Dec 12, 2023 Commissioners Court

ONE, ONE LAST REQUEST, DAVID, ON BEHALF OF THE CHILD WELFARE BOARD, I'VE ASKED THAT THE CHILD WELFARE BOARD, UH, WELFARE BOARD, CPS AND CHILDREN'S COURT COORDINATE THEIR SERVICES AND DELIVERY OF, UH, THE ITEMS THAT THE CHILDREN NEED SO THAT THERE'S A CONSISTENT POLICY, ESPECIALLY AS IT APPLIES TO CHILD PROTECTIVE SERVICES.

ALL RIGHT. SO I WANT YOU ALL TO JUDICIOUSLY USE THE MONEY THAT WE HAVE, UH, GIVEN TO YOU BY WAY OF GRANT.

THANK YOU. JUDGE. WE, UH, THE REGIONAL DIRECTOR, UH, LETICIA LOZANO, WAS SUPPOSED TO BE HERE, BUT SHE'S PARKING, APPARENTLY, SO WE GOT A LITTLE AHEAD OF CPS.

IS LATE. SHE'S A GREAT PARTNER FOR US.

SHE'S BEEN DOING IT A FANTASTIC JOB.

AND SO WE'RE VERY APPRECIATIVE OF HER AS WELL.

ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH.

UH, I AM, BECAUSE OF THE NATURE OF THIS, WHAT WE'RE DOING, WE'RE GOING TO GET TO OUR TIME CERTAIN.

BUT I UNDERSTAND WE HAVE SOME CITIZENS TO BE HEARD, AND I JUST WANT, UH, GIVE THEM AN OPPORTUNITY.

THEY TOOK TIME TO COME DOWN HERE.

UH, IF I COULD.

WHAT I WANT TO DO IS I BELIEVE MOST OF Y'ALL ARE HERE.

YOU'VE BEEN IDENTIFIED TO DEAL WITH ITEM 72, WHICH IS THE APPROVAL AND EXECUTION OF A GRANT AGREEMENT BETWEEN BEXAR COUNTY AND SAN ANTONIO PHILHARMONIC. UH, FOR ONE YEAR PERIOD BEGINNING IN OCTOBER 1ST, 2023, AND ENDING SEPTEMBER 30TH, 2024, FOR 300,000 FROM THE GENERAL FUND AND 50,000 FROM PRECINCT FOR CONTRIBUTIONS TO OUTSIDE AGENCY FUND ACCOUNT, AS REQUESTED BY COMMISSIONER TOMMY CALVERT.

PRECINCT FOUR, FOR A TOTAL AMOUNT OF 350,000, IN FUNDING FROM THE GENERAL FUND.

SO, UH, I'LL ASK THAT Y'ALL COME AS A GROUP.

IF YOU DON'T WANT TO, UH, SPEAK AS A GROUP, I UNDERSTAND.

I'LL GIVE YOU THE THE CITIZENS TO BE HEARD FIRST WILL BE ROBERTO TREVINO, SECOND WILL BE BRIAN PETROVIC, CHARLES FUENTES, ROBERT MARTELL, AND NOAH MONTALVO OR MONTALVO.

SO IF Y'ALL WANT TO COME UP IN THE.

AND THE FLOOR IS YOURS, I'LL JUST ASK THAT YOU SPEAK ONE, UH, TIME AND WITH THE THREE MINUTE LIMIT.

GO AHEAD. ROBERTO.

UH, HONORABLE JUDGE AND COMMISSIONERS.

THANK YOU. JUST REALLY WANTED TO COME UP HERE AND SAY THANK YOU.

UH, WANT TO TALK A LOT ABOUT, UH, YOUR INVESTMENT IN THE SAN ANTONIO PHILHARMONIC AND WHAT IT MEANS TO THIS COMMUNITY, UH, IN THIS LAST TIME PERIOD, UH, SINCE THIS LAST, UH, FUNDING AGREEMENT, UH, WE HAVE SEEN OVER 40,000 KIDS THROUGH OUR YOUNG PEOPLE'S CONCERTS.

WE'VE HAD MANY, UH, MASTER CLASSES THAT WE WANT TO, UH, CONTINUE TO HAVE THROUGHOUT THE COMMUNITY.

WE ARE OUT IN THE COMMUNITY.

WE'RE FOR THE COMMUNITY.

UH, WE'RE HAVING CONCERTS WITH A 67% INCREASE IN ATTENDANCE.

OUR LAST CONCERT WAS PRACTICALLY SOLD OUT.

IT WAS AN AMAZING, AMAZING TIME.

I ALSO WANT TO EXTEND THIS INVITE TO ALL OF YOU.

THERE, THERE. WE HAVE A ROW OF SEATS DEDICATED TO TO ALL OF YOU TO TO COME ENJOY A CONCERT.

COME SEE WHAT WHAT WE'RE ALL ABOUT.

UH, PLEASE KNOW THAT THAT YOU KNOW, A LOT OF WHAT WE'RE DOING IS FOCUSING OUR.

SELVES ON THE NEEDS OF THE COMMUNITY.

THAT'S WHY WE MOVED OUR OFFICES OVER TO THE WEST SIDE.

WE'RE OVER THERE AT AVENIDA GUADALUPE.

WE WE WE ARE JUST SO THRILLED TO HAVE A HOME ON THE WEST SIDE TO PRESENT COMMUNITY CONCERTS THAT ARE ABOUT THE COMMUNITY, WHETHER IT'S THE NORTH SIDE, THE WEST SIDE,

[00:20:04]

THE EAST SIDE, SOUTH SIDE, UH, OR EVEN DOWNTOWN SAN ANTONIO.

WE'RE REALLY, REALLY PROUD OF THE THINGS THAT WE'RE ACCOMPLISHING.

AND PLEASE KNOW THAT WE WANT YOU TO KIND OF SEE THINGS THAT WE'RE DOING THAT WE'RE ACCOMPLISHING.

THIS SATURDAY, WE'RE DOING OUR OWN SPECIAL FOLKLORICO NUTCRACKER.

IT'LL BE AT THE SB OVER WHAT USED TO BE SUNSET STATION.

PLEASE COME OUT AND ENJOY.

WHAT WE'RE DOING IS, IS COMBINING OUR WORK WITH OTHER ARTIST GROUPS, UH, AND UNDERSTANDING THAT WE HAVE THE LARGER TABLE.

SO WE ARE INVITING OTHER PEOPLE TO COME JOIN US, TO WORK WITH US, TO PRESENT UNIQUE, UH, EVENTS.

AND, UH, YOU KNOW, THIS IS REALLY WHAT WE'RE ABOUT.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MR. TORINO. UH, BRIAN.

GOOD MORNING. GOOD MORNING.

UM, THANK YOU FOR LETTING ME SPEAK.

I'M BRIAN PERCOVICH. I'M CHAIR OF THE SAN ANTONIO PHILHARMONIC.

I'VE BEEN PROUD TO BE PART OF THIS COMMUNITY.

WHEN I MOVED HERE 27 YEARS AGO TO BE A PROFESSIONAL MUSICIAN IN THIS COMMUNITY.

UM, AND REALLY, THE LAST YEAR AND A HALF HAS BEEN REALLY AN EXCITING, WONDERFUL TIME REINVIGORATING THE PERFORMING ARTS AND ORCHESTRAL MUSIC IN SAN ANTONIO.

BUT AS IMPORTANT AS OUR MAIN CONCERTS ARE YPC CONCERTS, OUR YOUTH CONCERTS.

WE'VE REACHED OVER 400,000 KIDS ALREADY, AND WE'VE DONE THIS BY BEING OUT IN SATELLITE LOCATIONS ALL THROUGH BEXAR COUNTY AND EVEN OUTSIDE THE COUNTY.

AND SO REALLY, WE'VE TOUCHED HUNDREDS OF ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS WHERE THEY'VE BEEN BUSED IN TO THE DIFFERENT HIGH SCHOOLS, SO THEY CAN KIND OF SEE WHERE THEY'RE GOING TO BE AS THEY MATURE AND GROW UP.

I THINK IT'S BEEN IN A WONDERFUL TIME.

AND I'LL REITERATE, UM, BE A PART OF THE EXCITING CONCERTS THAT WE'RE PRESENTING.

YOU'RE ALL WELCOME.

I REALLY APPRECIATE THE SUPPORT.

WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO DO A LOT AND WE'VE REALLY LEVERAGED YOUR FUNDING.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU.

UH, CHARLES FUENTES, GOOD MORNING.

GOOD MORNING, HONORABLE JUDGE.

UH, COMMISSIONERS, THIS IS A KIND OF A TURN FROM THE LAST TIME WE SPOKE TO EACH OTHER.

SO I DO WANT TO THANK YOU FOR APPROVING, UH, THE FUNDS FOR THE PHILHARMONIC.

IT'S, UH, LIKE MR. TREVINO SAID, IT'S A PROGRAM WHICH BENEFITS THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY, UH, AND MAKES EFFORTS TO MAKE THAT EQUITY KNOWN.

UM, I JUST WANT TO APPLAUD YOU ALL FOR SIDING WITH THE WORKING CLASS THIS TIME AROUND.

AND, UH, WE HOPE THAT FUTURE DECISIONS WILL TAKE THAT SAME LENS OF EQUITY, TRANSPARENCY AND, UM, GOOD, UH, SOUND ETHICS. UM, WITH THAT, UH, I DO WANT TO LEAVE SOME MORE TIME FOR MY COLLEAGUES, BUT ON BEHALF OF CWA 60 143 AND THE CENTRAL LABOR COUNCIL, WHICH I SPEAK IN THE CAPACITY OF THE POLITICAL TRADE CHAIRS, UH, THANK YOU FOR THIS DECISION.

AND WE HOPE TO SEE MORE FAVORABLE DECISIONS FOR THE WORKING COMMUNITY OF BEXAR COUNTY.

THANK YOU. CHARLES. THANK YOU TO CWA, UH, ROBERT MARTELL.

UH, THANK YOU, ROBERT MARTELL, UH, REPRESENTING CWA.

AND I JUST WANT TO THANK YOU FOR THE DECISION YOU GUYS MADE, BECAUSE I MYSELF WAS A MUSICIAN A LONG, LONG TIME AGO.

MY DAUGHTER IS A MUSICIAN NOW, SO THE ARTS IS WHERE IT'S AT.

AND, YOU KNOW, WITHOUT MUSIC, WE WOULDN'T BE TOUCHED BY ANYBODY.

SO THANK YOU AGAIN.

THANK YOU KNOW MONTALVO.

GOOD MORNING. GOOD MORNING.

THANK YOU GUYS FOR TAKING TIME AND LISTENING TO US.

UH, LOCAL 6143 WANTS TO THANK YOU GUYS FOR MAKING THE RIGHT DECISION FOR THE WORKING COMMUNITY.

I KNOW THAT WE ALL AT ONE TIME WANTED TO PLAY AN INSTRUMENT, RIGHT.

UH, I KNOW I DID, UH, BUT THESE GUYS ARE VERY TALENTED, AND THEY'RE OUT THERE TO TOUCH OUR COMMUNITY.

SO AGAIN, WE WE THANK YOU FOR YOUR DECISION.

IS THERE ANYBODY ELSE THAT SIGNED UP FOR ITEM 72, WHICH IS OBVIOUSLY THE AGENDA ITEM FOR SAN ANTONIO HARMONIC.

ALL RIGHT. ALL RIGHT I BELIEVE JUDGE.

JUDGE COULD I JUST THANK THEM REAL QUICK.

THANK YOU JUDGE. PARDON ME.

I JUST WANT TO THANK EVERYBODY FROM THE PHILHARMONIC WHO WAS ABLE TO JOIN US THIS MORNING.

IT'S BEEN AN IMPORTANT JOURNEY IN OUR CREATIVE ECONOMY TO MAINTAIN OUR PHILHARMONIC.

THERE IS BUT ONE PHILHARMONIC THAT WE HAVE HERE, AND IT IS A TREASURE THAT MUST GROW.

AND I PARTICULARLY APPRECIATE THE PARTNERSHIP OF LABOR BEING HERE SIDE BY SIDE, AND THE PARTNERSHIP OF THIS COMMUNITY, WHICH HAS CLEARLY STOOD IN THE THOUSANDS, AND THEIR SUPPORT FOR THE PHILHARMONIC.

THAT IS A TESTAMENT TO WHERE THE VOTERS AND THE TAXPAYERS ARE REALLY, UM, THE IMPORTANCE OF HAVING LABOR STANDARDS WITH OUR MUSICIANS IS REALLY, REALLY PARAMOUNT.

UH, AS A TEENAGER, UH, MICHAEL MUNIZ FROM THE AMERICAN FEDERATION OF MUSICIANS AND MY FATHER WORKED TO ENSURE THAT SONY, UH,

[00:25:06]

LATIN, SONY AND EMI AND THOSE LABELS PAID HISPANIC MUSICIANS THE SAME THINGS, THE SAME WAGES THAT THEY PAID OTHERS.

UM, AND SO WHENEVER THERE IS INJUSTICE IN TERMS OF THE DIGNITY OF WORKING PEOPLE, UM, BUT FOR OUR LABOR UNIONS, WE WOULD NOT BE WHERE WE ARE.

SO I THINK IT'S AN IMPORTANT PARTNERSHIP FOR SAN ANTONIO TO SHOW SOME HEART AND COMPASSION, UH, FOR THE GOOD WORKS OF PEOPLE WHO LABOR, UH, IN ALL FIELDS, WHETHER IT'S IN THE CULINARY OR WHETHER IT'S IN THE CONSTRUCTION OR WHETHER IT'S IN THE MUSICIANS.

SO THANK YOU ALL FOR THIS PARTNERSHIP.

IT'S THE WAY IT SHOULD BE DONE.

THANK YOU, JUDGE, AND THANK THE COURT.

COMMISSIONER RODRIGUEZ THANK YOU JUDGE.

I JUST WANTED TO TO ALSO RECOGNIZE AND THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING HERE THIS MORNING.

I KNOW, UH, COUNCILMAN TREVINO, UH, WE'VE HAD NUMEROUS CONVERSATIONS ABOUT, UH, YOUR ADVOCACY, UH, YOUR MOVE OF YOUR ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICES DOWN THE HALL FROM OUR, UH, FIELD OFFICE ON THE WEST SIDE.

UM, I JUST WANT TO NOTE, JUST SO YOU, IF YOU'RE WELCOME TO STAY ALL DAY, IF YOU WANT, WITH US.

BUT THE ITEM DID PASS ON CONSENT, SO, UH, IT WENT THROUGH.

I ALSO WANT TO NOTE, TOO, THAT, UM, WHAT'S NOT REFLECTED IN THAT ITEM TODAY IS, UH, AN ADDITIONAL 15,000 THAT WE ALLOCATED.

UM, I KNOW YOU DID A CONCERT AT LANIER HIGH SCHOOL OVER THE WEEKEND.

UH, SO TREMENDOUS SUPPORT FROM THIS COURT, UH, FOR THE FILL.

UM, AND WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU GUYS ARE SUCCESSFUL YEAR IN AND YEAR OUT.

SO THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.

I SEE LINDA CHAVEZ THOMPSON IN THE FRONT.

UH, LINDA, THANK YOU FOR YOUR YEARS OF ADVOCACY AND LABOR.

AND, UH, WE JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE WE ACKNOWLEDGE YOUR PRESENCE AS WELL.

SO THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.

CAN YOU HEAR ME? WE ALWAYS HEAR YOU, LINDA CHAVEZ THOMPSON.

I HAVE TO SAY THAT THIS IS AN ABSOLUTELY TERRIFIC COMMISSIONER'S COURT.

WHAT DO YOU SAY? WE'LL TAKE IT.

THANK YOU. LINDA. BUT I HAVE A PARTICULAR HABIT.

I'M SO SHOCKED. IT'S ALL OF, YOU KNOW.

BUT I WOULD ASK THE AUDIENCE, ALL OF YOU WHO MAY KNOW THESE COMMISSIONERS.

IT'S A HARD JOB. IT'S UNION.

PEOPLE LIKE MYSELF YELLING AT THEM WHEN I WANTED MONEY FOR MY UNION MEMBERS TO WORK FOR THE COUNTY.

BUT I WOULD ASK TODAY IF EVERYBODY WOULD.

YOU BETTER DO WHAT SHE SAYS.

WE CALL IT THE UNION CLASS.

CAN I ASK YOU TO MAKE THIS? IF YOU WILL HELP ME ALONG.

UH, YOU'LL CATCH IT.

OKAY, SO LET'S TRY IT.

THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH.

HOPE THAT YOU ALL HAVE A HAPPY HOLIDAYS AND WE'RE GOING TO LOOK FORWARD TO A PROSPEROUS NEW YEAR.

ALL RIGHT. I BELIEVE WE'VE GOTTEN THROUGH THE CONSENT AGENDA, AND WE'RE NOW WE'RE GOING TO GO TO THE TIME CERTAIN.

[4.a. 9:30 a.m. - Discussion and appropriate action regarding the Bexar County Hospital District d/b/a University Health's Operating, Debt Service and Capital Budgets for Fiscal Year 2024. (Presentation Time: 30 minutes)]

SO AT THIS TIME, JORGE HERNANDEZ FROM UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL DISTRICT, WE HAVE A DISCUSSION, APPROPRIATE ACTION REGARDING THAT.

BEXAR COUNTY HOSPITAL DISTRICT DBA UNIVERSITY HEALTH'S OPERATING DEBT SERVICE CAPITAL BUDGET BUDGETS FOR FISCAL YEAR 2024.

WELCOME, JORGE. AND I UNDERSTAND PERHAPS YOU HAVE SOME BOARD MEMBERS HERE TODAY AND BUT LET'S GET THROUGH THE PRESENTATION.

THANK YOU. JUDGE AND COMMISSIONERS.

UH, YES. WITH ME TODAY IS, UH, CHAIR JIM ADAMS, VICE CHAIR JIMMY HASSLACHER.

ALSO FROM THE EXECUTIVE TEAM, WE HAVE THE CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER, CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER REED HURLEY, CIO BILL PHILLIPS, COMMUNICATIONS OFFICER LENNY KIRKMAN, STRATEGY OFFICER TED DAY, LEGAL OFFICER SERENA RAVELLA, AND CHIEF MEDICAL OFFICER DOCTOR BRIAN OLSON.

NEXT SLIDE, BILL.

THAT WOULD GIVE A BRIEF OVERVIEW OF OUR CAPITAL PROJECTS.

UH, WE OPENED THE WOMEN AND CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL ON DECEMBER 5TH.

UH, MOVE WENT SMOOTHLY.

WE STARTED AT 2 A.M. IN THE MORNING TO TO MOVE THE THE CHILDREN.

AND WE FINISHED, UH, MOST OF THE MOVE BY 9 A.M.

AND THEN COMPLETED IT BY 3 P.M..

SO VERY SUCCESSFUL MOVE THE, UH, WE ARE NOW OPERATING IN THE WOMEN AND CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL.

NEXT SLIDE. TOMORROW WE HAVE A GROUNDBREAKING, UH, AT 2 P.M.

AT OUR VITA SITE, WHICH IS THE THE LAND THAT WE PURCHASED RIGHT ACROSS FROM TEXAS A&M.

THIS IS THE PUBLIC HEALTH FACILITY THAT IS BEING FUNDED WITH ARPA DOLLARS FROM COMMISSIONERS COURT.

[00:30:01]

IT'S. AND IN MARCH, WE'LL HAVE THE GROUNDBREAKING FOR OUR UNIVERSITY HEALTH WHEATLEY, A FACILITY WHICH IS ALSO FUNDED BY ARPA DOLLARS.

AND THAT DATE HAS NOT BEEN SET.

WE NEED TO COORDINATE WITH COMMISSIONERS COURT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE CAN PICK A DATE THAT'S AVAILABLE FOR THE COURT.

UH, THAT PARTICULAR FACILITY IS LOCATED AT HOUSTON STREET AND I-10.

UH, WE'VE HAD, UH, INCREASING DEMAND FOR, UH, HOSPITAL SPACE OVER THE LAST TEN YEARS, UH, PARTICULARLY STRONG AFTER THE BUILDING OF THE SKY TOWER IN 2014.

UH, YOU CAN SEE THAT THE GROWTH, UH, EVEN FROM 2019, THE YEAR BEFORE COVID, HAS BEEN EXCEPTIONALLY STRONG.

PATIENT DAYS UP 9%, ER VISITS UP 13% AND SURGERY CASES UP 21%.

SOME OF THAT IS DUE TO EFFICIENCY AND SOME OF THAT DUE IS DUE TO JUST NORMAL GROWTH.

NEXT SLIDE.

UH, WE'VE HAD TO COME UP WITH A HOSPITAL PLAN BECAUSE OF THAT STRONG, UH, HOSPITAL GROWTH.

UH, UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL IS OUR LEVEL ONE TRAUMA CENTER AND OUR TRANSPLANT INSTITUTE, AND DOES A LOT OF THE HIGH TECH, UH, HEART AND NEUROLOGICAL CASES.

UH, BUT WE ALSO HAVE A NEED FOR FOR OTHER TYPES OF, UH, HOSPITAL CARE.

WE STARTED HOSPITAL AT HOME IN JULY OF 2021, WHICH WAS MADE POSSIBLE BY FEDERAL AND STATE LAW CHANGES THAT ALLOWED HOSPITALS TO TO BE ABLE TO, UH, DO HOME CARE.

THEIR PATIENTS WHO ARE IN THIS PARTICULAR PROGRAM ARE STILL IN THE HOSPITAL.

TECHNICALLY, WE MAKE TWO NURSE VISITS A DAY AND ONE DOCTOR VISIT A DAY.

UH, WE'VE HAD 1500 PATIENTS, OVER 1500 PATIENTS SINCE WE STARTED THE PROGRAM.

THAT'S BEEN VERY, VERY SUCCESSFUL.

OVER 7700 BED DAYS BECAUSE OF THIS INNOVATIVE PROGRAM.

UH, THE WOMEN AND CHILDREN'S, AS I JUST MENTIONED, OPENED ON ON DECEMBER 5TH.

WE'RE UP AND RUNNING THERE.

UH, WE HAVE A KITCHEN AND A NEW CAFETERIA THAT WILL BE OPENING NEXT MONTH THAT'S CONNECTED TO THE WOMEN AND CHILDREN'S WE'RE GOING TO.

WE WANTED TO WAIT ANOTHER 30 DAYS, MAKE SURE WE SETTLED IN BEFORE WE OPENED THAT FACILITY.

UH, UNIVERSITY HEALTH RETAMA HOSPITAL, WHICH IS ON I 35 AT TAMA PARKWAY.

UH, AND UNIVERSITY HEALTH PALO ALTO ARE ALL SCHEDULED FOR GROUNDBREAKING NEXT YEAR.

UH, BOTH FACILITIES.

AND CLICK THE NEXT SLIDE, BILL.

THIS IS WHAT IT'S GOING TO LOOK.

THEY'RE GOING TO LOOK BEAUTIFUL.

FACILITIES. THEY, UH THEY'RE DESIGNED FOR 286 BEDS.

WE'RE GOING TO OPEN WITH 166 WITH ROOM TO EXPAND.

ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THIS SLIDE, YOU SEE A MEDICAL OFFICE BUILDING WHERE WE'RE BUILDING A MEDICAL OFFICE BUILDING CONNECTED TO THE HOSPITAL TO HAVE A PLACE FOR DOCTORS TO PRACTICE AS WELL. OPERATIONAL PERFORMANCE.

UH, I'D LIKE TO SHOW THIS SLIDE BECAUSE IT KIND OF TELLS THE STORY HOW BIG WE ARE AND WHAT WE DO.

YOU'LL SEE THAT THAT CIRCLE AT THE BOTTOM IS UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL AND ALL THE, UH, THE CURRENT HOSPITAL BUSINESS WE DO, BUT MOSTLY WHAT WE DO, 95% OR MORE IS DONE AT THE CLINICS, AND NEXT YEAR IS GOING TO BE NO EXCEPTION.

THIS YEAR IS VERY STRONG.

WE'RE PROJECTING STRONG NEED FOR OUTPATIENT CARE NEXT YEAR.

AND WE'RE GOING TO IF YOU JUST LOOK AT PRIMARY CARE AND SPECIALTY CARE, WHICH IS DOCTOR CARE, BOTH OF THOSE AREAS, WE WILL HAVE OVER A MILLION VISITS FOR NEXT YEAR.

SO QUITE SUBSTANTIAL.

NEXT SLIDE. I'D LIKE TO SHOW THIS SLIDE.

THIS IS A NEW SLIDE YOU HAVE NOT SEEN BEFORE, BUT COMPARES US WITH THE OTHER PUBLIC SYSTEMS IN TEXAS.

AND THIS IS THE RESULT OF A STRONG UT PARTNERSHIP.

WE COULD NOT DO THIS.

THIS LEVEL OF CARE, WITHOUT HAVING A STRONG UT PARTNERSHIP.

AND I COMPLIMENT PRESIDENT HENDRICK AND DEAN THOMAS FOR BEING GOOD PARTNERS.

WE WORK WITH THEM VERY WELL OVER THE LAST 5 OR 6 YEARS, YOU KNOW, SINCE DOCTOR ROBERTS HAS BEEN DEAN.

AND THIS IS THE RESULT, STRONG PERFORMANCE.

WE COMPARE US WITH OUR COUNTERPARTS ACROSS THE STATE.

NEXT NEXT SLIDE.

WE HAVE SIGNIFICANT PROJECTS OPERATING UH, THAT ARE IMPACTING OPERATIONS IN 2024.

THE TWO THAT ARE THE THE MOST SIGNIFICANT IS VERSUS THE OPENING OF WOMEN AND CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL MEANS ADDITIONAL STAFF.

AND THEN OF COURSE WE HAVE DEPRECIATION OF THE ASSETS.

SO THAT'S THAT'S ONE.

AND THEN THE SECOND IS OUR CONTINUED GROWTH WHICH YOU JUST SAW ON THE PREVIOUS SLIDE.

WE CONTINUE TO GROW AROUND THE COMMUNITY.

UH AND WE'RE OPENING MORE PRIMARY CARE CLINICS.

UH, WE'RE MODELING SOME, SOME OLD ONES, BUT WE'RE ALSO BUILDING SOME NEW ONES, AS YOU SAW, UH, BOTH AT, UH, AT WHEATLEY AND ON THE SOUTH SIDE.

LABOR CHALLENGES HAVE SOMETHING THAT CHALLENGES EVERY HEALTH CARE FACILITY IN THIS COUNTRY.

WE'VE BEEN VERY FOCUSED ON ADDRESSING THE LABOR CHALLENGE WE'VE HAD.

AND I JUST POINT AT THE BOTTOM BULLET OVER 100.

AND AS OF THIS, AS OF THIS PRESENTATION, OVER 198 RECRUITMENT EVENTS IN 2023, 198.

THAT'S ALMOST ONE EVERY OTHER DAY.

THE REASON FOR THAT IS THAT WE WERE WORKING VERY HARD TO ELIMINATE AGENCY STAFFING, WHICH IS VERY, VERY EXPENSIVE.

AND SO WE'RE GOING TO WE'RE ABLE IN THIS BUDGET TO REDUCE OUR AGENCY STAFFING FROM $60 MILLION IN 2023 TO $5 MILLION IN 2024.

[00:35:09]

SO THAT'S SIGNIFICANT.

AND THAT'S DONE PRIMARILY BECAUSE WE'VE WE'VE WE'VE HIRED EMPLOYEES NOW TO WORK FULL TIME.

THIS WAS WE'VE ALSO INCREASED THE LIVING WAGE FROM 1675 AN HOUR TO 1849 AN HOUR.

WE'VE ALSO MADE MARKET ADJUSTMENTS, AND WE CONTINUE TO MAKE MARKET ADJUSTMENTS.

ONE OF THE REASONS WE'RE ABLE TO TO RETAIN, UH, GREAT EMPLOYEES IS THE FACT THAT WE PAY THEM MARKET RATES.

AND WE ALSO PROVIDE THE ENVIRONMENT, I BELIEVE, FOR THEM TO WANT TO WORK THERE.

SO I PUT IN THAT TOP WORKPLACES, UH, SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS NEWS 2023.

THAT'S ALSO CONTRIBUTES TO THE THE FACT THAT EMPLOYEES WANT TO STAY WITH US.

NEXT SLIDE. UH, IN 2023, THE LOWN INSTITUTE RATED HOSPITALS ACROSS THE COUNTRY RATED OVER 3637 HOSPITALS. AND WE WERE RANKED VERY WELL ON SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY.

WE RANKED 16TH IN THE STATE OF TEXAS OUT OF 258 HOSPITALS AND 107TH OUT OF 3637 HOSPITALS NATIONWIDE.

ON SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY.

THE THAT THAT IS VERY WE'RE VERY PROUD OF THAT BECAUSE WE'RE WE'RE NOT ONLY WANT TO BE EFFICIENT AND AND GOOD STEWARDS OF THE TAXPAYER, BUT WE WANT TO DO OUR MISSION AND DO IT WELL. THE NEXT SLIDE WILL SHOW YOU THE TOP 20 HOSPITALS IN THE STATE OF TEXAS.

AND YOU'LL SEE THAT WE'RE THE ONLY PUBLIC HOSPITAL IN THE TOP 20 THERE IN TERMS OF SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY.

UH, A LOT OF GOOD.

WE'RE IN GOOD COMPANY. I KNOW A LOT OF THE THE HOSPITAL CEOS THAT THESE HOSPITALS.

SO WE'RE THIS IS THIS IS A, YOU KNOW, A REALLY, REALLY GREAT RECOGNITION FOR US ON OUR MISSION.

NEXT SLIDE. WE'VE ALSO WORKED VERY HARD.

I WANT TO COMPLIMENT, UH, DOCTOR, DOCTOR BRIAN ALLSOP AND MR. ADVANCE ON THIS.

WE HAVE WORKED VERY HARD TO GET AN A IN LEAPFROG HOSPITAL SAFETY.

UH, WE'RE AGAIN, WE'RE THE ONLY PUBLIC HOSPITAL THAT HAS AN A IN SAFETY.

THIS IN THE FALL, UH, REPORT.

UH, THIS THIS IS NOT SOMETHING THAT YOU CAN JUST, YOU KNOW, DO AT THE LAST MINUTE.

IT'S CALLED IT CALLS FOR CONTINUOUS EFFORT BY THE STAFF IN BOTH MONITORING PATIENT CARE AND IMPROVING PROCESSES.

UH, CONTINUOUSLY.

SO NEXT SLIDE.

AND AND I'D LIKE TO SHOW THIS SLIDE.

AND YOU'VE SEEN THE SLIDE BEFORE.

THERE'S BEEN ADDITIONS TO IT.

I WOULD ONLY CONCENTRATE IN TWO AREAS.

THE FIRST ONE IS THE MAGNET RECOGNITION.

THAT IS A NURSE QUALITY METRIC.

UH, WE HAVE MADE NURSE MAGNET STATUS THREE TIMES.

UH, AND IT'S A IT'S A IT'S GIVEN FOR THREE YEAR PERIOD.

SO FOR THE LAST NINE YEARS AND WE'RE NOW WORKING ON OUR FOURTH MAGNET DESIGNATION.

UH, THIS IS, THIS BRINGS QUALITY NURSES.

PEOPLE WANT TO WORK WHEN WE HAVE A QUALITY PROGRAM.

AND THEN I'D GO DOWN TO THE BOTTOM.

YOU ALREADY SAW THE TOP WORKPLACES IN 2023, BUT NEXT TO THAT, YOU'LL SEE MOST WIRED BUT FOR BOTH HOSPITAL AND CLINICAL CARE IN THE AMBULATORY.

AND THEN E AMRAM AND AMRAM, THOSE ARE AWARDS GIVEN TO THE TOP LEVEL OF, UH, IT, UH, INTEGRATION IN HEALTH CARE BY THOSE TWO AGENCIES.

AND WE ARE AT THE TOP LEVEL, UH, MOST WIRED HAS TEN LEVELS, AND WE'RE LEVEL TEN AND AMRAM AND WHICH IS GIVEN BY A DIFFERENT ORGANIZATION, UH, HAS A LEVEL SEVEN AND WE'RE LEVEL SEVEN ON THAT.

SO SO AGAIN, UH, WE AIM TO DO THIS BECAUSE WE WANT TO GIVE VALUE BACK TO THE COMMUNITY.

AND ULTIMATELY IT RESULTS IN GREAT PATIENT CARE.

NEXT SLIDE. SO TO THE BUDGET, WE ALWAYS START THE BUDGET PROCESS WITH PRINCIPLES.

WE WANT TO IMPROVE QUALITY, SAFETY AND OUTCOMES.

WE WANT TO IMPROVE THE PATIENT EXPERIENCE, WE WANT TO IMPROVE OUR EFFICIENCY, AND WE WANT TO IMPROVE ACCESS TO THE COMMUNITY.

THIS YEAR WE HAVE SOME HELP.

AND THIS THESE ARE NEW SLIDES.

UH, MANY OF YOU KNOW, WE HAVE A FOUNDATION.

IT'S BEEN AROUND FOR OVER 30 YEARS.

BUT IN RECENT YEARS, WE'VE RECRUITED A TOP NOTCH EXECUTIVE BY THE NAME OF SARAH AUGER.

AND, UH, TO HELP BOOST THAT FOUNDATION TO NEW LEVELS IN PHILANTHROPY.

UH, OVER THE LAST TWO YEARS, WE'VE WE'VE RAISED OVER $33.6 MILLION IN THE FOUNDATION, 28.5 OF THAT WAS FOR THE WOMEN AND CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL, 550,000 OF THAT CAME FROM 1851 DONORS WHEN WE HAD THE HORRIBLE TRAGEDY IN UVALDE.

UH, AND SO WHAT YOU SEE IS A PICTURE HERE, UH, WE DISTRIBUTED THAT MONEY BACK TO THE UVALDE COMMUNITY, THE PEOPLE WHO GAVE US THAT MONEY, THOSE 1851 DONORS GAVE IT TO FOR THE FOR THE PATIENTS THAT WERE INJURED.

AND WE USED SOME OF THAT MONEY FOR THE PATIENTS THAT WERE INJURED.

AND WE AND WE TOOK CARE OF, UH, BUT WE HAD A BALANCE.

AND SO WE HAVE WE HAVE RETURNED THE NEXT SLIDE, YOU'LL SEE THAT WE'VE RETURNED 350,000 MONEY BACK TO UVALDE, TO TWO COMMUNITY AGENCIES.

[00:40:04]

UH, THANK YOU, JUDGE SAKAI, FOR COMING AND, UH, FOR THE PRESENTATIONS THAT WE PRESENTED TO THOSE TWO COMMUNITY AGENCIES.

ONE IS AFTER SCHOOL ALL STARS, AND THE OTHER ONE IS IS, UH, MARY'S ORGANIZATION, UH, WHICH NOW ESCAPES MY MIND.

BUT, YOU KNOW, THE, UH, BUT IT'S, UH, UH, BOTH ORGANIZATIONS HAVE DEEP ROOTS IN THE COMMUNITY FOR MANY, MANY YEARS.

AND, AND WE THINK IT'LL HELP UVALDE.

THE FOUNDATION IS ALSO TAKING ON A $2.5 MILLION EXPENSE FOR FOR BUYING A NEW ROBOTIC SURGERY SYSTEM FOR OUR FOR UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL AND ALSO PUTTING IN $200,000, UH, IN REFURBISHING ONE OF OUR BUSSES FOR MOBILE BLOOD COLLECTION AND OTHER CLINICAL CARE.

UM. ONE OF THE SIGNATURES OF BEING A GOOD STEWARD IS NOT JUST EXPECTING TO PAY FOR EVERYTHING.

YOU KNOW, YOU GO OUT AND LOOK FOR GRANTS.

YOU GO OUT TO LOOK FOR, UH, UH, INCOME OTHER THAN THE LOCAL TAXPAYER, OTHER THAN, UH, PATIENT CARE.

AND THIS IS AN EXAMPLE OF WHAT I CONSIDER NOT ONLY GOOD, BUT GREAT STEWARDSHIP.

WE HAVE WORKED WITH THE PHARMACEUTICAL COMPANIES OVER THE LAST 20 YEARS, UH, TO BRING FREE PHARMACEUTICALS TO BEXAR COUNTY HOSPITAL TO OUR UNINSURED, INDIGENT PATIENTS, MOSTLY CARELINK.

UH, AND YOU CAN SEE FOR THIS YEAR ALONE, WE'VE ALREADY RECEIVED $35.8 MILLION IN FREE PHARMACEUTICALS FROM THE PHARMACEUTICAL INDUSTRY.

UH, FOR OUR CARELINK PATIENTS, THAT'S THAT'S $35 MILLION THAT THE TAXPAYER DOESN'T HAVE TO PAY FOR.

AND SO THAT'S THAT'S REALLY A REALLY A GOOD STORY.

UH, AND YOU CAN SEE OVER THE OVER THE 20 YEARS, THERE'S OVER $400 MILLION WE EXPECTED NEXT YEAR, WE'RE GOING TO WE'RE GOING TO BE SOMEWHERE AROUND $45 MILLION IN FREE PHARMACEUTICALS. HERE'S A SNAPSHOT OF OUR REVENUE BUDGET FOR 2024.

UH, 3.21 BILLION IS OUR PROJECTED REVENUE.

UH, MOST OF THAT REVENUE COMES FROM 40% COMES FROM PATIENT NET PATIENT REVENUE.

UH, PROPERTY TAXES MAKES UP ONLY 17.7% OF THE REVENUE OF UNIVERSITY HEALTH.

FAMILY SERVICES WAS THE ORGANIZATION THAT WE TOOK.

WE PROVIDED MONEY TO UVALDE.

I JUST CAME TO MY MIND.

THE NEXT SLIDE.

UH. CONSOLIDATED EXPENSE BUDGET IS 3.1 BILLION.

THE BIGGEST CHUNK OF THAT MONEY GOES TO SALARIES AND BENEFITS WHERE A SERVICE ORGANIZATION.

AND THAT'S NOT UNUSUAL.

UH, THE MEDICAL CLAIMS RELATE TO OUR COMMUNITY FIRST HEALTH PLANS UP THERE.

THAT'S CLAIMS PAID OUT ON BEHALF OF MEMBERS OF COMMUNITY FIRST.

AND YOU CAN SEE MEDICAL SERVICE SUPPLIES AND PURCHASE SERVICES.

WE IF YOU GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE BILL, WE CAN SEE THAT WE'RE PROJECTING A POSITIVE BOTTOM LINE.

WE'LL BE IN THE BLACK.

UH, WE HAVE A PROJECTED A BOTTOM LINE OF OF $40.7 MILLION AFTER, UH, PREMIUM DEFICIENCY RESERVES AND DEPRECIATION AND, AND, UH, OTHER NON-OPERATING INCOME.

SO, UH, IN THE NEXT TWO SLIDES, I'LL COVER THE ROUTINE CAPITAL BUDGET.

THE CAPITAL BUDGET FOR 2024 IS $47.3 MILLION.

UH, THAT'S SIGNIFICANT, BUT THIS IS MOSTLY REPLACEMENT AND NEW EQUIPMENT THAT WE NEED TO STAY CURRENT.

UH, THE MEDICAL EQUIPMENT IS SOMETHING WE WE PLAN AND REPLACE EVERY SINGLE YEAR.

WE HAVE A SCHEDULE.

UH, AND SO WE'RE WE'RE PROJECTING $47.3 MILLION REPLACEMENT NEXT YEAR.

THERE'S ADDITIONAL DETAIL ON EXHIBIT EIGHT AND YOUR PACKETS.

AND THEN OUR DEBT SERVICE BUDGET IS PROJECTED TO BE $99.6 MILLION.

THAT DEBT SERVICE PAYMENT COMES OUT OF THE DEBT SERVICE TAX RATE, NOT OUT OF THE NOT OUT OF MAINTENANCE AND OPERATION.

IT'S AN IT'S AN INCREASE FROM LAST YEAR BECAUSE OF THE $200 MILLION BOND ISSUANCE FOR THE RETAMA AND PALO ALTO COMMUNITY HOSPITALS THAT WE ISSUED EARLIER THIS YEAR.

THE BOARD OF MANAGERS RECOMMENDS THE COMMISSIONERS COURT APPROVE THE PROPOSED FISCAL YEAR 2024, OPERATING DEBT SERVICE AND CAPITAL BUDGETS FOR UNIVERSITY HEALTH.

SO I'LL PAUSE THERE AND SEE IF THERE'S ANY QUESTIONS.

YEAH. MR. CLAY-FLORES. SO ON THE SLIDE WHERE YOU TALKED ABOUT, UM, THE MAJORITY OF YOUR STAFF NOW ARE NOT THROUGH STAFFING, BUT FULL TIME.

YES. IS THAT CORRECT? SO I JUST WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT THAT BECAUSE IT ALSO MEANS THAT, UM, THOSE STAFF MEMBERS NOW HAVE BENEFITS.

THAT'S CORRECT. REALLY MAKES A DIFFERENCE FOR FAMILIES.

SO THANKS SO MUCH FOR DOING THAT AND THANKS FOR CONTINUING TO WORK WORK WITH US.

I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO THE GROUND BREAKING ON THE PUBLIC HEALTH DIVISION BUILDING TOMORROW.

THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER RODRIGUEZ.

THANK YOU. JUDGE.

UM, JORGE, THANK YOU AND YOUR TEAM FOR ALWAYS BEING VERY RESPONSIVE.

UM, BUT ALSO GOOD STEWARDS OF OF THE TAXPAYER DOLLARS.

I KNOW THAT WE'VE ALL HEARD MANY STORIES OF FOLKS IN OUR COMMUNITY WHO, UM, WHO HAVE EITHER HAD SOMETHING TRAUMATIC HAPPEN OR

[00:45:08]

JUST HAD A, YOU KNOW, EVEN A MINOR INJURY.

AND THEY ARE ALWAYS, UM, WELL TAKEN CARE OF AT UNIVERSITY HEALTH.

AND WE APPRECIATE THAT ALSO, ALL OF US THAT THAT LIVE THROUGH THE FRONT LINES WITH YOU DURING COVID.

UM, I KNOW THAT, UM, THERE WERE LONG DAYS, UH, FOR A LOT OF FOLKS AT UNIVERSITY HEALTH, BUT, UM, I THINK IT WAS REALLY THE MODEL FOR, UM, RESPONDING AND GETTING FOLKS VACCINATED.

UH, SO I DON'T WANT TO MISS AN OPPORTUNITY TO THANK YOU AND YOUR TEAM FOR THAT.

UM, IN TERMS OF THE BUDGET, I DID WANT TO ASK, UM, YOU KNOW, YOU AND I HAVE HAD SOME DISCUSSIONS OFFLINE ABOUT, UH, THE FUTURE GROWTH OF THE HOSPITAL, AND YOU'VE DONE A GOOD JOB.

UM, YOUR TEAM HAS OF MANAGING THE CAPITAL PROGRAM.

UM, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE'VE TALKED ABOUT IS THE POTENTIAL NEED FOR A STANDALONE, UM, PSYCHIATRIC, UH, MENTAL HEALTH FACILITY TO TO TREAT THOSE WITH SOME ACUTE MENTAL HEALTH NEEDS.

UM, I KNOW WE DON'T HAVE A PLAN FOR THAT NOW, BUT I WANT TO MAKE SURE, UM, THAT WE KEEP AN EYE ON THAT, BECAUSE I THINK AS WE LOOK FORWARD AND WE KNOW STILL, UM, AS WE COME OUT OF COVID, UM, THE, I GUESS THE, THE IMPACT OF WHAT IT'S DONE TO FOLKS IN OUR COMMUNITY, IN OUR REGION, WHEN IT COMES TO MENTAL HEALTH, WE NEED TO FIGURE OUT A WAY TO MAYBE BE READY TO ADDRESS THAT.

AND SO I WONDERED IF YOU MIGHT SAY A COUPLE WORDS ABOUT THAT.

SURE. I MEAN, THE I THINK THE.

BEHAVIORAL HEALTH AS A WHOLE IS VERY IMPORTANT IN THIS COMMUNITY.

I'VE SERVED EIGHT YEARS ON THE MENTAL HEALTH BOARD, THE FCS BOARD, AND THE STATE REALLY DOESN'T FUND IT, YOU KNOW, ADEQUATELY.

SO IT'S REALLY UP TO COMMUNITIES TO STEP UP TO THE PLATE AND, AND PROVIDE THAT KIND OF CARE.

UM, WE HAVE SOME PRIVATE HOSPITALS COMING ONLINE THIS YEAR AND EARLY NEXT YEAR.

BUT I DO THINK THAT TO YOUR POINT, THAT THERE'S PROBABLY, UH, IN THE FUTURE, A ROLE FOR US TO, TO OR SOMEONE TO STEP UP TO THE PLATE, YOU KNOW, TO, YOU KNOW, REGARDING A PUBLIC HEALTH FACILITY FOR DEDICATED FOR BEHAVIORAL HEALTH.

YEAH. AND AGAIN, I KNOW THAT TAKES PLANNING.

IT TAKES, YOU KNOW, BUY IN FROM YOUR BOARD FROM THIS COURT.

BUT I THINK IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE NEED TO MAKE SURE AND CONTINUE TO, TO, TO HAVE A DISCUSSION ON, UM, THE UH, THE OTHER THING I WANTED TO MENTION IS, AS IT RELATES TO THAT, I DON'T WANT FOLKS TO ASSUME THAT UNIVERSITY HEALTH DOES NOTHING IN THE BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SPACE CURRENTLY.

UM, I KNOW MY FIRST BUDGET IN 2019.

UH, WE IDENTIFIED, I THINK IT WAS ABOUT 7 MILLION A YEAR TO AUGMENT WHAT YOU'RE ALREADY DOING, UH, FOR BEHAVIORAL HEALTH.

UM, AND SO, AGAIN, I THINK THE BROADER DISCUSSION IS, UM, YOU KNOW, CAPACITY WISE, HOW WE DEAL WITH THOSE ISSUES IN THE FUTURE.

YEAH. THE GOOD THING ABOUT THE BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SPACE, IT'S VERY MUCH LIKE THE PUBLIC HEALTH SPACE, YOU KNOW, THE THE CONSTITUTION AND THE LAW COMES OUT OF ME.

I APOLOGIZE FOR THAT. BUT THE YOU KNOW, THE GENERALLY HEALTH CARE IS LIMITED TO THE HOSPITAL DISTRICT IN THE BEXAR COUNTY.

THE EXCEPT THE TWO EXCEPTIONS ARE PUBLIC HEALTH AND BEHAVIORAL HEALTH.

IN THOSE CASES, THE CITY, THE COUNTY, OTHER OTHER PUBLIC ENTITIES, AND THE HOSPITAL DISTRICT, OF COURSE, AND THE CENTER FOR HEALTH CARE SERVICES CAN ALL JOIN IN TO HELP SOLVE THAT PROBLEM. THAT'S THAT'S AN EXCEPTION IN THE CONSTITUTION THAT WAS PASSED SPECIFICALLY TO BROADEN THE ABILITY TO CARE FOR BEHAVIORAL HEALTH, HEALTH CARE ISSUES.

YEAH. WELL, GEORGE, THANK YOU.

UH, IN YOUR TEAM AGAIN.

AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO THIS CONTINUED PARTNERSHIP.

I KNOW, JUDGE, THERE'S OTHER DISCUSSION, BUT I'D LIKE TO MAKE THE MOTION TO APPROVE THE 2024 OPERATING DEBT SERVICE AND CAPITAL BUDGET FOR UNIVERSITY HEALTH.

MOTION BY COMMISSIONER RODRIGUEZ, SECOND BY COMMISSIONER CALVERT COMMISSIONER MOODY TO CONTINUE THE DISCUSSION.

WELL, GEORGE, THANKS AGAIN FOR, UH, FOR BEING HERE AND THE PRESENTATION.

UM, JUST ONE, ONE COMMENT I WANTED TO MAKE.

UM, YOU KNOW, FIRST OF ALL, THANK YOU FOR FOR YOUR SERVICE AND FOR THE BOARD'S SERVICE.

I KNOW MANY MEMBERS ARE HERE TODAY.

UM, I RECENTLY VISITED, UH, UT HEALTH AND, AND TALKED MORE ABOUT THE PARTNERSHIP.

UH, AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT KIND OF CAME OUT OF THAT WAS ALSO THIS PARTNERSHIP WITH BROOKE ARMY MEDICAL CENTER AND WITH OUR OUR MILITARY HOSPITALS HERE IN SAN ANTONIO, AND HOW IMPORTANT THAT IS.

UM, FIRST OF ALL, I'M VERY PROUD OF THAT.

I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT. AND I THINK WE NEED TO CONTINUE TO, TO FOSTER THAT, UH, PARTNERSHIP.

BUT IF YOU COULD SAY A FEW WORDS ABOUT THAT.

ABSOLUTELY. I MEAN, THE THE TWO TRAUMA HOSPITALS IN SAN ANTONIO ARE UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL AND THEN THE MILITARY HOSPITAL AT BROOKE ARMY.

UM, THE, UH, THE TOP DOCTORS WE GET FOR OUR TRAUMA PROGRAM COME OUT OF THE MILITARY.

[00:50:09]

THERE WAS A GREAT, UH, SET OF ARTICLES, SIX ARTICLES THAT CAME OUT IN THE NEWSPAPER RECENTLY HERE IN, IN DALLAS ABOUT THE WHOLE BLOOD PROGRAM THAT CAME OUT OF THE CAME OUT OF THE MILITARY.

AND NOW WHEN WE STARTED AT UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL, ALONG WITH UT, THAT WOULD NOT HAVE HAPPENED WITHOUT THAT STRONG PARTNERSHIP AND WITHOUT HAVING THOSE DOCTORS BE PART OF THAT.

AND AS YOU CAN, IF YOU READ THE ARTICLES, YOU SEE WE'RE WAY AHEAD OF EVERYBODY ELSE IN EVERYONE ELSE IN THE STATE.

YOU KNOW, DALLAS HASN'T EVEN STARTED THEIR PROGRAM.

UH, UH, AUSTIN COPIED US.

AND, YOU KNOW, WE'RE MORE THAN HAPPY FOR THEM TO COPY US BECAUSE IT'S A GREAT PROGRAM.

BUT THE RELATIONSHIP WITH WITH THE MILITARY IS VERY, VERY STRONG.

UH, ONE OTHER EXAMPLE IS WHEN WHEN THE UT HEALTH SCIENCE CENTER LOST THEIR NEUROSURGERY DEPARTMENT THROUGH RETIREMENT AND AND BEING RECRUITED AWAY BACK ABOUT 20 YEARS AGO, IT WAS THE NEUROSURGEONS FROM BROOKE ARMY AND FROM THE MILITARY.

THEY CAME OVER AND STAFFED UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL UNTIL THE SCHOOL COULD RECRUIT NEW NEUROSURGEONS.

SO WE NEVER LOST OUR LEVEL ONE TRAUMA DESIGNATION BECAUSE OF THAT.

SO NO, THAT'S GREAT.

THANK YOU FOR FOR SHARING THAT.

UM, I DON'T THINK A LOT OF THE COMMUNITY KNOWS THAT THAT PARTNERSHIP THAT IS SO STRONG AND SO IMPORTANT FOR UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL, BUT ALSO FOR OUR MILITARY MEDICINE HERE IN, IN SAN ANTONIO, BUT ALSO OUR MILITARY MEDICINE IN GENERAL.

UH, THE TRAINING THAT GOES ON AT BROOKE ARMY MEDICAL CENTER IS CRITICAL.

UM, LAST COMMENT I JUST WANTED TO MAKE WAS KIND OF REINFORCING, UH, COMMENTS FROM MY, MY COLLEAGUE, COMMISSIONER RODRIGUEZ.

I DO THINK, YOU KNOW, AND THIS IS NOT SOMETHING WE'VE HAD A CHANCE TO TALK ABOUT MORE IN DEPTH, BUT BUT IN THE COMING YEAR.

UM, YOU KNOW, MENTAL HEALTH, BEHAVIORAL HEALTH, PUBLIC HEALTH.

IF IT HAS HEALTH.

UH, YOU KNOW WHAT? HOW DOES THAT TIE IN WITH, WITH UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL AND AND ARE THERE OPPORTUNITIES TO CONSOLIDATE SOME OF THOSE ACTIVITIES, SOME OF THOSE SERVICES UNDERNEATH THE UMBRELLA OF UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL.

BUT THAT'S JUST SOMETHING I WANTED TO TO PLANT THOSE SEEDS AS WELL AND MAKE SURE WE'RE CONTINUING TO THINK ABOUT THAT WHERE IT MAKES SENSE.

THANK YOU, MR. CALVERT. THANK YOU, GEORGE, VERY MUCH AND YOUR STAFF FOR THEIR GREAT REPORT TODAY.

UH, I ALSO WANT TO THANK, UH, OUR BOARD MEMBERS, JIM ADAMS, JIM HASSLOCHER, AND I DON'T KNOW IF I'M MISSING ANY OTHERS, BUT THANK YOU TO ALL THE WONDERFUL TRUSTEES OF THE UNIVERSITY HEALTH SYSTEM BOARD FOR HELPING STEWARD THESE DOLLARS.

UM, I WANTED TO JUST ASK IF THERE'S AN UPDATE.

UH, I KNOW WE HAD TALKED ABOUT THE BUILDING YOU CALLED THE WHEATLEY BUILDING AS A POTENTIAL URGENT CARE.

IS THAT GOING TO BE SOMETHING WE CAN ANNOUNCE? YES, IT'S GOT THAT POTENTIAL.

IT'S GOING TO HAVE ITS OWN PHARMACY AS WELL.

OH, GREAT. AND SO WOULD THAT MEAN THAT THE HOURS MIGHT BE INTO THE EVENING? YES. GREAT.

UM, AND LET ME JUST KIND OF, UH, WE CAN TALK ABOUT THIS OFFLINE FOR THE DIRECTIONAL, UH, ABILITIES OF THOSE WHO ARE EAST SIDERS, YOU MAY WANT TO CALL IT THE EASTWOOD, UH, BECAUSE THAT NEIGHBORHOOD IS TECHNICALLY EASTWOOD VILLAGE.

UH, BECAUSE WHEATLEY IS ACROSS MARTIN LUTHER KING.

I KNOW THE SPORTS COMPLEX, BUT THAT'S NOT REALLY THE MARKET FOR EAST SIDERS.

UH, AND THAT COMES OUT OF THE FACT THAT OUT OF THE FLOOD OF 98, THE WHEATLEY HEIGHTS GROUP GOT ALL THOSE HOMES AND GOT THE SPORTS COMPLEX.

BUT IN ANY EVENT. WELL, IT'S A SMALL DETAIL, BUT IT.

YEAH, IF YOU IF YOU WANT TO TAKE ON THAT THAT FLAG OF EASTWOOD IS IS WHERE IT'S AT.

YEAH. THAT'S THAT'S ALL I'M SAYING.

OKAY. UM, WE'RE SO HAPPY, UH, THAT, THAT IS HAPPENING ON.

LET ME ECHO WHAT, UH, COMMISSIONER RODRIGUEZ AND COMMISSIONER MOODY JUST SAID, I THINK THAT THERE IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO DEVELOP COMMISSIONER RODRIGUEZ'S, UM, INITIATIVE HERE WITH A VA PARTNERSHIP POTENTIALLY AS WELL.

WE TALKED ABOUT THAT ON MENTAL HEALTH.

SINCE WE HAVE SO MANY VETERANS HERE, WE MAY GET A COST SPLIT.

WE MIGHT GET A COST SHARE TO HELP US DEVELOP A FACILITY THAT, YOU KNOW, HAS THAT SYMBIOTIC RELATIONSHIP THAT WE HAVE ON TRAUMA, UH, FOR MENTAL HEALTH.

AND, YOU KNOW, IT MAY BE US, IT MAY BE THE, THE CENTER FOR HEALTH CARE SERVICES OR OTHERS THAT WE, WE WORK WITH.

SO I JUST WANT TO PLANT THAT SEED FOR THE FUTURE.

SO OUR COMMUNITY ON THE EAST SIDE IN PARTICULAR HAS BEEN, UM, UPSET THAT THERE ISN'T A HOSPITAL ON THE EAST SIDE.

UM, AND I HAVE SAT DOWN AND EXPLAINED THIS LEVEL ONE TRAUMA PARTNERSHIP.

UH, AS VERY IMPORTANT, WE DON'T WANT TO DRAW AWAY THE POTENTIAL LEVEL ONE TRAUMA VICTIMS, IF YOU WILL, OR, I DON'T KNOW, PATIENTS WOULD BE A BETTER TERME. UH, AND SO CAN YOU JUST EXPLAIN THAT AND JOIN WITH ME AND YOUR COMMUNICATIONS STAFF COMING TO.

REALLY? IT'S THE EASTERN TRIANGLE, WHICH ARE VERY LARGE NEIGHBORHOODS NEAR WHERE WE'RE EAST.

SO IT INCLUDES EASTWOOD VILLAGE, DEL CREST, DEL CREST FOREST, UM, AND HUNTLEY PARK NEIGHBORHOODS.

[00:55:03]

CAN YOU EXPLAIN THAT THIS COMMUNITY HAS AN INNER LOCAL REALLY THAT WE AGREE NOT TO PULL FOLKS AWAY FROM THAT BMC PARTNERSHIP? THERE'S THERE'S NO AGREEMENT PER SE, BUT THERE IS A LONG TRADITION OF DOING EXACTLY WHAT YOU'RE SAYING.

IT'S VERY IMPORTANT FOR THE FOR SAN ANTONIO TO KEEP THE MILITARY HERE.

IT'S VERY IMPORTANT THAT THE MILITARY AND I THINK I THINK THAT THIS PARTICULAR HOSPITAL, THE MILITARY OPERATES IS UNIQUE IN ALL OF NORTH AMERICA.

AND AND BECAUSE OF THAT, THEY SEND THEIR ALL THEIR TRAINEES FROM AROUND THE COUNTRY TO SAN ANTONIO TO TRAIN, UH, THEY NEED A CERTAIN VOLUME OF PATIENTS.

AND THAT VOLUME COMES PRIMARILY FROM THE EASTERN PART OF BEXAR COUNTY.

WE COVER THE WESTERN PART OF BEXAR COUNTY, AND THEY COVER THE EASTERN PART OF OUR COUNTY.

IT'S A VERY, VERY CLOSE RELATIONSHIP.

IF THEY GET OVERWHELMED, WE THEY SHIP TO US.

IF WE GET OVERWHELMED, THEY WE SHIP TO THEM.

AND SO IT'S A VERY STRONG PARTNERSHIP.

THE RETAMA HOSPITAL WAS AIMED TO TRY TO ADDRESS SOME OF THE NEED FOR AN EAST SIDE HOSPITAL.

THERE IS YOU KNOW, IT'S A WE LOOK FOR LAND ALL ALONG THAT CORRIDOR BUT FOUND THE BEST LAND UP BY RETAMA.

SO SO YOU KNOW, MY EAST SIDERS WOULD SAY THAT THAT'S VERY FAR NORTHEAST IS BASICALLY AT THE COUNTY LINE.

BUT IT'S AN IMPORTANT NEED BECAUSE WHEN I FIRST CAME INTO OFFICE EIGHT YEARS AGO AND GOT A MAP OF WHERE THE UNIVERSITY HEALTH SYSTEM AND OTHER PUBLIC SAFETY ASSETS WERE LOCATED, WE PLOTTED OUT PUBLIC SAFETY, UH, POLICE CENTERS AND HEALTH CENTERS.

IT WAS 11 TO 14 MILES.

IF YOU USE I-10 GOING EAST TOWARDS HOUSTON AS A DIVIDING LINE BETWEEN THE NORTHERN HALF AND THE SOUTHERN HALF OF PRECINCT FOUR, IT WAS 11 TO.

TWO MILES BEFORE THERE WAS A UNIVERSITY HEALTH SYSTEM CLINIC OR HOSPITAL.

SO IT WAS AN IMPORTANT INVESTMENT THAT WE'VE MADE WITH THE HILLIARD CLINIC.

NOW THE WHEATLEY, EASTWOOD, WHATEVER WE'RE GOING TO CALL IT, CLINIC.

AND NOW THIS NORTHEAST RETAMA HOSPITAL, WHICH WILL ALSO, I THINK, YOU KNOW, SERVE AS SOME OF OUR NEIGHBORING GUADALUPE AND EVEN MAYBE COMAL COUNTIES BECAUSE OF THE THE GROWTH IN THAT 35 QUARTERS IS MASSIVE.

UM, BUT CAN YOU TALK TO THE COMMUNITY FOR A MOMENT? WHO'S LISTENING TODAY ABOUT COULD THERE BE A LEVEL 2 OR 3 HOSPITAL FURTHER, MAYBE SOUTHEAST? UM, THAT WOULD BE A POSSIBILITY.

I DON'T KNOW IF THERE IF THAT WOULD DRAW THE PATIENT LOAD AWAY.

AND LET'S JUST SAY IN THE FUTURE IT MAY BE 15 YEARS FROM NOW, I DON'T KNOW, BECAUSE OF THE GROWTH OF 1.5 MILLION PEOPLE THAT ARE COMING TO THE COUNTY, UH, MAY MEAN THAT WE ACTUALLY HAVE THE CAPACITY TO DO THAT IN THE FUTURE.

YEAH. WHEN WE, UH, WHEN WE, UH, PART OF OUR PLANNING PROCESS, WE TEND TO BE LEFT BRAINED PEOPLE AT UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL, UH, IS, UH, TO GET THE DATA OUT.

AND THAT'S WHY WE LOCATED THE HOSPITALS.

AND I CAN'T PREDICT WHERE THE NEXT HOSPITAL IS GOING TO BE.

I DO AGREE WITH YOUR COMMENTS AND THE COMMENTS OF THE OTHER COMMISSIONERS ABOUT THE NEED FOR BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SERVICES.

WE HAVEN'T FOUND A LOCATION FOR THAT, BUT THAT NEEDS TO BE DONE AS WELL.

BUT BUT, UH, WHEREVER THE THE STATS WERE DICTATED AS THE WAY WE WOULD LOOK AT IT, YOU YOU LOOK AT THE MEADOWS FOUNDATION AND THEIR MENTAL HEALTH SURVEYS AND RESEARCH.

RIGHT. WE USE. YEAH. AND WE USE THEM.

YEAH. SO THE MEADOWS FOUNDATION, UH, HAD A REALLY GOOD BEXAR COUNTY ANALYSIS OF OF HEALTH CARE DEFICITS.

UH, AND I WOULD ENCOURAGE TO DUST THAT STUDY OFF AND TAKE A LOOK AT IT BECAUSE IT'S INSTRUCTIVE IN TERMS OF THAT MENTAL HEALTH QUESTION AND SOME OTHER THINGS LIKE LABOR AND DELIVERY, UH, THAT ARE NOT MET.

UH, I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR RAISING THE MINIMUM WAGE AS WELL FOR OUR EMPLOYEES.

THAT OBVIOUSLY IS BORNE OUT IN RETENTION AND GREAT COST SAVINGS.

AND I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR THE PARTNERSHIP ON BOTH THE SENIOR PROPERTY TAX THAT WE CREATE.

I THINK WHAT DID WE START THAT 2016, 2017 SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

THE OVER 65.

YEAH, THE OVER SOMEWHERE THEREABOUTS 2016.

I HAVE TO THANK OUR CONSTITUENTS IN THE SOUTHEAST SIDE FOR GIVING ME THE IDEA.

UH, BUT THE FACT THAT YOU'RE DOING THE 20% ON THE HOMESTEAD, I THINK IS VERY RESPONSIVE TO THE PRESSURES OF, OF INFLATION ON, ON HOMES TODAY.

UM, AND THE GROWTH THAT WE'RE OBVIOUSLY HAVING AS A COMMUNITY MEANS THAT WE CAN DO THAT.

SO HATS OFF TO THE STAFF.

IT'S BEEN A PROCESS.

BUT THANK YOU FOR DOING THE HOMEWORK ON THAT.

UM, IT ALLOWS US TO TALK WITH OTHER ELECTED OFFICIALS IN THE CITY AND DIFFERENT AREAS OF GOVERNMENT AND SAY THAT, UM, WE MAY NEED SOME OTHER FINANCIAL SUPPORT FROM YOU, BUT WE'RE, WE'RE LOWERING OUR, OUR, OUR TAKE ON THE PROPERTY TAX IN.

SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH, JUDGE, FOR THIS CONVERSATION.

THANK YOU UNIVERSITY FOR BEING THE BEST.

WE APPRECIATE IT. ALL RIGHT.

I'LL I'LL CHIME IN HERE.

GEORGE. UH, ALSO, LET ME ECHO THE GRATITUDE AND THANKS TO YOU AND YOUR LEADERSHIP, BUT WOULD YOU MAKE A SPECIAL EFFORT?

[01:00:02]

AND AS A POINT OF PERSONAL PRIVILEGE, I WANT YOU TO THANK YOUR ADMINISTRATIVE TEAM, UH, YOUR ADMINISTRATORS, MIDDLE, MIDDLE, MID ADMINISTRATORS, TO YOUR SUPERVISORS, TO YOUR DOCTORS, TO YOUR NURSES, TO YOUR TECHNICIANS, TO THE PEOPLE THAT TO ALL THE WAY DOWN TO THE SERVICE, UH, WORKERS THAT HELP CLEAN THE FACILITIES AND CLEAN YOUR GROUNDS.

BECAUSE IT IS OBVIOUS TO ME THAT YOU HAVE A GREAT TEAM.

SO IT HAS A GREAT LEADER, BUT A GREAT LEADER HAS TO HAVE A GREAT TEAM.

AND YOU INDEED HAVE A GREAT TEAM, INCLUDING THE BOARD.

LET ME NOT LEAVE OUT THE BOARD.

SO, UH, PLEASE EXTEND TO THEM MY DEEPEST APPRECIATION AND GRATITUDE FOR THEIR WORK.

IT IS EVIDENT THAT YOUR LEADERSHIP EXUDES AND SETS THE EXAMPLE FOR ALL EMPLOYEES AT THE UNIVERSITY HEALTH DISTRICT. SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

ALL RIGHT. THERE'S A MOTION BY COMMISSIONER RODRIGUEZ, SECOND BY COMMISSIONER CALVERT.

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

WE'LL TAKE UP OUR SECOND TIME CERTAIN ITEM CONSIDERATION.

[4.b. Immediately following item 4a: Consideration and appropriate action regarding a Homestead tax exemption of twenty percent (20%) for Bexar County Hospital District d/b/a University Health ad valorem taxes, beginning with 2024 valuations. (Presentation Time: As needed)]

APPROPRIATE ACTION REGARDING A HOMESTEAD TAX EXEMPTION OF 20% FOR BEXAR COUNTY HOSPITAL DISTRICT, DBA UNIVERSITY HEALTH.

AD VALOREM TAXES BEGINNING 2024.

VALUATIONS COMMISSIONER MOODY.

YEAH, SURE. LET ME LET ME ALLOW GEORGE TO MAKE THAT PRESENTATION.

SIR. THANK YOU. UH, JUDGE.

COMMISSIONERS. SECOND ITEM ON THE AGENDA.

UH, THE INCREASE OF THE HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION.

NEXT SLIDE. BILL, I ONLY HAVE ONE SLIDE REALLY? ON THIS. UH, WE BELIEVE WITH THE WITH THE GROWTH WE'VE HAD IN THE, UH, THAT IT'S, IT'S APPROPRIATE TO GIVE THE TAXPAYERS, PARTICULARLY THE HOMES, THE HOMEOWNERS AND A INCREASE IN THE HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION FROM 5% TO 20%.

UH, WE'RE BRINGING THE RECOMMENDATION EARLY BECAUSE THIS, UH, MAKES SURE THAT WE PLAN OUR OPERATIONS ACCORDINGLY.

UH, IT'S IT'S A $54 MILLION BENEFIT TO THE TAXPAYERS.

BUT WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE, UH, CAN WORK AND, YOU KNOW, APPROPRIATELY.

AND I THINK WE THINK WE CAN OBVIOUSLY WOULDN'T HAVE BROUGHT IT FORWARD.

UH, SO WE WE ASK FOR YOUR FAVORABLE CONSIDERATION FOR THE INCREASE IN THE HOMESTEAD TAX EXEMPTION.

COMMISSIONER MOODY. WELL, GEORGE, UH, YOU KNOW, I JUST REALLY WANT TO THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THIS ITEM FORWARD, UH, AND FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP.

I ALSO WANT TO RECOGNIZE, UH, JIM ADAMS AND JIMMY HASSLACHER, WHO ARE HERE TODAY.

THANK YOU FOR FOR PUSHING THIS ITEM FORWARD AND THE REST OF THE BOARD.

YOU KNOW, I THINK THIS IS THE RIGHT THING TO DO, AND I THINK IT'S IT'S THE RIGHT TIME.

UM, BUT THIS IS A HUGE WIN FOR BEXAR COUNTY TAXPAYERS.

UH, YOU MENTIONED 54 MILLION, BUT IF YOU GO BACK, UM, SIX MONTHS AGO, WE DIDN'T HAVE A HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION AT ALL.

UH, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT $70 MILLION PER YEAR.

THAT WILL SAVE TAXPAYERS GOING FORWARD HERE IN BEXAR COUNTY.

SO, UM, IT'S A BIG DEAL.

AND I THINK IT'S ONE OF THE BIGGEST, IF NOT THE BIGGEST TAX CUTS WE'VE HAD HERE IN BEXAR COUNTY.

UM, YOU KNOW, I'VE BEEN ADVOCATING FOR THIS, UH, PUBLICLY AND PRIVATELY FOR SOME TIME.

SO I'M REALLY EXCITED TO TO SEE US BRINGING IT FORWARD TODAY.

YOU KNOW, UM, BUT THIS WOULD NOT BE POSSIBLE WITHOUT THE LEADERSHIP AND THE THE GOOD STEWARDSHIP OF THE US BOARD.

AND I ALSO WOULD LIKE TO MENTION, UH, MY APPOINTEE, UH, DOCTOR DAVID COHEN, WHO COULDN'T BE WITH US TODAY, BUT I HEAR HE'S HE'S FITTING RIGHT IN AND DOING GREAT THINGS.

ANYWAY, WITH THAT, I'D LIKE TO MOVE APPROVAL OF A 20% HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION FOR US.

I'LL SECOND IT, BUT I DO HAVE A FEW QUESTIONS.

MOTION BY COMMISSIONER CALVERT.

SECOND BY, UH, MOTION BY COMMISSIONER MOODY.

SECOND BY COMMISSIONER CALVERT.

COMMISSIONER CALVERT, YOU HAVE THE FLOOR.

UH, WHAT'S THE WHAT'S THE MAXIMUM? MAXIMUM? WELL, THE AVERAGE AMOUNT, I SHOULD SAY THE AVERAGE AMOUNT FOR THE INDIVIDUAL HOMEOWNER FOR THESE, UH, EXEMPTIONS.

YOU MEAN THE OTHER 20% FOR THE AVERAGE HOUSE HOME? YEAH, I GUESS, AND AND I'M TRYING TO THINK IF THE SENIOR I DON'T I CAN'T REMEMBER HOW THAT WORKS.

IF YOU ARE A SENIOR, WOULD YOU GET THE 20 AND THAT YOU GET BOTH.

SO THE AVERAGE HOME IS ABOUT $300,000.

SO 20% OF THAT WOULD BE $60,000 OFF OF YOUR VALUE.

COME A LITTLE CLOSER TO THEM IF YOU CAN JUST FOR THE RECORD.

SO THE AVERAGE HOME IN BEXAR COUNTY IS ABOUT A LITTLE OVER $300,000 IN TAXABLE VALUE.

AND SO 20% OF THAT WOULD BE ABOUT $60,000 OFF OF YOUR ASSESSED VALUE.

THAT'S ON THE HOMESTEAD OR THE THAT'S ON THE HOMESTEAD.

[01:05:01]

SO THAT WOULD TAKE YOU TO 240 YOUR I BELIEVE YOUR QUESTION.

YOU DO GET THE THEN YOU DO GET THE 60 THE THE OVER 65 APPLIED TO THAT AS WELL.

WELL THE 300 SOUNDS A LITTLE HIGH ON AVERAGE.

I THINK OUR AVERAGE IS SOMEWHERE AROUND THE 200.

SOMETHING 300,000 IS THE AVERAGE NEW HOME.

UH, START. I'M NOT SURE IT'S IT'S GETTING THE TAXABLE.

IT'S GETTING CLOSE TO THREE NOW.

OKAY. THAT'S THAT'S THAT'S A HECK OF A RISE IN A VERY SHORT AMOUNT OF TIME.

SO WHEN YOU COMBINE I'M JUST TRYING TO HELP THE AVERAGE PERSON UNDERSTAND HOW MUCH LESS THEY'RE GOING TO PAY.

I MEAN, UM, UH, DO YOU HAVE THAT, YOU KNOW, UH, NUMBER.

SO FOR $100,000 OF VALUE, OUR TAXES AT $0.27 IS ABOUT $270 PER $100,000.

SO WE'RE TALKING ABOUT ABOUT 900 BUCKS IN TOTAL.

YEAH, FOR THAT $300,000 HOUSE.

SO YOU'RE GOING TO REDUCE IT BY, YOU KNOW, THAT'S JUST ON THE HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION.

THAT'S ON THE HOMESTEAD. NOW IF YOU WERE A SENIOR AND YOU GET THE 30,000, THEN WE'RE GOING TO BASICALLY MULTIPLY THAT, UH, BY ANOTHER 300 OR ADD ANOTHER 300.

SO THE, THE, THE OVER 65 IS JUST A FIXED DOLLAR AMOUNT.

THEN THE HOMESTEAD EXEMPTIONS ARE PERCENTAGES OKAY.

SO SO SO ON THE HOMES.

EXCUSE ME, ON THE SENIOR UH PORTION, WHAT'S THE AVERAGE SAVINGS THERE FOR, FOR THE, FOR OUR TAX RATE AND FOR A $30,000. IT'S I MEAN, IT'S NOT A IT'S NOT A TON, BUT IT'S PROBABLY 100 BUCKS.

OKAY. WELL, WHEN YOU'RE, WHEN YOU'RE A SENIOR ON A FIXED INCOME, THAT MAKES A DIFFERENCE.

SO IT'S IT'S IT'S ALL IT'S ALL HELPFUL.

SO ABOUT $1,000 POTENTIALLY IN MAXIMUM SAVINGS WHICH YOU KNOW, OVER A COURSE OF A YEAR, PARTICULARLY FOR THOSE WHO ARE ON FIXED INCOME IS A BIG DEAL. SO THAT'S THAT'S A GOOD THING.

I THINK THOSE NUMBERS ARE REALLY IMPORTANT FOR US TO TELL THE PUBLIC, BECAUSE THAT'S REALLY HOW A BOTTOM LINE, BOTTOM LINES TO THEM.

SO IF WE COULD WORK WITH THE COMMUNICATIONS STAFF JUST TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE THESE NUMBERS RIGHT, WE'VE GOT IT AN APPROXIMATE VALUE.

GEORGE, I FORGOT TO ASK YOU ON THE LAST ONE BIG QUESTION FOR A LOT OF FOLKS IS IN TERMS OF OUR PARTICIPATION ON THE CONSTRUCTION OF THESE NEW BUILDINGS, HOW ARE WE LOOKING ON THAT? REALLY GOOD.

CAN WE GET A LIST OF WHO, UH, IS COVERED IN ALL OF THESE OPERATIONS? ABSOLUTELY. WE HAVE A MONTHLY SWIMMING REPORT TO THE BOARD.

OKAY. AND WE CAN WE CAN SEND YOU A COPY OF IT.

THANK YOU VERY KINDLY. APPRECIATE IT.

THANK YOU. JUDGE, COMMISSIONER OR COMMISSIONER.

CLAY-FLORES, JUST TO FOLLOW UP ON COMMISSIONER CALVERT'S, UM, COMMENT, US YOU GUYS HAVE AN ACTUAL SWIMMING DEPARTMENT.

YOU HAVE SOMEONE WHO'S IN CHARGE OF MAKING OF ENSURING THAT THAT HAPPENS WITH ALL NEW CONSTRUCTION, CORRECT? YES. SO THANK YOU FOR THAT.

UM, I KNOW WHEN WE FIRST STARTED TALKING ABOUT RAISING THE EXEMPTION FROM 5% TO 20%, AND WE TALKED ABOUT HOW MUCH THAT IS GOING TO COST.

SO ON YOUR SLIDE, YOU SAID IT'S GOING TO SAVE TAXPAYER DOLLARS 50 MILLION, WHICH MEANS THAT IT'S GOING TO BE THAT AMOUNT LESS FOR YOU ALL. CORRECT? CORRECT. SO I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE I POINTED THAT OUT IN JUST TALKING ABOUT HOW THE BOARD, UM, THANK YOU TO THE TO THE GYMS FOR BEING HERE, UM, IN MY APPOINTEE PAT AND THE OTHERS, JUST THANK YOU FOR YOUR DILIGENCE AND BEING, UM, GOOD STEWARDS OF TAXPAYER DOLLARS.

AND YOU'RE ALWAYS LOOKING FOR WAYS TO, TO, UM, CUT CORNERS WITHOUT CUTTING SERVICE.

SO I JUST REALLY APPRECIATE THAT.

AND THANK YOU FOR, UM, BEING FISCALLY RESPONSIBLE AND MAKING IT WORK.

THANK YOU. AND YOU AND, YOU KNOW, THE $54 MILLION, IF YOU GO BACK TO THAT SLIDE I HAD IN THE PRIOR PRESENTATION FOR THE AMOUNT OF FREE PHARMACEUTICALS WE'RE GETTING FROM THE PHARMACEUTICAL COMPANY NEXT YEAR, WE'RE ESTIMATING 45 MILLION.

THAT'S ALMOST THE $54 MILLION.

BY DOING SOMETHING LIKE THAT, WE'RE ABLE TO TO DO BOTH BE GOOD STEWARDS AND CARRY OUT THE MISSION.

THEY'RE NOT THEY'RE NOT OPPOSING EACH OTHER.

I THINK WE CAN WE CAN ALIGN THEM.

SO THANK YOU. CHRIS RODRIGUEZ.

THANK YOU. JUDGE. UM, GEORGE, THANKS AGAIN.

I DON'T WANT TO BELABOR THE POINT, BUT I THINK THIS IS, UM, THE PROVERBIAL TIGHTENING OF THE BELT, WHICH I THINK YOU GUYS ARE GREAT AT DOING, BUT ALSO DELIVERING THE SERVICES OUR COMMUNITY, UM, DESERVES.

I JUST WANT TO MENTION, BECAUSE I THINK THAT WE TEND TO FORGET THAT WE DON'T, UM, OPERATE.

YOU GUYS DON'T OPERATE WITHOUT EXTERNAL PRESSURES, ONE OF THOSE BEING THE LEGISLATURE IN AUSTIN.

AND YOU'VE GOT TO KEEP AN EYE ON.

AND I KNOW YOU DO. AND YOUR TEAM BE MINDFUL OF OF THE FACT THAT, UH, IT SEEMS LIKE EVERY LEGISLATIVE SESSION THERE IS SOME, UM, YOU KNOW, EITHER A PIECE OF LEGISLATION OR AN AMENDMENT THAT IMPACTS EITHER REIMBURSEMENTS OR, UM, YOU KNOW, YOUR, YOUR REVENUE SOURCE.

UM, THESE ARE IT'S GREAT THAT WE CAN DO THIS.

AND I THINK WE NEED TO DO THIS, AND WE APPRECIATE YOU GUYS, UH, BRINGING THIS FORWARD.

BUT, UM, THAT'S SOMETHING THAT IS THAT IS, UH, OFTENTIMES OVERLOOKED, BUT IT CAN IMPACT YOUR REVENUE SOURCES SIGNIFICANTLY.

[01:10:09]

UM, SO I KNOW YOU AND YOUR TEAM ARE ON THAT, BUT I JUST WANT TO MENTION THAT FOR THE PUBLIC BECAUSE, UM, THAT'S AN IMPORTANT, UM, UH, KIND OF GIVE AND TAKE WHEN IT COMES TO THE LEGISLATURE.

UH, LATELY IT'S BEEN MORE TAKING THAN GIVING.

AND SO, UM, I DON'T KNOW IF YOU HAVE A COMMENT ABOUT THAT, BUT IF YOU DO, I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE WE KEEP, UH, COMMUNICATING ABOUT HOW WE CAN BE HELPFUL WITH OUR FRIENDS IN AUSTIN.

ABSOLUTELY. YOU KNOW, WE HAD OVER $280 MILLION THROUGH SUPPLEMENTAL PROGRAMS. UH, AND WE'RE VERY PROACTIVE.

UH, WE WORK WITH HHC CLOSELY.

UH, I, UH, I WITH MY COLLEAGUES AND EVERYTHING.

REID HURLEY, UH, WITH HIS COLLEAGUES, UH, MAKE NUMEROUS TRIPS TO AUSTIN WHERE WE NEED TO, TO DO THAT.

UH, DURING THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION, SERENA RAVELLA AND ANDREW SMITH DO A WONDERFUL JOB KEEPING US UP TO DATE ON WHAT'S GOING ON.

UH, AND SO WE, YOU KNOW, YOUR POINTS ARE WELL TAKEN AND WE TAKE THAT THAT RESPONSIBILITY VERY SERIOUSLY BECAUSE A LOT OF THINGS HAPPEN IN AUSTIN THAT HAVE HUGE IMPACTS TO US. SO THANK YOU.

ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION.

THANK YOU GEORGE, AGAIN ON BEHALF OF THE PROPERTY OWNERS WHO ARE GETTING A TAX CUT IN THE NEXT TAX YEAR.

I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU AGAIN TO YOU AND TO THE BOARD FOR YOUR WONDERFUL WORK.

I THINK THERE WAS A MOTION BY COMMISSIONER MOODY, SECOND BY COMMISSIONER CALVERT.

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

THANK YOU. JUDGE. WE HAVE AN ORDER THERE THAT WE PREPARED FOR THE COURT FOR FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION.

CARRY ON, MR. HERNANDEZ.

SEND IT TO THE STAFF AND I'M SURE THEY'LL GET IT TO ME.

ALL RIGHT. ALL RIGHT.

LET'S THEN GO TO THE THIRD TIME.

[4.c. 10:00 a.m. - Discussion and appropriate action regarding the signing of the Joint Resolution for the Primary Election to be held Tuesday, March 5, 2024 or TBD and Tuesday, May 28, 2024 or TBD for a Runoff Election, if necessary.]

CERTAIN ITEM DISCUSSION, APPROPRIATE ACTION REGARDING THE SIGNING OF THE JOINT RESOLUTION FOR THE PRIMARY ELECTION TO BE HELD TUESDAY, MARCH 5TH, 2024, OR TO BE DETERMINED. AND TUESDAY, MARCH MAY, MAY 28TH, 2024, OR TO BE DETERMINED FOR A RUNOFF ELECTION IF NECESSARY.

MISS CALLANAN. MISS ALCANTARA.

GOOD MORNING. GOOD MORNING JUDGE.

GOOD MORNING COMMISSIONERS.

GOOD MORNING. THIS IS A DAY WE ALWAYS LOOK FORWARD TO.

IT'S THE SIGNING OF THE JOINT ELECTION FOR THE 2024 PRIMARY.

UM, BOTH OF THE PARTY CHAIRS ARE HERE, AND WE ARE REALLY PLEASED FOR THE STATUTORY REQUIREMENT TO BE SIGNED.

AS YOU KNOW, 2024 IS LOOMING RIGHT THERE ON THE HORIZON.

AND SO IT'S WITH MUCH GREAT PLEASURE THAT I GIVE YOU MONICA ALCANTARA, THE DEMOCRATIC CHAIR, AND MR. JEFF MCMANUS, THE REPUBLICAN CHAIR.

YEAH. GOOD. GOOD MORNING JUDGE.

GOOD MORNING, COMMISSIONERS.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR HAVING US THIS MORNING.

I AM SO LOOKING FORWARD TO ENSURING THAT WE SIGN THIS JOINT, UH, PRIMARY ELECTION AGREEMENT SO THAT WE HAVE NO ISSUES AS WE MOVE FORWARD FOR 2024. SO THANK YOU FOR HAVING US THIS MORNING.

GOOD MORNING.

GOOD MORNING. COMMISSIONERS COURT JUDGE.

FIRST TIME I'VE SEEN YOU.

GOOD TO SEE YOU.

GRANT. TOMMY.

JUSTIN. REBECA AND I ECHO THE SAME REGARDS THAT WAS JUST SAID BY OUR DEMOCRATIC CHAIR.

SO I LOOK FORWARD TO A GOOD ELECTION, A FAIR ELECTION, AND A TRANSPARENT ELECTION AND AN ELECTION THAT FOLLOWS THE RULES AND THE GUIDELINES AS SET OUT BY OUR STATE LEGISLATURE AND THE SECRETARY OF STATE.

I LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH JACKIE.

JACKIE IS A GREAT PERSON TO WORK WITH.

THANK YOU JACKIE.

ANY QUESTIONS? COMMISSIONER CLAY-FLORES.

UM, JACKIE, I KNOW YOU HAVE A LITTLE BLING ON YOUR JACKET TODAY.

VERY, VERY NICE.

IT'S CHRISTMAS.

UM, WHEN I SAW THIS ON THE AGENDA, MY FIRST COMMENT WAS.

I'M GLAD THAT THERE'S SOMETHING THAT REPUBLICANS AND DEMOCRATS CAN AGREE ON, WHICH IS A DATE FOR THE PRIMARY.

SO, UM, I'D LIKE TO MAKE A MOVE TO APPROVE.

SECOND MOTION BY COMMISSIONER CLAY-FLORES, SECOND BY COMMISSIONER RODRIGUEZ, COMMISSIONER RODRIGUEZ AND JUDGE, LET ME ALSO JUST THANK YOU BOTH FOR BEING HERE, JACKIE.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP.

BUT TO BOTH CHAIRPERSONS, I KNOW THIS SEEMS LIKE A VERY COMMONSENSICAL THING TO DO TO HAVE A JOINT PRIMARY.

BUT BELIEVE IT OR NOT, THERE HAS BEEN RECENT TIMES WHERE WE'VE NOT HAD AN AGREEMENT TO DO THIS.

SO I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE AND THANK YOU BOTH PUBLICLY FOR, UH, LEADING AND HOLDING THIS JOINT PRIMARY.

THANK YOU. JOSH. COMMISSIONER MOODY.

NO, I'LL JUST ECHO.

I'M GLAD THAT WE'RE WE'RE WORKING TOGETHER TO MAKE THIS HAPPEN AND APPRECIATE YOU BOTH BEING HERE AND SPEAKING.

AND LET US KNOW IF WE CAN HELP IN ANY WAY.

OKAY. THANK YOU SO MUCH.

WELL, THERE'S PEACE ON EARTH.

WE'VE GOT THE TWO TWO CHAIRS OF THE PARTIES WORKING TOGETHER.

[01:15:04]

I MEAN, THIS IS GOOD.

THIS IS GREAT.

UH, AND MERRY CHRISTMAS TO EVERYONE HERE.

UH, AND HAPPY HOLIDAYS AND BLESSED NEW YEAR.

I THINK THE THE BIG THING THAT WE NEED IS JUST PLENTY OF ADVANCE NOTICE ON OUR EARLY VOTING LOCATIONS TO WORK WITH YOU, UH, ON THE EARLY VOTING LOCATIONS AND ELECTION DAY LOCATIONS. THE DEVIL'S IN THOSE DETAILS, SO WE DON'T WANT TO GET INTO A CIRCUMSTANCE WHERE WE'RE GETTING SUED FOR, YOU KNOW, A LACK OF LOCATION.

SO WE'LL BE LOOKING FORWARD TO HELPING THE COURT MOVE AND THE COMMUNITY MOVE IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.

THANK YOU. IN THE FUTURE. THANK YOU SO MUCH, JUDGE.

AND THANK YOU FOR OUR TWO CHAIRS AND OUR ELECTIONS ADMINISTRATOR BEING HERE THIS MORNING.

APPRECIATE YOU. SO MERRY CHRISTMAS.

HAPPY NEW YEAR TO MISS CALLANAN AND MR. MCMANUS AND MISS ALCANTARA.

THANK YOU SO MUCH. IT LOOKS LIKE Y'ALL ARE SIGNING OFF.

I ASSUME YOU NEED MY SIGNATURE NOW.

YES, SIR. ALL RIGHT, JUST GIVE IT TO STAFF AND I'LL GET.

WE NEED FOUR COPIES.

ONE. I'M SORRY. WE NEED FOUR COPIES, PLEASE.

COPIES? YES, SIR. OUR STAFF TO STAFF, AND THEN WE'LL GET IT FROM THEM.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK Y'ALL.

ALL RIGHT. UH, LET'S.

OH, SORRY. YEAH, WE NEED TO VOTE.

SORRY. HOLD ON, MISS CALLAHAN.

WE HAVE. WE HAVEN'T VOTED ON YET.

ALL RIGHT, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE.

AYE. ALL OPPOSED? ANY EXTENSION.

NOW, YOU CAN HAVE YOUR ELECTIONS.

ALL RIGHT. IF WE HADN'T DONE THAT, YOU WOULDN'T BE HAVING AN ELECTION.

LET ME JUST ASK A POINT OF PERSONAL PRIVILEGE.

DO WE GET A MOTION? DOES SOMEONE MAKE A MOTION? WE DID. OKAY, OKAY, JUST DOUBLE CHECK.

THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER RODRIGUEZ.

ALL RIGHT, LET'S CONTINUE ON.

ON THE REGULAR AGENDA SIX FILING FOR THE RECORD, LEGAL ADMINISTRATIVE DOCUMENTS, DIRECTING THE CRIMINAL DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE TO TAKE ACTION NECESSARY FOR ITEMS A,

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

B, C, AND SUBSECTIONS ONE, TWO, THREE.

COURT WILL TAKE JUDICIAL NOTICE OF THOSE DOCUMENTS.

WE'LL NOW GO TO. LET'S GO TO ITEM SEVEN.

COMMISSIONER'S COURT MINUTES FOR TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 28TH, 2023.

[7. Commissioners Court minutes for Tuesday November 28, 2023.]

MOVE A MOTION BY COMMISSIONER CALVERT SECOND SECOND BY COMMISSIONER RODRIGUEZ.

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

AYE. ANY OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES. CITIZENS TO BE HEARD.

THE ONLY PERSON I HAVE RIGHT NOW IS CONSTABLE TO HEATHER.

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

BUT YOU'VE ASKED TO SPEAK ON AGENDA ITEM 91, I PRESUME.

I'LL LET YOU, IF YOU PREFER.

I'LL LET YOU SPEAK AT THAT ITEM.

BUT IF YOU WANT TO GO AHEAD AND SPEAK NOW ON PERHAPS ANOTHER ISSUE, YOU'RE FREE TO DO SO.

I DON'T KNOW, COMMISSIONER HEATHER.

HE'LL WAIT. GOT IT.

ALL RIGHT. SO PLEASE REMIND ME WHEN THAT ITEM COMES THAT YOU ARE WAITING TO SPEAK.

OKAY, WE'RE NOW GETTING THROUGH THE DOCKET HERE, THROUGH THE AGENDA.

LET US GO TO INDIVIDUAL ITEMS. ALL RIGHT. COMMISSIONER COWARD HAS ASKED AS A POINT OF PERSONAL PRIVILEGE THAT WE GO TO ITEM 90.

[90. Presentation, discussion and appropriate action regarding the authority for negotiation and execution of an appropriate agreement with the Houston Street Tax Increment Reinvestment Zone authorizing the expenditure of up to $175,000 to be paid from the County Increment for the Artpace Project. (Estimated Presentation Time: 15 minutes) (Justin Rodriguez/ Tommy Calvert)]

ALL RIGHT, OF COURSE, GOING TO TAKE UP ITEM 90.

PRESENTATION, DISCUSSION, APPROPRIATE ACTION REGARDING AUTHORITY FOR NEGOTIATION, EXECUTION OF AN APPROPRIATE AGREEMENT WITH THE HOUSTON STREET TAX INCREMENT REINVESTMENT ZONE. AUTHORIZE AN EXPENDITURE OF UP TO $175,000 TO BE PAID FROM THE COUNTY AND INCREMENT FOR THE ART PACE PROJECT.

I SEE COMMISSIONER RODRIGUEZ AND COMMISSIONER CALVERT OR WHO'S MAKING THE PRESENTATION.

GOOD AFTERNOON. JUDGE.

MY NAME IS RILEY ROBINSON.

I'M THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR FOR ARTPACE.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

PROCEED. UM, AS I SAID, I'M THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR FOR ARTPACE AND REALLY APPRECIATE YOU BEING HERE.

THE IMAGE YOU SEE HERE NOW IS OUR BUILDING ON MAIN AVENUE, WHICH OPENED IN 1995.

OUR MISSION IS TO SUPPORT ARTISTS IN THE CREATION OF NEW ARTWORK AND ENGAGE ALL OF BEXAR COUNTY RESIDENTS WITH THESE ARTISTS AND GLOBAL ART EXPERIENCES. THE NEXT SLIDE.

UM, I STARTED WORKING AT ARTPACE WITH LINDA PACE IN 1994, AND WE OPENED THE DOORS IN 1995.

WE HOST COHORTS OF ARTISTS FOR TWO MONTHS TO CREATE NEW ARTWORK, THEN SHOW THEIR WORK FOR A FOUR MONTH EXHIBITION.

WE CREATE EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM FOR ALL AGES, AND WE ARE THE ONLY CONTEMPORARY ARTS ORGANIZATION THAT IS FREE, OPEN TO THE PUBLIC SEVEN DAYS A WEEK WITHIN 100 MILES OF SAN ANTONIO.

THE NEXT SLIDE.

OUR REQUEST TO THIS COURT IS FOR $175,000 FROM THE HOUSTON STREET TOURS TOWARDS THE $1.6 MILLION RENOVATION OF ART SPACES. 27 YEAR OLD ROOF DECK TO HOST EXPANDED SCHEDULE OF PUBLIC EVENTS IN DOWNTOWN SAN ANTONIO.

ON OCTOBER 30TH, 2023, THE HOUSTON STREET TOURS BOARD APPROVED ART PACE'S REQUEST FOR $350,000 IN FUNDING AND BY UNANIMOUS VOTE, HALF OF THE CITY'S PORTION OF THE TOURS.

[01:20:01]

HALF OF THIS PORTION WILL COME FROM THE CITY, THE OTHER HALF WILL COME FROM THE COUNTY.

UH, THIS REQUEST REQUIRES APPROVAL FROM THE BEXAR COURT.

UM. THE FUNDING, UH, ARTPACE.

CURRENTLY HAS COMMITMENTS OF $774,000 TOWARDS THE ROOFTOP FROM LOCAL INDIVIDUALS AND PRIVATE FOUNDATIONS, WITH AN ADDITIONAL $800,000 IN FUNDING REQUESTS PENDING, INCLUDING A $250,000 PLEDGE.

THE BEXAR COUNTY TOURS FUNDING WILL UNLOCK TWO AND A HALF TIMES THE AMOUNT FROM OTHER SENDING FORCES.

THIS WILL ALLOW ART PACE TO COMMENCE THE CONSTRUCTION ON OUR ROOFTOP.

UH, NEXT SLIDE PLEASE.

THIS IS A COPY OF THE BUDGET, INCLUDING THE SECURED FUNDING SOURCES ON THE TOP, AND THEN THE CURRENT FUNDING REQUESTS WITH BEXAR COUNTY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT GRANT OR THE TOURS 175.

UH, ONCE WE RECEIVE THAT GRANT, I'M CERTAIN THAT THE BROWN FOUNDATION, THE 8020 FOUNDATION WILL WILL, UM, COMPLETE THE FUNDING AND WE WILL HEAR FROM THE MAJOR PRIOR, UH, MYRA STAFFORD PRIOR FOUNDATION, UH, BY THE END OF DECEMBER.

NEXT. NEXT, PLEASE.

UM, CONSTRUCTION COSTS.

WE HAVE FOUR BIDS.

THE LOW BID AND THE BEST BID CAME FROM JURIS CONSTRUCTION COMPANY.

UH, WE'RE VERY HAPPY TO BE WORKING WITH THE SOLAR ENERGY FIRM BIG SUN SOLAR, WHO WILL BE PURCHASING THE SOLAR PANELS FROM MISSION SOLAR AT BROOKS CITY-BASE. AS YOU SAW IN THE BUDGET, ARTPACE WILL BE ELIGIBLE FOR OVER $150,000 IN FEDERAL INCENTIVES PAID OUT OVER THE NEXT THREE YEARS. THIS IS A CONCEPTUAL RENDERING OF THE ROOFTOP ON TOP OF OUR BUILDING AT 445 NORTH MAIN.

WE WERE WORKING WITH, UH, THE ORIGINAL ARCHITECTS FOR THE DESIGN OF THE BUILDING, LAKE FLATO ARCHITECTS.

NEXT SLIDE.

THIS IS WHAT THE ROOFTOP WILL LOOK LIKE WITH THE SHADE STRUCTURE THAT KEEPS THE SUN OFF OF GUESTS IN OUR EVENTS, AND ALSO WILL RAIN PROOF, UM, OUR EVENTS.

IT WILL STILL BE OPEN ON THE SIDES TO THE WEATHER GIVING THAT OPEN AIR FEEL.

NEXT SLIDE PLEASE.

THIS IS HOW THE SOLAR PANELS WILL COLLECT THE SUN.

UM, AND IT'S JUST A PICTURE OF THE STRUCTURE WITH AN IMAGE OF A POSSIBLE RENDERING OF, SAY, A FILM FILM SHOWING ON OUR ROOFTOP.

NEXT SLIDE.

THESE ARE THREE RENDERINGS OF THE ROOFTOP, UM, IN THREE DIFFERENT KINDS OF EVENTS, SAY A CASUAL EVENING, A FILM SCREENING, POP UP FOOD SERVICE FROM LOCAL VENDORS. AND NEXT SLIDE.

WE HAVE ENDORSEMENTS FROM LOCAL VENDORS, PARTICULARLY ESTATE COFFEE, WHICH PROVIDED FREE COFFEE, UM, EVERY FRIDAY FOR A MORNING MIXER.

AND, UM, THE ESTATE COFFEE'S BEEN A LONGTIME FRIEND AND SUPPORTER OF ARTPACE.

WE REALLY LIKE IT.

UH. NEXT SLIDE.

UM, I'VE WORKED WITH ADAM ROCHE, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR FOR SAN ANTONIO FILM FESTIVAL, FOR ALMOST 25 YEARS, AND HE REGULARLY CALLS AND ASKS FOR VENUES TO PRESENT SOME OF HIS FILMS, ESPECIALLY FROM HIS FILM FESTIVAL.

THESE ARE JUST TWO OF MANY ENDORSEMENTS THAT WE HAVE FOR THE ARTPACE ROOFTOP.

NEXT SLIDE, AND I PARTICULARLY WANT TO THANK THE COMMISSIONERS COURT FOR WORKING WITH US OVER THE LAST SEVEN YEARS, UM, TO PROVIDE AN INTERN FOR OUR PROGRAM.

SO THAT WAS AN IMAGE OF BEXAR COUNTY INTERN VINCENT SOLIS, WHO WORKED WITH US IN THIS SUMMER, AND HE JUST GRADUATED FROM UTSA.

SO THANK YOU.

AND NOW THIS COMPLETES MY PRESENTATION.

I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND REALLY APPRECIATE I'M HERE TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS.

ALL RIGHT. WELL, THANK YOU, CALVERT.

THANK YOU SO MUCH, RILEY, FOR THAT GREAT PRESENTATION.

THAT WAS JUST MARINATING A LITTLE BIT ON THE FACT THAT HERE WE HAVE COME FROM, UH, PICANTE SAUCE TO ART, YOU KNOW, AND WE HAVE LINDA PACE TO THANK TO THANK FOR THAT.

UH, MAY SHE REST IN PEACE.

UM, OF COURSE, SHE'S THE OWNER OF PACE PICANTE SAUCE.

AND THE ENDOWMENT THAT WAS LEFT FOR ART PACE HAS HAS BENEFITED MANY, MANY, MANY GENERATIONS AND MANY, MANY CITIES.

BECAUSE IF THE COMMISSIONERS HAVEN'T BEEN TO VISIT YOUR FACILITY, UH, YOU CAN SEE A WALL OF FAME, IF YOU WILL, IN TERMS OF THE FOLKS WHO HAVE COME THROUGH ARTISTS AND RESIDENTS, INTERNATIONAL, LOCAL, NATIONAL, AND THEY HAVE REALLY RISEN TO A PROMINENT POSITION AND MANY RESIDE HERE THAT YOU CONTINUE TO WORK WITH.

UM, AND I MUST SAY THAT WHEN I, WHEN I CAME BACK FROM BOSTON, LIVING THERE FOR ABOUT EIGHT YEARS, UM, I REMEMBER THINKING ABOUT HOW FEW ROOFTOP VENUES WE HAD IN SAN ANTONIO.

[01:25:03]

WE HAD NOT TAKEN ADVANTAGE OF OUR AIRSPACE.

UH, WE DID A GREAT JOB WITH THE SUBTERRANEAN, WITH THE RIVERWALK AND THINGS.

BUT WE HAVE WE HAD NOT REALLY CAUGHT UP TO OTHER CITIES.

SO, UM, I REMEMBER THINKING, YOU KNOW, WE NEED TO IMPROVE OUR COOL.

YOU KNOW, WE GOT TO WE GOT TO DO WHAT THE TRENDS ARE.

AND SO, UH, GOSH, 25 YEARS LATER, WE'RE WE'RE REALLY STARTING TO HIT THAT STRIDE IN TERMS OF ROOFTOP SPACE.

AND I THINK YOU'RE COMPLEMENTING WHAT'S GOING ON IN THE REDESIGN OF THE HOTELS ALL AROUND YOU AND SOME OF THE OTHER HIGH RISES THAT ARE COMING TO SAN ANTONIO. UH, AND CHERRY ON TOP WITH THE WITH THE SOLAR.

I MEAN, IT'S EVERYTHING.

THE ENVIRONMENT IS EVERYTHING.

AND THE FACT THAT WE CAN HAVE SOME ENERGY SAVINGS AND PROGRAMING AND ARTS, UH, IT'S GOING TO REALLY MAKE A DIFFERENCE.

UH, KIND OF A TRIVIAL QUESTION, BUT ARE YOU GOING TO HAVE WHEN IT'S COLD, UH, THE HEATERS ATTACHED TO THAT, UH, ROOF, OR IS IT JUST YOU'RE GOING TO BRING THOSE IN OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT? I DON'T KNOW HOW THAT'LL WORK.

WE'RE GOING TO WORK THROUGH THAT DESIGN COMING THROUGH, AND I'LL TALK TO THE ARCHITECTS ABOUT THAT.

OKAY. WELL, IT MAY BE A POSSIBILITY.

UM, I JUST WANT TO THANK COMMISSIONER RODRIGUEZ, THE TOURIST BOARD, FOR APPROVING, UH, THE INITIAL SALVO, IF YOU WILL, AND WOULD APPRECIATE MY FELLOW COMMISSIONERS SUPPORT.

I'LL MOVE APPROVAL.

SECOND MOTION BY COMMISSIONER CALVERT.

SECOND BY COMMISSIONER, A SECOND BY COMMISSIONER RODRIGUEZ.

COMMISSIONER RODRIGUEZ, THANK YOU, JUDGE.

AND I AND I JUST WANT TO THANK YOU AGAIN, UH, COMMISSIONER CALVERT, FOR YOUR COLLABORATION ON THIS.

UM, I HAD A CHANCE TO VISIT, I THINK IT WAS ABOUT A YEAR OR SO AGO.

UM, AND COINCIDENTALLY, IT WAS RAINING, SO WE COULDN'T REALLY BE ON THE ROOFTOP.

BUT WE LOOKED AT IT, AND IT HAS SO MUCH POTENTIAL.

BUT BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY THAN, I THINK THE THE BRICKS AND MORTAR IS WHAT YOU DO, UH, TO CULTIVATE, UH, ARTISTS AND TO SPREAD THAT NOT JUST HERE BUT ALL OVER THE COMMUNITY.

I KNOW ONE OF THEM HERE, ONE OF OUR LOCAL, UH, GREAT ARTISTS, CRUZ ORTIZ, IS HERE, WHO IS A BIG PART OF ARTPACE AS BETTER HALF OLIVIA, WHO'S MY APPOINTEE ON THE CHILD WELFARE BOARD. THANK YOU BOTH FOR BEING HERE.

AND, UM, YEAH, WE LOOK FORWARD TO I KNOW YOU'VE STILL GOT A LITTLE WORK AHEAD OF YOU, UH, TO GET THE REST OF THE CAPITAL, BUT WE LOOK FORWARD TO THAT.

AND OTHER THAN THE THREE DAYS A YEAR THAT IT'S COLD, AS COMMISSIONER CALVERT MENTIONED, WE GOT TO MAKE SURE IT'S IT'S COOL ENOUGH TO BE UP THERE DURING THE REST OF THE, UH, 362 DAYS. SO I KNOW YOU'RE WORKING ON THAT AND THINKING THROUGH IT WITH THE DESIGN FOLKS.

THANK YOU. COMMISSIONER. YES.

UM, THIS WILL, UH, WILL WORK ON THE COLD, BUT PRIMARILY THIS IS TO ALLOW PEOPLE TO USE THE ROOF IN THE SUMMERTIME WITH THAT SUN THAT COMES DOWN.

SO WE SHOULD INCREASE OUR EVENTS, UM, SIGNIFICANTLY.

THANK YOU. COMMISSIONER, I SHOULD HAVE I SHOULD HAVE ASKED ABOUT THE MISTERS INSTEAD OF THE HEATERS.

BUT, YOU KNOW, I HOPE YOU GET SOME MISTERS UP THERE.

SORRY. YEAH. I JUST WANT TO THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.

UH, RILEY, UM, WHO IS A.

UM, RESIDENT OF PRECINCT ONE.

THANK YOU FOR LIVING IN THE RIGHT PRECINCT.

AND, UM, AND JUST YOUR EFFORT AND YOUR BOARD.

OLIVIA AND CRUZ, THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE AND YOUR EFFORT TO, UM, OPEN UP SO MANY THINGS AND MAKE THEM FREE.

I LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU IN FUTURE AND SEE HOW WE CAN, UM, DO DO MORE FOR STUDENTS IN PRECINCT ONE.

SO I'M HAPPY TO SUPPORT THIS.

UH, THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER.

UH, BEING FREE AND OPEN SEVEN DAYS A WEEK IS VERY IMPORTANT TO ME.

AND THAT THAT WILL STAY TRUE.

THANK YOU, THANK YOU.

MR. MOODY. YEAH.

I JUST WANTED TO, UH, TO HIGHLIGHT, UM, YOU KNOW, FIRST OF ALL, THE, UH, THE TWO AND A HALF TIMES, UM, ADDITIONAL FUNDING THAT YOU'RE UNLOCKING WITH THE, UH, THE TERS CONTRIBUTION, AND IT LOOKS LIKE YOU'VE ALREADY RAISED A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF MONEY, UH, PRIVATE MONEY TOWARDS, TOWARDS THIS PROJECT.

AND SO, UM, APPRECIATE THAT.

AND I DO JUST WANT TO HIGHLIGHT AGAIN THAT THE CHURCH HAS VERY STRICT LIMITATIONS ON HOW THESE FUNDS CAN BE SPENT.

THESE AREN'T, YOU KNOW, GENERAL, UH, OPERATING BUDGET FUNDS IN ANY WAY, SHAPE OR FORM, THEY'RE VERY LIMITED.

SO THERE'S THERE'S A LIMITED NUMBER OF PROJECTS AND, AND THIS SEEMS LIKE A GOOD ONE FOR THE TEAM TO WORK ON.

SO THANK YOU.

UH, THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER. YES.

WE'RE WORKING VERY CAREFULLY WITH THE CITY AND OUR ARCHITECTS TO MAKE SURE THAT THE MONEY IS WELL SPENT.

ALL RIGHT. LET ME THANK ARTPACE SAN ANTONIO RILEY, THANK YOU.

AND AND ALL OF THE WORK THAT YOU AND EVERYBODY INVOLVED, ESPECIALLY YOUR ARTISTS, DO FOR OUR COMMUNITY.

I'M A STRONG SUPPORTER OF THE ARTS.

I THINK IT'S AN INTEGRAL PART OF A HEALTHY AND AND, WELL, COMMUNITY TO EMBRACE THE ART.

I DON'T KNOW IF YOU'RE AWARE, BUT LINDA PACE WAS INVOLVED IN THE ART ON THE THIRD FLOOR OF THIS COURTHOUSE, HISTORIC COURTHOUSE WITH A CHILDREN'S COURT.

AND SO FOR THOSE WHO AREN'T AWARE, WE HAVE SOME REALLY FINE ART.

UH, ON THE THIRD FLOOR, UH, SPONSORED AND, UH, BY LINDA PACE AND THE TOBIN FOUNDATION, I BELIEVE, UH, ALSO HELPED PROVIDE THE FUNDING FOR THOSE, UH, ART PIECES THAT ARE ON THE THIRD FLOOR.

SO, UH, YOU ALL HAVE BEEN THERE, AND ESPECIALLY FOR THE CHILDREN OF BEXAR COUNTY AND, UH, OLIVIA AND CRUZ.

[01:30:01]

NICE SEEING YOU ALL AGAIN.

UH, I'M GOING TO I'M GOING TO EMBARRASS YOU, OLIVIA.

I REMEMBER OLIVIA AS A LITTLE GIRL NOW.

SO, UH, OBVIOUSLY YOU'RE A BIG GIRL NOW.

AND, CRUZ, THANK YOU FOR THE YOUR, UH, ARTISTIC COMMITMENT ESPECIALLY.

I THINK YOU WERE INVOLVED A LOT WITH THE ART THAT WAS DONE IN UVALDE AND REMEMBRANCE AND RECOGNITION, RESPECT FOR THAT TRAGEDY THERE.

SO I WANT TO THANK YOU ALL AS A COUPLE AND DIDN'T REALIZE SHE IS YOUR APPOINTEE ON THE CHILD WELFARE BOARD.

AND WE JUST HAD THEM EARLIER AND I GAVE YOU ALL SOME MONEY, OR I SHOULD SAY, THE COURT GAVE YOU SOME MONEY THAT WE IDENTIFIED.

SO PLEASE CONTINUE TO DO THE GREAT SERVICE ON THE WELFARE BOARD.

I BELIEVE THERE WAS A MOTION BY COMMISSIONER CALVERT, SECOND BY COMMISSIONER RODRIGUEZ.

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

ALL RIGHT. POINT OF PERSONAL PRIVILEGE AGAIN.

HAVE A HAPPY HOLIDAYS.

UH, COMMISSIONER MOODY HAS ASKED THAT WE GO TO ITEM NUMBER 91, CONSTABLE.

[91. Discussion and appropriate action regarding the implementation of a new Constable Step Pay Plan at an estimated cost of $685,526.17 as well as an additional $82,719.84 for shift differential pay, for an estimated total of $768,246.01 per year to be included in the first full pay period in January 2024. (Estimated Presentation Time: 15 minutes) (Judge Sakai/Grant Moody).]

SO I'M ASKING YOU TO TEE IT UP, UH, ALONG WITH THE BUDGET OFFICE DISCUSSION, APPROPRIATE ACTION REGARDING THE IMPLEMENTATION OF A NEW CONSTABLE STEP PAY PLAN, AN ESTIMATED COST OF $685,526.17, AS WELL AS AN ADDITIONAL $82,719.84 FOR SHIFT DIFFERENTIAL PAY, FOR AN ESTIMATED COST OF $768,246.01 PER YEAR TO BE INCLUDED IN THE FIRST FULL PAY PERIOD IN JANUARY 2024.

UH SACHSE.

COMMISSIONER MOODY, THANK YOU.

GO AHEAD AND TEE THIS UP.

UM, SO OVER THE LAST YEAR, WE'VE WE'VE HAD A, UH, SEVERAL DIFFERENT, UH, ISSUES REGARDING PAY.

AND THIS STARTED WITH THE, UH, THE BAKER TILLY PAY STUDY AND, AND CHANGES THAT WERE MADE, UH, ACROSS THE BOARD AT THE COUNTY, UH, FOLLOWED THAT UP WITH SOME FIXES IN THE BUDGET PROCESS.

WE HAD, UH, FIXES THAT WERE MADE WHEN IT CAME TO THE DEPUTY SHERIFFS, UM, AND AND BADLY NEEDED, IN MY OPINION.

BUT ULTIMATELY, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE KNEW WAS MISSING WAS OUR CONSTABLES.

UM, AND SO SINCE THE BUDGET PROCESS, WE'VE HAD A LOT OF DIFFERENT CONVERSATIONS, UH, GOING BACK MONTHS.

UH, I APPRECIATE, YOU KNOW, THE TIME THAT THAT ALL THE CONSTABLES HAVE SPENT AND HAVING THIS DISCUSSION BRINGING SOME OF THEIR CONCERNS FORWARD AND WORKING WITH WORKING WITH COMMISSIONERS COURT AND OUR TEAM, UH, TO MOVE THIS, UM, THIS ITEM, I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT THAT FOLKS REALIZE THIS IS A COMPROMISE.

THERE'S THERE'S FOUR ELECTED OFFICIALS AT THE PODIUM.

THERE'S FIVE ELECTED OFFICIALS UP HERE.

UH, A LOT OF A LOT OF DIFFERENT, UH, COOKS IN THE KITCHEN, UH, A LOT OF WORK TO, UH, TO MAKE SURE WE'RE WE'RE TRYING TO GET TO SOMETHING THAT THAT MADE SENSE FOR THE COUNTY.

MADE SENSE FOR FOR OUR CONSTABLES.

UM, THIS ULTIMATELY INCLUDES A A STEP PAY PLAN THAT GOES TO 11 YEARS, UH, FOR ALL OF OUR CONSTABLES.

UH, THERE'S GOING TO BE THE THE TWO LEVELS, THE DEPUTY AND THE, THE SENIOR DEPUTY LEVEL.

UM, AND THIS ALSO INCLUDES THE SHIFT DIFFERENTIAL PAY FOR THOSE CONSTABLES WHO ARE RUNNING A SECOND SHIFT, YOU KNOW, FOR EVENING, UH, TIME FRAME, WHERE THAT WOULD BE $175 PER MONTH FOR THOSE INDIVIDUALS WHO SERVE ON THAT.

BUT AGAIN, THIS IS THIS IS A COMPROMISE.

THIS ISN'T WHAT WAS INITIALLY OFFERED.

THIS IS NOT WHAT WAS INITIALLY ASKED FOR.

UH, BUT THIS WAS THE SAUSAGE MAKING AND GETTING TO A PLACE WHERE WE COULD GET TO AGREEMENT IN THE NEAR TERME, KNOWING THAT IT'S NOT A 100% SOLUTION. UM, AND KNOWING THAT THERE'S THERE'S STILL THINGS THAT WE NEED TO ADDRESS AS A COUNTY, UH, GOING FORWARD.

BUT I FEEL REALLY GOOD ABOUT THIS BEING A GOOD COMPROMISE MEASURE THAT, THAT WE CAN ALL GET BEHIND AND TRY TO MOVE FORWARD.

SO I'D LIKE TO GO AHEAD AND MOVE.

APPROVAL. SECOND MOTION BY COMMISSIONER MOODY.

SECOND BY COMMISSIONER. ANY FURTHER COMMENT? MR. CLAY-FLORES, I JUST WANT TO COMMENT.

UM, OBVIOUSLY I'VE BEEN WORKING WITH MY CONSTABLE REUBEN, SINCE I CAME IN OFFICE THREE YEARS AGO AND, UM, ADVOCATED TO GET THE POSITIONS BACK THAT WERE CUT, UM, BEFORE I CAME.

SO I'M JUST HAPPY TO KNOW THAT WE CONTINUE TO SUPPORT OUR CONSTABLES, THAT WE CONTINUE TO WORK TOGETHER.

SO I JUST WANT TO PUBLICLY THANK YOU, CONSTABLE TEJADA, FOR WORKING SO WELL WITH ME.

AND I SAW SAL BACK HERE AND THE REST OF YOUR DEPUTY CONSTABLES, WHO WORKED SO WELL WITH MY STAFF AND, UM, HAVE JUST PARTNERED ON SO MANY DIFFERENT THINGS.

SO I'M HAPPY THAT WE WERE ABLE TO FIGURE OUT SOME NUMBERS THAT EVERYONE WAS IN AGREEMENT UPON, UM, WITH THE REST OF THE CONSTABLES.

SO, UM, I'M HAPPY TO SUPPORT.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE, COMMISSIONER RODRIGUEZ.

YEAH, JUDGE. THANK YOU.

I HAD TO STEP AWAY FOR A SECOND.

[01:35:01]

I DON'T KNOW THAT WE NEED A FULL BRIEFING ON THIS.

I KNOW COMMISSIONER MOODY HAS DONE A LOT OF THE LEGWORK.

UH, BUT I WONDERED IF, UM, EITHER COMMISSIONER OR STAFF CAN GIVE US JUST A BRIEF, UM, HIGHLIGHT FOR PURPOSES OF PUBLIC DISCOURSE OF WHAT THIS, UM, ITEM ENTAILS.

SO BASICALLY, AS I UNDERSTAND IT, IT TAKES THE PROPOSAL THAT WE HAD DEVELOPED FOR A STEP PLAN INCREASES, INCREASES EACH OF THE STEPS BY 2000 $2,000 COMPARED TO WHAT WE'D INITIALLY OFFERED.

ALSO, IT INCREASES THE LENGTH OF THE STEP PLAN FROM 10 TO 11 YEARS AND ADDS $175 A MONTH SHIFT DIFFERENTIAL FOR THOSE WORKING, UH, THE LATER SHIFTS.

OKAY, SO SO IT ESSENTIALLY IS A PAY INCREASE FOR MOST OF THE CONSTABLE RANK AND FILE.

IT SOUNDS LIKE. AND AGAIN, I KNOW THAT, UM, THERE WASN'T NECESSARILY A MEETING OF THE MINDS ON THE INITIAL PROPOSAL.

UH, BUT, UH, COMMISSIONER MOODY, LET ME THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP.

I KNOW YOU SPENT, UH, PROBABLY TOO MANY HOURS WORKING ON THIS, UH, AND THE CONSTABLE'S, UM, THERE'S BEEN VERY FEW TIMES.

MAYBE THIS IS ANOTHER KUMBAYA MOMENT, BECAUSE THE.

IT CERTAINLY IS.

THE, UH, PARTY CHAIRS ARE UP HERE EARLIER.

UH, BUT BUT I THINK THAT, UH, TO YOUR CREDIT, THE LEADERSHIP, UH, MY CONSTABLE, UH, CONSTABLE VASQUEZ, I KNOW, UM, IN, UH, YOU KNOW, PRETTY SHORT PERIOD OF TIME. YOU'VE DONE A GREAT JOB IN, UH, EXHIBITING LEADERSHIP FOR YOUR MEN AND WOMEN IN UNIFORM.

WE APPRECIATE THAT.

I THINK THIS SHOWS, UM, IN TERMS OF THE COMPROMISE WHERE OUR VALUES ARE AND WE VALUE, UH, WHAT YOU DO FOR, UM, OUR PRECINCTS, FOR THE COUNTY.

UM, AND SO I'M HAPPY TO SUPPORT IT AND JUST WANTED TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE FACT THAT, UM, I KNOW COMMISSIONER MOODY PUT IN A LOT OF HOURS WORKING WITH YOU ALL TO GET TO THIS POINT.

AND AGAIN, IT'S A GOOD STEP FORWARD.

APPRECIATE IT. LET ME.

UM, CONSTABLE TEJADA, YOU SIGNED UP AS CITIZENS TO BE HEARD.

AND CERTAINLY YOU ARE A CITIZEN, BUT YOU ARE ALSO AN ELECTED OFFICIAL.

SO LET ME GIVE YOU AN OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK.

I'M NOT GOING TO PUT THE CLOCK ON.

UH, BUT BE MINDFUL.

WE'RE READY TO VOTE HERE.

BUT, UH, YOU HAVE THE FLOOR, AND I JUST WANT TO THANK YOU.

WELL, I WANT TO ALSO GIVE THE SAME COURTESY TO THE OTHER ELECTEDS.

IF YOU'D LIKE TO MAKE A BRIEF STATEMENT, GO AHEAD.

CONSTABLE, I JUST WANT TO THANK EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU, JUDGE.

YOU, ESPECIALLY COMMISSIONER MOODY.

A LOT OF TIME YOU PUT IN COMMISSIONER CALVERT, COMMISSIONER FLORES AND COMMISSIONER RODRIGUEZ.

UH, THIS IS A BIG STEP.

AND, UH, ALL OF US HAVE BEEN WORKING VERY HARD, AND OUR OFFICERS AND CLERKS AND EVERYBODY AT THE OFFICE HAS DONE THE SAME. SO WE HAVE ALL COME TO AN AGREEMENT AND WE ARE HELPING EACH OTHER.

UM, IT'S IT'S A SAFETY ISSUE.

IT'S, UH, IT'S BETTER FOR THE COMMUNITY, YOU KNOW? AND SO I JUST WANTED TO PUBLICLY THANK EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU.

UH, COMMISSIONER MOODY, YOU REALLY STEPPED UP TO THE PLATE FOR US, AND I THANK YOU.

CONSTABLE VOJVODICH, AGAIN, I WOULD SAY THANK YOU AGAIN.

UH, ABOUT TEN MONTHS AGO, YOU ACTUALLY CAME TO EACH CONSTABLE'S OFFICE AND ASKED US WHAT WE DO, WHY WE DO IT THAT WAY, AND HOW YOU COULD HELP US.

AND WE APPRECIATE THE FACT THAT THE COURT'S DIRECTION, EACH OF THE COMMISSIONERS, UH, TOMMY CALVERT, HAS ALWAYS BEEN A GREAT SUPPORTER.

GRANT MOODY HAS COME ACROSS JUSTIN RODRIGUEZ AND CLAY-FLORES, UH, WE APPRECIATED THE FACT THAT THEY'VE ELEVATED AND THEY HAVE PAID ATTENTION TO, UH, LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS IN BEXAR COUNTY TO INCLUDE THE CONSTABLES AS WELL AS THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE.

AND WE WANTED TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR EFFORTS.

AND WE'RE WORKING, WILLING TO WORK WITH YOU IN THE FUTURE, AND WE HOPE THAT WE CAN PROVIDE THE SERVICES.

THAT YOU NEED FROM US FOR OUR COMMUNITY.

COMMISSIONER VASQUEZ, PEACE ON EARTH.

EVERYWHERE. HERE. THIS IS GOOD.

OH, HOLD ON, HOLD ON. WE GOT TWO MORE CONSTABLES.

I GOTTA WEIGH IN.

I WANT TO MAKE SURE THEY SHARE THE PEACE OF LOVE.

WE ARE VERY. WE ARE VERY APPRECIATIVE OF EVERYTHING YOU'VE DONE.

JUDGE. UH, COMMISSIONER MOODY, IF IT WASN'T FOR YOU GUYS.

CALVERT, YOU'VE. YOU GUYS HAVE HAD OUR BACK FROM THE VERY BEGINNING, UH, TO ACKNOWLEDGE US AS LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS.

THAT'S THAT'S A PLUS, UH, BEING ON THE OUTSIDE, BEING, UH, COMING FROM THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE AND NOW BEING ON AS AS A CONSTABLE AND WATCHING MY GUYS WORK JUST AS HARD AND PUT THEIR LIVES ON THE LINE.

THIS MEANS A LOT. SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH AND MERRY CHRISTMAS.

SO THANK YOU, CONSTABLE BROWN.

I HAVE BEEN RUNNING A SECOND SHIFT SINCE I STARTED THREE YEARS AGO, SO THE FACT THAT YOU'VE IMPLEMENTED SHIFT INFLUENTIAL IS EVERYTHING TO US.

[01:40:06]

THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU.

UM, FOR OUR OFFICERS, TODAY IS VERY MUCH SUBSTANTIATING THEIR WORTH.

IT'S BEEN SINCE 2007, AND WE'RE DOING IT WITHOUT COLLECTIVE BARGAINING, NO PUN INTENDED.

SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH, AND I HOPE THIS RELATIONSHIP CONTINUES.

OKAY. GO AHEAD, COMMISSIONER MOODY.

I JUST WANT TO, UM, I, I SKIPPED OVER THIS.

I WAS SO BUSY THINKING ABOUT THE PRESENTING THE ITEM.

UM, BUT I JUST WANT TO PUBLICLY THANK, UH, CONSTABLE VOJVODICH ON ON YOUR SIDE OF THINGS FOR HELPING TAKE THE LEAD.

UH, A LOT OF LATE PHONE CALLS, A LOT OF COMMUNICATIONS AND WORK, UH, IN ORDER TO GET TO THIS POINT.

AND, AND AGAIN, UM, YOU KNOW, IT'S JUST IT'S IT WAS NEEDED.

UM, WE GOT THERE TODAY.

IT'S A GREAT MOMENT TO TO SEE THIS, UH, GET DONE FOR ALL OF YOU.

BUT THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORK ON THIS.

AND THANK YOU TO ALL OUR CONSTABLES FOR THE WORK YOU DO AND KEEPING BEXAR COUNTY SAFE.

AND IT'S A GOOD DAY.

IT'S THE THE DAY OF OUR LADY OF GUADALUPE TODAY.

THAT'S RIGHT, THAT'S RIGHT, THAT'S RIGHT.

JUDGE, IF I COULD JUST SAY MR. CALVERT THANK YOU TO MY COLLEAGUES.

THIS IS A HECK OF A CHANGE FROM A FEW YEARS AGO, UH, WHERE WE HAD CUTS TO THE CONSTABLE'S OFFICE, AND IT'S A WELCOME CHANGE.

AND IT'S WHAT GOVERNMENT SHOULD BE DOING, WORKING TOGETHER TO SUPPORT OTHER ELECTED OFFICIALS.

AND IT'S A REALITY CHECK.

THINGS. COST OF FOOD IS HIGH, EVERYTHING IS HIGHER.

AND YOU WANT TO KEEP YOUR DEPUTIES AS LONG AS YOU CAN BECAUSE THE RETRAINING COSTS ARE EXTENSIVE.

THE TIME IS EXTENSIVE OF LOSING OFFICERS TO OTHER AGENCIES BECAUSE WE AREN'T KEEPING UP WITH THE PAY.

UM, AND OF COURSE, THE DIFFERENTIAL PAY AND ALL THOSE THINGS ARE IMPORTANT.

SO I WANT TO THANK COMMISSIONER MOODY FOR HIS HARD WORK.

UM, I WANT TO THANK, UH, COMMISSIONER CLAY-FLORES FOR HELPING TO TURN AROUND THE CULTURE, UH, FROM HER TENURE HERE, UH, IN TERMS OF HOW THE CONSTABLES WERE TREATED, IN TERMS OF MANPOWER. UM, THOSE ARE IMPORTANT THINGS.

I'M GRATEFUL TO BOTH OF THEM, BECAUSE I'VE GOT ENOUGH ON MY PLATE THAT IT'S GREAT WHEN THEY CAN TAKE SOME OF THESE THINGS ON, UH, SO I'M GRATEFUL FOR THAT WORKLOAD AND THE LATE NIGHT CALLS, UH, THAT, THAT YOU ALL HAD TO HAVE SO THAT WE COULD COME AND SEE THE CHEAT SHEET AND REALIZE THAT IT'S THE RIGHT THING TO DO.

SO, UM, AGAIN, UH, I HAVE BEEN CONSISTENT WITH RESPECT TO MY SUPPORT OF LAW ENFORCEMENT AND THE CONSTABLES IN PARTICULAR.

UH, WHEN I GREW UP, YOU ALL HELPED US WITH THE MARTIN LUTHER KING MARCH, UH, IN TERMS OF MANNING AS MARSHALS, THE, THE ROUTE, UM, AND HAVE ALWAYS BEEN THE MOST COMMUNITY CENTERED.

UM, WHEN THE COMMUNITY NEEDS YOU TO DO A SCHOOL ZONE OR TO BE AT AN EVENT IN THE PARKS AND OTHER THINGS THAT INVOLVE THE COMMUNITY LIFE, UM, YOU ALL ARE THERE AND YOU DO IT, UH, JUST, YOU KNOW, SELFLESSLY.

AND THE FACT THAT YOU KEEP A RESERVE GROUP THAT CAN ALSO SUPPLEMENT THE MANPOWER THAT YOU HAVE AND THE WORK THAT THEY DO IN THE COMMUNITY, IT'S TO BE COMMENDED. AND WE NEED TO CONTINUE TO BRING RESPECT, UH, TO THESE DEPARTMENTS.

UM, WHEN YOU PARTICULARLY LOOK AT HOW OTHER BIG COUNTIES, UH, TREAT THEIR CONSTABLES, YOU KNOW, WE WE HAVE WORK TO DO.

AND SO THIS IS PART OF THAT WORK.

AND IT'S A GREAT THING TO SEE, UH, ALL OF THIS HAPPEN.

SO MERRY CHRISTMAS AND WE'LL SEE YOU IN THE NEW YEAR.

WELL, LET ME CLOSE WITH THIS.

UH, BEFORE WE TAKE THE VOTE.

UH, CONSTABLE, THANK YOU ALL FOR THE WORK YOU DO.

UH, OBVIOUSLY, I'M THE NEW COUNTY JUDGE.

AND AS CONSTABLE VOJVODICH AND ALL OF YOU ALL ARE WELL AWARE, I MADE AN EFFORT TO GO VISIT ALL THE VARIOUS COUNTY DEPARTMENTS AND ELECTED OFFICIALS.

SO TOOK THE TIME TO COME OUT AND SAW WHAT YOU DO.

AND IT WAS EYE OPENING IN THE SENSE OF THE COMMITMENT YOU ALL MAKE TO THE COMMUNITY, ESPECIALLY Y'ALL'S SUPPORT OF THE SCHOOLS, YOUR COMMUNITY EVENTS, A LOT OF THINGS YOU DO AND YOUR DEPUTIES DO FOR FREE, AND WHAT YOU ALL DO AS JUST PART OF COMMUNITY SERVICE.

I THINK THAT'S SOMETHING THE COMMUNITY CERTAINLY ISN'T ALWAYS AWARE OF HOW CONNECTED YOU ARE, AND THAT'S THE REASON WHY I ALWAYS SAW THE POWER IN THE CONSTABLE'S IS THAT YOU ALL ARE PROBABLY THE LAW ENFORCEMENT CLOSEST TO THE COMMUNITY.

UH, ALL OF YOU ALL KNOW YOUR NEIGHBORHOODS WELL.

AND OBVIOUSLY WE LIVE IN SOME TOUGH TIMES.

UH, WE HAVE SITUATIONS WHERE WE NEED IMMEDIATE FIRST RESPONDER RESPONSE.

AND SO I'VE ASKED Y'ALL TO PLEASE BE PART OF THE PROCESS, AND THAT WE LEARNED THAT FROM THE OTHER SITUATIONS, ESPECIALLY THE TRAGEDIES THAT HAVE HAPPENED IN UVALDE AND THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY, THAT WE ARE ALL CONNECTED AND SO THAT Y'ALL CAN RESPOND AND TO DEAL WITH THESE.

EMERGENCY SITUATIONS AS THEY COME UP.

UH, ALSO TOO, UH, I RAN WANTING TO MAKE SURE THAT THE EMPLOYEES OF BEXAR COUNTY WERE TAKEN CARE OF.

[01:45:04]

AND I KNOW THAT WE TRIED TO DO THAT WITH THE BAKER TILLY STUDY, BUT OBVIOUSLY COMMISSIONER MOODY AND THE CONSTABLE SAID, WELL, WE NEED TO DO MORE.

AND AGAIN, IT'S IT'S BEEN OPENED IN COURT THAT THIS IS A COMPROMISE.

UH, Y'ALL WANTED CERTAIN THINGS.

SO I HOPE THAT THIS IS A START OF A DISCUSSION.

COMMISSIONERS OF WHAT THE CONSTABLES NEED NOT ONLY WITH COMPENSATION, BUT WITH WHATEVER TECHNOLOGY, EQUIPMENT.

UH, BUT CONSTABLES, AS COUNTY JUDGE, I WON'T ASK FOR SOMETHING BACK.

AND I WANT SOMETHING BACK AS THIS.

I NEED ALL FOUR OF YOU ALL TO BE WORKING TOGETHER, SPEAKING AS ONE VOICE, I'M ALSO ASKING THE BUDGET OFFICE TO PLEASE WORK MORE HAND IN HAND, ESPECIALLY THE HR, UH, PROCESS, TO MAKE SURE THAT, UH, WE ARE STANDARDIZING THE PROCESS THROUGH ALL Y'ALL'S OFFICES SO THAT WHEN YOU SAY I NEED THIS, WE KNOW THAT ALL FOUR OF Y'ALL NEED THAT. ALL RIGHT.

SO, UH, I THINK IT'S A GREAT START.

UH, I WANT TO ECHO THE HOLIDAY SPIRIT, BUT ALSO WANT TO REMIND THAT WE STILL HAVE A LOT OF WORK TO DO TO BECOME MORE EFFECTIVE AND EFFICIENT.

AND THAT'S WHAT I'M ASKING YOU ALL TO DO AS THE ELECTED OFFICIALS IN YOUR OFFICE, AS CONSTABLES.

SO THANK YOU AGAIN FOR WHAT YOU DO.

THANK YOUR DEPUTIES AND YOUR STAFF.

YOU GOT STAFF THAT DO THE DAILY WORK.

AND AGAIN, I'VE BEEN IN THOSE, UH, JP CONSTABLE'S OFFICE.

OH, YOU GUYS GOT A LOT OF WORK WITH AMOUNT OF PEOPLE THAT COME IN THERE.

AND THE OTHER THING IS YOU ALL, YOU ALL HAVE TO DEAL WITH THE PUBLIC.

AND WE KNOW THAT IT IS DANGEROUS OUT THERE.

AND I KNOW THERE'S THREATS AND THERE HAS BEEN ACTS OF VIOLENCE, UH, AGAINST THE CONSTABLES.

AND SO PLEASE BE CAREFUL AND PLEASE LET YOUR DEPUTIES KNOW THAT COMMISSIONERS COURTS CERTAINLY WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY'RE GIVEN THE EQUIPMENT AND THE COMPENSATION THAT THEY NEED, BUT THANK ALL EMPLOYEES THAT ARE WORKING IN YOUR OFFICE WITH THAT.

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

MERRY CHRISTMAS, HAPPY NEW YEAR.

GIVE HIM A ROUND OF APPLAUSE, PLEASE.

ALL RIGHT, I HAVE ANOTHER, UH, POINT OF PRIVILEGE.

[88. Discussion and appropriate action authorizing the Purchasing Agent to advertise a Request for Proposals (RFP) for broker administration services of the Bexar County Small Business Contractor Development and Bonding Program as requested by the Small Business and Entrepreneurship Department. (Estimated Presentation Time: 15 minutes) (Patricia Torres)]

COMMISSIONER CLAY-FLORES, YOU'VE ASKED THAT 88 BE BROUGHT UP.

DISCUSSION, APPROPRIATE ACTION AUTHORIZING THE PURCHASING AGENT TO ADVERTISE A REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS.

RFP FOR BROKER ADMINISTRATION SERVICES OF THE BEXAR COUNTY SMALL BUSINESS CONTRACTOR DEVELOPMENT AND BONDING PROGRAM, AS REQUESTED BY THE SMALL BUSINESS AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP DEPARTMENT. MISS TORRES, MISS WATSON, I BELIEVE, UH, COMMISSIONER CLAY-FLORES.

YOU WANT TO TEE IT UP? SURE. SO THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON FOR THE LAST, UM, TWO YEARS. AND SO I'M GLAD THAT IT'S FINALLY COME BACK TO COMMISSIONERS COURT.

UM, I'M NOT SURE WHAT THE DELAY IN, BUT BASICALLY THIS BONDING IS ABOUT SUPPORTING OUR SMALL BUSINESSES, SMALL LOCAL BUSINESSES SO THAT THEY CAN FEEL MORE COMFORTABLE AND BIDDING ON LARGER CONTRACTS TO KNOW THAT THEY ARE BACKED BY THE COUNTY.

SO WE'RE REALLY GLAD, UM, THAT WE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE HERE.

RENEE WATSON, OUR TEAM, WE JUST HAD A VERY SUCCESSFUL SWIM CONFERENCE.

AND SO I THINK THE TIME FOR THIS TO COME NOW IS VERY APPROPRIATE.

SO, RENEE, RENEE, WHY DON'T YOU GO AHEAD AND DO YOUR PRESENTATION? THANK YOU. AND I ASSUME PATRICIA WILL BE COMING UP TO MAKE THE FORMAL MOTION.

PATRICIA, WHY DON'T YOU COME TO THE.

BUT YES.

SO JUST FOR IDENTIFYING, MY NAME IS RENEE WATSON.

I SERVE AS THE DIRECTOR OF THE BEXAR COUNTY SMALL BUSINESS AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP DEPARTMENT.

UM, I GUESS THE SLIDE THING.

YEAH. OH, SO THIS PROGRAM IS TALKING ABOUT BEING A BONDABLE AND THE REQUIREMENTS FOR CONSTRUCTION CONTRACTS THAT WE WOULD BE INITIATING PART OF OUR JOBS AS SMALL BUSINESS ADVOCATES.

AND WHAT WE DO IN OUR DEPARTMENT IS WE WORK TO INCREASE CAPACITY OF SMALL BUSINESSES TO COME AND DO PRIME OR SUBCONTRACTED WORK.

THIS PROGRAM HAS BEEN DESIGNED TO HELP ALL SMALL BUSINESSES TO PARTICIPATE WITH BEXAR COUNTY'S CONTRACTING OPPORTUNITIES.

GOOD LUCK. ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE DID, AND WE'VE BEEN WORKING SINCE 2005 WITH THE ASSOCIATE GENERAL CONTRACTORS, THIS OF TEXAS, AS WELL AS THE ASSOCIATED GENERAL CONTRACTORS SAN ANTONIO CHAPTER.

WE'VE HAD A BASIS OF CONSTRUCTION CLASS WHERE WE HAVE TEN WEEKS AND WE'VE HAD 272 FIRMS GO THROUGH THAT CLASS, AND WE ANTICIPATE THE NEXT CLASS SOMETIME IN THE IN APRIL.

WE'VE ALSO WORKED WITH THE US DOT BONDING AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM BECAUSE AS A FEDERAL RECIPIENT OF US DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION FUNDS AND OUR PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT, AS WELL AS THE ALAMO AREA UH MOBILITY AUTHORITY'S PROJECTS, WE ALWAYS LOOKING TO INCREASE CAPACITY OF THOSE CONTRACTORS.

WE CURRENTLY HAVE A MENTOR PROTEGE PROGRAM, UH, ACTIVE WITH SEVEN, UM, CURRENT SMALL BUSINESSES.

[01:50:03]

AND THROUGH THOSE PROGRAMS, WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO SECURE SOME TYPE OF BONDING.

BUT WE KNOW IF THIS PROGRAM, WHICH IS A NATIONAL BEST PRACTICE, THAT WE'RE ASKING FOR AN ISSUANCE OF AN RFP, WE CAN GO FROM PROBABLY 7 OR 8 EVERY TWO YEARS TO ABOUT 100 FIRMS. WE'LL BE ABLE TO ASSIST, ESPECIALLY COMING OUT OF THE PANDEMIC.

WE FOUND THAT, UH, OUR DISPARITY STUDY MADE RECOMMENDATIONS BACK IN 2021 THAT THE PANDEMIC, UM, AND THE THINGS THAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO TO RECOVER OUR SMALL CONTRACTORS IN OUR COMMUNITY COULD BE BENEFICIAL FOR THIS PROGRAM.

UM, WE ARE LOOKING AT SECURING SUFFICIENT BONDING.

HOW CAN WE ASSIST THOSE FIRMS? AND IT'S NOT JUST THE BONDING, BUT IT'S REALLY THE FINANCIALS.

MANY OF THOSE SMALL FIRMS KEEP QUICKBOOKS.

THEY HAVE DIFFERENT TYPES OF WAY.

THEY TRACK THEIR INFORMATION, BUT THEY'RE NOT IN THE PROCESS.

AND THEY NEED MORE FINANCIAL AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TO BE ABLE TO BRING FORWARD.

WE'VE WORKED WITH COLLATERAL, UM, SUPPORTING ORGANIZATIONS, SOME LOCAL BANKS.

WE'VE HAD CONVERSATIONS.

I'VE MET WITH THE SURETY ASSOCIATION OF SOUTH TEXAS IN SAN ANTONIO, UH, ALL TYPES OF OTHER CONTRACTOR AND SUPPORT DIVISIONS.

AND WE ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO, UH, THROUGH THIS PROCESS, IS TO BUILD THIS PROGRAM FOR ANY BUSINESS THAT WANTED TO PARTICIPATE AS LONG AS THEY WERE SMALL IN OUR COMMUNITY.

UM, THIS PROGRAM OF SOME OF THE DETAILS, BUT WE'RE ASKING THE BIDDERS TO PROVIDE US WITH A BEST PRACTICE.

SOME OF THE THINGS WE'LL BE LOOKING FOR IS THAT THE ENROLLMENT OF THIS PROGRAM, THEY WILL BE ASSIGNED A PERSONAL ACCOUNT MANAGER.

THEY WILL FACILITATE REFERRALS, UH, NO COST FOR ANY SMALL BUSINESS TO PARTICIPATE.

AND THEN THE SMALL BUSINESS MAY INCUR A CPA PREPARED FINANCIAL STATEMENT COST, BUT WE WILL BE GIVING THEM TRAINING ON BUILDING THE FINANCIALS THROUGH THIS PROGRAM WITH THE FUNDING FROM BURKE COUNTY.

UH, THERE'S MORE DETAILS IN THE PRESENTATION OF HOW WE WILL, UM, BUILD CONTRACTOR PROFILES.

UH, OUR HUMAN RESOURCES, AS WELL AS THE RISK MANAGEMENT DEPARTMENT WILL BE WORKING WITH US ON THIS PROGRAM, UH, AS WELL AS PUBLIC WORKS FACILITIES AND PARKS.

ANY OF OUR DEPARTMENTS THAT HAVE CONSTRUCTION CONCERNS OR CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS, WE WILL BE ASKING THEM TO SERVE ON OUR EVALUATION COMMITTEE.

SO, UH, WITH THAT, WE WANT TO, UM, LOOK AT A FEW OF THE COMPONENTS OF THE COLLATERAL POOL.

WE. WE WILL BE ASKING THE BROKER TO HELP US WITH, UM, THAT MAY BE SOME INDUSTRY STANDARDS THAT WE IDENTIFIED.

THE MAXIMUM BOND GUARANTEE MAY BE UP TO 6000 $750,000, OR 40% OF THE VALUE OF THE CONTRACT, WHICHEVER IS LESS.

WE HAVE HAD DISCUSSIONS.

THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO IS OPERATING THIS PROGRAM FOR THE PAST TWO YEARS.

AND THE.

TWO OF THEIR INDIVIDUALS IN THAT PROGRAM ARE ALREADY DOING BEXAR COUNTY WORK.

SO WE KNOW IF WE DID THE PROGRAM, WE ARE GOING TO BE REACHING OUT TO THEM TO ASK THEM TO COME AND JOIN US WITH THIS EFFORT, AS WELL AS VIA SA, CPS AS WELL, AND UNIVERSITY HEALTH SYSTEM. WE ALL HAVE A LOT OF CONSTRUCTION IN THIS COMMUNITY, BUT WE DON'T HAVE A LOT OF CONTRACTORS, SO WE NEED TO BE ABLE TO BUILD OUR LOCAL, OUR LOCAL, UM, CAPACITY OF THOSE FOLKS BECAUSE THAT IS THE COMMUNITY THAT WE SERVE IN OUR SMALL BUSINESS.

AND WITH THAT, WE'LL TAKE ANY QUESTIONS.

JUST HOLD ON. LET'S GET MRS TORRES TO MAKE HER PRESENTATION, PLEASE.

AND THEN WE'LL TAKE QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS FROM THE DAIS.

MR. TORRES? YES.

GOOD AFTERNOON. UH, WE'RE HERE TO DISCUSS AN APPROPRIATE ACTION AUTHORIZING THE PURCHASE AGENT TO ADVERTISE A REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL FOR A PROPER.

I'M SORRY FOR BROKER ADMINISTRATION SERVICES OF THE BURKE COUNTY SMALL BUSINESS CONTRACTOR DEVELOPMENT AND BONDING PROGRAM, AS REQUESTED BY THE SMALL BUSINESS AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP DEPARTMENT.

ALL RIGHT, MR. CALVERT, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

AND THANK YOU TO EVERYONE WHO'S HELPED GET THIS TO WHERE IT'S AT.

LARRY, MY MY FIRST QUESTION IS FOR YOU AND THE CIVIL DIVISION.

THIS LOCAL PORTION.

I'M OBVIOUSLY CONCERNED ABOUT ALL THE LITIGATION GOING AROUND THE COUNTRY WITH RESPECT TO VARIOUS PREFERENCE PROGRAMS. UH, IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING THE COMMISSIONERS COURT WOULD HAVE TO ADOPT A LOCAL, UH, PREFERENCE IN ORDER FOR US TO HAVE ANY LOCAL CONSIDERATION WITH RESPECT TO THE BONDING ASSISTANCE ASSISTANCE PROGRAM.

DO YOU HAVE ANY CONCERNS ABOUT ANY LITIGATION RELATED TO LOCAL PREFERENCE AS A PART OF THIS BONDING ASSISTANCE PROGRAM? WELL, WE MAY HAVE TO DISCUSS EXACTLY WHAT YOU MEAN BY LOCAL PREFERENCE, BUT I WORKED WITH RENEE ON, UM, SORT OF MAKING SURE THAT THE RFP THAT WE ISSUE IS IN COMPLIANCE WITH AND CONSIDERED ALL OF THE ISSUES YOU PRESENT BECAUSE THEY'RE VALID POINT.

[01:55:03]

AND CAN YOU CAN YOU EXPLAIN A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT KIND OF THE DYNAMICS OF WHAT WE HAVE TO BE CAREFUL OF? WELL, SO THE CASE LAW THAT'S COMING OUT, AS YOU KNOW, AND I THINK YOU'VE BEEN PRETTY ON TOP OF THIS, COMMISSIONER, IS THAT WHEN YOU START TO IDENTIFY PROGRAMS THAT ARE, UM, GIVING PREFERENTIAL TREATMENT TO MINORITY AND.

WOMEN OWNED BUSINESSES.

THOSE ARE BECOMING SUBJECT TO CHALLENGE.

NOW, WE DON'T KNOW IF THEY'RE GOING TO PREVAIL.

THERE'S ONLY BEEN ONE CASE IN TEXAS.

YOU'RE VERY FAMILIAR WITH THE CASE IN TENNESSEE AND A COUPLE OF THE OTHER ONES.

SO WE JUST WERE CAREFUL TO NOT HAVE THAT PART OF THE RFP.

SO WE CAN WATCH HOW THIS DEVELOPS AND MAKE SURE THAT WE DO IT IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE LAW AS IT DEVELOPS.

SO IT'S ONE THING FOR IT TO BE PART OF THE RFP.

IT'S ANOTHER THING FOR IT TO BE PART OF OUR PROGRAM.

SO WITH RESPECT TO THE PROGRAM COMPONENT, IS THIS COUNTY SAFE FROM LITIGATION WITH A LOCAL? BECAUSE I HEARD THAT IT, YOU KNOW, TWICE THAT WE WERE GOING TO HAVE LOCAL SMALL BUSINESSES, I THINK WOULD IT I MEAN, IS THERE AN ISSUE THERE? SMALL BUSINESS IS DIFFERENT.

I THINK SMALL HELPING SMALL BUSINESSES SUCCEED IS FAR DIFFERENT THAN HELPING SMALL BUSINESSES WHO ARE CERTAIN CATEGORIES.

SO I THINK RENEE'S PROGRAM, AS SHE'S DEVELOPED IT, WHICH I THINK IS THE RIGHT WAY TO HANDLE IT, IS FOCUSED ON SMALL BUSINESS GENERALLY, AND I THINK THAT WE'LL WORK TOGETHER TO DEVELOP THE PROGRAM THAT COMES OUT OF THE RFP.

WE'VE ONLY REALLY ADDRESSED THE RFP STAGE AT THIS COMMISSIONERS COURT AT THIS AT THIS POINT, COMMISSIONER, I THINK YOU BRING UP A VALID POINT.

AND AND WE'LL DEFINITELY LOOK AT THOSE AS THE PROGRAM DEVELOPS.

RIGHT. SO SO YOUR YOUR ADVICE, I'M JUST FAST FORWARDING A MINUTE HERE DOWN THE ROAD BECAUSE WE'LL GET THIS OUT 90 DAYS OR SO AND THEN WE'LL HAVE SOME, YOU KNOW, PROGRAM WILL STAND UP. I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE BECAUSE I HEARD THE SMALL BUSINESS DIRECTOR TALK ABOUT LOCAL.

SO WE SHOULD NOT HAVE IT SHOULD JUST BE SMALL BUSINESS IN GENERAL FOR THE BONDING ASSISTANCE PROGRAM IS THAT UNLESS THE WELL, I MEAN THAT'S IS THAT THE SAFEST THING FOR US TO DO? JUST THAT IS THE SAFEST THING.

OKAY. THAT'S WHAT I THOUGHT. AND YOU CAN DEVELOP THE PROGRAM.

AS YOU SEE, WE HAVEN'T GOTTEN TO THAT POINT.

SO I DON'T WANT TO BE UNFAIR TO RENEE, BUT WE'VE JUST REALLY ADDRESSED THE RFP AT THIS POINT.

OKAY. AND IT IS FOCUSED ON SMALL BUSINESS GENERALLY.

YEAH. THERE'S NO REFERENCE TO LOCAL IN THE RFP, OKAY.

NOR IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE PROGRAM.

OKAY. BECAUSE PER STATE STATUTE, COUNTIES CANNOT HAVE LOCAL REQUIREMENTS.

IF WE WOULD HAVE BEEN ABLE TO USE THE DISPARITY STUDY, THEN WE WOULD HAVE BEEN ABLE TO APPLY THE PROGRAM TO THE RELEVANT MARKET AREA, WHICH WOULD HAVE BEEN LOCAL.

BUT THERE IS NO REFERENCE TO LOCAL IN THE RFP OR IN THE DIRECTION TO WHAT WE WOULD LIKE TO RECEIVE BACK FROM.

BUT ONE OF THE THINGS WE DO IN ALL OF OUR PROGRAMS, WE LOOK AT MOBILIZATION, WE LOOK AT HEADQUARTERS, WE LOOK AT NUMBER OF EMPLOYEES.

THERE'S A LOT OF OTHER FACTORS THAT HELP US WITH CAPACITY BUILDING, NOT JUST WHETHER OR NOT THEY'RE FROM OUT OF TOWN OR OUT OF STATE.

UM, BUT THERE IS NO AND WE'VE ALWAYS OPERATED THAT PROGRAM IN ACCORDANCE WITH STATE STATUTE IN REFERENCE TO LOCAL AS A COUNTY INSTEAD OF A CITY WITH A CITY ORDINANCE. I'M JUST BEING VERY CAREFUL SINCE WE'VE GOTTEN INTO SOME TROUBLE ON THE AXION OR WHATEVER LIFT FUND, RATHER, UH, AND THEN THERE'S NO REFERENCE COMMISSIONER TO MINORITY OR WOMEN. WE ALSO REMOVED THAT FROM THE PROGRAM BECAUSE IT'S WE CAN'T SAY IT'S RACE AND NEUTRAL VERSUS JUST NO REFERENCE, BECAUSE RACE NEUTRAL MEANS THAT THERE ARE, UH, EFFORTS BY RACE.

THIS IS STRICTLY SMALL BUSINESS, WHICH IS THE SAME AS THE US SMALL BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION.

RIGHT. AND WE WILL BE LOOKING AT PERSONAL NET WORTH, UH, AS A COMPONENT.

SO YOU WILL HAVE A TRUE SMALL BUSINESS, NOT LARGE BUSINESSES WHO MAY HAVE JUST STARTED WITH A RICH OWNER.

BUT THERE ARE CERTAIN, JUST LIKE WE HAVE IN OUR PROGRAM, ON OUR FEDERAL REQUIREMENTS, THERE ARE PERSONAL NET WORTH REQUIREMENTS THAT WE WILL BE ASKING THE BROKER TO BRING BACK A PROGRAM THAT WE WOULD WE WOULD PRESENT TO YOU.

SO SMALL BUSINESS DEFINITELY IS A BUSINESS OF 500 OR LESS.

IS THERE A DIFFERENT DEFINITION THAT WE'RE ADOPTING FOR SMALL BUSINESS? WE ARE ASKING TO FOLLOW THE THE SBA GUIDELINES BECAUSE IT'S BY INDUSTRY.

THERE ARE TEN DIFFERENT UH, UH, INDUSTRY CLASSIFICATIONS.

PROFESSIONAL SERVICES IS NOT UP TO 500.

THERE ARE DIFFERENT SIZE STANDARDS AS WELL AS GROSS REVENUES FOR THOSE BUSINESSES.

SO THE SMALL BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION, ON THEIR WEBSITE, THEY HAVE A CHART OF TEN DIFFERENT INDUSTRY CLASSIFICATIONS WE WILL BE FOLLOWING, JUST LIKE WE FOLLOW IN OUR DB PROGRAM, ON OUR FEDERAL REQUIREMENTS FOR OUR CONSTRUCTION PROGRAM AND FOR THE EMPOWERMENT OF THE COURT, WHO MAY NOT AS BE FAMILIAR ABOUT THE NATIONAL MODEL THAT'S BEEN USED.

THIS HAS BEEN USED VERY SUCCESSFULLY COAST TO COAST.

AND I'M REALLY PROUD THAT WE'RE IMPLEMENTING IT TODAY.

UH, BUT ONE OF THE THINGS THAT IS IMPORTANT IS THE GOVERNMENTAL BUY IN FROM MULTIPLE ENTITIES.

THE REAL GOAL COURT IS THAT THE GOVERNMENT'S PLURAL, ALONG EVEN WITH THE PRIVATE SECTOR, LIKE BANKS THAT HAVE COMMUNITY REINVESTMENT CRITERIA TO ABIDE BY THE FEDERAL STATUTES THAT THEY INVEST IN THIS POOL, THAT BEXAR COUNTY NOT DO IT ALONE.

[02:00:04]

IT'S SUPPOSED TO BE A POOL, WHICH MEANS, YOU KNOW, US SHOULD CONTRIBUTE.

CITY OF SAN ANTONIO.

WHAT IS THE REALITY OF SINCE THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO IS ALREADY DOING SOMETHING ON ITS OWN, WHAT'S THE REALITY OF US REALLY COMING TOGETHER? ARE THEY ARE THEY JUST SAYING TO US, HEY, WE'VE GOT THIS FOR ANOTHER YEAR, AND THEN MAYBE WE CAN DO IT IN THE FUTURE.

WHAT'S. JUST I KNOW THERE'S MANY OTHER GOVERNMENTAL ENTITIES THAT MAY POOL WITH US, BUT WHAT ABOUT THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO? WE'VE HAD THOSE INITIAL CONVERSATIONS, COMMISSIONER, TO SEE IF WE CAN, BECAUSE WHEN THEY ISSUED THEIR RFP, UM, THE SAME BIDDER HAS A NATIONAL BEST PRACTICE, FINISHED SECOND IN THAT POOL, AND THEY THEY WENT WITH A LOCAL COMPANY.

SO WE'VE BEEN TRACKING WHAT THAT DEVELOPMENT HAS BEEN WITH THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO, RECONSIDERING AND LOOKING AT WHAT THEIR ORDINANCE NOW IS.

THEY'RE MOVING TO A LOT OF SMALL BUSINESS ONLY PROGRAMS BECAUSE OF THEIR DISPARITY STUDY UPDATES.

AND THAT'S THE COUNCIL IS GOING TO BE TALKING ABOUT THAT IN JANUARY.

SO WE WILL CONTINUE TO HAVE THOSE TYPES OF DISCUSSIONS.

ONE OF THE OTHER WE'VE TALKED WITH TEXDOT, THE TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION, OFFICE OF CIVIL RIGHTS, THEY TRIED TO DO IT.

THE LEGISLATURE, UH, GAVE THEM SOME GUIDELINES.

SO THEY'RE EXCITED IF WE CAN BRING THE PROGRAM FORWARD, ANY OF OUR DBE OR FEDERALLY FUNDED ORGANIZATIONS, SUCH AS THE AIRPORT WITH THE NEW TERMINAL AS WELL AS V.A.

WITH THEIR PROJECTS, THEY'RE EXCITED ABOUT IT, BECAUSE IF WE CAN POOL OUR RESOURCES TO BUILD CAPACITY, IT INCREASES THE COMPETITION IN OUR COMMUNITY, WHICH IT ULTIMATELY SAVES TAXPAYER MONEY ON.

OUR CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS MAY POTENTIALLY AS WELL, BECAUSE THE RMA AND EVERYONE ELSE.

YES. OKAY. SO, YOU KNOW, THE BIG STEP FROM HERE IS PROBABLY A, YOU KNOW, CONVENING.

I'M HAPPY TO HELP AGAIN ON THE PRIVATE SECTOR SIDE WITH THE BANKS TO CONVENE THEM TO SAY BEXAR COUNTY HAS PASSED.

WHAT'S WHAT'S THE AMOUNT OF MONEY WE HAVE IN THE BUDGET FOR THE POOL? WE DON'T HAVE A BUDGET.

WE'RE ASKING TO ISSUE THE RFP AT THIS TIME, TO SELECT A BROKER, TO COME BACK, TO TELL US HOW TO BEST TO PUT THE PROGRAM TOGETHER.

THEN WE WOULD DEVELOP THE BUDGET.

THEN WE WOULD ASK THE BROKER, ONCE THEY, UH, UNDER FOR THE BEST PRACTICE, LIKE THE CONSULTANT BROKER TO HELP US BUILD THE PROGRAM.

UH, WE HAVE RNA FROM 2021, UM, THE, UH, FUNDS OF $3 MILLION THAT THE BUDGET HAD SET ASIDE.

BUT IT IS NOT A I THOUGHT WE HAD $2 MILLION SET ASIDE.

IT WAS IT WAS 3 MILLION SET ASIDE FROM THE ARPA FUNDS.

BUT THAT IS NOT WHAT WE'RE REQUESTING TODAY.

WE'RE JUST REQUESTING TO ISSUE THE RFP.

IT'S ABOUT 3 MILLION, OKAY? $3 MILLION, OKAY, THAT THAT BEXAR COUNTY IS COMMITTING TO THE POOL AND SO CAUGHT IDEALLY, WE'D HAVE A $10 MILLION POOL THAT WE WOULD OR $15 MILLION OR WHATEVER, WHATEVER NUMBER WE'RE LOOKING FOR.

OKAY. VERY GOOD. SO I JUST WANTED THAT FOR THE EMPOWERMENT OF THE COURT.

UM, I DON'T KNOW IF THERE'S ALREADY BEEN A MOTION, BUT I'LL MOVE APPROVAL AT OUR SECOND IT.

WHATEVER. RIGHT.

I THOUGHT LET'S LET'S FOR THE RECORD, THERE WAS A MOTION BY COMMISSIONER CLAY-FLORES.

YOU MADE A MOTION.

DO YOU WANT? YEAH.

I DID NOT MAKE THE MOTION YET.

COMMISSIONER CALVERT, DID YOU DO IT ALREADY? SECOND. SECOND BY MOTION.

BY COMMISSIONER CALVERT. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER CLAY-FLORES.

COMMISSIONER, I BELIEVE YOU HAVE THE FLOOR.

YEAH. SO BONDING HAS BEEN SOMETHING THAT HAS REALLY BEEN A BARRIER TO OUR SMALL BUSINESSES IN TERMS OF BEING ABLE TO COMPETE.

AND, UM, SO I PERSONALLY MENTIONED THE WORD SUPPORTING LOCAL SMALL BUSINESSES BECAUSE INEVITABLY, THE FACT THAT WE'RE PASSING THIS HERE AT BEXAR COUNTY, OUR LOCAL BUSINESSES ARE GOING TO BENEFIT FROM THAT.

UM, AND IN TERMS OF, YOU KNOW, PREFERENCE AND ALL THAT, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT SMALL BUSINESSES.

SO THERE ARE LOTS OF WHITE MALES WHO OWN SMALL BUSINESSES.

SO THERE SHOULDN'T BE ANY KIND OF RAMIFICATIONS.

I WOULD THINK BECAUSE WE ARE SUPPORTIVE OF OF SMALL BUSINESSES.

SO I JUST WANTED TO TO MAKE THAT POINT.

SO THANK YOU SO MUCH.

AND I KNOW THERE'S SOME SMALL BUSINESS PEOPLE HERE, UM, IN THE AUDIENCE TODAY.

SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.

THANK YOU. OKAY. ANY FURTHER COMMENTS? WELL, LET ME JUST TELL RENEE, PATRICIA, THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THIS, UH, MATTER BACK TO THE COURT.

I UNDERSTAND IT HAS BEEN ON THE BOOKS, AND SO I'M PROUD TO SUPPORT THIS INITIATIVE.

UH, I THINK THIS IS A COMMITMENT TO OUR SMALL BUSINESSES, WHICH I BELIEVE ARE THE BACKBONE OF THE LOCAL SAN ANTONIO ECONOMY.

AND SO, UH, I HOPE THAT WE EXECUTE WELL.

SO THAT ONE, AS YOU'VE HEARD, THE LEGAL ISSUES THAT WE AVOID, LEGAL ISSUES THAT WILL POSSIBLY HARM THE PROGRAM.

BUT AT THE SAME TIME, WE NEED TO FIND A WAY TO MAKE THINGS POSSIBLE.

AND I KNOW THAT'S ONE OF YOUR STRENGTHS, RENEE, IS TO MAKE IT A WIN WIN SITUATION SO THAT WE CAN MOVE FORWARD AND MAKE SURE THE SMALL BUSINESSES GET TO SUPPORT, ESPECIALLY THE BONDING SUPPORT THEY NEED IN ORDER TO GET THE CONTRACTS THAT THE COUNTY HAVE, ESPECIALLY IN CONSTRUCTION AND WHATEVER OTHER SERVICES ARE NEEDED FOR THE COUNTY.

SO THANK YOU AND PATRICIA FOR BRINGING THIS MATTER FORWARD.

ANY FURTHER COMMENT?

[02:05:02]

I'LL ASK FOR A VOTE THEN.

ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE.

UH, LET ME. I BELIEVE WE HAVE SOME GUESTS IN THE IN THE IN THE COURT TODAY.

THANK YOU.

I THINK THEY'RE GETTING TO SIT UP THERE ON THE SECOND FLOOR.

HEY, GUYS. HOW ARE YOU ALL? THEY'RE ALL WAVING AT US.

UH, WELL, LET ME INTRODUCE.

I HOPE THIS IS CORRECT, BUT I UNDERSTAND WE HAVE A 10TH GRADE STUDENT FROM CAST WHO WILL BE HERE, AND THEY'RE GOING TO. THEY'RE LEARNING ABOUT LOCAL GOVERNMENT.

AND I BELIEVE THEY WERE AT CITY HALL, AND THEY WATCHED THAT GOVERNMENTAL BODY IN ACTION.

AND NOW THEY'RE GETTING TO WATCH THE COMMISSIONERS COURT, WHICH IS COUNTY GOVERNMENT.

UH, BUT OH, YOU'RE GETTING A BETTER THEY'RE SAYING YOU'RE GETTING A BETTER SHOW OVER HERE.

UH, BUT SO THAT'S FOX TECH, RIGHT? THE FOX TECH BUILDING.

WELL, IT'S CAST AND I KNOW THERE'S VARIOUS CAMPUSES THERE.

OKAY. SO I'LL TELL YOU WHAT.

WHY DON'T WE HAVE THE SPONSOR JUST COME DOWN REAL QUICK IF YOU CAN GET DOWN HERE? UH, BECAUSE I JUST LIKE TO YOU TO INTRODUCE YOUR STUDENTS.

UH, OBVIOUSLY, CAST HIGH SCHOOLS ARE, UH, A PROGRAM FOR A MAGNET PROGRAM, I BELIEVE IS THE WORD, UH, FOR OUR STUDENTS, UH, PART OF THE PUBLIC SCHOOL PROCESS.

AND SO I WANT TO THANK THE STUDENTS, TEACHERS FOR JOINING US TO LEARN MORE ABOUT LOCAL GOVERNMENT.

I'VE ASKED OUR COUNTY CLERK TO.

PERHAPS THEY'RE ONLY GOING TO STAY FOR A LITTLE BIT, BUT THE COUNTY CLERK CAN, UH, TALK TO THEM AND EXPLAIN, UH, ESPECIALLY COUNTY GOVERNMENT AND PERHAPS SHOW THEM THE HERITAGE CENTER OR WHEREVER THEY WANT TO GO.

AND SO I KNOW THEY'RE ON A TIME LIMIT.

AND SO THIS IS TODAY, STUDENTS, THIS IS A GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO SEE HOW COUNTY GOVERNMENT WORKS.

AND IF YOU'VE BEEN HERE THROUGHOUT THE MORNING, YOU WOULD HAVE HEARD THAT WE DEALT WITH PUBLIC HEALTH.

WE DEALT WITH PUBLIC SAFETY, WE DEALT WITH ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.

AND WE DO MANY MORE THINGS THAT, UH, MAKE OUR COMMUNITY SAFER, BETTER, UH, MORE HEALTHIER.

AND SO I HOPE THAT YOU ALL WILL CONTINUE TO STUDY GOVERNMENT AND NOT BE AFRAID OF IT AND TO EMBRACE IT.

AND, UH, UH, PERHAPS, UH, Y'ALL CAN BE ELECTED OFFICIALS UP HERE, COMMISSIONERS COURT, BUT DON'T RUN AGAINST ME ANYTIME SOON.

ALL RIGHT. UH, SO WOULD YOU PLEASE INTRODUCE YOURSELF? AND WHO'S WITH YOU? HELLO. MY NAME IS PEYTON AYALA.

I'M THE 10TH GRADE MATH TEACHER AT ADVANCED LEARNING ACADEMY.

AND WHAT CAMPUS IS THAT? WE'RE AT THE FOX TECH BUILDING.

AT THE FOX TECH. OKAY, BUT WE'RE THE FIRST.

THE OLDEST SCHOOL PARTNERED WITH THE CAST NETWORK.

UM, THESE ARE A COUPLE OF OUR STUDENTS, BUT WE'VE GOT ABOUT 40 UP IN THE BALCONY.

ALL RIGHT, WHY DON'T YOU INTRODUCE YOURSELF AND TELL ME WHAT YOU'RE WHAT YOU'RE INTERESTED IN? HI. MY NAME IS MARIE WILLIAMS. AND MY FIRST INTEREST, ACTUALLY, BEFORE I CAME TO ADVANCED LEARNING.

TO ME WAS TO DO LAW.

UM, I FOUND IT VERY INTERESTING AT HOW AS A COMMUNITY, WE CAN COME TOGETHER AND WE CAN HELP PEOPLE BETTER THEIR LIVES AND GIVE THEM BETTER DECISIONS IN LIFE.

UM, EVEN AFTER DOING WRONG.

SO THAT'S WHAT I ALWAYS FOUND.

LIKE, THAT'S WHAT I ALWAYS FOUND INTERESTING.

THAT'S ALWAYS WHAT I BELIEVED IN, IS GIVING PEOPLE A BETTER PATH.

UM, SO THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING US TO, ON BEHALF OF OUR SCHOOL AND OUR STUDENTS, THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING US TO HAVE THIS BREATHTAKING EXPERIENCE.

OH, WOW. BREATHTAKING.

DID YOU HEAR THAT? WE'RE BREATHTAKING OVER HERE.

I'M VOTING FOR YOU.

HI, MY NAME IS CHARLES SELLER AND I'VE BEEN AT ALA SINCE IT STARTED.

SO THAT'S, I THINK UM, FOR ALA.

ONE UNIQUE THING ABOUT ALA THAT I REALLY DO ENJOY IS THAT THEY GET TO HAVE THESE TYPES OF UNIQUE EXPERIENCES AS OF TODAY.

SO THANK YOU, MISS AYALA AND OUR PRINCIPAL, MISS BEAZER.

AND THANK YOU ALL, OF COURSE, FOR LETTING US BE HERE.

UM, ONE THING I'D SAY ALSO IS THAT I'M HONORED AS AN INDIVIDUAL TO BE HERE TO LEARN ABOUT HOW COURT CASES WORK, HOW Y'ALL WORK, AND THE PEOPLE HERE.

THE COMMUNITY HAS JUST JOINED AS ONE TO WORK TOGETHER.

AND AGAIN, THANK YOU ALL FOR LETTING US BE HERE TODAY.