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

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

WE'LL MOVE ON TO AGENDA ITEM NUMBER FOUR, REQUEST THE COMMISSIONERS COURT TO IDENTIFY ITEMS FROM THE CONSENT AGENDA FOR ADDITIONAL DISCUSSION.

APPROVE REMAINING CONSENT AGENDA ITEMS. I'LL START WITH COMMISSIONER CLAY-FLORES.

ANY MATTERS FOR YOUR REVIEW? NO, SIR. COMMISSIONER RODRIGUEZ.

I'M GOOD; THANK YOU. COMMISSIONER MOODY.

NUMBER NINE, PLEASE.

NUMBER NINE. OKAY.

NONE FOR ME, JUDGE. NONE? ALL RIGHT. JUDGE SAKAI, OVER HERE.

OVER HERE.

OH. I HAVE A CORRECTION FOR NUMBER 79.

79? YES, IT SHOULD READ NEW APPOINTMENT, NOT REAPPOINTMENT.

OKAY. 79.

ALL RIGHT. THAT'S TO A NEW APPOINTMENT.

YES, FOR BOTH OF THEM.

ALL RIGHT. IS THERE ANY OBJECTIONS ON THE AMENDING OF THE AGENDA ON ITEM NUMBER 79 TO REFLECT A NEW APPOINTMENT?

[CONSENT AGENDA ITEMS]

[00:15:09]

ALL RIGHT. SO NOTED.

ALL RIGHT. IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE CONSENT? MOVE TO APPROVE. SECOND.

MOTION BY COMMISSIONER CLAY-FLORES.

SECOND BY COMMISSIONER CALVERT.

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

AYE. ANY OPPOSED? OKAY. OKAY.

COMMISSIONER MOODY WOULD LIKE THE RECORD REFLECT ON ITEM 80.

HE WILL ABSTAIN, AND I ALSO, I BELIEVE I NEED TO DO THE SAME THING.

HOLD ON. FOR THE RECORD, I WILL ABSTAIN ON ITEMS 57, 58.

ALL RIGHT. NOTE THOSE EXCEPTIONS.

ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE.

I'M RECALLING THE VOTE.

AYE. ANY OPPOSED? ANY ABSTENTIONS, EXCEPT THOSE NOTED BY COMMISSIONER MOODY AND BY MYSELF? ALL RIGHT, MOTION PASSES.

WE'LL NOW GO TO ITEM NUMBER NINE FOR INDIVIDUAL CONSIDERATION.

[9. Notification of payment to those employees who have accumulated hours in excess of the FLSA maximum level for an estimated amount of $1,254,984 and approval of the appropriate budget transfers in the amount of $250,796.]

NOTIFICATION OF PAYMENT TO THOSE EMPLOYEES WHO HAVE ACCUMULATED HOURS IN EXCESS OF FLSA.

MAXIMUM LEVEL FOR ESTIMATED AMOUNT OF $1,254,984 AND APPROVAL OF THE APPROPRIATE BUDGET.

TRANSFERS IN THE AMOUNT OF $250,796.

GOOD MORNING SHERIFF. GOOD MORNING JUDGE.

GOOD MORNING COMMISSIONERS. WELL, AS WE ALL KNOW, WE'RE UP FOR TO COME IN AND DISCUSS OVERTIME FOR BOTH LAW ENFORCEMENT AND DETENTION.

WHILE I MAINTAIN THAT IT IS AN EVENTUALITY WITH REGARD TO LAW ENFORCEMENT, WE DO KNOW THAT IT IS SOMETHING THAT WE HAVE TO MANAGE, AND IT'S WHAT WE ARE DOING.

BROUGHT WITH ME A LIST OF CALLS FOR SERVICE.

PRETTY HIGH PROFILE. WITHIN THAT TIME PERIOD.

I'D BE MORE THAN HAPPY TO SHARE THOSE WITH YOU.

I WON'T GO INTO GREAT DETAIL ON THE MICROPHONE RIGHT NOW, BUT I CAN TELL YOU THE SEVERITY OF THESE CALLS IS WHAT'S DRIVING A LOT OF OUR OVERTIME ON THE LAW ENFORCEMENT SIDE OF THE HOUSE WITH REGARD TO DETENTION.

WE KNOW THAT, YOU KNOW, THERE'S ONLY TWO REAL WAYS TO POSITIVELY AFFECT OVERTIME COSTS IN THE JAIL TO RECRUIT AND HIRE, WHICH IS WHAT WE'RE DOING A LOT OF AND TO LOWER THE INMATE POPULATION, WHICH AT PRESENT, WE KNOW THAT'S NOT POSSIBLE TO DO.

VIOLENT CRIME CONTINUES TO RISE, WHICH MEANS MORE VIOLENT FELONS ARE FINDING THEIR WAY INTO OUR JAIL.

DUE TO THE HARD WORK OF THE LAW ENFORCEMENT SIDE OF THE HOUSE, AS WELL AS OUR PARTNER AGENCIES THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY.

WE KNOW THAT THE NUMBER OF FEMALE INMATES IS UP.

MENTALLY ILL INMATES IS UP.

INMATES REQUIRING HOSPITAL HOSPITALIZATION IS UP, WHICH IS THESE ARE ALL MORE LABOR INTENSIVE AS WELL AS YOUTHFUL OFFENDERS, AS WAS POINTED OUT BY A RECENT FOX 29 STORY, WE'RE SEEING AN UNPRECEDENTED NUMBER OF YOUTHFUL OFFENDERS IN THE JAIL, AND SO WITH THAT BEING SAID, I'VE BROUGHT ALONG SEVERAL MEMBERS OF MY COMMAND STAFF WHO ARE PREPARED TO ADDRESS A LITTLE MORE IN DETAIL.

THE EXTENT THAT WE ARE TAKING THAT WE ARE GOING TO TRY TO REDUCE OVERTIME, BUT ALSO TO GIVE YOU A MORE CLEAR PICTURE OF BOTH SIDES OF THE HOUSE.

SO LET ME GO AHEAD AND BRING UP DEPUTY, OUR ASSISTANT CHIEF, JOEL JANSSEN, FIRST ON THE DETENTION SIDE.

GOOD MORNING, CHIEF. GOOD MORNING.

SO CURRENTLY FROM JANUARY TO NOW, WE'VE INCREASED OUR FULL TIME EMPLOYEES ON THE FLOORS AT THE JAIL BY 76.

WE CURRENTLY HAVE 72 IN THE ACADEMY.

SO WITH THAT DONE AND TOTAL VACANCIES, WE'RE CURRENTLY AT 146.

OUR OVERTIME, LIKE I MENTIONED BEFORE IN OTHER COURT SESSIONS, IT SPIKED BECAUSE OF APRIL.

MARCH, AND APRIL IS BECAUSE WE PULLED THE TEMPORARY JAILERS OUT OF THE JAIL, AND WE PUSHED THEM THROUGH THE ACADEMY.

THOSE INDIVIDUALS ARE NOW GRADUATED IN MAY, AND NOW WE'RE GOING TO START SEEING A DECREASE COME MAY AND THEN A HUGE DECREASE IN JUNE.

CHIEF, I JUST HAD A QUESTION, BY MY COUNT, GOING ON A ROUGH VACANCY OF 200 IN THE JAIL A YEAR AGO, LET'S JUST SAY, OR SO. IT LOOKS LIKE A NET 54, YOU KNOW, WITH THE REGULAR ATTRITION AND RETIREMENT AND EVERYTHING ELSE.

AM I ABOUT ON PAR? ABOUT, BECAUSE WE FLUCTUATE BETWEEN THE 200 AND 250 BASED OFF OF THE ACADEMIES THAT CAME BEFORE, BUT I'LL BE HONEST WITH YOU CURRENTLY, RIGHT NOW, RETENTION HAS GONE A LOT BETTER.

SO WE'RE DEFINITELY MOVING THE RIGHT DIRECTION, AND THAT WAS THAT WAS MY POINT.

I THINK THIS IS THE BEST UPDATE IN THAT REGARD.

I HAVE SEEN, AND SO I'M JUST PROUD OF EVERYTHING THAT YOU ALL HAVE DONE AND THE COURT'S INVESTED TO HELP MAKE THINGS A BIT BETTER, AND WE'VE GOT TO KEEP WORKING TO MAKE THOSE

[00:20:03]

THINGS INCREASE SO THAT WE CAN RETAIN AS MANY AS POSSIBLE.

SO GOOD. GOOD JOB, COMMISSIONER MOODY.

YEAH. THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.

I KNOW YOU JUST WALKED IN THE DOOR.

SO SORRY TO CATCH YOU OFF GUARD HERE, BUT THE JUST A FEW QUESTIONS.

AGAIN, I THINK THIS IS IMPORTANT THAT, YOU KNOW, IT'S AN ISSUE THAT WE CONTINUE TO DEAL WITH AND WE CONTINUE TO TALK ABOUT AND GET, YOU KNOW, RECURRING UPDATES ON AND OBVIOUSLY, THIS IS THE ONE TIME WE HAVE THAT CHANCE.

SO YOU MENTIONED THE VACANCIES AT 146.

SO THAT'S GREAT NEWS.

I BELIEVE, YOU KNOW, AS RECENTLY AS SIX MONTHS AGO, NINE MONTHS AGO, THAT NUMBER WAS CLOSER TO 300 AT ONE POINT.

SO IT SOUNDS LIKE WE'RE MAKING GREAT PROGRESS THERE.

I WAS JUST WONDERING ON THE REPORTING, YOU KNOW, THE BASED ON THE GRAPHS I HAVE, THE LATEST DATE WAS IN APRIL, BUT I THINK IT STILL SHOWED.

IT STILL SHOWED AROUND 230 VACANCIES.

THOSE CLASSES JUST GRADUATED IN MAY, AND THAT'S WHERE BUMPED UP THE NUMBERS.

OKAY.

OKAY, SO THE FIELD AND UNFILLED VACANCIES.

IS THAT WHAT YOU'RE. OH, I'M JUST LOOKING AT THE GRAPH OF AVERAGE MONTHLY VACANCIES AT THE ADULT DETENTION CENTER THAT HAS I GUESS IT HAS MAY AT 230 ON HERE, BUT IT LOOKS LIKE THAT REPORTING IS BEHIND WHAT YOU'RE SAYING, AND I JUST WANT TO RECONCILE THOSE TWO NUMBERS, AND SO THAT'S, THAT'S WITHOUT THE IF SO CURRENTLY RIGHT NOW WE HAVE 72 CADETS.

SO WE INCLUDE THE 72 WITH THE FULL VACANCIES NUMBER, AND THAT'S WHERE WE COME OUT TO THE 140.

OKAY. GOTCHA.

SO YOUR VACANCY NUMBER IS POST THOSE INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE IN TRAINING.

THIS NUMBER IS NOT INCLUDING THEM.

CORRECT? NO, SIR. OKAY.

GOOD TO KNOW, AND THEN ON THE SO THE CHALLENGE IN REPORTING TO YOU IS JUST OBVIOUSLY WE'VE SEEN A DROP IN THE MANDATORY OVERTIME HOURS AT THE, THE JAIL BUT A SIGNIFICANT INCREASE IN THE FLSA.

CORRECT. OBVIOUSLY I REALLY CARE ABOUT THE NET IMPACT, RIGHT? ONE'S GOING DOWN AND ONE'S GOING UP, BUT WITH THE REPORTING, THEY WERE AT DIFFERENT TIMES.

I THINK THE OVERTIME WAS CUT OFF AT DECEMBER, BUT THE FLSA WENT UNTIL APRIL AND I RECEIVED A GRAPH THIS MORNING, BUT I WASN'T SURE HOW TO INTERPRET IT AND WHETHER THIS INCLUDED OVERTIME UP UNTIL APRIL OR NOT.

SO COULD YOU JUST SPEAK TO IT? THE TOP LINE, IF YOU LOOK, THAT'S GOING TO BE YOUR FLSA.

SO WHAT I DO IS I TAKE, TAKE, GO THROUGH AND SYSTEMATICALLY HAND ENTER INTO AN EXCEL SHEET, AND THEN THAT'S WHERE WE'RE ABLE TO GET THE TOTAL AMOUNT BEFORE THE BUDGET OFFICE.

SO CURRENTLY AS OF APRIL, THAT'S WHAT YOUR TOTAL HOURS IS GOING TO BE 23,807 FLSA HOURS, AND THEN ON THE OTHER SIDE, YOUR 15,216, THAT'S GOING TO BE WHAT'S PAID THROUGH THE OVERTIME REQUEST THAT WE COME UP.

OKAY. GOOD TO KNOW, AND FINALLY, IF WE'RE MAKING PROGRESS ON THOSE VACANCIES AT THE JAIL, WHICH SOUNDS LIKE WE ABSOLUTELY ARE AND ONCE WE GET THOSE CADETS INTO THE JAIL FULL TIME, WHEN ARE WE GOING TO START TO SEE THAT FLSA COME DOWN? SO I'M PROJECTING BASICALLY MAY YOU'RE GOING TO SEE A SUBTLE INCREASE DECREASE, BUT THEN JUNE YOU'RE DEFINITELY GOING TO SEE A HUGE DECREASE ACTUALLY TO GET TO THAT POINT.

BOOKING WHO UNCOVERS ABOUT 15% OF THE OVERTIME, WE'RE GOING TO BE TAKING THEM OFF OVERTIME.

SO THAT'LL BE IN THE MONTH OF JUNE.

GOOD, GOOD TO HEAR.

ALL RIGHT. I APPRECIATE YOU ALL SHARING AN UPDATE HERE.

I THINK THIS IS IMPORTANT FOR THE COUNTY.

I'LL MOVE APPROVAL.

ALL RIGHT. MOTION BY COMMISSIONER MOODY, SECOND BY COMMISSIONER CALVERT.

COMMISSIONER RODRIGUEZ.

COMMISSIONER CLAY-FLORES. YEAH I JUST WANTED TO FOLLOW UP.

SO WE HAD APPROVED THE $2,000 BONUS FOR NEW GRADUATES.

SO DO WE HAVE ANY STATS ON IF THAT'S HELPING TO RETAIN STAFF? WELL, I.

COMMISSIONER. ABSOLUTELY, AND IT WAS WE KNEW THAT IT WAS A SHOT IN THE ARM, BUT I THINK THAT THE $2,000 SIGNING BONUS, THE REMOVAL OF THE REQUIREMENT THAT THEY GO OVER THE JAIL, IN OTHER WORDS, THE STRAIGHT TO THE STREETS PROGRAM THE, THE PAY RAISE THAT WE WERE ABLE TO ACHIEVE THROUGH OUR JOINT WORK THE PARTNERSHIPS WITH OUR INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER LEARNING, SAN ANTONIO COLLEGE, WAYLAND BAPTIST UNIVERSITY, BUDDY PROGRAM, THE LIST GOES ON AND ON AND ON.

[00:25:06]

I THINK THAT ALL OF THOSE THINGS TOGETHER ARE WHAT IS HELPING US TO ACHIEVE THE, THE STRIDES IN MANPOWER THAT WE'VE MADE SO I WOULDN'T HAVE A ROUND NUMBER TO BE ABLE TO POINT TO ANY ONE THING.

I THINK IT'S A COMBINATION OF THE THINGS WE'VE ALL ACHIEVED TOGETHER THAT ARE HELPING TO MOVE THAT NEEDLE.

OKAY. ALL RIGHT.

GREAT. THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER CALVERT.

THANK YOU. JUDGE, I JUST WANTED YOU TO ELABORATE A BIT MORE ON KIND OF THE FIRST THING YOU SAID, WHICH WAS THE NATURE OF CRIME IS GETTING WORSE.

CAN YOU JUST TELEGRAPH TO US WHAT YOU'RE SEEING? WELL AS YOU ALL KNOW, I MEAN, YOU ALL HAVE SEEN THE NEWS COVERAGE OF THE SOME OF THE CASES THAT WERE HANDLING DOMESTIC VIOLENCE RELATED HOMICIDES.

WE HAD ONE JUST RECENTLY WHERE WE BELIEVE A HUSBAND WAS MURDERED WHILE HE SLEPT ON THE COUCH.

WE'VE HAD SEVERAL INSTANCES WHERE, UNFORTUNATELY, CHILDREN HAVE BEEN VICTIMIZED.

HIGH PROFILE CASE WHERE A COUPLE MONTHS, A COUPLE OF WEEKS BACK WE HAD AN INCIDENT WHERE IT APPEARS AT THIS POINT THAT A MOTHER DROVE TO A PARK WITH HER SMALL CHILD AND TOOK HIS LIFE BEFORE TAKING HER OWN THERE IN THE PARK, AND ADDITIONALLY, RIGHT NOW, AS AS WE SPEAK, OUR DEPUTIES HAVE BEEN WORKING, OUR INVESTIGATORS AND DEPUTIES HAVE BEEN WORKING AROUND THE CLOCK TO TRY TO SOLVE THE MURDER OF THE LITTLE GIRL, FOUR YEAR OLD LITTLE GIRL IN PRECINCT FOUR.

AS A MATTER OF FACT THAT, YOU KNOW, UNFORTUNATELY, DESPITE OUR BEST EFFORTS, ALTHOUGH WE'RE MAKING STRIDES, WE STILL HAVE SOME WORK TO DO BEFORE BEING ABLE TO BRING SOMEBODY TO JUSTICE ON THAT CASE, AND SO THIS IS JUST THAT'S JUST A SNAPSHOT OF THE THINGS THAT WE'RE DEALING WITH.

AGAIN, I BROUGHT A LITTLE SPREADSHEET HERE WITH ME WHERE WE TALK ABOUT FATAL CAR CRASHES, VIOLENT ROBBERIES AND CARJACKINGS, ASSAULTS CERTAINLY A BIG FELONY WARRANT ROUNDUP THAT WE'RE THAT WE'RE ENGAGED IN RIGHT NOW WITH OUR PARTNERS FEDERAL, STATE AND LOCAL DPS, SAPD, THE US MARSHAL SERVICE WHERE WE'RE OUT JUST ARRESTING VIOLENT FELONS RIGHT NOW. I CAN'T SPEAK FOR THE OTHER AGENCIES, BUT I CAN TELL YOU, WE'RE LEADING THE PACK WITH ABOUT 80 VIOLENT FELONS THAT WE PUT INTO JAIL JUST THE LAST COUPLE OF WEEKS OURSELVES, JUST THE LAST COUPLE OF DAYS OURSELVES AT THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE, AND SO WE'RE CERTAINLY DOING WHAT WE NEED TO DO TO, TO KEEP THE COMMUNITY SAFE, BUT WITH THAT BEING SAID, THAT'S GOING TO CAUSE NATURALLY, OVER TIME TO GO UP.

OKAY, AND HOW ARE DRUGS AIDING THAT PARTICULAR INCREASE? WELL, DRUGS ARE ABSOLUTELY COMING INTO PLAY.

YOU KNOW, THE, THE PRESENCE OF DRUGS AND READILY AVAILABLE OR THE FACT THAT FIREARMS ARE SO READILY AVAILABLE THROUGH THEFT AND THROUGH OTHER MEANS IT JUST CONTINUES TO DRIVE THINGS FOR US, AND WE HAVEN'T EVEN ENTERED THE SUMMER MONTHS YET WHERE WE KNOW, STATISTICALLY SPEAKING, THINGS ARE GOING TO GET CRAZIER FOR US, FOR LACK OF A BETTER TERM AND SO AS WE MOVE INTO IT, I CAN FULLY EXPECT THAT WE'RE GOING TO BE BACK.

WE HOPE TO CONTINUE THE UPWARD TREND ON MANPOWER AND THE DOWNWARD TREND ON THE OVERTIME, BUT WITH THAT BEING SAID, THE MEN AND WOMEN OF THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE ABSOLUTELY HAVE TO DO WHAT THEY HAVE TO DO TO KEEP THE COMMUNITY SAFE, AND IN TERMS OF ORGANIZED CRIME THERE'S BEEN WHAT ARE THE TOP SYNDICATES THAT ARE THAT WERE WAGING YOU KNOW, ANTI-CRIME EFFORTS AGAINST.

WELL, SO WITH REGARD TO ORGANIZED CRIME, OUR DEPUTIES AT THE AT WORK OUT OF THE TAG, OUR ORGANIZED CRIME GROUP THAT WAS FORMED UP SEVERAL YEARS BACK HAS BEEN ABSOLUTELY BUSY. IT'S WHAT THEY DO.

THEY'RE FIGHTING. NOT.

JUST HOMEGROWN CRIME, THE TRADITIONAL CRIPS AND BLOODS MEXICAN MAFIA AND TEXAS SYNDICATE AND OREJONES.

NOW THEY'RE DEALING WITH A NEW BREED OF CRIMINAL COMING ACROSS THE SOUTHERN BORDER, [INAUDIBLE].

SOME OF THE OTHER, MORE VIOLENT GANGS FROM CENTRAL AND SOUTH AMERICA THAT ARE ALSO FINDING THEIR WAY INTO THE JAIL, AND OF COURSE, THAT I WON'T BORE YOU WITH THE DETAILS AT THIS POINT, BUT THAT IS ACTUALLY PART OF THEIR PART OF THIS ORGANIZED CRIME GROUP'S BUSINESS PLAN, FOR LACK OF A BETTER TERM, IS TO COME IN NETWORK WITH OTHER GANGS AND THEN FORM UP AND CONTINUE THEIR PATH NORTHWARD.

SO IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE'RE CONTINUING TO FIGHT 24/7/365, AND AGAIN, I'M SURE I'M POSITIVE I WILL BE BACK, BUT I'LL ALSO BRING BACK WITH FACTS AND FIGURES LIKE.

LIKE WHAT WE BROUGHT MY CHIEFS ALONG TO EXPLAIN, AND FINALLY, WHAT IS THIS PATTERN WITH CAR THEFTS GOING FROM HERE DOWN TO THE BORDER AND CROSSING THE BORDER? WHAT'S GOING ON THERE? WELL, WE'RE SEEING COUNTYWIDE AND I'D LOVE TO BE ABLE TO, TO TELL PEOPLE, HEY, JUST STAY OUT OF THIS AREA, IN THIS AREA, BUT WE'RE SEEING IT COUNTYWIDE, AFFLUENT NEIGHBORHOODS, NOT SO AFFLUENT NEIGHBORHOODS, RETAIL CENTERS, GYMS, MOVIE THEATERS, WHEREVER, WHEREVER PEOPLE ARE FOUND AND CARS ARE FOUND.

UNFORTUNATELY, THAT'S WHERE THAT'S WHERE THE CRIMINALS WILL PREY ON THEM.

THEIR EFFORT IS TO A STEAL GUNS OUT OF VEHICLES THAT ARE LEFT IN VEHICLES UNATTENDED, WHICH, YOU KNOW, WE KNOW THAT HAPPENS AT A CRAZY AMOUNT, BUT ADDITIONALLY, THEY'RE OUT THERE STEALING CARS, NAMELY BIG TRUCKS AND BIG SUVS.

THE REASON THAT THEY'RE DOING THAT IS TO TAKE THOSE CARS SOUTH, EITHER TO SELL TO THE DRUG CARTELS, TO UTILIZE IN THEIR ONGOING WARS BETWEEN EACH OTHER AS

[00:30:06]

THEY FIGHT FOR GANG TURF, BUT ADDITIONALLY, THEY USE IT IN HUMAN SMUGGLING TO BRING PEOPLE BACK NORTH.

IT'S USUALLY OR SOMETIMES WE SEE THAT VEHICLE WITHIN A FEW HOURS OF HAVING BEEN STOLEN AND STRIPPED, IT'S HEADING SOUTH, AND THEN A FEW HOURS AFTER THAT, IT'S SEEN HEADING BACK NORTH, LOADED DOWN WITH HUMAN CARGO.

UNBELIEVABLE. WELL, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ALL YOUR MEN AND WOMEN WHAT THEY DO TO SACRIFICE FOR US DAILY.

APPRECIATE IT. THANK YOU, JUDGE; I APPRECIATE IT.

THANK YOU. COMMISSIONER RODRIGUEZ.

YEAH. THANK YOU, JUDGE. SHERIFF, JUST HAVE A COUPLE OF REQUESTS.

YOU PROBABLY CAN'T ANSWER RIGHT NOW, BUT YOU KNOW, IN LIGHT OF KIND OF THE SOME OF THE SOBERING FACTS THAT YOU JUST LAID OUT WITH THE SHADOW OF THE BUDGET, YOU KNOW, COMING UP I THINK YOU'D AGREE THIS COURT'S BEEN PRETTY SUPPORTIVE OF OF LAW ENFORCEMENT AND TRYING TO PUT RESOURCES IN THE COMMUNITY FOR PUBLIC SAFETY.

TWO THINGS, IF YOU CAN GET TO US.

ONE IS THE UTILIZATION OF THE RESOURCES WE PUT IN THE BUDGET LAST YEAR.

IF YOU CAN GET US KIND OF AN UPDATE AT SOME POINT ON HOW THOSE POSITIONS ARE COMING ALONG, HOW THEY'VE BEEN UTILIZED IN THE COUNTY.

SURE, AND THEN EARLY, I MEAN, EARLY, I KNOW IT'S ALREADY MAY AND BUDGET'S COMING, BUT A PRIORITIZATION, AS YOU ALWAYS DO OF OF HOW WE CAN BE HELPFUL THIS BUDGET CYCLE. AGAIN, I KNOW IT'S GOING TO BE A LITTLE BIT TIGHTER OF A BUDGET.

I KNOW REVENUES ARE SOUNDS LIKE COMING IN NOT AS HIGH AS THEY HAVE IN YEARS PAST, BUT I THINK THAT AND I WANT TO SPEAK FOR MY COLLEAGUES, BUT I'M SURE A LOT OF US ARE HEARING ABOUT THESE CONCERNS OF PUBLIC SAFETY, AND IT HAS TO BE A HIGH PRIORITY.

SO IF YOU CAN WORK WITH US EARLY ON HOW WE CAN INTEGRATE SOME RECOMMENDATIONS INTO A BUDGET, THAT MAKES SENSE, AND THAT'S GOING TO MAKE THE MOST IMPACT ON PUBLIC SAFETY IN THE COMMUNITY. WE WOULD APPRECIATE THAT.

SO ABSOLUTELY, COMMISSIONER.

THANK YOU, AND YES, YOU'RE RIGHT, YOU ALL HAVE BEEN PRETTY SUPPORTIVE.

WE WERE BLESSED TO GET SEVERAL DOZEN POSITIONS ADDED TO THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE LAST YEAR.

THOSE THE BULK OF THEM ARE GOING TO PATROL AT PRESENT.

THOSE ARE YOU KNOW, OBVIOUSLY MANY OF THOSE ARE NOW RIGHT NOW, CADETS WE STARTED A CADET CLASS YESTERDAY ON THE LAW ENFORCEMENT SIDE OF THE HOUSE FOR PATROL.

SO THAT'S ABOUT A CLASS OF ABOUT 20 THAT WAS STARTED AND THAT EXHAUSTED THAT LAST LIST.

WE'RE DOING ANOTHER TEST THIS NEXT FRIDAY, I BELIEVE THIS FRIDAY AT THE AT THE COLISEUM.

WE'RE DOING A LAW ENFORCEMENT TEST THERE FOR PATROL, AND I THINK WE'VE GOT UPWARDS OF 300 PEOPLE THAT ARE REGISTERED TO TAKE THAT TEST, AND SO WE WE'RE NOT SLOWING DOWN ONE SINGLE BIT. SO I CAN TELL YOU, JUST AS A SNAPSHOT OF WHAT WE'RE GOING TO BE ASKING FOR AS WE MOVE INTO THE NEXT BUDGET CYCLE, WE'RE GOING TO BE ASKING FOR MORE BODIES.

NOW, THE BULK OF THOSE, AGAIN, WILL GO TO PATROL, BUT WE ARE GOING TO BE ASKING FOR INVESTIGATOR POSITIONS TO TARGET SOME OF THE ORE SPECIFIC CRIMES THAT WE'VE BEEN SEEING FRAUDS AGAINST SENIORS AND AGAINST THE IMMIGRANT COMMUNITY IS WHAT IS WHAT WE'RE SEEING.

SO WE'RE TRYING TO FORM UP OR SHORE UP OUR EFFORTS AGAINST WHITE COLLAR CRIME.

ADDITIONALLY, WE'RE IN THE PROCESS OF BUILDING UP OUR INTELLIGENCE GATHERING, CONTINUING TO BUILD UP OUR INTELLIGENCE GATHERING EFFORTS.

SPECIAL VICTIMS, CHILD SAFE HOMICIDE.

WE'RE LOOKING TO BEEF UP ALL OF THOSE UNITS.

SO WE'RE GOING TO BE ASKING FOR AN APPROPRIATE NUMBER OF INVESTIGATORS EARMARKED TOWARD THOSE DIFFERENT MISSIONS, BUT ADDITIONALLY, AN APPROPRIATE NUMBER OF SUPERVISORS AND MANAGEMENT, UPPER MANAGEMENT STAFF TO CONTINUE TO EFFECTIVELY SUPERVISE THOSE PEOPLE, BUT AGAIN, TO ALSO PART OF THE JOB OF MANAGERS IS TO EFFICIENTLY MANAGE, IN OTHER WORDS, TO TRY TO KEEP OVERTIME COSTS DOWN WHILE KEEPING LEVEL OF SERVICE TO THE COMMUNITY UP.

THANK YOU, SIR. ALL RIGHT, SHERIFF, LET ME CLOSE WITH SOME COMMENTS.

EXCUSE ME. OBVIOUSLY, SHERIFF, YOU KNOW.

I LOVE THE MEDIA, BUT THE MEDIA ALWAYS PAINTS A PICTURE IN OUR COMMUNITY AND SOMETIMES IT'S NOT ALWAYS A FAIR PICTURE.

SO TODAY I WOULD LIKE TO THANK YOU AND YOUR CHIEFS AND THE MEN AND WOMEN OF THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT AND THE DETENTION CENTER FOR THEIR HARD WORK.

OBVIOUSLY, AS WHAT'S BEEN NOTED, THE COURT HAS SUPPORTED THE BEXAR COUNTY SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT AND THE MEN AND WOMEN THAT WORK IN YOUR DEPARTMENT, AND WE TRIED OUR VERY BEST.

WE DON'T ALWAYS GET TO WHERE PERHAPS WHAT YOU NEED, BUT WE DO HAVE VERY BEST TO MEET WHAT YOUR NEEDS ARE IN ORDER TO ADDRESS THE ISSUES OF OUR COMMUNITY.

ONE THING, FOR THE RECORD, I'D LIKE TO PUT ON IS THAT ONE, I APPRECIATE THE QUESTIONS AND COMMENTS FROM THE COMMISSIONERS AND TRYING TO ASSESS WHAT ARE THE NEEDS FOR OUR COMMUNITY AND HOW DO WE BETTER PROTECT THEM, BUT AS YOU KNOW, SHERIFF, WE ALL CAME TOGETHER IN THE FALL.

I LED AN INITIATIVE CALLED THE PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE, AND WHERE WE BROUGHT ALL THE STAKEHOLDERS TOGETHER FROM YOUR OFFICE TO THE SAN ANTONIO POLICE DEPARTMENT, TO THE

[00:35:03]

DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE, TO THE COURTS JUDGE RONNELL, AND WE BROUGHT EVERYBODY TOGETHER BECAUSE THERE WAS A BIG ISSUE LAST FALL, AT LEAST ON THE STREETS, SO TO SPEAK, AND WHAT THE MEDIA WAS PORTRAYING THE REASON WHY I WANTED TO EVEN RECOGNIZE YOU AND ALL THE OTHER STAKEHOLDERS IS BECAUSE WHEN WE CAME TOGETHER, WE FOUND THE SOLUTIONS.

WE FOUND SOME OF THE WEAKNESSES IN OUR SYSTEM, AND OBVIOUSLY I KNOW YOUR OFFICE HAS REALLY STEPPED UP, AND I RECOGNIZE THE FISCAL, THE ISSUE HERE THAT WE'RE VOTING ON, AND I UNDERSTAND THAT'S THE COST THAT WE HAVE TO ASSUME IN ORDER TO PROPERLY COMPENSATE OUR EMPLOYEES.

AT THE SAME TIME, I'M PLEASED THAT WE'RE LOOKING PERHAPS THAT ON THE LONG RUN, THOSE COSTS ARE GOING TO BE COMING DOWN.

WE ALSO KNOW, AND I THINK COMMISSIONER RODRIGUEZ HAS POINTED OUT, YOU KNOW, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO START TIGHTENING UP OUR BUDGET, BUT WE CAN'T COMPROMISE ON PUBLIC SAFETY.

THE OTHER THING I WANT TO PUT ON RECORD IS THE JAIL POPULATION, BECAUSE I STUDY THAT DAILY, AND I'M WATCHING THAT AND CONFERRING WITH ALL THE STAKEHOLDERS INVOLVED.

I WANT TO RECOGNIZE YOUR WORK IN THE WARRANTS EXECUTION AND PICKING THE VIOLENT OFFENDERS UP.

THAT WAS THE SPECIFIC TASK OF THE PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE.

ALSO TO THE DA'S OFFICE IS WORKING ON THE BACKLOG, AND THAT MEANS THAT THERE ARE MORE WARRANTS COMING OUT OF THAT PROCESS, AND ALSO, TOO, WE KNOW THAT THE COURTS ARE WORKING HARD, AND ALTHOUGH WE'VE HAD A SIGNIFICANT INCREASE IN ALL THOSE ISSUES, THE COURTS ARE MOVING PEOPLE OUT, AND OBVIOUSLY WE STILL HAVE ISSUES WITHIN OUR JAIL THAT WE HAVE PEOPLE THAT ARE STILL SITTING IN THERE WAITING TO GET TO TRIAL, WAITING FOR THE CASE TO DISPOSE, BUT WE ALSO HAVE ANOTHER SET OF GROUP OF PRISONERS THAT ARE WAITING TO GO TO STATE STATE PRISON OR STATE JAIL, ALSO, TOO, WE HAVE THE MENTALLY ILL AND WE HAVE PEOPLE THAT ARE NOT UNABLE TO PROCESS OUT.

SO AGAIN, I APPRECIATE ALL THE EFFORTS THAT YOU DO TO MOVE ALL THAT POPULATION, AND I WANT THE PUBLIC TO KNOW THAT ALTHOUGH THE JAIL POPULATION HAS GONE UP FOR THE REASONS THAT YOU STATED, I THINK IT OVERALL WE HAVE MADE OUR COMMUNITY SAFER AND THE RECORD REALLY IS, SHERIFF, THAT CRIME RATES ARE GOING DOWN STATICALLY, NOT NOT SIGNIFICANT, BUT THEY'RE NOT GOING UP, ALTHOUGH THE MEDIA OBVIOUSLY MAY NOT PAINT THAT PICTURE.

IS THAT A CORRECT STATEMENT? YES, SIR. ALTHOUGH IT DOES TEND TO TREND DOWNWARD AT TIMES WE DO STILL SEE SURGES WHERE IT TICKS UPWARDS, AND I THINK THAT'S WHAT WE'RE EXPERIENCING RIGHT NOW, AND THAT'S WHY THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT, LAW ENFORCEMENT MUST BE NIMBLE TO PIVOT, TO DEAL WITH THOSE ISSUES.

BECAUSE WE CAN'T WE CAN'T GIVE YOU ALL THE RESOURCES FOR ALL THE PROBLEMS THAT THE COMMISSIONERS HAVE POINTED OUT.

YOU KNOW, PEOPLE THAT HAVE DRUG ISSUES, PEOPLE THAT ARE STEALING CARS, VIOLENT CRIMINALS, VIOLENT TEENAGER, YOUTHFUL OFFENDERS.

I MEAN, THERE'S NOT ENOUGH RESOURCES TO TRY TO COVER, BUT I APPRECIATE THE LEADERSHIP THAT YOU AND YOUR CHIEFS DO IN ORDER TO TRY TO CONCENTRATE ON THOSE AREAS AND THEN KNOWING THERE ARE CERTAIN AREAS OF TOWN, BUT DON'T THEY CALL THOSE HOT SPOTS THAT YOU TRY TO DEAL WITH AND MAKE SURE THAT THE COMMUNITY FEELS ASSURED THAT WE'RE DOING OUR VERY BEST TO PROTECT OUR COMMUNITY? WOULD THAT BE A CORRECT STATEMENT? ABSOLUTELY, JUDGE.

SO AGAIN, PLEASE THANK THE MEN AND WOMEN OF THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT.

WITH THAT, WE HAVE A MOTION BY COMMISSIONER MOODY, SECOND, BY COMMISSIONER CALVERT.

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

AYE. ANY OPPOSED? ANY ABSTENTIONS? MOTION CARRIES.

THANK YOU, JUDGE. THANK YOU FOR YOUR REPORT.

[76. Approval of a request from County Judge Peter Sakai to appoint the following individual to the listed board: Board or Commission Applicant Date of Appointment Term Expiration Re-appointment / New Appointment Bexar County Historical Commission Erika Arredondo- Haskins May 21, 2024 May 21, 2026 Appointment]

I'D ALSO LIKE A POINT OF PERSONAL PRIVILEGE.

COURT, I'D LIKE TO RECOGNIZE SHE WAS ON CONSENT AGENDA, ITEM NUMBER 76.

IT WAS ONE OF MY AGENDA ITEMS. CAN I ASK DOCTOR ERICA ARREDONDO-HASKINS TO COME FORWARD? AND I BELIEVE MISS BELINDA GAVALLOS IS ALSO HERE.

WOULD YOU PLEASE STEP FORWARD? JUST TO LET YOU KNOW, WE JUST APPROVED HER APPOINTMENT TO THE BEXAR COUNTY HISTORICAL COMMISSION.

SHE'S MY APPOINTMENT.

I HAVE PERSONALLY INTERVIEWED HER, AND I CAN'T FIND A PERSON.

WELL, PERHAPS NOT MAYBE BELINDA, BUT OTHER THAN THAT PERSON OF THE STATURE AND THE BACKGROUND AND THE KNOWLEDGE SHE HAS THAT SHE'LL BRING TO HISTORICAL COMMISSION, AND WHAT I REALLY APPRECIATE IS I'VE MADE IT VERY CLEAR THAT ALL THOSE COMMISSIONS ARE VOLUNTARY.

THEY DON'T GET PAID.

YOU KNOW, THERE'S A LOT OF EXPECTATION, RESPONSIBILITY.

THEY ARE TRULY IMPORTANT COMMISSIONS, AND THE BEXAR COUNTY HISTORICAL COMMISSION IS ONE THAT I'M ASKING THE MY COLLEAGUES, THE COMMISSIONERS, TO RECHECK, MAKE SURE THAT ALL APPOINTEES ARE FULLY ENGAGED AND ARE PARTICIPATING.

[00:40:05]

SO, BELINDA, AS CHAIR, WOULD YOU JUST GET BRIEFLY GIVE US A REPORT AND THEN INTRODUCE OUR NEWEST MEMBER, DOCTOR ARREDONDO HASKINS? YES. YES, SIR.

THE BEXAR COUNTY HISTORICAL COMMISSION, FOUNDED IN 1967, IS THE ONLY COUNTY COMMISSION THAT MUST ABIDE WITH TEXAS HISTORICAL COMMISSION CODES, AND WE DO REPORT TO THEM AS WELL AS TO YOU ALL.

WE'RE DESIGNED TO PRESERVE, PROTECT, AND PROMOTE THE RICH HISTORY OF BEXAR COUNTY BY INITIATING ACTIONS AND COOPERATING WITH STATE AND LOCAL PROGRAMS TO ENCOURAGE AWARENESS OF HISTORIC PRESERVATION, FOSTERING THE APPRECIATION OF BEXAR COUNTY'S HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE.

BEXAR COUNTY IS NOW INITIATING A NEW BRANDING CONCEPT AS THE PORTAL TO OUR HISTORY.

WE ARE ESPECIALLY WANTING TO REACH OUT TO THE YOUTH OF SAN ANTONIO.

I'M VERY SORRY THAT THE THOSE STUDENTS AREN'T HERE NOW, BECAUSE I WOULD HAVE LIKED TO HAVE SPOKEN WITH THEM TOO, OR TO THEM.

SO AWARENESS LEADS TO CURIOSITY, CURIOSITY AND INTEREST, WHICH IS THE FOUNDATION OF THE LOVE OF LEARNING OF OUR HISTORY.

TO THAT END, I STRESS THE IMPORTANCE OF THE CALIBER AND THE DEGREE OF ENGAGEMENT OF THE COMMISSION MEMBERS IS VITAL TO THE SUCCESS OF THESE GOALS.

I'D LIKE TO INTRODUCE DOCTOR ERIKA ARREDONDO-HASKINS, OUR NEW APPOINTEE TO THE TO THE BEXAR COUNTY HISTORICAL COMMISSION.

DOCTOR HASKINS, GOOD MORNING, DOCTOR HASKINS.

GOOD MORNING. WOULD YOU PLEASE INTRODUCE AND BRIEFLY LET THE COURT KNOW AND THE PUBLIC KNOW SOME OF YOUR BACKGROUND.

YOU REALLY HAVE A VERY IMPRESSIVE CV RESUME.

THANK YOU. GOOD MORNING.

JUDGE SAKAI AND MEMBERS OF THE COMMISSION.

I AM AN 11TH GENERATION TEXAN.

I EARNED MY PHD AT THE UNIVERSITY OF THE INCARNATE WORD IN EDUCATION.

I ALSO HOLD A BACHELOR'S IN BUSINESS DEGREE, A MASTER'S IN ORGANIZATIONAL LEADERSHIP, AND A MASTER'S IN THEOLOGY.

I CURRENTLY TEACH RELIGIOUS STUDIES AT THE UNIVERSITY OF THE INCARNATE WORD.

I ALSO AM THE DIRECTOR VOLUNTEER DIRECTOR FOR THE YOUNG WOMEN'S GLOBAL LEADERSHIP PROGRAM, WHERE I MENTOR HIGH SCHOOL GIRLS IN FOUR COUNTRIES, INCLUDING UGANDA, KENYA, KOSOVO, TURKEY, AND OUR SAN ANTONIO LOCAL GIRLS THERE AT THE UNIVERSITY OF THE INCARNATE WORD WITH MY COLLEAGUES AND VOLUNTEER DOCTORAL CANDIDATES AT THE UNIVERSITY OF THE INCARNATE WORD.

I HAVE AN EXTENSIVE BACKGROUND IN PUBLIC PROGRAMMING IN EARLY TEXAS HISTORY, IN WOMEN'S AND YOUNG WOMEN'S LEADERSHIP PRESENTED EXTENSIVELY AROUND THE STATE OF TEXAS, HAVE NUMEROUS PUBLICATIONS, AND JUST HAVE A DEEP LOVE AND APPRECIATION FOR OUR HISTORY.

THANK YOU. HAVE A GREAT DAY.

THANK YOU. BYE BYE.

LET'S GIVE A ROUND OF APPLAUSE FOR OUR NEWEST APPOINTEE AND OUR CHAIR AND OUR CHAIR.

ALL RIGHT, YOU ALL BE GOOD.

ALL RIGHT. AGENDA ITEM FIVE, FILING FOR THE RECORD, THE FOLLOWING LEGAL ADMINISTRATIVE DOCUMENTS DIRECTING THE CRIMINAL DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE TO TAKE ACTION IF NECESSARY.

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

SUBSECTIONS A THROUGH G.

[6. Commissioners Court minutes for Tuesday, May 7, 2024.]

SIX COMMISSIONERS COURT MINUTES FOR TUESDAY, MAY 7TH, 2024.

MOTION TO APPROVE THE MINUTES. MOTION BY COMMISSIONER RODRIGUEZ, SECOND BY COMMISSIONER CALVERT.

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

AYE. ANY OPPOSED? ANY ABSTENTIONS? MOTION CARRIES.

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

COMMUNICATIONS TO SIGN THE REGISTERED TO SPEAK, I HAVE JEFFREY RICHARD OR RICHARD, WOULD YOU PLEASE COME FORWARD? YOU HAVE THREE MINUTES. THANK YOU.

IS IT RICHARD OR RICHARD? RICHARD. RICHARD.

WE MET IN AUSTIN, DIDN'T WE? WE DID INDEED. NICE SEEING YOU.

I'D LIKE TO SAY IT'S RICHARD, EXCEPT WHEN I'M IN LOUISIANA, THEN IT'S RICHARD.

[CHUCKLING] WELL, YOU'RE IN BEXAR COUNTY.

YOU CAN CALL YOURSELF WHATEVER YOU WANT.

YEAH. FOR THE RECORD, I AM JEFFREY RICHARD AND HONORABLE JUDGE SAKAI AND HONORABLE MEMBERS OF THE COMMISSIONERS COURT, I AM A MEMBER FOR NEARLY 20 YEARS OF THE AUSTIN AREA RESEARCH ORGANIZATION OR CALLED AARO FOR SHORT.

AARO IS A NONPROFIT, NONPARTISAN NETWORK OF PREEMINENT LEADERS IN CENTRAL TEXAS FROM SEVERAL COUNTIES, INCLUDING CALDWELL, HAYS, BURNET, BASTROP, TRAVIS, AND WILLIAMSON, WHO WORK TOGETHER TO SHAPE THE FUTURE OF THE REGION THROUGH RESEARCH AND RELATIONSHIPS.

YOU CAN FIND IT AT AAROREGION.ORG.

THIS YEAR, I AM HONORED TO BE AND TO SERVE AS CHAIR OF THAT BOARD.

I RISE TO GREET YOU ALL AND ESPECIALLY JUDGE PETER SAKAI, WHO WAS, AS JUST MENTIONED, A KEYNOTE PRESENTER AT THE FIRST EVER AERO

[00:45:06]

CATALYST SUMMIT IN 2023, AND IT FEATURED JUDGE SAKAI, AS WELL AS TRAVIS COUNTY JUDGE ANDY BROWN ON THE STAGE, AT THE SAME TIME ARTICULATING A VISION OF WHAT COULD BE POSSIBLE REGIONALLY, SUPER REGIONALLY, MEGA REGIONALLY.

THANK YOU FOR DOING THAT AND FOR LEANING IN, AND I ALSO RISE AND AM JOYFUL IN BRINGING GREETINGS FROM A MUTUAL FRIEND AT THE TRAVIS COUNTY COMMISSIONERS COURT COMMISSIONER JEFF TRAVILLION TO COMMISSIONER CALVERT.

HE WANTED TO MAKE SURE I SAID HELLO TO YOU.

LET ME JUST SAY THAT RESEARCH SUGGESTS THAT THE MEGA REGION IS MORE INTERCONNECTED.

BEXAR COUNTY WILL HAVE MORE THAN 3 MILLION RESIDENTS BY THE YEAR 2050.

TRAVIS COUNTY MORE THAN 2 MILLION.

WE ARE LEANING INTO IDEAS SUCH AS [INAUDIBLE], WHICH HAS TO DO WITH TRANSPORTATION AND INTERCONNECTIVITY CONNECTIONS WITH AMTRAK, BUT MORE THAN THAT WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT, CATCHMENT AREA OR CATCHMENT BASINS THAT INCLUDE MORE THAN JUST ONE OR THE OTHER COUNTIES.

WHEN YOU CONSIDER THAT GRANT COLLABORATIONS THAT WIN FEDERAL AND PRIVATE PHILANTHROPIC FOUNDATION AWARDS AT A SCALE THAT COULD MAKE MEASURABLE IMPACT AND OUTCOME CHANGES.

THAT IS WHERE COLLABORATION AMONGST AND BETWEEN THIS, THIS ENTIRE REGION AND COUNTIES MAKES SENSE.

EVEN SPORTS COLLABORATIONS, EXPANSIONS, PROFESSIONAL SPORTS, BASEBALL, SOCCER AND MANY MORE.

IN FACT, YOU MAY HAVE HEARD ABOUT THE ALMOST FAMOUS I-35 SERIES, INCLUDING BASKETBALL, WHERE THE SPURS PLAY GAMES IN SAN ANTONIO AND IN AUSTIN, AND JUST YESTERDAY, THE SPURS WERE MY GUESTS TO AND THEY RELAYED THIS, THIS FACT THAT WHEN THEY PLAY IN AUSTIN IN THE I-35 SERIES, MORE THAN 90% OF THE FANS IN THOSE SEATS ARE FROM AUSTIN, WHICH TELLS YOU ABOUT THE LARGER APPEAL OF THAT IDEA, AND SO ARROW HAS SIX COMMITTEES THROUGH WHICH--JUDGE, TIME HAS EXPIRED.

GO AHEAD AND FINISH. I'LL SIMPLY SAY WE HAVE BIG, BEAUTIFUL QUESTIONS ALONG SIX AREAS EDUCATION, EQUITY AND JUSTICE, HEALTH, WATER, TRANSPORTATION AND VISION, AND I SAVE THAT BEST FOR LAST BECAUSE I READ SOMEWHERE WHERE THERE IS NO VISION, THE PEOPLE PERISH.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

THANK YOU, JEFFREY.

HEY, JEFFREY, YOU'RE ON YOUR WAY BACK TO AUSTIN, WE NEED TO FIX THAT CONGESTION, ALL RIGHT? [CHUCKLING] ALL RIGHT.

LET ME HAVE ARTHUR [INAUDIBLE].

MR. [INAUDIBLE].

GOOD MORNING, JUDGE SAKAI, COMMISSIONERS.

I APOLOGIZE FOR MY INFORMAL WEAR, BUT DUE TO AN INJURY THAT WAS INITIATED BY THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE, I COULD NOT WEAR MY MEDICAL DEVICE, AND I HAD TO WEAR THE JEANS TO HELP SUPPORT MY BOWEL CAVITY SO IT WON'T BE HANGING BETWEEN MY LEGS.

ANYWAY, WITH THAT BEING SAID, I HAVE TWO ITEMS THAT I WOULD LIKE TO PRESENT.

THE FIRST ONE I CAME ACROSS THIS BOOK.

I BELIEVE THAT IT IS IMPERATIVE THAT AS LEADERS OF THIS COMMUNITY, YOU SHOULD GET A COPY AND READ OF IT OF OF ISLAMIC, BAPTIST, CATHOLIC, EVERYTHING THAT YOU ARE AFFILIATED AND ASSOCIATED WITH, YOU'LL HAVE A BETTER UNDERSTANDING.

EVEN I HAVE A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF ALL THE RELIGIONS AND SECTS.

SO WITH THAT BEING SAID, I COME TO YOU SINCE THE LAST TIME I SPOKE WAS DURING THE FALL WHEN THE COMMISSIONERS WAS HAVING DISCUSSIONS ABOUT THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE.

I RECENTLY HAD INTERACTIONS WITH THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE FROM CID TO PERSONNEL, AND APPARENTLY THERE ARE STILL SOME DISGRUNTLED AND DISGRUNTLE-NESS IS THIS THE INFLUX OF SAPD OFFICERS BEING HIRED BY THE BEXAR COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE AND THE NUTRITION ATTRITION IS CAUSING AILMENTS WITHIN THE FROM THE RANKS WHEN YOU HAVE A.

LAW ENFORCEMENT THAT HAVE TATTOOS FROM THEIR FINGERTIPS ALL THE WAY TO THE SHOULDERS AND ITS VISIBILITY.

MY PERSONAL VIEW YOU LOST THE PUBLIC INTEGRITY OF A LAW ENFORCEMENT THAT IS SUPPOSED TO PROTECT THE PUBLIC AND IT'S MY BELIEF ALSO THAT NO ONE WANTS TO EVEN PARTICIPATE OR ENGAGE IN THE BEXAR COUNTY

[00:50:02]

SHERIFF, AND MAYBE THAT IS WHY THE TREND IS SOMEWHAT DECLINING, BECAUSE THEY DON'T WANT TO ASSOCIATE THEMSELVES WITH IT, AND THAT'S A PROBLEM FOR THIS COURT AND COMMISSIONERS.

I HAVE PHOTOS HERE THAT I HAD TO PRESENT TO THEM BECAUSE THEY DIDN'T BELIEVE ME OF THE OF THE ACTIONS THAT ARE TAKING PLACE.

I'VE TRIED TO DISCUSS SOMETHING.

I WENT TO THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY.

THEY SAID, YOU NEED TO GO TALK TO BEXAR COUNTY SHERIFF CID.

I COULDN'T EVEN, WHEN I DID GO THERE, THEY EVEN GAVE ME A NAME AND A TELEPHONE NUMBER FOR THE CID AGENT OR DETECTIVE TO CALL AND COME TO FIND OUT, WELL, WE CALLED, AND THEY WEREN'T THERE.

SO I WENT BACK TO THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY AND THEY SAID, JUDGE, TIME HAS EXPIRED.

WRAP IT UP, MR. [INAUDIBLE].

I'LL LET YOU FINISH. NO ONE IS THERE.

I'VE GONE TO THE HEADQUARTERS AND I SAID, I'M NOT GOING BACK TO THE SUBSTATION.

I'M COMING TO THE COMMISSIONER'S COURT.

THERE ARE ISSUES, AND I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE SOMEONE ON THIS PANEL ADDRESS IT OR HAVE ME PRESENT SOMETHING TO THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE SO THAT A CRIME WAS COMMITTED.

I DON'T HAVE NO OTHER COURSE EXCEPT TO COME TO YOU.

THANK YOU, MR. [INAUDIBLE].

THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT.

MR. FINGER, YOU'VE SIGNED UP, AND I UNDERSTAND YOU'VE SIGNED UP FOR ITEM 84, SO I HAVEN'T FORGOT YOU.

I'LL CALL YOU UP AT THAT PARTICULAR TIME.

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

WE'LL NOW GO TO INDIVIDUAL.

I UNDERSTAND WE HAVE A REQUEST BY COMMISSIONER CLAY-FLORES.

[86. Discussion and appropriate action regarding permission to negotiate an Economic Development Incentive Package with Toyota Motor Manufacturing, Texas, Inc. (TMMTX).]

COMMISSIONER, YOU'VE ASKED THAT ITEM 8686 WILL BE MOVED UP.

WITHOUT OBJECTION, LET'S TAKE UP DISCUSSION APPROPRIATE ACTION REGARDING PERMISSION TO NEGOTIATE AN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT INCENTIVE PACKAGE WITH TOYOTA MOTOR MANUFACTURING TEXAS INC (TMMTX).

GOOD MORNING, MR. MARQUEZ.

GOOD MORNING, JUDGE AND COMMISSIONERS.

THANK YOU. WE DO HAVE A SLIDE PRESENTATION FOR YOU TODAY.

BY WAY OF BACKGROUND, TOYOTA IS CONSIDERING A PROJECT WHICH IF BROUGHT TO OUR LOCAL PLANT TMMTX WOULD ENTAIL A NEW STANDALONE BUILDING WITH POTENTIAL EXPANSION OF EXISTING FACILITIES, WITH AN ANTICIPATED BUILDING FOOTPRINT OF GREATER THAN 500,000FT².

THIS PROJECT WILL SERVE AS AN EXPANSION OF TMMTX'S CURRENT OPERATIONS.

TO ACHIEVE THIS, THEY INTEND TO MAKE AN INVESTMENT OF $531,000 $720,000.

THIS PROJECT WILL ALSO CREATE 411 NEW JOBS.

I'M SORRY, WAS THAT MILLION? MILLION, DID I SAY THOUSAND? YES. $531,720,000.

THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER. IT WILL CREATE 411 NEW JOBS WITH A BASE HOURLY WAGE OF $20.54 AND AN AVERAGE SALARY OF $68,245 PER YEAR.

THE LOCATION IS IN PRECINCT ONE.

I'M NOT SURE WHY THIS ISN'T ADVANCING.

FORGIVE ME. YOU SHOULD HAVE A COPY OF THAT.

WELL, IT'S NOT ON.

NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE.

NEXT SLIDE. STAFF IS PROPOSING AN INCENTIVE OFFER OF A TEN YEAR, 100% TAX ABATEMENT ON REAL AND PERSONAL PROPERTY INVESTMENTS USING THE INVESTMENT NUMBERS PROVIDED, THE INCENTIVE VALUE IS ESTIMATED AT $14,693,072.

A SKILLS DEVELOPMENT GRANT OF UP TO $250,000, BASED ON 250 NEW JOBS, PAYING AT LEAST $34.55 PER HOUR, OR $71,864 ANNUALLY, EXCLUDING BENEFITS, BONUSES AND COMMISSIONS WHICH IS PROVIDED AT $1,000 FOR EACH JOB THAT IS CREATED AND FILLED WITHIN THE FIRST TWO YEARS OF THE OPERATION, AND ONCE TMMTX HAS SELECTED BEXAR COUNTY, WE CAN EXPLORE POTENTIAL FOR A BEXAR COUNTY PUBLIC INFRASTRUCTURE GRANT.

FOR ANY OFFSITE PUBLIC INFRASTRUCTURE IMPROVEMENTS THAT MAY BE REQUIRED TO SUPPORT THE PROJECT.

THE OVERALL ESTIMATED VALUE FOR THE INCENTIVE PACKAGE OVER THE TERM IS $14,943,072.

NEXT SLIDE PLEASE.

SO STAFF HAS A RECOMMENDED MOTION DIRECTING STAFF TO NEGOTIATE A TAX ABATEMENT AGREEMENT AND A SKILLS DEVELOPMENT GRANT AGREEMENT WITH TMMTX, AND EXPLORE A POTENTIAL BEXAR COUNTY PUBLIC INFRASTRUCTURE GRANT FOR OFF SITE PUBLIC INFRASTRUCTURE IMPROVEMENTS.

COMMISSIONER CLAY-FLORES.

YEAH, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE.

ALSO I BELIEVE SARAH IS HERE FROM GREATER SATX.

SO THANK YOU SO MUCH, AND FOR YOUR TEAM, I KNOW MARSHALL AND JORDANNA AND DEBORAH HAVE BEEN WORKING HARD ON THIS, SO AND I'D LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION FOR APPROVAL, AND I'M JUST REALLY EXCITED.

[00:55:01]

WE WANT TO CONTINUE TO SUPPORT THE GROWTH AND EXPANSION OF OUR LOCAL BUSINESSES, AND REALLY EXCITED THAT TOYOTA HAS THE POSSIBLE OPPORTUNITY TO EXPAND AND PROVIDE SOME BETTER JOBS FOR OUR BEXAR COUNTY CONSTITUENTS.

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

SECOND. MOTION BY COMMISSIONER CLAY-FLORES SECOND BY COMMISSIONER CALVERT.

ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION, COMMISSIONER RODRIGUEZ? NO SPECIFIC QUESTIONS, JUDGE.

JUST WANT TO THANK THE TEAM FOR CONTINUING TO WORK ON THIS.

I KNOW SOUNDS LIKE MAYBE THERE WAS A FORTUITOUS TRIP RECENTLY, SO HOPEFULLY THIS BEARS FRUIT, AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO BEING SUPPORTIVE.

THANK YOU, JUDGE. COMMISSIONER MOODY.

NO QUESTIONS.

REALLY APPRECIATE THE BRIEFS FROM YOU, DAVID, AND YOUR TEAM.

THIS SEEMS LIKE A GREAT OPPORTUNITY FOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IN BEXAR COUNTY.

THERE'S A LOT OF OPPORTUNITIES, I THINK, THAT CONTINUE TO COME AT BEXAR COUNTY, AND, YOU KNOW, AS THIS COURT IS VERY SUPPORTIVE AND OF YOUR WORK AND I THINK WE CAN CONTINUE TO GET SOME BIG WINS AS WE GO FORWARD FOR BEXAR COUNTY, BUT APPRECIATE YOU, DAVID AND JORDANNA AND EVERYONE ELSE ON THE TEAM WHO BROUGHT THIS FORWARD TO US AND, YOU KNOW, LOOK FORWARD TO LEARNING MORE AND WATCHING US CONTINUE TO GROW HERE IN BEXAR COUNTY.

COMMISSIONER CALVERT. THANK YOU, JUDGE.

I JUST WANTED TO THANK THE STAFF FOR ALL THEIR WORK AND GREATER SATX AS WELL, AND EVERYONE ELSE WHO WORKED ON THIS.

I DO WANT TO SIGNAL, OF COURSE, THAT THE INFRASTRUCTURE FUNDING WILL BE THERE.

I KNOW THAT THE APPLICANT, THE TOYOTA, HAS ASKED FOR OUR BEST OFFER, AND WHILE THERE'S NOT A HARD NUMBER, I THINK IT'S FAIR AND I WANT TO SPEAK FOR EVERYONE, BUT I KNOW IN TERMS OF MY SUPPORT, THERE IS NO ENTITY THAT WILL OUTBID US.

WE'LL BE THERE TO PUT THE FUNDS FOR THE INFRASTRUCTURE TOGETHER SO THAT WE CAN HAVE THESE JOBS CONTINUE TO BE A BEACON IN OUR COMMUNITY.

SO I JUST WANT TO SIGNAL THAT, YOU KNOW, WE WILL BE THERE WHEN THAT TIME COMES.

THANK YOU, JUDGE. THANK YOU.

LET ME GO AHEAD AND MAKE CONCLUDING REMARKS.

FOR DECADES, WE BUILT A STRONG RELATIONSHIP WITH OUR COLLEAGUES IN JAPAN, AND TODAY WE REMAIN COMMITTED TO THE LONG TERM SUCCESS OF TOYOTA AND BEXAR COUNTY.

WE LOOK FORWARD TO SUPPORTING TOYOTA AS THEY CONSIDER THE SOUTHERN BEXAR COUNTY FOR THIS EXPANSION OPPORTUNITY.

TOYOTA IS CONSIDERING BEXAR COUNTY FOR AN EXPANSION, OR TMMTX WILL INVEST $531, 710,000 IN REAL AND PERSONAL PROPERTY ON THE PROPERTY LOCATED AT ONE LONE STAR PASS.

THE COUNTY IS CONSIDERING AN INCENTIVE WITH AN ESTIMATED VALUE OF ROUGHLY $14 MILLION IN THE FORM OF A TEN YEAR, 100% TAX ABATEMENT.

THERE'S A FORECAST OF 411 NEW JOBS, WITH AN AVERAGE SALARY OF $68,245.

TODAY'S ITEM GIVES STAFF THE AUTHORITY TO NEGOTIATE THIS ECONOMIC INCENTIVE AGREEMENT.

GIVEN THE SENSITIVE AND COMPETITIVE NATURE OF THESE NEGOTIATIONS, MUST WE MUST RESPECT THE PROCESS AND WAIT UNTIL THESE NEGOTIATIONS CONCLUDE, PROVIDING GREATER DETAIL AS YOUR COUNTY JUDGE CREATING NEW JOBS.

GROWING OUR ECONOMY IS A KEY PRIORITY.

TOYOTA IS A TRUSTED CORPORATE PARTNER IN OUR COMMUNITY AND I AM OPTIMISTIC ABOUT THESE NEGOTIATIONS.

I'LL CALL FOR A VOTE.

THERE'S A MOTION BY COMMISSIONER CLAY-FLORES.

SECOND BY COMMISSIONER CALVERT.

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

AYE. ANY OPPOSED? ANY ABSTENTIONS? MOTION IS UNANIMOUSLY CARRIED.

CARRY ON. THANK YOU, JUDGE. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

[84. Discussion and appropriate action regarding authorizing the execution of agreements with the following non-profit entities to provide Bexar County indigent immigrants with legal services]

ALL RIGHT. WE'LL NOW GO TO ITEM 84.

DISCUSSION. APPROPRIATE ACTION REGARDING AUTHORIZATION, AUTHORIZING EXECUTION OF AGREEMENTS WITH THE FOLLOWING NONPROFIT ENTITIES.

MISTER BETHKE, I'M GOING TO ASK YOU TO HOLD ON.

WE GOT A CITIZEN.

OH, OH, OH.

THAT'S [INAUDIBLE]. I THOUGHT THAT WAS MISTER.

OKAY. I'M SORRY.

ALL RIGHT, HERE WE GO.

FOLLOWING THE NONPROFIT ENTITIES PROVIDE BEXAR COUNTY INDIGENT IMMIGRANTS WITH LEGAL SERVICES.

AMERICAN GATEWAYS FOR AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $500,000, AND REFUGEE AND IMMIGRANT CENTER FOR EDUCATION LEGAL SERVICES FOR AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $500,000.

THE TERM OF EACH AGREEMENT IS ONE YEAR BEGINNING UPON EXECUTION DATE, IS REQUESTED BY THE MANAGE ASSIGNED COUNSEL DEPARTMENT, AND AUTHORIZING THE PURCHASING AGENT TO EXECUTE AND FILE THE APPROPRIATE AWARD DOCUMENTS FOR THE RECORD.

AT THIS TIME, MR. BETHKE, I'M GOING TO ASK THAT YOU ALL STEP BACK, PLEASE.

WE HAVE A CITIZEN TO BE HEARD.

MISTER JACK FINGER.

[01:00:01]

GOOD MORNING. GOOD MORNING JUDGE.

YOU KNOW, IF THERE'S A STAFF PRESENTATION, I WOULD LIKE TO HEAR THAT BEFORE I MAKE MY COMMENTS.

MR. FINGER, YOU'VE GOT THREE MINUTES.

VERY GOOD. JUDGE SAKAI OF THE BEXAR COUNTY COMMISSIONERS COURT.

OTHER MEMBERS OF THE COURT.

MY NAME IS JACK M.

FINGER, AND ITEM 84 IS ABOUT WHAT? WELL, IT'S ABOUT, LET'S SEE AUTHORIZING PURCHASING AGENT TO ADVERTISE REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL.

NO, IT'S MORE THAN THAT.

BASICALLY, IT'S THE IDEA OF SPENDING $500,000 ON ONE ORGANIZATION AND ANOTHER $500,000 ON ANOTHER FOR BASICALLY PROVIDING LEGAL REPRESENTATION TO INDIGENT IMMIGRANTS IN IN DETENTION, I REPEAT, IN DETENTION, FACING REMOVAL, I REPEAT, FACING REMOVAL OR IN DANGER OF LOSING THEIR IMMIGRATION STATUS. YOU KNOW, THIS IS AN INTERESTING THE.

I DON'T SEE THE WORD ILLEGAL ALIENS HERE ANYWHERE.

DARN, SHOWS YOU WHAT A FUDDY DUDDY I AM.

YOU KEEP USING THESE, YOU KEEP USING THE WORD ASYLUM SEEKERS.

PLEASE UNDERSTAND THESE ARE NOT INNOCENT PEOPLE LOOKING FOR A JUST A BETTER LIFE HERE IN AMERICA.

NO THEY DIDN'T ESCAPE FROM SOME TERRORISTIC COUNTRY THAT THEY'RE TRYING TO SEEK ASYLUM, BECAUSE IF THEY DID, NUMBER ONE, THEY WOULD HAVE STOPPED AT MAYBE ONE.

ANY ONE OF A DOZEN COUNTRIES GETTING HERE FROM SOUTH AMERICA.

THAT'S THE LAW.

THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO STOP AT THE COUNTRY THAT WILL GIVE THEM ASYLUM.

NOT JUST PASS ALL THE WAY THROUGH ALL THE WAY UP TO THE UNITED STATES.

NUMBER TWO, 90% OF THESE PEOPLE DO NOT SHOW UP FOR THEIR HEARING, THEIR ASYLUM HEARING.

THAT TELLS ME THEY ARE NOT ON THE UP AND UP ON THIS STUFF, AND SO WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO? YOU'RE GOING TO GIVE THEM? WELL IS IT A FEW THOUSAND DOLLARS OF OUR TAX DOLLARS, $10,000, $20,000? $1 MILLION, A MILLION TAX DOLLARS TO HELP ILLEGAL ALIENS WITH THEIR LEGAL REPRESENTATION.

CAN I OR ANYONE ELSE, ANY AVERAGE CITIZEN, GET THIS KIND OF MONEY FOR OUR LEGAL REPRESENTATION FROM YOU, THE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS? JUDGE, CAN WE? EXCUSE ME.

WHY DON'T YOU JUST SAY NO TO THIS AND LET, IF THEY REALLY NEED THIS REPRESENTATION AND THESE ORGANIZATIONS REALLY WANT TO REPRESENT THEM, TELL THEM TO DO IT ON THEIR OWN DARN DIME.

JUDGE, TIME HAS EXPIRED.

WRAP IT UP, MR. FINGER.

LET'S SEE YOU DO THE RIGHT THING AND SAY NO TO THIS.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MR. FINGER. ALL RIGHT, MR. BETHKE, LET'S TAKE UP ITEM 84.

JUDGE, MEMBERS OF COURT.

I'M JIM BETHKE, THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE BEXAR COUNTY MANAGED ASSIGNED COUNSEL PROGRAM, AND HERE TO TALK ABOUT THE IMMIGRATION LEGAL DEFENSE FUND.

NEXT SLIDE. AS YOU SEE THIS COURT, ON JULY 12TH, 2022 PASSED A RESOLUTION RECOGNIZING THAT WE HAVE A SIGNIFICANT NUMBER OF NON-CITIZENS WHO MAKE UP THE SOCIAL FABRIC OF OUR COMMUNITIES, AND THE COUNTY RELIES ON THE ECONOMIC CONTRIBUTIONS OF THAT.

CONSERVATIVE ESTIMATES SAY THERE ARE ABOUT 8% OF OUR BEXAR COUNTY RESIDENTS THAT ARE NON-CITIZENS, ANYWHERE FROM 8 TO 13%.

THAT REPRESENTS ABOUT 160 TO EITHER 240,000 PEOPLE THAT LIVE AND RESIDE HERE IN BEXAR COUNTY.

THE CHILDREN OF DETAINED AND DEPORTED PARENTS FACE ENORMOUS HEALTH AND MENTAL HEALTH CHALLENGES THAT CAN LEAD TO NEGATIVE OUTCOMES FOR INDIVIDUALS, AND NEXT SLIDE. THE COMMISSIONERS ON JULY 12TH RECOGNIZED THE BEXAR COUNTY STRIVES TO PROTECT CHILDREN AND KEEP FAMILIES TOGETHER TO SUPPORT INDIGENT RESIDENTS, AND IS COMMITTED TO ENSURING IMMIGRANTS HAVE ACCESS TO FAIR AND AFFORDABLE LEGAL REPRESENTATION AND DEPORTATION PROCEEDINGS. FAIR AND ACCESSIBLE LEGAL REPRESENTATION ENSURES THAT AN INDIVIDUAL'S RIGHT TO DUE PROCESS IS PROTECTED, AND HELPS PREVENT

[01:05:03]

NEEDLESS FAMILY SEPARATION AND UNNECESSARY DETENTIONS.

NEXT SLIDE. THE SCOPE OF THIS WORK IS TO PROVIDE LEGAL REPRESENTATION TO INDIGENT IMMIGRANT ADULTS, CHILDREN, OR FAMILIES WHO ARE FACING THE THREAT OF DEPORTATION OR ARE IN DANGER OF LOSING THEIR IMMIGRATION STATUS.

IN ORDER TO QUALIFY, ONE MUST BE INDIGENT AND A RESIDENT OF BEXAR COUNTY.

NEXT SLIDE. ONE OF THE QUESTIONS WE RECEIVED, AND ONE OF THE HEARINGS LAST YEAR, WAS, WHAT ARE GOING TO BE SOME OF THE PERFORMANCE INDICATORS? AND ONE OF THE ITEMS THAT WE'LL BE TRACKING, OF COURSE, IS THE NUMBER OF PERSONS THAT ARE PROVIDED.

LEGAL SERVICES.

THE NUMBER OF PERSONS RECEIVING TRAINING IN CUSTODY WILL DETERMINE THE NUMBER OF DAYS IN CUSTODY SHORTEN THROUGH ADVOCACY.

NUMBER OF PERSONS SECURING VOLUNTARY DEPARTURE IN LIEU OF A REMOVAL ORDER.

PERCENTAGE OF PERSONS RECEIVING SOCIAL SERVICES CASE MANAGEMENT AND THEN PERCENTAGE OF PERSONS THAT SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETE THEIR CASE MANAGEMENT.

LISA LEONARD WITH PURCHASING.

WOULD LIKE TO GO AHEAD AND JUST LIST THROUGH THE VARIOUS ITEMS THAT HAVE BEEN TAKEN IN ORDER TO GET TO THIS POINT.

SO IF I COULD TURN OVER TO THE DAIS TO HER FOR A SECOND.

THANK YOU. GOOD MORNING JUDGE, COMMISSIONERS.

NEXT SLIDE PLEASE.

ON JULY 12TH, 2022, COMMISSIONERS COURT APPROVED AGENDA ITEM NUMBER 86 AND IT ESTABLISHED THE MILLION DOLLAR IMMIGRATION LEGAL DEFENSE FUND.

THEN, ON MARCH 7TH, 2023, COMMISSIONERS COURT APPROVED AGENDA ITEM NUMBER 49, WHICH AUTHORIZED THE PURCHASING AGENT TO ADVERTISE AN RFP FOR THE ILDF RESOLUTION. THIS WAS RELEASED TO THE PUBLIC ON APRIL 7TH, 2020.

I'M SORRY. EXCUSE ME. APRIL 17TH, 2023 AND 118 SUPPLIERS OR POTENTIAL RESPONDENTS INTERESTED PARTIES WERE NOTIFIED THROUGH THE BEXAR COUNTY SUPPLIER PORTAL.

NEXT SLIDE PLEASE.

ON MAY 26TH, 2023.

WE HAD THE CLOSED DATE FOR THIS RFP.

THERE WERE FOUR RESPONDENTS AND THEY INCLUDED AMERICAN GATEWAYS, JUSTICE FOR ALL IMMIGRANTS, NEIGHBORHOOD DEFENDER SERVICES, INC., AND REFUGEE AND IMMIGRANT CENTER FOR EDUCATION AND LEGAL SERVICES, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS RICELS.

CLARIFICATIONS FOR THEIR RESPONSES WERE RECEIVED AND OBTAINED BY THE DUE DATE OF JUNE 20TH, 2023, AND IN-PERSON INTERVIEWS WERE CONDUCTED ON JULY 19TH OF THE SAME YEAR, WITH BEST AND FINAL OFFERS RECEIVED BY JULY 21ST, 2023.

NEXT SLIDE PLEASE.

ON SEPTEMBER 5TH, 2023, COMMISSIONERS COURT APPROVED AGENDA ITEM NUMBER 52, AUTHORIZING THE NEGOTIATION OF AGREEMENTS WITH BOTH AMERICAN GATEWAYS AND REFUGEE AND IMMIGRANT CENTER FOR EDUCATIONAL.

EXCUSE ME. EDUCATION AND LEGAL SERVICES.

THAT BRINGS US TO TODAY, MAY 21ST, 2024.

NEXT SLIDE PLEASE.

WHICH IS WHERE WE ARE ASKING TODAY FOR COMMISSIONERS COURT TO AUTHORIZE THE EXECUTION OF AGREEMENTS WITH BOTH AMERICAN GATEWAYS AND REFUGEE AND IMMIGRANT CENTER FOR EDUCATION AND LEGAL SERVICES, BOTH NONPROFIT ENTITIES, IN ORDER TO PROVIDE BEXAR COUNTY INDIGENT IMMIGRANTS WITH LEGAL SERVICES.

THE TERM OF EACH AGREEMENT WILL BE FOR ONE YEAR, BEGINNING UPON EXECUTION, AND EACH OF THEM WILL BE FOR AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $500,000.

THANK YOU. THAT CONCLUDES OUR PRESENTATION.

ALL RIGHT, COMMISSIONER RODRIGUEZ.

THANK YOU, JUDGE. HEY, JIM, THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORK ON THIS AS THE TIMELINE LAID OUT.

IT'S BEEN ALMOST A TWO YEAR PROCESS TO GET THIS WHERE WE NEED IT TO BE.

I KNOW THE TWO FINALIST FOR THE POTENTIAL AWARD, AMERICAN GATEWAYS AND RAICES.

I DON'T KNOW IF THIS IS AN APPROPRIATE QUESTION FOR YOU OR FOR THEM, BUT I'M JUST KIND OF CURIOUS.

I KNOW EVERY CASE IS DIFFERENT, BUT I'M TRYING TO GET A SENSE FOR, YOU KNOW, IF THERE'S AN AVERAGE DOLLAR AMOUNT WE COULD MAYBE ASSOCIATE PER CASE.

IN OTHER WORDS, YOU KNOW, I THINK YOU KNOW, WE HEAR ALL THE TIME ABOUT FAMILIES WHO ARE IMPACTED, POTENTIALLY SEPARATED.

IS THERE SOME AVERAGE NUMBER OF HOW MANY FOLKS WITH THIS MILLION DOLLARS WE MIGHT BE ABLE TO HELP IN OUR COMMUNITY? I'D LIKE TO GO AND DEFER THAT TO SOMEBODY THAT REALLY DOES HAVE EXPERTISE IN THIS AREA.

SO EITHER JUSTIN TULLIUS ON MY STAFF, IMMIGRATION RESOURCE ATTORNEY, OR WE HAVE LEADERSHIP FROM AMERICAN GATEWAYS AND RAICES HERE.

JUSTIN, DO YOU WANT TO SAY SOMETHING?

[01:10:04]

YES, I CAN SPEAK TO THAT, COMMISSIONER.

WITH THESE AGREEMENTS, THERE WILL BE A TOTAL OF 100 INDIVIDUALS REPRESENTED DURING THE FIRST YEAR OF THE REPRESENTATION THROUGH THE AGREEMENTS AND WHAT WE'VE SEEN THROUGHOUT THE SAFE NETWORK, WHICH IS SUPPORTED BY THE VERA INSTITUTE OF JUSTICE AROUND THE COUNTRY.

BEXAR COUNTY WOULD BE JOINING THAT NETWORK ALONG WITH OTHER JURISDICTIONS SUCH AS HARRIS COUNTY AND CITIES INCLUDING DALLAS, SAN ANTONIO AND AUSTIN, AND SO WHAT WE'VE SEEN, BECAUSE OF THE VARYING NATURE OF THE KINDS OF IMMIGRATION DEFENSES THAT PARENTS, FAMILIES, CHILDREN QUALIFY FOR IT, WE'VE SEEN THROUGH THE RESEARCH BY THE VERA INSTITUTE THAT IT'S BASICALLY VERY HARD TO IDENTIFY AN AVERAGE COST BECAUSE THE CASES ARE SO DIFFERENT, AND I THINK ONE THING THAT WE'VE SEEN THROUGH THE RESULTS OBTAINED THROUGH THE PROGRAM IS PARENTS RETURNING BACK HOME TO THEIR CHILDREN OBTAINING LAWFUL STATUS UNDER A FEDERAL IMMIGRATION LAW.

WE'VE ALSO SEEN CLIENTS WHO DON'T QUALIFY FOR THAT TYPE OF RELIEF AND ARE ABLE TO RESOLVE THEIR CASES MUCH FASTER, MAKING THE COST OF THAT CASE MUCH LOWER.

YEAH, BUT IT'S VERY HARD, BASED ON THAT GREAT VARIANCE IN THE TYPES OF DEFENSES AND RELIEF AVAILABLE TO BE ABLE TO PREDICT AN AVERAGE COST.

OKAY, AND I KNOW IT'S YOU KNOW, I KIND OF ANTICIPATED THAT RESPONSE BECAUSE I KNOW IT'S HARD TO PUT A NUMBER ON IT.

JIM, BACK TO YOU.

THE YOU KNOW, I GUESS PART OF THE ACCOUNTABILITY PIECE ON THIS IS THAT I THINK LAST TIME YOU COMMITTED TO KEEPING US UPDATED ON YOU, YOU MENTIONED SOME OF THE YOU KNOW, QUOTE UNQUOTE MEASURABLES BUT YOU KNOW, I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE GET SOME REGULAR FEEDBACK FROM YOUR OFFICE ON HOW YOU'RE DOING WITH THIS PROGRAM, THESE RESOURCES. OBVIOUSLY, IT THERE'S GOING TO BE SOME THINGS WE CAN'T MEASURE, RIGHT, BUT I THINK THERE'S GOING TO BE SOME THAT WOULD, I THINK, REQUIRE SOME KIND OF REPORTING BACK ON MAYBE A QUARTERLY OR SEMIANNUAL BASIS.

IS THAT SOMETHING THAT YOUR OFFICE IS PREPARED TO DO? ABSOLUTELY, AND WE'D BE HAPPY TO REPORT BACK QUARTERLY.

WE'LL BE GETTING MONTHLY REPORTS FROM EACH OF THE LEGAL SERVICE PROVIDERS, AND WE'LL BE HAVING A FAIR AMOUNT OF INTERACTION WITH THEM.

WE HAVE A BI-MONTHLY CALL WITH THE VERA SAFE CITIES.

THEY'RE PROVIDING US CONSULTATIONS.

SO ABSOLUTELY, WE CAN REPORT ON A QUARTERLY BASIS OR EVEN MORE OFTEN IF NEEDED, SIR.

OKAY. WELL, WE'LL WORK WITH YOU ON THAT.

I THINK IT'S SOMETHING THAT'S IMPORTANT.

WE WANT TO HAVE MAKE SURE IT'S MEANINGFUL FEEDBACK AS WELL.

SO I DON'T WANT TO DO IT JUST FOR THE SAKE OF, YOU KNOW, CALLING YOU UP HERE EVERY MONTH, BUT LET'S MAKE SURE WE WORK WITH YOU ON GETTING SOMETHING SUBSTANTIVE BACK, BUT I KNOW WE'VE HAD A NUMBER OF DISCUSSIONS ABOUT THIS, AND I APPRECIATE YOU AND YOUR STAFF WORKING SO DILIGENTLY TO GET THIS WHERE WE NEED IT TO BE.

YOU KNOW, THERE'S OBVIOUSLY THE HUMAN ARGUMENT HERE TO BE MADE IN TERMS OF HELPING FAMILIES, KIDS STAY UNITED AS THEY NAVIGATE, REALLY, WHAT IS A COMPLICATED SYSTEM, EVEN FOR FOLKS LIKE MYSELF WHO WAS A LAWYER AND BORN AND RAISED HERE, MUCH LESS SOMEONE WHO DOESN'T HAVE ANYBODY TO RELY ON IN OUR COMMUNITY, NOT TO MENTION THE ECONOMIC FACTOR THAT YOU MENTIONED AS WELL, IN TERMS OF BRINGING RESOURCES TO THE TABLE FOR NOT JUST YOUR FAMILY, BUT FOR YOUR COMMUNITY AND PAYING INTO THE SYSTEM AND PAYING BACK.

SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORK ON THIS, JUDGE.

I'LL MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE.

SECOND MOTION BY COMMISSIONER RODRIGUEZ.

SECOND BY COMMISSIONER CLAY-FLORES.

COMMISSIONER CLAY-FLORES.

YEAH, CAN YOU TALK TO US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT SO I REALIZE THESE ARE THE TWO ORGANIZATIONS THAT HAVE THE CONTRACTS, BUT TALK ABOUT OTHER RELATIONSHIPS, WORKING WITH OTHER LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS WHO ARE ALSO DOING THIS KIND OF WORK AND MAYBE REFERRAL SYSTEMS OR WORK, FOR EXAMPLE, WITH CATHOLIC CHARITIES.

YES. YEAH, COMMISSIONER CLAY-FLORES.

ONE OF THE THINGS THE RAICES AND AMERICAN GATEWAYS WILL BE WORKING WITH OTHER PROVIDERS OF THESE TYPES OF SERVICES THROUGHOUT THE COMMUNITY, AND ONE OF THE LARGEST ONES IS CATHOLIC CHARITIES.

WE VISITED EARLY ON AND THEN REVISITED RECENTLY WITH EACH.

BOTH HAVE A STRONG WORKING RELATIONSHIP, AND HAVE BEEN GETTING REFERRALS.

TO THEIR RESPECTIVE PROGRAMS AND I KNOW THAT THEY'D BE HAPPY TO KIND OF ELABORATE ON WHAT TYPE OF WORK AND WHAT TYPE OF REFERRALS THAT THEY WOULD BE GETTING. SO I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE IT'S CLEAR AND THAT PERHAPS IT'S WRITTEN INTO THE CONTRACT TO WORK WITH OTHER ORGANIZATIONS SPECIFICALLY, INCLUDING CATHOLIC CHARITIES, BECAUSE OFTENTIMES WITH CONTRACTS, WE SAY THINGS THAT, YEAH, WE'RE GOING TO PARTNER, WE'RE GOING TO WORK, AND THEN IT DOESN'T HAPPEN.

SO I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT DOES HAPPEN.

OKAY. WITH THE CONTRACT HAS ALREADY BEEN SIGNED.

[01:15:03]

SO I'D HAVE TO DEFER TO LARRY.

IF WE WERE GOING TO BE MAKING ANY CHANGES ON THAT, I DO THINK WITH US, YOU KNOW, TESTIFYING TO THAT, YOU CAN, YOU KNOW, HOLD US ACCOUNTABLE TO MAKE SURE THAT DOES HAPPEN.

ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. COMMISSIONER MOODY.

THANK YOU, JUDGE. A FEW QUESTIONS AND COMMENTS HERE.

FIRST QUESTION AND THIS GOES BACK TO PREVIOUS DISCUSSIONS.

THE PUBLIC DEFENDER'S OFFICE IS ALSO DOING $1.9 MILLION IN A SIMILAR EFFORT.

IS THAT NOT CORRECT? ACTUALLY, THE PUBLIC DEFENDER'S OFFICE DOESN'T PROVIDE ANY OF THESE TYPES OF SERVICES.

THE PUBLIC DEFENDER'S OFFICE PROVIDES REPRESENTATION ONLY ON CRIMINAL CASES.

THESE ARE DEALING WITH FEDERAL DEPORTATION CASES.

I'LL DEFER TO STAFF.

DAVID, IS THAT NOT CORRECT? THAT THERE'S ALSO THE 1.9 MILLION THAT WAS GOING TO PUBLIC DEFENDER'S GRANT PROGRAM TO PROVIDE IMMIGRANT LEGAL DEFENSES AS WELL.

THERE IS I'M NOT SURE HOW MUCH OF THE IMMIGRATION CASE THE PUBLIC DEFENDER ASSIGNED HANDLES.

I KNOW THEY HANDLE THEIR REPRESENTATION FOR THE CRIMINAL CHARGE FOR WHICH THEY NEED A PUBLIC DEFENDER BUT I'LL LET JIM SPEAK TO THE DIFFERENTIATION BETWEEN THOSE TWO.

YEAH. COMMISSIONER MOODY, THESE ARE SEPARATE AND APART.

OUR I UNDERSTAND THEY'RE SEPARATE PROGRAMS, BUT MY FIRM BELIEF IS THAT THEY ARE DOING THE SAME THING, AND WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THAT MULTIPLE TIMES HERE IN COURT, AND THAT'S NEVER BEEN DISPUTED BEFORE.

I WAS JUST REITERATING THAT POINT.

OKAY. WE'LL HAVE TO RESPECTFULLY DISAGREE.

THE PUBLIC DEFENDER'S OFFICE AND OUR PROGRAM BOTH PROVIDE REPRESENTATION TO PERSONS THAT HAVE BEEN CHARGED WITH CRIMINAL CASES GOING THROUGH THE BEXAR COUNTY JUSTICE SYSTEM.

JUSTIN PROVIDES PROBABLY 15 TO 20 ADVISORS TO PERSONS WHO HAVE BEEN ACCUSED.

WORKING WITH THE ATTORNEY ON THE IMMIGRATION CONSEQUENCES IS REQUIRED BY THE SUPREME COURT, BUT THIS PROGRAM IN AND OF ITSELF IS SOMETHING THAT IS REALLY BEYOND THE SCOPE AND LEGAL AUTHORITY OF BOTH OF OUR PROGRAMS FOR THE ATTORNEYS PROVIDING THESE ASSISTANCE, THIS ASSISTANCE, AND THAT IS WHY COMMISSIONER RODRIGUEZ AND AND THE REST OF THE COURT A LITTLE OVER A YEAR AND A HALF AGO, MOVED FORWARD ON THIS ON THE ON THIS INITIATIVE.

YEAH, BUT THE 1.9 MILLION WAS ANOTHER GRANT PROGRAM, I BELIEVE, THROUGH THE STATE THAT WAS GOING TO PROVIDE THESE SAME SORTS OF SERVICES.

I'M JUST SAYING I BROUGHT THAT UP MULTIPLE TIMES FROM THE DAIS AND NOBODY'S CORRECTED IT UNTIL TODAY, AND THE REASON FOR THAT IS, AGAIN, I BELIEVE IT'S JUST REDUNDANCY. I'M NOT A, YOU KNOW, WE'LL GET INTO THE PROGRAM HERE, BUT ALSO THERE'S THE FACT THAT WE'RE PAYING FOR THIS SERVICE TWICE AND WE'RE DOING IT THROUGH BOTH PROGRAMS AGAIN.

SO, YOU KNOW, CAN YOU HELP ME BETTER UNDERSTAND THE SERVICES? I'M READING THROUGH SOME OF THE CONTRACTS.

I BELIEVE THERE'S 350 PAGES THAT CAME ACROSS IN THESE CONTRACTS, AND OUR STAFF'S TRYING TO LOOK THROUGH IT, BUT CLEARLY THERE'S TALKING ABOUT REMOVAL SERVICES, DEPORTATION DEFENSE, BASICALLY SERVICES THAT ARE BEING PROVIDED.

IS THAT CORRECT? THAT IS CORRECT.

OKAY, AND I WANT TO TRY TO UNDERSTAND THE WHO ARE WE SERVING HERE BECAUSE WE TALK ABOUT RESIDENTS OF BEXAR COUNTY, BUT IF WE'RE TALKING ABOUT DEPORTATION DEFENSE SERVICES THEN THEY'RE NOT CITIZENS.

THEY, YOU KNOW, ARE HOW ARE WE DETERMINING RESIDENCY? HOW ARE WE HOW ARE WE CLASSIFYING THEM AS BEXAR COUNTY RESIDENTS? IN THAT CASE, IF I COULD, I'D LIKE TO DEFER TO JUSTIN ON MY TEAM.

HE'S GOT A DEEPER UNDERSTANDING OF THIS AREA.

HE HE ACTUALLY PRACTICED IN THIS ARENA PRIOR TO COMING TO WORK FOR US.

OKAY. THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER.

UNDER THE CONTRACTS, RESIDENTS WILL BE DETERMINED BY THE DOCUMENTATION THAT THEY'RE ABLE TO SUBMIT AT THE TIME THAT THEY APPLY FOR SERVICES TO ESTABLISH THAT THEY LIVE IN BEXAR COUNTY, AND I THINK TO ADDRESS THE COMMISSIONER'S QUESTION ABOUT WHO THIS IS, WHAT WE'VE SEEN IS IN HARRIS COUNTY, UNDER THE SIMILAR PROGRAM, AN AVERAGE OF EIGHT YEARS OF RESIDENCY IN HARRIS COUNTY FOR PEOPLE WHO WERE SERVED AND WHAT MY COLLEAGUES, I THINK RAICES AND AMERICAN GATEWAYS CAN TESTIFY TO IS THAT THERE ARE IMMIGRATION DEFENSES THAT ALLOW A PARENT WHO DOESN'T HAVE CURRENT LEGAL DOCUMENTATION, BUT WHO HAS U.S.

CITIZEN CHILDREN, IF THEY CAN ESTABLISH ENOUGH TIME RESIDING IN THE UNITED STATES AND HARDSHIP TO THE FAMILY, THAT'S A CASE THAT FEDERAL IMMIGRATION LAW PROVIDES THEM AN

[01:20:08]

OPPORTUNITY TO GO BEFORE AN IMMIGRATION JUDGE AND AND MEET THEIR BURDEN.

SO WE ARE TALKING ABOUT PEOPLE BROADLY WHO HAVE MANY YEARS OF LIVING IN BEXAR COUNTY, AND WE SEE HUGE PERCENTAGES OF PERSONS WHO WOULD QUALIFY FOR SERVICES, WHO HAVE U.S.

CITIZEN CHILDREN. SO FOR EACH CASE TAKEN, WE'D BE LOOKING AT NOT JUST THE NON-CITIZEN WHO'S BEING REPRESENTED, BUT WE'D BE LOOKING AT THREE, FOUR, FIVE U.S.

CITIZEN CHILDREN, POTENTIALLY PARENTS AND MIXED STATUS FAMILIES WHO HAVE THAT LONG TERM CONNECTION HERE IN THE COUNTY.

OKAY. I THINK MY POINT IS JUST IT'S GOING TO BE, I GUESS, HARD TO CONFIRM THAT I SAW THAT YOU CAN ACTUALLY JUST HAVE A SWORN AFFIDAVIT. I GUESS IT SAYS, YOU KNOW, IN THE ABSENCE OF PAY STUBS OR IN THE ABSENCE OF ANY KIND OF RENT, RIGHT? IS THAT CORRECT? WELL TO JIM'S POINT, THROUGH THE MANAGEMENT OF THE PROGRAM AND THE REGULAR REPORTING, THERE WILL ALSO BE AUDITING BY THE COUNTY OF THE FILES THAT ARE MAINTAINED, OF COURSE, IN A CONFIDENTIAL MANNER.

THAT WOULDN'T TAKE PLACE IN A WAY THAT WOULD VIOLATE ANY ATTORNEY CLIENT PRIVILEGE, BUT THE COUNTY WILL HAVE ACCESS TO THE FILES THAT ARE MAINTAINED AND BE ABLE TO OVERSEE HOW THAT RESIDENCY IS BEING ESTABLISHED THROUGHOUT THE COURSE OF THE PROGRAM.

OKAY, AND I THINK THAT I WANT TO COME TO MY BIGGER CONCERN HERE IS AROUND DETAINED VERSUS NON DETAINED PERSONS. YOU KNOW, MY UNDERSTANDING OF THE CURRENT STATUS OF OUR IMMIGRATION SYSTEM IS THAT YOU WOULD NOT BE FACING A DEPORTATION, HEARING OR REMOVAL UNLESS YOU WERE IN A DETAINED STATUS, UNLESS YOU HAD BEEN INTERACTED WITH THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM COMMITTED A CRIME.

CAN YOU SPEAK TO THAT? WELL, COMMISSIONER, WHAT WE'VE SEEN THROUGH THE OPERATION OF THESE PROGRAMS REALLY AROUND THE COUNTRY AND ALSO THE SERVICES ALREADY PROVIDED FOR MANY DECADES HERE IN SAN ANTONIO BY THE NONPROFITS, IS THAT THERE ARE MANY QUALIFYING CLIENTS WHO WON'T HAVE HAD CONTACT WITH THE CRIMINAL LEGAL SYSTEM OR EVEN NECESSARILY THE DHS ENFORCEMENT SYSTEM, BUT WHO NOW ARE FACING DEPORTATION PROCEEDINGS THROUGH SOME OTHER MECHANISM THAT BROUGHT THEM INTO THAT CONTACT WITH DHS.

SO, FOR EXAMPLE, THERE ARE POTENTIALLY QUALIFYING CLIENTS WHO MAY HAVE APPLIED FOR SOME FORM OF STATUS THAT THEY DIDN'T QUALIFY FOR.

THEY MAY HAVE BEEN VICTIMS OF OF NOTARY FRAUD.

NOW THEY'VE COME TO THE ATTENTION OF DHS AND ARE FACING REMOVAL PROCEEDINGS.

THERE ARE OTHER PEOPLE WHO COME TO THE ATTENTION OF DHS IN OTHER WAYS THROUGH THE COMMUNITY AND NEVER HAVE BEEN DETAINED, AND SO MANY OF THESE FOLKS ARE THOSE WHO, FOR THE FIRST TIME, WILL HAVE THE CHANCE TO RECEIVE QUALIFIED LEGAL ADVICE, UNDERSTAND THEIR RIGHTS AND FOR THEIR CHILDREN TO HAVE THAT PARENT THEN MOVE FORWARD TOWARDS THE STABILITY THAT THEY NEED AND MANY TIMES, APPLYING FOR WORK AUTHORIZATION FOR THE FIRST TIME, AGAIN UNDER FEDERAL IMMIGRATION LAW.

OKAY. WELL, YOU KNOW, AND IF THEY'VE COME INTO CONTACT OR HAD TO DEAL WITH DEPORTATION NOT THROUGH THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM, THEN THEN THAT'S A SEPARATE THING AND NOT AS WORRIED ABOUT THAT SITUATION.

I AM WORRIED ABOUT THOSE INDIVIDUALS WHO WHO HAVE BEEN CHARGED WITH CRIMES, AND THEN THE IDEA THAT WE'RE GOING TO SPEND TAXPAYER DOLLARS DEFENDING THEM, NOT BEING DEPORTED AFTER THEY'VE BEEN HERE AND COMMITTED A CRIME AGAINST OUR COMMUNITY.

WHAT ARE THE GUARDRAILS AND CONSTRAINTS? JIM, I KNOW WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THIS A COUPLE TIMES HERE IN COURT, AND I DIDN'T GET A CLEAR ANSWER.

WHAT ARE THE GUARDRAILS AND CONSTRAINTS UPON WHO WOULD QUALIFY FOR THIS PROGRAM? BASED ON ANY KIND OF CRIMINAL HISTORY? I CAN SPEAK TO THAT, TOO, AND WHAT THE AGREEMENTS PROVIDE FOR HERE IS THAT WE'RE GOING TO BE OPERATING A UNIVERSAL REPRESENTATION MODEL, MEANING THAT IF A POTENTIAL CLIENT QUALIFIES BASED ON INCOME, THAT'S INDIGENT STATUS AND RESIDENCY IN BEXAR COUNTY, THAT CASE WOULD BE ACCEPTED REGARDLESS OF THE PERCEIVED MERITS OF THE DEPORTATION DEFENSE CASE AND REGARDLESS OF PREVIOUS CONTACT WITH THE CRIMINAL LEGAL SYSTEM.

NOW, WHAT I THINK THE COMMISSIONERS HAVE SPOKEN TO IN THEIR EARLIER RESOLUTIONS IS THAT ONE OF THE VALUES OF THE COUNTY IS THAT FUNDAMENTAL FAIRNESS AND DUE PROCESS, AND I THINK WE'RE ALL FAMILIAR WITH THE IDEA THAT IN A CRIMINAL PROCEEDING SOMEBODY SHOULD HAVE A LAWYER AT THEIR SIDE TO HELP THEM NAVIGATE THAT CASE.

IN IMMIGRATION PROCEEDINGS THERE'S NO SUCH CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHT.

THAT'S WHY 80% OF PEOPLE THAT ARE FACING DEPORTATION HERE IN THE SAN ANTONIO IMMIGRATION COURT DO NOT HAVE LAWYERS, AND THAT'S A CONTEXT IN WHICH THERE'S A HIGHLY TRAINED GOVERNMENT LAWYER AGAINST THE PERSON WHO'S HAVING TO NAVIGATE AN EXTRAORDINARILY COMPLICATED POTENTIALLY DEFENSE IF THEY HAVE IT, AND I THINK THAT THE SECOND POINT THAT'S RELEVANT TO YOUR QUESTION, COMMISSIONER, IS THAT EVERY DEFENSE THAT CAN BE BROUGHT UNDER THESE AGREEMENTS IS ONE THAT'S BEEN CREATED BY CONGRESS UNDER FEDERAL

[01:25:06]

IMMIGRATION LAW, AND WHAT WE'VE SEEN THROUGH THE OPERATION OF THE PROGRAMS AND OTHER JURISDICTIONS IS WHEN SOMEBODY IS SERVED, WHEN THEY DO RECEIVE LEGAL SERVICES, IF THEY DON'T QUALIFY FOR ANY DEFENSE, THEY LEARN IT FASTER.

THEY HAVE A MORE DIGNIFIED PROCESS THEMSELVES THROUGH THE SYSTEM, AND WE'VE SEEN TIME IN DETENTION BE REDUCED.

SO IT'S BOTH THAT WHEN PEOPLE DON'T QUALIFY UNDER THE FRAMEWORK CONGRESS HAS LAID OUT, THEY KNOW IT AND CASES CAN BE RESOLVED FASTER AND MORE EFFICIENTLY, BUT THAT WHEN THEY DO QUALIFY, THEY'RE ABLE TO DO THEIR BEST TO MEET THAT BURDEN BEFORE AN IMMIGRATION JUDGE.

SO WHAT I HEARD THOUGH IS UNIVERSAL REPRESENTATION.

SO THERE ARE NO RESTRICTIONS.

IS THAT CORRECT? THE RESTRICTIONS ARE THE INDIGENT STATUS AND RESIDENCY.

THAT'S CORRECT. SO CLEARLY, GOING BACK TO WHAT YOU SAID THERE, THERE IS A CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHT OF DEFENSE IN A CRIMINAL COURT, RIGHT.

NOT SO AS YOU JUST STATED FOR IMMIGRATION SERVICES, BUT AGAIN, WE HAVE TO COMPLY WITH THE CONSTITUTIONAL REQUIREMENT. ON ON THE CRIMINAL SIDE.

THAT'S WHY WE HAVE MAC.

THAT'S WHY WE HAVE THE PUBLIC DEFENDER'S OFFICE, BUT THAT UNIVERSAL REPRESENTATION GOES INTO AN AREA THAT IS NOT A CONSTITUTIONAL REQUIREMENT.

THIS IS SOMETHING THAT IS A POLITICAL DECISION THAT'S BEING MADE, AND, YOU KNOW, I FEEL STRONGLY THAT THERE SHOULD BE GUARDRAILS, THERE SHOULD BE CONSTRAINTS AROUND WHO CAN QUALIFY FOR THAT, WHO WOULD BE FUNDED FOR THAT REPRESENTATION WHEN THIS IS NOT A CONSTITUTIONAL REQUIREMENT.

THIS IS A POLITICAL DECISION ABOUT WHO'S GOING TO RECEIVE TAXPAYER FUNDS FOR REPRESENTATION, AND THAT'S MY LARGEST ISSUE HERE.

I JUST WANT TO SAY A COUPLE OTHER THINGS, AND THEN THEN I'LL PASS THE MICROPHONE HERE.

TO COMMISSIONER RODRIGUEZ'S POINT ABOUT REPORTING BACK, I THINK THAT.

YOU KNOW, I WOULD VERY MUCH LIKE TO SEE DATA COLLECTION AROUND WHO IS UTILIZING OUR SERVICES, BECAUSE I THINK THAT'S THE BIGGEST QUESTION HERE IS WHO'S ACTUALLY UTILIZING THESE SERVICES AND CAN THIS BODY FEEL COMFORTABLE WITH WHO IS USING THOSE SERVICES AND THEIR BACKGROUND GOING FORWARD? SO WHETHER THAT'S ON A QUARTERLY BASIS OR MONTHLY BASIS, BEING ABLE TO SEE WHO'S ACTUALLY UTILIZING THOSE SERVICES THROUGH THOSE TWO CONTRACTS, I THINK IS CRITICAL.

I'M NOT GOING TO FURTHER BEAT THIS DEAD HORSE, BUT, YOU KNOW, AGAIN, I FEEL THIS IS A MISUSE OF TAXPAYER DOLLARS.

I VOTED AGAINST THIS TWICE ALREADY.

I HAVEN'T HEARD ANYTHING TODAY THAT HAS ADDRESSED MY CONCERNS, SO I PLAN TO VOTE AGAINST IT AGAIN TODAY, AND, YOU KNOW, I STILL FEEL STRONGLY THERE SHOULD BE CONSTRAINTS AROUND HOW WE'RE USING TAXPAYER DOLLARS IN TERMS OF IMMIGRANT DEFENSE.

COMMISSIONER CALVERT.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

CAN YOU TALK TO ME A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE TRAINING? WHAT KIND OF TRAINING SERVICES ARE FOLKS RECEIVING IN CUSTODY? IS THAT IN BEXAR COUNTY JAIL OR A FEDERAL DETENTION CENTER OR, AND WHAT DOES THAT INCLUDE? WELL, COMMISSIONER THE CASE COULD BEGIN POTENTIALLY IN ANY OF THOSE CONTEXTS, IF SOMEBODY APPLIES FOR SERVICES AND QUALIFIES, AND ONE OF THE DIMENSIONS OF THIS PROGRAM, I THINK THAT'S UNIQUE AMONG THE WAY THAT SERVICES ARE DELIVERED IN BOTH CRIMINAL AND IMMIGRATION DEFENSE IS THAT IT IS HOLISTIC, AND SO PART OF THE SUCCESSES THAT WE PLAN TO SHOW ARE SUCCESSES BY FAMILIES WHO, THROUGH SOCIAL SERVICES, THE SUPPORT OF SOCIAL WORKERS THAT WORK AS PART OF THOSE MULTIDISCIPLINARY LEGAL DEFENSE TEAMS. WE'RE GOING TO SEE PARENTS WHO ARE CONFIDENT, WHO ARE ABLE TO MEET THEIR BURDEN AND REPRESENT THEMSELVES IN IMMIGRATION COURT IN WAYS THEY COULDN'T WITHOUT THOSE SERVICES.

SO POTENTIALLY SOMEBODY COULD BECOME A CLIENT OF ONE OF THE FUNDED ORGANIZATIONS IN ANY OF THE THOSE CONTEXTS, IT COULD BE NON-DETAINED, POTENTIALLY IN POSSIBLY A CRIMINAL JUSTICE SETTING.

MOST LIKELY IF SOMEONE IS DETAINED, IT WOULD BE AN ICE DETENTION, AND OF COURSE, WE'VE SEEN THROUGH THE RESEARCH THAT THE VERA INSTITUTE DOES ANALYZE REGULARLY THROUGHOUT THE JURISDICTIONS WHERE THESE PROGRAMS OPERATE, THAT SOMEBODY IS THREE TIMES MORE LIKELY TO BE ABLE TO SHOW AN IMMIGRATION JUDGE THEY LEGALLY QUALIFY TO BE RELEASED FROM DETENTION WHILE THEY FIGHT THEIR CASE, AND TEN TIMES MORE LIKELY TO BE ABLE TO PREVAIL IN THEIR CASE IF THEY'RE AFFORDED REPRESENTATION.

LOOK, THIS IS NOT MY BAILIWICK, SO I DON'T KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT WHAT KIND OF TRAINING SERVICES.

I STILL DIDN'T GET AN ANSWER.

IS THIS JOB TRAINING OR WHAT KIND OF TRAINING? WHAT KIND OF TRAINING IS IT? YES, IT COULD BE ANY, I THINK ANY TYPE OF TRAINING OR SOCIAL SUPPORT SERVICES WITHIN WHAT A SOCIAL WORKER WOULD PROVIDE TO THAT PARENT OR THAT CLIENT

[01:30:05]

THAT'S RECEIVING THE LEGAL DEFENSE SERVICES.

SO IS THE COUNTY PAYING FOR THE TRAINING SERVICES OR DOES THE NON DOES THE FEDERAL DETENTION CENTER HAVE OTHER NONPROFITS COME IN AND PAY FOR IT? THERE REALLY IS A LACK OF SOCIAL SERVICES OF ALL KINDS IN THE ICE DETENTION CENTER, AND OF COURSE, MOST BEXAR COUNTY PARENTS WHO DO FIND THEMSELVES DETAINED ARE AN HOUR AWAY FROM THEIR FAMILY IN PEARSALL, POSSIBLY IN KARNES OR OTHER DETENTION CENTERS BUT THOSE ARE FOLKS WHO HAVE THEIR HOMES IN BEXAR COUNTY, AND AGAIN, THERE IS A GREAT LACK OF SOCIAL SERVICES OR ANY OTHER KIND OF SUPPORT THERE, AND SO I THINK THE DESIGN OF THIS PROGRAM, WHICH AGAIN, IS UNIQUE IN, I THINK, THE LARGER CONTEXT OF DEFENSE MODELS, BUT WE'VE SEEN WORK AND WORK VERY WELL IN OTHER JURISDICTIONS.

OPERATING THESE PROGRAMS IS THAT WHEN THOSE INTERDISCIPLINARY SERVICES ARE OFFERED, WE SEE FOLKS WHO ARE ABLE TO MEET THEIR BURDEN BETTER AND ACCESS JUSTICE BETTER, AND REALLY SHOW AN IMMIGRATION JUDGE THAT THEY DO MERIT THE DEFENSE THAT THEY'RE SEEKING.

OKAY. IS IT AMERICAN GATEWAY AND RAICES? CAN THEY COME TO THE DAISE REAL QUICK? A REPRESENTATIVE.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

I JUST WANT TO UNDERSTAND YOU KNOW, OSTENSIBLY, WE HAVE THE NUMBER 100 PEOPLE, SO ABOUT 10,000 PER DEFENSE.

MOST OF THAT, I WOULD ASSUME, TO LEGAL FEES, BUT I THINK THAT SOME OF IT IS GOING TOWARDS TRAINING SERVICES.

SO IS THAT ACCURATE OR AM I READING IT WRONG? WOULD YOU PLEASE INTRODUCE YOURSELF FOR THE RECORD? SO JAVIER HIDALGO, LEGAL DIRECTOR AT RAICES.

I THINK IF I UNDERSTAND YOUR QUESTION YOU'RE REFERRING, YOU MAY BE REFERRING TO TWO THINGS THAT I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE I'M UNDERSTANDING.

I'M SORRY. COULD YOU COME TO THE MIC? I'M HAVING APOLOGIES.

IF I UNDERSTAND THE QUESTION, YOU MAY BE REFERRING TO TWO DIFFERENT THINGS THAT.

THAT'S IN MY UNDERSTANDING. ONE WOULD BE TRAININGS THAT COME THROUGH THE WRAPAROUND SOCIAL SERVICES SIDE OF THE, OF THE PROGRAM, RIGHT, AND THAT COULD LOOK DIFFERENT WAYS BASED ON THE NEEDS OF THE FAMILY MEMBER, RIGHT? THAT'S GETTING THE SERVICES.

IT MIGHT BE SOMETHING WITH REGARDS TO HOW TO ACCESS AND INTERFACE WITH THE AVAILABLE SERVICES IN THE COMMUNITY.

IF IT'S ON THE LEGAL SERVICES SIDE, IT MIGHT BE MORE AROUND THE KNOW YOUR RIGHTS AND UNDERSTANDING THE PROCESS AND HOW TO INTERFACE WITH THE PROCESS.

OKAY. SO WE'RE PROVIDING LEGAL SERVICES AND SOCIAL SERVICES THROUGH THIS GRANT.

CORRECT. OKAY.

OKAY. SO OR CASE MANAGEMENT SERVICES.

HI I'M GRISELDA WITH AMERICAN GATEWAYS.

WE ALSO TALKED ABOUT A COMPONENT OF TRAINING TO THE COUNTY STAFF.

OFTENTIMES WHAT WE FIND IS THAT THE COMMUNITY INTERACTS WITH STAFF THAT IS NOT AWARE OF THE INFORMATION OR THE REFERRAL SERVICES THAT ARE AVAILABLE TO THEM.

SO PROVIDING TRAINING AND BEING SUPPORT TO THE COUNTY IN ANY ASPECT, RIGHT? THAT COULD BE THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE.

OFTENTIMES INDIVIDUALS ARE THERE WITH ICE DETAINERS AND PROVIDING INFORMATION AND TRAINING MATERIALS TO STAFF TO BE ABLE TO NAVIGATE THAT PROCESS, BUT ALSO TO THE COMMUNITY. SO THERE'S A COMPONENT OF BEING AVAILABLE.

SO THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WE DON'T HAVE KIND OF SET IN STONE OF WHAT TYPICAL WHAT TYPICAL TRAINING.

BECAUSE AS YOU CAN UNDERSTAND, THINGS CHANGE CONSTANTLY, AND SO THE NEED CHANGES, BUT WE'RE AVAILABLE TO PROVIDE THAT TRAINING TO STAFF AND ALSO TO THE COMMUNITY.

OKAY. I'M GOING TO GET VERY MUCH INTO THE SPECIFICS BECAUSE THE SPECIFICS ARE VERY IMPORTANT.

WHAT ARE THE TOP THINGS THAT FOLKS ARE SEEKING SERVICES FOR SOCIAL SERVICES AND OR TRAINING SERVICES? SURE. SO WHAT WE'VE SEEN IN FOR EXAMPLE, HARRIS COUNTY, RIGHT, WHERE WE HAVE A SIMILAR PROGRAM IT MIGHT BE SOMETHING LIKE HOW TO ACCESS COMMUNITY BASED SERVICES FOR, YOU KNOW, FOOD OR HOUSING SUPPORT, SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

OR IT MIGHT BE HOW TO GET YOUR KID IN SCHOOL, IF THAT'S SOMETHING THAT'S APPROPRIATE FOR THAT FAMILY.

IT REALLY IS A NEEDS BASED TYPE OF TYPE OF APPROACH.

RIGHT, AND IT'S AND AGAIN, IT'S KIND OF THAT'S THE CASE MANAGEMENT ANGLE, RIGHT? OKAY.

CAN YOU MAYBE THIS IS BACK TO JIM.

JIM, YOU HAD MENTIONED A PERCENTAGE OF PEOPLE WHO ARE IMPACTED BY THIS.

CAN YOU TELL ME HOW MANY PEOPLE IN BEXAR COUNTY WERE PROCESSED IN BEXAR COUNTY THROUGH IMMIGRATION COURTS? I THINK THE NUMBER OF PERSONS I THINK THAT ARE CURRENTLY DETAINED AND I CAN I'LL DEFER TO JUSTIN, BUT IT'S JUST OVER LIKE OR THAT ARE PART OF THE IMMIGRATION COURT.

SO THEY MAY BE DETAINED OR NOT DETAINED.

IT'S SLIGHTLY OVER 100,000, AND OF THOSE 100,000, I THINK CURRENTLY THERE'S LIKE MAYBE 17% OF THOSE PERSONS ARE ACTUALLY RECEIVING REPRESENTATION.

SO THIS IS TO KIND OF CHIP INTO THAT, AND DID I GET THAT CORRECT? OKAY. ARE ANY OF THE I RESPECT THE, THE WORK OF RAICES?

[01:35:04]

I KNOW, I DON'T KNOW, AMERICAN GATEWAY QUITE AS WELL.

ARE ANY OF THE SERVICES TOUCHING ON CIVIC PARTICIPATION? I KNOW THE CITIZENSHIP CLASSES WOULD DO THAT, BUT THERE ARE SO MANY DIFFERENT GOVERNMENT SYSTEMS AROUND THE WORLD THAT PEOPLE SOMETIMES DON'T KNOW HOW TO GET INVOLVED IN THEIR NEIGHBORHOOD, THEIR COMMUNITY.

IS THAT PART OF SOME OF THE THINGS THAT ARE BEING TAUGHT BECAUSE YOU'VE GOT SUCH LOW VOTER TURNOUT NOWADAYS? YES. SO THAT'S REALLY IMPORTANT FOR OUR ORGANIZATION.

WE ACTUALLY DO, AND THIS IS PART OF KIND OF THE TRAINING AND THE OUTREACH COMPONENT OF OUR WORK.

WE DO PROVIDE TWO LARGE SCALE NATURALIZATION CLINICS THAT ARE HOSTED BY COMMUNITY PARTNERS.

FOR INSTANCE, THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO PARTNERS WITH US.

WE JUST HAD ONE RECENTLY IN MAY, AND WE HOLD TWO, AND SO THAT IS KIND OF SOME OF THE TRAINING THAT WE PUT ON TO THE COMMUNITY INFORMATION ABOUT BECOMING A CITIZEN, THE REQUIREMENTS, AND THEN WE PROMOTE THESE CLINICS SO THAT WE CAN HAVE LONG TERM RESIDENTS BECOME CITIZENS AND, AND VOTE, RIGHT? OFTENTIMES WHAT WE FIND IS LONG TERM RESIDENTS DON'T HAVE THE ACCESS TO REPRESENTATION.

IT'S VERY EXPENSIVE TO HAVE AN ATTORNEY DO YOUR PAPERWORK, AND SO THESE CLINICS ARE HOSTED BY ARE FREE, AND THEY'RE HOSTED BY ATTORNEYS THAT PROVIDE THE SERVICE TO THE COMMUNITY TO ENSURE THAT THEY CAN NATURALIZE.

NOW, I WANT TO BACK UP ON THE LAW PART.

SO YOU HAD MENTIONED, I THINK, JIM, THE SUPREME COURT HAD SAID THAT THIS KIND OF REPRESENTATION WAS THAT THE US SUPREME COURT OR THE TEXAS SUPREME COURT, THERE WAS COURTS OR MAYBE IT WAS NOT EVEN A SUPREME COURT.

THERE WERE COURTS THAT WERE SAYING THAT THIS TYPE OF REPRESENTATION WOULD BE EXPLAINED, THAT WHOLE LEGAL COURT.

YEAH, IT WAS PADILLA VERSUS KENTUCKY, AND THAT'S WHAT'S APPLICABLE TO BOTH OUR PROGRAM AND THE PUBLIC DEFENDERS PROGRAM, AND IN THAT PARTICULAR CASE, IT SAYS THAT BEFORE A NON-CITIZEN CAN PLEAD GUILTY, THAT THE DEFENSE COUNSEL NEEDS TO PROVIDE INFORMATION AS TO WHAT THOSE CONSEQUENCES ARE GOING TO BE.

SO THAT WAS IN RESPONSE TO WHEN COMMISSIONER MOONEY AND I WERE VISITING ON THE OUR TWO PROGRAMS. SO THAT DOESN'T APPLY FOR THIS PARTICULAR FOR DEALING WITH THE DEPORTATION.

SO THE SUPREME COURT CASE THAT WAS RELATED TO IF YOU'RE IN A CRIMINAL COURT CASE, CRIMINAL COURT, OKAY.

SO IT DOESN'T APPLY TO THIS.

SO WITH RESPECT TO THE GUARDRAILS QUESTIONS THAT COMMISSIONER MOODY HAS RAISED AND I'VE RAISED, OKAY.

I'M JUST TRYING TO UNDERSTAND WE'VE GOT 100,000 PEOPLE PROCESSED, 17% RECEIVED THEIR OWN COUNCIL, AND SO WE'RE SERVING 100 PEOPLE THROUGH THIS ROUGHLY.

SO, YOU KNOW, OSTENSIBLY AND I UNDERSTAND THERE'S A PHILOSOPHY OF UNIVERSAL ACCEPTANCE, BUT I THINK THAT THE COMMUNITY, THE TAXPAYERS KIND OF WANT TO UNDERSTAND MORE ABOUT, WELL, IF THERE'S, YOU KNOW, 100,000 FOLKS TO SELECT FROM, I MEAN, WHY THE 100 THAT MAY HAVE THE CRIMINAL CHARGE? JUST HELP US UNDERSTAND. I UNDERSTAND THAT THE FAMILY UNIFICATION, BUT BUT, BUT THE TYPE OF CHARGE, I THINK IS SOMETHING THAT GIVES PEOPLE SOME PAUSE.

I MEAN, IT MAY BE ONE THING TO HAVE A DWI, BUT ANOTHER THING TO HAVE A DIFFERENT KIND OF CHARGE.

SO TALK TO ME ABOUT LIKE, I MEAN, BECAUSE THE 100 IS NOT A BIG DENT OUT OF 100,000.

JUST TELL ME WHAT YOU KNOW IS.

BECAUSE SOMETIMES WHEN WE GET INTO IDEOLOGY, WE GO A LITTLE TOO FAR.

SO JUST I NEED TO UNDERSTAND.

WELL, COMMISSIONER WHAT WE'VE SEEN IN THESE PROGRAMS, WHERE THEY OPERATE AROUND THE COUNTRY IS THAT TYPICALLY THEY DO OPERATE THE UNIVERSAL REPRESENTATION MODEL, AND IN TERMS OF DESIGNING THE PROGRAM AND CREATING THE RESOURCES FOR THE REPRESENTATION, THE PURPOSE OF UNIVERSAL REPRESENTATION IS THAT IT'S SCALABLE SO THAT AS JURISDICTIONS ACQUIRE MORE RESOURCES THAT ARE BEING A THAT ARE ABLE TO BE PUT TOWARDS THESE TYPES OF PROGRAMS, THE FACT THAT THE CASES ARE ACCEPTED WITHOUT REGARD TO PERCEIVED MERIT MEANS THAT THIS PROGRAM CAN THEN BE SCALED INTO ONE THAT APPROACHES.

I THINK WHAT THE VISION OF FUNDAMENTAL, FUNDAMENTAL FAIRNESS IS, IS THAT EVERYBODY DESERVES THAT FAIR SHAKE WHEN THEY'RE A RESIDENT OF A JURISDICTION AND FIND THEMSELVES IN THIS HIGH STAKES ENVIRONMENT.

SO I THINK THE NUMBERS THAT WE'VE SEEN IN HARRIS AND IN OTHER JURISDICTIONS, THE RESULTS THAT WE HAVE SEEN GO BEYOND THE NUMBERS IN YEAR ONE, EVEN THE NUMBERS IN YEAR TWO.

IT'S ACTUALLY BUILDING THE MECHANISM OF THE SERVICE DELIVERY, WHICH IS SCALABLE, AND I KNOW THAT HARRIS HAS BEEN IN THE PROCESS OF GOING THROUGH THAT SAME PROCESS OF USING THE DATA FROM YEAR ONE AND TWO, SEEING THE KINDS OF RESULTS THAT OCCUR WHEN YOU DO REPRESENT SOMEBODY WITH THAT SENSE OF FUNDAMENTAL FAIRNESS WITHOUT REGARD TO PERCEIVED MERITS OF THE CASE, AND THEN HOW THAT CAN BE SCALED TO THEN HELP EVERYBODY WHO QUALIFIES IN THE COMMUNITY, AND THE WAY THAT I THINK WE WOULD MOST IDEALLY ENVISION.

[01:40:09]

SURE. I JUST REALLY CAN'T GRASP WHY IF YOU PUT CONSTRAINTS ON WHO COULD BE REPRESENTED, SAY, ANYONE WITH A FELONY COULD NO LONGER BE REPRESENTED, WHY WOULD THAT CHANGE IN ANY WAY WHETHER YOU COULD SCALE THE PROGRAM? WELL, I THINK WHAT WE'VE SEEN AGAIN, IN THE OTHER JURISDICTIONS IS PART OF THE NOTION OF UNIVERSAL REPRESENTATION IS THAT FAIRNESS, NOT ONLY OF OUTCOMES AND AN ACCESS TO JUSTICE WITHIN THE PROCEEDING, BUT EVEN IN HOW CASES ARE ACCEPTED.

SO ONE OF THE VALUES THAT UNDERLIES UNIVERSAL REPRESENTATION IS ACTUALLY EQUITY AS TO ALL KINDS OF POPULATIONS WHO, AS WE KNOW, ARE SYSTEMICALLY MARGINALIZED, SO COULD BE COMMUNITIES OF COLOR, COULD BE PEOPLE WHO HAVE HAD PREVIOUS INTERACTIONS WITH THE CRIMINAL LEGAL SYSTEM, WHETHER OR NOT THEY WERE THEN ACQUITTED OR CHARGES WERE DISMISSED, BUT WHEN PROGRAMS OPERATE IN A WAY THAT THE ACCEPTANCE IS GEARED TO THE PERCEPTION OF HOW STRONG, LET'S SAY A DEFENSE MAY BE, WE DON'T GET THE KINDS OF FUNDAMENTALLY FAIR RESULTS AS THE ONES THAT UNIVERSAL REPRESENTATION AIMS TO CREATE.

I THINK ANOTHER POINT, COMMISSIONER, IS PART OF THE DEFENSE THAT WE'VE SEEN EMERGE OF GREAT QUALITY IN OTHER JURISDICTIONS, IN PART CERTAINLY IN NEW YORK CITY, WITH THE KNIFE UP STUDY AND THEN NOW IN HARRIS AND OTHER PLACES IN TEXAS WHERE THE SAFE NETWORK HAS BEEN BUILDING, WHEN CASES ARE ACCEPTED WITHOUT REGARD TO PERCEIVED MERIT, WE SEE THE DEFENSE BE ABLE TO ENGAGE IN A HIGHLY DETAILED WAY, THE WAY YOU'D SEE HIGHEST LEVEL OF CRIMINAL DEFENDERS, FOR EXAMPLE, AND THEY DO THAT WHEN THE CASES ARE TAKEN WITHOUT REGARD TO THAT CURSORY, SOMETIMES INTAKE THAT A DEFENDER CAN DO IN A DETENTION CENTER WHERE A VOLUME IS HIGH, RESOURCES ARE LOW, AND THERE'S JUST NOT TIME TO DO THAT. IF I COULD AND, YOU KNOW, NOT SPEAKING FOR MY COLLEAGUE ON THE COURT, BUT I THINK WHAT I HEARD WAS THAT GIVEN THE 80,000 OR MORE THAT COME THROUGH THE, THE COURT SYSTEM AND WE'RE TALKING ABOUT 100, COULD WE NOT AT LEAST ENSURE THAT THOSE 100, YOU KNOW, ARE ARE DON'T HAVE THOSE SAME CONCERNS THAT ARE OBVIOUSLY GOING TO ARISE FROM, YOU KNOW, CRIMINAL BACKGROUND OR CRIMINAL HISTORY? TO ME, I DON'T UNDERSTAND THE SCALE ARGUMENT AT ALL.

IT SEEMS LIKE IF WE'RE ONLY GOING TO BE TOUCHING A FEW INDIVIDUALS, WHY WOULDN'T WE AT LEAST WANT TO HELP THOSE INDIVIDUALS WHO DON'T HAVE OTHER CASES HANGING OVER THEIR HEAD? I THINK THE ANSWER GOES TO THE FUNDAMENTAL VALUES OF THE COUNTY THAT THE COURT HAS RECOGNIZED IN ITS EARLIER RESOLUTIONS, REGARDLESS OF THE INTERACTIONS WITH THE CRIMINAL LEGAL SYSTEM OR EVEN CONVICTIONS THAT SOMEBODY MAY HAVE, THAT PERSON MAY HAVE U.S.

CITIZEN CHILDREN, THEY MAY HAVE AN AGING U.S.

CITIZEN PARENT.

THAT PERSON MAY BE MAY EVEN HAVE THE ABILITY TO SHOW THAT THEY THEMSELVES ARE A CITIZEN WITHOUT KNOWING IT THROUGH FEDERAL IMMIGRATION LAW.

I THINK THERE'S NO WAY TO DIVORCE THE COMMITMENT TO THAT FAMILY SECURITY AND THE FAIRNESS THAT THOSE U.S.

CITIZEN CHILDREN DESERVE FROM ASSESSING WHAT TYPE OF PREVIOUS INTERACTION THAT THE CLIENT MAY HAVE HAD WITH THAT SYSTEM, AND I THINK JUST GOING OVER THE PREVIOUS SESSIONS THAT THIS COURT HAS ENGAGED IN, I THINK IT'S CLEAR THAT IS A FUNDAMENTAL VALUE.

EACH OF THESE CASES IS ABOUT FAR MORE THAN THE PERSON WHO'S BEING REPRESENTED.

IT'S ABOUT THAT FAMILY THAT LIVES HERE IN BEXAR COUNTY.

IT'S FROM HERE, AND IN SOME CASES, AS AS THE COMMISSIONER POINTED TO, IF SOMEBODY HAS PAST INTERACTION WITH THE CRIMINAL LEGAL SYSTEM THAT MAKES THEM INELIGIBLE TO DEFEND THEMSELVES IN IMMIGRATION COURT, THEY'LL LEARN THAT FASTER, AND THOSE U.S.

CITIZEN CHILDREN THEN KNOW FASTER WHAT'S GOING TO BE THE FUTURE OF THEIR FAMILY.

THEY CAN MOVE FORWARD TO SECURITY MUCH BETTER IN A MORE DIGNIFIED WAY, IF THERE'S ACCESS TO THAT LEGAL REPRESENTATION.

COMMISSIONER CALVERT. SURE. LET ME GO TO COMMISSIONER CLAY-FLORES AND THEN WE'LL GO BACK TO YOU.

WELL, OKAY. THAT'S FINE.

THAT'S ALL RIGHT. SO I DON'T HAVE QUESTIONS.

I MORE HAD TWO OBSERVATIONS.

SO YOU KNOW, SHERIFF WAS JUST HERE AND WE WERE TALKING ABOUT THE BUDGET COMING UP AND THINGS WE NEED TO DO, AND IF THE RETENTION RATE IS GETTING BETTER WITH THE $2,000 THAT WE APPROVED FOR NEW CADETS AND THINGS, AND SO WE'RE TALKING ABOUT PROCESSING PEOPLE OUT QUICKER FROM THE JAILS.

IT WOULD SEEM TO ME THAT THIS IS A GREAT ECONOMIC INVESTMENT INSTEAD OF HAVING PEOPLE SIT AND ROT IN JAIL WHICH WILL IMPACT OUR SHERIFF DEPUTIES IN OVERTIME PAY, ETC..

SECONDLY IT SOUNDS LIKE PERHAPS SINCE THIS IS ONLY AFFECTING 100 PEOPLE, MAYBE WE NEED TO PUT MORE THAN $1 MILLION INTO IT TO HELP IMPACT MORE OF OUR RESIDENTS HERE IN BEXAR COUNTY.

[01:45:03]

JUST MY THOUGHTS. THANK YOU.

THANK YOU. COMMISSIONER. COMMISSIONER CALVERT.

THANK YOU. I VERY MUCH UNDERSTAND THAT KEEPING THE CHILDREN TOGETHER IN THE CHILD UNIFICATION, BUT I DO WANT SOME DATA WITH RESPECT TO THE OTHER PROGRAMS THAT ARE PART OF THE NETWORK THAT YOU MENTIONED.

WHAT DO WE KNOW ABOUT THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN HELPED BY SOME OF THESE PROGRAMS AND THEN GONE ON TO COMMIT AN OFFENSE? LET'S JUST SAY A VIOLENT OFFENSE.

I MEAN, THAT'S MAINLY WHAT I'M CONCERNED ABOUT OR VIOLENT OFFENSES IN OUR COMMUNITY.

SO WHAT WHAT ARE WHAT ARE THE I MEAN, WHAT ARE THE STATS ON THAT? WELL, COMMISSIONER, I'M NOT AWARE OF ANY INSTANCES IN WHICH A CLIENT OF ONE OF THESE PROGRAMS DID THEN GO ON TO COMMIT A CRIME.

WHAT I DO KNOW IS THAT WE HAVE RESEARCH SHOWING THAT IMMIGRANT COMMUNITIES STATISTICALLY COMMIT FEWER CRIMES THAN NATIVE BORN PERSONS.

WE DO KNOW THAT, AND, OF COURSE, WE KNOW THAT LOOKING AT THE FAMILY HOLISTICALLY, THE MORE SUPPORT THAT A FAMILY RECEIVES, INCLUDING LEGAL DEFENSE TO OBTAIN SECURITY AND HAVE THOSE KINDS OF BASIC STABILITY, WE KNOW THAT THEN THERE'S LESS OF A LIKELIHOOD THAT OTHER MEMBERS OF THE FAMILY MAY BE INVOLVED IN SOME TYPE OF ACTIVITY OTHER THAN BEING ABLE TO EARN A LIVING, AND I'M REFERRING HERE IN MANY CASES TO THE US CITIZEN CHILDREN.

SO I'M NOT AWARE OF A CASE IN WHICH A CLIENT IN ONE OF THESE PROGRAMS DID COMMIT A CRIME OR--MR. HIDALGO YOU'VE GOT A LOT OF EXPERIENCE IN THIS.

I JUST WANT TO UNDERSTAND, YOU KNOW DO YOU KNOW OF ANY CASES THAT HAVE ENDED UP IN A VIOLENT OFFENSE AFTER BEING REPRESENTED IN PROGRAMS LIKE THIS AND THE VISTA, IS IT THE VISTA NETWORK? FROM THE TOP OF MY HEAD? NO. YOU KNOW, I'M SURE STATISTICALLY, IF YOU BEAR IT OUT, I'M SURE THEY EXIST, BUT AS MR. TULLIUS POINTED OUT, STATISTICALLY THE IMMIGRANT COMMUNITY STATISTICALLY TRACKS LOWER AND I WANT TO AFFIRM THAT.

I AGREE WITH THAT.

I WILL CHAMPION THAT AND SAY THAT AMERICAN GATEWAY, I JUST APOLOGIZE.

YOUR LAST NAME AGAIN? BARRERA. THAT'S RIGHT.

OKAY. I'M SORRY, I AGREE WITH JAVIER, BUT I WOULD JUST EMPHASIZE THAT PART OF THIS HOLISTIC SERVICE IS TO EDUCATE INDIVIDUALS THAT WE ARE REPRESENTING FOR THE CONSEQUENCES POST SERVICES, RIGHT? SO YOU ARE YOU MAY HAVE RECEIVED A FORM OF RELIEF, AND NOW YOU NEED TO PROTECT IT BY, YOU KNOW, FOLLOWING YOUR RESPONSIBILITIES.

SO THERE'S EDUCATION COMPONENT FOR AFTER POST SERVICES AS WELL.

OKAY. I, YOU KNOW, WE'RE JUST ASKING QUESTIONS THAT A LOT OF OUR CONSTITUENTS WOULD WANT TO KNOW.

IT'S NOT MEANT TO BE PEJORATIVE, BUT THESE ARE QUESTIONS THAT PEOPLE DO ASK US, AND SO I JUST WANTED TO, YOU KNOW, GET THOSE THINGS ON THE RECORD.

THANK YOU, JUDGE. I'VE GOT A QUESTION FOR MISS SMITH.

THIS STARTED OBVIOUSLY BY THE PREDECESSOR COURT, CORRECT? BACK IN 2002.

YES, SIR, AND I'M USING MY JUDGE'S PERSPECTIVE FROM THIS.

SO WE'RE USING ARPA MONEY? NO. NO? OKAY, SO WHAT KIND OF CONTRACT ARE WE EXECUTING WITH THESE LEGAL SERVICES? IS IT A REIMBURSABLE CONTRACT? I'M SORRY, JUDGE, IS THIS GOING TO BE A REIMBURSABLE CONTRACT OR IS THAT TO BE.

I HAVEN'T LOOKED AT IT.

WELL, DEPENDING ON WHAT ACTION YOU TAKE ON AN ITEM LATER ON THIS AGENDA REGARDING REVENUE REPLACEMENT DESIGNATION FOR ARPA FUNDING, PERHAPS, BUT I'D HAVE TO LOOK AT IT.

I'M TALKING ABOUT FOR THIS PARTICULAR CONTRACT, IS IT GOING TO BE REIMBURSABLE? IT IS? REIMBURSABLE FOR WHAT? DO THEY SUBMIT? OH YES SIR, YES, SIR.

THEY HAVE TO SUBMIT BILLINGS, AND HOW ARE WE GOING TO DETERMINE REIMBURSABLES? BASICALLY THIS? THIS THESE TWO CONTRACTS PAY MOSTLY FOR STAFF, STAFF ATTORNEYS TO BE SPECIFIC ON A PERCENTAGE BASIS, AND IT LISTS OUT THE PERCENTAGE THAT EACH CONTRACT WILL PAY FOR EACH OF THE POSITIONS.

THERE'S ALSO SOME RENT.

I THINK THERE'S 24,000 IN TOTAL IN EACH FOR OTHER SERVICES, INCLUDING TRANS TRANSLATION SERVICES, IF NECESSARY, BUT THE VAST MAJORITY OF THIS IS PAYING FOR STAFF OF AMERICAN GATEWAYS AND STAFF OF RAICES.

SO ARE THEY GOING TO REIMBURSE UP FRONT FOR THEIR EXPENSES, OR ARE THERE GOING TO BE REIMBURSED FROM THE BACK END? IT'S THE BACK END AS I UNDERSTAND IT, JUDGE.

OKAY, AND SO WILL THEY HAVE WILL THE LEGAL SERVICES HAVE TO COME BACK OR MANAGE ASSIGNED COUNSEL HAVE TO COME BACK FOR APPROVAL OR REIMBURSEMENT? OTHER THAN PUTTING THE FORMALITY OF IT AS AN AUDITOR ITEM.

[01:50:01]

I'M TRYING TO I'M TRYING TO BALANCE ALL THESE INTERESTS.

IT WOULD COME BACK UNDER CONSENT, UNDER BILLS TO BE PAID.

GOT IT. AS YOU KNOW, THOSE AREN'T TYPICALLY DELINEATED SEPARATELY.

OKAY, AND WHO'S NEGOTIATING THE CONTRACT FOR BEHALF OF THE COUNTY? NOT ME. NOT YOU? NO.

YEAH, IT'S ALREADY DONE, JUDGE.

IT'S A CONTRACT. DONE.

IT'S DONE AND SIGNED.

THERE'S NO OTHER NEGOTIATING TO BE DONE.

OH, THIS IS JUST A RATIFICATION.

NO, IT'S. I MEAN, IT'S TO BE APPROVED, BUT I THINK THE PARTIES HAVE SIGNED IT.

IT'S FOR THE COURT'S APPROVAL.

I GOT TO SIGN IT, DON'T I? YES. THE COURT HASN'T APPROVED IT YET.

I HAVEN'T, I HAVEN'T SEEN IT.

HAVE I SEEN IT? WELL, IT'S IN THE BACKGROUND.

I DON'T KNOW IF YOU'VE SEEN THE BACKGROUND.

350 PAGES, THAT'S A LOT OF READING FOR ME.

[CHUCKLING] ALL RIGHT.

IT'S ATTACHMENTS.

THERE'S A LOT OF ATTACHMENTS.

THE CONTRACT ITSELF HAS THE BUDGET OFFICE.

ARE THEY SATISFIED WITH THE TERMS OF THE CONTRACT? YES. TINA SAYS YES.

I WILL TAKE THAT ON FACE VALUE.

THANK YOU. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? I'LL CALL FOR A VOTE.

LET'S REMIND WE HAD A MOTION BY COMMISSIONER CLAY-FLORES, SECOND BY COMMISSIONER RODRIGUEZ.

I MADE THE MOTION. OTHER WAY AROUND COMMISSIONER RODRIGUEZ, SECOND BY COMMISSIONER CLAY-FLORES.

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

AYE. ANY OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES ANY ABSTENTIONS.

ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU.

YEAH, YEAH.

OKAY. LET'S MOVE ON.

[85. Presentation, discussion and appropriate action regarding a request to negotiate agreements for selected projects to be funded by the remaining American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Funds to support Preventative Health and Behavioral Health programs in the amount of $3,089,374. Contingent upon successful negotiations, agreements will be presented to the Commissioners Court at a later date for consideration and approval.]

85 PRESENTATION DISCUSSION APPROPRIATION REGARDING A REQUEST TO NEGOTIATE AGREEMENTS TO SELECTED PROJECTS TO BE FUNDED BY THE ROMANIAN AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN ACT FUNDS TO SUPPORT PREVENTIVE HEALTH AND BEHAVIORAL HEALTH PROGRAMS IN THE AMOUNT OF $3,089,374 CONTINGENT UPON SUCCESSFUL NEGOTIATIONS.

AGREEMENTS WILL BE PRESENTED TO THE COMMISSIONERS COURT AT A LATER DATE FOR CONSIDERATION AND APPROVAL.

GOOD MORNING. GOOD MORNING, JUDGE, COMMISSIONERS, DOCTOR ANDREA GUERRERO, DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC HEALTH, OUR PRESENTATION TODAY IS TO SEEK AUTHORIZATION TO NEGOTIATE THE LAST PROGRAMS THAT WE'RE RECOMMENDING TO CLOSE OUT THE RFP THAT WE RELEASED ON BEHALF OF THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH WAS ORIGINALLY A LITTLE MORE THAN 31 MILLION. THIS IS JUST REVIEW.

YOU'VE SEEN THIS INFORMATION BEFORE.

I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE INCLUDE IT FOR BACKGROUND, 21 MILLION IN BEHAVIORAL HEALTH, 10 MILLION PREVENTIVE HEALTH.

WE HAD AN EVALUATION TEAM.

WE HAD ESTABLISHED EVALUATION CRITERIA.

THE RFP WAS OPENED LAST SEPTEMBER.

WE HAD ENCLOSED IN NOVEMBER OF 2023.

WE HAD AN EXTENSIVE EVALUATION PERIOD WITH THAT TEAM THAT I MENTIONED IN MARCH, WE HAD PRELIMINARY ACCEPTANCE OF RECOMMENDATIONS BY COMMISSIONERS COURT, AND YOU ASKED US TO BRING BACK MORE INFORMATION.

WE DID THAT AND PROVIDED THAT TO YOUR OFFICES IN APRIL OF 2024, WE RECOMMENDED 19 PROGRAMS AND ASKED FOR AUTHORIZATION TO NEGOTIATE THOSE AGREEMENTS.

THAT IS IN PROCESS NOW WE'RE WORKING WITH THE ADA AND THE ARPA OFFICE TO CREATE THOSE AGREEMENTS.

WHEN WE DID THAT AND RECOMMENDED THOSE 19 PROJECTS, WE HAD UNDERSPENT IN OUR APPROXIMATELY $31 MILLION BUDGET ABOUT $3 MILLION.

SO WE WENT BACK TO THE REMAINING RESPONSES FROM OUR FROM THOSE THAT WERE RECEIVED IN THE RFP.

LOOKED AT OUR EVALUATIONS AGAIN, AND WE'RE BRINGING BACK THESE RECOMMENDATIONS SO THAT WE CAN FULLY ALLOCATE THE REST OF THE BUDGET IN THAT 31 MILLION.

SO OUR RECOMMENDATIONS AT THIS TIME, WHEN WE WENT BACK AND LOOKED AT THEM AND WHEN WE MADE THOSE ORIGINAL 19 RECOMMENDATIONS, WE HAD NOT CREATED OUR DOMESTIC VIOLENCE PROGRAM AT THE TIME, AND WE WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE TOOK WE LOOKED THROUGH THAT LENS WHEN WE REEVALUATED WHAT WAS LEFT ON THE LIST, AND SO COMMUNITIES AND SCHOOLS AND FOR HER ARE SPECIFICALLY TARGETED FOR KIDS AND FOR WOMEN WHO ARE WHO ARE OTHER PERSONS WHO HAVE BEEN VICTIMS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE HIP RANSOM LIFE IS FOCUSED ON SEX TRAFFICKING, AND WE HAVE THE SAISD PEER SUPPORT PROGRAM THAT WILL ALSO SUPPORT OUR INVESTMENT IN SCHOOL BASED MENTAL WELLNESS.

ECUMENICAL CENTER AND PRESBYTERIAN CHILDREN'S HOMES ARE SPECIFICALLY FAITH BASED MENTAL HEALTH COUNSELING.

SO IN ADDITION TO THE OTHERS, THESE ARE SOME OF THE ONLY ONES THAT ARE REALLY GOING THROUGH RELIGIOUS ORGANIZATIONS AND CHURCHES TO BRING MENTAL WELLNESS TO THEIR TO THEIR PARTICIPANTS.

CHILDREN'S BEREAVEMENT CENTER AND THE 100 CLUB OF SAN ANTONIO.

THESE ARE ALL FOCUSED ON THE PROVISION OF MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES FOR THEIR PARTICIPANTS IN A VARIETY OF DIFFERENT POPULATIONS.

[01:55:01]

SO THE SUMMARY IS THE ORIGINAL 19 THAT YOU RECOMMENDED OR YOU AUTHORIZED US TO NEGOTIATE ON APRIL WAS $26,848,517. OUR CURRENT RECOMMENDATIONS ARE $3,089,374.

WE ARE CURRENTLY WORKING ON A STAFFING PLAN TO ADD STAFF TO HELP US MANAGE ALL OF THESE CONTRACTS, AND TO MANAGE THE GROWTH IN OUR DEPARTMENT, AND THAT'S THAT WE'LL BRING THAT BACK AT A LATER COURT DATE, HOPEFULLY IN THE NEXT, NOT THE NEXT ONE, BUT THE FOLLOWING AND SO OUR TOTAL SPEND OUT OF THE 31,457,000 THAT WAS AVAILABLE IS $29,937,891. SO OUR RECOMMENDED MOTION WOULD BE FOR YOU TO AUTHORIZE US TO NEGOTIATE ADDITIONAL AGREEMENTS SO THAT WE CAN FULLY ALLOCATE ALL OF THE MONEY THAT WAS PROVIDED FOR PUBLIC HEALTH.

I'D LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION FOR APPROVAL.

SECOND. MOTION BY COMMISSIONER CLAY-FLORES.

SECOND BY COMMISSIONER RODRIGUEZ.

COMMISSIONER CLAY-FLORES, YOU HAVE THE FLOOR.

I'M JUST REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THESE PROGRAMS. I WANT TO THANK YOU AND YOUR STAFF.

I KNOW IT TAKES A LOT TO GO THROUGH ALL OF IT, AND THERE'S A LOT OF GOOD WORK BEING DONE IN BEXAR COUNTY, AND SO IT'S DIFFICULT TO MAKE THESE DECISIONS, BUT I DO THINK THAT YOU CHOSE THE BEST ONES BASED ON READY TO GET STARTED AND ALL THAT KIND OF STUFF.

SO HOPEFULLY WE CAN IMPLEMENT THIS AS SOON AS POSSIBLE BECAUSE WE DO NEED TO USE THESE DOLLARS UP AND PEOPLE REALLY DO NEED THE HELP.

SO THANK YOU. THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER RODRIGUEZ.

THANK YOU, JUDGE. DOC, A QUESTION ON FIRST OF ALL, THANK YOU FOR PUTTING THIS TOGETHER.

I KNOW IT'S TOUGH DECISIONS TO BE MADE BECAUSE THERE ARE A LOT OF WORTHY ORGANIZATIONS.

THE SAISD PEER SUPPORT PROGRAM.

DO YOU HAVE A LIST OF SCHOOLS THAT WILL BE IMPACTED WITH THAT? WE DO NOT OFF THE TOP OF MY HEAD, BUT I CAN GET IT TO YOU.

YOU CAN GET THAT TO ME, AND THEN I THINK AGAIN, THE OTHER RECOMMENDATIONS I'M FULLY SUPPORTIVE OF, I'M FAMILIAR WITH THE CHILDREN'S BEREAVEMENT CENTER AND ECUMENICAL CENTER, BUT YEAH, IF YOU CAN GET ME THE LIST OF SCHOOLS, JUST OUT OF CURIOSITY HOPE THAT THEY'RE KIND OF CROSS REPRESENTATION OF DIFFERENT PARTS OF THE COUNTY, BUT IF YOU CAN FOLLOW UP AT SOME POINT WITH THAT, THAT'D BE GREAT.

THANK YOU, JUDGE. COMMISSIONER MOODY.

COMMISSIONER CALVERT. YEAH.

CAN YOU TELL ME A LITTLE BIT ABOUT.

I KNOW COMMUNITIES AND SCHOOLS DOES NOT NECESSARILY PROVIDE MENTAL HEALTH.

OR MAYBE THEY DO NOW HAVE COUNSELORS ON STAFF.

SO ARE THEY OUTSOURCING THAT OR HOW DOES THAT WORK? THIS IS THEY ACTUALLY HAVE STAFF AND COMMUNITIES AND SCHOOLS IS ONE OF OUR LARGEST PROVIDERS OF MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES UNDER OUR SCHOOL BASED MENTAL WELLNESS PROGRAM. THEY DO AN EXCELLENT JOB.

IN FACT, I REALLY FEEL LIKE THEY'RE A BEST PRACTICE IN TERMS OF, LIKE, THE DATA THAT THEY'RE PROVIDING TO US.

SO THIS WOULD BE, IN ADDITION, ANOTHER LAYER AND THIS WOULD BE MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES, BUT SPECIFICALLY TARGETING OR IDENTIFYING, PRIORITIZING CHILDREN WHO ARE KNOWN TO HAVE DOMESTIC VIOLENCE OR FAMILY VIOLENCE AT HOME.

THEY'VE ACTUALLY BROUGHT ON COUNSELORS ON STAFF, IS WHAT YOU'RE SAYING? YES. OKAY. SO THEY'RE DOING COUNSELING NOW.

OKAY. WELL, THAT'S GOOD BECAUSE I JUST DIDN'T KNOW IF THERE WAS KIND OF A ADMINISTRATIVE IN BETWEEN ON THAT BUT ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I THINK IS IMPORTANT AS A POSTMORTEM ON THIS SPENDING IS TO LOOK AT THE DIVERSITY OF LEADERSHIP AND DEMOGRAPHICS WITH THE EXCEPTION OF THE 100 CLUB AND SAISD, I DON'T KNOW TO WHAT EXTENT THE ORGANIZATIONS THAT WE HAVE ALLOCATED THESE ARPA FUNDS TO FALL WITHIN SOME OF THE GUIDELINES THAT THE ADMINISTRATION FOR ENSURING DIVERSITY, BUT CAN YOU GIVE US A NEXT MEETING, AN UPDATE ON WHAT IS THE DEMOGRAPHIC DIVERSITY OF THE LEADERSHIP IN TERMS OF SOME OF THESE ORGANIZATIONS AND WHERE WHERE THEY'RE BASED? ABSOLUTELY. WE ACTUALLY DID THAT WITH THE ORIGINAL 19 THAT WE RECOMMENDED, AND I THINK WE MADE THAT AVAILABLE TO YOUR OFFICE, OR IT'S PART OF THE BACKGROUND ON THE INTRANET, BUT WE CAN DO AN UPDATE AND MAKE SURE THAT WE DO THAT.

THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT.

ANYTHING ELSE? I'LL CALL FOR A VOTE.

THERE'S A MOTION BY COMMISSIONER CLAY-FLORES.

SECOND BY COMMISSIONER RODRIGUEZ.

ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE.

ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE.

AYE. ANY OPPOSED? ANY ABSTENTIONS? MOTION CARRIES.

THANK. ALL RIGHT. WE'RE GETTING TO ITEM 87.

[87. Presentation, discussion, and appropriate action regarding Bexar County's American Rescue Plan Act State and Local Fiscal Recovery Fund priorities and fund balance.]

PRESENTATION. DISCUSSION.

APPROPRIATE ACTION REGARDING BEXAR COUNTY, AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN ACT, STATE LOCAL FISCAL RECOVERY FUND PRIORITIES AND FUND BALANCE.

GOOD MORNING, MISS SHANNON.

GOOD MORNING. JUDGE, JUDGE, COMMISSIONERS MELISSA SHANNON FROM THE COUNTY MANAGER'S OFFICE.

THE PURPOSE OF TODAY'S PRESENTATION IS TO PROVIDE A STATUS UPDATE ON THE COUNTY'S ARPA STATE AND LOCAL FISCAL RECOVERY FUND, DISCUSS THE OBLIGATION, INTERIM FINAL RULE LOSS REVENUE CRITERIA, AND FOR STAFF TO RECEIVE DIRECTION ON THE UNALLOCATED BALANCE.

[02:00:03]

SO THAT'S THE AGENDA OF WHAT I'LL BE GOING THROUGH TODAY.

AS YOU KNOW, THE STATE AND LOCAL FISCAL RECOVERY FUND PROVIDED 350 BILLION IN ASSISTANCE WITH 65.1 BILLION ALLOCATED TO COUNTIES, BASED ON POPULATION DATA FROM THE US CENSUS BUREAU.

BEXAR COUNTY'S ALLOCATION WAS 389.2 MILLION.

ON THE SCREEN, YOU'LL SEE A LISTING OF THE COUNTY'S PRIORITY CATEGORIES WITH THEIR CORRESPONDING ALLOCATED AMOUNTS.

WE HAVE AN UNALLOCATED BALANCE OF 17.7 MILLION THAT NEEDS TO BE ALLOCATED BY THE END OF 2024.

IN THE NEXT SLIDES, I'LL GO THROUGH THESE PRIORITIES, PROVIDE A STATUS UPDATE ON EACH AND THE STATUS OF THEIR SPEND DOWN, AS WELL.