Nov 28, 2023 Commissioners Court

[00:00:05]

ALL RIGHT. GOOD MORNING.

I'D LIKE TO WELCOME EVERYONE TO THE BEXAR COUNTY COMMISSIONERS COURT MEETING FOR

[1. Opening Prayer: Lead Pastor Robert Flores, Mercy Church San Antonio]

I HOPE THAT EVERYBODY HAD A REALLY BLESSED AND REALLY POSITIVE THANKSGIVING HOLIDAY.

HOPEFULLY SPENDING IT WITH FAMILY AND FRIENDS.

AND NOW WE'RE BACK TO WORK HERE AT COMMISSIONERS COURT.

AT THIS TIME, I'D LIKE COMMISSIONER REBECA CLAY-FLORES TO INTRODUCE HER PASTOR TO DO THE OPENING PRAYER AND FOR HER THEN TO DO THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.

COMMISSIONER CLAY-FLORES.

GOOD MORNING, PASTOR ROBERT FLORES.

PASTOR, CAN YOU GO AHEAD AND COME FORWARD, PLEASE? PASTOR ROBERT FLORES HAS A GREAT LAST NAME, SERVES AS THE LEAD PASTOR OF MERCY CHURCH ON THE SOUTH SIDE OF BEAR COUNTY.

PASTOR FLORES ALSO SERVES AS THE DISTRICT YOUTH DIRECTOR OF THE TEXAS LOUISIANA HISPANIC DISTRICT OF ASSEMBLIES OF GOD.

AS THE DISTRICT YOUTH DIRECTOR, HE LEADS YOUTH INITIATIVES FOR 125 CHURCHES THROUGHOUT TEXAS AND LOUISIANA.

PASTOR FLORES WAS BORN AND REARED HERE IN BEXAR COUNTY.

HE EARNED HIS UNDERGRADUATE DEGREE IN CHURCH MINISTRIES FROM SOUTHWESTERN ASSEMBLIES OF GOD UNIVERSITY IN WAXAHACHIE, TEXAS.

PASTOR. [SPANISH].

GOOD MORNING JUDGE. GOOD MORNING, COMMISSIONERS, AND GOOD MORNING TO EVERYONE THAT IS ASSEMBLED HERE TODAY.

I'D LIKE TO ASK EVERYONE TO RISE BEFORE WE PRAY.

JUST FELT PROMPTED TO REMIND US ALL THAT THE GOD THAT WE'RE PRAYING FOR, TOO, IS A GOD WHO IS FOR THE MASSES OF PEOPLE, BUT HE IS ALSO A GOD WHO IS FOR THE INDIVIDUAL.

AND WITH THAT CONFIDENCE AND THAT ASSURANCE, I'D LIKE FOR US TO BOW OUR HEADS AND CLOSE OUR EYES. HEAVENLY FATHER, WE COME BEFORE YOU THIS MORNING HUMBLED BY THE SIMPLE FACT THAT NOT ONLY ARE YOU THE GIVER OF LIFE, BUT THE SUSTAINER OF THAT LIFE.

THE VERY BREATH IN OUR LUNGS TODAY IS A GIFT THAT YOU HAVE GIVEN US, AND FOR IT WE THANK YOU. WE'RE REMINDED WHAT YOUR WORD SAYS.

THE SCRIPTURE IS VERY CLEAR THAT FOR GOD SO LOVED THE WORLD.

AND IT TEACHES US YOUR HEART AND YOUR LOVE FOR THE MASSES OF PEOPLE, FOR THE COMMUNITY.

AND BASED ON THAT, LORD, WE ASK THAT YOU WOULD BLESS THE CITIZENS AND THE CONSTITUENTS OF THIS GREAT COUNTY, OF OUR REGION, OF OUR AREA.

LORD, WE ASK THAT YOU WOULD MOVE ON THEIR BEHALF IN THIS ROOM AND IN MANY ROOMS LIKE THIS ONE. BUT WE'RE ALSO REMINDED, LORD, THAT YOUR WORD TELLS US AND INSTRUCTS US, AND IT SAYS, WHO IS MAN, THAT YOU ARE MINDFUL OF HIM, AND YET YOU ARE MINDFUL OF HIM? NOT ONLY ARE YOU CONCERNED WITH THE MASSES AND WITH THE COMMUNITY, BUT YOU'RE ALSO CONCERNED WITH US AS INDIVIDUALS.

AND THERE'S NO DOUBT IN MY MIND THAT TODAY INDIVIDUALS HAVE COME INTO THIS PLACE WITH THEIR OWN NEEDS, WITH THEIR OWN DESIRES, WITH THEIR OWN REQUESTS.

SO, LORD, AS WE HAVE PRAYED THAT YOU WOULD MOVE BY YOUR GRACE, BY YOUR MERCY, AND BY YOUR POWER ON BEHALF OF THE MASSES.

WE ALSO ASK THAT YOU WOULD MOVE ON BEHALF OF THE INDIVIDUAL NEEDS THAT ARE REPRESENTED HERE TODAY, THE NEEDS OF THE LIVES AND THE LOVED ONES OF THOSE THAT ARE HERE TODAY.

LORD, WE PRAY THAT OUR HEARTS WOULD BE AT PEACE, OUR MINDS WOULD BE AT REST, AND THAT THE WORK THAT IS DONE TODAY, WHETHER IT BE RECOGNITION OR DECISION MAKING, WOULD ALL BE TO SERVE, TO BENEFIT AND TO BLESS THE PEOPLE OF THIS COUNTY.

MAY YOUR PRESENCE RESIDE IN THIS PLACE.

MAY YOUR WISDOM, KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING HAVE PRECEDENCE IN EVERYTHING THAT IS DONE IN HERE TODAY. WE ASK ALL OF THESE THINGS IN THE MIGHTY AND THE POWERFUL NAME OF OUR LORD AND SAVIOR, JESUS CHRIST.

AMEN. AMEN. AMEN.

THANK YOU. PASTOR. PLEASE JOIN ME IN THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.

. THANK YOU, PASTOR FLORES.

THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER CLAY-FLORES.

[3. CEREMONIAL ITEM(S):]

FIRST, WE'LL DO THE ROLL.

JIMENEZ. THANKSGIVING DINNER.

COMMISSIONER MOODY WILL MAKE THAT THE LULAC NATIONAL EDUCATION SERVICE CENTER.

COMMISSIONER CALVERT A SECOND.

AN EAGLE'S FLIGHT ADVOCACY AND OUTREACH WILL BE THIRD.

PRESENTATION AND PROCLAMATION.

I'LL ASK THAT WHEN WE CALL YOU INDIVIDUALLY THAT YOU COME ALL TO THE PODIUM.

I'LL ASK THAT PERSON, SPEAK IN THEIR BEHALF, AND I JUST ASK FOR PURPOSES OF TIME, TO TRY TO KEEP THE COMMENTS BRIEF SO THAT WE CAN GET STRAIGHT TO THE WORK THAT WE NEED TO DO FOR THE CITIZENS OF BEXAR COUNTY.

SO, AT THIS TIME, LET US.

[00:05:01]

LET'S STOP IT HERE.

ALL RIGHT. WE'RE GOING TO DO THE PRESENTATION PROCLAMATION ON BEHALF OF COMMISSIONERS COURT RECOGNIZING SUPPORTING THE ANNUAL ROLL JIMENEZ THANKSGIVING DINNER.

COMMISSIONER MOONEY, YOU'RE GOING TO STAND RIGHT OVER THERE.

OH, WE'RE JUST GOING, WE'RE GOING TO REPEAT.

WELL, YES.

AND I HOPE EVERYONE HAD A HAPPY THANKSGIVING AND LOTS OF TURKEY.

AND HOPEFULLY YOU'VE MADE IT THROUGH ALL YOUR LEFTOVERS AS WELL.

BUT FOR THOSE LESS FORTUNATE, WE'RE GRATEFUL TO HAVE PATRICIA HERE TODAY TO REPRESENT THE RAUL JIMENEZ THANKSGIVING DINNER AND A PROCLAMATION FROM BEXAR COUNTY.

WHEREAS IN 1979, SAN ANTONIO RESTAURANT OWNER AND BUSINESSMAN RAUL JIMENEZ ESTABLISHED A THANKSGIVING DAY EVENT WITH THE INTENT TO SERVE SENIOR CITIZENS IN HIS COMMUNITY WHO WERE ALONE AND HUNGRY ON THANKSGIVING DAY.

AND WHEREAS, FROM THE VERY FIRST DINNER, WHICH SERVED 200 SENIOR CITIZENS WITH THE HELP OF RAUL AND MARY JIMENEZ, CLOSEST FRIENDS TO ITS 44TH ANNIVERSARY THIS YEAR, WHERE MORE THAN 25,000 SENIORS, VETERANS, UNDERPRIVILEGED FAMILIES AND THE HOMELESS WERE FED A WARM MEAL ON THANKSGIVING DAY WITH THE HELP OF 4000 VOLUNTEERS AND INDIVIDUAL AND CORPORATE DONORS.

AND WHEREAS, THE ANNUAL RAUL JIMENEZ THANKSGIVING DINNER IS NOW A LEGACY EVENT IN OUR COMMUNITY CARRIED ON BY RAUL AND MARY'S FAMILY, INCLUDING THEIR DAUGHTER PATRICIA, AND THEIR GRANDCHILDREN JESSICA, RAUL, ARTURO AND THEIR CHILDREN.

AND WHEREAS, HELD AT THE HENRY B GONZALEZ CONVENTION CENTER, PROVIDED THROUGH A SPONSORSHIP BY THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO, THE EVENT INVITES ITS DINNER GUESTS TO DINE AT A COMMUNITY DINNER TABLE, CELEBRATE THE HOLIDAY WITH THEIR PEERS, AND ENJOY LIVE MUSIC AND ENTERTAINMENT.

AND WHEREAS THE RAUL JIMENEZ THANKSGIVING DINNER IS TRULY A COMMUNITY EVENT LIKE NONE OTHER. IT LIFTS THE SPIRITS OF OUR MOST VULNERABLE RESIDENTS AND BRINGS JOY TO THE HEARTS OF THE GENEROUS VOLUNTEERS AND SPONSORS WHO WORK SELFLESSLY AND TIRELESSLY TO KEEP THIS RICH TRADITION ALIVE.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED THAT THE BECKER COUNTY COMMISSIONERS COURT HEREBY RECOGNIZES AND SUPPORTS THE PHILANTHROPIC EFFORTS OF THE ANNUAL RAUL JIMENEZ THANKSGIVING DINNER, SIGNED YOUR COMMISSIONERS COURT.

PATRICIA, WOULD YOU LIKE TO SAY A FEW WORDS? THANK YOU SO MUCH, COMMISSIONER MOODY.

THE ENTIRE COURT, JUDGE SAKAI AND THE DEPARTMENT OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT FOR YOUR SUPPORT OF OUR MISSION.

WE ARE VERY GRATEFUL TO HAVE THE SUPPORT OF THE ENTIRE CITY.

AND WE HAD A VERY SUCCESSFUL EVENT.

AND YOU PUT A LOT OF SMILES ON A LOT OF INDIVIDUALS WHO WOULD OTHERWISE DO WITHOUT.

AND SO, WE'RE VERY GRATEFUL.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

WHY DON'T YOU ALL COME FORWARD SO WE CAN TAKE A PICTURE? I JUST WANTED TO SAY YOU DESERVE IT.

OKAY. ALL RIGHT.

TAKE A LITTLE BREAK. YEAH, WELL, THANK YOU FOR COMING.

THANK YOU. PATRICIA.

OUR COLLEAGUE AS WELL.

I DID.

THANKS FOR THE WORK YOU'RE DOING.

LET'S GIVE ANOTHER ROUND OF APPLAUSE FOR THE JIMENEZ FAMILY AND WHAT THEY DO FOR OUR COMMUNITY, AND WHAT THEY DO FOR THE LEAST OF US IN OUR COMMUNITY.

THANK YOU, PATRICIA, AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR ENTIRE JIMENEZ FAMILY AND THE COMMITMENT THEY DO FOR OUR COMMUNITY.

WE'LL NOW DO THE PRESENTATION PROCLAMATION ON BEHALF OF THE COMMISSIONERS COURT RECOGNIZING THE ACCOMPLISHMENTS OF LULAC, NATIONAL EDUCATION SERVICE CENTERS, INC.

COMMISSIONER CALVERT.

MHM. OKAY.

WELL GOOD MORNING. THANK YOU SO MUCH JUDGE IN COURT.

WE HAVE A PROCLAMATION THAT WE WILL READ.

AND IT IS IN THE NAME AND BY THE AUTHORITY OF THE COMMISSIONERS COURT.

WHEREAS THE MISSION OF LULAC NATIONAL EDUCATION SERVICE CENTERS IS TO CREATE LIFELONG LEARNERS AND LEADERS WITHIN THE HISPANIC COMMUNITY, LNESC STRIVES TO PROVIDE THE HIGHEST QUALITY EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES POSSIBLE AND SEEKS TO DEVELOP AMERICA'S FUTURE WORKFORCE BY EFFECTIVELY PREPARING YOUNG PEOPLE FOR THE JOBS OF THE NEW ECONOMY.

AND WHEREAS, LULAC NATIONAL EDUCATIONAL SERVICE CENTERS, INC.

WAS ESTABLISHED IN 1973 BY THE LEAGUE OF UNITED LATIN AMERICAN CITIZENS, THE NATION'S LARGEST MEMBERSHIP BASED LATINO ORGANIZATION WITH THE INTENT TO PROVIDE EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMING TO ECONOMICALLY DISADVANTAGED STUDENTS THROUGHOUT THE UNITED STATES AND PUERTO RICO WITH 16 EDUCATION AND TECHNOLOGY CENTERS.

AND WHEREAS SINCE 1973, LNESC HAS SERVED AS THE NATION'S PREMIER HISPANIC NONPROFIT

[00:10:05]

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED THAT THE BECKER COUNTY COMMISSIONERS COURT HEREBY RECOGNIZES THE ACCOMPLISHMENTS AND THE 50TH ANNIVERSARY OF LULAC NATIONAL EDUCATION SERVICE CENTERS, INC., SIGNED BY YOUR COMMISSIONERS COURT.

WE'VE GOT RAMON CHAPA, WHO IS THE CHAIR OF THE LOCAL BOARD, LUPE TORRES IN THE HOUSE, AND ORLANDO AND A FRIEND FROM WASHINGTON.

THE HEAD IS HERE AS WELL.

SO, WOULD YOU ALL LIKE TO SAY A FEW WORDS? YES, SIR. THANK YOU. FIRST, IT'S ALWAYS AN HONOR TO BE AMONGST YOU ALL.

COUNTY JUDGE AND COMMISSIONERS, STAFF, GREAT STAFF.

BUT TODAY I'M HERE IN THE CAPACITY AS THE CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD OF THE LNESC SAN ANTONIO. AND WE HAVE, OF COURSE, OUR BOARD, NATIONAL BOARD MEMBER, LUPE TORRES ORLANDO BLANCAS, WHO RUNS THE PROGRAM HERE IN SAN ANTONIO, AND RAUL SANCHEZ, WHO IS A NATIONAL STAFF MEMBER COMING FROM WASHINGTON, DC.

SO, WHAT WE DO, MORE OR LESS, IS WE HELP STUDENTS GET INTO COLLEGE.

IT COSTS A LOT OF MONEY TO ENROLL.

SO, WE HAVE WAIVERS AND VOUCHERS WHERE WE PAY THEIR ADMISSIONS, WE HELP THEM DO THEIR FINANCIAL AID.

WE TAKE THEM ON TRIPS THROUGHOUT COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES IN TEXAS AND THE UNITED STATES. AND BASICALLY, THAT'S WHAT WE DO.

WE PUT.

LNESC CELEBRATING OUR 50TH ANNIVERSARY? AND NEXT WEEK WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A BIG GALA HERE IN SAN ANTONIO AT THE WESTIN.

COMMISSIONER CALVERT WILL BE OUR KEYNOTE SPEAKER, AND I'LL LET SOME OF THESE OTHER PEOPLE EXPRESS SOME MORE THINGS THAT THEY WOULD LIKE TO SAY.

BUT ON MY BEHALF, IT'S AN HONOR TO GET A PROCLAMATION FROM YOU ALL TO RECOGNIZE THE GREAT WORK THAT THEY'RE DOING.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU, JUDGE SAKAI AND COMMISSIONERS COURT.

IT IS AN HONOR AND A PLEASURE TO BE BEFORE YOU ALL WITH THE SPECIAL EVENT THAT WE ARE CELEBRATING. LULAC WAS FOUNDED, OF COURSE, IN 1929, BUT THE LNESC CENTERS ARE NOW CELEBRATING THEIR 50TH, WHERE WE HAVE GIVEN MILLIONS THROUGH WITH CORPORATIONS AND PARTNERSHIPS WITH OTHER GROUPS, BUT PRIMARILY THROUGH THE LULAC COUNCILS.

AND IT IS A PRIVILEGE AND AN HONOR FOR US TO SERVE THESE YOUNG PEOPLE WHO GO OUT TO BECOME GREAT LEADERS AND INDEPENDENT AND PRODUCTIVE MEMBERS OF SOCIETY.

AND I KNOW THAT AT THE STATE LEVEL, WHEN STATE REPRESENTATIVE JUSTIN RODRIGUEZ WAS THERE, THEY ALSO WOULD HONOR LULAC WITH THE RESPECT AND THE PRIVILEGES THAT THESE CHILDREN AND THESE YOUNG ADULTS ARE ABLE TO RECEIVE FROM LULAC.

AND WE THANK ALL OF YOU.

WE'RE DEEPLY HONORED AND THANKFUL FOR THIS PROCLAMATION AND THIS HONOR.

THANK YOU. YES.

JUST WANTED TO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THIS WONDERFUL ACKNOWLEDGMENT.

WE DID START TO CELEBRATE OUR 50-YEAR ANNIVERSARY THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY.

WE STARTED IN ALBUQUERQUE, NEW MEXICO THROUGH A SPECIAL CELEBRATION AND YOUTH CONFERENCE.

WE WERE HAVING A CELEBRATION THROUGH OUR WASHINGTON YOUTH LEADERSHIP SEMINAR, WHERE WE ALSO HAD A CELEBRATION THERE WITH OUR LOCAL SUPPORTERS IN WASHINGTON, DC.

WE HAD A NEW YORK CELEBRATION RECEPTION WITH ALL OF OUR SPONSORS VERY RECENTLY AND IS VERY APPROPRIATE. WE END OUR 50-YEAR CELEBRATION HERE IN SAN ANTONIO.

WE HAVE ONE OF OUR STRONGEST CENTERS HERE AT SAN ANTONIO WITH ORLANDO, ORLANDO BLANCAS.

WE'RE VERY PROUD OF THE WORK WE DID OVER 50 YEARS, AND WE CERTAINLY APPRECIATE THIS WONDERFUL ACKNOWLEDGMENT THAT YOU'RE GIVING US.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

OH, I CAN THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING.

THANK YOU, THANK YOU.

CONGRATULATIONS. I'M OVER HERE.

THANK YOU. THERE YOU GO.

RIGHT THERE. THERE WE GO.

SO, I THANK YOU.

THANK YOU. COMMISSIONER SHORT, IF YOU WANT TO INVITE OUR COUNTY CLERK AND PAMELA ALLEN TO COME TO THE DAIS, PLEASE.

THANK YOU SO MUCH. AND HER FAMILY AND STAFF.

[00:15:02]

OH, THERE SHE IS. GOOD TO SEE YOU.

GOOD TO SEE YOU. THE PROCLAMATION READS.

WHEREAS EAGLE'S FLIGHT ADVOCACY AND OUTREACH WAS FOUNDED THROUGH PAMELA ALLEN'S PERSONAL JOURNEY WITH HER SON, WHO WAS DIAGNOSED WITH AUTISM 24 YEARS AGO.

AND WHEREAS SINCE 2012, EAGLE'S FLIGHT ADVOCACY AND OUTREACH HAS EVOLVED INTO AN OUTREACH SERVICE FOR FAMILIES IN CRISIS, ASSISTING THEM WITH FOOD, CLOTHING, AND ADDITIONAL RESOURCES SUCH AS EMERGENCY SHELTER ASSISTANCE TO WOMEN AND CHILDREN WHO ARE FLEEING DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND TRAFFICKING, ASSISTANCE TO SENIORS AND PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES WITH IN-HOME NEEDS SUCH AS FOOD, HYGIENE, AND HOUSEHOLD ITEMS. AND WHEREAS, EAGLE'S FLIGHT ADVOCACY AND OUTREACH HAS ALSO ASSISTED PARENTS OF SPECIAL NEEDS CHILDREN, HELPING THEM UNDERSTAND AND APPLY SPECIAL EDUCATION LAW.

WHILE PARENTS STRUGGLE WITH A NEW DIAGNOSIS, UNDERSTANDING THE SPECIAL EDUCATION LAW AND HOW IT SPECIFICALLY APPLIES TO THEIR CHILD CAN BECOME DIFFICULT.

AND WHEREAS, EFA NOW OFFERS SOLUTIONS TO SUCCESSFULLY COMMUNICATE WITH A CHILD'S SCHOOL AND ASSIST IN REQUESTING THE APPROPRIATE ASSESSMENTS AND SERVICES, IN ADDITION TO OFFERING RESOURCES AND REFERRALS TO OTHER AGENCIES THAT COULD IMPACT A CHILD'S EDUCATION. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, THAT THE BECKER COUNTY COMMISSIONERS COURT HEREBY RECOGNIZES EAGLE'S FLIGHT ADVOCACY AND OUTREACH FOR THEIR TEN YEARS OF SERVICE HELPING ALL CONSTITUENTS, COMMUNITIES AND SEVERAL MUNICIPALITIES WITHIN ALL FOUR PRECINCTS OF BEXAR COUNTY.

SIGNED BY YOUR COMMISSIONERS COURT.

WE'D LOVE TO HEAR A FEW WORDS FROM YOU.

THANK YOU FOR COMING. THANK YOU SO MUCH.

WHAT AN HONOR IT IS TO BE HERE BEFORE YOU TODAY.

EAGLE'S FLIGHT ADVOCACY AND OUTREACH HAS JUST REACHED SO MANY MILESTONES, AND I RECEIVED THIS ON BEHALF OF MY FAMILY, MY MOTHER, JUDGE SAKAI, YOU WERE ONE OF HER PERSONAL HEROES AS MINE.

SHE WORKED TIRELESSLY, TIRELESSLY AS A CPS WORKER AND CHILD PSYCHOLOGIST FOR MY GRANDMOTHER, WHO SERVED FORMER MAYOR CECE NETTLES WITH JOHN PAUL.

SHE WAS A FOSTER GRANDMOTHER, AND SHE MY GREAT GRANDFATHER, JESSE LIGHT TOWNSEND, WHO WAS A TEXAS RANGER.

I RECEIVED THIS ON THEIR BEHALF, AND I AM THANKFUL ESPECIALLY FOR YOU, JUDGE SAKAI.

TEN YEARS AGO, WHEN OUR CITY WATCHED A BABY BEING FOUND AT THE WASTE MANAGEMENT FACILITY, IT TOOK THREE MONTHS OF FIGHTING JUST TO BE ABLE TO GET THE RIGHT TO BURY HIM.

AND YOU GAVE ME THAT RIGHT.

AND ALSO HELPED ESTABLISH EAGLES FLIGHT TO HELP WITH BURIALS OF ABANDONED AND ABUSED CHILDREN HERE IN BEXAR COUNTY.

AND WE'VE JUST FINISHED OUR 48TH, SIR.

AND IT'S BECAUSE OF YOU THAT YOU OPEN THAT DOOR FOR US TO BE ABLE TO DO THAT, WE WILL CONTINUE TO SERVE THE FAMILIES HERE IN BEXAR COUNTY THROUGH FOOD AND AND CLOTHING ASSISTANCE, RESOURCE REFERRAL, AND WE WILL CONTINUE TO WALK THAT JOURNEY WITH THEM.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

I APPRECIATE THE RECOGNITION.

YOU KNOW, I FORGOT. THANK YOU.

SO, GIVE HER A BIG ROUND OF APPLAUSE FOR THAT WORK.

AMAZING WORK.

I WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE OUR COUNTY CLERK HAS SOMETHING TO GIVE, AS WELL AS TORO FROM CONGRESSMAN CUELLAR'S OFFICE.

GOOD MORNING, COMMISSIONERS, I'M LUCIA ADAME-CLARK.

I'M THE COUNTY CLERK OF BEXAR COUNTY.

I KNOW PAMELA ON A PERSONAL LEVEL, AND WE'VE ADVOCATED ALL AROUND BURKE COUNTY, EVEN IN UVALDE DURING THE SHOOTING.

SHE LIVES IN PRECINCT THREE IN THE BEXAR COUNTY AREA AND BERNIE AREA.

SO, COMMISSIONER, SHE LIVES IN YOUR IN YOUR PRECINCT, BUT SHE SERVES ALL FOUR PRECINCTS.

AND PAMELA ALLEN, THE CEO OF EAGLES FLIGHT ADVOCACY AND OUTREACH, IS A CELEBRATED FIGURE IN SAN ANTONIO AND IN BEXAR COUNTY IN ALL THE 27 CITIES AND UNINCORPORATED, RURAL BEXAR COUNTY. SHE HELPED ME SERVE THE SOUTH SIDE OF BURKE COUNTY DURING THE PANDEMIC.

BUT WAY BEFORE THE PANDEMIC, BEFORE I BECAME AN ELECTED COUNTY CLERK, WHERE THE NEED WAS THERE FOR PEOPLE WHO WERE HOMELESS OR PEOPLE WHO NEEDED FOOD, WE SERVE FROM THE SOCCER COMPLEX THAT YOU ALL BUILT IN THE SOUTH SIDE OF THE RURAL BEXAR COUNTY.

SHE'S HAVE SERVED TEN YEARS AS A CEO OF EAGLES FLIGHT, THE NONPROFIT THAT SHE FOUNDED. BUT WAY BEFORE THAT, EVEN BEFORE YOU FOUNDED THE ORGANIZATION, HER PASSION FOR HELPING OTHERS HAS BEEN EVIDENT IN HER WORK WITH THE REFUGEE COMMUNITY.

WE WENT LOOKING FOR BABY LENA IN THE NORTH SIDE OF BEXAR COUNTY SINCE 2009, AS WELL AS HER EFFORTS TO AID REFUGEES IN WAR TORN BOSNIA AND MANY OTHER AREAS.

SHE ALSO LIVED IN EUROPE, CORRECT.

UNDER PAMELA'S LEADERSHIP, EAGLES FLIGHT HAS EXPANDED TO INCLUDE BRANCHES THAT CATER TO HER NEEDS OF SPECIAL NEED COMMUNITY SENIOR CITIZENS, WOMEN ESCAPING DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, AND FAMILIES IN CRISES.

CAUSE BURYING BABIES WHO DON'T HAVE A FAMILY MEMBER TO BURY THEM.

ADDITIONALLY, THE AGENCY PROVIDES BURIALS FOR ABANDONED AND ABUSED INFANTS IN TEXAS.

[00:20:01]

SHE RECENTLY CELEBRATED THE EXPANSION OF BABY MOSES LAW THAT NOW INCLUDES SAFETY DEVICES THAT WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO PARTNERING UP WITH BEXAR COUNTY SOON.

SHE HAS WORKED ON FOR EIGHT YEARS, EVEN MORE SO.

LONGER THAN THAT. PAMELA HAS ADVOCATED FOR SPECIAL NEEDS CHILDREN AND YOUNG ADULTS SINCE 1998 AND REFUGEES SINCE 1991.

PAMELA'S DEDICATION TO SERVICE HAS BEEN RECOGNIZED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS.

INSPIRING WOMEN IN SAN ANTONIO IN 2022.

HUMANITARIAN OF THE YEAR IN 2021, AND ALSO WAS RECOGNIZED AS A NOTABLE PEOPLE OF SAN ANTONIO IN 2020 AND WAS RECOGNIZED AT THE CAPITOL ALONG WITH OTHER WOMEN.

MOST RECENTLY, SHE WAS RECOGNIZED AS A 2023 STATE CAPITOL FOR HER UNWAVERING DEDICATION TO THE PEOPLE OF BEXAR COUNTY AND THE STATE OF TEXAS.

BEYOND HER PROFESSIONALISM ACCOMPLISHMENTS, PAMELA IS ALSO A DEVOTED WIFE TO TIM ALLEN, A MOTHER OF FOUR CHILDREN AND A PROUD MIMI TO FOUR GRANDCHILDREN.

ACTUALLY, YOU HAVE MANY CHILDREN, PAMELA.

I THINK YOU HAVE. I MEAN, EVERYWHERE I GO IN BURKE COUNTY, THEY CALL YOU MIMI.

SO, IT'S NOT ONLY YOUR OWN GRANDCHILDREN, PAMELA, YOU'RE BEING RECOGNIZED WITH THE FLAG THAT HAS BEEN FLOWN OVER THE ALAMO BECAUSE YOU'VE BEEN SERVING THE ALAMO, DEDICATING YOUR FAMILY TIME YOURSELF.

EVEN WHEN YOU WERE SICK, I WOULD STILL SEE YOU OUT THERE.

DURING THE PANDEMIC, YOU NEVER GAVE UP.

YOU NEVER CLOSE YOUR DOORS.

SO HERE IS A FLAG FROM THE ALAMO GIVEN TO YOU WITH THE CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICITY TO SAY THANK YOU. AND WE'RE HONORED TO HAVE PAMELA ALLEN, CEO OF EAGLES FLIGHT ADVOCACY AND OUTREACH HERE IN BEXAR COUNTY.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

AND NOW WE HAVE A CONGRESSMAN, HENRY CUELLAR.

WE HAVE MR. TORO MARTINEZ HERE.

THANK YOU, THANK YOU.

FOR THE RECORD, I'M JESUS TORO MARTINEZ.

I'M HERE ON OFFICIAL CAPACITY WITH CONGRESSMAN HENRY CUELLAR, TEXAS 28.

IT'S A VERY VICTORIOUS DAY TODAY.

AND THANK YOU FOR COMMISSIONERS TO ALLOWING THE CONGRESSMAN TO PRESENT THIS SPECIAL CONGRESSIONAL RECOGNITION TO LET ME JUST READ WHAT IT SAYS.

IT SAYS CONGRESSIONAL CERTIFICATE OF RECOGNITION.

THIS CERTIFICATE IS PRESENTED TO PAMELA ALLEN IN HONOR OF YOUR SIGNIFICANT CONTRIBUTION TO THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO, BEXAR COUNTY, THANK YOU FOR YOUR DEDICATION TO UNDERSERVED POPULATION AND OUTREACH EFFORTS TO THE COMMUNITY THROUGH EAGLE FLIGHT COMMUNITY OUTREACH.

THANK YOU.

SIGNED THE 28TH DAY OF NOVEMBER HENRY CUELLAR, PHD, US CONGRESSMAN, 28TH DISTRICT OF TEXAS. PAMELA.

SO COME ON.

WE'RE ALSO GIVING HER A FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES THAT WAS FLOWN OVER THE CAPITOL.

SO.

DO YOU WANT TO MAYBE GO OVER THE OTHER SIDE? BECAUSE WE'RE VERY HEAVY ON THIS END HERE.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR WORK.

THANK YOU. JUDGE. HOW ARE YOU? THANK YOU SO MUCH.

OKAY. GOT IT. PAMELA, BEFORE YOU GO, LET ME JUST SAY THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORDS.

WE HAVE WORKED HARD TO PROTECT CHILDREN AND FAMILIES, ESPECIALLY BABIES IN OUR COMMUNITY.

LET PAMELA ALLEN BE AN EXAMPLE OF A POWER OF AN INDIVIDUAL THAT NOT ONLY CAN HELP CHANGE THE COMMUNITY BUT CHANGE THE WORLD.

AND NEVER UNDERESTIMATE THE POWER THAT AN INDIVIDUAL HAS TO DO THAT.

SO, I CHALLENGE EVERYBODY TO DO WHAT PAMELA DOES.

LET'S CHANGE THE WORLD TO MAKE IT A BETTER PLACE, ESPECIALLY FOR CHILDREN AND FAMILIES.

THANK YOU, PAMELA. OKAY.

[4. SPECIAL PRESENTATIONS ITEM(S):]

[00:25:02]

WE'LL TAKE UP SPECIAL PRESENTATION OF PATRIOT AWARDS BY THE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE.

EMPLOYER SUPPORT OF THE GUARD AND RESERVE.

THE ESGR OFFICE TO RENEE WATSON AND JASON BURGOS OF THE BEXAR COUNTY SMALL BUSINESS AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP DEPARTMENT, FOR THEIR SUPPORT OF NATIONAL GUARD AND RESERVE SERVICE MEMBERS. WOULD YOU PLEASE INTRODUCE YOURSELF AND THE GROUP YOU'RE WITH? YES.

GOOD MORNING. JUDGE, COUNTY COMMISSIONERS, COUNTY LEADERSHIP AND MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC.

I AM SENIOR CHIEF GUNNER'S MATE ERIC SALAZAR.

I'M HERE WITH MEMBERS OF THE ESGR, JIM CUNNINGHAM, AND MEMBERS OF MY DEPARTMENT AND CAROL HILL. APOLOGIES.

SO, I WAS SAYING SENIOR CHIEF GUNNER'S MATE ERIC JAMES SALAZAR, YOU WILL KNOW IT BY LOOKING AT ME RIGHT NOW, BUT I'M ACTUALLY A BEXAR COUNTY EMPLOYEE.

I WORK FOR RENEE WATSON IN THE SMALL BUSINESS AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP DEPARTMENT AS A CONTRACT COMPLIANCE SPECIALIST.

BUT A LITTLE BIT ABOUT ME AND THIS UNIFORM.

I'VE BEEN WEARING IT FOR ABOUT 17 YEARS NOW ON ACTIVE DUTY THE REST OF RESERVE TIME, WITH A LITTLE BIT MORE ACTIVE TIME MIXED IN AS WELL.

CURRENTLY SERVING WITH MARITIME EXPEDITIONARY SECURITY SQUADRON ONE OUT OF SAN DIEGO AND ALL OVER TEXAS WHERE WE PROVIDE HIGH VALUE, WE PROVIDE SECURITY FOR US. FLAGGED HIGH VALUE ASSETS AT SEA, IN PORT, IN THE LITTORAL AREAS, AND I HAVE A GREAT MANY DIFFERENT RESPONSIBILITIES WITH THE SQUADRON AS WELL.

SMALL ARMS INSTRUCTOR I'VE BEEN A MISSION COMMANDER.

I'VE BEEN A COMPANY SENIOR ENLISTED LEADER.

AND I HAVE THESE ALL THESE MANY HATS THAT I WEAR AND TO THE POINT WHERE IT'S BASICALLY A SECOND FULL TIME JOB.

AND I BRING ALL THIS UP BECAUSE I CANNOT DO THE THINGS THAT I DO IN MY OTHER JOB WITHOUT THE SUPPORT OF RENEE WATSON AND JASON BURGOS, MY MANAGER AND DEPARTMENT HEAD, RESPECTIVELY. JUST.

I TRANSITIONED OFF OF ACTIVE DUTY IN 2010, AND IT'S BEEN A FIGHT TO FIND THAT EMPLOYER.

THAT REALLY GIVES ME THE SUPPORT THAT I NEED TO DO THE THINGS THAT I WANT TO DO IN MY OTHER LIFE. SO.

THAT SAID, I WOULD LIKE TO POINT OUT THIS LAST YEAR I WAS PROMOTED TO SENIOR CHIEF, YOU KNOW, AND I COULDN'T HAVE DONE IT WITHOUT THEM AND THEIR SUPPORT.

SO, I'VE REACHED OUT TO THE ESGR TO AWARD THEM WITH THE PATRIOT AWARD.

BUT BEFORE WE DO THAT, I'M GOING TO TURN IT OVER TO RETIRED COLONEL JIM CUNNINGHAM WITH THE FOR A FEW REMARKS.

I'LL HAVE TO CORRECT YOU. I'M NOT A RETIRED COLONEL, JUDGE SAKAI.

COMMISSIONERS. MY NAME IS MAJOR, RETIRED US ARMY.

JIM CUNNINGHAM, AND I'M HERE TODAY REPRESENTING THE EMPLOYER SUPPORT OF THE GUARD AND RESERVE.

ALONG WITH CAROL HILL, WHO IS THE AREA FOUR CHAIRWOMAN OF ESGR.

ESGR WAS CREATED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE TOWARD THE END OF THE VIETNAM WAR.

THE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE REALIZED THAT THERE WAS A LOT OF CONFUSION ABOUT WHAT EMPLOYER'S OBLIGATIONS WERE TO THEIR EMPLOYEES, AND WHAT THE MILITARY MEMBERS RESPONSIBILITIES WERE TO THEIR EMPLOYERS.

SO, THEY CREATED THE ESGR.

ESGR IS MADE UP OF VOLUNTEERS IN ALL 50 STATES, PUERTO RICO AND GUAM, OTHER AREAS WHO ADVISE EMPLOYERS ABOUT ESGR, ABOUT WHAT THEIR RESPONSIBILITIES ARE TOWARD ESGR, AND ALSO BRIEFS MILITARY MEMBERS AS THEY'RE BEING DEPLOYED AS TO WHAT THEIR RIGHTS ARE WHEN THEY COME BACK.

PART OF THE ESGR IS AN AWARDS PROGRAM WHERE MILITARY MEMBERS CAN NOMINATE THEIR EMPLOYEES OR THEIR EMPLOYERS FOR AN AWARD.

AND SO TODAY, WE'RE HERE TO PRESENT TWO PATRIOT AWARDS TO RENEE WATSON AND JASON BURGOS. I'M GOING TO HAVE CAROL HILL SAY A FEW WORDS HERE AND THEN WE'LL DO THE PRESENTATION. AS JIM SAID, OUR RESERVE COMPONENTS ARE ARMY, NAVY, MARINES, AIR FORCE, COAST GUARD.

THEY COULD NOT DO WHAT THEY DO IN THE RESERVE COMPONENTS WITHOUT THE SUPPORT OF THEIR BOSSES. AND THIS IS NATURE TRYING TO GET ME.

I'M SORRY. WE ARE VERY FORTUNATE IN HERE IN BEXAR COUNTY.

THIS IS NOT THE FIRST TIME THAT WE HAVE DONE THIS, BUT THE FIRST TIME HERE IN THE COMMISSIONERS COURT. BUT WE MANY, MANY OF THE EMPLOYEES WHO ARE HERE IN THE VARIOUS PARTS OF THE COUNTY ACTUALLY ARE MEMBERS OF ONE OF THE RESERVE COMPONENTS.

WE HAVE BEEN OUT AND RECOGNIZED BOSSES, SUPERVISORS WHO ACTUALLY DO TAKE CARE OF.

[00:30:03]

NOW WE KNOW THAT RENEE IS THE DEPARTMENT HEAD.

SO, SHE DESERVES HER RECOGNITION AS SHE'S HER FIRST CIVILIAN EMPLOYER WHO HAS NOT HAS NOT ONLY CARED ABOUT HIS CIVILIAN, HIS JOB, BUT ALSO ENCOURAGED AND SUPPORTED HIM WHEN HE IS, AS HE IS TODAY, IN UNIFORM, PROTECTING ALL OF US AND ASSISTING WITH THAT.

JASON ALSO DESERVES TO BE RECOGNIZED BECAUSE HE, AS HIS DIRECT SUPERVISOR, IS THERE TO MAKE SURE THAT WHEN HE IS GONE, WHEN SOMETHING COMES UP THAT HE, THE TEAM IS ALL THERE, CAN TAKE CARE OF WHATEVER NEEDS TO BE DONE IN HIS CIVILIAN WORK.

THE THING THAT HE SAID ON BOTH OF THEM, AND I HAVE TO QUOTE, THERE WAS MANY OTHER NICE THINGS. YOU KNOW, WE NEED TO TAKE CARE OF HIS FAMILY, TAKE CARE OF THIS.

THEY DO THAT. AND THAT'S ALL VERY GOOD.

THAT'S VERY STRONG. BUT HE SAID IN ALL CAPS, WHICH MEANS HE WAS SHOUTING AT US.

I HAVE NEVER HAD SUCH SUPPORT FROM MY CIVILIAN EMPLOYER.

SO, WITH THAT, WE WOULD LIKE TO SAY THANK YOU TO BOTH JASON VARGAS AND RENEE WATSON FOR THEIR CONTINUING SUPPORT OF ERIC.

SENIOR CHIEF PETTY OFFICER.

OKAY. AND WE HAD THE AWARDS.

ALL RIGHT. THE AWARD IS STATE'S OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY OF DEFENSE.

EMPLOYER SUPPORT OF THE GUARD AND RESERVE RECOGNIZES RENEE WATSON AND JASON BURGOS, BEAR COUNTY SMALL BUSINESS AND ENTREPRENEUR LEADERSHIP DEPARTMENT, AS A PATRIOTIC EMPLOYER FOR CONTRIBUTING TO NATIONAL SECURITY AND PROTECTING LIBERTY AND FREEDOM BY SUPPORTING EMPLOYEE PARTICIPATION IN AMERICA'S NATIONAL GUARD AND RESERVE FORCE.

WE ASSUME THAT THEY'RE NOT GOING TO BE CARRYING THOSE AWARDS AROUND WITH THEM.

SO THAT'S WHY HE'S PINNING THEM NOW TO SAY THEY ARE, IN FACT, A PATRIOTIC EMPLOYER, SO THAT YOU WILL RECOGNIZE THAT WHEN YOU SEE THEM.

COMMISSIONERS, WITHOUT OBJECTION, IF THEY COULD, WE COULD STAND HERE, AND THEY CAN COME, AND WE CAN TAKE A PHOTO TOGETHER.

WAIT. WHOA. ONE MORE THING.

I'M SO SORRY. YES, MA'AM.

I'M NOT FINISHED. JUDGE, I BELIEVE YOU ARE AWARE.

I HAVE BEEN INFORMED ABOUT THE STATEMENT OF SUPPORT.

YOU HAVE HEARD ABOUT THIS.

I KNOW THAT COMMISSIONER CALVERT A YEAR AGO IN AUGUST DID THIS.

BUT WHAT WE HAVE BROUGHT FOR YOU TODAY FOR.

NOT FOR EACH OF THEM, BUT FOR THE ENTIRE COUNTY, FOR YOU.

IT'S CALLED THE STATEMENT OF SUPPORT FOR THE GUARD AND RESERVE.

AND IT IS MADE UP BY BEAR COUNTY, TEXAS COMMISSIONERS COURT.

I'M GOING TO TRY TO READ SOME OF IT.

IT'S LONG RECOGNIZED THE GUARD AND RESERVE ARE ESSENTIAL TO THE STRENGTH OF OUR NATION AND WELL-BEING OF OUR COMMUNITIES.

HIGHEST AMERICAN TRADITION, THE PATRIOTIC MEN AND WOMEN OF THE GUARD AND RESERVE SERVE VOLUNTARILY IN AN HONORABLE AND VITAL PROFESSION.

THEY TRAINED TO RESPOND TO THEIR COMMUNITY AND THEIR COUNTRY IN TIME OF NEED.

THEY DESERVE THE SUPPORT OF EVERY SEGMENT OF OUR SOCIETY.

WE FULLY RECOGNIZE, HONOR AND COMPLY WITH THE UNIFORM SERVICES EMPLOYMENT AND REEMPLOYMENT ACT THAT'S AT ESGR.

PROVIDE OUR MANAGERS AND SUPERVISORS WITH THE TOOLS THEY NEED TO EFFECTIVELY MANAGE THOSE EMPLOYERS WHO SERVE EMPLOYEES, WHO SERVE IN THE GUARD AND RESERVE, THAT WE APPRECIATE THE SKILL, THE VALUES, LEADERSHIP AND UNIQUE SKILLS AND SERVICE MEMBERS BRING TO THE WORKFORCE.

WE ENCOURAGE OPPORTUNITIES TO EMPLOY GUARDSMEN, RESERVISTS, TRANSITIONING SERVICE MEMBERS AND VETERANS, AND WE WILL CONTINUALLY RECOGNIZE AND SUPPORT OUR COUNTRY'S SERVICE MEMBERS AND THEIR FAMILIES IN PEACE, IN CRISIS, AND IN WAR.

I'M GOING TO GIVE THIS TO JUDGE SAKAI TO SIGN.

IT IS ALSO COUNTERSIGNED BY THE.

THE CHAIRMAN OF THE NATIONAL ORGANIZATION AND BY THE SECRETARY OF DEFENSE.

WOULD YOU GIVE IT TO MY STAFF? HOLD ON. STAFF.

WE'RE GOING TO TAKE A PHOTO TOGETHER.

WE'RE GOING TO TAKE A PHOTO. YEAH, YEAH, WE'RE GOING TO GIVE IT TO STAFF.

WE ALSO WANT TO SAY THANK YOU AND RECOGNIZE AND THANK YOU FOR ALL OF THE SUPPORT HERE AT BURKE COUNTY. KEITH WILSON IS ALSO JOINING US FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF MILITARY AND VETERAN AFFAIRS.

BECAUSE EVERYTHING WE DO, WE DO IT IN SUPPORT OF THE MILITARY FAMILIES, VETERANS AND THE MILITARY SPOUSES.

SO, WE ARE EXCITED AND HONORED TO RECEIVE THE RECOGNITION FROM THE ESGR.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

OKAY. SHUT UP. YOU CAN BE PROUD.

[00:35:04]

THANK YOU. THANK YOU.

ERIC IS BEING DEPLOYED IN JANUARY.

OKAY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU.

THANK YOU, SIR.

JUST LET ME THANK RENEE.

LET ME THANK THE GROUP HERE FOR RECOGNIZING OUR VETERANS, RECOGNIZING OUR EMPLOYEES WHO CONTINUE TO SACRIFICE AND SERVE OUR COUNTRY.

I UNDERSTAND ONE OF OUR EMPLOYEES WILL BE DEPLOYED IN ACTIVE DUTY.

AND LET'S GIVE THEM A ROUND OF APPLAUSE AGAIN, PLEASE.

OKAY. ALL RIGHT LET'S TAKE A PRESENTATION UPDATE REGARDING THE BEAR COUNTY 23RD ANNUAL SMALL MINORITY WOMEN AND VETERANS BUSINESS OWNERS CONFERENCE, TO BE HELD DECEMBER 6TH, 2023, FROM 7 A.M.

TO 3 P.M. AT THE FREEMAN COLISEUM EXPO HALL.

MISS RENEE. THANK YOU AGAIN.

GOOD MORNING. JUDGE. COMMISSIONERS RENEE WATSON I SERVE AS THE DIRECTOR OF THE SMALL BUSINESS AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP DEPARTMENT.

WE ARE HERE TO PROVIDE JUST A BRIEF UPDATE ON OUR EVENT THAT THAT'S COMING UP ON NEXT WEEK, WEDNESDAY AT THE FREMONT EXPO HALL.

THIS EVENT IS FREE TO THE PUBLIC BECAUSE OF THE TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF SUPPORT WE RECEIVE FROM COMMISSIONERS COURT AND OUR SPONSORS.

WE ESPECIALLY APPRECIATE ALL THE NUMEROUS COUNTY EMPLOYEES THAT HELP US PUT THIS ON.

STARTING WITH MY TEAM OVER IN THE SBED DEPARTMENT, AS WELL AS THE COUNTY AUDITOR, TO ENSURE THAT WE PROCESS PAYMENTS ON TIME, THE PRINT SHOP FACILITIES, PUBLIC WORKS, AND ESPECIALLY RECOGNIZING DEREK HOWARD AND THE TEAM AND THE STAFF AT THE FREEMAN COLISEUM.

WE HAVE BEEN AT THE FREEMAN EXPO HALL PROPERTY NOW FOR THE LAST 13 YEARS, AND IT HAS BECOME. THIS EVENT IS ONE OF THEIR SIGNATURE EVENTS ON THEIR CALENDAR.

THE REGISTRATION LINK IS REAL TIME ON OUR WEBSITE, BCIT AND THEIR TEAM, REBECA AND GEORGE, DO A LOT OF WORK TO MAKE SURE THAT THE INFORMATION IS KEPT UP TO DATE AND EASY ON THE BEAR COUNTY WEBSITE.

THE PUBLIC AND EVERYONE CAN ACCESS IT@BEXAR.ORG.

I JUST WANT TO GIVE YOU A FEW HIGHLIGHTS OF WHAT WE CAN EXPECT IN OUR COMMUNITY NEXT WEEK. THIS IS THE FIRST TIME THAT WE'VE CLOSED THE EXHIBITOR REGISTRATION TWO WEEKS PRIOR TO THE EVENT HAPPENING, BECAUSE WE'VE HAD SO MANY DEMANDS FROM PUBLIC AND PRIVATE SECTOR ORGANIZATIONS WHO WANT TO BRING THEIR BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES TO OUR COMMUNITY.

OUR BREAKFAST PROGRAM'S TITLE IS FEDERAL RESOURCES AND OPPORTUNITIES.

WE WILL HAVE REPRESENTATIVES FROM THE US STATE DEPARTMENT, THE DEPARTMENT OF VETERAN AFFAIRS, AND THE OFFICE OF SECRETARY FOR THE US DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION.

BUNKER LABS WILL BE FEATURING A VIDEO HIGHLIGHTING FIVE ENTREPRENEURS WHO ARE EITHER STARTING OR ACCELERATING THEIR BUSINESS TO TALK TO THE AUDIENCE AND MILITARY AND VETERAN ENTREPRENEURS ABOUT THEIR PROGRAM.

THE KEYNOTE WILL BE TED JAMES, THE REGIONAL ADMINISTRATOR FOR THE US SMALL BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION, FOLLOWED BY A STATE PANEL AT 10 A.M.

FEATURING THE TEXAS COMPTROLLER, THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES TXDOT, THE TEXAS FACILITIES COMMISSION, AS WELL AS DIR, THE DEPARTMENT OF INFORMATION RESOURCES. ALSO AT TEN, WE WILL KICK OFF THE MONEY TALK SHOW, WHICH WILL BE LIVE STREAMED.

ALL OF THE BREAKFAST, LUNCH AND THE MONEY TALK SHOW WOULD BE LIVE STREAMED ON OUR DEPARTMENT'S SOCIAL MEDIA OUTLETS.

WE HAVE OVER 6160 EXHIBITORS, LOCAL, STATE AND FEDERAL AGENCIES AND THE PRIVATE SECTOR.

WE WANT TO HIGHLIGHT AND THANK AND LET THE OFFICES OF OUR COUNTY OFFICES IN THE DEPARTMENTS REALLY UNDERSTAND THAT WE APPRECIATE THEIR PRESENCE, AND WE WILL HAVE AN EXHIBIT HALL AS WELL.

THE BEXAR COUNTY CLERK'S OFFICE, THANK YOU.

LUCY AND LUCY ADAME-CLARK WILL HAVE HER MOBILE UNIT ON SITE.

IF YOU WANT TO GET YOUR DBA, YOUR FISHING LICENSE, YOUR HUNTING LICENSE, YOU CAN EVEN GET MARRIED IF YOU WANT TO SEAL THAT PARTNERSHIP FOR YOUR BUSINESS WHILE YOU'RE THERE. AT THE CONFERENCE THIS YEAR, WE'RE ADDING SOMETHING BRAND NEW WITH THE DISTRICT CLERK'S OFFICE. THANK YOU.

DISTRICT CLERK GLORIA MARTINEZ.

WE'RE DOING A PASSPORT FAIR.

WE WILL HAVE PASSPORTS.

YOU CAN PROCESS THE NEW PASSPORT APPLICATIONS ON SITE AT THE BUILDING WHILE YOU'RE ATTENDING THE CONFERENCE.

SO IF YOUR BUSINESS IS LOOKING FOR INTERNATIONAL TRAVEL, INTERNATIONAL CONTRACTS, GET YOUR PASSPORT FROM THE COUNTY WHILE YOU'RE ON SITE.

WE WILL HAVE THE DISPUTE RESOLUTION CENTER, AS WELL AS THE FACILITIES MANAGEMENT, INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY, THE MILITARY AND VETERANS SERVICE, PARKS AND RECREATION, THE BEXAR COUNTY PUBLIC HEALTH DEPARTMENT, PUBLIC WORKS, PURCHASING THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE AS

[00:40:04]

OUR LUNCH PROGRAM.

THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER CLAY-FLORES, WHO WILL BE LEADING THAT EFFORT FOR US IN PERSON? WE WILL HAVE A VIDEO SINCE JUDGE SAKAI WILL BE OUT OF TOWN.

COUNTY SERVICES FEATURED WILL BE WITH THE TAX ASSESSOR, COLLECTOR, MR. EURESTE, THE DA GONZALES THE COUNTY, THE COUNTY CLERK ADAME-CLARK.

THE DISTRICT CLERK, THE SHERIFF AND CONSTABLE.

PRECINCT FOUR CATHERINE BROWN.

THEY WILL BE TALKING ABOUT THE SERVICES PROVIDED BY THE COUNTY AND THEIR OFFICES ON A VIDEO PRESENTATION WE WILL DO AT LUNCH.

THE LUNCH KEYNOTE WILL BE FEATURED.

THE AIRPORT EXPANSION, THE $2.5 BILLION OF OPPORTUNITIES IN OUR COMMUNITY.

MR. JESUS SANTOS, THE DIRECTOR OF THE AIRPORT.

AND GREETINGS FROM THE MAYOR NIRENBERG, CPS ENERGY AND UNIVERSITY HEALTH.

FINALLY, WE ARE INVITING COUNTY EMPLOYEES AND THE GENERAL PUBLIC TO JOIN US THIS YEAR AS WE DO A FOOD DRIVE COLLECTION ON BEHALF OF THE SAN ANTONIO AREA FOOD BANK.

WE WILL HAVE NONPERISHABLE ITEMS AS WELL AS PET FOOD COLLECTED THROUGHOUT THE DAY.

WE ARE LAUNCHING THAT EVENT STARTING TODAY IN OUR OFFICE.

FOR ANY COUNTY EMPLOYEE THAT WOULD LIKE TO BRING SOMETHING BY BETWEEN NOW AND NEXT WEDNESDAY TO ALSO JOIN WITH US ON BEHALF OF THE SAN ANTONIO FOOD BANK.

HOPEFULLY YOU WILL GET A NOTICE IN THE COUNTY CONNECTIONS EMAIL SHORTLY.

AGAIN, ATTENDEE REGISTRATION WILL REMAIN OPEN UNTIL NEXT MONDAY AT 5:05 P.M., AND WE WILL HAVE ON SITE REGISTRATION STARTING AT 7 A.M.

ON WEDNESDAY. IT IS FREE ADMISSION AND PARKING.

WE PROVIDE FREE BREAKFAST AND LUNCH, AND WE HAVE A TREMENDOUS NUMBER OF SPONSORS THAT WE'RE REALLY APPRECIATIVE OF.

SO, WITH THAT, WE'D LIKE TO KEY UP A BRIEF COMMERCIAL THAT WE'RE RUNNING IN OUR COMMUNITY AT THIS TIME . I'M BEXAR COUNTY JUDGE PETER SAKAI.

AND MY NAME IS RUDY GARZA OF CPS ENERGY.

WE WANT TO INVITE YOU TO THE BEAR COUNTY BUSINESS CONFERENCE AT THE FREEMAN EXPO HALL ON DECEMBER 6TH.

THE BIGGEST BUSINESS EVENT IN SOUTH TEXAS WITH OVER 100 FEDERAL, STATE AND LOCAL AGENCIES AS WELL AS PRIVATE BUSINESSES.

JOIN US AND REGISTER NOW AT BEXAR.ORG/SMWBE OR SCAN THE QR CODE ON THE SCREEN.

GET READY TO TAKE YOUR BUSINESS TO THE NEXT LEVEL.

THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY.

THANK YOU, MS. RENEE.

THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT.

WE'RE NOW GOING TO HIT THE TIME CERTAIN WE'RE RUNNING A LITTLE BEHIND.

SO, LET'S TAKE UP PRESENTATION BY THE DEPARTMENT OF MILITARY AND VETERANS SERVICES

[5.a. 9:30 a.m.: Presentation by the Department of Military and Veterans Services on FY 22-23 initiatives, activities, client services, and planned activities for the coming year to serve veterans, military, and families in Bexar County. (Presentation Time: 15 minutes) (Keith Wilson)]

INITIATIVES, ACTIVITIES, CLIENT SERVICES AND PLANNED ACTIVITIES FOR THE COMING YEARS TO SERVE VETERANS, MILITARY AND FAMILIES IN BEXAR COUNTY.

MR. WILSON.

GOOD MORNING. GOOD MORNING.

JUDGE. JUDGE SAKAI.

COMMISSIONERS. COUNTY MANAGER.

SMITH. LADIES AND GENTLEMEN.

GOOD MORNING. MY NAME IS KEITH WILSON.

I SERVE AS THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE COUNTY'S MILITARY AND VETERANS SERVICES.

BEFORE I BEGIN THE PRESENTATION TODAY, I'D BE REMISS IF I DID NOT MENTION THE AMAZING OUTPOURING OF SUPPORT THIS COMMUNITY SHOWED OVER THE PAST MONTH TO CELEBRATE AMERICA'S MILITARY. EVENTS, RANGING FROM MEMORIAL SERVICES TO HIRING FAIRS, FROM LUNCHEONS TO BANQUETS. WE GOT TO CELEBRATE THE 248TH BIRTHDAY OF THE UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS, AND WE PARTICIPATED IN THE SAN ANTONIO VETERANS DAY FESTIVAL DOWNTOWN.

THAT KICKED OFF WITH STEPS FOR VETS, A RACE THROUGHOUT DOWNTOWN, AS WELL AS A PARADE THROUGH THE STREETS OF OUR CITY.

OUR COUNTY GOVERNMENT ALONE HAD NEARLY A DOZEN DIFFERENT OFFICES AND DEPARTMENTS REPRESENTED IN THE VETERANS DAY PARADE, AND I COULD NOT BE PROUDER OF THE COUNTY AND ITS INVOLVEMENT. AND I LOOK FORWARD TO NEXT YEAR AS WE DO IT BIGGER AND BETTER.

I WOULD LIKE TO PROVIDE A QUICK UPDATE ON THE DEPARTMENT FOR THE LAST FISCAL YEAR.

I KNOW YOU'VE SEEN THESE BEFORE.

I WON'T SPEND A LOT OF TIME JUST TO.

TO SAY THAT WE FULLY EMBRACE OUR COMMITMENT AND OUR OBLIGATION TO PROVIDE WORLD CLASS SUPPORT TO MEET OUR STATUTORY REQUIREMENT.

TO HELP PROCESS CLAIMS FOR SERVICE-CONNECTED INJURIES, ILLNESSES AND AILMENTS WHILE EXPANDING OUR SUPPORT TO IDENTIFYING EDUCATION OPPORTUNITIES AND CAREER PATHWAYS THAT ALIGN WITH THE COUNTY'S EXPANDING INDUSTRIES AND GROWING ECONOMY.

WE ALSO CONTINUE EFFORTS TO EXPAND A NETWORK OF LOCAL RESOURCES SO THAT WE CAN COMPREHENSIVELY SUPPORT OUR SERVICE MEMBERS AS THEY TRANSITION.

OUR VETERANS AND OUR MILITARY

[00:45:03]

I'D LIKE TO PROVIDE A QUICK SNAPSHOT OF OUR CURRENT ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE THAT INDICATES THE RECENTLY INCORPORATED PROGRAM CHANGES TO BETTER MEET THE DEMANDS OF OUR CLIENTS. WE BROUGHT ON THREE NEW MILITARY SERVICE OFFICERS RECENTLY BASED ON PROMOTIONS AND TRANSITIONS, AND WE'VE COORDINATED WITH THE TEXAS VETERANS COMMISSION TO PROVIDE THE REQUIRED TRAINING TO GET OUR TEAM FULLY CERTIFIED AND ACCREDITED BY YEAR'S END.

I WOULD LIKE TO FOCUS YOUR ATTENTION ON THE TWO POSITIONS OUTLINED IN BLUE.

MILITARY SERVICES OFFICER, FAMILY BENEFITS AND MILITARY SERVICES OFFICER.

JUSTICE INVOLVED FOR FAMILY BENEFITS.

SO, THE FOCUS WILL BE TO KNOW AND UNDERSTAND THE ARRAY OF SERVICES AND THE UNIQUE NUANCES ASSOCIATED WITH THE PROVISION OF MILITARY FAMILY BENEFITS.

WE RECOGNIZE THAT SOME OF THESE RESOURCES CAN BE CHALLENGING TO ACCESS AND TO NAVIGATE, SO HAVING THIS EXPERTISE RESIDENT WITHIN THE DEPARTMENT ALLOWS US TO BETTER ASSIST THE CLIENTS THAT WE SERVE.

ADDITIONALLY, PUTTING EMPHASIS THROUGH OUR JUSTICE INVOLVED.

MSO. THANK YOU.

THERE IS JUSTICE INVOLVED MSO ALLOWS US TO IMPROVE FOCUS ON INCARCERATED VETERANS, PARTICIPANTS OF THE COUNTY'S VETERAN'S TREATMENT COURTS AND OUR HOMELESS VETERANS.

BOTH OF THE MSOS THAT WE'VE SELECTED FOR THESE POSITIONS ARE ALREADY CERTIFIED, ACCREDITED, AND EXPERIENCED IN PROCESSING CLAIMS. AND SO, THIS OPENS THE APERTURE FOR THE LEVEL OF EXPERTISE AND SUPPORT THAT WE CAN PROVIDE THE CLIENTS THAT WE SERVE.

AS WE LOOK AT SOME OF THE METRICS ASSOCIATED WITH CLAIMS, THE FIRST QUARTER OF THE FISCAL YEAR SAW LOWER THAN DESIRED NUMBERS AND THE VETERANS SERVED, AND THE BENEFITS RECEIVED DUE SOLELY TO PERSONNEL TURNOVER AND OUTDATED PROCESSES.

IN FIRST QUARTER, WE HAD TWO STAFF MEMBERS PROCESSING CLAIMS. IN NOVEMBER OF 2022.

A YEAR AGO, WE HIRED FOUR ADDITIONAL MILITARY SERVICES OFFICERS AND ONE ADDITIONAL ASSISTANT MILITARY SERVICE OFFICER TO INCREASE INTAKE AND ASSIST WITH THE PROCESSING OF CLAIMS. AND YOU CAN SEE THE SIGNIFICANT INCREASE THROUGHOUT THE FISCAL YEAR AND WORKFORCE PERFORMANCE AS WE PROGRESSED.

AT THE END OF FY 23, WE PROCESSED OVER 2000 CLAIMS AND HELPED OUR CLIENTS RECEIVE NEARLY $9 MILLION IN FEDERAL COMPENSATION, WHICH WAS TWICE OUR PROJECTED GOALS.

I'D LIKE TO TAKE A MOMENT TO MENTION ONE RECENT CASE THAT CAME TO MY ATTENTION JUST LAST WEEK. THE SURVIVING SPOUSE OF A VETERAN PREVIOUSLY APPLIED FOR COMPENSATION BENEFITS NEARLY 25 YEARS AGO AND WAS DENIED.

SHE MET RECENTLY WITH ONE OF OUR STAFF MEMBERS, MS. MARCIA COVINGTON, WHO HAPPENS TO BE OUR MSO, FOCUSED ON FAMILY BENEFITS.

SHE REVIEWED HER CASE, HELPED COMPILE AND SUBMIT ADDITIONAL SUBSTANTIATING EVIDENCE IN LINE WITH THE RECENT PACT ACT.

AND WE JUST LEARNED LAST WEEK THAT THE CLIENT WAS RETROACTIVELY APPROVED TO THE ORIGINAL DATE OF SUBMISSION 25 YEARS AGO.

SHE JUST RECEIVED NEARLY $400,000.

$400,000 TAX FREE FROM THE UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT FOR BENEFITS THAT SHE WAS OWED.

SHE'S 92 YEARS OLD, AND HER LIFE IN MANY OF HER FAMILY WILL FOREVER BE CHANGED BECAUSE SHE CAME AND GOT THE BENEFITS SHE DESERVES FROM THE RIGHT PEOPLE.

I TOLD MARCIA THAT'S TRUE IMPACT THAT OUR TEAM IS HAVING IN OUR COMMUNITY.

DURING MY LAST UPDATE TO THE COURT, I DISCUSSED HOW WE WANTED TO LEVERAGE TECHNOLOGY TO STREAMLINE OUR SERVICES THROUGH AN ONLINE APPOINTMENT BOOKING SYSTEM THAT ALLOWS CUSTOMERS TO SCHEDULE APPOINTMENTS AT A TIME AND A LOCATION THAT'S CONVENIENT TO THEM.

WE LAUNCHED THIS CAPABILITY ON 3RD APRIL, AND YOU CAN SEE BY THE END OF OCTOBER WE HAD NEARLY 3000 APPOINTMENTS BOOKED THROUGH OUR ONLINE APPOINTMENT SYSTEM.

THIS PROVIDES GREATER EFFICIENCIES IN MANAGING APPOINTMENTS AND ALLOWS US TO BETTER ADJUST FOR CANCELLATIONS TO IMPROVE OUR EFFICIENCIES.

BUT IT ALSO FREES UP OUR RECEPTIONIST AND OUR INTAKE SPECIALISTS TO BETTER ASSIST THOSE CLIENTS WHO ARE OFTEN TECHNOLOGICALLY CHALLENGED, WHICH TEND TO BE OUR OLDER VETERANS AND OUR OLDER MILITARY FAMILIES.

IN ADDITION TO THE ONLINE APPOINTMENTS, WE'VE BEEN WORKING WITH BCIT TO IMPROVE THE DATA ANALYTICS FOR THE CLIENTS THAT WE SERVE.

THE GREAT TEAM AT BCIT HELPED CRAFT A REAL TIME DASHBOARD THAT YOU CAN SEE PORTRAYED ON THE RIGHT THAT ALLOWS US TO MONITOR THE TYPES OF SERVICES REQUESTED, THE GEOGRAPHIC LOCATIONS OF OUR CLIENTS, THE ERA OF SERVICE, THE BRANCH OF SERVICE, AND MORE.

FOR FY 23, WE HAD OVER 8500 REQUESTS FOR ASSISTANCE OR SERVICE COME THROUGH OUR OFFICE, WITH THE PREPONDERANCE F BEING VIA TELEPHONE AND FOR ASSISTANCE WITH FILING CLAIMS. SOME OF THE OTHER TYPES OF ASSISTANCE THAT WE ROUTINELY SEE REQUESTS FOR ARE SHORT TERM FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE FOR HOUSING, SHORT TERM FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE IN GENERAL, TRANSPORTATION ASSISTANCE, AND CHILDCARE ASSISTANCE.

WE HAVE WORK TO DO.

[00:50:01]

OUR NUMBERS WILL GROW AS WE EXPAND TO ACCESS OUR SERVICES FOR THE RESIDENTS OF BEAR COUNTY, AND IT'S A TESTAMENT TO THE HARD WORK OF THE BENEFITS TEAM LED BY STEVE MCKEE.

ONE OF THE AREAS YOU ALL KNOW I'M MOST PROUD OF HAS BEEN OUR ABILITY TO LEVERAGE PARTNERSHIPS AND RELATIONSHIPS TO EXPAND PERMANENT SATELLITE OFFICE LOCATIONS THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY, ALLOWING US TO EXPAND AND IMPROVE ACCESS FOR THE RESIDENTS THAT WE SERVE. IN ADDITION TO OUR CENTRAL HEADQUARTERS DEPICTED BY THE YELLOW STAR JUST OUTSIDE FORT SAM HOUSTON GATE, WE HAVE SIX SATELLITE OFFICE LOCATIONS NOW ACROSS THE COUNTY. WE'RE ON FORT SAM HOUSTON IN THE TRANSITION CENTER.

WE ACTUALLY HAVE TWO OFFICES AT WAYLAND BAPTIST UNIVERSITY IN PRECINCT FOUR.

WE JUST SIGNED A LEASE WITH ENDEAVORS IN PRECINCT THREE.

WE'RE AT THE NORTHWEST VA CENTER ON HIGHWAY 151, IN PRECINCT ONE.

WE'RE AT THE WEST SIDE EDUCATION AND TRAINING CENTER IN PRECINCT TWO, WHERE WE ACTUALLY RUN THE ENTIRE VETERANS AFFAIRS OFFICE.

AND WITH ONE MSO AND SOON COMMUNITY PARTNERS ROTATING THROUGH, WE'LL BE ABLE TO PROVIDE MORE COMPREHENSIVE SERVICES.

AND THEN FINALLY AT THE TEXAS A&M CAMPUS ON THE SOUTH SIDE OF TOWN IN PRECINCT ONE.

BECAUSE OF OUR PARTNERSHIPS AND STRONG RELATIONSHIPS, THE MAJORITY OF THESE ARE PROVIDED AT NO COST TO THE COUNTY.

BETWEEN THESE SATELLITE OFFICES AND OUR EXPANDING OUTREACH, WE ARE CONTINUING TO PUT EMPHASIS ON BRINGING THE COUNTY TO THE PEOPLE.

I TALKED ABOUT OUTREACH. I WON'T GO INTO A LOT OF DETAIL ABOUT THE DIFFERENT EVENTS AND ACTIVITIES WE'VE BEEN INVOLVED WITH OVER THE PAST YEAR, OTHER THAN TO SAY THAT BETWEEN RESOURCE FAIRS, WORKSHOPS, MILITARY TRANSITION BRIEFINGS, COMMUNITY PRESENTATIONS, AND OTHER ACTIVITIES, WE ARE ROUTINELY OUT ENGAGING WITH THE RESIDENTS OF OUR COMMUNITY. YOU SEE, DEPICTED ON THE BOTTOM LEFT AT ONE OF OUR EVENTS AT WONDERLAND, WE ACTUALLY HAD A VETERAN AND HIS FIANCEE TIE THE KNOTS THANKS TO LUCY ADAME-CLARK THERE AT THE EVENT, SO THEY WERE CAUGHT OFF GUARD.

BUT A GREAT OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO RECOGNIZE THEM.

AS WE LOOKED AT 2024, I'LL HIGHLIGHT A FEW OF THE EVENTS THAT WE'RE INVOLVED WITH.

ONE OF THE KEY THINGS I LEARNED THIS LAST YEAR IS THE VALUE OF PARTNERING.

SO NEXT YEAR, ALL OF OUR EVENTS ARE GOING TO BE PARTNERED EVENTS WITH ORGANIZATIONS LIKE JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO, THE CENTURION MILITARY ALLIANCE, THE TEXAS VETERANS COMMISSION, THE TEXAS WORKFORCE COMMISSION, THE TEXAS VETERANS LAND BOARD.

ORGANIZATIONS LIKE PURPLE UP ENDEAVORS, FLAGSHIP HEALTH, AND MORE.

WE'VE ALSO LOOKED TO PROVIDE FOCUSED THEMED EVENTS TO INCLUDE TRANSITION AND EMPLOYMENT, MILITARY, SPOUSE AND FAMILY, HEALTH AND WELLNESS, AND MORE.

THESE PARTNER EVENTS REINFORCE THAT WE CANNOT DO IT ALONE, AND WE WORK WITH OUR PARTNERS TO ENSURE WE PROVIDE THE BEST SERVICES THAT WE CAN.

AND THEN FINALLY, I'D LIKE TO RAISE AWARENESS OF THE COUNTY SPECIFIC RESOURCES THAT ARE AVAILABLE TO OUR TRANSITIONING SERVICE MEMBERS, OUR VETERAN FAMILIES.

PRODUCTS LIKE THIS THAT YOU SEE ON THE RIGHT.

SHOW THAT IF YOU WANT TO FILE YOUR DISABILITY CLAIM.

YOU WANT TO FOLLOW YOUR DD-214? YOU WANT TO GET DOCUMENTS NOTARIZED.

YOU WANT TO REGISTER YOUR VEHICLE FOR DISABLED VETERAN PLATE.

YOU WANT TO FILE YOUR PROPERTY TAX EXEMPTIONS, OR YOU WANT TO REGISTER TO VOTE.

ALL OF THESE ARE SERVICES THAT YOU CAN OBTAIN FROM YOUR COUNTY GOVERNMENT.

WE WANT OUR DEPARTMENT TO BE A BETTER GATEWAY TO THOSE SERVICES FOR OUR TRANSITIONING MILITARY, OUR VETERANS, AND OUR FAMILIES.

I MENTIONED AT THE BEGINNING, WE CANNOT DO WHAT WE DO WITHOUT OUR COUNTY AND COMMUNITY PARTNERS. I'D BE REMISS, IN CLOSING TO NOT EXPRESS OUR GRATITUDE FOR ALL OF THE PARTNERS WE'RE FORTUNATE TO WORK WITH.

NO SINGLE ENTITY CAN PROVIDE THE ARRAY OF CARE, SERVICE, AND SUPPORT THAT OUR VETERANS AND THEIR FAMILIES DESERVE.

IT'S ONLY THROUGH PARTNERSHIPS AND COLLABORATION THAT WE AS A COMMUNITY, ARE ABLE TO MEET THE NEEDS OF OUR RESIDENTS.

THERE ARE DOZENS, IF NOT HUNDREDS, OF GREAT, EXCEPTIONAL ORGANIZATIONS DOING WONDERFUL THINGS TO SUPPORT THE VETERANS AND MILITARY FAMILIES.

AND ON THE HEELS OF THIS THANKSGIVING HOLIDAY, WE ARE GRATEFUL FOR EACH AND EVERY ONE OF THEM THAT STAND SHOULDER TO SHOULDER WITH US ON A DAILY BASIS TO EMPOWER THOSE THAT WE SERVE. JUDGE.

COMMISSIONERS APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO UPDATE YOU ON THE PROGRESS AND WORK THIS TEAM DOES ON A DAILY BASIS.

WE COULD NOT BE PROUDER OF THE WORK WE DO AND THOSE THAT WE SUPPORT AND SERVE.

SO, AT THIS TIME, HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS THAT YOU MAY HAVE.

ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU, KEITH.

ANY COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS COMMISSIONER CLAY-FLORES? I DON'T HAVE ANY QUESTIONS. JUST WANT TO THANK YOU FOR CONTINUING TO REACH OUT TO OUR VETERANS. THANK YOU SO MUCH, MR. RODRIGUEZ. YEAH.

SAME HERE JUDGE. THANK YOU, KEITH, FOR ALL THE WORK YOU DO.

I KNOW I MISSED THE WONDERLAND EVENT THIS YEAR, THE FIRST TIME I'VE HAD TO MISS IT, BUT I HEARD GREAT FEEDBACK FROM FOLKS NOT ONLY IN PRECINCT TWO, BUT ALL OVER OUR COUNTY WHO ATTENDED AND PARTICIPATED.

AT SOME POINT. I WANT TO GET WITH YOU ON WHAT'S GOING ON AT WETC, THE WEST SIDE

[00:55:02]

AND, YOU KNOW WHAT YOU'RE DOING IN TERMS OF OUTREACH THERE.

SO, BUT THANK YOU AND YOUR TEAM WHO DO GREAT WORK THROUGHOUT THE YEAR.

WE REALLY APPRECIATE THAT.

THANK YOU. JUDGE. COMMISSIONER MOODY.

I'LL JUST ECHO MY COLLEAGUE'S COMMENTS AS WELL.

THANK YOU, KEITH, FOR ALL THAT YOU DO FOR OUR COUNTY AND FOR YOUR TEAM'S WORK.

PLEASE PASS ALONG OUR THANKS TO ALL OF THEM.

CLEARLY, YOU KNOW, YOU GUYS ARE COMMITTED TO THIS MISSION AND FOCUSED ON IMPROVING SERVICE TO VETERANS HERE. AND FOR THAT, WE THANK YOU.

YES, SIR. COMMISSIONER CALVERT.

JUST WANT TO THANK YOU FOR HIGHLIGHTING THE GREAT WORK OF YOUR TEAM AND PARTICULARLY THE EVOLUTION WITHIN, I THINK, THE VETERANS AFFAIRS WITH RESPECT TO THE PACT ACT.

AND THAT IS SOMETHING I THINK WE CAN WORK TOGETHER TO GET MORE PEOPLE KNOWLEDGEABLE, THAT THEY MAY WANT TO GIVE IT A SECOND SHOT IF THEY HAVE BEEN DENIED BEFORE.

SO, THANKS TO YOUR TEAM FOR HELPING THAT 92-YEAR-OLD SPOUSE.

IT'S AN AMAZING STORY.

SO, IT MAKES A DIFFERENCE.

NO DOUBT ABOUT IT CHANGES A FAMILY'S LIFE.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH. ABSOLUTELY.

THANK YOU. AND I'LL CLOSE, KEITH, THAT LET US REMIND OUR COMMUNITY TO NEVER, EVER FORGET THE SACRIFICES OF OUR MILITARY, OUR VETERANS AND THE FAMILIES, ESPECIALLY THOSE THAT SURVIVE OUR VETERANS.

AND SO, THANK YOU FOR YOUR GREAT WORK.

CONTINUE AND CARRY ON, SIR.

LET'S GIVE THEM A ROUND OF APPLAUSE TO OUR VETERANS.

ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU, KEITH.

WE'LL TAKE UP ITEM B5B PRESENTATION DISCUSSION.

[5.b. Immediately following item 5a: Presentation, discussion, and appropriate action regarding consideration of a one-time expenditure of $ 150,000 to be used for production, marketing, and education costs for a documentary about Bexar County resident Cpl. Jorge Villarreal who was killed in action in Afghanistan. (Presentation Time: 20 minutes) (Keith Wilson)]

FOR A DOCUMENTARY ABOUT BEXAR COUNTY RESIDENTS, CORPORAL GEORGE VILLAREAL, WHO WAS KILLED IN ACTION IN AFGHANISTAN.

MR. WILSON. JUDGE.

JUST QUICK BACKGROUND, THEN I'LL TURN IT OVER TO ANDREW.

SO, WE WERE BROUGHT THE ATTENTION OF THIS DOCUMENTARY BEEN PUT TOGETHER BY A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT STAFFS WHO HAD BEEN CONTACTED BY ANDREW, THE DIRECTOR, WHO IS FROM HERE IN SAN ANTONIO. THIS DOCUMENTARY IS THE STORY OF A YOUNG MARINE WHO GREW UP ON THE WEST SIDE OF TOWN, JOINED THE MARINES AND UNFORTUNATELY WAS KILLED IN AFGHANISTAN.

THE STORY FOLLOWS SOME OF HIS MARINE PLATOON MATES AS THEY RETURNED FROM DEPLOYMENT AND RETURNED TO THEIR COMMUNITIES, AND THE STRUGGLES THAT THEY FACED AS THEY DEALT WITH THE TRAUMAS OF WAR AND THE EXPERIENCES THAT THEY HAD.

AND SO, WHAT WE SAW AS WE LOOKED THROUGH THE DOCUMENTARY AND WE'VE RECENTLY HAD AND I KNOW MANY OF THE STAFF HAS HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO SEE NOT JUST THE TRAILER, BUT KIND OF THE ROUGH FIRST CUT, PENDING SOME FINAL POST-PRODUCTION EDITS.

AND WHAT WE REALIZED WAS IT'S NOT JUST THE STORY OF JV, IT'S NOT JUST THE STORY OF JV'S FAMILY, WHO WERE FORTUNATE TO HAVE HIS SISTER, APRIL, JOINING US TODAY.

THIS IS THE STORY OF EVERY COMBAT VETERAN.

IT'S THE STORY OF EVERY FAMILY MEMBER OF A COMBAT VETERAN.

WHO SAW SOME OF THE WORST OF HUMANITY, BUT ALSO SAW SOME OF THE BEST OF HUMANITY.

I JUST LEARNED YESTERDAY OF A COLLEAGUE THAT WAS IN THE LAST ORGANIZATION THAT I SERVED WITH. SHE'S AN ACTIVE-DUTY MILITARY OFFICER AND HER HUSBAND, WHO WAS AN ARMY COLONEL.

HE JUST KILLED HIMSELF ON FRIDAY.

AND SO IT'S A REMINDER OF THE TRAGEDY THAT STILL FACES MANY OF OUR VETERANS.

SOMETIMES WE FORGET THAT THE WAR IN AFGHANISTAN AND THE WAR IN IRAQ MAY BE OVER, BUT WE STILL HAVE SERVICE MEMBERS DEPLOYED AROUND THE WORLD.

WE STILL HAVE INDIVIDUALS THAT ARE DEALING WITH SOME OF THEIR EXPERIENCES.

AND SO, THIS DOCUMENTARY CONTINUES TO HIGHLIGHT THE IMPORTANCE OF THE EDUCATION WE PROVIDE, THE BEHAVIORAL HEALTH NEEDS, AND THE SUPPORT THAT OUR VETERANS AND OUR MILITARY FAMILIES NEED.

I'M FORTUNATE TO JOIN AND I'LL TURN OVER TO ANDREW GONZALES, WHO'S THE DIRECTOR OF THE FILM. WITH US IS LAURA VARELLA, WHO IS THE PRODUCER.

WE HAVE APRIL, WHO I MENTIONED, APRIL RODRIGUEZ, WHO IS JV'S SISTER, AND THEN DR.

MARIO LONGORIA.

DR. MARIO LONGORIA FROM THE EDGEWOOD DISTRICT VETERANS WHO HAVE BEEN STAUNCH SUPPORTERS AND ADVOCATES OF THIS PROJECT.

AND SO, WE SEE THIS AS AN EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITY TO CONTINUE THE DISCUSSIONS ON THE NEED TO SUPPORT OUR VETERANS.

SO, I'LL TURN IT OVER TO ANDREW REALLY QUICK.

GOOD MORNING, COMMISSIONERS. MY NAME IS ANDREW GONZALES AND THE DIRECTOR OF THE DOCUMENTARY FILM AMERICAN SONS.

I'M JOINED HERE WITH MY COLLEAGUE, PRODUCER LAURA VARELLA.

APRIL RODRIGUEZ, SISTER TO JV VILLAREAL, US MARINE CORPS DR.

MARIO LONGORIA OF THE EDGEWOOD DISTRICT, VETERANS AND THE GOOD PEOPLE OF BEAR COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF MILITARY AND VETERANS SERVICES, LED BY AN INCREDIBLE CHAMPION, KEITH WILSON, WHO YOU JUST SPOKE WITH AND GREAT APPRECIATION FOR THE TIMELY AND

[01:00:07]

WE FIRMLY BELIEVE THAT THIS PROJECT TRANSCENDS THE ART OF CINEMA AND WILL SERVE AS AN INCREDIBLE EDUCATIONAL TOOL TO HELP SERVICE PROVIDERS IN OUR COMMUNITY CREATE CONTEXT AND A BROADER PERSPECTIVE FOR ALL THOSE VETERANS WHO ARE IN NEED.

THE MAIN SUBJECT OF OUR DOCUMENTARY, JAVY VILLAREAL, IS ONE OF OUR OWN.

BORN ON THE WEST SIDE OF SAN ANTONIO.

HE JOINED THE UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS AND DIED IN AFGHANISTAN AT ONLY 22 YEARS OLD.

THIS PROJECT NOT ONLY MEMORIALIZES HIS SACRIFICE AND THE SACRIFICES OF EVERY MAN AND WOMAN WHO HAS EVER WORN THE UNIFORM FOR THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, BUT ALSO WILL IGNITE DYNAMIC CONVERSATIONS AND ACTIONS THAT LEAD TO BETTER SUPPORT, UNDERSTANDING AND RESOURCES FOR OUR VETERANS.

BEAR COUNTY OFFICIALS, STAFF, AND PARTNERS, WE APPRECIATE YOU AND ALL OF THE INCREDIBLE OPPORTUNITIES THAT WE WILL CREATE TOGETHER NOW AND INTO THE FUTURE.

ADDITIONALLY, WE WANT TO EXTEND A SPECIAL THANK YOU AND APPRECIATION TO COMMISSIONER CLAY-FLORES FOR HER STRONG BELIEF IN US, THIS INITIATIVE, AND HER RELENTLESS PURSUIT TO MAKE SURE WE RECEIVE THIS FUNDING AT SUCH A CRITICAL MOMENT IN HISTORY.

THANK YOU, COMMISSIONERS, AND WE APPRECIATE THIS OPPORTUNITY TODAY.

AND ALSO, COULD WE GET A PHOTOGRAPH? OH, HOLD ON, HOLD ON, HOLD ON, HOLD ON.

COMMISSIONER CLAY-FLORES, DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTION OR COMMENT? I DON'T HAVE ANY QUESTIONS.

I JUST WANT TO THANK APRIL FOR BEING HERE.

AND THANK YOU FOR SHARING YOUR BROTHER WITH US.

MY ONE OF MY BROTHERS RETIRED FROM THE ARMY AND EVERY TIME HE WAS DEPLOYED, I WAS JUST REALLY NERVOUS THAT I WOULDN'T SEE HIM AGAIN.

AND SO, I UNDERSTAND WHAT FAMILIES AND SIBLINGS AND LITTLE SISTERS GO THROUGH.

SO, THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.

THANK YOU FOR SHARING HIM.

AND JUST THE REASON I WAS SO SUPPORTIVE OF THIS IS BECAUSE HE IS FROM BEAR COUNTY AND THE PRODUCER, THE DIRECTOR, LAURA, WE'RE ALL BEXAR COUNTY PEOPLE AND I JUST FELT THAT WE NEED TO SUPPORT OUR OWN.

SO, THANK YOU SO MUCH.

I KNOW THIS TOOK A WHILE.

BUT TODAY WE'RE GOING TO PASS IT.

SO, I'M VERY HAPPY TO SUPPORT IT.

AND THANK YOU FOR THE WORK THAT YOU GUYS ARE DOING TO HIGHLIGHT NOT ONLY OUR VETERANS, BUT THE REAL ISSUES OF MENTAL HEALTH AND HOW MUCH MORE WE HAVE TO DO.

SO, THANK YOU. OKAY.

COMMISSIONER RODRIGUEZ.

THANK YOU. JUDGE. ANDREW.

THANKS FOR YOUR WORK ON THIS.

I WAS GOING TO ASK ABOUT THE TIMELINE FOR PRODUCTION WHEN YOU ANTICIPATE.

BUT BEFORE I DO THAT, LET ME MAKE SURE AND ACKNOWLEDGE THE GREAT LOSS AND THE TRAGEDY OF CORPORAL VILLAREAL AND THE FAMILY.

THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.

YOU KNOW, THERE'S NOTHING THAT WE CAN SAY OR DO TO BRING HIM BACK, BUT WE HONOR CERTAINLY HIS SERVICE AND HIS NAME.

UM, YOU KNOW, THROUGH THE FREEDOMS THAT WE ALL ENJOY.

SO, THANK YOU TO OUR EDGEWOOD COMMUNITY, TOO.

I KNOW THAT THEY WERE PRECINCT TWO RESIDENTS, PROUD WEST SIDERS.

AND WE APPRECIATE THE FACT THAT I THINK IN MY ESTIMATION, NO ONE STANDS TALLER THAN THE PROUD VETERANS OF THE WEST SIDE AND PARTICULARLY IN EDGEWOOD.

SO, THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING US TO STAND ON YOUR SHOULDERS.

WE APPRECIATE THAT VERY MUCH.

SO, ANDREW, IF YOU COULD TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT, I'M NOT SURE IF THIS IS A FINAL PRODUCT, WHAT THE PRODUCTION TIMELINE LOOKS LIKE, IF MAYBE IT'S ALREADY DONE.

BUT IF YOU COULD TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THAT JUST SO WE KNOW WHAT TO EXPECT.

SURE. SO, WE'RE LOOKING AT A WORLD PREMIERE AT SOUTH BY SOUTHWEST IN MARCH OF NEXT YEAR.

SO, WE HAVE GRACIOUSLY PERSUADED MANY OF OUR PARTNERS TO BE WORKING BEHIND THE SCENES AT NO COST AT THE MOMENT WHILE WE GATHER FUNDS.

SO WE'RE KIND OF IN A RUSH TO GET EVERYTHING TOGETHER.

SO WE'RE LOOKING AT A WORLD PREMIERE THERE, BUT THEN A PBS BROADCAST AND VETERANS DAY, NOVEMBER OF NEXT YEAR.

SO THAT'S ANOTHER THING WE'RE MOVING TOWARDS.

AND SO THERE'S KIND OF TWO PHASES OF POST-PRODUCTION OUR WORLD PREMIERE AND THEN OUR TELEVISION VERSION, WHICH IS A SLIGHTLY SHORTER VERSION, AND IT HAS A LITTLE BIT MORE EDITING HAPPENS IN THERE BECAUSE IT'S A PUBLIC BROADCAST.

AND THEN THE FILM WILL THEN GO AHEAD AND CREATE IMPACT FOR MANY YEARS TO COME.

SO, THAT'LL BE FOLLOWED UP BY AN IMPACT CAMPAIGN IN WHICH WE WILL BE GOING INTO THE COMMUNITY, BEXAR COUNTY COMMUNITY AND OTHER COMMUNITIES THAT ARE VERY, VERY VETERAN CENTRIC SO THAT WE CAN DELIVER THIS MESSAGE AND HAVE THESE CONVERSATIONS WITH PARTNERS THAT WE'RE WORKING TO DEVELOP, IN WHICH VETERANS WE CAN MEET, VETERANS WHERE THEY ARE, AND THEN HAVE OUR PARTNERS PROVIDE SERVICES TO THE VETERANS THAT ARE IN NEED.

SO, IT'S KIND OF A MULTI-TIERED PRODUCTION PROCESS.

OKAY. SO, THE, I GUESS, THE FILM AS YOU'VE SENT OVER TO, I THINK, MOST OF OUR OFFICES, IF NOT ALL OF OUR OFFICES, IS THAT THE FINAL PRODUCT OR IS IT STILL BEING EDITED.

[01:05:02]

THERE'S STILL QUITE A BIT OF EDITING THAT HAS TO BE DONE.

WE JUST GOT OUR FEEDBACK FROM ONE OF OUR INITIAL FUNDERS, LATINO PUBLIC BROADCAST.

SO, WE'RE HAVING TO MAKE SOME CHANGES THERE.

THERE IS MUSICAL COMPOSITION THAT'S BEING DONE, SOUND DESIGN AND A LITANY OF POST-PRODUCTION THINGS THAT ARE REQUIRED BEFORE WE CAN GET IT OUT THERE TO BROADCAST.

OKAY. THAT'S GREAT, AND IF YOU COULD KEEP US POSTED ON THAT, WE CERTAINLY WANT TO BE APPRISED OF WHAT THE FINAL PRODUCT LOOKS LIKE.

I KNOW YOU'RE GETTING FEEDBACK FROM FOLKS WHO ARE MUCH MORE LIVED AND SMARTER THAN ME, BECAUSE I'VE NEVER PUT A UNIFORM ON.

I'M SURE YOU'RE GETTING FEEDBACK FROM FOLKS WHO HAVE ACTUALLY SERVED AND BEEN IN THOSE SHOES, SO I THINK THE FINAL PRODUCT, I'M CERTAIN, WILL BE SOMETHING WE CAN ALL BE PROUD OF AND BE ABLE TO STAND WITH YOU ON, SO WE APPRECIATE THAT.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH, COMMISSIONER MOODY.

WELL, THANKS, JUDGE. AND.

YOU KNOW, THIS IS THIS IS A DIFFICULT TOPIC, YOU KNOW, FOR ME.

I FIRST OF ALL, I JUST WANT TO, YOU KNOW, SAY THANK YOU TO APRIL AND ACKNOWLEDGE YOUR, YOUR PAIN, YOUR FAMILY'S PAIN JV'S AND PASSING AND HIS SERVICE TO THIS COUNTRY.

THANK YOU FOR THAT AND FOR HIS SACRIFICE.

THE YOU KNOW, I WAS WATCHING SOME OF THE CLIPS, BITS AND PIECES OF IT ACTUALLY THIS MORNING IN MY OFFICE.

SORRY. IT'S BEEN A LONG WEEK TRYING TO STAY CAUGHT UP, BUT THE, YOU KNOW, AND I WAS A MARINE COMBAT VETERAN AND DEPLOYED TO AFGHANISTAN, SO AND I WAS DEPLOYED WITH THIRD BATTALION, NINTH MARINES, NOT THAT FAR FROM KAJAKI.

AND SO, ALL THOSE PICTURES ARE VERY REAL TO ME.

BUT, YOU KNOW, AS WE TALK ABOUT THIS SPECIFIC AGENDA ITEM, I WANT TO SEPARATE THAT FROM, YOU KNOW, THE HONOR THAT WE WANT TO BRING JV, BUT ALSO JUST TALK ABOUT, YOU KNOW, HOW WE GO FORWARD HERE WITH THIS AGENDA ITEM.

SO, I THINK THAT THIS.

THE FILM.

WHAT I'VE SEEN, I THINK THAT THE GOAL IS TO BRING THIS AWARENESS, MENTAL HEALTH, SUICIDE PREVENTION, YOU KNOW, THE SACRIFICE OF OUR VETERAN COMMUNITY.

AND I THINK THAT'S A GREAT GOAL AND I FULLY SUPPORT THAT.

AND WE SAT DOWN, I DON'T KNOW, 3 OR 4 MONTHS AGO AND TALKED A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THIS.

SO I'M KIND OF JUST REITERATING THAT I THINK THE, THE, THE CONCERNS I STILL HAVE ON BITS AND PIECES ARE MAKING SURE THAT AS WE'RE BALANCING TELLING THAT STORY AND WHAT THOSE VETERANS HAVE FACED, WE'RE ALSO MAKING SURE THAT WE PORTRAY OUR MILITARY IN THE FAVORABLE LIGHT THAT THEY DESERVE AND MAKING SURE THAT THERE'S NOT DWELLING ON KIND OF THE, I GUESS, A JARHEAD MENTALITY, YOU KNOW, THAT THAT SOMETIMES WE HAVE YOUNG MARINES.

AND SO, I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE BALANCE THOSE TWO THINGS.

WE WANT IT TO BE REAL, YOU KNOW, AND PERSONAL AND EMOTIONAL.

BUT WE ALSO WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT THAT WE BALANCE THAT WITH THE STORY THAT WE'RE TRYING TO TELL. RIGHT.

AND SO, I'M VERY CAUTIOUS THERE.

I MEAN, ACTUALLY MY MOST RECENT JOB IN THE RESERVES HAS BEEN SUPPORTING RECRUITING COMMAND. SO, COMING FROM THAT BACKGROUND, KNOWING THAT OUR MILITARY SERVICES ARE STRUGGLING WITH RECRUITMENT, WE'RE HAVING TROUBLE FINDING THE YOUNG MEN AND WOMEN WHO ARE FIRST HEALTHY ENOUGH, CAPABLE ENOUGH, AND WILLING TO SERVE THEIR COUNTRY IN UNIFORM AND MAKING SURE THAT THAT PARENTS OUT THERE STILL BELIEVE IN THE VALUE OF THAT SERVICE AND ARE WILLING TO ENCOURAGE THEIR CHILDREN TO GO OUT THERE AND SERVE THIS GREAT NATION.

SO, I'M JUST GIVING YOU FEEDBACK FROM MY SEAT AND HOW WE BALANCE THOSE TWO THINGS GOING FORWARD HERE.

SO, I WANT TO I MEAN, JUST FOLLOWING UP WITH WHAT COMMISSIONER RODRIGUEZ SAID, I GUESS THERE'S CERTAIN PIECES THAT I WOULD LIKE TO PROVIDE SOME MORE DIRECT FEEDBACK ON AND SEE IF WE COULD MAKE SOME, SOME TWEAKS IN THE FINAL COPY, BECAUSE I JUST WANT TO BE CAUTIOUS ABOUT THAT.

AND I'M NOT THE DIRECTOR.

I'M NOT THE PRODUCER. AT THE END OF THE DAY, JUST ONE VOICE.

BUT I DO THINK WITH MY EXPERIENCE BOTH IN AFGHANISTAN AND ON THE RECRUITING SIDE FOR

[01:10:03]

SO, ABSOLUTELY, WE DEFINITELY APPRECIATE YOUR UNIQUE PERSPECTIVE ON THE ISSUE, AND WE WELCOME AND ENCOURAGE ANY OPPORTUNITY WE GET TO DISCUSS WITH YOU MOVING FORWARD AND HOW WE CAN SERVE THIS COMMUNITY BEST WITH THIS PROJECT.

OKAY. AND, YOU KNOW, I GUESS AS WE TALK ABOUT THAT, THEN LIKE THE GO FORWARD PLAN, I JUST DON'T KNOW WHETHER THAT MEANS.

YOU KNOW, WE SHOULD HAVE SOME SORT OF CONSULTING AGREEMENT, ANY KIND OF FORMAL KIND OF CONTINGENCY THAT WE CONTINUE TO HAVE THESE DISCUSSIONS BEFORE GOING FORWARD WITH THE AGENDA ITEM AND APPROVING THE FUNDING.

I GUESS THAT IS THE ONE THING IN MY MIND IN TERMS OF TIMING AND MAKING SURE THAT WE STILL HAVE THESE CONVERSATIONS.

SO WE ULTIMATELY KNOW THE END PRODUCT AND WHAT WE'RE SUPPORTING AND PUTTING THE COUNTY BEHIND. DOES THAT MAKE SENSE? ABSOLUTELY. ABSOLUTELY.

SO I'M NOT SURE IF YOU HAVE ANY THOUGHTS OR SUGGESTIONS ON THAT AND HOW WE COULD GO FORWARD OR ANYBODY ELSE ON THE COURT, BUT THAT'S KIND OF JUST WHERE I'M STANDING.

WELL, WE'VE BEEN DISCUSSING THIS FOR MONTHS.

AND AGAIN, I'M GOING TO GO BACK TO THE WORDS I SAID.

THIS IS ABOUT A HOME GROWN YOUNG MAN FROM BEXAR COUNTY WHO GAVE HIS LIFE F OR THE FREEDOMS THAT WE TAKE FOR GRANTED.

SO I AM HAPPY TO SUPPORT IT WITH THE PRODUCER AND THE DIRECTOR ALSO BEING FOR BEXAR COUNTY. SO I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE AMOUNT OF $150,000.

AND JUDGE, I'LL SECOND THAT.

IF I CAN JUST MAKE A SUGGESTION WITH COMMISSIONER MOODY'S CONCERNS IN MIND.

LET ME PUT ON RECORD MOTION BY COMMISSIONER CLAY-FLORES TO APPROVE SECOND BY COMMISSIONER RODRIGUEZ. COMMISSIONER MOODY, YOU STILL HAVE THE FLOOR.

YOU MAY CONTINUE. I'LL YIELD.

YEAH. WHAT I WAS GOING TO SUGGEST IS WE MOVE FORWARD WITH THIS IS BASICALLY AUTHORIZING THE COURT AND STAFF TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THIS ALLOCATION.

I UNDERSTAND AND DAVID, YOU CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG.

THERE STILL HAS TO BE A CONTRACT THAT COMES BACK, I WOULD THINK, FOR THE COURT TO RATIFY, AND THAT WOULD GIVE YOU, I THINK, SOME TIME, COMMISSIONER, TO MAKE SURE THAT THAT YOU HAVE YOUR CONCERNS ADDRESSED.

YES. BEFORE ANY PAYMENT IS MADE, THEY'LL NEED TO BE A FORMAL AGREEMENT OF SOME SORT.

OKAY, SO I JUST WANTED TO CLARIFY THAT.

COMMISSIONER CALVERT, THANK YOU VERY MUCH, JUDGE.

AND I WANT TO THANK YOU ALL FOR COMING TODAY TO THE COURT AND THANK YOU FOR THE SACRIFICE THE FAMILY HAS HAD.

I THINK THAT THIS IS A PARTICULARLY IMPORTANT ENDEAVOR IN LIGHT OF THE VILIFICATION OF MANY LATINOS IN OUR POLITICAL DISCOURSE, AND KNOWING THAT SO MANY HAVE SACRIFICED FOR THIS COUNTRY IN DEFENSE OF THE CONSTITUTION AND THE PRINCIPLES OF DEMOCRACY, FREEDOM, EQUALITY.

AND THAT IS CERTAINLY WHAT CORPORAL VILLARREAL DID.

AND THOSE IDEALS ARE IMPORTANT TO PROMULGATE FROM SAN ANTONIO.

AND I DO THINK THAT IT'S IMPORTANT TO HAVE A CREATIVE ECONOMY THAT IS SUPPORTED BY LOCAL GOVERNMENT. I THINK IT EXTENDS FURTHER IN TERMS OF TAX INCENTIVES TO CREATE THE JOBS, TO CREATE THE TALENT AND KEEP THE TALENT, QUITE FRANKLY.

SO I WANT TO JUST KIND OF ASK YOU A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE $150,000 BUDGET.

I WORKED IN THE FILM INDUSTRY.

I'VE WORKED AT 30 ROCK AND JUST KIND OF TALK TO ME A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHAT IS THE BUDGET.

IS IT REIMBURSEMENT? IT'S MORE ON THE BECAUSE YOU SAID PEOPLE HAVE BEEN WORKING BASICALLY JUST TO GET IT DONE. OR IS THERE OTHER THINGS THAT THIS WILL THIS IS POST.

I MEAN, WHERE DOES THE BUDGET FALL.

SO THIS BUDGET ALL FALLS INTO POST PRODUCTION, ALTHOUGH THEY MAY HAVE TO BE SOME ADDITIONAL PRODUCTION THAT HAPPENS ACCORDING TO MEET CERTAIN MAYBE CERTAIN MESSAGES THAT ARE MISSING. MAYBE THERE'S SOME HOLISTIC, MORE HOLISTIC APPROACH THAT WE MIGHT NEED TO TAKE IN CERTAIN PARTS OF THE FILM.

SO IT WOULD BE PRODUCTION AND POST-PRODUCTION.

THERE'S A VARIETY OF DIFFERENT PEOPLE THAT ARE CURRENTLY WORKING IN WHICH WE HAVE TO REIMBURSE, AND I NEED TO UNDERSTAND A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT HOW THESE HOW THIS DISTRIBUTION IS GOING TO GO.

AS I UNDERSTAND IT'S A RECEIPT REIMBURSEMENT.

SO WE MAY STILL HAVE TO GO OUT AND FIND THE FUNDING TO THEN PAY FOR THESE INDIVIDUALS TO CONTINUE THE POST PRODUCTION AND THEN SUBMIT FOR THE REIMBURSEMENT.

SO I DON'T HAVE THE EXACT BUDGET ANALYSIS IN FRONT OF ME, BUT IT'S A POST PRODUCTION.

[01:15:04]

THERE'S A BUNCH OF ARCHIVAL MATERIAL THAT'S IN THE FILM, INCLUDING SOME GETTY IMAGE STUFF. I DON'T KNOW IF YOU ALL KNOW ABOUT GETTY IMAGES, BUT IT'S VERY EXPENSIVE.

SOME OF THESE PHOTOS, IT JUST SO HAPPENS THEY HAD A COMBAT PHOTOGRAPHER WITH THE UNIT AT THE TIME JV DIED.

SO THERE'S A VARIETY OF PHOTOS THAT ARE VERY PERTINENT TO THE ACTUAL SITUATION THAT OCCURRED IN AFGHANISTAN.

THOSE ARE VERY PRICEY.

ADDITIONAL ARCHIVAL MATERIAL THAT VIDEOS THAT HAVE COME BACK FROM AFGHANISTAN, QUALITY CONTROL THINGS, CLOSED CAPTIONING, STUFF THAT'S REQUIRED FOR BROADCAST.

THAT'S NOT NECESSARILY REQUIRED FOR WHEN THE FILM DOES A THEATRICAL RELEASE.

COLOR, COLOR CORRECTION, COLOR GRADING.

I COULD CONTINUE TO GO ON, BUT I DON'T ACTUALLY HAVE THE EXACT THINGS.

IF I UNDERSTAND EXACTLY WHAT YOU'RE DETAILING, TALK TO ME A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE PARTNERSHIP WITH PBS IN TERMS OF DOES THE CORPORATION FOR PUBLIC BROADCASTING PROVIDE ANY FUNDING FOR THE FILM, OR YOU'VE JUST GOT A BASICALLY A FRANCHISE AGREEMENT FOR THE BROADCAST OF IT ON PBS FOR NEXT YEAR? IS THAT RIGHT? SO THE PARTNERSHIP ATTACHED TO THAT OR NO.

YES. SO THE PARTNERSHIP IS ACTUALLY WITH LATINO PUBLIC BROADCASTING WHO SERVICES ALL OF THEIR PRODUCTIONS TO PBS.

THEY HAVE THEIR OWN SHOW CALLED VOCES.

AND SO OUR PRODUCT WILL GO ONTO VOCES.

THEY PROVIDED US WITH AN INITIAL FUNDING OF $50,000 IN 2019, AND THEN WE GOT AN ADDITIONAL $100,000 FROM THEM IN 2021.

SO THAT'S A TOTAL OF $150,000 FROM LATINO PUBLIC BROADCAST IN WHICH TO SERVICE TO PBS.

NOW, THAT CONTRACT WILL THEN BROADCAST THE FILM OVER THE COURSE OF FOUR YEARS, FOUR TIMES PER YEAR. SO IT WILL HAVE ROUGHLY A 20 MILLION PLUS VIEWERSHIP DURING THOSE FOUR YEARS ON PBS.

OKAY, WELL, CONGRATULATIONS ON THAT.

AND I'M EAGER TO SEE HOW SOME OF THE DOLLARS CAN BE UTILIZED FOR THE EDUCATIONAL, MAYBE EXTENDED INFORMATION, SOMETHING ONLINE THAT COULD BE UTILIZED TO HELP PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN STRUGGLING WITH THEIR MENTAL HEALTH AND THE ISSUES OF COMBAT.

BEING A COMBAT VETERAN, LET ME JUST ASK DAVID SMITH, WERE THERE FUNDS IN THE COUNTY BUDGET SET ASIDE FOR THIS, EITHER IN THE VETERANS DEPARTMENT OR GENERAL FUND? IN THE BUDGET WE PASSED? NO. WE'LL HAVE TO BRING.

BACK BUDGET TRANSFER FOR THE COURT TO CONSIDER.

OKAY, SO WE'LL BE BRINGING BACK A BUDGET TRANSFER FOR THE FILM.

OKAY. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

THANK YOU JUDGE.

ANY FURTHER COMMENT? LET ME CALL FOR A VOTE AND I HAVE SOME CLOSING COMMENTS I'D LIKE TO OFFER THE FAMILY, ESPECIALLY.

YES, COMMISSIONER MOODY, YOU HAVE THE FLOOR, SIR.

THANK YOU JUDGE. LISTEN, I APPRECIATE COMMISSIONER RODRIGUEZ AND COMMISSIONER CALVERT'S POINTS THAT THEY MADE THERE.

AND AGAIN, I FULLY SUPPORT THE OVERALL MISSION HERE.

I'M WILLING TO SUPPORT THIS TODAY, THIS AGENDA ITEM.

CONTINGENT UPON HAVING ADDITIONAL DISCUSSIONS WITH YOU AND YOUR TEAM REGARDING SOME OF THOSE CONCERNS THAT I HAVE.

AND IF WE CAN JUST GET A COMMITMENT ON THAT, WE WILL WE'LL BE WILLING TO SUPPORT TODAY AND WE'LL CONTINUE TO MOVE IN THAT DIRECTION.

I WOULD JUST MAKE THE COMMENT TO YOU THAT THAT I DON'T WANT TO SET A PRECEDENT HERE IN TERMS OF SUPPORTING FILM PRODUCTION OR POST PRODUCTION.

I THINK THIS IS A VERY RARE EXCEPTION OF A VERY IMPORTANT STORY ABOUT A VERY WONDERFUL YOUNG MAN AND MARINE.

AND SO I'M WILLING TO TO MAKE AN EXCEPTION IN THIS CASE.

BUT I DON'T THINK THAT THIS IS SOMETHING THAT THE COURT SHOULD DO ROUTINELY.

I THINK THIS IS A RARE CASE, BUT A VERY POWERFUL STORY THAT THAT NEEDS TO BE TOLD.

SO I JUST WANTED TO MAKE THAT COMMENT.

ABSOLUTELY. AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO HAVING THOSE DISCUSSIONS WITH YOU.

AND WE APPRECIATE YOUR UNIQUE PERSPECTIVE, NOT JUST BEING A COMMISSIONER, BUT ALSO BEING A VETERAN OF THE UNITED STATES MILITARY.

AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO ANY DISCUSSIONS THAT YOU WOULD LIKE TO HAVE.

AND WE DO WANT TO HEAR THAT BECAUSE YOUR PERSPECTIVE IS IMPORTANT, YOUR PERSPECTIVE IN SERVING AND ALLOWING US TO TELL YOUR STORY AS WELL INVOLVED WITH THIS PARTICULAR FILM.

AND WE ALSO APPRECIATE YOUR FISCAL CONSERVANCY FOR BEXAR COUNTY.

WELL, THANK YOU.

I'LL HAVE MY STAFF REACH OUT.

THANK YOU.

I'LL CALL FOR A VOTE.

ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF THE MOTION SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE.

AYE. ANY OPPOSED? ANY ABSTENTIONS.

[01:20:01]

THIS IS THIS HAS BEEN A TOUGH ONE.

AND FIRST AND FOREMOST, LET ME GIVE MY CONDOLENCES AND SYMPATHIES TO THE FAMILY.

YOU ALL HAVE SACRIFICED THE MOST AND SO IS ALL THE OTHER FAMILIES, ESPECIALLY THE GOLD STAR FAMILIES AND ALL THE OTHER SURVIVORS OF THE OF THE ALL PREVIOUS WARS.

AND THIS RECENT WAR HAS OBVIOUSLY BEEN A VERY DIFFICULT.

AND COMMISSIONER MOODY, LET ME THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE HAVING SERVED THERE.

WHAT I'VE HEARD THIS MORNING, AND I'D LIKE TO KIND OF GIVE DIRECTION TO THE COURT AND HAVE THE FAMILY UNDERSTAND THAT THE DISCUSSION IN NO WAY WAS A QUESTIONING OR A DEVALUING OF YOUR BROTHER'S SERVICE IN NO WAY.

UNFORTUNATELY, I THINK THIS IS A QUESTION THAT WE NEEDED TO HAVE AND A DISCUSSION WE NEEDED TO HAVE AS TO HOW WE'RE GOING TO UTILIZE TAXPAYER MONEY.

AND SO I UNDERSTAND SOME OF THE QUESTIONS.

I ALSO UNDERSTAND SOME OF THE COMMENTS TO THE FILM DIRECTOR HERE ABOUT IF WE'RE HELPING TO PAY FOR THIS, WE'RE LIKE ANY INVESTOR, WE HAVE A RIGHT TO HAVE AN EDITORIAL REVIEW AND AND SEE THAT WE'RE PLEASED WITH THE OUTCOME.

AND I'M SURE WE WILL, AT LEAST THE PRELIMINARY REVIEWS ARE VERY POSITIVE.

I HOPE PERHAPS, MAYBE IT'LL WIN SOME AWARDS SO THAT WE CAN GIVE FURTHER RECOGNITION TO CORPORAL VILLARREAL'S LIFE.

BUT AT THE SAME TIME, THE DIFFICULTY AND THAT'S THE REASON WHY I'M TALKING OUT LOUD TO THE FAMILY, IS THAT WE KIND OF HAD TO HAVE THIS DISCUSSION BECAUSE WE THIS IS THE FIRST TIME AND I THINK COMMISSIONER MOODY HAS BROUGHT OUT SOME IMPORTANT POINTS.

AND APPARENTLY, MR. GONZALEZ, YOU'VE HAD SOME DISCUSSION.

SO WHAT I WOULD SUGGEST.

IT'S AT FIRST THE MOTION IS PASSED.

WE'RE GOING TO DO THIS.

SO LET'S LET'S NOT OR AND THERE'S BEEN NO CRITICISM OF WHAT'S BEEN DONE.

IT'S JUST THAT WE HAD TO HAVE FURTHER DISCUSSION OF PROCESS.

AND THAT'S WHAT WE'VE JUST HAD A DISCUSSION OF PROCESS.

SO WHAT I'D LIKE OUR STAFF TO DO IS TO CONTINUE TO UNDERSTAND THAT THE COURT WOULD LIKE TO HAVE INPUT, MONITORING, REVIEW, AND THEN SOME OF THESE QUESTIONS ABOUT, YOU KNOW, FURTHER FUNDING OR, OR WHATEVER OTHER ISSUES MAY ARISE IN PRODUCTION.

SO LET ME DO THIS.

COMMISSIONER MOODY. COMMISSIONER RODRIGUEZ, YOU ALL SEEM TO HAVE THE QUESTIONS THAT I WANTED TO ASK.

AND SO I WANT TO DESIGNATE YOU TO BE THE LEAD OF THE COURT TO WORK WITH MR. [INAUDIBLE]. Y'ALL, ALONG WITH THE WHOLE PRODUCTION TEAM, HAVE ONGOING CONVERSATIONS SO THAT WE DON'T HAVE TO HAVE THESE CONVERSATIONS IN THE COURTROOM HERE.

THESE ARE THESE THESE CONVERSATIONS THAT WE JUST HAD PROBABLY SHOULD JUST BEEN DONE BY BRINGING EVERYBODY TOGETHER.

AND WE COULD HAVE HAD EVERYTHING RESOLVED.

AND BUT IT IS WHAT IT IS.

AND SO, COMMISSIONER RODRIGUEZ, COMMISSIONER MOODY, WILL YOU STEP UP AND MAKE SURE THAT THE COURT IS HAPPY, PLEASED THAT WE HAVE MADE AN EFFECTIVE USE OF OUR TAXPAYER MONEY? UNDERSTANDING THAT.

AND I THINK COMMISSIONER MOODY'S PUT IT, ARE WE GOING TO WHAT'S GOING TO BE THE TEMPLATE.

AND MR. WILSON FROM MILITARY, THAT'S THE THING.

WHAT IS GOING TO BE OUR PROTOCOL, OUR RULES FOR EVERYBODY WHO MAY DIE IN ACTION.

AND, AND A FAMILY MEMBER WANTS THEIR [INAUDIBLE].

SO LET US BE MINDFUL THAT WE HAVE TO BE RESPECTFUL ESPECIALLY THAT'S THE REASON WHY I'M TAKING TIME FOR THIS FAMILY.

I WANT TO BE VERY RESPECTFUL.

AND I ALSO WANT TO BE VERY RESPECTFUL TO OTHER FAMILIES THAT MAY WANT TO HAVE THEIR LOVED ONES LIVES RECOGNIZED IN THE MOST APPROPRIATE WAY.

SO DOES EVERYBODY UNDERSTAND? DOES THE COURT HAVE ANY ISSUES WITH WHAT I HAVE ASKED? I DON'T HAVE ANY ISSUES, BUT I DO HAVE A COMMENT WHEN YOU'RE DONE.

WHAT'S THAT? I DON'T HAVE ANY ISSUES, BUT I DO HAVE A FINAL COMMENT.

GO AHEAD. THIS IS $150,000.

WE HAVE A BUDGET OF $3 BILLION.

SO PERSONALLY, THIS IS JUST ME AND MY $0.02.

I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY THERE'S SO MUCH SCRUTINY OVER $150,000 WHEN WE'RE GIVING WHERE WE'RE PASSING MILLIONS OF DOLLARS FOR THINGS ALL THE TIME WITH A LOT LESS SCRUTINY.

TO ME, IT'S STIFLING OF THE ARTS.

ANDY RODRIGUEZ IS HERE.

WE'LL HEAR FROM HER LATER.

WE'RE ABOUT TO GIVE YOU GUYS A NICE, NICE CHUNK OF CHANGE.

THANK YOU FOR SENDING THE PICTURE THAT YOU GUYS JUST FINISHED THAT I SAW ON THE SIDE OF A THE CORNER WHERE MAJESTIC THEATER IS.

IT'S BEAUTIFUL. AND I'M GLAD THAT I DIDN'T.

[01:25:02]

AND I'M GLAD THAT I COULDN'T TELL THEM, YOU KNOW, NO, DON'T DO THIS OR DO THIS IN THEIR ARTS. SO ARTS IS SOMETHING THAT I SUPPORT, SOMETHING THAT'S REALLY IMPORTANT TO PRECINCT ONE. AND I THINK WE NEED TO CELEBRATE AND NOT SENSOR, BUT THAT'S JUST MY $0.02. I'M GLAD THAT THIS FINALLY PASSED TODAY.

IT'S BEEN A LONG JOURNEY TO GET IT ON THE AGENDA.

AND THANK YOU FOR Y'ALL'S WORK.

THANK YOU, APRIL, AGAIN FOR BEING HERE.

AND I FORGOT TO MENTION THAT EVEN THOUGH JV WAS A PRECINCT ONE RESIDENT, HE WENT TO HIGH SCHOOL. I'M SORRY, HE WAS A PRECINCT TWO RESIDENT.

HE WENT TO HIGH SCHOOL IN MY PRECINCT THOUGH, SO THANK YOU.

THANK YOU. HAVE A GREAT DAY.

THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE] CAN WE GET A PHOTOGRAPH? SURE. THANK YOU.

I WANTED TO SAY ONE THING.

OKAY. GO AHEAD.

OH, I JUST WANTED TO THANK THE COMMISSIONERS AND JUDGE FOR THIS UNPRECEDENTED SUPPORT.

I KNOW WHEN I BROUGHT A SET OF USBS TO LAURA 13 YEARS AGO, 12 YEARS AGO, I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT TO DO WITH THEM. AND NAIVELY, I DIDN'T UNDERSTAND THE INCREDIBLE EXPENSE IT TOOK TO CREATE ANY TYPE OF FILM OR DOCUMENTARY AND GOING THROUGH MULTIPLE THINGS AND FINALLY LANDING ON.

I WANTED SOMETHING THAT WAS HOMEGROWN WITH THE ITEMS. I POTENTIALLY COULD HAVE GONE TO A LARGE NETWORK WITH THE FUNDING AVAILABLE TO GET THIS DONE VERY QUICKLY, BUT IN MY BROTHER'S MEMORY, I FELT THAT IT WAS VERY IMPORTANT THAT IT REPRESENTED SAN ANTONIO AND WHATEVER THAT TOOK, HOWEVER LONG THAT TOOK.

AND LAURA AND ANDREW HAVE LISTENED TO MY CONCERNS AS WELL.

COMMISSIONER MOODY, ABOUT THE THEMES WITHIN THIS FILM AND HOW THEY HAVE HAD TO CHANGE WITH THE STORY, BECAUSE WE HAVE NOW, 13 YEARS LATER, HAVE SEEN THE IMPACT FROM JUST MY BROTHER'S STORY TO HOW IT IMPACTS THIS ENTIRE COMMUNITY.

AND SO I THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONCERNS AND SUPPORT BECAUSE I'VE HAD THEM AS WELL.

SO I WOULD WOULD LIKE TO BE PART OF THOSE CONVERSATIONS AS WELL, IF AT ALL POSSIBLE, TO SHARE MY CONCERNS AND AND WHERE I'VE ALSO PULLED BACK TO UNDERSTAND THE OVERALL THEME AND IN WHAT WE WANT TO DO IS HELP AS MANY PEOPLE AS WE AS WE CAN, BOTH FROM THE BEGINNING, UNDERSTANDING WHAT IT MEANS TO JOIN THE MILITARY AND WHAT IT MEANS TO LEAVE.

IN WHICHEVER MANNER THAT MIGHT BE.

SO I THANK YOU AGAIN FOR ALLOWING US TO BE HERE, MAKING THESE EXCEPTIONS AND LETTING MY BROTHER'S LEGACY LIVE ON THROUGH THIS COMMUNITY.

THANK YOU, THANK YOU [APPLAUSE]. THANK YOU.

A LL RIGHT STILL RUNNING A LITTLE BEHIND HERE, BUT I THINK WE'RE GETTING THROUGH OUR TIME C ERTAIN.

PRESENTATION, DISCUSSION, APPROPRIATE ACTION REGARDING TO THE PRELIMINARY SELECTION OF

[5.c. 10:00 a.m.: Presentation, discussion and appropriate action regarding the preliminary selection of permanent supportive housing and emergency shelter activities to be funded with Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds ($7,000,000) and HOME Investment Partnerships Program - American Rescue Plan ($2,162,842) funds. (Estimated Presentation Time: 10 minutes)]

[01:30:09]

I BELIEVE WE HAVE TWO PEOPLE.

I BELIEVE IT'S ONLY TWO.

IF THERE'S NOT, I STAND CORRECTED.

BUT WE HAVE TWO PEOPLE THAT HAVE ASKED TO BE HEARD, AND I'D LIKE TO GO AHEAD AND JUST BRING THEM UP AND ASK THEM TO WITH A REMINDER OF A THREE MINUTE TIME LIMIT.

MISS NAKISHA BAKER AND MISS KIM JEFFREYS.

YOU'VE SIGNED UP FOR THIS PARTICULAR ITEM.

I'D LIKE YOUR COMMENTS BEFORE WE TAKE UP AND TAKE A VOTE.

SO, MISS BAKER, YOU GO FIRST.

MISS JEFFREYS, IS THERE ANYBODY ELSE THAT'S SIGNED UP IN REGARDS TO ITEM FIVE C THAT I JUST PUT ON THE RECORD? ALL RIGHT, MISS BAKER, GOOD MORNING.

GOOD MORNING, JUDGE SAKAI.

MANY THANKS TO YOU AND EACH OF THE COMMISSIONERS FOR ALLOWING ME AN OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK THIS MORNING.

I STAND BEFORE YOU ON BEHALF OF SOME OF OUR COMMUNITY'S MOST VULNERABLE, THOSE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS.

OUR NEIGHBORS WHO LIVE IN SHELTER OR UNSHELTERED HAVE FACES AND VOICES.

WHEN WE STOP TO LOOK AND LISTEN, WE OFTEN FIND INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE LONG HISTORIES, MAYBE EVEN A LIFETIME OF TRAUMA, WHICH OFTEN RESULTS IN MENTAL HEALTH AND SUBSTANCE ABUSE CHALLENGES. SAM MINISTRIES HAS SERVED AND ADVOCATED FOR THIS POPULATION FOR 40 YEARS, AND WE'RE THE ONLY LOCAL SERVICE PROVIDER OPERATING PROGRAMS ACROSS HUD'S CONTINUUM OF CARE. A COMMON MYTH IS THAT THESE INDIVIDUALS CHOOSE TO LIVE THIS WAY.

NOTHING COULD BE FURTHER FROM THE TRUTH.

MANY HAVE ATTEMPTED TO ENGAGE IN SERVICES BUT ENCOUNTERED FRUSTRATION, CONFUSION, SERVICE SCARCITY, AND INSURMOUNTABLE BARRIERS.

THERE ARE MEMBERS OF OUR COMMUNITY WHO ARE LIVING IN ENCAMPMENTS, NEAR HIGHWAYS, UNDER BRIDGES, AND CYCLING IN AND OUT OF OUR CRIMINAL JUSTICE AND HEALTH CARE SYSTEMS. PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING IS OFTEN THE ONLY SOLUTION TO GET THESE INDIVIDUALS OFF THE STREET AND INTO HOUSING, PROVIDING THE DIGNITY AND COMPASSION THEY DESERVE AND HELPING THEM ATTAIN MAXIMUM INDEPENDENCE.

PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING IS AN INTERVENTION THAT COMBINES AFFORDABLE HOUSING WITH VOLUNTARY, SUPPORTIVE SERVICES TO ADDRESS THE NEEDS OF THESE INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE EXPERIENCING CHRONIC HOMELESSNESS AND HAVE A DISABLING CONDITION.

THE SERVICES ARE DESIGNED TO BUILD INDEPENDENT LIVING AND TENANCY SKILLS AND CONNECT PEOPLE WITH COMMUNITY BASED HEALTH CARE, TREATMENT AND EMPLOYMENT SERVICES.

A COST EFFECTIVE SOLUTION, PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING HAS BEEN SHOWN TO LOWER PUBLIC COST ASSOCIATED WITH THE USE OF CRISIS SERVICES SUCH AS SHELTERS, HOSPITALS, JAILS AND PRISONS.

SAM INDUSTRIES HAS SUCCESSFULLY OPERATED PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING SINCE 2011, AND WE ARE CURRENTLY THE LARGEST PROVIDER OF THIS INTERVENTION IN SAN ANTONIO AND BEXAR COUNTY, SERVING 250 HOUSEHOLDS, INCLUDING 22 CURRENTLY AT THE HUDSON APARTMENTS, WHICH IS ON TODAY'S AGENDA.

WE HOPE TO MAGNIFY THAT IMPACT WITH THE COMMENTS THAT ACEQUIA TRAILS PROJECT, WHICH WILL BRING A CRITICALLY NEEDED 200 UNIT, SITE BASED, PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING PROJECT TO OUR COMMUNITY.

IT IS IMPORTANT TO HIGHLIGHT THE SUCCESS OF PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING.

96% OF HOUSEHOLDS SERVED LAST YEAR MAINTAINED HOUSING STABILITY, AND DATA SHOWS THAT PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING IMPROVES STABILITY, EMPLOYMENT, MENTAL AND PHYSICAL HEALTH AND SCHOOL ATTENDANCE WHILE REDUCING ACTIVE SUBSTANCE USE.

SAM MINISTRIES IS COMMITTED TO THIS SERVICE AND DELIVERING THE SERVICE THAT STRENGTHENS OUR COMMUNITY, AND WE ARE GRATEFUL FOR THE COUNTY'S HELP IN MEETING OUR NEIGHBORS WHERE THEY ARE AND HELPING THEM OVERCOME HOMELESSNESS.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MRS. BAKER. MRS. JEFFERIES.

GOOD MORNING, JUDGE AND COMMISSIONERS.

I WILL KEEP MY REMARKS SHORT BECAUSE I DO HAVE TO GET TO A LUNCHEON HERE SHORTLY AT THE CONVENTION CENTER, NOT NEARBY.

AND HOPEFULLY YOU ALL WILL BE ABLE TO MAKE IT AND JOIN US LATER.

I JUST WANT TO THANK THE COURT FOR THE PREVIOUS SUPPORT THAT YOU HAVE GIVEN, NOT JUST TO HAVEN, BUT EVERYBODY IN THE HOMELESS RESPONSE SYSTEM.

I THINK THE PROPOSED FUNDING TODAY THAT YOU HOPEFULLY WILL APPROVE SHOWS A COMMITMENT TO THE BEXAR COUNTY ADDRESSING THIS COMPLEX AND MESSY ISSUE OF HOMELESSNESS.

IT REQUIRES A VARIETY OF INTERVENTIONS, AND THESE FUNDS WILL SUPPORT OUTREACH SERVICES, EMERGENCY SHELTER SERVICES AND PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING WITH OUR PARTNERS AT SAM.

ALL OF THOSE ARE NECESSARY TO ADDRESS THE GROWING HOMELESS POPULATION IN OUR COMMUNITY.

WE HAVE OVER 6,340 PEOPLE STAYING AT HAVEN TODAY, 340 CHILDREN.

WE CONTINUE TO BE OVER CAPACITY AND HAVE BEEN FOR THE LAST 22 MONTHS.

SO WE APPRECIATE THE SUPPORT AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO HOPEFULLY HAVING ADDITIONAL SUPPORT FROM THE COURT FOR ALL OF OUR FOLKS IN OUR COMMUNITY THAT ARE HOMELESS.

THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU, MR. JEFFERIES. MR. RAINER, OR IS IT MR. MARQUEZ OR BOTH?

[01:35:06]

FOR THE RECORD, MY NAME IS ROBERT RENO WITH THE BEXAR COUNTY ECONOMIC AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT.

THIS MORNING, I PLAN TO PROVIDE A BRIEF OVERVIEW OF THE COMPLEX ISSUE OF HOMELESSNESS IN BEXAR COUNTY AND OUTLINE STAFF RECOMMENDATIONS TO ENSURE THAT INSTANCES OF HOMELESSNESS ARE RARE, BRIEF, AND NON-RECURRING.

TODAY, I'M ALSO JOINED BY OUR EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, DAVID MARQUEZ, ALONG WITH THE CITY'S CHIEF HOUSING OFFICER, MARK CARMONA.

MEMBERS OF THE CITY'S NEIGHBORHOOD AND HOUSING SERVICES DEPARTMENT IAN BENAVIDEZ, VERONICA GONZALEZ AND VERONICA GARCIA, ALONG WITH MAYOR CHRIS RILEY FROM THE CITY OF LEON VALLEY, AND DR.

CRYSTAL CALDEIRA, THE CITY MANAGER OF LEON VALLEY.

IT'S A LITTLE BIT OF BACKGROUND ON HOMELESSNESS, A LITTLE BIT OF BACKGROUND ON CORONAVIRUS, STATE AND LOCAL FISCAL RECOVERY FUNDS.

ON AUGUST 9TH, 2022, BEXAR COUNTY COMMISSIONERS COURT ALLOCATED $20 MILLION IN CORONAVIRUS STATE AND LOCAL FISCAL RECOVERY FUNDS IN SUPPORT OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING INITIATIVES. TO DATE, $13 MILLION HAS BEEN COMMITTED TO SINGLE AND MULTI-FAMILY HOUSING DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS COUNTYWIDE.

THE REMAINING $7 MILLION WAS DESIGNATED FOR HOMELESS INITIATIVES.

THESE FUNDS WERE INTENTIONALLY POSTPONED, SO WE DIDN'T ALLOCATE THEM INITIALLY TO ENSURE A HIGH DEGREE OF COLLABORATION BETWEEN GOVERNMENTAL AGENCIES, NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS, AND THE GENERAL PUBLIC.

I'D LIKE TO POINT OUT THAT THE COUNTY'S TRANSFORMATIVE INVESTMENT OF $20 MILLION WILL LEAD TO THE CONSTRUCTION OR PRESERVATION OF APPROXIMATELY 1,468 AFFORDABLE HOUSING UNITS COUNTYWIDE. GIVEN CURRENT MARKET CONDITIONS, A SIGNIFICANT NUMBER OF THESE PROJECTS WOULD LACK FINANCIAL VIABILITY, BUT FOR THE CRITICAL SUPPORT PROVIDED BY THE COUNTY.

IN ADDITION TO THE $20 IN STATE AND LOCAL FISCAL RECOVERY FUNDS, BEXAR COUNTY ALSO RECEIVED $2.5 MILLION IN HOME ARP FUNDS THROUGH THE US DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT.

AS PART OF THE REQUIRED CONSULTATION PROCESS FOR HOME ARP FUNDS, MY DEPARTMENT CONDUCTED A SERIES OF PUBLIC HEARINGS TO GATHER CITIZEN INPUT REGARDING THE BEST USE OF THESE FUNDS.

BASED ON OUR CONSULTATION PROCESS, HOMELESSNESS WAS IDENTIFIED AS THE TOP ISSUE AND AFFORDABLE RENTAL HOUSING WAS SUPPORTIVE SERVICES WAS IDENTIFIED AS A TOP PRIORITY FOR THE COUNTY'S HOME ARP PROGRAM.

IT'S IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT THIS FEEDBACK IS CONSISTENT WITH THE INPUT JUDGE SAKAI RECEIVED DURING HIS RECENT COMMUNITY TOWN HALL EVENTS HELD IN EACH ONE OF THE FOUR COUNTY'S PRECINCTS.

NOW A FEW STATS ON HOMELESSNESS.

ACCORDING TO THE 2023 POINT IN TIME COUNT COORDINATED BY OUR LOCAL CONTINUUM OF CARE CLOSE TO HOME, FORMERLY THE SOUTH ALAMO REGIONAL ALLIANCE FOR THE HOMELESS, THE TOTAL NUMBER OF PEOPLE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS IN BEXAR COUNTY WAS 3,155.

THAT FIGURE REPRESENTS A 5.3% INCREASE FROM 2022.

NOTABLY, ALMOST 75% OF INDIVIDUALS EXPERIENCING CHRONIC HOMELESSNESS HAVE A CO-OCCURRING DISABILITY AND ARE THEREFORE ELIGIBLE FOR PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING, WHICH IS THE INTERVENTION THAT NAKISHA WAS SPOKE ABOUT.

SO GIVEN THE COMPLEX NATURE OF HOMELESSNESS, COLLABORATION, BUT PARTICULARLY INTERGOVERNMENTAL COLLABORATION, IS ESSENTIAL TO ADDRESSING THE ISSUE IN BEXAR COUNTY.

SO IN NOVEMBER OF 2022, BEXAR COUNTY AND THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO COLLABORATED ON A JOINT REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL, AN RFP ALLOWING US TO COORDINATE EFFORTS, LEVERAGE OUR RESOURCES, AND MAXIMIZE THE IMPACT OF OUR INVESTMENTS.

APPLICATIONS WERE REVIEWED BY A SCORING PANEL COMPRISED OF CITY AND COUNTY STAFF, ALONG WITH REPRESENTATIVES FROM CLOSE TO HOME VIA METROPOLITAN TRANSIT COSAS CITIZEN BOND COMMITTEE AND AN INDIVIDUAL WITH LIVED EXPERIENCE WITH HOMELESSNESS.

SO, WITH THE SUPPORT OF COMMISSIONERS, COURT AND INDIVIDUALS LIKE THE CITY'S CHIEF HOUSING OFFICER MARK CARMONA, AND THE PARTNERS IN THE AUDIENCE, TODAY WE'RE TAKING SIGNIFICANT STEPS TOWARDS BREAKING DOWN ORGANIZATIONAL SILOS.

SO TOGETHER, THE CITY AND THE COUNTY HAVE SET ASIDE MORE THAN $42 MILLION FOR PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING, WHICH IS NOTEWORTHY BECAUSE MANY OF THESE PROJECTS ARE EXCEPTIONALLY DIFFICULT TO FINANCE.

WITHOUT SUBSIDIES, PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING DEVELOPERS WOULD OPERATE A FINANCIAL LOSS AS THEY ATTEMPT TO BRIDGE THE GAP BETWEEN 30% AMI, WHICH IS APPROXIMATELY $18,000 FOR A SINGLE PERSON, IN MARKET RATE RENTS.

THAT BEING SAID, THE FOLLOWING STAFF RECOMMENDATIONS ALIGN WITH THE COUNTY'S HOUSING POLICY FRAMEWORK DEVELOPED BY [INAUDIBLE] SAN ANTONIO.

MY DIVISION'S FIVE YEAR CONSOLIDATED PLAN CLOSE TO HOME STRATEGIC PLAN TO RESPOND TO HOMELESSNESS AND THE CITY'S STRATEGIC HOUSING IMPLEMENTATION PLAN, OR SHIP, WHICH CALLS FOR THE CREATION OF 1,000 UNITS OF PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING IN THE NEXT TEN YEARS. SO OUR FIRST RECOMMENDATION IS FOR THE SAM MINISTRIES HUDSON APARTMENTS.

[01:40:03]

THE PROJECT IS LOCATED ON BLANCO ROAD IN PRECINCT TWO.

THE TOTAL DEVELOPMENT COST IS $11.1 MILLION, AND THE RECOMMENDED COUNTY ALLOCATION IS $4.25 MILLION.

THE SECOND PROJECT I'D LIKE TO DISCUSS IS THE COMMONS THAT ACEQUIA TRAILS.

THIS PROJECT ENTAILS THE DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION OF A NEW 200 UNIT APARTMENT COMPLEX FOR PEOPLE EXPERIENCING CHRONIC HOMELESSNESS WITH CO-OCCURRING DISABILITY.

THE PROJECT IS ADJACENT TO THE CAMPUS IN PRECINCT FOUR, IN CLOSE PROXIMITY TO THE PRECINCT ONE BORDER.

STAFF IS INCLINED TO RECOMMEND THIS PROJECT FOR FUNDING, HOWEVER, SINCE IT INVOLVES NEW CONSTRUCTION, IT'S ESSENTIAL TO CONFIRM THAT THERE WILL BE NO ISSUES WITH RESPECT TO COMMUNITY OPPOSITION.

THEREFORE, WE'RE RECOMMENDING THAT THE COURT DEFER ACTION ON THIS PARTICULAR PROJECT TO ALLOW US TO COORDINATE COMMUNITY OUTREACH EFFORTS IN CONJUNCTION WITH PRECINCT FOUR AND ALSO PRECINCT ONE, AND ADDRESS ANY POTENTIAL ISSUES RELATED TO NIMBYISM.

ONCE WE'VE COMPLETED OUR DUE DILIGENCE, WE INTEND TO BRING THIS ITEM FORWARD FOR FUTURE COURT CONSIDERATION.

OUR SECOND RECOMMENDATION IS TO FUND CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS AT HAVEN FOR HOPE.

CURRENTLY, SAN ANTONIO'S LARGEST SHELTER IS OPERATING AT 114% OF ITS DESIGN CAPACITY.

THE SHELTER WAS ORIGINALLY DESIGNED FOR 1463 INDIVIDUALS, BUT THERE ARE APPROXIMATELY 1667 INDIVIDUALS RESIDING THERE TODAY.

THE COUNTY'S INVESTMENT WOULD CUT THIS SHORTFALL IN HALF BY INCREASING DESIGN CAPACITY BY 120 INDIVIDUALS.

THIS PROJECT ENTAILS THE ADDITION OF SHOWER FACILITIES IN THE RESOURCE CENTER, ROOF REPLACEMENT FOR THE ADULT DORM AND TRANSFORMATION CENTER, REPLACEMENT OF THE HVAC SYSTEM, AND THE PURCHASE OF LOCKERS FOR OVERFLOW FAMILIES.

THE RECOMMENDED COUNTY ALLOCATION IS $890,000.

OUR FINAL RECOMMENDATION IS BEING CHAMPIONED BY JUDGE SAKAI.

THIS INITIATIVE INVOLVES ESTABLISHING A 12 MONTH STREET OUTREACH PILOT PROGRAM THAT WILL INITIALLY LAUNCH IN LEON VALLEY AND BALCONES HEIGHTS, BUT AFTER THREE MONTHS, WE INTEND TO IMPLEMENT A LIMITED EXPANSION INTO THE COUNTY'S SUBURBAN CITIES.

THE PRIMARY GOALS OF THIS PROGRAM ARE TO ENHANCE ACCESS TO SHELTER AND SUPPORTIVE SERVICES, REFINE DATA AND ANALYSIS METHODOLOGIES, AND FOSTER STRONGER COLLABORATION WITH STAKEHOLDERS.

THE RECOMMENDED COUNTY ALLOCATION FOR THIS INITIATIVE IS $110,000, BUT I SHOULD ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THE CITY OF LEON VALLEY HAS COMMITTED $40,000 IN MATCHING CONTRIBUTION TO COVER FUTURE EXPENSES RELATED TO THE PROGRAM, SO I'D LIKE TO THANK MAYOR CHRIS RILEY AND CITY MANAGER DR.

CRYSTAL CALDEIRA OF LEON VALLEY, WHO ARE IN THE AUDIENCE TODAY FOR THEIR CITY'S GENEROUS SUPPORT OF THIS PROJECT.

SO, TO SUMMARIZE, STAFF RECOMMENDS THE APPROVAL OF THREE HOMELESSNESS RELATED INITIATIVES THE ALLOCATION OF $4.25 MILLION FOR SAM INDUSTRIES HUDSON APARTMENTS USING A COMBINATION OF HOME, ARP AND FISCAL RECOVERY FUNDS.

$890,000 IN FISCAL RECOVERY FUNDS TO EXPAND CAPACITY AT HAVEN FOR HOPE.

$110,000 IN FISCAL RECOVERY FUNDS FOR STREET OUTREACH PILOT PROGRAM ADMINISTERED BY HAVEN FOR HOPE. AND WITH RESPECT TO THE COMMONS AT ACEQUIA TRAILS, WE RECOMMEND DEFERRING ACTION BY AT LEAST ONE COURT DATE TO ALLOW STAFF AND THE PRECINCT FOUR OFFICE TO CONDUCT OUR OUR DUE DILIGENCE WITH RESPECT TO THAT PROJECT.

SO THIS MORNING, WE'RE ONLY TAKING ACTION ON $5.25 MILLION, AND I'M HAPPY TO ENTERTAIN ANY QUESTIONS YOU HAVE. SURE COULD MISS IT.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH. I WANT TO THANK ROBERT AND YOUR TEAM, AND I WANT TO THANK THE CITY AND MARK CARMONA AND HIS TEAM FOR COLLABORATING WITH US ON THIS.

THAT IS THE WAY WE SHOULD BE DOING THIS REALLY FOREVER, AND MAKING SURE THAT WE ARE PARTNERING AND PUTTING RESOURCES AND FILLING GAPS WHERE THEY'RE NEEDED.

SO THANK YOU ALL FOR THE COLLABORATIVE EFFORT.

YOU KNOW, THAT WAS SOMETHING THAT I PROPOSED YEARS AGO, THAT THE COUNTY AND CITY WORK TOGETHER ON A COLLABORATIVE CITY COUNTY HOUSING BOND.

WE CREATED THE HOUSING BOND AT THE CITY WITH MAYOR TAYLOR AND LEILA POWELL, WHO DID OUR LISC NOT SURVEY, BUT A STUDY, AND IT HAS BROUGHT US MANY THINGS.

I JUST WANT TO SAY THAT BY WAY OF OUR STAFF PROCESS, WE'LL NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE GET THAT CHECK OFF OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD BEFORE WE GET TO THIS FAR DOWN THE ROAD.

THERE MAY BE INFORMATION THAT I JUST HAVEN'T HEARD ABOUT ON THE CITY SIDE OF APPROVAL FROM THE NEIGHBORHOOD, BUT I JUST HADN'T HEARD IT.

AND WHEN I LOOKED AT HOTWELLS NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION IS ONE OF THE CLOSEST ONES I

[01:45:02]

AND WHEN WE LOOKED INTO THE DATA, IT WAS A PRETTY DISPROPORTIONATE AMOUNT.

SO I DON'T KNOW HOW THEY'RE GOING TO REACT, AND I NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE FIND OUT.

SO I THANK THE COURT FOR DEFERRING, AND I THINK THE STAFF ARE MAKING A RECOMMENDATION TO DEFER IT UNTIL WE CAN DO A LITTLE BIT OF DUE DILIGENCE.

I ALSO WILL SAY THAT WE HAVE TO LOOK AS A COMMUNITY AGAIN, SYSTEMICALLY EVERYWHERE FOR PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING.

EVERY QUADRANT OF THIS COMMUNITY SHOULD HAVE PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING.

IT'S NOT JUST UP TO, YOU KNOW, PRECINCTS ONE, TWO AND FOUR TO BEXAR TO CARRY ALL THAT BURDEN. IT HAS TO BE A COMMUNITY DRIVEN PROCESS FOR EVERY PART TO UNDERSTAND THAT THIS IS BEST PRACTICE.

AND I'M REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THE EXPANSION AT HAVEN AS WELL, THAT THEY'LL BE ABLE TO HELP MORE FAMILIES THAT ARE IN TRANSITION, AND INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE IN TRANSITION TO GET TO WHERE THEY NEED TO GO.

THIS SEEMS TO BE A VERY COMPREHENSIVE LOOK WITH SOME OUTSTANDING PARTNERS LIKE SAM MINISTRIES AND HAVEN, WHO CAN DO THIS JOB AT THE HIGHEST CAPABILITIES.

SO THAT'S ALL I WANTED TO SAY.

I MOVE APPROVAL OF THE PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING AND EMERGENCY SHELTER ACTIVITIES TO BE FUNDED WITH CORONAVIRUS, STATE AND LOCAL FISCAL RECOVERY FUNDS AND HOME INVESTMENT PARTNERSHIP PROGRAM AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN FUNDS AS RECOMMENDED WITH A DEFERRAL ON THE ACEQUIA. I THINK THAT'S THE NAME OF IT, RIGHT? ACEQUIA TRAILS.

YES, SIR. I'M SORRY, WHAT WAS THAT, A ACEQUIA TRAILS.

ACEQUIA TRAILS.

DEVELOPMENT. MOTION BY COMMISSIONER CALVERT, SECOND BY COMMISSIONER RODRIGUEZ.

ANY FURTHER COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS? COMMISSIONER RODRIGUEZ? YES, THANK YOU.

JUDGE. JUST BRIEFLY, ROBERT, THANKS FOR YOUR WORK ON THIS.

I KNOW YOU'RE IN YOUR TEAM HAVE BEEN WORKING ON THIS FOR QUITE SOME TIME.

AND I WILL ECHO WHAT COMMISSIONER CALVERT MENTIONED, THE COLLABORATION, I THINK WITH THE CITY AND OUR SUBURBAN CITIES REALLY MAKES A WHOLE LOT OF SENSE, RIGHT.

FOR A LOT OF WHAT WE DO HERE, IN SOME WAYS WE ARE SERVING THE SAME CONSTITUENTS.

SO I APPRECIATE THE FACT THAT THERE WAS, I THINK, THE JOINT RFP WITH THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO. AND LET ME ALSO MENTION JUDGE SAKAI, THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP ON THE PILOT PROGRAM WITH MAYOR RILEY.

THANKS FOR BEING HERE.

I KNOW I TALKED TO MAYOR DE LEON AS WELL FROM BALCONES HEIGHTS.

AND TO BE CLEAR, YOU KNOW, THIS IS NOT SIMPLY A STREET SWEEP WHERE FOLKS GO IN AND CLEAN UP ENCAMPMENTS.

THIS IS ABOUT DIAGNOSIS AND GETTING FOLKS HELP THAT THEY NEED THAT ARE THAT ARE HOUSELESS AND THE RESOURCES THEY NEED TO HOPEFULLY GET BACK ON THEIR FEET.

AND SO I THINK IT'S GOING TO MAKE A BIG DIFFERENCE.

AND I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO THE SUCCESS OF THAT PROGRAM SO THAT WE CAN EXPAND THAT BEYOND THE CENTER CITY IN THE CORE AREA.

SO, MAYOR, THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE AND FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP.

AND I LOOK FORWARD TO SUPPORTING THESE NOT JUST THESE INITIATIVES, BUT WHAT GROWS OUT OF THAT. SO THANK YOU. THANK YOU, JUDGE.

COMMISSIONER MOODY. YEAH, JUST A FEW COMMENTS.

I APPRECIATE THE PRESENTATION.

I KNOW THAT THIS GOES BACK TO LAST YEAR AND ALLOCATIONS FOR FOR FUNDING WHEN IT COMES TO HOUSING. AND I THINK THAT, YOU KNOW, THE THE EMERGENCY EMERGENCY SHELTERS, PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING, I THINK THERE'S THERE'S VERY LITTLE DISAGREEMENT THAT THAT'S A PART OF DEALING WITH HOMELESSNESS, PART OF A VIABLE SOLUTION.

BUT I DON'T THINK IT'S JUST ABOUT THE PIECES OF THE PUZZLE.

IT'S ABOUT HOW THEY FIT TOGETHER.

AND I WANTED TO TAKE A MOMENT TO BRING UP.

WE ACTUALLY WE PUT TOGETHER AN OP ED BACK IN OCTOBER ON HOMELESSNESS.

AND I DON'T PRESUME TO BE AN EXPERT IN THIS SPACE, BUT WHAT I DID SEE WAS I SAW SOME FACTS AND SOME SUCCESS THAT HOUSTON HAD IN DEALING WITH THEIR HOMELESS SITUATION, AND I WANTED TO BRING LIGHT TO IT.

AND SO I'LL JUST TAKE A MOMENT OF PERSONAL PRIVILEGE HERE TO TO READ A QUICK PART OF IT.

HOUSTON, FOR EXAMPLE, HASN'T SPENT ANY OF ITS GENERAL FUND DOLLARS ON HOMELESSNESS PROGRAMS BUT HAS CUT ITS HOMELESS POPULATION BY 64% OVER THE PAST DECADE.

IT DID THIS BY LEVERAGING FEDERAL DOLLARS IN A COORDINATED EFFORT WITH HARRIS COUNTY AND SURROUNDING JURISDICTIONS.

HOUSTON'S COLLABORATIVE APPROACH BROKE DOWN.

SILOS, DEMANDED CLOSE COORDINATION BETWEEN GOVERNMENT AND NONPROFIT RESOURCES, AND REMOVED WASTE AND DUPLICATIONS.

THIS WAS ACCOMPLISHED BY ENCOURAGING TOUGH CONVERSATIONS BETWEEN THE MULTIPLE

[01:50:03]

WITHOUT A FULL UNDERSTANDING OF THE ROLE OTHER GROUPS WERE ALREADY PLAYING.

I'LL JUST PAUSE THERE.

BUT I DO THINK AGAIN THAT THAT THIS IS ABOUT MAKING SURE THAT WE HAVE A STRATEGY GOING FORWARD THAT'S NOT JUST ABOUT BUDGET ALLOCATION, BUT IT'S NOT JUST ABOUT WRITING CHECKS, BUT ACTUALLY MAKING SURE THAT FOLKS ARE WORKING TOGETHER ON A STRATEGY THAT INCORPORATES ALL THOSE DIFFERENT ELEMENTS THAT THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT HERE TODAY.

SO I THINK IT'S SOMETHING THAT I'D LIKE TO ASK STAFF TO LOOK INTO, BUT I KNOW THAT THERE WAS A GROUP OF CONSULTANTS THAT WORKED WITH HOUSTON AND ALSO WORKED UP IN IN DALLAS AND COLLIN COUNTY AS WELL.

AND THAT'S GOING TO BE SOMETHING OUR TEAM ASKS COUNTY STAFF TO LOOK INTO.

BUT I THINK AS WE GO FORWARD BEFORE WE CONTINUE TO INVEST, YOU KNOW, TENS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN THIS SPACE.

AND OBVIOUSLY THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO IS SPENDING WAY MORE THAN WE ARE MAKING SURE THAT WE HAVE A HOLISTIC STRATEGY THAT HELPS ADDRESS THIS AND MAKE SURE THAT THOSE PIECES OF THE PUZZLE FIT TOGETHER.

SO THOSE ARE JUST MY MY COMMENTS AND THOUGHTS, AND I DON'T KNOW IF YOU HAVE ANY FEEDBACK OR RESPONSE.

NO, I APPRECIATE YOUR YOUR INPUT, COMMISSIONER.

JUST TO BE CLEAR, THESE ARE ALL FEDERAL FUNDS.

AND SO IT HAS NO IMPACT TO THE COUNTY'S GENERAL FUND.

I UNDERSTAND, BUT WE DO SPEND COUNTY FUNDS IN THIS AREA AND GOING FORWARD, JUST TALKING GENERALLY NOT SPECIFICALLY ABOUT THIS AGENDA ITEM, MAKING SURE THAT WE MAKE THE BEST USE OF THOSE RESOURCES. BUT YES, ABSOLUTELY, WE SHOULD BE LEVERAGING FEDERAL DOLLARS WHENEVER WE CAN TO ADDRESS THESE ISSUES, JUST LIKE HOUSTON DID.

THANK YOU. YES, SIR. JUDGE.

GO ON, COMMISSIONER CLAY-FLORES.

YEAH, I JUST WANT TO THANK THANK YOU, ROBERT, FOR THE WORK THAT YOU DO FOR YOU AND YOUR TEAM. AND JUST TO REITERATE HOW IMPORTANT PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING IS.

SO IT'S NOT JUST ABOUT HOUSING FOR HOMELESS PEOPLE, BUT IT'S HOMELESS PEOPLE WHO HAVE WHO NEED EXTRA CARE, WHO HAVE DEBILITATING PHYSICAL ISSUES AND NEED HELP.

AND SO THIS IS SOMETHING THAT'S REALLY, REALLY IMPORTANT.

AND I'M GLAD THAT WE HAVE FINALLY BEEN ABLE TO PUT SOME THINGS TOGETHER AND BE ABLE TO PASS IT TODAY. AND ALSO JUST WANT TO THANK MAYOR RILEY FOR BEING HERE.

GOOD TO SEE YOU. COMMISSIONER CALVERT JUDGE, I JUST WANT TO FOR, YOU KNOW, SAN ANTONIO AND BEXAR COUNTY HISTORY.

I WOULD SAY THAT HOUSTON IN THAT ARTICLE ANALYSIS DIDN'T HAVE TO NECESSARILY PUT MORE OF ITS GENERAL FUND INTO HOMELESSNESS BECAUSE OF THE AMOUNT OF FEDERAL MONEY THAT CAME THROUGH BIDEN'S INFRASTRUCTURE ACT AND AND ALSO THE PREVIOUS ARPA PASSAGES.

BUT THEY CERTAINLY INVESTED A LOT MORE IN HOMELESSNESS AND HOUSING OVER MANY DECADES THAN THAN WE HAD AT THE CITY AND THE COUNTY.

AND SO THEY HAD MORE INFRASTRUCTURE FOR IT BECAUSE OF THEIR PREVIOUS INVESTMENTS IN IT.

THEN, YOU KNOW, I REMEMBER WHEN I SAT DOWN WITH SECRETARY CISNEROS, HENRY CISNEROS IS AS FORMER HUD SECRETARY.

HE SAID, LOOK, SAN ANTONIO AND BEXAR COUNTY HAVEN'T DONE HOUSING AS WELL AS OTHER CITIES IN THE UNITED STATES. WE HAVEN'T INVESTED IN IT AS MUCH AS OTHER CITIES.

AND, YOU KNOW, IF YOU GO AROUND THE COUNTRY, YOU'LL SEE A LOT MORE INVESTMENT IN IT.

I THINK WE ARE CATCHING UP.

WE WERE THE LAST CITY IN TEXAS, MAJOR CITY, TO INVEST IN PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING.

WE'RE DOING IT NOW AND WE'RE CATCHING UP.

AND THAT'S A GOOD THING. I DON'T WANT TO PUT ANY DISPARAGEMENT ON IT, BUT I DO WANT THE COURT TO BE AWARE THAT WE ARE PLAYING FROM BEHIND, AND WE HAVE A HIGHER INCIDENCE OF POVERTY THAN, WELL, I THINK WE'RE NUMBER ONE MSA IN POVERTY, ACCORDING TO THE US CENSUS.

SO WE HAVE A LOT OF CALLS THAT ARE MADE.

I KNOW WHEN I GO TO MY MOM'S HOUSE UP IN STONE OAK, I'VE SEEN CAMPS AT 1604 IN BLANCO, AND I KNOW I'D NEVER SEEN THEM BEFORE, BUT I DO KNOW THAT WE'RE MAKING SOME INROADS TO TRY TO DO IT, BUT WE'RE STILL BEHIND.

SO WHAT ENDS UP HAPPENING IF WE DON'T INVEST THESE THINGS IS FOLKS CALL LAW ENFORCEMENT, AND IT'S NOT THE BEST USE OF LAW ENFORCEMENT'S TIME, AND IT INCREASES LAW ENFORCEMENT COSTS TO THE COUNTY AND THE CITY FOR THOSE KINDS OF, OF CALLS.

SO THE MORE WE GET PEOPLE SECURE, IT'S PREVENTION AND INTERVENTION.

THE LAW ENFORCEMENT SIDE IS INTERVENTION.

PROBABLY NOT THE BEST PLACE IN MOST CASES.

AND CERTAINLY WE NEED TO HAVE PREVENTION.

AND I KNOW WHEN I WENT TO BOSTON WHO HAD BEEN DOING PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING, I DIDN'T SEE THE AMOUNT OF HOMELESSNESS THAT I SEE IN SAN ANTONIO.

SO WE'VE GOT TO INVEST IN THESE HOUSING AT ALL LEVELS FOR FAMILIES WHO ARE WORKING CLASS, AS WELL AS FOR THOSE WHO ARE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS.

I JUST WANT TO MAKE THAT FOR THE RECORD.

THANK YOU. JUDGE. THANK YOU.

AS A POINT OF PERSONAL PRIVILEGE, MAYOR RILEY, YOU TOOK SOME TIME TO BE HERE.

[01:55:04]

COME ON UP. MURALI, WOULD YOU SAY A FEW WORDS IN REGARDS TO OUR COLLABORATION WITH THE COUNTY AND THE SUBURBAN CITY OF LEON VALLEY? THANK YOU SO MUCH, YOUR HONOR.

ON BEHALF OF THE CITY OF LEON, VALLEY CITY COUNCIL AND OUR DEDICATED STAFF, WE THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR PARTNERING WITH US ON THIS ISSUE.

YOU KNOW, AS I'M SITTING BACK THERE, I WAS THINKING, YOU KNOW, EARLIER THIS YEAR, WE HAD 11 ENCAMPMENTS.

WE HAD TWO AND THREE FIRES.

WE PASSED A REAL STRICT ORDINANCE, BUT WE ALSO KNEW THAT WE NEEDED TO DO MORE.

AND SO WE REACHED OUT.

OUR STAFF REACHED OUT TO THE COUNTY AND OTHER AGENCIES, HAVEN FOR HOPE AND CLOSE TO HOME. AND WE PUT OUR BRAINS TOGETHER.

AND THIS IS THE OUTGROWTH OF THAT.

SO THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU.

AND WE DO WANT TO INVEST BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT WE'RE PARTNERING.

SO WE'RE HOPING TO INVEST IN THOSE IN THE OUTREACH COORDINATORS THAT WILL GO OUT AND BUILD THAT TRUST WITH THE PERSON WHO'S HOMELESS AND AND DRAW ON THE RESOURCES THAT ARE AVAILABLE TO TRY TO GET THEM HELP.

SO THANK YOU AGAIN ON BEHALF OF OUR CITY AND OUR CITIZENS AND OUR STAFF.

WE APPRECIATE IT. THANK YOU.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP, AND THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THE ATTENTION THAT THIS ISSUE IS NOT JUST THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO, BUT IS A COUNTY ISSUE.

WE'RE INVOLVING OUR SUBURBAN CITIES AND THE UNINCORPORATED AREAS.

SO WHAT THAT MEANS IS WE GOT A LOT OF WORK, KNOWS NO BOUNDS, AS YOU KNOW, YOUR HONOR.

I MEAN, IT'S EVERYWHERE.

AND THE SUBURBAN CITIES ARE ALL HAVE THE SAME KINDS OF ISSUES.

SO AND I WOULD ASK THAT THE SUBURBAN CITIES USE THIS MODEL OF COLLABORATION, AS OPPOSED TO TRYING TO USE YOUR OWN CRIMINAL JUSTICE PROCESS TO TRY TO HELP THE HOMELESS.

I DON'T THINK THAT WORKS VERY WELL.

WONDERFUL. THANK YOU. WE APPRECIATE IT.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU. CHRIS.

MAYOR. MARK.

GOOD MORNING, JUDGE. COMMISSIONERS MARC CARMONA, THE CHIEF HOUSING OFFICER WITH THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO. HAPPY TO BE IN FRONT OF YOU ALL TODAY.

THE CITY IS VERY GLAD AND SUPPORTIVE OF THIS REQUEST, OBVIOUSLY WORKING WITH YOU ALL ON THIS RFP. COMMISSIONER RODRIGUEZ, YOU'RE CORRECT.

I HOPE THIS IS THE FIRST OF MANY THAT STARTS.

WE NEED ALL THE FUNDS THAT WE CAN PULL DOWN FEDERALLY, LOCALLY.

WE WERE ABLE TO USE BOND FUNDS THIS CYCLE TO BE ABLE TO BUILD OUT OUR STRATEGIC HOUSING IMPLEMENTATION PLAN CALLS FOR 1000 UNITS OVER TEN YEARS.

WHAT WE REALIZED IS WE NEED 1000 UNITS TODAY.

AND SO THAT'S HOW DEEP THE ISSUE IS.

AND SO WE APPRECIATE THE SUPPORT OF THIS.

WE STILL HAVE SOME BOND FUNDS IN THE PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING SPACE THAT NEED TO BE ALLOCATED, PROBABLY IN THE SPRING TIME.

WE WOULD HOPE THAT THE COUNTY WOULD PARTNER WITH THIS AGAIN.

COMMISSIONER MOODY JUST WANTED TO LET YOU KNOW THIS IS PART OF A COORDINATED EFFORT.

RECENTLY, WE HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO PRESENT OUR HOMELESS RESPONSE SYSTEM TO JUDGE SAKAI.

WE'D LOVE TO BE ABLE TO HAVE YOU MEET WITH THEM AS WELL, TO UNDERSTAND THE COORDINATION AND THE PLAN THAT'S IN PLACE.

WE RECENTLY WENT ON TO A SITE VISIT IN HOUSTON, MET WITH THEIR TEAM, LEARNED MORE ABOUT HOW THEY HAD THE SUCCESS, AND THE NUMBER ONE THING I WALKED AWAY WITH, COMMISSIONER WAS THEY INVESTED IN HOUSING.

THAT IS THE NUMBER ONE THING THEY HAVE.

THEY HAVE THE ACCESS TO THE HOUSING TO BE ABLE WHEN THEY GET THE COORDINATION, THEY GET SOMEONE WHO'S READY, THEY'VE GOT A SPOT.

WE DON'T HAVE THAT TO THAT DEGREE TODAY.

WE NEED THAT. AND SO I THINK, JUDGE, THIS IS THE FIRST STEP TOWARDS THAT AND HOPEFULLY CONTINUED COLLABORATION WITH THE COUNTY, NOT ONLY IN THIS SPACE BUT IN OTHER SPACES AROUND AFFORDABLE HOUSING AS WELL.

WELL THANK YOU MARK. THANK YOU FOR OUR LONG TIME PROFESSIONAL RELATIONSHIP AND OUR FRIENDSHIP. AND WE GO BACK TO CHILD WELFARE AND NOW TO THE HOMELESS ISSUE.

LET ME JUST REMIND THE COUNTY AND THE CITY AND THIS COLLABORATION, ALONG WITH THE SUBURBAN CITIES, THAT WE NEED TO BE AS OPEN AND TRANSPARENT AS WE CAN IN ORDER SO THAT OUR COMMUNITY UNDERSTANDS OUR EFFORTS TO MAKE THIS A PUBLIC HEALTH ISSUE, TO TREAT THIS AS WELLNESS, TO TREAT THE POPULATION WITH DIGNITY AND RESPECT, BUT ALSO UNDERSTAND THAT WE WILL BE PUTTING.

THESE TYPE OF FACILITIES IN NEIGHBORHOODS, AND WE CAN'T FIX THIS IF WE GET CONTINUAL PUSHBACK. SO I REALLY AM ASKING THAT THE CITY AND COUNTY BE MINDFUL OF THE OPENNESS AND TRANSPARENCY. I THINK COMMISSIONER CALVERT YOU, YOU RAISED THAT ISSUE.

AND SO I WANT TO FOLLOW UP WITH THAT AND MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE.

MOVING THINGS SO THAT WE CAN MAKE IT A WIN WIN FOR THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY, INCLUDING OUR HOMELESS POPULATION.

JUDGE, JUST TO ENSURE THAT THE COURT THAT THE CITY'S INVESTING MONEY FROM ITS GENERAL FUND THIS YEAR FOR CREATION OF A PUBLIC INFORMATION CAMPAIGN, WE WANT TO DO THAT IN COLLABORATION WITH PARTNERS.

WE NEED TO SPEAK ABOUT THIS ISSUE WITH DIFFERENT FRAMES.

I THINK PEOPLE THINK ABOUT IT IN A CERTAIN WAY.

AND THEN THE OTHER THING, JUST TO TO LET THE COURT KNOW, IS WE HAVE A DASHBOARD THAT WE

[02:00:02]

SO WE APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY.

JUDGE. THANK YOU. MARK.

JUST ONE THING. ON THE PUBLIC INFORMATION CAMPAIGN, I THINK THE CASE STUDIES ARE REALLY SOUND AROUND THE COUNTRY.

THERE WAS ONE IN DENVER WHERE YOU MAY RECALL, I THINK IT WAS AN NBC AFFILIATE.

I SAW THE TINY I DON'T KNOW IF THEY WERE LIKE TENTS, BUT THEY LOOK LIKE KIND OF A MODULAR KIND OF HOUSING.

AND A LOT OF THE NEIGHBORS THOUGHT THAT IT WOULD BE DIRTY, AND IT WAS VERY WELL KEPT.

AND AND SO IN THAT ADVERTISING CAMPAIGN, THOSE CASE STUDIES ARE GOING TO BE IMPORTANT FOR US TO GET PUBLIC SUPPORT AND FOLLOWING, RIGHT, THE KINDS OF BEST PRACTICES.

SO I JUST WANT TO SAY THAT MAYBE WE CAN USE SOME OF THOSE REAL LIFE CASE STUDIES, NOT ONLY FOR THE MARKETING PART, BUT SHARING WITH OUR NONPROFIT PARTNERS, WHICH THEY PROBABLY KNOW BETTER THAN I DO BECAUSE THEY DO THIS EVERY DAY.

BUT JUST WANT TO SAY THAT THOSE ARE IMPORTANT TO GO TO NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATIONS IN ADVANCE AND TALK ABOUT THAT, BECAUSE IT'S REALLY THOSE NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATIONS THAT GIVE US HELL WHEN WE DON'T, YOU KNOW, HAVE THE EDUCATION PROCESS AT THE FRONT END OF OF WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO. AS YOU KNOW, I'M A STRONG ADVOCATE, BUT I HAVE TO RESPECT WHEN PEOPLE LIVE IN THESE NEIGHBORHOODS, YOU KNOW, WHAT IS GOING ON ON A GROUND LEVEL BECAUSE THEY'VE GOT TO LIVE WITH IT.

SO LET ME ALSO THANK YOU FOR BEING MY FORMER BOSS AND APPRECIATE THAT THE CITY PICKED THE BEST PERSON THAT THEY COULD POSSIBLY DO WHAT YOU DO, AND YOU'VE MADE A HUGE DIFFERENCE.

SO THANK YOU AGAIN. THANKS, COMMISSIONER.

THANK YOU, THANK YOU.

IS THAT KATIE? KATIE, I'M GOING TO YOU HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO INTRODUCE YOURSELF WITH YOUR NEW NAME OF YOUR NONPROFIT.

SO YES, THAT WOULD BE HELPFUL.

THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME HERE TODAY.

I'M KATIE VELA WILSON.

I AM WITH CLOSE TO HOME.

I'M THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR.

WE RECENTLY CHANGED OUR NAME FROM SARAH.

SO WHEN YOU SEE CLOSE TO HOME, YOU'LL KNOW THAT IT'S US.

BUT WE ARE YOUR CONTINUUM OF CARE.

LEAD AGENCY FOR SAN ANTONIO AND BEXAR COUNTY.

WE'RE THERE TO HELP WITH COORDINATION OF THE HOMELESS RESPONSE, TO DRAW DOWN FEDERAL FUNDS AND ENSURE ALL OF THE AGENCIES ARE WORKING TOGETHER WITH COMMON POLICIES, DEVELOPING NEW SYSTEMS. WE'VE BEEN IN EXISTENCE SINCE 2015.

AND SO TO YOUR POINT ABOUT HOUSTON WORKING TO CATCH UP AS FAR AS THE FUNDING THAT WE'RE DRAWING DOWN AND THE SUCCESSES THAT WE'RE HAVING, WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO DOUBLE THE ALLOCATION OF HUD FUNDING IN THE LAST EIGHT OR SO YEARS.

WE'RE NOW AT 17 MILLION.

WE STARTED AT 8 MILLION.

SO WE ARE MAKING PROGRESS.

AND ALL OF THE RECOMMENDATIONS THAT YOU HEARD TODAY ARE VERY WELL ALIGNED WITH OUR GOALS AND OUR PLANS THAT WE HAVE WITH OUR PARTNERS.

WE HAVE FOUR MAJOR GOALS WE'RE WORKING ON THROUGH THE END OF OF NEXT YEAR, WITH THE NUMBER ONE GOAL BEING TO REDUCE UNSHELTERED CHRONIC HOMELESSNESS.

AND FROM WHAT WE'VE SEEN WITH OUTCOMES, INVESTING IN PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING AND ENSURING THERE'S REGULAR ENGAGEMENT AND STREET OUTREACH IN ALL PARTS OF THE COUNTY ARE TWO OF THE BEST APPROACHES YOU COULD TAKE TO HELP THIS POPULATION.

SO HAPPY TO MEET.

ALSO FOLLOWING THE MEETING TO GIVE YOU A BRIEFING ON OUR NEW DIRECTION.

SO, KATIE, ARE WE MAKING A DIFFERENCE? ABSOLUTELY. I MEAN, WE'RE FACING NEW CHALLENGES NOW WITH INFLATION AND RISING HOUSING COSTS.

THAT'S PART OF WHY I'M ALSO NOW CHAIRING THE MAYOR'S HOUSING COMMISSION, SO THAT WE CAN REALLY ALIGN WHAT'S HAPPENING WITH HOMELESSNESS AND WHAT'S HAPPENING WITH HOUSING DEVELOPMENT.

BUT ULTIMATELY WE NEED TO IMPROVE OUR COORDINATION AND OUR, YOU KNOW, WORK TOGETHER ON THE SERVICES THAT WE PROVIDE.

BUT ULTIMATELY, I HAVE TO AGREE THAT HOMELESSNESS IS A HOUSING PROBLEM.

AND WHEN YOU DON'T HAVE THAT CAPACITY FOR RENTS AND UNITS THAT ARE AFFORDABLE FOR PEOPLE, IT'S VERY DIFFICULT FOR THE REST OF OUR SYSTEM TO WORK.

AND SO STAYING FOCUSED ON THAT WHILE ALSO COORDINATING WITH OUR PARTNERS IS KEY.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU.

ALL RIGHT. THERE MAY BE OTHER ADVOCATES IN THE ROOM, BUT I CAN'T I CAN'T RECOGNIZE YOU RIGHT NOW. SO IF I OVERLOOKED YOU, I APOLOGIZE IN ADVANCE.

I'M GOING TO CALL FOR A VOTE.

WE HAVE A MOTION BY COMMISSIONER CALVERT, SECOND BY COMMISSIONER RODRIGUEZ.

ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE.

AYE. ANY OPPOSED? ANY ABSTENTIONS. MOTION UNANIMOUSLY.

PASSES. THANK YOU FOR YOUR REPORT, MR. REINA AND MR. MARQUEZ. OKAY.

YEAH. LET'S GIVE A ROUND OF APPLAUSE FOR ALL THOSE THAT WORK ON THESE HARD, COMPLEX ISSUES. ALL RIGHT.

REQUESTS OF COMMISSIONERS COURT TO IDENTIFY FROM THE CONSENT AGENDA FOR ANY ADDITIONAL

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

ITEM 40, PLEASE.

ITEM 40.

OKAY. ANYTHING ELSE? COMMISSIONER. COMMISSIONER MOODY, NO ITEMS ON THE POLL.

I'D LIKE TO ABSTAIN FROM ITEM 50.

WHICH ONE? ITEM 5050.

[02:05:02]

COMMISSIONER CALVERT JUST 54.

THANK YOU. 54.

ALL RIGHT. AND I WILL ASK THAT ITEM 15 BE PULLED FOR INDIVIDUAL CONSIDERATION.

ALL RIGHT. LET ME GET A MOTION TO APPROVE THE REMAINING CONSENT.

[CONSENT AGENDA ITEMS]

SECOND MOTION BY COMMISSIONER RODRIGUEZ.

SECOND BY COMMISSIONER CLAY-FLORES.

ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE.

ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE.

AYE. ANY OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES.

LET US NOW GO BACK IN ORDER.

UH, DOCTOR GREENFIELD, ARE YOU HERE? I WANT TO TAKE UP ITEM 15, AUTHORIZATION OF THE EXECUTION OF AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN ACT

[15.]

TO INCLUDE ANY APPROPRIATE BUDGET TRANSFER NECESSARY AS REQUESTED BY THE OFFICE OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE POLICY, PLANNING AND PROGRAMS, AND AUTHORIZING THE PURCHASE AGE TO EXECUTE AND FILE THE APPROPRIATE AWARD DOCUMENTS FOR RECORD.

GOOD MORNING. GOOD MORNING, HIGH JUDGE AND COMMISSIONERS.

MY NAME IS LETICIA MORENO.

I'M LET ME LET ME THIS WAS ON CONSENT.

SO UNLESS UNLESS THE COURT HAS ANY I WOULD JUST AND I WAS THE ONE THAT PULLED IT.

I WOULD JUST LIKE TO ASK A QUESTION THAT IT REALLY IS TANGENTIALLY INVOLVED WITH THIS AGENDA ITEM. I SUPPORT IT.

I'M NOT OPPOSING THIS IN ANY WAY.

I THINK THIS IS A MEANS.

MY CONCERN IS THE ACCOUNTABILITY OF THESE HIGH RISK OFFENDERS WHO ARE CUTTING OFF THESE MONITORS. APPARENTLY THEY'RE THEY TEND TO BE THE HIGH PROFILE MEDIA PIECES IN THE EVENING AND CONTINUE TO BE A THREAT TO OUR COMMUNITY, ESPECIALLY TO THE VICTIMS THAT THEY PERPETUATE ON.

AND SO MY QUESTION TO YOU IS WHAT STEPS, IF ANY, IS YOUR OFFICE TAKING TO HOLD THESE OFFENDERS ACCOUNTABLE? ARE THEY BEING SANCTIONED? ARE THEY BEING PUT BACK INTO OUR JAIL SYSTEM? DO THEY PAY FOR THE DAMAGE THEY MAKE? HOW DOES THE NOTICE GET OUT TO THE LAW ENFORCEMENT THAT WE HAVE A PERSON THAT SUPPOSEDLY UNDER SUPERVISION, BUT ONCE THEY REMOVE THEIR MONITORS FOR WHATEVER REASON, OBVIOUSLY THEY'RE NOT UNDER SUPERVISION.

SO CAN YOU PLEASE ADDRESS THAT ISSUE FOR ME? BECAUSE THAT'S ALL I WANT TO KNOW.

HOW CAN WE MAKE OUR COMMUNITY A SAFER PLACE, ESPECIALLY IN LIGHT OF THE ISSUES OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND THE VICTIMS THAT SUFFER DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AS A RESULT OF PERPETRATORS, ESPECIALLY HIGH RISK? REPEAT OFFENDERS OF FAMILY VIOLENCE? YES, JUDGE. OF COURSE.

SO THIS DEVICE WILL BE A 24 OVER SEVEN MONITORING.

SO IF THE DEFENDANT DOES VIOLATE IT WILL BE IMMEDIATE ACTION TAKEN BY OUR OFFICE.

WE HAVE ABOUT AN HOUR TO GET THE DEFENDANT BACK INTO COMPLIANCE, ESPECIALLY IF IT'S NOT A TRUE VIOLATION.

SOMETIMES THERE'S ISSUES WITH THE DEVICES IF WE CANNOT GET THEM BACK INTO COMPLIANCE.

WE MEET WITH THE CENTRAL MAGISTRATE OFFICE JUDGES, AND WE ISSUE WARRANTS RIGHT AWAY.

FOR THESE INDIVIDUALS THAT VIOLATE RECENTLY ARE THE LAW ENFORCEMENT WHO CALLS LAW ENFORCEMENT WHO EXECUTES THESE WARRANTS? YES. SO IS THERE IS THERE A LAG? SAY, THE ONLY PROBLEM I HAVE IS IT'S A HIGH RISK.

YOU'RE GOING TO TAKE TIME TO INVESTIGATE AND MAKE SURE IT'S NOT A MINOR OR ERROR.

THEN YOU REPORT IN, THEN YOU MAKE A DECISION.

THEN YOU GO TO MAGISTRATE, THEN THERE'S A WARRANT.

THEN THERE'S A IT'S A PAPER PROCESS.

SO HAVING BEEN A JUDGE IN THIS SYSTEM, THAT CREATES A LOT OF DELAY.

YES, SIR. THE GOOD THING ABOUT THIS DEVICE.

HOLD ON. I'M NOT FINISHED.

I WANT TO KNOW HOW Y'ALL'S PROCESS IS SO THAT WE CAN GET REAL TIME FEEDBACK TO LAW ENFORCEMENT WHO THEN CAN GO LOOK ESPECIALLY.

AND HOW IS HOW ARE THOSE OFFENDERS ON YOUR MONITORS PRIORITIZED SO THAT WE DON'T IF WE HAVE A LOW LEVEL OFFENDER THAT FOR SOME REASON IS ON MONITOR.

SHOULDN'T BE. BUT IF THEY ARE, I UNDERSTAND THEY WE MAY NOT PUT THEM AS HIGH PRIORITY, BUT ESPECIALLY THESE HIGH RISK OFFENDERS.

HOW ARE WE ASSURING THE PUBLIC THAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR THEM AND THEY'RE GETTING BACK INTO OUR SYSTEM UNDER SUPERVISION? YES, SIR. SO BEFORE THE WE'RE LOOKING FOR THEM PART, THE GOOD THING ABOUT THIS.

DEVICE IS.

THE VICTIM ALSO HAS AN APP ON THEIR PHONE, SO THEY ARE NOTIFIED IMMEDIATELY IF THE DEFENDANT IS IN PROXIMITY, CLOSE PROXIMITY OF THEM, OR HAS ANY VIOLATIONS ON THE DEVICE.

[02:10:02]

WE ARE ABLE TO DO THAT AS WELL.

WE DO SEND WELFARE CHECKS OUT IMMEDIATELY, AND THEN WE HAVE A COORDINATED EFFORT WITH BEXAR COUNTY SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT AND SAPD TO GIVE THE LOCATION, LAST KNOWN LOCATION OF THE PERSON OF THE DEFENDANT.

SO THEY GO OUT RIGHT AWAY TO TO LOOK FOR THESE DEFENDANTS ONCE THE WARRANT DOES.

I HAVE A PIGGYBACK QUESTION BECAUSE THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT.

THANK YOU FOR BRINGING IT UP. FIRST OF ALL, JUDGE, BECAUSE CUTTING OFF THE ANKLE MONITORS IS A DANGER TO THE CITIZENS.

SO DOES THIS ANKLE MONITOR COMPANY REQUIRE FOLKS TO CHECK IN, LIKE A VIDEO OR A PHOTO PERIODICALLY SO THAT THEY KNOW IF THEY'RE IN THEIR HOME? IT LOOKS LIKE IF THEY'RE AT THEIR OFFICE, IT LOOKS LIKE, WHY DOES THIS ANKLE MONITORING SERVICE PROVIDE THAT? THEY DON'T CHECK IN BY VIDEO? RIGHT. IT'S IN PERSON TO OUR OFFICE AND WE DO HOME VISITS.

BUT I DON'T BELIEVE THEY HAVE A VIDEO COMPONENT.

SO THAT WOULD BE JUDGE TO HELP PREVENT THIS CUTTING THING.

ANOTHER SAFEGUARD.

SO I THINK JUDGE, YOU MAY REMEMBER MAYBE A YEAR AGO, YOU AND I SAT DOWN WITH A VENDOR THAT BEXAR COUNTY HADN'T COMPLETED A CONTRACT WITH WHERE THEY DO HAVE A PHONE IN CELLPHONE PICTURE CONTINGENCY.

WE NEED TO GET THAT.

I DON'T KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON WITH IT, BUT WE NEED TO HAVE MY STAFF AND YOUR STAFF AND THE JUDGE'S STAFF SIT DOWN, FOLLOW UP WITH THAT VENDOR.

BECAUSE IF THIS IS HAPPENING IN ANY KIND OF PROFOUND WAY, THAT'S THE ONLY REAL SAFEGUARD IS TO HAVE VIDEO PHOTO CHECK INS WITH WHICH ALSO HAS A GPS COMPONENT, RIGHT? WHEN YOU CAN PING THE PHONE.

AND THAT VENDOR, I DON'T THINK HAS BEEN PROPERLY PAID BY BEXAR COUNTY.

I DON'T KNOW HOW ALL THIS, YOU KNOW, WASN'T MANAGED PROPERLY, BUT THERE'S AN ISSUE I DO WANT TO SAY, FOR THE RECORD, I THINK THE COST AND I'VE SAID THIS BEFORE OF THESE ANKLE MONITORS IS TOO DADGUM HIGH FOR PEOPLE IN THE SYSTEM.

IT'S OUTRAGEOUS. IT'S A CAR PAYMENT.

IT'S $300.

WE SHOULD NOT BE CHARGING THAT MUCH MONEY.

THAT THAT IS A HUGE COST THAT ENDS UP PUTTING PEOPLE IN THE NEW JIM CROW HOLDS THEM BEHIND. THEY CAN NEVER GET AHEAD IF THEY HAVE THOSE KINDS OF FINANCIAL BURDENS PUT ON THEM. SO IN ANY EVENT, I'M NOT TRYING TO MAKE AN EXCUSE FOR AN OFFENDER, BUT I DO THINK THAT $300 IS IS EXORBITANT.

THEY WILL NOT BE PAYING FOR THIS DEVICE.

AND WHY IS THAT? THESE ARE ARPA FUNDS THAT WOULD BE PAYING FOR SO IS THAT FOR TWO YEARS OR ONE YEAR? THREE YEARS, 20, 2628 IN 2026, 2026 IS WHEN IT ENDS OKAY UP UNTIL 2026.

BUT BUT UNTIL THEN, THEY'VE BEEN PAYING FOR THAT RIGHT PRIOR TO THAT.

YES. YEAH. BECAUSE THE BAIL BONDSMAN TOLD ME HOW EXPENSIVE THEY ARE.

AND, YOU KNOW, THAT'S A CAR PAYMENT.

AND FOR SOMEONE IN THE JUSTICE SYSTEM, I MEAN, YOU KNOW, IT'S DEBT BONDAGE.

ANYWAY, THANK YOU, JUDGE, FOR RAISING THIS ISSUE, COMMISSIONER RUDY.

YEAH. I ALSO WANT TO THANK THE JUDGE FOR FOR BRINGING THIS UP THERE.

YOU SAY IMMEDIATE NOTIFICATION.

SO JUST TO CONFIRM, 2:00 ON A FRIDAY NIGHT.

YES. INDIVIDUAL IS WITHIN THE THE GEOGRAPHICAL RADIUS.

THEY'RE NOT SUPPOSED TO BE IN BOTH THE VICTIM AND THE SERVICE WILL GET THAT NOTIFICATION IN REAL TIME.

YES. ABSOLUTELY.

OKAY. AND I KNOW THIS IS 24 OVER SEVEN.

CORRECT. I DID HAVE A QUESTION BECAUSE WHEN I WENT THROUGH THIS WITH WITH DAVID, I BELIEVE JUDGE RANGEL BROUGHT FORWARD THE THAT THERE IS AN ISSUE WITH SOME OF THESE SERVICES THAT ARE NOT 24 OVER SEVEN OR DON'T HAVE WEEKEND COVERAGE OR EVENINGS CAN CAN WE JUST CLARIFY, ARE THERE ANY OTHER COMPANIES THAT WE'RE CURRENTLY UTILIZING FOR SERVICES WHEN IT COMES TO GPS MONITORING? THERE ARE OTHER COMPANIES THAT WE'RE USING FOR GPS, AND BUT I BELIEVE ALL THE ONES FOR PRETRIAL ARE 24 OVER SEVEN MONITOR.

THERE MAY BE MAYBE JUDGE RANGEL WAS REFERRING TO SOME IN USED BY ADULT PROBATION.

I'M NOT SURE.

USE BY ANOTHER. WHAT PROBATION.

ADULT PROBATION.

OKAY, MAYBE I'M NOT SURE WHAT HE WAS REFERRING TO.

ALL THE ONES ARE PRE TRIAL ARE 24 OVER SEVEN.

AND JUST ASK JUDGE DO YOU KNOW IN HIS REFERENCE WHAT HE WAS REFERRING TO.

WELL I WOULD JUST ASK THAT WE TRY TO CIRCLE BACK AND WITH JUDGE RANGEL AND CONFIRM WHAT THAT THAT GAP IS.

I'M GLAD TO. HERE THAT THIS IS 24 OVER SEVEN.

BUT IF THAT'S AN ISSUE WITH OTHER MONITORING SERVICES, WE SHOULD DO OUR BEST TO FIX THAT GOING FORWARD. SO.

COMMISSIONER. RODRIGUEZ. COMMISSIONER.

CLAY-FLORES. COMMISSIONER CALVERT RAISED SOMETHING.

[02:15:03]

THEY MAY DESTROY OUR MONITORS, BUT THEY'RE NOT GOING TO DESTROY THEIR PHONES.

SO HAVE WE THOUGHT, IS THERE? I'M SURE THERE'S TECHNOLOGY THERE, ISN'T THERE? WE'VE BEEN USING IT, BUT WE HAVEN'T BEEN PAYING THE VENDOR.

WELL, IS THAT SOMETHING THAT CAN BE NEGOTIATED, OR IS THAT UNDOING WHAT YOU ALL HAVE ALREADY? IT'S JUST MONEY.

WE'LL HAVE TO IDENTIFY IT.

OKAY. DO YOU UNDERSTAND? I'M ASKING THE SYSTEM TO BE MORE RESPONSIVE.

YES. AND IF WE CAN PUSH THE USE OF TECHNOLOGY PINGING OUR CELL PHONES, PINGING OFF THERE. APPARENTLY THEY GOT A WATCH.

YES, SIR. IS THAT PROVIDED BY THE COUNTY, TOO? THAT'S THE SYSTEM.

YES, SIR. OR IS THAT OR IS IT? OR ARE WE STILL ON AN ANKLE MONITOR? WE HAVE BOTH. THIS THIS PARTICULAR ONE WILL BE FOR DOMESTIC VIOLENCE CASES.

SO PEOPLE WHO WANT TO EVADE OUR SUPERVISION CUT THE ANKLE.

PLUS THEY TAKE THE WATCH OFF OR DESTROY IT.

THEY CAN. YES.

SO DO WE EVER CHARGE THEM? DO WE CRIMINALLY CHARGE THEM FOR THEY.

ARE THEY TAKEN BACK TO COURT? DO WE EVER GET RESTITUTION OUT OF OFFENDERS LIKE THIS? EFFECTIVE SEPTEMBER 2023, IT IS NOW A FELONY TO REMOVE THOSE DEVICES, REMOVE OR TAMPER WITH THOSE DEVICES.

OKAY. ALL RIGHT.

I DON'T NEED ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION OR COMMENT.

DO WE HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE? MOTION BY COMMISSIONER CALVERT, SECOND BY COMMISSIONER MOONEY.

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

AYE. ANY OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES.

THANK YOU. PROTECT OUR COMMUNITY.

YES, SIR. YES. ALL RIGHT.

I BELIEVE WE'RE THE NEXT IN LINE IS ITEM 40.

[40.]

YEAH. THANK YOU. LET ME READ IT INTO THE RECORD.

APPROVAL OF PROFESSIONAL SERVICES.

AGREEMENT BETWEEN BURKE COUNTY, RFK ARCHITECTURE FOR ARCHITECTURAL ENGINEERING SERVICES. CONNECTION WITH DESIGN DOCUMENTS FOR BURKE COUNTY JUVENILE JUSTICE ACADEMY.

AND AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $955,290.

COMMISSIONER. YEAH. THANK YOU JUDGE.

I DON'T NEED DAN A FULL PRESENTATION ON THIS, BUT I KNOW SOME TIME BACK, PROBABLY PRE COVID, THERE IS A PRETTY ROBUST DISCUSSION ABOUT THE REPLACEMENT OF THE JJ.

I ASSUME NOW THAT THIS IS COMING BEFORE US WE'RE MOVING KIND OF OUT OF NEUTRAL AND MOVING THIS FORWARD.

CAN YOU GIVE A LITTLE BIT OF A TIMELINE ON THAT.

AND I WOULD ASSUME TOTAL COST IS PROBABLY GONE UP A LITTLE BIT SINCE WE LAST HAD A DISCUSSION. RIGHT.

YEAH. SO SO THIS IS THE CONSULTANT AGREEMENT AGAIN.

THERE WAS A PROJECT FUNDED FOR JJ RELOCATION YEARS IN THE YEARS AGO.

IT WAS FOR $1.5 MILLION.

THERE WAS NO SATISFACTORY FACILITY OR ANYTHING THAT WE COULD DO ANY IMPROVEMENTS WITH THAT AMOUNT OF MONEY.

SO THE DECISION WAS MADE TO WE WERE PROCEED WITH DESIGN OF A NEW FACILITY THAT WOULD BE CO-LOCATED ON THE MISSION ROAD CAMPUS, DIRECTLY BEHIND THE ANDY MORALES JUVENILE PROBATION BUILDING, TO GIVE THEM FLEXIBILITY IN MANAGING THAT FACILITY AS WELL, BECAUSE CURRENTLY THE OTHER ONE IS ON IT'S HACKBERRY.

NOT A GREAT LOCATION FOR THEM UP AGAINST THE RAILROAD TRACKS.

IT'S A DIFFICULT LOCATION FOR THE FOR THE KIDS.

SO WE WANT TO PROCEED WITH DESIGN.

WITH THE MONEY WE HAVE, WE HAVE ABOUT $1.5 MILLION FUNDED FOR THAT.

AND THEN BRING YOU GUYS BACK A PROPOSED PROJECT COST.

OKAY, WE DID DO A STUDY, AS YOU RECALL, ABOUT A YEAR AGO, AND THAT PRICE RANGE WAS SOMEWHERE AROUND THE 16 TO $17 MILLION TOTAL PROJECT RANGE, INCLUDING FEES.

AGAIN, WHAT WE WANT TO DO IS GET A LITTLE BIT FURTHER DOWN THROUGH DESIGN, MAYBE 50%, AND THEN GIVE YOU GUYS A REALLY GOOD COST ESTIMATE AND POSSIBLY ASK FOR THE NEXT FISCAL YEAR DURING THE BUDGET PROCESS.

OKAY. AND WE HAVE ALL THE LAND WE NEED FOR THE POTENTIAL NEW THE SITE WE BELIEVE IS ALREADY ESTABLISHED.

IT'S CURRENTLY A GREEN GREENBELT AND IT WILL IMPACT A LITTLE BIT OF PARKING, BUT THE CONVENIENCE OF HAVING IT ON THE CAMPUS WILL BE IMMEASURABLE.

OKAY. WHEN DO YOU ANTICIPATE, DAN, HOW LONG DO YOU THINK THIS DESIGN PHASE WILL TAKE AND WHEN DO YOU ANTICIPATE COMING BACK WITH A COST ESTIMATE.

SO SO OUR GOAL IS TO DELIVER A COST ESTIMATE SOMETIME AROUND JUNE OR JULY, WITH A FIRM IDEA OF HOW MUCH THIS THING WILL COST.

SO WE CAN INCLUDE IT IN THE BUDGET SUBMISSION FOR NEXT FISCAL YEAR, FOR NEXT FISCAL YEAR. OKAY, OKAY.

I THINK THAT'S ALL I HAVE. JUDGE I'LL MOVE TO APPROVE MOTION BY COMMISSIONER RODRIGUEZ.

SECOND BY COMMISSIONER CALVERT.

ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? JUDGE. YES.

SORRY. IF I COULD ADD JUST ONE THING.

ONE OF THE THINGS I'VE ASKED DAN TO EXPLORE IS LOOKING IF WORK, SEEING IF IT WOULD BE VIABLE TO UTILIZE AN EXISTING CLOSED SCHOOL AS WELL.

SO BEFORE WE BRING BACK THE FULL COST ESTIMATE HERE, WE WOULD WANT TO EXPLORE THAT WITH SCHOOL DISTRICTS AND THE JJAEP.

[02:20:04]

ALL RIGHT. CALL FOR A VOTE.

ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE.

AYE. ANY OPPOSED? ANY ABSTENTIONS.

MOTION CARRIES. CARRY ON.

ALL RIGHT. THE NEXT INDIVIDUAL ITEM.

I BELIEVE IT'S COMMISSIONER CALVERT YOU ASKED TO DISCUSS 54.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH. WHICH IS DIRECTION TO THE COUNTY MANAGER TO IDENTIFY FUNDS.

[54.]

THANK YOU. JUDGE, I JUST WANTED TO UNDERSTAND, I DIDN'T HAVE ANY BACKGROUND ON THIS ITEM IN MY PACKET, SO I JUST WANT TO KNOW WHAT IS THE ASSOCIATION FUNDING FOR? I'M HAPPY TO SPEAK TO THAT.

SO FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO'VE BEEN TO THE CHARROS ARENA LATELY OR NOT LATELY, IN THE LAST 20 YEARS, I'D SAY THIS IS IN NEED OF SOME REMODELING.

EVEN THE SOUND SYSTEM DOESN'T WORK WELL, SO THE RODEO AND FREEMAN COLISEUM ARE PARTNERING WITH THEM TO HELP TO DO THAT, AND SO THEY REACHED OUT TO ME SINCE IT'S IN MY PRECINCT.

SO THAT'S BASICALLY WHAT THE FUNDING IS FOR, TO MAKE SURE WE CAN CONTINUE TO CARRY ON THESE TRADITIONS.

OKAY. SO IS THIS THEN A CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT OR IT SAYS GENERAL FUND I THINK IN THE BACKGROUND DOES IT NOT, DAVID? SO I BELIEVE IT WOULD BE GENERAL FUND AT THIS TIME.

MY UNDERSTANDING IS IT'S FOR FACILITY IMPROVEMENTS, BUT I DON'T KNOW EXACTLY WHAT THEY ARE UNTIL WE--YEAH, IT'S FACILITY IMPROVEMENTS.

OKAY. WAS THIS IN THE BUDGET? NO. OKAY.

SO I JUST KIND OF WANT TO MAKE A POINT THAT THIS BASICALLY MEANS WE'RE NOT STICKING TO OUR DISCRETIONARY CAP ON THE COMMISSIONER'S BUDGETARY OF THE 4 OR 500,000 AND THE $10 MILLION I DON'T HAVE A PROBLEM WITH IT, BUT I JUST WANT TO BE CLEAR THAT IT WASN'T BUDGETED, AND WE'RE YOU KNOW, WE'RE BASICALLY VIOLATING WHAT WE DID IN THE, IN THE BUDGET. SO IN ANY EVENT, I'LL MOVE APPROVAL AND WE CAN KEEP GOING.

SECOND.

OKAY. MOTION BY COMMISSIONER MOODY.

COMMISSIONER CLAY-FLORES. COMMISSIONER MOODY, YOU HAVE THE FLOOR.

I ALSO JUST HAD A QUESTION ON THE TIMELINE.

WHEN WAS THIS BROUGHT FORWARD? BECAUSE I DIDN'T REMEMBER THIS BEING PART OF OUR BRIEFING LAST WEEK.

SO I BELIEVE PRECINCT ONE WAS APPROACHED LAST YEAR, SOMETIME LAST FISCAL YEAR, I SHOULD SAY I DIDN'T RECEIVE THE OFFICIAL REQUEST UNTIL ABOUT TEN DAYS AGO.

SO THAT'S WHEN I BECAME FORMALLY AWARE OF THE REQUEST FROM DEREK HOWARD.

OKAY, I COULD HAVE MISSED SOMETHING, BUT I DIDN'T REMEMBER US GOING OVER THIS, AND I DIDN'T KNOW WHEN IT WAS ADDED TO THE AGENDA.

IF YOU'RE SAYING IT WAS THERE PREVIOUSLY, THEN-- COMMISSIONER MOODY, I APOLOGIZE FOR THAT.

IT WAS VERY LAST MINUTE.

IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE WERE TRYING TO DO.

LIKE I SAID, THEY APPROACHED ME ABOUT IT.

SOMETHING WAS TRYING TO DO IN THE BUDGET AND WITH ALL THE CHAOS THAT DIDN'T HAPPEN, AND SO WHEN I REALIZED THAT THIS IS THE SECOND TO THE LAST COMMISSIONER'S COURT OF THE YEAR, I PUSHED TO GET IT ON.

SO MY APOLOGIES FOR LAST MINUTE.

OKAY, I APPRECIATE YOU YOU SAYING THAT I WILL GO AHEAD AND SUPPORT JUST WAS CURIOUS BECAUSE I HONESTLY JUST SAW IT HERE AND I DON'T DIDN'T REMEMBER TALKING ABOUT IT.

SO THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT.

I HAVE A POINT OF ORDER.

IT'S BEEN BROUGHT TO MY ATTENTION BY LEGAL COUNSEL.

WE'RE NOT HERE TO TAKE ACTION.

THE AGENDA ITEM IS DIRECTION TO THE COUNTY MANAGER.

SO I'M GOING TO RULE THAT THE MOTION AND THE SECOND ARE OUT OF ORDER, AND WE JUST.

SO WHAT DIRECTION DO WE GIVE TO THE COUNTY MANAGER? COMMISSIONER CALVERT, I'LL GO BACK TO YOU.

WHAT'S THE DIRECTION? I'M CONFUSED LARRY, WHAT'S GOING ON? WE'RE ON ITEM 54. I HEARD YOU, BUT I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY WE ALWAYS GIVE DIRECTION TO STAFF TO NEGOTIATE OR TO FIND FUNDING.

THAT'S FINE. IT'S NOT AN ACTION ITEM.

YOU'RE NOT APPROVING IT. YOU'RE DIRECTING THE COUNTY MANAGER TO IDENTIFY THE FUNDING AND BRING IT BACK. SO SMALL DIFFERENCE, BUT SIGNIFICANT.

OKAY, WELL, I'LL LET COMMISSIONER CLAY-FLORES.

GO AHEAD AND CLARIFY THE MOTION.

WELL, SO IT'S A POINT OF ORDER.

IT SAYS DIRECTION DOESN'T TAKE APPROPRIATE ACTION.

SO I'M ALSO TAKING THE LEGAL OPINION THAT WE SHOULD NOT BE TAKING ANY ACTION, JUST GIVING DIRECTION UNLESS THE MOTION IS SPECIFIC TO DIRECTION.

RIGHT. OR ARE YOU COMFORTABLE WITH THAT? I'M COMFORTABLE. COMFORTABLE WITH THE VOTE ON DIRECTING THE COUNTY MANAGER TO IDENTIFY THE FUNDING, BUT NOT APPROVING THAT FUNDING AT THIS TIME.

[02:25:02]

I THINK FOR PURPOSES OF CLARITY, I THINK, DAVID, YOU JUST WANT DIRECTION, RIGHT? CLEAR DIRECTION.

CLEAR DIRECTION.

YES. SO I MAKE A MOTION FOR THE COUNTY MANAGER TO PLEASE FIND $50,000 SO THAT WE CAN PARTNER WITH THE RODEO AND FEMA COLISEUM TO HELP SUPPORT THE CHARROS ASSOCIATION.

PERFECT, COMMISSIONER.

ALL RIGHT, THERE'S A MOTION.

MOTION BY COMMISSIONER CLAY-FLORES.

IS THERE A SECOND, SECOND, SECOND BY COMMISSIONER RODRIGUEZ? ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE.

AYE. ALL THOSE OPPOSED? ANY ABSTENTIONS? MOTION CARRIES.

ALL RIGHT. I THINK THAT CONCLUDES ALL THE CONSENT ITEMS. SO LET US NOW GO BACK TO MINUTES.

COMMISSIONER COURT MINUTES FOR TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 7TH, 2023.

[7. Commissioners Court minutes for Tuesday, November 7, 2023 & Tuesday, November 14, 2023.]

MOTION BY COMMISSIONER CALVERT.

SECOND BY COMMISSIONER RODRIGUEZ.

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

AYE. ANY OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES.

ALL RIGHT. COMMUNICATIONS--YES? JUST A POINT OF PERSONAL PRIVILEGE, I APOLOGIZE, BUT IS IT POSSIBLE BEFORE WE DO COMMUNICATIONS TO GET ITEM 59 AND THEN WE'LL DO CITIZENS? OKAY. BECAUSE WE HAVE SEVERAL CITY STAFF HERE WHO ALSO ARE HERE TO PRESENT.

UNDERSTOOD. ANY OBJECTIONS BY THE COURT? HEARING NONE. WE'RE GOING TO TAKE UP, OUT OF ORDER, AGENDA ITEM NUMBER 59.

PRESENTATION DISCUSSION OF APPROPRIATE ACTION REGARDING THE AUTHORITY FOR

[59. Presentation, discussion, and appropriate action regarding the authority for negotiation and execution of an appropriate agreement with Houston Street Tax Increment Zone authorizing the expenditure of up to $250,000 to be paid from the County Increment for the Centro San Antonio Art Everywhere Initiative.]

INCREMENT FOR THE CENTRAL SAN ANTONIO ART EVERYWHERE INITIATIVE.

COMMISSIONER CALVERT. IT'S ACTUALLY, I THINK IAN FROM THE CITY IS HERE.

OKAY. GO AHEAD AND LET YOU TAKE THE LEAD HERE.

GOOD MORNING. JUDGE. COMMISSIONERS IAN BENAVIDEZ, DEPUTY DIRECTOR WITH THE CITY'S NEIGHBORHOOD AND HOUSING SERVICES DEPARTMENT. TODAY I AM HERE WITH THE REQUEST FOR COMMISSIONERS COURT FOR A FUNDING AGREEMENT BETWEEN BEXAR COUNTY, THE HOUSTON STREET TIRZ AND CENTRO, FOR AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED 250,000 FOR ARTS AND ACTIVATION INITIATIVES IN DOWNTOWN SAN ANTONIO.

THE HOUSTON TIRZ BOARD APPROVED THE ITEM AT THE OCTOBER 30TH, 2023 BOARD MEETING.

THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO ALSO APPROVED FOR $150,000, INCLUDING A $200,000 MATCH FOR ADDITIONAL DOWNTOWN ACTIVATION AND ACTIVITIES.

I THINK WE CAN ADVANCE THE SLIDE.

DO YOU HAVE THE CLICKER THERE? OH I DO. THERE WE GO.

ADDITIONALLY, THE FUNDING FOR THIS PROJECT WILL BE SOURCED FROM THE HOUSTON STREET TIRZ, SPECIFICALLY BEXAR COUNTY INCREMENT THAT HAS CONTRIBUTED TO THAT TIRZ.

HERE IS A FINANCE PLAN SUMMARY, INCLUDING THE LAST ACTION THAT WAS TAKEN AT THE TIRZ BOARD. WITH THOSE LAST TWO ACTIONS, THE INCREMENT AVAILABLE THROUGH COUNTY INCREMENT REMAINING FOR 2024 IS APPROXIMATELY 2.8 MILLION AND PROJECTED TO BE ABOUT $45 MILLION THROUGH THE LIFE OF THE TIRZ, WHICH IS EXPECTED TO EXPIRE IN 2034.

I WILL NOW PASS THE PRESENTATION OVER TO ANDY RODRIGUEZ, WHO IS THE VICE PRESIDENT OF CULTURAL PLACEMAKING WITH CENTRO, TO SPEAK A LITTLE BIT MORE SPECIFICALLY ABOUT THE $250,000 INITIATIVE.

GOOD MORNING, JUDGE, COMMISSIONERS ANDY RODRIGUEZ, CENTER SAN ANTONIO.

IT'S MY FIRST TIME SPEAKING IN FRONT OF COMMISSIONERS COURT, SO I'M A LITTLE NERVOUS, BUT IT'S REALLY AN HONOR AND IT'S BEEN WONDERFUL WATCHING ALL THE GOOD YOU'RE DOING FOR THE CITIZENS OF BEXAR COUNTY.

I'D LIKE TO EXPLAIN A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE ART EVERYWHERE PROJECT.

IT WAS INITIATED IN 2020.

KIND OF A CRAZY IDEA, BUT WE THOUGHT GOSH, FOLKS ARE WANTING THINGS TO DO WITH THEIR FAMILIES AND FRIENDS DURING COVID AND REALLY TOOK OFF SINCE THEN.

SO WE'RE REALLY GRATEFUL FOR THAT.

THE PROJECT ITSELF IS DESIGNED TO BE A PRIVATE SECTOR PARTNER.

SO AGAIN, WE HAVE OUR CITY'S DEPARTMENT OF CULTURAL ARTS.

THEY WORK ON PUBLIC SECTOR PROJECTS, PARKS, LIBRARIES, PUBLIC SPACES, BUT THIS IS DESIGNED TO WORK AND HAND IN HAND WITH OUR PRIVATE SECTOR SMALL BUSINESSES.

PROPERTY OWNERS ENHANCE THE ART AND CULTURE INITIATIVES OF OUR GOVERNMENT PARTNERS AND OUR NONPROFITS.

SO THIS REALLY HAS BECOME A REALLY BEAUTIFUL COLLABORATION.

WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO WORK WITH SCHOOLS, WITH THE UNIVERSITIES, WITH OUR LOCAL ART AND ARTS COMMUNITIES, BUT THE OTHER THING THAT'S REALLY INCREDIBLE ABOUT THIS IS THE WAY THAT IT CREATES THIS VIBRANCY DOWNTOWN, BECAUSE OBVIOUSLY THIS IS THE MIDDLE OF BEXAR COUNTY, AND THIS IS SOMETHING THAT KIND OF TETHERS US TO NOT ONLY THE CENTER OF OUR COUNTY, BUT ALSO TO EACH OTHER.

WE WORK ON VISUAL ARTS, PERFORMING ARTS, CULINARY ARTS, AND OTHER ARTISTIC ACTIVATIONS. WE'RE REALLY PROUD OF THE COLLABORATIVE PARTNERSHIPS AS I MENTIONED, IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE'VE WORKED REALLY HARD ON.

[02:30:01]

AS I'VE MENTIONED, WE PARTNER WITH THE SCHOOLS AND NONPROFITS, DOWNTOWN BUSINESS OWNERS AND OTHER STAKEHOLDERS, AND OF COURSE, THE ARTS AND THE ART COMMUNITY, AND THAT'S SOMETHING THAT'S OFTEN DISCUSSED.

THIS IDEA OF CULTURAL VIBRANCY, THIS IDEA OF WE'RE NOT AUSTIN, WE ARE SAN ANTONIO, WE ARE BEXAR COUNTY, AND WE'RE VERY PROUD OF THAT.

I THINK MANY OF YOU MAY KNOW THE MURALS THAT WE HAVE DOWNTOWN INSTALLED.

THIS IS A WONDERFUL PIECE.

IF YOU SEE THIS, THIS IS LUIS VALDERAS.

IT'S LACHO MARIACHI, AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I REALLY LOVE ABOUT IT IS HIS FATHER BEING A MARIACHI.

HE INCORPORATES HIM INTO ALL OF HIS WORK.

SO IT'S A VERY EMOTIONAL THING, AND LISTENING TO LUIS TELL THIS STORY, WE REALLY FIND TRY TO FIND THESE STORIES WITHIN, NOT JUST THE PIECES THAT THE ARTISTS PUT UP, BUT THE STORIES THAT THEY CARRY WITHIN THEM THEMSELVES, AND THAT'S REALLY WHAT MAKES US THIS REALLY UNIQUE CITY, THIS REALLY UNIQUE COUNTY.

OBVIOUSLY, YOU CAN SEE ON THIS SLIDE WE MANAGE THE SELECTION, THE CURATION, THE INSTALLATION OF PRIVATELY SUPPORTED ART IN THE PUBLIC REALM.

WE TRY TO MAKE THAT DISTINCTION BECAUSE, AGAIN, NOT TO CONFUSE IT WITH PUBLIC ART, BUT THE MORE IMPORTANT THING IS THAT WE REALLY TRY TO THE ART THAT WE INCORPORATE INTO OUR URBAN FABRIC IS TO INCORPORATE A DEEPER UNDERSTANDING ABOUT WHY ART MATTERS, AND ALSO CONNECT OUR BUSINESS ART TO THE ART COMMUNITY.

BECAUSE, AGAIN, WE CAN'T JUST DEPEND ON PUBLIC ART COMMISSIONS.

ARTISTS NEED TO MAKE A LIVING BECAUSE THEY ARE SMALL BUSINESS PEOPLE, TOO.

THIS IS A PIECE BY RUDY HERRERA.

THIS IS RIGHT ACROSS FROM SAN PEDRO CREEK.

I REALLY LOVE THIS PIECE, BUT AGAIN, WE TALK ABOUT HOW ART TELLS OUR STORIES, AND IF YOU'VE EVER BEEN HERE, IF YOU'VE EVER BEEN OVER TO THE SITE, YOU CAN SEE HOW IT REALLY TELLS THE STORY OF THE CREEK OF RUDY'S INDIGENOUS HERITAGE, BUT ALSO IT PAYS RESPECT TO THE AME SITE, WHICH IS RIGHT ACROSS THE STREET.

THIS IDEA THAT THINGS MATTER AND PLACES MATTER, AND IF YOU KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT HISTORY, WHICH I KNOW YOU DO, YOU REMEMBER THAT BEFORE PEOPLE COULD READ, THEY LOOK TO ART TO TELL OUR STORIES.

THEY LOOK TO ART TO SHARE MESSAGES ABOUT WHO WE WERE, THE THINGS THAT WE'VE GONE THROUGH, THE STRUGGLES. ART REALLY BRINGS US TOGETHER THINGS THAT WE HAVE IN COMMON, OUR JOYS, OUR STRUGGLES, THE LOSSES THAT WE EXPERIENCED, AND ALSO FINDING OURSELVES.

I'D MENTIONED THE ACTIVATION.

I JUST WANT TO BRING YOUR ATTENTION TO PEACOCK ALLEY, WHICH IF YOU CAN LOOK AT THE FIRST SLIDE, YOU'LL SEE IT WAS JUST A BASIC ALLEY, KIND OF BEIGE AND UNINTERESTING, BUT THEN WHEN YOU INCORPORATE ART AND MUSIC AND PEOPLE, IT REALLY BECOMES SOMEPLACE SPECIAL, AND THAT'S WHAT WE HOPE TO CONTINUE TO DO.

ANOTHER ONE OF OUR ACTIVATIONS WE DID BACK IN AUGUST, IT WAS TRAVIS PARK, AND IT WAS REALLY A PHENOMENAL COMMUNITY LED PROCESS.

IT WAS KIND OF A CRAZY IDEA, BUT WE THOUGHT WHY NOT? SO WE WORKED WITH VOCAB, SANDERSON AND SOME OTHER VISUAL ARTISTS, AND IT WAS REALLY SOMETHING THAT KIND OF BROUGHT PEOPLE TOGETHER, AND IT'S THROUGH THESE ART AND ACTIVATION THINGS THAT REALLY BRINGS US TOGETHER.

IT CREATES A SENSE OF SPACE, AND THAT'S WHAT I THINK WE IN BEXAR COUNTY TAKE PERSONAL PRIDE IN. THE FOCUS IN FUNDING.

THE PRIMARY GEOGRAPHIC FOCUS OF THIS FUND WOULD BE ON EAST WEST HOUSTON STREET NEAR ZONA CULTURAL, WHICH IS A VERY SPECIAL HISTORIC DISTRICT IN OUR CITY.

AS YOU KNOW, THE ALAMEDA THEATER AND THE FUNDING REQUEST IS $250,000.

AS I MENTIONED, I REALLY WANT TO STRESS THAT ALL ARTISTS ARE PAID.

THIS IS NOT A FREEBIE.

THIS IS SOMETHING ARTISTS ARE SMALL BUSINESS PEOPLE TOO, AND THERE'S A REAL DIGNITY TO W HEN YOU ARE PAID FOR THE WORK YOU DO.

AS MUCH AS YOU LOVE IT, IT'S ALWAYS GOOD TO GET A PAYCHECK.

OUR MURALS AND ACTIVATIONS VARY IN SIZE AND COST, BUT WE AIM TO LEVERAGE OUR PARTNERSHIP AND OUR ARTWORK AND OUR DOLLARS TOGETHER.

I'M GOING TO LEAVE YOU WITH THIS QUOTE, BUT IT'S SOMETHING I REALLY LOVE.

PUBLIC ART IS IMPORTANT BECAUSE AN ARTWORK IS NEVER REALLY FINISHED UNTIL IT HAS AN AUDIENCE. THE VIEWER COMES TO THE WORK AND ESSENTIALLY REMAKES IT THROUGH THEIR EYES, AND THIS INITIATES THE DIALOG BETWEEN THE ARTIST AND THE COMMUNITY, AND I THINK THIS IS IMPORTANT JUST TO REMEMBER, BECAUSE, AGAIN, ART ESSENTIALLY IS ABOUT PEOPLE.

IT'S ABOUT PEOPLE WHO OWN BUSINESSES.

IT'S ABOUT PEOPLE WHO MAKE ART.

IT'S ABOUT BRINGING US TOGETHER.

ART HAS THAT ABILITY TO BRIDGE THESE THINGS, AND I THINK THAT'S SOMETHING THAT I REALLY, REALLY LOVE ABOUT IT.

WE HAVE SO MANY FOLKS, SO MANY ARTISTS THAT HAVE PARTICIPATED IN THIS, SO MANY STORIES, BUT AGAIN, IT'S REALLY ABOUT US TOGETHER AS CITIZENS AND BEXAR COUNTY.

SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

THANK YOU ANDY. ANY QUESTIONS? COMMISSIONER CLAY-FLORES? ANDY, THANKS FOR BEING HERE.

SO MOST OF THESE ARTISTS ARE LOCAL OR ARE THEY ALL LOCAL ARTISTS? ALL OF OUR ALL OF OUR LOCAL ART, ALL OF OUR ARTISTS ARE LOCAL ARTISTS ALL WITHIN BEXAR

[02:35:04]

IT'S REALLY INTERESTING BECAUSE WE HAD OVER 100 PEOPLE.

WE HAD AN OPEN CALL TO MAKE IT A VERY FAIR PROCESS, AND OVER 100 ARTISTS APPLIED, ALL WITHIN BEXAR COUNTY. WE KIND OF LIMIT IT TO THAT.

SO IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE FEEL IS VERY IMPORTANT TO SUPPORT OUR LOCAL ART ECOSYSTEM.

WELL, THANKS FOR BRINGING MORE COLOR TO THE DOWNTOWN AREA.

SO I'D LIKE TO MOVE FOR APPROVAL.

COMMISSIONER. MOTION BY COMMISSIONER CLAY-FLORES.

BY COMMISSIONER CALVERT.

COMMISSIONER RODRIGUEZ. YEAH, JUST BRIEFLY, JUDGE.

ANDY, THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORK AND WHAT YOU'RE DOING THERE AT CENTRAL.

I KNOW COMMISSIONER CALVERT AND I HAD THE DISCUSSION AT THE TIRZ MEETING, BUT IT DOES ADD SOMETHING TO THE VIBRANCY OF DOWNTOWN AND CERTAINLY HIGHLIGHTS, I THINK, THE WORK OF ALL THE TALENT THAT WE HAVE HERE LOCALLY.

SO WE APPRECIATE IT. THANK YOU, JUDGE.

COMMISSIONER MOODY.

JUST A COUPLE QUICK QUESTIONS.

HAVE YOU IDENTIFIED THE ACTUAL ART PROJECTS THAT YOU'RE LOOKING TO FUND WITH THIS FUNDING? I AM ALWAYS LOOKING FOR A PLACE TO PUT ART IN FACT, MAKES IT MAKES MY FRIENDS CRAZY BECAUSE I'M ALWAYS TAKING PHOTOGRAPHS OF PLACES WHERE I MIGHT BE ABLE TO PUT ART, AND THEN I WILL CALL YOU UP AND HANG ON YOUR CUFF UNTIL YOU SAY YES, NO, I'M TEASING, [CHUCKLING] BUT YES, I ALWAYS HAVE A RUNNING LIST OF PLACES WHERE WE WANT TO PUT UP ART, AND I HAVE A LIST OF ARTISTS WE WORK WITH, THE DEPARTMENT OF ARTS AND CULTURE TO HELP IDENTIFY ARTISTS, BUT WE DON'T.

FOR THIS PARTICULAR PROJECT, WE'RE WAITING TO SEE EXACTLY WHAT WE HAVE TO WORK WITH AND WHERE. SO WE'LL BE HAPPY TO GIVE YOU AN UPDATE ON THAT ONCE ONCE WE ARE ESTABLISHED.

OKAY, THAT WOULD BE GREAT.

I ALSO JUST WANTED TO ASK ABOUT ALTERNATE TIRZ PROJECTS, AND I OBVIOUSLY DON'T SIT ON THIS BOARD, SO I'M NOT AS FAMILIAR WITH IT, BUT IT LOOKS LIKE YOU HAVE $3 MILLION IN FUNDING PER YEAR, WHICH IS INCREASING, AND CAN YOU SPEAK TO OTHER PROJECTS OR COMPETING PROJECTS THAT ARE OUT THERE THAT YOU HOPE TO HAVE FUNDED IN THE COMING YEARS? OH, WELL, CERTAINLY, I THINK IN THE PAST WE FUNDED, THE CHURCH HAS FUNDED THINGS LIKE SECURITY, HISTORICAL MARKERS, SMALL BUSINESS SUPPORT.

IF YOU'RE ASKING SPECIFICALLY FOR, WELL, IT MAY NOT BE AN ART-SPECIFIC QUESTION, BUT MORE TO THE FINANCE SIDE AND OTHER OPTIONS.

ABSOLUTELY. THANK YOU. COMMISSIONER, CAN YOU REPEAT THE QUESTION JUST TO MAKE SURE I UNDERSTAND? NO, JUST LOOKING AT THE TIRZ FUNDING.

3 TO $4 MILLION PER YEAR, GOING OUT TO 2034.

THESE FUNDS ARE TYPICALLY FOR INFRASTRUCTURE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.

CAN YOU JUST SPEAK TO SOME OF THE OTHER PROJECTS THAT YOU'RE WORKING ON AND OR COMPETING PROJECTS FOR THESE FUNDS? YEAH, ABSOLUTELY, AND THESE ARE PROJECTIONS GOING INTO FUTURE YEARS.

SO TYPICALLY THE TIRZ BOARD, WHICH HAS REPRESENTED US FROM THE COUNTY AND THE CITY, THEY WORK TOGETHER AND PROJECTS ARE BROUGHT TO THEM FOR CONSIDERATION.

SO WE DON'T HAVE ALL THIS FUNDING PROGRAMED OUT, BUT OTHER PROJECTS THAT WE ARE CURRENTLY WORKING ON RIGHT NOW, WE ARE WORKING WITH EASTSIDE CONTENT CREATOR PROGRAM, WHICH IS A FILM PROGRAM TO TAKE YOUTH AND ALLOW THEM TO GET TRAINING WITH PROFESSIONALS AND MENTORING TO BE ABLE TO DEVELOP FILM.

WE ALSO HAVE A LOT OF INFRASTRUCTURE AND ARTS PROGRAMS WITHIN THE DOWNTOWN AREA, SPECIFICALLY FOR THE HOUSTON STREET TIRZ BOARD.

SO WE HAVE A VARIETY OF INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS, WHETHER THOSE ARE STREETS, PARK IMPROVEMENT, HOUSING PROJECTS THAT ARE CURRENTLY GOING ON.

SO WE HAVE A WIDE VARIETY OF PROJECTS.

I MAY BE ABLE TO HELP ON THIS ONE.

I THINK THE FILM GROUP IS WITH THE INNER CITY TIRZ, IS IT NOT? THAT IS CORRECT. THAT'S NOT SPECIFICALLY WITH THIS TIRZ, YES.

OKAY. SO, COMMISSIONER, ONE OF THE THINGS I WANT YOU TO KNOW, WHEN I FIRST GOT ON THIS HOUSTON STREET TIRZ, SEVEN, EIGHT, ALMOST NINE YEARS AGO NOW, ACTUALLY, WE HAD BASICALLY EARMARKED EVERY DIME OF IT TO, I THINK, THE WESTERN URBAN PIECE AND SOME OTHER THINGS. SO BECAUSE OF THE INVESTMENTS THAT HAVE BEEN MADE IN THIS AREA OF DOWNTOWN, THE REVENUE, AND SO WE WERE ACTUALLY WERE KIND OF PROGRAMED OUT LIKE THERE WAS NO SURPLUS REVENUE, BUT BECAUSE OF THE DEVELOPMENT DOWNTOWN, WE NOW HAVE SOME SURPLUS REVENUE.

SO MOST OF THE PROJECTS THAT HAVE BEEN THE CORE PROJECTS THAT KIND OF KICKED IT OFF ARE ACTUALLY SERVED BY THE TIRZ ALREADY, AND SO THERE IS A BIT OF CAPACITY OPEN FOR OTHER THINGS THAT WOULD HELP CREATE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT WITHIN THE HOUSTON STREET TIRZ.

SO I JUST WANT TO KIND OF GIVE YOU THAT TRAJECTORY.

THE MORE PEOPLE AND WE'VE SEEN THIS IN OTHER TIRZ, THE MORE WE INVEST IN THE BUSINESSES, IN THE TIRZ ZONES, THE HIGHER THE TAX REVENUE BECOMES FOR THE COUNTY AND THE CITY, AND SO WE ACTUALLY USUALLY BLOW THROUGH OUR PROJECTIONS.

YEAH.

KNOWING THERE'S LIMITED OPTIONS FOR THESE TIRZ FUNDS AND OBVIOUSLY NOT SITTING ON THE BOARD. I'M GOING TO DEFER TO THE BOARD ON THIS, BUT OBVIOUSLY WANT TO CONTINUE TO MAKE SURE WHERE WE CAN WE INVEST THESE DOLLARS IN INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS, BUT APPRECIATE YOUR YOUR ANSWERS. THANK YOU.

ABSOLUTELY. ALL RIGHT.

[02:40:01]

SECOND BY COMMISSIONER CLAY-FLORES.

OH, COMMISSIONER CLAY-FLORES MADE A MOTION.

SECOND BY COMMISSIONER CALVERT.

ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE.

AYE. ALL THOSE OPPOSED, ALL THOSE ABSTENTION.

LET ME CLOSE WITH THIS.

LET ME THANK ANDY FOR YOUR LONG TIME PUBLIC SERVICE.

YOU AND I GO BACK TO WHAT CHILDREN'S COURT WITH TRACY WOLFE WHEN WE CREATED THAT BACK IN 2003.

SO DON'T WANT TO DATE US, BUT YOU AND I HAVE BEEN AROUND A LONG TIME.

ALL RIGHT. SO LET ME THANK YOU ALL FOR WHAT YOU WORK TO DO, CONTINUE TO IMPROVE AND BEAUTIFY OUR DOWNTOWN AREA.

OKAY. SO WE HAVE GONE OUT OF ORDER.

LET'S GET BACK TO THE REGULAR ORDER, WHICH IS WE DO THE MINUTES.

WE DID THE MINUTES. YEAH, WE DID THE MINUTES.

RIGHT. DID WE DO THE MINUTES? DID WE APPROVE THE MINUTES? WE DID APPROVE. OKAY.

ALL RIGHT. THEN WE GO TO CITIZENS TO BE HEARD.

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

WE'RE ALMOST COMING UP ON THE NOON HOUR, SO THANK YOU FOR ALL THOSE THAT HAVE STAYED TO MAKE THEIR VOICES BE HEARD.

THE FIRST, WELL, LET ME JUST CLARIFY, I DON'T KNOW IF MISS LUCY IS STILL AROUND, BUT SHE ASKED, BUT I THINK SHE JUST ASKED TO SPEAK ON THAT SPECIFIC AGENDA ITEM.

SO DID [INAUDIBLE] MARTINEZ, AND THEN MISS BAKER AND MISS JEFFRIES HAVE ALSO SPOKEN.

SO THE FIRST UP WILL BE VALERIE [INAUDIBLE].

MISS [INAUDIBLE].

GOOD MORNING. YOU HAVE THREE MINUTES.

HELLO AGAIN, JUDGE AND COMMISSIONERS, I'M VALERIE [INAUDIBLE].

I'M SORRY TO HAVE MISSED THE LAST MEETING AS I WAS WORKING AS AN ELECTION CLERK FOR THE LAST ELECTION.

SO I DO VOTER REGISTRATION AND THEN I ALSO WORK THE ELECTIONS, AND THAT MEANS I AM REGULARLY AT OUR ELECTIONS DEPARTMENT, AND THE THINGS I AM UP HERE SAYING ARE COMING FROM EXPERIENCES, FROM DOING THE WORK, AND I'M TELLING YOU ABOUT THE BARRIERS THAT ARE KEEPING YOUR CONSTITUENTS FROM GETTING REGISTERED TO VOTE AND VOTING, AND I THINK THIS SHOULD BE A GREAT CONCERN TO THE COMMISSIONERS, AS YOU ALL RELY ON AND THE JUDGE, YOU ALL RELY ON VOTES TO GET YOUR JOBS AND TO KEEP YOUR JOBS.

SO I THINK THAT THIS ANOTHER REASON WHY THIS SHOULD BE AN AGENDA ITEM, BECAUSE IT DIRECTLY AFFECTS YOU ALL'S LIVELIHOODS AND CAREERS.

LAST TIME I WAS HERE, I TOLD YOU HOW THE BEXAR COUNTY, HOW BEXAR COUNTY HAS SOME OF THE MOST HARSH PUNISHMENTS IN THE STATE FOR VDRS.

SINCE 2021, THERE HAS BEEN OVER A 22% DECREASE IN VOLUNTEER DEPUTY REGISTRARS IN BEXAR COUNTY, AND I WOULD LOVE TO GIVE YOU ALL SOME NUMBERS.

RIGHT, SO TRAVIS COUNTY, IN 2021 AND 2022, THEY HAD 4166 VOTERS.

TRAVIS COUNTY CURRENTLY HAS 1495 VOLUNTEER DEPUTY REGISTRARS.

DALLAS COUNTY IN 2021 TO 2022, THEY HAD 3118 VOTERS.

CURRENTLY, THEY HAVE 1300.

CURRENTLY IN BEXAR COUNTY.

WE HAVE 560 VOTERS FOR OUR ENTIRE COUNTY, AND WHAT WE ALSO HAVE IS A LADY IN THE OFFICE WHO HAS COINED HERSELF AS THE TERMINATOR, WHO COMES OUT TO FIRE VOTERS FROM THEIR TERMS, AND THAT SHOWS IN OUR NUMBERS OF HAVING 560 VOTERS FOR OUR POPULATIONS AND OTHER COUNTIES HAVE THOUSANDS.

TRAVIS COUNTY ALSO HAS ELECTED TO HAVE MADE VOTER REGISTRATION AND VOTER PARTICIPATION A PRIORITY, AND I BELIEVE THAT THESE NUMBERS SHOW AND TELL THAT WE NEED AN ELECTIONS DEPARTMENT THAT IS EDUCATING THE COMMUNITY ON VOTER REGISTRATION AND VOTER PARTICIPATION, AND WHO UP HERE DOES NOT WANT HIGHER VOTER PARTICIPATION, ESPECIALLY HERE IN BEXAR COUNTY.

I KNOW THE ELECTIONS DEPARTMENT GETS A LOT OF HEAT FROM RIGHT WING EXTREMISTS MAKING UP ISSUES, BUT THIS ISN'T THE CASE.

I AM BRINGING YOU ALL REAL EXPERIENCES AND REAL NUMBERS TO GO WITH IT.

AGAIN. I ASK, HAVE YOU ALL PUT OUT A JOB DESCRIPTION YET? IT'S PAST TIME TO BEGIN THE SEARCH FOR OUR NEW ELECTIONS ADMINISTRATOR, WHO IS GOING TO FOCUS ON CUSTOMER SERVICE AND THE CONSTITUENTS OF BEXAR COUNTY.

WE NEED AN ELECTIONS DEPARTMENT THAT WE CAN TRUST TO GET PEOPLE REGISTERED TO VOTE.

WHEN I WENT TO GO CHANGE MY ADDRESS AT THE ELECTIONS DEPARTMENT, I WAS SENT AWAY WITH A MAIL IN VOTER REGISTRATION FORM.

JUDGE, THE TIME HAS EXPIRED.

ALL RIGHT, GO AHEAD AND WRAP IT UP.

THANK YOU. I WAS SENT AWAY WHEN I WENT TO THE ELECTIONS DEPARTMENT TO CHANGE MY ADDRESS. THIS IS MAKING ME LOSE TRUST THAT OUR ELECTIONS DEPARTMENT IS DOING THEIR JOB.

WE DESERVE BETTER, AND, JUDGE SAKAI, I'M ASKING YOU TO PLEASE CALL THE MEETING AND GET

[02:45:05]

THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MATTHEW MONTES.

MATTHEW MONTES.

OH, THERE YOU ARE. GOOD MORNING.

MY NAME IS MATTHEW MONTES.

MY FIRST TIME SPEAKING IN FRONT OF THE COMMISSIONER COURT.

I CAME HERE BEFORE WITH A FREE TEXAS, AND I'M REPRESENTING JOLT INITIATIVE AS WELL.

LET ME START OUT LIKE THIS.

MY NAME IS MATTHEW MONTES.

I'M A FRONTLINE ADVOCATE SCHOLAR, AND I'M A [INAUDIBLE] VDR WITH JOLT INITIATIVE, AND I'VE BEEN IN THE PRISON MINISTRY SHOULDER TO SHOULDER WITH GOOD HEARTED PEOPLE THAT SHOULD BE GIVEN THE OPPORTUNITY TO VOTE IF THEY'RE EDUCATED ON CHANGE AND WANT CHANGE FOR THEIR COMMUNITY. I ALSO TABLED COLLEGE CAMPUSES WHERE WE GET COLLEGE STUDENTS EMPOWERED, READY, INFORMED, AND EDUCATED FOR VOTING AND BUILD GOOD AND BAD RESPONSES ABOUT ABOUT VOTING AND EVEN ASK THEM FOR THEIR OPINIONS ABOUT VOTING.

WHY THEY DO AND WHY THEY DON'T WANT TO VOTE.

MOST OF THE INDIVIDUALS ARE NOT EDUCATED ABOUT THE POWER OF THEIR VOICE TO CHANGE THE COMMUNITY. I BRING I BRING UP A CONVERSATION BECAUSE I UNDERSTAND THE PERSON AND THE MAN SAID TO ME I'M TOO BUSY TO KNOW WHO TO VOTE FOR AND TO EVEN VOTE, BECAUSE I'M WORKING 24/7 AND I BRING UP THIS CONVERSATION BECAUSE I HAD THIS.

I RESONATED WITH HIM BECAUSE I'M WORKING THREE JOBS TO MAINTAIN MY GENERATION, TO MAINTAIN MY FUTURE FOR MY CHILDREN.

I HAVE A BABY ON THE WAY.

JUST TO MAINTAIN MY LIVING, YOU KNOW? SO I HAD TO WAKE UP TODAY LIKE I'M IN MOTION EVERY DAY.

I'M NOT. I DON'T HAVE TIME TO BE WORRIED ABOUT WHO I'M GOING TO VOTE FOR AND ALL THAT STUFF, BUT I'M CONCERNED AS WELL, THOUGH, EVEN THOUGH LIKE, I'M BUSY ALL THE TIME, I'M STILL CONCERNED. SO I'LL FINISH OFF WITH THIS.

THE SEED THAT I'M TRYING TO PLANT HERE IS THE OPPORTUNITY THAT TO GIVE THE PEOPLE WITH ALL THE TIME AND THE JUSTICE SYSTEM AND THE PRISON SYSTEM THAT HAVE EXPERIENCED THE COMMUNITY A CHANCE TO CHANGE THINGS IN THEIR COMMUNITY WHILE IN THE FREE WORLD, A BENEFICIAL, A BENEFICIAL AND IN THE FREE WORLD, A COMMUNITY OF MORE INTERACTIVE, INFORMATIVE, EDUCATED CURRICULUM ABOUT VOTING BENEFICIAL AND FREE FOR THE PEOPLE, FOR THE YOUTH AND ADULTS AND THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK.

I HOPE WE HAVE. WE CAN CHANGE THE SYSTEM FOR THE BETTERMENT FOR OUR PEOPLE AND OUR COMMUNITY, AND GOD BLESS SAN ANTONIO.

THANK YOU, MR. MONTES.

THANK YOU, ROBERT LAWRENCE.

I THINK IT'S LAWRENCE.

DID I GET THAT LAST NAME? YES, SIR. OH, GOOD.

YES, SIR. DID YOU ALL GET SOME PAPERWORK THAT THEY WERE SUPPOSED TO GIVE YOU ALL? YES. OKAY.

IT'S GETTING HANDED OUT.

YOUR THREE MINUTES OF RUNNING, SO PERFECT.

GO AHEAD. GOOD MORNING YOU ALL.

WHAT YOU ALL HAVE THERE HONESTLY, IS VOTER REGISTRATION FIGURES.

YOU ALL HAVE THOSE ARTICLES THAT I GAVE YOU ALL, AND VOTER TURNOUT ACCORDING TO THOSE ARTICLES IS STILL DOWN.

JACKIE CALLAHAN IS ACTUALLY EVEN QUOTED AS WE CAN'T FIGURE OUT WHY VOTER TURNOUT IS SO DOWN. SO LET ME BREAK IT DOWN FOR YOU ALL.

I'M SOMEONE WHO HAS BEEN REGISTERING PEOPLE TO VOTE SINCE 2019.

THIS HAS LED ME TO REALIZE THAT A LOT OF PEOPLE, ESPECIALLY YOUNG PEOPLE.

DON'T EVER THINK ABOUT LOCAL OR STATE ELECTIONS AND ONLY THINK ABOUT ELECTIONS WHEN IT'S THE PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION.

THIS MEANS THERE IS NOT ENOUGH VOTER EDUCATION BEING DONE.

WHY ISN'T THE COUNTY ELECTIONS DEPARTMENT REGISTERING PEOPLE TO VOTE AT COMMUNITY EVENTS AND HIGH TRAFFIC AREAS JUST LIKE ME? ALSO, A COMMON QUESTION IS WHERE TO FIND NON-PARTIZAN VOTING INFORMATION AT A LOCAL AND STATE ELECTIONS.

CURRENTLY, THE BEST IS PROBABLY VOTEFORONE.ORG BY THE LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS.

VOTEFORONE.ORG OFFERS VOTERS CANDIDATE QUESTIONNAIRES AND FOR AND AGAINST ARGUMENTS ON EACH ISSUE.

WHY CAN'T THE COUNTY DO SOMETHING SIMILAR? SO WHY IS VOTER TURNOUT RATE SO LOW IN BEXAR COUNTY? LACK OF VOTER EDUCATION AND VOTER INFORMATION.

ALSO, AS I FINISH MY THOUGHTS, I JUST GOT INSPIRED BY THE QUOTE FROM KENNEDY THAT KEITH WILSON FROM VETERANS AFFAIRS SHARED ON HIS SLIDE.

SO I'D LIKE TO SHARE IT WITH YOU ALL.

AS WE EXPRESS OUR GRATITUDE, WE MUST NEVER FORGET THAT THE HIGHEST APPRECIATION IS NOT TO UTTER WORDS, BUT TO LIVE BY THEM.

JOHN F KENNEDY.

PLEASE CONTEMPLATE.

WE TRULY LIVE BY THESE WORDS FOR THE MANY VOTERS AND THE NONVOTERS IN OUR CIVILIZATION.

[02:50:05]

BELLA NIETO.

HI, GOOD MORNING.

MY NAME IS BELLA NIETO.

I'M THE REGIONAL PROGRAM COORDINATOR FOR TEXAS RISING IN THE SAN ANTONIO AND SAN MARCOS REGION, AND I'M ALSO A STUDENT AT UTSA.

I'M HERE TODAY TO URGE THE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS COURT TO BEGIN PROCEEDINGS TO TERMINATE AND REPLACE THE CURRENT BEXAR COUNTY ELECTIONS ADMINISTRATOR, JACQUE CALLANAN, BY THE END OF DECEMBER, AND TO INCLUDE CITIZEN INPUT IN THE SEARCH FOR A NEW ELECTIONS ADMINISTRATOR.

THE BEDROCK OF VOTING RIGHTS IN BURKE COUNTY IS GETTING A NEW EA AND FROM WHAT OTHER TESTIMONIES HAVE ALREADY SHARED, WE'RE FALLING BEHIND IN TERMS OF VOTER TURNOUT AND IN TERMS OF MORE VOTERS SIGNING UP TO DO VOTER REGISTRATION, VOTER REGISTRATION AND VOTER EDUCATION, AND IN MY WORK, WE REGISTER STUDENTS ON COLLEGE CAMPUSES, AND IT'S REALLY HARD TO COMMUNICATE TO THEM WHY VOTING IS SO IMPORTANT. WHEN OFFICIALS WHO ARE SUPPOSED TO MAKE VOTING MORE ACCESSIBLE AND EASIER ARE NOT DOING THAT. SO THAT'S THE MAIN REASON WHY I THINK WE SHOULD FIND A NEW ELECTIONS ADMINISTRATOR, AND I HOPE THAT THE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS COURT SPEARHEADS THAT, AND I THINK BY ALLOWING HER TO CONTINUE IN HER POSITION, WE ARE INADVERTENTLY ENDORSING VOTER SUPPRESSION IN OUR DISTRICTS.

SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.

THANK YOU, FAITH VASQUEZ.

HELLO. GOOD MORNING.

THERE YOU GO. THERE WE GO.

OKAY. GOOD MORNING.

HI. MY NAME IS FAITH VASQUEZ, AND I'M A FIELD ORGANIZER HERE AT WORKING WITH JOEL, AND I'VE BEEN REGISTERING VOTERS IN THE SAN ANTONIO COMMUNITY.

MY TENURE AS A VDR FOR BEXAR COUNTY HAS BEEN SPANNING OVER A YEAR, AND HAS REVEALED INCREASINGLY OBSTRUCTIVE PRACTICES INITIATED BY THE CURRENT ELECTIONS ADMINISTRATION.

THESE OBSTACLES HAVE IMPEDED THE ESSENTIAL GROUNDWORK NEEDED TO AUGMENT THESE VOTER REGISTRATION NUMBERS WITHIN OUR COMMUNITY.

MY RECENT EXPERIENCE THAT NECESSITATING RECIPROCITY REINSTATEMENT HAVE BEEN EXCEPTIONALLY BURDENSOME.

THIS STRESSFUL PROCESS REQUIRED ME TO TRAVEL NEARLY AN HOUR TO ATASCOSA COUNTY'S ELECTIONS DEPARTMENT FOR DEPUTIZING, FOLLOWED BY A RETURN JOURNEY TO THE BEXAR ELECTIONS OFFICE FOR RE-DEPUTIZING.

WHILE I WAS FORTUNATE TO POSSESS TRANSPORTATION, THIS IMPOSITION SIGNIFICANTLY DISADVANTAGES OTHERS WHO LACK SIMILAR MEANS, EFFECTIVELY OBSTRUCTING THEIR ABILITY TO REINSTATE THEIR ROLES AS VOTERS.

NOTABLY, THIS CHALLENGE COULD BE READILY RESOLVED BY INSTITUTING AN ONLINE VOLUNTEER, DEPUTY REGISTRAR AND RECIPROCITY APPLICATION SIMILAR TO THE SYSTEM IN PLACE IN TRAVIS COUNTY. SUCH AN ONLINE PLATFORM WOULD EXPEDITE THE PROCESSING OF VOTER REGISTRATION APPLICATIONS AND FACILITATE GREATER PARTICIPATION BY LIMITING GEOGRAPHICAL BARRIERS. IT IS IMPERATIVE THAT OUR ELECTIONS DEPARTMENT PRIORITIZE THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A ROBUST VOTER REGISTRATION FRAMEWORK TO BOLSTER HIGHER ELECTION TURNOUTS. THIS INVOLVES EQUIPPING ALL VOTERS WITHIN BEXAR COUNTY WITH ACCESSIBLE RESOURCES AND REMOVING UNNECESSARY IMPEDIMENTS FROM THEIR PATH.

AS OF NOW, THE EXISTING SYSTEM IS INADVERTENTLY UNDERMINING OUR COLLECTIVE EFFORTS TO ENGAGE THE COMMUNITY AND ELEVATE THOSE VOTER REGISTRATION RATES TO EFFECT POSITIVE CHANGE, IT IS ESSENTIAL TO ADVOCATE FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION OF A MORE STREAMLINED AND USER FRIENDLY PROCESS BY ELEVATING THE ACCESSIBILITY AND EASE OF THE SYSTEM.

WE WILL NOT ONLY EMPOWER INDIVIDUAL VOLUNTEERS, BUT ALSO ENHANCE OVERALL COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT IN THE ELECTORAL PROCESS.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU, TAYLOR TREVINO.

GOOD MORNING. GOOD MORNING.

HI, MY NAME IS TAYLOR TREVINO.

I'M THE VOTING RIGHTS OUTREACH COORDINATOR AT THE TEXAS CIVIL RIGHTS PROJECT, AND I'M HERE AGAIN TO URGE JUDGE SAKAI TO CALL A MEETING OF THE ELECTION COMMISSION AS SOON AS POSSIBLE AND TO URGE ALL COUNTY OFFICIALS TO BEGIN THE PROCESS TO REPLACE ELECTIONS ADMINISTRATOR JACQUE CALLANAN BY THE MARCH PRESIDENTIAL PRIMARY.

[02:55:01]

FIRST, I WANT TO TAKE A MOMENT TO THANK THE COURT, ESPECIALLY COMMISSIONERS RODRIGUEZ AND CALVERT, WHO WERE HERE AT THE TIME FOR PASSING THE SMART ELECTION INITIATIVE BACK IN 2020. THIS INITIATIVE ALLOCATED NEARLY $6 MILLION THAT WOULD HAVE FUNDED VARIOUS PROACTIVE MEASURES THAT MAKE VOTING SAFER AND MORE ACCESSIBLE, AS WELL AS ALLOW FOR THE TRAINING AND HIRING OF MORE POLL WORKERS.

THIS IS EXACTLY THE DIRECTION THAT WE SHOULD BE AND WOULD HAVE BEEN GOING IN, BUT CALLINAN FAILED TO IMPLEMENT THE KEY PROCEDURES THAT WOULD HAVE BENEFITED VOTERS IN INCREASED TURNOUT AS WELL AS STAFFING.

MOST EAS WOULD DREAM OF RECEIVING VIRTUALLY A BLANK CHECK TO IMPROVE THEIR DEPARTMENT AND RUN SMOOTHER ELECTIONS, BUT TO THE DETRIMENT OF BEXAR COUNTY VOTERS.

CALLINAN APPARENTLY ISN'T ONE OF THEM.

IT'S CLEAR THAT HER PRIORITIES ARE NOT IN LINE WITH THOSE OF THIS COURT, OR WITH THOSE OF THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE ELECTED YOU ALL TO REPRESENT THEM.

THERE ARE MANY EXAMPLES OF MISTAKES AND POOR CHOICES THAT CALLANAN HAS MADE IN THE PAST, WHICH I SHARE DOCUMENTATION OF LAST TIME I WAS HERE, BUT THESE ISSUES ARE ONGOING AND SEEM TO HAVE NO END IN SIGHT.

JUST THIS PAST ELECTION, NOT EVEN A MONTH AGO, THE ELECTIONS DEPARTMENT FAILED TO POST THE LIST OF ELECTION DAY POLLING PLACES ON TIME, VIOLATING SECTION 4.003(B) OF THE TEXAS ELECTION CODE, WHICH STATES THAT POLLING PLACES MUST BE POSTED ONLINE AT LEAST 20 DAYS IN ADVANCE OF AN ELECTION.

THIS YEAR, THEY WERE POSTED OVER A WEEK LATE.

THIS MAKES IT HARDER FOR PEOPLE TO PLAN WHEN AND WHERE TO VOTE, AS EVIDENCED BY A CALL THAT OUR ELECTION PROTECTION HOTLINE RECEIVED ON ELECTION DAY.

A VOTER HERE IN BEXAR COUNTY HAD TRIED TO FIND THEIR POLLING PLACE ONLINE AHEAD OF THE ELECTION, BUT ONLY SAW A MESSAGE SAYING NONE INDICATED AND A CHECK BACK CLOSER TO THE ELECTION. THIS IS AT LEAST THE THIRD TIME THIS ELECTIONS DEPARTMENT HAS POSTED POLLING LOCATIONS LATE SINCE 2020, AND CALLANAN HAS BEEN SUED OVER IT TWICE.

BEXAR COUNTY VOTERS DESERVE BETTER, AND WE SHOULDN'T HAVE TO WONDER WHEN OUR EA IS GOING TO RUN AN ELECTION IN WHICH SHE DOESN'T BREAK THE LAW.

SPEAKING OF, I WANT TO HIGHLIGHT AN ISSUE THAT HAS BEEN MENTIONED TODAY THE COUNTY'S 30 DAY SUSPENSION OF VDRS IF AND WHEN THEY MAKE THE SLIGHTEST ERROR WHILE HELPING A VOTER FILL OUT A VOTER REGISTRATION APPLICATION.

AS SOMEONE WHO HAS REGISTERED HUNDREDS OF VOTERS ACROSS NINE DIFFERENT COUNTIES, INCLUDING IN CITIES LIKE AUSTIN, DALLAS AND FORT WORTH, I'VE NEVER HEARD OF ANYTHING LIKE THIS ANYWHERE ELSE IN THE STATE.

BEXAR COUNTY'S REASONS FOR SUSPENDING VOLUNTEERS ARE ISSUES THAT NO OTHER COUNTY SEEMS TO HAVE A PROBLEM WITH.

NOT ONLY DOES IT MAKE IT HARDER TO REGISTER AND TURN OUT VOTERS, BUT I BELIEVE THIS IS ALSO A VIOLATION OF TEXAS ELECTION CODE SECTION 13.032, WHICH PROHIBITS THE REFUSAL TO APPOINT VOTERS UNDER MOST CIRCUMSTANCES.

YOU'D THINK CALLANAN WOULD BE FAMILIAR WITH THE STATUTE SINCE SHE WAS SUED ON IT IN 2020.

WRAPPING UP. THANK YOU. SINCE SHE WAS SUED ON THIS IN 2020 FOR TAKING AWAY PEOPLE'S STATUS WITH NO STATED REASON AND WITHOUT WARNING, AND FOR REFUSING TO APPOINT NEW LEADERS, AND THE BUSIEST TIME FOR VOTER REGISTRATION JUST BEFORE THAT YEAR'S PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION.

IF THE EA ISN'T GOING TO BE PROACTIVE IN REGISTERING VOTERS, THEY AT LEAST SHOULDN'T MAKE IT HARDER FOR THEM TO FILL THAT GAP.

I'M ALMOST DONE, I PROMISE.

WHILE RUNNING ELECTIONS ISN'T EASY AND NO E IS GOING TO DELIVER ON EVERY ACTIVISTS VOTING WISH LIST, CALLANAN HAS A HISTORY OF INTENTIONALLY IMPLEMENTING POLICIES THAT BREAK BASIC LAWS IN BEXAR COUNTY.

VOTERS DESERVE BETTER.

JUST BECAUSE SOMEONE HAS TENURE IN THEIR ROLE DOESN'T MEAN THEY SHOULD GET TO STAY WHEN THEY KEEP FAILING IN THEIR JOB, AND YOU ALL SHOULDN'T BE AFRAID TO STAND UP TO SOMEONE WHO IS LETTING DOWN YOUR CONSTITUENTS.

THEY DESERVE BETTER.

AGAIN, I URGE JUDGE SAKAI TO CALL A MEETING OF THE ELECTION COMMISSION THIS YEAR.

I URGE ALL COUNTY OFFICIALS TO TAKE THE NECESSARY STEPS TO APPOINT A NEW EA BEFORE THE NEXT ELECTION, AND I ENCOURAGE THIS COURT TO STAY TRUE TO ITS VALUES AND TO DEFEND THE RIGHTS OF BEXAR COUNTY RESIDENTS.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU.

CHRISTOPHER. I CAN'T READ YOUR LAST NAME.

CHRISTOPHER. WOULD YOU STATE YOUR NAME? YOUR LAST NAME ESPECIALLY? MY NAME IS CHRISTOPHER. BONITA.

BONITA. YES, SIR.

I THINK I WASN'T EXACTLY SURE WHAT I WOULD WHAT TO SAY, BUT I THINK THAT'S SOMETHING THAT'S ON MY MIND IS THAT, FIRST OF ALL, I'M A VOLUNTEER DEPUTY REGISTRAR WITH THE COUNTY, AND WHEN I REGISTERED VOTERS AND THEN I DELIVER THE APPLICATIONS TO THE ELECTIONS OFFICE, IT'S NOT UNCOMMON TO FOR ME TO FEEL VERY UNCOMFORTABLE WHEN I'M DELIVERING THE APPLICATIONS I'M JUST CONCERNED FOR THAT.

THE APPLICATIONS WILL END UP IN ME HAVING THE VOLUNTEER DEPUTY REGISTRAR CERTIFICATE REVOKED, AND IT'S USUALLY FOR MUNDANE THINGS, IT SEEMS LIKE.

SO ONE THING IS THEY'RE KIND OF ON ME, ACTUALLY.

[03:00:04]

IT'S OUT OF MY CONTROL, I GUESS, BUT REALLY, I THINK THE LARGER ISSUE IS THAT THEY'RE NOT REALLY SUPER CONSISTENT WITH THE VOLUNTEER DEPUTY REGISTRARS, AND SO IT WOULD BE NICE IF WE HAD SOME KIND OF MAYBE A SIMPLE DO AND DON'T CHECKLIST THAT THE COUNTY COULD PROVIDE, OR EVEN SETTING US UP WITH EMAILS TO TELL US WHEN HOLIDAYS ARE.

SO I GUESS THAT'S THE AND I CAN PROVIDE MORE FEEDBACK IF YOU GUYS WOULD LIKE AT A LATER DATE, BUT THAT'S THE SIMPLEST WAY THAT I COULD PUT IT.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU, ANDREA GARCIA-RODRIGUEZ.

DID I GET THE LAST NAME? YES. HI EVERYONE.

MY NAME IS ANDREA GARCIA, AND I'M HERE TO ADDRESS A CRITICAL MATTER THAT PROFOUNDLY IMPACTS OUR COMMUNITIES I SERVE.

I SERVE AS A REGIONAL ORGANIZER AT JOLT, A [INAUDIBLE] CIVIC ENGAGEMENT ORGANIZATION OPERATING IN TEXAS.

OUR PRIMARY FOCUS LIES IN FACILITATING VOTER REGISTRATION WITHIN OUR COMMUNITIES.

SINCE SEPTEMBER 2022, I HAVE BEEN SERVING AS A VOLUNTEER DEPUTY REGISTRAR FOR BEXAR COUNTY, ACTIVELY ASSISTING NUMEROUS RESIDENTS IN REGISTERING TO VOTE.

DESPITE OUR EFFORTS AS ORGANIZERS ACROSS BEXAR COUNTY AND WITHIN VARIOUS ORGANIZATIONS, THERE REMAINS A CLEAR LACK OF ESSENTIAL RESOURCES AND CRUCIAL INFORMATION NECESSARY FOR OUR CONSTITUENTS TO BE WELL INFORMED AND ENGAGED VOTERS.

I'M USUALLY IN THE COMMUNITY AROUND FOUR DAYS A WEEK, SOMETIMES EVEN MORE.

I USUALLY ENCOUNTER COMMENTS SUCH AS, I BELIEVE THE ELECTIONS WERE ONLY FOR THE PRESIDENCY. WHY CAN'T I REGISTER TO VOTE ONLINE? ISN'T THERE A MORE ACCESSIBLE WAY TO REGISTER AND NUMEROUS OTHER QUESTIONS? IT'S EVIDENT THAT OUR COMMUNITIES ARE UNINFORMED ABOUT VITAL ELECTORAL PROCEDURES AND DEADLINES, SOMETHING THAT OUR COUNTY COULD HELP WITH.

REGRETTABLY, THE COUNTY ELECTIONS DEPARTMENT HAS FAILED TO DEMONSTRATE PROACTIVE INITIATIVES IN PROMOTING VOTER REGISTRATION AND EDUCATION WITHIN OUR COMMUNITIES.

IN CONTRAST, OTHER COUNTIES IN TEXAS LIKE TRAVIS COUNTY, WHICH I'M DEPUTIZED THERE TOO, HAVE TAKEN COMMENDABLE STEPS BY INITIATING PROGRAMS SUCH AS VOTER REGISTRATION DRIVES IN HIGH SCHOOLS, FOSTERING COLLABORATIONS AMONG VOLUNTEER DEPUTY REGISTRARS TO REGISTER ELIGIBLE STUDENTS.

UNFORTUNATELY, THE ELECTIONS DEPARTMENT HERE EXHIBITS MINIMAL PRESENCE BEYOND THEIR OFFICE PREMISES ABSENT FROM COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT EFFORTS.

FURTHERMORE, THE CHALLENGES EXTEND TO VOLUNTEER DEPUTY REGISTRARS THEMSELVES.

ARBITRARY RULES ENFORCED AT THE ELECTIONS OFFICE HAVE CREATED PROBLEMS AND CHANGE OUR EXPECTATIONS. FOR EXAMPLE, MY FORMS HAVE BEEN FLAGGED BEFORE BECAUSE THE PERSON AT THE ELECTIONS OFFICE DID NOT LIKE HOW MY SIGNATURE WAS TOO BIG FOR THEIR LIKING, EVEN THOUGH IT WAS INSIDE THE DESIGNATED BOX.

MOREOVER, A LACK OF EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATION BETWEEN THE DEPARTMENT AND VOLUNTEER DEPUTY REGISTRARS HAS LED TO CRITICAL OVERSIGHTS SUCH AS UNANNOUNCED CLOSURE DATES FOR TRAINING, HINDERING THE ACCEPTANCE OF REGISTRATION FORMS. THIS LACK OF INFORMATION JEOPARDIZES OUR ABILITY TO SERVE OUR COMMUNITY EFFECTIVELY.

IT IS DISHEARTENING TO KNOW THAT THE ELECTIONS DEPARTMENT SEEMS DISCONNECTED FROM THE URGENT NEEDS OF OUR COMMUNITIES, AND FAILS TO NURTURE A PRODUCTIVE RELATIONSHIP WITH VOLUNTEER DEPUTY REGISTRARS.

OUR COLLECTIVE EFFORTS SIGNIFICANTLY CONTRIBUTE TO THE VOTER REGISTRATION NUMBERS IN BEXAR COUNTY, HIGHLIGHTING OUR INDISPENSABLE ROLE IN THE ELECTORAL PROCESS.

I IMPLORE YOU TO PRIORITIZE COMPREHENSIVE VOTER EDUCATION AND ACTIVELY ENGAGE WITH THE COMMUNITY AND VOLUNTEER WITH VDRS.

OUR SHARED COMMITMENT TO FOSTERING AN INFORMED ELECTORATE DEMANDS COLLABORATIVE ACTION AND PROACTIVE MEASURES TO ENSURE THAT EVERY ELIGIBLE INDIVIDUAL IN BEXAR COUNTY EXERCISES THEIR RIGHT TO VOTE.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU, LAUREN DAVIS.

LAUREN DAVIS.

MY NAME IS LAUREN DAVIS AND I'VE BEEN A VOLUNTEER DEPUTY REGISTRAR, ALSO KNOWN AS VDR, ACTIVELY REGISTERING PEOPLE IN BEXAR COUNTY TO VOTE.

SINCE 2018.

I'VE WORKED WITH MULTIPLE VOTER ADVOCACY GROUPS OVER THE PAST FIVE YEARS, INCLUDING SAN ANTONIO VOTER ADVOCATES, SAVA, THE LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS, AND NOW WITH RADICAL REGISTRARS. I'VE COME HERE TO TESTIFY REGARDING A NEW RULE PUT IN PLACE RECENTLY BY THE BEXAR COUNTY ELECTIONS OFFICE.

THIS NEW RULE STATES THAT A VDR CAN BE FIRED, LOSE THEIR VDR CERTIFICATION ON THE SPOT. IF ONE PART OF ONE OF THE VOTER REGISTRATION FORMS IS FILLED OUT INCORRECTLY.

OTHER TEXAS COUNTIES DON'T HAVE THIS RULE.

THIS NEW RULE IS NEGATIVELY AFFECTING AND DEMOTIVATING VDRS.

UNDER THIS RULE, HALF THE TEAM OF RADICAL REGISTRARS HAVE BEEN FIRED, AND OVER HALF THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE BECOME VDRS AT SAVA HAVE BEEN FIRED.

THE MAJORITY OF MY SAVA GROUP HAS CHOSEN NOT TO BECOME VDRS AGAIN THIS YEAR, FOR FEAR OF NOT CATCHING A MISTAKE ON A VOTER REGISTRATION FORM AND GETTING FIRED.

[03:05:02]

THE FEW, THE BRAVE FEW OF THE SAVA GROUP WHO HAVE BECOME VDRS AND HAVE GOTTEN FIRED THIS YEAR HAVE FAILED TO RENEW THEIR CERTIFICATION FOR FEAR OF GETTING FIRED AGAIN. I AM THE ONLY PERSON IN MY SAVA GROUP WHO HAS RENEWED THEIR CERTIFICATION AFTER GETTING FIRED.

WITH THIS NEW RULE, WHEN I GO TO THE ELECTIONS OFFICE TO TURN IN MY VOTER REGISTRATION FORMS, SOMEONE TAKES THEM AND BRINGS THEM INTO A BACK ROOM TO CHECK THEM FOR ERRORS. THEY COME BACK WITH...

THEN THEY COME BACK AND I EITHER GET AN OKAY, YOU CAN KEEP YOUR JOB TODAY OR YOU'RE FIRED. THE WAITING PERIOD WHILE THEY CHECK THE FORMS, KNOWING I CAN LOSE MY JOB IN THE COMING MOMENTS IS ANXIETY PRODUCING, TO SAY THE LEAST.

THIS IS NOT NORMAL OR HEALTHY IN THE WORKPLACE.

I ALSO WORK AS A GEOLOGIST, AND I'VE MADE MY FAIR SHARE OF MISTAKES AT THAT JOB, AND I'VE NEVER FEARED LOSING MY JOB OVER THEM.

WITH THIS RULE, THE MORE VOTERS I REGISTER, THE MORE LIKELY I GET FIRED.

THE THIS RULE IS EMOTIONALLY UNSETTLING, UNSETTLING, AND INEFFICIENT.

IT CAUSES A REDUCTION IN VDRS, WHICH LEADS TO FEWER VOTERS REGISTERED.

IF YOU CARE ABOUT OUR DEMOCRACY, I'M REQUESTING THAT WE GET RID OF THIS RULE AND HOLD JACQUE CALLANAN RESPONSIBLE FOR MAKING IT.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU.

STEVE HUERTA.

GOOD MORNING, GENTLEMEN.

MY NAME IS STEVEN HUERTA. I'M THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE NATIONAL ORGANIZATION [INAUDIBLE] TEXAS.

I'M HERE TO TALK TO YOU ABOUT VOTING FOR PEOPLE, NOT OFFENDERS OR FORMERLY FORMERLY INCARCERATED PEOPLE, HUMAN LANGUAGE, HUMAN PEOPLE, CENTERED FIRST, ALL OF US IS KNOWN THROUGHOUT THE UNITED STATES AND THE WORLD AS HAVING THE LARGEST VOTER TURNOUT OF FORMERLY INCARCERATED PEOPLE IN THE COUNTRY AND ACTUALLY THROUGHOUT THE WORLD, WE'RE WORKING WITH DIFFERENT NATIONS ON IT.

THERE'S OVER 250,000 JUSTICE IMPACTED VOTERS IN OUR SYSTEM.

COMMISSIONER MOODY.

COUNTY JUDGE COMMISSIONERS.

EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU HAVE HAD OUR DATABASE PEOPLE WITH FELONY RECORDS AND MISDEMEANORS WHO VOTED FOR YOU.

IT IS NOT A MATTER OF COLOR RED OR BLUE.

THE JUSTICE SYSTEM HAS IMPACTED OUR COMMUNITY AND OUR COUNTRY AS ONE.

SO THERE'S AN EQUAL NUMBER OF REPUBLICAN AND DEMOCRATIC VOTERS THAT ARE JUSTICE IMPACTED.

SO I'M NOT HERE TO ARGUE FOR EITHER PARTY.

I'M HERE TO LET YOU KNOW THAT YOU'RE EQUALLY IMPACTED WHEN OUR POPULATION, ONE OF THE FASTEST GROWING VOTER TURNOUT, REPLACING THE OUTGOING AGING POPULATION, WHEN WE ARE DISENFRANCHISED, YOU LOSE POLITICAL POWER AND POLITICAL STABILITY.

IF IT WASN'T FOR OUR VOTES, YOU WOULDN'T BE SITTING WHERE YOU WERE AT.

THAT'S REALLY IMPORTANT FOR YOU TO UNDERSTAND, BECAUSE THAT'S THE ESSENCE OF THE AMERICAN DEMOCRACY.

I HAD THE UNFORTUNATE PRIVILEGE IN THE LAST ELECTION OF HAVING MY RIGHT TO VOTE DENIED BY OUR ELECTION ADMINISTRATOR, WHO KNOWS WHO I AM, BECAUSE I RAN FOR OFFICE, AND YET SHE SENT ME A LETTER TELLING ME THAT I COULD NOT VOTE UNLESS I PROVED THAT I HAD THE RIGHT TO VOTE. I HAD TO CONTACT THE TEXAS CIVIL RIGHTS ORGANIZATION, THE TEXAS CIVIL RIGHTS ORGANIZATION WHO CAME DOWN HERE, ALONG WITH THE STATE OF TEXAS, TO ARGUE WITH HER FOR ABOUT THREE HOURS.

IT WASN'T UNTIL THEY THREATENED TO FINE THE COUNTY FOR EACH AND EVERY PERSON THAT RECEIVED THAT LETTER, IN VIOLATION OF STATE LAW, THAT SHE DECIDED TO SAY, OKAY, I'M GOING TO LET YOU VOTE.

OUR LAWYERS ARE LOOKING INTO A POSSIBLE FEDERAL CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT FOR EVERY ONE OF THOSE VOTERS THAT WERE DENIED VOTING RIGHTS IN THIS COUNTY.

ARE WE GOING TO GO DOWN THAT ROUTE? WE'RE NOT CERTAIN. SOMETIMES THAT'S NOT THE WAY TO GO.

I THINK IT'S MORE IMPORTANT THAT YOU KNOW THAT.

WE'RE ASKING YOU TO START ASKING QUESTIONS.

JUDGE, I'VE KNOWN YOU FOR A LONG TIME.

I DID A LOT OF PARENTING IN YOUR COURT, AND I HIGHLY RESPECTED, AND YOU RESPECTED MY WORK. ALL I ASK, SIR, IS THAT YOU, COMMISSIONER MOODY.

YOU AS WELL, SIR, BECAUSE YOU GOT A LOT OF FORMERLY INCARCERATED REPUBLICAN VOTERS IN YOUR DISTRICT WHO VOTED FOR YOU.

THEY DESERVE THE RIGHT TO HAVE YOU ALSO ASK QUESTIONS.

ARE YOU DENYING MY VOTERS ILLEGALLY THE CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHT TO VOTE BASED ON A POLICY THAT IS NOT ANYWHERE IN STATE LAW? IT'S A DOCUMENTED FACT.

CHECK IT OUT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU.

DEBORAH STEVENS.

[03:10:09]

GOOD MORNING. I APPEAR BEFORE YOU TODAY TO ASK THAT YOU DO NOT RENEW THE PROFESSIONAL SERVICES AGREEMENT WITH QUALITY FORENSIC TOXICOLOGY FOR BREATHALYZER SERVICES AND BLOOD TESTING SERVICES. THESE SERVICES SHOULD BE SPLIT INTO TWO UNIQUE AGREEMENTS, AS IT HAS BEEN FOR OVER 50 YEARS.

AS A MEANS OF INTRODUCTION, I WILL SHARE WITH YOU THAT MY NAME IS DEBORAH STEVENS AND I HAVE A 30 YEAR CAREER AS A FORENSIC SCIENTIST IN THE TEN STATE SOUTHWESTERN REGION OF THIS COUNTRY.

I AM HONORED TO HAVE BEEN SELECTED AS ONE OF ONLY 42 FORENSIC SCIENTISTS RECOGNIZED FOR THE OUTSTANDING CONTRIBUTIONS I HAVE MADE TO OUR PROFESSIONAL SERVICE COMMUNITY OVER 40 YEARS. A MAN WHO NEEDS NO INTRODUCTIONS IS GEORGE SANTOS, THE NEW YORK CONGRESSMAN WHO WAS ELECTED TO CONGRESS WITH A FALSE RESUME.

THIS IS VERY SIMILAR TO QUALITY FORENSIC TOXICOLOGY.

WHEN THEY WERE FORMED IN 2018.

THEY HAD NO CREDENTIALS IN THE FORENSIC SCIENCE COMMUNITY AND SPECIFICALLY IN THE BREATH TESTING DISCIPLINE.

THIS COMPANY HAS SUBSEQUENTLY BEEN SOLD TO ANOTHER ADMINISTRATOR WITH ZERO FORENSIC SCIENCE CREDENTIALS.

NOW THEY HAVE EVEN LESS BREATH TESTING EXPERIENCE.

WHEN THIS COMMISSION DECIDED TO SIGN A PROFESSIONAL SERVICES AGREEMENT WITH QFT, I WARNED YOU THAT THEY WERE NOT AUTHORIZED TO PERFORM THE BREATH ALCOHOL TESTING SERVICES AS OUTLINED IN THE AGREEMENT.

THE STATE OF TEXAS HAS ALREADY ASSIGNED THOSE RESPONSIBILITIES TO ME AND MY COMPANY, ALAMO FORENSIC SERVICES.

FOR SIX LONG YEARS, I HAVE BEEN PERFORMING THESE CALIBRATION AND REPAIR SERVICES WITHOUT COMPENSATION FOR MY WORK WITH LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES, RESPONDING TO NUMEROUS COURT SUBPOENAS, TRAINING POLICE OFFICERS ALL COVERED IN THIS AGREEMENT.

EVERY MONTH I SUBMIT AN INVOICE TO THE AUDITOR'S OFFICE OUTLINING MY SERVICES WITHOUT PAYMENT.

QFT IS NOW ATTEMPTING TO EXTORT ADDITIONAL FUNDS FROM LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES TO PAY FOR SERVICES ALREADY COVERED UNDER THE AGREEMENT THEY SIGNED WITH YOU, AND SERVICES WHICH I AM PROVIDING.

EACH OF THESE AGENCIES IS IN SUPPORT OF MY CONTINUED SERVICES AND DID NOT FALL FOR THIS RUSE. PLEASE TAKE ACTION TODAY AND AGREE TO REVIEW THIS AGREEMENT AND COMPENSATE ALAMO FORENSIC SERVICES FOR THE WORK WE HAVE PERFORMED OVER THE LAST SIX YEARS.

PLEASE DON'T MAKE IT SEVEN.

I WILL NOT QUIT UNTIL THIS ISSUE HAS BEEN RESOLVED.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION.

IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, PLEASE FEEL FREE TO CONTACT ME.

I KNOW YOU, I SET A MEETING WITH YOU JUDGE AND YOU DID NOT FOLLOW THROUGH.

I WOULD I WOULD LOVE TO SIT DOWN AND TALK WITH YOU ABOUT THIS.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU, VINCENT FERRIS.

GOOD AFTERNOON, JUDGE, COMMISSIONERS, COUNTY STAFF.

VINCENT FERRIS I'M THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER OF MEALS ON WHEELS, SAN ANTONIO, AND I'M HERE TODAY TO SAY THANK YOU BECAUSE OF YOUR SUPPORT FOR ITEM NUMBER 49 ON THE CONSENT AGENDA OF $83,818 IN FUNDING FOR MEALS ON WHEELS, SAN ANTONIO.

I SAY THANK YOU TO ALL OF YOU HERE FOR THAT, BECAUSE THAT ENABLES MEALS ON WHEELS TO MAKE APPLICATION TO THE TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE FOR THE TEXANS FEEDING TEXANS HOME DELIVERED MEAL GRANT PROGRAM.

THIS YEAR, WE'RE ANTICIPATING 750,000 TO $800,000 TO COME BACK TO BEXAR COUNTY TO EXPAND ENHANCE HOME DELIVERED MEAL SERVICES TO THOSE IN NEED.

SINCE 2008, WE'RE RIGHT AT 15 YEARS AGO, WHEN THIS GRANT PROGRAM WAS FORMED BY THE STATE LEGISLATURE, BEXAR COUNTY HAS CONTRIBUTED ROUGHLY $975,000 TO MEALS ON WHEELS.

IN RETURN.

STATE GENERAL REVENUE DOLLARS.

COMING BACK TO MEALS ON WHEELS HAS BEEN IN EXCESS OF $13.5 MILLION TO HELP MAKE BEXAR COUNTY A BETTER PLACE FOR NEEDY OLDER ADULTS BY HELPING THEM STAY IN THEIR OWN HOMES.

A GREAT RETURN ON YOUR INVESTMENT.

THAT'S WHY I'M SAYING THANK YOU.

TODAY IS ALSO GIVING TUESDAY.

A LOT OF PEOPLE THINK GIVING TUESDAY IS ABOUT RAISING MONEY.

YES, IT IS, BUT IT'S MORE THAN THAT.

GIVING TUESDAY IS A DAY OF GIVING THANKS.

IT'S A DAY OF DOING GOOD.

THIS IS ABOUT PUBLIC SUPPORT.

THIS IS ABOUT VOLUNTEERISM.

THIS IS ABOUT PHILANTHROPY.

SO I'M HERE TODAY TO SAY THANK YOU.

[03:15:03]

THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE TO THE CITIZENS OF OUR COUNTY, AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT OF ITEM 49 ON THE AGENDA TODAY.

APPRECIATE YOU. THANK YOU, MR. FERRIS. [INAUDIBLE] THAT WAS PRETTY GOOD JUDGE FOR MY NAME.

THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU.

I'M HERE TO DISCUSS OR TO MAKE COMMENTS ON AGENDA NUMBER 55.

MY NAME IS MELINA ESPIRITU-AZUCAR.

I'M HERE TODAY REPRESENTING NORTHSIDE AMERICAN FEDERATION OF TEACHERS.

WE'RE THE LOCAL UNION REPRESENTING THE EMPLOYEES OF NORTHSIDE ISD.

I'M HERE TO STAND IN SOLIDARITY WITH OUR UNION BROTHERS AND SISTERS WITH CWA.

OUR COUNTY IS IN GREAT NEED OF BROADBAND DEVELOPMENT.

THIS TRULY CAME TO THE FOREFRONT DURING THE HEART OF THE PANDEMIC, WHEN OUR ENTIRE COUNTY HAD ALL STUDENTS AND TEACHERS TEACHING AND LEARNING VIRTUALLY, AND NEEDING EQUITABLE ACCESS TO RELIABLE INTERNET.

TODAY, I ASK THAT THIS NEW DEVELOPMENT BE DONE WITH THOUGHT AND STEPS TO ENSURE THE REMAINING PHASES GO OUT FOR A FAIR BID.

IF THIS CAN'T BE DISCUSSED TODAY, THEN THE ISSUE MUST BE TABLED TO ENSURE EQUITY AND ACCESSIBILITY TO ALL.

THIS MUST BE DONE WITH AN OPPORTUNITY FOR ALL WORKERS, ESPECIALLY UNION WORKERS IN OUR COUNTY, TO HAVE ACCESS TO FAIR LABOR.

WE ARE ASKING FOR PRACTICES THAT ENSURE EQUITABILITY DEVELOPMENT AND EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES ACROSS OUR COUNTY.

THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU.

ALEJANDRA LOPEZ.

GOOD MORNING, JUDGE SAKAI AND COUNTY COMMISSIONERS.

MY NAME IS ALEJANDRA LOPEZ.

I'M A RESIDENT OF PRECINCT FOUR, AND I CURRENTLY SERVE AS THE PROUD PRESIDENT OF THE SAN ANTONIO ALLIANCE OF TEACHERS AND SUPPORT PERSONNEL, THE UNION THAT REPRESENTS WORKERS IN SAN ANTONIO ISD.

I'D FIRST LIKE TO COMMEND YOU ALL FOR MAKING SUCH A BOLD INVESTMENT TO CLOSE THE DIGITAL DIVIDE. WHEN THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC HIT, I, ALONG WITH MY COLLEAGUES, TRANSITIONED TO VIRTUAL INSTRUCTION AND SAW FIRSTHAND THE INEQUITABLE ACCESS TO HIGH SPEED INTERNET AMONGST STUDENTS AND STAFF.

SAISD LIKE OTHER SAN ANTONIO DISTRICTS, WORKED EXTREMELY HARD TO ENSURE THAT ALL 48,000 STUDENTS WERE ISSUED DEVICES TO TAKE HOME SO THAT THEY COULD ENGAGE IN VIRTUAL INSTRUCTION, BUT QUICKLY REALIZED THAT THIS WAS NOT ENOUGH SINCE MANY HOUSEHOLDS WEREN'T EQUIPPED WITH HIGH SPEED ACCESS.

HOUSEHOLDS THAT DIDN'T HAVE INTERNET SERVICE WERE ISSUED HOTSPOTS, BUT THERE WERE NUMEROUS HOUSEHOLDS THAT DID HAVE INTERNET SERVICE.

IT JUST WASN'T FAST ENOUGH TO MEET THE DEMANDS OF VIRTUAL INSTRUCTION.

YOU CAN ONLY IMAGINE THE FRUSTRATION OF 27 YEAR OLDS WAITING FOR A VIDEO TO LOAD.

THIS INITIATIVE TO STRENGTHEN DIGITAL CONNECTIVITY IN UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES WILL HAVE A PROFOUND IMPACT THROUGHOUT SAN ANTONIO.

TODAY, I ASK THAT YOU TAKE NO ACTION ON ITEM 55 REGARDING ADDITIONAL PHASES TO BUILD OUT HIGH SPEED BROADBAND INFRASTRUCTURE TO UNSERVED AND UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES IN UNINCORPORATED BEXAR COUNTY AND SUBURBAN CITIES, SO THAT THERE CAN CONTINUE TO BE CONVERSATIONS REGARDING THE BENEFITS OF INCORPORATING ROBUST LABOR STANDARDS INTO THE BROADBAND BUILDOUT IN BEXAR COUNTY.

BY OPENING UP THIS PROJECT FOR BIDDING AND INCLUDING LABOR STANDARDS.

THIS INITIATIVE GOES FROM NOT JUST PROVIDING MUCH NEEDED DIGITAL INFRASTRUCTURE, BUT ALSO BY GUARANTEEING THAT THE JOBS THAT ARE CREATED ARE HIGH QUALITY JOBS FOR OUR COMMUNITY. THANK YOU.

THANK YOU, CHARLES FUENTES.

GOOD AFTERNOON.

GOOD AFTERNOON. HONORABLE JUDGE SAKAI, COMMISSIONERS.

ON BEHALF OF THE OVER 1300 MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNICATION WORKERS OF AMERICA IN BEXAR COUNTY. I COME TO YOU WITH A VISION FOR INTEGRITY AND EXCELLENCE IN OUR BROADBAND EXPANSION. OUR MEMBERS ARE DEDICATED WORKERS AND DISCERNING CITIZENS, EXPECTING DECISIONS THAT REFLECT DEMOCRATIC PRINCIPLES AND THEIR SUBSTANTIAL CONTRIBUTIONS TO OUR COMMUNITY.

AS WE APPROACH A PIVOTAL DECISION ON THIS BROADBAND PROJECT, WE ADVOCATE FOR A TRANSPARENT AND COMPETITIVE BIDDING PROCESS.

THIS NOT ONLY ENSURES THE BEST VALUE FOR OUR COUNTY, BUT ALSO ALIGNS WITH THE PARTICIPATORY SPIRIT OF OUR MEMBERS IN PRACTICE IN EVERY ELECTION.

IN THE SPIRIT, WE RESPECTFULLY REQUEST THE COMMISSION CONSIDER TABLING THE CURRENT ACTION. PAUSE WOULD ALLOW FOR MEANINGFUL DIALOG WITH THE COMMUNITY AND A DECISION THAT EMBODIES THE FAIR PLAY WE ALL VALUE.

YOUR LEADERSHIP IN THIS MATTER WILL AFFIRM TO OUR MEMBERS THAT THEIR HARD WORK AND THEIR SMART VOTING HABITS LEAD TO ACCOUNTABILITY THAT WE DESERVE.

[03:20:03]

THANK YOU CHARLES. ALL RIGHT.

I BELIEVE THAT CONCLUDES CITIZENS TO BE HEARD.

WERE THERE ANY CITIZENS TO BE HEARD THAT WE HAVE FAILED TO CALL? THAT WAS ALL OF THE LIST. ALL RIGHT.

WE NOW GO TO INDIVIDUAL ITEMS AND WE WILL NOW TAKE UP ITEM 55, WHICH IS THE BROADBAND ISSUE. SO THIS TIME PRESENTATION, DISCUSSION, APPROPRIATE ACTION REGARDING

[55. Presentation, discussion, and appropriate action regarding additional phases to build-out high-speed broadband infrastructure to unserved and underserved communities in unincorporated Bexar County and suburban cities, utilizing funding provided by the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA). (Estimated Presentation Time: 10 minutes)]

MR. GAGER. GOOD MORNING OR GOOD AFTERNOON.

I'M NOT SURE WHICH ONE IT IS.

OKAY, SO WE MET WITH YOU ALL ABOUT A MONTH AGO.

YOU ASKED US TO COME BACK IN 30 DAYS TO TALK ABOUT PHASE TWO AND PHASE THREE.

JUST A REMINDER THAT THE COURT SET ASIDE OR EARMARKED $25 MILLION IN ARPA FUNDS FOR THE BROADBAND INFRASTRUCTURE INITIATIVE TO BRING HIGH SPEED INTERNET TO UNDERSERVED AND UNSERVED COMMUNITIES.

IT WAS ALWAYS PLANNED TO BE A MULTI PHASED APPROACH, WITH PHASE ONE BEING THE INITIAL RFP WHEREBY WE SELECTED SPECTRUM AS OUR PARTNER IN THIS INITIATIVE, AND THEN WE HAVE ANALYSIS FROM SPECTRUM, AND I'LL SHOW YOU IT ON THE NEXT FEW SLIDES FOR PHASE ONE, TWO AND THREE, BUT THEIR ANALYSIS USING DATA OF AN E911 DATABASE AND RECORDS THAT THEY HAVE THAT SHOWS THAT SHOWS COVERAGE THROUGHOUT ALL OF BEXAR COUNTY AND THE SUBURBAN CITIES.

THIS PHASE ONE, TWO AND THREE WOULD PROVIDE INFRASTRUCTURE TO 100% OF THE HOUSEHOLDS IN OUR COMMUNITY. SO PHASE ONE, THE INITIAL INITIAL RFP.

JUST AS A REMINDER, TOTAL COST OF THE PROJECT WAS A LITTLE OVER 31 MILLION OR CLOSE TO $32 MILLION.

COUNTY'S COST SHARE WAS 5.4 MILLION, WHICH IS 17%.

SPECTRUM'S COST SHARE IS 26.3 MILLION, WHICH IS 83%.

PHASE TWO, WHICH IS THE REMAINING UNINCORPORATED BEXAR COUNTY, IS 1465 HOUSEHOLDS. TOTAL COST OF THE PROJECT IS 10.5 MILLION.

TOTAL COST OF THE COUNTY 6.2 MILLION 58% AND TOTAL COST OF SPECTRUM 4.3 MILLION, OR 4.4 MILLION, AT 42%.

ITEM THREE. THERE ARE SOME UPDATES.

ACTUALLY, IT'S 328 HOUSEHOLDS.

TOTAL COST IS $1,000,090.

ORIGINALLY, SPECTRUM HAD ASKED ME TO PUT A 50% COST SHARE IN HERE.

WHILE THEY WERE STILL DOING THEIR ANALYSIS.

THEY HAVE COME BACK AND SAID THAT THE COST SHARE FOR THAT WOULD BE 157,300 OR $437 OR 14% TO THE COUNTY, AND THEY WOULD ABSORB THE REST, SO THEY WOULD ABSORB THE 86%.

SO THE TOTAL COUNTY COST SHARE WOULDN'T BE 12,000,156.

IT'S MORE LIKE $11.7 MILLION, WHICH IS A LITTLE LESS THAN THE 28%.

SO I'LL JUST GO THROUGH THE MAPS REAL QUICK, AND I DO HAVE SPECTRUM HERE TODAY.

LAURA COLE IS ALSO HERE TODAY AS A DIGITAL CONNECTS IS HERE TODAY AS WELL.

SO THIS SHOWS IN ORANGE IN THE SOUTHERN WEST AND EAST SIDE OF SAN ANTONIO.

THOSE ARE THE ORIGINAL TEN CENSUS TRACTS.

SO THAT'S PHASE ONE.

THE BLUE SHADED AREAS HERE.

INCLUDE THE ONE OR THE 1465 HOUSEHOLDS FOR PHASE TWO.

I'M GOING TO GO BACK AND FORTH HERE.

YOU'LL SEE DOWN BY SOMERSET, KIND OF DOWN ON THE SOUTH WEST SECTION OF TOWN.

IT'S A LITTLE DARKER SHADED BLUE THAT IS UNINCORPORATED [INAUDIBLE].

I'M SORRY. THAT'S THE UNINCORPORATED AREA THAT'S COVERED AS WELL AS IN KIND OF THE EASTERN SIDE THERE OVER BY [INAUDIBLE].

THAT'S ANOTHER SUBURBAN CITY THAT'S COVERED.

SORRY. THOSE ARE THE TWO SUBURBAN CITIES.

SO THAT'S THE 328 HOUSEHOLDS.

SO IN TOTAL, YOU GET BACK TO THE 10,554 HOUSEHOLDS WHEN YOU LOOK AT THIS LAST MAP HERE. SO ALL OF THOSE CENSUS, ANYTHING THAT'S NOT COVERED IN HERE IS ALREADY SERVED.

SO IT'S NOT HIGHLIGHTED BECAUSE THROUGH THE ANALYSIS, THERE WEREN'T ANY UNSERVED OR UNDERSERVED HOUSEHOLDS TO BRING INFRASTRUCTURE TO.

SO WE DON'T HAVE A RECOMMENDED MOTION TODAY.

WE'RE REALLY LOOKING FOR YOUR DIRECTION.

IF YOU GUYS DIRECT US TO MOVE FORWARD ON AN AMENDMENT TO THE CURRENT CONTRACT THAT WE HAVE THAT WENT OUT FOR RFP WITH SPECTRUM, THEN WE CAN START WORKING ON THAT, AND WE BELIEVE WE CAN BRING THAT CONTRACT BACK TO COURT ON THE JANUARY 23RD COURT.

THERE ARE SOME NEGOTIATIONS THAT WE WOULD HAVE TO DO ON THAT AMENDMENT THAT WE HAVEN'T

[03:25:02]

WE HEARD COMMENTS TODAY AROUND AN RFP.

IF YOU GUYS DIRECTED US TO GO OUT FOR RFP, THAT'S PROBABLY GOING TO BE MORE LIKE A SIX MONTH TIMEFRAME. WE WOULD PROBABLY COME BACK IN MAY OR JUNE OF NEXT YEAR WITH A CONTRACT.

SO BUT I WOULD STILL NEED TO CONSULT WITH PURCHASING, BUT I PUT SOME TIMELINE TOGETHER YESTERDAY IN ANTICIPATION THAT SOME QUESTIONS MAY COME UP.

SO AGAIN SPECTRUM'S HERE.

LAURA COLE IS HERE. IF YOU GUYS HAVE ANY QUESTIONS WE'RE GOOD TO ANSWER.

QUESTIONS, COMMISSIONER CLAY-FLORES YEAH, SO MY PRECINCT IS DEFINITELY AFFECTED HAS BEEN AFFECTED BY THE DIGITAL DIVIDE.

SO IT'S SOMETHING THAT I'M VERY SUPPORTIVE OF, AND AT THE SAME TIME, WE RECOGNIZE THAT WE'RE USING ARPA FUNDS FOR THIS.

SO ARPA FUNDS HAVE TO BE ALLOCATED BY END OF NEXT YEAR.

IS THAT CORRECT. THEY HAVE TO BE SPENT BY I FORGET WHAT THE DATE IS, BUT IN 2026 YOU'RE CORRECT, BUT I THINK THEY'RE ALLOCATED BY THE END OF NEXT YEAR.

YOU'RE CORRECT. YEAH, YEAH.

HE WAS ANSWERING THE QUESTION THOMAS, WHAT DID YOU WANT TO PUT ON RECORD? THE TIME FRAME THAT THE COMMISSIONER IS MENTIONING IS CORRECT.

DECEMBER 31ST OF 2024.

THE FUNDS HAVE TO BE OBLIGATED SPENT BY DECEMBER 31ST OF 2026.

SO YOU'RE CORRECT. SO WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR ARPA FUNDING IS ALLOCATED AND SPENT IN A TIMELY MANNER SO THAT THEY'RE NOT TAKEN AWAY.

SO I THINK IT'S I'M FINE TO GO AHEAD AND MOVE FORWARD WITH THAT.

THANK YOU FOR BRINGING US BACK THE NUMBERS IN TERMS OF HOW MUCH IT'S GOING TO COST.

I GUESS TODAY WE'RE NOT MAKING A MOVE, A MOTION.

WE JUST NEED CLEAR DIRECTION.

IF YOU DIRECT US TO GO NEGOTIATE AN AGREEMENT WITH SPECTRUM, THAT'S WHAT WE'LL DO. WE'LL BRING THAT BACK TO COURT AS A SEPARATE AGENDA ITEM FOR FOR APPROVAL.

IF YOU DIRECT US TO DO MORE ANALYSIS, WE'LL DO THAT.

SO WHATEVER YOUR DIRECTION IS, STAFF WILL TAKE, AND ALSO IN LIGHT OF THE CITIZENS WHO SIGNED UP TO BE HEARD, I JUST WANT TO.

FOR THE RECORD, BECAUSE WHEN WE MET PREVIOUSLY, OVER THE LAST SEVERAL MONTHS, I ALSO ASKED THE QUESTIONS OF HOW DID SPECTRUM GET THE CONTRACT? WHAT ABOUT AT&T? ET CETERA. SO CAN YOU, JUST FOR THE RECORD, EXPLAIN HOW YOU GUYS DECIDED THAT BECAUSE A BID WAS AN RFP WAS PUT OUT, AND MY UNDERSTANDING WAS THAT AT&T DID NOT RESPOND TO EVERYTHING IN THE UNINCORPORATED AREA THAT WE WANTED COVERED.

IS THAT CORRECT? YES. SO THE INITIAL RFP WAS SCOPED AT 11 CENSUS TRACTS.

IT WAS MEANT TO BE A PILOT, SO WE GOT PROPOSALS FOR THAT SPECTRUM, PROPOSED CENSUS TRACT BY CENSUS TRACT, AND THEN AS A GROUP PROPOSAL FOR TEN OF THE 11 SPECTRUM OR AT&T PROPOSED, BUT THEY DIDN'T PROPOSE BY CENSUS TRACT.

THEY PROPOSED BY AREAS THAT THEY.

THAT THEY WANTED TO PROPOSE TO, AND THAT COVERED SOME OF OUR CENSUS TRACTS.

IT DIDN'T COVER EVERYTHING THAT WAS IN SCOPE IN THE RFP THAT WE RELEASED, AND IT ALSO HAD CENSUS TRACTS AND AREAS IN PLAY THAT WEREN'T EVEN IN BEXAR COUNTY AND MAYBE FELL OUTSIDE OF THE CENSUS TRACTS THAT WERE ORIGINALLY IN SCOPE. SO WHEN WE EVALUATED THOSE PROPOSALS, THE EVALUATION COMMITTEE RECOMMENDED SPECTRUM AS AS THE BEST SOLUTION MOVING FORWARD.

IT WAS THE CLEAREST PROPOSAL.

IT WAS ALSO THE LOWEST COST PROPOSAL.

OKAY, AND THEN AS WE MOVE FORWARD IN THIS, WHAT ABOUT THE MULTIFAMILY UNITS AND APARTMENT COMPLEXES? WHEN I SAY HOUSEHOLDS OR YOU GO TO WHEN YOU SEE THE 10,000, EVEN IN THIS EXAMPLE, THE 10,500, THOSE ARE ACTUALLY PASSINGS, AND THEY USE THE WORD PASSINGS FOR A REASON BECAUSE IT'S AN ADDRESS AND THAT ADDRESS COULD BE A PROPERTY WITH 20 UNITS ON IT.

SO IT COULD BE A MULTI DWELLING UNIT.

SO SPECTRUM I CAN LET SPECTRUM SPEAK TO IT A LITTLE MORE, BUT SPECTRUM THEN NEGOTIATES A CONTRACT WITH THAT PROPERTY OWNER TO GAIN ACCESS TO THAT PROPERTY, TO EITHER OFFER THAT SERVICE DIRECTLY TO THE INDIVIDUALS ON THAT PROPERTY, AND OR THAT PROPERTY OWNER MAY DECIDE THAT THEY'RE GOING TO OFFER IT TO ALL OF THEIR UNITS AND THEN INCORPORATE IT AS PART OF THEIR RENT. SO WHEN WE SAY 100% COVERAGE AND WE HAVE THE INFRASTRUCTURE, THEY'RE NOT DESIGNATING BETWEEN MULTI DWELLING UNITS OR SINGLE FAMILY HOUSEHOLDS.

THEY'RE SAYING EVERY ADDRESS WOULD BE COVERED.

THERE MAY BE MULTI DWELLING UNITS WHERE THERE AREN'T PEOPLE THAT HAVE ACCESS, AND IT COULD EITHER BE BECAUSE THERE ISN'T AN AGREEMENT WITH THE WITH THE LANDLORD, THE PROPERTY OWNER TO GAIN ACCESS TO THAT PROPERTY.

HOWEVER, SPECTRUM DID SOME ANALYSIS AND THEY DIDN'T FIND THAT TO BE TRUE.

IT'S FOUND THAT THEY HAD THOSE CONTRACTS.

SO IT'S A MATTER OF IF THE FOLKS NEED THAT SERVICE SIGNING UP WITH SPECTRUM, IF THEY DON'T HAVE THE ACCESS TO THE UNIT, THEY HAVE TO NEGOTIATE WITH THAT PROPERTY OWNER.

SO, SORRY FOR THE LONG ANSWER.

SO I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT IF THERE'S A BAD LANDLORD WHO DOESN'T WANT TO SPEND

[03:30:02]

IS THAT CORRECT? I'LL HAVE THOMAS COME UP AND SPEAK.

YEAH, COMMISSIONER. SO DO YOU WANT TO JUST INTRODUCE YOURSELF FOR THE RECORD? YES. THOMAS AGUILLON, DIRECTOR OF GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS, CHARTER COMMUNICATIONS.

SO, AS MARK WAS SAYING, WHEN YOU PASS THE ADDRESSES PASS, WE CREATE RIGHT OF ENTRY AGREEMENTS WITH EACH PROPERTY OWNER, AND GENERALLY THERE'S A NON BULK AGREEMENT OR THERE'S A BULK AGREEMENT. A BULK AGREEMENT OBVIOUSLY ALLOWS PEOPLE THAT ARE ALREADY RESIDENTS TO GET IT AS A WHOLE OR A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF SERVICES.

NON BULK AGREEMENT MEANS THAT WE WILL YOU AS A RESIDENT WOULD THEN ELECT TO GET WHATEVER SERVICES YOU WANTED FROM SPECTRUM AND WE WOULD GO INSTALL THEM.

SO THAT'S THE WAY THAT WORKS, AND IF WE PASS THE RESIDENT OBVIOUSLY GETTING A RIGHT OF ENTRY IS THE FIRST KEY.

I AM NOT AWARE OF WE DON'T HAVE RIGHT OF ENTRY AGREEMENTS WITH MULTI DWELLING UNITS.

USUALLY IT'S AN ASSET FOR THEM TO HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO GET CABLE OR [INAUDIBLE].

IT SHOULD BE FEASIBLE.

CORRECT. YES MA'AM. OKAY, AND SO IF A CONSTITUENT CALLS AND IT'S NOT WE'LL CALL YOU AND YOU'LL WORK ON IT. YES, MA'AM.

OKAY. ALL RIGHT, FOR THE RECORD.

THANK YOU COMMISSIONER RODRIGUEZ. THANK YOU, JUDGE.

MARK, LET ME ASK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT, I GUESS, THE PROCESS.

JUST SO I'M CLEAR, BECAUSE THIS GOES BACK PROBABLY A YEAR OR SO, IF NOT MORE, WHEN WE INITIAL HAD INITIALLY HAD THE CONVERSATION.

SO THE INITIAL RFP, YOU SAID IT WAS SPECTRUM AND AT&T AND ANYBODY ELSE THAT RESPONDED.

THERE WAS A SMALL COMPANY THAT RESPONDED WITH LIKE A MICROWAVE LTE SOLUTION, BUT THEY WERE IT WASN'T IT DIDN'T MEET THE HIGH SPEED BANDWIDTH, AND THEN GOOGLE RESPONDED, BUT GOOGLE SAID THEY DIDN'T WANT TO BE CONSIDERED, THAT THEY JUST WANTED US TO BE AWARE OF SOME OF THE PERMITTING CONSTRAINTS WITH BRINGING BROADBAND.

OKAY, AND I THINK JUST TO CLARIFY YOUR RESPONSE TO MY COLLEAGUE, I THINK YOU MENTIONED THAT AT&T S RESPONSE WAS, I DON'T WANT TO SAY PUT WORDS IN YOUR MOUTH, BUT IT SOUNDED LIKE IT WAS NON-RESPONSIVE WITH RESPECT TO WHAT OUR REQUIREMENTS WERE.

IS THAT ACCURATE? YEAH. IT DIDN'T MEET THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE COUNTY CENSUS TRACT, SO WE WEREN'T ABLE TO EVALUATE THEM CENSUS TRACT BY CENSUS TRACT.

WE DIDN'T DEEM THEM NON RESPONSIVE BECAUSE THEY ALSO PROPOSED TO THE CITY.

REMEMBER IT WAS A JOINT RFP AND IT WAS ONE PROPOSAL.

SO THEY PROPOSED TO ALL THE CITY CENSUS TRCACTS PLUS THE COUNTY.

SO SO SPECTRUM WAS THE BEST FIT FOR THE COUNTY.

IT WAS HARD TO EVEN EVALUATE THE AT&T PROPOSAL BASED ON THE REQUIREMENTS THAT WE SET OUT. YEAH, AND YOU PROBABLY CAN'T SPEAK TO THE CITY'S PORTION, BUT I WOULD ASSUME IT WAS MORE RESPONSIVE TO THEIRS, SINCE I UNDERSTAND AT&T IS BUILDING OUT THE CITY'S PORTION. IS THAT RIGHT? IN FACT, SPECTRUM DIDN'T EVEN PROPOSE THE CITY PORTION, SO IT WAS THE ONLY SOLUTION.

OKAY, SO I THINK THAT THE CITY WORKED WITH AT&T TO, I THINK BETTER UNDERSTAND THAT PROPOSAL. SO BACK TO THIS DISCUSSION.

WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT IS BUILDING OUT PHASE TWO AND THREE.

THAT'S WHAT YOU NEED DIRECTION ON.

IS THAT RIGHT. THAT'S CORRECT OKAY, AND UNDER THE WHAT YOU ARE SHOWING US HERE, IT'S ABOUT ROUGHLY 6.7 MILLION, I GUESS ROUGHLY.

IT'S A LITTLE LESS BECAUSE IT'S 6.2 PLUS THAT WAS AMENDED PHASE THREE COST IS 157,000.

SO IT'S ABOUT 6.4 MILLION I THINK 6.3 AND A HALF OKAY.

THAT'S THE COUNTY'S PORTION.

THAT'S THE COUNTY PORTION. YEAH, AND THEN THE PROPOSER SPECTRUM, THEIR PORTION IS ABOUT A LITTLE UNDER 5 MILLION IT LOOKS LIKE.

THAT'S CORRECT. OKAY.

LET ME JUST ASK YOU ABOUT THE TIMELINE.

I KNOW WE'VE TALKED ABOUT IT A LITTLE BIT ALREADY.

OBVIOUSLY CRUCIAL THAT WE DO THIS AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE.

I'M ALSO SENSITIVE TO WHAT OUR FRIENDS WITH CWA BROUGHT UP ABOUT COMPETING.

HAS ANYBODY ELSE, ANY OF THE OTHER CONTRACTORS, POTENTIAL CONTRACTORS REACHED OUT TO YOUR OFFICE ABOUT COMPETING FOR THIS BUSINESS? NOBODY HAS REACHED OUT TO THE COUNTY SINCE WE INITIALLY RELEASED THE RFP.

WE'VE ONLY HAD CONVERSATIONS WITH SPECTRUM.

AT&T OR NO OTHER ISP HAS REACHED OUT TO MY OFFICE, AND I'M NOT AWARE OF TO ANYBODY IN THE COUNTY REGARDING, AND I DON'T THINK ANYBODY SIGNED UP.

[03:35:01]

SO IF WE GAVE YOU DIRECTION, MARK, TO GO AHEAD AND MOVE FORWARD, WHAT DO YOU THINK THE TIMELINE IS? BECAUSE OUR GOAL IS TO COVER THE REST OF THE COUNTY.

I MEAN, THAT'S BASICALLY WHAT WE WANT TO DO IS GET THE REST OF THE COUNTY COVERED.

UM, WHAT DO YOU THINK THE TIMELINE IS? MAYBE THOMAS CAN SPEAK TO THAT.

I CAN SPEAK TO IT COMING BACK TO COURT, AND THEN MAYBE HE CAN SPEAK TO THE BUILDOUT.

SO OUR HOPE WOULD BE MY HOPE WOULD BE THAT WE CAN NEGOTIATE A CONTRACT BEFORE CHRISTMAS, THE AMENDMENTS THAT WOULD ALLOW US TO GET ON THE 23RD AGENDA, THE ACFS ARE DUE ON JANUARY 10TH. I NEED ABOUT TWO WEEKS TO CIRCULATE THE CONTRACT FOR SIGNATURES AND TO HAVE A FISCAL ASSESSMENT DONE ON THE PROJECT SO THEY WOULD GET A SIGNED CONTRACT HOPEFULLY ON JANUARY 23RD, AND THEN I CAN LET THOMAS SPEAK TO THE BUILDOUT TIMELINE, BUT WE WOULD HOPE TO NEGOTIATE IN THAT CONTRACT, BEING ABLE TO COMPLETE THE WORK WITHIN THE TIMELINE TO EXPEND THE ARPA DOLLARS, JUST AS WE DID THE INITIAL PHASES.

SO I'LL LET HIM SPEAK TO IT.

YEAH. COMMISSIONER. SO THE CURRENT CONTRACT, I THINK WE HAVE ENDS IN 2025.

SOME OF THESE ADDITIONAL PASSINGS, IF YOU WILL, ARE KIND OF IN THE CENTER OF SOME OF THIS BUILD OUT. SO THEY WON'T TAKE VERY LONG TO BUILD OUT.

I GUESS WE'D GO BACK TO THE COUNTY TO IDENTIFY THE OTHER AREAS, SO DEFINITELY CAN MAKE THE DEADLINE BEFORE 2026, BUT WE'D HAVE TO TAKE A LOOK.

WE DO FIELD WALK OUTS AND OTHER THINGS LIKE THAT TO GET A REAL DEFINITIVE TIMELINE ON THAT, BUT WE'LL HAVE OUR FOLKS DO THAT, BUT DEFINITELY WITH WHAT WE'RE LOOKING AT NOW AND WHAT WE'VE ALREADY AGREED TO BUILD, THIS IS VERY FEASIBLE.

OKAY. THANKS, THOMAS.

SO LOOK, I DON'T HAVE AN ISSUE WITH COMPETING THIS, BUT MY CONCERN IS A LITTLE BIT NUMBER ONE, DELAYING THE PROJECT, AND NUMBER TWO, I MEAN, THIS IS A VERY BROAD GENERAL AGENDA ITEM, AND IT'S A LITTLE DISCONCERTING THAT NO ONE ELSE IS HERE FROM ANOTHER ISP MAKING A PITCH FOR THE BUSINESS IT WAS A DISCUSSION TO BUILD OUT ANOTHER PHASE, AND I WOULD ASSUME SOMEBODY WOULD BE HERE FROM AT&T OR ANOTHER ISP IF THAT WAS THE INTEREST IN BIDDING THIS OUT.

SO I'VE GOT THOSE TWO CONCERNS ABOUT DELAYING THIS FOR THAT REASON, BUT YOU KNOW, THOSE ARE JUST MY THOUGHTS, JUDGE, AND I KNOW OTHERS MAY HAVE QUESTIONS, BUT I THINK THE DELAY IS THE BIGGEST PIECE IS IS YOU KNOW, I KNOW OUR PURCHASING FOLKS ARE BACKED UP AS IT IS. IF WE DO AN RFP, IS IT GOING TO TAKE 4 TO 6 MONTHS, AS YOU MENTIONED, AND DELAY DEPLOYMENT.

SO THOSE ARE MY THOUGHTS, JUDGE.

COMMISSIONER MOODY. IF WE COULD GO BACK TO THE MAPS BECAUSE I HAD A HARD TIME, KIND OF.

I SEE PHASE ONE, BUT WITH PHASE TWO THERE'S DIFFERENT SHADES OF BLUE, AND THERE'S A LOT OF THEM. CAN YOU HELP ME WITH WHERE THESE W AS IT 1400 HOMES ARE? SO APPROXIMATELY 860 OF THEM ARE ACTUALLY IN PRECINCT ONE.

THE REMAINING ARE SPREAD THROUGHOUT THOSE REMAINING SHADES OF BLUE, REGARDLESS OF THE SHADE. I THINK IT'S JUST HOW IT SHOWS UP ON THE PRINTOUT OR ON THE SCREEN, BUT IF IT'S SHADED IN BLUE, IT'S A CENSUS TRACT THAT HAS A NUMBER OF UNSERVED OR UNDERSERVED HOMES IN IT. I DON'T HAVE THE COUNTS PER CENSUS TRACT COMMISSIONER.

I JUST KNOW THAT THE 1465 HOMES ARE SPREAD THROUGHOUT THOSE SHADES OF BLUE.

IF IT'S NOT SHADED IN BLUE, THEN IT THERE WASN'T AN UNSERVED OR UNDERSERVED HOME.

I SHOULD SAY, IF IT'S NOT COVERED IN BLUE FOR PHASE TWO.

PHASE ONE WAS OBVIOUSLY THE ORANGE, RIGHT? SO EVERYTHING YOU SEE SHADED ON THAT MAP IS THE SCOPE OF THE PROJECT.

OKAY. YEAH, BECAUSE I THINK THERE'S SOME SHADING THAT'S THE UNINCORPORATED AREAS IN GENERAL, AND THEN IT WAS JUST NOT AWARE OF THE NUMBER OF HOMES OR THE DIFFERENT AREAS WITHIN MY PRECINCT THAT YOU CURRENTLY HAVE LISTED HERE.

CAN YOU PROVIDE LIKE A I KNOW THERE WAS SOME SENSITIVITY AROUND DATA AND EVERYTHING.

OBVIOUSLY THIS IS KIND OF THE FIRST TIME I'M ACTUALLY BEING ABLE TO SEE THE MAPS, BUT A FURTHER BREAKDOWN BY THESE GEOGRAPHICAL AREAS AND PRECINCTS AND OR CENSUS TRACTS BY THE NUMBER OF HOUSEHOLDS AND COST AND EVERYTHING.

[03:40:02]

YEAH. SO, COMMISSIONER, I THINK WE DID LOOK AT SOME OF THE AREAS [INAUDIBLE].

IN PARTICULAR, WE BROKE DOWN THE COST PER PASSING FOR PHASES.

SO THE ENTIRE PHASE WE HAVE A COST PER PASSING, AND OBVIOUSLY WE WANT TO BE SENSITIVE BECAUSE WE'RE AN OPEN FORUM HERE.

RIGHT, AND SO SOME OF THIS STUFF IS PROPRIETARY, BUT WE CAN DEFINITELY GO AND LOOK AT A SPECIFIC AREA AND IDENTIFY HOW MANY HOUSEHOLDS IF THEY'RE IN YOUR PRECINCT, WHAT THAT COST IS, BUT THAT'S GOING TO TAKE SOME TIME.

WE WERE ASKED TO DO A LOT OF THIS WITHIN A MONTH AND OBVIOUSLY HAD THE THANKSGIVING BREAK OVER, BUT WE CAN CONTINUE TO WORK WITH YOU IN YOUR OFFICE TO IDENTIFY WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE GOING FORWARD.

YEAH, AND CAN YOU JUST SPEAK TO THE HIGH LEVEL WHEN YOU'RE PROVIDING THIS SERVICE AND ACCESS TO A CENSUS TRACT AREA, ARE YOU JUST LAYING THE FIBER DOWN THE MAIN ROADS? I MEAN, YOU'RE NOT GOING INTO COMMUNITIES.

NO, WE'RE GOING WE'RE TAKING FIBER TO THE PREMISE WITH THESE BUILDS.

SO EVERY HOUSEHOLD THAT WE'RE PASSING WILL GET ACCESS TO, TO THE FIBER WITHIN THE COMMUNITY OR JUST TO THE GATE OF THE COMMUNITY OR THE ENTRANCE? NO, TO THE HOUSEHOLD.

OKAY AND I'M NOT SURE IF ANY OF MY COLLEAGUES OR SOMEBODY COULD HELP ME.

I KNOW THERE WERE SOME CITIZENS WHO SPOKE IN CONCERNS ABOUT, LIKE, OPENING THIS UP FOR BID, THE BACKGROUND OR ARGUMENT THERE.

I DON'T KNOW IF ANYBODY ELSE HAS AN UNDERSTANDING OF WHY THERE WAS THAT OPPOSITION. I'LL TAKE THAT.

COMMISSIONER. LET ME MAKE THIS A POINT OF ORDER, AND A POINT OF ORDER IS BECAUSE I WANT TO DIRECT CONVERSATION OR COMMUNICATION WITH OUR LEGAL COUNSEL, WHICH I'M LOOKING AT RIGHT NOW.

LET ME UNDERSTAND THIS PROCESS.

OBVIOUSLY, MARK AND LAURA, YOU HAVE DONE THE HEAVY WORK LAST YEAR WITH THE PREDECESSOR COURT. WE AWARDED THE CONTRACTS.

AS I UNDERSTAND IT, THE CONTRACTS WEREN'T NECESSARILY AN AGREEMENT, BUT THEY HARMONIZED. AT&T GOT THE WORK WITHIN THE CITY LIMITS OF SAN ANTONIO AND SPECTRUM DID THE UNINCORPORATED AREAS, AND SO WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO IS FILL UP THOSE REST OF THOSE UNINCORPORATED AREAS AND A FEW GAPS IN SUBURBAN CITIES.

SO FROM A POINT OF ORDER LEGAL, AND PERHAPS, LARRY, YOU MAY NOT BE PREPARED TO RENDER ANYTHING OFFICIAL.

I'M ALSO PUTTING I'M PUTTING MY LEGAL HAT ON.

WHAT I'VE HEARD IS THAT WHAT'S BEING PROPOSED IS THAT WE AMEND THE EXISTING CONTRACT, THAT IS WITH SPECTRUM, IN ORDER TO FINISH OUT PHASE TWO AND THREE.

I'VE HEARD THAT TIME IS OF THE ESSENCE AND THAT TIME IS OF THE ESSENCE IN ORDER TO GET THE MONIES OUT. SO WHAT I ALSO HEARD IS A DELAY COULD JEOPARDIZE THIS WHOLE PROJECT, AND SO I'M TRYING TO BALANCE THIS ALL, BUT I WANT TO GO BACK TO THE LEGAL BECAUSE AS I UNDERSTAND IT, WE DID AN RFP ACCORDING TO THE RULES AND IT WAS OPEN OR TRANSPARENT. AT&T AND SPECTRUM MOVED FORWARD.

NOW WE'RE BACK HERE.

WE HAVE SPECTRUM SAYING WE'RE READY TO GO TO FINISH THIS OUT.

WE'VE HAD SOME OBJECTIONS PUT ON THE RECORD AND I AM VERY SENSITIVE TO THOSE OBJECTIONS.

SO MY QUESTION FROM A LAW PERSPECTIVE IS ARE WE ON GOOD GROUNDS.

BECAUSE WHAT WE'RE DOING IS WE'RE GOING BACK TO THAT ORIGINAL AGENDA ITEM THAT YOU ALL PUT IN ORDER TO PUT THE RFPS.

SO ARE WE STAYING WITHIN THAT ORIGINAL RFP ON THE AGENDA WHEN WE MADE THOSE AWARDS, OR ARE WE AS THE WORDING IS AMENDING THE CONTRACT.

DO WE NEED TO AMEND THE RFP, WHICH WOULD THEN REQUIRE US THEN TO BASICALLY PUT ANOTHER RFP? IF WE ACTUALLY ARE MAKING MATERIALS AND SUBSTANTIAL CHANGES.

SO, LARRY, DO YOU UNDERSTAND WHERE I'M GOING? BECAUSE I WANT THE RECORD TODAY IS NOT A NO BID CONTRACT.

IT'S NOT.

IT'S JUST AN EXTENSION, AN AMENDMENT OF THE EXISTING CONTRACT, AND WE'RE JUST SAYING SPECTRUM, FINISH IT, GO, AND WE HOPEFULLY, ULTIMATELY, DON'T WANT OUR CITIZENS TO BE HARMED BY ANY DELAY, AND WE DEFINITELY WANT TO GET THIS THING DONE, BUT AT THE SAME TIME, MY PERSPECTIVE, LET'S DO IT RIGHT, AND I DON'T WANT TO GET SUED.

SO, MR. ROBERSON, HELP ME PROCESS THIS.

ARE WE ON GOOD GROUNDS? I REALIZE WE ARE JUST ASKING OR DIRECTING STAFF TO TAKE ACTION.

[03:45:02]

WE LOOKED INTO THIS ISSUE TO MAKE SURE THAT THE COURT HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO AMEND, RATHER THAN DO A WHOLE NEW PROCUREMENT, AND ON MAY 17TH, 2023, TREASURY ISSUED THE SUPPLEMENTARY BROADBAND GUIDANCE.

FIRST OF ALL, LET ME SAY THAT I BELIEVE THIS CONTRACT, THE CONTRACTOR WAS TREATED AS A SUB RECIPIENT, NOT A VENDOR.

THAT CREATES ITS OWN ISSUE, WHICH MEANS THAT WE DON'T HAVE TO COMPETITIVELY PROCURE THAT, BUT IT WAS THE COURT DID WITH A JOINT BID.

SO BUT IT WAS STILL A [INAUDIBLE] I'M SORRY, A SUB RECIPIENT.

SO THAT SUPPLEMENTARY BROADBAND GUIDANCE, IF AN INDIVIDUAL OR COMPANY WANTS TO SUE, I THINK THEY SHOULD CONSULT THAT GUIDANCE FIRST BECAUSE IT VERY CLEARLY STATED THAT COMPETITIVE PROCUREMENT OR COMPLIANCE WITH UNIFORM GUIDANCE WAS NOT REQUIRED FOR BROADBAND INTERNET SERVICE PROVIDER CONTRACTS, ESPECIALLY IF THEY WERE SUB RECIPIENT.

SO ARE WE ON GOOD GROUNDS TO MOVE FORWARD IF THE COURT WANTS TO APPROVE THIS ACTION? ABSOLUTELY.

ALL RIGHT. I'LL GO BACK TO YOU, COMMISSIONER.

I THINK YOU WANTED THAT CLARIFICATION, RIGHT? YES. I DON'T KNOW IF THAT WAS ALL CLEAR, BUT I UNDERSTOOD IT.

THANK YOU, JUDGE. SO ONE QUESTION.

THAT COUNTY STAFF THIS IS DOWN TO 12 MILLION IS THE OTHER 13 MILLION THEN THAT'S ALREADY THAT WAS ALLOCATED IN THIS BUCKET TO BEGIN WITH.

IS THAT INCLUDED IN OUR ARPA DOLLARS TO BE RE-ALLOCATED.

THAT'S ONE OF THE REASONS I WOULD.

RECOMMEND THAT THE COURT SERIOUSLY CONSIDER APPROVING THIS AMENDMENT OR GIVING US DIRECTION TO APPROVE IT, BECAUSE THAT THIS GIVES US PRICING CERTAINTY, AND THEN, YES, WE COULD COME BACK ONCE THE CONTRACT IS READY AND SAY, YOU'VE GOT 13 MILLION TO DO SOMETHING ELSE WITH.

WE WOULD HAVE THE CERTAINTY WE NEED.

WHEREAS IF WE [INAUDIBLE], I'M NOT SURE WHAT THE PRICING WOULD LOOK LIKE.

I UNDERSTAND THERE'S A DELAY THERE, BUT I WOULD YOU KNOW, MY RECOMMENDATION WOULD BE TO GO BACK, ASK SPECTRUM FOR THEIR FINAL AND BEST OFFER ON PHASE TWO AND PHASE THREE, AND THEN BRING THAT BACK TO THE COURT, AND THEN WE CAN MAKE THAT FINAL DETERMINATION ON GOING FORWARD OR THE RFP, BUT AT LEAST THEN WE'D HAVE A HARD CONTRACT TO LOOK AT AND SEE WHAT THEIR BEST OFFER IS.

I THINK WE'VE DONE THAT, THOUGH.

WE'VE ASKED THEM FOR THEIR FINAL AND BEST.

SO THESE NUMBERS ARE WHAT THEY'VE PUT FORWARD AND SAID, THIS IS WHAT WE CAN DO.

WE CAN DO THAT AGAIN.

IF YOU DIRECT US AS A COURT TO DO THAT, THEN WHAT WE WON'T BRING BACK AS AN AMENDMENT BECAUSE WE HAVE NOTHING TO AMEND.

THAT'S CONCRETE, AND WE WOULD BRING BACK THAT FINAL AND BEST OFFER WHICH MAY OR MAY NOT BE THE SAME. YEAH, MARK, I'M NOT SURE I AGREE.

SO WE STILL HAVE TO COME BACK WITH AN AMENDMENT ANYWAY.

WE HAVEN'T EVEN AGREED TO WHETHER WE'RE NOT GOING TO RFP THIS, SO I DON'T KNOW HOW YOU COULD SAY THAT.

WE'VE ALREADY SEEN THE FINAL AND BEST, BUT THAT'S JUST MY OPINION.

SO WE CAN DO THAT.

WE CAN COME WITH YOUR DIRECTION.

WE CAN COME BACK WITH THE AMENDMENT ON THE TIMELINE YOU SUGGESTED, AND THEN IF THE COURT DOESN'T APPROVE THE AMENDMENT, WE MOVE FORWARD IN ANOTHER DIRECTION.

YEAH, I BETTER UNDERSTAND. THANK YOU.

THAT'S ALL. I'M GLAD YOU UNDERSTAND BECAUSE I DON'T.

SO WHAT'S THE AMENDMENT FOR PHASE TWO? AND WHY ARE WE CALLING IT AN AMENDMENT.

BECAUSE WE HAVE WE HAVE AN EXISTING CONTRACT FOR PHASE ONE THAT'S ALREADY APPROVED IN THE BOOKS. WE'RE ALLOWED TO AMEND THAT TO INCLUDE PHASES TWO AND THREE.

IT'S ACTUALLY CONTRACTUALLY A LOT SIMPLER FOR US TO DO, COMMISSIONER.

WE'RE SIMPLY AMENDING THE THE, THE SCOPE PORTION OF THE SUBRECIPIENT AGREEMENT AND THE PRICING SCHEDULE.

SO WE CAN WE CAN BRING THAT BACK.

SO ARE WE JUST GIVING STAFF DIRECTION TO WORK ON AMENDMENT FOR PHASES TWO AND THREE.

IS THAT WHAT WE'RE DOING TODAY? I THINK THEY'RE ASKING FOR DIRECTION AS TO WHICH WAY THE COURT WOULD LIKE TO GO.

YES. SO I WOULD BE SUPPORTIVE OF THAT.

TO DIRECT STAFF, TO DIRECT STAFF TO WORK ON AN AMENDMENT TO MOVE FORWARD WITH PHASES TWO AND THREE.

[03:50:04]

IS THERE A SECOND? WE'LL CONTINUE DISCUSSION.

IS THERE A SECOND? SECOND.

ALL RIGHT. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER RODRIGUEZ, FURTHER DISCUSSION.

COMMISSIONER. SO WHAT I'M TRYING TO BE COGNIZANT OF IS AND I THINK THIS WAS BEFORE JUDGE YOU WERE HERE OR COMMISSIONER MOODY IS IN TRANSPARENCY-SAKE, WE DID HAVE AN OPEN DISCUSSION ABOUT POTENTIALLY COMPETING THE REST OF THE PHASES, FROM WHAT I RECOLLECT FROM THE COURT COMMUNICATION WAY BACK WHEN.

NOW, I MEAN, TO DO AN RFP AT THIS POINT, I THINK SPECTRUM'S ALREADY SHOWN WHAT THEY CAN DO, RIGHT? SO IT'S A LITTLE BIT UNFAIR NOW TO GO OUT AND DO AN RFP WHEN UNLESS YOU WANT TO GO TO AT&T OR ANYBODY ELSE AND SAY, HEY, CAN YOU GUYS BEAT THIS? I MEAN, IT'S A LITTLE BIT UNFAIR TO SPECTRUM IN THAT REGARD.

SO I THINK WE'RE TRYING TO KIND OF BACK THIS UP A LITTLE BIT, AND I THINK IT'S GOTTEN OUT A LITTLE TOO FAR FOR US TO BACK AWAY.

I MEAN, TO ME, I THINK IN FAIRNESS TO SPECTRUM, THEY'VE MADE A CONCERTED EFFORT TO GIVE US A GOOD OFFER, AND WHEN I THINK BACK ABOUT THE WHOLE ALLOCATION OF THESE FUNDS, I KNOW IT WASN'T YOU, JUDGE.

IT WAS IT WAS THE PREVIOUS COURT.

I THINK WE UNFAIRLY SET AN EXPECTATION BY BACK THEN ALLOCATING $25 MILLION, THINKING, HEY, WE'RE GOING TO SPEND ALL $25 MILLION.

SO, SO I THINK, AGAIN, YOU CAN'T PUT THE TOOTHPASTE BACK IN THE TUBE.

IT IS WHAT IT IS.

SO I THINK AT THIS POINT I'M OKAY WITH MOVING FORWARD, GIVING STAFF THE DIRECTION WE DID IN THE MOTION TO JUST GET THIS DONE.

COMMISSIONER MOODY. YEAH, I MEAN, JUST FINAL COMMENT.

IT'S AN AWKWARD KIND OF AGENDA ITEM BECAUSE I DON'T THINK THAT THIS IS THE PLACE FOR OPEN NEGOTIATIONS WITH A CORPORATION AND THAT'S WHY I'M ASKING STAFF TO GO AHEAD AND DO THAT AND SEE WHAT'S POSSIBLE.

SO THEN WE CAN HAVE A FINAL VERSION OF THIS AMENDMENT FOR PHASE TWO AND THREE SO WE CAN MAKE A FINAL DETERMINATION, BUT THAT'S JUST MY VIEW.

SO LET ME WEIGH IN AGAIN AND HOPEFULLY NOT GET IT MORE COMPLICATED OR COMPLEX.

WOULD IT NOT BE POSSIBLE? I'M TALKING TO STAFF.

I REALLY SPECTRUM AT&T OUT OF THE ROOM AS FAR AS I'M CONCERNED, AND TALKING TO STAFF AND LEGAL COUNSEL, COULDN'T WE? IN ORDER TO BALANCE ALL THE INTERESTS THAT HAVE BEEN MADE BY EACH COMMISSIONER, WOULD A MIDDLE GROUND BE THAT WE MOVE FORWARD TO CONTINUE NEGOTIATION, THAT WE ALLOW AT&T TO ASK THAT THEY CAN AMEND THEIR CONTRACT AND SEE IF THEY CAN GIVE A SAME OPPORTUNITY, AND THEN HOPEFULLY WE WILL HAVE TO MAKE AN ACTION ITEM TO APPROVE THE CONTRACTS AND SO WOULD THAT NOT BE-- SO THAT I'M CLEAR. JUDGE.

SO WE HAVE A CONTRACT WITH SPECTRUM FOR PHASE ONE.

WE DON'T HAVE A CONTRACT WITH AT&T.

WE HAVE AN INITIAL PROPOSAL FROM AT&T, BUT NOT A CONTRACT WITH AT&T.

DID AT&T PROVIDE BIDDING ON PHASE TWO AND PHASE THREE TO BEGIN WITH? THEY DID NOT, BUT THEIR INITIAL PHASE ONE BIDDING DIDN'T MEET OUR PHASE ONE REQUIREMENTS EITHER, EVEN THOUGH THEY DID PROVIDE COST IN THERE.

I CAN SAY THAT THE COST AND THE COST SHARE WAS SUBSTANTIALLY LESS THAN SPECTRUM TO THE POINT WHERE WE COULD CERTAINLY REACH OUT TO THEM, BUT THEY DIDN'T ON PHASE TWO AND PHASE THREE, I THINK THEY'RE AWARE OF PHASE TWO AND PHASE THREE IN THESE CONVERSATIONS, I KNOW THEY'RE AWARE OF THAT, BUT THEY HAVEN'T REACHED OUT TO ME TO EXPRESS ANY INTEREST.

OKAY. THE CHALLENGING PART, AND YOU MENTIONED THE CONTRACT.

THE CHALLENGING PART HERE IS THE ONLY DATA WE HAVE TO GO BY, AND YOU ALL HAVE ASKED A LOT OF QUESTIONS ABOUT HOW MANY HOUSEHOLDS ARE UNSERVED AND WHAT'S THE SCOPE LOOK LIKE.

THE ONLY DATA THAT WE CAN GET IS FROM AN ISP.

SO THAT'S WHY WE HAD TO PARTNER WITH SPECTRUM.

WE WERE ALREADY UNDER CONTRACT WITH AND HAVE A CONFIDENTIALITY AGREEMENT WITH TO GET SOME MORE DETAILS AROUND WHAT THE POTENTIAL SCOPE IS FOR A PHASE TWO.

THE COMPLICATIONS AROUND GOING TO AT&T IS I CAN'T USE THEIR DATA AND GIVE IT TO AT&T AND SAY BID ON THIS, RIGHT? SO AT&T WOULD NEED TO GO THROUGH THEIR OWN ASSESSMENTS AND COME BACK WITH THEIR OWN FINDINGS. IF YOU GUYS WANT US TO DO THAT THEN OR IF THEY REACH OUT, WE CAN ASK THEM TO. YEAH SO I THINK YOU'RE SAYING IT MAY BE HARD FOR AT&T TO ACTUALLY UPDATE ANY OF THEIR

[03:55:04]

EXACTLY. OKAY. BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE ANYTHING TO SPECIFICALLY SCOPE IT ON OTHER THAN, SAY, GIVE US A BID FOR THE REMAINING UNSERVED AND UNDERSERVED HOUSEHOLDS IN SAN ANTONIO OR IN BEXAR COUNTY, WHICH IS WHAT WE DID WITH SPECTRUM.

RIGHT? SO THEY WOULD NEED TO THEN GO DO THEIR OWN ANALYSIS TO DETERMINE WHAT THEY THINK THAT IS. OKAY.

ALL RIGHT. ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION, THEN I'LL CALL FOR A VOTE.

WE HAVE A MOTION BY COMMISSIONER CLAY-FLORES WITH A SECOND BY COMMISSIONER RODRIGUEZ.

ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE.

AYE. ANY OPPOSED? ANY ABSTENTIONS.

MOTION CARRIES.

THANK YOU. GET THE WORK DONE.

YEAH. ITEM 56 APPROVAL TO AMEND THE THIRD AMENDMENT TO INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT WITH CITY

[56. Approval to amend the third amendment to Interlocal Agreement with City of San Antonio (COSA) to add $1,026,000 of funding to the agreement, to include $950,000 to be distributed as rental assistance and $76,000 for administrative costs for residents in Bexar County. Bexar County zone households will be prioritized. (Estimated Presentation Time: 10 minutes)]

HI. GOOD AFTERNOON, JUDGE AND COMMISSIONERS.

FOR THE RECORD, MY NAME IS VIRGINIA JIMENEZ AND REPRESENTATIVE FOR CITY OF SAN ANTONIO IS VANESSA JIMENEZ, WHO WILL BE GIVING AN OVERVIEW OF THE ASSISTANCE THAT'S BEEN PROVIDED FOR RENTAL ASSISTANCE FOR PEOPLE WHO LIVE INSIDE OF THE SAN ANTONIO CITY LIMITS AND IN THE BEXAR COUNTY ZONE.

VANESSA.

GOOD AFTERNOON, JUDGE AND COUNTY COMMISSIONERS.

MY NAME IS VANESSA JIMENEZ, AND I'M WITH THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO NEIGHBORHOOD AND HOUSING SERVICES DEPARTMENT.

I AM THE HOUSING ACCESS AND STABILITY ADMINISTRATOR, AND I'M HERE TODAY TO EXCUSE ME, AND I'M HERE TODAY TO TALK TO YOU ABOUT OUR HOUSING ASSISTANCE PROGRAM.

TODAY, WE ARE GETTING AN APPROVAL FOR A THIRD AMENDMENT TO OUR INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT.

THANK YOU. SO TO START OFF THIS THIRD AMENDMENT, THIS THIRD AMENDMENT TO OUR INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT IS FOR A LITTLE OVER $1 MILLION TO SUPPORT TO BE A SUB-RECIPIENT OF R-2 FUNDS FROM THE COUNTY.

WHAT IS OUR HOUSING ASSISTANCE PROGRAM? WE PROVIDE RENTAL ASSISTANCE TO LOW INCOME FAMILIES.

UP TO THREE MONTHS OF RENTAL ASSISTANCE.

WE PROVIDE, WITH A MAXIMUM ASSISTANCE OF UP TO $3,500 FOR RENT AND $1,500 FOR UTILITIES.

THIS INCLUDES CPS, UTILITIES, CPS, SAWS, AS WELL AS INTERNET.

WE CAN PROVIDE ASSISTANCE ONCE EVERY 12 MONTHS OR A MAXIMUM OF 18 MONTHS.

WE ALSO PROVIDE WRAPAROUND SERVICES TO ALL APPLICANTS THAT APPLY FOR RENTAL ASSISTANCE THAT INCLUDE RELOCATION ASSISTANCE INFORMATION, EVICTION INTERVENTION, PREVENTION INFORMATION, FAIR HOUSING.

ALL SORTS OF WRAPAROUND SERVICES ARE PROVIDED.

RESOURCES ARE PROVIDED TO ALL OF OUR APPLICANTS UPON APPLICATION REGARDING ELIGIBILITY. THE LOW INCOME AMI IS TO BE AT OR BELOW 80% TO BE ELIGIBLE TO RECEIVE RENTAL ASSISTANCE, AND THEY HAVE TO BE ABLE TO DEMONSTRATE COVID-19 HARDSHIP, WHETHER DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY.

THESE ARE FOR THE RENTAL ASSISTANCE IS AVAILABLE TO APPLICANT.

EXCUSE ME, RESIDENTS OF SAN ANTONIO OR BEXAR COUNTY AND BEXAR COUNTY DEPENDING ON FUNDING, AVAILABILITY REGARDING INELIGIBILITY OR FAMILIES THAT ARE UNABLE TO RECEIVE THIS ASSISTANCE. USUALLY, THE LIKELIHOOD OF THEM NOT BEING ABLE TO GET ASSISTANCE IS BECAUSE THEY'VE ALREADY REACHED MAXIMUM ASSISTANCE OR HAVE RECEIVED ASSISTANCE ONCE IN THE LAST 12 MONTHS, BUT FOR THE MOST PART, THAT WOULD BE THE NUMBER ONE REASON FOR INELIGIBILITY.

NOW, OUR HAP PROGRAM WAS INITIATED IN MARCH OF 2022.

THAT'S WHEN BEXAR COUNTY BEGAN ALSO PROVIDING ERA TWO FUNDS TO THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO. WE HAD FOUR APPLICATION WINDOWS FROM APRIL 29TH THROUGH MAY 19TH, 2022, AND OUR MOST THE MOST RECENT ONE WAS MAY 15TH THROUGH JUNE 5TH.

WE RECEIVED A LITTLE OVER 19,000 APPLICATIONS AND APPROVED ABOUT OVER 5,000 RENTAL ASSISTANCE APPLICATIONS.

REGARDING OUR OUTREACH, WE PROVIDE MULTIPLE MULTIFACETED WAYS OF OUTREACHING TO THE COMMUNITY TO INFORM THE COMMUNITY OF THE RENTAL ASSISTANCE APPLICATION WINDOWS.

WE HAVE STAKEHOLDERS, MULTIPLE STAKEHOLDERS, PUBLIC NONPROFITS.

WE PROVIDE PRESS RELEASES.

WE ALSO ARE PARTICIPATING IN COMMUNITY EVENTS TO PROVIDE INFORMATION TO THE

[04:00:04]

WE UTILIZE SOCIAL MEDIA AS WELL AS FLYERS THAT ARE ALSO PROVIDED IN ALL OF THE JUSTICE OF THE PEACE COURTS.

A LOT OF OUR EVENTS, A LOT OF OUR SPACES WHERE THE COMMUNITY CONVENES, WE PROVIDE A LOT OF OUR FLYERS OUT THERE.

IN ADDITION, WE DO NEWSLETTERS AND EMAIL BLASTS.

WHEN WE FIRST STARTED HAP, WE ACTUALLY HAD A TV SPOT AND WE OUTREACHED I THINK WE OUR AUDIENCE WAS ABOVE 200,000 FOLKS THAT WE REACHED OUT TO WHEN WE FIRST STARTED OUR HAP PROGRAM. WEBSITES, WE UPDATE THE INFORMATION ON THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO WEBSITE, BEXAR COUNTY WEBSITE, IN ADDITION TO SITES THAT PROVIDE RESOURCES TO THE COMMUNITY FOR INSTANCE, SACRED.

AND EXAMPLES OF SOME OF OUR STAKEHOLDERS THAT WE PARTNER WITH TO HELP SPREAD THE WORD INCLUDE FOLKS LIKE CATHOLIC CHARITIES, SALSA, OUR LEGAL AID PARTNERS, AND TRALA, AS WELL AS HAVEN FOR HOPE AND OTHER PARTNERS THAT DO SOME OF THE SIMILAR WORK TO PREVENT HOUSING STABILITY.

I MEAN, TO WORK WITH HOUSING STABILITY.

EXCUSE ME. LET'S SEE.

THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT.

SO REGARDING OUR BEXAR COUNTY.

SO THIS IS JUST A BIG SNAPSHOT OF OUR ERA TWO FUNDING.

OVERALL, SINCE MAY 2022, THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO HAS PROVIDED OVER $27 MILLION IN RENTAL ASSISTANCE TO OVER 10,000 HOUSEHOLDS.

THIS INCLUDES FUNDS FROM THE US DEPARTMENT OF TREASURY.

THE CITY'S GENERAL FUNDS.

IN ADDITION TO THE BEXAR COUNTY ERA TWO FUNDS.

OF THE ERA TWO FUNDS THAT WE BEGAN RECEIVING IN MARCH 2022.

WE HAVE PROVIDED $7.4 MILLION IN RENTAL ASSISTANCE TO OVER 2,000 WELL TO 2,306 HOUSEHOLDS. THE AVERAGE ASSISTANCE PROVIDED DURING THIS TIME WAS $3,211, AND THE AVERAGE AMI OF THE HOUSEHOLDS ASSISTED WAS 29%.

THAT'S EQUIVALENT TO A SINGLE SINGLE FAMILY HOUSEHOLD OF A THREE PARENT HOUSEHOLD, MAKING MAYBE ABOUT $26,000 A YEAR.

TO DATE, BEXAR COUNTY HAS ACTUALLY CONTRIBUTED ABOUT $22 MILLION IN ALL OF OUR RENTAL ASSISTANCE TO OVER 6,000 FAMILIES.

SO TO BREAK IT DOWN BY PRECINCT, THIS IS A BREAKDOWN OF OUR EXPENDITURES PER PRECINCT.

PRECINCT FOUR HAS RECEIVED ABOUT $2.5 MILLION IN TOTAL, FOLLOWED BY PRECINCT TWO, WHO HAS RECEIVED ABOUT $2.2 MILLION TOTAL FUNDING, FOLLOWED BY PRECINCT ONE, WHO HAS RECEIVED $1.5 MILLION AND THEN FOLLOWED BY PRECINCT THREE, WHO HAS RECEIVED $1.1 MILLION IN ASSISTANCE OVERALL.

THE BLUE COLUMN I ALSO WANTED TO GIVE A BRIEF THANK YOU TO BEXAR COUNTY, THE GIS TEAM WHO PUT TOGETHER THIS INFORMATION, THE BREAKDOWN OF THE EXPENDITURES.

SO THE BLUE COLUMN IS WHAT YOU SEE ON THE SCREEN IS THE BEXAR COUNTY EXPENDITURES, AND THEN THE YELLOW OR ORANGE COLUMN IS THE SAN ANTONIO EXPENDITURES WITHIN THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO CITY LIMITS.

I DO WANT TO POINT OUT THAT THIS IS THESE TRENDS.

WHAT YOU SEE RIGHT HERE IS CONSISTENT WITH OUR OVERALL FUNDING OF RENTAL ASSISTANCE THAT WE HAVE PROVIDED.

AND LASTLY, IN CASE YOU WERE WONDERING ABOUT THE 2,306 FAMILY BREAKDOWN, THERE ARE ABOUT 820 FAMILIES IN PRECINCT FOUR THAT WERE ASSISTED WITH RENTAL ASSISTANCE, 658 IN PRECINCT TWO, 491 IN PRECINCT ONE, AND THEN 337 TOTAL IN PRECINCT THREE.

THIS CONCLUDES THE BREAKDOWN OF THE ERA TWO FUNDING THAT BEXAR COUNTY HAS PROVIDED THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO AS A SUB RECIPIENT, AND WE THANK YOU FOR YOUR VALUABLE PARTICIPATION IN HELPING AND MAKING SURE THAT WE KEEP OUR FOLKS HOUSING STABILITY.

GREAT COMMISSIONER MOODY.

ANY QUESTIONS? THANKS FOR WALKING US THROUGH THAT, IF YOU COULD.

THERE'S AN AWFUL LOT OF NUMBERS, AND I'M JUST TRYING TO MAKE SURE I UNDERSTAND.

SO THERE WAS ERA ONE.

THIS IS ERA TWO, RIGHT? BUT ERA TWO, THERE WAS LIKE $6.6 MILLION CURRENTLY IN THIS FUND, AND WE'RE TALKING ABOUT ADDING ANOTHER MILLION.

[04:05:02]

SO AS OF NOVEMBER 2022, IT WAS THE $6 MILLION, AND THEN THE ADDITIONAL $1.026 WOULD BE THE APPROVED TO DATE IN THE THIRD AMENDMENT FOR THE THIRD INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT.

OKAY, AND THE $6.6 IS THE COUNTY CONTRIBUTION OR ALL IN CITY AND COUNTY.

IT'S JUST THE COUNTY. IT'S JUST THE ERA TWO.

OKAY. AND ALL THESE FUNDS ARE ARPA FUNDS, CORRECT? THAT'S CORRECT. OKAY.

UM. JUST A COUPLE OTHER THOUGHTS I'LL MENTION HERE.

SO LOOKING AT THE SERVICES SO FOLKS CAN APPLY EVERY YEAR, ONCE EVERY 12 MONTHS? ONCE EVERY 12 MONTHS.

SO IF THEY RECEIVED ASSISTANCE, LET'S SAY FOR INSTANCE NOVEMBER 2022 THEY WOULD BE ELIGIBLE DECEMBER 2023.

OKAY, BUT THEY CAN ONLY ASK FOR THAT ASSISTANCE FOR THREE MONTHS AT A TIME.

THEY CAN GET UP TO THREE MONTHS AND THAT INCLUDES ERAS AS WELL.

OKAY, AND THEN THE MAX $3,500 FOR RENT AND $1,500 FOR UTILITIES.

THAT'S LIKE A LIFETIME MAX FOR THE PROGRAM? JUST FOR THAT APPLICATION PERIOD.

SO THEY'RE ELIGIBLE AGAIN 12 MONTHS DOWN THE LINE, AND THAT MAX IS STARTS ALL OVER AGAIN.

IT'S THAT ONE TIME APPLICATION.

SO IF IT'S FOR THREE MONTHS, $1,500 FOR UTILITIES, THEY COULD GET UP TO $500 A MONTH FOR UTILITIES. PRETTY MUCH YES, SIR.

AND I DON'T KNOW, MAYBE THIS WAS A FEDERAL STIPULATION OR I DON'T KNOW IF THIS WAS COSA DESIGNED, BUT THAT 80% AMI WHERE DID THAT NUMBER COME FROM? THAT IS THAT IS A MANDATE OR IT'S ONE OF THE GUIDELINES OF THE US DEPARTMENT OF TREASURY.

IS IT OKAY, BUT THAT'S BASED OFF OF OUR AMI OR IN NATIONAL.

EXCUSE ME, THAT'S BASED OFF OF OUR AMI OR NATIONAL AMI.

WE USE THE NATIONAL AMI OH, SORRY. THE AREA MEDIAN INCOME.

OKAY.

NUMBER IS ESTABLISHED BY THE FEDERAL DATA THAT'S USED.

SO IT'S FEDERAL DATA THAT ESTABLISHES WHAT THE AREA'S MEDIAN INCOME IS.

SO IT'S THE INCOME OF PEOPLE IN BEXAR COUNTY.

OKAY, AND FOR THE CASE MANAGEMENT SIDE, ARE WE YOU KNOW, THERE'S ALL KINDS OF OTHER AFFORDABLE HOUSING PROJECTS THAT ARE BEING DEVELOPED ARE CONNECTIONS BEING MADE.

BECAUSE IF THEY'RE QUALIFYING FOR THIS PROGRAM, THEY WOULD ALSO QUALIFY FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN MANY CASES.

RIGHT. SO IS THAT PART OF THE CASE MANAGEMENT? RIGHT NOW OUR PROGRAM ONLY PROVIDES THE RENTAL ASSISTANCE.

WE DO HAVE HOUSING ADVOCATES THAT COULD PROVIDE OTHER SERVICES.

WE DO ANYTHING THAT'S GOING ON WITHIN OUR DEPARTMENT.

WE OPEN. WE SHARE THAT WITH OUR APPLICANTS AS WELL.

SO WHETHER IT'S FIRST TIME HOMEBUYERS, FOR INSTANCE, WE DO HAVE THAT PROGRAM.

WE CAN ASSIST WITH THAT HI, I'M VERONICA GONZALEZ, ASSISTANT DIRECTOR WITH NEIGHBORHOOD HOUSING SERVICES.

I JUST WANT TO COMPLIMENT WHAT SHE SAID.

WE ALSO HAVE TWO TOOLS THAT WE USE.

IT'S THE HOUSING BASED TOOL, AND THAT HAS BEEN VERY HELPFUL.

WE LAUNCHED IN MARCH, LAST MARCH, AND WITH THE LAUNCH OF THIS PROGRAM, WE'RE ABLE TO NOT ONLY CONNECT OUR COMMUNITY AND EMPOWER THEM TO UTILIZE AN INVENTORY OF HOUSING, AND A LOT OF THAT HOUSING HAS, OF COURSE, HAS TO BE AFFORDABLE, BUT THAT'S A TOOL THAT OUR CASE MANAGERS USE, AND THEY CAN CREATE A PROFILE FOR ALL OF OUR CLIENTS AND GAIN ACCESS TO THAT INVENTORY OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING.

CURRENTLY, WE HAVE OVER 170 OF THOSE HOUSING PROPERTIES.

OKAY. NO, THANK YOU FOR THAT CLARIFICATION.

OBVIOUSLY, MY THINKING THERE IS JUST AS WE'RE DEVELOPING AFFORDABLE HOUSING PROJECTS THAT HAVE TAX REBATES ASSOCIATED WITH THEM, AND YET THEY MAY NOT BE FILLED, AND YET AT THE SAME TIME, WE'RE PROVIDING RENTAL ASSISTANCE TO SOMEBODY ELSE WHO COULD BE IN THAT AFFORDABLE HOUSING.

SO I JUST WANT TO CONNECT THE DOTS THERE.

LAST THING I JUST HAVE TO MENTION ON THE ELIGIBILITY, THE COVID 19 HARDSHIP.

HOW ARE WE DETERMINING THAT AT THIS POINT? I MEAN, WE'RE THREE AND A HALF YEARS POST PANDEMIC, AND AT WHAT POINT IS THERE REALLY DIFFICULTY MAKING A CONNECTION THERE? EXACTLY. SO THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE'VE HAD TO ADJUST OUR RECENTLY, MOST RECENTLY. SO FOR INSTANCE, IF THEY HAD SOME UNNECESSARY, UNEXPECTED FINANCIAL EXPENSES THAT OCCURRED DURING THE COVID PANDEMIC, THEY COULD USE THAT AS A HARDSHIP, AND SO IT COULD BE AS EASY AS A $100 DOCTOR'S APPOINTMENT OR DOCTOR VISIT, THINGS LIKE THAT. SO WE'RE WORKING VERY CLOSELY WITH OUR FAMILIES TO BE ABLE TO MEET THAT QUALIFICATION AND NOT HAVING THAT HURT THEM BECAUSE WE'RE SO FAR ALREADY OUTSIDE OF POST PANDEMIC, BUT IT'S STILL THE GUIDELINE WE STILL NEED TO FOLLOW FOR FUNDING.

AND SO OVER THE LAST TWO YEARS, HAVE YOU STARTED TO SEE A DECLINE IN THE INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE QUALIFYING FOR THE PROGRAM AND WHO NEED THE ASSISTANCE?

[04:10:01]

OKAY. WELL THESE ARE ARPA DOLLARS THAT ARE ASSISTING OUR COMMUNITY, BUT I DO JUST WANT TO BE COGNIZANT OF WHERE DOES THIS LEAD? AT SOME POINT THE ARPA DOLLARS RUN OUT AND HOW IS THIS GOING TO BE FUNDED IN THE FUTURE? WHAT NEED IS THERE? AND IF THIS NEED REMAINS, THEN HOW IS THIS GAP GOING TO BE FILLED? THANK YOU. TO RESPOND TO YOUR QUESTION, OBVIOUSLY THE DEMAND IS GREAT, THE NEED IS GREAT, AND WE HAVE LIMITED RESOURCES.

WE'VE BEEN VERY FORTUNATE TO PARTNER WITH YOU ALL AND TO PROVIDE OVER $200 MILLION TO OUR RESIDENTS, WHO HAVE BEEN PROBABLY PART OF THE MOST VULNERABLE POPULATIONS SINCE THE 2020 PANDEMIC.

HOWEVER, WE ALWAYS LOOK FORWARD AND IN LOOKING FORWARD, WE'RE FORECASTING WHAT WE CAN POSSIBLY DO FOR OUR WHAT WE CALL OUR FISCAL YEAR 2025.

BY THIS YEAR, WE WILL HAVE DWINDLING FEDERAL FUNDS, AND SO WHAT'S IMPORTANT IS THAT WE START TO WORK WITH OUR PARTNERS IN A LOT OF CASE MANAGEMENT.

WE WORK WITH OUR DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES.

THEY HAVE DIVERSION FUNDS, RAPID REHOUSING.

WE WORK WITH A LOT OF OUR TRUSTED COMMUNITY PARTNERS AND NONPROFITS TO ENSURE THAT FAMILIES ARE ALWAYS EMPOWERED WITH RESOURCES THAT ARE WITHIN OUR COMMUNITY.

BUT IN SHORT, YOU'RE ABSOLUTELY RIGHT THAT DEMAND IS HIGH AND OUR RESOURCES AREN'T GOING TO BE AT THE LEVEL THEY WERE WITH OUR FEDERAL DOLLAR INFUSIONS.

YEAH, I APPRECIATE YOU SAYING THAT, AND THAT'S JUST, I THINK A REAL CONCERN.

EVERYBODY NEEDS TO REALIZE THAT ONCE THE ARPA DOLLARS ARE GONE, EITHER WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO HAVE SOME OF THESE CASE MANAGEMENT TO BE ABLE TO LESSEN THE NEED, OR THERE'S GOING TO HAVE TO BE HARD DECISIONS THAT ARE MADE, BECAUSE OBVIOUSLY THERE'S A LOT OF DIFFERENT COMPETING PRIORITIES OUT THERE.

RIGHT. JUST TO BE CLEAR, COMMISSIONER, THESE DOLLARS THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT TODAY HAVE ALREADY BEEN EXPENDED. SO THERE'S NO FUTURE ELIGIBILITY FOR COUNTY FUNDED PEOPLE WITHIN THE HAT THAT ARE FUNDED BY THE COUNTY IF THEY LIVE IN THE CITY.

OF COURSE, I'M TOLD THAT THEY STILL HAVE SOME FUNDING AVAILABILITY.

NOW, WE DID RETAIN ABOUT $620,000 IN THE DEPARTMENT.

OUR DEPARTMENT BUDGET OF THE TWO FUNDS, WE CAN PROVIDE RENTAL ASSISTANCE WITH THAT, AND IT'S OUR INTENTION TO HOLD THAT OR TO SPEND IT OVER THE NEXT COUPLE OF YEARS, PRIMARILY ON THOSE CASES THAT COME FROM YOUR OFFICES DIRECTLY, BECAUSE THOSE FOLKS WOULD BE ELIGIBLE, BUT THIS, UNLESS FURTHER FEDERAL FUNDS ARE PROVIDED FOR SOME REASON, WOULD BE THE END OF OUR OUR FUNDING OF THE PROGRAM USING ANY OF THESE FEDERAL DOLLARS.

SO WE'RE FULLY EXPENDED ON THAT CONTRACT.

OKAY. THANK YOU.

[INAUDIBLE] YES, THANK YOU VERY MUCH, DAVID AND THE CITY, FOR BRINGING THIS PROPOSAL BACK TO US. I THINK IT'S A REALITY CHECK TIME.

I JUST PULLED UP THE CENSUS INCOME AND POVERTY DATA, AND SOMETIMES I THINK WE THINK WE HAVE MORE WEALTH IN SAN ANTONIO THAN WE ACTUALLY DO, AND WE DON'T.

WE LOSE SIGHT OF WHAT THE REALITY OF THE AVERAGE PERSON IS MAKING IN TERMS OF INCOME, WITH COSTS OF INFLATION REALLY PUSHING PEOPLE TO THE BRINK.

SO ACCORDING TO THE CENSUS DATA, THE PER CAPITA INCOME IN THE PAST 12 MONTHS IN 2021 FOR THE YEARS 2017 THROUGH 2021, THE LATEST DATA IS $28,579.

$28,579. SO YOUR AVERAGE MEDIAN INCOME IS SOMEWHERE AROUND $61.5, RIGHT? BUT IF YOU BREAK IT OUT INTO THE TOTAL AVERAGE POPULATION, IT'S VERY LOW, AND THAT'S THIS TENSION ON HOUSING AND STRESS OF NEED OF RENTAL ASSISTANCE.

SO THE REAL ANSWER FOR THAT IS TO BUILD MORE HOUSING THAT WILL ACCOMMODATE THESE INCOME LEVELS THAT ARE OUR REALITY, AND THE ONLY WAY YOU MARCH PEOPLE OUT OF POVERTY IS, GIVE THEM THE STABILITY OF HOUSING AND HOME OWNERSHIP.

SO WE'VE GOT OUR WORK CUT OUT FOR US BECAUSE WE'RE COMING AT A TIME OF HIGHER COSTS ON MATERIALS, LABOR AND ALL KINDS OF OTHER INFLATIONARY PRESSURES, WHICH ARE SUBSIDING A LITTLE BIT, BUT THAT'S WHY WHETHER OR NOT OUR LONG TERM COMMITMENTS WERE WELL PLACED FOR WHAT I THINK THE TOP ISSUE IS FOR US IS REALLY I THINK UNDER-EDUCATION IN THE FEDERAL RESERVE IS REALLY THE ONE WHO HAD THAT ANALYSIS OF SAN ANTONIO'S ECONOMY.

IF WE CAN GET THE WORK PROGRAM AT THE CITY TO INCORPORATE MORE FOR DOLLARS OF, I THINK, ADULT LITERACY, I THINK IT WOULD GET MORE ENROLLMENT AND MORE SUCCESS, BUT ABSENT POVERTY ALLEVIATION AND A REAL CONCENTRATION ON HOUSING, AND WHAT IS IT THAT ALLEVIATES

[04:15:03]

COMMISSIONER CLAY-FLORES.

YEAH, I JUST WANT TO THANK THE CITY FOR BEING HERE SO THAT WE CAN GET OUR QUESTIONS ANSWERED, AND ALSO WOULD LIKE TO ASK YOU GUYS TO WORK WITH MY OFFICE TO DIRECTLY REACH OUT TO MY OFFICE TO SEE HOW WE CAN BETTER LET MY PRECINCT KNOW ABOUT THE RESOURCES HERE, BECAUSE I'M SURE THERE'S A GREATER NEED THAN WHAT'S SHOWING ON THE NUMBERS.

SO IF YOU CAN REACH OUT TO US SO THAT WE CAN INVITE YOU TO DIFFERENT EVENTS OR SOMETHING.

I KNOW YOU GUYS WORK CLOSELY WITH DAVID MARQUEZ'S TEAM, AND THEY DO A REALLY GOOD JOB AT COMING OUT TO OUR EVENTS SO THAT THE CONSTITUENTS OF PRECINCT ONE CAN BE BETTER AWARE OF. WE WOULD BE MORE THAN HAPPY.

THANK YOU. I SAW YOU HAD A COMMENT, MA'AM.

YEAH, YEAH. I'M SORRY.

YEAH. YOU WERE COMING UP TO THE DAIS.

YES. COMMISSIONER CALVERT, I JUST WANTED TO POINT OUT THAT MAJOR PARTNER OF OURS IS READY TO WORK THROUGH WORKFORCE SOLUTIONS.

AND SOMETHING WE FREQUENTLY DO IS PART OF THE CASE MANAGERS MAKE SURE THAT ALL OF OUR APPLICANTS ARE CONNECTED TO THIS VERY CRUCIAL RESOURCE THAT HELPS WITH EMPLOYMENT, TRAINING AND EDUCATION, AND EDUCATION IS CRUCIAL TO HELPING PEOPLE GET AHEAD.

BECAUSE YOU'RE RIGHT, THE RENTAL ASSISTANCE IS JUST ONE PART.

WE NEED THEM TO HAVE STABLE EMPLOYMENT, LIVABLE WAGES, SO THAT THEY CAN HAVE THE HOUSING WITHIN THEIR BUDGET AND LIFESTYLE THAT THEY NEED FOR THEIR FAMILIES.

SO I JUST WANTED TO STRESS THAT THEY'RE AN IMPORTANT PARTNER, READY TO WORK.

WELL, LET ME JUST SAY THAT I THINK THAT THE ENROLLMENT DEFICIT THAT YOU'VE GOT IN THE PROGRAM IS NEEDING A CHANGE IN STRATEGY AND TACTICS TO INCLUDE MORE FRONT END LEARNING DISABILITY DIAGNOSES AS WELL AS ADULT LITERACY, BECAUSE PEOPLE WHO CAN'T READ ARE BEATEN DOWN BY EDUCATION AND THEY'RE EMBARRASSED TO GO BACK TO SCHOOL.

SO ABSENT A ONE ON ONE APPROACH, A LOT OF YOUR FOLKS MIRED IN THE ANVIL OF POVERTY WILL NEVER COME OUT BECAUSE THEY JUST DON'T WANT TO PUT THEMSELVES BEING HUMILIATED.

EDUCATION OFTEN WAS A VERY HUMILIATING THING FOR A LARGE SWATH OF THEM, AND SO THEY'RE NOT ENROLLING IN PART BECAUSE YOU'VE GOT TO HAVE SOME SORT OF INCOME THAT'S STEADY.

I THINK THAT'S BEEN WORKED ON, BUT I'M NOT I'M NOT COMPLETELY SURE, AND SO THINGS THERE ARE SOME OTHER NATIONAL COUNTIES AND CITIES PROGRAMS WHERE IN LIGHT OF AI COMING INTO WE HAD A REPORT THAT SAID SAN ANTONIO IS GOING TO LOSE 120,000 JOBS.

DO YOU THINK HOMELESSNESS IS BAD NOW? IT'S GOING TO BE REALLY BAD WHEN AI IS TAKING ALL THESE JOBS, BUT YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE TO START LOOKING AT WHAT IS ALMOST SACRILEGE TO TALK ABOUT, WHICH IS SOME OF THE INCOME PROGRAMS THAT BIG COUNTIES AND CITIES ARE DOING ACROSS THE UNITED STATES ALREADY, WE ARE NOT, BUT IN ANY EVENT, THESE ARE JUST POLICY THINGS, AND THERE'S SOME GOOD DATA ON THOSE PROGRAMS, BY THE WAY, THAT I GOT RECENTLY AT THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF BLACK COUNTY OFFICIALS, WHICH WAS REALLY INTERESTING STUFF TO SEE THE POVERTY ALLEVIATION. SO IN ANY EVENT, IT'S IMPORTANT WE DON'T TALK ENOUGH ABOUT IT BECAUSE WE LIKE TOURISM AND WE DON'T LIKE TO TALK ABOUT THE UNDERBELLY OF THE REALITY OF OUR ECONOMY, BUT WE'VE GOT SOME MAJOR WORK TO DO IN POVERTY ALLEVIATION.

[INAUDIBLE] AND ONE OF THE THINGS REGARDING YOUTH LITERACY, WE DO REFER A LOT OF THESE FAMILIES THAT DO HAVE TEENAGE ADULTS OR YOUNG ADULTS IN THEIR FAMILIES.

WE DO PROVIDE RESOURCES AND REFERRALS TO THE NEXT LEVEL YOUTH PROGRAM WITH DHS AS WELL.

SO I WAS MENTIONING ADULT LITERACY.

DUAL GENERATION PROCESSES ARE THE BEST ONES, BUT I THINK THE ASPEN INSTITUTE HAS GREAT DATA ON DUAL GENERATION.

WE DON'T DO IT AT THE COUNTY, BUT A LOT OF OTHER COUNTIES ARE DOING DUAL GENERATION DUAL GEN. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT.

ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? IS THERE A MOTION.

MOVE FOR APPROVAL. MOTION.

MOTION FOR CLAY-FLORES SECOND BY COMMISSIONER RODRIGUEZ.

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

AYE. ANY OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES. THANK YOU, THANK YOU.

JUDGE. ALL RIGHT.

ITEM 57 DISCUSSION APPROPRIATE ACTION REGARDING THE EXECUTION OF PROFESSIONAL

[57. Discussion and appropriate action regarding execution of a Professional Services Agreement between Bexar County and Halff Associates, Inc. in the amount of $1,731,698 for Architectural/Engineering, planning and design services in connection with Rodriguez County Park Recreational Sports Fields and Facility Improvements an existing 41 acres park, located at 2060 Rodriguez Avenue, in Precinct 2. (Estimated Presentation Time: 10 minutes)]

MR. MCGLAMERY. GOOD AFTERNOON, JUDGE COMMISSIONERS KEN MCGLAMERY, DIRECTOR OF PARKS AND RECREATION, AND TODAY I'D LIKE TO GET APPROVAL FOR THIS PROFESSIONAL SERVICES AGREEMENT. SO I CAN BRING.

ALL RIGHT, THERE WE GO. THIS IS WITH HALFF A SSOCIATES.

[04:20:05]

AS YOU KNOW, OUR PARKS WERE NEGLECTED FOR QUITE SOME TIME, AND THIS IS IN THIS IS A TO REMEDY THAT. THIS IS THE ONLY PARK IN PRECINCT TWO IN WEST BEXAR COUNTY.

IT'S FAIRLY LARGE FOR ONE OF OUR PARKS.

IT WAS ACQUIRED IN 1953 AND IT'S 41 ACRES.

ABOUT 95% OF IT'S IN THE FLOODPLAIN.

SO IT'S IDEAL FOR WHAT WE WANT TO USE IT FOR.

YOU CAN SEE IT'S A LOT OF OPEN GREEN SPACE.

DECEMBER 9TH, 2022 PURCHASING AGENT RELEASED A REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL FOR THE SPORTS FIELDS AND FACILITY IMPROVEMENTS, AND THEN ON MAY 2ND, WE CAME TO GET A NEGOTIATION.

WE CAME TO GET APPROVAL TO NEGOTIATE WITH HALFF.

YOU ALL APPROVE THAT AND HERE WE ARE TODAY.

THE BENEFITS OF THIS PROJECT, THE SAFETY AND THE WELLNESS.

WE WANT TO WE WANT TO CHANGE THE SOFTBALL PLAYGROUND.

WE WANT TO PUT SOME NEW FLOORING IN SPORTS COURTS AND FIELD LIGHTING, PICNIC AREAS AND SHADING. FITNESS EQUIPMENT.

LOW WATER CROSSING AND DRAINAGE.

SPORTS COURT RENOVATIONS.

ADA IMPROVEMENTS.

PAVILION AND RESTROOM RENOVATIONS.

ACCESSIBLE PLAYGROUND AND ACCESSIBLE PICNIC STRUCTURES.

THIS PARK, AS YOU SAID, AS YOU CAN SEE BEEN HAS BEEN NEGLECTED FOR QUITE SOME TIME.

SOME OF THE MAJOR COMPONENTS ARE GOING TO BE A FAMILY PAVILION.

THE FAMILY. THE PAVILION RENOVATION.

THE RESTROOM RENOVATION TO MAKE SURE WE'RE ALL COMPLETE WITH THE ADA.

KITCHEN AND BARBECUE PIT RENOVATIONS, AND WE'RE GOING TO UPGRADE THE PARKING.

WE ALSO WANT TO DO SPORTS AND RECREATION AREA.

THIS IS GOING TO BE THE HOME OF BEXAR COUNTY YOUTH SPORTS.

WE'RE GOING TO HAVE BASKETBALL COURTS, PICKLEBALL COURTS, TENNIS COURTS, SOCCER FIELDS, BASEBALL FIELD, ADA PLAYGROUND, THE FITNESS EQUIPMENT, OF COURSE, OBSTACLE COURSE, STORAGE FACILITY, AND A CONCESSION BUILDING.

SOME OF THE IMPROVEMENTS THAT WE NEED TO DO THERE, OR WE NEED TO DO THE ENTRY DRIVE IMPROVEMENTS. THERE IS A LOW WATER CROSSING COMING OFF OF RODRIGUEZ THAT FLOODS REALLY EASILY, AND SO WE NEED TO ADDRESS THAT.

THE DRAINAGE IMPROVEMENTS RIGHT NOW, THE WHOLE GREEN SPACE DRAINS THROUGH ONE SECTION AND THERE'S EROSION FOR THE CREEK BANK.

WE WANT TO FLOOD PROOF OUR FACILITIES THAT WE HAVE TO HAVE IN THE FLOODPLAIN.

THAT WOULD REQUIRE THINGS OF PUTTING OUR OUR OUTLETS HIGHER UP, OUR ELECTRICAL SERVICES HIGHER UP, AND WE NEED TO CREATE A WE NEED TO REBUILD THE MAINTENANCE BUILDING THAT'S BEEN BROKEN INTO MANY TIMES DOWN THERE.

WE WANT TO PUT SOME CHARGING STATIONS IN THERE FOR FUTURE EV USE, AND WE WANT TO EXTEND THE TRAILS.

IT'S GOING TO TAKE ABOUT 24 MONTHS TO DO THE DESIGN WORK.

IT'S QUITE A LARGE PROJECT, AS YOU CAN SEE.

IT ABOUT TWO YEARS.

I THINK WE'LL GET IT RIGHT, AND THEN WE CAN GO OUT TO BID ON THE CONSTRUCTION.

THESE ARE THE FIRMS THAT RESPONDED AND HALFF WAS THE ONE THAT SCORED THE HIGHEST, AND THEY WERE. THEY SCORED UNANIMOUSLY.

UNANIMOUSLY THE HIGHEST.

THEY HAVE SWIMMING COMPONENTS IN THERE, AND SOME OF THEM WERE PRETTY FAMILIAR WITH.

ONE OF THEM IS DEBORAH DOCKERY.

SHE'S A LOCAL LANDSCAPE ARCHITECT ARCHITECT THAT HAS DONE SOME OTHER PARK WORK, AND HAS ACTUALLY HELPED ON THE OLD MASTER PLAN THAT WE DID IN THE PARK, SO WE'RE HAPPY TO HAVE THAT AS A SUB ON THIS PROJECT.

SO WE WERE RECOMMENDED APPROVAL FOR THIS.

NOW THE AMOUNT IS $1.7.

NOW THAT IS NOT THAT IS ALL IN.

THERE ARE SOME THINGS ABOUT THIS PROJECT THAT WE DON'T KNOW YET.

AS I SAID BEFORE, THE PARKS HAVE BEEN NEGLECTED FOR YEARS.

WE THINK THE AVERAGE, THE COST IS GOING TO COME AROUND ON $1.2.

THERE'S ABOUT $330,000 IN THERE FOR THINGS THAT WE DON'T KNOW ABOUT TOPOGRAPHICAL SURVEYS, GEOTECHNICAL, CULTURAL RESOURCES.

WE JUST DON'T KNOW THESE THINGS.

THEY HAVEN'T BEEN THEY HAVEN'T BEEN APPROACHED IN OUR PARKS FOR FOR YEARS.

SO WE WANT TO MAKE SURE WE CAPTURE EVERYTHING AND GIVE THE COURT THE COMPLETE PICTURE GOING FORWARD.

SO WE'RE ASKING FOR APPROVAL FOR THIS PARTICULAR CONTRACT.

COMMISSIONER RODRIGUEZ, THANK YOU, KEN, THANK YOU FOR FOR DOING THAT PRETTY, PRETTY BRISKLY AS WELL.

THIS IS A REALLY A POTENTIALLY WHEN WE FINISH A TRANSFORMATIONAL TYPE PROJECT FOR THE WEST SIDE AND PRECINCT TWO, BUT REALLY THE REGION I KNOW THAT YOU'VE HAD SOME DISCUSSIONS AS WELL WITH THE CITY BECAUSE THERE'S A NEARBY, I THINK, CITY PARK IN DISTRICT SIX, OR MAYBE IT'S SOME CONNECTIVITY WITH THE TRAILS.

I THINK THOSE ARE PRODUCTIVE CONVERSATIONS BECAUSE IT ADDS TO THE AMENITIES FOR OUR

[04:25:04]

SO, KEN, THANK YOU FOR DOING THIS.

LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU AND YOUR TEAM AND THE REST OF THE FOLKS ON REALLY MAKING THIS A WORLD CLASS JEWEL FOR THE WEST SIDE.

SO I'M GOING TO MAKE A MOTION FOR APPROVAL.

SECOND MOTION BY COMMISSIONER RODRIGUEZ.

SECOND BY COMMISSIONER CLAY-FLORES.

ANY FURTHER COMMENT? QUESTIONS? ALL RIGHT, TAKE A VOTE.

THANK YOU. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE.

AYE. ANY OPPOSED? ANY ABSTENTIONS. MOTION CARRIES.

[INAUDIBLE] THANK YOU ALL.

ALL RIGHT. ITEM 58.

DISCUSSION APPROPRIATE ACTION REGARDING AUTHORIZATION FOR THE COUNTY MANAGER TO BEGIN

[58. Discussion and appropriate action regarding authorization for the County Manager to begin negotiations for a lease agreement with GrayStreet Partners for up to 350 county employee parking spaces in the parking facility located at 146 Navarro St., to potentially include weekday shuttle services.]

MR. CURRY? YES.

JUDGE DAN CURRY, DIRECTOR OF FACILITIES MANAGEMENT I JUST WANT TO KIND OF FRAME THE PARKING SITUATION FOR YOU CURRENTLY, BECAUSE I KNOW YOUR OFFICE HAS BEEN WORKING ON THIS POTENTIAL AGREEMENT.

CURRENTLY, RIGHT NOW, AS OF THIS MORNING, WE HAVE 233 EMPLOYEES ON THE EMPLOYEE PARKING WAIT LIST. WE HAVE OVER 850 EMPLOYEES THAT ARE CURRENTLY ON THE CONTRACTED MONTHLY PARKING LIST AT VARIOUS GARAGES.

SO WE I'M SORRY, CAN YOU REPEAT THOSE NUMBERS? 850 THAT ARE CURRENTLY ENROLLED IN THE PARKING PROGRAM THAT PAY.

THERE'S A NUMBER OF OTHER ONES THAT HAVE EITHER FREE PARKING THROUGH 25 YEARS OF SERVICE OR FLEET VEHICLES OR OTHER PLACES, AS WELL AS 233 ACTIVE ON THE WAIT LIST.

SO AS OF THIS, THAT'S A NUMBER FROM THIS MORNING.

SO WE HAVE 233 PEOPLE WHO WORK AT THE COUNTY WHO CAN'T PARK IN ONE OF OUR GARAGES IN A DEDICATED SPACE BECAUSE OF THE LACK OF SPACE .

THE CENTRAL JURY ROOM AND THE JURORS, IN ORDER TO MOVE COURTS ALONG, HAVE CALLED MORE JURORS THAN THEY DID PRE-COVID.

SO THERE ARE MORE JURORS COMING TO OUR GARAGE, FILLING UP THE GARAGE AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE. SO THERE ARE TERRIFIC CONSTRAINTS ON THE DOWNTOWN PARKING AREA.

SO. ALL RIGHT, MR. CURRY, LET ME JUST PUT ON RECORD.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR ASSISTANCE ON THIS.

THIS IS AN ITEM THAT I'M BRINGING FORWARD AND PUTTING IT ON THE AGENDA FOR TODAY.

ONE OF THE ISSUES I HAVE TALKED ABOUT THROUGHOUT THE YEAR IS WHAT DO WE DO FOR OUR COUNTY EMPLOYEES, ESPECIALLY THOSE THAT WORK HERE AT THE COURTHOUSE OR IN THE SURROUNDING AREAS AND OBVIOUSLY, AS WE KNOW, PARKING IS A PREMIUM.

PARKING IS EXPENSIVE, ESPECIALLY FOR THOSE EMPLOYEES THAT ARE AT THE LOWER LEVEL OF PAY, AND OBVIOUSLY, I THINK EVERYBODY IT'S WELL KNOWN THAT ELECTED OFFICIALS, DEPARTMENT HEADS AND OTHER DESIGNATED EMPLOYEES GET FREE PARKING, AND SO THIS IS AN EFFORT TO PROVIDE A INCENTIVE AND APPRECIATION FOR OUR COUNTY EMPLOYEES, AND THROUGHOUT THE YEAR, I HAD MY STAFF CONTINUE TO LOOK AT ALL THE OPPORTUNITIES.

I THINK, MR. CURRY, THIS HAS ACTUALLY BEEN SOMETHING YOU HAVE WORKED ON FOR YEARS AS TO HOW DO WE EXPAND THE PARKING, ESPECIALLY FOR THE EMPLOYEES, KNOWING THAT WE HAVE TO TAKE CARE OF CENTRAL JURY ROOM? WE ALSO HAVE CONTRACTS WITH THE FEDERAL COURTHOUSE, AND WE HAVE EVENT PARKING OVER BY THE ALAMODOME THAT HELP COLLECT REVENUE.

SO PARKING IN A, IN A SENSE, IS ALSO A REVENUE GENERATING PROCESS FOR THE COUNTY.

AND SO FIRST, TAKE CARE OF THE EMPLOYEES.

I'M ASKING APPROVAL OF THIS AGENDA ITEM IN ORDER TO SHOW OUR APPRECIATION FOR OUR EMPLOYEES. IT'S JUST A COUPLE BLOCKS DOWN THE STREET, AND WE HOPE TO INCLUDE WEEKDAY SHUTTLE SERVICE IN ORDER FOR PROTECTION, ESPECIALLY THOSE EMPLOYEES THAT WORK LATER OR WORK PAST FIVE, AND OBVIOUSLY IN THE DOWNTOWN AREA, I THINK SECURITY IS AN ISSUE THAT WE SHOULD ALL BE AWARE OF.

AND SO I'M ASKING FOR APPROVAL.

MOTION TO APPROVE.

ALLOW THE COUNTY MANAGER TO CONTINUE TO NEGOTIATE.

IT WILL ADD 350 SPACES.

I THINK, MR. CURRY, YOU'VE DONE YOUR DUE DILIGENCE.

THAT WOULD AT LEAST TAKE CARE OF THE BACK LIST ALSO TOO I'M HOPING, MR. CURRY, WE CAN MOVE SOME OF THE EMPLOYEES OUT OF THE CURRENT GARAGE TO THIS NEW GARAGE, THEREBY ALLOWING PERHAPS MORE REVENUE WITH THE FEE GENERATING EITHER WITH JUROR CENTRAL JURY ROOM, ALTHOUGH THEY THEY PARK AT A SIGNIFICANT REDUCED FEE AND WHATEVER OTHER CONTRACTUAL OBLIGATIONS.

I WILL TELL YOU IN MY CONVERSATIONS WITH ALL THE STAKEHOLDERS IN DOWNTOWN THAT PARKING IS A PREMIUM AND WILL EVEN GET EVEN WORSE.

SO I WANT TO SEE US TAKE A COUNTY, A PROACTIVE APPROACH TO THIS.

AT SOME POINT, I AM LOOKING AT A PUBLIC PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP IN ORDER TO CREATE PERHAPS A PARKING GARAGE THAT WILL ALLOW CONTINUED ACCESS.

OBVIOUSLY, WE KNOW THAT WITH THE EVENTS THAT GO ON IN DOWNTOWN AND THROUGHOUT, ESPECIALLY

[04:30:01]

AND I BELIEVE, MR. CURRY, WOULD YOU VALIDATE MY COMMENTS IN REGARDS TO THE ESSENCE AND NEED FOR THESE PARKING SPACES. YES, WITHOUT A DOUBT.

WE IN THE DOWNTOWN AREA, THERE'S A DEFICIENCY OF PARKING DAILY, EVEN ON FRIDAYS WHEN THERE'S LOW TRAFFIC DAYS.

ONE OTHER COMPONENT YOU DIDN'T MENTION IS UTSAS EMERGENCE.

IN THIS DOWNTOWN AREA.

SPECIFICALLY, THIS SEVERAL BLOCK AREA IS GOING TO ADD SIGNIFICANT TRAFFIC, INCLUDING THEIR STUDENTS, STAFF, AND OTHER THINGS TO THIS.

SO THIS ISN'T THE ONLY SOLUTION, BUT IT IS AN EXCELLENT FIRST STEP TO MITIGATING SOME OF THE COUNTY'S LOCAL ISSUES.

I'M HAPPY TO MAKE A MOTION.

I JUST WANTED TO ASK ON OUR LAST PARKING GARAGE HOW MANY SPACES OR PER FLOOR BASICALLY, OR THE FLOORS WHERE WE DON'T HAVE LIKE IT IT ALL DEPENDS ON THE LAYOUT, BUT GENERALLY THERE ARE ABOUT 100 TO 110 SPACES PER FLOOR, AND GENERALLY IN SOME OF MOST OF OUR PARKING GARAGES, THE ARCHIVES GARAGE IS ABOUT 760 SPACES. THE ONE WE JUST FINISHED, RIGHT? THE ONE THEN THE SOUTHPAW'S GARAGE IS ABOUT 1,300 TOTAL SPACES.

SO IF WE WERE TO HAVE ADDED ANOTHER 300 SPACES ON IT, IT WOULD HAVE MADE IT ABOUT WHAT, 7 TO 10 STORIES OR MORE MAYBE? YEAH, RIGHT NOW IT'S EIGHT STORIES.

IT WOULD HAVE BEEN 11, 11 STORIES.

FROM AN ENGINEERING STANDPOINT, THERE'S NO ISSUE BECAUSE IT'S JUST CONCRETE, RIGHT? IT JUST SO I WOULD I WOULD SAY THAT FROM AN ENGINEERING PERSPECTIVE STRICTLY BY THE NUMBERS. PROBABLY NOT, BUT PARKING PEOPLE, AN 11 STORY PARKING FACILITY IS IS NOT IT DOESN'T HAPPEN VERY OFTEN. THERE ARE NOT 11 STORY PARKING GARAGES.

I DON'T THINK I'VE BEEN TO ONE.

I WAS JUST JUST JUST THINKING OUT LOUD HERE.

OKAY, WELL, I'LL MAKE A MOTION FOR THE COUNTY MANAGER TO BEGIN NEGOTIATIONS FOR A LEASE AGREEMENT WITH GRAY STREET PARTNERS.

SECOND MOTION BY COMMISSIONER CALVERT.

SECOND BY COMMISSIONER RODRIGUEZ.

COMMISSIONER RODRIGUEZ. YEAH.

THANK YOU, JUDGE, FOR BRINGING THIS FORWARD.

I KNOW IT'S SOMETHING WE HAVE ALL HEARD FROM EMPLOYEES ABOUT THE PARKING SITUATION, AND I KNOW, DAN, WE'VE HAD SOME DISCUSSIONS IN THE PAST.

OUR LAWYERS HAVE BEEN INVOLVED IN THIS A LITTLE BIT ABOUT POTENTIALLY MONETIZING THROUGH ADVERTISING AND PUBLIC ART ON THE SIDE OF OUR PARKING GARAGES.

I THINK IT'S SOMETHING WE NEED TO LOOK AT.

I KNOW THERE'S SOME CONCERNS ABOUT THE CITY'S SIGN ORDINANCE AND THINGS LIKE THAT, BUT IT WOULD ALLOW US NUMBER 1 TO WE HAD A DISCUSSION ABOUT PUBLIC ART EARLIER, HIGHLIGHT LOCAL ARTISTS, BUT ALSO RECEIVE SOME REVENUE THAT WOULD HELP, MAYBE HELP OFFSET THE COST HERE.

SO AGAIN, I KNOW IT'S NOT ON THE AGENDA TODAY.

WE'RE NOT TALKING ABOUT MOVING FORWARD WITH THAT, BUT I WOULD LIKE TO ASK YOU TO CONTINUE TO HAVE THAT CONVERSATION AND WHETHER IT'S THROUGH AN RFP, POTENTIALLY VISIT WITH THE CITY ABOUT HOW WE CAN DO THAT, BECAUSE I THINK THERE'S AN OPPORTUNITY THERE THAT WE'RE MISSING OUT ON. ABSOLUTELY.

I WILL DO THAT. COMMISSIONER CLAY-FLORES.

YES, I'M HAPPY TO SUPPORT THIS, BUT WHEN WE COME BACK, CAN WE I'D LIKE TO SEE THE BREAKDOWN OF HOW MUCH IT WOULD COST WITH THE SHUTTLE SERVICE AND HOW MUCH IT WOULD COST WITHOUT. ABSOLUTELY.

I'M SURE WE'LL BE GETTING INTO THOSE DETAILS IN FINER NEGOTIATION.

WE'LL BE BRIEFING EACH ONE OF YOUR OFFICES.

OKAY. THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT.

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

AYE. ANY OPPOSED? ANY ABSTENTIONS? MOTION CARRIES.

GET IT DONE, MR. CURRY.

THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT.

WE'RE GOING NOW. WE DID TAKE UP 59.

LET'S GO TO ITEM 60 WHICH IS DISCUSSION OF APPROPRIATE ACTION REGARDING BEXAR COUNTY'S

[60. Discussion and appropriate action regarding Bexar County's Legislative Program and the 88th Special Session #3 of the Texas Legislature.]

MS. SHANNON, I THINK WE HAVE A FULL TIME LEGISLATURE NOW JUDGE.

REGULAR SESSION.

I'M HERE TO REPORT THAT I HAVE NOTHING TO REPORT.

SO WE'RE STILL IN SESSION UNTIL NEXT THURSDAY.

I BELIEVE IT'S NEXT WEEK THAT THE 30 DAYS WILL EXPIRE, AND THE HOLDOUT HAS BEEN THE SCHOOL, THE VOUCHER SCHOOL CHOICE, AND I'VE NOT HEARD ANYTHING RECENTLY IN SOCIAL MEDIA ON WHAT THEY'VE WHAT THEY'RE DOING.

THEY CAME IN TODAY'S TUESDAY.

BOTH CHAMBERS CAME IN YESTERDAY AND I BELIEVE THE ONE COMES BACK IN THURSDAY AND ONE WILL COME BACK IN FRIDAY.

AND I THINK IT'S THE HOUSE COMING BACK THURSDAY, BUT I APOLOGIZE FOR NOT KNOWING WHICH IS WHICH ONE, BUT I THINK IT'S JUST A WAITING GAME.

SO YOU SAID SOMETHING'S ENDING NEXT WEEK, BUT I THOUGHT IT STARTED YESTERDAY.

THE NEW SESSION.

WE'RE IN THE FOURTH SPECIAL THAT STARTED NOVEMBER 9TH.

OKAY. YES, SIR. YES, IT'S ONE OF MY COLLEAGUES EVEN WE GET NOTICES WHEN THEY GO

[04:35:06]

SO I'M ASSUMING THERE'S SOME NEGOTIATIONS THAT ARE GOING ON TO TRY AND MOVE FORWARD, MOVE THINGS FORWARD, BUT.

YES, SIR. ANY QUESTIONS FOR THE COMMENTS? THANK YOU, MISS SHANNON. YES, SIR.

THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT. I BELIEVE WE'RE GOING NOW INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION.

[EXECUTIVE SESSION (DISCUSSION ONLY: CLOSED TO PUBLIC)]

PLEASE NOW EXCUSE YOURSELF.

THE COURT WILL NOW CONVENE INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION.

EXECUTIVE SESSION ITEMS MAY BE DISCUSSED AND ACTED UPON, IF APPROPRIATE, IN OPEN SESSION PURSUANT TO SECTION 541.071 OF THE TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE, FOR CONSULTATION WITH THE COURT'S ATTORNEY FOR ADVICE REGARDING PENDING OR CONTEMPLATED LITIGATION OR SETTLEMENT OFFERS IN THE FOLLOWING MATTERS; ONE LAWRENCE VERSUS BEXAR COUNTY.

TWO SMITH VERSUS BEXAR COUNTY.

THREE WOOD VERSUS BEXAR COUNTY.

FOUR CMPJ VERSUS BEXAR COUNTY.

WE WILL NOW THE TIME BEING 1:41 WE'RE NOW IN EXECUTIVE SESSION.

ALL RIGHT. THE TIME IS 2:03 P.M..

WE'RE BACK IN OPEN SESSION.

ARE THERE ANY MOTIONS TO MAKE, MR. ROBINSON? THANK YOU JUDGE.

ON ITEM NUMBER 61, THE FIRST MATTER DURING EXECUTIVE, THE COURT CONSIDERED APPROVAL OF THE PAYMENT OF BEXAR COUNTY SELF-INSURED RETENTION IN THE AMOUNT OF $200,000 TO INTACT INSURANCE IN THE MATTER OF JEANETTE LAWRENCE AS DEPENDENT ADMINISTRATOR ON BEHALF OF THE ESTATE OF CURTIS SMITH ET AL.

VERSUS BEXAR COUNTY, AND AUTHORIZATION FOR INTACT INSURANCE TO TAKE OVER DEFENSE AND RESOLUTION OF THE CLAIM.

MOTION BY COMMISSIONER CALVERT SECOND BY COMMISSIONER RODRIGUEZ.

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

AYE. ANY OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES. NEXT.

THE NEXT ITEM JUDGE DURING EXECUTIVE OF THE COURT CONSIDERED AGAIN APPROVAL OF THE PAYMENT OF KENT COUNTY.

SELF-INSURED RETENTION IN THE AMOUNT OF $200,000 TO INTACT INSURANCE AND THE MATTER OF ROBIN SMITH INDIVIDUALLY, SARAH SMITH INDIVIDUALLY, AND AMY MOORE AS DEPENDENT ADMINISTRATOR OF AND ON BEHALF OF THE ESTATE OF JULIUS PRICE ET AL.

VERSUS BECKER COUNTY AND AUTHORIZATION FOR INTACT INSURANCE TO TAKE OVER DEFENSE AND RESOLUTION OF THE CLAIM.

MOTION BY COMMISSIONER CALVERT, SECOND BY COMMISSIONER MOODY.

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

AYE. ANY OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES. THANK YOU.

JUDGE. I BELIEVE THAT CONCLUDES THE AGENDA.

IS THERE A MOTION TO ADJOURN FIRST? MOVE TO ADJOURN. MOTION BY COMMISSIONER CLAY-FLORES.

SECOND. BY COMMISSIONER RODRIGUEZ.

COMMISSIONER CLAY-FLORES, I'D LIKE TO ADJOURN IN MEMORY OF ANITA PENA AND JAMES LARRY RUTHERFORD.

COMMISSIONER RODRIGUEZ.

THANK YOU JUDGE. UNFORTUNATELY, I'VE GOT A FEW A FEW HERE CONSTITUENTS.

ESPERANZA OLVERA, MATILDE GUTIERREZ, FELIPE [INAUDIBLE], EMMA TORRALBA, AND ROLAND FLORES, AND THEN A COUPLE OF EXTRA SPECIAL RECOGNITIONS OF FOLKS WHO LEFT US.

PRAYERS TO MY CHIEF OF STAFF, FRANCESCA CABALLERO, WHO LOST HER FATHER LAST WEEK, STEPHEN MARTIN CABALLERO, AND THEN WE ALSO LOST JUDGE.

AS YOU'RE AWARE, JOYCE DORRICOTT, WHO WAS A LONGTIME GOOD, GREAT DEMOCRAT, FOUNDER OF NORTHWEST DEMOCRATS, ACTIVIST, COMMUNITY ORGANIZER, JUST AN ALL AROUND WONDERFUL PERSON. SO WE'LL MISS JOYCE AS WELL.

THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER MOODY.

COMMISSIONER CALVERT.

KATHLEEN KANE, CORRIN STRONG AND WANT TO JOIN COMMISSIONER RODRIGUEZ IN HONORING JOYCE DORRICOTT BIG LEGACY.

BIG SHOES TO A LOT OF WORK WHILE SHE WAS HERE.

WORKED WITH HER BACK IN, I THINK, 2006 OR 2008 AND HELPED THE NORTHWEST DEMOCRATS.

I GAVE THEM MY OFFICE FOR RUNNING THEIR COORDINATED CAMPAIGN.

SO IT WAS GREAT TO WORK WITH HER FOR MANY YEARS, AND SHE'LL BE MISSED BY PEOPLE ALL OVER THE COUNTY AND THE CITY.

AND I, TOO, WILL JOIN COMMISSIONER RODRIGUEZ AND COMMISSIONER CAVANAUGH.

RECOGNITION OF JOYCE DORRICOTT A FORCE ALTER HERSELF.

SHE I CONSIDER HER THE KIND OF THE CREATOR AND THE INITIATOR OF THE DOMESTIC VIOLENCE INITIATIVES THAT WE ARE CARRYING OUT NOW.

[04:40:02]

ALL RIGHT. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF MOTION TO ADJOURN? AYE. MOTION [INAUDIBLE] CARRIES.

LET'S GO HOME. LET'S GO EAT.

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.