May 07, 2024 Commissioners Court

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HI. GOOD MORNING.

I WOULD LIKE TO WELCOME EVERYONE TO THE BEXAR COUNTY COMMISSIONERS COURT MEETING FOR MAY 7TH, 2024.

WE'RE GOING TO OPEN WITH PRAYER, AND WE'LL DO THE PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE RIGHT AFTER THAT.

I WOULD LIKE TO INVITE PASTOR KEVIN FAUSZ OF THE HOLY REDEEMER CATHOLIC CHURCH.

IT IS MY HONOR TO INTRODUCE OUR GUEST, INVOCATOR THIS MORNING, FATHER KEVIN FAUSZ OF THE HOLY REDEEMER CATHOLIC CHURCH.

HE RECEIVED HIS MASTER OF DIVINITY, A DEGREE IN THEOLOGY AT THE SAINT THOMAS THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY IN DENVER.

IN ADDITION TO HOLY REDEEMER PARISH, I KNOW THAT HE ALSO SERVES AS THE PRIEST AT OUR LADY OF PERPETUAL HELP AND SAINT MICHAEL CATHOLIC CHURCH. IT SOUNDS LIKE YOUR SUNDAYS ARE VERY, VERY BUSY.

IS THAT RIGHT, FATHER KEVIN? THAT'S CORRECT. ALRIGHT.

SO I'D LIKE AT THIS TIME I'D ASK EVERYBODY TO PLEASE STAND FOR THE INVOCATION.

REMAIN STANDING FOR THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.

GOD OF ALL CREATION.

WE THANK YOU FOR THE BEAUTY OF THIS DAY AND THE GIFT OF LIFE AND CREATION.

WE ASK THAT YOU POUR OUT YOUR BLESSINGS UPON THE BEXAR COUNTY COMMISSIONERS COURT.

GIVE OUR COMMISSIONERS WISDOM, UNDERSTANDING, AND RIGHT JUDGMENT AS THEY SERVE ALL THE CITIZENS OF BEXAR COUNTY.

BLESS ALL WHO ARE ATTENDING THIS DAY, AND BLESS ALL THE CITIZENS OF BEXAR COUNTY IN ALL DELIBERATIONS AND DECISIONS MAY THIS BODY SEEK WHAT IS BEST FOR ALL THE CITIZENS THEY REPRESENT, ESPECIALLY THE MOST VULNERABLE AND IN NEED IN OUR MIDST.

AS WE CELEBRATE NATIONAL MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS MONTH, I ASK YOUR BLESSING UPON THE CENTER FOR HEALTH CARE SERVICES AS THEY PROVIDE HELP AND ASSISTANCE FOR THOSE IN NEED OF MENTAL HEALTH ASSISTANCE.

ALSO, THE JOINT COMMISSION ON THE ELDERLY AFFAIRS AS THEY CELEBRATE OLDER AMERICAN MONTH.

WE ASK YOUR BLESSING AS THEY ADVOCATE AND AS THEY WORK FOR SENIOR CITIZENS.

LOVING GOD, MAY ALL OF US, ESPECIALLY THE BEXAR COUNTY COMMISSIONERS, STRIVE AND WORK TO UPLIFT, TO IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF LIFE AND CONTINUE TO BUILD A COMMUNITY OF OPPORTUNITY AND GROWTH, RESPECT AND CARE FOR ALL IN BEXAR COUNTY.

IN THE NAME OF THE LORD, WE PRAY.

AMEN. 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.

SO, FATHER KEVIN, HOW ARE THINGS OVER ON THE EAST SIDE? HOW ARE THINGS ON THE EAST SIDE? THINGS ARE CHANGING ON THE EAST SIDE.

WELL, TELL US ABOUT IT. I THINK FOR THE BETTER.

YOU ALWAYS HAVE THAT BALANCE OF GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT AND DISPLACEMENT AND GETTING MOVED OUT, BUT IT SEEMS LIKE THINGS ARE GOING WELL.

I SERVE ON THE SAGE BOARD AND THEY ARE MOVING FORWARD AND DOING WELL.

ALSO, IT'S A GREAT PLACE TO LIVE A LOT OF TIMES THE EAST SIDE IS, IS SORT OF OVERLOOKED BECAUSE THERE'S THESE PREJUDICES AND, PRECONCEIVED NOTIONS ABOUT CRIME ON THE EAST SIDE.

CRIME IS NO DIFFERENT ON THE EAST SIDE THAN IT IS ON THE WEST SIDE.

THE SOUTH SIDE OR THE NORTH SIDE.

THE EAST SIDE IS NOT SOMETHING TO BE DRIVEN THROUGH TO GET TO THE AT&T CENTER.

IT'S A PLACE TO COME TO VISIT, TO EAT AND TO TAKE PART IN THE CULTURE AND THE LIFE OF THE COMMUNITY.

WELL SAID FATHER.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONTRIBUTIONS TO OUR COMMUNITY.

THANK YOU, JUDGE SAKAI. ALL RIGHT.

I'D ASK THE COURT TO PLEASE STEP DOWN SO WE CAN DO THE CEREMONIAL ITEMS.

[3. CEREMONIAL ITEM(S)]

AND WE'VE GOT A LONG LIST.

I'LL ASK THAT HOPEFULLY EACH GROUP HAVE ONE PERSON, PLEASE PRESENT ON BEHALF OF THE GROUP.

ALL RIGHT, SO I'LL INVITE THE COURT TO PLEASE STEP DOWN IN FRONT OF THE DAIS.

MORNING. GOOD TO SEE.

YOU GOT THE MIC? OKAY. ALL RIGHT.

THIS PRESENTATION OF PROCLAMATION ON BEHALF OF COMMISSIONERS COURT RECOGNIZING MAY AS BEXAR COUNTY MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS MONTH.

CALVERT. THANK YOU.

WHAT A GREAT LOOKING CROWD THIS MORNING.

THANK YOU ALL FOR THE WORK YOU DO.

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THIS PROCLAMATION READS.

WHEREAS THE MONTH OF MAY HAS BEEN RECOGNIZED AS MENTAL HEALTH MONTH SINCE 1949 TO INCREASE AWARENESS AND HIGHLIGHT.

I'M NOT SURE IF IT'S ON BECAUSE IT DOESN'T SOUND LIKE IT'S ON.

I DON'T KNOW. YEAH, IT DOESN'T SOUND LIKE IT IS ON.

MAYBE WE NEED ANOTHER BATTERY.

OH THAT'S BETTER. OKAY.

WE'LL START OVER. WHEREAS THE MONTH OF MAY HAS BEEN RECOGNIZED AS A LOCAL MONTH SINCE 1949.

TO INCREASE AWARENESS AND HIGHLIGHT THE IMPORTANCE OF MENTAL HEALTH AND WELLNESS IN THE UNITED STATES AND TO CELEBRATE RECOVERY FROM MENTAL ILLNESS.

AND WHEREAS 1 IN 5 ADULTS IN THE US EXPERIENCE MENTAL ILLNESS EACH [INAUDIBLE].

1 IN 6 AGES 6-17 EXPERIENCE A MENTAL HEALTH DISORDER IN THE US.

EACH YEAR, OVER 400,000 PEOPLE IN BEXAR COUNTY [INAUDIBLE].

AND WHEREAS MENTAL HEALTH CONDITIONS AFFECT OUR PHYSICAL, EMOTIONAL AND SOCIAL WELL-BEING.

MENTAL HEALTH IS A PUBLIC HEALTH PRIORITY, DESERVING OF ENDURING SOLUTIONS THAT ARE GROUNDED IN [INAUDIBLE].

AND WHEREAS OVER THE PAST 30 YEARS, BEXAR COUNTY, THE PUBLIC HEALTH COMMUNITY HAS MADE EFFORTS TO INCREASE THE IMPORTANCE OF UNDERSTANDING.

CURRENTLY, THE [INAUDIBLE] GIVES US ALL A VALUABLE OPPORTUNITY TO FOSTER DIALOG, EDUCATE OURSELVES, DISPEL MENTAL HEALTH STIGMA, LISTEN AND SUPPORT OTHERS, AND CELEBRATES THE PROGRESS OF BEXAR COUNTY.

ADVOCATES EXCUSE ME ADVOCATES WHO PROMOTE MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS AND STRENGTHEN MENTAL HEALTH RESOURCES.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED THAT THE BEXAR COUNTY COMMISSIONERS COURT HEREBY PROCLAIMS THE MONTH OF MAY AS BEXAR COUNTY MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS MONTH AND ENCOURAGE ALL STAFF AND COMMUNITY STAKEHOLDERS TO WEAR GREEN AND ATTEND THE BEXAR COUNTY MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS DAY CELEBRATION ON FRIDAY, MAY 10TH, 2024, AT SAINT PHILIP'S COLLEGE [INAUDIBLE] STUDENT CENTER FROM 11:30 A.M.

TO 1 P.M.. WITNESS OUR [INAUDIBLE] OFFICE SEVENTH DAY OF MAY, 2024, SIGNED BY COMMISSIONERS COURT.

YOU'VE GOT THE FLOOR. [APPLAUSE] COMMISSIONERS AND JUDGE.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

I AM DR. ANDREA GUERRERO.

I'M THE DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC HEALTH FOR BEXAR COUNTY.

UNDER THAT UMBRELLA OF PUBLIC HEALTH, AS COMMISSIONER CALVERT POINTS OUT THIS COURT HAD THE FORESIGHT TO CREATE THE DEPARTMENT OF BEHAVIORAL HEALTH AND INTEGRATE IT INTO THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH.

BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT MENTAL WELLNESS IS SO ESSENTIAL TO SOMEONE'S PHYSICAL WELL-BEING AS WELL.

SO FAR SINCE I'VE BEEN HERE IN THE SHORT 18 MONTHS THAT WE'VE HAD A DEPARTMENT, THIS COURT HAS INVESTED MORE THAN $100 MILLION IN BEHAVIORAL HEALTH.

JUST IN THE AREA OF MENTAL HEALTH AND SUBSTANCE USE.

THAT'S NOT EVEN INCLUDING THE REST OF THE PUBLIC HEALTH DOLLARS.

AND THAT'S NOT INCLUDING OTHER DOLLARS THAT ARE INVESTED IN SPECIALTY COURTS AND DIVERSION MENTAL WELLNESS SERVICES FOR THE DIVERSION COURTS.

SO WE'D LIKE TO THANK YOU FOR RECOGNIZING THE WORK.

THIS IS A HUGE TEAM THAT I HAVE BEHIND ME.

AND NOT JUST BEXAR COUNTY EMPLOYEES ARE ALSO COMMUNITY PARTNERS.

WE HAVE JESSE HIGGINS, WHO'S THE CHIEF MENTAL HEALTH OFFICER FOR THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO, WHO'S AN IMPORTANT PARTNER.

AND WE JUST LIKE TO THANK THE COURT FOR THIS RECOGNITION AND TO INVITE EVERYONE TO SAINT PHILIP'S ON FRIDAY.

[APPLAUSE] KEEP IT STRAIGHT.

MIC] LET'S DO THE PRESENTATION AND PROCLAMATION ON BEHALF OF COMMISSIONERS COURT RECOGNIZE AND PROCLAIMING THE MONTH OF MAY 2024 AS OLDER AMERICANS MONTH.

WHERE'S THAT? THEY'RE LOOKING FOR IT.

WE'RE LOOKING FOR IT. OH, THERE YOU GO.

[00:10:05]

ALRIGHT, I'M GOING TO GO AHEAD AND READ THE PROCLAMATION AS THE GROUP COMES FORWARD AND ASK EVERYBODY TO PLEASE STEP FORWARD.

PROCLAMATION. WHEREAS THE OLDER AMERICANS ACT, ORIGINALLY ENACTED IN 1965, SUPPORTS A RANGE OF HOME AND COMMUNITY BASED SERVICES THAT KEEP OLDER ADULTS HEALTHY AND INDEPENDENT.

AND WHEREAS OUR NATION AND BEXAR COUNTY RECOGNIZED MAY AS OLDER AMERICANS MONTH TO HONOR OUR OLDER AMERICANS FOR THEIR CONTRIBUTIONS TO THIS COUNTRY AND TO THEIR LOCAL COMMUNITY, AND TO RAISE AWARENESS OF THE ISSUES THEY FACE.

AND WHEREAS BEXAR COUNTY HELPED CREATE A CITY COUNTY JOINT COMMISSION ON ELDERLY AFFAIRS TO IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR SENIORS IN SAN ANTONIO AND BEXAR COUNTY THROUGH THE PROVISIONS OF SENIOR SERVICES, RESOURCES, ADVOCACY AND OUTREACH.

AND WHEREAS, THIS YEAR'S CAMPAIGN THEME IS POWERED BY CONNECTION, WHICH RECOGNIZES THE PROFOUND IMPACT, MEANINGFUL RELATIONSHIPS, AND SOCIAL CONNECTIONS ON OUR HEALTH AND WELL-BEING, WE APPRECIATE THE BENEFITS OF OLDER ADULTS REMAINING ENGAGED, INDEPENDENT, AND INCLUDED IN OUR COMMUNITY.

AND WHEREAS THE COUNTY ENCOURAGES THE CONTRIBUTION OF SENIORS AS THEY PLAY AN INTEGRAL ROLE IN VITALITY OF OUR COMMUNITY, FURTHER, BEXAR COUNTY SUPPORTS AND DEPENDS ON THE CITY COUNTY JOINT COMMISSION ON ELDERLY AFFAIRS FOR ITS ADVOCACY AND IMPROVING THE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR OUR SENIORS.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE RESOLVED, THAT THE BEXAR COUNTY COMMISSIONERS COURT HEREBY RECOGNIZES AND PROCLAIMS THE MONTH OF MAY 2024 AS OLDER AMERICANS MONTH IN BEXAR COUNTY, TEXAS, AND URGE ALL RESIDENTS TO TAKE TIME THIS MONTH TO ENGAGE OLDER ADULTS AND SHARE THEIR CONNECTION.

[INAUDIBLE] WHAT THEY MEAN TO THEM.

WITNESSED BY OUR SIGNATURES BY THE COMMISSIONERS COURT, MISS FERNANDA GONZALEZ.

[APPLAUSE] THANK YOU, JUDGE.

THIS MORNING, I WOULD LIKE TO THANK THE COMMISSIONERS COURT FOR HAVING HERE AND FOR ALWAYS ADVOCATING FOR OUR OLDER ADULTS IN THE COMMUNITY.

THEY ARE THE BACKBONE OF THIS COMMUNITY, AND THEY HAVE PAVED THE WAY FOR THE NEXT GENERATION.

SO THIS COMMISSION ALWAYS ADVOCATES FOR THE NEEDS OF OUR OLDER ADULTS IN THE COMMUNITY.

AND WE WANT TO ENCOURAGE EVERYONE THIS MONTH TO CONTINUE REACHING OUT TO THAT NEIGHBOR, TO THAT SENIOR THAT YOU KNOW OF, TO HAVE THAT SOCIAL CONNECTIONS AND TO END SOCIAL ISOLATION WITH OUR OLDER ADULTS.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU.

[APPLAUSE] WHY DON'T Y'ALL COME FORWARD SO WE CAN TAKE A PICTURE.

OH, WE HAVE ANOTHER GO AHEAD.

I WANT TO THANK YOU ALL.

I WANT TO THANK EACH AND EVERY COMMISSIONER FOR KEEPING OUR SENIORS ON THE FOREFRONT IN THIS YEAR AND MAKING SURE THAT WE GO FORWARD. I KNOW WE CAN.

I KNOW YOU HAVE BEEN DOING IT, AND I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU THIS YEAR TO MAKE IT THE BEST YEAR YET.

I WANT TO THANK YOU AGAIN AND AGAIN, EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU COMMISSIONERS, NOT JUST ONE, BUT ALL OF YOU, PARTICULARLY TOMMY CALVERT.

THANK YOU FOR GIVING ME THE OPPORTUNITY TO WORK ON THIS BOARD FOR MANY YEARS THAT I HAVE.

I APPRECIATE THAT, I APPRECIATE ALL OF YOU.

GOD BLESS YOU AS WE GO FORWARD.

THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE] CHRIS DAWKINS.

HOW YOU DOING? THANKS FOR COMING.

HOW ARE YOU? GOD BLESS YOU.

GOD BLESS YOU. COME ON.

COME ON OVER.

COMMISSIONER, THANK YOU SO MUCH.

HOW ARE YOU? I APPRECIATE YOU.

I APPRECIATE YOU.

YOU STAY RIGHT THERE.

WE GOT A LITTLE SOMETHING. YOU STAY RIGHT THERE.

THANK YOU. Y'ALL HOLD ON TO THAT.

HOW ARE YOU? THANK YOU FOR COMING.

OKAY. HERE.

HERE. YEAH.

IF YOU WANT. THANKS. THANK YOU.

YES. OKAY. THANK YOU.

THANK YOU SO MUCH. WE STARTED WITH CHILDREN [INAUDIBLE].

THANK YOU.

AND I STARTED WITH CHILDREN IN JUVENILE, AND WE'RE ENDING WITH ADULTS.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

THANK YOU.

OKAY. I HAVEN'T TAKEN IT.

OKAY. WE LET THEM KNOW.

OKAY. ME TOO.

YEAH. YEAH.

[00:15:01]

ARE YOU READY? THANK YOU.

THERE WE GO. THANK YOU.

ASHLEY. THIS.

OKAY? OKAY.

OKAY. YEAH.

SHE WANTS AN APPOINTMENT, COMMISSIONER CALVERT.

SHE WANTS IT NOW.

ALRIGHT. WE'RE GOING TO DO THE PRESENTATION.

PROCLAMATION ON BEHALF OF COMMISSIONERS COURT RECOGNIZING MAY 2024 AS A LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS OF THE SAN ANTONIO AREA APPRECIATION MONTH, AND HIGHLIGHTING THE VOTER EDUCATION OUTREACH INITIATIVES OF THE VOLUNTEER DRIVEN LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS OF THE SAN ANTONIO AREA.

WOULD YOU ALL PLEASE COME FORWARD? AND AS THEY'RE COMING FORWARD, I'LL GO AHEAD AND READ THE PROCLAMATION THAT WE ARE PRESENTING THIS MORNING.

WHEREAS THE LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS SAN ANTONIO AREA WAS ESTABLISHED AS THE BEXAR COUNTY DIVISION OF THE NATIONAL LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS, WHICH WAS FORMED IN 1920 FROM THE MOVEMENT THAT SECURED THE RIGHT TO VOTE FOR WOMEN.

AND WHEREAS, THE CENTERPIECE OF ALL VOLUNTEER LWVSA IS TO ENCOURAGE AND EXPAND INFORMED AND ACTIVE CIVIC PARTICIPATION AND GIVE A VOICE TO ALL AMERICANS THROUGH NONPARTIZAN EDUCATIONAL EFFORTS.

AND WHEREAS, SINCE 1940, THE LWVSA HAS WORKED CONTINUOUSLY TO EXTEND ITS REACH TO COMMUNITY AND YOUTH OUTREACH AND PRODUCES VOTER GUIDES IN ITS EFFORTS TO FULFILL ITS VISIONS OF A DEMOCRACY WHERE EVERY PERSON HAS THE DESIRE, THE RIGHT, THE KNOWLEDGE AND THE CONFIDENCE TO PARTICIPATE IN THE ELECTORAL PROCESS. AND WHEREAS, THE BEXAR COUNTY COMMISSIONERS COURT WOULD LIKE TO HONOR THE LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS OF THE SAN ANTONIO AREA FOR ITS WORK IN EMPOWERING VOTERS, DEFENDING DEMOCRACY NOW! THEREFORE, BE RESOLVED, THAT THE BEXAR COUNTY COMMISSIONERS COURT HEREBY RECOGNIZES AND PROCLAIMS MAY 2024 AS LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS OF THE SAN ANTONIO AREA APPRECIATION MONTH.

WITNESS OUR SIGNATURES BY THE COURT.

GOOD MORNING, MISS MADDOCK.

THANK YOU. WELL, ON BEHALF OF THE LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS OF SAN ANTONIO, SCORES OF VOLUNTEERS WHO DEDICATE COUNTLESS HOURS TO THE LEAGUE, AND ALL OUR SUPPORTERS WHO HELP US FULFILL OUR LONG-TERM COMMITMENT TO CREATE AND PROMOTE AN ACTIVE AND INFORMED ELECTORATE.

I WANT TO THANK COMMISSIONERS, COURT JUDGE SAKAI, COMMISSIONER RODRIGUEZ, COMMISSIONER CLAY-FLORES, COMMISSIONER MOODY AND COMMISSIONER CALVERT.

YOU KNOW, THE LEAGUE HAS BEEN VERY FORTUNATE TO ENJOY THE SUPPORT OF THE COMMISSIONERS COURT FOR MANY YEARS.

SO, YOU KNOW, WE ARE WE ARE VERY FORTUNATE IN THAT RESPECT.

AND WE WILL CONTINUE TO, YOU KNOW, OUR COMMITMENT TO THE BEXAR COUNTY COMMUNITY, BECAUSE BEXAR COUNTY COMMUNITY REALLY RELIES ON NON AS IT RELIES ON THE LEAGUE OF MEN VOTERS AS THEIR NONPARTISAN ELECTION RESOURCE.

AND WE KNOW WE HAVE A MAJOR RESPONSIBILITY TO IMPART THAT INFORMATION TO THEM SO THAT THEY CAN MAKE INFORMED CHOICES.

SO, OUR VOTERS GUIDES VOTE FOR ONE, AND SCORES OF PAMPHLETS THAT WE PUT TOGETHER FOR THE VOTERS ARE IMPORTANT RESOURCES FOR THE VOTERS IN BEXAR COUNTY. AND THIS YEAR, WE ARE ALSO CONSIDERING AND EXPLORING THE FEASIBILITY OF DOING OUR VOTER'S GUIDE IN SPANISH.

AND SO, YEAH, SO WE ARE HOPING THAT, YOU KNOW, WE CAN REACH OUT TO PEOPLE, AND WE CAN HELP THE VOTER TURNOUT TO INCREASE, BECAUSE IT'S SOMETHING THAT NONE OF US CAN BE PROUD OF.

YOU KNOW, LOOK, AT THE PAST ELECTION, IT WAS ONLY 3% OF THE PEOPLE WHO VOTED.

SO THAT SHOULD BE UNACCEPTABLE FOR US AS A COMMUNITY.

WE WILL DO OUR PART, AND WE CERTAINLY HOPE THAT YOU WILL HELP US AND SUPPORT US, WHICH YOU HAVE DONE IN THE PAST.

SO, WE ARE FOCUSED WILL REMAIN THE VOTER EDUCATION BECAUSE THERE ARE MANY, MANY ORGANIZATIONS IN BEXAR COUNTY WHO ARE REGISTERING VOTERS.

BUT YOU KNOW, THE VALUE THAT THE LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS ADDS IS THAT IT IS A VOTER EDUCATION RESOURCE.

SO, WE WILL CONTINUE TO DO THAT, AND WE WILL HOPE THAT WE CONTINUE TO EMPOWER VOTERS AND DEFEND DEMOCRACY.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

THANK YOU. JUAN SHALL COME FORWARD.

LET'S TAKE A PICTURE. YOU KNOW, I AM LOOKING FOR A VOLUNTEER TO TAKE A PICTURE FOR US.

OH, WE HAVE A LOT OF VOLUNTEERS RIGHT THERE.

Y'ALL CAN COME FORWARD FOR YOU.

I'M GLAD I SEE YOU. GOOD MORNING.

GOOD MORNING. THANK YOU.

2021. I HAVE NOT MET YET.

OKAY. THANK YOU SO MUCH.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU.

[00:20:33]

THANK YOU. KEEP UP THE GREAT WORK.

GREAT. THANK YOU.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

THANK YOU. YOU'RE WELCOME.

THANK YOU.

ALL RIGHT.

WE'LL CONTINUE WITH THE PROCLAMATIONS.

THE NEXT ONE WILL BE PRESENTATION OF PROCLAMATION ON BEHALF OF COMMISSIONERS COURT RECOGNIZING AND CELEBRATING MAY 10TH AND 11TH, 2024 AS BIBLIOTHEQUE WEEKEND.

WOULD YOU ALL PLEASE STEP FORWARD? ALL RIGHT.

AS Y'ALL STEP FORWARD, I'LL READ THE PROCLAMATION.

WHEREAS BIBLIOTECH WAS ESTABLISHED IN 2013 AS THE FIRST ALL-DIGITAL PUBLIC LIBRARY IN THE NATION, WITH THE MISSION TO PROVIDE ALL BEXAR COUNTY RESIDENTS TECHNOLOGY ACCESS TO ENHANCE LITERACY AND EDUCATION, PROMOTE READING AS RECREATION, AND EQUIP ALL MEMBERS OF OUR COMMUNITY WITH THE NECESSARY TOOLS TO THRIVE AS CITIZENS OF THE DIGITAL AGE.

AND WHEREAS, SINCE OPENING, BIBLIOTECH HAS GROWN ITS ONLINE AND IN-PERSON PRESENCE TO OVER 213, 690,000 REGISTERED PATRONS AND FOUR LIBRARY BRANCHES, THEY HAVE CIRCULATED 2,265,360 E-BOOKS AND AUDIOBOOKS, AND 73,868 E-READERS, TABLETS AND WI-FI HOTSPOTS.

AND WHEREAS BIBLIOTECH WILL CELEBRATE ITS 10TH ANNIVERSARY ON FRIDAY, MAY 10TH AT THE DAWSON CENTER OF THE WITTE MUSEUM, THE EVENT, A DECADE OF DIGITAL DARING, HONORS THE VISION OF NELSON AND TRACY WOLFF AND THE DEDICATED STAFF WHO CONTINUE BIBLIOTECH'S IMPORTANT WORK.

AND WHEREAS, SINCE 2016, BIBLIOTECH PARTNERED WITH HEB THREE TO PRODUCE THE SAN ANTONIO 92ND NEWBURY FESTIVAL, WHICH HAS GROWN TO BE BIBLIOTECH'S LARGEST PROGRAMING EVENT OF THE YEAR.

AND WHEREAS 92ND NEWBURY IS A VIDEO CONTEST IN WHICH KID FILMMAKERS ARE CHALLENGED TO CREATE MOVIES THAT TELL THE ENTIRE SERIES OR STORIES OF AWARD-WINNING NEWBERY MEDAL AND NEWBERY HONOR BOOKS.

IN ABOUT 90S THIS YEAR, 104 VIDEO ENTRIES WERE SUBMITTED TO THE FESTIVAL, WHICH WILL BE HELD SATURDAY, MAY 11TH AT 11 A.M.

AT THE HEB PERFORMANCE HALL OF THE TOBIN CENTER FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE RESOLVED THAT THE BEXAR COUNTY COMMISSIONERS COURT HEREBY RECOGNIZES AND PROCLAIMS THIS WEEKEND, MAY 10TH AND 11TH, 2024, AS BIBLIOTECH WEEKEND. WITNESS OUR SIGNATURES BY THE COURT.

MISS LAURA COLE, YOU HAVE THE FLOOR.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU, JUDGE AND COMMISSIONERS.

I JUST WANT TO SAY THAT I AND MY STAFF BEHIND ME ARE JUST ABOUT BURSTING WITH PRIDE.

YOU KNOW, BIBLIOTECH STARTED OUT SORT OF AS A GERM OF AN IDEA, AND WE HAD NO IDEA AT THE TIME THAT IT WOULD TRULY DISRUPT THE LIBRARY PROFESSION ACROSS THE WORLD.

SO, ON FRIDAY, WE WILL CELEBRATE THE BRAVERY AND THE VISION OF NELSON AND TRACY WOLFF, WHO HELPED TO MAKE THAT HAPPEN.

WE WILL ALSO CELEBRATE THOSE PEOPLE THAT HELPED TO DEFINE BIBLIOTHEQUE EVERY DAY, THE VERY, VERY HARD WORKING AND MISSION MINDED STAFF.

SO VERY, VERY PROUD OF THEM.

ALSO, THE VERY NEXT DAY WE WILL CELEBRATE OUR EIGHTH ANNIVERSARY OF OUR 92ND NEWBURY SCREENING, WHICH ALSO STARTED OUT AS A GERM OF AN IDEA.

OUR VERY FIRST 92ND NEWBURY VIDEO WAS PRODUCED AT VEVO'S SOUTH, AND IT WAS ONE VIDEO.

THIS YEAR WE RECEIVED OVER 104 ENTRIES.

WE HAVE 752 RESERVATIONS FOR ATTENDANCE AT THE TOBIN CENTER, AND I HOPE THAT EVERYONE WILL COME OUT TO ATTEND THAT EVENT.

WE'RE VERY, VERY EXCITED ABOUT IT.

11:00 AT THE TOBIN ON SATURDAY MORNING.

THANK YOU, THANK YOU.

WHY DON'T YOU COME FORWARD FOR A PICTURE? THERE YOU GO. I'M GOING TO THANK YOU.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU.

THANK YOU. YOU'RE FINE.

RIGHT THERE. RIGHT THERE.

[00:25:09]

THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU, THANK YOU COMMISSIONER, YOU HAVE WE HAVE A PRESENTATION PROCLAMATION ON BEHALF OF COMMISSIONERS COURT WHERE CIRCLES THE SAN ANTONIO COMMUNITY COALITION PROCLAIMED MAY 12TH AND 18TH, 2024 AS NATIONAL PREVENTION WEEK AND URGES RESIDENTS TO JOIN THE CIRCLES OF SAN ANTONIO COMMUNITY COALITION IN RAISING AWARENESS ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF SUBSTANCE ABUSE PREVENTION AND POSITIVE MENTAL HEALTH.

COMMISSIONER CLAY-FLORES.

GOOD MORNING.

WHEREAS NATIONAL PREVENTION WEEK IS CELEBRATION OF POSSIBILITY, IT'S A PUBLIC EDUCATION CAMPAIGN TO PROMOTE THE WORK OF COMMUNITIES AND ORGANIZATIONS DEDICATED TO RAISING AWARENESS ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF SUBSTANCE USE, PREVENTION AND POSITIVE MENTAL HEALTH.

AND WHEREAS WE RECOGNIZE THE POWER OF PREVENTION IN THE SMALL DAILY ACTIONS DONE BY INDIVIDUALS, COMBINED WITH THE ACTIONS OF FAMILIES AND COMMUNITIES THAT COME TOGETHER TO MAKE UP THE LARGER BOLD MOVEMENT OF PREVENTION.

AND WHEREAS SUBSTANCE USE PREVENTION AND MENTAL HEALTH PROMOTION MAKE A DIFFERENCE, WE RECOGNIZE THE POWER OF THE COMMUNITY TO COME TOGETHER, TO EDUCATE AND ADVOCATE FOR THE VOICES OF THOSE IMPACTED BY SUBSTANCE USE AND OR MENTAL HEALTH CHALLENGES.

WE ENCOURAGE THE COMMUNITY TO CONTINUE THE CONVERSATIONS REQUIRED TO REDUCE STIGMA AND PROMOTE MENTAL WELLNESS AND SUBSTANCE USE PREVENTION BEYOND NATIONAL PREVENTION WEEK.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED THAT THE BEXAR COUNTY COMMISSIONERS COURT HEREBY PROCLAIMS MAY 12TH THROUGH THE EIGHTH, 2024 AS NATIONAL PREVENTION WEEK, SIGNED BY YOUR COMMISSIONERS COURT. THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.

SO GOOD MORNING, JUDGE, COMMISSIONERS AND EVERYONE PRESENT TODAY.

MY NAME IS MADISON SUTTLES.

I'M A SENIOR FROM SAN ANTONIO INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT'S CASHMERE HIGH SCHOOL, AS WELL AS A CONSTITUENT OF COMMISSIONER RODRIGUEZ.

WE ARE HERE TO RECOGNIZE MAY 7TH THROUGH 13TH, 2024 AS NATIONAL PREVENTION WEEK.

THE SUBSTANCE ABUSE AND MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES ADMINISTRATION, OR SAMHSA, IS A SPONSOR OF NATIONAL PREVENTION WEEK.

THIS YEAR'S CAMPAIGN IS CALLED A CELEBRATION OF POSSIBILITY.

AS A YOUTH, NATIONAL PREVENTION WEEK GIVES ME THE OPPORTUNITY TO EDUCATE MY COMMUNITY ON THE SEVERITY OF YOUTH SUBSTANCE USE, AS WELL AS THE CONNECTION BETWEEN SUBSTANCE USE AND MENTAL HEALTH. ATTENDING A MEDICAL HIGH SCHOOL HAS HELPED ME SEE FIRSTHAND THE EFFECT SUBSTANCE USE HAS ON THE BODY.

IT IS IMPORTANT TO TEACH YOUTH MY AGE THAT USING ALCOHOL OR DRUGS AT OUR AGE CAN HARM THE BODY, AFFECTING MOOD AND INCREASING THE RISK OF ADDICTION LATER IN LIFE.

AT CASS MED, WE CELEBRATE THE POSSIBILITIES OF OUR GOALS, DREAMS AND ASPIRATIONS.

WE ARE TAUGHT TO HELP OUR COMMUNITY AND AID IT THE BEST WE CAN.

I WOULD LIKE TO THANK MY TEACHERS FOR EDUCATING ME ON THE SERIOUSNESS OF DRUGS AND ALCOHOL, AS WELL AS CONNECTING ME WITH THE SAN ANTONIO COUNCIL ON ALCOHOL AND DRUG AWARENESS. AT SACADA, WE INFORM ALL COMMUNITY MEMBERS ON SUBSTANCE PREVENTION THROUGH NOT ONLY OUR EFFORTS BUT THROUGH NATIONAL PREVENTION WEEK TO UPLIFT OUR VOICE.

WE WILL CONTINUE TO EDUCATE, SEEK OPPORTUNITIES, BUILD AND MAINTAIN HEALTHY RELATIONSHIPS, AS WELL AS CONTINUE WORKING WITH YOUTH TO HELP THEIR BRAINS STAY HEALTHY SO THEY CAN REACH THEIR GOALS.

THIS WORK IS DONE WITH MULTIPLE PARTNERS, AND SOME ARE HERE TODAY.

WE'RE JOINED BY UNIVERSITY HEALTH SYSTEM, BEXAR COUNTY BEHAVIORAL HEALTH, AND OTHERS.

THANK YOU ALL FOR HONORING NATIONAL PREVENTION WEEK AND CONTINUING TO ENCOURAGE SUBSTANCE USE PREVENTION AND MENTAL WELLNESS.

AS SOMEONE FROM A YOUNGER GENERATION, WE SEE THE WORK THAT IS HAPPENING TO BETTER OUR COMMUNITY, AND WE APPLAUD YOUR EFFORTS AS WELL AS THANK YOU FOR GIVING US THE PARTY TO ASSIST WITH THIS.

THANK YOU ALL. GOOD MORNING.

LET'S DO THE NEXT PROCLAMATION.

PRESENTATION OF PROCLAMATION.

WE HAVE A COMMISSIONER'S COURT RECOGNIZING BEXAR COUNTY'S LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS WHO'VE LOST THEIR LIVES IN THE LINE OF DUTY FOR THE SAFETY AND PROTECTION OF OTHERS.

THIS PROCLAMATION COVERS NATIONAL POLICE WEEK AND ALSO RECOGNIZES MAY 15TH AS PEACE OFFICERS MEMORIAL DAY COMMISSIONER MOODY.

[00:30:09]

WHEREAS NATIONAL POLICE WEEK WAS ESTABLISHED IN 1962 WHEN PRESIDENT JOHN F KENNEDY SIGNED A PROCLAMATION DESIGNATING MAY 15TH AS PEACE OFFICERS MEMORIAL DAY, AND THE WEEK IN WHICH THAT DATE FALLS AS NATIONAL POLICE WEEK.

AND WHEREAS NATIONAL POLICE WEEK IS OBSERVED TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE COURAGEOUS PEOPLE WHO SERVE AS LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS AND PROVIDE US THE OPPORTUNITY TO EXTEND OUR GRATITUDE AND ADMIRATION FOR THE DAILY SACRIFICES THEY MAKE FOR OUR COMMUNITIES.

AND WHEREAS, DURING THIS WEEK, WE COME TOGETHER TO CELEBRATE OFFICERS UNWAVERING DEDICATION AND COURAGE, AS WELL AS PAY TRIBUTE TO THOSE OFFICERS WHO HAVE PAID THE ULTIMATE SACRIFICE AND SERVICE TO OTHERS.

AND WHEREAS BEXAR COUNTY COMMISSIONERS COURT ACKNOWLEDGES THE CHALLENGES INHERENT IN THE LAW ENFORCEMENT PROFESSION AND APPRECIATES THE VITAL ROLE THAT OFFICERS PLAY IN OUR COUNTY TO INCLUDE THEIR ONGOING EFFORTS TO IMPROVE RELATIONSHIPS IN OUR COMMUNITY THEY SERVE.

AND WHEREAS NATIONAL POLICE WEEK 2024 WILL TAKE PLACE FROM MAY 12TH TO 18TH AND BOTH THE UNITED STATES AND CANADA PROVIDING AN OPPORTUNITY TO CELEBRATE THE DEDICATION AND SACRIFICES OF THOSE WHO SERVE AND PROTECT OUR COMMUNITIES.

I'D LIKE TO ALSO ON THIS PEACE OFFICERS MEMORIAL DAY, HONOR THOSE WHO PAID THE ULTIMATE SACRIFICE AND SERVICE TO OTHERS HERE IN BEXAR COUNTY FOR BEXAR COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE SHERIFF JOSEPH L HOOD, SHERIFF EDWARD A STEVENS DEPUTY DANIEL MCCLUSKEY. DEPUTY JOHN T HOLLOWAY.

DEPUTY GEORGE L MANGOLD.

DEPUTY FRANK ACKERMAN.

DEPUTY GEORGE PETRONGOLO.

DEPUTY WINFORD.

OH. MICKEY PATTILLO.

DEPUTY VINCENT L WALKER.

DEPUTY JOSHUA B RODRIGUEZ, JR.

DEPUTY ELWOOD E GROFF.

DEPUTY GEORGE R GARZA.

DEPUTY ARTURO E RODRIGUEZ.

DEPUTY ADRIAN S AGUILAR.

DEPUTY DAVID DE CASTILLO.

DEPUTY NATALIE ANNE SORIANO.

DEPUTY JESUS A.

GARZA, JR.

SERGEANT KENNETH G.

VANN. SENIOR DEPUTY TIMOTHY DELA FUENTE.

DEPUTY RONALD BUTLER.

CANINES CHUCKY, VEGAS, DUKE AND HAYES.

FROM THE BEXAR COUNTY CONSTABLE PRECINCT THREE SERGEANT MARK LUIS SERNA AND BEXAR COUNTY FIRE MARSHAL'S OFFICE DIRECTOR N KYLE COLEMAN.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED THAT THE BEXAR COUNTY COMMISSIONERS COURT HEREBY RECOGNIZES AND PROCLAIMS MAY 12TH THROUGH MAY 18TH, 2024, AND WEDNESDAY, MAY 15TH, 2024, AS NATIONAL POLICE WEEK AND PEACE OFFICERS MEMORIAL DAY.

SIGNED YOUR COMMISSIONERS COURT.

THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER MOODY, FOR THAT.

THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH FOR PAUSING THIS MORNING TO REMEMBER OUR HEROES.

IN LAW ENFORCEMENT, WE HAVE A SAYING A HERO REMEMBERED NEVER DIES.

AND SO, WE ALWAYS APPRECIATE IT WHEN OUR GOVERNMENT BODIES STOP WHAT THEY'RE DOING.

PAUSE TO GIVE US THANKS.

AND, OF COURSE, REMEMBER THOSE WHO DIED IN THE LINE OF DUTY.

SINCE 1731, THE MEN AND WOMEN OF THE BEXAR COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE HAVE PROTECTED THIS COMMUNITY.

AND WE'RE ONLY GETTING BETTER AND BETTER AT WHAT WE DO.

BUT THANKFULLY, IN MAY, WE'RE ABLE TO TAKE TIME TO REMEMBER OUR HEROES.

MAY 24TH, INCIDENTALLEY, OUT JUST OUTSIDE THESE ON THIS SIDE OF THE COURTHOUSE, WE WILL BE HAVING OUR, OUR ANNUAL POLICE, OUR LAW ENFORCEMENT MEMORIAL FOR THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE. THAT THAT WILL BE AT 9 A.M.

YOU ALL WILL RECEIVE FORMAL INVITATIONS.

HOWEVER, THIS IS CERTAINLY AN OPEN INVITATION, AND WE'D LOVE TO HAVE EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU THERE WITH US.

THIS MORNING, I'VE GOT SOME SPECIAL GUESTS THAT THAT THAT CAME ALONG WITH ME.

I'LL INVITE THEM UP TO SPEAK HERE SHORTLY.

BUT FROM THE DSABC, THE DEPUTY SHERIFF'S ASSOCIATION OF BEXAR COUNTY LIEUTENANT RON TOOK.

THE PRESIDENT IS HERE AS WELL AS MR. BART VASQUEZ FROM THE 100 CLUB.

ALSO, ALWAYS GOOD PARTNERS TO LAW ENFORCEMENT, INCLUDING THE BEXAR COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE.

BUT ALSO, MOST IMPORTANTLY ONE OF OUR SURVIVOR SPOUSES IS HERE.

PAULINE DE LA FUENTE, WIFE OF TIMOTHY DE LA FUENTE, WHO WE LOST DURING THE PANDEMIC IS ALSO HERE.

SO, I'LL INVITE LIEUTENANT TOOK TO COME ON UP.

[00:35:04]

THE PEOPLE THAT GAVE THEIR ULTIMATE SACRIFICE FOR BEXAR COUNTY.

IT'S VERY IMPORTANT AND MUCH RESPECT TO ALL OF YOU.

ALL FOR THAT. HISTORY IS VERY IMPORTANT TO ALL OF US.

WE CAN NEVER FORGET OUR HISTORY.

AND ON A PERSONAL NOTE, I'D LIKE TO SET THE CLOCK BACK A LITTLE BIT TO ABOUT A YEAR AGO, AND MAYBE WE COULD GO BACK TO THE WAY IT USED TO BE WITH ALL OF US. THAT'S VERY IMPORTANT TO ME SOMETIMES.

THIRD PARTIES GET INVOLVED AND MESSAGES GET NOT DELIVERED THE WAY THEY SHOULD.

THE PROPER WAY, WITH THE DUE RESPECT THAT THEY SHOULD.

SO THAT'S MY PERSONAL REQUEST IS MAYBE WE COULD SET BACK THE CLOCK ABOUT A YEAR AGO WHEN WE WERE ALL DOING JUST FINE WITH EACH OTHER, AND IF IT'S SOMETHING THAT THE ASSOCIATION OR MYSELF HAD ANYTHING TO DO WITH, I WOULD LIKE TO PERSONALLY APOLOGIZE TO EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU, AND NOTHING LIKE IT.

JUST A GOOD CUP OF COFFEE AND LEAVE THE THIRD PARTIES OUT OF IT.

SO, THANK YOU. AND, PAULINE, IF YOU WOULD, PLEASE.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

GOOD MORNING, JUDGE. COMMISSIONERS, I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR ALWAYS REMEMBERING TO HONOR OUR FALLEN OFFICERS.

COMMISSIONER MOODY, THANK YOU FOR READING THAT PROCLAMATION.

AND I WILL CONTINUE TO COME HERE EVERY YEAR UNTIL MY LAST BREATH AS MY HUSBAND AND HIS LAST BREATH WAS APRIL 30TH, 2020. AND HE TOOK HIS OATH TO PROTECT AND SERVE, AND HE DID IT WITH HIS VERY LAST BREATH.

SO, THANK YOU AGAIN, COMMISSIONER MOODY.

JUDGE SAKAI, COMMISSIONER CALVERT.

COMMISSIONER CLAY-FLORES RODRIGUEZ.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU, COMMISSIONERS.

AND THANK YOU FOR HONORING THE LAW ENFORCEMENT FROM BEXAR COUNTY.

THE 100 CLUB FOR OVER 50 YEARS HAS BEEN THERE TO SUPPORT THESE FAMILIES OF THE FALLEN FIRST RESPONDERS FROM BEXAR COUNTY.

WE WILL PROVIDE THE FAMILY WITH IMMEDIATE FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO GET THEM THROUGH THAT TOUGH TIME.

BUT THEN, MORE IMPORTANTLY, IN ANY DEPENDENT CHILDREN THAT THEY HAD, WE WILL PAY THEIR COLLEGE EDUCATION WHEN THEY START COLLEGE IN THAT FALL.

SO, I INVITE YOU ALL TO HAVE YOUR INVITES HERE TO OUR JUNE 6TH HEROES' LUNCHEON, WHERE WE'LL BE AWARDING ONE OF THE CHECKS TO ONE OF THE KIDS THERE.

AND WE WILL TELL THAT THAT LIFE OF THAT FALLEN FIRST RESPONDER AND DO SOME OTHER THINGS THERE.

SO, I INVITE EACH OF YOU TO COME AND JUST KNOW THE 100 CLUB.

WE DO THIS WITH ALL CITIZEN SUPPORT FROM BEXAR COUNTY.

SO, THEY SUPPORT US, AND WE PASS IT ON TO LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS THAT WE HELP EACH AND EVERY DAY HERE IN BEXAR COUNTY.

I'D ALSO LIKE TO THANK COMMISSIONER RODRIGUEZ AND COMMISSIONER CALVERT FOR BEING SPONSORS OF THE HEROES LUNCHEON.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THAT.

IT'S REALLY APPRECIATED.

THANK YOU. WELL, ONCE AGAIN, WE'D LIKE TO THANK ALL OUR PARTNERS WHO JOINED US TODAY, MR. BART VASQUEZ FROM THE 100 CLUB.

YOU KNOW, BART, THE 100 CLUB DOES SO MUCH FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT.

PEOPLE DON'T EVEN REALIZE.

YOU KNOW, TRAINING, LIFESAVING TRAINING, SUPPLYING EQUIPMENT.

BUT THE BEST THING THAT I CAN IMAGINE OR THAT I KNOW FOR A FACT, IS THAT AS WE'RE GETTING READY FOR OUR DAY PUTTING ON BOOTS, PUTTING ON VESTS PACKING EQUIPMENT INTO THE CAR, IT'S ALWAYS NICE TO KNOW THE ONE LESS THING TO WORRY ABOUT IS THAT KNOWING THAT OUR FAMILY IS GOING TO BE TAKEN CARE OF, SHOULD WE MAKE THAT ULTIMATE SACRIFICE. SO, THANK YOU FOR CONTINUING TO DO THAT FOR US.

I REALLY APPRECIATE IT.

LIEUTENANT TUCK, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR WHAT YOU CONTINUE TO DO WITH THE DSAC.

YOU KNOW, I CAN'T THINK OF A TIME WHERE THE DSAC ADMINISTRATION AND THE SHERIFF'S ADMINISTRATION HAS BEEN MORE IN SYNC THAN WE ABSOLUTELY ARE RIGHT NOW.

CERTAINLY, WITH THE WORK OF THE COMMISSIONER'S COURT, WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO ACCOMPLISH SOME HISTORIC THINGS WITH REGARD TO PAY AND BENEFITS FOR OUR DEPUTIES AS THEY TRULY DESERVE.

AND AGAIN, PAULINE, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR CONTINUING TO FIGHT WITH US AS A, AS A MEMBER OF OUR FAMILY.

AS I MENTIONED, ONCE, A MEMBER OF THIS FAMILY, ALWAYS A MEMBER OF THIS FAMILY.

AND SO, WE'RE THANKFUL TO HAVE YOU HERE WITH US TODAY.

ONCE AGAIN, THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH AND WE'D LOVE TO COME UP AND JOIN YOU.

PLEASE COME FORWARD.

[00:40:02]

WE'RE GOING TO DO THE PRESENTATION PROCLAMATION ON BEHALF OF THE COMMISSIONERS COURT CELEBRATING CHILD ADVOCATE SAN ANTONIO CASA 40TH ANNIVERSARY.

COMMISSIONER RUDY CASA.

SO, OUR FRIENDS AT CASA PROCLAMATION.

WHEREAS THE ORIGINAL IDEA FOR COURT APPOINTED SPECIAL ADVOCATES, CASA STEMMED FROM A CASE THAT JUVENILE COURT JUDGE DAVID SUKUP WAS PRESIDING OVER IN 1976, IN SEATTLE.

JUDGE SUKUP HAD INSUFFICIENT INFORMATION TO MAKE A LIFE CHANGING DECISION FOR A THREE-YEAR-OLD GIRL WHO HAD SUFFERED FROM CHILD ABUSE.

JUDGE FELT THESE CHILDREN, WHO HAD EXPERIENCED ABUSE OR NEGLECT, NEEDED TRAINED VOLUNTEERS SPEAKING UP IN THE COURTROOM FOR THEIR BEST INTEREST.

AND THEREIN CASA WAS STARTED.

AND WHEREAS, AS CASAS BEGAN TO FORM IN NUMEROUS PLACES ACROSS THE COUNTRY, IN 1984 THE NATIONAL COUNCIL OF JEWISH WOMEN IN SAN ANTONIO, LED BY ELEANOR FALLEN AND OFFICE MANAGER BETTY ZINN, FOUNDED CHILD ADVOCATE SAN ANTONIO LOCALLY, AND WHEREAS, CASA WAS INCORPORATED IN 1988 AND SAN ANTONIO AND ESTABLISHED A BOARD OF DIRECTORS TO HELP GUIDE THE ORGANIZATION ON ACCOMPLISHING ITS MISSION TO RECRUIT, DEVELOP, AND LEAD HIGHLY IMPACTFUL COURT APPOINTED VOLUNTEER ADVOCATES WHO PROVIDE CONSTANCY AND SUPPORT FOR CHILDREN AND YOUTH WHO HAVE EXPERIENCED ABUSE AND NEGLECT.

AND WHEREAS CASA'S VOLUNTEERS ARE THE DRIVING FORCE OF THE ORGANIZATION'S SUCCESS, AND IN 2023, 18,000 HOURS WERE DONATED, AND 163,000 MILES WERE DRIVEN BY DEDICATED VOLUNTEERS IN BEXAR COUNTY TO MAKE CONTACT AND IMPROVE THE LIVES OF ABUSED AND NEGLECTED CHILDREN IN OUR COMMUNITY. AND WHEREAS FOR 40 YEARS IN BEXAR COUNTY AND SAN ANTONIO, CASA HAS SUPPORTED CHILDREN INVOLVED IN CHILD WELFARE SYSTEM, AND THEIR VOLUNTEERS HAVE STOOD AS STEADFAST ADVOCATES FOR THE BEST INTERESTS OF CHILDREN, MAKING INFORMED RECOMMENDATIONS FOR THE CHILD'S PHYSICAL AND EMOTIONAL WELL-BEING TO THE COURT.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, THAT THE BEXAR COUNTY COMMISSIONERS COURT HEREBY RECOGNIZES AND CELEBRATES CHILD ADVOCATES SAN ANTONIO'S 40TH ANNIVERSARY.

SIGNED YOUR COMMISSIONERS COURT.

THANK YOU. GOOD MORNING, AND THANK YOU SO MUCH, COUNTY JUDGE SAKAI COMMISSIONER MOODY, ALL OUR LOVELY COMMISSIONERS. AND FOR THIS HONOR AS WE REACH OUR 40-YEAR MARK.

AS YOU CAN SEE, I BROUGHT THE TEAM.

WOO! BOARD MEMBERS, WONDERFUL ADVOCATES.

SO, WE CAN ALL CELEBRATE TOGETHER.

SO, THANK YOU SO MUCH.

WE, OF COURSE, OUR START TO THE AMAZING ELEANOR FORLAND AND BETTY ZINN, WHO AT A KITCHEN TABLE DECIDED BEXAR COUNTY NEEDED COURT APPOINTED SPECIAL ADVOCATES.

AND IT WAS A PROJECT FOR THEM.

AND TOGETHER WITH ALL THE PEOPLE THAT CAME AFTERWARDS TO GET US WHERE WE ARE TODAY, AS PROUD AS I AM TO LEAD THIS AGENCY AND TO BE HERE, IT'S SUCH A MILESTONE.

THE TRUTH IS, WE ALL WISH CHILDREN DID NOT SUFFER FROM NEGLECT AND ABUSE.

TRAGICALLY, SEXUAL ABUSE IS NOW SECOND TO NEGLECT IN REASONS TO REMOVE AND CHILDREN WHO ARE REMOVED ARE UNDER THREE YEARS OLD.

MAINLY, HOWEVER, WHILE THIS SITUATION REMAINS, CASA AND THIS AMAZING TEAM.

WILL BE AT THE FOREFRONT OF WORKING IN THE CHILDREN'S BEST INTEREST.

WE NEED MORE COMMUNITY VOLUNTEERS TO ACT, BECOME A CASA AND SUPPORT CHILDREN.

THE COMMUNITY MUST UNDERSTAND CASA IS DEEPLY INVOLVED IN PREVENTION.

WHEN WE SUPPORT CHILDREN TODAY, WE PREVENT THE CYCLE OF ABUSE.

TOMORROW WE CAN KEEP CHILDREN IN SCHOOL.

SAM BARTON IS WITH ME TODAY WHO IS BRILLIANT.

KEEP CHILDREN IN COLLEGE POSITIVELY IMPACTING GENERATIONAL POVERTY.

CHILDREN HAVE SUFFERED ABUSE AND NEGLECT AND CONSEQUENTLY EXPERIENCED THE FOSTER SYSTEM ARE THE HIGHEST PERCENTAGE OF HOMELESS PEOPLE.

SEX TRAFFICKING VICTIMS MORE LIKELY TO SUFFER FROM SUBSTANCE USE DISORDER, BECOME PREGNANT OR FATHER A CHILD UNDER 18, AND OTHER RISK FACTORS THAT IMPACT ALL OUR COMMUNITY NEGATIVELY.

CHILDREN WITH A CASA ARE MUCH MORE LIKELY TO RECEIVE TIMELY SERVICES IN ALL AREAS TO REDUCE THOSE RISKS.

FOR 40 YEARS, OUR ADVOCATES HAVE STOOD ALONGSIDE CHILDREN IN CARE, AND WE WILL CONTINUE TO DO SO AS LONG AS A CHILD NEEDS US.

IN TERMS OF SUPPORT, COMMISSIONER MOODY, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR RECENT INVESTMENT IN CASA.

WITH OUR SWINGS IN THE PLAYGROUND AND THE CREATION OF A CAREGIVER'S ROOM, EVERY PARK NEEDS A SWING AND SEEING OUR KIDS JUST BE KIDS WHEN THEY VISIT OUR OFFICE WITH THEIR ADVOCATES IS LOVELY.

[00:45:01]

YOUR BELIEF IN WHAT WE DO IS LOVELY.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU TO THE COUNTY FOR THE FUNDS TO SUPPORT OUR REIMAGINED BUILDING.

AND THE HALF $1 MILLION HAS BEEN FULLY UTILIZED IN A SPACE OF CONSTRUCTION AND EXPERIENCE.

SORRY CONNECTION AND EXPERIENCES.

THE CHILDREN WE SERVE OVERALL MUST KNOW THEY ARE WORTHY AND PRECIOUS AND LOVED.

AND THAT IS THE HEART OF CASA.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

THANK YOU.

ALL RIGHT. TURN AROUND.

OKAY. WHERE'S THE. WHERE'S THE BATHROOM? OH, SORRY.

HOLD IT OUT THERE. HOLD IT OUT THERE.

THERE WE GO. ALL RIGHT.

READY? YAY! THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU.

APPRECIATE IT VERY MUCH.

THANK YOU, GUYS. THANK YOU.

THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER. THANK YOU, SIR.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU, BLAIR.

THANK YOU. YOU KNOW, I'M A MAN.

ALRIGHT. THE NEXT PROCLAMATION WILL BE PRESENTATION.

PROCLAMATION ON BEHALF OF COMMISSIONERS COURT RECOGNIZING CONGRATULATING THE JUNIOR LEAGUE OF SAN ANTONIO ON THEIR 100 YEARS OF SERVICE TO THE COMMUNITY.

COMMISSIONER CALVERT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

THANKS TO ALL OUR FRIENDS FROM THE JUNIOR LEAGUE FOR BEING HERE.

WE'RE EXCITED TO HAVE THIS PROCLAMATION READ FOR YOU.

THE PROCLAMATION READS.

WHEREAS IN 1924, 11 WOMEN ORGANIZED THE JUNIOR LEAGUE OF SAN ANTONIO WITH A VISION OF MAKING A DIFFERENCE IN THE LIVES OF WOMEN AND CHILDREN IN SAN ANTONIO. AND WHEREAS, THE JUNIOR LEAGUE OF SAN ANTONIO, INCORPORATED, IS AN ORGANIZATION OF WOMEN WHOSE MISSION IS TO ADVANCE WOMEN'S LEADERSHIP FOR MEANINGFUL COMMUNITY IMPACT THROUGH VOLUNTEER ACTION, COLLABORATION, AND TRAINING.

ITS PURPOSE IS EXCLUSIVELY EDUCATIONAL AND CHARITABLE, AND WHEREAS A CENTURY LATER, THE WORK OF THE JUNIOR LEAGUE OF SAN ANTONIO HAS CONTRIBUTED OVER 1,000,000 HOURS TO THE COMMUNITY, WHICH TRANSLATES INTO APPROXIMATELY $18 MILLION WORTH OF VOLUNTEER HOURS AND OVER $7 MILLION INVESTED INTO PROJECTS IN THE COMMUNITY.

AND WHEREAS, DURING THE CENTENNIAL YEAR, WE ARE CELEBRATING THE JUNIOR LEAGUE OF SAN ANTONIO, INCORPORATED ON THEIR 100 YEARS OF SERVICE TO THE COMMUNITY AND REMARKABLE ACHIEVEMENTS. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED THAT THE BEXAR COUNTY COMMISSIONERS COURT HEREBY RECOGNIZES AND PROCLAIMS MAY 24TH, EXCUSE ME.

MAY 2024 AS JUNIOR LEAGUE OF SAN ANTONIO CENTENNIAL MONTH.

WITNESS OUR SIGNATURES AND SEAL OF OFFICES.

SEVENTH DAY OF MAY 2024, SIGNED BY YOUR COMMISSIONERS COURT.

WE'D LOVE TO HEAR FROM YOU.

THANK YOU FOR COMING. GOOD MORNING.

MY NAME IS RACHEL BRUNO, AND I'M CURRENTLY SERVING AS THE PRESIDENT OF THE JUNIOR LEAGUE OF SAN ANTONIO.

FOR 100 YEARS, THE JUNIOR LEAGUE OF SAN ANTONIO HAS BEEN DEDICATED TO IMPROVING SAN ANTONIO THROUGH TRAINED VOLUNTEERS AND DEVELOPING THE POTENTIAL OF WOMEN OVER THESE MANY YEARS, THERE'S HARDLY A PLACE OUR IMPACT HAS NOT BEEN FELT THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY.

FROM OUR FIRST COMMUNITY PROJECT, THE CHILDREN'S FREE CLINIC, WE ARE COMMITTED TO FULFILLING THE NEEDS OF OUR COUNTY.

SOME OF OUR OTHER PROJECTS INCLUDE THE FIRST MOBILE BLOOD BANK DONATED TO THE RED CROSS FOR USE IN WORLD WAR TWO, CREATING SUNSHINE COTTAGE, CREATING THE DOCENT PROGRAMS AT THE ZOO AND MCNAY ART MUSEUM.

DEVELOPING THE BRACKENRIDGE WALKING TRAILS.

OUR MOST RECENT PARTNERSHIP WITH CLARITY CHILD GUIDANCE CENTER TO PROVIDE MORE FACILITIES FOR CHILDREN'S MENTAL HEALTH.

AND OUR NEWEST SIGNATURE PROJECT WITH BOYSVILLE.

WE ARE AN AMPLIFIER IN THE NONPROFIT COMMUNITY, PROVIDING HANDS ON VOLUNTEERS AND FINANCIAL SUPPORT TO OTHER NONPROFITS TO HELP FURTHER THE WORK THAT THEY DO.

AS WE LOOK AHEAD TO OUR NEXT 100 YEARS, WE ARE EXCITED TO CONTINUE THE WORK OF OUR FOUNDERS AND ADVANCING WOMEN'S LEADERSHIP.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT.

THANK YOU. LET ME JUST SAY I APOLOGIZE.

OUR COUNTY CLERK, LUCY ADAME-CLARK, HAS A VERY IMPORTANT PRESENTATION OF THE FLAG.

LUCY WOULD LIKE TO PRESENT THIS TO JUNIOR LEAGUE.

GOOD MORNING, COMMISSIONERS COURT.

GOOD MORNING. JUDGE.

WE ARE HONORED TO PRESENT THE WOMEN'S I'M SORRY, THE JUNIOR LEAGUE OF SAN ANTONIO, A FLAG THAT WAS FLOWN OVER THE ALAMO WITH A CERTIFICATE OF APPRECIATION. AND I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU, MISS RACHEL, FOR EVERYTHING YOU DO FOR THE ORGANIZATION.

BUT KNOW THAT OUR OWN CHIEF DEPUTY IS ACTUALLY PART OF THIS ORGANIZATION AS WELL.

SO, IT'S AN HONOR TO PUT LEADERS WITHIN OUR OWN OFFICES TO BE PART OF THESE KIND OF ORGANIZATIONS.

[00:50:05]

AND WE RECOGNIZE YOU AND CONGRATULATE YOU FOR THE 100 YEARS OF SERVICE TO BEXAR COUNTY.

AND THIS FLAG WAS ACTUALLY FLOWN AT THE ALAMO OF SAN ANTONIO.

SO, THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE, YOUR DEDICATION AND EVERYTHING YOU ALL DO FOR THE COUNTY.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

TOMORROW. THANKS FOR EVERYTHING.

HOW ARE YOU? GOOD.

ONE MORE. OKAY.

THREE. TWO.

ONE. GOOD.

ON HIS PHONE.

HE HAS PRISCILLA'S PHONE.

OKAY. HOW ARE YOU? GOOD TO SEE YOU. I THINK THAT'S IT.

ALL RIGHT. WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE WITH THE AGENDA.

WE'LL TAKE UP FOR A SPECIAL PRESENTATION, PRESENTATION, UPDATE, DISCUSSION, APPROPRIATE ACTION REGARDING AMENDING THE BEXAR COUNTY ALAMO COMMUNITY COLLEGE

[4. SPECIAL PRESENTATIONS ITEM(S)]

GOOD MORNING, MISS WATSON, AND GOOD MORNING, DR.

FLORES. GOOD MORNING, JUDGE AND COMMISSIONERS.

RENEE WATSON, I SERVE AS THE DIRECTOR OF THE SMALL BUSINESS PROGRAM FOR BEXAR COUNTY.

WE ARE HERE TO BRAG AND BOAST, AS WELL AS TO REQUEST RENEWAL OF OUR ALAMO ON THE JOB.

INTERNSHIP PARTNERSHIP WITH ALAMO COLLEGES.

WE HAVE THE ESTEEMED LEADER OF THE ORGANIZATION, OUR CHANCELLOR, DR.

MIKE FLORES, HERE. AND WE WILL BE MAKING THE PRESENTATION.

WONDERFUL. GOOD. THANK YOU, MISS WATSON.

THANKS, RENEE. GOOD MORNING.

JUDGE. COMMISSIONERS CALVERT, CLAY, MOODY AND RODRIGUEZ.

GOOD TO BE HERE.

I WANT TO GIVE YOU AN OVERVIEW OF ALAMO ON THE JOB.

BUT FIRST WE'RE GOING TO BEGIN WITH A VIDEO.

SO, I'M GOING TO ASK THE TEAM TO CUE THE VIDEO.

HERE WE GO.

I'M BEXAR COUNTY JUDGE PETER SAKAI, AND I'M A BIG SUPPORTER OF THE INNOVATIVE ALAMO ON THE JOB PROGRAM.

THIS IS A JOINT EFFORT BETWEEN BEXAR COUNTY AND THE ALAMO COLLEGE DISTRICT TO PROVIDE INTERNSHIPS AND JOB OPPORTUNITIES FROM POSITIONS IN THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE TO THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY, THE JUDICIAL SYSTEM TO CHILD ADVOCACY.

WE'RE OPENING THE DOOR TO LEARNERS OF ALL BACKGROUNDS TO SEE THEMSELVES IN A NEW LIGHT.

THE GOAL IS TO EQUIP THE NEXT GENERATION OF TALENT WITH THE SKILLS AND EXPERIENCES NEEDED TO SUPPORT THE LOCAL ECONOMY.

BEXAR COUNTY IS A GREAT PLACE TO WORK.

ALAMO COLLEGES IS A GREAT SOURCE OF TALENT.

COMBINING THE TWO IS THE FIRST STEP TOWARD CULTIVATING A DIVERSE WORKFORCE AND GIVING EVERYONE THE TOOLS AND REAL-WORLD EXPOSURE NEEDED NOT TO JUST SURVIVE BUT THRIVE.

JOIN US AND BE PART OF THIS EFFORT.

THANK YOU FOR THAT PROMOTIONAL VIDEO, JUDGE SAKAI.

THANK YOU. SO, WE'RE WHAT I WANTED TO DO IS ACTUALLY FOCUS ON.

WE HAVE 72,000 STUDENTS.

WE ARE THE COUNTIES AND ACTUALLY THE REGION'S LARGEST TALENT DEVELOPMENT AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ENTITY.

OUR GOAL IS TO PROVIDE TALENT.

IN FACT, WE THIS PROGRAM IN PARTICULAR IS ONE OF THOSE EXAMPLES.

THERE ARE TWO THINGS REGARDING MATCHING THE INTERNS, AND IN PARTICULAR, THE REQUEST TO YOU THAT MISS WATSON IS GOING TO TALK MORE ABOUT IS SUBSIDIZED COST.

[00:55:01]

OUR STUDENTS NEED THE SOCIAL CAPITAL RIGHT TO BE ABLE, ONCE THEY GRADUATE WITH THEIR CREDENTIAL, TO BE ABLE TO GO INTO THE WORLD OF WORK, TO UNDERSTAND WHAT THOSE PROFESSIONAL NORMS AND MORES ARE.

AND THIS PARTNERSHIP WITH BEXAR COUNTY, AS WE DO WITH OTHER PUBLIC AND PRIVATE SECTOR ENTITIES, IS ALL ABOUT THAT.

IN PARTICULAR, HOW DO WE PROVIDE THAT SOCIAL CAPITAL TO OUR STUDENTS? THIS IS A TIMELINE. THIS IS A LITTLE BIT OF INSIDE BASEBALL, BUT WE'RE PROUD TO BE HERE AGAIN FOR ANOTHER YEAR WITH THIS BURGEONING PARTNERSHIP, TO BE ABLE TO PLACE OUR STUDENTS FROM THE FIVE COLLEGES, WHICH ARE THROUGHOUT BEXAR COUNTY IN PARTICULAR WITH.

OPPORTUNITIES HERE ON SITE.

YOU CAN SEE THERE'S A HIGH NEED FROM OUR STUDENTS WE'VE HAD OVER THIS PAST ITERATION.

ABOUT 245 STUDENTS APPLY FOR INITIALLY 139 SLOTS.

WHAT WE WANT TO LOOK AT IN PARTICULAR IS WHERE WE'VE PLACED THE 50 SLOTS THAT ARE REQUESTED.

THIS ARE 31 DIFFERENT SLOTS AND OFFICES, AND YOU CAN SEE THE REPRESENTATION THERE AND WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE, MOST IMPORTANTLY, WHAT IT HAS MEANT TO THE STUDENTS THAT ARE PLACED WITHIN BEXAR COUNTY, $159,000 IN INCREASED EARNINGS, OVER 9000 HOURS OF TRAINING.

WE KNOW THAT THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN STRUGGLE AND SUCCESS FOR OUR STUDENTS IS A CREDENTIAL THAT THEY'RE GOING TO EARN, BUT MOST IMPORTANTLY, IT IS THE EARNINGS THAT THEY HAVE ON A BI-WEEKLY BASIS TO BE ABLE TO PROVIDE FOR THEMSELVES AND THEIR FAMILIES.

THIS IS WHAT HAS BEEN REQUESTED THIS YEAR, 115 DIFFERENT SLOTS.

BUT THE REQUEST IN PARTICULAR FOR THIS PARTNERSHIP YEAR IS TO PLACE 50 INTERNS WITHIN BEXAR COUNTY WITHIN YOUR ORGANIZATION.

THERE'S ALREADY 67 APPLICANTS, SO IT'S PRETTY MUCH ON TRACK FOR WHAT WE SAW IN THE CURRENT YEAR.

AND THIS IS A REQUEST THAT MISS WATSON IS GOING TO BRING FORWARD.

AND WE'LL TALK TO YOU MORE ABOUT.

MOST IMPORTANTLY THIS IS A MIX OF FUNDING.

ALAMO COLLEGES IS PROVIDING ABOUT 80% OF THAT FUNDING, AND THE REQUEST IS TO PROVIDE THE ADDITIONAL AMOUNT.

REALLY IT'S ON THE STUDENT SIDE.

SO IT'S $15 AND $15.33 THAT WE'RE PROVIDING.

THE REQUEST FOR 115 IS TO MOVE IT UP BY $2.22 FOR THE INTERNS, SO THEY MAKE OVER $17 AN HOUR. AND WE ACTUALLY HAVE TWO INTERNS HERE THAT ARE CURRENTLY AT THE HUMAN RESOURCES OFFICE.

ONE WILL BE GRADUATING FROM SAN ANTONIO COLLEGE DISTINGUISHED GRADUATE, AND ONE WILL BE GRADUATING FROM PALO ALTO COLLEGE.

I'M GOING TO ASK HIM TO STEP FORWARD IF EACH OF YOU WOULD STEP FORWARD AND YOU'VE ALREADY GOT A JOB AT EA.

SO SHE'S GOING FROM BEXAR COUNTY HUMAN RESOURCES TO EA, AND THAT IS ACTUALLY A PARTNERSHIP THAT ALAMO COLLEGES DISTRICT HAS WORKING WITH GREATER SAT X AND THEN OUR DISTINGUISHED GRADUATE FROM SAN ANTONIO COLLEGE, IT HAS APPLICATIONS OUT AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO HER EMPLOYMENT AND HEARING ABOUT THAT VERY SOON. I'M GOING TO TURN IT OVER TO MISS WATSON FOR THE REQUEST.

YES, I GET THE HARD JOB.

YES, BECAUSE WE ARE PAYING THE COUNTY MINIMUM WAGE.

SO, THANK YOU TO THE COURT FOR MAKING THAT ADJUSTMENT.

AND THIS IS WHAT THE DIFFERENTIAL IS TO MAKE SURE THAT THE INTERNS ALSO RECEIVE THE COUNTY MINIMUM WAGE.

BUT WE ALSO WANT TO ANNOUNCE THAT WE'VE HAD FOUR INTERNS HIRED THROUGH THE PROGRAM WITH AT VARIOUS OFFICES AND DEPARTMENTS.

AND BECAUSE THAT'S WHY WE'RE HERE, IT'S THE FUTURE WORKFORCE OF BEXAR COUNTY IS THE DIRECTION THAT YOU GAVE US.

AND EVEN THOUGH WE'RE ASKING FOR 50 LAST YEAR WE HAD AUTHORIZATION UP TO 80.

AND WE WILL COME BACK IF WE GET UP TO THAT 500 THAT THE JUDGE CHALLENGED US TO BRING FORWARD AS WELL.

I ALSO WANT TO THANK MY TEAM BECAUSE WE HAVE THREE INTERNS JASON, LINDA AND FERNANDO, WHO ARE HERE AND THEY SUPERVISE AND THEY HELP TO MAKE THIS A SEAMLESS PROCESS FOR OFFICERS AND DEPARTMENTS FOR RUDY, ANNA AND MASON AND JEANETTE, WHO ARE OUR INTERNS IN OUR DEPARTMENT.

SO, THE MOTION THIS MORNING, WE'RE ASKING FOR APPROVAL OF THE CONTRACT EXTENSION FOR THE FUNDING, AS NOTED FOR THE 115,440.

JUDGE, I'D LIKE I'D LIKE TO MOVE.

APPROVAL. MOTION BY COMMISSIONER CALVERT.

SECOND BY COMMISSIONER RODRIGUEZ.

I HAVE JUST A QUICK COMMENT.

GO AHEAD, COMMISSIONER CALVERT. THANK YOU.

I JUST WANT TO THANK RENEE FOR BRINGING THIS PROGRAM TO THE COUNTY.

IT'S AN IMPORTANT EVOLUTION THAT WE'VE HAD WHEN I FIRST STARTED HERE IN 2015, WE DIDN'T HAVE AN INTERNSHIP PROGRAM.

DAVID MARQUEZ BEGAN THAT PROGRAM WITH THE COUNTY.

AND YOU HAVE ENHANCED IT WITH ALAMO COLLEGES.

THANK YOU, CHANCELLOR, FOR BEING THE LEADER OF THE NUMBER ONE COLLEGE COMMUNITY COLLEGE IN THE UNITED STATES.

CONGRATULATIONS, AS ALWAYS.

IN ORDER.

[01:00:01]

AND THE IMPORTANCE OF THIS FOR SAN ANTONIO CAN'T REALLY BE UNDERSTATED.

I'VE SAID BEFORE, THE FEDERAL RESERVE INDICATED THAT SAN ANTONIO HAS THE MOST UNINVOLVED YOUNG PEOPLE IN THE STATE OF TEXAS, OF A MAJOR CITY.

THEY'RE NOT IN A JOB, THEY'RE NOT IN SPORTS, THEY'RE NOT IN ROBOTICS AND TECHNOLOGY.

AND A LOT OF THAT HAS TO DO WITH THE FINANCIAL BARRIERS IF FAMILIES CAN'T AFFORD.

I WAS LOOKING THIS WEEKEND AT HOW EXPENSIVE IT WAS FOR A FAMILY JUST TO WATCH THE AAU GAME OF THEIR CHILD.

I MEAN, $30 A POP IS OBSCENE.

AND SO, WE ARE A WORKING-CLASS CITY WHERE WE NEED TO PUT SOME MONEY IN THE POCKETS OF THE WORKING CLASS, THOSE TRYING TO EARN THEIR COLLEGE DEGREE OR THEIR CERTIFICATION.

SO, THIS IS A VERY.

IMPORTANT THING FOR THE WORKING-CLASS FAMILIES OF SAN ANTONIO AND OUR BUSINESS COMMUNITY.

YOU KNOW, OUR BUSINESS COMMUNITY IS ALSO STRUGGLING WITH FINDING LABOR.

SO AS WE HAVE THIS TALENT POOL GETTING READY TO, YOU KNOW, ENTER OUR ECONOMY THAT KINESTHETIC LEARNING, THE LEARNING BY EXPERIENCE THAT THEY'RE EXPERIENCED, THAT THEY'RE GOING THROUGH REALLY DOES HELP US MAKE SURE THAT FOLKS DON'T JUST WORK AT HOME, BUT SOMETIMES THEY HAVE TO COME IN THE OFFICE AND UNDERSTAND HOW TO BE ON TIME, HOW TO RESOLVE CONFLICT WITH YOUR COWORKERS, HOW TO DO ALL THE THINGS THAT ARE REQUIRED OF YOU IN THE BUSINESS WORLD.

SO, I AM VERY GRATEFUL FOR THE TALENT THAT BEXAR COUNTY HAS RECEIVED.

WE LOOK FORWARD TO WELCOMING THEM.

I MEAN, CONGRATULATIONS ON ERNST AND YOUNG.

THAT'S A BIG DEAL, AND WE'LL LOOK FORWARD TO YOU COMING HERE ONE DAY AND THE COUNTY AND MAYBE DOING SOME WORK HERE.

BUT YOU KNOW, THINGS ARE VERY EXPENSIVE.

AS I CLOSE, I'LL JUST SAY I WENT TO POPEYE'S LAST NIGHT.

I WANTED TO A TWO PIECE AND, JUDGE, IT WAS 10 OR 11 BUCKS FOR A TWO PIECE.

AND OUR STUDENTS ARE FACING THAT, TOO.

I DID ADD AN EXTRA BISCUIT.

I WILL SAY THOSE BISCUITS.

DID YOU WANT EXTRA SPICY? TWO, COMMISSIONER.

I ALWAYS SAW HIM AS A THREE-PIECE GUY, SO.

WELL, IT WAS. IT WAS A SNACK COMMISSIONER.

IT WAS AN EXTRA SNACK.

NEEDED SOME COMFORT LAST NIGHT.

SO, IN ANY EVENT, THINGS ARE VERY EXPENSIVE ON OUR STUDENTS, SO THESE JOBS ARE GOING TO HELP THAT GREAT EXPENSE.

KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK. THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER MOODY.

WELL APPRECIATE YOU GUYS BEING HERE TODAY AND PRESENTING THIS PROGRAM AGAIN.

I'M SUPPORTIVE.

I THINK WELL, RUN INTERN PROGRAM WITH THE COUNTY IS JUST A WIN-WIN.

I LED ONE OF OUR INTERN PROGRAMS AT USAA A FEW YEARS AGO.

BUT I ALSO REALIZED HOW IMPORTANT, YOU KNOW, COMMUNICATION AND MAKING SURE THAT THAT OUR INTERNS ARE GETTING THE VALUE OUT OF IT, THAT THAT THEY NEED, THAT THEY WANT AND THE BEXAR COUNTY SKIN THAT AS WELL.

RIGHT. SO, I THINK THAT COMMUNICATION IS IMPORTANT AS WE CONTINUE TO BUILD THIS, THIS RELATIONSHIP.

ALSO JUST WANT TO THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.

AND AS WE KIND OF CONTINUE TO BUILD THIS PARTNERSHIP AND HAVE MORE FURTHER CONVERSATIONS AROUND WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT AND HOW WE CAN PARTNER ON THAT FRONT, I APPRECIATE YOUR SUPPORT.

THANK YOU. COMMISSIONER RODRIGUEZ.

YEAH. THANK YOU, JUDGE RENEE, THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORK ON THIS.

I KNOW IT HAS BEEN A LABOR OF LOVE SO TO SPEAK.

AND, YOU KNOW, TO DR.

FLORES AND YOUR LEADERSHIP TEAM WE CAN'T SAY ENOUGH SUPERLATIVES TO REALLY YOU KNOW, LAY OUT THE FOUNDATION YOU HAVE FOR SUCCESS FOR OUR YOUNG PEOPLE.

NOT JUST OUR YOUNG PEOPLE, BUT FOLKS WHO ARE TRANSITIONING, FOLKS WHO ARE TRYING TO UPSKILL IN OUR COMMUNITY.

SO, THESE INVESTMENTS. I KNOW, RENEE, YOU SAID THIS WAS THE HARD PART, ASKING FOR MONEY, BUT REALLY YOU KNOW, IT'S THE LEAST WE CAN DO.

AND I THINK WITH RESPECT TO THIS KIND OF INVESTMENT, IT'S AN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DRIVER IN OUR COMMUNITY.

I KNOW FOLKS THINK OF SOMETIMES SAC OR PALO ALTO AS JUST A BRIDGE TO GET SOME BASICS DONE.

I DID IT AT ONE TIME.

MY KIDS ARE DOING IT AT ONE TIME.

BUT IT ALSO IS THAT INVESTMENT IN THEIR FUTURE.

AND I WILL TELL YOU FROM MY EXPERIENCE AND NOW THEIR EXPERIENCE AND OUR DAUGHTER GOES TO UT AUSTIN, BUT SHE'S TAKEN A CLASS OR TWO AT SAC.

THE EXCELLENCE IN INSTRUCTION IS, IS ON THE LEVEL, IF NOT BETTER THAN WHAT? THEY'RE GETTING AT SOME OF THE FOUR-YEAR INSTITUTIONS.

SO, KUDOS TO YOU AND YOUR TEAM, DR.

FLORES. WE LOOK FORWARD TO THE CONTINUED GROWTH.

I DON'T KNOW IF YOU PLAN THIS, RENEE, BUT AS I WAS SITTING HERE AN EMAIL CAME THROUGH FOR THE INTERN HIRING FAIR.

SO LET ME LET ME LET ME JUST MENTION THIS.

MAY, MAY 23RD, THE BEXAR COUNTY INTERN HIRING FAIR MAY 23RD AT THE FREEMAN COLISEUM, THE COUNTY OWNED FREEMAN COLISEUM.

SO, GET YOUR RESUMES READY, POLISH UP THOSE INTERVIEWING SKILLS.

THAT'S AROUND THE CORNER.

WE LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUING THE PARTNERSHIP.

AND AGAIN, DR. FLORES, THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORK AND YOUR LEADERSHIP.

THANK YOU. JUDGE. COMMISSIONER CLAY-FLORES.

[01:05:04]

I'M JUST GLAD THAT WE HERE AT THE COUNTY ARE ABLE TO FINANCIALLY INVEST IN OUR FUTURE LEADERS.

AND AS AN EDUCATOR, I THINK IT'S EXCELLENT THAT SOME OF OUR STUDENTS ARE ABLE TO COMBINE HANDS ON LEARNING AND TRAINING AND MAKING CONTACTS FOR, HOPEFULLY, FUTURE JOBS AT THE COUNTY. SO THANK YOU SO MUCH.

AND LET ME CLOSE WITH THIS.

DR. FLORES, THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP AT THE ALAMO COLLEGE DISTRICT THERE.

FOR THOSE THAT AREN'T AWARE DR.

FLORES AND I HAD DINNER.

WELL, WE WERE AT A GALA CELEBRATION CITY YEAR, AND DR.

FLORES WAS HONORED AS THE IDEALIST OF THE YEAR FOR CITY YEAR, WHICH IS ALSO A VOLUNTEER INTERNSHIP PROGRAM FOR OUR YOUNG ADULTS WHO ARE TRANSITIONING FROM COLLEGE OR GOING TO COLLEGE OR TRANSITIONING OUT OF COLLEGE TO DO COMMUNITY SERVICE.

SO, I APPLAUD THE WORK THAT CITY YEAR DOES, BUT ALSO APPLAUD AND GIVE A ROUND OF APPLAUSE.

NOT ONLY THAT, BUT DR.

FLORES IS ALSO LED THE ALAMO COLLEGE DISTRICT TO GET ATHENS AWARD, WHICH IS THE NUMBER ONE RATING HERE IN THE UNITED STATES. SO, YES, JUDGE ASPEN AWARD.

ASPEN, ASPEN, ASPEN, ATHENS, IT'S ALL.

BUT CAN WE GIVE DR.

FLORES A ROUND OF APPLAUSE? AND RENEE, THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP.

THE INTERN I WANT TO RECOGNIZE MY INTERN, VIVIAN HAAS.

I DON'T BELIEVE SHE'S HERE TODAY, BUT SHE WAS COMMITTED THE FULL NINE MONTHS, I BELIEVE, AND IS NOW MOVED ON AND IS TRYING TO FINISH OUT HER ASSOCIATE'S DEGREE THERE AT THE ALAMO COLLEGE DISTRICT.

BUT SHE WAS VERY INVOLVED IN MY TEAM AND ACTUALLY GOT ASSIGNED A PROJECT WHICH I BELIEVE WILL REVEAL ANYTHING UNTIL IT'S READY.

BUT WE'LL HAVE A PROJECT THAT SHE INITIATED AND LED.

AND SO, THE QUALITY OF INTERNSHIP IS FAR, FAR SUPERIOR.

AND I ENCOURAGE EVERYBODY ON THE COURT, I ENCOURAGE ALL THE DEPARTMENT HEADS, I ENCOURAGE ALL THE ELECTED OFFICIALS TO CONTINUE TO ENGAGE WITH THE INTERNSHIP PROGRAM THAT WE'VE CREATED.

YOU'RE SEEING A LABOR FORCE THAT CAN GO INTO YOUR DEPARTMENTS.

WE'RE PROVIDING LEADERSHIP AND WORK EXPERIENCE SO THAT THESE INTERNS CAN THEN TRANSITION TO THE OPEN MARKET.

SO THAT IS ONE OF THE WORKFORCE PROGRAMS THAT I WILL CLAIM AND TAKE CREDIT FOR.

AND WITH THAT, WE HAVE A MOTION ON THE FLOOR.

AND A SECOND, ARE THERE ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE.

AYE. ANY OPPOSED? ANY ABSTENTIONS. MOTION CARRIES.

CARRY ON THE PROGRAM.

CONGRATULATIONS. ALL RIGHT.

WE'RE GOING TO AGENDA ITEM NUMBER FIVE, REQUEST OF COMMISSIONERS COURT TO IDENTIFY ITEMS FROM THE CONSENT AGENDA FOR ADDITIONAL DISCUSSION AND TO APPROVE

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

ANY MATTERS. NONE TO PULL COMMISSIONER RODRIGUEZ.

COMMISSIONER. MOODY.

COMMISSIONER CALVERT.

ALL GOOD.

ALL RIGHT.

IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA?

[CONSENT AGENDA ITEMS]

SECOND BY COMMISSIONER RODRIGUEZ.

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

AYE. ANY OPPOSED? ANY ABSTENTIONS? MOTION CARRIES.

ITEM SIX.

[6. Filing for record the following legal and administrative documents and directing the Criminal District Attorney's Office to take action, if necessary: a. Notice of Hearing, Petitioners' Verified Peitition to Take Deposition Before Suit, Re: Amy Pentkowski, Mark Pentkowski, and Annette Bleech, individually and as representatives of the Estate of Daniel Pentkowski; Cause No. 2024CI04157. b. Professional Service Agreement with Miller & Chevalier, approved April 9, 2024. c. Notice of Accident and Potential Claims Against the County of Bexar, Re: Lazaro Cantu o/b/o Yvette Cantu.]

[7. Commissioners Court minutes for Tuesday, April 23, 2024.]

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

AYE. ANY OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES.

ARE THERE ANY CITIZENS TO BE HEARD?

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

MR. JACK FINGER, YOU'VE ASKED TO ADDRESS ITEM 61, 63, 64.

I'LL GIVE YOU DISCRETION.

WOULD YOU WANT TO WAIT TILL THOSE ITEMS? OR WOULD YOU WISH TO ADDRESS THE COURT AT THIS TIME, TO WAIT TILL THOSE PARTICULAR ITEMS COME UP? BUT I DID SIGN UP ON THE GENERAL CITIZEN BE HEARD ITEM NUMBER EIGHT AS WELL.

WELL, IF IT'S ITEM EIGHT, THEN YOU GOT YOUR THREE MINUTES.

GO. VERY GOOD.

JUDGE SAKAI, OTHER MEMBERS OF THE COMMISSIONERS COURT.

FOR THE RECORD, MY NAME IS JACK M FINGER.

A FEW ITEMS I WISH TO BRING TO YOUR ATTENTION.

GENERAL THINGS LIKE WELL, I'VE BEEN TOLD THE THIS IS THE CENTER, THE SEAT OF GOVERNMENT FOR THE COUNTY.

AND YET, I UNDERSTAND YOU HAVE A BIG PROBLEM WITH THE HOMELESS.

[01:10:03]

YEAH. WHAT GIVES HERE? IS THERE SOME REASON WHY WE CANNOT GET SOME BETTER SECURITY ON A ON A MORE OF A 24-HOUR BASIS HERE AND STOP THAT.

IN FACT, I WAS TOLD IT DOESN'T MATTER EVEN IF THEY SECURITY DOES CATCH THEM.

I UNDERSTAND THAT THEIR HANDS ARE TIED.

WHAT IS GOING ON HERE? WHY ARE WE ALLOWING THAT TO HAPPEN? DO YOU REALLY WANT OUR GROUNDS TO BE DESTROYED IN THIS MANNER? PLEASE FIND OUT WHAT'S GOING ON AND STOP THIS CRAZY LACK OF POLICY.

A COUPLE OTHER THINGS I WISH TO BRING TO YOUR ATTENTION.

A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO, THE FIESTA, MANY OF THE COUNTY OFFICES WERE CLOSED, MAYBE FOR THE AFTERNOON, BUT AT LEAST ONE BIG OFFICE, THE COUNTY ELECTIONS DEPARTMENT WAS CLOSED ALL DAY LONG.

IS THERE SOME REASON WE HAVE TO CLOSE SO MANY OFFICES JUST FOR FIESTA? WHAT? WHY NOT TAKE A REVIEW THAT AND AT LEAST LEAVE IT OPEN? FOR THOSE OF US WHO PAY THE FREIGHT ON THIS STUFF.

LEAVE THE OFFICES OPEN IN CASE WE WOULD LIKE TO DO IT.

YES, I KNOW YOU MAY THINK EVERYBODY IN THE KID BROTHER GOES TO FIESTA.

NO. NOT QUITE.

NOT ALL OF US WANT TO GET CAUGHT UP IN THAT.

SPEAKING OF THE ELECTIONS DEPARTMENT THERE ARE PROMOTIONS INITIATIVES AFLOAT TO ESTABLISH PAPER BALLOTS FOR BALLOTING.

WHERE DO YOU GUYS STAND ON THIS? WE NEED IF YOU TRULY WANT TO PREVENT ELECTION FRAUD FROM TAKING PLACE, YOU WILL TRY TO START THE IDEA OF PAPER BALLOTS INSTEAD OF THE ELECTRONICS, THE ELECTRONICS, WHICH HAVE THOSE LITTLE BLACK BOXES THAT WE CANNOT PEER INTO.

CHAIN OF CUSTODY.

HOW CAN WE FIND OUT WHAT IS GOING ON THERE WHEN IT'S SUPPOSEDLY PROPRIETORIAL INFORMATION.

JUDGE, THE SPEAKER'S TIME HAS EXPIRED.

MR. FINGER. ANYWAY, PLEASE CONSIDER PAPER BALLOTS.

OTHERWISE, YOU MAY BE SUSPECT AS TO HOW BAD YOU REALLY WANT TO GET TO THE BOTTOM OF IT.

THANK YOU, THANK YOU.

LET ME HAVE MIA MIGLIACCIO.

HERNANDEZ. HELLO.

SO, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK TODAY.

MY NAME IS MIA AND I'M THE CHIEF DEVELOPMENT OFFICER AT RESPITE CARE OF SAN ANTONIO.

AND TODAY I JUST WANTED TO INTRODUCE MYSELF AND OUR ORGANIZATION.

FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO MIGHT NOT HAVE HEARD OF US.

RESPITE CARE IN THE MISSION HAS BEEN VERY CLOSE TO ME SINCE I WHEN I WAS BORN, MY UNCLE WAS ONLY A TEENAGER.

HE WAS BORN WITH DOWN SYNDROME AND SUBSEQUENTLY DIAGNOSED WITH MANY COMORBIDITIES.

SO, AS I GREW UP, I WATCHED HOW HIS ASSUMED LIMITATIONS BECAME ACTUAL LIMITATIONS.

MY PARENTS ARE NOW HIS PRIMARY CAREGIVERS AND RECENTLY LEFT TEXAS DUE TO THE LACK OF AVAILABLE SERVICES AND OUR MISSION TO STRENGTHEN FAMILIES IN ASSIST CHILDREN TO REACH THEIR MAXIMUM POTENTIAL, NO MATTER THEIR DIAGNOSIS, IS ONE THAT I KNOW FIRSTHAND TO BE A CRITICAL SUPPORT FOR SO MANY FAMILIES LIKE MINE, AND TRULY CHANGE THE LIFE TRAJECTORY OF CHILDREN LIKE MY UNCLE.

SO HERE ARE SOME OF THE FACTS.

CHILDREN WITH DISABILITIES ARE NEARLY FOUR TIMES MORE LIKELY TO BECOME A VICTIM OF ABUSE AND NEGLECT THAN THEIR NON-DISABLED PEERS.

THE DATA BOOK CONFIRMS THAT OUR COUNTY HAS MAINTAINED THE HIGHEST NUMBER OF REMOVALS BY COUNTY SINCE 2019, AND 59% OF THE CHILDREN CURRENTLY IN FOSTER CARE IN OUR REGION HAVE A LEGAL DISABILITY.

AND THEN THE 2022 COMMUNITY HEALTH NEEDS ASSESSMENT FOUND THE INCREASE IN CHILD ABUSE TO BE A DIRECT RESULT OF LONG-STANDING INEQUITIES RESULTING IN POVERTY, HOMELESSNESS, UNEMPLOYMENT, ALL THESE STRESSORS KNOWN TO INCREASE THE RISK AND OF ABUSE AND AND THAT IS EXPERIENCED AT A DISPROPORTIONATE RATE BY BY MINORITY GROUPS.

DESPITE THESE FACTS, RESPITE CARE OF SAN ANTONIO REMAINS THE ONLY LICENSED EMERGENCY SHELTER IN THE STATE OF TEXAS DEDICATED TO THE HEALING AND CARE OF THIS VULNERABLE POPULATION. CHILDREN AT RISK ALSO CURRENTLY CLASSIFIES 60% OF BEXAR COUNTY AS DESERTS FOR QUALITY, AFFORDABLE CHILDCARE, AND THESE NUMBERS DO NOT ACCOUNT FOR PROGRAMS WITH THE ABILITY TO ACCEPT CHILDREN WITH SPECIAL HEALTH CARE NEEDS.

OUR DEVELOPMENTAL CHILD CARE CENTER IS CURRENTLY THE ONLY OPTION FOR FAMILIES IN BEXAR COUNTY FOR CHILDCARE.

THAT IS, TEXAS RISING STAR FOUR STAR CERTIFIED ACCEPT SUBSIDIES AND PROVIDES ONSITE MEDICAL SUPPORT.

[01:15:04]

WE'VE BEEN SERVING THE COUNTY FOR NEARLY 40 YEARS, AND OUR RESULTS SPEAK FOR THEMSELVES AT THE LAST, AT THE END OF THE LAST FISCAL YEAR, 100% OF OUR CHILDREN WERE ACHIEVING DEVELOPMENTAL IMPROVEMENTS EACH QUARTER UTILIZING EVIDENCE-BASED ASSESSMENTS.

AND 97% OF OUR CAREGIVERS INDICATED A REDUCTION IN THEIR OVERALL STRESS AND IMPROVEMENT IN THEIR MENTAL HEALTH AS A DIRECT RESULT OF ACCESS TO OUR PROGRAMS. SO, I JUST WANT TO INVITE YOU ALL TO COME TO CAMPUS, SEE OUR MISSION IN ACTION.

AS WE CONTINUE TO EXPAND OUR SERVICES, WE DEFINITELY HOPE TO PARTNER WITH THE COUNTY.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU.

MIA. POINT OF CLARIFICATION FOR STAFF.

[Items 41 & 42]

I UNDERSTAND THIS MORNING THOSE ITEMS WERE SUPPOSED TO BE PULLED.

YES. STAFF IS REQUESTING TO DEFER THOSE ITEMS TO THE NEXT COURT MEETING SO THAT THEY CAN CORRECT ITEMS IN THE BACKUP.

ALL RIGHT, SO I'D LIKE TO BRING TO THE COURT'S ATTENTION TO ITEM 4142 UNDER ITEMS BROUGHT BY CIVIL DISTRICT COURTS.

THERE'S BEEN REQUESTS BY THE COURTS TO RESET FOR TWO WEEKS.

CAN WE HAVE AN AMENDMENT? I'LL MOVE TO RESCIND THE PASSAGE OF ITEMS 41 AND 42 FOR THE CONSENT AGENDA AND RESET FOR TWO WEEKS.

COMMISSIONER. YES, FOR THE NEXT MEETING.

ALL RIGHT. A MOTION BY COMMISSIONER CALVERT.

SECOND BY COMMISSIONER MOODY.

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

ITEM 4142 WILL BE CARRIED TO THE NEXT COMMISSIONERS COURT MEETING.

WE'LL NOW CARRY ON TO, I THINK, INDIVIDUAL ITEMS. CORRECT? YES, SIR.

OKAY. WE'RE MOVING ALONG HERE.

OKAY. ITEM 60.

[60. Discussion and appropriate action regarding the approval of a development agreement between Bexar County and Talley Extension Revitalization Initiative, LLC to advance the Talley Road Phase III Project in Precinct Number 1 in the amount $13,806,023. To include the appropriate budgetary transfer.]

GOOD MORNING, JUDGE AND COMMISSIONERS.

I'M EXCITED TO HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO TALK ABOUT THIS AGREEMENT THIS AGREEMENT WITH BEXAR COUNTY AND THE TALLEY EXTENSION REVITALIZATION INITIATIVE.

AND WE HAVE CHRIS OTTO WITH COLLIER ENGINEERS HERE AS WELL, REPRESENTING THE DEVELOPER.

JUST A LITTLE BIT OF BACKGROUND ABOUT THIS AGREEMENT.

THIS IS ABOUT TALLEY ROAD.

THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF ACTIVITY ON TALLEY ROAD OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS.

PHASE ONE OF THE CORRIDOR WAS COMPLETED LAST YEAR.

IT STRETCHES FROM POTRANCO ROAD TO WISEMAN.

IT WAS FUNDED BY THE RMA.

PHASE TWO IS FULLY DESIGNED, AND WE'RE LOOKING TO START CONSTRUCTION LATER THIS YEAR.

THAT WAS THE MPO FUNDED SECTION.

AND THIS AGREEMENT FOCUSES ON PHASE THREE OF THE PROJECT, WHICH WILL BRING IT ESSENTIALLY ALL THE WAY TO CULEBRA, TO A SECTION OF OLD TALLEY THAT WAS COMPLETED A COUPLE YEARS AGO.

ALTOGETHER, THERE'S BEEN OVER $70 MILLION OF INVESTMENT ALONG THIS CORRIDOR.

WE'RE EXCITED TO HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO CLOSE IT OUT, HOPEFULLY OVER THE NEXT TWO YEARS TO FINISH THE ENTIRE CORRIDOR.

SPECIFIC TO THIS AGREEMENT IS PHASE THREE.

SO, WHAT YOU SEE HERE ON THE MAP ON THE SCREEN IS A MAP OF PHASE THREE.

THERE'RE FIVE DIFFERENT SEGMENTS, DIFFERENT COLORS REPRESENTING DIFFERENT SEGMENTS.

SO JUST KIND OF WALK YOU THROUGH THE MAP.

PHASE A OF THE SEGMENT A OF PHASE THREE WAS COMPLETE BY THE DEVELOPER PRIOR TO THIS AGREEMENT.

AND THEN PHASE B IS ALSO BEING CONSTRUCTED AS PART OF THE ONGOING DEVELOPMENT.

SO, THE AGREEMENT BEFORE YOU TODAY FOCUSES ON PHASES C, D AND E.

AND ESSENTIALLY THE DEVELOPER WILL BE DESIGNING THE ENTIRE SEGMENT, AND THE COUNTY WILL BE CONSTRUCT PAYING FOR CONSTRUCTION OF PHASE E AND D, AND THE DEVELOPER WILL BE PAYING FOR CONSTRUCTION OF PHASE C.

SO ALTOGETHER THE AGREEMENT TOTALS $17 MILLION WITH JUST OVER 13 MILLION OF THAT.

THE COUNTY'S OBLIGATION AND THE DEVELOPER WILL BE CONTRIBUTING 3.8 MILLION.

SO, WHAT THIS DOES IS IT WILL SAVE THE COUNTY MONEY AND TIME IN THE LONG RUN.

A LITTLE OVER $2 MILLION OF COST SAVINGS TO THE COUNTY BY THE DEVELOPER DESIGNING THE ENTIRE CORRIDOR, AS WELL AS PROVIDING RIGHT OF WAY ACQUISITION SERVICES.

AND THIS ALSO ACCELERATES THE CONSTRUCTION.

WE HAD THIS IN OUR TEN-YEAR PLAN, BUT NOT TILL YEARS 26 AND 27.

SO THIS WILL BRING IT FORWARD A COUPLE OF YEARS.

SO, WITH THAT, THE RECOMMENDED MOTION HERE IS APPROVAL OF THE DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT BETWEEN BEXAR COUNTY AND TALLEY EXTENSION REVITALIZATION INITIATIVE TO ADVANCE THE TALLEY ROAD PHASE THREE PROJECT IN PRECINCT ONE, IN THE AMOUNT OF $13,806,023, AS WELL AS INCLUDING THE NECESSARY BUDGET TRANSFER. MR. CLAY-FLORES. SO, THANK YOU, ART, FOR BEING HERE FOR YOUR WORK ON THIS AND FOR YOUR TEAM'S WORK OVER THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS TO GET THE FIRST COUPLE OF PHASES DONE.

[01:20:03]

AND I TOLD THEM, I TOLD YOU HE WOULD BE.

SO, THANK YOU FOR CONTINUING THAT WORK.

YOU SAID THE DEVELOPERS HERE, ANYONE'S HERE FROM THE PROJECT.

CAN YOU GUYS COME FORWARD, PLEASE? SO, WE HAVE CHRIS OTTO.

HE'S WITH COLLIER ENGINEERS AND THEY'RE THE ENGINEER WITH THE DEVELOPER.

OKAY, GREAT. THANKS FOR BEING HERE.

SO JUST LIKE ART'S ALREADY GOT TO KNOW THAT PART OF MY PRECINCT.

THEY ARE VERY VOCAL, VERY ENGAGED, ESPECIALLY WHEN IT COMES TO THE CONSTRUCTION WORK ON TALLEY ROAD.

SO, I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU UNDERSTAND THAT, AND YOU WILL BE AS EQUALLY ENGAGED AND RESPONSIVE.

AND I THINK FOR, FOR THE MOST PART, THEY UNDERSTAND THERE'S GOING TO BE DETOURS AND HASSLES WITH CONSTRUCTION.

BUT COMMUNICATION IS THE MAIN THING.

LIKE THEY WANT TO BE UPDATED AND IF SOMETHING'S GOING TO BE DELAYED, THEN THEY NEED TO THEY NEED TO BE MADE AWARE OF THAT.

YES, MA'AM. WE'VE ACTUALLY DONE A COUPLE OF PROJECTS ON TALLEY ROAD WITH SAWS, AND I ACTUALLY GREW UP AND LIVE IN THE AREA, SO I'M VERY FAMILIAR WITH TALLEY ROAD AND THE RESIDENTS. OKAY.

SO, YOU KNOW WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT.

YES, MA'AM. OKAY. SO WE HAVE THAT COMMITMENT FROM YOU.

OKAY. GREAT. ALL RIGHT.

THANK YOU SO MUCH. I'D LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION FOR APPROVAL.

MOTION MCLENNAN CLAY-FLORES SECOND BY COMMISSIONER RODRIGUEZ.

COMMISSIONER RODRIGUEZ. COMMISSIONER MOODY.

COMMISSIONER. CALVERT. JUST A FEW QUESTIONS.

ART. WHO IS THE DEVELOPER FOR THIS AREA? SO, THE OVERALL DEVELOPER IS GORDON HARTMANN.

AND SO, THERE'S SEVERAL DIFFERENT PHASES OF THE COMMUNITY SPECIFIC TO THIS AGREEMENT.

BUT GORDON HARTMANN IS THE OVERALL DEVELOPER.

OKAY. SO NORMALLY WHEN A NEIGHBORHOOD IS BUILT, ISN'T THERE AN OBLIGATION TO PROVIDE THE ROADS THERE? YES. SO LET ME GO BACK TO THE MAP, COMMISSIONER.

SO, THERE'S A COMBINATION.

SO, THE AREAS THAT ARE CALLED OUT WITH GREEN AND BLUE COLORS ON THE MAP, THOSE ARE BEING 100% BUILT BY THE DEVELOPER AS PART OF THE ONGOING DEVELOPMENT AS WELL AS THREE. THE DEVELOPER IS PROVIDING CONSTRUCTION.

SO REALLY THE COUNTY FUNDING IS GOING TO THE AREAS OUTSIDE OF THAT PHASES 3E AND 3D, AND THAT'S REALLY ALONG OUR CORRIDOR TO PROVIDE THE OVERALL CONNECTIVITY FOR TALLEY ROAD.

IS THERE ANY I GUESS PROS AND CONS ABOUT LIKE PUBLIC INFRASTRUCTURE DISTRICTS OR TOURS FOR THIS KIND OF THING.

SO, I THINK THERE WERE PAST DISCUSSIONS ABOUT A PUBLIC INFRASTRUCTURE.

BUT WHAT'S BEFORE US TODAY IS REALLY JUST THE PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT ON THE ROADWAY.

THE BENEFIT OF THIS ONE, YOU CAN SEE HERE ON THE SLIDE, THE DEVELOPER, CHRIS'S TEAM HAS PROVIDED THE ENTIRE DESIGN FOR THE CORRIDOR.

AND THE COUNTY IS REALLY JUST CHIPPING IN FOR CONSTRUCTION MONEY.

SO, THERE IS A SAVINGS TO THE COUNTY ON THAT.

SO, THE TIMELINE FOR THIS IS AROUND WHEN FOR FINAL COMPLETION.

SO, WE'RE HOPING SO ONCE THE DEVELOPER AGREEMENT IS APPROVED, THEN THEY CAN BEGIN DESIGN, HOPING TO HAVE THE DESIGN COMPLETED BY THE END OF THIS CALENDAR YEAR SO THAT PHASE THREE COULD ALSO START NEXT YEAR AS WELL.

OVERALL, TRYING TO HAVE THE ENTIRE CORRIDOR COMPLETE BY THE END OF 2026.

ANY TRAFFIC COUNTS.

IN TERMS OF WHAT'S THE NUMBER OF FOLKS THAT ARE TRAVERSING THIS AREA? I DON'T KNOW IF YOU HAVE DATA OFFHAND, BUT TALLEY ROAD IS BLOOMING.

I'D BE VENTURING TO SAY DOWN IN THE SOUTHERN CORRIDOR, THERE'S PROBABLY AT LEAST 10,000 VEHICLES PER DAY REALLY HEAVILY CONGESTED.

AND AT NIGHT IT'S REALLY DIFFICULT TO DRIVE THERE.

AND I CAN FEEL THE, THE DIFFERENCE IN THE FIRST PHASE FROM BEFORE WHEN THE CONSTRUCTION STARTED TO HOW IT IS NOW.

SO, YEAH. IS THIS UNINCORPORATED COUNTY? IT'S CORRECT.

ARE THERE LIGHTS AS PART OF THIS ROAD? TRAFFIC SIGNALS.

SO, NO SIGNALS ALONG THIS SEGMENT.

I MEANT [INAUDIBLE] ABLE TO SEE.

WE HAVEN'T DISCUSSED STREETLIGHTS AT THIS POINT, BUT IT'S SOMETHING WE CAN CONSIDER IN THE DESIGN.

THANK YOU, JUDGE AND COMMISSIONER RUDY.

I JUST HAD A QUESTION.

POP UP ART AND MAYBE YOU CAN SPEAK TO.

ARE ANY OF THESE PHASES BEING REQUESTED FOR FUNDING WITHIN THE MPO? YES. YES, COMMISSIONER.

SO, PHASE TWO IS FUNDED BY THE MPO.

SO, AND THEN PHASE ONE WAS ACTUALLY PREVIOUSLY FUNDED PARTLY BY THE MMA.

OKAY. AND SO ULTIMATELY IS THERE ANY OPPORTUNITY FOR PHASE THREE.

SO, PHASE THREE WAS NOT IDENTIFIED FOR MPO FUNDING PARTLY BECAUSE OF THE DEVELOPER AGREEMENT AND THE SPEED THAT WE NEED TO MOVE AT TO GET IT COMPLETED.

OKAY, OBVIOUSLY WE'VE HAD DISCUSSIONS, BUT JUST LOOKING FOR OPPORTUNITIES TO CONTINUE TO LEVERAGE THOSE OTHER SOURCES OF FUNDING AS WELL.

THANK YOU. ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION.

HEY, ART, I LIKE YOUR POWERPOINT.

ONE PAGER.

THAT'S I LOVE IT.

HE SAYS EVERYTHING IN ONE PAGE, FRONT AND BACK.

THANK YOU. MY NAME IS NOT ART FOR NOTHING.

SO, WHAT DO YOU SAY? OH. ALL RIGHT, WE GOT A MOTION BY COMMISSIONER CLAY-FLORES.

SECOND BY COMMISSIONER RODRIGUEZ.

ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? I'LL CALL FOR A VOTE. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY SAYING I, I ANY OPPOSED? ANY ABSTENTIONS?

[01:25:01]

ITEM 61.

[61. Awarding a purchase order to the lowest, most responsive bid submitted by CMC Development & Construction Corporation, LLC (MBE, SBE), to provide for the construction services to renovate an existing building owned by the Esperanza Peace and Justice Center and leased by the County for the BiblioTech Digital Library project, Precinct 2, in the base bid amount of $1,285,000, plus alternate 1 in the amount of $ 120,000, plus $25,000 of owner contingency, for a grand total award of $1,430,000.00, as requested by the Facilities Management Department; and authorizing the Purchasing Agent to execute and file the appropriate award documents for record, and approval of the appropriate budget transfer.]

LEASED BY THE COUNTY FOR THE BIBLIOTECH DIGITAL LIBRARY PROJECT.

PRECINCT TWO.

IN THE BASE BID OF 1,285,000 PLUS ALTERNATE ONE IN THE AMOUNT OF 20,000 PLUS 25,000 OF OWNER CONTINGENCY FOR A GRAND TOTAL AWARD OF 1,000,430 DOLLARS, AS REQUESTED BY THE FACILITIES MANAGEMENT DEPARTMENT, AND AUTHORIZING THE PURCHASING AGENT TO EXECUTE.

FILE THE APPROPRIATE AWARD DOCUMENT FOR RECORD AND APPROVAL OF THE APPROPRIATE BUDGET TRANSFER.

MR. CURRY THANK YOU, GUY, FOR THAT LONG WINDED CAPTION.

WE APOLOGIZE FOR THAT IN ADVANCE.

I'M HERE TO TALK TO YOU ABOUT WHAT WE AFFECTIONATELY CALL BIBLIOTECH'S LLAMAS.

SO, WE ISSUED AN IFB THROUGH THE PURCHASING DEPARTMENT FOR CONSTRUCTION SERVICES TO BUILD OUT THE COUNTY'S LEASE SPACE AT THE FORMER LERMA'S NIGHTCLUB, WHICH IS THERE AT SOUTH ZAMORA AND CULEBRA.

THE IFB CLOSED ON JANUARY 11TH.

THERE WERE SIX RESPONDENTS 676 SUPPLIERS WERE NOTIFIED THROUGH THE COUNTY PURCHASING PORTAL.

THE CONSTRUCTION SERVICES INCLUDED IS TO CREATE A BIBLIOTECH DIGITAL BRANCH LIBRARY AT 1602 NORTH SOUTH ZAMORA STREET. THE EXISTING BUILDING OBVIOUSLY WAS FORMERLY KNOWN AS LERMA'S.

IT'S AN ART DECO STYLE.

AGAIN, SEVERAL OF THE BAYS HAVE A COMMUNITY CENTER IN THEM ALREADY, AND THIS WILL BE ADDING TO THAT LOCATION, AND WE WILL OCCUPY ABOUT 4000FT², SO IT'LL BE PROBABLY ON ORDER OF THE SECOND OR THIRD LARGEST BIBLIOTECH WE HAVE TO DATE.

SO. OBVIOUSLY THE DADS.

IT'S AVAILABLE FREE ACCESS TO LIBRARY RESOURCES THROUGH E-READERS AND THE INTERNET, ACCESS TO ALL THE FUNCTIONS.

I KNOW LAURA COLE CAN SPEAK TO THEM THAT THEY PROVIDE TO THE CONSTITUENTS IN THAT LOCATION.

WHAT WE'VE BEEN DOING IS ADDING SOME ADDITIONAL AMENITIES TO THESE LOCATIONS, LIKE WE DID AT BIBLIOTECH.

CASS-TECH WE HAVE A RECORDING STUDIO, STUDY ROOMS, AND A MAKER SPACE OR LABORATORY TO HAVE THOSE YOUNGER GENERATION GET INVOLVED IN THOSE THE STEM PROGRAMS THE MAIN READING ROOM WILL HAVE 12 TO 18 DESKTOP COMPUTERS AGAIN.

AND WE HAVE THE ALTERNATE INCLUDED.

SO, THE CONTRACTOR WILL SOURCE AND INSTALL THE FURNITURE AS WELL.

SO, THE PROJECT DURATION IS ABOUT SIX MONTHS FOR CONSTRUCTION.

AND SO, I'M GOING TO GO RUN THROUGH A COUPLE OF WHAT WE THINK THIS WILL LOOK LIKE IN THE END.

SO, THIS IS AN ARTIST'S RENDERING OF WHAT THE EXTERIOR OF THE BUILDING, THE BUILDING CURRENTLY LOOKS LIKE WITH OUR SIGNAGE OVERLAID ON THAT PARTICULAR BUILDING.

HERE'S AN INTERIOR RENDERING OF WHAT THE WILL THE FACILITY WILL LOOK LIKE, INCLUDING THE CIRCULATION DESK AND THE DESKTOP COMPUTERS AND THE LOUNGE AREA AND CIRCULATION DESK AND OTHER LOCATIONS OR OTHER VIEW OF THE OF THE SPACE.

HERE'S A THIS IS REALLY DETAILING THE FURNITURE THAT WILL GO INTO THE SPACE, BUT THIS IS KIND OF A FLOOR PLAN OF THE SPACES.

AS YOU CAN SEE, IT'S KIND OF JUST A BOX SPACE.

THERE ARE RESTROOMS. IT HAS STUDY ROOMS, IDF ROOMS, CLOSETS, AND ALL THOSE OTHER FUNCTIONS.

SO, THE SPACE IS LAID OUT FAIRLY EFFICIENTLY FOR THAT USE.

SO, HERE'S THE BID TAB AS WE RECEIVED IT FROM PURCHASING.

CMC DEVELOPMENT, AS YOU CAN SEE, IS THE LOWEST RESPONSIVE BID AT $1.43 MILLION.

AND HERE'S THE REMAINING BIDDERS.

AGAIN. LIKE I SAID, WE HAD SIX OF THEM.

THEY RANGE FROM 1.4 BASE BID UP TO 1.9.

SO, THE RECOMMENDATION AND BEXAR WITH ME AS I READ THIS LONG-WINDED CAPTION AWARDING A CONTRACT TO THE LOWEST RESPONSIVE BIDDER, CMC DEVELOPMENT AND CONSTRUCTION, LLC AND BSB FOR CONSTRUCTION SERVICES OF BIBLIOTHEQUE LERMA'S BRANCH, LOCATED IN THE EXISTING BUILDING FORMERLY KNOWN AS LERMA'S NIGHTCLUB AND IS THE BUILDING ON THE NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES AND IS OWNED BY THE ESPERANZA PEACE AND JUSTICE CENTER.

IN THE BASE BID AMOUNT OF 1,285,000, PLUS $120,000 FOR ALTERNATE NUMBER ONE FURNITURE, PLUS A $25,000 UNDER CONTINGENCY, FOR A TOTAL AWARD AMOUNT OF 1,430,000, AS REQUESTED BY THE FACILITIES MANAGEMENT DEPARTMENT, AND AUTHORIZING THE PURCHASING AGENT TO EXECUTE AND FILE THE APPROPRIATE AWARD DOCUMENTS FOR RECORD AND APPROVAL OF THE APPROPRIATE BUDGETARY TRANSFER.

COMMISSIONER RODRIGUEZ AND JUDGE.

I WOULD NOT HAVE TO REPEAT ALL OF THAT.

I WOULD MAKE THAT IN THE FORM OF A MOTION.

AND I DO HAVE SOME QUESTIONS AS WELL.

MOTION BY COMMISSIONER RODRIGUEZ.

SECOND BY COMMISSIONER CLAY-FLORES.

DAN, REAL QUICKLY, JUST NOT TO BELABOR THIS BECAUSE THIS IS A PROJECT THAT HAS BEEN ONGOING FOR SOME TIME THE RESTORATION OF THE

[01:30:06]

I JUST I'M CURIOUS ABOUT.

I KNOW THIS IS A LOW BID.

BUT ARE YOU AND YOUR TEAM FAMILIAR WITH CMC? HAVE THEY DONE ANY WORK FOR THE COUNTY? ANY OTHER WORK THAT YOU KNOW OF, SIMILAR TO THE BIBLIOTHEQUE TYPE OF PROJECTS? YEAH. SO, THEY HAVEN'T DONE ANY WORK FOR BEXAR COUNTY THEN? IN MY KNOWLEDGE, SINCE I'VE, SINCE WE'VE BEEN HERE, I'VE BEEN THE DIRECTOR, BUT THEY HAVE PREVIOUS INTERIOR RENOVATION EXPERIENCE.

OKAY. AND SO, WE THINK THEY'RE WELL QUALIFIED TO DO THIS.

I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE WE'RE NOT.

YEAH. SIX MONTHS DOWN THE ROAD AND THERE'S SOME CONCERN.

WE FULLY BELIEVE THAT THESE PEOPLE CAN EXECUTE THE AGREEMENT.

OKAY, GREAT. AND THEN I KNOW THAT THIS, AS I MENTIONED, STARTED REALLY BEFORE MY TIME ON COURT THIS PROJECT I KNOW COMMISSIONER ELIZONDO MADE SOME COMMITMENTS AND REALLY WANTED TO SEE THIS THROUGH.

SO, WE'RE FOLLOWING UP ON A LOT OF THOSE COMMITMENTS TRYING TO MAKE IT A PROUD NOT JUST A CENTERPIECE FOR THE WEST SIDE, BUT ONE THAT IS UTILIZED BECAUSE OF THE DIGITAL DIVIDE IN THE COMMUNITY.

THIS IS RIGHT OFF OF CULEBRA NEAR SOUTH ZAMORA.

GREAT. TRANSPORTATION BUS LINE.

SO I THINK IT'S GOING TO BE IT'S ALREADY HIGHLY ANTICIPATED.

I KNOW, BY THE COMMUNITY.

I KNOW THAT GRACIELA IS HERE FROM ESPERANZA PEACE AND JUSTICE CENTER.

GRACIELA, I DON'T KNOW IF YOU WANT TO COME UP AND SAY ANYTHING, BECAUSE I KNOW THAT YOU ALL HAVE BEEN INVOLVED FROM THE BEGINNING AND ARE OUR PARTNERS IN THIS AND WANTED TO MAKE SURE YOU HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO SAY A FEW WORDS IF YOU WANTED TO.

WELL, THANK YOU FOR ACKNOWLEDGING ME AND LETTING ME GIVE YOU ALL A COUPLE OF WORDS.

YES. THANK YOU.

COMMISSIONERS. JUDGE.

BACK IN 2010 THIS BUILDING WAS GOING TO BE TORN DOWN.

IT WAS JUST GOING TO BE ANOTHER EMPTY LOT GOING UP AND DOWN SOUTH ZAMORA STREET.

BECAUSE IF YOU GO DOWN SOUTH ZAMORA STREET, YOU WILL SEE OTHER EMPTY LOTS.

WE DON'T NEED THAT IN THIS NEIGHBORHOOD.

IT'S A HISTORICAL BUILDING BUILT IN 1942.

CHINESE COMMUNITY MEMBERS BUILT THIS STRUCTURE.

AND, YEAH, WE HAD TO COME TO YOU ALL AND COME TO THE CITY.

THE CITY GAVE US.

WELL COUNTY COMMISSIONER ELIZONDO SAID WE'RE NOT GIVING YOU ANY MONEY UNTIL YOU GET MONEY FROM THE CITY.

SO WE WENT BACK TO THE CITY AND SAID, COME ON, HALF $1 MILLION.

THE COUNTY MATCHED THAT, AND ESPERANZA RAISED ANOTHER MILLION.

SO TO SO WE RAISED MORE.

SO IT'S BEEN A $2 MILLION PROJECT JUST TO STABILIZE THE BUILDING, PUT A NEW ROOF AND PUT IN THE SECTION CALLED LERMA'S NIGHTCLUB, WHICH IS NOW BEING RENTED FOR $600 A MONTH FROM CONJUNTO HERITAGE, WHO HAD NO HOME.

AND YET THEY ARE THE ONES THAT ARE PROVIDING FREE WORKSHOPS TO YOUTH AS WELL AS ELDERS.

AND IN THE FUTURE WE JUST HOPE TO HAVE MORE DANCING.

SO AGAIN, WITH THE VISION WITH COUNTY COMMISSIONER ELIZONDO WAS WHY DON'T YOU ALL PUT A BIBLIOTECH? THE BIBLIOTHEQUES WERE A NEW IDEA AND THIS NEIGHBORHOOD DIDN'T HAVE ONE.

AND AS YOU MENTIONED, THERE IS A MAJOR DIGITAL DIVIDE, AND THIS COMMUNITY JUST DESPERATELY NEEDS IT.

WE CAN'T JUST THINK ABOUT CULEBRA AND SOUTH ZAMORA JUST BEING THE PLACE WHERE PEOPLE ARE GETTING RUN OVER ON A DAILY BASIS OR BEING SHOT UP.

YOU KNOW, THERE IS RICHNESS IN THIS NEIGHBORHOOD, AND IT'S ALSO A PLACE WHERE BLACK AND LATINOS HAVE FORGED TOGETHER AND BUILT THE WEST SIDE SOUND AS WELL AS JUST, YOU KNOW, LIVED WELL TOGETHER.

SO THANK YOU FOR THIS WORK.

AND IF YOU HAVE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS, I'M HERE.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU GRACIELA, WE APPRECIATE YOUR ADVOCACY.

I KNOW I'VE BEEN IN TOUCH AND WAS OUT AT THE WEST END OPEN ACTION COMMUNITY AT THE GARRETT CENTER.

THEY THEY ARE MONTHLY ASKING US FOR UPDATES.

SO I'M GOING TO HAPPY TO GIVE THEM AN UPDATE ON AT LEAST SOME PROGRESS HERE.

BUT AS YOU MENTIONED, I MEAN, THIS IS NOT JUST A BUILDING.

I MEAN, IT'S A, IT'S A STRUCTURE, BUT ALSO TELLS A STORY ABOUT THE HISTORY OF THE WEST SIDE AND SAN ANTONIO, AND WE'RE JUST HAPPY TO BE A PART OF IT. AND I THINK IT'S GOING TO HELP CHANGE JUST A LITTLE BIT OF THE CORRIDOR THERE, BUT ALSO HELP ENRICH LIVES BY HAVING THE RESOURCES FOR THOSE IN OUR COMMUNITY.

SO HAPPY TO SUPPORT IT AND WOULD LOVE TO HAVE THE REST OF THE COURT SUPPORT.

THANK YOU, JUDGE MR. CLAY-FLORES. I HAVE NO QUESTIONS.

I'M VERY SUPPORTIVE OF GOODWILL TECH, SO THANKS FOR BEING HERE.

COMMISSIONER MOODY. WELL, I HAD A FEW QUESTIONS I WANTED TO ASK.

SO I KNOW WE TALKED ABOUT THERE WAS SOME FUNDING FROM THE CITY AND COUNTY THAT JUST DID THE EXTERIOR RIGHT, AND THAT'S NOT PART OF THIS CONVERSATION AT ALL.

THAT'S ALREADY BEEN DONE.

SO THERE'S AN INITIAL AGREEMENT AND LEASE BACK OR AGREEMENT WITH BETWEEN THE CITY, THE COUNTY AND THE ESPERANZA PEACE AND JUSTICE CENTER TO STABILIZE THE EXISTING BUILDING

[01:35:08]

SO THAT WAS THE WHAT YOU TALKED ABOUT IS THAT $2 MILLION PROJECT THE CITY PUT IN 500,000, THE COUNTY PUT IN $500,000, AND THEY RAISED $1 MILLION TO GO TOWARDS THAT PROJECT.

SO THEY'VE STABILIZED THE THE EXTERIOR OF THE BUILDING UP TO THE HISTORIC STANDARDS.

BUT THE SECRETARY OF STATE STANDARDS AND THEN CREATED THEIR COMMUNITY CENTER IN ONE BAY OF IT.

AND THEN THIS IS ALL COUNTY MONEY GOING TO DO, ESSENTIALLY A TENANT IMPROVEMENT INSIDE OF THAT OTHER PORTION OF THE BUILDING.

SO CAN YOU SPEAK TO THE COMMUNITY CENTER? SO HOW BIG IS THE BUILDING IN ITS ENTIRETY VERSUS WHAT'S GOING TO BE BIBLIOTECH.

SO THE BUILDING ITSELF IS A LITTLE OVER 10,000FT².

BIBLIOTECH WILL BE 4000.

THE LERMA'S PORTION OF IT RIGHT NOW IS A LITTLE OVER 3000.

SO THERE'S STILL ANOTHER 3000 THAT WE'RE BUILDING OUT AS WELL, BUT WE'RE WAITING FOR BIBLIOTECH TO BE DONE.

SO THERE'S NO CONFLICT WITH THE CONTRACTORS NEEDING SPACE TO RENOVATE.

OKAY. AND SO THE THE FUNDS THAT ARE BEING REQUESTED ARE ONLY FOR THOSE 4000FT².

CORRECT. BIBLIOTHEQUE RENOVATION.

THIS IS THIS IS JUST INTERIOR FINISH OUT.

SO AGAIN, WE WON'T BE TOUCHING THE EXTERIOR OF THE BUILDING.

WE'LL BE ADDING SIGNAGE.

BUT AGAIN, ALL THAT WORK IS ALREADY DONE.

SO THIS IS JUST INTERIOR WORK OKAY.

AND THEN HOW ARE YOU GOING TO FUND RENOVATIONS FOR THE REST OF THE BUILDING OR IS IT LEASABLE TODAY? IT'S ALREADY BEING USED.

AS I SAID, THERE ARE CLASSES THAT ARE DONE MONDAY THROUGH SATURDAY.

AT THE 3000FT² SECTION CALLED MS. THE AGAIN, WE CAN'T DO THE RENOVATIONS FOR THE REST OF IT UNTIL WE'RE DONE WITH THE BIBLIOTECH.

AND WE'RE TRYING TO GET SOME STATE OF TEXAS TAX CREDITS, BECAUSE IN RESTORING THE EXTERIOR, WE ARE SUPPOSED TO ALSO GET SOME REIMBURSEMENT FOR THAT WORK, AND THE REST WILL COME FROM DONATIONS.

OKAY. AND YOU MENTIONED THE CURRENT LEASE ON THE COMMUNITY CENTER FOR FOR THAT 3000FT² WAS $600 PER MONTH, THAT FOR THE FIRST YEAR. YEAH.

THEY THEY'RE SMALL NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION FUNDED BY THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO.

I'M NOT SURE IF THEY GET COUNTY FUNDS.

BUT THEY WERE DESPERATELY NEEDING A HOME.

AND BECAUSE THE HISTORY OF LERMA'S NIGHTCLUB THAT PRINCIPALLY HAD CONJUNTO MUSICIANS PLAY THERE, IT SEEMED VERY APPROPRIATE TO ALLOW THEM TO BE HOUSED THERE.

OKAY. AND WHAT'S THE IS THERE A CONTRACT IN PLACE FOR FOR BIBLIOTECH TO OPERATE OUT OF LERMA'S? WHAT DOES THAT LOOK LIKE? YEAH. SO WHEN WE DO THE LEASE BACK AND DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT THERE'S SOME STRUCTURE IN THERE THAT REFERENCES THE BIBLIOTHEQUE WOLFF.

WHILE WE BUILD THIS SPACE OUT, WE'LL HAVE AN OPERATING AGREEMENT AND THAT THE LOCAL WILL BE BRINGING THAT TO COURT.

SPECIFICALLY OUTLINES HOURS OF OPERATION, TERM OF THE AGREEMENT AND EVERYTHING ELSE.

SO BUT WE DON'T HAVE THAT TODAY.

I'M NOT AWARE I'D HAVE TO GO BACK AND LOOK AT THE RECORDS, BUT IT COULD BE THAT I'M MISSPEAKING I'M NOT SURE.

I KNOW WE HAVE A LEASEHOLD ON THE PROPERTY FROM OUR INVESTMENT WE'VE ALREADY MADE.

SO THE COUNTY HAS A STAKE HOLD INTEREST IN THE PROPERTY WITH THE THE GRANT THAT WE GAVE THEM OF THE $500,000 DURING THE RESTORATION.

SO THE COUNTY HAS A LEASEHOLD ON THE PROPERTY ALREADY.

OKAY. SO WE HAVE A LEASE HOLD BASED ON THE THE EXTERIOR RENOVATION, BUT WE DON'T HAVE A LEASE IN PLACE ON THE THE SQUARE FOOTAGE FOR THE NIGHTCLUB.

CORRECT. THAT'S NOT SOMETHING I REMEMBER MY ME BRINGING TO COURT.

I'LL HAVE TO CHECK WITH LAURA COLE AND THE BIBLIOTHEQUE.

SURE. YEAH, YEAH, IF SHE WANTS TO SPEAK TO IT.

LAURA, COME TO THE. YEAH, COME TO THE PODIUM.

WE DON'T CURRENTLY HAVE A LEASE WITH OPERATING AGREEMENT IN PLACE AT THIS TIME.

SO WHAT'S THE TIMELINE FOR THAT? BECAUSE, I MEAN, IN MY OPINION, IT WOULD BE BEST TO TO ENSURE AT LEAST WE HAVE THIS LONG TERM LEASE IN PLACE BEFORE COMMITTING TO THE CONSTRUCTION.

I ASSUME WE'LL BE ABLE TO TO MAKE THAT AGREEMENT TAKE PLACE.

BUT JUST THE TIMING OF IT.

DO YOU SOMEBODY HAVE A PERSPECTIVE? YEAH. SO IN THE PAST IT'S TAKEN US ANYWHERE FROM, YOU KNOW, 1 TO 3 MONTHS TO EXECUTE A LEASE LIKE THIS.

AGAIN, ALL THE PARTIES ARE AGREEABLE THAT THE LEASE WILL BE A DOLLAR A YEAR.

THERE WOULD BE NO COST TO THE LEASE.

SO WE HAVE WE CAN START THAT PROCESS IMMEDIATELY AND BRING IT BACK TO YOU AT THE NEXT AVAILABLE COMMISSIONERS COURT.

SO THAT'S ALREADY BEEN A COMMITMENT THOUGH THE THE $1 PER YEAR.

AND YEAH, I MEAN THIS ENTIRE ENGAGEMENT HAS JUST BEEN BACK AND FORTH, YOU KNOW, ONE STEP AT A TIME.

SO YEAH, IF, YOU KNOW, I WOULD HOPE THAT YOU WOULDN'T DELAY THIS DECISION BASED ON THAT ONE FACT THAT YOU HAVE OUR COMMITMENT AND

[01:40:03]

YEAH, OBVIOUSLY, I JUST WANT TO CONFIRM THAT THAT WE HAVE THIS LONG TERM CONTRACT FOR THE THE OFFICE SPACE FOR, FOR BIBLIOTHEQUE IF WE'RE GOING TO MAKE A SIGNIFICANT INVESTMENT IN ALL THE RENOVATIONS AND EVERYTHING, IT SOUNDS LIKE THERE'S A VERBAL AGREEMENT AND ALIGNMENT, BUT JUST NOTHING ON PAPER.

IS THAT CORRECT? YEAH.

AGAIN, I THINK YOU'RE MENTIONING CART BEFORE THE HORSE, AND I AGREE WITH YOU.

WE'LL GET THAT DISCUSSION AND THAT DOCUMENT AT THE SOONEST.

OKAY. AND THEN, LAURA, I KNOW WE HAD TALKED A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE THE LONG TERM STRATEGY AND PLAN WITH BIBLIOTHEQUE AND HOW THAT FITS IN WHAT IS OUR NICHE WITHIN THE LIBRARY SYSTEM AND WHAT SERVICES WE PROVIDE KIND OF GOING FORWARD. AND I KNOW WE'RE WE'RE NOT GOING TO DIVE INTO ALL THAT TODAY, BUT I DO WANT TO BETTER UNDERSTAND THAT.

I HOPE YOU'LL COME BACK TO COURT HERE SOON AND BE ABLE TO KIND OF GIVE US AN OVERVIEW OF WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE.

AS, AS WE GO INTO BUDGET SEASON AND TRY TO THINK ABOUT, YOU KNOW, WHAT, WHAT THESE LONG TERM COSTS WILL BE AND WHAT, IF ANY, KIND OF EXPANSION WITHIN THAT PROGRAM? I THINK THAT WOULD BE HELPFUL FOR EVERYBODY TO UNDERSTAND BETTER.

ABSOLUTELY. COMMISSIONER, I AM IN FULL AGREEMENT WITH THAT.

WE WILL HAVE THAT. WE'LL HAVE THOSE DISCUSSIONS GOING FORWARD.

OKAY. THANK YOU.

THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER CALVERT.

THANK YOU. JUDGE, I JUST WANT TO CONGRATULATE ESPERANZA PEACE AND JUSTICE CENTER ON GETTING.

AND COMMISSIONER ELIZONDO AND COMMISSIONER RODRIGUEZ CONTINUING IT ON GETTING THIS DONE.

I HAPPENED TO PASS BY IT.

I WAS TRYING TO AVOID THE FIESTA FLAMBEAU TRAFFIC, AND I WENT THE LONG WAY DOWN FRIO TO SOUTH ZAMORA, WHILE SOUTH ZAMORA AND I GOT TO SEE HOW BEAUTIFUL THE COLOR WAS ON THE FRONT. ON MY WAY TO WHERE I WAS GOING.

AND I JUST WANT TO BREAK DOWN A FEW NUMBERS.

SO, YOU ALL RAISED ABOUT $2 MILLION, AS I REMEMBER.

I WAS THERE OBVIOUSLY, FOR THE 500,000 FROM THE COUNTY.

SO, YOUR RENOVATION WAS ABOUT 200 A SQUARE FOOT.

WAS THAT FOR THE WHOLE 10,000FT²? SO NOW WE'RE BASICALLY DOING 1.4 MILLION FOR THE 3000 OR 4000 RATHER SQUARE FEET OF THE BIBLIOTECH.

SO, WE'RE COMING IN AT ABOUT $430 A SQUARE FOOT.

ARE THERE SIGNIFICANT INTERIOR FINISH DIFFERENCES BETWEEN THE TWO? I JUST AM CURIOUS ABOUT THAT RENOVATION.

THEY DID OBVIOUSLY WAS SEVERAL YEARS AGO.

SO, THERE'S SOME ESCALATION FACTORED IN THERE, AND IT WAS A CORE AND SHELL PROJECT.

SO, IT REALLY IS JUST EXTERIOR ROOFING AND SOME MECHANICALS.

OKAY. SO, WHAT WE'RE DOING IS WE'RE DOING FINISHES OF THE EXPENSIVE PART OF THE BUILDING.

RIGHT? OKAY. SO, CARPET WALLS, PAINT, PLUMBING FIXTURES COMPUTERS, EVERYTHING ELSE IS INCLUDED IN THAT, IN THAT PRICE.

OKAY. WELL, I JUST WANT TO CONGRATULATE ESPERANZA ON THE VISION OF MANY THINGS THAT YOU'VE HAD.

YOU'VE HAD A VISION FOR A LAND BANK.

I'M HOPING THE COUNTY WILL GET WITH THAT PROGRAM ONE DAY.

YOU'VE GOT THE VISION FOR BRIDGING THE DIGITAL DIVIDE.

YOUTH AND ELDERLY SERVICES CULTURAL ARTS.

SO, THIS IS YOU KNOW, DEFINITELY AN AREA THAT COULD USE THAT DIGITAL DIVIDE AND DIGITAL LITERACY.

AND IT'S EXCITING TO KNOW THAT IT WILL HAPPEN WITH THE PARTICIPATION OF THE COUNTY.

SO CONGRATULATIONS, LAURA, AS WELL.

AND YOUR TEAM AND I THANK YOU FOR YOUR VISION.

ALL RIGHT. ANY FURTHER COMMENTS? LET ME CLOSE WITH THIS. GRACIELA.

GOOD MORNING. I THINK WE GO BACK A LONG TIME.

GRACIELA. FIRST OF ALL, LET ME JUST.

THANK YOU. BOTH HAD DARK BLACK HAIR.

I. I THINK WE ALL HAD THIS GRAY HAIR AT ONE TIME.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP ON THE ESPERANZA PEACE AND JUSTICE CENTER AND YOUR COMMITMENT TO THE COMMUNITY.

OBVIOUSLY, THIS PROJECT IS PART AND PARCEL OF YOUR BLOOD AND SPIRIT OF THE WEST SIDE.

AND SO, I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP, TOO.

I JUST RECOGNIZE THAT YOU AND I FIRST MET WITH, I THINK IT WAS VOLUNTEERS AND PROBATION MANY, MANY YEARS AGO.

AND YOUR COMMUNITY SERVICE, WHICH I KNOW IS INGRAINED IN YOU BY DNA FROM YOUR MAMA, MISS ISABEL.

AND SO, I JUST MAY SHE REST IN PEACE.

IT'S OBVIOUSLY YOU'RE CARRYING ON THE LEGACY OF YOUR PARENTS.

AND SO, I JUST WANT TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONTINUED SERVICE.

AND SO, AT THIS TIME, I'LL CALL.

OKAY. WELL, ALL RIGHT, LET ME AT THIS TIME, LET ME ASK YOU ALL TO STEP ASIDE, MR. FINGER COMMISSIONER RODRIGUEZ ALERTED ME YOU HAD ASKED TO SPEAK ON THIS.

[01:45:02]

WE'VE GIVEN YOU THREE MINUTES.

CAN YOU.

TAKE CARE OF ALL THE AGENDA ITEMS THAT YOU WISH TO TAKE CARE OF FOR THIS OR.

WELL, JUDGE, MY UNDERSTANDING TO GIVE YOU AN OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK, BUT GO AHEAD.

MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT WHEN A CITIZEN WISHES TO SPEAK ON ONE OR MORE ITEMS, ALL THEY HAVE TO DO IS JUST SIGN UP ON THOSE RESPECTIVE ITEMS AND THEY SHOULD BE ALLOWED THEIR THREE MINUTES TO SPEAK, RESPECTIVELY.

OKAY. RIGHT. GO AHEAD, GO AHEAD, MR. FISHER. OKAY.

STARTING OFF AGAIN, JUDGE SAKAI, OTHER MEMBERS OF THE COMMISSIONERS COURT.

MY NAME IS JACK M FINGER, AND I'M GOING TO ASK MR. RODRIGUEZ IF YOU WOULD RESCIND YOUR MOTION FOR GOING AHEAD WITH THIS.

INSTEAD, TABLE IT UNTIL YOU'VE GOT A CHANCE TO DO.

MAYBE LOOK FOR A BETTER A BETTER ORGANIZATION THAT HAS A BETTER LOCATION IN THAT GENERAL AREA OF THE TOWN TO PUT A LIBRARY IN.

WHY? WELL, BECAUSE THE ESPERANZA PEACE AND JUSTICE CENTER, YES, IT DOES PASS ITSELF OFF AS A REPOSITORY OF HISPANIC LOCAL HISPANIC CULTURE AND HISTORY.

BUT THE DIRTY LITTLE FACT IS, IS THAT FOR DECADES, ESPERANZA HAS BEEN A HOTBED OF HOMOSEXUAL AGENDA ACTIVITY, AGENDA PROMOTION, A HOTBED FOR ABORTION PROMOTION.

6 OR 7 YEARS AGO, IT HAD ME FALSELY ARRESTED.

WHY? BECAUSE I JUST MERELY ATTENDED A CONFERENCE THAT THEY HAD THAT THEY INVITED ME, THE GENERAL PUBLIC, TO GO TO.

THEY APPARENTLY DIDN'T LIKE MY VIEWPOINTS ON THINGS.

THEY TOLD ME TO LEAVE, I REFUSED, THE POLICE ARRESTED ME, HAD TO DRAG ME OUT.

I WENT TO COURT, AND I WAS ACQUITTED.

CASE DISMISSED.

NOW, THERE MUST BE SOME OTHER ORGANIZATION OUT THERE THAT YOU CAN FIND TO PROMOTE A BIBLIOTECH LIBRARY. IF THEY WANT TO IMPROVE LERMA'S, LET THEM DO IT ON THEIR OWN DIME, NOT OURS.

OKAY. PLEASE FIND A BETTER ORGANIZATION.

THANK YOU.

ALL RIGHT. DOES THAT FINISH THE DISCUSSION? IS THERE ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION AMONG THE COMMISSIONERS? I'LL CALL FOR A VOTE. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF THE MOTION SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE.

AYE. ANY OPPOSED? ANY ABSTENTION? ONE. ABSTENTIONS.

MOTION CARRIES.

GET THAT PROJECT DONE, MR. CURRY. WE'LL GO TO AGENDA ITEM 62, DISCUSSION OF APPROPRIATE ACTION REGARDING THE CREATION OF A BEXAR COUNTY ANIMAL CARE ADVISORY BOARD TO INCLUDE

[62. Discussion and appropriate action regarding Creation of a Bexar County Animal Care Advisory Board to include at least one licensed veterinarian, one county or municipal official, one person whose duties include the daily operation of an animal shelter, and one representative from an animal welfare organization.]

DR. GUERRERO.

GOOD MORNING, JUDGE, COMMISSIONERS.

DR. ANDREA GUERRERO, DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC HEALTH.

WE COME TO YOU TODAY, AS YOU KNOW, ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES, WHICH IS THE DEPARTMENT IN WHICH ANIMAL CARE RESIDES IS WITHIN THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH.

AND ACCORDING TO TEXAS HEALTH AND SAFETY CODE, TITLE TEN, CHAPTER 823 THE STATUTE REQUIRES OR SAYS THAT THE GOVERNING BODY OF A COUNTY IN WHICH AN ANIMAL SHELTER IS LOCATED SHALL APPOINT AN ADVISORY COMMITTEE.

AND SO WE'RE REALLY JUST TRYING TO TO GET COMPLIANT WITH THAT CODE.

AS THE CAPTION READS, WE ARE INTENDING TO CREATE AN ADVISORY COMMITTEE BASED ON YOUR APPROVAL THAT INCLUDES ONE LICENSED VETERINARIAN, ONE COUNTY OR MUNICIPAL OFFICIAL, ONE PERSON WHOSE DUTIES INCLUDE THE DAILY OPERATION OF AN ANIMAL SHELTER AND ONE REPRESENTATIVE FROM AN ANIMAL WELFARE ORGANIZATION.

THIS IS IN THE STATUTE.

THE BOARD DUTIES ARE CHIEFLY TO OVERSEE ALL OF THE THINGS THAT ARE AN ANIMAL SHELTER IS SUPPOSED TO DO, PER CHAPTER TEN.

IT INCLUDES HOW ANIMALS ARE CARED FOR IN THE SHELTER, HOW THEY'RE SEPARATED, MICROCHIP SCANS.

SO, ALL OF THE THINGS THAT THAT ARE THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE ANIMAL SHELTER, THE BOARD WOULD OVERSEE ALL OF THAT PROVIDES THEIR EXPERTISE AND THEIR GUIDANCE, ADVOCATE FOR EFFECTIVE ANIMAL CARE POLICIES AND OBVIOUSLY TO SUPPORT COMPLIANCE WITH ALL WITH CHAPTER TEN.

THE BOARD COMMITMENT. SO, FOR A PERSON, THE COMMITMENT THAT A PERSON WOULD HAVE TO COMMIT TO BE A MEMBER OF THIS ADVISORY COMMITTEE WOULD BE TO ATTEND QUARTERLY MEETINGS AND ANY OTHER SPECIAL MEETINGS THAT ARE CALLED.

PREPARATION FOR THESE ADVISORY BOARD MEETINGS REVIEW ANIMAL CARE AND CONTROL ARTICLES AND DATA, PROMOTE AND ATTEND BEXAR COUNTY ANIMAL FACILITY EVENTS.

AND WE ANTICIPATE OR WE EXPECT THAT THESE FOLKS WOULD SERVE A TERM OF THREE YEARS AND OBVIOUSLY REPORT BACK TO YOU ON ANYTHING THAT YOU MIGHT WANT TO KNOW IN TERMS OF THEM BEING YOUR APPOINTED REPRESENTATIVE FOR THE NOMINATION PROCESS.

AND WE'VE CREATED A FULL JOB DESCRIPTION, BUT FOR THE JOB.

[01:50:03]

WE WOULD ASK THAT EACH OF THE COURT MEMBERS NOMINATE TWO MEMBERS OF THE ADVISORY BOARD.

WE'RE LOOKING AT ABOUT A TEN-PERSON COMMITTEE.

IF YOU IF YOU ONLY WANT TO NOMINATE ONE PERSON, IT WILL JUST MAKE FOR A SMALLER COMMITTEE BECAUSE OF THE SPECIAL QUALIFICATIONS, PER THE STATUTE. OUR STAFF WILL PREPARE A LIST OF VIABLE CANDIDATES THAT MEET ALL OF THESE QUALIFICATIONS.

AND DO OUR BEST TO MAKE SURE THAT THERE'S APPROPRIATE REPRESENTATION FOR EACH PRECINCT.

AND PROVIDE THAT TO YOU AND YOUR STAFF FOR CONSIDERATION.

OR OBVIOUSLY, YOU COULD PROVIDE YOUR OWN NOMINEES FROM, YOU KNOW, FROM SOMEONE THAT'S NOT ON THAT LIST.

ANY NOMINEE WILL BE VETTED BY STAFF AND WOULD BE BROUGHT TO YOU FOR APPROVAL AT COURT.

SO, I RECOMMENDED MOTION IS JUST TO APPROVE THE CREATION OF THE ANIMAL CARE ADVISORY BOARD.

AND THEN WE WOULD GET TO WORK ON HELPING YOU WITH THE NOMINATION PROCESS.

MR. CLAY-FLORES.

YEAH. SO, WE ARE BUILDING A NEW ANIMAL CARE FACILITY IN PRECINCT ONE, BUT IT'S NOT LIKE ONE DOESN'T ALREADY EXIST.

RIGHT. AND PRECINCT FOUR.

SO, WE DON'T HAVE CURRENTLY AN ADVISORY BOARD LIKE THIS? NO. SO, IS THIS WHERE DID THIS COME FROM? IS IT SOMETHING THAT'S JUST SOMETHING THAT YOU GUYS' THINK IS BEST PRACTICES OR IT'S SOMETHING THAT'S MANDATED.

IT'S MANDATED BY THE TEXAS HEALTH AND SAFETY CODE.

SO, WHEN I CAME ON BOARD, AND I STARTED DOING AN ORGANIZATIONAL REVIEW OF ALL OF THE POLICIES AND PROCEDURES THAT THE ANIMAL CARE FACILITY.

JC ELROD, WHO'S HERE? OH, RIGHT HERE BROUGHT IT TO MY ATTENTION THAT THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WE SHOULD BE DOING, AND WE HAVEN'T BEEN COMPLIANT.

AND SO DO WE KNOW WHY WE HAVEN'T BEEN DOING.

I MEAN, HOW LONG HAVE WE HAD THE KIRBY, THE KIRBY FACILITY? I'M JUST WONDERING HOW THIS CAME ABOUT, SINCE IT'S NOT LIKE THIS IS A NEW THING, WE'RE GOING TO DO.

NO, IT ISN'T. ORIGINALLY, I DON'T KNOW IF ANYBODY REMEMBERS THE HISTORY.

WHEN WE FIRST WERE ORGANIZED, WE WERE PART OF THE KIRBY.

IT WAS KIRBY ANIMAL CONTROL AND BEXAR COUNTY ANIMAL FACILITY AS ONE.

SO, IT WAS KIRBY BEXAR ANIMAL FACILITY.

WHAT WAS THAT? I'M SORRY, WHAT YEAR WAS THAT? I BELIEVE IT WAS 2017.

OKAY. A COUPLE OF YEARS AFTER THAT, WE SEPARATED FROM THE KIRBY ANIMAL CONTROL.

DURING THE TIME WHEN WE WERE PARTNERED, WE ACTUALLY UTILIZED THEIR BOARD.

WE WERE PART OF THEIR, YOU KNOW, QUARTERLY, YOU KNOW QUARTERLY ADVISORY BOARD MEETINGS, THINGS LIKE THAT.

SO, WHEN WE SEPARATED AND THEN, OF COURSE, TIME PASSED AND NOW WE'RE UNDER DR.

GUERRERO, IT'S TIME THAT WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE OUR OWN ADVISORY BOARD FOR JUST THE BEXAR COUNTY ANIMAL FACILITY.

OKAY. AND THEN Y'ALL ARE.

IT SAYS BOARD COMMITMENT THREE YEARS.

IS THAT A RECOMMENDATION OR A MANDATED RECOMMENDATION? WE FEEL LIKE IF WE START NOW APPOINTING THIS COMMITTEE, THEN THE COMMITTEE THAT'S APPOINTED TODAY WOULD TAKE US THROUGH THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE NEW ANIMAL FACILITY.

WE COULD, AT THAT POINT, COME BACK TO COURT AND ASK IF YOU WANTED TO DO STAGGERED TERMS SO THAT WE HAVE A MORE SORT OF ROLLING ON, ROLLING OFF STRUCTURE.

BUT AT THIS POINT, WE REALLY JUST WANT ALL OF THE NOMINATED MEMBERS TO SERVE FOR AT LEAST A TERM OF THREE YEARS SO WE CAN GET OUR FEET ON THE GROUND AND HAVE A REALLY SOLID INFRASTRUCTURE IN PLACE TO PROVIDE GUIDANCE FOR STAFF.

AND SO THIS IS AN ADVISORY BOARD.

SO, THEY WOULD MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE COUNTY STAFF PER THE STATUTE.

IT SAYS YOU KNOW THERE'S CHAPTER TEN THAT SAYS THIS IS WHAT ANIMAL SHELTERS SHALL DO THE WAY THAT THEY OPERATE POLICIES AND PROCEDURES.

AND THE ROLE OF THE ADVISORY BOARD, AS THE STATUTE READS, IS THAT THE ADVISORY BOARD IS CHIEFLY TO JUST PROVIDE OVERSIGHT TO MAKE SURE THAT THE ANIMAL SHELTER IS IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE TEXAS HEALTH AND SAFETY CODE.

WE WOULD ALSO ASK, BASED ON THE EXPERTISE, I MEAN, THESE ARE EXPERTS IN ANIMAL CARE AND SHELTERS AND VETERINARY SCIENCE THAT THEY MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS FOR IMPROVEMENT FOR ANY ANYTHING THAT COMES UP.

AND ESPECIALLY AS WE MOVE INTO A NEW FACILITY, WE REALLY WANT TO CREATE A BEST PRACTICE FOR HOW WE'RE GOING TO OPERATE THAT FACILITY.

OKAY. THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER RYDER.

THANK YOU. JUDGE. DR.

GUERRERO, I WAS JUST LOOKING AT THE I GUESS THE EXCERPT OF THE HEALTH AND SAFETY CODE.

SO, THE MANDATE, I GUESS, YOU HAVE IT THERE ONE COUNTY OR MUNICIPAL OFFICIAL? I DON'T SEE A FURTHER DEFINITE DEFINITION OF THAT.

DOES THE WAY YOU INTERPRET THAT MEAN COULD BE A STAFF MEMBER? NOT NECESSARILY AN ELECTED COUNTY OR CITY OFFICIAL.

RIGHT. IT COULD BE JC RIGHT.

AS A AS A VOTING MEMBER OF THE BOARD.

YES. GOTCHA. OKAY.

SO, IT COULD BE ANY COUNTY EMPLOYEE THEN.

[01:55:02]

OKAY. NO, THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THIS TO OUR ATTENTION.

I WAS A LITTLE BIT SURPRISED, TOO, WHEN IT CAME OUT BECAUSE TYPICALLY, YOU KNOW, THESE THINGS ARE THE POLICY DRIVEN BY THE POLICY MAKERS, BUT IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE'RE JUST OUT OF COMPLIANCE WITH AND OVERLOOKED.

SO, I'M SUPPORTIVE AND WE'LL WORK ON GETTING YOU SOME GOOD RECOMMENDATIONS FOR THE COMMITTEE.

THANK YOU. JUDGE. COMMISSIONER MOODY.

I DID HAVE ONE QUESTION OR RECOMMENDATION AND COMMENT.

SO, IT LOOKS LIKE THE ADVISORY COMMITTEE, AS IT'S WRITTEN HERE, HAS FOUR MEMBERS.

WOULD WE LEAVE IT AT FOUR OR WOULD WE TRY TO GET TO FIVE? SO, YOU KNOW, IT SHOULD HAVE AT LEAST ONE OF EACH OF THESE.

OKAY. BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, FOLKS ARE BUSY, THIS IS AN UNCOMPENSATED VOLUNTEER POSITION.

SO, YOU KNOW, OBVIOUSLY WE WOULD HAVE ATTENDANCE REQUIREMENTS AND ASK THAT FOLKS ATTEND QUARTERLY MEETINGS.

BUT TO ENSURE A QUORUM, EACH TIME WE'RE LOOKING AT ABOUT A TEN-PERSON ADVISORY COMMITTEE.

SO, EACH OF YOU COULD NOMINATE TWO PEOPLE, IT COULD JUST BE ONE.

IT WOULD MAKE FOR A SMALLER COMMITTEE.

BUT YEAH, JUST BECAUSE OF, YOU KNOW, FOLKS' SCHEDULES AND THE ABILITY TO ATTEND ALL MEETINGS.

OKAY. SO, THE ACTUAL BOARD SIZE HASN'T OFFICIALLY BEEN DETERMINED.

THESE ARE JUST THE MINIMUMS, RIGHT? YES. MINIMUM. OKAY.

SO BASED ON THE RECOMMENDATIONS, THE NOMINATIONS THAT YOU HAVE, THEN YOU'LL COME BACK TO COURT WITH BOTH RECOMMENDED SIZE AND NAMES FOR THAT ADVISORY BOARD.

YES. OKAY.

THE OTHER THING I'D JUST LIKE TO HIGHLIGHT AFTER OUR DISCUSSION LAST TIME AND THE NEW SHELTER AND THE COST IS THAT THIS BODY WOULD BE A GREAT RESOURCE.

OBVIOUSLY, INDIVIDUALS WHO WORK IN AN ANIMAL WELFARE ORGANIZATION WORK IN AN ANIMAL SHELTER AND UNDERSTANDING OTHER OPPORTUNITIES TO PARTNER WITH THE PRIVATE SECTOR OR NONPROFIT IN TERMS OF PROVIDING SHELTER TO THOSE ANIMALS IN A MORE COST-EFFECTIVE WAY THAN, YOU KNOW, BUILDING COUNTY SHELTERS GOING FORWARD. SO, I HOPE, AND I WOULD DIRECT, YOU KNOW, THIS BOARD TO LOOK INTO THAT ONCE WE GET IT ESTABLISHED AND HOPEFULLY, WE CAN FIND SOME NEW OPPORTUNITIES TO LOWER THOSE COSTS. YEAH, ABSOLUTELY.

THANK YOU. COMMISSIONER CALVERT.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR BRINGING THIS TO OUR ATTENTION.

DR. GUERRERO, WHAT IS THE PENALTY FOR NOT HAVING OBSERVED THE ANIMAL SHELTER? I AM NOT AWARE OF THE PENALTY.

DO YOU KNOW? I DON'T KNOW, I CAN FIND THAT ANSWER FOR YOU.

I SEE IT IN SECTION F INITIALLY IT SAYS AN OFFENSE UNDER THIS SUBSECTION IS A CLASS C MISDEMEANOR.

OKAY. BUT WE CAN GET CLARITY ON THAT LATER.

I'LL BE SUPPORTIVE OF THIS.

AND IT LOOKS LIKE WE PRETTY MUCH HAVE TO DO IT.

THANK YOU. JUDGE. ANY FURTHER COMMENTS? LET ME CLOSE WITH THIS, DR.

GUERRERO. I'LL GO ON RECORD IN SUPPORT OF THIS ADVISORY BOARD, OBVIOUSLY, BECAUSE IT'S REQUIRED.

MANDATED I WOULD ASK THAT WE BE VERY SELECTIVE IN THE APPOINTMENT OF THE BOARD MEMBERS TO SUPPORT THAT, EACH COMMISSIONER WILL HAVE TWO APPOINTEES, ALTHOUGH IT SOUNDS LIKE I DON'T, BUT THAT'S FINE.

I WOULD ASK THAT THE COMMISSIONERS REALLY LOOK AND CONSULT WITH DR.

GUERRERO TO MAKE SURE THAT ALL CANDIDATES HAVE A BACKGROUND, HAVE A PASSION, HAVE A COMMITMENT, AND HAVE SOME EXPERTISE IN ORDER TO LEND TO THIS ADVISORY BOARD.

OBVIOUSLY, THIS ANIMAL CONTROL ISSUE, AS WHAT'S BEEN DISCUSSED IS A DISCUSSION THAT WILL PROBABLY ALWAYS COME UP FOR VARIOUS REASONS.

AND WE NEED AN ADVISORY BOARD THAT WILL HELP THE COMMISSIONERS COURT IN PROVIDING DIRECTION TO STAFF AND OBVIOUSLY, HOW WE CONSTRUCT THE NEW ANIMAL CONTROL FACILITY DOWN IN THE PRECINCT.

ONE ALSO TWO I WANT TO CLARIFY, NOT CLARIFICATION, BUT I'M GIVING YOU MY VIEWPOINT THAT IN LIGHT OF SOME OF THE OTHER BOARDS THAT WE HAVE OBLIGATED OR MANDATED TO DO THAT, DR.

GUERRERO, YOU WOULD MAKE A LIST OF RECOMMENDED FOR THOSE SLOTS THAT ARE MANDATED BY STATUTE CONSULT WITH THE COMMISSIONERS AND ULTIMATELY BRING THAT WHOLE ENTIRE SLATE BACK TO THE COURT FOR APPROVAL.

AND I THINK ALL COMMISSIONERS SHOULD BE GIVEN AN OPPORTUNITY TO LOOK AT ALL THE NOMINATIONS, INCLUDING THEIR OWN AND THE OTHER NOMINATIONS, SO THAT WE

[02:00:01]

AND SO, I'LL ASK EACH COMMISSIONER TO MAKE SURE THAT EACH CITIZEN ADVISORY MEMBER HAS A TRUE COMMITMENT TO THIS BOARD AND WILL FULFILL THEIR STATUTORY AND THEIR DUTIES TO PARTICIPATE IN THIS ADVISORY BOARD.

DR. GUERERRO, DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS IN REGARD TO MY COMMENTS? NO, SIR. THAT IS EXACTLY OUR PLAN.

ALL RIGHT. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? YES. COMMISSIONER MOONEY, CAN WE GET ALIGNED ON A TIMELINE? WE ALL AGREE THE IMPORTANCE.

WE WANT TO GO FORWARD WITH THIS, BUT I JUST DON'T WANT THIS TO DRAG ON FOR MONTHS.

RIGHT, A WIN-WIN.

SHOULD WE, AS COURT MEMBERS SOLICIT AND PROVIDE YOU THOSE NAMES FOR NOMINATION, WE'LL BE REACHING OUT TO YOU WITH THE LIST THAT WE'VE ALREADY GOTTEN STARTED. HE ASKED FOR TIMELINE.

HOW MUCH TIME? WITHIN THE NEXT TWO MONTHS.

CAN YOU DO YOU NEED TWO MONTHS? I MEAN, OKAY, ONE MONTH.

WELL, I JUST KNOW IF WE DON'T ESTABLISH.

YES, IF WE DON'T ESTABLISH A TIMELINE, WE GOT TO GO.

WE GOT TO GET THIS THING DONE.

SO, I'M TOTALLY ON.

LET'S LOCK DOWN TO AN EXPEDITED TIMELINE IN A MONTH.

MR. SMITH, IF YOU WANT THESE THIS BOARD TO HAVE INPUT INTO THE NEW FACILITY, THEN IT NEEDS TO BE QUICKLY.

IT'S WHAT IT NEEDS TO BE QUICK.

DONE. WE NEED YOUR APPROVALS.

YOU WANT IN TWO WEEKS.

SO, AS I UNDERSTAND IT, YOU'RE PROVIDING NOMINATIONS TO US.

WE ARE PROVIDING A LIST OF POTENTIAL FOLKS THAT ARE THAT ARE QUALIFIED FOR THE POSITIONS THAT HAVE BEEN OUTLINED.

IF THERE ARE OTHERS THAT YOU WOULD LIKE TO NOMINATE THAT WE'RE NOT AWARE OF, WE WOULD HAVE TO VET THOSE FOR THEIR QUALIFICATIONS AND ALL OF THAT SO WE COULD SHOOT FOR THE FIRST COURT DATE IN JUNE.

SO, I WOULD ASK THEN THE MEMBERS OF THE COURT IN THE NEXT TWO WEEKS, IF WE HAVE NAMES, WE GET THOSE TO YOU SO YOU CAN BRING THEM BACK TO US IN JUNE.

DOES THAT WORK? YES. OKAY.

WE GOT AN AGREEMENT, I DIDN'T HEAR.

WHAT DID YOU SAY, COMMISSIONER MOODY? THAT IN THE NEXT TWO WEEKS, IF WE HAVE NAMES, WE PROVIDE THEM SO THEY CAN REVIEW THEM AND THEN GET THEM BACK TO US IN JUNE.

OKAY. YEAH, THAT SOUNDS GOOD.

JUDGE. I MEAN, THERE IS A 100 TO 500 PENALTY FOR NOT FOLLOWING THE STATE STATUTE ON THIS PER DAY.

OKAY. THAT'S REASON THAT'S THE REASON WHY I'M I WANT STAFF.

LET'S GO. YEAH. LET'S GET IT DONE.

BUT THE COMMISSIONER'S COURT DOES NEED TO RESERVE ITS AUTHORITY TO APPOINT MEMBERS.

SO, YOU KNOW, IF YOU HAVE PEOPLE WHO QUALIFY, THAT IS OUR AUTHORITY STRICTLY.

ALL RIGHT.

WHOSE MOTION? OH, SOMEONE'S GOTTA MAKE A MOTION.

COMMISSIONER. MOTION BY COMMISSIONER CALVERT.

SECOND. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER RODRIGUEZ.

ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE.

AYE. ANY OPPOSED? ANY ABSTENTIONS.

MOTION CARRIES. GET IT DONE.

THANK YOU. OKAY.

ALL RIGHT. WE'RE COMING UP ON ITEM 63 AND 64.

AND I BELIEVE STAFF HAS ASKED ME TO PLEASE TAKE UP 64.

SO, AGENDA WHICH THEY'RE RELATED.

THIS IS THE SAND MINISTRIES ISSUE.

SO, I'M GOING TO TAKE UP AGENDA ITEM 64 DISCUSSION APPROPRIATE ACTION RELATED TO AUTHORIZATION FOR STAFF TO NEGOTIATE A PARTIAL GRANT AGREEMENT BETWEEN BEXAR COUNTY AND

[64. Discussion and appropriate action related to authorization for staff to negotiate a partial grant agreement between Bexar County and San Antonio Metropolitan Ministries (dba SAMMinistries) to provide Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds (SLFRF) for the 14 units unaffected by the fire at The Hudson Apartments in an amount of up to $949,996.]

GOOD MORNING, JUDGE AND COMMISSIONERS.

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

I PLAN TO PROVIDE A BRIEF UPDATE AND SEEK COURT DIRECTION REGARDING AN ARPA FUNDED PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING DEVELOPMENT CALLED THE HUDSON.

ON NOVEMBER 28TH, 2023, BEXAR COUNTY COMMISSIONERS COURT UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED A $2.8 MILLION ARPA AWARD FOR SAM MINISTRIES TO RENOVATE THE HUDSON, A 60 UNIT PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING PROJECT IN PRECINCT TWO.

ON MARCH 11TH OF THIS YEAR, A FIRE CAUSED BY A FAULTY AIR CONDITIONING UNIT DAMAGED 22 UNITS, SIGNIFICANTLY ALTERING THE PROPOSED SCOPE OF THE PROJECT.

AFTER DELIBERATING WITH SAM MINISTRIES IN THE BEXAR COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE, STAFF IS PROPOSING A STRATEGIC ADJUSTMENT TO THE PROJECT'S FUNDING AND RENOVATION PLAN.

BASED ON GUIDANCE FROM THE DA, WE SUGGEST SPLITTING THE AGREEMENT INTO TWO PHASES THE FIRST ADDRESSING 14 UNITS UNAFFECTED BY THE FIRE IN THE AMOUNT OF UP TO $949,996. THE SECOND PHASE WILL FOCUS ON THE FIRE DAMAGED UNITS, WHICH REQUIRES A THOROUGH ASSESSMENT AND DETAILED COST ESTIMATES FOR REPAIRS, WHICH IS A PROCESS THAT WILL TAKE ADDITIONAL TIME.

[02:05:02]

RESTORATION. TODAY, I'M JOINED BY SAM MINISTRIES CEO NAKISHA BAKER AND MEMBERS OF HER TEAM, AND WE'RE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE REGARDING THIS ITEM.

ALL RIGHT. ARE THERE ANY? LET'S OPEN THE FLOOR.

COMMISSIONER CLAY-FLORES.

HI. GOOD MORNING. THANKS FOR BEING HERE.

SO, THIS IS FUNDING WE'VE ALREADY APPROVED, CORRECT? THAT IS CORRECT. YES, MA'AM. AND SO, YOU'RE JUST WANTING TO REALLOCATE IT IN A DIFFERENT MANNER? WE'RE ASKING TO PHASE THE CONTRACT INTO TWO PARTS SO WE CAN SEPARATE THE NON-FIRE DAMAGED UNITS FROM THE FIRE DAMAGED UNITS SO WE CAN TACKLE THE LOW HANGING FRUIT FIRST.

OKAY. BUT IT'S FUNDING WE HAD ALREADY APPROVED.

THAT IS CORRECT OKAY.

SO, I'D LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION FOR APPROVAL.

MOTION BY COMMISSIONER CLAY-FLORES.

IS THERE A SECOND? SECOND.

SECOND BY COMMISSIONER MOODY.

COMMISSIONER MOODY? YEAH.

JUST A FEW QUESTIONS.

SO, THE FIRE DAMAGE, 22 UNITS AND THERE'S 14 UNITS THAT YOU PLAN TO RENOVATE.

THEN WITH THIS.

THAT IS CORRECT. THERE'S 36 UNITS IN TOTAL TO BE RENOVATED WITH ARPA FUNDS.

14 WERE NON FIRE DAMAGED AND THE REMAINDER 22 UNITS WERE DAMAGED IN THE FIRE.

OKAY. AND THE LOCATION OF THE HUDSON THE LOCATION OF THE HUDSON IS ON BLANCO ROAD.

I THINK IT'S 6014 BLANCO ROAD.

IT'S IN PRECINCT TWO, BUT IT BORDERS YOUR PRECINCT.

OKAY. BUT IT'S JUST SOUTH OF 410 RIGHT OFF BLANCO ROAD.

THAT'S CORRECT. OKAY. SO, WHAT'S THE PLAN FOR? FOR THE FIRE DAMAGED UNITS.

YEAH. SO, WITH RESPECT TO THE FIRE DAMAGED UNITS SURE WE ARE NAVIGATING WITH THE CONTRACTOR SELECTED TO DO THE RENOVATION OF THE FIRE DAMAGED UNITS AND THE INSURANCE COMPANY TO DETERMINE WHAT IS THE COST TO REHABILITATE.

SO, THE INITIAL SCOPE OF WORK WAS TO REHABILITATE THE UNIT.

WE KNOW THAT THE INSURANCE COVERAGE WILL HELP OFFSET THE COST OF THAT RESTORATION, BUT NOT NECESSARILY THE IMPROVEMENTS, WHICH INCLUDED MAKING SEVERAL OF THE UNITS MEET THE UNIVERSAL DESIGN STANDARDS SO THAT THEY ARE ADA ACCESSIBLE FOR THIS POPULATION.

SO, IT IS THE GAP BETWEEN THAT RESTORATION AND UPGRADE THAT WILL COME BACK WITHIN PHASE TWO.

OKAY. SO HOW ARE WE THINKING ABOUT THE TIMING WITH PHASE TWO AND ARPA FUNDING? BECAUSE THE WINDOW OF TIME IS CLOSING.

RIGHT. AND YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT SPLITTING THIS APART AND YOU'RE BRINGING THIS PART FORWARD FIRST.

WHAT'S YOUR TIMELINE FOR THE SECOND HALF? WILL IT BE BEFORE THE END OF THE YEAR OR ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT.

OKAY, SO RENOVATIONS ON THE UNITS NOT AFFECTED BY THE FIRE ARE PROJECTED TO BEGIN IMMEDIATELY AND ARE EXPECTED TO BE COMPLETED WITHIN FOUR MONTHS. THE UNITS THE FIRE DAMAGED UNITS ARE GOING TO TAKE ABOUT SEVEN MONTHS TO BRING ONLINE.

SO THAT I THINK IT'S ABOUT JANUARY.

NOW, WILL THOSE THAT INSURANCE MONEY I ASSUME THAT'S FUNDING THOSE REPAIRS NOW TO THE FIRE DAMAGE UNITS.

I WOULD THINK THAT THAT MAY ACTUALLY REDUCE THE COST OF THE RENOVATIONS, BECAUSE YOU'RE BRINGING IT UP TO A STANDARD AND HAVING TO REPAIR AND FIX A LOT OF THINGS, AND YOU'RE USING INSURANCE DOLLARS FOR.

WOULD THAT BE CORRECT? OKAY. HI.

RICK ROSENBLUM I'M A BOARD MEMBER AND A LAWYER WHO HAS WORKED IN THE INSURANCE INDUSTRY FOR 35 YEARS.

INSURANCE DOESN'T PAY FOR UPGRADES.

IT PAYS TO RESTORE THE PROPERTY TO WHERE IT WAS.

SO, THEY'LL ALWAYS BE A NEGOTIATION WITH THE INSURANCE COMPANY ABOUT EXACTLY HOW MUCH THEY'RE GOING TO PAY, WHICH IS A LOT OF THE TUG OF WAR THAT'S BEEN ONGOING BECAUSE THIS IS A FAIRLY EXTENSIVE AMOUNT OF DAMAGE.

SO, IT IS NOT THE CASE THAT WE'RE GOING TO BE BETTER OFF BECAUSE WE'RE GOING TO GET INSURANCE MONEY TO REPAIR OR UPGRADE THESE UNITS.

THAT REMAINS TO BE SEEN.

IN FACT, AS NIKISHA I THINK, ALLUDED TO, IS TO WHETHER WE'LL GET ENOUGH FROM THE INSURANCE COMPANY TO ACTUALLY PUT US INTO A POSITION OF WHERE WE NEED TO BE TO MAKE THESE UNITS REALLY ACCESSIBLE AND FULLY OPERATIONAL TO ACHIEVE THE PURPOSES THAT WE ORIGINALLY BOUGHT THE PROJECT TO EFFECTUATE AND TO ALLOW THESE INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE QUALIFIED FOR PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING, TO ACTUALLY USE THESE UNITS APPROPRIATELY.

I HOPE THAT ANSWERS YOUR QUESTION.

YEAH. I THINK YOU'RE YOU'RE GETTING AT THE POINT I WAS TRYING TO MAKE, BUT YOU KNOW, OBVIOUSLY THE DEVIL'S IN THE DETAILS WHEN IT COMES TO WHAT THE INSURANCE COMPANY

[02:10:09]

RIGHT? SO, YOU'RE UPGRADING TO A NEW AC SYSTEM JUST TO GET IT BACK TO THE STANDARD BEFORE.

BUT IF THAT WAS PART OF YOUR RENOVATION PLAN, THEN NOW YOU DON'T HAVE TO PAY FOR IT IN THE RENOVATION PLAN.

THAT'S KIND OF WHAT I WAS GETTING AT.

RIGHT. AND I THINK THAT'S WHAT LED TO THIS BREAKING THIS INTO PIECES SO YOU COULD HAVE SOME COMFORT THAT THE MONEY IS BEING SPENT AS ORIGINALLY INTENDED.

AND YOU KNOW THAT THAT IS EFFECTUATED APPROPRIATELY, BUT KIND OF TO PUT A LITTLE RIBBON ON THIS.

WE'VE BEEN AT THIS ASPECT OF THE PROCESS FOR SEVERAL YEARS.

AND THE MONEY IS, IS REALLY NEEDED.

WE'VE GOT TO GET THIS CASH.

WE HAVE BEEN FLOATING THIS PROJECT FOR THREE YEARS.

WE HAVE NOW INVESTED SAM MINISTRIES HAS NOW INVESTED NORTH OF A HALF $1 MILLION ITSELF, JUST TO KEEP THE PROJECT AFLOAT.

WHEN WE THOUGHT, WE WERE GOING TO HAVE MONEY.

THAT'S ARPA MONEY THREE YEARS AGO.

AND SO, WE HAVE GOT TO GET THIS MONEY TO CONTINUE, NOT JUST TO KEEP THIS PROJECT AFLOAT, BUT REALLY TO KEEP SAM MINISTRIES MOVING, HEALTHY AND A HEALTHY FINANCIAL WAY FORWARD.

SO, WE'D ASK YOU TO CONSIDER THAT AND LET US GET THIS THING MOVING.

OKAY. THANK YOU. AND OF THE CURRENT UNITS WHAT'S THE PLAN FOR THOSE UNITS? ARE THEY CURRENTLY OCCUPIED? THE ONES THAT WEREN'T FIRE DAMAGED AND OR NOTHING'S OCCUPIED.

SO, THERE ARE 36 UNITS TOTAL IMPACTED BY THE FIRE.

THE 14 NON FIRE DAMAGED UNITS ARE ALL WITHIN THE SAME BUILDING.

AND ELECTRICITY AND GASOLINE THAT FLOWS THROUGH TO THAT BUILDING HAS HAD TO BE SHUT OFF.

AND SO, IT IS ALL THE 36 UNITS ARE UNINHABITABLE.

OKAY. UNDERSTOOD.

WELL, I APPRECIATE YOU BRINGING THIS FORWARD.

I DO HAVE A COUPLE OTHER QUESTIONS WHEN IT COMES TO SOME BACKGROUND INFORMATION ON THE MONTHLY LOSSES, BUT I THINK WE CAN JUST BRING THAT INTO THE NEXT AGENDA ITEM.

OKAY, COMMISSIONER CALVERT.

NO, I'M JUST EXCITED TO VOTE TO MOVE IT FORWARD.

THANK YOU. ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? THERE'S I HAVE A QUESTION.

I'M SORRY. SO, THERE ARE PEOPLE LIVING THERE.

THERE WAS A FIRE. CORRECT. SO, WHAT HAPPENED TO THE TO THE CLIENTS.

SO, WE HAVE REHOUSED THE CLIENTS, SOME IN OTHER APARTMENT COMMUNITIES, SOME IN SHARED 2- OR 3-BEDROOM UNITS AT THE HUDSON APARTMENTS.

IT'S 60 UNITS TOTAL.

SO, 24 UNITS WERE NOT IMPACTED BY THE FIRE AT ALL.

AND SOME IN AN EMERGENCY SHELTER THAT WE ARE OPERATING IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE CITY DOWNTOWN SO THAT EVERYONE HAS BEEN REHOUSED, SO EVERYONE'S BEEN REHOUSED.

NONETHELESS, THE DELAY IN THIS HAS MADE I GUESS, A WAITING LIST FOR PEOPLE WHO NEED TO BE PUT IN.

OKAY. THANK YOU.

COMMISSIONER. COMMISSIONER RODRIGUEZ.

YEAH, JUDGE, NOT A QUESTION.

I JUST WANT TO THANK ROBERT AND YOUR TEAM FOR, YOU KNOW, KIND OF SCURRYING TO BRING THIS FORWARD.

NAKISHA, THANK YOU FOR BEING ALWAYS AN ADVOCATE, BUT ALSO TRYING TO HELP THOSE WHO NEED IT THE MOST, IN PARTICULAR, WHEN THE FIRE OCCURRED.

I KNOW THAT, AS YOU MENTIONED, IT'S IN MY PRECINCT, BUT I KNOW FOLKS COME FROM ALL OVER THE COUNTY FOR THE PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING, WHICH IS SUCH A CRITICAL NEED IN OUR COMMUNITY. SO, I JUST WANT TO THANK YOU.

I KNOW YOU'VE GOT SOME FOLKS WITH YOU HERE THAT ARE ALL PART OF THE TEAM TO.

ADDRESS THIS COMMUNITY WIDE CONCERN.

MAKING SURE PEOPLE HAVE THAT FOUNDATIONAL SUPPORT OF A ROOF OVER THEIR HEAD.

SO, WE APPRECIATE THAT, AND I LOOK FORWARD TO SUPPORTING IT.

THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT.

COULD I ASK YOU ALL TO STEP BACK? I BELIEVE, MR. FINGER, YOU'VE ALSO SIGNED UP FOR ITEM 64.

WOULD YOU PLEASE STEP FORWARD? THANK YOU, JUDGE SAKAI.

OTHER MEMBERS OF THE COMMISSIONERS COURT.

FOR THE RECORD, MY NAME IS JACK M FINGER.

ITEM 63 AND 64 ARE RELATED, SO I'LL SAVE SOME OF MY HEAVY-DUTY COMMENTS FOR 63, BUT 64.

SOMETHING THAT GIVES ME PAUSE HERE.

YOU KNOW, ADMITTEDLY, I'M JUST AN AMATEUR.

I DON'T KNOW EVERYTHING THERE IS TO KNOW ABOUT THE WAYS AND WHEREFORES OF GOVERNMENTAL OPERATIONS HERE, BUT WHEN I SEE THE STATEMENT THAT SAYS, QUOTE, TO PROVIDE CORONAVIRUS STATE AND LOCAL FISCAL RECOVERY FUNDS.

FOR THE 14 UNITS UNAFFECTED.

THAT GIVES ME PAUSE.

I'M JUST WONDERING WHY THIS ISN'T A MISAPPROPRIATION OF FUNDS.

WHEN I THINK OF CORONAVIRUS FUNDS, I THINK OF PEOPLE AFFECTED BY THE CORONAVIRUS PLAGUE THAT WE HAD A FEW YEARS AGO.

[02:15:01]

IT'S COMPLETELY DIFFERENT HERE.

NO. I THINK YOU MAYBE ALL WANT TO HOLD OFF ON THIS AND GET SOME LEGAL REASSURANCE BEFORE YOU PASS THIS, YOU KNOW.

ALSO, THE VERY FACT THAT AND THE SAND MINISTRIES, UNFORTUNATELY, IS, IS NO STRANGER TO IT'S THE BLACK EYE THAT IT HAS.

AS I RECALL, 20 YEARS AGO, IT INSISTED ON PLACING THE HOMELESS IN THIS CURRENT LOCATION RIGHT AT THE POSH CASTLE HILLS AREA.

QUITE INSENSITIVE TO ALL THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE THERE, BUT THEY PREVAILED AT THE TIME WITH THE CITY COUNCIL, SO.

YEAH, I WOULD ASK YOU TO JUST HOLD OFF AND BEFORE YOU MAKE SURE WHAT YOU'RE DOING IS LEGAL, BEFORE YOU GO AHEAD WITH IT.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MR. FINGER. LET ME GO AHEAD AND CLOSE.

I WANT TO KIND OF SUMMARIZE ROBERT SHOULD COME BACK AND EVERYBODY COME BACK TO THE PODIUM.

AS I HEARD IN NOVEMBER 2023, COMMISSIONERS COURT ALLOCATED THE ARPA FUNDS AND AUTHORIZED NEGOTIATIONS FOR THE REHABILITATION OF UNITS AT THE SAND MINISTRIES HUDSON APARTMENTS, A PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING PROJECT.

IN MARCH OF 2024, AN ACCIDENTAL FIRE AT THE HUDSON APARTMENTS TOOK SEVERAL UNITS OFFLINE.

THIS RESULTED IN NEED FOR AN UPDATED CONSTRUCTION.

ESTIMATES ON THE DAMAGED UNITS THAT WERE INCLUDED IN INITIAL SCOPE OF WORK.

TODAY'S ITEM GIVES COUNTY STAFF THE AUTHORITY TO NEGOTIATE A CONTRACT FOR THE REHABILITATION OF THE UNDAMAGED UNITS WITHIN THE BUDGET PREVIOUSLY APPROVED BY COMMISSIONERS COURT LATER, ONCE SAM MINISTRIES FULLY ASSESSES THE DAMAGE AND IDENTIFIES WHAT INSURANCE WILL COVER, WE CAN NEGOTIATE THE OTHER HALF OF THE AGREEMENT FOR THE UNITS THAT HAVE BEEN DAMAGED.

IS THAT A CORRECT SUMMARY OF WHAT I HEARD THIS MORNING? THAT'S CORRECT. SUMMARY. JUDGE.

ALL RIGHT. IS THERE ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? WE'LL CALL FOR A VOTE.

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

AYE. ANY OPPOSED? ANY ABSTENTIONS? MOTION CARRIES.

ALL RIGHT. LET'S GO RIGHT TO ITEM 63, THE COMPANION DISC.

[63. Discussion and appropriate action directing staff to identify funding and negotiate an agreement with San Antonio Metropolitan Ministries (dba SAMMinistries) in the amount of $300,000 for support of its efforts in providing social services and housing for unhoused individuals in Bexar County.]

APPROPRIATE ACTION DIRECTING STAFF TO IDENTIFY FUNDING, NEGOTIATE AN AGREEMENT WITH SAN ANTONIO METROPOLITAN MINISTRY, THE SAM MINISTRIES, IN THE AMOUNT OF 300,000 FOR SUPPORT OF ITS EFFORTS IN PROVIDING SOCIAL SERVICES AND HOUSING FOR UNHOUSED INDIVIDUALS IN BEXAR COUNTY.

MR. REYNA. SO, JUDGE, AS WE NAVIGATE THE COMPLEXITIES AT THE HUDSON YOU'VE PROPOSED AN ADDITIONAL ALLOCATION OF $300,000 IN GENERAL FUNDS FOR SAM MINISTRIES, THIS FUNDING IS CRITICAL TO ENHANCE THEIR EFFORTS IN PROVIDING SOCIAL SERVICES AND HOUSING FOR PEOPLE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS IN BEXAR COUNTY.

THIS PROPOSAL DIRECTLY RESPONDS TO THE URGENT COMMUNITY NEEDS OF HOMELESSNESS AND HOUSING ACCESSIBILITY, WHICH EMERGED AS TOP CONCERNS DURING YOUR TOWN HALL MEETINGS.

AGAIN, THE PROPOSED FUNDING WILL SIGNIFICANTLY ENHANCE SAM MINISTRY'S ABILITY TO PROVIDE COMPREHENSIVE SERVICES AND ENSURE OPERATIONAL STABILITY AMIDST RECENT CHALLENGES.

SO AGAIN, WE'RE PREPARED TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU HAVE REGARDING THIS PROPOSAL.

ALL RIGHT, COMMISSIONER CALVERT, ANY QUESTIONS? COMMISSIONER MOODY? YEAH, THIS JUST GETS AT THE QUESTION I WAS GOING TO BRING UP ABOUT THE MONTHLY LOSSES THAT YOU HAD INCLUDED IN THE BACKGROUND INFORMATION.

CAN YOU SPEAK TO THOSE A LITTLE BIT? AND YOU KNOW WHAT THE $300,000 IS BEING REQUESTED FOR? SURE. HAPPY TO SPEAK TO MONTHLY LOSSES.

SO, THIS PROJECT WAS ONE OF SEVERAL THAT WAS AWARDED FUNDING THROUGH THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO'S HOUSING BOND, TO WHICH BEXAR COUNTY COMMISSIONERS COURT ADDED RESOURCES TO EXPAND THAT POT FOR PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING.

THOSE AWARD ANNOUNCEMENTS WERE MADE IN APRIL OF 2023, AND AS A RESULT, SAM MINISTRIES HAS AS UNITS HAVE TURNED OVER IN A IN THE APARTMENT COMMUNITY.

WE HAD COMMUNITY TENANTS.

IT WAS NOT ALL RESIDENTS OF SAN MINISTRIES HOUSING PROGRAMS. WE HAVE TURNED OVER THOSE UNITS TO BEGIN THAT RENOVATION OR REHABILITATION THAT WAS PROPOSED IN THE SCOPE OF WORK FOR 36 UNITS.

AT THE TIME OF THE FIRE, 12 UNITS WERE OFFLINE, CAUSING A VACANCY LOSS OF JUST ABOUT $35,000 A MONTH.

FOR THE PROJECT, THAT VACANCY LOSS HAS CONTINUED EVEN AFTER THE COMMISSIONER'S COURT ALLOCATION.

AND WHILE WE ARE PENDING A CONTRACT TO BEGIN THAT RENOVATION.

IN ADDITION, WE ARE PAYING PROPERTY TAXES TO THE TUNE OF $125,000 ANNUALLY WHILE WE WAIT A PROPERTY TAX ABATEMENT FROM THE TAX COLLECTOR'S OFFICE AND A $55,000 ANNUAL INSURANCE PREMIUM TO INSURE THE PROPERTY.

AND SO, WE HAVE CONSIDERABLE OUTLAY OF RESOURCES AGAINST THIS PROJECT.

AND THE GOAL IS THAT IT WILL BE SELF-SUSTAINING.

SO, WE HAVE SECURED $720,000 IN OPERATIONAL FUNDING FROM HUD, WHICH WILL COVER THE RENT FOR TENANTS IN PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING ON AN ONGOING

[02:20:02]

UNFORTUNATELY, BECAUSE WE HAVE SUCH A SIGNIFICANT VACANCY LOSS, WE'RE UNABLE TO TAP INTO THOSE RESOURCES.

CAN YOU JUST ELABORATE ON YOUR LAST COMMENT THERE THAT YOU'RE UNABLE BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE 36 UNITS AVAILABLE, WE'RE NOT ABLE TO PLACE TENANTS IN THOSE UNITS AND BE ABLE TO DRAW DOWN ON THOSE RESOURCES, ON THOSE RENT RESOURCES.

OKAY. SO, YOU MENTIONED 12 UNITS WERE VACANT, BUT IT WAS $35,000 A MONTH IN.

[INAUDIBLE] 12 UNITS WERE VACANT AT THE TIME OF THE FIRE.

12 UNITS WERE VACANT.

THE RENTAL LOSS IS NOT JUST RELATIVE TO THE VACANCY.

THERE IS CONTINUED MAINTENANCE AND ONGOING UPKEEP TO KEEP THE UNITS ONLINE.

IT'S A 1960-YEAR-OLD PROPERTY, WHICH IS THE REASON THAT WE REQUESTED FUNDING TO RENOVATE AND REHABILITATE GENERALLY.

SO, THERE IS A MONTHLY OPERATIONAL COST FOR THE PROJECT OF ABOUT $65,000.

OKAY. SO, IT'S NOT JUST ABOUT VACANCIES.

IT'S ABOUT NO, IT'S OTHER ISSUES THAT YOU HAVE GOING ON WITH THE PROJECT.

WHAT ABOUT INSURANCE? SO, EVERYTHING THAT WAS IMPACTED BY THE FIRE, INCLUDING LOST RENTAL INCOME, IS THAT NOT COVERED BY INSURANCE ON THE BUILDING? SO AGAIN, NONE OF THAT HAS BEEN FINALIZED YET.

WE DO NOT HAVE A FULL PAYOUT FROM INSURANCE.

WE DON'T EVEN HAVE A FULL SCOPE OF WORK.

AND THAT'S A PART OF THE CHALLENGE.

THINGS LIKE THE PROPERTY TAXES AND OUR INSURANCE PREMIUM WILL ABSOLUTELY NOT BE COVERED BY THE THE LOST INCOME THAT MAY BE MADE AVAILABLE TO US FROM THE INSURANCE SETTLEMENT.

BUT AGAIN, WE'RE STILL 50 DAYS OUT FROM THE FIRE AND, AND ALL OF THAT IS KIND OF A TUG OF WAR WITH INSURANCE.

WE DON'T HAVE ANYTHING CERTAIN, BUT IT CONTINUES TO IMPACT OUR ORGANIZATION'S CASH FLOWS AND ABILITY TO SERVE THE COMMUNITY.

BUT DO YOU KNOW WHETHER RENTAL INCOME LOSS WILL BE COVERED UNDER THE INSURANCE POLICY? WE DO BELIEVE IT WILL BE COVERED, YES.

GOOD. FROM THE DATE OF THE FIRE, I ALSO WANT TO POINT OUT WHAT WAS THE DATE OF THE FIRE? MARCH 11TH.

OKAY. AND THE 12 VACANCIES THAT YOU TALKED ABOUT THAT STARTED IT DATES BACK TO MAY OR JUNE OF 2023.

I'D HAVE TO BE CERTAIN.

I'D HAVE TO GO BACK AND LOOK CERTAINLY TO TO FIND OUT THE EXACT DATE.

OKAY. WELL, I APPRECIATE, YOU KNOW, THE ADDITIONAL DETAIL.

YOU KNOW, I THINK ALL OF THIS IS IMPORTANT WHEN, YOU KNOW, WE'RE ASKING FOR ADDITIONAL INJECTS OF COUNTY DOLLARS, PUBLIC DOLLARS.

YOU KNOW, AND I UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU ALL ARE TRYING TO DO.

OBVIOUSLY, I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO UNDERSTAND EXACTLY WHAT'S GOING TO BE COVERED BY INSURANCE AND HOW MUCH OF THAT WILL BE ABLE TO MAKE UP THAT GAP? BECAUSE ULTIMATELY, YOU KNOW, ASKING TO FILL A GAP THAT ULTIMATELY WOULD BE COVERED BY INSURANCE THEN THEN IT WOULD KIND OF BE COVERED TWICE.

BUT SINCE WE DON'T KNOW DEFINITIVELY WHAT THAT CLAIM IS GOING TO PRODUCE TODAY, THEN THAT JUST MAKES IT A LITTLE UNCERTAIN FOR, FOR US AS DECISION MAKERS.

BUT APPRECIATE YOUR ANSWERS.

AND, YOU KNOW, ALL THE WORK THAT YOU DO FOR OUR COMMUNITY.

THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER RODRIGUEZ.

MOTION TO APPROVE. JUDGE.

SECOND MOTION BY COMMISSIONER RODRIGUEZ.

SECOND BY COMMISSIONER CALVERT.

COMMISSIONER RODRIGUEZ, ANY FURTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? COMMISSIONER CLAY-FLORES. YEAH, JUST A QUESTION ON WHAT YOU SAID.

NAKISHA WHY ARE YOU GUYS PAYING TAXES? SO, WE HAVE TO APPLY FOR AN ABATEMENT BECAUSE WE ACQUIRED THE PROPERTY IN 2021.

AND SO, WE GO THROUGH THE NORMAL PROCESS OF, OF APPLYING FOR A PROPERTY TAX ABATEMENT THAT HAS NOT YET BEEN GRANTED TO US.

SO, IN THE INTERIM.

SO, THREE YEARS.

YES. OKAY.

SO, WHEN YOU GUYS GET APPROVED, RIGHT, BECAUSE YOU'RE A LEGITIMATE NONPROFIT, CORRECT? CORRECT. ARE THEY GOING TO REIMBURSE THAT IN THEORY? BUT I CANNOT SPEAK TO WHAT WILL ACTUALLY BE THE CASE.

SO, HAVE Y'ALL LOOKED INTO DOES IT NORMALLY TAKE SO LONG? WHAT WE HAVE HEARD, WHAT WE HAVE HEARD FROM THE TAX COLLECTOR'S OFFICE IS THAT IT IS SLOW GOING RIGHT NOW.

THAT'S ESSENTIALLY WHAT, YOU KNOW, SOMETIMES ALBERT'S HERE, BUT HE'S NOT HERE TODAY.

BUT WHERE IS HE SO THAT WE CAN ASK HIM.

OKAY. THAT'S I WAS JUST SURPRISED TO HEAR THAT YOU GUYS ARE PAYING TAXES, SO.

OKAY. YES.

NAKISHA, MAYBE THIS IS JUST FOR WAY OF CLARITY.

NONPROFITS STILL HAVE TO PAY PROPERTY TAXES.

IT'S NOT. THEY'RE NOT FORGIVEN FOR THAT.

CORRECT. WE SHOULD BE ELIGIBLE FOR A PORTION OF EXEMPTION BASED ON THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING UNITS THAT ARE AVAILABLE IN THE PROPERTY, AND THAT'S WHAT WE HAVE APPLIED

[02:25:05]

BUT IT HAS NOT, IT HAS NOT YET HAPPENED.

YEAH. YEAH.

I JUST I JUST WANT TO CLARIFY THAT THERE MAY BE A MISNOMER THAT BECAUSE YOU'RE A NONPROFIT, YOU DON'T HAVE TO PAY PROPERTY TAXES, BUT GENERALLY YOU ALL ARE RIGHT.

WE DO NOT EXPECT THAT THERE WILL BE ZERO PROPERTY TAX LIABILITY, BUT WE DO NOT EXPECT THAT THERE WILL BE $125,000 ANNUAL PROPERTY TAX LIABILITY.

THANK YOU FOR THE CLARITY. ALL RIGHT.

COULD I ASK YOU ALL TO STEP BACK, MR. FINGER? COME ON BACK.

I THINK YOU'VE ASKED TO SPEAK ON AN ITEM NUMBER 63.

THANK YOU. JUDGE.

ALL THE MEMBERS OF THE COURT.

MY NAME IS JACK M FINGER ONCE AGAIN, AND I WANT TO ALERT YOU TO THE FACT THAT, YOU KNOW, THE HOMELESS SITUATION AT ONE-POINT YEARS AGO WAS NOT THAT BIG OF A DEAL.

PEOPLE KNEW IT EXISTED.

IT EXISTED FOR GENERATIONS, BUT IT WAS SOMETHING THAT WAS FAIRLY WELL UNDER CONTROL AND HANDLED APPROPRIATELY.

BUT A COUPLE OF THINGS HAVE BROUGHT IT INTO FOCUS IN RECENT YEARS.

NUMBER ONE, THE FACT THAT THE CURRENT PRESIDENTIAL ADMINISTRATION KEEPS BRINGING IN ILLEGAL ALIENS TO THIS BIG PLACE CALLED THE IMMIGRANT CENTER OVER ON SAN PEDRO.

IT'S IN FULL FOCUS TO PEOPLE WHO PASS BY THERE.

THEY SEE WHAT'S HAPPENING THERE.

AND THEY, ALSO THE ECONOMY HAS BEEN STARTING TO TANK QUITE A BIT, AND PEOPLE ARE FINDING IT HARD TO KEEP A ROOF OVER THEIR OWN HEADS.

SO, THEY PUT TWO AND TWO TOGETHER AND THEY START WONDERING, WHY ARE WE PROVIDING ESSENTIALLY HOTELS FOR THE HOMELESS WHEN WHO DO NOT PAY PROPERTY TAXES AND SO ON AND SO FORTH? I GUESS THE AND THEN WHEN THEY WHEN THEY SEE QUESTIONS LIKE THAT, IT ALSO LEADS TO OTHER QUESTIONS, ESPECIALLY WHEN CERTAIN BENEFITS ARE GOING TO BE OFFERED TO THEM, BUT WITH THE SAM MINISTRIES AND I LOOK AT THIS THIS THIS ITEM HERE AND I, IT LEADS TO A FEW UNANSWERED QUESTIONS AS WELL.

THE PEOPLE WHO ARE GOING TO BE MINISTERED TO BY SAM MINISTRIES WITH OUR TAX DOLLARS HERE THAT YOU'RE OFFERING.

ARE THEY GOING TO BE VETTED TO FIND OUT? ARE THEY WELL, ARE THEY ARE THERE ANY CRIMINAL ARREST WARRANTS FOR THESE PEOPLE? DO THEY ACTUALLY EVER AUTOMATICALLY DO THAT? ARE THERE FOR THE SAFETY OF THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE IN THAT AREA? THESE ARE PEOPLE WHO HAVE TO LIVE THERE.

WITH THIS GOING ON, ARE THESE PEOPLE GOING TO BE VETTED FOR THEIR DRUG ABUSE? ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS GOING TO BE ASKED FOR SUCH? HERE'S ONE FOR YOU.

ARE THEY GOING TO BE EVEN VETTED TO SEE IF THEY'RE EVEN AMERICAN CITIZENS? YEAH. I MEAN, PEOPLE LIKE ME, WE REALLY DON'T LIKE OUR MONEY GOING TO PEOPLE WHO, YES, NEED HELP BUT ARE NOT EVEN CITIZENS IN OUR COUNTRY.

BUT WE BUT WE, WE SEE THESE ABUSES AND WE DON'T LIKE IT.

AND WE ASK YOU THAT YOU SOMEBODY, SOMEBODY, PLEASE START ASKING A FEW DECENT QUESTIONS ABOUT THIS STUFF.

OTHERWISE, WE SEE SOME IRRESPONSIBLE ACTIVITIES GOING ON HERE, AND WE START SCRATCHING OUR HEADS.

WHO DO WE VOTE FOR IN NOVEMBER? THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MR. FINGER. ANY FURTHER COMMENTS? I HAVE A COMMENT.

ALBERTO ROSSI TEXTED ME.

SO, HE JUST WANTED TO CLARIFY.

Y'ALL CAN COME BACK FOR IT.

SO, ALBERTO JUST WANTED TO CLARIFY THAT IT'S NOT THE TAX ASSESSOR'S OFFICE, IT'S THE APPRAISAL DISTRICT.

SO JUST FOR THE RECORD, EVERYONE, MY APOLOGIES FOR THE CONFUSION.

NO, I'M THE ONE WHO SAID IT JOKINGLY, BUT HE TEXTED ME, SO NOT YOU.

SO, JUDGE COMMISSIONER, I WOULD LIKE LAKISHA TO PLEASE CLARIFY SOME OF THE THINGS THAT WERE JUST ASKED THAT YOU DO A SCREENING PROCESS FOR THOSE WHO ARE IN YOUR FACILITIES.

SURE. SO PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING REQUIRES THAT INDIVIDUALS OR FAMILIES MEET THE CRITERIA OF CHRONIC HOMELESSNESS, WHICH MEANS THEY HAVE EXPERIENCED HOMELESSNESS FOR ONE YEAR OR FOR PERIODS OVER THREE YEARS.

SO, THEY HAVE A LONG HISTORY OF HOMELESSNESS THAT'S DOCUMENTED IN OUR COMMUNITY.

IT COULD BE STREET OUTREACH WORKERS FROM SAM MINISTRIES OR THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO, OR THE NEW PILOT IN LEON VALLEY.

THOSE STREET OUTREACH WORKERS DOCUMENT THE CHRONICITY OF HOMELESSNESS.

THEY ALSO MEET THE CRITERIA OF HAVING A DISABLING PHYSICAL OR MENTAL HEALTH CONDITION.

AND SO THAT IS CERTIFIED BY A PHYSICIAN THAT THEY HAVE A DISABLING PHYSICAL OR MENTAL HEALTH CONDITION THAT ACCOMPANIES THEIR EXPERIENCE OF HOMELESSNESS.

[02:30:02]

DOES THIS MEAN THAT THE PROJECT WILL SERVE INDIVIDUALS WHO MAY HAVE A HISTORY OF SUBSTANCE ABUSE? IT ABSOLUTELY DOES.

THE IDEA IS THAT THE PROJECT SERVES THOSE INDIVIDUALS IN SUCH A WAY THAT THEY ARE CONNECTED TO SUBSTANCE USE TREATMENT, AND THEN THEY ARE ABLE TO MAINTAIN HOUSING STABILITY FOR THE LONG TERM.

THE SAME THING IS TRUE FOR INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE A HISTORY OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE INVOLVEMENT.

THEY ARE NOT PRECLUDED FROM LIVING AT THE HUDSON APARTMENTS SIMPLY BECAUSE OF THEIR CRIMINAL BACKGROUND.

BECAUSE THAT IS SHOULDN'T BE A DISQUALIFYING FACTOR FOR BEING ABLE TO HAVE A ROOF OVER YOUR HEAD.

NOW, THERE'S SOME EVIDENCE THAT INDICATES THAT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING STABILIZATION IMPROVES THE ABILITY OF SOMEONE TO RECOVER FROM SUBSTANCE USE. COULD YOU TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHAT THOSE STATISTICS LOOK LIKE? ABSOLUTELY. SO SAM MINISTRIES HAS MAINTAINED IN OUR COMMUNITY A 97% HOUSING STABILITY RATE FOR CLIENTS ENROLLED IN PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING.

WE KNOW THAT PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING, WHICH INCLUDES THE HOUSING AND THE SUPPORTIVE SERVICES THAT ENSURE INDIVIDUALS ARE CONNECTED TO MENTAL HEALTH AND PHYSICAL HEALTH CARE ACCESS AND SO ON AND SO FORTH.

REDUCE INVOLVEMENT WITH CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEMS, REDUCE INVOLVEMENT WITH THE HOSPITAL SYSTEM, AND ULTIMATELY SAVES TAXPAYERS DOLLARS.

IT IS PROVEN IT IS AN EVIDENCE BASED SUBJECT THAT PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING IS MORE EFFECTIVE THAN EMERGENCY SHELTER OR ANY OTHER HOUSING TYPE ON THE SPECTRUM, SIMPLY BECAUSE OF THE COST THAT IT SAVES ON ALL OF THE OVERLAPPING SYSTEMS THAT INDIVIDUALS WHO TYPICALLY CYCLE FROM JAIL TO HOSPITAL TO HOMELESS SHELTERS TYPICALLY TAKE UP IN OUR COMMUNITY.

AND WHAT IS YOUR POLICY WITH RESPECT TO LEGAL STATUS? SO SAME, SAME MINISTRIES RECEIVE MOST RECEIVES MOST OF ITS FUNDING FROM THE UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT FOR PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING AND OTHER PROGRAMS. WE ARE MINDFUL OF THE CONCERN AROUND MIGRANTS COMING INTO OUR COMMUNITY.

AND WHAT I CAN TELL YOU IS THAT THOSE ARE NOT THE CLIENTS THAT WE'RE SERVING IN PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING.

MOST OF THE FOLKS HAVE BEEN IN AND AROUND SAN ANTONIO AND BEXAR COUNTY FOR THEIR ENTIRE LIVES, IF NOT 20 PLUS YEARS.

DO WE CHECK STATUS OF OUR CLIENTS? WE DO MAKE SURE THAT OUR CLIENTS HAVE DRIVER'S LICENSE, SOCIAL SECURITY CARD, ALL OF THOSE THINGS.

SO ANYONE THAT IS SERVED IN OUR PROGRAMS IS NOT AN ILLEGAL IMMIGRANT, AS HAS BEEN IMPLIED, BUT RATHER IS A POTENTIALLY A MIGRANT MOVING INTO THIS COMMUNITY SEEKING ASYLUM.

BUT MORE LIKELY THAN NOT, THEY ARE A RESIDENT OF SAN ANTONIO OR BEXAR COUNTY.

THANK YOU. JUDGE. ALL RIGHT.

LET ME PUT ON THE RECORD THAT I CALLED FOR THIS PARTICULAR ITEM TO COME FORWARD.

I THINK SAM MINISTRIES HAS EXPLAINED WHAT THE CIRCUMSTANCES ARE.

LET ME ALSO PUT ON THE RECORD THAT SAM MINISTRIES IS A KEY PARTNER TO THE CITY, THE COUNTY AND OUR HUD DESIGNATED CONTINUUM CARE ORGANIZATION.

CLOSER TO HOME, THE COUNTY IS PARTNERING WITH SAM MINISTRIES ON SEVERAL KEY INITIATIVES, INCLUDING PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING TO HELP HOUSE SOME OF THE MOST VULNERABLE IN OUR COMMUNITY.

SAM MINISTRIES, OBVIOUSLY WAS IMPACTED BY THE ACCIDENTAL FIRE AT THE HUDSON APARTMENT, WHICH PUT SEVERAL PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING UNITS OFFLINE AND IMPACTED THEIR REVENUES FROM HUD REIMBURSEMENTS.

IT IS IMPORTANT THAT WE STEP UP AND SUPPORT SAM MINISTRIES PROVISION OF DIRECT SERVICES, AS WITH.

ANY COUNTY CONTRACT.

LET ME JUST LET YOU KNOW THE KEISHA THAT SAM MINISTRIES WILL NEED TO PROVIDE APPROPRIATE DOCUMENTATION FOR THE SERVICES TO RECEIVE THIS FUNDING FROM THE COUNTY.

SO PLEASE KEEP YOUR BOOKS IN ORDER.

I BELIEVE WE HAD A MOTION BY COMMISSIONER RODRIGUEZ, THE SECOND BY COMMISSIONER CALVERT.

ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE.

AYE. ANY OPPOSED? ANY ABSTENTIONS? ONE ABSTENTION.

MOTION CARRIES.

GET THAT THING FIXED.

HAVE A GOOD DAY. GO AHEAD.

COMMISSIONER. AND JUST FOR THE RECORD, ON ON MY ABSTENTION, I JUST WANTED TO TO COMMENT THAT THE PROCESS THAT I OUTLINED I JUST THINK, YOU KNOW, IT'S IT'S IMPORTANT IF YOU COULD GET TO THE INSURANCE PAYOUT FIRST BEFORE COMING TO US, I THINK IT WOULD GIVE US A LITTLE MORE CLARITY IN TERMS OF WHAT THE GAP IS THAT WE CAN FILL, BUT THAT'S THE REASON FOR MY ABSTENTION.

I JUST WANTED TO NOTE THAT FOR THE RECORD.

THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT.

THANK YOU.

ALL RIGHT, I BELIEVE WE. NOW WE'LL GO TO ITEM NUMBER 65.

[65. Discussion and appropriate action regarding direction to staff to negotiate an appropriate agreement with 50CAN, an IRS 501(c)(3) exempt organization, for a $150,000 grant to offset costs related to a learning and literacy program to be sponsored by Summer Boost, a national summer learning program for children to be implemented in certain charter schools within Bexar County.]

CAN AN IRS 51C3 EXEMPT ORGANIZATION $450,000 GRANT TO OFFSET COSTS RELATING TO A LEARNING AND LITERACY PROGRAM TO BE SPONSORED BY SUMMER BOOST, A NATIONAL SUMMER LEARNING PROGRAM FOR CHILDREN TO BE IMPLEMENTED IN CERTAIN CHARTER SCHOOLS WITHIN BEXAR COUNTY.

[02:35:05]

IT IS JUDGE. AND I APPRECIATE WE HAVE OUR, OUR FRIENDS HERE TO KIND OF TALK THROUGH THIS, BUT TO ME THIS WAS BROUGHT TO YOU BY MY OFFICE, AND I SEE THIS AS A HUGE OPPORTUNITY TO LEVERAGE NATIONAL PHILANTHROPY AND INVESTMENT IN EDUCATION DOLLARS TO PROVIDE FOR, YOU KNOW, OUR, OUR CHILDREN HERE IN OUR COMMUNITY, PROVIDE THEM SUMMER EDUCATION, TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES AND LITERALLY LEVERAGE, YOU KNOW, COUNTY DOLLARS AT A 30 X 50 X 100 X IN TERMS OF WHAT THOSE DOLLARS WILL BRING IN AND MAKE SURE THAT THAT WE'RE INVESTED IN THIS PROJECT AND THIS PROGRAM.

AND SO I'M GOING TO LET THE EXPERTS SPEAK TO IT.

BUT THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.

AND THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THIS TO OUR ATTENTION.

THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER COMMISSIONERS AND JUDGE MY NAME IS DAN FISHMAN.

I AM A COMMUNITY PARTNER AT CHOOSE TO SUCCEED OF THE SUMMER BOOST PROGRAM.

I APPRECIATE YOU LETTING ME TELL YOU A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THAT PROGRAM TODAY.

YOU COULD GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE.

WE WERE VERY PLEASED TO LEARN ABOUT SUMMER BOOST LAST YEAR.

OUR FRIENDS AT BLOOMBERG PHILANTHROPY BROUGHT THIS PROGRAM TO OUR ATTENTION.

IT STARTED IN INDIANAPOLIS AND CAME OUT OF THE PRETTY PROFOUND COVID LEARNING LOSS THAT THEY EXPERIENCED THERE, JUST AS WE EXPERIENCED HERE IN BEXAR COUNTY.

AND IT WAS A PROGRAM THAT WAS EXTREMELY EFFECTIVE AT CLOSING SOME OF THE ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT GAPS THAT STUDENTS IN INDIANAPOLIS HAD EXPERIENCED.

SO THIS WAS A PROGRAM THAT WAS REPLICATED LAST SUMMER IN NINE DIFFERENT CITIES.

SAN ANTONIO WAS ONE OF THEM.

THIS YEAR IT WILL BE REPLICATED IN SEVEN.

WE'RE VERY PLEASED THAT SAN ANTONIO IS AGAIN ONE OF THE CITIES.

BEXAR IS ONE OF THE COUNTIES AND WE HAVE BEEN APPROVED TO SERVE UP TO ALMOST 10,000 STUDENTS, WHICH NEARLY DOUBLES THE PROGRAM FROM LAST YEAR.

THE PROGRAM IS ROOTED IN PROVIDING HIGH QUALITY ENGLISH LANGUAGE ARTS AND MATH CURRICULUM AND EXPERIENCES FOR THOSE STUDENTS.

IT ALSO PROVIDES EXTENSIVE ENRICHMENT SO STUDENTS WILL SPEND TIME IN NATURE.

THEY'LL EXERCISE, THEY'LL GO TO CULTURAL INSTITUTIONS AROUND THE COUNTY, THEY'LL RECEIVE MEALS.

THEY'RE ALLOWED TO EXPEND MONEY ON TRANSPORTATION.

SO IT'S A PROGRAM THAT'S INTENDED TO TAKE THE HIGHEST NEED.

STUDENTS WHO HAVE THE GREATEST LEARNING GAPS AND ARE MOST AT RISK OVER THE SUMMER, AND MAKE SURE THEY HAVE A SAFE PLACE TO STAY, WHERE THEY'LL BE CLOSING SOME OF THE LEARNING GAPS THAT HAVE REALLY IMPACTED THEM.

IT'S INTENDED TO SERVE FIRST THROUGH NINTH GRADERS, AND IT PROVIDES VERY GENEROUS FUNDING.

SO DEPENDING ON THE NUMBER OF DAYS AND THE DURATION OF A DAY, SCHOOLS CAN RECEIVE UP TO $2,000 PER STUDENT, AND THEY HAVE A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF DISCRETION OVER HOW THEY USE THAT FUNDING.

AS COMMISSIONER MOODY MENTIONED, WE'RE VERY PLEASED THAT NATIONAL FUNDERS ARE LIKELY TO PROVIDE UP TO ABOUT 14 MILLION OF THE 15 MILLION WE EXPECT WILL BE REQUIRED TO RUN THE PROGRAM THIS SUMMER.

I'D NOTE EVERY SINGLE SCHOOL THAT PARTICIPATED LAST YEAR IS PARTICIPATING AGAIN, AND THIS IS EXTREMELY POPULAR WITH WITH FAMILIES.

WE CAN GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE.

THANK YOU. SO THIS YEAR, WE'RE DELIGHTED THAT THE PROGRAM HAS EXPANDED GREATLY.

WE'RE GOING TO BE WORKING WITH 27 DIFFERENT ORGANIZATIONS ACROSS 94 DIFFERENT SITES.

THAT INCLUDES A MIX OF TRADITIONAL CHARTER SCHOOLS, 1882 ISD PARTNERS AND DISTRICT SCHOOLS THAT HAVE SOME SORT OF CHARTER STATUS. SO IT'S A REAL MIX OF FOLKS FROM ALL OVER THE COMMUNITY.

AND AS I MENTIONED, IF THOSE SCHOOLS SERVE THE STUDENTS THAT THEY'VE BEEN AUTHORIZED TO TO SERVE, THAT WILL BE ABOUT 10,000 KIDS THROUGHOUT OUR COUNTY.

95% OF THOSE STUDENTS LAST YEAR WERE STUDENTS OF COLOR.

WE ANTICIPATE THAT WILL LOOK SIMILAR THIS YEAR.

AND JUST AS I MENTIONED BEFORE, IT'S IT'S A VERY EXTENSIVE FULL DAY PROGRAM IN MOST CASES.

IF WE CAN GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE, I'D UNDERSCORE AGAIN, A TREMENDOUS NUMBER OF COMMUNITY PARTNERS THAT RUN THE GAMUT FROM INSTITUTIONS LIKE PROMESA TO BURBANK HIGH TO DEMOCRACY PREP.

SO IT'S A REAL VARIETY OF SCHOOL TYPES.

AND IF WE CAN GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE, YOU'LL SEE IT SERVES STUDENTS THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY.

IT'S NOT PERFECT COVERAGE BY ANY MEANS.

WE CAN ALWAYS IMPROVE WHO AND HOW WE'RE SERVING STUDENTS, BUT IT DOES PROVIDE A WIDE GEOGRAPHIC DISBURSEMENT.

SO STUDENTS FROM ALL OVER THE COUNTY ARE ABLE TO ACCESS THIS.

THAT'S A BIT ABOUT THE PROGRAM.

I WOULD BE VERY HAPPY TO TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS THAT YOU ALL HAVE.

MR. MOODY. WELL, JUDGE, I'LL JUST REITERATE THE THE POINT, YOU KNOW, SEEING THE MAP THERE.

THIS THIS ISN'T A PRECINCT THREE PLAY.

THIS IS A BEXAR COUNTY PLAY FOR FOR OUR CHILDREN, FOR THE MOST VULNERABLE.

THOSE WHO NEED THESE OPPORTUNITIES TO ENSURE THAT THEY DON'T FALL BEHIND.

[02:40:01]

BUT MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT, YOU KNOW, TO ENSURE THAT THESE NATIONAL INVESTMENTS STAY IN SAN ANTONIO THERE'S A DESIRE TO SEE SKIN IN THE GAME, A DESIRE TO SEE A PARTNERSHIP, EVEN IN A VERY SMALL WAY.

AND I THINK THAT'S WHAT THIS IS, TO MAKE SURE THAT WE CONTINUE TO GET THOSE INVESTMENTS ON THE NATIONAL LEVEL FOR OUR KIDS.

AND, YOU KNOW, I JUST SEE IT AS A TREMENDOUS ROI FOR FOR OUR SCHOOL CHILDREN AND FOR OUR PARENTS GOING INTO THE SUMMERTIME AND MAKING SURE THAT WE DON'T LET THOSE KIDS FALL BEHIND. THANK YOU.

COMMISSIONER. COMMISSIONER RODRIGUEZ.

THANK YOU. JUDGE.

THANKS FOR THE INFORMATION.

LET ME ASK ABOUT, I GUESS, THE HOW YOU SEE, I GUESS THE ROLLOUT BEYOND YEAR ONE, BECAUSE THIS WOULD BE IF IT IF IT MOVES FORWARD, A ONE YEAR COMMITMENT FROM THE COUNTY.

SO WHAT IS THE PLAN FOR SUSTAINABILITY FROM YOUR PERSPECTIVE BEYOND YEAR ONE? THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION, COMMISSIONER RODRIGUEZ.

SO THIS IS ACTUALLY THE SECOND YEAR OF SUMMER BOOST.

THERE THERE IS DEFINITELY A NEED TO WORK WITH OUR REPRESENTATIVES IN AUSTIN TO ALLOCATE MORE FUNDING FOR SUMMER SCHOOL.

AND TALKING TO A NUMBER OF THESE SCHOOL LEADERS, THEY ESTIMATE THEY'D RECEIVE $25 A STUDENT A DAY TO RUN THEIR PROGRAM.

IF NOT FOR THIS, AND MANY OF THEM SAID THEY CAN'T AFFORD TO RUN A SUMMER PROGRAM ON THAT ALONE.

SO THERE'S DEFINITELY WORK IN AUSTIN TO DO IN ORDER TO TO CLOSE THAT GAP.

THIS PROGRAM IS INTENDED TO ADDRESS THE VERY CRITICAL COVID LEARNING LOSS.

I WOULD SAY SUMMER BOOST WILL REFLECT ON WHAT THOSE GAPS LOOK LIKE AND DETERMINE IF THEY WILL CONTINUE NEXT YEAR.

THERE'S CERTAINLY NO GUARANTEE THAT THEY WILL IF THEY DECIDED THAT THEY WOULD.

THERE'S EXTREMELY GENEROUS NATIONAL PHILANTHROPY.

SO, YOU KNOW, WE'VE PUT TOGETHER A COALITION THIS YEAR OF FIVE LOCAL FOUNDATIONS THAT ARE CARRYING ALMOST ALL OF THE LOCAL COMPONENT.

THE COUNTY IS ASKED TO CONTRIBUTE A SLIGHT PORTION OF THAT, BUT I THINK WE WOULD CONTINUE TO BUILD ON THAT LOCAL PHILANTHROPIC SUPPORT IN ORDER TO INCREASE ACCESS FAR AND WIDE.

AND IF THE NATIONAL PHILANTHROPY WENT AWAY, THOUGH, COMMISSIONER, THIS WOULD REQUIRE WORK IN AUSTIN TO PUSH MORE FUNDS TOWARDS TOWARDS SCHOOLS.

SO YOU MENTIONED THIS IS YEAR TWO.

WHAT DID THE FUNDING STRUCTURE LOOK LIKE FOR YEAR ONE? WHERE DID THAT? WAS THAT ALL PRIVATE SECTOR DOLLARS OR CORRECT? OKAY. SO IT WAS IT WAS ALL PRIVATE.

WE SERVED JUST UNDER 6000 STUDENTS SOMEWHERE IN THE MID 5000.

SO WE'RE ALMOST DOUBLING THIS YEAR.

IF SCHOOLS ENROLL ALL THE STUDENTS THAT THEY THEY WOULD LIKE TO LOCAL PHILANTHROPY COVERED MOST OF THE NEED.

BUT GIVEN THAT THE PROGRAM IS ALMOST DOUBLED IN SIZE, THE COST IS ALMOST DOUBLED.

YOU KNOW, WE'VE NEARLY DOUBLED THAT NATIONAL PHILANTHROPIC AMOUNT, BUT THERE'S JUST A LITTLE BIT MORE TO CLOSE THIS YEAR.

OKAY. AND WHEN I LOOK AT THE MAP, IT APPEARS AS IF MOST, IF NOT ALL OF THE THE SCHOOLS ARE ALSO WITHIN THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO.

MAYBE THERE'S SOME SUBURBAN CITIES INVOLVED.

OFTENTIMES WHEN WE LOOK AT PARTNERSHIPS LIKE THIS WE OBVIOUSLY THE, THE LEVERAGING THE PRIVATE SECTOR DOLLARS IS IMPORTANT.

BUT ALSO LOOKING AT OUR GOVERNMENT PARTNERS DID YOU DID YOU HAVE ANY DISCUSSIONS WITH THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO ABOUT ARE THEY CONTRIBUTING? HAVE THEY IN THE PAST OR IS THAT A PLAN THAT YOU'VE GOT FOR THE FUTURE? THAT IS A GREAT SUGGESTION FOR THE FUTURE, COMMISSIONER.

WE DID NOT WORK WITH THEM THIS YEAR ON FUNDING THE PROGRAM.

OUR PARTNERS AT SUMMER BOOST VIEWED THIS AS A COUNTY WIDE EFFORT, SO THAT IS THE LENS THROUGH WHICH WE VIEWED IT.

WE COULD CERTAINLY IF THIS CONTINUES NEXT YEAR, WE COULD CERTAINLY ADDRESS THIS WITH THE CITY AS WELL.

OKAY. I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE WE ASK THOSE QUESTIONS.

LOOK, I AM SUPPORTIVE OF IF IT'S AN INVESTMENT IN OUR YOUNG PEOPLE AND HELPING THEM CLOSE SOME OF THOSE LEARNING GAPS, PARTICULARLY IN PARTS OF THE COMMUNITY THAT MAY BE THOSE THOSE GAPS ARE MORE PRONOUNCED THAN, THAN OTHERS.

BUT I ALSO AM CAUTIOUS OF THE FACT THAT YOU KNOW, THIS IS A, A ONE TIME ASK.

IT IS A ONE TIME COMMITMENT.

AND, YOU KNOW, IF WE WERE TO GET INTO THIS YOU KNOW, MULTI YEAR TYPE OF COMMITMENT, THERE'S OTHER PROGRAMS OUT THERE AND THAT ALSO DO THIS KIND OF WORK.

SO IT MAY BE SOMETHING WE'D HAVE TO LOOK AT FOR THE FUTURE.

BUT I'M SUPPORTIVE OF THIS.

AND I THINK IT SOUNDS LIKE YOU'RE WORKING ON DIVERSIFYING YOUR FUNDING OPTIONS.

AND I THINK THAT'S SOMETHING I WOULD ENCOURAGE AS WELL.

BUT I THINK FOR THIS PARTICULAR PROGRAM, A ONE YEAR COMMITMENT I CAN SUPPORT.

AND I LOOK FORWARD TO HEARING THE RESULTS WHEN YOU COME BACK.

THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER, AND WE'D BE DELIGHTED TO HAVE ANY OF ALL OF YOU VISIT SCHOOLS THIS SUMMER TO SEE THE PROGRAM IN ACTION.

SO THANK YOU. ANY FURTHER COMMENTS?

[02:45:01]

IT WAS A MIX OF THOSE THREE TYPES THAT I MENTIONED.

SO IT WAS INDEPENDENT CHARTER SCHOOLS.

IT WAS 1882.

CHARTERS, WHO THE DISTRICT HAS BROUGHT IN TO HELP BE A PARTNER.

AND IT'S THOSE MORE TRADITIONAL IN DISTRICT CHARTERS, I BELIEVE, CAST AS AN EXAMPLE OF A SCHOOL LIKE THAT.

SO THEY REACHED OUT TO EVERY SINGLE SCHOOL THAT FELL UNDER THAT CRITERIA AND TRIED TO SET UP A MEETING.

A CALL, SENT THEM INFORMATION AND ENCOURAGE THEM TO APPLY.

OKAY. SO I WOULD THINK SOMETHING LIKE THIS.

COMMISSIONER MOODY SHOULD COME OUT OF ONE'S DISCRETIONARY FUNDS.

SO AT LEAST FOR MY OFFICE, THIS WAS BROUGHT VERY LATE.

I DIDN'T GET INFORMATION.

I WAS ASKING QUESTIONS UNTIL YESTERDAY, WHICH IS REALLY TOO LATE BECAUSE THE AGENDA IS POSTED ON FRIDAY.

SO, REALLY, THINGS SHOULD HAVE BEEN MEETING, SHOULD HAVE BEEN SET UP WITH MYSELF OR MY STAFF.

INFORMATION SHOULD HAVE BEEN GIVEN BEFORE THEN.

IN ORDER TO HAVE THOSE QUESTIONS THAT, YOU KNOW, TO TO SEND EMAIL INFORMATION THE DAY BEFORE, WHEN WE ARE VERY BUSY TRYING TO PREPARE FOR COMMISSIONERS COURT IS REALLY INSUFFICIENT.

AND, YOU KNOW, IF SOMETHING LIKE THIS IS COMING OUT OF THE GENERAL FUND, THEN I WOULD THINK IT SHOULD BE INCLUSIVE OF ALL STUDENTS.

SO NOT JUST CHARTERS, BUT MORE TRADITIONAL ISDS AS, AS WELL.

SO YEAH. SO THAT'S, THAT'S MY THAT'S MY TAKE ON IT.

AND THEN IT RAN LAST YEAR WITHOUT COUNTY FUNDING.

BUT THIS YEAR YOU NEED COUNTY FUNDING BECAUSE IT'S EXPANDED.

IS THAT WHAT YOU'RE SAYING? YES.

IT'S NEARLY DOUBLED. THAT'S CORRECT.

AND I APPRECIATE THAT, COMMISSIONER.

I APOLOGIZE THAT I GOT THAT INFORMATION TO YOU TOO LATE.

WE DID ATTEMPT TO REACH OUT TO YOUR STAFF, BUT I APOLOGIZE.

I SHOULD HAVE SENT YOU INFORMATION.

WHEN DID YOU GUYS ATTEMPT TO REACH OUT TO MY STAFF? I BELIEVE EARLIER THIS WEEK.

OR PERHAPS OVER THE WEEKEND.

I COULD CORRECT, BUT IT'S POSTED ON FRIDAY AND THAT'S REALLY TOO LATE.

I MEAN, WE'RE AT LEAST I'M VERY BUSY.

I HAVE A FULL AGENDA, SO FOR THINGS TO BE TRIED TO REACH OUT AT THE END OF THE WEEK WHEN THINGS ARE POSTED ON FRIDAY IS REALLY TOO LATE, I APOLOGIZE.

I APOLOGIZE FOR THE OVERSIGHT.

WELL, HEARD THIS PROGRAM.

YOU KNOW, IN AN IDEAL WORLD, COMMISSIONER, THIS WOULD SERVE EVERY STUDENT.

THERE ARE SOME PARAMETERS ON HOW THE PROGRAM IS STRUCTURED BY THE NATIONAL SUMMER BOOST GROUP, AND WE DO WORK WITHIN THOSE.

WHAT I WOULD SAY IS, YOU KNOW, WE'VE REACHED OUT TO SOME OF THE DISTRICTS.

WE'D BE DELIGHTED TO HAVE THEM COME AND VISIT SOME OF THE SCHOOLS THIS SUMMER TO SEE THE CURRICULUM THAT SOME OF THE SCHOOLS ARE USING IN ACTION, TO TALK ABOUT HOW WE COULD POTENTIALLY WORK WITH THEM NEXT YEAR IF THIS PROGRAM DOES RUN.

WE'RE ALSO DELIGHTED THIS YEAR, YOU KNOW, WE ADDED SCHOOLS LIKE BRISCOE ELEMENTARY, HARRIS MIDDLE, BURBANK HIGH, GRAVENER ELEMENTARY.

SO IT IS A MUCH WIDER TENT.

YEAH, I DID SEE THE TRADITIONAL ISD SCHOOLS THAT ARE ON THERE, BUT UNFORTUNATELY COMPARED TO THE AMOUNT OF CHARTERS IT SHOULD BE AN EVEN AMOUNT CHARTERS OR AND ISD.

SO I DO HOPE THAT IF THIS CONTINUES NEXT YEAR, THAT SOME OF THE TRADITIONAL PUBLIC SCHOOLS CAN CONTINUE TO STAY IN, BECAUSE IF WE AS A COMMUNITY TAKE MONEY, TAXPAYER DOLLARS FROM THE TRADITIONAL ISDS, OUR TRADITIONAL ISDS, PUBLIC EDUCATION, OUR TRADITIONAL ISDS, THAT'S THE FABRIC OF OUR EDUCATION.

AND IT JUST LEAVES SO MANY CHILDREN BEHIND THE SCHOOLS WHERE I WAS EDUCATED.

SO HOPEFULLY YOU KNOW, YOU GUYS CAN REACH OUT MORE TO MORE OF THE TRADITIONAL ISDS AND THEY CAN BE A PART OF THAT.

THANK YOU. IT'S JUST COMMISSIONER MOODY.

FIRST OF ALL, I WANTED TO POINT OUT A COUPLE THINGS THAT I FAILED TO MENTION.

THE THE TOTAL PHILANTHROPY THAT WILL BE LEVERAGED HERE IN BEXAR COUNTY IN 2024.

WHAT'S THAT NUMBER? SO IT'S DEPENDENT ON HOW MANY STUDENTS ENROLL THIS SUMMER.

LET'S ASSUME THAT NEARLY 10,000 ENROLL OUR PARTNERS PROJECT.

IT WILL BE NEARLY A $15 MILLION PHILANTHROPIC GIVE TO SUPPORT THIS.

AND OUR NATIONAL PARTNERS WILL LIKELY SUPPORT ABOUT 14 MILLION OF THAT.

THAT'S THAT'S AMAZING.

AND IT'S A HUGE INVESTMENT THAT IS NEW MONEY TO SAN ANTONIO, NEW FOR OUR SCHOOLS.

THAT'S THANK YOU FOR THAT.

AND AND ALSO AS A DATA GUY I WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT THAT IN THE BACKGROUND MATERIAL.

YOU GUYS ARE SHOWING ACTUAL IMPROVEMENT IN TEST SCORES WASN'T IT 14%, IS THAT CORRECT? YES, COMMISSIONER. SO WE REQUIRE ALL SCHOOLS THAT PARTICIPATE TO TAKE A PRE AND POST ASSESSMENT.

THAT'S A 14 POINT GAIN IN PROFICIENCY ON IT'S IT'S A NARROWER SET OF STANDARDS.

I THINK THE MOST INTERESTING DATA YOU'LL SEE LATER THIS MONTH THERE'S A RESEARCHER NAMED TOM KEENAN OF HARVARD WHO'S DONE A STUDY TO SEE HOW THE GAINS MADE FROM STUDENTS WHO ATTENDED SUMMER BOOST HAVE LASTED THROUGHOUT THE YEAR.

I DON'T HAVE THAT DATA IN HAND, BUT I THINK YOU'LL BE PLEASED TO SEE THE LONGEVITY OF THOSE GAINS OVER THE COURSE OF THIS ACADEMIC YEAR.

NOW, THAT'LL BE BE GREAT TO SEE.

[02:50:01]

I THINK THAT'S SOMETHING WE CAN ABSOLUTELY DO.

AND, AND I WOULD ENCOURAGE YOU TO DO, BUT OBVIOUSLY, THE TIMING HERE TO TRY TO ENSURE THAT THAT THE LOCAL COMMUNITY PUTS SKIN IN THE GAME SOONER RATHER THAN LATER.

AND WE KNOW THE PROCESS THAT THE CITY IS PROBABLY GOING TO BE A LITTLE BIT MORE LENGTHY.

I DID JUST WANT TO RESPOND TO, TO THE FACT THAT I BELIEVE MY STAFF BROUGHT THIS FORWARD MULTIPLE TIMES YOU KNOW, TO, TO TRY TO SHARE THIS INFORMATION.

SO WE'LL TRY TO MAKE SURE THAT, THAT WE COMMUNICATE IN DIFFERENT MODES OF COMMUNICATION GOING FORWARD.

BUT I'M NOT SURE WHERE THE DISCONNECT WAS BECAUSE IT WAS DEFINITELY SHARED AT MULTIPLE CHIEFS OF STAFF MEETING.

SO SO I ASKED MY CHIEF OF STAFF ABOUT IT.

SHE DIDN'T GET THE INFORMATION, THE EMAIL THAT YOU'RE REFERRING TO SINCE YESTERDAY.

SO I DON'T KNOW WHERE THE INFORMATION HAPPENED THERE, BUT NO ONE SPOKE, SPOKE TO ME ABOUT IT.

I'M NOT SURE WHERE THE DISCONNECT OCCURRED EITHER.

I APOLOGIZE THAT YOU DIDN'T GET THE INFORMATION SOONER, COMMISSIONER.

YEAH, OKAY.

THANK YOU. IS THERE A MOTION? I MOVE. I MOVE APPROVAL.

SECOND. THERE'S A MOTION BY COMMISSIONER MOODY.

SECOND BY COMMISSIONER RODRIGUEZ.

ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY SAYING BY SAY I.

I. ANY OPPOSED? ABSTAIN. I ABSTAIN ONE ABSTENTION.

MOTION CARRIES.

THANK YOU. JUDGE. THANK YOU. COMMISSIONERS, COME BACK AND REPORT WHAT Y'ALL DID.

WE WILL. AND WE'D LOVE TO HAVE YOU VISIT SOME OF THESE SCHOOLS OVER THE SUMMER.

I'LL FOLLOW UP WITH YOUR OFFICES.

THANK YOU. OKAY.

ITEM 66 PRESENTATION DISCUSSION REGARDING BEXAR COUNTY'S AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN ACT.

[66. Presentation and discussion regarding Bexar County's American Rescue Plan Act State and Local Fiscal Recovery Fund priorities and fund balance.]

MR. THOMAS GUEVARA.

THANKS, JUDGE. FOR THE RECORD.

THOMAS GUEVARA, OFFICE OF THE COUNTY MANAGER.

AT OUR LAST COURT MEETING, WE LEFT THE DISCUSSION WITH THE REQUEST OF STAFF TO RESEARCH THE COUNTY'S ABILITY TO RECONSIDER REVENUE REPLACEMENT AS A STRATEGY FOR THE UNALLOCATED FUNDING.

THE SHORT ANSWER TO THAT QUESTION IS YES, YOU CAN.

YOU CAN CONSIDER REVENUE REPLACEMENT.

AGAIN, THERE ARE A COUPLE OF ITEMS I DO WANT TO LET THE COURT KNOW.

YOU SAW THE REVENUE LOSS DOLLARS MUST STILL BE OBLIGATED BY THE END OF 2024, AND WE WOULD STILL HAVE TO EXPEND THAT FUNDING BY 2026.

BUT AGAIN, THE BENEFITS OF REVENUE REPLACEMENT IS THAT THE COUNTY WILL HAVE A BROAD LATITUDE TO USE THOSE FUNDS FOR GOVERNMENT SERVICES.

AGAIN, WITH FLEXIBILITY FOR REPORTING REQUIREMENTS.

THERE ARE SOME INELIGIBLE USE OF REVENUE LOSS.

AGAIN, WE CAN'T DEPOSIT THAT INTO A PENSION FUND OR USE TOWARDS DEBT SERVICE.

BUT AGAIN, THOSE ARE THERE'S STILL SOME REPORTING REQUIREMENTS FROM THE COUNTY SIDE THAT WE WOULD STILL HAVE TO FULFILL FOR POST FEDERAL AWARD REQUIREMENTS.

BUT IT DOES PROVIDE YOU WITH THAT FLEXIBILITY.

SO AGAIN, OUR ANALYSIS IS AFTER CONSULTING WITH GUIDEHOUSE, OUR CONSULTANT IS YES, WE CAN CONSIDER REVENUE REPLACEMENT.

ALL RIGHT. COMMISSIONER CLAY-FLORES, HOW MUCH CAN WE PUT IN? BECAUSE I KNOW LAST TIME WHEN WE INITIALLY GOT THE FUNDING, IT WAS ONLY A PERCENTAGE OF IT.

SO HOW MUCH CAN WE PLAN TO REVENUE REPLACEMENT? SO WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE 17 MILLION THAT WAS RETURNED UNSPENT.

RIGHT. YOU CAN DO ALL OF THAT AND PROBABLY MORE IF MORE COMES IN LATER.

OKAY. GREAT. IT DOES HAVE TO GET SPENT ON THE SAME CALENDAR AS REGULAR ARPA DOLLARS, THE THE REVENUE.

SO IF WE PUT IT BACK INTO REVENUE REPLACEMENT, IT DOESN'T JUST BECOME PART OF OUR REVENUE REPLACEMENT.

WE STILL HAVE TO EXPEND IT BY THE DEADLINE.

CORRECT? OKAY.

THANK YOU COMMISSIONER.

BUT JUST TO BE CLEAR, THANK YOU JUDGE.

THE IT ALLOWS US SOME FLEXIBILITY.

I GET IT, THE TIMELINE DOESN'T NECESSARILY CHANGE, BUT WE STILL HAVE SOME AUTONOMY WITHIN THE, I GUESS, THE DIFFERENT BUCKETS.

IF WE STILL WANTED TO MAKE AN INVESTMENT IN AFFORDABLE HOUSING, IT GIVES US THAT KIND OF FLEXIBILITY THROUGH THE BUDGET PROCESS TO DO SOME OF THOSE.

IS THAT RIGHT? THAT IS CORRECT.

IT DOES, COMMISSIONER, BUT I'LL TELL YOU, I'VE ALREADY STARTED.

I THINK I SPOKE TO THE JUDGE ABOUT THIS ALREADY.

WE RECEIVED PRELIMINARY APPRAISALS FROM THE APPRAISAL DISTRICT AT THE END OF LAST MONTH.

THOSE APPRAISALS SHOW FAR LESS YEAR TO YEAR GROWTH THAN YOU'VE BEEN EXPERIENCING OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS.

SO MY RECOMMENDATION WOULD BE TO KEEP YOUR POWDER DRY ON THIS 17 MILLION UNTIL WE GO THROUGH THE BUDGET PROCESS, BECAUSE WE.

WE'LL JUST HAVE TO SEE HOW TIGHT A BUDGET THIS IS GOING TO BE.

YEAH, AND I THINK THAT WAS KIND OF WHAT I WAS INFERRING WAS THAT, YOU KNOW, I MEAN, I GET IT, WE'VE GOT THE THE RUNWAY THAT'S SHRINKING ON ON THESE, THESE DOLLARS. BUT WE'RE ABOUT TO HAVE THIS DISCUSSION ABOUT OUR, OUR BUDGET IN THE NEXT FEW MONTHS.

[02:55:04]

SO SO THAT THAT MAKES SENSE TO ME.

I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'VE GOT THERE'S NOT ANY RESTRICTION NECESSARILY ON A SPECIFIC CATEGORY OF POTENTIAL INVESTMENT.

CORRECT. RIGHT. OKAY.

THANK YOU. JUDGE. COMMISSIONER MOODE.

YEAH. SO I THINK WE UNDERSTAND THIS RIGHT.

ONCE ONCE WE USE THIS FOR REVENUE REPLACEMENT, WE WILL BE ABLE TO EXPEND THOSE FUNDS IN THAT CATEGORY OVER THE NEXT TWO YEARS AND ULTIMATELY MAKE THEM FUNGIBLE WITH WITH ALL OF OUR OTHER GENERAL FUNDS, IF I CAN SAY THAT.

ALL RIGHT. JUST JUST JUST TO PROVIDE FLEXIBILITY FOR THIS COURT AND FOR THE COUNTY GOING FORWARD.

IT MAKES A LOT OF SENSE NOW, YOU KNOW, IF THERE'S STILL A WILLINGNESS AND A DESIRE BY, BY THE COURT TO, TO MOVE ON ANY IMMEDIATE PRIORITIES RIGHT NOW? WE CAN STILL DO THAT, BUT DEFINITELY FOR THE THIRD AND FOURTH QUARTER OF THE CALENDAR YEAR.

I THINK THIS PROVIDES US THE THE EASY ANSWER WHEN WE HAVE DOLLARS COMING BACK THAT IT'S AUTOMATICALLY SWEPT INTO REVENUE REPLACEMENT.

AND THAT'S SIMPLE.

AND IT'S QUICK AS OPPOSED TO, WELL, WE NEED TO PUT OUT ANOTHER, YOU KNOW, RFP AND WE NEED TO COME BACK TO COURT AND DISCUSS NEW PRIORITIES AND, AND ALL OF THAT.

SO I THINK THAT THAT IT'S A IT'S A GREAT SOLUTION FOR US AND PROVIDES A LOT OF FLEXIBILITY IN HOW WE SPEND THOSE DOLLARS GOING FORWARD.

LET ME GIVE DIRECTION TO STAFF.

I HAVE HAD CONVERSATIONS WITH THE COUNTY MANAGER AND THE BUDGET OFFICE, AND I WANT TO APPRECIATE THEIR HARD WORK IN REGARDS TO THESE ARPA FUNDS AS WE'RE COMING TO CLOSURE. AT THE SAME TIME, WE WE'VE BEEN PROVIDING MUCH TO OUR COMMUNITY, ESPECIALLY IN MENTAL HEALTH, ESPECIALLY IN CAPITAL PROJECTS, ESPECIALLY AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND ALL THE NUMEROUS OTHER ISSUES THAT THE COUNTY HAS HAD AN OPPORTUNITY, ESPECIALLY WHEN WE'VE LEVERAGED WITH THE CITY IN ORDER TO CREATE SOME REALLY GREAT PROJECTS.

I BELIEVE AT THE LAST MEETING, IT WAS UPON MY DIRECTION THAT WE START HAVING THESE ARPA DISCUSSIONS, AND WE'RE ONLY HAVING DISCUSSIONS TODAY, CORRECT, MR. THOMAS? WE'RE NOT TAKING ANY ACTION.

CORRECT. BUT AT THE SAME TIME, I BELIEVE I'M GOING TO CONTINUE TO DIRECT STAFF TO PUT THIS AGENDA ITEM ON FOR EVERY MEETING UNLESS THERE'S SOME EXTRAORDINARY CIRCUMSTANCE OR WE DON'T HAVE A MEETING.

AND THAT PERHAPS THE NEXT ONE, WE MAY WANT TO BE PREPARED TO TAKE ACTION OR AT LEAST HAVE THE ABILITY TO HAVE ROBUST DISCUSSION.

I KNOW I BELIEVE WE WILL STILL HAVE SOME REALLY ROBUST DISCUSSION AS TO HOW.

I MEAN, WE CERTAINLY CAN ALL PUT THIS INTO REVENUE REPLACEMENT, BUT I BELIEVE THERE'S STILL GOING TO BE SOME COMPELLING ARGUMENTS AS TO WHY CERTAIN PROJECTS AND CERTAIN PROGRAMS OR CERTAIN ANYTHING MAY NEED TO GET FUNDED.

AND SO IT DOESN'T MEAN THAT WE WILL COMMIT TO ANYTHING.

I THINK WE JUST HAVE TO HAVE THAT DISCUSSION.

AND THE SOONER WE HAVE A DISCUSSION, IT'S THE SOONER WE CAN MAKE DECISIONS.

THAT ALSO GOES TO ALL DEPARTMENT HEADS ELECTED OFFICIALS WHO ARE HAVING THEIR REQUESTS IN.

THEY NEED TO GET THEIR SPENDING ALLOCATIONS ALSO DESIGNATED.

AND SO THE REPORT ALSO WE NEED TO GET MR. GUEVARA IS THAT WE NEED TO KNOW HOW ALL THESE DEPARTMENTS ARE EXPENDING AND ESPECIALLY THOSE THAT ARE ONGOING, WE KNOW THAT THEY'RE ONGOING. IT APPEARS THAT MANY OF THE PROGRAMS THAT WE DO HAVE FUNDED ARE FUNDING AT APPROPRIATE LEVEL.

BUT AT THE SAME TIME, WE NEED TO BE PREPARED TO CLAW BACK OR RECOVER ANY OF THOSE FUNDS THAT AREN'T MOVING FAST ENOUGH.

AND SO I WANT DEPARTMENT HEADS AND EVERYBODY TO UNDERSTAND WE'RE GOING TO BASICALLY, I'LL JUST SAY IT REAL BLUNT.

WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO START TIGHTENING THE BOLTS, SO TO SPEAK IN ORDER FOR US TO BE PRUDENTLY, FISCALLY RESPONSIBLE.

COMMISSIONER RODRIGUEZ, DID YOU HAVE ANY ADD ADDITIONAL COMMENTS? I CERTAINLY AGREE WITH THAT, JUDGE.

THE ONE FOLLOW UP I WANTED TO MENTION IS, YOU KNOW, IT SOUNDS NICE AND TIDY TO SAY, LET'S JUST DO REVENUE REPLACEMENT, DEAL WITH IT IN THE SUMMERTIME WITH THE BUDGET.

I THINK THERE PROBABLY SOME CIRCUMSTANCES WHERE WE MIGHT WANT TO CONSIDER AS AN EXAMPLE.

YOU KNOW, WE HAD SAM HERE, WE, YOU KNOW, WE KNOW THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING CRISIS THAT WE'RE FACING.

[03:00:04]

AND SO I THINK WE NEED TO BE AWARE OF THAT.

I KNOW FINANCING IS A CONCERN ALL OVER THE BOARD, AND WE'RE SEEING THAT EVEN WITH SOME OF OUR PFC PROJECTS.

SO I JUST THINK WE NEED TO KEEP THAT IN MIND AS WELL.

AND I THINK IT'S SMART TO HAVE THE DISCUSSION AT EVERY, EVERY COMMISSIONERS COURT MEETING BECAUSE I THINK THERE'S CRITICAL PROJECTS THAT WE CAN'T SUPPORT THEM ALL. I GET IT, BUT I THINK THERE'S SOME THAT PROBABLY NEED SOME FINANCING IN SOME REGARD, AND IT MAY BE AN OPPORTUNITY WE NEED TO JUMP ON SOONER RATHER THAN LATER.

SO I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE WE MENTIONED THAT AND KEEP AN EYE OUT FOR THOSE, THOMAS.

AND LET US KNOW.

THE ONES THAT MAYBE ARE, ARE IN QUEUE THAT WE CAN HAVE A DISCUSSION ON SPECIFICALLY FOR THE COURT TO MAYBE APPROVE SOONER RATHER THAN LATER.

YES, SIR. COMMISSIONER MOODY.

SO AND JUST TO ASK FOR CLARIFICATION, EITHER DAVID OR THOMAS.

SO IF WE SCRAPE THESE FUNDS INTO REVENUE REPLACEMENT, THAT DOESN'T PRECLUDE US FROM GOING FORWARD WITH ANY OTHER PROJECT, WHETHER IT'S WATER AND SEWER PROJECT OR AFFORDABLE HOUSING PROJECT.

ULTIMATELY, AND THE THE NET IMPACT ON THE BUDGET WOULD WOULDN'T MATTER.

IT WOULD JUST BE THE THE MECHANISM FOR THE ACTION ON THE PROJECT.

IS THAT CORRECT? CORRECT.

OKAY. AND AS A JUDGE MENTIONED, I THINK, THOUGH, THIS ALSO BRINGS INTO SHARP FOCUS THE OTHER HALF OF THIS WHEN IT COMES TO MONITORING THE EXISTING PROJECTS AND MAKING SURE THAT WE ARE IDENTIFYING THOSE FOLKS WHO ARE NOT ON TIMELINE TO BE ABLE TO EXPEND THOSE DOLLARS AND FIGURING OUT WHAT THOSE CUT OFFS LOOK LIKE.

BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, THE FACT THAT WE HAVE A MECHANISM TO GO AHEAD AND BRING THOSE DOLLARS BACK INTO, INTO THE COUNTY THROUGH REVENUE REPLACEMENT, IT WOULD BE, YOU KNOW, A FAILURE BY ALL OF US TO TO SEE PROJECTS GO.

AND NOT TO COMPLETION AND LOSE THOSE DOLLARS ULTIMATELY.

AND THEY GET CLAWED BACK TO THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT WHEN WE COULD HAVE MADE THE DECISION AT SOME POINT TO DRAW THE LINE, TAKE THOSE, TAKE THOSE DOLLARS BACK INTO REVENUE REPLACEMENT, AND WE COULD STILL PUSH THAT MONEY BACK OUT TO A WORTHY PROJECT.

POTENTIALLY EVEN THE SAME PROJECT WITH WITHOUT THE, THE SAME RISKS ASSOCIATED WITH IT UNDERNEATH THE ARPA UMBRELLA.

I HOPE THAT MAKES SENSE.

NO, ABSOLUTELY.

AND IN FACT, IT'S PART OF OUR STRATEGIC PLAN RIGHT NOW WORKING WITH THOSE OFFICES AND DEPARTMENTS THAT HAVE THESE CONTRACTS.

WE'VE ALREADY TACKLED SOME OF THE BIGGER ONES, LIKE YOUR SCHOOL BASED MENTAL HEALTH PROGRAM AS AS WELL AS OUR AFFORDABLE HOUSING REVIEW. SO I THINK WE'RE IN GOOD SHAPE THERE.

WE'LL CONTINUE TO HAVE THOSE CONVERSATIONS, AND THAT'S PART OF OUR STRATEGY DURING THE BUDGET PROCESS FOR ADDITIONAL OPPORTUNITIES FOR COURT TO CLAW BACK AND THEN TAKING THAT DIRECTION FROM THE JUDGE LAST COURT MEETING ON HAVING THOSE FRANK CONVERSATIONS WITH OUR SUBRECIPIENTS AND THAT CLAWBACK PROVISION.

AND, YOU KNOW, AGAIN, CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG, BUT BUT I DO THINK THAT THERE'S SOMETHING TO BE SAID TO THAT REDUCING RISK.

RIGHT. BECAUSE UNDERNEATH THE CONSTRAINTS OF THE ARPA PROGRAM, IF IF WE PUSH FORWARD ON A SPECIFIC PROJECT AND IT DOESN'T GO THROUGH, THEN AT SOME POINT THAT MONEY'S GONE.

IT'S NO LONGER IN BEXAR COUNTY.

BUT IF THAT MONEY'S IN REVENUE REPLACEMENT, AND THEN THE COUNTY ULTIMATELY DECIDES TO TO GO FORWARD WITH THE PROJECT ON ITS OWN AT SOME POINT, THEN, YOU KNOW, OBVIOUSLY THOSE DOLLARS ARE STILL HERE AND STAYING WITH BEXAR COUNTY, IS THAT CORRECT? I'M SPEAKING TO THAT CORRECTLY.

RIGHT. OKAY.

THANK YOU. BUT ALSO LET ME PUT ADD ON TO THOSE COMMENTS TO TO STAFF.

THERE ARE GOING TO BE PERHAPS SOME EXIGENT CIRCUMSTANCES THAT ARE GOING TO BE PERHAPS SOME EMERGENCIES, MUCH LIKE I WOULD THINK ANALOGOUS TO THE SAM MINISTRIES ISSUE AND, AND THEIR UNFORTUNATE CIRCUMSTANCES AND HAVE A FIRE THAT DESTROYED.

SO IF WE ARE TO DEAL WITH AN EXIGENT MEANING, AN EMERGENCY SPECIAL CIRCUMSTANCE, THEN WE HAVE TO ALSO THERE'S ALSO ANOTHER PERSPECTIVE THAT WE HAVE TO GET AN AMENDED RFP OR WE GOT TO GET OFF.

WAS IT NOTICE OF FUNDING OF AVAILABILITY? NOFAS. SO I'M JUST REMINDING THE COMMISSIONERS IF THERE'S ANY PROJECTS THAT YOU ALL WANT.

SURE. WE CAN, YOU KNOW, CAT COME THROUGH A, YOU KNOW, REVENUE REPLACEMENT MECHANISM, BUT ALSO TO LET'S NOT FORGET THAT WE MAY NEED TO DEAL WITH PEOPLE WHO ARE IN NEED, ESPECIALLY THOSE THAT HAVE ISSUES OF HOUSING OR WHATEVER MENTAL HEALTH PROGRAMS.

[03:05:04]

AND IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING, IN TALKING TO THE BEHAVIORAL HEALTH STAFF THAT SOME OF THE SCHOOL DISTRICTS MAY BE COMING BACK AND ASKING FOR SOME ADDITIONAL FUNDING IN ORDER FOR THEM TO FINISH OUT THE PROGRAM.

SO LET'S NOT LET'S BE MINDFUL THAT WE HAVE TO JUST BE NIMBLE AND TO BE ABLE TO ADJUST TO THE NEEDS OF OUR COMMUNITY.

AND THAT'S ALL I'M GOING TO SAY, IS THAT WE JUST GOT TO BE ON OUR TOES, AND THAT MEANS STAFF IS ON THEIR TOES.

ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? THAT'S ALL I THINK WE NEED TO DO.

SO LET US MOVE ON TO AGENDA ITEM NUMBER 67.

DISCUSSION APPROPRIATE ACTION RELATED TO APPROVAL OF PROFESSIONAL SERVICES AGREEMENT WITH LEDA OR LIRA.

AND THAT ONE IF WE CAN HANDLE THAT AFTER EXECUTIVE THAT GOES INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION.

SO WE WILL NOT TAKE THAT UP.

I BELIEVE THEN WE ARE AT EXECUTIVE SESSION.

[EXECUTIVE SESSION ]

THE TIME IS 1210 AND ITEMS THAT MAY BE DISCUSSED AND ACT UPON AN APPROPRIATION, IF APPROPRIATE, AND OPEN SESSION PURSUANT TO SECTION 551 OF THE 071 OF THE TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE FOR CONSULTATION WITH COURTS ATTORNEY FOR ADVICE REGARDING PENDING OR CONTEMPLATED LITIGATION OR SETTLEMENT.

OFFERING ANY MATTERS OF PRO-NATIVE VERSUS BEXAR COUNTY.

PITOFSKY ET AL.

IN BEHALF OF THE ESTATE OF DANIEL PITOFSKY.

PROFESSIONAL SERVICE AGREEMENT WITH LEAR OR LEDA AND CROFT, PLLC, FOR CERTAIN LEGAL REPRESENTATION OF THE BEXAR COUNTY MEDICAL EXAMINER'S OFFICE.

AT THIS TIME, THE COURT IS IN EXECUTIVE SESSION.

I ASK THAT WE CLEAR THE COURTROOM EXCEPT FOR THOSE PERSONNEL NEEDED FOR THE.

ALL RIGHT. TIME IS 1:06 P.M..

WE'RE BACK IN THE OPEN SESSION AND I BELIEVE WE'LL NOW TAKE UP ITEM AGENDA ITEM NUMBER 67.

[67. Discussion and appropriate action related to approval of a professional services agreement with Lira & Croft PLLC for certain legal representation of the Bexar County Medical Examiner's Office.]

IS THERE A MOTION? SO MOVED MOTION BY COMMISSIONER RODRIGUEZ, SECOND BY COMMISSIONER MOODY.

ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE.

AYE. ANY OPPOSED? ANY ABSTENTIONS? MOTION CARRIES.

ALL RIGHT. IS THERE A MOTION TO ADJOURN? I'D LIKE TO ADJOURN IN MEMORY OF OLGA GABRIEL AND EUGENE MATHIS.

MOTION YOU MOVED TO ADJOURN.

OKAY, SO MOTION BY COMMISSIONER RODRIGUEZ.

THERE'S A SECOND, SECOND BY COMMISSIONER MOODY TO ADJOURN.

SO, COMMISSIONER CLAY-FLORES, YOU INDICATED YOUR ADJOURNING IN THOSE PARTICULAR INDIVIDUALS.

COMMISSIONER RODRIGUEZ.

THANK YOU. JUDGE. AND I WOULD ADD THE NAMES OF THE FOLLOWING TO ADJOURN IN DOLORES M VALDEZ, HENRY P MARTINEZ, FERNANDO DE LA GARZA AND HECTOR CANTU, WHO WAS THE LONGTIME PROPRIETOR OF THE OLD MARIO'S RESTAURANT.

OH, WOW. MOODY.

AND I BELIEVE COMMISSIONER CALVERT DID NOT LEAVE NAMES.

SO I WILL MOVE TO ADJOURN IN THE NAME OF LOUISA GOLDSBERRY DELANEY.

SHE WAS KNOWN FOR HER THOUGHTFUL NATURE, ARTISTIC SPIRIT.

SHE IS SURVIVED BY HER BROTHER, CHRISTOPHER KIT GOLDSBERRY JUNIOR AND OTHER FAMILY MEMBERS.

I JOIN IN WITH COMMISSIONER CLAY-FLORES AND JOURNEY IN THE MEMORY OF OLGA MEDINA.

GABRIEL AND I ASK FOR A POINT OF PERSONAL PRIVILEGE TO KIND OF ELUCIDATE THIS NEXT ONE.

MARTINELLI SR.

I WOULD LIKE TO HIGHLIGHT ON BEHALF OF MANUEL LEAL, THIRD, WHO IS A BEXAR COUNTY EMPLOYEE AND THE LEAL FAMILY, I WOULD LIKE TO CLOSE TODAY'S COMMISSIONER'S COURT IN MEMORY. A SENIOR MASTER SERGEANT MARTINELLI MARTY LIAO SENIOR MARTY WAS BORN IN BROWNSVILLE, TEXAS, IN 1946 AS THE YOUNGEST SON OF A WAR TWO VETERAN WHO WAS INJURED AND TAKEN AS A PRISONER AT THE BATTLE OF THE BULGE.

DEVOTED TO HIS COUNTRY, MARTY JOINED THE AIR FORCE OUT OF HIGH SCHOOL AND SERVED HONORABLY FOR 26 YEARS.

HE WAS STATIONED AT RANDOLPH AIR FORCE BASE, WHERE HE SERVED FOR 22 YEARS, SETTING.

SETTLING HIS FAMILY IN SCHERTZ.

HIS TWO SONS, MARTINO JR AND MANUEL, GRADUATED FROM UTSA AND OUR LADY LAKE UNIVERSITY, RESPECTIVELY, AND THEY CONTINUE TO CONTRIBUTE TO LIFE IN THE BEXAR COUNTY REGION. ON APRIL 24TH, MARTINELLI SR WENT TO BE WITH THE LORD FROM HIS HOME IN BROWNSVILLE.

WHILE LOOKING AT BOTH HIS SONS AND HOLDING MANUEL'S HAND.

MARTY WAS A GOOD PERSON, A GOOD FATHER, AND A GREAT AMERICAN.

WE, THE BEXAR COUNTY COMMISSIONERS COURT, EXTENDS OUR CONDOLENCES TO LEAR FAMILY AND TO OUR EMPLOYEE MANUALLY.

[03:10:01]

WE'LL BE BACK TO.

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.