHASE FROM JUNE TO AUGUST WHERE WE REVIEWED AND SCORED THOSE.
THEN WE CALLED THE HIGHEST SCORERS IN FOR ONE, HAD A VIRTUAL DEMONSTRATION, TWO WERE IN PERSON, AND FROM THERE THEY RANKED THE THREE HIGHEST, WHICH ENDED UP BEING INMATE CALLING SOLUTIONS, SMART COMMUNICATIONS HOLDING AND SKILLS ACQUISITION CORP, DBA SECURUS.
SO I CAN GO THROUGH IF YOU WANT ME TO GO THROUGH.
WELL, LET ME LET ME JUST ASK YOU.
YES. IT SEEMS FROM THE SCORING THAT AND THIS IS THE FIRST TIME I'VE SEEN THIS.
CORRECT. SO TELL ME WHAT DISTINGUISHED THIS PROVIDER FROM THE OTHERS IN TERMS OF THAT SCORING.
SO THAT'S THE CURRENT CONTRACT HOLDER THAT ALREADY HAS EVERYTHING IN PLACE.
SO THAT'S WHY THEY WERE THEIR PROPOSAL WOULD BE THE LEAST EXPENSIVE, BECAUSE EVERYONE ELSE WOULD HAVE TO COME IN WITH THEIR NEW TECHNOLOGY AND SOFTWARE, AND THEIRS IS ALREADY IN THERE. THAT'S WHY THEY'RE FIVE YEARS MUCH CHEAPER.
SO IF WE CHANGE VENDORS, YOU'RE SAYING THEY COULD NOT USE THE EQUIPMENT THAT IS CURRENTLY THERE? IS THAT WHAT YOU'RE I BELIEVE? IS THAT CORRECT? NO.
SO CAN YOU GIVE ME AN EXAMPLE OF THAT? THIS IS FOR VIDEO CONFERENCE.
FOR THE PUBLIC ATTORNEYS AND CERTAIN OFFICIALS AND ATTORNEYS VISITATION CALLS.
AND ARE THESE ARE THESE ALL STATIONARY UNITS OR DID YOU BID OUT ALSO THE OPPORTUNITY FOR THE INMATES TO USE IPADS AND THINGS LIKE THAT? SOME DID PROVIDE PROPOSALS FOR TABLETS, BUT AT THIS POINT IN TIME, I BELIEVE WE WERE ONLY INTERESTED IN THE KIOSKS, RIGHT? NOT THE TABLETS. IT'S A MORALE THING FOR THE DEPUTIES TO SEE.
BUT UNLESS WE CAN COME UP WITH A SYSTEM TO.
AT THIS TIME WE WERE MAINLY LOOKING.
YES HE COULD. MY MY CONCERN WITH THE IPADS IS THAT IT'S A MORALE THING FOR THE DEPUTIES.
THEY HAVE TO GIVE UP THEIR CELL PHONES.
THEY DON'T HAVE ACCESS TO TALK TO THEIR FAMILIES WHILE THEY'RE IN THE IN THE JAIL.
BUT YET INMATES ARE WALKING AROUND WITH IPADS AND HAVE FREE USE OF IT.
I WOULD I WOULD ENTERTAIN THE IDEA IS IF WE COULD GIVE.
YEAH, GIVE THE GIVE THE THE INMATES THE IPADS.
MY UNDERSTANDING IS IT HELPS WITH INMATE MORALE AS WELL AND BEHAVIOR.
BUT LET'S FIGURE OUT A WAY TO GIVE DEPUTIES SOME LIMITED ACCESS TO TO THINGS ON ON AN IPAD AS WELL.
[01:15:01]
YEAH. AND I WAS THINKING MORE FOR EDUCATIONAL PURPOSES OR THINGS LIKE THAT.RIGHT. ABSOLUTELY. THEY COULD ACCESS THAT'S A LOT OF THE DELIVERY SYSTEMS FOR THOSE KIND OF PROGRAMS. ABSOLUTELY. JUST JUST BE ABLE TO USE IT FOR ONLINE TRAINING AND THINGS LIKE THAT.
BUT AGAIN, I THINK IT'S A MORALE THING.
SO LET ME GO BACK TO THE COST REAL QUICK.
UM, I KNOW WE HAD A DISCUSSION ABOUT THIS PROBABLY OVER A YEAR AGO.
UM, THE, THE CURRENT VENDOR, WHAT IS THE COST TO THE INMATE OR THE FAMILY FOR A CALL? THERE'S NOT GOING TO BE ANY COST, SIR.
OKAY. AND THAT IS THE SAME IN THEIR THEIR PROPOSAL.
THAT'S THE CURRENT PROPOSAL WITH THE ICF.
SO THIS IS NOT A MONEYMAKER FOR THE COUNTY? NO, SIR. NO WHATSOEVER.
SALAZAR MADE VERY CLEAR THAT THERE WILL BE NO COST TO THE FAMILIES.
OKAY. UM, YOU KNOW, I KNOW MY MY COLLEAGUES MAY HAVE SOME QUESTIONS ON THIS.
THIS IS A PRETTY SIGNIFICANT ITEM.
I WANT TO HEAR MORE ABOUT THE INNOVATIVE ALTERNATIVES THAT WERE PROPOSED.
JUDGE. MOTION TABLE SECOND BY COMMISSIONER CALVERT ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE.
AYE. ANY OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES WILL TABLE AN ITEM 16 FOR TWO WEEKS.
ALL RIGHT. ITEM 21, I BELIEVE.
PRECINCT ONE, APPROVAL OF AGREEMENT AND AWARD TO OPENGOV THROUGH VIRTUAL SOFT, LLC, AN AUTHORIZED DEALER RESELLER FOR THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT DEVELOPMENT PORTAL IN THE AMOUNT OF $155,433.76 FOR IMPLEMENTATION AND LICENSING DUE TO 11 ONE, 2023 TO 1031 2024 SOFTWARE RENEWAL DURING OPTION ONE, 111, ONE, 2024 TO 1031 2025 IN THE AMOUNT OF $134,571.95 AND SOFTWARE RENEWALS DURING THE OPTION YEAR TO 11 ONE, 2025 TO 1031 2026, IN AMOUNT OF 141,350 $0.05.
ONCE AGAIN, DAVE WEGMANN REPRESENTING PUBLIC WORKS.
THIS ITEM HAS BEEN A LONG TIME COMING.
WE'VE SEEN A STEADY INCREASE OF DEVELOPMENT AND PLATS IN UNINCORPORATED BEXAR COUNTY OVER THE LAST TEN YEARS. WE'VE SEEN PROBABLY A FIVE FOLD INCREASE IN THE NUMBER OF THOSE PLATS PRIOR TO THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THIS.
DEVELOPERS ENGINEERS WERE REQUIRED TO BRING THEIR PLATS DIRECTLY INTO THE OFFICE, WRITE A CHECK, AND THE PROCESS GOT TO BE VERY CUMBERSOME AND TIME CONSUMING.
IT WILL PROVIDE THEM A TRACKING NUMBER THAT THEY CAN FOLLOW THE PROGRESS OF THE PLAT APPROVAL PROCESS, AND IT WILL ALLEVIATE SOME STAFF RESOURCES THAT WE'RE HAVING TROUBLE WITH RIGHT NOW AS WELL.
SO I ACTUALLY JUST WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT THIS AND THANK YOUR STAFF.
I KNOW THIS IS LONG OVERDUE AND DEFINITELY AFFECTS MY PRECINCT NORTH OF 90.
ALAMO RANCH AND WESTOVER HILLS AREA IS THE LARGEST, THE FASTEST GROWING PART OF BEXAR COUNTY.
GREAT. WELL, THANK YOU SO MUCH.
THANK YOUR STAFF FOR WORKING ON THIS.
MOVE FOR APPROVAL. MOTION BY COMMISSIONER CLAY-FLORES.
SECOND BY COMMISSIONER CALVERT.
ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION, COMMISSIONER MOODY? WELL, DAVID, I JUST WANT TO REITERATE THAT I THINK THAT THIS IS THIS IS A LEAP FORWARD IN TERMS OF TECHNOLOGY.
AND I'M REALLY GLAD TO SEE THAT WE'RE MOVING FORWARD IN THIS DIRECTION.
I THINK IT'S A IT'S A WIN FOR THE COUNTY AND I WILL ABSOLUTELY SUPPORT.
IS THIS OPENGOV? IS THIS A SOFTWARE PROGRAM THAT WILL BE LOOKING TO EXTEND THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY AND OTHER DEPARTMENTS? I THINK, WELL, WE CAN I THINK PUBLIC WORKS ALREADY HAS SOME APPLICATIONS ON OPENGOV ALREADY.
[01:20:03]
HOW ABOUT PROCUREMENT? I DON'T KNOW. THIS WAS OUR THIS IS BEING DONE THROUGH OUR EXISTING CONTRACT WE HAVE WITH CARTEGRAPH WHO DOES OUR DATABASE SOFTWARE.WE HAD ACTUALLY OPENED OPEN THIS UP FOR AN RFP FOR DIFFERENT VENDORS TO PROVIDE.
WE ONLY GOT ONE RESPONSE AND THAT RESPONSE WAS WE THOUGHT IT WAS UNREALISTIC.
DAVE, LET ME JUST CUT TO THE CHASE.
DOES THIS SOFTWARE HELP US WITH PROCUREMENT? NO. AND YOUR AND YOUR PUBLIC WORKS.
IT DOESN'T HAVE THAT ABILITY. IT'S NOT.
NO, SIR. THIS IS PURELY PERMITTING AND PAYMENT.
THERE'S A MOTION. AND SECOND, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE.
AYE. ANY OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES.
OH. WHAT'S NEXT ONE? UH, I THINK, COMMISSIONER MOODY, YOU PULLED 33 APPROVAL AND EXECUTION OF INTERLOCAL AND LOCAL INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT BETWEEN BURKE COUNTY, UT HEALTH ALEXANDER TESTA, PHD, FOR THE EVALUATION, ADJUSTED INTAKE AND ASSESSMENT ANNEX IN THE AMOUNT OF $100,000 GENERAL FUNDING FOR TERM OF OCTOBER 1ST, 2023, ENDING DECEMBER 31ST, 2024.
GOOD MORNING. GOOD MORNING, COMMISSIONER MOODY.
GOOD MORNING. THANKS FOR BEING HERE.
AND IT LOOKS LIKE YOU HAVE SLIDES.
SO YOU'RE PREPARED TO PRESENT A LITTLE BIT, BUT WANT TO BETTER UNDERSTAND THE TIMELINE.
ALSO THE SCOPE OF THE PROJECT.
BECAUSE I KNOW WE'VE HAD SOME DISCUSSIONS AND THERE'S CONCERNS AROUND THE THE MAGISTRATION PROCESS AND HOW THAT TIES INTO THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM AND WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT IF WE'RE GOING FORWARD AND INVESTING IN THIS STUDY, THAT WE'RE MAKING SURE WE'RE MAXIMIZING THE VALUE OF IT AND CAPTURING ALL THOSE, THOSE PIECES AS WELL.
BUT THOSE ARE JUST MY INITIAL THOUGHTS.
SO I'M GOING TO LET THE EXPERT SPEAK TO IT.
WE HAVE DOCTOR TESTA HERE WHO WILL BE DOING THE STUDY.
SO HE ALSO HAS A PRESENTATION.
BUT WE CAN GET TO YOUR QUESTIONS FIRST.
AND THEN IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO SEE HIS PRESENTATION.
I TOLD HIM NOT TO MAKE IT TOO LONG SO HOPEFULLY IT ISN'T SO DOCTOR TESTA.
TO ANSWER YOUR OTHER QUESTION.
ULTIMATELY, THE TIMELINE IS AN ESTIMATION TO GIVE US AN ADEQUATE AMOUNT OF TIME TO KIND OF HIT THE 4 OR 5 KEY MILESTONES THAT WE HAVE PROPOSED IN THE STUDY.
WOULD ALWAYS LOVE TO DO IT IN A MORE EXPEDIENT FASHION, BUT I BELIEVE THAT, AS YOU WOULD SEE, THE STUDY TRIES TO BE QUITE COMPREHENSIVE IN WHAT IT SEEKS TO ACHIEVE. AND.
THAT TIMELINE WOULD BE AN ESTIMATION WAS ADEQUATE.
AND YOU MENTIONED THE MAGISTRATION PART.
CAN YOU SPEAK TO THE BROADER SCOPE? YOU KNOW WHAT? WHAT ALL IS CURRENTLY INCLUDED.
I ALSO JUST, YOU KNOW, I'M CONCERNED ABOUT WE'RE STILL IN THE PROCESS, I THINK, OF TRYING TO IDENTIFY SOME OF THE GAPS IN THE PROCESS. AND ULTIMATELY IT WOULD BE GOOD IF WE CAN INCLUDE THOSE WITHIN THE STUDY.
AND I DON'T KNOW, YOU KNOW, WHAT ARE THOSE THOSE GAPS YOU'RE CURRENTLY LOOKING AT.
YOU MENTIONED MAGISTRATION, BUT CAN YOU SPEAK MORE TO THE OVERALL SCOPE OF THE PROJECT? SURE, I ABSOLUTELY COULD.
I'LL GIVE A QUICK OVERVIEW OF OF THE PROJECT AND THE KEY MILESTONES.
OKAY. THE FIRST TWO MONTHS IS TO GO TO THE GIA TO UNDERSTAND THE FULL SCOPE OF THE PROCESSES AT ALL STATIONS OF THE GIA, AND THIS IS A TEMPLATE OF A POSSIBLE SCHEDULE TO BE ABLE TO OBSERVE DIFFERENT TIMES OF THE DAY, DIFFERENT DAYS OF THE WEEK ON A ROTATING BASIS.
THE PROPOSAL TO DO THAT IS THROUGH UNDERSTANDING THAT PROCESS WITH THE PEOPLE WHO ARE THERE EVERY DAY, THE STAFF AND PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN PROCESSED THROUGH THE GIA TO GET THEIR PERSPECTIVES THROUGH TWO MAIN MECHANISMS, AND THAT IS FOCUS GROUPS AND INTERVIEWS, AND A SURVEY THAT WILL BE DISSEMINATED TO
[01:25:02]
GIA STAFF. BOTH OF THOSE USING THE QUANTITATIVE DATA FROM THE SURVEY AND THE QUALITATIVE DATA FROM THE INTERVIEWS AND FOCUS GROUPS, WILL BE ANALYZED AS PART OF THAT, WITH THE PURPOSE OF IDENTIFYING GAPS IN SERVICES AND AREAS FOR IMPROVEMENT, WHICH WILL GO INTO RECOMMENDATIONS.THE NEXT PART OF IT, I WAS ASKED TO REVIEW THE DATA SYSTEMS FOR BEXAR COUNTY, WHICH INCLUDES SHAREPOINT, MOCHA, TYLER SYSTEMS AND CORRECTIONS SOFTWARE SOLUTIONS.
THE PURPOSE OF THAT IS TO IDENTIFY GAPS IN DATA COLLECTION AND THE WAY THAT DATA IS STORED AND MANAGED, IN ORDER TO BE ABLE TO ANALYZE QUESTIONS THAT THE COUNTY, THE GIA AND OFFICE OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE WOULD WANT TO ANALYZE IN THE FUTURE.
AND THEN FINALLY, IT IS A REVIEW OF THE PROCESSES FOR BEXAR COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE AND NON SAP COUNTIES THAT OPERATE AGENCIES THAT OPERATE IN THE COUNTY AND SPD.
THIS IS A KIND OF FLOWCHART OF THE CURRENT UNDERSTANDING OF THE PROCESSES.
SO IT'S TO REVIEW THE PROCESSES TO REVIEW EXACTLY HOW THEY ACTUALLY WORK IN PROCESS, IDENTIFY GAPS AND PUT FORWARD RECOMMENDATIONS FOR HOW WE CAN IMPROVE EFFICIENCY AND EFFECTIVENESS IN THE FLOW OF PERSONS THROUGH THE THROUGH THE GIA.
AND THEN FINALLY, YOU'LL SEE THAT THIS ENDS AT 12 MONTHS.
AND THE THE FINAL LAST COUPLE OF MONTHS ARE SET ASIDE TO PROPOSE SOME BUFFER TIME, BUT ALLOW FOR REPORT WRITING AND PRESENTATIONS AND BEING ABLE TO GET FEEDBACK FROM COUNTY PERSONNEL ON OUR RECOMMENDATIONS BEFORE WE PUT FORWARD OUR FINAL REPORT.
SO I APPRECIATE THAT DIAGRAM YOU JUST SHARED THERE.
YOU WILL ALSO BE LOOKING AT THE ENTIRE BOND PROCESS.
AND I GUESS I WOULD HOPE THAT WE'RE ALSO THINKING ABOUT OUTCOMES, NOT JUST THE PROCESS AND THE FLOW AND TIME, BUT ALSO THE OUTCOMES AND ISSUES THAT WE'RE SEEING IN TERMS OF CRIME AND WHAT THE THE RIGHT TERMS FOR, FOR BOND NECESSARILY ARE, AND ALSO HOW THAT TIES IN TO PRETRIAL SERVICES.
YOU HAVE PRETRIAL SERVICES LISTED ON THERE THAT WILL BE INCLUDED AS WELL.
YES, SIR. THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE'RE GOING TO LOOK AT.
WOULD CERTAINLY BE HAPPY TO HAVE FLEXIBILITY TO INCLUDE RECOMMENDATIONS AMONG BONDS.
I THINK THAT POINT FOR HERE, WHEN WE TALK ABOUT LIKE REVIEWING DATA SYSTEMS AND STUFF, THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I THINK TO ANSWER ONE OF THE QUESTIONS LIKE, WHAT ARE THE OUTCOMES? I THINK WHAT WE NEED TO MAKE SURE IS THAT WE HAVE ADEQUATE DATA AND ADEQUATE DATA LINKAGE ACROSS SYSTEMS TO BE ABLE TO KNOW IF WE CAN ANSWER THAT QUESTION.
AND FOR THOSE QUESTIONS THAT CANNOT BE ANSWERED, WHAT KIND OF DATA DO WE NEED TO COLLECT, AND HOW DO WE NEED TO STORE IT SO THAT WE CAN GET YOU THOSE ANSWERS? AND WE CAN DO, YOU KNOW, FUTURE STUDIES FOCUSING ON BEST PRACTICES WITH BONDS IN THE FUTURE AND BEING ABLE TO ACTUALLY NOT ONLY PROVIDE THOSE, PROVIDE THOSE RECOMMENDATIONS OF BEST PRACTICES, BUT BE ABLE TO LOOK AT THE DATA AND KIND OF GIVE YOU AN EMPIRICAL ANSWER.
MR. MOODY, IF I IF I MAY, LET ME REPHRASE THAT QUESTION.
WHAT AM I GOING TO GET OUT OF YOUR STUDY? I KNOW YOU JUST EXPLAINED IT.
I JUST WANT TO KNOW IN TEN WORDS OR LESS, WHAT ARE WE GETTING FOR THIS? BECAUSE I'LL ALERT YOU THAT WE HAVE A CITY COUNTY COMMITTEE BECAUSE OF THE ISSUES BETWEEN THE SAPD AND THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE, AND WE'RE DOING A DEEP DIVE WITH ALL THE PLAYERS INVOLVED.
SO IF THIS IS WHAT YOU'RE GOING OVER, THEN YOU REALLY NEED TO BE IN THE MIDDLE OF WHAT WE'RE DOING BECAUSE WE'RE DOING THE SAME THING OF LOOKING AT ALL THE PROCESSES. SO WHAT WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO GIVE US AFTER YOU FINISH? YES, SIR. THAT IS ONE COMPONENT OF THE STUDY.
BUT WHAT'S THAT? THE ANALYSIS OF THAT DATA SYSTEMS IS ONE COMPONENT.
BUT THE THE END RESULT IN TEN WORDS OR LESS, SIR, WOULD BE TO IMPROVE THE OPERATIONS OF THE GIA AND TO MAKE SURE THAT.
WE ARE SET UP TO BE ABLE TO ANSWER ANY BECAUSE WE HAVE.
WE HAVE. I WILL TELL YOU WITH OUR MEETINGS THAT WE'VE HAD, WE HAVE SOME FLAWS AND GAPS IN OUR SYSTEM FROM ARREST ALL THE WAY UP TO WHEN DEFENDANTS EXIT THROUGH PROBATION AND PAROLE.
[01:30:05]
THAT RIGHT NOW.SO I WANT TO KNOW EXACTLY HOW YOU'RE GOING TO EITHER INTERFACE OR ARE YOU BRINGING ANOTHER PERSPECTIVE TO THE TABLE, SO TO SPEAK, SO THAT WE CAN THEN UTILIZE I JUST WANT TO BE ABLE TO KNOW WHAT YOU'RE GOING TO GIVE THIS COMMISSIONER'S COURT AND THE END RESULT.
AND THAT'S BASICALLY WHAT I WAS REFERRING TO.
SO I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THAT'S INCLUDED.
WE CAN ABSOLUTELY MAKE SURE THAT THAT IS INCLUDED.
SO I WOULD LOVE FOR WHATEVER WORK IS BEING DONE TO BE WITHIN THE CONVERSATION OF THE CURRENT WORK THAT'S BEING DONE, TO MAKE SURE WE'RE NOT BEING DUPLICATIVE, AND TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE WE'RE REACHING THE END GOAL THAT THE COUNTY THAT THE COUNTY SEEKS.
ONE OF THE GAPS THAT WAS IDENTIFIED WITH THE MEETINGS, JUDGE, THAT YOU'VE BEEN WORKING WITH, WITH THE CITY AS WELL, IS THE COMMERCIAL BONDS THAT ARE NOT ON CONDITIONS OR DO NOT HAVE CONDITIONS.
SO THEREFORE WE DON'T PRETRIAL DOESN'T SUPERVISE THEM.
SO THAT'S ONE OF THE GAPS THAT RECENTLY WAS IDENTIFIED THROUGH THIS GROUP.
AND SO THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE WILL GLADLY SHARE WITH DR.
NOW, GRANTED, I'M SURE THERE'S OTHERS AND WE CAN DISCUSS THAT WITH HIM, BUT I KNOW THAT THAT WAS ONE OF THE MAIN THINGS, BECAUSE THOSE INDIVIDUALS THAT ARE OUT ON COMMERCIAL BOND THAT ARE NOT BEING SUPERVISED, THEN IT'S HARD FOR JUDGES TO GET INFORMATION ON THEM IF THEY RE-OFFEND OR IF THEY GET REARRESTED OR SOMETHING.
SO THAT'S DEFINITELY A HUGE GAP THAT DR.
TESTA WILL BE LOOKING AT IN THAT.
AND WE'VE IDENTIFIED THAT IN THIS COMMITTEE PROCESS THAT THE JUDGES ARE NOT GETTING INFORMATION.
SO OUT OF FAIRNESS TO THE JUDGES OR THE JUDICIARY, WE NEED TO FIGURE OUT HOW INFORMATION FLOWS FROM THE ARREST THROUGH THE MAGISTRATE, THROUGH THIS INTAKE PROCESS, UP TO THE MAGISTRATE JUDGES UP THEN TO THE DISTRICT COURT JUDGES WHEN PERHAPS A REPEAT OFFENDER BONDS OUT AGAIN.
AND THAT IS A FLAW IN OUR SYSTEM.
YEAH. NO, I WAS JUST GOING TO MENTION YOUR THOUGHTS JUST TO PIGGYBACK ON THAT JUDGE.
YOU KNOW, I THINK WE'RE THROWING A LOT AT YOU, AND MAYBE IT'S BEYOND THE SCOPE, DR.
TESTA, OF WHAT YOUR YOUR REVIEW IS.
SO, YOU KNOW, AGAIN, MAYBE IT'S BEYOND THE SCOPE OF THE INITIAL CHARGE.
BUT TO THE JUDGE'S POINT, I THINK THAT THERE'S A LOT OF MOVING PARTS TO THIS.
AND NORMA, YOU CAN, I THINK, HELP PLUG THEM IN WITH THE CORRECT FOLKS AT THE CITY SO THAT IT AT LEAST SUPPLEMENTS WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO WITH MAKING THE PROCESS FAIR AND MORE EFFICIENT. I THINK YOU UNDERSTAND WHERE WE'RE COMING FROM, DOC.
I THINK THAT'S WHAT YOU'RE GOING FOR.
THAT'S WHAT WE'RE ENGAGING YOU FOR.
SO I THINK THE COMMUNICATION IS KEY AS HE GOES THROUGH THIS ANALYSIS TO MAKE SURE BOTH THE CITY AND COUNTY ISSUES THAT HAVE BEEN RED FLAGGED ARE ONES THAT YOU'RE YOU'RE KIND OF HONING IN ON, IF THAT MAKES SENSE.
NO. I APPRECIATE ALL THE COMMENTS HERE.
AND ULTIMATELY I THINK IT'S ABOUT COMMUNICATION INITIALLY.
BUT I THINK THAT THOSE ARE PROBABLY THE TWO NEXT STEPS.
YES, SIR. I'VE BEEN IN THE SYSTEM TOO LONG.
AND IT'S BEEN KEY AS COMMUNICATION AND THE BUREAUCRACIES THAT PREVENT FLOW OF COMMUNICATION.
THANK YOU. IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE THIS ITEM?
[01:35:03]
I'LL MOVE. APPROVAL. SECOND.SECOND BY COMMISSIONER. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER RODRIGUEZ.
ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE.
AYE. ANY OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES.
SHOULD WE SHOULD WE CONTINUE OR SHOULD WE GO BACK TO 1030? OKAY. LET'S GO TO TIME. CERTAIN.
ALL RIGHT. WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE ON THE INDIVIDUAL.
I WILL COME BACK TO THOSE INDIVIDUAL ITEMS THAT WERE PULLED OFF CONSENT.
[5.a. 10:30 a.m. - Presentation, update, discussion and appropriate action regarding the Bexar County/Alamo Community Colleges District (ACCD), Alamo Colleges Student Employment Program (ACSE) and Bexar County as requested by the Small Business and Entrepreneurship Department (SBED)]
AND LET'S TAKE THAT UP.SO AT THIS TIME PRESENTATION UPDATE, DISCUSSION, APPROPRIATE ACTION REGARDING THE BEXAR COUNTY, ALAMO COMMUNITY COLLEGE DISTRICT, ALAMO COLLEGE'S STUDENT EMPLOYMENT PROGRAM, AND BEXAR COUNTY'S REQUESTED BY SMALL BUSINESS AND EMPOWERMENT AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP DEPARTMENT.
GOOD MORNING. WE HAVE EXCITING NEWS.
WE JUST WANTED TO BRING YOU AND ASK FOR CONTINUATION OF THE PROGRAM.
WE HAVE ALAMO COLLEGES STAFF HERE TO MAKE THE PRESENTATION, A BRIEF PRESENTATION OF HOW MANY INTERNS HAVE BEEN PLACED AND TO ANNOUNCE THE JOB FAIR OPPORTUNITY WE HAVE FOR OFFICE IN THE DEPARTMENT ON TOMORROW AND THURSDAY, WE'LL BE HOLDING AT THE FREEMAN COLISEUM.
SO TRACY CROSS, WHO IS THE COORDINATOR FOR ALAMO COLLEGES, WILL MAKE THE PRESENTATION.
I'M GLAD TO BE BACK IN FRONT OF YOU.
I'M SORRY OUR POWERPOINT WON'T BE UP ON THE SCREENS TODAY, BUT I'M GOING TO FLIP THROUGH QUICKLY.
SO EVERYTHING ELSE THAT DOESN'T FALL INTO THOSE CATEGORIES.
UPDATE QUICK QUESTION DOESN'T WHERE DOES THE ENGINEERING AND FACILITIES, WHERE DO THEY FALL IN THAT CATEGORY? YOU KNOW WHAT. FUNNY STORY.
SO THE FACILITIES ACTUALLY HIRED AN HR INTERN FACILITIES MANAGEMENT FOR BARRY COUNTY.
SO IT JUST DEPENDS ON WHAT TYPE OF ROLE EACH DEPARTMENT WANTS TO OFFER.
BUT IF WE HAVE FACILITIES STUDENTS, THEY WOULD GO INTO SPECIALIZED SERVICES.
WELL, I THINK THE ALAMO COLLEGES OFFERS A REALLY IMPORTANT PATHWAY FOR STUDENTS OF COLOR, IN PARTICULAR IN CAREERS LIKE ENGINEERING AND ARCHITECTURE.
AND I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THE COUNTY'S OPPORTUNITIES FOR INTERNSHIPS ARE MET THERE.
SO I KNOW IT MAY BE AT THE DEPARTMENTAL LEVEL, BUT, YOU KNOW, ANY WAY THEY CAN GET MORE PRACTICAL EXPERIENCE, YOU KNOW, THE HR IS CERTAINLY AN IMPORTANT PART OF LEADERSHIP WITHIN AN ORGANIZATION.
AND BUT I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU'VE GOT A REALLY GREAT ARCHITECTURE PROGRAM AT ALAMO COLLEGES AND WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THOSE OPPORTUNITIES ARE ARE AS BROADLY SPREAD.
SO SOME OF THAT WILL DO ON OUR END.
THANK YOU. ABSOLUTELY. IF YOU DROP SOME NAMES, I'LL FOLLOW UP AND WE'LL DO SOME TARGETED RECRUITMENT WITH THOSE FACULTY MEMBERS THAT SUPPORT THOSE STUDENTS TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY'RE IN OUR APPLICANT POOL.
JUDGE, I HAVE A QUICK QUESTION.
WHICH DEPARTMENT HANDLES MARINE BIOLOGY? I. KNOW NO ONE YET.
WE HAVEN'T HAD ANY OF THOSE ENVIRONMENTAL OR ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES AND THE MEDICAL ACCIDENT.
SO THUS FAR WE HAVE TRAINED IN PERSON ABOUT 50 MENTORS TO PARTNER WITH OUR PROGRAM.
WE HAVE APPROXIMATELY 22 DIFFERENT DEPARTMENTS AND OFFICES WHO HAVE OFFERED SOME FORM OF INTERNSHIP ROLES, REPRESENTING 97 DIFFERENT TYPES OF INTERNSHIP ROLES, EACH WITH A UNIQUE SUPERVISOR AND A UNIQUE FUNCTION THAT THEY'RE GOING TO EXPOSURE THAT THEY'RE GOING TO GIVE STUDENTS. RIGHT NOW WE HAVE 17 STUDENTS THAT HAVE BEEN PLACED ON ASSIGNMENT.
WE'VE HAD TWO INTERNS WHO HAVE BEEN OFFERED FULL TIME EMPLOYMENT WITHIN BEXAR COUNTY.
LOOK, WE HAVE ONE. YOU WANT AWAY? YEAH. OKAY.
AND WE ALSO HAD SOME WAGE UPDATES.
[01:40:04]
AND BEXAR COUNTY'S MINIMUM WAGE WAS 1654.SO WE ARE GRATEFUL FOR THAT PAY DIFFERENTIAL THAT YOU ALL WERE OFFERING.
AND THEN IN MAY, IT CHANGED FOR BEXAR COUNTY'S MINIMUM WAGE TO BE 1754.
WE AGAIN, WE THANK YOU FOR THAT PAY DIFFERENTIAL THAT WE OFFERED OUR STUDENTS.
AND AS OF SEPTEMBER, ALAMO ON THE JOB STARTED COMPENSATING STUDENTS AT 1533 PER HOUR.
SO WE'RE GETTING THERE, WE'RE HELPING OUT A LITTLE MORE.
AND I HAD A SLIDE THAT SAID, HOW MANY HOURS? IT WAS JUST UNDER 2000 HOURS THAT OUR STUDENTS HAD ACCUMULATED OR ACCRUED AS BEXAR COUNTY INTERNS, AND THAT WAS A TOTAL OF. $34,067.07 THAT OUR STUDENTS EARNED THROUGH THEIR BAKER COUNTY PARTNERSHIP, AND WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO SOME MORE FUNDS.
I GUESS I HAND THE MIC BACK OVER FOR ME.
HI, MY NAME IS JOAN CASILLAS AND I AM AN INTERN FROM PALO ALTO COLLEGE.
CATCH THE NEXT THERE AT PALO ALTO COLLEGE.
I AM ALSO A NSL IN LEADERSHIP AND ORGANIZATION THROUGH THEIR BOARD OFFICER AS WELL, AND I AM ALSO A PART OF THE LEADERSHIP LEAD HERS ORGANIZATION AS WELL.
AND I AM ALSO WORKING IN THE SMALL BUSINESS AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP DEPARTMENT WITH BEXAR COUNTY.
I'M WORKING WITH THE BURKE COUNTY SMALL BUSINESS AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP DEPARTMENT, AND I'M A DUAL ENROLLED STUDENT WITH SAN ANTONIO COLLEGE AND THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT SAN ANTONIO. HELLO, MY NAME IS ARTHUR LEJA AND I'M CURRENTLY AN IT INTERN WITH THE JUSTICE OF THE PEACE PRECINCT ONE.
MY NAME IS ASHLEY ISHIKAWA MORENO.
I'M A STUDENT FROM SAN ANTONIO COLLEGE, AND I'M AN HR INTERN AT THE ALAMO COLLEGE DISTRICT OFFICE.
HELLO, MY NAME IS VIVIAN HAAS.
A LOT OF YOU MIGHT RECOGNIZE ME.
THANK YOU. FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO GOT SMALL BUSINESS AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP DEPARTMENT.
ALAMO COLLEGES STUDENT EMPLOYMENT PROGRAM, ACSI, AND BECKER COUNTY AGREEMENT.
THE COURT MAY NOT BE AWARE BECAUSE I'M PROBABLY THE ONLY ONE WHO READS FEDERAL RESERVE REPORTS, BUT THE FEDERAL RESERVE INDICATED THAT SAN ANTONIO AND BEXAR COUNTY HAS THE MOST UNINVOLVED YOUTH OF A MAJOR CITY IN THE STATE OF TEXAS.
AND WHAT UNINVOLVED YOUTH EXEMPLIFIES, UNFORTUNATELY, IS NOT IN BAND, NOT IN A JOB INTERNSHIP, NOT IN EXTRACURRICULARS, SPORTS, JUST KIND OF WASTING TIME.
THAT'S WHERE YOU CAN FIGURE OUT WHAT YOU WANT TO DO FOR A CAREER.
AND SO THE COUNTY OPENING UP AN OPPORTUNITY FOR YOUNG PEOPLE TO EXPLORE THEIR ASPIRATIONS IS REALLY SOMETHING WE NEED TO DOUBLE AND TRIPLE ON AS WE SEE YOUTH ISSUES IN OUR COMMUNITY.
[01:45:04]
I DEAL WITH A LOT OF HOMELESS CHILDREN YOUNG.I SHOULDN'T CALL THEM CHILDREN. I'M SORRY. YOUNG PEOPLE AT SAN ANTONIO COLLEGE.
BUT I DO THINK THERE'S A ROLE FOR THE COUNTY TO PLAY IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE COLLEGE DISTRICT AND IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO AND IN PARTNERSHIP WITH PHILANTHROPISTS. AND THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT WHEN I'M ABOUT TO SAY, HERE WE AT THE ALAMO COLLEGE DISTRICT, BECAUSE OF THE POVERTY IN THIS CITY, NEED TO BUILD DORMS FOR THE ALAMO COLLEGE STUDENTS.
THE THOUGHT ABOUT THE TOBIN LOFTS WAS NOT ENOUGH, AND I KNOW THAT FOR A LOT OF THOSE ROOMS AND OTHER APARTMENTS THERE, YOU KNOW, TRINITY UNIVERSITY STUDENTS ARE GETTING THE BULK OF THOSE.
THE COUNTY DOESN'T HAVE TO PUT ALL THE BURDEN ON ON HELPING WITH THE COLLEGE DISTRICT DORM, BECAUSE THE ALAMO COLLEGE DISTRICT HAS A BOND, THEY SHOULD REALLY LEAD THE WAY.
BUT PHILANTHROPISTS CAN CONTRIBUTE TO THE NAMING RIGHTS OF THOSE DORMS. WHEN I WAS A STUDENT AT TUFTS UNIVERSITY, I WAS ON THE BOARD.
I WAS THE YOUNGEST PERSON EVER APPOINTED TO THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES.
ONE OF ONE OF MY MAIN CAUSES WAS TO GET A DORM BUILT BECAUSE OF THE HOMELESS COLLEAGUES AND STUDENTS I HAD, WHETHER IT WAS ON THE STUDENT SENATE OR JUST MY COLLEAGUES ON, ON, ON THE CAMPUS.
AND WE DID THAT. WE BUILT A $14 MILLION DORM.
IT WAS UNDERWRITTEN BY THE CREATOR OF DOPPLER RADAR, WHO WAS WHO WENT TO TUFTS.
AND I THINK WE NEED TO REALLY HELP THE FINANCIAL BURDENS AND THE ACCESS TO COLLEGE.
BUT WHEN WE LOOK AT THE RETENTION INTO THE FOUR YEAR COLLEGE LEVEL, YOU KNOW, AS YOU MAKE SACRIFICES TO GO TO SCHOOL, TO WORK, IT'S A TOUGH ROAD.
AND MANY OF OUR MINORITY STUDENTS DON'T SHARE THAT SAME DEMOGRAPHIC WHEN THEY GET TO UTSA.
IT'S A MUCH LESS NUMBER OF MINORITIES AT FOUR YEAR COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES.
SO WE HAVE A LOT OF FOSTER KIDS WHO COULD USE THE HOUSING SUPPORT.
WE HAVE A LOT OF YOUNG PEOPLE WHO HAVE CIRCUMSTANCES ARE TRYING TO ESCAPE FROM FAMILIES.
SO I THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR YOUR BEING INVOLVED WITH THE COUNTY.
THANK YOU, RENEE, FOR BRINGING THIS PROGRAM AND THE ALAMO COLLEGE DISTRICT LEADERSHIP.
BUT WE NEED TO DO MORE TO HELP YOUNG PEOPLE GET INTERNSHIPS.
NOT JUST ALAMO COLLEGES, BUT HIGH SCHOOLS AS WELL.
SO THANK YOU, JUDGE. I'LL BE MAKING A MOTION TO MOVE APPROVAL OF THE RECOMMENDED MOTION.
SECOND, I ALSO JUST WANT TO COMMENT.
I'M SO HAPPY TO SEE SO MANY PRECINCT ONE RESIDENTS TAKING ADVANTAGE OF IT.
ALL RIGHT. MOTION FROM COMMISSIONER CALVERT SECOND BY COMMISSIONER CLAY-FLORES.
ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE.
AYE. ANY OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES.
COMMISSIONER CLAY-FLORES WOULD LIKE TO TAKE A PICTURE.
[CONSENT AGENDA ITEMS (Part 2 of 2)]
WE'RE STILL WORKING OFF CONSENT.ALL THOSE MATTERS THAT WERE PULLED.
I BELIEVE THE NEXT ONE IS ITEM 35.
COMMISSIONER MOODY, APPROVAL AND EXECUTION OF A GRANT AGREEMENT BETWEEN BURKE COUNTY AND THE CLASSICAL MUSIC INSTITUTE, EFFECTIVE FOR THE PERIOD BEGINNING OCTOBER 1ST, 2023, AND ENDING ON SEPTEMBER 30TH, 2024, IN THE AMOUNT OF $300,000 AND APPROVAL OF THE APPROPRIATE BUDGETARY TRANSFER COMMISSIONER MOODY. SO I DON'T I DON'T WANT TO BELABOR THIS.
AND YOU CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG.
I DON'T KNOW IF IT WAS A YEAR AGO.
TWO YEARS AGO, THERE WAS THERE WAS ISSUES WITH THE THE PREVIOUS ORCHESTRA.
IT FELL IN, FELL APART, BROKE APART IN THE AFTERMATH.
WE NOW HAVE CMI CLASSICAL MUSICAL INSTITUTE BUT THE PHILHARMONIC HAS COME BACK.
BUT BOTH OF THESE ORCHESTRAS WERE CURRENTLY SUBSIDIZING IN A SIGNIFICANT WAY.
RIGHT. $300,000 TO EACH ONE OF THEM, IS THAT CORRECT? I KNOW CMI IS $300,000.
[01:50:02]
I KNOW THAT IT'S THE SAME IN THE PAST AND IT'S NOT IN THIS AGENDA.BUT ULTIMATELY, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE TO HAVE A STRATEGIC PLAN ABOUT HOW WE'RE GOING TO EITHER CONSOLIDATE OR GET TO A POINT WHERE WE CAN WORK OFF THE COUNTY SUBSIDY AND GET TO A SELF-SUSTAINING ORGANIZATION.
AND SO THAT'S JUST MY POSITION HERE.
I WANT TO SEE PROGRESS ON THAT FRONT.
I SEE THE SAME ASKS, AND I'D LIKE TO BETTER UNDERSTAND WHY THAT IS.
BUT AGAIN, PER YOUR DIRECTION, WE'LL GET WITH THEM AND SEE ABOUT THE SURVIVABILITY OF THESE GRANTS.
ANY FURTHER COMMENTS QUESTIONS.
JUDGE I THINK IT'S THIS IS SOMETHING WE APPROVED IN THE BUDGET.
AND I THINK THIS IS JUST FOLLOWING UP ON THAT COMMITMENT.
SO I'M GOING TO MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE.
I'M GOING TO HAVE TO ABSTAIN FROM THIS VOTE.
THEY DO REALLY WONDERFUL WORK, AND I'VE ALWAYS SAID THAT THAT'S WHERE THEY SHOULD BE.
BUT IN THE BUSINESS OF THE PHILHARMONIC, THAT HASN'T BEEN THEIR SUCCESS.
I AM A FISCAL HAWK, AND IN TERMS OF THE LINE ITEM BUDGET, THERE ARE SOME THINGS THAT ARE AMONG THE MOST DISTURBING THINGS THAT I'VE SEEN COME ACROSS MY DESK ON COMMISSIONERS COURT IN EIGHT PLUS YEARS.
IN THE BUDGET OF THAT, WE'RE ABOUT TO PROVE THERE IS A NATIONAL STRIKE OF MUSICIANS AND THE AMERICAN FEDERATION OF MUSICIANS AGAINST CMI, WHICH MEANS THEY HAVE TO BRING IN SCAB MUSICIANS IN ORDER TO PLAY HERE.
SO IN THEIR BUDGET, THEY HAVE $118,000 FOR FLIGHTS AND $174,450 FOR HOTELS.
I JUST I CAN'T IN GOOD CONSCIENCE DO THAT WHEN THE PURPOSE OF THE COURTS, THIS COURT SUPPORTING THE CREATIVE ECONOMY IS THE LOCAL ECONOMY. AND YES, UNITED AIRLINES, AMERICAN SOUTHWEST AND OTHERS ARE GOING TO BENEFIT.
BUT AND SOME OF OUR HOTEL CHAINS, MARRIOTT, ETCETERA.
BUT THE REAL THE REAL THING ABOUT CREATIVE ECONOMY IS TO CIRCULATE THE DOLLAR MULTIPLE TIMES IN A LOCAL ECONOMY, WHICH WHEN YOU HIRE LOCAL MUSICIANS WHO LIVE HERE, WHO TEACH HERE, THAT DOLLAR IS GOING TO CIRCULATE.
SO WE HAVE BEEN CAUGHT IN A POLITICAL CROSSFIRE.
MY VISION IS CLEAR ABOUT WHERE I WILL STAND.
I STAND WITH CMI IN THE SUPPORT OF YOUNG PEOPLE INTO CLASSICAL MUSIC.
I HAVE TOLD THEM VERY CLEARLY THAT'S WHERE YOU SHOULD STAY.
THANK YOU. JUDGE. I HAVE A COMMENT.
GO AHEAD. SO I'M HAPPY TO SECOND THIS.
AND. YOU KNOW, PART OF MY ACADEMIC SUCCESS, GOING FROM INNER CITY BRACKENRIDGE HIGH SCHOOL TO PRINCETON AND A MASTER'S EDUCATION AT HARVARD, IS BECAUSE OF MY INTERNATIONAL EXPERIENCE AND EXPOSURE.
EXCUSE ME, BECAUSE BEXAR COUNTY IS OVER 2 MILLION PEOPLE AND WE HAVE ROOM FOR BOTH.
FRANKLY, WE NEED MORE CLASSICAL MUSIC BECAUSE CLASSICAL MUSIC ALSO HELPS MENTAL HEALTH.
AND MY BACKGROUND IN EDUCATION, I'M VERY SUPPORTIVE OF BOTH GROUPS GOING TO SCHOOLS, BUT CMI HAS FURTHER ALSO GONE TO DO. SMALL CONCERTS FOR SENIOR CENTERS IN MY PRECINCT.
SO NOT ONLY AM I HAPPY TO SUPPORT THE ITEM ON THE CONSENT AGENDA, BUT I ALSO ALLOCATED 50,000 OUT OF MY DISCRETIONARY FUNDS TO CONTINUE TO SUPPORT THIS BECAUSE IN ADDITION TO THE FOUNDER AND EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, PAUL BEING HERE, WHO IS FROM SAN ANTONIO, SO WE ARE SUPPORTING, SUPPORTING OUR LOCAL NATIVES.
BUT BRINGING PEOPLE FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD IS KIND OF LIKE AN INTERNATIONAL RESIDENCY.
SO WHEN THEY GO TO OUR SCHOOLS, IT GIVES KIDS IN MY PRECINCT FROM THE INNER CITY AND FROM RURAL AREAS, A VISION TO DREAM BIGGER THAN SAN ANTONIO AND TO COME BACK AND FIGHT FOR THEIR COMMUNITY AS I DID.
[01:55:02]
SO I'M HAPPY TO SECOND.LET ME LET ME JUST MAKE A CORRECTION TO THE RECORD.
I THINK THOSE ARE VERY, VERY GOOD THINGS.
AND I JUST WANT TO MAKE THAT CLEAR.
SO I SUPPORT THOSE KINDS OF COMMUNITY MUSIC PERFORMANCES, AND I THINK THAT'S A GOOD THING.
AND I JUST WANT TO SAY THAT FOR THE RECORD.
SO I DON'T WANT TO I DON'T WANT TO MAKE THIS A NASTY THING.
I JUST THAT WAS MY UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT THIS WAS FOR WAS DIFFERENT THAN THAT.
SO I SUPPORT THE COMMISSIONER IN GETTING CONCERTS IN THE COMMUNITY.
ANY FURTHER COMMENTS? THERE'S A MOTION BY COMMISSIONER RODRIGUEZ.
SECOND BY COMMISSIONER CLAY-FLORES.
ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE.
AYE. ALL THOSE OPPOSED? JUDGE, I'D LIKE TO ABSTAIN.
WE'LL TAKE UP ITEM NUMBER 36, THE APPROVAL OF THE EIGHTH AMENDMENT TO THE PROFESSIONAL SERVICE AGREEMENT FOR ARCHITECTURAL SERVICES BETWEEN BECKER COUNTY AND HEWITT SOLARZ, INC, INCREASING THE TOTAL COMPENSATION IN $269,000 IN RELATION TO THE PRECINCT FOUR SATELLITE BUILDING PROJECT. COMMISSIONER MOODY, I BELIEVE YOU ASKED FOR INDIVIDUAL CONSIDERATION.
SO MY MY POSITION HERE AND I'M STILL TRYING TO UNDERSTAND THIS.
THIS IS AN EIGHTH AMENDMENT TO TO THIS CONTRACT.
THERE'S OBVIOUSLY BEEN A LOT OF DELAYS IN TERMS OF GETTING GETTING TO THE POINT WHERE WE ARE TODAY.
UM, YOU KNOW, I DON'T WANT TO IN ANY WAYS HOLD.
YOU KNOW, WE SHOULDN'T BE CONTINUING TO PUT THE BURDEN ON TAXPAYERS HERE.
AND THAT'S WHAT I'M SEEING, IS ANOTHER $270,000 THAT TAXPAYERS ARE GOING TO HAVE TO FOOT, BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, WE HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO MOVE THE BALL DOWN THE FIELD IN A TIMELY MANNER. AND THAT'S MY FRUSTRATION WITH THIS.
AND I DON'T KNOW IF STAFF HAS ANY COMMENTS TO TO THAT.
I WHOLEHEARTEDLY AGREE WITH YOU, COMMISSIONER.
THERE WAS COST ESCALATION BECAUSE OF DELAYS.
AND SO THIS IS A VERY PRO SMALL BUSINESS THING TO DO.
WE CAN'T ASK SMALL BUSINESSES TO WORK FOR FREE THROUGH COVID AND THESE OTHER THINGS.
THE COUNTY DOESN'T WANT TO BE HARMFUL TO SMALL BUSINESSES WHO HAD INSURANCE COSTS INCREASE AND WHO HAD ALSO EMPLOYEE COSTS INCREASE DURING WHATEVER DELAYS, FOR WHATEVER REASONS THE PROCESS WE HAD.
THE, THE, THE THE SMALL BUSINESSES LOCATED IN PRECINCT TWO AND PRECINCT THREE AND PRECINCT FOUR THAT ARE REPRESENTED HERE.
THEY ARE GETTING 170,000 FOR THAT.
SO THAT'S A THAT'S A FAIR NEGOTIATION THAT EVERYONE AGREED TO.
AND SO I JUST WANT TO THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR WORK WITH THAT.
SO I MOVE APPROVAL SECOND MOTION BY COMMISSIONER CALVERT SECOND BY COMMISSIONER RODRIGUEZ.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS, COMMISSIONER MOODY? JUDGE, JUST JUST FOR THE RECORD, I'LL BE ABSTAINING ON THIS ITEM AGAIN, BECAUSE I JUST WANT TO WANT TO MAKE THE POINT THAT THAT THIS $270,000, I DON'T THINK, NEEDED TO BE THERE. AND ULTIMATELY, YOU KNOW, THE DELAYS THAT THAT OCCURRED, WE NEED TO DO A BETTER JOB WITH PROJECTS GOING FORWARD AND MAKE SURE THAT WE DON'T HAVE THOSE DELAYS, SO WE DON'T HAVE TO CONTINUE TO PUT THIS BURDEN ON OUR TAXPAYERS.
AND THAT'S JUST WHY I'M GOING TO ABSTAIN ON THIS ITEM.
ALL RIGHT. ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE.
APPROVAL EXECUTION OF PUBLIC SERVICE AGREEMENT BETWEEN BURKE COUNTY AND BALLET SAN ANTONIO FOR ONE YEAR PERIOD BEGINNING OCTOBER 1ST, 2023, AND ENDING ON SEPTEMBER 30TH, 2024, IN THE AMOUNT OF $100,000 FROM THE VENUE PROJECT FUND.
[02:00:02]
COMMISSIONER MOODY AND JUDGE, IF YOU WOULD ALLOW, I'D LIKE TO JUST TAKE 37 AND 38 AT THE SAME TIME.ALL RIGHT. ANY OBJECTIONS? WE WILL ALSO TAKE UP ITEM 38, APPROVAL AND EXECUTION OF PUBLIC SERVICE AGREEMENT BETWEEN BURKE COUNTY AND OPERA SAN ANTONIO FOR ONE YEAR PERIOD BEGINNING OCTOBER 1ST, 2023, AND ENDING ON SEPTEMBER 30TH, 2024.
ANY AMOUNT OF $75,000 FROM THE VENUE PROJECT FUND.
COMMISSIONER MOODY, YOU HAVE THE FLOOR.
BUT ULTIMATELY IT'S A SUBSIDY FOR FOR THE THE BALLET AND THE OPERA.
PERSONALLY, ME AND MY TEAM HAVEN'T SEEN ANY KIND OF DATA BUDGET BACKGROUND ON WHAT IS THE GAP CURRENTLY IN TERMS OF SUSTAINABILITY FOR THESE TWO ORGANIZATIONS AND ULTIMATELY, WHAT IS THAT STRATEGIC PLAN AND HOW WE MOVE FORWARD? WHAT'S WHAT'S THE HISTORICAL.
HAS HAVE THESE FUNDS AND THESE SUBSIDIES BEEN PERPETUAL LIKE FOR THE LAST TEN YEARS OR HOW LONG HAVE THEY BEEN THERE? HAVE THEY ESCALATED? YOU KNOW, I'M GOING TO LET OUR VENUES, CHIEF.
THANK YOU. GOOD MORNING, TONY CANEZ WITH FACILITIES MANAGEMENT.
AND IT'S BEEN THE SAME AMOUNT, 100,000 FOR THE BALLET, 75,000 FOR THE FOR THE OPERA.
AND IT'S BEEN TO SUPPORT THEIR, THEIR PERFORMANCES THAT THEY HOLD IN THE TOBIN CENTER.
SO THE, THE EXPENSES THAT THEY SUBMIT FOR ARE, ARE ACTUAL COSTS TO, TO DO THE NUTCRACKER AND THE HANSEL AND GRETEL AND WHATEVER IT IS THEY'RE DOING THAT YEAR IN THE TOBIN CENTER, THOSE THOSE ARE COSTS THAT THEY SUBMIT AND IT ISN'T A FULL REIMBURSEMENT.
IT CERTAINLY ARE. THEY CARRY MUCH, MUCH HIGHER COSTS THAN THEY HAVE OTHER FUNDRAISING THAT THEY DO.
AND YEAH, I JUST DON'T KNOW WHAT THAT GAP IS TODAY.
I HAVEN'T SEEN ANY OF THE BACKGROUND DOCUMENTATION, BUT BUT AGAIN, IF WE'RE NOT WORKING TOWARDS SELF SUFFICIENCY AND HAVE A PLAN THAT WE'RE PUTTING FORWARD, I MEAN, THERE MAY BE UNIQUE WAYS WITH WITH MARKETING OR DISCOUNTED TICKETS TO COUNTY EMPLOYEES.
BUT I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THAT IN ORDER TO EARN MY SUPPORT.
WE'LL GET THAT FOR YOU, SIR. I WILL GO AHEAD AND BE ABSTAINING AT THIS TIME.
ANY FURTHER COMMENT, MR. RODRIGUEZ? YEAH. JUDGE, I AGAIN, I THINK THESE ARE ITEMS WE APPROVED PREVIOUSLY IN THE BUDGET AND I'M GOING TO MAKE A MOTION THAT WE APPROVE ITEMS 37 AND 38.
I UNDERSTAND IN AN IDEAL WORLD YOU'D LIKE EVERY ORGANIZATION TO BE SELF SUFFICIENT.
SO I'M SUPPORTIVE AND MAKE THAT MOTION.
ALL RIGHT. A SECOND BY COMMISSIONER CALVERT.
ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? YEAH, JUST A COMMENT.
UM, CAN CAN THE ORGANIZATIONS COME FORWARD, PLEASE? SO I KNOW WHEN I'VE MET WITH YOU ALL IN ORDER TO SUPPORT, I ASK YOU, BECAUSE OF MY INTEREST, MY BACKGROUND, EDUCATION ABOUT EXPOSURE, EXPOSURE TO CHILDREN.
BECAUSE, AGAIN, WHEN I WAS A KID, WE DIDN'T HAVE ANY MONEY, WE DIDN'T HAVE A CAR.
I NEVER GOT TO GO TO ANY KINDS OF THINGS.
AND SOME PEOPLE ARE LIKE, WELL, DIDN'T YOU GO ON FIELD TRIPS? NOPE. THEY DIDN'T COME TO MY SCHOOL.
THERE'S SO MANY PLACES IN SAN ANTONIO THAT I NEVER WENT TO UNTIL I CAME BACK AS AN ADULT.
SO CAN YOU SPEAK TO THE EXPOSURE THAT YOU GIVE TO CHILDREN, PLEASE? HI. GOOD MORNING JUDGE. GOOD MORNING COMMISSIONERS.
I'M THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER OF BALLET SAN ANTONIO.
BEAUTY AND THE BEAST THAT WE JUST CONCLUDED, AND A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM IN FEBRUARY OF 2024.
AND WE ALSO HAVE THE NUTCRACKER FILM, WHICH IS SOMETHING THAT WE DID.
[02:05:05]
IT WAS BORN OUT OF COVID AS A WAY TO TAKE THE NUTCRACKER INTO THE COMMUNITY AT A TIME WHERE CHILDREN COULD NOT COME TO THE SHOW, AND THAT IS SERVING OVER 100,000 CHILDREN ACROSS THE STATE OF TEXAS AND GROWING EVERY YEAR, AND IS OFFERED FOR FREE TO EVERY SCHOOL.THANK YOU FOR DOING THAT. I NEVER GOT TO SEE THE NUTCRACKER TILL I WAS GROWN AND HAD MY OWN MONEY, SO I'M GLAD THAT MANY STUDENTS IN MY PRECINCT ARE HAVING DIFFERENT EXPERIENCES NOW. THANK YOU.
OUR EDUCATION AND COMMUNITY PROGRAMS FALL INTO TWO CATEGORIES.
WE AIM TO PRESENT IN SCHOOLS APPROXIMATELY 50 TIMES A YEAR.
WE'VE CURRENTLY ALREADY HIT THAT GOAL FOR THE SEASON, AND WE HAVE A WAIT LIST FOR THOSE PROGRAMS. THOSE PROGRAMS ARE ALSO SPECIFICALLY DESIGNED TO GO INTO EACH PRECINCT IN BEXAR COUNTY, AND EVEN MORE SO, SPECIFICALLY DESIGNED TO BE ABLE TO SERVICE SCHOOLS THAT EITHER HAVE LITTLE OR NO MUSIC EDUCATION PROGRAMS. THE NEAT THING I THINK ABOUT WHY IS THAT? BECAUSE AT THE STATE LEVEL, THEY CONTINUE TO CUT.
CORRECT. SO WE'VE NOTICED THAT WITH OPERA, THERE'S A UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY BECAUSE OUR ART FORM COMBINES ALL OF THE ARTS, WHETHER IT'S VISUAL, MUSICAL, SET DESIGN, LIGHTING DESIGN, ARCHITECTURE, IT'S A GREAT RESOURCE FOR STUDENTS TO BE ABLE TO LEARN NOT ONLY ABOUT THE ARTS, BUT EXPAND THAT LEARNING INTO OTHER AREAS OF EDUCATION. THE NEAT THING ABOUT OUR PROGRAMS IS THAT WHEN A SCHOOL CHOOSES TO PARTICIPATE IN OUR OUTREACH PROGRAM, THEY ALSO RECEIVE A FREE INVITATION TO JOIN US FOR A PERFORMANCE AT THE TOBIN CENTER.
WE JUST COMPLETED A PRODUCTION OF HANSEL AND GRETEL AT THE TOBIN CENTER, AND FOR THAT WE OFFERED OVER 3000 FREE TICKETS TO STUDENTS, TEACHERS AND HOW MANY 3000 3000 FREE TICKETS TO STUDENTS AND EDUCATORS, CORRECT.
WITH THAT ALONE, I AM SO HAPPY TO CONTINUE TO SUPPORT OUR ARTS, BECAUSE IF WE DON'T HAVE ARTS AND IF YOU GUYS FAIL, THEN THAT HURTS OUR CHILDREN.
AND I DO ALUMNI INTERVIEWS FOR PRINCETON.
I WAS VALEDICTORIAN AT BRAG, BUT WE NEED WELL-ROUNDED STUDENTS, SO THERE ARE STUDENTS THAT I LOOK FOR WHEN I INTERVIEW FOR PRINCETON AND THINGS LIKE THESE AND SPORTS, WHICH WE ACKNOWLEDGED EARLIER WITH THE BASKETBALL.
I ALSO PLAYED BASKETBALL AT TRACK.
SO THE BALLET AND CMI WERE ALSO PART OF THAT PROCESS.
IN ADDITION TO THE YOUTH ORCHESTRAS OF SAN ANTONIO AND THE CHILDREN'S CHORUS OF SAN ANTONIO.
SO WE'RE ALSO TRYING TO BRANCH OUT AND BE EXTREMELY COLLABORATIVE.
BUT THAT'S NOT ALL BEYOND JUST OUR EDUCATION PROGRAMS. WE ALSO DO APPROXIMATELY 20 TO 30 COMMUNITY VISITS A YEAR, SO THAT COULD BE ANYTHING FROM RELATIONSHIPS LIKE MY COLLEAGUE EVAN HAS MENTIONED WITH HAVEN FOR HOPE OR THE BOY SCOUTS AND GIRL SCOUTS.
THANK YOU. PAUL, DO YOU HAVE ANYTHING TO ADD? NO, I WOULD JUST THANK YOU SO MUCH, JUDGE AND COMMISSIONERS COURT, FOR YOUR SUPPORT.
I WOULD JUST LIKE TO ADD THAT, YOU KNOW, BESIDES OUR SUMMER YOUTH PROGRAM, WHICH IS PART OF OUR FESTIVAL, WHICH IS ABOUT 60 TO 70 STUDENTS EVERY YEAR AT THE EDGEWOOD FINE ARTS ACADEMY, BECAUSE OF YOUR SUPPORT AND BECAUSE OF THE WAY WE HAVE LEVERAGED YOUR SUPPORT THIS PAST YEAR, WE'RE STARTING A YEAR ROUND EDUCATION PROGRAM AT STAFFORD ELEMENTARY AND IN THE EDGEWOOD DISTRICT, AND WE'VE HIRED THREE MUSICIANS TO LIVE HERE AND TO WORK HERE, AND THAT WILL BE EXPANDED AS WE GO FORWARD. SO IT IS AN HONOR TO SERVE OUR COMMUNITY THE WAY WE ARE.
I SERVED THE COMMUNITY FOR 26 YEARS, AND I'M HONORED TO KEEP ON DOING IT THAT WAY.
WE'RE ALSO WORKING ON A PARTNERSHIP WITH FORT SAM HOUSTON TO WORK WITH THEIR BAND AND TO HAVE OUTREACH CONCERTS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR WITH THEIR 42 PIECE WIND AND BRASS BAND WITH OUR STRINGS AND A PART OF OUR CORE.
SO WE'RE WORKING ON A TON OF INCREDIBLE THINGS.
THANKS TO YOUR SUPPORT. THIS IS YOUR SECOND CAREER, RIGHT? WHAT WAS YOUR FIRST CAREER? PAUL.
FIREFIGHTER. AND SO YOU'VE WORKED WITH UNIONS.
YOU'RE SUPPORTIVE OF UNIONS? YES OF COURSE. SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE AS A AS A FIREFIGHTER.
AND THANK YOU FOR ENTERING A SECOND CAREER.
THANK YOU. AND I'D LOVE FOR YOU GUYS TO DO MORE IN MY PRECINCT.
SO IF OTHERS DON'T WANT THEM THEN WELCOME TO PRECINCT ONE.
[02:10:01]
THANK YOU. OKAY, I'LL FIGHT WITH SOME OF YOU FOR IT.ALL RIGHT, COMMISSIONER CALVERT. YEAH.
SO I JUST GOT A TEXT FROM SOME OF MY CONSTITUENTS SAYING THEY HADN'T SEEN THOSE FREE TICKETS YET.
SO WE WANT TO WORK WITH YOU IN ORDER TO GET THEM INTO JUDSON ISC AND SOME OF THE OTHER SCHERTZ UNIVERSAL CITY CIBOLO SCHOOL DISTRICT AND SOME OF THE OTHERS, EAST CENTRAL CISD, WHERE THE COMMISSIONER GRADUATED FROM.
SO WE WANT TO MAKE SURE WE WORK WITH YOU TO DO THAT.
ANY FURTHER COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS.
LET ME, LET ME. OH, COMMISSIONER MOODY, GO AHEAD.
SORRY. I'LL JUST CIRCLE BACK HERE.
I APPLAUD YOUR EFFORTS, YOUR SUPPORT FOR THE COMMUNITY.
AGAIN, MY POSITION IS JUST, YOU KNOW, HOW CAN WE MINIMIZE THE THE REQUIREMENT ON PUBLIC DOLLARS? HOW CAN WE LEVERAGE PRIVATE DOLLARS FIRST AND HOW CAN WE MOVE IN THAT DIRECTION? THAT'S MY ONLY POSITION HERE.
WELL, LET ME CLOSE WITH MY COMMENTS.
I TAKE ALL THE COMMENTS MADE FROM THE DIOCESE VERY SERIOUSLY AND AGREE WITH ALL OF THEM.
THEY ALL BRING A CERTAIN PERSPECTIVE AND AN OPINION TO THE TO THE DIOCESE AND TO YOU.
YOU ALL OF YOU HAVE MET WITH ME.
AND SO I THINK I'M NOT SAYING ANYTHING DIFFERENT THAN WHAT I'M SAYING NOW.
SO WITH THAT, I'LL CALL FOR A VOTE.
I BELIEVE WE HAVE A MOTION BY COMMISSIONER RODRIGUEZ, SECOND BY COMMISSIONER CLAY-FLORES HEARING.
ANY OTHER DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE.
AYE. ALL THOSE OPPOSED? ALL THOSE IN ABSTENTION.
JUDGE, I APOLOGIZE IF I COULD FOR A MOMENT, I'D LIKE TO RECOGNIZE OUR ALAMO COLLEGES INTERN.
SURE. SHE HAD TO LEAVE EARLIER.
SHE. SHE'S ABSOLUTELY KILLING IT.
AS YOU MENTIONED, COMMISSIONER CALVERT, WE HAVE.
WE'D LOVE TO HAVE AN ARCHITECTURE AND ENGINEERING INTERN.
I THINK RENEE AND I ARE ACTUALLY WORKING ON THAT AS WELL.
SHE'S ABSOLUTELY DOING A FANTASTIC JOB FOR US AND WE'RE HAPPY TO HAVE HER.
ALL RIGHT. WE'RE GOING TO TAKE UP ITEM 51 APPROVAL OF A RESOLUTION APPROVING THE FINANCING OF MAXIMUM PRINCIPAL AMOUNT, $35 MILLION BY THE NEW HOPE CULTURAL EDUCATION FACILITIES FINANCE CORPORATION FOR CAPITAL EXPENDITURES ASSOCIATED WITH THE RETIREMENT COMMUNITY.
MORNINGSIDE AT MENGER SPRINGS, LOCATED AT 607 HUNDRED BLOCKS OF BABCOCK ROAD, SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS.
COMMISSIONER MOODY, I BELIEVE YOU ASKED FOR INDIVIDUAL CONSIDERATION.
YEAH, I'D JUST LIKE TO UNDERSTAND WHAT WE'RE VOTING ON.
OKAY. I ACTUALLY HAVE REPRESENTATIVES FROM MCCALL.
PARKHURST. HIS NAME IS ABE BENAVIDES.
THAT'S THE BOND COUNSEL THAT'S WORKING THIS DEAL.
AS PART OF THIS FINANCING, I'LL GIVE A QUICK LEGAL OVERVIEW OF WHAT THE ACTUAL LEGAL APPROVAL IS, AND THEN I'LL LET PAT INTRODUCE HIMSELF AND TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHAT THE ACTUAL PROJECT IS THAT THE FUNDS WOULD BE USED ON.
SO THE THE LEGAL APPROVAL THAT MORNINGSIDE MINISTRIES NEEDS IS A 500 AND 1C3 TO BENEFIT FROM TAX EXEMPT BOND FINANCING IS A SPECIFIC IRS CODE REQUIREMENT THAT THEY SEEK CONSENT FROM A LOCAL GOVERNMENTAL ENTITY IN WHICH THE PROJECT IS LOCATED. SO HERE THIS IS A MORNINGSIDE MINISTRIES CAMPUS IN SAN ANTONIO IN PRECINCT TWO.
IT'S A IT'S A VERY NARROW LEGAL REQUIREMENT UNDER THE INTERNAL REVENUE CODE.
THAT'S NOT IN ANY WAY SOMETHING THAT OBLIGATES THE COUNTY WITH RESPECT TO THESE BONDS.
THE BONDS ARE ALL ALL OBLIGATIONS WITH RESPECT TO THE BONDS.
RUN BACK TO MORNINGSIDE MINISTRIES IS THEY'RE RESPONSIBLE FOR REPAYMENT, NOT THE COUNTY.
[02:15:01]
IT'S SIMPLY A PROCEDURAL HOOP THAT THEY NEED TO JUMP THROUGH IN ORDER TO GET TAX EXEMPT BOND FINANCING.I'LL LET PAT EXPLAIN SORT OF WHAT THE PROJECT IS.
WE WERE FOUNDED IN 1959, AND WE'VE BEEN IN CONTINUOUS OPERATION SINCE 1961.
AND SO WE HAVE IN ADDITION TO THE BOND FINANCING, WE HAVE EXECUTED A CAPITAL CAMPAIGN, AND WE'VE ALMOST REACHED OUR GOAL OF $10 MILLION TO REINVEST IN THAT CAMPUS.
OKAY, SO JUST TO CLARIFY, WE ARE JUST APPROVING AUTHORIZING YOU GUYS TO GO OUT AND RAISE MONEY THAT THERE WILL BE TAX EXEMPT BONDS, BUT WE ARE NOT IN ANY WAY THIS IS NOT HAVING A FISCAL IMPACT ON THE COUNTY.
OKAY. I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE WE WERE CLEAR.
WE GOT SOME INFORMATION, BUT BUT IT WASN'T ENTIRELY CLEAR.
JUDGE. YES, IF I COULD I JUST WANTED TO THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.
I KNOW I'VE HAD A LONG HISTORY WITH MORNINGSIDE.
IS THE MEADOWS ALSO PART OF THE MORNINGSIDE UMBRELLA AS WELL? SO? SO THE MEADOWS, THIS IS THE MEADOWS CAMPUS CAMPUS THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT.
AND JUST TO BE CLEAR, SO WE OPERATE CONTINUING CARE RETIREMENT COMMUNITIES.
AND SO ALL OF THAT WILL BE HAPPENING AND IS IMPACTED BY THIS, THIS FINANCING ON THAT CAMPUS.
OKAY. AND THEN I THINK ON YOUR CAMPUS, YOU ALSO HOUSE THE OASIS PROGRAM AS WELL.
ANY OF THESE IMPROVEMENTS GOING TO IMPACT OASIS.
GREAT. WELL, THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU DO, JUDGE I'D MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE.
I'LL SECOND I HAVE ALSO QUESTIONS.
WHAT'S THE POPULATION OF THE TARGET POPULATION OF SENIORS.
SO SO WHEN YOU SAY IT'S TARGET POPULATION ARE YOU TALKING SOCIOECONOMIC LEVEL? YES. SO SO WE WE SERVE PEOPLE REGARDLESS OF THEIR ABILITY TO PAY.
SO ON THIS CAMPUS, WE HAVE ABOUT 40 PEOPLE THAT ARE DEPENDENT ON THE MEDICAID PROGRAM AND SKILLED NURSING, WHICH IS ONE OF THE WAYS WE PROVIDE CHARITABLE SERVICES. THE OTHER WAY WE PROVIDE CHARITABLE SERVICES IS PEOPLE SPEND DOWN THEIR RESOURCES.
THEN WE THROUGH FUNDRAISING AND THROUGH INVESTMENTS THAT WE'VE ACQUIRED THROUGH FUNDRAISING OVER THE YEARS, WE SUPPLEMENT THEIR INCOME TO BE ABLE TO CONTINUE TO LIVE WITH US. SO. SO I'VE BEEN THE PRESIDENT AND CEO OF MORNINGSIDE FOR SEVEN YEARS NOW, AND WE'VE NEVER ASKED ANYONE TO LEAVE, REGARDLESS OF THEIR ABILITY TO PAY.
THAT'S GREAT. THANK YOU. YEAH.
ANY FURTHER DISCUSSIONS? ALL RIGHT. MOTION BY COMMISSIONER RODRIGUEZ, SECOND BY COMMISSIONER CLAY-FLORES.
ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE.
AYE. ANY OPPOSED? ANY ABSTENTIONS.
I BELIEVE COUNCIL OR COMMISSIONERS COURT.
IS THERE ANY OTHER INDIVIDUAL ITEMS I HAVE MISSED? IF NONE, WE'LL GO BACK ON TO THE TO THE AGENDA.
I'M GETTING TO YOU. ALL RIGHT.
PLEASE BE PAID. WE'RE GOING TO GET TO YOU REAL QUICK HERE.
[7. Filing for record the following legal and administrative documents and directing the Criminal District Attorney's Office to take action, if necessary: a. FY24 Budget Discretionary Fund 113 - Fire Marshal LEOSE Fund. b. Public Official Bond for Barbara E. Scharf-Zeldes, Judge Probate Court No. 3. c. Summons in a Civil Action directed to Peter Sakai, Re: Paul Vasquez and Lupe Martinez Vasquez, et al. vs. Bexar County of Texas Sheriff of Bexar County, et al, Civil Action No. 23-CV-01234.]
TO TAKE ACTION IF NECESSARY.A THROUGH C, THE COURT WILL TAKE NOTE OF THOSE DOCUMENTS AND WE'LL MOVE ON.
NUMBER EIGHT, COMMISSIONERS COURT MINUTES FOR TUESDAY, OCTOBER 10TH, 2023.
[8. Commissioners Court minutes for Tuesday, October 10, 2023. ]
MOTION TO APPROVE THE MINUTES.MOTION BY COMMISSIONER RODRIGUEZ, SECOND BY COMMISSIONER MOODY.
ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE.
AYE. ANY OPPOSED? ANY ABSTENTIONS.
[9. Communications from citizens who signed the register to speak. ]
WE HAVE QUITE A FEW CITIZENS.IT APPEARS THAT SOME ARE HERE AS A GROUP, AND I WILL HAVE A THREE MINUTE TIME LIMIT.
I WILL ALLOW YOU ALL TO SPEAK IF YOU WANT TO YIELD YOUR TIME.
WOULD Y'ALL PLEASE COME UP AS A GROUP? AND THIS NOTE IF YOU'RE GOING TO YIELD TO A CERTAIN SPEAKER.
ALL RIGHT. SO WITH THAT WE'LL START WITH AMANDA THOMAS.
[02:20:04]
AMANDA, WHERE ARE YOU? SHE WAS HERE.OKAY, WELL, I'LL CIRCLE BACK TO HER IF SHE GETS BACK INTO THE COURT.
I'M HERE TO TALK TO YOU ALL TODAY BECAUSE OUR BEXAR COUNTY SHERIFFS ARE LITERALLY IN THE NEWS FOR HOW MANY DEATHS ARE HAPPENING IN THE JAIL. I'M HERE WITH THE FAMILY OF EMMANUEL MORA.
THEY STILL HAVEN'T RECEIVED THE BODY CAMERA FOOTAGE.
NO FOOTAGE HAS BEEN RELEASED TO THE PUBLIC.
AND YOU ALL PUSHED TO HAVE A TEN DAY POLICY FOR THE RELEASE OF FOOTAGE.
AND I KNOW THEY'RE NOT THE ONLY FAMILY THAT'S FIGHTING FOR FOOTAGE FROM THE BEXAR COUNTY SHERIFF'S.
YOU GUYS ARE SILENT WHEN FOLKS ARE DYING IN THE JAIL.
WE NEED YOU TO STAND WITH THE FAMILIES, AND I AM ASKING FOR YOU GUYS TO DO WHAT YOU CAN TO PRESS FOR THIS BODY CAMERA FOOTAGE TO COME OUT FOR WHATEVER FOOTAGE RELATED TO CUSTODIAL DEATHS IN THE JAIL ARE HAPPENING.
THEY ARE NOT TALKING TO THEM WHEN THEY DO SEE THE BODY CAMERA FOOTAGE.
IF THEY GET TOO UPSET, THEY ARE KICKING THEM OUT OF THE OFFICE.
CAN YOU IMAGINE SEEING YOUR LOVED ONE'S LAST MOMENTS AND BEING TOLD YOU HAVE TO GET KICKED OUT OF THE OFFICE BECAUSE YOU'RE BEING EMOTIONAL? YOU GUYS ARE FAILING US.
I NEED YOU TO ADDRESS THIS BODY CAMERA POLICY.
IT NEEDS TO BE ON THE NEXT AGENDA.
AND WE NEED TO DO SOMETHING FOR THEM BECAUSE THEY HAVE NO SUPPORT SYSTEM.
AND YOU ARE OUR ELECTED OFFICIALS.
HELLO. GOOD MORNING, JUDGE AND COMMISSIONERS, I'M VALERIE RAYFORD.
I AM A RESIDENT OF PRECINCT FOUR.
YOU MUST PASS A 20 QUESTION TEST TO GET PEOPLE TO FILL IN TEN QUESTIONS THAT THEY KNOW THE ANSWER TO THEIR NAME, THEIR ADDRESS, THEIR DATE OF BIRTH, THE LAST FOUR OF THEIR SOCIAL OR THEIR DRIVER'S LICENSE NUMBER.
AND THEN YOU HAVE FIVE DAYS TO GET THOSE FORMS TURNED IN, INCLUDING THE WEEKENDS.
AND THE OFFICE IS NOT OPEN ON THE WEEKENDS.
THE CONSEQUENCE USED TO BE 24 HOURS.
HOWEVER, LAST YEAR OUR ELECTIONS DEPARTMENT DECIDED TO TURN THAT BAN FROM 24 HOURS TO 30 DAYS.
THEY IMPLEMENTED A 30 DAY BAN FOR IMPERFECT FORMS, AND ONLINE VOTER REGISTRATION IS NOT ALLOWED.
BEXAR COUNTY MAY HAVE SOME OF THE MOST RESTRICTIVE VOTER VOTER REGISTRATION RULES IN THE STATE.
AND WHY ARE PUNISHMENTS SO HARSH FOR PEOPLE VOLUNTEERING TO REGISTER AND ENGAGE WITH YOUR CONSTITUENTS, ESPECIALLY WHEN THE COUNTY DOES NOT AND HAS NOT PUT ON ANY VOTER REGISTRATION EFFORTS THAT I AM AWARE OF? ON NOVEMBER 4TH, 2020, JACKIE CALLINAN SAID THAT 2020 WAS HER LAST PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION AND HERE WE ARE MONTHS AWAY FROM A PRIMARY AND THE COUNTY HAS NOT EVEN POSTED A JOB DESCRIPTION.
IT IS PAST TIME FOR A NEW ELECTIONS ADMINISTRATOR.
WE NEED ONE WHO IS ENGAGED AND WORKING FOR THE PEOPLE.
AND I WOULD LIKE THE COUNTY TO POST A JOB DESCRIPTION AND BEGIN INTERVIEWS IN DECEMBER, AS THIS POSITION IS IMPORTANT AND NEEDS TO BE FILLED BEFORE THE NEXT PRIMARY. THANK YOU.
THANK YOU, MISS RADFORD, BELLA NIETO.
AND THEN THERE'S ALSO A JADA VALDEZ WITH RISING TEXAS RISING.
[02:25:03]
BELLA NIETO.I'M GOING TO JUDGE. GOOD MORNING COMMISSIONERS.
FIRST I WANT TO I'VE READ IT ONCE BEFORE, BUT IT NEEDS TO BE READ AGAIN.
IT'S AS ARTHUR ROCKOWITZ HAVING AIDS PROGNOSIS, A SPEECH IMPAIRMENT WHICH AT TIMES MAY CAUSE SLUR OR DIFFICULT SPEECH.
IT IS NOT MY INTENT TO BECOME DIFFICULT DUE MY INJURIES, ONLY TO COMMUNICATE CLEARLY TO THOSE AS A RECIPIENT MAY UNDERSTANDABLY COMPREHEND, AND PERHAPS THOSE WITH ANY CONCERNS WHICH ON OCCASION MAY ARISE DURING UNUSUAL CIRCUMSTANCES OR SITUATIONAL AWARENESS, IS UNWARRANTED.
THOSE WITH THESE CONCERNS MAY FURTHER ENDANGER MY WELLNESS.
AS THE PERSON I AM SPEAKING BEFORE THIS COMMISSION ON TWO ON TWO ISSUES. FIRST, I WOULD LIKE TO ASK COMMISSIONER CALVERT AS OTHER COMMISSIONERS THIS PAST YEAR, WE HAVE EXTREME TEMPERATURES THAT ARISE OVER 100 DEGREES.
WHAT PROVISIONS HAVE THE COMMISSIONERS PUT IN PLACE IN CASE THIS EPISODE HAS REPEATED ITSELF ON THE EMPLOYEES OF THE COUNTY INFRASTRUCTURE AS A WORKERS? THIS WAY, IT'S ALSO PART OF THE BUDGET BECAUSE OF THE FACT THAT THEY WILL BE SITTING IDLE DURING THESE WORK HOURS, AND HAS THE COMMISSIONERS APPROACH THE IDEA THAT THEY MAY HAVE TO WORK AT NIGHT, JUST LIKE I HAVE TO, SOMETIMES LATE IN THE EVENING DUE TO THE EXTREME HEAT CONDITIONS? HAS THAT BEEN LOOKED AT, COMMISSIONER CALVERT? LET ME INTERRUPT, MR. ACCURATE. YOU HAVE THREE MINUTES.
IF YOU ENGAGE WITH COMMISSIONER CALVERT, YOUR TIME IS RUNNING.
PLEASE CONTINUE. OKAY, THEN THE NEXT ISSUE IS THE BEXAR COUNTY SHERIFF.
THE BEXAR COUNTY SHERIFF MADE A PRESENTATION.
IT IS MY PERSONAL VIEW AS A CITIZEN OF BEXAR COUNTY, THAT SHERIFF SALAZAR SHOULD BE PRESENT AT ALL COMMISSIONERS MEETING BECAUSE HE WOULD GET A BIRD'S EYE VIEW OF THE COUNTY'S ISSUES.
BURKE, SHERIFF SALAZAR AMID IT THAT THERE IS A MORALE ISSUE.
I HAVE TWO DEPUTIES THAT HAVE APPROACHED ME THAT COLLABORATE.
WHAT? SHERIFF SALAZAR HAS SPOKEN THIS MORNING.
ONE. ONE DEPUTY APPROACHED ME THAT THERE WERE SHERIFFS THAT ARE SITTING UNDER A CANOPY BEING SHIELDED FROM THE HEAT, FOR ONE, BUT IS SITTING IDLE.
GO AHEAD AND WRAP UP. I WILL GO AHEAD AND DISASSOCIATE MYSELF WITH THE BARROW COUNTY SHERIFF AND NOT SEEK ANY MORE CALLS BECAUSE OF THE FACT THAT I HAD TO PRESENT EVIDENCE TO THE COUNTY, TO THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE, AND THEY FAIL TO ACT ON IT.
AND IN FACT, ONE TIME NEVER EVEN SHOWED UP.
I HAD TO GO TO THE SHERIFF TO PRESENT THAT.
I THINK THAT YOU NEED TO REANALYZE RE-ANALYSE.
REANALYZE THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT.
[02:30:07]
BUT THESE CONVERSATIONS, THIS FIGHT IS MOOT UNTIL WE REPLACE OUR ELECTIONS ADMINISTRATOR.JACKIE HAS REFUSED TO EVEN MEET WITH US TO DISCUSS THIS TOPIC.
SHE IS A HISTORY OF DISENFRANCHIZING PEOPLE, SPECIFICALLY VOTERS OF COLOR AND THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN PREVIOUSLY INCARCERATED BY REMOVING THEM FROM THE VOTING ROLLS AND BY CLOSING DOZENS OF POLLING LOCATIONS UNTIL SHE'S ORDERED BY A COURT TO REOPEN THEM.
COMMISSIONERS, YOUR CONSTITUENTS ARE THE ONES WHO ARE SUFFERING FROM THIS.
TEXAS CIVIL RIGHTS PROJECT IS PART OF THE ELECTION PROTECTION COALITION, ALONG WITH ORGANIZATIONS LIKE COMMON CAUSE, ACLU, NAACP LEGAL DEFENSE FUND, LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS AND OTHERS. AND WE RUN A HOTLINE THAT TEXANS CAN CALL WHEN THEY FACE ISSUES AT THE POLLS.
FROM 2014 TO NOW, WE'VE RECEIVED NEARLY 1500 COMPLAINTS FROM THIS COUNTY ALONE.
EACH OF YOU HAVE A COPY OF ALL OF THE COMPLAINTS THAT WE'VE RECEIVED.
I WANT TO SHARE SOME EXAMPLES WITH YOU ALL.
ONE REPORT SAYS ARRIVED AT 8 A.M.
TO PULL STILL IN LINE FOR HOURS LATER, AT LEAST ANOTHER HOUR UNTIL FRONT OF LINE, IF NOT MORE.
SAYS MANY PEOPLE ARE LEAVING HAS HEARD THERE ARE ONLY TEN MACHINES AVAILABLE.
HE WAS TOLD HE WAS INELIGIBLE TO VOTE IN THE OTHER RACES.
FOR EXAMPLE, MAYOR PROP A BECAUSE HE DIDN'T LIVE IN SAN ANTONIO.
THERE HAVE BEEN OTHER CALLS ABOUT THIS ISSUE TODAY AS WELL.
SHE WENT TO HER POLLING PLACE, WAS GIVEN PAPERWORK FOR A PROVISIONAL BALLOT.
BUT THE ELECTION JUDGE ULTIMATELY DIDN'T KNOW HOW TO PROCESS THIS KIND OF BALLOT, SOMETHING THAT THEY SHOULD HAVE BEEN TRAINED ON, AND AFTER AN HOUR, ENDED UP SENDING HER TO ANOTHER POLLING PLACE.
OUR VOTER WAS TOLD, I'M GOING TO TELL YOU WHAT HAPPENS.
YOUR VOTE IS NOT GOING TO COUNT.
AND THEN LATER, YOU JUST AREN'T GOING TO BE ABLE TO VOTE.
THESE PROBLEMS HAVE PERSISTED FOR YEARS.
JUDGE. COMMISSIONERS, YOU ALL DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT.
I STRONGLY URGE ALL COUNTY OFFICIALS INVOLVED TO BEGIN THE REPLACEMENT PROCESS IMMEDIATELY.
I URGE JUDGE SAKAI TO CALL A MEETING OF THE ELECTIONS COMMISSION AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.
IT'S TIME FOR THIS BODY AND THE ELECTIONS COMMISSION TO APPOINT AN E WHO WILL BE A TRUE LEADER AND ADVOCATE FOR FAIR AND ACCESSIBLE ELECTIONS IN THIS COUNTY, AND TO USE THE POWER OF YOUR OFFICE TO FIGHT FOR THE RIGHTS OF ALL BEXAR COUNTY VOTERS.
GOOD MORNING. I AM SELENA TORRES CHAVEZ AND I AM REPRESENTING MOVE TEXAS.
I AM HERE TO ASK FOR A POLLING LOCATION IN BEXAR COUNTY JAIL.
WHEN YOU THINK OF VOTING, WHAT'S THE FIRST THOUGHT THAT COMES TO MIND? WHEN I THINK ABOUT VOTING? I THINK ABOUT CHANGE NOT JUST FOR ME, BUT FOR MY FRIENDS, FAMILY AND THE PEOPLE IN MY COMMUNITY.
AND BY LEAVING THESE ELIGIBLE VOTERS WITH THEIR ONLY OPTION BEING MAIL AND MAIL IN VOTING, HAVING TO BEAT TIGHT DEADLINES AND HOPING THAT THEY'RE ABLE TO CAST EVERYTHING IN TIME, MANY PEOPLE OFTEN FIND IT UNRELIABLE AND GIVE UP HOPE TO BE ABLE TO VOTE, WHICH SHOULDN'T BE THE CASE.
VOTING SHOULDN'T BE A DIFFICULT PROCESS.
EVERYONE SHOULD BE ABLE TO CAST THEIR VOTE AND BE HEARD.
WE SEE THE DEMAND FOR THIS IN SAN ANTONIO, WITH CHANGES BEING IMPLEMENTED ALREADY WITHIN THE STATE OF TEXAS, WITH HOUSTON HAVING A POLLING LOCATION IN HARRIS COUNTY JAIL AND DALLAS AT DALLAS COUNTY JAIL.
SO WHY DOESN'T BEXAR COUNTY JAIL DESERVE ONE IN SAN ANTONIO? THE SUPREME COURT EVEN RULED THAT ELIGIBLE INCARCERATED INCARCERATED VOTERS CANNOT BE DENIED THE RIGHT TO VOTE.
WE SEE PROGRESS BEING MADE EVERY DAY IN TEXAS, AND YOU CAN BE PART OF THAT CHANGE.
I ASK YOU TO PLEASE CONSIDER ADDING A POLLING LOCATION IN BEXAR COUNTY IN BEXAR COUNTY JAIL.
[02:35:01]
THANK YOU AGAIN FOR YOUR TIME.THANK YOU. LET ME HAVE DYLAN VILLALON.
MY NAME IS DYLAN VILLALON AND I'M THE SOUTH COUNTY REGIONAL COORDINATOR FOR MOVE TEXAS MOVE! WE DO VOTER REGISTRATION, CIVIC ENGAGEMENT ALL ACROSS THE STATE OF TEXAS.
I'M HERE WITH THE COALITION FROM HERE IN SAN ANTONIO WHO ARE HERE TO ADVOCATE FOR TWO THINGS.
I WON'T GO INTO SOME OF THE DETAILS THAT WERE SHARED BY SOME OF MY COLLEAGUES TODAY, OF WHICH THERE ARE MANY, BUT I THINK WE ALL KNOW HERE THAT JACKIE HAS BEEN A SILENT OBSTACLE FOR ELECTIONS ACCESS HERE IN SAN ANTONIO FOR QUITE SOME TIME NOW.
THE THE FOLKS WHO ARE OUT REGISTERING PEOPLE TO VOTE THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE CITY DAY IN AND DAY OUT.
IT'S ONLY BECOME MORE DIFFICULT.
SO I'M HERE TO NOT ONLY CALL FOR JUDGE TAKAI TO PUT THIS ON THE AGENDA FOR THE NEXT MEETING, TO START THE CONVERSATION, FOR A REPLACEMENT FOR JACKIE, BUT ALSO TO IMPLORE THE ENTIRE COMMISSION HERE TO ADVOCATE FOR ACCESSIBLE VOTING ACROSS THE STATE OF TEXAS, ESPECIALLY, OR ACROSS THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO.
I KNOW THERE'S ALREADY SUPPORT FOR JAIL BASED VOTING ON THE COMMISSION AND HERE IN SAN ANTONIO.
SO I ASK THAT YOU GET THE CONVERSATION STARTED SO WE CAN BRING JAIL BASED VOTING TO OUR INCARCERATED FOLKS, TO THE FOLKS WHO ARE ELIGIBLE TO VOTE IN BEXAR COUNTY JAIL HERE IN SAN ANTONIO. AND AGAIN, I ALSO IMPLORE JUDGE SAKAI, YOU HAVE THE POWER TO GET THIS CONVERSATION STARTED.
I HOPE TODAY IS AN EXAMPLE AND IS REPRESENTATIVE OF THE SENTIMENT THAT THE COMMUNITY IS HOLDING TOWARDS ONE OF OUR OFFICIALS THAT'S APPOINTED BY THIS BODY HERE IN FRONT OF ME TODAY. SO I IMPLORE YOU TO LISTEN TO YOUR CITIZENS AND THANK YOU FOR HOSTING US.
AND THANK YOU FOR LISTENING TO US.
THANK YOU. HAVE A GOOD DAY. THANK YOU.
I LIKE TO ADDRESS THE COURT TODAY ON THE ISSUE OF BODY WORN CAMERA FOOTAGE.
THE CITIZENS RELY ON OUR ELECTED OFFICIALS TO HELP OTHER DEPARTMENTS AND ELECTED OFFICES ACCOUNTABLE, AND TO KEEP THEIR PROMISES IN ORDER TO OBTAIN MILLIONS MORE IN FUNDS FOR EQUIPMENT.
HOWEVER, WE ARE LEFT WITHOUT EXPLANATIONS WHEN WE LOSE FAMILY MEMBERS TO POLICE CUSTODY.
WE CAN ACHIEVE CLOSURE BY HAVING THOSE ANSWERS PROVIDED BY BODY CAMERA AND SECURITY CAMERA FOOTAGE.
THIS YEAR THERE HAS BEEN 12 DEATHS REPORTED IN THE JAIL.
THERE ARE 12 FAMILIES MOURNING AND LOOKING FOR ANSWERS.
THIS DEMANDS ANSWERS AND TRANSPARENCY.
SEPTEMBER 1ST, I SENT A REQUEST TO OPEN RECORDS FOR VIDEO FOOTAGE, AND ON SEPTEMBER 14TH I RECEIVED A RESPONSE STATING THAT THE MATERIAL REQUESTED IS BEING WITHHELD PURSUANT TO SECTION 502.108 AS IT RELATES TO PENDING CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION.
OUR LEGAL COUNSEL SUBMITTED A REQUEST AS WELL AND WAS TOLD THE SAME.
MY FAMILY HAS BEEN WAITING FOR 58 DAYS FOR BODY CAMERA FOOTAGE TO BE RELEASED.
THAT'S 58 DAYS LIVING IN ANGUISH AND DISCOMFORT.
HOW MANY MORE FAMILIES ARE SUFFERING LIKE MINE? I ASKED FOR COMMISSIONERS COURT TO REVISIT THE BODY CAMERA RELEASE POLICY AND PRESSURE BARROW COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE TO FOLLOW THE POLICY OR FACE CONSEQUENCES.
IS THERE ANYBODY'S NAME WE FAIL TO CALL? ALL RIGHT. THAT CONCLUDES CITIZENS TO BE HEARD.
YES, MR. CALVERT. I DO WANT TO RESPOND.
[02:40:02]
WE HAD SOME IMPORTANT ISSUES BROUGHT BEFORE THE COURT.THE ISSUE OF OUR BODY WORN CAMERA PROGRAM IS A VERY IMPORTANT ONE.
BUT THE POLICY OF THE COUNTY COMMISSIONER'S COURT WAS THAT WE WOULD NOT FUND THE BODY WORN CAMERA PROGRAM IF THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE DID NOT ABIDE BY A TEN DAY RELEASE.
THE TEN DAY RELEASE IS CREATED BY COMMISSIONER.
WELL, IT'S FIRST MOTION BY COMMISSIONER TRISH DEBERRY WAS CONSISTENT WITH THE OPEN RECORDS ACT OF TEXAS THAT WE FOLLOW TO HAVE RECORDS RELEASED WITHIN TEN DAYS, UNLESS THERE'S AN APPEAL, ETCETERA, ETCETERA.
THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE HAS LOOKED AT A 60 DAY POLICY THAT THEY CAME TO COURT WITH.
BUT WHAT WE WHAT WE AGREED TO AS A COURT WAS A TEN DAY.
SO I HOPE MY COLLEAGUES WILL REVIEW THAT VIDEO AND FIGURE OUT A WAY.
I DON'T YOU KNOW, I THINK IT'S THE 21ST CENTURY.
AND, YOU KNOW, THE THOUGHT IS, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE CAN'T HANDLE SEEING THESE ISSUES.
AND I JUST FUNDAMENTALLY DISAGREE WITH THAT.
I BELIEVE THAT WE KNOW THESE THINGS HAPPEN.
OUR COMMUNITIES KNOW THESE THINGS HAPPEN.
THAT'S WHAT THE PEOPLE ELECTED US TO DO.
WE UNDERSTAND CRIMINAL INVESTIGATIONS.
WE PAID 3 MILLION MORE DOLLARS IN A CONTRACT.
THAT IS ARGUABLE, THAT WE EVEN HAD TO DO THAT BECAUSE UPGRADES WERE INCLUDED IN THE CONTRACT.
BUT NOBODY REALLY READS THE FINE DETAILS.
BUT IN ANY EVENT, I JUST THINK THAT THESE DEATHS IN THE JAIL SHOULD REQUIRE THE ATTENTION OF THE COMMISSIONER'S COURT TO BE INVOLVED IN UNDERSTANDING IF THERE'S SOME WAY WE CAN HELP AND THAT THAT THAT MEANS TRAINING, THAT MEANS THINGS FOR MORALE, MENTAL HEALTH, MEDICAL.
THERE'S THERE'S A LOT OF THINGS THAT WE CAN LEARN AS, AS NOT ONLY COMMISSIONERS BUT AS A COMMUNITY.
AND I DO WANT TO SAY IT'S THE RIGHT THING TO DO TO GIVE SOME CLOSURE TO THE FAMILIES.
AND I'M SORRY FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO'VE BEEN THROWN OUT.
I THINK THERE NEEDS TO BE A LOT MORE UNDERSTANDING.
THESE ARE THESE ARE EMOTIONAL THINGS AND WE SHOULD BE AS A COUNTY.
JUST MORE PEOPLE CENTERED WHEN IT COMES TO A LEVEL OF UNDERSTANDING WITH RESPECT TO OUR VOTING, ALL RIGHTS DERIVED FROM VOTING RIGHTS.
THIS THIS STACK DOESN'T INCLUDE THE STACK THAT MY FATHER HAS IN HIS HOUSE FROM.
IT IS THE RIGHT THING TO BEGIN TO HONOR JACKIE'S WORD, TO HAVE IT BE HER LAST PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION.
WE DO NEED TO PUT ON THE COURT AGENDA THE ELECTIONS BOARD TO MEET AND CONVENE.
I DON'T THINK THEY'VE MET IN 11 YEARS AND BEGIN THE WAY TO FIND A LESS REPRESSIVE WAY OF ADMINISTERING ELECTIONS.
VOTER REGISTRATION IS AS AMERICAN AS APPLE PIE, AND THERE IS NOTHING THAT SHOULD BE PUNITIVE FROM OUR IN OUR NAMES IN THIS COMMISSIONER'S COURT NAME. BECAUSE WE EMPOWER ALONG WITH THE ELECTIONS BOARD, WE EMPOWER THE FUNDING AND WE, IN ESSENCE, ARE SIGNING OFF ON THIS MORATORIUM. AND I VENTURE TO SAY, I DON'T KNOW, I HAVEN'T DONE ALL THE HOMEWORK, BUT I WILL DO THE HOMEWORK BY THE NEXT MEETING.
[02:45:01]
BECAUSE THE I MEAN, I DON'T EVEN KNOW IF IT'S PERMISSIBLE UNDER THE LAW.WE HAVE TO LOOK AT WHAT THE LAW IS.
IF THERE IS ANY LAW THAT THE ELECTIONS ADMINISTRATOR IS EXPANDING, THE 30 DAYS, 24 HOURS, YOU KNOW, IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO COOL DOWN AND CHECK OUT WHAT'S GOING ON AND REEVALUATE THE VOTER REGISTRATION EFFORTS.
BUT WHEN THE WHEN THE WHOLE OF THE VOTING, OR AT LEAST A LARGE PERCENTAGE OF THE VOTING RIGHTS ORGANIZATIONS REPRESENTED HERE TODAY POINT TO US THEIR DISSATISFACTION WITH OUR ELECTIONS ADMINISTRATOR, WE BETTER LISTEN.
THANK YOU. CAN I JUST ASK A QUESTION? COMMISSIONER CLAY-FLORES.
HOW DOES THAT HOW DO WE JUSTIFY THAT? WELL, COMMISSIONER, I DO WANT TO CAUTION THE COURT ABOUT DELIBERATING ABOUT THIS ISSUE, BUT THE COURT HAS THE.
THIS WAS A NEGOTIATION, BUT THE SHERIFF IS AN ELECTED OFFICIAL.
ANYTHING ELSE? ALL RIGHT, LET'S TAKE UP THE INDIVIDUAL ITEMS. ITEM 63 PRESENTATION.
[63. Presentation, discussion and appropriate action regarding an American Rescue Plan Act Grant Agreement between Bexar County and Spectrum Gulf Coast, LLC, ("Spectrum") beginning upon execution and ending September 30, 2026 in an amount not to exceed $5,416,602 to include any appropriate budget transfer necessary]
DISCUSSION. APPROPRIATE ACTION REGARDING AN AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN ACT GRANT AGREEMENT BETWEEN BURKE COUNTY AND SPECTRUM GULF COAST, LLC.BEGINNING UPON EXECUTION ENDING SEPTEMBER 30TH, 2026, AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $5,416,602 TO INCLUDE ANY APPROPRIATE BUDGET TRANSFER NECESSARY.
TODAY, THE COURT WILL BEGIN THE PROCESS WITH APPROVAL OF THIS ITEM.
THIS IS THE FIRST OF UP TO FOUR PHASES, SO I WANT THE PUBLIC AND THE COURT TO UNDERSTAND THAT WE ARE GOING TO CONTINUE TO SERVE OUR COMMUNITY, ESPECIALLY UNINCORPORATED AND SUBURBAN CITIES.
MARK GAGER AND I'M ALSO GOING TO ASK THAT, THOMAS, CAN YOU PLEASE, BOTH OF Y'ALL PROVIDE THE COURT WITH INFORMATION REGARDING THE PHASED APPROACH AND WHAT DIRECTION DEFENDING YOU NEED FROM THE COURT TO MOVE FORWARD AND EXPEND THESE DOLLARS AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE? MR. GAGER, THANK YOU AND GOOD MORNING, JUDGE.
I WAS GOING TO SAY FIRST THAT JUST A REMINDER.
THIS CONTRACT THAT WE'RE BRINGING FORWARD TODAY, AND THIS PRESENTATION IS PRIMARILY AROUND THE FIRST TEN CENSUS TRACKS THAT WERE IDENTIFIED BY ESSAR DIGITAL, CONNECTS AND COORDINATION WITH THE COUNTY AND RELEASED AS AN RFP FOR RESPONSE FROM OUR FROM ISPS.
WE PARTNERED WITH THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO.
AGAIN, WE HAD 11 CENSUS TRACKS ACTUALLY, AT THE TIME.
WE GOT RESPONSE ON TEN OF THEM BECAUSE THE 11TH IS HANDLED AS BUSINESS AS USUAL FROM SPECTRUM.
THERE WERE A SMALL NUMBER OF HOUSEHOLDS IN THAT 11TH CENSUS TRACK.
THE INTENT WAS FOR ISPS TO RESPOND ON ALL ASPECTS OF DESIGN THROUGH BUILD OUT, TO PROVIDE THE INFRASTRUCTURE TO UNSERVED AND UNDERSERVED HOUSEHOLDS IN THOSE TEN CENSUS TRACKS OR THOSE TEN COMMUNITIES WITH QUALITY SPEEDS, 100 MEGABITS DOWNLOAD 20MBPS UPLOAD AT AN AFFORDABLE RATE.
ALSO THAT THEY WOULD PARTNER WITH THE ACP PROGRAM THAT IS A FEDERAL PROGRAM.
BEXAR COUNTY, AS A REMINDER, WILL NOT OWN ANY PART OF THIS INFRASTRUCTURE, WILL NOT ACT AS AN ISP.
THEY WILL HANDLE THE SERVICE OF THE ACCOUNTS AND THE MAINTENANCE OF THE INFRASTRUCTURE.
AND I THINK THE LAST BULLET HERE IS THE INTENT IS THAT THIS IS THE INITIAL PHASE.
WE GOT FOUR RESPONSES SELECTED SPECTRUM AT THE END OF DECEMBER.
GOT AUTHORITY TO NEGOTIATE WITH SPECTRUM FROM COMMISSIONERS COURT IN MARCH OF 2023.
AND WE'RE BRINGING THE CONTRACT TODAY.
TOTAL PROJECT COST IS 31 MILLION, OR APPROXIMATELY 31 MILLION, WITH A $26 MILLION CONTRIBUTION FROM SPECTRUM, OR 83% OF THE TOTAL COST SHARE. AND THEN BARROW COUNTY'S CONTRIBUTION IS 5,400,000, WITH A 17% COST SHARE.
[02:50:01]
THE PROJECT COVERS ABOUT 597 MILES OF BROADBAND INFRASTRUCTURE.AGAIN, 8700 HOUSEHOLDS EXPECTED TO BE COMPLETE WITHIN THE ARPA TIMELINE AT THE END OF DECEMBER.
SO THIS IS THE HIGHLIGHT OF THE CENSUS TRACTS.
THAT WAS THE 11TH THAT WASN'T RESPONDED TO.
THERE WERE A HANDFUL OF HOUSEHOLDS IN THAT AREA.
SPECTRUM AGREED TO HANDLE AS BUSINESS AS USUAL.
I'M SORRY, INSPECTOR MARGARITA.
SO THEY'RE GOING TO BUILD IT OUT AS PART OF THEIR OPERATIONS.
SO I THOUGHT THERE MIGHT BE ADDITIONAL DISCUSSION.
SO IN UNINCORPORATED BEXAR COUNTY THEY'VE IDENTIFIED ANOTHER 1400.
SO FOR UNINCORPORATED BEXAR, THE 8700 PLUS THE 1400 WOULD COVER ALL PASSINGS THAT THEY PROVIDED US A HIGH LEVEL QUOTE OR A COST ESTIMATE.
LET ME JUST SAY, WITH OUR COST SHARE PERCENTAGE BEING A LOT HIGHER THAN IT IS IN THE ORIGINAL, IF WE WERE TO DO IT, BUT IT'S AT $6.1 MILLION, THEIR COST SHARE IS ABOUT 4 MILLION. IT'S BECAUSE IT'S A LOT LESS DENSE, SO THEY NEED TO COVER THEIR COSTS AT SOME POINT.
THEY HAVE A FORMULA THAT THEY USE IN ORDER TO DO THAT.
SO WE'RE NOT ACTING ON THIS TODAY.
THIS IS JUST FOR DISCUSSION AND INFORMATIONAL.
IT COULD RUN IN PARALLEL WITH THE PHASE ONE EFFORT.
THEY HAVEN'T ASSESSED OTHER SUBURBAN CITIES.
SO THE SUBURBAN CITIES THAT ARE IN THE TEN CENSUS TRACKS ARE COVERED.
SO ANYTHING IN THE TEN CENSUS TRACKS IS COVERED.
ANYTHING OUTSIDE OF THOSE TEN CENSUS TRACKS ISN'T RIGHT.
SO THE 1300 HOUSEHOLDS IS FOR OR PASSINGS IS FOR UNINCORPORATED BEXAR.
SO I HAVE REPRESENTATIVES FROM SPECTRUM HERE TODAY.
WE HAVE REPRESENTATIVES FROM ESSAR DIGITAL CONNECT, LAURA COLES HERE.
SO IF YOU GUYS HAVE ANY QUESTIONS.
WELL HOLD ON, I WANT TOM THOMAS.
IF YOU GOT ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION THEN I'LL OPEN UP FOR QUESTIONS.
AND ANYBODY ANY REPRESENTATIVES THAT NEED TO BE ASKED QUESTIONS.
GO AHEAD THOMAS. THANK YOU JUDGE.
AGAIN SINCE THIS ITEM IS FUNDED UNDER THE AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN ACT, BARRING THE DISCUSSION OR THE DISCUSSION, THAT ADDITIONAL DISCUSSION THAT MARK HAS PRESENTED TO YOU ALL BASED ON YOUR DIRECTION OF STAFF, WE WILL LOOK AT WHAT OPTIONS WE HAVE AVAILABLE TO THE COURT TO EXPEDITE TO YOUR TO YOUR DIRECTION.
JUDGE HOW BEST TO BRING BACK ANY AMENDMENTS OR SEPARATE AGREEMENTS IN A TIMELY FASHION.
SO WE'RE PREPARED TO DO THAT BASED ON COURT DISCUSSION UNDER DIRECTION OF STAFF.
ALL RIGHT. ANY QUESTIONS? COMMISSIONER CALVERT MARK, I DID A CALCULATION OF THE NORTH END OF THE COUNTY THAT WE TALKED ABOUT, AND IT IT CAME OUT BASED UPON THE NUMBERS THAT I GOT FROM YOUR OFFICE, ABOUT 7000 PER HOUSEHOLD AND EXPENDITURE FOR THE, FOR THE, FOR THE COUNTY THAT THAT WOULD BE FUNDED.
AND THAT'S PART OF THE REASON WE'RE NOT MOVING FORWARD WITH IT TODAY.
BUT DID YOU HAVE A SIMILAR CALCULATION? IT WAS JUST IT WAS SIMPLY LOOKING AT WHAT WAS THE AMOUNT THAT THE COUNTY WAS REQUIRED TO FUND AND DIVIDING IT BY THE NUMBER OF HOUSEHOLDS.
AND IT CAME OUT TO ABOUT 7000 PER HOUSEHOLD.
YEAH, THAT I DON'T THINK THOSE NUMBERS CAME FROM US, MAYBE A SPECTRUM.
SO I AND THOMAS AGUILAR MAY BE ABLE TO SPEAK TO IT BETTER.
AND SO SOME AREAS THAT MAY BE $7,000, SOME AREAS THAT MAY BE $25,000, SOME AREAS THAT MAY BE $3,000.
RIGHT. SO THE OVERALL AGGREGATE AND THE COST SHARE FOR THIS ORIGINAL PHASE WAS A LOT LESS FOR US.
BUT I DON'T I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE MATH IS ON 5.4 MILLION.
AND WE CAN WE DON'T HAVE TO ANSWER IT TODAY.
YEAH THEY CERTAINLY HAVE SOME.
I DON'T WANT TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THAT PLAN RIGHT NOW BECAUSE OF JUST THE SURFACE LEVEL COST PROHIBITIVE OR NOT IN A COST BENEFIT ANALYSIS MAY NOT BE THE BEST BECAUSE THE PRIVATE SECTOR MAY HAVE OPENED UP SOME OPTIONS IN TERMS OF SOME OF THE, YOU KNOW, HOTSPOT THINGS THAT THE CONSUMERS WE NEED.
I NEED MY OFFICE TO CHECK BACK WITH THE HOTSPOT, AND I DON'T MEAN A MOBILE HOTSPOT, BUT THE AREAS WE IDENTIFIED ON A MAP AS AREAS WHERE THERE WAS NOT CONNECTION, AND FIND OUT IF THOSE FAMILIES HAVE PURSUED OTHER PRIVATE SECTOR MARKET OPPORTUNITIES TO BE CONNECTED THAT WEREN'T AVAILABLE AT THE POINT THAT WE ACTUALLY HAD THE CONVERSATION. AND, YOU KNOW, WHEN THE PREVIOUS COURT WAS HERE AND WE BEGAN THIS INITIATIVE.
[02:55:03]
IF IT'S NOT, THEN WE CAN REALLOCATE THE ARPA MONEYS TO OTHER OTHER THINGS.BUT I THINK YOU WERE YOU'VE BEEN HERE A LONG TIME.
DO YOU RECALL? I DON'T KNOW IF YOU MANAGE THE PROJECT WE DID IN THE.
MAYBE IT WAS SOUTHWEST OR WEST WHERE WE HAD A TOWER FOR.
YEAH, BUT YOU RECALL WE BOUGHT A TOWER FOR INTERNET.
I THINK IT WAS IN SOUTHWEST ISD.
WAS THAT AROUND WHEN COVID FIRST HIT OR.
SO I THINK IT INVOLVED TO A TOWER.
OH. THANKS, LAURA. LAURA, YOU WERE RIGHT ABOUT THE TOWER.
THAT WAS A PILOT PROJECT DONE IN CONJUNCTION WITH SOUTHWEST RESEARCH INSTITUTE.
SO WHAT DID WE SPEND ON THAT? ABOUT $1 MILLION. ABOUT $1 MILLION.
THAT'S WHAT I RECALL. DID WE ACTUALLY PURCHASE A TOWER? IS THAT WHAT? NO, WE USED EXISTING TOWERS.
WE HAD TO DO SOME OTHER KIND OF.
UH, EXCUSE ME, I'M GOING TO BE I'M GOING TO BE AMISS WITH THE LANGUAGE.
BUT THERE WAS SOME SORT OF SHORT FREQUENCY RADIO TOWERS THAT WERE INSTALLED.
BUT WE DID USE EXISTING INFRASTRUCTURE.
I UNDERSTAND THE REASON I'M ASKING THAT QUESTION IS BECAUSE THERE ARE SOME COMMUNITIES THAT WE NEED TO LOOK AT, HAVE EMPLOYED THE USE OF TOWERS AND COMMUNITY INTERNET CONNECTIONS. AND THAT WAY, I'D LIKE TO KIND OF SEE THE EVALUATION WITH SOUTHWEST RESEARCH OF WHAT THE SUCCESS WAS WITH SOUTHWEST SCHOOL DISTRICT IN TERMS OF CONNECTIVITY. YEAH, I THINK I CAN PROBABLY GET YOU THAT INFORMATION.
THE REASON I'M GOING HERE IS BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, THERE WAS A TIME WHEN I WAS DOING A LOT OF RADIO TOWER RESEARCH BECAUSE I HAVE A RADIO STATION THAT I WOULD KNOW THE COSTS OF OPERATING A TOWER, BUT I DON'T REMEMBER NOW.
BUT I DO KNOW COMMISSIONER, FORMER COMMISSIONER MIKE NOVAK, HE IS AN OWNER OF TOWERS AND COULD PROBABLY TELL US ABOUT WHETHER OR NOT IN A COST BENEFIT ANALYSIS FOR SOME OF OUR AREAS THAT CURRENTLY DON'T HAVE INTERNET, WOULD IT SHOULD WE CONSIDER PUTTING BACK ON THE MARKET AN OPPORTUNITY FOR TOWER OPERATORS AND INTERNET TO BE CONNECTED IN THAT WAY AS AN OPTION? AND WE HAVE SOME PRECEDENTS FOR DOING IT BEFORE, BUT IT COULD BE A REVENUE GENERATOR FOR THE COUNTY.
AND WE COULD ALSO POTENTIALLY LOOK AT WE HAVE IN OUR RURAL PARTS OF UNINCORPORATED COUNTY, WE HAVE A LOT OF CELL PHONE ISSUES IN TERMS OF CONNECTIVITY.
SO MAKING SURE THAT WE HAD BETTER TOWER ACCESS FOR MOBILE COULD BE SOMETHING OF OF AGAIN, ANOTHER BENEFIT IN ADDITION TO THE CELL TOWERS.
SO I JUST WANT TO THROW THAT OUT AS A POTENTIAL RESEARCH LOOK TO SEE WHAT THE COST IS.
IF THE COUNTY PURCHASED A TOWER AND COULD MAKE MONEY OFF THE TOWER AND ACTUALLY MAYBE PAY FOR IT MORE THAN WE WOULD MORE THAN PAY FOR THE COST, POTENTIALLY, IF WE GET AT&T, VERIZON, T-MOBILE, ALL THE OTHER CELL PROVIDERS OR RADIO PROVIDERS TO TO HAVE A TOWER.
SO JUST A THOUGHT. I'M FULLY SUPPORTIVE.
THIS IS A VERY, VERY GOOD USE OF FUNDS.
AND I'M MOVED TO TO TO LET'S GET IT ON.
LET'S GET CONNECTED. ANY OTHER COMMISSIONER CLAY-FLORES.
IT TOOK LONGER THAN I WOULD HAVE LIKED.
OBVIOUSLY, A LARGE PART OF THE INITIAL PHASE ONE IS IN PRECINCT ONE, AND I HOPE WE CAN CONTINUE TO GET THE REST OF THE REST OF THE PEOPLE IN THE COUNTY ACCESS.
BUT CAN YOU JUST SPEAK A LITTLE BIT TO THE SPECIFICS OF THIS? AND I GUESS THE SPECIFIC QUESTION I HAVE IS, WHEN ARE RESIDENTS IN PRECINCT ONE TIMELINE GOING TO ACTUALLY BE ABLE TO? DOWNLOAD, UPLOAD ALL THAT STUFF.
SO FROM THAT PERSPECTIVE, IT I AGREE WITH YOU.
[03:00:08]
WE WILL START IMMEDIATELY AFTER THIS.WE'VE WE'VE DONE SOME GROUNDWORK ALREADY.
AND YOU KNOW OUR YOU SAID END OF FIRST QUARTER.
I'M TRYING TO DO THE MATH IN MY HEAD.
AND I'M NOT DOING A GOOD JOB RIGHT NOW.
BUT LET'S JUST SAY SECOND QUARTER OKAY.
BUT YOU'LL START TO SEE A LOT OF MOVEMENT.
AND SOME OF THE AREAS THAT ARE ACTUALLY CLOSER TO OUR EXISTING PLANT WILL BE ABLE TO BE CONNECTED PRETTY QUICKLY, WITH OUR GOAL OF COMPLETING ALL OF THEM BY THE END OF 2025 AND MOVING FORWARD TO WHAT I THINK WE'RE TALKING ABOUT, THE SECOND PHASE, THE LAST TIME WE WERE IN FRONT OF THE COMMISSIONERS COURT, YOU ALL ASKED US TO DO AN ANALYSIS OF OF ALL THE OTHER UNSERVED LOCATIONS WITHIN THE COUNTY.
AND SO WE'VE DONE THAT. WE'VE GOT THAT READY TO GO.
AND THEN FOR OUR PHASE THREE WE'RE LOOKING, YOU KNOW, NO MORE THAN 30 DAYS.
WE'LL HAVE EVERYTHING FOR YOU ALL.
IF YOU ALL ARE LOOKING TO TO MOVE FORWARD PRETTY QUICKLY.
SO BECAUSE THESE ARE ARPA FUNDS AND KNOWING HOW LONG IT'S TAKEN US TO GET TO THIS POINT, IF WE DECIDE TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THE NEXT PHASES, WHAT'S THE DEADLINE THAT WE NEED TO GO AHEAD AND MAKE SURE WE PASS THAT AT COMMISSIONERS COURT TO MAKE SURE WE USE UP THE ARPA FUNDS TO GET THE REST OF THE COUNTY CONNECTED.
SO THEY'LL HAVE THE DOLLARS HAVE TO BE USED BEFORE I THINK IT'S SEPTEMBER 2026 OR DECEMBER 2026, BUT THE THE OPPORTUNITY TO BUILD OUT THE REST OF IT, YOU KNOW, WE CAN START AS SOON AS ANOTHER AMENDMENT, I GUESS, OR A CONTRACT IS PASSED.
AND SO WE BELIEVE THAT WE CAN GET THOSE COMPLETED BEFORE THE END OF 2026.
AND WHAT'S YOUR OPINION ON INTERNET CONNECTIVITY? FROM TOWER CONNECTIONS.
HOW DOES THAT WORK? IS THAT FEASIBLE? YOU KNOW, IT WORKS IN RURAL COMMUNITIES, BUT WITH WHAT WE'RE DOING HERE IN BURKE COUNTY AND COVERING MOST OF THE SOUTHERN PART OF BURKE COUNTY, SOUTHEAST, SOUTHWEST, YOU KNOW, CONNECTIVITY WILL BE AROUND JUST ABOUT ANYBODY IN THOSE THOSE OUTLYING AREAS.
I THINK IF YOU ASK ME THAT, OBVIOUSLY THE RELIABILITY IS MORE OF A HARD CONNECTION, YOU KNOW, TO THE HOUSEHOLD, THE, THE, THE TOWERS ACTUALLY HAVE SOME CHALLENGES, YOU KNOW, BASED ON WEATHER AND TREES AND THERE'S ALL KINDS OF OTHER ISSUES THAT COME INTO PLAY.
YOU KNOW, SO IT'S I WOULD SAY IT'S LESS RELIABLE THAN A HARD CONNECTION.
THANK YOU SO MUCH. HAS THERE BEEN A MOTION YET? THERE'S A MOTION.
JUDGE I'LL BE BRIEF. THOMAS, I KNOW WE'VE MET A NUMBER OF TIMES, AND WE'VE HAD THIS CONVERSATION.
YOU KNOW, I THINK WHEN THIS COURT MADE THE COMMITMENT TO PUT A SIGNIFICANT INVESTMENT INTO BROADBAND WITH ARPA DOLLARS, THE IDEA WAS LOOK AT THOSE AREAS THAT NEED IT THE MOST.
RIGHT? LET'S MAKE IT NEED BASED.
AND SO I'M SUPPORTIVE OF WHAT YOU'RE DOING.
I REALIZE THAT IT IS GOING TO IMPACT MY COLLEAGUES IN PRECINCT ONE AND PRECINCT FOUR THE MOST.
AND SO BUT THAT'S WHERE THE NEED IS, RIGHT? AND I JUST HAPPEN TO HAVE AN AREA THAT DOES NOT HAVE A LARGE AREA OF UNINCORPORATED LAND MASS.
SO, YOU KNOW, I GUESS JUST TO MENTION, I KNOW WE'VE GOT DOLLARS OUT THERE.
I KNOW WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THE AFFORDABILITY PIECE, BECAUSE I THINK THAT EVEN AREAS WITHIN MY PRECINCT THAT NOW ARE ADDRESSED, EITHER THROUGH THE CITY'S COMMITMENT OR OTHERWISE, IT'S MORE OF AN AFFORDABILITY AND ACCESS PIECE FOR MY CONSTITUENTS.
SO THAT'S A CONVERSATION FOR ANOTHER DAY.
OBVIOUSLY, THE INFRASTRUCTURE PIECE IS BIG.
AND I THINK THANKS TO THIS PARTNERSHIP WE'RE MAKING SOME INROADS.
BUT I WANT TO MAKE SURE WE CONTINUE THAT CONVERSATION.
I KNOW THERE'S OTHER DOLLARS OUT THERE.
THERE'S STATE AND FEDERAL DOLLARS.
BUT I JUST, YOU KNOW, AND ADVOCATING FOR MY CONSTITUENTS IN PRECINCT TWO, THAT IS A PROBABLY A MORE SIGNIFICANT HURDLE THAN HAVING INFRASTRUCTURE IN THE GROUND, RIGHT? I MEAN, THEY'VE GOT IT. THEY JUST CAN'T AFFORD IT.
SO BUT AGAIN, I'M SUPPORTIVE OF THIS MOVING IT FORWARD.
[03:05:04]
COURT. SO YEAH. WELL THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER.AND SO THERE 100% ARE IN JUDGE SAKAI'S DISTRICT.
SO I THINK HE SHOULD BE SUPPORTIVE OF IT.
BUT, YOU KNOW. OH, WE AGREE WITH WITH EVERY.
NO PRESSURE, NO PRESSURE. JUDGE.
AND I'M MAKING SURE THAT EVERYBODY HAS ACCESS IS 100% OUR GOAL AS WELL.
SO WE'RE HERE TO HELP COMMISSIONER RUDY.
JUST TO CONFIRM THE PASSINGS ARE THOSE ACTUAL HOMES OR THOSE ARE STREETS OR.
YEAH, A PASSING IS CONSIDERED A HOME.
WELL AND I'M JUST LOOKING AT THE THE DATA HERE AND DID SOME MATH.
PARTLY BECAUSE THERE'S A SIGNIFICANT COST SHARE BORNE BY SPECTRUM, RIGHT? 83%. BUT AS WE GET TO THOSE NUMBERS THAT YOU HIGHLIGHTED HERE ON PAGE SIX, THOSE PHASE TWO, I ASSUME THIS IS MUCH LESS DENSE. IT'S MORE COSTLY.
YOU WOULD NOT BE GOING THERE IF IT WASN'T HIGHLY SUBSIDIZED BY THE PUBLIC.
BECAUSE IF I LOOK AT THE CALCULATION THERE, THE 6.1 MILLION FOR 1400 PASSING IS NOW WE'RE TALKING ABOUT $4,300 PER PASSING IN TERMS OF WHAT IT WOULD COST THE COUNTY.
SO I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE WE'RE AS WE LOOK AT THESE NUMBERS GOING FORWARD, THAT'S ABOUT A SEVEN FOLD INCREASE IN TERMS OF THE ARPA DOLLARS AND THE COUNTY CONTRIBUTION VERSUS PHASE ONE.
AND I'M HAPPY TO LOOK AT THE DATA FURTHER AND DIVE INTO IT.
BUT I THINK JUST INITIAL VIEWPOINT HERE, IT'S OBVIOUSLY CLEAR WHY WE STARTED WITH PHASE ONE.
AND THAT WAS THE LOW HANGING FRUIT AND THE DENSER POPULATION AREAS.
WE COULD WORK WITH ANY OF THEM AS WELL.
I MEAN, IN CERTAIN AREAS, YOU KNOW, IT JUST DOESN'T MAKE SENSE TO GO TEN MILES WITH, YOU KNOW.
RIGHT. AND SO HOW DO WE TRY TO SERVE EVERYONE? BUT AT THE SAME TIME THINK ABOUT THE REALITIES AND THE COSTS THERE.
SO THOSE ARE JUST MY COMMENTS.
THANK YOU. COMMISSIONER CALVERT.
SO THINGS HAVE EVOLVED IN TECHNOLOGY PRETTY QUICKLY SINCE WE EVEN BEGAN THIS.
IT'S A COST BENEFIT ANALYSIS, RIGHT? LIKE SO IF I COULD BUY THEM HOTSPOT, I COULD PAY FOR IT FOR A LONG TIME.
AND, YOU KNOW, AS LONG AS THEIR CELL TOWER IS WORKING, YOU KNOW, MAYBE BETTER.
WE'RE SUPER EXCITED AND WE'RE GRATEFUL THAT SPECTRUM GAVE US SUCH AN INCREDIBLE COST SHARE.
THANK YOU COMMISSIONER. YEAH, THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER MOODY.
AND I'LL JUST KIND OF SAY WE'LL VISIT WITH YOU.
WE DO HAVE, YOU KNOW, VISITED WITH MARK AND LAURA.
WE HAVE A FORMULA OF HOW THIS GETS TO A CERTAIN PLACE.
AND SO IT KIND OF HELPS BETTER EXPLAIN THE COST PER PASSING AS WE GET INTO MR. CLAY-FLORES. YEAH. JUST TO GO BACK TO MY POINT, BECAUSE THIS TOOK LONGER THAN I WOULD HAVE LIKED FOR MY CONSTITUENTS AND BECAUSE THEIR ARPA FUNDING CAN WE DIRECT? I'D LIKE TO ASK DIRECT STAFF TO BRING THIS BACK IN 30 DAYS TO WORK WITH YOU GUYS SO YOU CAN GIVE US AN EXACT PLAN FOR THE REST OF THE PHASES AND EXACTLY HOW MUCH THAT WOULD COST US, SO WE CAN GO AHEAD AND MAKE A DECISION ABOUT THAT, BECAUSE TIME IS REALLY OF THE ESSENCE.
WE'LL DO. COMMISSIONER. THANK YOU.
[03:10:01]
LET ME ASK. THANK YOU.LAURA, COME BACK UP HERE FIRST I WANT TO RECOGNIZE LAURA COLE BIBLIOTHEQUE.
I THINK LAURA AND MARK, Y'ALL ARE CHAIRING THE THE COMMITTEE THAT REPRESENTS STAFF AND GIVES INPUT.
YOU'RE WITH THE COUNTY MANAGER'S OFFICE, THOMAS.
YOU'RE WITH SPECTRUM. SO TO FOLLOW UP, FOLLOW UP AS TO WHAT EVERYBODY HAS SAID, ESPECIALLY COMMISSIONER CLAY-FLORES, I WANT TO KNOW, IN LIGHT OF THE TIMELINES, ESPECIALLY AS WE'RE USING ARPA, I NEED TO KNOW.
SO I WANT TO KNOW WHAT'S THE I'M GOING TO GO DOWN DEEPER THAN WHAT CLAY-FLORES WHAT'S THE PLAN FOR THE NEXT PHASES? HAVE WE STARTED IT? IF NOT, WHO'S GOING TO START IT? IS IT GOING TO BE THE COURT THAT HAS TO GIVE DIRECTION? DOES THE STAFF HAVE ENOUGH DIRECTION TO GET GOING HERE? DOES SPECTRUM HAVE THE MASTER PLAN, SO TO SPEAK? I JUST WANT TO GET GOING.
SO WHO'S GOING TO TAKE THE LEAD SO I CAN SPEAK TO THAT? I CAN SPEAK TO SOME OF IT.
I WAS JUST GOING TO ADD LET'S START IT AND COMPLETE IT IN MY PRECINCT.
YES. BECAUSE WE ALWAYS START ON ONE SIDE.
LET'S START IT FOR MY DISTRICT.
I GOT MY DISTRICT NOW SO I CAN SPEAK TO SOME OF IT.
I THINK I NEED THOMAS TO MAYBE CHIME IN.
THERE WILL BE SOME COLLABORATION THAT THAT'S NEEDED AND THAT GOES BACK TO ARE WE DOING IT ALL OR ARE YOU GUYS GOING TO PICK AND CHOOSE? RIGHT. SO WHEN WE TALKED ABOUT THE REMAINING 1400 HOMES, LET'S JUST SAY AN UNINCORPORATED BEXAR COUNTY AT THAT HIGHER COST SHARE, DO WE WANT TO PICK AND CHOOSE AND DO WE WANT TO DO ALL 1400? OR SOME COMMISSIONERS ARE GOING TO SAY, NO, I DON'T WANT TO DO THE ONES IN MY PRECINCT.
IF THE COURT DIRECTS US TO DO IT ALL, THEN THAT'S EASIER.
WE TALKED ABOUT THIS, THE BROAD, I MEAN, THE BROADBAND CONNECTIVITY, THE TOWER CONNECTIVITY AND THE HOTSPOT CONNECTIVITY TO SEE IF THERE IS, YOU KNOW, AND THEN I REALLY THINK YOU NEED TO SURVEY SOME OF THESE RESIDENTS, BECAUSE IF THE RESIDENTS ARE NOT GOING TO ADOPT IT, THEN THAT'S THAT'S NO SENSE IN US DOING IT.
SO THAT, YOU KNOW, FOR I WAS THE FIRST ADVOCATE TO SAY THAT WE SHOULD DO IT, BUT WE GOT TO GET ECONOMIES OF SCALE AND THE, YOU KNOW, THE NUMBERS.
THE REASON I HAD THE 7000 NUMBER WAS THE POWERPOINT I HAD, WHICH MIGHT HAVE BEEN OLD.
WE HAD A $10 MILLION BEXAR COUNTY.
SHARE THIS POWERPOINT NOW SAYS 6.1.
SO THAT'S WHY I YIELD TO COMMISSIONER MOODY'S NUMBER 4300.
BUT THAT'S A VERY HIGH NUMBER PER PASSING.
SO WE CAN MAYBE FIND SOME ECONOMISTS I MEAN ECONOMIES OF SCALE LOOKING AT SUBURBAN CITIES.
WHICH IS DEFINITELY SOMETHING I WOULD BE INTERESTED IN.
BUT RIGHT NOW IT'S HARD TO TO GO THERE.
SO. SO HOLD ON, MR. RODRIGUEZ. YOU KNOW, I WAS JUST GOING TO ASK.
IT SOUNDS LIKE SOME OF THE LEGWORK HAS BEEN DONE WITH RESPECT TO PHASE TWO.
RIGHT. SO I THINK TO COMMISSIONER CLAY-FLORES DIRECTION, 30 DAYS SOUNDS LIKE A REASONABLE TIMEFRAME FOR YOU ALL TO COME BACK TO THE COURT WITH WHATEVER IT IS. MAYBE IT'S AN OPTION A, B, OR C IN THAT 30 DAYS YOU CAN MEET WITH EACH OF US AND KIND OF FIGURE OUT WHERE WE STAND.
I'M I TEND TO SAY, LOOK, LET'S GET THE 1400 DONE.
THAT WAS THE COMMITMENT WE MADE.
BUT I DO THINK THE 30 DAYS IS ENOUGH TIME FOR YOU ALL TO COME BACK, GET SOMETHING BEFORE THIS, THIS COURT, SO WE CAN MOVE FORWARD, BECAUSE OTHERWISE WE'RE GETTING THE HOLIDAYS AND THINGS KIND OF FALL OFF THE, YOU KNOW, THE AGENDA.
SO THAT'S THAT'S JUST MY $0.02.
SO I'M GOING TO SAY YOU'RE INDICATING THAT 30 DAYS IS REASONABLE.
IF WE DO THE FIBER TO THE HOME PROPOSAL, WHICH IS WHAT WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT.
IF WE START TALKING ABOUT SMALL CELL TOWERS, THEN THAT'S A DIFFERENT ANALYSIS.
THEY COULDN'T MEET IT. I THINK THERE MAY ALSO BE SOME CONCERNS AROUND THE CONNECTIVITY MEETING THE ARPA, THE FEDERAL REQUIREMENTS FOR UPLOAD AND DOWNLOAD SPEEDS WITH THOSE OTHER SOLUTIONS. SO I THINK THE ARPA KIND OF SUPPORTS A FIBER TO THE HOME AS AN INFRASTRUCTURE, NOT NECESSARILY THOSE THOSE THOSE TOWER SOLUTIONS.
BUT YEAH, I THINK WE CAN COME BACK WITH THE OPTIONS IN 30 DAYS.
WELL, LET ME MAKE IT CLEAR FROM WHAT I HEAR, AND I'M PUTTING MY $0.02 WHERE I WANT TO GO.
I BELIEVE THAT WHAT YOU'RE ASKING FOR IS DIRECTION.
[03:15:05]
OTHERWISE THE STAFF HAS TO KEEP COSTING IT AND FIGURING OUT WHAT ARE THE VARIOUS OPTIONS AND AND ALL DEFERENCE, YES, WE WANT THE NEXT 30 DAYS. SO EITHER WE HAVE PRETTY MUCH UNANIMITY AS TO HOW WE GO FORWARD AND THE INSTRUCTIONS AND DIRECTIONS WE GIVE STAFF, OR WE NEED A WORK SESSION SO THAT WE CAN ALL WORK IT OUT WITH PUBLIC INPUT AND GO FROM THERE.THAT ALSO CAN BE DONE IN THE NEXT 30 DAYS.
STAFF DON'T COME BACK IN 30 DAYS SAYING, WELL, TELL US KNOW.
EITHER YOU START PUTTING SOME PROPOSALS DOWN OR YOU TELL US THAT YOU DON'T HAVE ENOUGH DIRECTION OR CLARITY IN ORDER FOR YOU TO GET THE PHASES INTO I WANT I WANT TO COST THIS OUT.
ALL RIGHT. OTHERWISE WE'RE GOING TO HAVE THESE DISCUSSIONS.
EVERY PHASE YOU COME IN HERE, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE.
SO LET'S TRY TO GET IT ALL DOWN.
OTHERWISE WE'RE AGAIN WE'RE WE'RE USING.
AND I THINK THIS HAS BEEN A GREAT DISCUSSION OF HOW WE DEAL WITH THESE BIG PROJECTS AND HOW WE COMPLY WITH ALL THE REGULATIONS AND ADMINISTRATIVE RULES AND BE MOST COST EFFECTIVE WITH OUR TAXPAYER DOLLARS.
YES, SIR. YOU HAVE FEEDBACK? NO. I WANT TO MAKE SURE I UNDERSTAND YOUR THIS COURT'S DIRECTION.
YOU WANT TO KNOW IN 30 DAYS WHAT IT WOULD TAKE.
DID I HEAR THAT RIGHT? BECAUSE WE'VE GOT PRETTY GOOD CLARITY IN TERMS OF COST ON PHASE TWO.
THE REMAINDER OF THE UNINCORPORATED AREA.
RIGHT. SO THE 1400 THAT'S IN THE PRESENTATION IS ONLY UNINCORPORATED.
CORRECT. HOW MANY MORE WOULD YOU ESTIMATE IF WE DID THE SUBURBAN CITIES? YOU KNOW, I WOULD.
YES. IS IT MORE THAN 1000? YEAH. MAYBE SO.
I DON'T KNOW THE EXACT NUMBER.
COULD YOU GET US SOMETHING WITHIN THE NEXT 30 DAYS? YES. OKAY. YES, DEFINITELY.
WE'VE GOT THE ANALYSIS WE DID FOR THE INITIAL UNINCORPORATED AREAS.
SO WE HAVE THAT DATA IN THE ADDRESSES THAT WE KNOW FOR SURE.
DO YOU KNOW IF THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO.
BECAUSE A LOT OF THESE OBVIOUSLY ARE ADJACENT THE SUBURBAN CITIES, DID THEY COVER ANY OF THOSE THAT YOU'RE AWARE OF? I MEAN, JUST BALCONES HEIGHTS, FOR EXAMPLE, LEON VALLEY AND MY PRECINCT, WE COVER THAT AREA 100%.
YEAH, WE'VE LOOKED AT IT. IT'S GOING TO BE MORE THE VON ARMIES, THE SHIRTS.
THERE'S A FEW THERE'S A FEW ADDRESSES AND SHIRTS AND AND YOU KNOW, WE'D HAVE TO LOOK AT WHAT.
BUT VON ARMEE IS IN ONE OF THE TEN CENSUS TRACKS.
PARTIALLY. IT'S PARTIALLY PARTIALLY PARTIALLY.
SO THERE'S I'VE SEEN THE ADDRESSES, BUT WE KNOW FOR SURE.
BUT YOU CAN YOU CAN DRILL DOWN ON THAT AND GET IT TO US PRETTY QUICKLY.
OKAY. YES, SIR. LA WE ALSO HAVE THE NEW EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR FOR DIGITAL CONNECTS HERE VIA PAPE.
AND SHE HAS SOME INFORMATION ABOUT THAT VERY QUESTION.
IF YOU CAN ANSWER OUR QUESTIONS, COME UP.
CAN YOU CLARIFY YOUR QUESTION REAL QUICK? I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE I ANSWER THAT SPECIFICALLY.
I JUST WANT I WANT TO QUIT TALKING.
EVERYBODY'S RAISED VALID ISSUES THAT NEED TO BE LOOKED AT.
AND SO I'M EXPECTING YOU TO TELL ME WHAT WE NEED TO DO, AND THEN WE NEED TO MAKE TAKE A VOTE AS TO WHAT'S IN THE BEST INTEREST OF OUR COMMUNITY AND THE USE OF TAXPAYER MONEY.
I THINK WE'RE CLEAR ON THE ON THE CITY QUESTION THAT I HAD.
OKAY. AND WITH PHASE TWO, THERE'S THE ESTIMATE.
BUT I THINK THERE'S ALSO ROOM FOR NEGOTIATION.
AND SO I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THAT'S CLEAR AS WELL.
AND THAT WOULD BE THE SAME FOR PHASE THREE AS WELL.
ONCE WE CONTINUE TO WORK THROUGH THOSE.
IF I COULD GO AHEAD, COMMISSIONER MOODY, JUST IN TERMS OF A LITTLE MORE DIRECTION, I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THE PHASE TWO BROKEN DOWN BY CENSUS TRACT, LOOKING AT THE COST PER PASSING AND THE COST SHARE COMING FROM SPECTRUM FOR PHASE TWO AND THEN SUBURBAN CITIES AS WELL.
RIGHT. BECAUSE MAYBE, MAYBE THERE'S, THERE'S, YOU KNOW, IT'S NOT MONOLITHIC WITHIN PHASE TWO.
RIGHT? SO IF YOU BREAK IT DOWN BY CENSUS TRACT, I THINK THAT'S PROBABLY REASONABLE.
[03:20:06]
THAT'S A LASER APPROACH TO IT.SO DAVID, DO YOU HAVE ENOUGH FEEDBACK.
SO IN 30 DAYS, LET ME JUST TELL YOU WHAT I THINK I HEARD IN 30 DAYS.
WE'LL GET STARTED ON PHASE ONE.
YES. WE'RE MOVING ON PHASE ONE, WHICH IS THE TEN ORIGINAL CENSUS TRACTS.
WITH THE CAVEAT THAT YOU'LL REMIND ME OF.
I'M SURE THAT NOT ALL CITIES ARE THE SAME, RIGHT? AND THERE'S ANOTHER. THERE'S ANOTHER THING WE'VE ASKED FOR.
WE'VE ASKED FOR A LOOK AT THE TOWER AND THE CONNECTIVITY OF A HOTSPOT.
SO THAT'S TWO OTHER ELEMENTS OF RESEARCH IN 30 DAYS.
SO I'LL GIVE YOU TWO QUICK RESOURCES.
AND TWO, FORMER COMMISSIONER NOVAK, HE CAN ALSO HELP US WITH THAT.
JUST TO KIND OF GET GET A SENSE OF I'LL WRITE IT UP, I'LL WRITE IT UP IN CASE IT'S NOT CLEAR, BUT I'LL ALSO BE DOING MY OWN CALLS BECAUSE BUT WE CAN DO THE RESEARCH WITH, IF I JUST SAY ON THE THE FRONT.
WHEN IT COMES TO LORA AND BIBLIOTHEQUE, I WOULD ASSUME THAT YOU HAVE ALL THE NUMBERS WHEN IT COMES TO HOTSPOTS, RIGHT? YOU COULD TELL US WHAT THE COST IS, WHAT THE DIFFERENCE IN SERVICE LEVEL IS, WHAT SUBSCRIPTIONS LOOK LIKE.
SO WE COULD BETTER UNDERSTAND THAT THAT SHOULD BE SIMPLE, RIGHT? YEAH WE DO. OKAY.
WE HAVE THAT INFORMATION, COMMISSIONER AND I HAVE A LOVE HATE RELATIONSHIP WITH THOSE HOTSPOTS.
RIGHT. AND SO WE FOUND THE BEST PROVIDER THAT HAS THE GREATEST COVERAGE IN THE AREA.
DID WE USE WHO WHO DO WE USE? WE'VE BEEN USING T-MOBILE.
THAT'S THAT'S WHO I WAS THINKING WE SHOULD.
BUT AGAIN IT'S A GREAT SOLUTION IN THE INTERIM.
ALSO MAY NOT BE ABLE TO USE ARPA BECAUSE IT DOESN'T MEET THE 100 MEGABYTE UPLOAD AND DOWNLOAD SPEEDS THAT THE ANALYSIS ON THE TOWER SITES WOULD BE CHALLENGING.
WITHIN 30 DAYS I WOULD WANT TO CHECK WITH PEOPLE.
I WOULD THINK WE'D HAVE TO GO THROUGH A PROCUREMENT PROCESS.
BUT DIDN'T I ASK THE FEASIBILITY OF TOWER? WASN'T THAT ONE OF MY QUESTIONS? AND YOU GUYS SAID IT'S NOT FEASIBLE.
IT DOESN'T CONNECT. WELL IT'S NOT.
SO CAN WE MAKE THAT DECISION NOW? LIKE LIKE WHY WASTE TIME? IF IF IT'S NOT GOING TO WORK.
IS THERE A MOTION? THERE IS A MOTION TO APPROVE THIS CALVERT TO APPROVE THE THE ACTION ITEM ON 63 I SECOND BY COMMISSIONER CLAY-FLORES.
IS THERE ANY IS THERE ANY FRIENDLY AMENDMENTS? OTHERWISE, I CALL FOR A VOTE.
YEAH, I THINK, JUDGE, BECAUSE THE PHASE TWO DISCUSSION IS NOT AGENDIZED.
I THINK WE JUST HAVE TO APPROVE 63.
AND THEN I THINK IT SOUNDED TO ME LIKE THERE WAS MAYBE NOT UNANIMITY, BUT THERE WAS CONSENSUS ON THE DIRECTION OF STAFF ON PHASE TWO, TWO AND THREE, THE REMAINING PHASES, SO THAT WE CAN PUSH FORWARD WITHIN 30 DAYS.
DOES EVERYBODY UNDERSTAND THE MOTION ON THE FLOOR? ALTHOUGH I WILL CALL FOR A VOTE.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE.
AYE. ALL THOSE OPPOSED? ALL THOSE IN ABSTENTION.
WE'LL EXPECT YOU BACK HERE IN ABOUT 30 DAYS.
[64. Discussion and appropriate action regarding approval of Microsoft Enterprise Enrollment and Microsoft Server and Cloud Enrollment agreements between Bexar County and Microsoft via DIR Microsoft products reseller, Software One, Inc DIR-TSO-4061 in the amount of $9,708,447.90 over 36 months. ]
DISCUSSION. APPROPRIATE ACTION REGARDING APPROVAL OF MICROSOFT ENTERPRISE ENROLLMENT AND MICROSOFT SERVER AND CLOUD ENROLLMENT AGREEMENTS BETWEEN BURKE COUNTY AND MICROSOFT VIA DER MICROSOFT PRODUCTS RESULTING SOFTWARE ONE INC DER TSO 4061.IN THE AMOUNT OF $9,708,447.90 OVER 36 MONTHS.
AND I THINK IT'S PROBABLY GOOD AFTERNOON NOW.
GOOD AFTERNOON. SO THIS IS PRETTY PRETTY STRAIGHTFORWARD.
I'LL JUST KIND OF GO THROUGH IT.
THE THE ENTERPRISE AGREEMENT THAT WE CURRENTLY HAVE EXPIRES OCTOBER 31ST, 2023.
YOU GUYS APPROVED A 41 COMMISSIONERS COURT, APPROVED A 41 MONTH AGREEMENT BACK IN JUNE OF 2020.
[03:25:07]
AND THAT'S THE EXPIRATION DATE IS HERE IN OCTOBER.SO WHAT WE'RE BRINGING TODAY IS THE EXECUTION OF AN ENTERPRISE AGREEMENT.
I'LL KIND OF TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHAT THAT COVERS.
IT DOES PROVIDE SAVINGS BEING ON AN ENTERPRISE AGREEMENT WITH MICROSOFT.
WE HAVE A COMMON PLATFORM OF OF MICROSOFT APPLICATIONS AND OPERATING SYSTEMS AND DATABASES.
THE ENTERPRISE AGREEMENT DOES LOCK IN OUR PRICING FOR THREE YEARS.
SO THAT'S WHERE THAT $9 MILLION SPEND IS OVER OVER THE THREE YEAR PERIOD.
IT INCLUDES SOFTWARE ASSURANCE, WHICH ALLOWS US FOR UPGRADES TO TO WHATEVER VERSION WE WERE ON.
RIGHT. AND SO WE DON'T HAVE TO GO BUY THE NEW VERSION.
SO. SO THIS IS REALLY TWO COMPONENTS.
IT'S SERVER AND CLOUD ENROLLMENT.
I THINK THE COURT MAY REMEMBER, BUT WE MOVED ABOUT 70% OF OUR DATA CENTER WORKLOADS TO THE MICROSOFT AZURE GOVERNMENT CLOUD BACK IN ABOUT 2018, 2019 TIMEFRAME.
SO THIS COVERS ALL OF THE COMPUTE RESOURCES IN MICROSOFT AZURE.
SO THAT'S OUR AZURE CLOUD SUBSCRIPTION.
AND THEN IT ALSO INCLUDES OUR ENTERPRISE ENROLLMENT.
SO FOR 365 OUR PRODUCTIVITY APPS WORD EXCEL EMAIL.
STORAGE, CONTENT MANAGEMENT OR SECURITY TOOLS.
SO IT'S EVERYTHING MICROSOFT ON THE BACK END THAT IT HAS.
IT'S ALL THE OPERATING SYSTEMS AND ALSO WHAT THE USERS USE, RIGHT.
SO THIS COVERS ABOUT 56 OR 5700 USERS WITHIN THE COUNTY.
SO MICROSOFT DOESN'T CONTRACT DIRECTLY.
MICROSOFT UTILIZES CERTIFIED AUTHORIZED RESELLERS.
WE GOT QUOTES FROM BOTH OF THEM.
THE CONTRACT WOULD TAKE US FROM NOVEMBER 1ST, 2023 THROUGH OCTOBER 31ST, 2026.
AGAIN, THE ANNUAL ANNUAL COST IS 3.2 MILLION, THREE YEAR TOTAL COST IS 9.7 MILLION.
SO THE RECOMMENDED MOTION TODAY IS APPROVAL OF A MICROSOFT ENTERPRISE ENROLLMENT IN MICROSOFT SERVER AND CLOUD ENROLLMENT AGREEMENTS BETWEEN BEXAR COUNTY AND SOFTWARE ONE, INC. VIA DER FOUR, 4061, AND THE TOTAL AMOUNT OF $9,708,447.90 OVER 36 MONTHS FOR THE PERIOD BEGINNING NOVEMBER 1ST, 2023, AND ENDING OCTOBER 31ST, 2026.
SECOND. MOTION BY COMMISSIONER CLAY-FLORES.
SECOND BY COMMISSIONER RODRIGUEZ.
ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE.
AYE. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? ANY ABSTENTIONS? MOTION CARRIES.
[65. Discussion and appropriate action regarding approval and execution of a Professional Services Agreement between Bexar County and the Center for Health Care Services ("CHCS") for the County to contribute $4,823,614 in general funds to provide mental health and support services in order to restore mental health to a mentally ill person, to divert persons from incarceration, and to facilitate their entry into treatment.]
ITEM 65.CHS FOR THE COUNTY'S CONTRIBUTE 4,000,823 $100,000, $614 IN GENERAL FUNDS TO PROVIDE MENTAL HEALTH AND SUPPORT SERVICES IN ORDER TO RESTORE MENTAL HEALTH TO A MENTALLY ILL PERSON, TO DIVERT PERSONS FROM INCARCERATION, AND TO FACILITATE THEIR ENTRY INTO TREATMENT.
DOCTOR GUERRERO, GOOD AFTERNOON.
THE AGENDA ITEM IS APPROVAL FOR THE CONTRACT FOR THE CURRENT FISCAL YEAR, FY 23 TO FY 24.
IT WAS CREATED IN 20 2018 TO SPECIFICALLY ADDRESS SECTION 16.22, THE CODE OF CRIMINAL PROCEDURE, BETTER KNOWN AS THE 1622 PROCESS, AND WHAT IT IS, IS A PROTOCOL TO ADDRESS PERSONS, OR FOR A PROTOCOL FOR A PERSON WHO IS ARRESTED, WHO IS MENTALLY ILL OR HAS AN INTELLECTUAL DISABILITY. SO THE JAIL WAS CREATED TO ADDRESS ALL OF THOSE PERSONS, STARTING FROM THE ARRESTING OFFICER, THROUGH BOOKING, THROUGH INTAKE.
IT IS THE INTERSECTION OF THE DA DISTRICT, THE DISTRICT CLERK, THE PUBLIC DEFENDER, PRETRIAL UNIVERSITY HEALTH SYSTEM, AND OF COURSE, OUR PARTNER, THE CENTER FOR HEALTH CARE SERVICES.
AND AND I CAN TELL YOU THAT THERE WERE AT LEAST A HALF A DOZEN TIMES THAT THE GEA, THE BEXAR COUNTY JAIL WAS CITED AS A BEST PRACTICE FOR HAVING BASICALLY FIGURED OUT THE 1622 PROCESS.
YOU SHOULD LOOK AT THE RETURN ON INVESTMENT FROM THE BEXAR COUNTY, GA.
YOU SHOULD LOOK AT HOW BEXAR COUNTY IS DOING THINGS OVER THERE.
[03:30:08]
SERVICES IS THE PARTNER THAT PROVIDES MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES TO FOLKS WHO HAVE BEEN ARRESTED AND ARE GOING THROUGH THE INTAKE PROCESS.THEN I'M GOING TO TURN IT OVER TO OUR PARTNER, MR. EDWARD BENAVIDES, FROM THE CENTER FOR HEALTH CARE SERVICES, TO TAKE YOU THROUGH THE REST OF THE PRESENTATION.
THERE WERE NO INCREASES IN 2017 2018, HOWEVER, CENTER FOR HEALTH CARE SERVICES ADDED INCREASED STAFFING TO THREE FULL TIME CLINICIANS AND ONE PART TIME CLINICIAN, AND IN 2018, THERE WERE FIVE FULL TIME CLINICIANS AND THEN THREE THREE THAT WERE DESIGNATED IN THE CONTRACT.
THERE WERE NO INCREASES IN THE CONTRACT FROM 2020 TO 2021 AND 2022.
AND SO RECENTLY IN 2023, YOU ALSO APPROVED THE CONTRACT OF 3 MILLION TO 62,949, WHICH IS ABOUT A 40% INCREASE FROM THOSE PREVIOUS YEARS, WHICH CALLED FOR 11 FULL TIME CLINICIANS AND ONE FULL TIME SUPERVISOR.
SO GOING BACK TO THE BEGINNING FROM 2015, WHERE YOU HAVE ONE ON SITE CLINICIAN TO LAST YEAR, HAVING 11 FULL TIME CLINICIANS IS QUITE A SIGNIFICANT INCREASE.
AND I THINK JUST GOES TO SHOW THE VOLUME AND THE ATTENTION THAT'S BEING PAID IN THE AREA.
THIS CONTRACT ADDRESSES THE INCREASES IN THE FULL TIME CLINICIANS AND SUPERVISORS FOR FOR THE GIA, BUT ALSO ADDRESSES INCREASES IN STAFFING FOR ASSISTED OUTPATIENT, I'M SORRY, ASSISTED OUTPATIENT TREATMENT.
THE AOT, WHICH INCLUDES ONE NURSE, A CERTIFIED PEER SPECIALIST, A BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SUPERVISOR, A LICENSED ENROLLMENT CLINICIAN AND A DRIVER AND ALSO ADDS A CLINICIAN TO THE MENTAL HEALTH COURT.
AND I WILL TURN IT OVER TO MR. BENAVIDES NOW. THANK YOU.
ANDREA. GOOD MORNING. I'M EDWARD BENAVIDES.
I AM THE VICE PRESIDENT FOR THE CENTER FOR HEALTH CARE SERVICES OVERSEEING OUR ADULT ADULT BEHAVIORAL HEALTH PROGRAMS. THIS MORNING, THIS AGREEMENT, WE'RE HERE TO DISCUSS THE AGREEMENT THAT PROVIDES FUNDING TO SUPPORT PERSONNEL RESOURCES FOR THE DELIVERY OF MENTAL HEALTH AND SUPPORT SERVICES HERE IN BEXAR COUNTY.
SPECIFICALLY, THESE SERVICES SUPPORT MENTALLY ILL AND BEHAVIORAL HEALTH INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES, AND THE GOAL IS TO ASSESS AND STABILIZE MENTAL HEALTH CONDITIONS, RESTORE MENTAL THEIR MENTAL HEALTH, AND DIVERT FROM INCARCERATION AND JAIL DIVERSION.
YES, SIR. DR. GUAJARDO, THIS IS THE ONE THAT YOU AND I WALKED THROUGH RIGHT IN MY OFFICE.
AND IT'S GOOD TO SEE YOU, BY THE WAY.
SO THE YELLOW LINE IS THE ONES WHO HAVE BEEN ACCEPTED INTO THE PROGRAM.
OKAY. THE THE CAPACITY IS HOW MANY IS IT.
OR WHAT'S WHAT'S THAT TOP NUMBER.
WHAT'S, WHAT'S THE CAPACITY FOR THE FUNDING.
AND MY THOUGHT WAS SINCE WE ARE UNDER WHAT WE ARE ABLE TO FINANCE, WHY DON'T WE JUST WAIVE THAT FEE SO THAT MORE PEOPLE CAN GET THE SERVICES? ARE YOU SPECIFICALLY TALKING ABOUT THE AOT PROGRAM? THE AOT YES, AOT.
SO WHAT DID WE DO THAT? DID WE WAIVE THE FEE OR REDUCE THE FEE OR.
DR. GUAJARDO, ANY MOVEMENT ON THAT? WE DON'T HAVE ANY MOVEMENT ON THAT YET.
WE'RE STILL LOOKING AT THE DYNAMICS OF WHAT THAT PROCESS ENTAILS.
[03:35:01]
OKAY. SO, SO SO, EDWARD, YOU KNOW, WE WANT TO GET AS MANY PEOPLE INTO TREATMENT AS POSSIBLE.AND I SEE THE FEE, WHICH WAS 300 BUCKS, I BELIEVE, AS A POTENTIAL IMPEDIMENT FOR ENROLLMENT.
RIGHT. SO WE YOU KNOW, IT SEEMS TO ME, YOU KNOW, BECAUSE THERE ARE THOSE MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES THAT WE OUGHT TO GO AHEAD AND JUST, YOU KNOW, WE'RE TO ME, THE WAY I LOOK AT IT IS WITH THESE, THIS CONTRACT, WE'RE WE'RE UNDERWRITING THAT COST IN ESSENCE.
SO WE JUST NEED TO HAVE THAT CONVERSATION WITH THE COUNTY.
BECAUSE I DON'T KNOW WE DON'T KNOW THE IMPACTS TO THAT.
BUT THAT WOULD ASSIST IN REMOVING THAT BARRIER.
YEAH. WE WANT IS MAXIMUM BECAUSE THAT'S A CAR PAYMENT FOR A LOT OF PEOPLE.
AND I MEAN, YOU KNOW, YOU KNOW, THE CLIENTELE WE'RE SERVING, THAT'S THAT'S 600 BUCKS, THAT'S A LOT OF MONEY DOESN'T INCLUDE IF YOU'VE GOT A DOMESTIC VIOLENCE ANGER MANAGEMENT CLASSES AND INCLUDE IF YOU HAVE TO PAY FOR AND YOU HAVE TO PAY FOR THAT, YOU KNOW, COURT FEES, ETCETERA, ETCETERA.
SO WE NEED TO, YOU KNOW, TRY TO GET RID OF THOSE BARRIERS.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH. GO AHEAD.
THIS NEXT SECTION PROVIDES THE GROUPINGS FOR THE CENSUS.
SO WE'RE BETWEEN CRP, COUNTY COURT 12 AND AOT, WHERE WE'RE ABLE TO SERVE UP TO 320 INDIVIDUALS.
ALL RIGHT. AS I MENTIONED EARLIER, THIS CONTRACT PROVIDES RESOURCES TO THE GIA, THE MENTAL HEALTH COURT, COUNTY COURT 12, THE CRP, AND THE ASSISTED OUTPATIENT TREATMENT PROGRAM. SPECIFICALLY, THEY WILL SUPPORT ENROLLMENT ACTIVITIES.
SO AND WE'LL GO INTO THAT HERE IN THE NEXT SLIDE COUNSELING AND THERAPY SERVICES, TRANSPORTATION SERVICES AND IMPROVE SPAN OF CONTROL OF CLINICAL TEAMS SPECIFICALLY FOR THOSE FOR CASELOADS.
AS IT RELATES TO JIA WE FOR SPAN OF CONTROL, WE ARE ADDING A BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SUPERVISOR.
THIS IS A 24 OVER SEVEN OPERATION.
WE WANT TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE APPROPRIATE COVERAGE FOR THAT OPERATION, AS WELL AS A TRANSPORT DRIVER, TO ASSIST WITH CONTINUITY OF CARE AND REDUCE SERVICE BARRIERS TO THEIR CARE. WITHIN THE AOT AND COUNTY COURT 12, THE CRP PROGRAM WE'RE PROVIDING DEDICATED, LICENSED CLINICIANS TO THESE INDIVIDUALS WILL BE SPECIFICALLY PROVIDING THE ENROLLMENTS, AND THEN WE HAVE THE EXISTING STAFF THAT CAN DO MORE OF THE COUNSELING AND THERAPY SESSIONS.
SO WE'LL HAVE DEDICATED STAFF FOCUSING ON THE ENROLLMENT TO BRING IN THE INDIVIDUAL INTO CARE.
IT'S NOT HERE, BUT IT IS WITHIN THE AGREEMENT AGAIN, TO IMPROVE WITHIN THE AOT PROGRAM.
THERE'S A TOTAL OF FIVE POSITIONS THAT ARE BEING ADDED WITHIN THE AOT PROGRAM IN TOTAL.
THE IT'S ABOUT A 1.7 MILLION AMENDMENT.
THE CONTRACT WOULD BEGIN ON OCTOBER 1ST OF 2023 THROUGH SEPTEMBER 30TH, 2024.
AND WITH THAT, I CAN ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE.
ANY FURTHER, COMMISSIONER MOODY.
UM, SO JUST TO BE CLEAR, THIS IS A $1.8 MILLION INCREASE OFF OF WHAT WAS BUDGETED.
CAN CAN YOU SPEAK TO WHY THE THE REQUEST FOR I MEAN THAT'S A 60% INCREASE OVER THE LAST YEAR AND WE JUST APPROVED THAT WHAT, 60 DAYS AGO.
SO I'M JUST TRYING TO UNDERSTAND LIKE THIS SIGNIFICANT CHANGE IN NEED.
SO AS I UNDERSTAND IT, WHAT THEY WOULD BE DOING IS ADDING TO THE FUNDING THAT WE'RE.
DO I SAY THIS? OUR FUNDING WOULD BE PURCHASING 11 NEW OUT POSITIONS.
IT'S A TOTAL OF TEN POSITIONS.
WELL, YOU'LL HAVE TO EXPLAIN IT BECAUSE MY NOTES SAID IT WAS 11 NEW POSITIONS FOR THE AOT AT THE.
IN ADDITION, THE ADDITION AN ADDITIONAL REGISTERED NURSE, A CERTIFIED PEER SPECIALIST, A BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SUPERVISOR, AN ENROLLMENT CLINICIAN, AND A DRIVER AT THE AOT.
[03:40:13]
OKAY, OBVIOUSLY I'M JUST TRYING TO BETTER UNDERSTAND THIS BECAUSE I DIDN'T REALLY HAVE A LOT OF INFORMATION BEFORE SHOWING UP HERE TO COURT TODAY.BUT I'M LOOKING AT MORE THAN DOUBLING IN THE LAST TWO YEARS.
SO I THINK YOUR QUESTION IS, IS WHY ARE WE INCREASING IF WE'RE UNDER CAPACITY.
AND WE SHOULD BE DEALING WITH THAT RATHER THAN BUILDING THAT CAPACITY OR I DON'T KNOW.
RIGHT. AND THERE ARE BARRIERS.
JUDGE KAZAN IS ABLE TO WAIVE THAT FEE, AND HE DOES AT TIMES.
OKAY. EXPLAIN THAT BY THE COUNTY.
OKAY. BY THE COURT SYSTEM. BY THE COURT SYSTEM.
SO THAT IS A DISCRETIONARY FEE OF THE JUDGE.
I DO NOT HAVE THE ANSWER TO THAT YET.
DOES ANYBODY KNOW WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IS IF THE INDIVIDUAL INDICATES THAT THEY ARE UNABLE TO PAY THAT FEE, THEY WOULD HAVE TO GO TO THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE TO REQUEST THE WAIVER. LET ME SAY THIS TO COMMISSIONER MOODY'S POINT, AND I WAS TALKING TO COMMISSIONER CLAY-FLORES ABOUT THIS.
WE ARE UNDER CAPACITY SO WE CAN BE SERVING MORE.
SO IT MAKES SENSE THAT WE'RE HEARING THAT IT'S A BARRIER.
I MEAN, IT WOULD BE A BARRIER FOR ME.
I MEAN, 300 BUCKS IS, YOU KNOW, NOTHING TOO.
YOU KNOW, THAT'S A THAT'S A GOOD AMOUNT OF MONEY FOR FOR OUR POPULATION.
SO I WOULD SAY IN EXCHANGE FOR THIS INCREASE IN FUNDING, WE NEED TO WAIVE THE FEE.
I MEAN, UNLESS YOU CAN TELL ME THAT THERE'S A LEGITIMATE REASON FOR THE FEE, RIGHT? I'M GOING TO ASK MR. GONZALES TO EXPLAIN.
BUT I WOULD SAY THAT THE POSITIONS THAT ARE BEING REQUESTED AND THE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE MAJORITY OF THE INCREASE ARE NOT NECESSARILY TO ADDRESS AN INCREASE IN VOLUME, BUT TO INCREASE, TO ADDRESS IT, A DIFFERENT QUALITY OF CARE.
THERE ARE CURRENTLY NO REGISTERED NURSES, NO PEER SPECIALISTS.
SO IT'S A DIFFERENT THE NATURE OF THE CARE TEAM IS DIFFERENT.
SO NOT NECESSARILY AN INCREASE IN VOLUME.
RIGHT. THERE ARE EVIDENCE BASED STRATEGIES FOR WHY A REGISTERED NURSE CAN ADDRESS THE PHYSICAL, THE PHYSICAL NATURE AND PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF A PERSON WHO IS PRESENTING WITH MENTAL ILLNESS AT THE SAME TIME THAT A MENTAL HEALTH CLINICIAN IS THAT MENTAL HEALTH CLINICIAN CANNOT ADDRESS THE PHYSICAL PART OF IT, AND VICE VERSA.
THAT'S THE MODEL, BASICALLY SOMEONE WHO HAS BEEN ADDICTED OR HAS A MENTAL HEALTH ISSUE OR WHATEVER THEY CAN TALK ABOUT, YOU KNOW, RELATING AND REALLY HELP WITH RECOVERY AND SUPPORT RECOVERY AND THEN HELP NAVIGATE THE REST OF THE PROCESS THAT THEY'RE GOING THROUGH.
AND THE SUPERVISORS IS JUST AN OPERATIONAL IMPROVEMENT.
WE'VE NEVER. SO THE LAST PART WAS DRIVERS.
YES, THEY'RE CURRENTLY DRIVERS, BUT THEY'RE ADDING DRIVERS OKAY.
OKAY. WELL LET ME SO SO WE DIDN'T HAVE THE NURSES.
WE DIDN'T HAVE THE PEER SUPPORT SPECIALISTS RIGHT BEFORE.
OKAY. AND THAT'S BEST PRACTICE OKAY OKAY OKAY.
SO THIS IS A BIG FINANCIAL BARRIER FOR A LOT OF PEOPLE.
SO TO ME I'D LIKE TO ASK THE COURT TO AMEND THE FUNDING BASED UPON THE FACT THAT WE WANT TO GET RID OF THE BARRIER OF THE $300 FEE, SO AM I, I GUESS I GUESS I NEED TO UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU WERE GOING TO SAY, GILBERT.
[03:45:01]
GO AHEAD. YEAH, LET ME EXPLAIN.SO THE $300 FEE IS NOT IT'S NOT LEVIED TO THE INDIVIDUAL.
IT'S THE HOSPITAL. BUT DO YOU SPEAK UP? I CAN'T HEAR YOU. THE THE HOSPITALS THAT WE REFER THE INDIVIDUALS TO CHARGE, THEY CHARGE $300 SO THAT FEE CAN BE LEVIED.
SO YOU'RE NEVER DENIED TREATMENT BECAUSE YOU CAN'T PAY THAT FEE.
SO THAT'S SOMETHING THAT THAT'S WITHIN PURVIEW THE THE WELL WELL THERE'S ONE OKAY.
THERE'S ONE THING ABOUT DENYING OF TREATMENT BECAUSE THAT'S THE HIPPOCRATIC OATH.
RIGHT, RIGHT. BUT IF SOMEONE READS ON A PIECE OF PAPER OR IS TOLD THIS IS $300 FEE, THE LIKELY.
THAT THEY'RE GOING TO PURSUE AND SAY, I REALLY NEED THIS IS NOT VERY LIKELY.
SO THAT'S THE THAT'S THE BARRIER, RIGHT.
AND THAT AND THAT CAN BE WAVERED.
OKAY. SO THIS FEE TO THE HOSPITAL SYSTEMS THAT WE WORK WITH IS THAT BECAUSE THEY'RE NURSES ARE SERVING OR WHO IS IS IT BECAUSE WE SEND THEM TO OUTPATIENT TREATMENT THERE.
WHAT IS THEIR ROLE. BECAUSE WE'RE SENDING WE'RE SENDING TO THE HOSPITAL TO A HOSPITAL FOR TREATMENT.
AND THAT'S THAT'S WHERE IT THAT'S WHERE IT'S WAVERED.
DOES ANY PART OF THIS BUDGET INCORPORATE.
AND I'M SORRY I TOOK YOUR TIME.
I NEED TO YIELD BACK TO HIM. BUT DOES ANY PART OF THIS BUDGET COVER FEES FOR THE HOSPITAL? NO, NO IT DOES NOT.
HOW MUCH? HOW MUCH? WHAT IS THE TREATMENT REGIMEN AT A HOSPITAL? IS IT MULTIPLE DAYS OF IN TREATMENT? WHAT IS THE. IT'S GENERALLY MULTIPLE DAYS BETWEEN ANYWHERE FROM A WEEK TO TWO WEEKS, IF WE'RE LUCKY, OR A LITTLE LESS THAN THAT.
AND THEN THEY'RE TRANSFERRED DOWN TO OUTPATIENT SERVICES.
SO THE HOSPITALS ARE GOING TO COME BACK TO US, JUDGE, AND SAY, WELL, WE CAN'T TAKE THESE PATIENTS POTENTIALLY ANYMORE BECAUSE YOU'RE NOT GIVING US THE FEED, RIGHT? WE WILL ALWAYS BE ABLE TO FIND A LOCATION FOR TREATMENT.
POUR THEM. OKAY, EVEN IF IT'S A UNIVERSITY, I GUESS WE HAVE OTHER, OTHER AREAS THAT WE CAN ADDRESS.
SO THEN YOU'RE TELLING ME THAT THEY WON'T COME BACK TO US? WE NEED TO. WELL, NOT NOT BECAUSE OF THE FACT THAT THERE IS A $300 COST.
SO. SO THE OTHER. WE CAN GET RID OF IT.
SO. I MEAN, IF THEY IF THE HOSPITALS AREN'T GOING TO COME BACK TO US, THEN WE CAN WAIVE THE FEE FOR.
WELL, MY QUESTION IS, IS IT STATUTORY OR NOT? WELL, THAT'S A GOOD QUESTION.
I DON'T KNOW, AND THAT'S THE REASON WHY WE BETTER BE CAREFUL.
WE'LL GET AN ANSWER. THIS THING IS NOT RIPE.
I'LL BE HONEST WITH. WE GOT TOO MANY QUESTIONS, AND WE'RE GETTING INTO LEGALITIES, LARRY.
I MEAN, IF IT'S STATUTORY, WE HAVE.
WE HAVE NO POWER TO BE DOING THAT.
DO WE? DO WE KNOW? I DO NOT KNOW THE ANSWER, JUDGE.
BUT IF IT'S A FEE CHARGE BETWEEN THE HOSPITAL AND THE PATIENT, THEN THE COURT HAS NO AUTHORITY.
AND IF IT'S STATUTORY TO THE COURT HAS NO AUTHORITY TO WAIVE IT.
OKAY. BUT IF IT'S NOT, IF IT'S SOMETHING THE COURT.
SO, GILBERT, DO YOU KNOW WHO'S ASSESSING WHAT FEE.
BECAUSE WE'RE IS IT A FEE I PRESUME, ASSESSED BY OUR PRETRIAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT? I BELIEVE IT IS. AND I WOULD HAVE TO VERIFY.
I DON'T WANT TO JUDGE. YOU NEED TO TELL ME.
LOOK, IT'S A FEE GENERATED OUT OF PRETRIAL SERVICES IS THE QUESTION IS, IS IT STATUTORY? AND SO IF IF YOU CAN'T ANSWER MY QUESTIONS AND I'LL BE HONEST WITH YOU, I'M NOT WILLING TO MOVE FORWARD ON THIS, THIS MOTION.
AND I WANTED TO ADDRESS THE OTHER POINT.
THAT'S JUST I'M JUST LETTING YOU KNOW.
UNLESS YOU CAN TELL ME THE LAW.
WHAT'S THAT? THE FEE IS NOT PART OF THIS CONTRACT.
THE FEE DOES NOT HAVE ANYTHING TO DO WITH THE APPROVAL OF THIS.
SO LET ME JUST BACK UP, AND I'M HAPPY TO HAVE AN EXTENSIVE CONVERSATION ABOUT THIS FEE.
YEAH, YEAH. AND HOW IT PRESENTS A BARRIER TO SERVICE.
LIKE EVERYTHING I THINK, JUDGE, WE NEED TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THIS AMENDMENT.
AND I THINK IT'S A SEPARATE CONVERSATION.
I APPRECIATE COMMISSIONER CALVERT BRINGING IT UP, BUT I THINK IT'S A SEPARATE DEAL.
SO I DO THINK THERE WAS A MOTION IN A SECOND TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THIS JUDGE.
YEAH, THERE WAS A MOTION FOR COMMISSIONER CALVERT, A SECOND BY MR. CLAY-FLORES. IS THERE ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION, COMMISSIONER MOODY? WE'VE BEEN SET UP AN APPOINTMENT WITH DR.
ANDREW AND TALKED TO HER ABOUT IT LATER.
HAPPY TO LISTEN, I I'LL JUST COME BACK TO YOU KIND OF WHERE I WAS BEFORE.
I ACTUALLY DID DO SOME MORE MATH.
[03:50:06]
AMENDMENT. I ALSO HAVE CONCERNS THAT IF THIS WAS.A NEW PLAN THAT WHY IT WASN'T INCORPORATED INTO THE BUDGET PREVIOUSLY.
BUT IF THIS IS AN ENTIRELY NEW APPROACH WITH BEST PRACTICES AND STUFF LIKE THAT, THEN I NEED MORE INFORMATION AND A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT THAT IS BEFORE I SUPPORT SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
BUT AS IS, I CAN'T SUPPORT IT.
THAT'S WE'RE WORKING THROUGH THAT NOW.
ONE OF THE THINGS IS IT'S THERE'S WE'RE NOT WE'RE NOT SERVING AS MANY PEOPLE AS WHAT YOU.
AND THEN YOU'RE ASKING FOR THE INCREASE.
SO I SEE THE DISCONNECT THERE.
ONE OF THE THINGS I'M GOING OFF WITH DOCTOR TESTA AND HIS FLOW CHART IS THAT APPARENTLY NOT EVERYBODY GETS LOOKED AT AT THE JAIL BY GIA FOR THESE MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES.
IT IS. IT LOOKS LIKE IT GETS REFERRED AT SOME POINT DOWN THE LINE.
SO THE QUESTION IS THAT'S BEEN ONGOING.
WHAT HAVE YOU. WHAT? IS THERE A FLAW IN OUR SYSTEM OF WHAT REFERRALS ARE BEING MADE? MY BOTTOM LINE QUESTION ARE WE LOOKING AT EVERYBODY WHO GETS PROCESSED IN THERE? BECAUSE IF WE'RE NOT, THEN I THINK I AGREE WITH COMMISSIONER MOODY.
THEN WE GOT WE GOT A FLAW IN OUR SYSTEM.
SO WHO WANTS TO ANSWER THAT ONE? GILBERT, LET ME ASSURE YOU THAT EVERYBODY THAT GOES INTO TO SCREENED.
IT'S A 24 HOUR, BUT EVERYBODY GETS ARRESTED, GETS LOOKED AT BY EVERYBODY.
THERE'S THERE'S MULTIPLE LEVELS.
THE FIRST LEVEL IS ON THE FIELD.
AND AT ARRIVAL THEY GET ASKED FOR QUESTIONS BY A POLICE OFFICER.
AND THEN THEY'RE VALIDATED BY THE PERSON THAT MAGISTRATES.
WE HAVE FOUND OUT THROUGH OUR DISCUSSIONS THAT THERE'S NOT MUCH COMMUNICATION, IF ANY, BETWEEN THE ARRESTING OFFICERS AND THE MAGISTRATE, BECAUSE THE ARRESTING OFFICERS, THE ARRESTING TAKE, THE TAKE, THE ARREST TO THE CITY MAGISTRATE.
AND THEN THAT'S THE THAT'S WHERE THEY STOP.
THAT'S A DIFFERENT STORY. AND THEY'RE ADMINISTRATIVELY MOVED OVER.
SO TELL ME, WHO'S ALERTING THE MAGISTRATE AT THE COUNTY SIDE ABOUT SOMEBODY WHO'S IN NEED OF SERVICES? SO. SO WHAT I CAN TELL YOU IS THAT AT AT AT ON THE COUNTY SIDE, THAT'S WHY THE SYSTEM IS WORKING SO WELL.
HAVE YOU EVER BEEN TREATED BY A MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONAL? HAVE YOU EVER BEEN SERVED BY HAVE MEDICATIONS FOR MENTAL HEALTH, BY A MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONAL? DO YOU FEEL LIKE HURTING YOURSELF? DO YOU FEEL LIKE HURTING YOURSELF? NOW? IF YOU SAY YES TO THAT, YOU GET BUMPED TO THE THAT'S ALL SELF REPORTING THAT THAT IS CORRECT.
HOWEVER, THEN IT IS ALSO DUPLICATED BY CONTINUITY OF CARE QUERY SO THAT IF THERE EVER BEEN IN ANY MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES AT ALL IN THE STATE THEY GET, THEY GET THAT INFORMATION THEN IS SUBMITTED TO THE JUDGE THROUGH THE PROSECUTOR AND THE DEFENSE ATTORNEY.
AND THERE'S AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THAT JUDGE TO SAY THAT INDIVIDUAL QUALIFIES FOR THE SERVICES, IS MENTALLY ILL, OR HAS WHY DOES IT THAT WHY DOES IT HAVE TO BE A REFERRAL? WHY CAN'T GIA JUST LOOK AT IT? EVERYBODY WHO ANSWERS AFFIRMATIVELY TO THEY DO.
THEY DO. YEAH. BUT NO, YOU'RE SAYING IT HAS TO GET APPROVED.
HOW EFFICIENT IS OUR SYSTEM? IS OUR MAGISTRATES GETTING EVERYBODY OVER TO THE SYSTEM IS THE PUBLIC DEFENDER IS THE ASSISTANT DA.
IS EVERYBODY WORKING IN TANDEM ON JAIL OR.
THAT'S PRECISELY. IS THAT SOMETHING? THIS IS BEYOND THE QUESTION OF THIS MOTION.
ALL I'M ASKING IS ARE WE AS EFFICIENTLY SERVING THE POPULATION THAT NEEDS THE MOST SERVICES FROM THIS APPROPRIATION? CATEGORICALLY WITHOUT QUESTION.
ALL RIGHT. ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF THIS MOTION SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE.
AYE. ANY OPPOSED? MOTION? ONE.
[66. Discussion and appropriate action regarding approval of a budgetary transfer to reallocate funds within the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) fund to provide funding for land acquisition and legal services in the total amount of $5,009,000 for the County's Community Supervision & Corrections Department's Dual Diagnosis Residential Facility. ]
[03:55:01]
APPROPRIATE ACTION REGARDING APPROVAL OF BUDGETARY TRANSFER TO REALLOCATE FUNDS WITHIN THE AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN ACT.FUND TO PROVIDE FUNDING FOR LAND ACQUISITION LEGAL SERVICES IN THE AMOUNT OF 5,000,009 900,000, 9000 FOR THE COUNTY'S COMMUNITY SUPERVISION AND CORRECTIONS DEPARTMENT.
DUAL DIAGNOSIS RESIDENTIAL FACILITY.
JUDGE. COMMISSIONERS DAN CURRY, DIRECTOR OF FACILITIES MANAGEMENT, FOR THE RECORD, PROMISE.
I WILL GO THROUGH THIS QUICKLY. IT'S MERELY AN ADMINISTRATIVE PROCESS.
I NEED APPROVED TODAY. SO AS YOU'RE AWARE, THE COURT APPROVED A NEW THE PURCHASE AND RENOVATION OF THE APPLEWHITE FACILITY, AS IS OUR DUAL DIAGNOSIS RESIDENTIAL TREATMENT FACILITY, IN ORDER TO TRANSITION SOME OF THOSE INMATES THAT ARE IN OUR JAIL THAT NEED MENTAL HEALTH TO THIS FACILITY, IT WON'T BE ALL OF THEM, BUT IT WILL BE A PORTION OF THAT POPULATION.
SO ON OCTOBER 11TH, YOU APPROVED THE AUTHORITY TO CREATE THE PROJECT.
AND THE BREAKDOWN OF THE PROJECT WAS AS AS ESTABLISHED, $18 MILLION FOR CONSTRUCTION, $4 MILLION FOR RENOVATION, $3 MILLION FOR PROPERTY ACQUISITION ALLOWANCE, AND THEN FOR A TOTAL COST OF $25 MILLION.
SO ON JUNE 6TH, 2023, WE AUTHORIZED THE USE OF EMINENT DOMAIN.
WE DIDN'T HAVE AN ISSUE WITH THE THE OWNERS OF THE PROPERTY WANT TO SELL IT TO US.
IT JUST THEY DON'T KNOW HOW TO SPLIT THE PROCEEDS OF THE SALE AMONGST THEMSELVES.
SO IT'S A FRIENDLY CONDEMNATION.
EVERYTHING IS TO THE LETTER OF THE COURT REGISTRY.
FOR AN AWARD OF THAT PURCHASE OF THAT PROPERTY, WHICH WE BRIEFED YOU IN EXECUTIVE SESSION.
AND WE HAVE SOME LEGAL SERVICES RELATED TO THAT CONDEMNATION OF ABOUT $9,000.
BUT JUST TO GIVE YOU A LITTLE UPDATE, YOU ALSO AUTHORIZED US TO NEGOTIATE WITH GEORGE GENERAL CONTRACTORS AND RVC, WHICH IS THE DESIGN BUILD FIRM THAT WE SELECTED THROUGH A COMPETITIVE PROCESS.
AND SO WE BELIEVE IN NOVEMBER WE'LL HAVE THE FINAL CONSTRUCTION AGREEMENT FOR THAT BRINGING BACK TO YOU COMMISSIONERS COURT, WHICH MEANS AFTER THIS AND AFTER NOVEMBER, WE ARE RUNNING FORWARD WITH CONSTRUCTION AND CREATING THOSE ADDITIONAL 140 BEDS FOR THE COUNTY'S USE.
SO TODAY, AGAIN, I PROMISE THIS WILL BE QUICK.
SO AGAIN, TODAY WE'RE ASKING FOR APPROVAL OF BUDGETARY TRANSFER TO RELOCATE FUNDS WITHIN THE AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN ACT FUND TO PROVIDE FUNDING FOR LAND ACQUISITION AND LEGAL SERVICES IN THE AMOUNT OF 5,009,000 FOR THE COUNTY COMMUNITY SERVICE, COMMUNITY SUPERVISION AND CORRECTION DEPARTMENT'S DUAL DIAGNOSIS RESIDENTIAL FACILITY.
MOVE FOR APPROVAL. SECOND MOTION BY COMMISSIONER CLAY-FLORES.
SECOND BY COMMISSIONER RODRIGUEZ.
ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? YEAH. WHAT DID YOU SAY? HOW MANY MORE? HOW MANY BEDS IS THIS ADDING? 141. 40.
THANK YOU. ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE WE CLARIFY FOR THE RECORD IN THE BACKGROUND MATERIALS, THE MONEY IS NOT COMING OUT OF THE DOMESTIC VIOLENCE HOTLINE.
IT'S COMING OUT OF A SEPARATE CATEGORY.
WE'RE STILL IN THAT NUMBER. EVEN WHEN WE BRING THE AMENDMENT BACK TO YOU WILL BE IN THAT NUMBER.
I KNOW THERE'S A LOT OF JUGGLING AROUND HERE, SO WE'LL JUST CARRY ON, I APPRECIATE IT.
ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE.
AYE. ANY OPPOSED? ANY ABSTENTIONS? MOTION CARRIES.
THANK YOU. ITEM 67 DISCUSSION OF APPROPRIATE ACTION REGARDING BURKE COUNTY LEGISLATIVE PROGRAM.
[67. Discussion and appropriate action regarding Bexar County's Legislative Program and the 88th Special Session #3 of the Texas Legislature. ]
THE SPECIAL SESSION NUMBER THREE OF THE TEXAS LEGISLATURE.JUDGE AND COMMISSIONERS MELISSA SHANNON, GOVERNMENTAL AFFAIRS DIRECTOR.
JUST VERY QUICKLY, WE KNOW THAT ON OCTOBER 5TH, THE GOVERNOR PUT OUT A CALL FOR A SPECIAL THE THIRD SPECIAL SESSION TO BEGIN ON OCTOBER 9TH. SO WE ARE ABOUT A LITTLE PAST HALFWAY THROUGH THE SESSION.
EXCUSE ME. UM, WE'VE GOT SEVERAL BILLS THAT ARE MOVING THROUGH, ONE OF WHICH GOT CAUGHT UP A BIT, AND IT SEEMED THAT THE CALL WASN'T BROAD ENOUGH TO COVER HB FOUR.
THEN ON OCTOBER 17TH AND THEN HB FOUR WAS BROUGHT UP.
SO NOW THE BILLS THAT THE COUNTY IS MONITORING ARE HB FOUR, SB 11.
SB 11 IS STALLED OUT IN COMMITTEE.
IT'S MOVED FROM THE SENATE OVER TO THE HOUSE.
IT HAS NOT MOVED OUT OF THE HOUSE COMMITTEE, BUT HB FOUR NOW IS MOVING.
THAT BILL IS THE BILL THAT CREATES A CLASS B MISDEMEANOR FOR THOSE WHO ARE IN THE COUNTRY ILLEGALLY, AND ALLOWS ANY LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER TO DETAIN THEM.
THE ISSUE WITH THE BILL IS THAT IT TAKES AWAY OUR IMMUNITY REQUIREMENTS AND
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OR IT TAKES AWAY THE TORT REQUIREMENTS.SORRY. SO IT IT REQUIRES ENTITIES TO COVER THEIR PEACE OFFICERS FOR ANY, ANY ACTIONS THAT ARE FOUND TO BE DONE WRONG.
BUT WHAT HAPPENS THEN IS IF A CASE IS BROUGHT FORTH OVER THOSE ACTIONS, THERE ARE NO LIMITS TO WHAT THE PAYOUT COULD BE.
SO WE CAN'T EVEN GUESSTIMATE THE COST ON ON THIS ONE RIGHT NOW.
SAY, FOR INSTANCE, IF ONE OF OUR DEPUTIES PICKS UP SOMEONE WHO IS IN THE COUNTRY ILLEGALLY AND THERE'S AN UNFORTUNATE CAR ACCIDENT AND THEY'RE TRANSPORTING THEM, AND THEN THE FAMILY FILES SUIT WE, ASTRONOMICAL IS THE NUMBER THAT I HAVE BEEN TOLD.
WE JUST WE CAN'T ASCERTAIN HOW MUCH THIS COULD COST THE COUNTY.
SO THAT BILL HB FOUR IS SET TO BE HEARD ON THE FLOOR TOMORROW.
IT WAS HEARD IN COMMITTEE ON THURSDAY.
CALENDARS COMMITTEE MET TODAY AND THEY'VE SET THE CALENDAR FOR TOMORROW, WHICH WILL BE HB FOUR, ALONG WITH HB SIX, WHICH IS THE $1.5 BILLION FOR THE BORDER WALL.
SB FOUR HUMAN SMUGGLING PENALTIES AND THEN SB SEVEN, WHICH ARE PRIVATE COVID VACCINATION MANDATES.
BUT THE BIG ONE THAT WE'RE WATCHING RIGHT NOW IS HB FOUR.
SO WE HAVE TO MY ASSUMPTION IS IT WILL MOVE OUT OF THE HOUSE AND THEN GO ON TO THE SENATE.
I'VE NOT HEARD MUCH FROM HOUSE MEMBERS ON THIS BILL CURRENTLY ON HB FOUR, BUT I WOULD I WOULD BELIEVE THAT IT WILL MOVE ON AND GO ON TO THE SENATE.
MELISSA, I HAVE A JURISDICTIONAL QUESTION.
DO YOU KNOW IF THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT WOULD ACCEPT THE $1.5 BILLION THAT TEXAS WOULD ALLOCATE FOR A BORDER WALL? THAT'S I'VE NOT KEPT UP WITH THAT BILL SINCE.
IT DOESN'T AFFECT US DIRECTLY.
BUT WHAT I'VE BEEN READING IS THE LEGALITY EVEN OF US BEING ABLE TO DO IT.
SO I DON'T KNOW THE ANSWER TO THAT QUESTION.
IS THERE A MOTION TO ADJOURN? MOTION TO ADJOURN. IS THERE A MOVE TO ADJOURN? SECOND. ALL RIGHT, HOLD ON.
MOTION BY COMMISSIONER EGGERS.
SECOND BY COMMISSIONER CLAY-FLORES.
IS THERE ANY RECOGNITIONS IN ADJOURNMENT? COMMISSIONER CLAY-FLORES.
COMMISSIONER RODRIGUEZ. YES, JUDGE.
I WOULD LIKE TO ADJOURN TODAY IN HONOR OF EDGAR OFFICIAL SENIOR LUCY GUTIERREZ, ROLAND SOMERVILLE, DANIEL COOPER, AND SISTER PHYLLIS ANNE BUNNELL.
ALL RIGHT. THE MOTION TO ADJOURN.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE.
AYE. ANY OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES. MEETING ADJOURNED.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.