Jul 09, 2024 Commissioners Court

LET US NOW TAKE UP THE INDIVIDUAL ITEMS THAT HAVE BEEN PULLED AND WE'LL TAKE UP ITEM 25.

[25. Awarding a delivery order to Park Place Recreational Designs for the purchase of playground shade structures and surface repair at Bullis County Park located at 27583 Blanco Rd., 78258, in Precinct 3, in the combined amount of $168,516, as requested by the Bexar County Parks & Recreation Department, through BuyBoard Cooperative Contract #679-22, in accordance with Texas Loval Government Code §271.102; and authorizing the Purchasing Agent to execute and file the appropriate award documents for record.]

AWARDING A DELIVERY ORDER TO PARK PLACE.

RECREATIONAL DESIGNS FOR THE PURCHASE OF PLAYGROUND SHADE STRUCTURES AND SURFACE REPAIR AT BULLOCH COUNTY PARK, LOCATED AT 27583 BLANCO ROAD. 78258, IN PRECINCT THREE, IN THE COMBINED AMOUNT OF $168,516 AS REQUESTED BY THE BEXAR COUNTY PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT.

THROUGH BY BOARD.

COOPERATIVE CONTRACT 679 .22 IN ACCORDANCE WITH TEXAS LOCAL GOVERNMENT CODE 271 .102 AND AUTHORIZING THE PURCHASING AGENT TO EXECUTE AND FILE THE APPROPRIATE AWARD DOCUMENTS FOR RECORD.

COMMISSIONER MOODY. THANK YOU, JUDGE.

AND I JUST WANTED TO TO PULL THIS TO HIGHLIGHT THE THE EFFORTS BY PARK PARKS AND REC KEN'S TEAM AND AND GETTING THIS PROJECT GOING FORWARD.

THERE'S GOING TO BE SOME NEW SHADE STRUCTURES.

CAMPBELL'S PARK. CORRECT.

AND ALSO THE, THE SOFT SURFACE BEING SOME REPAIRS DONE, IS THAT CORRECT?

[00:40:02]

YES, SIR. WHEN DURING THE MASTER PLANNING PROCESS, WHEN WE DID A MASTER PLAN FOR THE WHOLE THE COUNTY PARKS, ONE OF THE BIG THINGS THEY WANTED WAS SHADE.

AND THERE ARE ABSOLUTELY NO TREES RIGHT AROUND THE PLAYGROUNDS OUT THERE.

SO WE'RE PUTTING A 40 BY 40 AND A 50 BY 50 SHADE STRUCTURE, BUT WE'RE REDESIGNING IT TO WHERE IT HAS EIGHT INDIVIDUAL SALES VERSUS ONE BIG ONE. SO IT LASTS A LOT LONGER.

AND IT'S ALSO GOING TO REPAIR THE SOFTBALL MATERIAL THAT, THAT THE PLAYGROUND SURFACE SURFACES ON.

THAT'S GREAT. NO, I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE CONSTITUENTS IN THE AREA WERE AWARE.

I ALSO WANTED TO TO JUST COMMENT.

WE HAVE A TENTATIVE OFFER BY A CONSTITUENT WHO WANTS TO MAKE UPGRADES TO THE BASEBALL FIELD THERE.

ULTIMATELY, THAT WILL HAVE TO COME BACK TO COURT, HOPEFULLY IN AUGUST.

BUT THAT'S A GENEROUS IN-KIND CONTRIBUTION THAT THAT THOSE INDIVIDUALS WANT TO MAKE.

AND WE HOPE WE CAN GET THAT DONE AS WELL.

IN THE COMING MONTHS COMING YEAR AND OBVIOUSLY ALL THE WORK THAT THAT HAS BEEN DONE ON RAYMOND RUSSELL PARK AS WELL.

APPRECIATE ALL THAT, THAT EFFORT.

AND YOU KNOW, WE'LL CONTINUE TO TO LEAN IN TO THOSE PROJECTS AND MAKE SURE THAT WE CAN PROVIDE THOSE PARK SETTINGS FOR OUR CONSTITUENTS IN PRECINCT THREE. BUT APPRECIATE YOUR WORK ON THAT, KEN.

AND JUST WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT THIS AS ONE OF THOSE PROJECTS THAT'S GOING TO PROVIDE, YOU KNOW, BENEFIT TO THOUSANDS AND THOUSANDS OF KIDS ON THE NORTH SIDE.

SO THANK YOU. THANK YOU.

COMMISSIONER. ANY OTHER QUESTION OR COMMENT? MOTION BY COMMISSIONER MOODY, SECOND BY COMMISSIONER RODRIGUEZ.

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

THANK YOU, MR. MCGLAMERY. MISS TORRES.

ITEM 31 APPROVAL OF THE FOLLOWING ITEMS RELATED TO SALLY ROAD.

[31. Approval of the following items related to the Talley Road Phase H-Wiseman Boulevard to Tamron Pass Project, an Alamo Area Metropolitan Planning Organization (AAMPO) federally funded project. Precinct 1. a. An amendment to the Local Transportation Project Advance Funding Agreement (LPAFA) between Bexar County and the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) and approval of budget amendment. b. A Reimbursement Resolution expressing intent to finance expenditures to be incurred. ]

PHASE TWO, WISEMAN BOULEVARD TO TAMARIND PASS PROJECT AND ALAMO AREA METROPOLITAN PLANNING ORGANIZATION.

FAIRLY FUNDED PROJECT.

PRECINCT ONE A AN AMENDMENT TO THE LOCAL TRANSPORTATION PROJECT.

ADVANCED FUNDING AGREEMENT BETWEEN BEXAR COUNTY AND TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION.

APPROVAL OF BUDGET AMENDMENT B, A REIMBURSEMENT RESOLUTION EXPRESSING INTENT TO FINANCE EXPENDITURES TO BE INCURRED.

MR. CLAY-FLORES. I JUST WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT ART AND THE PUBLIC WORKS TEAM THAT WE ARE FINALLY MOVING ON TO TALLY ROAD PHASE TWO.

I DON'T KNOW IF YOU WANT TO SAY A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THAT.

OUR I KNOW OUR CONSTITUENTS.

IT'S IT'S BEEN A LONG TIME IN THE COMING.

AND THE FIRST PART LOOKS REALLY GOOD.

SO I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO THE SECOND AND THIRD PARTS.

THANK YOU COMMISSIONER. YEAH. THE TEAM'S BEEN WORKING HARD ON THIS ONE ALL TALLY ROAD FOR THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS.

COMPLETING PHASE ONE A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO.

PHASE TWO. WE'RE GETTING READY TO BID IT THIS FALL TO START CONSTRUCTION IN JANUARY.

IT'S ABOUT A TWO AND A HALF MILE LONG CORRIDOR PROJECT FUNDED WITH THE MPO MONEY.

SO ESSENTIALLY IT'S ABOUT A $35 MILLION COST, BUT 20% OF THAT IS OUR LOCAL PARTICIPATION.

AND SO THIS ITEM IS APPROVING THE AMENDMENT TO THE AGREEMENT WITH TXDOT, WHERE WE'LL BE ABLE TO UTILIZE THE FEDERAL FUNDS.

AND IN PHASE THREE, THE COURT'S ALREADY APPROVED AN AGREEMENT TO CONTINUE THAT.

SO IT'S ONE OF THE FASTEST GROWING PARTS OF THE COUNTY.

GREAT. I JUST WANT TO HIGHLIGHT I WE WERE IN A MEETING TOGETHER.

WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE ACCIDENTS THAT HAVE HAPPENED WITH THE WIDENING OF TALLEY ROAD.

NO FAULT OF THE CONSTRUCTION, BUT PEOPLE UNFORTUNATELY ARE SPEEDING.

SO JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU WOULD BE WORKING WITH THE CONSTRUCTION TEAM TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY'RE MITIGATING THAT AND SEEING WHAT OTHER KIND OF THINGS WE CAN PUT INTO THE ROAD THERE. SO THANK YOU SO MUCH.

MOVE FOR APPROVAL. SECOND MOTION BY COMMISSIONER CLAY-FLORES.

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

THE NEXT ITEM TO CONSIDER IS ITEM 45.

[45. Approval of a Professional Service Agreement between Bexar County and Lopez Salas Architects, Inc. (HUB, ESBE, HABE, MBE, SBE, DBE) for Architectural and Engineering services in connection with design documents for the Bexar County Archives Building Expansion of Judicial Supporting Functions located at 126 E. Nueva Street, San Antonio, Texas; in an amount not to exceed $548,580. ]

APPROVAL OF PROFESSIONAL SERVICE AGREEMENT BETWEEN BEXAR COUNTY LOPEZ SALAS ARCHITECTS, INC.

FOR ARCHITECTURAL ENGINEERING SERVICES IN CONNECTION WITH DESIGN DOCUMENTS FOR THE BEXAR COUNTY ARCHIVES BUILDING.

EXPANSION OF JUDICIAL SUPPORTING FUNCTIONS.

LOCATED AT 126 EAST NUEVO STREET, SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS, AND AMOUNT OF NOT EXCEED $548,580.

COMMISSIONER MOODY, THANK YOU.

DID YOU GO? OH. I'M SORRY.

YEAH. COMMISSIONER RODRIGUEZ, YOU GO FIRST.

MR. MOODY, YOU GO SECOND.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU. JUDGE.

DAN, I JUST WANTED TO KIND OF A BRIEF REMINDER OF WHAT WE'RE DOING HERE.

NOTHING WITH REALLY WITH RESPECT TO THIS SPECIFIC.

YOU KNOW PROVIDER OR OR A PROFESSIONAL SERVICE AGREEMENT, BUT I KNOW THERE'S A LOT OF THINGS GOING ON WITH SPACE.

THIS IS ONE ISSUE TO HELP ADDRESS COURTROOM SPACE.

IS THAT RIGHT? YES.

AND THE SUPPORTING FUNCTIONS THAT GO ALONG WITH THE, THE, THE COURTS, PUBLIC DEFENDER'S OFFICE, FAMILY JUSTICE CENTER AND THOSE KIND OF THINGS.

[00:45:04]

SO THIS PROJECT REALLY IS TO RELOCATE THE FAMILY JUSTICE CENTER FROM THE SECOND FLOOR OF THE ARCHIVES BUILDING TO A SHELF SPACE WE HAVE IN THE ARCHIVES PARKING GARAGE THAT'S CURRENTLY UNOCCUPIED.

OKAY. THAT WILL LEAVE SPACE FOR US TO MOVE THE PUBLIC DEFENDER ACROSS THE STREET TO THE SECOND FLOOR OF THE ARCHIVES BUILDING TO FILL UP THAT SPACE AND GIVE THEM APPROPRIATE ROOM TO GROW AS THE COURTS ENGAGE MORE PUBLIC DEFENDERS IN THEIR OPERATIONS.

OKAY. TANGENTAL TO THAT, WE'RE WORKING ON TRYING TO CLEAR ADMINISTRATIVE SPACES IN COURTS, BUILDINGS TO MAKE MORE ROOM FOR COURTS.

I KNOW WE'VE HAD THOSE DISCUSSIONS INFORMALLY FOR FOR MANY TIMES, BUT I KNOW THE COURTS THIS BUDGET CYCLE AND WILL CONTINUE IN THE NEXT BUDGET CYCLES IN THE LEGISLATURE REQUESTS MORE COURTS, AND WE'RE PLUMB OUT OF SPACE FOR THOSE KIND OF THINGS.

SO WE HAVE SOME STRATEGIES IN PLACE.

THIS IS KIND OF ONE OF THE FIRST DOMINOES.

ANOTHER ONE OF THOSE SPACES IS TAKING A SPACE LIKE DISPUTE RESOLUTION THAT'S TRADITIONALLY UNDER UTILIZED NOW SINCE COVID AND BUILDING SOME SMALLER COURTS FOR TRANSACTIONAL CRIMINAL COURTS IN THAT SPACE, WHICH WE WANT TO DO, IS KIND OF THE FIRST STEP IN THIS MULTI-YEAR, MULTI-PHASE PROJECT.

OKAY. THIS JUST SO I'M CLEAR, DOES NOT ADDRESS THERE IS A NEW COURT THAT WAS CREATED BY THE LEGISLATURE STATEWIDE LAST SESSION RELATED TO BUSINESS DISPUTES.

AND I UNDERSTAND WE MAY NEED SPACE FOR THOSE KIND OF HEARINGS AS WELL.

THAT IS NOT CONTEMPLATED WITH IN THIS PARTICULAR ITEM.

IT IS NOT. WE'VE BEEN TALKING WITH THE OFFICE OF COURT ADMINISTRATION ON STANDING THOSE UP BY SEPTEMBER, WHICH IS THEIR DEADLINE.

IT'S A COMBINATION. THEY WE BELIEVE THEY FOUND LEASED OFFICE SPACE TO HOUSE FOR THEIR CHAMBERS FOR THOSE TWO.

AND IT'S TWO COURTS. TECHNICALLY, IT'S TWO TO APPOINTED JUDGES, BUT WE NEED TO FIND A COURTROOM SPACE FOR THEM TO OPERATE IN.

SO WE'RE A JUDGE.

SAKAI AND SID HARLE AND SOME OF THOSE OTHER GUYS ARE IN THAT WORKING GROUP.

AND I BELIEVE EITHER THIS WEEK OR NEXT WEEK, WE HAVE A GET TOGETHER TO SOLIDIFY SOME OF THOSE OPTIONS FOR THEM.

OKAY, OKAY. SO SUFFICE IT TO SAY YOU KNOW, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT JUDICIAL COURTROOM SPACE, BUT WE YOU KNOW, I KNOW WE HAVE TO BE VERY COGNIZANT OF, OF DOLLARS.

BUT WE ARE GROWING AS AN ORGANIZATION.

THE COUNTY. AND SO I LOOK FORWARD TO HAVING THOSE DISCUSSIONS WITH YOU.

I KNOW WE'VE GOT CONTINUED NEED FOR SPACE, BOTH IN THE COURTROOM BUT ALSO ADMINISTRATIVELY PROFESSIONALLY.

AND SO I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE I WAS CLEAR ON WHAT THIS WAS.

BUT WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO HAVE THOSE DISCUSSIONS.

AND I KNOW IT'S CHALLENGING FOR YOU AND THE REST OF THE TEAM TO FIGURE OUT WHERE WE WHERE WE GROW.

BUT BUT THOSE NEEDS ARE HAPPENING.

AND AS YOU MENTIONED, I KNOW THERE ARE SOME FOLKS ALREADY IN ADVANCE OF THE NEXT LEGISLATIVE SESSION ADVOCATING FOR ADDITIONAL COURTS TO BE CREATED. AND SO I THINK WE NEED TO PROBABLY VISIT AND MAYBE AT SOME POINT HAVE A LENGTHIER DISCUSSION ON WHERE WE'RE GOING BECAUSE I THINK AT THIS POINT WE'RE REACTING TO THOSE NEEDS AND WE'VE GOT TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO HOW TO PLAN FOR IT.

SO YEAH, YOU'RE ABSOLUTELY RIGHT.

SO SO MY GOAL IS, IS TO PROVIDE YOU GUYS OPTIONS.

YEAH. AND ONE OF THOSE OPTIONS MAY BE A NEW BUILDING, WHICH IS I DON'T SAY PROHIBITIVELY EXPENSIVE, BUT IT'S A LARGE PRICE TAG.

ANOTHER OPTION MAY BE UTILIZING THE SPACE WE HAVE BY MOVING SOME FUNCTIONS AROUND.

THAT OBVIOUSLY WILL BE A CHEAPER OPTION, BUT IT'S GOING TO CREATE SOME, SOME, SOME SLIDING PUZZLE KIND OF MOVES.

AND, AND AGAIN, WE'RE WORKING ON THOSE IN OUR OFFICE EVERY DAY TO KIND OF CREATE THAT STRATEGY.

WHERE CAN WE BUILD COURTROOMS? WHERE CAN THEY FIT? WHERE, WHERE WHO'S IN THOSE SPACES NOW? WHO CAN BE RELOCATED TO OTHER ADMINISTRATIVE SPACES, ETC.? OKAY, AND BACK TO THIS SPECIFIC ITEM, DAN, THIS IS BASICALLY FOR THE DESIGN.

WHEN DO YOU ANTICIPATE, I GUESS, THE FULL FINISH OUT OF THIS PARTICULAR SPACE? SO, SO THIS, THIS PROJECT WILL PROBABLY BE IN DESIGN FOR ABOUT NINE MONTHS.

BIDDING FOR ANOTHER 3 TO 6 ON TOP OF THAT.

AND SO MY WINDOW USUALLY MY IS TYPICALLY 24 MONTHS TO DELIVER THE SPACE.

THIS WILL ALSO CREATE SPACE FOR THE MAC, THE MANAGE DESIGN COUNCIL SPACE AND THE THIRD FLOOR OF THE ARCHIVE.

SO THAT WILL KIND OF SET UP THAT BUILDING FOR ITS LONG TERM JUDICIAL USE, WHICH IS THE MAC, THE BAR PUBLIC DEFENDER AND SOME OTHER SUPPORTIVE SPACES IN THAT BUILDING.

SO WE'RE FEEL REALLY GOOD ABOUT GETTING THAT KIND OF LOOP CLOSED.

IT ALSO OPENS UP SPACE FOR US AT THE COURTHOUSE ANNEX, WHICH IS LIKE IT'S A BLOCK AWAY FROM THE COURTHOUSE, RIGHT.

WHICH IS KIND OF OUR CURRENTLY OUR RELIEF VALVE FOR SPECIALTY COURTS COORDINATORS, ADDITIONAL PUBLIC DEFENDERS AND OTHER SPACES THAT ARE PRETTY VALUABLE TO THE COURT'S OPERATIONS. OKAY.

WE'LL KEEP US POSTED AND I APPRECIATE IT.

I KNOW COMMISSIONER MOODY MAY HAVE SOME QUESTIONS, BUT I'LL MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE MOTION BY COMMISSIONER RODRIGUEZ THERE.

A SECOND, SECOND BY COMMISSIONER MOODY.

MR. MOODY. WELL DAN, I APPRECIATE YOU BEING ABLE TO SPEAK HERE TODAY AND APPRECIATE COMMISSIONER RODRIGUEZ BRINGING THIS FORWARD AS WELL. OBVIOUSLY, GROWING PAINS COMPLEX, AS YOU MENTIONED, MOVING THE PUZZLE PIECES AROUND.

[00:50:01]

AND, YOU KNOW, CLEARLY THERE'S BEEN THERE'S AN ONGOING DEMAND FOR ADDITIONAL SPACE THAT'S GOING TO COME FROM OUR CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM FROM THOSE ADDITIONAL COURTS THAT YOU MENTIONED.

I KNOW THE NUMBER IS PROBABLY NOT FINALIZED, AND IT'LL PROBABLY CONTINUE TO BE A MOVING TARGET AS WE GO FORWARD.

BUT THE REAL REASON WHY I WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT THIS ITEM IS JUST IN LIGHT OF OUR DISCUSSION A WEEK AGO WITH REGARDS TO DEBT AND CAPITAL PROJECTS AND OUR, YOU KNOW, BUDGET CYCLE COMING UP.

THESE ARE THOSE YOU KNOW, UNFORESEEN INJECTS THAT ARE GOING TO COME AT US.

AND IF WE'RE HAVING TO, YOU KNOW, PURCHASE LAND CONSTRUCT A NEW YOU KNOW, COURT BUILDING.

THOSE ARE BIG TICKET EXPENDITURES THAT WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO BE PREPARED FOR AND HAVE THE HEADROOM TO BE ABLE TO DIGEST WITHIN OUR BUDGET AND WITHIN OUR CAPITAL PLAN.

AND SO THAT'S THE REASON WHY I WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT THIS ITEM, BECAUSE I THINK THIS IS JUST ONE OF THOSE THINGS THAT WE ALLUDED TO LAST WEEK.

BUT THIS IS, YOU KNOW, EXACTLY THE KIND OF THING WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THAT YOU KNOW, THIS ONE IS JUST, YOU KNOW, THE DESIGN.

BUT ULTIMATELY, AS WE GO DOWN THIS ROAD, THERE'S GOING TO BE SOME BIGGER AND BIGGER TICKET ITEMS THAT WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO DO IN ORDER TO CREATE THAT SPACE AS WE GROW.

YEAH. TIP OF THE SPEAR, FOR SURE.

THIS IS ONE SMALL COMPONENT OF A MUCH LARGER COMPLEX PUZZLE.

YEAH. NO, I APPRECIATE THAT, DAN.

THANK YOU. ANY OTHER COMMENTS? QUESTIONS? COMMISSIONER CALVERT.

COMMISSIONER CLAY-FLORES.

LET ME JUST ADD IN, DAN.

OBVIOUSLY, I'VE BEEN INVOLVED WITH MUCH OF THE CONVERSATION IN REGARDS TO THE SPACE NEEDS OF THE COURTHOUSE COMPLEX, FROM THE HISTORICAL TO THE PET PAUL ELIZONDO BUILDING TO THE CADENA REEVES JUSTICE CENTER.

OBVIOUSLY, WE DON'T HAVE MUCH SPACE, IF ANY, TO REALLY MOVE.

WE ALWAYS HAVE TO MOVE THINGS AROUND.

I THINK FOR THE RECORD, WE HAVE YET TO FINISH OUT THE PROBATE COURT.

THE NEW PROBATE COURT THAT JUDGE CHAZELLES PRESIDED.

YEAH, WE'RE WEEKS AWAY FROM FINALIZING.

WE'RE WE'RE ABOUT READY TO OPEN THAT UP, BUT THAT JUST LETS YOU KNOW THAT THE SPACE NEEDS DO NOT MOVE RAPIDLY.

AND AS SOON AS WE MAKE THOSE MOVES, IT COULD OPEN UP SPACE.

BUT THEN ALSO TOO, AS WE ARE HEARING TODAY, WE HAVE ADDITIONAL SPACE NEEDS.

WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO REALLY LOOK AT THE UTILITY OF THE COURTS, ESPECIALLY FOR THIS PARTICULAR BUSINESS COURT.

THAT IS A STATE MANDATE, CORRECT? CORRECT. AND SO OBVIOUSLY, THE CONVERSATIONS THERE ARE WHAT THE STATE IS GOING TO DO TO REIMBURSE THE COUNTY FOR ITS EXPENSES AND THE UTILITY OF A COURT THAT AT THIS POINT, WE HAVE NO IDEA.

AND I WILL TELL YOU, AS A FORMER JUDGE OF THE DISTRICT COURTS, WE HAVE NO IDEA WHAT THE CASELOAD OF THIS COURT WILL BE.

I WILL TELL YOU WHEN IT STARTS, IT WILL BE ZERO.

AND I'M NOT REAL CERTAIN ACCORDING TO THE STRUCTURE, HOW MUCH I DON'T SEE ANY CASES MOVING OVER IMMEDIATELY FROM OUR SYSTEM. THE SYSTEM WILL CONTINUE TO HANDLE THOSE CASES THAT MAY GO TO THIS BUSINESS COURT.

THIS BUSINESS COURT IS A STEP STATE MANDATED, A LEGISLATIVE COURT THAT WILL HANDLE THE HIGH DOLLAR CORPORATE DISPUTES. AND KNOWING OUR COMMUNITY, KNOWING OUR JUSTICE SYSTEM, THIS COURT MAY BE WELL SUITED FOR A HOUSTON.

DALLAS, A MORE MAJOR METROPOLITAN AREA THAT HAS CORPORATE HEADQUARTERS AS OPPOSED TO SAN ANTONIO.

BUT WE ARE OBLIGATED TO DO THAT IN THIS REGION.

AND I'M WORKING WITH YOU, JUDGE HARLE.

COMMISSIONER RODRIGUEZ, I THINK YOU'RE INVOLVED IN THOSE CONVERSATIONS TO DETERMINE WHAT THE SPACE NEEDS.

BUT LOOKING BEYOND THIS PARTICULAR COURT IS THE FACT THAT WE WILL PERHAPS HAVE ADDITIONAL NEEDS.

I THINK THE COURTS ARE ASKING FOR ADDITIONAL COURTS, ADDITIONAL SPECIALTY COURTS, ADDITIONAL MAGISTRATE COURTS.

SO I'M JUST LETTING THE COURT KNOW THAT THE NEEDS OF THE OF THE COUNTY IN REGARDS TO SPACE NEEDS, ALONG WITH ALL THE DEPARTMENT ISSUES AND NEEDS AND WHERE IT'S GOING TO BE A CONSTANT MOVING OF THE PUZZLE.

IT'S KIND OF A RUBIK'S PUZZLE THING WHERE YOU MAKE ONE MOVE AND IT CREATES ANOTHER.

AND SO I JUST WANT TO ALERT THE COURT THAT WE WILL HAVE MORE DISCUSSIONS ON THIS.

CORRECT, DAN? YES.

THIS IS, LIKE I SAID, TIP OF THE SPEAR.

WE'RE GOING TO HAVE MANY, MANY MORE DISCUSSIONS WITH YOU ABOUT THE ISSUES.

ALL RIGHT. I BELIEVE THERE WAS A MOTION COMMISSIONER RODRIGUEZ SECOND BY COMMISSIONER MOODY.

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

AYE. ANY OPPOSED? ANY ABSTENTIONS? MOTION CARRIES.

THANK YOU, MR. CURRY. ALL RIGHT.

[59. Authorizing the selection of the CPA firm of ATKG Advisors, LLC to perform examination services related to the contractually agreed upon services provided to Bexar County by the Center for Healthcare Services (CHCS) and authorizing the Bexar County Judge to negotiate and execute a professional services agreement pursuant to Section 262.024(4) of the Texas Local Government Code with ATKG to conduct the agreed upon procedures/examination services as specified in the scope of work with ATKG in an amount not to exceed $50,000 without further amendment of the agreement. ]

THE NEXT ITEM IS 59, AUTHORIZING THE SELECTION OF CPA FIRM OF ATG ADVISORS, LLC TO PERFORM EXAMINATION SERVICES

[00:55:08]

THIS IS LISTED UNDER MY NAME.

DAVID, I DON'T KNOW IF YOU OR JUAN, ON BEHALF OF THE AUDITOR, THESE WERE.

I JUST WANT TO PUT ON NOTICE FOR THE COURT THAT THESE THIS AGENDA ITEM WAS AS A RESULT OF MANY COMMUNICATIONS BETWEEN KCS. THERE IS A REQUEST, A CONTRACTUAL REQUEST FOR REIMBURSEMENT, AND I DON'T KNOW WHO WANTS TO EXPLAIN IT FOR THE RECORD, SO THAT THE COURT UNDERSTANDS WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO. OBVIOUSLY, I BELIEVE THERE IS A DISPUTE OVER WHAT IS OWED, AND I THINK IT'S A LEGITIMATE DISPUTE ON BOTH SIDES.

AND IN ORDER TO RESOLVE THIS, I BELIEVE WE HAD A MEETING ABOUT 2 OR 3 WEEKS AGO, DAVID, I THINK IT WAS THE BUDGET OFFICE, THE I THINK LARRY ROBINSON, ON BEHALF OF THE AS LEGAL COUNSEL DAVID, IN BEHALF OF THE BUDGET OFFICE, MET WITH THE LEADERSHIP TEAM, THE CEO, HER ATTORNEY, HER AUDITORS, CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER.

SO I UNDERSTAND, COMMISSIONER KELLY, YOUR POOL.

BUT I WANTED TO PUT THAT ON RECORD ALSO TO I WANT TO NOTE THAT WE HAVE A CITIZEN TO BE HEARD ON THIS PARTICULAR ITEM.

SO SO I'D LIKE THE CITIZEN TO BE HEARD TO COME FORWARD.

LET ME CALL ROBERT GUEVARA.

WOULD YOU PLEASE COME FORWARD? MR. GUEVARA, YOU HAVE THREE MINUTES TO SPEAK.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU.

GOOD MORNING. YOU'RE AT THE MEETING, RIGHT? MR.. YES, SIR. I'M THE.

SO MY NAME IS ROBERT GUEVARA.

I'M THE CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER WITH THE CENTER FOR HEALTH CARE SERVICES, AND I'M HERE TO PROVIDE COMMENT ON THIS PARTICULAR AGENDA ITEM ON BEHALF OF OUR CEO, JOLENE JAMISON WHO WAS OUT OF TOWN AND COULD NOT BE HERE.

THIS ISSUE HAS BEEN UNRESOLVED FOR THE PAST SIX YEARS.

AND IF THIS ACTION IN RETAINING AN EXTERNAL AUDITOR VALIDATES THAT NO BEXAR COUNTY GENERAL FUND CONTRACTS WERE USED AND RECOGNIZES THE SERVICES THAT THE CENTER HAS PROVIDED TO THE BEXAR COUNTY COMMUNITY OVER THE LAST SIX YEARS.

THEN WE REQUEST THAT COMMISSIONERS COURT APPROVE AND MOVE WITH ALL DELIBERATE SPEED TO BRING ABOUT RESOLUTION TO THIS ORDEAL.

SWIFT ACTION WILL ALLOW THE CENTER TO CONTINUE TO PROVIDE NEEDED JAIL DIVERSION SERVICES AS WELL AS OTHER SERVICES THROUGH OUR CONTRACT WITH WITH BURKE COUNTY.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER CALVERT.

YEAH. I JUST WANTED TO GET A REPORT ABOUT THE BACK AND FORTH BETWEEN THE TWO AGENCIES.

I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO REMEMBER THE CENTER IS THE BEXAR COUNTY MENTAL HEALTH AGENCY, AND WE ARE THE MOTHER SPONSOR, IF YOU WILL, OF THE ORGANIZATION. AND I APPRECIATE THAT WE'VE GOTTEN TO SOME SORT OF RESOLUTION WITH RESPECT TO, I GUESS, A WAY FORWARD TO RESOLVE A MULTIYEAR THING DISCREPANCY THAT HAS YIELDED A BURDEN TO OUR BEXAR COUNTY MENTAL HEALTH AGENCY IN TERMS OF HAVING TO TAKE OUT LOANS TO PAY FOR BILLS.

I DON'T THINK THAT THE COUNTY SHOULD EVER PUT ONE OF OUR CHILD, I DON'T WANT TO CALL IT CHILD, BUT ONE OF OUR SUPPORTING AGENCIES IN THAT PREDICAMENT FINANCIALLY TO HAVE TO TAKE OUT LOANS.

SO I HOPE THAT WE CAN MOVE THIS VERY EXPEDITIOUSLY.

IS THERE A TIME FRAME IN WHICH THIS WILL BE RESOLVED, THIS AUDIT? WHAT IS THE TIME FRAME FOR THIS? GOOD AFTERNOON, COMMISSIONERS.

JUAN ARTIAGA IN FOR LEO CALDEIRA.

HE'S OUT FOR MEDICAL REASONS, BUT I THINK WE'RE SHOOTING FOR AN AUGUST 31ST DEADLINE.

OF COURSE, WE'RE WE'RE GOING TO WORK WITH THOSE EXTERNAL AUDITORS TO SEE IF THAT'S A REASONABLE DEADLINE.

OKAY. AND THEN THIS IS NOT A FORENSIC AUDIT, CORRECT? NO, IT'S JUST WE'RE ASKING FOR A BASICALLY A SECOND SET OF EYES TO MAKE SURE THAT SOME OF THE SERVICES THAT WERE PROVIDED UNDER THE GENERAL FUND AGREEMENT ARE NOT THE SAME SERVICES THAT WERE BEING GIVEN CREDIT FOR IN LIEU OF PAYMENTS OF RENT.

AND ALSO THE SERVICES PROVIDED UNDER THE SENATE BILL 292.

DID THE MEETING HAVE RECOGNIZED THE THE STAFF RECOGNIZED THE AMENDMENT IN THE 2019 AMENDMENT? DID THAT WAS THAT A FOUNDATIONAL CONVERSATION? I'M NOT TOTALLY SURE, BUT I THINK THAT AMENDMENT WAS FOR ONE YEAR FOR THAT PARTICULAR YEAR.

I THINK THIS IS A MULTI YEAR.

[01:00:03]

SO I BELIEVE THE AMENDMENT WAS RECOGNIZED FROM 2017 THROUGH 2019.

AFTER THAT, IT HAS NOT BEEN RECOGNIZED WHICH IS THE RECONCILIATION THAT WE'RE TRYING TO GO THROUGH WITH THIS AUDIT.

AND WE'RE HOPING THAT THAT WILL VALIDATE THAT GENERAL FUND REVENUE, GENERAL REVENUE, GENERAL FUND DOLLARS WAS NOT USED FOR THOSE PARTICULAR SERVICES.

AND THEN THAT WE RECOGNIZE THE SERVICES THAT WE ACTUALLY DID PROVIDE UNDER THE GENERAL FUND CONTRACT.

OKAY. YOU KNOW, JUDGE, I JUST WANTED TO GET KIND OF A REPORT ON WHERE THAT WAS.

WE REALLY SHOULDN'T GO THIS LONG.

I APPRECIATE YOU, JUDGE, TAKING THE RESOLUTION AND GETTING SOME INDEPENDENT WAY TO TO SORT THROUGH THIS.

I'M VERY SORRY THAT IT'S TAKEN ALL OF THIS IN ORDER TO DO THAT, BUT AND I DON'T KNOW IF THIS IS REGULAR ORDER FROM THE COUNTY BUSINESS, BUT YOU KNOW, WE WE NEED TO BE ABLE TO WORK THROUGH THESE ISSUES WITH A GREAT, GREAT DEAL OF PROFESSIONALISM.

SO THANK YOU, JUDGE.

THANK YOU FOR LETTING ME GET THAT UPDATE.

EXCUSE ME, COMMISSIONER, I JUST WANTED TO JUST KIND OF STRESS THAT WE'RE WORKING WITH THAT AUGUST 31ST DEADLINE, BUT WE'D REALLY LIKE TO GET A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT THE AUDITORS TIMELINE IS AND WHAT THEIR SCHEDULE IS.

I'M SURE THEY'VE GOT OTHER ENGAGEMENTS.

SO WE'RE WORKING WITH THEM.

SO. OKAY, WELL, WELL, I MOVE APPROVAL.

MOTION BY COMMISSIONER CALVERT, SECOND BY COMMISSIONER RODRIGUEZ.

ANY FURTHER DISCUSSIONS? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF THE MOTION SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE.

AYE. ANY OPPOSED? ANY ABSTENTIONS? MOTION CARRIES.

[60. Approval to amend the composition of the Bexar County Elections and Voter Engagement Advisory Committee allowing each member of Commissioners Court to appoint one member for a two-year term of appointment. ]

ALL RIGHT, LET'S NOW MOVE ON TO ITEM 60.

APPROVAL TO AMEND THE COMPOSITION OF THE BEXAR COUNTY ELECTIONS AND VOTER ENGAGEMENT ADVISORY COMMITTEE, ALLOWING EACH MEMBER OF COMMISSIONERS COURT TO APPOINT ONE MEMBER FOR A TWO YEAR TERM OF APPOINTMENT.

COMMISSIONER MOODY, YOU ASKED FOR INDIVIDUAL CONSIDERATION.

OH. I'M SORRY.

YEAH. THANK YOU FOR ALERTING ME WE HAVE TWO CITIZENS TO BE HEARD ON THIS SPECIFIC ITEM.

WELL, ACTUALLY THERE'S TWO, BUT THERE'S.

I'M JUST LETTING GARY CHICK, YOU'VE ASKED TO SIGN UP FOR 60 AND 60 ONE MELINDA ROBERTS, 60 ONE.

SO WE'RE TAKING UP 60 RIGHT NOW.

SO, GARY CHICK, YOU ARE ASKED TO COME FORWARD AND YOU HAVE THREE MINUTES TO ADDRESS THE COURT.

GARY. CHICK. ALL RIGHT, THEN, LET'S GO.

THEN LET US TAKE UP ITEM NUMBER 60.

I UNDERSTAND WE HAVE.

THERE'S TWO. GARY CHICK AND MELINDA ROBERTS SIGNED UP FOR 61, BUT WE'RE NOT AT 61 YET, SO COMMISSIONER MOODY.

WELL, I CAN.

YOU WANT ME TO GIVE SOME BACKGROUND ON IT OR COMMISSIONER RODRIGUEZ, IF YOU WISH.

WISHES TO OPEN. YEAH.

JUDGE, JUST JUST A LITTLE BIT OF BACKGROUND, BECAUSE I THINK WHEN THE COURT INITIALLY ADOPTED THIS, I THINK ONLY MYSELF AND COMMISSIONER CALVERT WERE HERE BACK IN 2019. BUT MUCH LIKE THIS COURT LEANS ON CITIZENS IN THE WAY OF OUR SMALL BUSINESS COMMUNITY, OUR VETERANS, OUR SENIORS, THROUGH ADVISORY COMMITTEES.

THIS WAS SET UP BACK IN 2019 AND THEN COVID HIT.

TO BE BASICALLY A ELECTION AND VOTER ENGAGEMENT ADVISORY UNDERSCORING ADVISORY COMMITTEE TO HELP US IMPROVE ELECTIONS AND THE WAY THINGS ARE RUN AND INFORM OUR POLICY DECISIONS.

INITIALLY, I THINK IT WAS A LITTLE BIT GRANDIOSE IN TERMS OF THE MAKEUP.

IT WAS ABOUT 15 MEMBERS.

SO ALL THIS IS DOING, ALL THIS ITEM IS DOING IS MAKING IT A MORE MANAGEABLE FIVE PERSON ADVISORY COMMITTEE SO THAT EACH OF US CAN APPOINT SOMEBODY TO, AGAIN, ADVISE ON ELECTIONS MATTERS.

SO THIS ITEM IS SIMPLY TAKING IT FROM 15 COMMITTEE MEMBERS TO FIVE.

COMMISSIONER MOODY. WELL, THANK YOU FOR FOR THE CLARIFICATION.

AND, YOU KNOW, TO TO BE CLEAR I AGREE WITH THE DECISION TO STREAMLINE THE, THE ORGANIZATION FROM 15 TO TO FIVE.

I THINK 15 GETS UNRULY IN ANY KIND OF BOARD OR COMMITTEE.

THERE'S A COUPLE ISSUES, THOUGH, THAT THAT STAND OUT HERE TO ME.

FIRST OF ALL, AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT THAT I HAD CONCERN ABOUT IS KIND OF THE REDUNDANCY WITH THE EXISTING ELECTION BOARD.

AND SO THIS IS CITIZEN'S ADVISORY COMMITTEE THAT, YOU KNOW, PROVIDES THAT FEEDBACK TO THE COURT OR PROVIDES THAT FEEDBACK TO THE ELECTION BOARD.

WHICH IS NOT ENTIRELY CLEAR TO ME, BUT THE OTHER THE OTHER ISSUE THAT'S THE MOST PROBLEMATIC, IN MY OPINION, IS YOU KNOW, IN THE BACKGROUND INFORMATION THAT WHEN THIS BOARD WAS ORIGINALLY CREATED, THIS, THIS TIE IN TO THE DEMOCRACY FROM THE GROUND UP PLATFORM AND A PRESUMPTION THAT THAT IS THE

[01:05:10]

GUIDANCE THAT THAT CITIZENS ADVISORY BOARD SHOULD, SHOULD PROMOTE AND FOLLOW RATHER THAN ALLOWING THAT BOARD TO MAKE THEIR OWN DETERMINATION AROUND WHAT WHAT GAPS NEED TO BE ADDRESSED, WHAT NEEDS TO BE FIXED HERE IN BEXAR COUNTY ELECTIONS.

MY UNDERSTANDING FROM THE BACKGROUND INFORMATION WAS IT SAID, HEY, THIS ADVISORY BOARD SHOULD BE IMPLEMENTING THIS DEMOCRACY FROM THE GROUND UP PLATFORM AND THAT THAT PLATFORM HAS ITEMS THAT, YOU KNOW, ARE CLEARLY COMING FROM ORGANIZATIONS THAT ARE ON ONE SIDE OF THE AISLE.

AND, YOU KNOW, THAT'S THAT'S WHY THIS BECOMES A PARTIZAN ISSUE RATHER THAN JUST HAVING THE BOARD.

I HAVE NO CONCERNS WITH, BUT DIRECTING THAT BOARD TO TRY TO IMPLEMENT POLICIES THAT ARE ALIGNED WITH THESE, THESE GROUPS AS PROBLEMATIC. AND SO THAT'S WHY I DON'T FEEL COMFORTABLE AND CAN'T SUPPORT THIS ITEM AS IT EXISTS TODAY.

JUDGE, CAN I JUST RESPOND? JUST TO CLARIFY, COMMISSIONER MOODY.

THAT RESOLUTION WAS ADOPTED IN 2019 WITH, WITH I THINK THE LANGUAGE THAT SOUNDS LIKE YOU'RE OBJECTING TO THIS ITEM HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THAT RESOLUTION, WHICH, OF COURSE, YOU KNOW, RESOLUTIONS ARE NOT BINDING.

THEY CAN BE ASPIRATIONAL.

BUT AGAIN, THIS ITEM IS SIMPLY TAKING WHAT WAS FORMED, WHICH WAS A 15 MEMBER ADVISORY COMMITTEE TO FIVE, SO THAT EACH OF US CAN APPOINT SOMEONE TO ADVISE US AND INFORM US ON POLICY DECISIONS RELATED TO ELECTIONS.

SO I JUST WANTED TO CLARIFY.

THAT'S WHAT WE'RE DOING TODAY IS JUST CODIFYING THAT.

IT WILL BE A FIVE MEMBER COMMITTEE, ADVISORY COMMITTEE INSTEAD OF 15.

AND I WOULD MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE JUDGE MOTION BY COMMISSIONER RODRIGUEZ, SECOND BY COMMISSIONER CALVERT ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION, JUST LOOK.

HOLD ON. LET ME I BELIEVE IS MR..

I PRESUME MR..

CHICK YOU HAVE APPEARED MR..

CHICK WE CALLED YOUR NAME OUT I.

AS A COURTESY PROFESSIONAL, COURTESY WILL ALLOW YOU TO COME SPEAK.

YOU HAVE THREE MINUTES ON ITEM 60, NOT 61.

IN JUDGES. HE'S COMING UP.

CAN I JUST MENTION TO THE OTHER I THINK POINT THAT IS MAKES THIS PROBABLY TIMELY IS, IS THE FACT THAT GOING INTO NEXT YEAR OR ACTUALLY LATER THIS YEAR, THERE'LL BE A SEARCH FOR A NEW ELECTIONS ADMINISTRATOR.

I THINK THE BOARD HAS DECIDED THAT I THINK AGAIN, IT'S UP TO THIS COURT, BUT I THINK THIS FIVE PERSON COMMITTEE CAN SERVE AS A VALUABLE COMMUNITY INPUT ON AS IT RELATES TO THAT ELECTION ADMINISTRATOR SEARCH.

AND SO I THINK IT ADDS TO, AGAIN, THE TRANSPARENCY AND MAKING SURE WE GET COMMUNITY INPUT ON THAT SEARCH.

BUT GO AHEAD, SIR.

MR. CHICK, THANK YOU.

WITH REGARD TO ITEM 60, I'D LIKE TO KNOW WHY OUR COMMISSIONERS COURT IS TAKING ON THE BUSINESS OF VOTER ENGAGEMENT.

SHOULDN'T VOTER ENGAGEMENT BE LEFT TO THE POLITICAL PARTIES? IF THERE WERE THREE CONSERVATIVE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS ON THE COURT, YOU WOULD BE AGAINST THIS AGENDA ITEM MERELY DUE TO THE FACT THAT THE THREE CONSERVATIVE COMMISSIONERS WOULD BE APPOINTING THEIR PEOPLE TO THIS VOTER ENGAGEMENT ADVISORY COMMITTEE, WHO WOULD CARRY OUT THE BUSINESS OF THE CONSERVATIVE PARTY, MAKING THIS COMMITTEE A PARTIZAN COMMITTEE DOING PARTIZAN BUSINESS ON BEHALF OF THE COMMISSIONERS COURT.

THAT WOULD BE WRONG.

JUST LIKE THIS IS WRONG.

THE BEXAR COUNTY COMMISSIONERS COURT WEBSITE STATES YOU ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR BUDGETARY DECISIONS, TAX AND REVENUE DECISIONS, AND ALL PERSONNEL DECISIONS EXCEPT FOR THOSE ELECTED OR APPOINTED POSITIONS BY JUDICIARY OR OTHER COMMITTEES, AS WELL AS APPOINTS AND MONITORS COUNTY DEPARTMENT HEADS.

PERIOD. PERIOD.

THERE'S NOTHING IN YOUR JOB DESCRIPTION GIVING YOU AUTHORITY TO APPOINT SOMEONE TO A VOTER ENGAGEMENT ADVISORY COMMITTEE.

THERE'S NOTHING IN THE JOB DESCRIPTION STATING YOU BE INVOLVED IN THE ACTIVITY OF VOTERS.

VOTER ENGAGEMENT IS DONE THROUGH POLITICAL PARTIES AND SHOULD REMAIN THE BUSINESS OF POLITICAL PARTIES.

WHEN COMMISSIONERS COURT STEPS INTO POLITICAL BUSINESS, THEY BECOME A PARTIZAN ENTITY OF THE GOVERNMENT.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MR. CHAIRMAN. ALL RIGHT.

CONTINUING THE DISCUSSION, COMMISSIONER MOODY.

I JUST WANTED TO RESPOND TO TO THE COMMENTS EARLIER.

SO UNDERSTAND THAT THAT THIS SPECIFIC ITEM IS ONLY RELATED TO THE NUMBER OF, OF INDIVIDUALS ON THE BOARD.

[01:10:07]

BUT IF THE BOARD'S ORIGINAL GUIDANCE, I GUESS, CAME FROM 2019 FROM WELL BEFORE THIS COURT WAS ESTABLISHED WITH THIS CURRENT MEMBERSHIP THAT THAT GUIDANCE IS, IS THE PROBLEM.

AND, YOU KNOW, I THINK I TRIED TO MAKE THAT CLEAR, BUT, YOU KNOW, IF THIS COURT WAS WILLING TO REMOVE THAT GUIDANCE AND ALLOW THIS BOARD TO BE GUIDED BY, BY THEIR OWN CONSCIENCE AND IDENTIFY GAPS IN THE PROCESS THAT THEY THINK NEED TO BE IMPROVED, THEN THAT WOULD BE A DIFFERENT MATTER.

BUT I THINK THE ORIGINAL GUIDANCE FOR THIS COMMITTEE IS, IS WHAT IS THE THE CONCERN HERE? SO, I MEAN, IF THERE WAS A WILLINGNESS TO, TO AMEND THAT GUIDANCE WE COULD RECONSIDER.

BUT AS IT STANDS TODAY, AGAIN, I COULDN'T SUPPORT IT.

ANY FURTHER COMMENTS? YEAH. I JUST WANT TO EMPHASIZE THAT WHEN WE APPOINT OUR CONSTITUENTS, I HOPE THAT THE ACTUAL BOARD BECAUSE THIS IS JUST AN ADVISORY GOING TO BE ADVISORY COMMITTEE.

SO I ACTUALLY DON'T HAVE ANY POWER, BUT THEY WILL BE A VOICE.

SO I THINK SHERIFF, I THINK ARE YOU ON THIS BOARD? NO. OH, I DON'T KNOW WHO'S ON THE.

I'M NOT SURE WHO'S ON THE BOARD.

WELL THERE'S TWO ELECTION, SO THAT'S THE ELECTION COMMISSION IS ME, THE COUNTY CLERK, LUCY ADAME-CLARK, THE TAX ASSESSOR, TRUSTEE, AND THE TWO CHAIRS ON THE ELECTION BOARD THAT WE JUST HAD A MEETING YESTERDAY IN ORDER TO SET THE ORDERS FOR THE ELECTION IS MAY, THE SHERIFF, THE ELECTIONS ADMINISTRATOR AND THE TWO POLITICAL PARTY CHAIRS.

OKAY. THANK YOU FOR CLARIFYING.

SO THE SHERIFF IS HERE AND ALBERT D'ARCY IS HERE, AND OF COURSE YOURSELF.

SO I JUST HOPE THAT YOU GUYS WILL BE WILLING TO REALLY HEAR THE VOICE OF THE CONSTITUENTS AND ACCEPT INPUT BECAUSE THEY ARE REALLY GOING TO BE A VOICE FOR THE COMMUNITY.

SO I HOPE THAT WE CAN GET BETTER VOTING ENGAGEMENT, WHETHER THEY'RE REPUBLICAN OR DEMOCRAT.

WE KNOW THAT ABOUT HALF OF AMERICANS ARE REGISTERED TO VOTE, AND ABOUT HALF OF THE PEOPLE WHO ARE REGISTERED EVEN GO OUT TO VOTE, EVEN LESS SO IN PRIMARIES AND RUNOFFS. SO WE REALLY HOPE THAT WE CAN GET OUR CONSTITUENTS BETTER ENGAGED, REGARDLESS OF YOUR POLITICAL PARTY.

THANK YOU. COMMISSIONER MOODY.

AND THIS IS HONEST QUESTION.

SO IS THIS ADVISORY BOARD REPORTING TO THE ELECTION BOARD OR CAN I CLARIFY, JUDGE? YEAH, THERE'S NO REPORTING TO IN FACT, WE HAD A CLARIFICATION ON THIS WHEN WE HAD THE ORIGINAL DISCUSSION IN 2019, WHETHER THEY WERE ADVISORY TO THE ELECTIONS ADMINISTRATOR OR TO THE COURT, AND THESE ARE ADVISORY MEMBERS TO THE COURT, JUST LIKE OUR SMALL BUSINESS ADVISORY IS ADVISORY TO THE COURT, OUR VETERANS, OUR ELDERLY AFFAIRS.

IT'S ADVISORY TO THE COURT.

SO AS WE GO THROUGH OUR DECISION MAKING OF, AS WE OFTEN DO, WHERE WE SHOULD EXPAND POLLING SITES, THINGS OF THAT NATURE. IT'S ADVISORY TO US, THE COURT.

ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? LAST COMMENT, BECAUSE I KNOW THIS TIES IN WITH THE DEMOCRACY FROM THE GROUND UP PLATFORM.

BUT WHEN IT DOES COME TO POLLING SITES AND I KNOW WE'LL HAVE THIS DISCUSSION AS WE GO FORWARD, BUT THERE HAS TO BE A LIMIT ON A NUMBER OF POLLING SITES.

AND I KNOW THERE'S BEEN A DESIRE TO CONTINUE TO EXPAND POLLING SITES EVEN THOUGH WE'RE RESOURCE CONSTRAINED.

AND THE ELECTIONS ADMINISTRATOR HAS SAID THAT MULTIPLE TIMES.

AND AS WE TRY TO STRETCH TO MORE AND MORE POLLING SITES WITH THE LIMITED RESOURCES WE HAVE YOU KNOW, WE CREATE MORE AND MORE RISK FOR EVENTS IN OUR ELECTIONS THAT WE DON'T WANT TO HAVE.

SO I THINK I HOPE WE CAN BE REASONABLE ABOUT THE ELECTION SITES, THE POLLING SITES THAT WE AGREED TO AS A COURT, AND BE MINDFUL OF THE LIMITED RESOURCES, THE LIMITED ELECTION JUDGES THAT WE HAVE THAT ARE TRAINED.

AND I KNOW THAT THAT HAS BEEN A CONCERN BY, BY JACKIE IN THE PAST AND LIKELY IS GOING TO BE A CONCERN THIS FALL AS WELL.

I JUST WANTED TO TO MAKE THAT COMMENT SINCE WE NORMALLY YOU KNOW, HAVEN'T HAD THIS CONVERSATION RECENTLY IN THE COURT.

ALL RIGHT. ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE. I'LL CALL FOR A VOTE.

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

AYE. ANY OPPOSED? ANY ABSTENTIONS.

AUTHORIZATION. DIRECT STAFF TO IDENTIFY FUNDING AND NEGOTIATE AN AGREEMENT WITH CIVIC GOVERNMENT SOLUTIONS IN THE AMOUNT OF $591,122 FOR VOTER REGISTRATION ACTIVITIES IN BEXAR COUNTY. WE HAVE A CITIZEN AGAIN, TWO CITIZENS TO BE HEARD ON ITEM 61.

[61. Authorization to direct staff to identify funding and negotiate an agreement with Civic Government Solutions in the amount of $591,122 for voter registration activities in Bexar County. ]

ITEM 61.

[01:15:01]

GARY CHICK, DO YOU WISH TO ADDRESS ITEM 61? THANK YOU. AGAIN, AUTHORIZING STAFF TO IDENTIFY FUNDING AT THE TUNE OF NEARLY $600,000 FOR VOTER REGISTRATION ACTIVITIES.

VOTER REGISTRATION IS THE JOB OF THE POLITICAL PARTIES, NOT STAFF, AT THE DIRECTION OF OUR COUNTY COMMISSIONERS.

GROUPS AND VOLUNTEERS WORK ACROSS THIS COUNTY TO REGISTER VOTERS.

SOLICITING HELP AT THE DIRECTION OF COMMISSIONERS COURT MAKES IT POLITICAL BECAUSE THERE IS NOTHING APOLITICAL ABOUT DEMOCRACY FROM THE GROUND UP. THANK YOU.

THANK YOU, MELINDA ROBERTS.

YOU HAVE THREE MINUTES.

I'M SPEAKING TO ITEM 61.

DEMOCRACY FROM THE GROUND UP IS A LED COALITION WITH COMMON CAUSE TEXAS, WHICH IS FUNDED BY GEORGE SOROS DIRECTLY, AS WELL AS SOROS'S GROUP, OPEN SOCIETY FOUNDATIONS EXECUTIVE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR WAS A STAFFER FOR THE DNC.

ANOTHER COALITION WITH DEMOCRACY FROM THE GROUND UP IS MOODE TEXAS.

MOODE TEXAS IS AN ADVOCATE FOR THE PROPOSED 2023 SAN ANTONIO JUSTICE CHARTER, WHERE YOU COULD STILL GOODS TOTALING UP TO $750 WITHOUT RETRIBUTION, WHERE VOYEURISM WAS ACCEPTED AND OUR POLICE COULDN'T DO THEIR JOB.

DIRECTLY AFFILIATED WITH ALLIANCE FOR YOUTH ACTION, WHOSE DONORS INCLUDE OPEN SOCIETY POLICY CENTER, A SOROS FOUNDATION.

ANOTHER COALITION WITH DEMOCRACY FROM THE GROUND UP, A TEXAS IS TEXAS CIVIL RIGHTS PROJECT.

THIS GROUP IS AGAINST ELECTION INTEGRITY.

THE ORGANIZATION HAS FOUGHT STATE LAWS WHICH PROMOTE ELECTION INTEGRITY.

YES, DEMOCRACY FROM THE GROUND UP ALIGNS ITSELF WITH A GROUP WHO ACTUALLY FIGHTS AGAINST HONEST ELECTIONS.

ANOTHER COALITION WITH DEMOCRACY FROM THE GROUND UP TEXAS FREEDOM NETWORK.

THEY ARE AN ARM OF THE TEXAS FREEDOM NETWORK EDUCATION FUND.

BOARD OF TRUSTEES ARE ALL FROM THE DEMOCRAT PARTY, INCLUDING A DEMOCRAT STATE REP.

ALL ROADS LEADING TO FUNDING AND LEADERSHIP WITHIN THE DEMOCRAT PARTY.

DEMOCRACY FROM THE GROUND UP HAS 15 PLANKS SEEKING TO REFORM ELECTION.

THOSE PLANKS ARE.

MOST OF THOSE PLANKS ARE ALREADY DICTATED BY THE LAW.

THE LAW DICTATES WHAT OUR ELECTION ADMINISTRATOR CAN DO.

THE LAW DICTATES, BY POPULATION DENSITY THE POLLING SITES.

THE LAWS ARE REQUIRING NOTICES SIGNS WHICH INDICATE CURBSIDE VOTING.

IT'S ALL IN THE LAW.

THROWING MONEY AT THIS GROUP WON'T CHANGE THIS.

IF DEMOCRACY FROM THE GROUND UP WANT TO CHANGE THE LAWS, THEY NEED TO BE SPEAKING TO THEIR LEGISLATORS.

THIS GROUP IS A PARTIZAN GROUP.

ALL MONIES AND LEADERSHIP LEAD TO THE DEMOCRAT PARTY.

NOT FOR ONE SECOND DO I BELIEVE THIS COURT WOULD ALLOTT OR LOOK FOR $600,000 TO A RIGHT LEANING CONSERVATIVE GROUP.

NOR SHOULD THEY.

BEXAR COUNTY COMMISSIONERS BUSINESS IS NOT ONE TO A LOT TAXPAYERS DOLLARS TO POLITICAL PARTIES, BUT THEIR BUSINESS MUST BE ABOUT THE PUBLIC SAFETY, DEVELOPMENT AND SUPPORTING THE NEEDS OF OUR FIRST RESPONDERS.

POLITICAL PARTIES MUST BE LEFT TO RAISE THEIR OWN MONEY AND RECRUIT THEIR OWN VOLUNTEERS WITHOUT THE LURE OF TAX DOLLARS.

I TRUST THIS COURT WILL CONSIDER THE OPTICS OF PROVIDING THE DEMOCRAT ORGANIZATION DEMOCRACY FROM THE GROUND UP, ANY OF OUR TAX DOLLARS, AND STICK TO THE BUSINESS OF RUNNING THE COUNTY.

THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT.

COMMISSIONER MOODY. WELL, THANK YOU, JUDGE.

THIS THIS ITEM, YOU KNOW $600,000 EARMARKED FOR VOTER REGISTRATION EFFORTS BEGS KIND OF TWO QUESTIONS IN MY MIND.

YOU KNOW, THE FIRST IS, YOU KNOW, IS IS THIS A COUNTY RESPONSIBILITY? OBVIOUSLY THERE THERE ARE, YOU KNOW, DOZENS OF, OF ORGANIZATIONS OUT THERE WHO ARE ENGAGED IN VOTER REGISTRATION TODAY.

FROM THE RIGHT AND LEFT MANY OF THEM ARE NON-PROFITS AND PARTIES AND OTHERS YOU KNOW.

SURE. CAN WE DO MORE VOTER REGISTRATION WITH $600,000?

[01:20:02]

ABSOLUTELY. BUT IS THAT A FUNCTION OF COUNTY GOVERNMENT? AND I WOULD QUESTION WHETHER IT IS.

THE OTHER PART HERE THAT THAT IS PROBABLY EVEN MORE PROBLEMATIC IS BEING ABLE TO, TO DO THAT VOTER REGISTRATION WITHOUT THE APPEARANCE OF IT BEING IN A PARTIZAN WAY.

THE TIMING, YOU KNOW, OF A, WITHIN MONTHS OF A NATIONAL ELECTION IS PROBLEMATIC.

THERE'S THERE'S OTHER THINGS.

YOU KNOW, IF I WAS CONCERNED ABOUT PARTICIPATION IN OUR LOCAL ELECTIONS, I WOULD BE THINKING MORE ABOUT OUR SCHOOL BOARD RACES.

OUR LOCAL ELECTIONS ARE PRIMARIES AND OUR RUNOFFS.

AND CLEARLY THAT SUPPORT, YOU KNOW, IN A PRIMARY WHERE THERE'S, THERE'S TWO PARTIES RUNNING TWO RESPECTIVE PRIMARIES AND RUNOFFS.

WOULD BE NONPARTISAN OR WOULD BE BIPARTISAN.

HOWEVER, YOU KNOW ENSURING TRYING TO MAXIMIZE TURNOUT IN IN A DEMOCRAT COUNTY MONTHS BEFORE THE ELECTION, THE APPEARANCE DOESN'T LOOK GOOD.

IN TERMS OF THOSE THOSE OUR ACTIONS, IF WE WERE TO APPROVE THIS MEASURE.

SO THAT'S MY MY CONCERN WITH THIS.

I THINK THAT, YOU KNOW, IT DOESN'T LOOK GOOD ON THIS COURT TO SUPPORT THIS, JUST IN TERMS OF THE THE PARTIZAN NATURE THAT YOU KNOW FORCING, ENCOURAGING VOTER REGISTRATION AND ULTIMATELY TURNOUT USING TAXPAYER DOLLARS AND THE POLITICAL IMPACT THAT IT COULD HAVE.

IS CONCERNING TO ME, AND THAT'S WHY I WANTED TO PULL THIS ITEM AND WANTED TO EXPRESS MY CONCERNS TO THIS COURT.

COMMISSIONER RODRIGUEZ. THANK YOU.

JUDGE. LET ME CLARIFY A COUPLE THINGS JUST FOR THE FOR THE PUBLIC.

I THINK ONE OF OUR CITIZENS KEPT REFERRING TO AN ORGANIZATION THAT THIS ITEM 61, HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH, SO I'M NOT SURE HOW THAT GOT MIXED UP.

THIS IS A PURELY NONPARTIZAN VOTER REGISTRATION AND ONE OF OUR OTHER CITIZENS READ SOMETHING FROM OUR WEBSITE.

SO LET ME ALSO READ SOMETHING FROM OUR WEBSITE.

THE ELECTIONS DEPARTMENT SAYS BEXAR COUNTY IS RESPONSIBLE FOR VOTER REGISTRATION ACTIVITIES AND ELECTIONS OPERATIONS THROUGHOUT BEXAR COUNTY.

SO THIS IS A CORE FUNCTION OF WHAT THE COUNTY SHOULD BE DOING AS A, AS AN ARM OF THE STATE.

AND THE SECRETARY OF STATE IS OUR HEAD ELECTION OFFICIAL.

IT'S SIMPLY MAKING IT EASIER FOR FOLKS WHO MOVE INTO OUR COUNTY TO GET REGISTERED.

NOTHING TO DO WITH PARTIZAN POLITICS.

IT IS INSTEAD OF BEING REACTIVE TO FOLKS WHO MAYBE COME IN FOR VOTER REGISTRATION, IT IS BEING PROACTIVE IN GETTING THEM THE INFORMATION IN A TIMELY MANNER SO THEY CAN REGISTER IN TIME FOR AN ELECTION.

SO YOU KNOW, THESE THINGS SOMETIMES I, YOU KNOW, I GUESS GET YOU KNOW, PUT IN A DIFFERENT NARRATIVE.

BUT THIS IS ALL ABOUT CIVIC ENGAGEMENT, CIVIC RESPONSIBILITY.

IT IS A CORE FUNCTION OF THE ELECTIONS DEPARTMENT.

AND SO LET ME ASK DAVID SMITH.

THIS ITEM IS SIMPLY GIVING SOME DIRECTION TO YOU GUYS TO TO LOOK FOR THE MONEY TO, TO DO THIS.

ANY IDEA INITIALLY OF IF THIS IS MAYBE SOMETHING FROM THE ARPA FUNDS THAT HAVE BEEN REPROGRAMED OR WHERE WE MIGHT BE ABLE TO COME UP WITH THESE DOLLARS? YOU COULD POTENTIALLY DO THAT.

BUT AS YOU KNOW, THE 17 MILLION THAT WAS SET ASIDE IS REVENUE REPLACEMENT.

THIS COURT HASN'T ADDRESSED HOW YOU WANT TO DEAL WITH THAT.

MY RECOMMENDATION WAS TO TRY AND HANG ON TO IT.

AND SO THAT WHEN ARPA FUNDING ENDS, MAYBE WE CAN USE IT TO OFFSET SOME OTHER EXPENSES.

BUT THAT'S UP TO THE COURT.

OKAY. YEAH. AND I THINK THE ITEM TODAY, THIS IS GOING TO HAVE TO COME BACK JUST TO MY COLLEAGUES TO APPROVE ANY KIND OF CONTRACT.

I THINK THIS SPECIFIC VENDOR WHICH IS A SOLE SOURCE.

BUT THEY WERE HIRED, I UNDERSTAND, BY OTHER COUNTIES.

WE'LL GET MORE INFORMATION FROM THEM ON WHERE THEY'RE DOING THIS IN OTHER COUNTIES.

THEY WILL BE HERE NEXT TIME.

SO BETWEEN NOW AND THEN IT'S JUST OUR DIRECTION FOR STAFF TO GO LOOK FOR THE MONEY AND COME BACK TO COURT.

SO I'LL MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE.

JUDGE. I'LL SECOND THAT.

I JUST HAVE A QUICK CHECK IN.

TINA, HOW MUCH DO WE HAVE IN CONTINGENCY? RIGHT NOW, I BELIEVE WE HAVE $4 MILLION REMAINING IN UNDESIGNATED FUNDS.

ONLY 4 MILLION IN UNDESIGNATED IN OUR.

IN OUR ANNUAL CONTINGENCY, WE UNDESIGNATED AS ONE LINE ITEM RIGHT OF MANY CONTINGENCIES.

I'M SORRY. IT'S ONE OF MANY.

OKAY, SO LET'S GO WITH THE THE ENTIRE DESIGNATED.

[01:25:02]

WHAT'S SO SO YOU HAVE A YOU HAVEN'T ALLOCATED ANYWHERE NEAR 41 MILLION.

WE ALLOCATED 45 TOTAL.

CORRECT. WELL, WE'RE ABOUT READY TO SEND YOUR OFFICE SOME INFORMATION ABOUT CONTINGENCY FUNDING.

WHAT WE ARE WORKING ON RIGHT NOW IS OUR THIRD QUARTER ESTIMATES, SO WE CAN DETERMINE HOW MUCH OF A CONTINGENCY MONEY IS GOING TO BE REMAINING.

SO AT THIS POINT, WHAT I WOULD TELL YOU IS BASED ON WHERE WE'RE AT RIGHT NOW, LOOKING AT THE NUMBERS WE PROBABLY HAVE OF THAT 41 MILLION, PROBABLY ABOUT PROBABLY PROBABLY ABOUT 5 MILLION REMAINING.

SO WHERE'S THE DESIGNATED? SO THERE WAS SOME MONEY IN THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT, RIGHT? YES. A LOT OF THE THE CONTINGENCY MONEY IS GOING TO GO TOWARDS UNBUDGETED OVERTIME AND FLSA PAYMENTS.

WE'RE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT THE OUT OF COUNTY CONTRACTS.

WHAT THAT WHAT THAT COULD COST.

WE DON'T KNOW.

AND THEN OF COURSE, WE HAD, YOU KNOW, PAY RAISES THAT WERE IMPLEMENTED MID-YEAR.

AND THERE WERE AND THEN THERE WERE A BUNCH OF OTHER LINE ITEMS FOR SPECIFIC PROGRAMS WHERE WE WEREN'T SURE IF WE WERE GOING TO BE ABLE TO ADDRESS THE EXPENDITURES WITH WHAT WAS ALREADY BUDGETED.

SO WE HAD PUT SOME MONEY ASIDE FOR THAT.

WE HAD MADE AN INQUIRY IN MY OFFICE, AND I MAY HAVE JUST MISSED THE EMAIL.

DID WE GET THAT THAT DETAIL TO MY OFFICE YET? NO. NOT YET. WE'RE GOING TO SEND IT TO YOU TODAY.

OKAY. ALL RIGHT.

GOOD. THANKS.

ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? COMMISSIONER MOODIE? I'LL JUST SAY IN CLOSING COMMENT THAT I THINK THIS COURT HAS DONE A GOOD JOB IN MANY REGARDS OF TRYING TO AVOID, YOU KNOW, THE APPEARANCE OF OF PARTIZAN ACTIVITIES.

AND I HOPE THAT IT WILL CONTINUE TO DO SO IN THE FUTURE.

MY CONCERN IS THIS ITEM DOESN'T DO THAT, AND IT OPENS THE DOOR TO THAT, AND I HOPE WE CAN TRY TO AVOID THAT AS MUCH AS WE CAN, AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE IN THE FUTURE.

JUDGE. COMMISSIONER CALVERT.

LOOK, LET ME LET ME JUST SAY THAT VOTER REGISTRATION IS IS NOT ELECTORAL.

AND WHAT WHAT WHAT THE COMMENTS ABOUT BEING PARTIZAN ARE ABOUT IS ABOUT BEING ELECTORAL.

TELLING PEOPLE WHO TO VOTE FOR THE COURT IN REGISTRATION IS NOT TELLING PEOPLE WHO TO VOTE FOR.

THAT IS ELECTORAL.

AND THERE IS A HUGE DIFFERENCE IN THE LAW AND THE IRS AND THE STATE STATUTE BETWEEN BEING ELECTORAL AND NOT BEING ELECTORAL.

SO I DON'T BELIEVE THERE'S ANYTHING PARTIZAN ABOUT REGISTRATION.

I MEAN, IDEALLY, I WOULD THINK YOU WOULD WANT IN A DEMOCRACY EVERYONE TO VOTE.

YOU KNOW, I KNOW THERE WAS A TIME WE DIDN'T.

MAYBE IT'S COMING BACK.

I'M NOT SURE. BUT WE'RE NOT BEING ELECTORAL.

WE'RE NOT TELLING ANYBODY WHO TO VOTE FOR.

JUST REGISTER AND GO WHERE YOUR HEART IS.

GO WHERE YOUR MIND IS. WE'RE NOT TRYING TO CONTROL ANYBODY.

WE HOPE YOU VOTE.

THANK YOU. JUDGE. ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF THE MOTION SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE.

AYE. ANY OPPOSED? ANY ABSTENTIONS.

I BELIEVE WE WILL NOW GO TO.

IS RENEE HERE? I UNDERSTAND SHE WAS ASKED TO BE HERE.

WE'LL TAKE UP ITEM 65, APPROVAL OF A REQUEST FROM COMMISSIONER TOMMY CALVERT, PRECINCT FOUR TO REAPPOINT THE FOLLOWING INDIVIDUALS.

[65. Approval of a request from Commissioner Tommy Calvert, Precinct 4, to reappoint the following individuals to the Small, Minority and Women-Owned Business Enterprise Program (SMWBE) Advisory Committee: ]

SMALL MINORITY, WOMEN OWNED BUSINESS ENTERPRISES PROGRAM.

SWIM ADVISORY COMMITTEE.

COMMISSIONER CLAY-FLORES, YOU ASKED FOR IT TO BE INDIVIDUALLY CONSIDERED.

YEAH. THANK YOU. BEFORE WE GO TO THAT ITEM, I'D LIKE TO TAKE A POINT OF PERSONAL, PERSONAL PRIVILEGE BECAUSE I SEE ONE OF MY CONSTITUENTS.

LILIANA SANCHEZ, CAN YOU STAND UP AND BE RECOGNIZED, PLEASE? SO SHE IS.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE.

SHE'S A RISING SENIOR AT BRENNAN HIGH SCHOOL, AND SHE'S DOING AN INTERNSHIP WITH THE DA'S OFFICE.

IS THAT CORRECT? SO IT'S SO GOOD TO SEE YOU.

SO HOPEFULLY YOU'RE ENJOYING YOURSELF AT COMMISSIONERS COURT.

SO THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.

CAN Y'ALL GIVE HER A HAND OF APPLAUSE, PLEASE? THANK YOU SO MUCH.

RENEE, DO YOU WANT TO COME FORWARD? I JUST HAVE SOME QUESTIONS.

I KNOW IN THE PAST WE HAD BEEN IN THE PAST, LIKE, A COUPLE OF YEARS.

WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT THIS.

I FEEL LIKE FOR A COUPLE OF YEARS, WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT IF THE BYLAWS HAVE BEEN UPDATED.

SO I JUST WANTED TO SEE WHERE WE ARE ON THAT.

I KNOW, I THINK CURRENTLY HOW MANY PEOPLE SIT ON THAT COMMITTEE.

OH 1515 AND WE HAD TALKED ABOUT LESSENING THAT NUMBER.

SO I JUST WANTED TO SEE WHERE WE WERE IN THAT.

AND IF YOU THINK WE REALLY NEED 15 PEOPLE, I MEAN, HOW OFTEN ARE DO WE MEET QUORUM ETC..

GOOD MORNING. MY NAME IS RENEE WATSON.

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

[01:30:04]

SINCE THE GRIFFIN AND STRONG RECOMMENDATIONS IN 2021 THERE WERE SOME RECOMMENDATIONS ABOUT WHO CAN SERVE THE COURT ADOPTED ALL OF THOSE, BUT THE ONES ABOUT CONFLICT OF INTEREST.

SINCE THAT TIME, WE'VE BEEN GOING BACK AND FORTH WITH ISSUES OF QUORUM, ISSUE OF MISSION CREEP.

MANY OF YOUR OFFICES HAVE RECEIVED EMAILS FROM VARIOUS ADVISORY COMMITTEE MEMBERS ASKING FOR ELEVATION TO STATUS TO A BOARD INSTEAD OF COMMISSION.

AND WE HAVE BEEN ASKING FOR DISCUSSIONS WITH SOME OF YOUR OFFICES TO TAKE IT DOWN TO FIVE MEMBERS TO HELP US TO BE MORE MANAGEABLE.

THROUGHOUT THE LIFE OF THIS COMMITTEE, AT ONE TIME, IT HAD 24 MEMBERS.

WOW. DURING THE HEIGHT OF THE SBC CENTER AT THE COUNTY.

THEN WE TOOK IT DOWN TO 15 MEMBERS, THREE FROM EACH ONE OF YOUR OFFICES.

SO WE WERE HOPING AND WE WILL BE BRINGING BACK LANGUAGES AS WE LOOK AT THE PURCHASING MANUAL PURCHASING POLICY.

WE LOOK AT THE SWIMMING POLICY TO BE UPDATED.

TO HAVE IT TO HAVE A LITTLE BIT MORE OF AUTHORITY.

IN ORDER TO DO THAT, IT WOULD PROBABLY NEED TO HAVE A MORE MANAGEABLE NUMBER OF FIVE MEMBERS.

AND WE HAD ALSO DISCUSSED WHAT DO YOU WHAT ABOUT THE CONFLICT OF INTEREST OF NOT HAVING PEOPLE ON THE BOARD WHO DID DO BUSINESS WITH THE COUNTY? WHERE ARE WE AT IN THAT THAT THAT WAS ONE OF THE RECOMMENDATIONS FROM THE FROM THE GRIFFIN AND STRONG THAT THE COURT DID NOT ADOPT BACK IN 2021.

THERE WERE 13 RECOMMENDATIONS.

THE ONLY ONE THE COURT DID NOT ADOPT WAS THE CONFLICT OF INTEREST THAT BUSINESS OWNERS COULD SERVE.

WE PUT IN PLACE A DISCLOSURE PROCESS LIKE THE OTHER COMMITTEES.

AND THEN A CONFLICT OF INTEREST IF YOU ARE CONSIDERING AN ITEM OR SOMETHING HAS BEEN PRESENTED TO THEM, THEY WOULD HAVE TO DENOTE A CONFLICT OF INTEREST.

WE MOST RECENTLY HAD ONE WE HAD THAT DISCUSSION AT THE COMMITTEE.

BUT IT IS, I THINK 11 OF THE APPOINTEES CURRENTLY RIGHT NOW DO BUSINESS WITH THE COUNTY.

OKAY. CAN WE SET AN INTERNAL DEADLINE FOR WHEN WE CAN MAKE THESE DECISIONS? AND IF WE'RE GOING TO REVAMP, TO REVAMP IT, AS OPPOSED TO CONTINUING TO TALK ABOUT IT FOR ANOTHER TWO YEARS, I CAN BRING IT BACK A RECOMMENDATION AT THE NEXT COURT MEETING.

IF THAT WOULD BE FEASIBLE.

ARE WE OKAY WITH THAT? I CAN GET WITH EACH ONE OF YOUR OFFICES TO GO THROUGH IT, AND THEN WE CAN TALK ABOUT TO BRING THAT FORTH BECAUSE.

SO LET'S DO IT AT THE FOLLOWING COURT MEETING, BECAUSE I KNOW IT'S THE FOLLOWING COURT MEETING.

THERE'S GOING TO BE A BREAK DURING JULY.

THERE'S BUDGET SEASON. SO THERE'S A LOT OF MEETINGS.

SO LET'S DO AN IN A TWO COURT MEETINGS FOR NOW.

OKAY. THANK YOU.

ANY. COMMISSIONER MOODY.

AND, YOU KNOW, THIS ISN'T SPECIFIC TO SWIM, ALTHOUGH I HAVE, YOU KNOW, HEARD COMMENTS FROM DIFFERENT APPOINTEES ON DIFFERENT BOARDS.

BUT I WOULD JUST LIKE TO SUGGEST, AND I KNOW YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT, YOU KNOW, SOME CHANGES IN YOU KNOW, BYLAWS, BOARDS THAT ARE APPOINTED BY THIS COMMISSIONERS COURT.

I THINK, YOU KNOW, WE SHOULD HAVE A STANDARD, YOU KNOW, KIND OF CONSISTENT ACROSS THE BOARD IN TERMS OF ROBERT'S RULES, IN TERMS OF MINUTES, IN TERMS OF WHAT CONSTITUTES A QUORUM AND SOME SORT OF STANDARDIZATION ACROSS ALL THOSE ADVISORY COMMITTEES, BOARDS, WHAT HAVE YOU.

AND SO TO BE HONEST, I DON'T KNOW HOW THAT EXISTS TODAY OR HOW FAR OFF THE, THE STANDARD IS BETWEEN DIFFERENT COMMITTEES.

AND AGAIN, I'M NOT TALKING SPECIFICALLY TO SWAMPY, BUT I THINK THAT THAT SHOULD BE A GOAL THAT WE ALL WANT TO WORK TOWARDS GOING FORWARD WITH, WITH ALL OF OUR ADVISORY COMMITTEES.

AND I'M NOT SURE IF THERE'S ANY OTHER FEEDBACK FROM THE COURT, BUT BUT THAT'S JUST SOMETHING I'VE SEEN IN DIFFERENT CONVERSATIONS WITH MY APPOINTEES.

SO I JUST WANT TO BRING IT TO EVERYONE'S ATTENTION.

AND WE COULD BRING THAT BACK.

AND IF THE COURT HAD.

SO WE'RE AN ADVISORY COMMITTEE VERSUS A COMMISSION VERSUS A BOARD.

SO BEXAR COUNTY ADMINISTRATIVE POLICY, THE ONE THAT GOVERNS THE APPOINTMENT, THE OPERATION COULD BE APPLIED TO EACH ONE.

THAT'S PART OF THE RECOMMENDATION WE'RE BRINGING BACK BECAUSE THE MINUTES THE OPEN RECORDS ACT, THE NONDISCLOSURE AND COMMENTS AMONG THEM WHEN THEY'RE NOT IN MEETINGS CAUSES A LOT OF CONFLICT AND MAKES STAFF JOB VERY DIFFICULT.

SO, YES, WE'LL BE BRINGING THAT BACK TO YOU, COMMISSIONER.

ANY OTHER COMMENTS? YEAH.

JUDGE, I YOU KNOW IS THIS ON ITEM 65? YES, WE'RE ON ITEM 65.

OKAY. AND SO THIS IS ON REAPPOINTMENT, RIGHT?

[01:35:02]

CORRECT. OKAY.

SO I WAS TRYING TO MAKE SURE THAT THE CONVERSATION WAS WAS GERMANE TO THAT I DON'T KNOW.

IS THERE THERE'S NO OTHER COMMENT RELATED TO THAT I GUESS.

OKAY. ALL RIGHT.

WELL, I MOVE APPROVAL.

MOTION BY COMMISSIONER CALVERT SECOND.

I DO BELIEVE I HAVE A CITIZEN TO BE HEARD.

I THINK GRACE ROSE.

I BELIEVE I'M TRYING.

YOU'RE. I'M TRYING TO READ YOUR WRITING.

YOU HAVE SIGNED UP.

I'M SORRY. YOU HAD LISTED ITEM 69, WHICH IS NOT.

I PRESUME YOU'RE JUST WANTING TO PRESENT THREE MINUTES FOR ITEM 65, IS THAT CORRECT? YES, SIR. YOU HAVE THREE MINUTES.

OKAY. WELL, THANK YOU.

AND YOU KNOW, SO I AM LOOKING AT THE REAPPOINTMENT TO SERVE ON THE QUIMBY.

THERE HAS BEEN A LOT OF WORK DONE ON THIS OVER MANY, MANY YEARS.

AND I'VE BEEN ON THE BOARD ABOUT EIGHT.

WE'VE HAD SO MANY PROBLEMS WITH GETTING QUORUM.

THERE WERE TIMES WHEN I DON'T THINK WE HAD ONE APPOINTMENT FROM THE JUDGE, AND SO WE HAD SORT OF THAT GAP.

RIGHT. AND SO, YOU KNOW, WE WOULD FILL IN AND, AND, AND CONTINUE WITHOUT DOING A LOT OF BUSINESS WHEN WE COULDN'T MAKE QUORUM.

YET WE CONTINUED WITH THE MEETINGS BECAUSE IT WAS VERY IMPORTANT TO CONTINUE TO MOVE THINGS FORWARD.

WE'VE GONE THROUGH THE DISPARITY STUDY THAT, YOU KNOW, SOMEHOW EXPIRED TO A CERTAIN EXTENT.

AND IT'S BEEN IT'S BEEN A DIFFICULT, YOU KNOW, TO SAY THE LEAST.

IT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT I REALLY, YOU KNOW, WOULD SAY, YOU KNOW, I WANT TO BE HERE.

I WANT TO GO THROUGH ALL THE PROBLEMS. I LOVE THE HEADACHES THAT I GET.

I ENJOY THE TIME I SPEND GIVING AWAY.

BUT AS A COMMUNITY ADVOCATE AS WELL AS A BUSINESS OWNER, A SMALL BUSINESS OWNER THAT HAS UNDERSTANDS WHAT SWIM HAS DONE FOR EVERYONE, THE SMALL MINORITY CERTIFICATION, I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT.

AND NOW THAT WE HAVE THE PROBLEMS WITH THE CERTIFICATION ORGANIZATION AND WE'RE MOVING TOWARDS A DIFFERENT PLATFORM.

I THINK IT'S VERY IMPORTANT TO HAVE PEOPLE THAT HAVE INSTITUTIONAL KNOWLEDGE AND ARE WILLING TO, TO SERVE.

AND MANY OF THE BOARD MEMBERS ARE NEW, BUT THEY ARE VERY SHARP.

AND THANK YOU JUDGE, FOR APPOINTING THE PEOPLE THAT YOU HAVE.

I REALLY THINK THAT THEY HAVE STEPPED UP THE GAME AND THEY ARE REALLY CONTRIBUTING.

AND WITH THAT, WE ARE STARTING TO GET MOMENTUM.

AND WE HAVE TALKED ABOUT WHAT THIS CONSTITUTES A QUORUM.

DO WE WANT, YOU KNOW, TO TO GET THE BOARD LESS? DO WE YOU KNOW, WANT WANT TO SAY, OKAY, QUORUM IS ONLY, YOU KNOW, ONE PERSON FROM EACH FROM EACH PRECINCT.

AND SO WE'VE WE'RE GOING THROUGH ALL OF THESE CONVERSATIONS AND WITH EVERYONE HAVING APPOINTMENTS.

THIS IS REALLY GREAT TO HAVE BECAUSE WE HAVEN'T HAD IT BEFORE.

SO I JUST WANTED TO GIVE YOU AN UPDATE ON THE WHOLE HEALTH OF THE BOARD.

AND I THINK IT'S, IT'S MOVING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.

SO THANK YOU SO MUCH.

ANY OTHER COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS? I BELIEVE THERE WAS A MOTION BY COMMISSIONER CALVERT, SECOND BY COMMISSIONER RODRIGUEZ ANY HEARING NO FURTHER DISCUSSION, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE.

AYE. ANY OPPOSED? NO. ANY ABSTENTIONS? MOTION CARRIES.

I BELIEVE THAT COMPLETES THE CONSENT AGENDA ITEM.

CONSENT AGENDA ITEM.

COMMISSIONER MOODY. WHO'S THIS? OKAY. HELLO? OH, OKAY. HOLD ON.

HOLD ON. WE GOT.

WE GOT. YEAH. WE GOT TO GO BACK TO TIME.

CERTAIN. HOLD ON. ALL RIGHT.

I UNDERSTAND WE HAVE ADDITIONAL PEOPLE OF CITIZENS TO BE HEARD.

I JUST WANT TO LET YOU ALL KNOW THE OTHER CITIZENS SIGNED UP FOR SPECIFIC AGENDA ITEMS. I'M GOING TO GET BACK TO YOU.

WE NEED TO GET BACK TO TIME.

CERTAIN AGENDA ITEM NUMBER FIVE.

[5. TIME CERTAIN ITEM(S)]

10 A.M. PUBLIC HEARING.

THE COURT INVITES PUBLIC INPUT REGARDING THE LUCERO SPECIAL IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT, LOCATED IN PRECINCT ONE.

ARE THERE ANY MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC SIGNED UP TO SPEAK IN REGARDS TO AGENDA ITEM FIVE A THE LUCERO SPECIAL IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT IN PRECINCT ONE.

HEARING NONE.

LET'S MR. LIAO, DO YOU HAVE A PRESENTATION? GOOD MORNING JUDGE. GOOD MORNING, COMMISSIONERS ONE THROUGH FOUR.

WE'RE HERE TODAY TO TALK ABOUT THE LUCERO SPECIAL IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT.

KEVIN DIANA WITH ORTIZ MCKNIGHT AND DUSTIN SKOGMAN WITH THE DEVELOPER.

[01:40:04]

LGI HOMES IS HERE.

THIS IS A PUBLIC IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT UNDER CHAPTER 382 OF THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT CODE.

IT'S INITIATED BY A PETITION OF THE ORIGINAL LANDOWNER OR THE LANDOWNER.

TAXATION POWERS ARE AVAILABLE TO THE DISTRICT AFTER AN ELECTION OF ELIGIBLE RESIDENTS.

THOSE TAXATION POWERS INCLUDE AD VALOREM HOTEL SALES AND TAX, AS WELL THE THE REVENUES GENERATED FROM THERE CAN GO TO CONSTRUCTION ITEMS SUCH AS PUBLIC IMPROVEMENTS OR ECONOMIC ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS.

TODAY WE'RE TALKING ABOUT LUCERO AND PRECINCT ONE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO, ETJ.

YOU SEE THE PICTURE THERE? IT'S OUTSIDE LOOP 1604 SOUTH OF HIGHWAY 90 ALONG MONTGOMERY ROAD.

THEY'RE LOOKING FOR A 30 YEAR TERM, WITH THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO, WHICH THEY RECEIVED ON JUNE 20TH OF LAST MONTH.

THE PROJECT ITSELF IS 111 ACRES, AND BEXAR COUNTY CURRENTLY RECEIVES $20,000 IN AD VALOREM REVENUE FROM THAT PIECE OF LAND.

AND IF YOU LOOK AT THE NEXT SLIDE, IT'S THE LAND USE.

THEY'RE LOOKING AT 580 SINGLE FAMILY UNITS STARTING AT ABOUT 250,000 COMMERCIAL ACRES, OR TBD.

THEY'LL HAVE OPEN SPACE AND INFRASTRUCTURE, INCLUDES COLLECTOR AND RESIDENTIAL ROADS.

ELECTRIC WATER DRAINAGE.

THIS PROJECT WILL HAVE UNDERGROUND SEWER WITH NO LIFT STATION.

THAT'S MOVING ON TO THE DEVELOPMENT.

IT IS $23.2 MILLION OF INFRASTRUCTURE THAT WILL RAISE THE TAXABLE VALUE TO ABOUT 145.7 MILLION.

YOU SEE THE REVENUES THEY'RE GENERATED OVER 30 YEARS, 10 MILLION FOR BEXAR COUNTY 882 FOR BEXAR COUNTY ROAD AND FLOOD.

UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL IS GOING TO GET 10 MILLION AS WELL.

SHOULD BE FINISHED FULLY DEVELOPED BY 2031.

BEFORE WE TAKE A MOTION, LET ME NOTE THE TIME 1045 WE'LL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING PORTION OF THIS PRESENTATION, MR. LIAO. I PROBABLY SHOULD HAVE DONE THAT EARLIER, BUT NOW YOUR PRESENTATION IS COMPLETE.

IS THERE ANY ANYTHING FURTHER YOU WISH TO ADD? I DO NOT, BUT THE DEVELOPER AND HIS ATTORNEY ARE HERE FOR ANY QUESTIONS THAT YOU MIGHT HAVE.

ANY QUESTIONS? I HAVE QUESTIONS IF THEY CAN COME CLAY-FLORES.

HI. THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE THIS MORNING.

SO I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU GUYS COMMUNICATE WITH THE SURROUNDING NEIGHBORHOODS TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY KNOW THAT THEY'RE GOING TO GET SOME NEW NEIGHBORS.

YES. GOOD MORNING.

KEVIN DEANDA WITH ORTIZ MCKNIGHT, REPRESENTATIVE FOR THE DEVELOPER LGI HOMES.

WITH ME IS DUSTIN SKOGMAN REPRESENTATIVE FROM THE DEVELOPER LGI HOMES.

YES, MA'AM. WE WILL COMMUNICATE WITH THE ADJACENT NEIGHBORS AND NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATIONS SO THAT THEY UNDERSTAND THAT A NEW DEVELOPMENT IS COMING IN IN THE AREA, AND THEY'RE FULLY AWARE. OKAY.

THANK YOU.

MOVE FOR APPROVAL. MOTION BY COMMISSIONER CLAY-FLORES.

ANY FURTHER QUESTION OR COMMENT? ALL RIGHT. HEARING NO FURTHER DISCUSSION.

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

NOW LET US TAKE UP ITEM FIVE C PUBLIC HEARING.

THE COMMISSIONERS COURT INVITES PUBLIC INPUT REGARDING THE FISHER GARDENS SPECIAL IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT LOCATED IN PRECINCT FOUR.

NOTE THE TIME AT 10:46 A.M..

ARE THERE ANY CITIZENS TO BE HEARD? ANY PUBLIC INPUT IN REGARDS TO THE FISHER GARDENS SPECIAL IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT LOCATED IN PRECINCT FOUR? HEARING NONE. TIME FOR 1046 WILL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING.

MR. LIAO, YOU MAY MAKE YOUR PRESENTATION IN REGARDS TO ITEM FIVE D.

THANK YOU. WE'RE HERE TO DISCUSS THE FISHER GARDEN SPECIAL IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT AGAIN.

KEVIN DEANDA WITH ORTIZ MCKNIGHT IS IN ATTENDANCE.

ALAN HOOVER WITH MOSAIC AND CASSIDY PATTERSON WITH MOSAIC ARE HERE AS WELL.

AGAIN, PUBLIC IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT UNDER THE 382 LOCAL GOVERNMENT CODE IS WHAT WE'RE LOOKING AT PETITIONED BY LANDOWNERS.

TAXATION POWERS ARE THE SAME AS I PREVIOUSLY MENTIONED, AD VALOREM HOTEL SALES AND USE OF THIS DEVELOPMENT AS, AS WELL AS THE PREVIOUS DEVELOPMENT ARE SEEKING AD VALOREM AND SALES AND USE TAX ONLY THAT WILL OCCUR AFTER AN ELECTION IS HELD.

OF THE ELIGIBLE RESIDENTS PROCEEDS CAN BE USED FOR CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS SUCH AS PUBLIC IMPROVEMENTS AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS.

THIS PROJECT IS LOCATED IN PRECINCT FOUR, CITY OF SAN ANTONIO AS WELL OUTSIDE LOOP 1604 SOUTH OF FREUDENBURG ROAD AT

[01:45:01]

GRAYTOWN ROAD. THEY ARE ALSO LOOKING FOR A 30 YEAR TERM, AND THIS PROJECT IS 165 ACRES, WITH A REVENUE TO BEXAR COUNTY'S GENERAL FUND OF $1,900.

CITY OF SAN ANTONIO DID CONSENT TO THIS BID ON JUNE 20TH.

SO THAT PART OF THE PROCESS IS DONE.

IF YOU GO TO THE LAND USE, YOU SEE THE PICTURE THERE OF THE DEVELOPMENT, 900 SINGLE FAMILY HOMES STARTING AT ABOUT 257 COMMERCIAL ACRES, TBD.

IT WILL CONTAIN OPEN SPACE INFRASTRUCTURE OR THE ROADS, ELECTRICAL, WATER DRAINAGE.

AGAIN, THIS SEWER WILL BE UNDERGROUND AS WELL.

NO LIFT STATION OFF SITE THERE ARE WATER CONNECTIONS AND TURN LANES THAT WILL BE COMING TO THIS PROJECT.

ALTOGETHER, THEY'RE LOOKING AT $37.6 MILLION INFRASTRUCTURE COST.

THAT'LL BUMP UP THE TAXABLE VALUE TO 231 MILLION.

YOU SEE THE REVENUES THERE OVER 30 YEARS, 15.9 TO BEXAR COUNTY GENERAL FUND, 1.3 TO BEXAR COUNTY ROAD AND FLOOD.

AND YOU GET THE SAME 15.9 ISH TO UNIVERSITY HEALTH SYSTEM.

CONSTRUCTION SHOULD FINISH AROUND 2033, AND THE RECOMMENDED MOTION APPROVAL OF AN ORDER CREATING THE FISHER GARDENS SPECIAL IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT, LOCATED IN PRECINCT FOUR.

AND AGAIN, THE DEVELOPER AND HIS ATTORNEY ARE HERE FOR ANY QUESTIONS.

YEAH. OKAY. ALL RIGHT.

FOR THE RECORD THE TIME IS 1049, AND I'LL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING IN REGARDS TO ITEM FOUR FOUR.

WHAT NUMBER IS IT? FIVE C. ALL RIGHT.

MR. LIAO, YOU MADE YOUR PRESENTATION.

ANY QUESTION OR COMMENT? MR. CALVERT THANK YOU.

JUDGE. JUST WANT TO THANK EVERYONE FOR THEIR HARD WORK GETTING THROUGH THE CITY PROCESSES AND BRINGING THIS FORWARD TODAY.

THE COUNTY WILL BENEFIT TREMENDOUSLY FROM FARMLANDS THAT BASICALLY HAVE YOU KNOW, YIELDED A LESS REVENUE.

AND INFRASTRUCTURE HAS BEEN A REAL CHALLENGE IN THIS AREA.

WHAT WE HAVE PUT TO PROTECT THE PUBLIC, WHO HAS BEEN ACCUSTOMED TO THE RURAL LIFESTYLE IS THAT WE'VE ASKED THE DEVELOPER ALONG THE VISUAL PERIPHERY OF THOSE EXISTING FARMS TO PUT LARGER SIZED LOT HOMES.

AND SO YOU HAVE 16%, 144 UNITS PRICED AT A 300,000 TO $400,000.

YOU HAVE ABOUT 50% OF THE UNITS PRICED AT 250 TO $299,000.

THERE WILL BE SOLAR LIGHTS THAT ARE MANDATORY AS PART OF THE PUBLIC INFRASTRUCTURE DISTRICT, WHICH IS IMPORTANT TO OUR COMMUNITY.

AND THERE'S WIDENING OF GRAYTOWN ROAD, ABOUT 0.057 ACRES TO HELP.

THERE IS ALSO EXPANSION OF EASTBOUND RIGHT TURN LANES IN THE DEVELOPMENT, WHICH IS VERY IMPORTANT.

WE'VE GOT SOME OF OUR AREAS, LIKE OUT AT NEW SULFUR SPRINGS IN OUR MORE RURAL UNINCORPORATED AREA WHERE TRAFFIC HAS BECOME VERY DANGEROUS, PARTICULARLY AROUND SCHOOLS AND INTERSECTIONS OF NEIGHBORHOODS, AND A DEDICATED LEFT TURN LANE INTO THE DEVELOPMENT FROM GRAYTOWN ROAD AND DEDICATED TURN LANES AT THE INTERSECTION OF GRAYTOWN AND COLONIAL PARK.

THERE'S ALSO CONSTRUCTION OF RIGHT TURN LANES AT GREEN ROAD AND SHERWOOD ROAD.

SO THE SECONDARY, THE TERTIARY OUTLETS OF ROADS, THE INFRASTRUCTURE OF THE DEVELOPMENT IS VERY IMPORTANT.

BUT THE BOTTOM LINE IS VERY GOOD FOR THE COUNTY OVER TIME AND ALLOWS US TO KEEP UP WITH THE GROWTH.

BUT IT ALSO ALLOWS THE FINANCE OF THIS PARTICULAR DEVELOPMENT TO NOT BE A BURDEN UPON THE COUNTY, TO BE PERFECTLY HONEST.

SO I MOVE APPROVAL MOTION BY COMMISSIONER CALVERT, SECOND BY COMMISSIONER RODRIGUEZ.

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

ALL RIGHT. THAT CONCLUDES TIME.

THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH.

CERTAIN ITEMS. WE'LL GO TO AGENDA ITEM SEVEN FILING FOR THE RECORD, FOLLOWING LEGAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE DOCUMENTS DIRECTING THE CRIMINAL DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE TO TAKE ACTION IF NECESSARY

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

FOR SUBSECTIONS A, B, C, AND D COMMISSIONERS COURT MINUTES FOR TUESDAY, JANUARY, JUNE 18TH, 2024 AND JULY 2ND, 2024.

IS THERE ANY MOTION? MOTION FOR MOTION TO APPROVE BY COMMISSIONER RODRIGUEZ.

SECOND BY COMMISSIONER MOODY.

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

CITIZENS TO BE HEARD.

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

WE STILL JUST TO GIVE YOU ALL A HEADS UP.

WE STILL HAVE QUITE A FEW CITIZENS TO BE HEARD.

AND WE'LL START WITH.

I WANT A CLARIFICATION.

MEL AND JULIE GARDNER, BOTH.

YOU HAVE SIGNED UP. DO YOU WISH TO SPEAK SEPARATELY, OR DO YOU WISH TO SPEAK AS ONE? AS ONE? SO WHO'S GOING TO SPEAK? ALL RIGHT, MISS GARDNER, PLEASE COME FORWARD.

[01:50:01]

AND DO YOU MR. GARDNER, DO YOU WANT TO YIELD YOUR TIME TO MISS GARDNER? DO YOU WANT TO GO TO THE. YES.

ALL RIGHT. HE WEARS HEARING AIDS, SIR.

ALL RIGHT. A LITTLE HARD.

AND THEN, COMMISSIONER MOODY, I UNDERSTAND YOU WISH TO MAKE A STATEMENT AFTER THE PRESENTATION.

GO AHEAD, MISS GARDNER. WELL, GOOD MORNING, AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME TODAY.

FIRST OF ALL, MY NAME IS JULIE GARDNER, AND I'D LIKE TO APPROACH, IF I COULD, AND HAND OUT SOMETHING TO EACH OF YOU.

GIVE IT TO STAFF.

STAFF WILL TAKE IT.

THANK YOU. I WANT TO INTRODUCE YOURSELF.

AND I'M MEL GARDENER.

GOOD MORNING. EVER SINCE WE'RE VERY LITTLE, WE GROW UP AND WE'RE TAUGHT IF YOU HAVE AN EMERGENCY, YOU CALL 911, RIGHT? WE LEARNED AT SCHOOL.

OUR PARENTS TELL US THERE'S A LIFE THREATENING EMERGENCY.

YOU CALL 911.

WELL, WHAT IF YOU CALLED 911 AND THEY PUT YOU ON HOLD? WHAT IF THE MESSAGE BACK TO YOU IN YOUR LIFE THREATENING SITUATION WAS, WE'RE TOO BUSY.

WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH PEOPLE TO HELP YOU FIGURE IT OUT ON YOUR OWN.

WHAT IF IT WAS YOUR MOM OR YOUR SON OR YOUR DAUGHTER WHO WAS CALLING 911? WHAT IF THEY WERE THE ONES THAT NEEDED THE HELP? WE'RE HERE TODAY BECAUSE WE WANTED TO KNOW WHAT YOU WOULD DO IF YOU WERE PUT ON HOLD.

WHAT WOULD YOU DO? YOU HAVE A MOMENT'S NOTICE TO MAKE A DECISION, TO WAIT ON HOLD, OR TO TAKE MATTERS INTO YOUR OWN HANDS.

WE ARE HERE TODAY ALONGSIDE THE BEXAR COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE, BECAUSE IT'S TIME TO PROVIDE FUNDING AND MAKE CHANGES TO THE BEXAR COUNTY DISPATCH AND CALL TAKER SERVICES.

AND WE WANTED TO SHARE OUR STORY ON FEBRUARY 27TH.

AND I WILL DO THIS TO MY BEST OF MY ABILITY TO KEEP MY EMOTIONS IN CHECK.

HE HAD A HEART ATTACK.

I CALLED 911.

I WAS PUT ON HOLD.

I HAD TO DECIDE WHETHER TO GET HIM IN THE CAR OR STAY ON HOLD.

I PUT HIM IN THE CAR.

I THREW THE PHONE IN MY POCKET.

IT WAS ABOUT 7:00 IN THE EVENING.

I STAYED ON HOLD FOR 3.5 MINUTES.

I PUT MY FLASHERS ON.

I DROVE ON THE SIDEWALK.

I WAS DOING MY BEST TO BE SAFE IN OUR COMMUNITY, KNOWING THAT WHAT I WAS DOING IN THIS MOMENT WAS A MATTER OF LIFE AND DEATH.

I EVENTUALLY HUNG UP BECAUSE THE ON HOLD MUSIC OR WHATEVER IT WAS, AND MY HUSBAND SCREAMING WERE TOO MUCH FOR ME TO HANDLE, SO I HUNG UP THE PHONE. I GOT HIM TO THE EMERGENCY ROOM AND HE WENT CODE BLUE IN THE HALLWAY.

SO IF I DECIDED TO WAIT FOR 911 TO PICK UP THE PHONE, HE WOULD HAVE DIED.

THERE ARE MANY REASONS WHY HE'S STANDING HERE TODAY, BUT ONE OF THEM WAS BECAUSE I MADE THAT DECISION AND THAT CHOICE IN THAT MOMENT.

BUT WHAT IF SOMEONE DIDN'T? WHAT IF SOMEONE WAS IN THE HALLWAY AND SOMEONE AND THEIR MOTHER WAS ON THE FLOOR AND SHE WAS DYING, AND THEY CALLED AND THIS CHILD WAS PUT ON HOLD? IT'S UNCONSCIONABLE IN MY MIND.

IF YOU'VE EVER CALLED 911 THAT YOU WOULD EVER EXPECTED TO PUT ON HOLD.

SO BACK TO OUR STORY, BECAUSE I'LL DO MY BEST TO BE SUCCINCT.

SO AFTER I HUNG UP AND WE CONTINUED TO THE EMERGENCY ROOM, I DID GET A CALL BACK.

I GOT A CALL BACK FROM 911 ABOUT EIGHT MINUTES LATER.

OF COURSE, I HAD A FEW CHOICE WORDS FOR WHOEVER IT WAS THAT CALLED, AND I HUNG UP AGAIN BECAUSE IT WAS TOO LATE.

I HAD TO MAKE THAT DECISION.

I HAD TO MAKE THAT CHOICE.

WE NEED YOUR HELP.

WE NEED YOU TO KNOW THAT WE'RE HERE BECAUSE WE DON'T WANT SOMEONE ELSE TO GO THROUGH WHAT WE DID.

WE'VE REACHED OUT TO OUR COMMUNITY.

THERE ARE MANY OF US WHO HAVE SAID THEY WERE PUT ON HOLD.

UNFORTUNATELY, COMING DOWN HERE WAS MORE OF A BURDEN.

SO WE'RE SPEAKING FOR EVERYONE IN OUR COMMUNITY, AND I WANT TO THANK COMMISSIONER MOODY FOR YOUR TIME.

WE MET WITH HIS STAFF SEVERAL TIMES AND WE SHARED WITH THEM OUR STORY, AND IT'S JUST UNFORGIVABLE.

AND I DON'T WANT IT TO HAPPEN TO ANYONE ELSE.

I GUESS THE BOTTOM LINE IS NO ONE NEEDS TO SUFFER IRREVERSIBLE, CATASTROPHIC EVENT THAT COULD HAVE BEEN HELPED BY EMERGENCY SERVICES OR DIE.

AND I KNOW YOU DON'T WANT THAT TO HAPPEN ON YOUR WATCH EITHER.

SO WE ASK YOU, PLEASE ALLOCATE FUNDS WHERE THEY'RE NEEDED TO HELP THE COMMUNITY.

SO THE 911 SERVICES ARE WHAT THEY SHOULD BE.

THEY'RE THERE FOR THOSE LIFE THREATENING SITUATIONS WHEN YOU NEED THEIR HELP.

IF IT WASN'T FOR THE ACTION THAT MY WIFE TOOK, BY THE GRACE OF GOD, I WOULD NOT BE SITTING HERE RIGHT NOW.

PLEASE, WHATEVER FUNDS ARE AVAILABLE FOR THE MS OPERATIONS, PLEASE ALLOCATE AS MUCH AS YOU CAN.

[01:55:09]

THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONSIDERATIONS.

COMMISSIONER MOODY. THAT WAS REALLY POWERFUL.

AND WE'VE HAD, YOU KNOW, HUNDREDS OF CITIZENS TO BE HEARD COME AND STAND AT THAT PODIUM.

BUT I'M NOT SURE WE'VE HEARD A MORE POWERFUL MESSAGE THAN WHAT YOU JUST DELIVERED.

A MESSAGE OF LIFE AND DEATH AND A MESSAGE ABOUT THE MAKING SURE WE GET THE BASICS RIGHT WHEN IT COMES TO PUBLIC SAFETY, WHEN IT COMES TO EMS AND FIRST RESPONDERS, BECAUSE IT IS IT'S A MATTER OF LIFE AND DEATH.

AND, YOU KNOW, I'M SURE I SPEAK FOR THE COURT THAT THAT NOBODY EVER WANTS TO SEE THAT HAPPEN TO ANYBODY ELSE AGAIN.

BUT AGAIN, AS WE GO INTO OUR BUDGET PROCESS, WE HAVE TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT.

WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE PROVIDE THE RESOURCES, WE UNDERSTAND THE PROBLEM, AND THAT WE GET IT FIXED BECAUSE NOBODY, NOBODY SHOULD HAVE TO GO THROUGH WHAT YOU WENT THROUGH.

SO THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE AND PRESENTING.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR HELP.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU COMMISSIONERS.

ALL RIGHT. MARILYN, JUDY, I HOPE I PRONOUNCED THAT RIGHT.

THANK YOU, JUDGE AND COMMISSIONERS.

MY NAME IS MARILYN JODI.

I AM THE PRESIDENT OF BLOSSOM PARK NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION.

THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO TALK TO YOU.

WE HAVE AN INPUT FOR THE BUDGET THAT YOU'RE PREPARING FOR THE NEXT FISCAL YEAR, AND IT DEALS WITH THE CONSTABLE PATROLS.

WE HOPE HE WILL DO FUNDING EVEN INCREASE FUNDING FOR THE STAFFING, EQUIPMENT AND TRAINING.

THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE OR BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF OUR NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION VOTED TO PROVIDE INPUT TO THE COUNTY'S BUDGET DELIBERATIONS IN SUPPORT OF THE CONSTABLE FUNCTION OF PATROLS.

OUR NEIGHBORHOOD IS ABOUT 440 HOMES AND A SIMILAR SITUATION AS MANY NEIGHBORHOODS AROUND THE COUNTY THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY.

WE ARE A VOLUNTEER NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION, NOT A MANDATORY HOA THAT CAN ASSESS FEES.

HENCE, WE CANNOT AFFORD A PRIVATE SECURITY FIRM TO PATROL THE AREA OR HAVE A GATED COMMUNITY.

WE. FORTUNATELY, WE ARE NOT YET CLASSED AS A HIGH CRIME OR HOTSPOT REGION.

WE ARE SIMPLY A QUIET NEIGHBORHOOD WITH ELDERLY RESIDENTS, CHILDREN, MANY WALKERS AND OCCASIONAL ROBBERIES.

FOR YEARS, OUR MAIN SAFETY CONCERN HAS BEEN SPEEDING AND STOP SIGN RUNNING, WHICH ENDANGER PEDESTRIANS AND CAUSE NEAR COLLISIONS.

LOTS OF THINGS HAVE BEEN DONE, BUT WE STILL HAVE THE PROBLEM.

WE RECENTLY ASKED THE CONSTABLE'S OFFICE FOR HELP AND THE NEXT DAY THEIR PATROL WAS SEEN ISSUING CITATIONS IN A TARGET RICH ENVIRONMENT.

THE SAME PEOPLE WHO HAD BEEN COMPLAINING TO ME ABOUT THE CARS RUNNING THROUGH THE STOP SIGNS WERE NOW CALLING ME, THRILLED TO SEE CARS PULLED OVER IN OUR NEWSLETTER.

WE WERE ABLE TO CREDIBLY WARN RESIDENTS TO SLOW DOWN AND COME TO COMPLETE STOPS, OR THEY MIGHT GET A TICKET THAT PUT SOME TEETH INTO OUR CONSTANT SAYING, HEY, BE A GOOD NEIGHBOR AND BE COURTEOUS.

WE WOULD LOVE FOR CONTINUED PATROLS PERIODICALLY, BUT MANY OTHER NEIGHBORHOODS ALSO NEED SIMILAR HELP.

THE BOTTOM. THAT'S JUST AN EXAMPLE.

THE BOTTOM LINE. THE IMPORTANT THING IS THAT THE CONSTABLE, FROM OUR PERSPECTIVE, FILLS A UNIQUE NICHE FOR COUNTY CONSTITUENTS.

THEY ARE RESPONSIVE TO SPECIFIC REQUESTS FROM THE NEIGHBORHOODS.

WE KNOW THEM PERSONALLY.

WE WE WORK WITH THEM, AND THERE'S A LOT LESS BUREAUCRACY, RED TAPE OR WHATEVER IN THEM GETTING THINGS DONE.

OH, I'M SORRY YELLOW.

WE STRONGLY ENCOURAGE THE COURT TO NOT ONLY FULLY SUSTAIN THE FUNDING OF THE CONSULATE PATROLS, BUT ALSO TO INCREASE THE STAFF AND EQUIPMENT AND TRAINING NEEDED FOR ADDITIONAL PATROLS. NEIGHBORHOODS LIKE US THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY NEED THEM.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT.

THE NEXT CITIZEN BE HEARD IS ROSARIO ZARB-COUSIN.

GOOD MORNING. DID YOU KNOW THAT THE BEXAR COUNTY VOTER ROLLS HAVE AN ESTIMATED 13,000 VOTERS IDENTIFIED AS COMMERCIAL ADDRESSES, 8000 IDENTIFIED AS VACANT ADDRESSES, 11,000 IDENTIFIED AS INVALID ADDRESSES, AND APPROXIMATELY 54,000 VOTERS WHO HAVE MOVED OUT OF OUR COUNTY.

WE HAVE A TEAM OF VOLUNTEERS WHO HAVE BEEN IDENTIFYING THESE VOTERS AND SUBMITTING THEM TO JACKIE CALLANAN.

[02:00:03]

WHILE THE VOTER REGISTRAR IS NOT REQUIRED TO CONFIRM THE COMMERCIAL ADDRESSES ARE VALID, THEY ARE REQUIRED TO ACT ON THESE VOTER CHALLENGES.

IN ADDITION, THE VOTER REGISTRAR SHALL MAKE A REASONABLE EFFORT TO REMOVE FROM THE OFFICIAL LIST OF ELIGIBLE VOTERS THE NAME OF VOTERS WHO HAVE BECOME INELIGIBLE BY REASON OF DEATH OR A CHANGE OF RESIDENCE.

ON FRIDAY, JUNE 21ST, JACKIE INFORMED AS SHE IS NO LONGER GOING TO BE PROCESSING ANY OF THE VOTER CHALLENGES WE HAVE BEEN SUBMITTING, EVEN THOUGH THE CHALLENGES HAVE PROOF THAT VOTER HAS MOVED AND REGISTERED TO VOTE IN ANOTHER COUNTY OR STATE.

TEXAS ELECTION CODE, SUBCHAPTER, SUBCHAPTER D, SECTION 15.081 STATES THE REGISTRAR SHALL REMAIN AS SHALL MAINTAIN, A SUSPENSE LIST CONTAINING EACH VOTER WHO APPEARS ON THE LIST OF NONRESIDENTS OF THE COUNTY PROVIDED TO THE REGISTRAR.

THE LAW REQUIRES MCLENNAN TO TO MOVE VOTERS TO SUSPENSE WHEN THEY ARE ADEQUATELY CHALLENGED UNTIL WE MOVE TO THE REMOVAL CRITERIA IS MET.

ELECTION ADVISORY NUMBER 2020 2418 TITLED REQUIRED LIST MAINTENANCE ACTIVITIES.

IT WAS ISSUED ON JUNE 4TH, 2020 FOR STATES DURING THE TIME PERIOD BETWEEN JUNE 4TH AND AUGUST 7TH, THE REGISTRAR SHALL MAINTAIN EFFORT TO RESOLVE POTENTIAL ISSUES.

THE ADVISORY ALSO LISTS MANDATORY DATA SOURCES WHICH MUST BE USED TO MAINTAIN THE VOTER ROLL.

THESE ARE THE SAME DATA SOURCES USED BY OUR TEAM.

WHO'S BEING WHO'S DOING THE WORK OF THE ELECTION DEPARTMENT IS WHO IS REFUSING TO PROCESS THE CHALLENGES WE ARE SUBMITTING TO DATE, WE HAVE CHALLENGED AND ARE TRACKING OVER 3300 VOTERS WITH SWORN AFFIDAVITS OF WHO ARE INELIGIBLE TO BE ON OUR VOTER ROLLS.

IN CLOSING, WHILE WE ADD OVER 7000 NEW RECORDS TO OUR VOTER ROLLS EACH MONTH, IT APPEARS THAT OUR VOTER ROLL MAINTENANCE ACTIVITIES CANNOT BE ADDRESSED WITH THE CURRENT RESOURCES, AND OUR BEXAR COUNTY VOTERS CANNOT BE ASSURED THAT ONLY ELIGIBLE VOTERS WILL BE IN NOVEMBER ELECTIONS.

I'M ASKING COMMISSIONERS COURT TO REQUIRE JACKIE AND HER STAFF TO FOLLOW THE LAW AND TO CLEAN UP OUR VOTER ROLLS.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU.

ALL RIGHT. DIANA RODRIGUEZ.

ANTONIO, I SEE YOU.

ARE YOU GOING TO SPEAK TOGETHER AS ONE, OR DO YOU ALL WANT TO SPEAK SEPARATELY? FOR THE SAME ORGANIZATION.

WHAT'S THAT? WE'RE A PART OF THE SAME ORGANIZATION.

BUT DO YOU WANT TO SPEAK SEPARATELY? WHICHEVER. OKAY, SO I GOT.

I CALLED LADIES FIRST, MR. RODRIGUEZ. YOU HAVE THREE MINUTES.

I'M GIVING MY TIME TO MR. DIAZ. GO AHEAD, MR. RODRIGUEZ. OH, YOU GAVE YOUR TIME UP.

OKAY. ANTONIO DIAZ.

THANK YOU. NIECY.

AND NIECY IS.

HELLO AND GOOD MORNING.

AND NOW WHAT? MY PEOPLE SPOKE NOW AT AMONGST THE NATION AS WELL.

LANGUAGES. WE ARE HERE TO THANK THOSE THAT HAVE SUPPORTED US THROUGH THE YEARS, AND THOSE THAT ARE JUST GETTING TO MEET US.

WE ARE FROM TEXAS INDIGENOUS COUNCIL AND WE REPRESENT INDIGENOUS PEOPLES OF THIS STATE, OF THIS COUNTY AND OF THIS CITY THROUGHOUT YOUR DIFFERENT PRECINCTS AND DIFFERENT AREAS.

SO THAT'S WHY WE ASK ANNUALLY NOW.

WE'VE BEEN ASKING SINCE 2014 AND HAVE RECEIVED SUPPORT OF COMMISSIONERS IN THE PAST AND JUDGES, SO WE WOULD APPRECIATE IT THIS YEAR AS WELL.

WE'VE ALREADY SENT SOME COMMUNICATION REQUESTING A PROCLAMATION FOR OCTOBER 12TH, AS WELL AS USE OF THE NORTH SIDE OF THE COURT FOR OUR GATHERING ON THAT DATE.

THERE ARE MANY ISSUES IMPACTING OUR INDIGENOUS COMMUNITY.

ONE IS LACK OF RECOGNITION BY OUR GOVERNMENT.

OUR EXISTENCE IS NOT RECOGNIZED BY THE STATE OF TEXAS.

WE GET A CEREMONIAL RECOGNITION BY THE STATE, BUT NOT OFFICIAL AS WELL AS BY THE UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT.

NOT EVEN RECOGNIZING THE UNITED NATIONS DECLARATION OF THE RIGHTS OF INDIGENOUS PEOPLES.

THESE ARE ISSUES THAT WE CONFRONT AND WE ADDRESS CONSTANTLY.

[02:05:07]

MR. DIAZ IS WEARING A T SHIRT, AS YOU MAY SEE, WHICH YOU ALL MIGHT NOT BE AWARE OF, BUT IF YOU KNOW OF OUR TEXAS WAS MEXICO ONCE AND EL PASO OR CIUDAD JUAREZ, WE'RE THE SAME AREA, WE'RE THE SAME PEOPLE.

WHEN THERE ARE PEOPLE, WOMEN, BEING ABDUCTED BECAUSE THEY WANT TO GET TO WORK IN THE MAQUILADORAS IN THE FRONTERA, BUT NO ONE PAYS ATTENTION, AND ESPECIALLY IF THEY'RE INDIGENOUS WOMEN.

I SAY ALL WOMEN BECAUSE WE ARE ALL HUMAN BEINGS, BUT ESPECIALLY INDIGENOUS WOMEN.

IT IS TOTALLY IGNORED.

THERE ARE MANY AREAS THROUGHOUT THE UNITED STATES THAT ARE BEING MINED FOR MINERALS, OR WHERE WATER NEEDS TO BE SUPPLIED.

AND ALL THESE PROJECTS, CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS THAT ARE GOING ON IN DIFFERENT RESERVATIONS.

AND WE HAVE MANY WOMEN THAT GO MISSING AND NO ONE PAYS ATTENTION.

WE DO, AND WE BRING IT UP.

THAT'S JUST MERELY ONE OF THE ISSUES WHEN YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT HUMAN TRAFFICKING.

THAT IS WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT.

BUT WHEN OUR GOVERNMENT GOES TO SAY THAT WE ARE ILLEGAL FOR CROSSING ONTO OUR ANCESTRAL LANDS, WE GO COUNTER THAT BECAUSE WE ARE HUMAN BEINGS, WE'RE NOT ILLEGAL ON ANY PART OF OUR ANCESTRAL LANDS.

THESE ARE ISSUES THAT TEXAS INDIGENOUS COUNCIL HAS BEEN ADDRESSING FOR DECADES IN OUR AREA, EVEN INTO MEXICO, WHICH WE WERE TOLD WAS TOO DANGEROUS FOR US TO GO INTO.

BUT WE DO SO BECAUSE IT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED.

HAVING SAID THESE THINGS AGAIN, WE DO THANK PAST.

ELECTED OFFICIALS, BOTH CITY AND COUNTY AND THOSE THAT SUPPORT US AT PRESENT TIME.

THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT.

AS A POINT OF PERSONAL PRIVILEGE WILL WE'LL END WITH A PRAYER.

IS THAT OKAY? SURE. GO AHEAD.

OH, GREAT SPIRIT, WHOSE VOICE I HEAR IN THE WIND AND WHOSE BREATHS GIVE LIFE TO ALL THE WORLD.

HEAR ME. I'M SMALL AND WEAK.

I SEEK YOUR STRENGTH AND WISDOM.

HELP ME WALK IN BEAUTY IN MY EYES.

EVER BEHOLD THE RED AND PURPLE SUNSET.

MAY MY HANDS RESPECT THE THINGS THAT THAT YOU MADE MY EARS SHARP.

TO HEAR YOUR VOICE MAKE ME WISE.

SO THAT I MAY UNDERSTAND THE THINGS YOU HAVE TAUGHT YOUR PEOPLE.

TEACH ME THE LESSONS YOU HAVE HIDDEN IN EVERY LEAF AND ROCK.

FOR I SEEK STRENGTH NOT TO BE GREATER THAN MY BROTHERS, BUT TO FIGHT THE GREATEST ENEMY MYSELF, WHICH WE ALL ARE OUR OWN ENEMIES.

FOR WHEN LIFE FADES AS A FADING SUN.

SAID MY EYES, MAY I COME TO YOU.

WITH STRAIGHT EYES, CLEAN HANDS AND A CLEAN SPIRIT.

WHO'S COMING TO HIS? HIS KINGDOM? WHO? ARE YOU READY TO COME TO HIS KINGDOM? HAVE YOU LIED? HELP! HAVE YOU HELPED YOUR BROTHERS? YOUR NEIGHBORS? THINK ABOUT IT.

FOR HE LEFT JUST ONE.

ONE COMMANDMENT AT THE END.

LOVE ONE ANOTHER.

SO I HAD LOVED YOU.

REMEMBER? AND DON'T FORGET.

BECAUSE WE ARE GOING TO STAND BEFORE HIM.

A GREAT, POWERFUL ONE.

GOD FOR EVERYBODY.

IT DOESN'T MATTER WHAT RELIGION YOU ARE.

AND IF YOU'RE GOOD OR BAD.

BUT AS LONG AS YOU DON'T LIE, DON'T STEAL.

AND IT'S ALL INCLUDED IN ONE LOVE.

JUDGE, THE SPEAKER'S TIME HAS EXPIRED.

GOD BLESS YOU. THANK YOU.

ALL RIGHT. THAT CONCLUDES THE CITIZENS TO BE MISS BEVERLY DAVIS.

[02:10:06]

I STILL HAVE YOU, BUT SHE WAS SIGNED UP FOR AGENDA ITEM 66, AND WE'LL GET TO THAT SHORTLY.

POINT OF PERSONAL PRIVILEGE. I'D LIKE TO MOVE UP.

WITHOUT OBJECTION.

AGENDA ITEM 73.

[73. Discussion and appropriate action to direct staff to identify funding and negotiate an agreement for funding in the amount of $1,700,000 for the construction of a 336-unit multi-family project known as The Oso Apartments to be developed by NRP Lone Star Development LLC.]

DISCUSSION. APPROPRIATE ACTION.

DIRECT STAFF TO IDENTIFY FUNDING.

NEGOTIATED AGREEMENT FOR FUNDING.

AMOUNT OF 1,700,000.

FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF A 336 UNIT MULTIFAMILY PROJECT KNOWN AS THE OSO APARTMENTS, TO BE DEVELOPED BY NRP LONE STAR DEVELOPMENT, LLC.

MR. REYNA. GOOD MORNING, JUDGE AND COMMISSIONERS.

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

AND THIS MORNING I PLAN TO PROVIDE A BRIEF OVERVIEW OF A PLANNED NRP DEVELOPMENT IN PRECINCT FOUR CALLED THE OSO APARTMENTS.

WITH RAPIDLY INCREASING HOUSING COSTS AND STAGNANT WAGES ACROSS THE COUNTY, MANY RESIDENTS STRUGGLE TO FIND HOUSING THAT IS BOTH AFFORDABLE AND MEETS THEIR NEEDS.

THIS CHALLENGE IS EXACERBATED BY FACTORS SUCH AS POPULATION GROWTH, LIMITED HOUSING SUPPLY, AND GENTRIFICATION PRESSURES IN CERTAIN NEIGHBORHOODS.

DEVELOPERS ALSO STRUGGLE TO BUILD AFFORDABLE HOUSING DUE TO INFLATION AND HIGH INTEREST RATES, LEADING TO SIGNIFICANT FINANCIAL SHORTFALLS THAT REQUIRE CREATIVE FINANCING SOLUTIONS AND ADDITIONAL SUPPORT FROM GOVERNMENT PROGRAMS TO FUND TO CLOSE FUNDING GAPS AND ENSURE PROJECT VIABILITY.

SO WITH THAT IN MIND, I'D LIKE TO DISCUSS THE OZO APARTMENTS, A MULTIFAMILY HOUSING PROJECT TO BE DEVELOPED BY NRP GROUP IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE BEXAR MANAGEMENT AND DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION, A SUBSIDIARY OF THE HOUSING AUTHORITY OF BEXAR COUNTY.

THIS PARTICULAR PROJECT WILL BRING 336 NEW UNITS TO CONVERT TO UNINCORPORATED BEXAR COUNTY.

THE UNIT DISTRIBUTION INCLUDES 12 ONE BEDROOM UNITS, 144 TWO BEDROOM UNITS, 132 THREE BEDROOM UNITS, AND 48 FOUR BEDROOM UNITS. THE COMMUNITY WILL PROVIDE HIGH QUALITY RENTAL UNITS FOR INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES, EARNING BETWEEN 30 AND 70% OF THE AREA MEDIAN INCOME.

THE RENTAL PRICES AT THE OSO WILL RANGE FROM $414 TO $1676.

AMENITIES WILL INCLUDE A SWIMMING POOL, COMMUNITY CENTER, BUSINESS CENTER, FITNESS ROOM, AND PLAYGROUND.

CONSTRUCTION IS SCHEDULED TO BEGIN IN OCTOBER OF 2024, WITH A CONSTRUCTION COMPLETION DATE SCHEDULED FOR AUGUST OF 2026.

A PROJECT OF THIS MAGNITUDE IS EXPECTED TO SUPPORT MORE THAN 600 CONSTRUCTION JOBS, AND THE TOTAL DEVELOPMENT COST IS ALMOST $87 MILLION.

SO EARLIER I REFERENCED THE FUNDING GAP TO PROVIDE SOME ADDITIONAL CONTEXT IN APRIL OF 2023, THIS PROJECT FACED A $4.3 MILLION SHORTFALL DUE TO INFLATION AND INCREASED INTEREST RATES.

SINCE THEN, NRP HAS ADDRESSED THIS GAP THROUGH A PERMANENT LOAN, ADDITIONAL TAX, CREDIT EQUITY AND A HOME INVESTMENT PARTNERSHIP PROGRAM ALLOCATION FROM THE COUNTY.

THE PROJECT HAS ALSO BENEFITED FROM 34 PROJECT BASED VOUCHERS, WHICH WERE ASSIGNED TO THE PROJECT BY THE HOUSING AUTHORITY OF BEXAR COUNTY.

SO THAT SAID, AN ADDITIONAL $1.7 MILLION WILL CLOSE THE FUNDING GAP COMPLETELY AND ENSURE THE FINANCIAL VIABILITY OF THE PROJECT.

SO THIS MORNING, ECONOMIC AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT REQUESTS APPROVAL OF A MOTION DIRECTING STAFF TO IDENTIFY, FUNDING AND NEGOTIATE AN AGREEMENT IN THE AMOUNT OF $1.7 MILLION FOR THE OSO APARTMENTS, TO BE DEVELOPED BY NRP LONE STAR DEVELOPMENT IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE BEXAR MANAGEMENT AND DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION.

TODAY WE'RE JOINED BY DEBORAH GUERRERO, VICE PRESIDENT OF STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIPS AND GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS AT NRP, JASON ORTEGA, SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT OF DEVELOPMENT AT NRP, WALTER SERNA, NRHPS OUTSIDE LEGAL COUNSEL, AND NELDA ORTIZ, THE HOUSING EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE HOUSING AUTHORITY OF BEXAR COUNTY.

AND WE'RE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU GUYS MAY HAVE.

MOVE. APPROVAL. MOTION BY COMMISSIONER CALVERT.

SECOND BY COMMISSIONER CLAY-FLORES.

ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION OR QUESTIONS? COMMISSIONER MOODY. ROBERT, CAN YOU HELP US WITH.

I'M JUST LOOKING AT SOME OF THE BACKGROUND DOCUMENTS.

SO IS THIS A LOAN OR A GRANT, OR CAN YOU SPEAK TO THE FUNDING THAT THE FORMAT FOR IT? YEAH.

SO COMMISSIONER, MY NAME IS DEBORAH GUERRERO.

I'M WITH THE NRP GROUP.

IT WOULD ACTUALLY BE A GRANT TO THE BEXAR COUNTY HOUSING AUTHORITY THAT THEN IN TURN, WOULD LOAN IT BACK TO THE DEVELOPMENT ITSELF.

OKAY. SO IT IS A LOAN TO THE DEVELOPMENT SPECIFICALLY, BUT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT AN ARPA GRANT

[02:15:02]

TO THE HOUSING AUTHORITY.

IS THAT CORRECT? WELL, WHATEVER FUNDS IT WOULD COME FROM.

SO WE HAVEN'T IDENTIFIED A FUNDING SOURCE.

SO WHAT WE'RE ASKING FOR IS AUTHORIZATION TO IDENTIFY A FUNDING SOURCE IN THE AMOUNT OF $1.7 MILLION THAT WOULD BE GRANTED TO THE HOUSING AUTHORITY OF BEXAR COUNTY AND THEN LOAN TO THE DEVELOPMENT.

OKAY. AND I KNOW, OBVIOUSLY SPEAKING HERE TO THE INCREASED, INCREASED COSTS BOTH FROM INTEREST RATES AND OTHER FACTORS.

CAN YOU SPEAK TO YOU? SO OVER THE COMING YEAR, DURING CONSTRUCTION, INTEREST RATES GO DOWN.

HOW WOULD THAT IT WOULD OBVIOUSLY OPEN UP THE OPPORTUNITY TO REFINANCE AND REDUCE THE OVERALL COST.

WOULD THERE BE ANY KIND OF CLAWBACK FOR THE COUNTY OR THE HOUSING AUTHORITY IF THOSE COSTS WERE WERE REDUCED WITH LOWER INTEREST RATES IN THE FUTURE? SURE. HELLO.

MY NAME IS JASON NORIEGA WITH THE NRP GROUP.

THAT WOULD THE MONEY WOULD ACTUALLY GO BACK INTO THE DEVELOPMENT IF THOSE IF THE INTEREST RATES WERE TO GO DOWN, WHEN WE HAVE TO LOCK THE THE WHEN WE HAVE TO CLOSE THE PROJECT, IT HAS TO BE LOCKED IN AT A CERTAIN RATE.

AND AND SO THAT'S WHAT THE LIKE I SAID, THAT'S WHAT THE INVESTORS ARE GOING TO BE COUNTING ON.

AND WHEN WE CLOSE THE PROJECT, WE'RE ACTUALLY DEFERRING A CONSIDERABLE AMOUNT OF THE ACTUAL FEE.

SO TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND COMMUNITY AFFAIRS ALLOWS A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF DEVELOPER FEE PER PROJECT.

AND MOST OF THAT IN THIS CASE IS DEFERRED.

THAT COULD GO TO DEFER PART OF THAT FEE, WHICH WOULD IN TURN GO TO ALSO THE HOUSING AUTHORITY AS WELL, WHO SHARES IN THAT FEE AND CASH FLOW.

OKAY. THANK YOU FOR THE CLARIFICATION ON THAT.

THE MIX.

SO I KNOW YOU ALSO MENTIONED IN THE PRESENTATION THAT THERE WERE STEPS THAT WERE TAKEN TO SCALE BACK COSTS, GIVEN THE ENVIRONMENT.

MAYBE YOU COULD SPEAK TO THOSE.

THE OTHER THING THAT CAME TO MIND SPECIFICALLY IS THE MIX BETWEEN THE THE DIFFERENT AMIS.

OBVIOUSLY, AN ADJUSTMENT ON THOSE MIXES WOULD REDUCE THE OVERALL COST OR REDUCE THE GAP IN A FUNDING SITUATION.

CAN YOU SPEAK TO THAT? WAS THAT LOOKED AT WAS WAS THAT ADJUSTED IN ANY WAY? YEAH. I MEAN, SO WHAT WE ENDED UP DOING IS WE ACTUALLY HAD LIKE A $4.4 MILLION GAP ORIGINALLY.

AND SO WE LOOKED AT ALL DIFFERENT WAYS TO REDUCE THAT GAP, INCLUDING SORT OF MIX OF LOOKING AT THE UNIT MIX.

RIGHT. LOOKING AT ACTUALLY, THE HOUSING AUTHORITY HELPED BRING PUBLIC PROJECT BASED VOUCHERS INTO THE DEVELOPMENT.

SO THAT HELPED WITH THE FINANCING, WHICH MEANT MORE REVENUE WENT INTO BEING ABLE TO GET A BIGGER PERMANENT LOAN.

SO YES, WE LOOKED AT ALL OF THAT, INCLUDING THE DEVELOPMENT ITSELF AND DOING ANY MAKING ANY AMENDMENTS TO OR DESIGN RECONFIGURATIONS THAT STILL KEPT THE QUALITY, BUT AT THE SAME TIME HELPED US REDUCE COSTS.

SO WE LOOKED AT ALL OF THAT, COMMISSIONER.

AND AND SO THAT'S WHY WE COME TO YOU NOW WITH A GAP THAT'S MUCH SMALLER THAN WHAT WE ORIGINALLY ANTICIPATED.

BUT STILL IT IS A GAP.

AND NOT ONLY INTEREST RATES, BUT INSURANCE HAS GONE UP AND AS YOU KNOW, INFLATION IN GENERAL.

SO YES, WE DID LOOK AT THE UNIT MIX.

NO, I APPRECIATE THOSE EFFORTS.

AND THAT BACKGROUND CAN ROBERT, CAN YOU SPEAK TO THE OCCUPANCY RATES THAT EXIST OUT THERE IN OUR CURRENT SUITE OF PORTFOLIO OF, OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING PROJECTS AND IN THE BROADER MARKET.

SO I'VE, I'VE ACTUALLY SEEN SOME DIFFERING OPINIONS ON, YOU KNOW, CITIES GROWING.

THE CITY'S NOT GROWING.

WE'RE WE ALWAYS HEAR ABOUT THE NEED FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING.

BUT THEN AT THE SAME TIME, I HEAR OTHER STORIES ABOUT VACANCIES AND PROPERTIES GOING UNUTILIZED.

SO I DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU CAN SPEAK TO TODAY.

I ALSO THINK, THOUGH, THAT THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE AS A COURT SHOULD REALLY BETTER UNDERSTAND.

BECAUSE WE DON'T WANT TO EXACERBATE AN EXISTING OR A COMING PROBLEM IN TERMS OF BEING OVERBUILT IN ANY ONE OF THESE CATEGORIES.

RIGHT. AND IT MAY NOT BE AT THE 30% OR IT MAY NOT BE AT THE 50%.

MAYBE IT'S IN THE 70 TO 80%.

I DON'T KNOW, OR IT COULD BE ACROSS THE BOARD.

BUT I THINK WE AS A COURT NEED TO BETTER UNDERSTAND EXACTLY WHERE THE NEEDS ARE.

WHEN IT COMES TO AFFORDABLE HOUSING OR WHEN IT COMES TO JUST HOUSING IN GENERAL.

AND I DON'T KNOW IF YOU CAN ADDRESS ANY OF THAT TODAY.

I'D APPRECIATE IT.

[02:20:01]

SO THE MAJORITY OF THE HOUSING THAT'S BEEN SUBSIDIZED BY BEXAR COUNTY IS CURRENTLY UNDER CONSTRUCTION.

BUT WE DO HAVE NAILED SORTIES WITH THE HOUSING AUTHORITY OF BEXAR COUNTY HERE, AND SHE CAN SPEAK TO THE OVERALL OCCUPANCY RATES AT THE DEVELOPMENTS THAT THEY CURRENTLY OVERSEE.

GOOD MORNING, COMMISSIONERS. ON REGARD TO THE PARTNERSHIPS THAT WE HAVE, SIMILAR TO THE APARTMENT, THE AVERAGE IS A 92% OF OCCUPANCY ON THOSE PROPERTIES, ON THE PROPERTIES THAT WE 100% OWN.

RIGHT NOW, THE AVERAGE IS 96%.

REGARDING TO THE NEED, WE CONTINUE NEEDING AFFORDABLE HOUSING FOR TO BE JUST AN EXAMPLE, THE WAITING LIST FROM THE HOUSING AUTHORITY OF BEXAR COUNTY FOR THE SECTION EIGHT DEPARTMENT IS IN 200.

SORRY, 2770 FAMILIES WAITING FOR ANOTHER VOUCHER.

RIGHT? ALL THOSE FAMILIES CAN ACTUALLY BE BENEFICIAL FOR THOSE KIND OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING PROPERTIES.

ACTUALLY, IN BETWEEN, THEY'RE ABLE TO GET THEIR PERMANENT HOME OR ACTUALLY A VOUCHER WITH US.

SO THOSE PEOPLE HOW MANY DID YOU MENTION ON THE WAITING LIST OR WAITING LIST IS 2770 FAMILIES WAITING? OKAY. AND SO HAVE ALL THOSE FAMILIES BEEN STRUCTURED INTO WHERE THEY FIT ON THE ARMY SCALE, ALTHOUGH FAMILIES CAN QUALIFY ON THOSE ARMY.

OKAY. WHAT DOES THAT LOOK LIKE? I MEAN, IN TERMS OF WHAT CATEGORIES DO THEY FIT INTO VERSUS WHAT'S BEING BUILT TODAY? THE DIFFERENCE IS FOR EXAMPLE, FOR THE SECTION EIGHT PROJECT, THEY NEED TO BE IN THE 30% OF THE MI.

HOWEVER, IN THOSE PROPERTIES, WE ACTUALLY CAN ASSIST AND HELP FAMILIES THAT, AS THEY EXPLAIN TO YOU, CAN BE ADDITIONAL MI LIKE 5060 OR SOME OF THEM 80 ALSO. OKAY.

AND THIS ISN'T SOMETHING WE CAN SOLVE IN COURT, BUT I'M JUST ASKING SOME LEADING QUESTIONS THAT I THINK, YOU KNOW, IF IT'S NOT THE DATA AND ANALYSIS THAT WE'RE DIGGING INTO TODAY, I HOPE IT IS IN THE FUTURE.

YOU KNOW, THE OTHER THING TO BE MINDFUL OF IS I'M SURE THERE'S THERE'S FOLKS OUT THERE IN MARKET RATE HOUSING TODAY WHO WOULD LOVE TO BE AN IN AFFORDABLE HOUSING, BUT WE ALSO HAVE TO THINK ABOUT THE IMPACTS ON THE MARKET RATE HOUSING AS WELL.

RIGHT. BECAUSE IF WE CONTINUE TO BUILD THAT AFFORDABLE HOUSING, WHAT'S THE VACANCY RATE NOW LOOK LIKE IN THE THE MORE BROAD MARKET? AND I'M NOT SURE IF YOU'VE SEEN ANY IMPACTS ON THAT FRONT AS WELL.

BUT BUT I'VE JUST HEARD BITS AND PIECES.

CAN YOU SPEAK TO THAT ROBERT AT ALL? WELL, THAT IS CERTAINLY SOMETHING THAT WE CAN LOOK INTO.

WE CAN TAKE A LOOK AT SOME OF THE THE APPLICATIONS THAT ARE COMING IN THROUGH THE HOUSING AUTHORITY OF BEXAR COUNTY.

LOOK AT THEIR FAMILY SIZE AND INCOME LEVELS, KIND OF EXTRAPOLATE SOME DATA AND DEVELOP A STRATEGY AROUND WHICH ARMY LEVELS WE CAN TARGET GOING FORWARD.

YEAH. AND JUST FOR EXAMPLE, I'M FAMILIAR WITH A MARKET RATE EXISTING DEVELOPMENT TODAY THAT IS NOW COMING BACK AND, YOU KNOW, WANTS TO BE AN AFFORDABLE HOUSING PROJECT.

LIKELY BECAUSE THEY'RE STRUGGLING TO MAKE IT ON THE MARKET SIDE.

BUT, YOU KNOW, HOW MUCH DID THAT THEIR THEIR CLIENTS BEING CANNIBALIZED INTO OTHER AFFORDABLE HOUSING.

RIGHT. SO ULTIMATELY MORE AND MORE OF THESE ENTITIES COULD TRY TO GET, YOU KNOW TAX INCENTIVES AND GET INTO THE AFFORDABLE SPACE BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, THEIR, THEIR THEIR, THEIR CLIENTS, THEIR TENANTS ARE RUNNING INTO THE AFFORDABLE SPACE AWAY FROM EXISTING HOUSING THAT THEY HAVE TODAY, BUT THEY'RE PAYING MARKET RATE, RIGHT? SO I JUST WANT TO BE MINDFUL OF THAT AND THINK ABOUT THAT GOING FORWARD AND MAKE SURE WE UNDERSTAND THE OCCUPANCY RATES, VACANCY RATES AND SOME OF THE IMPACTS BETWEEN MARKET RATE VERSUS AFFORDABLE AND SECTION EIGHT.

YES, SIR. WE'LL TAKE A LOOK AT THAT.

THANK YOU. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS.

ALL RIGHT. THERE'S A MOTION BY COMMISSIONER CALVERT.

SECOND BY MR.. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER CLAY-FLORES HEARING.

NO FURTHER DISCUSSION. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE.

AYE. ANY OPPOSED? ANY ABSTENTIONS? ONE ABSTENTION.

ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH.

I'M GOING TO APOLOGIZE FOR ANY INCONVENIENCE THAT THIS MAY MAKE.

I'M GOING TO ALERT THE COURT AND ALERT THE PUBLIC AND STAFF THAT WE'RE GOING TO TAKE UP NEXT, ITEM

[66. Discussion and appropriate action to announce Bexar County's release a Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA) related to the distribution of the Resiliency in the Communities After Stress and Trauma (ReCAST) Grant funds]

66, WHICH IS DISCUSSION APPROPRIATE ACTION TO ANNOUNCE THE BEXAR COUNTY RELEASE OF NOTICE OF FUNDING AVAILABILITY NOFA RELATED TO THE DISTRIBUTION OF THE RESILIENCY IN THE COMMUNITIES AFTER STRESS AND TRAUMA RECAST GRANT FUNDS.

AFTER THAT, I'M GOING TO THEN CALL FOR THE EXECUTIVE SESSION, AND THEN AFTER THAT, WE'LL TAKE A SHORT BREAK FOR LUNCH TODAY.

ALL RIGHT. I'M TRYING TO DO THAT IN ORDER TO ACCOMMODATE EVERYBODY'S REQUEST.

SO AT THIS TIME, LET US TAKE UP ITEM NUMBER 66.

[02:25:01]

WE DO HAVE A CITIZEN TO BE HEARD.

BEVERLY WATTS DAVIS, YOU HAVE ASKED SIGNED UP AND YOU HAVE THREE MINUTES.

GOOD MORNING. GOOD MORNING.

YOU ALL. SO GOOD MORNING TO YOU ALL.

I WANTED TO THANK YOU FOR GIVING ME THIS OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK.

I AM SPEAKING ACTUALLY ON BOTH 66 AND 67.

SO LET ME JUST ROLL THOSE INTO FOR FOR EXPEDIENCY AND EFFICIENCY.

BOTH WAS CARE HAS HAD THE HONOR AND PRIVILEGE OF PARTNERING WITH YOU ALL ON THE RECAST GRANT.

THIS WAS A GRANT THAT WAS WRITTEN BY WAS IMPORTANT BY YOU ALL? BOTH BOTH TIMES.

AND IT HAS BEEN AN ABSOLUTE HONOR WORKING WITH YOU ALL.

THIS MAY BE OUR LAST TIME.

SO I WANT TO THANK THE ACTUAL CANDIDATE COUNTY STAFF FOR BEING.

IT'S BEEN A GREAT RIDE.

MR. SMITH, YOU WERE.

IT WAS. IT WAS WONDERFUL WORKING WITH YOU.

I WANT TO CALL OUT B MARROQUIN AND DOCTOR ALAN CASTRO, WHO HAVE BEEN JUST GREAT PARTNERS IN THIS, BUT WHAT I BUT THE REASON WHY I'M SPEAKING TO YOU ALL IS I RECOGNIZE THAT THIS IS THIS CONTRACT IS GOING TO BE PLACED OUT FOR BID, AND I WOULD HOPE AT LEAST BEFORE THAT, THAT THERE WOULD BE WE'D BE ABLE TO HAVE A MEETING.

WE'VE BEEN TRYING TO HAVE ONE SINCE DECEMBER WITH THE COUNTY, WITH OUR COUNTY MANAGER, ONLY TO TALK ABOUT AS THIS GOING FORWARD.

THE RECAST GRANT REALLY STARTED AS A PROGRAM THAT WAS REALLY FOCUSED IN ON AREAS THAT HAD WERE EXPERIENCING TRAUMA, GREAT PROTEST, ETC.

SO WE ONLY HAD TWO AREAS THAT WERE ACTUALLY THAT WERE ACTUALLY ELIGIBLE.

IT WAS PRECINCT FOUR AND PRECINCT TWO.

SO IN THE VERY FIRST, IN THE VERY FIRST ROUND, WE WERE WE DID GREAT WORK.

THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT RECOGNIZED IT, AND IT ACTUALLY WAS NOT EVEN ON THE FUNDING PLAN IN HHS AND WAS PUT BACK ON THE FUNDING PLAN.

SO WE WERE ACTUALLY ABLE TO GET AN ADDITIONAL FIVE YEARS, WHICH IS WHERE WE'RE IN NOW.

HAVING SAID THAT, WHAT HAS WHAT HAS TRANSPIRED IS, IS JUST A DELAY IN IN BEING ABLE TO IMPLEMENT THE CONTRACT.

AND I JUST WANT TO BE ABLE TO, YOU KNOW, NOW WE'RE LITERALLY GOING TO BE SIGNING A CONTRACT IN MONTH TEN OF A 12 MONTH CONTRACT.

AND THE YEAR BEFORE AND LAST YEAR, WE SIGNED THE CONTRACT IN MONTH 11 OF A 12 MONTH CONTRACT, CAUSING US TO ACTUALLY ALMOST LOSE $700,000 TO THIS COMMUNITY BECAUSE IT WAS SO LATE. SO I IN DOING SO, I JUST I HOPE THAT WHAT WE CAN DO IN THE FUTURE FOR WHOEVER IT IS THAT YOU'RE WORKING WITH, THAT WE'LL BE ABLE TO DO THIS BECAUSE THIS HAS HAD A BROADER LEVEL IMPACT IN TERMS OF THE NATIONAL ALLIANCE OF MENTAL ILLNESS.

JUDGE, YOU WERE OUR SPEAKER LAST YEAR.

WE APPRECIATE THAT.

JUDGE SAKAI, YOU WERE WONDERFUL THERE.

WE'VE BEEN WORKING WITH THE REENTRY CENTERS, ALL OF THESE OTHER KINDS OF THINGS, AND WESTCARE THROUGH OUR OTHER RESOURCES, WE ACTUALLY LEVERAGED PARTNERSHIPS TO ACTUALLY FUND THINGS THAT WERE NOT EVEN IN THE GRANT THAT YOU ALL HAD REQUESTED, LIKE THE DOMESTIC VIOLENCE CAMPAIGN.

WE FUNDED THE REENTRY CENTER PROJECT, BEING ABLE TO MAKE SURE WE FUNDED RECOVERY HOUSING FOR WOMEN AND BABIES WHO HAVE SUCH A HARD TIME BEING ABLE TO DO THIS.

WE WORK WITH COPS, METRO TO MAKE A SIGNIFICANT TO MAKE, TO DO SOME INCREDIBLE THINGS IN COMMISSIONER RODRIGUEZ'S PRECINCTS.

SO IN IN CLOSING, I WANTED TO BE ABLE TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU ALL WILL BE VOTING ON SIGNING THIS THIS CONTRACT AGAIN.

IT'S IN MONTH TEN OF A 12 MONTH CONTRACT.

AND ONE OF THE THINGS WE WERE GOING TO DO, WHICH WE HAD BEEN PROMISED AND AND AGAIN, JUST IT BECAUSE IT'S MONTH TEN, I GUESS THAT WE WERE GOING TO BE ABLE TO GO BACK AND GET ANOTHER $250,000 OF THE MONEY THAT HAD ROLLED OVER, OF THE $700,000 THAT HAD ROLLED OVER BECAUSE THE CONTRACT WAS IMPLEMENTED SO LATE.

BUT NOW WE'VE BEEN TOLD THAT THAT'S NOT GOING TO HAPPEN.

AND I JUST SIMPLY SAY TO YOU ALL THAT THAT'S THAT'S RESOURCES AND THINGS INSIDE OF YOUR COMMUNITY TO START THIS AGAIN, THE KIND OF DEEP DIVE COMMUNITY ASSESSMENT THAT HAS TO BE DONE.

IT'S GOING TO BE EXTENSIVE.

I'M NOT SURE HOW MUCH SERVICE YOU'RE GOING TO GET OUT OF HAVING TO DO THOSE KINDS OF THINGS AGAIN, BUT I DID.

BUT TIME HAS EXPIRED.

I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU.

THANK YOU. A PLEASURE WORKING WITH YOU.

THANK YOU, MISS BARBARA BEVERLY DAVIS.

ALL RIGHT. I BELIEVE THERE'S ANY OTHER CITIZENS TO BE HEARD.

OKAY, WHO'S GOING TO MAKE THE PRESENTATION IN REGARDS TO AGENDA ITEM 66, DOCTOR GUERRA.

GOOD MORNING. JUDGE. COMMISSIONERS.

DOCTOR ANDREA GUERRERO, DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC HEALTH.

I'M COMING TO YOU TO PRESENT THIS ITEM.

CONCERNING THE RECAST GRANT RESILIENCY AND COMMUNITIES AFTER STRESS AND TRAUMA.

WE WOULD WE WILL BE ASKING FOR THE COURT TO APPROVE THE RELEASE OF THE SOLICITATION, THE NOTICE OF FUNDING AVAILABILITY RELATED TO THIS GRANT.

THE RECAST GRANT, AS IT'S KNOWN, IS A GRANT THAT'S MADE AVAILABLE TO US FROM SAMHSA, FEDERAL FUNDING AGENCY.

AND WAS ORIGINALLY ORDERED AWARDED FOR A FIVE YEAR TERM AND THEN RE AWARDED FOR A SECOND FIVE YEAR TERM IN FY 2021.

[02:30:05]

IT HAS IT'S $1 MILLION A YEAR.

SO CURRENTLY, INCLUDING THIS YEAR THAT WE'RE CURRENTLY IN WOULD BE ABOUT AN $8 MILLION INVESTMENT THAT'S BEEN MADE AVAILABLE TO THE CITIZENS OF BEXAR COUNTY MOSTLY IN, WELL, ALMOST EXCLUSIVELY IN THE AREA OF PRECINCT FOUR.

SO THAT'S NOT ACCURATE, SIR.

THAT ISN'T ACCURATE, THAT IT'S BEEN WE JUST HAD A MEETING WITH CAPS METRO WHERE THEY WERE MENTIONING THEIR WORK IN PRECINCT TWO.

CORRECT. YES, THEY DID SAY THAT.

THAT'S WHAT I THOUGHT THE PURPOSE OF THE GRANT.

AND REALLY IT WAS CREATED POST-FERGUSON AFTER THE TRAGIC DEATH OF MICHAEL BROWN TO REALLY ASSIST COMMUNITIES IN CREATING RESILIENCE AND EQUITY THAT HAVE FACED CIVIL UNREST THROUGH THE IMPLEMENTATION OF EVIDENCE BASED VIOLENCE PREVENTION AND COMMUNITY YOUTH ENGAGEMENT PROGRAMS, AND ESPECIALLY AS THEY ARE LINKED TO TRAUMA INFORMED BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SERVICES.

SO AGAIN, THE TOTAL AWARD IS FOR FIVE YEARS.

WE ARE CURRENTLY IN YEAR THREE OF THIS FIVE YEAR TERM, AND THE REMAINING BALANCE ON THE CURRENT GRANT PERIOD FOR THE FIVE YEAR TERM IS $2 MILLION.

SO FOR THE NEXT TWO YEARS WE WOULD RECEIVE $2 MILLION.

SO IN THE PAST, AS YOU JUST HEARD FROM MISS WATTS DAVIS, THE OUR GRANTEE HAS BEEN ALL BEXAR COUNTY HAS BEEN THE GRANTEE TO SAMHSA TO OPERATE THIS GRANT, AND WESTCARE HAS BEEN THE CONTRACTOR THAT HAS IMPLEMENTED THESE SERVICES.

PREVIOUSLY THIS GRANT HAD BEEN MANAGED BY THE OFFICE OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE AND MIGRATED TO THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH.

WHEN YOU CREATED THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH.

ABOUT A YEAR AND A HALF AGO IN OVER THAT TIME PERIOD, WE'VE REALLY EMPHASIZED OUR COMMITMENT TO TRANSPARENCY, TO FAIR AND COMPETITIVE BIDDING.

AS YOU IF YOU'VE SEEN THROUGH OUR PUBLIC HEALTH RFP TO MAKE FUNDING AVAILABLE TO THE COMMUNITY THROUGH THE OPIOID SETTLEMENT DOLLARS, AND IN MEETING AND DOING A LOT OF HISTORY AND RESEARCH ON THIS, GRANT MET WITH THE ASSISTANT DISTRICT ATTORNEY LARRY ROBERSON, HAVE MET WITH THE PURCHASING AGENT, AND BASED ON THEIR GUIDANCE HAVE ELECTED OR TO TO ASK FOR APPROVAL TO RELEASE THIS NOFA SO THAT WE CAN HAVE A FAIR AND COMPETITIVE BIDDING PROCESS FOR THE REMAINDER OF THIS $2 MILLION FOR THESE, FOR THIS GRANT.

AND THE PURPOSE OF THAT WOULD BE EXPANSION TO PRECINCTS ONE AND TWO FOR THE CURRENT GRANT, OR I'M SORRY FOR THE CURRENT CONTRACT THAT WE HAVE HAD A STIPULATED SINCE YEAR ONE OF THIS FIVE YEAR TERM THAT THERE WOULD BE AN EXPANSION GEOGRAPHICALLY INTO PRECINCTS ONE AND TWO.

AND SO FAR IT HASN'T BEEN ACCOMPLISHED YET.

SO HOPEFULLY WITH THIS NOTICE OF FUNDING AVAILABILITY, WE WOULD BE ABLE TO PARTNER WITH ADDITIONAL ORGANIZATIONS DEPENDING ON WHO RESPONDS TO THE NOFA TO MAKE SURE THAT THAT EXPANSION HAPPENS.

SO THE TIMELINE FOR THIS WOULD BE TO RELEASE THE NOFA WITHIN THE WEEK.

SO AS SOON AS YOU APPROVE THIS, OR IF YOU APPROVE THIS TO BE TO RELEASE IT THROUGH THE PURCHASING AGENT THROUGH THE PORTAL WITHIN A WEEK FROM TODAY HAVE FINAL SELECTION AND BRING RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE COURT IN OCTOBER AND THEN BEGIN CONTRACT NEGOTIATIONS SOON AFTER THAT.

ANY QUESTIONS? JUDGE, I HAVE A FEW QUESTIONS.

COMMISSIONER CALVERT. DOCTOR GUERRERO, WHAT YEAR DID THIS INITIATE AT THE COUNTY? I'M. I'M BAD AT MATH.

SO EIGHT YEARS AGO WOULD HAVE BEEN 2018.

NO, IT WAS 2017.

THE THE GRANT INITIATED IN.

I ALSO HAVE BARBARA GRIEGO HERE WHO IS OUR PROGRAM MANAGER FOR THE RECAST GRANT.

SHE'S RESPONSIBLE FOR THE DAILY IMPLEMENTATION OF THIS.

AND I DON'T THINK ANYBODY WAS ON THE COURT HERE IN 2017.

AND DO YOU RECALL WHY THIS SUBSTANCE ABUSE MENTAL HEALTH ADMINISTRATION PUT THIS GRANT TOGETHER? IT WAS BASED UPON AN EVENT THAT HAPPENED IN THE UNITED STATES, THE DEATH OF MICHAEL BROWN IN FERGUSON.

FERGUSON. RIGHT.

AND DO YOU RECALL THE CRITERIA THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT PUT OUT WITH RESPECT TO INCIDENTS OF PROTESTS, POLICE MISUSE OF FORCE WHEN SHAPING THIS PARTICULAR THERAPIES AND THE RECAST GRANT? I WAS NOT HERE THEN I BUT NO OKAY.

IT WAS IT WAS BASED UPON COMMUNITIES WITH A DEMONSTRATED PROTEST OF POLICE USE OF FORCE AND THE MOST PROTEST BECAUSE PRECINCT FOUR INCORPORATES CITY HALL, IT INCORPORATES THE COUNTY COURTHOUSE.

IT WAS IN PRECINCT FOUR.

[02:35:02]

IT ALSO HAPPENS TO HAVE A HUGE DEMOGRAPHIC OF AFRICAN-AMERICANS WHO ARE OFTEN UNDER THREAT OF POLICE MISUSE OF FORCE.

SO THIS YOU KNOW, I WAS HERE FROM THE BEGINNING WHEN THIS PARTICULAR GRANT WAS AUTHORED FOR PARTNERSHIP WITH THE COUNTY.

AND I THINK IN TALKING ABOUT FAIRNESS, I CAN LAUGH A LITTLE BIT BECAUSE TYPICALLY THE COUNTY DOESN'T TAKE THE INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY OF A NONPROFIT THAT WRITES A GRANT AND THEN STEALS IT AND THEN ALLOWS OTHER NONPROFITS TO BENEFIT FROM IT.

WE WHEN WE GO THROUGH THE OFFICE OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE AND WE MAKE GRANT JOINT APPLICATIONS WITH NONPROFITS, WE WE WE DO IT JOINTLY WITH THEM.

BUT I FEEL AS IF THIS IS A PARTICULARLY HORRIBLE STEALING OF AN IDEA.

DID WE DO ANYTHING AT BEXAR COUNTY TO GET IT REAUTHORIZED INTO THE HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES BUDGET? I DON'T THINK I UNDERSTAND YOUR QUESTION.

WELL, GRANT IS MADE POSSIBLE THROUGH THE FEDERAL FUNDING AGENCY, SAMHSA.

THAT'S RIGHT. OFFERED TO COUNTY ENTITIES, WHICH IS WHY WE ARE THE GRANTEE.

AND WE HAVE PARTNERED WITH A NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION TO IMPLEMENT.

SO THE THIS 2021 AGREEMENT WAS NOT GOING TO BE REAUTHORIZED, AS BEVERLY WATTS DAVIS JUST SAID, THEY WENT TO THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AND GOT IT REAUTHORIZED INTO THE SAMHSA BUDGET.

DID YOU KNOW THAT FOR THE SECOND FIVE YEAR? YES. I BELIEVE THERE WAS SOME LEVEL OF ADVOCACY THAT HAPPENED THERE.

BUT I MEAN, IT'S BEEN IT'S IT'S ALSO BEING IMPLEMENTED IN MANY JURISDICTIONS ACROSS THE UNITED STATES, I UNDERSTAND THAT.

RIGHT. BUT IT DOESN'T NECESSARILY MEAN THAT ALL OF THE MONEY COMES TO THIS JURISDICTION.

THEY HAD A CHOICE OF WHICH JURISDICTIONS TO SELECT.

AND SO IN ANY EVENT, THAT'S THE HISTORY.

LOOK, I HAVE NEVER HAD AN ISSUE WITH SHARING RESOURCES OVER PROGRAMS, BUT I DO HAVE AN ISSUE WHEN IT IS A BLACK HOLE WITH RESPECT TO AN ORGANIZATION WHO HAS GIVEN US THEIR INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY AND INFRASTRUCTURE, AND THEN IT GOES AND GETS DASHED AROUND TO THOSE WHO DIDN'T PARTICIPATE IN THAT.

SO I'LL JUST MAKE THAT A NOTE OF RECORD OF THE DIFFERENCE IN TREATMENT FROM SOME ORGANIZATIONS AND OTHERS THAT THE COUNTY DOES BUSINESS WITH. SO I'LL LEAVE IT AT THAT JUDGE AND WAIT FOR OTHER COMMENTS.

ANY OTHER COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS? YEAH, I HAVE A QUESTION.

SO IF IF THIS NOFA IS PASSED TODAY.

I SEE THE TIMELINE WOULD BE NEXT WEEK AND THEN.

SORRY, LET ME GO TO THAT PAGE.

SO THE ANNOUNCEMENT WOULD BE IN JULY, SELECTION IN OCTOBER CONTRACT NEGOTIATIONS BEING BEGIN IN NOVEMBER.

SO WHEN MISS BEVERLY SPOKE, SHE WAS TALKING ABOUT HOW IT IS THAT TIMELINE GOING TO STOP ANY WORK IS.

MY GUESS IS MY QUESTION, IS THAT GOING TO DELAY US IN ANY NEEDS OF THE COMMUNITY? IT NOT NECESSARILY BECAUSE JUST LIKE FOR EXAMPLE, THE NEXT ITEM IS GOING TO BE CONTRACT OR CONTRACT APPROVAL FOR THE CURRENT YEAR THAT WE'RE IN.

SO WEST CARE HAS BEEN OPERATING THIS GRANT FOR THIS CURRENT FISCAL YEAR THAT WE'VE BEEN IN SINCE OCTOBER.

THEY'VE BEEN DOING ACTIVITIES.

IT'S A REIMBURSEMENT GRANT SO THEY CAN CONTINUE TO DO ACTIVITIES.

AND THEN ONCE THEY INVOICE US AND THE CONTRACT IS APPROVED, ONCE THE CONTRACT IS APPROVED AND THEY INVOICES FOR THE ACTIVITIES THAT HAVE BEEN CURRENTLY GOING ON, THEN YES.

SO THE WORK SHOULD CONTINUE BECAUSE THEY'RE GOING TO FINISH OUT, THEY'RE GOING TO FINISH OUT THEIR THEIR GRANT YEAR THIS YEAR AS WELL.

OKAY. THANK YOU. NO FURTHER QUESTIONS.

ANY OTHER QUESTIONS COMMISSIONER MOODE? NOT A QUESTION BUT JUST A COMMENT.

WE DISCUSSED THIS EARLIER BUT BUT FOR THE RECORD AS WE GO FORWARD WITH NONPROFITS CONTRACTS, I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE INCLUDE, IF WE'RE NOT ALREADY, AN EVALUATION, KIND OF LIKE CHARITY NAVIGATOR.

GUIDESTAR DOES A SCORING SYSTEM, A STAR SYSTEM BASED ON THE THE THE GOVERNANCE, THE FINANCIALS, THE PERFORMANCE OF NONPROFITS IN THE PAST.

I THINK THAT WOULD BE A VALUABLE TOOL WHENEVER WE'RE LOOKING FOR, FOR SOLICITATIONS OR WHEN WE'RE PRESENTING TO THIS COURT THAT WE COULD IDENTIFY THIS AS, YOU KNOW, A THREE STAR, THIS IS A FOUR STAR NONPROFIT THAT THAT HAS A TRACK RECORD.

I THINK THAT WOULD BE HELPFUL AT LEAST FOR ME.

AND I THINK FOR THIS COURT THAT THAT WE THINK ABOUT THAT GOING FORWARD AND NOT JUST, YOU KNOW, FOR THIS NOFA OR ANYONE IN PARTICULAR, BUT JUST IN GENERAL, I THINK THAT WOULD BE A

[02:40:02]

GOOD GOVERNANCE THING.

THANK YOU. ANY TIME WE'VE RELEASED A SOLICITATION, WHETHER IT WAS FOR ARPA OR FOR OPIOID, WE'VE WORKED COLLABORATIVELY WITH THE PURCHASING AGENT AND PROCUREMENT TO CREATE THOSE EVALUATIVE CRITERIA.

SO WE CAN DEFINITELY WORK WITH THEM TO SEE HOW WE CAN INCORPORATE THAT IN THE FUTURE.

ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? COMMISSIONER CLAY-FLORES, I'M SORRY.

ONE MORE QUESTION. SO JUST TO BE CLEAR, SO THE THE CURRENT HOLDER OF THE GRANT IS WESTCARE.

YES. SO THEY CAN APPLY FOR THE NOFA AS WELL, RIGHT? YES. OKAY. ALL RIGHT.

IS THERE A MOTION? IS THERE A MOTION? JUDGE CAN I. COMMISSIONER.

THANK YOU. JUDGE I DON'T HAVE ANY QUESTIONS.

I JUST WANT TO REITERATE.

I MEAN, I KNOW THESE THINGS ARE ARE ALWAYS DIFFICULT WHEN YOU GO THROUGH THESE PROCESSES, BUT IT'S A HEALTHY PART OF, I THINK, ANY ORGANIZATION.

AND I THINK IF THERE ARE ORGANIZATIONS OR COMMUNITY GROUPS THAT ARE DELIVERING VALUE TO OUR COMMUNITY, THEN THEY'RE GOING TO RISE TO THE TOP.

AND I THINK ANYBODY CAN RESPOND AND HOPEFULLY THAT INCLUDES THE INCUMBENT OR ANYBODY ELSE THAT'S DOING WORK IN, IN OUR COMMUNITY THAT'S IMPACTING LIVES.

SO I'M SUPPORTIVE OF DOING THIS.

I THINK THAT WILL BECOME EVIDENT IN, I THINK, THE PROCESS.

AND SO I'LL GO AHEAD AND MAKE THE MOTION TO RELEASE THE NOTICE OF FUNDING AVAILABILITY.

MOTION BY COMMISSIONER RODRIGUEZ.

IS THERE A SECOND? IS THERE A SECOND? I'LL GO AHEAD AND SECOND.

AND I JUST WANT TO BE CLEAR ABOUT SOMETHING.

SO WILL THE NOFA ONLY BE GIVEN BE GIVEN TO ONE ORGANIZATION OR CAN CAN SOMEONE UP? SO I'M GOING TO SAY THE PEOPLE THAT I KNOW WHO ARE SITTING HERE.

SO CICADA SITTING HERE THAT I RECOGNIZE AND WESTCARE SITTING HERE THAT I RECOGNIZE, CAN THEY COME TOGETHER TO SUBMIT THE NOFA TOGETHER AND SUBCONTRACT, SUBCONTRACT OR PARTNER WITH EACH OTHER, OR IS IT ONLY ONE ORGANIZATION? AND THEN THEY CAN PARTNER BECAUSE IT'S A NOTICE OF FUNDING AVAILABILITY.

THERE'S A LOT OF VARIABILITY IN THE KINDS OF PROPOSALS WE CAN RECEIVE.

SO WE'RE NOT BEING PRESCRIPTIVE TO SAY YOU MUST DO THESE TYPES OF ACTIVITIES.

AND WE'RE ONLY GOING TO PICK THE LOWEST BIDDER, FOR EXAMPLE, LIKE LIKE FOR A FACILITIES CONTRACT, OKAY.

BECAUSE IT'S A NOTICE OF FUNDING AVAILABILITY, VERY SIMILAR TO THE PUBLIC HEALTH RFP.

WE'RE GOING TO WE'RE SAYING HERE ARE THE PARAMETERS OF THE GRANT.

HOW WOULD YOUR ORGANIZATION RESPOND AND WHAT ACTIVITIES WOULD YOU PERFORM TO SATISFY THE TERMS OF THIS GRANT AND MEET THE GOALS AND OBJECTIVES? AND SO WE COULD RECEIVE 3 OR 4 REALLY, THE ONLY THING THE REQUIREMENTS THAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR IN TERMS OF EVALUATIVE CRITERIA IS MAKING SURE THAT IT ADDRESSES THE NEEDS OF PRECINCTS ONE, TWO AND FOUR.

ZIP CODES AND RELATED GEOGRAPHIC DATA, AND THAT IT HAS ACTIVITIES THAT MEET THE TERMS OF THE GRANT.

AND THE GRANT IS PRETTY VAGUE.

IT'S REALLY MEANT TO BE VAGUE, BUT WE COULD HAVE ORGANIZATIONS THAT APPLY AS PARTNERS.

THERE ARE SOME LIMITATIONS ON THE PERCENTAGE OF THE AMOUNT THAT CAN BE AWARDED TO SUBCONTRACTORS UNDER LIKE WHOEVER THE THE GRANT OR THE AWARDEE IS, THERE'S A LIMITATION ON THE AMOUNT THAT CAN BE SUBCONTRACTED OUT.

BUT IT IS IT IS POSSIBLE THAT YOU COULD HAVE MULTIPLE ORGANIZATIONS WORKING TOGETHER.

IT COULD BE THAT WE ONLY RECEIVE ONE RESPONSE, AND THAT'S THE ONE RESPONSE THAT COVERS ALL THREE PRECINCTS.

WE COULD HAVE MORE THAN ONE.

WE'RE NOT. I MEAN, BASED ON THE RECOMMENDATION, I MEAN, WE'RE OBVIOUSLY WE WOULD EVALUATE AND MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS TO THIS COURT FOR YOU TO APPROVE, BUT IT COULD BE MULTIPLE ORGANIZATIONS. IT COULD BE ONE.

IT DOESN'T NECESSARILY HAVE TO BE SPLIT THREE WAYS AMONGST THE PRECINCTS.

IT COULD BE BASED ON THE ACTIVITIES AND YOU KNOW, WHETHER OR NOT THE BUDGETS ARE APPROPRIATE.

LOTS. OKAY. SO THEN NONPROFITS CAN WORK TOGETHER.

YES. TO SUBMIT THE NOFA TOGETHER OR THE, THE TO SUBMIT IT TOGETHER.

YEAH. AND IT IS EXTENDING INTO PRECINCT ONE AS WELL.

YEAH. WE WOULD JUST WORK WITH LEGAL TO MAKE SURE THAT ALL THE PARTIES ARE, YOU KNOW, PARTY TO A CONTRACT.

SURE. THANK YOU SO MUCH.

ALL RIGHT. THERE'S A MOTION AND A SECOND.

ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? I'LL CALL FOR THE VOTE.

ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE.

I ALL OPPOSED ANY ABSTENTIONS? MOTION CARRIES.

THANK YOU. DOCTOR.

DOES ITEM 67 FLOW FROM 66?

[67. Approval and execution of Year 3 Partnership Program Agreement between Bexar County and WestCare Texas Inc., for services to two nationally designated priority areas, the Eastside Promise Zone (EPZ) and Opportunity Zones (OZ) in the dollar amount of $884,423. Utilizing grant funding from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) for the "FY 2021 Resiliency in Communities After Stress and Trauma" for the Bexar County ReCAST Program Grant#lH79SM085119-03. The term of this agreement is September 30, 2023 to September 29, 2024.]

IS THERE A OVERLAP THERE? IT IS THE APPROVAL OF THE CONTRACT FOR WEST CARE FOR RELATED TO THE RECAST GRANT.

YES. SO WE SHOULD BE ABLE TO GET THROUGH THIS ONE BIT QUICKER.

YES, ABSOLUTELY.

AND I'M GOING TO LET I'LL, I WILL CALL IT APPROVAL EXECUTION OF YEAR THREE PARTNERSHIP PROGRAM AGREEMENT BETWEEN BEXAR COUNTY WEST TEXAS INC..

FOR FOR SERVICES TWO NATIONALLY DESIGNED DESIGNATED PRIORITY AREAS THE EAST SIDE PROMISE ZONE, THE OPPORTUNITY ZONES IN THE DOLLAR AMOUNT OF

[02:45:03]

$884,423, UTILIZING GRANT FUNDING FROM THE SUBSTANCE ABUSE AND MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES ADMINISTRATION.

SAMHSA FOR THE FY 2021 RESILIENCY AND COMMUNITIES AFTER STRESS AND TRAUMA FOR THE BEXAR COUNTY RECAST PROGRAM GRANT.

THE TERM OF THIS AGREEMENT IS SEPTEMBER 30TH, 2023 TO SEPTEMBER 29TH, 2024.

DOCTOR GUERRERO.

I WILL NOT GO THROUGH A LOT OF.

IT IS NOT.

IT'S NOT ADVANCING.

BUT YES, THIS IS THE APPROVAL OF THE CONTRACT FOR YEAR THREE, WHICH DID START LAST OCTOBER AND GOES THROUGH.

AND THIS IS THE BACKGROUND.

WEST TEXAS IS CURRENTLY THE THE CONTRACT HOLDER FOR THIS GRANT.

WE ARE THE GRANTEE TO SAMHSA AND WEST CARE IMPLEMENTS THE ACTIVITIES RELATED TO THE TO THE GRANT.

THESE ARE SOME OF THE ACTIVITIES THAT THEY HAVE PERFORMED OVER THE LAST YEAR.

AND AGAIN, IT IS ON A REIMBURSEMENT BASIS.

SO AS THEY'VE BEEN DOING THIS WORK ON UPON EXECUTION, APPROVAL AND EXECUTION OF THIS CONTRACT WE WOULD THEN REIMBURSE THEM FOR THE ACTIVITIES ONCE THEY INVOICES THAT THEY'VE BEEN PERFORMING OVER THE LAST YEAR.

THESE ARE SOME OF THE PERFORMANCE MEASURES THAT THEY'VE REPORTED OUT.

OBVIOUSLY WE'RE NOT ALL THE WAY THROUGH THE GRANT CONTRACT, BUT THIS IS THE PROGRESS THAT THEY'VE MADE RELATED TO TRAINING RELATED TO THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE THAT THEY HAVE EXPOSED TO MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS MESSAGES, EVIDENCE BASED MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES RELATED TO THE NUMBER OF INDIVIDUALS THAT RECEIVE EVIDENCE BASED MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES.

BECAUSE MADE POSSIBLE BY THIS, THEIR NUMBERS RELATED TO PARTNERSHIP AND COLLABORATION.

THAT'S THE NUMBER OF OTHER ORGANIZATIONS THAT THEY WORK WITH OR COORDINATE AND SHARE RESOURCES WITH OTHER ORGANIZATIONS BECAUSE OF THIS GRANT AND THEN SOME AMOUNT OF WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT THAT THEY ARE, THAT THEY ARE ENGAGED IN.

THEIR BUDGET FOR THIS YEAR IS MOSTLY HAVING TO DO WITH OPERATIONS, SALARIES AND THEN THEIR SUBCONTRACTOR COSTS BECAUSE THEY DO WORK WITH THE NUMBER OF OTHER ORGANIZATIONS LIKE COPS, METRO AND SOME OTHERS.

TO DO SOME SUBCONTRACTING RELATED TO THIS.

THAT'S WHERE YOU SEE THE SUBCONTRACTOR COSTS OPERATIONS AND THEN SOME INDIRECT OR TOTAL PROGRAM COST FOR THIS CONTRACT TO BE $884,423.

JUDGE, I MOVE APPROVAL.

SECOND, I THANK YOU.

HOLD ON. MOTION BY COMMISSIONER CALVERT.

SECOND BY COMMISSIONER CLAY-FLORES.

COMMISSIONER CALVERT, I DO WANT TO MAKE A SMALL BUSINESS POINT TODAY.

NON-PROFITS ARE SMALL BUSINESSES.

AND, YOU KNOW, WESTCARE FOUNDATION HAPPENS TO BE THE LARGEST MENTAL HEALTH AGENCY IN THE WESTERN HALF OF THE UNITED STATES, BASED IN LAS VEGAS.

SO, YOU KNOW, THE COUNTY HAS A REALLY BAD STENCH WITH RESPECT TO DELAYING THE PAYMENT OF VARIOUS VENDORS.

I'VE HEARD IT FROM NOT JUST THE FOLKS WHO ARE IN THIS ROOM, BUT MANY, MANY TIMES OVER.

IF UNDER THE VENEER OF WE ARE JUST GETTING A REIMBURSEMENT SO WE CAN DO THEIR CONTRACT IN TEN MONTHS TIME, THAT'S NOT A VERY GOOD WAY FOR THE COUNTY TO DO BUSINESS WITH ANY NONPROFIT.

IT'S NOT A VERY RESPECTFUL WAY TO TREAT A NONPROFIT TRYING TO DO WORK WITH VERY DIFFICULT WORK AHEAD AND VERY DIFFICULT COMMUNITIES THAT THEY'RE TRYING TO HELP.

I REALLY BELIEVE, PARTICULARLY AT A POINT WHERE WE'VE HAD EIGHT YEARS ON THE CONTRACT, THAT WE SHOULD HAVE BEEN ABLE TO EXPEDITE THESE CONTRACTS FASTER.

AND I HOPE THAT AND I'M QUITE SURE THAT ONCE WE GET SOME NEW PEOPLE IN, THEIR CONTRACTS ARE GOING TO MOVE LIKE LIGHT SPEED, BUT BUT IT IS NOT RIGHT THAT WE MAKE YOU KNOW, CONTRACTS COME IN AT MONTH 11, YEAR AFTER YEAR AFTER YEAR AFTER YEAR.

AND THAT DOESN'T APPLY TO ANY JUST WHAT HAPPENED IN YOUR TERM.

THAT APPLIES FOR THE PREVIOUS YEARS IN THE MANAGEMENT HERE.

THANK YOU. JUDGE. ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? MR.. CLAY-FLORES? I JUST WANT TO THANK BEVERLY WATTS FOR BEING HERE AND THE WORK THAT YOU NOT ONLY THAT YOU'VE BEEN DOING ON THIS GRANT, BUT JUST THE WORK THAT YOU CONTINUE TO DO IN THE COMMUNITY. ARE YOU STILL ARE YOU GUYS STILL HOUSED AT L.A.

AUSTIN? YES. SO I THINK IT SAYS A LOT THAT WE CONTINUE TO SUPPORT OUR INSTITUTIONS.

EVEN THOUGH IT'S OUT OF MY PRECINCT, I HAVE A BIG PLACE IN MY HEART FOR L.A.

AUSTIN CENTER. AND SO I'M GLAD THAT YOU GUYS ARE STILL THERE AND SUPPORTING THAT.

AND I LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING THE RENOVATIONS THAT ARE FINALLY COMING OUT HERE.

SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORK.

THANKS FOR BEING HERE. THANK YOU.

ANY OTHER COMMENTS? YES, COMMISSIONER MOONEY, I DO I DO JUST WANT TO REINFORCE.

RIGHT. I MEAN, WHAT COMMISSIONER CALVERT SAID THAT, YOU KNOW, IN TERMS OF DOING GOOD BUSINESS AS A COUNTY AND WITH OUR

[02:50:02]

PARTNERS OUT THERE MAKING SURE THAT WE ARE RESPONSIVE AND THAT WE FOLLOW THROUGH, LIKE ON OUR COMMITMENTS IN A TIMELY MANNER, BECAUSE THOSE THOSE ARE CHALLENGES. I CAN'T SPEAK TO ANY OF THESE SPECIFICALLY.

BUT, YOU KNOW, TO AS MUCH AS IT IS A CONCERN THAT AND THERE HAVE BEEN MULTIPLE ORGANIZATIONS THAT COME BACK HERE AND, AND SAY, WELL, YOU KNOW, IT'S BEEN 12 MONTHS.

IT'S BEEN 15 MONTHS.

I THINK THAT'S SOMETHING WE CAN WORK ON AND TRYING TO EXPEDITE THE TIMELINE FOR CONTRACT TO PAYMENT.

OBVIOUSLY, IF SOMEBODY IS NOT PROVIDING THE DATA AND THE PROOF OF THE WORK THAT THEY'VE DONE, THEN THAT'S A DIFFERENT SITUATION.

BUT IF THEY'RE BRINGING US THE PAPERWORK, WE SHOULD BE ABLE TO PAY THEM, YOU KNOW, 30 DAYS, 60 DAYS.

BUT, YOU KNOW, WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT NINE MONTHS, A YEAR OR MORE THAT'S CONCERNING.

SO I HOPE AND I'M NOT SPECIFICALLY SPEAKING TO YOU, THIS IS JUST IN GENERAL AS A COUNTY.

I THINK THAT'S SOMETHING WE NEED TO CONTINUE TO WORK ON.

ALL RIGHT. ANYTHING ELSE? HEARING NO FURTHER DISCUSSION, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF THE MOTION SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE, I.

ANY OPPOSED? ANY ABSTENTIONS? MOTION CARRIES.

ALL RIGHT. AT THIS TIME, THE COURT IS GOING TO CALL FOR EXECUTIVE SESSION.

[EXECUTIVE SESSION (DISCUSSION ONLY: CLOSED TO PUBLIC)]

ITEMS MAY BE DISCUSSED AND ACT UPON, IF APPROPRIATE, IN OPEN SESSION PURSUANT TO SECTION 551.07, ONE OF THE TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE, EXECUTIVE SESSION WILL BE HELD FOR CONSULTATION WITH THE COURT'S ATTORNEY FOR ADVICE REGARDING THE FOLLOWING MATTERS PENDING OR CONTEMPLATED, LITIGATION OR SETTLEMENT OFFERS, AND THE MATTERS OF ONE I.

PANETTA VERSUS BEXAR COUNTY TWO.

HERNANDEZ VERSUS BEXAR COUNTY THREE.

VASQUEZ VERSUS BEXAR COUNTY FOUR.

SANDOVAL VERSUS BEXAR COUNTY FIVE.

WALTON VERSUS ANDERSON AND SIX.

GARCIA. RODRIGUEZ VERSUS HERNANDEZ.

SANTO DOMINGO.

ALSO TWO LEGAL ISSUES PERTAINING TO THE FOLLOWING MATTERS IN WHICH THE DUTY OF THE ATTORNEY FOR BEXAR COUNTY UNDER THE TEXAS DISCIPLINARY RULES OF PROFESSIONAL CONDUCT OF THE STATE BAR OF TEXAS, CAN CLEARLY CONFLICTS WITH THE OPEN MEETINGS ACT UNDER ONE.

THE TIME IS 1155.

WE WILL NOW GO TO EXECUTIVE SESSION.

I ALSO WILL LET THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT KNOW THAT IN REGARDS TO THE SPECIFIC ISSUES ON THE SHERIFF'S ISSUE, THE SHERIFF, HIS REPRESENTATIVES, HIS CHIEFS MAY BE CALLED IN INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION.

BUT FOR NOW, I WOULD LIKE TO CLOSE THE SESSION FOR CONSULTATION WITH THE ATTORNEYS.

BACK ON TIME IS 109.

WE'RE BACK INTO OPEN SESSION.

AT THIS TIME, THE COURT MET IN EXECUTIVE SESSION AND TOOK NO ACTION AT THIS TIME.

AS I INDICATED, WE WILL TAKE A BREAK AND WE WILL BREAK FOR LUNCH.

LET'S TRY TO TAKE A 30 MINUTE OR SOONER LUNCH BREAK AND WE'LL WE'LL RESUME AND FINISH OUT THE REST OF THE AFTERNOON.

COURTS AND RECESS.

AND NO ACTION HAS BEEN TAKEN.

NEXT MATTER UP.

[68. Authorizing the execution of an agreement with Axon Enterprise, Inc. to provide a replacement for the existing digital evidence management (DEM) system for the Criminal District Attorney's Office, beginning July 9, 2024 and ending July 31, 2033, in an amount not to exceed $10,448,293.35, the following payments will be from the Capital Improvement Fund: July 2024, $712,800; August 2024, $178,000; and January 2024, $82,974; and the rest of the payments will be from the General Fund, as requested by the Bexar County Criminal District Attorney's Office; and authorizing the Purchasing Agent to execute and file the appropriate award documents for record.]

68 AUTHORIZING EXECUTION OF AN AGREEMENT WITH AXON ENTERPRISES, INC.

TO PROVIDE A REPLACEMENT FOR THE EXISTING DIGITAL EVIDENCE MANAGEMENT SYSTEM FOR THE CRIMINAL DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE BEGINNING JULY 9TH, 2024, ENDING JULY 31ST, 2033, IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $10,448,293.35.

THE FOLLOWING PAYMENTS WILL BE FROM THE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT FUND.

JULY 2024 712,800.

AUGUST 2024 178,020 JANUARY 2024.

82,974 AND THE REST OF THE PAYMENTS WILL BE FROM THE GENERAL FUND, AS REQUESTED BY THE CRIMINAL DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE, AND AUTHORIZING A PERSON AGENT TO EXECUTE AND FILE THE APPROPRIATE AWARD DOCUMENTS FOR RECORD.

YES, MA'AM. HELLO, MY NAME IS SANA AMANULLAH, AND I AM A SENIOR CONTRACT SPECIALIST IN PURCHASING.

AND I ISSUED THIS RFP EVENT.

AND IT'S LIKE YOU STATED, TO REPLACE THE EXISTING DIGITAL EVIDENCE MANAGEMENT SYSTEM.

SO. HERE IS A SUMMARY OF THE BACKGROUND AND TIMELINE.

12 RESPONSES WERE RECEIVED, TWO OF WHICH WERE NO BID.

THE EVALUATION COMMITTEE CONSISTED OF REPRESENTATIVES FROM THE BUDGET OFFICE, THE DA'S OFFICE, PURCHASING AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY.

[02:55:02]

AND THEN OUR BACKGROUND IN TIMELINE.

WE HAD AN EVALUATION PHASE WHERE THE TEN RESPONSES WERE EVALUATED AND SCORED.

WE HAD IN-PERSON DEMOS, WE OBTAINED CLARIFICATIONS, AND THEN WE DID THE FINAL EVALUATIONS.

OKAY. AND THERE'S OUR COMPOSITE EVALUATION FORM.

AND THE TOP THREE SCORED WERE AXON ENTERPRISE INC., NICE SYSTEMS, INC., J2 SOFTWARE SYSTEM SOLUTIONS, INC..

SO THERE'S A RECOMMENDED MOTION AUTHORIZING THE EXECUTION OF AN AGREEMENT WITH AXON TO PROVIDE A REPLACEMENT FOR THE EXISTING DIGITAL EVIDENCE MANAGEMENT SYSTEM FOR THE DA'S OFFICE. IN THAT AMOUNT, NOT TO EXCEED.

SO WITH ME, I'VE REPRESENTATIVES FROM THE DA'S OFFICE.

AND THEN INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY AND THE VENDOR AS WELL FOR ANY QUESTIONS THAT THE COURT MAY HAVE.

THANK YOU. MR. GONZALES, DID YOU WANT TO MAKE A STATEMENT? YES, IF I MAY, JUDGE.

GOOD AFTERNOON, JUDGE SKY AND COMMISSIONERS.

I WANT TO THANK THIS COURT FOR YOUR COMMITMENT TO SAFETY OF OUR COMMUNITY FOR THIS MUCH NEEDED UPGRADE IN OUR EVIDENCE MANAGEMENT SYSTEM.

AND SO, ON BEHALF OF THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE, ON BEHALF OF VICTIMS OF CRIME IN OUR COMMUNITY, I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION OF THIS DIGITAL EVIDENCE MANAGEMENT SYSTEM.

AND I JUST WANT TO LET YOU KNOW BY WAY OF BACKGROUND CURRENTLY WHAT WHAT HAPPENS IS BECAUSE WE HAVE TWO DIFFERENT SYSTEMS, THAT IS LAW ENFORCEMENT USES AXON CURRENTLY AND WE USE A DIFFERENT SYSTEM.

MUCH TIME IS SPENT HAVING THE THE THE TWO SYSTEMS COMMUNICATE WITH EACH OTHER.

WE SPEND A LOT OF TIME IN THE DA'S OFFICE, AND CERTAINLY LAW ENFORCEMENT DOES, TRYING TO SEARCH FOR AND TRANSFER EVIDENCE.

BUT WITH EXXON, WHAT WILL HAPPEN IS WE WOULD AVOID THIS, THIS, THIS WASTE OF TIME AND INSTEAD CAN FOCUS OUR ATTENTION ON WHERE IT'S NEEDED.

LAW ENFORCEMENT CAN CAN FOCUS THEIR ATTENTION ON GETTING ON THE STREET AND INVESTIGATING CRIMES.

OUR PROSECUTORS CAN FOCUS THEIR ATTENTION ON HANDLING CASES AND MAKE SURE THAT DANGEROUS CRIMINALS ARE HELD ACCOUNTABLE.

AND SO IT WOULD BE A BIG GAME CHANGER IF IF THE COURT WOULD ADOPT AND ACCEPT THIS CONTRACT.

AND IT'S NOT A EXAGGERATION TO SAY, AS I SAY, THAT THIS WOULD BE A GAME CHANGER.

AND, AND SO BECAUSE OF THIS, WE'RE ASKING THAT YOU SUPPORT THIS MOTION, THAT YOU VOTE ON THIS MOTION.

AND IN SO DOING, I THINK IT WOULD CHANGE THE AMOUNT OF WORK AND EFFORT THAT WE PUT IN TO WHAT WE DO AND WOULD ALLOW US TO BE A LEADER IN THE DIGITAL EVIDENCE MANAGEMENT SYSTEM COMMUNITY.

AND, AND SO ON BEHALF AGAIN, OF THE DA'S OFFICE AND VICTIMS OF CRIME.

WE THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP AND YOUR INSIGHT ON THIS ISSUE.

THANK YOU, MR. GONZALES.

ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENT? MOTION TO APPROVE. MOTION BY COMMISSIONER RODRIGUEZ.

SECOND BY COMMISSIONER CALVERT.

ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? I HAVE SOME QUESTION, COMMISSIONER MOODY.

I'M NOT SURE IF THIS IS FOR PURCHASING OR THE DA, BUT ACTUALLY, THIS IS THE FIRST TIME I'M SEEING THE EVALUATION FORM, AND IT LOOKS LIKE THE TOP TWO WERE VERY CLOSE IN OVERALL SCORE WITH THE SECOND HIGHEST BEING NICE SYSTEMS. IS THAT CORRECT? YES THAT'S CORRECT.

I ALSO SEE THAT NICE SYSTEMS PERFORM SIGNIFICANTLY BETTER IN THE PRICING CATEGORY.

CAN YOU SPEAK TO THE DIFFERENCES IN COST BETWEEN THE TWO? TWO OPTIONS.

SO HERE I DO NOT HAVE THE SPECIFICS OF THE PRICING FOR NICE, BUT AT THE END, IT KIND OF CAME DOWN TO THE DEMOS THAT WE DID THE IN-PERSON DEMOS.

OKAY, SO THOSE THAT FARED BETTER FOR THE TOP VENDOR.

SO THE EVALUATION WAS TO GET TO THE TOP THREE.

NOT NECESSARILY THE TOP ONE.

YES, WE DID DEMOS FROM THE TOP THREE VENDORS.

THEY WERE INVITED TO COME AND DO IN PERSON DEMONSTRATIONS OF THEIR SYSTEM.

AND SO MAYBE DE GONZALES, CAN YOU JUST SPEAK TO THAT, THE IN PERSON INTERVIEWS.

I DON'T KNOW IF YOU DID THAT PERSONALLY OR YOUR OFFICE.

OBVIOUSLY, THE POINT I WAS JUST TRYING TO GET AT IS IT LOOKED LIKE THOSE TWO SCORED VERY CLOSE IN TERMS OF OVERALL SCORE, BUT IT LOOKED LIKE 1ST MAY HAVE AN ADVANTAGE ON THE PRICING COMPONENT.

BUT, YOU KNOW, I WASN'T PART OF THIS PROCESS.

SO I JUST DON'T KNOW WHAT THAT DIFFERENCE IS AND WHAT THE DIFFERENCE IN CAPABILITIES OR FAMILIARITY WITH AXON VERSUS NICE WAS.

[03:00:07]

YES, COMMISSIONER.

WE HAVE REPRESENTATIVE OF OUR OFFICE, OUR INTAKE CHIEF, EMILY ANGULO, THAT I THINK CAN SPEAK TO THAT ISSUE.

OKAY. THANK YOU, THANK YOU.

SO WHEN WE WERE DOING THE EVALUATIONS BETWEEN NICE AND AXON ONE OF THE BIG JUMPS FOR AXON THAT PUT THEM AHEAD IS THAT THEY ARE ON THE SAME SYSTEM WITH SAPD AND BCSO, WHO ARE TWO MAJOR LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES THAT WE'RE DEALING WITH, I THINK ALSO 13 OTHER LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES UTILIZE AXON. ADDITIONALLY, JUST WHEN WE HAD THE DEMOS BETWEEN NICE AND AXON AXON WAS A LOT MORE USER FRIENDLY FOR A PROSECUTOR. AND AND WE THOUGHT THAT WE COULD UTILIZE IT BETTER.

OKAY. NOW I APPRECIATE THAT BACKGROUND.

AND IS THIS THIS SOFTWARE, DOES THIS HAVE A TIE IN WITH THE CRIME LAB, OR IS THIS ENTIRELY SEPARATE WITHIN THE DA'S OFFICE? IT'S IT'S SEPARATE.

OKAY. FROM THE CRIME LAB? YES, SIR. OKAY.

AND NOT TO VENTURE TOO FAR, THEN OFF OFF TOPIC HERE, BUT I HAVE HEARD ABOUT, YOU KNOW, SOME POTENTIAL DEFICIENCIES AND NEEDS WITHIN THE CRIME LAB.

AND I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE MEET THOSE IN THE UPCOMING BUDGET CYCLE.

SO I'M NOT SURE IF ANY OF THOSE NEEDS ARE RELEVANT HERE THAT WE COULD MENTION TODAY, BUT IF NOT, I'D LIKE TO BETTER UNDERSTAND THEM GOING FORWARD.

ABSOLUTELY. WE'RE AVAILABLE ANY TIME TO.

OKAY. INFORM YOU ALL.

ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU.

THAT IN FACT THANK YOU.

APPRECIATE IT. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? HEARING NONE.

CALL FOR A VOTE.

MOTION BY COMMISSIONER RODRIGUEZ, SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER CALVERT.

ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE.

AYE. ANY OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

WE'LL TAKE UP ITEM NUMBER 69.

[69. Ratification of a delivery order to Microsoft for the Microsoft Azure Cloud hosting operational services expenditures to be paid toward DIR Microsoft products reseller, Software One, Inc. in the estimated annual amount of $1,500,000, 36 months, as requested by the Information Technology Department; through Texas Department of Information Resource (DIR) Contract #DIR-TSO4061, in accordance with Texas Local Government Code §271.102; and authorizing the Purchasing Agent to execute and file the appropriate award documents for record.]

RATIFICATION OF A DELIVERY ORDER TO MICROSOFT FOR THE MICROSOFT AZURE CLOUD HOSTING OPERATIONAL SERVICES.

EXPENDITURES TO BE PAID TOWARD DER, MICROSOFT PRODUCTS RESELLER SOFTWARE ONE, INC., AND THE ESTIMATED ANNUAL AMOUNT OF $1,500,000.36 MONTHS, AS REQUESTED BY THE INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY DEPARTMENT THROUGH TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF INFORMATION SERVICES.

INFORMATION RESOURCES.

CONTRACT NUMBER DER TSO 4061.

IN ACCORDANCE WITH TEXAS LOCAL GOVERNMENT CODE 271.102, AND AUTHORIZING THE PERSON TO EXECUTE AND FILE THE APPROPRIATE AWARD DOCUMENTS FOR RECORD.

MR. GAGER. YEAH, THIS ONE'S FAIRLY STRAIGHTFORWARD.

WE DON'T HAVE A PRESENTATION.

BUT LAST OCTOBER 23RD, I BELIEVE IT WAS.

WE TOOK OUR NEW MICROSOFT AGREEMENTS TO COURT.

COURT DID APPROVE THOSE AT THAT TIME.

HISTORICALLY, WE DID BUSINESS WITH.

SHE SHE WAS THE ONLY RESELLER OF THE MICROSOFT PRODUCTS THAT WAS ON DER IN THIS LAST ROUND.

ANOTHER COMPANY CALLED SOFTWARE ONE WAS A RESELLER.

SO WE ENDED UP CONTRACTING WITH SOFTWARE ONE.

IT WAS LIKE $60,000 LESS A YEAR.

WHEN THE ITEM CAME TO COURT WE HAD THE CONTRACTED COSTS IN THERE.

SO WE HAVE TWO CONTRACTS.

ONE IS FOR OUR MICROSOFT PRODUCTS, LIKE YOU WOULD EXPECT, MICROSOFT EXCHANGE, ALL OF OUR MICROSOFT DESKTOP APPLICATIONS, ALL OF THAT KIND OF STUFF.

THOSE DOLLARS WERE FIXED AND BASED ON THE NUMBER OF LICENSES THAT WE HAVE IN THE AGREEMENT, WHAT WASN'T FIXED IN OCTOBER IS OUR AZURE CLOUD ENROLLMENT.

SO THAT'S A PAY AS YOU USE SERVICE.

SO YOU CAN'T REALLY CONTRACT FOR IT AND PLACE A CONTRACT AMOUNT INTO IT, WHICH IS WHY WE DIDN'T HAVE THAT AMOUNT ON THE AGENDA IN OCTOBER.

USUALLY WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IS WHEN PURCHASING WOULD TAKE THEIR BIG LINE ITEM TO COURT.

I THINK THEY BRING BRING ONE TO COURT EVERY OCTOBER OR NOVEMBER.

SHE WOULD BE ON THERE AND THOSE DOLLAR AMOUNTS TO COVER THAT MICROSOFT SPIN WAS INCLUDED.

BUT SOFTWARE ONE BEING A NEW VENDOR WASN'T ON THAT LIST EITHER.

SO WHAT'S HAPPENED IS WE'VE GOTTEN BEHIND ON PAYING OUR MONTHLY INVOICES.

SO WE GET BILLED MONTHLY BY A SOFTWARE ONE, WHICH IS BASICALLY THROUGH MICROSOFT FOR OUR MICROSOFT AZURE, SPEND 65% OF OUR SERVER RESOURCES, AND OUR DATA IS IN THE CLOUD.

THE COUNTY GOT OUT OF THE DATA CENTER BUSINESS MULTIPLE YEARS AGO, AND IN ABOUT 2018, 2019, WE WE SHIFTED AS MUCH AS WE COULD TO COLO AND TO THE CLOUD.

RIGHT. SO 65% IN THE CLOUD.

AND THIS $1.5 MILLION IS BASED ON WHAT OUR PROJECTED MONTHLY SPEND IS FOR OUR AZURE CLOUD ENROLLMENT SERVICES OVER A THREE YEAR PERIOD. IT'S CONSISTENT WITH WHAT WE PAID LAST YEAR AND THE YEAR BEFORE AND THE YEAR BEFORE.

WE JUST DIDN'T HAVE A SPECIFIC BUDGET AMOUNT BECAUSE IT VARIES EACH MONTH.

RIGHT. SO SOFTWARE ONE CALLS THEM OVERAGES, EVEN THOUGH IT'S REALLY THEIR BILL AS, AS YOU PAY AS YOU USE MODEL.

SO THIS IS TO, TO APPROVE THAT SO THAT WE CAN PAY OUR, PAY OUR PAY OUR MONTHLY SUBSCRIPTIONS.

[03:05:07]

ANY QUESTIONS? COMMENTS? COMMISSIONER MOODY? MARK, CAN YOU JUST HELP ME IN THE OVERALL LIKE SCHEME OF ALL OF OUR IT.

WHAT IS THAT BUCKET OF MONEY LOOK LIKE ON AN ANNUAL BASIS? I MEAN, WE JUST HAD THE THE CONVERSATION ABOUT THE, THE DA SOFTWARE.

OBVIOUSLY, WE'VE TALKED A LOT ABOUT ODYSSEY.

YOU KNOW, THERE'S A LOT OF DIFFERENT PIECES IN THIS.

I KNOW WE'VE SEEN KIND OF A LAYOUT OF ALL THE, THE DIFFERENT CONTRACTS BEFORE.

BUT WHAT DOES THAT LOOK LIKE? TOP LINE. AND AND HOW HAS IT CHANGED AS WE'RE MAKING THESE NECESSARY IMPROVEMENTS IN TERMS OF GETTING INTO 21ST CENTURY AND MAKING SURE WE, WE HAVE THE SOFTWARE AND TOOLS THAT WE NEED IN ORDER TO DO OUR JOB.

BUT CAN YOU JUST HELP ME UNDERSTAND KIND OF WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE AND HAVE HAVE WE NOW BIT OFF MOST OF THOSE MAJOR JOBS AND PAID FOR THEM, AND WE CAN LOOK AT KIND OF A STEADY RUN RATE GOING FORWARD? ARE THERE STILL MAJOR PROJECTS THAT ARE GOING TO HAVE TO TAKE PLACE? SO YEAH. SO FIRST OF ALL I'LL TALK ABOUT KIND OF TOP LINE IS RIGHT AROUND 20 MILLION I THINK IS OUR BUDGET REQUEST THAT'S IN COUNTY WIDE CONTRACTS.

SO THAT'S FOR OUR ONGOING SUPPORT AND MAINTENANCE, WHETHER IT BE HARDWARE OR OUR SUBSCRIPTION SERVICES, IT MAY BE $22 MILLION.

BUT I THINK IT'S RIGHT AROUND 20 MILLION.

AND THAT HAS INCREASED OVER THE YEARS FOR VARYING FACTORS.

ONE IS AS WE'VE IMPROVED, SOME OF THE SOFTWARE WE BROUGHT IN IS MORE EXPENSIVE THAN SOME OF THE SOFTWARE THAT WE'RE SUNSETTING.

SOME OF THE INCREASE IS DUE TO WE'VE BROUGHT SOME NEW STUFF IN AND WE'RE STILL IN A TRANSITION PERIOD AND WE WILL SUNSET IT, BUT IT MAY BE 12 OR 24 MONTHS OUT FROM THE DATE WE WE WE BRING SOMETHING IN, RIGHT.

WE MAY BRING IN A NEW SOFTWARE TOOL MID CONTRACT.

SO I'LL GIVE YOU AN EXAMPLE.

SO LIKE THE EQ JUST ON THE TYPE OF TECHNOLOGIES WE'RE GOING TO BE ABLE TO DO AWAY WITH THE MAINFRAME, BUT WE WON'T BE ABLE TO DO IT THE WAY WITH THE MAINFRAME UNTIL SEPTEMBER OF 2025. AND THAT'S ABOUT $1 MILLION A YEAR $1 MILLION A YEAR.

THAT'LL COME OUT RIGHT. SO WE GO LIVE SOMETIMES ABOUT 12 TO 24 MONTHS BEFOREHAND.

THE AXON STUFF THAT WE WERE JUST TALKING ABOUT IS GOING TO ALLOW US TO GET RID OF THREE PRODUCTS THAT WE HAVE, PLUS OUR STORAGE FOR THE DIGITAL EVIDENCE THAT WE CURRENTLY HAVE, AND THAT'S ABOUT 1.1 MILLION A YEAR.

SO THAT DEAL IS ACTUALLY A LITTLE LESS THAN WHAT WE ARE ALREADY PAYING.

RIGHT? SO WE'LL RECOGNIZE THAT SAVINGS, BUT WE DON'T RECOGNIZE IT UNTIL AFTER WE GO LIVE.

AND THOSE CONTRACTS ARE ACTUALLY UP.

RIGHT. SO SO WE'RE LOOKING AT THAT.

WE STILL DO HAVE SOME MAJOR PROJECTS WHEN WE TALK.

MAJOR, I'M TALKING KIND OF MULTI-MILLION DOLLAR PROJECTS.

WE HAVE WORKDAY FOR HUMAN CAPITAL MANAGEMENT THAT'S BEING IMPLEMENTED RIGHT NOW.

THAT'S GOING TO REPLACE SAP AND SOME OTHER APPLICATIONS.

IN FACT, THE REASON WE STILL HAVE TO USE THE MAINFRAME THROUGH 2025 IS BECAUSE TIME KEEPING A BIG PORTION OF THE COUNTY'S TIME KEEPING IS DONE ON THE MAINFRAME.

SO WE NEED TO REPLACE THAT WITH THE WORKDAY TIMEKEEPING MODULES.

SO SO SOMETIMES ONE PRODUCT REPLACES TWO OR 3 OR 4, RIGHT.

SO SO WE HAVE THOSE KIND OF FORECASTS IN PLACE IN IT.

AND THEN THE OTHER IS JUST WITH INFLATION, A LOT OF A LOT OF ORGANIZATIONS, WHICH IS WHY WE TRY TO NEGOTIATE THE BEST TERMS WE CAN WITH YEAR OVER YEAR.

INCREASES IN SUBSCRIPTION COSTS WITHOUT THOSE CONTRACTS IN PLACE THAT ARE REALLY SOLID.

YOU KNOW, SOMETIMES WE CAN GET A SOFTWARE VENDOR THAT COMES BACK AND WANTS TO CHARGE US 20% MORE IN ANY GIVEN YEAR ON $1 MILLION CONTRACT.

RIGHT? SO WE'RE CONSTANTLY TRYING TO NEGOTIATE THAT DOWN AND MAKE SURE WE CAN TRUE UP OUR CONTRACTS TO SO I DON'T KNOW IF THAT ANSWERS YOUR QUESTION, BUT YEAH.

OH, MAJOR PROJECT.

SO YEAH, WE HAVE WORKDAY, BUT WE STILL WANT TO EVENTUALLY REPLACE IN FOR N4 LAWSON, WHICH IS OUR FINANCIAL SYSTEM OF RECORD.

WORKDAY MIGHT END UP BEING THE SYSTEM FOR THAT, BUT WE'LL DEFINITELY BID THAT OUT AND COMPETE THAT WE DO HAVE SOME PRICING CONSIDERATIONS FROM WORKDAY BASED ON OUR HUMAN CAPITAL MANAGEMENT PROJECT.

SOME STUFF THAT WE NEGOTIATED.

YOU TALK WE TALKED ABOUT DIGITAL EVIDENCE MANAGEMENT.

AND THEN THERE'S KIND OF THESE NICHE ONES.

SO YOU TALKED ABOUT CRIME LAB.

YOU TALKED ABOUT, YOU KNOW, SOME OTHER OFFICES AND DEPARTMENT WHERE YOU DIDN'T TALK ABOUT, BUT THERE'S SOME OTHER OFFICES AND DEPARTMENTS THAT MAY HAVE SOME NICHE SOFTWARE, I CALL IT. VERY SPECIFIC TO WHAT THEY DO.

NOT IN THE MULTIMILLION DOLLAR KIND OF CATEGORY, BUT CERTAINLY SOME UPGRADES.

AND THOSE WILL BE ASSESSED KIND OF AS A ONE OFF.

SO OKAY. NO, I APPRECIATE THAT MOVE APPROVAL.

IF A MOTION BY COMMISSIONER MOODY SECOND BY COMMISSIONER CALVERT.

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

AYE. ANY OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU.

ITEM 70 AWARDING A DELIVERY ORDER TO AQ, ER MECHANICAL LLC FOR THE PURCHASE AND REPLACEMENT OF ADULT

[70. Awarding a delivery order to Accu-Aire Mechanical, LLC for the purchase and replacement of Adult Detention Center boiler and water softening systems replacement project in the base bid amount of $1,077,872, plus $30,000 of owner contingency, for a grand total award of $1,107,872.00, as requested by the Facilities Management Department; through BuyBoard Cooperative Contract #657-21, in accordance with Texas Local Government Code §271.102; and authorizing the Purchasing Agent to execute and file the appropriate award documents for record and approval of the associated budget transfer.]

[03:10:04]

DETENTION CENTER BOILER WATER SOFTENING SYSTEMS REPLACEMENT PROJECT IN THE BASE BID AMOUNT OF $1,077,872, PLUS 30,000 OF OWNER CONTINGENCY, FOR A GRAND TOTAL OF $1,107,872, AS REQUESTED BY THE FACILITIES MANAGEMENT DEPARTMENT.

THROUGH BY BOARD COOPERATIVE CONTRACT IN ACCORDANCE WITH TEXAS LOCAL GOVERNMENT CODE 271 .102 AND AUTHORIZING THE PURCHASING AGENT TO EXECUTE AND FILE THE APPROPRIATE AWARD DOCUMENTS FOR RECORD AND APPROVAL OF THE ASSOCIATED BUDGET TRANSFER.

GOOD AFTERNOON. THANK YOU, JUDGE.

COMMISSIONERS DAN CURRY, DIRECTOR OF FACILITIES MANAGEMENT, FOR THE RECORD.

WE'RE BRINGING FORWARD THIS ITEM FOR YOU TODAY TO GIVE YOU A LITTLE BACKGROUND.

WE ISSUED A SOLICITATION IN IFB AND INVITATION FOR BID, WHICH IS A LOW BID SOLICITATION THROUGH PURCHASING FOR THESE THESE BOILERS AT THE ADC ANNEX.

IT WENT OUT IN OCTOBER.

CAME BACK IN NOVEMBER.

WE HAD A MANDATORY PRE-BID.

WE HAD MULTIPLE ATTENDEES.

WE HAD NO BIDS RECEIVED.

TODAY WE WANT TO LEVERAGE TODAY, I WANT TO ASK YOU GUYS TO DO TWO THINGS.

REJECT ALL THE BIDS FOR THAT EVENT, WHICH IS 1051, AND ALLOW US TO AWARD TO A CO-OP OF CO-OP CONTRACTOR.

YOU'VE SEEN THIS FROM US BEFORE WE GO OUT TO THE MARKET, WE MAKE AN INTENT TO TO GET SOLICIT BIDS.

IF WE HAVE NO BIDS AND IT'S CRITICAL EQUIPMENT, WE'RE GOING TO BRING A CO-OP PROPOSAL BACK TO YOU GUYS.

SO THE SCOPE OF WORK IS REPLACING HEATING BOILERS AT THE DOMESTIC HOT WATER HEATERS AT C AND D TOWER OF THE ANNEX AND WATER SOFTENING FOR THE ENTIRE DOMESTIC LOOP. SO IT TAKES ABOUT SIX MONTHS TO DO THIS PROJECT.

AND IT IS CRITICALLY IMPORTANT.

SO WITHOUT, DOMESTIC HOT WATER, WE DON'T STAY IN JAIL.

COMPLIANCE WITH THOSE TEMPERATURES FOR INMATE SHOWERS AND SANITATION, AS WELL AS IN NOT OCCURRING RIGHT NOW.

BUT BUILDING HEAT WILL COME UP IN THE WINTER.

SO WE WENT OUT TO MULTIPLE CO-OP VENDORS.

WE GOT TWO OF THE THREE RESPONSES ACUERA TDE.

I GUESS YOU SAY THEY WERE VERY CLOSE.

SO WE'RE RECOMMENDING ACUERA TO YOU GUYS TODAY.

SO AGAIN, MY MOTION IS FORGIVE ME FOR THE LONG WORDED MOTION, BUT AWARDING A DELIVERY ORDER TO ACURA MECHANICAL LLC FOR THE PURCHASE AND REPLACEMENT OF ADULT DETENTION CENTER BOILER AND WATER SOFTENING SYSTEMS REPLACEMENT PROJECT.

THE BASE BID AMOUNT OF $1,077,872, PLUS $30,000 OF OWNER CONTINGENCY FOR A GRAND TOTAL AWARD OF $1,107,872, AS REQUESTED BY THE FACILITIES MANAGEMENT DEPARTMENT THROUGH THE BY BOARD COOPERATIVE CONTRACT NUMBER 65721, IN ACCORDANCE WITH TEXAS LOCAL GOVERNMENT CODE 271 .102, AND AUTHORIZING THE JJC TO FILE THE APPROPRIATE AWARD DOCUMENTS FOR THE RECORD AND APPROVAL OF THE ASSOCIATED BUDGETARY TRANSFER. ANY QUESTIONS? COMMISSIONER? YEAH. THANK YOU, JUDGE DAN.

THIS IS, I ASSUME, A REGULAR MAINTENANCE ITEM AND SOMETHING WE HAVE TO DO EVERY FEW YEARS.

IS THAT RIGHT? YEAH.

SO AGAIN, EVERYONE KNOWS WHAT HARD WATER IS IN SAN ANTONIO.

YEAH. SO WE'RE NOT NEGATED FROM THAT AT OUR HEAVILY OUR MOST WATER INTENSIVE FACILITY WE HAVE WHICH IS THE JAIL.

IT'S A 5000 ROOM HOTEL WITH SHOWERS AND TOILETS AND ALMOST EVERY ROOM.

SO SO HOW OFTEN DO WE HAVE TO DO THESE.

SO LIFESPAN ON THESE BOILERS COULD BE 10 TO 12 YEARS OKAY.

WHEN PROPERLY MAINTAIN THE WATER SOFTENER WE THINK WILL EXTEND THAT.

THAT'S WHY WE'RE INSTALLING THEM NOW.

SO WE'RE GOING THROUGH OUR BUILDING INVENTORY AND INSTALLING SOFTENERS TO EXTEND THE LIFE OF SOME OF THESE BOILER UNITS.

SO IS THAT WHAT YOU WOULD SAY IS THE LAST TIME THEY'VE BEEN REPLACED ABOUT TEN YEARS AGO, OR DO YOU HAVE.

I'D HAVE TO LOOK BACK. BUT BUT USUALLY OUR BOILERS, THE LARGER UNITS THAT WE HAVE THE, THE LARGER UNITS LIKE AN A AND B TOWER AND C TOWER, THE JAIL, THOSE ARE 20 YEARS OLD.

THESE ARE SMALLER UNITS ASSOCIATED WITH THOSE LIVING UNITS.

SO THOSE THE SMALLER PIECE OF EQUIPMENT GETS TENDS TO HAVE A SHORTER LIFESPAN.

OKAY. AND THEN I DON'T SEE CONSISTENTLY THE CONTINGENCY AMOUNT LIKE THAT THAT'S IN PLACE HERE.

CAN YOU SPEAK TO THAT OR IS THAT SOMETHING THAT THEY SPELLED OUT WHY THEY NEEDED A $30,000 CONTINGENCY? SO, SO IT'S REALLY IT'S DIRECTED BY US.

OKAY. SO WE KNOW THAT ONCE WE GET IN THERE, THEIR EYES ARE GOING TO BE VALVING.

THAT'S REQUIRED ADDITIONAL PIPING OR SOME OTHER THINGS THAT'S UNFORESEEN ONCE WE REMOVE THOSE UNITS.

SO WE WANT TO HAVE JUST A LITTLE BIT OF MONEY IN THAT CONTRACT TO BE ABLE TO DO THAT WORK AND SPEED UP THE THE PROJECT, BECAUSE WE WERE GOING TO STOP THE PROJECT TO DO A VALVE.

FIRST OF ALL, I CAN'T LEAVE THE BUILDING WITHOUT HOT WATER.

WE BRING THAT AMENDMENT BACK TO YOU FOR COURT.

SO WE'RE JUST WE'RE ASKING FOR A LITTLE BIT OF, I GUESS, GRACE AND A LITTLE BIT OF MONEY TO DO THOSE UNFORESEEN CONDITIONS.

OKAY. AND I THINK OVERALL THE ADULT DETENTION CENTER IS PROBABLY, WHAT, ALMOST 40 YEARS OLD.

THE FIRST TOWER WAS BUILT IN 1987.

OKAY. AND I KNOW YOU'VE GOT A LONG LIST OF DEFERRED MAINTENANCE PROJECTS.

BUT WE ARE, BUT WE ARE WORKING OUR WAY THROUGH IT, SO.

YEAH. AND I KNOW I'VE SEEN THAT.

AND YOU'RE KIND OF BEING METHODICAL WITH, WITH TRYING TO ADDRESS THOSE, SO YEAH, I MEAN, I KNOW THERE'S PLENTY OF NEEDS AND NOT ENOUGH MONEY, BUT OKAY.

[03:15:01]

WELL, I APPRECIATE THAT.

I THINK THAT'S ALL THE QUESTIONS I HAVE.

MOTION TO APPROVE, JUDGE.

MOTION BY COMMISSIONER RODRIGUEZ, SECOND.

SECOND BY COMMISSIONER CALVERT.

ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION, COMMISSIONER MOODY? NO. ALL RIGHT.

I'LL CALL FOR THE VOTE.

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

DISCUSSION. APPROPRIATE ACTION AUTHORIZING THE USE OF THE POWER OF EMINENT DOMAIN AND APPROVAL OF AN ORDER DECLARING A NECESSITY FOR THE ACQUISITION AND FEE.

[71. Discussion and appropriate action authorizing the use of the power of eminent domain and approval of an Order declaring a necessity for the acquisition in fee simple title to a 0.209 acre tract of land, being all of Lot 4, Block 24, New City Block 2094, located at 1834 W. Laurel and being that same tract conveyed to Carmen Herrera Garcia and being of record in Document Number 20150170044 of the Official Public Records of Bexar County, Texas, said 0.209 acre tract being more particularly described by metes and bounds and shown in Exhibit "A", attached hereto and incorporated herein for all purposes, to advance and achieve the public use of providing a parking lot that would accommodate parking for the public in support of the Bibliotech satellite office and parking lot project located at 1612 N. Zarzamora Street to provide critical technology access and resources to elevate the west side community of San Antonio, and authorizing the institution of condemnation proceedings to acquire these rights. Precinct Number 2.]

ITEM 71.

SIMPLE TITLE TO A POINT 209 ACRE TRACT OF LAND BEING ALL OF LOT FOUR.

BLOCK 24, NEW CITY CITY BLOCK 2094 LOCATED AT 1834 WEST LAUREL, BEING THAT SAME TRACT CONVEYED TO CARMEN HERRERA GARCIA AND BEING A RECORD IN DOCUMENT NUMBER TWO, 0150170044 OF THE OFFICIAL PUBLIC RECORDS OF BEXAR COUNTY, TEXAS, AND SAID POINT 209 ACRE TRACT BE MORE PARTICULARLY DESCRIBED BY METES AND BOUNDS, AND SHOWN IN EXHIBIT A ATTACHED HERETO AND INCORPORATED HEREIN FOR ALL PURPOSES, TO ADVANCE AND ACHIEVE THE PUBLIC USE OF PROVIDING A PARKING LOT THAT WOULD ACCOMMODATE PARKING FOR THE PUBLIC.

IN SUPPORT OF THE BIBLIOTHEQUE SATELLITE OFFICE AND PARKING LOT PROJECT LOCATED AT 1612 NORTH ZAMORA STREET, TO PROVIDE CRITICAL TECHNOLOGICAL TECHNOLOGY ACCESS AND RESOURCES TO ELEVATE THE WEST SIDE COMMUNITY OF SAN ANTONIO, AUTHORIZING THE INSTITUTION OF CONDEMNATION PROCEEDINGS TO ACQUIRE THESE RIGHTS.

MR. REINHART.

GOOD AFTERNOON, JUDGE IN COURT.

AS YOU MENTIONED, THIS ITEM IS TO REQUEST THE POWER OF EMINENT DOMAIN TO IN CASE WE'RE UNABLE TO COME TO TERMS WITH THE SUBJECT PROPERTY.

MORE SPECIFICALLY, THIS PROPERTY IS LOCATED IN THE NEAR WEST SIDE, JUST SOUTH OF CULEBRA.

THE BIBLIOTHEQUE SATELLITE OFFICE IS LOCATED AT 1612 NORTH ZARZAMORA.

THE SUBJECT PROPERTY YOU CAN SEE HERE IS LOCATED AT 1834 WEST LAUREL, AND THIS WILL BE THE SITE OF THE PARKING LOT THAT WOULD SUPPORT THE BIBLIOTHEQUE SATELLITE OFFICE.

A LITTLE BIT OF BACKGROUND IT'S ABOUT A QUARTER ACRE PARCEL.

THE TRACT IS CURRENTLY VACANT.

THROUGH OUR DUE DILIGENCE, WE LOOKED AT MULTIPLE SITES.

PRIOR TO THIS, THOSE SITES HAD EITHER ENVIRONMENTAL CONCERNS OR WERE UNABLE TO REACH THE OWNERS, AND WE'VE DETERMINED THIS TO BE THE BEST LOCATION FOR THE SITE.

WE'VE NEGOTIATED, WE'VE HAD MULTIPLE OFFERS WITH THE OWNER, AND WE'RE STILL IN DISCUSSIONS, BUT AT THIS POINT, WE'RE REQUESTING THE POWER TO PROCEED WITH EMINENT DOMAIN IN THE EVENT WE'RE UNABLE TO COME TO TERMS. SO THE MOTION THAT YOU SEE HERE BEFORE YOU IS TO RECOMMEND APPROVAL WITH THE AUTHORITY TO PROCEED WITH EMINENT DOMAIN IN THE EVENT WE'RE NOT ABLE TO COME TO TERMS AS MENTIONED.

YES, COMMISSIONER. THANK YOU.

JUDGE. ART, I KNOW THAT THIS IS ALWAYS KIND OF A LAST EFFORT.

BUT YOU HAVE GONE BACK AND FORTH.

ARE YOU SIGNIFICANTLY OFF IN TERMS OF WHAT THE OWNER IS ASKING FOR AND WHAT WE THINK IS FAIR? AT THIS POINT. YES, WE WENT THROUGH.

SO ANYTIME WE ACQUIRE PROPERTY, WE HIRE A THIRD PARTY APPRAISER.

WE HAD OUR INITIAL APPRAISAL VALUE.

WE OFFERED THAT AND THEN WE'VE SINCE COUNTER OFFERED AND WE'RE STILL FAR APART.

OKAY. AND IT'S YOU SAID IT'S A VACANT MEANING THERE'S NO STRUCTURE ON THE PROPERTY.

THAT'S CORRECT. CORRECT. OKAY.

WELL, I WOULD JUST, YOU KNOW, ENCOURAGE YOU TO KEEP YOU KNOW, MAKING THAT EFFORT AS BEST YOU CAN AND AS A, AS A LAST RESORT, OBVIOUSLY.

PROCEED. SO I'LL GO AHEAD AND MAKE THE MOTION TO APPROVE.

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

ANY OTHER FURTHER COMMENTS, COMMISSIONER MOODY? SO JUST GOING BACK TO THE LINE OF QUESTIONING COMMISSIONER RODRIGUEZ MADE AND I KNOW TELL ME IF THIS IS PRIVILEGED INFORMATION, CAN CAN YOU SHARE IN TERMS OF EXISTING OFFER VERSUS THAT GAP AND, AND WHAT THEY'RE ASKING VERSUS WHAT THE APPRAISED VALUE WAS.

YEAH. SO JUST TO KIND OF SET THE PICTURE.

SO IF YOU LOOK ON THE BEXAR COUNTY APPRAISAL DISTRICT WEBSITE, VALUE IS 48,000 FOR THIS PARCEL.

OUR INITIAL APPRAISAL VALUE WAS 55,000.

SO THAT'S WHAT REQUIRED BY LAW.

WE'RE REQUIRED TO INITIATE OR ESTABLISH OUR INITIAL OFFER AT.

SO THAT'S WHAT WAS OFFERED.

THERE WAS A COUNTER OFFER AT I BELIEVE IT WAS 120,000.

THERE ARE UNFORTUNATELY SOME BACK TAXES AS WELL AS CODE COMPLIANCE LIENS.

THERE WAS A SITE THAT HAD TO BE DEMOLISHED AND OTHER THINGS MANY YEARS AGO.

SO THAT WAS BUILT INTO THE REQUEST FROM THE OWNER.

WE COUNTERED AT 85,000 AND THAT'S WHERE WE'RE WE'RE HOLDING AT.

THEY TO THIS DATE HAVE NOT ACCEPTED THAT OFFER.

AND SO THAT'S WHY WE'RE AT THIS POINT TO REQUEST THE THE ABILITY TO MOVE FORWARD THROUGH EMINENT DOMAIN IF NEEDED, WHILE WE'RE STILL GOING THROUGH THE PROCESS OF NEGOTIATING.

[03:20:02]

BUT OUR OFFER IS AT 85.

APPRECIATE YOU SHARING THE BACKGROUND THERE.

SO AND I'M NOT FAMILIAR WITH THE LOCATION, I THOUGHT WE HAD TALKED ABOUT LIKE A PARKING LOT AND THAT THIS HAD ALREADY BEEN DISCUSSED WHEN WE WENT AHEAD AND RENOVATED THIS LOCATION.

OR IS THAT THE PARKING LOTS IN THE NORTH THERE? AND THAT'S NOT ENOUGH SPACE.

OR HELP ME WITH THE BACKGROUND ON THE PARKING LOT AND WHY WE NEED THIS ADDITIONAL.

I'M GOING TO I'M GOING TO PITCH IT TO DAN TO TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE PROJECT HISTORY.

OKAY. THANK YOU.

YEAH. SO THIS IS VERY SIMILAR TO WHAT WE DID AT BIBLIOTHEQUE EAST.

WE BUILT A, A FACILITY INSIDE OF A LEASED FACILITY WITH A HOUSING AUTHORITY PROJECT.

AND THERE'S REALLY A NEED FROM THE OUTLYING COMMUNITY, NOT ONLY JUST FOR WALKING OR BIKING TO GET THERE BY VEHICLE.

SO WE BUILT A PARKING LOT UP ACROSS THE STREET FROM BIBLIOTHEQUE EAST.

SO WE'RE DOING THE SAME THING HERE.

SO WE LOOKED AT POTENTIALLY LEASING SPACES FROM THE CVS ACROSS THE STREET, OR EVEN DOING HAWK CROSSINGS WITH THE CITY AND DOING SOME, SOME LOTS ACROSS THE STREET. HOWEVER, THOSE SETS OF ENVIRONMENTAL CONCERNS ON THEM.

SO WE REALLY THINK THIS IS THE BEST LOCATION.

IT'S OFF OF A SIDE STREET. SO IF ANYBODY PEDESTRIANS ARE WALKING FROM THE PARKING LOT TO BIBLIOTEK, IT'S THE SAFEST ROUTE AND IS ONE OF THE ONLY EMPTY LOTS IN THAT AREA.

AND WE BELIEVE THAT WE NEED THIS ADDITIONAL PARKING VERSUS WHAT EXISTS TODAY.

SO IN FRONT OF THE BUILDING, THERE IS PROBABLY 7 TO 9 PARKING SPACES THAT ARE INLINE PARKING FROM THE ORIGINAL CONSTRUCTION OF THE BUILDING.

AND THOSE EXIST TODAY.

AND THEY'RE FREE TO USE FIRST COME, FIRST SERVE.

WE JUST DON'T THINK WITH THE SIZE OF THAT BIBLIOTHEQUE THAT IT'S GOING TO SERVE THE ENTIRE NEED.

OKAY. AND THE BIBLIOTHEQUE IS ONLY HALF THE BUILDING.

CORRECT? IT'S A LITTLE OVER A THIRD, I THINK.

MAYBE. YES, BUT WE HAVE LEASED.

THERE'S THREE SECTIONS OF THAT BUILDING.

ONE IS THE OLD NIGHTCLUB SPACE.

WE WILL HAVE A SPACE AND THERE'LL BE AN EMPTY SPACE IN BETWEEN US.

OKAY. SO WILL THIS PARKING LOT BE UTILIZED BY ALL THOSE TENANTS OR JUST BY SPECIFICALLY FOR BIBLIOTHEQUE? I DON'T THINK WE'VE CONSIDERED THE RAMIFICATIONS OF THAT.

THE COMMISSIONER, IF WE WANT TO CONTROL IT WITH ACCESS, WE CERTAINLY CAN.

OUR OUR VISION IS THAT THIS IS A PUBLIC PARKING LOT.

OKAY. I JUST DON'T KNOW IF THERE'S ANY KIND OF CONCERNS ABOUT THAT IF WE DON'T LIMIT ACCESS TO IT SPECIFICALLY TO A COUNTY.

YOU KNOW, FUNCTION LOCATION.

RIGHT. YOU KNOW, ARE WE USING EMINENT DOMAIN TO TAKE A PROPERTY POTENTIALLY.

RIGHT. AND THEN IT'S BEING UTILIZED FOR OTHER PRIVATE INTERESTS? NO. SO AGAIN, WE WILL JUST LIKE ANY OTHER SURFACE PARKING LOT AND OTHER BUILDINGS, WE'LL MONITOR THAT.

AND IF THERE'S SOMEBODY PARKED THERE OVERNIGHT, WE'LL CALL FOR A TOW.

AND SO OUR PARKING TEAM WILL MANAGE THAT OPERATION, JUST LIKE WE DO AT BIBLIOTHEQUE EAST.

OKAY. OKAY.

THANK YOU. JUST ONE FOLLOW UP.

I DON'T KNOW FOR THIS FOR YOU, DAN OR ART, BUT I RECOLLECT I THINK CONGRESSMAN CASTRO GOT SOME EARMARK DOLLARS FOR THIS PROJECT.

SO I DON'T KNOW IF THAT'S GOING TO OFFSET A LITTLE BIT OF IT.

WHAT THE THE ACTUAL PAYOUT IS, IT'S NOT COMING.

$250,000 WAS ALLOCATED FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF THIS PARKING LOT.

SO WE'RE A GOOD WAYS DOWN THE ROAD.

THE PROPERTY ACQUISITION PIECE IS PROBABLY SEPARATE FROM THAT WHICH WE'RE WORKING ON THE THE BUDGET FOR THAT.

BUT BUT THE CONSTRUCTION IS ALL THOSE FEDERAL DOLLARS ARE GOING TO HELP OFFSET SOME OF THE LOCAL.

OKAY. THANK YOU.

THANK YOU JUDGE. ALL RIGHT.

ANY FURTHER COMMENTS QUESTIONS YOU MAY DO.

MR. RODRIGUEZ, YOU MADE THE MOTION SECOND BY COMMISSIONER CALVERT.

ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE.

AYE. ANY OPPOSED? ANY ABSTENTIONS.

DISCUSSION. APPROPRIATE ACTION REGARDING AN AWARD OF CONSTRUCTION AGREEMENT WITH NUNLEY CONSTRUCTION TO CONSTRUCT THE BEXAR COUNTY AGRILIFE URBAN FARM PHASE THREE PROJECT FOR AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED 10,000,900 AND 991 AND $500.

ITEM 72.

[72. Discussion and appropriate action regarding an award of a Construction Agreement with Nunnelly Construction, to construct the Bexar County Agri-life Urban Farm Phase HI Project for an amount not to exceed $10,991,500.]

MR. CURRY. THANK YOU.

JUDGE. COMMISSIONERS.

TODAY WE'RE TALKING TO YOU ABOUT THE URBAN FARM PHASE THREE, WHICH IS WE COLLOQUIALLY WILL CALL THE AGRILIFE BUILDING FACILITY.

SO GIVE YOU A LITTLE BACKGROUND.

BACK IN SEPTEMBER, WE ISSUED A REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS.

THAT'S PRICE AND QUALIFICATIONS FOR THIS FACILITY.

PROJECT CONSTRUCT CONSISTED OF A 18,000 SQUARE FOOT BUILDING, MULTIPLE SITE AMENITIES, AND IMPROVEMENTS OF THAT SITE.

YOU GUYS GAVE US AUTHORITY TO NEGOTIATE WITH FAA NUNNALLY.

A FEW MONTHS LATER AFTER THAT.

AND WE'VE BEEN IN NEGOTIATIONS EVER SINCE.

THEY WERE HIGHEST RANKED OF THE TWO RANKED RESPONDENTS.

SO THE PREVIOUS COURT ACTION THE PROJECT IS ESTIMATED TO BE COMPLETED ABOUT 15 MONTHS FROM THE NOTICE TO PROCEED.

[03:25:02]

SO HERE'S THE PROJECT SITE.

IT'S 1615 SHERMAN.

AND YOU CAN SEE FROM THE GOOGLE VIEW HERE WHERE WE ACTUALLY USED IT FOR COVID FARMING EFFORTS, WHERE WE COMMISSIONER CALVERT SPEARHEADED AN EFFORT TO GROW CABBAGE AND SQUASH AND OTHER THINGS ON THAT SITE TO DELIVER TO THE FOOD BANK AND OTHER ENTITIES AROUND DURING THE COVID PANDEMIC.

HERE'S A SNAPSHOT OF THE MASTER PLAN OF THE FACILITY AND THE INSIDE.

THE RED HATCHED AREA IS WHAT PHASE THREE IS, SO IT INCLUDES THE BUILDING, ADDITIONAL PARKING, CULTIVATED FIELDS, DEMONSTRATION GARDENS, A POLE, BARNS, GREENHOUSES, ALL THOSE THINGS. THE OUTDOOR CLASSROOM, WHICH YOU CAN SEE JUST BELOW THAT IS ALREADY BUILT.

IT EXISTS TODAY AS WELL AS THE THE FRONT PARKING SECTION AS WELL.

AND THEN THERE'S FUTURE FACILITIES THAT WILL COME LATER.

SO THE CURRENT PICTURE IS SITE AMENITIES.

YOU CAN SEE ENTRANCE TO THE FACILITY ARE OUTDOOR KITCHEN.

YOU CAN SEE COMMISSIONER CALVERT THERE PUTTING ON HIS COOKING DISPLAYS OR HIS COOKING SKILLS ALONG WITH JUDGE SAKAI.

YOU THERE? FOR THAT, I KNOW THAT THIS FACILITY WILL BE PRIMARILY USED BY AGRILIFE.

I KNOW NELDA SPELLER IS HERE.

IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT THE PROGRAM THAT WILL TAKE PLACE IN THAT SPACE.

SO WE'RE EXCITED ABOUT THE OPPORTUNITIES IT PRESENTS.

I KNOW THAT SHE'S USING THIS FACILITY ALREADY FOR WELLNESS WEDNESDAYS AND SOME OTHER FUNCTIONS THAT SHE DOES OUT THERE.

SO HERE'S A SNAP. LET ME JUST ASSURE YOU, DAN, IF I HAD ACTUALLY DONE THE VEGETABLES OR COOKED, NOTHING WOULD HAVE GOTTEN DONE.

OKAY. IT WAS THE MASTER GARDENERS AND AGRILIFE TRY TO GIVE YOU THE BENEFIT OF THE DOUBT, COMMISSIONER.

YES, YES. SO HERE'S THE HERE'S THE LAYOUT OF THE FLOOR PLAN.

AGAIN, WE DID EXTENSIVE PROGRAMING WITH THIS, WITH OUR AGRILIFE AND OUR CONSULTANTS.

WE MODELED IT SORT OF AFTER THE GALVESTON FACILITY.

SO IT'S VERY SIMILAR TO THAT.

SO IT HAS SPACE FOR FOUR H AND A SPACE FOR VOLUNTEERS.

A SPACE FOR ADMINISTRATION HAS A LARGE MEETING ROOM.

SO YOU COULD DO LUNCHEONS OR OTHER EVENTS IN THAT SPACE WITHOUT HAVING TO GO OUT ANY OTHER LOCATION.

HERE'S SOME COMPUTER RENDERINGS OF WHAT THE EXTERIOR COULD LOOK LIKE.

AGAIN, THESE ARE RENDERINGS FROM OUR CONSULTANT.

I ALSO WANT TO SAY BLAINE BECKMAN FROM FAA IS HERE TODAY.

IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT NUNLEY IN PARTICULAR, THEY'RE HERE TO ANSWER THOSE QUESTIONS.

BUT TODAY, WE'RE ASKING FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION AND AWARD OF CONSTRUCTION AGREEMENT WITH NUNLEY CONSTRUCTION TO CONSTRUCT THE BEXAR COUNTY AGRILIFE URBAN FARM PHASE THREE PROJECT FOR A TOTAL AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $10,991,500.

MOVE APPROVAL. MOTION BY COMMISSIONER CALVERT.

SECOND SECOND BY COMMISSIONER RODRIGUEZ.

ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION, COMMISSIONER MOODY? THE THE LAYOUT HERE AND THERE HAVE A VARIETY OF QUESTIONS AND SOME DIFFERENT AREAS.

BUT THE SQUARE FOOTAGE, YOU SAID 18,000FT².

HOW'S THAT DIVIDED BETWEEN OFFICE SPACE, COMMUNITY AREA, WHATEVER.

AND HOW MANY INDIVIDUALS WILL THIS ACTUALLY HOUSE? I KNOW WE'RE WE'RE TALKING ABOUT USING THIS INSTEAD OF CURRENT LEASE SPACE.

RIGHT. SO IT'S A COMBINATION.

SO I'LL LET DELTA ANSWER THOSE QUESTIONS ABOUT HOW MANY STAFF SHE HAS UNDER HER PURVIEW RIGHT NOW.

BUT I DO KNOW THAT THEY HAVE A VERY LARGE VOLUNTEER CONTINGENT.

AND THERE'S VOLUNTEER SPACES IN THAT.

SO THE FRONT THIRD OF THE BUILDING, IF WE GO BACK TO THAT EXHIBIT, IS REALLY PUBLIC SPACE.

SO IT'S THERE'S A VOLUNTEER LOUNGE, THERE'S A VOLUNTEER LOBBY WORKSPACE FOR THEM.

SO IF THEY PUT ON PRESENTATIONS OR CLASSES, THEY HAVE THE ABILITY TO DO THAT WITHOUT GOING INTO THE OFFICE SPACE.

SO I DON'T KNOW. NO ONE WANTS TO TALK ABOUT HOW MANY PEOPLE SHE HAS.

OKAY. HELLO.

THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME TODAY.

SO WE'RE CURRENTLY AT 25 EMPLOYEES AND GROWING EACH DAY.

IN FACT, WE HAVE ANOTHER EMPLOYEE STARTING ON THE 11TH OF THIS WEEK.

AND SO MOST OF THE SPACE THAT YOU SEE THERE WILL BE DEDICATED NOT ONLY TO STAFF, BUT ALSO TO OUR MASTER VOLUNTEER PROGRAMS, WHICH INCLUDE MASTER GARDENER VOLUNTEERS, MASTER NATURALIST VOLUNTEERS AND MASTER WELLNESS VOLUNTEERS.

WE DO HAPPEN TO HAVE ONE OF THE LARGEST MASTER GARDENER VOLUNTEER PROGRAMS IN THE ENTIRE STATE, AS WELL AS MASTER NATURALIST VOLUNTEER PROGRAMS AND OUR MASTER WELLNESS VOLUNTEER PROGRAMS CURRENTLY GROWING.

OKAY, HELP ME WITH THE 25 EMPLOYEES.

ARE THOSE ALL COUNTY FUNDED? OR IS THIS A MIX OF.

IT IS A MIX OF FEDERALLY FUNDED, STATE FUNDED AND COUNTY FUNDED EMPLOYEES.

AND SOME ALSO RECEIVED STATE AND COUNTY FUNDED.

OKAY. CAN YOU GIVE ME A BREAKDOWN? MAYBE OF THOSE 25.

I'M SORRY. COULD YOU JUST BREAK DOWN THE 25 BETWEEN STATE, FEDERAL AND LOCAL? YES. MORE THAN HALF ARE RECEIVING BOTH STATE AND COUNTY, AND THE OTHERS ARE RECEIVING FEDERALLY FUNDED FUNDING FOR PROGRAMS. SO HALF ARE JOINTLY FUNDED BETWEEN THE STATE AND THE COUNTY.

YES, OKAY.

ALL OF WHICH ARE COUNTY ADMINISTERED, THOUGH ALL THE PROGRAMS ARE DEDICATED TO BEXAR COUNTY RESIDENTS HERE IN BEXAR COUNTY.

[03:30:03]

YEAH. DAN, CAN YOU SPEAK TO THE CURRENT LEASED SPACE THAT WE'RE UTILIZING AND WHAT THE COST THERE IS? CORRECT. SO FROM I UNDERSTAND, THE LEASE SPACE IS ABOUT $156,000 PER YEAR FOR THEIR EXISTING LEASE SPACE.

OH, I'M SORRY, SHE'S CORRECTING 165,000.

PROBABLY INCLUDES CAP CHARGES.

YEAH. OKAY.

AND THAT'S FOR ALL 25 EMPLOYEES THAT YOU HAVE TODAY ARE AT THAT ONE LOCATION.

I DON'T KNOW IF THEY'RE ALL. ARE THEY ALL CURRENTLY HOUSED AT THAT LOCATION? YEAH. SO I WANTED TO KIND OF COME BACK ON THE, THE, THE PURPOSE HERE.

SO, YOU KNOW, MY UNDERSTANDING IS THIS IS THIS IS NOT A REAL FARM, RIGHT? I MEAN, WE CAN ALL AGREE.

I APOLOGIZE IF I'M STEPPING ON ANY TOES, BUT URBAN FARM, TO ME, HAVING GROWN UP ON A FARM IS KIND OF AN OXYMORON.

BUT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT AN EDUCATION CENTER, BASICALLY TO TRY TO TEACH, YOU KNOW, GARDENING AND SOME OF THE NUANCES OF, OF FARMING IN AN URBAN ENVIRONMENT.

CORRECT? I YEAH.

SO YES, THIS SPACE IS GOING TO SERVE AS AN EDUCATIONAL AND RESEARCH HUB FOR THE NEARBY COMMUNITY, AS WELL AS BEXAR COUNTY AT LARGE.

WE WILL HAVE SOME LAND DEDICATED TO FOOD PRODUCTION OR FARMING, AS YOU MENTIONED.

DURING THE PANDEMIC, WE WERE ABLE TO HARVEST AND DONATE MORE THAN 25,000 POUNDS OF FRESH FRUITS AND VEGETABLES, AND WE PLAN TO CONTINUE THAT EFFORT ONCE WE ARE ON SITE, PROVIDING DAILY MAINTENANCE AND CARE OF THAT AREA.

YEAH, AND RIGHT NOW THERE'S IS THERE ANYTHING PLANTED THERE TODAY? AS MUCH AS WE WISH WE COULD HAVE THIS PAST YEAR, WE WEREN'T ABLE TO DUE TO SOME.

YEAH, WE WEREN'T GOING TO LET THEM BECAUSE WE WERE NEGOTIATING THE MOBILIZATION OF THE CONTRACTOR.

SO WE WE TOLD THEM TO.

OKAY. BUT BUT BUT THE CULTIVATED AREA WAS ONLY ONE TWO ACRES, SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

IS THAT CORRECT? DURING THE PANDEMIC OR NOW? DURING THE PANDEMIC? YES. OKAY.

YEAH. WHAT WAS IT, AN ACRE.

WE HARVESTED 25,000 POUNDS.

YES. THAT'S CORRECT, WHICH IS A LOT OF SOWING FOR ONE ACRE.

YES. AND PLACE OF FOOD PRODUCTION TO DRAW IN THE LOCAL COMMUNITY AND HAVE THEM ADOPT THE GREENING URBAN FARM AS THEIR OWN.

WE BEGAN IMPLEMENTING WELLNESS WEDNESDAYS, AND SO SINCE THEN WE HAVE HOSTED A PUBLIC HEALTH RESOURCE FAIR, AND WE HAVE ALSO EDUCATED THE COMMUNITY ON SEVERAL TOPICS, INCLUDING VARYING THEIR VEGGIES, MEN'S HEALTH.

AND I WOULD JUST, YOU KNOW, RESPECTFULLY POINT OUT THAT ALL OF THAT WAS COMPLETED WITHOUT THE THE ADDITIONAL $11 MILLION CONSTRUCTION PROJECT. RIGHT? THIS WAS WITH THE EXISTING PLOT OF LAND AND THE AS IT EXISTED BEFORE.

RIGHT. THE HARVESTING OR THE EDUCATION, EVERYTHING YOU'VE DONE IN TERMS OF EDUCATION AND PLANNING DIDN'T REQUIRE THIS, YOU KNOW, PHASE THREE CONSTRUCTION, RIGHT? ALL OF THAT TOOK PLACE BEFORE WE'VE HAD THIS DISCUSSION.

CAN CAN YOU HELP ME WITH.

BECAUSE I HAVE BEEN I HAVEN'T HAD A CHANCE TO TOUR THE URBAN FARM, AND I APOLOGIZE, BUT I HAVE BEEN TO THE BOTANICAL GARDENS.

I'VE SEEN WHAT THEY'RE DOING.

I'VE BEEN TO THE SAN ANTONIO FOOD BANK, AND I'VE SEEN WHAT THEY'RE DOING.

HOW HOW DOES THIS STAND OUT? WHAT DOES IT DO DIFFERENTLY THAN THAN THOSE TWO ENTITIES WHEN IT COMES TO TO PROVIDING AN OPPORTUNITY TO TO SEE, YOU KNOW, SOME FARMING ACTIVITIES YOU KNOW, FRUITS, VEGETABLES, FOLKS BEING ABLE TO COME IN, EDUCATE YOUNG PEOPLE AND TEACH, YOU KNOW, THE, THE NUANCES OF, OF GARDENING, FARMING.

I THINK THE DIFFERENCE IS IT'S GOING TO BE AN ONGOING EDUCATIONAL HUB WHERE PEOPLE CAN GATHER FOR FREE.

TO LEARN ABOUT DIFFERENT TOPICS, WHETHER IT'S ABOUT NUTRITION, WHETHER IT'S ABOUT SEASONAL GARDENING, WHETHER IT'S WATER RELATED ISSUES, WHETHER IT'S FOOD PRODUCTION.

THE FARM ITSELF WILL BELONG AS MUCH TO THEM AS IT WILL TO US.

MAY I HELP? SO THE TEXAS A&M AGRILIFE CURRICULUM IS QUITE FULL AND YOU DON'T GET THAT AT THE FARM THAT THE FOOD BANK HAS OR THE OTHER GROUPS THAT WERE MENTIONED.

THERE ARE CLASSES ON EVERYTHING FROM HOW TO MAKE THE FRESH FRUITS AND VEGETABLES TO ACCOUNTING, TO LEADERSHIP, TO FALCONRY, TO YOU KNOW, HOW TO DO CONTROLLED BURNS.

THERE'S A HUGE AMOUNT OF EDUCATION THAT KNOW THAT THE BOTANICAL GARDENS ISN'T COVERED.

NOBODY COVERS.

SO IT'S IT'S IT'S UNDERSTANDING NOT ONLY THE EDUCATIONAL COMPONENTS FROM TEXAS A&M AGRILIFE CURRICULUM, BUT ALSO THE EXTENSION

[03:35:07]

SERVICES THAT GO TO HELP.

MIGHT YOU ELABORATE A LITTLE BIT ON THE EXTENSION SERVICES SO THAT YOU CAN TALK ABOUT THE STAFF WORK THERE? YES. SO OUR OVERALL MISSION IS TO HELP TEXANS THRIVE THROUGH EDUCATION.

WE HAVE FOUR PROGRAMMATIC AREAS THAT WE FOCUS ON, SPECIFICALLY IN BEXAR COUNTY, ONE OF WHICH IS FOUR-H, AND YOUTH DEVELOPMENT, WHERE WE'RE TEACHING YOUTH LEADERSHIP AND CITIZENSHIP. ONE IS FAMILY AND COMMUNITY HEALTH, WHERE OBVIOUSLY WE'RE TEACHING FAMILIES HOW TO MAKE HEALTHIER FOOD CHOICES, AS WELL AS STRESSING LESS WITH MINDFULNESS FOR A HEALTHY WELL-BEING.

THE OTHER IS AG AND NATURAL RESOURCES, WHERE WE ARE ADDRESSING LAND FRAGMENTATION AND WATER RELATED ISSUES, AND THEN FINALLY HORTICULTURE, IN WHICH WE ARE CONCENTRATING ON COMMERCIAL AS WELL AS RESIDENTIAL GARDENING.

I MEAN, THAT'S A THAT'S A LONG LIST WORTHY EDUCATION GOALS.

I DON'T CHALLENGE ANY OF THAT.

MY CONCERN IS JUST THE THE PRICE TAG HERE ON ON THIS CONSTRUCTION AND WHETHER WHETHER IT'S NECESSARY AND WHETHER IT'S NECESSARY TODAY. RIGHT.

OBVIOUSLY IT'S A MY MY POINT EARLIER.

YOU GUYS HAVE DONE A LOT OBVIOUSLY USING YOUR YOUR EXISTING THE CLASSROOM SPACE AND YOU PLANTED AND HARVESTED 25,000 POUNDS. YOU SAID ON ON THAT PROPERTY IF LESS OF THAT FOOTPRINT WAS UTILIZED FOR CONSTRUCTION AND PARKING, THEN ACTUALLY WE COULD DO MORE ACTUAL FARMING ON IT, CORRECT? THERE IS SPACE DEDICATED TO TEACHING GARDENS, AND THAT SPACE COULD BE DEDICATED TO FOOD PRODUCTION AS WELL.

AND WE STRONGLY FEEL THAT THROUGH THROUGH A PRACTICAL APPROACH TO EDUCATION, THAT WE CAN HELP IMPROVE THE HEALTH INDICATORS IN THE FUTURE OF THOSE THAT LIVE IN BEXAR COUNTY.

OKAY. JUST TRYING TO THINK IF I HAD ANYTHING ELSE AT THIS TIME.

AGAIN, I JUST WANT TO REITERATE, I THINK THE THE GOALS ARE ALL WORTHY.

IT'S JUST, AGAIN, THE THE THE COST OF THIS CONSTRUCTION AND AND WEIGHING THAT IN THE BALANCE.

WE HAD A GREAT CONVERSATION A WEEK AGO ABOUT OUR, OUR CURRENT DEBT LOAD AND HOW WE'RE GOING TO START TO BRING THAT DOWN OVER TIME AND HOW WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A MORATORIUM ON NEW BOND ISSUANCES.

AND ULTIMATELY, THAT MEANS US TAKING A A MORE NUANCED APPROACH AND REEVALUATING SOME OF THE PROJECTS, MAYBE THAT, YOU KNOW, WE'RE ON AUTOPILOT AND APPROVE YEARS AGO AND KIND OF CONTINUE TO TO THINK ABOUT IN A NEW LIGHT BASED ON OUR CURRENT DEBT AND OUR CURRENT DEBT TO CAPITA.

DOES THIS STILL REACH THE BAR TODAY, OR IS IT SOMETHING THAT MAYBE WE SHOULD THINK ABOUT PUSHING BACK? OR ONE OF MY FAVORITE TERMS FROM MY ENGINEER FRIENDS THE VALUE ENGINEERING OF THE PROJECT IN TERMS OF INSTEAD OF 11 MILLION, HOW CAN WE FIGURE OUT HOW TO DO SOMETHING SCALE BACK AND AT A PRICE POINT THAT WOULD BE MORE MANAGEABLE? I DON'T KNOW. DAN, DO YOU HAVE ANY THOUGHTS ON THAT FRONT? LET ME LET ME.

COMMISSIONER RUDY, IF YOU ALLOW ME, LET ME LET ME TAKE WHAT I HEAR COMMISSIONER MOODY SAY AND ASK THESE QUESTIONS THAT I WOULD LIKE CLARITY ON. ONE OF THE THINGS IS OBVIOUSLY BY ITS NAME, URBAN FARM.

AND I'VE BEEN OUT THERE.

COMMISSIONER CALVERT, YOU INVITED ME TO AN EVENT.

VERY IMPRESSIVE AGRI LIFE.

YOU WERE THERE, AND I COULD SEE THAT THE POTENTIAL OF THIS PARTICULAR AREA AND BEING AN URBAN FARM, ESPECIALLY THE FACT THAT DURING SEVERAL YEARS AGO Y'ALL WERE ABLE TO PRODUCE 25,000 POUNDS WORTH OF FOOD, ESPECIALLY FOR THAT PARTICULAR AREA, THE EAST SIDE.

NOT NOT FOR THE WHOLE COUNTY, WELL, THE WHOLE COUNTY, BUT OBVIOUSLY IT WOULD BE EASILY ACCESSIBLE FOR THE AREAS OF OUR COUNTY THAT WHAT WE CALL FOOD DESERTS THAT DON'T HAVE ACCESS TO FRESH VEGETABLES, FRESH FRUIT, WHICH I FEEL IS A VERY VIABLE INVESTMENT FROM A SOCIAL DETERMINANTS, NUTRITION, HEALTH, AND THEN FROM AN EDUCATIONAL COMPONENT.

ALL RIGHT. AND SO I SEE THAT MY QUESTION THEN WAS HOW DID YOU PRODUCE 25? DID YOU? WAS IT AGRILIFE DURING THE LABOR? WAS IT YOUR VOLUNTEERS THAT DID IT, OR DID YOU SUB TO A FARMER OR PERSON THAT ACTUALLY DID THAT? HOW DID HOW DID Y'ALL COME ABOUT WITH THAT IMPRESSIVE AMOUNT OF OF VEGETABLES?

[03:40:03]

IT WAS ACTUALLY EACH ONE OF OUR STAFF MEMBERS AS WELL AS OUR MASTER GARDENER VOLUNTEERS.

AND DURING THAT TIME WE WEREN'T ABLE TO HAVE MORE THAN TEN VOLUNTEERS ON HAND AT A TIME DUE TO THE PANDEMIC.

SO IT MOSTLY FELL ON EMPLOYEES.

SO THE MAINTAIN AND HARVEST THE FRUITS AND VEGETABLES AS WELL AS PREPARE THEM FOR DONATION.

SO AT THAT TIME AND YOU SAID THIS WAS DURING THE PANDEMIC PERIOD, CORRECT? YES, SIR. AND SO THIS WAS OBVIOUSLY AN EFFORT BY BOTH EMPLOYEES, YOUR VOLUNTEERS, LIMITED AS IT MAY BE, AND WHOEVER ELSE.

AND ALSO, I WOULD PRESUME, THE COUNTY INVESTMENT AS TO AN URBAN FARM.

CORRECT? YES.

ALL RIGHT. AND OBVIOUSLY BECAUSE OF THE PHASES.

NOW LET ME ASK THIS.

AND MAYBE THIS GOES TO DAN, THIS IS PHASE THREE.

SO FOR PURPOSES OF FOR MYSELF, SINCE I'M IN MY SECOND YEAR, THIS SEEMS TO BE A PROJECT THAT WAS APPROVED.

HOW LONG AGO AND HOW MANY PHASES ARE WE IN? I MEAN, YOU'RE SAYING THIS IS PHASE THREE? NEXT QUESTION IS HOW MANY MORE PHASES ARE COMING ONLINE OR GOING TO BE BROUGHT BACK TO THE COURT IN ORDER TO FIGURE OUT THE COST. COST? THE STARTED AS A KIND OF A REVISIONING OF MINGO CREEK, AND IT WENT ALONG WITH A BOND PROJECT THE CITY DID FOR A NEW CITY PARK RIGHT ACROSS WALTER STREET. I WANT TO SAY IN 2018, 2019, WE WE HAD MONEY.

WE DID THE MASTER PLAN FOR THIS.

WE ACQUIRED THE PROPERTY.

SO FIVE, SIX YEARS.

RIGHT. AND SO THAT MASTER PLAN HAD FIVE PHASES IN IT THAT INCLUDE SO WE'RE IN PHASE THREE.

WE'RE KIND OF 60% THROUGH THE DESIGN.

FUTURE PHASES WILL DO THE REST.

WE'RE KIND OF WORKING ON THE PROPERTY FROM PLAN LIKE WEST TO EAST.

AND SO WE'LL JUST CONTINUE TO WORK THAT DIRECTION.

I BELIEVE IN 2122 COMMISSIONER CALVERT HAD PUT IN OUR, OUR FISCAL OR CAPITAL BUDGET THE FULL FUNDING FOR THE MASTER PLAN.

SO WE'RE JUST FOLLOWING THE PROTOCOL WITH WE HAVE A FULLY FUNDED PROJECT.

SO WE HAVE A NEED. WE WE DELIVER IT.

I UNDERSTAND COMPLETELY WHAT COMMISSIONER RUDY'S TALKING ABOUT.

THERE'S OTHER THINGS. CAN I HOLD ON? HOLD ON, MR. COHEN. SO AND OUT OF RESPECT FOR THE PREDECESSOR COURT AND THE PRIOR DECISIONS, THIS IS ALL PART OF A MASTER PLAN THAT THE PRIOR COURT HAS APPROVED.

WITHOUT A DOUBT. YES. ALL RIGHT.

SO AS FACILITIES, YOU'RE JUST FOLLOWING THROUGH ON WHAT YOU WERE DIRECTED BY THE PRIOR COURT.

ALL RIGHT. WHAT I HEAR COMMISSIONER MOODIE IS SAYING IS OBVIOUSLY BECAUSE OF COST AND RISING COSTS, THOSE THOSE THINGS HAVE BECOME MORE EXPENSIVE. SO MY QUESTION IS, IS COUNTY JUDGE AT THIS TIME, IN ORDER TO DETERMINE THE UTILITY AND THE RETURN OF INVESTMENT ON THIS PARTICULAR PROJECT, WHAT IS THIS PROJECT GOING TO BE? IS IT GOING TO BE AN URBAN FARM THAT CAN PRODUCE 25,000 OR MORE POUNDS OF FRESH VEGETABLES FOR THE COUNTY? OR IS IT GOING TO REALLY BE A COUNTY GARDEN, URBAN GARDEN, OR IS IT REALLY GOING TO BE AN URBAN CENTER THAT WILL FOCUS ON ALL THE EDUCATIONAL PIECES FOR THE COMMUNITY, ESPECIALLY FOR THE YOUTH, WHICH I CERTAINLY SEE A VALUE FOR US.

I SEE A RETURN, BUT THOSE ARE THREE DIFFERENT FUNCTIONALITIES FOR THIS PARTICULAR PROJECT.

SO I'D LIKE TO KNOW AT THIS POINT WHAT AND MR. CALVERT I'D LIKE TO ANSWER.

I'LL YIELD THE FLOOR, BUT I JUST WANTED TO PUT THAT ON THE RECORD AS TO WHAT EXACTLY IS THIS PROJECT GOING TO ULTIMATELY BE IN ORDER SO THAT COMMISSIONER MOODIE, WHOSE QUESTION IS HOW MUCH IS IT GOING TO COST? AND WE HAVE ALL THESE OTHER OTHER VENUES IN THE COUNTY THAT CAN DO SIMILAR THINGS.

SO, COMMISSIONER, I'LL YIELD TO YOU.

THANK YOU SO MUCH, JUDGE.

FAIR QUESTIONS.

FIRST, I DON'T WANT US TO MISS THE FOREST FOR THE TREES.

WE ARE PAYING $165,000 A YEAR AND CLIMBING IN RENT, WHICH MEANS THAT WE PAY FOR THIS BUILDING IN FIVE YEARS.

OR IF YOU CONTINUE RENTING AS YOU HAVE BEEN AS A AS A COUNTY FOR A LONG TIME, THEN YOU ARE ACTUALLY INCREASING THE COST OF THE TAXPAYERS.

PART OF THE REASON WE BUILT THE PERMANENT STRUCTURE WAS BECAUSE WE WANTED TO BE ABLE TO NOT HAVE TO RENT ANYMORE, AND SO WE'RE SAVING TAXPAYERS ON ON THAT IN PARTICULAR.

SO YOU KNOW, I CAN NAIL THIS SPEAK IN TERMS OF, YOU KNOW, THE OVERALL FUTURE VISION.

BUT THE NEXT PHASE, I THINK THERE'S ONLY FOUR PHASES, NOT FIVE PHASES.

AND THE FOURTH PHASE IS THE ACTUAL EVENT CENTER, WHICH IS A REVENUE GENERATOR.

AND IN AN EVENT CENTER, AS A GROWING COUNTY, THE COUNTY WOULD ACTUALLY MAKE MONEY QUITE A BIT OF MONEY.

AND WE CAN WE CAN WORK ON PROJECTIONS FOR THAT.

BUT IN ANY EVENT, I'LL LET YOU TALK ABOUT KIND OF THE FUTURE VISION.

NELDA, CAN I JUST CORRECT.

[03:45:02]

GO AHEAD. COMMISSIONER. JUST JUST A QUESTION OF MATH, THOUGH.

IF WE'RE AT 165,000, EVEN IF IT WAS 200,000, IT WOULD TAKE 50 YEARS, RIGHT, TO, TO PAY OFF MORE THAN 50 YEARS TO, TO PAY OFF THIS LEASE COST VERSUS CAPITAL.

WE LOOK AT THE DEBT SERVICE PAYMENTS.

YEAH. WHAT DOES THAT BUY YOU IN DEBT SERVICE.

YEAH. AGAIN THIS WASN'T INTENDED TO BE PURELY AN OFFSET.

AGAIN, WE DESIGNED THIS PROJECT TO INCORPORATE ALL OF LIFE'S NEEDS AND SOME OF THEIR DESIRES FOR FUTURE EXPANSION OF THEIR PROGRAM.

SO DEMONSTRATION KITCHENS AND OTHER THINGS THAT THEY DON'T DO NOW THAT THEY CAN'T DO LATER TO BETTER SERVE THE COMMUNITY.

I'M SORRY. WAS THAT 165 A MONTH OR A YEAR? A YEAR? OKAY, I APOLOGIZE, I CALCULATED AS AS A MONTH.

MY APOLOGIES, BUT OKAY.

GO AHEAD. AND I ALSO WANTED TO MENTION AS I MENTIONED EARLIER, IN TERMS OF HEALTH INDICATORS AND IMPROVING BEXAR COUNTY'S HEALTH INDICATORS THROUGH EDUCATION, I WOULD HOPE THAT THERE WOULD BE HEALTH CARE SAVINGS BY IMPROVING THOSE HEALTH EDUCATORS THROUGH EDUCATION.

AND I WOULD SAY THAT THE COURT ALSO IS DEALING WITH INFLATION IN HELPING PEOPLE WHO ARE WORKING CLASS WITH THE COST OF FOOD.

I DON'T THINK THERE'S ANY PLACE THAT WE GO THAT PEOPLE AREN'T COMPLAINING ABOUT HOW EXPENSIVE FOOD IS, AND IT'S ACTUALLY HAVING QUITE A BURDEN ON THE FOOD BANK AND OTHER SOCIAL SERVICES AND POCKETBOOKS.

SO WITH RESPECT TO THE AMOUNT, I THINK THAT THE COMMISSIONERS COURT IS ASKING YOU NOW TO DO YOU ANTICIPATE MORE THAN EVEN IF YOU ONLY HAD AN ACRE, YOU'RE STILL YOU STILL PRODUCED ABOUT 25,000 POUNDS OF FOOD, WHICH AT LEAST.

BUT YOU ACTUALLY HAVE MORE.

AND THAT WAS JUST IN A SHORT.

YES, YOU ACTUALLY HAVE PLANTING THREE ACRES, I THINK, OF FARMLAND THAT'S AVAILABLE.

CORRECT. AND THAT WAS ONLY TWO PLANTINGS A YEAR.

YEAH, WE WERE PLANTING THROUGHOUT THE YEAR.

WE COULD EASILY DO MORE THAN THAT.

CORRECT. IT'S BEEN A CONSTRUCTION SITE.

SO YOU COULDN'T BE ON THE SITE AS MUCH AS YOU WANTED TO.

SO WE'RE TALKING ABOUT YIELDS OF HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF POUNDS OF FOOD AT A TIME.

PEOPLE ARE COMPLAINING.

YES. SO THIS IS ONE OF THE FEW TIMES I THINK THE COURT IS ABLE TO PUT A LITTLE BIT OF MONEY SAVINGS INTO WORKING CLASS FAMILIES POCKETS.

THERE'S ALSO AN IMPORTANT UNIVERSITY HEALTH CONSIDERATION WHERE WE HAVE BEEN PARTNERING WITH UNIVERSITY TO PROVIDE FOOD FOR THE CARELINK AND THE INDIGENT THAT END UP HAVING FREQUENT FLIER OUTCOMES INTO THE COUNTY HOSPITAL AND CLINICS.

AND SO AND WE'RE ALREADY PLANNING FUTURE FARMERS MARKETS IN EACH ONE OF THE PRECINCTS ONCE WE START FOOD PRODUCTION AGAIN, THE THE STATE OF TEXAS HAS I THINK IF THE COURT WENT THE OTHER WAY, IT WOULD SEND A VERY ODD SIGNAL TO THE STATE OF TEXAS, WHICH HAS ALREADY GIVEN US THE TEXAS A&M SUPERIOR LEADERSHIP AWARD, WHICH IS A TOP AWARD IN THE STATE FOR THE VISION OF THIS URBAN FARM. AND WE WON A NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF COUNTIES NATIONAL ACHIEVEMENT AWARD.

BECAUSE OF THE OUTCOMES, NOT, YOU KNOW, NOT FOR ANY FRIVOLOUS REASON.

OTHER STATEWIDE AND COUNTY LEADERS ARE LOOKING AT THIS.

ACTUALLY, WHAT THEY SAY IS THIS WILL BE THE PREMIER ONE IN THE IN THE STATE OF TEXAS.

IS THAT CORRECT? YES.

OKAY. SO LOOKING FORWARD TO IT.

SO IN ANY WAY, IN ANY EVENT, THERE WOULD BE, I THINK, A SAVINGS AND AN INCREASE TO OUR TAXPAYERS IN TERMS OF WHAT THEY CAN GET OUT OF IT.

AND IT'S NOT AN EASTSIDE THING.

THIS IS EVERYONE IN THE COUNTY.

AND IN FACT, WE ALSO SUPPLIED THE FOOD BANK, WHICH BENEFITS EVERYBODY IN THE COUNTY.

AND I THINK I WOULD BE DOING IT A DISSERVICE IF I SAID IT WAS GOING TO BE ONE THING.

IT'S GOING TO BE SO MANY THINGS TO SO MANY PEOPLE, WHETHER THAT BE EDUCATION, WHETHER THAT BE FOOD PRODUCTION, SO MANY MORE THAN JUST ONE THING.

BUT LET ME BRING UP THIS POINT FROM THIS CONVERSATION, BECAUSE THIS OBVIOUSLY IT'S I'M LOOKING BACK AT THIS POINT IN 2020, HINDSIGHT AS TO WHERE YOU ALL STARTED, WHERE YOU BEEN AND WHERE YOU'RE AT NOW AND WHERE YOU'RE ALL GOING.

AND I THINK THAT'S THE QUESTION THAT COMMISSIONER MOODY IS, WHERE ARE YOU ALL GOING AND HOW MUCH IS IT GOING TO COST? I'M STRUCK WITH THE FACT THAT IF WE'RE MOVING, I CAN SEE THE RETURN ON INVESTMENT OF, OKAY, WE'RE GETTING PEOPLE OUT OF A LEASE.

COUNTY EMPLOYEES, OUT OF LEASE SPACE INTO A CAPITAL AND A CAPITAL PROJECT.

UNDERSTOOD. WE'RE SAVING RENT.

HOWEVER, AS WE MOVE FORWARD WITH THE PHASE FOUR OR PHASE FIVE, WHATEVER, HOW MANY PHASES THEY'RE GOING, MY QUESTION OUT LOUD TO DAN IS IT APPEARS THAT THEN IT BECOMES AN EVENT, ESPECIALLY WITH AN EVENT CENTER, AS IT'S BEEN PROPOSED UNDER THIS MASTER PLAN DOES NOT DOESN'T JUST CHANGE FROM AN URBAN FARM TO A COUNTY PARK.

AND IF IT'S A COUNTY PARK, ISN'T IT? CREATING ISSUES, ESPECIALLY IF WE'RE RUNNING PROGRAMS, ESPECIALLY STUDENTS AND MASTER GARDENERS OR MASTER FARM, WHATEVER YOU'RE YOU'RE

[03:50:05]

GOING TO HAVE LIABILITY ISSUES IF WE'RE RUNNING PUBLIC EVENTS OUT THERE, ESPECIALLY FOR PROFIT.

AND SO I'M JUST ASKING THE COURT TO LOOK AT IT ESPECIALLY I'M JUST LOOKING AT FROM MY BACKGROUND AS AN ATTORNEY, AS A FORMER JUDGE, YOU GOT TO BE CAREFUL HOW YOU FRAME THESE.

SO I AM TOTALLY COMMITTED TO AN URBAN FARM.

I TOTALLY COMMITTED TO AN URBAN GARDEN.

IF IT'S IN AN OBVIOUSLY INTEGRATED WITH HELPING OUR YOUTH, ESPECIALLY FROM EDUCATIONAL.

I'M ALSO A FARM BOY, SO I RESPECT THE LIFE AND THE THE THE VIRTUES OF BEING IN TILLING THE EARTH, SO TO SPEAK. SO THAT'S THE REASON WHY I THINK I WOULD ASK, AND I DON'T THINK IT'S GERMANE FOR TODAY'S DISCUSSION IN ORDER TO SEE IF THE RETURN, I SEE THE RETURN FOR AN ADMIN BUILDING, BUT I WOULD ASK FACILITIES AND THIS COURT TO REALLY LOOK AT WHAT THIS PIECE OF PROPERTY THAT IS OBVIOUSLY AND I AGREE, IT'S IT'S FOR THE ENTIRE COUNTY, BUT IT IS REALLY LOCATED IN THE DEEP EAST SIDE OF THE ESPECIALLY ALONG THE RAILROAD TRACKS THERE.

SO I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WHATEVER CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS WE MAKE FIT WHAT THE PURPOSE IS AND WHAT THE TRUE AND WHAT THE AGRILIFE PEOPLE DO DAY IN AND DAY OUT.

DOES THAT MAKE SENSE TO YOU, DAN? ABSOLUTELY. SO I DON'T MEAN TO PUT THE ISSUE IN A BOX, BUT TODAY WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE AGRILIFE FACILITY, THE BUILDING.

WE KNOW THAT THERE NEEDS TO BE FUTURE CONVERSATIONS ABOUT FUTURE PHASES AND WHAT EXACTLY THAT IS AND HOW BIG IT IS AND ALL THOSE THINGS.

MAYBE WE NEED TO TAKE A STEP BACK FROM THAT, BRING THOSE DISCUSSIONS TO YOU GUYS AS A COURT SO YOU AS THIS BODY CAN OPINE ON THOSE THINGS BECAUSE YOU DIDN'T HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO DO THAT BEFORE AND GIVE US DIRECTION ON HOW YOU WANT TO PROCEED.

SO BECAUSE I THINK WHAT COMMISSIONER MOODY IS BRINGING UP AS A POINT, AND I PUT KIND OF A FINAL STATEMENT IS, IS THIS CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROJECT THAT WE'RE ASKED TO APPROVE TODAY? DOES IT FIT THE PURPOSE OF WHAT FROM THE DISCUSSION? OR IS THAT SOMETHING YOU ALL ARE GOING TO TAKE BACK? NO, I BELIEVE LOOK, AS TO THE SIZE OF THIS PROJECT.

DOES IT DOES IT MEET THE NEEDS, EVEN FUTURE NEEDS OF AGRILIFE AND WHAT THIS COMMUNITY NEEDS, ESPECIALLY IF WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO CALL IT AN URBAN FARM. I REALLY WANT TO BE TRUE TO ITS PURPOSE.

I REALLY WOULD LOVE TO SEE AN URBAN FARM, BECAUSE I SEE IT AS AN OPPORTUNITY TO REALLY CHANGE THE THE COMMUNITY.

AND I REALIZE, COMMISSIONER, YOU'RE SAYING IT IS THAT LARGE, BUT I SEE THIS AS A TREMENDOUS OPPORTUNITY FOR THE EAST SIDE, AND I WILL SUPPORT IT, ESPECIALLY IF IT HELPS THAT PARTICULAR AREA, ESPECIALLY IF WE CONSIDER THAT AREA OF WHAT WE CALL A FOOD DESERT, WHICH IS A.

SO IT'S ONE OF THE ISSUES, SOCIAL DETERMINANTS OF WHAT WE NEED TO DO TO BRING PEOPLE OUT OF GENERATIONAL POVERTY.

JUST MY POINT.

SURE. I JUST I LAY IT ON THE TABLE FOR THE COURT.

COMMISSIONER MOODY I APPRECIATE THE JUDGE'S THOUGHT PROCESS THERE BECAUSE TO ME, WE'RE STARTING TO MAKE DECISIONS ABOUT WHICH DIRECTION THIS THING IS GOING, RIGHT? BECAUSE WE COULD EXPAND THE FOOTPRINT FOR THE ACTUAL PLOT THAT WE'RE WE'RE FARMING, YOU KNOW, TWO, THREE FOLD.

OR WE CAN START BUILDING AND BUILD OFFICE SPACE.

AND THEN ULTIMATELY, THERE'S ANOTHER DECISION POINT ABOUT AN EVENT CENTER DOWN THE ROAD.

RIGHT? BUT I THINK THIS IS A FIRST DECISION IN TERMS OF WHAT THIS FOOTPRINT IS GOING TO LOOK LIKE.

AND WE'RE WE'RE PUTTING MORE CONCRETE AND ASPHALT AND LESS, YOU KNOW, CARROTS AND WATERMELONS OUT THERE.

SO THAT WOULD BE MY MY FIRST POINT.

I MEAN, WE ALSO NEED TO BE REALISTIC ABOUT, YOU KNOW, 25,000 POUNDS IS, IS IS GREAT AND IT'S, IT'S VALUE ADD.

BUT, I MEAN, I'M SURE HEB GOES THROUGH MILLIONS, IF NOT TENS OF MILLIONS OF POUNDS OF VEGETABLES, FRUITS IN JUST IN BEXAR COUNTY OVER THE COURSE OF A YEAR. RIGHT? I MEAN, JUST MASSIVE AMOUNTS BECAUSE THERE'S HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF ACRES OUT THERE THAT ARE FARMING AND PUTTING FOOD ON ON OUR TABLES, RIGHT? NOT TO TAKE AWAY FROM THE EDUCATIONAL VALUE.

RIGHT. BUT AGAIN, WHAT'S THE PURPOSE? RIGHT. ARE WE REALLY TRYING TO TO SAY WE'RE WE'RE, YOU KNOW, ADDING ADDITIONAL PRODUCE ON AND GETTING THOSE FRESH FRUITS.

IS IT? WE'RE TRYING TO TEACH KIDS THAT, YOU KNOW, THERE'S VALUE IN GOING OUT AND TILLING THE LAND AND MAKING THEM FAMILIAR WITH WITH FARMING PRACTICES, YOU KNOW, OR OR IS IT A REAL ESTATE DEAL THAT WE THINK THAT IT'S BETTER TO TO GO AHEAD AND INVEST IN THIS REAL ESTATE NOW, EVEN THOUGH CONSTRUCTION COSTS ARE EXTREMELY HIGH VERSUS KEEPING THE ONGOING LEASE PAYMENTS COMING OUT OF THE COUNTY BUDGET.

SO, YOU KNOW, THOSE ARE ALL TRADE OFFS.

[03:55:03]

BUT YOU KNOW, I THINK THAT WE ULTIMATELY HAVE TO MAKE THOSE DECISIONS ABOUT WHAT'S WHAT THE WHAT THE VALUE IS. AND I THINK THE MOST IMPORTANT THING FOR ME IS EVERYTHING THAT YOU HAVE DONE IN TERMS OF PROVIDING THAT, THAT FOOD AND ALL THE EDUCATION THAT IS TAKING PLACE TODAY, ALL OF THAT CAN CONTINUE AND EXPAND WITHOUT THIS CONSTRUCTION PROJECT.

SO I DON'T THINK THAT WE HAVE TO TIE THOSE TWO TOGETHER.

I THINK THAT THAT JUST AS IT'S BEEN DONE IN THE PAST, YOU CAN CONTINUE TO DO THAT AND DO MORE OF THAT.

AND I WOULD SUPPORT THAT.

YOU KNOW, I'M JUST NOT SURE ABOUT THE AN $11 MILLION CAPITAL EXPENDITURE.

GOING DOWN A DIFFERENT PATH HERE ON THIS FOOTPRINT.

AGAIN, I WAS NEVER PART OF THE ORIGINAL CONVERSATION.

BUT THIS IS KIND OF THE FIRST TIME WE'VE REALLY DOVE INTO IT.

AND IT'S IN LIGHT OF OUR CONVERSATION LAST WEEK AROUND OUR DEBT AND OUR DEBT TO DEBT PER CAPITA HERE IN BEXAR COUNTY.

AND SO LAST QUESTION, HAVE WE LOOKED AT ANY KIND OF VALUE ENGINEERING OPPORTUNITIES? WE DO THAT THROUGH THE ENTIRE DESIGN OF THE PROJECT.

EVERY PROJECT WE DO, WE HAVE A WAYPOINTS IN THAT PROJECT, 30, 50, 90% WHERE WE LOOK AT THOSE PLANS AND TALK ABOUT HOW, YOU KNOW, COULD THE BUILDING ELEVATION BE SMALLER.

SO THIS BUILDING IN PARTICULAR, WE STARTED WITH A, YOU KNOW, A 19 FOOT SIDEWALL.

WE REDUCED THAT TO 15FT BECAUSE WE DON'T NEED 19FT.

THERE'S THERE'S NO SECOND STORY.

SO WE WERE ABLE TO DO SOME OF THOSE THINGS IN THE VERY BEGINNING OF THE DESIGN TO BRING SOME OF THE STEEL COSTS DOWN, SOME OF THE AIR CONDITIONING COSTS DOWN, SOME OF THOSE THINGS. WE DO THAT THROUGH EVERY PROJECT.

WE HAVE TO LOOK BACK AT THE LOG TO SEE EXACTLY WHAT WE DID.

BUT WE WOULD BRING A PROJECT TO YOU GUYS UNLESS WE PUT IT THROUGH THE WRINGER, SO TO SPEAK.

OKAY. JUDGE.

ALL RIGHT. JUDGE. YES, COMMISSIONER.

YEAH. I JUST I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO ADVANCE THE BE GOOD STEWARDS OF TAXPAYERS DOLLARS IN ADVANCE.

THE AG EXTENSION SERVICE INTO THE 21ST CENTURY.

AND I THINK THIS IS GOING TO BE IT ALREADY IS AN INCREDIBLY POPULAR PROJECT IN THE EYES OF VOTERS.

THE COURT SHOULD BE AWARE THAT AS A CONSULTANT TO MANY ELECTED OFFICIALS, I REMEMBER THE FIRST LARGE MEETING I EVER HAD AS A DEPUTY CAMPAIGN MANAGER FOR FORMER MAYOR JULIAN CASTRO WAS FOR ANIMAL SERVICES, AND 400 PEOPLE SHOWED UP FOR THAT MEETING.

THERE IS A LARGE CONSTITUENCY ACROSS THE COUNTY WHO SUPPORTS THESE PARTICULAR ACTIVITIES AND THE COUNTY MOVING FORWARD FOR THESE PARTICULAR ACTIVITIES? WHEN IT COMES TO ANIMALS AND ALL THOSE KINDS OF THINGS.

I MEAN, THAT'S WHY THE RODEO IS SO BIG AND THEY'RE BIG SUPPORTERS OF OF PARTNERING WITH THIS COMMUNITY, WHICH THEY HAVE BIG FOOTPRINT IN.

WE NEED TO BE VERY IT'S IT'S GOOD TO HAVE THE DIALOG AND BE OPEN.

BUT I'M CONCERNED ABOUT THE PRINCIPLE OF RECIPROCITY THAT MOST PEOPLE TAKE VERY SERIOUSLY WITH RESPECT TO A LEGISLATIVE BODY ENTRUSTING THE ELECTED WHO HAS BEEN THERE FOR THE MEETINGS TO CARRY FORWARD.

GOOD STEWARDSHIP.

I HAVE PROJECTS THAT HAVE CREATED FUNDS FOR THIS COUNTY.

WE JUST SAW A $10 MILLION GRANT THAT I BROUGHT TO THIS COUNTY.

I DON'T SEE MANY OTHERS BRINGING THOSE KINDS OF GRANT OPPORTUNITIES.

I JUST WOULD SAY THAT WHETHER IT'S THE PUBLIC INFRASTRUCTURE DISTRICTS THAT WE JUST CREATED WITH NEW HOUSING, WITH NEW REVENUE THAT HAS COME TO THE COUNTY YOU KNOW, IT'S MY EFFORTS ON THIS COURT ARE NOT CAUSING THE COUNTY TO BE IN DEBT, NOT EVEN CLOSE.

AND I WILL REMIND THE COURT THAT IN THE CONVERSATION AROUND DEBT COMMISSIONER MOODY, YOU INDICATED THAT COMMISSIONERS SHOULD HAVE THE AUTHORITY TO DETERMINE WHAT PROJECTS THEY DO IN THEIR PRECINCTS.

SO, YOU KNOW I FEEL A LITTLE BIT OF A WORRY WHEN WE'VE SPENT MILLIONS AND MILLIONS OF DOLLARS THROUGHOUT THIS MEETING.

WE JUST SPENT, YOU KNOW, AN IMPORTANT THING FOR THE DA'S OFFICE.

BUT WE JUST SPENT $10 MILLION ON IT.

AND THEN WE'RE QUESTIONING, YOU KNOW, SOMETHING THAT WILL END UP MAKING REVENUE, POTENTIALLY FOR THE COUNTY.

SO IN ANY EVENT, THAT IS JUST A CONCERN THAT I THINK A LOT OF CITIZENS HAVE.

BUT I THINK I THINK NELDA, FOR ADMINISTRATING AN INCREDIBLE PROGRAM AND I AM PRAYERFUL THAT, THAT, THAT WE WILL CONTINUE TO SEE IT BLOSSOM PUN INTENDED IN THE WAY THAT I THINK THE STATE WANTS TO SEE IT BLOSSOM.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH. ALL RIGHT.

ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? IS THERE A MOTION? MOTION.

MOTION BY COMMISSIONER CALVERT.