[00:00:02] >> GOOD MORNING. I'D LIKE TO WELCOME EVERYONE TO [1. Opening Prayer: Deacon Tim McCarthy] THE FINAL BEXAR COUNTY COMMISSIONERS COURT MEETING OF 2025. COMMISSIONER JUSTIN RODRIGUEZ, PLEASE RECOGNIZE DEACON TIM MCCARTHY, AND DO THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE FOR US, PLEASE. >> GOOD MORNING. THANK YOU, JUDGE. DEACON. WE'LL GET BIG CROWD. IF YOU CAN COME UP TO THE PODIUM WHILE YOU'RE COMING UP. GOOD MORNING, DEACON. THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. LET ME JUST SAY A FEW WORDS OF INTRODUCTION BEFORE YOU GET TO OUR PRAYER. THIS IS DEACON TIM MCCARTHY. HE'S SERVED AS DEACON NOW FOR 14 YEARS. CURRENTLY, HE'S ASSIGNED TO THE PRINCE OF PEACE CATHOLIC CHURCH ON GRISSOM ROAD, MARRIED TO HIS LOVELY WIFE, LINEL, FOR 37 YEARS. CONGRATULATIONS ON THAT. HE'S CURRENTLY EMPLOYED AS A CLERGY CARE ADVOCATE AT MEDICARE, WHERE HE ASSISTS THE CLERGY OF THE ARCHDIOCESE WITH THEIR HEALTHCARE NEEDS, SERVING AS AN ADDED RESOURCE TO HELP THEM NAVIGATE THE COMPLEXITIES OF THE HEALTHCARE SYSTEM. HE FIRST CAME TO SAN ANTONIO IN 1979, WHEN HE WAS ASSIGNED TO FORT SAM HOUSTON AS A COMBAT MEDIC. THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE. SERVED IN THE MILITARY FOR 5.5 YEARS. AFTER SERVICE, HE BECAME A PHYSICAL THERAPIST AND WORKED FOR 32 YEARS IN A VARIETY OF SETTINGS, INCLUDING INDUSTRY, REHABILITATION CENTERS, AND HOSPITALS. DEACON MCCARTHY, THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE BOTH TO THE CHURCH AND TO OUR COUNTRY. PLEASE, IF EVERYONE WOULD STAND, HE'S GOING TO LEAD US IN PRAYER, AND THEN WE'LL DO THE PLEDGE. >> TO OUR COUNTY JUDGE, OUR COMMISSIONERS, AND TO THE PEOPLE OF BEXAR COUNTY. LET US PRAY. ALMIGHTY GOD, SOURCE OF ALL WISDOM AND LOVE. WE, YOUR SERVANTS, GATHER HERE FOR THIS MEETING OF THE COMMISSIONERS COURT, WHO HAVE BEEN CALLED TO LEAD AND SERVE OUR COMMUNITY. ACKNOWLEDGE YOUR PRESENCE AND SEEK YOUR GUIDANCE AS WE PREPARE TO CELEBRATE THE BIRTH OF JESUS CHRIST. WE GIVE YOU THANKS FOR THE BLESSINGS OF THE SEASON, A TIME OF REFLECTION, HOPE, AND PEACE FOR THE MANY TRADITIONS IN OUR COMMUNITY. FILL OUR MINDS WITH CLARITY AND OUR HEARTS WITH COMPASSION, SO THAT OUR DECISIONS REFLECT TRUTH, JUSTICE AND PEACE. GRANT US THE WISDOM TO DISCERN TRUTH, UNDERSTANDING TO ACT WITH COMPASSION, AND STRENGTH TO UPHOLD JUSTICE AND RIGHTEOUSNESS IN ALL OUR DELIBERATIONS. MAY OUR MINDS BE ENLIGHTENED, OUR SPIRITS BE UPLIFTED, AND OUR HEARTS FILLED WITH SELFLESS LOVE FOR THE PEOPLE WE SERVE. THAT OUR DECISIONS FOSTER PEACE, EQUALITY, AND PROSPERITY FOR OUR ENTIRE COMMUNITY. HELP THE COMMISSIONERS COURT TO BE INSTRUMENTS OF YOUR GRACE, PARTICULARLY IN THE SEASON OF GIVING, REMEMBERING THOSE WHO ARE STRUGGLING, LONELY, AND OR IN NEED. MAY THE SPIRIT OF CHRISTMAS, THAT OF HOPE, GENEROSITY, AND GOODWILL, PERMEATE THIS MEETING AND GUIDE YOUR ACTIONS THAT THEY MAY HONOR YOU AND LEAD US ALL IN THE PATH OF RIGHTEOUSNESS, TRUTH, JUSTICE, AND PEACE. MAY THE GOODWILL ASSOCIATED WITH THIS CHRISTMAS SEASON REMAIN IN OUR HEARTS AND ACTIONS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR. BLESS THIS COURT, THIS COUNTY, AND ALL WHO COME BEFORE IT, WHEN WE OFFER THIS PRAYER IN THE NAME OF ALMIGHTY GOD TO WHOM ALL TRUTH BELONGS. AMEN. >> AMEN. THANK YOU, DEACON. PLEASE, JOIN US IN THE PLEDGE TO OUR NATION'S FLAG. >> WE'RE GOING TO TAKE UP AGENDA ITEM NUMBER 3, [3. Request of Commissioners Court to identify items from the Consent Agenda for additional discussion and to approve remaining Consent Agenda items.] BUT I BELIEVE FOR PURPOSES OF THE RECORD, KATE, WOULD YOU PLEASE CLARIFY FOR THE RECORD, THERE ARE SOME CORRECTIONS TO BE MADE AND PERHAPS SOME ISSUES TO BE AND DEFERRED. WOULD YOU PLEASE PUT THAT ON THE RECORD? >> YES, JUDGE. THAT'S CORRECT. WE WILL BE PULLING AND DEFERRING ITEMS 6C, 6D AND 6E. >> [BACKGROUND] FOR THE RECORD, WE'RE PULLING 6C, D AND E, IS THAT CORRECT? >> YES, JUDGE. THEN THE ITEMS FOR JUST SOME CLERICAL ERRORS IN THE CAPTIONS, ITEM NUMBER 10, THE CLAIMS REGISTERS, IT SHOULD SAY WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 3RD, INSTEAD OF WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 2ND. THEN ITEM NUMBER 95 SHOULD REFLECT 5TH AMENDMENT INSTEAD OF 3RD AMENDMENT. [00:05:16] >> DO WE NEED A MOTION ON ANY CORRECTION BELOW? >> I THINK BEFORE THAT WE NEED TO PULL INDIVIDUAL ITEMS, AND THEN WE CAN MAKE A MOTION WITH THOSE CORRECTIONS. >> COMMISSIONERS, ANY MATTERS TO BE PULLED. COMMISSIONER CALVERT, YOU WANT 92? >> I'D LIKE TO PULL 16, JUDGE. >> COMMISSIONER RODRIGUEZ 16, COMMISSIONER MOODY? >> 13 AND 81. >> 13 AND 81. COMMISSIONER CLAY-FLORES? >> NOTHING TO PULL. THANK YOU. >> JUDGE, I'D MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE REMAINDER OF CONSENT WITH THE AMENDMENTS AS NOTED. >> SECOND. >> MOTION BY COMMISSIONER RODRIGUEZ, SECOND BY COMMISSIONER CLAY-FLORES. ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF THE MOTION SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE? >> AYE. >> AN OPPOSED? ANY ABSTENTION? MOTION CARRIES. >> JUDGE, CAN I TAKE A QUICK POINT OF PERSONAL PRIVILEGE WHILE YOU'RE GOING ON JUST REAL QUICKLY ON 85. I DON'T KNOW IF MISS BRISTOL IS HERE, MERCEDES BRISTOL. BUT IF SHE'S NOT THERE, SHE IS. WOULD YOU COME UP. QUICKLY, I WANT TO JUST ACKNOWLEDGE WE APPROVE THIS ON CONSENT NOW, MISS BRISTOL SO YOU ARE OFFICIAL. FOR THOSE THAT DON'T KNOW, MERCEDES BRISTOL HAS BEEN A ADVOCATE FOR A LONG TIME IN OUR COMMUNITY, GRANDPARENTS RAISING GRANDCHILDREN. I'VE KNOWN HER SINCE MY DAYS IN THE LEGISLATURE, AND NOW YOU'RE OFFICIALLY APPOINTED TO THE CHILD WELFARE BOARD. THANK YOU FOR STEPPING UP AND YOUR COMMITMENT TO PROTECTING OUR YOUTH AND OUR COMMUNITY. I JUST WANTED TO SIMPLY ACKNOWLEDGE AND THANK YOU. I DON'T KNOW IF YOU WANT TO SAY A QUICK WORD, BUT YOU'RE WELCOME TO. BUT AGAIN, JUST WANTED TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE. >> JUST WANT TO THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO TAKE ON THIS OFFICE, AND I TAKE IT VERY SERIOUS, AND I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU KNOW WHERE MY HEART IS ABOUT THE CHILDREN SO THANK YOU FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY. >> THANK YOU SO MUCH. I DON'T KNOW IF REEL IS HERE TO MY OTHER APPOINTEE, BUT THANK YOU AGAIN FOR BEING HERE. LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU. >> THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU, JUDGE. >> THANK YOU. COMMISSIONER MOODY? [APPLAUSE] >> THANK YOU, JUDGE. ANOTHER JUST QUICK POINT OF PERSONAL PRIVILEGE. LAST WEEKEND WE HAD OUR HOLIDAYS IN THE PARK IN PRECINCT 3. I'M NOT SURE KEN MCGLAMERY IS PROBABLY IN THE BACK, OUR DIRECTOR OF PARKS AND REC, BUT I JUST WANTED TO THANK HIM, ANALISA HINOJOSA, AND THE ENTIRE TEAM FOR ALL THE WORK THEY DID AND PUTTING A SUCCESSFUL EVENT TOGETHER. WE HAD HUNDREDS OF FAMILIES COME OUT. THERE'S KEN. WE HAD THE TRAIN. THERE'S ANALISA. GO AHEAD. COME UP. IF YOU WOULD REALLY QUICK. JUST WANT TO THANK YOU BOTH FOR ALL YOUR EFFORTS. WE HAD HUNDREDS OF FAMILIES COME OUT. WE EVEN HAD SOME SNOWBALL FIGHTS. WE HAD SANTA. WE HAD HOT CHOCOLATE COOKIES. WE HAD JUST A GREAT TIME. I JUST WANTED TO THANK YOU BOTH PUBLICLY FOR PUTTING ON SUCH A WONDERFUL EVENT FOR OUR COMMUNITY. >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. IT WAS ALL ANALISA THAT SHE'S THE CREATIVITY BEHIND THAT. SHE'S THE FORCE BEHIND THAT, AND SHE PUSHES IT ALL TOGETHER AND CRACKS THAT WHIP, BUT SHE'S THE ONE THAT REALLY MADE THIS HAPPEN. >> WELL, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR EFFORTS. APPRECIATE IT. >> I APPRECIATE IT. THANK YOU. [BACKGROUND] [APPLAUSE] >> LET ME GO BACK TO CEREMONIAL, AND THEN WE'LL GO BACK TO THE INDIVIDUAL ITEMS TO BE PULLED IF WE COULD SO THAT WE CAN MOVE THROUGH OUR AGENDA. LET'S TAKE UP CEREMONIAL ITEMS, 4A. [4. CEREMONIAL ITEM(S)] LET'S RECOGNIZE PRESENTATION OF SERVICE PIN, RECOGNIZE EMPLOYEES FOR 25 PLUS YEARS OF SERVICE. OUR FIRST EMPLOYEE IS MICHAEL P BETTIS FROM CONSTABLE PRECINCT 1. [APPLAUSE] WOULD YOU PLEASE STEP FORWARD WITH YOUR FAMILY? [APPLAUSE] PEOPLE FROM THE OFFICE, CONSTABLE TEJEDA. >> WELL, THIS IS A SPECIAL DAY FOR YOU, CONSTABLE. >> [LAUGHTER] JUDGE, I JUST WANT TO PRESENT MIKE BETTIS WITH THE 25-YEAR PIN, AND ALSO WE LAMINATED THE ACKNOWLEDGMENT FROM COMMISSIONERS COURT. BUT MIKE HAS BEEN WITH THE CONSTABLE'S OFFICE FOR 25 YEARS. [00:10:02] HE WAS WITH THE OLD PRECINCT 1 THEN WITH THE NEW PRECINCT 1 SO HE IS DOING FANTASTIC WORK, BECAUSE HE DOES A LOT OF THE BACKGROUND CHECKS. HE MONITORS ALL THE WARRANTS, ATTORNEY GENERAL PAPERWORK. HE'S A BIT BUSY MAN AND ALSO, HE'S ALWAYS THERE TO ASSIST MY OFFICERS IF THEY ASK QUESTIONS OUT IN THE FIELD. I'M VERY PROUD OF MIKE, AND WE JUST GAVE OUT SOME 20-YEAR PINS AT THE OFFICE AND 10-YEAR PINS. BUT MIKE'S BEEN WITH THE CONSTABLE'S OFFICE, THE ONLY ONE WITH THE CONSTABLE'S OFFICE, EITHER THE OLD ONE AND THE PRECINCT 1 OF NOW SO, MIKE. [APPLAUSE]. >> THANK YOU. >> [INAUDIBLE] DID YOU BRING ANY FAMILY FRIENDS OR? THE PODIUM'S YOURS. >> JUDGE, COMMISSIONERS, GOOD MORNING. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR MY PIN AND MY ACKNOWLEDGMENT HERE TODAY. MY JOURNEY HERE TO THE POINT WHERE I'M AT TODAY, ACTUALLY, STARTED IN THE FALL OF 1985. 1985, I WAS RECRUITED AND JOINED A POLICE EXPLORE PROGRAM WHILE IN HIGH SCHOOL. I STAYED ACTIVE FOR SEVERAL YEARS, REMAINED THERE UNTIL I AGED OUT. IN 1993, I GOT MY CERTIFICATION AND BECAME A FULL-TIME POLICE DISPATCHER WITH THE EDGEWOOD INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT, WHERE I REMAINED THERE FOR SEVEN YEARS. IN 2000, THAT'S WHEN I GOT MY CERTIFICATION AND CAME TO WORK FOR PRECINCT 1. I STARTED OFF AS A BAILIFF FOR SEVERAL YEARS UNDER SEVERAL DPS. WHEN CONSTABLE TEJEDA TOOK OVER, HE GLADLY PUT ME OUT ON THE FIELD AND I SHOWED MY WORTH, WHERE I HAVE BEEN EVER EVER SINCE THEN. I'M CURRENTLY IN CHARGE OF THE CRIMINAL WARRANT FOR MY OFFICE AND HAVE BEEN FOR SEVERAL YEARS, AND I TAKE GREAT PRIDE IN IT AND MAKING SURE OUR OFFICERS ALWAYS REMAIN SAFE AND I GIVE ALL MY DEDICATION TO THEM EVERY DAY. >> WOULD YOU, PLEASE, STEP FORWARD AND ACCEPT OUR 25-YEAR PIN AND TAKE A PICTURE? [APPLAUSE] [BACKGROUND] LET'S TAKE A PICTURE. THERE WE GO. [APPLAUSE]. THANK YOU. THE NEXT EMPLOYEE IS BETTY LOU GRES FROM ELECTIONS, 25 PLUS YEARS. BRING YOUR FAMILY FRIENDS AND YOUR DEPARTMENT. MISS CREW, GOOD MORNING. >> GOOD MORNING, JUDGE AND COMMISSIONERS. TODAY, WE ARE PROUD TO BE ABLE TO CELEBRATE BETTY, AND THE SUCCESS THAT SHE'S BROUGHT TO OUR OFFICE. SHE HAS GIVEN 25 YEARS TO NOT JUST THE BEXAR COUNTY ELECTIONS OFFICE, BUT TO THE VOTERS OF BEXAR COUNTY. HER JOB ENTAILS RECRUITING AND MAKING SURE THAT EVERY ONE OF OUR POLL SITES IS STAFFED. SHE HAS A GREAT WORK ETHIC. SHE WORKS VERY WELL WITH HER TEAM, AND BEING THAT I'VE ONLY BEEN HERE NINE MONTHS, I CAN SEE HER DEDICATION EVERY DAY IN THE WORK THAT SHE BRINGS TO BEXAR COUNTY. SHE'S SEEN A LOT OF THINGS HAPPEN IN ELECTION HISTORY, AND I THINK TODAY IS ONE OF THOSE DAYS. WE WANTED TO PRESENT HER ON BEHALF OF THE ELECTIONS DEPARTMENT, THIS PLAQUE THAT SAYS, PRESENTED TO BETTY GRES IN APPRECIATION FOR 25 YEARS OF DEDICATED SERVICE TO BEXAR COUNTY AND ITS VOTERS FROM THE BEXAR COUNTY ELECTIONS OFFICE. >> BETTY, WOULD YOU LIKE TO SAY A FEW WORDS? >> THANK YOU, JUDGE. THANK YOU, COMMISSIONERS. IT HAS BEEN 25 YEARS OF MY JOURNEY HERE WITH YOU ALL. I WANT TO THANK MY ELECTION TEAM TO BEING HERE TO SUPPORT ME TODAY. >> WE'LL BRING THEM UP HERE. COME ON. [APPLAUSE]. >> ELECTIONS. >> THE TROOPS ARE HERE. >> THANK YOU, GUYS. >> WHO'S LEFT AT THE OFFICE? [LAUGHTER] >> [BACKGROUND] SECURITY. >> HOPE SOMEBODY'S ANSWERING THE PHONES. [LAUGHTER]. >> BUT THANK YOU. APPRECIATE IT, THE ACKNOWLEDGMENT AND APPRECIATE EVERYTHING YOU HAVE DONE FOR US. >> WOULD YOU, PLEASE, STEP FORWARD AND TAKE A PICTURE. [APPLAUSE] [00:15:09] [BACKGROUND] >> GOOD MORNING. >> GOOD MORNING. >> YOU ALL ARE GOING TO HAVE TO ACT LIKE YOU REALLY LIKE EACH OTHER. >> ANOTHER ROUND OF APPLAUSE FOR THE ELECTION DEPARTMENT. [APPLAUSE] [BACKGROUND] >> THE NEXT EMPLOYEE, MARICELA MORENO FROM THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE, SHERIFF SALAZAR. [APPLAUSE] BRING YOUR FAMILY, FRIENDS UP. SHERIFF, YOU DON'T HAVE THE ENTIRE SHERIFF'S OFFICE HERE, DO YOU? [LAUGHTER]. >> YOU NEVER KNOW, SIR. >> MISS MORENO'S NERVOUS. LET THE RECORD REFLECT. [LAUGHTER] WELL, GOOD MORNING COMMISSIONER. GOOD MORNING, JUDGE. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR HAVING US. YES, SIR, TODAY, WE'RE HERE TO CELEBRATE 25 YEARS OF SERVICE FOR MISS MARICELA MORENO. SHE IS A CIVILIAN EMPLOYEE AT THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE. IN 1998, '99, SHE STARTED AS A TEMP EMPLOYEE IN THE MAIL ROOM. IN 2000, SHE WENT OVER TO THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE MAILROOM AS A FULL-TIME EMPLOYEE UNDER SUPERVISOR CORPORAL MARK WELLS. NOW, CORPORAL WELLS HAS, UNFORTUNATELY, SINCE PASSED. HOWEVER, SHE CREDITS HIS CHARACTER-DRIVEN LEADERSHIP IN PLAYING AN INSTRUMENTAL ROLE IN SHAPING HER PATH AND INSPIRING THE PROFESSIONALISM AND LONG-TERM COMMITMENT TO THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE. SHE SERVED IN THAT CAPACITY UNTIL 2017. IN 2017, SHE CURRENTLY IS THE SOCIAL SERVICES JAIL PROGRAMS COORDINATOR, PROVIDING SOCIAL SERVICES SUPPORT AND INDIGENT HYGIENE ITEMS TO THE INCARCERATED POPULATION. SHE HAS IN 2020, DURING THE HEIGHT OF THE COVID PANDEMIC, SHE WELCOMED HER DAUGHTER, DELLA MAURICIO, WHO'S FIVE YEARS OF AGE, AND SOCIAL SERVICES IS AN ESSENTIAL DEPARTMENT IN THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE. DURING HER PREGNANCY, MARI ENSURED OUR INDIGENT POPULATION, KEPT RECEIVING ESSENTIAL HYGIENE SUPPLIES AND SUPPORT. AS YOU CAN IMAGINE, DURING A PANDEMIC, WE WERE ALL REELING, AND IT WAS OBVIOUSLY VERY IMPORTANT FOR THEM TO CONTINUE TO GET THOSE HYGIENE ITEMS. WE THANK HER FOR THAT. MARI BRINGS A SENSE OF JOY AND CONNECTION TO THE WORKPLACE. SHE PROUDLY COLLECTS FIESTA METALS, WHICH I'VE GOT FOUR PICTURES HERE OF HER GETTING MY METALS EVERY SINGLE YEAR AND INCLUDING A PICTURE OF DILLA. THIS IS THE PICTURE OF DILLA THERE? SHE ENJOYS CREATING LIGHTHEARTED KARAOKE MOMENTS IN THE OFFICE. I CAN'T WAIT TO HEAR THAT. MAYBE YOU CAN PRACTICE WITH THE MAIAI FROM THAT TIME TO TIME, WHO KNOWS? CONSISTENTLY WORKS TO UPLIFT THOSE AROUND HER. WE THANK HER FOR HER YEARS OF SERVICE, AND THEN WE DON'T MAKE HER STEP UP TO THE MICROPHONE AND SAY A FEW WORDS UNLESS SHE REALLY WANTS TO. >> I JUST WANT TO THANK MY JOB PROGRAMS TEAM FOR BEING HERE WITH ME TODAY AS NERVOUS I AM. >> ARE THEY HERE? > YES, THEY ARE. >> BRING THEM UP. COME ON. >> SOCIAL SERVICES. >> COME ON, SHERIFF'S OFFICE. COME ON. >> THEY MAKE THE JOB FUN AND ENJOYABLE TO COME TO WORK EVERY DAY TO SPEND TIME WITH THEM, AND I THANK THEM FOR MAKING THE 25 YEARS HERE AT BEXAR COUNTY. THANK Y'ALL. >> WOULD YOU PLEASE STEP FOR? ACCEPT YOUR 25-YEAR PEN. [APPLAUSE] TAKE A PICTURE. COME ON. >> CONGRATULATIONS. [BACKGROUND]. >> WE NEED SOME PEOPLE ON THIS SIDE. THERE YOU GO. THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE] NEXT EMPLOYEE IS ROBERT CHARLES MALDONADO. [00:20:04] >> GOOD MORNING, JUDGE. GOOD MORNING, COMMISSIONERS. IT IS OUR GREAT HONOR TO HONOR ROBERT MALDONADO HERE TODAY FOR 25 YEARS OF SERVICE WITH THE JUVENILE PROBATION DEPARTMENT. I'M GOING TO TURN IT OVER TO DEPUTY CHIEF CARLOS ZUNIGA OVER INSTITUTIONS TO GIVE SOME WORDS ABOUT ROBERT. BUT AGAIN, WE WANT TO THANK YOU ALL FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY TO ACKNOWLEDGE HIM AND JUST ACKNOWLEDGING HOW IMPORTANT IT IS FOR SOMEONE TO GIVE THAT MUCH SERVICE TO OUR DIVISION WITH THAT CONTINUITY. ADD SO MUCH TO OUR ABILITY TO TAKE CARE OF THE CHILDREN IN OUR CARE. THANK YOU SO MUCH, AND PLEASE, CARLOS, TAKE IT AWAY. >> GOOD MORNING, JUDGE AND COMMISSIONERS. ROBERT BEGAN HIS CAREER AT THE JUVENILE DETENTION CENTER IN OCTOBER OF 2000 ON THE SECOND SHIFT. IT WAS, ACTUALLY, THE SHIFT THAT I WAS SUPERVISING AT THE TIME. AFTER SEVERAL YEARS, HE TRANSITIONED TO A NEW UNIT THAT WE HAD THAT PRIMARY FOCUS WAS TO, BASICALLY, ASSIST THE KIDS WHEN THEY WERE IN SCHOOL AT THE DETENTION CENTER. IN 2015, ROBERT WAS PROMOTED TO A JUVENILE DETENTION OFFICER TO POSITION WITH OUR TRANSPORTATION UNIT. ROBERT HAS WITNESSED THE CENTER UNDERGROW SOME SIGNIFICANT GROWTH AND CHANGE OVER THE YEARS. HIS ROLE IN TRANSPORTING YOUTH ACROSS THE STATE OF TEXAS, INCLUDING BROWNWOOD, MARK, HOUSTON, VERNON, WACO, AND MAIAI HAS BEEN INVALUABLE TO THE OPERATION AND SUCCESS OF OUR DEPARTMENT. THROUGHOUT HIS 25 YEARS OF DEDICATED SERVICE, ROBERT HAS EARNED THE TRUST AND RESPECT OF THE JUVENILES IN OUR SYSTEM, MAKING HIM A TREMENDOUS ASSET TO BOTH THE DEPARTMENT AND THE COMMUNITY IN WHICH WE SERVE. HIS EXTENSIVE EXPERIENCE, PROFESSIONALISM, AND VERY STEADY DEMEANOR HAVE MADE HIM A GO TO RESOURCE FOR NEW OFFICERS LOOKING FOR GUIDANCE. TODAY, WE PROBABLY RECOGNIZE AND HONOR, ROBERT, FOR HIS UNWAVERING COMMITMENT, PROFESSIONALISM, AND 25 YEARS OF DISTINGUISHED SERVICE TO OUR COMMUNITY. [APPLAUSE] >> FIRST OFF, I LIKE TO THANK MY WIFE FOR PUTTING UP WITH ALL MY OVERTIME WORK. I THANK THE COUNTY FOR ALLOWING ME TO STAY HERE AS LONG AS I HAVE, AND MOST OF I THANK MY CO-WORKERS THEY BE THERE FOR ME. THANKS. >> ROBERT, WOULD YOU COME FORWARD ACCEPT YOUR PIN, AND LET'S TAKE A PICTURE. >> CONGRATULATIONS. [APPLAUSE] [BACKGROUND] >> THANK YOU. WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE WITH CEREMONIAL 4B. PRESENTATION PROCLAMATION OF AWARD ON BEHALF OF COMMISSIONERS COURT RECOGNIZING PRECINCT 1 BEXAR COUNTY CONSTABLE RUBEN STEED ON HIS 46 YEARS OF LEADERSHIP IN SERVICE TO BEXAR COUNTY AND LONGS SERVING CONSTABLE IN BEXAR COUNTY. JOINT WITH COMMISSIONER CLAY-FLORES AND ME. COMMISSIONER CLAY-FLORES. >> CONSTABLE TEJEDA. WHAT CAN I SAY? WE'VE BEEN THROUGH A LOT TOGETHER OVER THE LAST FIVE YEARS, SO I CAN'T IMAGINE WHAT YOU WERE DOING WITHOUT ME BEFORE FOR THOSE PREVIOUS 41 YEARS. BUT I KNOW A LOT OF OUR DEPUTY CONSTABLES ARE HERE, AND I AM JUST SO GRATEFUL FOR THE WONDERFUL RELATIONSHIP THAT OUR OFFICES HAVE AND THE WAY THAT WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO FIGHT HARD FOR PRECINCT 1. IT IS A PRIVILEGE TO READ THIS PROCLAMATION FOR YOU TODAY. WHEREAS, CONSTABLE RUBEN C TEJEDA BEGAN HIS LAW ENFORCEMENT CAREER IN 1978 AS A BEXAR COUNTY DEPUTY SHERIFF, AND HAS SERVED AS CONSTABLE FOR BEXAR COUNTY AND PRECINCT 1 SINCE 1992. HIS EXPERIENCE AND TRAINING INCLUDE BEING A POLICE INSTRUCTOR AND MENTOR FOR UNDERPRIVILEGED CHILDREN, AND WHEREAS THROUGHOUT HIS TENURE CONSTABLE, TEJEDA, HAS DEMONSTRATED GENUINE COMMITMENT TO THE EDUCATION AND DEVELOPMENT OF STUDENTS AND THE COMMUNITY BY IMPLEMENTING SPECIAL INTEREST PROGRAMS. HE HAS CREATED AND SPONSORED THE CONSTABLE SAFETY PATROL PIZZA PARTY. YOU NEED TO GET BEGIN PIZZA. I CAN COME TO THAT. FOR THE SCHOOLS CROSSING GUARDS, AND MOM PATROLS FOR THE 11 SCHOOL DISTRICTS IN PRECINCT 1. HE ALSO SPONSORED THE YEARLY PRECINCT 1 CONSTABLE SAFETY HALLOWEEN CANDY GIVEAWAY. WHEREAS CONSTABLE TEJEDA IS A LIFELONG RESIDENT OF PRECINCT 1, AND HAS SERVED HIS COMMUNITY WITH INTEGRITY AND DISTINCTION AS HE APPROACHES HALF A CENTURY IN LAW ENFORCEMENT. HE AND HIS FAMILY ARE LIFELONG PARISHIONERS OF SAN JOSE MISSION. [00:25:02] HE ATTENDED COLUMBIA HEIGHTS IN COLLIER ELEMENTARY, SOUTHCROSS JUNIOR HIGH, AND HARLDE HIGH SCHOOL. SAN ANTONIO COLLEGE PRAIRIE VIEW, A&M ON A BATEBA SCHOLARSHIP AND SOUTHWEST TEXAS STATE UNIVERSITY, AND WHEREAS, CONSTABLE TEJEDA HAS BEEN RECOGNIZED FOR HIS MANY YEARS OF OUTSTANDING SERVICE AND DEDICATION TO LAW ENFORCEMENT AND PUBLIC OFFICE. THE AWARDS AND RECOGNITIONS INCLUDE TEXAS MASTERS PEACE OFFICER, PARKLAND NATIONAL LITTLE LEAGUE VOLUNTEER OF THE YEAR AWARD, CARLON DE HALL OF FAME COMMUNITY SERVICE AWARD, UTS BEGAL EDUCATION STUDENT ORGANIZATION COMMUNITY SERVICE AWARD, AND OFFICE OF THE US SECRETARY OF DEFENSE PATRIOTIC EMPLOYER AWARD. NOW, THEREFORE, BE RESOLVED THAT BEXAR COUNTY COMMISSIONERS COURT HEREBY RECOGNIZES TODAY AS CONSTABLE RUBEN C TEJEDA. [FOREIGN] >> LET ME MAKE A FEW REMARKS. CONSTABLE TEJEDA, YOU HAVE BEEN ONE OF THE MOST DEDICATED AND PRESENT FIGURES IN LAW ENFORCEMENT ON THE SOUTH SIDE. YOU'VE BEEN RESILIENT THROUGHOUT YOUR PUBLIC SERVICE AND COMMITTED TO HIS YOUR MISSION OF PUBLIC SAFETY. I HAVE TO NOTE, AT ONE POINT, IN THE NOT TOO RECENT PAST, PREVIOUS COMMISSIONERS COURT TO SOUGHT TO ELIMINATE OR RESTRICT THE CONSTABLES OFFICE HERE IN BEXAR COUNTY. BUT WE'VE COME A LONG WAY, ESPECIALLY WITH THIS COURT AS A COUNTY JUDGE AND RECOGNIZING THEIR CRITICAL STATUTORY WORK IS SERVING WARRANTS, AND WE KNOW HOW DANGEROUS THAT IS, PROTECTING THE COURTS, SUPPORTING OTHER PUBLIC SAFETY INITIATIVES LIKE TRAFFIC ENFORCEMENT IN THEIR PRECINCTS. PARTNERSHIPS WITH CONSTABLE TEJEDA AND THE OTHER BEXAR COUNTY CONSTABLES. WE HAVE MADE SOME INCREDIBLE STRIDES FOR PUBLIC SAFETY IN MY FIRST YEARS AS YOUR COUNTY JUDGE. WHAT? TWENTY EIGHT NEW DEPUTY CONSTABLE POSITIONS, EVENLY SPLIT ACROSS THE PRECINCTS, NEW CONSTABLE PAY TABLE TO INCREASE RECRUITMENT AND RETENTION. WEIGHT ENFORCEMENT OFFICER TRAINING, EQUIPMENT TO PROMOTE ROADWAY SAFETY, AND INVESTMENT IN TRAINING AND KEY SAFETY GEAR, INCLUDING TACTICAL VEST. WE COULD HAVE ACHIEVED THESE GAMES WITHOUT THE PARTNERSHIP OF OUR CONSTABLES, ESPECIALLY OUR MOST TENURED CONSTABLE RUBEN TEJEDA. AT THIS TIME, CONSTABLE, IS MY HONOR AND PRIVILEGE TO PRESENT YOU HIDALGO. HIDALGO IS A NOBLE MAN OR WOMAN, A PERSON OF NOBLE DESCENT. ONE WHO IS ENNOBLED. THE TITLE OR STYLE OF HIDALGO WAS CONFERRED BY DECREE OF THE SPANISH KING ON THE SETTLERS FROM THE CANARY ISLANDERS WHO RESPONDED TO THE CROWNS APPEAL FOR PEOPLE TO COME TO THE PROVINCE OF THE NEW PHILIPPINES, TEXAS, IN 1718. TODAY, BY ORDER OF THE COMMISSIONERS COURT OF COUNTY BEXAR, IT IS CONFERRED ON THOSE DEEMED OF SO HISTORIC AND EXALTED A TITLE. THE NAME OF AND BY AUTHORITY OF THE COUNTY OF BEXAR, I CONFER ON YOU THE NOBLE TITLE OF HIDALGO. GREETINGS, NO THAT. CONSTABLE RUBEN C TEJEDA IS HEREBY APPOINTED GO THE SANTONIA DB UNDER THE LAWS OF THE COUNTY OF BEXAR WITH ALL RIGHTS, PRIVILEGES, AND ACKNOWLEDGMENTS APPERTAINING TO THE WITNESS SIGNED BY ME IN BEHALF OF COMMISSIONERS COURT, AND ATTESTED BY OUR COUNTY CLERK, LUCY DAMON CLARK. LET US RECOGNIZE CONSTABLE RUBEN TEJEDA FOR THE AWARD HE WON TODAY. [APPLAUSE] >> FIRST OF ALL, I WANT TO THANK GOD FOR BEING HERE. SECOND OF ALL, MY FAMILY, MY FRIENDS, MY CLERKS, MY DEPUTIES, AND ESPECIALLY COMMISSIONERS, BECAUSE TO ME, RIGHT NOW IS THE BEST EVER FOR CONSTABLES AND THE DEPUTIES. I'VE GONE THROUGH GETTING ABOLISHED AND SO ON, REDISTRICTING AND MANY THINGS. BUT RIGHT NOW, THE TOP PRIORITY FOR OUR OFFICE IS SAFETY. I'M JUST GLAD THE DEPUTY CONSTABLE FROM PRECINCT 4 WAS SAFE WITH HIS BULLETPROOF VEST. WE HAVE A LOT OF WORK TO DO, AND OF COURSE, IN THE PAST, COMMISSIONERS COURT, SOMETIMES, THEY GAVE US A HARD TIME. BUT I'M VERY THANKFUL THAT ALL FIVE OF YOU ARE HERE. THANK YOU, JUDGE FOR SHOWING US, THERE'S WAYS TO COMMUNICATE AND COMMISSIONER, YOU'RE SPECIAL. I WANT TO BRING MY DEPUTIES UP AND ALSO WITHOUT THEM, AND I TRY TO COMMEND THEM IN EVERY DAY THAT THEY DO THEIR WORK, BECAUSE SOMETIMES IT GETS A LITTLE TOUGH OUT THERE. [00:30:02] I REMEMBER THE DAYS THAT WHEN I WORKED AT THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE AND THERE WHEN I FIRST BEGAN, ESPECIALLY WHEN I WORKED WARRANTS AND NARCOTICS AND THAT STUFF, WE HAD TO CARRY OUR OUR OWN WEAPONS. I NEVER WAS PROVIDED A BULLETPROOF VEST ALL THE 15 YEARS THAT I WAS THERE AT THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE. ALSO OVER HERE, I WANTED TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE. WHEN I FIRST CAME IN, THE OFFICERS WERE DRIVING THEIR PERSONAL VEHICLES. THEY HAD MAGNETS AS EMBLEMS, BUT TO SEE THE GROWTH AND WHERE WE'RE AT RIGHT NOW, IT'S INCREDIBLE. BUT I THANK YOU FOR MAKING IT POSSIBLE AND PROVIDING MORE OFFICERS, AND WE'RE GOING TO SHOW WHAT WE CAN DO. WE'RE NOT JUST GOING TO SAY, WE'RE GOING TO DO THIS AND THAT, BUT WE'RE GOING TO SHOW YOU HOW MUCH WORK THE OFFICERS CAN DO AND THEY DO IT DAILY. BUT WITHOUT THEM, I WOULDN'T BE HERE. THANK YOU. >> COMMISSIONER CALVERT? [APPLAUSE] >> I WOULD BE REMISS IF I DIDN'T THANK THE JUDGE AND COMMISSIONER CLAY-FLORES FOR ACKNOWLEDGING YOUR 46 YEARS OF OUTSTANDING SERVICE TO THE PEOPLE OF BEXAR COUNTY. FORTY SIX YEARS IN POLITICAL YEARS IS LIKE 120. [LAUGHTER]. IT IS 150, LET'S GIVE YOU THAT. IT'S A TRIBULATION AND YOU'VE SEEN A LOT. BUT I WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT THE EFFORTS, THE FOUNDATIONS YOU'VE LAID HAVE PAID OFF. I APPRECIATE IN THIS HOLIDAY SEASON AND REMEMBER THE CHRISTMAS AND BACK TO SCHOOL, THINGS THAT YOU'VE DONE FOR THE CHILDREN AND FAMILIES THAT DIDN'T HAVE. THANK YOU FOR YOUR HEART IN DOING THAT AND JUST TRYING TO HELP YOUR COMMUNITY IN ANY WAY THAT YOU COULD. YOU'VE MADE A DIFFERENCE TO MANY PEOPLE. YOU'VE BEEN AN EXEMPLAR IN LAW ENFORCEMENT TO MANY MEMBERS OF THE LAW ENFORCEMENT COMMUNITY. I APPRECIATE THE DETAIL THAT YOU GIVE IN TRYING TO MAKE YOUR CASE AROUND SUPPORTING YOUR OFFICERS' WORK, YOUR MANDATE AS A CONSTABLE. YOU ALWAYS COME PREPARED, YOU'VE ALWAYS GOT BACKUP DOCUMENTATION, AND NOT EVERYBODY DOES THAT. YOU'VE MADE A DIFFERENCE IN THE CONSTABLES OFFICE. THANK YOU FOR STICKING IN THROUGH THE GOOD TIMES AND THE BAD. YOU COME ALONG WAY FROM THOSE MAGNETS ON THE SIDE OF THE VEHICLES. I THINK BECAUSE OF THE PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN THE COURT, WE WILL HAVE A BETTER CONSTABLE OPERATION. THANK YOU FOR YOUR INCREDIBLE 46 YEARS IN LAW ENFORCEMENT. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE] >> COMMISSIONER RODRIGUEZ. >> THANK YOU, JUDGE. CONSTABLE, LET ME JUST ADD MY THANKS FOR YOUR SERVICE, ALSO FOR YOUR FAMILY'S COMMITMENT. I KNOW THEY STOOD BEHIND YOU AND HAVE FOR MANY DECADES. THERE WAS A TIME I THINK IT WAS WHEN I WAS ON CITY COUNCIL WHERE YOU HAD SOME OF THE WEST SIDE, AND WE WORKED TOGETHER BACK THEN. I REMEMBER YOU HAD SOME OF THE JEFFERSON-WOODLAWN AREA. ALWAYS SOMEONE WHO WAS OUT IN THE COMMUNITY RESPONDING TO THE COMMUNITY, BUT ALSO BEING PROACTIVE IN THE COMMUNITY. I ALWAYS SAY THE WEST SIDE AND SOUTH SIDE ARE PRIMOS FOR COUSINS. YOU DO THE SAME THING, AND I'VE SEEN IT ON THE SOUTH SIDE THAT YOU DID WHEN YOU REPRESENTED OUR AREA. THANK YOU VERY MUCH, CONSTABLE FOR YOUR SERVICE. 46 YEARS IS PRETTY REMARKABLE. WE KNOW YOU'RE NOT DONE YET. THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONTINUED SERVICE AND TO THE BLESSINGS FOR THE LORD LOOKING OUT FOR YOU AND YOUR TEAM. WE CAN'T OVERLOOK THAT. THANK YOU, CONSTABLE. >> THANK YOU. >> I'LL JUST BE REALLY BRIEF, ECHOING THE COMMENTS OF MY COLLEAGUES. THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE TO OUR COMMUNITY AND OUR COUNTY. WE HAVE FOCUSED ON PUBLIC SAFETY. A LOT OF TIMES, I THINK THE CONSTABLES OFFICES HAVE BEEN LOST IN THE BACKGROUND THERE, BUT YOU ALL ARE A CRITICAL PIECE OF PUBLIC SAFETY, AND WE DON'T HAVE TO LOOK TOO FAR IN THE REAR VIEW MIRROR TO SEE EXACTLY WHAT AN EXAMPLE OF THAT. I JUST WANT TO THANK YOU, YOUR TEAM, AND ALL OF OUR DEPUTY CONSTABLES FOR EVERYTHING THEY DO TO KEEP OUR COUNTY SAFE. THANK YOU. >> COMMISSIONER CALVERT, DID YOU HAVE ONE LAST THING? >> I'LL DO THE PHOTO FIRST. >> LET'S TAKE A PHOTO, COMMISSIONER. HERE'S YOUR I BELIEVE, A PROCLAMATION [INAUDIBLE] TO PRESENT TO YOU AT THIS TIME. ANOTHER ROUND OF APPLAUSE FOR CONSTABLE RUBEN TEJEDA. [APPLAUSE] WELL, THE ENTIRE PRECINCT 1 CONSTABLE OFFICE IS HERE. WHO'S ANSWERING THE PHONES OVER THERE? [00:35:11] HERE WE GO. HOLD ON. LOOK UP. HELP THE CONSTABLE GO. THANK Y'ALL. [APPLAUSE] LET'S DO THE LAST CEREMONY AND WE'LL GO TO THE 930. THEN WE'LL GO BACK. WE'LL JUST KEEP BACK FILINGS. >> IT MAKES SENSE. >> OUR LAST CEREMONIAL ITEM IS PRESENTATION OF A PROCLAMATION. COMMISSIONER CALVERT, YOU HAD ONE LAST COMMENT. >> YES. I PLAN TO RECOGNIZE THE HEROIC SERVICE OF PRECINCT 4 DEPUTY CONSTABLE DARYL WARD, WHO WAS IN PURSUING AN EVICTION SHOT IN THE BODY ARMOR. WE ARE JUST SO GRATEFUL THAT HE IS STILL HERE, THANKS TO THE PROTECTIVE VEST. JUST AN AMAZING RESPONSE BY THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT AS WELL, AND SAPD, TO CO- APPREHEND THE PERPETRATOR, SOMEONE WHO HAD OBVIOUSLY A DERANGED MIND TO TAKE ON ONE OF OUR LAW ENFORCEMENT. LET IT BE CLEAR THAT ANYONE WHO THINKS ABOUT TAKING ON LAW ENFORCEMENT, YOU WILL NOT GET AWAY WITH IT. WE'RE JUST PRAYING FOR HIS HEALING BECAUSE I THINK THE MENTAL HEALTH OF HAVING BEEN SHOT, AND HAVING TO CONTINUE YOUR WORK, IT'S NOT EASY. WE'RE PRAYING FOR HIM, BUT WE'RE JUST GRATEFUL AND I THANK THE COURT FOR THE RESOURCES. I APPRECIATE CONSTABLE BROWN, HER LEADERSHIP AND HER TEAM FOR SUPPORTING HIM IN HIS WORK. THANK YOU SO MUCH, JUDGE FOR THE OPPORTUNITY. >> JUDGE I JUST WANTED TO INTRODUCE YOU TO MY SON, RUBIN AND CLARISSA. CLARISSA WORKS AT A&M, AND RUBIN WORKS AT SOUTHSIDE ISD. >> THANK YOU Y'ALL. >> THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE]. >> I'D LIKE TO INVITE LETTI SANCHEZ, LOCAL COORDINATOR FOR WREATH ACROSS AMERICA AT FORT SAM HOUSTON NATIONAL CEMETERY. YES, AND PLEASE COME FORWARD. I'LL READ OUT THE PROCLAMATION. WHEREAS, WREATH ACROSS AMERICA IS A NATIONAL CAMPAIGN WHOSE MISSION IS TO HONOR AND REMEMBER ALL VETERANS THAT SERVED OUR COUNTRY. WHEREAS DECEMBER 13TH, 2025 HAS BEEN DESIGNATED AT NATIONAL WREATH ACROSS AMERICA DAY AND WHEREAS THE LOCAL ORGANIZATION OF WREATHS HAS RAISED FUNDS FOR THE LOCAL BUSINESSES IN THE COMMUNITY TO PLACE 62,000 WREATHS AT FORT SAM HOUSTON NATIONAL CEMETERY IN ITS DESIGNATED AREA, AND WHEREAS THE GOAL IS TO CONTINUE TO RAISE AN AWARENESS AND FUNDS TO HONOR ALL 172,000 MEN AND WOMEN BURIED AT FORT SAM HOUSTON NATIONAL CEMETERY. NOW, THEREFORE, BE RESOLVED THAT THE BEXAR COUNTY COMMISSIONERS COURT HEREBY RECOGNIZE DECEMBER 13TH, 2025 AS WREATHS ACROSS AMERICA DAY SIGNED BY THIS COURT. WELCOME, LETTI. [APPLAUSE] >> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR HAVING US HERE. WE'RE TRYING TO BRING A LOT OF AWARENESS. MANY PEOPLE BELIEVE THAT OUR WREATHS AT FORT SAM ARE GIVEN TO US JUST OUT OF NOWHERE. THEY FALL OUT OF THE SKY. BUT IT'S ONLY $17 EVERY TIME YOU SPONSOR WREATH. WE ARE HONORED TO HAVE THIS POSITION THIS YEAR. I TOOK IT OVER ABOUT SIX MONTHS AGO WITH MY BASE TEAM, AND WE'VE INCREASED ABOUT 85%. WE'VE BOUGHT IN A LOT OF NEW GROUPS. WE HAVE 120 GROUP LEADERS. WE'RE STILL LOOKING FOR 60 MORE TO ADOPT SECTIONS. EVERY SECTION IS A DIFFERENT SIZE. FIRST OF ALL, THANKS, TOMMY CALVERT. I MET HIM AT THE VETERANS DAY PARADE, AND HE DID COME THROUGH. HE SAID, LETTI, WE'RE GOING TO HELP YOU. HE DID. CHECK HIM IN THAT WE APPRECIATE YOU. THAT'S THE KICK-OFF OF IT ALL. BUT WE HAVE EVERYBODY FROM USA TO JUST FAMILIES AND FRIENDS THAT ADOPT THE SECTION. THAT'S HOW I STARTED. SIX YEARS AGO, MY FATHER DIED. I STARTED THAT WAY. JUST WITH FAMILY AND FRIENDS. WE PERSONALLY, OUR PERSONAL TEAM RAISES FOR OVER 5,000 GRAVESITES. THAT'S JUST BY DOING THE LITTLE THINGS. THE HAMBURGER CELL, A DANCE, AND THEN WE HAVE OUR BIG CORPORATIONS. WE WANT MORE CORPORATION TOYOTA JON DAN THIS YEAR. WE ALSO HAD UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL. WE HAD SEVERAL BIGGER COMPANIES THAT CAME IN, WHICH WAS A TRUE BLESSING. THIS YEAR, WE'RE LOOKING TO GET TO AT LEAST 120,000. JUDGE SAKAI, WE ARE NOW AT 186,000 THERE. 186,000 GRAVESITES. [00:40:02] IT TAKES US ALL YEAR ROUND TO RAISE FUNDS TO GET GROUPS TO JOIN US. BUT I DO HAVE THREE OF MY LADIES WITH ME. LADIES SEEM TO GET A LOT DONE. RIGHT, LADIES? >> COME ON. >> THEY GET A LOT DONE. LINDA TOMASINI, ROSE MILANOS AND DELORIS SANCHEZ. DELORIS SANCHEZ IS A RETIRED SHERIFF FOR TRAVIS COUNTY. LINDA TOMASINI HAS BEEN AROUND AS A SPEAKER FOR HIGHWAY DEPARTMENT, SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT, POLICE DEPARTMENT. LINDA IS ACTUALLY MY SISTER. ROSE MILANOS RETIRED FROM KELLY AIR FORCE BASE. THESE ARE SOME OF THE SPEAR HIT I DRAG MY SISTER IN, BUT SHE'S OKAY WITH IT. BUT WE'RE OUT. PLEASE, IF YOU THINK YOU WANT TO JOIN US AND GET A GROUP TOGETHER, YOUR FAMILY, YOUR FRIENDS, YOUR DISTRICT DEPARTMENT, WE NEED ALL THAT EFFORT. WE HAVE BEEN THERE SINCE THURSDAY UNTIL LAST NIGHT AT DARK. WE ARE TRYING TO FINISH LAYING EVERY SINGLE PERSON THAT I WOULD A SPECIFIC REEF. WE ARE SURE TO ALWAYS COVER OUR MA SECTION, WHICH IS MISSING AN ACTION. THOSE ARE THE THREE THAT WE DEFINITELY COVER. WE HAVE A BIG TASK COMING OUT ON JANUARY 3RD THAT WE HOPE EVERYONE COMES OUT. YOU DON'T HAVE TO SIGN UP, YOU JUST SHOW UP AND START PICKING UP OUR REEFS BECAUSE WE HAVE TO ALSO DISPERSE THEM AFTER. THIS YEAR, WE'RE GOING TO NEED TO BRING IN ACTUALLY SEVEN DUMPSTERS. BUT WE'RE TALKING 30 YARDS. IT'S A BIG TASK AND THAT'S BECAUSE WE HAVEN'T FINISHED. OUR GOAL IS TO COVER THE WHOLE CEMETERY ONE DAY. WITH YOUR HELP, JUST HAVING US HERE IS SUCH A BLESSING. WE APPRECIATE YOU FOR HAVING US HERE. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. >> COMMISSIONER MOODY. >> WELL, JUDGE, THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THIS SIDE. THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. THANK YOU LADIES FOR WHAT YOU DO AND HONORING OUR VETERANS AND HONORING THE SERVICE AND SACRIFICE OF BOTH THE MILITARY MEMBER AND THEIR FAMILIES. THIS HAS BEEN A WONDERFUL CAUSE. I'VE BEEN HAPPY TO SUPPORT FOR THE LAST THREE YEARS. I WASN'T ABLE TO MAKE IT OUT THERE THIS YEAR, BUT LOOKING FORWARD TO HELPING OUT IN FUTURE YEARS. AGAIN, JUST THANK YOU FOR THIS. IT'S SUCH A VISIBLE SYMBOL OF OUR COMMITMENT TO OUR VETERANS HERE IN MILITARY CITY USA. THANKS. >> YES, SIR. THANK YOU. >> JUDGE, I WANT TO THANK YOU AGAIN FOR BRINGING WREATHS ACROSS AMERICA TO OUR COURT THIS MORNING. I WANT TO EXTEND OUR THANKS ON THERE WERE SO MANY VOLUNTEERS. I WAS THERE FRIDAY AND THERE'S NO WAY I COULD FIND YOU. >> WE DIDN'T SEE YOU BY THE RIGS UNLOADING. I DON'T KNOW [LAUGHTER] >> I WAS THERE. I WAS SO IMPRESSED WITH THE AMOUNT OF VOLUNTEERS THAT WERE BROUGHT. I THOUGHT THAT I WAS GOING TO REALLY BE MORE NEEDED THAN I WAS, AND I WAS GLAD TO SEE THE SUPPORT OF MILITARY CITY USA. IT WAS A BEAUTIFUL THING. I THINK COMMISSIONER MOODY, HE SPONSORED AS WELL FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS, AND, OF COURSE, IS A MEMBER OF OUR ARMED SERVICES. WE APPRECIATE THE HEART OF SAN ANTONIO BEING SHOWN IN THE WAY THAT IT IS. IT WAS A BEAUTIFUL THING, AND THANK YOU FOR DOING IT. >> THANK YOU. JUST A QUICK REMINDER, IF YOU GO INTO THE WEBSITE WITH WREATHS ACROSS AMERICA AMERICA, BE SURE YOU GO TO FORT SAM HOUSTON. MANY TIMES PEOPLE DONATE AND GO TO NATIONAL. GO TO FORT SAM HOUSTON AND SKIM DOWN, YOU'RE GOING TO SEE 120 DIFFERENT GROUPS. WREATHS ACROSS AMERICA GIVES BACK TO THOSE ORGANIZATIONS. IF THEY'RE A NONPROFIT, THEY DO GET BACK TO THEM. IF THEY'RE NOT A NONPROFIT, THEY GAIN MORE WREATHS TO GIVE AWAY TO OUR VETERANS. PLEASE SKIM DOWN. PERSONALLY I HAVE MY OWN ORGANIZATION CALLED WREATH. IT'S AN ACRONYM FROM WE REMEMBER EVERY AMERICAN THAT HAS SERVED. PLEASE PICK SOMEONE, ANYONE. IT DOESN'T MATTER. PICK AN ORGANIZATION. DURING THE NEXT TWO WEEKS WHEN YOU DONATE, WE GET TWO FOR ONE. WE ARE DOUBLING UP. WITH YOUR HELP GOING IN THERE, JUST KICK THE LINK. IT'S ONLY TWO STARBUCKS. GO AHEAD AND GIVE IT TO US INSTEAD. >> WREATHS ACROSS AMERICA, THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORK IN HONOR OF OUR FALLEN SERVICE MEMBERS. THIS GIVES DIGNITY AND RESPECT TO THE MEMORY OF OUR US VETERANS WHO SERVED OUR NATION. PLEASE STEP FORWARD AND ACCEPT YOUR PROCLAMATION TO TAKE A PICTURE. [APPLAUSE]. >> THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING YOU DO. >> THANK YOU. [BACKGROUND] COURT, I'M GOING TO MOVE AROUND IN LIGHT OF OUR HEAVY AGENDA TODAY. I WOULD LIKE TO GO TO TIME CERTAIN AND GET THE 9:30 BECAUSE WE'VE PASSED THE TIME. [6. TIME CERTAIN ITEM(S)] [00:45:02] 09:30 AM. DISCUSSION AND APPROPRIATE ACTION REGARDING THE BEXAR COUNTY HOSPITAL DISTRICT, DVA, UNIVERSITY HEALTH OPERATING DEBT SERVICE AND CAPITAL BUDGET FOR FISCAL YEAR 2026, MR. ED BANOS OR MR. JIMMY HASSLOCHER. GOOD MORNING. >> GOOD MORNING, JUDGE SAKAI. COMMISSIONERS, GOOD MORNING. THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING US TO BE HERE TODAY. WE'RE HERE OBVIOUSLY TO HAVE A DISCUSSION REGARDING OUR OPERATING DEBT SERVICE CAPITAL BUDGETS FOR FISCAL YEAR 2026. ALL OF YOU ARE AWARE THAT WE'VE HAD A VERY BUSY YEAR AT UNIVERSITY WITH OUR PROJECTS AND TAKING CARE OF PATIENT HEALTH TODAY. ED BANOS, OUR CEO IS HERE. RED HURLEY, WILL DO A PRESENTATION. ANITA FERNANDEZ, OUR VICE CHAIR, LINDA RODRIGUEZ, BOARD MEMBER. WE THANK YOU FOR THE TREMENDOUS SUPPORT THROUGHOUT THE YEAR AND SUPPORTING THIS INSTITUTION THAT IS SO CRITICALLY IMPORTANT TO THE COMMUNITY THAT WE WORK AND LIVE IN. WITHOUT FURTHER ADO, I WILL TURN IT OVER TO ED BANOS, AND WE WILL START OUR PRESENTATION. THANK YOU, SIR. >> THANK YOU, MR. HAS LOCKER, AND THE COMMISSIONERS AND JUDGE. I DO WANT TO RECOGNIZE A FEW PEOPLE IN THE AUDIENCE OR PART OF OUR MANAGEMENT TEAM. TED DAY FOR OUR STRATEGIC DEVELOPMENT, LENNY KIRKMAN, COMMUNICATION AND OPERATIONS, BILL PHILLIPS, OUR CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER, SERENA RB, OUR CHIEF LEGAL. THEN ALSO RECOGNIZE ABBY LOZANO, WHO'S VICE PRESIDENT OVER BEHAVIORAL HEALTH, AND SALLY TAYLOR. RECENTLY RETIRED, BUT STAYS WITH US ONE DAY A WEEK AS WE CONTINUE TO PLAN FOR EXPANSION OF OUR MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES IN THE COMMUNITY, AND CONTINUE TO MAKE THAT A SIGNIFICANT FOCUS FOR US MOVING FORWARD. AS YOU KNOW, WE ALWAYS LOOK AT MAKING SURE THAT ANYTHING WE DO AT UNIVERSITY HEALTH IS ABOUT QUALITY, IMPROVING THE PATIENT EXPERIENCE, EFFICIENCIES, AND ACCESS, AND I WILL SHARE THAT ALONG WITH REED AS WE GO FORWARD. WE HAVE A SIGNIFICANT NUMBER OF CAPITAL PROJECTS, AS WE HAVE SHARED WITH THE COURT IN THE PAST. THEY'RE WELL IN DEVELOPMENT, AND I'LL SHOW YOU SOME UPDATES. AS YOU CAN SEE, WE LOOK AT WHERE OUR HIGHEST NEED OF DEALING WITH MAKING SURE THAT WE HAVE PATIENT ACCESS ACROSS BEAR COUNTY. OUR FIRST FACILITY IS THE PALO ALTO HOSPITAL. THIS IS THE ARTIST'S RENDITION OF WHAT IT WILL LOOK LIKE. ONCE COMPLETED, ON THE FAR RIGHT-HAND SIDE, YOU'LL SEE THE WHITE BUILDING. THAT IS THE VITA BUILDING, WHICH CURRENTLY OPENED, WHICH THE COURT APPROVED YEARS AGO WITH ARPA FUNDING. IT HAS PRIMARY CARE, SPECIALTY CARE, AND EXPRESS MED, AS WELL AS THE TOP FLOOR BEHAVIORAL HEALTH, AND THEN COMMUNITY SERVICES ON THE SECOND FLOOR. HERE IT IS UNDER THE CURRENT CONSTRUCTION. WE'RE VERY PROUD THAT THIS IS 79% LOCAL BUSINESSES AND 41% SMALL THAT ARE CREATING AND BUILDING THIS FACILITY, AND THEY'RE DOING A GREAT JOB IN DOING THAT. THE ROTAMA HOSPITAL IS AT THE EXACT SAME FACILITY. WE LOOK AT THAT TO BUILD IT THAT WAY FOR STAFFING EFFICIENCIES. THE ROTAMA HOSPITAL THERE, YOU CAN SEE UNDER CONSTRUCTION, AND IT'S SAME FACILITY, TURNED AROUND A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT. AGAIN, 74% LOCAL, 30% SMALL BUSINESSES CONTINUING, BOTH OF THESE PROJECTS ARE ON TIME. WE HAVE HAD THE PALO ALTO HOSPITAL TAKING A LITTLE LONGER BECAUSE OF SOME UTILITY INFRASTRUCTURE. JUST AS A REMINDER, THESE FACILITIES, WHEN THEY WERE APPROVED, WERE BEING FUNDED FROM OUR OPERATIONS EXCESS FROM OPERATIONS FOR THE NEXT COUPLE OF YEARS TO MAKE SURE THAT WE DON'T INCUR ANY DEBT FOR THESE FACILITIES ONCE THEY WOULD BE COMPLETED. MORE RECENTLY, WE HAD THE CHRISTA SANTA ROSA SYSTEM CLOSED THE HOSPITAL IN THE MEDICAL CENTER. I WILL SAY THAT WE'VE HAD GREAT CONVERSATIONS WITH LEADERSHIP OF THE KRISTA SYSTEM. THEY WANTED THIS FACILITY TO STAY IN THE NOT-FOR-PROFIT COMMUNITY-BASED SERVICES, AND WE'RE VERY PROUD OF CHRIST'S AND THE CONVERSATIONS, [00:50:03] AND WE ACQUIRED THIS FACILITY A FEW MONTHS AGO. THIS IS THE ACTUAL SHOW OUTLINE OF THE CAMPUS. RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE IS NUMBER 2, WHICH IS THE HOSPITAL. THE ACTUAL 45 ACRES WAS ACQUIRED IN THIS ACQUISITION. THIS ACTUALLY IS TWICE THE SIZE BY LAND THAN WHAT THE CURRENT HOSPITAL AT UNIVERSITY HEALTH IS ON. WE SEE THIS AS AN OPPORTUNITY WHERE WE CAN CONSOLIDATE SERVICES AND INCREASE CAPACITY. MOST OF THOSE OTHER OUTBUILDINGS ARE NOT OWNED BY UNIVERSITY HEALTH, ALTHOUGH THERE ARE SOME THAT HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY; THEY'RE PAYING GROUND LEASES TO UNIVERSITY HEALTH BECAUSE THEY'RE OWNED BY THE PRIVATE SECTOR WITH MEDICAL FACILITIES WITHIN THEM FOR OFFICE SPACE. SHARING WITH YOU, AND COMMISSIONER CALVERT WAS THERE ALONG WITH A JUDGE AND OTHERS, THE WHEATLEY FACILITY OPENED ON THE EAST SIDE. WE'RE VERY PROUD OF THAT. REED WILL GIVE YOU SOME NUMBERS OF THE CURRENT VOLUME THAT WE'RE GOING IN THERE. THIS HIT THE GROUND RUNNING IMMEDIATELY WITH BOOKED PRIMARY CARE AND URGENT CARE, PATIENTS BEING SEEN, AND JUST HIT THE GROUND RUNNING. THERE'S THE LOBBY OF WHEATLEY. THIS IS OUR VITA BUILDING THAT I MENTIONED EARLIER, AS YOU CAN SEE, A VERY BEAUTIFUL BUILDING. WE TRIED TO FIT INTO THE TEXAS A&M TYPE OF ARCHITECTURE AND MAKE THAT A GREAT CAMPUS COMBINED DOWN THERE. THIS IS THE COMMUNITY SPACE, PUBLIC FLOOR SPACES, AND THEN THE THIRD FLOOR, WE'LL HAVE MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES FOR BOTH ADOLESCENTS AND ADULTS ON THE THIRD FLOOR, AS WELL AS THE EXPRESS MED AND URGENT CARE, AND PHARMACY SERVICES THAT WE HAVE IN BOTH FACILITIES. WE RECENTLY OPENED OUR SURGERY CENTER AT MORGAN'S WONDERLAND AT THE MAC. THIS FACILITY HERE PROVIDES THE SERVICES NOW OVER ON THE NORTHEAST SIDE. IT HAS REALLY HELPED US NOT ONLY TAKING CARE OF SPECIAL NEEDS CHILDREN, BUT ALSO SERVICES OVER ON THAT SIDE OF THE COMMUNITY WHERE OUR SURGEONS WOULD BE ABLE TO PROVIDE OPERATING ROOM FACILITIES THAT ARE NO LONGER NEEDED TO COME TO THE MEDICAL CENTER, GIVING US MORE CAPACITY IN THE MEDICAL CENTER. FROM AN OPERATIONAL PERFORMANCE, WE CONTINUE TO TALK ABOUT THE CONTINUED GROWTH OF UNIVERSITY HEALTH. SINCE 2014, WE'VE ALMOST DOUBLED THE AMOUNT OF EMERGENCY ROOM VISITS, AND WE CONTINUE TO GROW WITH ONE HOSPITAL, AND AGAIN, EMPHASIZING WHERE THESE COMMUNITY HOSPITALS WILL BE ABLE TO HELP US DECOMPRESS THE MAIN HOSPITAL AND GET EMERGENCY ROOM CARE CLOSER TO HOME. FROM THE CENSUS OF OUR HOSPITAL, YOU CAN SEE, AGAIN, AN 85% INCREASE. THIS IS WOMEN'S AND CHILDREN'S WHEN IT OPENED HELPED US WITH INCREASED CAPACITY, BUT WE CONTINUE TO SEE THE SIGNIFICANT DEMAND FOR UNIVERSITY HEALTH SERVICES IN OUR COMMUNITY AND THROUGHOUT SOUTH TEXAS. OUR BIRTHS, AS YOU CAN SEE, AS WELL, WE'VE GROWN SIGNIFICANTLY IN OUR WOMEN'S SERVICES. THIS IS WHAT WE LIKE TO CALL THE INVERTED PYRAMID. THIS WAS AGAIN, CREDIT TO GEORGE, WHO ALWAYS LOOKED AT THIS TO SHOW WHAT UNIVERSITY HEALTH REALLY FOCUSES ON. THE SMALL BLUE DOT, WHILE WE CONTINUE TO GROW WITH 45,000 DISCHARGES, YOU CAN SEE THAT THE FOCUS IS REALLY TO HAVE PRIMARY AND SPECIALTY CARE ALL THROUGHOUT BEAR COUNTY, SO THAT WE CAN GET CARE CLOSER TO HOME, BUT THAT'S ALSO WHERE THE LEAST EXPENSIVE CARE IS IN TAKING CARE OF ALL OF OUR PATIENTS. YOU CAN SEE THAT WE'RE BUDGETED NOW TO DO ALMOST 600,000 PRIMARY CARE VISITS, OVER 540,000 SPECIALTY CARE VISITS, AND THEN THE GROWTH OF THE HOSPITAL CONTINUING TO GET TO THAT 45,000. VERY SMALL ON THE BOTTOM RIGHT-HAND SIDE, YOU CAN SEE. THE MOST IMPORTANT THING WHEN YOU LOOK AT THIS IS WE'VE FILLED ALMOST 10 MILLION PRESCRIPTIONS. THIS IS MAKING SURE THAT PATIENTS HAVE WHEN THEY'RE DISCHARGED, THEY HAVE THE ABILITY TO GET MEDICATIONS WHEN THEY GO HOME, SO THAT ONE THEY CAN BE TAKEN CARE OF. TWO, WE DON'T HAVE PATIENTS MAKING A CHOICE BETWEEN PAYING FOR FOOD OR OTHERS; WE MAKE SURE THAT THEY GET THEIR MEDICATIONS EVEN IF THEY ARE UNABLE TO PAY. THIS IS ANOTHER STATISTIC THAT I WANTED TO SHARE WITH THE COURT, [00:55:06] A LOT OF TIMES WE LOOK AT UNIVERSITY OUR GROWTH AND THE VOLUME. UNIVERSITY HEALTH GETS OVER 10,000 CALLS A YEAR TO TRANSFER PATIENTS TO A HIGHER LEVEL OF CARE. WE, BECAUSE OF OUR CAPACITY, ARE ONLY ABLE TO ACCEPT 60% OR SO OF THOSE PATIENTS. WHEN YOU LOOK AT WHERE MOST OF THESE PHONE CALLS COME, OVER 50% COME FROM OTHER BEAR COUNTY HOSPITALS. WHEN WE TALK ABOUT THE ABILITY TO PROVIDE HIGHER LEVEL OF CARE, THESE LOCAL HOSPITALS ARE CALLING US BECAUSE THEY KNOW THAT THEY HAVE A PATIENT IN THEIR HOSPITAL THAT NEEDS UNIVERSITY HEALTH, ALONG WITH THE UT PHYSICIAN CARE FOR THE HIGHER LEVEL OF CARE, AND WE STILL CAN ONLY TAKE ABOUT 60% OF THOSE PATIENTS WHEN THEY CALL US BECAUSE WE'RE USUALLY AT CAPACITY. THEN YOU CAN ALSO SEE WE ALSO TAKE CARE OF A LOT OF SOUTH TEXAS WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE REGION. MANY OF THOSE PATIENTS, AS YOU CAN SEE, ARE AMONG OTHER SPECIALTIES THAT ARE UNIQUE OR WITHIN US AT OUR HOSPITAL THAT CAN BE PROVIDED WITH THOSE SPECIALTIES. CURRENTLY, ALSO, WHAT I WANTED TO SHARE IS WHERE WE ARE TRYING TO WORK WITH OUR LOCAL PARTNERS IN MENTAL HEALTH IN THE COMMUNITY. ONE OF THE THINGS THAT THIS IS SIMILAR, BUT WE WANTED TO SHARE THIS IN A PYRAMID STANDPOINT. CURRENTLY, THIS IS WHAT WE WANT TO DO IN BEHAVIORAL HEALTH IS WE DON'T WANT THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM AND THE INPATIENT PSYCHIATRIC TO BE WHERE OUR PATIENTS HAVE TO COME FOR CARE. WE BELIEVE IN THE LOWER PART OF THIS PERIOD AND WORKING, AND THIS WILL BE A GOAL FOR MYSELF IN THE UPCOMING YEAR IS MAKING SURE THAT WE HAVE THE OUTPATIENT SERVICES, THE COMMUNITY PROGRAMS THAT WE CAN WORK TOGETHER SO THAT WE CAN GET TREATMENT IN THE COMMUNITY AT OUR LOCATIONS, AT OTHER PARTNERS, IN THE COMMUNITY, THAT WE CAN NOT HAVE PATIENTS COMING TO OUR EMERGENCY ROOMS, THE MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS TEAMS IN BOTH SAPD AND THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE, AND THEN ALSO IN OUR OTHER HOSPITALS, THAT WE CAN TRY AND MAKE SURE THAT WE PROVIDE MENTAL HEALTH CARE IN THE COMMUNITY SO THAT THEY CAN GET OUTPATIENT TREATMENT. WE KNOW THAT THE MOST EXPENSIVE AND THE HIGHEST RISK IS HAVING MENTAL HEALTH BOTH IN OUR JAIL AND IN OUR HOSPITALS, AND THEN HAVING THEM DISCHARGED OUT. ONE OF THE PROGRAMS THAT I WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT ON THAT IS WORKING WITH THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS. WE NOW ENROLL IN THE JAIL A PROGRAM FOR OPIOID ASSISTANT TREATMENT FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE GOING THROUGH WITHDRAWALS. THIS TIME LAST YEAR, WHEN WE PRESENTED THIS, WE WERE JUST STARTING THE PROGRAM AND HAD SINGLE-DIGIT PATIENTS. WE CURRENTLY, AS OF LAST WEEK, HAVE 182 PATIENTS WHO ARE IN THE JAIL RIGHT NOW RECEIVING THIS TREATMENT EVERY DAY, WHICH ALLOWS US TO DETOX THEM WHILE THEY'RE GOING THROUGH WITHDRAWALS. WE'RE LOOKING AT THIS TO CONTINUE TO SO THAT WE CAN THEN GET THEM PRIOR TO WHEN THEY ARE BEING DISCHARGED FROM THE JAIL OR HAVING TO GO THROUGH SERVICES, WE CAN GET THEM OFF THE OPIOID ADDICTION. THIS PROGRAM HAS, AGAIN, CREDIT TO SALLY TAYLOR AND OUR BEHAVIORAL HEALTH TEAM, ALONG WITH THE SHERIFF, TO MAKE SURE THAT THIS CONTINUES TO BE A PROACTIVE PROGRAM FOR PEOPLE WHO NEED IT IN THE JAIL. JUST TWO WEEKS AGO, WE HAD OUR NATIONAL COMMISSION ON CORRECTIONAL HEALTH ACCREDITATION REVIEW. THIS WAS A SURVEY OVER A FEW DAYS. WE HAD THE EXIT INTERVIEW THAT I WAS ABLE TO LISTEN IN ON AND DO. I WILL TELL YOU THAT THE SURVEYORS WERE VERY COMPLIMENTARY ON HOW WELL WE ARE WORKING WITH THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE AND HOW FOR THE COORDINATED CARE, BOTH ON THE MENTAL HEALTH AND THE MEDICAL SIDE. THEY MENTIONED THAT THIS IS A UNIQUE SERVICE THAT NOT ALL JAILS WORK WITH THEIR LOCAL HOSPITAL ON HOW IT'S BEING PROVIDED. BUT WHAT THEY SAW WAS WELL-AWARDED MEDICAL CARE. THE PEOPLE WHO ARE NEEDING THE CARE OR GETTING IT. WE ARE SIGNIFICANTLY BELOW THE NATIONAL AVERAGE ON THE NUMBER OF GRIEVANCES THAT ARE FILED BY THE INMATES FOR NOT GETTING THEIR CARE, AND THAT NOW WITH THE COORDINATION OF OUR MENTAL HEALTH COMPLETELY WITHIN THE JAIL, THEY SAW THAT AS A COMPLETE CONTINUUM OF MENTAL HEALTH AND EXCEEDING THEIR EXPECTATIONS, AND THEY SEE THIS AS A GREAT PROGRAM THAT WE CAN CONTINUE TO [01:00:03] WORK ON WITH THE JAIL AND WITH THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE AS WE GO FORWARD. BUT IT WAS A GREAT SURVEY. WE HAVEN'T HAD THE FINAL RESULTS YET. FROM THE FINDINGS AS ANY COMMISSION ACCREDITATION REVIEW, YOU ALWAYS KNOW THAT THEY'RE GOING TO FIND LITTLE THINGS FOR US. BUT OVERALL, WE WERE VERY HAPPY, AND IN THE EXIT INTERVIEW, THERE WAS REPRESENTATIVES FROM THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE AS WELL. AGAIN, IT'S BEEN A GREAT WORKING ENVIRONMENT THAT THE TWO OF US WORKING TOGETHER TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERYONE THERE GETS ALL THE CARE THAT IS APPROPRIATE. IN 2025, WE GOT DESIGNATED FOR THE FOURTH TIME WITH OUR MAGNET DESIGNATION, WHICH IS THE HIGHEST ACCREDITATION FOR NURSING. VERY FEW HOSPITALS ACROSS THE COUNTRY. YOU CAN SEE ONLY 20 HOSPITALS IN TEXAS HAVE BEEN DESIGNATED MAGNET FOUR TIMES OR MORE, BUT ONLY 60 HOSPITALS HAVE HAD IT. WE ARE THE FIRST HOSPITAL TO BE TRAUMA-INFORMED CARE CERTIFIED, TOP WORKPLACES AGAIN, SAN ANTONIO, AND US TODAY IN 2025 IN THE PREVIOUS YEARS. THEN OUR LEAP FROG A, FOR THE FIFTH PERIOD IN A ROW, WE ARE LEAP FROG A, WHICH PUTS US AS THE ONLY HOSPITAL THAT IS A STRAIGHT A HOSPITAL IN SAN ANTONIO, AND THAT'S A RECOGNITION FROM THE LEAP FROG GROUP. [APPLAUSE] >> [APPLAUSE] THE OTHER THING THAT WE'RE VERY, VERY PROUD OF IS WE KNOW WE ARE THE SAFETY NET HOSPITAL, BUT WE ALSO ARE ONE OF THE TOP ACADEMIC HOSPITALS. WE HAVE OVER 600 RESIDENTS IN TRAINING. WE HAVE A LOT OF NURSING STUDENTS AND OTHERS, BUT WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE MOST RECENT RANKINGS, WE ARE THE NUMBER THREE ACADEMIC MEDICAL CENTER IN TEXAS, ONLY BEHIND BAYLOR AND MEMORIAL HERMAN WHEN IT COMES TO OUTCOMES AND SERVICES PROVIDED. AGAIN, WE ARE VERY, VERY PROUD, AS WELL AS THE LAW INSTITUTE RANKINGS IN 2025, WHERE YOU CAN SEE ALL OF THOSE ISSUES WHERE WE ARE GRADED AS AN A. AGAIN, IT TAKES THE 13,000 EMPLOYEES OF UNIVERSITY HEALTH TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE PROVIDING THIS EVERY SINGLE DAY. I'M JUST SO PROUD OF ALL OF OUR STAFF THAT MAKE SURE THAT EVERY DAY THEY COME TO WORK, IT'S ABOUT QUALITY, ACCESS, PATIENT SATISFACTION AND MAKING SURE THAT THE PATIENTS ARE HEALTHY AND GET THE CARE THAT THEY NEED. I'D LIKE TO TURN IT OVER TO REED HURLEY RIGHT NOW TO GO OVER OUR OPERATING BUDGET. >> THANKS, COMMISSIONER, REED HURLEY, CFO OF UNIVERSITY HEALTH. ONE THING, COMMISSIONER CALVERT, WE'RE SEEING 60 A DAY AT THE WHEATLEY CLINIC, JUST OPENED AT THE END OF OCTOBER, SO IT'S RAMPING UP QUICK. NORMALLY, IT TAKES YEARS FOR PEOPLE TO KNOW, THERE'S A CLINIC THERE BECAUSE THEY DON'T GET SICK EVERY DAY. BUT IT'S IT'S ALREADY PICKING UP PRETTY GOOD. THE BUDGET FOR 2026 IN YOUR PACKETS. I KNOW THERE'S A TON OF INFORMATION, SO I'M JUST GOING TO HIT THE HIGH LEVELS. THIS IS OUR REVENUE BUDGET FOR '26 ABOUT $4.3 BILLION. MOST OF THAT REVENUE COMES FROM COLLECTIONS FROM BILLING MEDICARE, MEDICAID, PRIVATE INSURANCES, AT 1.8 BILLION. THE NEXT BIG CHUNK OF OUR REVENUE IS FROM COMMUNITY FIRST, OUR INSURANCE COMPANY. AGAIN, THAT'S $1.4 BILLION. MOST OF THAT REVENUE COMES FROM THE STATE TO PAY PER MEMBER PER MONTH FEES FOR MEDICAID PATIENTS. THEN YOU'LL SEE ON THE EXPENSES, MOST OF THAT GOES OUT TO PAY VARIOUS PROVIDERS IN THE COMMUNITY. THERE'S A COUPLE OF OTHER SMALLER BUCKETS. ONE THING, I'LL FOCUS ON ON THE BOTTOM IS OUR PROPERTY TAXES. THAT RED SECTION, THAT'S 13.1% OF OUR TOTAL REVENUE BUDGET, IS OUR M&O PROPERTY TAXES AT $564 MILLION. THE EXPENSE SIDE OF THINGS ARE OPERATING EXPENSES THAT COME IN A 4.1 BILLION. AGAIN, YOU CAN SEE ON THE RIGHT SIDE, SALARIES AND BENEFITS OUR BIGGEST OPERATING EXPENSE, AND THEN WE HAVE SUPPLIES, MEDICAL SERVICES, PURCHASE SERVICES, AND THEN THAT BIG ORANGE SECTION, THOSE ARE THE MEDICAL CLAIMS. THOSE ARE PAID OUT TO MULTIPLE HOSPITALS AND PROVIDERS ALL ACROSS THE REGION WHEN COMMUNITY FIRST IS PAYING CLAIMS. IF A COMMUNITY FIRST MEMBER GOES INTO METHODIST BAPTIST CHRISTUS, WHEREVER THEY PAY THOSE CLAIMS TO THE HOSPITALS AND OR THE PHYSICIANS THAT ARE PROVIDING CARE TO THE PATIENTS. SOME OF THE THINGS THAT WE SPEND THE M&O REVENUE ON ON THE PROPERTY TAX REVENUE, AGAIN, AS ED MENTIONED, WE RUN THE HEALTHCARE PROGRAM AT THE JAIL, THE STAFF AND PHYSICIANS DOWN THERE, THAT'S $32 MILLION A YEAR. THERE'S ANOTHER $21 MILLION OF EXPENSE FOR US TAKING CARE OF PATIENTS THAT COME TO THE HOSPITAL OR ONE OF OUR OTHER SITES FOR CARE, WHETHER THEY GET THEY NEED A SURGERY, IMAGING, SOME OTHER TESTING OR WHATEVER. THE UNINSURED PATIENTS AT THE HOSPITAL AND IT'S MOVED AROUND A LITTLE BIT, [01:05:01] BUT ANYWHERE FROM 21 TO ABOUT 23% OF OUR PATIENTS HAVE NO INSURANCE AT ALL. WE CAN PUT THEM IN THE CARINK PROGRAM, WHICH IS A CHARITY PROGRAM WE RUN, OR THEY'RE JUST UNFUNDED. THAT COST THE EXPENSE IS ABOUT 361 MILLION A YEAR. THIRTY MILLION OF THAT IS OTHER COUNTY. THREE HUNDRED THIRTY-ONE MILLION COMES FROM WITHIN BEXAR COUNTY, AND 30 MILLION OF THAT COMES OUTSIDE OF BEXAR COUNTY. PRIMARILY THE DONUT COUNTIES, BUT PEOPLE TRAVEL AND IF THEY GET IN AN ACCIDENT ON I 10 WHEN THEY'RE MOVING THROUGH TOWN, THEY'RE GOING TO BE BROUGHT TO US. WE HAVE LITERALLY, THEY COME FROM ALL OVER THE STATE AND OUT OF STATE. MOST OF IT AGAIN, THOUGH, IS THE DONUT COUNTIES AROUND BEXAR. WE PROVIDE $261 MILLION OF SUPPORT TO UT AND A LOT OF THAT SO THAT THOSE UPPER NUMBERS, THAT 361 MILLION. THAT'S FOR OUR EXPENSES, BUT THERE'S ALSO PHYSICIAN SERVICES, SPECIALISTS THAT WE HAVE TO HELP PAY THE SALARIES FOR TO PROVIDE THE PHYSICIANS AT THE HOSPITAL, AND FOR THE TEACHING MISSION THAT WE HAVE. LEVEL ONE TRAUMA FOR ADULTS AND PEDIATRICS REQUIRES A LOT OF SPECIALISTS TO BE AT THE HOSPITAL ALL THE TIME TO PROVIDE THOSE SERVICES. THEN WE HAVE A $17 MILLION SHORTFALL ON WHAT WE CALL OUR GME MEDICAL EDUCATION, WHERE WE'RE TRAINING RESIDENTS. WE DO GET REIMBURSED SOME OF THAT THROUGH MEDICARE AND SOME OTHER GRANTS AND THINGS, BUT THERE IS ABOUT 17 MILLION OF THAT THAT'S UNFUNDED. WE HAVE ABOUT $692 MILLION OF EXPENSES RELATED TO RUNNING THE JAIL, TAKING CARE OF UNINSURED PATIENTS, OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH UT, WHICH IS THE PHYSICIANS' SIDE OF TAKING CARE OF UNINSURED PATIENTS FOR MOST OF THE SPECIALISTS. THE OVERALL FOR THE BUDGET, AS I MENTIONED, THE REVENUES, ABOUT 4.3 BILLION EXPENSES, A LITTLE OVER 4.1 FROM THE OPERATING SIDE OF AN OPERATING GAIN OF ABOUT $160 MILLION. WE HAVE DEPRECIATION OF ABOUT $180 MILLION, SOME OTHER NON-OPERATING INCOME, WHICH IS PRIMARILY INTEREST INCOME, 63 MILLION. THAT TAKES US DOWN TO A BUDGETED BOTTOM LINE OF 42 MILLION. WE HAD A VERY GOOD YEAR IN 25, AND WE'VE HAD GOOD YEARS BEFORE, THERE'S ALWAYS THINGS ON THE HORIZON, THE ONE BIG BEAUTIFUL BILL. WE'RE NOT QUITE SURE HOW THAT'S GOING TO BE INTERPRETED. THERE COULD BE SOME DOWNWARD PRESSURE ON SOME OF OUR SUPPLEMENTAL FUNDING PROGRAMS. FOR THE MOST PART, TAXES GOT AWAY PRETTY CLEAN ON THAT. BUT THERE ARE ALWAYS THINGS THAT ARE CHANGING THE SUBSIDIES FOR THE EXCHANGE PLANS. WHEN WE LOOKED AT THAT, WE HAVE ABOUT $180 MILLION A YEAR WE GET FROM PAYMENTS FROM PEOPLE THAT ARE ON THOSE EXCHANGE PLANS. IF THOSE SUBSIDIES GO AWAY AND PEOPLE DROP, WE'LL HAVE MORE UNINSURED OR MAYBE SOME OF THOSE PATIENTS MIGHT QUALIFY FOR MEDICAID OR SOME OTHER THE PROGRAM, BUT WE ASSUME THAT WILL BE AN IMPACT. VERY CONSERVATIVELY BOTTOM LINE BUDGETED AT 42 MILLION OUR DEBT SERVICE EXPENSE, VERY SIMILAR TO THIS CURRENT YEAR AT 99.9 MILLION. THEN WE HAVE ABOUT $47 MILLION, OR WHAT WE CALL ROUTINE CAPITAL, AGAIN, VERY SIMILAR. THE BOTTOM LINE FOR 2025, AGAIN, AS ED MENTIONED, WE USE THAT BOTTOM LINE TO FUND THE CONSTRUCTION FOR THOSE COMMUNITY HOSPITALS. THAT'S PRIMARILY WHAT WE'RE USING THAT MONEY FOR NOW. WE STILL HAVE ABOUT 200 MILLION TO FUND, AND THEN WE'LL BE FULLY FUNDED ON THE COMMUNITY HOSPITALS. WE ANTICIPATE 26 SHOULD BE AGAIN A PRETTY GOOD YEAR, 27, WHEN BOTH OF THOSE HOSPITALS OPEN, AND 28, THERE WILL BE A LITTLE BIT OF A LOT OF EVERYTHING, STAFF, PHYSICIANS, AND EVERYTHING. IT TAKES A WHILE TO GROW THE BUSINESS. WE WILL HAVE A LITTLE DOWNWARD PRESSURE ON OUR BOTTOM LINE. PRIMARILY 27 AND 28. THEN ONCE WE GET GENERATING PATIENTS, AND EVERYTHING CONTINUES TO GROW, WE SHOULD BE BACK IN BUSINESS, SO TO SPEAK. THAT'S THE END OF MY REPORT. I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS. I'M SURE ED IS HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS. >> COMMISSION [INAUDIBLE]. >> THANK YOU, JUDGE. REED, THANK YOU FOR THAT. IT'S ALWAYS I GUESS, IN A WAY A PLEASURE TO HEAR THE SIGNIFICANT WORK YOU'RE DOING AT THE HOSPITAL. I KNOW THERE'S A LOT OF FOLKS IN NEED IN OUR COMMUNITY, BUT, YOU KNOW, I SAY THE PLEASURE COMES FROM THE FACT THAT YOU GUYS DO GREAT WORK, ED, AND YOUR LEADERSHIP AND YOUR TEAM, JIM AND THE BOARD. ANITA, THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE MY BOARD APPOINTEE. A COUPLE OF QUICK QUESTIONS RELATED TO, I GUESS, CAPITAL. THE KRISTA'S CAMPUS THAT YOU BOUGHT EARLIER THIS YEAR, I THINK YOU SAID 45 ACRES. WHAT ARE THE I GUESS THE FUTURE PLANS FOR THAT NUMBER ONE? AND THEN I GUESS TO BACK UP, DID YOU TAKE ON ANY OF THE KRISTA'S EMPLOYEES, OR HOW DID THAT TRANSITION WORK WHEN THAT CLOSED DOWN EARLIER THIS YEAR? >> WHEN THEY CLOSED THE HOSPITAL, THE FACILITIES CEASED OPERATIONS. KRISTA'S DID ABSORB A LOT OF THE EMPLOYEES INTO THEIR OTHER TWO LOCATIONS. [01:10:02] ONCE THE HOSPITAL CLOSES, IT'S OFFICIALLY CLOSED IN THE EYES OF THE STATE. WHAT WE ARE CURRENTLY DOING RIGHT NOW IS WITH THE BOARD'S APPROVAL, WE HAVE DOLLARS IN FOR CLEANING AND FIXING IT UP, GETTING IT UPDATED. WE EXPECT THAT WE SHOULD OPEN IT SOMETIME IN THE MIDDLE OF NEXT YEAR. WE ARE GOING TO RUN AN EMERGENCY ROOM. IT'LL BE A HOSPITAL UNDER THE MAIN HOSPITAL LICENSE. IT WILL HELP US WITH THE CAPACITY NUMBERS, AS I SHARED EARLIER WITH YOU. BUT WE HAVE A LOT OF UNIQUE HIGH SPECIALTIES THAT GET A LOT OF AMBULATORY WORK AT OUR HOSPITAL. ONE OF THOSE IS THE TRANSPLANT PROGRAM. THE TRANSPLANT PROGRAM, WHEN WE THINK ABOUT IT, WE'RE ONE OF THE LARGEST LIVER TRANSPLANT PROGRAMS IN THE COUNTRY. WE DO ABOUT 30 SOME LUNG TRANSPLANTS, 200 KIDNEYS, 200 LIVER TRANSPLANTS. THOSE PATIENTS CONTINUALLY COME TO THE HOSPITAL IN ABOUT 25-30,000 VISITS A YEAR AND THEY'RE SEEN AT THE MAIN FACILITY. THIS CAMPUS AT KRISTAS, WHILE THEY WON'T GET THEIR TRANSPLANT SURGERIES, THEY'LL STILL GET IT TO THE MAIN HOSPITAL. WE'RE LOOKING WITH DR. SIGUROA AND OTHERS IN THE LEADERSHIP OF THE TRANSPLANT PROGRAM OF MAKING THAT A CAMPUS WHERE IT'S A ONE STOP SHOP FOR PRE-TRANSPLANT PATIENTS, POST-TRANSPLANT PATIENTS, BECAUSE THEY GET A LOT OF INTERVENTIONAL WORK AND OTHERS. WE SEE THIS AS A VERY ENHANCED AMBULATORY PROGRAM TO SUPPORT THE TRANSPLANT PROGRAM AS WELL AS SOME INPATIENT UNITS FOR THE PATIENT OVERFLOW, BUT GETTING BETTER ACCESS TO THE EMERGENCY ROOM, WHICH WE'RE AT CAPACITY. THE MAIN FACILITY, BUT THE EMPLOYEES THEMSELVES LEFT WHEN THE KRISTAS HOSPITAL CLOSED. >> THEN IN TERMS OF THE ANCILLARY ACTIVITY THERE, MEDICAL OFFICE, I ASSUME, ARE THOSE FULLY OCCUPIED, AND IS THERE OPPORTUNITY FOR REVENUE PRODUCING INCOME THERE? THEN ON TOP OF THAT, YOU MENTIONED THERE'S A SMALL SOLAR FARM TOO AS WELL. >> THE ACTUAL PROPERTY WHERE THE BUILDINGS ARE. THEY PAY US NOW AS THE OWNER A GROUND LEASE. WITH LEADERSHIP OF DR. COHEN, WHO'S ON OUR FINANCE COMMITTEE AND MISS FERNANDEZ AND MR. ASLOOKER. WE'RE LOOKING AT CONSOLIDATION ONTO THAT CAMPUS. WE HAVE MULTI-MILLION DOLLARS OF LEASES THROUGHOUT THE MEDICAL CENTER FOR OUR PRACTICES. WE LOOK AT WAYS OF SAVING COSTS BY CONSOLIDATING ALL THOSE LEASES ONTO THE KRISTA'S CAMPUS, AND THOSE OFFICE BUILDINGS THAT WILL BE AVAILABLE, WE'LL TALK ABOUT CONSOLIDATING THERE. WE SEE THIS AS A CAMPUS AND ONE WHERE IT'S REVENUE PRODUCING. IT DOES PAY US. THE INTERESTING THING ABOUT THE SOLAR FARM IS THEY PUT THE SOLAR FARM IN AND HAD IT ALMOST COMPLETED WHEN THEY DECIDED TO CLOSE THE HOSPITAL. IT ACTUALLY HASN'T BEEN TURNED ON YET. BUT WHAT WE WILL DO IS IT'S ABOUT A 150-$200,000 SAVINGS ON OUR ELECTRIC BILL A YEAR ON THAT CAMPUS FOR THE HOSPITAL. WE'RE VERY LUCKY THAT THAT IS THERE. WE HAVEN'T TURNED IT ON YET UNTIL WE'RE GOING TO GET EVERYTHING GOING. THERE'S THINGS IN THERE THAT WE'LL SEE TO SAVE MONEY AS WELL. >> THE SMALL FARM THERE IS FOR GENERATING POWER ON THE 45 ACRES. >>YES. THAT'S CORRECT. >> THE OTHER QUESTION I HAD, I GUESS, RELATED TO THE HOSPITALS THAT ARE GOING TO BE COMING ONLINE AND REALLY THE WORKFORCE. I KNOW COMING OUT OF COVID, THERE WAS A SIGNIFICANT STRESS OBVIOUSLY ON OUR HEALTH CARE WORKERS, SIGNIFICANT TURNOVER FOR OBVIOUS REASONS. I GUESS JUST GENERALLY WHAT'S THE OUTLOOK FOR BEING ABLE TO FILL SOME OF THOSE POSITIONS? ARE YOU INTEGRATING ANY OF THE WORKFORCE WITH, FOR EXAMPLE, WHAT THE CITY'S DOING WITH READY TO WORK AND JUST GENERAL RECRUITMENT IN OUR AREA? >> WE'VE PULLED OUR CURRENT STAFF TO SEE WHO WENT TO, YOU KNOW, TRANSFER TO ONE OF THOSE HOSPITALS, AND WE HAD A VERY GOOD RESPONSE. MY ASSUMPTION IS ABOUT HALF OF THE EMPLOYEES FOR THE COMMUNITY HOSPITALS WILL COME FROM EXISTING EMPLOYEES. WE MAY HAVE TO BACK FILL SOME OF THOSE. THE PRESSURES OF EASED UP A LITTLE BIT ON THE STAFFING RANGE. WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO HIRE. WE'VE WORKED WITH THE SCHOOLS, ALL THE NURSING SCHOOLS IN TOWN TO TRY TO GET THEM TO INCREASE. THEIR CENSUS A LOT OF TIMES, IT'S IT'S THE TEACHERS, IS THE PROBLEM FOR THE NURSING SCHOOL. WE'VE HELPED SOME OF OUR MORE SEASONED NURSES ENCOURAGE THEM TO GO TO WORK PART TIME AT THESE SCHOOLS TO HELP TEACH THE NURSING CLASSES SO WE CAN GENERATE MORE NURSING STUDENTS, [01:15:01] AND THEN THE OTHER SPECIALTIES, ALSO, RADIOLOGY TECHS, LAB PEOPLE, ALL THOSE THINGS. WE HAVE A LOT OF DIFFERENT PROGRAMS AND STRATEGIES IN PLACE. WE THINK WE'LL BE OKAY FOR HIRING SIDE. >> GO AHEAD ED. YOU WANT TO ADD SOME. >> I JUST WAS GOING TO ADD THAT RIGHT NOW, THE UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL HAS OVER 3,500 NURSES, AND OUR TURNOVER RATE IS ONLY ABOUT 10%, WHICH THE NATIONAL AVERAGE IS ABOUT 18 OR 19%. WHAT WE'RE LOOKING AT IS NOT ONLY HIRING THE STAFF, BUT WE'RE MAKING SURE THAT THEY STAY WITH US AND WE CAN RETAIN. I THINK THAT LEADS TO HIGHER QUALITY, LOWER COSTS BECAUSE OF TRAINING AND EDUCATING NEW STAFF. OUR COMMITMENT IS NOT ONLY KEEPING THE STAFF, WHEN THEY'RE HERE, BUT WE ALSO BELIEVE THAT THE TURNOVER THAT IF WE CAN KEEP IT LOW, THAT'LL HELP STAFF THOSE NEW FACILITIES AS WELL. >> LAST QUESTION IS, I THINK ON SLIDE 31, YOU HAVE SOME BULLETS HERE FOR SIGNIFICANT COSTS. I ASSUME THESE ARE ADDITIONAL COSTS FROM THE BUDGET FROM LAST YEAR, AM I READING THAT CORRECTLY? >> NO. >> THOSE ARE ONGOING. >> THOSE ARE ONGOING. YEAH. THEY MOVE AROUND A LITTLE BIT AS WE GROW, SO DOERS GROWTH. >> DOES THAT INCLUDE THEN YOU MENTIONED DETENTION CENTER STAFF? WE DID SOME MANEUVERING WITH THE INTAKE FACILITY ON THE MENTAL HEALTH PIECE. DOES THIS INCLUDE ANY NEW POSITIONS THAT YOU WOULD HAVE TO BE ADDED THERE? >> WE ADDED SIGNIFICANT STAFF TO THE JAIL OVER THE LAST YEAR AND A HALF. WE'VE ADDED MEDICAL PHYSICIANS, WE'VE ADDED PSYCHIATRISTS. WHEN THE GA BECAME AVAILABLE, WE ADDED THE SOCIAL WORKERS, THE MENTAL HEALTH PROVIDERS, AND THE OTHERS, THAT'S INCLUDED IN THE GA SALARIES. WE WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THAT'S ADEQUATELY STAFFED AND THAT THE CARE THAT NEEDS TO BE PROVIDED THERE IS ADEQUATELY AND SEEN. FOR A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT DON'T KNOW, THERE IS A COMPLETE INFIRMARY IN THERE. WE DO DIALYSIS, WE TRY TO KEEP EVERYTHING WITHIN THE JAIL, AND WE MAKE SURE WE WORK WITH THE SCHOOL, THE UT, THERE'S FAMILY PRACTICE THAT SEE THE WOMEN SERVICES SIDE FROM A PREGNANCY SIDE, EVERYTHING IN THERE. EVERYTHING THAT WE PROVIDE IN THERE WE'VE ADDED BECAUSE OF THE POPULATION THAT'S THERE IN MAKING SURE THAT THEY GET ADEQUATE MEDICAL COVERAGE, BUT THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF STAFF OUT. >> THAT'S IN THE BUDGET. LET ME JUST AGAIN, THANK YOU ED, YOUR LEADERSHIP TEAM, REED, THE BOARD. WE GET A LOT OF FEEDBACK FROM FOLKS IN THE COMMUNITY, AND I WOULD SAY, BY AND LARGE, IF NOT ALL OF IT IS VERY POSITIVE. IF THERE IS A CONCERN, I TYPICALLY REACH OUT TO YOU, ED, AND YOU GUYS ARE ON TOP OF IT. REMARKABLE COMING FROM A PUBLIC HOSPITAL THAT YOU ARE SEEN AS FIRST IN CLASS, WORLD-CLASS, AND THE COVERAGE YOU PROVIDE TO OUR CONSTITUENTS IN OUR COMMUNITY IS TO BE COMMENDED. I APPRECIATE YOUR WORK. ALWAYS LOOK FORWARD TO HEARING THE GOOD PROGRESS YOU'RE MAKING. TOWARD THAT END, JUDGE, I'LL MAKE THE MOTION TO APPROVE THE FISCAL YEAR 2026 OPERATING DEBT SERVICE AND CAPITAL BUDGETS FOR UNIVERSITY HEALTH. >> SECOND. >> MOTION APPROVED BY COMMISSIONER [INAUDIBLE] BY SECONDED BY [INAUDIBLE] >> HI. THANKS FOR BEING HERE. I HAVE A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS. I'VE ALREADY TALKED TO YOU ABOUT SOMETHING, BUT FIRST, I WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT YOU'VE ONLY BEEN AT THE HELM A YEAR AND A HALF, AND YOU'VE DONE A LOT ALREADY. I LOOK FORWARD TO THE NEXT SEVERAL YEARS AS WE CONTINUE TO WORK TOGETHER. THANK YOU SO MUCH. I WAS EXCITED. WE WELCOMED OUR FIRST PATIENT AT THE VIA CLINIC ON THE SOUTH SIDE, OUR PREVENTIVE HEALTH BUILDING AND STILL DOING WORK THERE TO MAKE SURE WE FINISH OUT THE MENTAL HEALTH FLOOR. SOME OTHER THINGS. I ALSO WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE YOUR BOARD WHO DOES A LOT OF WORK AND SUPPORTS YOU. IT IS DEFINITELY A WORKING BOARD. PAT HASE, MY APPOINTEE, WASN'T ABLE TO BE HERE, BUT I ALSO WANTED TO ACKNOWLEDGE HER, AND OF COURSE, THE REST OF YOUR BOARD MEMBERS, AND SHOUT OUT TO BILL PHILLIPS BECAUSE THERE'S JUST SO MUCH THAT GOES ON THAT I CAN REACH OUT TO YOUR STAFF ON AND THEY DO THEIR MAGIC AND TAKE CARE OF THINGS. THANK YOU FOR THAT. SOMETHING WE'VE TALKED ABOUT, BUT IF THE HEALTH CARE PLAN AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL DOESN'T PASS, HOW IS THAT GOING TO OBVIOUSLY IT'S GOING TO INCREASE IN PREMIUMS FOR THE AFFORDABLE CARE ACT AND HOW IS THAT GOING TO IMPACT OUR PATIENTS AND YOUR REVENUE? >> AGAIN, IT'S KIND OF HARD TO ESTIMATE, WE FIGURE WORST CASE. WE MAY BE IT MIGHT BE ABOUT A $75 MILLION REDUCTION IN PAYMENTS WE GET NOW IF THEY GO FROM BEING INSURED TO UNINSURED. THE WAY THAT WORKS IS THAT THE PEOPLE ON THE VERY LOWER END OF THE INCOME SCALE, THEIR PREMIUMS WILL NOT BE IMPACTED HARDLY AT ALL. IT AS THE RISE UP IN INCOME LEVELS IS WHERE THE PREMIUMS REALLY START TO INCREASE. IT SAY THE PEOPLE THAT ARE PROBABLY MAKING MORE THAN $60,000 A YEAR. [01:20:06] THEIR PREMIUMS ARE THE ONES WHO ARE GOING TO GO UP THE LOWER INCOME PEOPLE, THEY'LL HAVE A LOT LESS IMPACT ON THEIR PREMIUMS. THEY'LL PROBABLY BE OKAY. BUT AGAIN, I THINK THAT JUST IN GENERAL, JUST INSURANCE IN GENERAL IS GOING UP STILL. MEDICATION, PHARMACY COSTS ARE JUST THAT'S THE BIG DRIVER STILL. >THANK YOU. I KNOW WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THE BURDEN IT'S GOING TO PUT ON US AS THE COUNTY HOSPITAL AND TO REALLY REACH OUT TO THE OTHER HOSPITALS TO PICK UP THE SLACK AS WELL AND NOT JUST DUMP EVERYTHING ON UHS, NAMELY OUR ER. I KNOW YOU TALKED ABOUT CONVENING WITH SOME OF THE DO YOU WANT TO GIVE AN UPDATE ON THAT OR IS THERE ANYTHING WE CAN DO TO HELP? >> I WILL SAY THAT THIS IS A COUNTY WHERE ALL THE HOSPITALS WORK TOGETHER, AND I WILL SAY THAT WE ALL TRY TO WORK TOGETHER TO TRY AND SOLVE PROBLEMS TOGETHER. I DO THINK THAT WE ARE TRYING TO WORK TOGETHER. WE HAVE A GROUP AT STRACK, THE REGIONAL ADVISORY COUNCIL, AND THAT'S CALLED THE SOUTH TEXAS CRISIS COLLABORATIVE. WE'VE WORKED VERY, WELL ON TRYING TO LOOK AT HOW WE CAN DECOMPRESS ALL OF OUR EMERGENCY ROOMS WITH MENTAL HEALTH AND GET THEM INTO APPROPRIATE SETTINGS. WE ALSO KNOW THAT WE'RE ALL TRYING TO WORK TOGETHER ON WHAT ARE THE ROOT CAUSES OF THESE PROBLEMS AND HOW CAN ALL OF US WORK TOGETHER TO MAKE SURE THAT WE CAN GET THE PEOPLE AND WE ALWAYS SAY THE CARE AT THEIR APPROPRIATE SETTING DOESN'T ALWAYS HAVE TO BE THE HOSPITAL OR THE EMERGENCY ROOM AND LEADING WITH PREVENTATIVE AND WELLNESS SO THAT WE CAN KEEP OUR COMMUNITY HEALTHIER RATHER THAN NEEDING OUR SERVICES. WE GET TOGETHER, AND WE WILL CONTINUE TO GET OUR LOCAL LEADERS AND TOGETHER, AND I WILL SAY THAT ERIC EPPLEY AND STRACK HAS BEEN A GREAT COORDINATOR OF TRYING TO GET US ALL TOGETHER AND WORK TOGETHER WITH ALL THE DEPARTMENTS IN THE COUNTY, WITH ANDREA, WITH THE CITY, WITH THE LOCAL OTHER NOT FOR PROFITS THAT WE CAN DO. I THINK THIS NEXT YEAR BECAUSE OF THE CUTS IN THE FEDERAL FOR A LOT OF NOT FOR PROFITS, IT'S PUTTING A SENSE OF URGENCY THAT WE ALL NEED TO WORK TOGETHER TO PUT OUR RESOURCES TOGETHER AND FIGURE OUT HOW WE CAN MANAGE THIS A LOT BETTER TOGETHER RATHER THAN INDIVIDUALLY. >> THANK YOU. >> COMMISSION MOODY. >> THANK YOU, JUDGE. THANK YOU FOR THE PRESENTATION, ED REED, JIMMY. THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP AT UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL. ALSO TO MY APPOINTEE, DOCTOR COHEN, OBVIOUSLY NOT HERE THIS MORNING, BUT APPRECIATE HIS SERVICE ON THIS VERY IMPORTANT BOARD FOR OUR COMMUNITY. JUST A FEW COMMENTS AND THEN A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS. FIRST OF ALL, I THINK IT WOULD BE HELPFUL. IF YOU COULD JUST SHARE A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE PARTNERSHIP WITH BROOK ARMY MEDICAL CENTER AND WITH DEFENSE HEALTH AGENCY. OBVIOUSLY, WE'RE TRYING TO CONTINUE TO EXPAND OUR PARTNERSHIP THERE. THERE'S THIS INTERSECTION WITH UT AND WITH OUR MILITARY MEDICINE HERE. MAYBE YOU CAN JUST SAY A FEW WORDS ABOUT THAT BECAUSE I THINK IT'S SO IMPORTANT HERE IN MILITARY CITY, USA. >> COMMISSIONER. I WAS CERTAINLY WHEN I GET A PHONE CALL FROM YOU TO SAY, CAN YOU COME TO A MEETING ON FRIDAY AT 3:00 IN THE AFTERNOON WITH THE DEFENSE HEALTH AGENCY? IT'S ONE OF THOSE ONES WHERE I SAID, YES, SIR, I'LL BE RIGHT THERE. BUT IT WAS VERY IMPORTANT IN THE SENSE THAT WHEN I GOT DOWN THERE, I SAW THE MILITARY LIAISONS OF NOT ONLY UT, THE COUNTY'S OFFICE, THE CITY'S OFFICE, THE PEOPLE FROM DC THAT WERE THERE LOOKING AROUND. BUT WE WERE ABLE TO SHARE OUR STORY OF HOW IMPORTANT UNIVERSITY HEALTH AND THE BROOK MEDICAL CENTER AND HOW WE LOOK AT MILITARY MEDICINE IN THE CITY. I WAS JUST A MESSENGER, BUT A LOT OF THIS IS BECAUSE OF THE CROSS POLLINATION OF MILITARY TRAINING THAT NOT ONLY GOES ON AT THE MEDICAL AT BROOK, BUT ALSO THAT GOES ON AT UNIVERSITY. WE HAVE MILITARY ROTATORS IN THOSE RESIDENCIES THAT WORK AT OUR HOSPITAL WHEN THEY DON'T HAVE ENOUGH VOLUME AT THEIR HOSPITAL. OUR LEVEL ONE TRAUMA CENTERS TOGETHER ARE IMPORTANT TO THIS COMMUNITY TO TRAIN MILITARY PHYSICIANS IN TRAUMA CARE AND PREPARING THEM FOR THEIR WORK IN THE MILITARY. I THOUGHT IT WAS A GREAT CONVERSATION WE HAD WITH THOSE TWO PEOPLE FROM DC AS THEY WERE LOOKING AT SITES AND FOR THE DHA. I WAS JUST VERY PROUD TO BE A PART OF THAT AND TO TELL THEM. I THOUGHT THEY WERE VERY IMPRESSED ON HOW CIVILIAN AND MILITARY WORKING TOGETHER IN SAN ANTONIO AND BEAR COUNTY, AND I THINK WE MADE A GOOD CASE, [01:25:02] AND HOPEFULLY THE DECISIONS MADE SOON. >> I JUST WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT THAT PARTNERSHIP AND ALSO REALLY APPRECIATE YOU BEING SO FLEXIBLE AND BEING SO RESPONSIVE AND SHOWING UP YOUR FIRSTHAND PERSPECTIVE ON THAT AS WELL AS DOCTOR MILLER, I THINK, WAS VERY VALUABLE IN THOSE DISCUSSIONS. ANOTHER COMMENT I JUST WANT TO MAKE ON THE MEDICAL ASSISTED TREATMENT AT THE JAIL. I KNOW THERE'S A LOT OF BACKGROUND WHO CAN PROBABLY TEACH A CLASS ON THIS, BUT IT SEEMS LIKE A VERY EFFECTIVE EVIDENCE BASED APPROACH TO ADDRESS SOME OF THE ISSUES THAT WE'RE DEALING WITH IN THE JAIL FROM A MEDICAL STANDPOINT, AND I'M GLAD THE UNIVERSITY'S TAKEN A LEAD EFFORT ON THAT. I JUST WANTED TO BRING THAT UP. I DID WANT TO ASK ABOUT THE SURROUNDING COUNTIES CONTRIBUTION. I KNOW THAT MAY BE A DIFFICULT SUBJECT TO APPROACH WITH OUR FRIENDS AND SURROUNDING COUNTIES. MR. HASLOCKER AND I SERVE ON ACOG WITH A LOT OF THESE COUNTY JUDGES AND COMMISSIONERS AS WELL AS COMMISSIONER CLAFLORS, AND COMMISSIONER CALVERT. COULD YOU MAYBE SPEAK TO THAT? HAS THAT EVER HAS THERE EVER BEEN AN AVENUE FOR ANY WE PAY FOR OUR SERVICES THEY PAY FOR THEIR SERVICES ACROSS COUNTY LINES. >> WE'VE OVER THE YEARS, AND PARDON ME, THIS GOES WAY BACK THIS JUST DIDN'T START YESTERDAY. I AS I TELL THE PEOPLE AT ACOG, THIS IS MY SECOND GOAL AROUND AT ACOG. I WAS THERE IN THE 80S. WHEN YOU WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE $30 MILLION FROM OUT OF COUNTY EXPENSES, IT'S A BIG NUMBER. THERE HAVE BEEN DISCUSSIONS. I WILL ASSURE YOU, COMMISSIONERS, AS YOU SIT IN THE ACOG BOARD ROOM, YOU'VE HAD A REAL LOOK AT WHO PARTICIPATES IN THAT ROOM, THOSE COUNTIES, AND THEIR POPULATION, THE OTHER THINGS THAT GO ON IN THERE. IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE WOULD LIKE TO SEE AT AN APPROPRIATE TIME. THERE'S NO. THERE'S NO TIME LIKE TODAY. BUT WE'RE LOOKING AT THAT, TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT WHAT IS THE BEST WAY TO SIT DOWN AND HAVE THOSE CONVERSATIONS? ACOG MAY BE A GOOD START. >> I APPRECIATE THAT. HAPPY TO TRY TO HELP IN THAT EFFORT. I KNOW THAT'S PROBABLY NOT GOING TO BE AN EASY DISCUSSION WITH OUR COLLEAGUES THERE, BUT IT'S ULTIMATELY A MATTER OF FAIRNESS AND PAY AS YOU GO IF YOU'RE UTILIZING SERVICES WITHIN B COUNTY. OTHER THING I JUST WANTED TO ASK ABOUT AND I'M NOT AS FAMILIAR WITH IT. THE COMMUNITY HEALTH PLANS THAT YOU MENTIONED, ARE THOSE TARGETED TO SPECIFIC GROUPS OF CONSUMERS OR ARE THOSE MORE BROAD, COVERING THE ENTIRE SPECTRUM OF HEALTH INSURANCE FOR CORPORATE PARTNERS. >> PRIMARILY, IT'S MEDICAID POPULATIONS. WE DO HAVE SOME OTHER INSURANCE, BUT IT'S LIKE IT'S VERY SMALL. FOR THE MOST PART, WE HAVE 180,000 ISSUE MEMBERS AT COMMUNITY FIRST RIGHT NOW. WE HAVE ABOUT 40% OF THE MARKET PROBABLY ON THE MANAGED MEDICAID IN BEAR COUNTY AND THE SURROUNDING COUNTIES. PRIMARILY CHILDREN, PREGNANT WOMEN, AND PEOPLE WITH CERTAIN DISABILITIES. THAT'S THE VAST MAJORITY OF IT. WE HAVE ABOUT A COUPLE THOUSAND MEMBERS IN SOME EXCHANGE PLANS AND SOME OTHER PLANS. OF COURSE, WE COVER OUR OWN EMPLOYEES. THAT'D BE THE BIGGEST ONE THAT LOOKS MORE LIKE A COMMERCIAL PLAN, BUT WE'RE JUST SELF INSURED THERE. >> BUT BUT I WOULD ADD ONE OTHER THING IS MEDICARE ADVANTAGE AND THEN THE MARKETPLACE, ONE OF THE BIG THINGS THAT THAT TERESA SPANKY IS OUR CEO IN THE PUSH IS IS, WHEN YOU'RE MANAGING A COMMUNITY PLAN FOR LIKE MEDICARE ADVANTAGE OR THE MARKETPLACE, COMPARED TO A UNITED OR A BIGGER PLAN, COMMUNITY FIRST IS A BEAR COUNTY PRODUCT RUN BY BEAR COUNTY PEOPLE THAT HAVE BEAR COUNTY PEOPLE HERE. THEY UNDERSTAND THE SYSTEMS IN THOSE PROGRAMS. COMMUNITY FIRST HAS AN OPEN NETWORK. A HOSPITALS ARE IN, PEOPLE HAVE CHOICE, BUT IT'S MANAGED LOCALLY. I THINK THE PLAN THAT WE SEE IS AS WE UNDERSTAND IT A LITTLE BIT BETTER WHEN IT COMES DOWN TO WHERE DO THE PATIENTS REALLY NEED TO GO, WHAT WE CAN DO AND HOW WE CAN MANAGE IT. YES, IT'S PRIMARILY MEDICAID, BUT WE SEE THE OPPORTUNITIES NOW IN THE MARKETPLACE AND MEDICARE ADVANTAGE AND THE OTHERS AS THOSE GROW. THOSE ARE PEOPLE THAT ARE CHOOSING ON WHO GOT OUT OF THE STATE OF TEXAS CIGNA? I THINK IT WAS. ONE OF THE MAJOR HEALTH PLANS GOT [01:30:02] OUT OF THE MARKETPLACE FOR MEDICARE ADVANTAGE? >> HUMANA. >> HUMANA. WE'VE SEEN A LOT OF PATIENTS LEAVING HUMANA AND THEN COMING TO US. BUT AGAIN, WE FEEL MANAGED BY LOCAL PEOPLE WHO LOVE THE LOCAL MARKET. THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WE WANT TO CONTINUE TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY GET GREAT ACCESS TO CARE. >> I APPRECIATE THAT. TWO FINAL COMMENTS HERE. I JUST WANTED TO AGAIN, THE INTERSECTION WITH THE JAIL AND OUR LAW ENFORCEMENT AND THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE, THE SERVICES YOU PROVIDE THERE. I THINK THAT'S OFTEN OVERLOOKED. I KNOW COMMISER RODRIGUEZ MENTIONED IT AND WE TOUCHED ON IT THERE. THE CONVERSATION WE HAD LAST WEEK, DIVING INTO WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE IN THE FUTURE AND WHAT FACILITIES YOU ALL MAY NEED, WHAT ADDITIONAL SPACE WE MAY NEED FOR MENTAL HEALTH BEDS IN BEAR COUNTY, AND LOOKING AT GETTING THE RIGHT DATA FOR KEY STAKEHOLDERS AND FOR THIS COURT TO LOOK AT THAT AND DETERMINE PATHS FORWARD. BUT I JUST WANT TO HIGHLIGHT THAT FOR EVERYBODY BECAUSE UNIVERSITY DOES A LOT IN JAIL, AND IT'S ALSO A MAJOR EXPENSE, A LOT OF STAFF TIME, BOTH ON THE LAW ENFORCEMENT SIDE AND ON THE MEDICAL SIDE WITH TAKING CARE OF THOSE INMATES WHO HAVE HEALTH ISSUES. THANK YOU FOR THAT. THEN FINALLY, I WOULD JUST LIKE TO IN 2026 BE ABLE TO SIT DOWN AND LOOK MORE AT GROWTH STRATEGIES AND THIS BUILD OUT OF THE NEW CAMPUS AND BETTER UNDERSTAND THAT. BUT THAT'S ALL I HAVE FOR TODAY AGAIN. THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR LEADERSHIP AND WHAT YOU DO WITH UNIVERSITY. THANK YOU. >> JUDGE, I JUST WANT TO SAY YOU ALL BEEN STANDING FOR ABOUT 50 MINUTES. I'M NOT GOING TO BELABOR ANYTHING. THERE'S OTHER PEOPLE WHO'VE BEEN HERE. I JUST WANT TO SAY YOU'RE ON SANTA'S VERY NICE LIST. YOU'VE DONE A GREAT JOB. MERRY CHRISTMAS AND HAPPYNEW YEAR. THANK YOU FOR YOU HERE. >> LET ME THANK YOU, ED REED AS THE ADMINISTRATION OVER AT THE UNIVERSITY HEALTH SYSTEM, JIMMY HAS LOCKER, ANITA FERNANDEZ, MELINDA RODRIGUEZ, MY APPOINTEE TO THE BOARD, I BELIEVE THE FIRST ASIAN AMERICANS TO SERVE ON THE UNIVERSITY HEALTH BOARD. THANK YOU FOR THIS IS ALL ABOUT LEADERSHIP, LEADERSHIP FROM THE COMMISSIONERS COURT AND LEADERSHIP WITH UHS. WHAT A TREMENDOUS PARTNERSHIP. WE ARE PROVIDING TREMENDOUS SERVICE AND VALUE TO OUR COMMUNITY. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THERE'S A MOTION AND SECOND, ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION. HEARING NONE. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, SIGNIFY SAYING AYE. >> AYE. >> ANY OPPOSED ABSTENTION. MOTION CARRIES. THANK YOU. WE'RE GETTING THROUGH THIS. [APPLAUSE] LET'S GO BACK TO SPECIAL PRESENTATION 5A, [5. SPECIAL PRESENTATIONS ITEM(S)] A SPECIAL PRESENTATION BY THE BEAR COUNTY PUBLIC HEALTH. JUDGE VERONICA ASKS, CO CHAIR OF THE ELDER ABUSE AND EXPLOITATION TASK FORCE TO RECOGNIZE A GRANT AWARD AND CELEBRATE THE CREATION OF THE BEAR COUNTY SENIOR JUSTICE ASSESSMENT CENTER, S JACK, A COUNTY LED INTERAGENCY TASK FORCE DEDICATED TO COMBATING SENIOR ABUSE. DOCTOR GUERRERO, JUDGE ASKS. >> WE HAVE SENATOR MENENDEZ. >> SENATOR WHICH ITEM BEFORE? >> WHICH ITEM HE'S HERE FOR, BUT GOOD TO SEE IF SENATOR. >> THANK YOU, JUDGE. COURT MEMBERS. FOR THE RECORD, I AM DR ANDREA GERERO. I AM DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC HEALTH FOR BEAR COUNTY. JUST TO KICK OFF THIS PRESENTATION. YOU'VE HEARD US TALK ABOUT ELDER ABUSE AND THE SENIOR JUSTICE ASSESSMENT CENTER A FEW TIMES. THE LAST TIME WE CAME BEFORE YOU WAS TO APPROVE THE APPLICATION FOR A GRANT TO ESTABLISH THE STA, AND SO WE'RE VERY PLEASED AND HONORED TO COME BACK TODAY TO LET YOU KNOW THAT WE HAVE RECEIVED NOTICE OF AWARD AND TO GIVE YOU AN UPDATE ON PROGRESS AND WHAT OUR PLANS FOR THE FUTURE AND HOW TO IMPLEMENT. I'LL TURN IT OVER TO JUDGE RON AVASCEZ AND ALL OF THE OTHER NOTABLE FOLKS BEHIND ME. >> YOU ARE NOTABLE. THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING US TO BE HERE TODAY. I'M SO EXCITED. THE LAST TIME THAT WE CAME, WE'RE APPLYING FOR A VOCA GRANT AT THE TIME, AND WE DID NOT GET THAT. BUT WE DID NOT GIVE UP. WE APPLIED FOR A VOCA GRANT, AND WE'RE HAPPY TO SAY THAT WE WERE AWARDED THAT. WE ARE COMING HERE TO EXPLAIN AGAIN, WHAT SENIOR JUSTICE ASSESSMENT CENTER WAS BECAUSE I THINK IT WAS LAST YEAR OR THE YEAR BEFORE THAT THAT WE INITIALLY CAME. THE SENIOR JUSTICE ASSESSMENT CENTER WAS ACTUALLY A RECOMMENDATION BY THE ELDER ABUSE AND EXPLOITATION TASK FORCE OF THE SENATOR AND I CO CHAIR TOGETHER. WE CREATED THAT IN 2019. WE SAW THAT THERE WAS A NEED. WE HAVE HORRIFIC RATES OF SENIOR ELDER ABUSE AND EXPLOITATION IN THIS COUNTY. WE WILL TALK ABOUT THEM IN THE SECOND SLIDE. BUT THE SENIOR JUSTICE ASSESSMENT CENTER, WHILE WE ARE CREATING IT HERE AND IT'S GOING TO BE A FIRST OF ITS IN BEAR COUNTY, IT'S NOT A FIRST OF ITS IN TEXAS. THE FIRST ORIGINAL SENIOR JUSTICE ASSESSMENT CENTER IS ACTUALLY IN HARRIS COUNTY. THEY WERE VERY PROGRESSIVE IN DOING THIS ABOUT PROBABLY AROUND THE SAME TIME 2019, THEY CREATED ONE IN HARRIS COUNTY, AND THEY'VE SEEN TREMENDOUS RESULTS WITH SUCH A CENTER. SINCE THEN, WE HAVE WE VISITED MULTIPLE TIMES THE SENIOR JUSTICE ASSESSMENT CENTER ALONG WITH THE COUNTY, [01:35:02] AND WE REALIZED THAT THIS WAS SOMETHING THAT WAS A NEED IN BEAR COUNTY. WITH THE HELP OF THE TASK FORCE IN THE BEAR COUNTY PUBLIC HEALTH DEPARTMENT AND JUDGE SAKAI, THE COMMISSIONERS COURT, YOU AUTHORIZED TO YOU ALLOWED US TO USE A GRANT WRITER TO APPLY FOR THE VOCA GRANT, AND WE ARE HAPPY TO SAY THAT WE RECEIVED. AGING IN BEAR COUNTY, BEAR COUNTY HAS THE HIGHEST ADULT PROTECTIVE SERVICES INTAKES AND COMPLETED INVESTIGATION PER CAPITA DESPITE BEING THE FOURTH LARGEST POPULOUS COUNTY IN THE STATE. YOU WILL SEE OUR AGING POPULATION CONTINUES TO INCREASE. OF COURSE, WITH THE AGING POPULATION, WE HAVE A LOT OF SENIORS THAT LIVE WITH THEIR FAMILY MEMBERS CURRENTLY. IT CREATES COMPLEX NEEDS FOR SENIORS AND HEIGHTENS THE RISK FOR ELDER ABUSE, EXPLOITATION, AND NEGLECT. THESE ARE THIS IS THE LATEST APS DATA, THE TIME THAT I CAME BEFORE YOU. IT WAS IT WAS 2023 DATA IS THE MOST CURRENT IS 2024. IF YOU CAN SEE, BEAR COUNTY HAS THE SECOND HIGHEST POPULATION OF SENIORS OVER THE AGE OF 65, AS WELL AS THE HIGHEST POPULATION OF INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES IN ANY OTHER COUNTY IN THE STATE. >> YOU CAN ALSO SEE THAT, OF COURSE, HARRIS COUNTY HAS FOUR POINT SOMETHING MILLION PEOPLE AND WE HAVE TWO POINT SOMETHING MILLION PEOPLE. YOU WILL SEE JUST BY A NUMBER OF INTAKES, HARRIS COUNTY HAS ABOUT 16,916, AND BEXAR COUNTY HAS 10,624. THAT IS NOT THAT FAR OFF CONSIDERING THEY'RE TWICE AS LARGE AS US. THAT SHOULD TELL YOU THAT WE HAVE A PROBLEM HERE IN BEXAR COUNTY. AGAIN, THIS NUMBER IS ACTUALLY HIGHER, WE'RE JUST LOOKING AT ADULT PROTECTIVE SERVICES DATA. ADULT PROTECTIVE SERVICES DOESN'T TAKE EVERY SINGLE CASE THAT WALKS IN THE DOOR. IN ORDER FOR THEM TO TAKE A CASE, THE PERPETRATOR HAS TO HAVE SOME ONGOING RELATIONSHIP. WE'RE NOT TALKING ABOUT THOSE THAT MAY BE A CONTRACTOR, THOSE THAT MAY BE ONLINE, THOSE THAT OTHER PERPETRATORS THAT ARE OUT THERE THAT THE DA'S OFFICE AND SAPDC, THIS IS JUST APS DATA, SO THIS IS VALIDATED EXPLOITATION CASES. WE'RE TALKING ABOUT FINANCIAL EXPLOITATION. IN HARRIS COUNTY, THE COMPLETED INVESTIGATIONS, AND THIS IS VALIDATED, WHICH MEANS THAT THERE WAS A CALL INTO ADULT PROTECTIVE SERVICES. THEY SAID THAT SOMEONE'S BEING EXPLOITED, THEY DID THE INVESTIGATION, AND THEY FOUND IT TO BE TRUE ACCORDING TO THEIR CIVIL STANDARDS. HARRIS COUNTY HAD 160, AND YOU CAN SEE AGAIN, BEXAR COUNTY HAS 121, AND THAT WAS IN 2024, AND AGAIN, THIS IS ADULT PROTECTIVE SERVICES, THIS IS NOT THE PROBLEM. COUNTY WIDE BECAUSE THEY'RE NOT LOOKING AT OTHER PERPETRATORS THAT DON'T HAVE THAT ONGOING RELATIONSHIP OR THEY THEY WEREN'T CALLED INTO ADULT PROTECTIVE SERVICES. OFTENTIMES, THESE CASES ARE UNDER REPORTED. SENATOR, DO YOU WANT TO SAY ANYTHING? >> SURE. THANK YOU, JUDGE, COMMISSIONERS, COURT, I WANT TO THANK JUDGE VASQUEZ FOR HER LEADERSHIP ON THIS. I JUST WANT TO SIMPLIFY THINGS. JUDGES EXPLAINED THE NEED, BUT THE REALITY IS THAT OUR POPULATION IS AGING QUICKLY AND DRAMATICALLY. I THINK THIS LEADERSHIP ON BEHALF OF THE COUNTY, HELPING US ACHIEVE THIS GRANT ON BEHALF OF JUDGE VASQUEZ AND THE EXPLOITATION TASK FORCE IS GOING TO PUT US IN A GOOD POSITION. I JUST WANT YOU TO THINK ABOUT TO PUT A FACE ON THIS. SOMETIMES THIS ABUSE COMES FROM A CAREGIVER, A FAMILY MEMBER, AND IT MAY START INNOCENT, I JUST NEEDED TO BORROW A LITTLE BIT OF MONEY. THE NEXT TIME I NEED TO BORROW A LITTLE BIT MORE AND THEN IT NEVER GETS PAID BACK. THEY SAID, JUST GO AHEAD AND PICK UP SOME GROCERIES, HERE'S A DEBIT CARD. WELL, THEY WANTED ME TO GET SOMETHING FOR THEM, MAYBE THEY WOULDN'T MIND ME GETTING SOMETHING FOR MYSELF. YOU CAN SEE HOW IT COULD JUST GET AWAY, AND THEN MANY TIMES, WE'VE HAD CASES WHERE IN HARRIS COUNTY, WE HAD AN EXAMPLE OF A MAN WHO DIDN'T WANT TO CHARGE HIS SON AND WAS STUCK. WE NEED TO HAVE A WAY SO THAT OUR AGING POPULATION, OUR SENIORS CAN UNDERSTAND HOW THEIR CASE IS GOING TO BE TAKEN SERIOUSLY, AND THAT BOTH THE DA'S OFFICE AND PD WILL TAKE KNOW THAT THESE ARE GOING TO GET PROSECUTED. THAT'S PART OF THE PROBLEM WHY SOMETIMES THIS GOES UNREPORTED. BECAUSE IF NO ONE'S GOING TO PROSECUTE, THEN WHAT'S THE POINT OF SPENDING THE TIME ON? THIS IS REALLY IMPORTANT, I WANT TO THANK YOU ALL FOR ALL'S LEADERSHIP. WITHOUT THE COUNTY HELPING US TO THE GRANT WRITER, WE DON'T GET THE GRANT, WITHOUT THE GRANT, WE DON'T GET THE SENIOR JUSTICE CENTER AND WITHOUT JUDGE VASQUEZ LEADERSHIP AND SEEING WHAT THE ABUSE WAS HAPPENING IN HER PROBATE COURT, SHE AND I DON'T GET TOGETHER TO START THIS. I WANT TO THANK YOU PUBLICLY AND THANK ALL OF YOU ALL FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP. >> THANK YOU, I TRIED TO GO THROUGH MINE QUICKLY BECAUSE I KNOW WE'VE BEEN HERE FOR A LITTLE WHILE, SO NOW I'M GOING TO TURN IT OVER TO DR. GUERRERO, SO. >> BASED ON THE WORK OF THE TASK FORCE, [01:40:01] AND THAT WAS ALL BEING DONE BEFORE THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH WAS CREATED. BUT JUDGE VASQUEZ DID APPROACH US TO SAY, HEY, IF WE ARE TO GET THIS GRANT, HOW DO WE OPERATIONALIZE IT? OR DOES IT FIT THE BEST IN THE COUNTY TO IMPLEMENT AND TO MAKE IT PART OF COMPREHENSIVE SERVICES? WE WERE AWARDED ALMOST $187,000 AND THAT WILL SUPPORT TWO CASE MANAGERS THAT IS THE FOUNDATION FOR THE SENIOR JUSTICE ASSESSMENT CENTER. WHAT THE SJAC IS THAT A MULTI DISCIPLINARY RESPONSE MODEL, IT IS PARTICIPATING AGENCIES SO MANY OF THE FOLKS THAT WERE INVOLVED IN THE TASK FORCE, LIKE APS AND SOME OTHERS THAT I'LL GET TO IN A SECOND. BUT TO ALL SIT AROUND THE SAME TABLE, ACKNOWLEDGING THAT THEY ARE ALL FRONT DOORS FOR CASES OF ELDER ABUSE. THEY ALL EXPERIENCE REPORTS, THEY ALL HANDLE CASES. WHAT THE SJAC DOES AND WHAT THE CASE MANAGERS DO WOULD BE TO CONNECT ALL OF THOSE SERVICES OR CONNECT ALL OF THOSE ENTITIES AND ORGANIZATIONS SO THAT THEY'RE TALKING ABOUT SHARED RESPONSES, SHARED CLIENTS, SO THAT IT REDUCES THE POTENTIAL FOR FOLKS TO FALL THROUGH THE CRACKS TO SAY, THEY'VE BEEN LOST TO FOLLOW UP. IT REALLY ENHANCES EACH AGENCY'S EFFECTIVENESS AND COMMUNICATION. THIS IS A REALLY HIGH LEVEL OVERVIEW OF WHAT THE SJAC STRUCTURE WILL BE. THE CORE SJAC MEMBERS, THOSE ARE THE ONES THAT WE'RE GOING TO TRY TO START SMALL. WE DON'T WANT TO GET TOO FAR AFIELD IN THE BEGINNING JUST TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE ALL MEMBERS AT THE TABLE, AND THOSE ARE THE ONES THAT WOULD HAVE DIRECT CONTACT AND RECEIVE COMPLAINTS OF ELDER ABUSE LIKE APS AND THE DA'S OFFICE AND FOLKS LIKE THAT. THEN WE'LL HAVE AUXILIARY MEMBERS WHERE THEY MIGHT HAVE CLIENTS THAT MIGHT BE VICTIMS OF ELDER ABUSE, BUT THEIR SERVICES AND THE INTENT OF THEIR ORGANIZATION IS TANGENTIAL TO THAT. THEY WOULD BE SITTING ON THE OUTSIDE OF THAT TABLE, BUT ALL COORDINATED BY THE CASE MANAGERS THAT WILL BE PART OF THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH. THEN THAT GROUP WILL BE IN CONSTANT COMMUNICATION BACK TO THE ELDER ABUSE TASK FORCE TO INFORM POLICY, TO REVIEW DATA AND TO JUST BE AN AREA OF CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT ACROSS ALL OF THOSE AREAS. THE COURT TEAM MEMBERS THAT WE'VE INVITED AND THAT WE'LL START WOULD BE OBVIOUSLY LAW ENFORCEMENT, BCSO, SAPD HAS BEEN A REALLY GREAT PARTNER IN THIS AND SO ANY TIME THAT THEY ARE INVESTIGATING ELDER ABUSE IN THE SAME WAY THAT BCSO IS OUR PARTNERS AT THE CITY HAVE BEEN VERY INVOLVED. THE FIRE MARSHAL'S OFFICE, THERE ARE MANY TIMES WHERE AREAS OF CODE COMPLIANCE THAT HAVE BEEN INSPECTED, PROPERTY INSPECTIONS REVEAL THAT ELDER ABUSE IS GOING ON. WE'VE LEARNED FROM OUR PARTNERS IN HARRIS COUNTY THAT A FIRE MARSHAL MIGHT GO OUT TO INSPECT A BUILDING AND SEE A CASE OF EXPLOITATION WHERE SOMEONE IS RENTING OUT ROOMS AND THEN TAKING ADVANTAGE OF ELDERS AND SENIORS BENEFITS, BUT IN UNSANITARY AND UNSAFE CONDITIONS AND SO THE FIRE MARSHAL IS A REALLY IMPORTANT PARTNER IN THAT AND THEN ANY JURISDICTION IN THE SUBURBAN CITIES. ADULT PROTECTIVE SERVICES OBVIOUSLY BEXAR COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE, ATTORNEY GENERAL'S OFFICE, CODE COMPLIANCE, WHICH LIVES IN THE BEXAR COUNTY PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT. PUBLIC HEALTH AND ONE OF THE REASONS WHY IT WAS A NATURAL FIT IS BECAUSE YOU ALL APPROVED THE CREATION OF THE STAR PROGRAM, WHICH IS A PARTNERSHIP WITH BCSO TO RESPOND TO DOMESTIC VIOLENCE CASES. IT'S BEEN IN OPERATION A LITTLE OVER A YEAR IN JULY, SO 14, 16 MONTHS, AND JUST IN THE STAR PROGRAM. THIS IS WHEN SOMEONE CALLS BCSO AND SAYS THERE'S DOMESTIC VIOLENCE GOING ON WHERE I AM, AND BCSO RESPONDS. IN 26% OF THOSE CASES, JUST IN OUR STAR PROGRAM, THE OFFENDER THE PERPETRATOR IS A FAMILY MEMBER. IN 211 CASES, IT WAS A DAUGHTER OR A SON WHO WAS THE PERPETRATOR AGAINST A PARENT. THOSE ARE IN OUR AVERAGE AGE OF CLIENT IN THE STAR PROGRAM IS 50 PLUS AND THE GRANT IS WRITTEN FOR 50 PLUS. WE TRIED TO MAKE IT AS VAGUE AS WIDE AS POSSIBLE SO THAT WE CAN MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE CATCHING EVERYONE, BUT LIKELY MOST OF THESE FOLKS ARE GOING TO BE 65 PLUS. JUST IN OUR EXPERIENCE WITH THE STAR PROGRAM AND JUST WITH THE DOMESTIC VIOLENCE PART OF THAT, WE'RE ALREADY SEEING THAT THIS IS A SIGNIFICANT ISSUE, AND WE'RE NOT EVEN TOUCHING THE EXPLOITIVE PIECES THAT JUDGE VASQUEZ AND SENATOR MENENDEZ SPOKE ABOUT. IMPLEMENTATION LOOKS LIKE WEEKLY MEETINGS, REVIEWING HIGH RISK HIGH NEEDS CASES, AND IT'S LITERALLY HAVING A LIST OF CLIENTS TO SAY THERE MIGHT BE 10-12, SOMETIMES AS HIGH AS 20, BUT WHOEVER IS ON THE AGENDA FOR THAT DAY, SO IT'S AN INDIVIDUAL PERSON WHOSE CASE NEEDS REVIEWED. ANYONE SITTING AROUND THAT TABLE WITH THE CORE PARTNERS THAT HAVE HAD INTERACTION WITH THEM, WILL SPEAK ABOUT THEIR EXPERIENCE WITH THAT CASE. IF THERE IS ANOTHER PARTNER THAT NEEDS TO BE INVOLVED, THEN THAT WILL FACILITATE THAT COMMUNICATION AS WELL. BUT JUST TO CREATE SOPS, DISCUSSING AREAS FOR IMPROVEMENT, [01:45:02] OBVIOUSLY REVIEWING DATA COLLECTION, AND THEN REPORTING BACK INTO THE TASK FORCE, AS I SAID BEFORE. NEXT STEPS, THE NEXT WEEK, SINCE WE GOT THE NOTICE OF AWARD AND IT WAS PART OF JUST THE GRANT PROCESS THAT WE'RE READY TO GO TO CONVENE OUR PLANNING COMMITTEE, BRING TOGETHER OUR KEY STAKEHOLDERS. DATA SHARING IS GOING TO BE ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT PIECES OF THIS SO WE'VE ALREADY GOT OUR ASSISTANT DISTRICT ATTORNEYS WHO ARE DRAFTING MOUS TO TALK ABOUT DATA SHARING BECAUSE THERE ARE VERY SIGNIFICANT PRIVACY AND LEGAL IMPLICATIONS FOR SHARING INFORMATION ABOUT SOME OF THESE CLIENTS, AND IT'S VERY SENSITIVE. THAT WILL BE IN THE NEXT ONE IN TWO MONTHS SO YOU'LL ALL SEE THOSE MOUS COME BACK FOR YOUR APPROVAL. WE DO HAVE A PRELIMINARY IT SOLUTION, WHICH WILL BE TO RECEIVE REFERRAL, SO WE HAVE A PORTAL, SO WHOEVER IS REFERRING A CASE INTO THE SJAC WILL BE ABLE TO USE A PORTAL THAT WOULD BE THE CENTRAL HUB FOR INFORMATION TO BE USED BY THE CASE MANAGERS TO START THAT PROCESS. THAT IS OUR UPDATE, WE'RE HAPPY TO TAKE QUESTIONS. WE THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONTINUED SUPPORT OF THIS SJAC. A LOT OF THE REASON WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO MOVE SO QUICKLY ON THIS IS BECAUSE WE HAVE OUR PARTNERS IN HARRIS COUNTY THAT HAVE BEEN USING THE SAME GRANT SINCE 2018. THE FACT THAT THEY WELCOMED US THERE TO BASICALLY SHOW US THEIR EXPERIENCE, BUT WE ALSO LEARNED A LOT ABOUT HOW BEXAR COUNTY IS DIFFERENT THAN HARRIS COUNTY SO HAVING THEIR EXPERIENCE TO GUIDE US HAS BEEN REALLY HELPFUL AND HAS REALLY EXPEDITED THIS PROCESS. >> I DON'T HAVE ANY QUESTIONS. JUST, CONGRATULATIONS ON GETTING THE GRANT AWARD. THANK YOU, SENATOR MENENDEZ FOR TAKING TIME TO BE HERE. I DON'T KNOW IF YOU GUYS ARE HERE FOR THIS, BUT I SEE SOME OF OUR SENIOR CENTER STAFF. DO ALL WANT TO STAND AND JUST BE ACKNOWLEDGED, THESE ARE SOME OF THE STAFF THAT TAKE CARE OF OUR SENIORS, WHEN I GO TO SENIOR CENTERS, I SEE THEM SO THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE] THANK YOU FOR TAKING TIME, WE KNOW OUR SENIORS ARE VERY DEMANDING DURING THE HOLIDAY, SO YOU BETTER GET BACK. BUT THANKS FOR TAKING THE TIME AND THE WORK THAT YOU GUYS DO DAY IN AND DAY OUT FOR OUR SENIORS. THANKS FOR BEING HERE. >> JUDGE, IS THERE A PHONE NUMBER THAT IF SOMEONE WANTS TO CALL TO REPORT IT THROUGH THIS SJAC, DOES IT WORK THAT WAY OR DOES IT JUST WORK WITH THE INSPECTORS AND VARIOUS ENTITIES SEE AND COLLABORATE. >> THEY WOULD BE OVERWHELMED WITH PHONE CALLS, REMEMBER, THEY'RE STARTING OFF AT TWO CASEWORKERS, AND THE MODEL THAT THERE IS IN HARRIS COUNTY THEY FOUND SUCCESSFUL, IS IT HAS TO COME FROM A CORE TEAM PARTNER. SOME OF THE LARGEST REFERRALS THEY RECEIVE ARE ACTUALLY GOING TO BE FROM THE PD, FROM THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE, FROM THE DA'S OFFICE AND SOME OF THOSE AUXILIARY MEMBERS. >> IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT THIS GRANT AND THIS PROCESS WILL NOT CHANGE THE WAY ANY OF THESE PARTNERS OPERATE IN AMONG THEMSELVES. IN THE SAME WAY, IF THE PUBLIC NEEDS TO REPORT ELDER ABUSE, IF THEY REPORT IT TO THE POLICE, IF THEY ARE TO LAW ENFORCEMENT, TO APS, CONTINUE TO DO SO AND THEN THAT PARTNER WOULD REFER THAT CASE INTO THE SJAC FOR MORE INTENSIVE CASE MANAGEMENT. BUT THIS IS REALLY JUST TO BRING EVERYONE TOGETHER IN A MULTIDISCIPLINARY TEAM. BUT THE REFERRAL PROCESS TO REPORT ELDER ABUSE WOULD REMAIN THE SAME AS IT ALWAYS HAS BEEN. >> THEIR COLLABORATION, DOES THAT TAKE PLACE AT THE PUBLIC HEALTH OFFICE ON OR WHEREVER THAT IS? >> YES, EVENTUALLY, WHEN OUR FURNITURE MOVES IN, WE'LL GET THERE, YES. THAT IS OUR EXPECTATION OR IT CAN BE TEAMS, IT CAN BE A VIRTUAL, THERE'S A LOG IN BECAUSE OF PRIVACY ISSUES, BUT YES, IT CAN BE VIRTUAL OR IT COULD BE IN PERSON. YES. >> THANK YOU, SENATOR FOR COMING, WE ALWAYS APPRECIATE YOUR HARD WORK. YOU DO A LOT OF HARD WORK AND WE APPRECIATE YOUR VOICE AND YOUR INSIGHT. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TREMENDOUS EFFORTS TODAY. >> WELL, I'M GLAD I GOT HERE A LITTLE EARLIER. AFTER REVIEWING THAT UNIVERSITY HEALTH SYSTEM PRESENTATION, I WAS JUST THINKING ABOUT HOW PROUD OF THE WORK THAT WE DO HERE IN BEXAR COUNTY AND REALLY WHAT A ROLE MODEL BEXAR COUNTY IS FOR THE REST OF THE STATE AND SEEING ALL THOSE THE THOUSANDS OF CASES THAT ARE TRANSFERRED FROM PRIVATE HOSPITALS TO UNIVERSITY HEALTH SYSTEM AND FROM SURROUNDING COUNTIES. IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE SHOULD TAKE THAT SHOW ON THE ROAD SO THAT THE STATE CAN SEE HOW COUNTIES CAN OPERATE AND THEY SHOULD OPERATE, AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR KIND WORDS, BUT IT'S ALL ABOUT THE TEAMWORK AND I HAVE TO THANK MY LEADER HERE AND JUDGE VASQUEZ, WHO CALLED ME, BUT SHE'S THE ONE THAT IDENTIFIED THE PROBLEM AND REALLY, IT'S BEEN A GREAT TEAMWORK WITH ALL OF YOU, SO THANK YOU. >> LET ME THANK SENATOR MENENDEZ, YOU AND I HAVE WORKED TOGETHER ESPECIALLY ON ISSUES OF FAMILY. OBVIOUSLY, WE DID A LOT OF WORK WITH CHILDREN, AND WE HAVEN'T FORGOTTEN ABOUT OUR ELDERLY. TODAY, WE'RE MAKING A SIGNIFICANT STEP TO PROTECT OUR MOST VULNERABLE, THAT IS THE ELDERLY POPULATION. COUNTY STAFF, I THINK ONE OF THE MANDATES OR ONE OF THE DIRECTIVES I'VE GIVEN IS TO MAKE SURE THAT THE INTER LOCAL BE IT MOU INTER LOCAL AGREEMENTS REALLY IS VERY [01:50:03] SPECIFIC AND HAS AN ACCOUNTABILITY PIECE FOR ALL THE KEY STAKEHOLDERS. WHAT I SEE IS IT'S BASICALLY THE TEAM WORKING TOGETHER IN A VERY COLLABORATIVE WAY, OPEN COMMUNICATIVE WAY, COORDINATING SERVICES, AS OPPOSED TO CREATING A BUREAUCRACY, A DEPARTMENT AND THEN FILLING IT WITH. THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO SHOW HOW WE DO THINGS IN BEXAR COUNTY. IT WAS A MODEL WE USE SENATOR IN THE CHILD WELFARE SYSTEM TO BRING ALL THE STAKEHOLDERS TOGETHER, COME UP WITH A COMPREHENSIVE PLAN AND THEN INTEGRATE AND IT'S ALL ABOUT PROCESS. THAT'S THE REASON WHY I WANT THE COMMUNITY UNDERSTAND, THIS IS A SIGNIFICANT STEP. JUDGE VASQUEZ, THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP, I'M PROUD TO HAVE JOINED YOU ON THIS PARTICULAR INITIATIVE. >> JUDGE VASQUEZ AND I HAVE ALSO PRESENTED TO THE PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE OF SAN ANTONIO CITY COUNCIL, AND SHE'S WORKED A LOT WITH THEIR DEPARTMENTS, AND SO THAT WE EXPECT ALL OF THAT WHEN YOU SAY ILAS, MOU, ILAS. >> I'D LIKE TO SEE SOMETHING COME BACK TO THE COURT FOR APPROVAL FOR FORMAL ACTION, AND JOINTLY WITH THE CITY COUNCIL AND PERHAPS WE CAN HAVE A JOINT CONFERENCE ON THAT. >> BEFORE WE GO, I ALSO WANT TO RECOGNIZE THAT ADULT PROTECTIVE SERVICES ARE HERE. THEY ARE BACK THERE, THEY'VE BEEN SITTING QUIETLY AND PATIENT. >> WELL, PLEASE STAND AND BE RECOGNIZED BECAUSE YOU'LL DO THE VALUABLE WORK JUST LIKE CHILD PROTECTIVE SERVICES. [APPLAUSE] >> THEN WE HAVE THE FIRE DEPARTMENT AS WELL. THEY HAVE BEEN TREMENDOUS, AND SO THEY ARE GOING TO BE A PART OF THIS AS WELL. >> SAN ANTONIO FIRE. >> SAN ANTONIO FIRE. >> SAN ANTONIO FIRE, BE RECOGNIZED. WHO ELSE IS THERE? >> THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE. >> THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE. >> YES. THESE HAVE BEEN GREAT TEAM MEMBERS, AND LIKE I SAID, WE LOOK FORWARD I WILL STEP AWAY BECAUSE I WILL NOT BE A PART OF THIS BECAUSE OF COURSE, THESE CASES THAT ARE GOING TO BE REVIEWED, THEY MAY COME BEFORE THE PROBATE COURT, SO I WILL NOT BE INVOLVED, BUT THERE WAS SUCH A NEED THAT I THINK THAT HOPEFULLY ON MY END, WE WILL SEE LESS EXPLOITATION CASES. >> I KNOW THE COURT MAY NOT LIKE THIS, BUT I'D LIKE TO TAKE A PICTURE. LET'S BRING ALL THE PEOPLE WHO ARE PART OF TODAY'S. LET'S RECORD THIS FOR OUR RECORDS, PLEASE COME FORWARD AND TAKE A PICTURE. [APPLAUSE] >> WE LOVE PICTURES. COME ON. APS. FIRE DEPARTMENT. SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT, DA'S OFFICE. WHO ELSE IS INVOLVED? ANYBODY THAT'S A STAKEHOLDER WITH THIS INITIATIVE, COME FORWARD. [BACKGROUND] >> HOW ARE YOU? GOOD TO SEE YOU AGAIN. >> COUNTY STAFF. BARBARA. YOU NEED THE BALANCE. SOMEBODY ON THE SIDE. THERE YOU GO. COME ON. THANK YOU ALL. [APPLAUSE]. SPECIAL PRESENTATION 5B. PRESENTATION GRADUATES OF THE FIRST COHORT OF BEAR COUNTY SUPERVISOR CERTIFICATION PROGRAM. MISS SMITH DEAN. >> GOOD MORNING, JUDGE AND COMMISSIONERS, TINA SMITH DEAN WITH THE OFFICE OF THE COUNTY MANAGER. HERE TODAY TO PRESENT THE COURT WITH THE GRADUATES OF THE FIRST COHORT OF THE SUPERVISOR CERTIFICATION PROGRAM. BY WAY OF BACKGROUND, WE ALL REMEMBER BAKER TILLY. THEY CAME, AND THEY DID A CASE STUDY FOR US, BUT THEY ALSO DID A STUDY ON WAYS THAT WE COULD ENGAGE OUR EMPLOYEES AND HELP WITH EMPLOYEE DEVELOPMENT. ONE OF THE THINGS THAT THEY DISCUSSED WITH OFFICES AND DEPARTMENTS, THEY TALKED TO EMPLOYEES, THEY TALKED TO ELECTED OFFICIALS, WAS SUPERVISORY TRAINING. THERE WAS A NEED FOR THAT, AND I WANT THAT. WITH HR HELP, WE DEVELOPED WHAT WE'RE NOW CALLING THE SUPERVISOR CERTIFICATION PROGRAM. I'D LIKE FOR ALL OF THE PARTICIPANTS TO COME UP IF THERE ARE ANY HERE STILL, PLEASE. THEN THE HR FOLKS, TOO, PLEASE. THIS WAS A FIVE-MONTH PROGRAM. THE CLASSES WERE TWICE A MONTH FOR A FULL DAY, AND THE TOPICS COVERED WE STARTED OUT WITH INTRODUCTION TO SUPERVISION, WE TALKED ABOUT EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATION, TIME MANAGEMENT AND ORGANIZATION, MANAGING TEAM PERFORMANCE, TEAM BUILDING, AND EMPLOYEE DEVELOPMENT, AND EMPLOYMENT LAW. WE FOCUSED ON THE FAMILY LEADS ACT, THE AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT, THE EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY COMMISSION RULES AND REGULATIONS, [01:55:04] AND THE FAIR LABOR STANDARDS ACT. WE ALSO HAD THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE CIVIL DIVISION COME AND DO A FULL DAY ON CIVIL SERVICE RULES, AND THEN WE HAD THE HR FOLKS DO A FULL DAY ON HUMAN RESOURCES POLICIES. AT THE END OF THAT FIVE-MONTH PROCESS, ALL OF THE PARTICIPANTS SAT FOR AN EXAM. THEY DID PRETTY WELL. WE'RE GOING TO WORK ON THIS. OUR EMPLOYEE AND OMBUDSMAN. SHE AUDITED THE CLASS, SO WE'RE GOING TO WORK WITH HER. WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE DOING THIS. WE'RE GOING TO WORK WITH HER TO MAKE IMPROVEMENTS. WITH THAT, I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE EACH OF THE PARTICIPANTS. FIRST, LET ME GET THE HR FOLKS, E.J, AND J. THIS IS EMMANUEL JOHNSON, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS E.J. HE'S A HUMAN SENIOR HUMAN RESOURCES BUSINESS PARTNER, AND THEN J PEREZ, HE'S A HUMAN RESOURCES BUSINESS PARTNER. THEY HELPED A LOT WITH THIS. STEPHANIE CASIANO DID AS WELL, AND SO DID NATANYA BAINES, BUT THEY'RE OFF DOING OTHER IMPORTANT HR WORK RIGHT NOW. WITH THAT, I'D LIKE EACH OF THEM TO INTRODUCE THEMSELVES AND TELL US WHAT OFFICE OR DEPARTMENT THAT YOU'RE FROM. >> HELLO. MY NAME IS ALICIA NAHOSA. I'M WITH BEAR COUNTY PARKS AND RECREATION. >> GOOD MORNING, JUDGE COMMISSIONERS. MY NAME IS GERARD HERRERA. I'M A SERGEANT WITH THE BEAR COUNTY FIRE MARSHAL'S OFFICE. >> GOOD MORNING. MY NAME IS ANDREA LOPEZ, AND I'M WITH THE BUDGET AND FINANCE DEPARTMENT. I'M A SENIOR FINANCE ANALYST. >> GOOD MORNING, GIOVANNA MARTINEZ, PREACHER SERVICES. >> [LAUGHTER] COUNSEL. >> GOOD MORNING, ALEXANDRIA SHAW, PREACH SERVICES. >> GOOD MORNING. MARCO PEREZ WITH ABER COUNTY PUBLIC WORKS. >> GOOD MORNING, JUDGE. GOOD MORNING, COMMISSIONERS. MY NAME IS OSCAR DULINGERS, I'M WITH THE ECONOMIC AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE] >> GOOD MORNING, EVERYONE. MY NAME IS LINDA PAPAINOPOLIS. I'M THE CAPACITY BUILDING PROGRAM COORDINATOR FOR THE SMALL BUSINESS AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP DEPARTMENT. [APPLAUSE] >> GOOD MORNING, JUDGE. GOOD MORNING, COMMISSIONERS. I'M FERNAND VASQUEZ III. I WAS RECENTLY WITH SMALL BUSINESS AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP. NOW I'M WITH BCIT. [APPLAUSE] >> GOOD MORNING, EVERYONE. MY NAME IS MELISSA LAMILEZ, AND I AM THE ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES COORDINATOR FOR ECONOMIC AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT. [APPLAUSE] >> GOOD MORNING, JUDGE, COMMISSIONERS. MY NAME IS ROME LOSALES, AND I'M THE ASSISTANT DIRECTOR FOR BIBLOO TECH PUBLIC LIBRARY. [APPLAUSE] >> GOOD MORNING, EVERYONE. CARLOS ASETHA, COMMUNITY OUTREACH COORDINATOR FOR BIBLOO TECH [APPLAUSE] >> GOOD MORNING, JUDGE. COMMISSIONERS. MY NAME IS ROGER HENDERSON. I'M THE BEAR COUNTY INFORMATION TECHNOLOGIES SUPPORT SERVICE SPECIALIST SUPERVISOR. [APPLAUSE] >> GOOD MORNING, JUDGE, COMMISSIONERS. I'M ALLISON HIGLEY, BEAR COUNTY OMBUDSMAN. [APPLAUSE] >> HIGHLEY GOT A REALLY GOOD GRADE ON HER TEST, SO THIS FOR ME [LAUGHTER]. >> TINA, WE TAKE A PICTURE. >> ABSOLUTELY. >> LET'S GO. >> WHILE Y'ALL ARE COMING UP, I JUST WANT TO CONGRATULATE YOU ON INVESTING ALL THIS TIME IN YOUR PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT. [APPLAUSE] [BACKGROUND] >> CONGRATULATIONS. [BACKGROUND] >> PUT SOME BALANCE ON THE OTHER SIDE. YOU GUYS THIS GROUP, LAST GROUP, GO TO THE OTHER SIDE. >> THERE WE GO. >> THERE YOU GO. SOME MORE. FEW MORE. THERE WE GO. >> THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE]. >> COURT, I'M GOING OUT OF ORDER AGAIN, SO PLEASE PAY ATTENTION. I AM ASKING PERMISSION TO GO TO THE INDIVIDUAL LATE-FILE. I WILL PULL UP AGENDA ITEM 97. BEFORE WE DO THAT, I NEED A MOTION FOR DISCUSSION, APPROPRIATE ACTION RELATED TO GRANTING AN EXCEPTION TO ADMINISTRATIVE POLICY 1.2 TO AUTHORIZE THE CONSIDERATION OF THE LATE-FILE AGENDA ITEM 97A, WHICH IS THE ISSUE WITH SAN ANTONIO RIVER AUTHORITY ON THE NEXT-GEN FLOOD WARNING SYSTEM. IS THERE A MOTION? >> SO MOVE. >> MOTION BY COMMISSIONER RODRIGUEZ. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER CLIFF FLORES. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE. >> [BACKGROUND] AYE. [02:00:01] >> ANY OPPOSED? ANY ABSTENTION? MOTION CARRIES. LET US NOW TAKE UP 97A. DISCUSSION AND APPROPRIATE ACTION REGARDING APPROVAL OF PRELIMINARY INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT BETWEEN BEAR COUNTY AND SAN ANTONIO RIVER AUTHORITY FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE NEXT GENERATION FLOOD WARNING SYSTEM IN THE AMOUNT OF $2,426,228 COUNTY-WIDE. DEREK. [BACKGROUND] >> IT'S BREWING IN HIS HEART. >> GOOD MORNING, JUDGE AND COMMISSIONERS, ART REINHART PUBLIC WORKS. THIS AGREEMENT BEFORE YOU TODAY IS OUR PRELIMINARY INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE RIVER AUTHORITY FOR THE FIRST PART OF THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE NEXT-GENERATION FLOOD WARNING SYSTEM. >> IS THERE A POWER POINT? >> NO. >> DO YOU HAVE A PRESENTATION OR [OVERLAPPING]. >> NO. IF THERE ARE ANY QUESTIONS, THAT'S ALL. >> I DON'T HAVE ANY QUESTIONS. >> IS THERE A MOTION [OVERLAPPING]. >> MOVE FOR APPROVAL. >> MOTION BY COMMISSIONER CLAY FLORES. >> SECOND. >> SECOND BY COMMISSIONER RODRIGUEZ. COMMISSIONER MOODY. >> I DON'T KNOW WHO TO DIRECT THE QUESTION TO. BUT CAN YOU JUST GIVE US A QUICK OVERVIEW OF 2.4 MILLION OF THIS IS OUT OF THE 20 MILLION THAT WE HAD TALKED ABOUT FOR THE REAL-TIME ALERT SYSTEM AND APPROVING A LOT OF OUR FLOOD MITIGATION EMERGENCY WARNING SYSTEM, CORRECT? >> THAT'S CORRECT. AS COURT, REMEMBERS, $21 MILLION WAS APPROVED IN THIS YEAR'S FISCAL YEAR BUDGET, AND THIS IS THE FIRST PHASE OF THAT. IT'S JUST REALLY TO GET THINGS GOING. SINCE COURT'S APPROVAL OF THAT, WE'VE BEEN MEETING WEEKLY WITH THE RIVER AUTHORITY TEAM. OUR WORK HAS STARTED DOING SOME OF THE INITIAL ASSESSMENT AND INVENTORY ON THE COUNTY-WIDE SYSTEM. THIS IS THE INITIAL PIECE OF THAT, AS WELL AS DEVELOPING SOME OF THE PREDICTIVE MODELING AND STARTING TO GET THAT STUFF IN PLACE. >> GOOD MORNING, JUDGE. GOOD MORNING, COMMISSIONERS. DEREK BAYES, GM OF THE RIVER AUTHORITY. I'VE GOT ERIN CAVAZOS HERE AS OUR ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT MANAGER. WE'VE MADE A LOT OF PROGRESS SINCE WE FIRST BRIEFED THE COURT LATE SUMMER. THEN, WHEN WE CAME BEFORE YOU ALL WITH THE BUDGET PROCESS FOR THE 21 MILLION, WORK HAS NOT STOPPED, AND THE DOLLARS HERE TODAY WILL HELP ENSURE THAT WE CONTINUE TO MOVE FORWARD VERY QUICKLY. ERIN, CAN YOU GIVE A QUICK UPDATE ON WHAT WE'VE ACCOMPLISHED AND WHERE WE'RE GOING NEXT, PLEASE? >> WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON SERVING ALL OF THE EXISTING LOCATIONS, HIGH WATER DETECTION LOCATIONS, AND DEVELOPING THE FLOOD STAGE THRESHOLDS. WE'D LIKE TO START WORKING ON SOME ADDITIONAL MODELING EFFORTS AND THE PRELIMINARY PLAN FOR THE DESIGN OF THE EXPANSION AND UPGRADES OF THE SYSTEM. >> THIS IS MORE OF THE CONSULTING MODELING WORK BEHIND THE SCENES OF THE NEW SYSTEM. IS THAT WHAT THE 2.4 IS FOR? >> YES. AS WELL AS THE PUBLIC OUTREACH CAMPAIGN, WE'VE BEEN DEVELOPING THE CONCEPTS FOR THAT, AND WE'LL HAVE THAT TO PROVIDE FOR APPROVAL FROM BEAR COUNTY SOON. >> WE'VE SURVEYED ALL LOCATIONS OF THE GAUGES WITHIN BEAR COUNTY. THE DATA WE'RE PROCESSING THAT, WE SHOULD BE DONE BY THE END OF DECEMBER. THAT ALLOWS SOLID DATA ON THE ACTUAL ELEVATIONS, WHICH FEED INTO THE MODELING, BUT IT'S CRITICAL DATA FOR US TO DO THAT ACCURATELY. >> I DON'T THINK I HAVE FURTHER QUESTIONS. I THINK DAVID MAY HAVE STEPPED OUT, BUT JUST TO COUNTY STAFF AND WHETHER THAT'S PUBLIC WORKS OR ELSEWHERE, IT WOULD JUST BE NICE TO SEE A BREAKDOWN OF THE 21 MILLION AND HOW WE SEE THAT BEING EXPENSE TO DIFFERENT ENTITIES AND OVER TIME. JUST TRYING TO UNDERSTAND, OBVIOUSLY, WE'RE ALL SUPPORTIVE OF THE EFFORT. WE THINK IT'S SUPER IMPORTANT FOR OUR COMMUNITY. BUT IT WOULD JUST BE NICE TO SEE THAT ALL LAID OUT IF WE COULD IN THE COMING MONTHS. >> THIS IS JUST AN INITIAL INTERLOCAL TO GET THINGS MOVING. THEN THERE WILL BE ANOTHER MORE DETAILED INTERLOCAL AS FAR AS THE CONSTRUCTION, ONCE WE GET TO THAT POINT IN THE OPERATIONS AND MAINTENANCE. PART OF THIS ASSESSMENT IS IDENTIFYING THE NEEDS, AND SO SOME OF THE COSTS YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT, THOSE WILL BE IDENTIFIED AS THE RIVER AUTHORITIES GOING THROUGH THIS PROCESS. >> THANK YOU. >> ANY FURTHER DISCUSSIONS? THERE'S A MOTION AND A SECOND ON THE FLOOR. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE. >> [OVERLAPPING] AYE. >> ANY OPPOSED? ANY ABSTENTION? MOTION CARRIES. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. >> THANK YOU, JUDGE. THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER. >> WE'RE MOVING AROUND AGAIN. WE'RE GOING BACK TO TIME CERTAIN. I BELIEVE, KATE, WE NEED TO PICK UP 9:45 AM. CONVENE AS BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF BEAR COUNTY HOUSING FINANCE CORPORATION, WHICH I BELIEVE COMMISSIONER RODRIGUEZ, YOU ARE CHAIR, SO AT THIS TIME, WE WILL RECESS OUR COMMISSIONERS COURT. THE TIME IS NOW 11:10 AM. [02:05:05] >> THANK YOU, JUDGE. WE WILL NOW BE CONVENING AS THE BEAR COUNTY HOUSING FINANCE CORPORATION. GOOD MORNING, SUMMER. I THINK WE'VE GOT JUST A QUICK ITEM HERE. FIRST ITEM IS 1A CONSIDERATION, APPROPRIATE ACTION REGARDING THE MINUTES OF THE OCTOBER 14TH, 2025, MEETING. DO WE HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE MINUTES? >> MOVE TO APPROVAL. >> MOTION, WE HAVE A SECOND. >> SECOND. >> MOTION SECOND. ANY DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE. >> [OVERLAPPING] AYE. >> ANY OPPOSED? THAT MOTION CARRIES. NEXT ITEM IS 2A. THIS IS CONSIDERATION APPROPRIATE ACTION REGARDING THE USE OF HFC FUNDS FOR A, A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING BEAR COUNTY HOUSING FINANCE CORPORATION TO USE AND OR TRANSFER FUNDS TO BEAR COUNTY IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $500,000 FOR A GRANT TO PROVIDE FUNDING FOR BEAR COUNTY HOUSING STABILITY PROGRAM. I KNOW THAT WAS COMMISSIONER CALVERT AND JUDGE SAKAYA THAT INITIATED THAT. SAM, DO YOU HAVE ANYTHING TO ADD TO THIS ITEM? THIS IS BASICALLY A FOLLOW-UP FROM A COURT ACTION, I THINK A FEW WEEKS AGO, TO PUT SOME OF THE MONEY ASIDE FOR HOUSING STABILITY. I BELIEVE WE'VE GOT AN ITEM LATER ON THE REGULAR AGENDA TO COORDINATE WITH A PARTNER TO HELP WITH ADMINISTERING THOSE FUNDS. ANYTHING TO ADD? >> THAT'S RIGHT. THE ONLY THING THAT I'LL ADD HERE IS JUST THAT THIS IS AN AUTHORIZED USE OF HFC FUNDS PURSUANT TO THE STATUTE. IT REQUIRES THAT WE USE THOSE FUNDS, WHICH I BELIEVE RIGHT NOW YOUR TOTAL IN YOUR FUND IS ABOUT 3.582 MILLION. WE'RE USING 500,000 OF THAT, BUT THE 3.582 THAT YOU CURRENTLY HOLD NEEDS TO BE USED TO PROVIDE LOW AND MODERATE-INCOME HOUSING TO FAMILIES WITHIN BEAR COUNTY. >> WE'LL NEED A MOTION THEN. >> MOVE APPROVAL. >> MOTION, WE HAVE A SECOND. >> SECOND. >> MOTION AND SECOND. ANY DISCUSSION? YES. COMMISSIONER, GRANT. [LAUGHTER] >> TO PERSONAL UP HERE. >> THE OTHER ITEM IS AROUND THE MANAGEMENT OF THIS, AND THAT'S CATHOLIC CHARITIES, IS THAT CORRECT? THAT'S THE ITEM 81 THAT I ALSO PULLED TODAY. I BELIEVE. DO WE HAVE ANY UNDERSTANDING OF HOW THEY'RE PRIORITIZING OR MAKING THOSE DECISIONS? ARE THEY ALSO EXECUTING THIS TYPE OF HOUSING ASSISTANCE PROGRAM FOR OTHER ENTITIES, OR IS THIS A NEW PROGRAM FOR THEM AS WELL? >> LIZZIE PROS WITH CATHOLIC CHARITIES IS HERE TODAY, AND SHE'S HAPPY TO ANSWER THOSE QUESTIONS. >> THANKS. >> YES. GOOD AFTERNOON. THANK YOU, COMMISSIONERS, FOR HAVING ME HERE, AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT OF THIS INITIATIVE. WE ARE PROVIDING THESE SERVICES DAY IN AND DAY OUT. THIS IS NOT A NEW PROGRAM FOR US. WE HAVE MANY OVER TEN YEARS OF EXPERIENCE, PROVIDING THESE SERVICES. HOWEVER, THESE FUNDS ARE CRITICAL RIGHT NOW AT THIS TIME. THE NEED IS JUST TREMENDOUS. WE GET HUNDREDS OF CALLS DAILY, WE GET REFERRALS THROUGH THE COORDINATED ENTRY SYSTEM AS WELL AND THROUGH OTHER PARTNERS. BUT MY UNDERSTANDING IS THESE FUNDS WOULD BE SPECIFICALLY PRIORITIES FOR THE UNINCORPORATED AREAS OF BEAR COUNTY AND SPECIFICALLY PRIORITIZE FOR ANY REFERRALS THAT THE COMMISSIONERS ARE DIRECTLY SENDING TO US. WE CAN HAVE FURTHER DISCUSSIONS, BUT WE ARE OPEN TO, HOWEVER, YOU WOULD LIKE TO PRIORITIZE THESE FUNDS AND ENSURING THAT THEY GET OUT QUICKLY IN A TIMELY MANNER TO THE COMMUNITY. >> JUST FOR THE RECORD, COULD YOU IDENTIFY YOURSELF AND WHO YOU'RE WITH? >> YES. I'M LIZZIE PARALES, I'M THE VICE PRESIDENT OF PROGRAMS FOR CATHOLIC CHARITIES. >> GO AHEAD, CHRIS Y. >> MAYBE THIS IS A QUESTION REGARDING THE HFC FUNDS, BUT THERE'S CURRENT BALANCE OF 3.5 MILLION WITHIN THAT. WHAT ARE THOSE FUNDS USED FOR TYPICALLY? >> SO FAR, WE'VE ESTABLISHED A SMALL RELOCATION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM AND A RENTAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM. BUT RIGHT NOW WE'RE DEVELOPING THE PARAMETERS FOR THE USE OF THOSE FUNDS. WE COULD USE THINGS LIKE GAP FINANCING, BUT AS SUMMER POINTED OUT, THEY ALL HAVE TO BE USED FOR LOW AND MODERATE INCOME PEOPLE FOR HOUSING RELATED ACTIVITIES. >> ARE THOSE ALSO USED FOR SUBSIDIZING THE PROJECTS THAT COME THROUGH THE HFC, OR IS THIS A SEPARATE BUCKET OF FUNDS? >> THEY CAN BE USED FOR THAT. YES, SIR. >> NO. I JUST WANT TO MAKE THE POINT. OBVIOUSLY, IF WE'RE USING FOR THIS RENTAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM, THEN WE CAN'T USE IT FOR OTHER THINGS. I ALSO JUST MAKE THE POINT, I GUESS, FOR THE RECORD, THAT THERE ARE I DON'T KNOW IF ANYBODY CAN SPEAK TO IT, BUT HOW MANY RENTAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS WE HAVE WITHIN BEAR COUNTY OR THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO TODAY. I KNOW THERE'S MANY NON PROFITS THAT WE'RE CONTRIBUTING TO THAT ARE ALSO PLAYING IN THE SPACE AND HELPING OUR CITIZENS. >> THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO HAS A $5 MILLION RENTAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM, [02:10:02] BUT THEY DON'T HELP INDIVIDUALS WHO LIVE OUTSIDE OF THEIR JURISDICTION. THIS PROGRAM WOULD DO JUST THAT. THE OTHER PROGRAM THAT WE ADMINISTER IS THROUGH THE EMERGENCY SOLUTIONS GRANT, BUT THAT HELPS INDIVIDUALS AT 30% AMI AND BELOW. MANY OF THE HOUSEHOLDS THAT WE AIM TO SERVE ARE JUST ABOVE THAT INCOME THRESHOLD. >> I JUST KNOW WE HAVE OBVIOUSLY THROUGH VETERANS PROGRAMS, SAM MINISTRIES, CHRISTIAN ASSISTANCE MINISTRIES, CITY OF SAN ANTONIO. THERE'S JUST A LOT OF PROGRAMS OUT THERE IN THIS SPACE, AND I JUST WONDER IF THE COUNTY SHOULD BE INVOLVING THEMSELVES IN ANOTHER PROGRAM WITH REGARD TO THIS. OR THAT WE'LL BE ABLE TO SUSTAIN THE NEED BECAUSE THIS IS $500,000. WHAT IS THAT GOING TO DO? IS THIS GOING TO BE AN ANNUAL INVESTMENT? BECAUSE HOW ARE WE GOING TO CONTINUE TO FUND THIS GOING FORWARD? SEEMS LIKE THERE'S ALWAYS A NEED OUT THERE, BUT I'M NOT SURE IF WE CAN EVER ACTUALLY FULFILL IT. THAT'S ALL I HAVE. >> GO AHEAD. COMMISSIONER CALVIN, SORRY. >> SORRY ABOUT THAT COMMISSIONER. THE FINANCE CORPORATION HAS TRADITIONALLY MADE INCOME FROM THE ASSISTANCE OF THE DEVELOPERS BORROWING AT THE COUNTY'S LEVEL. THE FUNDS THAT HAVE ACCRUED OVER THE YEARS AS A RESULT OF A PROFIT SHARING, IF YOU WILL, OR A FEE SHARING OPPORTUNITY FOR THE COUNTY, WE'LL CONTINUE TO REPLENISH THESE FUNDS BECAUSE OF DEALS. THE MORE DEALS WE GET DONE THROUGH THE FINANCE CORPORATION, THE MORE MONEY THAT WE'LL END UP BEING ABLE TO HELP. IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING THE COUNTY REALLY HAS NOT HAD A PROGRAM OF THIS NATURE BEFORE, AND WE HAVE SEEN UNPRECEDENTED AFFORDABILITY ISSUES, AND I'VE JUST ALWAYS FELT THAT GIVING A HAND JUST TO DEVELOPERS IS NOT REALLY IN THE SPIRIT OF THE FINANCE CORPORATION. IT'S IMPORTANT TO PUT IT IN THE HANDS OF THE FOLKS THAT NEEDED. IT DOES IN YOUR. IT DOES GO TO THE DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY BECAUSE IT'S PAYING RENT. IT IS KEEPING PEOPLE STABILIZED. THE REASON THIS PROGRAM IS NEEDED IS BECAUSE WE ARE IN AN AREA WHERE THE COUNTY IS BASICALLY AT 5, 600,000 PEOPLE IN UNINCORPORATED AREA, HEADING TOWARDS 1 MILLION. WHAT THAT MEANS IS THAT HOMELESS SERVICES, PREVENTION OF PEOPLE WHO ARE IN DANGER OF BEING HOMELESS, IS GOING TO WIND UP IN EVERY SECTOR, VARIOUS INTERSECTIONS, EVERYWHERE. WE END UP HAVING CALLS FOR ASSISTANCE. THIS IS A VERY IMPORTANT WAY TO MAKE SURE THAT FOLKS ARE NOT WINDING UP CREATING THAT COMMUNITY CALL. THAT DOES COME TO OUR OFFICE, AND I THINK THAT'S PART OF THE REASON WHY THE COURT HAS PUT A REGULATION THAT WILL ALLOW CALLS FROM OUR OFFICES TO BE RESPONDED TO, BECAUSE WE DO GET THOSE CALLS THAT THERE IS FOLKS OUT IN ENCAMPMENTS THAT NEED SHELTER OR SOMEONE WHO'S IN A PREDICAMENT THAT NEEDS SOME HELP. I THINK THAT WE HAVE SKIRTED BY OVER A NUMBER OF YEARS IN THE COUNTY WITH NOT HAVING A LOT OF HOMELESS PREVENTION PROGRAMS, AND WE'RE JUST GROWING UP, AND WE'RE JUST COMING TO REALITY OF BEING IN THAT SERVICE SECTOR. I THINK IT'S A SMALL, IMPORTANT INVESTMENT TO STEM THE TIGHT OF HIGH COSTS IN. I THANK THE COURT FOR THEIR SUPPORT FOR THIS. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU COMMISSIONER. JUDGE SCOT, DO YOU HAVE ANYTHING? >> WELL, WHAT WE'VE HEARD TODAY, WE KNOW THAT THE CALLS ARE COMING INTO THE COMMISSIONER'S OFFICES FROM PEOPLE WHO ARE STRUGGLING WITH THE RENT AND NEED RENT ASSISTANCE. I KNOW OUR CASE MANAGEMENT TEAM AND THE ECONOMIC AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT ARE WORKING HARD TO CONNECT OUR NEIGHBORS TO RESOURCES. SOME NEIGHBORS ARE FACING EVICTION. SOME ARE NEWLY UNHOUSED, SOME ARE JUST BEHIND ON UTILITY BILLS, AND TRYING TO BALANCE THEIR BUDGETS. BUT EVERYONE IS FEELING THE SQUEEZE OF A CHALLENGED ECONOMY. SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS ARE STRUGGLING IN THE FACE OF TARIFFS. THE MANUFACTURERS ARE SECOND GUESSING PLANS FOR EXPANSION, AND THE JOB MARKET LOOKS LIKE IT'S GETTING TIGHTER. ONE OF THE MOST EFFECTIVE STRATEGIES TO PREVENT HOMELESSNESS AND KEEPING OUR NEIGHBORS SAFE IN THESE TRYING TIMES IS KEEPING FAMILIES IN THEIR HOMES. I WANT TO THANK COMMISSIONER COVERT FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP. I'M PROUD TO PARTNER WITH YOU ON THIS PARTICULAR ITEM AND SUPPORT IT, AND FOR DEMONSTRATING LEADERSHIP AND PROVIDING CRITICAL SERVICES LIKE HOUSING INSTABILITY. THIS FUNDING IS DIRECTLY ALIGNED, SUMMER, AS YOU SAID, WITH THE HOUSING FINANCE FOCUS, AND ACCORDING TO LAW ON PROVIDING FOR THE HOUSING NEEDS OF LOW AND MODERATE-INCOME FAMILIES, SO I WILL BE SUPPORTING THIS MOTION. >> GREAT. THANK YOU, JUDGE. WE DO HAVE A MOTION AND SECOND FOR ITEM 2A, ANY OTHER DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, SAY AYE. >> AYE. >> ANY OPPOSED? >> NO. >> THAT MOTION CARRIES. I BELIEVE THAT IS ALL WE'VE GOT ON THE AGENDA. [02:15:02] SEEING NO FURTHER BUSINESS, WE'LL ADJOURN THE COMMETING OF THE HOUSING FINANCE CORPORATION, AND THE TIME IS 11:20. TURN IT BACK OVER TO YOU, JUDGE. >> WE'LL RECONVENE AS COMMISSION'S COURT. TIME IS 11:20 AM. SIX G. WE'RE STILL ON TIME, CERTAIN. O F. YES. EXCUSE ME 6F. DISCUSSION APPROPRIATE ACTION REGARDING TO SIGNING A JOINT RESOLUTION FOR THE PRIMARY ELECTION TO BE HELD ON TUESDAY, MARCH 3RD, 2026, TUESDAY, MAY 26TH, 2026, FOR A RUNOFF ELECTION, IF NECESSARY. MISS PERU. >> GOOD MORNING, JUDGE, AND COMMISSIONERS BROUGHT TO YOU TODAY ARE THESE SIGNED AGREEMENTS SIGNED BY BOTH PARTIES HERE IN BEAR COUNTY FOR THE UPCOMING PRIMARY AND POSSIBLE RUNOFF TO BE HELD IN 2026. I DID WANT TO REPORT BACK TO THE COURT THAT BOTH PARTIES HAVE BEEN WORKING WITH MY OFFICE TO ENSURE THAT THE PRIMARY RUNS VERY SMOOTHLY AND HAVE AGREED TO HAVE A JOINT ELECTION AT ALL OF THE VOTE CENTERS THROUGHOUT BEAR COUNTY. >> IF YOU DON'T HAVE ANY QUESTIONS. I'D LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION FOR APPROVAL. >> THANK YOU. >> MOTION BY COMMISSIONER CLAY FOR. SECOND BY COMMISSER CALVERT. ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? QUESTION. I'LL CALL FOR A VOTE. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF THE MOTION. SIGN BY SAYING AYE. >> AYE. >> ANY OPPOSED? ANY ATENION. MOTION CARRIES, 6G. DISCUSSION, PROGRESS OF THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S HIGH RISK INTAKE TEAM AND THE CURRENT CONDITION OF THE FELONY INTAKE BACKLOG. MR. GONZALEZ, RDA. >> GOOD MOR DEAN COMMISSIONERS. GOOD MORNING, JUDGE SAKAI. THANK YOU FOR GIVING US AN OPPORTUNITY TO GIVE YOU AN UPDATE. THIS DOES NOT REQUIRE ANY ACTION ON THE PART OF COMMISSIONERS. THIS IS STRICTLY AN UPDATE ON THE PROGRESS THAT WE HAVE BEEN MAKING ON OUR BACKLOG. BY WAY OF HISTORY AND YOUR FRESH, BACK IN NOVEMBER 2 YEARS AGO OF 2023, COMMISSIONER APPROVED A BUDGET NEUTRAL PROGRAM. THAT ALLOWED US TO UTILIZE OUR OWN FUNDS FOR A BACKLOG REDUCTION PLAN IN THE AMOUNT OF 295,248. THEN EARLIER THIS YEAR IN AUGUST, WE CAME BACK AND ASKED THE COURT TO APPROVE UTILIZING ADDITIONAL EXISTING FUNDS, AGAIN, BUDGET NEUTRAL FUNDS, FUNDS THAT HAVE ALREADY BEEN APPROPRIATED TO THE DA'S OFFICE IN THE AMOUNT OF 296,000 FOR CONTINUATION OF WHAT I BELIEVE HAS BEEN A SUCCESSFUL PROGRAM. WE HAVE AN UPDATE, AND I'M CALLING THIS THE END OF THE YEAR UPDATE ON OUR BACKLOG REDUCTION PROGRAM. I HANDED YOU ALL YOU SHOULD NOW HAVE A COPY OF A POWERPOINT PRESENTATION THAT HAS THE INFORMATION FOR YOUR PROVAL. LET ME BEGIN BY SAYING BEFORE I START WITH THE NUMBERS THAT THE BACKLOG STATISTICS ARE SOURCED FROM INFORMATION OBTAINED FROM ODYSSY AND BCIT. WE DIDN'T JUST PULL THESE NUMBERS OUT OF THIN AIR. THESE ARE NUMBERS THAT WERE GENERATED BY THE COUNTY INFORMATION SYSTEM. HERE WE GO. AS OF DECEMBER 3RD, WE STARTED BACK THEN WITH THE ORIGINAL 6,330 CASES OF A BACKLOG. ALL THE BOND CASES HAVE NOW BEEN RESOLVED. ONLY 215 OF THE AT LARGE CASES REMAIN, AND AGAIN, TO REFRESH YOUR MEMORY AT LARGE CASES ARE WHERE LAW ENFORCEMENT INVESTIGATES A CASE AND THEN THEY FILE IT WITH OUR OFFICE WITHOUT MAKING AN ARREST. WE ONLY HAVE 215 OF THOSE AND KEEP IN MIND OUR PROSECUTORS ARE WORKING ON THESE CASES IN ADDITION TO THEIR REGULAR CASE LOAD, IN ADDITION TO THEM PREPARING FOR TRIAL, IN ADDITION TO HANDLING THE INTAKE TO THOSE PROSECUTORS THAT ARE ASSIGNED TO THE INTAKE. THIS IS WORK THAT THEY ALL ALL DOING ON THE WEEKENDS AND IN THE EVENINGS. AS OF YESTERDAY, WHICH IS ONE OF THE REASONS WE COULDN'T MAKE THE DEADLINE TO HAVE THE POWERPOINT READY. WE WANTED TO HAVE THE LAST MINUTE NUMBERS FOR YOU AND AS OF LAST NIGHT, WE NOW HAVE A DECREASE OF 6,330 CASES DOWN TO 3,851. THAT IS A DECREASE OF 40%. AS FAR I'M CONCERNED, AS FAR AS WHAT WE FEEL, THIS HAS BEEN A HUGE PROGRESS. [02:20:01] THIS HAS BEEN A SUCCESSFUL PROGRAM, AND WE HOPE TO CONTINUE TO UTILIZE THIS PROGRAM. WE'VE NOW USED AND I'M GOING TO TALK ABOUT THAT IN LATER SLIDE, BUT WE'VE UTILIZED ABOUT TWO THIRDS OF THE FUNDING OF OUR OWN BUDGET NEUTRAL MONEY THAT YOU ALL HAVE ALREADY APPROVED. ANOTHER RELATED GOOD PIECE OF INFORMATION THAT I WANT TO SHARE WITH YOU THAT I'VE ALREADY SHARED WITH THE PUBLIC, AND THAT IS THAT FOR A LONG TIME WE WERE CARRYING VACANCIES OF 30 PROSECUTORS. THAT IS, WE WERE DOWN 30 ATTORNEYS, WHICH MADE OUR JOB DIFFICULT BECAUSE THE PROSECUTORS THAT WERE LEFT IN THE OFFICE HAD TO NOT ONLY DO THEIR WORK, BUT THEN DO THE WORK FOR THE PERSON THAT WAS NOT IN THE OFFICE. WE'VE RECENTLY HIRED 23 BRAND NEW PROSECUTORS THAT ARE ALL BEING ASSIGNED TO THE MISDEMEANOR DIVISION, AND THEY'RE HITTING THE GROUND, RUNNING, HANDLING THE MISDEMEANOR CASES. HOW THIS HAS IMPACTED US IS IT HAS ALLOWED US TO FREE UP OUR THIRD TIER FELONY PROSECUTORS THAT WE'RE HANDLING MISDEMEANOR CASES THAT WERE ASSIGNED A COUNTY COURTS. THEY CAN NOW BE MOVED UP TO THEIR DISTRICT COURT ASSIGNMENTS AND CAN HANDLE THEIR NORMAL DUTIES IN THOSE COURTS. BUT BY DOING THAT, THAT'S GOING TO FURTHER ASSIST IN THE REDUCTION OF THE BACK FALL. IF YOU GO TO THE NEXT PAGE, AGAIN, I WANT TO REMIND YOU THAT THE BACKLOG THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT, BY THE WAY, IS ALL FELONIES. THAT THAT'S THE AT LARGE FELONIES THAT I'VE JUST MENTIONED THAT IS FILED WITH OUR OFFICE AFTER LAW ENFORCEMENT INVESTIGATES AND FILS THE CASE IN OUR OFFICE AS WELL AS BOND CASES. THAT IS WHERE SOMEONE IS ARRESTED, BUT THEN IS RELEASED ON BOND. THE DEFINITION IS ANY BOND CASE THAT IS OVER 180 DAYS IS CONSIDERED BACKLOG. WITH THE AT LARGE CASES THAT ARE FILED IN OUR OFFICE, ANYTHING THAT IS OVER A YEAR IS THEN CONSIDERED A BACKLOG. WHAT YOU'LL NOTICE THERE IS YOU DON'T SEE JAIL CASES BECAUSE THE JAIL CASES ARE NOT A BACKLOG. WE HAVE A TIMELINE OF 90 DAYS, AND SO WE HAVE TO MAKE DECISIONS WITHIN THOSE 90 DAYS. IF YOU WILL GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE, YOU'LL SEE THAT WE HAVE BROKEN DOWN, WE HAVE A GRAPH THAT SHOWS THE PROGRESSION FROM JANUARY 24TH UNTIL TODAY, WE HAVE FURTHER BROKEN IT DOWN TO AT LARGE BACKLOG AND BOND BACKLOG. IF YOU GO TO PAGE 4, IT WILL SHOW YOU THAT THE AT LARGE CASES USING THE FILING DATE HAVE BEEN REDUCED 25% FROM JANUARY 24TH TO DECEMBER 2025. AGAIN, AS OF THIS MONTH. >> IF YOU GO TO THE NEXT TWO SLIDES, WE'VE BROKEN IT. WE WENT ONLINE WITH ODYSSEY IN ABOUT JUNE OF 2024. WE'VE BROKEN IT TO THE PROGRESS WE MADE PRE ODYSSEY, AND THEN THE PROGRESS WE ARE MAKING POST ODYSSEY AND YOU CAN SEE THEN ON SLIDE NUMBER 5, WE WERE MAKING STEADY PROGRESS. WE STARTED JANUARY 2024 WITH 2,903 CASES AND CAME DOWN ALL THE WAY TO 2,333 CASES IN THE MIDDLE OF THAT YEAR. THEN AGAIN, BECAUSE OF ODYSSEY, WE HAD TO OF COURSE, GO THROUGH SOME GROWING PAINS, LIKE EVERY DEPARTMENT IN THE COUNTY DID. BUT IF YOU LOOK ON PAGE 6, YOU'LL SEE THAT STARTED JULY OF 2024 IT STARTED TO GO A LITTLE IT PEAKED UPWARDS UNTIL ABOUT 1ST OF MARCH, AND IT PEAKED AT 3,813 CASES, AND NOW IT'S SEEING A DECLINE AND SO BASED ON THIS, WE CAN TELL YOU THAT THE BOND BACKLOG, AS I SAY, PEAKED IN MARCH TO 3,813, BUT SINCE THAT TIME, THERE HAS NOW BEEN A 43% DECREASE IN THE BACKLOG OF THESE CASES. SLIDE NUMBER 7 IS JUST ANOTHER INDICATION OF THE PROGRESS THAT WE'VE MADE, I THINK IT IS DIRECTLY RELATED TO OUR HIGH RISK REDUCTION PROGRAM. WE'VE CONTINUED TO INCREASE IN THE NUMBER OF INDICTMENTS. YOU CAN SEE THAT BEFORE THE BACKLOG REDUCTION PROGRAM, WE PRESENTED A LITTLE OVER 10,000 THAT'S 10,963. THEN WE HAD A 15% INCREASE THE FOLLOWING YEAR. THE END OF 2024 WAS 12,660 UNTIL THIS MONTH. THE END OF THIS YEAR, WE ARE AT 15,261. [02:25:05] THAT IS A 21% INCREASE. WHAT THAT MEANS, COURT, IS THAT THERE HAS BEEN AN OVERALL INCREASE IN THE NUMBER OF INDICTMENTS FROM 2023 TO TODAY. THAT MEANS WE CONTINUE TO WORK HARD. OUR PROSECUTORS ARE CONTINUING TO TURN OUT THESE CASES AND MOVE THEM TO THE GRAND JURY TO INDICT THESE CASES. HOW MANY ADAS HAVE PARTICIPATED IN THIS PROGRAM? SINCE THE BEGINNING, WE HAVE HAD 61 OF OUR PROSECUTORS AS OF EARLY THIS MONTH THAT HAD PARTICIPATED IN THIS PROGRAM. AGAIN, I CAN UNDERSCORE THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT PEOPLE THAT ARE SPENDING THEIR TIME INSTEAD OF BEING WITH THEIR FAMILIES, INSTEAD OF DOING OTHER THINGS THAT ARE WORKING ON THIS BACKLOG REDUCTION SO THAT WE CAN ATTACK THAT AND DO EVERYTHING WE CAN IN THE NAME OF PUBLIC SAFETY. WE KNOW THAT THERE HAVE BEEN 8,349 HOURS WORKED IN THIS PRODUCTION PROGRAM. AS I MENTIONED BEFORE, WE HAVE SPENT TWO THIRDS OF THE MONEY THAT WAS PREVIOUSLY ALLOCATED BY THIS COURT. WE HAVE SPENT ALMOST 400,000. THAT IS 397,333. IN SOME, I JUST WANTED TO SHARE WITH THE COURT THAT I THINK THAT THE HIGH RISK INTAKE PROGRAM HAS BEEN A HUGE SUCCESS. IT'S PROVEN EFFECTIVE IN REDUCING THE FELONY CASE BACKLOG, BUT I WANT TO SAY AGAIN, I'VE SAID THIS BEFORE, THIS IS ONLY A TEMPORARY FIX. WHEN I CAME INTO THE OFFICE SEVEN YEARS AGO, I INHERITED A BACKLOG, AND OF COURSE, THE BACKLOG GOT WORSE DURING COVID, AND IT TOOK US A WHILE TO DIG OUT FROM UNDER THERE. BUT WE'RE CONTINUING TO MAKE STRIDES AND WE'RE HAPPY TO REPORT THAT WE ARE MAKING PROGRESS. WE AGREE THAT IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE FUND OUR LAW ENFORCEMENT COMMUNITY AND WE CONTINUE TO GIVE THEM THE TOOLS THAT THEY NEED. BUT IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE ALL RECOGNIZE WE ALSO NEED FUNDING AT THE BACK END OF THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM. IT DOESN'T DO ANY GOOD FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT TO MAKE ARREST AND FOLLOW THESE CASES IF WE CAN'T MAKE CHARGING DECISIONS, IF WE CAN'T PROSECUTE THESE INDIVIDUALS AND AND HOLD THEM ACCOUNTABLE. ALL THAT TO SAY THAT IT IS IMPERATIVE THAT THIS OFFICE, IN ORDER TO PERMANENTLY SOLVE THIS BACKLOG ISSUE AND THE STAFFING ISSUE, THAT WE CONSIDER OFFERING COMPETITIVE COMPENSATION TO OUR PROSECUTORS COMPARED TO OTHER COUNTIES THAT SURROUND US IN ALL DIRECTIONS AND IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR. WITHOUT THIS INVESTMENT, THEN WE WILL CONTINUE TO LOSE OUR SEASONED ATTORNEYS AND THE BACKLOG WILL REMAIN A CONSTANT ISSUE WITH THIS OFFICE AND SOMETHING THAT I'M SORRY, THAT MY SUCCESSOR, I SHOULD SAY, WILL INHERIT. THAT'S THE END OF MY PRESENTATION. AGAIN, THANK YOU FOR GIVING ME AN OPPORTUNITY TO PRESENT WHAT I BELIEVE TO BE SOME POSITIVE NEWS. THANKS AGAIN AND HAPPY HOLIDAYS TO EVERYONE. >> THANK YOU, JOE. COMMISSION MOODY. >> THANK YOU, JUDGE AND THANK YOU, DISTRICT ATTORNEY GONZALEZ FOR PRESENTING HERE TODAY. YOU KNOW, I DON'T THINK IT'S A CONTROVERSIAL STATEMENT. I THINK WE ALL AGREE JUSTICE DELAYED IS JUSTICE DENIED, AND SO WE WANT TO BE EFFICIENT AND QUICK IN BEING ABLE TO PROSECUTE THESE CASES THAT ARE WORTHY OF PROSECUTION AND MOVING FORWARD. I DO HAVE SOME QUESTIONS. WELL, FIRST OF ALL, LET ME SAY, I WANT TO THANK YOUR RANK AND FILE PROSECUTORS, THOSE WHO WHO PUT IN THE EXTRA HOURS AS YOU MENTIONED, AND HAVE INCREASED THE INDICTMENTS YEAR OVER YEAR FOR THE LAST TWO YEARS. THEY DEFINITELY DESERVE A PADDLE ON THE BACK, AND I THINK THAT THAT'S COMMENDABLE, AND WE SHOULD RECOGNIZE THAT. GOING BACK TO THE PART OF THE CHALLENGE HERE AND I'LL JUST TO STAFF AND TO YOUR OFFICE. OBVIOUSLY, WE JUST GOT THIS PRESENTATION, 12 MINUTES AGO, SO I'M TRYING TO GO THROUGH IT AND HIGHLIGHT ANYTHING THAT I HAD QUESTIONS ON FROM BEFORE. BUT ONE OF THE THINGS, IT GOES BACK TO THE DEFINITIONS AND IT GOES BACK TO THE CLASSIFICATION CRITERIA. I THINK WE NEED TO BE VERY LIKE CLEAR WITH EVERY REPORT THAT WE COME IN HERE. WE TALKED ABOUT HIGH RISK BACKLOG AT ONE POINT, FELONY BACKLOG, AND IN THIS CASE, WE'RE JUST CALLING A BACKLOG BROKEN OUT BETWEEN BOND CASES AND BETWEEN A LARGE CASES. BUT THE HIGH RISK BACKLOG, THE FELONY BACKLOG, AND WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT TODAY IS A BACKLOG ARE THE SAME THING, IS THAT CORRECT? [02:30:04] >> CORRECT. IT'S ALL BACKLOG. >> OKAY. I JUST THINK WE SHOULD BE VERY CLEAR IN WHAT THE TERMS WE'RE USING FOR THE BACKLOG. I KNOW THAT IN AUGUST WHEN YOU PRESENTED, YOU HAD CHANGED THE DATES IN TERMS OF THE CLASSIFICATION CRITERIA IN TERMS OF WHEN IT WAS FILED WITH YOUR OFFICE VERSUS WHEN IT ACTUALLY TOOK PLACE, IS THAT CORRECT? THAT'S THE NEW CLASSIFICATION CRITERIA YOU'RE USING TODAY? >> I ACTUALLY THINK THAT WE MADE THAT DECISION BEFORE THE AUGUST PRESENTATION, BUT THE DIFFERENCE WAS, WE WENT FROM AN AUTHEN DATE TO THE DATE THAT THE CASE IS ACTUALLY FILED IN OUR OFFICE AND THE REASON FOR THAT IS IF SOMEONE COMMITS A CRIME AND IT SITS ON THE DESK OF SOME LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICIAL AND OR A LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER AND HE DOESN'T FILE THE CASE FOR SEVERAL MONTHS OR EVEN YEARS THAT CLOCK IS TICKING AND SO IT WOULDN'T BE FAIR TO CONSIDER THAT A BACKLOG UNTIL WE ACTUALLY PUT EYES ON IT UNTIL WE ACTUALLY SEE IT. THAT'S WHY WE WENT TO A MORE EFFICIENT, MORE ACCURATE DEFINITION OF WHAT SHOULD BE CONSIDERED BACKLOG. >> I DON'T DISAGREE WITH YOU ON THAT. BUT WHAT I ASKED AT THE TIME WAS TO GO BACK THEN AND AT LEAST LOOK AT THE CLASSIFICATION CRITERIA IN THE PAST WHEN WE FIRST STARTED SO WE COULD RECONCILE THE 06,300 NUMBER WAS BASED ON THE ORIGINAL CLASSIFICATION CRITERIA, CORRECT? >> NO. I THINK WE CONFIRMED THAT THE 6,300 NUMBER WAS STILL BASED ON THE SAME FILE DATE, AND UNLESS I'M MISTAKEN. >> THAT'S OKAY. THE LAST TIME WE WERE HERE, WE DID BREAK OUT WHAT THE FIRST DEFINITION WAS AND THE NUMBERS THAT THEY REPRESENTED BECAUSE YOU HAD ASKED FOR THAT FROM OUR PREVIOUS ONE. THIS IS NOT THE THIRD TIME WE'VE BEEN HERE WITH THIS DEFINITION, AND THEN THE NEW DEFINITION. WE DID LAST TIME WE WERE HERE, BREAK OUT THOSE NUMBERS, SO YOU COULD SEE APPLES FOR APPLES AND ORANGES FOR ORANGES. >> I UNDERSTAND THAT AUGUST WHEN YOU'VE REPORTED AND TODAY WE'RE USING THE SAME CLASSIFICATION CRITERIA. GOT IT. BUT GOING BACK TO THE ORIGINAL NUMBER, WASN'T THAT STILL AN APPLES VERSUS THE LAST TWO BEING ORANGES? >> IN APRIL WAS WHEN I BELIEVE WHEN WE WENT TO THE NEW DEFINITION, AND SO THAT'S WHEN YOU POINTED OUT, I WOULD REALLY LIKE TO SEE THE APPLES FOR APPLES AND ORANGES FOR ORANGES SO WE CAN KNOW WHAT YOUR OLD DEFINITION NUMBERS WERE, WITH YOUR 6,300 COMPARED TO YOUR NEW DEFINITION, AND THAT WAS BACK IN APRIL. IN AUGUST WHEN YOU ASKED FOR THAT, WE DID DO THAT FOR YOU AND WE SHOWED YOU THIS IS ON THE OLD DEFINITION THAT WAS USED IN DECEMBER, AND NOW HERE IS THE NEW DEFINITION. WE DID DO THAT FOR YOU WHEN WE WERE LAST HERE IN AUGUST, AND NOW WE'RE JUST HERE WITH THE NUMBERS. >> OKAY. WELL, WE'LL CIRCLE BACK ONE MORE TIME. JUST CONFIRM THAT THE THREE NUMBERS WE'RE USING ARE ALL SAME CLASSIFICATION MATERIAL. NOW, CRITERIA. BUT CLEARLY, I DON'T WANT TO TAKE AWAY FROM THE FACT THAT IN AUGUST AND TODAY, YOU'RE USING THE SAME CRITERIA AND YOU'VE SEEN A DECREASE. THAT'S A POSITIVE THING. BUT WE WERE TRYING TO MAKE SURE FROM DAY 1 THAT WE STUCK WITH THE SAME CRITERIA, SO WE WOULD KNOW OUR PROGRESS AS WE'RE GOING ALONG AS WE'RE TRYING TO PROVIDE OVERSIGHT HERE. LET ME JUST ALSO SUGGEST TO THERE COULD BE OTHER DATA POINTS THAT WE WANT TO UTILIZE AND THINKING ABOUT THIS FROM A ANALYSIS STANDPOINT, AVERAGE TIME TO DISPOSITION FOR A BOND CASE OR A LARGE CASE, OR LOOK AT THOSE OUTLIERS, OVER 18 MONTHS OR OVER 24 MONTHS FOR BOTH THOSE CATEGORIES. BECAUSE ONE OF THE HARD THINGS, AND I THINK I'M JUST TRYING TO TEASE THIS OUT, BUT WHEN YOU LOOK BACK AT THE ORIGINAL BACKLOG, YOU SAID THEY'RE ALMOST ALL GONE. THERE'S 200 SOME CASES LEFT. >> AT LARGE. THE AT LARGE CASES ONLY 250 LEFT. >> THE BOND CASES ARE GONE. >> IF THAT'S ALL THEY HAD TO WORK ON, THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN ELIMINATED TWO, BUT YES, THAT'S CORRECT. 215. >> WE HAVE THE 3,800 DAY. THOSE ARE ALL NEW CASES THAT CONTINUE TO COME UP. THERE'S CONSTANTLY CASES COMING IN, THERE'S CONSTANTLY CASES GOING OUT. I DON'T HAVE A GOOD SENSE FOR WHAT IS A STEADY STATE FOR THE BACKLOG THAT WE MAY HAVE, OR WHEN WE GET TO THE WHERE WE WANT TO BE AS A DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE, THERE WILL BE NO BACKLOG WHATSOEVER. >> I DON'T THINK YOU WILL EVER BE IN A SITUATION IN THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE WHERE THERE IS NO BACKLOG BECAUSE CASES ARE ALWAYS, AS YOU SAID, COMING IN, AND THEY ARE ALWAYS GETTING OLDER AND OLDER CASES ARE ALWAYS GOING OUT AND [02:35:01] SO YOU'RE ALWAYS GOING TO SEE AT SOME LEVEL A BACKLOG. >> BUT THOSE CASES ARE STILL THEY'RE NOT HITTING THE BACKLOG LIST UNTIL THEY HIT SIX MONTHS OR ONE YEAR. >> THAT IS CORRECT. >> I MEAN, I THINK IT'S JUST SOMETHING WE SHOULD THINK ABOUT IN TERMS OF WHAT IS OUR GOAL AND OBJECTIVE HERE? WHERE SHOULD WE FEEL? WE'RE MOVING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION, WHICH IS A GOOD POSITIVE THING FOR US TO GRAB HOLD OF. BUT WHERE CAN WE GET TO? WHERE'S OUR GOAL AND OBJECTIVE HERE? OBVIOUSLY, WE WANT TO CONTINUE TO TREND DOWN, BUT GOING BACK TO THE FIRST COMMENT ABOUT JUSTICE DELAYED IS JUSTICE DENIED, THE MORE WE CAN REDUCE THAT BACKLOG, THE BETTER. BUT WITH OUR RESOURCES, WITH JUST THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE PROCESS, WHAT'S OUR TARGET STATE, IN SIX MONTHS, IN 12 MONTHS, IN TWO YEARS AND TRY TO FIGURE OUT WHAT OUR OBJECTIVE IS SO WE ACTUALLY KNOW WHERE WE'RE GOING. >> BEFORE YOU SAY THAT, LET ME SAY SOMETHING I THINK IS IMPORTANT FOR HIS HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE. COMMISSIONER I'VE BEEN DOING THIS FOR 37 YEARS. WHEN I FIRST STARTED AS A YOUNG PROSECUTOR, BACK IN 1990, WE HAD A BACKLOG. IT HAS NEVER GOTTEN TO THE LEVEL THAT IT DID DURING RIGHT AFTER THE PANDEMIC BECAUSE WE NEVER EXPERIENCED A WORLDWIDE PANDEMIC. THE TRUTH, I MEAN, I'VE HEARD, QUIT MAKING EXCUSES JUST DO YOUR JOB. I GET THAT. BUT THE REALITY IS FOR A YEAR AND A HALF, WE DID NOT HAVE GRAND JURIES. THAT MEANS WE WERE WORKING ON PREPARING CASE WITHOUT GRAND JURIES, WE COULDN'T PRESENT THEM AND WE COULDN'T MOVE THE BALL FORWARD AND SO WE'VE HAD TO DEAL WITH THAT NOW SINCE THE END OF THE PANDEMIC. NO, LISTEN, I'LL AGREE WITH YOU ON THAT. I THINK WE WERE SLOW TO RESTART OUR CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM ON THAT SIDE WITH OUR COURTS AND GRAND JURIES. I THINK THAT THAT WAS A FAILURE IN TERMS OF HOW WE GOT BACK INTO, THE PROCESS BECAUSE EVERY MONTH, EVERY WEEK THAT WE WEREN'T DOING THAT, THAT BACKLOG WAS BUILDING UP. I MEAN, LOOKING BACK, THAT'S FAIR. >> I THINK TO YOUR POINT, THOUGH, COMMISSIONER, WE DO WANT TO CONTINUE TO SEE A DECREASE IN THIS BACKLOG. WHERE DO WE WANT TO GO? WE WANT TO GO OBVIOUSLY AS LOW AS WE POSSIBLY CAN. ONE OF THE FACTORS AND CONSIDERATIONS THAT WE HAVE TO TAKE INTO ACCOUNT WHEN WE'RE DOING THAT IS THAT EVERY TIME WE LOSE EXPERIENCE PROSECUTORS, WE HAVE TO REPLACE THEM, FOR EXAMPLE, IN ANY ONE OF OUR VARIOUS INTAKE DEPARTMENTS AND ANY OF OUR VARIOUS DIVISIONS WITH NEW PROSECUTORS. THOSE NEW PROSECUTORS AND INTAKE TOOK A LOT LONGER TO TRAIN A LOT LONGER TO PRODUCE CASES AND A LOT LONGER TO INDICT THOSE CASES AND SO IT REALLY TO GO TO WHAT JOE ENDED THIS WITH, IT REALLY IS A REVOLVING CYCLE WHEN WE ARE LOSING THESE EXPERIENCED PROSECUTORS BECAUSE WE CANNOT COMPENSATE THEM COMPETITIVELY WITH OTHER COUNTIES AND OTHER PRIVATE LOCATIONS THAT THEY'RE GOING TO. THE MORE EXPERIENCED PROSECUTORS THAT WE HAVE DOING THESE INTAKES, THE BETTER OUR BACKLOG IS, THE MORE EFFICIENT OUR PROCESS IS AND JUSTICE IS NOT DELAYED. BUT WE NEED THE RESOURCES TO DO THAT. >> OKAY. IS THERE A CAP ON THE HOURS PER WEEK THAT PROSECUTORS CAN WORK WITH TAKING ADVANTAGE OF THESE ADDITIONAL FUNDS? >> NO, SIR. >> FROM MANAGEMENT PERSPECTIVE, HAVE ANY CAP? I'M JUST MAKING SURE THAT WE DON'T END UP IN A SITUATION WHERE SOMEBODY'S REALLY LIKE BURNING OUT, DOING TOO MUCH ADDITIONAL WORK? >> IT IS A VOLUNTEER POSITION, THEY ARE NOT PUSHED TO DO IT. THE ONES WHO ARE TRYING TO MAKE THE ADDITIONAL FUNDS AND DO THE ADDITIONAL WORK AND ARE WILLING TO PUT IN THE HOURS. >> IT MAY NOT BE A PROBLEM, BUT I WOULD SUGGEST YOU TAKE A LOOK AT THAT JUST TO MAKE SURE THAT NOBODY'S NOT WORKING MORE THAN 80 HOURS A WEEK OR SOMETHING ON THESE CASES. >> EXCUSE ME, COMMISSIONER. WE DO AUDIT THE INVOICES AS THEY COME IN. IF THERE IS A QUESTION ABOUT SOMEONE WORKING A LOT OF HOURS, THEN I CALL THEM IN AND TALK TO THEM. WE DO TRY TO KEEP UP WITH THAT TO MAKE SURE PEOPLE AREN'T WORKING BOTH ENDS AND NOT BEING ABLE TO FULFILL THE DUTIES OF THE REGULAR JOB AND THAT THEIR MENTAL HEALTH IS GOOD. >> THANK YOU FOR THAT. APPRECIATE IT. WELL, THANK YOU FOR THE UPDATE. AGAIN, I WOULD JUST ASK, AGAIN, RESPECTFULLY THAT WE GET THE PRESENTATION MATERIALS AT LEAST A FEW DAYS PRIOR, SO WE HAVE A CHANCE TO REVIEW AND MORE THOUGHTFULLY PULL OUT SOME QUESTIONS THAT WE WANT TO DIVE INTO IN COURT. BUT THANK YOU FOR THE UPDATE. >> COMMISSIONER, THAT'S ON ME. I WANTED TO BE AS ACCURATE AS POSSIBLE. THAT'S WHY WE WAITED. [02:40:02] WE LITERALLY WERE WORKING ON THESE NUMBERS SINCE THIS MORNING, BUT I'M CERTAINLY WILLING IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, I'M CERTAINLY WILLING TO COME TO YOUR OFFICE. WE CAN SIT DOWN AND WE'RE READY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE. >> THANK YOU. >> ANY OTHER COMMENT? >> I JUST HAVE A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS. THANK YOU FOR THE WORK YOU GUYS ARE DOING. HOW MANY HAVE BEEN FILED OR INDICTED? DO WE HAVE STATS ON THAT? >> HOW MANY HAVE BEEN INDICTED? >> FIVE ARE INDICTED. >> THOSE CASES WE HAVE BROKEN OUT FOR YEARS, SO 2023, I BELIEVE IT WAS AT 10,963 AND '24, IT WAS 12,660. THIS YEAR, WE HAVE GONE UP 21% AND INDICTED 15,261. >> CAN THEY GET REJECTED AT INTAKE? >> A CASE CAN GET REJECTED AT INTAKE. YES, MA'AM. >> THEY CAN DO THAT? >> YES, MA'AM. >> THEN REGARDING DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, HOW MANY OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE CASES DON'T EVEN GET FILED? DO WE HAVE A PERCENTAGE ON THAT OR NOTION? >> I DON'T KNOW THE ANSWER TO THAT. >> WE COULD TRY AND GET YOU AN ANSWER OR FAMILY BONUS DIVISION CHIEF IS HERE, BUT I DON'T KNOW THAT WE CURRENTLY HAVE A MECHANISM TO BE ABLE TO GIVE YOU A NUMBER TODAY, BUT WE CAN WORK ON THAT. THE PROBLEM IS IT'S THEY'RE COMPLICATED CASES AND SOMEBODY WOULD HAVE TO GO IN THERE AND JUST HAND COUNT THE CASES TO COME UP WITH A NUMBER, BUT WE CAN WORK ON THAT. >> THANK YOU. IF YOU GET THAT INFORMATION, SEND IT TO MARCUS. THANK YOU. >> ANYTHING ELSE? JOE, WOULD YOU PLEASE TELL YOUR ASSISTANT DAS, THANK YOU FOR THEIR HARD WORK IN GETTING THIS BACKLOG, AND I SEE THAT AS A VERY GOOD REPORT FOR TODAY. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. >> LET'S CONTINUE THE MORNING. KATE, I'M GOING TO NEED SOME HELP TO MAKE SURE I'M NOT SKIPPING ANYTHING. I'M MOVING ON TO SEVEN, FILING FOR THE RECORD THE FINAL OF LEGAL ADMINISTRATIVE DOCUMENTS, DIRECTING THE CRIMINAL DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE TO TAKE ACTION THAT NECESSARY THROUGH F. THE COURT TAKES JUDICIAL NOTICE EIGHT. COMMISSIONERS COURT MINUTES FROM MONDAY, NOVEMBER 17, 2025, TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 18, 2025, AND TUESDAY, DECEMBER 9, 2025. IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE? >> SO MOVED. >> MOTION BY COMMISSIONER CALVERT. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER ANDREAS. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF THE MOTION SIGNAL SAY AYE? >> AYE. >> ANY OPPOSED? ANY EXTENSION. MOTION CARRIES. LET US NOW GO TO CITIZENS BE HEARD NUMBER NINE. KEVIN OLLENS. YES, SIR. YOU GOT THREE MINUTES. >> YES. THANK YOU. MY NAME IS KEVIN OLLENS. I LIVE IN DISTRICT 2. I HAVE THIS WRITTEN OUT. I'M A LITTLE NERVOUS, BUT JUST KIND OF TALK. THE DA HAS A DUTY TO JUSTICE, AND HE LEFT. BUT I DON'T TRUST HIM TO DO HIS JOB, BASICALLY, AND I DON'T THINK YOU SHOULD TRUST HIM EITHER. THIS RELATES TO THE BACKLOG AND ALL OF THAT. IT'S PART OF THAT. MY MAIN POINT THAT I WANTED TO MAKE HERE IS BECAUSE THAT PART OF WHY YOU SHOULDN'T TRUST HIM IS BECAUSE HE VIOLATED THE CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES. IT'S NOT JUST ME SAYING THAT THE TEXAS COURT OF CRIMINAL APPEALS SAID THAT. THAT WAS IN A CASE THEY HANDED DOWN THIS SUMMER IN JUNE 2025 CASE NUMBER IS PD PAPA DELTA-0075-24. THIS IS IN A WORD FOR WORD QUOTE, BUT THEY SAID, WE AGREE WITH APPELLANT THAT HE WAS PROSECUTED FOR THE CONTENT OF HIS SPEECH IN VIOLATION OF THE FIRST AMENDMENT. THAT'S ME. TO SAY THAT I DON'T TRUST HIM FOR I HAVE GOOD REASONS. THAT'S JUST THE TIP OF THE ICEBERG THERE. BUT IT'S LIKE IF THERE'S ONE THING THE DA SHOULD DO OR SHOULD NOT DO IT'S VIOLATE THE CONSTITUTION. I THINK THIS IS ALL THE WAY FROM THE TOP TO THE BOTTOM TYPE OF ISSUE AND THEY WERE VERY CONFIDENT AT FIRST AT TRIAL. BUT IT TURNS OUT THERE WAS NEVER A CRIME IN THE FIRST PLACE BECAUSE IT WAS PROTECTED SPEECH. YOU CAN READ ALL ABOUT IT AND YOU MIGHT THINK, NO ONE COULD HAVE KNOWN. WELL, I WOULD DISAGREE BECAUSE I THINK THE US SUPREME COURT 2011 DECISION AND STEVENS, [02:45:09] THAT'S THE CRUSH VIDEO CASE SET THE FRAMEWORK FOR EVERYTHING THAT HAPPENED AFTER THAT UP TO TODAY. THEN THE CCA IS BARTON AND SANDERS CASE WHERE THEY REJECTED THE FACIAL UNCONSTITUTIONAL ARGUMENT. THE CCA SAID, IF YOU WANT TO DO THIS, COME TO US AFTER, YOU GO TO TRIAL AND DO IT ON AN AS APPLIED BASIS, IF YOU WANT TO MAKE THIS ARGUMENT. THAT SHOULD HAVE REALLY GIVEN THE DAS OFFICE FAIR WARNING THAT THEY SHOULD MAKE SURE THAT THEIR CASES ARE CONSTITUTIONAL. I THINK IT WOULD PROBABLY BE A GOOD IDEA FOR THEM TO HAVE A CHECKLIST AND CHECK FOR THAT ON THEIR CHECKLIST. I RUN OUT OF TIME. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. I HAVE A LIST OF PEOPLE HERE THAT A SIGN UP FOR 107(B), I BELIEVE. FIRST IS GEORGE WESTFALL, BUT THEN APPEARS AMY WEBA, ANNA ZUNIGA, BETTY FALCON, GINA PONCE, DWYNE PRIMER. I BELIEVE GEORGE YOU ARE THE FIRST AND EVERYBODY HAS YIELDED TO YOU I'LL GIVE YOU AN OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK. DO YOU KNOW HOW MUCH TIME YOU NEED? >> NOT THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT OF TIME YOUR HONOR. >> WE'LL ACCOMMODATE YOU, SO PLEASE YOU HAVE THE FLOOR. >> THANK YOU. GOOD MORNING, YOUR HONOR, AND COMMISSIONERS. I'D LIKE TO PREFACE MY ADDRESS TO THE COURT, FIRST OF ALL, WE'VE COME HERE TODAY A LITTLE BIT IN THE BLIND. WE DON'T HAVE ALL THE INFORMATION CONCERNING THE ISSUE THAT WE WOULD LIKE TO BRING UP AND DISCUSS. BUT WHAT WE DO KNOW IS AT LEAST TEMPORARILY, WE'VE LOST OUR LEADER. WE'VE LOST A DEDICATED LEADER WHO'S DONE, I DON'T THINK ANY OF US COULD DESCRIBE SUCH AN OUTSTANDING JOB THAT KEITH WILSON HAS DONE FOR OUR DEPARTMENT. I'M HERE WITH THE BEXAR COUNTY MILITARY VETERAN SERVICES, AND OUR INSTRUCTIONS WHERE HE'S OUT FOR THE MOMENT UNTIL SOME TYPE OF A DECISION IS MADE. THAT'S PRETTY MUCH THE INFORMATION WE HAVE. AFTER THAT, THERE'S SOME SPECULATION THAT WE HAVE TO GO OFF OF BASED OFF INFORMATION THAT WE KNOW AND SCENARIOS AND INCIDENCES THAT WE'VE EXPERIENCED WITHIN OUR DEPARTMENT. THAT'S WHY WE'RE HERE TODAY. WE WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT WE FULLY SUPPORT KEITH WILSON, HIS LEADERSHIP, ALONG WITH NANCY TEGADA. SHE WAS RECENTLY LET GO. SHE WAS OUR DEPUTY DIRECTOR. WITH THAT, I PROBABLY SHOULD HAVE STARTED OUT WITH HAPPY HOLIDAYS AND MERRY CHRISTMAS. WE JUST WANT OUR VOICES HEARD. WE FEEL LIKE GOING BACK TO THE ISSUES WHERE NANCY TEGADA WAS RELEASED. WE DON'T FEEL LIKE OUR VOICES WERE HEARD. I'VE COME BEFORE YOU TODAY NOT ONLY AS A BEXAR COUNTY EMPLOYEE, BUT AS A RESIDENT. I LIVE IN WINCREST. I ALSO AM A DISABLED VETERAN. I'VE SERVED 29 YEARS IN THE ARMY, AND I'M DEEPLY CONCERNED ABOUT WHAT IS HAPPENING WITHIN THE OFFICE OF BEXAR COUNTY MILITARY SERVICES. BEXAR COUNTY IS THE LARGEST POPULATION OF VETERANS IN THE STATE OF TEXAS AND THE FOURTH LARGEST POPULATION IN THE UNITED STATES OF VETERANS. IF I COULD, I WOULD LIKE TO START OUT WITH A FEW OF THE ACCOMPLISHMENTS OF THIS OFFICE UNDER THE LEADERSHIP OF KEITH AND NANCY. IN THE TIME THAT KEITH HAS BEEN HERE, SO WE'RE GOING TO COVER FROM 2023 TO THE PRESENT, OVER 7,000 VA DISABILITY AND COMPENSATION CLAIMS INTRODUCING MORE THAN $73 MILLION IN VA DISABILITY COMPENSATION BENEFITS TO BEXAR COUNTY VETERANS AND THEIR DEPENDENTS. WE'VE SECURED KEITH AND NANCY HAVE SECURED TWO TEXAS VETERANS COMMISSION GRANT FUNDED PROGRAMS, BOTH RENEWED, PROVIDING OVER $250,000 IN DIRECT FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE FOR HOUSING, UTILITIES, AND TRANSPORTATION EACH YEAR. AGAIN, FOR BEXAR COUNTY VETERANS AND THEIR DEPENDENTS. THEY'VE CREATED AN TARGETED VETERAN SERVICE OFFICERS POSITIONS TO ENSURE SERVICES ARE AVAILABLE TO VETERANS EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS, TO VETERANS INVOLVED IN VARIOUS ASPECTS OF THE JUSTICE SYSTEM, AS WELL AS OFF HOUR SERVICES TO THOSE VETERANS SUBJECTED TO SCHEDULING BARRIERS OUTSIDE OF THE TRADITIONAL MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY WORK SCHEDULE. WE ALSO HAVE A VETERAN SERVICE OFFICER DEDICATED TO THE FOCUS [02:50:01] OF DEPENDENTS OR SURVIVING SPOUSES. WE'VE SUPPORTED NEARLY 200 VETERANS WITH EMPLOYMENT AND CAREER SERVICES, CONDUCTED DOZENS OF PEER SUPPORT ACTIVITIES SERVING OVER 150 VETERANS, ORGANIZED AND PARTICIPATED IN HUNDREDS OF COMMUNITY RESEARCH EVENTS, LAUNCHED A HOMELESS OUTREACH PROGRAM IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE VA AND MULTIPLE COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS, SERVED AS A COMMUNITY INTEGRATION COORDINATOR FOR BOTH THE VA PEER SUPPORT TRANSITION PROGRAM AND THE TEXAS VETERANS NETWORK POWERED BY COMBINED ARMS. PARTNERING WITH AND PARTICIPATING IN THE BEXAR COUNTY EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT RESPONSE TEAM EXPANDED FROM 16-27 FULL TIME EMPLOYEES, SPEARHEADED AN INITIATIVE THAT HAS RESULTED IN BEXAR COUNTY ACHIEVING THE AWARD OF A NEW TEXAS STATE VETERANS HOME HERE IN BEXAR COUNTY, AND EXPANDED ACCESS TO BEXAR COUNTY VETERAN SERVICES FOR THE BEXAR COUNTY VETERANS AND THEIR DEPENDENTS FROM ONE LOCATION TO NINE LOCATIONS WITHIN THE COUNTY. KEITH AND NANCY. KEITH HAS A VISION THAT A LOT OF LEADERS DON'T HAVE. HE ALSO HAS THE UNIQUE ABILITY TO SEE THE PATH FORWARD ON HOW TO ACHIEVE THOSE GOALS. AGAIN, WE'RE HERE TO SUPPORT HIM AS MUCH AS WE CAN. THESE ARE NOT OPINIONS, THESE THAT I'VE STATED. THESE ARE FACTS. THESE ARE RESULTS OF OUR OFFICE. NOW THAT WE'VE IDENTIFIED THE SUCCESSFUL PERFORMANCES, JUDGE, COMMISSIONERS, WE'RE HERE BECAUSE WE CARE ABOUT THIS DEPARTMENT. WE CARE ABOUT OUR LEADERSHIP, AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, WE CARE ABOUT THE VETERANS WE SERVE. THERE HAVE BEEN SOME ALLEGATIONS. SOME MIGHT CONSIDER THEM MALICIOUS OR FALSE AGAINST UNSUSPECTING AND UNDESERVING PEOPLE AMONG OUR LEADERSHIP. WRONG THINGS ARE HAPPENING AND AFFECTING GOOD PEOPLE IN THE WORST WAY. A WITCH HUNT INSTIGATED BY SOME AMBITIOUS PEOPLE. I WANT TO BE CLEAR. MY NAME IS GEORGE WESTFALL. I'M HERE TO SPEAK ON BEHALF OF MYSELF AND SOME OF MY COLLEAGUES THAT ARE HERE TODAY. SOME OF THE OTHER COLLEAGUES SHARE. I HESITATE TO SPEAK FOR OTHER PEOPLE, BUT I CAN, AND I'M COMFORTABLE WITH SAYING A LARGE PART OF OUR WORKFORCE SUPPORT OUR POSITION HERE TODAY, INCLUDING OUR MANAGEMENT TEAM. WE STAND HERE BEFORE YOU WITH THE CONCERN OF THE WELL BEING, INTEGRITY AND THE FUTURE OF OUR DEPARTMENT. RECENTLY SERIOUSLY DAMAGING ACCUSATIONS WERE MADE AGAINST OUR LEADERSHIP, BEGINNING WITH OUR DEPUTY DIRECTOR, NANCY. ALTHOUGH SHE RETIRED, THOSE OF US WHO WORKED CLOSELY WITH HER. WE KNOW THAT WAS NOT HER INTENTION, NOT YET. NANCY HAD 32 YEARS OF DEDICATED AND DEVOTED SERVICE TO THIS COUNTY. BASED ON AN INVESTIGATION. AGAIN, THERE WERE SOME FALSE AND MALICIOUS ALLEGATIONS AND UNTRUTH. MULTIPLE EMPLOYEES SUBMITTED THEIR CONCERNS IN FIRSTHAND ACCOUNT THROUGH THE OMBUDSMAN'S OFFICE, AND WE'RE NOT CONFIDENT THAT THOSE STATEMENTS AND OUR PERSPECTIVE AND VIEWPOINT WERE SHARED TO THE HIGHEST LEVEL TO YOU. >> WE WERE PROVIDED AN OPPORTUNITY TO PROVIDE A STATEMENT. BUT AS I'M SURE YOU ALL KNOW, THESE PROCESSES ARE LIMITED ON THE INFORMATION THAT'S ABLE TO BE SHARED WITH US. QUITE FRANKLY, NO INFORMATION. WHEN WE WERE INFORMED THAT NANCY WAS ON, I BELIEVE THE CORRECT TERM IS ADMINISTRATIVE LEAVE, I MIGHT BE WRONG, THAT SHE WAS NOT TO BE CONTACTED, THAT WAS THE ONLY INFORMATION WE HAD. ALL WE HAVE TO GO OFF OF A SPECULATION. PERSONALLY, I PROVIDED A STATEMENT, BUT I WAS SHOOTING IN THE DARK. I DON'T KNOW WHAT I WAS TRYING TO SUPPORT NANCY ABOUT. NOW WE'RE IN THE SAME POSITION WITH KEITH, BECAUSE OF THE INABILITY TO PROVIDE US THAT INFORMATION. THAT'S WHY WE'RE HERE TODAY. WE WANT YOU TO SEE AND UNDERSTAND OUR SUPPORT FOR KEITH, AND WE WOULD LIKE TO BE GIVEN THAT OPPORTUNITY TO BE HEARD. NONE OF US WERE INTERVIEWED. WE WEREN'T GIVEN AN OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK. AS YOU CAN UNDERSTAND, A WRITTEN STATEMENT, JUST LIKE A TEXT MESSAGE OR AN E-MAIL CAN NEVER CONVEY THE FULL MESSAGE AS ORAL COMMUNICATION CAN. IT'S IMPOSSIBLE. YOU DON'T GET INFLECTION, YOU DON'T GET EMOTION OTHER THAN FIRSTHAND ACCOUNT, FACE-TO-FACE INTERVIEWS AND WITNESS STATEMENTS. [02:55:01] NANCY DIDN'T DESERVE THIS, AND THOUGH STANDING WITH ME TODAY CAN ATTEST TO HER INTEGRITY, HER PROFESSIONALISM, AND HER EXTRAORDINARY LEADERSHIP, SHE STRENGTHENED THIS DEPARTMENT, SUPPORTED HER STAFF AND ALWAYS CENTERED HER DECISIONS ON SERVING VETERANS. NANCY BROUGHT TO ORGANIZATION A VERY STRONG, UNIQUE AND SPECIFIC SKILL SET THAT CANNOT BE DUPLICATED. I DIDN'T KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT THIS UNTIL THESE ISSUES CAME UP AND WE START TALKING AND WE START ASKING. BUT APPARENTLY THERE'S AND AGAIN, I KNOW THAT I DON'T HAVE ALL THE FACTS. I WANT TO BE CAREFUL WHERE I MIGHT MISSTEP, BUT APPARENTLY, THERE'S A FORMER COUNTY EMPLOYEE WHO WRITES ARTICLES ABOUT DIFFERENT BEAR COUNTY OFFICES AND TYPICALLY THEY'RE NEGATIVE. THEY'RE INVESTIGATIVE TYPE WRITING. I CAN'T REALLY SPEAK TO THOSE EXCEPT FOR ONE REPORT. THERE WAS ONE REPORT THAT WAS OUT THERE THAT I READ WAS SPECIFIC TO OUR OFFICE. I CAN TELL YOU THAT REPORTER OR WHOEVER GAVE THAT PERSON THE INFORMATION, THEY WEREN'T IN THAT OFFICE THAT DAY. BUT I CAN TELL YOU I WAS. I WAS THERE. I KNOW THE SPECIFIC INCIDENT THAT WAS REPORTED AND THE FACTS WERE NOT REPORTED. THE TRUTH WAS NOT REPORTED. WE COULD SIT AND GO BACK AND I WOULD HOPE THAT I GET THAT OPPORTUNITY WITH SOMEBODY TO COME AND INTERVIEW ME. LET ME PROVIDE THE PERIPHERAL INFORMATION THAT I HAVE WITNESSED THAT I KNOW OF PERTAINING TO ANY ISSUES THAT INVOLVE RELIEVING ANY OF OUR LEADERSHIP. IT'S VERY UNFORTUNATE THE DEMISE OF NANCY'S CAREER, AND YET NOW, HISTORY APPEARS TO BE REPEATING ITSELF. THE SAME PATTERN IS UNFOLDING WITH OUR EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR KEITH WILSON. I WANT TO POINT OUT SOME THINGS UNDER KEITH'S LEADERSHIP, THIS DEPARTMENT HAS ACHIEVED MEASURABLE AND UNDENIABLE SUCCESS. SUCCESS THAT ALL OF YOU HAVE WITNESSED FIRSTHAND. KEITH HAS STOOD BEFORE THIS COURT ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS TO PRESENT OUTCOMES AND ACCOMPLISHMENTS. IMPROVED VA CLAIMS PROCESSES, IMPROVED EMPLOYMENT AND EDUCATION RESOURCE PROCESSES. INCREASED WORKFORCE, INCREASED ACCESSIBILITY FOR VETERANS INDEPENDENTS. INCREASED SERVICES IN GENERAL. WE'VE GOT A PEER SUPPORT PROGRAM. WE'VE GOT A FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM. HE'S EXPANDED OUR STAFF, SECURED GRANTS, BROADENED OUR REACH TO VETERANS ACROSS THIS COUNTY. HIS PRIORITIES HAVE ALWAYS BEEN TO MAKING SERVICES AVAILABLE TO VETERANS IN THIS COUNTY TO INCLUDE THE VETERANS WITHIN THIS OFFICE. I THINK EVERYBODY IN HERE CAN RELATE TO A VETERAN. YOU'RE EITHER A VETERAN. YOU'VE GOT FAMILY WHO'S A VETERAN OR CLOSE FRIENDS OR A VETERAN. WE'RE MILITARY CITY, USA. HOW CAN YOU NOT HAVE SOME TIE TO A VETERAN? HIS PRIORITY HAS ALWAYS BEEN TO MAKING THOSE SERVICES AVAILABLE. HE HAS A UNIQUE ABILITY TO PUSH AN ORGANIZATION OUT OF ITS COMFORT ZONE, AND I MEAN IN ALL THE RIGHT WAYS. HUMAN NATURE IS TO RESIST CHANGE GIVEN WHAT IT'S FOR THE GOOD, AND WITH THAT COMES GRUMBLING. WE KNOW THAT WE'RE ALL LEADERS IN HERE. YOU'VE BEEN SOMEWHERE WHERE YOU'VE HAD TO MAKE HARD DECISIONS. NOT EVERYBODY LIKES THOSE DECISIONS, AND THERE'S GOING TO BE GRUMBLING. WE'RE HERE TO ASK TODAY IS TAKE A BETTER CLOSER LOOK, WHAT ARE RELEVANT GRUMBLINGS AND WHAT ARE NOT. I UNDERSTAND THERE ARE LEGITIMATE COMPLAINTS. THINGS HAPPEN, LIFE HAPPENS. BUT SOMETIMES IT DESERVES A CLOSER LOOK. A SMALL GROUP OF INDIVIDUALS FROM WHICH ARE NO LONGER EMPLOYED AT THE DEPARTMENT, INCLUDING SOME OF THOSE NO LONGER EMPLOYED TO THE DEPARTMENT, SHOULDN'T BE ALLOWED TO SPEAK FOR THE ENTIRE TEAM. OUR COLLECTIVE VOICES MATTER, OUR EMPLOYEES DESERVE TO SAY WHAT DECISIONS ARE MADE DIRECTLY IMPACT OUR LEADERSHIP, OUR MORALE, AND OUR ABILITY TO SERVE. WE'RE ASKING FOR FAIRNESS. WE'RE ASKING FOR TRANSPARENCY. ABOVE ALL, AGAIN, WE'RE ASKING FOR OUR VOICES TO BE HEARD. THERE'S APPARENTLY SOMEONE OUT THERE. WELL, I'VE ALREADY COVERED THAT. HOW DOES THAT REPORTING THAT I MENTIONED ABOUT WHOEVER THIS PERSON IS THAT'S WRITING THESE ARTICLES, TYPICALLY NEGATIVELY ABOUT DIFFERENT COUNTY OFFICES. HOW DOES THAT RELATE TODAY? MY OPINION IS SOMEBODY'S TAKEN ADVANTAGE OF THAT REPORTING AND THAT FIRE THAT'S ALREADY LIT. THEY JUST CAME AND POURED A LITTLE FIRE IN OUR OFFICE, LET IT COME OVER HERE BECAUSE IT WAS THERE. IT WAS CONVENIENT. THAT'S MY FEELINGS. WE ALL FEEL VERY STRONGLY THAT THINGS HAVE TO BE SAID AND WE NEED TO BE HEARD. KEITH HAS BROUGHT A VISION TO THIS COMMUNITY THAT NO ONE ELSE HAD. NO ONE ELSE COULD HAVE. I'M DAMN SURE NO ONE ELSE COULD HAVE INITIATED WITH THE SUCCESS THAT THIS OFFICE HAS HAD SINCE HIS LEADERSHIP. WE JUST WANT TO BE HEARD. WE'RE NOT CONFIDENT THAT OUR STATEMENTS ARE BEING THERE, SO THAT'S WHY I KEEP EMPHASIZING. WE JUST WANT TO BE HEARD. [03:00:01] >> HOW MUCH MORE DO YOU NEED? >> PRETTY MUCH THERE, YOUR HONOR. IN CLOSING, THE TRUTH NEEDS TO BE OUT THERE. CAN WE AT LEAST HAVE A CHANCE TO GET ALL THE INFORMATION OUT THERE BEFORE YET AGAIN, DISRUPT ANOTHER VETERAN FAMILY. NANCY WAS A SPOUSE OF A VETERAN. THIS TIME, IT'S KEITH, ANOTHER DISABLED VETERAN. A VETERAN WHO'S ON THE CHOPPING BLOCK. WE JUST WANT TO KNOW WHO'S GOING TO SWING THE AX? WITH THAT, WE GRACIOUSLY THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND CONSIDERATION TO OUR CONCERNS. >> THANK YOU. I NEED SOME FEEDBACK. WE ARE AT LUNCH HOUR. WE STILL HAVE KATE. WE STILL HAVE SOME INDIVIDUAL ITEMS TO GO BACK ON CONSENT. WE GOT ABOUT FOUR, I BELIEVE, IS WHAT I GOT. WE ALSO HAVE EXECUTIVE. I ALSO UNDERSTAND, COMMISSIONER, YOU WILL HAVE TO BE LEAVING. WELL, I THINK THERE'S A SUGGESTION THAT WE GO TO EXECUTIVE AND THE COURT WOULD EAT LUNCH AND WE COULD UTILIZE THAT TIME? I'M JUST LOGISTICS-WISE. I NEED COUNTY STAFF TO TELL ME IF THAT'S PROBLEMATIC, KATE. I'M LOOKING AT YOU. SHOULD WE CONTINUE AND TRY TO DO THE INDIVIDUAL THOSE OUT. YOU WANT TO TRY TO KNOCK THOSE OUT? THE INDIVIDUALS CONSENT? THE CONSENT. >> LET'S THEN GO BACK ON INDIVIDUAL CONSENT. [CONSENT AGENDA ITEMS] I BELIEVE COMMISSIONER MOODY, YOU PULLED ITEM 13 ON AGENDA ITEM 13. [13. Notification of payment to those employees who have accumulated hours in excess of the FLSA maximum level for an estimated amount of $1,433,925 and approval of the appropriate budget transfers in the amount of $321,848. Offices and departments with employees approaching the maximum FLSA limits are encouraged to take appropriate action to reduce such balances. Those offices and departments that have already exceeded the limitations have been notified that they need to immediately reduce the level of hours or pay the listed employees below the FLSA limit. ] NOTIFICATION OF PAYMENT OF THOSE EMPLOYEES WHO HAVE ACCUMULATED HOURS IN EXCESS OF FLSA, MAXIMUM LEVEL OF ESTIMATED AMOUNT OF $1,433,925 APPROVAL OF APPROPRIATE BUDGET TRANSFER, THE AMOUNT 320 $100,848. OFFICERS DEPARTMENTS WITH EMPLOYEES APPROACHING THE MAXIMUM FLSA LIMITS AND ENCOURAGED TO TAKE APPROPRIATE ACTION TO REDUCE SUCH BALANCES. THESE OFFICERS DEPARTMENTS THAT HAVE ALREADY EXCEEDED LIMITATIONS HAVE BEEN NOTIFIED THEY NEED TO IMMEDIATELY REDUCE THE LEVEL HOURS OR PAID THE LIST OF EMPLOYEES BELOW THE FLSA LIMIT. SURE. >> YES, SIR. THANK YOU, JUDGE. THIS IS REGARDING THE FLSA. FOR US, HAPPY TO SAY THAT ONE OF MY CHIEFS WILL COME UP HERE IN A LITTLE BIT TO GIVE MORE IN DEPTH INFORMATION. BUT FOR US, HAPPY TO REPORT THAT WHILE, OBVIOUSLY, NO AMOUNT OF OVERTIME IS ANYTHING WE WANT TO INCUR, IT IS A PART OF WHAT WE DO AT LAW ENFORCEMENT. BUT WITH US, THE NUMBERS DO SEEM TO BE TRENDING DOWNWARD. AS I MENTIONED, I'VE GOT A CHIEF HERE THAT CAN PROVIDE FURTHER BACKUP IF YOU'D LIKE TO. MAYBE I CAN ASK COUNTY STAFF. I WAS TALKING ABOUT MY STAFF. DID THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE PROVIDE THESE THE BACKUP DOCUMENTS OR DID COUNTY STAFF? HAS THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE HAD A CHANCE TO REVIEW THE DOCUMENTS THAT YOU PRESENTED IN THE BACKGROUND MATERIAL? >> TANYA GATAN BUDGET AND FINANCE DIRECTOR. NO, WE DON'T TYPICALLY SHARE BEFORE THE AGENDA ITEM, BUT WE DO HAVE THE SAME REPORTS AND WE USE THE SAME DATA. >> WELL, COULD YOU AFTER COURT SHARE THAT WITH THE SHERIFF'S TEAM? >> YES, SIR. >> MAYBE WE COULD GET SOME DIRECT FEEDBACK ON IF YOU AGREE WITH THE PRESENTATION MATERIALS OR NOT, AND IF THERE ARE ANY DISCREPANCIES, WE TRY TO ADDRESS THEM. BUT I HAD SOME QUESTIONS COMING FROM THIS. TANYA, IF YOU COULD, I'M JUST LOOKING AT THE FIRST SLIDE. UNFORTUNATELY, THIS IS A COMBINATION OF ALL ADULT DETENTION CENTER HOURS FOR PAID OVERTIME AND FLSA PAYMENTS BY MONTH. THERE'S BEEN A COUPLE LIKE DOWNWARD BLIPS, BUT GENERALLY OVER THE LAST THREE, FOUR YEARS, THERE'S JUST BEEN A STEADY INCLINE. I MEAN, IS THAT CORRECT AS I'M LOOKING AT THE SCRAP? >> YES, SIR. >> IT'S CUT OFF IN AUGUST. IS THAT THE LATEST DATE THAT WE HAVE? >> YES. UNFORTUNATELY, AND HOPEFULLY IT WILL TO IMPROVE ONCE WE HAVE A TIMEKEEPING SYSTEM AND I'M NOT SURE THE PROCESS FOR THAT, BUT THE PROCESSING OF ACTUAL HOURS IS PRETTY CUMBERSOME. THE DATA IS ABOUT A COUPLE OF MONTHS BEHIND WORKING WITH THE AUDITORS SHERIFF'S OFFICE TOGETHER. WE DO HAVE FLSA PAY QUICKLY, BUT THE PAID OVERTIME, WE DO NOT. [03:05:02] >> WE JUST WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE THE COMPARABLE DATA FOR THE CURRENT MONTHS. >> CAN WE JUST COMPARE THAT FIRST LINE GRAPH WITH THE TABLE IN TERMS OF THE PAID OVERTIME AND FLSA PAYMENTS FOR THE ADULT DETENTION CENTER? WHAT I'M TRYING TO RECONCILE IS THE TOTAL PAYMENTS LOOK LIKE THEY GO FROM 13, 14 MILLION UP TO 17.5, A SIGNIFICANT INCREASE, BUT CALL IT 20% INCREASE. BUT ON THE PREVIOUS PAGE, IF YOU'RE LOOKING AT THE HOURS FOR THE ADULT DETENTION CENTER, YOU'RE GOING FROM LESS THAN 100,000 TO OVER 400,000. HELP ME RECONCILE THAT. >> STARTING IN 2020, THOSE WERE GOING TO BE LOWER BECAUSE OF THE PANDEMIC. I THINK THE POPULATION AT THAT TIME, CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG SHERIFF'S OFFICE WASN'T AS HIGH AS IT IS TODAY. ALSO, WHAT I WANT TO POINT OUT, THE GRAPH REPRESENTS THE NUMBER OF HOURS AND PAID FLSA, WHICH IS TIME AND A HALF. WHERE THIS RIGHT HERE ALSO INCLUDED IN THE COST IS JUST NORMAL COLAS AND CBA INCREASES AS WELL. THAT COMPOUNDS THE INCREASE FOR EACH YEAR. >> MAYBE WE CAN TAKE THAT OFFLINE. I'M STILL JUST STRUGGLING WITH IT LOOKS LIKE THERE'S A FOUR FOLD INCREASE IN OVERTIME HOURS, BUT IT LOOKS LIKE THERE'S ONLY 20% INCREASE IN OVERTIME COST. I WAS JUST TRYING TO RECONCILE THOSE TWO THINGS. >> I THINK THIS IS A COMPLICATED WAY. ONE OF THE THINGS THAT THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE HAVE SHIFTED FROM PAID OVERTIME TO FLSA IS THAT PAID OVERTIME, TECHNICALLY, THE HOURS ARE LIKE HOUR FOR HOUR. IF THE OFFICER WORKS AN HOUR, THEY GET AN HOUR. NOW THEY'RE SHIFTING MORE INTO FLSA, WHICH IS TIME AND A HALF. THE HOURS LOOK LIKE THEY JUMPED UP. WHAT WE MAY WANT TO TALK TO THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE ABOUT IS JUST REFLECTING HOURS WORKED, AND THAT'S MORE REFLECTIVE IN THAT BIG SENSE. IT'S LIKE IT'S THE SAME NUMBER OF HOURS, BUT HOURS WORKED IS VERY DIFFERENT FROM ACTUAL HOURS THAT WERE PAID OUT. THAT MAY BE WHY IT LOOKS LIKE A BIG JUMP OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS BECAUSE THEY DID SHIFT TO THAT. >> THAT MAKES SENSE. IF YOU'RE NOW COUNTING HOUR AND A HALF INSTEAD OF AN HOUR? >> CORRECT. >> THEN THAT WOULD CONTINUE AS WE SHIFT TO MORE FLSA. THAT'S GOING TO DRAMATICALLY LIKE INCREASE WHAT'S REPORTED AS HOURS, BUT THAT. >> CORRECT. WE CAN CERTAINLY WORK WITH THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE JUST TO REFLECT THAT. WE'LL DOUBLE CHECK THAT, COMMISSIONER, BUT I THINK THAT'S A THEORY THAT WE MIGHT LOOK INTO FOR THE DATA. >> GOOD THING IS THAT THE VACANCIES ARE STILL DOWN, CORRECT, SHERIFF, STILL IN THE, MID 100. WE'RE ACTUALLY RIGHT AROUND 100 NOW OF UNFILLED VACANCIES, BUT OUR RECRUITING HAS BEEN GOING GREAT. LAW ENFORCEMENT AND DETENTION. GOOD. ONE OF THE OTHER QUESTIONS, AND MAYBE THIS AGAIN COMES BACK TO THE FLA COMMENT, TANYA. BUT LAW ENFORCEMENT PAYOUTS LOOK LIKE THEY'RE ONLY AT LIKE 25% OF THE TOTAL. BUT IT LOOKS LIKE YOU STILL HAVE 50% OF THE HOURS. YOU GET AND MAYBE AGAIN, THIS IS THE FLSA VERSUS OVER TIME. >> IT'S THE TIME AND A HALF. IT MIGHT BE BETTER TO REFLECT ACTUAL HOURS WORKED. THE REASON WE REFLECTED THE INFORMATION ON THESE GRAPHS ARE JUST SHOWING LIKE ACTUAL PAYOUTS. FOR THE COST TO BE COMPARABLE TO THE HOURS, WE JUST KEPT IT CONSISTENT ACROSS BOTH GRAPHS. BUT COSTS CAN BE JUST REFLECTED IN THE COST AREA, AND THEN WE CAN JUST REFLECT THE HOURS WORKED. BECAUSE REALLY WHAT YOU'RE TRYING TO UNDERSTAND IS HOW MANY HOURS ARE THEY GOING UP OR DOWN. ACTUAL HOURS OF THE OFFICERS ARE WORKING? >> THE LAST QUESTION I HAD WAS JUST LOOKING AT THE AVERAGE MONTHLY VACANCIES FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT. I WAS JUST SURPRISED TO SEE SOME DRAMATIC SWINGS THERE IN THE GRAPH THAT YOU PRESENTED THERE, TANYA. WE TOUCHED 60 FOR VACANCIES AND THEN A COUPLE OF MONTHS LATER WE HIT, WE'RE DOWN AT UNDER 20, AND THEN WE'RE BACK UP TO 60 IN THE FALL. HOW DO WE THINK ABOUT THAT? >>THERE ARE A COUPLE OF VARIABLES THAT WILL IMPACT THAT. ONE OF THEM IS A NUMBER OF POSITIONS THAT WERE AUTHORIZED BY THE COURT FOR THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE. AS THEY ADD POSITIONS, THAT'S GOING TO INCREASE. I WILL DEFER TO THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE THOUGH ON HOW THEIR CADET CLASSES ARE RUN, BUT THEY TYPICALLY, IF I CORRECT ME YOU'RE WRONG, THEY WANT A BIG CLASS. [03:10:02] THEY'LL HOLD ON TO THOSE VACANCIES AND THEY REACH THEIR GOAL, THEN THEY'LL START FILLING AND START THE CADET CLASS. WHEN THEY FILL THEM, IT DROPS VACANCIES AND THEN IT'LL START GRADUALLY GOING BACK UP. CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG IF I SAID THAT. >> CHIEF [INAUDIBLE] COME UP AND ADDRESS THAT. >> THANK YOU. RIGHT NOW, WE STARTED YESTERDAY. IN FACT, THE DELTA PATROL CLASS OF 29. THE 56 VACANCIES IS JUST DOWN TO 27 NOW. THE ALPHA CLASS THAT'S GOING TO START AT THE BEGINNING OF NEXT YEAR IS GOING TO FILL THE REST OF THOSE VACANCIES. THE REASON YOU SEE THE VARIATIONS AND UP AND DOWN IS THE NEW POSITIONS THAT WERE AWARDED TO US THIS PAST FISCAL BUDGET IN OCTOBER, WHICH HAD SOME PROMOTIONS IN THERE, AND WE HAVE TO WAIT FOR THOSE PROMOTIONS TO TAKE PLACE, AND THEN IT TRICKLES DOWN TO THE DEPUTY POSITION AND THEN WE'RE ABLE TO FILL THOSE CLASSES. >> APPRECIATE THAT. I GUESS MY ONLY ASKS IN THIS WOULD BE FROM COUNTY STAFF SHARING AND MAKING SURE WE'RE PLAYING FROM THE SAME SHEET OF MUSIC, SO TO SPEAK, ON THIS DATA AND THESE GRAPHS, AND WE AGREE WE HAVE AN AGREEMENT FROM THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE THAT WHAT COUNTY STAFF ARE PULLING NOW IS ACCURATE AND CORRECT? YES. IF YOU COULD MAKE THAT CHANGE FROM ONE-AND-A-HALF TIME TO TIME. I THINK THAT WOULD BE HELPFUL. THEN I KNOW WE HAVE ASKED FOR BREAKOUT SPECIFICALLY FOR THE SERGEANTS BECAUSE WE FILLED THAT IN THIS PAST BUDGET TO ENSURE THAT THERE SHOULDN'T BE SERGEANTS GETTING OVERTIME PAY ANYMORE BECAUSE WE FILLED EVERY POSITION THAT WE SAID WE NEEDED ON THAT FRONT. >> WE DID TAKE A LOOK AT OUR MOST RECENT DATA. FROM WHAT I UNDERSTAND, THE SERGEANTS HAVE BEEN FILLED. PAID OVERTIME WILL NOT AS DIRECTED BY THE COURT, WE HAVE TO I THINK THE PLAN IS TO NOT PAY OUT OVERTIME. HOWEVER, IT'S A LITTLE BIT MORE CHALLENGING WITH FLSA. ONCE AN EMPLOYEE HITS THEIR MAXIMUM AMOUNT, IF THEY WORK EVEN LIKE A MINUTE OVER, FIVE MINUTES OVER, THEY WILL GET PAID AUTOMATICALLY. THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE WOULD HAVE TO WORK WITH THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE JUST TO TRACK SPECIFICALLY FOR SERGEANTS. LAST YEAR, SERGEANTS WERE PAID ABOUT 1.2 MILLION IN OVERTIME FOR FLSA SPECIFICALLY BECAUSE THEY DON'T GET PAID OVERTIME. I'M SORRY. THEY DO GET PAID OVERTIME FOR THE ADC, BUT FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT, THEY DO NOT. WE'LL WORK WITH THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE TO BETTER TRACK THAT JUST TO ENSURE THERE'S A PLAN TO REDUCE THAT FOR SERGEANTS. >> THANK YOU, TOM. >> YES, SIR. >> I DON'T THINK I HAVE ANY FURTHER QUESTIONS. I'LL MOVE APPROVAL. I STILL HOPING THAT THROUGH REPORTING AND MANAGING THIS FINANCIAL CHALLENGE, WE CAN CONTINUE TO MAKE PROGRESS. >> MOTION BY COMMISSIONER SECOND BY COMMISSIONER CALVIN. ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF THE MOTION. SIGNAL BY SAYING AYE. >> AYE. >> ANY OPPOSED? ANY ABSTENTION. MOTION CARRIED. SHERIFF, YOU'VE ASKED FOR AND I'LL ACCOMMODATE. LET'S SEE, 93. DISCUSSION APPROPRIATE ACTION. IT'S AN INDIVIDUAL GRANTING DISCRETIONARY EXEMPTION, COMPETITIVE BIDDING REQUIREMENTS SET FORTH TEXAS COUNTY PURCHASING ACT FOR THE PURPOSE OF ORDERING PURCHASE ORDER DIGITAL AIR WEIGHT TO RETROFIT. CONFIGURATE THE NEWLY APPROVED HELICOPTER FUNDED BY STATE OF TEXAS IN THE AMOUNT OF 1,345,490.34 PURSUANT TO AND IN ACCORDANCE WITH TEXAS LOCAL [NOISE] GOVERNMENT CODE 262 SUBCHAPTER C, SECTION 262.024, DISCRETION EXHIBIT SUBSECTION A2, AND AN ITEM NECESSARY TO PRESERVE, PROTECT THE PUBLIC HEALTH AND SAFETY OF THE RESIDENTS OF BEXAR COUNTY. CAN I GET A MOTION ON THIS? >> MOVED. >> MOTION BY COMMISSIONER RODRIGUEZ. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER MOODY. ANY DISCUSSION, I SHOULD SAY. ANY QUESTIONS? SHERIFF, THIS IS ALL PART OF THE HELICOPTER WE'RE GETTING FROM THE GRANT. >> YES, SIR. THIS IS ALL GRANT MONEY. I BROUGHT SOME FOLKS WITH ME, SERGEANT SHANNON AND DEPUTY ANDERS, WHO DEPUTY ANDRES WILL ACTUALLY BE OUR PILOT. HE'S A RETIRED SAPD HELICOPTER PILOT, SERGEANT, IN FACT, FROM THE SAPD, BUT HE CAME ON BOARD WITH US AFTER RETIRING FROM THERE. HE'S HERE AS A DEPUTY AND HE'LL ACTUALLY BE OUR PILOT IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FOR THEM. BUT THIS LINE ITEM IS GRANT FUNDS THAT ARE BEING USED. >> ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? >> I'M SORRY. WHO'S THE PILOT? I WAS LIKE WHO'S OUR NEW SHERRIFF [MUSIC] GREAT. WELCOME A BOARD. >> ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF THE MOTION SAY AYE. >> AYE. >> ANY OPPOSED. MOTION CARRIED. KEEP THAT HELICOPTER UP AND FLY. LET'S GO BACK TO INDIVIDUAL 16, APPROVAL AMENDMENT ADMINISTRATIVE POLICY 8.1 PURCHASE OF GOODS AND SERVICES, PROCUREMENT OF PROFESSIONAL PERSONNEL SERVICES. COMMISSION RODRIGUEZ, YOU HAVE THE FLOW. >> LET ME TRY AND BE SCYNC WITH THIS, JUDGE. MR. GALLOWAY, THANKS FOR YOUR INPUT ON THIS. WHAT I UNDERSTAND FROM THIS ITEM IS SEVERAL THINGS THAT ARE JUST CLEANING UP THE ADMINISTRATIVE POLICY, CLARIFYING SOME THINGS, BUT ESSENTIALLY COMPLYING WITH STATE LAW. [03:15:05] I LOOKED AT SOME OF THE STUFF THAT WAS REDLINED IN THE POLICY. THE ONLY I GUESS ISSUE THAT I HAD IS THERE'S ONE ITEM THAT RAISES THE PURCHASING THRESHOLD, THE DISCRETIONARY, I GUESS, THRESHOLD FROM $50,000-$100,000. I THINK UNDER STATE LAW THAT WAS PASSED THIS LAST SESSION, THE STATE LEFT IT UP TO COUNTIES WHETHER THEY WANTED TO RAISE THAT THRESHOLD OR NOT. IT LOOKS LIKE IN THE ITEM YOU'RE RECOMMENDING THAT WE DO THAT. THAT'S THE ONE ISSUE THAT I'VE GOT. EVERYTHING ELSE LOOKS LIKE CLEANUP INFORMATION. I THINK IT'S SOME GOOD INFORMATION ON RECUSALS AND MAKING SURE WE'RE COMPLIANT. BUT THAT'S THE ONE THING. I DON'T KNOW IF YOU HAVE ANY COMMENTS ABOUT THAT. IS THAT SOMETHING THAT YOU JUST FIGURED WHICH HELP STREAMLINE SOME THINGS AND MAYBE BE MORE EFFICIENT LESSENING THE LOAD ON THE AGENDAS. IS THAT YOUR THOUGHT? >> ABSOLUTELY, COMMISSIONER. INCREASING THE THRESHOLD WILL ACTUALLY ALLOW US TO STREAMLINE, LIKE YOU SAID, THE PROCESS. UNDERSTANDING THAT EVERYTHING COSTS A LITTLE BIT MORE. THE SERVICES. HOW DO WE GET THE SERVICE OR THAT PRODUCT, THAT COMMODITY TO THAT DEPARTMENT HEAD WHO HAS IDENTIFIED THAT NEED. WHAT WE'VE DONE IS LOOK AT THE DIFFERENT TIERS OF THE THRESHOLDS. I'LL JUST GO THROUGH THEM ALL FOR YOU REAL QUICK. THE PICK UP IS 0-$2,000, MICRO PURCHASE, VERY STRAIGHTFORWARD. 0-25,000 REQUIRES A QUOTE. WE LOOK AT IT AS A MINIMUM, ONE QUOTE. YOU RECEIVE MORE QUOTES, THAT'S A BEST PRACTICE. THE 25-50,000 AND THEN THE 50,000 UP TO 100,000. THAT'S WHERE WE'VE REALLY LOOKED AT THE MULTIPLE QUOTES AND THE INCLUSIONS OF THE SMALL BUSINESS COMMUNITIES, WHETHER IT'S A SB OR LOCAL. WE PUT SOME PARAMETERS. I WORKED PRETTY EXTENSIVELY. I HAVE TO GIVE THANKS TO MR. LARRY ROBERSON, DA SIBLE AS WELL AS MS. RENEE WATSON, REGARDING THE SMALL BUSINESS COMMUNITY. JUST RAISING THIS THRESHOLD SPEEDS UP THE PROCESS SO THAT WE DON'T HAVE TO TIE DOWN BECAUSE IT COSTS MORE, TIE DOWN THE PROCESS OF BRINGING IT BACK TO COURT. SURE WELL, OBVIOUSLY, WE'RE STILL GOING TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERYTHING IS PROPERLY REVIEWED, WE'RE IN COMPLIANCE, BUT JUST TO GET THAT DELIVERABLE, WHATEVER IT IS, THAT SERVICE OR THAT GOOD TO THAT DEPARTMENT HEAD OR THAT DEPARTMENT OR THE COMMUNITY IN A STREAMLINED FASHION. >> LIKE I SAID, I THINK IS THAT SOMETHING THAT HAPPENS OFTEN LIKE HOW MANY TRANSACTIONS WOULD YOU SAY A YEAR WOULD BE IN THAT OVER $50,000 ACCOUNT. >> COMMISSIONER, I CAN BRING THAT BACK TO YOU. >> I GUESS LET ME ASK YOU MORE DIRECTLY. WITH MY COMFORT LEVEL, BECAUSE I DON'T LIKE ADVOCATING THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE COURT. IF WE KEPT IT AT THE 50 AND WE MONITORED IT FOR THE NEXT YEAR, WOULD YOU HAVE ANY HEARTBURN WITH THAT? >> THE PROBLEM WOULD BE IS WE WOULD STILL BE IN THE SAME VICIOUS CYCLE. WE'D SLOW DOWN THE PROCESS. IT TAKE A LOT MORE TIME FOR THE DEPARTMENTS TO GET THOSE SERVICES OR THOSE GOODS. WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO IS BE MORE EFFICIENT AND LOOKING. I'LL USE CONSTRAINTS. WE HEARD MEDICAL, WE HEARD LEGAL, WE HEARD THESE THINGS THIS MORNING OVER THE COURSE OF THE TWO HOURS, THREE HOURS OF CONSTRAINTS. WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO IS REMOVE SOME OF THOSE CONSTRAINTS THAT THE DEPARTMENTS HAVE, AND THAT'S ALL 54, WHETHER IT'S BCSO, WHETHER IT'S PARKS AND REC OR FACILITIES. >> WHY DON'T WE DO THIS IF THE MORE'S COMFORTABLE. I LITERALLY JUST GOT SOME OF THE RED LINE THIS MORNING. ARE YOU OKAY IF WE CONTINUE TO DISCUSS THIS AND BRING IT BACK IN JANUARY. IS THERE A DEADLINE REQUIREMENT THAT THIS HAS TO BE PASSED BY THIS YEAR? >> THERE NO DEADLINE, BUT WE'VE JUST BEEN TRYING TO WORK THIS THROUGH FOR QUITE SOME TIME. >> IF YOU COULD JUST GET US THE INFORMATION MORE TIMELY BECAUSE AGAIN, I DIDN'T GET THE RED LINE UNTIL THIS MORNING ON THE EXACT CHANGES. IF YOU FEEL PRETTY STRONGLY THAT WE CAN'T MOVE FORWARD WITHOUT KEEPING IT AT THE 50, YOU FEEL LIKE STRONGLY IT NEEDS TO BE OVER THE 50, I'M GOING TO NEED A LITTLE BIT MORE INFORMATION. JUDGE, WHAT I'D LIKE TO DO IS JUST MAKE A MOTION TO TABLE THIS UNTIL THE NEXT MEETING. >> [INAUDIBLE]. >> SECOND. >> SECOND BY [INAUDIBLE] >> WELL, I APPRECIATE THE GOAL HERE. JUST FOR BACKGROUND, I THINK WE SHOULD NOTE THAT I BELIEVE THIS CAME FORWARD AT ACOG AS WELL AND ACOG HAD APPROVED A SIMILAR CHANGE. [03:20:02] I CAN'T SAY IT'S EXACTLY THE SAME. ONE OTHER THING THAT YOU COULD ALSO LOOK AT IS MAYBE YOU DON'T GO ALL THE WAY TO 100 AND MAYBE YOU GO TO 75 IS LIKE STEP CHANGE UP. BUT GENERALLY SUPPORTIVE AND EVERYTHING. IF WE WANT TO TAKE A FEW MORE WEEKS TO LOOK AT IT GET SOME ADDITIONAL TIME, I'M OKAY WITH THAT TOO. >> I GET A PLAN. HAS THIS GONE THROUGH THE SMALL BUSINESS COMMITTEE, I THINK? >> YES. WE ACTUALLY TOOK SOME TIME EXTENSIVELY TO WORK WITH THE SPD AND THE ADVISORY COMMITTEE BEHIND THE SPD, WORKING WITH AGAIN, MS. RENEE WATSON, SPEARHEADING THAT, PULLING EVERYBODY TOGETHER. SITTING WITH THEM, UNDERSTANDING THEIR CONCERNS, THEIR RECOMMENDATIONS. I TOOK THOSE BACK TO LEGAL FOR REVIEW JUST TO MAKE SURE. WE REMAINED IN COMPLIANCE WITH SOME OF THEIR RECOMMENDATIONS, AND THIS IS THE FINAL PRODUCT, SIR. >> THIS IS THEIR RECOMMENDING. >> YES, SIR. >. THIS IS ALL THE COMMISSIONERS COURT APPOINTEES RECOMMENDATION. NOT JUST YOU BECAUSE I THINK THIS PREDATED YOU. HOW LONG HAS THIS BEEN WORKED ON AT THE COUNTY? >> PORTIONS OF THE POLICY GO BACK TO 1990. OBVIOUSLY, WE'RE ON THERE A DECADE SINCE IT'S LAST BEEN TOUCHED, UPDATED, AND APPROVED BY COMMISSIONERS COURT. IT'S WELL OVERDUE. I'LL, FOUND THAT WE GET THIS TO STICK AND MAKE THIS HAPPEN. >> WHEN YOU BRING THIS BACK, CAN YOU MAKE SURE TO REACH OUT TO MY OFFICEI'D LIKE TO GET A BRIEFING. IF I'M NOT AVAILABLE, THEN MY STAFF WILL MEET WITH YOU JUST TO UNDERSTAND THE DIFFERENCES AND WHAT WE'RE ACTUALLY APPROVING. >> ABSOLUTELY. >> THANK YOU. >> THERE'S A MOTION TABLE. A FURTHER DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF THE MOTION SAY AYE. >> AYE. >> ANY OPPOSED, ANY ABSTENTION. MOTION TABLE IS APPROVED. NEXT IS 81, AUTHORITY TO NEGOTIATE A GRANT AGREEMENT TO BEAR COUNTY CATHOLIC CHARITIES, ARCHIE TO SANTONIA AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED 500,000 FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION AND ADMINISTRATION OF HOUSING STABILITY PROGRAM, UTILIZING FUNDING PROVIDED BY THE BEXAR COUNTY HOUSING FINANCE CORPORATION, WHICH WILL SERVE LOW AND MODERATE INCOME BEXAR COUNTY RESIDENTS AT RISK OF HOMELESSNESS AND AUTHORIZATION FOR THE COUNTY JUDGE TO EXECUTE THE AGREEMENT ONCE APPROVED BY THE ATTORNEY REPRESENTING BEXAR COUNTY. I PRESUME COURT THIS ARISE OUT OF THE ACTION WE TOOK IN THE HOUSING FINANCE CORPORATION, AGENDA ITEM 2A. COULD I ASK FOR A MOTION. >> MOVE FOR APPROVAL. >> SECOND. >> MOTION BY COMMISSIONER CLAY FLOOR, SECOND BY COMMISSIONER RODRIGUEZ. ANY DISCUSSION. COMMISSIONER MOODY? >> I ALREADY PREVIOUSLY MADE MY COMMENTS. >> NOTED. I'LL CALL FOR A VOTE. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF THE MOTION. SIGNIFY SAYING AYE. >> AYE. >> ANY OPPOSED? >> NO. >> ANY ABSTENTION? MOTION CARRIES. I BELIEVE, KATE, THERE'S ONE MORE. WHICH ONE WAS IT? >> NINETY-TWO. >> NINETY-TWO. AGENDA ITEM 92 AUTHORIZATION APPROVAL OF THE NAME 18 ACRE COUNTY PARK ADJACENT TO THE ARBORETUM IN HONOR OF FORMER MAYOR GARZA RECOGNITION OF HIS SERVICE TO THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO AND CONSTITUENTS OF BEXAR COUNTY. I THINK COMMISSIONER COVERT, THIS IS UNDER YOU. >> THANK YOU, JUDGE. I WANT TO THANK COMMISSIONER RODRIGUEZ FOR CO AUTHORING THIS, I THINK, LONG OVERDUE RECOGNITION OF A GREAT PUBLIC SERVANT. MARY GARZA COACHES MANY YOUNG CHILDREN AT THE OLD SPANISH SHOT. NOW, MARY GARZA PARK, I BELIEVE IS THE NAME THAT IS SOCCER FIELDS THAT IS NOW RENAMED. MANY OF THOSE CHILDREN DON'T EVEN KNOW THAT HE WAS A FORMER MAYOR. IT IS PRETTY ASTOUNDING THE CONTRIBUTIONS THAT HE HAS MADE AND NEVER BEEN GIVEN PROPER CREDIT TO. I WANT TO JUST READ THE BACKGROUND FOR THE RECORD. FORMER MAYOR ED GARZA CREATED THE BROOKS DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY. PROVIDED THE VISION AND THE CHARGE, CREATING WHAT I HAVE NOTED IS THE GREATEST REVITALIZATION OF THE HISTORICALLY UNDERSERVED SOUTHEAST SIDE IN BEXAR COUNTY HISTORY.. THAT WAS A VERY TOUGH THING TO DO AT THAT TIME 20 PLUS YEARS AGO. WITHOUT MAYOR GARZA'S LEADERSHIP, THE BROOKS DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY WOULD NOT HAVE EXISTED TO PURCHASE THE LAND FOR THE NEW ARBORETUM AND THE COUNTY PARK. AS A LASTING RECOGNITION OF GARZA'S PELE CYRIC LEADERSHIP, THE RECOMMENDED MOTION WILL BE TO NAME THIS 18 ACRE PARK FOR THE FORMER MAYOR OF SAN ANTONIO AND CURRENT SAN ANTONIO INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT TRUSTEE AT GARZA. A LOT OF THE HIGHLIGHTS HE SHOULD BE GIVEN CREDIT FOR ALONG WITH SENATOR MADLA, IS THAT MARY GARZA WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR ATTRACTING TOYOTA TO INVEST OVER $1 BILLION IN A NEW MANUFACTURING FACILITY ON THE SOUTH SIDE OF SAN ANTONIO. HE ALSO, AS A PROUD AGGIE, HE RECRUITED THE NEW TEXAS A&M SAN ANTONIO CAMPUS AT THE SOUTH SIDE. THE COMBINATION OF TOYOTA'S 5,000 PLUS HIGH PAYING JOBS AND A NEW TEXAS A&M UNIVERSITY CAMPUS HAVE BECOME ECONOMIC DRIVERS. >> IT WAS PART OF A REGENERATION DIVISION FOR [03:25:04] SAN ANTONIO'S LONG NEGLECTED SOUTH SOUTHERN SECTOR. AS MAYOR, HE SPURRED THE REVITALIZATION OF TWO OF BEXAR COUNTY'S MOST UNDER-SERVED AREAS, THE SOUTHEAST AND SOUTH SIDE. I THINK HE WILL END UP GOING DOWN AS HISTORIANS AND PUBLIC FOLKS LOOK AT HIS RECORD AS ONE OF OUR GREATEST PUBLIC SERVANTS. HE IS A BRILLIANT URBAN PLANNER, HELPING TO WORK WITH MAYOR HOWARD PEAK ON THE REFINEMENT OF THE COMMUNITY REVITALIZATION ACTION GROUP THE CRAG STILL USED BY THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO FOR INCENTIVES AND PLANS FOR DOWNTOWN AND INNER CITY DEVELOPMENT. HE ALSO HAD A PASSION THAT LED HIM TO HELP RECRUIT THE CULINARY INSTITUTE OF THE AMERICAS IN NEW YORK CITY. TODAY, WE ARE NOW A CITY OF GASTRONOMY UNDER UNESCO. IN 2001 AT THE AGE OF 32, MARY GARZA BECAME SAN ANTONIO'S YOUNGEST MAYOR IN THE CITY'S HISTORY. HE SERVED THE MAX TWO TERMS. IN SAN ANTONIO GOT A LOT DONE BECAUSE HE ONLY HAD FOUR YEARS, AND PRIOR TO THAT WAS A CITY COUNCIL PERSON IN DISTRICT 7. HE WAS ELECTED IN AN UNPRECEDENTED FASHION, GARNERING A CROSS SECTION OF POLITICAL GEOGRAPHIC, AND SOCIO-ECONOMIC SUPPORT BASED ON HIS PLATFORM OF SUSTAINABLE ECONOMIC GROWTH, MODERNIZATION OF THE CITY'S GOVERNANCE STRUCTURE, AND BALANCED GROWTH FOR THE CITY'S UNDER INVESTED SOUTHERN SECTOR. IN 2009, HE WAS CHOSEN BY VOTERS TO SERVE ON THE SAN ANTONIO INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT BOARD OF TRUSTEES, WHERE HE'S BEEN PRESIDENT OF THE BOARD. HE CONTINUES TO DEVOTE TIME, RESOURCES TO MANY ORGANIZATIONS, INCLUDING THE CANCER THERAPY AND RESEARCH CENTER, THE SAN ANTONIO CHILDREN CENTER, AND, OF COURSE, URBAN U SOCCER ACADEMY. I'LL TURN IT OVER TO COMMISSIONER RODRIGUEZ, IF YOU'D LIKE TO ADD ANY COMMENTS. >> I THINK YOU COVERED IT PRETTY WELL, COMMISSIONER. EDD ONE OF THOSE FOLKS WHO'S VERY HUMBLE, WOULD NEVER ASK FOR SOMETHING LIKE THIS, AND HIS BIO, AS YOU MENTIONED, IS LONG AND CERTAINLY IMPACTFUL IN OUR COMMUNITY, STILL RESIDES IN PRECINCT 2. HONORED TO CO SPONSOR THIS WITH YOU AND JUST GET READY BECAUSE HE'S GOING TO ASK FOR SOME SOCCER FIELDS ON THAT 18 ACRES PRETTY SOON. AGAIN, HONORED TO DO IT AND LOOK FORWARD TO SUPPORTING. >> SECOND? >> MOTION BY COMMISSIONER CAVI SECOND BY COMMISSIONER RODRIGUEZ. ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF THE MOTION. SECOND BY SAYING AYE. AYE. ANY OPPOSED, ANY EXTENSION. MOTION CARRIES. KATE, DOES THAT CONCLUDE THE CONSENT AGENDA? >> YES, SIR. >> I BELIEVE AS WE AGREED, WE WOULD NOW MOVE. THE TIME IS NOW 12:33PM. WE'LL RECESS THE COMMISSION'S COURT TO GO, BUT WE NEED TO TAKE A VOTE BEFORE WE DO THAT. AS IT RELATES TO ITEM 106, [EXECUTIVE SESSION (DISCUSSION ONLY: CLOSED TO PUBLIC) ] ITEM 106, ON THE AGENDA ITEM. BEFORE CONVENING EXECUTIVE UPON RECEIPT OF A WRITTEN DETERMINATION FROM THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE, WHICH THE COURT HAS RECEIVED, THE COURT MUST VOTE UNANIMOUSLY THAT DELIBERATIONS IN AN OPEN MEETING WOULD HAVE A DETRIMENTAL EFFECT ON THE POSITION OF THE COMMISSIONERS COURT IN THE NEGOTIATION OF BUSINESS AND FINANCIAL ISSUES WITH THE COLISEUM ADVISORY BOARD AND SAN ANTONIO LIVESTOCK EXPOSITION INC. WE NEED TO TAKE A VOTE. I NEED A MOTION AND THE VOTE MUST BE UNANIMOUS. MOTION BY COMMISSIONER RODRIGUEZ. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER CALVERT. ALL OF A FAVOR SIGNAL BY SAYING AYE, ANY OPPOSED, ANY ABSTENTION. MOTION UNANIMOUSLY PASSES WILL TAKE ITEM 106 INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION. THE COURT WILL NOW CONVENE AN EXECUTIVE SESSION. EXECUTIVE SESSIONS ITEM MAY BE DISCUSSED AND ACT UPON IT FOR APPROPRIATE AND OPEN SESSION. PURSUANT TO SECTION 551071 OF TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE EXECUTIVE SESSION WILL BE HELD FOR CONSULTATION WITH THE COURT'S ATTORNEY FOR ADVICE REGARDING PENDING OR CONTEMPLATED LITIGATION OR SETTLEMENT OFFERS IN THE FOLLOWING MATTERS. GREGORY VERSUS BEXAR COUNTY, DELO VERSUS BEXAR COUNTY, MARABY VERSUS BEXAR COUNTY, MARTINEZ VERSUS BEXAR COUNTY. B, MATTERS IN WHICH THE DUTY OF THE ATTORNEY TO THE GOVERNMENTAL BODY UNDER THE TEXAS DISCIPLINARY RULES OF PROFESSIONAL CONDUCT IN STATE BAR, TEXAS CLEARLY CONFLICTS WITH CHAPTER 551 OF THE TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE, SPECIFICALLY, SUBSECTION 1. LEGAL ISSUES RELATED TO THE AGREEMENT FOR THE IMMIGRATION LEGAL SERVICES OF AMERICAN GATEWAYS. TWO, LEGAL ISSUES RELATED TO A LETTER RECEIVED FROM THE CRIMINAL DISTRICT COURT JUDGES OF BEXAR COUNTY, DECLINING PARTICIPATION IN WORKDAY HUMAN CAPITAL MANAGEMENT, AND PAYROLL SYSTEM UNLESS CERTAIN CONDITIONS ARE MET. THREE, CLARIFICATION OF CERTAIN LEGAL ISSUES RELATED TO SAN PEDRO CREEK LOCAL GOVERNMENT CORPORATION. FOUR, DISCUSSION REGARDING RETENTION OF CALDWELL CLARK FINANCIAL AND FINLAYSON, PLLC FOR CERTAIN REPRESENTATION RELATED TO PERSONNEL MATTER AND A REVIEW OF A COMPLAINT. PURSUANT TO SECTION 551.0725, THE TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE FOR DELIBERATION REGARDING [03:30:01] A CONTRACT BEING NEGOTIATED SPECIFICALLY A, TO DELIBERATE BUSINESS OF FINANCIAL ISSUES RELATED TO THE NEGOTIATION A MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING OR SIMILAR DOCUMENT PROPOSED TO BE NEGOTIATED BETWEEN BEXAR COUNTY, THE COLISEUM ADVISORY BOARD AND THE SAN ANTONIO LIVESTOCK EXPOSITION INC. RELATED TO THE RE-DEVELOPMENT OR REVITALIZATION OF THE FREEMAN COLISEUM COMPLEX GROUNDS AND FACILITIES, PURSUANT TO 551074 TO THE TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE FOR DELIBERATION REGARDING PERSONNEL MATTERS, SPECIFICALLY, A, DISCUSSION REGARDING THE PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR, COUNTY ENGINEER POSITION, INCLUDING THE POSSIBLE APPOINTMENT OF AN INTERIM DIRECTOR. B, DISCUSSION ON CERTAIN PERSONNEL ISSUES IN THE BEXAR COUNTY MILITARY AND VETERAN SERVICES OFFICE AND LEGAL ISSUES RELATED THERE TOO, INCLUDING DISCUSSION OF PERSONNEL MATTERS RELATED TO THE BEXAR COUNTY VETERAN SERVICE OFFICER. THE COURT IS NOW IN EXECUTIVE SESSION. I THINK WE NEED LEGAL COUNSEL, WE NEED COUNTY STAFF IN THE ROOM. I BELIEVE I'LL ASK EVERYBODY ELSE AND WE'LL COURT. WE'LL TAKE A BREAK, BUT WE'RE STILL IN EXECUTIVE SESSION. WE'LL NEED TO GET OUR LUNCH AND THOSE THAT ARE INVOLVED WITH THE EXECUTIVE SESSION WILL EAT LUNCH IN THE COURTROOM, CORRECT? EVERYBODY ELSE, GO HAVE LUNCH IF YOU ARE PART OF THE COUNTY STAFF. >> THE TIME IS 2:20 P.M. COURT IS BACK IN THE OPEN SESSION, AND I BELIEVE WE'RE GOING TO TAKE UP SOME MATTERS FROM EXECUTIVE SESSION, SO I'LL OPEN IT UP. COMMISSIONER RODRIGUEZ. >> YEAH, JUDGE. I THINK THE FIRST ITEM IN ORDERS 102 [OVERLAPPING]. [102. Discussion and appropriate action regarding the approval and execution of an amendment to the agreement for Immigration Legal Services with American Gateways, for a period that began on May 22, 2025, and ends on February 28, 2026, in the amount of $566,181; and authorizing the approval of the appropriate budgetary transfer, as requested by the Managed Assigned Counsel Department. ] >> DISCUSSION, APPROPRIATE ACTION REGARDING APPROVAL OF EXECUTION OF AMENDMENT TO THE AMERICAN GATEWAYS. LET'S OPEN IT UP. >> I DON'T KNOW THAT WE NEED A PRESENTATION ON THIS, JIM, BUT THIS IS A CONTINUATION OF A CONTRACT I THINK WE ENTERED INTO LAST YEAR TO CONTINUE WITH AMERICAN GATEWAYS, PROVIDING LEGAL SERVICES FOR THOSE IN OUR COMMUNITY. I THINK THIS TAKES IT THROUGH THE END OF FEBRUARY AND AN AMOUNT OF $566,181. I'M GOING TO MAKE A MOTION APPROVE. >> MOTION BY COMMISSIONER RODRIGUEZ, SECOND BY COMMISSIONER CALVERT. ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? COMMISSIONER MOODY. >> YES. WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THIS BEFORE, AND I THINK MANY HAVE HEARD MY STRONG CONCERNS ABOUT THIS ITEM AND WHAT WE'RE DOING HERE, BUT WE'LL JUST REITERATE IT FOR THE RECORD. JIM, IF YOU COULD CLARIFY, AS WE TALKED ABOUT BEFORE ON THIS ITEM, THIS INVOLVES UNIVERSAL REPRESENTATION. YOUR TEAM HIGHLIGHTED THAT PREVIOUSLY IN THIS COURT ROOM. >> SPEAK UP. >> I DON'T KNOW IF YOU MIKE'S ON. >> JIM BETHKI, DIRECTOR OF THE BEXAR COUNTY MANAGEMENT COUNCIL PROGRAM. ON THE UNIVERSAL REPRESENTATION, I KNOW THAT WAS IN THE ORIGINAL RFP. I'VE GOT MY SUBJECT MATTER EXPERT HERE, JUSTIN TULLIS. I DON'T WANT TO SAY YAY OR NAY ON THAT JUST BECAUSE I REALLY DON'T KNOW IF IT IS UNIVERSAL REPRESENTATION. >> IF I CAN DEFER TO JUSTIN TULLIS. >> THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER. ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I THINK THE COMMISSIONERS WILL SEE HERE AS AN ADMINISTRATIVE UPDATE ADJUSTMENT TO THE AMENDMENT IS THAT THAT PROVISION HAS BEEN TAKEN OUT. THE REASON FOR THAT AS UNIVERSAL REPRESENTATION MEANT THAT THE CONTRACT WOULD COVER ANY POTENTIAL CLIENT WHO QUALIFIED AS TO RESIDENCY AND INCOME, BUT WITHOUT REGARD TO THE POTENTIAL BENEFITS SPECIFICALLY IN THAT CASE. THE REASON THAT AMERICAN GATEWAYS IS NOW REQUESTING TO REMOVE IS SO THAT THEY CAN PARTICULARLY SCREEN CASES FOR BENEFITS SPECIFICALLY TO US CITIZEN CHILDREN, TO FAMILY UNITY, TO PRESERVING FAMILIES IN THEIR HOMES AND PREVENTING HOMELESSNESS. THE PARTICULAR BENEFITS THAT THE COURT HAD LOOKED AT SO THAT THEY CAN VERY CAREFULLY TAILOR THEIR SERVICES TO THOSE CASES. >> YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE TO SLOW DOWN THERE AND CLARIFY THEN ON THE UNIVERSAL REPRESENTATION. THEY WANT TO TAKE IT OUT, OR THEY'RE USING IT TO HIGHLIGHT TARGET CERTAIN CASES? >> IT'S BOTH COMMISSIONER. UNIVERSAL REPRESENTATION AS INITIALLY INCLUDED IN THE CONTRACT, MEANT THAT AMERICAN GATEWAYS WASN'T ABLE TO CHOOSE A CASE OVER ANOTHER ONE IF THEY SAW, FOR EXAMPLE, THE GREATER BENEFIT TO BEXAR COUNTY RESIDENTS IN ONE CASE OVER ANOTHER. WITH THAT PROVISION TAKEN OUT, THEY'LL NOW BE ABLE TO DO THAT. IF TWO ELIGIBLE CASES, FOR EXAMPLE, CAME IN AT A GIVEN TIME, ONE INCLUDED MORE US CITIZEN CHILDREN AND A PARTICULAR ISSUE OF VULNERABILITY FOR THAT FAMILY SUCH AS HOMELESSNESS THAT WAS FACING THE US CITIZEN CHILDREN, THEY'D BE ABLE TO PRIORITIZE THAT CASE OVER ONE IN WHICH THERE WASN'T THE SAME AMOUNT OF BENEFIT TO BEXAR COUNTY RESIDENTS. >> WE'RE OUTSOURCING THAT DECISION BASICALLY TO AMERICAN GATEWAYS, [03:35:04] IN TERMS OF WHO THEY'RE SUPPORTING THROUGH THIS PROGRAM? >> IN THEIR SCREENING PROCESS, THAT'S TRUE. YES. TO DETERMINE THE MAXIMUM ONE OF THOSE BENEFITS TO THE POTENTIAL CLIENTS AND TO THE COMMUNITY AS A WHOLE. >> EVEN WITH REMOVING UNIVERSAL REPRESENTATION FROM THE RPR CONTRACT, YOU ARE ALLOWING THEM TO DETERMINE WHETHER THEY WILL SUPPORT AND PROVIDE SERVICES FOR AN INDIVIDUAL, BUT YOU ARE NOT RESTRICTING THEM FROM PROVIDING SERVICES TO A CERTAIN INDIVIDUAL? >> IT'S TRUE THE RESTRICTIONS WILL CONTINUE TO BE THE TWO REQUIREMENTS OF INCOME QUALIFICATION OF AN INDIGENT CLIENT AND THEN BEXAR COUNTY RESIDENCY. YES. >> THERE ARE NO RESTRICTIONS IN TERMS OF OFFENSES THAT COULD HAVE BEEN COMMITTED BY THE INDIVIDUAL THAT IS USING TAXPAYER MONEY TO DEFEND THEMSELVES FROM DEPORTATION? >> THOSE RESTRICTIONS ARE NOT IN THE CONTRACT. THAT'S TRUE. >> THAT'S A BIG PROBLEM, IN MY OPINION. THERE'S MULTIPLE SURVEYS THAT HAVE TALKED ABOUT THIS. AD NAUSEUM, WE'VE HAD A DISCUSSION. THERE'S A LOT OF DIFFERENT SIDES, DIFFERENT POINTS TO BE MADE IN TERMS OF DEPORTATIONS. WHERE THERE IS NO AMBIGUITY, IN MY OPINION IS AROUND VIOLENT OFFENDERS. IF THEY ARE NON-CITIZENS AND THEY ARE VIOLENT OFFENDERS, THEN THEY SHOULD NOT BE HERE. WE SHOULD DEPORT THEM. I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY THAT'S CONTROVERSIAL. I DON'T THINK IT IS CONTROVERSIAL TO 80%, 90% OF AMERICANS. COMBINE THIS WITH THE FACT THAT WE KNOW THAT HARRIS COUNTY HAS BEEN SUED ON A VERY SIMILAR PROGRAM. WE'LL LIKELY WALK INTO THE SAME SITUATION. IT SEEMS LIKE A VERY EGREGIOUS WASTE OF TAXPAYER DOLLARS. COMBINE THAT WITH THE RISK THAT WE ARE LITERALLY USING TAXPAYER DOLLARS TO DEFEND POTENTIALLY A VIOLENT OFFENDER. I ABSOLUTELY WON'T SUPPORT THIS. I'LL NEVER SUPPORT THIS. IT'S JUST WRONG. I'M REALLY DISAPPOINTED THAT THIS IS COMING BACK AND WE'RE CONTINUING TO TALK ABOUT IT. >> COMMISSIONER CLAIRE FLORES. >> YOU HAVE SOMEONE HERE FROM AMERICAN GATEWAY, CORRECT? CAN THEY COME FORWARD? >> YES, YOUR HONOR. WE HAVE LAURA FLORES NIXON, WHO'S AVAILABLE. >> I'M SORRY. >> YES, COMMISSIONER LAURA FLORES NIXON, ATTORNEY WITH AMERICAN GATEWAYS. SHE'S AN EXPERT IN WHAT THEY'VE BEEN DOING IN THEIR PROGRAM AND IS HERE TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS. MISS MAY HAVE. WE ALSO HAVE REBECCA LAITSE [OVERLAPPING]. >> I'M SURE HER NAME IS REBECCA BECAUSE IT'S EASY TO REMEMBER. CAN YOU GUYS COME FORWARD, PLEASE? CAN YOU TALK TO US ABOUT THE ACTUALITY OF WHAT CASES THE FUNDING THAT WE HAVE SUPPORTED IS ACTUALLY GOING TO? >> ABSOLUTELY. SINCE JUNE, THE IMMIGRATION COURT IN SAN ANTONIO HAS BECOME A TARGET FOR ARRESTS, NOT ONLY OF ADULTS, BUT OF CHILDREN AS WELL. THE BEXAR COUNTY IMMIGRANT LEGAL DEFENSE FUND HAS ALLOWED US TO GET OBTAIN RELEASE FOR SIX CHILDREN WHO ARE IN IMMIGRANT DETENTION. WE ARE CURRENTLY REPRESENTING 60 CHILDREN WHO ARE CURRENTLY IN IMMIGRATION DETENTION. THOSE ARE THE TYPES OF CASES THAT WE ARE PRIORITIZING, UTILIZING BEXAR COUNTY IMMIGRANT LEGAL DEFENSE FUNDING. WE HAVE REPRESENTED COUNTLESS INDIVIDUALS, THE VAST MAJORITY OF WHOM HAVE ZERO CRIMINAL HISTORY, AND EVEN IF THOSE CERTAIN INDIVIDUALS DID, THE VAST MAJORITY OF THEM HAD THE CHARGES DROPPED AND NEVER HAD ANY CRIMINAL CONVICTION AT ALL. UNFORTUNATELY, SIMPLY AN ARREST, EVEN IF THEIR CHARGES WERE LATER DROPPED, RESULTED IN THEIR IMMIGRANT DETENTION. THE VAST MAJORITY OF OUR CLIENTS LIKE I MENTIONED, ARE FAMILIES, CHILDREN WHO WERE ARRESTED WHILE LAWFULLY ATTENDING IMMIGRATION COURT PROCEEDINGS. >> REBECCA, DO YOU WANT TO ASK ADD ANYTHING? >> THANK YOU FOR LETTING US SPEAK ABOUT THIS BECAUSE I THINK THE ABILITY TO KEEP FAMILIES TOGETHER IS ONE OF THE GREATEST BENEFITS OF THIS PROGRAM. AS LANA MENTIONED, WE ARE SEEING FAMILIES BEING DETAINED IN COURT NOW AT IMMIGRATION COURT. WITH THIS SUPPORT, WE ARE ABLE TO HELP THOSE FAMILIES, HOPEFULLY HELP THEM GET RELEASED. WE WERE ABLE TO HELP ONE MOTHER AND HER SON GET RELEASED THE DAY BEFORE HER SON TURNED 4-YEARS-OLD TO REUNITE THE FAMILY. THOSE ARE THE CASES THAT THIS PROGRAM SUPPORTS. >> CHILDREN DO NOT CHOOSE WHERE THEY'RE BORN. I AM SO HAPPY TO BE ABLE TO SUPPORT THIS BECAUSE WE NEED TO CONTINUE TO FIGHT FOR HUMAN RIGHTS, AND I'M SO GLAD THAT WE HAVE ORGANIZATIONS LIKE YOU ALL WHO CONTINUE TO DO THAT AND THAT WE DON'T MICROMANAGE AND ALLOW YOU TO MAKE THE DECISIONS, KNOWING THAT IT'S NOT SUPPORTING VIOLENT CRIMINALS, [03:40:01] BUT INDEED CHILDREN AND FAMILY. HAPPY TO SUPPORT IT. THANK YOU. >>MR. RODRIGUEZ. THANK YOU, JUDGE. LET ME ALSO JUST THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORK. WHEN WE ENTERED INTO THIS CONTRACT, I GUESS IT'S BEEN A YEAR, MAYBE A LITTLE OVER A YEAR. I DON'T THINK ANY OF US COULD HAVE CONTEMPLATED WHAT HAS HAPPENED IN NOT JUST IN OUR COUNTY, BUT IN OUR COUNTRY OVER THE LAST FEW MONTHS. YOU SERVE AS A BACKSTOP TO MAKE SURE THAT AS YOU MENTIONED, FAMILIES AREN'T SEPARATED, THAT ARE MOST VULNERABLE, AT LEAST HAVE A VOICE IN THE PROCESS. MANY OF THESE FAMILIES ARE CONTRIBUTING TO OUR ECONOMY HERE IN BEXAR COUNTY, AND THEY'RE JUST GETTING AN OPPORTUNITY TO LAY THE FACTS OUT IN FRONT OF A JUDGE. THAT'S WHY WE PUT THIS IN PLACE. IT'S THE COMPASSIONATE, THE RIGHT THING TO DO, THE HUMANE THING TO DO. I'M FULLY SUPPORTIVE JUDGE AND I LOOK FORWARD TO VOTING FOR IT. >> ANY FURTHER COMMENT? COMMISSIONER MOODY. >> I JUST WANT TO ASK CLARIFYING QUESTION. DO YOU DISAGREE WITH ANY OF THE CLARIFICATIONS THAT MANAGER SIG COUNSEL LAID OUT AS FAR AS THE CURRENT LANGUAGE IN THE CONTRACT? >> NO. >> THANK YOU FOR THAT CLARIFICATION. IF YOUR WORK IS CONFINED TO THE SPACE THAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT, THEN I THINK THE CONTRACT COULD BE VERY WELL AMENDED AND SHOULD HAVE BEEN AMENDED OVER THE LAST YEAR AND A HALF IN ORDER TO CLEARLY DEFINE THAT. THEN WE COULD HAVE A DIFFERENT CONVERSATION ABOUT IT. AGAIN, MY COMMENT STAND. >> CALL FOR A VOTE. ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION, HEARING NONE? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR. SAYING AYE. ANY OPPOSED? >> NO. >> ANY ABSTENTIONS? MOTION CARRIES. >> THANK YOU ALL [APPLAUSE]. >> LET'S GO BACK, KATE. LET'S SEE. WE CLEANED UP THE MORNING. WE CLEANED UP THE CONSENT, CORRECT? >> YES, JUDGE. >> WHAT ELSE? 103. LET'S GO. WE'RE FURTHER GOING TO TAKE UP MATTERS THAT WE WERE TOOK UP IN EXECUTIVE SESSION 103, DISCUSSION, [103. Discussion and appropriate action regarding personnel matters related to the appointment of an interim Public Works Director/County Engineer. ] APPROPRIATE ACTION REGARDING PERSONNEL, MATTERS RELATING TO THE APPOINTMENT OF INTERIM PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR, COUNTY ENGINEER. >> JUDGE, I'D MAKE A MOTION. WE APPOINT DAVID WAGMAN INTERIM COUNTY ENGINEER, PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR. >> SECOND. >> MOTION BY COMMISSIONER RODRIGUEZ, SECOND BY COMMISSIONER CLAY-FLORES. ANY FURTHER COMMENT OR QUESTIONS? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF THE MOTION SIGNAL BY SAYING AYE? >> AYE. >> ANY OPPOSED. ANY ABSTENTIONS? MOTION CARRIES. >> YOU DROPPED 104, JUDGE. >> 104 IS DROPPED. IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE OUT OF LARRY, OR ANYTHING ELSE OUT OF EXECUTIVE THAT WE CAN TAKE UP. ALL THOSE OTHER ISSUES THAT WE DID, THERE WILL BE NO ACTION TAKEN. >> CORRECT, JUDGE. >> NOW, LET US GO BACK UP TO START OF THE INDIVIDUAL AGENDA ITEMS. WE DID TAKE UP 93 OUT OF ORDER, 94, [94. (Gregory Galloway) Discussion and appropriate action regarding approval and execution of a third amendment to extend a food services agreement between Bexar County and Selrico Services, Inc., (HABE, MBE, SBE, VBE) on a month-to-month basis, in an amount not to exceed $7,156,685.09 for the provision of full food services for inmates, detainees, staff and visitors, as requested by the Sheriff's Office. ] DISCUSSION APPROPRIATE ACTION REGARDING APPROVAL OR EXECUTIONS STANDS CORRECT FIFTH AMENDMENT, CORRECT, KATE? >> SORRY, JUDGE, 94 CAN REMAIN AS THE THIRD AMENDMENT. IT WAS 95 THAT WAS FIFTH AMENDMENT. >> IT STILL REMAINS AS THE THIRD AMENDMENT TO EXTEND A FOOD SERVICE CONTRACT WITH BEXAR COUNTY SELRICO SERVICES, INC, ON A MONTH-TO-MONTH BASIS AND THE AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $7,156,685.09 FOR THE PROVISION OF FOOD SERVICES FOR INMATES, DETAINEES, STAFF VISITORS AS REQUESTED BY THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE. MR. GALLOWAY? >> GOOD AFTERNOON, YOUR HONOR. COMMISSIONERS, HERE TO REPRESENT SHERIFF SALAZAR BEXAR COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE REGARDING THE EXTENSION OF THIS AMENDMENT. IF THERE ARE ANY QUESTIONS OR CONCERNS, WE DO HAVE FROM STAFF ON HAND TO ADDRESS ANY CONCERNS. >> NO, I DON'T HAVE QUESTIONS, JUDGE. THIS, IF I REMEMBER CORRECTLY, GREGORY IS THE EXTENSIONS NECESSITATED BECAUSE YOU'RE REFINING THE PROCESS FOR THE RFP TO INCLUDE THE OPTION THAT USE INMATE LABOR? >> THAT'S CORRECT. THERE'S A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT ITEMS THAT WE ARE GOING TO ADDRESS INSIDE OF A REVISED SCOPE OF WORK. >> I'D MAKE A MOTION TO A PROVE, JUDGE. >> MOTION BY COMMISSIONER RODRIGUEZ. >> SECOND. >> SECOND BY COMMISSIONER CLAY-FLORES. ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION, COMMISSIONER MOODY? >> MY UNDERSTANDING IS YOU GUYS ARE GOING TO BRING THIS BACK QUICKLY? >> YES, SIR. >> THERE WAS ALSO SOME CONVERSATIONS EITHER IN COURT OR SEPARATELY AROUND TASTE TESTING AND/OR ANONYMIZING APPLICANTS. >> THAT'S CORRECT. THOSE RECOMMENDATIONS HAVE BEEN BROUGHT FORWARD. WE'RE GOING TO INCORPORATE THOSE INTO THE NEW REVISED BOARDS. >> THANK YOU. [03:45:02] >> ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF THE MOTION, SIGNAL SAYING, AYE? >> AYE. >> ANY OPPOSED? ANY ABSTENTION MOTION CARRIES, 95. [95. (Gregory Galloway) Approval and execution of a third amendment to extend services agreement between Bexar County and Selrico Services, Inc., (HABE, MBE, SBE, VBE) on a month-to-month basis, in an amount not to exceed $888,976.00 to provide food services to juvenile offenders, as requested by the Juvenile Probation Department. ] APPROVAL EXECUTION, WHICH WAS INITIALLY THIRD NOW HAS BEEN CORRECTED A FIFTH AMENDMENT, CORRECT KATE? >> YES, JUDGE. >> IS THERE SERVICE AGREEMENT BETWEEN BEXAR COUNTY SELRICO SERVICES ON A MONTH-TO-MONTH BASIS, AMOUNT OF TO EXCEED $888,976 TO PROVIDE FOOD SERVICES JUVENILE OFFENDERS AS REQUIRED BY THE JUVENILE PROBATION DEPARTMENT. IS THERE A MOTION? >> SO MOVED, JUDGE. >> MOTION BY COMMISSIONER RODRIGUEZ. >> SECOND. >> SECOND BY COMMISSIONER CLAY-FLORES. ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? ANYTHING TO ADD ALL TIES IT TO THE 94 GENDER ITEM, CORRECT? I'LL CALL FOR VOTE. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SIGNIFY SAYING AYE? >> AYE. >> ANY OPPOSED? ANY ABSTENTION? MOTION CARRIES. ITEM NUMBER 96. [96. Discussion and appropriate action regarding approval and award of a purchase order to SAT Radio Communications Ltd. dba Industrial Communications in the amount of $1,036,502.34 for the purchase, installation, and removal of vehicle decals and equipment, as requested by the Bexar County Sheriffs Office; pursuant to and in accordance with Texas Local Government Code Chapter 271, Subchapter F, Section 102, Cooperative Purchasing Program Participation; authorizing the Purchasing Agent to execute and file the appropriate award documents for record with the County Clerk.] DISCUSSION APPROPRIATE ACTION REGARDING APPROVAL AND AWARD OF A PURCHASE ORDER OF A SAT RADIO COMMUNICATION, DBA INDUSTRIAL COMMUNICATIONS AMOUNT OF $1,036,502.34 FOR THE PURCHASE INSTALLATION OR REMOVAL OF VEHICLE DECALS AND EQUIPMENT, AS REQUESTED BY BEXAR COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE PURSUANT TO IN ACCORDANCE WITH TEXAS LOCAL GOVERNMENT CODE CHAPTER 271 SUB-CHAPTER F, SECTION 102 COOPERATIVE PURCHASING PROGRAM PARTICIPATION, AUTHORIZING THE PURCHASING AGENT TO EXECUTE AND FILE THE APPROPRIATE AWARD DOCUMENTS FOR RECORD WITH THE COUNTY CLERK. ANYTHING, MR. GREGORY GALLOWAY? >> NO, YOUR HONOR. THIS IS MORE ADMINISTRATIVE IN NATURE DUE TO THE AMOUNT. OBVIOUSLY, IF THERE'S ANY QUESTIONS OR CONCERNS YOU HAVE REGARDING THAT, WE CAN WORK TO ADDRESS THAT. >> MOTION APPROVED. >> MOTION BY COMMISSIONER RODRIGUEZ. >> SECOND. >> SECOND BY COMMISSIONER CLAY-FLORES. ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF MOTION SIGNIFY SAYING AYE? >> AYE. >> ANY OPPOSED. ANY ABSTENTION? MOTION CARRIES. WE DID TAKE UP EARLIER, AGENDA ITEM 97. CAN WE GET A BLANKET MOTION TO APPROVE LATE FILES 98A, 99A, 100A, AND 101A. MOTION BY COMMISSIONER MOODY, SECOND BY COMMISSIONER RODRIGUEZ FOR ALL THE LATE FILINGS AS DESIGNATED. ALL THOSE THAT FAVOR SIGNIFY SAYING AYE? >> AYE. >> ANY OPPOSED. ANY ABSTENTION? MOTION CARRIES. LET'S NOW TAKE UP 98A. [98. 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 #98a. a. Discussion and appropriate action regarding approval of a Bexar County Commissioners Court Resolution formally supporting the Motion for Rehearing for TPDES Permit No. WQ0016171001 (Guajolote Ranch Development) and urging the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality to grant said motion in the interest of public health, environmental protection, and regulatory integrity. ] DISCUSSION APPROPRIATE ACTION REGARDING APPROVAL OF BEXAR COUNTY COMMISSIONERS COURT RESOLUTION, FORMALLY SUPPORTING THE MOTION FOR REHEARING FOR THE TPDES PERMIT NUMBER WQ0016171001 WHAT RANCH OF DEVELOPMENT AND URGING THE TEXAS COMMISSIONER ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY TO GRANT SAID MOTION IN THE INTEREST OF PUBLIC HEALTH, ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION, AND REGULATORY INTEGRITY. COMMISSIONER MOODY, COMMISSIONER CALVERT? >> THANK YOU, JUDGE. I WANT TO THANK COMMISSIONER MOODY FOR CO-AUTHORING THIS RESOLUTION. SENATOR CAMPBELL HAS WRITTEN A LETTER ASKING THE TCEQ TO ABIDE BY ITS APPEAL PROCESS FOR THE CITIZENS OF BEXAR COUNTY AND BEYOND TO THE WATER ISSUES THAT THEY'RE HAVING AT GUAJOLOTE RANCH. WE WANTED TO AFFIRM IN A RESOLUTION, OUR SUPPORT FOR THIS PROCESS, WHICH IS ALREADY SET FOR IN STATE LAW TO GIVE THOSE WHO WOULD LIKE TO HAVE A REHEARING OF THE FACTS OF THE SCIENCE AND THE IMPACT OF THE COMMUNITY. THAT'S WHAT THE RESOLUTION INDICATES, AND BASICALLY, THE BOTTOM LINE IS, YOU DON'T HAVE WATER, YOU DON'T HAVE AN ECONOMY. YOU CAN'T GROWING ENVIRONMENT WITHOUT WATER. COMMISSIONER MOODY, I'LL TURN IT OVER TO YOU. >> WELL, I WANT TO THANK SENATOR CAMPBELL FOR BRINGING THIS FORWARD AND ALSO TO COMMISSIONER CALVERT FOR HIGHLIGHTING THIS. WATER IS SO CRITICAL TO OUR COMMUNITY AND THE AQUIFER, HAS TO BE PROTECTED. I THINK THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF MEDIA ATTENTION ON THIS ITEM. THAT WE HAVE BEEN INVOLVED IN FROM THE VERY BEGINNING IN TERMS OF MEETING WITH RESIDENTS ON-SITE, OFFSITE, IN OUR OFFICE, ATTENDED TOWN HALLS, MET WITH DEVELOPERS, MET WITH ENGINEERS, READ HUNDREDS OF PAGES OF STUDIES AND QUESTIONS. THERE'S SOME CONFLICTING INFORMATION OUT THERE, AND IT'S HARD WHEN YOU HAVE SCIENTISTS TELL YOU ONE THING AND YOU HAVE SCIENTISTS ON THE OTHER TELL YOU SOMETHING ELSE. I THINK THE HOPE IS THAT THROUGH A REHEARING, SOME OF THE DISCREPANCIES IN THE CONFLICTING REPORTS FROM THESE DIFFERENT AGENCIES AND SCIENTISTS WOULD BE WORKED OUT BECAUSE I THINK IT'S IN THE PUBLIC'S BEST INTEREST TO KNOW FOR CERTAIN WHAT THE IMPACT WILL BE ON OUR AQUIFER AND ON OUR WATER SUPPLY FOR BEXAR COUNTY. I SUPPORT THIS MEASURE. >> MOVE FOR APPROVAL. >> MOTION BY COMMISSIONER CALVERT, SECOND BY COMMISSIONER MOODY. LET ME PUT ON RECORD. THIS RESOLUTION SHOWS THAT COMMISSIONERS, OF COURSE, SUPPORT FOR THE CONSIDERATION OF TCEQ. [03:50:02] ENTERTAINING A MOTION FOR REHEARING ON THE WASTEWATER TREATMENT PERMIT PREVIOUSLY GRANTED REGARDING THE GUAJOLOTE RANCH PROJECT. A MOTION FOR REHEARING IS A TCEQ ADMINISTRATIVE REMEDY TO HAVE EVIDENCE AND OTHER FACTORS RECONSIDERED FOR A SPECIFIC PERMIT. I HAVE MET WITH THE KEY STAKEHOLDERS, AND I CONTINUE TO APPROACH THIS ISSUE FROM THE LENS AND PRIORITY, PROTECTING THE AQUIFER PUBLIC SAFETY, AND RESPECTING THE LAW. I DO SUPPORT TODAY'S RESOLUTION. ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF THE MOTION SIGNAL BY SAYING AYE? >> AYE. >> ANY OPPOSED? ANY ABSTENTION? MOTION CARRIES. WE'LL NOW TAKE UP 99A. [99. 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 #99a. a. Approval and Execution of the following agreements between Bexar County and DreamOn - Prosper West at Basila Frocks and Museum in the amount of $250,000 from the Capital Improvement Program Fund to support the development of a public parking lot and to promote economic development, and appropriate budgetary amendment: i. ii. License and Operating Agreement; and, Ground and Facility Lease Agreement. ] APPROVAL EXECUTION OF THE FOLLOWING AGREEMENTS BETWEEN BEXAR COUNTY AND DREAM ON PROSPER WEST AT BASILA FOX AND MUSEUM, AN AMOUNT OF $250,000 FROM THE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS PROGRAM FUND TO SUPPORT THE DEVELOPMENT OF PUBLIC PARKING LOT, AND TO PROMOTE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND APPROPRIATE BUDGET AMENDMENT, SUBSECTION 1, LICENSE AND OPERATING AGREEMENT, TWO GROUND AND FACILITY LEASE AGREEMENT. >> I DON'T KNOW THAT WE NEED A FULL PRESENTATION. JUDGE AND COMMISSIONERS, I THINK WAS IN THE LAST BUDGET FOR THIS ALLOCATION, AND SO IT'S JUST FORMALIZING. I KNOW OUR FRIENDS FROM PROSPER WEST AND ULYSSES HERE FROM DREAM ON. THIS WAS TO CONTRIBUTE TO THE REDEVELOPMENT OF BASILA FOX, SPECIFICALLY, FOR THE PARKING LOT. I DON'T KNOW IF YOU HAVE ANYTHING TO ADD. >> NO. I WAS JUST HERE TO REQUEST THE APPROVAL AND EXECUTION OF THE CAPITAL AGREEMENTS. >> I MAKE A MOTION APPROVE, JUDGE. >> THANK YOU. >> MOTION BY COMMISSIONER RODRIGUEZ, SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER CALVERT. ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SIGNAL BY SAY AYE? >> AYE. >> ANY OPPOSED? ANY ABSTENTION? MOTION CARRIES. 100A, APPROVAL OF NEGOTIATE A FIRST AMENDMENT TO [100. 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 #100a. a. Approval to negotiate a First Amendment to the Agreement between Bexar County and the Residential Energy Assistance Partnership, Inc. (REAP) to extend the Agreement for one (1) year to ensure the continuity of the program, and authorization for the County Judge to execute the First Amendment, upon completion of negotiations.] THE AGREEMENT BETWEEN BEXAR COUNTY AND THE RESIDENTIAL ENERGY ASSISTANT PROGRAM REP TO EXTEND THE AGREEMENT FOR ONE YEAR TO ENSURE THE CONTINUITY OF THE PROGRAM AUTHORIZATION FOR THE COUNTY JUDGE TO EXECUTE THE FIRST AMENDMENT UPON COMPLETION OF NEGOTIATION. LET ME PUT ON RECORD. THE RESIDENTIAL ENERGY ASSISTANT PARTNERSHIP IS A CPS ENERGY NONPROFIT THAT IS LED JOINTLY BY THE CPS THE CITY OF SANTONI BEXAR COUNTY. I SERVE AS A COUNTY'S REPRESENTATIVE. THIS AMENDMENT EXTENDS THE TIME FRAME OF THIS PARTNERSHIP BY A YEAR, PROVIDING ADDITIONAL TIME TO NEGOTIATE ANY OTHER MODIFICATIONS TO THE PROGRAM. LAST AUGUST, I SUCCESSFULLY CALLED FOR A SPECIAL MEETING OF THE REBOARD TO REASSESS ELIGIBILITY CRITERION AND CONSIDERED APPROVAL OF A ONE YEAR UP TO $1 MILLION FOR AN ELEVATED COUNTY BENEFIT. THIS RESULTED IN OPEN UP TO GUIDELINES TO EXPAND ACCESS, SHIFTING FROM 125% OF FEDERAL POVERTY LINE ELIGIBILITY TO 150% AND UP TO $1,200 IN DIRECT UTILITY ASSISTANCE. THE COUNTY STAFF WAS ABLE TO EXPEND $980,000 IN THE UTILITY ASSISTANCE, WHICH WAS PAID BACK IN CPS ENERGY IN THAT TIME FRAME. WITH THIS AMENDMENT EXTENDED, THE COUNTY WILL BE IN A GOOD POSITION TO NEGOTIATE ANOTHER YEAR OF ELEVATED BENEFITS AND, HOPEFULLY, SERVE THIS EARLY IN THE NEW YEAR. IS THERE A MOTION? >> SO MOVED. >> MOTION BY COMMISSIONER RODRIGUEZ. >> SECOND. >> SECOND BY COMMISSIONER MOODY. ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, SIGNAL BY SAYING AYE? >> AYE. >> ANY OPPOSED? ANY ABSTENTION? MOTION CARRIES. TAKE UP 101A. [101. 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 #101a. a. Discussion and appropriate action regarding approval of a request from Commissioner Tommy Calvert, Precinct 4, to allocate outside agency funding in the total amount of $12,500 for the agencies and amounts listed; as part of Commissioner Tommy Calvert, Precinct 4, Contributions to Outside Agencies from the General Fund. ] DISCUSSION, APPROPRIATE ACTION APPROVAL OR REQUEST FROM COMMISSIONER TOMMY CALVERT PRECINCT 4 TO ALLOCATE OUTSIDE FUNDING AGENCY FUNDING IN TOTAL AMOUNT OF 12,500 FOR THE AGENCIES AND AMOUNTS LISTED AS PART OF COMMISSIONER TOMMY CALVERT PRECINCT 4 CONTRIBUTION TO OUTSIDE AGENCIES FROM THE GENERAL FUND. IS THERE A MOTION? MOTION BY COMMISSIONER CALVERT? >> SECOND. >> SECOND BY COMMISSIONER RODRIGUEZ. ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF THE MOTION, SIGNAL BY SAYING AYE? >> AYE. >> ANY OPPOSED? ANY ABSTENTION? MOTION CARRIES. LET'S MAKE SURE WE HAVEN'T SKIPPED ANYTHING, MISSED ANYTHING. IS THERE ANYBODY ELSE WHO'S GOT BUSINESS TODAY? IS THERE A MOTION TO ADJOURN? MOTION BY COMMISSIONER RODRIGUEZ? >> SECOND. >> SECOND BY COMMISSIONER MOODY. COMMISSIONER RODRIGUEZ? >> YES, JUDGE. I HAVE A FEW NAMES HERE TO ADJOURN ON BEHALF OF COMMISSIONER CLAY-FLORES. SHE WOULD LIKE TO ADJOURN IN THE NAME OF EMMA GALINDO LOPEZ, RESIDENT OF THOMPSON NEIGHBORHOOD, DORA LOPEZ, ALSO A THOMPSON RESIDENT, THE MOTHER OF RUDY LOPEZ, AND ALSO MARIANA JIMENEZ, WHO'S THE DAUGHTER OF THE MPO INTERIM DIRECTOR SONYA JIMENEZ, WHO PASSED AWAY, UNFORTUNATELY WITH BY A WAY OF COLON CANCER. THEN FOR PRECINCT 2, I'D LIKE TO ADJOURN IN THE NAME OF ADELA MARTINEZ, FELIS MARTINEZ, FORMER COLLEAGUE OF MINE IN THE LEGISLATURE, GARY ELKINS OUT OF HARRIS COUNTY PASSED AWAY. I'M SURE WE ALL HAVE SISTER GABRIELLA ON HER MIND, [03:55:02] FORMER LEADER OF COPS METRO, ONE OF YOUR FORMER COLLEAGUES, JUDGE BARBARA MOMO AS WELL MARIA ELENA CAMACHO DE RAMIREZ, AND THEN FINALLY, THE MOTHER OF CHEF JANI HERNANDEZ PASSED AWAY, THERESA PALO HERNANDEZ. >> COMMISSIONER MOODY? >> I DO NOT NOT HAVE ANYTHING. >> COMMISSIONER CALVERT. >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. I WANT TO ADJOURN. WE JUST LEARNED THIS MORNING THAT NATIONAL RECORDING ARTIST FROM SAN ANTONIO MICHAEL WARD, JAZZ VIOLINIST HAS PASSED AWAY. CECIL RAY WAS, I THINK, 106-YEARS-OLD AND JUST PASSED AWAY THIS WEEK. JOHN JACK WALLACE, WHO WAS ONE OF THE FOUNDING CHAIRMAN OF THE COALITION OF NORTHEAST NEIGHBORHOODS, HAS PASSED A LOT OF YEARS OF SERVICE IN THAT UNINCORPORATED NORTHEAST NEIGHBORHOOD COALITION. DINA VALDEZ RODRIGUEZ, HIS MOTHER-IN-LAW, MY ASSISTANT UV SISTER. ROBIN LUAN THOMAS, THE MOTHER OF ANANDA THOMAS. WE WANT TO ADJOURN IN HER HONOR. I DO WANT TO JUST ONCE AGAIN JOIN COMMISSIONER RODRIGUEZ IN THE COURT IN LIFTING UP I THINK THE MOST REVERED SISTER IN TOWN, SISTER GABRIEL LOHAN. SHE WAS THE COMMUNITY PRINCIPAL, AS I WOULD LIKE TO SAY. SHE HAD US ALL ON SPEED DIAL. AS A FORMER PRINCIPAL, WAS OUR ONE WE TOOK OUR INSTRUCTION FROM IN POLITICAL LIFE ALL ACROSS THIS COUNTY. BUT SHE WAS INSTRUMENTAL IN OVER $1 MILLION TOWARDS THE TOWN TWIN VILLAGE. MANY EFFORTS, VERY DIFFICULT EFFORTS TO GET THE FORMERLY INCARCERATED THEIR LIVES ON TRACK THROUGH THE SELLING OF THEIR OLD CONVENT TO CROSS POINT. I WILL JUST END ON THIS NOTE THAT I ENDED AT THE FUNERAL. SISTER GABRIELLA CAME FROM IRELAND AND SHE WAS A JOVIAL, WONDERFUL SERVANT WITH COPS METRO ALLIANCE. I HELPED THEM SELL THEIR CONVENT, AND SO SHE SAID, LET'S GO CELEBRATE AT RED LOBSTER. WE GO TO RED LOBSTER. SHE ORDERS A LONG ISLAND ICE TEA. SHE SAYS, TOMMY, WHAT HAPPENS AT RED LOBSTER STAYS AT RED LOBSTER. GREAT SISTER, GABRIELLA. WE LOVE HER. WE'LL MISS HER. >> LET ME JOIN IN WITH THE TRIBUTE TO SISTER GABRIELLA. I ECHO ALL THE COMMENTS MADE TODAY. JUDGE BARBARA MOMO, WHO WAS A COLLEAGUE OF MINE HAS SERVED WITH GREAT DISTINCTION AND RETIRED AS A BEXAR COUNTY CIVIL DISTRICT JUDGE, CONSUELO CONTI ROCHA, SUSAN ROCHE'S MOM MEMBER FORMER SANTONIA INDEPENDENT SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER AND A LONG TIME COMMUNITY ACTIVIST AND LEADER, DORA LOPEZ, I BELIEVE IT IS THE MOTHER RUDY LOPEZ, DOWN IN THE EDGEWOOD SCHOOL DISTRICT, AND ARTHUR RICKLAND, THE VETERAN AND A LEADER IN THE JEWISH COMMUNITY AND FATHER OF RAN RICKLAND ATTORNEY. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR WITH THE MOTION TO ADJOURN SIGNAL BY SAYING AYE. >> AYE. >> ANY OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES. HAVE A GOOD DAY. >> HAPPY NEW YEAR. >> HAPPY NEW YEAR, MERRY CHRISTMAS. >> HAPPY HANUKKAH. >> [BACKGROUND]. * This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.