Sep 04, 2024 Commissioners Court Work Session

[00:00:03]

ALL RIGHT, HERE WE GO.

GOOD MORNING. I'D LIKE TO WELCOME EVERYONE TO THE BEXAR COUNTY COMMISSIONERS COURT BUDGET WORK SESSION MEETING FOR SEPTEMBER 4TH, 2020.

FOR TODAY'S BUDGET WORK SESSION, WE'LL HEAR FROM THE FOLLOWING COUNTY DEPARTMENTS LED BY ELECTED OFFICIALS, ELECTED OR APPOINTED OFFICIALS.

FIRST, I BELIEVE WE'LL GO WITH PUBLIC DEFENDER, SHERIFF CONSTABLE'S JUSTICE, PEACE, CRIMINAL DISTRICT COURTS, COUNTY COURTS OF LAW, DISTRICT CLERK'S OFFICE.

AT THIS TIME WE WILL TAKE UP AGENDA ITEM ONE, WHICH IS PUBLIC COMMENT CITIZENS TO BE HEARD.

I HAVE ONLY ONE PERSON SIGNED UP AT THIS TIME.

AND LANCE AARON, YOU HAVE THREE MINUTES.

YOU MAY PROCEED.

LANCE. AARON, WHERE ARE YOU? WHERE ARE YOU KNOW? LANCE. AARON.

ONCE, TWICE.

ALL RIGHT. WE MAY TAKE IT UP IF HE SHOULD REAPPEAR.

ALL RIGHT. WELL, THEN GO INTO OUR PRESENTATIONS.

[2. Presentations and discussion regarding the proposed Bexar County Fiscal Year 2024-25 Operating and Capital Budget related to appropriations and/or capital expenditures for the following County offices and departments: a. Public Defender's Office b. Sheriff c. Constables (all) d. Justices of the Peace (all) e. Criminal District Courts f. County Courts-at-Law g. District Clerk's Office (Part 1 of 2)]

AND DO YOU HAVE ANY HANDOUTS? I PRESENTED A POWERPOINT, OR I HAD A POWERPOINT.

WHAT'S THAT? OH, IT'S GOING TO COME UP ALL RIGHT.

GOOD MORNING. JUDGE.

COMMISSIONERS, I AM KERRY MALLON.

I AM THE NEW CHIEF PUBLIC DEFENDER.

STILL FEELS A LITTLE STRANGE TO SAY THAT, BUT I'M VERY EXCITED TO BE HERE.

I AM REQUESTING 14 PUBLIC DEFENDER POSITIONS.

I BELIEVE THAT WILL GET THE PUBLIC DEFENDER'S OFFICE TO THE BASELINE OF OPERATIONS.

ALMOST ONE PUBLIC DEFENDER IN EVERY COURTROOM, WHICH WOULD INCREASE THE REPRESENTATION FOR THE POOR AND MARGINALIZED PEOPLE OF THIS COMMUNITY, AND I THINK WILL BE MORE EFFICIENT AND COST SAVING FOR THE COUNTY, WHICH I KNOW IS IMPORTANT TO YOU ALL ALSO.

BUDGET HAS APPROVED NO POSITIONS AS OF YET.

THIS OFFICE STARTED IN 2005, SO ALMOST 20 YEARS.

AND ALTHOUGH THERE HAS BEEN SOME EXPANSION, THERE HAS NOT BEEN A LOT OF EXPANSION.

AND LIKE I SAID, I AM TRYING TO GET US TO THE BASELINE OF REPRESENTATION FOR INDIGENT DEFENSE.

I AM ASKING FOR FIVE PUBLIC DEFENDER, THREE POSITIONS, TWO FOR PRE-INDICTMENT COURT, THREE FOR CRIMINAL DISTRICT COURT, AND I AM ASKING FOR NINE PUBLIC DEFENDER COUNTY COURT POSITIONS.

I DID MAKE A MISTAKE IN MY POWERPOINT, I APOLOGIZE.

THANK YOU. I AM ASKING FOR SEVEN PUBLIC DEFENDER ONE POSITIONS AND TWO PUBLIC DEFENDER TWO POSITIONS, ALL WITHIN THE COUNTY COURT SYSTEM.

I TWO OF THOSE POSITIONS ARE REQUESTED BY TWO OF THE JUDGES FOR SPECIALTY COURTS.

AND IN ORDER TO BE A PUBLIC DEFENDER IN A SPECIALTY COURT, YOU NEED TO BE A PUBLIC DEFENDER TOO.

SO THAT IS A SMALL CHANGE TO MY POWERPOINT.

I'LL ADDRESS THOSE IN THE ORDER THAT I LISTED THEM FIRST FOR PRE-INDICTMENT COURT.

I DID SPEAK TO JUDGE NAJERA, AND HE IS REQUESTING TWO FULL TIME PUBLIC DEFENDERS IN PRE-INDICTMENT COURT.

HE HAS INDICATED TO ME THAT HE STRUGGLES WITH ATTORNEYS APPEARING IN PRE-INDICTMENT COURT, OR THEY ARE WAIVING THEIR APPEARANCE IN PRE-INDICTMENT COURT, WHICH LOSES AN OPPORTUNITY TO RESOLVE THE CASES BY HAVING FULL TIME PUBLIC DEFENDERS.

THERE, HE WOULD HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO REAPPOINT A PUBLIC DEFENDER.

IF THE ATTORNEY DOESN'T SHOW WELL, HOLD ON, WHERE'S THE MAC MANAGER ASSIGNED? COUNCIL, ARE YOU TALKING? NO, NO, I'M TALKING ABOUT IN YOUR PRESENTATION.

YOU'RE SAYING WE NEED TO PUT PUBLIC DEFENDERS INTO COURT.

THAT HAS COURT APPOINTED COUNSELS THAT ARE OVERSEEN BY THE MANAGED ASSIGNED COUNSEL.

SOME ARE COURT APPOINTED, AND THEY ARE EITHER WAIVING THE APPEARANCE OR NOT SHOWING UP.

AND HE HAS TROUBLE. WELL, LAWYERS ARE NOT SHOWING UP.

THAT'S MY UNDERSTANDING FROM JUDGE NAJERA.

WHY ISN'T THAT A DISCUSSION BETWEEN YOU AND THE MANAGE ASSIGNED COUNSEL AS OPPOSED TO ADDING MORE STAFF? I'M NOT TAKING AWAY YOUR REQUEST.

I'M JUST LIKE, WHY ISN'T THERE MORE COORDINATION BETWEEN YOUR OFFICE AND THE MANAGED ASSIGNED COUNSEL? BECAUSE WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TECHNICALLY TWO ATTORNEYS, AND I HAVE.

AND BEING A FORMER JUDGE, I HAVE THERE'S AN ISSUE OF WHO REPRESENTS WHO.

IF THEY HAVE MANAGED TO ASSIGN COUNSEL, COURT APPOINTED COUNSEL AND THEN A PUBLIC DEFENDER, WELL, THE JUDGE WHO'S GOING TO DO WHAT FROM A I'M LOOKING AT REPRESENTATION.

OTHERWISE THERE'S CONFUSION TO THE INDIVIDUAL DEFENDANT WHO'S LIKE, WELL, WHO'S MY LAWYER? ESPECIALLY A LAWYER WHO'S NOT SHOWING UP.

I UNDERSTAND THAT, JUDGE.

AND THAT'S WHY JUDGE NAJERA IS ASKING THAT WE BE PRESENT IN COURT SO HE COULD APPOINT US TO THE CASE INSTEAD OF THE PERSON ALREADY APPOINTED.

[00:05:02]

BUT CONTINUE. OKAY.

WITH TWO PUBLIC DEFENDERS IN PRE-INDICTMENT COURT, THAT WOULD GIVE US AN OPPORTUNITY TO DO THE LAWYERING.

LAWYERING THAT THE CLIENTS DESERVE AND ARE AND ARE ENTITLED TO UNDER THE CONSTITUTION RIGHT NOW.

IT TAKES 60 DAYS FOR THE CASES TO GET TO PRE-INDICTMENT COURT.

I SPOKE TO JUDGE RANGEL.

THAT'S JUST A TIMELINE THAT THEY CAME UP WITH.

IT'S NOT MANDATORY OR THERE'S NO REASON TO WAIT 60 DAYS.

IF WE HAVE TWO PUBLIC DEFENDERS IN PRE-INDICTMENT COURT, WE COULD SHORTEN THAT TIMELINE BECAUSE THEY WOULD BE THERE ALL THE TIME.

AND THEN WE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO RESOLVE CASES.

WE COULD AND WE ALSO HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO GET PEOPLE OUT OF JAIL.

WE COULD DO ASK FOR BOND REDUCTIONS.

WE COULD ASK FOR PR BONDS.

WE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO TRY TO RESOLVE THE CASES EVEN PRIOR TO INDICTMENT, WHICH COULD ALSO POTENTIALLY GET PEOPLE OUT OF JAIL.

DEFENDANTS ALSO HAVE THE RIGHT TO AN EXAMINING TRIAL PRIOR TO INDICTMENT.

IF WE HAVE PUBLIC DEFENDERS IN PRE-INDICTMENT COURT, WE CAN REQUEST THOSE EXAMINING TRIALS.

THAT'S BASICALLY A PROBABLE CAUSE HEARING.

BY FORCING THE STATE TO PRESENT THEIR CASE.

THAT GIVES THE JUDGE AN OPPORTUNITY TO SAY THERE IS NO PROBABLE CAUSE THAT COULD POSSIBLY LEAD TO A DISMISSAL, OR THE STATE TO LOOK AT THEIR CASE AND SAY THERE IS NO PROBABLE CAUSE, AND THAT COULD LEAD TO A DISMISSAL AS WELL, OR MOVE THE CASE TO GRAND JURY, WHICH ALL OF THESE THINGS MOVE THE CASES AND REDUCE THE JAIL POPULATION. WITH PUBLIC DEFENDERS IN PRE-INDICTMENT COURT, THERE WOULD BE FEWER RESETS BECAUSE THE DEFENDERS ARE THERE AND THEY ARE READY TO PROCEED ON ALL THE CASES.

I LOOKED AT THE NUMBERS AND.

IN JUNE AND JULY OF THIS YEAR, THERE WERE ABOUT 14 1400 CASES IN PRE-INDICTMENT COURT.

IF THE PUBLIC DEFENDER'S OFFICE HAS 10% OF THOSE CASES, WHICH IS WHERE WE TYPICALLY ARE IN THE COURT APPOINTED SYSTEM, 10 TO 12%, THAT'S 140 CASES. IF WE'RE ABLE TO RESOLVE JUST A THIRD OF THOSE CASES, EITHER BY PRE-INDICTMENT RESOLUTION EXAMINING TRIAL DISMISSAL FOR LACK OF PROBABLE CAUSE THAT COULD SAVE THE COUNTY $3,760 A DAY.

INMATES COST THE COUNTY $80 A DAY.

IF WE HAVE 47 INMATES AND WE'RE ABLE TO MOVE THE CASES TO 30 DAYS AS OPPOSED TO 60 DAYS, THAT HAS THE POTENTIAL TO SAVE THE COUNTY OVER $100,000 A MONTH.

POINT OF INQUIRY, JUDGE.

IN TERMS OF OTHER PLACES THAT ARE STAFFING AT THE LEVEL THAT YOU'RE REQUESTING.

HOW DO THEIR NUMBERS BEAR OUT IN TERMS OF THE ABILITY TO DISMISS CASES? IS THAT ARE THERE OTHER CASES AROUND THE STATE WHERE YOU CAN POINT TO AN OFFICE IN THE COUNTY, HAVING DISPOSED OF THEM AT THIS LEVEL? SURE. YOUR HONOR, I'M SORRY, COMMISSIONER, I'M USED TO BEING IN COURT.

YES. WITH PRE-INDICTMENT RESOLUTIONS, A LOT OF CASES CAN BE RESOLVED WITH A PLEA PRIOR TO INDICTMENT.

NO, I UNDERSTAND THAT. I'M JUST ASKING FOR.

WHERE IS THERE PROOF? IT'S A TRUST, BUT VERIFY.

SO I'M ASKING FOR, YOU KNOW, WHAT OTHER COUNTIES HAVE DONE THIS AND THAT YOU'VE SEEN.

I DO NOT HAVE THE NUMBERS, BUT I KNOW IT'S HAPPENING IN HARRIS COUNTY AND IN TRAVIS COUNTY.

OKAY. THANK YOU. IF YOU COULD, IF YOU COULD GET WITH YOUR COLLEAGUES IN THOSE OTHER PUBLIC DEFENDER'S OFFICES AND PROVIDE SOME OF THAT.

THAT WILL HELP.

ABSOLUTELY. I ABSOLUTELY WILL.

THANK YOU. JUDGE. SO THAT'S A POTENTIAL OF A HUGE SAVING INMATES ON OUR $80 A DAY.

AND THEN WITH IF THEY ARE AN INMATE WITH MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES, THAT CAN BE AS HIGH AS $250 A DAY.

SO JUST BY HAVING US THERE AND MOVING UP THE TIMELINE, 30 DAYS COULD BE A SIGNIFICANT SAVING FOR THE COUNTY, AS WELL AS HELPING CLIENTS GET THEIR CASES RESOLVED AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.

NOW, LET ME JUST ON THIS LINE OF INQUIRY TO JUDGE SAKAI'S POINT WITH RESPECT TO THE MANAGE ASSIGNED COUNSEL, IF IT'S WORKING BECAUSE IT'S NOT YOUR FAULT, BUT IT MAY BE THAT WE NEED TO CALL IN THE MANAGE ASSIGN COUNSEL TO LOOK AT THE OVERSIGHT THAT THERE TO THAT WE EXPECT THEM TO PUSH THOSE LAWYERS OR, YOU KNOW, DEAL WITH THE CONSEQUENCES TO SHOW UP IN COURT.

I THINK WE KIND OF HAVE TO LOOK AT A COST BENEFIT ANALYSIS OF WHETHER OR NOT WE ALREADY HAVE THAT PROTECTION, BUT IT'S JUST NEEDING TO BE TIGHTENED.

DOES THAT MAKE SENSE? YES, I THINK SO, COMMISSIONER.

BUT EVEN WITH MANAGE ASSIGNED COUNSEL, IF WE CONTINUE ON THE NUMBERS WHICH WE ARE RIGHT NOW, WHICH IS 10% OF THE CASES, THAT STILL COULD BE A SIGNIFICANT SAVING FOR THE COUNTY AND A BENEFIT TO THE DEFENDANTS WHO HAVE BEEN CHARGED WITH CRIMES.

[00:10:04]

IT IS. WELL THEN I'LL JUST WAIT TILL.

OKAY. SO TO SUMMARIZE OUR THE NEED FOR PRE-INDICTMENT COURT PUBLIC DEFENDERS WOULD BE AVAILABLE FOR THE COURT TO APPOINT AN ATTORNEY. WHEN AN ATTORNEY DOES NOT SHOW OR DOESN'T HAVE AN ATTORNEY, THAT HAPPENS A LOT.

A LOT OF TIMES INMATES BELIEVE THEY'RE GOING TO BE ABLE TO HIRE AN ATTORNEY THAT DOESN'T WORK OUT.

AND THEN WHEN THEY SHOW UP AT PRE-INDICTMENT COURT, WHY CAN'T WE GET THEM APPOINTED AT THE MAGISTRATE COURT? WELL, SOMETIMES THEY BELIEVE THEY'RE GOING TO HIRE.

A LOT OF TIMES THEY SAY, I DON'T WANT AN APPOINTED ATTORNEY, I'M GOING TO HIRE ONE.

AND THEN THAT DOESN'T COME TO FRUITION.

YEAH, BUT IF THEY'RE SITTING IN JAIL AND THEY HAVE NO COURTS, WHY AREN'T THE COURTS BRINGING THEM IN TO ASSESS INDIGENCY? AND IF THEY'RE INDIGENT, WHY AREN'T THEY GETTING AN APPOINTED COUNSEL? THEY HAVE HAD THAT DISCUSSION AT MAGISTRATION.

AND THEN MY UNDERSTANDING IS THERE IS ANOTHER OPPORTUNITY AT THE 48 HOUR HEARING, BUT IT STILL HAPPENS, JUDGE.

THEY JUST THEY'RE DEAD SET ON HIRING THEIR LAWYERS.

THEY THINK SO. DO YOU DO WE HAVE A PUBLIC DEFENDER AT THE MAGISTRATE COURTS? I'M SORRY. DO WE HAVE A PUBLIC DEFENDER AT MAGISTRATE COURT? AT THE JAIL? YES, SIR.

WE HAVE 24 OVER SEVEN REPRESENTATION AT MAGISTRATION 365 DAYS A YEAR.

YES. SO, TO SUMMARIZE, MY REQUEST FOR PRE-INDICTMENT COURT PUBLIC DEFENDER'S WOULD BE AVAILABLE FOR THE COURT TO APPOINT.

IF THERE WAS NOT AN ATTORNEY OR TO REAPPOINT, WE WOULD HAVE THE ABILITY TO MOVE THE CASES FORWARD AND REDUCE THE JAIL POPULATION.

WE ARE ALSO ASKING FOR THREE FULL TIME PUBLIC DEFENDERS IN CRIMINAL DISTRICT COURT.

WE CURRENTLY HAVE A FULL TIME PUBLIC DEFENDER IN THE 144TH, WITH JUDGE MARY, THE 186TH WITH JUDGE ESCALONA, THE 226TH WITH JUDGE MEZA AND THE TWO 90TH WITH JUDGE PENA AND THE THREE 79TH WITH JUDGE RANGEL.

CURRENTLY, JUDGE TORRES STAHL, IN THE 1/75 IS REQUESTING A PUBLIC DEFENDER.

JUDGE CASTRO, IN THE THREE 99TH IS REQUESTING A PUBLIC DEFENDER, AND JUDGE PEREZ, IN THE 487TH IS REQUESTING A PUBLIC DEFENDER.

I BELIEVE THE ORIGINAL REQUEST WAS FOR ALL DISTRICT COURTS, BUT I HAVE MADE I HAVE MADE THE ROUNDS AND TALKED TO THE DISTRICT COURTS, AND I'VE ALSO TALKED TO THE COUNTY COURT JUDGES, AND THESE ARE THE THREE THAT ARE CURRENTLY ASKING FOR FULL TIME PUBLIC DEFENDERS IN THEIR COURT.

BUT WITH THE TWO PRE-INDICTMENT COURT ATTORNEYS, WE'RE STILL ASKING FOR THE SAME FIVE.

I'M SORRY, CAN I INTERRUPT? ARE WE ARE WE DELAYED ON THE SLIDES OR ARE THEY IN ORDER? WHAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT THAT I THINK THEY'RE OUT OF ORDER.

OR MAYBE I MOVED.

THERE WE GO. ALL RIGHT.

THANK YOU. SORRY.

HAVING PUBLIC DEFENDERS IN THE THREE ADDITIONAL DISTRICT COURTS WOULD PROVIDE FOR CONTINUITY OF REPRESENTATION, WHICH IS A PRINCIPLE OF THE ABA GUIDELINES AND THE TEXAS EQUIVALENT.

IT'S ONE OF THE TEN PRINCIPLES OF A PUBLIC DEFENSE DELIVERY SYSTEM.

SO THEY WOULD HAVE REPRESENTATION BY THE PUBLIC DEFENDER AND MAGISTRATION HOPEFULLY AT PRE-INDICTMENT COURT AS WELL.

AND THEN FINALLY IN DISTRICT COURT, HAVING PUBLIC DEFENDERS THERE FULL TIME COULD LEAD TO FASTER PRETRIAL RESOLUTIONS OF CASES.

WE SEE OUR CLIENTS WITHIN 48 HOURS.

THAT IS A RULE.

THERE IS IT'S A WELL-KNOWN RULE IN OUR OFFICE.

AND WE I MANDATE THAT THAT IS SOMETHING THAT WE ARE CONTINUING TO DO.

THERE WOULD BE EXPECTATIONS FROM ME.

I EXPECT OUR ATTORNEYS TO ACT WITH URGENCY.

I EXPECT THEM TO NOT WAIT ON THE STATE, BUT TO MOVE AND MOVE THEIR CASES WITH URGENCY, NOT TO THE DETRIMENT OF THE CLIENT.

THAT WOULD NEVER HAPPEN.

BUT I DO WANT THEM TO BE PROACTIVE, AND THAT IS AN EXPECTATION I HAVE SET SINCE I CAME TO WORK HERE.

I CAME FROM I CAME FROM DEATH PENALTY DEFENSE.

AND I UNDERSTAND THAT THESE ARE NOT ALL DEATH PENALTY CASES, BUT I DO WANT OUR LAWYERS TO ACT WITH THE SAME SENSE OF URGENCY.

IT BENEFITS OUR CLIENTS.

IT BENEFITS US BECAUSE WE HAVE MORE CASES ON DOWN THE ROAD THAT NEED OUR ATTENTION.

AND ULTIMATELY IT WOULD BENEFIT THE THE COUNTY AS WELL.

WE CAN BE WE CAN EFFICIENTLY RESOLVE CASES THAT NEED TO BE RESOLVED, AND THEN TRY THE CASES THAT NEED TO BE TRIED.

WE WOULD REDUCE THE NUMBER OF RESETS.

MY LAWYERS WOULD COME TO COURT PREPARED AND READY, NOT NEEDING A RESET.

WE WOULD ALSO BE AVAILABLE FOR BENCH APPOINTMENTS FROM THE COURT.

WE WOULD BE AVAILABLE IF THERE WAS AN ATTORNEY WHO NEEDED A SECOND CHAIR.

INSTEAD OF HAVING TO PAY THE HOURLY FEE FROM A PRIVATE ATTORNEY.

WE COULD SIT SECOND CHAIR WITH THE LAWYER THROUGH THE TRIAL, AND THEN WE WOULD ALSO BE THERE TO SUPPORT SPECIALTY COURTS.

[00:15:06]

THEY NEED CONSISTENCY.

THEY NEED SOMEONE THERE THAT THEY CAN DEPEND ON, AND NOT JUST THE ONE PUBLIC DEFENDER WHO HAPPENS TO BE FREE AND CAN RUN UP AND STEP IN.

THEY NEED SOMEONE WHO'S THERE ALL THE TIME.

AND THEN FINALLY, I AM REQUESTING.

NINE POSITIONS FOR COUNTY COURT.

I HAVE SPOKEN TO THE OFFICE OF COURT ADMINISTRATION AND THEY ARE ANTICIPATING, SIMILAR TO THIS YEAR'S NUMBERS, BUT 26,500 MISDEMEANOR CASES IN THE NEXT FISCAL YEAR.

WE CURRENTLY ONLY HAVE SIX PUBLIC DEFENDERS IN COUNTY COURT, AND THAT IS WHY I AM ASKING FOR THE ADDITIONAL PUBLIC DEFENDERS, JUDGES, JUDGES AND COUNTY COURT TWO, FOUR, FIVE, SIX, SEVEN, EIGHT, NINE, 13 AND 15 ARE REQUESTING I HAVE.

I HAVE SPOKEN TO THEM.

I HAVE SPOKEN TO JUDGE VARDA AND ARE REQUESTING PUBLIC DEFENDERS IN THOSE COURTS.

AND JUDGE DOMINGUEZ AND COUNTY COURT SIX IS ASKING FOR A PUBLIC DEFENDER FOR VETERANS TREATMENT COURT.

AND THEN JUDGE VARDA IS ASKING FOR A PUBLIC DEFENDER FOR COMMUNITY COURT, AGAIN, HAVING A PUBLIC DEFENDER IN THESE COURTS WOULD GIVE US THE CONTINUITY, CONTINUITY OF REPRESENTATION FROM MAGISTRATION.

EVEN WITH OUR MISDEMEANOR CASES.

I REQUIRE THAT OUR ATTORNEYS SEE OUR CLIENTS WITHIN 48 HOURS.

THAT HELPS THE CASE MOVE AND MOVE FORWARD.

SO THERE'S AN OPPORTUNITY FOR PROMPT RESOLUTION.

HAVING ONE COURT IN THE COURTROOM AS OPPOSED TO ONE ATTORNEY COVERING FOUR COURTS.

YOU HAVE THE ATTORNEY THERE AND AVAILABLE, AND THERE ARE MORE OPPORTUNITIES TO RESOLVE THE CASE.

THERE ARE STATUTORY GUIDELINES UNDER CODE OF CRIMINAL PROCEDURE 17.151.

CLASS B CLASS B MISDEMEANORS SHOULD BE TRIED IN IN 15 DAYS.

CLASS A MISDEMEANOR SHOULD BE TRIED IN 30 DAYS, AND I WILL HAVE MY LAWYERS HOLD THE STATE TO THOSE TIMELINES.

WE CAN GET THOSE CASES RESOLVED.

RESOLVE THE ONES WITH THE PLEA THAT NEED TO BE RESOLVED.

PERHAPS IF YOU HAVE A PUBLIC DEFENDER IN THE COURT ALL THE TIME, WE MAY FIND A CLIENT WHO NEEDS TREATMENT THAT WASN'T CAUGHT AT MAGISTRATION. A LOT OF TIMES PEOPLE WITH MENTAL ILLNESS OR SUBSTANCE ABUSE AREN'T FORTHCOMING IN ADMITTING THAT THEY HAVE THOSE ISSUES, BUT WITH THE SAME PUBLIC DEFENDER IN THAT COURT, IF THEY RECOGNIZE THAT, WE CAN DIVERT THEM FROM JAIL INTO A TREATMENT CENTER, WHICH ALSO HELPS REDUCE THE JAIL POPULATION.

SOMETIMES WE CAN'T RESOLVE CASES BECAUSE OF THINGS OUTSIDE OF OUR CONTROL.

RIGHT NOW, THERE IS A BIG ISSUE WITH THE RED FILES CLIENTS WHO HAVE BEEN ARRESTED BUT HAVE NOT BEEN FORMALLY CHARGED.

SO IF THAT'S HAPPENING RIGHT NOW, JIM BETHKE AND I ARE STRATEGIZING A CONCERTED EFFORT TO STILL TRY TO MOVE THOSE CASES BY EITHER FILING A WRIT OR A MOTION TO DISMISS OR A MOTION FOR SPEEDY TRIAL, BUT BY HAVING A PUBLIC DEFENDER IN THOSE COURTS, WE CAN MAKE THOSE THINGS HAPPEN. WE WOULD BE AVAILABLE FOR BENCH APPOINTMENTS TOO.

IT DOES HAPPEN, JUDGE.

A LOT OF TIMES PEOPLE WANT TO HIRE AND THEN THEY'RE JUST NOT ABLE TO.

SO WE WOULD BE THERE FOR APPOINTMENT AND AGAIN, SPECIALTY COURT SUPPORT.

I'VE SPOKEN WITH JUDGE DOMINGUEZ A LOT ABOUT HER VETERANS TREATMENT COURT.

IT'S VERY NEAR AND DEAR TO HER HEART, AND SHE WANTS SOMEONE WHO'S THERE FULL TIME, NOT JUST SOMEONE WHO IS AVAILABLE AND CAN STEP IN.

SHE NEEDS SOMEONE IN THE IN THE PEOPLE IN THE TREATMENT COURT NEED SOMEONE.

THEY NEED SOMEONE THEY CAN COUNT ON.

THEY NEED SOMEONE WHO'S INVESTED IN THEIR CASE AND IN THE STAFFING.

SO IT'S NOT JUST APPEARING IN COURT, IT'S PARTICIPATING IN THE STAFFING IS TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT'S BEST FOR THIS CLIENT.

ARE YOU MAKING AN ARGUMENT THAT WE NEED A PUBLIC DEFENDER IN EACH SPECIALTY COURT? JUDGE DOMINGUEZ IS I WOULD LOVE TO HAVE A PUBLIC DEFENDER IN EACH SPECIALTY COURT.

THAT'S NOT WHAT I'M ASKING FOR TODAY.

JUDGE. NO, BUT YOU UNDERSTAND HOW MANY SPECIALTY COURTS DO WE HAVE NOW? 14, I BELIEVE.

BUT RIGHT NOW, IF WE HAVE A PUBLIC DEFENDER IN THOSE COURTS ON TOP OF HANDLING THE DOCKET, WHICH WE'RE DOING RIGHT NOW, WE'RE IN COUNTY COURT ONE, COUNTY COURT 11, AND COUNTY COURT 12.

SO WE HANDLE THE DOCKETS, BUT WE ALSO HANDLE THE SPECIALTY COURTS, WHICH IS A SIGNIFICANT SAVINGS TO THE COUNTY.

AND IT'S PROVIDING CLIENTS WITH WHAT THEY NEED AND WHAT THEY DESERVE.

JUDGE, IT'S THEY NEED SOMEONE INVESTED IN THEM.

IT'S CONSTITUTIONALLY MANDATED THAT THEY HAVE.

WHY CAN'T THE ASSIGNED PROSECUTOR IN THAT COURT ALSO BECAUSE THE JUDGE HAS TO DO BOTH.

SO WHY CAN'T THE PROSECUTOR DO BOTH? WHY CAN'T A PUBLIC DEFENDER DO BOTH THE REGULAR DOCKET AND THE SPECIALTY COURT?

[00:20:02]

AND THAT'S WHAT I'M ASKING FOR TODAY.

YEAH, BUT YOU'RE ASKING THAT WE DESIGNATE.

AND SO WE DESIGNATE ONE I ASSUME WE MAY HAVE TO DESIGNATE ALL AT SOME POINT.

DO YOU UNDERSTAND WHY I'M ASKING THESE TOUGH QUESTIONS? I DO JUDGE, AND I DO THINK I MEAN, IN A IN A PERFECT WORLD, WE WOULD HAVE A PUBLIC DEFENDER IN EVERY COURT, INCLUDING JUVENILE.

WE WOULD HAVE MORE APPELLATE COURTS, AND WE WOULD HAVE A PUBLIC DEFENDER AND SPECIALTY COURTS.

THE POOR AND MARGINALIZED OF THIS COMMUNITY DESERVE THAT.

THEY DESERVE TO HAVE ZEALOUS REPRESENTATION AT EVERY LEVEL IN THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM.

AND THAT'S WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO.

WHAT IS IT SOME OF THE COURTS USE DESIGNATED COUNCIL FOR THEIR SPECIALTY COURTS.

YES. JUDGE DOMINGUEZ. IT MEANS ONE ATTORNEY THAT REPRESENTS ALL THAT THE JUDGE USUALLY HAS FAITH AND TRUST IN.

THE REASON JUDGE DOMINGUEZ HAS THAT ATTORNEY IS BECAUSE SHE COULD NOT GET ONE PUBLIC DEFENDER IN HER COURT.

SHE WANTED ONE PERSON BECAUSE IT'S VETERANS TREATMENT COURT.

THEY DESERVE TO HAVE THAT ONE PERSON WHO'S INVESTED IN THEM AND UNDERSTOOD.

I GET IT. ON TOP OF THAT, THERE ARE OTHER INTANGIBLES THAT ARE HARD TO QUANTIFY.

BUT MY LAWYERS WILL BE PREPARED AND THE CASE WILL BE HANDLED PROPERLY, WHICH IS INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT.

BY HAVING A PUBLIC DEFENDER AND THE REQUESTED COURTS, WE WOULD MOVE THE CASES THAT NEED TO BE MOVED, RESOLVE THEM WHEN WE CAN, TRY THEM WHEN WE CANNOT.

MOVING CASES BENEFITS OUR CLIENTS.

IT BENEFITS US BECAUSE WE HAVE MANY, MANY MORE CASES AFTER THIS CASE IS RESOLVED AND ULTIMATELY IT BENEFITS THE COUNTY.

EFFICIENTLY MOVING CASES WILL BE A COST WILL SAVE THE COUNTY MONEY.

ONE PD IN EVERY COURT IS EFFICIENT.

IT PROVIDES RELIABILITY FOR THE JUDGES AND IT'S CONSTITUTIONALLY REQUIRED QUALITY REPRESENTATION.

GET RID OF THE CASES THAT NEED TO BE GOTTEN RID OF, AND THEN TRY THE CASES THAT NEED TO BE TRIED, AND THEN FIND THE TREATMENT FOR THE ONES WHO NEED TREATMENT.

JUDGE. YEAH. CAN YOU I DON'T KNOW IF YOU HAVE A SLIDE, MISS MALLON, ON THAT.

THAT SUMMARIZES WHAT YOUR ASK IS.

I KNOW THE FIRST SLIDE. YOU SAID 14 POSITIONS, IS THAT RIGHT? 14. TOTAL. YES.

COMMISSION. TOTAL. SO THAT'S THAT'S THE REQUEST YOU'RE MAKING TODAY? YES. AND YOU KNOW, LET ME LET ME JUST ALSO SAY, I KNOW WE'VE HAD A CHANCE BRIEFLY TO VISIT AND I APPLAUD THE FACT THAT YOU'RE ADVOCATING FOR YOUR OFFICE.

THAT'S WHAT YOU'RE OBVIOUSLY HIRED TO DO.

AND YOU'RE SHOWING EXEMPLARY LEADERSHIP.

WE CAN'T ALWAYS FULFILL YOUR REQUEST.

BUT I KNOW YOU'VE BEEN HERE A SHORT TIME, AND YOU'RE DOING YOUR BEST TO ADVOCATE FOR THE NEEDS OF YOUR OFFICE.

SO HOPEFULLY YOUR YOUR EMPLOYEES RECOGNIZE THAT.

I GUESS LET ME ASK BUDGET STAFF NOT TO GO TOO DEEP INTO THIS.

WE'RE GOING TO HAVE OTHER PRESENTATIONS TODAY.

BUT WHEN YOU LOOK AT I ASSUME THAT AND I CAN'T REMEMBER MISS MALLON WHEN YOU JOINED THE COUNTY, BUT I ASSUME YOU PUT IN YOUR REQUESTS WHEN YOU FIRST GOT HERE OR WERE THEY ALREADY SUBMITTED? IT WAS ALREADY SUBMITTED. OKAY, COMMISSIONER.

YES. SO WHAT WAS SUBMITTED IN TERMS OF YOUR NEEDS BEFORE YOU GOT HERE? IT WAS FIVE PUBLIC DEFENDER, THREE POSITIONS FOR FELONY COURT AND EIGHT PUBLIC DEFENDER, TWO POSITIONS FOR COUNTY COURT.

OKAY, SO I HAVE REDUCED THAT A LITTLE BIT BY ASKING FOR MORE PUBLIC DEFENDER ONE POSITIONS.

OKAY. AND THEN I ASSUME BUDGET STAFF WHEN YOU GUYS ANALYZE THE NEEDS OF THE DEPARTMENT, IS IT BASED ON CASELOAD AND PART OF, YOU KNOW, I THINK WHAT'S AND I'M, YOU KNOW, I'M A LAWYER AND I PRACTICE IN SOME OF THESE COURTS BEFORE, BUT I'M STILL NOT CLEAR ON KIND OF THE EBB AND FLOW OF PD AND THE MAC AND WHO'S TAKING ON SOME OF THE CASELOAD.

SO I THINK FOR THE FOR AT LEAST FOR ME, I DON'T WANT TO SPEAK FOR THE COURT.

I STILL NEED SOME CLARIFICATION ON THAT BEFORE WE FIGURE OUT HOW TO INVEST RESOURCES.

BUT I GUESS IN THIS PARTICULAR CASE WITH THE PD'S OFFICE, WHAT WAS TAKEN INTO ACCOUNT WHEN YOU MADE YOUR RECOMMENDATION? SO WE ASKED THAT WE RECEIVE IN WRITING WHETHER IT'S EMAIL MEMO, A COMMITMENT FROM EACH OF THE COURTS.

SHE'S JUDGES, SHE'S TALKING ABOUT THAT THEY ACTUALLY WOULD UTILIZE THE PUBLIC DEFENDER IN TERMS OF ASSIGNING CASES.

OKAY. THE REASON WE ASKED FOR IT IN WRITING IS BECAUSE WHATEVER POSITION YOU GUYS END UP DECIDING TO FUND FOR THE PUBLIC DEFENDER, IT'S COMING OUT OF COURT. APPOINTED ATTORNEY FEES, RIGHT? THAT'S WHY I WANT IT IN WRITING.

I DON'T WANT TO GET CHOOSE YOUR WORD, JUDGE.

I DON'T WANT TO GET TRICKED INTO FUNDING BOTH AND THEN FIND OUT, NO, WE'RE WE'RE JUST GOING TO KEEP DOING IT.

[00:25:06]

FROM EACH OF THE JUDGES, FROM YOU GUYS SPEAKING TO MIKE.

YEAH. TANYA. GO AHEAD. TANYA.

ON BUDGET AND FINANCE DIRECTORY RECEIVED.

IT WASN'T DURING THE BUDGET PROCESS.

ONCE WE SENT THE PROPOSED SCHEDULE B, WE MET WITH HER.

WE RECEIVED IT LATE, LIKE RIGHT AFTER THE PROPOSED BUDGET.

OKAY. YEAH. SO, TANYA, ARE THEY AWARE THAT THAT WILL CAUSE A REDUCTION IN THE MONEY THAT IS SPENT ON COURT APPOINTED ATTORNEYS? WE HAVE NOT HAD A DISCUSSION WITH THE JUDGES ON THAT.

THAT'S WHY WE RECEIVED IT REALLY LATE.

AND THAT'S WHY WE DIDN'T RECOMMEND.

YEAH. SO, LOOK, I DON'T KNOW, TO BE VERY FRANK, IF WE GET THIS RESOLVED BEFORE NEXT WEEK, THIS IS A DISCUSSION THAT'S REALLY IMPORTANT BECAUSE IT GOES TO JUSTICE, PARTICULARLY FOR THOSE WHO CANNOT AFFORD REPRESENTATION.

SO WE GOT TO GET THIS FIGURED OUT.

BUT AGAIN, I DON'T KNOW THAT WE CAN GET IT FIGURED OUT BEFORE, YOU KNOW, TUESDAY NEXT WEEK.

BUT BUT I APPRECIATE YOUR ADVOCACY.

AND I THINK, YOU KNOW, I'M COMMITTED TO FIGURING OUT WHAT THE BEST UTILIZATION OF RESOURCES IS, BECAUSE IT'S THAT IMPORTANT TO MAKE SURE PEOPLE ARE GETTING A FAIR SHOT AT JUSTICE. SO THANK YOU FOR FOR BEING HERE.

WE APPRECIATE YOUR REQUEST, AND WE'LL TAKE IT INTO CONSIDERATION.

COMMISSIONER CLAY-FLORES.

HI. GOOD MORNING.

GOOD MORNING. IS THIS YOUR FIRST TIME PRESENTING TO COMMISSIONERS COURT? IT IS SO WELCOME.

THANK YOU. I DON'T KNOW IF BUDGET TIME IS THE BEST TIME TO PRESENT TO COMMISSIONERS COURT FOR THE.

IT'S A LOT HARDER THAN TRYING CASES, I WILL TELL YOU THAT.

YEAH. SO TO THE BUDGET, I DON'T KNOW IF TANYA TO RESPOND TO THIS OR WHO, BUT OUTSIDE OF THE PUBLIC DEFENDERS, YOU'RE ASKING FOR EACH OF THE COURTS.

YOU'RE ASKING FOR SOME OTHER PUBLIC DEFENDERS TO WRITE FOR PRE-INDICTMENT COURT.

OKAY. SO WHEN Y'ALL REVIEWED IT, WHY DID YOU ALL DECIDE NOT TO GIVE ANY CHANGE TO THIS YEAR'S BUDGET FOR THEM.

SO AS DAVID SMITH MENTIONED, WE NEEDED A CONFIRMATION FROM THE JUDGES WHO WANTED AN ASSIGNED PUBLIC DEFENDER.

THAT'S TYPICALLY HOW WE AUTHORIZE THE POSITIONS.

RIGHT. BUT I JUST ASKED, SO EVERY POSITION YOU'RE ASKING FOR IS TO BE ASSIGNED TO A COURT.

CORRECT. OH, OKAY.

ALL RIGHT. YEAH. OKAY.

THANK YOU. I THOUGHT YOU WERE ASKING FOR SOME OTHER ONES, TOO.

ALL RIGHT. NO FURTHER QUESTIONS.

THANK YOU. COMMISSIONER MOODY.

WELL, WELCOME. THANK YOU.

AS MY COLLEAGUES MENTIONED YOU KNOW, I WANTED TO FOLLOW UP ON SOME OF THE MESSAGE HERE, AND I'M GLAD I'VE KIND OF ALREADY HEARD IT, BUT I JUST WANT TO REITERATE IT.

YOU KNOW, NEW HIRES IN A PD'S OFFICE, MY MIND HAVE TO REPLACE, YOU KNOW, MAC COSTS OUTSIDE COUNCIL EXPENSES, RIGHT? THERE HAS TO BE, YOU KNOW, IF WE'RE INJECTING ADDITIONAL RESOURCES INTO THE PDO OFFICE, THEN AT THE SAME TIME, THOSE RESOURCES ARE COMING OUT OF THE COUNCIL.

IS THAT CORRECT? DAVID? THAT'S HOW I HEARD YOU.

AND SO I THINK THAT THAT'S AN IMPORTANT THING TO NOTE.

I WILL STILL SAY THAT I THINK THAT THERE THERE COULD BE AN ARGUMENT IN TERMS OF OVERALL EFFICIENCY OF THE SYSTEM, YOU KNOW, GETTING 60 DAYS DOWN TO 30 DAYS AS YOU WERE KIND OF TALKING AROUND AND WHAT THAT COULD MEAN IN TERMS OF OVERALL SAVINGS AND RELIEF AT THE JAIL.

YES. BUT BUT HERE'S WHERE I STRUGGLE, BECAUSE I KNOW LAST YEAR WE TALKED ABOUT AND I KNOW YOU WEREN'T HERE AT THE TIME ANALYSIS DATA.

WE NEED TO BETTER UNDERSTAND THE BALANCE BETWEEN THE TWO OFFICES IS AND WHICH CAN.

WHAT IS THE RIGHT BALANCE TO MINIMIZE THE TAXPAYER COST, BUT STILL COMPLY WITH OUR RESPONSIBILITY TO, YOU KNOW, INDIGENT DEFENSE.

AND THEN, YOU KNOW, FURTHER BEYOND THAT GOING INTO SO PROVING OUT THE THEORY THAT WE CAN ACTUALLY REDUCE THE, THE, THE DAYS, YOU KNOW, AND THE LENGTH OF STAY IN THE JAIL IN ORDER TO ULTIMATELY BRING DOWN THE COST THERE OR GIVE US THE ABILITY TO, YOU KNOW, NOT HAVE TO PUSH INMATES OUT TO OTHER COUNTIES AND INCUR THOSE COSTS AS WELL.

SO TO ME, THIS ALL COMES BACK TO WE REALLY NEED MORE DATA, AND WE NEED REAL ANALYSIS BETWEEN YOUR OFFICE AND THE ASSIGNED COUNSEL'S OFFICE AND THE BUDGET OFFICE TO COME TOGETHER AND GIVE US MORE SO WE CAN BETTER FIGURE OUT WHAT THE OPTIMAL MIX IS.

YOU KNOW, IS THAT ASSIGNING PER COURT IS THAT, YOU KNOW, A BIGGER OFFICE AND LESS EXPENSE AND MANAGE ASSIGNED COUNSEL.

[00:30:08]

I JUST WANT TO MAKE THE BEST CHOICE FOR THE COUNTY, AND I DON'T FEEL LIKE I HAVE THE DATA OR THE ANALYSIS AT THIS POINT TO BE ABLE TO REALLY WEIGH IN ONE WAY OR THE OTHER.

SO I JUST WANT TO KIND OF MAKE THOSE COMMENTS.

SURE. I, JIM BETHKE AND I HAVE WE GO WAY BACK.

WE'VE KNOWN EACH OTHER FOR A LONG TIME, AND WE ARE WORKING TOGETHER WITH BCIT TO HELP US TRACK THOSE NUMBERS AND GET THE DATA FOR YOU.

I KNOW THAT'S IMPORTANT TO YOU.

I WILL SAY, THOUGH, THAT THERE'S ALWAYS GOING TO BE A NEED FOR COURT APPOINTED ATTORNEYS BECAUSE THE PUBLIC DEFENDER'S OFFICE IS NEVER IN A POSITION TO BE ABLE TO REPRESENT EVERYBODY. AND SO AND THAT'S THE BENEFIT OF HAVING THE MAC IS IT'S THEY'RE SUPERVISED, THEY ARE PROVIDED TRAINING AND SUPPORT.

AND SO ONE THING THAT WE ARE TRYING TO DO TOGETHER THAT I THINK WILL BENEFIT THE COUNTY AS TRAINING AND DEVELOPING OUR LAWYERS TOGETHER SO THAT THERE IS BETTER QUALITY REPRESENTATION FOR ALL CLIENTS IN BEXAR COUNTY, WHICH WILL MAKE THE COUNTY RUN MORE EFFICIENTLY, WHICH WILL ULTIMATELY SAVE THE COUNTY MONEY. I KNOW THAT DOESN'T ADDRESS WHAT YOU'RE ASKING OF ME, BUT I CAN PROMISE YOU THAT WE ARE WORKING ON GETTING THOSE METRICS FOR YOU.

YEAH, AND I THINK THE FIRST STEP, I KNOW WE WERE TRYING TO GET AT KIND OF A COST PER CASE DISPOSITION AND EVERYTHING LAST YEAR, BUT THAT'S PROBABLY THE STARTING POINT.

BUT THE MORE DATA AND MORE ANALYSIS WE CAN GET, THE BETTER.

I'M JUST GOING TO PUT THIS OUT THERE, BUT THIS MAY BE SOMETHING IN THE COMING YEAR THAT WE THINK ABOUT.

BUT EVEN AN OUTSIDE STUDY KIND OF CONSULTANT IN THIS SPACE, I DON'T KNOW IF THAT'S EVER BEEN DONE BEFORE, BUT ULTIMATELY, REALLY LOOKING AT THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM AS A WHOLE AND KIND OF LOOKING AT OUR COURTS, LOOKING AT OUR PDL, LOOKING AT SIGN COUNCIL, MAYBE EVEN INCLUDING LAW ENFORCEMENT IN THAT.

BUT THAT MAY BE SOMETHING WE CAN EXPLORE IN THE COMING YEAR.

SURE. THANK YOU.

THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT.

ANYTHING ELSE, MR. ALLEN? OH, COMMISSIONER CALVERT, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

SO WHAT ARE THE CRITERIA FOR SELECTING CASES THAT YOU'VE IMPLEMENTED? WELL, IT COMES FROM THE WELL, WE GET OUR APPOINT.

SOME OF OUR CASES COME FROM MAGISTRATION.

IF THEY ARE FLAGGED AT MAGISTRATION AS HAVING A MENTAL HEALTH ISSUE OR IF IT'S A FAMILY.

FAMILY VIOLENCE CASE.

OUR LAWYERS AT MAGISTRATION FLAG THAT TAKE IT TO PRETRIAL DIVERSION AND WE ARE APPOINTED THAT WAY.

WE ARE ALSO APPOINTED OFF THE WHEEL.

OKAY. OKAY.

AND THEN WE. I'M SORRY, COMMISSIONER, WE DO GET BENCH APPOINTMENTS FROM THE DIFFERENT JUDGES AS WELL.

GOT IT. SO WHEN A JUDGE FEELS THAT THERE IS AN APPROPRIATE UTILIZATION.

YES. OKAY. SO HAS ANYTHING CHANGED ABOUT THE NATURE OF EITHER THE MOST RECENT YEAR OF CASES FROM A CRIMINOLOGICAL STANDPOINT, OR THE BAR IN TERMS OF THIS NOT SHOWING UP, HAS SOMETHING.

IS THERE EITHER A MORE ACUTE NEED THAT IT SEEMS LIKE TO ME, AS SOMEONE WHO HAS SEEN THE PUBLIC DEFENDER'S OFFICE FOR A WHILE, THAT THERE IS MORE JUDGES THAT ARE REQUESTING THE PUBLIC DEFENDER'S ASSISTANCE, AND I'VE SEEN IN A WHILE.

SO IT'S SOMETHING SUBSTANTIVELY DIFFERENT, EITHER WITH THE BAR OR WITH THE NATURE OF CRIME.

I THINK THE JUDGES JUST LIKE HAVING THAT ONE PERSON IN THEIR COURTROOM THAT THEY CAN CALL IT HAPPENS ALL THE TIME WHEN WE HAVE A JUDGE.

I NEED SOMEONE HERE RIGHT NOW, AND WE'RE IN THE BUILDING AND WE CAN RUN DOWN AND TAKE CARE OF THE CASES.

IT'S SOMEONE THEY KNOW, SOMEONE THEY TRUST, SOMEONE THAT THEY KNOW IS PREPARED AND READY TO GO ALL THE TIME.

I THINK IT'S I THINK THAT'S MORE WHAT IT IS I DON'T KNOW ABOUT.

I DO KNOW CASES ARE INCREASING I THINK I WAS.

I CANNOT REMEMBER WHO I WAS TALKING TO, BUT THEY HAD 100,000 NEW FELONY ARRESTS, I THINK, WITHIN THE LAST MONTH.

WOW, THAT'S A LOT. YEAH.

AND I MAY BE MISQUOTING THAT, BUT I KNOW CASES ARE INCREASING.

YEAH. IT'S HAPPENING, AND THE NEED IS THERE.

OKAY. WELL, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR ADVOCACY.

LOOK FORWARD TO SITTING DOWN SOME MORE WITH YOU.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MISS MARILYN.

LET ME ALSO ASK, ARE YOU FAMILIAR WITH THE JAIL POPULATION REDUCTION TASK FORCE THAT WE BROUGHT ALL? I THINK MY OFFICE BROUGHT ALL THE STAKEHOLDERS.

YES. WOULD YOU WANT TO BE PART OF THAT DISCUSSION? I AM JUDGE, I SAT IN ON MY FIRST MEETING A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO.

WELL, YOU NEED TO SHOW UP.

I DON'T KNOW WHEN OUR NEXT MEETING IS.

MY STAFF.

THOMAS, YOU YOU YOU'RE THE REPRESENTATIVE ON BEHALF OF THE MANAGER'S OFFICE.

WE HAVE ALL THE STAKEHOLDERS INVOLVED.

AND SO WE DO HAVE A DISCUSSION ABOUT REPRESENTATION OF ATTORNEYS.

AND THAT HAS BEEN RAISED AS AN ISSUE WITHIN OUR STATE.

[00:35:01]

SO IF YOU HAVE OTHER IDEAS THAT WE CAN UTILIZE, I WOULD LIKE YOU TO BRING THEM TO THE TABLE AND TO FIGURE OUT HOW WE CAN PROVIDE MORE EFFECTIVE ASSISTANCE OF COUNSEL, BECAUSE REGARDLESS OF WHETHER WE ADD, ADD OR DON'T ADD OR THE BOTTOM LINE IS, ARE WE PROVIDING EFFECTIVE ASSISTANCE? AND WHEN I HEAR ATTORNEYS NOT SHOWING UP, I GOT A PROBLEM.

I GOT AN ISSUE.

YES. BECAUSE THAT'S FUNDAMENTAL.

YES. AND SO I NEED ACCOUNTABILITY TO THAT.

SO YOU WEREN'T HERE LAST YEAR WHERE WE HAD, I THINK, A ROBUST DISCUSSION OF THE MANAGER ASSIGNED COUNSEL.

AND I BELIEVE THE MANAGER'S OFFICE AS A RESULT OF THAT DISCUSSION, DID AN ASSESSMENT AND MANAGED ASSIGNED COUNSEL.

I BELIEVE THE QUESTIONS OR CONCERNS RAISED AT THAT DISCUSSION WERE ANSWERED, OR AT LEAST ADDRESSED, AND WE EXTENDED THE MANAGE THE SIGN COUNCIL CONTRACT.

AND SO WE ALSO HAVE TO UNDERSTAND, MISS MELLON, THAT AT SOME POINT, THE COUNTY IS GOING TO HAVE TO ASSUME FULL LOAD OF THE MANAGED SIGN COUNCIL CONTRACT, WHICH IS A COURT APPOINTED FEES THAT MR. SMITH IS REFERRING TO ALONG WITH THE ADMIN COST.

THE ADMIN COSTS ARE CURRENTLY MOSTLY COVERED BY GRANT ON A DECLINING SCALE, BUT I THINK, WHAT, 2 OR 3 YEARS? WE'VE GOT TO MAKE A DECISION WHETHER WE'RE FULLY COMMITTED TO MANAGE THE SIGN.

COUNCIL AND I RAISED IN THAT ROBUST DISCUSSION OF PERHAPS WE NEED TO LOOK AT THE VIABILITY OF PUBLIC DEFENDER, WHICH DID NOT HAVE A DIRECTOR AT THAT TIME.

SO THIS IS THE FIRST TIME YOU AND I ARE MEETING.

SO I WOULD HOPE THAT WE COULD HAVE FURTHER DISCUSSIONS WITH ME OR MY STAFF IN ORDER TO ASSESS THE VIABILITY OF PUBLIC DEFENDER AND THEN DETERMINE. I KNOW THAT THIS IS A BUDGET REQUEST FOR THIS THIS YEAR, BUT I'M GOING TO REALLY ASK YOU AND THE COURT AND THE STAFF TO REALLY LOOK AT A LONG RANGE GOAL OF WHAT DO WE WANT OUR PUBLIC DEFENDER SYSTEM TO BE, AS OPPOSED TO THIS ANNUAL REQUEST? BECAUSE I DON'T THINK THAT REALLY MAKES THE SYSTEM MORE EFFECTIVE.

AGREED. WHAT MAKES IT MORE EFFECTIVE IS THAT WE UNDERSTAND THE ROLE YOU PLAY.

THE JUDGES RESPECT THE ROLE YOU HAVE TO PLAY AND ENGAGE YOU.

AND THEN I THINK COMMISSIONER MOODY HAS REALLY SAID THE BEST TODAY, WHERE WE NEED TO THEN SEE THE ANALYTICS AND THE METRICS.

WHAT ARE YOUR WHAT ARE THE COSTS? YOU HAVE THROWN OUT SOME COSTS TO SAY, THIS IS WHAT WE CAN DO.

I NEED TO SEE IT.

YES, SIR. SO THIS WILL BE A START OF A, I'M SURE, A FRUITFUL DISCUSSION TO MAKE OUR CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM THE BEST SYSTEM THAT IT CAN BE.

AGREED AND I WISH YOU A GOOD DAY.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH. I HAVE SOME MORE QUESTIONS.

CLAY-FLORES. SO I JUST WANT TO JUST SAY, GENERALLY, I'M VERY SUPPORTIVE OF THE PUBLIC DEFENDER'S OFFICE.

I THINK IN ANY COUNTY AND DEFINITELY A LARGE COUNTY AS LARGE AS BEXAR COUNTY, WE NEED TO HAVE A PUBLIC DEFENDER'S PRESENCE.

SO EVER SINCE I'VE GOTTEN HERE, I'VE WORKED TO MAKE SURE TO SUPPORT AND HELP GROW THE PUBLIC DEFENDER'S OFFICE.

SO TELL ME NOW, HOW MANY, HOW MANY ATTORNEYS? WELL, HOW MANY STAFF DO YOU HAVE TOTAL? WE HAVE I DON'T I THINK WE'RE AT 40 TOTAL STAFF.

WE HAVE 29 LAWYERS RIGHT NOW OKAY, 29 LAWYERS.

BUT WE HAVE TWO OPEN POSITIONS.

TWO I WAS GOING TO ASK, ARE THEY ALL FILLED? NO, WE HAVE 29 CURRENT EMPLOYEES AND WE HAVE TWO OPEN POSITIONS.

TWO OPEN POSITIONS.

OKAY. YEAH.

SO I JUST I DON'T KNOW IF WE'RE GOING TO GET THIS DONE IN THE NEXT FEW DAYS, BUT JUST MOVING FORWARD.

I JUST WANT TO DIRECT STAFF TO REALLY WORK WITH OUR NEW PUBLIC DEFENDER AS A NEW PUBLIC DEFENDER AND JUST TRYING TO FIGURE OUT AND ALSO NEW TO BEXAR COUNTY, JUST TRYING TO FIGURE OUT THE BEST WAYS TO HELP SUPPORT THE DEPARTMENT, WHETHER IT'S THROUGH HAVING THE ATTORNEYS IN THE COURTS OR OR OTHERWISE.

BECAUSE I JUST THINK IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT TO SUPPORT OUR PUBLIC DEFENDERS DEPARTMENT, BECAUSE THE WHOLE POINT OF IT IS TO HELP, TO GET PEOPLE OUT OF JAIL SO THAT PEOPLE DON'T JUST CONTINUE TO SIT AND ROT IN JAIL.

SO IT'S REALLY, REALLY IMPORTANT THAT WE CONTINUE TO SUPPORT THE DEPARTMENT AS A WHOLE.

SO THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU.

ALL RIGHT, SHERIFF, Y'ALL READY TO GO? ANYBODY HERE ON BEHALF OF THE SHERIFF? SHERIFF, ARE THEY BACK THERE? TELL THEM IT'S NOT OKAY.

EXCUSE ME.

GOOD MORNING SHERIFF. GOOD MORNING JUDGE.

MORNING, COMMISSIONERS.

APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO COME IN.

WE'VE GOT, AS YOU KNOW, WE'VE GOT CERTAIN ASSETS THAT WE'RE MAKING.

[00:40:01]

AND THEN AS YOU WILL ALLOW AND THEN WE'LL OPEN IT UP TO OBVIOUSLY WE'LL TAKE WHATEVER QUESTIONS YOU ALL HAVE FOR US AS WELL.

CHIEF, YOU WANT TO KIND OF GIVE AN OVERVIEW OF WHAT THE ASSETS.

YES, SIR. YES.

SIR. YES, SIR.

GOOD MORNING, COMMISSIONERS JUDGE.

GOOD MORNING. MY NAME IS JAMES SERRATO, AND I SERVE AS THE CHIEF DEPUTY FOR OUR SHERIFF, JAVIER SALAZAR.

WHAT WE'RE BRINGING AROUND IS A ONE PAGE INFORMATIONAL SHEET ON WHAT WERE INITIAL ASK WAS FOR WITH BUDGET, WHAT THEIR COUNTER PROPOSAL WAS AND THEN WHAT WE THINK IS OUR OPERATIONAL MINIMUM TO BE EFFECTIVE WITH OUR MISSION.

SO IT'S NOT VERY HIGH TECH.

IT'S A ONE PAGE, BUT WE HIGHLIGHTED IT FOR YOU.

THE THE ITEMS ARE LISTED AS ONE THROUGH NINE.

NUMBER NINE IS A BIT OF A SEPARATE ISSUE.

THAT'S THE LAW ENFORCEMENT OVERTIME.

SO WE'LL BE FOCUSING ON ONE THROUGH EIGHT DEALING WITH PERSONNEL IN THE LAW ENFORCEMENT AREA.

SO IF YOU LOOK AT THE COLUMNS STARTING ON YOUR LEFT THE FIRST COLUMN IS YOUR OPERATIONAL MINIMUM.

THAT'S WHAT WE THINK WE NEED BREAD AND WATER.

BARE BONES. TO BE EFFECTIVE WITH WHAT WE PLAN TO CARRY OUT FOR PUBLIC SAFETY.

THE SECOND COLUMN WAS OUR INITIAL REQUEST, AND THEN THE LAST COLUMN IS WHAT WAS PROPOSED BACK BY THE BUDGET OFFICE.

IF YOU GO TO THE BOTTOM OF THE PAGE.

OUR INITIAL ASK WAS FOR 69 LAW ENFORCEMENT DEPUTIES.

WE FIGURE IT'S A BALLPARK.

WE FIGURE THAT COST WAS ABOUT 5.1 MILLION.

WHAT WE GOT FROM THE BUDGET OFFICE AS A COUNTER WAS 30 LAW ENFORCEMENT DEPUTIES, AT A COST OF ABOUT $2 MILLION.

AND THAT WAS THE COUNTER, WHICH WE'RE VERY GLAD TO HAVE RECEIVED THAT.

BUT WE THINK THAT FOR OUR OPERATIONAL MINIMUM, WE WOULD NEED 47 LAW ENFORCEMENT DEPUTIES AT A COST OF 3.5.

SO THAT PUTS US AT A DELTA OF ABOUT 1.5 MILLION.

AND THE FIRST ASK, THE MOST IMPORTANT ONE IS AND THIS IS THIS FIRST COLUMN IS FOR 24 PATROL OFFICERS.

IN ORDER FOR US TO CONTINUE TO TAKE OUR VERY LARGE DISTRICTS AND CUT THEM UP INTO MUCH MORE SUSTAINABLE AREAS OF LAW ENFORCEMENT, WE WOULD NEED 24 ADDITIONAL DEPUTIES TO BE ABLE TO CUT THOSE LARGER DISTRICTS INTO MORE MANAGEABLE DISTRICTS. THE 24 WOULD BE FOR PATROL.

THERE'S A SECOND ISSUE THERE, WHICH IS FOR STOP, WHICH IS THE SHERIFF'S TOP OFFENDER PROGRAM.

THAT WAS TIED INTO WHAT WE HAVE AS PART OF OUR DEALINGS WITH THE CITY AND THE ISSUES RAISED.

CHIEF. I'M SORRY. I DON'T WANT TO.

I WAS TRYING NOT TO INTERRUPT YOU, BUT I JUST WANT TO GO BACK TO SOMETHING SO THAT IT WON'T BE CONFUSING.

YES, MA'AM. SO YOU WERE JUST TALKING ABOUT DIVIDING THE DISTRICT INTO SMALLER DISTRICTS, RIGHT? YES, MA'AM. AND SO I KNOW CHIEF GARZA PRESENTED ON THAT WITH THE REALLY NICE ALL THE NUMBERS AND THE THE GRAPHS AND EVERYTHING LAST YEAR.

AND SO WHEN WE SUPPORTED THE 50 NEW SHERIFF DEPUTIES LAST YEAR, I SPECIFICALLY TALKED ABOUT THE COMMITMENT THAT, OF COURSE, A PERCENTAGE OF THAT WOULD BE IN MY PRECINCT.

BUT THIS IS A FAST GROWING PRECINCT.

AND WE TALKED ABOUT BREAKING THAT UP.

SO DID THAT HAPPEN? WAS IT THAT BROKEN UP INTO THOSE SMALLER.

GOOD MORNING COMMISSIONER.

YES, MA'AM. SO WITH THE WITH THE DEPUTIES WE RECEIVED THIS YEAR WAS 50, 36 OF THOSE WERE STRICTLY FOR PATROL.

AND THEY ARE GOING TO PATROL RIGHT NOW.

THEY'RE AT THE ACADEMY. THEY'RE IN A TRAINING PHASE.

SO WHEN THEY START GRADUATING, YOU START SEEING THEM SEPTEMBER THE 13TH.

NEXT WEEK, YOU'LL SEE ABOUT 29 GRADUATE.

AND THEN THOSE ARE GOING TO GO. SO SOME OF THOSE WERE TO THE GRADUATION THAT I WENT TO.

AND THEN EVERY GRADUATION YOU JUST ADD MORE RIGHT? YES MA'AM. OKAY.

SO HAVE.

SO I GUESS WHAT I'M ASKING IS THE ONES THAT WE SUPPORTED LAST YEAR, AND YOU BROKE IT UP INTO SMALLER DISTRICTS.

NOW YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT BREAKING UP.

IS IT EVEN SMALLER DISTRICTS THAN WHAT? YES, MA'AM. SO WITH WHAT WE BROKE UP, THIS CURRENT CYCLE IS WHAT OUR ASK WAS FOR THIS CYCLE, KNOWING THAT WE NEEDED TO CONTINUE TO CUT MOVING FORWARD.

THERE ARE STILL SOME MORE IN YOUR AREA THAT NEED TO BE CUT.

SO THE PLAN WITH THESE 24 IS GOING TO IMPACT ALL FOUR PRECINCTS.

OKAY. AND YOU ARE MAKING THEM SMALLER DISTRICTS, MEANING, YES, THAT THE DEPUTY SHERIFF IN THAT AREA WOULD JUST PATROL THAT NEW DISTRICT AREA.

[00:45:07]

AND THEY KNOW EACH OTHER AND ALL THAT JAZZ.

IT'LL HELP WITH OUR RESPONSE TIMES, ETCETERA.

YES, MA'AM. OKAY. THANK YOU.

YES, MA'AM. ACRONYM FOR THE STOP PROGRAM FOR I COULDN'T HEAR.

STOP STANDS FOR WHAT? STOP STANDS FOR SHERIFF'S TOP OFFENDER PROGRAM.

JUDGE SAKAI AND I, DURING THE MEETINGS WITH THE CITY AND THE DA'S OFFICE.

JUDGE SAKAI AND I, OF COURSE, PUT OUR HEADS TOGETHER AFTER ONE OF THESE MEETINGS.

AND HE SAID, WHAT? WHAT COULD WE DO TO BETTER TARGET THE VIOLENT OFFENDERS, THE, THE, THE SMALL PERCENTAGE THAT THAT COMMITS A LOT OF OUR CRIME? AND SO WE CAME UP WITH THE IDEA OF CREATING A TEAM, TAKING OUR CURRENT FUGITIVE APPREHENSION UNIT, ADDING TO IT, AND THEN CHANGING THEIR MISSION SOMEWHAT TO JUST BE MORE GEARED TOWARD VIOLENT OFFENDERS, VIOLENT, VIOLENT, WANTED FELONS.

YOU KNOW, THE NOTION OF GOING ON AND PICKING UP YOU KNOW, DWI WARRANTS AND, AND MISDEMEANOR MARIJUANA WARRANTS, OBVIOUSLY, THAT'S SOMETHING THAT NEEDS TO GET DONE.

BUT WE NEED TO PRIORITIZE THE MORE VIOLENT THE DOMESTIC VIOLENCE ONES, FOR SURE.

YOU KNOW, YESTERDAY WE TALKED ABOUT OUR HOMICIDE RATE.

WE'VE ALREADY PASSED ALL OF LAST YEAR'S NUMBERS JUST THIS YEAR.

AND HALF OF THOSE MORE THAN HALF ARE DOMESTIC VIOLENCE RELATED.

SO THE STOP TEAM WOULD WOULD BE WOULD PUT PRIORITY ON PICKING UP DOMESTIC VIOLENCE WARRANTS.

BUT ANYTHING VIOLENT YOU KNOW, IN REALITY.

AND SO THAT'S THOSE ARE SOME OF THE POSITIONS THAT WE'LL BE ASKING FOR WILL BE WOULD WE'D LIKE TO ALLOCATE THEM TOWARD THE STAFF TEAM.

SO SO SO THAT'S 30 TOTAL, 24 PATROL SIX STOP 2024 FOR PATROL I BELIEVE ON THE ON THE COUNTER OFFER THAT THAT HAD COME TO US.

THEY'RE WILLING TO GIVE US 12 FOR AND CONTINGENCY FOR THE STOP TEAM.

SO WE SAID OKAY WELL LET'S BECAUSE WE'D REALLY LIKE TO BUILD UP PATROL.

WE'D, WE'D CONSIDER CUTTING OUR OUR ASK TO SIX STOP THIS YEAR AND THEN SIX BECAUSE THAT WOULD, THAT WOULD GO IN ADDITION TO THE FUGITIVE APPREHENSION UNIT THAT WE ALREADY HAVE, WE COULD GROW IT A BIT, AND THEN NEXT YEAR WE'D COME BACK AND ASK FOR ANOTHER SIX TO COMPLETE THAT TRANSITION OVER TO THE FULL STOP TEAM.

OKAY. I'M SORRY.

YES. GO AHEAD.

CHIEF. YES.

SO MOVING ON TO THE SECOND POINT.

WE INITIALLY ASKED FOR EIGHT LAW ENFORCEMENT INVESTIGATORS AND THE BUDGET OFFICE PROPOSED? NONE. SO WE'RE AGAIN ASKING FOR EIGHT LAW ENFORCEMENT INVESTIGATORS.

AGAIN, THE SHERIFF TOUCHED ON THE HOMICIDE RATE.

THAT'S GOING STRAIGHT UP.

WE'RE SEEING THINGS LIKE FINANCIAL CRIMES THAT EXCEED $1 MILLION BECAUSE SOME PEOPLE ARE VERY WELL EVOLVED INTO DOING THIS.

SO THEY TAKE ADVANTAGE OF MANY, MANY PEOPLE.

SO WE'RE LOOKING AT ELDERLY CRIME.

WE'RE LOOKING AT ANIMAL ABUSE.

THE HEAT DOESN'T HELP AT ALL WITH ANIMALS.

SO IN ORDER FOR US TO TAKE WE'VE GOT SOMETHING LESS THAN 60 DETECTIVES.

I THINK WE'RE AT AT 58.

YOU SAID THE WET DOESN'T HELP AT ALL.

SO THE HEAT WITH THE ANIMALS.

SO ALL OF A SUDDEN WE'RE LOOKING AT THINGS LIKE PEOPLE MAKING MORE CALLS, SAYING, HEY, THESE ANIMALS ARE BEING THEY'RE BEING ABUSED, AND YOU GET OUT THERE AND IT'S A IT'S IT'S QUITE THE CASE TO DO.

IT'S HARD TO BUILD UP.

SO WE'RE SEEING THE SAME THING WITH FINANCIAL CRIMES.

WE'RE SEEING IT WITH ELDERLY CRIMES.

IT'S IT'S IF IT'S OUT THERE, IT'S BEING EXPLOITED.

AND WITH THE HOMICIDE RATE, WITH THE FAMILY VIOLENCE RATE GOING STRAIGHT UP.

FOR US, THAT'S OUR EXPERIENCE.

I DON'T KNOW ABOUT THE REST OF THE COUNTRY, BUT FOR US, THAT'S WHAT WE LIVE EVERY DAY.

SO WE'RE ASKING FOR EIGHT MORE INVESTIGATOR POSITIONS.

THE THIRD ASK HERE IS ACTUALLY SOMETHING THAT BUDGET SAID THAT WAS GOOD.

THEY'RE GOOD WITH THAT WAS TO ASK FOR TWO MORE SMART DEPUTIES.

THAT'S ALSO A PROGRAM THAT WAS BUILT UP TO DEAL WITH MENTAL HEALTH.

WE WERE ASKING FOR NINE SERGEANTS.

OUR HISPANIC CONTROL IS SOMEWHAT AT ISSUE, BUT IF WE HAD TO GO BARE BONES, BREAD AND WATER, WHAT COULD WE DO THIS YEAR? WE WOULD GET BY WITH FIVE.

THIS WOULD GO TOWARDS THE PATROL DEPUTIES, TOWARDS THE STOP DEPUTIES AND TOWARDS THE DETECTIVES.

AND THEY WOULD NEED A FIELD SUPERVISOR AND HAVE A SPAN OF CONTROL THAT'S MUCH, MUCH MORE MANAGEABLE THAN WHAT WE HAVE RIGHT NOW.

THE FIFTH ASK HERE IS IN THE AREA OF LICENSED PROFESSIONAL COUNSELORS.

WE CURRENTLY HAVE ONE AUTHORIZED PSYCHOLOGIST POSITION.

WE'RE IN THE PROCESS OF HIRING SOMEBODY FOR THAT.

AND WE'RE WORKING WITH BUDGET TO ADJUST THE PAY.

WE'RE FINDING THAT OUR OUR INITIAL PAY IS VERY LOW.

SO WE'RE WORKING WITH THEM ALREADY TO TRY AND GET THAT RAISED.

BUT WHAT WE'RE SEEING IS HOW DO WE GET A FORCE MULTIPLIER IN HERE WITHOUT HAVING TO HIRE TWO MORE PSYCHOLOGISTS?

[00:50:05]

THEY WILL BE FORCE MULTIPLIERS FOR THE PSYCHOLOGIST.

THEY'LL BE ABLE TO WORK WEEKENDS TO COVER THE NIGHTS AND EVENINGS, SO THAT WE DON'T HAVE ONE PERSON THAT'S RUNNING THEMSELVES RAGGED 24 OVER SEVEN 365.

THE WAY WE THINK THIS WOULD HAPPEN IS IF WE UNFROZE TWO.

POSITIONS HELD FOR POLYGRAPHERS RIGHT NOW.

WHICH WE HAD TO FIND A WORKAROUND.

THE WORKAROUND WAS WE HIRE A PRIVATE ENTITY.

THEY'VE WORKED OUT VERY WELL.

THEY CAN HANDLE THE VOLUME OF CADETS THAT WE THROW AT THEM 40 OR 50 AT A TIME.

SO IF WE TAKE THOSE TWO UNFREEZE THAT SALARY THAT WE THINK WOULD BE ROUGHLY EQUAL TO THE TWO LPCS THAT WE'RE ASKING FOR.

WE'RE ALSO ASKING FOR AN LI LIEUTENANT.

THIS LIEUTENANT POSITION WOULD GO STRICTLY TO BE THE MANAGER OVER OUR MAYHEW AND SMART TEAMS. AND CHIEF RAUL GARZA CAN CAN ADDRESS THAT.

YEAH, OUR MENTAL HEALTH UNIT.

YES, SIR. THANK YOU. SO, THE LAW ENFORCEMENT LIEUTENANT FOR THE MENTAL HEALTH UNIT IS SOMETHING WE'VE BEEN ASKING FOR FOR SEVERAL YEARS.

AS WE'RE CONTINUING TO EXPAND THE MENTAL HEALTH UNIT TO NOW INCLUDE SMART.

AND WITH THE ASK FOR TWO MORE SMART DEPUTIES THIS YEAR, WE'RE GOING TO BE ABLE TO COVER MENTAL HEALTH SEVEN DAYS A WEEK.

WE NEED A MANAGER LIEUTENANT LEVEL THAT'S GOING TO BE ABLE TO ATTEND ALL THE MEETINGS WITH OUR WITH OUR PARTNERS, SUCH AS STROKE CENTER FOR HEALTH CARE SERVICES, ALL THE HOSPITALS THAT DEAL WITH EMERGENCY DETENTIONS, ETC.

RIGHT NOW, THAT UNIT HAS TWO SUPERVISORS, TWO SERGEANTS A DAY SHIFT AND A NIGHT SHIFT.

THOSE SERGEANTS CAN'T GO FROM BEING FIELD SUPERVISORS TO NOW HAVING TO MANAGE LARGE ISSUES WITH REGARDS TO OUR STAKEHOLDERS.

WHAT IS THE WHAT IS THE PRACTICAL, I GUESS, DEPLOYMENT BEYOND THE MEETINGS AND THE COORDINATION AND THE MANAGEMENT FOR A LIEUTENANT? I MEAN, BECAUSE JUST FROM A PRACTITIONER STANDPOINT, YOU WANT TO, YOU KNOW, KEEP SOME FIELD OPERATIONAL UNDERSTANDING BECAUSE THE NATURE OF MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES CHANGES BASED UPON NARCOTICS CHANGING, BASED UPON CRIME, CHANGING THINGS LIKE THAT.

SO HOW MUCH TIME WOULD THEY HAVE IN THE FIELD.

SO IT DEPENDS.

SO IT DEPENDS ON WHAT'S GOING ON IN THE FIELD AT THE MOMENT.

IT'S DEFINITELY RESPONDING TO CRISIS CALLS THAT ARE GOING TO REQUIRE A LOT MORE TIME.

IF YOU'VE GOT BARRICADED SUBJECTS INVOLVING MENTALLY ILL SUBJECTS, THOSE KINDS OF SITUATIONS THAT REQUIRE A HIGHER LEVEL OF COORDINATION TO WORK WITH COMMAND STAFF AND ETC.. OKAY.

THANK YOU. SO ITEM NUMBER SEVEN IS OUR ASK REGARDING CHANGE MANAGEMENT SPECIALIST POSITIONS.

RIGHT NOW WE HAVE A FROZEN CHANGE MANAGEMENT SPECIALIST POSITION.

AND WE HAVE CURRENTLY A CHANGE MANAGEMENT TECHNICIAN POSITION.

NOW THESE PEOPLE FOR A SIMPLER WAY OF DESCRIBING THEM.

THEY DO THE ANALYSIS.

THEY DO THE RESEARCH. THEY DO THE GROUND LEVEL WORK.

THEY HELP YOU STAND UP UNITS.

THEY LOOK TO SEE WHERE CAN WE BEST USE OUR MANPOWER BASED ON THE CURRENT TRENDS OF CRIME AND THOSE ANALYSIS THAT NEEDS TO BE DONE. THESE PEOPLE WOULD BE DOING IT RIGHT NOW.

A LOT OF THAT GOES UNDONE.

A LOT OF THAT IS DONE BY CHIEFS ON THE WEEKENDS, AT NIGHT, IN THE EVENINGS, AND THEY'RE BUSY RUNNING THEIR OPERATIONS.

SO WE FOUND A WAY TO DO THIS AT A ZERO COST.

THERE IS PRESENTLY A FUNDED POSITION CALLED A PUBLIC SAFETY COMMUNICATIONS MANAGER.

THAT IS SOMETHING WE'RE WILLING TO GIVE BACK AND SAY, LOOK, PLEASE TAKE THAT MONEY AND SPLIT IT UP.

TWO THIRDS OF THAT MONEY WOULD GO TO UNFREEZE THAT CHANGE MANAGEMENT SPECIALIST POSITION.

AND THE OTHER THIRD OF THAT WOULD BE TO UPGRADE THE CHANGE MANAGEMENT TECHNICIAN TO A SECOND CHANGE MANAGEMENT SPECIALIST POSITION, GIVING US TWO OF THOSE INFORMATION WORKERS, SO TO SPEAK.

AND THAT WOULD BE AT ZERO COST.

THE EIGHTH ITEM HERE IS OUR CAPTAIN AND CHIEF.

GUARD. DO YOU WANT TO ADDRESS THAT? YES, SIR. THANK YOU. SO RIGHT NOW I NEED A CAPTAIN TO HELP OVERSEE THE TRAINING ACADEMY.

SO THE TRAINING ACADEMY NOW HAS TO COORDINATE WITH OTHER ENTITIES TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE FIRING RANGE CAPABILITIES.

WE HAVE TRAINING SITES TO CONDUCT OUR MANDATED DRIVING COURSE TRAININGS TO MANAGE THE HUNDREDS OF RECRUITS AND CADETS THAT WE HAVE COMING INTO THE ACADEMY.

RIGHT NOW, I HAVE CLOSE TO 170 CADETS AT THE ACADEMY FOR BOTH LAW ENFORCEMENT AND DETENTION, AND TO OVERSEE THE STAFFING LEVELS TO ENSURE THAT WE'RE IN COMPLIANCE WITH STATE LAW MANDATES AND TRAINING, AND TO KEEP EVERYBODY IN COMPLIANCE WITH WHAT THE NEW LAWS AND CHANGES ARE.

ET CETERA. TO MANAGE THE OPERATIONS FOR ME AT THE ACADEMY.

[00:55:05]

THIS GETS A LITTLE COMPLICATED.

SO ON THE JAIL SIDE, WE'VE GOT AN MO BUDGET AND IT RUNS IN THE MILLIONS.

WE KNOW THAT. BUT FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT, FOR OVERTIME, WE HAVE ABOUT $60,000 A YEAR.

AND I'LL SAY THAT AGAIN, $60,000 A YEAR FOR THE LAW ENFORCEMENT SIDE OF IT.

ONCE WE EXHAUST THAT MONEY, WHICH CAN BE DONE IN A FEW DAYS, WE NOW START TO LOOK AT OUR EXISTING BUDGET AND PULL BACK MONEY FROM THAT.

WE CLAW BACK MONEY FROM THERE.

SO WE TAKE THINGS LIKE TRAINING.

WE TAKE THINGS LIKE OFFICE SUPPLIES, WE TAKE THINGS LIKE TECHNOLOGY AND EVEN THEN, EVENTUALLY DURING THE YEAR, WE RUN OUT OF THAT MONEY TO TAKE BACK.

AND THEN BUDGET STILL HAS TO LOOK AT THE CONTINGENCY FUNDS.

SO WHEN WE'VE DISCUSSED IT WE'VE BEEN INFORMED THAT THIS WAS AN EDICT PUT OUT BY COMMISSIONER'S COURT THAT IF YOU HAVE OVERTIME ISSUES THAT COME OUT OF YOUR BUDGET, YOU GO BACK AND YOU CANNIBALIZE YOUR BUDGET AND YOU PAY FOR IT THAT WAY.

WHAT WE'RE ASKING FOR IS THAT WE ESTABLISH SOME BUDGET.

THE NUMBER WE LISTED HERE IS 5 MILLION.

IT'LL BE OVER FOUR, WHERE WE LOOK AT IT AND SAY, WE KNOW THAT LAW ENFORCEMENT HAS BUILT IN REQUIREMENTS.

EVEN IF WE HAVE NO VACANCIES, IF YOU HAVE A DETECTIVE TAKING CONFESSIONS FROM SOMEBODY, THEY'RE NOT GOING TO STOP AT THE END OF A SHIFT.

OR IF YOU'RE SEARCHING A HOUSE AND YOU ABANDON IT, NOW YOU GOT TO GET A WARRANT.

YOU CONTINUE.

YOU'RE LOOKING FOR A LOST CHILD.

YOU'RE INVOLVED IN A MASS RECOVERY OF EVIDENCE.

THERE'S ALWAYS GOING TO BE SOME LAW ENFORCEMENT OVERTIME BUILT IN.

WE'VE MINIMIZED IT QUITE A BIT.

THANKS TO ALL THE CHIEFS.

BUT CHIEF GARZA HAS REALLY BEEN THE WATCHDOG OVER THAT.

AND YOU'VE SEEN IT COMING DOWN OVER OVER THE MANY MONTHS.

SO WE'RE ASKING THAT THAT THE COMMISSIONERS COURT PLEASE REEXAMINE THAT FOR FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT AND SAY, LOOK, IT'S IT'S IT'S NOT SUSTAINABLE TO PAY FOR YOUR OWN OVERTIME FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT OUT OF YOUR OWN BUDGET, BECAUSE IT CAUSES US TO CANNIBALIZE OTHER THINGS THAT BECOME NECESSARY LATER.

AND WE THINK THAT NUMBER WOULD BE SOMEWHERE BETWEEN 4 TO $5 MILLION A YEAR.

I KNOW A VERY LARGE AGENCY THAT I WORKED FOR AND RETIRED FROM THEIR OVERTIME BUDGET WHEN I LEFT WAS 21 MILLION.

I THINK AT THIS TIME LAST CHECK WAS SOMEWHERE AROUND 18 TO 19 MILLION.

IT'S JUST A BUILT IN PART OF LAW ENFORCEMENT.

DID YOU HAVE QUESTIONS, COMMISSIONER? ARE YOU DONE? YES, MA'AM.

OKAY, SO SINCE YOU WERE JUST TALKING ABOUT OVERTIME, LET ME ASK YOU ABOUT OVERTIME.

SO AS WE I THINK ALMOST EVERY YEAR SINCE I'VE BEEN HERE, WE'VE, YOU KNOW, EXPANDED THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT A LITTLE BIT MORE AND GIVING MORE, SUPPORTING MORE DEPUTIES.

SO AS WE GIVE MORE STAFF, DOES THAT HELP WITH OVERTIME? LIKE JUST VERY SIMPLISTIC QUESTION.

YES. YES IT DOES.

SO THE STAFF THAT WE'VE APPROVED.

ARE THOSE ALL FILLED, SHERIFF? YES, MA'AM. WE ANNOUNCED THAT TO SEND AN EMAIL OUT A COUPLE WEEKS AGO.

ABOUT TWO WEEKS AGO, WHEN WE STARTED OUR LATEST LAW ENFORCEMENT CLASS AND DETENTION CLASS, WE ESSENTIALLY FILLED ALL OF OUR LAW ENFORCEMENT VACANCIES AT THAT TIME, AND WE BROUGHT OUR DETENTION VACANCIES DOWN FROM FOR A WHILE, IT WAS HOVERING AROUND 250 TO 300 UNFILLED VACANCIES ON THE DETENTION SIDE OF THE HOUSE. RIGHT NOW, WE'RE HOVERING AROUND 100.

WHEN WE START OUR CLASS ON MONDAY, IT'LL BRING IT WELL BELOW 100.

WE'RE STARTING A CLASS OF 40 DETENTION CADETS ON MONDAY MORNING.

SO, YOU KNOW, WE ARE ABSOLUTELY MOVING THE NEEDLE MOVING FORWARD.

YOU KNOW, WE'RE THANKFUL FOR THE POSITIONS THAT YOU ALL HAVE GIVEN US IN THE PAST.

AND AGAIN, THAT'S WHY WE'RE THAT'S WHY WE'RE BACK AGAIN, ASKING FOR THE SAME TO CONTINUE TO MOVE THAT NEEDLE.

SO IT WOULD BE HELPFUL FOR, FOR AT LEAST ME AND MY OFFICE.

IF YOU GUYS CAN KEEP SOME KIND OF STATS AS POSITIONS ARE FILLED AND HOW THAT'S DECREASING OVER TIME TO SEE IF THAT'S SAVING US MONEY IN TERMS OF OVERTIME, AND ALSO IN TERMS OF MENTAL HEALTH OF YOUR OWN STAFF, THAT THEY DON'T HAVE TO CONTINUE TO LIKE HAVE ALL THESE LONG OVERTIME HOURS.

SO THAT WOULD BE REALLY HELPFUL IF YOU GUYS CAN COME BACK WITH SOME KIND OF STATS OF HOW THAT'S HELPING AND PERCENTAGES AND THINGS.

SURE. OKAY. WE'LL CREATE WHAT WE CAN.

YOU MENTIONED THE SMART THE SMART PROGRAM AND EXPANSION.

THAT'S SOMETHING THAT I'M VERY SUPPORTIVE OF, AS YOU GUYS KNOW.

SO, DAVID, WHERE DOES THAT MONEY COME OUT? OF WHAT DEPARTMENT? SO IF WE WERE TO SUPPORT MORE OFFICERS IN THE SMART PROGRAM, SO WOULD THAT BE BUDGETED IN A DIFFERENT DEPARTMENT AS OPPOSED TO THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT? WE FUNDED TWO THE TWO DEPUTIES HE ASKED FOR, WE FUNDED, WE PUT THEM IN NON-DEPARTMENTAL AS OPPOSED TO DIRECTLY IN HIS BUDGET.

[01:00:09]

OKAY. BECAUSE THEY CAN'T THE SMART TEAM CANNOT GO TO 24 OVER SEVEN UNTIL CHCS IS ABLE TO PROVIDE THE ADDITIONAL CLINICIANS, BECAUSE THEY HAVE TO HAVE A FULL TEAM BEFORE THEY GO OUT.

OKAY. THAT'S GREAT.

BECAUSE I JUST THINK WE NEED TO BE MINDFUL OF THE STATE LAW THAT PASSED, THAT ONCE WE GIVE LAW ENFORCEMENT MONEY, WE CAN'T TAKE IT BACK, WHICH REALLY DOESN'T SPEAK TO THE NEEDS THAT WE HAVE AS COMMISSIONERS COURT OR AS A COUNTY, WHEN EVERY YEAR IT'S IT'S A DIFFERENT BUDGET CYCLE.

SO AS MANY POSITIONS AS WE CAN PUT IN OTHER DEPARTMENTS, LIKE I THINK IS, IS REALLY NOT TO SAY THAT WE WOULD CUT IT, BUT THEN WE CAN BE FLEXIBLE WITH IT.

SO I THINK THAT'S A REALLY GOOD IDEA.

I'M VERY SUPPORTIVE OF THAT.

I ALSO WANTED TO ASK ABOUT DID YOU HAVE SOMETHING TO SAY, SHERIFF? YES, COMMISSIONER. I MEAN, RESPECTFULLY AND, YOU KNOW, I JUST WANT TO STATE THOUGH, THAT WITH CRIME THE WAY IT IS AND THE MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES CONTINUING TO CLIMB ARE GOING TO GROW. I REALLY CAN'T SEE A SCENARIO WHERE WE'D EVER WANT TO TAKE RESOURCES AWAY FROM A MAJOR, MAJOR METROPOLITAN AGENCY DEALING WITH THE MAJOR METROPOLITAN ISSUES THAT WE DEAL WITH. SO, RESPECTFULLY, I DISAGREE WITH THAT.

I'M NOT SAYING TAKE IT AWAY.

I'M SAYING ADJUST OR MOVE THEM ELSEWHERE.

WE CAN'T DO THAT. ONCE WE ASSIGN FOR ONE SPECIFIC THING, THAT'S IT.

AND WE AS COMMISSIONERS SHOULD BE ABLE TO MEET MEET THE NEEDS OF OUR CONSTITUENTS AND MOVE THINGS AROUND, IS WHAT I'M SAYING.

OF COURSE, WE CONTINUE TO GROW.

I'M THE COMMISSIONER OF PRECINCT ONE.

OBVIOUSLY, CHIEF GARZA KNOWS HE LIVES IN THE FASTEST GROWING PART OF THE COUNTY, WHICH I REPRESENT.

SURE. BUT I'M SAYING IS, I STILL WANT TO HAVE THAT FLEXIBILITY AND BE MINDFUL OF THE LAWS THAT WE ARE UNDER UNDER THIS STATE, WHICH IS VERY PARTIZAN, WHICH WAS, YOU KNOW, A DOG AND PONY SHOW YESTERDAY.

AND WE'RE MINDFUL OF THAT.

AND SO I'M NOT GOING TO BE SILENCED BECAUSE OF YOU KNOW THE POLITICAL GAMING THAT CONTINUES TO GO ON IS WHAT I'M SAYING.

SURE. SO WE NEED TO BE ABLE TO BE FLEXIBLE TO MOVE PEOPLE AROUND AND MOVE RESOURCES AROUND.

OF COURSE, THIS IS A GROWING COUNTY.

MY PRECINCT IS THE FASTEST GROWING, SO I CAN'T IMAGINE A SCENARIO EITHER, BUT I STILL WANT TO BE MINDFUL OF THAT.

SO NOW IF WE CAN TALK ABOUT THE MENTAL HEALTH.

SO YOU DO HAVE ONE POSITION FOR A PSYCHOLOGIST, CORRECT? YES, MA'AM. AND IS THAT OPEN? IS IT FILLED? IT'S IT'S OPEN.

OUR PSYCHOLOGIST LEFT TO GO BACK TO THE SAN ANTONIO POLICE DEPARTMENT.

AND QUITE FRANKLY, WE'RE HOPING TO GET AN ADJUSTMENT TO THE SALARY.

WE'RE HAVING A HARD TIME ATTRACTING FOLKS TO COME, BECAUSE RIGHT NOW, EVERYBODY IN THE AREA IS LOOKING FOR.

FOR POLICE, PSYCHOLOGISTS.

THE FEDS JUST DRAMATICALLY INCREASE THE PAY THAT THEY'RE OFFERING.

AND I KNOW THAT THAT HOUSTON I BELIEVE DALLAS PD IS IS LOOKING.

DPS IS LOOKING.

SAPD IS CONTINUING TO LOOK.

SO WE'RE IT'S A VERY COMPETITIVE JOB MARKET FOR VERY LIMITED SCOPE THAT THAT YOU KNOW WE'VE GOT TO FIND JUST THE RIGHT PERSON.

SO I GUESS I WANT TO ASK ABOUT PSYCHOLOGISTS VERSUS A LICENSED PROFESSIONAL THERAPIST BECAUSE OF COURSE IF IT WAS A PSYCHIATRIST AND A PSYCHIATRIST CAN PRESCRIBE MEDICATION, BUT A PSYCHOLOGIST CANNOT.

RIGHT. SO WHAT WOULD IT LOOK LIKE IN HIRING MORE LICENSED PROFESSIONAL THERAPISTS? AND I KNOW THAT'S PART OF THE PROGRAM AS OPPOSED TO A PSYCHOLOGIST.

WHAT'S THE DIFFERENCE THAT A PSYCHOLOGIST CAN SERVE THAT A LICENSED PROFESSIONAL COUNSELOR CANNOT.

SO PRESENTLY WHAT THE PSYCHOLOGIST HAS BEEN DOING FOR US AND WELL, WE CONTRACT WITH ANOTHER PSYCHOLOGIST NOW.

BUT WHEN WE GET ONE ON BOARD FULL FLEDGED, THAT PSYCHOLOGIST WILL BE ABLE TO SCREEN APPLICANTS.

THERE'S SOME SOME PAPERWORK BY THE STATE THAT HAS TO BE SIGNED OFF ON BY A PSYCHOLOGIST SO THEY CAN CONCENTRATE MORE ON THAT.

A LOT OF WHAT THE OUR PREVIOUS PSYCHOLOGIST DEALT WITH WAS, WAS MARRIAGE COUNSELING TYPE THINGS.

AN 18 YEAR OLD DEPUTY THAT'S HOMESICK FOR FOR LAREDO OR THE RIO GRANDE VALLEY WHERE THEY CAME FROM, YOU KNOW, DEPRESSION ISSUES, TEEN ANGST, FOR LACK OF A BETTER TERM.

AND AN LPC CAN HANDLE SOME OF THAT WORKLOAD WHILE FREEING UP THE PSYCHOLOGIST TO DEAL WITH SOME OF THE MORE STRENUOUS TYPE STUFF.

AND SO HAVE YOU ALL LOOKED INTO POSSIBLY DOING CONTRACT WORK WITH PSYCHOLOGISTS? THAT'S WHAT WE'VE BEEN.

THAT'S WHAT WE'VE BEEN FORCED TO DO, IS WE WE HIRE A FORMER A RETIRED SAPD PSYCHOLOGIST.

SHE'S VERY GIFTED. SHE'S GREAT AT WHAT SHE DOES.

BUT SHE SEES OUR OUR CADETS ON A CONTRACT BASIS.

OKAY. AND THEN DO YOU HAVE A PERCENTAGE? AND I KNOW EVERYTHING'S CONFIDENTIAL, OBVIOUSLY, ESPECIALLY WHEN IT COMES TO MENTAL HEALTH, BUT IN TERMS OF OUR DEAR OAKS PROGRAM DO WE HAVE ANY NUMBERS TO SEE IF.

OR ARE YOU GUYS ENCOURAGING YOUR STAFF TO REACH OUT TO DARRYL? ABSOLUTELY, COMMISSIONER.

OH, IT'S NOT DARRYL ANYMORE, IS IT? TINA WITH THE EAP? YEAH! OUR EEP! YES! OH, DEAR.

YEAH. IS IT STILL THERE? DIDN'T WE CHANGE IT? NO, WE CHANGED IT.

[01:05:02]

I MEAN, ARE YOU ALL CALLING THE NUMBER, WHETHER IT'S ZERO? LIKE, ARE YOU ALL ENCOURAGING THAT? YES. SO PART OF WHAT WE DO NOW WITH OUR PEER SUPPORT PROGRAM IS SOMETHING ELSE THAT THE LPCS ARE GOING TO HELP OVERSEE FOR US, BECAUSE RIGHT NOW THAT'S DEPUTIES WITH MENTAL HEALTH UNIT AND OTHER DEPUTIES FROM THROUGHOUT THE AGENCY HELPING WITH PEER SUPPORT.

ONE OF THE RESOURCES THAT WE HAVE RIGHT NOW FOR FOLKS IS TO REFER THEM TO THAT AGENCY.

BUT THAT AGENCY IS NOT IS IS NOT GOING TO BE CONTINUED LONG TERM.

ALTHOUGH WHEN WE DO CALL THEM, WE'RE ABLE TO GET SOME ASSISTANCE RIGHT AWAY.

HOWEVER, TO I THINK IT'S LONG TERM, I THINK IT'S LIKE SIX, SIX COUNSELING SESSIONS AND THERE'S A LOT OF ISSUES.

YOU NEED MORE THAN SIX AND WE NEED TO CONTINUE THAT SUPPORT.

SO THAT'S WHERE THE LPCS WILL COME IN HANDY.

OKAY. I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE AND NOT JUST FOR THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT.

I THINK FOR ALL OF OUR COUNTY EMPLOYEES.

WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE LET OUR STAFF KNOW AND ENCOURAGE THEM TO USE THAT RESOURCE.

ABSOLUTELY. AND THESE WILL GO FOR ALL SWORN AND UNSWORN EMPLOYEES OF THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE.

COMMISSIONER. AND THAT RIGHT NOW THEY NEED AS YOU CAN IMAGINE, IT'S CONTINUED TO GROW.

AND WHEN WHEN INTERVIEWING POSSIBLE PSYCHOLOGISTS FOR THE OPEN POSITION WE HAVE NOW, PART OF THEIR CONCERN IS THE OVERWHELMING WORKLOAD, BECAUSE YOU'VE GOT ONE PERSON HANDLING 2000 EMPLOYEES.

SO HOW LONG WAS THE PSYCHOLOGIST HERE IN THE DEPARTMENT WHEN YOU GUYS HAD HIM? ABOUT FOUR YEARS. 4 OR 5 YEARS.

OH, SO Y'ALL HAD SOMEONE FOR.

OKAY. OKAY, GREAT.

AND I KNOW MY CHIEF OF STAFF HAS MET WITH YOU GUYS, AND SHE'S BEEN DEBRIEFING ME AND CRUNCHING THE NUMBERS AND STUFF, SO I'M SURE WE'LL FIGURE OUT SOMETHING.

SO THANK YOU. THANK YOU.

WHAT'S THAT? COMMISSIONER ROGERS.

THANK YOU. JUDGE.

SHERIFF AND CHIEF, THANK YOU FOR FOR BEING HERE.

I DON'T HAVE ANY SPECIFIC QUESTIONS.

I SPENT SOME TIME WITH CHIEF SERRATO AND ASSISTANT CHIEF GARZA.

YESTERDAY, LATE YESTERDAY AND WENT OVER A LOT OF THESE REQUESTS.

AND I KNOW, AS WITH EVERY BUDGET CYCLE, YOU DON'T GET EVERYTHING THAT YOU NEED.

BUT I THINK THERE WAS SOME GOOD DISCUSSION, GOOD ARGUMENTS MADE FOR WHAT WE MIGHT BE ABLE TO WORK OUT.

SO WE'LL CONTINUE THOSE DISCUSSIONS IN ADVANCE OF NEXT WEEK WHEN WE ADOPT THE BUDGET.

I DID WANT TO JUST MENTION, I GUESS, TO THE BUDGET OFFICE, AND MAYBE IT'S RELATED SOMEWHAT TO THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT, BUT ALSO GENERALLY AND YOU BROUGHT WE BROUGHT UP SMART.

AS WE LOOK AT KIND OF THE END OF THE ARPA DOLLARS.

IF WE COULD MAYBE GET AGAIN DISCUSSION FOR DOWN THE ROAD BY DEPARTMENT, WHICH DEPARTMENTS HAVE ARPA ALLOCATIONS THAT WILL BE RUNNING OUT IN THE NEXT YEAR OR SO? I THINK THAT WOULD BE HELPFUL AS WE PREPARE AGAIN.

YOU KNOW, I THINK THAT NO MATTER WHERE YOU GO IN THE IN THE COUNTY, PUBLIC SAFETY IS ALWAYS THE NUMBER ONE PRIORITY.

AND WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO INVEST IN PUBLIC SAFETY.

BUT WE ALSO HAVE TO BE MEASURED IN TERMS OF HOW WE INVEST THOSE DOLLARS.

AND IS IT SUSTAINABLE YEAR OVER YEAR? THE COUNTY IS GROWING.

WE'VE SEEN THE FROM THE THE REVENUE GROWTH THAT MAYBE IT'S TAILING OFF A LITTLE BIT, BUT IT'S STILL GOING TO BE GROWING.

AND WE STILL HAVE A COMMUNITY WHERE PEOPLE ARE COMING.

THEY WANT SAFE COMMUNITIES.

SO I THINK THOSE ARE DISCUSSIONS WE HAVE TO HAVE BECAUSE WE CAN PUT IT ALL IN THIS YEAR'S BUDGET.

BUT THEN, YOU KNOW, COME NEXT YEAR OR THE YEAR AFTER WHEN THESE ARPA DOLLARS ARE ROLLING OFF WE'RE GOING TO BE IN FOR SOME TOUGH DECISIONS.

SO I THINK WE NEED TO START HAVING THOSE DISCUSSIONS BY DEPARTMENT AND INCLUSIVE OF THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT.

BUT I'M VERY HOPEFUL. AFTER MY DISCUSSIONS YESTERDAY WITH YOUR TEAM, THAT WE CAN GET SOMEWHERE AGAIN AS THESE THINGS GO, NO ONE IS 100% HAPPY.

BUT. BUT I THINK THERE WILL BE A MEETING OF THE MINDS WHERE WE'RE REASONABLE AND WE CAN GET SOMETHING DONE TO MOVE THE COMMUNITY FORWARD AND MOVE THE BUDGET FORWARD NEXT, NEXT WEEK. SO I'LL CONTINUE THOSE DISCUSSIONS WITH YOU.

SHERIFF, WE APPRECIATE IT.

AND THANK YOU TO YOUR TEAM FOR SPENDING SOME TIME WITH ME YESTERDAY.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU. JUDGE.

COMMISSIONER MOODY THANK YOU.

JUDGE. GOT A FEW QUESTIONS AND SOME SOME COMMENTS AND EVERYTHING FOR DISCUSSION HERE.

FIRST OF ALL, GOING BACK TO THE OVERTIME COSTS, I THINK THAT'S SOMETHING, YOU KNOW.

COMMISSIONER CLAY-FLORES POINTED OUT.

BUT WE NEED TO CONTINUE TO MONITOR THAT.

LOGICALLY, IT WOULD FOLLOW THAT, YOU KNOW, IF WE'RE PAYING TIME INSTEAD OF TIME AND A HALF, THAT THOSE COSTS WOULD COME DOWN, KNOWING AT THE SAME TIME THAT THAT WE'RE GROWING COUNTY GROWING ORGANIZATION AND WE'RE ADDING ADDITIONAL DEPUTIES AND LAW ENFORCEMENT.

BUT BUT THAT IS OBVIOUSLY THE EXPECTATION.

I KNOW THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF DIFFERENT FACTORS GOING ON WITH TRAINING AND GETTING PEOPLE IN THE ROLES, BUT HOPEFULLY WE WE START TO SEE THAT MORE CLEARLY IN THE DATA IN THE COMING WEEKS, MONTHS.

AND I DON'T KNOW ANY ANY RESPONSE TO THAT AT THIS POINT, BUT SURE, COMMISSIONER, I MEAN, I'M SURE YOU UNDERSTAND HAVING BEEN A MARINE

[01:10:08]

YOU KNOW, YOU NEED OBVIOUSLY.

THAT'S WHY WE'RE ASKING FOR SUPERVISORS.

YOU GET MORE BOOTS ON THE GROUND, YOU NEED SOME THREE STRIPERS TO WATCH WHAT IT IS THAT THEY'RE DOING.

BUT YOU ALSO NEED SOME GOLD BARS ABOVE THAT TO MANAGE THOSE RESOURCES.

SERGEANT'S JOB IS EFFECTIVENESS.

WHEREAS THE THE LIEUTENANTS AND CAPTAINS JOB IS EFFICIENCY.

OVERSEEING THOSE, YOU KNOW, AT A CERTAIN POINT, YOU KNOW, MAYBE IT'S POSSIBLE FOR A LIEUTENANT OR A CAPTAIN, AND IT CERTAINLY IT IS THEIR ROLE TO SAY, HEY, THIS CAN WAIT TILL THE NEXT SHIFT COMES ON.

LET'S SCALE BACK, SEND EVERYBODY HOME.

WE'LL KEEP TWO HERE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE SCENE.

NEXT. NEXT SHIFT IS COMING ON IN A LITTLE BIT AND THEY WILL NOT BE ON OVERTIME.

THEY'LL BE ON STRAIGHT TIME.

SO THAT'S THE LIEUTENANT'S JOB, THE CAPTAIN'S JOB TO OVERSEE THOSE SORTS OF THINGS.

SO AS, AS COMMISSIONER CALVERT POINTED OUT, YOU KNOW, WANTING THOSE LIEUTENANTS TO HAVE SOME FIELD OPERATIONS, THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT I EXPECT.

MY GOLD BARS AND EVEN MY STARS TO BE OUT THERE DOING IS IS OUT MANAGING THE RESOURCES BY BY MANAGEMENT, BY WALKING AROUND, AS YOU KNOW, IS PRETTY EFFECTIVE.

COMMISSIONER. YEAH.

NO. AND I'M GOING TO TOUCH ON THAT HERE IN A SECOND.

I DID WANT TO SAY AGAIN, WE DON'T ALWAYS AGREE ON EVERYTHING, BUT I DEFINITELY AGREE WITH YOU ON THE FACT THAT WE HAVE A GROWING COUNTY AND WE HAVE A, A, YOU KNOW, GROWING CRIME THAT COMES WITH THAT.

AND, YOU KNOW, AS MUCH AS THE CONCERNS AROUND STATE LAW, I DON'T SEE THAT AS A AN ISSUE HERE, GIVEN THE FACT THAT WE'RE STILL BEHIND THE POWER CURVE.

I THINK WE'VE MADE SOME GOOD STRIDES TO TRY TO GET CAUGHT UP, BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY, WE ALSO HAVE A GROWING COUNTY.

WE'RE BEHIND THE POWER CURVE.

INVESTMENTS WE MAKE TODAY ARE NECESSARY AND NEEDED AND WILL CONTINUE TO PLAY OUT OVER THE COMING YEARS.

SO I JUST WANTED TO TO BRING THAT UP.

A FEW QUESTIONS, AND MAYBE THIS IS MORE FOR THE TEAM.

I WAS JUST LOOKING AT THIS PRINT OUT, SO CAN SOMEBODY JUST HELP ME WITH THE 43% AND THE 68%? YES, SIR. THOSE WERE HAND SCRIBBLED NOTES.

IF YOU LOOK AT THE MIDDLE COLUMN, OUR INITIAL REQUEST WAS 69 POSITIONS.

WHAT WE GOT BACK AS FROM THE BUDGET OFFICE WAS 30.

THAT REPRESENTS 43% OF OUR ASK.

OKAY. OKAY. AND WHAT WE'RE COUNTERING THERE BRINGING TODAY IS 47 POSITIONS.

THAT WOULD BE 68% OF OUR INITIAL ASK.

AND THAT'S WHAT WE LOOK AT AS OUR BARE BONES BOLOGNA SANDWICH BREAD AND WATER TYPE OF OPERATIONS.

AND IT WAS THAT BASED ON THE PERSONNEL OR ON THE THE COST, THE PERCENTAGES WERE THERE.

THAT'S JUST ON ON THE PERSONNEL NUMBER.

OKAY. THE PERCENTAGE WOULD BE 3.5 MILLION FOR OUR CURRENT ASK.

INITIALLY, IT WOULD HAVE BEEN SOMEWHERE AROUND 5.1.

AND WHAT BUDGET CAME BACK WITH WAS ABOUT 2.0.

AND AGAIN, MY NUMBERS ARE A LITTLE SCRATCHY BECAUSE WE DID THAT YESTERDAY WITH THE HAND CALCULATOR.

AND YEAH, CHIEFS SITTING AROUND A TABLE AT 730.

SO IT LOOKS BALLPARK PM.

SO QUESTION AND SHERIFF, THIS IS PROBABLY TO YOU.

CAN YOU TELL US MORE ABOUT STOP AND THEIR RESPONSIBILITIES AND HOW THEY WOULD OPERATE VERSUS TAG OR ANY OF THE OTHER ORGANIZATIONS THAT ARE OUT THERE DOING APPREHENSIONS TODAY? WELL, CURRENTLY OUR ORGANIZED CRIME GROUP, AKA TAG, THEY ARE TASKED WITH SEEKING OUT, DISMANTLING AND DISRUPTING CRIMINAL ORGANIZATIONS.

WE OBVIOUSLY FOR FOR OBVIOUS REASONS THAT NOBODY CAN DENY.

WE'VE HAD TO TURN OUR SIGHTS MORE TOWARDS TRANSNATIONAL CRIME.

WE'RE SEEING A LOT OF BORDER CRIME, BORDER ISSUES COMING UP AND ALL THAT.

THAT BRINGS WITH IT QUITE A BIT OF VIOLENCE.

SO TAG IS TASKED WITH DISRUPTING AND DISMANTLING THOSE THROUGH A VARIETY OF OF MEANS.

RIGHT. UNIFORM GANG UNIT OUT LOOKING TO TO YOU KNOW, FLIP ASSETS TO TO MAKE THE ARRESTS OF OF FOLKS TO GET GUNS AND DOPE OFF THE STREET IN A UNIFORM CAPACITY.

WE'VE GOT A PRETTY STRONG PLAINCLOTHES CONTINGENT THAT LITERALLY GOES IN AND INFILTRATES THESE ORGANIZATIONS IN MANY INSTANCES.

WE'VE GOT DEPUTIES ASSIGNED TO VARIOUS FEDERAL TASK FORCES THROUGH THE TAG AS A AS A WORK THROUGH THE STOP TEAM WOULD, WOULD GO MORE ALONG THE LINES OF CURRENTLY, WHAT WE HAVE RIGHT NOW, WHAT WE HAVE IS A FUGITIVE APPREHENSION UNIT.

THE FOR THE FOR THEIR JOB IS TO JUST GO OUT AND LOOK FOR WANTED PERSONS YOU KNOW, AND THAT'S THEY'RE VERY, VERY GOOD AT WHAT THEY DO.

THAT IS ONE OF THOSE UNITS WHERE IF, YOU KNOW, IF WE HAD 100 OF THEM, THEY'D STILL BE OVERWORKED, RIGHT? WE'RE NEVER GOING TO GET ENOUGH, QUOTE UNQUOTE, ENOUGH FOR PEOPLE.

BUT THE WAY JUDGE AND I, WHEN WE PUT OUR HEADS TOGETHER AFTER THE MEETING WITH THE SAPD, HE ASKED ME, DO YOU KNOW HOW TO BETTER TARGET THE, THE, THE, THE VIOLENT CRIME? AND I SAID, YES, WE KNOW FOR A FACT THAT A VERY SMALL PERCENTAGE OF THE CRIMINALS ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR A LARGE PERCENTAGE OF THE CRIME.

[01:15:02]

AND THEN THEIR JOB IS TO CREATE, AT ANY TIME A LIST OF OUR TOP OFFENDERS.

YOU KNOW, YOU ALWAYS HEAR ABOUT THE SHERIFF'S MOST WANTED, THE POLICE MOST WANTED.

WELL THAT WOULD THEY WOULD WORK ON A SHERIFF'S MOST WANTED TOP OFFENDERS, SO THAT LIST MAY BE AT TIMES FIVE PEOPLE, I DOUBT IT.

IT MAY BE CLOSER TO 20 OR 30 PEOPLE, AND THEIR JOB IS TO JUST GO OUT AND GET THESE FOLKS AND AS AS PEOPLE ARE GOING TO JAIL, SOMEBODY ELSE REPLACES THEM ON THAT TOP OFFENDERS LIST. AND THEY WOULD LOOK TO DO IT IN A PROACTIVE BASIS RIGHT NOW.

OUR FUGITIVE APPREHENSION UNIT IS STRICTLY UNIFORM ASSETS.

BUT WITH THE CREATION OF THE STOP TEAM, WE WOULD BE ABLE TO TO MORE EFFECTIVELY PROBABLY HALF AND HALF UNIFORM AND PLAINCLOTHES ASSETS IN THOSE UNITS. AND OF COURSE, OBVIOUSLY, SOMEBODY MAY START THE SHIFT IN A UNIFORM AND END UP IN JEANS AND A T SHIRT, DEPENDING UPON WHAT THE MISSION DICTATES.

NOW, I APPRECIATE THAT BACKGROUND.

AND JUST THINKING ABOUT THESE, THESE RESOURCES AND EVERYTHING.

DO YOU SEE THAT THIS IS KIND OF I KNOW THERE'S THERE'S ALWAYS GOING TO BE, YOU KNOW, YOUR MOST WANTED, BUT DO YOU SEE THIS AS KIND OF THERE'S A BACKLOG THERE TODAY THAT POTENTIALLY A SURGE INTO STOP TEAM.

BUT ULTIMATELY SOME OF THOSE RESOURCES MAY FALL BACK INTO PATROL.

OR DO YOU SEE LIKE THAT NOT BEING THE CASE? YEAH, I'M NOT FOLLOWING.

SO IF THE STOP TEAM WAS FULLY STAFFED TODAY, BUT ULTIMATELY YOU WORKED THROUGH A LOT OF THOSE INDIVIDUALS THAT NEED TO BE TAKEN OFF THE STREETS, THEN THERE WOULDN'T BE AS MANY IN THAT BACKLOG.

AND SO SOME OF THOSE INDIVIDUALS FROM THE STOP TEAM COULD GO BACK INTO PATROL.

OR DO YOU THINK, WELL, YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT AT ANY GIVEN TIME, 30,000 THERE RIGHT NOW, AS WE SPEAK, THERE'S ABOUT 30,000 PEOPLE WALKING AROUND, YOU KNOW, WITH WITH OUTSTANDING WARRANTS. NOW, GRANTED, SOME OF THOSE ARE LOW LEVEL MISDEMEANOR WARRANTS.

SOME OF THEM ARE, YOU KNOW, YOU KNOW, AGGRAVATED ASSAULT, AGGRAVATED SEXUAL ASSAULT.

I DON'T I DON'T KNOW THAT WE'LL EVER REACH A POINT WHERE WE CAN STAND DOWN THE STOP TEAM, BUT BUT ABSOLUTELY.

IF IT IF IT EVER DID COME TO THAT POINT, SURE.

WHY NOT REDIRECT THEM TO THE BREAD AND BUTTER OF OUR OF OUR OPERATION IS IS PATROL? YEAH. A COUPLE MORE THINGS.

THE OVERTIME I STILL, YOU KNOW, OBVIOUSLY WE'VE HAD A LOT OF DISCUSSIONS ABOUT OVERTIME, BUT I'M NOT SURE IF I FULLY GRASP THE WHOLE BUDGETING. IT'S IN MY ACCOUNT VERSUS YOUR ACCOUNT.

LIKE, AT THE END OF THE DAY, WE WE PAY THE THE OVERTIME THAT'S DUE OUR UNIFORMED DEPUTIES.

RIGHT. THAT'S ALWAYS BEEN THE CASE.

THAT ALWAYS WILL BE THE CASE.

BUT OBVIOUSLY WE'RE TRYING TO MINIMIZE THAT.

BUT SO I'M NOT SURE IF I FULLY GRASP WHY THE REQUEST WITHIN THE BUDGET VERSUS, YOU KNOW, AS IT IS TODAY, IT SEEMS LIKE THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE COMES TO COURT AND SAYS, HEY, THIS IS WHAT WE HAVE.

WE HAVE A DISCUSSION ABOUT IT, AND WE APPROVE THAT.

WELL, COMMISSIONER, LET ME TAKE A SWING AT IT, CHIEF.

AND THEN YOU FILL IN WHERE YOU THINK YOU NEED TO.

SO THE WAY IT STANDS RIGHT NOW, TYPICALLY BECAUSE WE KNOW WE'RE GOING TO SPEND BETWEEN THAT FOUR AND 5 MILLION DESPITE OUR BEST EFFORTS TO KEEP IT DOWN.

RIGHT. WE'RE DEALING WITH CRIME THAT THAT THAT THE CRIME DICTATES HOW LONG WE SPEND AT WORK ON ANY GIVEN DAY.

SO WITH WITH THAT BEING SAID, WE KNOW THAT WE'RE GOING TO SPEND BASED UPON PREVIOUS YEARS.

WE KNOW THAT'S WHAT WE'RE GOING TO SPEND.

AS IT STANDS NOW, WE'RE TASKED WITH GOING AND CANNIBALIZING OTHER PARTS OF ALREADY BUDGETED ITEMS. SO TAKE IT OUT OF COPIER PAPER AND, YOU KNOW, OFFICE FURNITURE AND, YOU KNOW, THIS OTHER THING THAT THAT, THAT ARE ALREADY BUDGETED ITEMS. WE ALREADY KNOW THAT WE NEED THOSE, BUT NOW WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO DO WITHOUT THIS TO TO PUT BOOTS ON THE GROUND WHILE WE'RE ASKING FOR AND WE'VE BEEN ASKING FOR FOR SOME TIME, IS THE ABILITY TO SAY, LOOK, WE KNOW WE'RE GOING TO SPEND THIS.

LET'S JUST GO AHEAD AND BUDGET FOR THIS.

OBVIOUSLY SPEND AS LITTLE OF THAT AS WE POSSIBLY CAN.

BUT KNOWING THAT WE'RE GOING TO REALLY, REALLY TRY TO KEEP IT BETWEEN THE LINES HERE SO THAT WE CAN KEEP OUR OTHER BUDGETED ITEMS ON TRACK AS, AS NEED BE.

IS THAT ABOUT SUM IT UP? BUT DAVID, THE COUNTY RIGHT.

WE UNDERSTAND WHAT THE LIKELY OVERTIME COSTS ARE.

AND SO WE'RE INCLUDING THAT WITHIN A RESERVE.

OR HOW ARE WE THINKING ABOUT THAT FROM A COUNTY PERSPECTIVE.

SO THE SHERIFF'S CORRECT.

WE TRY AND IDENTIFY FUNDS WITHIN HIS LA BUDGET THAT WE CAN EXPENSE TO FIRST ONCE THEY'RE EXHAUSTED, THEN WE MOVE TO A CONTINGENCY THAT IS BUDGETED AND NON-DEPARTMENTAL FOR LA FLSA OVERTIME.

[01:20:04]

IT'S JUST A QUESTION OF KIND OF WHICH BUDGET IT SITS IN.

CORRECT. AND AGAIN, IF YOU WERE TO BUDGET DIRECTLY IN HIS LA BUDGET, YOU CAN NEVER TAKE THAT AWAY OR REDUCE IT.

I UNDERSTAND. ALL RIGHT.

I'M GOING TO MOVE ON FROM THAT BECAUSE TO ME, I STILL THINK THERE'S THERE'S SOME MORE PRESSING QUESTIONS HERE.

BUT THE SO A LOT OF DIFFERENT CATEGORIES LISTED HERE.

AND I THINK THAT, YOU KNOW, I WANT TO PROVIDE MY THOUGHTS AND MY ADVICE ON ON SOME OF THAT.

BUT ULTIMATELY, YOU KNOW, THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE BEING THE CLOSEST TO IT, YOU GUYS PROBABLY UNDERSTAND BEST.

YOU KNOW, IF YOU HAVE 30 ADDITIONAL HEADCOUNT, YOU'RE GOING TO FIGURE OUT WHERE THAT BEST FITS, WHERE THE NEED IS.

SAME THING IF YOU HAVE 35 OR YOU HAVE 40 OR YOU HAVE 45, YOU KNOW.

SO I THINK SOME OF THAT, YOU KNOW, NEEDS TO CONTINUE TO, TO FLOW.

I KNOW YOU HAVE LISTED OUT WHAT YOU'RE REQUESTING AND THE OPERATIONAL MINIMUM HERE.

I'M SURE THERE'S GOING TO BE CONTINUED DISCUSSIONS, BUT I BUT I GUESS FROM MY STANDPOINT, I JUST WANT TO PROVIDE MY THOUGHTS THAT I UNDERSTAND ENTIRELY SPAN OF CONTROL AND THE NEED FOR ADDITIONAL LEADERSHIP POSITIONS WHEN YOU ALSO HAVE, YOU KNOW, ADDITIONAL JUNIOR DEPUTIES OUT THERE.

BUT AT THE SAME TIME, I UNDERSTAND FROM A BUDGETARY STANDPOINT, WE WANT TO MINIMIZE OVERHEAD AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE AND MAKE SURE THAT THE RESOURCES ARE FLOWING, YOU KNOW, TRYING TO GET AS MANY BOOTS ON THE GROUND AS WE POSSIBLY CAN WITH THE MINIMUM AMOUNT OF SPAN OF CONTROL THAT'S REQUIRED.

I WOULD ALSO JUST POINT OUT TO ME, YOU KNOW, THINKING ABOUT CRIME AND WHAT WE DEAL WITH AND WHAT WE'RE HEARING ABOUT FROM OUR CONSTITUENTS.

YOU KNOW, I STILL FEEL LIKE, YOU KNOW, PLUSSING UP THE THE STOP PROGRAM.

MAKES A LOT OF SENSE.

AND THE MORE OF THOSE REPEAT OFFENDERS THAT THAT ARE ON THE TOP OF OUR LIST, I THINK YOU'LL SEE THE BIGGEST IMPACT ON CURRENT CRIME RATES. SO I DEFINITELY WOULD BE SUPPORTIVE OF, YOU KNOW, ADDITIONAL RESOURCES IN THAT ELEMENT.

AND THEN OBVIOUSLY BEHIND THAT PATROL, YOU KNOW, JUST BOOTS ON THE GROUND AND PRESENCE PROVIDING DETERRENCE IN OUR COMMUNITY.

SO I THINK BOTH OF THOSE ARE IMPORTANT.

BUT IF I WAS GOING TO PICK BETWEEN THE TWO, I STILL THINK GETTING THE THE KNOWN CRIMINALS THAT ARE CAUSING THE MOST CRIMINAL ACTIVITY OFF THE STREETS WOULD BE NUMBER ONE IN MY BOOK. SO I'LL JUST CLOSE THERE.

BUT, YOU KNOW, YOU KNOW, IN THE COMING WEEK, I LOOK FORWARD TO HAVING SOME MORE DISCUSSIONS AS WELL.

I THINK WE NEED TO, YOU KNOW, MAKE ADDITIONAL INVESTMENTS HERE.

I'M GLAD TO SEE THAT, YOU KNOW, THE THE PROPOSED BUDGET HAD SOME ADDITIONAL RESOURCES.

YOU KNOW, BUT BUT SOMEWHERE IN THERE, THERE'S THERE'S GOT TO BE A COMPROMISE SOLUTION THAT THAT AGAIN, PRIORITIZE PUBLIC SAFETY.

I THINK YOU'VE HEARD IT A LOT HERE, HERE TODAY AND OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS.

AND I THINK YOU'LL CONTINUE TO HEAR IT.

IT'S IMPORTANT. IT'S WHAT OUR CONSTITUENTS CARE ABOUT IT.

IT'S WHAT WE CARE ABOUT.

AND SO WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO MAKE THAT A PRIORITY.

THANK YOU SIR. MR. CALVERT. THANK YOU JUDGE.

I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR A REALLY GOOD OFFERING OF BUDGET ITEMS HERE.

THIS IS A SOLID PLAN TO ADDRESS OUR CRIME NEEDS AND OUR DEPARTMENTS NEEDS.

THIS IS ONE OF THE BEST THAT I'VE SEEN BROUGHT TO US.

SO I THANK YOU ALL FOR THE HARD WORK PUTTING THIS TOGETHER.

IT MAKES A LOT OF SENSE.

A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS ARE GOING TO SEEM RANDOM, BUT I WANT TO JUST CHECK IN WITH WHERE THE DEPARTMENT IS EVOLVING.

WHEN I FIRST CAME IN, WE DIDN'T HAVE A VICE DEPARTMENT.

YOU MAY HAVE CONSOLIDATED SOME OF THAT INTO TAG.

I'M NOT EXACTLY SURE.

DO WE HAVE A VICE? DO WE HAVE A UNIT THAT WE CALL VICE? WE DON'T HAVE A UNIT THAT WE CALL NARCOTICS.

THEY'RE ALL LUMPED TOGETHER INTO THE.

YOU SAID YOU DO NOT. WE DON'T WE DON'T.

WE DON'T HAVE A VICE UNIT OR A NARCOTICS UNIT.

WE HAVE AN ORGANIZED CRIME GROUP THAT TARGETS THOSE SORTS OF THINGS.

SO LIKE WHEREAS VICE WOULD USUALLY TARGET GAMBLING OPERATIONS, PROSTITUTION STINGS.

NOW THE PROSTITUTION HAS TURNED MORE TOWARD THE HUMAN TRAFFICKING SIDE.

RIGHT. ORGANIZED CRIME IS WHO HANDLES THAT, RIGHT.

YOU KNOW, BEFORE NARCOTICS.

SO THERE'S A DIVISION CALLED ORGANIZED CRIME, OR IS IT CALLED TAG? IT ALL FALLS ON ORGANIZED CRIME.

TAG IS THE FACILITY WHERE THEY'RE AT.

THEY'RE LOCATED AT THE TAG FACILITY.

OKAY. THE ORGANIZED CRIME UNIT IS IS WHAT THEY DO.

OKAY. SO SO THEN THE QUESTION IS WHAT ARE I KNOW A FAIR AMOUNT ABOUT ORGANIZED CRIME.

[01:25:06]

YOU KIND OF STARTED, BUT SURE.

SO THE ORGANIZED CRIME UNIT DOES DO PROSTITUTION STINGS.

WE WILL, YOU KNOW, DO THOSE IN HOPES OF OF RESCUING TRAFFICKING VICTIMS. OBVIOUSLY, TAKING JOHNS TO JAIL IS SOMETHING THAT THEY DO EXCEEDINGLY WELL.

WE'VE GOT A LOT MORE TECHNOLOGIES AT OUR HANDS, AND AND WE WORK IN PARTNERSHIP WITH ALL THE OTHER AGENCIES THAT ARE AT THE TAG.

THAT'S WHY WE HAVE THEM ALL THERE IS BECAUSE THE THE TAG IS A FORCE MULTIPLIER.

EVERYBODY'S REPRESENTED THERE AT THE TAG.

SO THEY, THEY, YOU KNOW, TARGET ALL OF THOSE QUALITY OF LIFE ISSUES, THE GAMBLING OPERATIONS THAT WE'VE HIT.

WE'VE HAD SEVERAL IN PRECINCT FOUR AND PRECINCT ONE.

YOU KNOW, GOING IN THERE AND TAKING DOWN THESE, THESE GAMBLING OPERATIONS THAT ON THE SURFACE SEEM PRETTY HARMLESS.

HOWEVER ON THE LIGHT SIDE, THEY'RE TAKING MONEY FROM THE FROM THE RETIREES IN THE COMMUNITY, BUT THEY'RE ALSO FUNDING ORGANIZED CRIME AND EVEN TERRORISM IN SOME INSTANCES, ARE BEING FUNDED THROUGH THESE GAME ROOMS. AND SO OUR JOB IS TO GO IN AND DISMANTLE THOSE, TAKE THEM, TAKE THEM DOWN.

ADDITIONALLY, WE'VE GOT CONTINGENTS OF THE ORGANIZED CRIME GROUP THAT THAT IN YEARS PAST WHAT WE CALLED NARCOTICS RUNNING NARCOTICS, SEARCH WARRANTS, DOING UNDERCOVER OPERATIONS.

AGAIN, WE'VE GOT DEPUTIES AT THE ORGANIZED CRIME GROUP THAT SPECIALIZE IN THAT.

SO WHILE WE DON'T HAVE A VICE OR A NARCOTICS, THIS UNIT DOES THAT, DOES THOSE FUNCTIONS.

SOUNDS GREAT. HOW MANY FOLKS WORK IN THAT DEPARTMENT? 40. 42.

42 PEOPLE ASSIGNED TO THE ORGANIZED CRIME GROUP.

MOST OF THEM OUT OF UNIFORM.

MOST OF THEM? YES, SIR.

NOW, THERE ARE THERE ARE UNIFORM CONTINGENTS.

THERE ARE STREET CRIMES UNIT IS A UNIFORM GROUP.

AND THEN OUR GANG UNIT IS ALSO A UNIFORM GROUP.

OKAY. THE ONLY THING I WOULD SAY ABOUT THE OVERTIME BUDGET IS WITH THE INCREASES IN MANPOWER THAT WE'RE FINALLY STABILIZING IN OUR LAW ENFORCEMENT.

WE PROBABLY NEED SOME.

YOU KNOW, I ANTICIPATE SUPPORTING SOME INCREASES.

SURE. AND SO WE PROBABLY NEED TO SEE OVER THIS YEAR, YOU KNOW, WHAT THAT WOULD LOOK LIKE TO GET THAT NUMBER.

I'M NOT SAYING YOUR NUMBER IS WRONG.

IT'S PROBABLY EXACTLY ABOUT WHAT IT SHOULD BE.

BUT I UNDERSTAND THE REALITIES OF BUDGETING THAT THE STATE LEGISLATURE KIND OF PUT US IN.

AND BUT FOR THAT, IT WOULD PROBABLY BE AN EASY LAYUP TO YOU.

BUT BECAUSE OF THAT, WE HAVE USED OUR OWN ACCOUNTING CONTROLS TO, YOU KNOW, DEAL WITH THE LEGISLATURE.

SO IN ANY EVENT, I JUST WANT TO LET YOU KNOW THAT THIS IS A A WONDERFUL INCREASE.

I LIKE YOUR BOLOGNA VERSION.

AND LOOK, I BOLOGNA, I FRY MY BOLOGNA, I FRY MY HOT DOGS.

IS THERE ANY OTHER IT ALL? THERE'S A LOT OF WAYS TO DO BOLOGNA AND STRETCH THAT OUT.

SO THAT'S NOT GOOD FOR YOU.

YOU KNOW. SOME OF US THAT STRUGGLE IS REAL, ISN'T IT, COMMISSIONER? YEAH, YEAH. SO.

SO WE LIKE LOOKING OUT FOR YOU, COMMISSIONER.

SO I JUST WANT TO THANK YOU ALL FOR THIS.

I LOOK FORWARD. I THINK WE HAVE TO LOOK TOWARDS THAT MINIMUM.

THAT IS VERY SMART IN TERMS OF, YOU KNOW, LIKE YOU SAID, THE CRIME IS MOVING TO OUR UNINCORPORATED COUNTY.

THE REASON I ASK ABOUT YOUR VICE NOW, YOUR ORGANIZED CRIME DEPARTMENT WAS BECAUSE I SEE MORE OF IT IN OUR UNINCORPORATED AREA THAN EVER.

RIGHT. AND SO AS A, AS A, AS A GUY WHO USED TO WORK WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT AROUND ORGANIZED CRIME, I HAVE TO TURN I ALMOST HAVE TO TURN THAT SIDE OF ME OFF, BECAUSE I SEE SO MUCH THAT I KNOW IS SOME BOLOGNA AND THAT I, YOU KNOW, I'M TOO WELL KNOWN HERE TO DO WHAT I USED TO DO IN BOSTON, IN LA AND NEW YORK AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

BUT IN ANY EVENT, THANK YOU FOR THIS BUDGET AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO TO HELPING YOU.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU COMMISSIONER.

ANYTHING ELSE? SHERIFF CHIEFS? NO. NO, SIR. WE GET THAT THAT PROVIDING ADDITIONAL MANPOWER IS IS IS AN EXPENSE FOR SURE.

BUT I STILL MAINTAIN THAT THAT FAILING TO PROVIDE.

AND I KNOW THAT'S NOT WHAT Y'ALL ARE LOOKING TO DO, BUT BUT IT COULD ALSO BE EXPENSIVE.

AND SO, YOU KNOW, JUST KNOW THAT ANY NUMBERS THAT YOU ASK US FOR, ANY BACKGROUND INFORMATION THAT YOU ASK US FOR, WE'RE GOING TO BEND OVER BACKWARDS TO GET IT TO YOU.

AND WE'VE WE REALLY APPRECIATE THE THE OPPORTUNITIES TO HAVE SPOKEN TO YOU ALL UP TO THIS POINT.

AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO ONE ON ONE MEETINGS AS YOU ALL SEE FIT.

JUST GIVE US A CALL AND WE'LL BE THERE TO PROVIDE WHATEVER YOU NEED.

SO, SHERIFF, LET ME JUST CLOSE BY JUST THANKING YOU ON BEHALF OF YOUR DEPARTMENT.

MORE IMPORTANTLY, WE THANK THE MEN AND WOMEN WHO WORK IN YOUR DEPARTMENT DAY IN AND DAY OUT ON THE STREETS AND IN JAIL.

I WOULD SAY THAT WHEN I FIRST STARTED WORKING WITH YOU, WE'VE COME.

I THINK WE'VE COME A LONG WAY.

THINGS ARE MUCH, MUCH BETTER.

AND I HOPE THIS BUDGET PROCESS THAT WE CAN AGAIN TAKE A STEP FORWARD.

I WILL NOTE THAT THE PUBLIC SAFETY TASK FORCE THAT WE I PUT TOGETHER, ALONG WITH ALL THE STAKEHOLDERS, INCLUDING YOU ONE OF THE

[01:30:07]

AND SO OBVIOUSLY A BIG PROPONENT FOR THAT BUDGET.

WHAT EXACTLY WE CAN GIVE YOU, THAT'S THAT'S ALL OBVIOUSLY, SOMETHING THAT WE'LL BE NEGOTIATING AND MAKING SURE THAT WE OWE OUR FIDUCIARY TO THE TAXPAYERS. BUT I JUST WANT TO APPLAUD YOUR EFFORTS AND YOUR CHIEF'S EFFORTS AND ALSO GIVE OUT SHOUT OUT.

I DON'T SEE CHIEF JOHNSON, BUT OUR LATEST WORK IS THE JAIL POPULATION REDUCTION, JAIL REDUCTION POPULATION TASK FORCE THAT MY OFFICE IS CHAIRING. AND WE'RE DOING SOME GREAT WORK THERE.

YES, SIR. AND WE'RE REALLY LOOKING AT THE GAPS AND THE ISSUES OF GETTING PEOPLE OUT OF JAIL THAT NEED TO BE OUT OF JAIL AND MOVING THOSE CASES SO THAT THE COURT SYSTEM CAN TAKE PRIORITY. AND I THINK I APPLAUD THE, THE BUDGET OFFICE AND PROVIDING THE SUPPORT A SPECIAL ACT TO THE CRIME LAB.

WE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL SERVICES THEIR EMPLOYEES, AND I BELIEVE WE'RE GOING TO ADD MORE SO THAT WE CAN TAKE CARE OF THOSE BACKLOGS.

SO I WANT THE PUBLIC TO BE ASSURED THAT THIS COURT IS DOING ITS VERY BEST TO KEEP THEM SAFE, AND YOU'RE A VERY BIG PART OF THAT.

SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

JUDGE. CAN I JUST ALSO ACKNOWLEDGE YOUR EXECUTIVE TEAM BECAUSE THEY THEY ALWAYS HAVE RESPONSES FOR US.

AND, YOU KNOW, WHETHER IT'S FROM ME OR MY OFFICE, IF I YOU KNOW, IF I TEXT CHIEF GARZA, HE GIVES ME THE INFORMATION IMMEDIATELY.

AND SO THEY DO REALLY WELL AT ADVOCATING FOR THE DEPARTMENT.

SO I HAVE TO ACKNOWLEDGE THEM. THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER, I APPRECIATE IT.

THANK YOU, THANK YOU.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY COMMISSIONER.

THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT.

WELL, AND THAT CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WILL BE COMING ON ANYTIME SOON.

SO JUST BE ALL RIGHT.

OKAY. LET ME ANNOUNCE CONSTABLE'S.

Y'ALL. Y'ALL ARE UP.

AND SO WHY DON'T Y'ALL COME UP? I PRESUME YOU ALL ARE ALL COMING FORWARD.

LET ME ANNOUNCE TO THE COURT THAT WE ARE HAVING LUNCH PROVIDED.

SO WE WILL BE TAKING A LUNCH BREAK.

I WILL DO MY VERY BEST TO KIND OF TIME IT.

SO CONSTABLE'S DO YOU THINK YOU'RE GOING TO TAKE THE REST OF THE MORNING OR DO YOU KNOW.

OKAY, SO I'M JUST TRYING TO TIME IT SO THAT WE CAN TAKE SO THAT THE REST OF THE GROUPS THAT NEED TO COME IN UNDERSTAND THAT WE MAY RESUME AFTER OUR LUNCH HOUR.

SO WITH THAT, LET ME WELCOME THE CONSTABLE'S.

I THINK WE HAVE CONSTABLE ONE TO CONSTABLE TWO VASQUEZ AND THE OTHER CONSTABLE'S.

BUT Y'ALL ARE SPEAKING AS A GROUP.

AS A GROUP. OKAY LET ME JUST KIND OF, FOR THE COURT'S EDIFICATION I PRESIDED OVER A SALARY GRIEVANCE COMMITTEE HEARING YESTERDAY, AND I HOPE THAT YOU DON'T MIND ME PUTTING MAKING IT PUBLIC, BUT THE CONSTABLES MADE A PRESENTATION AS PURSUANT TO STATE STATUTE.

THEY APPEALED THEIR PAY INCREASE AND THEY ASKED FOR SOME ADDITIONAL AND THE GROUP OF CITIZENS AS DESIGNATED BY STATUTE HEARD THE THEIR THEIR EVIDENCE.

THEY HEARD FROM THE BUDGET OFFICE.

AND I'M PLEASED TO SAY THAT THE CONSTABLES, THE ELECTEDS GOT AN ADDITIONAL PAY INCREASE PURSUANT TO THE CITIZENS THAT HEARD ABOUT THE WORK THAT THE CONSTABLES DO IN OUR COMMUNITY.

SO, CONSTABLE, YOU HAVE YOUR FLOOR FOR YOUR BUDGET.

THANK YOU. COMMISSIONERS.

JUDGE. DUE TO THE INCREASE IN E-FILING A JUDICIAL DOCUMENTS, WE HAVE LIKE 57 DIFFERENT COURTS WE DO WORK FOR AND 12% INCREASE FROM THE JUSTICE OF THE PIECE.

WE NOW EXECUTE 29 DIFFERENT TYPES OF CIVIL JUDICIAL DOCUMENTS FROM THE COURTS AND OTHER ENTITIES.

FROM OCTOBER 1ST, 2023 TO AUGUST 3RD OF THIS YEAR, MY OFFICE RECEIVED, IN A TEN MONTH PERIOD A TOTAL OF 16,647 DOCUMENTS.

ALSO IT'S A VARIANCE OF THREE AND 5%.

IT FLOATS EVERY FOUR MONTHS.

IT'S INCREASING RIGHT NOW.

SO MY DEPUTIES HAVE MADE, IN A TEN MONTH PERIOD, A TOTAL OF 37,754 ATTEMPTS.

IT ALL DEPENDS ON THE JUDGES.

MANY OF THEM WANT YOU TO ATTEMPT IT MORE.

RIGHT NOW, OUR RATIO IS BETWEEN 92% SERVICE TO 94%.

LAST YEAR WAS AT 96% TO 98% BECAUSE OF THE INCREASE.

[01:35:06]

AND IT'S VERY DIFFICULT IN THE TIME OF TRAVEL THAT THEY GO BACK AND FORTH IN THE PRECINCTS.

IT'S VERY DIFFICULT FOR THEM TO SERVE SO MANY DOCUMENTS.

AND RIGHT NOW PER MONTH, IT'S PROBABLY LIKE 55,400 DOCUMENTS PER MONTH THAT WE WE ARE GOING THROUGH.

WE WERE FROM OUR PRECINCT AND THE OTHER COUNCILS.

WE WERE ASKING FOR MORE OFFICERS, BUT WE DECREASED IT TO FIVE POSITIONS.

MY FIVE POSITIONS WOULD BE IN THE AFTERNOON AND ONE CLERK.

THE REASON WHY IS BECAUSE THE ATTEMPTS THAT ARE MADE DURING THE DAY, THE AFTERNOON SHIFT, CAN FOLLOW UP AND TRY TO EXECUTE THOSE DOCUMENTS IN THE AFTERNOON.

SO WE'RE NOT ASKING FOR YOU KNOW, THE TEN WE ORIGINALLY WERE ASKING FOR.

BUT I CAN FORESEE MORE AND MORE COURTS BEING HEARD, MORE CASES BEING BROUGHT UP TO THE COUNTY COURTS, DISTRICT COURTS, AND SO ON.

AND IT'S BEEN IT'S BEEN SOME TIME ALREADY THAT IT'S STARTING TO INCREASE.

BUT THE PROBLEM IS ALSO ON ON EVICTIONS.

MANY TIMES JUST RECENTLY, I STATED THIS YESTERDAY THAT WE HAVE TO GET A GROUP OF OFFICERS BECAUSE WE'RE HAVING DIFFICULTY. IN ONE INSTANCE, WE HAD AN INDIVIDUAL THAT WAS MENTALLY ILL.

WE CONTACTED THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE, SAPD, THE MENTAL HEALTH.

NOBODY WAS GOING TO DO ANYTHING.

IN FACT, THERE WAS TWO CITY OFFICERS THAT WERE INSIDE THE APARTMENT COMPLEX AND DID NOT ARREST THIS GUY ON TWO FELONY WARRANTS.

SO THEY CAME TO SPEAK TO ME, AND THEY TOLD ME THAT THEY WERE GOING TO WAIT UNTIL WE EVICTED HIM TO ARREST HIM.

SO I HAD TO SET UP A TEAM OF OFFICERS.

WE HAD TO GET SHIELDS.

WE HAD TO BORROW TASERS.

WE HAD TO BORROW A BATTERING RAM.

I MADE SURE THAT THE APARTMENT COMPLEX KNEW WHAT WE WERE DOING, SO THEY DIDN'T HAVE A PROBLEM BECAUSE THIS GUY HAD BEEN ASSAULTING OTHER TENANTS THERE, SO THEY DIDN'T HAVE A PROBLEM.

SO I HAD TO GET A TOTAL OF SIX OFFICERS TO GO IN AND MAKE SURE, BECAUSE THIS GUY WOULD BARRICADE THE FRONT DOOR.

SO WHEN WE WENT IN, IT ONLY TOOK US 48 SECONDS.

WE RECORDED EVERYTHING AND WE MADE THE ARREST.

WE BROUGHT THE INDIVIDUAL TO THE JAIL ON THE TWO FELONY WARRANTS AND EVERYTHING WAS ALL RIGHT.

THE OWNER OF THE PROPERTY CAME AND THANKED US BECAUSE NOTHING WAS BEING DONE.

SO MORE AND MORE OF THAT IS HAPPENING.

YESTERDAY, I BELIEVE THEY HAD A DEPUTY CONSTABLE THAT GOT KILLED.

HE WAS GOING TO WORK.

AND FOR WHATEVER REASON, I DON'T KNOW.

BUT IT'S GETTING MORE DANGEROUS OUT THERE.

SO WE DON'T DO THIS ALL THE TIME.

BUT NOW I'M SENDING TWO OFFICERS INSTEAD OF SENDING ONE OFFICER.

ON THE EVICTION PROCESS, BECAUSE WE DO RESEARCH BEFORE WE GO IN TO THAT APARTMENT, THAT HOUSE, OR WHATEVER.

A LOT OF TIMES YOU RUN INTO OTHER PEOPLE, SO YOU HAVE TO MAKE AN ARREST.

SO AND QUESTIONS THAT I WANTED TO ASK IS WE'VE BEEN TRYING FOR A LONG TIME, SINCE I BEEN COUNCIL SINCE 1993 TO DEVELOP A STRUCTURE, A CAPTAIN, LIEUTENANT.

WE ALREADY HAVE IT, BUT THEY DON'T GO COINCIDE WITH PAY.

BUT WE'VE BEEN ASKING FOR A VERY, VERY LONG TIME.

AND I'M ASKING THE COURT, IS THERE ANY WAY POSSIBLE THEY CAN DEVELOP SOMETHING LIKE THAT? BECAUSE THE MAJORITY OF MY OFFICERS, I'VE BEEN CONSTABLE ALREADY GOING ON 32 YEARS, AND THEY HAVE THE EXPERIENCE AND THEY WANT MY LIEUTENANT HANDLES ALL THE CIVIL.

MY CAPTAIN GOES THROUGH ALL THE RESERVES AND EVERYBODY THAT'S APPLYING FOR OUR OFFICE AND THOSE SORT OF THINGS.

I HAVE A SERGEANT THAT TAKES CARE OF THE BAILIFFS, THE COURT, SECURITY IN THE FRONT AND ALSO THE CLERKS IN MY OFFICE.

[01:40:01]

WE'VE ALWAYS.

AND SOMEONE BROUGHT UP OVERTIME.

WELL, WITH OUR OFFICES, THE OVERTIME GETS KNOCKED OFF BECAUSE OF THE WAY THAT MY OFFICERS HAVE TO TAKE TIME OFF.

FIRST. THEY HAVE TO EAT UP ALL THE COMP TIME.

WE BUILD UP SO MUCH COMP TIME, IT EXCEEDS THE LIMIT.

SO THEY LOSE THE TIME.

SO THEY THE WAY THEY PUT IT IN STRUCTURE IS THEY HAVE TO TAKE THEIR TIME THROUGH COMP TIME FIRST, THEN TAKE VACATION AND THOSE SORT OF THINGS.

SO IT'S VERY DIFFICULT.

A FEW YEARS BACK THEY REDUCED MY SUPERVISORS BECAUSE THEY HAD EXCEEDED THE TIME.

AND RIGHT NOW THAT'S WHERE WE'RE AT WITH DEVELOPING AN AFTERNOON SHIFT IN MY CASE, BECAUSE I NEED TO ELIMINATE THE THE AMOUNT OF WORK QUICKER BECAUSE EVERYTHING'S IN A TIMELINE.

SO THE JUDGES ARE ASKING FOR THESE PAPERS TO BE SERVED, AND THAT'S WHAT WE'RE DOING.

AND THAT'S WHY I'M ASKING THE COURT FOR FIVE OFFICERS AND ONE CLERK.

ONE THING THAT WAS RECOMMENDED BY THE BUDGET OFFICE IS A LEAD DEPUTY.

NOWHERE IN THE STATE OF TEXAS IS THERE A LEAD DEPUTY.

YOU CAN CONSIDER IT A CAPTAIN, A LIEUTENANT, SERGEANT, CORPORAL, WHATEVER.

BUT I'VE NEVER HEARD OF A LEAD DEPUTY.

WHAT ARE HIS OR HER QUALIFICATIONS? LEAD DEPUTY.

WHAT ARE HIS OR HER DUTIES? LEAD DEPUTY.

WHERE DOES HE OR SHE FALL? IN THE CHAIN OF COMMAND.

SO I DON'T KNOW WHAT THIS LEAD DEPUTY IS SUPPOSED TO DO, WHERE HE'S GOING TO BE ASSIGNED, OR WHAT TASK HE'S GOING TO HAVE.

SO I'M JUST THE NECESSITY RIGHT NOW.

ALL THE CONSTABLES REDUCE THE AMOUNT OF REQUEST.

I THINK THEY WERE ASKING FOR TEN EACH OF THEM.

BUT WE REALIZE WHAT'S GOING ON.

AND BUT IN OUR OFFICES, THE DEPUTIES PAY GETS COVERED BECAUSE WE EXCEED OUR WE PAY FOR OUR BUDGET.

PLUS WE BRING IN EXTRA REVENUE FOR THE COUNTY.

SO THERE'S NO IF WE COULD JUST USE SOME OF THAT SAME MONEY THAT WE GENERATE, THE OFFICERS WOULD PAY FOR THEMSELVES BECAUSE OF THE AMOUNT OF DOCUMENTS THAT THEY SERVE PER DOCUMENT.

THEY THEY GET PAID, YOU KNOW, SO MUCH MONEY.

AND EVERY YEAR WE HAVE TO GO TO THE AUDITOR AND FIGURE OUT HOW MUCH THEY'RE GOING TO CHARGE AND ALL THAT.

BUT I'M, WE'RE WE'RE REALLY NEEDING THESE OFFICERS A FEW YEARS BACK FOR WHATEVER REASON.

AND THEY BROUGHT UP COVID.

WELL, COVID STOPPED.

EVERYTHING STOPPED, THE COURTS STOPPED.

YOU KNOW? SO WHAT HAPPENED IS, IS THAT THE AMOUNT OF SERVICE WENT DOWN.

WELL, THEY PUNISHED US.

THEY TOOK SEVEN DEPUTIES FROM ME.

AND, YOU KNOW, OTHER CONSTABLES LOST PRETTY MUCH THE SAME AMOUNT OF OFFICERS.

SO THEN TO REPLENISH THE THE THESE OFFICERS.

YOU KNOW, WHEN THEY DID.

WELL, WE HAD TO RETRAIN THESE OFFICERS.

THEY WERE BRAND NEW OFFICERS.

THEY WERE AT THE LOWEST LEVEL OF PAY.

SO YOU COULDN'T GET VETERAN OFFICERS TO COME IN BECAUSE THEY'RE GOING TO BE ASKING FOR MORE MONEY, OF COURSE.

RIGHT. SO THOSE ARE THE TYPE OF THINGS THAT WE'RE ENCOUNTERING.

BUT I THINK IF YOU COULD RECONSIDER I KNOW WE WE CAN DO THE WORK.

THAT'S A FEW YEARS BACK BEFORE THEY GAVE US ALL THE DISTRICT COURTS, COUNTY COURTS AND SO ON.

THEY WERE QUESTIONING THE FACT THAT WE WERE GOING TO BE ABLE TO.

AND WE HAVE AND WE'RE AT 97, 96, 94% SERVICE.

AND THAT'S PRETTY GOOD.

SO I THINK WE JUST NEED TO KEEP ON DOING WHAT WE'RE DOING.

THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER CLAY-FLORES.

THANK YOU. OH.

CONSTABLE VAZQUEZ, ARE YOU GOING TO SPEAK TO.

NO, NO. OH, YOU'RE SPEAKING FOR EVERYONE? NO. SHE'S GOING TO SAY SOMETHING ALSO.

OKAY, I'LL WAIT AND I'LL START THE QUESTIONS AFTER HER.

THANK YOU. CONSTABLE TEJEDA.

YES. GOOD MORNING, COMMISSIONERS JUDGE.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY. JUSTIN.

THANK YOU. 1974, I WAS STILL.

[01:45:03]

I DO WANT TO LET THE CAPTAIN OF OUR OFFICE SPEAK FOR A LITTLE BIT.

AND IT KIND OF MAKES ME SAD THAT I REFER TO HIM AS MY CAPTAIN, BUT HE DOESN'T GET THE RECOGNITION AND PAY.

THOSE OF US HAVE BEEN IN LAW ENFORCEMENT IN THE MILITARY.

UNDERSTAND THAT RANK.

YESTERDAY WE HAD A THERE WAS A SHOOTING AT THE H-E-B ON BANDERA AND FORTIN, AND ONE OF THE DISPATCHERS IS ASKING FOR ONCE MY OFFICERS RESPONDED, WHICH WERE THE SECOND ONES ON SCENE DISPATCHERS ASKING FOR A SUPERVISOR FOR A SUPERVISOR TO KEY UP.

MY MY OFFICERS ARE OUT THERE RISKING THEIR LIVES AND NOT GETTING THAT PAY AND RECOGNITION.

SO THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I JUST WANTED TO BRING OUT REAL QUICK BEFORE I LET MY CAPTAIN TALK.

BUT CONSTABLE TEJEDA DID REALLY MENTION A LOT OF GOOD POINTS, SO.

GOOD MORNING, COMMISSIONERS.

JUDGE. MR. SMITH AS THE CONSTABLE MENTIONED CONSTABLE TEJEDA DID PRETTY MUCH COVER A LOT OF THE POINTS THAT WE WERE GOING TO COVER THIS MORNING.

OUR CONCERN WAS WITH THE BUDGET OFFICE RECOMMENDATION THAT WE REQUESTED SEVEN ONLY THEY'RE ONLY APPROVING.

TWO ARE SUGGESTING TWO, BUT WE'RE ASKING FIVE, AS CONSTABLE MENTIONED, FROM THOSE FIVE, THOUGH, WE ARE ASKING ONE FOR THE FRONT DOOR SECURITY.

GIVE ME ONE SECOND. WE'RE ASKING ONE FOR THE FRONT DOOR SECURITY.

AND I DON'T KNOW IF JUDGE VASQUEZ IS AWARE OF THIS.

WE HAVEN'T GOTTEN WITH HIM, BUT ON FRIDAY, SOMEONE TRIED TO BRING IN A GUN TO THE COURTHOUSE.

AND THAT WOULD BE THE THIRD GUN THIS YEAR TO OUR JP COURT.

SO WE CURRENTLY HAVE A CIVILIAN SECURITY MONITOR ASSIGNED TO THAT POSITION.

HAVING A FRONT DOOR FULL TIME PEACE OFFICER WOULD CERTAINLY HELP.

AND WE THINK AS A SAFETY FACTOR, THAT'S A REQUIREMENT.

AND TWO, SORRY, TWO OF THE OTHER THREE WOULD BE FOR POSITIONS, AS CONSTABLE TEJEDA MENTIONED.

WE ARE ALSO SENDING TWO PEOPLE OUT FOR THE RATE OF POSSESSIONS.

THAT'S THE EVICTION PROCESS, RIGHT? WHERE WE GO SAYING, HEY, IT'S TIME TO GET OUT AND WE'RE MOVING PEOPLE OUT OF THEIR HOMES.

CURRENTLY WE'RE SENDING ONE, TWO, ONE WEEKEND.

IS IT? OH.

I'M SORRY. SO. SO AGAIN, PART OF THE FIBER REQUESTING TWO WOULD BE FOR THE RATE OF POSSESSIONS.

FINALLY, THE SUPERVISORY CHIEF THEY HAD UNFORTUNATELY WASN'T.

I'M SORRY. CHIEF TADENA COULD NOT BE HERE THIS MORNING, BUT HE DID CREATE A NON SHERIFF'S OFFICE.

PAY TABLE.

AND IT SHOULD BE IN THE POWERPOINT THAT WE SENT TO THE BUDGET OFFICE.

I'M NOT SURE IF YOU GUYS HAVE A COPY OF THAT.

NO, WE SENT IT TO YOU.

WE SENT IT TO THOMAS.

YOU ASKED FOR IT, AND WE SENT IT TO YOU.

YEAH, I KNOW WHERE IT.

IS. IT'S IN THE.

I'M NOT SURE IF YOU HAVE THAT, BUT WE'D LIKE FOR YOU TO CONSIDER THAT AND POSSIBLY ADOPT THAT.

THAT WOULD BE FOR ALL NON SHERIFF LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS, CONSTABLES, POSSIBLY EVEN THE ENVIRONMENTAL INVESTIGATOR FIRE MARSHAL'S AND THE DA INVESTIGATORS.

AND LASTLY IF WE GET THE FIVE POSITIONS, THAT WOULD ALSO HELP CURRENTLY PUT US IN LINE WITH THE OTHER PRECINCTS.

CURRENTLY, PRECINCT TWO HAS THE LEAST AMOUNT OF DEPUTIES, AND WE HAVE A HEAVY WORKLOAD OTHER THAN THAT, I THINK THAT'S PRETTY MUCH THE ONLY THINGS THAT WE'RE ASKING FOR AT THIS TIME. OKAY.

OH, HELLO. I'M PAUL GUM.

I'M REPRESENTING CONSTABLE VOJVODICH, WHO COULDN'T BE HERE TODAY.

JUST KIDDING. GET CLOSER.

THERE YOU GO. THERE YOU GO. OUR OFFICE IS ASKING FOR A COUPLE OF THINGS.

FIRST IS THE SUPERVISOR PAY.

I WANTED TO ADDRESS THAT.

WE HAVE COME UP WITH A PLAN.

AN ALTERNATIVE FOR YOU TO LOOK AT BECAUSE EVERYBODY LIKES OPTIONS.

CORRECT? SO OUR PLAN AS FAR AS LAW ENFORCEMENT GOES, WE ARE A PARAMILITARY.

SO WE RECOGNIZE THAT THERE IS A CONSTABLE, A CHIEF, A CAPTAIN, A LIEUTENANT, SERGEANTS AND CORPORALS.

WE'RE NOT GETTING PAID AS SUCH FOR FOR THOSE DUTIES THAT WE WE DO THOSE SUPERVISORS THAT THAT WE HAVE SUPERVISORS, THOSE THOSE OFFICERS TO FOLLOW STATE LAW TO ENSURE THAT CASE LAW IS BEING FOLLOWED WHEN THEY GO OUT THERE AND AFFECT ARRESTS.

THEY ALSO LOOK AT POLICIES AND PROCEDURES, MAKING SURE THAT WE ARE WITHIN, YOU KNOW, TCOLE STANDARDS.

WE ALSO DO A LOT OF IN-HOUSE TRAINING TO SAVE TAXPAYERS MONEY.

ALL OF OUR SUPERVISORS ARE INSTRUCTORS, TCOLE CERTIFIED INSTRUCTORS.

WHAT WE'RE ASKING FOR IS TO THE RECOGNITION OF OF THE PRECINCT THREE ONE CAPTAIN, ONE LIEUTENANT, ONE SENIOR TECHNICAL SERGEANT, THREE SERGEANTS AND THREE

[01:50:01]

A LIEUTENANT WOULD GET 750.

THE TECHNICAL SERGEANT WOULD GET 600.

THE THREE SERGEANTS WOULD GET 500 EACH.

THE THREE CORPORALS WOULD GET 350.

THAT'S A TOTAL OF $4,900 A MONTH, FOR A TOTAL ANNUAL COST OF 58,800, WHICH IS SIGNIFICANTLY LESS THAN WHAT THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE.

WHAT YOU PAY FOR A CAPTAIN OR A CHIEF BY THEMSELVES.

WE'RE ALSO ASKING FOR TO MOVE OUR A ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICE ASSISTANT FOR TO AN OFFICE SUPERVISOR.

AMANDA KING HAS BEEN WITH THIS OFFICE SINCE DECEMBER OF 2009.

SHE DOES THE OFFICE MANAGER DUTIES THAT THAT IS LAID OUT IN THAT JOB DESCRIPTION.

I'M NOT SURE WHY THAT WAS PASSED OVER FROM BUDGET AS FAR AS HER JOB DUTIES.

BUT WE ARE ASKING EITHER THAT SHE BE MOVED UP TO THAT ANY FIVE POSITION AS A SUPERVISOR OR DOING A MIDPOINT INCREASE OF 15% IN HER CURRENT JOB TITLE RIGHT NOW, AS THEY HAVE HER? WE ARE ALSO LOOKING FOR ADDITIONAL OFFICERS AS WELL.

WE WOULD LIKE ANOTHER TRAFFIC OFFICER THAT WE WOULD TIE PUSH WITH THE OFFICER THAT THAT YOU HAVE CURRENTLY YOU KNOW, ALLOCATED FOR US IN THE TENTATIVE BUDGET TO BE A TWO MOTOR OFFICERS TO WORK TOGETHER IN CONCURRENT ON OUR MOTORS, WHICH WE USED TO HAVE BACK IN 2016 AND PRIOR BEFORE THEY WERE CUT.

WE'RE ASKING FOR TWO ONE OFFICERS TO HELP AND ASSIST THE COURTS THAT YOU JUST HEARD NEED MORE PEOPLE TO COME IN AND BE A BE HEARD FOR THEIR CASES.

WE'D LIKE TO IN THE SHERIFF ALSO MENTIONED THAT THEY'RE NOT LOOKING FOR THOSE A B WARRANTS.

WE WOULD LIKE TO TO TAKE ON THAT TASK AND HAVE TWO ONE OFFICERS GO OUT AND LOOKING FOR THOSE DWI WARRANTS, THOSE FAMILY VIOLENT WARRANTS THAT ARE CLASS A'S AND AND EVEN SOME FELONY WARRANTS ON OCCASION.

WE'RE ASKING FOR AN ADDITIONAL CIVIL OFFICERS.

THAT'S WHAT WE'RE HERE TO ASK FOR TODAY.

PLUS, ONE NIGHT, WE HAVE ONE PART TIME CLERK RIGHT NOW, AND WE'D LIKE TO MOVE THAT POSITION TO A FULL TIME FOR A NIGHT CLERK, BECAUSE WE ARE OPERATING ON TWO SHIFTS RIGHT NOW. GOOD MORNING.

JUDGE. COMMISSIONERS.

COMMISSIONER RODRIGUEZ, HAPPY BIRTHDAY.

I JUST CELEBRATED MINE ON MONDAY, LABOR DAY.

SO, AS THEY TOLD ME TWO YEARS AGO, WELCOME TO THE 50TH CLUB.

IT'S PRETTY GOOD. IT'S NOT THAT BAD.

I JUST WANT TO TALK ALSO ABOUT THE SUPERVISOR PAY.

I'VE BEEN WITH THIS OFFICE FOR MY ONLY JOB.

HAS BEEN WITH PRECINCT FOUR.

I HAVE GOING ON 26 YEARS.

25 YEARS HERE IN NOVEMBER.

BEING HERE, THERE WAS THERE'S NEVER BEEN A PAY STRUCTURE FOR SUPERVISORS.

COMMISSIONER MOODY, AS YOU COME FROM THE MILITARY PAST EXPERIENCE YOU KNOW, AS WELL, THERE WAS ALWAYS A MASTER SERGEANT, A SERGEANT LIEUTENANT, A CAPTAIN.

AND THAT'S WHAT WE'RE ASKING FOR HERE.

MOST OF OUR SUPERVISORS HAVE A LOT OF EXPERIENCE AND SERVE.

SALAZAR SAID IT GOOD.

AS WE PUT MORE BOOTS ON THE GROUND, MORE CONSTABLES COME SUPERVISORS.

SO WE'RE ASKING FOR THE SAME THING TO GRANT THEM THE PAY THAT THEY DESERVE.

ANOTHER THING WE'RE ASKING FOR IS THE FIVE POSITIONS.

ALSO PRECINCT TWO MENTIONED HOW YOU KNOW, GUNS ARE TRYING TO COME INTO OUR, OUR OFFICES.

WE HAVE A SECURITY MONITOR UP THERE ALSO.

THERE ARE TIMES WHERE WE HAVE TO PULL AN OFFICER FROM THE STREETS TO ASSIST THAT SECURITY MONITOR, BECAUSE THE THE COURT GETS SO PACKED.

SO WE'RE ASKING FOR THOSE FIVE POSITIONS.

ALSO ONE TO COVER THE COURT, HELP THE SECURITY MONITOR UP THERE, BUT PUT MORE GUYS OUT ON THE STREETS.

ANOTHER THING COMES WITH TRAINING.

IN THE PAST, THERE WAS ONLY WHEN I STARTED, WE HAD, LIKE, NINE DEPUTY CONSTABLES, SO WE COULD EASILY SEND PEOPLE OUT TO TRAIN, AND IT WASN'T THAT HARD.

NOW, WHEN YOU'RE COMING UP TO 30 OFFICERS THERE'S MANDATORY STUFF.

THERE'S ALERT YOU KNOW, CHILD ABUSE, THERE'S MENTAL HEALTH THAT THESE OFFICERS HAVE TO HAVE.

AND IT TAKES THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE SUPERVISORS TO GIVE THEM THAT TRAINING.

SO THAT'S WHY WE'RE ASKING FOR THE SUPERVISOR PAY.

PAYING. BUT NOT ONLY THAT, IT TAKES A LOT OF US TO TO DO THE JOB THAT WE'RE DOING.

ANOTHER THING THAT WE MENTIONED ON OUR BUDGET.

WE HAD PUT IN FOR INITIALLY WE PUT IN FOR A TEMPORARY WE HAD THEM LAST YEAR.

WE PUT IN FOR ANOTHER TEMPORARY WHEN WE MET WITH OUR BUDGET ADMINISTRATIVE CLERK.

WHEN WE MET WITH BUDGET, THEY THEY RECOMMENDED THAT WE PUT IT FOR A PERMANENT POSITION.

PERMANENT TEMPORARY POSITION ON THE BUDGET.

WE GOT IT. ANOTHER TEMPORARY.

SO WE'RE ASKING THAT THAT BE PUT INTO A PERMANENT PERMANENT, PART TIME POSITION.

WE WORK WITH THE SCHOOLS FOR SCHOOL INTERNS.

THE CURRENT PERSON THAT'S IN THAT POSITION, SHE JUST GRADUATED.

SHE'S ATTENDING UTSA, AND WE FOUND OUT ABOUT THE FEDERAL LAW THAT THEY CAN ONLY DO 900 HOURS A YEAR, AND WE WOULD HATE TO LOSE HER.

[01:55:07]

BUT WE BACK ALL OTHER THREE OF THE CONSTABLES WHEN IT COMES TO SUPERVISOR PAY AND ALSO THE FIVE POSITIONS.

SO IF Y'ALL COULD HELP US WITH THAT, THAT'D BE GREAT.

GREATLY APPRECIATED. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU, COUNCIL, FOR BEING HERE.

AND CONSTABLE VASQUEZ AND SAL'S IN THE BACK.

WAKE UP. SAL.

SO I JUST WANT TO THANK YOU GUYS.

YOU ALL SPECIFICALLY, AND I CAN SPEAK FOR OBVIOUSLY, FROM MY PRECINCT.

YOU ALL HAVE WORKED CLOSELY WITH US, AND I JUST THANK YOU FOR ALL THE WORK THAT YOU GUYS CONTINUE TO DO FOR THE COMMUNITY, EVEN THINGS ON A VOLUNTEER ON A VOLUNTEER BASIS AS WELL.

AND I KNOW SINCE I'VE BEEN HERE, WE'VE WORKED CLOSELY TOGETHER TO GET REINSTATED.

A LOT OF THE POSITIONS THAT WERE TAKEN AWAY FOR A POLITICAL GAMING BEFORE I GOT HERE.

SO I'M REALLY HAPPY TO HAVE SEEN THE CONSTABLE'S OFFICES INCREASE AND EXPAND SINCE THEN.

SO I JUST HAVE A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS.

SO I KNOW A COUPLE YEARS AGO WE HAD SUPPORTED MORE STAFF FOR YOU GUYS TO TAKE ON CIVIL PROCESSING.

SO HOW HOW HAS THAT GONE? HAS THAT BEEN A POSITIVE THING FOR THE.

IT GOES VERY WELL.

BUT BEING THAT THEY WERE THE THE LOW LEVEL, WE HAD TO TRAIN EVERYBODY, RIGHT? WE HAD TO TRAIN THEM IN OUR OFFICES.

A OFFICER NEEDS TO KNOW HOW TO BE A BAILIFF, HOW TO SERVE PROCESS, HOW TO WORK A WARRANT, HOW TO DO TRAFFIC, HOW TO DO EVERYTHING THEY'RE THEY AT ANY TIME THINGS CAN COME UP AND THEY HAVE TO ACT ON IT.

SO WITH THAT SAID, IT'S JUST LIKE THE COURT MONITOR.

IF THE COURT MONITOR GOES TO LUNCH, WE HAVE TO PULL AN OFFICER TO COME AND BE IN THE FRONT.

BUT WE'D LIKE TO BE LIKE THE THE COURTHOUSE HERE YOU HAVE COURT MONITORS AND YOU HAVE A DEPUTY BESIDE THEM IN CASE IF SOMETHING HAPPENS THAT'S TO SECURE THIS BUILDING.

THAT'S A FIRST LINE OF DEFENSE FOR EVERYBODY, INCLUDING ALL THE JP'S.

SO IT IT WOULD BE GOOD TO HAVE A FULL TIME OFFICER AND A COURT MONITOR BECAUSE MANY TIMES, YOU KNOW, THE MORE EYES, THE BETTER IT IS.

BUT FOR US AT OUR PRECINCT, THE BIBLIOTHEQUE SOMETIMES HAS PROBLEMS OR THE TAX OFFICE.

RIGHT? RIGHT. OR THEY CALL ME THAT.

THEY NEED TO DIRECT TRAFFIC OUTSIDE.

SO WE HAVE EXTRA DUTIES AT THE SPUR OF THE MOMENT.

SO BUT THINGS CAN CHANGE VERY QUICKLY.

BUT THE CIVIL PROCESSING HAS GONE WELL.

THAT'S BEEN A POSITIVE. YES.

JUST WITH MY JP WE HAVE A WELL, PROBABLY AROUND 10,000 MORE DOCUMENTS THAN THE YEAR BEFORE.

SO THE THE THING IS, IT'S MOVING ALONG.

OKAY. BUT SEE, WITH ALL THE OTHER COURTS, THE DISTRICT COURTS, JUVENILE COURTS, YOU KNOW, COUNTY COURTS OUT OF COUNTY PAPERWORK, ALL THE E-FILING THAT'S BEING DONE.

THAT'S WHY WE'RE ASKING FOR, FOR IN MY CASE, I'M GOING TO PUT FIVE OFFICERS IN THE AFTERNOON SO THEY COULD ATTEMPT THE DOCUMENTS THAT WEREN'T SERVED DURING THE DAY SO THEY COULD GET THEM SERVED IN THE AFTERNOON.

SO. AND THEY WOULD NEED A CLERK TO DO THE PAPERWORK.

YES. I ALSO WANT TO ASK, WE HAD ALSO, EARLIER IN THE YEAR PASSED THE WEIGHT ENFORCEMENT OFFICER.

HAVE YOU GUYS IMPLEMENTED THAT AND HOW'S THAT GOING? NO, WE WE HAVEN'T PREPARED FOR IT BECAUSE THAT'S GOING TO TAKE TIME TO TRAIN THAT OFFICER.

OKAY. IT'S GOING TO YOU HAVE TO HAVE THE EQUIPMENT.

I KNOW CONSTABLE VASQUEZ, JUST YESTERDAY HAD A PROBLEM.

SOMETIMES THE OFFICERS, OF COURSE, GET GET INTO AN ACCIDENT.

THE DIFFERENCE IS ONE VEHICLE FOR ONE OFFICER.

THAT'S THE WAY THEY WERE HANDLING IN THE PAST YEARS.

LIKE THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE, THEY HAVE EXTRA VEHICLES.

IF ONE GOES DOWN, THEY CAN RELY ON ANOTHER VEHICLE.

WE DON'T HAVE THAT LUXURY.

WE WE HAVE TO SITUATE WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DO AND AND, YOU KNOW, MOVE PEOPLE AROUND AND ALL THAT.

SO WHEN DO YOU GUYS PLAN TO IMPLEMENT THE WAIT OFFICER? AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.

AS SOON AS I GET ALLOCATED EXTRA OFFICERS, I CAN HAVE THAT, YOU KNOW, DONE.

OKAY. AND THAT'S THE SAME WITH YOU TWO.

CONSTABLE VASQUEZ.

YES. SO I WANT TO ADD TO THAT IS NOT JUST PUTTING AN OFFICER IN THAT POSITION.

WE'VE BEEN I GUESS, IN CONTACT WITH DPS.

WE HAVE TO HAVE OFFICERS TAKE A TEST AND SEE IF THEY CAN PASS THE ACTUAL TRAINING.

[02:00:06]

AND THEN ALSO, LIKE CONSTABLE HEATHER WAS SAYING, THE VEHICLE SITUATION.

WE ARE IN A BAD SPOT.

WE ARE ALL OF OUR ALL OF MY BLACK TAHOES THAT I HAD FOR THE ADMINISTRATION ARE ALL OUT IN THE FIELD.

WE'VE ACTUALLY HAD TO BORROW THE MOTOR POOLS VEHICLES FROM FLEET BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH VEHICLES.

SO RIGHT NOW I DON'T EVEN HAVE ACCESS TO A VEHICLE SO WE CAN EVEN BEGIN TO TRAIN.

BUT OF COURSE, WE DON'T EVEN HAVE AN OFFICER IN.

SO IS THAT INCLUDED IN THE BUDGET? DID YOU GUYS ASK FOR MORE VEHICLES OR JUST POSITIONS? WE DID ASK FOR A PICKUP, BUT AGAIN, IT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THESE GUYS.

I DON'T KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON. MY CAPTAIN CAN TELL YOU ALL THESE TAHOES ARE BACKED UP FOR ALL OF OUR ALL OF THE CONSTABLE'S.

WE HAVE NO VEHICLES.

THE VEHICLES THAT WE HAVE, THAT WE'RE SUPPOSED TO BE DOWNED BECAUSE OF MILEAGE AND WHATEVER REASON, THEY'RE PUSHING THEM BACK OUT TO US, AND THEY'RE BREAKING.

BECAUSE WE JUST DON'T HAVE VEHICLES.

SO IS THAT SOMETHING YOU GUYS ARE AWARE OF IN BUDGET? AND THAT'S SOMETHING YOU'RE WORKING ON? TANYA? IT'S REALLY THE MANUFACTURING OF THE VEHICLES.

IT'S. THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE IS HAVING THE SAME ISSUE.

OKAY. THE MONEY'S THERE AND THEY'VE BEEN ORDERED.

GOT IT. IT'S JUST THEY'RE TRYING TO MAKE THEM.

HE HAD SOMETHING TO SAY. OKAY.

AND SO YOU WERE ASKING WHY WE HAVEN'T IMPLEMENTED IT.

SO FOR IN ORDER FOR DPS TO ALLOW US TO GO TRAIN WITH THEM, BECAUSE THAT'S WHO WE'RE GOING TO GET OUR TRAINING FROM.

FREE TRAINING. WE HAVE TO HAVE A THE LAW STATES THAT WE HAVE TO HAVE A LETTER FROM THE COMMISSIONERS COURT ALLOCATING THAT A CONSTABLE CAN BE A WEIGHT ENFORCEMENT OFFICER. SO WE HAVEN'T RECEIVED THAT YET.

SO WAS THAT MADE CLEAR WHEN Y'ALL BROUGHT THAT TO THE COURT AND WE APPROVED IT? I HAVE BEEN IN TOUCH WITH THE COMMISSIONERS COURT ON THAT ABOUT GETTING THAT.

WHO HAVE YOU BEEN IN TOUCH WITH, JUDGE SAKAI? I'VE EMAILED HIM.

OKAY. SO HIS STAFF, BECAUSE IT'S GOT TO COME FROM HIM.

OKAY. TO DESIGNATE A WEIGHT ENFORCEMENT OFFICER FOR THE PRECINCT.

SO IT WOULD BE, YOU KNOW, ONE FOR TWO WOULD BE AN ADDITIONAL ONE FOR THREE.

ONE, ONE FOR FOUR. WELL, 40 HAS ONE, ONE FOR ONE.

SO THAT'S THE WAY THAT HAS TO GO.

ONCE WE GET THAT LETTER WE GET AN MOU WITH THEM SAYING THAT WE AGREE TO TO THEIR TERMS THAT WE'RE GOING TO FALL WITHIN THEIR REGULATIONS ON THE WEIGHT. OKAY. AND THEN, WELL, HIS STAFF IS HERE SO YOU CAN FOLLOW UP WITH THEM SINCE YOU NEED IT FROM THEM.

I JUST WANTED TO KNOW THINGS THAT WE'VE PASSED, HOW THAT'S GOING.

AND THEN JUST MY LAST QUESTION.

SO EACH PRECINCT REQUESTED, IS IT SEVEN POSITIONS? WE WERE ASKING FOR MORE.

WE MYSELF, I WAS ASKING FOR TEN.

OKAY. BEING THE WAY THE SITUATION IS RIGHT NOW, WE WE ALL TALKED ABOUT IT AND WE NEGOTIATED IT TO 5 TO 5.

OKAY. AND AND AND CLARK AND THEY THE THE OTHER OFFICERS NEEDED CERTAIN CHANGES.

OKAY. SO AND THEN HOW MUCH WAS APPROVED IN THE BUDGET, Y'ALL? WE PROPOSE TO NEW DEPUTIES.

OKAY. THANK YOU.

THANKS FOR BEING HERE.

THANK YOU. LET ME ASK I GUESS CONSTABLE VASQUEZ FIRST.

AND JUST TO CLARIFY, TINA, YOU PROPOSED BUDGETS PROPOSING TWO PER TWO PER PRECINCT, ONE FOR TRAFFIC AND ONE FOR WEIGHTS AND MEASURES.

AND THE INFORMATION THAT I GOT FROM YOU, CONSTABLE, IS.

AND AGAIN, THIS IS GOING BACK A WAYS, BUT THERE APPEARS TO BE SOME INEQUITY IN THE NUMBER OF POSITIONS THAT YOU HAVE COMPARED TO THE OTHER PRECINCTS.

IS THAT ACCURATE? THAT IS CORRECT.

OKAY. THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE HAD ASKED FOR MORE.

WE'RE JUST TRYING TO BE EQUAL TO THE OTHER CONSTABLES AS FAR AS THE NUMBER OF CIVIL OFFICERS.

I UNDERSTAND THAT PRECINCT THREE HAS THE SROS OF PRECINCT FOUR HAS THEIR JUVENILE.

I UNDERSTAND THAT PART, THAT THEY HAVE MORE DEPUTIES FOR THAT REASON.

BUT WE ARE ALSO STILL NOT EQUAL TO THE OTHER PRECINCTS AS FAR AS CIVIL.

RIGHT. RIGHT. OKAY.

AND I'M ASSUMING THE WORKLOAD JUSTIFIES THE THE POSITIONS.

YES, SIR. I KNOW JUDGE VASQUEZ IS HERE, SO I'M NOT GOING TO CALL HIM OUT.

YEAH, HE'S RIGHT THERE. I WILL TAKE NOTICE THAT HE'S SAYING YES.

SO, YES. YOU KNOW, IT'S HARD FOR US TO BELIEVE THAT OUR I SEE THE OFFICE.

WE'RE BUSY. I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S ALL THE OTHER EXTRA STUFF THAT THAT KEEPS FALLING IN OUR LAPS.

BUT MY GUYS ARE RUNNING AROUND LEFT AND RIGHT.

I MEAN, WE JUST DON'T GET.

WE HAVE TO STOP WHEN THERE'S A NEED FOR EXTRA OFFICERS AT A WRIT OF POSSESSION, OR WHEN WE GET FLAGGED DOWN, OR WHEN THERE'S A A SHOOTING AT HEB OR A CHASE THAT THAT SAPD NEEDS HELP WITH.

AND AND THE GUY FALLS ON OUR GUY'S LAP.

I MEAN, IT'S IT'S NONSTOP.

NON STOP. BY THE WAY, YOU MENTIONED THE INCIDENT AND I THINK IT WAS IN THE MARKETPLACE HEB YESTERDAY.

[02:05:06]

AT FIRST THEY WERE SAYING THAT THERE WAS A FEMALE DOWN IN THE PARKING LOT, BUT AND AT FIRST THEY WERE SAYING IT WAS OUTSIDE, THEN THEY WERE SAYING THAT IT WAS INSIDE.

SO IT WAS VERY CHAOTIC.

AND LEON VALLEY IS VERY SHORT.

SO THEY ONLY HAD ONE OFFICER THERE.

SO IT WAS MY GUYS THAT WERE CLOSEST TO THE SCENE AND WERE THERE AND WERE ABLE TO APPREHEND THAT SUSPECT.

OKAY. WELL THANK YOU. AND PLEASE RELAY OUR THANKS FOR KEEPING EVERYBODY SAFE THERE, BECAUSE I HEARD IT WAS A PRETTY SCARY SCENE YESTERDAY.

AND THAT'S WHAT WE TRAIN FOR.

THAT'S WHAT THAT'S WHAT MY MAIN PURPOSE HAS BEEN SINCE I WALKED INTO THAT DOOR TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR GUYS WERE READY TO DO WHAT THEY NEEDED TO DO TO KEEP THE COMMUNITY SAFE.

WE APPRECIATE IT VERY MUCH.

LET ME LET ME JUST ASK TINA, TANYA, BUDGET STAFF TO LOOK AT THAT INEQUITY BETWEEN THE PRECINCTS.

AGAIN, I KNOW NOT ALL NUMBERS ARE THE SAME AND CASELOADS CAN VARY.

BUT THE NUMBERS I WAS PROVIDED WAS THAT ACCORDING TO THIS, PRECINCT ONE HAS 26.

PRECINCT THREE. 31 PRECINCT FOUR.

26. AND PRECINCT TWO.

21. SO YOU KNOW, AT A MINIMUM, FIVE FEWER THAN THE NEXT CLOSEST PRECINCT.

SO IF YOU LOOK AT THAT, SEE IF WE CAN ADDRESS THAT.

AND IT MAY TAKE A COUPLE OF CYCLES TO ADDRESS THAT.

BUT I DO THINK, IN FAIRNESS, YOU ARE DOING THE SAME WORK THAT EVERYONE ELSE IS DOING.

YOUR MEN AND WOMEN ARE DOING THE SAME WORK PROTECTING THE COMMUNITY, SERVING THE JUDGES.

AND SO WE WILL SEE WHAT WE CAN DO TO ADDRESS THAT.

SO I APPRECIATE IT. THANK YOU COMMISSIONER.

THANK YOU, THANK YOU JUDGE.

THANK YOU COMMISSIONER MOODE REAL QUICK TO YOU.

OH GO AHEAD. THANK YOU.

COMMISSIONER RODRIGUEZ. YOU SAID THAT WE HAD.

HOW MANY? PRECINCT? THREE.

YOU SAID 31.

AGAIN, THIS IS NUMBERS.

I'M NOT SURE IT SHOWS.

31. OKAY, SO EIGHT OF THOSE ARE CONTRACTED THROUGH THE COMAL ISD.

OKAY. SO WE'RE REALLY 23.

I HAD YOUR BACK.

THANK YOU. NO, I WAS GOING TO BRING UP THAT POINT.

RIGHT. WE DO HAVE A CONTRACT WITH COMAL ISD.

AND SO THERE'S THERE ARE DIFFERENCES RIGHT BETWEEN THE PRECINCTS.

GENERALLY, I AGREE.

YOU KNOW, WE SHOULD HAVE SOME SOME THINGS LIKE PRECINCT ONE HAS 11 SCHOOL DISTRICTS.

WE THAT ARE IN OUR AREA AND THE LARGEST GEOGRAPHIC AREA FOR YOU GUYS TO HAVE TO PUT MILES ON.

UNDERSTAND. SO OBVIOUSLY WE NEED TO TAKE ALL THOSE DIFFERENCES INTO ACCOUNT.

I KNOW SOME PRECINCTS.

I KNOW PRECINCT THREE TODAY IS RUNNING TWO SHIFTS.

OTHERS MAY BE IN THE PROCESS OF DOING THAT.

BUT THINKING ABOUT WHAT THAT MEANS IN TERMS OF COVERAGE.

SO ALL THINGS TO THINK ABOUT.

FIRST OF ALL, I WANT TO THANK STAFF FOR YOU KNOW, PROVIDING SOME RESOURCES IN THE PROPOSED BUDGET.

I KNOW THE WEIGHT ENFORCEMENT OFFICER.

TRAFFIC OFFICER.

AND THEN THE.

EXCUSE ME, THE DATA LEADS ONLINE VIGILANT SOLUTIONS SOLUTIONS, INVESTIGATIVE DATA PLATFORM.

THESE WERE SOME OF THE THINGS WE TALKED ABOUT BEFORE WITH WITH MAKING SURE THAT OUR CONSTABLES HAVE ACCESS TO THE SAME DATA PLATFORMS THAT THE REST OF OUR LAW ENFORCEMENT COMMUNITY DO.

AND I'M GLAD TO SEE THAT WE'RE WE'RE FINALLY CODIFYING THAT IN THIS BUDGET AND MAKING THAT HAPPEN.

I WANT TO ASK A COUPLE QUESTIONS ON THE SUPERVISORY PAY.

SO AM I CLEAR IN WE MADE PAY ADJUSTMENTS BASED ON RECOMMENDATIONS IN THE PAY STUDY THAT ULTIMATELY PROVIDED TWO NEW.

THERE'S TWO PAY GRADES.

CORRECT? AND HOW MANY YEARS DID IT GO OUT? TEN. OKAY.

SO THERE'S TWO PAY GRADES, AND THEY BOTH GO OUT TO TEN YEARS.

AND THEN THERE'S THE CONSTABLE PAY AS AN ELECTED OFFICIAL.

IS THAT CORRECT? CORRECT. SO EVERYONE BESIDES THE CONSTABLE IS ON A PAY SCHEDULE THAT'S EITHER AT THE THE FIRST LEVEL OR THE SECOND LEVEL.

AND THEN IT'S ENTIRELY BASED ON TIME AND GRADE TIME AND POSITION.

WELL, OUR CHIEF DEPUTIES ARE ARE NOT ON THAT SCALE AS WELL.

SO IT'S JUST. OKAY.

TWO. SO I WORK CAPTAIN BARS AND I AM THE OPERATIONS CAPTAIN FOR VOJVODICH.

SO I'M ON A PAY SCALE TO THE SAME LEVEL AS A DEPUTY THAT THAT COULD COME IN AND HAVE AN INTERMEDIATE OR A BACHELOR'S DEGREE OR SOME, SOME OTHER TYPE OF DEGREE.

I'M ON THAT SAME LEVEL AS HIM.

AND IF WE STARTED AT THE SAME, I WOULD BE THE SAME.

BUT I HAVE I HAVE SUPERVISORY POWER OVER HIM TO CONTROL WHAT HAPPENS ON A SCENE TO DISCIPLINE

[02:10:02]

AND THERE'S JUST. NO, THERE'S NO PAY FOR THAT.

YEAH. UNDERSTAND? I'M. AND I'M JUST TRYING TO MAKE SURE EVERYONE UNDERSTANDS THAT THAT IS THE CASE, RIGHT? AND THERE ARE THESE TWO LEVELS.

EVERYTHING ELSE IS BASED ON TENURE AND TIME AND GRADE.

RIGHT. FROM WHAT I UNDERSTAND, THE TWO LEVELS.

ONE IS THE BEGINNING. EVERYONE STARTS THERE.

AND THEN AS YOU, YOU BUMP UP IN EITHER LIKE A DEGREE, A BACHELOR'S DEGREE, ASSOCIATE'S DEGREE, MASTER'S DEGREE, OR YOU GO TO YOUR INTERMEDIATE PEACE OFFICER LICENSE.

YOU GO, YOU APPLY WITH BUDGET TO GO TO THAT SECOND LEVEL TO START AT THAT, AT THAT BOTTOM LEVEL, TO GO UP THAT PAY GRADE.

YEAH. COMMISSIONER, THE PROPOSED BUDGET PROPOSES A NEW LEVEL CALLED LEAD DEPUTY TO RECOGNIZE THOSE SUPERVISORY DUTIES.

THAT WAS JUST FOR ONE INDIVIDUAL, THOUGH.

FOR PRECINCT THREE.

THREE THE OTHER PRECINCTS TWO.

OKAY, BUT THAT'S JUST A SET POSITION OR THAT IS ANOTHER PAY SCALE WE ADDED.

WE CREATED ANOTHER LAYER ON TOP OF THE THE PAY TABLE THAT THE COURT ADOPTED, I THINK LAST DECEMBER.

SO WE HAVE A DEPUTY CONSTABLE, A SENIOR DEPUTY CONSTABLE AND A LEAD DEPUTY CONSTABLE NOW THREE TIERS.

OKAY. IT WAS NOT ENTIRELY CLEAR TO ME ABOUT THAT THIRD POSITION.

SO I NEED TO MAKE SURE AND TALK WITH MY TEAM, MAKE SURE I UNDERSTAND THAT AND HOW THAT APPLIES.

THIS IS MY CHIEF DEPUTY AND HE WILL EXPLAIN WHAT THE.

BUT WE DON'T UNDERSTAND WHAT A LEAD OFFICER IS THERE'S NO NO ONE.

A LEAD OFFICER IN THE STATE OF TEXAS.

I WANT TO KNOW WHAT THE JOB DESCRIPTION IS.

WELL, IT SOUNDS TO ME LIKE IT WOULD BE SOMETHING THAT YOU WOULD PROMOTE YOUR SERGEANTS OR LIEUTENANTS INTO THE COMMISSIONER.

THE DIFFICULT PART WITH THAT WOULD BE THAT WE HAVE A LIEUTENANT AND A CAPTAIN AND A SERGEANT WHO.

YES, YOU CAN MOVE OR YOU CAN MOVE ONE EITHER ONE INTO THE LEAD OFFICER, BUT AT THE RATE OF PAY THAT THEY'RE AT AND THE WAY THEY SCALE THE PROPOSED, HE WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO GET ANOTHER PAY RAISE FOR ANOTHER EIGHT YEARS IF HE'S ALREADY AT A POSITION WHERE THE PAY SCALE, IF YOU MOVE IT TO A LEAD, WOULD GENERALLY PUT HIM IN THE BEGINNING.

WELL, HE'S ALREADY AT THE POINT THAT HE'S ALREADY AT THE EIGHT YEAR MEASURE, SO HE WOULD HAVE TO WAIT EIGHT PLUS YEARS TO BE ABLE TO GET A PAY RAISE SO THAT TO US, IT DOESN'T MAKE SENSE.

YOU KNOW, AS A MILITARY MAN MYSELF, WE UNDERSTAND THE CONTINUITY OF HAVING A PROPER CHAIN OF COMMAND BECAUSE ORDERS COME DOWN. WE HAVE TO FOLLOW THE ORDERS AND MAKE SURE THAT IT GETS DONE.

YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU MOVE A REGULAR DEPUTY INTO A NEXT LEVEL SENIOR DEPUTY, JUST LIKE THE CAPTAIN SAID, MY, MY CAPTAINS AND LIEUTENANTS ARE AT THAT LEVEL.

BUT THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN, A DEPUTY IT IT USUALLY TAKES A DEPUTY WITH THE WITHIN A FOUR YEAR PERIOD TO MOVE INTO AN INTERMEDIATE LEVEL WHERE MY CAPTAIN'S BEEN THERE FOR 27, 28 YEARS.

YOU KNOW THE DISPARITY IS IS BAD.

WE NEED TO HAVE A BETTER STRUCTURE, NOT ONLY JUST PAY WISE, BUT A COMMAND STRUCTURE THAT WOULD MAKE BETTER SENSE.

YEAH, AND THIS IS COMPLICATED.

AND I'M NOT SURE IF WE CAN SOLVE THIS IN COURT IN REAL TIME, BUT I UNDERSTAND THE ISSUE THERE AND NOBODY THINKS THAT THAT'S FAIR.

YOU KNOW THAT SOMEBODY HAS TO SIT IN THE PAY GRADE FOR THAT PERIOD OF TIME.

I ALSO THINK, UNDERSTAND THE THE INTENT BEHIND TRYING TO MAKE A LEADERSHIP PAY GRADE.

BUT IF THAT IF THAT'S NOT SOLVING THE PROBLEM, I KNOW YOU GUYS HAVE PUT TOGETHER A PROPOSAL WHERE WE'RE JUST PROVIDING A MONTHLY INCENTIVE PAYMENT, BASICALLY FOR A LEADERSHIP POSITION, AND MAYBE THAT'S AN EASIER WAY TO GO ABOUT IT.

BUT I WANT TO DIVE INTO THIS A LITTLE BIT MORE BECAUSE I HIGH LEVEL I DO BELIEVE THAT, YOU KNOW, YOU'RE TAKING ON ADDITIONAL RESPONSIBILITY. YOU KNOW, PAY FOR THAT, THAT TIME, THAT EFFORT, THAT WORK, THAT RESPONSIBILITY, BUT ALSO TO INCENTIVIZE YOUR JUNIOR DEPUTY CONSTABLES TO SAY, HEY, I WANT TO BE A LIEUTENANT, NOT ONLY BECAUSE I WANT TO HAVE THAT LEADERSHIP AND RESPONSIBILITY, BUT ALSO THERE'S THERE'S VALUE IN IT FOR ME AND MY FAMILY. SO I THINK THERE'S THERE'S A LOT OF GOODNESS IN THAT, THAT, THAT WE SHOULD CONSIDER.

AND AT THE END OF THE DAY, THE SUPERVISORY PAY.

I MEAN, WE'RE NOT TALKING ABOUT BREAKING THE BANK WITH, YOU KNOW, 50, $60,000 PER PRECINCT EITHER.

SO I'LL JUST PUT THAT OUT THERE.

I WANT TO MENTION ONE OTHER POINT, AND THEN I'LL TURN IT OVER.

[02:15:06]

I THINK THAT THEIR THEIR VALUE OUT THERE KEEPING OUR ROADWAYS SAFE.

BUT THE WARRANT OFFICERS.

SO I KNOW IN CONVERSATIONS WITH WITH PRECINCT THREE, OUR CONSTABLE AND HIS TEAM WAS I WAS SHOCKED TO LEARN. AND I'M NOT SURE IF IT'S THE SAME ACROSS PRECINCTS.

YOU GUYS CAN PROBABLY VERIFY.

BUT THERE WERE THOUSANDS OF THESE WARRANTS THAT ARE UNSERVED, LITERALLY FUGITIVES ALL OVER THE COUNTY ON THESE LOWER LEVEL WARRANTS.

BUT, YOU KNOW, THEY'VE THEY'VE JUST DISAPPEARED INTO THE ETHER OUT THERE AND NEVER TO RETURN BACK TO COURT, NEVER TO PAY THEIR DUES, NEVER TO BE SERVED JUSTICE.

AND TO ME, I THINK THAT'S A BIG GAP IN OUR OUR CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM RIGHT NOW.

IF WE HAVE THOUSANDS AND THOUSANDS OF OF THESE AB WARRANTS OUT THERE AND FOLKS AREN'T, YOU KNOW, PAYING UP RESTITUTION, PAYING FINES, WHATEVER THE CASE MAY BE, WE DON'T WANT NOT SAYING WE'RE GOING TO THROW ALL THESE INDIVIDUALS IN JAIL.

WE CAN'T AND WE WOULDN'T.

BUT THERE HAS TO BE WE CAN'T JUST LET JUSTICE GO UNSERVED.

AND SO I DON'T KNOW IF CAN SOMEBODY SPEAK TO THE NUMBERS WITHIN THE DIFFERENT PRECINCTS? YES, SIR.

I'VE BEEN COUNCIL THE LONGEST, AND I UNDERSTAND I'VE ALREADY GONE THROUGH THREE REDISTRICTINGS AND THAT AFFECTS ALSO, I USED TO HAVE THE AREA FROM 37 AND HILDEBRAND INSIDE ALL THE WAY TO SAINT CLOUD AND DONALDSON.

SO WHEN THEY CHANGE THE BOUNDARIES, WE STILL HAVE PRECINCT ONE WARRANTS IN IN PRECINCT TWO.

SO AND AT THE SAME TIME, PRECINCT TWO USED TO HAVE SOME OF THE AREA THAT I USED TO HAVE.

SO WHEN THEY CHANGE THE THE GEOGRAPHICS BUT THE WARRANTS ARE STILL THERE.

I HAD DEVELOPED TWO WARRANT OFFICERS IN THE AFTERNOON, TWO IN THE MORNING.

I HAD TWO CLERKS, ONE FULL TIME, ONE PART TIME, AND WE HAD THE ACTUAL DOCUMENTS IN THE FILE CABINET.

WE HAD THOUSANDS AND THOUSANDS.

SO WHAT THEY HAD TO DO IS THEY HAD TO SCAN ALL THE WARRANTS INTO THE SYSTEM, AND THEN THE OFFICERS GO OUT THERE AND WORK.

BUT WE HAVE A SYSTEM TO WHERE WE WE SEND OUT CARDS, WE DEVELOP THAT FROM THE VERY GET GO IN 90 IN THE 90S.

SO THEN AFTER THAT WE STARTED CALLING.

THEN WE STARTED GOING KNOCKING ON DOORS, LEAVING CARDS, AND THEN LATER ON WE WOULD HAVE A ROUNDUP.

I WOULD COORDINATE IT WITH THE JUDGE BECAUSE FOR WHATEVER REASON, THE THE JAIL, THEY DIDN'T PERMIT ANYBODY TO BE BOOKED ON CLASS C MISDEMEANORS.

BUT THESE PEOPLE ALSO HAD CLASS A FELONIES, SO THEY WOULD SATISFY THE CLASS A AND THE FELONY, BUT THEY WOULDN'T SATISFY THE CLASS C, THEY WOULD LET THE INDIVIDUAL GO WITH.

AND HE WAS STILL WANTED AFTER GETTING OUT OF JAIL.

THEY WOULDN'T DEVELOP ANYTHING.

SO THEN WE WERE TOLD NOT TO ARREST ANYBODY ON CLASS C MISDEMEANORS.

SO MY JUDGE AND MYSELF, WE GOT TOGETHER AND WE STARTED DEVELOPING A ROUNDUP TO BRING INDIVIDUALS TO THE COURT AND LET THE JUDGE DISMISS WHATEVER HE WANTED TO DO.

BUT WE WERE CLEARING HUNDREDS AND HUNDREDS OF OF OF WARRANTS.

NO. AND I THINK BUT THEN LATER ON, THEN LATER ON THERE WAS A STATEMENT MADE THAT THE LINEBERGER LETTER WAS MORE EFFICIENT THAN US WORKING WARRANTS. SO WE THEN BACKED OFF ON WORKING WARRANTS, AND WE THEN THE REVENUE WENT DOWN.

SO THAT THAT'S WHAT HAPPENED.

BUT NOW BECAUSE WE GOT THE ALL THE, THIS CIVIL PROCESS, WE NOW UTILIZE THOSE OFFICERS TO DO THE CIVIL PROCESS.

YEAH. SO YOU HAVE A LOT OF COMPETING PRIORITIES.

EXACTLY. SO, SO, BUT IF YOU WANT TO DEVELOP A I DID WARRANTS AND NARCOTICS FOR THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE FOR 13.5 YEARS.

I KNOW THE INS AND OUTS.

I KNOW WHAT TO DO WHEN AND ALL THAT STUFF.

SO BUT WE NEED TO HAVE THE THE OFFICERS TRAINED THE THEY NEED THE BACKING BECAUSE YOU'RE NOT GOING TO SEND ONE OFFICER TO ONE LOCATION BECAUSE THERE MIGHT BE OTHER DIFFICULTIES THERE.

THERE MIGHT BE SOMEBODY ELSE THAT THAT THAT MIGHT BE WANTED ON SOMETHING ELSE.

SO IT GETS VERY COMPLICATED THAT WAY.

WELL, UNDERSTOOD.

AND I'M JUST, YOU KNOW, I DON'T UNDERSTAND ALL THE OPERATIONS OR ALL THE HISTORY.

I JUST KNOW.

AND OFFICER GUM, I DON'T KNOW IF YOU CAN SPEAK TO THE NUMBERS AT ALL, BUT I IF I REMEMBER CORRECTLY, THERE WERE SEVERAL THOUSAND.

[02:20:08]

YEAH, JUST THE MISDEMEANOR WARRANTS.

COMMISSIONER, WHEN WE DID THIS, THE SCANNING AND ALL THE WARRANTS AND YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT THIS WAS ABOUT SEVEN, EIGHT YEARS AGO WHEN WE DID THAT, WE DID AN ACTUAL COUNT OF THE MONETARY VALUE OF THE WARRANTS.

IT CAME OUT TO $28.9 $9 MILLION.

NOW YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT THE WARRANTS THAT THE COURT DEVELOPS ON A MONTHLY BASIS.

NOW, TO THIS POINT, WE'RE LOOKING AT ALMOST I WOULD TELL YOU EASILY ABOUT $40 MILLION JUST IN ONE.

THAT'S JUST PRECINCT ONE.

YES. WOW.

JUST TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION, COMMISSIONER, PRECINCT TWO.

WHEN I LAST CHECKED IN 2022, WE HAD 65,000 OUTSTANDING WARRANTS AT A VALUE OF 21 MILLION.

I HAVEN'T CHECKED SINCE THEN BECAUSE WE NO LONGER HAVE THE WARRANT PERSONNEL.

SO WE CAN'T DO WARRANTS.

WE CAN'T EXECUTE WARRANTS SO WE DON'T CHECK FOR THE WARRANTS ARE SO THERE'S A IN THE CODE WHEN WE ARREST SOMEBODY AND WE TAKE THEM INTO CUSTODY, IF WE APPLY FOR THE $50 WARRANT FEE, WHICH WE DEVELOPED, A FORM THAT WE'RE GOING TO BE NOW DOING, SO THAT'S GOING TO BE ABLE TO TRACK.

SO IF YOU WERE TO GIVE US THESE WARRANT OFFICERS, WE'RE GOING TO BE ABLE TO TRACK THOSE TO SHOW YOU JUST HOW MUCH OF THOSE $50 THAT WE'RE WE'RE SUBMITTING TO THE COURT.

IT'S NOT GOING TO GO TO THE PRECINCT.

IT'LL GO TO THE TO THE GENERAL FUND FOR THE FOR BEXAR COUNTY AS THE WAY I UNDERSTOOD IT.

BUT WE'RE GOING TO BE ABLE TO TRACK THAT, TO SHOW YOU, YOU KNOW, THE GAINS THAT YOU'RE GOING TO, THAT IF YOU WERE TO GIVE THIS, YOU WOULD BE ABLE TO SHOW THAT TO YOU AND PROVE THAT TO YOU THAT THIS THIS IS HOW PRODUCTIVE WE ARE.

YEAH. AND THAT'S JUST ONE SMALL PART, THOUGH.

WHEN YOU GUYS ARE THROWING OUT THOSE BIG NUMBERS, THOSE ARE FINES THE COURT HAS IMPOSED ON THOSE INDIVIDUALS.

CORRECT? YES.

SO I'M SURE WE COULD GO BACK AND FORTH ON THE NUMBERS.

BUT FOR FOR SINCE 1993, WE'VE BEEN EXECUTING FELONY WARRANTS, CLASS A AND B, WE'VE NEVER RECEIVED WARRANT FEES FOR THOSE WARRANTS. NO CONSTABLE HAS GOTTEN THOSE FEES FROM THE COURTS.

SO WHERE IS IT GOING? BECAUSE YOU HAVE TO SIGN THE DOCUMENT AND MAKE THE RETURN TO THE COURT.

WHO EXECUTED THAT WARRANT? OKAY, WELL, AGAIN, I'LL JUST END HERE, BUT I THINK THAT THERE'S A REAL OPPORTUNITY TO TAKE A SECOND LOOK WHEN IT COMES TO THESE WARRANT OFFICERS.

I KNOW WE HAVE A REQUEST IN PRECINCT THREE FOR THEM.

AND, YOU KNOW, IT'S IT'S NOT ONLY YOU KNOW, MAKING SURE WE HAVE THOSE THOSE INDIVIDUALS OUT THERE TO, TO DO THIS WORK, BUT TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM IS WORKING AND THAT THAT FOLKS WHO HAVE COMMITTED A CRIME, YOU KNOW, CANNOT JUST DISAPPEAR OUT THERE AND, AND NEVER FACE REPERCUSSIONS FOR THAT.

AND I JUST THINK THAT THAT WOULD BE YOU KNOW, WISE FOR, FOR US TO INVEST IN.

BUT I'LL TURN IT OVER TO THE REST OF THE COURT.

COMMISSIONER CALVERT, DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? COMMENTS? THANK YOU.

JUDGE. YOU KNOW, I'M SITTING HERE KIND OF DISTURBED AND DISGUSTED AT THE FACT THAT WE HAVEN'T HAD THE POSITIONS PROPERLY LABELED.

AS YOU SAID. THAT'S AN EASY THING.

WE SHOULD JUST TAKE CARE OF THAT.

LET'S GET THAT HANDLED.

I THE CULTURE OF THE PAST.

THIS IS A MORE SUPPORTIVE COURT THAN I THINK PAST COURTS ARE.

SO LET'S JUST TAKE CARE OF THAT.

CAPTAIN. YOU KNOW ALL THOSE THINGS THAT YOU DETAILED.

LET'S BE DONE WITH IT. GET SOME STRUCTURE TO A STAIR TABLE THAT CAN BE FAIR, RIGHT? LIKE IT'S JUST NOT RIGHT, BECAUSE MOST OF THE GROWING UP, MOST OF THE CONSTABLES I KNOW WERE IN THE CONSTABLE'S OFFICE FOREVER.

I MEAN, THEY TRIED TO WORK FOREVER, BUT YOU PROBABLY HAVE A GREATER TURNOVER BECAUSE THINGS, YOU KNOW, HAVE PEOPLE CAN GO TO PLACES AND, YOU KNOW, MAKE BETTER WAGES.

SO, YOU KNOW, WE OWE THAT TO JUST LET'S GET, YOU KNOW, THIS LEAD THING.

YOU KNOW, IT'S JUST LIKE THE COMMISSIONER MOODY SAID, YOU KNOW, GET THE 56,000 OR WHATEVER IT IS.

AND LET'S JUST START TO GET THIS RIGHT.

IT JUST IT DISTURBS ME TO NO END TO HEAR PEOPLE HAVING TO WAIT EIGHT YEARS FOR A RAISE.

I MEAN, THAT'S THAT'S INSANE.

THAT'S JUST NOT RIGHT. AND DOING THE WORK AND THE SUPERVISORY.

SO LET'S JUST TAKE CARE OF THAT.

YOU KNOW, THE STAFFING THINGS.

YOU KNOW, I WANT TO THANK COMMISSIONER CLAY-FLORES.

SHE LED THE COURT IN GETTING THE STAFFING MOVING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.

YOU ALL KNOW, I WAS, YOU KNOW, A LONE VOTE FOR KEEPING IT THE WAY IT WAS.

NOW WE'RE BACK AT, YOU KNOW, THE NUMBERS WE HAD BACK.

YOU KNOW, WHATEVER NUMBER OF YEARS AGO.

SO, YOU KNOW, WE ALL KNOW HOW WE FEEL ABOUT THAT.

BUT THE FACT OF THE MATTER IS, I THINK WE CAN WORK TOGETHER WITH THIS COURT TO TRY TO GET YOUR STAFFING LEVELS A LOT BETTER.

SO LET'S THANK YOU FOR THE PROPOSALS.

THEY SEEM VERY FAIR.

THEY SEEM OBVIOUS.

YOU KNOW, THE ONE THING ABOUT SERVING WARRANTS TODAY, AS A GUY WHO DRIVES TO A LOT OF MEETINGS, IS THE TIME IT TAKES ON OUR ROADS TO GET PLACES.

[02:25:07]

A LOT MORE TIME TO ACTUALLY DRIVE TO PLACES THAT ARE REALLY NOT THAT FAR OR WEREN'T THAT LONG AGO.

BUT NOW WE'VE GOT SO MANY PEOPLE AND WE GOT SO MUCH CONSTRUCTION THAT, YOU KNOW, IT TAKES YOU LONGER TO DO YOUR JOB.

AND THAT'S A STRESS ON THE OFFICERS AS WELL.

RIGHT. SO ANYWAY, WE JUST GOT TO GET HIP WITH THE PROGRAM.

YOU'VE OFFERED US AN OPPORTUNITY TO DO SO.

I LOOK FORWARD TO SUPPORTING YOU.

THANK YOU JUDGE. THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU, MR. CHAIRMAN. YES.

ANYTHING ELSE? THANK YOU. WE'RE WE'RE WE WERE TALKING ABOUT YOU.

ALL RIGHT. OKAY.

THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH.

THANK YOU FOR COMING.

THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT, JP, Y'ALL ARE NEXT.

I'LL JUST NOTE FOR THE TIME IT'S 1130 YOU CAN, YOU KNOW.

WELL, LET'S LET'S KEEP GOING.

THERE'S A CONSENSUS JUDGE, AND ROBBIE, YOU SIGNED UP TO SPEAK, SO YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE THE FLOOR WHETHER YOU SIGN UP OR NOT.

SO ARE Y'ALL MAKING INDIVIDUALS, WE'RE GOING TO MAKE INDIVIDUALS.

BUT WE'RE GOING TO TRY TO GET THROUGH THIS, OKAY? AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE. I UNDERSTAND YOU'RE PRESSED FOR TIME AND STUFF, AND SOME OF OUR STUFF, SOME OF OUR NEEDS ARE BASIC.

AND I'M GLAD THAT WE'RE WE'RE ALL HERE.

SO I'M GOING TO. I'M GOING TO KICK IT OFF.

THANK YOU, JUDGE.

THANK YOU, COMMISSIONERS, FOR HAVING US HERE TODAY.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, COMMISSIONER RODRIGUEZ.

GLAD. GLAD TO SEE YOU ON YOUR 50TH.

I WANT TO REITERATE SOME OF THE THINGS THAT WE TALKED ABOUT LAST YEAR, AND I'M GLAD THAT WE'RE FOLLOWING THE CONSTABLE'S TODAY.

AND I'M GLAD THAT CONSTABLE VASQUEZ, I'M GOING TO CALL HER OUT.

I WISH SHE WOULD HAVE CALLED ME OUT, BECAUSE, I MEAN, WITH HER GRACE AND RESPECT TO MY OFFICE, I APPRECIATE THAT, BUT AT THE SAME TIME, WHAT SHE'S TELLING YOU IS THAT THERE'S PRESSURE COMING DOWN FROM THE COURT, AND SHE'S CORRECT.

THAT'S PRESSURE BY MORE WORK THAT WE'RE PUSHING THAT WAY.

BECAUSE WE ARE DROWNING.

AND SO I'M LEANING ON OTHER FOLKS.

AND THAT'S WHY I'M HERE TODAY FOR MY SPECIFIC OFFICE TO ASK FOR TWO FULL TIME EMPLOYEES AT THE NEO TWO LEVEL AND ONE FULL TIME YOUTH DIVERSION COORDINATOR.

THAT'S MANDATED BY LAW AT AN END AT THE OH FOUR LEVEL.

WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO SHARE WITH THE COURT TODAY IS THAT WE ARE DROWNING.

JP COURTS TODAY HAVE MORE COMPLEX CASES THAN WE EVER HAVE.

THERE ARE MORE LEGISLATIVE MANDATES THAT ARE PLACED ON THESE COURTS.

ATTORNEYS THAT COME BEFORE US ARE USING INCREASINGLY SOPHISTICATED LEGAL TECHNIQUES.

AND I'LL JUST CALL OUT RECEIVERSHIPS AND THE JUDGE SAKAI, YOU PROBABLY ARE VERY, VERY FAMILIAR WITH THIS, BUT FOR THE REST OF COMMISSIONERS COURT, IF YOU'RE NOT FAMILIAR WITH RECEIVERSHIPS, BASICALLY THAT'S LIKE STARTING A WHOLE NEW CASE.

AND IT'S USUALLY USED IN DEBT CLAIM CASES WHERE THERE HAS ALREADY BEEN A JUDGMENT AND A JUDGMENT.

PLAINTIFF WHO'S ALREADY WON A CASE IS TRYING TO SEEK THEIR RECOMPENSE AND ENFORCE THE JUDGMENT THAT WAS GRANTED FOR THEM.

THEY COME BACK TO COURT, AND THEY ASK THE COURT TO APPOINT A RECEIVER TO GO CHASE ASSETS.

WELL, THAT'S THAT THAT'S PART OF THAT SOPHISTICATED LEGAL TECHNIQUE THAT I'M TALKING ABOUT.

JUST THE LAST FIVE DAYS, I'VE OPENED 45 NEW RECEIVERSHIPS IN THE LAST FOUR DAYS.

I'M SITTING ON THOUSANDS RIGHT NOW OF RECEIVERSHIPS THAT I HAVE TO SUPERVISE.

I HAVE TO SUPERVISE THE RECEIVER, MAKE SURE THAT THEY ARE NOT TAKING PROTECTED PROPERTY WHEN THEY'RE OUT TRYING TO ENFORCE MY JUDGMENTS.

RIGHT. THIS IS SOMETHING THAT'S COMPLETELY NEW FOR JP COURTS.

TEN YEARS AGO, IT WAS NOT A THING.

WHEN I CAME IN 12 YEARS AGO, IT WAS NOT A THING.

SEVEN YEARS AGO, IT WAS NOT A THING.

BUT OUR JURISDICTIONAL LIMITS HAVE MOVED UP.

SO WE GET THESE TYPES OF COMPLEX CASES.

SPEAKING TO THE EVICTIONS, THE EVICTIONS ARE VERY VOLATILE TYPES OF CASES.

AND THE CONSTABLE'S TOLD YOU HOW MUCH THEY HAVE TO GO OUT AND TRY TO PROTECT THEMSELVES AND WHAT THEY HAVE TO DO, BECAUSE THIS COUNTY IS GROWING AND GROWING AND GROWING.

GUESS WHAT? WE'RE ALSO GETTING MORE OF.

WE'RE ALSO GETTING MORE CASES FOR WRITS OF REENTRY AND WRITS OF RESTORATION.

THAT'S WHERE LANDLORDS AREN'T DOING THE THINGS THAT THEY SHOULD BE DOING.

SO TENANTS COME TO THE COURT, ASK FOR EMERGENCY HEARINGS, AND THEN I'VE GOT TO PULL THE CONSTABLES IN TO GO OUT AND RESTORE UTILITIES, TO GO OUT AND REOPEN PROPERTIES, THINGS OF

[02:30:07]

AND WE ALL KNOW THE PROBLEMS AND THE THE SAFETY ISSUES THAT THE CONSTABLES FACE ON THAT.

BUT GUESS WHAT? THOSE ARE MY ORDERS.

THOSE ARE OUR ORDERS THAT THEY'RE GOING OUT THERE TO ENFORCE.

SO I APPRECIATE EVERYTHING THAT THEY'RE DOING, BUT AT THE SAME TIME, HAVE TO LET THE COURT COMMISSIONERS COURT KNOW WHY IT IS THAT WE'RE ASKING FOR THESE INCREASES IN PERSONNEL.

ONCE AGAIN, I'M HERE TO ASK YOU FOR A STAFFING ANALYSIS, A THIRD PARTY STAFFING ANALYSIS SO THAT WE CAN PUT THIS TO BED.

I'VE BEEN ASKING FOR THIS EVERY SINGLE YEAR THAT I COME HERE.

THERE IS NO JUSTIFICATION ON WHAT OUR WHY? OUR STAFFING LEVELS ARE, WHAT THEY ARE.

THE BUDGET OFFICE SHOULD NOT THEY SHOULDN'T BE ASKED TO UNDERSTAND EVERYTHING THAT WE DO.

SO IT'S GOT TO BE A VERY DIFFICULT AND FRUSTRATING TASK FOR THEM TO SAY, THIS IS HOW MANY PEOPLE YOU NEED, BECAUSE THAT'S HOW MANY PEOPLE YOU USED LAST YEAR.

BUT IF THE PREMISE FOR THE WORKLOAD IS A COMPLETE FALLACY, WE CAN'T BUILD OFF OF THAT FOUNDATION.

THAT'S WHY I ASK FOR A THIRD PARTY ANALYSIS, BECAUSE THE LAST TIME WE DID IT WAS 1999, AND WE NEVER FOLLOWED THROUGH WITH THAT.

OH, BY THE WAY, WHEN I COME HERE, I'M BASICALLY ASKING YOU TO TRUST ME ON WHAT I NEED FOR MY OFFICE.

EACH ONE OF THESE JUDGES STANDS AS THE EXPERT OF THEIR COURTS, AND WE'RE PROBABLY IN THE BEST PLACE OF ANYBODY IN THIS COUNTY TO TELL YOU EXACTLY WHAT OUR NEEDS ARE.

NOBODY'S BUILDING FIEFDOMS OVER HERE.

BUT I'M NOT JUST ASKING YOU TO TRUST ME.

I'M ASKING YOU TO VERIFY.

TRUST AND VERIFY.

WHERE'S THE VERIFICATION? THE VERIFICATION IS GOING TO BE THAT THIRD PARTY ANALYSIS THAT COMES IN AND SAYS, OH, HEY, HERE'S YOUR STAFFING.

HEY. GUESS WHAT? JUDGE VASQUEZ, YOU WERE WRONG.

THE ANALYSIS SHOWS YOU REALLY DON'T NEED THOSE MANY PEOPLE YOU PROBABLY SHOULD BE DOING WITH LESS.

I'LL TAKE.

I'LL TAKE THAT.

RIGHT. I'LL LIVE WITH THAT.

BUT I WOULD ALSO WANT.

COMMISSIONERS COURT TO LIVE WITH AN ANALYSIS THAT SWUNG IN ANOTHER DIRECTION.

I THINK THAT'S FAIR.

BY THE WAY, EACH ONE OF THESE OFFICES IS GOING TO COME UP HERE AND GIVE YOU THE SPECIFIC NEEDS OF THEIR OFFICE, AND I'M GOING TO LEAVE YOU WITH ONE LAST THOUGHT BEFORE I TURN OVER THE MIC.

DO YOU KNOW EXACTLY WHAT I'M ASKING FOR? BUT IN THE TEN YEAR, FULL BUDGET YEARS THAT I HAVE HAD ON THE BENCH, THE REVENUE GENERATED IN JP PRECINCT TWO THROUGH THE COURT HAS BEEN ABOUT $36 MILLION.

THE EXPENDITURES IN THAT SAME PERIOD OF TIME ARE ABOUT $15 MILLION.

SO THAT'S A DIFFERENCE OF $21 MILLION IN THE TEN YEARS THAT I'VE BEEN ON THE BENCH.

AND I COME IN HERE AND I ASK FOR 2 OR $300,000 MORE EVERY YEAR.

AND I DON'T GET IT.

NOBODY'S EVER BEEN ABLE TO EXPLAIN TO ME WHERE THAT $21 MILLION GOES.

WHAT THE DISPARITY IS, WHY I CAN'T GET WHAT I NEED.

THANK YOU. CAN WE LET ALL OF THEM? OH, YEAH. THAT'S FINE. LET'S LET ALL OF THEM PRESENT.

SO GOOD AFTERNOON.

THANK YOU. COMMISSIONER AND JUDGE.

WE REITERATE EXACTLY WHAT JUDGE VAZQUEZ JUST MENTIONED IN REFERENCE TO THE COMPLEXITY OF THESE COURTS.

WE'RE HERE TO PRESENT OUR NEEDS AS PRECINCT ONE.

AND THERE IS A SLIGHT PRESENTATION THAT WAS CREATED BY MY COURT MANAGER.

AND WHAT WE'RE LOOKING AT IS SOME RECLASSIFICATIONS AND WE'RE LOOKING FOR STRUCTURE.

AND THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT'S NEEDED IN ORDER TO GET THESE CASES OUT WITHIN A TIMELY MANNER.

AND THIS IS ALL PART OF IN THE INTEREST OF JUSTICE, TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE TIMELY GETTING THESE CASES ENTERED AND HEARD.

SO I'M GOING TO ALLOW ELVA, WHO'S MY COURT MANAGER, TO MAKE THE PRESENTATION, AND YOU'LL SEE A COST SAVINGS IN THIS AS WELL.

GO AHEAD. GOOD MORNING, JUDGE SAKAI.

JUDGE CLAY-FLORES COMMISSIONER RODRIGUEZ AND HAPPY BIRTHDAY.

AND COMMISSIONER MOODY AND COMMISSIONER CALVERT.

AS YOU ALL KNOW, MY NAME IS ALVA ESPARZA.

AND I'M THE JUSTICE COURT MANAGER FOR PRECINCT ONE.

PREVIOUSLY THE CHIEF DEPUTY FOR FORMER DISTRICT CLERK MARGARET MONTEMAYOR, FOR EIGHT YEARS THE CHIEF DEPUTY FOR FORMER MARY ANGIE

[02:35:02]

SO WHAT I'M GOING TO SPEAK TO YOU ABOUT IS GOING TO PROBABLY NOT MAKE TOO MUCH SENSE TO SOME OF YOU THAT DON'T REALLY KNOW THE STRUCTURE OF THE DISTRICT CLERK, AND THE SAME STRUCTURE SHOULD BE APPLIED TO THE JP COURTS.

I'LL START WITH SLIDE NUMBER ONE, WHICH IS THE BUDGET.

THE BUDGET OFFICE RECOMMENDATIONS THEY'RE RECOMMENDING TO FUND TWO TEMPORARY PART TIME CLERKS TO ASSIST WITH BACKLOG FILING, CAYCE RESCHEDULING AND TO FILE FOR FILE UPDATES.

AND THEY'RE OFF.

THE THE POSITION FOR ONE SUPERVISOR AND DELETE ONE COURT CLERK.

ONE LEET COURT CLERK, WHICH IS A TOTAL OF 34,295.

IF YOU GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE.

SO JP ONE PROPOSED RESPONSE WAS WE DO NOT WANT THE TEMPORARY PART TIME CLERK'S POSITIONS BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE THE SPACE.

IF YOU'VE BEEN INTO OUR COURT AND INTO OUR OFFICE, I DON'T EVEN HAVE ONE SPACE AVAILABLE TO BRING IN A TEMPORARY PART TIME CLERK.

AS FAR AS THE TO ADD THE JUVENILE DIVERSION COORDINATOR, THE JUDGES WILL SPEAK ON THAT.

I'M ASKING FOR TWO SUPERVISORS AND DELETE TWO LEET COURT CLERKS, WHICH IS THE COST OF RECOMMENDATION OF 32,222, WHICH IS A LOT CHEAPER THAN WHAT WAS PROPOSED TO ME BY BUDGET.

IF WE MOVE ON TO THE NEXT SLIDE.

I'LL MOVE ON TO THAT. DO I? OKAY. SO JP OFFICES EMPLOYING COMPARISON RATIO.

IF YOU SEE THAT ON AT ADD PRECINCT ONE FOR THE YEAR, TOTAL EMPLOYEES FOR THE YEAR 2324, AND THE BUDGET PROPOSED ONE SUPERVISOR THAT WILL SUPERVISE 23 EMPLOYEES, 19 COURT CLERKS, THREE LEADS, AND ONE ACCOUNTING CLERK.

IF YOU LOOK AT JP TWO, THEY ONLY HAVE 15 EMPLOYEES.

THEY WERE GIVEN ONE SUPERVISOR TO SUPERVISE 14 EMPLOYEES, 11 COURT CLERKS, THREE LEADS AND AND ZERO ACCOUNTING CLERKS.

JP THREE HAS A TOTAL OF 12 EMPLOYEES TO SUPERVISE 11 EMPLOYEES AND NINE COURT CLERKS AND TWO LEADS.

JP FOUR HAS A TOTAL OF 14 EMPLOYEES, WITH ONE SUPERVISOR, 13 EMPLOYEES THAT WILL BE SUPERVISED, AND OUT OF THAT, IT'S 11 COURT CLERKS AND LEADS TWO.

AS YOU CAN SEE, WHAT WE WERE PROPOSING IS TO HAVE THE COURT MANAGER, A SUPERVISOR TO SUPERVISE A LEAD CLERK AND TEN COURT CLERKS.

ANOTHER SUPERVISOR TO SUPERVISE ANOTHER LEAD CLERK, NINE COURT CLERKS AND ONE ACCOUNTING CLERK.

WELL, BUDGET HAS GONE OVER IT AND HAS REFUSED TO WORK WITH ME BECAUSE THEY'RE LETTING ME KNOW THAT IF THEY GIVE ANOTHER SUPERVISOR TO OUR OFFICE, THEN THE OTHER COURT CLERKS, I MEAN, THE OTHER MANAGERS WOULD WANT A SECOND SUPERVISOR.

I SPOKE WITH ALL THE MANAGERS AND THEY SAID NO, THEY WERE JUST STICKING TO THE ONE SUPERVISOR, BUT THEY UNDERSTOOD WHY I WAS ASKING FOR AN ADDITIONAL SUPERVISOR BECAUSE OF THE AMOUNT OF THE EMPLOYEE RATIO THAT I HAVE.

NOW I'M SAVING YOU $4,000.

I'M GIVING UP TWO CLERK POSITIONS.

LAST YEAR I ASKED FOR THE SAME THING AND WAS DENIED EVERYTHING AND WAS GIVEN AN ACCOUNTING CLERK.

I WAS THE ONLY ONE THAT TOOK THE ACCOUNTING CLERK.

THE OTHER THREE COURTS DIDN'T.

THEY HAD OTHER ISSUES WITH OTHER THINGS IN THEIR OFFICE.

SO I WAS THE ONLY ONE WITH THE ACCOUNTING CLERK.

SO I FEEL LIKE THE BUDGET SET THE PRESIDENT'S I'M THE ONLY ONE THAT HAS AN ACCOUNTING CLERK.

SO THIS YEAR I'M ASKING FOR AN ADDITIONAL SUPERVISOR.

I CAN, YOU KNOW, PRECINCT ONE CAN BE THE ONLY ONE THAT HAS AN ADDITIONAL SUPERVISOR.

EVENTUALLY, IF FOR SOME REASON, THEIR DEPARTMENT, IF IT'S LIKE COMMISSIONER CLAY-FLORES MENTIONED EARLIER GEOGRAPHICALLY, PRECINCT ONE IS THE LARGEST PRECINCT.

OKAY. SO WE DO HAVE MORE WORK THAN ANY OF THE OTHER PRECINCTS TRAFFIC.

I CAN TELL YOU THAT WHEN I GOT THERE, THERE WAS NO STRUCTURE IN OUR OFFICE.

IT WAS JUST ME AND ME ALONE.

NOTHING. I WALKED INTO A CONFERENCE ROOM THAT WAS JUST STACKS AND STACKS OF PAPERWORK, AND I BELIEVE MY BUDGET ANALYST SAW IT AND COULDN'T BELIEVE IT.

I HAD STACKS OF PAPERWORK IN CABINETS THAT HAD NEVER BEEN PROCESSED, SO I HAD TO DEVELOP A STRUCTURE AND I ASKED FOR A SUPER WAS DENIED

[02:40:10]

I'M ASKING NOW FOR TWO.

PLEASE, I NEED SOME HELP.

THAT'S ALL I'M ASKING FOR.

I NEED I NEED A SUPERVISOR TO BE ABLE TO TRAIN.

I KNOW A LOT OF THE EMPLOYEES WERE COMPLAINING TO ME WHEN THEY GOT THERE.

IT WAS A SINK OR SWIM.

WELL, I DON'T RUN IT THAT WAY ANYMORE.

YOU ALL KNOW THAT I WAS A CHIEF DEPUTY FOR MANY, MANY YEARS FOR THE DISTRICT CLERK'S OFFICE.

AND YES, LIKE I WAS TOLD BY BUDGET, IT'S A MUCH LARGER DEPARTMENT, I UNDERSTAND THAT, BUT THEIR STRUCTURE, IF YOU IF YOU VISION THE DISTRICT CLERK'S OFFICE, WE'RE BROKEN DOWN INTO DEPARTMENTS.

CIVIL, CRIMINAL, JUVENILE CIVIL COURTS, CRIMINAL COURTS.

BUT IN EVERY DEPARTMENT THE EMPLOYEE RATIO IS EVEN.

THEY HAVE, I THINK, IN CIVIL FILING THEY HAVE LIKE ABOUT I'D SAY 19 CLERKS FOR LEADS, TWO SUPERVISORS.

JUST IT'S JUST LIKE JP ONE, JP TWO, JP THREE, JP FOUR.

JUST BREAK US DOWN INTO DEPARTMENTS.

ALL I'M ASKING IS FOR AN ADDITIONAL SUPERVISOR.

I KNOW THAT IT'S NOT ASKING FOR TOO MUCH BECAUSE I'M GIVING UP POSITIONS.

I'M NOT COMPLETELY ASKING FOR YOU TO CREATE A POSITION.

I'M GIVING UP TWO LEAD CLERKS FOR THAT PARTICULAR EXTRA SUPERVISOR OF WHICH IS A TOTAL SAVINGS, BECAUSE I CANNOT UTILIZE THE THE THE PART TIME CLERKS ALSO.

I EVEN WENT TO BUDGET AND SAID, I'LL GIVE UP THE LEAD CLERKS THAT YOU'RE RECOMMENDING.

I'LL GIVE IT THE ACCOUNTING CLERK THAT I CAN'T EVEN UTILIZE IT.

IT'S SITTING THERE WITH.

I DON'T HAVE ANYBODY THERE WORKING ON IT, BECAUSE THEY DON'T SEEM TO UNDERSTAND THAT THE FINANCIALS THAT WE INHERIT FROM THE AUDITOR'S OFFICE AND FROM DPS, NOW THAT WE'RE WE INHERIT ANOTHER FINANCIAL REPORT FROM THEM.

WHAT THEY DON'T SEEM TO UNDERSTAND IS THE ONLY WAY THAT THESE REPORTS CAN BE ADEQUATELY, ADEQUATELY DONE IS BY VETERAN CLERKS.

I CAN'T JUST PUT SOMEBODY, HIRE SOMEBODY, GIVE THEM THE TITLE OF ACCOUNTING CLERK.

ONE, THEY HAVE TO BE A VETERAN CLERK.

THEY'VE GOT TO UNDERSTAND CRIMINAL AND THEY'VE GOT TO UNDERSTAND CIVIL IN ORDER TO GO AND COMPARE AND FIND THE ERRORS IN THE REPORTS.

SO ALL I'M ASKING FOR IS TWO SUPERVISORS.

I'M GIVING THEM TWO CLERKS.

I WILL EVEN GIVE UP THE ACCOUNTING CLERK BECAUSE IT'S SITTING THERE.

THAT'S ALL I'M ASKING FOR.

AND I HOPE THAT YOU'LL RECONSIDER.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

YES. THANK YOU. THANK YOU.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

AND WE APPRECIATE ANY CONSIDERATION WHATSOEVER.

AGAIN THIS IS ALL ABOUT A RECLASSIFICATION OF THESE POSITIONS.

WE'VE GOT TO GET PEOPLE WHO UNDERSTAND THIS TYPE OF OF JOB.

AND AND AGAIN I'LL PASS IT OVER TO PERSON THREE JUDGE.

GOOD MORNING EVERYONE. I'M JUDGE JULIE PATTERSON I'M THE JUSTICE OF THE PEACE OUT AT PRECINCT THREE.

I'LL BE BRIEF, BUT I DO WANT TO SAY THAT THERE ARE FOUR MAIN THINGS THAT WE DO OUT AT THE JP OFFICE.

WE DO HANDLE SMALL CLAIMS, LAWSUITS.

$20,000 OR LESS, EVICTIONS, CREDIT CARD DEBT, CLAIMS, TRAFFIC AND OTHER CLASS C ISSUES ARE THE MAIN THINGS WE HANDLE.

THERE ARE TWO THINGS, REALLY THAT I WANT TO TALK ABOUT, AND I WILL BE BRIEF.

AND AGAIN, THE STATE LEGISLATURE PASSED.

SO WE ALL NOW EVERY JP IN THE COUNTY HAS TO HAVE A YOUTH DIVERSION COORDINATOR.

AND SO THE COUNTY DID GRANT ONE ON A CONTINGENT BASIS, CONTINGENT THAT WE TURN IN OUR PLAN.

EVERY JP IN THE COUNTY HAS TO POST A PLAN FOR A YOUTH DIVERSION COORDINATOR BY JANUARY 1ST.

WE DO HAVE A DRAFT PLAN AND IT'S A WORKING DOCUMENT.

I'M HAPPY TO SAY THAT WE ALL AGREE ON, BUT AGAIN, IT'S WORKING.

IT'LL BE DIFFERENT FOR EACH PRECINCT.

AND WE DO HAVE THAT. AND HAPPY TO TURN THAT OVER TO YOU GUYS.

AGAIN, THE TWO THINGS THAT I WANT TO TALK ABOUT IS ON THE CONTINGENT BASIS WAS GRANTED THIS THE YOUTH DIVERSION COORDINATOR GRANTED AN NEO2 AND REALLY THE YOUTH, WELL, IT WAS A YOUTH CLERK, AND I BELIEVE THERE'S ALREADY IN THE PAY GRADE SCALE AT A NEO TO A YOUTH JUVENILE COURT CLERK, JUVENILE COURT CLERK.

AND I SPENT A LOT OF TIME WHEN I PRACTICED JUVENILE LAW OVER AT OVER AT THE BUILDINGS.

AND SO WHAT I'M PROPOSING IS OPPOSED TO THE NEO TWO LEVEL BECAUSE THE JUVENILE COURT CLERK JUVENILE, THEY DON'T TALK WITH ANY YOUTH AT ALL AND DEAL WITH PARENTS AT ALL.

BUT WE'RE ASKING FOR.

I'M ASKING FOR IT VIA ANY FOR LEVEL.

THE REASON WHY IS WHEN YOU PULL UP JUST THE PAY GRADES THAT ARE ON, YOU CAN GET ON SIDEKICK, AND THERE ARE THREE POSITIONS THAT DO DEAL WITH YOUTH, AND IT'S A JUVENILE DETENTION OFFICER, JUVENILE PROBATION OFFICER, AND A JUVENILE RESOURCE SPECIALIST.

[02:45:01]

WE'RE GOING TO DEAL DIRECTLY WITH YOUTH AND MANAGE YOUTH AND GO OUT TO THE SCHOOLS.

SO AGAIN, MASKING IT TO BE A FOUR AS OPPOSED TO A TWO FOR THAT REASON.

THE SECOND THING WE'RE ASKING FOR IS JUST ANOTHER FULL TIME, FULL TIME CLERK.

AGAIN, WE'VE WHEN I INHERITED THE POSITION WE WERE HUGE BACK UP ON MAIL AND THANKFULLY WE DROVE THAT DOWN WITH A LOT OF TEMPS.

WITH THE E-FILING, WE STILL HAVE ABOUT 500 FILINGS A WEEK.

AND SO IT'S A LOT.

IT'S A LOT TO KEEP FORWARD. SO WE ARE ASKING FOR ONE MORE FULL TIME POSITION.

THOSE TWO THINGS. THANK YOU.

THANK YOU JUDGE.

GOOD MORNING COMMISSIONERS.

JUDGE. I'M JUDGE GARCIA FROM PRECINCT FOUR.

AND AGAIN, I'LL MAKE IT VERY BRIEF.

PRECINCT FOUR IS AGAIN SUPPORTING ALL THE OTHER PRECINCTS AND WHAT THEIR REQUEST IS AS FAR AS THE JUVENILE COORDINATOR AND ANY TWO GOING TO AN ANY FOUR.

HOWEVER, PRECINCT FOUR IS ALSO REQUESTING FIVE PERMANENT PART TIME POSITIONS.

AND THAT IS TO HELP WITH OBVIOUSLY, LIKE JUDGE VASQUEZ SAYS, THE INCREASED WORKLOAD.

THE APPOINTMENT OF RECEIVERS, THE EVICTIONS JUST IN THIS FROM OCTOBER OF LAST YEAR TO AUGUST OF THIS YEAR, WE'VE GOTTEN AT LEAST OVER 8000 EVICTIONS, NOT INCLUDING ANOTHER 7500 IN DEBT CLAIMS. WITH THE TOTAL AMOUNT BEING OF OVER 40,000 DEBT CLAIMS THAT WE HAVE PENDING IN JP4 FROM THE BACKLOG AND THE PENDING ONES.

ALSO WITH THOSE THAT COME WITH RECEIVERS.

THE RECEIVERS AGAIN ARE A WHOLE NOTHER TYPE OF CASE.

IT STARTS FROM BEGINNING TO END WITH 180 DAYS EXTENSION ON THE RECEIVERS.

SO AS THE CONSTABLE'S AND EVERYBODY ELSE HAS BEEN STATING STATING THE WORKLOAD HAS INCREASED DRAMATICALLY FROM THE COURT.

SO OF COURSE WE WOULD LOVE FULL TIME POSITIONS, BUT WE WILL SETTLE FOR FIVE TEMPORARY, I'M SORRY, FIVE PERMANENT PART TIME POSITIONS.

AS FAR AS THE PART TIME POSITIONS, THEY HELP WITH ALL THE NECESSITIES AROUND THE COURT, THE MOTIONS TO BE FILED, THE ANSWERS, THE ORGANIZATIONS OF THE FILES, THE MAIL OUTS. THEY DO AN INCREASE DRAMATIC HELP IN THE IN THE PRECINCT AS FAR AS THE WORKLOAD TAKING IT OFF FROM THE COURT CLERKS.

SO AS PRECINCT ONE HAS STATED EARLIER IN THEIR SLIDES, AND AS COMMISSIONER MOODY HAS STATED THAT THE CONSTABLES HAVE A DIFFERENT NUMBER OF CONSTABLES IN EACH PRECINCT.

WHILE IN PRECINCT FOUR WE HAVE, AS THEY SHOWED IN THE SLIDE, 14 COURT CLERKS, COMPARED TO 21 IN PRECINCT ONE.

SO WE ARE IN DIRE NEED OF HELP.

WE NEED MORE BODIES.

AGAIN, WE WILL SETTLE FOR FIVE PERMANENT PART TIME POSITIONS TO HELP THROUGHOUT THE DAY.

AND THE REASON WHY I WANT PERMANENT IS BECAUSE THE TEMPORARY ONLY LASTS FOR NINE MONTHS.

AND AS WE ALL KNOW, AFTER NINE MONTHS WE BRING IN A NEW SET OF PEOPLE AND WE TAKE AT LEAST THREE MONTHS TO TRY TO TRAIN THEM TO GET THEM UP TO PAR.

SO THEY'RE ONLY REALLY USEFUL FOR SIX MONTHS.

SO IF WE GET PERMANENT POSITIONS, EVEN THOUGH IT'S PART TIME, THEY WILL HELP WITH THE THE PAPERWORK.

AS FAR AS THE MOTIONS THAT WE HAVE GOTTEN MOTIONS, ORDERS, NOTICES AND ANSWERS, WHICH IS EVERYTHING THAT PERTAINS TO THE CASE.

BESIDES THE INITIAL PETITION, WE'VE GOTTEN OVER 16,000 THOUSAND MOTIONS AND ANSWERS JUST FROM OCTOBER OF LAST YEAR TO AUGUST OF THIS YEAR.

THAT'S NOT INCLUDING THE WRITS OF REENTRY.

LIKE JUDGE VASQUEZ HAS MENTIONED, THAT HAS INCREASED.

WE'VE GOTTEN OVER 2500 WRITS OF REENTRY, AND THESE ARE JUST WALK INS THAT COME IN FOR THE LANDLORDS NOT COMPLYING WITH LIGHTS, WATER LOCKING, ILLEGAL LOCKOUT, STUFF LIKE THAT.

AS FAR AS THE SERVICE AND AMENDMENTS WHEN THEY COME TO AMEND THE INITIAL FILINGS THE DIFFERENT THE TYPES OF CITATIONS THAT WE HAVE TO ISSUE OUT, THAT'S ANOTHER 13,000. AND THAT IS JUST FROM OCTOBER OF LAST YEAR TO AUGUST OF THIS YEAR.

SO AGAIN, I'M NOT GOING TO TRY TO BEAT A DEAD HORSE.

WE DO NEED THE BODIES.

AND AGAIN JP FOUR IS ASKING FOR FIVE PERMANENT PART TIME POSITIONS.

THANK YOU JUDGE THANK YOU GUYS.

COMMISSIONER CLAY-FLORES. HI, ALVA.

DO YOU WANT TO COME BACK UP? I JUST WANTED TO ASK YOU.

SO YOU SAID YOU TOLD BUDGET.

SO FIRST OF ALL, THANK YOU.

THANK YOU FOR PRESENTING.

THANK YOU FOR MAKING IT IN PURPLE ALSO.

SO YOU SAID THAT WHEN YOU TALKED TO BUDGET, YOU WOULD DO AWAY WITH A COUPLE POSITIONS.

SO ARE THOSE POSITIONS NOT NOT FILLED OR WHAT WOULD HAPPEN WITH THOSE? SO LAST YEAR IN THE BUDGET, THEY GRANTED ALL THE FOUR J COURSES, COUNTY CLERK AND I WAS THE ONLY ONE THAT UTILIZED IT.

BUT WHAT I WAS TRYING TO EXPLAIN TO YOU IS WHEN WE DID HIRE THAT PERSON, IN ORDER FOR THEM TO BE ABLE TO HELP US WITH THE TYPE OF FINANCIALS THAT WE INHERIT FROM THE AUDITOR'S OFFICE, THEY'VE GOT TO BE VETERAN CLERKS BECAUSE THEY'VE GOT TO KNOW WHAT THEY'RE DOING.

[02:50:01]

I'M SAYING YOU SAID THAT YOU WOULD DO AWAY WITH A COUPLE OF THE POSITIONS IF YOU COULD GET THE POSITION YOU'RE ASKING FOR.

CORRECT? I ASKED HIM, YEAH.

SO I'M SAYING THOSE CURRENT POSITIONS THAT YOU'RE WILLING TO DO AWAY WITH ARE THEY'RE NOT INDIVIDUALS IN THOSE POSITIONS.

AND IF SO, WHAT WOULD HAPPEN WITH THEM? NO, THEY'RE NOT THEY'RE NOT FILLED.

SO SO THE ACCOUNTING CLERK THAT I WAS WILLING TO GIVE UP, THERE'S NO ONE IN THERE.

I MEAN, OKAY, THAT'S WHAT I WANT.

I JUST WANT TO CONFIRM THAT.

YES. YOU'RE NOT WILLING TO GIVE THAT DISPLACE AN EMPLOYEE? NO, NO, I WOULD NOT DISPLACE AN EMPLOYEE.

ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU.

COMMISSIONER. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

AND IN CLOSING, JUDGE, LET ME LET ME.

WE HAVE SOME QUESTIONS, I THINK.

FIRST OF ALL, LET ME GET A CLARIFICATION FROM BUDGET BECAUSE I THOUGHT IT SOUNDED LIKE SEVERAL OF THEM HAD ASKED ABOUT THE STATE MANDATED YOUTH DIVERSION POSITION. I THOUGHT THAT WAS IN THE PROPOSED BUDGET.

IS THAT WHAT I REMEMBER? AM I REMEMBERING CORRECTLY? IT'S IN IT'S IN CONTINGENCIES.

BECAUSE WE DON'T KNOW WHAT THE PLAN TO UTILIZE THOSE POSITIONS IS, BUT IT IS UNTIL JANUARY TO TO COME UP WITH IT.

OKAY. SO I THOUGHT I REMEMBER SEEING IT IN THERE.

SO, JUDGE VASQUEZ, LET ME ASK YOU.

I THINK YOUR OTHER REQUEST WAS FOR IN ADDITION TO THAT POSITION, TWO OTHER FULL TIME POSITIONS.

IS THAT RIGHT? CORRECT.

THE ONE ANY ZERO FOUR, WHICH IS THE YOUTH DIVERSION COORDINATOR, WHICH WE SHOULD ALREADY HAVE ON BOARD BECAUSE THAT PERSON IS SUPPOSED TO BE DEVELOPING A PLAN? AND WE'VE STARTED, BUT THAT PERSON SHOULD BE CHARGED WITH DEVELOPING A PLAN THAT GOES INTO EFFECT JANUARY 1ST 2025.

SO THAT'S WHY WE NEED THAT INDIVIDUAL.

AND THEN, YES IN PRECINCT TWO, SPECIFICALLY, WE'RE REQUESTING THAT TWO FULL TIME STAFFERS AT THE NEO2 POSITION.

OKAY. THAT'S WHAT WE WERE DOING. AND THAT IS TO ADDRESS THE INCREASED WORKLOAD.

IS THAT. OH, ABSOLUTELY.

EVERYTHING THAT EVERYBODY HAS BROUGHT UP HERE, WHAT I WANT TO POINT OUT TO EVERYBODY, JUDGE AND COMMISSIONERS, WE HAVE A VERY, VERY GOOD WORKING RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE FOUR OF US. WE WE MEET FAIRLY REGULARLY AND WE TALK A LOT.

WHAT WE UNDERSTAND IS THAT EACH ONE OF OUR PRECINCTS HAS DIFFERENT SPECIFIC NEEDS.

AND AS YOU CAN SEE, WE'RE NOT GOING TO PLAY THAT GAME OF IF YOU GIVE PRECINCT ONE THAT, WELL, I NEED IT IN PRECINCT TWO.

EACH ONE OF US IS MAKING OUR OWN INDIVIDUAL ASSESSMENTS OF WHAT WE NEED SPECIFICALLY.

AND IT'S NOT THIS MAYBE 1975 GAME OF IF THEY'RE GETTING IT, WELL, YOU GOT TO GET YOU GOT TO GIVE IT TO ME TOO.

WELL, WE'RE NOT DOING THAT.

NOT AT ALL. BASICALLY ESTEEMED COUNTY JUDGE COMMISSIONER MOODY.

COMMISSIONER CALVERT. COMMISSIONER FLORES.

COMMISSIONER RODRIGUEZ.

WE JUST RESPECTFULLY REQUEST THAT YOU GRANT OUR REQUEST.

AND IF THERE'S ANY QUESTIONS THAT WE CAN ANSWER FOR YOU.

YEAH, I DO HAVE A FOLLOW UP, JUDGE.

AND YOU MAY NOT HAVE THIS HANDY, BUT I GUESS IT WAS.

IT'S NOW BEEN FOUR YEARS OR SO SINCE THE LEGISLATURE INCREASED THE JURISDICTIONAL LIMIT FROM 10 TO 20,000.

HOW MUCH OF THE, I GUESS, INCREASE WORKLOAD WOULD YOU SAY IS RELATED TO THAT, OR ARE YOU SEEING SOME LARGER DISPUTES? UP TO 20,000.

OH, ABSOLUTELY. OKAY.

ABSOLUTELY. WHAT WHAT IT HAS DONE IS IT BRINGS THE COMPLEXITY OF CASES IN THAT WE WEREN'T SEEING BEFORE.

FOR EXAMPLE, YOU KNOW, A PI ATTORNEY OR SOMEBODY GOING TO IS GOING TO BE MORE APT TO FILE IF THERE'S $16,000 IN PROPERTY DAMAGE VERSUS $8,000.

THESE RECEIVERSHIPS HAVE BLOWN UP BECAUSE NOW YOU HAVE CREDIT CARD DEBT THAT CAN BE OVER $10,000.

AND SO FOR THE FOLKS THAT ARE IN THAT THAT DEBT INDUSTRY, IT MAKES IT MORE LUCRATIVE FOR THEM TO CHASE THESE CASES.

YEAH. OKAY. WELL, IF YOU CAN IF I KNOW YOU KEEP THAT INFORMATION, IF YOU CAN GET THE THE DATA TO ME ON THE KINDS OF CASES AND THE ONES THAT MAYBE, MAYBE TRENDS OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS ON HOW THOSE HAVE INCREASED, THAT WOULD BE HELPFUL.

ABSOLUTELY. BUT WE APPRECIATE, YOU KNOW, JUDGE, WE'VE ALWAYS HAD A GREAT RELATIONSHIP AND AN OPEN DOOR.

SO THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.

THE REST OF YOU AS WELL. THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORK.

AND WE WILL DO WHAT WE CAN TO TO BE SUPPORTIVE.

WE APPRECIATE ALL THE WORK THAT YOU DO ON BEHALF OF THIS COUNTY.

COMMISSIONER MOODY. WELL, I WOULD BE REMISS IF I DIDN'T ALSO WISH JUDGE JULIE BRAY PATTERSON A HAPPY BIRTHDAY FROM YESTERDAY.

THANK YOU. NICOLE.

SO. SO I THINK SHE'S ONLY 39, COMMISSIONER RODRIGUEZ.

SO NO, LISTEN, I THINK THAT I APPRECIATE YOUR REASONABLENESS AND AND THE FACT THAT YOU GUYS COORDINATE AND AND HAVE DISCUSSIONS AND WORK WELL TOGETHER.

YOU KNOW, I'M NOT GOING TO SPEAK TO ANY SPECIFIC REQUESTS HERE, BUT I THINK THAT, YOU KNOW, SOME OF THESE THINGS WHEN IT COMES DOWN TO RECLASSIFICATIONS OR

[02:55:10]

AND, YOU KNOW, HOW MUCH TIME DO WE WANT TO SPEND REVIEWING THEM AND WORKING THROUGH THEM? YOU KNOW, HAVE SOME RESPONSIBILITY AS ELECTED OFFICIALS YOURSELVES TO BE ABLE TO TO NAVIGATE THAT.

AND WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT MINOR CHANGES YOU KNOW, AGAIN, GENERALLY I WOULD JUST BE SUPPORTIVE OF THAT.

BUT YOU KNOW, WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT ADDING ADDITIONAL HEADCOUNT AND SIGNIFICANT SUMS OF MONEY, THEN OBVIOUSLY WE NEED TO TAKE A HARD LOOK AT WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE VERSUS OTHER OTHER AREAS.

AND ALL THE OTHER ASKS THAT WE HAVE.

BUT APPRECIATE YOU GUYS BEING YOU KNOW, MODERATE IN YOUR REQUESTS, ESPECIALLY WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT CHANGES AND PROGRAM CHANGES AND SWAPS AND STUFF LIKE THAT. SO WE ALSO BELIEVE THAT THERE'S MINIMAL IMPACT TO THE BUDGET BECAUSE OF THE REVENUE GENERATION THAT THESE COURTS HAVE.

RIGHT. SO THAT'S THAT'S A BIG THING.

AND THESE THESE COURTS ARE DIFFERENT.

JP COURTS ARE DIFFERENT THAN COUNTY COURTS, DISTRICT COURTS BECAUSE OF THAT ASPECT.

BUT ONCE AGAIN, THANK YOU.

THANK YOU. COMMISSIONER CALVERT.

THANK YOU JUDGE. I SUPPORT ALL OF THE JP'S REQUESTS TODAY.

LET ME JUST THANK YOU FOR BEING NIMBLE, BECAUSE AND WE'VE GOT TO BE NIMBLE TOO, IN TERMS OF THE BUDGET.

THE LAW CHANGED AND YOU'RE REACTING TO THOSE CHANGES.

AND ONE OF THE THINGS I WANT TO POINT OUT IS WHEN YOU DESCRIBE THE RECEIVERSHIP PROCESS, YOU ARE DESCRIBING PROTECTING PEOPLE, REALLY, BECAUSE YOU LOOK AT WHAT HAPPENED WITH WELLS FARGO, FOR EXAMPLE, AND THE EVICTION NOT THE EVICTION, BUT THE MORTGAGE FORECLOSURE CRISIS WHERE PEOPLE WERE PUSHED OUT OF THEIR HOMES BECAUSE THE BANKS WENT TOO FAR.

AND SO YOU'RE YOU'RE DOUBLE CHECKING TO PROTECT OUR CITIZENS FROM EXPLOITATION.

THAT COULD HAPPEN BECAUSE THEY'RE GOING AFTER MORE THAN WHAT THEY SHOULD.

AND I THINK WE SHOULD ALL MAKE SURE THAT THAT GETS FUNDED AND THE RESOURCES YOU NEED TO DO THAT AND THE OTHER THINGS THAT YOU DO BECAUSE YOU'RE DEALING WITH MORE CASELOAD.

WE'RE ONLY HUMAN.

THERE'S ONLY SO MUCH CAPACITY YOU, AS ONE INDIVIDUAL CAN DO.

WE'VE GOT RID OF AND ALMOST.

ANYWAY, LET ME JUST STRIKE THAT ANYWAY.

I THANK YOU FOR YOUR PRESENTATION.

WE LOOK FORWARD TO SUPPORTING YOU. THANK YOU.

THANK YOU COMMISSIONER. THANK YOU.

JUDGE. HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN A JUDGE NOW? JUDGE VASQUEZ, IT'S GOING ON 20 YEARS, 20 YEARS, 20 YEARS OF MUNICIPAL COURT.

ARE YOU GOING TO GET A ARE WE GOING TO GIVE YOU A 20 YEAR PIN OVER HERE, I HOPE.

ALL RIGHT. OKAY.

WELL THANK YOU ALL. I WANT TO THANK THE JP FOR ALL THE WONDERFUL WORK YOU DO.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH. ALL RIGHT.

I BELIEVE WE'RE AT A LUNCH HOUR.

THE COURT'S GOING TO TAKE A RECESS.

CAN WE TAKE ABOUT 45 MINUTES? ALL RIGHT, SO WE TRY TO GET BACK.

THE AFTERNOON STARTS AT CRIMINAL DISTRICT COURTS, COUNTY COURTS OF LAW AND DISTRICT CLERK'S OFFICE.

SO, CRIMINAL DISTRICT COURTS, WE SHOULD BE BACK ABOUT 1:00 145.

FOR THE CONFUSION, WE CALLED YOUR NAME OUT EARLIER, AND OBVIOUSLY YOU WERE IN THE HALLWAY AND YOU HAVE STAYED ALL MORNING LONG.

[1. Communications, including citizens who signed the register to speak.]

YOU HAVE THREE MINUTES.

GO AHEAD, MR. AARON. GOOD AFTERNOON, COMMISSIONERS AND HONORABLE JUDGE SAKAI.

I AM LANCE AARON, ALSO KNOWN TO SOME WONDERFUL AND CARING SPECIALTY COURT JUDGES AS THE CONCERNED FATHER, COMMISSIONER CALVERT.

I GREATLY RESPECTED YOUR LEADERSHIP AT THE RECENT NAMI EVENT.

COMMISSIONER MOODY, I'M IN HIS DISTRICT AS A VERY INVOLVED FATHER FOR A MENTALLY ILL TEENAGE DAUGHTER THAT HAS BEEN BULLIED, BEATEN AND HOSPITALIZED ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS.

RAPED. STRANGLED.

ASSAULTED JUST THIS PAST JUNE 6TH AND COERCIVELY, AS WELL AS COMMERCIALLY EXPLOITED.

MY DAUGHTER TRULY SUFFERS WITH FREQUENT SUICIDAL IDEATIONS AND HAS ACTED OUT WITH CATASTROPHIC CONSEQUENCES. I WANT TO EXPRESS MY DEEPEST THANKS FOR YOUR PRIORITIZATION AND SUPPORT FOR THESE INDIVIDUALS, AS, AS WELL AS FAMILIES SUFFERING FROM MENTAL ILLNESS.

A SPECIAL THANKS TO THE SPECIALTY JUDGES WHO UNDERSTAND IT, AS WELL AS JIM BETHKE OF THE MAC, WHO STEPPED IN AND HELPED OUT IN MY DAUGHTER'S HOUR OF NEED THIS MORNING.

[03:00:02]

ALSO SPECIAL THANKS TO NAMI, NAMI, AND THE WOMEN'S WITNESS WELLNESS RANCH THAT SUPPORT THEM.

I AM PLEASED TO ATTEST THAT NAMI AND THEIR COMPASSIONATE STAFF ARE DOING A BRILLIANT JOB.

UNFORTUNATELY, MY DAUGHTER CLAUDIA HAS FOUND HERSELF ANKLE DEEP IN THE QUICKSAND OF THE BEXAR COUNTY CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM.

THIS IS WHY I'M HERE AS A CONCERNED FATHER.

CARETAKER ADMINISTRATOR WITH POWER OF ATTORNEY, MEDICAL POWER OF ATTORNEY.

WATCHING CAREFULLY FOR A YEAR AND A HALF.

WHY? ANY RESPONSIBLE FATHER WOULD.

DURING THIS TIME.

I HAVE SEEN SERIOUS ABUSES OF PROCESSES AND CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS.

TRUTH BE SWORN LIKE ON THE DOCUMENT THAT I SIGNED TO BE ABLE TO SPEAK TODAY.

THEY ARE DOCUMENTED, THEY ARE SERIOUS AND THEY DESERVE INVESTIGATION.

THIS IS AN INVITATION BECAUSE THESE VIOLATIONS ARE SO WELL DOCUMENTED.

I BELIEVE SOME WOULD JUST LOVE FOR THIS CONCERNED FATHER.

MR. AARON, I'M GOING TO LET YOU CONTINUE, BUT YOU NEED TO WRAP IT UP.

GO AHEAD. ALRIGHTY. THANK YOU.

I BELIEVE THOSE ENTRUSTED WITH SPECIAL PRIVILEGE AND POWER NEED TO TAKE EXTRAORDINARY CARE FOR THOSE WHO ARE SUFFERING AND HAVE SUFFERED FAR MORE THAN MANY OF US DURING CLOSE TO A YEAR AND A HALF JUDICIAL PROCESS AND COUNTING.

MY DAUGHTER DECOMPENSATED AND WAS RECENTLY PLACED INTO INTENSIVE INPATIENT CARE FOR REHABILITATION.

WHAT FATHER WOULD SIT IDLY BY WHILE THEIR BEAUTIFUL, INTELLIGENT DAUGHTER'S RIGHTS, AS WELL AS PROCESSES ESTABLISHED BY TEXAS LAW TO PROTECT THOSE WITH MENTAL ILLNESS, ARE SIMPLY FORGOTTEN OR IGNORED.

AND NOT ADDRESSED FOR THOSE SUFFERING WITH MENTAL ILLNESS.

IT'S NOT FAIR.

IT'S NOT RIGHT.

AND I KNOW AND APPRECIATE THAT YOU ALL ARE DILIGENTLY WORKING ON IT.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

THANK YOU. MR.. I APPRECIATE YOUR WORDS.

ALL RIGHT. LET'S CONTINUE OUR WORK SESSION.

[2. Presentations and discussion regarding the proposed Bexar County Fiscal Year 2024-25 Operating and Capital Budget related to appropriations and/or capital expenditures for the following County offices and departments: a. Public Defender's Office b. Sheriff c. Constables (all) d. Justices of the Peace (all) e. Criminal District Courts f. County Courts-at-Law g. District Clerk's Office (Part 2 of 2)]

MISS AMICI. MISS VALDEZ.

JUDGE VALDEZ.

OKAY. GOOD AFTERNOON, AND THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME THIS AFTERNOON.

I'M JACQUELINE VALDEZ, AND I PRESIDE OVER THE 386 JUVENILE DISTRICT COURT HERE IN BEXAR COUNTY.

BUT I AM ALSO THE LOCAL ADMINISTRATIVE JUDGE TO THE DISTRICT COURTS.

AND SO I'M HERE TO PROVIDE AN OVERVIEW OF THE CRIMINAL DISTRICT COURTS REQUESTS REGARDING BUDGET CONCERNS.

AND SO WE HAVE THREE PRIORITIES THAT WE WANT TO PRESENT TODAY AND TALK ABOUT.

LIKE I SAID, I'M GOING TO GIVE AN OVERVIEW.

AND THEN MY COLLEAGUES ARE HERE TO ANSWER ANY SPECIFIC QUESTIONS THAT YOU HAVE.

SO THE INITIAL PRIORITY THAT WE WANT TO TALK ABOUT IS FUNDING FOR THE FELONY MENTAL HEALTH PRETRIAL DIVERSION COURT THAT JUDGE RANGEL PRESIDES OVER. THE SECOND PRIORITY IS REGARDING THE A SECOND PRE-INDICTMENT COURT.

AND THE THIRD PRIORITY IS FUNDING FOR A STAFF ATTORNEY POSITION TO SUPPORT THE GROWING NEEDS OF THE CRIMINAL DISTRICT COURTS.

SO WITH RESPECT TO THE FIRST PRIORITY, THE FELONY MENTAL HEALTH COURT, WE WERE NOTIFIED AFTER WE WENT THROUGH THE INITIAL BUDGET PROCESS THAT THE THE FELONY MENTAL HEALTH COURT WAS NOT GOING TO BE RECEIVING A GRANT THAT WE HAD APPLIED FOR THROUGH THE OFFICE OF GOVERNOR.

AND SO WE ARE NOT BEING FUNDED AT THIS TIME.

AND ACTUALLY, THERE IS NO STOPGAP TO KEEP THIS COURT RUNNING IF THE COUNTY DOES NOT AGREE TO FUND THE COURT, DID IT START WITH A GRANT? IT DID NOT. IT STARTED THROUGH FUNDING FROM FUNDS THAT WERE THAT WERE FUNDING THE COUNTY COURT, MENTAL HEALTH COURT.

SO WE WERE THEY WERE SHARING CASE MANAGERS AND USING SOME OF THE SAME TREATMENT PROVIDERS.

IS THAT OKAY? IS COUNTY FUNDED IT? IT WAS COUNTY FUNDED.

OKAY. AND SO IT STARTED.

IT STARTED WITH THE COUNTY COURT MENTAL HEALTH AND THEN GO AHEAD.

JUST I JUST NEED TO KNOW HOW IT STARTED AND WHERE YOU'RE AT NOW.

SO IT STARTED AS A PILOT UNDER THE MENTAL HEALTH COURT BUDGET.

SO ALL OUR STAFF RESOURCES AND WHAT FUNDING WAS IT? GENERAL FUND? GR YES.

NO. WHAT MENTAL HEALTH COURT IS GENERAL FUND? COUNTY COURT 12. HOLD ON.

BUDGET I KNOW THAT, BUT THEY STARTED SHARING HUFF'S BUDGET.

YES, YES. WHICH IS GENERAL FUND.

[03:05:02]

SO BASICALLY THEY SHARED FUNDING THAT THE COUNTY WAS GIVING, THAT THE COURT WAS GIVING TO JUDGE HOUGH TO RUN THE COUNT, THE MISDEMEANOR MENTAL HEALTH. AND THEY SHARED THE FUNDING.

JUDGE HOUGH IS HAVING BUDGET CONSTRAINTS NOW.

AND SO THEY APPLIED FOR A GRANT JUST FOR JUDGE COURT AND DID NOT RECEIVE IT.

WE LEARNED RECENTLY, BUT JUDGE HOUGH IS A COUNTY COURT AT LAW JUDGE CORRECT.

SO HAS NEVER GOT GRANT FUNDING.

CORRECT. SO WE DON'T JUDGE HOUGH DOESN'T HAVE A MENTAL HEALTH SPECIALTY COURT.

SHE DOES. THAT'S COUNTY FUNDED.

OKAY. SO STAFF STAFF FUNDS THE COUNTY FUNDS THE STAFF FOR THAT COURT.

YES. WE HAVE A JUDGE PRESIDING.

CORRECT. AND THE TREATMENT? OKAY. SO NOW WE'RE LOOKING FOR A FELONY MENTAL HEALTH COURT.

YES. AND WHICH JUDGE IS GOING TO JUDGE? RANGEL HAS BEEN PRESIDING OVER THAT COURT SINCE OCTOBER OF 2020.

2020? YES.

AND WHERE IS HE GETTING FUNDING FOR HIS STAFF? HE'S SHARING STAFF WITH JUDGE HUFF.

OKAY. SO THAT COURT, THE THE SHARED STAFF IS BEING PAID THROUGH GENERAL REVENUE.

YES. GOT IT. SO IT'S AN ONGOING.

SO YOU'RE NOW ASKING FOR WHAT? FOR FELONY MENTAL HEALTH.

WE ARE ASKING THE COUNTY TO FUND THE FELONY PRETRIAL DIVERSION COURT THAT JUDGE RANGEL PRESIDES OVER, WHERE OUR TOTAL REQUEST TODAY IS FOR $643,980, WHICH WOULD ALLOW THE COURT TO CONTINUE TO SERVE THIS HIGH RISK, HIGH NEED POPULATION.

AND RIGHT NOW, THERE ARE 31 ANOTHER SPECIALTY COURT WITHIN THE MENTAL HEALTH? OR IS HE IS HE ASKING FOR FUNDING FOR HIS OWN MENTAL HEALTH COURT? HE'S ASKING FOR FUNDING FOR HIS OWN MENTAL HEALTH COURT.

AND HE'S CREATING A SPECIAL DOCKET FOR PRETRIAL.

HIS HIS DOCKET IS ALL PRETRIAL AT THIS POINT IN TIME.

IT'S ALL PRETRIAL. YES.

OKAY. SO THEY'RE ON PRETRIAL DIVERSION, AND THEY'RE PARTICIPATING WITH THE MENTAL HEALTH COURT.

AND ONCE THEY COMPLETE THE MENTAL HEALTH COURT, THE CASE IS DISMISSED, AND THEN THEIR RECORDS ARE EXPUNGED.

RIGHT. AND YOU SAID THAT THE JUDGE RONALD, OR HIS OFFICE APPLIED FOR A GRANT THROUGH THE OFFICE, THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE, CRIMINAL JUSTICE, AND IT WAS DENIED. THEY SAID NO.

OH, OKAY.

AND SO THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO HELP INDIVIDUALS WITH MENTAL ILLNESS AND BEXAR COUNTIES STAY OUT OF JAIL AND STAY OUT OF PRISON AND GIVE THEM AN OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE THE THE CLOSE SUPERVISION OF THE JUDGE AND A TEAM OF PEOPLE TO MAKE SURE THAT THEIR MENTAL HEALTH NEEDS ARE BEING ADDRESSED.

THEY'RE GETTING TREATMENT, TAKING THEIR MEDICATION, ARE ACCOUNTABLE TO THE COURT AND ABLE TO TO GET THE HELP THEY NEED.

BECAUSE, I MEAN, AS WE KNOW, GOING TO PRISON, YOU MIGHT GO TO PRISON AND YOU GET OUT AND YOU'RE STILL DEALING WITH THE SAME MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES OR MORE THAT YOU HAD BEFORE YOU WENT IN. AND IF YOU'RE PLACED ON REGULAR PROBATION, YOU MIGHT NOT GET THE ATTENTION AND ACCOUNTABILITY THAT YOU NEED FROM MEETING WITH THE JUDGE.

SO WE THINK THAT IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT TO HELP ADDRESS THIS POPULATION, AND IT'S A PUBLIC SAFETY ISSUE TO MAKE SURE THAT THEIR NEEDS ARE BEING ADDRESSED AND THAT THEIR RISK IS BEING DIMINISHED BY THE OVERSIGHT OF THE COURT.

GO AHEAD. COMMISSIONER.

JUST TO CLARIFY, I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT I'VE GOT THIS CLEAR IN MY HEAD.

SO JUDGE RON HILL'S ALREADY RUNNING THE DOCKET FOR THIS COURT, RIGHT? YES. ARE THESE SPECIALTY CASES? YES. AND IS IT CAN YOU GIVE US AN IDEA ON THE CASELOAD? I MEAN, HOW MANY? FROM WHAT I UNDERSTAND RIGHT NOW, HE HAS 31 ACTIVE PARTICIPANTS.

THEY'VE SERVED 100 PEOPLE SINCE THE THEY STARTED THE COURT IN 2020.

I THINK THEY I UNDERSTAND THERE'S BEEN 35 GRADUATES FROM THE PROGRAM, APPROXIMATELY 35 TOTAL SINCE GRADUATES.

SINCE WHEN? SINCE THE PROGRAM STARTED IN OCTOBER OF 2020.

OKAY. SERVED 100 PEOPLE.

AND RIGHT NOW THEY HAVE 31 PARTICIPANTS.

OKAY. AND SO HELP ME UNDERSTAND IF HE'S RUNNING ALREADY.

THE DOCKET FOR THOSE.

I KNOW THERE'S MORE.

MORE, I GUESS WRAPAROUND TYPE SERVICES.

BUT THE FUNDING THAT YOU'RE REQUESTING IS YOU SAID 640,000, ROUGHLY.

YES. SO WHAT IS IT SPECIFICALLY FOR? THAT IS OUTSIDE OF THE INFRASTRUCTURE OF HIS CURRENT COURT SYSTEM.

RIGHT. THAT HE'S ALREADY RUNNING WELL BECAUSE HE'S SHARING STAFF WITH JUDGE HUFF, THAT THEY'VE APPARENTLY HIT A WALL THERE.

THEY NEED HIS.

HER STAFF IS NO LONGER ABLE TO HELP SUPPORT HIS PROGRAM, SO THEY'RE LOOKING FOR FUNDS TO HIRE A CASE MANAGER, A COURT MANAGER, A

[03:10:04]

YOU'VE SUBMITTED ALL OF THAT TO THE BUDGET OFFICE ALREADY OR NOT YET? YES. AND WE ALSO.

DID YOU GIVE HIM THOSE? YES. DO YOU WANT TO GIVE IT TO HIM? WHAT'S THE COST? DO YOU HAVE THE BUDGET PROPOSAL? I HAVE A SHORT VERSION OF IT.

IT'S A ONE PAGER. THAT'S ACTUALLY TWO PAGES.

WELL, THAT WAS SMART. THAT'S GOOD.

OKAY. THAT'S GOOD.

AND WHAT'S THE TOTAL JUDGE? WHY DON'T YOU CONTINUE? I DIDN'T MEAN TO INTERRUPT YOU, BUT MAYBE YOU'LL CLARIFY SOME OF THOSE THINGS AS YOU PROCEED.

WELL, I JUST THAT WAS MY PRESENTATION, BUT I DO HAVE MR. SALAZAR HERE. IF YOU GUYS HAVE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS.

OKAY. IS THAT THE ONLY REQUEST OF THE CRIMINAL COURT? NO, THAT WAS JUST MY INITIAL REQUEST.

I HAVE TWO OTHER REQUESTS. OKAY.

MOVE FORWARD WITH THOSE.

JUDGE, IT'S UP TO YOU. YOU WANT HER TO GO THROUGH ALL OF THEM? YEAH. OKAY. OKAY.

SURE. SO THE SECOND REQUEST HAS TO DO WITH A SECOND PRE-INDICTMENT COURT.

THERE'S CURRENTLY 20,000 FELONY CASES FILED ANNUALLY.

AND SO THE MAGNITUDE OF THIS CASELOAD HAS OVERWHELMED THE CURRENT PRE-INDICTMENT COURT, WHICH WAS FUNDED IN THE 2223 FISCAL YEAR.

AND SO AT THAT TIME, THE COURTS ANTICIPATED AND REQUESTED TWO COURTS TO HANDLE THE CASELOAD.

AND SO WE HAVE ONE COURT RIGHT NOW, AND WE'RE REQUESTING A SECOND PRE-INDICTMENT COURT.

AND SO ONE OF THE JUST TO EXPLAIN WHY IT'S BENEFICIAL IS BECAUSE WHEN TYLER CAME ABOUT, THE THEY DECIDED THAT THEY WERE GOING TO GIVE EVERYBODY WHO HAD A CASE FILED A 60 DAY HEARING, SO YOU WOULD HAVE A HEARING SET PRE-INDICTMENT AND OPPORTUNITY TO RESOLVE YOUR CASE AFTER 60 DAYS PRIOR TO THAT, THEY WERE NOT DOING MANY PRE-INDICTMENT SETTINGS ANYMORE, AND SO YOU WOULD NEED TO WAIT TILL YOUR CASE GOT INDICTED.

STATE HAS UP TO 90 DAYS TO INDICT THE CASE IF YOU'RE IN CUSTODY, AND THEN IT WOULD TAKE ANOTHER 60 DAYS SOMETIMES TO GET EVEN AN INITIAL HEARING ON A CASE.

SO THIS IS AFFORDING DEFENDANTS AN OPPORTUNITY TO COME INTO COURT 60 DAYS AFTER THE CASE IS FILED AND HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO RESOLVE THE CASE.

AND SO INCREASING PRE-INDICTMENT JAIL DISPOSITIONS BY JUST SEVEN CASES PER WEEK CAN SAVE 1.53 MILLION ANNUALLY IN JAIL BED SAVINGS. AND SO IT'S A KEY COMPONENT TO REDUCING JAIL POPULATION.

AND THE JUDGES ARE CONFIDENT THAT THE EXPANSION OF THE PRE-INDICTMENT COURT WILL PROVIDE MUCH NEEDED RELIEF TO RELIEF TO OUR INCREASINGLY STRAINED JAIL POPULATION.

AND JUDGE NAJIDAH IS THE JUDGE OF THE PRE-INDICTMENT COURT THAT'S CURRENTLY IN EXISTENCE.

AND HE'S HERE AND HE IS GOING TO GIVE A BRIEF PRESENTATION.

COMMISSIONERS. JUDGE SAKAI, THANK YOU FOR GIVING ME AN OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK SINCE I'VE BEEN ASSIGNED TO THIS COURT STARTING IN JUNE WHEN WE STARTED GETTING ALL THE PRE-INDICTMENT CASES.

I'VE GOTTEN APPROXIMATELY 5224 CASES THAT ARE CURRENTLY ASSIGNED TO MY COURT.

WE'RE GETTING ABOUT 1474 A MONTH, SO JUST UNDER 1500 CASES A MONTH.

DO YOU HAVE A ONE PAGER? I'M SORRY. DO YOU HAVE A ONE PAGER ON YOUR NUMBERS? I DO NOT. I DO NOT.

I'M SORRY. JUDGE. OKAY.

NO PROBLEM. OKAY.

NOW, WHAT WE'RE DOING, IS IT INCLUDED IN THE STATS? OKAY. IT SHOULD BE INCLUDED ON THERE.

MISS AMICI THOUGHT AHEAD FOR ME.

THANK YOU. NOW JAIL DOCKETS.

JUDGE. COMMISSIONER WOODY WANTS THOSE STATS.

SO WHAT WE'RE DOING EVERY DAY IS WE'RE HOLDING DOCKET DAILY IN THE MORNING.

WE HAVE BOND DOCKETS. WE ALSO HAVE JAIL DOCKETS.

RIGHT NOW IN THE AFTERNOON VIA ZOOM.

THE REASON WE'RE DOING THEM THROUGH ZOOM IS JUST THE AMOUNT OF CASES.

IT'S UNTENABLE TO TRY TO BRING EVERYBODY IN DAILY COMBINING BOND AND JAIL CASES, WE'RE HAVING ABOUT 70 PEOPLE A DAY AND WE'RE ALSO DOING MOTIONS DOCKETS. AND THOSE WILL INCLUDE WRITS OF HABEAS CORPUS FOR BOND REDUCTIONS, SIMPLE MOTIONS FOR BOND REDUCTIONS, MODIFICATIONS, THINGS OF THAT SORT.

WE EXPECT THAT TO GROW.

RIGHT NOW WE HAVE SO MANY SET THAT WE'RE PUSHING THEM TO ABOUT OCTOBER 11TH.

I THINK THAT'S WHERE I'M SET OUT AT THIS POINT.

SO IF YOU COME INTO MY COURT IMMEDIATELY AND SAY, I NEED A WRIT OF HABEAS CORPUS FOR A BOND REDUCTION OR A BOND REDUCTION, HAD THE QUICKEST I CAN GIVE YOU IS ABOUT FOUR WEEKS, AND IT'S GOING TO BE STARTING TO PUSH TO FIVE WEEKS AT THIS POINT.

AND WE'RE TRYING TO GET THOSE DONE AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE.

AND THAT IS EXPECTED TO GROW.

AND BECAUSE OF THAT, A LOT OF DEFENSE ATTORNEYS ARE STARTING TO VOICE CONCERNS THAT THEY'RE NOT HAVING THOSE MOTIONS HEARD QUICKLY ENOUGH.

AND OBVIOUSLY, THAT IS ONE WAY THAT WE CAN POTENTIALLY LOWER THE JAIL POPULATIONS.

OBVIOUSLY, BOND REDUCTIONS, WRIT OF HABEAS CORPUS, THOSE THINGS WILL BE HELD CASE BY CASE BASIS DEPENDING ON THE TYPE OF CHARGE THE PERSON'S CRIMINAL HISTORY AND OTHER FACTORS INVOLVED, BUT MANY OF THOSE CASES CAN BE REDUCED, ALLOWING THE PERSON TO BOND OUT AND STAY ON BOND WHILE THEY'RE PENDING THEIR CHARGES, WHICH OBVIOUSLY TAKES SOME OF THE PRESSURE OFF OF THE JAIL.

I'M TRYING TO OPEN EXTRA DAYS TO ACCOMMODATE THESE MOTIONS.

WHAT WE WERE DOING IS HAVING DOCKETS MONDAY THROUGH THURSDAY AND THEN HAVING FRIDAY TO JUST DO THOSE MOTIONS, AND I WAS TRYING TO GET 6 TO 8 MOTIONS SET EVERY FRIDAY.

[03:15:09]

SO WE'RE TRYING TO KIND OF SPREAD THEM OUT THROUGHOUT THE WEEK AS WELL.

BUT THAT'S PUTTING A LOT OF PRESSURE ON MY PROSECUTORS, WHO ARE HAVING TO REVIEW THOSE 70 PLUS CASES A DAY, PLUS PREPARE FOR MOTIONS.

SO WE'RE TRYING TO DO OUR BEST, BUT IT'S GETTING.

WHAT'S THE BIGGEST PROBLEM WITH GETTING THIS DOCKET SET UP? YOU'RE SAYING YOU'RE RUNNING INTO OBSTACLES.

IS IT GETTING THE LAWYERS? IS IT GETTING THE PROSECUTORS? IS IT. I THINK IT'S JUST THE QUANTITY OF CASES.

WHY? I KNOW THERE'S A LOT OF PEOPLE IN THE BEXAR COUNTY, SO THAT'S A GIVEN.

SO I'M JUST TRYING TO UNDERSTAND WHY THE DOCKET IS YOU'RE HAVING SUCH DIFFICULTIES WITH THE DOCKET.

AND AND I'M GOING TO PREFACE IT SO YOU KNOW WHERE I'M COMING FROM.

WE GOT A JAIL POPULATION REDUCTION TASK FORCE GOING ON.

AND SO WE'RE DISCUSSING ALL THE GAPS, THE ISSUES, AND YOUR PRE-INDICTMENT COURT HAS BEEN HIGHLIGHTED.

BUT ONE OF THE THINGS THAT'S COME OUT FROM THAT CONVERSATION WAS ATTORNEYS DON'T SHOW UP.

SO I'M I'LL BE REAL BLUNT.

THAT WAS A PROBLEM BEFORE WE WENT TO A MANAGED ASSIGNED COUNSEL, BEFORE WE HAD A PUBLIC DEFENDER.

AND IT'S STILL THE SAME. SO TELL ME.

AND SO WE'RE NOT GOING TO HAVE THAT DISCUSSION TODAY.

BUT THOSE ARE THE DISCUSSIONS, ESPECIALLY FROM MY BACKGROUND.

I'M GOING TO I'M GOING TO ASK QUESTIONS OF WHY ISN'T THIS PROCESS GOING MORE SMOOTHLY, ESPECIALLY IF WE'RE GOING TO ADD ANOTHER COURT? NO. AND IF UNDERSTAND IF THAT PLUG, SO TO SPEAK, OF CASES FALLING THROUGH BECAUSE THE SYSTEM CAN'T HANDLE IT.

ANOTHER COURT DOESN'T DO US ANY GOOD.

AND THAT'S THAT'S THE UTILITY I'M BRINGING OR BRINGING TO THE COURT'S PERSPECTIVE.

I WANT TO GIVE YOU THE RESOURCES, BUT I GOT TO SEE THAT THE SYSTEM IS WORKING AT A MAXIMUM EFFICIENCY, THAT THAT CASES ARE BEING RESOLVED AND WHATNOT.

AND I AND I'LL TAKE YOUR STATS.

I THINK I LIKE THOSE STATS, BUT AT THE SAME TIME, IT SEEMS THAT YOUR COURT COULD PROBABLY BE MORE EFFICIENT IF WE KIND OF TWEAK THINGS.

AND SO I NEED TO KNOW WHERE WE CAN TWEAK IT, BECAUSE I'LL BE REAL BLUNT.

THE DA'S OFFICE AND THIS JURY HAS REALLY STEPPED UP TO IDENTIFY THOSE.

AND I THINK, ANA, YOU'VE BEEN IN THOSE MEETINGS, TOO.

AND I THINK THE COURTS HAVE TO TO ASK EACH COURT TO LOOK AT PEOPLE THAT ARE SITTING IN JAIL AND CAN WE MOVE THEM UP.

AND SO THAT'S THE REASON WHY I'M HAVING THIS DISCUSSION, IS I NEED THE SYSTEM TO BE MORE EFFICIENT.

SO I JUST WANTED TO KIND OF WHEN YOU SAY I'M HAVING ALL THESE PROBLEMS, I WANT TO KNOW, HOW CAN I HELP YOU? WHO DO I NEED TO TALK TO? WELL, ONE OF THE ISSUES, AND TO ADDRESS THE QUESTION ABOUT WHO'S NOT SHOWING UP ABOUT EVERY DOCKET I'M HAVING ABOUT FOUR ATTORNEYS THAT DON'T SHOW UP.

DON'T CONTACT ME. THEY JUST GHOST US COMPLETELY.

AND THAT'S NOT EFFECTIVE ASSISTANCE OF COUNSEL.

UNLESS SOMEBODY IS DEFINITELY WAIVED THE RIGHT NOT TO HAVE A HEARING.

OH, I AGREE COMPLETELY.

AND I HAVE TWO DOCKETS A DAY.

SO THAT'S REALLY EIGHT PEOPLE A DAY THAT I'M NOT HEARING ANYTHING FROM.

SO ABOUT A QUARTER OF THE YOU HAVE A DOCKET.

NO ATTORNEY APPEARS.

EXACTLY. I'LL HAVE A DEFENDANT SHOW UP AND NO ATTORNEYS THEY'RE AVAILABLE FOR.

AND THERE'S WORK GETTING IT.

WELL, YOU'RE ON ZOOM, RIGHT? WELL, FOR SOME OF IT, SOME OF IT'S THE BOND IS IN PERSON.

THE JAIL IS IN ZOOM.

WELL, AND SOMEBODY AT THE JAIL IS GETTING THOSE PEOPLE AVAILABLE FOR THEIR APPEARANCE.

CORRECT. SO YOU SEE HOW MUCH WORK IS IMPOSED ON THE SYSTEM FOR.

SORRY, WE CAN'T HEAR IT.

WELL, I'M VENTING A BIT, JUDGE.

I JUST I'M JUST LETTING YOU KNOW.

I WANT TO KNOW HOW I CAN HELP Y'ALL.

WELL, ONE OF THE ISSUES.

I HAVE HAD A TALK WITH THE PUBLIC DEFENDER'S OFFICE ABOUT HAVING SOMEONE AVAILABLE, POTENTIALLY, IF I HAVE DEFENDANTS READY TO TALK TO AN ATTORNEY WHO WANT TO START NEGOTIATING SOMETHING, OR MAYBE EVEN JUST ADDRESS A BOND REDUCTION, AND THEY DON'T HAVE THEIR ATTORNEY PRESENT THAT THE PUBLIC DEFENDER.

BUT SEE, I THAT WAS RAISED BY THE PUBLIC DEFENDER, I SAID, HOW CAN YOU HAVE TWO ATTORNEYS THAT IS CAUSING A POTENTIAL CONFLICT TO HAVE A MAC AND MAC ATTORNEY, PUBLIC DEFENDER, AND THEN TO SHOW UP, YOU SEE THE CONFUSION TO A DEFENDANT OF WHO'S MY ATTORNEY AND THAT IT ALL GOES BACK TO EFFECTIVE ASSISTANCE.

AND IF THE CLIENT OR THE DEFENDANTS DON'T FEEL THEY'RE GETTING AN EFFECTIVE ASSISTANCE, THEN I GOT A PROBLEM, BECAUSE THAT'S THE REASON WHY WE HAVE INVESTED SO MUCH IN OUR CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM. AND I WANT TO CONTINUE, BUT I WANT TO SEE THINGS WORKING BETTER.

UNDERSTOOD. POTENTIALLY.

ONE OF THE THINGS WHERE WE'RE GOING TO DO IS OFFER THE DEFENDANT THE OPPORTUNITY TO USE THE PUBLIC DEFENDER, AND IT WOULD BE THEIR CHOICE.

SO YOUR ATTORNEY IS NOT PRESENT.

THEY'RE NOT HERE.

I CAN REMOVE THAT ATTORNEY, PUT THE PUBLIC DEFENDER ON SO THEY CAN NEGOTIATE FOR YOU, APPROACH WITH ANY ISSUES YOU HAVE OR POTENTIALLY WORK OUT A PLEA.

SO ARE YOU KEEPING ATTENDANCE OF THOSE ATTORNEYS THAT DON'T APPEAR? WE ARE. GOOD.

REPORT IT OUT.

[03:20:01]

I THINK THAT ALMOST COVERS EVERYTHING I WANTED TO TALK ABOUT.

DO YOU HAVE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS FOR ME? NO. JUDGE, YOU CAME LAST YEAR IN YOUR PRESENTATION.

I SAID YOU NEEDED TO COME BACK.

SOUNDS LIKE YOU HAVE COME BACK AND SHOWN HOW MUCH WORK YOU'RE DOING.

SO, YOU KNOW, I WANT TO SUPPORT THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM, ESPECIALLY IN REGARDS TO JAIL POPULATION.

SO IF YOU'LL KEEP YOUR EYE ON THE BALL AND PROVIDE US SOME DIRECTION AND WORKING WITH THE ADMINISTRATIVE STAFF, THEN WE CAN SEE WHAT SPECIFIC NEEDS YOU HAVE.

ALSO UNDERSTAND, MR. AMAECHI, OBVIOUSLY A SECOND COURT MEANS SPACE AND I THINK THE COURTS ARE.

SO THERE'S GOING TO BE A POINT WHERE I MAY ASK THE COURTS TO MAKE A DECISION AS TO WHAT THEY THINK THE PRIORITY OF THE COURTS ARE.

THAT DOESN'T NEED TO BE ANSWERED.

I'M JUST LETTING YOU KNOW, BECAUSE OBVIOUSLY, A SECOND PRE-INDICTMENT COURT WOULD REQUIRE A WHOLE NEW STAFFING AND WHATNOT.

HAS THE BUDGET OFFICE EVALUATED THIS AND WHAT'S IS THERE ANY RECOMMENDATIONS AT THIS POINT? WE DIDN'T RECOMMEND FUNDING FOR IT, MAINLY BECAUSE WE'VE GOT A FEW MONTHS OF DATA SINCE TYLER WENT LIVE.

SO IS THIS SOMETHING WE CAN ALWAYS LOOK AT? YES, SIR. OKAY.

ALL RIGHT. COMMISSIONER KELLY.

ALL RIGHT. WELL, IS THERE A THIRD PARTY? GO AHEAD THROUGH THAT. YEAH.

JACKIE OR DONNA? OKAY. OUR THIRD PRIORITY IS A REQUEST FOR STAFFING OR EXCUSE ME, FOR FUNDING FOR A STAFF ATTORNEY POSITION WITH COURT ADMINISTRATION.

IT'S HISTORICALLY BEEN DIFFICULT TO INDICATE WHY WE WOULD NEED ADDITIONAL STAFF WITH COURT ADMINISTRATION.

BUT AS THE YEARS HAVE PASSED, ESPECIALLY SINCE I WAS AN INTERN THERE 20 YEARS AGO WHILE I WAS IN LAW SCHOOL, THEY'RE STILL OPERATING WITH THE THREE INTERNS THEY HAVE AND THE THREE STAFF ATTORNEYS. AND SOME THINGS HAVE CHANGED IN THAT DURING THAT TIME PERIOD.

AND SO AT THIS POINT, COURT ADMINISTRATION IS OF THE OPINION THAT THEY ARE NEEDING TO HAVE AN ADDITIONAL STAFF ATTORNEY.

THE LAST IN THE PAST YEAR, THERE WERE QUITE AN INCREASE IN JURY TRIALS, WHICH MEANS AN INCREASE IN JURY CHARGES, WHICH IS ONE OF THE MAIN DUTIES AND ONE OF THE MAIN THINGS THAT GOES UP ON APPEAL.

SO SOME CASES ARE MORE COMPLICATED THAN OTHERS.

BUT REGARDLESS, THE CHARGE OF THE COURT HAS TO BE CORRECT.

AND THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS THAT THE STAFF ATTORNEYS WORK ON IN CRIMINAL COURT ADMINISTRATION.

ADDITIONALLY, SINCE SINCE THERE WAS HAVE THEY BEEN OPERATING WITH THREE STAFF ATTORNEYS AND THREE INTERNS, WE HAVE HAD AN ADDITIONAL DISTRICT COURT ADDED. THERE HAS BEEN THE INITIAL PRE-INDICTMENT COURT AND AN OBVIOUS INCREASE IN SPECIALTY COURTS, ALL OF WHICH THE STAFF ATTORNEYS HELP ASSIST.

ADDITIONALLY, THERE'S BEEN SOME NEW THINGS THAT THE STAFF ATTORNEYS REVIEW, SUCH AS THE OCCUPATIONAL LICENSES THAT ARE FILED, AS WELL AS THE DILIGENT PARTICIPATION FOR THE INMATES AT THE STATE JAIL FACILITY.

SO THERE HAVE BEEN INCREASED RESPONSIBILITIES AND JUST INCREASED NEED.

AND SO AT THIS TIME, COURT ADMINISTRATION IS REQUESTING AN ADDITIONAL STAFF ATTORNEY POSITION.

I DO HAVE A POINT OF INQUIRY ON THE STAFF ATTORNEY.

I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE I'M NOT MISREADING WHAT I READ.

YOU'RE INDICATING THAT THE STAFF ATTORNEY IS ALSO COMPILING DATA FOR FOR JUST GENERAL NEEDS.

IS THAT WHAT YOU'RE IN? THE FIRST BULLET IT SAYS, HISTORICALLY PREPARING STATISTICAL NUMBERS FOR THE LEGAL DEPARTMENT.

I THINK DO YOU WANT TO DO YOU WANT TO EXPLAIN THAT? YEAH. OUR CHIEF STAFF ATTORNEY PROVIDES US SO HER FUNCTION IS MORE ADMINISTRATIVE.

YEAH. YES.

BARBARA PAULSON IS OUR CHIEF STAFF ATTORNEY.

AND SO SHE HANDLES ALL THE PERSONNEL OF THE LEGAL DEPARTMENT, WHICH IS REALLY JUST TWO OTHER STAFF ATTORNEYS AND THREE LEGAL INTERNS.

AND SHE ALSO COMPILES STATISTICS FOR, FOR OUR BUDGET CYCLE.

SO THAT IS PART OF HER RESPONSIBILITY.

OKAY. BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, A LOT OF DATA COULD POTENTIALLY GO TO SOMEONE, YOU KNOW WHO ISN'T FROM THE BAR.

I MEAN, IT DEPENDS, I SUPPOSE IF YOU NEED TO HAVE A DISCERNMENT BETWEEN CERTAIN LEGAL DEFINITIONS AND YOU MIGHT NEED AN ATTORNEY FOR THAT. ANY THOUGHTS ABOUT WHETHER OR NOT THAT COULD BE A POSITION THAT IS A, YOU KNOW, SOMEONE IN A DIFFERENT SKILL SET THAN AN ATTORNEY? YEAH, I THINK THAT'S A REALLY GOOD QUESTION AND POINT.

LAST YEAR WE WERE PURSUING A PARALEGAL POSITION, BASICALLY.

I'M SORRY. CAN YOU SPEAK UP JUST A LITTLE? I'M SORRY. I FEEL LIKE I'M TALKING SO LOUD.

LAST YEAR, WE WERE PURSUING A PARALEGAL POSITION.

AND THIS YEAR, AT THE CONCLUSION OF THE NATIONAL CENTER FOR STATE COURTS REPORT ON COURT NEEDS, THEY IDENTIFIED THE CRIMINAL DISTRICT COURTS.

THE NATIONAL CENTER AND THE OFFICE OF COURT ADMINISTRATION IDENTIFIED THE CRIMINAL DISTRICT COURTS AS BEING IN NEED OF 2.7 NEW DISTRICT COURTS.

2.7 WHAT NEW DISTRICT COURTS? OH, NEW DISTRICT ON THE CRIMINAL SIDE.

SO BECAUSE WE WERE ALREADY FEELING THAT PRESSURE AND FEELING OVERWHELMED THIS BUDGET CYCLE, INSTEAD OF ASKING AGAIN FOR A PARALEGAL, WE'RE KIND OF LOOKING FORWARD TO KNOWING

[03:25:07]

SO IT'S IN PREPARATION FOR THE FOR THE LEGISLATURE AND THINGS.

EXACTLY. OKAY.

AND YOU'RE ALREADY KIND OF SEEING GROWTH IN NEED REGARDLESS.

JUST HUMAN CAPACITY IS WHAT IT IS.

OKAY. RIGHT. POST-COVID, I'VE SAID THIS BEFORE AND I'VE PUT IT IN IN OUR REQUEST.

BUT WHAT WE FOUND IS OUR NUMBERS OVERALL ARE HAVE SHRUNK AND THEY LOOK BETTER.

THIS TYLER THING ASIDE.

BUT WHAT WE SEE IS WE HAVE A LARGER CASELOAD OF OVER YEAR OLD CASES, AND A LOT OF THOSE NEED TO BE TRIED.

SO THAT'S WHY WE SAW THESE TRIALS KIND OF REALLY BUBBLING UP LAST YEAR.

A LITTLE BIT OF A DIP IN THE SUMMER, BUT I IMAGINE IT'S GOING TO HIT RIGHT BACK UP BEFORE THE HOLIDAYS.

BUT IS THAT TEMPORARY THAT ONCE YOU'RE DONE WITH THOSE OLD CASES.

RIGHT. AND THAT'S KIND OF WHAT I WAS LOOKING FOR IN EVERY COUPLE OF MONTHS WHEN I WENT BACK TO CHECK.

IT SEEMS LIKE EVERY DAY ANOTHER CASE IS A YEAR OLD.

SO YES, WE'RE ATTACKING THE OLDER CASES, BUT THEN IT'S JUST A PUSH.

I THINK IT ALL GOES TO SHOW THAT WE NEED THOSE DISTRICT COURTS.

WE NEED COURTS THAT CAN RUN TRIALS, NOT JUST ASSOCIATE.

I DON'T MEAN TO SAY JUST ASSOCIATE JUDGES, BUT WE NEED AN OFFICIAL ELECTED JUDGE TO RUN THE TRIAL.

OKAY. FAIR ENOUGH.

BUT STILL, BACK TO MY MY QUESTION.

I UNDERSTAND ON THE STAFF ATTORNEY NEED.

I JUST AM CURIOUS, IS THE DATA COLLECTION SOMETHING THAT COULD BE IN A DIFFERENT SKILL SET THAN A STAFF ATTORNEY? I WOULD ENVISION THE NEW STAFF ATTORNEY WOULD TAKE ON.

SO EACH OF OUR STAFF ATTORNEYS RIGHT NOW ARE ASSIGNED THREE JUDGES, AND THE CHIEF STAFF ATTORNEY IS ASSIGNED FOUR JUDGES.

SO I WOULD IMAGINE THAT IF WE WERE TO GET THAT STAFF ATTORNEY POSITION FUNDED THEY WOULD PROBABLY MANAGE THE INTERNS FOR NOW.

BUT ONCE THOSE NEW COURTS CAME ONLINE THAT THEY WOULD THEY WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THOSE COURTS.

SO I DON'T REALLY SEE THAT AS BEING A NON-LEGAL POSITION.

I MEAN, IF THAT'S WHAT WE'RE ABLE TO COME AWAY WITH, I'LL BE GRATEFUL AND THANKFUL.

BUT NO, I WAS I WAS JUST SAYING, YOU KNOW, DOES THE SYSTEM FOR STATISTICAL ANALYSIS NEED A MORE QUANTITATIVE ANALYST, BUT WHERE I'M NOT TAKING AWAY IN LIEU OF, I'M JUST WONDERING IF THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WOULD ALLEVIATE TIME IN A STAFF ATTORNEY'S WORLD.

BUT I DON'T KNOW IF SOMEONE WHO'S NOT AN ATTORNEY CAN ACTUALLY DO THAT WORK.

I UNDERSTAND WHERE YOU'RE COMING FROM.

WE HAVE A SPECIAL PROJECTS MANAGER WHO IS DOES RUN STATS FOR OUR COURTS, AND IT'S A LOT OF WHAT WE PROVIDE TO THE BUDGET DEPARTMENT.

I THINK IN THIS PAST LEGISLATIVE SESSION, THERE IS A LOT MORE PRESSURE ON THE ELECTED OFFICIALS TO PROVIDE STATS PER COURT.

AND HISTORICALLY, WE HAVEN'T HAD GREAT DATA OR WAYS TO ACCESS THE DATA, WHICH IS OBVIOUSLY WHY WE WENT.

WE'VE GONE TO TYLER, WHICH IS AN IMPROVEMENT.

SO I DO SEE A NEED, A POTENTIAL NEED TO BE ABLE TO REALLY ATTACK THOSE STATS AND TO TO BE ABSOLUTELY CERTAIN THAT WHAT WE'RE PROVIDING TO THE STATE IS ACCURATE.

SO I GUESS THAT'S A YES.

THANK YOU. JUDGE. LONG WINDED.

YES. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? THANK YOU.

HEY. JUDGE VELEZ.

NO. ASK ON BEHALF OF THE JUVENILE DIVISION.

WHAT? SAY THIS AGAIN? YOU DIDN'T HAVE ANY ASKED IN BEHALF OF JUVENILE? NO, I MEAN, WE DID.

WE WERE. AND WHERE ARE YOU? CIVIL ADMINISTRATION.

THEY WERE HAPPY.

WITH WHAT? YOU WHAT WHAT? THE RECOMMENDATIONS. OH, THEY'RE HAPPY WITH BUDGET.

IS THAT A LOGICAL CONCLUSION OR NOT? I'LL LEAVE THAT ALONE. THANK YOU.

HAVE A GOOD DAY. I'LL LEAVE THAT ALONE.

BYE. BYE, GUYS.

THANK YOU.

OKAY. I'VE BEEN ASKED TO THE COUNTY CLERK.

JUDGE VARDA IS ON HER WAY, BUT NOT HERE.

DISTRICT CLERK, ARE YOU READY? IF YOU ARE, YOU'RE NEXT.

PLEASE.

GOOD AFTERNOON. GOOD AFTERNOON, COMMISSIONERS.

JUDGE. I'M HERE ON BEHALF.

MY NAME IS DANNY DELGADO. I'M THE CHIEF DEPUTY WITH THE DISTRICT CLERK'S OFFICE.

AND I'M HERE ON BEHALF OF GLORIA A MARTINEZ.

WE'RE HERE JUST TO PRESENT OUR REQUEST FOR BUDGET.

[03:30:03]

THREE LEAD CIVIL COURT CLERKS AT THE ANY THREE LEVEL.

THESE LEAD CIVIL COURT CLERKS WILL BE NECESSARY TO REDUCE THE BACKLOG OF DOO-WOP CASES THAT EXIST ON THE CIVIL DISTRICT COURT DOCKETS.

THIS IS FOR.

I'M SORRY. IT'S A I'M SORRY.

GO AHEAD. IT'S A DISMISSAL WITHOUT PREJUDICE.

IT'S CASES THAT SIT IN OUR CIVIL DISTRICT COURTS WITHOUT COURT ACTIVITY.

AND THE STATE RULES SAY NO ACTIVITY WITHIN, I THINK, 12 MONTHS.

THE COURT SHALL PUT THE CASE.

AND SO THE COURTS ARE OBLIGATED TO MOVE THEIR DOCKET ON THE CIVIL SIDE.

CORRECT. THIS IS NOT NECESSARILY ON THE CRIMINAL SIDE.

RIGHT, RIGHT. AND THESE DOCKETS WERE STOPPED WHEN COVID CAME ABOUT.

AND SO WE HAVEN'T HAD DWOP DOCKETS FOR ABOUT FOUR YEARS NOW.

AND SO. OKAY.

HOLD ON, I WAS THERE.

SO WHO MADE THAT CALL.

BECAUSE THAT, THAT WAS A THAT WAS A PRODUCT OF OUR PRESIDING DISTRICT COURT.

I KNOW THAT THAT'S A DISCUSSION POINT, BUT WHY HASN'T THIS DWOP DOCKET NOT RESUMED OTHER THAN THE JUDGE IS NOT CALLING IT.

THAT'S A QUESTION I CAN'T ANSWER.

WELL, JUDGE, I WANT TO CUT TO THE CHASE.

WITHOUT A DOCKET. I DON'T KNOW WHY WE NEED TO GIVE YOU CLERKS UNLESS THE DOCKETS ARE BACK ON.

RIGHT. THE DOCKETS ARE BACK ON.

WE'VE BEEN TESTING AND GETTING READY FOR THOSE DOCKETS.

SO PUT THE DOCKETS GOING.

I MEAN, IT'S BEEN FOUR YEARS.

SO WHAT? WHEN IS IT GOING BACK ON? WE'RE EXPECTING HOPEFULLY BY THE END OF THIS MONTH TO BE FULLY BACK UP AND OPERATIONAL.

IS THAT OPERATING AT MORE THAN THE ORIGINAL DOCKET LOAD THAT THE JUDGES? I THINK WE'RE ASKING JUDGES TO VERIFY.

HAVE WE VERIFIED THE DWOP DOCKETS GOING BACK ON FROM THE JUDGE'S? TINA AND I HAVE WE HAVE SUBMITTED A SUPPORT LETTER, A LETTER OF SUPPORT FROM THE CIVIL DISTRICT JUDGES THAT ARE HELPING GET THIS DOCKET BACK UP AND RUNNING.

WE'VE SUBMITTED THE LETTER TO BUDGET ALREADY ALBEIT A LITTLE BIT LATE, BUT WE'VE BEEN OUT.

WE'VE BEEN OUT OF COVID FOR A WHILE.

I'M JUST OKAY.

WELL, LET ME ALLOW YOU TO MAKE YOUR PRESENTATION.

GO AHEAD. OF COURSE.

AND SO THE NUMBERS ON THIS, THIS SLIDE RIGHT HERE SHOW HOW MUCH THE DOCKETS HAVE BEEN INCREASING OVER THE YEARS.

WE'RE INCREASING AT 23% PER YEAR.

AND RIGHT NOW WE'RE LOOKING AT A 38,000 CASES THAT SHOULD BE DISMISSED.

AND SO WE'RE, YOU KNOW, I KNOW YOU'RE ASKING REGARDING THE THE DOCKETS BEING UP AND RUNNING, BUT WITH THE INTRODUCTION OF TYLER TECHNOLOGIES AND AT THE TIME THAT THEY STOPPED THE DISMISSAL DOCKETS THE DISTRICT CLERK'S OFFICE WAS BRAND NEW TO ODYSSEY.

AND SO THERE WAS NEVER ANY KIND OF PROCESS ESTABLISHED PRIOR TO THIS, PRIOR TO THIS ADMINISTRATION TO GET THIS DOCKET UP AND RUNNING.

AND SO THE PAST YEAR HAS BEEN A LOT OF REDEVELOPMENT OF PROCESSES TO GET THIS GOING AGAIN.

AND SO, I MEAN, IF YOU WERE ASKING FOR A REASON WHY THESE WEREN'T UP AND RUNNING FOR THE PAST FEW YEARS, THAT THAT WOULD BE MY REASON.

OKAY. AND THE CURRENT PLAN TO, TO REINTRODUCE THIS DOCKET AND TO GET EVERYTHING BACK AND CAUGHT UP.

WE'VE BEEN WORKING CLOSELY WITH THE CIVIL DISTRICT COURT JUDGES AND THE CIVIL DISTRICT COURT'S GENERAL COUNSEL.

TO CREATE THIS PLAN TO GET THE DWOP BACK UP AND RUNNING.

WE'RE WE'RE ASKING FOR THESE THREE CLERKS.

SO THAT WAY WE CAN WE CAN TRY AND PUSH THE CASELOAD FROM THE ORIGINAL 100 CASES PER DOCKET TO AT LEAST 600 TO 750 CASES PER DOCKET.

AND THAT'S JUST TO GET US CAUGHT UP.

OF COURSE THEY'LL THEY'LL HAVE A ROTATIONS REGARDING THE DOCKETS, WHO'S GOING TO BE OVERSEEING THE DOCKETS? THAT'S GOING TO BE UP TO THE CIVIL DISTRICT JUDGES TO DETERMINE WHO'S GOING TO BE DOING THAT.

BUT OF COURSE, WE'LL NEED THE CLERKS TO BUILD THE DOCKET TO FACILITATE THE NOTIFICATION, THE SENDING OF NOTIFICATIONS TO THE LITIGANTS.

AND HOPEFULLY WE CAN GET BACK TO PRE-COVID NUMBERS.

WE WE WOULD LIKE YOU GUYS, WE WOULD LIKE THE COURT TO TAKE INTO CONSIDERATION THAT WE HAVE HARDWARE AND FURNITURE AND WORK SPACE AVAILABLE FOR THESE CLERKS, AND THAT WE ARE ALSO OFFERING UP TO ANYONE LEVEL POSITIONS FOR DELETION AND TO REPLACE THOSE WITH THE THE CIVIL COURT CLERK POSITIONS. OKAY.

AND TO SUMMARIZE, WE THAT'S THAT'S WHAT THE DISTRICT CLERK'S OFFICE IS ASKING FOR.

WE'RE WE'RE ASKING THAT THE COMMISSIONERS COURT CONSIDER THE REQUEST FOR THE DISTRICT CLERK'S OFFICE TO HAVE THE LEAD CIVIL COURT CLERK POSITIONS GRANTED TO US SO WE CAN BETTER HELP THE CIVIL COURT DOCKETS.

[03:35:01]

I HAVE A QUESTION TO BUDGET.

HAVE YOU ALL ANALYZED THIS BUDGET REQUEST? AND AND HAVE YOU ALL INQUIRED AS TO WHAT THE DISTRICT COURT JUDGES, CIVIL DISTRICT COURT JUDGES, IN LIGHT OF THE CURRENT DISCUSSION OF THE PRESIDING DOCKET? THIS DWOP DOCKET IS DEPENDENT ON A PRESIDING SYSTEM.

AND WE HAVE AT LEAST I KNOW ONE JUDGE WHO SAYS THAT, THAT SHE'S NOT GOING TO PARTICIPATE.

SO AND I'M NOT WEIGHING IN ON THAT AT ALL, EXCEPT TO SAY THOSE TYPE OF DECISIONS WILL HAVE A DIRECT IMPACT ON THE SUPPORT WE GIVE THE CLERK OR ANY OTHER OFFICE THAT SUPPORTS OUR COURTS.

WE NEED TO KNOW WHAT OUR SYSTEM IS.

AND SO HAS BUDGET HAD THOSE DISCUSSIONS WITH CIVIL ADMINISTRATION IN LIGHT OF THE REQUEST BY THE DISTRICT CLERK? NO, SIR. WE WERE MADE AWARE OF THIS REQUEST TODAY.

THIS WAS NOT IN THE ORIGINAL BUDGET SUBMISSION TO THE.

JUST SUBMITTED IT TODAY.

NO, JUDGE. WE'VE SUBMITTED THE REQUEST FOR THESE CLERKS PREVIOUSLY TO BUDGET WHEN I BELIEVE LAST.

YOU KNOW, A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO NOW, COUPLE OF WEEKS.

THAT'S KIND OF LATE, ISN'T IT? YEAH. IT WAS IT WAS A LITTLE LATE, BUT WE DID WE DID SUBMIT THE REQUEST.

YOU UNDERSTAND THE BUDGET VETS THIS.

SO TINA, WHAT WOULD YOU TELL MR. DUGGAL. WHAT DO WE WHAT IS OR TANYA WHAT IS BUDGET NEED WHEN THEY COME IN THERE AND AND TO ANALYZE SO THAT MR. DELGADO KNOWS WHAT Y'ALL NEED SO THAT WE CAN GET WE.

I'D LIKE TO BE ABLE TO GIVE HIM AN ANSWER, YES OR NO, AS TO WHAT WE CAN DO.

YEAH. HI.

TANYA ON BUDGET AND FINANCE DIRECTOR.

SO THE FIRST THING THAT WE NEED IS TO UNDERSTAND THE PROCESS OF HOW THESE LEAD CLERKS AND WHO'S INVOLVED, WHICH WOULD BE THE DISTRICT COURTS, OBVIOUSLY.

SO WE HAVE TO CONVERSATION WITH THEM.

BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY, IT'S THE WORKLOAD THAT WE IF WE DON'T HAVE THE WORKLOAD, MORE THAN LIKELY WE WON'T RECOMMEND IT.

THAT'S TYPICALLY WHY WE DON'T RECOMMEND POSITIONS AND HELP WITH WORKLOAD.

WHAT DOES THAT MEAN? SO IT JUST MEANS THE NUMBER OF CASES THAT WILL BE HANDLED WHERE THERE WILL BE ASSIGNED IS PROBABLY A QUESTION WE WOULD ASK WHAT COURTS WOULD USE IT? HOW WILL THE PROCESS WORK? THINGS LIKE THAT. OKAY.

IS THAT HELPFUL? WE CAN HAVE A COUPLE A COUPLE QUESTIONS.

MR. CALVERT. THANK YOU.

I JUST WANTED TO ASK YOU.

YOU'VE GOT A BROTHER, DELGADO.

YOU'VE GOT A DELETION OF TWO ANY ONES, AND YOU'VE REQUESTED, YOU KNOW, THREE ANY THREE.

SO WHAT'S THE NET ON THE.

THE NET? THE NET REQUEST.

THE NET REQUEST AS IN THE BUDGET CHANGE.

THAT SHOULD. I DON'T KNOW.

AS IN IF YOU IF YOU'RE DELETING TWO KNEES AND YOU'RE REQUESTING THREE RIGHT KNEE THREES.

WHAT'S THAT COST? RIGHT. I DON'T I DON'T HAVE THOSE NUMBERS FOR YOU.

OKAY, WELL, YOU GOT ANYBODY THAT CAN HELP.

JUST GET ME THE ANY.

GIVE ME THE ANY ONES AND THE ANY THREE COSTS.

ANYBODY. I'M SORRY, COMMISSIONERS.

I JUST WANTED TO OFFER AN EXPLANATION.

I IMAGINE IT'S AROUND 6000, WHICH IS THE INCREASE OF THE TWO POSITIONS THAT WE WERE MAINLY REQUESTING TO TRADE THOSE TWO INDIVIDUAL POSITIONS FOR THE DISTRICT.

COME SPEAK A LITTLE CLOSER TO THE MIC, IF YOU DON'T MIND.

I'M SORRY. AND YOUR NAME? YOUR POSITION? THE DISTRICT CLERK WAS ASKING TO, I GUESS, TRADE TWO POSITIONS.

WHO ARE YOU? OH.

I'M SORRY. MY NAME IS DANIEL GONZALES.

I'M THE OTHER CHIEF DEPUTY FOR MR. MARTINEZ. SO SHE WAS ASKING BASICALLY TO TRADE TWO ANY RECORDS CLERK POSITIONS THAT ARE CURRENTLY VACANT.

IS THERE ANYONE'S RIGHT? RIGHT. ANYONE'S GOT IT.

FOR THE ANY THREES, WHICH I THINK THE PAY DIFFERENCE IS, LIKE THREE GRAND EACH.

WELL, SO TANYA JUST CHIMED IN THAT THE NET.

THAT NET IS 7000.

70,000. OH.

PARDON ME. SORRY, COMMISSIONER.

70,000 IS THE COST OF ONE LEAD COURT CLERK.

OKAY. 70,000 IS THE COST OF ONE ANY THREE.

I BELIEVE IT'S ANY THREE, RIGHT? CORRECT. YEAH.

OKAY, NOW WHAT IS THE COST OF ANY ONE? THAT ONE WILL PROBABLY BE ABOUT, I WOULD ESTIMATE ABOUT PROBABLY 62,000.

OKAY. SO I'M GOING TO JUST ROUND DOWN REAL QUICK FOR THE SAKE OF OF MY EASY NUMBERS.

OKAY. SO WE'RE TALKING ABOUT I CAN DO IT IN MY HEAD ABOUT NET 90.

IT'S ABOUT A NET 90.

I THINK IF YOU HAVE THE CASELOAD.

SO DO YOU HAVE LETTERS FROM THE JUDGES INDICATING THAT THEY DID RECEIVE A LETTER FROM COURT ADMINISTRATION? AND WE HAVE RYAN ANDERSON HERE TO ALSO.

HOW ARE YOU DOING? GOOD TO SEE YOU. YEAH.

ON THE POSITIONS.

AND BUT AND THAT LETTER SAID THAT ALL THE COURTS ARE GOING TO PARTICIPATE EXCEPT ONE.

SO WHAT I HEARD. I'M SORRY.

WHAT DID THAT LETTER SAY? ALL THE COURTS ARE GOING TO PARTICIPATE.

EXCEPT ONE. WELL, THE INITIAL ROLLOUT WAS GOING TO BE THREE COURTS.

[03:40:02]

OKAY, SO. SO STOP RIGHT THERE.

OKAY. NOW IF I'M LOOKING AT SLIDE I THINK IT'S 2 OR 3.

PROBABLY THREE. LET'S SEE.

123. THIS ONE THAT SAYS ANALYSIS OF CASES WITHOUT ACTIVITY REPORT.

YOU'VE GOT MORE THAN THREE COURTS LISTED.

YOU'VE GOT ALL THE I MEAN PRETTY MUCH ALL THE COURTS.

RIGHT. YES.

SO MY BOTTOM LINE IS NOT GOING TO BE THE I FORGOT.

DID YOU SAY 40 SOME ODD THOUSAND CASES RIGHT.

40,000 CASES.

I NEED 43,000.

OKAY. SO MY WITH THREE COURTS, IT'S GOING TO BE LESS, BUT IT'S STILL GOING TO BE SOME NUMBER.

RIGHT. WELL WHAT THE ROLLOUT WAS GOING TO BE ROUGHLY 250.

50 EACH COURT.

OKAY. GOT IT. EACH WEEK WHICH OH EACH WEEK, WHICH EQUATES TO ABOUT 3200 CASES IN A YEAR OR ABOUT 3000. LET'S SAY THE MATH WE DID WAS ABOUT OH, SURE.

YES, SIR. YEAH. GO AHEAD, COMMISSIONER.

IF I COULD STEP IN, MAYBE I CAN HELP A LITTLE BIT ON THE CONFUSION.

THE WAY THAT OUR DWOP DOCKET IS RUN IS WE RUN IT THROUGH OUR MONITORING COURT, WHICH IS A COURT MONITORING.

MONITORING COURT. AND THAT IS A JUDGE.

AND IT'S ALL PART OF THE PRESIDING SYSTEM, RIGHT? IT'S ALL PART OF OUR.

I WAS THERE FOR 26 YEARS.

I COULD PROBABLY ANSWER ALL THE QUESTIONS Y'ALL NEED, BUT GO AHEAD.

OKAY. WE'LL TALK ABOUT THAT ANOTHER TIME.

IT'S THE MONITORING COURT OR THE MONITORING JUDGE IS ONE OF THE 14 CIVIL DISTRICT COURT JUDGES IS ASSIGNED A THREE MONTH STINT IN WHICH WHAT THEY'RE DOING IS THEY'RE PRESIDING OVER THE JURY TRIAL DOCKET.

THEY'RE ASSIGNING CASES OUT AND MANAGING IT.

ANOTHER RESPONSIBILITY THEY HAVE IS THE DWOP DOCKET.

AND HISTORICALLY, THE WAY WE DID IT WAS WE DID ON TUESDAYS, THREE TUESDAYS EACH MONTH.

WE DID THE DWOP DOCKET.

GOT IT. THAT WAS UP UNTIL THE PANDEMIC, RIGHT? EVERYTHING SHUT DOWN. SO YOU GOT A BACKLOG.

SO NOW WE HAVE A BACKLOG THREE, THREE MEMBERS OF THE COURT TO HELP YOU? YES. SO THE WAY THAT WE ARE PLANNING ON DOING IT, ONCE WE GET EVERYTHING SET UP IS WE WILL TWO TIMES A WEEK HAVE THREE JUDGES HELPING THE WELL, TWO HELPING THE MONITORING JUDGE.

SO A TOTAL OF THREE JUDGES WILL TAKE OUT OF OUR ROTATION OF 14 JUDGES.

THEY WILL PRESIDE.

THEY WILL SPLIT UP ABOUT 250 CASES.

OKAY. SO THAT'S NOT 250 EACH OKAY.

AMONG THE THREE, WHAT WE'RE HOPING TO DO FOR DOING YOUR MATH.

YEAH I GOT 250 CASES EACH TIME WE DO IT RIGHT.

TWICE, IDEALLY TWICE A WEEK.

FIGURE HOLIDAYS AND ALL OF THAT.

YOU'RE GOING TO MAYBE DO IT 50 WEEKS.

SO ABOUT OKAY, WE CAN CLEAR 25,000 CASES IN A YEAR, OKAY.

WHICH WILL LEAVE US ABOUT 14 PLUS WHATEVER COMES ON BOARD.

NOW, THE CAVEAT IN ALL OF THAT IS WE WERE ABLE TO IDENTIFY THESE 39,000 BASED ON THE ODYSSEY SEARCH WE COULD DO. GOING BACK FROM THE TRANSITION, THE ODYSSEY TRANSITION, THERE ARE OLDER CASES THAT WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO GO BACK AND PICK UP. WE DON'T ANTICIPATE THAT BEING A HUGE NUMBER LIKE THE 39,000, BUT THERE WILL BE CLEANUP.

SO I MEAN, IF WE CLEAR 25,000 CASES A YEAR, I THINK WE'LL PROBABLY BE BACK ON TRACK WITHIN TWO YEARS.

RIGHT. THAT'S MY PROJECTION.

SO ISN'T THIS A TEMPORARY ISSUE THAT WE COULD HANDLE? YEAH, WE REALLY THINK THAT THIS IS A TEMPORARY.

BUT I THINK AND I'M GOING TO GO BACK TO THIS, MR. ANDERSON. AND I RESPECT THE DISTRICT CLERK ASKING TO HELP.

THEY NEED AND I WANT TO GIVE THEM THE HELP THEY NEED.

BUT THE SYSTEM UNDER THE CURRENT SITUATION RIGHT NOW, THE PRESIDING SYSTEM, THE MONITORING IS ALL PART AND PARCEL OF THAT.

YES. AND YOU CAN'T TELL ME IT'S NOT.

AND IF THE PRESIDING SYSTEM IS GOING AWAY AND WE'RE GOING TO INDIVIDUAL DOCKETS, THEN THIS IS NOT A FIX FOR THAT.

WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO THE CIVIL JUSTICE SYSTEM IS GOING TO HAVE TO REDO THE ENTIRE DOCKETING IF THE PRESIDING SYSTEM IS GOING AWAY.

I UNDERSTAND THE MAJORITY, IF NOT ALL EXCEPT ONE, WANT TO MAINTAIN THE PRESIDING AND MONITORING SYSTEM.

SO I'M JUST PUTTING ON RECORD THAT I'M AGAIN, I WANT TO HELP THE COURTS.

I CAME FROM THIS SYSTEM.

I WANT TO HELP Y'ALL.

BUT Y'ALL HAVE TO FIGURE OUT WHAT YOUR SYSTEM IS GOING TO BE FOR ME AS COUNTY JUDGE TO GIVE YOU WHAT YOU NEED AND GIVE THE DISTRICT CLERK WHAT THEY NEED.

AND SO I GET WHAT THEY NEED.

AND SO I I'LL JUST SAY THIS TO HELP, HELP ALL OF YOU.

THIS IS ONE WHERE ONE.

THIS THING CAME IN TOO LATE.

WE HAVE NO ANALYSIS ON THIS.

THIS IS SOMETHING I WOULD ASK.

BUDGET. DO WHAT YOU NORMALLY.

DO YOUR DUE DILIGENCE.

[03:45:02]

ASK THE QUESTIONS I'VE ASKED TODAY ALONG WITH WHATEVER QUESTIONS YOU NEED, AND THEN BRING IT BACK.

AND IF IT'S A SITUATION WHERE WE CAN HANDLE IT WITH A TEMP SITUATION, THEN I'LL I'M PREPARED TO SUPPORT IT AND GIVE YOU ALL WHAT YOU NEED.

BUT I NEED MR. ANDERSON, PERHAPS A CLEAR DIRECTION FROM THE CIVIL DISTRICT COURT JUDGES.

IN TOTAL, WHAT IS THE SYSTEM GOING TO BE? WELL, BECAUSE THERE'S THERE'S A OBVIOUSLY A PUBLIC CONTROVERSY ON THAT.

SURE. AND THERE'S A CHALLENGE TO THE SYSTEM.

THAT'S WHAT THAT'S WHAT BOTHERS ME THE MOST, HOW I HAVE TO KNOW WHAT THE SYSTEM IS IN ORDER.

I NEED TO SO THAT I CAN PROVIDE YOU THE NEEDS THAT YOU NEED.

AND I THINK, YOUR HONOR, WITH THE RESOLUTION THAT WAS GIVEN TO ALL OF YOU, ALL 13 JUDGES SIGNED IT, 13 HAVE PUT THEMSELVES SQUARELY BEHIND THE PRESIDING SYSTEM.

I THINK THE ONLY DOUBT OUT THERE IS YOU HAVE ONE JUDGE WHO IS CHALLENGING IT.

SHE HAS SAID, BUT TO MY KNOWLEDGE, HAS NOT YET BROUGHT IT TO THE TEXAS SUPREME COURT, WHICH IS THE PROPER FORUM TO DECIDE.

SHE IS MAKING AN ARGUMENT, AN ARGUMENT THAT IT IS UNCONSTITUTIONAL.

I I'LL TELL YOU, I HAVE LOOKED AT THIS ISSUE EVERY WHICH WAY FOR THE LAST NINE MONTHS.

I DON'T SEE A CONSTITUTIONAL ISSUE.

MOREOVER, GOING BEFORE THE TEXAS SUPREME COURT, AS YOU WOULD RECALL FROM WHEN YOU WERE A DISTRICT COURT JUDGE, OUR LOCAL RULES, WHICH IS WHERE WE CREATE AND EMBODY OUR PRESIDING AND MONITORING SYSTEM, HAD TO BE APPROVED BY THE TEXAS SUPREME COURT.

EVERY TIME WE AMENDED THEM, THOSE THAT PROCESS JUST CHANGED FOR THE FIRST TIME JANUARY 1ST OF THIS YEAR.

SO FOR 60 YEARS, WE HAVE HAD LOCAL RULES EMBODYING OUR PRESIDING SYSTEM SPECIFICALLY APPROVED BY THE TEXAS SUPREME COURT.

I'VE HAD ENOUGH INTERACTIONS WITH CHIEF JUSTICE NATHAN HECHT THAT I CAN'T IMAGINE HIM SUDDENLY CHANGING HIS MIND AND SAYING, THIS ISN'T CONSTITUTIONAL.

SO WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A PRESIDING.

CAN I JUST RECLAIM MY TIME FOR A SECOND? GO AHEAD. COMMISSIONER. SORRY TO INTERRUPT.

OKAY. NO, I APPRECIATE THE QUESTIONS.

THEY'RE GOOD QUESTIONS AND GOOD COMMENTS.

AND I DIDN'T MEAN TO, BUT I JUST WANTED TO UNDERSTAND OUR STATUTORY OBLIGATION.

SO WHAT IS THE STATE SAY WITH RESPECT TO THESE DISPOSALS IN TERMS OF A TIME FRAME THAT THEY HAVE TO BE DISPOSED OF? THE THE SUPREME COURT PROVIDES GUIDELINES AND THEY PROVIDE DIFFERENT GUIDELINES.

FAMILY LAW CASES I BELIEVE IT IS 12 MONTHS CIVIL STANDARD.

CIVIL CASES IT IS 18 MONTHS.

SO THAT IS THE SEARCH THAT YOU DO ORIGINALLY TO SEE HOW OLD THE CASE IS.

WELL, WE'RE WE'RE OUT OF COMPLIANCE.

WHAT'S THAT? AREN'T WE OUT OF COMPLIANCE THEREFORE? WE ARE. BUT YOU HAVE TO TAKE IN MIND THAT DURING THE PANDEMIC, THE TEXAS SUPREME COURT, THROUGH ITS 59 EMERGENCY ORDERS, SPECIFICALLY SAID GO REAL SLOW ON DISPOSITION BECAUSE OF DUE PROCESS RIGHTS, BECAUSE THE COURT SYSTEMS WERE ADAPTING AND WEREN'T RUNNING ACCORDING TO THEIR REGULAR PROCESSES, AND YOU HAD OTHER BACKLOGS YOU HAD TO CLEAR UP AS WELL.

WE'VE HAD OTHER BACKLOGS, SO THERE'S BEEN A LOT.

YEAH, THIS HAS BEEN A BIG LIFT GETTING US TO THIS POINT.

AND THE ONLY STUMBLING BLOCK WE HAVE LEFT IS BECAUSE THE LAW REQUIRES THE DISTRICT CLERK TO CREATE THE DOCKET.

MY STAFF CAN'T CREATE THE DOCKET.

IT HAS TO BE DONE BY LAW BY THE DISTRICT CLERK AND THE DISTRICT CLERK.

I MEAN, I THINK YOU ALL ARE AWARE OF ON THE CIVIL SIDE, WE ONLY HAVE ONE CLERK PER COURT.

THEY RUN A VERY, VERY LEAN OPERATION, WHICH WE'RE GLAD TO CRIMINAL SIDE.

THEY DO TWO, BUT THEY ALSO HAVE OTHER RESPONSIBILITIES.

BUT BECAUSE WE RUN SUCH A LEAN DISTRICT CLERK, SUPPORT OF THE CIVIL DISTRICT COURTS, THEY, YOU KNOW, IN ALL CANDOR, CAN'T JUST STEP IN AND TRY AND ADDRESS 39,000 CASES.

WHAT IS THE PENALTY TO THE COUNTY IF THESE CASES ARE DEEMED TO HAVE SOME CONSTITUTIONAL ISSUES? IT IS NOT A CONSTITUTIONAL ISSUE.

THAT IS ONLY ON THE CRIMINAL SIDE WHERE YOU HAVE WHAT YOU'RE THINKING.

THE ANSWER IS NONE.

SPEEDY TRIAL. RIGHT? THE SHORT ANSWER IS NONE THAT I'M AWARE OF.

OKAY. I JUST WANT TO UNDERSTAND IT'S AN ADMINISTRATIVE.

IT'S A GUIDANCE TO THE SUPREME COURT, TO THE TRIAL COURTS.

PLEASE MOVE YOUR CASES.

OKAY. AND IT'S AN ACCOUNTABILITY.

SO YOU GET A REPORT CARD, I GUESS YOU COULD SAY.

OKAY. FAIR ENOUGH.

OKAY. WELL, IT SOUNDS LIKE THERE, THERE IS CONSENSUS AMONGST THE CIVIL WITH, WITH I MEAN, IT'S, YOU KNOW, THAT THAT WOULD BE BASICALLY YOU KNOW, THAT'S A PRETTY FAIRLY STRONG MANDATE, RIGHT? SO IN ANY EVENT, I THANK YOU ALL FOR ANSWERING MY QUESTIONS AND I APPRECIATE YOU PUTTING THIS TOGETHER.

THANK YOU. JUDGE. RYAN, YOU RAISED A POINT THAT I'M GOING TO RAISE TO YOU.

[03:50:02]

AND BEFORE WE ADD ANY RESOURCES, YOU ALL MAY NEED TO CHANGE LOCAL RULES.

WHAT WE WILL I DON'T I HAVEN'T READ THOSE LOCAL RULES AND I'VE BEEN AWAY FROM THE COURTS ALSO TOO.

MY QUESTION IS WE DID HAVE WHEN I WAS DOING DWOP AND WE DID IT FOR MANY YEARS THROUGHOUT THE LIFETIME OF THE PRESIDING SYSTEM.

WHILE I WAS ON DISTRICT COURT, WE HAD A DESIGNATED COURT CLERK ASSIGNED TO THE JURY MONITORING THAT DID THAT.

SO WHAT HAS HAPPENED TO THAT CLERK? I HATE TO SAY I'LL BE REAL BLUNT.

IF SHE'S NOT DOING DWOP, THEN WHAT IS SHE DOING? SO I HATE TO SAY THIS, THAT CLERK PASSED AWAY SEVERAL MONTHS AGO, AND SO THAT CLERK HAS NOT BEEN REPLACED.

THAT WAS. YEAH, BUT WHAT THE DWOP HASN'T BEEN DONE FOR FOUR YEARS BECAUSE THERE WAS NO DWOP.

YOU UNDERSTAND? YOU UNDERSTAND? THAT'S WHY I WANT TO GET THE BUDGET INVOLVED AND DO A COMPLETE ASSESSMENT.

WE'RE GLAD TO WORK WITH THEM.

AND YEAH, AS FAR AS WHAT YOU SAID, THE LOCAL RULES, WHAT OUR LOCAL RULES SAY IS WE DO IT EVERY OTHER TUESDAY.

THAT'S WHAT WE'RE CURRENTLY DOING WITH A SMALL TEST ROLLOUT KIND OF GETTING THESE PROCEDURES IN PLACE.

IN ORDER TO DO IT LONG TERM, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO TEMPORARILY AMEND THE LOCAL RULES TO ALLOW IT ON MORE DAYS.

BE CAREFUL WITH THAT. YOU KNOW WHAT I'M SAYING? BE CAREFUL CHANGING YOUR RULES.

IT'S AN EASIER PROCESS NOWADAYS, YOUR HONOR.

MR. COMMISSIONER MOODY.

THANK YOU. JUDGE.

SO IS THE DISTRICT CLERK HERE TODAY? WE'RE HERE. JUST REPRESENTATION.

MISS MARTINEZ ISN'T, THOUGH.

MISS MARTINEZ IS NOT. SHE'S OUT SICK.

COMMISSIONER MOODY. SO I'M LOOKING AT THE SLIDE, AND I'M GOING TO ASK SOME QUESTIONS, BECAUSE THIS IS NOT MY WHEELHOUSE, BUT I'M LOOKING AT SLIDE THREE, I BELIEVE, WITH THE TABLES.

SO AM I CLEAR THAT WE WENT FROM 12,000 DWOP CASES IN 2018, 2019 TO 40,000 THIS YEAR.

THAT IS CORRECT.

OKAY. WELL, FIRST OF ALL, LET'S JUST CORRECT THE MATH HERE BECAUSE THAT'S 300% INCREASE, NOT A 23% INCREASE, RIGHT? NO, THAT'S FROM FROM THE BEGINNING TO THE END.

THAT'S A 300%.

23% IS YEAR TO YEAR.

23% INCREASE ON AVERAGE.

OH A YEAR OF 23%.

YEAH, YEAH. VERY DIFFERENT.

OVER THE COURSE OF SIX YEARS, THERE'S BEEN A 300% INCREASE.

THAT'S CORRECT. SO AGAIN, THIS ISN'T MY WHEELHOUSE, BUT SOMETHING THAT THE JUDGE MENTIONED EARLIER.

SO THESE WE HAVEN'T DONE ANYTHING WITH ANY OF THESE CASES SINCE COVID HAPPENED.

THAT IS CORRECT. IN MARCH OF 2020.

THAT IS CORRECT.

THESE CASES ARE SITTING IN STALLING.

AND WE'RE WE'RE JUST HOPING TO GET THEM MOVED OFF THE DOCKETS.

WELL, I MEAN, I DON'T KNOW ALL THE COMPETING PRIORITIES.

I JUST KNOW I WAS BACK AT MY CORPORATE DESK IN JUNE OF 2020, AND IT'S BEEN FOUR YEARS SINCE THEN.

WE HAVE AN ENTIRELY NEW COURT.

AND, YOU KNOW, I'M JUST SHOCKED THAT AFTER FOUR AND A HALF YEARS, WE STILL HAVEN'T, LIKE, RESUMED THIS AT THIS POINT.

I DON'T YOU KNOW, I'M ALSO CONCERNED ABOUT THE IDEA OF TEMP RESOURCES OR TRYING TO FIX A PROBLEM THAT WE CREATED OURSELVES TO SOME EXTENT. RIGHT? OBVIOUSLY, THERE WAS GOING TO BE A TIME WHERE OUR CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM WAS UPSET BY COVID.

I GOT IT RIGHT. BUT THE FACT THAT WE'RE STILL OUT THERE STILL LIKE TRYING TO GO BACK AND SOLVE SOME OF THESE PROBLEMS WE PROBABLY SHOULD HAVE BEEN ON TWO YEARS AGO. YOU KNOW, I DON'T KNOW.

I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE SOLUTION IS.

OBVIOUSLY, BUDGET CAN TAKE A LOOK AT IT AND EVERYTHING ELSE, BUT I JUST WANT TO HIGHLIGHT THAT BECAUSE I THINK, I HOPE THERE'S NOT OTHER HIDDEN PROBLEMS LIKE THIS OUT THERE THAT WE STILL DON'T KNOW ABOUT.

BUT YOU WOULD THINK, YOU KNOW, FOUR YEARS OUT THAT WE WOULD BE FIRING ON ALL CYLINDERS, WORKING THROUGH BACKLOGS, AND WOULD HAVE BEEN DOING THAT FOR A COUPLE OF YEARS AT THIS POINT. IN MY OPINION, THAT'S UNDERSTANDABLE.

ANYTHING ELSE? SURE. GO AHEAD. CLEAR UP A FEW THINGS.

SO THESE ARE THESE ARE CASES THAT HAVE JUST BEEN ABANDONED BY, I GUESS, THE THE DEFENDANT OR THE PLAINTIFF, AND THEY'VE NEVER CAME TO SEEK A HEARING.

SO THERE'S 40,000 OF THESE CASES.

THEY GET REPORTED EVERY MONTH ON THE ACA, DIVIDED UP, YOU KNOW, BETWEEN ALL THE COURTS.

[03:55:06]

THEY GOT ALL THESE EXTRA CASES ON EACH COURT.

SO I THINK IT WOULD BE GOOD TO TRY TO START GETTING THESE CLEARED OUT.

WE ESTIMATED ABOUT LIKE 9000 ARE JUST FROM CONVERSION ISSUES, BUT THEY'VE GOT TO BE RESEARCHED.

AND WE JUST NEEDED THE RESOURCES TO DO ALL THIS.

SO OUR ORIGINAL ASK WAS FOR A SPECIALIST.

TWO WEEKS AGO WE DECIDED WE WERE GOING TO CHANGE THAT TO LEAD A LEAD CIVIL COURT CLERK.

AND IT JUST SEEMED EASIER.

WE FINALLY WORKED OUT AFTER MONTHS, THE BUSINESS PROCESS.

SO ANYTHING ELSE? THANK Y'ALL. THANK YOU.

THANK YOU. COUNTY COURTS OF LAW.

MISS DEEDEE. HOW ARE YOU? GOOD. I HAVE COPIES OF THE POWERPOINT COMING.

OR JUDGE, I DON'T THINK IS GOING TO MAKE IT BACK ON TIME.

OKAY. SO. AND YOU'RE GOING TO MAKE THE PRESENTATION.

OKAY. FIVE AND THEN TWO FOR THEM.

THANK YOU. OKAY.

LAST ONE. LAST PRESENTATION.

RIGHT. TINA.

LAST PRESENTATION.

RIGHT. OKAY.

HELLO? IS THERE ANY DESSERT FOR LUNCH? ALL RIGHT. GO AHEAD. SO THE FIRST ITEM THAT I'M GOING TO PRESENT ON IS TO, I GUESS WE CALL IT AN AD DELETE.

RIGHT. OR RECLASSIFY OF AN ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES COORDINATOR TO A SPECIAL PROJECTS MANAGER.

WE HAVE BEEN ASKING FOR THIS PERSON TO BE RECLASSIFIED SINCE 2021.

DISTRICT COURTS HAVE HAD THIS POSITION SINCE THAT TIME, AND I DON'T THINK THEY'VE HAD TO JUMP THROUGH THE HOOPS WE HAVE.

BUT, YOU KNOW AND I THINK SOME WE ALL MENTIONED EARLIER ABOUT RUNNING STATISTICS AND BEING ABLE TO KNOW WHAT YOUR CASE DISPOSITIONS ARE.

YOU KNOW, WE HAVE A PERSON IN OUR OFFICE, YOU KNOW, THAT IS INVALUABLE AND THAT WE HAVE BEEN TRYING TO PROMOTE.

AND I GUESS, YOU KNOW, THE QUESTION IS, HOW DO WE VALUE CONTINUE TO RETAIN VALUABLE EMPLOYEES IF WE CAN'T PROMOTE THEM? AND SO KEVIN COURTOIS IS THE PERSON WE'VE BEEN TRYING TO GET PROMOTED.

SINCE WE BELIEVE THAT WE NEED TO BE IN PARITY WITH THE DISTRICT COURTS, YOU KNOW, HE IS HAS BEEN INSTRUMENTAL IN WITH THE ON THE GO LIVE OF THE TYLER ODYSSEY PROGRAM.

YOU KNOW, HE HAS BEEN ONE OF OUR MAIN SUBJECT MATTER EXPERTS.

AND, YOU KNOW, SLIDE FOUR, I KIND OF OUTLINE EVERYTHING THAT HE'S BEEN DOING AND INCLUDING INCLUDING JUST DOING VERY COMPLEX WORK, BEING ABLE TO, YOU KNOW, GET DATA AND ANALYZE IT AND ASSIST THE COURTS WITH, WITH THE CASE DISPOSITIONS.

BUT HE ALSO HE'S VERY HE'S BEEN WORKING WITH A LOT OF THE TROUBLESHOOTING WITH THE TYLER AND ALL OF THE ISSUES THAT WE'VE HAD INCLUDING YOU KNOW, WE'VE HAD PROBLEMS GETTING REAL TIME DATA.

WE'VE HAD PROBLEMS, YOU KNOW, RUNNING REPORTS, GETTING LIVE REPORTS.

WE'VE BEEN HE'S HE'S ASSISTED WITH GETTING PROCESSES IMPLEMENTED, FORMS AND DOCUMENTS TROUBLESHOOTING A LOT OF THE PROBLEMS WE HAD, A LOT OF CASES ENTERED AN ERROR. WE HAD THOUSANDS OF CASES THAT DIDN'T HAVE SETTINGS THAT WEREN'T ABLE TO BE ASSIGNED TO COURTS.

SO KEVIN, ALONG WITH SOME OF MY OTHER STAFF, HAVE HAD TO MANUALLY TRANSFER.

AND TYLER DID LOAN SOME PEOPLE TO ASSIST.

BUT, YOU KNOW, IT'S BEEN AN ONGOING AN ONGOING PROCESS.

BUT, YOU KNOW, HE'S BEEN AN INTEGRAL PART IN THE TRANSITION AS WE'VE GONE, YOU KNOW, TRANSITIONED INTO THE NEW TYLER SYSTEM.

AND, YOU KNOW, JUDGE VARDA HAD WRITTEN SOME NOTES.

YOU KNOW, SHE ALWAYS FEELS LIKE HE'S ASSISTED ALL THE JUDGES AND COORDINATORS WITH TRAINING.

HE ALWAYS HAS A POSITIVE OUTLOOK.

HE'S SOLUTION ORIENTED, WHICH I KNOW JUDGE SAKAI LIKES SOLUTIONS HAHA.

RATHER THAN FOCUSING ON THE WORD, FIXATING ON ANY PROBLEMS. SO HE'S, YOU KNOW, HE'S TRYING TO ALWAYS LOOK AHEAD AND HE TAKES INITIATIVE TO TRY AND AND LOOK FORWARD AND TRY TO HELP THE COURTS IMPROVE THEIR PROCESSES.

SO, YOU KNOW, THERE'S A LOT OF INFORMATION ON THESE SLIDES.

BUT, YOU KNOW, WE JUST FEEL THAT IN ORDER TO BE IN EQUITY WITH THE DISTRICT COURTS, THAT THIS IS SOMETHING THAT THAT, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE CONTINUALLY ASKED FOR AND BEEN DENIED.

THE DIFFERENCE IN SALARY FROM WHAT HE'S CURRENTLY MAKING, BECAUSE THEY DID GIVE HIM A BUMP UP FROM A COURT COORDINATOR BACK IN, I THINK, 2022.

SO THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN HIS CURRENT SALARY AND A SPECIAL PROJECTS MANAGER IS ABOUT 11,506, AND THAT INCLUDES

[04:00:02]

AND IT'S SOMETHING THAT OUR COURTS NEED.

YOU KNOW, WE NEED SOMEONE TO BE ABLE TO RUN THE DATA AND TO MAKE GOOD ANALYSIS.

YOU KNOW, WE'RE STILL TRYING TO GET OUR EXACT NUMBER OF PENDING CASES AND PEOPLE THAT ARE IN JAIL, YOU KNOW, TO ALSO, YOU KNOW, HE'S ALSO ASSISTED WITH THE CREATING THE INMATE DOCKETS WHEN WE WERE, YOU KNOW, DURING COVID, HE HELPED US SET UP, YOU KNOW, REMOTE PROCESSES LIKE CREATING TEMPLATES.

AND HE DID TRAINING VIDEOS FOR THE JUDGES.

HE'S DONE RESOURCE GUIDES FOR THE JUDGES.

SO THERE'S ALWAYS BEEN HE'S ALWAYS LOOKING AHEAD AND HE'S ALWAYS THINKING OUTSIDE THE BOX.

SO I MIGHT BE SKIPPING AHEAD, BUT SLIDE FIVE.

IS THAT THE POSITION YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT? THAT IS A DIFFERENCE OF 11,500.

YES. OKAY.

YES. SO THAT'S YOUR THAT'S YOUR FIRST REQUEST? YES. THAT'S THE FIRST REQUEST.

OKAY. SO AND ALSO, YOU KNOW, I THINK, YOU KNOW, WE'VE BEEN TOLD, WELL, IF YOU HAVE SOMEONE ELSE THAT CAN DO STATISTICS, THEN EVEN IF IT'S A LOWER POSITION, THEN THAT SHOULD COVER IT.

BUT, YOU KNOW, I THINK THE LEVEL OF OF WORK THAT HE'S ABLE TO DO IN THE COMPLEX WORK THAT HE'S ABLE TO DO.

AND, YOU KNOW, WE DON'T WANT TO LOSE VALUABLE EMPLOYEES BECAUSE WE DON'T COMPENSATE THEM, YOU KNOW, AND I THINK, YOU KNOW, THAT'S JUST OUR ONE OF OUR MAIN ASKS RIGHT NOW.

SO THIS PERSON WORKS UNDER YOU.

YES. YOUR OFFICE AND COUNTY COURT ADMINISTRATION.

SO HOW BIG IS YOUR STAFF NOW? WE HAVE WELL, MY ADMINISTRATOR AND THEN WE HAVE, WELL, TWO JAIL COURT, TWO JAIL COURT STAFF AND THEN FIVE PEOPLE IN MY OFFICE.

OKAY. YES, SIR.

HOW MANY COURTS? 15.

HOW MANY SPECIALTY COURTS? OH, WE HAVE TWO STAFF ATTORNEYS.

WE HAVE THE COMMUNITY COURT, VETERANS COURT, MENTAL HEALTH COURT, AND D'ARCY.

SO, FIVE. YEAH.

YEAH. DON'T REFLECT. DON'T FORGET.

REFLECT. OH, YES.

OH, SOME OF MY JUDGES ARE AT CONFERENCES AT THE CONFERENCE TODAY.

SO YOU HAVE ABOUT FIVE SPECIALTY COURTS.

RIGHT. OKAY.

YES. SO THAT GOES TO THE SECOND PART, WHICH IS FOR THE REQUEST FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT FROM JUDGE HUFF.

AND I KNOW SHE'S NOT ABLE TO PRESENT BY ZOOM.

YOU KNOW, AND JUDGE SORRY.

SHERIFF SALAZAR WAS WILLING TO ALSO BE HE'S IN SUPPORT OF THIS REQUEST AS WELL, BUT WE'RE ASKING FOR FOR PART TIME SHERIFF'S DEPUTIES TO ASSIST THE SPECIALTY COURTS WITH, WITH THEIR DOCKETS TO BE PART OF THE MULTIDISCIPLINARY TEAM.

AND I KNOW JUDGE SAKAI, YOU ARE WELL AWARE OF HOW DRUG COURTS OPERATE.

AND IT'S IT'S CONSIDERED BEST PRACTICES.

SO WE BELIEVE THAT IN ORDER FOR THEM TO BE IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE STATUTES, THAT THEY NEED TO HAVE LAW ENFORCEMENT ON THEIR TEAM.

SO, SHERIFF, LOOKING AT FROM WITHIN HIS BUDGET AND HIS STAFFING, OR IS THIS A GOING TO BE AN ADDITIONAL REQUEST BY THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE? HE WOULD HAVE TO CREATE NEW POSITIONS BECAUSE RIGHT NOW HE HAS DETENTION PART TIME.

HE DIDN'T ASK FOR IT, DID HE? DID HE ASK FOR IT? NO, HE DID NOT.

SO DOES HE.

BECAUSE HE HAS INDICATED TO ME THAT ONE IS.

I THINK THERE'S BEEN PREVIOUS REQUESTS PRIOR TO ME BEING COUNTY JUDGE, THE USE OF CONSTABLE'S DA INVESTIGATORS AND THE COURT SYSTEM.

AND IN LAST YEAR'S DISCUSSION, WHICH I BELIEVE YOU ALL HAVE MADE OVER SEVERAL YEARS NOW, I TALKED TO THE SHERIFF, AND HE DOES OBJECT OF HAVING OTHER ELECTED OFFICES BEING CHARGED AS THE COURT'S SECURITY OR PART OF THE COUNTY COURTS OF LAW.

HE FEELS THAT THAT IS A POSITION THAT NEEDS TO BE FILLED IF IT'S FILLED BY A DEPUTY SHERIFF.

WELL, THEY REALLY JUST NEED A LAW ENFORCEMENT ENTITY TO HOLD THEIR LIQUOR LICENSE.

THE SHERIFF TAKES THE POSITION THAT IT'S TIED TO THE COUNTY COURTS OF LAW, AND HE'S INDICATED TO ME THAT HE OBJECTS TO CONSTABLE'S OR DA'S INVESTIGATORS FULFILLING THIS ROLE.

SO THAT'S THE REASON WHY.

IF YOU WERE TO ASK ME TO SUPPORT THAT.

NO, BECAUSE THE SHERIFF.

SO YOU'RE SAYING NOW THE SHERIFF AND HE INDICATED TO ME HE WAS WILLING TO WORK TO SEE IF THERE WERE EXISTING RESOURCES.

BUT YOU'RE SAYING NOW THAT THIS IS A NEW POSITION OF FOR PART TIMERS, RIGHT.

AND HE DID SAY HE WOULD SUPPORT IT.

I JUST THINK BECAUSE WE CAME WE PRESENTED IT SO LATE IN THE DAY.

BUT HE'S ASKING YOU TO PUT IT IN YOUR BUDGET.

WELL, I THINK IT'S SOMETHING THAT WOULD NEED TO BE REQUESTED EITHER, YOU KNOW, WHETHER I THINK IT HAS TO COME FROM THE SHERIFF'S BUDGET, WOULDN'T IT? SO THAT'S AN IMPORTANT DISTINCTION.

I'M LOOKING AT BUDGET BECAUSE OTHERWISE THIS IS NOT A BUDGET REQUEST BY THE COUNTY COURTS OF LAW AND MAKING THAT PART OF THEIR STAFF.

THIS WOULD BE ADDING TO THE SHERIFF'S BUDGET.

WELL, I THINK JUDGE HUFF WANTS IT TO BE A MEMBER OF THE STAFF, BUT THEY NEED A LAW ENFORCEMENT ENTITY TO HOLD THE LICENSE.

AND WE'RE GOING TO GET INTO THAT ISSUE.

[04:05:03]

AND IT'S A DEPUTY. THE SHERIFF ALWAYS SAYS, THOSE ARE MY EMPLOYEES THAT SERVE TO AT THE WILL OF THE JUDGE.

AND SO. WELL, JUDGE HUFF IS ALSO GET THAT STRAIGHT, BECAUSE JUDGE HUFF IS ALSO CONSIDERED USING CONSTABLE'S BECAUSE SHE.

THAT'S THE REASON WHY SHE WE SHE THE SHERIFF OBJECTS BECAUSE HE BELIEVES THAT'S A THAT'S A FUNCTION OF COUNTY COURT AT LAW FOR WHICH SHE HAS JURISDICTION OVER.

SO THAT'S THE REASON WHY THAT I DON'T THINK WILL EVER HAPPEN.

I'M JUST Y'ALL KEEP MAKING THAT ASK.

I JUST DON'T THINK IT'LL EVER HAPPEN.

I THINK THE ONLY WAY IT HAPPENS IS IT TO BE.

BUT I BELIEVE THEN THE SHERIFF NEEDS TO ADD THESE TO IF HE IS AND TRULY WANTS TO SUPPORT THE COUNTY COURTS AT LAW SPECIALTY COURTS IN ORDER TO COMPLY WITH BEST PRACTICE, DOESN'T HE? ISN'T THAT THE WAY IT WORKS? I'M JUST TRYING TO. BECAUSE OTHERWISE WE'RE ALWAYS IN THIS.

SO THEY'RE LOOKING AT THE COURTS.

COURTS ARE LOOKING AT THE SHERIFF, AND THEN WE'RE BLAMED BECAUSE WE CAN'T.

IT WOULD DO NO GOOD, OBVIOUSLY, TO THE SPECIALTY COURTS IF COMMISSIONER'S COURT CHOSE TO FUND, WHAT IS IT, FOUR PART TIME OR PART TIME? FOUR PART TIME SHERIFF DEPUTIES AND THEN THE SHERIFF REASSIGNS THEM, WHICH HE COULD DO.

HE COULD DO SO WITHOUT HIS AGREEMENT.

IT WOULD BE PREMATURE.

I THINK HE WOULD HAVE TO PUT IT IN WRITING, SO THAT WE AT LEAST HAVE SOME ASSURANCE THAT IT WOULD BE DEDICATED FOR THE PURPOSE THAT WE WRITE, AND IT WOULD BE TO DO FIELD VISITS TO DO, YOU KNOW, ISSUING WARRANTS, POSSIBLY ARRESTING IF THEY PICK UP NEW OFFENSES, MAKING SURE THEY'RE LIVING IN SAFE ENVIRONMENTS, YOU KNOW, ALL OF THAT.

I THINK THAT'S ANOTHER ISSUE.

AND I'M NOW SPEAKING AS A FORMER SPECIALTY COURT.

THE JUDGES, I PRESUME, JUDGES.

I'M NOT PICKING ON ANY PARTICULAR JUDGE.

THEY WOULD LIKE LAW ENFORCEMENT.

THAT WOULD BE DIRECTIVE OF THEIR ORDERS, WHICH YOU JUST CONCLUDED WOULD BE ARREST AND SEIZE PEOPLE WITHIN. AND I THINK THAT'S A THAT'S AN ISSUE THEY WOULD BE DEDICATED TO WORKING WITH.

BUT I THINK WE NEED CLARIFICATION SO THAT WE DON'T RUN AFOUL WITH ANY UNLAWFUL ORDERS.

OKAY. SO WE CAN TALK TO THE SHERIFF FURTHER.

YES, SIR. I JUST WANT TO MAKE IT CLEAR SO THAT I THINK YOU CAN UNDERSTAND.

A JUDGE JUST SAYS, GO ARREST SOMEBODY.

I BELIEVE THERE IS A LEGAL BASIS.

AND, LARRY, I DON'T KNOW IF YOU CAN TELL ME ABOUT FROM CRIMINAL LAW.

THERE NEEDS TO BE A STATUTORY REASON FOR OR WRITTEN ORDER.

SO THAT'S THE REASON WHY I'M, I'M VERY MINDFUL THAT IF WE CREATE THIS, WE PUT SOME PARAMETERS AND SOME GUIDELINES SO THAT WE DON'T GET GET A LAWSUIT FILED FOR ANY WRONGFUL ACTION.

RIGHT BECAUSE THE THE JUDGE PROBABLY IS GOING TO BE COVERED, BUT THE COUNTY IS STILL GOING TO GET SUED.

RIGHT. AND THE WAY IT WORKS NOW THAT'S I'VE LEARNED THAT YOU CAN'T COLLECT OFF A JUDGE, BUT THEY CAN COLLECT OFF THE COUNTY.

SO THAT'S THE REASON WHY I'M SAYING THIS ISSUE I KNOW HAS BEEN ON FOR A LONG TIME.

I REALLY THINK IT NEEDS, AGAIN, A THOROUGH VETTING.

AND IF THE SHERIFF IS WILLING, THEN THE SHERIFF NEEDS TO PUT IT IN HIS BUDGET AND THEN WE NEED TO ANALYZE IT, AND THEN WE CAN THEN PUT IF THE MAJORITY OF THE COURT WANTS TO SUPPORT IT, THEN WE CAN TRY TO PUT SOME GUIDELINES TO IT.

I WOULD LIKE TO DO IT THAT WAY.

I'LL DEFER TO MAJORITY OF THE COURT.

COMMISSIONER MOODY. YOU REFERENCED, LIKE, BEST PRACTICES IN THE DOCUMENT.

CAN YOU SPEAK TO THAT? I'M TRYING TO UNDERSTAND BECAUSE OBVIOUSLY WE DON'T HAVE THIS TODAY.

IS IT BECAUSE THE JUDGES FEEL IT'S FROM A SAFETY STANDPOINT, IS IT BECAUSE THEY POTENTIALLY NEED TO ARREST THE UNRULY DEFENDANT? YOU KNOW, WHAT ARE THE SITUATIONS WHERE THEY THEY SEE THAT THAT WOULD BE NECESSARY, I GUESS, IN THE COURT? WELL, YOU KNOW, AS YOU KNOW, THE SPECIALTY COURTS ALL FOCUS ON INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE HIGH RISK, HIGH NEED.

RIGHT. SO WHETHER IT'S YOUR VETERANS TREATMENT COURT, YOU KNOW, WHERE PEOPLE ARE DEALING WITH PTSD.

YOU KNOW, SUBSTANCE ABUSE OR ANY OR EVEN THE MENTAL HEALTH COURT WHERE THEY HAVE MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES AND SUBSTANCE ABUSE, OR THE COURT, WHICH IS, YOU KNOW, DOMESTIC VIOLENCE.

BUT SO I THINK THE BEST PRACTICES, BECAUSE IT'S, THERE'S DOCUMENTATION AND YOU CAN LOOK ON IT ONLINE TO THE, THE SECOND EDITION OF THE IT USED TO BE NADCP.

NOW IT'S CALLED ALL RISE.

BUT YOU KNOW, THEY'VE DONE A LOT OF THERE'S DOCUMENTATION ON HOW HAVING LAW ENFORCEMENT ON THE TEAM HELPS TO PREVENT RECIDIVISM AND HELPS. SO IT ASSISTS, YOU KNOW IF THERE'S PROBATION OFFICERS.

BUT IT ALSO ASSISTS THEM IN YOU KNOW, MAKING SURE THE DEFENDANTS ARE LIVING IN SAFE CONDITIONS, AVOIDING HIGH RISK AND HIGH NEED PEERS.

[04:10:06]

OR LIKE I MENTIONED, IF YOU KNOW, LET'S SAY THEY DO A CURFEW OR A FIELD VISIT IF THE DEFENDANT HAS, YOU KNOW, ANY TYPE OF DRUGS OR WEAPONS OR IF THEY NEED TO ARREST HIM FOR ANOTHER OFFENSE, YOU KNOW, THEY CAN CAN ALSO MAKE THE REPORT AND.

OKAY. WELL, THANK YOU FOR THE BACKGROUND THERE.

I GUESS I JUST WANTED TO MAKE THE POINT AND JUST IT'S A COMMENT REALLY THAT IF, IF WE HAVE THESE SPECIALTY COURTS AND I ASSUME THE MINDSET IS THAT THESE ARE LOW LEVEL OFFENSES LOW RISK INDIVIDUALS. AND IF THOSE WERE BOTH TRUE, THEN DO YOU NEED THAT LAW ENFORCEMENT SUPPORT, RIGHT? AND IF THAT'S NOT TRUE, THEN SHOULD THEY BE IN THOSE SPECIALTY COURTS OR SHOULD THEY BE IN A DIFFERENT COURT? RIGHT. JUST JUST A THOUGHT.

YOU KNOW, THIS IS NOT MY WHEELHOUSE AGAIN, BUT I DON'T KNOW IF YOU HAVE ANY THOUGHTS ON THAT.

WELL, I MEAN, THE THE DRUG COURT MODEL ALWAYS FOCUSES ON THE HIGH RISK, HIGH NEED INDIVIDUAL BECAUSE THEY FEEL THEY DO MORE DAMAGE IF THEY ARE LOW RISK, LOW NEED.

SO THAT'S WHY THOSE ARE THE PARTICULAR INDIVIDUALS THAT ARE IN THESE TREATMENT COURTS.

YOU KNOW, EVEN LIKE OUR DWI, WHAT DO YOU MEAN BY HIGH RISK THERE? I THINK YOUR HIGH RISK DEFINITION IS DIFFERENT THAN MINE.

I THINK JUST IF THEY HAVE NEEDS OR IF THEY'RE HIGH RISK WHETHER LIKE I MENTIONED, THE VETERANS TREATMENT COURT, YOU KNOW, THEY MAY HAVE PTSD, SUBSTANCE ABUSE.

SO ALL OF THESE HAVE, YOU KNOW, SOME LEVEL OF SUBSTANCE ABUSE, SOME HAVE CO-OCCURRING DISORDERS.

I THINK YOU'RE JUST TALKING ABOUT HIGH RISK AS AN INDIVIDUAL TO THEIR HEALTH.

I UNDERSTAND THAT HIGH RISK, BUT WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT LAW ENFORCEMENT, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT HIGH RISK TO THE COURT.

HIGH RISK TO THE JUDGE.

HIGH RISK TO THAT.

DAVID, IS THAT WHAT HE'S TALKING ABOUT? HIGH RISK OF COMMITTING ANOTHER CRIME? YEAH. OR IN THE COURSE OF GOING TO COURT, YOU KNOW, COMMITTING A CRIME OR BEING A DANGER TO THE COURTROOM.

THAT WHAT I'M THINKING ABOUT? LOW RISK. THE PEOPLE WHO ARE GOING TO SPECIALTY COURT, I ASSUME WE'RE SENDING THEM THERE BECAUSE WE BELIEVE THEY ARE LOW RISK FROM THAT STANDPOINT.

IF THEY'RE NOT AND THEY'RE HIGH RISK AND THEY NEED LAW ENFORCEMENT WATCHING OVER THEM, THEN MAYBE THEY SHOULDN'T BE IN THAT COURT.

WELL, AND I THINK THE PURPOSE OF THE TREATMENT COURSE IS TO MEET ALL OF THEIR NEEDS, TO HELP THEM TO NOT RECIDIVATE.

AND SO, I MEAN, BUT OF COURSE, THEY APPEAR IN COURT AS THEY DO IN MISDEMEANOR OR FELONY COURTS.

YOU HAVE YOUR COURT DEPUTIES, YOU KNOW, IN THE COURTROOM, BUT THIS WOULD BE THESE LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS WOULD BE PART OF THE TEAM.

SO THEY WOULD ATTEND STAFFING.

THEY WOULD ALSO ASSIST THE COURT WITH DOING, LIKE I MENTIONED, THE HOME VISITS OR OR FIELD VISITS, OR IF THE JUDGE NEEDS TO ISSUE A WARRANT YOU KNOW, SO THEY CAN ALSO, YOU KNOW, DETERMINE WHETHER OR NOT WHAT THE THEY'RE JUST PART OF THE TEAM AND THEY'RE SAYING PART OF BEST PRACTICES TO HAVE LAW ENFORCEMENT ON THE TEAM.

IN ADDITION, IN ADDITION TO YOUR DEFENSE ATTORNEYS, YOUR PROSECUTOR, YOUR YOUR CASE MANAGERS AND TREATMENT PROVIDERS, OBVIOUSLY IF COST WAS NO OBJECT, ABSOLUTELY AGREE. I UNDERSTAND THAT WOULD BE A BEST PRACTICE.

JUST WHEN WE'RE WRESTLING WITH BALANCING THAT THESE INDIVIDUALS WOULD SEEM LIKE THEY WOULD BE AT LOWER RISK TO OTHERS THAN, YOU KNOW, OUR OTHER COURTS WITH HIGHER RISK INDIVIDUALS.

BUT I DON'T KNOW.

I MEAN, YEAH, THEY'RE STILL MISDEMEANOR COURTS, YOU KNOW, AND THEY YOU KNOW, BECAUSE WE CAN ONLY PUNISH THEM UP, YOU KNOW, UP TO A YEAR IN JAIL ON A CLASS A, AND EVEN IF IT'S AN ASSAULT, FAMILY VIOLENCE.

SO UNDERSTAND.

THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER CALVERT.

COMMISSIONER RODRIGUEZ, I DON'T THINK YOU GOT TO FINISH YOUR JAIL COST SAVINGS PORTION, DID YOU? NO, IT'S JUST THERE FOR INFORMATION.

AND IT'S REALLY JUST KIND OF A COMPARISON OF HOW MUCH IT WOULD COST IF THAT PERSON WAS IN JAIL FOR A FULL YEAR ON A CLASS A 365 DAYS, OR 180 DAYS ON A CLASS B, AND THEY JUST KIND OF WHAT THE AVERAGE JAIL TIME IS FOR SOMEBODY WHO IS IN THAT COURT, YOU KNOW, IF THEY GET SANCTIONS OR WHATEVER.

SO IT'S JUST KIND OF A COST COMPARISON OR COST SAVINGS.

YOU KNOW, HOW THESE TREATMENT COURTS, YOU KNOW, BECAUSE WE ALL KNOW THESE TREATMENT COURTS WORK AND THEY HELP HELP PEOPLE TO BE ABLE TO GO BACK INTO SOCIETY AND BECOME SUCCESSFUL COMMUNITY MEMBERS ONCE THEY GRADUATE.

WELL, HOPEFULLY WE WE FEEL THAT THEY WORK WELL.

I JUST WANT TO SAY I DO SUPPORT YOUR AND I THINK I'VE SUPPORTED IT IN THE PAST.

YOUR REQUEST FOR THIS STAFF A PERSON WHO HAS BEEN DOING REALLY GOOD WORK OVER THE YEARS.

YOU OBVIOUSLY PUT IT FIRST AND FOR A REASON, BECAUSE THERE'S BEEN SUBSTANTIAL CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE COURT SYSTEM BY THIS INDIVIDUAL.

SO I UNDERSTAND HOW IMPORTANT IT IS TO KEEP A TALENTED FOLKS AND KEEP THEM MOTIVATED, RIGHT, AS THEY GET TENURE AND THE WORK THAT THEY DO.

[04:15:07]

YOU KNOW, WHERE I STAND, I'M SUPPORTIVE OF IT.

AND SO I THINK WE JUST NEED TO SEE AGAIN, WHAT IS THE BOTTOM LINE COST ON THE LAW ENFORCEMENT SIDE.

OH YEAH. THAT WOULD BE ON SLIDE.

NUMBER TEN. SLIDE TEN.

SO I JUST PUT LIKE THE PRICE FOR FOR PART TIME.

I'M SORRY. WHAT WAS THAT FOR? PART TIME DEPUTIES COST 36,000.

RIGHT. SO THESE COULD EVEN BE RESERVE DEPUTIES.

CORRECT? CORRECT.

SO THESE COULD BE RESERVE DEPUTIES WHO ARE KEEPING THEIR.

BECAUSE I THINK HE SAID HE ONLY HAS OPEN DETENTION PART TIME CURRENTLY.

THAT'S WHY HE WOULD NEED TO ASK FOR NEW POSITIONS.

THIS IS WHEN I TALKED TO THE SHERIFF.

OR LIKE I SAID, IT COULD BE A POTENTIAL CONTRACT.

YOU KNOW, A CONTRACT DEPUTY AT A, AT A IN THE RESERVE.

SO YOU WOULDN'T HAVE TO TAKE THEM OUT OF COURT LAW OR JAIL, THAT THERE MAY BE SOME PEOPLE WHO ARE WILLING TO DO THAT.

OKAY, OKAY.

AND THE VEHICLE SHARED AMONGST THOSE WHO ARE FOLLOWING THROUGH.

YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT FOUR OFFICERS SHARING ONE VEHICLE.

WELL, YOU KNOW, I THINK INITIALLY WHEN WE MET WITH THE SHERIFF, HE HAD MENTIONED THAT THEY HAVE ACCESS TO A VEHICLE.

BUT THEN CAPTAIN MOTEN SAID, NO, THEY NEED THE VEHICLE FOR TRANSPORT OF INMATES.

SO I JUST PUT ONE IN.

BUT PROBABLY IDEALLY PROBABLY WOULD NEED TWO.

BUT WE WERE JUST HOPING THAT AT LEAST IF WE COULD GET ONE THAT THEY COULD SHARE.

POSSIBLE. BUT AND PART OF THAT IS JUST THE TIGHTNESS OF THE CAR MARKET THAT WE HEARD ABOUT.

OR I MEAN, I KNOW BUDGETARY IS ONE ISSUE, BUT I THINK IT WAS JUST A BUDGETARY.

THEY THOUGHT IT WAS A BUDGETARY.

BUDGETARY CONSIDER.

WELL, I THINK BECAUSE WE THOUGHT THERE WAS A VEHICLE AVAILABLE BECAUSE THAT'S INITIALLY KIND OF WHAT THE SHERIFF HAD MENTIONED, BUT, WELL, THEY GOT THE OLD ANDY GRIFFIN CAR SOMEWHERE AROUND HERE. I'VE SEEN IT IN PARADES, BUT I DON'T KNOW.

I WASN'T SURE WE COULD PUT USED ON THERE, BUT I THINK WE GOT ONE RIGHT.

MIKE? YEAH, YEAH.

OKAY. ALL RIGHT.

THANK YOU ALL. THANK YOU.

DIDI. I'M GOING TO DO THIS FOR YOU ON THIS THIS ISSUE.

LAW ENFORCEMENT FOR THE SPECIALTY COURT HAS BEEN GOING ON AND ON, RIGHT.

IS THIS. YES. ALL RIGHT.

I'LL TAKE THE LEAD BUDGET.

YOU DO THE ASSESSMENT AGAIN.

I WANT THEM A MEETING.

WE'LL FIGURE IT OUT.

WE'LL FIGURE OUT WHAT WE CAN DO, ALONG WITH.

I'LL BRING THE SHERIFF IN AND SEE WHAT WE CAN DO TO COME TO AN AGREEMENT.

HOW ABOUT THAT? THAT SOUNDS GREAT FOR Y'ALL.

MEANING, I DON'T KNOW.

I DON'T KNOW IF I CAN SUPPORT IT IN THE BUDGET, BUT I WILL PUT EVERY ENERGY TO MAKE IT HAPPEN.

OKAY. THANK YOU.

YOU'RE WELCOME. THANK YOU. COMMISSIONERS.

OKAY. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU.

DIDI. GIVE MY REGARDS TO JUDGE VARDA.

IS THERE ANYBODY ELSE? NO, NO.

ALL RIGHT. IS THERE A MOTION TO ADJOURN? MOTION TO ADJOURN? MOTION BY COMMISSIONER RODRIGUEZ.

SECOND. SECOND. BY COMMISSIONER MOODY TO YOU.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, DEAR JUSTIN.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU AND MANY MORE.

AND HOW MANY IN FAVOR OF THE ADJOURNED MOTION? HOW MANY IN FAVOR I ANY OPPOSED? MOTION TO ADJOURN. GRANTED.

THERE IS NO PLACE I'D RATHER BE TODAY THAN WITH YOU GUYS.

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.