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

WE'VE GOT BELIEVE COMMISSIONERS. WE HAVE A KIND OF REFORMATTING.

WE'RE GOING TO TAKE UP REQUEST OF COMMISSIONERS COURT TO IDENTIFY ITEMS FROM CONSENT AGENDA FOR ADDITIONAL DISCUSSION, AND TO APPROVE REMAINING CONSENT AGENDA ITEMS. I'LL START WITH COMMISSIONER CLAY-FLORES ANY MATTERS TO POOL FOR INDIVIDUAL CONSIDERATION.

COMMISSIONER RODRIGUEZ I'M GOOD JUDGE. COMMISSIONER MOODY I'M GOOD.

COMMISSIONER CALVERT ALL RIGHT. IS THERE A MOTION? MOTION TO APPROVE A MOTION BY COMMISSIONER RODRIGUEZ.

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

ANY OPPOSED? ANY ABSTENTION. MOTION CARRIES. WE'LL NOW TAKE UP CEREMONIAL ITEMS.

[4. CEREMONIAL ITEM(S)]

THE FIRST ONE WILL BE PRESENTATION AND PROCLAMATION ON BEHALF OF COMMISSIONERS COURT RECOGNIZED IN AUGUST 21ST, 2025 AS NATIONAL SENIOR CITIZENS DAY. COMMISSIONER CLAY-FLORES.

THIS IS YOUR PROCLAMATION. THERE WE GO. COMMISSIONER, DO YOU WANT TO COME FORWARD? AND IS THAT FERNANDA? I WANT TO THANK FERNANDA FROM GONZAGA AND ALL THE WORK THAT YOU CONTINUE TO DO WITH

[00:05:07]

SENIORS. SO THANK YOU. SO THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR WORK AND FOR PARTNERING WITH US.

WHEREAS NATIONAL SENIOR CITIZENS DAY IS CELEBRATED ANNUALLY ON AUGUST 21ST TO HONOR AND APPRECIATE THE CONTRIBUTIONS AND ACHIEVEMENTS OF OLDER ADULTS ACROSS OUR NATION.

THIS DAY WAS ESTABLISHED IN 1988 BY PRESIDENT RONALD REAGAN TO RECOGNIZE THE WISDOM, EXPERIENCE AND VALUE THAT SENIORS BRING TO OUR COMMUNITIES, OUR FAMILIES, AND OUR SOCIETY AS A WHOLE. AND WHEREAS, ACCORDING TO THE US CENSUS IN 2022, THERE WERE 57.8 MILLION PEOPLE AGED 65 AND OLDER IN THE UNITED STATES, REPRESENTING 17.3% OF THE POPULATION.

THIS NUMBER IS PROJECTED TO REACH 78 MILLION BY 2040, OR 22% OF THE POPULATION, MAKING THEIR VOICES, EXPERIENCES, AND CONTRIBUTIONS MORE IMPORTANT THAN EVER.

AND WHEREAS SENIORS HOLD A WEALTH OF KNOWLEDGE, SKILL AND PERSPECTIVE, HAVING WITNESSED AND CONTRIBUTED TO THE RAPID ADVANCEMENTS IN TECHNOLOGY AND SOCIETY, WHILE ALSO REMEMBERING AND PRESERVING THE VALUES AND TRADITIONS THAT BIND GENERATIONS TOGETHER.

ON THIS DAY, WE ARE REMINDED TO CELEBRATE OUR SENIORS NOT ONLY FOR THEIR PAST CONTRIBUTIONS, BUT ALSO FOR THE VITAL ROLE THEY CONTINUE TO PLAY IN GUIDING, MENTORING, AND INSPIRING US ALL.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED THAT THE BEXAR COUNTY COMMISSIONERS COURT HEREBY RECOGNIZES, PROCLAIMS AUGUST 21ST AS NATIONAL SENIOR CITIZENS DAY.

THANK YOU. OKAY. YES. OKAY.

GOOD MORNING. ON AUGUST 24TH, WE WILL PROUDLY GATHER TO CELEBRATE NATIONAL SENIOR CITIZENS DAY, A DAY DEDICATED TO HONORING THE INVALUABLE CONTRIBUTIONS OF OUR OLDER ADULTS.

OUR SENIOR CITIZENS ARE MORE THAN JUST MEMBERS OF OUR COMMUNITY.

THEY'RE ITS FOUNDATIONS. THROUGH DECADES OF HARD WORK, SACRIFICE AND WISDOM, THEY HAVE SHAPED THE VERY FABRIC OF OUR SOCIETY.

THEY HAVE GUIDED FAMILIES, BUILD BUSINESSES, AND SERVED OUR NATION AND HAVE PAVED THE WAY FOR THE FUTURE GENERATIONS.

AS WE CELEBRATE NATIONAL SENIOR CITIZENS DAY.

LET US NOT ONLY EXPRESS OUR GRATITUDE, BUT ALSO REAFFIRM OUR RESPONSIBILITY TO LISTEN, TO SUPPORT, AND TO ENSURE THAT EVERY SENIOR IN OUR COUNTY LIVES WITH DIGNITY, RESPECT AND OPPORTUNITY.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU. IF YOU WANT TO COME FORWARD FOR A PICTURE.

YOU CAN SIT THERE IN THE MIDDLE. THERE WE GO.

ANYBODY ELSE HERE? ALL RIGHT. YOU JUST CALL ALL THE SENIORS.

ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. FERNANDA. YEAH.

YOU GOT THE NEXT ONE. OKAY. COMMISSIONER CALVERT, DO YOU HAVE THE PRESENTATION? A PROCLAMATION ON BEHALF OF COMMISSIONER RECOGNIZING THE 10TH ANNIVERSARY OF BE SMART FOR KIDS IN THE ESTABLISHMENT OF SMART WEEK AS AUGUST 25TH THROUGH THE 29TH.

THANK YOU. JUDGE. I WANT TO INVITE COUNCILWOMAN TO COME ON UP.

AND, CINDY, THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. WE DO HAVE THIS PROCLAMATION ALREADY.

EVERYBODY WHO'S WITH THE SMART WEE GROUP HERE, PLEASE COME TO THE DAIS.

THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THIS TO OUR ATTENTION.

THE PROCLAMATION READS, WHEREAS GUN VIOLENCE IS NOW THE LEADING CAUSE OF DEATH AMONG CHILDREN AND TEENS IN THE UNITED STATES, WITH TRAGIC AND PREVENTABLE INCIDENTS OCCURRING WHEN FIREARMS ARE LEFT UNSECURED IN HOMES AND VEHICLES.

AND WHEREAS AN ESTIMATED 4.6 MILLION CHILDREN IN THE UNITED STATES LIVE IN HOMES WITH AT LEAST ONE UNLOCKED AND LOADED GUN, PUTTING LIVES AT RISK EVERY DAY. AND WHEREAS BEXAR COUNTY RECOGNIZES THAT SECURE FIREARM STORAGE, KEEPING GUNS UNLOADED, LOCKED AND SEPARATED FROM AMMUNITION IS A PROVEN METHOD TO REDUCE UNINTENTIONAL SHOOTINGS, SUICIDES, AND GUN THEFTS. AND WHEREAS, BE SMART AND INITIATIVE OF THE EVERYTOWN FOR GUN SAFETY SUPPORT FUND WORKS TO PREVENT GUN VIOLENCE THROUGH COMMON SENSE PRACTICES AND OUTREACH, EMPOWERING FAMILIES AND COMMUNITIES TO TAKE ACTION TO PROTECT CHILDREN.

AND WHEREAS, BERE COUNTY SUPPORTS SMART WEEK AS AN OPPORTUNITY TO RAISE AWARENESS AND ENCOURAGE RESPONSIBLE GUN OWNERSHIP, EXCUSE ME, RESPONSIBLE GUN STORAGE AND HONOR OUR SHARED COMMITMENT TO CREATING SAFER ENVIRONMENTS FOR OUR YOUTH.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED THAT THE BEXAR COUNTY COMMISSIONERS COURT HEREBY DESIGNATES AUGUST 25TH THROUGH THE 29TH, 2025 AS SMART WEEK. WITNESS OUR SIGNATURES AND STILL OF OFFICES.

19TH DAY OF AUGUST 2025 SIGNED BY YOUR COMMISSIONERS COURT.

WE'D LOVE TO HEAR FROM YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THE PROCLAMATION.

WE ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO NEXT WEEK. THIS IS THE 10TH ANNIVERSARY OF BE SMART FOR KIDS, WHICH IS A TOTAL WHERE ALL VOLUNTEERS THAT DO

[00:10:03]

EDUCATION ON HOW TO KEEP GUNS SECURED AND OUR CHILDREN SAFE IN THEIR HOMES AND IN AUTOMOBILES.

UNFORTUNATELY, WE HAVE A STATISTIC WHERE SAN ANTONIO IS THE NUMBER ONE CITY IN TEXAS FOR STOLEN GUNS OUT OF VEHICLES.

WE'RE NUMBER FIVE IN THE COUNTRY OUT OF 337 OTHER CITIES.

SO WE ARE HOPING TO GET THE WORD OUT THAT PARTICULARLY IF YOU LEAVE A GUN IN THE VEHICLE, WHICH SOMETIMES YOU HAVE TO BECAUSE YOU CAN'T CARRY IT INTO A PARTICULAR BUILDINGS THAT PEOPLE WILL MAKE SURE THAT THEY'RE SECURED IN THEIR CAR.

AGAIN, THANK YOU VERY MUCH. AND ANYTHING THAT WE CAN DO TO HELP IN THE FUTURE, PLEASE LET US KNOW.

AWESOME. THANK YOU. WHY DON'T YOU COME FORWARD SO WE CAN TAKE A PICTURE? THANK YOU SO MUCH. I APPRECIATE YOU BEING HERE. YEAH.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU SO MUCH.

THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU DO. WE APPRECIATE IT. WE DO.

APPRECIATE YOU. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU.

THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT, LET'S TAKE OUT THE PRESENTATION.

PROCLAMATION BEHALF OF COMMISSIONERS COURT RECOGNIZING THE 10TH ANNIVERSARY OF PATHWAYS TO HOPE.

IMPACTFUL WORK AND NAMI GREATER. SAY, COMMISSIONER CALVERT.

THANK YOU. JUDGE IN COURT. I'D LIKE TO INVITE DOUG BEECH, OUR CEO OF NAMI, AND DUANE ROBINSON, WHO'S CHAIR OF THE PATHWAYS OF HOPE PROGRAM THIS YEAR, I BELIEVE, AND WE HAVE A PROCLAMATION.

THANK YOU ALL FOR COMING. THE PROCLAMATION READS.

WHEREAS PATHWAYS TO HOPE BEGAN IN 2016 AS A FREE, COMMUNITY WIDE CONFERENCE UNITING MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONALS, EDUCATORS, FAITH LEADERS, LAW ENFORCEMENT, AND INDIVIDUALS WITH LIVED EXPERIENCE TO IMPROVE MENTAL HEALTH CARE IN BEXAR COUNTY.

AND WHEREAS NAMI GREATER SAN ANTONIO HAS BEEN A KEY PARTNER SINCE THE BEGINNING, ALONG WITH BEXAR COUNTY AND OTHER COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS IN SUPPORTING THIS VITAL INITIATIVE. AND WHEREAS, THE CONFERENCE HAS INSPIRED UNDERSTANDING AND COMPASSION WHILE STRENGTHENING COORDINATED CARE AND EARLY INTERVENTION FOR THE MORE THAN 500,000 RESIDENTS IN BEXAR COUNTY LIVING WITH A MENTAL ILLNESS.

AND WHEREAS, AS PATHWAYS TO HOPE CELEBRATES ITS 10TH ANNIVERSARY, IT CONTINUES TO CHAMPION MENTAL WELLNESS AND HOPE.

UNDER THIS YEAR'S THEME, THE NEXT TEN. REMINDING US THAT EVERY MOMENT IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO CHOOSE HOPE.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED THAT THE BEXAR COUNTY COMMISSIONERS COURT HEREBY CELEBRATES AND COMMENDS THE 10TH ANNIVERSARY OF PATHWAYS TO HOPE WITNESS OUR SIGNATURES AND SEAL OF THIS OFFICE THIS 19TH DAY OF AUGUST, 2025, SIGNED BY YOUR COMMISSIONERS COURT.

WAYNE, WE'D LOVE TO HEAR. IT'S GREAT TO HAVE YOU BACK.

GOOD MORNING, AND THANK YOU. COUNTY JUDGE SKY AND MEMBERS OF THE COMMISSIONERS COURT.

FOR THE RECORD, MY NAME IS DUANE ROBINSON, AND I SERVE AS THE CO-CHAIR OF THE PATHWAYS, THE HOPE CONFERENCE COMMITTEE WITH REVEREND ANN KEY.

SHE COULDN'T BE HERE THIS MORNING. SHE'S TRAVELING.

BUT I JUST WANTED TO EXTEND, FIRSTLY, A THANK YOU TO THE COURT FOR ALL OF YOUR SUPPORT.

I HAD THE PRIVILEGE OF SERVING AS THE INITIAL LIAISON BETWEEN THE COUNTY JUDGE'S OFFICE AND THE PATHWAYS TO HOPE CONFERENCE.

AND SO DOUG ASKED ME RECENTLY TO SERVE AS A COACH HERE.

I JUST WANT TO PAUSE AND SAY THAT, AS I HEARD THE ELDER SAY IN HIS PRAYER THIS MORNING AND TALKED ABOUT HEALING, AND AS YOU JUST SAID JUST A MINUTE AGO, COMMISSIONER CALVERT AND TALKING ABOUT THE GUN SAFETY, THERE'S PROBABLY A COMMON DENOMINATOR IN ALL OF THIS AND THAT SOME TYPE OF MENTAL HEALTH CHALLENGE.

DOUG AND I WERE TALKING EARLIER, A FEW MINUTES AGO, AND HE SAID, WE ROUGHLY HAVE A SHORTAGE OF ABOUT 350 BEDS IN THE COUNTY, SO WE HAVE A LOT OF WORK TO DO. THE CONFERENCE HAS COME A LONG WAY, BUT WE YET STILL HAVE A LONG WAY TO GO.

SO BUT THANK YOU. THAT'S ALWAYS TO THE COURT FOR ALL OF YOUR SUPPORT.

I'M GOING TO HAVE DOUG SAY A FEW THINGS. AND CHRISTY THANK YOU DUANE.

I WANT TO FIRST OF ALL, THANK COMMISSIONER CLAY-FLORES FOR BEING PART OF OUR PROGRAM THIS YEAR AT PATHWAYS TO HOPE AND FOR JUDGE SAKAI HELPING OPEN THE CONFERENCE.

WE'RE GOING TO HAVE OVER 1400 PEOPLE THIS YEAR WHO HAVE REGISTERED FOR THE CONFERENCE.

AND ONE OF THE GREAT THINGS ABOUT THIS CONFERENCE IS IT BRINGS PEOPLE FROM ACROSS THE COMMUNITY, ALL SEGMENTS OF THE COMMUNITY. WE TAKE OFF OUR PROFESSIONAL HATS.

WE COME AS AS COMMUNITY MEMBERS, AS FAMILY MEMBERS, AS PEOPLE LIVING WITH A MENTAL HEALTH ISSUE TOGETHER TO BOTH LEARN AND TO ENCOURAGE EACH OTHER. AND AS THE CONFERENCE IS CALLED, PATHWAYS TO HOPE.

[00:15:04]

HOPEFULLY PEOPLE FIND SOME HOPE AT THE CONFERENCE AND I ENCOURAGE EVERYBODY TO COME.

ALL THE COMMISSIONERS ARE WELCOME. WE APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO WORK WITH THE COUNTY AND FOR THE FUNDING AND SUPPORT THAT YOU ALL HAVE GIVEN.

TEN YEARS IS A BIG DEAL TO FUND A COLLABORATION AND FIND COLLABORATION ACROSS THE COMMUNITY.

THANK YOU. AND I WANT TO INTRODUCE CHRISTY ALSAGER, WHO IS OUR CHAIRPERSON FOR OUR YOUTH CONFERENCE THIS YEAR, THE FIRST TIME WE'VE DONE THIS. VERY GOOD. HELLO.

THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME. I AM THE CHAIRPERSON FOR THE YOUTH CONFERENCE OUR FIRST YEAR SO THAT WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO THE NEXT TEN.

AND THAT'S REALLY WHAT WE'RE LOOKING AT WITH THIS.

AND THAT'S OUR TITLE FOR THIS CONFERENCE IS WHAT IS THE NEXT TEN YEARS LOOK LIKE? LARGELY IN MY JOB AS A LICENSED PROFESSIONAL COUNSELOR, I DEAL WITH MENTAL HEALTH IN THE SCHOOL SYSTEMS AND WITH CHILDREN DAILY.

I DO UNDERSTAND THE DEPRESSION, ANXIETY AND BEHAVIORAL PROBLEMS ARE WITHIN OUR SCHOOL AT AN ALL TIME HIGH AND THAT THEY ARE OVERWHELMED, OUR TEACHERS ARE OVERWHELMED, THE ADMINISTRATION IS OVERWHELMED, AND THE PARENTS ARE OVERWHELMED.

AS A STAFF MEMBER, SOMETIMES WE CAN GET OVERWHELMED AND IN THAT WE CREATED THE YOUTH PATHWAYS TO HOPE TO HOPEFULLY ALSO TIE AND HOPE WITH NOT ONLY THE PARENTS WITH THE ADULT PORTION ON FRIDAYS AND THE CAREGIVERS AND THE PROFESSIONALS THAT CAN GO TO THAT.

BUT NOW THE CHILDREN, WE ARE LOOKING FOR 12 TO 22 CHILDREN AND YOUNG ADULTS, AS WE DO REALIZE THAT THEY ARE BEING FORGOTTEN.

THEY ARE KIND OF IN THIS, IN BETWEEN THAT IF THEIR PARENTS ARE NOT AWARE OR TAKING CARE OF THEIR HEALTH, THEY ALSO ARE NOT AWARE AND TAKING CARE OF THEIR HEALTH.

SO THE MORE THAT WE CAN ADVOCATE AND THE MORE THAT WE CAN BRING PEOPLE IN, THE BETTER THAT WE CAN DO AS A COMMUNITY. SO I THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ALLOWING US TO CONTINUE PATHWAYS TO HOPE AND INVITE YOU TO COME TO SATURDAY WITH OUR FIRST EVER YOUTH PATHWAYS TO HOPE.

THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER CLAY-FLORES. YEAH, I JUST WANT TO THANK YOU GUYS FOR ALL THE WORK YOU CONTINUE TO DO, AND IT'S REALLY ONE OF ONE OF ITS KIND. I KNOW PEOPLE NATIONALLY.

REFERENCE PATHWAYS OF HOPE. THERE'S ALSO A FAITH BASED COMPONENT, WHICH IS SOMETHING THAT WE DON'T FIND OFTEN. SO I REALLY APPRECIATE THAT. AND FACULTY'S HOPE IS THE CONFERENCE THAT I HAD ATTENDED BEFORE I WAS COMMISSIONER.

SO IT'S A REAL PRIVILEGE TO BE ABLE TO SHARE PART OF MY STORY THIS YEAR.

SO CONGRATULATIONS. YAY! FOR TEN YEARS. THANK YOU FOR THE WORK.

WHY DON'T YOU COME FORWARD, TAKE A PICTURE. HEY, DEB.

DWAYNE, HOW ARE YOU? HOW ARE YOU? THANK YOU. APPRECIATE IT.

DOCTOR. GENE. COME ON UP HERE. COME ON. HOW YOU DOING? GOOD TO SEE YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU.

ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT. LET'S GET. LET'S GET A PICTURE.

GET IN THERE. THERE WE GO. THERE WE GO. THERE WE GO.

THAT'S THAT'S THAT'S A SHOT RIGHT THERE. THAT'S RIGHT.

OH. ALL RIGHT. OKAY.

I THINK THAT CONCLUDES OUR PRESENTATIONS. WE'RE STILL SHORT OF TIME CERTAIN.

SO LET'S GO TO IT. LET'S GO TO NUMBER SIX COMMISSIONERS COURT MINUTES FOR TUESDAY, AUGUST 12TH,

[6. Commissioners Court minutes for Tuesday, August 12, 2025.]

2025. MOTION BY COMMISSIONER CALVERT SECOND BY COMMISSIONER RODRIGUEZ.

ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION. HEARING NONE. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF THE MOTION.

SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE. AYE AYE. ANY OPPOSED? ANY ABSTENTION.

MOTION CARRIES. COMMUNICATION SEVEN IS COMMUNICATION FOR CITIZENS WHO SIGNED TO REGISTER TO SPEAK.

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

AND WE WILL TAKE UP MR. ANTONIO DIAZ. ANTONIO.

YOU HAVE THREE MINUTES.

GOOD MORNING. GOOD MORNING. I'M JUST HERE BASICALLY TO CONTINUE TO OBSERVE OUR COMMISSIONERS AT WORK. AND I JUST SAW THOSE PRESENTATIONS THAT ARE VERY ENCOURAGING, ESPECIALLY FOR OUR YOUTH.

I WISH THEY HAD BEEN AROUND MORE THAN TEN YEARS BECAUSE IT'S VERY NEEDED IN OUR CITY AND IN OUR COUNTY.

I WANT TO THANK YOU ALL FOR FOR YOUR WORK. AND, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE AN UPCOMING EVENT IN OCTOBER.

SO THIS IS KIND OF A PRECURSOR TO THANKING YOU FOR ANY AND ALL SUPPORT THAT YOU CONTINUE TO GIVE TO THE INDIGENOUS COMMUNITIES HERE IN OUR AREA OF TEXAS. I WOULD SAY THE COUNTY, BUT WE ARE THROUGHOUT THE STATE, THROUGHOUT THE NATION. SO WE'RE VERY APPRECIATIVE TO BE RECOGNIZED IN OUR COUNTY AND OUR CITY AS STILL EXISTING AS A COMMUNITY AND AS A PEOPLE. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

THANK YOU. DIANA REGAS. GOOD MORNING EVERYBODY.

[00:20:04]

GOOD MORNING. THANKS TO. THANKS FOR RECEIVING ME.

I'M HERE TO SPEAK ON THE BUDGET TO. ALL OF YOU ARE NOT GIVING THE MONEY, NOT SUPPORTING THIS NEW DOME FOR THE SPURS AS THEY COULD IF THEY WANT TO. THEY COULD USE THE ALAMODOME.

THAT'S WHY THEY WAS BUILT FOR. ALSO, THEY COULD FIX IT.

USE THEIR MONEY. DON'T GIVE THEM NO MONEY. PUT IT TO USE TO FOR OTHER PLACES WHERE WE NEED IT.

MORE DRAINAGE AND ALL A STREET BIG THING ALSO, YOU KNOW, TO HELP THE HOMELESS TOO.

YOU KNOW, I HEARD HEAVEN FOR HOPE. OKAY, WHY DON'T YOU BUILD THAT BIGGER? BECAUSE THEY'RE REJECTING PEOPLE. BECAUSE THEY'RE FULL.

THAT'S WHERE THE MONEY SHOULD GO. IF YOU WANT TO HELP THE HOMELESS AND, YOU KNOW, STOP REJECTING THEM. AND WE'RE ALL WELCOME HERE. YOU KNOW THE SONG OF DAVID.

I GOT A.

BOW DOWN TO YOUR HEART. AND FOR THE KINGDOM.

LEAD ME, O LORD, IN YOUR RIGHTEOUSNESS. BECAUSE OF MY HAIR.

THEY GO RIGHT STRAIGHT BEFORE ME. THIS IS THE COOLEST. THEY'RE ALL OUT THERE IN FULL SELF DESTRUCTION.

AND. I KNOW. WHEN THEY FINALLY.

MAKE THEMSELVES THAT CAN FOCUS IN ON.

THEIR OWN. JUDGE COMMISSIONERS TIME HAS EXPIRED.

YOU'LL. NEVER SING FOR JOY.

THE TIME HAS EXPIRED. THOSE WHO LOVE YOUR NAME EXALT YOU.

THANK YOU. DONNA. THAT'S THE SONG OF KING DAVID.

ALL REFUGEES ARE ALL IMMIGRANTS. DIANA. THANK YOU.

YOU'RE NOT ILLEGAL. WE'RE FROM HERE. WE HEAR YOU.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU. WE LOVE YOU. I LOVE YOU, TOO.

COME ON. YOU. ALL RIGHT. I'M LOOKING AT MY CLOCK.

KATE, I HAVE 930 ON THE DOT. ON THE DOT. ALL RIGHT.

LET'S GO TO TIME CERTAIN THEN. PRESENTATION REGARDING BEXAR COUNTY FY 2526, PROPOSED TAX RATE AND DISCUSSION.

[5. TIME CERTAIN ITEM(S) (Part 1 of 2)]

APPROPRIATE ACTION ON PLACEMENT OF THE PROPOSED TAX RATE OF 0.9299999 ON THE AGENDA FOR THE COMMISSIONERS COURT MEETING ON SEPTEMBER 9TH, 2025. AS AN ACTION ITEM, MISS GUYTON GO AHEAD AND DO YOUR PRESENTATION.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU. JUDGE. MY NAME IS TANYA GAITAN, BUDGET AND FINANCE DIRECTOR.

THIS SHOULD BE A QUICK PRESENTATION. TODAY WE ARE PROPOSING THE TAX RATE OF 29.999 $0.09 FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION.

THIS WOULD ALLOW US TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THE PUBLIC NOTICES FOR THE PUBLIC HEARING ON SEPTEMBER 9TH.

I HAVE PROVIDED THE MOTION FOR Y'ALL SO YOU CAN READ THOSE OFF AS YOU, OR IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS,

[00:25:05]

YOU CAN LET ME KNOW. SO TO JUDGE. YES, JUST I KNOW I'VE TOLD YOU A HUNDRED TIMES, BUT JUST FOR THE RECORD.

TODAY YOU WILL CONSIDER. YOU WILL TELL US THE MAXIMUM TAX RATE THIS COURT WOULD CONSIDER SETTING AFTER TODAY.

YOU CANNOT SET A TAX RATE HIGHER THAN WHAT WE PUBLISH.

YOU CAN SET IT LOWER, BUT YOU CAN'T SET IT HIGHER.

OKAY. SO IS THERE A MOTION? COMMISSIONER RODRIGUEZ? YEAH. JUST A QUICK QUESTION REAL QUICK. OR MAYBE A REMINDER.

I KNOW WE HAD A LONG DISCUSSION LAST TIME ABOUT THIS.

AND WE HAD THE TOWN HALL IN MY PRECINCT AS WELL, AND DISPLAYED THE SLIDE THAT GOES BACK 20, 25 YEARS. REMIND US IN THE COMMUNITY WHERE WE'VE DONE WHAT WE'VE DONE, I GUESS, OVER THE PAST TWO PLUS DECADES REGARDING THE TAX RATE.

YES. SO THE COURT HAS DECREASED OR MAINTAINED THE TAX RATE SINCE 1994, I BELIEVE IT WAS $0.38 AND IT'S NOW $0.29.

IN ADDITION TO THAT, YOU HAVE IMPLEMENTED THE SENIOR TAX FREEZE, WHICH FREEZES PROPERTY TAXES.

AND THEN YOU ALSO MAXED OUT THE HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION THAT'S AVAILABLE TO ALL PROPERTY OWNERS, UP TO 20%. THIS YEAR ALONE, YOU'LL BE SAVING TAXPAYERS.

IF THE COMMISSIONERS HAD KEPT THAT TAX RATE AND DID NOT IMPLEMENT THOSE PROGRAMS, YOU WOULD BE SAVING ABOUT, OR YOU'RE SAVING 248 TO 250 MILLION IN TAXPAYER DOLLARS.

OKAY. AND AGAIN, BASED ON THIS TAX RATE, WITH THE PROJECTED REVENUES WERE IN DECENT SHAPE WITH THE BUDGET AND WHAT'S BEEN PROPOSED OR WHAT WAS PROPOSED TO THE COURT HERE LAST WEEK OR ABOUT TWO WEEKS AGO.

I GUESS IT WAS LAST WEEK. IS THAT RIGHT? YES, SIR. OKAY.

SO I WILL GO AHEAD AND MAKE THE MOTION. I KNOW MY COLLEAGUES MAY HAVE A QUESTION, JUDGE, BUT WE'VE GOT SPECIFIC LANGUAGE THAT THE LAW REQUIRES.

SO LET ME MAKE THE MOTION AS FOLLOWS. I WOULD MOVE TO PLACE THE PROPOSED TAX RATE OF 0.29999 $0.09 TO FUND THE FISCAL YEAR 2526 PROPOSED OPERATING AND CAPITAL BUDGET ON THE AGENDA FOR THE COMMISSIONERS COURT MEETING TO BE HELD ON SEPTEMBER 9TH, 2025. AS AN ACTION ITEM, I FURTHER MOVE. WE APPROVE THE PUBLISHING NOTICES OF PUBLIC HEARING ON THE 25 TAX YEAR PROPOSED TAX RATE AND FISCAL YEAR 2526 PROPOSED OPERATING AND CAPITAL BUDGET IN THE SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS-NEWS AND LA PRENSA PUBLICATIONS.

AND LASTLY, I MOVE TO APPROVE THE HOLDING THE PUBLIC HEARINGS ON THE PROPOSED TAX RATE AT AND PROPOSED BUDGET ON SEPTEMBER 9TH, 2025. SECOND MOTION BY COMMISSIONER RODRIGUEZ.

SECOND BY COMMISSIONER CLAY-FLORES. ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? COMMISSIONER CLAY-FLORES. NO. I JUST THINK WE NEED TO MAKE A BIGGER DEAL ABOUT ALL OF THE MONEY THAT WE ACTUALLY SAVE ARE OUR CONSTITUENTS. SO AND I HAVE TO THANK THE BUDGET PEOPLE AND DAVID AND TINA FOR ARE JUST BEING HELPING US TO BE GOOD STEWARDS OF TAXPAYER DOLLARS. THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER CALVERT. DAVID, I JUST HAD ONE QUICK QUESTION IN THE TAX ASSESSOR.

MAYBE THE TAX ASSESSOR COULD ANSWER IT IN THE VARIOUS SCENARIOS WITH THE DE MINIMIS AND ALL THAT KIND OF STUFF.

BOTTOM LINE REVENUE THAT WE'RE MOVING OVER BECAUSE OF THIS ADOPTION.

WHAT IS ROUGHLY THE AMOUNT OF OF ADDED REVENUE? YOU KNOW WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT THERE IS DEPENDING ON HOW WE MOTION THIS, IT'S X AMOUNT OR Y AMOUNT.

SO AT THE PROPOSED TAX RATE OF 29.9 CENTS ON EXISTING PROPERTIES, REVENUE IS DECLINING TO THE COUNTY.

THE ONLY INCREASE IN REVENUE COMES FROM NEW CONSTRUCTION THAT'S HITTING THE BOOKS.

SO ACCORDING TO THE STATE OF TEXAS AND THE CALCULATIONS THEY REQUIRE US TO DO.

IF YOU MAINTAIN THE CURRENT TAX RATE, YOU'RE ACTUALLY CUTTING TAXES ON ACCOUNTS THAT PAID PROPERTY TAX LAST YEAR, THE OVERALL REVENUE WILL DROP SLIGHTLY TO LIKE HOW ROUGHLY HOW MUCH? I'LL HAVE TO LOOK THAT UP. BUT IT'S I DON'T KNOW IF THE TAX ASSESSOR I THINK IT IS.

IF I REMEMBER RIGHT IT'S LIKE 1.3 BILLION IN APPRAISALS WILL DROP.

RIGHT. BUT YEAH, JUST BECAUSE OF THE VARIOUS METRICS THAT WAS PROVIDED IN THE LAST MEETING, I RECALL THERE WERE SOME WHERE YOU MAINTAINED THE RATE AND YOU ACTUALLY HAD AN INCREASE.

BUT. I MEAN, YOU MEAN IN DIFFERENT COMPONENTS OF THE $0.29.

THAT MIGHT BE TRUE. YEAH. FOR INSTANCE, WE WERE REQUIRED TO MOVE ALMOST A PENNY FROM FLOOD CONTROL DEBT SERVICE TO FLOOD CONTROL.

SO THAT OBVIOUSLY INCREASED REVENUE FOR FLOOD CONTROL, MAINTENANCE AND OPERATIONS.

OKAY. ALL RIGHT. WELL, JUST GIVE US THAT IF YOU CAN.

[00:30:01]

TANYA, BASED UPON THIS MOTION, I JUST WANT TO BE CLEAR ABOUT WHERE WE'RE AT IN THE BUDGET.

JUDGE, I WANTED TO. THE TAX ASSESSOR POINTED OUT.

I JUST WANT TO ENSURE THAT THE $0.29 WAS WAS SET CORRECTLY.

IS THAT RIGHT? COMMISSIONER? MR.. COME TO THE PODIUM AND IF YOU HAVE ANY COMMENT OR.

NO, I DON'T KNOW, MAYBE YOU MISSED TONIGHT. I DON'T KNOW. I DON'T KNOW.

NO, I WAS JUST TALKING ABOUT THE WAY IT WAS READ.

I THINK IT'S AT 0.299 $0.09 AND IT'S ACTUALLY $0.29.

SO I JUST WANTED TO CLARIFY THAT POINT. BUT MAYBE, YOU KNOW, ON THE WAY IT WAS I THINK WHAT'S REQUIRED, ALBERT, IS WHAT I READ. AND THAT'S THE, THE .29999 $0.09 PER $100.

SO I INCLUDED ALL THE NINES. IT'S STILL $0.29 BASICALLY.

OKAY. IS THAT WHAT YOU'RE ASKING? JUST WHAT I WANTED TO CLARIFY. OKAY.

FIVE NINES. OKAY. COMMISSIONER MOODY. THANKS, JUDGE.

JUST JUST A FEW COMMENTS HERE. I'M EXCITED TO SEE THE TAX RATE BEING HELD CONSTANT.

AND, SIENNA, A REAL TAX CUT FOR OUR HOMEOWNERS.

SO I THINK THAT THAT THAT IS GOOD NEWS FOR FOR TAXPAYERS, AND IS A GOOD STEP FORWARD.

BUT, YOU KNOW, WE WE HAVE TO BE STRAIGHTFORWARD AND BUDGETS COMPOSED OF REVENUE AND EXPENSES.

AND SO I THINK OUR WORK IS NOT DONE. DUE TO, YOU KNOW, THE, THE WORK OF OF THE COURT AND STAFF OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS, WE'VE DEVELOPED A HEALTHY POSITION IN RESERVES.

BUT, YOU KNOW, THAT WON'T LAST LONG, AS WE'VE SEEN IN SOME OF OUR LONG RANGE FORECASTS.

IF WE DON'T GET SERIOUS ABOUT, YOU KNOW, RESTRAINING EXPENSE GROWTH ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE LEDGER HERE.

SO I THINK WE'VE TALKED ABOUT IT MANY TIMES IN THIS COURT, THE THE ARPA CLIFF THOSE FEDERAL DOLLARS GOING AWAY, WE'VE SEEN AN ESCALATION IN PERSONNEL COSTS YOU KNOW, LIKELY REQUIRED A LOT OF THAT DUE TO DUE TO THE IMPACTS OF INFLATION. WE'VE SEEN A LOT OF PROGRAM CHANGE REQUESTS, BUT THOSE FACTORS COMBINED WILL DRIVE A DOUR MID TO LONG TERM FINANCIAL FORECAST. AND I'M JUST ASKING THE COURT, AS WE GO FORWARD HERE TO SHOW RESTRAINT OVER THE COMING WEEKS.

AND, YOU KNOW, IF IF WE ARE MAKING ADDITIONS, THINK ABOUT WHAT WE NEED TO TAKE BACK OUT TO TO KEEP THAT EXPENSE NEUTRAL GOING FORWARD. BECAUSE I THINK THE LONGER WE WAIT TO MAKE SOME OF THESE MAKE SOME OF THESE DECISIONS AND HAVE SOME OF THESE TOUGH CONVERSATIONS, YOU KNOW, THE HARDER IT WILL BE FOR THIS COURT AND TO KEEP OUR LONG TERM FINANCIAL BALANCE IN BEXAR COUNTY.

SO THOSE ARE JUST THE COMMENTS I WANTED TO MAKE GOING FORWARD HERE.

THANK YOU. ANY FURTHER COMMENTS? TANYA, YOU'VE BEEN AT ALL THE BUDGET TOWN HALL MEETINGS.

WE STILL HAVE ONE TONIGHT AT PRECINCT FOUR WITH COMMISSIONER CALVERT, BUT HAS THE YEAR AND THE BUDGET OFFICE HAVE BEEN PRESENT AT THOSE TOWN HALL MEETINGS.

WHAT'S BEEN YOUR TAKEAWAY FROM THOSE MEETINGS? I WILL JUST OPEN WITH THIS COMMENT THAT MOST OF THE COMMENTS MADE PUBLIC COMMENTS MADE BY INDIVIDUAL CITIZENS HAVE BEEN DEALING WITH A LOT OF ISSUES THAT ARE IMPORTANT FOR THE PARTICULAR PRECINCT, NOT NECESSARILY WITH THE BUDGET, BUT WHAT'S BEEN YOUR TAKEAWAY FROM THE BUDGET TOWN HALL MEETINGS THAT I STARTED WHEN I FIRST STARTED OFFICE HERE? FROM OUR PERSPECTIVE, FROM THE DEPARTMENT'S PERSPECTIVE, IT'S BEEN NICE TO ACTUALLY HEAR FROM THE CONSTITUENTS AND THEIR ISSUES.

I THINK THE BUDGET SURVEYS WAS NEAT TO SEE BECAUSE OF THE DIFFERENT ZIP CODES IN DIFFERENT AREAS AND THEIR PRIORITIES TO INCLUDE MY AREA.

SO I THINK IT'S THE NORMAL CONCERN FOR FLOOD PUBLIC SAFETY.

THERE WAS A LOT OF QUESTIONS ABOUT OBVIOUSLY THE PROJECT, THE SPURS ARENA, BUT RELATED TO THE BUDGET, I THINK WE'VE PROVIDED GOOD INFORMATION AND HOPEFULLY THEY UNDERSTOOD THE PROCESS AND HOW WE COME ABOUT IT.

I'M GLAD YOU MENTIONED THE BUDGET SURVEY THAT WAS PUT ONLINE.

WE HAD OVER 1300 RESPONSES, UNIQUE RESPONSES ON THAT, WHICH IS WHAT YOU JUST ALLUDED TO IN REGARDS TO THE PREFERENCES OF THOSE THAT REGISTERED THEIR COMMENTS.

WAS PUBLIC SAFETY, FLOOD, FLOODING, HOMELESSNESS OR AFFORDABLE HOUSING I BELIEVE WAS ALSO TOP.

SO I JUST WANT TO REMIND THE COURT THAT WE ARE, I BELIEVE, BEING VERY RESPONSIVE TO WHAT OUR COMMUNITY NEEDS AND HOW WE SPEND OUR MONEY.

I WANT TO GIVE A SPECIAL SHOUT OUT TO MY STAFF MORE IN PARTICULAR CYNTHIA COS MY DIRECTOR OF COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT, WHO REALLY PUT EVERYTHING TOGETHER, SO TO SPEAK, WITH THE ASSISTANCE OF THE COUNTY MANAGER'S OFFICE,

[00:35:06]

THE BUDGET OFFICE AND THE DEPARTMENT HEADS, I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU FOR HER HARD WORK.

SHE REALLY DOES PROVIDE EXCELLENT SERVICE AND PUTS ON A GREAT EVENT ALSO TO MY WHOLE STAFF THAT DO COME TO THAT, AND I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO THEM. THEY ARE EQUALLY SHOULD BE SHARING IN THE PRAISE AND ACCOLADES THAT I'M GIVING TODAY TO THE ENTIRE COUNTY STAFF, BUT IN PARTICULAR MY STAFF WHO HAVE PUT THEIR HEART AND SOUL INTO THIS.

SO WITH THAT, I'LL CLOSE UNLESS THERE'S FURTHER DISCUSSION, CALL FOR A VOTE.

ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF THE MOTION, AS STATED BY COMMISSIONER RODRIGUEZ, WITH THOSE THREE PARTS OF THE MOTION, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE. AYE, AYE.

ANY OPPOSED? ANY ABSTENTION. MOTION UNANIMOUSLY CARRIES.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT. I BELIEVE WE'RE STILL SHORT OF TEN.

SO LET US NOW SHIFT TO INDIVIDUAL. WE'LL GO TO ITEM 44, APPROVAL OF ADMINISTRATIVE POLICY NUMBER 5.3,

[44. Approval of Administrative Policy No. 5.3 - Artificial Intelligence (AI) Policy for General Use to ensure a consistent, ethical, and secure approach to AI implementation across all County departments and operations.]

ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE AI POLICY FOR GENERAL USE TO ENSURE A CONSISTENT, ETHICAL AND SECURE APPROACH TO AI IMPLEMENTATION ACROSS ALL COUNTY DEPARTMENTS AND OPERATIONS. MR.. GAGER, DO YOU HAVE THE FLOOR? HI. GOOD MORNING. GOOD MORNING, COMMISSIONERS. THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME TODAY. MARK GAGER, CIO.

I ALSO HAVE WITH ME TODAY, CRYSTAL MARTINEZ. SHE'S BEHIND ME.

IF YOU HAVE ANY SPECIFIC QUESTIONS ABOUT THE POLICY. SO JUST A HIGH LEVEL OVERVIEW.

WE ALL HEARD ABOUT AI. WE TALKED ABOUT AI. A LOT OF PEOPLE THINK ABOUT AI DIFFERENTLY, RIGHT? SOME PEOPLE WHEN THEY TALK ABOUT AI, THEY'RE TALKING ABOUT CHATGPT SPECIFICALLY IN ONE APPLICATION.

SOME PEOPLE ARE TALKING ABOUT THE FULL GAMUT OF AI, WHICH IS THOUSANDS OF APPLICATIONS.

RIGHT? SO BUT IN GENERAL, THERE'S REALLY THREE MAJOR CATEGORIES.

THE FIRST IS GEN AI. AND THAT'S LIKE THE CHATGPT OF THE WORLD.

YOU MAY HEAR OF COPILOT. AND THOSE ARE REALLY LARGE LANGUAGE MODELS THAT HELP YOU WITH MORE LIKE TEXT OR IMAGES AND THAT KIND OF STUFF.

RIGHT. IF YOU HAVE CONVERSATIONAL AI LIKE CHATBOTS AND THOSE KIND OF THINGS, AND THEN YOU HAVE AI THAT'S REALLY MORE PREDICTIVE IN NATURE, LIKE PREDICTIVE ANALYTICS ON STEROIDS, IF YOU WANT TO THINK OF IT THAT WAY, THOUSANDS OF APPLICATIONS HAVE HAVE THESE AI COMPONENTS NOW.

SO COUNTY AI USES. SO WE SEE AI RAMPING UP AND RAMPING UP AND RAMPING UP.

SO WE GET REPORTS FROM VARIOUS AI VENDORS, AND WE CAN SEE WHAT AI IS BEING ACCESSED THROUGH SOME OF OUR SECURITY LOGS AND THAT KIND OF STUFF.

AND AS LAST COUNT, WHEN I PUT THIS PRESENTATION TOGETHER, THERE WERE ABOUT 134 USES OF AI USING A QUARTER COUNT.

SO WHY IS THAT RISKY? BECAUSE THE FREE VERSION OF AI LEVERAGES YOUR DATA TO BUILD THEIR PRODUCT.

THAT DATA IS NOT SECURE. THAT DATA IS NOW PUBLICLY AVAILABLE.

IT'S NOT PROTECTED. SO IF WE PUT, FOR INSTANCE, IN A FREE VERSION OF AI, SOME SEE JUST DATA OR SOME PII DATA OR SOME SOME HIPAA DATA. THAT DATA IS NOW ACCESSIBLE TO ANYBODY ELSE THAT USES THAT AI PRODUCT.

RIGHT. SO ORGANIZATIONS ARE PUTTING SAFEGUARDS IN PLACE TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY CAN PROTECT THEIR DATA.

THAT'S THE BIGGEST PART OF THIS POLICY IS TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE USING IT RESPONSIBLY, RESPONSIBLY AND THAT OUR DATA IS PROTECTED.

WE'RE USING IT AND IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAW AND THAT WE'RE COMPLIANT.

SO I KIND OF TALKED ABOUT SOME OF THAT IN THIS.

WHY DO WE NEED AN AI POLICY. IT'S TO PROTECT THAT COUNTY DATA.

IT'S TO MAKE SURE THAT WE EDUCATE FOLKS AND MAKE THEM AWARE AS TO HOW TO USE AI, WHAT THEY SHOULD AND SHOULD NOT DO.

BUT IT ALSO PROVIDES A MECHANISM FOR THEM IF THEY HAVE ANY QUESTIONS TO REACH OUT TO OUR AI TEAM, WE'VE ESTABLISHED IN BIT TO ASK ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT AI, AND IF THEY WANT TO USE AI TO PUT IN A TICKET, AND THEY COULD SUBMIT AGAIN A REQUEST TO USE THAT AI THAT GUIDES IN PROCUREMENT.

SO OUR POLICY RULE APPLIES TO ALL EMPLOYEES, DEFINES ACCEPTABLE AND PROHIBITED USES FOR AI, AND IT REQUIRES THOSE AI TOOLS TO BE VETTED BY VISIT.

AGAIN, WE'RE LOOKING AT IT FROM A SECURITY AND A RISK STANDPOINT.

WE EXPECT THE BUSINESS TO LOOK AT IT FROM A FROM FROM AN EFFICIENCY AND EFFECTIVENESS STANDPOINT AND HOW IT BENEFITS THEIR BUSINESS.

ALL TOOL REQUESTS WILL COME THROUGH, SIT AS A TICKET WILL EVALUATE IT.

IF THERE IS A NEED TO PURCHASE THAT AI AGAIN, THAT WILL NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT THERE'S AVAILABLE BUDGET.

THAT PURCHASE MAY BE MADE BY THE OFFICER DEPARTMENT IF IT'S A SMALL PURCHASE OR IF THERE'S AN ENTERPRISE NEED FOR AI, IT MAY BUDGET FOR AN ENTERPRISE VERSION OF AN AI TOOL AND GO THROUGH THE PROPER PROCESS TO GET THAT APPROVED.

AND AS PART OF OUR BUDGET. SO YOU MAY HAVE QUESTIONS.

YOU MAY NOT, BUT OUR RECOMMENDATION IS APPROVAL OF ADMINISTRATIVE POLICY.

5.3 ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE POLICY FOR GENERAL USE TO ENSURE CONSISTENT, ETHICAL AND SECURE APPROACH TO AI IMPLEMENTATION ACROSS ALL COUNTY DEPARTMENTS AND

[00:40:03]

OPERATIONS. COMMISSIONER CALVERT, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

THANK YOU, MARK, FOR BRINGING THIS TO OUR ATTENTION.

I THINK THIS COURT NEEDS TO GIVE SOME DIRECTION TO YOU AND DAVID AND OUR OTHER ANCILLARY COUNTY ENTITIES, BECAUSE THIS HAS AN OBVIOUS, MOST IMPORTANT PROTECTION NEED AT UNIVERSITY HEALTH, WHICH WE APPROVE THAT BUDGET.

AND WE NEED TO REALLY LOOK AT HOW HIPAA IN PARTICULAR IS AFFECTED BY, YOU KNOW, A STAFFER WHO IS ADOPTING THESE THINGS WITH FREELANCE. SO I'D LIKE TO ASK YOU ALL TO COME AND BRING A UNIVERSITY CENTER FOR HEALTH CARE SERVICES AND OTHER,, YOU KNOW, SENSITIVE HEALTH CARE INSTITUTION. AND EVEN OUR COLISEUM ADVISORY BOARD, WHICH HAS AN ARM'S LENGTH BUT ALSO VERY CONNECTED BEXAR COUNTY, ANY OF OUR COUNTY CONNECTED ENTITIES, WE ALL NEED TO HAVE THIS POLICY ADOPTED AND WORKING ACROSS THE COUNTY.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH, JUDGE. COMMISSIONER CLAY-FLORES.

YEAH, I DO HAVE SOME QUESTIONS. HAVE WE HAD ANY ISSUES WITH THIS ALREADY? NOT THAT WE'RE AWARE OF. NO DATA BREACHES THAT HAVE BEEN REPORTED TO US, BUT WE DO KNOW THAT PEOPLE ARE USING AI AND THEY'RE USING THE FREE VERSION OF AI.

WHAT I DON'T KNOW IS IF THEY PROVIDED DATA THAT THEY SHOULDN'T HAVE PROVIDED TO THOSE AI TOOLS, DATA THAT IS SENSITIVE TO THE COUNTY. I WOULD SUSPECT THAT PEOPLE PROBABLY HAVE MISUSED IT HERE AND THERE.

SO I'LL JUST AGAIN, IT'S A WARNING NOW, NOT A WARNING, BUT A WORD OF CAUTION NOW THAT WHEN YOU USE THOSE FREE AI TOOLS, WHATEVER YOU PUT IN IS NOW, THE OWNERSHIP NOW BELONGS TO THAT COMPANY.

OF THAT I TOOL. OF THAT THAT DATA. RIGHT. SO DO YOU WANT TO COME FORWARD IN CASE YOU HAVE ANYTHING TO ADD? DO YOU WANT TO JUST YOU CAN JUST KNOW BOTH OF YOU CAN JUST STAND NEXT TO EACH OTHER IN CASE YOU.

YEAH. I JUST I JUST DON'T LIKE SEEING WOMEN STANDING BEHIND MEN, BASICALLY.

SO IF YOU HAVE ANYTHING TO ADD, JUST JUST JUMP IN.

THANKS. SO HOW IS THIS GOING TO BE ENFORCED WITH OUR COUNTY EMPLOYEES.

SO IT WILL GOING FORWARD AGAIN ASK FOR THOSE EMPLOYEES TO SUBMIT A TICKET WILL APPROVE THE I THAT I THAT WE APPROVE WILL USUALLY BE A PAID VERSION. WE'LL MAKE SURE THAT THAT PAID VERSION IS COMPLIANT IN OUR DATA IS PROTECTED FROM A, FROM A LEGAL STANDPOINT AND FROM A DATA PRIVACY STANDPOINT FOR ANY OF THE FREE VERSION THAT WE'RE AWARE OF, WE'RE GOING TO START ASKING PEOPLE TO TO STOP USING THOSE ACCOUNTS AND TO GO THROUGH THE APPROVED VERSION OF WHATEVER AI TOOL IT IS.

AGAIN, THERE'S HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF AI TOOLS.

SO I GUESS I'M SAYING, HOW IS IT GOING TO BE ENFORCED IN TERMS OF INCLUDING FOR ELECTED OFFICIALS? AND IF SOMEONE IS WORKING ON SOMETHING ON A PERSONAL DEVICE OR SOMETHING AND PUTTING BUT PUTTING IN CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION, HOW ARE WE GOING TO ENFORCE THAT? HOW ARE WE GOING TO KNOW? SO WE WOULD MAKE YOU AWARE IF SOMEBODY IS USING IT, IF WE'RE AWARE THAT THEY'RE USING A FREE ACCOUNT WITH THEIR CREDENTIALS, THAT'S THE ONLY WAY WE'RE GOING TO KNOW IS IF THEY'RE USING THEIR BARE CREDENTIALS.

AND EITHER ONE OF THE COMPANIES, LIKE WE GET REPORTS SOMETIMES THAT'LL GIVE US A REPORT THAT SAYS, YOU HAVE 132 PEOPLE THAT ARE USING A.ORG ACCOUNT WITH THIS TOOL, AND IT'S THE FREE VERSION.

THEY'RE USUALLY DOING THAT BECAUSE THEY'RE TRYING TO SELL US THE MORE SECURE VERSION. BUT THEN WE'LL NOTIFY THE OFFICE OF DEPARTMENT HEADS OF THAT LIST OF PEOPLE.

NOW IT'S UP TO THAT OFFICE AND DEPARTMENT HEAD TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY'RE FOLLOWING WHATEVER PROCEDURES THAT MAKE FOLKS ARE OKAY. I GUESS THAT'S WHAT I'M SAYING. SO I GUESS TO HR OR SOMETHING, I DON'T KNOW, BUT WE NEED TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERY COUNTY EMPLOYEE, INCLUDING ELECTED OFFICIALS, UNDERSTAND THAT AND WHAT KIND OF RAMIFICATIONS THERE MIGHT BE.

AND WE CAN PUT TOGETHER AN AWARENESS AND TRAINING CAMPAIGN TO GO OUT THERE AND EDUCATE PEOPLE TO, TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY'RE MORE AWARE AND DON'T HAVE TO COME BACK AND WATCH COURT. WE CERTAINLY CAN DO THAT. WE HAVE A A PAGE ON SIDEKICK RIGHT NOW.

THAT IS, IF YOU PUT FORWARD SLASH BEXAR OR BEXAR I.

SO WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A, I GUESS, AN AWARENESS PAGE OUT THERE AROUND WHAT THE APPROVED TOOLS ARE AND HOW TO RESPONSIBLY USE THOSE APPROVED TOOLS.

BUT AGAIN, I THINK IT'S RAPIDLY CHANGING THE ENVIRONMENT AND THE LANDSCAPE IS AND WE'RE GOING TO MAKE FOLKS AWARE WHEN THEY'RE POTENTIALLY AT RISK OR PUTTING THE COUNTY AT RISK. SO DO YOU ALL HAVE, I GUESS, WHAT'S YOUR PLAN TO MAKE SURE WHAT YOU SAID IS GOING TO BE APPROVED? WHAT'S YOUR PLAN TO MAKE SURE THAT THE AI THAT IS USED IS EFFICIENT FOR, FOR FOR THE COUNTY.

HEY, MARK, IS THERE LIKE IF I TRY? I THINK WHAT THE COMMISSIONER IS GETTING AT IS IF I TRY AND GO USING MY FAIR COUNTY DEVICE ON THE INTERNET TO AN UNSECURE WEBSITE.

YOU WON'T LET ME. YOU STOP ME. IS THERE SOME WAY YOU CAN STOP SOMEONE FROM USING AN UNAPPROVED FREE VERSION OF I IN A SIMILAR FASHION? YES, THERE ARE WAYS AND IT DEPENDS ON THE AI TOOL, AND WE'VE GOT OUR SECURITY AND TEAM INVOLVED SO WE CAN BLOCK, FOR INSTANCE, DOMAIN ACCESS TO A SPECIFIC ACCOUNT.

RIGHT. AND SO AND WE WOULD DO THAT RIGHT. SO MEANING WE CAN PREVENT SOMEBODY FROM ACCESSING A CERTAIN AI TOOL USING THEIR CREDENTIALS.

[00:45:05]

ARE YOU GOING TO SAY I'M SORRY. WHAT'S YOUR NAME. OH HI.

CRYSTAL. MARTINEZ. CRYSTAL, WHERE ARE YOU GOING TO RESPOND TO THAT? YES.

I WAS JUST BUILDING OFF OF WHAT MARK WAS SAYING.

SO OUR SECURITY TEAM HAS THE ABILITY TO BLOCK ACCESS TO CERTAIN WEBSITES THROUGH OUR DOMAIN AND THROUGH OUR FIREWALL.

AND WE ALSO HAVE A CAMPAIGN THAT'S GOING TO COMPLEMENT THIS WHEN WE ROLL IT OUT.

SO THAT WILL SEND OUT EMAILS AND INFORMATIVE COMMUNICATION WITH THE DIFFERENT OFFICES AND DEPARTMENTS THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY.

OKAY. THANK YOU. I DON'T HAVE ANY FURTHER QUESTIONS.

DID WE DO A MOTION ALREADY? OH, NO. MOVE, MOVE FOR APPROVAL.

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

COMMISSIONER RODRIGUEZ. THANK YOU, JUDGE MARK.

LET ME TRY TO UNDERSTAND THIS BECAUSE I AM AN AI NOVICE.

SO, I MEAN, FIRST OF ALL, YOUR RECOMMENDED MOTION IS ASKING FOR APPROVAL OF THIS ADMINISTRATIVE POLICY NUMBER 5.3, WHAT SPECIFICALLY IS THAT LANGUAGE THAT YOU'RE ASKING US TO APPROVE? BECAUSE I DIDN'T I DIDN'T SEE IT IN THE PRESENTATION.

I THINK THE POLICY SHOULD HAVE BEEN ATTACHED TO THE BACKUP.

OKAY. BUT YEAH, THERE'S A POLICY. IT WAS SENT OUT TO ALL OF THE OFFICE AND DEPARTMENT HEADS IN THE COUNTY.

WAS REVIEWED BY OUR LEGAL DEPARTMENT. OKAY, SO THERE'S A LOT IN THERE CRYSTAL DOES HAVE.

IF YOU NEED A QUICK KIND OF OVERVIEW. SHE'S GOT A FACT SHEET HERE.

SHE. YEAH. THAT WOULD BE GREAT BECAUSE I DON'T WANT TO VOTE ON SOMETHING WITHOUT KNOWING SPECIFICALLY WHAT I GET.

THE GENERAL CONCEPT, IT'S ABOUT SECURITY, AND I APPRECIATE YOU BRINGING IT TO OUR ATTENTION.

BUT IF WE'RE YOU'RE ASKING US TO APPROVE A POLICY WITH SPECIFIC LANGUAGE, I'D JUST LIKE TO KNOW WHAT THAT IS, IS BASICALLY APPROVING WHAT WE CAN. YOU CAN YOU GIVE US A THUMBNAIL VERSION OR.

YES, SIR. OKAY. THANKS, CRYSTAL. ALL RIGHT. SO THIS POLICY IS TO ALLOW I MUST BE IN ALIGNMENT WITH OUR AI GUIDING PRINCIPLES, INFORMATION RESOURCES USED IN SECURITY POLICY, WHICH HAS ALREADY BEEN APPROVED BY YOU ALL.

THE BEXAR COUNTY COUNCIL. SORRY. BEXAR COUNTY'S MISSION STATEMENT.

APPLICABLE LAWS. IT ESTABLISHES A STANDARD FOR ENGAGING AI TECHNOLOGY FOR WORK PURPOSES ON COUNTY DEVICES.

IT OBTAINS APPROVAL FOR USE OF TECHNOLOGY AS WELL AS USE CASES.

SOLUTIONS ARE TRANSPARENT, WELL DOCUMENTED, AND SUBJECT TO HUMAN OVERSIGHT.

DATA INPUTS AND OUTPUTS ARE MONITORED TO ENSURE FAIRNESS, ACCOUNTABILITY, AND NONDISCRIMINATION, AND UPHOLDS HOLDS PUBLIC TRUST. SAFEGUARDS PRIVACY AND RESPECT CIVIL LIBERTIES.

OKAY. I JUST GOT HANDED THE DOCUMENT, SO I APPRECIATE THAT.

LET ME ASK. I GUESS FROM JUST A PRACTICAL PERSPECTIVE I'M NOT SUGGESTING MY STAFF DOES THIS OR ANYBODY DOES THIS, BUT I HAVE HEARD THAT YOU CAN USE A TOOL LIKE CHATGPT TO BASICALLY DRAFT CORRESPONDENCE.

RIGHT. MAYBE YOU'RE RESPONDING TO A CONSTITUENT WITHOUT ANY PERSONAL INFORMATION IN THERE.

IF SOMEONE WERE TO DO THAT JUST TO HELP DRAFT A GENERIC RESPONSE LETTER.

THIS WOULD NOW BE, I GUESS, SUBJECT TO THE NEW POLICY.

IS THAT CORRECT? CORRECT. UTILIZING THE TOOL WOULD BE SUBJECT TO THE POLICY.

OKAY. GOTCHA. SO SO THIS IS THIS IS HELPFUL, I THINK GOOD GUARDRAILS.

I THINK INCREASINGLY PARTICULARLY AS IT RELATES TO YOU KNOW, RESPONDING TO CONSTITUENTS AND JUST IN GENERAL BEING EFFICIENT WITH RESOURCES.

I THINK WE'RE GOING TO SEE AN INCREASE IN THIS.

AND I'M SURE, MARK, IF YOU'VE NOT BEEN APPROACHED, I KNOW I'VE HAD SEVERAL PEOPLE WHEN YOU GO TO THESE CONFERENCES AND THINGS WHO ARE POTENTIAL VENDORS THAT SAY, HEY, THIS IS A WAY TO TO INCREASE EFFICIENCY UTILIZING AI.

YOU'RE SEEING THAT OBVIOUSLY IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR, BUT MORE AND MORE IN THE GOVERNMENT SECTOR. SO I'M SURE IT'S GOING TO BECOME EVEN MORE OF A TOPIC IN THE COMING MONTHS, IF NOT YEARS, RIGHT? YES, SIR. IT'S A LOT. I PROBABLY GET NO LESS THAN 20 VENDORS REACHING OUT TO ME A DAY ABOUT AI.

YEAH. NUMEROUS OFFICE AND DEPARTMENT HEADS POINTING ME TO TO FOLKS THAT HAVE REACHED OUT, AND IT'S GOING TO CONTINUE TO INCREASE.

OKAY, SO SO WE JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE RESPONSIBLE WITH THOSE EVALUATIONS.

MAKE SENSE? LET ME LET ME ASK COMMISSIONER MOODY.

AND THEN COMMISSIONER CALVERT HAS ANOTHER QUESTION, COMMISSIONER MOODY. JUST JUST A COUPLE OF THOUGHTS HERE.

AND MARK, APPRECIATE YOU PRESENTING ON THIS AND BRING THIS POLICY FORWARD.

OBVIOUSLY THERE'S THERE'S MORE AND MORE IN THIS WORLD THAT'S COMING AT US QUICKLY.

AND I THINK WE NEED TO HAVE A POLICY IN PLACE AND KNOW HOW WE'RE GOING TO EVALUATE TOOLS AND LOOK AT THEM THROUGH THROUGH SOME OF THE UNIQUE CHALLENGES AND RESTRICTIONS THAT WE HAVE IN LOCAL GOVERNMENT.

YOU KNOW, AND I THINK THAT THE TWO THINGS WE NEED TO PROBABLY BE MOST CONCERNED ABOUT IS THE DATA PROTECTION, RIGHT, THAT YOU MENTIONED. AND THEN THE OTHER THING I JUST WANT TO BRING UP IS AROUND COMPLIANCE ISSUES.

SO JUST AS A, AS A USE CASE EXAMPLE, I KNOW THAT MEETING AI TOOLS THAT KIND OF TAKE ON

[00:50:10]

ALL THE THE COMMUNICATION IN A ZOOM OR A TEAM'S MEETING AND THEN TRY TO CONDENSE THAT DOWN INTO NOTES.

YOU KNOW, THE POTENTIAL RISKS AROUND LIKE OPEN MEETINGS ACT OR OPEN RECORDS REQUESTS.

AND WHAT'S REQUIRED TO BE MAINTAINED OR SAVED WHEN WE DO THINGS LIKE THAT.

AND THE OTHER ADD ON THERE TO THINK ABOUT IS THE INTEGRATION WITH OTHER ENTITIES LIKE THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO.

SO I'VE BEEN IN MEETINGS AND I KNOW THAT, YOU KNOW, THE CITY HAS TALKED ABOUT WHAT THEY SEE AS COMPLIANCE ISSUES.

AND, YOU KNOW, ARE WE ON THE SAME PAGE? SO I THINK AS WE GO FORWARD WITH THIS POLICY, WE SHOULD ALSO THINK ABOUT THOSE, THOSE OTHER ENTITIES AND, AND SEE IF WE WE SEE THESE THINGS, THESE SITUATIONS THE SAME WAY.

IF WE DON'T, YOU KNOW, HOW DO WE GET TO A RESOLUTION? BECAUSE AS WE GO FORWARD, OBVIOUSLY WE WANT TO TO HAVE A POLICY THAT'S FUNCTIONAL, BUT THAT IS IS IN ALIGNMENT WITH WITH OTHER PARTNERS. WHEN IT COMES TO AI, SO I JUST WANTED TO SHARE THAT WITH YOU.

I DON'T KNOW IF YOU HAVE ANY FEEDBACK OR HAVE SEEN THAT ALREADY.

YEAH, WE'VE SEEN THAT. SO WE ARE PART OF A CONSORTIUM AND IT AI CONSORTIUM MADE UP OF HUNDREDS OF STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND GOVERNMENTAL ENTITIES ACROSS THE, ACROSS THE UNITED STATES.

IT'S IT'S IT WAS STARTED BY THE CITY OF SAN JOSE.

AND SO THE CITY IS PART OF THAT. THERE ARE NUMEROUS OTHER COUNTIES IN, IN CITIES IN THE UNITED STATES THAT ARE PART OF THAT.

AND WE'RE SHARING INFORMATION AROUND AI POLICY.

WHAT TO DO FROM A EVALUATION, FOR INSTANCE, OF WHAT LANGUAGE WE NEED TO PUT IN VENDOR AGREEMENTS AROUND THEIR USE OF OUR OR THEIR RESPONSIBLE USE AS A AS IT COMES TO OUR DATA. I ALSO MEET MONTHLY WITH THE OTHER CIOS IN TOWN, SAW CPS THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO, THE RIVER AUTHORITY HOUSING AUTHORITY.

SO AND WE'RE SHARING IDEAS AROUND AI AND KIND OF WHAT WE'RE ALL SEEING AND HOW WE CAN GET ON THE SAME PAGE.

BUT LIKE I SAID, IT'S MOVING REALLY FAST. THERE IS A LOT OF COLLABORATION HERE AT THE HERE AT THE LOCAL LEVEL AND AT THE NATIONAL LEVEL WITH WITH STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT AROUND HOW IT IMPACTS US AND HOW WE CAN BEST LEVERAGE AI AND EMBRACE KIND OF THE ADOPTION OF AI FROM AN EFFICIENCY AND EFFECTIVENESS STANDPOINT, BUT AT THE SAME TIME, SECURE OUR DATA AND MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE IN COMPLIANCE.

COMMISSIONER CALVERT, THANK YOU VERY MUCH, JUDGE.

BECAUSE OF THE MUTATING NATURE OF AI, I THINK THAT THE BACKGROUND CHECKS OF THE VENDORS IS VERY IMPORTANT.

I REALIZE IN THINKING THROUGH THIS THIS MORNING THAT OBVIOUSLY GEOPOLITICS ARE QUITE PREVALENT RIGHT NOW IN OUR WORLD, AND INFILTRATION INTO GOVERNMENT SYSTEMS IS A TOP PRIORITY OF BOTH STATE AND OTHER ACTORS.

AND YOU'VE GOT TO PROTECT US, RIGHT? SO I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU COME BACK TO US WITH KIND OF A PROTOCOL OF HOW WE CHECK THE BACKGROUNDS OF THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN DEVELOPING THESE AI SOFTWARES AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE BECAUSE OF THE TROJAN ABILITIES.

AND, YOU KNOW, YOU KNOW HOW IT IS ONCE THEY GET IN WITH SOME OF THESE TECHNOLOGIES, THEY WE HAVE A HARD TIME DEALING WITH THEM.

SO YOU'VE GOT YOUR PROTOCOLS WITH HOMELAND SECURITY.

IT MAY EVEN REQUIRE IN SOME CASES, DEPENDING ON WHERE THESE THINGS ARE GENERATED, A LITTLE BIT OF A DEEPER DIVE FROM A FUSION CENTER OR SOMETHING OF THAT NATURE.

BUT I THINK WE'VE HAD TOO MANY COMPANIES POP UP AND WE FOUND OUT, OH, RUSSIA WAS WAS ACTUALLY THE FRONT BEHIND IT OR, YOU KNOW, CHINA OR WHATEVER, SOME OTHER NON FRIENDLY IRAN, WHATEVER ACTOR THAT WAS TRYING TO GET INTO OUR SYSTEMS AND YOU KNOW, THE THREAT MATRIX BECAUSE YOU'VE YOU'VE GIVEN US THOSE BRIEFS BEFORE.

SO I JUST WANT TO HAVE A SPECIAL WORD WITH RESPECT TO AI ON THE BACKGROUND CHECKING OF THE OF THE FUNDS THAT A FINANCE AND ALL OF THE PLAYERS THAT ARE A PART OF THESE PARTICULAR SOFTWARES OR DEVELOPERS.

THANK YOU. JUDGE MARK. LET ME IT'S NOT SO MUCH TO CLOSE THE CONVERSATION, BUT TO REALLY TELL YOU HOW I BELIEVE IT'S COMPLEX AND COMPLICATED IN REGARDS TO HOW WE MOVE FORWARD WITH AI AND THE POWER IT BRINGS IN, THE UTILITY IT BRINGS, BUT ALSO THE POSSIBLE DANGERS AND RISKS THAT IT GOES TO THE COUNTY.

LET ME GIVE YOU CONTEXT. OBVIOUSLY WE WORK YOU IN.

[00:55:02]

THE IT DEPARTMENT WORKED VERY HARD TO PROTECT OUR IT DATABASE FROM CYBER ATTACKS.

PEOPLE WHO WANT TO ATTACK AND DISABLED DISABLE OR DO WHATEVER EVIL INTENT THEY WANT TO DO TO OUR SYSTEM, AND THAT'S AN ONGOING PROCESS. AND WHAT I'VE LEARNED, INCLUDING MYSELF, IS I HAVE TO TAKE MANDATORY TRAINING IN ORDER TO MAKE SURE THAT I COMPLY WITH THE LAW. AND THAT'S AN EXAMPLE OF BEING PROTECTED.

BUT WHAT I HEAR YOU TODAY SAY IS THAT WE NEED TO ALSO PUT A POLICY IN REGARDS TO OUR EMPLOYEES, AND THIS IS WHAT IT'S APPLICABLE TO OUR EMPLOYEES ABOUT, WHAT INFORMATION THEY WOULD SHARE OR WHAT INFORMATION IS COLLECTED, EITHER THROUGH THEM OR THROUGH YOUR PROCESS. AND HERE'S AN EXAMPLE I'VE ALREADY I'VE IDENTIFIED AND I'VE TALKED TO THE JUDGES, ESPECIALLY THE CRIMINAL DISTRICT AND COUNTY COURT OF LAW JUDGES, TO BRING IT TO THEIR ATTENTION, WHERE OUR ADVANCED TECHNOLOGY DOESN'T SYNCHRONIZE WITH THE LEGALITIES AND WHAT THE LAWS, AND ESPECIALLY FOR AN ISSUE CALLED EXPULSION, WHICH IS TO ERASE RECORDS. AND SO MY QUESTION IS TO SUPPOSE IT FOR POSSIBLE PREPARATION OF AS I UNDERSTAND, WE GET ALL THIS INFORMATION AND WE GET THE POLICE RECORDS OFFENSE REPORTS THAT ARE DOWNLOADED NOW ELECTRONICALLY MOVING OVER, COLLECTED, GOING THROUGH THE DA'S OFFICE OR WHATEVER COURTS AND GETTING THAT INFORMATION.

AND IN THE ISSUE OF EXPULSION, WHICH IS A LEGAL RIGHT THAT PEOPLE ARE ENTITLED TO.

THE LAW ALLOWS PEOPLE TO, BASED ON THEIR QUALIFICATION, TO ERASE ALL THOSE RECORDS, TO BE ABLE TO DENY THAT THEY'VE EVER BEEN ARRESTED OR HAVE ANY REFERENCE TO THAT PARTICULAR CRIME.

BUT IF THIS DATA IS BEING UNLOADED, GOING IN THE CLOUD.

MY QUESTION TO YOU, TECHNOLOGY EXPERTS IS HOW DO WE ACTUALLY EXPUNGE THOSE RECORDS.

IF IT'S GOING UP INTO THE CLOUD AND PEOPLE ARE SUPPOSED TO, THEY HAVE AN EXPECTATION THAT THEIR RECORDS ARE BEING EXPUNGED.

THEY'RE BEING CLEARED. SO I JUST WANT TO LAY THAT DOWN JUST AS A THOUGHT OF HOW WE MOVE FORWARD, NOT ONLY IN THIS. AND I'M ALSO STRUCK WITH, WITH MY OPENING THAT WE HAD TO DO A LOT OF TRAINING.

I WOULD ASSUME THAT ALSO HAS TO BE A TRAINING COMPONENT TO TEACH US HOW WE NEED TO BE PROTECTED, OF WHAT WE'RE INPUTTING AND HOW WE'RE USING AI IN THE SENSE THAT WE DON'T JEOPARDIZE THE SYSTEM OR LAWS, LIKE A FUNCTION THAT SAYS, HEY, IF YOU GOT RECORDS AND YOU'RE ORDERED TO TAKE THEM, ERASE THEM FROM THE SYSTEM.

HOW DO WE TRULY ERASE IF THOSE RECORDS ARE GOING INTO THE CLOUD? DO YOU SEE WHAT THAT SCENARIO LOOKS LIKE? AND DO YOU UNDERSTAND MY CONCERN OF HOW WE TRY TO COMPLY WITH THE LAW.

I DO, I WOULD JUST SAY THAT THAT'S WHY WE WANT TO VET THE APPLICATIONS, BECAUSE WE DO ENSURE ESPECIALLY, YOU KNOW, AS IT RELATES TO EXPULSIONS AND THAT KIND OF DATA, WHETHER.

WHETHER THOSE SYSTEMS USE AI OR AI TOOL, EVEN THOUGH THEY'RE IN THE CLOUD, THEY'RE IN A GOVERNMENT TENANT OF OUR CLOUD THAT WE CONTROL.

SO WE CAN VERIFY THROUGH THE APPLICATION OWNER AND THE DATABASE THAT THOSE RECORDS WERE DELETED.

WHEN YOU USE THESE FREE VERSIONS AND YOU'RE USING LET'S SAY YOU WERE TO TAKE CRIMINAL JUSTICE DATA, AND YOU WERE THEN TO PROVIDE IT TO AN AI TOOL THAT WAS A FREE VERSION OF AI.

WE HAVE NO CONTROL OVER THAT. RIGHT. AND SO WE WANT TO MAKE SURE IS THE STUFF THAT WE APPROVE.

WE KNOW WE HAVE CONTROL OVER THAT DATA SET AND THAT DATA BY WORKING WITH THAT VENDOR TO MAKE SURE THAT IT CAN BE REMOVED OR DELETED OR CONTROLLED AND PROTECTED.

RIGHT. SO HENCE THE POLICY AND WHY WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT, THAT, YOU KNOW, WE'RE APPROVING THOSE THINGS AND THAT FOLKS AREN'T.

THEY'RE JUST OUT THERE PUTTING OUR DATA WHEREVER THEY WANT TO PUT IT.

BUT I THINK THE EMPLOYEES AND ALL OF US, EVEN THE ELECTEDS, HAVE TO UNDERSTAND THAT IF WE'RE WE HAVE THIS PROTECTED DATABASE, BUT IF WE'RE INDIVIDUALLY PUSHING THAT OUT INTO THE PUBLIC DOMAIN, THEN WE ARE COMPROMISING PEOPLE'S RIGHTS AT THE SAME TIME, ESPECIALLY IF IF WE WERE, IF THE SYSTEM IS CONFRONTED WITH AN EXPANSION THAT SAYS WE NEED TO TAKE THAT ALL OFF.

SO I'M JUST GOING TO ENCOURAGE YOUR DEPARTMENT.

YOU'VE ALWAYS BEEN THERE. YOU ALWAYS HAVE DONE AN EXCELLENT JOB OF HELPING US UNDERSTAND AND DO THE TRAINING COMPONENT SO THAT WE CAN TRULY KEEP SECURE PROTECTING FROM CYBER ATTACKS, BUT ALSO NOT ALLOWING PERHAPS INTERNAL OR PERSONS INDIVIDUALS WHO MAY WEAPONIZE THE INFORMATION THAT ARE INSIDE OUR CONFIDENTIAL DATABASES.

YOU UNDERSTAND WHAT I'M SAYING? YES, SIR. I UNDERSTAND 100%.

[01:00:02]

AND THAT'S THAT'S THAT'S AN ISSUE I WANT TO BE MINDFUL.

THAT ALSO INCLUDES A SELECTIONS WHATEVER WE PUT IN THERE IN ORDER TO BE CAREFUL BECAUSE IT COULD BE IT COULD BE WEAPONIZED.

ALL RIGHT. WELL AS CRYSTAL MENTIONED WE HAVE AN OUTREACH CAMPAIGN.

WE'LL MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE OUT THERE TOUCHING BASE WITH THE OFFICE AND DEPARTMENT HEADS AND EDUCATING.

OVER AND OVER. THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT. I THOUGHT THERE WAS THERE IS A MOTION BY COMMISSIONER CLAY-FLORES.

SECOND BY COMMISSIONER CALVERT. ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF THE MOTION SIGNIFY SAYING I. ANY OPPOSED? ANY ABSTENTIONS? MOTION CARRIES. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU.

WE'RE NOW AT 10:00. LET'S GO BACK TO THE 10:00 TIME.

[5. TIME CERTAIN ITEM(S) (Part 2 of 2)]

CERTAIN DISCUSSION, APPROPRIATE ACTION REGARDING THE FIRST YEAR RECOMMENDATION FOR THE CITIZENS ADVISORY COMMITTEE AND ELECTED OFFICIAL SALARIES AND ALLOWANCES FOR FY 2526 AND THE ELECTED OFFICIALS SALARY GRIEVANCE PROCESS.

MISS SMITH, INC.. GOOD MORNING, JUDGE AND COMMISSIONERS.

TINA SMITH, DEAN WITH THE COUNTY MANAGER'S OFFICE. I'M GOING TO INTRODUCE ALVA ADAMS, WHO'S THE CHAIR OF THE CITIZEN'S ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON ELECTED OFFICIALS SALARIES.

THE COMMITTEE IS MADE UP OF FIVE MEMBERS. EACH OF THE COURT APPOINTED A MEMBER TO THE COMMITTEE, AND THEY DEVELOPED A RECOMMENDATION FOR FISCAL YEAR 2526 AND 2627.

AND SO I WILL TURN IT OVER. THANK YOU. GOOD MORNING.

I'M ROGER SAKAI AND COMMISSIONERS. MY NAME IS ELBERT ADAMS, AND I AM A PART OF THE CITIZENS ADVISORY COMMITTEE MEMBERS.

AS A MATTER OF FACT, THIS IS MY SECOND TIME BEING APPOINTED.

I'M GOING TO USE THIS HERE. OKAY, SO THIS COMMITTEE IS APPOINTED EVERY TWO YEARS AND MYSELF AS APPOINTED CHAIR FOR THIS COMMITTEE, ALONG WITH FOUR MEMBERS. BOB PARKS IS THE CO-CHAIR, IS NOMINATED BY PRECINCT THREE AND THE MEMBERS INCLUDING COLETTE COTE NOMINATED BY PRESSING ONE.

P. ARISA, NOMINATED BY PRECINCT TWO AND RUDY RODRIGUEZ, NOMINATED BY PRECINCT.

THROUGH OUR SOLE PURPOSES IS TO CONDUCT A COMPREHENSIVE ANALYSIS OF ELECTED OFFICIAL SALARY AND FORMULATE INFORMED CONVERSATIONS. RECOMMENDATION FOR PRESENTATION TO THE COMMISSION COURT TODAY.

NOW AS A AS A COMMITTEE. SO WE ARE SUPPORTED BY STEPHANIE CASTELLANOS AND HER STAFF AT THE HUMAN RESOURCES DEPARTMENT.

AND WE APPLIED FOR THE FOLLOWING GUIDING PRINCIPLES.

FIRST REVIEW CURRENT BEXAR COUNTY ELECTED OFFICIALS COMPENSATIONS.

SECOND, ANALYZE CURRENT COMPENSATION OF THE TEN LARGEST TEXAS COUNTIES BY POPULATION.

THIRD, COMPARE HISTORICAL INTEREST INFORMATION FOR BEXAR COUNTY EMPLOYEES.

AND LASTLY, APPLY ANALYTICAL AND DATA DRIVEN PROCESS, INCLUDING STATUTORY STATUTORY MAXIMUM FOR CERTAIN ROLES AND PUBLIC INFORMATION REGARDING THE DUTY AND ELECTED OFFICIAL. NOW, THIS COMMITTEE HAS MET FOUR TIMES SINCE JUNE 17TH OF THIS YEAR AND BACK, AND WE ALSO CONDUCTED A COMPREHENSIVE REVIEW OF PRIOR COMMITTEES, WHICH MYSELF AS PART OF THE COMMITTEE MEMBERS.

AND WE FOLLOW THE SAME GUIDING PRINCIPLE. WE FOUND THEM TO BE LARGELY ALIGNED WITH THE VALUES AND OBJECTIVES OF THE CURRENT COMMITTEES.

AND WE DID TAKE A LITTLE TRICK, BECAUSE WE FEEL THAT WITH THE CURRENT ECONOMIC LANDSCAPE AND EVOLVING LABOR MARKETS AND PUBLIC ACCOUNTABILITY. SO WE CHANGED A LITTLE BIT.

AND TO EMPHASIZE THIS, FOLLOWING GUIDING PRINCIPLES ARE VERY IMPORTANT TO FOR THE COURSE OF THE CONSIDERATION AND DECISION. AND THIS PRINCIPLE MAY SERVE ONLY AS A FRAMEWORK FOR THE FUTURE COMMITTEE AS THEY DELIVERED ON SIMILAR MATTERS.

SO THESE PRINCIPLES ARE PRESENTED IN NO PARTICULAR ORDER.

SO FIRST, COMPETITIVE AND EQUITABLE BENEFITS.

AND THE COMMITTEE CONFIRMS THAT THE COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS PACKAGE OFFERED BY 2D ELECTED OFFICIALS SHOULD REMAIN COMPETITIVE WITH A SIMILAR ROLE ACROSS THE STATE OF TAXES. AND IN LIGHT OF THE RISING HEALTHCARE COST INFLATION, INCREASED DEMAND FOR THE PUBLIC OFFICIALS. WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THE PARITY AND WITH THE OTHER JURISDICTIONS, JURISDICTIONS ESSENTIAL TO ATTRACT AND RETAIN QUALIFIED LEADERS IN THE PUBLIC SERVICE.

THE SECOND PUBLIC SERVICE INTANGIBLE REWARDS WHAT SALARIES AND BENEFITS REPRESENT THE TANGIBLE FORMS OF COMPENSATION? THE COMPANY ACKNOWLEDGED THAT ELECTED OFFICIALS DERIVE ADDITIONAL INTANGIBLES VALUE THROUGH THEIR SERVICE TO THE PUBLIC AND THE OPPORTUNITY TO BUILD

[01:05:01]

CREDIBILITY FOR FUTURE PUBLIC AND POLITICAL ROLES.

THESE NON-MONETARY ASPECTS OF PUBLIC SERVICE CONTRIBUTE TO A WIDE DISPARITY IN COMPENSATION LEVELS ACROSS LOCAL, STATE, AND FEDERAL GOVERNMENT POSITIONS, WHICH COMMITTEES VIEW AS A NATURAL AND EXPECTED VARIATIONS.

THIRD, THE CANDIDATE ATTRACTIONS, INTEGRITY AND ELECTORAL PROCESS.

THE COMMITTEE IS VERY MINDFUL THAT APPROPRIATE SALARY LEVEL PLAYS A ROLE IN ATTRACTING SKILL AND ETHICAL INDIVIDUALS TO PUBLIC OFFICE.

WHILE ACKNOWLEDGING THAT CONVERSATIONS MAY SOMETIMES MOTIVATE CANDIDATES OF VARYING QUALIFICATIONS.

SO WE FEEL AND WE FIRMLY BELIEVE THAT EVALUATION OF CANDIDATE THEY MERIT IN INTEGRITY RIGHTLY BELONGS TO THE FOUNDERS.

AND THEREFORE OUR ROLE IS TO RECOMMEND A CONVERSATION THAT SUPPORT BROAD PARTICIPATION WITHOUT UNDULY INCENTIVIZING ENTRY AND FINANCIAL GAIN ALONE. THIRD A FOURTH. WHAT HAPPENED? DISTINGUISH BETWEEN ELECTED OFFICIALS AND CAREER STAFF.

THE COMMITTEE RECOGNIZED THAT COMPARING ELECTED OFFICIALS TO THE PUBLIC EMPLOYEES HAS INHERENT LIMITATIONS.

AS YOU KNOW, CAREER STAFF OFTEN POSSESSES TECHNICAL QUALITY OR CERTIFICATION OR EXTENSIVE PROFESSIONAL TRAINING.

IN PARTICULAR, CERTAIN ROLES THAT MAY JUSTIFY HIGHER COMPENSATION IN CERTAIN ROLES.

NEVERTHELESS, BOTH GROUP SERVES VITAL YET DISTINCT FUNCTIONS, AND COMPENSATION SHOULD REFLECT THOSE DIFFERENCES.

APPROPRIATE. FIFTH, LOCAL CONTEXT MATTERS. BEXAR COUNTY STANDS APART FROM OTHER COUNTIES IN TEXAS AND ITS DEMOCRATIC DEMOGRAPHIC MARKUP. THE POLITICAL, LANDSCAPES, AND ECONOMIC SCALES.

ALTHOUGH COMPARATIVE SALARY DATA FROM PEER COUNTIES, AS WE USED IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR PROVIDES USEFUL BENCHMARKS, BUT NO SINGLE DATA POINT OR AVERAGE SHOULD BE USED IN ISOLATION.

THE COMMITTEE EMPHASIZED A HOLISTIC APPROACH THAT INCORPORATES, BUT DOES NOT SOLELY RELY ON, EXTERNAL COMPARISONS. SIX ROW FOCUSED EVALUATION AND TRANSPARENT COMPENSATIONS.

THE COMMITTEE REMAINS COMMITTED TO EVALUATING THE ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF ELECTED OFFICES, NOT ONLY VISUAL ON CURRENTLY HOLDING THEM. IN KEEPING WITH THE PRINCIPLES OF FAIRNESS AND TRANSPARENCY.

THE COMMITTEE SUPPORTS CLEAR AND CONSISTENT SALARY DETERMINATION THAT ARE COMMUNICATED PRIOR TO AN OFFICIAL TAKING TO OFFICE.

IDEALLY, COMPENSATION CHANGES IN PARTICULAR INCREASES SHOULD BE PHASED IN ON THE ANNUAL BASIS AND SHOULD NOT BE APPLIED RETROACTIVELY WITH THE OCCURRENCE OF ANY SELECT ANY SALARY REDUCTIONS THAT MAY BE SUGGESTED.

AND WE WE BELIEVE THAT IF EVER NECESSARY AND SHOULD ONLY TAKE EFFECT AT THE START OF THE NEW TERM.

SEVEN MAINTAINING COMPETITIVE PARITY OVER TIME.

WE RECOGNIZE THAT THE IMPORTANCE OF MAINTAINING SALARY PARITY WITH A BROADER LABOR MARKET AS A MATTER OF A LONG TERM SUSTAINABILITY.

PREVIOUS COMMITTEE HAVE MADE DELIBERATE EFFORTS TO ALIGN ELECT OFFICIALS COMPENSATION WITH COMPETITIVE COMPARABLE POSITIONS, AND WITH THIS PRINCIPLE, REMAIN AS A PRIORITY FOR THIS COMMITTEE TO PREVENT BEXAR COUNTY FROM FALLING BEHIND THE MARKET TREND AND COMING TO SUPPORT US REGULAR INCREMENTAL SALARY ADJUSTMENTS AND WITHOUT CONSISTENT UPDATES.

PERIODS OF STAGNATION CAN LEAD TO THIS PROPORTIONAL INCREASE LATER, WHICH MAY STRAIN PUBLIC PERCEPTIONS AND BUDGETARY PLANNING. SO BY MONITORING AND ALIGNING THE WAGE GROWTH IN RELEVANT SECTORS IN COMMITTEE AIMS TO UPHOLD FAIRNESS AND COMPETITIVENESS IN PUBLIC SERVICE COMPENSATION.

EIGHTH, ALIGN WITH COUNTY EMPLOYEE WAGE TREND.

IN KEEPING WITH PRINCIPLE AND EQUITY AND INTERNAL CONSISTENCY, THE COMMITTEE BELIEVES THAT ANY RECOMMENDED SALARY ADJUSTMENTS FOR ELECTED OFFICIALS SHOULD BE INFORMED BY THE AVERAGE ANNUAL WAGE INCREASE APPROVED BY BEXAR COUNTY EMPLOYEES.

THE APPROACH ENSURED COHESION WITHIN THE COUNTY'S OVERALL COMPENSATION STRUCTURE AND REFLECTS A SHARED COMMITMENT TO VALUE PUBLIC SERVICE AT ALL LEVELS. THE COMMITTEE VIEWS THIS AS RELEVANT AND BENCHMARKS, WHILE RECOGNIZING DIFFERENCES IN RESPONSIBILITY AND ROLES

[01:10:04]

THAT MAY JUSTIFY DEVIATIONS WHEN APPROPRIATE.

NINTH COMPREHENSIVE REVIEW BY TOTAL COMPENSATION.

THE COMPANY IS COMMITTED TO EVALUATING TOTAL COMPENSATION WHEN MAKING THE RECOMMENDATION FOR ELECTED OFFICIALS.

THIS INCLUDES NOT ONLY THE BASE SALARY, BUT ALSO THE STATE AND COUNTY CONTRIBUTION STEPS, FEES FOR SERVICES RENDERED, ALLOWANCE IN ANY INCOME DERIVED FROM THE PERFORMANCE OF OFFICIAL DUTIES.

TO ENSURE TRANSPARENCY AND ACCOUNTABILITY, THE COUNTY COUNTING.

THE COMMITTEE REQUESTS THAT ALL ELECTED OFFICIALS SUBMIT A COMPLETE ANNUAL DISCLOSURE OF SUCH ADDITIONAL COMPENSATIONS, AND IF YOU FAIL TO PROVIDE THIS INFORMATION, WILL RESULT IN THE COMMITTEE EXCLUDING THE POSITION FROM CONSIDERATION OF ANY INCREASE IN THE COMMITTEE UPHOLDS THIS POLICY TO MAINTAIN PUBLIC TRUST, AND THAT'S VERY IMPORTANT, AND TO ENSURE THAT ALL RECOMMENDATIONS ARE BASED ON A COMPLETE UNDERSTANDING AND COMPENSATION RECEIVED. SO WITH THOSE GUIDING PRINCIPLES, HERE ARE THE TWO RECOMMENDATIONS THAT WE HAVE RECOMMENDED FOR THE COURT TO CONSIDER. THE FIRST RECOMMENDATION WILL BE SHARED A CUSTOMER BASE SALARY INCREASE CURRENTLY SERVE AS A BASE PAY AT $180,481, WHICH IS 7.11% BELOW THE COMPARABLE MARKET AVERAGE.

AND THE. THE COMMITTEE RECOMMENDED A ONE TIME SALARY INCREASE OF $12,839 TO $193 AND $320. AND SECOND, CONSTABLE'S CURRENT BASE PAYS $122 AND $660, WHICH IS 4.83% BELOW THE COMPARABLE MARKET AVERAGE, AND THE COMMITTEE RECOMMENDS A ONE TIME SALARY INCREASE OF $5,920.85. TWO. $128. $580.85. AND WE BELIEVE THAT THEIR BASE SALARY WAS STILL TRAILING THE PEER AVERAGE IN MARKET BENCHMARKS.

A ONETIME INCREASE OF THIS SIZE WOULD BE BOTH JUSTIFIED AND PRUDENT OF SUSTAINING COMPETITIVE PARITY.

OUR SECOND RECOMMENDATION WILL BE A COST OF LIVING ADJUSTMENT OF 2% FOR FISCAL YEAR ABOUT 2025 TO 2026. NOW COST OF LIVING ADJUSTMENT ALSO REFERRED AS COLA AND TO THE BASE SALARY OF AN ELECTED OFFICIAL, BUT ALL THE ELECTED OFFICIALS AND IS ONLY APPLIED TO FISCAL YEAR 2025 TO 2026, AND THIS RECOMMENDATION IS ALIGNED WITH THE APPROVED COLA INCREASE FOR BAKER COUNTY EMPLOYEE THAT JUST RECENTLY APPROVED.

AND IT IS THE INTENT TO HELP ELECTED OFFICIALS TO MAINTAIN PURCHASING POWER AND RISING LIVING EXPENSES.

NOW, FOR FISCAL YEAR 2026 AND 2027, WE RECOMMEND THAT COLA ADJUSTMENT WILL BE REEVALUATED. IN OTHER WORDS, WE DON'T WANT TO WE DON'T WANT TO IMPOSE A 2% FOR TWO FISCAL YEAR BACK TO BACK.

SO OUR RECOMMENDATION IS FOR THE NEXT FISCAL YEAR FOR 2026 AND 2027 TO BE REEVALUATED.

DETERMINE AND BASED ON THE APPROPRIATE CONSUMER PRICE INDEX, AS PUBLISHED BY THE US BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS OR OTHER TANGIBLE COMPARABLE STANDARDS.

SO I MUST EMPHASIZE THAT FOR PROBATE JUDGES TO RECOMMENDATION APPLY SUBJECT TO STATUTORY SALARY, MINIMUM AND MAXIMUM OKAY. THAT'S VERY IMPORTANT BECAUSE SO WE HAVE STATUTORY MAXIMUM IN PLACE.

AND THE JUDGMENT WILL ONLY APPLY TO BASE SALARY.

ONLY WITHOUT THE ALLOWANCE REMAIN UNCHANGED. AND THE DETAILED BREAKDOWN OF THE PROPOSED INCREASE FOR THE TOTAL PROJECTED FISCAL IMPACT IS PRUDENT IS IN THE ATTACHMENT AS PART OF THE DOCUMENT THAT PRESENTED TO THE COURT TODAY, THE ATTACHMENT THAT YOU'RE SEEING AT THE END OF THE THE DOCUMENTS THAT YOU HAVE IS COMPARISON OF LAST TEN YEARS.

AND WITH THE LAST RECOMMENDATION OF THE COMMITTEES TO THE REST OF THE COMMITTEE, CURRENT RECOMMENDATION FOR YOU TO CONSIDER.

SO IN THE END, I MUST CONCLUDE THAT COMMITTEES BELIEVE THE TARGETED ADJUSTMENT OFFERS A BALANCED APPROACH AND FISCALLY RESPONSIBLE AND YET RESPONSIVE TO INFLATION PRESSURES.

ENSURE A FAIR AND SUSTAINABLE COMPENSATION FOR ELECTED OFFICIALS IN THE UPCOMING FISCAL YEARS.

WITHOUT FURTHER ADO, AND I WOULD LIKE TO SEE IF THE COURT HAS ANY QUESTIONS FOR OUR RECOMMENDATIONS.

[01:15:03]

THANK YOU. ANY QUESTIONS? MR. CLAY-FLORES? FIRST OF ALL, I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR THIS IS YOUR SECOND TIME AROUND.

SO THANK YOU. AND I KNOW THAT MY APPOINTEE REALLY ENJOYED WORKING WITH WITH THE TEAM.

SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR FOR YOUR WORK IN THAT. SO THE SECOND PARAGRAPH HERE.

SORRY. YOU'RE YOU'RE SAYING THAT YOU'RE RECOMMENDING WHATEVER THE COUNTY DECIDES TO GIVE US A COLA OR JUST OR THE 2%.

SO THE, THE 2%. SO WHAT HAPPENED IS THAT WE WE THE COMMITTEE ACTUALLY LOOKED AT THE US BUREAU'S LABOR MARKET, THE TREND. WE COMPARED THE TREND, THE RECENT TREND.

WHAT IS THE COST OF LIVING? ADJUSTMENT IS ANYWHERE BETWEEN 2 TO 4%.

AND WE RECOGNIZE THAT THE COUNTY JUST RECENTLY APPROVED A 2% COLA INCREASE FOR THE BAKER COUNTY EMPLOYEES.

SO WE WE FEEL THAT THE 2% IS JUSTIFIABLE OKAY TO ALIGN WITH THE RECENT INCREASE FOR THE COUNTY EMPLOYEES.

OKAY. I JUST WANTED TO BE CLEAR, BECAUSE WE HAVEN'T ACTUALLY APPROVED IT YET. OKAY. WE'RE RECOMMENDING FOR THE 2%.

YES. RIGHT. YES. THAT'S CORRECT. THE COURT AT THIS POINT IS JUST LOOKING AT NUMBERS.

BUT IT'LL BE AT LEAST 2%. OKAY. SO YEAH, I JUST WANT TO BE CLEAR.

IF YOU'RE RECOMMENDING 2% OR RECOMMENDING TO WAIT FOR THAT.

OKAY. THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANKS FOR YOUR WORK, MR. ROGER. YEAH. THANK YOU. JUDGE, I WAS GOING TO CLARIFY THAT TO YOU. I THINK THE THE BUDGET STAFF DID PROPOSE THAT 2% FOR ALL EMPLOYEES, BUT WE'RE STILL HAVE YET TO ADOPT THE BUDGET.

BUT LET ME ALSO THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORK. I KNOW MY APPOINTEE, PETER ISSA.

I THINK THIS WAS HIS FIRST YEAR ON THE COMMITTEE.

AND SO I WANT TO THANK YOU ALL AS CITIZEN VOLUNTEERS FOR FOR COMMITTING YOUR TIME AND YOUR EFFORT AND RESOURCES.

I KNOW THIS IS A PRETTY THOROUGH PRESENTATION, AND WITH RESPECT TO THE BACKGROUND AND RESEARCH AND HAVING THOSE GUIDING PRINCIPLES, IT ALL TAKES A LOT OF COMMITMENT. SO THANK YOU FOR DOING THAT.

WE APPRECIATE IT. YEAH. AND I JUST WANTED TO CLARIFY A JUDGE I MEAN NO SPECIFIC QUESTIONS.

I THINK YOU DID A GOOD JOB OF LAYING IT OUT. JUST JUST SO I CAN CLARIFY THE, THE I GUESS THE TWO EXCEPTIONAL ITEMS ARE THE SHERIFF AND THEN THE FOUR CONSTABLES.

THOSE ARE THE ONES THAT YOU EVALUATED AS BEING BELOW MARKET BY RESPECTIVE PERCENTAGES.

AND SO OUTSIDE OF THOSE TWO. AND OF COURSE, THE JUDGES, I THINK, ARE IN A DIFFERENT DEAL ALTOGETHER.

BUT ALL THE OTHER ELECTED OFFICIALS, THE RECOMMENDATION IS THE 2% COST OF LIVING.

YES. IS THAT RIGHT? OKAY. YES, SIR. AND I WOULD AGREE.

I DON'T KNOW IF THIS IS WHAT COMMISSIONER CLAY-FLORES MENTIONED, BUT AS WE MOVE FORWARD AND THIS IS REALLY MORE FOR BUDGET STAFF I, I'D LIKE TO UNTIE THE TWO IF POSSIBLE. I'M NOT NECESSARILY COMMITTED TO TO WHATEVER WE GIVE EMPLOYEES THAT WE HAVE TO GET.

IN FACT, I THINK I ADVOCATED LAST TIME THAT MAYBE OUR EMPLOYEES DESERVE A LITTLE BIT MORE.

AND SO I DON'T WANT TO NECESSARILY, AGAIN, TIE THEM IF WE GIVE OUR EMPLOYEES 3% AGAIN.

I KNOW THAT'S A DIFFERENT DISCUSSION. I'M NOT ADVOCATING THAT.

ELECTED OFFICIALS GET 3% OR, YOU KNOW, WHATEVER WE GIVE THE EMPLOYEES, I WANT TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE THAT SEPARATE DISCUSSION.

I KNOW THESE ARE THESE ARE COLAS IN. IT MAKES SENSE IN A WAY TO HAVE THEM AT THE SAME NUMBER.

BUT AGAIN, I KNOW THERE'S A LOT MORE FOLKS WHO ARE LIVING WITH LESS THAT I'D LIKE TO TRY AND GIVE MORE IF WE COULD.

SO THOSE ARE THE REMARKS I'VE GOT. JUDGE. THANK YOU.

THANK YOU, ELVA AND YOUR TEAM FOR REALLY DETAILED.

I THINK THIS IS THE MOST DETAILED ANALYSIS I'VE SEEN IN THE TEN YEARS THAT I'VE BEEN PART OF THE COMMISSIONERS COURT.

SO THANK YOU ALL FOR THE LEVEL OF CARE THAT YOU TOOK IN DOING THIS.

I WANT TO ECHO COMMISSIONER RODRIGUEZ'S COMMENTS.

HE I COMPLETELY AGREE. I THINK WE'RE SEEING RIGHT NOW THE CONSUMER PRICE INDEX A LITTLE HIGHER THAN WHAT ECONOMISTS WERE PREDICTING.

AND I ANTICIPATE OTHER ECONOMIC FORCES, SUCH AS THE TARIFFS, TAKING MORE EFFECT AS WE HEAD INTO THE LATE FALL. MOST ECONOMISTS ARE SAYING THAT BY NOVEMBER WE SHOULD REALLY BE SEEING THE EFFECTS.

CURRENTLY, A LOT OF BUSINESSES ARE TAKING. THE COST OF THE TARIFF AND EATING THEM THEMSELVES AND HAVING TO PASS IT ON TO CONSUMERS.

BUT THAT POINT OF BOTH WHAT THEY DID IN TERMS OF PURCHASING, THEY DID A LOT OF ADVANCED PURCHASES BEFORE THE TARIFFS WERE ENACTED.

THAT WILL BEGIN WEARING OFF. PRICES ARE GOING TO INCREASE.

SO I WANT TO SAY TO THE BUDGET STAFF, LIKE THIS COMMITTEE COMING TO LOOK AT THE COLA AGAIN, YOU KNOW, EVERY MAYBE ANNUALLY HERE, WE MIGHT EVEN HAVE TO LOOK AT IT SOONER IF WE HAVE SOME SORT OF CATASTROPHIC PRICE INCREASE, SAY, BY THANKSGIVING OR CHRISTMAS, WHICH IS LIKELY WE MIGHT HAVE TO HAVE MID-YEAR LOOKS.

[01:20:05]

WE'LL SEE. IT COULD BE QUITE INTERESTING. SO I AS WELL DON'T FEEL THE NEED TO NECESSARILY HAVE A GREATER INCREASE IN THE COMMITTEE HAS RECOMMENDED. AND SO I'M OKAY WITH FOREGOING IT.

BUT OUR EMPLOYEES, WE CERTAINLY WANT TO MAKE SURE WE TAKE CARE OF THEM.

SO THANK YOU FOR DOING THIS. YOU KNOW, WE'VE BEEN ABLE, THANKS TO THIS COMMITTEE, TO BRING OUR, OUR ELECTED OFFICIALS IN, IN COMMISERATE WAGES WITH THE OTHER COUNTIES AROUND TEXAS.

WE WERE VERY BEHIND, AND THEY HAD TO GET CREATIVE OVER TIME BECAUSE IT RIPPLES DOWN TO ALL OF YOUR WORKERS.

IF YOUR TOP IS UNDERPAID. IT RIPPLES DOWN TO ALL OF YOUR WORKERS.

SO THIS IS AN IMPORTANT EXERCISE THAT WE DO, AND WE APPRECIATE Y'ALL'S INDEPENDENCE.

THANK YOU. YES, SIR. THANK YOU. MOODY. YES. I JUST WANT TO ECHO MY COLLEAGUES.

THANK YOU, ELBA, FOR PRESENTING THIS AND THOUGHTFUL APPROACH TO YOU AND THE THE COMMITTEE HAD EVALUATING THIS.

I WANT TO THANK MY REPRESENTATIVE BOB PARKS, WHO SERVED AS YOUR YOUR VICE CHAIR ON ON THE COMMITTEE.

I KNOW YOU GUYS PUT A LOT OF WORK INTO THIS, AND I THINK, YOU KNOW, AGAIN.

IT MAKES SENSE THAT WE CONTINUE TO TO EVALUATE THIS.

WE USE DATA FROM SURROUNDING COUNTIES FROM LIKE SIMILAR SIZE COUNTIES TO TO TO TAKE A LOOK AND MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE IN THE MARKETPLACE AT THE RIGHT POINT.

AND AGAIN, CONTINUE TO EVALUATE IT SO WE DON'T END UP IN A POSITION, AS YOU NOTED, WHERE WE'RE SIGNIFICANTLY BEHIND.

AND AGAIN, I'M GLAD WE'VE WE'VE KIND OF STANDARDIZED THIS ACROSS THE BOARD.

AND IT SEEMS TO BE OPERATING WELL IN THE LAST TWO CYCLES.

SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORK ON THIS. AND I'M OKAY WITH YOUR YOUR RECOMMENDATIONS AND LOOK FORWARD TO TO CONTINUE TO MOVE THIS FORWARD.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE. YOU'RE MY APPOINTEE TO THE GRIEVANCE AND SALARY COMMISSION.

SO, TINA, JUST AS A MATTER OF KIND OF WRAP UP ON THIS ISSUE AND REPORT, THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IS REPORTED OUT ON THIS SPREADSHEET, SO TO SPEAK, WITH ALL THE DESIGNATED ELECTEDS, EXCLUDING, I BELIEVE, OUR JUDGES, THEIR COURT JUDGES ARE NOT INCLUDED IN THIS, AND THEY'LL BE TAKEN UP, I BELIEVE, IN THE NEXT MEETING OR TWO, AND WE'LL HAVE THAT DISCUSSION. THAT IS OBVIOUSLY GOING TO BE A WHOLE DIFFERENT DISCUSSION BECAUSE THEY ARE MANDATED BY STATE STATUTE, AND I BELIEVE THE LEGISLATURE JUST MANDATED. SO YOU PROBABLY HAVE A BIGGER TICKET, SO TO SPEAK, IN THE BUDGET IMPACT FOR JUDICIAL SALARIES IN YOUR OFFICE.

IN MY OFFICE HAVE BEEN HAVING THOSE DISCUSSIONS, AND I'LL BE BRINGING MY RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE COURT WHEN APPROPRIATE.

BUT FOR TODAY. FOR THOSE OFFICIALS, INCLUDING MYSELF, COUNTY COMMISSIONERS AND THOSE LISTED.

THE BILL, SO TO SPEAK, TO THE TAXPAYERS WILL BE ON THE AGGREGATED $100,000 TOTAL.

CORRECT. RIGHT. AND THAT AND HOW MANY? I'M JUST KIND OF QUICKLY IT LOOKS LIKE ABOUT 20, 20 OFFICES.

SO I HOPE THAT THE TAXPAYERS UNDERSTAND THAT, ALTHOUGH I'M NOT ASKING I THINK I HEARD COMMISSIONER COLBERT I'M NOT ASKING FOR THIS.

THIS IS SOMETHING THAT'S EMBEDDED IN A PROCESS.

AND I THINK WHEN I FIRST STARTED AND I THINK COMMISSIONER COLBERT, YOU JUST ALLUDED IT WAS THIS COMMITTEE PROCESS WAS IN A ROBUST PROCESS, AND THEY REALLY ARE PUTTING A LOT OF WORK. THEY'RE LOOKING AT THE COMPARATIVE SALARIES THEY'RE LOOKING AT IN CONTEXT TO OUR EMPLOYEES.

AND COMMISSIONER RODRIGUEZ, YOU MAKE A GOOD POINT.

WE SHOULD BE TAKING CARE OF OUR EMPLOYEE FIRST AND THEN WHAT WE CAN DO.

BUT AT THE SAME TIME, WE NEED TO RECOGNIZE THAT WE ARE ALSO DOING THE HARD WORK TOO.

AND SO I APPRECIATE THE RECOMMENDATION. SO IS THERE AND DO WE NEED TO DO AN ACTION ITEM? TINA. YES. YES SIR. I JUST WANTED TO ADD ONE MORE COMMENT.

SO THIS THE APPROVAL OF THE RECOMMENDATION TODAY KICKS OFF THE ELECTED OFFICIALS SALARY GRIEVANCE PROCESS.

AND SO WHAT WE'LL DO AFTER THE COURT APPROVES THIS IS WE'RE GOING TO SEND OUT THE COMMITTEE'S RECOMMENDATIONS TO EACH ELECTED OFFICIAL TODAY.

AND THEN EACH ELECTED OFFICIAL WILL HAVE FIVE DAYS TO SEND A GRIEVANCE, IF THEY SO CHOOSE, TO THE COUNTY JUDGE'S OFFICE. IF A GRIEVANCE IS RECEIVED, THEN THAT WE WILL CONVENE THE ELECTED OFFICIALS SALARY GRIEVANCE COMMITTEE WITHIN TEN

[01:25:05]

DAYS AND THEN, BASED ON THEIR RECOMMENDATIONS, WILL COME BACK TO COURT ACTION.

ALL RIGHT. YOU GOT TO ACCEPT IT. YEAH, I'LL MAKE IT.

WE NEED TO MAKE A MOTION. I'LL MOVE FOR APPROVAL TO ACCEPT THE RECOMMENDATION OF THE FAIR COUNTY CITIZENS ADVISORY COMMITTEE FOR ELECTED OFFICIAL SALARIES.

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

ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF THE MOTION IGNORE SAYING I.

ANY OPPOSED. ANY ABSTENTION. MOTION CARRIES. THANK YOU.

THANK YOU, MISS SMITH. DEAN. WE'LL TAKE UP ITEM FIVE.

SEE PRESENTATION DISCUSSION. APPROPRIATE ACTION ON THE END OF THE YEAR REPORT OF THE FOLLOWING TEXAS VETERANS COMMISSION FY 2425 FUNDS FOR VETERAN ASSISTANCE CLAIMS ONE. HELP TO VETS. FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO HELP THE VETS.

PEER SUPPORT. MR. KEITH WILSON AND AN ACCOMPANYING TEAM.

MR. JUDGE THE TEAM. OH THIS IS THE TEAM. I GOT A WHOLE TEAM.

OH MAN. THE GUY COMMISSIONERS COUNTY MANAGER.

LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, GOOD MORNING. MY NAME IS KEITH WILSON. I'M THE DIRECTOR OF BEXAR COUNTY'S DEPARTMENT OF MILITARY AND VETERANS SERVICES.

IT'S MY HONOR TODAY TO PRESENT THE RESULTS OF OUR 2024 2025 TEXAS VETERANS COMMISSION FUND FOR VETERANS ASSISTANCE GRANT PROGRAMS. I AM PLEASED TO HAVE A NUMBER OF MEMBERS OF OUR COMMUNITY AND OUR PARTNERS HERE WITH ME TODAY.

IN PARTICULAR, I'VE GOT TONY DOC FUENTES AND HIS COO, JOHN LARA FROM THE SAN ANTONIO COALITION FOR VETERANS AND FAMILIES.

AND THEN I'VE GOT A LARGE NUMBER OF MEMBERS OF OUR PEER SUPPORT PROGRAM THAT I'LL TALK ABOUT HERE IN A FEW MINUTES.

WE CANNOT DO THE THINGS THAT WE DO IN OUR DEPARTMENT WITHOUT THE PARTNERSHIPS AND THE RELATIONSHIPS THAT WE HAVE IN THIS COMMUNITY, AND I COULDN'T BE MORE PROUD OF THE STRONG PARTNERS THAT WE HAVE AND THE RELATIONSHIPS THAT WE HAVE.

AS I TALK ABOUT OUR GRANT. THE STATE ADMINISTERS ITS FUND FOR VETERANS ASSISTANCE THROUGH GRANT AWARDS TO ELIGIBLE RECIPIENTS FOCUSED ON TRANSITIONING SERVICE MEMBERS, VETERANS, AND MILITARY FAMILIES. IN THE SUMMER OF 2024.

OUR DEPARTMENT RECEIVED TWO OF THESE GRANTS. ONE IN THE GENERAL ASSISTANCE CATEGORY FOR FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE AND ONE IN THE VETERANS MENTAL HEALTH CATEGORY FOR PEER SUPPORT SERVICES. THESE GRANTS ARE IN ADDITION TO THE TWO GRANTS THAT THE COUNTY RECEIVES FOR OUR VETERANS TREATMENT COURTS, WHICH WE WORK VERY CLOSELY WITH ON A REGULAR BASIS.

THE FIRST GRANT I'M GOING TO FOCUS ON IS OUR GENERAL ASSISTANCE, WHICH PROVIDED US A UNIQUE FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE CAPABILITY.

WE WERE INITIALLY AWARDED $300,000 IN FEBRUARY OF THIS YEAR.

THE TEXAS VETERANS COMMISSION AWARDED US AN ADDITIONAL $125,000 IN DIRECT ASSISTANCE CAPABILITY THAT THIS COURT APPROVED RECEIPT OF.

WITH THESE FUNDS, WE BROUGHT ON TWO FULL TIME EMPLOYEES TO ADMINISTER THE GRANT A CASE MANAGER SERVING AS PROGRAM LEAD AND AN INTAKE SPECIALIST.

AFTER NECESSARY OPERATING EXPENSES, WE WERE LEFT WITH ABOUT $315,000 IN DIRECT ASSISTANCE CAPABILITY FOCUSED ON HOUSING, UTILITIES, TRANSPORTATION AND FOOD. OF THE NEARLY $315,000 IN DIRECT ASSISTANCE CAPABILITY, WE AWARDED JUST OVER $278,000. THE MAJORITY OF THIS 69%, OR ABOUT $187,000, WENT TO HOUSING ASSISTANCE, WHICH ALLOWED US TO PAY RENT AND MORTGAGE IN ARREARS, TO PAY APPLICATION FEES AND SECURITY DEPOSITS, AND PAY FIRST AND EVEN SECOND MONTH'S RENT. IN SOME CASES, OUR TEAM NEGOTIATED WITH LANDLORDS AND EVEN THE COURTS TO EXTEND A VETERAN STAY IN THEIR HOMES AND PREVENT EVICTION. ANOTHER 22%, OR ABOUT $60,000, WENT TO UTILITY ASSISTANCE TO INCLUDE POWER, WATER, SEPTIC SYSTEMS, CELL PHONES AND EVEN INTERNET.

OFTENTIMES THESE RESIDENTS WERE FACING OR HAD EXPERIENCE.

UTILITIES BEING SHUT OFF THAT WE WERE ABLE TO HAVE RESTORED IN SOME CASES DURING EXTREME INCLEMENT WEATHER.

WE KEPT PEOPLE IN THEIR HOMES WITH THE WATER RUNNING AND THE LIGHTS ON.

ANOTHER 10% OR SO OF OUR FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE WENT TOWARD TRANSPORTATION ASSISTANCE, WITH THE BULK OF THAT GOING TOWARDS CRITICAL VEHICLE REPAIR, GENERALLY TO FAMILIES WITH ONLY ONE VEHICLE. OUR FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE EFFORTS DIRECTLY IMPACTED 155 UNIQUE FAMILY UNITS, COMPRISED OF 286 ELIGIBLE RECIPIENTS. WHILE WE SAY THIS ASSISTANCE ACROSS MOST AREAS OF SERVICE, WE FOUND THE MAJORITY WERE ABOUT 55% WERE IN OUR OPERATION IRAQI FREEDOM AND OPERATION ENDURING FREEDOM.

AREAS OF SERVICE. WE COMPLEMENT OUR FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE EFFORTS WITH THE CAPABILITIES OF THE COUNTY'S ECONOMIC AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT TO ENSURE MAXIMUM USE OF ALL

[01:30:05]

AVAILABLE COUNTY RESOURCES. I ASKED DOC TO JOIN US BECAUSE HIS ORGANIZATION, THE SAN ANTONIO COALITION FOR VETERANS AND FAMILIES, HAS BEEN A KEY PARTNER FOR US, SPECIFICALLY AS IT RELATES TO OUR FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM.

OUR GRANT DOES NOT ALLOW US TO PROVIDE SHORT TERM LODGING, MOTELS OR HOTEL STAYS FOR INDIVIDUALS THAT ARE FACING HOUSING CONCERNS WHO OR WHO HAVE ACTUALLY BEEN EVICTED. WE LEVERAGE THE PARTNERSHIP WITH DOC AND SAC VF WHEN NEEDED, TO ENSURE THAT ELIGIBLE VETERANS AND THEIR FAMILIES HAVE A PLACE TO STAY WHILE WE WORK A LONGER TERM SOLUTION. HIS ORGANIZATION IS SMALL AND THEY HAVE THEIR OWN CHALLENGES WHEN IT COMES TO OBTAINING RESOURCES, SO WE'RE GRATEFUL FOR THE PARTNERSHIP THAT WE HAVE WITH DOC AND HIS TEAM.

I'D LIKE TO HIGHLIGHT ONE OF OUR CLIENTS WHO AGREED TO ALLOW US TO SHARE HER STORY.

UNFORTUNATELY, SHE COULDN'T BE HERE TODAY. WE ASKED HER TO JOIN US, BUT SHE ASKED US TO TO PASS THIS ALONG.

THIS IS MISS RODRIGUEZ. SHE'S AN ARMY VETERAN AND A SINGLE MOTHER.

SHE FACED PROLONGED UNEMPLOYMENT DUE TO COMPLEX MEDICAL CONDITIONS RELATED TO HER TIME IN SERVICE.

SHE HAD EXHAUSTED ALL OF HER UNEMPLOYMENT COMPENSATION BENEFITS.

SHE HAD SINCE ENROLLED IN THE VA'S VETERAN READINESS AND EMPLOYMENT PROGRAM TO OBTAIN PROFESSIONAL CERTIFICATIONS TO PUT HER ON A PATH TO A BETTER CAREER.

SHE SOUGHT ASSISTANCE FROM US TO PROVIDE FINANCIAL FINANCIAL RELIEF FOR HER AND HER FAMILY, WHICH WE DID. WE ALSO CONNECTED HER TO AN ORGANIZATION CALLED SOLDIER ON, WHICH IS A NATIONAL NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION THAT PROVIDES FREE FINANCIAL COUNSELING, AND SHE'S WORKING WITH OUR DEPARTMENT TO ENSURE SHE RECEIVES ALL AVAILABLE SERVICE CONNECTED DISABILITY BENEFITS OWED TO HER BY THE VA.

MISS RODRIGUEZ ACTUALLY FIRST CONNECTED WITH OUR DEPARTMENT THROUGH THE PEER SUPPORT PROGRAM THAT I'M GOING TO TALK ABOUT.

THIS CASE HIGHLIGHTS THE COMPREHENSIVE NATURE OF SUPPORT THAT OUR DEPARTMENT PROVIDES TO OUR COMMUNITY AND THE RESIDENTS WITHIN IT.

THE SECOND GRANT I'LL FOCUS ON IS THE VETERANS MENTAL HEALTH PROGRAM, WHICH PROVIDED US A UNIQUE PEER SUPPORT SERVICE CAPABILITY, MANY OF WHICH THE LADIES AND GENTLEMEN STANDING BEHIND ME ARE PARTICIPANTS OF.

WE AWARDED $300,000 FOR THIS PROGRAM. WITH THESE FUNDS, WE INITIALLY BROUGHT ON TWO FULL TIME EMPLOYEES TO ADMINISTER THE GRANT A LICENSED SOCIAL WORKER WHO SERVES AS THE PROGRAM LEAD AND AN INTAKE SPECIALIST.

EARLIER THIS YEAR, WE RECEIVED PERMISSION FROM THE TEXAS VETERANS COMMISSION AND THIS COURT TO REALLOCATE SOME FUNDS TO BRING A SECOND SOCIAL WORKER ON.

WE QUICKLY FOUND THAT THE NUMBER OF CLIENTS, PARTICULARLY THOSE THAT ARE JUSTICE INVOLVED AND HOMELESS OR AT RISK, CREATED SIGNIFICANT DEMAND THAT EXCEEDED OUR PROGRAM'S CAPACITY WITH A SINGLE SOCIAL WORKER.

WE ESTABLISHED A STRONG PARTNERSHIP WITH THE COUNTY JAIL TO INCLUDE OUR TEAM LEADING RECURRING GROUP AND INDIVIDUAL SESSIONS WITH ELIGIBLE INCARCERATED VETERANS INSIDE THE JAIL, WHICH HAS PROVED INSTRUMENTAL IN EARLY INTERVENTION EFFORTS OVER THE DURATION OF THIS GRANT.

WE PROVIDED SERVICES TO 201 ELIGIBLE CLIENTS, SPANNING SERVICE FROM VIETNAM TO THE MORE RECENT GLOBAL WAR ON TERROR.

OUR ACTIVITIES INCLUDED HUNTING, FISHING, BOWLING, PAINTING, POTTERY, AX THROWING, AND EVEN A RAGE ROOM.

WE LEVERAGE COMMUNITY PARTNERS TO PROVIDE EQUINE ASSISTED THERAPY, AND MORE RECENTLY, OUR TEAM HAS BEGUN LEADING SIMPLE WALKS THROUGH LOCAL PARKS WITH VETERANS AND THEIR PETS. WE HAVE HAD FEMALE ONLY EVENTS AS WELL AS EVENTS FOCUSED ON OUR TREATMENT COURTS, BOTH FELONY AND MISDEMEANOR, AND COMBINED, IN THE COUNTY JAIL, WE LEAD RECURRING MORAL RECOGNITION THERAPY IN BOTH THE MAIN JAIL AND NOW THE ANNEX, AND HAVE EVEN LED A NUMBER OF PAINTING SESSIONS INSIDE THE JAIL FOR ELIGIBLE VETERANS.

AS WE LIKE TO SAY, IT'S LESS ABOUT THE SPECIFIC ACTIVITY WE'RE DOING, BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY, THE FACT THAT WE'RE PROVIDING A UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY FOR VETERANS TO SPEND TIME WITH OTHER VETERANS, MANY WHO FEEL A LOSS OF IDENTITY AND EVEN SENSE OF PURPOSE WHEN THEY LEAVE THE MILITARY.

I'D LIKE TO HIGHLIGHT TWO WONDERFUL PARTICIPANTS OF OUR PEER SUPPORT PROGRAM.

FIRST, MR. MAURICIO RICCIO WAS UNABLE TO TO JOIN US TODAY AS WELL.

WE WANTED TO SHARE HIS STORY. MAURICIO IS A NAVY VETERAN.

HE'S NEARLY BLIND AND CURRENTLY RESIDES AT CROSS POINT.

WE ACTUALLY CONNECTED WITH MAURICIO THROUGH THE COMMUNITY COURT.

WE TIED HIM IN WITH OUR PEER SUPPORT PROGRAM AND HAVE SINCE HELPED HIM FILE HIS VA DISABILITY CLAIM, WHICH I JUST LEARNED YESTERDAY, CAME BACK APPROVED.

AND SO HE WILL RECEIVE COMPENSATION FROM THE VA FOR SERVICE CONNECTED INJURIES AND ILLNESSES.

[01:35:02]

WE CONTINUE TO WORK WITH HIM AND HIS CASE MANAGER AT CROSS POINT TO HELP CONNECT MAURICIO TO THE ARRAY OF COMMUNITY SERVICES AVAILABLE HERE IN BEXAR COUNTY.

WE RECENTLY HOSTED HIM ON A PEER SUPPORT FISHING TRIP TO THE TEXAS COAST, AND HE SAID, I NEVER IMAGINED DOING SOMETHING LIKE THIS ON MY OWN.

YOU SEE PHOTOS OF HIM. WE WERE ABLE TO GET HIM OUT ON A BOAT AND CATCH SOME FISH.

WE GAVE MAURICIO A HOPE WHEN HOPE HAD BECOME LOST TO HIM.

THE SECOND VETERAN I'D LIKE TO HIGHLIGHT. AND SHE'S HERE.

HE'S HERE TODAY IS MISS HEATHER. HEATHER IS AN ARMY VETERAN WHO IS ONE OF OUR VERY FIRST PARTICIPANTS IN THE PROGRAM.

SHE HAS TRANSITIONED FROM A QUIET, RESERVED INDIVIDUAL WHO SEEMED A LITTLE BIT TO LACK SOME SELF-CONFIDENCE TO A VIBRANT FORCE OF ENTHUSIASM AND MOTIVATION, AND A TRUE LEADER WITHIN THE PROGRAM.

THE IMPACT SHE HAS HAD ON OUR PROGRAM HAS BEEN IMMEASURABLE, AND IT'S OUR HOPE TO BRING BOTH HEATHER AND MAURICIO ON AS VOLUNTEER PEER SUPPORT MENTORS TO HELP MENTOR AND SUPPORT OTHERS IN OUR PROGRAM, BECAUSE THAT'S THE TRUE SUCCESS OF THE STORY, TO GET THEM INVOLVED AND TO BE PART OF THE PROCESS, IT'S THROUGH THESE EFFORTS.

VETERANS HELPING TO TAKE CARE OF VETERANS THAT WE SEE THE GREATEST IMPACT OF THIS PROGRAM.

HOW CLOSE? WITH A QUICK UPDATE ON WHERE WE CURRENTLY STAND IN MAY OF 2025, THE TEXAS VETERANS COMMISSION OFFERED IN THIS COURT THEN ACCEPTED OUR RENEWAL OF BOTH PROGRAMS FOR THE PREVIOUSLY APPROVED AMOUNTS OF $425,000 FOR FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE AND $300,000 FOR PEER SUPPORT.

THESE NEW GRANTS TOOK EFFECT ON 1ST JULY, AND OUR 14 MONTH GRANTS, AS OPPOSED TO THE ORIGINAL 12 MONTH GRANTS WE FIRST RECEIVED.

SO WE'LL HAVE TO EXTEND THIS OUT OVER A LONGER PERIOD OF TIME.

THIS FALL, WE WILL REAPPLY FOR BOTH GRANTS TO COVER US FROM FALL OF 26 TO FALL OF 27, AND THEN WE ANTICIPATE THE STATE WILL REVERT TO A TWO YEAR GRANT CYCLE TO BETTER ALIGN WITH THE STATE'S FISCAL CYCLE.

WE'RE CURRENTLY WORKING WITH THE COUNTY AUDITOR'S OFFICE, THE OFFICE OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE, ADULT PROBATION AND MANAGED DESIGN COUNCIL, AS WELL AS THE COUNTY COURTS TO IMPLEMENT OUR NEWLY ESTABLISHED HEROES FUND, WHICH WILL ALLOW US TO RECEIVE COURT DIRECTED DONATIONS MADE IN LIEU OF COMMUNITY SERVICE PROJECTS DIRECTED AS A CONDITION OF COMMUNITY SUPERVISION, AS ALLOWED BY TEXAS LAW. THESE FUNDS WILL AUGMENT OUR PEER SUPPORT AND FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM CAPABILITIES, AS WELL AS OTHER IDENTIFIED NEEDS WITHIN THE COMMUNITY.

I CANNOT TELL YOU HOW PROFOUNDLY HUMBLED, HONORED AND PROUD I AND ALL THE MEMBERS OF MY TEAM ARE TO SERVE IN THIS DEPARTMENT, TO SERVE THOSE THAT WE SERVE IN THIS COMMUNITY AND GET TO SEE ON A DAILY BASIS THE IMPACT EACH OF US HAS ON INDIVIDUAL LIVES, FAMILY LIVES AND THE COMMUNITY. WE CANNOT THANK EACH OF YOU ENOUGH FOR THE OPPORTUNITIES TO BE HERE.

JUDGE. COMMISSIONERS, THIS CONCLUDES MY PRESENTATION.

I'M HAPPY TO TAKE ANY ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS YOU MAY HAVE.

OF COURSE. COMMISSIONER COHEN. THANK YOU VERY MUCH, KEITH.

THIS WAS AN OUTSTANDING PRESENTATION. AND OBVIOUSLY A LOT OF PARTNERS CAME TOGETHER TO MAKE THAT IMPACT IN OUR COMMUNITY.

I KNOW WE HAVE A HUGE NEED. YOU KNOW, THE COST OF LIVING IS REALLY HIGH AND THERE'S A LOT OF OLD WOUNDS, PHYSICAL AND MENTAL, THAT ARE CHALLENGING OUR COMMUNITY OF VETERANS.

AND WE'RE SO GRATEFUL FOR PARTNERS LIKE THE SAN ANTONIO COALITION THAT DO SUCH AN INCREDIBLE JOB MEETING A VARIETY OF DEMANDS AS WELL.

SO HATS OFF TO THE TEAM WHO'S DONE THIS. WE'RE GRATEFUL FOR THE STATE GRANT OPPORTUNITIES, AND I CERTAINLY WILL ACCEPT, YOU KNOW, MOVE TO ACCEPT THIS VETERANS UPDATE THAT YOU'VE YOU'VE GIVEN TODAY.

SO KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK. YES, SIR. THANK YOU.

JUDGE. YES. I JUST WANTED TO THANK KEITH FOR THE PRESENTATION AS WELL.

AND FOR, FOR SEEING, YOU KNOW, THE THE ACTUAL STORIES THAT THOSE VETERANS BRING IN, BRINGING THIS TO LIFE TODAY.

I APPRECIATE YOU DOING THAT. I APPRECIATE YOUR TEAM'S WORK.

AND EVERYTHING THAT THAT OUR BEXAR COUNTY TEAM DOES FOR.

FOR THE COMMUNITY OF VETERANS HERE, I BELIEVE THERE'S OVER 170,000.

WAS THE LAST NUMBER I HEARD. 170,000 VETERANS IN BEXAR COUNTY.

SO A TREMENDOUS POPULATION OF VETERANS. WE ARE MILITARY CITY, USA.

[01:40:02]

I'LL SAY MILITARY COUNTY, USA. AND YOU KNOW, IT'S IT'S SUCH A AN HONOR TO TO HAVE YOUR TEAM BE ABLE TO TO SERVE THOSE THOSE MEN AND WOMEN WHO'VE SERVED OUR COUNTRY AND SACRIFICED SO MUCH AND THEIR FAMILIES AS WELL.

SO THANK YOU FOR THAT. AND I DO WANT TO JUST GIVE A SHOUT OUT TO THE TEXAS VETERANS COMMISSION CHAIRWOMAN LAURA KOERNER AND THE REST OF THEIR TEAM THERE FOR CONTINUING TO TO KEEP BEXAR COUNTY YOU KNOW, ON THEIR LIST FOR, FOR THESE GRANTS AND BEING ABLE TO ALLOW ALL THIS WORK THAT YOU AND YOUR TEAM ARE DOING. SO THANK YOU ALL AROUND, COMMISSIONER RODERICK.

THANK YOU. LET ME JUST JOIN IN THANKING YOU, KEITH AND YOUR TEAM.

DOESN'T DOESN'T CEASE TO AMAZE ME THE TYPE OF WORK THAT YOU'RE DOING AND THE OUTREACH AND THE LIVES THAT YOU'RE IMPACTING.

HEATHER, THANK YOU FOR FOR BEING HERE PERSONALLY.

GREAT TESTIMONY. IT'S ALWAYS WONDERFUL TO HEAR FIRSTHAND HOW THESE PROGRAMS ARE IMPACTING PEOPLE.

AND EVEN MORE HEARTENING TO HEAR YOU'RE THINKING ABOUT COMING BACK AND HELPING WITH THE PEER TO PEER, WHICH IS WHAT IT'S ALL ABOUT. SO THANK YOU FOR THAT.

YOU KNOW, WE SAW IT A FEW WEEKS AGO, KEITH AT OUR VETERANS WELLNESS AND BACK TO SCHOOL EVENT EARLY AUGUST AT WONDERLAND.

GREAT TURNOUT. ALWAYS GET GOOD FEEDBACK ON YOUR TEAM AND WHAT YOU'RE DOING.

SO KEEP UP THE GREAT WORK. I CAN'T CAN'T THANK YOU ENOUGH.

AND AGAIN, THANK YOU FOR FOR BEING HERE TO YOUR ENTIRE TEAM, NANCY AS WELL.

EVERYBODY'S HERE. AND I KNOW YOU DO IT WITH A PRETTY LEAN STAFF, AND YOU RELY QUITE A BIT ON THE VETERANS IN OUR COMMUNITY TO PARTICIPATE AND BE PART OF THIS EFFORT. SO THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING HERE AS WELL.

AND AGAIN, AS ALWAYS, THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE.

THANK YOU JUDGE. THANK YOU COMMISSIONER. YEAH.

I ALSO WANT TO THANK JUST THE VETERANS DEPARTMENT TEAM FOR ALL THE WORK THAT YOU GUYS DO.

MR. LEE, IT'S GOOD TO SEE YOU. THANKS FOR BEING HERE.

AND, HEATHER, THANKS FOR MAKING TIME TO COME.

IT'S ALWAYS GOOD TO PUT A FACE WITH THE PROGRAMS THAT WE SUPPORT.

AND OF COURSE, MY PRECINCT HAS A LOT OF VETERANS.

MORE IMPORTANTLY, PERSONALLY, MY BROTHER, I ALWAYS SAY THAT HE'S A 24 YEAR RETIRED FROM THE ARMY AND DEFINITELY A LOT OF RESOURCES ARE NEEDED.

SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORK.

SO LET ME THANK YOU, KEITH AND YOUR TEAM. BUT Y'ALL GOT A PRETTY NICE SUV.

AND WHEN DID WE GET Y'ALL PRETTY TRICKED OUT THERE? DUDE, YOU'RE RIDING AROUND IN THAT SUV, TV. YEAH, A LOT OF LOT OF PRAISE.

A LOT OF PRAISE. RIGHT. IT'S NOTICEABLE IN THIS TOWN, AIN'T IT? OKAY, WELL, LET ME JUST SAY THANK YOU TO ALL OF YOU.

I JUST WANT TO JUST LET YOU ALL KNOW THAT MY OFFICE SET UP A MEETING WITH USAA.

IT WAS A REALLY GREAT MEETING. AND KEITH HOPE, AT A LATER DATE, WE'RE GOING TO BE ABLE TO REPORT BACK SOME OF THE RESULTS OF THIS NEW COLLABORATION THAT WE'RE GOING TO HAVE WITH USA. OUR ARE REALLY GREAT CORPORATE PARTNER HERE, ESPECIALLY AS THEY ADDRESS THEIR FOCUS, IS REALLY TO KIND OF GO BACK TO THEIR CORE MISSION AND TO REALLY FOCUS IN ON THE ISSUES OF THE VETERANS.

WE KNOW THAT THEY'RE VERY FOCUSED WITH SUPPORT PROGRAMS ON THE VETERANS SUICIDE, THE MENTAL HEALTH COMPONENT, AS WE ARE, TOO. AND SO OBVIOUSLY WE PROVIDE MUCH WRAPAROUND SERVICES THAT YOU'VE ILLUSTRATED TODAY.

I'M HAPPY TO SUPPORT THIS DEPARTMENT AND ALL OUR EFFORTS TO PROTECT OUR VETERANS WHO, ESPECIALLY OF THOSE THAT HAVE SACRIFICED AND SERVED ON THE FRONT FRONT LINE, SO TO SPEAK, SO I BELIEVE THERE'S A MOTION ON THE FLOOR.

A CALL FOR A VOTE. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF THE MOTION SIGNIFY SAYING I.

ANY OPPOSED, ANY ABSTENTION? MOTION CARRIES. THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH.

CARRY ON. COMMISSIONERS, LET'S GIVE THEM A ROUND OF APPLAUSE.

OKAY. I THINK WE'LL GO BACK TO INDIVIDUAL. LET'S SEE.

[45. Pre-Authorization of awarding multiple delivery purchase orders, and upon Commissioners Court approval of the FY 2026 budget, the execution of multiple delivery purchase orders in October 2025 to Caldwell Country Chevrolet, Lake Country Chevrolet, Inc., Sames Laredo Chevrolet, Inc., Caldwell Country Ford dba Rockdale Country Ford, Sames Bastrop Ford, Inc., and Silsbee Ford Inc., in the aggregate total amount of $4,299,360.74 to provide for the purchase of seventy-eight (78) various law enforcement vehicles, as requested by Public Works Department/Fleet Maintenance for County Offices and Departments; authorizing the Purchasing Agent to execute and file the appropriate award documents for record.]

BACK TO 45. REAUTHORIZATION. AWARDING MULTIPLE DELIVERY PURCHASE ORDERS UPON COMMISSIONERS COURT APPROVAL FY 26 BUDGET EXECUTION AND MULTIPLE MULTIPLE DELIVERY PURCHASE ORDERS IN OCTOBER 2025 TO CALDWELL COUNTY, CHEVROLET, LAKE COUNTRY, CHEVROLET, SAMES, LAREDO CHEVROLET, INC., CALDWELL COUNTRY.

FORD DBA ROCKDALE COUNTRY. FORD. SAMES. BASTROP 40, SILSBEE 40.

IN THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT OF $4,299,360.74 TO RIDE FOR THE PURCHASE OF 78 VARIOUS LAW ENFORCEMENT VEHICLES, AS REQUESTED BY PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT FLEET MAINTENANCE FOR COUNTY OFFICERS AND DEPARTMENTS AUTHORIZING IMPERSONATION, EXECUTE AND FILE THE APPROPRIATE AWARD DOCUMENTS FOR A RECORD.

BELIEVE, MR. GALLOWAY. MR. RHINEHART, WHAT ARE WE DOING TODAY? GOOD MORNING, YOUR HONOR. COMMISSIONERS, I'M HAPPY TO PRESENT AGENDA ITEM 45 ON A JOINT EFFORT BETWEEN OUR VEHICLE REPLACEMENT COMMITTEE, THE BRC, OUR PARTNERS AT FLEET, REPRESENTED BY MR.

[01:45:02]

REINHARDT, AND THEN MY OWN STAFF, REPRESENTED BY MR. JONATHAN PRIEST, WHO STARTED THE YEOMAN'S WORK ON THIS EFFORT HERE.

I WANT TO REFERENCE THE DISCUSSION WITH OUR GOAL.

THE END OBJECTIVE, PRE AUTHORIZING THE AWARD OF PURCHASE ORDERS WILL ALLOW THE SUPPLIERS TO PLACE THE ORDERS WITH THE MANUFACTURERS SOONER, RESULTING IN BETTER COUNTY LAW ENFORCEMENT VEHICLES TO BE PLACED IN LINE, TO BE MANUFACTURED AND THEN DELIVERED AT AN EARLIER DATE.

FOR HISTORICAL CONTEXT, WE'VE ALWAYS BEEN BEHIND.

THE REASON WE'VE BEEN BEHIND IS BECAUSE WHEN OUR BUDGET IS PASSED, WE ARE COMPETING WITH NOT ONLY OUR COUNTY PEERS WITHIN THE STATE.

WE ARE COMPETING WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES ACROSS THE COUNTRY FOR THE SAME TYPES OF VEHICLES.

SO WHAT WE'RE HERE TO PRESENT IS A PROACTIVE APPROACH TO RECEIVING THE AUTHORIZATION, THE APPROVAL TO PLACE THESE PURCHASE ORDERS, TO GET THESE ORDERS IN LINE SOONER, SO THAT THE END EFFECT OF OUR PARTNERS AT BEXAR COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE, OUR CONSTABLES AT PRECINCT ONE THROUGH FOUR, RECEIVE WHAT THEY NEED TO DO THE JOB TO PROTECT US.