Dec 10, 2024 Commissioners Court

ALL RIGHT. AGAIN, PLEASE BEG FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION.

WE NOW HAVE OUR FIRST LADY.

[4. SPECIAL PRESENTATIONS ITEM(S) (Part 1 of 2)]

FORMER FIRST LADY TRACY WOLFF AND I WILL NOW GO BACK TO APPROVAL.

IT'S AGENDA ITEM FOUR.

A APPROVAL TO ACCEPT THE DONATION FROM THE FOUNDATION OF BEXAR COUNTY TO THE BEXAR COUNTY CHILDREN'S COURT AND BIBLIOTHEK IN THE AMOUNT OF $894.

WELCOME, TRACY.

THANK YOU. AND ALL THOSE THAT ARE I SEE, PERHAPS RECIPIENTS OF YOUR PHILANTHROPIC.

THANK YOU SO MUCH, JUDGE AND COMMISSIONERS, FOR LETTING ME COME TODAY AND GIVE YOU A CHECK, WHICH I KNOW DAVID SMITH LOVES TO GET FROM THE HIDALGO FOUNDATION OF BEXAR COUNTY.

IT'S A IT IS A CHECK FOR $219,000.

AND $215,000 OF THAT MONEY WILL BE TO ADDRESS THE PRESSING ISSUES THAT IMPACT THE HEART OF OUR COMMUNITY, OUR CHILDREN. OVER 900 CHILDREN ENTERED FOSTER CARE EACH YEAR.

VICTIMS OF CIRCUMSTANCE THEY DON'T CHOOSE AND CANNOT CONTROL.

HOWEVER, AS JUDGE SAKAI KNOWS, HAVING CREATED THE BEXAR COUNTY CHILDREN'S COURT, WHICH IS NOW THE MODEL FOR OUR NATION, THE LANDSCAPE OF CHILD WELFARE IS EVER EVOLVING, AND NOT ALWAYS FOR THE BETTER, BUT WE DO OUR BEST TO TRY TO MAKE THINGS BETTER.

SO WE ARE, HOWEVER, WITNESSING AN ALARMING RISE IN THE SEVERITY OF CASES, INCLUDING OLDER CHILDREN IN. FOR YEARS I WORKED ON ISSUES SURROUNDING SMALL CHILDREN, LITERALLY, AND NOW THERE'S A GREAT DEAL OF UNREST WITH THE OLDER CHILDREN IN OUR COMMUNITY.

SO IN RESPONSE, THE HIDALGO FOUNDATION IS SUPPORTING THE CASA INITIATIVE TO SERVE MORE OF THE HIGH NEEDS YOUTH IN FOSTER CARE AND TO HELP RECEIVE AND HELP THESE OLDER FOSTER CARE CHILDREN FOR THE ATTENTION AND SOME SUPPORT THAT THEY DESERVE.

ALSO, CASA IS REQUESTING A MODEST $5,000 DOLLARS TO ESTABLISH A BIBLIOTHEQUE ACCESS IN THE TEEN ROOM. AND THIS IS NOT JUST TO PROVIDE TECHNOLOGY FOR THEM, BUT TO ENSURE EVERY CHILD HAS ACCESS TO TOOLS THEY NEED TO SUCCEED IN AN IN AN INCREASING DIGITAL WORLD.

YOU KNOW, WE ALL TAKE FOR GRANTED WITH OUR TELEPHONES AND OUR IPADS AND ALL OF OUR TOYS THAT EVERYBODY HAS ACCESS TO THAT.

BUT IT IS IMPORTANT THAT TEENAGERS AND OLDER KIDS, AND AS THEY TRY TO MAKE THEIR WAY IN THE WORLD, UNDERSTAND THE USE OF ALL THESE THINGS.

AND THERE WAS AN INTERESTING ARTICLE IN THE PAPER YESTERDAY ABOUT THIS TECHNOLOGY TURNING TEENAGERS INTO IDIOTS.

IT WAS IN THE WALL STREET JOURNAL.

BUT I THINK WITH THE PROPER OVERSIGHT AND JUST INTRODUCING THEM TO THE ADVANTAGES OF TECHNOLOGY WILL MEAN A LOT.

AND THIS NEXT ISSUE THAT I'M PART OF THE MONEY GOES TO.

AGAIN, THIS IS ABOUT THE BIBLIOTHEQUE, WHICH I THINK IS VERY, VERY EXCITING, AND IT BRINGS THE BIBLIOTHEQUE

[00:35:04]

INTO THE JOB MARKET.

THE BIBLIOTHEQUE WILL ALSO BE UTILIZED TO EMPOWER TEXAS.

TEXAS FAST TRACK TRAINING FOR STUDENTS, PROVIDING ESSENTIAL SAFETY SKILLS AND INDUSTRY RECOGNIZED CERTIFICATION, AND ENABLING STUDENTS TO BUILD A STRONG FOUNDATION FOR A SUCCESSFUL CAREER IN MANUFACTURING AND HELPING THEM TO FIND JOBS IN IN THE WORKFORCE.

TEXAS FAST TRACKS MISSION IS TO COLLABORATE WITH OUR BIBLIOTECH OFFERING ONLINE CLASSES, AND I THINK THIS IS VERY SIGNIFICANT.

AND ALL THESE YEARS THAT WE'VE WHEN WE CREATED THE BIBLIOTECH, THIS ACTUALLY IS OFFERING TEN CLASSES OF TRAINING THAT WILL. IF IF YOU TAKE THE CLASSES AND YOU DO WELL, THEN YOU CAN TAKE A THE ACTUAL CERTIFICATION EXAM WHICH THE HIDALGO FOUNDATION IS PAYING FOR.

SO WE HAVE A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF STUDENTS ALREADY SIGNED UP FOR THE CLASSES.

IT'S A TEN WEEK ACCELERATED CLASS, AND AFTER YOU TAKE THE CLASSES, THE HIDALGO FOUNDATION WILL PAY FOR THE STUDENTS TO TAKE THEIR EXAM.

IN OCTOBER, I HAD MY HIDALGO FOUNDATION BOARD MEETING, AND THE BOARD AGREED THAT WE SHOULD CONTINUE TO HELP PAY THESE FEES THROUGH 2026 AS LONG AS PEOPLE ARE TAKING THESE CLASSES.

WE HAVE WITH US TODAY, OF COURSE, WE'RE AT THE BIBLIOTHEQUE ALSO.

DEBORAH CARTER, WHO PRESENTED THIS TO THE TO OUR BOARD.

IF YOU WANT TO SAY SOMETHING ABOUT THIS PROGRAM.

I WOULD BE HONORED.

THANK YOU SO MUCH TO THE HIDALGO FOUNDATION.

THIS IS GOING TO REALLY ACCENT THE TEXAS FAST TRACK PROGRAM WITH THE OSHA TEN SAFETY CERTIFICATION, WHICH IS VERY VALUABLE IN THE INDUSTRY.

WE ANTICIPATE FOR 65 STUDENTS TO ACHIEVE THIS CERTIFICATION.

WE CURRENTLY HAVE FIVE THAT ARE UTILIZING THE INTERPLAY E-LEARNING SYSTEM RIGHT NOW AND ARE ANTICIPATING THEIR SUCCESSFUL COMPLETION OF IT.

SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

WE ALSO HAVE AN INTENTION TO LEVERAGE THIS IN THE BEXAR COUNTY DETENTION CENTER AND IN THE TEEN ROOM TO HELP ENGAGE AND GATHER INTEREST IN THE MANUFACTURING PROGRAM AS WELL.

I JUST WANT TO SAY, GENTLEMEN, JUST OUT THERE IN THE WORLD.

I HAVE, YOU KNOW, BEEN AROUND DOING A LOT OF THIS FOR A LONG TIME, TRYING TO RETIRE, BUT I HADN'T GOTTEN THERE YET.

BUT THIS IS A CRAZY EXAMPLE, BUT I HOPE YOU'LL UNDERSTAND THIS.

I WALKED INTO OUR CLEANERS YESTERDAY WHERE I TAKE OUR CLOTHES AND THERE'S THREE YOUNG PEOPLE WORKING THERE, AND I STARTED TELLING THEM ABOUT THE BIBLIOTHEQUE AND THIS TRAINING, AND ALL THREE OF THEM WERE INTERESTED AND COULDN'T WAIT TILL I COME BACK AND TELL THEM EXACTLY HOW TO GET ON BIBLIOTHEQUE, BECAUSE THEY ALL UNDERSTAND THAT PART. BUT THE OPPORTUNITY TO TAKE A CLASS AND HAVE SOMEBODY PAY FOR YOUR EXAM AND, YOU KNOW, PROBABLY GET A PRETTY GOOD JOB OUT OF THAT. SATURDAY NIGHT, JUDGE SAKAI WAS WITH US AND HIS AND RACHEL AT EVENT.

NELSON AND I WERE CHAIRING.

AND AT OUR TABLE WAS SITTING SUZANNE KOSMAS, WHO IS THE HEAD OF TOYOTA HERE.

AND WE TALKED ABOUT THIS AND IT IT'S IMPERATIVE.

I WANT TO ENCOURAGE YOU ALL ON THE THE JUDGE AND THE THE COMMISSIONERS TO HELP ADVERTISE BIBLIOTHEQUE MORE.

WE DO NOT GET IT OUT THERE ENOUGH.

I WE JUST DON'T THERE'S A LOT OF ADVANTAGES TO IT.

YOU KNOW, OFFERING THESE KIND OF COURSES FOR FREE.

ALL THEY HAVE TO DO IS WALK IN AND SIT DOWN AND TAKE THESE COURSES.

SO THESE THREE KIDS I TALKED TO YESTERDAY WERE ALL YOUNG PEOPLE 18, 19, 20.

AND THEY'RE READY TO GO NOW THAT THEY KNOW ABOUT IT.

SO WE NEED MORE ADVERTISING REGARDING THIS KIND OF OPPORTUNITY FOR JOB TRAINING AND FOR PEOPLE TO GET JOBS.

NOT EVERYBODY WANTS A FOUR YEAR, FIVE YEAR COLLEGE DEGREE, BUT SOME KIND OF TRAINING TO HELP THEM.

SO I HOPE YOU'LL HELP WITH THAT.

LET ME SEE WHO ELSE IS BACK HERE THAT WANTS TO TALK.

DO YOU WANT TO SAY ANYTHING? JUST TO SAY THANK YOU TO YOU.

REALLY? SO THANK YOU.

THESE FUNDS WILL HELP US CREATE A TEAM AT CASA.

OF STAFF THAT CAN SERVE THE CHILDREN WHO HAVE SUFFERED THE MOST.

AND MENTAL HEALTH.

PHYSICAL HEALTH. SO.

THANK YOU. FORMER FIRST LADY TRACY WOLFF FULL AND PROPER TITLE AND COMMISSIONERS COURT.

[00:40:04]

WE SHOULD BE ABLE TO SERVE 100 CHILDREN WHEN THIS IS FULLY RAMPED UP.

AND THE CHILDREN THAT NEED CASA THE MOST.

SO THANK YOU AND THANK YOU.

YOU'RE WELCOME. THANK YOU.

ALL RIGHT. DID YOU WANT TO SAY ANYTHING? ALL RIGHT, GENTLEMEN, THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH.

THANK YOU. YOU WANT TO SAY SOMETHING? GO AHEAD. LAURA. I JUST WANTED TO SAY THANK YOU TO TRACY AND TO THE HIDALGO FOUNDATION.

WE'RE VERY, VERY HAPPY TO BE ABLE TO OFFER THIS CERTIFICATION PROGRAM FOR OSHA TEN.

AND WE ALWAYS LOOK FORWARD TO PROVIDING MORE RESOURCES AS SOON AS WE CAN UNCOVER THEM.

SO WOULD YOU INDULGE US, ALLOW US TO TAKE A PICTURE AND GO FOR IT? I WANTED TO TAKE A PICTURE WITH THAT DOG? YEAH, BUT I THINK HE WAS HOLDING OUT.

HE WANTS TO RENEGOTIATE HIS CONTRACT.

EXACTLY. MY DOG'S BETTER LOOKING THAN US, THAT'S FOR SURE.

THERE WE GO.

THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT.

THANK YOU. WELL, LET'S GIVE A ROUND OF APPLAUSE FOR TRACY WOLF AND ALL THOSE THAT ARE HELPING AND SUPPORTING OUR CHILDREN OF OUR COMMUNITY.

THANK YOU FOR ALL THE WORK THAT YOU ALL DO IN OUR COMMUNITY.

I'M KIND OF WORKING BACK ON THE INDIVIDUAL ITEMS OFF CONSENT.

THE NEXT ITEM WILL BE ITEM AGENDA ITEM 73.

[73. Authorize staff to negotiate an agreement with Smashin’ Crab Commissary & Catering Co., LLC to provide for concessionary services in the Justice Center Cafe; contingent upon successful negotiations, the agreement will be brought to Commissioners Court at a later date for consideration and award.]

I THINK, COMMISSIONER MOODY, YOUR CONSIDERATION.

AUTHORIZE STAFF TO NEGOTIATE AN AGREEMENT WITH SMASHING CRAB COMMISSARY AND CATERING COMPANY, LLC TO PROVIDE FOR CONCESSIONARY SERVICES IN THE JUSTICE CENTER CAFE CONTINGENT UPON SUCCESSFUL NEGOTIATIONS.

THE AGREEMENT WILL BE BROUGHT TO COMMISSIONERS COURT AT A LATER DATE FOR CONSIDERATION AND AWARD.

COMMISSIONER MOODY, THE FLOOR IS YOURS.

THANK YOU. JUDGE.

WE JUST WANT TO HIGHLIGHT THIS ITEM TODAY.

THANKS FOR FOR BEING HERE, DAN.

AND THANK YOU FOR THE WORK THAT YOU'VE DONE ON THIS.

AND YOUR TEAM HAS DONE ON THIS.

FOR THOSE WHO AREN'T AWARE, THIS IS JUST GOING TO BE AN OPPORTUNITY THROUGH THROUGH A PROCESS, RFP PROCESS TO IDENTIFY AND ULTIMATELY SECURE A CONTRACT WITH A NEW VENDOR FOR FOR FOOD.

IN THE BASEMENT OF THE BUILDING OVER THERE.

AND SO I THINK THIS IS GOING TO BE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR ALL COUNTY EMPLOYEES, FOR ALL OF US AND FOR OUR JURORS COMING IN TO HAVE NEW OPTIONS WHEN IT COMES TO FOOD IN THE BUILDING.

I THINK IT'S A GOOD THING TO DO.

WE WERE HAPPY TO TO KIND OF PUSH THAT ITEM EARLY ON WITH WITH DAN AND HIS TEAM, AND I DON'T KNOW IF YOU HAVE ANYTHING ELSE TO ADD KIND OF OVERVIEW ON WHERE WE STAND TODAY, BUT NO, I'D SAY AGAIN, WE WENT THROUGH A FORMAL RFP PROCESS FOR THIS SELECTION OF THIS VENDOR, WHICH WILL BE A MULTI-YEAR AGREEMENT.

I WISH I COULD SAY IT WAS HARD, BUT THE TASTE TESTING PORTION OF THE EVALUATION WAS NOT DIFFICULT.

IT WAS ACTUALLY ENJOYABLE FOR FOR OUR.

THAT'S GOOD TO HEAR. YEAH.

RIGHT. SO WE'RE VERY ENCOURAGED ABOUT THE LEVEL OF QUALITY THEY'RE GOING TO BE BRINGING TO THAT THAT SPACE IN THE UPCOMING YEARS AND PROVIDE THAT SERVICE TO JURORS AND EMPLOYEES ALIKE.

I NORMALLY DON'T LIKE TO WEIGH IN ON THE RFP PROCESS, BUT I WOULD HAVE LIKED TO HAVE BEEN INCLUDED IN THE TASTE TESTING.

WELL, WE INCLUDE A LOT OF KEY STAKEHOLDERS, INCLUDING THE CENTRAL JURY BAILIFF, TO MAKE SURE THAT WE WERE PLAYING TO THE CORRECT AUDIENCE.

COMMISSIONER. GOOD DEAL.

WELL, AGAIN, THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORK.

WE LOOK FORWARD TO ULTIMATELY MOVING THIS THING FORWARD AND SEEING SOME NEW OPTIONS AND SOME SOME BETTER FOOD OPTIONS DOWN IN THE BASEMENT.

I'M EXCITED AS WELL. THANK YOU.

THANK YOU. IS THERE A MOTION? SO MOVED. MOTION BY COMMISSIONER MOODY.

SECOND BY COMMISSIONER RODRIGUEZ.

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

AYE. ANY OPPOSED? ANY ABSTENTIONS.

WE ARE NOW GOING TO TAKE UP ITEM 64.

WORKING BACK.

[64. Approval and execution of an Interlocal Cooperation Contract with Texas Department of Public Safety (TDPS) to implement the provisions of Texas Transportation Code Chapter 706 and Tex. Gov’t Code Chapter 791 (the Interlocal Cooperation Act).]

THAT WAS PULLED BECAUSE OF CITIZENS TO BE HEARD.

SO AT THIS TIME, CITIZENS TO BE HEARD.

I'LL CALL YOU UP. YOU HAVE THREE MINUTES.

THE FIRST WILL BE YVONNE LONDON.

AND FOR THE RECORD, 64 IS APPROVAL AND EXECUTION OF INTERLOCAL COOPERATION CONTRACT WITH TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY TO IMPLEMENT THE PROVISION OF THE TEXAS TRANSPORTATION CODE, CHAPTER 706 AND TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE, CHAPTER 791.

MISS LONDON. GOOD MORNING.

GOOD MORNING. I DO HAVE DOCUMENTS TO PROVIDE TO THE COURT, IF YOU'LL PROVIDE IT TO STAFF.

MAY I BEGIN? YES YOU MAY.

GOOD MORNING EVERYONE.

MY NAME IS YVONNE LONDON, AND I AM AN INTERIM CO-EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE TEXAS FAIR DEFENSE PROJECT.

WE ARE A NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION WHOSE MISSION IS TO FIGHT THE CRIMINALIZATION OF POVERTY THROUGH DIRECT REPRESENTATION AND POLICY ADVOCACY.

I HAVE SUBMITTED TO THE COURT.

WRITTEN STATEMENTS FROM KOHLMEYER OF TEXAS APPLESEED A TEXAS APPLESEED 2024 ISSUE BRIEF, AND ALSO A DOCUMENT DETAILING THE ALTERNATIVES TO THE FAILURE TO

[00:45:08]

APPEAR PROGRAM.

I RESPECTFULLY ASK THAT THESE BE ENTERED INTO THE RECORD.

THE APPLESEED ISSUE BRIEF GOES INTO GREAT DETAIL ABOUT THE ISSUES THAT THE FAILURE TO APPEAR PROGRAM POSES, BOTH PRACTICALLY AND ECONOMICALLY.

HOWEVER, I WANTED TO TAKE THIS TIME TO HIGHLIGHT CERTAIN POINTS.

THE INTENDED PURPOSE OF THIS PROGRAM IS TO HELP LOCAL COURTS INCREASED COMPLIANCE RATES AND COLLECTIONS BY PLACING A HOLD.

ON ONE'S LICENSE UNTIL THEIR COURT DATE IS COMPLETELY PAID OFF.

HOWEVER, THIS PROGRAM DOES NOT ACTUALLY ACHIEVE THIS PURPOSE AND INSTEAD LEAVES DIRE COLLATERAL CONSEQUENCES.

BEXAR COUNTY HAS APPROXIMATELY 90,000 ACTIVE OMNIBUS HOLDS, AND THE HOLDS ARE PLACED MORE SO ON LOW INCOME AND MINORITY.

BEXAR COUNTY RESIDENTS, MOST OF WHICH HAVE AT LEAST TWO HOLDS DUE TO FINANCIAL HARDSHIP.

MANY PEOPLE ARE FORCED TO DRIVE WITH AN INVALID LICENSE TO DO BASIC THINGS LIKE GO TO THE DOCTOR OR THE GROCERY STORE.

AS A RESULT, THEY RECEIVE MORE TICKETS FOR DRIVING WITH AN INVALID LICENSE OR ACCRUE MORE LEGAL DEBT, AND IN MANY CASES, MULTIPLE OMNIBUS HOLDS.

HAVING A HOLD ON ONE'S LICENSE ALSO IMPACTS THEIR ABILITY TO GAIN.

TO OBTAIN GAINFUL EMPLOYMENT OR KEEP THEIR JOB AS AN ATTORNEY WHO REPRESENTS INDIVIDUALS IN COURT RESOLVE THEIR TRAFFIC VIOLATIONS, I CAN ATTEST TO THE FACT THAT MOST PEOPLE WANT TO RESOLVE THEIR CASES.

THEY JUST DON'T NECESSARILY HAVE THE MEANS TO DO SO, AND MOST PEOPLE DON'T APPEAR IN COURT BECAUSE THEY'RE AFRAID OF GETTING ARRESTED.

THEY CAN'T AFFORD TO PAY THE FINES AND FEES, OR THEY CAN'T TAKE OFF TIME FROM WORK.

THERE ARE ALTERNATIVES TO THE FAILURE TO APPEAR PROGRAM THAT WILL GET PEOPLE TO APPEAR IN COURT AND HOLD THEM ACCOUNTABLE.

AND IN THE INTEREST OF TIME, I ASK THAT YOU PLEASE REFER TO THE DOCUMENT THAT'S BEEN ENTERED INTO THE RECORD.

SOME JURISDICTIONS HAVE ALREADY ENDED THEIR OMNIBUS CONTRACTS, AND AS DETAILED IN THE ISSUE, BRIEF RESEARCH SHOWS THAT THERE IS NO EVIDENCE THAT THE PROGRAM EITHER INCREASES COMPLIANCE OR COLLECTIONS WHEN COMPARED TO THOSE COURTS THAT DO NOT HAVE THE PROGRAM.

HARRIS COUNTY, AUSTIN AND DALLAS HAVE ALREADY ENDED THEIR PARTICIPATION IN THE PROGRAM, AND THEY HAVE ALSO INCREASINGLY UTILIZED ALTERNATIVES SUCH AS WARRANT AMNESTY PROGRAMS TO GET PEOPLE TO APPEAR TO RESOLVE THEIR CASES WITHOUT THE THREAT OF ARREST.

RECENTLY, THE BEXAR COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY, JOE GONZALEZ, WAS INTERVIEWED BY THE SAN ANTONIO REPORTER REGARDING A CASE WHERE A HIGH PROFILE DEFENDANT WAS OFFERED A PLEA TO A LESSER CHARGE FOR DWI CASE, AND D.R.

GONZALEZ STATED, OUR JUSTICE SYSTEM AIMS TO HOLD INDIVIDUALS RESPONSIBLE.

WELL, THE TIME HAS EXPIRED.

GO AHEAD AND WRAP UP. I'LL LET YOU WRAP UP.

THANK YOU. WHILE FOSTERING REHABILITATION.

AND THIS.

THIS IS A RESPONSIBLE.

THIS RESOLUTION REFLECTS A BALANCED PURSUIT FOR BOTH JUSTICE AND PERSONAL ACCOUNTABILITY.

THIS PROGRAM DOES, IN FACT, NOT ACHIEVE THIS BALANCE.

AND I ASK THAT FOR AGENDA ITEM NUMBER 64, YOU ALL VOTE TO END THE OMNIBUS CONTRACT.

THANK YOU. STEVE HUERTA.

GOOD MORNING. MEMBERS OF THE COURT COMMISSIONERS.

I TOOK THE TIME TO ACTUALLY WRITE SOMETHING THIS TIME, SO BEAR WITH ME.

BEXAR COUNTY IS A BEATING HEART OF TEXAS, A PLACE DEFINED BY HARD WORK, RESILIENCE, AND BOUNDLESS OPPORTUNITIES.

YET TODAY, TENS OF THOUSANDS OF OUR NEIGHBORS ARE BEING HELD BACK.

NOT BECAUSE THEY LACK DETERMINATION OR DRIVE, BUT BECAUSE OF A SYSTEM THAT PUNISHES POVERTY, THE FAILURE TO APPEAR, PAY PROGRAM OR OMNIBUS HAS PLACED AN UNJUST BURDEN ON OVER 90,000 BARROW COUNTY RESIDENTS.

THIS IS PREVENTING THEM FROM RENEWING THEIR DRIVER'S LICENSE AND, BY EXTENSION, THEIR CHANCE TO WORK, TO PROVIDE AND TO THRIVE.

FOR MOST OF US COMMISSIONERS, DRIVING ISN'T A LUXURY, IT'S A NECESSITY.

IN BARROW COUNTY, WHERE SPRAWLING COMMUNITIES DEMAND RELIABLE TRANSPORTATION, A DRIVER'S LICENSE, IT'S MORE THAN JUST PERMISSION TO DRIVE.

IT'S A LIFELINE TO OPPORTUNITY.

YET THIS PROGRAM TRAPS INDIVIDUALS IN A CYCLE OF DEBT FOR UNPAID FINES, DISPROPORTIONATELY AFFECTING LOW INCOME FAMILIES AND COMMUNITIES OF COLOR.

THESE ARE NOT RECKLESS DRIVERS.

THESE ARE PARENTS, WORKERS AND NEIGHBORS WHO SIMPLY CANNOT AFFORD TO PAY.

THE IMPACT IS DEVASTATING.

STUDIES SHOW THAT 52% OF THESE WITH SUSPENDED LICENSES LOSE THEIR JOB OR MISS OPPORTUNITIES.

A LOSS THAT RIPPLES THROUGH TO THEIR FAMILIES AND OUR LOCAL ECONOMY.

HOW CAN WE ASK PEOPLE TO WORK WHEN WE'VE TAKEN AWAY THE VERY MEANS TO GET THERE? AT A TIME WHEN INDUSTRIES ACROSS BEXAR COUNTY CONSTRUCTION, HEALTH CARE, TRUCKING ARE STRUGGLING TO FILL POSITIONS, WE CANNOT AFFORD TO SIDELINE WILLING WORKERS.

BUT COMMISSIONERS, THIS ISN'T JUST A PROBLEM.

[00:50:01]

IT'S AN OPPORTUNITY TO LEAD OTHER JURISDICTIONS.

AS YOU HEARD MY COLLEAGUE MENTIONED, LIKE HARRIS COUNTY HAVE ENDED THEIR CONTRACTS WITH OMNIBUS AND FOUND SUCCESS.

THE REVENUES DIDN'T DROP.

IN FACT, THEY SLIGHTLY INCREASED.

THEY REPLACED DEBT BASED PENALTIES WITH PROVEN ALTERNATIVES LIKE TEXT REMINDERS, INCOME BASED FINES, AND COMMUNITY SERVICE PROGRAMS. THESE SOLUTIONS DON'T JUST WORK.

THEY RESTORE DIGNITY AND FAIRNESS.

THE CHOICE BEFORE BEXAR COUNTY COMMISSIONER'S COURT IS SIMPLE.

THAT WE CONTINUE TO UPHOLD A PROGRAM THAT PUNISHES POVERTY AND WEAKENS OUR WORKFORCE.

OR DO WE CHOOSE A PATH THAT LIFTS BARRIERS AND EMPOWERS FAMILIES AND STRENGTHENS BEXAR COUNTY? TODAY, COMMISSIONERS, I URGE YOU TO ACT WITH COURAGE AND COMPASSION AND BEXAR COUNTY'S PARTICIPATION IN THE OMNIBUS PROGRAM AND REMOVE THIS UNJUST BARRIER FOR TENS OF THOUSANDS OF OUR RESIDENTS.

THANK YOU. RAYLAN.

RAYLAN. MASOOD.

ITEM 64.

JUDGE. WHAT? FORMERLY BASED FAILURE TO APPEAR.

THIS IS. I'VE ASKED FOR RAYLAN MASOOD.

OH, MY.

IN THE FUTURE. YOU HAVE THREE MINUTES.

GOOD MORNING. THANK YOU.

MY NAME IS ROLAND MAKSOUD.

I PRACTICE IN JAYPEE MUNICIPAL COURTS WITH THE TEXAS FAIR DEFENSE PROJECT.

AND LIKE MOST OF US, I ALSO HAVE EXPERIENCE BEING A DEFENDANT IN THESE COURTS.

I ASK THAT YOU DECREASE THE COUNTY'S EXPENDITURES AND INCREASE REVENUE BY NOT APPROVING AGENDA.

ITEM 64.

OMNIBUS CLAIMS TO CAUSE CITATION APPEARANCES AND PAYMENTS BY DENYING LICENSE RENEWAL.

BUT I'M ONE OF THOSE MISLEADING CLEARANCE STATS OVER YOUR OVER A YEAR AGO.

I PLEAD NOT GUILTY TO A CITATION IN THE JP COURT AND ASKED FOR A TRIAL WHILE I WAITED AND STILL WAIT FOR A TRIAL TO BE SET.

THE COURT INSTEAD UNLAWFULLY PLACED ME ON OMNI AND SENT ME A POSTCARD THREATENING TO ARREST ME.

ALTHOUGH THE COURT MARKED MY CASE AS DISPOSED ON OMNI UPON BEING CONTACTED TO UNBLOCK MY LICENSE, OMNIBUS STILL INCLUDES CASES LIKE MINE IN THEIR MISLEADING MARKETING CLAIMS THAT THEY INCREASE REVENUE AND IMPROVE CASE CLOSURE STATS, RATHER THAN RELYING ON OMNI BASED MARKETING OR EVEN ON ANECDOTES LIKE MINE. I ASK THAT YOU RELY ON THE NUMBERS.

IN 2019, CITIES THAT DIDN'T CONTRACT WITH OMNIBUS, A SIZABLE PORTION OF TEXAS CITIES TOOK IN 24% MORE DOLLARS PER CITATION.

WHEN HARRIS COUNTY AND THE CITY OF AUSTIN RECENTLY STOPPED CONTRACTING WITH OMNIBUS, THEY IMMEDIATELY SAW AN INCREASE IN REVENUE PER CASE.

THIS MAKES SENSE BECAUSE DENYING SOMEONE THE ABILITY TO DRIVE TO WORK OVER A CITATION, AND IMPOSING HUNDREDS IN DPS LICENSE REINSTATEMENT FEES THAT BEXAR COUNTY TAKES IN. NONE OF THAT DENIES FOLKS THE ABILITY TO PAY THE CITATION INSTEAD OF FACILITATING IT.

THOSE WITH THE FUNDS TO PAY CITATIONS GENERALLY DO SO IMMEDIATELY, AND THOSE WHO DON'T HAVE THE FUNDS TO PAY ME IMMEDIATELY AREN'T INFORMED ABOUT LITTLE USED AGENCY OPTIONS, AND THEY DO INTEND TO PAY WHEN THEY CAN, BUT THEY STOP RECEIVING COURT NOTICES WHEN THEY MOVE AND END UP WITH YEARS OLD CASES THAT THEY DON'T KNOW ABOUT.

ONLY LEARNING ABOUT THEM THROUGH NON OMNI RELATED WARRANTS OR CHANCE CONTACT INSTEAD OF SENDING MONEY OUT OF THE COUNTY.

USE A TOOL THAT STUDIES SHOW WORKS.

TEXT MESSAGE REMINDERS WHICH INCREASE APPEARANCE RATES BY 25%.

DON'T REDUCE BEXAR COUNTY'S REVENUE BY IMPOSING ADDITIONAL OUT OF COUNTY FEES AND DENYING THE ABILITY TO DRIVE TO WORK ON THOSE WITH THE LEAST MEANS TO PAY.

ALL RIGHT. I BELIEVE THAT CONCLUDES THE CITIZENS BE HEARD ON AGENDA ITEM 64.

IS THERE A MOTION? SO I HAVE THIS IS SOME DISCUSSION.

OKAY. LET'S CONTINUE DISCUSSION.

MR. CALVERT, YOU HAVE THE FLOOR. WELL, THERE IS SOME INTERESTING INFORMATION THAT HAS BEEN PUT FORWARD.

DOES THIS COME FROM.

I'M SORRY. I'M. YEAH.

SO I WILL ASK OUR OFFICE OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE.

DOCTOR GREENFIELD.

LABORDE. LABORDI. IF SHE COULD COME.

AND I DON'T KNOW WHAT SPEAKERS MAY BE ABLE TO RESPOND, BUT HAS YOUR DEPARTMENT BEEN ABLE TO STUDY THIS 24% INCREASE IN REVENUE TO COUNTIES THAT HAVE USED A TEXT MESSAGE SYSTEM FOR COMPLIANCE? AND WHAT IS THE RESULT OF THAT STUDY, IF ANY? SEAN, THIS IS I'M GOING TO LET SEAN INTRODUCE HIMSELF.

HE'S FROM THE.

OKAY. GO AHEAD. HI.

MY NAME IS SEAN TRACY. I'M THE PRESIDENT OF OMNIBUS SERVICES OF TEXAS.

OKAY. YEAH, BUT MY QUESTION IS REALLY FOR THE DEPARTMENT HAS HAS THE DEPARTMENT ANALYZED THE SOME OF THE BACKGROUND INFORMATION WITH RESPECT TO COMPLIANCE AND REVENUE?

[00:55:02]

YES. AND THAT'S WHY SEAN IS HERE.

YES. WE LOOKED AT THE INFORMATION FROM THE OTHER COUNTIES.

WE LOOKED BACK AT HOW MUCH WAS BEING COLLECTED.

AND YOU DON'T HAVE THAT INFORMATION WITH ME RIGHT NOW.

HOPEFULLY YOU DO. SEAN.

AND WE GATHERED ALL THAT INFORMATION, AND I KNOW THEY SAID THAT SOME OF THE COUNTIES HAD OPTED OUT, BUT THEY'RE BACK IN.

SO WE DO SHOW THAT.

CAN YOU HAVE DO YOU HAVE THAT INFORMATION HARRIS COUNTY ABOUT THAT? YEAH. ARE THE OTHER KNOW THIS THIS INFORMATION? YES. THIS IS A UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS SAN ANTONIO STUDY.

SO UTSA DID A STUDY OF AND ONE OF THE THINGS THEY FOUND WAS THAT VIOLATIONS REPORTED TO OMNIBUS SHOW HIGHER PROPORTIONS OF CLOSED CASES.

AND SOMETHING ELSE THAT WE FOUND TOO, WAS THAT THE COURTS, THEY ALLOWED THE INDIVIDUAL A LOT OF TIME.

THEY HAD OTHER OPTIONS.

THEY HAD LIKE COMMUNITY SERVICE AND OTHER PAYMENT PLANS.

SO IT WASN'T LIKE, OH, WE'RE JUST GOING TO PULL THAT LICENSE AND THAT, YOU KNOW, TOO BAD FOR THAT PERSON.

THEY DID WORK WITH THAT INDIVIDUAL SO THAT THEY WERE ABLE TO MAINTAIN THEIR LICENSE.

AND AND STUDIES DID SHOW THAT IN WORKING WITH THEM THAT IT ALSO NOT ONLY DID IT CLOSE CASES, BUT IT CLOSED CASES SUCCESSFULLY.

SO THAT'S BUT I GUESS IT'S IN HIGHER PROPORTIONS OF CLOSED CASES IN COMPARISON TO WHAT.

BECAUSE IF WE'RE NOT USING A TEXT MESSAGE SYSTEM, IS IT IN COMPARISON TO NOTHING? OR IS IT IN COMPARISON TO WHAT ALTERNATIVE NORMAL COURT YOU YOU GO AHEAD AND YOU CAN SPEAK.

SO TO ANSWER THAT QUESTION TEXT MESSAGING IS KIND OF A NOVEL THING.

IT'S COME OUT MORE RECENTLY.

IN THE PAST IT'S BEEN COURTS EITHER DOING PHONE CALLS OR MAILERS, LETTERS, THINGS LIKE THAT OUT TO THE INDIVIDUAL, POTENTIALLY EMAILS.

HOWEVER, IN ORDER TO OBTAIN A PHONE NUMBER OR AN EMAIL FROM AN INDIVIDUAL, THAT WOULD EITHER HAVE TO BE DONE AT THE TRAFFIC STOP OR IF THE INDIVIDUAL HAS ALREADY ENGAGED WITH THE COURT INITIALLY, AND SO THEY'RE ALREADY SHOWING UP AND APPEARING TO COURT.

SO FOR THAT 24%, THOSE ARE PEOPLE WHO ARE ALREADY ENGAGING IN THE COURT.

THAT'S NOT THE PEOPLE WHO ARE FAILING TO APPEAR.

SO WHEN WAS THIS STUDY CONDUCTED? I'M NOT SURE WHEN THE 24% STUDY WAS CONDUCTED.

NO, I'M TALKING ABOUT THE STUDY FROM UTSA.

THE STUDY FROM UTSA WAS DONE IN 2023.

SO THAT WOULD BE BEFORE THE THE OTHER COUNTIES TOOK ACTION.

THE OTHER COUNTIES TOOK ACTION IN 2020 AND 2021.

OKAY. AND SO WE DON'T HAVE THE I GUESS, THE METHODOLOGY OF THE OF THE STUDY IN TERMS OF YOU'RE SAYING THAT IT'S COMPARING IT TO PHONE CALLS AND MAILERS.

CORRECT. WHICH IS NOT TEXT MESSAGING.

THE REQUIRED. YES.

THE THE MAILERS, THE REQUIRED METHOD OF CONTACT.

INITIALLY, WHEN SOMEBODY FAILS TO APPEAR IN COURT OR DOES NOT SET A COURT DATE, THE COURT WILL NOTIFY THEM THAT THEY HAVE NOW A COURT DATE.

I JUST I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE I HAVE MY QUESTION ANSWERED.

YOU SAID YOUR STUDY IS COMPARING PHONE CALLS AND MAILERS, RIGHT? POTENTIALLY. MOSTLY MAILERS FROM WHAT I UNDERSTAND.

OKAY. ALL RIGHT.

SO IT'S NOT AN APPLES TO APPLES COMPARISON.

NO. OKAY.

ALL RIGHT. SO WE DON'T HAVE A STUDY THAT OTHER THAN THE STUDY THAT WAS I GUESS PROVIDED BY APPLESEED OR TEXAS LEGAL INDIGENT DEFENSE.

I'M NOT SURE. I COULDN'T QUITE HEAR THE DEFENSE COUNSELOR.

SO WE DON'T QUITE HAVE THAT YET.

SO WOULD IT.

YOU KNOW, TO ME, I DO THINK ONE HAS TO LOOK AT THE REVENUE AND COMPLIANCE.

I MEAN, IT'S IT'S IT'S OBVIOUS ANYBODY UNDERSTANDS A WORKING CLASS.

PEOPLE JUST WANT A LITTLE BREAK NOWADAYS IN TERMS OF, YOU KNOW, BEING ABLE TO HELP WITH THE HIGH COST OF FOOD AND RENT AND EVERYTHING ELSE.

SO TEXT MESSAGING IS A MORE COMPLIANT WAY.

PEOPLE DON'T REALLY READ THEIR MAIL AS MUCH AS THEY USED TO.

AND THEN, YOU KNOW, BEING GIVEN SOME OF THESE AMNESTY OPPORTUNITIES, I THINK I HOSTED ONE OF THOSE WITH THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY AT THE LAWSON COMMUNITY CENTER, WHICH WAS VERY SUCCESSFUL. BUT PEOPLE JUST KIND OF, YOU KNOW, WANT TO BE ABLE TO NOT FEEL LIKE THEY'RE GOING TO BE PENALIZED FOR A WHOLE BUNCH OF INFRACTIONS.

I MEAN, I'VE HAD CONSTITUENTS COME AND TALK TO ME ABOUT THE FACT THAT, YOU KNOW, THEY'RE HUNG UP ON DIDN'T EVEN KNOW, AS WAS TESTIFIED TO HERE EARLIER, THAT THEY HAD THESE BACK CASES.

SO I THINK FROM MY PERSPECTIVE, THE COURT HAS TO USE THE BEST INFORMATION OF AN APPLES TO APPLES COMPARISON.

SO, YOU KNOW, WHAT I WOULD SAY IS POTENTIALLY JUST TABLE THIS AND GET THE DATA BACK AND TRY TO GIVE THE COURT WHATEVER IS THE FINANCIALLY BEST THING AND ALSO LESSENS PEOPLE'S LOAD BECAUSE PEOPLE ARE REALLY HAVING A TOUGH TIME MAKING ENDS MEET.

[01:00:06]

AND I DON'T KNOW IF, YOU KNOW, GETTING PEOPLE JUST STUCK IN KIND OF THE NEW JIM CROW OF THE JUSTICE SYSTEM IS, IS THE BEST WAY TO DO IT.

I MEAN, THAT'S THAT'S WHERE I'M AT.

I'M OPEN TO MY COLLEAGUES COMMENTS.

COMMISSIONER MOODY WELL SO THERE'S THERE'S A COUPLE OF THINGS HERE.

FIRST OF ALL, I WANT TO POINT FOR THE RECORD.

YOU KNOW, I'VE HAD A CONVERSATION WITH WITH MY JP AND THEY'RE SUPPORTIVE OF THE PROGRAM GOING FORWARD.

AND, YOU KNOW, I THINK THAT WE PROBABLY NEED TO CONTINUE TO MOVE FORWARD WITH WITH THE PROGRAM HERE TODAY.

HOWEVER, I AGREE WITH COMMISSIONER CALVERT IN THAT I THINK WE SHOULD ALWAYS BE LOOKING AT DATA AND LOOKING AT OPPORTUNITIES TO TO PROVIDE A BETTER RETURN FOR THE COUNTY WHEN IT COMES TO A FAILURE TO APPEAR PROGRAM.

YOU KNOW, COULD IT BE HYBRID AND INCLUDE TEXT MESSAGES.

COULD IT BE, YOU KNOW, SOMETHING ELSE THAT WE'RE NOT THINKING OF HERE IN COURT TODAY THAT WOULD PROVIDE, YOU KNOW, A BETTER RETURN? MORE CLOSE CASES FOR FOR THE COUNTY.

AND SO I'M NOT SURE I'M NOT REALLY GETTING THE FEELING THAT WE FULLY EXPLORED ALL THOSE POTENTIAL OPTIONS.

SO, YOU KNOW, I AT LEAST WOULD ENCOURAGE US TO, TO DO THAT GOING FORWARD AND SEE WHAT'S POSSIBLE AND WHETHER THAT'S A SERVICE THAT OMNIBUS OFFERS AS AN ADD ON, OR WHETHER THAT'S A HYBRID WITH ANOTHER COMPANY THAT COULD PROVIDE ADDITIONAL SERVICES, THEN, YOU KNOW, WE SHOULD BE OPEN TO THAT AS WELL.

BUT, YOU KNOW, AGAIN, I DON'T KNOW THE FULL SPECTRUM OF WHAT'S POSSIBLE AND WHAT THE OPTIONS ARE.

I DO KNOW, THOUGH, THAT MY UNDERSTANDING IS JP SUPPORT THE ITEM AS IT IS TODAY.

SO THOSE ARE JUST MY THOUGHTS AT THIS POINT.

COMMISSIONER RODRIGUEZ. THANK YOU.

JUDGE. THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.

AND I WANT TO THANK THOSE WHO CAME TO ALSO TESTIFY, SIGN UP TO SPEAK.

I KNOW I DID NOT GET A CHANCE PERSONALLY TO VISIT WITH MOST OF YOU, BUT I KNOW YOU VISITED WITH MY STAFF AND I THINK BROUGHT SOME SALIENT POINTS TO OUR ATTENTION.

I ALSO DID AS COMMISSIONER.

COMMISSIONER MOODY MENTIONED, I HAD A CHANCE TO VISIT WITH MY JP AS RECENTLY AS THIS MORNING.

AND OBVIOUSLY THEY ARE SUPPORTIVE, BUT I THINK WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT THERE'S SOME CONSISTENCY FROM ONE JP COURT TO THE NEXT. I KNOW JUDGE VASQUEZ, AND SPEAKING WITH HIM THIS MORNING MENTIONED NOT ONLY IS THERE SOME IS THERE DISCRETION, BUT THERE'S ALSO STATUTORY LANGUAGE THAT REQUIRE COMMUNITY SERVICE IN LIEU OF FINES FOR CERTAIN INDIGENT CLIENTS.

SO I DON'T KNOW IF THAT'S JUST NOT BEING, FOLLOWED.

WHAT I WOULD SUGGEST.

JUDGE AND COLLEAGUES, IS.

OH, BY THE WAY, JUDGE VASQUEZ MENTIONED, FOR THOSE WHO ARE HERE WE CAN CERTAINLY HAVE A MEETING OVER THE COURSE OF THE NEXT FEW WEEKS SO WE CAN GO THROUGH THAT.

I WOULD HOPE THE OTHER JP'S WOULD ALSO FOLLOW.

WHAT GIVES ME, I THINK, A LITTLE BIT OF CONFIDENCE IN, IN, I THINK FOR CONTINUITY'S SAKE AND MOVING FORWARD TODAY IS I LOOK AT THE CONTRACT THAT WE'RE BEING THAT WE'RE VOTING ON TODAY.

SECTION EIGHT SUBSECTION C SAYS EITHER PARTY MAY TERMINATE THIS CONTRACT WITH 30 DAYS WRITTEN NOTICE.

AND SO I'M GOING TO SUGGEST WE MOVE FORWARD.

WE GET THOSE ISSUES WORKED OUT, GET THE NUMBERS BACK FROM DOCTOR LABORDI.

HAVE THOSE MEETINGS THAT WE NEED TO HAVE WITH OUR STAKEHOLDERS.

AND THEN BRING IT BACK IF WE NEED TO, TO RESOLVE THOSE ISSUES.

SO HAVING SAID THAT, JUDGE, I'LL MAKE A MOTION TO, TO MOVE FORWARD.

THOSE NOTES ARE, I THINK, ARE ON THE RECORD THAT WE'RE EXPECTING SOME FEEDBACK, SOME ADDITIONAL MEETINGS.

AND AGAIN, ACCORDING TO THE CONTRACT, EITHER PARTY CAN MOVE IN ANOTHER DIRECTION WITH 30 DAYS WRITTEN NOTICE.

BUT I WILL MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE TODAY.

COULD I COULD I MAKE A FRIENDLY AMENDMENT? COULD WE HAVE AN AMENDMENT THAT WE HAVE THE OFFICE OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE COME BACK TO US IN JANUARY WITH TEXT MESSAGE OPTIONS, SO THAT THE JP'S CAN HAVE MULTIPLE OPTIONS FOR HOW TO HANDLE THIS? I'M OPEN TO ACCEPTING THAT AS A FRIENDLY.

I WOULD JUST SAY I'M GOING TO ASK THAT THE WHOLE MOTION BE REFRAMED.

OKAY. COMMISSIONER RODRIGUEZ, REFRAME YOUR MOTION.

YEAH. THE ONLY THING JUDGE, I WOULD ASK IS A LITTLE BIT OF FLEXIBILITY WITH THE HOLIDAYS.

I DON'T KNOW IF JANUARY IS PRACTICABLE, BUT IF WE SAY WITHIN THE NEXT 60 DAYS, THAT'S FINE.

SO THE MOTION WOULD BE JUDGE TO MOVE FORWARD.

AND THE OFFICE OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE.

BRING BACK A REPORT ON THE NUMBERS WITHIN 60 DAYS AND OPTIONS ON OTHER WAYS OF OUTREACH.

[01:05:02]

THERE'S A MOTION. IS THERE A SECOND? I'LL SECOND THAT SECOND BY COMMISSIONER MOODY.

ANY FURTHER DISCUSSIONS? LET ME LET ME WEIGH IN.

THIS ISSUE WAS BROUGHT TO MY ATTENTION AND MY STAFF, WHO I HAVE GREAT CONFIDENCE IN, DID THEIR DUE DILIGENCE.

SO LET ME LET ME MAKE THESE COMMENTS OUT LOUD IN ORDER.

I BELIEVE WE HAVE REACHED PERHAPS A MIDDLE GROUND, SO TO SPEAK, TO TRY TO RESOLVE THE ISSUES OF THIS PARTICULAR AGENDA CONTRACT. OBVIOUSLY, WHEN THE ISSUE OF THE CONTRACT WITH OMNIBUS, IN ORDER FOR THE JP COURTS TO HELP COLLECT AND PROCESS THOSE CASES, THAT FOR PEOPLE THAT DID NOT APPEAR TO COURT, UNDERSTAND THAT THESE ARE CITATIONS. THESE ARE ORDERS TO APPEAR BEFORE A COURT AND THAT PEOPLE FAIL TO REPORT TO COURT.

AND THEN I UNDERSTAND THAT THERE NEEDS TO BE A MECHANISM OF HOW DO COURTS ENFORCE, ESPECIALLY AS A FORMER JUDGE WITHOUT ENFORCEMENT, YOU HAVE NO RULE OF LAW.

AND SO I UNDERSTAND THAT DYNAMIC.

MY INSTRUCTION TO MY STAFF WAS THIS DO YOUR DUE DILIGENCE.

WE CHECK WITH ALL FOUR GPS, I BELIEVE, COMMISSIONER RODRIGUEZ, COMMISSIONER MOODY, YOU DID SO TO COMMISSIONER CALVERT.

I DON'T KNOW IF YOU DID, BUT ALL FOUR GPS HAVE INDICATED THEIR SUPPORT FOR THIS CONTRACT.

ALSO IN REGARDS TO DUE DILIGENCE.

BEING A FORMER JUDGE, UNDERSTAND THE LEGAL ISSUES OF HOW THESE RULES, THESE CONTRACTS CAN BE OPPRESSIVE.

THEY CAN CREATE UNDUE BURDEN AND THEY HAVE THE DRIVERS DRIVER'S RESPONSIBILITY ACT AND THE THE PILING ON, SO TO SPEAK, OF FEES AND FINES HAVE CREATED AN UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCE OF PEOPLE NOT BEING ABLE TO BE GAINFULLY EMPLOYED OR GET INTO OUR WORKFORCE.

AND WE'VE HAD TO CREATE REMEDIAL ACTIONS IN ORDER TO DEAL WITH THAT.

I BELIEVE THIS COMMUNITY HAS A JUDICIAL SYSTEM NOT ONLY IN OUR JUSTICE PEACE COURTS, BUT ALSO IN MUNICIPAL COURTS THAT TRY TO ACCOMMODATE PEOPLE SO THAT PEOPLE ARE NOT PUNISHED UNFAIRLY.

THIS IS AN ISSUE OF DOES THE PUNISHMENT FIT THE CRIME, SO TO SPEAK? AND WHEN WE PILE ON THESE OPPRESSIVE COSTS, THEN IT GETS TO BE A POINT OF EXCESSIVE.

AND THAT IS A PROBLEM FOR ME AS A FORMER JURIST.

THE JUDGES AND THE JUDGE, THE PEACE COURT FOR WHICH WE TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR, HAVE INDICATED TO ME THAT THEY WILL ALWAYS TAKE INTO CONSIDERATION A PERSON'S INDIVIDUAL BACKGROUND, CONSIDERATION, FINANCIAL STATUS THAT THEY WILL NOT IN ANY WAY USE THESE RULES OR CONTRACTS IN OPPRESSIVE WAYS. I TAKE THEM AT THEIR WORD.

AND SO OBVIOUSLY WE HAVE RECEIVED INFORMATION AND DOCUMENTATION.

I HAVE THE UTMOST RESPECT FOR TEXAS APPLESEED, THEIR RENOWNED ADVOCACY GROUP, AND THE ISSUES OF JUSTICE.

SO I TAKE THEIR ISSUES VERY SERIOUSLY WHEN THEY SAY, JUDGE, THIS IS A PROBLEM AND CONTINUES TO BE A PROBLEM.

AND SO MY FEEDBACK AND I BELIEVE THE MOTION IS TO MOVE FORWARD.

BUT WE HAVEN'T EXECUTED A CONTRACT.

THE DETAILS OF THAT CONTRACT ARE GOING TO BE VERY IMPORTANT.

THE ASSURANCES FROM THE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT, KNOWING THAT WE HAVE TO ALSO, AS A MATTER OF PRINCIPLE, HAVE A SEPARATION.

THE COMMISSIONERS COURT DO NOT ORDER THE JUDGES TO DO WHAT THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO DO.

THAT IS A RULE OF LAW THAT IS VERY SACRED WITH ME.

WE HAVE TO ALLOW OUR JUDGES TO DO THEIR JOBS AND TO CARRY OUT THEIR COURTS.

AND OBVIOUSLY, JUST THE PEACE COURTS ARE THE PEOPLE'S COURTS, SO TO SPEAK, NOT ONLY WITH TRAFFIC VIOLATIONS, SMALL CLAIMS, EVICTIONS, THEY RUN THE GAMUT OF CASES THAT HAVE DIRECT IMPACT ON THE INDIVIDUALS.

SO MY FEEDBACK TODAY IS THAT I AM SUPPORTING FOR US TO MOVE FORWARD.

I KNOW SOME PEOPLE MAY BE OPPOSED TO THAT, BUT AT THE SAME TIME, I ALSO WANT TO MAKE IT VERY CLEAR, AND I'M LOOKING AT THE OFFICE OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE, THAT IT'S UP TO YOU TO PROCESS THIS INFORMATION THAT WE'VE GOT FROM ONE SIDE TO PROCESS THE INFORMATION WE GOT FROM ANOTHER SIDE.

AND I NEED YOU TO CLEARLY STATE WHAT THE POSITION OF THE COUNTY IS IN REGARDS TO THIS PARTICULAR CONTRACT.

AND AS WE GO TOWARDS THE CONTRACT THAT WE TAKE INTO CONSIDERATION, HAVE DUE DILIGENCE THAT YOU HAVE INTERVIEWED THE JUDGES, THAT THE JUDGES ARE WELL AWARE. IT'S ALSO PART OF MY UNDERSTANDING FOR MY DUE DILIGENCE FROM MY STAFF, THAT THE JUDGES FEEL THAT THIS PARTICULAR CONTRACT IS THE LEAST OPPRESSIVE WAY TO HELP COLLECT FINES AND FEES IN REGARDS TO PEOPLE WHO FAIL TO COME TO COURT.

[01:10:05]

AND SO WE MUST RECOGNIZE THAT WE HAVE TO HAVE A RULE OF LAW THAT TELL PEOPLE WHEN YOU'RE ORDERED TO COURT, YOU BETTER SHOW UP.

AND IF YOU DON'T SHOW UP, THERE IS A CONSEQUENCE.

BUT THE QUESTION I POSED TODAY AND I NEED FEEDBACK IS THE REMEDY MUST BE IN A JUST AND A AND AN EQUITABLE WAY SO THAT IT DOES NOT PUNISH THE PEOPLE AT THE VERY BOTTOM OF OUR SOCIETY, THE PEOPLE THAT CAN LEAST AFFORD IT.

AND IT RESTRICTS AND I APPRECIATE COMMISSIONER CALVERT'S COMMENT, IS THAT WHAT CREATES AN INEQUITY IN OUR SOCIETY? AND THAT'S SOMETHING I WON'T TOLERATE OR APPROVE.

SO I'M GIVING A LOT BACK TO EVERYBODY.

I'VE TRIED TO GIVE MY VERY BEST TO GIVE DIRECTION TO OUR COUNTY STAFF THAT I DON'T.

I WANT A THOROUGH VETTING AND THAT WE ONLY COME BACK WHEN WE BELIEVE WE HAVE A CONTRACT THAT CAN BE IN THE BEST INTEREST OF THE COUNTY, THE BEST INTEREST OF THE CITIZENS IT SERVES, AND TO FULLY SUPPORT OUR JUSTICE SUBPIECES WHO DO YEOMAN'S WORK IN THEIR JUSTICE COURT.

DOCTOR GREENFIELD, DO YOU UNDERSTAND MY INSTRUCTIONS TO YOU AND YOUR STAFF TO COME BACK WITH A FULL BRIEFING OF THIS ISSUE? ALL RIGHT. JUDGE? YES. I'M SORRY.

I JUST WANT TO CLARIFY FOR THE RECORD THAT THIS ITEM EXECUTES A CONTRACT.

SO IF YOU DON'T WANT TO EXECUTE IT, WE PROBABLY NEED TO DO SOMETHING ELSE.

YEAH. JUDGE, I THINK THE CLARIFICATION, THE CLARIFICATION IS, AT LEAST FROM THE MOTION I MADE, WAS TO MOVE FORWARD WHAT I POINTED OUT WAS THERE IS AN OUT CLAUSE. ALL WE HAVE TO DO IS GIVE A 30 DAY NOTICE AND WE CAN TERMINATE THE CONTRACT.

SO I'M SUGGESTING WE MOVE FORWARD BASED ON THE INFORMATION THAT WE HAVE WITH NOT JUST COUNTY STAFF, BUT FROM THE FOLKS THAT WERE HERE TESTIFYING THAT WE CAN DECIDE TO GET OUT OF THAT CONTRACT AT A LATER DATE GIVEN 30 DAYS NOTICE.

DOES EVERYBODY UNDERSTAND THE MOTION ON THE FLOOR THEN? YEAH, I JUST WANT TO DO ONE CONCLUDING COMMENT.

I THANK EVERYONE FOR THEIR INPUT TODAY.

AND I THINK EVERYONE IS COMING FROM A SENSE OF TRYING TO DO THE RIGHT THING ON MANY FRONTS AND MAKE IT SUCCESSFUL IN TERMS OF THE JUSTICE SYSTEM PROCESS, MAKE IT AS LEAST OPPRESSIVE AS POSSIBLE.

THAT'S REALLY WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO FOR OUR CITY, WHICH IS A BERRIEN COUNTY IS A VERY POOR CITY.

SO ONE OF THE THINGS JUST FROM THE ADVOCACY SIDE, AT A HIGH LEVEL, THE JUDGES, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE TO BE VERY CAREFUL WHEN THE JUDGES HAVE SIGNED OFF ON A REMEDY.

NOW, I DON'T KNOW IF THE JUDGES ARE AWARE OF THE TEXT MESSAGING OPTIONS.

YOU KNOW, IF YOU SOMETIMES ASK PEOPLE.

OKAY, WELL, ARE YOU OKAY WITH THIS? WELL, YEAH, THAT'S THE ONLY THING. AND THEY'RE BUSY, YOU KNOW, THEY'VE GOT A LOT OF THINGS GOING ON.

I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT INFORMATION THEIR RESEARCH THEY HAVE.

SO FOR THE ADVOCACY GROUPS HERE TODAY, I WOULD, YOU KNOW, GET A BRIEF OVER TO OUR JP'S AS WELL SO THAT THEY CAN LOOK AT THAT DATA.

NOW THIS IS VERY INTERESTING ON PAGE TWO OF THIS STUDY THAT IN THE JP COURTS, ONLY 1.3% WERE CLOSED OUT THROUGH COMMUNITY SERVICE, 2.6 THROUGH JAIL CREDIT AND 4.6 WITH ENERGY INDEPENDENCE AND INDIGENT WAIVERS.

SO I THINK THAT IS A VERY LOW NUMBER IN LIGHT OF THE REAL POVERTY LINE THAT'S COMING THROUGH.

SO I, I THINK DOCTOR LABORDE, IF YOUR IF YOUR STAFF COULD PREPARE FOR FEBRUARY 25TH AS OUR SECOND.

THAT'LL BE 60 DAYS FROM NOW.

IF YOUR STAFF CAN PREPARE FORMS OR WORK WITH BCIT FOR AN ELECTRONIC PORTAL FOR SOMEONE WHO HAS THE ISSUE OF POVERTY AND, YOU KNOW THEY CAN PROVE THEIR INCOME IS YOU KNOW, IN THE WAY OF PAYMENT.

I, YOU KNOW, I DON'T EXACTLY KNOW THE DISCRETION THAT THE PAYMENT PLAN LEVEL THAT'S, YOU KNOW, THAT'S OFTEN A VERY DISCRETIONARY THING AT THE JUDGE, BUT WE'VE GOT TO DO A BETTER JOB, YOU KNOW, DEALING WITH THAT 90,000 PEOPLE WHO ARE WHO ARE AFFECTED BECAUSE IT'S I HEAR ABOUT IT IN MY CONSTITUENCY AND, YOU KNOW, LITERALLY PEOPLE WILL COME UP WITH SEVERAL THOUSAND DOLLARS FOR TICKETS ONLY TO FIND OUT THERE'S SEVERAL THOUSAND DOLLARS MORE.

RIGHT. AND THAT'S DIFFICULT FOR ANYBODY.

YOU KNOW, MOST PEOPLE, YOU KNOW, IN OUR COMMUNITY.

AND SO WE WANT TO GIVE DEFERENCE TO OUR JUDGES.

BUT AT THE SAME TIME, IF THE COMPLIANCE IS BETTER ON THINGS LIKE TEXT AND DOING THINGS LIKE WHAT WE DID AT AUSTIN, I'D LIKE DOCTOR LABORDE, YOUR DEPARTMENT TO PREPARE WITH THE JP COURTS, AN OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE SOME OF THESE THINGS IF, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE WILL TAKE CARE.

I DON'T YOU KNOW, I DON'T KNOW HOW THEY CALL IT TAKE CARE OF X, THEN YOU KNOW, WE WILL NEGOTIATE Y.

RIGHT. AND LET'S DO ONE OF THOSE BY SPRING, IN MARCH, PARTICULARLY AS WE GET READY FOR THE SUMMER CRIME WAVE.

[01:15:03]

WE JUST DON'T WANT TO PUT MORE AND MORE ON THE BACKS OF OUR OF OUR FOLKS.

AND I THINK IF WE CAN GIVE YOU KNOW, A RESOLUTION TO A LOT OF THESE BACKLOGGED CASES, THAT'S GOOD FOR EVERYBODY, I THINK WE'LL MAKE MORE COLLECTIONS.

AND I THINK SOME OF THE DATA BEARS THAT OUT.

SO I HOPE YOU UNDERSTAND.

AND WE CAN REPLAY THIS TAPE SO WE CAN LOOK AT THE, AT THE, AT THE, AT THE PATHWAY GOING FORWARD.

WE JUST WANT TO DO THE BEST THING IN A WORKING CLASS CITY.

SO THANK YOU COMMISSIONER RODRIGUEZ FOR YOUR FOR YOUR MOTION BEFORE WE GO TO THE VOTE.

LET ME ASK YOU ALL TO STEP ASIDE.

WE HAVE ONE LAST MINUTE CITIZEN TO BE HEARD ON AGENDA ITEM 64.

IS IT COTTER? SYRACUSE. SYRACUSE.

I HAVE A CITIZEN TO BE HEARD.

WHERE ARE YOU? YOU SIGNED UP.

I'M RIGHT HERE. OKAY.

PLEASE STEP FORWARD.

YOU HAVE THREE MINUTES.

THANK YOU FOR TAKING THE TIME TO HEAR MY COMMENT.

I APPRECIATE THE COMMISSIONERS COURT FOR HEARING COMMUNITY INPUT ON THIS AGENDA ITEM.

THIS PROGRAM IS COUNTERPRODUCTIVE TO THE AIMS OF THE COUNTY'S IMPORTANT WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT AND ITS POST-PANDEMIC ECONOMIC RECOVERY EFFORTS.

IT CREATES UNDUE BARRIERS FOR BOTH EMPLOYERS AND WORKERS.

AND I URGE YOU TO TERMINATE USE OF THE OMNIBUS PROGRAM.

SO MY NAME IS KATIE PSARAKIS.

I AM THE SAN ANTONIO AREA PROGRAM OFFICER FOR THE ASSET FUNDERS NETWORK.

WE ARE A REGIONAL CHAPTER OF GRANTMAKERS WHO ARE DEDICATED TO ADVANCING EQUITABLE WEALTH BUILDING AND ECONOMIC MOBILITY.

ONE OF OUR KEY PRIORITIES IS ACCESS TO OPPORTUNITIES FOR PEOPLE, INDIVIDUALS AND SMALL BUSINESSES TO EARN FAMILY SUSTAINING INCOMES.

PURSUING AN ASSET BUILDING AGENDA NECESSITATES ATTENTION TO ENABLING CONDITIONS LIKE ACCESS TO AFFORDABLE CAPITAL, TRAINING AND MENTORSHIP PROGRAMS, AND PROCUREMENT AND CONTRACTING OPPORTUNITIES.

PURSUING AN ASSET BUILDING AGENDA ALSO NECESSITATES ATTENTION TO CONDITIONS THAT HINDER PEOPLE'S ABILITY TO MAKE MEANINGFUL PROGRESS IN BETTERING THEIR ECONOMIC MOBILITY.

THE OMNIBUS PROGRAM IS A POWERFUL HINDERING CONDITION IN OUR COMMUNITY.

AS MENTIONED, IT ALLOWS PARTICIPATING COURTS TO PLACE A HOLD ON SOMEONE'S ABILITY TO RENEW THEIR DRIVER'S LICENSE.

THEY ARE UNABLE TO PAY OFF FINES AND FEES FOR A LOW LEVEL FINE, ONLY MISDEMEANORS.

YOU MENTIONED THE TEXAS APPLESEED BRIEF ON THIS.

IT FOUND THAT THERE WERE AN AVERAGE OF NEARLY 90,000 HOMES IN 2021 AND 2022.

WE ESTIMATE THAT THAT REPRESENTS 45,000 UNIQUE INDIVIDUALS.

THAT HOLD RATE APPROACHES ONE HOLD FOR EVERY TEN PEOPLE IN ZIP CODES (782) 027-8203 AND 78220.

A 2022 PAPER PRESENTS STUDY ESTIMATES.

THE ANNUAL ECONOMIC IMPACT OF A LOST LICENSE IS $12,700 PER PERSON.

IF YOU MULTIPLY THAT BY THE 45,000 UNIQUE INDIVIDUALS WE THINK ARE IMPACTED BY THIS, THAT IS AN ANNUAL ECONOMIC IMPACT OF $571 MILLION IN PROJECTED LOST WAGES, $571 MILLION DUE TO THE OMNIBUS PROGRAM AS FURTHER EVIDENCE THAT LICENSE RESTRICTION PROGRAMS EXACERBATE LABOR SHORTAGES AND HINDER ECONOMIC GROWTH, A LARGE STUDY OF NEW JERSEY DRIVERS WITH SUSPENDED LICENSES FOUND THAT 42% LOST THEIR JOBS WHEN THEIR LICENSES WERE SUSPENDED, 42% FOR HOUSEHOLDS WITH INCOMES UNDER $30,000, THAT NUMBER ROSE TO 64%.

SO I HEARD A QUOTE RECENTLY FROM A FAMED MANAGEMENT EXPERT TIME HAS EXPIRED PETER DRUCKER.

WE'RE HERE ON EARTH TO MAKE A POSITIVE DIFFERENCE, NOT TO PROVE WE'RE SMART, NOT TO PROVE WE'RE RIGHT.

THIS IS NOT AN APPEAL CENTERED ON RIGHT VERSUS WRONG.

AND IT'S NOT A STATEMENT ON THE JP JUDGES.

AS YOU MENTIONED, THEY'RE LEADING IN THE STATE ON USE OF BEST PRACTICES.

THE USE OF THE OMNIBUS PROGRAM RUNS COUNTER TO THEIR DEMONSTRATED LEADERSHIP ON FOSTERING CONDITIONS FOR PEOPLE TO BE BOTH HELD ACCOUNTABLE AND TO BE ABLE TO PURSUE SUCCESSFUL, SWIFT RESOLUTION OF THEIR COURT CASES.

YOU HAVE A UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE A POSITIVE DIFFERENCE.

BY ENDING USE OF THIS PROGRAM, YOU'RE GOING TO ENABLE TENS OF THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE IN BEXAR COUNTY TO RENEW THEIR DRIVER'S LICENSES AND GET BACK TO WORK.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION.

ALL RIGHT. THAT IS THERE ANY FURTHER COMMENT FROM THE DAIS? JUST A QUICK THING. I'D LIKE MY STAFF TO CONVENE A MEETING WITH THE ADVOCACY GROUPS AND THE.

AND THE JUSTICES OF THE PEACE FROM FROM THE PRECINCTS.

I'D LIKE TO HEAR THEM. AND I WELCOME ALL COMMISSIONERS TO EITHER HAVE A STAFF OR COME AND JOIN.

[01:20:02]

I THINK WE NEED TO HAVE A MORE ROBUST CONVERSATION TOGETHER, BECAUSE THAT'S VERY POWERFUL INFORMATION.

AND I AND I CAN'T JUST GLOSS OVER THAT.

I KNOW THIS IS A RUBBER MEETS THE ROAD THING.

AND I THINK AS WE MOVE INTO THE NEW YEAR, I THINK THERE'S BOTH AN ELECTION CUE FROM THE NOVEMBER ELECTION SAYING THAT PEOPLE WANT SOME ECONOMIC HELP, AND I THINK THERE IS GOING TO BE EVEN MORE OF THAT AS COSTS INCREASE IN THE NEW YEAR.

AND SO WE REALLY NEED TO BE ABLE TO LIFT THE BURDENS ON PEOPLE FINANCIALLY.

AND IF THIS IS A FINANCIAL BURDEN, THAT'S 42% FIRING AND ALL THAT KIND OF STUFF, THIS IS A BIG DEAL.

SO WE WANT TO GET THIS RIGHT.

THANK YOU JUDGE. JUST ONE JUST ONE LAST COMMENT I WANT TO REITERATE AS WELL.

MY DISCUSSION WITH JUDGE VASQUEZ IN PRECINCT TWO THIS MORNING WAS TO CONVENE A MEETING, AND WE'RE WE WILL WORK WITH YOU ALL TO DO THAT.

I THINK IT'S BEEN A LOT OF GOOD INPUT.

WE NEED TO FIGURE OUT A BALANCE BETWEEN ACCOUNTABILITY AND NOT BURDENING THOSE WHO ARE IN THE MOST ECONOMICALLY DISTRESSED SITUATION.

SO I THINK WE'RE ALL COMMITTED TO DOING THAT, AND I LOOK FORWARD TO THE FEEDBACK.

SO THANK YOU JUDGE. THANK YOU, COMMISSIONERS.

THANK YOU FOR BEING RESPONSIVE TO THE COMMUNITY.

TODAY I'M CALLING FOR A VOTE.

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

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

ALL RIGHT. I BELIEVE WE'RE GOING TO THE LAST MATTER OF INDIVIDUAL.

I KNOW TIME CERTAIN.

WE'RE GETTING TO YOU. ALL RIGHT.

WE'RE GETTING TO YOU. BUT IT'S JUST BEEN ONE OF THOSE MORNINGS.

[42. Approval of subdivision plat# 22-11800410 within the Extra Territorial Jurisdiction of the City of San Antonio: Cibolo Canyon Unit 9C Enclave, owner: TF Cibolo Canyons LP, Nearest Intersection: Algo Ademas and Resort Parkway: South 114.91, within the Edwards Aquifer Recharge Zone. Precinct Number 3.]

ITEM 42, APPROVAL OF SUBDIVISION PLAT 22 11800410.

WITHIN THE EXTRATERRITORIAL JURISDICTION OF THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO, CIBOLO COUNTY UNIT NINE, SEE ENCLAVE OWNER TO CIBOLO CANYONS, LP.

NEAREST INTERSECTION ALGO.

ADEMAS, ADEMAS AND RESORT PARKWAY SOUTH 114.91 WITHIN THE EDWARDS AQUIFER RECHARGE ZONE.

PRECINCT NUMBER THREE, COMMISSIONER MOODY.

THIS IS A MATTER YOU ASKED TO PULL.

DO YOU WISH TO GO TO CITIZENS TO BE HEARD, OR DO YOU WISH TO MAKE COMMENT? IF I COULD JUST MAKE A QUICK COMMENT AND THEN WE'LL HEAR FROM THE CITIZENS.

AND THEN I THINK WE NEED TO HEAR FROM STAFF ON THIS ITEM, BUT THIS WAS A PLOT THAT'S BEEN REQUESTED.

THERE'S SOME HISTORY HERE IN TERMS OF THE THE US FISH AND WILDLIFE.

THERE WAS A CONSERVATION EASEMENT THAT WAS SWAPPED OUT AND, AND ULTIMATELY THE US FISH AND WILDLIFE APPROVED THAT LAND SWAP.

HOWEVER, IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING THAT OUR CITIZENS ARE APPEALING THAT DECISION.

HOWEVER, THERE'S ALSO THE SITUATION THAT I WANT TO CONFIRM WITH STAFF THAT WE DO HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY TO APPROVE A PLAT WITHIN 30 DAYS, SO MAYBE WE CAN HEAR FROM THE CITIZENS AND THEN CONFIRM WHAT OUR RESPONSIBILITIES ARE WITH STAFF AND FIGURE OUT WHAT WE DO WITH THIS ITEM.

ALL RIGHT. IN LIGHT OF THE AGENDA ITEM I'M GOING TO CALL UP, I'M ASK I'VE GOT ALAN MONTEMAYOR, DEE CRAWFORD, DON SELBY AND GINA SMITH.

DO YOU ALL WISH TO SPEAK INDIVIDUALLY, OR DO YOU WISH TO YIELD YOUR TIME AND ALLOW A PERSON TO SPEAK WITH THE ACCUMULATED TIME? IT'S UP TO YOU TO SPEAK INDIVIDUALLY.

ALL RIGHT. ALAN MONTEMAYOR THREE MINUTES.

GOOD MORNING. MY NAME IS ALAN MONTEMAYOR.

I'M CHAIR OF THE ALAMO GROUP OF THE SIERRA CLUB.

THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK WITH YOU TODAY.

I DO NOT TAKE THAT FOR GRANTED.

IT'S A PRIVILEGE, AND I REALLY APPRECIATE IT.

THE GOLDEN CHEEKED WARBLER, AS MANY OF YOU ARE AWARE, IS A SMALL, BEAUTIFUL BIRD THAT IS ENDEMIC TO CENTRAL TEXAS.

IN ORDER FOR IT TO SURVIVE, IT'S AN ENDANGERED SPECIES.

IN ORDER FOR IT TO SURVIVE, IT NEEDS HABITAT.

AND THIS HABITAT HAS BEEN SLOWLY ERODED BY DEVELOPMENT IN HILL COUNTRY.

IN PARTICULAR, THE GOLDEN CHEEKED WARBLER NEEDS MIXED TREE COVER, PARTICULARLY WITH OLD GROWTH CEDAR ON IT, TO PROVIDE THE NESTING MATERIAL FOR THESE BIRDS. THE PIECE OF PROPERTY IN QUESTION SPECIFICALLY HAS THIS CORRECT ENVIRONMENT FOR THOSE BIRDS TO SURVIVE.

AS I SAID, THERE'S BEEN A SLOW ENCROACHMENT OF DEVELOPMENT THAT IS ERODING THE ABILITY OF THESE BIRDS TO SURVIVE.

THIS PIECE OF PROPERTY IS BEING SWAPPED OUT FOR A PIECE OF PROPERTY THAT DOES NOT HAVE THE CORRECT HABITAT FOR THESE BIRDS TO SURVIVE, SO THIS IS A REALLY AN EXISTENTIAL ISSUE FOR THESE BIRDS.

IN ADDITION TO THAT, THE PEOPLE THAT PURCHASED PROPERTY ADJACENT TO THIS POTENTIAL DEVELOPMENT AREA WERE PROMISED THAT THIS LAND WAS GOING TO BE HELD IN RESERVE IN PERPETUITY.

THEY ACTUALLY THEIR LAND VALUE IS HIGHER BECAUSE THEY ARE ON THE PERIPHERY OF THIS UNDEVELOPED AREA.

[01:25:01]

AND NOW THIS THIS SWAP IS BEING PROMULGATED AND THEY ARE ESSENTIALLY BEING HARMED BY THIS SWAP.

I'M GOING TO BE ASKING YOU GUYS TO DISAPPROVE THIS PLOT.

I KNOW THAT YOUR POWERS ARE LIMITED BY THE STATE OF TEXAS, OR AT WORST, DEFER A DECISION ON THIS.

YOU ARE NOT JUST THE THE LAST LINE OF DEFENSE FOR THIS BIRD.

YOU ARE THE ONLY LINE OF DEFENSE IN THIS CASE.

I REALLY HOPE THAT YOU CAN DO SOMETHING TO HELP THE SITUATION HERE.

I KNOW AGAIN THAT YOUR POWERS ARE LIMITED, BUT THANK YOU FOR FOR LISTENING TO US TODAY.

MY MY MY FRIENDS AND MY NEIGHBORS, THEY'RE GOING TO SPEAK TO THE IMPACT OF THE ENVIRONMENT, BUT I'M GOING TO SPEAK THE IMPACT TO PEOPLE.

DEE CRAWFORD.

GOOD MORNING.

AND FOR THE MANY VETERANS WHO ARE HERE WHO ARE IMPACTED.

SORRY FOR GETTING EMOTIONAL, BUT, YOU KNOW, IF YOU'RE MY FAMILY, WHERE BOTH OF YOU ARE VETERANS AND YOU HAVE A WOUNDED WARRIOR HOUSEHOLD.

WHAT YOU DO IS YOU COME TO A PLACE WHERE YOU HAVE STRONG SUPPORT, AND YOU CAN GET THE BEST MEDICAL CARE BECAUSE YOU KNOW WHAT HAS GONE INTO THOSE INJURIES.

AND FOR US, THAT WAS MILITARY CITY, USA, WHERE WE HAVE THE BEST VA, I BELIEVE, ON THE PLANET TO GET HELP.

AND WHEN YOU HAVE A HOUSEHOLD WITH TRAUMATIC BRAIN INJURY AND PTSD, YOU LOOK FOR THOSE QUIET PLACES WHERE YOU DON'T HAVE THE NOISE THAT RATTLES YOU AND YOU HAVE SOME SENSE OF PEACE.

AND THEN WHEN YOU FIND IT AND IT'S ON A GREEN BELT AND IT'S A PREMIUM LOT, AND THE DEVELOPER SAYS IT'S HELD IN PERPETUITY, WE WILL NEVER BUILD.

YOU THINK THIS IS IT? THIS IS MY FOREVER HOME.

AND YOU BUY WITH YOUR VA LOAN AND THEN YOU FIND OUT THAT THE HOME THAT YOU HAVE AS YOUR FOREVER HOME. THEY HAVE DONE THIS SWAP, AND THE LAND THAT WAS HELD IN IN PERPETUITY IS GOING TO HAVE MORE THAN 100 HOUSES BUILDING IN BACK OF YOU.

THE NOISE, THE DISTRACTION.

IT IS UNIMAGINABLE THAT SOMEONE FROM OUTSIDE OF TEXAS CAN COME IN AND DO THIS TO OUR VETERANS, AND WE HAVE A STRONG VETERAN COMMUNITY.

WE WILL LIVE WITH THIS, PAYING A 30 YEAR MORTGAGE FOR LAND THAT WE PAID A PREMIUM PRICE FOR THAT HAS BEEN FOREVER CHANGED. THIS CANNOT BE RIGHT.

YOU CAN'T DO THIS TO VETERANS.

AND SO I KNOW YOUR POWERS ARE LIMITED, BUT WHATEVER YOU CAN DO TO GET TO THE BOTTOM OF WHAT IS HAPPENING OVER IN CIBOLO CANYONS, HOW IS IT OKAY FOR VETERAN FAMILIES TO HAVE TO LIVE LIKE THIS? AND WHERE ARE WE GOING TO GO? NOT WITH INTEREST RATES THE WAY THAT THEY ARE.

WE ARE STUCK WITH A 30 YEAR MORTGAGE FOR PREMIUM LOTS THAT ARE NO LONGER PREMIUM.

THAT CAN'T BE OKAY, AND WHATEVER TIME I HAVE LEFT, I'M GOING TO YIELD TO MY FELLOW NEIGHBORS BECAUSE THEY'RE GOING TO SHARE A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT OUR STORY.

BUT THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR ALLOWING ME TO BE HEARD.

THANK YOU. DON SELBY.

THREE MINUTES. GOOD MORNING.

THANK YOU ALL FOR LETTING US TALK.

I'M A RESIDENT OF CIBOLO CANYONS.

AGENDA ITEM NUMBER 42 IS SCHEDULED TO BE APPROVED TODAY.

BUT THERE IS SOMETHING VERY IMPORTANT REGARDING THIS MATTER THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED BEFORE THAT HAPPENS.

THE SWAP OF 30 ACRES OF A 63 ACRE CONSERVATION EASEMENT FOR 144 ACRES OF LAND OWNED BY THE DEVELOPER, STARWOOD LAND ADVISORS, NOW GOES BY T F CIBOLO CANYONS LP WAS APPROVED BY US FISH AND WILDLIFE.

THAT DECISION IS CURRENTLY UNDER APPEAL.

I HEARD IT WENT UP TO THE DEPARTMENT OF INTERIOR, WHICH IS OVER FISH AND WILDLIFE.

THIS CONSERVATION EASEMENT WAS SET ASIDE AS A PROTECTED HABITAT FOR THE PRESERVATION OF AN ENDANGERED SPECIES, THE GOLDEN CHEEKED WARBLER, A SMALL, BEAUTIFUL SONGBIRD WHO'S BORN ONLY IN THE CENTRAL PART OF OUR GREAT STATE OF TEXAS.

THESE 30 ACRES ARE PRIME GOLDEN CHEEKED WARBLER HABITAT, FULL OF MATURE CEDAR AND HUGE OAK TREES.

HUGE. CAN'T PUT YOUR ARMS AROUND THEM WITH GREATER THAN 70% CANOPY, WHEREAS THE 144 ACRES IS MOSTLY SCRUB BRUSH WITH LESS THAN 50%. A CURRENT AND PROPER SURVEY HAS NOT BEEN CONDUCTED UNLESS A RELIABLE SURVEY IS CONDUCTED BY A NON-BIASED COMPANY. TO COUNT THE NUMBER OF GOLDEN CHEEKED WARBLERS LIVING IN THIS AREA, WE FEEL THE APPROVAL OF THIS PLAT TO CLEAR CUT ALL 30 ACRES TO BUILD

[01:30:08]

106 HOMES IS IN TOTAL VIOLATION OF THE APPEALS PROCESS.

THESE ENDANGERED BIRDS ARE CURRENTLY IN MEXICO AND CENTRAL AMERICA, BUT WILL RETURN IN MARCH TO THE EXACT AREA WHERE THEY WERE BORN AND BRED HERE IN CIBOLO CANYONS.

IF THIS PLAN IS APPROVED WHEN THEY RETURN THIS YEAR IN MARCH, IT WILL BE TO BARREN LAND.

THE ONLY SITUATION I CAN THINK OF TO COMPARE THIS TO IS IF SOMEONE'S HOME BURNS TO THE GROUND WHEN THEY ARE OUT OF TOWN AND THEY COME BACK TO FIND THEIR HOME COMPLETELY GONE.

HOPEFULLY THEY WOULD HAVE GOOD INSURANCE, COULD REBUILD AND START OVER SOMEWHERE.

THESE BIRDS DO NOT HAVE THAT OPTION.

THE RESIDENTS OF CIBOLO CANYONS RESPECTFULLY REQUEST ANY ACTION ON THIS MATTER.

BE POSTPONED UNTIL U.S.

FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE RESPONDS TO THIS APPEAL.

INEQUITY IN SOCIETY.

YOU SAID THAT THE BIRDS.

IT'S NOT EQUAL FOR THEM IF THIS HAPPENS.

THE PUBLIC WORKS PERSON SAID THAT DRAINAGE AND ROADS WERE CHECKED, THE BOX WAS CHECKED ON THE DRAINAGE AND THE ROADS.

BUT I THINK THERE'S MORE BOXES TO CHECK THAN THE DRAINAGE AND THE ROADS THROUGH PUBLIC WORKS.

AND THANKS TO COMMISSIONER MOODY FOR BEING WITH US DURING THIS THROUGH THIS DILEMMA.

THANK YOU, GINA SMITH.

GOOD MORNING, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN OF THE COMMISSIONERS COURT.

MY NAME IS GINA SMITH, AND I'M A PROUD RESIDENT OF CIBOLO CANYONS.

I'M ALSO THE CHAIR FOR OUR TRAIL COMMITTEE AND OUR FIREWISE USA PROGRAM.

I SERVE IN A VOLUNTEER CAPACITY AS AN ADVISOR TO OUR BOARD OF DIRECTORS.

I AM NOT ONLY PASSIONATE ABOUT SERVING MY COMMUNITY, BUT ALSO THE ADHERENCE TO STANDARDS PERTAINING TO NATURE AND WATER CONSERVATION MEASURES.

I'M HERE TO STRONGLY URGE YOU TO DENY THE PLAT PROPOSED BY ITEM NUMBER 42 BY TF CIBOLO CANYONS LP, ALSO KNOWN AS STARWOOD LAND, AN OUT-OF-STATE DEVELOPER.

IT'S MY BELIEF THAT A LARGE PORTION OF THE CIBOLO CANYONS RESIDENTS BELIEVE AS WELL, THAT THIS DEVELOPMENT UNDERMINES THE ORIGINAL INCIDENTAL TAKE PERMIT, DATED 28TH FEBRUARY 2006, AND SETS A DANGEROUS PRECEDENT FOR CONSERVATION EFFORTS IN OUR COMMUNITY.

SINCE ACQUIRING THE PROPERTY IN 2018, IT IS OUR BELIEF THAT THE APPLICANT HAS REPEATEDLY VIOLATED THE CONDITIONS OF THE ORIGINAL PERMIT.

IN MY OPINION, THEY HAVE STRIPPED NATIVE VEGETATION NEGLECTED, REQUIRING REQUIRED REPLANTING, IGNORED RESTRICTIONS ON CLEARING NEAR GOLDEN CHEEKED WARBLER HABITAT AND FAILED TO MEET EROSION CONTROL STANDARDS, CAUSING DAMAGE TO BOTH THE WARBLERS HABITAT AND THE EDWARDS AQUIFER RECHARGE ZONE.

ADDITIONALLY, IT IS OUR BELIEF THAT THEY HAVE FAILED TO PROVIDE A REQUIRED EDUCATIONAL MATERIALS OR CONDUCT NECESSARY SPECIES MONITORING AS OUTLINED IN THE ORIGINAL PERMIT.

THE LAND SWAP INVOLVES TRADING 30 ACRES OF PRIME GOLDEN CHEEKED WARBLER HABITAT FOR 144 ACRES THAT LACK SUFFICIENT TREE COVER FOR THE SPECIES.

IT IS OUR BELIEF THAT THE APPLICATION MISCHARACTERIZED THE SUITABILITY OF THESE TRACKS, WITH FALSE CLAIMS REPEATED IN THE NEPA SCREENING FORM, FROM OUR VIEW. THE FORM CONTAINS NUMEROUS INACCURACIES, INCLUDING THE UNDERSTATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANT ENVIRONMENTAL, SOCIO ECONOMIC AND AQUIFER RECHARGE IMPACTS. INDEED, THERE IS AN OUTSTANDING APPEAL WITH THE U.S.

FISH AND WILDLIFE AT THIS VERY MOMENT REGARDING THESE.

INACCURACIES. ALLOWING THE SUBDIVISION PLAT TO MOVE FORWARD WOULD OPEN THE DOOR FOR DEVELOPERS TO BARTER AWAY CONSERVATION AREAS, ERODING THE TRUST AND THE INTEGRITY OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTIONS.

INSTEAD, WE RESPECTFULLY REQUEST THAT THE COMMISSIONERS COURT HOLD THIS APPLICANT ACCOUNTABLE FOR THEIR FAILURES TO COMPLY WITH THE ORIGINAL PERMIT AND DENY THIS PLAT.

APPROVING THIS PLAT REQUEST SENDS THE WRONG MESSAGE TO DEVELOPERS AND JEOPARDIZES THE MISSION TO PROTECT ENDANGERED SPECIES AND CRITICAL HABITATS.

IN CONCLUSION, THIS DEVELOPMENT IS NOT IN THE BEST INTEREST OF THE ENVIRONMENT, THE COMMUNITY, OR THE GOALS OF CONSERVATION.

I URGE YOU TO PULL THIS PLAT REQUEST TO CONSIDER IT, TO GIVE IT SOME TIME AND POSSIBLY DENY IT IF IT'S WITHIN YOUR POWER, AND PROTECT OUR CRITICAL RESOURCES FROM FURTHER HARM.

LET'S SET A PRECEDENT OF ACCOUNTABILITY, NOT COMPROMISE.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER MOODY.

YOU HAVE THE FLOOR. WELL, THANK YOU, JUDGE, AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR YOUR TESTIMONY AND SHARING YOUR THOUGHTS,

[01:35:08]

YOUR CONCERNS AND YOUR EXPERIENCES ON THIS ITEM.

SO MY TEAM HAS HAS BEEN VERY ENGAGED ON THIS.

MY MY CONSTITUENT SERVICES TEAM, MISTY SPEARS AND JENNY ENDERLIN.

AS I STARTED OFF THIS ITEM, THOUGH, THERE'S SOME REAL QUESTIONS, I THINK THAT I'D LIKE TO DIRECT, IF I COULD, TO COUNCIL AND TO PUBLIC WORKS AROUND WHAT OUR REQUIREMENTS ARE IN TERMS OF PLAT APPROVALS AND WHAT HAPPENS IF WE WERE TO NOT APPROVE IT TODAY.

IN TERMS OF THE PROCESS? FINALLY, I'M NOT SURE IF THERE'S ANY WAY THAT WE COULD CONFIRM, YOU KNOW, THIS APPEAL SITUATION THAT CURRENTLY EXISTS.

I WAS NOT AWARE OF THAT UNTIL THIS MORNING EITHER.

SO THERE'S A COUPLE OF THINGS.

ONE, YOU HAVE TO SEPARATE THE FEDERAL APPEAL PROCESS FROM THE STATE ISSUES, BECAUSE THOSE ARE TWO ENTIRELY DIFFERENT THINGS.

THEY'RE TALKING ABOUT A FEDERAL PERMIT THAT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THE PLAT.

THAT'S NOT PART OF OUR REVIEW PROCESS.

SO JUST SO YOU KNOW, I TALKED TO ART THIS MORNING.

OUR PLAT REVIEW IS VERY LIMITED.

AND THEN ONCE WE DEEM A PLAT SUBMISSION COMPLETE, WHICH WE HAVE THAT BECAME COMPLETE ON NOVEMBER 12TH, WE HAVE A TIME CLOCK THAT BEGINS TO RUN. WE HAVE 30 DAYS AFTER THAT DATE, AND COMPLETE MEANS THEY'VE SUBMITTED EVERYTHING THEY ARE LEGALLY REQUIRED TO SUBMIT THAT WE NEED FOR REVIEW.

ONCE THAT 30 DAY PROCESS BEGINS, AT THE END OF THAT 30 DAYS, IT'S DEEMED APPROVED BY OPERATION OF LAW.

NOW, IF THE COURT DECIDES NOT TO APPROVE IT TODAY, WHAT HAPPENS IS THAT THE STATUTE PENALIZES THE COURT AND COMMISSIONERS. COURT HAS TO REFUND THE FEES.

THE APPLICATION IS DEEMED APPROVED BY OPERATION OF LAW.

THEY CAN OBTAIN A MANDAMUS AND THEY CAN OBTAIN ATTORNEY'S FEES FOR NOT APPROVING IT.

SO IT'S A PENALTY.

WHAT ARE THOSE FEES? I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE FEES ARE EXACTLY.

WHATEVER THEY PAID ARE.

CAN YOU SPEAK TO THAT? WELL, I THINK THERE'S PROBABLY SOME INTERPRETATION ON THE TOTAL AMOUNT OF FEES THAT COULD BE SUBJECT TO THE COURT.

THERE'S APPLICATION FEES, THERE'S REGIONAL STORMWATER IMPACT FEES AND POTENTIALLY OTHER FEES THAT ARE DEVELOPED AS THE PROJECT IS BEING DEVELOPED.

YEAH. ULTIMATELY IT'S A PENALTY.

THE STATUTE PROVIDES A PENALTY WHICH WE HAVE TO PAY TO THE DEVELOPER, AND THEN ALL OF THE COSTS THAT THEY ARE REQUIRED TO PAY FOR THEIR ATTORNEYS IN OBTAINING THAT TO FORCE US TO DO EVERYTHING.

THE STATUTE REQUIRES US TO GET IT RECORDED AND ALL OF THE OTHER THINGS.

SO HOW DOES HOW DOES THE APPEAL PROCESS, THOUGH, PLAY INTO OUR APPROVAL PROCESS? IT DOESN'T.

THAT'S A FEDERAL APPEAL.

SO ULTIMATELY WE COULD APPROVE A PLAT MAP THAT THEN THE US FISH AND WILDLIFE SAYS IS, YOU KNOW, NOT ALLOWED AND THE LAND SWAP WASN'T ALLOWED.

AND THEN WHAT WOULD WE HAVE TO DO WITH THE PLAT AT THAT POINT? SO I GUESS LET ME LET'S PROVIDE A LITTLE BIT MORE INFORMATION.

SO JUST FOR THE RECORD. ART REINHARDT DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS, COUNTY ENGINEER.

SO FIRST OFF, I EMPATHIZE WITH THE FOLKS THAT CAME.

WE SEE IT ALL ACROSS THE COUNTY WHEN OPEN LAND IS BEING DEVELOPED, AS GROWTH IS OCCURRING SEEMINGLY IN PEOPLE'S BACKYARDS.

SO IT'S NOT SOMETHING WE TAKE LIGHTLY, BUT FOR THE PLANNING PROCESS, JUST FOR A BRIEF REMINDER.

PLATS THAT ARE OUTSIDE CITY LIMITS BUT WITHIN THE ETJ IT'S A JOINT REVIEW WITH BEXAR COUNTY AS WELL AS CITY OF SAN ANTONIO.

SO BEXAR COUNTY IS ONE OF THE SPEAKERS MENTIONED PRIMARILY REVIEWS STREETS AND DRAINAGE INFRASTRUCTURE.

THERE'S OTHER REVIEWS THAT ARE LED IN BY THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO, INCLUDING TRAFFIC IMPACT ANALYSIS, REGIONAL STORMWATER MANAGEMENT, TREES, LAND ENTITLEMENTS, WHICH INCLUDES THE HABITAT COMPLIANCE PROCESS, MASTER DEVELOPMENT PLANS, ALL OF THAT.

SO WE WE FOLLOW THE CITY'S LEAD ON THAT PROCESS.

SO GERMANE TO THIS PARTICULAR PLOT.

AS MENTIONED BACK IN 2006, U.S.

FISH AND WILDLIFE GRANTED A HABITAT CONSERVATION PLAN, WHICH WAS APPROXIMATELY 768 ACRES, THAT WAS ENCOMPASSED BY A CONSERVATION EASEMENT THAT WENT ALONG WITH THE PERMIT.

THAT PERMIT WAS RECENTLY AMENDED BACK IN JULY TO ALLOW AN ADDITIONAL NET 114 ACRES BE ADDED TO THE CONSERVED AREA.

SO 144 ACRES WERE ADDED.

30 ARE BEING REMOVED AS PART OF THE PERMIT.

THAT PERMIT WAS ISSUED IN EFFECTIVE IN JULY.

I AM NOT AWARE OF AN APPEAL PROCESS, BUT AS LARRY MENTIONED, THAT WOULD BE A FEDERAL APPEAL PROCESS.

ONCE A PLAT IS DEEMED ACCEPTED, IT'S IN ETJ.

IT'S A TWO STEP PROCESS.

IT GOES TO PLANNING COMMISSION FIRST, WHICH HAS ALREADY OCCURRED.

AND THEN IT COMES TO COUNTY COMMISSIONERS COURT FOR FINAL APPROVAL AND THEN ULTIMATELY BEING RECORDED.

[01:40:04]

NOW CONCURRENT WITH ALL OF THIS, THERE IS THAT CONSERVATION EASEMENT THAT IS BEING REVISED.

THE PARTIES SUBJECT TO THE CONSERVATION EASEMENT ARE THE DEVELOPER, THE NATURE CONSERVANCY, WHO MANAGES THE CONSERVATION EASEMENT, AND THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO.

SO ANY AMENDMENTS? WE WE HEARD A LOT ABOUT PERPETUITY.

THERE ARE PROVISIONS TO AMEND THE EASEMENT, BUT ALL OF THAT HAS IS DONE BETWEEN THOSE PARTIES AND NOT BEXAR COUNTY.

SO THAT IS WHERE WE'RE AT RIGHT NOW.

THE PERMIT HAS BEEN ISSUED TO SWAP THE LAND.

FISH AND WILDLIFE DID DEEM THAT THERE WOULD BE A THE EXACT WORDS IN THEIR PERMIT WERE WILL NOT APPRECIABLY REDUCE THE LIKELIHOOD OF THE SURVIVAL AND RECOVERY.

RECOVERY OF THE SPECIES.

AND THAT WAS PART OF THE PERMITTING INFORMATION.

SO THAT'S WHERE WE'RE AT. AND THEN AS THE LAST THING I'LL MENTION IS LARRY TALKED ABOUT THE 30 DAY CLAUSE.

SO AFTER THE AFTER THE PLANNING COMMISSION APPROVAL, WE WERE STILL GOING THROUGH OUR REVIEWS OF THE STREETS AND DRAINAGE INFORMATION.

WE RECEIVED ALL THE REMAINING INFORMATION WE NEEDED AND DEEMED IT ACCEPTED ON NOVEMBER 12TH.

AND SO THE 30 DAYS WOULD BE SUBJECT TO THE DECEMBER 12TH.

SO I GUESS MY REAL QUESTION AND IS IF THERE IS AN APPEAL IN PROCESS, YOU KNOW, THAT WOULD COME BACK TO THE CITY, BUT THEN THE CITY FEEDS INTO THE COUNTY'S APPROVAL.

SO THE APPEAL OF THE PERMIT IS A SEPARATE PROCESS.

IT'S NOT THE PLANNING PROCESS.

AND AGAIN, I HAVE NOT SEEN ANYTHING.

NOT THAT IT WOULD COME THROUGH US ANYWAY FOR THAT APPEAL PROCESS.

SO IF SOMEBODY ESTABLISHED A PLAT MAP TODAY AND IT WAS ON CONSERVATION LAND, THEN WE WOULD APPROVE THAT PLAT. IT'S RUNNING CONCURRENT RIGHT NOW, SO I DON'T BELIEVE ANYONE IS HERE FROM THE DEVELOPER, BUT THAT THAT'S A CONCURRENT PROCESS.

SO BY BY THE TERMS OF THE CONSERVATION EASEMENT, YOU CAN'T DO ANY WORK IN THE CONSERVED AREA.

SO THAT HAS TO BE CHANGED BEFORE ANY WORK COULD COULD START.

YEAH. ALL I'M TRYING TO GET AT IS IF THERE'S AN APPEAL IN PROCESS, DOES IT MAKE.

I MEAN DOES THAT NOT BIAS IN TERMS OF GOOD FAITH OR OR DELAY THE DECISION HERE AND JUST TABLE IT.

AND SO THE STATUTE DOES NOT ALLOW YOU TO CONSIDER EXTRANEOUS ISSUES THAT ARE UNRELATED TO THE STATUTE.

SO A FEDERAL APPEAL DOES NOT GIVE YOU THE AUTHORITY TO DELAY OR STOP THE CONSENTS.

IT DOESN'T STOP THE RUNNING OF THE 30 DAYS.

NO, IT DOESN'T AT ALL.

AND, COMMISSIONER, THERE STILL ARE A FEW PERMITS THAT WOULD NEED TO BE ISSUED BY BEXAR COUNTY PRIOR TO ANY WORK STARTING.

ONE OF THOSE IS. WELL, THERE'S REALLY 2 OR 3 DIFFERENT TYPES OF PERMITS.

WE HAVE FLOODPLAIN DEVELOPMENT PERMITS, WE HAVE OUR STORMWATER QUALITY PERMITS.

SO IF THERE'S ANY CLEARING ON THE SITE, THE APPLICANT WOULD HAVE TO SUBMIT THOSE DOCUMENTS TO US THROUGH OUR REVIEW.

WE LOOK FOR CERTAIN THINGS.

AND ONE OF THOSE WOULD BE IF THERE WAS A CONSERVATION EASEMENT.

AND THEN ANY WORK WITHIN COUNTY RIGHT OF WAY ALSO NEEDS A PERMIT.

SO COMMISSIONER, LET ME JUST JUDGE, YOU MAY UNDERSTAND THIS IS THAT THE STATUTE IS SET UP ONCE THE 30 DAYS STARTS RUNNING.

APPROVAL IS A MINISTERIAL ACT.

THERE'S NO DISCRETION IN UNLESS THERE'S A STATUTORY EXCEPTION TO APPROVAL.

IT'S MINISTERIAL, MEANING IT'S NOT A DISCRETIONARY ACT.

ONCE THEY HAVE SUBMITTED ALL THE DOCUMENTS, ONCE THE BOXES ARE CHECKED, IT REALLY IS MINISTERIAL.

THERE'S NO REAL DISCRETION UNLESS THERE'S A STATUTORY BASIS TO DENY THE PLAT.

JUDGE? YES.

CAN I ASK A QUESTION? SO THE NATURE CONSERVANCY APPROVED THE SWAP.

SO THE THE APPROVAL IS THROUGH FISH AND WILDLIFE FIRST.

NOW THE CONSERVATION EASEMENT IS STILL IN THE AMENDMENT PROCESS.

AND THAT'S THROUGH THE CITY, THE DEVELOPER AND THE CONSERVANCY AND THE CONSERVANCY SAYS THIS SWAP.

I I'M JUST FINDING IT CHALLENGING IF THE LAND IS AS CHARACTERIZED THAT THEY WOULD BE FOR IT AGAIN.

FISH AND WILDLIFE HAS REVIEWED ALL THE INFORMATION AND I KNOW, BUT THE CONSERVANCY IS HERE ON THE GROUND.

THEY'RE NOT IN WASHINGTON.

THEY CAN GO LOOK AT THE 140 ACRES.

AND IF IT'S SCRUB LAND INSTEAD OF CEDAR, I MEAN, I APPRECIATE THE POINT.

ULTIMATELY, I'M STILL JUST TRYING TO GET TO THE FACT THAT.

SO THIS GOES FORWARD, THE PLATS APPROVED, AND THEN THE APPEAL COMES DOWN THAT THEY CAN'T GO FORWARD.

AND WHAT DOES THIS PROCESS LOOK LIKE? IT SEEMS LIKE THIS PROCESS SHOULD WAIT UNTIL THAT PROCESS PLAYS OUT.

BUT YOU KNOW, AGAIN, I'M NOT THE ATTORNEY IN THE ROOM.

I DON'T KNOW IF ANY OF MY COLLEAGUES HAVE ANY THOUGHTS.

WELL, LET ME SEE IF I CAN WEIGH IN.

I'M TALKING TO LARRY ROBINSON FROM THE DA'S OFFICE TO HELP CLARIFY THE LEGAL ISSUES, BECAUSE WE'RE CONFRONTED WITH A LEGAL ISSUE.

[01:45:03]

WE BASICALLY, AS I UNDERSTAND IT, THERE IS A PERMITTING PROCESS THROUGH THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT THROUGH THE WHICH THE FISH AND WILDLIFE.

YES. AND IT'S ON APPEAL.

IT'S ON APPEAL. THEY HAVE THE FEDERAL AUTHORITIES AS SEPARATE AND DISTINCT FROM THE COUNTY AUTHORITY.

THAT'S CORRECT. THEY HAVE THE RIGHT, IF THE PERMIT WERE TO BE PULLED, RESCINDED, OR THEN OBVIOUSLY I WOULD ASSUME THE PROJECT WOULD STOP.

THAT IS A DIFFERENT ISSUE.

AND THAT'S A WHOLE DIFFERENT ISSUE.

THAT WOULD BE A DEVELOPER ISSUE VERSUS THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.

THE PLANNING PROCESS IS A VERY AS IN THE WORD IS USED MINISTERIAL, WHICH IS WE REVIEW THIS AND WE HAVE LIMITED DISCRETION IN ORDER TO RULE OUT.

IN OTHER WORDS, WE DON'T HAVE UNLIMITED SAYING, WELL, WE OPPOSE IT AND WE CAN STOP IT.

SO IF THE PLANNING DEVELOPER FOLLOWS THROUGH WITH ALL THE REGULATIONS AND THE FILING FEES AND THE AND THE WHATEVER REQUIREMENTS THE COUNTY PUTS OUT, THEN IT IS MINISTERIAL.

MEANING IT'S REALLY THE ONLY THING WE CAN DO IS PERHAPS NOT VOTE ON IT, PASS IT.

BUT BY OPERATION OF LAW, IT WILL PASS.

THAT'S WHAT OPERATION OF LAW MEANS.

IS THAT SO? OUR SILENCE CAN BE STILL BE WILL BE CONSTRUED AS ALLOWING THIS PROCESS TO GO FORWARD IF WE CHOOSE TO OPPOSE THIS.

APPARENTLY, AS I UNDERSTAND AND I'M NOT FAMILIAR WITH THIS PARTICULAR LAW.

IT IS APPEARS THAT IF WE DON'T HAVE A LEGAL BASIS, THEN THERE ARE SOME VERY SPECIFIC LEGAL BASIS.

THEN THE COUNTY WILL BE PENALIZED AND ULTIMATELY THERE WILL BE COSTS THAT THE DEVELOPER INCURRED.

THERE MAY BE PENALTIES.

AND THEN MORE IMPORTANTLY, WHICH CONCERNS ME, WILL BE PAYING ATTORNEY'S FEES FOR A ACTION THAT THE DEVELOPER WOULD TAKE AGAINST THE COUNTY. AND SO WE'RE WE'RE VERY NOT IN A SPACE, COMMISSIONER MOODY WHERE WE CAN DO MUCH.

WE EITHER ALLOW THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO DECIDE HOW THEY WANT TO PROCEED IN REGARDS TO THE ISSUES THAT OUR CITIZENS WHO HAVE TAKEN THE TIME TO COME HERE.

AND I APPLAUD THEM TO BRING THIS TO OUR ATTENTION.

BUT IN THIS ESSENCE, THAT'S A SEPARATE AND DISTINCT ISSUE THAT WILL BE TALKED ABOUT IN THE FEDERAL SYSTEM.

WHAT WE'RE ASKED TO DO IS TO APPROVE THE PLOT STAYS SILENT ON THE PLOT OR DENY THE PLOT.

UNDERSTANDING THE LEGAL CONSEQUENCES IS THAT KIND OF STATE WHAT OUR OPTIONS ARE TODAY, LARRY? WELL, I THINK YOU EITHER HAVE TO APPROVE, APPROVE WITH CONDITIONS, OR DISAPPROVE.

DON'T HAVE TO STAY SILENT.

AND I WOULD SAY, JUDGE, UNFORTUNATELY, YOU HAVE TO LOOK AT THE FACTS AS THEY ARE TODAY WHEN THE PLAT COMES BEFORE YOU.

THE APPEAL IS AN ISSUE THAT'S NOT BEFORE YOU.

TODAY. WE HOPE FOR THE RESIDENTS THAT THAT MAY BE RESOLVED FAVORABLY FOR THEM, BUT THE COURT DOES NOT GET TO CONSIDER THAT TODAY, NOR IS IT RELEVANT TO OUR REVIEW OF THE PLAT AS IT'S SUBMITTED.

WELL, IF THERE ARE NOT SIGNIFICANT, YOU KNOW LEGAL ISSUES WITH MOVING FORWARD AND TABLING THE ITEM AND TRYING TO BRING IT BACK IN JANUARY WITH BETTER UNDERSTANDING AROUND THE APPEAL, THEN I WOULD MOVE THAT WE TABLE.

COMMISSIONER, THERE ARE SIGNIFICANT LEGAL ISSUES AND THOSE WOULD BE MANDAMUS ATTORNEY'S FEES.

SO TABLING WOULD INCUR THOSE TYPE OF PENALTIES BECAUSE THEIR ONLY OPTION WOULD BE TO FORCE YOU TO.

I STAND CORRECTED WITH THAT.

YES, COUNSEL.

BY MR..

THERE ARE THREE OPTIONS IN THE STATUTE.

EITHER APPROVE IT, DISPROVE IT, OR APPROVE WITH CONDITIONS.

AND THE ONLY OPTION BEFORE YOU IS TO PROVE IT OR DISPROVE IT, OR APPROVE WITH CONDITIONS WHICH THERE ARE NO CONDITIONS, AT LEAST ACCORDING TO THE STATUTE. OKAY.

CAN WE APPROVE IT WITH CONDITIONS CONFIRMING THE APPEAL STATUS OR NO? THERE ARE NO CONDITIONS THAT I KNOW OF THAT ART HAD THAT THAT'S CONDITIONS BY STATUTE, NOT ADDED CONDITIONS.

OKAY. SO NO.

IS THERE A MOTION? WAS THERE A MOTION? MOTION FAILS.

LET'S MOVE ON. ALL RIGHT.

THOMAS! HELP ME! I'M. I JUST WANT TO.

I'M. I APOLOGIZE FOR THE TIME.

CERTAIN. WE DID OUR VERY BEST TO ACCOMMODATE COMMISSIONER CLAY-FLORES.

DO WE HAVE ANY OTHER INDIVIDUAL MATTERS? ITEM 1111.

OKAY. I BELIEVE SO.

[01:50:02]

LET US CALL UP ITEM 11.

TIME CERTAIN. WE'RE GETTING TO YOU.

PLEASE. PLEASE BEAR WITH US.

ITEM 11.

[11. Notification of payment to those employees who have accumulated hours in excess of the FLSA maximum level for an estimated amount of $1,222,021 and approval of the appropriate budget transfers in the amount of $381,721.]

COMMISSIONER MOODY, YOU ASKED TO CONSIDER INDIVIDUALLY NOTIFICATION OF PAYMENT TO THOSE EMPLOYEES WHO HAVE ACCUMULATED HOURS IN EXCESS OF THE FLSA MAXIMUM LEVEL OF AN ESTIMATED 222 $221 ON APPROVAL OF THE APPROPRIATE BUDGET TRANSFER AND AMOUNT OF $381,721. COMMISSIONER MOODY.

THANK YOU. JUDGE.

IT'S THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE HERE.

CAN WE BRING THEM OUT? HERE THEY COME. OH, THERE THEY ARE.

THANK YOU ALL FOR FOR COMING UP.

SO WE JUST PULLED THIS ITEM AGAIN.

WE'VE HAD MANY CONVERSATIONS ABOUT FLSA OVER THE YEARS.

AND I WANTED TO TO GET YOUR OVERVIEW ON THE DATA AS WE SEE IT TODAY.

I APPRECIATE YOU SENDING OVER THE LATEST THAT INCLUDED OCTOBER AND NOVEMBER, AND IT LOOKS LIKE THE DETENTION HOURS WERE SIGNIFICANTLY DOWN FROM THE LAST TWO YEARS.

CAN YOU JUST KIND OF SPEAK TO THAT, OR ARE WE FINALLY GETTING THOSE INDIVIDUALS WHO WE'VE HIRED, TRAINED AND ACTUALLY IN THE THE JAIL? YES, SIR. SO CURRENTLY ROUGHLY ABOUT A YEAR AGO, WE WERE ABOUT 300 VACANCIES.

AND CURRENTLY RIGHT NOW WE HAVE 120 VACANCIES WITH ANOTHER 44 CADETS CURRENTLY GOING THROUGH THE ACADEMY.

SO THAT'S WHAT'S SHOWING OVERALL OVERALL.

SO THAT'S WHAT'S SHOWING THE DETENTION.

THAT'S SHOWING THE LARGE DECREASE OF THE OVERTIME.

NO THAT'S THAT'S GOOD TO SEE BECAUSE WE'VE WAITED A WHILE.

YOU KNOW OBVIOUSLY IT'S TAKE TIME FOR THOSE INDIVIDUALS TO BE HIRED AND THEN TO BE TRAINED AND THEN ACTUALLY BE ABLE TO TO STAND A SHIFT.

BUT IT LOOKS LIKE WE'RE FINALLY STARTING TO SEE THE FRUITS OF OUR LABOR THERE, AND I'M EXCITED ABOUT THAT AND HOPE THAT TREND CONTINUES ON THAT FRONT.

I DID WANT TO ASK THOUGH, TOO, ABOUT THE THE POPULATION, BECAUSE I KNOW WE CONTINUE TO BE STRAINED IN THE JAIL.

SO CURRENTLY, CAN YOU JUST REFRESH US ALL AND AND WHAT IS THE TOTAL BED SPACE OF THE JAIL? HOW MANY CURRENT INMATES DO WE HAVE IN OUR PHYSICAL JAIL? AND THEN HOW MANY DO WE HAVE IN KERR COUNTY AND BURNETT COUNTY? SO CURRENTLY WE HAVE A CAPACITY OF 5075 AND WE CURRENTLY HAVE UNDER ROOF IS THIS MORNING 4956.

AND THEN WITH ANOTHER 120 THAT ARE CURRENTLY BEING HOUSED, 70 AT KERR AND 50 AT BURNETT, WHICH BRINGS A TOTAL OF 5141. OKAY.

SO AGAIN OVER CAPACITY.

RIGHT. WHICH IS WHY WE HAVE THOSE INMATES AT SURROUNDING COUNTIES AND THOSE 120 INMATES THAT ARE IN SURROUNDING COUNTIES, THEY ARE ALL PAPER READY TO BE TRANSFERRED.

IS THAT CORRECT? YES, SIR.

OKAY. SO I'VE ASKED SOME OF THESE QUESTIONS BEFORE, AND I'LL BE QUICK, BUT I DON'T THINK WE HAVE ANSWERS FOR ALL OF THEM.

BUT, YOU KNOW, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE MULTIPLE DISCUSSIONS HERE TODAY REGARDING THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE PROCESS.

WE'RE GOING TO TALK ABOUT THE BACKLOG WITH THE DA.

WE'RE ALSO GOING TO HAVE A CONVERSATION ABOUT SASH, ABOUT MENTAL HEALTH BEDS UNIVERSITY HOSPITALS HERE TO SPEAK TO US AS WELL.

I THINK THERE'S A LOT OF CONNECTIONS BETWEEN ALL OF THESE ITEMS AND THE DISCUSSIONS WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TODAY.

BUT YOU KNOW, ULTIMATELY, WE ARE OVER CAPACITY.

WE'VE BEEN OVER CAPACITY, AND WE ARE IN THE OFF SEASON, RIGHT? AND SO IT'S LIKELY THAT THAT JAIL CAPACITY, THE THE POPULATION OF THE JAIL EITHER HOUSED IN OUR JAIL OR ELSEWHERE IS GOING TO INCREASE OVER THE NEXT 6 TO 9 MONTHS.

CORRECT. IT'S A SEASONAL INCREASE.

CORRECT. SO, YOU KNOW, I'VE ASKED THE QUESTION, WHERE ARE WE GOING TO GO WITH THE NEXT HUNDRED INMATES? WHERE ARE WE GOING TO GO WITH THE NEXT 200 INMATES? WHERE ARE WE GOING TO GO WITH THE NEXT 500 INMATES? AND IF YOU HAVE OTHER IDEAS OR SOLUTIONS HERE TODAY, I'M WELCOME TO HEAR THEM.

BUT I HAVEN'T HEARD OF OF WHAT OUR PLANS ARE.

YOU KNOW, AS WE CONTINUE TO HAVE MORE INMATES AND WE'RE ALREADY AT CAPACITY, WE'RE ALREADY OVER CAPACITY.

[01:55:09]

CURRENTLY, I MEAN, WE WE DON'T HAVE ANY CURRENT PLANS.

I MEAN, WE HAVE SEEN A PROJECTION OF THE INCREASE.

OTHER IN HOUSING. NOW, CURRENTLY, I MEAN, LONG TERM PLANNING NEEDS TO BE DONE RIGHT NOW TO BE ABLE TO PROJECT THAT, KNOWING THAT THE POPULATION IS INCREASING.

WELL, I APPRECIATE YOU MENTIONING THAT BECAUSE I DO THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE DO SOME MID AND LONG TERM PLANNING ON THIS ITEM.

IN FACT, YOU KNOW, I WOULD I WOULD REALLY LIKE TO SEE A EITHER A WORK SESSION OR, YOU KNOW, AN AGENDA ITEM LOOKING AT A STUDY TO LOOK AT MID AND LONG TERM OPTIONS FOR, FOR THE JAIL BECAUSE AND THERE'S MULTIPLE ISSUES WITHIN THIS SPACE.

RIGHT. BUT ULTIMATELY WHEN WE'RE JUST TALKING ABOUT CAPACITY TO HOLD THE INCARCERATED WE DON'T WE DON'T HAVE ANSWERS.

AND IF WE HAVE 500 MORE INMATES NEXT SUMMER, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO HAVE ANSWERS FOR THAT.

AND EITHER THAT'S 4 OR 5 OTHER COUNTIES ARE BRINGING BEDS TO THE TABLE.

OR WHAT IS THE SOLUTION? AND I DON'T WANT US TO GET TO THE POINT WHERE WE'RE BOXED IN AND WE HAVE TO START MAKING DECISIONS ABOUT FOLKS THAT THAT UNDER CURRENT POLICY, SHOULD BE INCARCERATED, BUT INSTEAD, BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE ANY OPTIONS THAT ARE NOT INCARCERATED.

AND THAT'S A PUBLIC SAFETY ISSUE.

SO AGAIN, I'M, I'M ADVOCATING AND ENCOURAGING MY COLLEAGUES TO TO MOVE FORWARD WITH REALLY TAKING A HARD LOOK AT WHAT ARE THOSE MID AND LONG TERM SOLUTIONS.

I DON'T THINK WE UNDERSTAND WHAT THE TRADE OFFS ARE BETWEEN WHAT WHAT WHAT WAS THE ORIGINAL EXPECTED LIFE OF OUR CURRENT JAIL? I DON'T HAVE THAT OFF.

DO WE KNOW STAFF? I DON'T KNOW, DAN CURRY IS HERE.

KNOW THAT? WELL, WE'VE ADDED CAPACITY MANY TIMES, SO I DON'T KNOW THE ORIGINAL LIFE.

I DON'T KNOW, BACK IN THE 80S.

I MEAN, BACK THEN, WE WERE PEOPLE WERE PAYING US TO HOUSE PEOPLE.

THIS IS JUST A COMPLETELY DIFFERENT ENVIRONMENT.

AND YOU KNOW WHAT OUR MAINTENANCE COSTS ON, YOU KNOW, A 40, 50 YEAR OLD JAIL GOING FORWARD, RIGHT? AT WHAT POINT DOES IT MAKE SENSE THAT WE HAVE TO LOOK AT NEW OPTIONS, OR AT LEAST EVALUATE THE TRADE OFFS, RIGHT.

WE ARE GOING TO HAVE TO CONTINUE TO SPEND MORE AND MORE ON MAINTENANCE AT OUR CURRENT FACILITY, OR WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO TALK ABOUT A NEW FACILITY.

AND WHAT WOULD THE OVERALL COST BE WITH THAT? OR, YOU KNOW, BUILDING ADDITIONAL ANNEX AT THE AT THE CURRENT FOOTPRINT, WHICH I THINK THAT IS ONE OF THE POTENTIAL SOLUTIONS THAT WE TALKED.

WE'RE GOING TO TALK ABOUT LATER TODAY WHEN IT COMES TO MENTAL HEALTH BEDS.

BUT I THINK WE GOT TO PULL ALL THESE OPTIONS TOGETHER AND REALLY EXPLORE THEM.

AND THE LONGER WE WAIT, SOMEBODY ON STAFF, I DON'T REMEMBER WHO IT WAS.

AND I'M NOT GOING TO NAME NAMES, BUT SO, YOU KNOW, I THINK WE'RE ALREADY YEARS BEHIND THE POWER CURVE.

AND MAYBE IT WAS WITHIN THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE.

BUT WHEN IT COMES TO TO TO BUILDING A NEW FACILITY OR BUILDING A NEW ANNEX, THIS ISN'T GOING TO BE DONE IN 12 MONTHS OR 24 MONTHS.

IT'S GOING TO TAKE YEARS AND YEARS TO DO SO.

I THINK WE REALLY NEED TO HAVE A HARD CONVERSATION IN THE COMING WEEKS, MONTHS ABOUT WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE, WHETHER THAT'S A WORK SESSION, WHETHER THAT'S A SPECIFIC AGENDA ITEM, LOOKING FOR A CONSULTANT TO COME IN AND EVALUATE WHAT THE TRADEOFFS WOULD BE BETWEEN THESE DIFFERENT OPTIONS.

I THINK WE NEED TO DO SOMETHING AND WE NEED TO DO SOMETHING SOON.

SO I APPRECIATE YOU SHARING.

I'M GLAD WE'RE MAKING SOME PROGRESS ON THE THE OVERTIME AT THE JAIL, BUT I DO HOPE WE CAN CONTINUE TO ENGAGE ON THIS WHEN IT COMES TO THE CAPACITY AND THE POPULATION THERE.

THANK YOU. IS THERE A MOTION? I MOVE APPROVAL. MOTION BY COMMISSIONER MOODY, SECOND BY COMMISSIONER CALVERT.

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

THANK YOU VERY MUCH, GENTLEMEN.

ALL RIGHT. THOMAS, ARE WE READY TO GO TO TIME? CERTAIN. WITH MY HUMBLEST APOLOGIES.

[5.a. 10:00 a.m.: Discussion and appropriate action regarding the Bexar County Hospital District d/b/a University Health's Operating, Debt Service and Capital Budgets for Fiscal Year 2025. ]

LAST UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL AND THE TEAM LED BY THE CEO, ED BASTIAN.

DISCUSSION. APPROPRIATE ACTION REGARDING BEXAR COUNTY HOSPITAL DISTRICT, DBA UNIVERSITY HEALTH'S OPERATING DEBT SERVICE CAPITAL BUDGET FOR FISCAL YEAR 2025.

THE FLOOR IS YOURS, MR. HASSLACHER. GOOD MORNING, YOUR HONOR.

GOOD MORNING, COMMISSIONERS.

GOOD MORNING. THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING US TO BE HERE TODAY.

AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONTINUED SUPPORT OF THE BEXAR COUNTY HOSPITAL DISTRICT.

WE DO THIS ON A YEARLY BASIS.

AND THEN SOME TO COME BEFORE THE COURT TO MAKE SURE THAT, YOU KNOW WHAT WE'RE DOING OUT THERE AND THAT YOUR HELP HAS BEEN TREMENDOUS. AS WE MOVE FORWARD.

[02:00:05]

OUR COMMUNITY IS GROWING AND YOUR COMMITMENT TO OUR MISSION.

WE'RE GOING TO UNIVERSITY.

HEALTH IS THE ONLY LOCALLY OWNED HEALTH SYSTEM IN THE COMMUNITY, AND WE TAKE THAT SERIOUSLY AND THE RESPONSIBILITY THAT GOES WITH IT.

SO SINCE WE'RE ALMOST AN HOUR BEHIND, I THINK I HAVE BEEN INSTRUCTED TO MAKE THIS BRIEF.

SO I WILL BE BRIEF.

I'D LIKE TO I DON'T BELIEVE ANY OF MY FELLOW COLLEAGUES ON THE BOARD OF MANAGERS ARE HERE.

GOOD MORNING, MRS. SAKAI.

ED BANOS, OUR CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER OR CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER.

BILL PHILLIPS. CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER.

REED HURLEY, CHIEF MEDICAL DIRECTOR.

DOCTOR BRIAN AHLSTEDT, CHIEF MARKETING AND COMMUNICATIONS OFFICER LYNN KIRKMAN, EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT, STRATEGIC DEVELOPMENT.

TED DAY AND OUR LEGAL OFFICER, SERENA RAVELLA, ARE HERE TODAY.

AND WITH THAT, I WILL TURN IT OVER TO ED BANOS AND REED HURLEY TO PRESENT SINCE THE HOUR IS IS LATE.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU.

THANK YOU, MR. WALKER.

I MET THE CEO OF UNIVERSITY HEALTH.

AND I'M HERE TO PRESENT A CONSOLIDATED OPERATING DEBT SERVICE AND CAPITAL BUDGET FOR 2025.

I WANTED TO GIVE YOU AGAIN, HOW WE LOOK AT DRIVING OUR BUDGET EVERY YEAR.

OUR OUR BUDGET IS BASED ON MAKING SURE THAT WE'RE DRIVING THE HIGHEST QUALITY AND SAFETY OUTCOMES, HOW WE CAN IMPROVE PATIENT EXPERIENCE, IMPROVE EFFICIENCIES, AND MAKE SURE THAT THERE'S ACCESS FOR EVERYONE WHO NEEDS US.

MY FIRST, WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO ADD AND THEN TO THE PRIOR DISCUSSION IS WE KNOW BEXAR COUNTY IS GROWING.

AND A FEW YEARS AGO, THE COURT APPROVED US THE GROWTH OF OUR COMMUNITY HOSPITALS.

AS YOU CAN SEE, WE HAVE OUR CURRENT HOSPITAL AT RETAMA AND PALO ALTO ON THE SOUTH SIDE, CURRENTLY UNDER CONSTRUCTION, BUT OF.

BOTH OF THEM ARE BEING BUILT FOR ABOUT 140 TO 160 BEDS, WITH THE CAPABILITIES OF GROWING IN THE FUTURE AS SAN ANTONIO GROWS.

WE ALSO JUST CELEBRATED THE ONE YEAR ANNIVERSARY OF OUR WOMEN'S AND CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL, WHICH I'LL SHARE SOME DATA LATER ON, BUT WHICH HAS BEEN A HUGE SUCCESS.

THIS IS A RENDERING OF THE PALO ALTO AND RETAMA HOSPITALS.

THE HOSPITAL IS ON THE LEFT HAND SIDE, AND IT'S ALSO GOING TO ON THE RIGHT HAND SIDE, HAVE AN ATTACHED MEDICAL OFFICE BUILDING SO THAT WE CAN HAVE MEDICAL SPECIALISTS THERE AT THE HOSPITAL AND IN THE COMMUNITIES TO PROVIDE SERVICE CURRENTLY AND QUICKLY.

I'LL GO THROUGH THESE. WE ARE IN THE PROCESS OF CONSTRUCTION.

IF ANY OF YOU HAVE DRIVEN PAST THOSE SITES WHERE THE FOUNDATIONS ARE BEING COMPLETED.

OUR PALO ALTO HOSPITAL HAS THREE CRANES UP.

THE FOUNDATIONS ARE BEING COMPLETED, THEIR STRUCTURE IS BEING BUILT FOR THE ELEVATORS AND THE STAIRWELLS AND THE SIGHTS MOVING ALONG QUICKLY.

OUR RETAMA HOSPITAL IS A LITTLE BIT AHEAD OF TIME.

THERE WAS SOME INFRASTRUCTURE THERE THAT WAS ALREADY AVAILABLE FOR US.

SO WE'RE A LITTLE BIT AHEAD OF THE PALO ALTO HOSPITAL.

BUT BOTH CONSTRUCTION COMPANIES ARE WORKING HARD TO GET THESE HOSPITALS COMPLETED WITH AN ESTIMATED DATE OF COMPLETION, SIGNIFICANT COMPLETION THE END OF 26 EARLY 27. AGAIN, THE HOSPITAL NOW HAS PARKING LOTS THAT'S STARTING TO HAVE FOUNDATION FORMATION FOR THE FOR THE ANCILLARY SERVICES THAT WILL BE OUT THERE FOR ALL THE CONSTRUCTION WORKERS AND ALSO THE GRADING.

WE HAVE TWO PUBLIC HEALTH BUILDINGS.

OUR FIRST UNIVERSITY HEALTH WHEATLEY, WHICH WAS UNDER CONSTRUCTION RIGHT NOW, WILL OPEN IN EARLY 26, SHOULD BE SUBSTANTIALLY COMPLETED IN THE END OF 25.

THE BUILDING IS CURRENTLY UP.

YOU CAN SEE THE THE THE THE FRAMING IS UP.

WE STARTED WORKING THE ROOF.

THIS IS ACTUALLY AN OLD PICTURE OF THE ROOF IS ALREADY COMPLETED AND THEY'RE WORKING ON INTERNAL FRAMING AND CONSTRUCTION.

THIS WILL BE THIS WILL PROVIDE US A CARE OVER ON THE EAST SIDE URGENT CARE.

THIS WILL ALSO HAVE SPECIALISTS.

IT WILL ALSO HAVE A PUBLIC HEALTH FUNCTION FOR COMMUNITY EDUCATION TRAINING, AS WELL AS A PHARMACY AND LIMITED DIAGNOSTICS.

THIS IS OUR UNIVERSITY HEALTH VITA, WHICH IS ON THE CAMPUS OF PALO ALTO.

THIS IS A THREE STORY BUILDING.

CURRENTLY YOU CAN SEE RIGHT HERE IT IS MOVING ALONG.

THESE SERVICES WILL BE THE EXACT SAME ON THE FIRST FLOOR OF UNIVERSITY HEALTH VITA.

THE SECOND FLOOR WILL BE OUR PUBLIC HEALTH, WHERE WE'LL BE WORKING WITH LOCAL COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS AS WELL AS OUR PUBLIC HEALTH INSTITUTE, AND TO MAKE SURE THAT WE CAN PROVIDE SERVICES FOR EVERYBODY IN THE COMMUNITY AND PROVIDE ACCESS TO ALL THE COMMUNITY LEADERS AND SERVICES THAT ARE NEEDED.

THE HALF OF THE THIRD FLOOR WILL ALSO BE ADOLESCENT AND ADULT BEHAVIORAL PSYCH ON THIS FLOOR, SO THAT WE CAN PROVIDE A CLOSER TO HOME ON THE SOUTH SIDE.

AND WE ARE CURRENTLY IN HIRING THOSE STAFF RIGHT NOW AS WE GET FORWARD TO THAT.

SOME MAJOR EXPANSIONS WE DID THIS YEAR ON WURZBACH AVENUE IN THE MEDICAL CENTER.

WE RENOVATED OUR BREAST CENTER, WHICH IS SEEING A HUGE GROWTH.

[02:05:03]

WE HAVE IMPLEMENTED SOME OF THE MOST ADVANCED AI SOFTWARE AND BIOPSY EQUIPMENT FOR BREAST CANCER THAT'S BEING DONE IN THE COMMUNITY.

THAT CENTER, ALONG WITH OUR 3D MOBILE MAMMOGRAPHY UNITS, ARE USED TO GO OUT IN THE COMMUNITY AND PROVIDE MAMMOGRAMS OUT WHERE THEY WHERE THEY CAN'T COME TO US.

WE WERE VERY FORTUNATE TO HAVE TOYOTA, TEXAS HELP US TAKE ONE OF OUR OLD MAMMO VANS AND CONVERT IT INTO A BLUNT BLOOD DONOR BUS.

AS YOU MIGHT KNOW, UNIVERSITY HEALTH HAS A MAJOR DONOR BLOOD DONOR UNIT IN THE HOSPITAL.

WE TRY AND SUPPLY ALL OF OUR BLOOD NEEDED IN THE HOSPITAL THROUGH DONATIONS INTERNALLY.

THESE BUSSES AND AS WELL AS OUR DONOR CENTERS DO A GREAT JOB OF GOING OUT INTO THE COMMUNITY AND GETTING BLOOD DONATED.

WE'VE ALSO EXPANDED A LOT IN OUR UMA, OUR UNIVERSITY MEDICINE ASSOCIATES MEDICAL PRACTICE.

WE HAVE HIRED PD, ENT, SURGEONS, CARDIAC, PEDIATRIC CARDIOLOGISTS, SURGEONS, AND PRIMARY CARE TO EXPAND OUR FOOTPRINT IN PRIMARY CARE.

WE'VE ALSO EMPLOYED PODIATRISTS, ALLERGISTS, AND GASTROENTEROLOGISTS, WHICH ARE SOME OF OUR LARGEST WAIT TIMES THAT WE HAVE IN THE COMMUNITY.

AND THEN WE ALSO OPENED A CLINIC IN TWIN TOWN VILLAGE.

THIS HAS BEEN ONE THAT HAS REALLY, I THINK, HAD AN IMPACT ALREADY WHEN WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO SEE PATIENTS OVER THERE WHO'VE BEEN ABLE TO LIVE INTO THOSE COMMUNITY.

AND ACTUALLY WE OFFER IT NOW TO THE AREA OF THE COMMUNITY FOR ALL THAT CAN BE SEEN THERE, AND IT'S HAVING GREAT OUTCOMES.

WE ALSO HAVE ADVANCED A LOT OF TECHNOLOGIES.

ONE OF THE THINGS IN HEALTHCARE YOU'LL HEAR A LOT ABOUT IS ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE.

WE NOT ONLY IN OUR MAMMOGRAPHY CENTER, BUT WITH OUR MRS. WE'VE UPGRADED OUR MRIS WITH ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE.

THIS HAS MADE OUR MRI TESTS ACTUALLY ABOUT 50% FASTER.

SO FOR ANY OF YOU THAT EVER HAD AN MRI AND HAVE TO STAY THERE AND HOLD YOUR BREATH FOR 3040 50S WHILE AN IMAGE IS GOING ON THAT'S NOW DOWN TO TEN 15 SECONDS, THE ACTUAL TESTS ARE ACTUALLY DONE FASTER, SO WE'RE ACTUALLY GETTING MORE THROUGHPUT THROUGH THE SAME MRI VERSUS HAVING TO BUY ADDITIONAL.

EVEN THOUGH VOLUME IS INCREASING, IT'S ALSO HELPING US WITH OUR TURNAROUND TIME FOR THE RADIOLOGIST READING IT.

WE ALSO IMPLEMENTED, WHICH IS A PICTURE ON YOUR RIGHT, THE INTUITIVE BRONCHOSCOPY ROBOT.

THIS ALLOWS THAT OUR INTERVENTIONAL PULMONOLOGISTS, IF YOU HAVE BEEN DIAGNOSED WITH A SMALL LUNG NODULE, THESE ROBOTS CAN GO AND PINPOINT AND ACCURATELY TAKE OUT THE ENTIRE NODULE AND THEN GET THAT BIOPSIED SO THAT THEY KNOW WHAT'S THERE.

BUT THEY CAN. BUT WITH PRECISION ACCURACY, THEY CAN REMOVE THE ENTIRE NODULE.

WHEREAS BEFORE THEY WERE VERY RIGID AND FLEXIBLE OR NOT FLEXIBLE, AND THE DOCTORS HAD TO USE IMAGING, NOT THE MACHINE, FROM X-RAYS OR CTS TO TRY AND FIND THAT AND THEN REMOVE IT.

NOW THEY CAN USE THE IMAGING IN CONJUNCTION WITH THESE FLEXIBLE SCOPES, SO THEY CAN ACTUALLY CAPTURE THE IMAGE AND TAKE IT OUT.

WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO GET EARLY DIAGNOSED CANCERS THAT HAVE BEEN BEEN ABLE TO GET A LOT EARLIER THAN THROUGH THE OTHER WAY.

WE ALSO HAVE OUR FOURTH DA VINCI ROBOT.

THE DA VINCI ROBOT IS A ROBOT THAT ALLOWS SURGEONS FOR PRECISE SURGERY THEY CAN TAKE OUT.

IT'S USED IN GYNECOLOGICAL SURGERY, GENERAL SURGERY, HEART SURGERY, BUT WE ACTUALLY ARE DOING IT FOR PATIENTS THAT WILL DONATE A LIVER.

AND TRADITIONALLY, WHEN ANYONE WOULD DONATE A LIVER.

AND WE'RE THE SECOND LARGEST LIVING LIVER DONOR CENTER IN THE UNITED STATES, THE PATIENT WHO DONATES COMES IN.

WE WOULD OPEN THE PATIENT UP, TAKE PART OF THE LIVER AND THEN TRANSFER THAT OVER AND PUT IT INTO THE RECIPIENT, WHO'S USUALLY IN AN OPERATING ROOM NEXT DOOR WAITING FOR THAT LIVER. THAT PROCEDURE IS VERY PRECISE, AND A LOT OF TIMES FROM THE OPEN PROCEDURE AND THE OTHER WAY THAT THE PHYSICIANS WOULD BE DOING THIS, THE DA VINCI ROBOT WILL ACTUALLY BE, AS IT STATES, A ROBOT WHERE THE SURGEON WILL PERSONALLY TAKE OUT THE PARTS OF THE LIVER AND MOVE IT IN AND THE RECOVERY.

NOW, FOR THE PERSON WHO'S DONATING, THEIR LIVER HAS BEEN REDUCED SIGNIFICANTLY, STAYS IN THE HOSPITAL AND THE RECOVERY OUTCOMES HAVE BEEN BETTER.

SO WE'RE USING TECHNOLOGY AND ROBOTICS NOW TO ADVANCE HEALTH CARE HERE AT UNIVERSITY HEALTH.

THIS YEAR WAS ALSO A YEAR OF US FOR ACCREDITATIONS.

WE HAD OUR TRIENNIAL JOINT COMMISSION ACCREDITATION, WHICH COMES EVERY THREE YEARS.

THAT HOLDS US TO THE STANDARDS OF MAKING SURE THAT WE'RE THE HIGHEST QUALITY HEALTH CARE INSTITUTION, ACCORDING TO THE JOINT COMMISSION.

A FEW WEEKS AGO, WE WERE DESIGNATED THE HIGHEST LEVEL OF MATERNITY CARE.

LEVEL FOUR MATERNITY CARE.

THIS WAS DONE BY THE AMERICAN COLLEGE OF OBSTETRICS AND GYNECOLOGY, AND OUT OF ABOUT 148 METRICS, THERE WAS NOT ONE DEFICIENCY ON OUR MATERNAL REVIEW, WHICH IS INCREDIBLE FOR AS MUCH TIME AS WHAT THEY'VE DONE FOR US.

[02:10:03]

SOMETHING THAT WE STARTED WITH THE CITY YEARS AGO, RIGHT ABOUT COVID, WAS BECOMING A TRAUMA INFORMED CARE ORGANIZATION OF MAKING SURE THAT WE CAN NOT ONLY TRAIN OTHER BUSINESSES, BUT ALSO OURSELVES, BE CERTIFIED IN TRAUMA INFORMED CARE.

WE ARE THE FIRST HEALTH SYSTEM IN SAN ANTONIO TO BE TRAINED IN TRAUMA INFORMED CARE, AND WE BELIEVE ONE OF THE FIRST MAJOR HEALTH CARE INSTITUTIONS IN THE COUNTRY TO BE CERTIFIED BY NOT ONLY FOR OUR STAFF, BUT AS AN ORGANIZATION.

AND AS YOU CAN SEE, WE'VE BEEN RECOGNIZED AS TOP WORKPLACES.

AND OUR NURSES IN A VERY, VERY BUSY E.R.

HAVE BEEN RECOGNIZED NATIONALLY BY THE LANTERN AWARD FOR BOTH THE CHILDREN AND ADULT EMERGENCY DEPARTMENTS FROM AN OPERATIONAL PERFORMANCE.

I JUST WANTED TO SHARE JUST SOME INCREDIBLE STATISTICS.

WHEN YOU LOOK AT IN TEN YEARS AGO, OUR EMERGENCY ROOM WAS DOING AROUND 76 TO 80,000 EMERGENCY ROOM VISITS.

THIS YEAR, WE'RE GOING TO BE DOING 123,000 EMERGENCY ROOM VISITS.

AND THIS IS NOT THIS IS WITHOUT ANY ADDITIONAL SPACE.

THE SKY TOWER OPENED IN 2014.

SO IT'S JUST A JUST SHARING WITH YOU SOME HIGH DEMANDS FOR SERVICES HERE AT UNIVERSITY HEALTH, OUR AVERAGE DAILY CENSUS, WHEN WE LOOKED AT IT, WHEN THE SKY TOWER OPENED IN 2014, WE WERE AT 427 AND WE ARE AT 732, AND WE'RE PUSHING ALMOST 800 EVERY DAY.

AND THAT'S ALSO DUE TO THE ADDITIONAL BEDS WITH THE WOMEN'S AND CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL.

THIS IS THE ONE THAT I THINK IS THE MOST INCREDIBLE.

FOR YEARS WE'VE BEEN STUCK AT 3000 DELIVERIES ARE.

WOMEN'S AND CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL OPENED DECEMBER 6TH OF 2023 AND WE JUMPED UP ANOTHER THOUSAND DELIVERIES.

IT'S NOT JUST THE FACILITY AT UNIVERSITY HEALTH, IT HAS CREATED THE CAPACITY, BUT WE WE ALSO HAVE MADE AN EFFORT TO MAKE SURE THAT THERE ARE OB GYN SERVICES IN THE COMMUNITIES FROM NACO TO KENWOOD TO HILLIARD CLINIC ALL AROUND THE COMMUNITY, ACCESS THAT IN THE SOUTHEAST AND THE SOUTHWEST CLINICS. IF YOU NEED OB CARE, WE CAN HAVE IT IN THE COMMUNITY AND THEN HAVE YOU GET CARE AT UNIVERSITY HEALTH FOR YOUR DELIVERIES. THIS IS A SLIDE I KNOW THAT WE'RE VERY PROUD OF.

AND THIS IS AGAIN, CREDIT TO GEORGE TO SHOW THIS OUR BUDGET, WHEN YOU LOOK AT ON THE FAR RIGHT HAND SIDE THERE, WE'RE GOING TO PLAN.

WE'RE LOOKING AT 40,000 DISCHARGES, A SIGNIFICANT INCREASE, AGAIN, ABOUT 5%.

MOST CARE HEALTH CARE INSTITUTIONS IN THE COUNTRY ARE VERY HAPPY WITH 2 TO 3% GROWTH WE'VE EXCEEDED THAT YEAR AFTER YEAR.

I THINK THE NUMBERS THAT ARE THE BIGGER, MORE IMPRESSIVE NUMBERS IS WE'RE PROBABLY GOING TO CRACK OVER 300,000 VISITS IN OUR RUBBER GREEN CAMPUS.

THAT'S JUST AN INCREDIBLE AMOUNT OF PATIENTS IN ONE BUILDING RECEIVING SERVICES, SPECIALTY CARE, PRIMARY CARE, AMBULATORY TESTS AND SURGERY.

WE'RE OUR UNIVERSITY MEDICINE ASSOCIATES IS GOING TO SEE OVER 563,000 PRIMARY CARE VISITS.

ARE SPECIALIST VISITS IN PARTNERSHIP WITH UT ARE GOING TO EXCEED CLOSE TO SIX CLOSE TO 600,000 VISITS.

SO THAT WILL PROBABLY PUT US AT ABOUT 1.4 PATIENTS THAT WE'LL BE TOUCHING IN THE AMBULATORY NETWORK, JUST IN SEEING PRIMARY CARE AND SPECIALIST CARE.

I DID WANT TO TOUCH ON SOMETHING THAT MAYBE THAT IS, YOU KNOW, WE'RE WORKING VERY CLOSELY WITH, WITH THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE AND OTHERS.

YOU KNOW, AS YOU KNOW, WE DO PROVIDE DETENTION, HEALTH CARE.

AND IT'S BEEN TALKED ABOUT A LOT LOCALLY.

BUT ONE OF THE THINGS I THINK IS AS THE JAIL HAS GROWN AS, AS COMMISSIONER MOODY MENTIONED, THERE'S A LOT GOING ON IN THE JAIL.

AND WHEN IT COMES TO JAIL, IT'S ALSO JAIL HEALTH CARE.

WHEN WE LOOK AT IT RIGHT NOW, WE ARE ANNUALIZED THAT WE WILL TOUCH OUR NURSES, WILL PROVIDE OVER 4 MILLION INTERACTIONS WITH PEOPLE IN THE JAIL, OR WE WILL PASS OVER 2 MILLION MEDICATIONS IN THE JAIL.

THE MENTAL HEALTH CONTACTS ARE GOING TO BE CLOSE TO 300,000 MENTAL HEALTH CONTACTS.

THAT'S NURSES WATCHING AND DOING CHECKS ON THEM, AS WELL AS PSYCHIATRIC PSYCHOLOGISTS, SOCIAL WORK OR OTHER SERVICES IN THE JAIL.

WE DO CLOSE TO 190,000 SUICIDE PREVENTION MONITORINGS IN THE JAIL.

AND AS YOU KNOW, THE JAIL IS A VERY COMPLEX PLACE.

IT'S NOT A HOSPITAL WHERE NURSES CAN ROAM FREELY AND JUST EASILY DELIVER A MED TO A ROOM.

THERE'S SECURITY, THERE'S STEPS THAT THEY HAVE TO GO THROUGH.

SO IT'S A VERY COMPLICATED PROCESS.

AND THEN THE OTHER THING FROM THE MEDICAL PROVIDERS I WOULD SHARE IS WE'RE GOING TO HAVE OVER 126,000 MEDICAL INTERVENTIONS.

THEY'RE ACTUALLY DOING AS MUCH AS OUR EMERGENCY ROOM AT UNIVERSITY HEALTH WHEN IT COMES TO THE AMOUNT OF PEOPLE IN THE JAIL THAT ARE BEING SEEN BY A

[02:15:06]

DOCTOR OR A NURSE PRACTITIONER, THAT'S MEDICAL EVALUATION.

NOW, THE SEVERITY ISN'T THERE, BUT THEY'RE BEING SEEN AND BEING TAKEN CARE OF.

WE HAVE AN INFIRMARY, WE HAVE DIALYSIS, WE HAVE DENTAL, WE HAVE MEDICAL ACUTE THAT WE CAN TAKE CARE OF.

MANY OF THOSE, IF THEY ARE TOO SICK WILL GET TRANSFERRED OUT.

AND WE'VE WORKED VERY CLOSELY WITH THE SHERIFF THIS YEAR ON WORKING ON MEDICAL PROTOCOLS SO THAT WE CAN MAKE SURE THAT THE PATIENTS THAT NEED TO BE SCREENED OUT WILL BE SCREENED.

BUT PATIENTS THAT CAN BE OR INMATES THAT CAN BE SEEN IN THE JAIL CAN BE SEEN.

BUT WE'RE WE'RE LOOKING AT OVER 7000 OR 7 MILLION, I'M SORRY CONTACTS IN WITH THE JAIL.

WITH THAT, WE'VE ADDED STAFF.

IN 2021, WE HAD 253 STAFF IN THE JAIL.

WE ARE NOW AT 282.

IN THE JAIL. WE HAVE OVER 145 NURSES.

WE HAVE 14 MEDICAL PROVIDERS IN THE JAIL.

THAT'S DOCTORS, PSYCHIATRISTS, NURSE PRACTITIONERS, PHYSICIANS.

THE PSYCHIATRISTS ARE SEPARATE.

SORRY. THAT'S THREE. WE HAVE FIVE PSYCHOLOGISTS.

I THINK THE OTHER IMPORTANT ONE TO POINT OUT HERE IS WE HAVE 41 SOCIAL WORKERS IN THE JAIL.

AND THIS IS WORKING ON EVERYTHING FROM FROM ADDICTION TO MENTAL HEALTH, OTHERS THAT CAN WORK ON THEM AND WORK ON THOSE TRANSITIONS. SO WE HAVE 282 AND WE HIRED ONE ADDICTION SPECIALIST NOW BECAUSE WE SAW THE NEED FOR THAT IN THE JAIL, THAT WE CAN WORK ON IT.

EXCUSE ME. ONE OF THE SUCCESSES IN THE JAIL IS WHAT WE ARE NOW DOING.

MEDICATION ASSISTED TREATMENT IN BEXAR COUNTY.

THIS IS FOR PATIENTS THAT WILL COME IN THAT ARE ON ADDICTIONS.

ADDITIONALLY, BEFORE, WHEN YOU WERE IN THE JAIL, IF YOU WERE GOING THROUGH HEROIN WITHDRAWAL, YOU WERE IN A JAIL AND YOU WOULD NOT GET THE MEDICATIONS TO TO GET OFF OF THE WITHDRAWALS. WE ARE NOW USING THROUGH MEDICAL INTERVENTIONS AND OTHERS, BUPRENORPHINE SO THAT WE CAN WORK ON THE WITHDRAWALS, BECAUSE WE ALSO KNOW WHEN WITHDRAWALS HAPPEN.

MEDICAL THINGS CAN HAPPEN AS WELL WHEN THEY'RE GOING THROUGH THE WITHDRAWALS.

SO WE'RE WORKING ON THAT AND WE'RE WORKING WITH THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE ON ON HOW WE'RE DELIVERING THAT.

AND JUST WE STARTED THIS IN MAY.

AND AS YOU CAN SEE ALREADY WE HAVE 61 PEOPLE IN TREATMENT IN THE JAIL.

AND THAT'S WORKING.

WE'RE GETTING THEM. WE'RE WORKING MAKING SURE THAT THEY'RE GETTING THE THE TREATMENT IN THE JAIL SO THAT THEY CAN GO THROUGH A SMOOTH WITHDRAWAL FROM A QUALITY UPDATE.

LEAPFROG CREDIT TO DOCTOR ALLSOP AND THE QUALITY STAFF AND THE MEDICAL STAFF.

I'M SORRY. OOPS. WE ARE NOW, FOR THE THIRD TIME IN A ROW, A LEAPFROG A, WHICH IS THE HIGHEST GRADE FROM A LOWN INSTITUTE.

WE ARE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY OF AN A.

AGAIN, THIS IS HOW WE LOOK AT HOW OTHER ORGANIZATIONS LOOK AT US FROM A SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY OF WHAT WE PROVIDE FOR THE COMMUNITY.

WE ARE 18TH IN TEXAS.

WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE TOP ACUTE, A LOT OF THESE ARE SMALLER HOSPITALS.

WHEN YOU LOOK AT SOME OF THE NAMES, THEY'RE NOT ALL SMALL.

BUT WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE ACADEMIC MEDICAL CENTERS ACROSS THE STATE OF TEXAS, WE'RE NUMBER TWO RIGHT BEHIND MEMORIAL HERMANN.

I HAVE READ HURLEY NOW, AND I'D LIKE TO HAVE HIM SHARE A LITTLE BIT MORE WITH YOU ABOUT THE BUDGET.

AGAIN, AS I MENTIONED, REED HURLEY, I'M THE CFO AT UNIVERSITY HEALTH.

JUST A FEW SLIDES.

I KNOW WE'RE RUNNING A LITTLE OVER.

YOU HAVE A BIG BUDGET PACKAGE THAT'S IN YOUR.

ALL THE DOCUMENTS AND EVERYTHING ARE IN THERE.

IF YOU WANT ANY DETAILS, THERE'S A LOT THERE.

HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS.

MOVING FORWARD, SOME OF THE CHALLENGES THIS YEAR IN THE BUDGET, AGAIN, WITH THE CHANGE IN THE ADMINISTRATION IN DC, WE NEVER REALLY KNOW WHAT THAT'S GOING TO BRING.

USUALLY THEY'RE A LITTLE MORE CONSERVATIVE WITH THE FUNDING, BUT THEY USUALLY ARE A LITTLE MORE FAVORABLE TOWARDS TEXAS.

SO IT USUALLY WORKS OUT TO WHERE IT'S A NEUTRAL KIND OF IMPACT.

THERE IS ONE THING THAT'S AN ISSUE RIGHT NOW, AND THAT'S THE DISH CUTS THAT WHEN THE ACA PASSED, THEY WERE SUPPOSED TO CUT ONE OF THE FUNDING SUPPLEMENTAL FUNDING PROGRAMS CALLED DISH, DISPROPORTIONATE SHARE HOSPITALS FUNDING.

THAT'S UP. THAT'S SCHEDULED TO END IN JANUARY.

RIGHT NOW, THOSE CUTS ARE SCHEDULED TO GO IN PLACE.

THEY MAY TAKE ACTION IF THEY HAVE SOME KIND OF OTHER CONTINUING RESOLUTION TO FUND THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.

THEY MAY DELAY THOSE DISH CUTS, KIND OF SLIP THAT IN.

WE DON'T KNOW. THAT'S ABOUT $62 MILLION OF FUNDING TO US.

SO IN OUR BUDGET RIGHT NOW, WE DO NOT HAVE THAT INCLUDED.

IF THERE'S SO LITTLE IF THOSE CUTS GO INTO PLACE, THERE'S OTHER SUPPLEMENTAL FUNDING.

WE GET A LITTLE BIT MORE. THE NET NEGATIVE IMPACTS ABOUT 35 MILLION.

IF THOSE CUTS DO GO INTO PLACE AS AS PLANNED.

WE DID LAST YEAR, WE DID HAVE ONE OF OUR FLAWS IN THE SKY TOWER.

WE KIND OF DID A ROTATING RE REFRESH KIND OF FIX UP ON THOSE FLOORS.

AND SO WE WILL HAVE 72 ADDITIONAL BEDS THAT WILL BE IN SERVICE STARTING IN JANUARY.

SO AGAIN WE HAVE TO HIRE UP.

WE'VE DONE THAT.

MOST OF THAT STAFFING IS ON BOARD PHYSICIANS AND STAFF TO TAKE CARE OF THAT EXTRA CENSUS.

[02:20:04]

SO NEXT YEAR WHEN WE COME, YOU'RE GOING TO SEE CONTINUED GROWTH ON THE INPATIENT SIDE BECAUSE WE WILL HAVE ADDITIONAL BEDS AVAILABLE TO US AGAIN.

IT'S A VERY COMPETITIVE MARKET FOR STAFF, PHYSICIANS AND HOSPITAL STAFF.

ON THE ADMINISTRATION SIDE, THERE ARE, YOU KNOW, IN THEORY, THERE ARE CURRENTLY THERE ARE WHAT WE CALL ACA SUBSIDIES.

SO IF YOU'RE A LOW INCOME PERSON, YOU DON'T QUALIFY FOR MEDICAID.

YOU CAN STILL GET IT ON WHAT THEY CALL AN EXCHANGE PLAN.

AND THERE ARE FEDERAL SUBSIDIES THAT HELP PAY THE FEES FOR THOSE PLANS.

SOME OF THE SUBSIDIES ARE UP TO LIKE 90%.

SO IF THOSE GET REDUCED, THEN YOU'LL SEE UNINSURED VOLUME INCREASE BECAUSE THOSE PATIENTS WOULD NO LONGER HAVE INSURANCE.

INTEREST RATE VOLATILITY IMPACTS US A LITTLE BIT.

WE DON'T. MOST OF OUR DEBT IS FIXED IN BONDS.

WE DO HAVE INVESTMENTS.

SO AS THAT GOES DOWN OUR INVESTMENT INCOME WILL GO DOWN ALSO.

SO IT'S KIND OF A DOUBLE EDGED SWORD THERE.

AND THEN ANY OTHER KIND OF FEDERAL REDUCTIONS IN GRANTS OR SUPPLEMENTAL FUNDING, THOSE ARE JUST THREATS.

IT USUALLY TAKES A YEAR OR TWO FOR THOSE THINGS TO ACTUALLY OCCUR.

YOU KNOW, IF THEY WERE TO CUT SOMETHING, MOST OF THAT STUFF'S KIND OF ALREADY IN THE PIPELINE.

BUT IT COULD HAPPEN, YOU KNOW, AGAIN, JUST KIND OF SOME UNKNOWN THINGS THAT ARE OUT THERE.

ON THE CONSOLIDATED REVENUE BUDGET, IS THAT $3.65 BILLION.

AND AGAIN, COMMUNITY FIRST, WHICH IS OUR INSURANCE COMPANY.

THAT'S THE ORANGE. THAT'S A LITTLE OVER $1 BILLION.

NOW THEY ADD ANOTHER BIG PROGRAM ADDED THIS YEAR.

AGAIN, MOST OF OUR REVENUE COMES FROM WHAT WE CALL NET PATIENT REVENUES, WHICH IS BILLING, INSURANCE, MEDICARE, MEDICAID.

THAT'S WHERE MOST OF THE REVENUE COMES FROM.

WE HAVE SOME OTHER SUPPLEMENTAL FUNDING, SOME OTHER VARIOUS REVENUES.

PROPERTY TAXES FOR THE SYSTEM NOW ARE AT 15% OF OUR OPERATING REVENUE.

THAT'S THE NO.

SO THAT'S BEEN GOING DOWN AS THE OTHER PROGRAMS HAVE GROWN.

AND PROPERTY TAXES REALLY A LITTLE NEGATIVE THIS YEAR WHEN WE IMPLEMENTED THE 20% HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION.

SO THEY WENT DOWN OVERALL ABOUT $17 MILLION.

SO RELATIVELY FLAT IN THE BIG PICTURE.

ON THE EXPENSE SIDE.

AGAIN, THE ORANGE THAT'S THE BILLION DOLLARS OF MEDICAL CLAIMS EXPENSE, SALARIES AND BENEFITS ARE OUR NEXT BIGGEST OPERATING EXPENSE.

IT'S VERY LABOR INTENSIVE BUSINESS.

TOTAL EXPENSES ARE AT $3.5 BILLION.

SO REALLY THERE'S, THERE'S THREE REAL NUMBERS THAT WE NEED TO FOCUS ON, AND THAT'S KIND OF IN THE CENTER UNDER THE 2025 PRELIMINARY BUDGET.

BOTTOM LINE, WE'VE GOT BUDGETED AT $35.8 MILLION.

AND AGAIN, WE NORMALLY TAKE A FAIRLY CONSERVATIVE APPROACH BECAUSE WE DON'T KNOW SOME OF THESE NEGATIVE THINGS THAT CAN HAPPEN.

USUALLY WE TRY TO, YOU KNOW, OUTPERFORM THAT.

WE HAVE 99.8 MILLION BUDGETED FOR DEBT SERVICE, WHICH IS ALREADY IN OUR INS TAX RATE, WHICH WAS APPROVED.

I APPRECIATE THAT.

AND THEN WE HAVE $46 MILLION FOR WHAT WE CALL ROUTINE CAPITAL REPLACEMENTS.

THAT'S REPLACING PATIENT BEDS, MRI, CTS, ALL KINDS OF EQUIPMENT, SOME THINGS IN THE BUILDINGS THAT COULD BE CAPITALIZED GENERATORS, AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEMS, THOSE KINDS OF THINGS.

SO THAT'S THE BUDGET.

I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS.

ANY QUESTIONS, MISTER ROGERS? THANK YOU. JUDGE. REED, THANKS FOR THE THE UPDATE.

I KNOW THAT WE ALWAYS HAVE THIS DISCUSSION THIS TIME OF THE YEAR ABOUT IN PARTICULAR THE CAPITAL PROGRAM.

IT SEEMS LIKE IT'S MOVING ALONG AND THINGS ARE PROGRESSING, AT LEAST FOR NOW, ON TIME AND UNDER BUDGET, I WOULD HOPE.

IS THAT RIGHT? PRETTY FAIR TO SAY.

FAIR TO SAY YES, SIR.

OKAY. AND THEN WITH RESPECT TO THE THE STAFFING ISSUE, I KNOW YOU MENTIONED THERE'S CHALLENGES WITH RESPECT TO STAFFING ALWAYS IN THE HEALTH CARE INDUSTRY. IS THAT SOMETHING THAT YOU SEE AS I KNOW IT'S INDUSTRY WIDE.

IT'S PROBABLY GEOGRAPHICALLY CONSISTENT ALL OVER THE COUNTRY.

BUT IN TERMS OF ANY STAFFING SHORTAGES AT OUR HOSPITAL WHERE DOES THAT STAND? AND IS THERE A PLAN TO, TO CONTINUE TO CHIP AWAY AT THAT? YEAH, I THINK IT'S MUCH IMPROVED VERSUS KIND OF THE COVID YEARS.

WE HAD WE WERE USING, YOU KNOW, SEVERAL HUNDRED WHAT WE CALL AGENCY STAFF.

THOSE ARE LIKE CONTRACT NURSES.

NOW WE'RE DOWN TO JUST, YOU KNOW, PROBABLY A DOZEN OR SO IN VERY KIND OF HARD TO FILL SPECIALTY TYPE AREAS.

IT'S I WOULDN'T SAY WE'RE SHORT.

IT'S JUST INCREDIBLY BUSY.

WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO HIRE.

I DID AN ORIENTATION.

EXECUTIVE SENIOR LEADERSHIP DOES LIKE A WELCOME AT THE ORIENTATION.

AND WE HAD WE HAD TWO ROOMS. WE HAD LIKE ABOUT 130 PEOPLE IN ORIENTATION ON MONDAY MORNING, JUST TO GIVE YOU AN IDEA.

TURNOVER HAS GOTTEN BETTER ALSO POST COVID.

DURING COVID, I THINK A LOT OF PEOPLE WERE LIKE KIND OF CHASING DOLLARS.

OUR TURNOVER IS RUNNING AT ABOUT 14.5% RIGHT NOW ON AN ANNUALIZED BASIS, WHICH IS GOOD FROM AN INDUSTRY STANDPOINT.

NORMALLY THAT'S IN THE LOW 20S FOR HEALTH CARE.

IT'S JUST A YOU KNOW, IT IS A COMPETITIVE MARKET.

[02:25:01]

AND SO, YOU KNOW, THE PRICES HAVE GONE UP.

BUT I THINK WE'RE DOING WELL.

BUT AGAIN, WITH THE TWO NEW HOSPITALS COMING ON, LIKE LOOKING DOWN THE ROAD, THAT'S SORT OF LIKE A, YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT KEEPS ME UP AT NIGHT, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO HIRE UP ADDITIONAL STAFF TO STAFF THOSE NEW HOSPITALS WHEN THEY OPEN.

AND, YOU KNOW, LEADERSHIP IS ANOTHER KIND OF A CHALLENGE.

BUT WE HAVE PLANS. WE HAVE TWO YEARS TO GET ALL THAT TAKEN CARE OF.

OKAY. IN TERMS OF THE THE PROJECTIONS AND THE GROWTH OF REVENUES, THE ESTIMATES THERE'S BEEN SOME DISCUSSION AND I'M NOT SURE WHERE THEY WHERE THEY'VE LANDED.

AND THIS MAY OBVIOUSLY APPLY TO US AS WELL, THAT THE APPRAISAL DISTRICT MAY CHANGE THE CADENCE WITH WHICH THEY DO APPRAISALS TO EVERY OTHER YEAR. I DON'T KNOW IF THAT'S BEEN FINALIZED, BUT I MENTIONED THAT JUST BECAUSE PART OF THE APPRECIATION FOR YOUR WORK IS TO BE AS CONSERVATIVE AS POSSIBLE WHEN IT COMES TO NUMBERS BECAUSE YOU KNOW, WE DON'T KNOW IF THAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN OR HOW IT'S GOING TO IMPACT REVENUES.

BUT IS THAT SOMETHING THAT YOU GUYS HAVE ANALYZED YET OR ARE YOU LOOKING AT THAT OR YOU'RE JUST KIND OF STICKING WITH THE MODEL OF BEING CONSERVATIVE, BUT OBVIOUSLY REASONABLE IN TERMS OF THE GROWTH OF THE COUNTY.

YES. SO WE ALWAYS HAVE THE CONSERVATIVE MODEL, AND WE NORMALLY DON'T ANTICIPATE LARGE INCREASES IN THE PROPERTY TAX REVENUES, BUT WE DO.

I MEAN, IF THERE'S AN, YOU KNOW, NEW CONSTRUCTION, THE NEW PROPERTIES ARE USUALLY, YOU KNOW WHAT, WHERE WE GET THE BIGGEST BANG FOR OUR BUCK.

IT'S AT LEAST HALF VERSUS VALUES.

SO IF THEY IF THEY ONLY VALUED EVERY TWO YEARS IT WOULDN'T BE THAT HUGE OF AN IMPACT.

I MEAN BUT IT WOULD, YOU KNOW, I GUESS IT MIGHT JUST MAKE THE STEP BIGGER IF.

RIGHT. YEAH. OKAY.

SO WELL, I WANT TO THANK YOU AND YOUR YOUR TEAM.

REED. JIMMY, THANKS FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP AS WELL.

AND THE BOARD WANT TO GIVE A PARTICULAR SHOUT OUT TO BILL.

I KNOW HE'S HERE.

YOU GUYS HAVE ALWAYS BEEN VERY RESPONSIVE TO THE NEEDS OF THE COMMUNITY.

I KNOW WE HAD AN ISSUE WITH SOME CONSTITUENTS RECENTLY WHO HAD MOBILITY ISSUES, WANTED TO GET THEIR VACCINATIONS DONE, THEIR FLU SHOT COULDN'T REALLY LEAVE THE HOUSE, AND BILL HELPED MOBILIZE SOME FOLKS, AND I THINK THEY WERE VERY APPRECIATIVE.

SO AS ALWAYS, I KNOW I'M, YOU KNOW, SOUNDS LIKE I'M ALWAYS BEATING THIS DRUM, BUT YOU GUYS DO A GREAT JOB OF RESPONDING TO NEEDS IN OUR COMMUNITY.

AND YOU'RE VERY NOT JUST RESPONSIVE, BUT I THINK COMPASSIONATE AS WELL.

SO WE APPRECIATE THAT.

I THINK THAT'S ALL I'VE GOT.

JUDGE. I'D MAKE THE MOTION TO ADOPT THE PROPOSED BUDGET FOR BEXAR COUNTY HOSPITAL, DOING BUSINESS AS UNIVERSITY HEALTH IN SUPPORT OF ITS OPERATING DEBT SERVICE CAPITAL REQUIREMENTS FOR FISCAL YEAR 2025.

I'LL SECOND THAT MOTION BY COMMISSIONER RODRIGUEZ.

SECOND BY COMMISSIONER CALVERT.

COMMISSIONER MOODY. WELL, I APPRECIATE YOU ALL BEING HERE AND UPDATING US ON THE THE BUDGET AND WHERE UNIVERSITY HEALTH STANDS. I ALSO JUST WANT TO HIGHLIGHT AND YOU KNOW, I THINK THERE'S HUGE BENEFITS IN THE PARTNERSHIP WITH WITH UT HEALTH AND WITH BMC AND OUR MILITARY COMMUNITY HERE IN MILITARY CITY, USA.

SO I'M GLAD THAT THERE'S THAT CLOSE PARTNERSHIP WITH THOSE ORGANIZATIONS HERE.

I DID HAVE ONE QUESTION ON THE BUDGET AND THEN JUST A FEW OTHER KIND OF HIGHER LEVEL QUESTIONS.

BUT ON THE THE CAPITAL REQUIREMENTS, I WAS LOOKING AT THE OVERVIEW AND YOU BREAK IT OUT BETWEEN THE MANDATED REPLACEMENT STRATEGIC AND THEN ESSENTIAL IMPORTANT PROACTIVE. AND I LIKE THE TABLE THERE, BUT HOW THE CAPITAL REQUIREMENTS THAT ARE INCLUDED IN THE BUDGET VERSUS WHAT YOU HAVE ASSUMED COULD BE OUT THERE IN TERMS OF CAPITAL REQUIREMENTS, I GUESS WHAT PERCENTAGE OF THE IMPORTANT OR WHAT PERCENTAGE OF THE PROACTIVE ITEMS WERE INCLUDED IN THAT 46 MILLION? DOES THAT MAKE SENSE? I THINK I CAN I THINK I KNOW WHAT YOU'RE ASKING FOR THE CAPITAL PROJECTS THAT WE HAVE, LIKE THE BUILDINGS AND THE OTHERS, ARE NOT INCLUDED IN THAT CAPITAL PROJECT.

THE NUMBERS THAT WE BROKE DOWN ON THAT CAPITAL IS HOW WE LOOK AT OUR ROUTINE.

ABOUT $46 MILLION A YEAR IN CAPITAL.

LET ME LET ME TRY TO BE MORE CLEAR.

I WAS JUST TRYING TO SAY SO EVERY ITEM THAT IS DESIRED AT US IN TERMS OF CAPITAL FALLS INTO ONE OF THOSE BUCKETS.

AND THESE ARE THE ONES YOU'RE FUNDING.

YEAH. I'M JUST TRYING TO UNDERSTAND WHAT OTHER REQUIREMENTS OR REQUESTS WERE OUT THERE.

LIKE WHAT PERCENTAGE ARE WE ACTUALLY FUNDING? OKAY. WELL THAT'S WELL, THAT'S A LOADED QUESTION BECAUSE I THINK OUR STAFF LIKE NEW TOYS.

AND I WOULD SAY THAT WE PROBABLY GET ABOUT 130 TO $140 MILLION WORTH OF REQUESTS.

THAT COULD BE SOME OF THE NEWEST AND LATEST TECHNOLOGY.

IT COULD BE NURSES WANT TO REPLACE ALL 500 BEDS.

[02:30:01]

SO THE PROCESS THAT WE GO THROUGH IS REED'S TEAM, LED BY TRAVIS SMITH, WILL MEET WITH ALL THE DEPARTMENTS AND THEY WILL PUT IN CAPITAL REQUESTS.

AND THEN WHAT? FIRST ROUND WE ASK THEM TO SAY, IS IT IS IT GOING TO IMPROVE PATIENT CARE? IT MEETS OUR TRIPLE AIM PLUS.

AND THEN WE HAVE TO START MAKING THE HARD DECISIONS AND CUTTING THAT DOWN.

SOME OF IT IS EXPANSION AND GROWTH.

SOME OF IT. OH, THIS IS OUTDATED.

IT'S END OF LIFE.

IT ALWAYS COMES IN AND ASKS FOR A LOT BECAUSE THERE'S JUST A LOT OF IT OUT THERE.

AND THEN WE LOOK AT THAT AND SAY, WHAT ARE THE THINGS WE KNOW WE NEED TO DO NOW? WHAT ARE THINGS WE CAN MAYBE LOOK INTO 2 OR 3 YEAR PLAN, BUT WE DO PROBABLY GET WE ONLY PROBABLY APPROVE ABOUT A THIRD OF WHAT STAFF REQUESTS WHEN IT COMES TO THAT.

AND AGAIN, A LOT OF THAT IS THEY'RE VERY GOOD IDEAS AND INTENTIONS.

BUT WE JUST WE ONLY HAVE SO MUCH AND IT'S HARD TO MANAGE.

NO, JUST APPRECIATE IT.

I WAS JUST CURIOUS.

AND THEN LISTEN, PREVIOUSLY, I'VE BROUGHT THIS UP AND WE'VE HAD SOME CONVERSATIONS AROUND IT, BUT THE PUBLIC HEALTH, BOTH THE THE ORGANIZATION HERE AT BEXAR COUNTY AND ALSO CHCS, I GUESS WANTED TO GET YOUR THOUGHTS ON, YOU KNOW, THOSE THOSE ORGANIZATIONS, THOSE EMPLOYEES THAT HAVE A HEALTH CARE FOCUS.

YOU KNOW, IS THERE VALUE IN POTENTIAL CONSOLIDATION AT US? YOU KNOW, TO ME, JUST FROM A GOVERNANCE STANDPOINT, THAT THAT COULD MAKE A LOT OF SENSE IF YOU'RE DOING HEALTH CARE RATHER THAN DOING IT UNDER THE UMBRELLA OF OF BEXAR COUNTY VERSUS UNDER THE UMBRELLA OF HHS.

BUT ANY THOUGHTS OR CONCERNS ABOUT WHAT THAT WOULD LOOK LIKE OR.

WELL, YOU KNOW, CHCS IS THE MENTAL HEALTH AUTHORITY.

AND I THINK THEY FOLLOW UNDER THE STATUTE OF THE MENTAL HEALTH AUTHORITY.

I THINK, AGAIN, THEY ARE HEALTH CARE WORKERS BECAUSE THEY'RE DEALING ON THE MENTAL HEALTH SIDE.

WE WORK CLOSELY WITH JALYN ON STUFF THAT THEY PRESENT THEIR BUDGET TO US.

THEY PRESENT IT EARLIER OR EARLIER THIS YEAR ON THEIR BUDGET TO OUR FINANCE COMMITTEE.

I THINK THERE ARE A LOT OF THINGS WE CAN WORK TOGETHER ON.

WE CERTAINLY SEE HCS HAS STAFF IN THE JAIL.

HCS HAS STAFF IN ALL THE LOCAL HOSPITALS TO HELP WORK ON PLACEMENTS AND OTHERS COORDINATION WITH STRAK.

WE'RE ON JALYN AND I ARE ON AND OTHERS ARE ON THERE.

SO I THINK THERE'S A LOT OF THINGS THAT WE CAN WORK TOGETHER ON AND DO.

I THINK, YOU KNOW, IN THE FUTURE HOW THINGS WOULD BE DONE.

I THINK WE WE KNOW THAT WE BOTH HAVE THE SAME PURPOSE OF TRYING TO MAKE SURE THAT WE CAN GET ACCESS TO THE PEOPLE THAT NEED IT, BOTH FROM A MENTAL HEALTH AND FROM A LOT OF THE PROGRAMS THAT CHCS SUPPORTS.

I APPRECIATE THAT, AND I HOPE SOMETHING WE CAN KIND OF CONTINUE TO EXPLORE AND PARTNER ON AND JUST FIGURING OUT WHAT MAKES THE MOST SENSE FOR FOR BEXAR COUNTY.

I KNOW WE'RE ALREADY WAY OVER THE TIME, CERTAIN TIME.

SO I, YOU KNOW, THERE'S SOME OTHER QUESTIONS THAT I THINK ARE GOING TO COME UP.

WE'RE GOING TO HAVE THIS CONVERSATION ABOUT SASH.

AND WHAT OUR OPTIONS ARE THERE.

WHAT SOME RECOMMENDATIONS ARE.

I HOPE YOU'VE HAD A CHANCE TO LOOK AT THOSE, BUT I WONDERED IF YOU HAD ANY FEEDBACK FOR THE COURT IN TERMS OF YOU KNOW, WHEN IT COMES TO MENTAL HEALTH, ESPECIALLY AS IT RELATES TO THE JAIL, CIVIL VERSUS FORENSIC BEDS, OPTIONS AT SASH VERSUS.

I'VE ALSO SEEN THE RECOMMENDATION FOR LIKE A MEDICAL ANNEX AT THE JAIL THAT COULD HOUSE THOSE MENTAL HEALTH PATIENTS AS WELL.

ANY THOUGHTS THAT YOU COULD SHARE WITH THE COURT ON, ON ANY RECOMMENDATIONS OR WHAT RISES TO THE TOP.

I THINK THOSE ARE ALL.

I MEAN, WE NEED MENTAL HEALTH BEDS IN OUR COMMUNITY.

I THINK DOCTOR SALLY TAYLOR ON OUR SIDE LEADS A LOT OF THAT IN MEETINGS.

SHE'S BEEN IN MEETINGS WITH SASH, YOU KNOW, IN SOME OF THOSE CONVERSATIONS AND MEETINGS WITH OTHERS.

I THINK THERE IS NO ONE SIZE FITS ALL FOR THIS, BECAUSE I THINK THERE ARE THE NEED FOR FORENSIC BEDS.

CIVIL BEDS ARE VERY IMPORTANT.

I KNOW SALLY ALWAYS PUSHES THAT.

WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT THERE IS A STRONG AMBULATORY NETWORK THAT CAN GET APPROPRIATE CARE FOR PEOPLE, BECAUSE ONCE YOU'RE IN AN INSTITUTION, IT DOESN'T END ONCE YOU'RE OUT OF THE INSTITUTION.

AND I THINK THAT'S WHERE WE FAIL A LOT, IS NOT MAKING SURE THAT THAT CARE IS CONTINUED INTO THE COMMUNITY AND BEING DONE.

I THINK THE, THE JAIL OPPORTUNITIES MR. HASSLACHER LIKES SAYING THIS.

I SPENT 4.5 HOURS IN THE JAIL, AND I WALKED THROUGH THERE WITH THE SHERIFF.

YOU WEREN'T INCARCERATED.

I WASN'T INCARCERATED.

BUT I WILL TELL YOU, THERE ARE A LOT OF OPPORTUNITIES.

[02:35:02]

I THINK THAT WHEN WE CAN GET ALL OF OUR ORGANIZATIONS WORKING TOGETHER, AND I THINK WE'RE WHAT WE STARTED THIS NOW IN MONTHLY MEETINGS WITH, WITH THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE AND WITH OTHERS WHO PROVIDE THE SERVICE.

THERE ARE BETTER WAYS TO PROVIDE CARE, AND I THINK WE NEED TO GET EVERYBODY TOGETHER AND TALK ABOUT HOW THIS CAN BE PROVIDED IN AN APPROPRIATE SETTING.

AT THE RIGHT LEVEL.

AND ALSO, I THINK MEDICAL NOT ONLY IN THE JAIL, BUT BEING HOW IT'S MANAGED ALL THROUGHOUT WHEN THEY'RE BEING TRANSFERRED OUT, THERE ARE OPPORTUNITIES THAT WE CAN WE CAN DEFINITELY IMPROVE.

AND BUT I THINK ALL OF THOSE OPTIONS THAT YOU MENTIONED ARE ALL PIECES OF THE SOLUTION.

OKAY. WELL, I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THAT WE SHARE AS A COUNTY.

DAVID, YOU KNOW, THE THE SASH SLIDES AND DISCUSSION.

MAKE SURE YOU ALL ARE AWARE OF WHAT'S KIND OF BEEN BEING DISCUSSED ON THAT FRONT.

BUT I HOPE AS WE GO FORWARD, OBVIOUSLY I WAS JUST TALKING ABOUT, YOU KNOW, MID AND LONG TERM JAIL SOLUTIONS, BUT THERE'S OBVIOUSLY A KEY COMPONENT THERE WHEN IT COMES TO FORENSIC BEDS.

I HOPE YOU KNOW, US WOULD STAY ENGAGED ON ON THAT AS WE KIND OF SORT OUT WHAT OUR OPTIONS ARE AND WHAT GOOD LOOKS LIKE IN THAT REGARD.

BUT JUST ECHO MY COLLEAGUE'S COMMENTS.

I WANT TO THANK ALL OF YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP.

I KNOW MY APPOINTEE DOCTOR, DAVID COHEN, ISN'T HERE TODAY, BUT I WANT TO THANK HIM AS WELL.

AND THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING YOU DO FOR OUR COMMUNITY.

YEAH. I APPOINTED DOCTOR COHEN TO BE ON THE AUDIT COMMITTEE THAT MEETS BEFORE THE REGULAR BOARD MEETING.

COMMISSIONER. HE'S THRILLED TO BE THERE.

WE TAKE THE JAIL SITUATION EXTREMELY SERIOUS.

WE'RE NOT ONLY TALKING TO OUR PEOPLE INSIDE, BUT WE'RE TALKING TO OTHERS OUTSIDE THAT HAVE A PROVEN TRACK RECORD.

THERE ARE ISSUES NOT TO GO INTO A LOT OF THOSE, BUT THERE ARE ISSUES THAT NEED TO BE LOOKED AT AND RESOLVED, AND WE'RE WORKING DILIGENTLY TO TRY TO MAKE SURE THAT WE GET THIS HELP THAT'S NEEDED OVER AT THE JAIL AND THE OTHER FACILITIES THAT WE ALSO COVER FOR THE COUNTY.

AND I HAD A VISIT WITH JUDGE SAKAI ON THIS, AND I'LL BE HAPPY TO SHARE MY THOUGHTS WITH ANY OF THE COMMISSIONERS.

AND A PHONE CALL IF YOU IF YOU'D LIKE.

BUT THIS IS IMPORTANT TO US.

IT'S IMPORTANT TO MY MANAGEMENT TEAM.

IT'S IMPORTANT TO OUR MEDICAL TEAM.

BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY, IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT TO THIS COMMUNITY TO BE ABLE TO SHOW THAT WE'RE DOING SOME VERY POSITIVE THINGS IN HEALTH CARE.

THANK YOU FOR THAT, JIMMY.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP AS THE BOARD CHAIR.

COMMISSIONER CALVERT. THANK YOU, JIMMY, FOR LEADING THE BOARD THROUGH TRANSITION.

NOW, KIND OF TWO IN YOUR NEW ROLE AS WELL AS WITH THE CEO AND PRESIDENT, I SEE BEVERLY WATTS DAVIS, MY APPOINTEE ON THE UNIVERSITY HEALTH, JUST JOINED US.

THANK YOU FOR COMING.

AND VERY ILLUMINATING.

EDITOR AND READ SOME NEW THINGS I LEARNED TODAY FROM YOUR PRESENTATION.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH. LET ME KIND OF PICK UP ON THE JAIL CONVERSATION, BECAUSE WE'VE HAD A LOT OF CHIEFS OF POLICE CONCERNED ABOUT THE ISSUE OF INTOXICATION, FOLKS, IF YOU WILL, FOR LACK OF A BETTER TERM, THAT WILL NOT BE PERMITTED UNTIL THEY VISIT A UNIVERSITY HEALTH SYSTEM, WHICH CREATES A UPSTREAM ISSUE FOR YOU ALL AND YOUR EMERGENCY ROOM.

AND IT ALSO CREATES ISSUES FOR LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT.

I KNOW YOU RECENTLY SENT SOME CORRESPONDENCE KIND OF UPDATING.

CAN YOU GIVE US THE LATEST ABOUT WHAT THE POLICY IS IF THERE'S WAYS TO GET THIS CHANGED? I'M LOOKING FOR LIGHT AT THE END OF THE TUNNEL.

WELL, LET ME, IF I MIGHT, REAL QUICKLY.

OBVIOUSLY, WHEN WHEN PEOPLE ARE INCARCERATED, I PUT IN THE CITY SIDE, IF YOU WILL.

THERE'S A COMMITMENT LETTER THAT GOES ALONG WITH THAT.

AND ONCE THAT COMMITMENT LETTER IS ISSUED BY A JUDGE OR A MAGISTRATE THEN MY UNDERSTANDING IS THOSE INDIVIDUALS BECOME PART OF THE COUNTY SYSTEM.

AND SO WE'RE WORKING TO LOOK AT THAT PROCESS.

WE'RE ALSO I'M ACUTELY AWARE OF THE SHERIFF'S COMMENTS RELATIVE TO BRINGING PEOPLE INTO THE JAIL.

AND SO WE'RE WE'RE WORKING ON THAT AREA ALSO.

YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU WHEN YOU HAVE AS MANY PEOPLE IN THERE, 124 425 GOING IN AND OUT OF THERE ON A 24 HOUR BASIS, IF NOT MORE, AND SOMEONE ARRIVES AT THE DOOR, YOU'RE NOT SURE WHAT THEY HAVE PUT INTO THEIR SYSTEM, SO TO SPEAK.

I GUESS IS THE BEST WAY TO PUT IT.

AND SO WE'RE VERY CONCERNED ABOUT ABOUT THAT SITUATION AND THEN TRYING TO MAKE SURE THAT WE FIND THESE PEOPLE TO BE ABLE TO TAKE CARE OF THE MEDICAL

[02:40:09]

NEEDS THAT THEY HAVE ONCE THEY'RE INSIDE THE JAIL.

AND SO THAT'S A REAL POINT THAT IS VERY IMPORTANT TO ME AND MY TEAM.

YEAH. AND WHAT IS THAT UNIVERSE OF FOLKS, LET'S SAY, ON A DAILY OR WEEKLY BASIS THAT COME INTO THE JAIL THAT MAY HAVE SOME SUBSTANCE USE ISSUES THERE? WELL, IT'S DEFINITELY INCREASED WITH THE CHANGE IN POLICY, AND WE'RE SEEING ABOUT 15 TO 20 THAT MIGHT BE COMING TO UNIVERSITY HEALTH EMERGENCY ROOM A DAY, A DAY, A DAY. WHAT WE'RE WHAT WE I THINK THE THE CORRESPONDENCE YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT.

AND I WANT TO MAKE SURE WHEN YOU SAY EMERGENCY UNIT, YOU'RE NOT TALKING ABOUT THE JAIL, YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT ACTUALLY US CENTRAL.

RIGHT. SO THE POLICY IS IF A PATIENT COMES IN WITH CERTAIN CRITERIA WHEN THEY COME INTO BOOKING, IF THEY'VE MET CERTAIN CRITERIA THAT WE'RE REFINING, BUT CERTAIN CRITERIA, THEN BEFORE THEY GET INTO BOOKING, THEY WILL BE TAKEN TO A HOSPITAL EMERGENCY ROOM TO BE EVALUATED AND CLEARED.

AND SO ARE WE DOING LIKE A STRAT KIND OF ASSESSMENT FOR WHERE THEY GO OR IS IT STRAIGHT TO US? RIGHT NOW IT'S A LOT OF IT IS GOING TO US, BUT NOT ALL OF IT BECAUSE IT DEPENDS ON THE SEVERITY.

IF SOMEBODY IS IS NOTICEABLY SICK, THEN THEY WILL GO TO THE NEAREST EMERGENCY ROOM.

SO IF THERE IS SOMEONE HAVING A MAJOR MEDICAL ILLNESS, THEY'RE NOT GOING TO GO ALL THE WAY TO UNIVERSITY HEALTH.

IF SOMEBODY HAS SOME MEDICAL CONDITION THAT WE DON'T KNOW IF IT IS ENOUGH, THAT JUST NEEDS TO BE CHECKED OUT MORE, MORE THAN OFTEN, THEN THEY'RE GOING TO UNIVERSITY HEALTH.

OUR EMERGENCY YOUR DEPARTMENT HAS DONE A WONDERFUL JOB AT TRYING TO STREAMLINE THE PROCESS, TO EVALUATE THOSE PATIENTS IN A TIMELY MANNER, AND THEN MAKE SURE THAT THE THAT THE ARRESTING AGENCY ISN'T HELD TOO LONG TO BE WITH THAT PATIENT BEFORE THEY COULD BRING THEM BACK TO THE JAIL, OR IF THERE'S AN ACUTE ILLNESS, THEN WE WOULD TAKE THEM IN OUR SERVICE AND THEN TAKE THEM AND KEEP THEM AT UNIVERSITY.

IT'S A WORK IN PROGRESS.

AND I WILL SAY THAT WE'RE REFINING IT EVERY DAY.

WE SHARED WITH THE SHERIFF THE CRITERIA FOR OUR FAST TRACKING IN THE EMERGENCY ROOM TO DO THIS SO THAT HE COULD SHARE WITH THE LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES SO THAT WE CAN WORK ON THAT.

OUR ER DIRECTOR AND AND MANAGEMENT HAS BEEN WORKING VERY MAKING SURE THAT WE'RE AWARE WHEN WE'RE NOTIFIED THAT SOMEONE IS COMING IN, THAT WE CAN TREAT THEM AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE AND GET THOSE OFFICERS BACK TO THE AND THE THE INMATE BACK TO THE JAIL SO THAT THAT OFFICER CAN THEN BE RELEASED AND IT CAN GO INTO JAIL CUSTODY.

ARE THE THINGS YOU NEED, LIKE IN CLINICS.

I KNOW THERE MAY BE SECURITY ISSUES, BUT IN CLINICS THAT COULD MAYBE MAKE THIS LESS BURDENSOME ON THE HOSPITAL.

WELL, IT COULD BE, BUT A LOT OF TIMES IT'S THINGS LIKE RAPID LABORATORY TESTS AND OTHER THINGS THAT EMERGENCY ROOMS ARE USED TO DOING QUICKLY VERSUS GOING TO THE DOCTOR'S OFFICE, DRAWING BLOOD AND WAITING FIVE HOURS DOING THOSE TYPES OF THINGS.

WHAT ABOUT THE ROBERT B GREEN? IT'S AN EXPRESS. BUT REMEMBER, THE JAIL'S 24 OVER SEVEN AND THE ROBERT GREEN EXPRESS MED CLOSES.

AND SO WE ARE WORKING AND I WILL SAY INTO WITH WITH THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE, WE NOW HAVE MONTHLY MEETINGS AND THERE'S A COUPLE OF WORKING GROUPS UNDERNEATH THAT MONTHLY MEETING.

WE ARE TRYING TO ADDRESS THIS ISSUE FROM MULTIPLE WAYS.

WE'RE LOOKING AT IT FROM WHAT CAN WE DO IN THE JAIL, WHAT TESTING CAN WE DO IN THE JAIL? WE'RE WORKING WITH BILL PHILLIPS ON WHAT IS THE EPIC TECHNOLOGY IN OUR COMPUTER SYSTEMS THAT CAN KNOW IF THIS PERSON HAS COME IN AND WE ALREADY HAVE A HISTORY OF THEM.

IF THEY ARE A DIABETIC, THEY MIGHT NOT NEED TO GO BACK TO THE EMERGENCY ROOM BECAUSE WE ALREADY HAVE A GOOD HISTORY ON THEM.

SO WE'RE LOOKING AT THIS IN A MULTIFACTORIAL WAY OF TRYING TO ADDRESS THE ISSUES SO THAT WE CAN MINIMIZE IT AS BEST WE CAN.

CAN YOU BULLET FOR THE COURT THE ISSUES WITH THE HOSPITAL, EXCUSE ME, THE AMBULANCE TRANSITION WHERE WE'RE AT AND THAT, YOU KNOW, WHAT THINGS WERE IDENTIFIED.

I KNOW I JUST READ THAT FOLKS CAME TO THE UNIVERSITY BOARD AND EXPRESSED SOME CONCERNS.

SO BULLET THOSE CONCERNS AND WHERE WHERE WE'RE AT RIGHT NOW.

I'LL LET REID DO THAT SINCE THAT WAS REID'S RESPONSE.

ALL RIGHT. YEAH.

I THINK IN MY OPINION, I THINK A LOT OF THIS IS JUST KIND OF MORE FEAR OF CHANGE.

WE ARE CHANGING THE MODEL SLIGHTLY, SO JUST KIND OF HIGH LEVEL ACADIAN AND KIND OF ROUND NUMBERS.

HAS 40 OR 50 AMBULANCES RUNNING AROUND A BEXAR COUNTY AT ANY GIVEN TIME.

MOST OF WHAT THOSE ARE THOSE AMBULANCES DO IS HOSPITAL TRANSFERS.

SO THEY HAVE CONTRACT WITH US, A BIG CONTRACT WITH US, WITH OTHER HOSPITAL PROVIDERS IN TOWN, AND THEY TAKE PATIENTS FROM LIKE, FOR EXAMPLE, FROM US, THEY TAKE THEM FROM THE RUGBY GREEN UP TO UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL.

SOMEBODY NEEDS TO GET ADMITTED FROM A CLINIC OR WE'RE SENDING SOMEBODY TO A NURSING HOME.

THINGS LIKE THAT. AND THEN IN THE UNINCORPORATED AREAS THAT DON'T COVER THEIR OWN AMBULANCE SERVICE, WHEN THERE'S A 911 CALL, THEN THEY'LL DISPATCH ONE OF THOSE AMBULANCES TO COVER THAT 911 CALL.

WE WENT THROUGH AN RFP PROCESS.

ANOTHER VENDOR ALLEGIANCE.

AMBULANCE, BLUEBIRD MEDICAL, DBA ALLEGIANCE.

[02:45:02]

THEY WON THE RFP.

SO THEIR MODEL IS SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT.

THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE TEN AMBULANCES.

THEY'RE NOT GOING TO THE AMBULANCES THAT ARE DOING THE UNINCORPORATED 911 CALLS ARE ONLY DOING THOSE CALLS.

AND SO THOSE AMBULANCES WILL BE STATIONED AT THE PRIMARILY AT THE ESDS THAT USE THOSE AMBULANCES.

AND SO THERE'LL BE TEN FULL TIME, 24 OVER SEVEN, 365 THAT ARE COVERING THOSE.

AND THEY HAVE FIVE LIKE FOR FLOAT FOR LIKE FOR HOTSPOTS.

AND THEY HAVE HEAT MAPS. THEY KNOW LIKE THIS AREA OF TOWN THIS TIME OF DAY THERE'S GOING TO BE MORE CALLS SO THEY CAN ROTATE THOSE FIVE ADDITIONAL ONES AS NEEDED TO THOSE HOT SPOTS. THERE WERE SOME ISSUES WITH THE TYPES OF RADIOS.

IT'S MORE COMPLICATED THAN IT SOUNDS.

JUST AN AMBULANCE WITH THE RADIO HAS TO COMMUNICATE WITH BEXAR COUNTY.

THERE'S DISPATCHERS. THERE'S WHAT THEY CALL A CAD SYSTEM, WHERE THEY KNOW WHERE ALL THE AMBULANCES ARE ALL THE TIME.

THE THE CAD SYSTEM IS FAIRLY COMPLEX.

I GUESS THAT'S PRIMARILY A CITY FUNCTION.

THE COUNTY PARTICIPATES.

AND CAPACITY ISSUES OR ISSUES.

RIGHT. THE CAPACITY. SO WHERE WE'RE AT ON THAT CAPACITY.

MY UNDERSTANDING IS, IS THAT IN MAY, THE CITY IS GOING TO BE REDOING THE CITY, AND THE COUNTY WILL REDO THAT CAD SYSTEM AND THERE SHOULD BE A SLOT OPEN THEN.

SO ALLEGIANCE CAN THEN PARTICIPATE IN THAT SYSTEM.

IN THE MEANTIME, THEY WILL HAVE WHAT THEY CALL SIDE BY SIDE.

SO THE DISPATCHER FOR ALLEGIANCE WILL SIT WITH A COUNTY PERSON, SO THEY KNOW.

SO IF THERE'S SOMETHING THAT COMES IN AND THE, YOU KNOW, THEY GO OUT AND THEY SAY, HEY, WE HAVE A LIKE ONE PERSON THAT'S INJURED.

AND THEN THAT CALL CHANGES IS WHAT SCARES THE ESD, THE FIREMEN, THE FIRST RESPONDERS AS THEY ALL OF A SUDDEN NOW THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE A SHOOTING INSTEAD OF A HEART ATTACK, OR THERE'S GOING TO BE THREE PEOPLE DOWN INSTEAD OF ONE PERSON DOWN, AND THEY'RE GOING TO NEED MORE AMBULANCE SUPPORT.

AND SO THEY DON'T WANT THAT TO BE DELAYED.

AND SO WE THINK WE HAVE WHAT WE CALL A WORKAROUND, A TEMPORARY SOLUTION FOR THAT.

ULTIMATELY, WE'D LIKE THEM TO BE ON THE WHAT THEY CALL THE CAD TO CAD SYSTEM.

WITH THE OTHER AMBULANCES.

ALLEGIANCE IS I THINK THEY'RE THE LARGEST PRIVATE 911 AMBULANCE PROVIDER IN TEXAS.

THEY HAVE HUNDREDS OF AMBULANCES ACROSS THE STATE OF TEXAS.

THEY ALREADY HAVE TEN IN SAN ANTONIO THAT COVER SOME OF THE LITTLE CITIES AND OTHER AREAS.

SO THEY DO BOTH TRANSPORT AND 911.

NOW FOR SOME DIFFERENT AREAS.

IT'S A VERY KIND OF QUILTED KIND OF COVERAGE FOR THE BEXAR COUNTY.

SO DIFFERENT PLACES DO IT DIFFERENTLY.

AGAIN, WHAT WE PROVIDE IS THE SERVICE FOR THOSE EMERGENCY SERVICE DISTRICTS THAT DON'T HAVE THEIR OWN AMBULANCE SERVICE.

SO WE PROVIDE THAT COVERAGE THROUGH OUR CONTRACT.

YEAH. AND WE HAVE A UT OUR WE PAY FOR A MEDICAL DIRECTOR FOR THOSE ISDS THROUGH UT? AND THAT'S ANOTHER THING WE'RE TRYING TO GET DONE, IS TO MAKE SURE THAT ALLEGIANCE USES THE SAME MEDICAL DIRECTION.

AND THAT WILL HELP JUST MAKE EVERYTHING.

SOMETIMES THE FIREMEN ACTUALLY RIDE IN THE AMBULANCE BACK TO THE HOSPITAL IF THERE'S, LIKE, SAY, MULTIPLE PEOPLE THAT HAVE TO DO CHEST COMPRESSIONS OR SOMETHING.

AND SO THERE'S ALL KINDS OF CONTRACTUAL RELATIONSHIPS, CROSS COVERAGE AGREEMENTS.

IT'S PRETTY COMPLEX.

THE CURRENT PLAN, I THINK WE'VE GOT EVERYTHING TAKEN CARE OF.

JANUARY 1ST AT 8 A.M.

IS WHEN THEY WILL TRANSITION FROM A ACADIAN TO ALLEGIANCE FOR THOSE UNINCORPORATED AREA TRANSPORTS.

ONE THING I DIDN'T SEE IN OUR CHARTS OF THE VARIOUS USAGES IS OUR HOSPITAL AT HOME PROGRAM.

I WOULD IMAGINE IT'S INCREASING YEAR TO YEAR.

TALK TO ME A LITTLE BIT ABOUT HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE GETTING HOSPITAL AT HOME.

YEAH, THE CENSUS RIGHT NOW RUNS IN THE MID 20S, ABOUT 25.

IT WAS ON THE ONE CHART WHEN WE SHOWED THE LOCATIONS.

WE JUST HAD HOSPITAL AT HOME LISTED.

WE DO WANT TO EXPAND THAT AND GROW IT.

25,020. IT'S 2225 PATIENTS A DAY ARE AT HOME GETTING INPATIENT CARE WITH OUR NURSES.

YOU KNOW, WE ARE WORKING ON SOME OPPORTUNITIES ON HOW TO INCREASE THAT.

AND WE GREW AGAIN FROM, YOU KNOW, SMALL IN THE TEENS NOW TO 25.

AND, BUT IT IS A FOCUS OF OURS TO TRY AND INCREASE THIS.

YOU'LL HIRE. WE'RE HIRING MORE NURSES.

WE HAVE TO GET CARS FOR THE NURSES TO GO THE TELEMEDICINE SIDE OF THIS.

BUT IT IS WORKING VERY WELL, AND IT IS HELPING US DECOMPRESS OUR INPATIENT DAYS.

OKAY. I THINK THE FINAL TRANCHE OF MY QUESTIONS IS RELATED TO THE COMMODITIES FOR OUR NEW HOSPITALS.

THE TARIFF CONVERSATION CONCERNS ME ABOUT OUR MATERIALS THAT WE MAY BE GETTING FOR THE HOSPITALS.

I DON'T I DIDN'T SEE THAT CALCULATED INTO ANYBODY'S FORECAST.

BUT YOU KNOW, WE'VE WE'VE HEARD COMMENTS ABOUT YOU KNOW MEXICO TARIFFS CHINA TARIFFS ON DAY ONE OF THE NEW ADMINISTRATION IN TERMS OF MOBILIZATION OF YOUR CONSTRUCTION COMPANIES AND GETTING SOME OF THOSE COMMODITIES ORDERED AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

IS THAT SOMETHING THAT IS BEING DISCUSSED, TALKED ABOUT, PLANNED FOR? YEAH, I MEAN FOR, FOR THE MOST PART, ALL THE, YOU KNOW, THE, THE EXPENSIVE STUFF, THE STEEL, MOST OF THE BIG EQUIPMENT, ELECTRICAL STUFF, ALL THAT STUFF HAS ALREADY BEEN ORDERED. WHAT ABOUT, LIKE, THE HOSPITAL EQUIPMENT? YOU'RE NOT YET.

WE ARE WORKING WITH OUR GPO AND OTHERS FOR WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO GET IS GUARANTEED PRICING.

[02:50:05]

SO THAT WE CAN FIX IT IN NOW AND TO GET IT.

BUT, YOU KNOW, IT'S STILL A LITTLE EARLY BECAUSE SOME OF THE EQUIPMENT WE'RE LOOKING AT, WE DON'T WANT TO BUY AN MRI TODAY THAT MIGHT BE OUTDATED WHEN 2026 COMES.

SO SOME OF THAT WE'RE TRYING TO WORK ON, BUT WE ARE TRYING TO GET SOME FIXED PRICING IN AS MUCH EQUIPMENT AS WE KNOW.

NOW. THAT IS DEFINITELY THE STUFF THAT WE'RE GOING TO USE.

OKAY. BUT MOST OF THE BIG CONSTRUCTION STUFF HAS BEEN MOBILIZED AND SET ASIDE, AND THAT'S SET UP ON A GUARANTEED MAXIMUM PRICE.

WE WON'T BE PAYING ANY MORE, EVEN IF IT INCREASES.

THE CONSTRUCTION COMPANIES HAVE AGREED TO THE GMP.

HAVE THEY BROUGHT THAT UP TO YOU? ANY CONCERNS ABOUT THOSE ISSUES? NO, NOT NOT NOT NOT.

SOME PEOPLE THINK IT'S POSTURING, BUT YOU KNOW, THERE WERE TARIFFS IMPLEMENTED I THINK, FOR CORN IN THE PAST.

AND IT DEVASTATED THE CORN INDUSTRY.

SO THEY, THEY, THEY IT'S BEEN DONE.

SO YOU KNOW WE CAN'T SAY IT'S A BLUFF.

ALL RIGHT. WELL THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THE ILLUMINATING REPORT AND THE GREAT WORK.

AND WE WISH YOU GODSPEED IN YOUR WORK.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

ALL RIGHT. LET ME JUST SAY THANK YOU ON BEHALF OF MYSELF AS COUNTY JUDGE AND ON BEHALF OF THE COURT I UNDERSTAND OVER THE PAST YEARS, YOU ALL HAVE MAXIMIZED THE HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION.

SO THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU'VE DONE FOR OUR BEXAR COUNTY TAXPAYERS.

I KNOW YOU ALL HAVE TOUCHED ON THE ISSUES WITH THE CITY COUNTY MAGISTRATION.

I WOULD TELL YOU THAT THAT IS AN ONGOING DISCUSSION.

AND THEN I'VE HAD ONGOING DISCUSSIONS WITH ED IN REGARDS TO THE SUPPORT SERVICES TO THAT.

I'VE ASKED I'M ALERTING MY STAFF THAT IT'S ALTHOUGH IT'S A VERY SEPARATE, DISTINCT PART OF THE MAGISTRATION PROCESS.

I WOULD LIKE TO ASK MY PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE TO PERHAPS KEEP KEEP THAT AS A SUBSET TO LOOK AT IN ORDER THAT WE LOOK WE'RE TRYING TO LOOK AT THAT WHOLE MAGISTRATION FLOW.

AND I THINK ED, BY YOU HAVING ON SITE VISITS HAVE IDENTIFIED, AT LEAST FROM THE US INVOLVEMENT, THAT THERE ARE SOME GLITCHES, PERHAPS FLAWS IN OUR SYSTEM.

AND COMMISSIONER CALVERT, YOU TOUCHED IT WITH THE FACT THAT THAT COMMITMENT ORDER.

BUT WE HAVE BASICALLY WHAT'S CALLED A DOUBLE REGISTRATION WHICH THE CITY PROCESS IT THEIR PRISONERS, THEIR, THEIR ARRESTEES AT THEIR FACILITY.

I UNDERSTAND YOU PROVIDE SUPPORT SERVICES THERE, AND THERE'S A COMMITMENT ORDER THERE, BUT THEY'RE NOT COMMITTED INTO THE JAIL TO THEY'RE BROUGHT OVER TO THE COUNTY JAIL RE MAGISTRATE AND THEN ASSESSED AGAIN BY US.

AND I HAVE QUESTIONED THE EFFICIENCY THE ECONOMY OF THAT.

I AM I DON'T KNOW IF THAT NUMBER THE 282 EMPLOYEES THAT ARE COMMITTED.

THAT'S SOMETHING WE NEED TO KEEP AN EYE ON.

AND ULTIMATELY, I THINK THAT GOES WITH YOUR COMMENTS.

COMMISSIONER MOODY, ABOUT WE MAY NEED A SEPARATE FACILITY TO DO THIS BECAUSE AS OF NOW, IF WE DON'T GET A HANDLE ON THIS AND WE DON'T BRING IN SOME COST EFFICIENCIES AND STREAMLINE THIS PROCESS.

ONE, WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO HAVE THE ISSUES OF PEOPLE WHO ARE SICK AND NEED TO GET TO A PLACE THAT WILL RESOLVE THEIR MEDICAL ISSUES.

AT THE SAME TIME, UNDERSTANDING THE PRESSURES THAT ARE UPON OUR SHERIFF IN ORDER TO PROVIDE THE SAFEST PLACE FOR PEOPLE WHO HAVE MEDICAL ISSUES AS THEY'RE COMING IN.

SO THERE'S A COMPLEXITY TO THAT.

AND I APPLAUD EDITOR WHO IS ACTUALLY, LIKE I SAID, WENT DOWN THERE, LOOKED AT IT, AND HE HE AND I HAVE SHARED MY CONCERNS THAT I THINK AND I'M ALSO ALERTING COUNTY STAFF.

THAT'S SOMETHING WE REALLY DO NEED TO LOOK AT.

AND I CAN HAVE THE PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE KIND OF CREATE A SUBGROUP OUT OF THAT.

OR AT THE VERY LEAST, I WANT I WANT MY OFFICE TO BE INVOLVED IN THOSE DISCUSSIONS.

SO AGAIN, THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP AND SERVICE.

AND THANK YOU TO THE BOARD OF MANAGERS.

I THINK WE'RE READY TO VOTE.

IS THERE? THERE'S A MOTION BY COMMISSIONER RODRIGUEZ, SECOND BY COMMISSIONER CALVERT.

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

ALRIGHT, I'M GOING TO ALERT.

[5.b. 10:30 a.m.: Presentation, discussion, and appropriate action regarding the status of the District Attorney’s High-Risk Intake Team and the current condition of the Intake backlog and authorizing the Bexar County Criminal District Attorney to continue the utilization of unused funds in the amount of $121,762 resulting from vacant positions within the Office of the District Attorney to find the High-Risk Intake Team to aid in the identification of high-risk criminal cases and assist in the reduction of Intake Division backlog.]

WE'RE AT WE ARE AT THE NOON HOUR, BUT WE'RE GOING TO GO TO THE SECOND TIME CERTAIN OUR TIME, CERTAIN PRESENTATION, PRESENTATION, DISCUSSION, APPROPRIATE ACTION REGARDING THE STATUS OF THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S HIGH RISK INTAKE TEAM AND THE CURRENT CONDITION OF THE INTAKE BACKLOG AUTHORIZING THE BEXAR COUNTY CRIMINAL DISTRICT ATTORNEY TO CONTINUE THE UTILIZATION OF UNUSED FUNDS IN THE AMOUNT OF $121,762 RESULTING FROM VACANT POSITIONS WITHIN THE OFFICE OF DISTRICT ATTORNEY TO FUND THE HIGH RISK

[02:55:04]

INTAKE TEAM, TO AID IN THE IDENTIFICATION OF HIGH RISK CRIMINAL CASES AND ASSIST IN THE REDUCTION OF THE INTAKE DIVISION BACKLOG.

I WANT TO THANK OUR DA JOE GONZALES AND HIS TEAM FOR THIS PRESENTATION.

I WILL LET THE COURT KNOW THAT WE HAD A VERY PRODUCTIVE MEETING.

I BELIEVE, COMMISSIONER MOODY, YOU AND YOUR STAFF WERE IN ATTENDANCE WITH THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY AND OUR COUNTY PUBLIC SAFETY STAKEHOLDERS.

THAT COMMITTEE THAT I JUST MADE REFERENCE TO, COUNTY MANAGER'S OFFICE WAS THERE.

THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE, BCIT, OUR INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY CRIMINAL DISTRICT COURTS MANAGER, ASSIGNED COUNSEL, CRIME LAB, OFFICE OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE.

OBVIOUSLY, THERE IS MUCH MORE WORK.

ONE OF THE PURPOSES I ASKED FOR THAT MEETING PRIOR TO THIS MEETING WAS TO HOPEFULLY ADDRESS TO ALL THE ISSUES AND HAVE A DIALOG AND COLLABORATION. OBVIOUSLY, WE HAVE A MORE NARROW PRESENTATION DEALING WITH A SPECIFIC ISSUE WITH THE HIGH RISK INTAKE TEAM. SO I'LL ASK TO THE COURT THAT WE CAN MAYBE GET INTO A WORK SESSION IF YOU HAVE MUCH QUESTIONS CONCERNING ALL THE ISSUES THAT WERE DISCUSSED YESTERDAY.

AND COMMISSIONER MOODIE, YOU MAY WANT TO COMMENT ON ON SOME OF THE THINGS THAT WERE DISCUSSED TODAY.

SO I WANT TO ALLOW THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE.

I WILL ALERT STAFF AND THE PUBLIC THAT I INTEND TO CALL A RECESS SO THAT WE CAN TAKE A LUNCH BREAK, AND THEN WE'LL COME BACK.

I REALIZE SOME PEOPLE MAY HAVE THOUGHT THEY WOULD BE ABLE TO GET IN.

WE'RE DOING OUR VERY BEST TO ACCOMMODATE EVERYBODY'S WISHES.

SO, MR. GONZALEZ, OUR DISTRICT ATTORNEY, YOU HAVE THE FLOOR.

THANK YOU, JUDGE SAKAI.

AND GOOD AFTERNOON, EVERYONE.

I HAVE BEEN ALLOTTED ABOUT 15 MINUTES FOR MY PRESENTATION, AND MY HOPE IS TO IS TO GET THROUGH MY PRESENTATION WITHIN THOSE 15 MINUTES.

I DO HAVE SEVERAL MEMBERS OF MY STAFF ON STANDBY IN CASE THERE ARE SPECIFIC QUESTIONS THAT I MAY NOT BE ABLE TO ANSWER, BUT I.

LET ME BEGIN BY BY TALKING ABOUT I HAVE BEEN INVITED TO TO REPORT TO THE COMMISSIONER'S COURT ABOUT THE STATUS OF OF SOME REQUEST THAT WE HAD LAST YEAR TO MOVE SOME MONEY.

IT WAS A BUDGET NEUTRAL REQUEST BECAUSE WE DIDN'T ASK FOR ANY MORE MONEY THAT WAS WASN'T ALREADY ALLOCATED TO US.

BUT THIS IS TO TO FORM WHAT WE CALL THE HIGH RISK INTAKE TEAM.

SO I'M GOING TO REPORT ON ON THE PROGRESS OF THAT AS WELL AS JUST GENERALLY THE THE STATUS OF OUR INTAKE DIVISION AND HOW WE ARE DOING ON ON THESE CASES. SPECIFICALLY, THE TERM BACKLOG HAS BEEN BANDIED ABOUT.

AND SO HOPEFULLY AT THE END OF THIS YOU WILL HAVE A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT IS AND WHAT IS NOT A BACKLOG IN OUR OFFICE.

CERTAINLY THOSE OF US INSIDE OUR OFFICE UNDERSTAND WHAT A WHAT CONSTITUTES A BACKLOG, BUT THERE MAY BE SOME CONFUSION THAT HOPEFULLY WILL BE ABLE TO CLARIFY.

LET ME BEGIN BY SAYING THAT IN NOVEMBER OF LAST YEAR, MY WAY, I HAVE MY FIRST ASSISTANT HERE, TAMARA STRAUCH.

ON STANDBY.

IN THE EVENT THAT SHE NEEDS TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS THAT I MAY NOT BE ABLE TO PROVIDE.

IN NOVEMBER OF LAST YEAR, OUR OFFICE CAME TO YOU REQUESTING A BUDGET NEUTRAL PLAN TO TACKLE SOME OF WHAT WE IDENTIFIED AS THE BACKLOG.

AND WE CALLED THIS PROGRAM THE HIGH RISK INTAKE INITIATIVE.

AT THAT TIME, WE IDENTIFIED IT IN SEPTEMBER AS A BACKLOG OF ABOUT 6300 CASES, SPECIFICALLY 6330 CASES.

THIS INCLUDED BOND CASES THAT WERE 180 DAYS OLD AND THOSE, THAT IS, WHEN SOMEONE IS ARRESTED BUT THEN BONDS OUT OF JAIL.

THAT ALSO INCLUDED AT LARGE CASES THAT WERE A YEAR OLD.

THAT IS, CASES WHERE SOMEONE HASN'T BEEN ARRESTED, BUT CASES ARE FILED IN OUR OFFICE THAT WE HAVE TO REVIEW AND MAKE A CHARGING DECISION ON.

THIS NUMBER DID NOT INCLUDE FUGITIVE CASES BECAUSE THAT INFORMATION WAS NOT AVAILABLE TO US WHEN WE REQUESTED THIS INITIATIVE BE FUNDED. AND IT'S ALSO IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT THE BACKLOG DOESN'T EQUAL ALL PENDING PRE-INDICTMENT CASES IN OUR OFFICE AT THAT TIME.

THE TOTAL NUMBER OF THE PENDING PRE-INDICTMENT CASES THAT WE IDENTIFIED BACK DURING SEPTEMBER OF LAST YEAR WAS 13,809, SO ALMOST 14,000 CASES.

AND IT'S ALSO IMPORTANT TO KEEP IN MIND WHEN LOOKING AT THE OVERALL CASES THAT ARE PENDING INDICTMENT, THAT OUR OFFICE RECEIVES, ON THE AVERAGE OF ABOUT 23,000 FELONY CASES PER YEAR FOR REVIEW.

SO THERE WILL ALWAYS BE PENDING PRE-INDICTMENT CASES IN OUR OFFICE.

THAT CERTAINLY HAS BEEN THE CASE SINCE I FIRST WALKED IN JANUARY OF 2019.

THE PROBLEM IS, WHEN THESE CASES EXCEED THOSE NUMBER OF DAYS THAT I'VE ALREADY TALKED ABOUT, AND THEN THEY FALL INTO THE CATEGORY OF BEING PART OF A BACKLOG.

IF WE LOOK AT THE SLIDE, THE SECOND SLIDE, THAT INDICATES THAT BACK IN IN SEPTEMBER OF 23, WE

[03:00:09]

HAD AGAIN A TOTAL CASES AND WAITING INDICTMENT, 13,000, ALMOST 900 CASES.

IF WE LOOK TO MAY OF OF THIS YEAR AND THAT'S GOING TO BE SIGNIFICANT BECAUSE IN JUNE IS WHEN WE STARTED, WE TRANSITIONED INTO OUR NEW COUNTY CASE MANAGEMENT SYSTEM.

BUT YOU CAN SEE THAT WE HAD A 14% REDUCTION IN TOTAL CASES THAT WERE WAITING INDICTMENT FROM SEPTEMBER OF 23 TO MAY OF OF 24.

PART OF THE REASON FOR THIS SUCCESS IS BECAUSE WE HAD A GOOD NUMBER OF OUR PROSECUTORS THAT WERE WILLING TO PARTICIPATE IN WHAT I CALL THE OVERTIME PAY PROGRAM. THIS HIGH RISK INITIATIVE, AGAIN, WE ASK FOR MONEY THAT WAS ALREADY ALLOCATED TO OUR OFFICE, BUT WE ASKED TO BE ABLE TO TO SPEND SOME OF THAT MONEY THAT WASN'T BEING SPENT BECAUSE WE HAD VACANCIES IN OUR OFFICE.

WE ACTUALLY WERE APPROVED.

I THINK IT WAS 295,000.

WE HAVE SO FAR SPENT 173,000, ALMOST 174.

SO ABOUT 58% OF THE MONEY THAT WAS APPROVED, WE'VE ALREADY SPENT WE'VE HAD 45 PROSECUTORS OF 166 THAT WERE ELIGIBLE TO PARTICIPATE IN THIS PROGRAM.

THAT IS, PROSECUTORS THAT HAVE ENOUGH EXPERIENCE TO BE ABLE TO REVIEW FELONY CASES.

AND KEEP IN MIND, AGAIN, THEY'RE DOING THIS ON THE WEEKENDS.

THEY'RE DOING THIS IN THE EVENING.

THEY'RE DOING THIS IN ADDITION TO PREPARING THEIR OWN CASES FOR TRIAL.

BUT AGAIN, 45 OF THESE PROSECUTORS STEPPED UP AND WERE WILLING TO TO PARTICIPATE IN THIS PROGRAM.

PART OF THE REASON FOR THE SUCCESS THAT WE THEN HAD IN, IN, IN INCREASING THE NUMBER OF INDICTMENTS IS BECAUSE WE HAD THOSE 45 PROSECUTORS HELP TO REDUCE THESE PENDING CASES.

IF YOU CAN SEE FROM THIS SLIDE UP THERE THAT DURING THE PERIOD OF THE FIRST PART OF THIS YEAR, FROM JANUARY TO MAY OF THIS YEAR, WE HAD A 41% INCREASE IN THE TOTAL NUMBER OF INDICTMENTS COMPARED TO THAT SAME PERIOD LAST YEAR.

SO WE WENT FROM 4627 TO 6520.

BUT IF YOU LOOK AT THE SECOND PART OF THE YEAR, THAT IS FROM JUNE 24TH TO THE PRESENT TIME TO ACTUALLY NOVEMBER OF THIS YEAR, THEN WE SAW A DECREASE.

AND I BELIEVE THAT SAYS 10% DECREASE.

AND SO WE ASKED OURSELVES WHAT IS IT THAT CAUSED THIS DECREASE.

WHAT IS IT THAT THAT CAUSED THIS TO HAVE TO SLOW DOWN? WE HAVE ACTUALLY IDENTIFIED FIVE DIFFERENT FACTORS THAT HAS CAUSED THIS DELAY.

NO ONE FACTOR BY ITSELF BUT BUT DID CONTRIBUTE TO A SLOWDOWN.

AND IT'S IMPORTANT FOR FOR THIS COMMISSIONERS COURT AND THE PUBLIC TO UNDERSTAND THAT.

AGAIN, IT WAS A COMBINATION OF OF OF DIFFERENT FACTORS, THE FIRST OF WHICH IS THAT IS WHEN WE TRANSITIONED INTO THE NEW CASE MANAGEMENT SYSTEM THAT IS CALLED ODYSSEY AT THE END OF, OF, OF MAY IS WHEN WE TRANSITION.

AND SINCE WE HAVE GONE LIVE.

GONE LIVE.

I'M SORRY. THE BEXAR COUNTY DA'S OFFICE HAS HAD A SIGNIFICANT DECREASE IN INDICTMENTS OFFICE WIDE.

SOME OF THIS WAS DUE TO ERRORS IN THE SYSTEM FOR THE FIRST COUPLE OF MONTHS AFTER GO LIVE, WHICH WE HAVE IDENTIFIED.

ON THIS SCREEN, YOU CAN SEE THERE ARE FOUR DIFFERENT TYPES OF OF ISSUES THAT WE'VE HAD.

BUT THE GOOD NEWS IS THAT WE ARE COLLABORATING WITH WITH BEXAR COUNTY, IT TO RESOLVE THIS DATA AND REPORTING ISSUE PROBLEM.

I WOULD LIKE TO COMMEND MARK GAGER AND HIS TEAM FOR CONSTANTLY WORKING WITH US TO OVERCOME THESE ISSUES.

SO WE'RE MOVING FORWARD AND WE'RE TRYING TO GET OVER THE GROWING PAINS OF OF TRANSITIONING INTO THIS NEW SYSTEM.

IN ADDITION TO THAT, WE IDENTIFIED THAT DIGITAL EVIDENCE HAS INCREASED OVER TIME.

IT'S DIFFERENT TODAY, FOR EXAMPLE, THAN THAN WHEN TAMARA AND I FIRST STARTED AS PROSECUTORS 30, 35 YEARS AGO.

I REMEMBER WHEN I FIRST STARTED, FOR EXAMPLE, A FAMILY VIOLENCE MISDEMEANOR CASE MAY HAVE ONE POLICE REPORT, MAY HAVE A PHOTOGRAPH OF THE ALLEGED VICTIM, AND THAT'S IT. WELL, TODAY, WHEN SOME LAW ENFORCEMENT RESPONDS TO A CALL, THERE MAY BE SEVERAL OFFICERS.

THERE MAY BE TEN, 15, SOMETIMES 20 OFFICERS.

THEY EACH HAVE BODY CAM CAMERAS.

SO WE HAVE TO REVIEW THAT BODY CAM FOOTAGE.

AND SO IT TAKES A LOT MORE TIME FOR THE AVERAGE PROSECUTOR TODAY TO REVIEW THOSE CASES THAN IT DID BACK BACK IN THE DAY WHEN WHEN TAMARA AND I WERE FIRST YOUNG PROSECUTORS.

AS A MATTER OF FACT, IF YOU CAN, AS YOU'LL SEE HERE.

[03:05:06]

THIS IS NOT COOPERATING.

IS THERE SOMEBODY THAT CAN HELP ME MOVE TO THE NEXT SLIDE? WELL, LOOKS LIKE WE'VE LOST IT.

WELL, LET ME LET ME SEE IF I CAN JUST CONTINUE THE DISCUSSION WITHOUT IT.

OVER THE LAST TEN YEARS, SINCE 2014, THE DOCUMENT EVIDENCE HAS INCREASED BY 727%.

THE VIDEO EVIDENCE AGAIN, REMEMBER I TALKED ABOUT THE BODY CAM FOOTAGE THAT'S INCREASED BY 1,918%, AND THEN PHOTO EVIDENCE HAS INCREASED BY 122%. OH, WE HAVE IT BACK UP.

PERFECT. HERE WE GO.

SO THAT'S.

YOU CAN SEE THERE JUST THE VAST AMOUNT OF EVIDENCE THAT WE'RE HAVING TO REVIEW TODAY.

AND SO WHAT THAT HAS DONE IS INCREASED EXPONENTIALLY.

EXPONENTIALLY, I'M SORRY, YEAR BY YEAR, AND CONTINUES TO DO THAT.

IN ADDITION TO THAT, ANOTHER FACTOR WE'VE IDENTIFIED IS EVIDENCE TRANSFER.

WE STILL ARE NOT AT THE STAGE WHERE WHERE THE EVIDENCE THAT IS COMING OVER FROM LAW ENFORCEMENT LIKE SAPD AND BEXAR COUNTY SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT IS TALKING TO OUR SYSTEM AS EFFICIENTLY AS IT COULD.

THE GOOD THE THE POSITIVE ASPECT, THOUGH, IS THIS COURT HAS ALREADY APPROVED FUNDING FOR A CONTRACT WITH AXON SO THAT EVENTUALLY NEXT YEAR WE WILL COME ON BOARD WITH EVIDENCE.COM.

BUT IN THE MEANTIME, PROSECUTORS TODAY SPENT A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF TIME WORKING WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT TO ENSURE THAT WE RECEIVE ALL THE EVIDENCE THAT'S ASSOCIATED WITH THE CASE, AND THE TIME THAT THAT TIME HAS SIGNIFICANTLY INCREASED.

YOU CAN SEE FROM THIS SLIDE THAT JUST SAPD, WE HAVE 3388 CASES AWAITING EVIDENCE TRANSFER TO OUR SYSTEM, OUR OFFICE.

THE SECOND PART OF THAT SAYS THAT OUR OFFICE HAS 133,000 INDIVIDUAL ITEMS OF EVIDENCE FROM SAPD, AGAIN AWAITING IMPORT BY BCIT, INTO THE BEXAR COUNTY DIGITAL EVIDENCE MANAGEMENT SYSTEM.

AGAIN, YOU SEE THAT IT TAKES A LOT IN ORDER FOR US TO PROCESS OUR CASES.

IN ADDITION TO THAT, ANOTHER FACTOR THAT WE'VE IDENTIFIED ARE THE DRUG CASES THAT WE SEE IN OUR OFFICE.

THE BEXAR COUNTY CRIME LAB ALSO HAS A BACKLOG THAT IS CONTRIBUTED TO THE SLOWDOWN OF THESE CASES.

AGAIN, AT THIS POINT, I WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE WORK THAT DOCTOR TO GREENFIELD THAT THAT ORANGE DAM AND EVERYBODY IN THE CRIME LAB HAS BEEN EXERTING IN ORDER FOR US TO TO MOVE THESE CASES FORWARD.

THE BEXAR COUNTY DA'S OFFICE.

LET ME SEE IF I CAN STEP BACK.

HERE WE GO. THE BEXAR COUNTY DA'S OFFICE HAS 4778 CASES.

I'M SORRY. LET ME STEP BACK AND SAY THAT THOSE ARE THE NUMBER OF SUBMISSIONS AWAITING TESTING AT THE BEXAR COUNTY CRIME LAB IN OUR OFFICE.

WE ARE AWAITING TEST RESULTS ON 2786 SEGMENT SUBMISSIONS.

THE THE SIGNIFICANCE TO THAT IS WE OBVIOUSLY CANNOT GO FORWARD ON A DRUG CASE AND OBTAIN AN INDICTMENT WITHOUT A DRUG RESULT. AND IT'S ALSO IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT A SUBMISSION MAY RESULT IN MORE THAN ONE CASE.

FOR EXAMPLE, IF A IF A SUBMISSION INCLUDES A THREE DIFFERENT DRUGS FENTANYL, COCAINE AND METHAMPHETAMINES, THAT YOU MAY HAVE THREE DIFFERENT CHARGES FOR THAT ONE SUBMISSION.

AGAIN, OF THE THE 5276 DRUG CASES AWAITING TESTING, 922 OF THOSE CASES WE'VE IDENTIFIED AS PEOPLE BEING IN CUSTODY IN THE BEXAR COUNTY JAIL.

THERE ARE OTHER SORTS OF OF DELAYS IN THE CRIME LAB THAT HAS CAUSED SOME DELAYS FOR OUR OFFICE.

FOR EXAMPLE, A DNA ANALYSIS AND OTHER ISSUES.

BUT PRIMARILY THEY'RE THE DRUG CASES THAT WE ARE SEEING THAT ARE CAUSING SOME CHALLENGES IN OUR OFFICE.

AND FINALLY, THE THE LAST FACTOR THAT WE'VE IDENTIFIED AS BEING CONTRIBUTING TO OR HAVING CONTRIBUTED ATTRIBUTED TO ANY SORT OF DELAY IN OUR OFFICE, OUR STAFF SHORTAGES AT ANY TIME.

WE ARE 20, 21 LAWYERS DOWN IN OUR OFFICE, AND I THINK SINCE OCTOBER OF 2023, WE HAVE AVERAGED ABOUT

[03:10:01]

21 LAWYERS DOWN OR VACANCIES PER MONTH.

WE ARE IMPROVING WITH THAT AGAIN, FORTUNATELY, BECAUSE OF THE RECENT FUNDING FROM FROM THIS COURT.

WHERE WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO TO SEE RAISES IN OUR ATTORNEY STAFF.

WE'VE SEEN A REDUCTION IN PEOPLE LEAVING FOR BETTER PAYING JOBS.

AND AGAIN, WE THANK THE THE COMMISSIONERS COURT FOR THAT.

IN ADDITION TO THAT, WE WE ARE TAKING OTHER STEPS TO TO ENSURE THAT WE GET THE OPTIMUM NUMBER OF LAWYERS THAT, THAT, THAT WE CAN POSSIBLY HAVE.

WE'RE RECRUITING THE SEVERAL LAW SCHOOLS THROUGHOUT THE STATE.

WE ARE GOING OUT AND MEETING WITH DIFFERENT AGENCIES.

TEXAS DISTRICT AND COUNTY ATTORNEYS ASSOCIATION, SAN ANTONIO BAR ASSOCIATION, AND OTHER AREAS TO TRY AND RECRUIT AS MANY LAWYERS AS POSSIBLE. WE ALSO HAVE OTHER ADDITIONAL PROGRAMS THAT ARE GOING TO HELP WITH OUR WITH OUR BACKLOG.

FOR EXAMPLE THE COUNTY HAS ALLOWED US TO PURCHASE ADDITIONAL LICENSES AND BATCH IMPORTERS FOR THE CURRENT EVIDENCE MANAGEMENT SYSTEM, WHICH COULD INCREASE THE SPEED IN WHICH WE RECEIVE EVIDENCE UNTIL WE GO ONLINE WITH EVIDENCE.COM.

ADDITIONALLY, WE ARE WORKING, AS I AS I MENTIONED, WITH THE BEXAR COUNTY CRIME LAB DIRECTOR, TO EXPEDITE THE TESTING OF OF DRUG CASE SUBMISSIONS FOR DEFENDANTS THAT ARE AWAITING INDICTMENT, IN CUSTODY AND ON BOND.

WE'VE ALWAYS MADE JAIL CASES A PRIORITY.

WE CONTINUE TO DO THAT.

AND SO WE ARE WORKING WITH THE CRIME LAB TO ENSURE THAT WE'RE READY TO GO TO TRIAL WHEN WE ARE CALLED.

SO SO ALL THESE EFFORTS ARE INCREASING AND IMPROVING THE NUMBER OF CASES THAT ARE IN QUEUE WAITING TO TO BE PROCESSED.

WE ARE ALSO, AS I MENTIONED, EXPLORING OTHER AVENUES TO TRY AND LOOK FOR ALTERNATIVES TO TO HAVE MORE HANDS ON IN OUR OFFICE, TO HAVE MORE ATTORNEYS REVIEW THESE CASES SO THAT WE CAN HOPEFULLY REDUCE THE AMOUNT OF CASES THAT ARE PENDING IN OUR OFFICE.

AND SO PART AGAIN, A FOR THE REASON IN IN THE SUCCESS THAT WE'RE HAVING HAS BEEN APPROVAL OF THIS HIGH RISK REDUCTION INITIATIVE THAT YOU THE COURT HAS APPROVED.

WE STILL HAVE AN AMOUNT OF 121,762 THAT HASN'T BEEN EXPENDED.

SO WE'RE ASKING THE COURT TO ALLOW US TO CONTINUE THIS PROGRAM, TO CONTINUE TO PAY THESE PROSECUTORS FOR THE OVERTIME WORK THAT THEY HAVE ALREADY DONE, AND WILL HOPEFULLY CONTINUE TO DO, SO THAT WE CAN CONTINUE TO SEE AN INCREASE IN THE IN THE SUCCESS THAT WE'VE HAD IN OUR OFFICE.

AGAIN, I WANT TO THANK THE COMMISSIONERS FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO TALK ABOUT THE WORK THAT WE'VE DONE OR WE ARE DOING AND THAT WE HAVE DONE.

I'M CERTAINLY WILLING TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS THAT YOU MAY HAVE, AND IF I CAN'T GIVE YOU AN ANSWER, HOPEFULLY ONE OF MY TEAM MEMBERS WILL.

COMMISSIONER MOODY. WELL, THANK YOU FOR FOR COMING TO COURT.

I WANT TO THANK YOUR PROSECUTORS FOR THE WORK THAT THEY DO FOR THE COUNTY.

YOU ARE PART OF PUBLIC SAFETY.

AND SO I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE GET TO THE THE BOTTOM OF THE ISSUES WHEN IT COMES TO THE CASE BACKLOG AND EVERYTHING.

I ALSO WANT TO THANK THE JUDGE FOR CONVENING THE PUBLIC SAFETY TASK FORCE AND, AND YOU KNOW, HELPING US BETTER UNDERSTAND ALL THE MOVING PIECES WITHIN THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM.

AND I HOPE WE CONTINUE TO DO THAT GOING FORWARD BECAUSE IT'S COMPLEX.

I THINK YOU'VE HIGHLIGHTED SOME OF THE ISSUES HERE.

I DO HAVE SOME QUESTIONS AND COMMENTS STILL, BUT I THINK THAT, YOU KNOW, ULTIMATELY WE NEED TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO SOLVE THIS GOING FORWARD.

AND SO LET ME DIVE IN HERE AND SORRY, I MAY BOUNCE BACK AND FORTH BETWEEN MY NOTES AND BETWEEN WHAT YOU JUST PRESENTED, BECAUSE I'M TRYING TO JUST MAKE SURE I COVER EVERYTHING.

SO I KNOW YOU HAVE THE YOU BREAK OUT THE BACKLOG VERSUS TOTAL UNINDICTED CASES, RIGHT? AND SO, IF I'M CORRECT FROM OUR DISCUSSIONS AND FROM WHAT WE HAVE HERE, YOU KIND OF HAVE THE BACKLOG AS IT EXISTED BACK IN 23 WAS AROUND 6300 CASES.

CORRECT? AND A TOTAL UNINDICTED CASES WAS 14,000

[03:15:05]

PER THIS DOCUMENT. CORRECT.

RIGHT. BUT I KNOW RECENTLY THE TOTAL UNINDICTED CASES WAS APPROXIMATELY 16,000.

CORRECT. CORRECT.

OKAY. AND THEN AS WE WERE TALKING YESTERDAY, WE GOT INTO THE 6300 NUMBER, WHICH YOU'RE CLASSIFYING AS THE HIGH RISK BACKLOG.

HAD ORIGINALLY DECLINED SOMEWHAT IN THE FIRST PART OF THE YEAR WITH WITH THE WORK OF THE DA'S OFFICE.

RIGHT. BUT THEN ULTIMATELY, THAT'S BOUNCED BACK UP.

SO IF I'M CORRECT, TAKING OUT THE FUGITIVES THAT YOU MENTIONED, WE'RE AT 6500.

APPROXIMATELY TODAY.

MORE IF YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT A BACKLOG AND USING THE SAME CRITERIA THAT WE USED LAST YEAR, WE'RE ABOUT 7000.

CORRECT. AND I THINK THAT INCLUDED FUGITIVES.

CORRECT? CORRECT. YES, YES.

OKAY. SO IF WE TAKE THOSE OUT, WE'RE STILL HIGHER THAN WE WERE WHEN WE HAD, YOU KNOW, WE ORIGINALLY APPROVED THIS FUNDING FOR 6300.

CORRECT. CORRECT.

BUT AS I MENTIONED YESTERDAY, COMMISSIONER IF IF ALL WE WERE TALKING ABOUT WAS FOCUSING ON THOSE 6300 AND THEY DID NOTHING ELSE, THEY THEY'VE GONE THROUGH THAT.

I MEAN, WE THEY HAVE RESOLVED AND MADE CHARGING DECISIONS IN ALL BUT 1200 CASES.

SO OF THOSE 6000, 300, 5000 HAVE ALREADY BEEN DISPOSED OF OR WE'VE HAD CHARGING DECISIONS.

I UNDERSTAND THAT THERE'S ALWAYS I MEAN, IT'S A CONTINUAL THROUGHPUT RIGHT THROUGH THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM.

THERE'S CONSTANTLY NEW CASES GOING IN, CONSTANTLY CASES GOING OUT.

BUT IF WE SAW THE HIGH RISK BACKLOG AS A PROBLEM BEFORE, IT STILL EXISTS.

IT'S ACTUALLY INCREASED A LITTLE BIT FROM WHERE IT WAS 12 MONTHS AGO.

RIGHT. JUST JUST IN NUMBERS.

IT HAS. BUT REMEMBER THAT, AGAIN, WE ALWAYS PRIORITIZE THE JAIL CASES.

WE HAVE TO HAVE SOMEONE WHO'S CHARGED WITH A SERIOUS OFFENSE THAT'S IN CUSTODY.

WE HAVE TO HAVE THAT CASE INDICTED BY 90 DAYS.

SO WE ALREADY HAVE THAT ON A HIGH PRIORITY.

THESE BACKLOG CASES WE IDENTIFIED WERE THE ONES PRIMARILY THAT WERE FILED AT LARGE.

AND WHERE SOMEONE BONDS OUT AND IT'S BEEN SITTING FOR SIX MONTHS OR MORE.

YEAH. AND I'M GLAD YOU BROUGHT THAT UP, BECAUSE I THINK ANOTHER HUGE DATA POINT THAT IS CONCERNING FOR ME, AND I KNOW WE BROUGHT IT UP YESTERDAY, IS THE NUMBER OF UNINDICTED INDIVIDUALS WITHIN THE JAIL TODAY.

RIGHT? AND IF WE LOOK AT THAT 12 MONTHS AGO, THAT WAS AROUND 1213 HUNDRED.

AND TODAY WE'RE 25 2600.

CORRECT. I DON'T HAVE THE TOTAL NUMBER THAT'S AVAILABLE.

REPORT. I'M SORRY.

THAT'S PER THE MOST RECENT JAIL REPORT.

OKAY. I SEE. BUT BUT SO CLEARLY THERE'S THERE'S SOMETHING GOING ON HERE, BUT I WANT TO MOVE ON FROM KIND OF CURRENT STATUS TO SOME OF THE PROBLEMS YOU'VE IDENTIFIED.

BECAUSE THERE'S, THERE'S A LOT OF FACTORS, AS I SAID, UNDERSTAND THE SYSTEM'S COMPLEX.

YOU MENTIONED ODYSSEY.

SO I THINK MARK GAGER YESTERDAY MENTIONED YOU HAD STARTED WITH 200 CONCERNS, BUT THAT'S DOWN TO 25.

CORRECT. NO, I THINK IT'S IT'S DOWN TO 125 I THINK IS WHAT HE SAID.

NO, IT'S DOWN TO 25 IDENTIFIED ISSUES AS OF LAST WEEK WITH THE DA'S OFFICE.

THAT'S WHAT I THOUGHT I HEARD YOU SAY.

OKAY. WELL, AND ULTIMATELY, I THINK I DON'T KNOW WHAT THOSE 25 ISSUES ARE AND WHETHER WHAT THE IMPACT OF THEM SPECIFICALLY IS.

BUT OBVIOUSLY, WE'VE MADE SOME GREAT PROGRESS ON THE ODYSSEY FRONT.

CORRECT. THERE'S NO QUESTION BUT THAT WE'VE BEEN WORKING WELL WITH BCIT AND WORKING TO TRY AND AND AND CORRECT THOSE ISSUES AND MR. GAGER CAN YOU SPEAK TO JUST THE THE PROBLEMS REMAINING? DO WE HAVE VISIBILITY TO SOLUTIONS? WHAT'S THE CURRENT IMPACT ON THOSE? CAN WE GET THOSE RESOLVED QUICKLY? WE HAVE VISIBILITY INTO ALL OF THEM.

EXCUSE ME. THEY'RE AT VARIOUS STAGES OF COMPLETION.

SO SOME THINGS ARE IN FINAL TESTING.

SOME THINGS ARE AWAITING TESTING.

SOME THINGS ARE IN DEVELOPMENT.

IT IS ABOUT 21 ISSUES.

I JUST HEARD THAT WE'RE DOWN TO THAT WERE PRIORITIZED FROM THE DA'S OFFICE ONE THROUGH 21.

WE HAD ABOUT 225.

AND JUST TO SPEAK TO THOSE, THE IMPACT ON THE BACKLOG.

AND I DID SEE THAT THEIR NUMBERS, THE MAJOR DOWNTICK IN THE INDICTED CASES LOOKS LIKE IN THE DATA THAT WE'VE LOOKED AT HAPPENED IN JUNE AND JULY, AUGUST, SEPTEMBER AND OCTOBER, INDICTED CASES IN ODYSSEY LOOKED TO BE ABOUT THE SAME AVERAGE AS THEY WERE PRE GO LIVE.

SO IT LOOKS LIKE WE GOT BACK TO THE ABILITY TO INDICT AT THE SAME LEVEL AS WE WERE JANUARY THROUGH MAY ACCORDING TO THE DATA THAT WE HAVE.

[03:20:02]

SO IT LOOKS LIKE ABOUT 1400 CASES BASED ON THE DATA THAT I LOOKED AT WAS THE DOWNTICK IN JUNE AND JULY, WHICH IF ADDED INTO THE NUMBERS THAT THE DA'S OFFICE PRESENTED, LOOKS LIKE THAT WOULD HAVE GOT THEM BACK TO ABOUT THE SAME NUMBER.

SO ALTHOUGH THE ISSUES ARE IMPORTANT, I GUESS IS WHAT I'M TRYING TO GET AT.

IN SPITE OF THOSE ISSUES, WE'RE CONTINUING TO IMPROVE AND WE'RE STILL ABLE TO INDICT FOLKS IN THE SYSTEM BASED ON THE AUGUST THROUGH NOVEMBER DATA THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT, AND WE EXPECT FOR THAT TO CONTINUE TO GET BETTER.

BUT AGAIN, WE'RE WORKING WITH THEM MULTIPLE DAYS A WEEK TO RESOLVE THOSE ISSUES.

SO AND WHILE I HAVE YOU WHEN IT COMES TO EVIDENCE TRANSFER, IS THERE ANYTHING WE CAN DO TO EXPEDITE THE EVIDENCE.COM TRANSITION? I JUST SPOKE TO THE PROJECT TEAM THIS MORNING.

THERE IS AN ISSUE, NOT AN ISSUE.

THERE'S A A REQUIREMENT, I GUESS, TO GET SOLIDIFIED THAT WE'VE BEEN AGGRESSIVELY WORKING WITH SAPD.

SO WE'RE KIND OF RELYING ON THEM AS WELL AROUND HOW THAT DATA IS GOING TO ACTUALLY BE TRANSFERRED OVER.

THERE'S REALLY THREE DIFFERENT WAYS THE DATA COMES IN FOR LESS FREQUENTLY.

FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES THAT DON'T FREQUENTLY SUBMIT DATA, THERE'LL BE ONE PROCESS FOR THEM TO SUBMIT.

FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES THAT FREQUENTLY SUBMIT DATA BUT AREN'T AN AXON PARTNER, WE'RE GOING TO NEED TO BUILD A PORTAL FOR THEM IN ORDER TO DO THAT.

AND THEN FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES LIKE SAPD OR ANY OTHERS THAT ARE AXON PARTNERS, THERE WILL BE A DIFFERENT WAY IN WHICH THE EVIDENCE CAN BE MADE ACCESSIBLE.

SO WE'RE I WAS TOLD THIS MORNING VERY CLOSE TO FINALIZING WHAT THOSE TRANSFER PROTOCOLS LOOK LIKE, IF YOU WANT TO SAY THAT AND, AND I THINK THE TARGET IS GOING TO BE TOWARD THE END OF THE FIRST QUARTER CALENDAR YEAR THIS YEAR.

BUT AGAIN, THE TIMELINE CAN'T BE FLESHED OUT UNTIL WE WORK OUT WHAT EXACTLY NEEDS TO HAPPEN WITH THE SAPD EVIDENCE COMING OVER, BUT WE EXPECT THAT TO BE RESOLVED THIS MONTH.

OKAY. AND IS THERE ANY WAY FOR US TO HELP STREAMLINE THAT WITH SUBURBAN CITIES OR WITH OTHER ENTITIES THAT ARE TRANSFERRING EVIDENCE TO TRY TO ENCOURAGE THEM TO MOVE TO THE THE STANDARD SYSTEM VERSUS HAVING 2 OR 3 DIFFERENT WAYS THAT WE'RE TRANSFERRING EVIDENCE.

WELL, I THINK WITH EVIDENCE.COM, FROM MY UNDERSTANDING, IT'S GOING TO BE A LOT MORE FLEXIBLE IN THAT THE CURRENT SYSTEM ONLY ACCEPTS CERTAIN FILE TYPES, LET'S SAY.

SO I THINK ONE OF THE ISSUES THAT WE HEARD YESTERDAY OR IN PREVIOUS CONVERSATIONS WERE CERTAIN FILE TYPES CAN'T BE SENT OVER.

SO SO THE IDEA OF MOVING TO EVIDENCE.COM WILL ONE ALLOW AND SUPPORT DIFFERENT FILE TYPES AND DIFFERENT TRANSFER PROTOCOLS FOR THOSE FOR THOSE FILES? THE EXISTING SYSTEM, THE WAY IT'S CONFIGURED IS REALLY DEPENDENT ON WHICH IS THE CURRENT EVIDENCE INGESTION SYSTEM.

SO EVERYTHING THAT GETS TRANSFERRED IN PART OF THAT BACKLOG TODAY.

FIRST OF ALL, THE QUANTITY OF THE DATA.

BUT IT ALL NEEDS TO BE ENCRYPTED AND IMPORTED INTO AVERY-PECK.

AND THEN FOR THE ATTORNEYS TO VIEW IT DECRYPTED AND DOWNLOADED OUT OF ARABIC.

RIGHT. AND SO IT'S A BIG STRAIN ON VEROTIK, WHICH IS AN OLD AGING SYSTEM THAT THAT HASN'T BEEN UPDATED IN A WHILE.

SO THE SOLUTION IN THE INTERIM HAS BEEN TO BUY THOSE TWO IMPORTERS THAT THEY, THAT THEY TALKED ABOUT, AND THAT HAS INCREASED THE THROUGHPUT.

BUT AGAIN, THE LONG TERM SOLUTION HAS TO BE EVIDENCE.COM.

SO OKAY.

AND I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S ALSO PART OF THAT SAME DISCUSSION.

BUT YOU KNOW, WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE THE MASSIVE TERABYTES OF DATA THAT'S BEING TRANSFERRED AND EVERYTHING.

IS THERE ANY KIND OF OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE DECISIONS ABOUT IT? I DON'T KNOW THE PROPER TECHNICAL TERMINOLOGY, BUT, YOU KNOW, A COMPRESSED FILE, THE SMALL IMAGE VERSUS THE EXTRA LARGE DETAILED IMAGE.

YOU KNOW, UNTIL IT'S DETERMINED THAT THAT'S NEEDED IN A TRIAL TO MINIMIZE THE AMOUNT OF EVIDENCE TRANSFER IN TERMS OF JUST TOTAL DATA.

I DON'T KNOW ENOUGH ABOUT THE THE EVIDENCE.COM PROCESS TO KNOW HOW THAT MAY WORK, BUT I'LL FOLLOW UP WITH MY TEAM AND WE CAN, YOU KNOW, RESPOND AND GET BACK TO YOU ON THAT. IN THE INTERIM, THERE'S NOT AN OPPORTUNITY TO DO THAT FROM MY UNDERSTANDING.

OKAY. THANK YOU.

YES, SIR. I'D LIKE TO MOVE ON TO THE THE CRIME LAB DISCUSSION.

AND, YOU KNOW, WE'RE NOT GOING TO SOLVE THIS HERE, BUT I WAS CONFUSED BY BY THE THE DATA THAT IS IN THE SLIDE PRESENTATION VERSUS VERSUS WHAT I RECEIVED YESTERDAY FROM COUNTY STAFF.

SO I DON'T KNOW IF THEY WERE PULLED AT DIFFERENT TIMES, BUT THEY SEEM SIGNIFICANTLY DIFFERENT.

I DON'T KNOW IF ANYBODY CAN SPEAK TO THE DATA POLLS.

OR DO YOU HAVE A SPECIFIC QUESTION ABOUT THE SEE, WE CAN I'M GOING TO ELENA ALTUS IS THE DEPUTY CHIEF OF OUR INTAKE DIVISION.

SHE MAY BE ABLE TO PROVIDE SOME INSIGHT INTO THE CONCERNS THAT YOU HAVE, COMMISSIONER.

[03:25:02]

SO PART OF THE ROLLOUT OF THE ODYSSEY SYSTEM WAS THAT WE HAD TO GO FROM GETTING OUR DATA FROM THE SEGIS SYSTEM TO GETTING OUR DATA FROM ODYSSEY.

AND THERE ARE A NUMBER OF BENEFITS TO THE ODYSSEY SYSTEM IN REGARDS TO DATA COLLECTION.

BUT THERE IS PART OF THE TRANSITION IN JUNE WAS INCORRECT INFORMATION BEING IN ODYSSEY.

PART OF THE EFFORTS THAT THE DA'S OFFICE AND ALL THE COUNTY PARTNERS HAVE BEEN WORKING WITH BCIT AND TYLER TO CORRECT, IS TO GET OUR REPORTS WORKING SO THAT WE CAN GET CORRECT DATA OUT OF THOSE, OUT OF THE NEW SYSTEM.

AND SO WE KNOW AS OF THIS MORNING THAT THE NUMBERS THAT BCIT AND PROVIDED TO COMMISSIONERS YESTERDAY IS BASED ON A REPORT THAT HAS NOT BEEN VETTED.

THE DA'S OFFICE NUMBERS HAVE BEEN VETTED.

WE KNOW THAT THOSE ARE RELIABLE NUMBERS.

SO I I'D ENCOURAGE YOU TO LOOK AT THE NUMBERS THE DA'S OFFICE PROVIDED YOU IN THE SLIDE AND POWERPOINT PRESENTATION, BECAUSE THOSE ARE VETTED NUMBERS FROM THE SYSTEM. WE MADE SURE OUR REPORTS WERE REPORTING ACCURATELY BEFORE WE CAME TO YOU WITH THAT DATA.

ALL RIGHT. WELL, I'M GOING TO MOVE ON FROM THIS, BUT THE NUMBERS WERE VERY DIFFERENT.

BUT THEY'RE DIFFERENT STATUSES, DIFFERENT CATEGORIES.

SO THAT COULD ALSO BE PART OF IT.

THE THE HUGE NUMBER OF CASES PENDING CRIME LAB RESULTS, THOUGH AS WE TALKED ABOUT YESTERDAY, THEY'RE PRIORITIZING INDICTED CASES, NOT INDICTED CASES.

INDIVIDUALS THAT ARE IN THE JAIL RIGHT AS A FIRST PRIORITY.

SO THERE'S GOING TO BE OTHER CASES THAT ARE GOING TO SIT OUT THERE AND LANGUISH UNLESS WE DO SOMETHING ELSE ABOUT IT.

AND SO I DO WANT TO SAY, ONCE WE START TALKING ABOUT SOLUTIONS, AND I HOPE WE CAN CONTINUE THOSE DISCUSSIONS AS WE GO FORWARD HERE, BUT I THINK IT WAS SUGGESTED BY THE CRIME LAB TO LOOK FOR OUTSIDE SUPPORT IN ORDER TO BRING THAT BACKLOG BACKLOGGED DOWN AND GET CAUGHT UP, BECAUSE MY UNDERSTANDING IS WE'RE GETTING CLOSE TO PARITY WITH THE ADDITIONAL STAFF AND TRAINING, BUT WE'RE NOT THERE YET AND THAT'S CONCERNING.

SO WE'RE CONTINUING TO BUILD UP THE CRIME LAB BACKLOG TODAY.

AND SO IT SEEMS LIKE IT WOULD BE AN ORDER THAT WE HAVE A DISCUSSION SOON ABOUT HOW WE TRY TO GET THOSE OUTSIDE RESOURCES TO BRING THAT BACKLOG DOWN AND GET CAUGHT UP, AND THEN HOPEFULLY WE CAN STAY CAUGHT UP GOING FORWARD.

SO I THINK THAT THAT'S ONE SOLUTION THAT I GATHERED FROM YESTERDAY THAT I THINK MAKES A LOT OF SENSE.

I DON'T KNOW IF YOU HAVE A RESPONSE.

WELL, COMMISSIONER, THE ONLY CONCERN I HAVE IS WE CERTAINLY ARE OPEN TO OUTSOURCING SOME OF THESE DRUG CASES IN ORDER TO REDUCE THIS BACKLOG.

MY ONLY CONCERN IS WHAT WE SEE SOMETIMES WITH THE MEDICAL EXAMINERS IS ONCE THE EXAMINER LEAVES THE JURISDICTION, IT'S HARD TO GET THEM TO COME BACK TO TESTIFY. AND SO IF YOU'VE GOT A DRUG ANALYST, WE HAVE TO HAVE SOMEBODY THAT'S ABLE TO COME TO COURT TO TESTIFY WHEN A CASE GOES TO TRIAL.

SO THAT'S A CONCERN THAT WE HAVE.

OKAY. WELL, MAYBE WE CAN TALK BETWEEN COUNTY STAFF AND THE CRIME LAB AND SEE IF OUTSIDE, YOU KNOW, CONTRACT CAN SUPPORT THAT KNOWING THAT THAT'S REQUIRED AS PART OF THE THE CONTRACT.

BUT I THINK IT'S WORTH TAKING A HARD LOOK AT.

ALMOST DONE WHEN IT COMES TO THE STAFFING PARTICIPATION, ONE THING IS INFORMATION.

WHAT DOES THAT LOOK LIKE OVER THE LAST 12 MONTHS IN TERMS OF PARTICIPATION IN THE OVERTIME PROGRAM BY YOUR PROSECUTORS? BECAUSE WE CAN AUTHORIZE THE USE OF THE ADDITIONAL FUNDS.

BUT IF FOLKS AREN'T UTILIZING IT ANYMORE, THEN THERE'S LIMITED VALUE IN THAT.

AND THAT'S WHY I STATED ONLY 166 OF OUR 250 PROSECUTORS ARE ELIGIBLE TO DO THIS OVERTIME WORK, BUT THEY HAVE TO BE WILLING TO DO IT RIGHT.

THEY HAVE TO VOLUNTEER THEIR TIME.

PEOPLE HAVE FAMILIES, THEY HAVE OBLIGATIONS OUTSIDE THE OFFICE, AND SO NOT EVERYBODY IS ABLE OR WILLING TO DO THAT.

IN ADDITION, IF YOU'RE A TRIAL LAWYER, YOU'RE SPENDING YOUR FREE TIME AT HOME GETTING READY FOR YOUR TRIAL DOCKET NEXT WEEK.

SO I GUESS JUST ASK SPECIFIC QUESTION.

YOU KNOW, IN THE SPRING TIME, HOW MANY OF THOSE 160 WERE PARTICIPATING? HOW MANY ARE PARTICIPATING TODAY IN THE OVERTIME PROGRAM? SO WE WE HAVE A HIGH INTEREST BEING IN THE INTAKE DEPARTMENT, WHERE THESE CASES ARE BEING GATHERED FROM AND DISTRIBUTED OUT AMONG OUR VOLUNTEERS.

WE HAVE A VERY HIGH INTEREST.

AND IT IS IT IS WITH THE BACKING OF THE DA'S THAT ARE WILLING TO DO THIS PROGRAM, THAT WE KNOW THAT WE CAN SPEND THE REST OF THE FUNDS THAT HAVE PREVIOUSLY BEEN ALLOCATED FOR THIS PURPOSE WITH NO EXTRA EXPENSE, SINCE IT'S A ALREADY BUDGETED ITEM FOR THE DA'S OFFICE.

[03:30:06]

SO HIGH INTEREST. ARE YOU TALKING 50%, 75% OF THE ATTORNEYS JUST TRYING TO GET AT A BALLPARK NUMBER? I'M A LAWYER AND I'M THE WRONG PERSON TO ASK ABOUT NUMBERS, BUT I CAN TELL YOU THAT AT LEAST 45 MORE OF THE SAME INDIVIDUALS WHO WERE PARTICIPATING LAST YEAR AND THROUGH THROUGH THE END OF THE FISCAL YEAR WILL CONTINUE TO TO VOLUNTEER FOR THAT EXTRA OVERTIME TO MAKE SURE THIS BACKLOG GETS REDUCED AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.

OKAY. TWO THINGS I WOULD LIKE TO ASK IN TERMS OF REPORTING.

AND ONE GOES BACK TO THE CRIME LAB, IF POSSIBLE, I'D LIKE TO SEE THE LAST 12 MONTHS OF THAT BREAKDOWN BETWEEN COMPLETED AND PROCESSED UNASSIGNED, AND SEE HOW THAT'S CHANGED OVER TIME, BECAUSE WE CAN LOOK AT A SNAPSHOT IN TIME, BUT THAT DOESN'T TELL US THE WHOLE PICTURE.

WE REALLY HAVE TO SEE HOW IT'S CHANGING.

AND TO THAT POINT, I WOULD ALSO LOVE TO SEE THE HIGH RISK INTAKE POPULATION, YOU KNOW, FROM THE 6300 OVER THE LAST 12 MONTHS AND SEE HOW IT'S CHANGED, BECAUSE I THINK WHERE WE'VE LANDED HERE IS THAT THERE WAS SOME PROGRESS BEING MADE, AND THEN THERE WERE SOME FACTORS IN OUR CONTROL, AND SOME FACTORS MAY BE OUTSIDE OF OUR CONTROL THAT HAVE NEGATIVELY IMPACTED THAT TO WHERE WE'RE ACTUALLY WORSE OFF THAN WE WERE 12 MONTHS AGO.

IF WE'RE JUST LOOKING AT THE DATA, AND THEN HOW ARE WE GOING TO TRY TO BRING THAT DOWN AGAIN? THE STAFFING FUNDING IS ONE PIECE OF THAT.

MAYBE THE CRIME LAB IS ANOTHER PIECE OF THAT.

WHAT ARE THE OTHER THINGS WE CAN DO TO TRY TO, YOU KNOW, SOLVE THIS AND BRING THAT BACKLOG DOWN? SO I THINK THAT THOSE, THOSE REPORTS WOULD HELP US BETTER UNDERSTAND THE SITUATION AS WE GO FORWARD. AND WHERE THESE THINGS SPIKED AND WHAT CHANGED DURING THAT TIME PERIOD.

SO I THINK THAT WILL HELP DIAGNOSE SOME OF THE ISSUES AS WE GO FORWARD.

SO I WILL SUPPORT THE, THE FUNDING AGAIN, TO MAKE SURE THAT, YOU KNOW, IT'S ALL HANDS ON DECK AND WE CAN CONTINUE TO WORK THROUGH AND MAKE PROGRESS ON THE, ON THE BACKLOG.

I WOULD JUST ASK AGAIN, AS WE WHETHER IT'S TODAY OR WHETHER IT'S GOING FORWARD IN FUTURE MEETINGS WITH TALKING ON THE PUBLIC SAFETY TASK FORCE, WHAT ELSE CAN BE DONE IN TERMS OF SOLUTIONS? I THINK WE TALKED A LOT YESTERDAY ABOUT, YOU KNOW, THE CURRENT STATUS AND SITUATION, BUT WHAT CAN BE DONE? WHAT ARE THE SOLUTIONS TO ACTUALLY MAKE PROGRESS HERE? BRING THIS 6500 DOWN TO ZERO ULTIMATELY.

BUT TO GET GET AHEAD AND MAKE PROGRESS ON THIS.

BUT I DON'T KNOW IF YOU HAVE ANY SOLUTIONS OR IDEAS TODAY OR WE'LL CONTINUE TO ITERATE ON THAT IN THE TASK FORCE.

WELL, COMMISSIONER, THANK YOU FOR THAT.

AND WE'LL CONTINUE TO WORK ON ON DOING EVERYTHING WE CAN WE CAN TO REDUCE THAT NUMBER.

BUT YOU'RE RIGHT, THERE ARE CERTAIN THINGS WE CAN CONTROL, LIKE THE EVIDENCE TRANSFER OF EVIDENCE.

DOT COM IS GOING TO BE A HUGE GAME CHANGER FOR US NEXT YEAR.

DIGITAL EVIDENCE HOWEVER, IS GOING TO BE THE SAME.

I MEAN, WE'RE NOT IF ANYTHING IT'S GOING TO GET WORSE.

WE'RE GOING TO SEE MORE BODY CAM FOOTAGE.

WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO HAVE OUR PROSECUTORS SPEND MORE TIME REVIEWING EVERYTHING BEFORE THEY MAKE DECISIONS TO INDICT A CASE.

AND SO IT IS WHAT IT IS.

BUT WE WILL CONTINUE TO WORK.

AND I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THE PUBLIC KNOWS THAT, THAT WE'RE DOING EVERYTHING WE CAN TO, TO TACKLE THOSE ISSUES THAT WE THAT WE ARE CONFRONTED WITH.

OKAY. WELL, I APPRECIATE YOU COMING IN.

I THINK WE SHOULD CONTINUE TO DO AT LEAST QUARTERLY UPDATES AND MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE MAKING PROGRESS TOWARDS TOWARDS OUR ORIGINAL GOAL.

BUT APPRECIATE THE ANSWERS WERE ARE YOU GOING TO MAKE A MOTION, COMMISSIONER, I WILL MOVE APPROVAL.

SECOND MOTION BY COMMISSIONER MOODY.

SECOND BY COMMISSIONER CALVERT.

COMMISSIONER CALVERT, YOU HAVE THE FLOOR.

NO. COMMISSIONER RODRIGUEZ.

I'M GOOD. JUDGE, MR. DIAZ. THANK YOU FOR FOR THE PRESENTATION.

JUST JUST BRIEFLY, I WANTED TO ASK A QUESTION.

THE PRESENTATION THAT THAT WE HAVE THERE IS A SLIDE I DIDN'T SEE IN HERE THAT YOU HAD WITH RESPECT TO THE CRIME LAB BACKLOG. I THINK IT SHOWED 2786 AWAITING TEST RESULTS.

SUBMISSIONS. IS THAT RIGHT? 47 AND 78 AWAITING SUBMISSIONS.

OKAY. SO IT WAS THE FOUR, THE 4778 THAT ARE AWAITING TESTING.

AND THEN THERE IS ANOTHER NUMBER, 2786.

SO DISTINGUISH BETWEEN THOSE TWO.

FOR ME, I JUST COULDN'T.

IT'S NOT IN OUR PACKET, SO I COULDN'T REALLY UNDERSTAND THE DISTINCTION.

[03:35:04]

SO WHAT WE WHAT WE HAD DONE THAT SLIDE, WE WE ACTUALLY INCLUDED A DIFFERENT ONE IN THE PACKET THAT YOU ALL HAVE IN FRONT OF YOU. AND WHAT'S IMPORTANT TO NOTE IS THAT WHEN WE TALK ABOUT SUBMISSIONS, THOSE ARE A SINGLE SHEET OF PAPER THAT SAYS, I, SAPD DETECTIVE VALENZUELA AM SUBMITTING METHAMPHETAMINE, BAGS OF METHAMPHETAMINE, 200 BAGS OF HEROIN AND 25 BAGS OF FENTANYL. AND I NEED THOSE TESTED FOR THE SIX INDIVIDUALS I CAUGHT IN POSSESSION OF THOSE ITEMS. SO WHEN WE TALK ABOUT THE NUMBER OF CASES AWAITING A LAB RESULT, THEY ARE NEVER GOING TO EQUAL THE NUMBER OF SUBMISSIONS.

AND WE CAN'T. IT'S REALLY COMPLICATED TO SAY THE CRIME LAB PROVIDED THE STATISTICS THAT ARE INCLUDED IN THE DA'S SLIDE.

AND WHAT? DISTRICT ATTORNEY GONZALES PRESENTED.

SO THAT'S HOW THEY TRACK THINGS.

BY SUBMISSIONS. WE IN THE DA'S OFFICE HAVE TO TRACK THEM BY CASES.

GOTCHA. SO WE DON'T HAVE AN EQUIVALENCY THERE.

AND THAT'S WHY YOU SEE A LITTLE DIFFERENT NUMBER.

OKAY. NO, THAT MAKES SENSE.

I KNOW THERE'S A BROADER DISCUSSION HAPPENING WITH YOU INCLUDED, JOE, ABOUT HOW WE ADDRESS THE BACKLOG, THE JAIL INMATE POPULATION. THIS SPECIFIC ITEM IS A SMALL PART OF THAT.

IT'S 120,000.

AND SO I THINK WE SHOULD MOVE FORWARD.

AND SO WE APPRECIATE YOU BEING HERE.

AND I AGREE THAT THERE'S A LOT OF DIFFERENT ASPECTS TO HOW WE ADDRESS THIS.

AND SO, YOU KNOW, WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH TIME TODAY, I THINK, TO GO INTO IT ALL, BUT BUT I THINK THIS IS A STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION TO GET YOU THE RESOURCES YOU NEED TO GET IT DONE. SO I'M SUPPORTIVE.

THANK YOU. JUDGE. LET ME WEIGH IN JUST REAL QUICK.

WE'VE HAD AN EXTENSIVE CONVERSATION THAT'S BEEN ONGOING, AND IT'S QUITE CLEAR THAT I TRULY BELIEVE HAVING THROUGH THE PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE TASK FORCE, I HAVE THE UTMOST FAITH IN ALL THE STAKEHOLDERS THAT COME TO THE TABLE AND DO THE VERY BEST, ESPECIALLY FOR THOSE THAT WORK FOR THE COUNTY.

I UNDERSTAND ALL THE CRITICISM AND ALL THE PROBLEMS AND ALL THE EXPLANATIONS AND ALL THE RECOMMENDATIONS.

LET ME I WANT TO HELP THE PUBLIC UNDERSTAND, AND I'LL STAND CORRECTED BY MY COLLEAGUES ON THE COURT.

LET ME MAKE THIS ANALOGY SO THAT THE PUBLIC UNDERSTANDS WHAT I THINK IS WHAT MAKES THIS SO DIFFICULT.

IF WE ARE TO ACCEPT THE ANALOGY THAT THIS WHOLE INFOR INFORMATION SYSTEM IS AN INFRASTRUCTURE ISSUE, IT'S NO DIFFERENT THAN A ROAD THAT WE GOT TO PUT IN.

IT'S NO DIFFERENT THAN HOW WE PLAN OUR NEIGHBORHOODS, AND HOW DO WE GET PEOPLE TO FLOW FROM ONE PART OF THE COUNTY TO THE OTHER.

SO LET ME JUST LEAVE YOU WITH THIS THOUGHT.

I DON'T SEE THIS ANY DIFFERENT THAN WHAT'S HAPPENING IN IDAHO 1604 AND I-10.

YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU GET CAUGHT UP IN THAT, YOU GET ANGRY AND YOU START COMPLAINING AND YOU WANT TO HOLD PEOPLE ACCOUNTABLE.

THE ISSUE IS IT'S A COMPLEX.

WE'VE HEARD IT'S NOT JUST ODYSSEY, IT'S JUST NOT IT.

IT'S NOT JUST THE DA.

IT'S NOT SAPD OR THE BEXAR COUNTY SHERIFFS.

IT'S DIGITAL EVIDENCE.

IT'S EVIDENCE TRANSFER.

IT'S BACKLOGGED WITH OTHER STAKEHOLDERS SUCH AS THE CRIME LAB.

SO IF YOU THINK ABOUT IT, IT'S NO DIFFERENT THAN WHEN YOU GET STUCK ON I-10 AND 1604.

YOU KNOW WHAT? ONCE THAT THING IS DONE AND IT IS GOING TO GET DONE.

BOY, THAT'S THAT'S GOING TO BE A REALLY GREAT PLACE TO BE ZIPPING THROUGH.

BUT FOR NOW, WE JUST GOT TO DEAL WITH THE FACT THAT EVERYBODY IS WORKING AS HARD AS THEY CAN.

AND I WANT TO GIVE CREDIT FOR ALL THOSE THAT DO THAT.

AND I WANT TO GIVE CREDIT FOR THOSE THAT BRING SOLUTIONS TO THE TABLE.

AND I APPRECIATE COMMISSIONER MOODY'S AND CALVERT AND RODRIGUEZ'S QUESTIONS THAT HELP DIRECT OUR STAKEHOLDERS.

SO WITH THAT, I CALL FOR A VOTE.

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

AYE. ANY OPPOSED? ANY ABSTENTIONS? THIS WAS UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED.

GOOD LUCK TO YOU ALL.

WE'RE NOW GOING TO CALL FOR A RECESS.

OH, LET'S WE'RE GOING TO DO OUR VERY BEST, BUT ALLOW US TO HAVE ABOUT A 45 MINUTE BREAK.

AND WE'LL BE BACK THEN ABOUT 130 ISH, AND THEN WE'LL GET BACK UP.

AND I UNDERSTAND THERE'S SOME SPECIAL ITEMS THAT WE MAY CALL UP.

I'LL LET YOU KNOW WHAT WE DO AFTER WE COME BACK FROM THE LUNCH.

ALL RIGHT. COURT'S IN RECESS.

20 AND TEN.

ITEM 120. ALL RIGHT, LET'S GET BACK INTO ORDER, PLEASE.

WE JUST OBVIOUSLY FINISHED TIME.

CERTAIN WE STILL HAVE SOME PRELIMINARY MATTERS, BUT AS A POINT OF ORDER, I'D LIKE TO GO AHEAD AND CALL UP AGENDA ITEM 120.

[120. Discussion and appropriate action related to an Interlocal agreement for Supply SA, a public procurement initiative in partnership with fourteen government agencies located in Bexar County that will assume the functions of the South Central Texas Regional Certification Agency (SCTRCA) under the registered and assumed name of Supply SA and will provide certifications for small and minority-owned businesses and create expanded services for small business outreach and technical assistance; and approval of the appropriate budget transfer.]

IF THERE'S NO OBJECTION, IT'S DISCUSSION AND APPROPRIATE ACTION RELATED TO THE INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT FOR SUPPLY SA, A PUBLIC PROCUREMENT INITIATIVE IN PARTNERSHIP WITH 14

[03:40:07]

GOVERNMENT AGENCIES LOCATED IN BEXAR COUNTY THAT WILL ASSUME THE FUNCTIONS OF THE SOUTH CENTRAL TEXAS REGIONAL CERTIFICATION AGENCY UNDER THE REGISTERED AND ASSUMED NAME OF OF SUPPLY SA, AND WILL PROVIDE CERTIFICATION FOR FEMALE AND MINORITY OWNED BUSINESSES AND CREATE EXPANDED SERVICES FOR SMALL BUSINESSES, OUTREACH AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE AND APPROVAL OF THE APPROPRIATE BUDGET TRANSFER.

MR. SMITH GOOD AFTERNOON.

WE IN A GROUP OF I THINK 1112 1314 DIFFERENT PUBLIC SECTOR AGENCIES HAVE BEEN COLLABORATING FOR OVER A YEAR TO TRY AND BASICALLY CREATE WHAT AMOUNTS TO A ONE STOP SHOP FOR SMALL BUSINESSES TO COME AND GET ASSISTANCE AND RESOURCES AND TRAINING AND CERTIFICATION TO TRY AND DO BUSINESS WITH THE PUBLIC SECTOR.

THIS INITIATIVE WAS STARTED BACK RIGHT AT THE TAIL END OF NELSON WOLF'S CAMPAIGN.

I THINK THE COUNTY HAD ITS FIRST MEETING, AND IT'S SINCE BEEN CONTINUED WITH JUDGE SAKAI.

AND I BELIEVE IF THE COURT APPROVES THIS INTERLOCAL, WE WILL BE A FULL PARTICIPANT IN THIS EFFORT.

AND WITH THAT, I'LL IS A IS OLIVIA COMING? I BELIEVE HENRY CISNEROS AND OLIVIA TRAVERSO WITH OSI GROUP ARE HERE TO PRESENT.

SO, HENRY, I'LL INVITE YOU TO THE PODIUM.

JUDGE. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. I'LL JUST SAY A FEW WORDS OF INTRODUCTION AND TURN IT OVER TO OLIVIA.

JUDGE AND MEMBERS OF THE COURT, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR HEARING US ON THIS.

AS AS DAVID SAID, THIS BEGAN WITH A CALL FROM THE MAYOR WHO HAD VISITED WITH THE SECRETARY OF TREASURY, WHO WAS INITIATING AN EFFORT TO SHORE UP THE ECONOMY BY FOCUSING ON SMALL BUSINESS IN THE AMERICAN ECONOMY.

AT ABOUT THE SAME TIME, CONGRESSMAN CASTRO IN SAN ANTONIO WAS REALLY SOLIDIFYING HIS PUSH FOR AN OUTREACH TO THE SMALL BUSINESS COMMUNITY OF SAN ANTONIO.

AND HE'S BEEN VERY CONSISTENT.

I TALKED TO THE CONGRESSMAN THIS MORNING IN HIS DESIRES TO SEE A STRONGER PARTICIPATION BY SMALL BUSINESS IN LOCAL PROCUREMENT, AND THEN THE ASPEN INSTITUTE PICKED SIX CITIES IN THE UNITED STATES WHERE THEY WANTED TO PROVE A CONCEPT, WHICH IS THAT IF YOU INVEST IN THE SMALL BUSINESSES OF THE COMMUNITY, YOU CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN THE OVERALL ECONOMIC PROGRESS OF THE COMMUNITY.

SO THOSE THREE THINGS CAME TOGETHER.

WE CALLED THE FIRST MEETING ALMOST EXACTLY TWO YEARS AGO.

IT WAS LATE NOVEMBER OF 2022, AND JUDGE SAKAI HAD JUST BEEN ELECTED, AND WE KNEW THAT CONTINUITY WITH THE COUNTY WOULD REQUIRE HIS PRESENCE.

INVITED HIM TO COME.

AND JUDGE SAKAI WAS PRESENT AT THAT VERY FIRST MEETING.

IT WAS 14 AGENCIES.

I WON'T LIST ALL 14, BUT I WILL TELL YOU THAT IT'S THE FIRST TIME THAT THESE AGENCIES HAD BEEN TOGETHER.

THE CEOS OF THOSE AGENCIES HAD BEEN IN THE SAME ROOM TO DISCUSS A POLICY ITEM.

SO IT WAS THE CITY, THE COUNTY, THE CITY, PUBLIC SERVICE, THE WATER SYSTEM, UTSA, A&M, SAN ANTONIO, THE COMMUNITY COLLEGE, RIVER AUTHORITY, V.A.

I'M SURE I'VE MISSED SOME, BUT YOU GET THE FEEL REALLY MASSIVE IMPORTANCE.

ABOUT $9 BILLION EVERY YEAR IS ISSUED IN GOODS, AND SERVICES ARE PURCHASED IN THE SAN ANTONIO ECONOMY BY PUBLIC ENTITIES.

BECAUSE WE'RE A MILITARY CITY, USA, A GOOD PART OF THAT IS DEFENSE PROCUREMENT.

THAT'S NOT INCLUDED IN THIS EFFORT.

BUT THE ESTIMATE IS ABOUT $3 BILLION IS PURCHASED BY THE ENTITIES THAT I'VE MENTIONED.

SO WE SET OUT ON AN EFFORT THAT SET OUT TO DO THREE THINGS.

FIRST, TO CHANGE THE INTERNAL WORKINGS OF THE AGENCIES TO WHERE THEY WERE MORE ALIGNED AND USER FRIENDLY.

SO THINGS LIKE, FOR EXAMPLE, CHANGING THE PORTALS, WE SET A GOAL OF CHANGING THE COMPUTER PORTALS SO THAT WITHIN TWO CLICKS, VENDORS COULD BE IN INTO THE PROCUREMENT SYSTEM ALSO FOCUSED ON BUNDLING CONTRACTS SO THAT VERY LARGE CONTRACTS, LET'S SAY AT CPS OR THE WATER SYSTEM COULD, COULD BE MADE AVAILABLE TO SMALLER COMPANIES.

AND THEN A THIRD PIECE OF THAT EFFORT WAS TO DO FORECASTING OF THE CAPITAL BUDGET IN SUCH A WAY THAT THEY WOULD HAVE LEAD

[03:45:04]

TIME LIKE LIKE SIX MONTHS OR A YEAR OF LEAD TIME SO THEY COULD PREPARE INSTEAD OF HAVING BIG CAPITAL ITEMS POPPED AT THE LAST SECOND WHEN THEY CAN'T GET THEIR BONDING IN POSITION TO PARTICIPATE.

SO THE FIRST STEP WAS THAT KIND OF VERY PRACTICAL, RESEARCHED INTERNAL WORKINGS.

ANOTHER PART OF THE STRATEGY WAS TO FOCUS ON THE CERTIFICATION SYSTEM, AND THE RESULT WAS THE INTEGRATION OF THEN THE THEN INDEPENDENT ATTENDANCE CERTIFICATION SYSTEM AS AN ELEMENT OF THIS ENTITY.

SUPPLY SA.

SO NOW SUPPLY SA INCLUDES THE CERTIFICATION PROCESS AND IT WAS MOVED FROM 410 TO THE SAME SITE AS THE REST OF SUPPLY SA.

SO IT IS EFFECTIVE, AS DAVID SAID, A ONE STOP EFFORT.

AND THE POINT THERE IS TO ALIGN THE DIFFERENT LOCAL, STATE AND FEDERAL CERTIFICATION SYSTEMS AND THE 14 AGENCIES SO THE POOR VENDOR DOESN'T HAVE TO GO TRACKING AROUND MULTIPLE ENTITIES TO BE QUALIFIED TO PARTICIPATE, SMALL AND LOCAL. AND THEN THE OTHER BIG ELEMENT OF THIS WAS THE HUMAN CAPITAL INVESTMENT COMPONENT.

IN OTHER WORDS, TRAINING, ENTREPRENEURIAL EDUCATION, ENTREPRENEURIAL DEVELOPMENT OF PEOPLE AND BUSINESSES SO THEY'RE BETTER POSITIONED.

AND FINALLY, LET ME SAY A STRUCTURE HAS BEEN CREATED.

IT'S CALLED SUPPLY SA.

IT IS GOVERNED BY THOSE THE CEOS OF THOSE 14 ENTITIES WHO NOW GATHER ON AN ONGOING BASIS FOR THAT PURPOSE.

THE MAYOR AND THE COUNTY JUDGE ARE INVOLVED AS MEMBERS OF THE STRUCTURE.

WE RECENTLY DID THE SEARCH.

THE CEO SEARCHED AND FOUND A WELL TRAINED PROCUREMENT SPECIALIST WITH MILITARY BACKGROUND A WOMAN NAMED MELANIE MCCOY, WHO WILL BECOME THE CEO OF THIS ENTIRE EFFORT.

SHE'S IN CHARGED WITH DRIVING IT, AS WELL AS HIRING THE EVALUATIVE MECHANISM THAT TELLS US, ARE WE MAKING PROGRESS? ARE THESE THINGS WE'RE DOING ACCOMPLISHING WHAT WE WANT TO ACCOMPLISH? LET ME CLOSE MY PORTION BY SIMPLY SAYING WE HAVE CREATED AN INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT THAT HAS NOW BEEN SIGNED BY 13 OF THE 14 ENTITIES.

THE COUNTY PROCESS HAS BROUGHT US TO THIS DAY, WHERE WE'RE SEEKING BEXAR COUNTY'S APPROVAL AND BEXAR COUNTY'S DIRECTION TO SIGN THE ISLA AND BE A FUNCTIONING PART OF SUPPLY SA.

SO I WOULD I'M HERE JUST TO IMPLORE, ASK FOR YOUR APPROVAL.

WE'RE HERE TO ANSWER QUESTIONS AND FURTHER EXPLANATIONS AS NEEDED.

BUT THAT IS THE PURPOSE OF TODAY'S PRESENTATION.

THE MVP IN THIS PROCESS, THE PERSON THAT WAS RETAINED TO BE THE CONSULTANT AND ORGANIZER COORDINATOR OF THIS EFFORT IS OLIVIA TRAVIESO OF OCI.

AND SHE'S DONE A FANTASTIC JOB.

WE HAVE TOGETHER PRESENTED TO COMMUNITY GROUPS, ADVOCACY GROUPS, SMALL BUSINESS GROUPS, THE FAIR CONTRACTING COMMISSION, ETC.

AND HAVE THEM. AND EVERYBODY AGREES.

WE DON'T KNOW WHETHER WE HAVE PERFECTION HERE, BUT WE HAVE THE FIRST TIME EFFORT TO BRING TOGETHER AND ALIGN THE PURCHASING OF THESE 14 ENTITIES. THERE'S A LOT MORE WE CAN DO AND WILL DO NOW THAT WE HAVE AN EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR WHO CAN LISTEN TO PEOPLE AND HEAR THE THE PROBLEMS THAT THEY'VE CONFRONTED.

I MIGHT SAY, COMMISSIONER, THAT YOUR FATHER WHO CREATED THE FCC, THE FAIR CONTRACTING COMMISSION, HAS BEEN A VERY INTEGRAL PART OF THIS.

WE'VE PRESENTED MULTIPLE TIMES, AND AT OUR LAST MEETING, WE GOT A PRETTY, PRETTY STRONG ENDORSEMENT FROM FROM THEM TO PROCEED.

AGAIN, IT'S NOT THE BE ALL AND END ALL BECAUSE THERE'S MUCH MORE TO BE DONE.

BUT NOW THAT WE HAVE A STRUCTURE AND A PERSON WHO HAS EXPERTISE TO LISTEN AND EXECUTE WILL MAKE CONTINUING PROGRESS.

LET ME TURN IT OVER TO OLIVIA.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH, SECRETARY CISNEROS, AND THANK YOU, COMMISSIONERS, FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO PROVIDE A LITTLE MORE DETAIL ON OUR IMPLEMENTATION PLAN.

AND I'LL GO AHEAD AND DEFER TO THE PRESENTATION.

THANK YOU. SO I'LL BRIEFLY TOUCH BASE.

THIS REALLY STARTED WITH THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE PROCUREMENT PLAYBOOK, WHICH WAS UNDERWRITTEN BY THE SAN ANTONIO AREA FOUNDATION.

AND THEY ENLISTED THE WORK OF THE ASPEN INSTITUTE LATINOS AND SOCIETY PROGRAM AND THE NOWAK METRO FINANCE LAB TO DEVELOP A REALLY A

[03:50:01]

REPORT THAT ASSESSED WHAT THE CURRENT STATE OF OUR REGIONAL PROCUREMENT LOOKED LIKE AND HOW WE COULD REIMAGINE PROCUREMENT AS A MARKET MAKING ECONOMIC DRIVER FOR OUR ENTIRE REGION.

AS HENRY MENTIONED, IT'S ESTIMATED THAT MORE THAN NINE SECONDS AND ASK YOU TO GO BACK ON THAT LAST SLIDE.

YOU SEE THERE THE LOGOS OF THE 14 ENTITIES.

ONE I DIDN'T MENTION NOW BECAUSE I SAID I COULDN'T MENTION ALL 14 IS BROOKS CITY-BASE YOU SEE, UP THERE AND IN THE ROOM IS LEO GOMEZ.

I SINGLE HIM OUT BECAUSE HE WAS THE CHAIR OF THE EFFORT TO TO TO WRITE THE ILA AND SO FORTH, AND THE CHAIR OF THE SEARCH PROCESS THAT RESULTED IN THE SELECTION.

SO I'D LIKE TO JUST CALL TO YOUR ATTENTION ONE OF THE AGENCIES THAT'S PART IN LEO GOMEZ SITTING RIGHT OVER HERE.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

SO, YES, 9 BILLION ANNUALLY FLOWS FROM FEDERAL, STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT CONTRACTS.

AND WE FELT, AS THE REPORT SHARED, THAT THERE WAS MUCH MORE THAT COULD BE DONE TO RETAIN THOSE PUBLIC INVESTMENTS LOCALLY AND GROW OUR LOCAL SMALL BUSINESS ECONOMY.

AS HENRY MENTIONED, THERE WERE THREE AREAS THAT WE REALLY FOCUSED ON AS WE LOOK TOWARDS IMPLEMENTATION FROM WHAT WAS SHARED IN THE PLAYBOOK, TO WHAT COULD ACTUALLY BE DONE THROUGH SUPPLIERS.

AND THOSE WERE CENTERED ON ACCESS, CAPACITY BUILDING AND PROCESS, THINGS LIKE THE VENDOR PORTAL, EASIER CERTIFICATIONS, THE PROCUREMENT NAVIGATORS, AND BUNDLING AND FORECASTING OF CONTRACTS.

IT IS OUR GOAL THAT THROUGH SUPPLIERS AND THROUGH THIS UNPRECEDENTED REGIONAL COLLABORATION, WE WILL BE ABLE TO INCREASE LOCAL SMALL BUSINESS PARTICIPATION IN THE SAN ANTONIO AREA PUBLIC PROCUREMENT SYSTEM AND, AS I MENTIONED, UTILIZE PROCUREMENT AS THAT TOOL TO DRIVE LOCAL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.

THIS ALSO ALIGNED WITH THE NEED TO ADDRESS OUR REGIONAL CERTIFICATION AGENCY.

MAKING SURE THAT WE HAVE BOARD ALIGNMENT FOR THE CERTIFICATIONS ON MISSION, VISION AND DIRECTION THAT THEY HAVE THE RESOURCES AND THE HIGH PERFORMING STAFF THAT ARE NECESSARY TO CLOSE SOME OF THOSE CERTIFICATION TIMING GAPS, AND THAT THEY HAVE THE PROPER FINANCIAL STABILITY TO PROVIDE THAT CRITICAL CORNERSTONE SERVICE OF CERTIFICATIONS, TO MAKE SURE THAT PEOPLE ARE ABLE TO GET INTO THE SYSTEM IN THE FIRST PLACE.

I WON'T GO INTO THIS ORGANIZATIONAL OVERVIEW, BUT IT'S PROVIDED FOR YOUR REFERENCE.

AS HENRY MENTIONED, WE DID ORGANIZE THIS THROUGH AN INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT STRUCTURE THAT WOULD BRING ALL OF THE PARTIES TO THE TABLE AND ALSO TRY TO LOOK AT THE MOST EFFICIENT WAY OF INTEGRATING THAT CERTIFICATION AGENCY INTO THIS LARGER EFFORT FOR SHARED RESOURCES, SHARED FUNDING, SHARED EMPLOYMENT, AND ALSO THE ADDITION OF A FEW ADDITIONAL POSITIONS.

THIS IS JUST AN ORGANIZATIONAL CHART SO THAT YOU CAN SEE WHERE WE LANDED IN SUPPLY.

THIS IS AGAIN FOCUSED ON THAT THREE LEGGED STOOL APPROACH OF CERTIFICATIONS CAPACITY BUILDING AND NAVIGATION AND THAT EVALUATION PIECE.

IT IS IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT THERE IS CURRENTLY NO WAY OF KNOWING HOW WE ARE DOING AS A REGION WITH UTILIZATION OF OUR LOCAL SMALL BUSINESSES. HOW ARE WE DOING COLLECTIVELY IN PROCUREMENT AND RETAINING THOSE DOLLARS LOCALLY? SO THIS WOULD PROVIDE A MECHANISM TO BE ABLE TO BRING IN A THIRD PARTY FIRM TO SET UP THAT STRUCTURE FOR DATA COLLECTION AND REPORTING, AND BE ABLE TO DEMONSTRATE ROI FOR ALL OF THE AGENCIES PARTICIPATING ON THEIR INVESTMENT, BUT ALSO TRANSPARENT REPORTING FOR THE COMMUNITY.

ARE THESE EFFORTS HAVING THE DESIRED IMPACT? WHAT CAN WE DO TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE CONTINUALLY IMPROVING ON THIS PROCESS AND THEN THE PROCUREMENT SERVICE CENTER.

SO PART OF THIS IS ALSO ABOUT THE CO-LOCATION AND COLLABORATION OF SERVICES.

SO THEY WILL BE HOUSED AS HENRY MENTIONED WE WERE ABLE TO RELOCATE THE CERTIFICATION AGENCY TO THE UTSA DOWNTOWN CAMPUS THAT WILL NOW BECOME HOME BASE FOR SUPPLY ESA, AND THEY WILL BE CO-LOCATED WITH A LOT OF THE PROGRAMS AND SERVICES THAT HAVE ALREADY BEEN OPERATING OUT OF THE UTSA DOWNTOWN CAMPUS, SUCH AS THE SBDC AND OTHER PROGRAMS LIKE APEX AND THE PROCUREMENT ACADEMY.

WITH THE ADDITION OF NEW PROGRAMS AND SERVICES THAT WILL COME AS A RESULT OF THE INVESTMENT IN SUPPLY ESA.

SO WE ARE BRANDING THIS CONCEPT OF A ONE STOP PROCUREMENT SERVICE CENTER AT ITS INITIAL HOME BASE AT THE UTSA DOWNTOWN CAMPUS.

THE PROPOSED BUDGET ANNUALLY IS 1.2 MILLION.

[03:55:01]

YOU CAN SEE HOW WE'RE ALLOCATING THOSE RESOURCES ACROSS THOSE THREE AREAS OF CERTIFICATION CAPACITY BUILDING AND EVALUATION.

AND THIS IS A BREAKDOWN OF THE FUNDING CONTRIBUTIONS.

THERE ARE TWO TIER GROUPS.

THE LARGER ENTITIES ARE IN ONE GROUP AND THE SMALLER ENTITIES ARE IN ANOTHER.

SO THERE'S TWO CONTRIBUTION LEVELS.

WE FOLLOWED THE SAME MODEL AND FORMULA TO DETERMINE THOSE CONTRIBUTION GROUPS AS THE EXISTING SET RCA INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT HAD IN PLACE. THAT IS SOMETHING THAT CAN BE EVALUATED OR ADJUSTED IN THE FUTURE.

BUT WE FELT THAT THAT WAS A GOOD FOUNDATION TO START FROM.

IT'S ALSO IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT IN OUR TIME, LOOKING AT SOME OF THE EFFICIENCIES FOR IMPLEMENTATION, WE WERE ABLE TO RESTRUCTURE WHAT THOSE TWO TIERS WOULD ACTUALLY BE CONTRIBUTING.

SO THE LARGER GROUP WENT FROM CONTRIBUTING 14% OF THE OVERALL BUDGET TO NOW 10%, AND THE SMALLER GROUP IS INCREASING FROM 2% TO 5%.

SO WE'RE CLOSING SOME OF THAT DIFFERENTIAL BETWEEN THE TWO GROUPS.

THIS IS AN UPDATE ON THE ADOPTION OF THE INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT, WHICH IS THE ITEM FOR CONSIDERATION TODAY.

YOU CAN SEE ALL OF THE PARTICIPATING ENTITIES LISTED OUT ALREADY.

AND OBVIOUSLY BEXAR COUNTY STILL IS IS SUBJECT TO ADOPTION.

WE'RE ALSO WORKING WITH TEXAS A&M SAN ANTONIO.

THEIR PROCUREMENT SYSTEM IS HANDLED OUT OF COLLEGE STATION.

SO IT'S A LITTLE BIT LONGER OF A PROCESS, BUT WE HOPE TO HAVE THEM ON BOARD AS WELL.

AND WITH THE INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT, PARTICIPANTS HAVE ALL AGREED TO CONTRIBUTE THE NECESSARY FUNDING ALLOCATION TO IMPLEMENT THOSE PRIORITY RECOMMENDATIONS WITHIN THE TWO YEAR PILOT PERIOD.

PROVIDE EXECUTIVE LEADERSHIP TO SUPPLY BOARD.

I WANT TO MAKE SURE TO THANK DAVID SMITH AS WELL, WHO HAS BEEN WITH US RIGHT THERE EVERY STEP OF THE WAY OVER THE TWO YEAR PROCESS AND PROVIDING HIS LEADERSHIP.

HE ALSO SAT ON THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE OF THE SUPPLY OF CEOS GROUP THAT IDENTIFIED AND SELECTED THAT INCOMING EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR. SO THANK YOU FOR THAT, DAVID.

AND THEN ALSO, THEY ARE AGREEING TO PROVIDE THAT PROCUREMENT AND SPENDING DATA AS DETERMINED THROUGH THIS DEVELOPMENT PROCESS SO THAT WE CAN ESTABLISH THAT ROI. NOW WE'RE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS.

MR. CALVERT. THANK YOU.

OLIVIA. WHAT ARE THE GOALS OF SUPPLY? SAY, I'LL GET TO THAT RIGHT HERE.

WE DO. OH, SORRY. WE DO HAVE A SLIDE THAT BREAKS THAT DOWN REALLY EASILY.

BUT I CAN TELL YOU IT'S INCREASING LOCAL UTILIZATION OF OUR SMALL BUSINESSES, RETAINING MORE OF THOSE PUBLIC DOLLARS HERE LOCALLY.

WE'RE TRYING TO REDUCE THE CERTIFICATION TIME TO 30 DAYS OR LESS.

THAT'S OBVIOUSLY A BIG ONE.

WE ALSO WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR SMALL BUSINESSES ARE BEING PROVIDED THE CAPACITY BUILDING AND THE SUPPORT, SO THAT THEY CAN ACTUALLY BE COMPETITIVE IN THOSE CONTRACTS THAT THEY ARE APPLYING FOR, AND PROBABLY MOST IMPORTANTLY, THAT THEY ARE SUCCESSFUL IN BEING AWARDED THOSE CONTRACTS.

SO MORE THAN JUST THE ABILITY TO BE COMPETITIVE IN APPLYING, HOW ARE WE ALSO BEST POSITIONING THEM TO BE ABLE TO GET THOSE DOLLARS TO AGAIN GROW OUR LOCAL ECONOMY. IT'S A PARADIGM SHIFT AROUND PROCUREMENT FROM A COMPLIANCE STANDPOINT TO PROCUREMENT AROUND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.

WHO IS GOING TO BE DOING THE BUNDLING AT SUPPLY? ESSAR. IS IT 1 OR 2 STAFF PEOPLE OR IS IT THE DIRECTOR OR IS IT THE INDIVIDUAL AGENCIES? ALL OF THE AGENCIES, AND WE HAVE BEEN WORKING WITH THEIR PROCUREMENT STAFF AS WELL, ARE COMMITTING TO DO THEIR BEST FAITH EFFORT WITH THEIR OWN STAFF, THEIR OWN DEPARTMENTS, TO SEE WHAT THEY CAN DO TO BUNDLE THOSE CONTRACTS.

WHY HAVEN'T THEY BEEN BUNDLED BEFORE? A LOT OF THESE AGENCIES, AND THAT WAS PART OF THE DEVELOPMENT PROCESS.

WE WENT AGENCY BY AGENCY AND DID ADDITIONAL ASSESSMENT BEYOND WHAT WAS ESTABLISHED IN THE PROCUREMENT PLAYBOOK TO SEE WHAT HAS BEEN DONE.

AND SO SOME HAVE BECOME BEST PRACTICE EXAMPLES ON FORECASTING.

SOME HAVE DONE A GREAT JOB OF TRYING TO BUNDLE AS MANY OF THEIR CONTRACTS AS POSSIBLE.

OTHERS HAVE DONE A GREAT JOB ON OUTREACH AND ENGAGEMENT WITHIN THE COMMUNITY.

SO THIS IS CREATING A MECHANISM FOR COLLABORATING, FOR IDENTIFYING THOSE BEST PRACTICES, SHARING ACROSS AGENCIES IN A WAY THAT'S NEVER BEEN DONE BEFORE.

BUT WHAT WE DID DETERMINE WAS THAT THERE WAS STILL OPPORTUNITY FOR GROWTH AND IMPROVEMENT IN EVERY SINGLE AGENCY INVOLVED.

THERE'S ABOUT $4 BILLION BEING TALKED ABOUT NOW IN A PROJECT CALLED MARVEL.

AND HOW WOULD THAT PROJECT HELP SMALL BUSINESSES THROUGH SUPPLY? HOW WOULD SUPPLY ESSAY BE CONNECTED WITH THAT PROJECT? I WOULD SAY, ACROSS ALL CONTRACTS AND OPPORTUNITIES.

AND EACH AGENCY, YOU KNOW, I THINK HAS THEIR PIPELINE OF OF BIG, YOU KNOW, TRANSFORMATIONAL PROJECTS THAT ARE COMING IS MAKING THAT COMMITMENT TO SAY, BECAUSE WE'RE A PART OF THIS EFFORT, BECAUSE WE ARE SAYING WE'RE GOING TO TAKE A LOOK AT INCREASING OUR LOCAL UTILIZATION IN ALL OF THE DIFFERENT WAYS THAT WE CAN REMOVE THOSE

[04:00:08]

BARRIERS TO ENTRY FOR OUR SMALL BUSINESSES.

THAT WILL ABSOLUTELY BE A PART OF WHETHER IT'S PROJECT MARVEL, WHETHER IT'S ANOTHER PROJECT FROM A DIFFERENT AGENCY.

BUT THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE SHOULD COME TO EXPECT AS A RESULT OF THIS PARTICIPATION AND WHAT THEY HAVE AGREED TO IN THE INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT.

YOUR INITIAL SLIDE INDICATED THERE WERE TWO INITIAL HIRES, A DIRECTOR AND AN OFFICE MANAGER.

WHAT OTHER STAFF WILL BE IMPORTED IN THE FIRST YEAR? SURE. SO WE WERE ABLE THROUGHOUT THIS PROCESS TO ALSO HAVE A FULL STAFF COMPLEMENT DEDICATED TO THE CERTIFICATION PROCESS.

THAT WAS SOMETHING THAT WAS REALLY IMPORTANT.

WE DIDN'T WANT TO WAIT UNTIL THE EDD WAS IDENTIFIED AND ONBOARDED BECAUSE PEOPLE NEED THEIR CERTIFICATIONS NOW.

SO THEY HAVE A FULL STAFF ON THE CERTIFICATION SIDE, AND THEN THEY WILL BE BRINGING IN TWO NEW STAFF MEMBERS IN THE NEW YEAR AS THE PROCUREMENT NAVIGATORS. SO THEY'RE GOING TO DEVELOP CURRICULUM ON HOW THEY CAN HELP ON THAT CAPACITY BUILDING AND CONNECTIVITY FRONT, BUT THEY ARE ALSO GOING TO BE GOING OUT TO ALL OF THE DIFFERENT AGENCIES, ADVOCACY ORGANIZATIONS, CHAMBERS OF COMMERCE, BDOS REALLY MEETING PEOPLE WHERE THEY ARE AND TRYING TO GET THEIR STAFF MEMBERS ALSO CERTIFIED AND TRAINED AS THEIR OWN PROCUREMENT NAVIGATOR.

SO YES, WE HAVE THAT CENTRAL HUB, BUT WE'RE ALSO DECENTRALIZING THIS INFORMATION WHILE ALSO ENSURING A CONTINUITY OF INFORMATION AND ACCESS THAT'S OUT THERE. OKAY.

I MAY HAVE SOME OTHER QUESTIONS, BUT I WILL I WILL COME BACK AND YIELD THE FLOOR.

THANK YOU. JUDGE. MR. MOODY, COMMISSIONER RODRIGUEZ.

THANK YOU. JUDGE. NO QUESTIONS.

REALLY. I JUST WANTED TO THANK OLIVIA, YOUR TEAM, HENRY, FOR YOUR WORK.

DAVID SMITH FROM THE COUNTY AND OTHERS.

YOU KNOW, I THINK THIS IS ONE OF THOSE CONCEPTS THAT MAKES SO MUCH SENSE.

YOU WONDER WHY IT DIDN'T HAPPEN SOONER.

BUT BUT I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO THE SYNERGY BETWEEN THE DIFFERENT AGENCIES.

I THINK IT CAN ONLY HELP MOVE OUR COMMUNITY FORWARD BY THAT TYPE OF COLLABORATION AND PARTNERSHIP.

SO I CERTAINLY APPRECIATE THAT.

I KNOW IT'S BEEN A COUPLE OF YEARS IN THE MAKING, SO THANK YOU FOR ALL OF THE WORK TO THE I'M SURE MORE FOLKS THAT THAT WE WEREN'T ABLE TO MENTION TODAY THAT WERE INVOLVED IN MAKING THIS A SUCCESS.

AND NOW I GUESS THE REAL WORK BEGINS, RIGHT? MAKING SURE THAT THE VISION IS EXECUTED IN A IN A PROPER FASHION AND IN A TIMELY FASHION BECAUSE I THINK THE COMMUNITY DESERVES THAT.

SO NO OTHER QUESTIONS.

JUDGE. I'LL MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE.

MOTION BY COMMISSIONER RODRIGUEZ.

SECOND. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER MOODY.

LET ME THANK HENRY AND OLIVIA FOR THIS PRESENTATION.

I KNOW THAT SINCE I BECOME BEXAR COUNTY JUDGE, WE HAVE INCLUDED FUNDING IN THE LAST TWO BUDGETS FOR THE LAUNCH OF SUPPLIES.

I KNOW I THINK WE'RE ONE OF THE REMAINING AGENCIES THAT HAVE YET TO FORMALLY APPROVE, AND HOPEFULLY WE'RE GOING TO GET THAT DONE VERY, VERY SHORTLY.

BUT SINCE I BEGAN AS YOUR COUNTY JUDGE, I'VE BEEN COMMITTED TO FINDING WAYS TO SUPPORT OUR SMALL BUSINESSES AND PROMOTE ENTREPRENEURSHIP IN OUR COMMUNITY.

OBVIOUSLY, COUNTY MANAGER DAVID SMITH, YOU ARE THE COUNTY'S DESIGNEE ON THE SUPPLY SIDE BOARD AND WILL CONTINUE TO DO SO.

I WANT TO THANK NORA BARSHOP, MY DIRECTOR OF POLICY, OFF MY TEAM AND ALSO OUR SMALL BUSINESS AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP DEPARTMENT CHAIR OR DIRECTOR, RENEE WATSON.

ALL HAVE BEEN INVOLVED IN SHAPING THESE PROGRAMS AND ENSURING IT MEETS KEY MARKERS, INCLUDING AS WHAT'S BEEN.

HENRY AND OLIVIA HAVE NOTED, ADDRESSING THE ISSUE WITH BUSINESS CERTIFICATION.

AND I WILL TELL YOU THAT THAT IS BEEN AN ISSUE THAT I HAVE GOTTEN DIRECT FEEDBACK FROM THE COMMUNITY, AND I'M HOPING THAT WITH THE NEW LEADERSHIP AT SALAZAR, THAT WILL START BEING STREAMLINED AND I SHOULDN'T BE HEARING SO MANY COMMENTS ABOUT THAT.

ESTABLISHING COMMUNITY WIDE PUBLIC PROCUREMENT REPORTING TO DEVELOP VISIBILITY AND TO PROMOTE ACCOUNTABILITY.

I THINK THAT'S GOING TO BE ONE OF THE KEY FACTORS IN THE NEW SUPPLY OF SAFE.

IN ADDITION TO ADDRESS CERTIFICATIONS, THE SUPPLY ESSA INITIATIVE WILL SYNERGIZE THE RESOURCES OF THE DOZEN PLUS PUBLIC ENTITIES PARTICIPATING WITH OUR GREAT PARTNER, UTSA SMALL BUSINESS CENTER RESOURCES TO EXPAND AND INCREASE THE VISIBILITY OF PUBLIC PURCHASING OPPORTUNITIES.

EXPAND ACCESS, WHICH I'LL LOOK FORWARD TO THE LINKAGE WITH BEXAR COUNTY.

CENTRALIZE THE FORECASTING OF UPCOMING CONTRACTS SO THAT THE PUBLIC IS KNOWS THAT THIS IS AN OPEN AND TRANSPARENT PROCESS.

PROVIDE THE TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE AND CAPACITY BUILDING SERVICES TO SMALL BUSINESSES.

I AM FULLY SUPPORTIVE OF MOVING FORWARD AND SUPPORTING THIS MOTION AT THIS TIME.

[04:05:06]

SO I GIVE THE DIRECTIVE TO DAVID SMITH AND TO AS OUR APPOINTEE AND TO DIRECTOR RENEE WATSON TO CONTINUE THEIR EFFORTS TO CONTINUE TO MAKE THE PROCESS EVEN BETTER.

SO WITH THAT, IS THERE ANY FURTHER QUESTIONS? I DID HAVE A QUESTION ABOUT THE DIRECTOR JUDGE.

SO TELL ME A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE LAST 2 OR 3 APPOINTMENTS FOR THE CURRENT DIRECTOR THAT'S BEEN HIRED.

TELL US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHO THEY ARE.

SO FROM FROM THE RCA PREVIOUSLY OR I'M SORRY, I DON'T UNDERSTAND YOUR NEW SUPPLY SA DIRECTOR.

OH, YES. ABSOLUTELY.

HAPPY TO SHARE MORE ABOUT MELANIE MCCOY.

SHE IS A US VETERAN.

SHE WAS PREVIOUSLY WORKING IN PROCUREMENT WITH THE ARMY, AND THEN SHE MOVED TO LOCKHEED MARTIN WHILE SHE WAS LIVING IN DC.

THEN SHE CAME AND DID OPERATIONS MANAGEMENT AND SYSTEMS IMPROVEMENTS FOR USAA HERE IN SAN ANTONIO.

AND THEN RECENTLY STARTED HER OWN CONSULTING COMPANY TO SUPPORT SMALL BUSINESSES, SPECIFICALLY LOOKING AT HOW THEY CAN GROW AND SCALE THROUGH PROCUREMENT. SO SHE HERSELF HAS BEEN A PART OF THE CERTIFICATION PROCESS AS A MINORITY, WOMEN OWNED, HISTORICALLY UNDERUTILIZED BUSINESS EMERGING SMALL BUSINESS.

SO SHE HAS FIRST HAND EXPERIENCE ON THAT FRONT, BUT THEN ALSO HAS WORKED DIRECTLY WITH SMALL BUSINESSES SO THAT THEY CAN HAVE ACCESS AND OPPORTUNITY VIA GOVERNMENT CONTRACTING. SO SHE COMES AGAIN WITH A BREADTH OF EXPERIENCE, BOTH FROM THE BUYER SIDE OF ORGANIZATIONS LIKE LOCKHEED MARTIN AND USAA, BUT ALSO ON THE SUPPLY SIDE, REPRESENTING AND HAVING HERSELF A SMALL BUSINESS.

THANK YOU. JUDGE.

THANK YOU.

I'LL CALL FOR A VOTE.

ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF THE MOTION BY COMMISSIONER RODRIGUEZ.

ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE.

AYE. ANY OPPOSED? ANY ABSTENTIONS? MOTION CARRIES.

THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH.

ALL RIGHT. LET ME GO BACK AND MAKE SURE WE ARE NOT MISSING ANYTHING.

THOMAS. PLEASE HELP ME.

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

IF I'M MISSED ANYTHING, I'M BACK TO AGENDA ITEM SEVEN, FILING FOR RECORD AND FILING LEGAL ADMINISTRATIVE DOCUMENTS AND DIRECTING THE CRIMINAL DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE TO TAKE ACTION, IF NECESSARY, THROUGH ITEMS A THROUGH E, AND THE COURT TAKES NOTE OF THOSE DOCUMENTS.

[8. Commissioners Court minutes for Tuesday, November 12, 2024 & November 19, 2024.]

AGENDA ITEM EIGHT. COMMISSIONER RECORD MINUTES FOR TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 12TH, 2024 AND NOVEMBER 19TH, 2024.

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

ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR.

MOTION SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE.

AYE. ANY OPPOSED? ANY ABSTENTIONS.

WE WILL THEN NOW GO TO CITIZENS TO BE HEARD.

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

I APPRECIATE THOSE THAT HAVE HOPEFULLY BEEN ABLE TO STAY SINCE THE MORNING.

WE DID OUR VERY BEST TO TAKE CARE OF THOSE THAT HAD EARLIER MATTERS THAT WE HAVE NOW TAKEN CARE OF.

FIRST CITIZENS TO BE HEARD WOULD BE TANYA, JOSEPH, TANYA, PLEASE COME FORWARD.

YOU HAVE THREE MINUTES.

GOOD EVENING JUDGE.

AND TO THE COUNCILMAN.

I'M HERE AGAIN.

I DON'T MEAN TO BE EMOTIONAL, BUT I NEED THE BELL COUNTY COURTHOUSE TO HELP ME.

I'M GOING THROUGH A GRANDPARENT RIGHTS IN TRAVIS COUNTY.

I ADOPTED THREE CHILDREN THROUGH YOU IN 2004.

AND THE PEOPLE UP THERE DON'T KNOW ME LIKE BELL COUNTY DO.

AND I'M TRYING TO GET SOME KIND OF LETTER OR COMMENT, SOME KIND OF REFERENCE, OR SOME KIND OF LETTER STATING THAT I HAVE HELPED THE STATE OF TEXAS WITH ADOPTING CHILDREN, BECAUSE NOW I'M FIGHTING FOR MY OWN GRANDBABY.

THAT'S IN A VERY VIOLENT, VERY VIOLENT HOUSEHOLD.

AND I'M JUST HERE JUST TO ASK YOU TO HELP ME WITH SOME KIND OF LETTER THAT YOU WORK WITH ME BEFORE, OR THAT THE COUNTY HAVE, BECAUSE I NEED SOMETHING TO TAKE TO TRAVIS COUNTY ON THURSDAY TO GIVE THEM SOME KIND OF REPRESENTATION OF ME AND WHO I AM.

I'M JUST BEING HONEST WITH YOU.

YOU MAY NOT REMEMBER ME, BUT I REMEMBER YOU.

AND I'M JUST A GRANDMOTHER TRYING TO GET SOME KIND OF DOCUMENTS THAT I HAVE HELPED THE STATE OF TEXAS WITH OTHER PEOPLE'S CHILDREN BECAUSE I NEED HELP WITH MY OWN NOW.

I WENT THROUGH THE GRANDPARENT RIGHTS AND THEY DIDN'T HELP ME AT ALL.

I YOU HAD ME TALK TO A COUPLE OF YOUR PEOPLE HERE.

THEY WASN'T ABLE TO HELP ME AS WELL.

AND I GO BACK TO COURT ON THURSDAY IN TRAVIS COUNTY.

AND I JUST NEED SOME KIND OF DOCUMENTATION FROM WHERE I'M AT THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO.

I'VE BEEN HERE 60 YEARS, AND I NEED SOME KIND OF LETTER, SOMETHING OF MY REPUTATION, OF WHAT I HAVE DID TO HELP OTHER PEOPLE AND THEIR UNFORTUNATE

[04:10:09]

CHILDREN.

MISS JOSEPH, I DO.

YOU WERE HERE LAST MEETING, AND I BELIEVE OUR STAFF DOCTOR GUERRERO WAS SUPPOSED TO, I THINK DID MEET WITH YOU.

AND. AND IF SHE DIDN'T, I'M GOING TO ASK WHY SHE HAS.

BUT I DO BELIEVE THAT THEY WERE PROVIDED SERVICES.

I DID SEE ONE OF THE CHILDREN'S COURT STAFF, ADMINISTRATORS IN COURT, BARBARA SCHAEFER.

AND SO SHE WAS SOMEBODY I WORKED WITH CLOSELY WHEN I WAS THE ADMINISTRATIVE JUDGE AT CHILDREN'S COURT.

HAVE YOU TALKED TO BARBARA SCHAFER? NO. COULD SOMEBODY REACH OUT TO HER, PLEASE? SO, DOCTOR GUERRA, COULD YOU AGAIN, MISS JOSEPH? WE TYPICALLY DON'T COMMENT ON ISSUES ON CITIZENS TO BE HEARD.

I TRULY BELIEVE THAT WE'VE DONE EVERYTHING WE CAN TO HELP YOU.

IT SOUNDS LIKE YOU HAVE A LEGAL MATTER.

AND OBVIOUSLY THOSE ARE MATTERS IN TRAVIS COUNTY.

SO ALL WE CAN DO IS JUST TRY TO PROVIDE YOU AS MUCH RESOURCES AS WE CAN.

I WISH YOU THE BEST AND GOD BLESS YOU.

JUDGE. MAYBE THEY CAN GET, IF SHE'S BEEN A FOSTER, AN OPEN RECORD OF HER PAST FOSTER CARE.

BEVERLY DAVIS.

I'LL DO THAT. THAT'S IT.

WELL, GOOD MORNING TO YOU ALL.

AND HAPPY HOLIDAYS.

AND I WISH YOU ALL A ARE SAFE AND WONDERFUL.

HAPPY NEW YEAR AND AND ALL GOOD THINGS FOR YOU ALL.

AND I JUST WANT TO BE ABLE TO SAY I'M TRULY SORRY FOR ACTUALLY BEING HERE, BUT I JUST HAVE ONE QUICK REQUEST AND IT IS AS WE ARE CLOSING OUT THE RECAST GRANT, THERE ARE TWO VERY KEY PAYMENTS THAT I WOULD JUST REQUEST THAT YOU ALL CONSIDER.

THE FIRST ONE IS FOR IS FOR THE EXPENSES FOR THE SUMMER YOUTH CAMPS.

WE WE SERVED OVER 475 KIDS, AND WE WANTED TO JUST MAKE SURE THAT WE COULD GET THE TEACHERS PAID AND THE VENDORS PAID.

AND SO THAT HASN'T HAPPENED.

AND SO I JUST REQUEST THAT YOU ALL PLEASE CONSIDER THAT THE SECOND EXPENSE IS FOR THE SERVICES THAT WERE DONE HAVE BEEN DONE BY COPS METRO FOR IN IN COMMISSIONER RODRIGUEZ'S AREA.

I JUST WANT TO REITERATE THAT DURING THE TIME THAT THAT COPS METRO THAT WE WE PARTNERED WITH COPS METRO TO SERVE THE WEST SIDE, THAT THERE HAVE BEEN 2500 GUN LOCKS AND GUN STORAGE OF GUNLOCK STORAGES AND STORAGES ISSUED.

THERE HAVE BEEN 350 PEOPLE FOR WHO HAVE BEEN SIGNED UP IN THE PARISH ID PROGRAM, AND THAT IS REALLY IMPORTANT AND YOU WILL CERTAINLY KNOW THIS, COMMISSIONER RODRIGUEZ, BECAUSE THIS ACTUALLY HELPS PEOPLE GET UTILITIES, GET MEDICAL CARE, BE ABLE TO GET THEIR CHILDREN SIGNED UP.

AND SO THIS WAS A REAL CASE MANAGEMENT DONE BY COPS METRO.

AND THAT WE ALSO HAVE HAD 100 MEETINGS, HOUSE MEETINGS TO ACTUALLY VISIT ABOUT BOTH SAFETY AND DOMESTIC VIOLENCE.

AND THAT HAS BEEN ACTUALLY THE WORK OF COUCH METRO.

AND JUST TO BE CLEAR, THIS IS NOT JUST THINGS THAT WERE DONE.

THESE WERE THIS WAS A PERSON WHO WAS ORGANIZING IN THE WEST SIDE TO BE ABLE TO DO THESE THINGS.

AND SO IT WASN'T JUST WHAT YOU'RE WHAT THE WHAT THE REIMBURSEMENT WAS FOR WOULD BE FOR PAYROLL.

SO THIS HASN'T BEEN PAID.

IT WASN'T PAID LAST YEAR AND IT HASN'T BEEN PAID THIS YEAR.

SO IT'S ALMOST BEEN TWO YEARS SINCE THE BILL HAS BEEN PAID.

IF WE COULD PLEASE JUST IF YOU ALL WOULD PLEASE CONSIDER THAT.

BUT OTHER THAN THAT, YOU ALL.

I WISH YOU A HAPPY AND SAFE HOLIDAY SEASON.

AND I'M SORRY THAT I HAD TO BE HERE FOR THAT, BUT THANK YOU.

BUT BEING IN THIS MEETING IS REALLY THE CITIZENS SHOULD REALLY WATCH YOU ALL.

YOU ALL DO SOME REALLY IMPORTANT AND GREAT WORK AND I HAVE JUST BEEN, I'VE BEEN I ACTUALLY HAVE BEEN TOTALLY PAYING ATTENTION THE WHOLE TIME.

SO I JUST WANT TO THANK YOU ALL HAVE A GOOD AND SAFE HOLIDAY SEASON.

YOU TOO. THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

MICHELLE DURHAM.

OKAY.

GOOD AFTERNOON. GOOD AFTERNOON, COMMISSIONERS COURT.

AND A SPECIAL GOOD AFTERNOON TO YOU, JUDGE SAKAI AND TOMMY CALVERT, JUNIOR MICHELLE MAYFIELD.

DURHAM. I'M THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF BEAT AIDS BLACK EFFORT AGAINST THE THREAT OF AIDS.

BUT I'M NOT HERE TODAY.

ON BEHALF OF THE AGENCY, WE HAVE SOME OF MY TEAM THAT WILL SPEAK ON THAT.

I AM HERE TO SAY THANK YOU FOR HONORING MY HUSBAND, WHO JUST PASSED AWAY NOVEMBER 21ST OF THIS YEAR, 2024, WHO WAS A LEADER IN OUR COMMUNITY, SERVED ON THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS AT ELLA AUSTIN FOR SEVEN YEARS, WAS OUT AT THE TOYOTA PLANT AS A MANAGER AND A LEADER FOR 13 YEARS AND HAS BEEN DOING MANUFACTURING OF CARS AND VEHICLES FOR 30 YEARS.

[04:15:05]

WE'RE REALLY BLESSED TO HAVE HAD HIM AS A LEADER IN OUR COMMUNITY.

I'M BLESSED TO HAVE HAD HIS BACKING AS MY HUSBAND AND PARTNER FOR LIFE AND IN THIS NONPROFIT WORK THAT WE DO, AND I'M JUST REALLY GRATEFUL TO THE COMMISSIONERS COURT FOR RECOGNIZING HIS LEADERSHIP AND HIS CONTRIBUTIONS TO OUR COMMUNITY.

I'D LIKE TO JUST LEAVE THIS THANK YOU CARD WITH YOU ALL.

THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU.

MICHEL. MY CONDOLENCES TO THE FAMILY.

DELIA REESE.

NOW, DELIA, I NOTICED THAT YOU MIGHT BE WITH A PROGRAM CALLED MIND SHIFT.

I SEE THAT THERE ARE THREE.

DO YOU WISH TO SPEAK THROUGH ONE, OR DO YOU WANT EACH TO SPEAK INDIVIDUALLY? IF IT'S OKAY, WE'LL SPEAK INDIVIDUALLY.

AND IF IT'S OKAY, WE CAN STAND HERE TOGETHER.

NO, NO, YOU SPEAK INDIVIDUALLY.

YOU GET THREE MINUTES. YES.

OR YOU CAN YIELD YOUR TIME AND LET SOMEBODY SPEAK THEIR ALLOTTED TIME.

WHICH WAY DO YOU WANT TO GO? YEAH. INDIVIDUALLY. INDIVIDUALLY.

ALRIGHT. GO AHEAD.

DELIA REESE. YOU'RE FIRST.

ACTUALLY, CAN I GO FIRST, MARIBEL GUARDIA? OKAY. THAT'S FINE.

VERONICA. IS IT MARIBEL? YES, MARIBEL. AND THE LAST NAME? KHADIJA. KHADIJA.

YES. OKAY. WE HAVE FOLDERS TO HAND OVER TO YOU GUYS.

GO AHEAD. WELL, GOOD AFTERNOON, COMMISSIONERS COURT HONORABLE JUDGE PETER SAKAI AND THE ESTEEMED BEXAR COUNTY COMMISSIONERS, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK AND ADDRESS YOU TODAY.

MY NAME IS MARIBEL GUARDIA.

ABOVE ALL ELSE, I AM A PROUD MOTHER OF TWO EXTRAORDINARY BOYS, KAI, 15, AND BUCKY, 14.

THEY ARE THE REASON THAT I STAND BEFORE YOU, AS THEIR EXPERIENCES HAVE SHAPED NOT ONLY MY LIFE, BUT ALSO MY COMMITMENT TO SERVING OUR COMMUNITY.

I'M ALSO A SPECIAL NEEDS MOM AND I WEAR MANY HATS IN SERVICE OF OUR COMMUNITY IN SERVICE OF OTHERS.

I AM A COMMUNITY EDUCATOR AND ADVOCATE FOR EDUCATION.

A PASSIONATE STORYTELLER AND A DEDICATED ACTIVIST FOR EQUITY AND JUSTICE.

IT IS MY PRIVILEGE TO SERVE AS THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF MINDSHIFT PARENT INSTITUTE, WHERE WE EMPOWER FAMILIES WITH THE TOOLS AND THE KNOWLEDGE TO NAVIGATE AND TRANSFORM THE EDUCATION SYSTEM.

I FIRMLY BELIEVE THAT EVERY CHILD CAN LEARN AND THRIVE WHEN GIVEN THE RIGHT SUPPORT AND THE RIGHT RESOURCES.

TODAY, I'M HERE TO INTRODUCE THE TRANSFORMATIVE WORK OF MINDSHIFT DEAD PARENT INSTITUTE, AN ORGANIZATION BUILT BY PARENTS FOR PARENTS.

WE FOCUS ON CREATING SOLUTIONS TO THE CHALLENGES FAMILIES FACE.

MINDSHIFT PROVIDES ESSENTIAL RESOURCES AND ADVOCACY TRAINING, EQUIPPING CAREGIVERS TO NAVIGATE COMPLEXITIES IN OUR EDUCATION SYSTEM.

WITH CONFIDENCE IN THE FOLDERS YOU'VE RECEIVED, YOU'LL FIND MATERIALS MATERIALS SHOWCASING OUR WORK, INCLUDING A MAP HIGHLIGHTING THE FAMILIES THAT WE'VE IMPACTED, A LITERACY CASE STUDY THAT WE'VE CREATED, AN EDUCATION PASSPORT THAT WAS CO-CREATED BY PARENTS, AND I DO HAVE A SPANISH VERSION, IF YOU'D LIKE TO SEE THAT AND A LIST OF OUR PARTNERS AND SUPPORTERS, I ENCOURAGE YOU TO REVIEW THESE AT YOUR CONVENIENCE.

MIND SHIFTED PARENT INSTITUTE IS A NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION DEDICATED TO SUPPORTING FAMILIES OF THE MOST VULNERABLE AND UNDERSERVED CHILDREN IN SAN ANTONIO NEIGHBORHOODS.

OUR MISSION IS TO ELEVATE EDUCATIONAL OUTCOMES FOR STUDENTS WITH SPECIAL NEEDS, REGARDLESS OF THE DIAGNOSIS, EDUCATION, LABELS, AND OR LANGUAGE BARRIERS.

WE EMPOWER GUARDIANS WITH THE KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS TO BECOME ACTIVE ADVOCATES FOR THEIR CHILDREN'S EDUCATION.

WE BELIEVE THAT PARENTS ARE THE CHILDREN'S FIRST AND MOST IMPORTANT ADVOCATES.

OUR GOAL IS TO BRIDGE EQUITY GAPS IN EDUCATION THROUGH LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT, ADVOCACY, AND FAMILY ENGAGEMENT.

TODAY, I'D LIKE TO SHARE OUR MEASURABLE IMPACT OF THE WORK AND REQUEST YOUR SUPPORT TO HELP US SUSTAIN AND EXPAND THESE EFFORTS IN BEXAR COUNTY.

WE HAVE BUILT A NETWORK OF OVER 5000 PARENTS ACROSS THE COUNTY.

500 CAREGIVERS HAVE GRADUATED FROM OUR ACADEMY OF POWERFUL PARENTS, SPANISH AND ENGLISH, AND THEY'RE EQUIPPED WITH CONFIDENCE AND TOOLS TO ADVOCATE EFFECTIVELY.

OUR PROGRAMS HAVE DIRECTLY IMPACTED OVER 1500 STUDENTS.

EXPIRED. GO AHEAD AND WRAP IT UP.

OKAY. THANK YOU.

AND I DO WANT TO SHARE I WANT YOU ALL TO HEAR TESTIMONY FROM NOT ONLY PARENTS, BUT OUR STAFF.

AND I THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME.

THANK YOU EVERYONE.

WHO DID YOU WANT TO GO NEXT? DELIA. DELIA.

REESE. DELLA. REESE. HI.

GOOD AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS DELLA REESE, AND I AM THE OPERATIONS MANAGER FOR MINDSHIFT AT PARENT INSTITUTE.

[04:20:01]

THIS FEBRUARY WILL MARK FOUR YEARS THAT I'VE BEEN A PART OF THIS ORGANIZATION, WORKING HAND IN HAND WITH PARENTS, NAVIGATING THE OVERWHELMING AND OFTEN ISOLATING WORLDS OF SPECIAL EDUCATION.

TODAY, I AM HERE TO SPEAK NOT ONLY ON BEHALF OF THE PARENTS WE SERVE, BUT ALSO AS A PARENT MYSELF, I HAVE AN 11 YEAR OLD SON WITH AUTISM, SO I UNDERSTAND FIRSTHAND HOW DIFFICULT THIS JOURNEY CAN BE FOR TOO MANY PARENTS.

THE SPECIAL EDUCATION PROCESS FEELS LIKE NAVIGATING A MAZE WITH NO MAP, NO GUIDE, AND NO END IN SIGHT.

PARENTS ARE TOLD THEY NEED TO ADVOCATE FOR THEIR CHILDREN, BUT ARE GIVEN NO REAL TRAINING TO DO SO.

WE HEAR FROM PARENTS WE DON'T WHO DON'T EVEN KNOW THAT THEIR CHILDREN HAVE RIGHTS UNDER THE LAW.

WE MEET PARENTS WHO HAVE ASKED FOR HELP ONLY TO BE MET BY DELAYS, DENIALS AND DEAD ENDS.

FOR FAMILIES WHO DON'T SPEAK ENGLISH, THE BARRIERS ARE EVEN HIGHER.

MANY ARE MISINFORMED OR MISUNDERSTOOD.

I KNOW THE STRUGGLE BECAUSE I HAVE LIVED IT FROM THE MOMENT MY SON WAS DIAGNOSED.

I WAS FORCED TO BECOME AN ADVOCATE, AN EDUCATOR, AND A LEGAL EXPERT.

ROLES I HAVE NEVER TRAINED FOR.

I HAD TO LEARN HOW TO ASK THE RIGHT QUESTIONS, FILE THE RIGHT PAPERWORK, AND PUSH BACK WHEN DOORS WERE CLOSED.

IT WAS EXHAUSTING.

BUT THIS IS NOT JUST MY STORY.

IT'S THE STORY OF MANY OTHER PARENTS.

PARENTS ARE TIRED AND FRUSTRATED, BUT THEY'RE NOT GIVING UP.

THEY JUST NEED THE RIGHT SUPPORT.

THEY NEED MY SUPPORT.

IS IT VERONICA PALACIO? YES. BUENAS TARDES A TODOS.

MI NOMBRE ES VERONICA.

SOY RESIDENT.

POR AQUI.

MI IDIOMA ES EL ESPANOL.

CONOCIDO. LAS BARRERAS DE QUÉ ME AQUI? QUÉ ES EL INGLÉS? MI PRINCIPAL BARRERA ES EL INGLÉS.

PERO AUN ASI ES SALAZAR EN EL SISTEMA EDUCATIVO DE SAN ANTONIO.

PORQUE NO ME EXPLICAN CUALES SON SUS NORMAS.

SIN EMBARGO, AL CONOCER A ESTA ORGANIZACION ME AYUDADO A COMO UN TRADUCTOR COMO PODER AYUDAR A OTRAS PERSONAS PARA ELLAS PUEDEN SABER EL SISTEMA EDUCATIVO, CUAL ES LA IMPORTANCIA DE LOS NINOS ESTÉN EN UNA LECTURA MEJOR TAMBIÉN ME AYUDADO A VER Y A COMPRENDER.

QUÉ SI A MI SE ME HACE DIFICIL ESTE SISTEMA EDUCATIVO TAMBIÉN PARA LAS PERSONAS TIENEN NINOS EN NECESIDADES SOCIEDAD ESPECIAL ES MUCHO MAS DIFICIL PORQUE SIEMPRE LA BARRERA ES EL LENGUAJE.

MUCHAS GRACIAS.

THANK YOU. I'M GOING TO TRANSLATE IF YOU WISH I'LL.

YOU CAN USE THE BALANCE OF HER TIME.

I THINK THIS JUST VALIDATES THE POINT OF OUR WORK.

MY NAME IS VERONICA PALACIOS.

I WANT TO TELL YOU A LITTLE BIT ABOUT MY STORY.

I'VE BEEN A RESIDENT FOR EIGHT YEARS.

ONE OF MY BARRIERS HAS BEEN LANGUAGE, AND I NEED TO HAVE THE EDUCATION SYSTEM EXPLAINED TO ME.

WHEN MY DAUGHTER STARTED GOING TO SCHOOL, I BECAME A VOLUNTEER.

WITHOUT KNOWING THAT THE SCHOOL SENT ME TO CISD MEETINGS.

I DID NOT UNDERSTAND ANYTHING.

HOWEVER, THERE I MET MISS GUARDIA, WHO INVITED ME TO TAKE A COURSE IN HER ORGANIZATION.

THIS HELPED ME DEVELOP A STRATEGY, A STRATEGY ON HOW TO ASK FOR A TRANSLATOR AND AT THE SAME TIME INVITE MORE PARENTS FROM BOTH GENERAL EDUCATION AND SPECIAL EDUCATION.

I BECAME INVOLVED, I BECAME INVOLVED IN THE SCHOOL, AND I BEGAN TO SEE THE NEED, THE NEED FOR SOME SOMEONE TO HELP US.

WHEN I MET THE MINDSHIFT ORGANIZATION, I FOUND HELP AND THEY HAVE TAUGHT ME HOW TO DEFEND MY RIGHTS AS A PARENT IN SCHOOL, HOW HOW TO ASK FOR A TRANSLATOR.

BUT THEY HAVE ALSO HELPED ME UNDERSTAND HOW I CAN FIGURE OUT EVALUATIONS FOR MY DAUGHTER.

MINDSHIFT HAS TAUGHT ME HOW TO NAVIGATE SPECIAL EDUCATION, AND I JUST REALLY WANTED TO CLOSE WITH SAYING THANK YOU SO MUCH, BUT THIS IS THE NEED, RIGHT? THE NEED FOR TRANSLATION AND TO BE HEARD IN MULTIPLE LANGUAGES.

AND THAT IS THE WORK THAT MINDSHIFT DOES.

SO PLEASE CONSIDER US IF THERE'S ANY.

REMEMBER ME, REMEMBER ME.

IF YOU ALL HAVE EXTRA FUNDS, OUR ORGANIZATION COULD REALLY USE THEM.

THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU SO MUCH, Y'ALL.

ALL RIGHT, JODI MEDINA.

I ALSO SEE THAT YOU HAVE ALEXANDRA BACK.

CAN YOU ALL HEAR? GEORGE MEDINA.

GEORGE MEDINA.

HOW ABOUT ALEXANDRA BELTRAN? BACK MACRON. MACRON.

ALEXANDRA MACRON.

ALL RIGHT. JENNIFER PAYNE.

HI. I GREW UP HERE.

GOOD AFTERNOON, JUDGE AND COMMISSIONERS.

AND MAY IT PLEASE THE COMMISSIONERS COURT.

I AM JENNIFER PAYNE. I AM THE DIRECTOR OF DEVELOPMENT AND QUALITY ASSURANCE FOR BEAT AIDS COALITION TRUST.

AND AS OUR CEO, MISS MICHELLE DURHAM SAID IN HER PRESENTATION, SHE'S BROUGHT HER TEAM DAY TODAY TO TALK ABOUT OUR APPLICATION FOR FUNDING, WHICH IS AGENDA ITEM

[04:25:06]

121. NOW, WE DON'T HAVE THE BENEFIT OF KNOWING WHETHER WE HAVE RECEIVED FUNDING.

I HOPE THE ANSWER IS YES, BUT IF IT'S NO, I WANT YOU TO RECONSIDER.

WE WILL NEVER MISS AN OPPORTUNITY, THOUGH, TO SPEAK OUT ABOUT WHAT OUR AGENCY DOES, THE WONDERFUL SERVICES WE PROVIDE TO BEXAR COUNTY.

IF WE DON'T KEEP TALKING ABOUT HIV, IT WILL BE TREATED AS AN EPIDEMIC OF THE PAST.

AND IT'S NOT. IT'S VERY MUCH A PROBLEM OF THE PRESENT.

SO WE ALSO HAVE OUR CFO, MR. DURHAM, AND THE CLIENT, ASHLEY, WHO HAS SUBMITTED A REQUEST TO SPEAK AS WELL.

THE REASON WE WANT YOU TO CONSIDER FUNDING IS OUR APPLICATION IS GOING TO FILL A CRITICAL GAP IN FUNDING FOR PEOPLE LIVING WITH HIV IN BEXAR COUNTY.

PEOPLE AFFECTED BY HIV AND PEOPLE AT RISK.

THAT'S EVERYONE. YOU MIGHT NOT BE HIV POSITIVE, BUT EVERYONE IS HIV POSITIVE.

AS JESSICA PROBABLY KNOWS.

BUT THE REST OF YOU MAY NOT.

BY FEDERAL STANDARDS, UNDER THE RYAN WHITE ACT, THE VAST MAJORITY OF FUNDING FOR AGENCIES LIKE OURS IS EARMARKED TOWARD CORE MEDICAL SERVICES, WHICH MEANS SUPPORTIVE SERVICES LIKE WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT, WHICH IS THE FUNDING WE ARE APPLYING FOR, ARE VERY, VERY LIMITED, EVEN THOUGH THOSE ARE SOCIAL DETERMINANTS OF HEALTH.

WE HAVE APPLIED FOR FUNDING FOR A PROGRAM CALLED JOB RAMP UP, WHICH WILL PROVIDE WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT, JOB COACHING, JOB PLACEMENT ALLOWING CLIENTS WHO ARE POSITIVE, AFFECTED OR AT RISK OF ACQUIRING HIV TO OBTAIN THE SKILLS THEY NEED TO MAINTAIN EMPLOYMENT.

WE KNOW BY GILEAD SCIENCES STUDY THAT 1 IN 3 PEOPLE LIVING WITH HIV HERE IN BEXAR COUNTY ARE UNEMPLOYED.

ANOTHER 1 IN 3 ARE EXPERIENCING ALICE, WHICH MEANS THEY ARE ASSET LIMITED, INCOME CONSTRAINED, BUT EMPLOYED.

WE ALSO KNOW BY A STUDY FUNDED BY THE NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF HEALTH, THAT EMPLOYMENT IS THE SINGLE BIGGEST FACTOR IN ONE'S MENTAL HEALTH, AND THEIR RETENTION IN CARE. RETENTION AND CARE IS CRITICAL FOR PEOPLE LIVING WITH HIV BECAUSE WITH TREATMENT, THE VAST MAJORITY WILL SEE THEIR VIRAL LEVELS REDUCED TO UNDETECTABLE, AND THAT MEANS UNTRANSMITTABLE. WE HAVE THE TOOLS HERE IN BEXAR COUNTY TO END THE HIV EPIDEMIC.

ONE OF THOSE IS EMPLOYMENT, AND WE ARE ASKING THE COUNTY TO FUND THIS PROGRAM BECAUSE THE COUNTY WILL SEND A STRONG MESSAGE THAT WE ARE COMMITTED TO ADDRESSING THOSE SOCIAL DETERMINANTS OF HEALTH AND ENDING THE HIV EPIDEMIC FOR FOLKS HERE IN BEXAR COUNTY.

SO THOSE ARE MY COMMENTS.

I'D BE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS THAT YOU HAVE, BUT I WOULD LOVE FOR EVERYONE TO HEAR FROM MISS ASHLEY AS WELL.

NO SHE DID.

DID SHE SIGN UP? SHE DID SIGN UP, YOUR HONOR.

WHAT'S HER NAME? ASHLEY RIOS. ASHLEY, I DON'T HAVE.

IS THERE ANY. I DON'T HAVE ASHLEY.

DID WE ALREADY USE OUR TEN WHOLE MINUTES, OR DO WE HAVE THREE MORE FOR ASHLEY? I DON'T HAVE, I'LL JUST GIVE HER THREE.

OKAY. NO, NO, JUST.

SHE CAN SPEAK.

THANK YOU, YOUR HONOR.

LET HER IN. LET'S GO.

ALL RIGHT, COME ON. ASHLEY.

HELLO, GUYS. HI.

MY NAME IS ASHLEY. THANK YOU FOR LETTING ME BE HERE.

SO I JUST WANTED TO JUST HOW HIV HAS AFFECTED MY LIFE.

SO IN 2023, LAST YEAR, I WAS A I WAS POSITIVE FOR HIV.

AND YOU KNOW, I WAS GOING THROUGH, LIKE, A LOT OF AFTER THAT, I JUST DIDN'T CARE ABOUT MUCH.

I WAS USING, YOU KNOW.

SUBSTANCE ABUSE. SUBSTANCE ABUSE.

SUBSTANCE ABUSE PROBLEMS. AND I WAS HOMELESS AT THAT TIME, AND I HAD REACHED OUT TO MY, YOU KNOW, AFTER SIX MONTHS OR SO, LIKE, IN DECEMBER I HAD REACHED OUT TO MY CASE MANAGER AT MY DOCTOR'S OFFICE, AND SHE HAD TOLD ME ABOUT NEW NEWS, A NEWLY EMPOWERED WOMEN.

IT'S A TRANSITIONAL HOME FOR PEOPLE THAT HAVE ARE LIVING WITH HIV.

SO SINCE BEING THERE IT'S BEEN LIKE EIGHT, NINE MONTHS.

I WAS ABLE TO GO BACK TO SCHOOL.

I'M SOBER, I GET MY MENTAL HEALTH THERAPY, I GET SUBSTANCE ABUSE COUNSELING.

IT'S A REALLY AMAZING PLACE, HONESTLY.

AND I JUST THINK MISS DURHAM, FOR EVERYTHING THAT SHE DOES AND EVERYBODY AT BEAT.

SO. YEAH. THANK YOU GUYS.

THANK YOU GUYS FOR LETTING US SPEAK.

THANK YOU SO MUCH. AND WE HOPE YOU FUND OUR PROGRAM.

IT'S NEEDED. THANK YOU.

CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR PROJECT.

ON YOUR PROGRESS I SHOULD SAY.

ALL RIGHT. I HAVE ARMAAN MAHARJAN.

ARMEN FROM I BELIEVE, WORLD AFFAIRS.

ARMEN. OKAY, IS THERE ANY NAMES WE FAILED TO CALL THAT SIGNED UP FOR CITIZENS TO BE HEARD.

[117. Ratification of an electronic grant application to the Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) for the Misdemeanor Veterans Treatment Court in the amount of $1,000,000 with no match required, and acceptance of finds if awarded. The term of the grant is from October 1, 2024, through September 30, 2028.]

THAT CONCLUDES. CITIZENS TO BE HEARD.

WE NOW GO TO INDIVIDUAL ITEMS. LET'S TAKE UP AGENDA ITEM 117 RATIFICATION OF ELECTRONIC GRANT APPLICATION TO THE BUREAU OF JUSTICE ASSISTANCE FOR THE MISDEMEANOR VETERANS TREATMENT COURT IN THE AMOUNT OF $1 MILLION, WITH NO MATCH REQUIRED AND ACCEPTANCE OF AWARDS IF AWARDED DETERMINED.

THE GRANT IS FROM OCTOBER 1ST, 2024 THROUGH SEPTEMBER 30TH, 2028.

MR.. ROBERT, HOW ARE YOU? MR.. DOCTOR CASTRO, JUDGE DOMINGUEZ I THINK WE'RE VERY FAMILIAR WITH THIS PROGRAM, OR AT LEAST YOU HAVE PRESENTED IT.

CAN I ASK FOR A MOTION? SO MOVED. MOTION BY COMMISSIONER RODRIGUEZ, SECOND BY COMMISSIONER CALVERT.

[04:30:01]

WE HAVE A MOTION. SO GO AHEAD.

AND I THINK WE'RE PROBABLY PREPARED TO VOTE.

BUT IT'S YOUR PRESENTATION.

VERY WELL. GOOD AFTERNOON, COMMISSIONERS.

WE ARE EXCITED ABOUT RECEIVING THIS AWARD.

IT HAS BEEN AWARDED TO THE COUNTY ALREADY.

A FEDERAL GRANT, BUREAU OF JUSTICE ASSISTANCE.

IN THE AMOUNT OF $1,000 OVER THE NEXT FOUR YEARS.

I'M SORRY, $1 MILLION OVER THE NEXT FOUR YEARS.

THIS WILL ALLOW US TO FUND A SECOND FULL TIME CASE MANAGER, WHICH WILL SIGNIFICANTLY IMPROVE THE CLIENT TO CASE MANAGER RATIO, BRINGING IT DOWN TO WHAT IS CURRENTLY NOW AT 120 TO 1, DOWN TO 60 CLIENTS TO ONE CASE MANAGER.

SO THAT'S A SIGNIFICANT STEP TOWARDS THE RIGHT DIRECTION IN BETTER SERVING OUR VETERANS IN THIS COMMUNITY.

IT WILL ALSO ALLOW US TO HIRE A FULL TIME INTAKE SPECIALIST TO BETTER AND MORE SWIFTLY PROCESS THE REFERRALS OF VETERANS INTO OUR COURT.

WE ANTICIPATE HAVING 230 REFERRALS THIS CURRENT FISCAL YEAR, AND IT TAKES ABOUT 9 TO 17 HOURS TO PROCESS EACH REFERRAL. WHEN WE TAKE INTO CONSIDERATION THE LEGAL CLINICAL SCREENINGS AND THE ASSESSMENTS THAT TAKE PLACE, THE RISK AND NEEDS ASSESSMENTS.

IT WILL ALSO ALLOW US TO FUND A PART TIME LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENT.

AND THIS IS VERY CRUCIAL TO THE DRUG COURT MODEL, WHICH IS WHAT THE VETERANS TREATMENT COURT FOLLOWS, BECAUSE IT DOES HAVE A DIRECT IMPACT ON RECIDIVISM.

WHEN LAW ENFORCEMENT IS A MEMBER OF THE TREATMENT COURT TEAM, RECIDIVISM DROPS BY 88% WHEN LAW ENFORCEMENT ATTENDS THE COURT SESSIONS OF VETERANS TREATMENT COURTS, RECIDIVISM DROPS BY 83%.

LAW ENFORCEMENT IS A CORE MEMBER OF THE MULTIDISCIPLINARY TEAM OF THE VETERANS TREATMENT COURT.

THE GRANT WILL ALSO FUND SOME TREATMENT MONEY FOR THOSE VETERANS WHO CHOOSE NOT TO GO TO THE VA FOR SERVICES, OR THOSE THAT ARE ACTIVE MILITARY PERSONNEL WHO DON'T QUALIFY FOR FOR VA BENEFITS.

SO THIS THIS TREATMENT FUNDS WILL ALSO BE GREATLY RECEIVED AND AND BENEFICIAL TO OUR POPULATION THAT WE SERVE.

AND THEN THERE'S ALSO A LITTLE BIT OF MONEY FOR TRAVEL AND TRAINING FOR TWO OF THE INDIVIDUALS THAT WILL BE HIRED THROUGH THROUGH THIS GRANT.

I, I TURN THE TIME OVER TO YOU TO SEE IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS.

ANY QUESTIONS, COMMISSIONER RODRIGUEZ? I'M GOOD. JUDGE. COMMISSIONER. MOODY.

COMMISSIONER CALVERT.

MY ONLY FEEDBACK ON THAT LAW ENFORCEMENT, I THAT THAT'S BEEN AN ISSUE.

THAT'S BEEN ASKED PERIODICALLY.

I'M ALSO LOOKING AT MY STAFF.

IF THIS GRANT COMES TO BE AND THAT POSITION IS PART OF THE GRANT, I'M ASKING THAT THE COUNTY MANAGER'S OFFICE, SPECIFICALLY WITH THE BUDGET OFFICE, COORDINATE THAT SO THAT WE HAVE A CONSISTENCY IN REGARDS TO THE INVOLVEMENT OF LAW ENFORCEMENT.

MY CONVERSATIONS WITH SHERIFF SALAZAR, I DON'T THINK HE'S HERE AND I DON'T, YOU KNOW, BUT HAS BEEN THAT IF IT'S PART OF THE COURT SYSTEM THAT'S HE FEELS HIS JURISDICTION AND THAT'S AN ISSUE.

PLEASE, PLEASE BE DIFFERENTIAL THAT THAT'S YOU CAN'T GO HIRE ANYBODY WHEN THAT IS A FUNCTION OF THE COURT.

OBVIOUSLY THERE ARE LIABILITY ISSUES THERE.

SO I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT IT ONCE IF THIS GRANT IS AWARDED I'M JUDGE I'M CONFIDENT YOU WILL BECAUSE YOU'VE ALREADY EXPLAINED AND GIVEN US YOUR YOUR YOUR THE LARGEST VETERANS COURT MISDEMEANOR VETERANS COURT IN THE STATE OF TEXAS.

SO I HOPE THAT YOU WILL BE ABLE TO GET THIS GRANT.

BUT I WOULD ASK THAT COORDINATION SO THAT WE CAN MOVE FORWARD WITH ALL THESE ISSUES AND SPECIALTY COURTS.

OKAY, ABSOLUTELY, ABSOLUTELY.

AND WE HAVE BEEN IN CONTACT WITH SHERIFF SALAZAR, WHO HAS CONFIRMED TODAY AS WELL THAT HE LOOKED FORWARD TO WORKING WITH US IN THE VETERANS TREATMENT COURT, AND HE IS ON BOARD FOR THAT LAW ENFORCEMENT POSITION.

ALSO, JUDGE SAKAI WOULD LIKE TO ADD WITH THAT LAW ENFORCEMENT COMPONENT, RIGHT NOW, OUR PARTICIPANTS ARE BEING MONITORED BY BEXAR COUNTY PROBATION SERVICES.

SO THIS LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER WILL BE ABLE TO CONDUCT FIELD VISITS FOR THOSE PARTICIPANTS THAT ARE NOT RESIDING IN BEXAR COUNTY, THAT BEXAR COUNTY PROBATION OFFICERS DO NOT HAVE JURISDICTION FOR.

SO MAYBE SOMEONE IN COMAL COUNTY, ATASCOSA COUNTY, AND THEY'RE ABLE TO DO THOSE FIELD VISITS AND MAKE CONTACT FOR US AS WELL.

OKAY. ALL RIGHT.

THERE'S A MOTION ON THE FLOOR BY WHAT WAS IT, COMMISSIONER RODRIGUEZ? SECOND BY COMMISSIONER CALVERT.

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

AYE. ANY OPPOSED? ANY ABSTENTIONS? MOTION CARRIES.

THANK YOU. WHICH ONE IS IT? HI, COMMISSIONERS. THANK YOU.

ALL RIGHT. AS A POINT OF ORDER, I'M GOING TO GO AND PULL UP AGENDA ITEM 123, WHICH IS THE DISCUSSION OF

[04:35:03]

APPROPRIATE ACTION RELATED TO GRANTING AN EXCEPTION TO ADMINISTRATIVE POLICY.

1.2 TO AUTHORIZE THE CONSIDERATION OF THE FOLLOWING LATE FILED AGENDA ITEM 120 3AA APPROVAL OF A REQUEST FROM COUNTY JUDGE PETER SAKAI TO APPOINT THE FOLLOWING INDIVIDUAL TO THE LISTED BOARD LEO GOMEZ TO THE VIA METROPOLITAN TRANSIT AUTHORITY BOARD.

IN LIGHT OF OUR CURRENT POLICY.

I'D LIKE A MOTION TO GRANT AN EXCEPTION TO TAKE UP THIS MATTER.

IS THERE A MOTION? SACHSE.

YES. CAN WE GO AHEAD AND TAKE ALL FOUR IN TERMS OF THE EXCEPTION POLICY? SURE. I'LL.

I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION THAT WE BRING UP FOR PURPOSES OF DISCUSSION.

AGENDA ITEM 123 124, 125 AND 126, WHICH ARE ALL LATE FILED AGENDA ITEMS. AND WE NEED COURT'S APPROVAL IN ORDER TO MOVE FORWARD ON ALL FOUR.

IS THERE A MOTION? SO MOVED. MOTION BY COMMISSIONER RODRIGUEZ.

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

AYE. ANY OPPOSED? ANY ABSTENTIONS. ALL RIGHT.

ALL FOUR ITEMS WILL BE TAKEN UP.

[123. Discussion and appropriate action related to granting an exception to Administrative Policy 1.2 to authorize the consideration of the following late filed Agenda Item #123a.]

LET US NOW TAKE UP AGENDA ITEM 123 A.

APPROVAL OF REQUEST FROM COUNTY JUDGE PETER SAKAI TO APPOINT THE FOLLOWING INDIVIDUALS TO THE LISTED BOARD.

THIS IS A MATTER THAT I HAVE ASKED TO BE CONSIDERED.

IT IS OBVIOUSLY AN ISSUE OF.

I ACKNOWLEDGE THE LAST MINUTE NESS OF THE SITUATION.

LET ME GIVE THE COURT A PERSPECTIVE OF WHY THIS MATTER IS COMING UP AT THIS TIME.

IT WAS BROUGHT TO MY ATTENTION THROUGH MAYOR NIRENBERG, THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO, THAT THE VICE CHAIR WAS GOING TO POSSIBLY BE VACANT, OR THE CURRENT CHAIR, FERNANDO REYES, WAS GOING TO STEP DOWN AT THE END OF HIS TERM.

I WAS BROUGHT UP TO DATE THAT IN THE PAST PRACTICE, THE MAYOR AND THE COUNTY JUDGE CONFER ON THE RECOMMENDATION OF THE CHAIR TO THE VIA BOARD.

AND IN THOSE DISCUSSIONS WE HAD WITH THE MAYOR WE CAME TO AN AGREEMENT.

I AM NOT AT LIBERTY AND WILL NOT DISCLOSE WHAT THOSE CONVERSATIONS ARE UNTIL THE BOARD FORMALLY TAKES UP THE ISSUE AND PASSES IT ON THEIR BOARD MEETINGS, WHICH I BELIEVE WILL BE BY THE END OF THE MONTH.

I DON'T KNOW WHEN THE NEXT VIA BOARD MEETING WILL BE IN LIGHT OF THAT CIRCUMSTANCE.

THERE WAS A BOARD VACANCY.

I'LL PUT ON THE RECORD THAT THE BOARD TRUSTEE ADA GONZALES HAS SUBMITTED AND THE THE.

I HAVE ACCEPTED HER RESIGNATION AND THEREFORE THERE WAS A VACANCY.

I'M ASKING THAT LEO GOMEZ BE SUBMITTED FOR APPROVAL BY THIS BOARD IN ORDER TO COME TO AN AGREEMENT WITH THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO AND THE MAYOR IN REGARDS TO THE BOARD CHAIRMANSHIP.

AND SO AT THIS TIME, I HOPE THAT THE COURT WILL UNDERSTAND THE CIRCUMSTANCES.

I UNDERSTAND THE LATE NATURE AND THE LAST MINUTE NESS OF THE CIRCUMSTANCE, BUT I HOPE THE COURT WILL APPRECIATE THAT.

I WAS WANTING TO SUBMIT A NAME IN LIGHT OF THE TIME SITUATION, THE EXIGENT CIRCUMSTANCE, AND THAT IS THE REASON WHY THIS MATTER IS BEING BROUGHT TO THE COURT AT THIS TIME.

SO I WANTED TO LAY THAT AS A PREDICATE.

I BELIEVE MR. LEO GOMEZ IS HERE.

LEO, LET ME ASK YOU TO COME FORWARD, AND I'LL.

I'LL YIELD THE FLOOR FOR DISCUSSION.

JUDGE, JUST TO BE CLEAR, AS LEO COMES UP, THIS IS SIMPLY A THERE IS A COUNTY VACANCY.

WE APPOINTED IDA GONZALES, I THINK TWO YEARS AGO, MAYBE YEAR.

YEAH, YEAH. AND IT IS YOUR WISH THAT MR. GOMEZ BE THE NEW COUNTY APPOINTEE.

AND TO CLARIFY FURTHER IT IS UP TO THE I GUESS THERE IS PROBABLY A COMMITTEE AT VIA THAT COMES UP WITH A NOMINEE NOMINATIONS OF CHAIR, VICE CHAIR. THAT IS STILL TO BE DETERMINED.

BUT I GUESS IN THIS CASE, IF WE FOLLOW THROUGH MR. GOMEZ WILL BE PART OF THE BOARD AND UP FOR THOSE DISCUSSIONS AS WELL.

AND THAT'S THE REASON WHY THE NEED TO HAVE HIM APPOINTED TODAY AND HAVE IT LAID FILED WAS BECAUSE THIS ALL HAPPENED.

YEAH, LAST TWO WEEKS.

AND SO I APOLOGIZE TO THE COURT IF FOR IF THERE WASN'T IF THERE'S A FEELING OF NOT GETTING ADEQUATELY NOTIFIED.

BUT THAT'S JUST THE WAY THE CIRCUMSTANCES WORK.

BEFORE WE HEAR FROM LEO, I'LL MAKE THE MOTION TO APPROVE THIS JUDGE.

MOTION BY COMMISSIONER RODRIGUEZ.

SECOND BY COMMISSIONER CALVERT.

FURTHER DISCUSSION. COMMISSIONER MOODY.

[04:40:01]

WELL I SUPPORT THIS APPOINTMENT.

I APPRECIATE THE TIME AND HIS WILLINGNESS TO SERVE THE COMMUNITY ON ON THIS BOARD.

I ALSO THINK, YOU KNOW, HE BRINGS A UNIQUE BUSINESS PERSPECTIVE.

AND, YOU KNOW, I THINK FULLY APPRECIATES THE THE IMPORTANCE OF COMMUNICATION IN THIS ROLE.

FROM, FROM OUR DISCUSSIONS.

I KNOW THAT'S APPARENT.

AND SO YOU KNOW, I DON'T I DON'T REALLY HAVE ANY QUESTIONS.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR WILLINGNESS TO SERVE, AND I SUPPORT YOU.

THANK YOU, MR. CALVERT. I JUST WANTED TO GET A CLARITY ON CHAIRMAN REYES.

DID I HEAR HE'S LEAVING AT, LIKE, THE END OF THE YEAR OR.

YES. IT'S DECEMBER 31ST OF THIS YEAR.

I DON'T KNOW IF LEO'S HAD ANY DISCUSSIONS THERE.

IT IS MY UNDERSTANDING, THROUGH MY DISCUSSIONS WITH THE MAYOR, THAT CHAIRMAN REYES WILL STEP DOWN AND HE MAY STEP DOWN UPON THE BOARD, TAKING FORMAL ACTION AS TO THE CHAIR AND VICE CHAIR.

SO BUT HIS TERM ENDS AT THE END OF THE YEAR.

BUT I BELIEVE HE IS CURRENTLY ON THE BOARD AND HE'S AWAITING ACTION SUCH AS THIS, IN ORDER FOR HIM TO MAKE THE DECISION THAT'S IN THE BEST INTEREST OF YOU.

WELL, THANK YOU FOR BEING WILLING TO SERVE AGAIN, LEO.

YOU'VE DONE IT 100 TIMES, SO THANKS FOR DOING 101.

APPRECIATE IT. THANK YOU.

COMMISSIONER. LET ME ASK LEO.

LEO, YOU AND I HAVE THE DISCUSSION.

ONE OF THE THINGS IN LOOKING TOWARDS LEO GOMEZ AND WHAT HE'S DONE FOR BROOKS CITY BASE AND OBVIOUSLY IN THE SOUTH SIDE, WHICH COMMISSIONER CALVERT YOU AND COMMISSIONER CLAY-FLORES KIND OF SPLIT THERE.

I THINK THE MAJORITY IS IN PRECINCT FOUR.

ONE OF THE THINGS IS I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THE SOUTH SIDE, AND ESPECIALLY IN MY INITIATIVE, TO LOOK FROM A REGIONAL PERSPECTIVE TO SOUTH TEXAS AND LEO.

ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE HAVE IN COMMON IS WE'RE BOTH MCALLEN GUYS.

AND SO WE WENT TO THE OTHER HIGH SCHOOL.

I WENT TO THAT OTHER HIGH SCHOOL.

BUT THAT'S THAT'S NEITHER HERE OR THERE.

THE THING IS, IS THAT I BELIEVE THAT LEO BRINGS A PERSPECTIVE, ESPECIALLY TO VILLA, AS WE LOOK TO THE ADVANCED RAPID TRANSIT PROJECTS THAT ARE ON WITH THE SILVER LINE AND THE GREEN LINE, AND SO GREEN LINE BEING NORTH AND SOUTH.

AND SO I WANT TO MAKE SURE VILLA HAS A PERSPECTIVE THAT WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT SOUTH SIDE IS TRULY CONNECTED WITH THE ADVANCED RAPID TRANSIT.

AND I UNDERSTAND SOME OF THESE PLANS HAVE ALREADY BEEN MADE PRIOR TO ME BECOMING COUNTY JUDGE.

BUT I WANT A VOICE ON THE BOARD THAT TRULY IS BRINGING THAT PERSPECTIVE TO THE TABLE.

ALSO TO COMMISSIONER CALVERT AND COMMISSIONER RODRIGUEZ FOR THE GREEN LINE.

GREEN LINE RIGHT. EAST, WEST, NO.

SILVER LINE. EXCUSE ME.

GREEN IS NORTH, SOUTH.

SILVER IS EAST AND WEST.

I TRULY WANT A CONNECTOR OF ADVANCED RAPID TRANSIT THAT TRULY CONNECT THE WEST SIDE AT WHAT IS PROPOSED.

OUR LADY LAKE TO THE EAST SIDE, WHICH IS THE FROST BANK CENTER, AND MAKING SURE THAT ALONG THAT LINES, WE DEVELOP A PERSPECTIVE THAT WILL HELP PROMOTE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, ESPECIALLY AS WE HELP RESOLVE THE WITH THE SUPPLY, SAY, HOW DO WE EMPOWER THOSE SMALL BUSINESSES THAT ARE ALL PART AND PARCEL? AND SO I REALLY AM LOOKING FOR SOMEBODY THAT HAS THE BIG PICTURE.

I'M LOOKING FOR SOMEBODY THAT'S GOING TO ARTICULATE THE PERSPECTIVES FROM THE COUNTY AND TO MAKE SURE THAT THE DIRECTION THAT THE COUNTY GIVES TO THE.

BOARD IS BEING CARRIED OUT.

SO LIVE. I PASS TO YOU FOR YOUR COMMENTS.

THANK YOU. JUDGE AND COMMISSIONERS, REALLY APPRECIATE YOUR CONSIDERATION HERE.

AND YOUR CONFIDENCE IN ME TO REPRESENT THE COUNTY.

BE YOUR REPRESENTATIVE ON THE VIA BOARD OF TRUSTEES.

AND THAT'S WHAT I DID INDEED WILL BE.

AND IF I HAVE COMMITTED TO A NUMBER OF YOU, WHILE I'VE HAD THE CONVERSATIONS, HAVE NOT HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO REBECA COMMISSIONER REBECA CLAY-FLORES AND COMMISSIONER CALVERT, I OWE YOU A CONVERSATION.

WE'LL CATCH UP. BUT, YOU KNOW, I'M I'M IN IT FOR THE RIGHT REASONS THAT YOU ALL ARE ASKING ME TO SERVE.

AND IT STARTS WITH MAKING SURE THAT WE HAVE A SERVICE THAT REALLY, TRULY GIVES OPPORTUNITY TO THOSE WHO NEED THE RESOURCES TO REACH OPPORTUNITY.

NO DIFFERENT THAN WE HAVE AT BROOKS ON THE SOUTH SIDE OF SAN ANTONIO.

BUT THAT ALSO COMES WITH DOING WHAT WE NEED TO DO TO ATTRACT CHOICE RIDERS TO THE SERVICES OF VILLA.

THEY GO HAND IN HAND AND WE CANNOT HAVE A SUSTAINABLE TRANSIT AGENCY IN OUR COMMUNITY THAT DOESN'T MEET BOTH ENDS.

SO THAT'S WHAT I HOPE TO BRING TO VILLA AND THAT EXPERIENCE, ALONG WITH TRANSIT ORIENTED DEVELOPMENT PERSPECTIVE THAT CAN COME ALONG BOTH THE GREEN LINE AND THE SILVER LINE. I WILL BE AT MY FIRST WORK SESSION OF VILLA LITERALLY AT 3:00 TODAY.

[04:45:05]

THE ELECTIONS HAVE BEEN PUSHED BACK TO DECEMBER 17TH NEXT WEEK, JUDGE, AND HOPEFULLY THAT WILL ALL BE IN PLACE IN TIME FOR THE APPOINTMENTS AND THE ELECTIONS TO GO AS TO HOW YOU AND THE MAYOR HAVE AGREED TO.

AND I LOOK FORWARD TO INITIATING THAT CONVERSATION AT THE BOARD WORK SESSION THIS AFTERNOON.

AND SO WITH THAT, I WON'T ADD ANY I WON'T BELABOR THE POINT.

I APPRECIATE YOUR CONSIDERATION, JUDGE.

AND FOR ME TO GO TO I'LL CALL I'LL CALL FOR A VOTE.

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

AYE. ANY OPPOSED? ANY ABSTENTIONS.

ABSTENTION. MOTION UNANIMOUSLY PASSED.

Y'ALL HAVE A GOOD AFTERNOON. ALL RIGHT.

I WOULD ASSUME LET'S CONTINUE ON THE LATE FILE.

[124. Discussion and appropriate action related to granting an exception to Administrative Policy 1.2 to authorize the consideration of the following late filed Agenda Item #124a.]

WE'LL TAKE UP 120 FOR A DISCUSSION.

APPROPRIATE ACTION REGARDING AUTHORIZING EXECUTION OF AGREEMENT WITH US CORRECTIONS, FORMERLY DBA PRISONER TRANSPORT SERVICES AMERICA, FOR THE PROVISION OF PRISONER EXTRADITION AND TRANSPORTATION SERVICES FOR INITIAL TWO YEAR TERM BEGINNING AUGUST 6TH, 2024 AND ENDING AUGUST 5TH, 2026, AND PROVIDING UP TO THREE ONE YEAR RENEWAL OPTIONS AS REQUESTED BY THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE, AUTHORIZING THE PERSON TO EXECUTE AND FILE THE APPROPRIATE AWARD DOCUMENTS FOR RECORD MR. TORRES. GOOD AFTERNOON, PATRICIA TORRES, PURCHASING AGENT.

WE'RE HERE TO PRESENT U.S.

CORRECTIONS, LLC EXECUTION OF AGREEMENT.

DO WE HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? I THINK THIS IS AN ISSUE THAT'S BEEN ONGOING, RIGHT.

AND THAT WE'RE WE'RE KIND OF GOING BACK AND MAKING SURE THAT WE NOW HAVE A CONTRACT IN ORDER TO AUTHORIZE THE AUDITOR TO PAY FOR THE SERVICES THAT HAVE BEEN RENDERED. AND THEN IN THAT CIRCUMSTANCE.

OKAY. THAT'S CORRECT. JUST WANTED TO REFRESH THE COURT THAT THIS MATTER HAS BEEN BROUGHT UP BEFORE, AND WE NEEDED TO DO THIS IN ORDER TO GET PAYMENT OUT.

MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE. MOTION BY COMMISSIONER RODRIGUEZ.

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

THANK YOU. WE'LL GO TO ITEM 125 A DISCUSSION, APPROPRIATE ACTION REGARDING AWARDING A CONTRACT TO THE LOWEST AND BEST QUALIFIED BID SUBMITTED BY SACO ELECTRIC UTILITY TO PROVIDE FOR THE PURCHASE OF CONSTRUCTION SERVICES FOR THE FOSTER ROAD WALLFLOWER WAY TRAFFIC SIGNAL PROJECT, PRECINCT FOUR, IN THE AMOUNT OF $351,171.42, IS REQUESTED BY THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT AND AUTHORIZE THE PURCHASING AGENT TO EXECUTE AND FILE THE APPROPRIATE AWARD DOCUMENT FOR RECORD.

[125. Discussion and appropriate action related to granting an exception to Administrative Policy 1.2 to authorize the consideration of the following late filed Agenda Item #125a.]

IS THERE A MOTION? SO MOVED.

MOTION BY COMMISSIONER CALVERT.

ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION, MISS TORRES? IS THERE ANYTHING TO ADD? NO. THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT.

I'LL CALL FOR A VOTE. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE.

AYE. ANY OPPOSED? ANY ABSTENTIONS? MOTION CARRIES.

[126. Discussion and appropriate action related to granting an exception to Administrative Policy 1.2 to authorize the consideration of the following late filed Agenda Item #126a.]

WE'LL NOW GO, I BELIEVE, TO THE LAST LATE FILED ITEM THAT HAS BEEN APPROVED BY PRIOR MOTION 126.

A DISCUSSION APPROPRIATE ACTION REGARDING AWARDING A CONTRACT TO THE LOWEST AND MOST APPROPRIATE RESPONSIVE BID REGARDING EZZIE BELL CONSTRUCTION, LLC, TO PROVIDE FOR THE PURCHASE OF ROADWAY CONSTRUCTION SERVICES FOR THE CROWN WOOD PHASE ONE PROJECT.

PRECINCT FOUR, IN THE AMOUNT OF $10,277,322.03, AS REQUESTED BY THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT, AUTHORIZING THE PURCHASING AGENT TO EXECUTE AND FILE THE APPROPRIATE AWARD DOCUMENTS FOR RECORD AND APPROVAL OF THE APPROPRIATE BUDGET TRANSFERS OR MOTION.

MOTION BY COMMISSIONER CALVERT SECOND BY COMMISSIONER MOODY.

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

ALL RIGHT, LET'S GO BACK UP TO 18.

THANK YOU, MISS DORIS.

[118. Discussion and/or approval of an Order prohibiting the sale or use of restricted fireworks effective on the date of adoption of the Order.]

DISCUSSION AND APPROVAL OF ORDER PROHIBITING THE SALE OR USE OF RESTRICTED FIREWORKS.

EFFECTIVE ON THE DATE OF THE ADOPTION OF THE ORDER.

AFTERNOON. JUDGE. COMMISSIONERS.

DEPUTY CHIEF JOHN ORTEGA WITH THE BEXAR COUNTY FIRE MARSHAL'S OFFICE.

RESPECTFULLY, WE REQUEST THE COURT CONSIDER AND APPROVE THE MOTION REGULATING CERTAIN RESTRICTED FIREWORKS IN THE UPCOMING NEW YEAR'S SALE SEASON.

AND I'M HERE TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS THE COURT MAY HAVE.

THANK YOU. MOTION BY COMMISSIONER CALVERT.

ANY FURTHER DISCUSSIONS? GO AHEAD, COMMISSIONER MOODY.

SO ARE THERE ANY CHANGES WE SHOULD BE AWARE OF HERE, OR IS THIS THE SAME POLICY WE'VE HAD IN THE PAST? THAT'S CORRECT, COMMISSIONER. IT'S THE SAME THAT WE'VE HAD IN THE PAST.

IT'S BEEN A FEW YEARS SINCE WE'VE HAD TO ENACT THIS PARTICULAR PROVISION OF THE STATUTE, BUT IT ONLY RESTRICTS TWO SPECIFIC TYPES OF FIREWORKS, AND THOSE ARE SKYROCKETS WITH STICKS AND MISSILES WITH FINS.

OKAY. THANK YOU.

SO IT'S JUST CERTAIN FIREWORKS.

YES, SIR. THAT'S CORRECT.

CERTAIN AERIAL FIREWORKS.

BASICALLY, BOTTLE ROCKETS IS ABOUT THE ONLY THING THAT THE STATUTE ALLOWS TO BE RESTRICTED DURING DROUGHT CONDITIONS.

[04:50:02]

THIS COMMUNITY IS GOING TO JUST RESTRICT ITSELF TO BOTTLE ROCKETS.

THE VENDORS ARE ACTUALLY VERY GOOD ABOUT PARTNERING WITH US AND NOT SELLING THE RESTRICTED FIREWORKS.

NOW, JUDGE. YES, MR. SMITH. IT'S THE EXACT OPPOSITE.

THE ONLY THING THAT'S RESTRICTED IS BOTTLE ROCKETS.

OH, WE'RE NO BOTTLE BIG.

SIX BIG ONES, ESPECIALLY ONES ON THE WEST SIDE.

THEY'LL BE THERE. THOSE WILL STILL BE GOING.

THEY'RE STILL GOING TO GO UP. OKAY.

ALRIGHT, OKAY.

DID I CALL FOR A VOTE? DID WE VOTE? NO? ALRIGHT, I'LL CALL FOR A VOTE ON 118.

ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE.

AYE. ANY OPPOSED? ANY ABSTENTIONS?

[119. Discussion and appropriate action of approval to renew the agreement with Voya (ReliStar Life Insurance Company) for Stop-Loss Coverage including Aggregate and Specific/Individual insurance for the Bexar County Self-Insured Medical Fund at an estimated cost of $3,382,368 with a term of January 1, 2025 - December 31, 2025.]

MOTION CARRIES 119.

DISCUSSION OF APPROPRIATE ACTION.

APPROVAL TO RENEW THE AGREEMENT WITH VOYA REAL STAR LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY FOR STOP LOSS COVERAGE, INCLUDING AGGREGATE SPECIFIC INDIVIDUAL INSURANCE FOR THE BEXAR COUNTY SELF-INSURED MEDICAL FUND AT AN ESTIMATED COST OF 3,308,200 $368 WITH A TERM OF JANUARY 1ST, 2025 TO DECEMBER 31ST, 2025.

MISS TINA SMITH DEAN.

THANK YOU. TINA SMITH DEAN REQUESTING COURT'S APPROVAL TO RENEW THE AGREEMENT FOR STOP LOSS INSURANCE WITH VOYA.

WE WENT OUT AND DID A REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS.

WE GOT EIGHT BIDS AND THIS WAS DETERMINED BY THE BUDGET DEPARTMENT, HR AND OUR INSURANCE CONSULTANT, MCGRIFF, TO BE THE BEST AND MOST RESPONSIVE BID. AND SO WE'RE REQUESTING YOUR APPROVAL.

APPROVAL OF THE MOTION BY COMMISSIONER CALVERT.

SECOND BY COMMISSIONER RODRIGUEZ.

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