Jan 09, 2024 Commissioners Court

MR. MOODY WILL HAVE TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO ZOOM IN.

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[1. Opening Prayer: Pastor Kevin L. Nelson, Calvary Baptist Church]

FOR OUR FIRST MEETING OF THE NEW YEAR, I WOULD ASK COMMISSIONER CALVERT TO INTRODUCE PASTOR KEVIN NELSON FOR THE OPENING PRAYER AND TO DO THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.

COMMISSIONER, THANK YOU VERY MUCH, JUDGE, AND HAPPY NEW YEAR TO THE COMMISSIONERS COURT AND EVERYONE ASSEMBLED.

WE'RE GLAD TO HAVE YOU.

I WANT TO THANK REVEREND NELSON, KEVIN NELSON FOR DELIVERING OUR INVOCATION TODAY.

REVEREND NELSON IS A NATIVE OF SAN ANTONIO.

HE GRADUATED FROM THEODORE ROOSEVELT HIGH SCHOOL AND STUDIED AT THE BEXAR COUNTY SHERIFF'S ACADEMY.

HE HAS A BACHELOR'S OF ARTS IN RELIGION AND SOCIOLOGY FROM PAUL QUINN COLLEGE IN DALLAS, AND POST GRADUATE COURSES IN COUNSELING AT MCLENNAN COMMUNITY COLLEGE IN WACO. HE WAS ORDAINED IN THE MINISTRY ON AUGUST 27TH, 1984 AND SERVED AS PASTOR OF NEW BIRTH BAPTIST IN SAN ANTONIO FOR SEVEN YEARS. HE WAS A DEPUTY SHERIFF WITH BEXAR COUNTY FOR EIGHT YEARS, AND SINCE DECEMBER 2001, HE PROUDLY SERVES AS THE PASTOR OF CALVARY BAPTIST CHURCH.

IN 2010, PASTOR NELSON WAS AWARDED AN HONORARY DOCTORATE FROM SAN ANTONIO THEOLOGICAL SCHOOL.

HE IS PRESIDENT OF THE BAPTIST MINISTERS UNION OF SAN ANTONIO AND VICINITY, AND VICE MODERATOR FOR THE SAN ANTONIO BAPTIST ASSOCIATION.

HE HAS BEEN INDUCTED INTO THE TWO 2023 EDUCATORS HALL OF FAME AND THE NATIONAL SORORITY OF PHI DELTA KAPPA, INCORPORATED GAMMA TAU CHAPTER.

IN ADDITION TO THAT, HE SERVES AND SHARES WITH MANY OTHER CHRISTIAN ORGANIZATIONS AND COMMUNITY AGENCIES THROUGHOUT THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO AND THE STATE OF TEXAS.

HE HAS MANY TITLES, BUT ONE HE IS MOST PROUD OF IS CHILD OF GOD.

HE AND HIS WIFE, CARLA, ARE THE PROUD PARENTS OF A DAUGHTER, KAYLA, WHO IS CURRENTLY ATTENDING ABILENE CHRISTIAN COLLEGE.

I WANT TO THANK REVEREND NELSON FOR JOINING US TODAY AND ASK HIM TO LEAD US IN PRAYER.

WOULD YOU ALL PLEASE STAND? LET US PRAY.

O GOD, OUR HEAVENLY FATHER, WE ACKNOWLEDGE THAT WE ARE YOUR CHILDREN.

WE COME TO YOU ON THIS MORNING THANKING YOU FOR NOT ONLY ANOTHER YEAR, BUT FOR ANOTHER DAY, AND THANKING YOU FOR THE HONOR AND PRIVILEGE TO SERVE YOU AND TO SERVE YOUR PEOPLE.

LORD, YOU HAVE TOLD US IN YOUR WORD THAT WE OUGHT TO PRAY FOR OUR LEADERS SO THAT WE MIGHT LIVE QUIET AND PEACEFUL, PEACEFUL LIVES.

SO, LORD, WE LIFT UP OUR COMMISSIONERS, OUR COUNTY JUDGE, AND ALL OF THE COUNTY EMPLOYEES AND OFFICIALS.

WE PRAY THAT YOU WOULD GIVE THEM WISDOM, COMPASSION, AND STRENGTH TO MAKE DECISIONS THAT WILL HELP ENCOURAGE AND IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF LIFE AND LIVING FOR ALL OF US, AND ESPECIALLY FOR THOSE THAT ARE HURTING, STRUGGLING, AND DEALING WITH THE ADVERSITIES OF LIFE.

HELP OUR LEADERS TO FIND NEW WAYS FOR JUSTICE, PEACE AND LOVE AS WE FACE THE NEW CHALLENGES IN THIS NEW YEAR, WE LIFT UP NOT ONLY OUR COUNTY BEXAR COUNTY, BUT WE LIFT UP OUR COMMUNITY AND OUR COUNTRY AT LARGE.

LORD, WE KNOW THAT WE ARE DEALING WITH WARS AND RUMORS OF WAR AND THREATS OF WAR.

BUT WE THANK YOU FOR YOUR HEDGE OF PROTECTION.

THANK YOU FOR BEING GOD AND FOR ALL OF THE BLESSINGS YOU HAVE BESTOWED UPON US PAST, PRESENT, AND FUTURE GOD. BE OUR SHEPHERD AND LEAD US INTO INTO THE PATHS THAT YOU HAVE PREPARED FOR US.

IN THE NAME OF HIM WHO CALLED US OUT OF DARKNESS INTO THE MARVELOUS LIGHT.

AMEN, AMEN.

THANK YOU. PASTOR NELSON, WILL YOU PLEASE JOIN US IN THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE? I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS.

ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.

THANK YOU, PASTOR NELSON.

WE'LL BE SEEING YOU OVER ON CALVARY BAPTIST CHURCH THERE ON KIRBY, TEXAS.

ALL RIGHT, WE'RE GOING TO DO OUR OPEN WITH OUR CEREMONY ITEMS.

[3. CEREMONIAL ITEM(S)]

[00:05:01]

SO LET'S STEP DOWN AND TO MAKE THE PRESENTATION AND RECOGNITION AND.

IF Y'ALL WANT, WE'LL TAKE A PICTURE.

IF YOU DON'T, THAT'S FINE TOO.

ALL RIGHT, LET'S STEP DOWN AND RECOGNIZE OUR VALUABLE EMPLOYEES.

OKAY, HOLD ON TO IT.

OKAY. SO YOU'RE GOING TO BE THE.

THAT'S. ALL RIGHT.

WELL, SHERIFF, SINCE YOU'VE TAKEN THE PODIUM, I GUESS WE'RE GOING TO INTRODUCE YOUR, WONDERFUL STAFF.

AND FOR THOSE EMPLOYEES THAT HAVE BEEN.

SO, SHERIFF, I'M GOING TO KIND OF DEFER TO YOU.

WOULD YOU LIKE US TO TAKE UP EVERYONE INDIVIDUALLY AS A GROUP? WILL WOULD BEST, INDIVIDUALLY, BUT IN PRETTY RAPID SUCCESSION IF WE CAN.

WELL, LET ME GO AHEAD AND PASS THE FLOOR TO YOU.

OKAY. TO INTRODUCE YOUR EMPLOYEES THAT HAVE BEEN VALUABLE EMPLOYEES FOR BEXAR COUNTY, WE'RE GOING TO RECOGNIZE FOR THEIR 25 PLUS YEARS OF SERVICE.

WOULD YOU PLEASE INTRODUCE THEM AND TELL US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THEM AND GIVE THEM OUR TURN TO SPEAK? ABSOLUTELY. ESPECIALLY. AND IF THEY HAVE ANY FAMILY MEMBERS, PLEASE INVITE THEM TO COME FORWARD SO WE CAN TAKE A PICTURE INDIVIDUALLY.

IS THAT OKAY? ABSOLUTELY.

ALL RIGHT. GOOD MORNING JUDGE.

GOOD MORNING COMMISSIONERS. THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH FOR FOR TAKING THE TIME.

I KNOW WE'RE VERY BUSY, BUT, IT IS ALSO IMPORTANT TO TO, PAY OUR RESPECTS TO THESE FOLKS THAT HAVE THAT HAVE GIVEN A LIFETIME OF OF SERVICE TO THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE, INVESTIGATOR BOBBY GARZA.

HE'S GOT 25 YEARS OF SERVICE.

INVESTIGATOR GARZA BEGAN HIS LAW ENFORCEMENT CAREER IN 1998.

HE SERVED FIVE YEARS IN THE DETENTION BUREAU.

HE SERVED FIVE YEARS IN THE DETENTION BUREAU, WHERE HE WAS A MEMBER OF THE CERT TEAM, BEFORE TRANSFERRING TO PATROL, WHERE HE WORKED FOR THE NEXT 18 YEARS, BOBBY SERVED AS A PTO PATROL TRAINING OFFICER, HELPING TO MOLD NEW PATROL DEPUTIES.

DURING HIS TIME IN THAT PATROL DIVISION.

BOBBY WAS PROMOTED TO INVESTIGATOR TWO YEARS AGO AND IS ASSIGNED TO THE SPECIAL VICTIMS UNIT.

AS A SPECIAL NOTE, BOBBY WAS WAS SEVERELY ILL SPENDING TIME IN THE HOSPITAL WHEN HE BECAME ILL WITH COVID OVER TWO YEARS AGO AT THE FIRST OUTBREAK OF THE PANDEMIC.

BUT IN TRUE FASHION, HE DIDN'T LET THAT SLOW HIM DOWN ONE SINGLE BIT.

AND SO I'D LIKE TO INVITE HIM UP TO SAY A FEW WORDS, STEVE, THIS MORNING.

THANK YOU, COMMISSIONERS, FOR HAVING ME HERE.

I WANT TO THANK MY FAMILY FOR BEING HERE.

AND IT'S IT'S BEEN A GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO SERVE THE CITIZENS OF BEXAR COUNTY FOR 25 YEARS.

AND, THE RIDE'S NOT OVER.

IT'S. I STILL HAVE A FEW MORE YEARS TO GO, AND I APPRECIATE EVERYTHING.

THANK YOU. AND SO, BOBBY, LET ME GO AHEAD AND AND PRESENT YOU WITH THIS.

UNDER 25 YEARS.

SO WOULD YOU LIKE US TO GO AHEAD AND COME ON UP? AND YOUR FAMILY? FAMILY.

CONGRATULATIONS. THANK YOU, SIR, FOR YOUR LONG SERVICE.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

COME ON UP AND JOIN US IN THE THRONE ROOM.

COME ON IN THE CENTER HERE.

APPRECIATE IT. COME. ON.

ALL RIGHT. YOU GUYS GET JUST A LITTLE TIGHTER TOGETHER.

OTHERWISE, I'M. YEAH, THIS WILL WORK.

THANK YOU. CONGRATULATIONS.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU.

THANK YOU VERY.

OKAY. NEXT UP IS ONE OF OUR CIVILIAN EMPLOYEES, MR. MANUEL ALVAREZ.

HE'S A CIVILIAN FINGERPRINT EXAMINER.

ALSO 25 YEARS OF SERVICE.

MR. ALVAREZ IS A NEAR HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATE, AND A US NAVY VETERAN.

HE BEGAN HIS CAREER WITH THE BCSO IN 1998, WORKING IN CENTRAL RECORDS AS A PROCESSING CLERK.

WHERE HE WAS TASKED WITH REPORTING OFFENSES TO TEXAS DPS AND THE FBI.

HE ENSURED ACCURATE INFORMATION WAS MAINTAINED ON INMATES AND ASSISTED WITH PHOTOS.

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HE OBTAINED HIS FINGERPRINT CERTIFICATION IN 1999, AND WAS PROMOTED TO THE FINGERPRINT EXAMINER POSITION IN 2002.

THE ROLE OF A FINGERPRINT EXAMINER IS CRUCIAL TO ANY LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY.

THE EXAMINER PLAYS A KEY ROLE IN IDENTIFYING SUSPECTS INVOLVED IN A CRIMINAL OFFENSE THAT LEADS TO ARREST AND CONVICTION.

HE'S ALSO OFTENTIMES CALLED TO COURT TO TESTIFY ON ESTABLISHED IDENTITIES, ON PRIOR CONVICTIONS OF DEFENDANTS.

AND SO, MR. ALVAREZ, WE THANK YOU FOR YOUR YEARS OF SERVICE TO THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE, AND WE HOPE IT'S NOT OVER ANYTIME SOON.

I JUST WANT TO THANK EVERYBODY HERE AT BEXAR COUNTY FOR THE OPPORTUNITY FOR LETTING ME WORK HERE.

AND IT'S BEEN AN HONOR THE WHOLE TIME I'VE BEEN HERE.

THANK YOU. IT'S NOT YOUR FAMILY.

FAMILY. NOTES.

25. 25.

I'M AS MAD AS YOU ARE, SIR.

YEP. THANK YOU.

25 YEARS. THANK YOU.

CONGRATULATIONS. THANK YOU.

READS TOGETHER. ALL RIGHT.

TIRES. OKAY.

NEXT UP. VERONICA.

MISS VERONICA TORRES.

VERONICA HAS BEEN EMPLOYED WITH THE BCSO AS A CIVILIAN FOR 25 YEARS.

SHE STARTED WITH BEXAR COUNTY, THE BEXAR COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE, AUGUST 3RD OF 1998.

SHE BEGAN IN CENTRAL RECORDS AND WORKED THERE FOR APPROXIMATELY A YEAR AND A HALF BEFORE MOVING TO THE CIVIL DIVISION IN JUNE OF 2000.

IN MARCH OF 2022, SHE WAS REASSIGNED TO COURT SERVICES, WHERE SHE WORKED UNTIL OCTOBER 2023, WHEN SHE TRANSFERRED TO CRIMINAL WARRANTS.

VERONICA PLAYS A KEY ROLE IN PROCESSING CRIMINAL WARRANTS AND ENSURING THOSE THAT ARE WANTED REMAIN ACTIVE AND UPDATED IN THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM.

SHE PLANS TO COMPLETE 30 YEARS OF SERVICE WITH THE BEXAR COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE BEFORE RETIRING.

AND SO BEING THAT OUR, OUR, CIVILIAN EMPLOYEES ARE SUCH A GREAT SUPPORT SYSTEM FOR OUR DEPUTIES, I'M GLAD TO HEAR THAT SHE'S SPENDING AT LEAST ANOTHER FIVE YEARS WITH US.

AND I'M GOING TO BE ASKING FOR AT LEAST ANOTHER FIVE ON TOP OF THAT.

SO CONGRATULATIONS, MISS DIAZ.

I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU FOR INVITING ME.

IT'S BEEN A REAL PRIVILEGE WORKING HERE.

TIME WENT BY SUPER FAST.

MY DAUGHTER WAS FIVE AND SHE'S NOW 30.

SO AGAIN, THANK YOU.

APPRECIATE IT. GET OUT OF HERE! NO. SHE WASN'T. LET ME GET YOUR.

HERE'S YOUR SHARE.

I CAN'T BELIEVE.

THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU.

THANKS FOR YOUR SERVICE.

THANK YOU SIR. CONGRATULATIONS.

WOULD YOU PLEASE WORK TOGETHER? FOR THE CIRCUMSTANCES. OKAY.

OKAY. THANK YOU.

WE HAVE ONE THAT'S. THAT WAS NOT ABLE TO MAKE IT THIS MORNING.

DEPUTY ROSS GARZA.

DO YOU WANT I SURE I CAN STILL ABSOLUTELY I WILL.

DO YOU WANT TO SHOW IT? SURE.

ABSOLUTELY. I CAN STILL READ IT BY IT.

YEAH. WE DIDN'T WE DIDN'T PICK THIS ACADEMY'S PATROL.

AND, DEPUTY ROSS GARZA IS CURRENTLY ASSIGNED TO THE TRAINING ACADEMY, WHERE HE HELPS TRAIN THE HUNDREDS OF NEW CADETS TO COME INTO LAW ENFORCEMENT AND DETENTION BUREAU EVERY YEAR.

HE SPENT SOME TIME WHERE HE'S MOST NOTABLY KNOWN FOR IN THE MENTAL HEALTH UNIT.

AND SO HE'S ONE OF OUR PREMIER INSTRUCTORS FOR THE MENTAL HEALTH UNIT, AND IS KNOWN FOR THE WORK THAT WE DO ACROSS THE COUNTRY WITH THE MENTAL HEALTH UNIT.

SO WE'RE SUPER PROUD TO HAVE, ROSS GARZA AS PART OF OUR TEAM AND CONGRATULATE HIM ON HIS 25 YEARS OF SERVICE.

POLISH MASONIC WORKS.

PRESENT DAY FOR ME.

ALRIGHT. GOOD MORNING.

GOOD MORNING.

THIS MORNING, IT'S MY HONOR TO RECOGNIZE EDWARD VALERIO.

WE'RE 25 YEARS OF SERVICE WITH BEXAR COUNTY PUBLIC WORKS, SPECIFICALLY IN OUR DEVELOPMENT SERVICES DEPARTMENT.

HE BEGAN ON AUGUST 31ST, IN 1998, AS A SUBDIVISION COORDINATOR.

AS SUBDIVISION COORDINATOR, HE MAINTAINS RECORDS OF SUBDIVISION PLATS AND THE START OF COUNTY MAINTENANCE OF THE STREETS AND DRAINS.

SINCE HIS BEGINNING OF HIS TENURE, HE'S REVIEWED OVER 5600 PLATS, RECORDED OVER 4200 PLATS.

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FOUR YEARS ACTIVE SERVICE WITH THE UNITED STATES ARMY.

SEVEN YEARS IN THE UNITED STATES ARMY RESERVE.

22 YEARS IN THE UNITED STATES AIR FORCE.

HE HAS SERVED IN JAPAN, GERMANY, AND 24 BASES AROUND THE UNITED STATES IN HIS 33 YEARS OF SERVICE.

PLEASE HELP ME WELCOME EDWARD VALERIO.

CASTLE WAS A PLEASURE TO WORK WITH.

CONNIE AND I HOPE TO STAY HERE EIGHT MORE YEARS TO DO ANOTHER 33 YEARS LIKE I DID WITH THE AIR FORCE.

RIGHT. NO.

JUST. GIVE ME YOUR PEN.

ALL RIGHT, LET'S DO A PICK IN HERE.

LET'S GO. THANK YOU, THANK YOU.

CONGRATULATIONS. SO WHAT DO WE.

WHAT DO WE HAVE? OH.

THANK YOU. RIGHT? NO. WE GOT ONE MORE. YEAH.

THANK YOU. ALRIGHT, LET'S DO THE PRESENTATION OR PROCLAMATION ON BEHALF OF COMMISSIONERS COURT RECOGNIZING JANUARY 2024 AS HUMAN TRAFFICKING PREVENTION MONTH. I BELIEVE THIS IS COMMISSIONER MOODY, BUT, COMMISSIONER CALVERT, PLEASE DO THE INTRODUCTION AND READING THE PROCLAMATION.

THANK YOU. JUDGE.

THE PROCLAMATION READS, AND I'M NOT SURE.

DO WE HAVE A GROUP HERE? OH, OKAY.

WHO DO WE. I'M SORRY, I DIDN'T.

I'M NOT LOOKING AT MY AGENDA. WHO DO WE HAVE HERE TO HELP US WITH THAT? HUMAN TRAFFICKING PREVENTION MONTH.

GOOD TO SEE YOU. GLAD TO HAVE YOU.

THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH.

THE PROCLAMATION READS, WHEREAS HUMAN TRAFFICKING IS A SERIOUS VIOLATION OF HUMAN RIGHTS, WHERE VICTIMS ARE CONTROLLED AND EXPLOITED FOR PROFIT, INCLUDING FORCED LABOR AND SEXUAL EXPLOITATION.

AND WHEREAS THE PASSING OF THE TRAFFICKING VICTIMS PROTECTION ACT WAS MORE THAN 20 YEARS AGO, I ACTUALLY WORKED ON IT AND WROTE IT.

AND HUMAN TRAFFICKING STILL EXISTS.

PEOPLE CAN BE TRAFFICKED IN PERSON AND ONLINE BY STRANGERS OR SOMEONE THEY KNOW, INCLUDING EMPLOYERS, PARTNERS AND FAMILY MEMBERS.

SOME VICTIMS ARE HELD CAPTIVE AND OTHERS ARE NOT.

AND WHEREAS TEXAS HAD THE SECOND HIGHEST NUMBER OF HUMAN TRAFFICKING CASES IN THE COUNTRY SINCE 2020, 72% OF WHICH ARE SEX TRAFFICKING, HUMAN TRAFFICKING CAN BE PREVENTED BY BUILDING INDIVIDUAL, COMMUNITY AND SOCIETAL UNDERSTANDING AND RESILIENCE, REDUCING SOCIAL INEQUITIES, AND ADDRESSING THE CONDITIONS THAT CONTRIBUTE TO EXPLOITATION. AND WHEREAS THERE ARE SEVERAL REPUTABLE ORGANIZATIONS THAT ASSIST IN RESCUING CHILDREN FROM HUMAN TRAFFICKING AND ENSURE ONGOING AFTERCARE, THEY ALSO HELP PROVIDE CUTTING EDGE TOOLS AND RESOURCES TO LAW ENFORCEMENT THROUGHOUT THE UNITED STATES, AND STRENGTHEN PREVENTATIVE EFFORTS THAT BENEFIT AT RISK CHILDREN.

AND WHEREAS, ANTI-TRAFFICKING PROGRAMS REQUIRE PARTNERSHIP AMONG MANY GROUPS, INCLUDING LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES, SCHOOLS, RELIGIOUS ORGANIZATIONS, THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY, AND NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS AND VOLUNTEERS, EVERY INDIVIDUAL, FAMILY, COMMUNITY, AND ORGANIZATION CAN CONTRIBUTE TO ENHANCING HUMAN TRAFFICKING AWARENESS, PREVENTION, AND RESPONSE BY LEARNING ABOUT WAYS TO HELP AND WHEREAS.

DURING NATIONAL HUMAN TRAFFICKING PREVENTION MONTH, OUR GOAL IS TO SUPPORT VOLUNTEERS AND ADVOCATES WHO RAISE AWARENESS AND EDUCATE THE COMMUNITY ON HUMAN TRAFFICKING, ANTI-TRAFFICKING EFFORTS, AND RESOURCES AVAILABLE TO PROMOTE RAISING CHILDREN IN A SAFE ENVIRONMENT FREE FROM PREDATOR ACTIVITIES.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED THAT THE COMMISSIONERS COURT OF BEXAR COUNTY HEREBY PROCLAIMS THE MONTH OF JANUARY AS HUMAN TRAFFICKING PREVENTION MONTH AND REAFFIRM OUR COMMITMENT TO SUPPORT THE EFFORTS TO ADDRESS AN INHUMAN TRAFFICKING.

WITNESS OUR SIGNATURES AND SEAL OF OFFICE THIS NINTH DAY OF JANUARY, 2024, SIGNED BY JUDGE SAKAI, COMMISSIONER CLAY-FLORES, COMMISSIONER RODRIGUEZ, COMMISSIONER MOODY AND MYSELF. TOMMY CALVERT, YOU HAVE THE FLOOR.

THANK YOU, LORI RO.

WITH JUST ONE CHILD, WE ARE HONORED TO BE RECOGNIZED AND TO BE ABLE TO BE HERE.

THIS IS A SERIOUS ISSUE AND WE ARE WORKING WITH FAMILIES ON A PARENT FOCUS BECAUSE WE BELIEVE THAT PREVENTION STARTS IN THE HOME WHERE THE VICTIMS ARE. AND SO WE APPRECIATE THIS AND THE RECOGNITION AND ARE EXCITED TO BE ABLE TO WORK WITH THE COMMUNITY AND BRING THIS AWARENESS TO OTHERS.

I WOULD JUST ADD, YOU KNOW, SAN ANTONIO BEING THE SEVENTH LARGEST CITY IN THE UNITED STATES AND SECOND LARGEST COUNTY IN TEXAS, IT'S A TRAVESTY FOR THIS GENERATION THAT WE HAVE HUMAN TRAFFICKING, WHETHER IT'S LABOR TRAFFICKING, SEX TRAFFICKING, OR JUST HUMAN TRAFFICKING.

AND SO SO I'M PROUD TO LIVE IN A CITY OF SAN ANTONIO THAT TAKES THIS INITIATIVE SERIOUS, AND HOPE THAT ANY SENDS A SIGNAL OUT TO THE COMMUNITY.

ANYBODY WHO DESIRES TO DO THAT IN SAN ANTONIO, THAT THIS GROUP HERE IN THIS DAY AND THIS MONTH, THAT WE'RE PROUD TO SAY ENOUGH IS ENOUGH.

SO THANK YOU. LET ME JUST TAKE A POINT OF PERSONAL PRIVILEGE AND THANK YOU AGAIN FOR YOUR WORK.

AND I WANT TO THANK COMMISSIONER MOODY.

HE'S TRYING TO LOG IN.

I UNDERSTAND HE'S IN ISRAEL.

I DON'T KNOW IF HE'S ON THE VIDEO YET, AND IT'S BEEN ABOUT TEN MINUTES, BUT I BELIEVE THIS IS THE FIRST TIME THE COUNTY HAS RECOGNIZED JANUARY AS HUMAN TRAFFICKING MONTH.

[00:20:04]

SO I GOT A CHANCE BACK IN 2002 TO WRITE THE TRAFFICKING VICTIMS PROTECTION ACT AND HELPED SET UP THE FIRST $50 MILLION IN THE US GOVERNMENT IN THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE, STATE HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES AND LABOR TO COMBAT HUMAN TRAFFICKING.

SO THIS IS A FULL CIRCLE MOMENT FOR ME, BECAUSE BACK WHEN WE WERE DOING THAT, THERE WERE ONLY ENOUGH ANTI-TRAFFICKING ORGANIZATIONS TO COUNT ON MY HANDS.

THERE WERE ONLY ABOUT TEN OF US IN THE.

I THINK THERE WERE EIGHT OF US IN THE UNITED STATES AT THAT TIME.

I STARTED WORKING ON IT IN 99.

SO WE'VE GONE FROM THE DAYS OF THE SUDAN CAMPAIGN AND HELPING THE PERSECUTED CHRISTIANS IN SUDAN, TO THE SEX TRAFFICKING ALL ACROSS THE WORLD, TO THE PEOPLE WHO ARE FORCED INTO LABOR IN PLACES LIKE INDIA, BANGLADESH, NEPAL, WHO ARE IN DEBT BONDAGE.

SO THANKS TO THE WHOLE PANOPLY OF PARTNERS, THAT'S NECESSARY BECAUSE, IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE HELP LIFT PEOPLE'S, FAMILIES UP, AS YOU SAID, TO PREVENT THE POVERTY FROM TURNING INTO EXPLOITATION.

SO. THANK YOU. COME ON UP.

WE'LL TAKE A PICTURE.

THANKS FOR BEING HERE.

GOOD TO SEE YOU. YOU DON'T HAVE YOUR GLASSES.

THANK YOU. CONGRATULATIONS.

THANK. YOU.

CERTAINLY. THANKS FOR YOUR WORK.

THANK.

ALL RIGHT. WE'RE GOING TO DO OUR SPECIAL PRESENTATION ITEMS TO DO THE RECOGNITION OF THE BEXAR COUNTY AUDITOR, LEO S CALDERA, AND HIS TEAM FOR RECEIVING AN AWARD

[4. SPECIAL PRESENTATIONS ITEM(S)]

GOOD MORNING, JUDGE ALVARADO.

GOOD MORNING.

IT IS MY HONOR TO, TO DO THIS RECOGNITION.

WHY DON'T YOU STAND OVER HERE? AND RECOGNIZE, OUR COUNTY AUDITOR, MR. CALDERA, AND HIS ENTIRE AUDITOR'S TEAM FOR THIS FABULOUS WORK.

SO, LET ME TELL YOU A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THIS REPORT.

OKAY. IT'S A RECENT ACHIEVEMENT CONCERNING THE BEXAR COUNTY ANNUAL COMPREHENSIVE FINANCIAL REPORT.

THE REPORT HAS BEEN JUDGED BY AN IMPARTIAL PANEL TO MEET THE HIGH STANDARDS OF THE GOVERNMENT FINANCE OFFICERS ASSOCIATION OF AMERICA AND CANADA.

SOME OF THESE HIGH STANDARDS MET BY OUR AUDITOR'S TEAM, INCLUDES DEMONSTRATING A CONSTRUCTIVE SPIRIT OF FULL DISCLOSURE TO CLEARLY COMMUNICATE THE COUNTY'S FINANCIAL STORY, AND TO MOTIVATE POTENTIAL USERS AND USER GROUPS TO READ THE REPORT.

THE HIGH QUALITY OF BEXAR COUNTY'S FINANCIAL REPORT ENSURES THAT THE COUNTY'S FINANCIAL STATUS IS PRESENTED CLEARLY AND COMPREHENSIVELY FOR ITS USERS, THE PUBLIC, POTENTIAL INVESTORS AND RATING AGENCIES.

AS A RESULT, BEXAR COUNTY'S FINANCIAL REPORT QUALIFIES FOR THE GOVERNMENT FINANCE OFFICERS ASSOCIATION CERTIFICATE OF ACHIEVEMENT FOR EXCELLENCE IN FINANCIAL REPORTING FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDED IN SEPTEMBER ON SEPTEMBER 30TH, 2022, AND THE CERTIFICATE OF ACHIEVEMENT IS THE HIGHEST FORM OF RECOGNITION IN GOVERNMENTAL ACCOUNTING AND FINANCIAL REPORTING, AND ITS ATTAINMENT REPRESENTS A SIGNIFICANT ACHIEVEMENT BY BEXAR COUNTY AND ITS MANAGEMENT, AND IT DEMONSTRATES A COMMITMENT TO TRANSPARENCY, FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY AND INTEGRITY IN BEXAR COUNTY GOVERNMENT.

THE AWARD IS GIVEN IN PART TO ENCOURAGE OTHER GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS IN THEIR EFFORTS TO ACHIEVE AND MAINTAIN A COMMITMENT TO EXCELLENCE IN FINANCIAL REPORTING AND WHEN A CERTIFICATE OF ACHIEVEMENT IS AWARDED TO A GOVERNMENT, AN AWARD OF FINANCIAL REPORTING ACHIEVEMENT CALLED THE APRA IS ALSO PRESENTED TO THE INDIVIDUALS OR DEPARTMENT DESIGNATED BY THE GOVERNMENT AS PRIMARILY RESPONSIBLE FOR HAVING EARNED THIS CERTIFICATE, AND IN THIS CASE, OF COURSE, IT'S OUR BEXAR COUNTY AUDITOR'S OFFICE.

SO I WOULD LIKE TO THANK YOU, MR. CALDERA, AND YOUR ENTIRE TEAM, AND PRESENT TO YOU THIS CERTIFICATE, INDICATING YOUR WONDERFUL ACHIEVEMENT.

SO. SO, LEO, YOU HAVE A FEW WORDS AND INTRODUCE YOUR STAFF, YOUR YOUR CRACK STAFF THERE.

FIRST OF ALL, I WOULD JUST LIKE TO THANK JUDGE ALVARADO FOR TAKING TIME OUT OF HER BUSY SCHEDULE TO COME PRESENT US WITH THIS AWARD.

[00:25:03]

AS JUDGE TO ATTEST TO A LOT OF WORK GOES INTO BEING ADMINISTRATIVE JUDGE.

SO I REALLY APPRECIATE THAT.

AS YOU ALL ARE AWARE, THE AUDITOR'S OFFICE EQUIVALENT TO COMPTROLLER'S OFFICE HAS IMPORTANT FINANCIAL RESPONSIBILITIES, INCLUDING ACCOUNTING, AUDITING, PAYABLES FOR $3 BILLION BUDGET, PAYROLL FOR OVER 5500 EMPLOYEES.

AND FOR THIS AWARD THAT WE'RE GETTING AWARDED TODAY FOR THE FINANCIAL REPORTING WHICH, AS THE JUDGE POINTED OUT, IS VERY IMPORTANT TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC. FOR OUR BOND RATING COMPANIES AND ALSO FOR POTENTIAL INVESTORS.

BUT I DID WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO MY STAFF, ESPECIALLY, YOU KNOW, THEY'VE WORKED REALLY, REALLY HARD THIS TIME AROUND, AS MY ACCOUNTING DIRECTOR MENTIONED. AND I'VE GOT TO ATTEST TO, THIS WAS PROBABLY ONE OF THE THE HARDEST YEARS TO PRODUCE THIS ACT FOR, DUE TO SOME ATTRITION ISSUES WE HAD TO FACE, WE LOST ABOUT THREE, CORE EMPLOYEES, AND PART OF OUR REVENUE REPORTING THAT ACTUALLY MOVED ON.

OTHER, OTHER PLACES FOR MORE MONEY.

SO THESE INDIVIDUALS, THIS TEAM BACK HERE REALLY STEPPED UP, WORKED A LOT OF LATE HOURS PAST MIDNIGHT, FOR MONTHS ON END TO PRODUCE THIS REPORT.

SO THIS IS ESPECIALLY MEANINGFUL FOR US TO GET AWARDED, THIS PARTICULAR ACHIEVEMENT.

AND I JUST WANT TO THANK YOU ALL, COMMISSIONERS, FOR ALLOWING THIS TIME FOR US TO COME UP HERE.

AND I WOULD STRONGLY ENCOURAGE YOU.

I KNOW IT LOOKS LIKE AN INTIMIDATING DOCUMENT HERE, THIS ACT FOR.

BUT, YOU KNOW, AGAIN, I KNOW YOU'RE BUSY, BUT IF YOU CAN JUST TAKE FIVE MINUTES TO ACTUALLY GO, JUST FLIP SOME PAGES AND YOU'LL SEE RIGHT AWAY THE PRONOUNCEMENTS, EVERYTHING THAT WE HAVE TO GO THROUGH TO PRODUCE THIS REPORT.

AND YOU CAN APPRECIATE THE HARD WORK THAT OUR TEAM DOES FOR THIS.

SO SO THANK YOU FOR THAT.

AND, I'LL GO AHEAD AND JUST HAVE EACH MEMBER OF MY STAFF, IF YOU ALL CAN TAKE SOME TIME AND JUST JUST SAY THEIR TITLE AND THEIR NAME REAL QUICK AND WE'LL MAKE THIS QUICK.

BUT THANK YOU AGAIN.

THANK YOU LEO. THANK YOU.

COMMISSIONERS. MY NAME IS JUAN ARTIAGA, AND I'M THE DIRECTOR OF ACCOUNTING FOR THE AUDITOR'S OFFICE.

GOOD MORNING. I'M MATT HARRISON.

I'M THE REVENUE AND FINANCIAL REPORTING MANAGER.

GOOD MORNING. I'M DIRECTOR OF SPECIAL PROJECTS.

MY NAME IS TONY RAMIREZ.

HI. ELENA NEGLEY, FINANCIAL SYSTEM ASSISTANT, FUNCTIONAL LEAD.

GOOD MORNING. MARLENE NICHOLS, REVENUE ACCOUNTANT.

GOOD MORNING. BEATRICE FOX, SPECIAL PROJECT STAFF AUDITOR.

GOOD MORNING. MY NAME IS NORMAN.

I'M YOUR GRANT'S ACCOUNTING MANAGER.

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

LOOK. LET ME JUST SAY A FEW COMMENTS.

FIRST, LET ME RECOGNIZE JUDGE ROSA ALVARADO, WHO I WORKED MANY YEARS WITH ON THE DISTRICT COURT BENCH.

AND I BELIEVE JUDGE ALVARADO, YOU HAVE NOW FINISHED YOUR TWO YEAR TERM AS LOCAL ADMINISTRATIVE JUDGE, A POSITION THAT I HAD WHEN I WAS ON THE DISTRICT COURT BENCH AND SO ON. AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE.

CAN I ASK, HOW WAS YOUR TWO YEARS OF LEADING THE JUDICIARY THERE, JUDGE? AND WE CAN HAVE THAT PRIVATE DISCUSSION AT A LATER DATE.

BUT, ALSO TO FOR THE PUBLIC, AND FOR THOSE THAT AREN'T AWARE, THE AUDITOR IS UNDER THE WHAT AUTHORITY? SUPERVISION OF THE DISTRICT COURT JUDGES.

SO IT'S A UNIQUENESS OF COUNTY GOVERNMENT, THAT THE JUDGES HIRE OR FIRE THE COUNTY AUDITOR, AND I BELIEVE AND I WAS THE LOCAL ADMINISTRATIVE JUDGE WHEN THE DECISION WAS MADE BY THE JUDGES TO HIRE LEO CALDERA.

AND SO, AND I AM PROUD OF THE TEAM THAT HE HAS PUT TOGETHER, OBVIOUSLY TAKES A TEAM TO MAKE THINGS WORK.

AND OBVIOUSLY, YOU ALL DO A YOUR WONDERFUL JOB YEAR IN AND YEAR OUT.

AND SO I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO THE AUDITOR.

YOU'RE RESPONSIBLE FOR MAKING SURE THAT WE, AS THE COMMISSIONERS COURT, STAY IN OUR BOUNDARIES, STAY WITHIN THE THE BUDGET, SO TO SPEAK, AND MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE, BEING PRUDENT AND CAREFUL WITH THE TAXPAYER MONEY.

AND FOR THAT, I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU AGAIN TO THE AUDITOR AND THE ENTIRE STAFF.

THAT HELPS KEEP US IN LINE.

DOES ANYBODY HAVE ANY COMMENTS? COMMISSIONER. COMMISSIONER CALVERT.

YEAH. WELL, I WANT TO JOIN YOU IN CONGRATULATING YOU ON THIS ESTEEMED AWARD, AND IT'S WELL DESERVED FROM WHAT WE SEE FROM YOU EVERY SINGLE DAY, THE LONG HOURS, YOU KNOW, WE CAN'T THANK YOU ENOUGH.

THE TAXPAYERS CAN'T THANK YOU ENOUGH.

WE APPRECIATE THAT.

IT'S BEYOND JUST A VOCATION.

IT'S A REAL SPIRIT OF THE BEST OF WHAT BEXAR COUNTY CITIZENSHIP EXEMPLIFIES, WHICH IS DOING WHAT YOU GOT TO DO TO HOLD THE ACCOUNTABLE

[00:30:02]

SO THANK YOU FOR REACHING THIS HIGH STAR IN TEXAS.

WHICH IS WHAT WE THINK YOU ARE AS WELL.

YOU ALL ARE ALWAYS THERE WHEN WE CALL, TO TRY TO HELP RESOLVE THINGS.

AND WE THANK EACH AND EVERY MEMBER OF YOUR STAFF.

LEO, THANK YOU FOR YOUR YEARS OF SERVICE HERE.

JUDGE. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE AND YOUR WORK IN COLLABORATION.

HAPPY NEW YEAR AND I HOPE FOR CONTINUED AWARDS BECAUSE YOU DESERVE IT.

THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER RODRIGUEZ.

THANK YOU, JUDGE LEO.

LET ME JUST ALSO THANK YOU AND YOUR YOUR TEAM.

I KNOW YOU DO A LOT OF THE WORK BEHIND THE SCENES TO KEEP THE COGS MOVING HERE AT THE COUNTY.

AND WE DO APPRECIATE THAT.

I KNOW WE DON'T SAY IT OFTEN ENOUGH.

IT IS, AS YOU MENTIONED, JUDGE, KIND OF AN INTERESTING DYNAMIC WITH, COUNTY GOVERNMENT.

WE'VE GOT THE AUDITOR'S OFFICE AND WE'VE GOT, YOU KNOW, THE JUDGES INVOLVED IN THAT PROCESS.

JUDGE ALVARADO, THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP AS WELL.

AND I THINK TO, IF I'M MISTAKEN, DAVID, CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG, BUT I THINK GFOA ALSO RECOGNIZED, I THINK OUR BUDGET STAFF AS WELL, WITH THE SAME OR SIMILAR CERTIFICATE, IS THAT RIGHT? THAT'S RIGHT. IT'S THE SAME ORGANIZATION EXCEPT FOR BUDGETS AS OPPOSED TO ACTORS.

SO SO IT'S A GOOD, REMINDER THAT WE'VE GOT EXCELLENT FOLKS WORKING HERE AT THE COUNTY IN DIFFERENT DEPARTMENTS.

AND WE THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORK DAY IN AND DAY OUT.

SO THANK YOU, JUDGE. COMMISSIONER CLAY-FLORES, YEAH, I THINK THIS SPEAKS TO, THE GOOD WORK THAT WE AS A TEAM DO TO BE GOOD STEWARDS OF TAXPAYER DOLLARS. SOMETIMES THERE'S ACCUSATIONS IN THE MEDIA THAT WOULD SAY, OTHERWISE.

SO ACKNOWLEDGMENTS LIKE THIS AND AWARDS LIKE THIS, I THINK PROVES THEM TO BE FALSE.

SO I ALWAYS SAY THAT WE HAVE GREAT COUNTY EMPLOYEES.

SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORK.

THANK YOU FOR HELPING US TO CONTINUE TO BE GOOD STEWARDS OF TAXPAYER TAXPAYER DOLLARS.

THANK YOU. LET'S GIVE HIM ANOTHER ROUND OF APPLAUSE.

ALL RIGHT, LET'S DO THE PRESENTATION.

INTRODUCING THE BIBLIOTHEQUE AND THURMOND WALKER FOUNDATION PARTNERSHIP PROJECT.

ORAL HISTORY OF BLACK SAN ANTONIO.

LAURA COLE. GOOD MORNING, JUDGE AND COMMISSIONERS LAURA COLE.

BIBLIOTHEQUE IN FALL, BIBLIOTHEQUE WAS APPROACHED BY THE THURMOND WALKER FOUNDATION WITH AN IDEA TO PRODUCE A HISTORY OF SAN ANTONIO'S EAST SIDE NEIGHBORHOOD AND ITS EVOLUTION.

NEEDLESS TO SAY, WE WERE VERY EAGER TO PARTICIPATE.

SO OVER THE COURSE OF SEVERAL MEETINGS WITH THE FOUNDATION LEADERSHIP, WE FLESHED OUT SPECIFIC GOALS AND TIMELINES AND MUTUAL RESPONSIBILITIES FOR THIS PROJECT. SO THE PROJECT WILL DOCUMENT THE MIGRATION OF SAN ANTONIO'S BLACK COMMUNITY FROM THE WEST SIDE TO THE EAST SIDE NEIGHBORHOOD FROM 1920 TO 2000. IDENTIFIED LEADERS WILL SHARE THEIR EXPERIENCES OF THE EVOLUTION OF THE EAST SIDE AND AREAS OF CULTURE AND LIFESTYLE, BUSINESS, EDUCATION, POLITICS, SOCIAL JUSTICE AND RELIGION.

THEIR CONVERSATIONS WILL BE LED BY STUDENTS AND VIDEOTAPED, PRODUCED AND HOSTED BY BIBLIOTHEQUE FOR PRESERVATION IN THE BIBLIOTHEQUE COLLECTION.

YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE LIBRARY IN SOCIETY IS TO PRESERVE AND MAKE AVAILABLE THE STORIES OF THE PEOPLE.

SO, IN AN ALL DIGITAL LIBRARY THAT'S GOING TO LOOK A LITTLE DIFFERENT, YOU'RE NOT GOING TO FIND IT HELD IN DUSTY TOMES ON SHELVES.

IT'S GOING TO BE A LIVING CREATION.

IT'S GOING TO BE PART OF OUR VIDEO COLLECTION.

AND WE ARE VERY, VERY EXCITED TO SHARE THIS.

THE ORAL HISTORY OF BLACK SAN ANTONIO PROJECT WILL LAUNCH IN JANUARY OF 2024.

WE ANTICIPATE COMPLETION IN ABOUT THREE YEARS.

SO IT'S A BIG, AMBITIOUS PROJECT THAT WE'RE VERY, VERY HAPPY TO BE A PART OF.

BUT I'D LIKE TO INTRODUCE NOW, A COUPLE MEMBERS OF THE LEADERSHIP OF THE THURMOND WALKER FOUNDATION, EARL MUNDELL AND DIANA MITCHELL.

AND WE WANT TO SHARE A LITTLE BIT WITH YOU OF WHAT THIS PROJECT IS GOING TO LOOK LIKE.

SO. LET ME ALSO RECOGNIZE, DEACON ROBINSON BACK IN THE BACK, WHO'S ALSO THE MLK CHAIR AND WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR GETTING THE BIBLIOTHEQUE EAST NAMED AFTER REVEREND REVEREND DOCTOR THURMAN WALKER. AND I'M SORRY. GO AHEAD.

I WE WANT TO. I DIDN'T MEAN TO INTERRUPT YOU.

OKAY. MY NAME IS EARL MUNDELL.

I'M PART OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS, FOR THE THURMOND WALKER FOUNDATION.

I'M ACTUALLY A DEACON AT ANTIOCH AS WELL.

WHAT WE HAVE NOW IS A TRAILER VIDEO THAT WILL INCLUDE, MAMA DEE WILLIAMS,

[00:35:04]

I WANT TO ALSO BRING UP THE FACT THAT, OUR LOGO IS THE SANKOFA.

AND IF YOU KNOW, SANKOFA IS A BIRD THAT IS FACED FORWARD, BUT THE FACE IS LOOKING BACK, SO HISTORY IS LOOKING BACK SO WE CAN DO BETTER GOING FORWARD.

SO WITHOUT FURTHER ADO, LET'S HAVE THE VIDEO STARTED.

AND YOU CAN TAKE A LOOK AT IT.

THANK YOU. AND WHEN YOU REMEMBER GOD IN THE MIDST OF YOUR SITUATION, THE SITUATION MAY NOT HAVE BEEN GOOD, BUT YOU STILL REMEMBER THE GOODNESS OF GOD.

WE FORGET THOSE THINGS THAT CRIPPLE US FROM MOVING FORWARD.

I WAS BORN IN A COUNTRY TOWN CALLED TEMPLE, TEXAS.

IT WAS THE LAST YEAR OF COMING TO SAN ANTONIO.

MY HUSBAND WAS IN SERVICE, AND HE SAID TO ME THAT NOBODY COULD TELL ME WHAT HE DID WHILE HE WAS IN SERVICE IN GERMANY.

HE DIDN'T WANT NOBODY TO TELL ME.

SO HE HAD SOME BROTHERS AND SISTERS IN SAN ANTONIO, AND THAT'S HOW HE BROUGHT ME TO SAN ANTONIO.

MY MUSIC STARTED AT FIVE YEARS OLD.

I CAN RECALL STANDING UP, JUST PLAYING, PLAYING, PLAYING, PLAYING, AND I WHATEVER I HEAR, I COULD PLAY IT.

THEN I STARTED TAKING MUSIC LESSONS WHEN I WAS 13.

BY THEN, MAN, I COULDN'T TAKE THOSE NOTES.

MY MUSIC TEACHER AT THAT TIME, SHE SAID, YOU GOT TO READ THE NOTES, BUT I WOULD ADD TO THE NOTES.

IT DIDN'T SOUND RIGHT.

WHEN I FIRST MOVED HERE, I WAS BLESSED BECAUSE I WAS GOING TO SAINT PHILIP'S IN PO'BOY.

WE PLAYED, PLAYED, PLAYED WITH SPOT BURNET.

HE WAS IN COLLEGE WITH ME AND NATHAN WILSON, WHO WAS A LITTLE SECRETARY AT ANTIOCH, TOLD REVEREND RECTOR SHE CAN PLAY. SHE CAN PLAY BECAUSE WE ALL PRACTICE PLAYING AT AT SAINT PHILIP'S DURING THAT TIME.

I PLAYED FOR ANY OF 69 YEARS AND I WILL BE THERE 70 YEARS THIS COMING FEBRUARY.

ONE SUNDAY MORNING, REVEREND WALKER SAID, MAMA D, SINCE YOU'VE BEEN PLAYING HERE SO LONG WITH THESE CHILDREN, WE'RE GOING TO NAME THE CHOIR THE DS ANGEL.

THESE ANGELS MADE HISTORY, PRAYING THAT THEY WOULD ALWAYS SAY, WE WANT TO SEE THOSE LITTLE KIDS WITH THOSE GOLD AND GREEN SHIRTS.

I SAID, WHOSE SIDE ARE YOU STANDING ON? WOULD STOP AND SAY, WHOSE SIDE ARE YOU STANDING ON? I'M STANDING ON THE.

IT'S VERY FRIENDLY.

I'M STANDING ON THE ROADSIDE.

I CAN'T HEAR YOU. I'MA DO IT AGAIN.

I SAID WHOSE SIDE ARE YOU STANDING ON? I'M STANDING ON THE LORD'S SIDE.

WHO ARE YOU STANDING ON? JUDGE, I JUST WANT TO SAY, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I HAVE ALWAYS SAID FOR THE PAST TEN YEARS IS THAT BIBLIOTHEQUE SUFFERS FROM AN EMBARRASSMENT OF RICHES WHEN IT COMES TO THEIR STAFF.

VERY FORTUNATE TO HAVE A GROUP OF VERY, VERY TALENTED PEOPLE WITH A GREAT VARIETY OF EXPERIENCES WHO ACTUALLY PRODUCED AND DID THIS VIDEO FOR US.

AND I WOULD LIKE TO BRING I.

YEAH, RIGHT.

I'D LIKE TO BRING THEM UP, PLEASE, AND INTRODUCE THEM.

[00:40:05]

YEAH, WELL, GIVE THEM ANOTHER ROUND.

THAT WAS REALLY GREAT. YEAH, YEAH, IT'S ALL IN-HOUSE.

I JUST THEY'RE ALL AMAZING, BUT I JUST WANT TO MENTION, ANDY GOMEZ, FRANCISCO HUERTA, JERRY CARLOS, MICHEL VILLARREAL, ISMAEL DELGADO, GALILEO GONZALEZ AND CARLOS SALCEDO.

SO. DWAYNE, I DON'T KNOW IF YOU WANTED TO.

I SEE YOU BACK THERE. I'D LOVE TO HEAR FROM YOU.

IT'S GOOD TO SEE YOU.

OUR CHAIR OF THE MARTIN LUTHER KING COMMISSION THIS YEAR.

HE'S GOT A BIG WEEK, A BIG MONTH HERE ON THAT.

ALL I CAN SAY IS, LORD HAVE MERCY.

SO THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER CALVERT, FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE A COUPLE COMMENTS.

JUST SKY COMMISSIONER RODRIGUEZ, COMMISSIONER CLAY-FLORES.

YES. FIRST AND FOREMOST, JUST WATCHING THE VIDEO AND YOUR INITIAL COMMENTS BRINGS BACK SOME GREAT MEMORIES.

ONE OF THE BIGGEST PLEASURES I HAD WORKING HERE WAS WORKING WITH LAURA IN DOING THE BIBLIOTHEQUE PIECE, OFF OF THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART.

APPRECIATE YOU BEING IN SUPPORT OF NAMING THAT BIBLIOTHEQUE AFTER DOCTOR WALKER.

WE COULD NOT HAVE DONE IT WITHOUT YOU, SO THANK YOU FOR THAT.

THANK YOU FOR GIVING ME A SECOND TO, DROP OFF A COUPLE OF THINGS FOR YOU, ALL FOR THE M.L.

KING, MARCH, WHICH WILL BE TAKING PLACE THIS COMING MONDAY.

AND YES, I HAVE THE PRIVILEGE OF SERVING AS THE CHAIR OF THE M.L.

KING COMMISSION. SO I HAVE A LITTLE SOMETHING FOR YOU, JUDGE KAI.

YOU, COMMISSIONER CALVERT, COMMISSIONER RODRIGUEZ, COMMISSIONER CLAY-FLORES, COMMISSIONER MOODY AND DAVID SMITH.

SO I'M GOING TO LEAVE THIS WITH YOU AT SOME T SHIRTS AND CREDENTIALS THAT WILL ALLOW YOU ALL TO ATTEND ANYTHING THAT YOU WANT TO.

THE ONE THING I FORGOT WERE THE PARKING PASSES, BUT I'M GOING TO LEAN ON.

THOSE ARE REAL IMPORTANT. THAT'S REAL IMPORTANT.

I'M GOING TO LEAN ON MY GOOD FRIEND MARCUS PRIMM, AND I'M GOING TO GIVE HIM THE MARCUS AND HE WILL GET THEM TO YOU ALL.

BUT, THANK YOU AGAIN.

FOR WHAT EACH OF YOU DO, JUDGE KAI, I KNOW WE WE NEED TO MAKE CONTACT WITH YOU AS WELL.

LEADING UP TO. AND YOU TOO, COMMISSIONER CALVERT.

BUT THANK YOU AGAIN.

THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU DO.

WE LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING EACH OF YOU AND EVERY SINGLE PERSON HERE AT THE MARCH ON MONDAY MORNING.

LET ME JUST SAY THIS, BEFORE YOU GO, DWAYNE, IT'S IMPORTANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE WHO REVEREND DOCTOR THURMAN WALKER WAS AND HIS HISTORY BECAUSE, WHILE IT SEEMS LIKE YESTERDAY HE PASSED.

THROUGH THAT TIME, MANY PEOPLE MAY NOT KNOW WHO HE IS.

AND SO I WANT TO SAY THAT, FIRST OF ALL, HE WAS ONE OF THE BEST PREACHERS IN AMERICA, NOT JUST IN SAN ANTONIO IN AMERICA.

AND HE WAS KNOWN AS ONE OF THE BEST THROW DOWN PREACHERS IN AMERICA, AND WAS AT THAT CALIBER.

SECONDLY, HE WAS THE FOUNDER OF THE COMMUNITY OF CHURCHES FOR SOCIAL ACTION, WHICH LAID A IMPORTANT BRIDGE WITH THE COUNTY WITH RESPECT TO THE RODEO AND SCHOLARSHIPS THAT WERE DRIVEN FOR YOUNG PEOPLE WHO HAD TRADITIONALLY NOT BEEN A PART OF THE RICHES OF THE RODEO.

TO HAVE SOME SCHOLARSHIPS IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE COMMUNITY OF CHURCHES OF SOCIAL ACTION.

IN FACT, REVEREND NELSON, WHO WAS HERE TO GIVE THE INVOCATION, WAS ALSO A LEADER AND STILL IS, LEADER IN THAT ORGANIZATION, WHICH CONTINUES TO DIVERSIFY.

HE IS THE FOUNDER OF A CHARTER SCHOOL.

HE REVEREND WALKER ALSO OVERSAW HOUSING AT ANTIOCH VILLAGE.

REVEREND WALKER OVERSAW THE CONSTRUCTION OF A GYM IN WHICH THE SILVER STARS PLAYED FOR MANY YEARS BEFORE THEY LEFT SAN ANTONIO FOR LAS VEGAS.

AND WE WORKED TOGETHER ON A CAMPAIGN TO DEFEAT THE ALAMO COMMUNITY COLLEGE DISTRICT.

BOND AND SEND IT BACK, GET IT RIGHT.

THAT'S RIGHT. THE THEME THAT HE CREATED, I BELIEVE HE CREATED THAT THEME, WAS VOTED DOWN, SEND IT BACK AND GET IT RIGHT.

AND HE GAVE A POWERFUL SERMON THAT I WAS THERE IN SAINT PAUL UNITED METHODIST CHURCH AS WE RALLIED THE COMMUNITY TOGETHER, WHEN THE ALAMO COLLEGE DISTRICT TOOK OUT RESOURCES FROM SAN ANTONIO COLLEGE, SAINT PHILIP'S COLLEGE, THE INNER CITY, AND AS COMMISSIONER ATKINSON, WHO SAT HERE BEFORE I DID, SAID THEY'RE PUTTING RESOURCES CLOSER TO DOWNTOWN BERNIE THAN THEY ARE TO DOWNTOWN SAN ANTONIO.

AND SO FOR THE FIRST TIME, REVEREND WALKER DEFEATED THE ESTABLISHMENT HERE, AND MADE A COALITION BETWEEN THE NORTH SIDE, IN PLACES LIKE DISTRICT NINE, WHERE I TRAVELED WITH PEOPLE LIKE NETTY HINTON AND MEMBERS OF CCSA TO ENCOURAGE THE NEIGHBORHOODS ON THE NORTH SIDE TO JOIN WITH THOSE OF US ON THE INNER

[00:45:01]

AND THAT LED THE WAY FOR THE WHEATLEY HEIGHTS SPORTS COMPLEX IN THE NEXT BOND ESTABLISHMENT, DECIDED WE BETTER NOT MESS WITH HIM ANYMORE.

LET'S GIVE HIM GIVE HIM SOMETHING.

AND OF COURSE, THE EASTSIDE CHRISTIAN ACTION GROUP, WAS FORMED AND HELPED TO BUILD THE $14 MILLION WHEATLEY HEIGHTS SPORTS COMPLEX, THAT WE SEE TODAY.

SO. I WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE FIGHT OF REVEREND DOCTOR THURMAN WALKER.

THE SPIRIT, THE TEACHING AND THE MINISTRY THAT HE LED.

NOT ALWAYS DOING THINGS THAT WERE EASY, BUT DOING THINGS THAT WERE NEEDED.

SO WE ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THIS HISTORY IS A HISTORY THAT IS OFTEN OVERLOOKED.

THE HISTORY OF BLACKS IN SAN ANTONIO IS MARGINALIZED.

IT IS TRIVIALIZED.

AND I THINK THAT YOU ALL WILL BE AN IMPORTANT, BEACON IN TERMS OF PEOPLE HAVING THEIR HISTORY.

THE CONNECTION FROM THE WEST SIDE TO NEIGHBORHOODS LIKE KENWOOD, WHERE MANY BLACKS AND OF COURSE, WE HAVE, GOSH, I'M FORGETTING WITH REVEREND JUNIOR JONES AND REVEREND DEAVERS AND REVEREND DIKES AND ALL THE GROUP THAT THEY HAVE, THE WEST SIDE MINISTERIAL ALLIANCE.

THERE WE GO. YES, SIR. WHICH ALWAYS HAD A BOND WITH THE EAST SIDE, MINISTERS AS WELL.

AN IMPORTANT PIECE OF CONTRIBUTION FOR OUR WEST SIDE BROTHERS AND SISTERS, TO HAVE THEIR HISTORY.

AND, OF COURSE, GREAT PEOPLE LIKE MAMA D, WHO IS A WORLD CLASS MUSICIAN.

I WILL DONATE TO THE TO THE VIDEO LIBRARY, A COUPLE OF VIDEO HISTORIES THAT I DID ON SPOT BARNETT AS WELL AS CURLY MAYS.

CURLY MAYS WAS A MUSICAL GENIUS WHO HAD HIS OWN TELEVISION SHOW, A BLACK GUITARIST.

HE USED TO PLAY THE GUITAR WITH HIS HAIR, HIS TOES, AND HE HAD HIS OWN TELEVISION SHOW, I BELIEVE, WITH PARAMOUNT.

SO I'LL DONATE THE VIDEOS AND THE VIDEO HISTORIES I DID OF THOSE, GENTLEMEN, AS WELL AS, MIMI READ, THE GOSPEL RECORDING ARTIST.

AND THERE'S ONE MORE I DID, I CAN'T REMEMBER, BUT I'LL.

WE'LL DONATE THOSE TO THE BIBLIOTHEQUE AND, SOME OTHER CONTRIBUTIONS.

SO I JUST WANTED TO PUT THAT ON THE ON THE RECORD AS WE CELEBRATE, THE KING HOLIDAY, AS WE CELEBRATE REVEREND DOCTOR THURMAN WALKER, HE WAS AN IMPORTANT PIECE OF OUR HISTORY.

AND LET'S NOT FORGET HIM.

YEAH, I'LL JUST ADD QUICKLY.

I REMEMBER, I GUESS IT WAS 2007 WHEN THEN SENATOR BARACK OBAMA CAME TO SAN ANTONIO AND THEY WERE OUT AT THE VERIZON AMPHITHEATER. AND PASTOR WALKER DID THE PRAYER.

AND IT'S ON YOUTUBE.

IF YOU'VE NEVER SEEN IT, I WOULD ENCOURAGE YOU ALL TO WATCH THAT.

IT WAS AMAZING. THANK YOU.

COMMISSIONER. COMMISSIONER CLAY-FLORES.

YEAH, I JUST WANT TO THANK BIBLIOTECH FOR ALWAYS STEPPING UP TO PARTNER WITH COMMUNITY PROJECTS.

SO THANK YOU FOR THE WORK THAT YOU'RE.

YOU GUYS ARE DOING.

AND I ALSO WANT TO TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO THANK DUANE FOR SECOND YEAR IN A ROW, FOR BEING THE CHAIR OF THE MLK MARCH AND ENCOURAGE OUR COUNTY EMPLOYEES TO COME OUT.

IT'S A TRADITION THAT WE HAVE HERE, AND I'M EXCITED TO BE ABLE TO PARTICIPATE LIKE WE DO EVERY YEAR.

SO THANK YOU. COMMISSIONER RODRIGUEZ.

ALL RIGHT. LET ME JUST SAY THANK TO ALL OF Y'ALL.

LAURA. THANK YOU. AND MAKING THE INITIATIVE.

THANK YOU FOR THIS PARTICULAR, INITIATIVE YOU BROUGHT TO THE COURT'S ATTENTION.

I WHOLLY SUPPORT IT.

DOCTOR WALKER WAS A FRIEND OF MINE.

HE TOOK ANTIOCH BAPTIST CHURCH TO A WHOLE NEW LEVEL.

AND SO, IT WAS MY HONOR AND PRIVILEGE TO BE WORKING WITH HIM AT THAT PARTICULAR TIME.

OBVIOUSLY HE HAS. HE HAS PASSED AND MUCH TOO SOON.

BUT I'M SURE THE GOOD LORD HAS A HE'S HE'S PROBABLY ADVISING THE GOOD LORD AS TO WHAT HE NEEDS TO DO.

BUT, MISS MITCHELL, GOOD TO SEE YOU.

DID YOU, ARE YOU STILL WORKING IN THE DRUG AND TREATMENT WORLD? WHY DON'T YOU JUST BRING US UP TO DATE AS TO WHAT? WHAT YOU'RE DOING AND WHAT'S GOING ON? JESSICA, IT'S GOOD TO SEE YOU AS WELL.

COMMISSIONER CALVERT AND ALL OF THE COMMISSIONERS, I AM NO LONGER.

I AM RETIRED, BUT I AM A PART OF THE OF THE BOARD, AND IT IS MY PRIVILEGE.

I AM ALSO IN FULL DISCLOSURE.

I AM AN ANTI HACKER.

SO I KNEW PASTOR WALKER AND HIS PASSION.

I HAVE NOT STOPPED WORKING WITH FAMILIES, HOWEVER, AND ONE OF THOSE PRINCESSES ON THAT VIDEO HAPPENS TO BE MY GRANDDAUGHTER.

SO, I JUST THINK THAT IT'S SO IMPORTANT TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERYONE IN THE COMMUNITY IS REPRESENTED.

AND ALSO IN FULL DISCLOSURE.

DISCLOSURE. JUDGE SAKAI HELPED TRAIN ME FOR THE POSITION OF HELPING FAMILIES.

HE WAS ALWAYS OPEN AND WILLING TO HELP, HELP US HELP FAMILIES STAY AWAY FROM DRUGS AND ALCOHOL.

SO IT'S STILL MY PASSION, BUT IT'S MY GREAT PLEASURE TO BE HERE, AND TO WORK ON THIS BOARD AND TO WORK WITH LAURA AND THESE INCREDIBLY

[00:50:04]

THANK YOU. LET'S GIVE EVERYBODY, EVERYONE, A ROUND OF APPLAUSE.

ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU.

OKAY. WE'RE STILL A LITTLE SHORT ON THE TIME, SO LET US MOVE FORWARD.

COMMISSIONER. PERSONAL POINT OF PRIVILEGE.

YES. THIS TIME. YES, COMMISSIONER.

I JUST LIKE TO TAKE A PERSONAL POINT OF PRIVILEGE TO WELCOME BACK ELIZABETH FROM MATERNITY LEAVE.

AND ALSO, PLEASE, BECAUSE SHE HAS A NEW BABY GIRL NOW.

RIGHT. SO YOU ALL CAN DO BETTER THAN THAT.

SHE REALLY KEEPS US IN ORDER.

SO GOOD TO HAVE YOU BACK, ELIZABETH.

ALSO WANT TO TAKE A PERSONAL POINT OF PRIVILEGE TO RECOGNIZE TOM WHO'S LEAVING US, RIGHT? SO, TOM, IS THIS YOUR LAST COMMISSIONER'S COURT WITH US? YEAH. SO I JUST WANTED TO RECOGNIZE YOU.

IN THE PIO OFFICE.

YOU HAVE DONE SOME.

YOU'VE BEEN AT THE HELM FOR MEDIA FOR SOME PRETTY IMPORTANT THINGS, DURING THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS.

SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORK.

I'M SAD TO SEE YOU GO.

BUT I JUST WANTED TO THANK YOU FOR THE WORK THAT YOU'VE DONE AND SEE IF THERE'S ANYTHING YOU WANT TO SAY.

THANK YOU. MA'AM, I APPRECIATED, THIS WAS UNEXPECTED.

I DIDN'T TELL YOU. I KNOW, YEAH.

NO, NO, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

IT CERTAINLY HAS BEEN A PRIVILEGE DURING DURING MY TIME HERE, THERE WERE INDEED SOME, SOME TIMES WHEN THE PUBLIC INFORMATION OFFICE WAS, WAS, WAS ASKED TO STEP UP TO THE PLATE.

I'M GLAD THAT YOU FEEL THAT IT WAS DONE.

WELL, I'M CERTAINLY HAPPY TO HEAR WHEN THE REPRESENTATIVES FROM THE MEDIA WERE, SAID THE SAME THING AND WERE WERE HAPPY.

I WANT TO THANK MONICA RAMOS BECAUSE SHE HAS BEEN A VERY, VERY SUPPORTIVE, SUPERVISOR, DURING MY TIME HERE.

SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

AND THANK YOU, TOM. BLESSINGS TO YOU WHEREVER YOU GO.

HEY, TOM. TOM, THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORK.

IT'S IT'S BEEN GREAT WORKING WITH YOU, BUT I HAVE ONE QUESTION FOR YOU.

FROM PERSONAL EXPERIENCE, WHO VOLUNTARILY CHOOSES TO MOVE TO WESTERN MASSACHUSETTS IN JANUARY? I'M A SUCKER FOR SNOW.

WHAT DO I TELL YOU? THANK YOU, THANK YOU.

ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. TOM.

OKAY. WELL, I THINK WE'RE STILL A LITTLE SHORT AT 10:00.

IS MY CLOCK CORRECT? ALL RIGHT, SO LET'S GO WITH THE REST OF THE AGENDA.

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

YES, I'D LIKE TO PULL NUMBER 5858.

ANYTHING ELSE.

COMMISSIONER. RODRIGUEZ.

COMMISSIONER. CALVERT.

COMMISSIONER MOODY, I SEE YOU ON THE SCREEN.

CAN YOU HEAR US? I CAN HEAR YOU. CAN YOU HEAR ME? YOU'RE. WE CAN'T HEAR YOU.

OH, COMMISSIONER.

IS THAT ANY BETTER? I KNOW, I THINK I JUST SAW IN YOUR CORNER LEFT SCREEN, CLICK THE JOIN AUDIO BUTTON BECAUSE IT DIDN'T CLICK THAT.

I DON'T KNOW IF YOU SEE THAT IF YOU CLICK THE JOIN AUDIO.

I DON'T KNOW WHAT SIDE OF YOUR SCREEN IS, BUT I'M UNMUTED.

STILL CAN'T HEAR YOU, COMMISSIONER.

DO YOU SEE THAT? WELL, I THINK IT'S ON YOUR SIDE, NOT MINE.

THERE YOU GO. CAN YOU GUYS HEAR ME? YEAH, WE CAN HEAR YOU NOW.

ALL RIGHT. ARE THERE ANY MATTERS TO PULL ON THE CONSENT AGENDA, COMMISSIONER MOODY? NONE TO PULL. JUST FOR THE RECORD, I'LL ABSTAIN ON ITEM 60.

60. ALL RIGHT.

ALL RIGHT. PLEASE NOTE THAT COMMISSIONER MOODY WILL BE ABSTAINING ON CONSENT ITEM.

CONSENT AGENDA. ITEM NUMBER 60.

COMMISSIONER CALVERT.

ALL RIGHT. OKAY.

IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA?

[CONSENT AGENDA ITEMS]

MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE CONSENT JUDGE.

MOTION BY MOTION BY COMMISSIONER RODRIGUEZ.

[00:55:02]

ALL RIGHT. I THINK WE'RE NOW RIGHT ON THE 10:00, SO I.

OH, YOU WANT TO GO AHEAD AND TAKE UP THE LET'S GO AHEAD AND TAKE UP WITH THE COURT'S PERMISSION.

[58. Approval of a request from Commissioner Rebeca Clay-Flores to allocate outside agency funding in the total amount of $30,000 for the agencies and amounts listed as part of Precinct l's Contributions to Outside Agencies from the General Fund.]

COMMISSIONER CLAY-FLORES. YES, I WANT TO CALL THE SHERIFF UP AND I THINK HE HAS SOME STUDENTS.

DO YOU HAVE STUDENTS HERE TOO? YES, MA'AM. I HAVE TO POINT OUT THE BROKERAGE LETTERING ABSOLUTELY WEARING THAT TODAY.

SO THESE ARE ACTUALLY ALL BRECKENRIDGE STUDENTS OR FORMER BRECKENRIDGE STUDENTS.

AND I'LL AND I'LL ELABORATE.

SO AS CAN I JUST SPEAK TO IT FIRST, PLEASE.

SO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE.

BROKERAGE EAGLES I ALWAYS SAY THAT WE SOAR HIGH.

SO IF YOU DON'T KNOW, I GRADUATE FROM BRECKENRIDGE HIGH SCHOOL.

SO THIS WAS IMPORTANT TO ME.

FROM MY DISCRETIONARY FUNDS, WE'RE ALLOCATING $30,000 TO THE BEXAR COUNTY SHERIFF'S FOUNDATION.

SO HE HAS AN EXPLORERS PROGRAM THAT I DON'T THINK GETS ENOUGH, PUBLICITY.

SO I WANT TO CALL HIM FORWARD TO TALK ABOUT THAT.

AND IT'S REALLY ABOUT, HELPING THIS GENERATION UNDERSTAND THE BENEFITS AND PRIVILEGES OF THE POSSIBILITIES OF JOINING LAW ENFORCEMENT.

AND, SO THAT'S WHY I WANTED TO SUPPORT IT.

AND THIS FUNDING IS SPECIFICALLY TO GO TOWARDS EXPANDING IN PRECINCT ONE.

I'M GLAD TO KNOW YOU'RE ALREADY IN ROCK RIDGE HIGH SCHOOL.

SO THAT WAS A SELLING POINT.

AND, JUST TO HELP WITH UNIFORMS AND ANYTHING WE CAN DO TO HELP ALLEVIATE THE FINANCIAL BURDEN ON FAMILIES.

SO THANK YOU SO MUCH.

AND WE'RE ALWAYS TALKING ABOUT THE RETENTION RATES AND RECRUITING.

AND SO HOPEFULLY THIS IS SOMETHING THAT CAN HELP THAT WITH TODAY'S GENERATION.

SO THANK YOU SO MUCH EAGLES FOR BEING HERE I'M SUPER EXCITED.

AND WE'LL GET A PICTURE AFTERWARDS. SO SHERIFF GREAT.

THANK YOU SO MUCH. BEFORE WE BEGIN LET ME LET ME INTRODUCE A COUPLE OF FOLKS OR OR ACKNOWLEDGE A COUPLE FOLKS AND LET YOU KNOW THEIR ROLES.

WELL, FIRST OFF, MISS MARIANNE SIMMONS, WHO'S IN THE BACK OVER HERE.

IF YOU CAN WAVE TO US, MISS SIMMONS, SHE IS ACTUALLY THE EXPLORERS COORDINATOR AT BRECKENRIDGE HIGH SCHOOL.

SO SHE'S A CIVILIAN.

SHE'S A TEACHER. BUT AS AN EXTRA DUTY THAT SHE TAKES ON, SHE SHE MENTORS THESE FOLKS, AS EXPLORERS.

ALSO OVER HERE TO MY LEFT, DEPUTY MARK LOPEZ AND DEPUTY AMARI JIMENEZ, BOTH FORMER BRACKENRIDGE, EAGLES, BUT ALSO EXPLORERS. AND THEY CAME TO WORK FOR US HERE AT THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE.

THEY'RE BRAND NEW DEPUTIES, A GROUP OF OF.

SO YOU'RE SAYING THE PROGRAM WORKS? ABSOLUTELY. IT WORKS.

BUT THEY WERE A PART OF A GROUP OF A CLASS THAT JUST GRADUATED A FEW MONTHS AGO, THAT THEY WERE ALL GRADUATING SENIORS.

AND THEY ALL THEY ALL CAME IN NOT ALL FROM BRECKENRIDGE, OF COURSE, BUT THESE TWO DEFINITELY WERE.

AND THEN, OF COURSE, THE, THE YOUNG LADIES AND THEN A YOUNG MAN THAT ARE HERE, ALL CURRENT BRECKENRIDGE EAGLE EXPLORERS, BUT ALSO ALL COMMITTED TO COME WORK AT THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE AS SOON AS THEY GRADUATE.

THIS YEAR, THEY'RE ALL HIGH SCHOOL SENIORS.

AND SO, YES, ABSOLUTELY, THE PROGRAM WORKS AND IT WILL CONTINUE TO WORK.

BUT LET ME JUST TELL YOU WHAT IT IS THAT THE THAT THE EXPLORERS DO, EXPLORERS IS A PARTNERSHIP WITH THE BOY SCOUTS OF AMERICA.

IT'S A NATIONAL PROGRAM.

BUT HERE AT THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE, WE OPT IN AND WE WORK WITH THE WITH THE BOY SCOUTS OF AMERICA.

YOU KNOW, THESE KIDS LEARN, LEADERSHIP PRINCIPLES, PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY, FOR EXAMPLE, THEY HAVE TO MAINTAIN A GOOD GRADE TO, TO ENABLE THEM TO, TO CONTINUE TO PARTICIPATE. WE TEACH THEM ABOUT THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE, THE CULTURE OF THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE, THE HISTORY, BUT ALSO WHAT'S EXPECTED OF A 21ST CENTURY LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER.

AND EVEN THEN, WE DON'T SCARE THEM OFF.

WE WE WE WELCOME THEM IN TO COME INTO THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE.

SO OVERALL, WE HAVE 140 EXPLORERS IN THE PROGRAM COUNTYWIDE.

WE ARE AT 15 SCHOOLS IN RSD, ALL OF THEIR SCHOOLS, HISD, NISD, JUDSON ISD, SOUTHWEST ISD, SOUTH SAN ISD, EAST CENTRAL ISD, ALL HAVE CHAPTERS THAT THE BEXAR COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE WORKS WITH.

WE TRAIN THEM WEEKLY, IN ADDITION TO WHATEVER THEY DO IN CLASS.

WE HAVE SPECIALIZED UNITS WITHIN THE EXPLORERS PROGRAM.

WE HAVE THE WRANGLERS THAT WORK EXCLUSIVELY WITH OUR MOUNTED PATROL WHEN WE'RE OUT, YOU KNOW, WORKING AN EVENT.

THEY'RE OUT WITH US IN SUPPORT OF THAT MISSION.

WE HAVE AN HONOR GUARD COMPRISED EXCLUSIVELY OF OF EXPLORERS.

WE HAVE A BIKE PATROL, AND VERY SOON WE'RE IN THE PROCESS.

AND, COMMISSIONER, YOUR DONATION WILL WILL MOST LIKELY HELP PUSH US OVER THE EDGE.

TO THAT, WE'RE ESTABLISHING A WOMAN, A WOMEN'S YOUNG WOMEN'S LEADERSHIP, CHAPTER, AS WELL AS A ROBOTICS AND DRONE CHAPTER.

THE BOY EXPLORERS HAVE HOSTED TWO ANNUAL COMPETITIONS WHERE STUDENTS FROM OUR AREA THROUGHOUT THE REGION COME TO COMPETE AND SHOW OFF THEIR SKILLS IN AREAS LIKE PHYSICAL FITNESS, TACTICS AND OTHER AREAS.

[01:00:02]

THEY'RE INVOLVED IN COMMUNITY SERVICE EVENTS, PARADES.

THIS WEEK'S NEXT THIS NEXT WEEK'S, MLK MARCH.

THEY'LL BE OUT THERE AND THE, THE, SAN ANTONIO STOCK SHOW AND RODEO.

THEY'RE ALWAYS OUT THERE WITH US AS WELL.

THEY ALWAYS GET AN INSIDE LOOK OF THE BCSO AND OUR CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM, WHERE WE PREPARE THEM FOR A CAREER AND ENCOURAGE CONTINUED EDUCATION.

NOW, AS PART OF OUR PROGRAM, WHEN WE'RE ASKING KIDS, FAMILIES TO ENTRUST US WITH THEIR KIDS INTO OUR INTO OUR SYSTEM, WE PRIDE OURSELVES ON THE FACT THAT IT COMES AT NO COST TO THE STUDENT.

WHEREAS OTHER AGENCIES THAT HAVE EXPLORER PROGRAMS, THE THE STUDENTS AND THEIR FAMILIES SHOULDER THE COST OF THE EQUIPMENT AND TRAINING.

WE DO OURS AT ZERO COST THROUGH THE FOUNDATION THAT ALLOWS US TO DO THAT.

THE DUES ARE PAYABLE TO THE BOY SCOUTS OF AMERICA AND ARE COVERED FOR EACH STUDENT.

SO OUT OF THOSE 140 KIDS, THAT'S ABOUT 50 TO $60 PER STUDENT THAT WE PAY OUT EVERY YEAR TO THE BOY SCOUTS OF AMERICA AS THEIR TUITION.

IN ADDITION, WE COVER THE COST OF ALL COMPETITION FEES, UNIFORMS, EQUIPMENT, MEALS, TRANSPORTATION TO TO THE EVENTS AS WELL.

SO, COMMISSIONER, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THIS DONATION.

I WANT YOU TO KNOW HOW THAT MONEY IS GOING TO BE SPENT.

WELL, THANK YOU AND THANKS SO MUCH FOR GETTING ALL THESE EAGLES OUT OF CLASS.

SO GET THEM BACK SO THAT THEY CAN KEEP UP WITH THEIR GRADES.

I'M JUST GONNA COME DOWN FOR A PICTURE.

ABSOLUTELY. CAN WE TAKE A PIC? THANK YOU. CONTROL.

MOVE TO APPROVE THE FUNDING.

I WANT TO GET IT OVER THERE.

I'M GOING TO GET OVER THERE. ALL RIGHT.

THERE'S A MOTION BY COMMISSIONER CLAY FOR A SECOND BY COMMISSIONER RODRIGUEZ.

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

AYE. ANY OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES.

CONGRATULATIONS. I SEEM THAT WE'RE GOING TO DO.

OH, SHE'S GOING ALL RIGHT.

THIS.

THANK YOU. ABSOLUTELY.

AND JUDGE.

OKAY. THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER CLAY-FLORES AND, GO, EAGLES.

ALL RIGHT. YOU'RE WELCOME.

LET US NOW GO TO TIME CERTAIN ITEMS.

[5a. 10:00 a.m. -Approval of Bexar County's Federal Fiscal Year 2024/25 Community Project Funding requests. (Estimated Presentation Time: 10 minutes)]

TIME CERTAIN APPROVAL OF BEXAR COUNTY FEDERAL FISCAL YEAR 2024 2025.

COMMUNITY PROJECT FUNDING REQUEST, MISS SHANNON.

YES, SIR. SO TODAY WE HAVE THREE ITEMS ON YOUR AGENDA.

ITEM A, R IS THE COMMUNITY PROJECT FUNDING REQUEST.

AS YOU MENTIONED, THOMAS HAS HANDED OUT A DOCUMENT TO YOU, OR WE'LL HAND OUT A DOCUMENT TO YOU.

THIS IS THE SAME DOCKET DOCUMENT YOU'VE SEEN TO DATE.

BUT THESE SIX ITEMS ARE THE SIX PROJECTS THAT WE WILL PROVIDE TO, OUR DC REPRESENTATIVES, TO SHOP, FOR LACK OF A BETTER TERM, TO SHOP WITH THEM, THEIR OFFICES TO SEE WHICH OF THESE SIX THEY WOULD BE AMENABLE TO, PROVIDING CPF FUNDING TO THE COUNTY.

SO, AS I MENTIONED, THIS IS THE SAME DOCUMENT THAT YOU'VE SEEN TO DATE.

NO CHANGES, SINCE OUR 1114 WORK SESSION.

SO IF IF THIS IS FINE, THAT'S I HAVE NOTHING FURTHER TO MENTION ON THAT ONE.

ANY QUESTIONS? COMMISSIONER CLAY-FLORES? NO, I DON'T HAVE QUESTIONS.

WE'VE GONE OVER THIS, BEFORE HERE AT COMMISSIONERS COURT.

WE'VE, HAVE ALSO MET WITH YOUR TEAM.

SO JUST THANK YOU FOR THE WORK WE'RE DOING.

LET US KNOW IF MY OFFICE CAN DO ANYTHING TO HELP PUSH.

PUSH THIS FORWARD, MR. RODRIGUEZ. YEAH.

SAME JUDGE MELISSA. THANK YOU FOR FOR DOING THIS.

I GUESS A QUICK QUESTION.

THESE ITEMS, I WOULD GUESS SOME OF THEM MAY ALSO BE GRANT ELIGIBLE.

YES, SIR. IS THAT SOMETHING THAT YOUR YOUR TEAM IS EXPLORING AS WELL? YES, SIR. SO WITH THIS AND ALONG WITH OUR PROGRAM THEN THESE ARE SO THE PROGRAM WHICH WE'LL GET INTO NEXT IS BASICALLY OUR OVERARCHING STRATEGY THAT TELLS THE CONSULTANTS AND MY OFFICE WHAT, OPPORTUNITIES THAT WE CAN LOOK FOR AS FAR AS GRANTS OR, APPROPRIATIONS, REQUEST LAW CHANGES, ETC..

SO YES, THESE ITEMS, FOR INSTANCE, IF WE DON'T GET, YOU KNOW, A CERTAIN ONE PICKED UP, WE STILL KNOW THAT THAT IS A NEED FOR THE

[01:05:05]

YES, SIR. GREAT.

COMMISSIONER. I'M SORRY.

GO AHEAD. OKAY. GO AHEAD.

I WAS GOING TO MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE IT, BUT CAN I JUST ASK YOU A QUESTION? A MOTION BY COMMISSIONER RODRIGUEZ? IS THERE A SECOND, SECOND, SECOND BY COMMISSIONER CLAY-FLORES? MR. CALVERT, IS THE ADVANCED MANUFACTURING TRAINING FACILITY THE ONE AT BROOKS? NO, SIR.

IT IS, TO SPREAD THIS OUT INTO PRECINCTS THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY.

WERE WE NOT CLEAR THAT THE STAFF DOESN'T HAVE AUTHORIZATION? THE COURT HAS NOT VOTED ON SPREADING OUT ANY KIND OF FACILITIES AND THE REST OF THE COUNTY.

WELL, I DON'T KNOW HOW WE DO THAT.

IF WE HAVEN'T ANALYZED IT, WE DON'T HAVE A WAITING LIST FOR IT.

THIS. SO THIS IS WHAT I'M ASKING YOU ALL TO DO TODAY IS SUPPORT THIS FULL LIST.

OR WE CAN KNOCK SOME I MEAN IT'S IT'S THE IT'S THE COURT'S.

LET ME GO BACK TO THE HISTORY THAT I JUST TALKED ABOUT WITH REVEREND WALKER.

ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE SAID WHEN WE DEFEATED THE ESTABLISHMENT WITH THE HELP OF CONSERVATIVES IN THE NORTH SIDE, WAS THAT THE FISCALLY RESPONSIBLE THING FOR GOVERNMENT TO DO IS TO WATER THE ROOTS THAT YOU ALREADY HAVE INVESTMENT IN.

LET ME BE CRYSTAL CLEAR.

THE COUNTY HAS INVESTED $2.6 MILLION IN THE BROOKS ADVANCED MANUFACTURING TRAINING CENTER.

IT WOULD BE A WASTE OF TAXPAYER MONEY OF EPIC PROPORTIONS NOT TO FINISH THE PROJECT.

FIRST PART OF WHAT WE'RE STARTING TO UNFURL IN THIS ONION ABOUT WHY THERE WHY? WHY IS IT THAT SO MANY PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN THROUGH THE FAME PROGRAM TO DATE HAVE BEEN FROM NOT EVEN BEXAR COUNTY? THEY ARE NOT NECESSARILY BEXAR COUNTY RESIDENTS IS BECAUSE WE NEED TO DEVELOP AND IMPROVE THE PROGRAMS STIPEND, BECAUSE MOST PEOPLE IN SAN ANTONIO, BEXAR COUNTY CANNOT AFFORD TO TAKE OFF AND GO INTO A TRAINING WHERE THEIR RENT ISN'T MET, THEIR BASIC NEEDS ARE NOT MET.

I SUBMIT TO THE COURT THAT THERE IS NOT ENOUGH INFORMATION, PLANNING OR AUTHORIZATION TO BYPASS AND GO TO CONGRESS WITH A HALF BAKED POTATO.

SO, I APPRECIATE THE FACT THAT, WE WE WE CAN, YOU KNOW, DEAL WITH THIS AT ANOTHER TIME, BUT I, I STRONGLY BELIEVE IT IS PREMATURE AND A SLAP IN THE FACE OF THE TAXPAYERS TO WASTE $2.6 MILLION ON LAND ACQUISITION, ARCHITECTURE, ENGINEERING, LEGAL FEES, ETC., AND BEGIN A PROGRAM WHERE WE HAVE GAPS ALREADY IN ENROLLMENT IN JOB TRAINING PROGRAMS. AND THERE IS NO WAITING LIST ANYWAY.

COMMISSIONER CARVER, ANYTHING ELSE? LET ME GO TO COMMISSIONER MOODY.

YES. I HAD A FEW QUESTIONS.

YOU KNOW, AS IT RELATES TO PRESENTING THESE ITEMS, ARE WE GOING TO PRIORITIZE THEM IN ANY WAY, OR ARE THEY GOING TO STAY AS OPEN? NO, SIR, THERE WON'T BE A PRIORITIZATION.

WE WILL SUBMIT THE FULL LIST THAT COURT APPROVED TODAY, TO OUR CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION.

AND LIKE I MENTIONED PREVIOUSLY, FOR LACK OF A BETTER TERM, SHOP IT.

SO WE'RE SHOPPING THIS LIST OF THESE ITEMS AND SEEING WHAT WHAT THEY'LL PICK UP IF THEY IF THEIR OFFICE HAS INTEREST IN SUPPORTING ANY OF THESE ITEMS. IF WE COME IF, IF WE IF THEY COME BACK AND SAY, YOU KNOW, ONE OFFICE WANTS TO PICK UP SIX ALL THE SIX, WHICH IS HIGHLY UNLIKELY, WE MAY NEED TO COME BACK AND ASK Y'ALL, YOU KNOW, WHICH WHICH DO YOU PREFER OVER THE OTHER? BUT I SERIOUSLY DOUBT THAT WILL HAPPEN.

WE'LL BE LUCKY IF WE COULD GET TWO OF THESE FILED, AND THAT'S HIGHLY UNLIKELY.

I THINK WE MAY GET ONE OF THIS LIST.

SO, IF WE GET TO THAT, WE WILL COME BACK.

OKAY. UNDERSTAND? THE LAW ENFORCEMENT TRAINING ACADEMY IS.

HOW DOES THAT, COMPARE TO A, REGIONAL TRAINING ACADEMY? SO FROM WHAT I UNDERSTAND FROM MR. CURRY IS WE WANT WE WANT TO, SEE IF THERE IS EVEN THE POSSIBILITY TO SET UP A TRAINING ACADEMY FOR THE SHERIFF'S

[01:10:07]

YOU KNOW, I GUESS, GETTING A FIRM ON, ON UNDER CONTRACT TO RUN THE FEASIBILITY OF EVEN DOING THAT.

SO IT WOULD BE THE FIRST STEP TO SEE IF THAT PROJECT IS EVEN FEASIBLE FOR THE COUNTY TO UNDERTAKE BUILDING OUR OWN FACILITY, SETTING ALL OF THAT UP, AND THEN HAVING A REGIONAL FACILITY THAT THOSE COUNTIES IN SOUTH TEXAS, FURTHER SOUTH, DON'T HAVE A TRAINING FACILITY, AS YOU KNOW, FOR THEIR OWN, COUNTY CAN SEND DEPUTIES OR OFFICERS UP FOR THE TRAINING.

I AM NOT FAMILIAR ENOUGH WITH WHAT THEY DO AT, ACOG, I BELIEVE THAT THE ACOG MAY JUST BE BASIC LAW ENFORCEMENT, BUT I AM NOT FAMILIAR ENOUGH WITH THAT.

I DON'T THINK THEY HAVE A FULL BLOWN TRAINING ACADEMY, BUT I CAN'T SPEAK TO THAT.

ACOG DOES HAVE A FULL BLOWN PEACE OFFICER TRAINING ACADEMY.

I'VE HAVE, TOURED IT BEFORE.

OKAY. SO THAT'S MY ONLY QUESTION.

THERE IS MAKING SURE THAT WE, WE CIRCLE BACK WITH, ACOG AND MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE, YOU KNOW, FILLING AN, NEEDED GAP RATHER THAN, JUST DUPLICATING, WHAT THEY COULD PROVIDE BECAUSE WE COULD ACTUALLY USE THAT FUNDING TO REINFORCE ACOG AND MAKE, YOU KNOW, THEIR TRAINING ACADEMY, EXPAND, THEIR CAPACITY OR SOMETHING ELSE.

SO THAT WOULD BE MY ONLY COMMENT ON THAT ITEM SPECIFICALLY.

DOES THAT MAKE SENSE? YES, SIR.

AND DEFINITELY IF ACOG WANTED TO, UNDERTAKE THE EFFORT TO SEEK THE FUNDING, WE I THINK WE COULD SUPPORT THAT IF THAT, YOU KNOW, IF THAT'S WHAT THE COURT DIRECTS.

YES, SIR. OKAY.

AND THEN, JUST A COUPLE OTHER COMMENTS HERE.

SO THE TWO ITEMS, I THINK AS IT WAS, MENTIONED ON THE THE DOCUMENT, YOU HAVE THREE OF FOUR FOR FACILITIES MANAGEMENT IS, THE INVESTMENT IN, IN, SOLAR ENERGY, I BELIEVE ON SOME, SOME BUILDINGS THE COUNTY OWNS.

YOU KNOW, THERE'S JUST A, THERE'S, THERE'S A QUESTION AGAIN AROUND PRIORITIZATION.

I'M GLAD THAT IT'S THREE OF FOUR BECAUSE I THINK IT SHOULD BE A LITTLE FURTHER DOWN THE LIST.

I DON'T THINK THAT IT'S GOING TO HAVE THE SAME ROI THAT SOME OF THESE OTHER, INVESTMENTS WOULD HAVE.

BUT BIGGER ISSUE, FOR ME IS THE, THE FOUR OF FOUR, WHICH IS.

THE LAST PRIORITY.

AND I WOULD, I WOULD KEEP IT.

THERE IS THE INVESTMENT IN THE EV CHARGING STATIONS.

YOU KNOW, JUST COMING FROM MY BACKGROUND, MY EXPERIENCE, I THINK THAT, YOU KNOW, EVS STILL HAVE A LOT OF CHALLENGES.

AND I HAVE, SERIOUS CONCERNS ABOUT, YOU KNOW, THE INVESTMENT OF TENS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS LOCALLY, HUNDREDS OF BILLIONS OF DOLLARS AROUND THE COUNTRY IN EV INFRASTRUCTURE, BEFORE THE CONCEPT IS PROVEN OUT AND IT'S NOT PROVEN OUT TODAY.

SO, I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE AN AMENDMENT, OFFER AN AMENDMENT.

TO REMOVE THE EV CHARGING STATIONS FROM OUR LIST SO WE CAN CONSOLIDATE ON THE OTHER FIVE PRIORITIES GOING FORWARD.

ALL RIGHT. THERE'S A REQUEST FOR AN AMENDMENT.

I BELIEVE COMMISSIONER RODRIGUEZ, YOU MADE THE MOTION TO APPROVE.

THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT. DO YOU ACCEPT THAT AMENDMENT OR NOT? NO. AMENDMENTS DENIED.

LET'S MOVE ON. WHAT ELSE, COMMISSIONER MOODY? THAT'S ALL IN TERMS OF MY COMMENTS, JUDGE, I DO HAVE A POINT OF INQUIRY.

JUDGE. GO AHEAD, COMMISSIONER CALVERT.

MELISSA, I'M LOOKING AT THE BACKGROUND.

THE BACKGROUND IS THREE PAGES ON PROJECTS, BUT THIS FORM THAT WE HAVE BEFORE US IS ONLY ONE PAGE.

ARE WE SUBMITTING ONE PAGE OR THREE? NO, JUST THOSE SIX ITEMS. THOSE ARE THE ONLY ONES WE'RE RECOMMENDING.

THERE WERE SEVERAL OTHER ITEMS. SO SO WHY WHY DID WE PUT THE REST OF THEM IN THE BACKGROUND? I NEVER GOT INFORMATION ON THE SIX OTHERS THAT YOU SEE ON PAGE TWO OF THAT DOCUMENT THAT YOU'VE SEEN PREVIOUSLY.

I'M JUST SAYING, BUT DIDN'T THE PUBLIC GET THAT INFORMATION? THE PUBLIC GOT IT IN BACKGROUND.

IT'S IN THE BACKGROUND ON POSTED ON OUR AGENDA.

YES, BUT THOSE ARE PENDING PROJECTS THAT NEVER DID MAKE.

OKAY. THERE'S THERE'S A FORM THAT WE REQUESTED ALL OFFICES AND DEPARTMENTS TO FILL OUT, AND WE NEVER DID RECEIVE IT ON THOSE SIX ITEMS. OKAY. ALL RIGHT. WELL, IN ANY EVENT, I THINK THAT, FROM, FROM, YOU KNOW, I MEAN, THESE THESE THESE PROJECTS ARE OKAY.

BUT I WOULD TELL THE COURT, IT'S A MATTER OF COMMON SENSE WHAT THE PUBLIC'S PRIORITIES ARE.

PEOPLE ARE HAVING A HARD TIME MAKING ENDS MEET.

[01:15:02]

THEY'RE HAVING A HARD TIME WITH FOOD COSTS, EDUCATIONAL COSTS, THINGS OF THAT NATURE.

AND IT'S REALLY NOT REPRESENTED.

SO WE CAN AMEND THIS LATER.

BUT WE I THINK FROM A IT'S A TWO WAY STREET.

YOU HAVE TO REMEMBER THESE CONGRESS PEOPLE ARE LOBBIED BY COMMISSIONERS, COURTS ALL ACROSS THE NATION.

AND, WHAT ARE THE PRIORITIES AND COMMITTEES OF THOSE CONGRESS PEOPLE? YOU KNOW, WITH THE EXCEPTION OF THE THE SOLAR, THESE THINGS ARE NOT NECESSARILY THINGS THAT, OTHER COUNTIES ARE, YOU KNOW, GOING WITH THE BIG TICKET ITEMS. AND SO I THINK, YOU KNOW, WE JUST NEED TO BE A BIT MORE RESPONSIVE AND AMEND IT LATER.

BUT, I MEAN, I CAN APPROVE ALL OF IT.

BUT TRADITIONALLY, IF THE COURT VOTES, ONE VOTE AGAINST THE THE PARTICULAR ITEM, IF IT'S NOT UNANIMOUS, AREN'T WE IN A QUAGMIRE THERE? WE DON'T HAVE A POLICY.

THAT WAS ALWAYS MY PERSONAL POLICY ON THE LEGISLATIVE PROGRAMS THAT I WANTED TO PRESENT A PROGRAM TO OUR STATE AND FEDERAL DELEGATIONS THAT I COULD SAY THE FULL COMMISSIONER'S COURT WAS BEHIND.

YEAH, BUT YOU CANNOT SAY THAT YOU'RE BEHIND THIS MANUFACTURING TRAINING FACILITY BECAUSE IT'S NEVER BEEN PUT TO THE COURT.

THAT'S WHAT WE'RE DOING TODAY, IS ASKING TO APPROVE THIS LIST, WHATEVER THIS LIST.

WELL, I WILL JUST MAKE IT REAL CLEAR.

I WILL BE LOBBYING AGAINST THAT.

I UNDERSTAND, SIR, AND OUR CONGRESS DELEGATION WILL HEAR FROM ME ABOUT THAT.

ALL RIGHT, COMMISSIONER RODRIGUEZ? YEAH. JUDGE, I WANTED TO CLARIFY, THAT ITEM BECAUSE I MAYBE I MISUNDERSTOOD MY UNDERSTANDING WAS THAT WAS A REQUEST FOR PROJECT FUNDING INTO A STRATEGY, AND THE STRATEGY BEING UPSKILLING OR HELPING FOLKS IN OUR COMMUNITY, WITH.

THOSE SCARCE SKILLS THAT ARE NEEDED IN BEXAR COUNTY.

I DID NOT UNDERSTAND IT TO BE A SPECIFIC INVESTMENT IN A SITE.

AND SO WE'RE ASKING FOR FEDERAL DOLLARS TO HELP LEVERAGE WHAT WE'RE DOING LOCALLY WHEN IT COMES TO INVESTING IN PEOPLE WHO NEED UPSKILLS, WHO NEED JOBS.

AND SO, THAT WAS MY UNDERSTANDING OF IT.

AND I KNOW, MELISSA, MAYBE YOU MISSPOKE AND SAID IT WAS REGARDING THOSE SPECIFIC SATELLITE, CENTERS.

I MEAN, I THINK ULTIMATELY WHEN WE GO ASK FOR DOLLARS FOR MANUFACTURING, TRAINING FACILITY, I THINK IT'S UP TO THE INDIVIDUAL CONGRESSPERSON TO SAY, I WANT TO PUT THAT IN, FOR EXAMPLE, WHAT COMMISSIONER CALVERT IS ADVOCATING AND WE'RE ALL ADVOCATING FOR IS FINISHING THAT BROOKE SITE. SO I JUST WANTED TO CLARIFY THAT BECAUSE I THINK, AGAIN, WE'RE HAVING THAT DISCUSSION TODAY, I THINK IT WOULD BE A MISTAKE TO AMEND THAT, TO TAKE IT OFF, BECAUSE IT IS, AGAIN, GOING TO, THE VERY HEART OF WHAT WE'RE HERE FOR.

AND THAT IS TRYING TO HELP, LIFT PEOPLE UP, GIVE THEM OPPORTUNITY, ECONOMIC, ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY.

AND SO, WHETHER WE WANT TO DISCUSS THAT TODAY OR WHEN WE GO TALK TO OUR CONGRESS PEOPLE, I'M OKAY WITH SAYING, LOOK, LET'S LEVERAGE THE LOCAL DOLLARS AND GET SOME FEDERAL DOLLARS INTO THAT BROOKS FACILITY SO WE CAN FINISH IT.

BUT BUT I JUST WANTED TO CLARIFY THAT BECAUSE WE'RE ASKING FOR, CPF DOLLARS FOR A STRATEGY ON UPSKILLING, INVESTING IN PEOPLE. AND SO THAT'S WHAT I WANTED TO CLARIFY FOR THE COURT, IS THAT, THAT WAS MY UNDERSTANDING OF THE ASK.

IT WASN'T FOR, YOU KNOW, FINISHING OUT A FACILITY IN PRECINCT 1 OR 2.

IT WAS ABOUT GETTING THOSE DOLLARS, AND THEN LET'S GO, I THINK IS IT CONGRESSMAN CUELLAR THAT REPRESENTS BROOKS? COMMISSIONER CALVERT, I DON'T KNOW, AFTER REDISTRICTING, MAYBE, OUR FEDERAL TEAMS NODDING.

YES. SO, YOU KNOW, MAYBE IT IS WE GO TO, CONGRESSMAN CUELLAR AND SAY, LOOK, WE NEED THESE DOLLARS, VERY FOCUSED DOLLARS TO FINISH OUT BROOKS.

THEN THAT'S WHAT WE DO.

SO SO I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE'RE ALL ON THE SAME PAGE THAT WE'RE NOT, YOU KNOW, WE DON'T HAVE INDIVIDUAL, COMMISSIONERS.

WE WE CAN DO WHAT WE WANT, BUT BUT I THINK THIS PARTICULAR ITEM IS ABOUT INVESTING IN JOBS, INVESTING IN PEOPLE.

SO I JUST WANTED TO CLARIFY THAT, MELISSA, AND I KNOW YOU'RE NODDING.

YES, BUT IS THAT CORRECT? CORRECT. AND KEEP IN MIND, TOO, THAT ONCE THOSE FEDERAL DOLLARS COME DOWN, THEN WE STILL HAVE TO COME BACK TO COMMISSIONERS COURT TO APPROPRIATE THOSE DOLLARS OUT

[01:20:02]

SO WE STILL HAVE TO ENTER INTO AN AGREEMENT IF WITH IF, IF WE DO SOMETHING AT BROOKS OR WHEREVER THAT MONEY GOES, THERE HAS TO BE SOME SORT OF A DOCUMENT THAT YOU ALL APPROVE, THAT WHATEVER THAT ENTAILS, THAT MONEY DOESN'T JUST AUTOMATICALLY COME TO US AND THEN WE CAN JUST WRITE CHECKS. YES. SO I THINK IT'S APPROPRIATE THAT WE APPROVE THIS.

AND WHEN WE GET TO THAT POINT AND WE'RE LASER FOCUSED ON WHERE THOSE DOLLARS ARE GOING TO COME AGAIN, WE'RE WE'RE, YOU KNOW, JUST MAKING SOME ASSUMPTIONS HERE.

IT'D BE NICE TO HAVE THAT PROBLEM THAT WE GET THE MONEY, BUT THERE'S A CHANCE THAT WE DON'T.

I JUST THINK IT'S IMPORTANT WHEN WE LOOK AT A BROAD LEGISLATIVE AGENDA.

AND THESE ARE, YOU KNOW, SOMEWHAT, YOU KNOW, BROAD PROGRAMS THAT WE'RE WE'RE REALLY GIVING KIND OF SOME GUIDEPOSTS FOR WHAT WE VALUE.

AND THAT'S INVESTING IN OUR COMMUNITY, INVESTING IN JOBS, INVESTING IN PEOPLE.

SO THAT'S WHY I'M SUPPORTING THIS JUDGE.

HOLD ON. COMMISSIONER, COMMISSIONER CLAY-FLORES ANYTHING FURTHER? NO, I ALREADY SECOND IT.

SO I'M GOOD. OKAY.

COMMISSIONER CALVERT. JUDGE, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

AND I, IN THE INTEREST OF CIVILITY, WHICH I BELIEVE HIGHLY IN, BUT ALSO IN THE INTEREST OF TRUTH, I WANT TO THANK COMMISSIONER RODRIGUEZ FOR HIS COMMENTS.

I APPRECIATE THAT CLARITY.

SO I WILL WORK WITH OUR LEGISLATIVE TEAM TO GET OUR STRATEGY FUNDED, WHICH IS THE BROOKS STRATEGY.

NOW, I DO WANT TO SAY, FOR THE FOR THE RECORD, THERE IS A HUGE DISCREPANCY BETWEEN WHAT THE COMMISSIONERS ARE SAYING AND WHAT THE STAFF IS SAYING.

AND I READ IN THE SAN ANTONIO REPORT, THE COMMENTS THAT YOU MADE, COMMISSIONER, RELATED TO BROOKS ON THE WHOLE SCANDAL THAT ERUPTED, WHICH SAID THAT IT WASN'T OUR INTENT NOT TO FINISH BROOKS, BUT THE VIDEO OF DAVID MARQUEZ.

HE SAID, I DON'T HAVE THE BANDWIDTH TO DO IT, AND I'M NOT WORKING ON THE OTHER BROOKS.

COMMISSIONER CALVERT, I'M GOING TO INTERJECT.

THAT IS NOT ON THIS ACTION ITEM.

WE ARE NOW GOING ON AN ACTION ITEM THAT WAS.

PREVIOUSLY DISCUSSED, I THOUGHT, THOROUGHLY DISCUSSED AND HAS BEEN AND HAS BEEN OPENED UP BY THE MEDIA AND AND YOU'RE QUOTING LET ME FOLLOW THAT LINE OF LOGIC.

SO I'M ASKING YOU TO STAY ON THE ACTION ITEM FOR PURPOSES OF OPEN MEETING.

SO THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT I'M DOING.

SO FOLLOWING YOUR LINE OF LOGIC, JUDGE, YOU JUST SAID WE'RE NOT TALKING ABOUT BROOKS.

NO, I SAID WE'RE NOT GOING TO GO TALKING ABOUT MATTERS THAT ARE NOT PERTINENT TO THIS AGENDA ITEM.

WELL, WHAT IS GERMANE TO THIS IS THE STAFF BEING CONFUSED OVER WHAT THE COURT ORDER IS.

THE ISSUE IS WHERE YOU'RE GOING TO SUPPORT THIS MOTION OR NOT.

I THINK IT'S UNFAIR TO STAFF AND UNFAIR, AND FOR YOU TO BRING UP ANOTHER MATTER THAT I BELIEVE PERHAPS VIOLATES OPEN MEETINGS WITH WITH ALL DUE RESPECT, I UNDERSTAND, BUT I'M JUST I'M TRYING TO PROTECT THE INTEGRITY OF THIS COURT.

YEAH. AND SO I'M ASKING TO LIMIT YOUR COMMENTS TO THIS DOCUMENT.

YOU CAN VOTE IT DOWN.

AND I RESPECT THAT. IN FACT, I GET WHAT YOU GET THAT YOU DON'T SUPPORT THIS ISSUE.

BUT LET'S NOT DENIGRATE THE WHOLE PROCESS BECAUSE THIS PROCESS AND I WANT TO I'LL CLOSE WITH WHAT I THINK, WHY WE'RE HERE TODAY, AND PERHAPS SOME OF THE CONFUSION THAT'S BEEN CAUSED WITH THIS ISSUE.

SO IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE YOU'D LIKE TO SAY? PERTINENT. RECLAIMING MY TIME.

I BELIEVE THAT THE VOTERS OF PRECINCT FOUR ELECT ME TO REPRESENT THEIR INTERESTS.

AND I BELIEVE THAT IS PERTINENT TO THE CONVERSATION.

AND WHEN THERE IS NO THIS IS NOT MEANT TO BESMIRCH.

THIS IS MEANT TO CLARIFY BECAUSE WE HAD SOMETHING SPOKEN INTO THE VIDEO RECORD OF THE COURT THAT WAS CONTRADICTORY TO COMMISSIONER RODRIGUEZ'S STATEMENT.

I JUST WANTED IT TO BE CLEAR FOR THE RECORD, SO THAT WE AREN'T UNDER MISUNDERSTANDING EACH OTHER GOING FORWARD.

SO OUR LOBBYING TEAM HAS ASKED ME TO HELP WITH GETTING THE BROOKS, FUNDED WITH CONGRESSMAN CUELLAR.

ONE OF THE ISSUES THAT CONGRESSMAN CUELLAR HAD WAS THAT IT DID NOT WORK WITH THE UNIONS.

WE WILL HAVE TO SIT DOWN WITH THE FEDERATION OF ADVANCED MANUFACTURING, THE UNIONS AND THE CONGRESSMAN'S OFFICE TO TRY TO MAKE SOMETHING HAPPEN.

I KNOW THE PLUMBING AND PIPE FITTERS HAVE A GREAT PROGRAM ON MANUFACTURING.

CAN IT MAYBE IT'S ALREADY INCORPORATED.

I REALLY DON'T KNOW.

I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE CONGRESSMAN HAD IN MIND, BUT I WILL BE HAPPY TO SET UP A ZOOM OR WHATEVER SO WE CAN TALK IT THROUGH OR VISIT.

SO IN THAT REGARD, I FEEL GOOD ABOUT THE LEGISLATIVE ACTION BECAUSE THAT EARMARK WILL BE FOR OUR STRATEGY, WHICH IS WHICH IS THE BROOKS.

SO I CALL THE QUESTION.

WELL, I'D LIKE TO MAKE MY COMMENTS ON THE RECORD.

[01:25:02]

I WANT TO PUT INTO THE RECORD WHY WE'RE DEALING WITH THIS ISSUE AND WHY YOUR WORK IS BEING BROUGHT TO THE COURT TODAY.

LAST YEAR, WE HAD THIS DISCUSSION ABOUT PROBABLY AROUND THE SAME TIME, AND I WASN'T HAPPY WITH HOW IT WAS PRESENTED.

THERE WAS NO CLARITY, THERE WAS NO TRANSPARENCY.

IT WAS JUST A DOCUMENT THAT I SEVERELY CRITICIZED.

DO YOU REMEMBER THAT CONVERSATION, MISS SHANNON? YES, SIR. AND SO I THINK YOU HAVE GONE BACK, TAKEN MY COMMENTS AND MY DIRECTION AND TRYING TO PUT SOME SPECIFICITY AND DIRECTION AND MAKING THINGS MORE OPEN AND TRANSPARENT.

IS THIS WHAT THIS DOCUMENT IS ALL ABOUT? YES, SIR. AND WHAT WE ALSO RECOGNIZE, AND I MADE THE COMMENT BACK THEN, IS THIS IS JUST A WISH LIST.

THIS IS THIS IS A LIVING DOCUMENT.

THAT COULD BE ALL WE'RE TRYING TO DO IS GIVE THE LOBBYIST TEAM SOME DIRECTION SO THAT WE DON'T GET SURPRISED, BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT HAPPENED LAST YEAR.

THERE WAS SURPRISE AS TO WHAT THE INITIATIVES WERE.

AND SO THAT'S THE REASON WHY I WANT TO REMIND THE COURT WHY WE'RE HERE TODAY AND WANT TO KEEP THIS DISCUSSION OF WHAT THIS DOCUMENT IS ABOUT AND WHY IT'S SO IMPORTANT.

I UNDERSTAND WE HAVE DISAGREEMENTS ON PERHAPS THE PROJECTS THEY'VE BEEN NOTED.

FOR THE RECORD, COMMISSIONER CALVERT HAS ONE, COMMISSIONER MOODY HAS ONE.

PERHAPS I MAY LATER HAVE ONE TOO.

BUT RIGHT NOW I WANT TO GIVE THE LOBBYIST TEAM AND THOSE THAT WILL HAVE CONVERSATIONS WITH OUR CONGRESSIONAL LEADERSHIP IN WASHINGTON, DC, UNDERSTANDING THAT WE'RE ASKING FOR IT.

WE'RE NOT WE'RE NOT GOING TO BE IN ANY POSITION TO LEVERAGE OR DICTATE WHAT THE TERMS ARE.

THIS IS NOT A GRANT APPLICATION.

THIS IS JUST A REQUEST THAT IF THERE'S ANY FEDERAL FUNDING, CAN YOU PLEASE CONSIDER IT? IT WILL BE UP TO THE CONGRESSIONAL LEADERSHIP TO DECIDE WHAT DIRECTION, WHAT STIPULATIONS, WHAT PROJECTS ARE WILLING TO CONSIDER.

SO I WANT THE PUBLIC TO UNDERSTAND WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO IS WE'RE TRYING TO CONSIDER PROJECTS THAT ARE VIABLE, THAT ARE POSSIBLE, THAT PERHAPS WE CAN LEVERAGE AND ALSO UNDERSTAND THAT WE'RE TRYING TO MEET THE NEEDS OF OUR COMMUNITY.

BUT BOTTOM LINE IS THIS IS NOT COMMISSIONERS COURT TELLING CONGRESS OR CONGRESSIONAL LEADERSHIP, THIS IS WHAT WE WANT.

WE BETTER GET WHAT WE WANT.

THIS IS SOME OF THE IDEAS.

AND SO I WANT ALSO TO UNDERSTAND, AND I'VE MADE MY OPINION KNOWN THAT WE DO HAVE DISAGREEMENTS ON WHAT CERTAIN PROJECTS SHOULD BE.

I THINK THE LAST MEETING THAT WE HAD A DISCUSSION, COMMISSIONER CALVERT, WAS THE FACT THAT THE BROOKS CITY-BASE, AS IT WAS PROPOSED FOUR YEARS AGO, IS STILL ONGOING, AND WE'LL HAVE TO MAKE DECISIONS AS WE MOVE FORWARD.

THERE WAS A DISCUSSION ABOUT THESE ALTERNATIVE SITES.

AND AS COMMISSIONER RODRIGUEZ HAS POINTED OUT, AS I UNDERSTAND IT, WE'RE TRYING TO DEVELOP A WORKFORCE PROGRAM THAT WILL MEET THE NEEDS OF OUR PRIVATE STAKEHOLDERS, THAT OUR MANUFACTURING COMPANIES THAT ARE COMING.

THEY HAVE MADE IT VERY CLEAR THEY NEED A QUALIFIED LABOR FORCE, AND THAT'S WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO.

AND SO I.

WILL ADMONISH THE COURT.

WE CAN GET STUCK IN THE WEEDS AND WE CAN TALK ABOUT THIS FOREVER.

AND I'M ASKING THAT.

AND AS COMMISSIONER CALVERT HAS, HAS CALLED FOR, FOR THE VOTE THAT IT'S TIME TO VOTE.

LET'S VOTE IT UP OR VOTE IT DOWN.

I WANTED TO STOP THE DISCUSSIONS THAT I DON'T BELIEVE ARE APPROPRIATE FOR TODAY.

WITH THAT, IS THERE ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? SO LET'S TAKE THE VOTE.

ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF THE MOTION TO APPROVE THE BEXAR COUNTY FEDERAL FISCAL 2020 FOR COMMUNITY PROJECT FUNDING REQUEST.

ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE.

AYE. ANY OPPOSED? MOTION UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED.

NEXT AGENDA ITEM.

THE NEXT ITEM IS APPROVAL OF THE COUNTY'S 118TH FEDERAL LEGISLATIVE PROGRAM.

[5b. Immediately following item 5a: Approval of Bexar County's Legislative Program for the 118th United States Congress. (Estimated Presentation Time: 10 minutes)]

THIS IS THE SAME DOCUMENT THAT WE'VE YOU'VE SEEN, YOU SAW THIS AT YOUR WORK SESSION IN NOVEMBER.

THIS IS THE EXACT SAME VERBIAGE THAT YOU SAW IN NOVEMBER.

THE ONLY THING THAT HAS CHANGED IS WE HAVE SEGMENTED WE HAVE ARRANGED THE DOCUMENT INTO PRIORITIES.

SO I TOOK THE ITEMS THAT WERE JUST LISTED OUT IN YOUR PREVIOUS PROGRAM AND LISTED THEM UNDER SPECIFIC PRIORITIES, WHICH ARE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, INFRASTRUCTURE, PUBLIC HEALTH AND PUBLIC SAFETY.

[01:30:03]

THIS IS OUR OVERARCHING DOCUMENT THAT GUIDES WHAT GOVERNMENTAL AFFAIRS DOES.

THESE ARE THE ITEMS THAT WE WILL BE SEEKING.

ANY OPPORTUNITIES FOR FUNDING CHANGES WHATEVER IN THE IN THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT DURING THIS, CONGRESSIONAL TERM? GREAT. YEAH. AGAIN, MELISSA HAS DONE A REALLY GOOD JOB OF MEETING WITH COMMISSIONER'S OFFICES.

WE HAVE SEEN THIS DOCUMENT BEFORE.

CORRECT? 2 OR 3 GONE THROUGH IT FOR THE LAST FEW MONTHS, JUST LIKE WITH THE PREVIOUS, AGENDA ITEM.

SO I'D LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION TO FOR TO APPROVE SECOND MOTION BY COMMISSIONER CLAY-FLORES.

SECOND BY COMMISSIONER RODRIGUEZ.

COMMISSIONER RODRIGUEZ. YEAH. AND I'LL JUST POINT OUT, JUDGE, I YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE KIND OF THE SUB CATEGORIES OR THE CATEGORIES, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, INFRASTRUCTURE, PUBLIC HEALTH AND PUBLIC SAFETY, I MEAN, THAT IS WHAT WE SHOULD BE FOCUSING ON.

FOR MY POSITION.

AND AGAIN, WE'RE NOT ALWAYS GOING TO AGREE ON EVERY INDIVIDUAL ITEM, BUT I THINK THOSE ARE FOUR CATEGORIES.

WE SHOULD BE ABLE TO AGREE THAT, YOU KNOW, WHEN IT COMES TO IMPROVING QUALITY OF LIFE FOR CITIZENS HERE IN BEXAR COUNTY, THOSE ARE CRITICAL, AREAS. SO THANKS FOR YOUR WORK ON THIS, MELISSA, AND I'M HAPPY TO SUPPORT IT.

YES, SIR. THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER MOODY.

YES. MELISSA, I APPRECIATE YOUR WORK ON THIS.

I THINK JUST, I'LL BE VERY BRIEF.

I MEAN, FOR THE RECORD, THERE'S THERE'S A, A LOT OF GOOD ITEMS IN HERE THAT I FULLY SUPPORT.

SO SOME OF THOSE WERE JUST MENTIONED BY COMMISSIONER RODRIGUEZ.

YOU KNOW, I WORKED WITH, WITH MELISSA AND HER TEAM AND SUBMITTED SOME LANGUAGE THAT THAT I COULD SUPPORT.

YOU KNOW, I BELIEVE THAT THE COURTS WILL IS TO TO GO A DIFFERENT DIRECTION AND HAS INCLUDED SOME OTHER ITEMS, YOU KNOW, SO AS IT'S WRITTEN TODAY, I CAN'T SUPPORT, BUT, YOU KNOW, THOSE KEY PRIORITIES THAT, THAT, WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THAT ARE INCLUDED HERE, YOU KNOW, ARE OBVIOUSLY, FOUNDATIONAL FOR LOCAL GOVERNMENT. I THINK IN THE OVERALL DOCUMENT, THOUGH, WE, WE STRAY FROM THOSE FOUNDATIONS, AND GET INTO OTHER POLITICAL ISSUES, THAT WILL DIVIDE US AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL. BUT, YOU KNOW, LET THE COURTS WILL, PROCEED.

THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER MOODY.

MELISSA AND MR. CONNICK CONTINUE THE CONVERSATION THAT WE HAD AT THE LAST AGENDA ITEM.

THIS IS, AGAIN, ANOTHER ATTEMPT TO PUT SPECIFICITY, TO PUT A PROCESS.

WHAT WE'RE DOING TODAY IS PUTTING A PROCESS OF HOW WE'RE GOING TO ASK FOR MONEY FROM OUR FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.

IS THAT CORRECT? YES, SIR.

THIS ALLOWS THE TEAM TO KNOW WHAT THE COURT'S PRIORITIES ARE TO GO OUT AND SEEK FUNDING, SEEK GRANTS, SEEK APPROPRIATION REQUESTS, LEGISLATIVE CHANGES, WHATEVER THAT MAY BE AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL.

AND MY INSISTENCE THAT IT BE OPEN AND TRANSPARENT.

HELP US UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU DID.

DID YOU REACH OUT TO EVERYBODY? IS THIS YOUR DOCUMENT? WHOSE DOCUMENT IS IT THAT WE'RE APPROVING TODAY? SO THIS DOCUMENT IS SOMETHING THAT WE'VE HAD OR SOMETHING SIMILAR FOR AGES.

I MEAN, AS LONG AS I'VE BEEN AT THE COUNTY, WE'VE ALWAYS DONE A FEDERAL PROGRAM.

SO WHAT WE DID THIS THIS GO AROUND IS AND I DON'T REMEMBER THE DATE.

MAYBE SOMETIME IN AUGUST, WE HAD AN OPEN FORUM HERE IN THE COURTROOM WHERE WE CALLED ALL OFFICES AND DEPARTMENTS COUNTYWIDE TO THE TABLE TO BRING FORTH IDEAS, WHATEVER THAT MAY BE.

SO DURING THAT TIME, WE LISTENED TO WHAT OFFICERS AND DEPARTMENTS WANT.

THEY ALSO HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO FILL OUT A REQUEST FOR A CPF FOR THE COMMUNITY PROJECT FUNDING, BECAUSE THAT'S A SPECIFIC DOCUMENT TO FILL OUT.

SO THESE ARE BASED ON CONVERSATION, THIS, THIS, THIS STRATEGY.

THE PROGRAM IS IS FROM COMMUNICATIONS COUNTYWIDE THAT'S BEEN NARROWED DOWN AND THEN PRESENTED TO COMMISSIONERS COURT.

AND AND BASED ON CONVERSATIONS THAT WE'VE HAD WITH ALL OF YOU AND YOUR OFFICES AS WELL.

BUT THIS IS THE SAME DOCUMENT YOU'VE SEEN FOR FOR MONTHS NOW.

SO THIS HAD INPUT FROM STAFF, HAD INPUT FROM EVERYBODY THAT'S THERE ON THE DAIS.

YES, SIR. EVERYONE.

HOW MUCH MORE HOW MUCH MORE COULD WE MAKE IT MORE OPEN AND TRANSPARENT FOR SO THAT PEOPLE UNDERSTAND THAT THIS IS A DOCUMENT THAT HAS BEEN THOROUGHLY VETTED THROUGH A PROCESS? IN MY MIND, IT'S CRYSTAL CLEAR, SIR.

WE'VE HAD NUMEROUS MEETINGS WITH, MOST EVERYONE ON THE COMMISSIONERS COURT THAT I'LL CALL FOR A VOTE.

ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? THERE'S A MOTION BY COMMISSIONER CLAY-FLORES, SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER RODRIGUEZ.

ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY SAYING I, I ANY OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES.

[01:35:02]

NO. VOTED. NO.

SO NOTED ON THE LAST AGENDA ITEM, I ABSTAINED.

UNDERSTOOD. I'LL, NOTE THAT, COMMISSIONER MOODY VOTED NO.

FOR THE RECORD, IT'S NOT UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED.

ALL RIGHT, ITEM C, APPROVAL AND EXECUTION OF PROFESSIONAL SERVICES AGREEMENT FOR FEDERAL LEGISLATIVE CONSULTING SERVICES WITH THE FOLLOWING

[5c. Immediately following item 5b: Approval and execution of Professional Services Agreements for Federal Legislative Consulting Services with the following individuals in a total amount not to exceed $144,000: i. Cristina Antelo ii. Baltazar R. Serna, Jr. (Estimated Presentation Time: 10 minutes)]

JUNIOR. MISS.

YES, SIR. SO THESE ARE THE CURRENT CONSULTANTS THAT WE OR THEY WERE CURRENT UP UNTIL DECEMBER 31ST.

SO THESE CONTRACTS EXPIRED AT THE END OF THE CALENDAR YEAR IN 23.

SO WHAT WE HAVE REQUESTED IS JUST A ONE YEAR TERM KEEPING BOTH CONSULTANTS AT THE SAME RATE OF PAY.

SO A ONE YEAR AGREEMENT WITH EACH OF THESE INDIVIDUALS AT THE SAME RATE OF PAY AS WHAT WE'VE DONE FOR THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS.

IS THERE A MOTION? A MOTION TO APPROVE MOTION BY COMMISSIONER RODRIGUEZ.

FIRST, SECOND, SECOND, SECOND BY COMMISSIONER CLAY-FLORES.

ANY FURTHER DISCUSSIONS? COMMISSIONER MOODY.

YES, JUDGE.

I'LL JUST. FOR THE RECORD, I'VE BEEN OPPOSED TO TAXPAYER FUNDED LOBBYING AND, YOU KNOW, THE, THE ISSUE OF USING TAXPAYER FUNDS TO, TO LOBBY POTENTIALLY AGAINST, YOU KNOW, THE INTERESTS OF, OF, TAXPAYERS.

AND SO I WILL BE OPPOSING THIS ITEM.

ALL RIGHT. I'LL CALL FOR A VOTE.

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

I. ANY OPPOSED? NO. COMMISSIONER MOODY NOTES HIS DISSENSION.

ALL RIGHT. DOES THAT WRAP UP YOUR.

YES, SIR. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MISS SHANNON.

ALL RIGHT. I THINK WE'RE A LITTLE STILL SHY OF 11:00.

LET ME KIND OF, ALERT THE COURT ON TIME.

CERTAIN 11, WHICH IS GOING TO BE THE DISCUSSION AND APPROPRIATE ACTION CONCERNING APPOINTMENT TO FILL THE PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR, COUNTY ENGINEER POSITION.

I UNDERSTAND THAT IT IS ALSO LISTED UNDER EXECUTIVE SESSION.

I THINK WE'LL NEED TO HAVE A DISCUSSION ON THE COURT WHETHER WE WANT TO TAKE THE MATTER INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION IN ORDER TO FINISH THE CONSIDERATION OF ITEM NUMBER FIVE, D SO WE'LL HAVE THAT CONVERSATION.

SO I'M ALERTING EVERYBODY THAT WE MAY GO TO EXECUTIVE SESSION.

I UNDERSTAND THE DIFFICULTIES.

WHAT I'M GOING TO SUGGEST TO THE COURT IS THAT THE COURT.

GOES TO THE SIDE ROOM AND TAKES UP.

SO COMMISSIONER MOODY WILL HAVE TO HAVE YOU SET UP IN THE SIDE CONFERENCE ROOM IF WE GO TO EXECUTIVE SESSION ON THAT PARTICULAR ITEM.

RIGHT. RIGHT.

SO AT THIS TIME, I WILL CONTINUE THE DISCUSSION OF THE AGENDA ON NUMBER SEVEN, FILING FOR THE RECORD OF THE FOLLOWING

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

THE COURT TAKES NOTICE OF ALL THOSE FROM A THROUGH G.

COMMISSIONERS COURT MINUTES.

[8. Commissioners Court minutes for Tuesday, December 12, 2023.]

SECOND BY COMMISSIONER CALVERT.

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

I ANY OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES.

CITIZENS TO BE HEARD AND JUDGE.

WITHOUT OBJECTION. I'LL VOTE IN THE AFFIRMATIVE ON THE LAST TWO THAT I MISSED.

SO NOTED.

WOULD YOU PLEASE NOTE COMMISSIONER CALVERT'S VOTE? I BELIEVE FOR PURPOSE OF THE RECORDS FIVE B AND FIVE C SO NOTED.

ALL RIGHT. CITIZENS TO BE HEARD.

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

YOU NEED TO FIND OUT. IS THERE ANYBODY ELSE WHO SIGNED UP THAT WE THAT, OKAY.

GOOD MORNING. GOOD MORNING.

JUSTICE.I AND COUNTY COMMISSIONERS.

MY NAME IS DOCTOR DEREK ANDERSON.

I'M HERE ON BEHALF OF THE BEXAR COUNTY COMMUNITY HEALTH COLLABORATIVE.

WE'VE BEEN SERVICING THE COMMUNITY FOR ABOUT 27 YEARS NOW, AND OUR MISSION IS TO IMPROVE THE HEALTH STATUS OF THE COMMUNITY THROUGH COLLABORATIVE MEANS.

AND YOU MIGHT KNOW US BY OUR PRODUCTION OF THE COMMUNITY HEALTH NEEDS ASSESSMENT AND THE COMMUNITY HEALTH IMPROVEMENT PLAN.

AND AS A RESULT OF THE COMMUNITY HEALTH IMPROVEMENT PLAN.

THE PROGRAM THAT I'M ACTUALLY DIRECTOR OVER CAME INTO FRUITION, WHICH IS THE GROW HEALTHY TOGETHER PATHWAYS COMMUNITY HUB PROGRAM.

AND SINCE 2018, WE'VE BEEN SERVICING BEXAR COUNTY.

WE'VE SERVICED OVER 2000 INDIVIDUALS, A VARIETY OF INDIVIDUALS, A NICE DIVERSE POPULATION.

[01:40:03]

SO WHAT WE'VE BEEN DOING OVER THE PAST FIVE, SIX YEARS IS WE'VE BEEN ACTUALLY IMPLEMENTING THIS PROGRAM, WHICH IS A CARE COORDINATION PROGRAM THAT UTILIZES COMMUNITY HEALTH WORKERS IN ORDER TO CONNECT THEM TO THE APPROPRIATE SOCIAL AND HEALTH RESOURCES TO IMPROVE THEIR HEALTH AND SOCIAL WELL-BEING.

SO ACTUALLY, I HAVE SOME MY TEAM HERE WITH SOME DOCUMENTATION OF OUR ANNUAL REPORT.

AND THIS DOCUMENT, JUST TO GIVE YOU A SNAPSHOT OF WHAT OUR ACTIVITIES WERE OVER THE 2023 PROJECT PROGRAM YEAR.

AND I ALSO HAVE COPIES OF OUR COMMUNITY HEALTH IMPROVEMENT, OUR COMMUNITY HEALTH NEEDS ASSESSMENT ALSO.

AND ONCE YOU GET THOSE, I'M GOING TO SPEAK ON THAT, BUT YOU'LL ACTUALLY BE ABLE TO REFERENCE WHAT I'M SPEAKING OFF OF FOR THIS.

YOU'RE ON THE CLOCK. SO. SO THAT SO FOR THE FOR THE IF YOU LOOK AT OUR PROGRAM ACTIVITIES, WE'VE INITIATED, QUITE A FEW SERVICES FOR OUR COMMUNITY, BUT YOU'LL SEE THAT THE TOP FIVE ARE HIGHLIGHTED.

MEDICAL. WE WERE SUCCESSFUL IN CONNECTING THEM TO MEDICAL REFERRALS, POSTPARTUM PREGNANCY LEARNING AND SOCIAL SERVICE, SOCIAL SERVICES.

AND IF YOU CAN SEE, ONE OF OUR MAJOR AREAS THAT WE FOCUS ON ARE BIRTH OUTCOMES.

AND WE'VE BEEN VERY SUCCESSFUL ACTUALLY, IN 2020, THREE OF THE WOMEN ENROLLED IN OUR PROGRAM, 92% OF THEM HAD HEALTHY WEIGHT BABIES.

AND YOU CAN ALSO SEE OUR FUNDING PARTNERS AS WELL.

AND THE REASON WHY I'M HERE IS REALLY TO SAY THANK YOU, BECAUSE A LOT OF OUR SUCCESS WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN WITHOUT YOUR PARTNERSHIP WITHIN THE COMMUNITY.

AS YOU CAN SEE, SOME OF OUR FUNDING PARTNERS IN THE COMMUNITY, WE HAVE A FEW PEOPLE WHO INVEST IN OUR PROGRAM, AND YOU CAN SEE THAT YOU'VE ALSO BEEN PART OF THAT INVESTMENT AND MAKING OUR PROGRAM APPROPRIATE AND NECESSARY FOR IMPACTING THE COMMUNITY.

AND YOU CAN ALSO SEE A LIST OF OUR PARTNER AGENCIES, WHO WE PARTNER WITH, WHO DO THE WORK IN THE COMMUNITY.

AND I JUST WANT TO SHED A LITTLE LIGHT ON THE FEET, ON THE GROUND, WHO ARE MAKING THE SUCCESS OF THIS PROGRAM, MEANINGFUL AND APPROPRIATE FOR THE FAMILIES WHO WERE IMPACTED.

SO THESE ARE JUST A FEW OF THE TEAM OF THE COMMUNITY HEALTH WORKERS, FEET ON THE GROUND WHO ARE MAKING THESE THINGS HAPPEN.

SO AGAIN, I JUST WANTED TO COME HERE TO GIVE YOU OUR ANNUAL REPORT AND OUR MOST RECENT COMMUNITY HEALTH NEEDS ASSESSMENT, SO THAT YOU'LL SEE THAT OUR LABOR IS NOT IN VAIN AND YOUR LABOR IS NOT IN VAIN.

WE'RE OUT HERE MAKING THINGS HAPPEN IN PUBLIC HEALTH.

SO WE THANK YOU AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO FUTURE PARTNERSHIPS.

THANK YOU, MR. ANDERSON.

ALL RIGHT. I BELIEVE THAT CONCLUDES CITIZENS TO BE HEARD.

ARE THERE ANY OTHER CITIZENS TO BE HEARD? LET ME GO AHEAD AND TAKE UP.

[67. Approval and Execution of the following agreements between Bexar County and San Antonio African American Community Archive and Museum in the amount of $5,000,000 from the Capital Improvement Program Fund: a. License and Operating Agreement; b. Funding and Development Agreement; and, c. Ground and Facility Lease Agreement (Estimated Presentation Time: 10 minutes)]

WE HAVE ANOTHER TIME.

CERTAIN. BUT I'M GOING TO GO AHEAD AND MOVE TO THE INDIVIDUAL.

COMMISSIONER CLAY-FLORES, AS A POINT OF PERSONAL PRIVILEGE, YOU ASK THAT WE TAKE UP OUT OF ORDER, AND I WILL APPROVE THAT.

WE TAKE UP ITEM 67 APPROVAL EXECUTION OF THE FOLLOWING AGREEMENTS BETWEEN BEXAR COUNTY SAN ANTONIO AFRICAN AMERICAN COMMUNITY ARCHIVE AND MUSEUM IN THE AMOUNT OF $5 MILLION FROM THE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM FUND AND A LICENSE AND OPERATING AGREEMENT, B FUNDING AND DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT, AND C GROUND AND FACILITY LEASE AGREEMENT.

MR.. GUEVARA THANK YOU, JUDGE.

CAN I, COMMISSIONER CLAY-FLORES.

THANK YOU, JUDGE, FOR PULLING IT OUT OF ORDER.

I WANT TO BE RESPECTFUL OF DEBORAH'S TIME BEFORE WE GO INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION.

SO I'M GLAD WE MADE IT RIGHT IN THE NICK OF TIME.

SO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE.

AND, THIS IS THIS IS SOMETHING THAT I CHAMPIONED, FOR THE $5 MILLION FOR SARKUM WITH THE SUPPORT OF THE COURT, BECAUSE THIS IS JUST REALLY IMPORTANT.

AND WE TALK ABOUT THE PERCENTAGES OF BLACKS IN SAN ANTONIO, WHICH, SOME THINK IS A SMALL NUMBER PERCENTAGE WISE.

BUT I ALWAYS BRAG ON THE FACT THAT WE ACTUALLY HAVE A VERY VIBRANT BLACK COMMUNITY.

I THINK WE'VE DONE A LOT, IN TERMS OF BLACKS IN BEXAR COUNTY.

AND SO THANK YOU TO DEBORAH FOR LEADING THE CHARGE OF SARKUM AND TAKING IT FROM THIS LITTLE HOUSE IN LA VITA, TO HAVING A FULL FLEDGED MUSEUM.

I THINK IT WAS REALLY IMPORTANT THAT BEXAR COUNTY, TOOK THE LEAD IN SUPPORTING WITH $5 MILLION.

I UNDERSTAND WITH THAT $5 MILLION, WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO LEVERAGE OTHER ENTITIES TO GET MORE FROM THAT.

SO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE WORK.

WE ARE EXCITED THAT WE ARE.

WE'RE GOING TO HAVE, A STATE OF THE ART FACILITY THAT TALKS ABOUT THE HISTORY AND THE CONTRIBUTIONS AND THE CULTURE OF, BLACKS IN BEXAR COUNTY.

SO WE'RE JUST REALLY EXCITED.

AND I WANTED TO, LET YOU SAY ANYTHING YOU WANT ABOUT IT.

THANK YOU. COMMISSIONER FLORES, I WOULD JUST LIKE TO SAY, ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS, STAFF AND VOLUNTEERS OF THE SAN ANTONIO AFRICAN AMERICAN COMMUNITY ARCHIVE AND MUSEUM, KNOWN AS SARKUM.

I WOULD LIKE TO THANK COMMISSIONER CLAY REBECA CLAY-FLORES FOR TAKING THE LEAD ON THE INITIAL INVESTMENT FOR THE SUSTAINMENT OF SARKUM.

I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO THANK JUDGE SAKAI AND THE REST OF THE COURT FOR SUPPORTING THIS ENDEAVOR.

[01:45:08]

THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU.

ALL RIGHT. LET'S KIND OF.

THOMAS, YOU KIND OF. WE KIND OF PREEMPTED YOU.

SO WHY DON'T I THINK YOU HAVE A POWERPOINT PRESENTATION? SO GO AHEAD. THANK YOU. JUDGE.

FOR THE RECORD, THOMAS GUEVARA OFFICE OF THE COUNTY MANAGER.

COMMISSIONER CLAY-FLORES ACTUALLY LAID IT OUT PERFECTLY.

I JUST WANT TO HIGHLIGHT A COUPLE OF ITEMS. AGAIN. THIS IS A $5 MILLION INVESTMENT FROM COMMISSIONERS COURT.

THIS WOULD, YOU KNOW, SARKUM HAS OUTGROWN ITS CURRENT LOCATION AND HAS IDENTIFIED THE CASS AND GRANT BUILDINGS ON HOUSTON STREET AS THE MOST SUITABLE SITE TO MOVE THEIR EXISTING OFFICES AND ARCHIVES, ALSO TO ESTABLISH A RESEARCH LIBRARY AND EXPAND GALLERY SPACES, AUDITORIUM AND EVENT SPACES TO SUPPORT THEIR PROGRAMING AND PROVIDE REVENUE FOR FUTURE OPERATING COSTS.

AGAIN, JUST, AN OVERVIEW OF THEIR FLOOR PLANS, THE CONSTRUCTION SCHEDULE.

AGAIN, WANT TO THANK, DEBORAH, I DON'T KNOW IF ANYBODY ELSE IS HERE.

OKAY. SO I'M JUST GOING TO TAKE IT DOWN TO THE RECOMMENDED MOTION UNLESS COURT HAS SPECIFIC QUESTIONS.

BUT AGAIN, STAFF'S REQUESTING APPROVAL AND EXECUTION OF THE FOLLOWING AGREEMENTS BETWEEN BEXAR COUNTY AND SARKUM IN THE AMOUNT OF 5 MILLION FROM THE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM FUND FOR THE LICENSE AND OPERATING AGREEMENT, THE FUNDING AND DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT, AND THE GROUND AND FACILITY LEASE AGREEMENT.

I'D LIKE TO MOVE TO APPROVE.

I'LL. SECOND MOTION BY COMMISSIONER CLAY-FLORES.

SECOND BY COMMISSIONER CALVERT.

COMMISSIONER RODRIGUEZ, ANY COMMENT? YEAH. JUST, REALLY BRIEFLY WANTED TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE LEADERSHIP OF COMMISSIONER CLAY-FLORES.

MY COLLEAGUE. I KNOW, WAS ADAMANT ABOUT MAKING THIS HAPPEN.

AND, REALLY AN ADVOCATE FOR THIS.

ALL OF THE PARTNERS OBVIOUSLY COULDN'T DO IT WITHOUT YOU, BUT, JUST WANTED TO THANK COMMISSIONER CLAY-FLORES BECAUSE I REALLY BELIEVE, THIS WAS A PASSION PROJECT FOR HER AND IS GOING TO BENEFIT THE WHOLE COMMUNITY.

SO THANK YOU. COMMISSIONER MOODY, THANK YOU.

NO COMMENTS THIS TIME, JUDGE.

ALL RIGHT, COMMISSIONER CALVERT, I WANT TO THANK COMMISSIONER CLAY-FLORES FOR LEADING THIS AS WELL IN THE BUDGET.

I THINK IT WAS MAYBE TWO YEARS AGO.

AND I WANT TO THANK, I BELIEVE, COMMISSIONER RODRIGUEZ, I THINK THE HOUSTON, THE HOUSTON STREET OR THE INNER CITY OF HOUSTON.

YEAH. SO YOU WERE ALSO PART OF VOTING FOR ANOTHER 6.25 MILLION? SO THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER RODRIGUEZ, FOR YOUR SUPPORT.

AND I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR THE BRILLIANT BUSINESS PLAN THAT YOU ALL HAVE PUT TOGETHER, BECAUSE WHAT THE TAXPAYERS CAN FEEL GOOD ABOUT IS THE SUSTAINABILITY, BECAUSE YOU HAVE PORTIONS OF THIS THAT WILL BE FOR EVENTS THAT YOU CAN USE, THE REVENUE FROM THE EVENTS THAT WERE RENTING YOUR FACILITY.

AND I THINK THERE'S EVEN A HOTEL, SPACE, WHICH IS BRILLIANT.

THOSE ARE THE KINDS OF THINGS THAT WILL ENSURE THAT THE ARCHIVES THAT OUR FAMILIES GIVE TO THIS WONDERFUL ADDITION TO THE TOURISM INDUSTRY ARE MAINTAINED IN PERPETUITY, BECAUSE YOU'VE GOT A FUNDING SOURCE THAT CAN TAKE CARE OF THE DEBT SERVICE OR WHATEVER OTHER KIND OF COSTS AND EXPENSES OF STAFF THAT YOU HAVE.

SO BRAVO TO DIVERSIFIED FLOOR PLANS THAT WE HAVE WITNESSED, GREAT COLLABORATION AMONGST THE COMMUNITY AND ONWARD AND UPWARD TO THE GREAT EXHIBITS.

AND I THINK IN A WEEK YOU'VE GOT, WHY DON'T YOU TAKE A MOMENT TO PLUG YOUR EVENT AT THE WITTY.

YOU'VE GOT AN EVENT, A FUNDRAISER THAT PEOPLE CAN HELP SUSTAIN THIS MOVEMENT.

ABSOLUTELY. WE ARE SOLD OUT.

BUT WE'RE EXCITED THAT OUR INAUGURAL LEGACY AWARDS BALL, WHICH IS TO SUPPORT OUR OPERATIONS, WILL BE HONORING ACTUALLY YOUR DAD, TC CALVERT. WE'RE ALSO HONORING BEXAR COUNTY JUDGE YOLANDA HUFF.

DOCTOR DIANA BURNS BANKS AND OLIVER W HILL SENIOR, THANK YOU SO MUCH AGAIN FOR YOUR SUPPORT.

WE REALLY APPRECIATE IT.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR HONORING MY FATHER AND HIS AND HIS LEGACY.

AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO GREAT THINGS WITH THE EXHIBIT YOU'RE PREPARING.

KEN, THANKS FOR ALL YOUR HARD WORK PUTTING THE NUMBERS TOGETHER.

WE APPRECIATE YOU AND YOU DO MANY GOOD THINGS IN THE COMMUNITY.

SO AND TO YOUR ENTIRE BOARD, THANK YOU.

AND I'LL CLOSE WITH THIS.

ALTHOUGH IT IT'S HAPPENING ON MY TENURE.

AND POLITICALLY, I'LL TAKE THE CREDIT.

BUT I DO WANT TO RECOGNIZE ALL THE HARD WORK THAT WAS DONE BY THE PREDECESSOR COMMISSIONERS COURT.

OBVIOUSLY, THE COMMISSIONERS THAT ARE ON THE DAIS TODAY HAVE DONE A LOT OF WORK.

[01:50:02]

AND, KEN, THANK YOU FOR YOUR INVOLVEMENT.

BECAUSE IT BROUGHT ME UP TO SPEED.

AND I, TOO, JUST WANT TO PUT ON THE RECORD THAT I DO SUPPORT THIS PROGRAM AND THIS CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT.

AND I WANT TO SEE IT JUST GROW AND BECOME AN INTEGRAL PART OF OUR THE CULTURAL HISTORY AND INTEGRITY OF SAN ANTONIO, BEXAR COUNTY.

SO THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH FOR WHAT YOU DO, KEN.

OKAY. COME ON. YEAH.

THANK YOU. JUDGE. COMMISSIONERS, I WANT TO JUST LET YOU GUYS KNOW HOW IMPORTANT IT WAS THAT OVER THE HOLIDAY SEASON.

THIS IS RIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS.

WE HAD TO CLOSE AND WE HAD TO CLOSE BECAUSE THE OWNERS OF THE BUILDING HAD A NOTE COMING UP.

OKAY. AND IT WAS COMING UP AT THE BEGINNING OF FEBRUARY.

SO THE LETTER, YOU KNOW, YOU GUYS GET A LOT OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT STAFF.

WELL, LET ME TELL YOU WHAT STAFF DID BETWEEN A COUPLE OF YOU COMMISSIONERS AND YOU JUDGE, YOU MADE A CALL TO DAVID SMITH AND HIS RIGHT HAND PERSON HERE WROTE A LETTER TO FROST BANK. AND I ASKED HIM, I SAID, LISTEN, WE NEED A BRIDGE LOAN BECAUSE WE'RE NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO CLOSE ON THE MONEY FROM THE COUNTY BEFORE CHRISTMAS BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, WE WEREN'T ON THE AGENDA. AND SO BILL DID WHAT HE COULD.

BILL, I WON'T LET YOU KNOW. BILL. WORK REAL HARD HERE.

WHO'S WHO'S YOUR ATTORNEY? BUT WITHOUT THAT LETTER FROM THE COUNTY OVER TO FROST BANK AND LET'S CALL THE RIGHT PERSON OVER THERE, WE WOULDN'T HAVE CLOSED.

AND SO WE WANT TO THANK YOU AND LET THE STAFF KNOW DAVID SMITH AND HIS HIS SENIOR PERSON HERE, AND THE STUFF THAT REBECCA DID AND HER STAFF AND PEOPLE DID, REALLY HELPED US TO CLOSE QUICKLY BECAUSE THEY WOULD HAVE PUT US IN A BAD WAY WITH THE OWNERS OF THE BUILDING.

SO THAT'S WHAT WE REALLY WANT TO THANK YOU FOR, TO INCLUDE YOUR MONEY.

SO, SO YOU KNOW THE BACKGROUND OF WHAT HAPPENED.

THANK YOU, KEN, THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING YOU DO FOR OUR COMMUNITY.

I'LL CALL FOR THE VOTE.

ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF THIS MOTION SIGNIFY BY SAYING I, I ALL THOSE OPPOSED.

MOTION CARRIES.

CARRY ON. ALL RIGHT.

ALL RIGHT, LET'S GO BACK TO THE INDIVIDUAL ITEMS.

[65. Discussion and appropriate action regarding the approval of the Engineering Services Agreement between Bexar County and Burgess & Niple, Inc. for Professional Engineering Services in an amount not to exceed $2,403,011.90 for fees related to the Cagnon Road Bridge - Cagnon Road at Medina River Project. Precinct 1. (Estimated Presentation Time: 10 minutes)]

DISCUSSION. APPROVE ACTION REGARDING THE APPROVAL OF THE ENGINEERING SERVICES AGREEMENT BETWEEN BEXAR COUNTY AND BURGESS AND NIPPLE, INC FOR PROFESSIONAL ENGINEERING SERVICES IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $2,403,011.90 FOR FEES RELATING TO THE CANYON ROAD, BRIDGE, CANYON ROAD AND MEDINA RIVER PROJECT.

MR. WEGMAN, GOOD MORNING.

THANK YOU. JUDGE. THANK YOU.

COMMISSIONERS, WE SHOULD HAVE A POWERPOINT PRESENTATION ASSOCIATED WITH THIS ITEM.

IT'S OKAY. I THOUGHT HE SAID I WOULD.

THIS PARTICULAR PROJECT WAS PART OF THE APPROVED TEN YEAR CAPITAL PROGRAM.

THE SPECIFIC SITE LOCATION IS CANYON ROAD OVER THE MEDINA RIVER.

IT'S BEEN A HIGHLY PROBLEMATIC, LOW WATER CROSSING.

THAT GOES UNDER WATER AND NEEDS TO BE BARRICADED AT VERY, VERY MINIMAL, STORM EVENTS.

THERE'S A PICTURE OF THE SITE ITSELF.

SO THE PROJECT IS GOING TO REPLACE THE EXISTING LOW WATER CROSSING WITH A BRIDGE THAT WILL BE ABLE TO SAFELY PASS A 100 YEAR STORM EVENT.

IN ADDITION TO THAT, THERE'S GOING TO BE NEW ROAD ALIGNMENT IN THE VICINITY OF THIS AREA AS OUR CANYON ROAD SERVICE CENTER.

SHERIFF'S OFFICE, WEST PATROL SUBSTATION, AND A LARGE COMMERCIAL NURSERY THAT WILL, NECESSITATE SOME ROADWAY REALIGNMENT.

TO MAINTAIN ACCESS TO ALL THOSE CRITICAL FACILITIES AS WELL AS A, A REALIGNMENT AT PONDER ROAD WHERE THERE'S GOING TO BE SOME ADDITIONAL DEVELOPMENT GOING ON, UPSTREAM OF THAT.

THE PROJECT IS GOING TO REQUIRE SIGNIFICANT, RIGHT OF WAY.

PARDON ME A LITTLE BIT OF RIGHT OF WAY.

THAT WILL BE FROM THE STRAUSS MEDINA MITIGATION BANK.

THIS IS KIND OF AN OVERVIEW OF WHAT THE PLAN IS AT THAT SITE.

SO THERE'LL BE AN ENTIRE REALIGNMENT AND STRAIGHTENING OUT OF CANYON ROAD, OVER, OVER THE MEDINA RIVER THERE.

SO THERE'S ACTUALLY A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF ROADWAY WORK ASSOCIATED WITH THIS IN ADDITION TO THE BRIDGE.

IN OCTOBER OF 21, BEXAR COUNTY COMMISSIONERS COURT APPROVED THAT TEN YEAR CAPITAL PROGRAM.

WE ISSUED A STANDARD REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATIONS FOR PROFESSIONAL ENGINEERING SERVICES IN JULY OF 22 AND AUGUST, WE RECEIVED THREE STATEMENTS OF QUALIFICATIONS FOR THE DESIGN AND RIGHT OF WAY ACQUISITION SERVICES FOR THIS PROJECT.

AND WE WERE AUTHORIZED BY COMMISSIONERS COURT TO NEGOTIATE A CONTRACT WITH BURGESS AND NIPPLE FOR THE PROVISION OF THOSE SERVICES.

WE DO HAVE A REPRESENTATIVE FROM BURGESS AND NIPPLE HERE, IF ANYBODY'S INTERESTED.

IN SPEAKING WITH HIM, WE HAVE MISTER GREG KRAMER FROM BURGESS AND NIPPLE.

BARRING THAT, WE WOULD REQUEST APPROVAL OF THE ENGINEERING SERVICES AGREEMENT BETWEEN BEXAR COUNTY AND BURGESS AND NIPPLE FOR THE PROFESSIONAL ENGINEERING SERVICES IN AN AMOUNT

[01:55:09]

I KNOW WE'VE BEEN WORKING.

WE HAD APPROVED THEM A WHILE AGO AND IT'S TAKEN A WHILE.

AND IT'S SUCH A BAD FLOODED AREA AND IT'S SUCH A BEAUTIFUL PART IF YOU HAVEN'T DRIVEN OUT THERE, IT'S SUCH A BEAUTIFUL PART OF, OF THE COUNTY.

AND LIKE YOU SAID, IT'S RIGHT DOWN THE ROAD FROM THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT.

FROM FROM A FROM THE SERVICE CENTER IN PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT AND ALSO ONE OF THE SUBSTATIONS OF THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE.

AND ALSO ALSO IT'S GOING TO BE THE SITE OF WHERE OUR NEW ANIMAL CONTROL, FACILITY IS GOING TO BE.

SO IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT THAT WE GET THAT ALL, FIXED UP AND SAFE FOR THE CONSTITUENTS.

SO THANK YOU SO MUCH.

I'M GLAD THAT WE'RE FINALLY DOING THIS.

HAPPY TO BE WORKING WITH YOU ALL.

SO I'D LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION FOR TO APPROVE.

SECOND. ALL RIGHT. MOTION BY COMMISSIONER CLAY-FLORES.

SECOND. BY COMMISSIONER RODRIGUEZ.

COMMISSIONER RODRIGUEZ, ANY COMMENT OR QUESTION? COMMISSIONER. MOODY.

COMMISSIONER CALVERT.

ALL RIGHT. IS THERE ANY FURTHER? OH, COMMISSIONER MOODY, YOU'RE ON MUTE.

NO COMMENTS. JUDGE.

ALL RIGHT. ANY ANY OTHER FURTHER QUESTIONS? I'LL CALL FOR A VOTE.

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

AYE. ANY OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES.

WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE, MR.

[66. Discussion and appropriate action regarding the approval of a Real Estate Purchase Agreement authorizing the purchase of a property located at 6500 Woodlake Parkway, just off F. M. Highway 78, being approximately 161.72 acres of land consisting of a 75.314 acre tract of land, and a 83.939 acre tract, both tracts being out of the Josefa Leal Survey No. 39, Abstract 420, County Block 5080 and out of the John H. Miller Survey No. 41, Abstract 487, County Block 5075, as recorded in Volume 18888, Page 105 of the Deed and Plat Records of Bexar County, Texas, and a 2.466 acre tract of land being out of the Joseph Leal Survey No. 39, Abstract 420, New City Block 17730, as recorded in Document No. 20230176225 of the Deed and Plat Records of Bexar County, Texas, from Woodlake Acres, LLC for use as a new public park for a total consideration of $4,500,000., plus applicable closing costs. Precinct 4. (Estimated Presentation Time: 10 minutes)]

DISCUSSION. APPROPRIATE ACTION REGARDING THE APPROVAL OF THE REAL ESTATE PURCHASE AGREEMENT AUTHORIZING THE PURCHASE OF A PROPERTY LOCATED AT 6500 WOOD LAKE PARKWAY, JUST OFF FM HIGHWAY 78, BEING APPROXIMATELY 161.72 ACRES OF LAND CONSISTING OF A 75.314 ACRE TRACT OF LAND AND AN 83.939 ACRE TRACT, BOTH TRACKS BEING OUT OF THE HOST FOR REAL SURVEY NUMBER 39, ABSTRACT 420, COUNTY BLOCK 5080 AND OUT OF THE JOHN H.

MILLER SURVEY NUMBER 41, ABSTRACT 487.

COUNTY BLOCK 5075 AS RECORDED IN VOLUME 18888, PAGE 105 OF THE DEED AND PLAT RECORDS OF BEXAR COUNTY, TEXAS, AND A 2.466 ACRE TRACT OF LAND BEING OUT OF THE HOST.

JOSEPH LEAL, SURVEY NUMBER 39, ABSTRACT 420.

NEW CITY BLOCK 17730, AS RECORDED IN DOCUMENT NUMBER 20230176225 OF THE DEED AND PLAT RECORDS OF BEXAR COUNTY, TEXAS FROM WOOD LAKE ACRES, LLC FOR USE AS A NEW PUBLIC PARK FOR TOTAL PURCHASE CONSIDERATION OF $4,500,000 PLUS APPLICABLE CLOSING COSTS.

PRECINCT FOUR.

I'LL JUST NOTE FOR THE RECORD, I THINK WE HAVE A MISSPELLING, DON'T WE? EARLIER, I WANT TO MAKE SURE OUR LEGAL DESCRIPTIONS ARE CORRECT.

I THINK I SAID JOSEPHUS SHOULD PROBABLY BE JOE JOSEPH, RIGHT? IS THAT A TYPO IN OUR AGENDA? WE'LL HAVE TO CHECK THAT, SIR.

ALL RIGHT. JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE WE GOT THE RIGHT PIECE OF PROPERTY.

GO AHEAD, MR. WEGMAN.

THANK YOU. JUDGE. THANK YOU.

COMMISSIONERS. AS YOU MENTIONED IN THE CAPTION, THIS IS A PURCHASE FOR THE FOR THE USE OF A PRECINCT FOR COUNTY PARK, ON THE GROUNDS OF THE OLD WOODLAKE, GOLF COURSE.

THIS ITEM IS SUBSEQUENT TO A PRIOR WESTWOOD ENGINEERING FEASIBILITY STUDY ON THE PROPERTY, THAT REMAPPED THE FLOODPLAIN AND DETERMINED ANY USABLE PROPERTY. FOR THE PURPOSES OF THIS DISCUSSION, I'M GOING TO DEFER THIS BACK TO JOE NEWTON, WHO IS OUR ASSET MANAGER, AND KEN MCGLAMERY WITH PARKS.

GOOD MORNING, MR. COMMISSIONERS.

YOU'VE PRETTY WELL SPELLED IT OUT.

JUDGE THE ITEMS FOR THE DISCUSSION OF APPROPRIATE ACTION REGARDING THE PURCHASE OF APPROXIMATELY 161.72 ACRES, KNOWN AS WOODLAKE, 6500 WOODLAKE PARKWAY.

IT'S LOCATED JUST OFF THE INTERSECTION OF WOODLAKE PARKWAY AND FM 78 AND THE NORTHEAST SIDE OF TOWN AND PRECINCT FOUR.

THIS PROPERTY IS WHAT REMAINS OF THE OLD WOODLAKE GOLF PROPERTY, WHICH ORIGINALLY OPENED ITS DOORS BACK IN 1972 AND CLOSED IN 2013.

SINCE THAT TIME, IT'S BEEN SOLD ABOUT THREE DIFFERENT TIMES SINCE ITS CLOSING.

THE OLD CLUBHOUSE AND OTHER IMPROVEMENTS, AS WELL AS SOME OF THE OTHER ACREAGE HAS BEEN SOLD OFF, LEAVING THE CURRENT BALANCE OF THE 162 ACRES.

THE PLANS, AS MENTIONED, ARE TO TURN THIS INTO A NEW COUNTY PARK TO SERVE NOT ONLY THE NORTHEAST SIDE, BUT ALL OF BEXAR COUNTY.

AND AS DAVE MENTIONED LAST YEAR, WE HAD AN EXTENSIVE FEASIBILITY STUDY DONE TO BE ABLE TO DETERMINE SUCH THINGS AS HOW MUCH OF THE PROPERTY WAS IN OR OUT

[02:00:05]

IN ADDITION, WE DID AN APPRAISAL, WE DID A LAND SURVEY, AND WE ALSO DID A ENVIRONMENTAL STUDY WHICH FOUND NO PROBLEMS AND DID NOT RECOMMEND ANY FURTHER ACTION BE TAKEN.

THE OWNER OF THE PROPERTY WAS ASKING 5 MILLION.

OUR APPRAISAL CAME IN AT 4,228,000, AND AFTER MANY MONTHS OF BACK AND FORTH, WE AGREED UPON 4.5 MILLION AS THE PURCHASE PRICE FOR THIS PROPERTY.

HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, MYSELF OR KIM MCGLAMERY? CAN YOU JUST REMIND US HOW MANY ACRES ARE OUT OF THE FLOODPLAIN? ROUGHLY 92 ACRES ARE IN THE FLOODPLAIN.

70 ACRES, ROUGHLY, ARE OUT OF THE FLOODPLAIN.

THAT'S VERY GOOD. THAT MEANS A LOT OF THINGS CAN BE DONE ON THOSE 70.

THAT'S GREAT. AND I THINK, AS YOU KNOW, COMMISSIONER, AT THE END OF THE NEGOTIATIONS, WE HAD THE OWNER ADD A 2.5 ACRE TRACT TO THIS.

IT'S ACTUALLY AT THE CORNER OF WOODLAKE AND FM 78 SO WE CAN PROVIDE BETTER ACCESS.

GREAT. KEN, DID YOU HAVE ANYTHING YOU WANTED TO.

JUST WANTED TO ADD THAT, AS SOON AS WE CLOSE ON THIS PROPERTY, WE'RE GOING TO DO SEVERAL THINGS TO MAKE IT ACCESSIBLE TO THE PUBLIC.

WE'RE GOING TO, WE'RE GOING TO MAKE A SMALL PARKING AREA AND ASSIGN THE PARK.

WE'RE GOING TO GET THE TRAILS OPEN FOR WALKERS.

WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO MAKE SOME CONNECTIONS IN A FEW AREAS, BUT WE'RE GOING TO GET IN THERE.

COUNTY STAFF IS GOING TO GET IN THERE AND RIGHT MOW IT, TRIM IT UP, MAKE IT GOOD AND USABLE, CLEAN IT UP, AND ANY REPAIR THAT NEEDS TO BE DONE TO THOSE TRAILS.

WE'LL GO AHEAD AND FIX THOSE UP.

AND ANY CONNECTIONS.

THERE ARE SOME PARTIAL PORTIONS OF THE PROPERTY THAT WERE SOLD OFF THAT DON'T ALLOW FOR A CONNECTION.

SO WE'RE GOING TO GO AHEAD AND MAKE THOSE IN HOUSE SO WE CAN MAKE SURE THERE'S LOOPS.

AND WE'RE GOING TO GET A NEW ADDRESS ASSIGNED TO IT FOR EMERGENCY INGRESS EGRESS PURPOSES.

SO WITHIN ABOUT I'D SAY WITHIN A WEEK OF US CLOSING, WE'LL MAKE SURE THAT THAT PARK IS ACTUALLY USABLE TO THE PUBLIC.

WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE MAKE A BIG IMPACT.

AND THEN WE'LL GO INTO THE MASTER PLANNING PHASE.

I WANT TO THANK YOU ALL FOR THE HARD WORK, ALL THE STUDIES THAT HAVE BEEN DONE IN ORDER TO DETERMINE WHAT WE COULD DO IN THE FUTURE.

I THINK IN ADDITION TO THE NEXT STEPS OF PARKS, THERE IS AN IMPORTANT COMMUNITY MEETING THAT WE SHOULD HOLD TO JUST DOUBLE CHECK WITH THE COMMUNITY ABOUT THINGS THAT THEY WANT, TO SEE IN THE WESTWOOD PLAN.

THERE WERE SOME GREAT IDEAS, EVERYTHING FROM AMPHITHEATER TO FISHING AND TRAILS AND SPORTS, FACILITIES AND, OF COURSE, I THINK THAT THE COUNTY CAN MAKE SOME GOOD REVENUE OFF OF THE RENTAL OF DIFFERENT, WHETHER IT'S SPORTS, FIELDS OR ALSO, INDOOR FACILITIES OR OUTDOOR PAVILIONS THAT CAN BE RENTED FOR FAMILY REUNIONS, BIRTHDAY PARTIES OR WHATEVER EVENTS, CONCERTS THAT PEOPLE MAY WANT TO HOLD.

SO THIS, THIS, I THINK, CAN END UP BEING A GREAT GENERATOR OF REVENUE FOR THE PARKS AND OTHER GENERAL FUND, OPTIONS.

WE ARE GOING TO OPEN UP THE NAME OF THE NEW PARK TO THE COMMUNITY.

SO WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A SOCIAL MEDIA CONTEST, AND WE WANT ALL THE CREATIVE IDEAS THAT FOLKS CAN MUSTER.

IT COULD BE AN INANIMATE OBJECT LIKE UNITY PARK, OR IT COULD BE A NAME OF A HISTORICAL PERSON THAT SOMEONE THINKS IS WORTHY.

TELL US WHY.

OR IT COULD BE ABOUT THE THE THE ANIMALS THAT RUN ACROSS THE LAND.

THERE'S BEAUTIFUL SWANS AND DUCKS THAT ARE PART OF THE WOODLAKE PARKS.

AND SO, WE'RE OPEN TO SUGGESTIONS ABOUT WHAT IT COULD BE NAMED.

SO WE OPEN THAT UP.

LET ME JUST THANK THE COURT FOR SUPPORT.

I THINK THAT, THIS CAN ALSO BE SOME PLACE THAT WE CAN DO THINGS LIKE PLANT TREES, DO PARTNERSHIPS WITH OUR AG EXTENSION SERVICE, GIVE AWAY FOOD ON PLOTS, THINGS OF LAND.

THERE'S THERE'S A MYRIAD OF OPTIONS, INCLUDING PARTNERING WITH THE JUDSON INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT, POTENTIALLY ON SOME FACILITIES IN THEIR BOND, SO THAT WE CAN LEVERAGE COUNTY DOLLARS WITH WHAT THEY MAY NEED IN THE FUTURE FOR, THE JUDSON INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT, WHICH ABUTS THIS PARTICULAR PROPERTY.

SO, THIS 161 ACRES WILL BE AN EXCITING THING FOR ENVIRONMENTAL RESTORATION, THAT HAS BECOME SLIGHTLY BLIGHTED BECAUSE OF OVERGROWN, BRUSH.

BUT I THINK THE PARKS MAINTENANCE STAFF IN ADVANCE FOR THE HARD WORK THEY'RE ABOUT TO DO.

IT'S A LOT OF ACREAGE.

AND WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO SUPPORT YOU IN THE BUDGET WITH STAFF.

SO THANK YOU SO MUCH.

COURT I MOVE APPROVAL.

MOST OF THE CALVERT SECOND BY COMMISSIONER RODRIGUEZ.

COMMISSIONER MOODY. DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? NO, JUDGE. I'M GOOD.

MR. RODRIGUEZ. NO QUESTIONS.

I JUST WANT TO CONGRATULATE, COMMISSIONER CALVERT.

160 ACRES IS SIGNIFICANT.

GREEN SPACE.

LOOK FORWARD TO WHAT THE FUTURE HOLDS FOR THAT.

BUT I KNOW, THAT COMMUNITY SURROUNDING THE FORMER GOLF COURSE, I'M SURE IS VERY PLEASED WITH YOUR LEADERSHIP AND THE WORK OF OUR OF OUR PARKS AND, REAL ESTATE FOLKS.

[02:05:06]

ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU.

GUYS. CALL FOR A VOTE.

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

AYE. ANY OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES.

ALL RIGHT. COURT, LET ME KIND OF.

I THINK WE CAN.

I'D LIKE TO DO IT IN THIS ORDER, WHICH IS I'D LIKE TO TAKE UP ITEM 68.

AND IF I LOOK AT MY AGENDA AND SOMEBODY PLEASE CORRECT ME, THAT WILL LEAVE US WITH THE TWO POSSIBLE EXECUTIVE SESSION MATTERS, BOTH WITH THE COUNTY PUBLIC WORKS, COUNTY ENGINEER DISCUSSION THERE AND THOSE MATTERS IN 70 A AND THEN IN 71 A SO IN OTHER WORDS, WE CAN FINISH UP WRAP UP THE AGENDA.

THAT SOUNDS GOOD. THE OPEN PROCESS.

AND THEN WE'LL HAVE A DISCUSSION ON EXECUTIVE SESSION FOR THOSE AGENDA ITEMS. ALL RIGHT. IN 69 I THINK 60.

YEAH WE'RE GOING TO TAKE UP.

OH WE'LL TAKE UP 60 AND 69.

ALL RIGHT. SO 68 DISCUSSION, APPROPRIATE ACTION REGARDING THE EXECUTION OF A LEASE AGREEMENT FOR 350 PARKING SPACES IN A STRUCTURE LOCATED AT

[68. Discussion and appropriate action regarding the execution of a lease agreement for 350 parking spaces in a structure located at 146 Navarro for a term of up to forty-eight (48) months for County employees; and amending Administrative Policy 4.6 - Bexar County Parking Facilities providing for parking to downtown County employees at no cost. (Estimated Presentation Time: 10 minutes)]

AND THE AMENDING ADMINISTRATIVE POLICY, 4.6 BEXAR COUNTY PARKING FACILITIES PROVIDING FOR PARKING TO DOWNTOWN EMPLOYEES AT NO COST.

SO, MR. CURRY, I UNDERSTAND THAT THERE ARE SOME ISSUES TO DISCUSS, SO WHY DON'T YOU BRING IT TO THE COURT'S ATTENTION? YES. SO SO I APOLOGIZE.

I'M GOING TO BE ASKING THE COURT TO DEFER THIS ITEM TO THE NEXT COMMISSIONERS COURT.

OFFICIALLY, WE ARE WORKING IN THE BACKGROUND WITH YOUR OFFICE AND YOUR HELP TO ESTABLISH A LEASE AT AN OFF SITE FACILITY FOR COUNTY EMPLOYEES.

THE THE AGREEMENT ISN'T QUITE THERE YET.

WE HAVE SOME PARTICULARS TO WORK OUT, SOME LATE ADDITIONS AND CHANGES.

SO I DON'T WANT TO PUT THE CART BEFORE THE HORSE, SO TO SPEAK.

BUT I WANTED TO LET THE COURT KNOW THAT WE HAVE AN ACTIVE WAIT LIST FOR COUNTY EMPLOYEES OF OVER 230 AT THE MOMENT, THAT ARE WAITING TO PAY FOR PARKING DOWNTOWN.

AND THEN THIS WILL BE A HUGE SOLUTION, A BIG WIN FOR US, FOR THE NEXT FOUR YEARS AS WE PUT TOGETHER A PERMANENT SOLUTION FOR THAT, FOR THAT, THAT ISSUE THAT CONTINUES TO EXACERBATE ISSUES FOR EMPLOYEES THAT ARE HERE.

AND IT WILL ALSO INCLUDE THE ADOPTION OF A REVISION TO OUR PARKING POLICY THAT WILL MAY TAKE SOME ACTION THAT WE OBVIOUSLY, ONCE THE COURT'S OPINION ON, FOR EQUITY PURPOSES.

BUT AGAIN, WE ARE NOT PREPARED TO BRING THAT AGREEMENT FORMALLY TO YOU TODAY.

SO WE'D ASK FOR YOU TO DEFER IT UNTIL THE 23RD.

SO YOU'RE ASKING A TABLE OF TWO WEEKS.

COME BACK AT THE IF SO, YES, PLEASE.

JANUARY 23RD.

RIGHT. MOTION BY COMMISSIONER CALVERT.

SECOND BY COMMISSIONER RODRIGUEZ.

ANY FURTHER DISCUSSIONS OR COMMENTS? COMMISSIONER CALVERT. COMMISSIONER.

MOODE. COMMISSIONER. RODRIGUEZ.

COMMISSIONER. CLAY-FLORES.

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

AYE. ANY OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES. PUT THIS ON THE AGENDA ITEM FOR THE NEXT COMMISSIONERS COURT MEETING.

I'LL JUST ASK THE EMPLOYEES FOR THEIR INDULGENT WORK.

WE'RE GETTING THERE. BUT I WANT TO MAKE SURE THE I'S ARE DOTTED.

T'S ARE CROSSED WHEN IT COMES TO THE LEASE AGREEMENT.

SO, MR. CURRY, PLEASE CARRY ON ON THE NEGOTIATION.

WE APPRECIATE THE TIME, JUDGE.

ALL RIGHT. WE'LL TAKE UP DISCUSSION AND PRESENTATION OF A STATUS REPORT ON THE ISSUANCE OF REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL FOR REQUEST FOR

[69. Discussion and presentation of a status report on the issuance of a Request For Proposal for broker administration services for the Bexar County Small Business Contractor Development and Bonding Program, approved by Commissioners Court at the December 12, 2023 meeting. (Estimated Presentation Time: 10 minutes)]

LET ME JUST KIND OF OPEN SO THE COURT UNDERSTANDS WHY I HAVE ASKED.

AND WE'RE NOT ASKING FOR ANY ACTION.

I AM ASKING THAT WE HAVE A DISCUSSION AS TO THE MATTER THAT WE TOOK UP ON DECEMBER 12TH. APPARENTLY IT HAD SOME VERY SPECIFIC, LANGUAGE IN REGARDS TO AN RFP.

THE AGENDA ITEM INCLUDED THE RFP, WHICH MET THE MINIMUM LEGAL REQUIREMENTS, WAS FULLY VETTED BY THE APPROPRIATE COUNTY STAFF.

IN OTHER WORDS, IT WAS GOOD TO GO.

ADDITIONALLY, THE AGENDA FORM INCLUDED A FULL TIMELINE, WHICH CALLED FOR THE RFP TO BE ISSUED THE DAY OF THE VOTE AND CONCLUDED ON JANUARY 25TH.

I CALLED FOR A STATUS UPDATE BECAUSE I'M CONCERNED ABOUT TWO MAJOR ISSUES, AND THAT IS THE DISCUSSION OF WHY THIS MATTER WASN'T POSTED ACCORDING TO THE DIRECTIVE OF THE COMMISSIONER'S COURT. SO, MISS TORRES, GOOD MORNING.

GOOD MORNING JUDGE.

COMMISSIONERS, MY NAME IS LISA LEONARD.

I'M A SENIOR CONTRACT SPECIALIST FOR BEXAR COUNTY.

AND THIS MORNING I'M GOING TO BE PROVIDING THE UPDATE ON RFP EVENT 1070 FOR BROKER ADMINISTRATION SERVICES.

[02:10:03]

THERE WILL BE A NON-MANDATORY PRE PROPOSAL MEETING ON FEBRUARY 7TH WITH A DEADLINE TO SUBMIT QUESTIONS SHORTLY AFTER THAT ON FEBRUARY 12TH.

THE PROPOSALS ARE DUE ON FEBRUARY 28TH, AND THERE WILL BE BROKER INTERVIEWS SCHEDULED ROUGHLY AROUND MARCH 13TH AND 14TH, WITH A BROKER BEING SELECTED HOPEFULLY SOMEWHERE AROUND MARCH.

I'M SORRY, APRIL 9TH AND THEN WITH A TENTATIVE CONTRACT START DATE FOR APRIL.

I'M SORRY FOR MAY 8TH.

PLEASE KEEP IN MIND THESE DATES ARE ESTIMATED THEY'RE THEY'RE TENTATIVE.

THEY CAN ALWAYS CHANGE AT ANY GIVEN TIME.

HOWEVER, WE DO PROVIDE NOTICE TO ANY OF THE INTERESTED PARTIES VIA THE PORTAL.

COULD I INTERRUPT YOU? ABSOLUTELY.

I ASK THE QUESTION. WHY WASN'T THIS RFP FOLLOWED? SO I UNDERSTAND Y'ALL ARE NOW RESETTING THE TIMELINES.

YES. THAT'S NOT ACCEPTABLE.

TELL ME WHY WE DIDN'T GET THIS THING DONE WHEN WE WERE.

Y'ALL WERE TOLD TO GET IT DONE.

SO ON DECEMBER 12TH WHEN COMMISSIONERS COURT APPROVED THE ATA.

SO AS FAR AS THE PURCHASING DEPARTMENT GOES, OUT OF RESPECT FOR COMMISSIONERS COURT'S DECISION, WE WERE ACTUALLY WAITING TO SEE WHETHER OR NOT THE AUTHORITY TO ADVERTISE WOULD ACTUALLY BE APPROVED BY COMMISSIONERS COURT OR NOT.

ONCE WE WERE, ONCE COMMISSIONERS COURT DID PROVIDE THAT, THAT AUTHORITY, IT WAS APPROVED AT THAT POINT.

THAT'S WHEN PURCHASING BEGAN.

THE, THE PROCESS TO BEGIN ADVERTISING THE SOLICITATION.

AND THAT ACTUALLY DOES INVOLVE REVIEWING THE SOLICITATION, REVIEWING THE SCOPE OF SERVICES.

AND WE WHEN WE CONDUCT THAT REVIEW, WE NEED TO ENSURE THAT THERE IS SUFFICIENCY, THAT IT IS CLEAR FOR ANY INTERESTED PARTIES AND IF THERE ARE ANY ISSUES AS FAR AS A PURCHASING STANDPOINT, AS FAR AS THE STATE STATUTES ARE CONCERNED, THAT WE GO THROUGH THE DOCUMENT AND WE ENSURE THAT THERE ARE, THAT WE ARE ACTUALLY FOLLOWING EVERYTHING THAT WE ARE SUPPOSED TO FOLLOW.

SO THAT DOCUMENT BEGAN ITS REVIEW ON THE 12TH.

ONCE WE DID GET THE GO AHEAD FROM COMMISSIONERS COURT TO GO AHEAD AND, ADVERTISE THE SOLICITATION.

AND ON THE 15TH, THAT'S WHEN THE RED LINE DOCUMENT WAS FINALIZED AND SENT OVER TO ALL OF THE, THE INTERESTED PARTIES, THE AND THE THE DEPARTMENTS WITHIN THE COUNTY.

SO WE WERE ACTUALLY WAITING FOR COMMISSIONERS COURT FOR THAT APPROVAL.

AND THEN WE BEGAN THE PROCESS.

AND THEN I NEED MAYBE I NEED TO BE EDUCATED.

MAYBE THE COURT CAN HELP ME.

I THOUGHT WE GAVE A DIRECTIVE TO STAFF AND IN LIGHT OF SOME OF THE PREVIOUS CONVERSATIONS, STAFF WAS GIVEN A DIRECTIVE.

ALL I WANT TO KNOW IS WHY WASN'T IT DONE? IT WAS A VERY SPECIFIC ABOUT CERTAIN DATES AND THOSE DATES WEREN'T MET.

AND I UNDERSTAND YOU'VE KIND OF RESET THE TIMELINES, BUT WHAT I'VE JUST HEARD IS YOU'RE SAYING THAT YOU.

AND SO MAYBE YOU FINISH THE POWERPOINT.

CAN WE FINISH? WHY DON'T YOU GO THROUGH THE POWERPOINT? IT'S IN THE POWERPOINT. OKAY.

GO AHEAD. I'M NOT EXACTLY SURE IF IT'S GOING TO GET QUEUED UP, BUT YOU DO HAVE IT.

DO YOU HAVE IT IN FRONT OF YOU? OKAY. I JUST DIDN'T WANT TO CONTINUE WITHOUT THAT.

OKAY. SO, AS FAR AS THE SO THE PRERELEASE TIMELINE.

SO ON DECEMBER 12TH FOR ITEM 88, THAT'S WHEN THE ETA WAS, WAS APPROVED.

AND THE DRAFT, IT WAS A DRAFT SCOPE OF SERVICES THAT WAS ACTUALLY TURNED IN.

SO IT WAS A DRAFT AND INCLUDED ON THE ACF THAT WAS TURNED IN.

THOSE DATES WERE ACTUALLY PROVIDED AS AN ESTIMATED TIMELINE.

SO, JUST WANTED TO NOTE THAT.

AND THEN THAT AFTERNOON, MISS TORRES BEGAN REVIEWING AND RED LINING THE DRAFT SCOPE OF SERVICES IT IS ASSIGNED TO ME.

HOWEVER, I DID HAVE MEETINGS, AND, SITE VISITS FOR OTHER SOLICITATIONS ON THOSE THREE DAYS.

SO THAT'S WHY MISS TORRES BEGAN THE PROCESS FOR ME ON DECEMBER 14TH.

I WENT AHEAD AND BEGAN MY PORTION OF IT.

SO I CREATED THE EVENT IN THE SUPPLIER PORTAL.

AND I WOULD LIKE TO THE COURT, JUST TO KEEP IN MIND THAT THE TIME REQUIRED FOR PURCHASING TO FINALIZE ANY SOLICITATION DOCUMENTS, THEY CAN VARY DEPENDING ON HOW THE SCOPE OF WORK OR THE SPECIFICATIONS ARE WRITTEN BY THE REQUESTING DEPARTMENT.

BUT WE ARE RESPONSIBLE ULTIMATELY FOR ENSURING THAT THE SOLICITATION DOCUMENTS ARE COMPLETE AND ALLOWING FOR FAIR COMPETITION, AND THAT THEY FOLLOW THE ALL THE APPLICABLE STATUTES, RULES AND PROCEDURES.

SO ALTHOUGH THERE MAY BE CERTAIN HICCUPS THAT COME UP, THIS IS ACTUALLY THE SCOPE IS ACTUALLY A LIVING, BREATHING DOCUMENT.

THERE ARE GOING TO BE CHANGES AT ONE POINT OR ANOTHER NEED TO BE MADE.

BUT ULTIMATELY, THE WHOLE PURPOSE OF US REVIEWING AGAIN AND RED LINING THE DOCUMENT IS TO ENSURE THAT THE COUNTY IS PROTECTED ON ALL FRONTS.

SO DID YOU RED LINE THE AGREEMENT THAT WAS PASSED LAST MONTH, IN DECEMBER? THAT WAS THE DOCUMENT THAT I REVIEWED IN RED LINED.

AND YES. SO IT'S NOT IT'S IT'S STILL NEEDS TO BE RED LINED AND BROUGHT BACK AND VETTED.

[02:15:04]

YES. THE CHANGES WERE NOT ACCEPTED BY THE DEPARTMENT.

BY THE REQUESTING DEPARTMENT.

OKAY. I WOULD LIKE TO NOTE THAT THE THE THE CHANGES THAT I DID, PROPOSE THEY WERE NOT CHANGES TO THE SCOPE OF THE DOCUMENT.

THE DOCUMENTS NAME IS SCOPE OF SERVICES, BUT THE ACTUAL SCOPE AS FAR AS THE THE DESCRIPTION OF THE THE SERVICES THAT WE'RE REQUESTING, THAT WAS NOT CHANGED BY THE DEPARTMENT AND BY MYSELF AND EXCUSE ME IN ANY WAY, SHAPE OR FORM, THE ONLY THINGS THAT WERE CHANGED WERE FORMATTING ERRORS, SOME GRAMMATICAL ERRORS, AND ITEMS SUCH AS COUNTY DEMOGRAPHICS, THINGS LIKE THAT.

ANYTHING ELSE THAT WAS BROUGHT UP, SUCH AS, MENTIONS OF, LET'S SEE, THE WORD DIVERSITY, THINGS LIKE THAT.

THOSE WERE ACTUALLY NOT, CHANGES THAT WERE MADE.

THEY WERE QUESTIONS THAT WERE RAISED LIKE, SHOULD WE BE INCLUDING THIS, IS THIS OKAY.

SO IT WASN'T ANY THERE WEREN'T ANY CHANGES THAT I OTHER THAN THE TABLE OF CONTENTS, THERE WERE NO CHANGES THAT I MADE, AS AN END ALL BE ALL.

THEY WERE ALL QUESTIONS AND JUST, HEY, IS THIS OKAY? MAYBE BECAUSE SOMETIMES WE'RE ALL HUMAN.

SOMETIMES WE MIGHT MISS A WORD OR TWO HERE AND THERE.

SO THEY WERE JUST OUT OF CONCERN FOR THE COUNTY TO MAKE SURE THAT WE WERE, IN FACT, PUTTING FORTH THE BEST FACE FORWARD FOR THIS PROJECT.

ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? COMMISSIONER CALVERT, WERE YOU DONE WITH YOUR POWERPOINT? THERE'S MORE. I DON'T KNOW IF YOU NEED TO WALK THROUGH THE POWERPOINT.

ABSOLUTELY NOT A PROBLEM.

BECAUSE, THE ONLY THING I'LL SAY BEFORE YOU FINISH IS THAT I HAD ASKED THE QUESTION IN THE LAST COURT IN DECEMBER, 12TH COURT, ABOUT LOCAL CAUSING US LEGAL ISSUES.

AND, LARRY, I WANT TO PARAPHRASE, BUT BASICALLY YOU SAID IT COULD BE AN ISSUE AND THE FIFTH CIRCUIT AND THE COURT SYSTEM.

SO, COMMISSIONER, THANK YOU.

I'D LIKE TO ADDRESS THAT BECAUSE REALLY THE ISSUE HERE IS THE THE ITEM YOU RAISED AT THAT COURT MEETING, WAS THE ISSUE THAT NEEDED TO BE ADDRESSED IN THAT RFP.

THE VERSION THAT THEY SENT ON DECEMBER 15TH, 2023 WAS AN OLD VERSION.

RENEE HAD ALREADY PREPARED A NEW DRAFT THAT HAD INCORPORATED THE CHANGES THAT CAME OUT OF THAT MEETING THAT WE HAD, THAT I HAD REVIEWED, THAT HAD BEEN ADDRESSED. THIS WAS AN OLD VERSION.

YEAH. AND SO THAT WAS THE ISSUE.

IT WAS A VERSION I HAD AS WELL.

I THINK WHEN WE AND MY OFFICE HAD RECEIVED, EMAIL TO BRING THIS TO COURT, THE BACKGROUND MATERIAL THAT WE HAD INCLUDED LOCAL.

SO I'M GLAD IT WAS TAKEN OUT.

I'M GLAD IT WAS TAKEN OUT OF THE FINAL VERSION.

I DID SEE, I THINK YESTERDAY THE VERSION WAS SENT TO ME.

THAT'S MOST UPDATED AND IT DOES HAVE IT OUT.

SO THAT'S A GOOD THING. WE JUST WE JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THAT WAS DONE.

SO FROM FROM A REVIEW STANDPOINT, IT SEEMS LIKE THERE WAS SOME BACK AND FORTH BEFORE THAT HAPPENED.

BUT I THINK YOU NEED TO FINISH YOUR POWERPOINT.

SO JUST REALLY QUICK TO TOUCH ON, WHAT MR. ROBERSON MENTIONED.

THERE WAS A DIFFERENCE.

THERE WAS A DIFFERENT VERSION. HOWEVER, THE ONLY THING, THE ONLY REVISION THAT OR THE ONLY COMMENT OR RED LINE THAT I MADE THAT WAS NOT RELEVANT BECAUSE OF THE FACT THAT IT WAS NOT THE MOST UPDATED VERSION OF THE DOCUMENT, WAS THE INCLUSION OF A VENDOR REGISTRATION FORM.

I'M SORRY. EXCUSE ME. NO, IT IS RIGHT HERE.

HANG ON. IT WAS REGARDING, SWIMMY.

IT STATED IT WAS REWARDED.

IT WAS THE PROGRAM BEING DESIGNED TO INCREASE THE, THE PARTICIPATION OF SWIM BEYOND COUNTY PROJECTS, AND IT WAS CHANGED TO, THE VENDOR REGISTRATION, I'M SORRY, INCREASING THE PARTICIPATION OF SMALL BUSINESS ENTERPRISES.

SO OTHER THAN THAT, ALL THE OTHER RED LINES THAT I MADE TO THE DOCUMENT WOULD HAVE BEEN THE SAME, WHETHER IT WAS THE DOCUMENT, THE OUTDATED VERSION, OR THE NEW ONE.

IN OTHER WORDS, ALL THE RED LINES I MADE WITH THE EXCEPTION OF THAT ONE, THEY'RE STILL NEEDING TO BE CORRECTED, AND THEY STILL SHOULD BE ADDRESSED BECAUSE IT COULD HAVE GOTTEN US IN LITIGATION.

OKAY, OKAY.

SO WITH, LET'S SEE WITH PAGE FIVE OF THE POWERPOINT, THE PROPOSED SUMMARY OF THE INITIAL REVISION.

SO THE REVISIONS AND MODIFICATIONS AND ADMINISTRATIVE CHANGES PROPOSED BY PURCHASING AND NOT ACCEPTED BY THE CBD DEPARTMENT INCLUDE THE COVER PAGE. THE INCORRECT RFP NUMBER WAS REFERENCED.

THERE WAS NO REFERENCE TO ELECTRONIC SUBMISSION, THE ELECTRONIC SUBMISSION OPTION, OR INFORMATION ON HOW TO DO SO.

THE TABLE OF CONTENTS WERE INCORRECT.

WITH THE EXCEPTION OF INTRODUCTION, NONE OF THE TITLES PROVIDED ON THE TABLE OF CONTENTS MATCH THE CONTENT OF THE DOCUMENT.

IT'S FOR SECTION TWO.

THE COUNTY BEXAR COUNTY.

GENERAL BACKGROUND INFORMATION.

THERE WERE SOME INACCURACIES WITH THE UPDATE WITH THE DEMOGRAPHIC DEMOGRAPHIC INFORMATION.

EXCUSE ME. I WENT AHEAD AND WENT TO THE CENSUS WEBSITE AND MADE SURE THAT EVERYTHING WAS CORRECT.

SO THAT WAY I UPDATED THAT INFORMATION.

[02:20:03]

ON SECTION THREE, THE GENERAL INFORMATION, ANY WRITTEN QUESTIONS SUBMITTED THROUGH THE SUPPLIER PORTAL.

THEY ARE NOT TO BE EMAILED TO THE PURCHASING AGENT.

THE OFFICIAL WAY TO DO SO IS TO PROVIDE THEM ON THE BEXAR COUNTY SUPPLIER PORTAL.

HOWEVER, IF FOR SOME REASON THE INTERESTED PARTIES ARE NOT ABLE TO DO SO BECAUSE IT DOES HAPPEN, WE ALLOW THEM TO EMAIL THE QUESTIONS TO THE POINT OF CONTACT FOR THE SOLICITATION, WHICH IN THIS CASE WOULD BE MYSELF.

I THEN MAKE SURE THAT THE DEPARTMENT'S JUST THE WAY IT WOULD ON THE PORTAL.

I MAKE SURE THAT THE DEPARTMENTS THEN GET THOSE QUESTIONS THAT THAT THEY ANSWER THEM.

SO THAT WAY THE INTERESTED PARTIES HAVE ALL THE INFORMATION THAT THEY NEED IN ORDER TO PRESENT THE BEST PROPOSAL THAT THEY CAN.

AS FAR AS THE EVALUATION CRITERIA, THIS WAS A RATHER SERIOUS ONE.

THE THE SCORED CRITERIA DID NOT INCLUDE BEING REVIEWED FOR THE COMPLIANCE WITH COUNTY POLICIES.

HOWEVER, IT IS STATED IN THE DESCRIPTION AS THE COMPLIANCE WITH COUNTY POLICIES BEING AS ONE OF THE EVALUATION FACTORS.

THE REASON THIS IS ONE OF THE ONES THAT I SAID, THAT WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE COMPLYING WITH THE STATE STATUTES.

THIS WAS ESPECIALLY IMPORTANT BECAUSE THE STATE OF TEXAS REQUIRES THE SOLICITATION, IDENTIFY THE EVALUATION CRITERIA AND THE RELATIVE WEIGHT ASSIGNED TO EACH CRITERION, SO THAT RIGHT THERE WAS IN VIOLATION OF PURCHASING STATUTE.

ON PAGE SEVEN.

THE SLIDE SEVEN. EXCUSE ME.

FOR THE PROPOSAL REQUIREMENTS.

THOSE ARE ACTUALLY SEPARATED INTO MULTIPLE SECTIONS OF THE SCOPE OF SERVICES.

SO THIS CREATES AN OPPORTUNITY FOR CONFUSION AMONG THE INTERESTED PARTIES.

AND THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE WANT TO ELIMINATE.

ABSOLUTELY. WE WANT TO MAKE THE SCOPE OF SERVICES DOCUMENT.

AND EVERYTHING THAT WE PROVIDE TO THE INTERESTED PARTIES BE IS CLEAR AS POSSIBLE.

SO THAT AGAIN, THERE'S THERE'S A VERY THERE'S NO QUESTION.

AND THEY HAVE THE CONFIDENCE THAT THEY HAVE THE TOOLS AND RESOURCES THAT THEY NEED IN ORDER TO PROVIDE THE BEST PROPOSAL THAT THEY CAN FOR THEIR FOR THE COUNTY.

THE INDEMNIFICATION AND INSURANCE INFORMATION, HAD NOT BEEN PROVIDED TO THE RISK MANAGEMENT COORDINATOR.

AND THAT WAS THEN DONE SO BY MISS TORRES AND UPDATED ON THE DOCUMENT.

THEN THE FORMS FROM THE SCOPE OF SERVICES, THE SCOPE OF SERVICES OR SCOPE OF WORK, DEPENDING ON THE THE SOLICITATION AND WHAT IT IS THAT WE'RE REQUESTING, SHOULD ONLY CONTAIN THE THE DESCRIPTION OF WHAT IT IS THAT WE ARE, WHAT GOODS OR SERVICES WE ARE ASKING FOR THE PUBLIC TO PROVIDE, AS WELL AS ANY REQUIREMENTS THAT THEY MAY NEED.

WE DON'T NECESSARILY NEED TO INCLUDE THE FORMS IN THERE.

HOWEVER, WE DO MENTION WHAT THEY NEED.

SO THERE WILL BE.

I KNOW PERSONALLY FOR MY OWN, I INCLUDE A CHECKLIST IN THE SCOPE OF SERVICES, JUST SO THAT WAY THEY HAVE A ONE STOP PLACE TO SEE.

OKAY, THIS IS WHERE WE, THIS IS WHAT WE NEED, AND THIS IS WHERE WE CAN FIND IT WITHIN THE SUPPLIER PORTAL OR THE SCOPE OF WORK, SCOPE OF SERVICES, WHATEVER HAVE YOU.

HOWEVER, A LOT OF THE FORMS THAT WERE INCLUDED IN THAT SCOPE OF SERVICES WERE EITHER OUTDATED, THEY WERE INCORRECT, OR IN THE CASE, ESPECIALLY OF THE SUPPLIER REGISTRATION FORM THAT IS INDICATED, IT IS INDICATED IT'S A PURCHASING FORM.

AND IT WAS THAT ONE THAT'S BEEN OUTDATED FOR ALMOST TEN YEARS NOW.

AGAIN, IT IS OBSOLETE AND IT INDICATES THAT WE WILL REGISTER THE VENDORS FOR THEM IF THEY ARE NOT ALREADY REGISTERED.

AND WE DO NOT DO THAT.

IT'S IT'S A SELF REGISTRATION PROCESS.

NOT ONLY THAT, THE, FORM REQUESTS RACE, RACE AND GENDER INFORMATION.

AND WHILE IT. YES.

AND WHILE IT DOES SAY THAT IT IS OPTIONAL, IT IS IN PARENTHESES THAT IT IS OPTIONAL.

THAT DOCUMENT ITSELF IS IT STATED THAT IT'S MANDATORY IN THEIR PROPOSAL.

HOWEVER, ALTHOUGH WE DO ASK THOSE QUESTIONS, IT IS DURING REGISTRATION.

IT IS NOT DURING A SOLICITATION.

WE MAKE IT VERY CLEAR TO NOT ASK FOR ANY OF THAT INFORMATION WITHIN A SOLICITATION OR WITHIN THE SOLICITATION DOCUMENTS.

THE ONLY TIME PURCHASING ASK FOR THAT INFORMATION IS WHEN THE THE VENDORS, THE I'M SORRY, THE POTENTIAL VENDORS OR SUPPLIERS ARE REGISTERING AND THE SUPPLIER PORTAL.

AND THAT IS SOMETHING THEY DO THEMSELVES.

WE DO NOT VIEW THAT INFORMATION WHEN THEY'RE REGISTERING.

SO THAT IS SOMETHING THAT REALLY DOES NOT NEED TO BE AND SHOULD NOT BE INCLUDED IN THE SCOPE OF WORK OR SCOPE OF SERVICES FOR ANY SOLICITATION AT ALL.

AS FAR AS ANY LEGAL COMMENTS OR CLARIFICATIONS THAT I MAY HAVE HAD, THE INCLUSION OF DIVERSE WAS IN SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE DRAFT SCOPE OF SERVICES.

THAT WAS SOMETHING THAT I WAS HERE FOR THE COMMISSIONER'S COURT DATE WHERE THIS WAS APPROVED.

AND THAT WAS SOMETHING THAT I, I HEARD THAT WAS VERY IMPORTANT, THAT WE MADE SURE THAT RACE AND GENDER WAS NOT INCLUDED.

SO I QUESTIONED WHETHER IT WAS OKAY THAT WE ARE INCLUDING THAT THIS WORD WAS STILL IN THERE.

[02:25:04]

SO THE THE WORD DIVERSE WAS THERE.

AND NOT ONLY THAT, THE INCLUSION OF MINOR OR MINORITY CERTIFICATIONS IS ALSO INCLUDED IN PAGE FIVE OF THE SCOPE.

AND THAT WAS SOMETHING THAT I WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT THAT WE WERE OKAY.

IT WASN'T SOMETHING THAT I MADE A UNILATERAL DECISION THAT, NO, WE'RE JUST NOT GOING TO INCLUDE THIS IN THERE.

IT WAS SOMETHING THAT I ASKED, IS THIS OKAY? SHOULD THIS BE IN HERE? WHO ARE YOU ASKING THESE QUESTIONS TO? THE DOCUMENT, WAS SENT BACK TO.

WELL, IT WAS SENT TO MISS TORRES, AND SHE SENT IT OUT TO THE, TO MISS TO LEGAL AND TO THE REQUESTING DEPARTMENT, WHICH IS THE SPED DEPARTMENT AND THE CHIEFS OF STAFF.

I'M SORRY. SO WHOM? TO WHOM? TO THE DA'S OFFICE, TO THE THE SPED OFFICE, THE SMALL BUSINESS AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP DEPARTMENT.

AND TO THE CHIEFS OF STAFF.

WHAT? CHIEFS OF STAFF FOR COMMISSIONERS COURT.

OKAY. SO THE SO THE INCLUSION OF MINORITY CERTIFICATIONS WAS INCLUDED.

AND LET'S SEE AGAIN THE VENDOR REGISTRATION FORM, IT WAS REQUESTING THE DIVERSITY CODES AND THE SWIM CERTIFICATIONS.

AND THEN ON SLIDE NINE, AGAIN THE COVER PAGE, THERE WAS AN INCORRECT RFP NUMBER.

AND NOT ONLY THAT, I, I TRY TO DO THIS WITH A LOT OF MY SCOPES OF WORK BECAUSE OF THE FACT THAT I UNDERSTAND THAT NOT EVERYONE HAS A BACKGROUND IN PURCHASING, AND I TRY TO MAKE SURE THAT THE SCOPES ARE CLEAR FOR, YOU KNOW, THE LAYPERSON TO BE ABLE TO READ IT BECAUSE THIS IS A PUBLIC THIS IS GOING TO BE VIEWED BY THE PUBLIC.

SO I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT IT IS READER FRIENDLY.

SO I PROVIDED IT TO TWO DIFFERENT INDIVIDUALS WHO DO NOT DEVELOP SCOPES OF WORK.

THEY HAVE NOTHING TO DO WITH THAT PART.

THERE WAS A INTRODUCTORY PARAGRAPH, AND THEN ON PAGE TWO WAS THE COVER SHEET FOR THE DOCUMENT.

SO I THE FIRST THING THEY SAID WAS YOU STAPLED IT WRONG.

BUT IN FACT THAT'S HOW THE DOCUMENT WAS ASKED TO BE PRESENTED.

SO I THOUGHT THAT SHOULD BE CHANGED AGAIN.

THERE WAS A TABLE OF CONTENTS, THE GENERAL INFORMATION.

I THINK THESE ACTUALLY HAVE ALREADY BEEN COVERED, SO I.

OH THERE WAS. OH, YES.

I'M SORRY. THE REVISIONS.

I'M SORRY. SO THIS IS THE THESE ARE THE REVISED.

THE LAST PAGES ARE GOING TO BE MAINLY THE SAME, BUT IT'S BECAUSE IT'S SHOWING AGAIN, AS MR. ROBERTSON SAID, THAT THERE IS A CHANGE IN, RECOMMENDED REVISIONS BETWEEN THE DOCUMENT THAT WAS APPROVED OR THAT WAS, I'M SORRY, REVIEWED BY COMMISSIONERS COURT ON DECEMBER 12TH VERSUS THE ONE THAT WE RECEIVED FROM THE REQUESTING DEPARTMENT, WHICH IS A SMALL BUSINESS AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP DEPARTMENT, ON JANUARY 5TH.

AND ON JANUARY 5TH, I SENT AN EMAIL OUT TO THE REQUESTING DEPARTMENT WITH AN UPDATED TIMELINE, BECAUSE OF THE FACT THAT WHEN WE RECEIVED THE WHEN ON JANUARY 4TH, WHEN MISS TORRES SENT AN EMAIL ASKING FOR AN UPDATE TO ANY OF THE RED LINES THAT WE HAD SENT FORTH, WE WERE, WE WERE TOLD THAT THE REVISIONS WERE NOT REQUESTED BY ANYONE.

AND FOR US TO PLEASE RELEASE THE RFP WITH THE DOCUMENT AS IS.

SO ON JANUARY 5TH, I SENT AN UPDATED TIMELINE WITH, CERTAIN DATES AND THE RFP.

ACTUALLY, I WAS READY TO RELEASE IT ON THE FIFTH.

THAT AFTERNOON, I TOOK MY LAPTOP HOME WITH ME BECAUSE IT WAS ALREADY CLOSE TO 5 P.M.

JUST TO BE SURE THAT ONCE I GOT THAT EMAIL BACK, I WOULD GO AHEAD AND LOG BACK ON, WHETHER IT WAS FRIDAY, WHETHER IT'S SATURDAY OR SUNDAY, AND I WOULD GO AHEAD AND RELEASE THE RFP. AT THAT POINT, HOWEVER, WE RECEIVED AN EMAIL RESPONSE BACK FROM THE DIRECTOR ASKING US TO PLEASE CHANGE THE DATES TO THE RFP AND FOR IT TO NOT BE RELEASED UNTIL TOMORROW, JANUARY 10TH.

SO THAT'S WHERE WE ARE AT NOW.

ANY QUESTIONS? COMMENTS? THE ONLY COMMENT I CAN SAY IS THANK YOU FOR SAVING THE COUNTY FROM SOME LITIGATION, POTENTIALLY BECAUSE WE HAD THE VERSION THAT I HAVE.

I HAVE THE RED LINE. THIS IS THE RED LINE VERSION, IF ANYBODY WANTS TO SEE IT INCLUDED THE VERSION I HAD FROM NOVEMBER 30TH AND DECEMBER 12TH INCLUDED IN THE RFP RACE AND LOCAL, WHICH COULD GET THE COUNTY SUED LIKE WE DID ON THE LIFT FUND LOANS IN THE FEDERAL LAWSUIT. SO THANK YOU FOR POINTING THAT OUT.

I'M SORRY THAT SOME STAFF DIDN'T WANT THOSE CHANGES, BUT I THINK THAT IN THE END, THE FACT THAT A FINAL VERSION HAD THOSE THINGS REMOVED IS INDICATIVE OF DOING THE RIGHT THING.

THAT'S ALL I'M GOING TO SAY ABOUT THAT.

WELL, I WANT TO POINT A CLARIFICATION.

SO ARE YOU SAYING THAT THE RED LINE VERSION THAT YOU HAD IDENTIFIED, THAT HAD PROBLEMATIC LANGUAGE, WHY DID YOU HAVE THE RFP

[02:30:02]

SO MY QUESTION IS, DID YOU MAKE ANY CHANGES TO THE RFP DOCUMENT THAT WAS DONE IN DECEMBER? YES. SO THE ONLY DIFFERENCE, AGAIN, THE ONLY DIFFERENCE.

SO TELL ME WHAT CHANGES YOU MADE.

THE ONLY THOSE WERE ALL THE CHANGES.

THE ONLY DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE ONE THAT WAS APPROVED IN COMMISSIONERS COURT ON DECEMBER 12TH AND THE ONE THAT I REDLINED WAS THE THE REWORDING OF THE PROGRAM WAS BEING DESIGNED TO INCREASE THE PARTICIPATION OF SWIM BE.

THAT WAS THE ONE FROM NOVEMBER 30TH AND THE ONE FROM DECEMBER 12TH.

READ TO INCREASE THE PARTICIPATION OF SMALL BUSINESS ENTERPRISES.

OTHER THAN THAT ONE RED LINE ITEM, THE ALL THE OTHER RED LINES WERE STILL THERE ON THE DECEMBER 12TH DOCUMENT.

SO THE HOW MANY CHANGES WERE MADE THEN? NUMERICALLY BY THE DEPARTMENT? OR DID I LIE BY YOU? AT LEAST 13.

OKAY. BUT THEY WERE NOT.

AND THOSE WERE. THAT DOES NOT INCLUDE FORMATTING.

HOW CAN WE THEN I GUESS MY BOTTOM LINE QUESTION HOW CAN WE AVOID THIS MISUNDERSTANDING IN THE FUTURE? HONESTLY, I BELIEVE IT WAS JUST A MISCOMMUNICATION.

MISINFORMATION. SO FROM WHO TO WHO? THAT I'M NOT EXACTLY SURE.

SO HOLD ON. YOU'RE YOU'RE MAKING CHANGES.

HOW DID HOW DID YOU BASE YOUR CHANGES ON FROM AN OLD DOCUMENT? WE DID NOT RECEIVE THE ORIGINAL SCOPE OF SERVICES DOCUMENT UNTIL NOVEMBER 30TH.

SO AT THAT POINT.

BUT THAT WASN'T A DOCUMENT APPROVED.

NO, THAT WAS NOT THE DOCUMENT THAT WAS APPROVED.

HOWEVER, HELP ME UNDERSTAND THE COMMUNICATION AFTER YOU GOT THE DOCUMENT ON DECEMBER 12TH.

AND I APPRECIATE THE WORK YOU ALL ARE DOING.

IT'S JUST THIS TYPE OF COMMUNICATION IS WHAT BREAKS DOWN THE PROCESS AND THEN CAUSES THE PUBLIC TO SAY, HEY, HOW COME? HOW COME HAVING THINGS HAVEN'T MOVED ACCORDING TO WHAT WAS ON THOSE DOCUMENTS? DO YOU UNDERSTAND WHERE I'M TRYING TO ELIMINATE THE MISUNDERSTANDINGS IN THE FUTURE? THAT'S WHY I'M HAVING THIS STATUS REPORT.

I UNDERSTAND, PERHAPS IT IS JUST A BIG MISUNDERSTANDING.

THEN THE QUESTION I HAVE IS HOW CAN WE AVOID.

WHAT RECOMMENDATIONS DO YOU HAVE TO AVOID THESE TYPE OF MISUNDERSTANDINGS? THANK YOU FOR THAT SO THAT THE PUBLIC CAN UNDERSTAND.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR QUESTION. YEAH, I APPRECIATE THAT.

SO FIRST AND FOREMOST, I THINK IT'S VERY IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT TYPICALLY WITH SOLICITATIONS, WHEN FORMAL SOLICITATIONS OR EVEN INFORMAL SOLICITATIONS COME ABOUT, THE DEPARTMENT, THE REQUESTING DEPARTMENT TYPICALLY WORKS WITH PURCHASING TO START DEVELOPING THE SCOPE.

AND THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WAS NOT DONE IN THIS CASE.

A LOT OF IT COULD HAVE BEEN AVOIDED HAD BEFORE IT EVEN WENT TO COMMISSIONERS COURT HAD, YOU KNOW, WE'VE BEEN GIVEN AMPLE TIME TO ACTUALLY REVIEW IT.

BUT I WOULD LIKE TO NOTE, I WOULD LIKE TO NOTE THAT IN DEFENSE OF THE REQUESTING DEPARTMENT, IT THE THE SCOPE, THE SCOPE OF SERVICES THAT WAS TURNED IN, IT WAS TURNED IN AS A DRAFT SCOPE OF SERVICES AND IN IN NOT NOT THAT I NEED TO DEFEND ANYONE, BUT ALSO TO TO THE CREDIT OF MR. ROBERSON. EVEN HE STATED IN A, IN A FOLLOWING AN EMAIL, I BELIEVE IT WAS THE 13TH OF DECEMBER, STATED THAT THERE MAY BE CHANGES THAT COME ABOUT TO THE DOCUMENT AS A RESULT AFTER, YOU KNOW, THE COMMISSIONER'S COURT APPROVAL.

SO BECAUSE OF THAT, YOU KNOW, AGAIN, THIS IS A LIVING, BREATHING DOCUMENT, TO BE QUITE HONEST WITH YOU, JUDGE, THERE ARE SOME CHANGES THAT ARE SOMETIMES DONE TO SCOPES OF WORK ONCE THE SOLICITATION IS RELEASED.

THAT'S WHAT THE AMENDMENTS AND ADDENDUMS TAKE CARE OF.

THEY NOTIFY THE PUBLIC OF ANY CHANGES AND THEY LET THEM KNOW WHERE TO FIND THOSE CHANGES.

SO ALTHOUGH, WITH MUCH RESPECT, DUE TO THE COURT, ALTHOUGH THEY WERE PRESENTED, THE COURT WAS PRESENTED WITH A DOCUMENT FOR THEIR REVIEW AND FOR THEIR APPROVAL.

SOMETIMES THERE ARE CHANGES THAT DO HAVE TO BE MADE, BUT AGAIN, THE PUBLIC IS MADE AWARE OF THEM, AND ALL THE CHANGES THAT ARE THAT ARE MADE ARE MADE IN ACCORDANCE WITH STATE PURCHASING LAWS.

SO WE DO TRY TO MAKE SURE THAT WE KEEP EVERYONE PROTECTED AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE.

BUT UNFORTUNATELY, BECAUSE THIS DOES DEAL WITH, YOU KNOW, HUMAN BEINGS AND THIS, YOU KNOW, IT IS A LIVING, BREATHING DOCUMENT.

IT IS GOING TO AT SOME POINT REQUIRE EDITS HERE AND THERE.

BUT I WOULD LIKE TO STRESS AGAIN, ANY OF THE CHANGES THAT WERE MADE, THEY WERE NOT MADE TO THE SCOPE OF THE ACTUAL PROJECT.

WE WERE NOT CHANGING IN ANY WAY, SHAPE OR FORM THE OBJECTIVE OF THE SPED DEPARTMENT.

WE WERE NOT CHANGING IN ANY WAY, SHAPE OR FORM WHAT WAS BEING REQUESTED OF THE INTERESTED PARTIES.

BUT DO YOU UNDERSTAND WHY THE PUBLIC WOULD GET FRUSTRATED?

[02:35:02]

THIS REVIEW HAPPENED TO A DOCUMENT THAT WAS AN OLD DOCUMENT.

I KNOW THIS BECAUSE I MADE THE CHANGES THAT COMMISSIONER CALVERT HANDED TO YOU.

RENEE LOOKED AT THOSE CHANGES.

SHE KNOWS EXACTLY WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT.

THAT DOCUMENT GOT IN THEIR HANDS, AND THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN, ALL OF THESE PROBLEMS EXISTED.

WE WE WORKED ON THOSE PROBLEMS. WE GOT THEM OUT OF THE DOCUMENT, AND NOW WE BACKTRACKED.

AND THAT DOCUMENT WAS SENT OUT ON DECEMBER 15TH.

AND I KNOW EXACTLY WHAT I SAID.

I DIDN'T REVIEW THE SCOPE OF SERVICES BECAUSE THE SCOPE OF SERVICES IS A, A REQUEST FOR WHEN YOU'RE ASKING, CONTRACTORS TO PROVIDE YOU WITH SOMETHING, YOU GIVE THEM WHAT YOU WANT AND THEY TELL YOU WHAT THEY CAN DO FOR YOU.

AND THAT'S NOT A LEGAL ISSUE.

THAT'S THAT'S ASKING THEM WHAT THEY CAN DO FOR YOU.

SO I DON'T WANT TO HAVE INDIVIDUALS FROM PURCHASING PUT WORDS IN MY MOUTH ABOUT WHAT I DID OR DIDN'T DO.

I KNOW WHAT I DID FOR THIS PROJECT, AND I KNOW HOW I REVIEWED THAT.

AND YOU CAN LOOK AT MY EMAILS FOR YOURSELF.

I THINK YOU HAVE THAT, THE RECORDS ARE PRETTY CLEAR ABOUT THAT.

THEY'RE LOOKING AT AN OLD DOCUMENT.

THEY REVIEWED AN OLD DOCUMENT.

THEY DIDN'T LOOK AT THE UPDATED DOCUMENT WHEN THEY LOOKED AT THE UPDATED DOCUMENT, THERE WAS NOTHING TO CHANGE.

AND I THINK IF RENEE SHOULD HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY.

THAT IS TRUE. WITH ALL DUE RESPECT, THAT IS TRUE.

I COULD TAKE. WE'RE GOING TO LET LARRY FINISH HIS COMMENTS.

THANK YOU. COMMISSIONER, I THINK RENEE CAN COME UP HERE AND AND I THINK SHE SHOULD HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO AT LEAST WEIGH IN ON THIS.

I WOULD JUST LIKE TO NOTE. HOLD ON, HOLD ON, HOLD ON I WANT RENEE BUT DAVID SMITH, SAME QUESTION.

HOW DO WE FIX THIS? HOW DO WE PREVENT THIS FROM HAPPENING IN THE FUTURE? WELL, FROM THE MY.

INTERNALLY. THIS DOCUMENT WAS REVIEWED BEFORE IT EVER GOT TO YOUR AGENDA.

COMMENTS WERE SOLICITED.

COMMENTS WERE MADE.

LARRY DID HIS REVIEW.

I READ IT MYSELF.

SO WHY IT WOULD STILL BE NECESSARY AFTER THE COURT APPROVED A DOCUMENT? WELL, AS IT TURNS OUT, THEY'RE NOT EVEN REVIEWING THE DOCUMENT THAT YOU APPROVED.

IT SOUNDS LIKE IT SOUNDS LIKE THEY REVIEWED AN OLD VERSION OF THE.

NO, WE DID.

WE REVIEWED IT. I THINK LARRY WOULD KNOW WHAT'S ON, WHAT HE PUT ON THE AGENDA I CAN WHAT I WAS ABOUT TO SAY IS I CAN ACTUALLY, IF YOU LIKE, THE COURT WOULD LIKE, IF YOU WOULD PLEASE THE COURT, I CAN ACTUALLY TAKE THE THE DOCUMENT THAT WAS SENT ON JANUARY 5TH BY THE SPED DEPARTMENT, AND I CAN REDLINE THAT WITHIN A FEW HOURS THIS AFTERNOON AND SEND IT OUT. AND YOU CAN SEE THAT THOSE ISSUES THAT I MENTIONED IN THAT DOCUMENT, WITH THE EXCEPTION OF THAT ONE CORRECTION THAT I'VE BROUGHT UP OVER AND OVER AGAIN, THE ONE ABOUT CHANGING IT FROM QUIMBY TO CHANGING IT TO SMALL BUSINESS ENTERPRISES, WITH THAT EXCEPTION, ALL THE CORRECTIONS ARE STILL VALID.

ALL THE CORRECTION REQUESTS, THEY'RE STILL NECESSARY.

JUDGE, IF I CAN FINISH.

IT WAS. MY BIGGER CONCERN IS WHY IT'S TAKEN.

WHAT IS IT? 1218 MONTHS SINCE THE COURT INITIALLY BUDGETED FOR THIS? IT'S, OR AT LEAST DIRECTED US TO DO THIS.

I THAT'S MY BIGGER CONCERN IS WHAT WHAT'S BEEN HAPPENING FOR A YEAR AND A HALF.

WE WEREN'T INVOLVED IN YEAR. ALL RIGHT.

LET ME I'M GOING TO I'M GOING TO PUT AN ORDER.

LET ME HAVE MISS RENEE WATSON.

MISS RENEE. GOOD AFTERNOON.

COURT. MY NAME IS RENEE WATSON.

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

I WANT TO ASK TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION THAT YOU ASKED.

WHAT CAN WE DO TO FIX IT? WE NEED AN UPDATED PURCHASING MANUAL.

WE NEED DIRECTION FROM THE PURCHASING DEPARTMENT ON HOW OFFICES AND DEPARTMENTS ARE TO MOVE THINGS FORWARD.

THIS RFP THAT WE SUBMITTED AS A DEPARTMENT WAS IN PURCHASING FOR FOR A WHILE.

IT WAS THEN BROUGHT THROUGH THE PROCUREMENT, THE PROCESS THROUGH AN ACF AND A, RFP, AND THE PURCHASING DEPARTMENT PUT IT ON THE AGENDA.

SO IF THERE WERE ANY ISSUES IN THAT RFP, THEY SHOULD HAVE BEEN BROUGHT BACK TO THE DEPARTMENT BEFORE THEY WERE PRESENTED TO COMMISSIONERS COURT.

BECAUSE WHEN WE WHEN THE PURCHASING DEPARTMENT, THE PURCHASING AGENT SIGNED THE AGENDA COORDINATION FORM, ASKED FOR APPROVAL, AUTHORITY TO ADVERTISE THE COURT, THE THE, THE LEGAL, THE MANAGER, ALL OF US SAID IT'S READY TO GO.

IF PURCHASING HAD ISSUES WITH IT BEING READY TO GO, IT SHOULD NOT HAVE COME TO COMMISSIONERS COURT.

THAT IS THE ANSWER TO FIXING THE PROBLEM.

THE PURCHASING MANUAL HAS NOT BEEN UPDATED SINCE JANUARY OF 2019.

ALL OF THE OFFICES AND DEPARTMENTS HAVE ISSUES WITH THE PURCHASING AND PROCUREMENT PROCESS.

THE SENIOR CONTRACT SPECIALIST WHO MADE THE PRESENTATION, SHE HAS SOME ERRORS IN HER CONVERSATION.

I DON'T THINK THIS IS THE APPROPRIATE TIME FOR ME TO ADDRESS EACH ONE OF THOSE, BUT SHE SENT ME HER EMAIL ON FRIDAY WITH A PROPOSED

[02:40:06]

I DID NOT AGREE WITH THAT, AND I ADDED A NEW CALENDAR, WHICH SHE IS NOW READING IN HER POWERPOINT.

SO WE WENT FROM APRIL TO MAY BECAUSE WE WANT THE BIDDERS, THE RESPONDENTS, TO HAVE THE SAME AMOUNT OF TIME.

THAT'S WHY WE SAID NO TO HER RELEASING IT ON FRIDAY.

SO HOW DO WE RESET THIS? MISS WATSON? WE NEED TO HAVE A WORK SESSION FOR WHICH YOU SAID NOT WITH THE COURT.

AT THE LAST WORK SESSION, THE PURCHASING AGENT, AUDITOR, LEGAL AND US WAS SUPPOSED TO BE CONVENED TO WORK OUT THESE ISSUES FOR THE PURCHASING MANUAL. YOU THE COURT HAD A PURCHASING WORK SESSION, AND WE WERE SUPPOSED TO COME BACK WITH THE UPDATED PURCHASING MANUAL WITH GUIDELINES AND PROCEDURES FOR THIS DEPARTMENT.

THERE ARE ISSUES ON THE AGENDA TODAY THAT OFFICE AND DEPARTMENTS ARE ASKING FOR A NEW RFP PROCESS, BUT YET YOU'RE ON MONTH TO MONTH CONTRACTS BECAUSE WE DO NOT HAVE A PROCESS COMING OUT OF THE PROCUREMENT DEPARTMENT.

THAT'S WHAT WE'RE ASKING FOR.

IT WOULD HELP OUR VENDORS AND IT WOULD HELP EVERY OFFICE IN THE DEPARTMENT.

ALL RIGHT. I THINK AS A POINT OF ORDER, THIS IS JUST A DISCUSSION.

WE'RE NOT TAKING ANY ACTION.

IT SOUNDS LIKE THERE'S A LOT OF WORK TO BE DONE.

I WILL LEAD THAT DISCUSSION WITH STAFF.

I WILL ASK MY STAFF, MY CHIEF OF STAFF, TO LEAD THAT PROCESS OF PUTTING ALL THE PEOPLE IN THE ROOM, SO TO SPEAK, AS YOU'VE SUGGESTED.

AND WE'RE GOING TO HAMMER IT OUT AND WE'RE GOING TO GET THAT, PROCESS UPDATED.

AND, WHAT DO YOU NEED TO GET THIS PARTICULAR MATTER SET ACCORDINGLY? SO YOU WANT TO JUST GET IT APPROVED? NO, WE DON'T NEED AN ACTION BECAUSE THE ITEM IS NOT FOR ACTION.

THE PURCHASING AGENT, IF THEY COULD IF PATRICIA, WHO IS THE ACTUAL PURCHASING AGENT DID THAT DID NOT MAKE THE PRESENTATION.

IF SHE CAN PUT THE DATES AND RELEASE THE RFP TOMORROW AT 10:00.

GOT IT. WE THAT WOULD THAT WOULD MAKE US.

I'M GOING TO ASK STAFF TO WORK THAT OUT.

IF NOT, I WANT TO HAVE ANOTHER STATUS REPORT.

IF WE DON'T HAVE THIS THING DONE, I WANT IT DONE.

ALL RIGHT, SO ANY COMMISSIONER CLAY-FLORES GO AHEAD.

SO WHAT TYPES OF COMPANIES ARE WE EXPECTING TO RESPOND TO THIS? AND HOW IS THE COMMUNITY BEING MADE AWARE THAT THIS RFP IS GOING TO BE OUT? SO THAT THEY CAN RESPOND SO THAT WE CAN GET THE BEST PEOPLE.

WE, THE REQUEST FOR THE SERVICE HAS TO BE DONE BY A BROKER OR IN SURETY, OR THOSE WHO ARE FAMILIAR WITH, UNDERWRITING AND BONDING.

THERE ARE 4 OR 5 COMPANIES IN THE NATION THAT DO THIS WORK.

AND THEN THERE ARE SUBS.

WE ARE MEETING WITH THE SURETY ASSOCIATION ON JANUARY 24TH FOR THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO.

WE HAVE AN EXTENSIVE DATABASE FROM ALL OF OUR PUBLIC ENTITIES, AND WE ARE PUTTING A VERY AGGRESSIVE CAMPAIGN.

THOSE VENDORS THAT ARE ALREADY REGISTERED, WE DO NOT HAVE ACCESS TO.

WE'LL BE ASKING PURCHASING TO GIVE US THAT EXPORT OUT OF THEIR VENDOR PORTAL, SINCE WE CAN'T GO INTO THE VENDOR PORTAL TO GET THOSE, SO HOPEFULLY THEY'LL BE SENDING THOSE OUT ON THEIR SIDE. WE WILL BE CONDUCTING COMMUNITY KNOW.

HOW DO WE KNOW? FOR EXAMPLE, IN PUBLIC WORKS? YOU KNOW, THERE'S AN EMAIL I THINK, DAVID.

CORRECT. AND PEOPLE IN THE IN THE ENGINEERING WORLD AND THE PUBLIC WORK WORLD, THEY KNOW WHEN OUR RFPS ARE OUT, THEY MONITOR, WE WILL WE WILL BE DOING WILL BE OKAY. BUT WHAT'S WHAT'S PURCHASING RESPONSIBILITY IN THIS.

SO WE DON'T WE DO SO AS WELL.

WHAT WE DO IN THE SUPPLIER PORTAL IS WE SELECT COMMODITY CODES.

I KNOW I SELECT AS MANY OF THEM AS I CAN.

WE SELECT COMMODITY CODES.

AND THEN WHEN THE EVENT IS RELEASED, IT IS THE AN EMAIL NOTIFICATION IS SENT TO EVERYONE WHO'S REGISTERED IN THE SUPPLIER BEXAR COUNTY SUPPLIER PORTAL.

AND THESE ARE IN COMPANIES WHO HAVE EXPRESSED INTEREST IN WORKING WITH BEXAR COUNTY.

SO THEY'VE REGISTERED, THEY'VE SELECTED THE COMMODITY CODES.

BUT COMPANIES WHO CAN DO THIS WORK, YES, THEY'VE SELECTED COMMODITY CODES THAT RESPOND TO IT.

AND THEN AT THAT POINT, THEY'LL RECEIVE THE EMAIL AND IT'LL GIVE LET THEM KNOW THAT THERE HAS BEEN A SOLICITATION RELEASE THAT MEETS SOMETHING.

OKAY. BECAUSE I DON'T THINK IT SHOULD REST ON THE SHOULDERS OF THE SWIMMING DEPARTMENT, WHICH IS A SMALL DEPARTMENT, NOT.

OKAY. SO WHICH IS A SMALL DEPARTMENT TO LET THIS THESE PEOPLE, THIS COMMUNITY, WHOEVER THESE PEOPLE ARE WHO WOULD RESPOND TO THIS.

SO I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU'RE WORKING ON WITH THE PURCHASING DEPARTMENT TO MAKE SURE THE PURCHASING DEPARTMENT IS ALSO LETTING THE POWERS THAT BE KNOW THAT THEY NEED TO RESPOND TO THE RFP SO THAT WE CAN MAKE SURE WE MOVE THIS FORWARD.

BECAUSE WHAT DAVID SMITH MENTIONED, WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT THIS, I WOULD SAY MORE THAN 12 MONTHS.

WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT THIS FOR LIKE TWO YEARS, AUGUST 20TH.

SO THE FACT THAT IT'S TAKEN SO LONG IN WHATEVER ABOUT RED LINING AND EDITING BACK AND FORTH AND WHAT WAS BROUGHT TO COMMISSIONERS COURT IN DECEMBER?

[02:45:06]

SO MOVING FORWARD, WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT, WE ARE IN THE BEST INTEREST BECAUSE IT COMES DOWN TO BEING ABLE TO SUPPORT, SUPPORT, SMALL, WHATEVER WORDS WE'RE NOT SUPPOSED TO SAY.

I'M GOING TO SAY SMALL MINORITY, WOMEN OWNED AND VETERAN OWNED BUSINESSES SO THAT THEY CAN HAVE BONDING BEHIND THEM, SUPPORTED BY US AS THE COMMISSIONERS COURT SO THAT THEY CAN APPLY AND BID OUT FOR LARGER PROJECTS.

THAT'S THE WHOLE POINT OF IT.

SO WE ARE DOING A DISSERVICE TO OUR COMMUNITY WHEN WE ARE JUST POINTING FINGERS AT EACH OTHER.

SO WE NEED TO STEP UP AND TAKE CARE OF WHAT WE NEED TO TAKE CARE OF SO THAT OUR COMMUNITY CAN CONTINUE TO PROSPER.

THANK YOU. I JUST HAVE ONE.

GO AHEAD, COMMISSIONER CALVERT, LET'S WRAP IT UP.

GO AHEAD. I'VE STUDIED THIS, BACK AND FORTH OF EMAILS AND RED LINES, PROBABLY THE MOST ON THE COURT.

AND I'LL REMIND ALL THE STAFF THAT THERE ARE EMAILS DOCUMENTING WHERE PEOPLE WERE AND AT WHAT TIME PEOPLE HAD VARIOUS VERSIONS OF THE DOCUMENTS.

I'M NOT GOING TO GO INTO IT, BECAUSE WHEN I TRY TO GO INTO IT, I GET SHUT DOWN IN CONVERSATION.

SO LET ME JUST SAY THIS, THE BOTTOM LINE IS WE'RE I WANT TO THANK THE JUDGE FOR BRINGING THIS UP.

BUT WE ARE. I WANT TO THANK THE PURCHASING DEPARTMENT BECAUSE HAD THE RED FLAGS OF LOCAL AND SWIM BE NOT BEEN TAKEN OUT OF THE RFP, WE MIGHT HAVE GOTTEN SUED LIKE WE DID ON THE LIFT FUND SITUATION.

THAT WAS THE DOCUMENT THAT I HAD MAY HAVE BEEN OLD, BUT IT WAS CIRCULATING.

IT WAS CIRCULATING WHEN I WAS ASKED TO TAKE UP THE ISSUE AND STUDY THE ISSUE.

IT WAS THE DOCUMENT.

I HAD RENEE TO STUDY THE ISSUE.

IT WASN'T PROVIDED BY ME. WELL, YOU KNOW, IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN PROVIDED BY YOUR DEPARTMENT.

SO THE BOTTOM LINE HERE IS THIS IS OUT OF ORDER BECAUSE WE'RE NOT MANAGING THE PROCESS PROPERLY.

IT'S NOT UP TO THE PURCHASING DEPARTMENT TO MANAGE IT.

IT'S UP TO THE COUNTY MANAGER TO MANAGE IT.

THIS IS A CIRCUS BECAUSE IT'S NOT BEING WRANGLED PROPERLY.

SO I THINK THAT WE HAVE TO UNDERSTAND IT'S UP TO THE DEPARTMENT TO GET THAT THING RIGHT.

WORK IN COLLABORATION WITH THE WITH WITH THE PURCHASING DEPARTMENT.

AND YOU KNOW, I JUST I JUST WANT TO SAY THERE'S A LOT OF THINGS IN EMAILS THAT I'M NOT GOING TO GO THROUGH BECAUSE NOBODY'S READING THEM BUT ME.

BUT IF I WERE TO DO A POWERPOINT, IT WOULDN'T BE PRETTY FOR A LOT OF FOLKS STANDING UP HERE.

SO THAT'S ALL I'M GOING TO SAY ABOUT THAT.

ALL RIGHT. ANYTHING ELSE? IN CLOSING? I HAVE A QUESTION.

GO. LET ME FINISH WITH RENEE.

FINISH YOUR. I WOULD JUST LIKE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE INCLUDE THE MEMBERS OF THE PURCHASING BOARD WHEN WE TALK ABOUT THE PURCHASING POLICY, WHEN IN THE MEETING WITH EVERYBODY.

BECAUSE BECAUSE OF THE WAY THE COUNTY WORKS, WHO HAS AUTHORITY AND MAKING SURE EVERYBODY IS ON THE SAME PAGE, SO NOTED.

AND I BELIEVE COMMISSIONER RODRIGUEZ AND COMMISSIONER CALVERT AND THE PURCHASING AGENT BOARD.

YES. SO. ALL RIGHT, JUDGE, SO YOU DID REQUEST FOR IT TO BE RELEASED TOMORROW, WHICH IS FINE.

I CAN RELEASE IT SOONER IF YOU LIKE, BUT I HAVE A QUESTION.

DO YOU WANT ME TO RELEASE THE SOLICITATION WITH THE SCOPE OF SERVICES AS IS? WHAT'S YOUR RECOMMENDATION? YOU'RE THE PURCHASER? NO. LIKE I SAID, I'LL BE HONEST WITH YOU.

THAT'S REALLY THE PURCHASING AGENT.

YEAH. WHAT DO YOU WANT? PURCHASING AGENT? THAT'S YOUR STATUTORY AUTHORITY.

AND I'M NOT GOING TO TAKE IT AWAY FROM YOU.

YES. THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER, COMMISSIONERS AND JUDGE.

I DO NOT RECOMMEND, RELEASING THE RFP AS IS.

I RECOMMEND THAT, THE ISSUES IN HAND OR WHAT WAS PROPOSED TO, MISS RENEE WATSON BE REVIEWED, AND.

REVISIONS MADE.

WELL, DIDN'T WE JUST SPEND HALF AN HOUR TALKING ABOUT ALL THE CORRECTIONS THAT WERE MADE? I THOUGHT IT WAS FIXED. WELL, THEY WEREN'T.

THEY SHOULDN'T HAVE ACCEPTED THEM.

SO WE PROVIDED ALL THE RED LINES.

AND LARRY JUST TALKED ABOUT HOW HE REVIEWED IT AND RENEE WATSON TALKED ABOUT IT.

SO. NOT ACCEPTING THE DOCUMENT IS NOT REVISED.

THIS IS RIDICULOUS.

ALL RIGHT. POINT OF ORDER.

I'M BRINGING THE ATTORNEY IN.

MISS ROBESON, WHAT IS THE STATUTORY AUTHORITY OF MRS? TORRES. AT THIS TIME, JUDGE, I WOULD LIKE IF THEY COULD JUST GET THE LATEST VERSION AND GET TOGETHER ON THE LATEST VERSION, AND THEN SEND IT TO ME ONCE THEY'VE GOT THE LAST VERSION.

RENEE HAS THE LAST VERSION, AND THEN THEY CAN SEND IT TO ME.

I'D BE GLAD TO LOOK AT IT AND THEN THEY CAN RELEASE IT.

I CAN DO THAT TODAY.

BUT RENEE HAD THE LAST VERSION, SO IF SHE'S WILLING TO DO THAT, I'LL BE GLAD TO LOOK AT IT TODAY.

I COULD HAVE IT TURNED AROUND TO THEM BY THIS AFTERNOON, AND WE CAN CLOSE THIS OUT.

MISS DAVIS, IS THAT ACCEPTABLE AS PURCHASING AGENT? YES, SIR. IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE? AGAIN, I'M NOT TAKING ANYTHING AWAY FROM YOU, MISS TORRES.

IF YOU HAVE SPECIFIC OBJECTIONS, NOTE THEM NOW SO THAT LARRY ROBERSON, THE CIVIL COUNSEL FOR THE COURT, HAS INDICATED HE WILL REVIEW AND MAKE THE

[02:50:09]

WHAT ELSE DO YOU NEED? WE APPRECIATE THAT BY BOTH RENEE AND LARRY.

THEN WE'VE ALL COME TO AN AGREEMENT, AND I EXPECT THEN THE RFP TO BE CORRECTED AND TO BE APPROVED AND TO BE ISSUED TIMELY, WHICH MEANS BY THE END OF THE DAY.

BUT, JUDGE, CAN WE USE RENEE'S VERSION BECAUSE THAT WAS THE LATEST JUDGE.

YES. YES. RIGHT.

BECAUSE IF IT'S IN THE SCOPE OF SERVICES, I'M NOT AWARE BECAUSE PURCHASING HAS TO GO AHEAD AND RELEASE IT ON FRIDAY.

AND THAT WAS NOT BROUGHT TO MY ATTENTION.

THAT WAS ANY CHANGES REQUIRED.

SO IF THERE IS SOMETHING TO BE CHANGED, LET'S GET IT DONE.

I'D LIKE THE PURCHASING AGENT TO GO ON THE RECORD AND AGAIN OUTLINE BECAUSE YOU'VE DONE IT ALREADY.

BUT I WANT YOU TO OUTLINE AGAIN WHERE YOU SAW THE ISSUES BECAUSE I SAW THE ISSUES IN LOCAL SWIM V, ETC.

BUT WHERE ARE THE ISSUE AND SUPPLIER PORTAL INSURANCE INDEMNIFICATION? WILL YOU PLEASE GO THROUGH? SO YOU'RE ON RECORD BECAUSE IF THEY OVERRIDE YOU, WHICH IS WHAT IT SOUNDS LIKE THEY'RE ASKING YOU TO DO, THAT'S INCORRECT.

COMMISSIONER, I'VE ASKED THE PERSON TO APPROVE WHAT CHANGES NEED TO BE MADE.

SHE INDICATED THAT IF HER AND THE, COUNCIL.

LARRY ROBESON CAN COME TO AN AGREEMENT, WE CAN HAVE THAT THING ISSUED BY TODAY.

JUDGE LARRY JUST SAID USE THE VERSION THAT RENEE HAD.

SO I DON'T NOT JUST IF I COULD JUST SAY, YEAH, THAT WE CLARIFY LANGUAGE.

THE SCOPE OF SERVICES IS WHAT WE'RE ASKING FOR.

EVERYTHING THAT THEY SAID WAS ADMINISTRATIVE OR PURCHASING FUNCTION, SUPPLIER, PORTAL INSURANCE.

THOSE ARE NOT IN THE SCOPE OF SERVICES.

SCOPE OF SERVICES AS DEFINED IN THE PURCHASING MANUAL.

AND THE PURCHASING ACT IS WHAT ARE WE ASKING THE VENDOR TO DO.

SO IF THERE ARE SOME REQUIREMENTS ON THE PURCHASING SIDE, SUPPLIER PORTAL, INSURANCE, THOSE ARE ADMINISTRATIVE.

THAT SHOULD BE STANDARD TO ALL OF THE WAY THE COUNTY DOES BUSINESS, WHICH WOULD BE DEFINED IN THE PURCHASE MANUAL.

SO I JUST WANT TO BE CLEAR BECAUSE IF SHE'S TELLING ME SCOPE OF SERVICES, I'M NOT SURE WHAT THAT MEANS.

SO THAT'S WHY WE SAID WE CAN GET THIS.

ARE YOU SAYING THAT YOU'RE YOU'RE IN VEHEMENT DISAGREEMENT THAT THE CHANGES THE PURCHASING AGENT SAYS NEED TO BE MADE, NEED TO BE MADE? ARE YOU IN DISAGREEMENT WITH HER? I DON'T KNOW WHAT THEY ARE BECAUSE THEY WOULD BE ADMINISTRATIVE OR PURCHASING FUNCTION.

IF THERE'S SOMETHING THAT HAS TO DO WITH THE SCOPE OF WORK, WE'RE NOT SERVING MINORITIES.

WE'RE NOT SERVING.

SO YOU'RE SAYING YOU WILL ALLOW HER TO MAKE THOSE CHANGES BECAUSE YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT THEY ARE? THAT'S HER FUNCTION. THAT'S HER JOB.

SHE SHOULD HAVE DONE THAT BEFORE WE CAME DECEMBER 12TH BECAUSE SHE HAD THE RFP.

WHAT ABOUT THE OTHER SCOPE OF SERVICES ISSUES? BECAUSE I SAW LEGAL ISSUES FOR THE COUNTY COMING.

WE WERE LOOKING RIGHT AT THEM.

GO AHEAD, GO AHEAD.

EXCUSE ME. I'M SORRY. SO IN THE DOCUMENT THAT MISS WATSON PROVIDED, THE PURCHASING DEPARTMENT AND THE GROUP, IS CONSIDERED THE SCOPE OF SERVICE. SO BECAUSE SHE INCLUDED JUST A LITTLE LOUDER, I'M SORRY.

THE DOCUMENT THAT WE RECEIVED THAT WAS CIRCULATED, THE THREE VERSIONS, IT DID INCLUDE INSURANCE.

SO I AGREE WITH WITH WATSON.

BUT MY RECOMMENDATIONS WERE NOT ACCEPTED.

SO I DID NOT REMOVE THEM BECAUSE THEY WERE NOT ACCEPTED BY THE DEPARTMENT.

OKAY. WELL, WHAT ARE WE'RE GOING TO THE JUDGE JUST ASKED, WHAT IS IT THAT YOU DISAGREE WITH, IF ANYTHING, IS IT OKAY? NOW THAT'S WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO UNDERSTAND IS WELL, NOW I'M LIKE LARRY SAID, WE WILL PROVIDE THE, THE OUR COMMENTS TO THE VERSION THAT MISS WATSON PROVIDED ON FRIDAY, WHICH IS STILL THE SAME.

THE ONLY CHANGE FROM DECEMBER 12TH DOCUMENT OR SCOPE OF SERVICE TO THE ONE SHE PROVIDED FRIDAY WAS THE MEETING LINK AND THE, REMOVAL OF YOUR NAME TO THE TO THE DOCUMENT? NO. OR AN EMAIL ADDRESS.

WHAT STILL HAD IT? IT STILL HAD IT, BUT, BUT YEAH.

NO, WE'RE GOING TO I MEAN, I AGREE WITH I'M OKAY WITH THEM WORKING WITH ME AND LOOKING AND REVIEWING AND PROVIDING COMMENTS AND ACCEPTANCE OR REJECTION OF THE DOCUMENT OR REVISIONS.

OKAY. YEAH. NO.

AND I AND ACTUALLY I'M HEARING MORE THAN PROBABLY MOST PEOPLE ARE HEARING YOU.

YOU'RE ALMOST SAYING DO IT AT YOUR OWN RISK.

IF YOU KNOW YOUR, YOUR YOUR YOU'RE ASKING THEM TO GO BACK AND FORTH.

AND IF THEY DON'T AGREE WITH YOU THEN IT IT YOU'RE GOING TO MOVE IT FORWARD.

OKAY. SO THERE ARE ITEMS TO REVISE OR RED LINE.

SO WE'RE GOING TO ADD THAT RED LINE INTO THE VERSION MISS WATSON PROVIDED, WHICH IS THE SAME AS THE DECEMBER 12TH VERSION WITH THE EXCEPTION OF THE LINK AND THE TIMELINE.

OKAY. WELL IT'S YOU KNOW, IT'S IT'S IT'S MOST HELPFUL TO HAVE THESE VERSIONS BEFORE US, WITH THE CLARITY OF WHAT EXACTLY WE'RE TALKING ABOUT.

[02:55:01]

RENEE. HE WENT TO HER.

NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO.

HOLD ON. THEY THEY DERIVED FROM YOUR DEPARTMENT AND ACF WAS THE COMMISSIONER.

NO NO NO NO NO WAS SUBMITTED BY PURCHASING.

NO NO NO NO NO THAT YOU RECEIVED.

NO NO NO NO. THAT'S YOU I'M NOT A NOVICE HERE.

IT. THE DEPARTMENT CREATES THE RFP.

CORRECT? THAT'S WHAT I'M SAYING.

AND WE SEND IT TO PURCHASING.

RIGHT. AND SO THE ERRORS WERE NOT CREATED THAT I SAW WERE NOT CREATED BY PURCHASING.

THEY WERE CREATED BY YOUR DEPARTMENT.

BUT WE DID NOT BRING THE THAT FORWARD PURCHASING BROUGHT IT FORWARD.

IF AND WE WORKED IT OUT WITH LARRY DECEMBER 12TH WAS THE CORRECT ONE.

WELL, WELL, IN ANY EVENT, SO WE CAN CONTINUE TO GO ROUND, BUT YEAH, I'M NOT INTERESTED.

I'M JUST INTERESTED IN DEPARTMENTS NOT MAKING THOSE MISTAKES.

THAT COULD DO. WE ALREADY HAVE BEEN SUED BECAUSE OF ADDING RACIAL PREFERENCES TO A SMALL BUSINESS LOAN PROGRAM.

SO THAT'S ALL I'M TRYING TO DO IS KEEP THE COURT OUT OF ANOTHER LAWSUIT.

AND COMMISSIONER, I WASN'T INVOLVED IN THAT PROCESS.

I KNOW YOU WEREN'T. I'M NOT SAYING YOU WERE IN THAT PROCESS, BUT BUT BUT THERE WERE COUNTY STAFF WHERE WE MISSED THIS WHEN THE COURT DIDN'T DO OVERSIGHT.

AND THAT'S WHY I THINK THE JUDGE FOR THIS OVERSIGHT AND THIS STOP, BECAUSE WE ACTUALLY DID NEED TO SLOW THIS DOWN, JUDGE, BECAUSE THERE WERE THINGS THAT WERE GOING TO GET THIS COURT IN TROUBLE. AND I'LL LEAVE IT AT THAT.

ALL RIGHT. THAT CONCLUDES THE CONVERSATION.

THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH.

ALL RIGHT. WE'RE GOING TO GET BACK TO, I BELIEVE, THE LAST AGENDA ITEM.

I BELIEVE LARRY, I NEED SOME ASSISTANCE HERE.

I BELIEVE WE HAVE, TWO ISSUES TO DISCUSS.

BUT BEFORE WE DO THAT, I THINK WE NEED TO MAKE A DECISION BY THE COURT AS TO WHETHER WE GO TO EXECUTIVE SESSION ON SOME PARTICULAR ITEMS. CORRECT. LET ME, FOR PURPOSE OF THE RECORD PURPOSE OF THE RECORD, LET ME ALERT THE COURT THAT I'M NOW TALKING ABOUT ITEM FIVE D, WHICH WAS DISCUSSION AND APPROPRIATE ACTION CONCERNING AN APPOINTMENT TO FILL THE PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR AND COUNTY ENGINEER POSITION.

AND THEN TWO, GOING BACK TO THE MATTERS OF EXECUTIVE SESSION LISTED UNDER AGENDA ITEM 70 UNDER SECTION 551.071.

CONSULT CONSULTATION WITH ATTORNEY FOR ADVISE REGARDING A PENDING OR CONTEMPLATED LITIGATION OR SETTLEMENT OFFERS IN THE MATTERS OF, PERSIA VERSUS BEXAR COUNTY, MILAN VERSUS BEXAR COUNTY, MCCLURE.

SOTO VERSUS, BEXAR COUNTY, TEXAS.

I BELIEVE FOR PURPOSES OF THE RECORD, THE MATTERS OF THE LITIGATION ARE EXCLUSIVELY TO BE PART OF THE EXECUTIVE SESSION.

I BELIEVE THAT THE ATTORNEY WILL BRIEF US ON THOSE PARTICULAR MATTERS, BUT I BELIEVE WE NEED A DISCUSSION AND A MOTION TO GO TO EXECUTIVE SESSION ON THE APPOINTMENT OF THE PUBLIC WORKS COUNTY LISTED, THOUGH.

ACTUALLY, JUDGE.

SO I'M SORRY, COMMISSIONER, IT'S ALREADY LISTED UNDER EXECUTIVE SESSION.

SO THE FIVE D IS THE ACTION ITEM.

SO YOU JUST NEED TO CALL THE EXECUTIVE SESSION FOR 70 IF YOU WANT TO HANDLE THEM BOTH IN THE SAME EXECUTIVE, WHICH I THINK IS A GOOD IDEA.

JUST CALL THE EXECUTIVE FOR BOTH THE PERSONNEL MATTER AND THE LITIGATION.

YOU CAN HANDLE ONE BEFORE THE OTHER.

I THINK PROBABLY THE PERSONNEL MATTER FIRST AND THEN THE EXECUTIVE SESSION FOR THE, LITIGATION.

SECOND. IF THE COURT IS SO AMENABLE TO THAT, ANY ANY OBJECTIONS, THEN THE COURT WILL NOW AT OR NOW CONVENE INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION.

[EXECUTIVE SESSION (DISCUSSION ONLY: CLOSED TO PUBLIC)]

TWO. MILAN VERSUS BEXAR COUNTY, MCCLURE VERSUS BEXAR COUNTY.

AT THIS TIME, THE COURT GOES TO EXECUTIVE SESSION.

BUT I BELIEVE, AS AGREED EARLIER, WE ARE GOING TO GO TO THE CONFERENCE ROOM AND, ALSO TO, I WANT TO ALERT THE COURT THAT IN REGARDS TO THE FIRST EXECUTIVE SESSION, REGARDS TO PUBLIC WORKS, I THINK STAFF, THE DESIGNATED STAFF.

AND FOR PURPOSES OF THE RECORD, I WANT LARRY, BECAUSE I THINK ON THE OTHER ISSUE, WE MAY BE ASKING THAT IT ONLY BE THE COURT AND COUNSELS FOR THE LITIGATION.

SO I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERYBODY UNDERSTAND.

IT'S CLEAR FROM THE RECORD AND OPEN AND TRANSPARENT WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO IN EXECUTIVE SESSION.

SO, LARRY, IS THERE ANY FURTHER CLARIFICATION ON THE PERSONNEL MATTER?

[03:00:02]

BEFORE IT WAS TOO BRIGHT.

WHO DO YOU WANT? WELL, THE.

THE COUNTY MANAGER.

AND COUNCIL. I'M GOING TO.

I KNOW HE WANTS A BREAK, BUT I'M PUTTING HIM IN COUNCIL.

COUNTY MANAGER IS THERE ANYBODY ELSE TO BE SPECIFICALLY INCLUDED ON THE PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR? IS THERE ANYBODY ELSE? ALL RIGHT, SO THEN AND THEN I BELIEVE HOPEFULLY THE APPLICANTS.

Y'ALL ARE THERE SOMEWHERE.

ALL RIGHT. WE'LL WE'LL WE'LL GIVE YOU SOME INSTRUCTIONS AS TO HOW WE'RE GOING TO PROCEED ONCE WE GET INTO THE ROOM AND HAVE THAT DISCUSSION.

AND THEN WHEN REGARDS TO THE LITIGATION MATTERS, I THINK WE'RE ASKING THAT, NO, COUNTY PERSONNEL BE IN THAT MEETING.

IS THAT CLEAR FOR EVERYBODY? ALL RIGHT. WE'RE NOW IN EXECUTIVE SESSION.

WE WILL. Y'ALL CAN STAY IN THE COMMISSIONERS COURT.

WE'RE GOING TO RECESS TO THE SIDE CONFERENCE ROOM.

AND THEN, COMMISSIONER MOODY, ARE YOU STILL THERE WITH US? AND I'M HOPING THAT COMMISSIONER MOODY IS BEING PROVIDED ACCESS IN THE EXECUTIVE SESSION.

COMMISSIONER MOODY? YES, I'LL JOIN THE OTHER ONE.

WHAT DO YOU SAY? OKAY, OKAY.

WE'RE MOVING. OKAY.

I'M HERE. ALL RIGHT.

THE TIME I HAVE THE TIME AT 2:08 P.M., WE'RE BACK IN OPEN SESSION.

AND AT THIS TIME I'LL ASK FOR, WE'LL TAKE UP, ITEM FIVE D DISCUSSION.

[5d. 11:00 a.m. - Discussion and appropriate action concerning an appointment to fill the Public Works Director/County Engineer position. (Estimated Presentation Time: 10 minutes)]

COUNTY ENGINEER POSITION.

IS THERE A MOTION? JUDGE? JUDGE. I'VE GOT A MOTION.

FIRST OF ALL, LET ME LET ME THANK EVERYBODY WHO WAS INVOLVED IN THIS PROCESS.

I KNOW THERE WAS A COMMITTEE OF NOT JUST MY COLLEAGUES HERE, COMMISSIONER CLAY-FLORES AND COMMISSIONER CALVERT, BUT ALSO CITIZENS.

I BELIEVE PAUL BAZALDUA, ADAM BLANCHARD, DAVID SMITH ALSO, WAS ON THAT.

AND I THINK, JUDGE, YOU HAD AN EX OFFICIO MEMBER AS WELL, NANCY BUFORD AND THE AND THE COMMITTEE MADE IT VERY DIFFICULT BECAUSE THEY BROUGHT US TWO VERY, WELL QUALIFIED CANDIDATES, OUTSTANDING, PUBLIC SERVANTS.

SO IT MADE IT DIFFICULT FOR US.

BUT I BUT I DO WANT TO MAKE A MOTION THAT, THE COURT APPROVE THE APPOINTMENT OF ART REINHARDT TO FILL THE VACANCY OF THE PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR, COUNTY ENGINEER POSITION, SUBJECT TO NEGOTIATION OF AN AGREED SALARY.

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

I'LL GO INLINE. COMMISSIONER CLAY-FLORES, WOULD YOU LIKE TO MAKE ANY COMMENTS FOR THE RECORD? ONLY THAT I WANT ALSO WANT TO THANK THE COMMITTEE MEMBERS WHO SPENT A LOT OF TIME, REVIEWING THE APPLICATIONS AND THE INTERVIEWS AND, THE TOP TWO CANDIDATES THAT WERE BROUGHT.

WE COULDN'T HAVE GONE WRONG EITHER WAY.

I REALLY ENJOY WORKING WITH BOTH OF THEM.

AND SPECIFICALLY, I JUST WANT TO SAY THAT DAVID WEGMAN, THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP AS INTERIM DIRECTOR.

OF COURSE, YOU'RE STILL DIRECTOR.

AND YOU REALLY DID NOT MISS A BEAT.

SINCE, OUR PREVIOUS COUNTY ENGINEER RETIRED AFTER BEING HERE SO LONG, YOU KEPT THINGS GOING.

CONTINUE TO KEEP THINGS GOING.

SPECIFICALLY IN PRECINCT ONE, WITH THE NEW GROWTH AND EVERYTHING THAT WE HAVE GOING ON IN THE MPO AND YOUR OTHER ADDED RESPONSIBILITIES.

SO I JUST THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORK.

IT REALLY WAS A DIFFICULT DECISION.

BUT I'M GLAD THAT YOU ARE ARE HERE, HERE WITH US.

PART OF THE HELM. THANK YOU.

COMMISSIONER CALVERT. JUST WANT TO THANK OUR APPLICANTS.

THANK YOU, DAVID WEGMAN, FOR AN OUTSTANDING SERVICE AND STEPPING IN AS INTERIM.

WE HAVE NOT HAD ANY WRINKLES IN BEXAR COUNTY SINCE RENEE HAS LEFT.

AND SO THAT'S A TESTAMENT TO YOUR LEADERSHIP.

AND I JUST WANT TO THANK ALL THE CITIZENS WHO PARTICIPATED, THE COMMISSIONERS COURT, FOR THEIR DELIBERATION.

AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO THE FUTURE.

ART. CONGRATULATIONS.

THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER MOODY.

WELL, THANK YOU, JUDGE.

AND I WOULD ALSO JUST LIKE TO ECHO MY COLLEAGUES COMMENTS.

THANK EVERYONE.

PARTICULARLY ADAM BLANCHARD, WHO WAS.

HMM'HMM. I.

SO THANK YOU TO TO ALL OF THEIR, I WOULD LIKE TO, TO CONGRATULATE ART AND BEING SELECTED, LOOK FORWARD TO, TO WORKING WITH HIM GOING FORWARD AS WE CONTINUE TO TRY TO MAKE BEXAR COUNTY BETTER.

I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO ACKNOWLEDGE, DAVE AND HIS, OUTSTANDING SERVICE AND WORK.

[03:05:07]

SO I JUST WANT TO, TO ACKNOWLEDGE HIS, HIS, WORK AND EFFORTS TO CONTINUE TO, MAKE, BEXAR COUNTY BETTER AND, HOPE WE GET A CHANCE TO CONTINUE TO WORK WITH HIM GOING FORWARD.

THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER RODRIGUEZ.

THANK YOU. JUDGE.

AGAIN, I, THIS WAS A DIFFICULT DECISION, ART.

WELCOME. AND CONGRATULATIONS, DAVID.

YOU KNOW, YOU'VE DONE NOTHING, BUT, YOU KNOW, BE SUPER RESPONSIVE WHEN IT COMES TO CONSTITUENT SERVICES, IN YOUR TIME AS INTERIM AND EVEN BEFORE THAT.

SO I WANT TO THANK YOU, FOR THAT, FOR STEPPING UP AND YOUR LEADERSHIP.

WE REALLY APPRECIATE EVERYTHING YOU'VE DONE.

WE HOPE THIS IS NOT A FAREWELL.

WE BELIEVE YOU'RE STILL AN INTEGRAL PART OF THE FAMILY HERE.

AND, WE LOOK FORWARD TO YOUR CONTINUED WORK, SO THANK YOU.

JUDGE, LET ME GO AHEAD AND CLOSE BY SAYING THAT, FIRST AND FOREMOST, THANK YOU TO COMMISSIONER CLAY-FLORES, COMMISSIONER CALVERT, FOR CHAIRING THE COMMITTEE THAT I WE CREATED LAST YEAR AFTER THE FORMER COUNTY ENGINEER, PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR, RENEE GREEN, SUBMITTED HER RETIREMENT.

AND IN FACT, I SAW HER DURING THE CHRISTMAS HOLIDAYS AT A PUBLIC WORKS CHRISTMAS LUNCH.

AND SHE IS LOOKING, FINE.

AND AND SHE IS DOING WELL AND SHE'S SPENDING A LOT OF TIME WITH HER GRANDKIDS.

SO I APPRECIATE THE WORK THAT RENEE GREEN HAS GIVEN TO THE COUNTY, ESPECIALLY THROUGH THIS DEPARTMENT.

AND SO WE HAVE MADE A DECISION THROUGH THIS PROCESS.

I THINK IT'S A REFLECTION THAT, AS I INDICATED ALL DAY TODAY, IT WAS OPEN.

IT WAS TRANSPARENT.

WE HAD PUBLIC INPUT.

WE HAD GREAT LEADERSHIP, THROUGH THE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS, AND THEY HAD REALLY, I'M SURE, SOME ROBUST DISCUSSION.

WE INCLUDED THE PUBLIC AND I BELIEVE, THEY'VE BEEN NOTED, I BELIEVE WHAT ADAM BLANCHARD, PAUL BAZALDUA AND NANCY BUFORD, WERE ALSO PART OF THAT COMMITTEE.

SO WE REALLY HAD A GREAT PROCESS THAT BROUGHT THESE TWO, APPLICANTS TO THE TABLE, SO TO SPEAK.

AND I WANT TO MAKE IT REAL CLEAR, DAVE.

WE WE HAVE THE UTMOST RESPECT.

I WANT TO ECHO WHAT COMMISSIONER RODRIGUEZ HAS, INFERRED.

BUT I'M HOPING THAT WE BOTH CAN STILL UTILIZE.

WELL, THE COURT CAN STILL UTILIZE BOTH OF YOU FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE COUNTY.

AND OBVIOUSLY, THOSE ARE DECISIONS EVERYBODY HAS TO MAKE FOR THEMSELVES.

BUT, THIS IS ONE I HOPE DOESN'T DOESN'T APPEAR TO BE A, A A WIN LOSE SITUATION, BUT A WIN WIN THAT, HOPEFULLY WE CAN TAKE BEXAR COUNTY TO ANOTHER LEVEL IN REGARDS TO THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT AND TO THE COUNTY ENGINEER AND THE PROJECTS.

I'M EXCITED ABOUT THE DISCUSSIONS THAT WERE HAD ABOUT THE VISIONS IN BOTH ART AND DAVE.

YOU ALL EXPRESSED THOSE VISIONS VERY WELL IN BEHALF OF YOURSELVES.

SO, BOTTOM LINE, I EXPECT YOU ALL TO FOLLOW THROUGH AND DO WHAT Y'ALL SAID YOU WERE GOING TO DO.

AND THIS APPLICATION PROCESS, I'M HOPEFUL THAT THE COURT WILL CONTINUE TO TRY TO FIND THE BEST QUALIFIED PEOPLE FOR THE POSITIONS TO SERVE THE BEXAR COUNTY AND ULTIMATELY TO SERVE THE TAXPAYERS, THE CITIZENS OF BEXAR COUNTY, TO THE BEST OF OUR ABILITY.

SO WITH THAT, I'LL CALL FOR A VOTE.

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

AYE. ANY OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES.

CONGRATULATIONS, MR. REINHARDT. AND CONGRATULATIONS, MR. DE WEGMANN, FOR YOUR SERVICE TO THE COUNTY.

SO AT THIS TIME, I BELIEVE WE HAVE.

I'LL CHECK WITH MY COLLEAGUES.

I THINK WE'VE CONCLUDED THE THE DOCKET, THE AGENDA.

IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE? ALL RIGHT. LET ME MOTION BY COMMISSIONER RODRIGUEZ TO ADJOURN.

SECOND BY COMMISSIONER CLAY-FLORES.

COMMISSIONER CLAY-FLORES, IS THERE ANY RECOGNITIONS IN THE ADJOURNMENT? I'D LIKE TO ADJOURN IN MEMORY OF SAMUEL PENALES, EARLENE WILLIFORD AND HOSANNA, HONEY BLUE SANCHO, WHO IS A SIX YEAR OLD CONSTITUENT IN MY PRECINCT.

COMMISSIONER RODRIGUEZ. YES, JUDGE? I'D LIKE TO ADJOURN IN THE NAME OF JESUS MENDOZA JUNIOR PATRICIA WALDEN LONGORIA, WHO WAS THE WIFE OF JUDGE JOHN LONGORIA. CERTAINLY.

[03:10:02]

MELVIN WITTIG, SUSANNA MENDIOLA.

ISAAC. MUNOZ.

BERNARD JUNIOR.

GILBERT CARREON.

WE HAVE A FORMER CIVIL SERVICE DIRECTOR, WHO WAS WITH US FOR 29 YEARS AT THE COUNTY, ANDREA SAN MIGUEL, AND THEN MY APPOINTEE TO THE HISTORICAL COMMISSION, DAN ARELLANO, ALSO PASSED.

WE SEND PRAYERS TO HIS FAMILY AS WELL.

COMMISSIONER MOODY.

JUDGE, I'LL JUST, POINT OF PERSONAL PRIVILEGE.

I'LL. I'LL ADJOURN TODAY.

AND THE MEMORY OF THE 72, ISRAELI CIVILIANS WHO WERE KILLED, AND MURDERED IN KFAR AZAR, IN NORTHERN ISRAEL, ON OCTOBER 7TH.

THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER CALVERT.

SIR CALEB CHARLES CARTER, CON CONAN MEYER, PATRICK.

MIKE FARRELL, ALEJANDRO RODRIGUEZ, JR.

COMMANDER, RETIRED.

JAMES BUMGARNER, KURT SCHAEFER, ANDREA SAN MIGUEL WAS RETIRED AFTER 39 YEARS WITH THE BEXAR COUNTY, AS A CIVIL SERVICE DIRECTOR. AND I WOULD LIKE TO ADJOURN IN RECOGNITION, FIRST RECOGNIZING THE, PATRICIA LONGORIA.

PATTY, WHO IS THE WIFE OF JUDGE JUDGE LONGORIA, WHO WAS A NEAR AND DEAR FRIEND, ALSO TO I'D LIKE TO RECOGNIZE AS COMMISSIONER COWARD HAS ANDREA SAN MIGUEL, A LONG TIME DEDICATED, LOYAL BEXAR COUNTY EMPLOYEE.

I BELIEVE SHE WAS CHAIRING THE CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSION FOR MANY YEARS.

AND I CAN TELL YOU, HER OFFICE RIGHT ACROSS THE HALLWAY FROM MY OLD COURTROOM.

AND, SHE WAS A VALUABLE EMPLOYEE AND A GOOD FRIEND AND SUPPORTER OF MINE.

ALSO TO LORRAINE REAGAN, WHO WAS A LONG TIME JUVENILE PROBATION OFFICER, SERVED MANY YEARS.

AND, MAY SHE REST IN PEACE.

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

AYE. ANY OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES.

MEETING ADJOURNED.

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.