Apr 28, 2026 Commissioners Court

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GOOD MORNING.

WELCOME TO COMMISSIONER'S COURT MEETING OF TUESDAY, APRIL 28, 2026.

COMMISSIONER CALVERT, I BELIEVE

[1. Opening Prayer: Father Jimmy Drennan from St. Margaret Mary's Catholic Church (Tommy Calvert)]

THANK YOU SO MUCH, JUDGE.

WE UNFORTUNATELY HAD A LITTLE MISHAP WITH FATHER JIMMY, BUT WE ARE SO FORTUNATE TO HAVE A LIFELONG FRIEND.

FRIEND, REVEREND DEBORAH SEWARD, WHO IS OUR MLK CHAIR AND ALSO THE COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT COORDINATOR FOR THE SAN ANTONIO AFRICAN AMERICAN ARCHIVE AND MUSEUM.

REVEREND SEWARD IS A PROUD ALUM OF HIGHLAND UNIVERSITY, EXCUSE ME, OF HIGHLANDS HIGH SCHOOL.

SHE DEDICATED 13 YEARS OF SERVICE AS A PARAPROFESSIONAL IN THE SPECIAL EDUCATION DEPARTMENT AT THE SAN ANTONIO INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT.

SHE HOLDS CERTIFICATIONS IN EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION FROM SAN ANTONIO COLLEGE AND LAY MINISTRY AND PASTORAL STUDIES FROM THE O'BLAKE SCHOOL OF THEOLOGY.

HER DIVINE CALLING LED HER TO BECOMING LICENSED IN MINISTRY ON JANUARY THE 15TH, 2017, AND SHE IS MARRIED TO REVEREND BUTCH SEWARD, MOTHER TO ONE BIOLOGICAL DAUGHTER, AND AFFECTIONATELY KNOWN AS MOM TO MANY, INCLUDING MYSELF, BECAUSE I'VE KNOWN HER SINCE I WAS A...

LITERALLY A CHILD.

SHE LOOKS THE SAME.

SHE HASN'T AGED A DAY.

HER HEART BEATS FOR SERVICE, AS EVIDENCED BY HER DEDICATION TO COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT, EVENT COORDINATION, AND VOLUNTEER SUPPORT FOR THE SAN ANTONIO AFRICAN AMERICAN ARCHIVE AND MUSEUM.

BEYOND HER WORK AT THE MUSEUM, SHE ALSO ACTIVELY CONTRIBUTES TO OUR COMMUNITY.

AS I SAID, SHE IS OUR MLK MARCH CHAIR.

REVEREND SEWARD, IF ALL WOULD RISE IN THE COMMISSIONER'S COURT.

YOU HAVE THE FLOOR, REVEREND SEWARD, FOR OUR PRAYER.

SHALL WE PRAY? FATHER GOD, WE THANK YOU, LORD, FOR THIS DAY.

WE THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING THAT YOU'VE DONE IN OUR LIVES, LORD, AND WE DON'T TAKE IT FOR GRANTED BECAUSE BLESSINGS COME FROM YOU, AND WE'RE SO GRATEFUL.

LORD, I WANT TO ASK A SPECIAL BLESSING ON OUR COMMISSIONERS TODAY.

LORD, I ASK THAT YOU...

GUIDE THEM AND LEAD THEM AS THEY LEAD THIS CITY AND THROUGHOUT.

LORD, I ASK FOR A BLESSING ON THEIR STAFFERS AS THEY CONTINUE TO SUPPORT THE LEADERSHIP.

LORD, AND I ASK A RICH BLESSING ON THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO AND BEXAR COUNTY AND THE SURROUNDING CITIES.

LORD, WE NEED YOU MORE THAN ANYTHING TODAY AND BEYOND.

LORD, OUR FUTURE LAY IN YOUR HANDS.

AND WE CANNOT.

DO ANYTHING WITHOUT YOU.

LORD, WE THANK YOU FOR THIS VERY MOMENT.

WE THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING THAT YOU WILL CONTINUE TO DO AS WE WORK, LORD, TO SERVE THIS COMMUNITY.

LORD, LET US DO IT WITH TRUTH, HONESTY, AND WITH LOVE.

LORD, WE THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING THAT WILL HAPPEN IN TODAY'S SESSION.

LORD, AND I PRAY YOUR RICHEST BLESSINGS ON ALL THE PROCEEDINGS.

THANK YOU SO MUCH, LORD.

THAT YOU CONTINUE TO LOVE US THE WAY THAT YOU DO.

AND IT IS IN JESUS' NAME THAT I ASK AND I PRAY AND I BELIEVE.

AMEN.

THANK YOU, REVEREND SEWARD.

IF EVERYONE WOULD TURN TOWARDS THE FLAG AND REPEAT THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.

PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS, ONE NATION, UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.

THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER CALVERT.

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

APPROVE REMAINING CONSENT AGENDA ITEMS. COMMISSIONER CLAY FLORES.

CAN YOU COME BACK TO ME, PLEASE? ALL RIGHT.

COMMISSIONER RODRIGUEZ WILL SHORTLY BE HERE.

COMMISSIONER MOODY.

COMMISSIONER CALVERT.

NO ITEMS, JUDGE.

I'M BACK TO YOU, COMMISSIONER CLAY FLORES.

NOTHING TO CALL, JUDGE.

OKAY, IS THERE A MOTION? MOVE FOR APPROVAL.

MOTION BY COMMISSIONER CLAY FLORES, SECOND BY COMMISSIONER MOODY.

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

AYE.

ANY OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES.

LET ME SEE, I BELIEVE THERE MIGHT BE SOME CITIZENS TO BE HEARD I NEED IN REGARDS TO CONSENT.

LET ME HAVE THOSE RIGHT NOW.

[00:05:05]

OKAY.

WHAT'S THIS ONE? ALL RIGHT.

I'M TRYING TO ACCOMMODATE THOSE THAT HAD SIGNED UP FOR CONSENT.

AS YOU JUST HEARD, THE ENTIRE CONSENT AGENDA HAS BEEN APPROVED.

ALL THOSE MATTERS OF CONSENT ARE NOW BEING PASSED BY UNANIMOUS VOTE OF THE COURT.

HOWEVER, IN ORDER TO ACCOMMODATE AS A PROFESSIONAL COURTESY, I WANT THOSE THAT SIGNED UP, IF YOU STILL WISH TO SPEAK, I HAVE AGENDA ITEM 52.

I HAVE ONE, TWO, THREE, FOUR, FIVE.

SIX, SEVEN PEOPLE.

FIFTY-TWO HAS BEEN PASSED AT THIS TIME.

I WILL CALL YOUR NAME OUT.

IF YOU WISH TO SPEAK, YOU HAVE THREE MINUTES.

IF YOU WISH TO WAVE, I CERTAINLY UNDERSTAND.

FIRST ONE WILL BE JIM BURKE.

DO YOU WISH TO SPEAK? THIS IS AGENDA ITEM 52.

I AM REPRESENTING MR. BURKE AND THE OTHER FOLKS THAT SIGNED UP FOR ITEM NUMBER...

52.

SO MR. BURKE HAD SIGNED UP TO MAKE A PRESENTATION WHEN ITEM 52 CAME UP.

BUT IF NO PRESENTATIONS ARE...

ALL RIGHT.

ROB DILLON, YOU HAVE THREE...

ACTUALLY, YOU GOT SIX WITH HIM YIELDING.

NO, NO.

I ACTUALLY SIGNED UP FOR MYSELF AS WELL TO SPEAK ON THIS FOR ITEM 52.

BUT DURING CITIZENS, AGAIN, MR. BURKE AND THE OTHER SPEAKERS ON ITEM 52 ARE REALLY...

HE'S HERE.

MR. BURKE IS HERE TO ANSWER QUESTIONS ABOUT THE ITEM.

BUT IF YOU'D LIKE ME TO SPEAK UNDER MY SIGN, IF I CAN DO THAT RIGHT NOW.

PROCEED.

SO THANK YOU, JUDGE SAKAI, COMMISSIONERS.

MY NAME IS ROB KILLEN.

I'M AN ATTORNEY WITH THE LAW FIRM OF KILLEN, GRIFFIN, AND FAIRMONT.

OUR ADDRESS IS 10101 UNION PLACE IN SAN ANTONIO, HERE ON BEHALF OF MR. BURKE.

MR. BURKE IS HERE TODAY TO MAKE A DONATION TO BEXAR COUNTY IN THE AMOUNT OF $2.175 MILLION.

THAT DONATION IS TO PAY FOR CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE IN SOUTHEAST SAN ANTONIO, WHICH WILL BE CONSIDERED UNDER ITEM 52 ON THE AGENDA.

YEAH, A COUPLE ITEMS. ONE IS AN AGREEMENT FOR MR. BURKE'S DONATION TO BEXAR COUNTY, AND THEN AN ADVANCED FUNDING AGREEMENT TO TAKE MR. BURKE'S DONATION AND GIVE IT TO TXDOT TO PAY FOR A RAMP AT 37 AND MILITARY.

SO, A PROJECT THAT TXDOT HAS BEEN WORKING ON FOR A WHILE.

IT IS SIMILAR TO AN AGREEMENT THAT THIS COURT APPROVED BACK IN 2015.

SO YOU HAD AN ADVANCED FUNDING AGREEMENT AND A DONATION AGREEMENT BACK IN 2015.

PARTIES HAVE CHANGED, SO ONE OF THE ACTION ITEMS ON YOUR AGENDA TODAY IS TO...

TAKE THE OLD AGREEMENT AND GET RID OF IT.

THERE'S AN ENTITY CALLED CIRCO THAT WAS PART OF THE ORIGINAL AGREEMENT.

THEY'RE GONE, SO BASICALLY BRING IT UP TO SPEED.

AND SO, MR. BURKE HAS BEEN, AND HIS FAMILY HAVE BEEN, FREQUENT AND HEAVILY ENGAGED THROUGHOUT THE YEARS WITH SAN ANTONIO AS LEADERS, AS DONORS.

MR. BURKE HAS MADE A NUMBER OF DONATIONS OF LAND OR MONEY OVER THE YEARS FOR PARKS, FOR BOOKS.

HOSPITAL AND HIGHER EDUCATION.

THIS DONATION TODAY WILL HELP ALLEVIATE SOME TRAFFIC CONGESTION AT THAT MILITARY AND I-37 INTERCHANGE.

WE STARTED WORKING ON THIS NEW VERSION OF THE AGREEMENT ABOUT FOUR MONTHS AGO, WORKING WITH TXDOT, WORKING WITH THE REPUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT.

WE'VE WORKED WITH THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO.

ON MARCH 31ST, THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE SENT US THE FINAL VERSION OF THE AGREEMENT.

WE EXECUTED IT, AND WE WERE AGENDIZED FOR TODAY.

SO I JUST REALLY WANT TO SAY TODAY, THANK YOU.

I WANT TO THANK YOUR PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT.

I WANT TO THANK THE DA'S OFFICE, CITY OF SAN ANTONIO.

IN PARTICULAR, I WANT TO THANK CHARLES BENAVIDEZ, THE DISTRICT ENGINEER WITH TXDOT, WHO HAS WORKED OVERTIME ON THIS.

AND THEN COMMISSIONER CALVERT.

I KNOW COMMISSIONER CALVERT IS REMOTE, BUT COMMISSIONER CALVERT, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR TAKING THE LEAD ON THIS.

BUT I REALLY JUST WANT TO THANK THE COURT FOR THEIR ENGAGEMENT ON THIS IMPORTANT, VITAL PIECE OF PUBLIC INFRASTRUCTURE.

SO WITH THAT, I WILL CONCLUDE MY REMARKS AND ASK YOU TO ACCEPT MR. BURKE'S DONATION OF $2.175.

ROB, WOULD YOU PLEASE...

STAY RIGHT THERE.

YES, SIR.

THE COURT, ME, HAS ERRED.

52 IS NOT PART OF CONSENT.

AND SO THE CONSENT AGENDA ITEMS HAVE ALL BEEN APPROVED BY PRIOR VOTE.

SO I AM NOW GOING TO CALL UP, FOR PURPOSE OF THE RECORD, ITEM 52, WHICH IS A LATE FILE.

SO I'M ASKING THE COURT FOR PERMISSION TO CONSIDER ALL LATE FILES.

SO IF I COULD HAVE A MOTION TO CONSIDER LATE FILE ITEMS 50, 51, 52.

53, IS THERE A MOTION? WE'VE APPROVED TO HAVE ALL LATE-FILED ITEMS ON THE AGENDA.

SECOND.

MOTION BY COMMISSIONER CALVERT, SECOND BY COMMISSIONER CLAY FLORES.

ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, SIGNIFY SAYING AYE.

AYE.

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[52. 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 #52a. a. Discussion and appropriate action regarding: 1. Approval of the Indemnity Agreement between Bexar County and Indian Homes, LTD for the construction of the interchange ofIH-37 and State Loop 13 (SE Military Drive) as well as the associated Frontage Roads 11. Approval of Amendment Number One for the purpose of terminating the Advance Funding Agreement executed between TxDOT and Bexar County on November 13, 2015 111. Approval of a Voluntary Local Government Contributions Advance Funding Agreement for $2,175,000 between Bexar County and the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT)]

THE COURT WILL NOW CALL UP ITEM 52 AND HAVE DISCUSSION AND APPROPRIATE ACTION RELATED TO THE GRANTING EXCEPTION TO ADMINISTRATIVE POLICY 1.2 TO AUTHORIZE THE CONSIDERATION OF FOLLOWING LATE FILE AGENDA ITEM 52A. HAVING APPROVED THE LATE FILE, 52A, DISCUSSION AND APPROPRIATE ACTION REGARDING APPROVAL OF AN INDEMNITY AGREEMENT BETWEEN BEXAR COUNTY AND INDIAN HOMES FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE INTERCHANGE OF IH 37.

STATE LOOP 13 SOUTHEAST MILITARY DRIVE AS WELL AS ASSOCIATED FRONTAGE ROADS.

APPROVAL OF AMENDMENT NO.

1 FOR PURPOSE OF TERMINATING THE ADVANCE FUNDING AGREEMENT EXECUTED BETWEEN TXDOT AND BEXAR COUNTY ON NOVEMBER 13, 2015 AND APPROVAL OF A VOLUNTARY LOCAL GOVERNMENT CONTRIBUTIONS ADVANCE FUNDING AGREEMENT FOR $2,175,000 BETWEEN BEXAR COUNTY AND THE TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION.

DO WE NEED A PRESENTATION BY MR. WEGMAN FOR PURPOSE OF THE COURT? WE'VE ACTUALLY HAD MR. KILLEN DO THAT FOR US.

ALSO, TOO, THEN LET ME GO BACK TO THE CITIZENS OF THE EARTH, MR. KILLEN.

I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE ANYBODY IS HERE BECAUSE MIRANDA AGUILAR, ARE YOU HERE? MIRANDA, WHERE ARE YOU? MIRANDA AGUILAR? AND, JUDGE, IT WOULD BE, I THINK, VERY GOOD FOR THE PUBLIC TO GET DAVE WEGMAN'S PRESENTATION JUST BECAUSE IT'S SUCH AN IMPORTANT INFRASTRUCTURE.

INTERSECTION, IT HELPS EDUCATE THE COMMUNITY.

SO HOPEFULLY HE'S CLOSE.

SO NOTED.

BUT LET ME GO AHEAD AND GET THE CITIZENS TO BE HEARD.

DIEGO, ALDRETE, DEAL.

MR. RODRIGUEZ, WE HAVE THE PROCLAMATIONS.

PRISCILLA, SHELLEY, BUCHMAN, BUCHMAN, SHELLEY, BUCHMAN.

ROGER WILLIAMS. ROGER WILLIAMS. STEPHEN VICKERS.

STEPHEN VICKERS.

ALL RIGHT, MR. WEGMAN, WHERE ARE YOU? THE COURT HAS CALLED.

IS JEFF BRADLEY IN THE ROOM? JEFF, DID YOU SIGN UP? YOU DIDN'T PUT WHAT YOU SIGNED UP FOR.

WHICH ITEM? JEFF BRADLEY? NUMBER FIVE? OKAY, GOT IT.

OKAY.

ALL RIGHT.

MR. SMITH? OKAY.

YOU WANT TO TAKE MARK'S NOTES? ALL RIGHT.

WHO'S GOING TO PRESENT FOR HOW DO WE? ANYWAY.

HOLD ON, HOLD ON.

WE GOT A MOTION ON THE FLOOR.

START IT.

JUDGE, DAVID WEBMAN COULDN'T MAKE IT HERE TODAY, SO I'M REPRESENTING HIM.

THIS ITEM WAS ON CONSENT.

IT GOT PULLED.

UNFORTUNATELY, WE DON'T HAVE A PRESENTATION, BUT I BELIEVE THE GENTLEMAN OVER HERE ALREADY PRESENTED THE ITEM.

SO, DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? ALL RIGHT.

COMMISSIONER CALVERT, THIS IS IN YOUR PRESENCE.

DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR FURTHER COMMENT? NO, I'M APPRECIATIVE TO MOVE THIS INFRASTRUCTURE FORWARD TO IMPROVE THE INTERCHANGE AT 37 AND SOUTHEAST MILITARY.

IT'S A VERY CONGESTED AREA, AND THIS HELPS US WITH THAT CONGESTION.

IT'LL BE ANOTHER TRIANGLE, I BELIEVE, CONFIGURATION SIMILAR TO WHAT BLANCO ROAD IS DEVELOPING.

SO I'D LIKE TO MOVE APPROVAL OF THE INDEMNITY AGREEMENT BETWEEN BEXAR COUNTY AND INDIAN HOMES LTB FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE INTERCHANGE OF IH 37 AND SOUTHEAST MILITARY DRIVE, LOOP 13, AS WELL AS THE ASSOCIATED FRONTAGE ROADS.

SECOND.

MOTION BY COMMISSIONER CALVERT.

I TAKE IT WE'RE GOING TO TAKE IT IN SEPARATE MOTIONS.

WE'VE GOT THREE MOTIONS.

[00:15:01]

ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE.

ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, SECOND BY SAYING AYE.

AYE.

ANY OPPOSED? ANY ABSTENTION? COMMISSIONER CALVERT, SECOND MOTION.

YES, SIR.

APPROVAL OF AMENDMENT NO.

1 FOR THE PURPOSE OF TERMINATING THE ADVANCE FUNDING AGREEMENT EXECUTED BETWEEN TEXOT AND BEXAR COUNTY ON NOVEMBER 13, 2015.

MOTION BY COMMISSIONER CALVERT, SECOND BY COMMISSIONER RODRIGUEZ.

ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AN AYE.

AYE.

ANY OPPOSED, ANY ABSTENTION? MOTION CARRIES.

THIRD MOTION.

IT WILL BE TO MOVE TO APPROVE A VOLUNTARY LOCAL GOVERNMENT CONTRIBUTIONS ADVANCE FUNDING AGREEMENT FOR $2.175 MILLION BETWEEN BEXAR COUNTY AND THE TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION.

MOTION BY COMMISSIONER CALVERT, SECOND BY COMMISSIONER RODRIGUEZ.

ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, SECOND BY SAYING AYE.

AYE.

ANY OPPOSED, ANY ABSTENTION? MOTION CARRIES.

I BELIEVE THAT CONCLUDES.

MR. KILLEN, I'LL LET YOU HAVE THE CLOSING STATEMENT.

YEAH, THANK YOU SO MUCH, JUDGE, COMMISSIONERS, COMMISSIONER CALVERT, AND EVERYONE INVOLVED ON COUNTY STAFF AS WELL AS, AGAIN, OUR FRIENDS AT TXDOT.

THIS IS A CRITICALLY IMPORTANT PIECE OF INFRASTRUCTURE.

THE DIVERGING DIAMOND DESIGN WILL SIGNIFICANTLY REDUCE WAIT TIMES AT THAT INTERSECTION, 20, 40 MINUTES IN SOME CASES.

SO.

WE'RE VERY EXCITED TO HAVE IT HAPPEN AND LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING IT BUILT.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

AND, MR. KILLEN, I WOULD LIKE TO EXPRESS MY GRATITUDE TO THE BURKE FAMILY.

THEY'RE AN INTEGRAL PART OF THIS PROJECT.

SO, MR. BURKE, THANK YOU.

AND I'D LIKE TO JUST RECOGNIZE AND ASK THAT WE GIVE THE BURKE FAMILY A ROUND OF APPLAUSE.

AND IF YOU HAVE ANY CLOSING STATEMENTS.

THANK YOU SO MUCH, JUDGE.

I LOVE YOUR BREVITY, MR. BURKE.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

[4. CEREMONIAL ITEM(S}]

LET US GO BACK THEN.

TO CEREMONIAL AND GET THROUGH THAT.

AND I'M GOING TO ASK FOR BREVITY, PLEASE.

SO THAT FIRST ONE WILL BE PRESENTATION PROCLAMATION ON BEHALF OF COMMISSIONER'S COURT RECOGNIZING JEWISH AMERICAN HERITAGE MONTH BY COMMISSIONER MOODY AND COMMISSIONER RODRIGUEZ.

WE NEED YOUR SIGNATURES.

ALL RIGHT.

WELL, IT'S AN HONOR TO BE ABLE TO RECOGNIZE MAY AS JEWISH AMERICAN HERITAGE MONTH.

TO RECEIVE TODAY'S PROCLAMATION, WE HAVE THE JEWISH FEDERATION OF SAN ANTONIO WITH US TODAY.

I THINK I HAVE EVERYBODY.

AMANDA FITE, LESLIE METT, SARAH EDDINGTON, SARAH RAM, LISA GUERRERO, I DON'T SEE CRAIG, BUT I DO SEE NOAH, AND ARI LASKY.

SO THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE TO RECEIVE THIS.

THE PROCLAMATION READS, WHEREAS MAY 2026 IS RECOGNIZED AS JEWISH AMERICAN HERITAGE MONTH, HONORING THE CONTRIBUTIONS OF JEWISH AMERICANS TO THE UNITED STATES, TEXAS, AND BEXAR COUNTY, AND WHEREAS MAY WAS OFFICIALLY FIRST PROCLAIMED JEWISH AMERICAN HERITAGE MONTH BY PRESIDENT GEORGE W.

BUSH IN 2006, AND WHEREAS THE AMERICAN JEWISH COMMUNITY TRACES ITS ROOTS TO 1654, WHEN JEWISH REFUGEES ARRIVED TO ESCAPE RELIGIOUS PERSECUTION AND TO SEEK RELIGIOUS FREEDOM.

BEGINNING A LEGACY THAT HAS HELPED SHAPE OUR NATION.

AND WHEREAS THE JEWISH FAMILIES HAVE LIVED IN BEXAR COUNTY SINCE THE 1840S, WHEN EARLY SETTLERS HELPED BUILD SAN ANTONIO AND FOUNDED THE FIRST JEWISH CONGREGATION IN BEXAR COUNTY IN 1874.

AND WHEREAS THE JEWISH COMMUNITY OF BEXAR COUNTY HAS CONTRIBUTED SIGNIFICANTLY TO THE CULTURAL RICHNESS, ECONOMIC VITALITY, CHARITY, AND CIVIC LEADERSHIP OF THIS REGION, THEIR CONTRIBUTIONS AND LEGACY INCLUDE THE LIGHTHOUSE FOR THE BLIND, THE TUESDAY NIGHT MUSIC CLUB, THE SAN ANTONIO SYMPHONY, THE HOLOCAUST MEMORIAL MUSEUM OF SAN ANTONIO, THE JEWISH COMMUNITY RELATIONS COUNCIL, CHILD ADVOCATES SAN ANTONIO, AND JEWISH FAMILY SERVICES.

THE COMMUNITY'S DEDICATION TO CIVIC LIFE INCLUDES TAKING ON POSITIONS OF LEADERSHIP AND HELPING TO DISMANTLE SEGREGATION DURING THE CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT.

AND WHEREAS THE JEWISH AMERICAN HERITAGE MONTH PROVIDES AN OPPORTUNITY TO REFLECT ON THESE CONTRIBUTIONS, RECOGNIZING THE RESILIENCE AND ACHIEVEMENTS OF JEWISH AMERICANS, REAFFIRMS BEXAR COUNTY'S COMMITMENT TO COMBATING PREJUDICE, STANDING AGAINST ANTI-SEMITISM AND ALL FORMS OF HATE, AND PROMOTES UNITY AMONG OUR RESIDENTS OF THIS COUNTY.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED THAT THE BEXAR COUNTY COMMISSIONER'S COURT HEREBY DESIGNATES MAY 2026 AS JEWISH HERITAGE MONTH.

SIGNED, YOUR COMMISSIONER'S COURT.

IF YOU'D LIKE TO SAY A FEW WORDS, PLEASE.

THANK YOU.

IT'S AN HONOR.

THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER MOODY AND JUDGE SAKAI, COMMISSIONER RODRIGUEZ, COMMISSIONER CLAY FLORES, AND COMMISSIONER CALVERT.

WE'RE REALLY HONORED TODAY TO MARK THE BEGINNING OF JEWISH AMERICAN HERITAGE MONTH FOR THE MONTH OF MAY, AND WE'RE

[00:20:01]

COMMISSIONER CALVERT, I'M TEEING YOU UP.

YOU HAVE THE NEXT THREE.

THE FIRST ONE WILL BE THE ANIMAL DAY.

THE NEXT ONE WILL BE THE MASONIC LODGE, AND THE THIRD ONE WILL BE THE SECOND CHANCE MONTH.

SO WE'LL TAKE A PRESENTATION AND PROCLAMATION ON BEHALF OF THE BEXAR COUNTY COMMISSIONER'S COURT, RECOGNIZING APRIL 30TH AS NATIONAL THERAPY ANIMAL DAY AND THE WORK OF VOLUNTEERS CYNTHIA HAPPY BUTTLE, IT'S NOT BUTLER, IT'S BUTTLES, AND LINDA KAISER AND THEIR THERAPY ANIMALS SERVING THE BEXAR COUNTY COMMUNITY.

SO I'LL ASK FOR A CORRECTION.

OF THE AGENDA TO SAY BOTTLES, B-U-T-T-L-E-S.

ALL RIGHT, COMMISSIONER CAMERON.

THANK YOU SO MUCH, JUDGE, AND ALL THE TEAM THAT'S DOWN THERE.

WE HAVE THIS PROCLAMATION IN THE NAME AND BY THE AUTHORITY OF THE COMMISSIONER'S COURT OF BEXAR COUNTY, AND IT READS, WHEREAS THERAPY ANIMAL TEAMS SERVE COMMUNITIES ACROSS THE UNITED STATES, INCLUDING BEXAR COUNTY, AND WHEREAS PET PARTNERS HAS DESIGNATED APRIL 30TH AS NATIONAL THERAPY ANIMAL DAY, AND WHEREAS RESEARCH SHOWS THAT INTERACTION WITH THERAPY ANIMALS CAN REDUCE STRESS, IMPROVE MENTAL AND PHYSICAL HEALTH, AND STRENGTHEN THE HUMAN-ANIMAL BOND.

AND WHEREAS THERAPY ANIMAL TEAMS THROUGHOUT BEXAR COUNTY PLAY A VITAL ROLE IN ENHANCING HEALTH AND WELL-BEING BY FOSTERING THE HUMAN-ANIMAL BOND, SERVING A WIDE RANGE OF RESIDENTS INCLUDING VETERANS, SENIORS, HOSPITAL PATIENTS, STUDENTS, AND INDIVIDUALS FACING SERIOUS ILLNESS OR END-OF-LIFE CARE.

AND WHEREAS BEXAR COUNTY ENCOURAGES RESIDENTS TO CONSIDER VOLUNTEERING WITH ORGANIZATIONS SUCH AS PET PARTNERS TO EXPAND ACCESS TO THERAPY ANIMAL SERVICES ACROSS OUR COMMUNITY, NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT THE BEXAR COUNTY COMMISSIONER'S COURT HEREBY RECOGNIZES AND CELEBRATES, WE'VE GOT A TYPO HERE, APRIL 30, 2026 AS NATIONAL THERAPY ANIMAL DAY.

WITNESS OUR SIGNATURE IN THE SEAL OF OFFICE THIS 28TH DAY OF APRIL, 2026, SIGNED BY YOUR COMMISSIONER'S COURT.

HAPPY AND TEAM, HAPPY TO HEAR FROM YOU.

OR IS IT THE HONORABLE JUDGE BOYD? THANK YOU SO MUCH.

GOOD MORNING, JUDGE BOYD.

OH, GOOD MORNING.

IT IS AN HONOR TO BE HERE, AND I WANT TO THANK JUDGE SAKAI AND THANK THE COMMISSIONERS FOR DOING THIS.

I CAN TELL YOU THAT I'VE HAD THERAPY DOGS IN MY COURT TO HELP WITH YOUNG WITNESSES, BECAUSE WE HAVE THAT A LOT IN THE FELONY COURTS.

AND THEY DO JUST SUCH EXCELLENT WORK, AND SO I'M HONORED TO BE HERE JUST TO CELEBRATE THEM, BECAUSE TOO OFTEN WE OVERLOOK THE THERAPY DOGS AND DON'T REALIZE THAT THEY'RE ACTUALLY DOING WORK.

SO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR GIVING THEM THIS HONOR.

THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER CALVERT, AND THANK YOU, HAPPY AND PIPER.

AND I THINK COMMISSIONER ROTH, EXCUSE ME.

ME, THE HONORABLE JUDGE RON RONHILL, 379.

GOOD MORNING, JUDGE SAKAI.

GOOD MORNING, COMMISSIONER'S COURT.

I'VE LOST MY VOICE, AS WE ALL KNOW.

THERE WERE TWO PARADES THIS PAST WEEKEND, AND I YELLED PROBABLY A LITTLE MORE THAN I SHOULD HAVE.

ANYWAY, I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR HAVING US TODAY.

LET ME TELL YOU JUST A FEW MOMENTS ABOUT WHAT THERAPY DOGS CAN DO AND WHAT I'VE SEEN IN THE COURTROOM.

WE KNOW THAT THE COURTROOM IS A RIGID, STRUCTURED PLACE, WHICH DOESN'T FEEL VERY HUMAN.

BUT WHEN YOU CONSIDER EVERY ASPECT OF WHAT MAKES...

THE COURTROOM WHAT IT IS, IT'S A HUMAN ENDEAVOR.

BE IT JUDGE, JURY, WITNESSES, VICTIMS OF CRIME, DEFENDANTS, ANYBODY THAT COMES IN AS A HUMAN BEING WITH THEIR OWN EMOTIONS, THEIR OWN FEELINGS, THEIR OWN THOUGHTS ABOUT THINGS, AND YOU CAN FEEL THAT STRESS LEVEL REALLY COME UP.

THERAPY DOGS IN THE COURTROOM REALLY, REALLY LOWERS THAT.

IT BRINGS COMPASSION.

IT BRINGS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR FOLKS TO FEEL LIKE EVERYTHING IS OKAY BEING IN THAT PARTICULAR ENVIRONMENT.

AND SORT OF AS AN ASIDE, LATELY IN THE COURTROOM BECAUSE OF THE ADVENT OF TECHNOLOGY WE HAVE SEEN SOME REAL SERIOUS CRIMES TAKE PLACE BY WAY OF EXAMPLE.

THERE WAS A CASE WHERE A YOUNG MAN SHOT AT A COUPLE OF OTHER YOUNG FOLKS.

A POLICE OFFICER RUNS UP TO A

[00:25:02]

THAT WAS VERY STRESSFUL FOR THE WITNESSES, VERY STRESSFUL FOR THE JURORS.

I THINK THE THERAPY DOGS COMING IN REALLY HELPED TO ALLEVIATE THAT PARTICULAR STRESS, THAT PARTICULAR ANXIETY, AND ALLOWED FOLKS TO COME WITH A CONCLUSION THAT WAS APPROPRIATE.

THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU'RE DOING.

THEY ARE HERE TO STAY.

HAVE A GREAT REST OF THE DAY.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU.

WOULD Y'ALL PLEASE COME FORWARD FOR YOUR PROCLAMATION AND A PICTURE? THANK YOU, GUYS.

COMMISSIONER, PRESENTATION OF PROCLAMATION ON BEHALF OF BEXAR COUNTY COMMISSIONER'S COURT RECOGNIZING THE 150TH ANNIVERSARY OF SAN ANTONIO LODGE NO.

01, THE FIRST MASONIC LODGE OF AFRICAN AMERICANS IN THE STATE OF TEXAS.

GO, COMMISSIONER CLAY.

FLOORS.

YEAH, I'M READING IT FOR COMMISSIONER CALVERT.

IF YOU GUYS WANT TO COME FORWARD, PLEASE.

WE'RE AT SAN ANTONIO LODGE NO.

1 UNDER THE MOST WORSHIPABLE PRINCE HALL GRAND LODGE.

FREE AND ACCEPTED MASONS OF TEXAS AND JURISDICTIONS ORIGINATE FROM ESTABLISHMENTS IN 1873.

IT WAS ONE OF THE FIRST MASONIC LODGES OF BLACK MEN IN TEXAS.

LATER RECHARTERED AS SAN ANTONIO LODGE NO.

1 IN 1876.

AND WHEREAS SAN ANTONIO LODGE NO.

1 HAS PLAYED A SIGNIFICANT ROLE IN THE CIVIC, PROFESSIONAL, AND SPIRITUAL LIFE OF BEXAR COUNTY, COUNTING AMONG ITS MEMBERS RESPECTED LEADERS INCLUDING CLERGY, PHYSICIANS, CIVIL RIGHTS ADVOCATES, MILITARY VETERANS, AND PUBLIC SERVANTS.

AND WHEREAS, AS IT COMMEMORATES ITS ANNIVERSARY, SAN ANTONIO LODGE NO.

1 STANDS AS A LASTING TESTAMENT TO THE ENDURING LEGACY OF PRINCE HALL MASONRY AND ITS COMMITMENT TO SERVICE, EDUCATION, AND THE BETTERMENT OF MANKIND.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED THAT BEXAR COUNTY COMMISSIONER'S COURT THANK YOU.

HEREBY RECOGNIZES THE ANNIVERSARY OF SAN ANTONIO LODGE NUMBER ONE.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE.

FIRST, GIVE AN HONOR TO GOD, THE HONORABLE JUDGE SAKAI, COMMISSIONERS.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE RECOGNITION.

AS STATED IN THE PROCLAMATION, WE'RE 150-PLUS YEARS OLD.

AS BEING THE FIRST, THE BIRTHPLACE OF PRINCE HALL MASONRY IN TEXAS IS IMPORTANT TO US.

150 YEARS OF MAKING GOOD MEN BETTER.

AND NOT JUST THE MEN BEHIND ME BEING MASON, BUT WE'RE ALL U.S.

VETERANS AS WELL IN THE MILITARY, VARIOUS SERVICES.

I KNOW MY BROTHER MARINE.

THERE WAS OVER AT THE DOWNTOWN FOR THE CEREMONY FOR THE EIGHT ON THE ROOFTOP CEREMONY.

THAT'S WHEN I SAW YOU THERE, BUT THAT WAS GREAT.

BUT ONCE AGAIN, I WANT TO THANK YOU ALL.

WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO NOT JUST CELEBRATING 150 YEARS, BUT CELEBRATING ANOTHER 50 YEARS.

HOPEFULLY I'LL BE AROUND FOR THAT TIME.

I DON'T THINK SO.

BUT WE DO HAVE A NEW GENERATION OF MASONS THAT ARE JUST COMING UP WITH THIS RAISE.

OR HAD A CEREMONY FOR THREE JUST LAST WEEK.

SO WE'RE CONTINUING TO DO THE GREAT WORK, AND THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ALLOWING US TO BE HERE.

[00:30:48]

COMMISSIONER TINA, PRESENTATION ON PROCLAMATION ON BEHALF OF THE COMMISSIONER'S COURT, RECOGNIZED IN APRIL AS SECOND CHANCE MONTH, HIGHLIGHTING THE IMPORTANCE OF REENTRY AND RECOVERY SUPPORT SERVICES FOR INDIVIDUALS TRANSITIONING FROM INCARCERATION.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

AND I'LL JUST SAY, AS MASONS LEAVE, MY GRANDFATHER WAS A 32ND DEGREE MASON.

CONGRATULATIONS ONCE AGAIN.

WELL, JUDGE AND COMMISSIONERS, I WANT TO THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR SUPPORT OF OUR SECOND CHANCE JOB FAIR.

THIS YEAR WAS ONE OF THE MOST HEARTWARMING AND A REAL SIGN OF PROGRESS.

AS OUR TEAMS FROM THE REENTRY CENTER COME TO THE DAIS, WE HAD OVER 1,000 PEOPLE WHO PRE-REGISTERED AND CAME FOR JOBS.

AND MANY OF THOSE FOLKS WERE JUST AS INVOLVED.

WE HAD A RECORD NUMBER OF EMPLOYERS, I BELIEVE OVER 80 THIS YEAR.

AND THIS WAS ONE OF THE BEST AND I SAW RENEE WATSON IN THE SHOT TAKING A PICTURE A MOMENT AGO.

SHE WAS THE FIRST ORGANIZER FOR OUR OFFICE IN THE COUNTY AND I WANT TO THANK HER ALL THE WAY UP TO IDA AND HER GREAT TEAM AT THE REENTRY CENTER WHO HAVE HELPED TO REALLY CHANGE THE CULTURE IN BEXAR COUNTY OF OUR SECOND CHANCE COMMUNITY.

SO THIS PROCLAMATION READS, WHEREAS BEXAR COUNTY IS COMMITTED TO STRENGTHENING PUBLIC SAFETY AND COMMUNITY STABILITY BY SUPPORTING INDIVIDUALS RETURNING TO THEIR COMMUNITIES, FROM INCARCERATION WITH OPPORTUNITIES FOR EMPLOYMENT, RECOVERY, AND REINTEGRATION.

AND WHEREAS SECOND CHANCE MONTH IS OBSERVED EACH APRIL TO RAISE AWARENESS OF THE BARRIERS FACED BY JUSTICE-INVOLVED INDIVIDUALS AND TO PROMOTE POLICIES THAT SUPPORT SUCCESSFUL REENTRY.

AND WHEREAS THE BEXAR COUNTY REENTRY CENTER WORKS COLLABORATIVELY WITH LOCAL SYSTEMS AND COMMUNITY PARTNERS TO PROVIDE EVIDENCE-BASED REENTRY AND RECOVERY SUPPORT SERVICES THAT IMPROVE OUTCOMES, STRENGTHEN FAMILIES, FAMILIES AND ENHANCE PUBLIC SAFETY, AND WHEREAS THE DEDICATED EFFORTS OF COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS, SUCH AS UNITY RECOVERY, PROVIDE CRITICAL PEER-LED SUPPORT, WORKFORCE READINESS SERVICES, AND COMMUNITY-BASED PROGRAMS THAT REDUCE BARRIERS TO LONG-TERM STABILITY, AS REFLECTED IN THEIR ONGOING PARTICIPATION IN THE SECOND CHANCE JOB FAIR.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED THAT THE BEXAR COUNTY COMMISSIONER'S COURT DOES HEREBY PROCLAIM THE MONTH OF APRIL AS SECOND CHANCE MONTH.

WITNESS OUR SIGNATURES AND SEAL OF OFFICE THIS 28TH DAY OF APRIL 2026 SIGNED BY YOUR COMMISSIONER'S COURT.

WE'D LOVE TO HEAR FROM YOU ALL AT THE DAIS.

GOOD MORNING JUDGE SAKAI AND COMMISSIONERS.

THANK YOU FOR HAVING US HERE TODAY.

MY NAME IS AIDA NEGRON.

I SERVE AS THE BEXAR COUNTY REENTRY MANAGER AND I BELIEVE IN SECOND CHANCES AND THIRD CHANCES AND FOURTH CHANCES AND 20TH CHANCES BECAUSE ONE OF THOSE CHANCES MIGHT BE THE ONE WHERE A JUSTICE-INVOLVED PERSON DECIDES TO CHANGE THE TRAJECTORY OF THEIR LIVES.

WHY IS SECOND CHANCE MONTH IMPORTANT TO ME AND TO ALL OF US HERE? BECAUSE AS AT THE END OF 2023, 1.8 MILLION PEOPLE WERE INCARCERATED IN THE UNITED STATES.

THIS MAKES THE UNITED STATES THE COUNTRY WITH THE LARGEST NUMBER OF PRISONERS IN THE WORLD.

THE U.S.

HAS ROUGHLY 5% OF THE WORLD'S POPULATION AND HAS MORE THAN 25% OF THE WORLD'S PRISON POPULATION.

THE U.S.

INCARCERATES ITS CITIZENS MORE THAN CHINA, RUSSIA, AND NORTH KOREA.

IN 2021, STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS SPENT $135 BILLION ON POLICE, $87 BILLION ON CORRECTIONS, $52 BILLION ON COURTS, WHICH TOTALS $274 BILLION.

THAT'S A LOT OF MONEY, AND I THINK WE CAN USE THAT MONEY FOR MORE BENEFICIAL THINGS FOR OUR COMMUNITY.

THE ONE THING THAT EVERYBODY WHO IS IN JAIL AND PRISONS HAS IN COMMON IS THAT 95% OF THEM WILL RETURN TO THEIR COMMUNITIES.

WHY DOES THIS MATTER TO BEXAR COUNTY? BECAUSE APPROXIMATELY 77 TO 100 MILLION AMERICANS, ROUGHLY

[00:35:03]

ADDITIONALLY, THIS IS THE REASON WHY NEARLY 75% OF PEOPLE WHO WERE FORMERLY INCARCERATED REMAIN UNEMPLOYED A YEAR AFTER BEING RELEASED.

TO ADDRESS THE ISSUE IN BEXAR COUNTY, EVERY APRIL SINCE 2015, COMMISSIONER CALVERT HAS CHAMPIONED THE SECOND CHANCE JOB FAIR EVENT FOR RETURNING CITIZENS.

HIS TEAM AND THE REENTRY CENTER TEAM, STANDING HERE IN THE BLACK POLO SHIRTS, WORK DILIGENTLY TO PROVIDE AN ANNUAL JOB FAIR AT THE FREEMAN COLISEUM EXPO HALL IN HONOR OF NATIONAL SECOND CHANCE MONTH.

UH-OH, CAN'T TURN THE PAGE.

THIS IS THE PLACE WHERE PREPARATION MEETS OPPORTUNITY FOR JOB SEEKERS.

THIS YEAR, 717 JUSTICE-IMPACTED INDIVIDUALS WERE ABLE TO PROVIDE THEIR RESUMES TO 58 SECOND-CHANCE EMPLOYERS AND SPEAK TO THEM FACE-TO-FACE.

WE ARE SO GRATEFUL TO THOSE EMPLOYERS WHO ATTENDED OUR JOB FAIR.

WE CAN'T THANK YOU ENOUGH FOR BEING OPEN-MINDED AND GIVING SECOND CHANCES TO PEOPLE WHO HAVE COMPLETED THEIR SENTENCES AND WANT TO LIVE A CRIME-FREE LIFE.

YOU ARE MAKING IT POSSIBLE.

FOR THEM TO EARN A LIVABLE WAGE AND BECOME TAX-PAYING CITIZENS.

WE ARE ALSO BLESSED TO HAVE GREAT COMMUNITY-BASED ORGANIZATIONS THAT ARE WILLING TO ASSIST JOB SEEKERS WITH RESOURCES AT THE JOB FAIR.

THANK YOU ALWAYS FOR BEING SUPPORTIVE AND FILLING THE GAPS.

TO ALL THE PEOPLE IN BEXAR COUNTY WHO ARE STRUGGLING WITH BARRIERS AFTER INCARCERATION, PLEASE CALL US OR STOP BY OUR OFFICE.

WE WANT TO ASSIST YOU IN YOUR JOURNEY TO CHANGE YOUR LIFE.

NYJAH BROUGHT SOME PACKETS.

SHE'S OUR EMPLOYER SPECIALIST.

AND WE WANT TO SHARE THAT WITH YOU.

I ALSO WANT TO THANK ALL OF YOU FOR RECOGNIZING APRIL AS SECOND CHANCE MONTH.

AND COMMISSIONER CALVERT HAS BEEN A CHAMPION, LIKE I SAID, AND WONDERFUL AT GETTING THE WORD OUT ABOUT OUR EVENT.

AND I KINDLY REQUEST THAT YOU SHARE THE PACKET WITH EMPLOYERS IN YOUR PRECINCTS SO THAT WAY NEXT YEAR IN 2027 WE HAVE 100 EMPLOYERS AT OUR JOB FAIR.

BUT LASTLY, BEFORE I FINISH, OR I WOULD LIKE TO LET NISHA SAY A FEW WORDS, IF THAT'S OKAY WITH EVERYBODY.

I WANTED TO CALL UP SUSIE MALONE.

SHE IS PROBABLY THE ONLY PERSON THAT I KNOW OF BESIDES COMMISSIONER CALVERT, WHO HAS BEEN AT ALL THE SECOND CHANCE JOB FAIRS SINCE 2015.

AND THIS THURSDAY, COME ON, THIS THURSDAY, SHE IS RETIRING FROM THE COUNTY AFTER 15 YEARS OF SERVICE AT THE JAIL AND AT THE REENTRY CENTER.

PLEASE HELP ME GIVE HER A ROUND OF APPLAUSE FOR HER HARD WORK AND HELPING INCARCERATED AS WELL AS RETURNING CITIZENS OVER THE PAST 15 YEARS.

I WOULD APPRECIATE IT.

YES.

ALL RIGHT.

MS. MALONE? YEAH, SHE'S GOING TO, THIS IS A PACKET THAT WILL HELP EMPLOYERS UNDERSTAND.

THE IMPORTANCE OF HIRING THE FORMERLY INCARCERATED, AS WELL AS GIVING THEM INFORMATION ABOUT HOW TO FIND THE INCENTIVES.

SHRM, WHICH IS A NATIONAL ORGANIZATION THAT PROVIDES HR MANAGERS WITH INFORMATION ON HOW TO CHANGE POLICIES AT YOUR WORKPLACE THAT WILL ALLOW AN INDIVIDUAL TO WORK THERE AND JUST NOT CUT THEM OFF BECAUSE THEY HAVE A BACKGROUND.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

HELLO EVERYONE, MY NAME IS NYJAH BAR-ANTIS.

LIKE AIDA HAD SAID, I SERVE AS THE CAREER AND TECHNICAL EDUCATION SPECIALIST FOR THE BEXAR COUNTY REENTRY CENTER.

THIS PROCLAMATION IS IMPORTANT BECAUSE IT REFLECTS WHAT WE DO AND WHAT WE SEE EVERY DAY IN OUR OFFICE.

WE SIT WITH PEOPLE WHO ARE READY TO GROW, CONTRIBUTE, AND WORK.

THEY JUST NEED THAT OPPORTUNITY, RIGHT? RIGHT NOW THERE'S A BIG GAP BETWEEN THOSE READY TO WORK AND THOSE WILLING TO GIVE THE SECOND CHANCE.

WE'RE WORKING REALLY CLOSE TO EDUCATE EMPLOYERS ON THE INCENTIVES AND BENEFITS AROUND SECOND CHANCE HIRING, RIGHT? WE HAVE THIS BIG TALENT POOL THAT'S UNTAPPED INTO OF PEOPLE WHO HAVE CERTIFICATIONS AND TRAININGS AND ARE READY TO CONTRIBUTE IN A MEANINGFUL WAY.

THIS WORK IS ABOUT CREATING SPACES WHERE PEOPLE ARE NOT DEFINED BY THEIR PAST, BUT RECOGNIZED FOR THEIR POTENTIAL, AND WHERE EMPLOYERS CHOOSE TO LEAD WITH OPPORTUNITY.

OUR CALL TO ACTION IS VERY SIMPLE, TO PARTNER WITH US, OPEN YOUR DOORS, AND HAVE EMPLOYERS BE A PART OF A STRONGER, MORE INCLUSIVE WORKFORCE.

WHEN WE INVEST IN SECOND CHANCES, WE STRENGTHEN FAMILIES ALL AROUND BEXAR COUNTY.

SO THANK YOU ALL FOR HAVING US HERE TODAY.

I'M SORRY, I BELIEVE THE UNITY PEOPLE ARE HERE AS WELL.

[00:40:29]

MR. CALVERT, FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP ON THE REENTRY PROGRAM.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT.

ALL RIGHT.

THE NEXT ONE WILL BE PRESENTATION AND PROCLAMATION ON BEHALF OF THE COMMISSION COURT, RECOGNIZING MAY 4TH THROUGH THE 8TH, 2026, AS BEXAR COUNTY SMALL BUSINESS WEEK, AND HIGHLIGHTED IN PARTNERSHIP AND EFFORT TO THE U.S.

SMALL BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION, SBA, SAN ANTONIO DISTRICT OFFICE.

TEXAS SOUTHWEST SBDC NETWORK, UTSA SBDC, AND BEXAR COUNTY SMALL BUSINESS AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP DEPARTMENT.

MS. RENEE WATSON, I WILL READ THE PROCLAMATION.

WHEREAS, SMALL BUSINESSES ARE THE ENGINE OF THE AMERICAN ECONOMY AND THE FOUNDATION OF A FREE AND PROSPEROUS NATION BUILT BY PEOPLE OF ALL BACKGROUNDS WHO WORK HARD, TAKE RISKS, AND BELIEVE IN THE POWER OF THE AMERICAN DREAM.

AND WHEREAS IN OUR FIELDS, ON OUR FACTORY FLOORS, OR AT THE FRONTIERS, OF TECHNOLOGY, SMALL BUSINESSES ARE DRIVING THE INNOVATION AND BUILDING THE PRODUCTS THAT KEEP AMERICA STRONG, COMPETITIVE, AND SECURE, WHEREAS THIS COUNTRY'S 30 MILLION SMALL BUSINESSES CREATE NEARLY TWO OUT OF THREE NET NEW JOBS IN OUR ECONOMY.

WE CANNOT RESOLVE TO CREATE JOBS AND SPUR ECONOMIC GROWTH IN AMERICA WITHOUT DISCUSSING WAYS TO SUPPORT OUR ENTREPRENEURS, AND WHEREAS THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES HAS PROCLAIMED NATIONAL SMALL BUSINESS WEEK EVERY YEAR SINCE 1963.

TO HIGHLIGHT THE PROGRAMS AND SERVICES AVAILABLE TO ENTREPRENEURSHIPS THROUGH THE U.S.

SMALL BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION, SBA, BEXAR COUNTY SMALL BUSINESS AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP DEPARTMENT, AND OTHER GOVERNMENT AGENCIES, AND WHEREAS THE SBA RECOGNIZES SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS' SUCCESSES AND CONTRIBUTIONS TO OUR NATION, IN CELEBRATION OF THE WINNERS, THE SAN ANTONIO SMALL BUSINESS AWARDS LUNCHEON, CO-HOSTED BY TEXAS SOUTHWEST SBDC NETWORK, WILL BE HELD ON MAY 7, 2026.

AT THE NORSE CONFERENCE CENTER.

NOW, THEREFORE, IT BE RESOLVED THAT THE BEXAR COUNTY COMMISSION'S COURT HEREBY PROCLAIMS MAY 4TH THROUGH MAY 8TH, 2026, AS BEXAR COUNTY SMALL BUSINESS WEEK, SIGNED BY THE MEMBERS OF THE COURT.

LET'S GIVE THEM A ROUND OF APPLAUSE, TOO.

GOOD MORNING.

GOOD MORNING, AND THANK YOU.

RENEE WATSON AND I SERVE AS THE DIRECTOR OF THE SMALL BUSINESS AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP DEPARTMENT AT BEXAR COUNTY.

TODAY IS GAME DAY, WHICH IMPACTS...

A LOT OF SMALL BUSINESSES IN OUR COMMUNITY.

SO WE'RE GOING TO START OFF BY SAYING, GO SPURS, GO WRAP IT UP TONIGHT SO WE CAN CONTINUE TO HAVE MORE ACTIVITY AS WE LOOK FORWARD.

THE SPURS ARE OUR PARTNERS IN OUR CELEBRATION, AND TODAY WE HAVE AND WE RECOGNIZE IN OUR PARTNERSHIP WITH THE U.S.

SMALL BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION AS WELL AS THE UT SAN ANTONIO SMALL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT CENTER.

SEVERAL OF THEIR REPRESENTATIVES ARE HERE, AND WE WILL HAVE REMARKS FROM OUR SBA DEPUTY DISTRICT...

DIRECTOR, INESSA, AND SHE WILL GIVE YOU SOME REMARKS ON BEHALF OF THE SBA.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU, RENE.

GOOD MORNING, COMMISSIONERS, PARTNERS, AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS.

MY NAME IS INESSA STEPANENKO.

I'M A DEPUTY DISTRICT DIRECTOR WITH THE SAN ANTONIO DISTRICT OFFICE OF U.S. SMALL BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION.

AS YOU SAID, JUDGE SAKAI, WE'VE BEEN AROUND SINCE 1953.

ALMOST 80 YEARS OF CELEBRATING NATIONAL SMALL BUSINESS WEEK, AND WE'RE HERE TODAY, AND IT IS OUR PRIVILEGE TO JOIN YOU CELEBRATING.

NATIONAL SMALL BUSINESS WEEK AND THE PROCLAMATION RECOGNIZING MAY 4TH THROUGH 8TH, 2026 AS BEXAR COUNTY SMALL BUSINESS WEEK.

IN A CITY THAT HAS JUST COME OF THE ENERGY AND TRADITIONAL FIESTA, IT IS FITTING THAT WE CARRY THAT SPIRIT FORWARD BY RECOGNIZING AND CELEBRATING SMALL BUSINESSES AND ENTREPRENEURS WHO POWER OUR LOCAL ECONOMY.

AS WELL AS ALL THE PARTNERS, COMMUNITY COLLABORATORS, SMALL BUSINESS CHAMPIONS ACROSS BEXAR COUNTY WHO CHAMPION THEIR SUCCESS.

THIS RECOGNITION REFLECTS THE IMPACT AND RESILIENCE OF OUR SMALL BUSINESS COMMUNITY.

THE SBA IS PROUD OF THE STRONG PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN OUR OFFICE, THE TEXAS SOUTHWEST SBDC NETWORK, UTSBDC AND OF COURSE BEXAR COUNTY SMALL BUSINESS AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP DEPARTMENT ALONG WITH MANY OTHER CITY AND COUNTY PARTNERS.

TOGETHER WE'RE EXPANDING ACCESS TO CAPITAL, TECHNICAL OPPORTUNITIES AND ASSISTANCE TO FEDERAL CONTRACTING.

[00:45:03]

TO ENSURE THAT SMALL BUSINESSES NOT ONLY ENDURE BUT GROW AND THRIVE.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP, JUDGE SAKAI, COMMISSIONERS, IN RECOGNIZING OUR SMALL BUSINESS COMMUNITY.

WE LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUING THIS IMPORTANT WORK TOGETHER.

VIVA NATIONAL SMALL BUSINESS WEEK, BEXAR COUNTY.

I'M GOING TO DO THE PROCLAMATION, PRESENTATION PROCLAMATION ON BEHALF OF THE COMMISSION OF THE COURT RECOGNIZING AND CELEBRATING THE GREATER SAN ANTONIO CHAPTER OF THE AMERICAN RED CROSS.

RED CROSS, PLEASE STEP FORWARD AS I READ THE PROCLAMATION.

WHEREAS CLAIRE BARTON FOUNDED AMERICAN RED CROSS MORE THAN 140 YEARS AGO SINCE THE FOUNDATION, GENERATION AFTER GENERATION OF VOLUNTEERS HAS STEPPED UP TO DELIVER RELIEF AND CARE ACROSS OUR COUNTRY AND AROUND THE WORLD BRINGING OUT THE BEST OF HUMANITY IN TIMES OF CRISIS.

AND THE GREATER SAN ANTONIO CHAPTER OF THE AMERICAN RED CROSS WAS FIRST CHARTED ON FEBRUARY 11, 1916, SPROUTING AN OPPORTUNITY FOR GREATER SAN ANTONIO VOLUNTEERS AND SUPPORTERS TO ADVANCE THE NOBLE MISSION OF PREVENTING AND ALLEVIATING HUMAN SUFFERING IN THE FACE OF TODAY'S HARDSHIPS AND EMERGENCIES.

AND WHEREAS IN THIS YEAR ALONE, THE GREATER SAN ANTONIO CHAPTER RESPONDED TO THE 400 DISASTER EVENTS ASSISTING 01,700...

IMPACTED RESIDENTS OF BEXAR COUNTY.

THE CHAPTER ALSO INSTALLED 01,500 SMOKE ALARMS IN 430 AREA HOMES AND AN INITIATIVE THAT SAVED OVER 30 LIVES AND MADE 01,200 PEOPLE SAFER, INCLUDING 70 INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE DEAF OR HARD-OF-HEARING, 90 VETERANS, 220 YOUTH, 160 INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES AND 400 SENIORS.

AND WHEREAS THIS APRIL WE CELEBRATE THE GREATER SAN ANTONIO CHAPTER OF THE AMERICAN RED CROSS BY RECOGNIZING THE COMPASSIONATE ACTS OF THE VOLUNTEERS, PARTNERS, AND DONORS OF THE CHAPTER RENEWING OUR COMMITMENT TO LEND A HELPING HAND TO NEIGHBORS IN THEIR GREATEST TIMES OF NEED.

NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT THE BEXAR COUNTY COMMISSIONERS HEREBY RECOGNIZE AND CELEBRATE THE GREATER SAN ANTONIO CHAPTER OF THE AMERICAN RED CROSS AND ENCOURAGE ALL RESIDENTS TO REACH OUT AND LEND THEIR SUPPORT TO THE AMERICAN RED CROSS.

IN CARRYING OUT ITS VITAL HUMANITARIAN MISSION SIGNED BY MEMBERS OF THE COURT.

WELL, LET'S GIVE THEM A ROUND OF APPLAUSE.

ALL RIGHT, THAT CONCLUDES CEREMONY.

I, COURT, I WOULD LIKE TO TAKE UP, BEFORE WE GO TO TIME CERTAIN, AGENDA ITEM NUMBER 50, NUMBER 5050. WE HAVE OBVIOUSLY APPROVED BY LATE FILE.

WE WILL NOW TAKE UP 50A, DISCUSSION AND APPROPRIATE ACTION REGARDING APPROVAL AND EXTENSION TO THE 2023 AGREEMENT.

BETWEEN BEXAR COUNTY AND THE LAW FIRM OF LEINBERGER, GOGAN, BLAIR, AND SAMPSON, LLP, AND APPRAISAL COLLECTION TECHNOLOGIES, A COMPANY WHOLLY OWNED BY THE LAW FIRM FOR A 60-DAY PERIOD BEGINNING MAY 9, 2026, TO PROVIDE DELINQUENT TAX COLLECTIONS AND SOFTWARE LICENSE, HARDWARE PURCHASE, AND MAINTENANCE.

MR. URESTI.

JUDGE, COMMISSIONERS, THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING US TO BE HERE TODAY.

IN MARCH OF THIS YEAR, WE, UPON THE ADVICE OF THE PURCHASING DEPARTMENT, AN RFQ WAS ISSUED FOR PROFESSIONAL SERVICES FOR DELINQUENT COLLECTIONS AND TAX COLLECTION SOFTWARE.

LEINBARGER, GOGGIN, BLAIR, AND SAMPSON LLC WAS THE SOLE RESPONDENT.

WE CURRENTLY HAVE A CONTRACT WITH LEINBARGER THAT WILL EXPIRE ON MAY 9, 2026.

WE ARE WORKING TO FINALIZE...

OUR NEW CONTRACT ALONG WITH THE PURCHASING DEPARTMENT SO THAT WE CAN NOT THE PROBLEM IS THEY CANNOT HAVE A GAP IN THE IN OR LAPSE IN OUR CONTRACTS WITH THEM SO WE ARE ASKING TODAY FOR THIS EXTENSION OF THE CURRENT TERM

[00:50:01]

AGREED.

YOUR HONOR, COMMISSIONERS, GOOD MORNING.

GREG GALLOWAY, BEXAR COUNTY PURCHASING AGENT.

JUST AS AL JUST STATED, WE ARE WORKING THROUGH THE EXTENSION, REQUESTING AN EXTENSION, SO THAT WE CAN FINALIZE THE NEW AGREEMENT WITH LANDBARGER.

IF YOU HAVE ANY SPECIFIC QUESTIONS, WE'D BE GLAD TO ADDRESS THOSE FOR YOU.

MOVE APPROVAL OF THE EXTENSION.

COMMISSIONER CALVERT? I WAS JUST MOVING APPROVAL OF THE EXTENSION.

I'M SORRY.

MOTION BY COMMISSIONER CALVERT? SECOND.

SECOND BY COMMISSIONER RODRIGUEZ.

ANY FURTHER DISCUSSIONS? HEARING NONE, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF THE MOTION, SIGNAL BY SAYING AYE.

AYE.

ANY OPPOSED? ANY ABSTENTIONS? MOTION CARRIES.

MR. CLIFF DOUGLAS, LET ME THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICES AND THE PROFESSIONAL SERVICES THAT YOU PROVIDE THE COUNTY.

IF YOU HAVE ANY WORDS, I WILL YIELD THE FLOOR TO YOU.

OTHERWISE, WE'RE MOVING ON TO OUR NEXT AGENDA ITEM.

JUDGE AND COMMISSIONERS, THANK YOU VERY, VERY MUCH.

I'M CLIFF DOUGLAS.

I HAVE BEEN WITH THE LAW FIRM.

OH MY GOSH, SINCE 1987, AND WE'VE HAD THE PRIVILEGE TO REPRESENT BEXAR COUNTY TO COLLECT ITS DELINQUENT PROPERTY TAXES FOR THE PAST 46 YEARS, I THINK, AND WE WANT TO CONTINUE THAT, AND IT'S AN HONOR AND A PRIVILEGE FOR US TO DO SO, SO WE THANK YOU.

THIS IS, AS MR. URESTI SAID, THIS IS A 60-DAY EXTENSION TO ALLOW US TO JUST FINALIZE THE TERMS OF THE AGREEMENT, SO THANK YOU VERY, VERY MUCH.

WE APPRECIATE IT VERY MUCH.

THANK YOU.

ALL RIGHT.

[5. a. 10:00 a.m. - Presentation and discussion regarding jail diversion programs and strategies. ]

PRESENTATION, DISCUSSION, JAIL DIVERSION PROGRAM AND STRATEGIES.

THOMAS GUEVARA, YOU HAVE THE FLOOR.

FOR PURPOSES FOR THE PUBLIC, WE'VE ESTIMATED THAT THIS MAY TAKE AN HOUR AND A HALF.

AND I APOLOGIZE, BUT WE HAVE THIS FOR TIME CERTAIN.

WE NEED TO TAKE THIS UP.

AND I BELIEVE WE HAVE A PRESENTATION TO BE MADE AND PERHAPS WE HAVE PEOPLE, I DO BELIEVE WE HAVE CITIZENS TO BE HEARD.

I WILL CALL YOU UP AFTER THE PRESENTATION.

BUT MR. GUEVARA, I YIELD THE FLOOR TO YOU FOR THE PRESENTATION ON THE ISSUES REGARDING JAIL DIVERSION PROGRAMS AND STRATEGIES OF BEXAR COUNTY.

THANK YOU, JUDGE, COMMISSIONERS, FOR THE RECORD, THOMAS GUEVARA, OFFICE OF THE COUNTY MANAGER.

I'M JOINED TODAY BY LETICIA MORENO, OUR DEPUTY DIRECTOR FOR THE OFFICE OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE.

AS WELL AS ANTONIO SALAZAR-ROSAS, OUR PRE-TRIAL SERVICES MANAGER.

I'M ALSO JOINED BY DR.

ANDREA GUERRERO, OUR DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC HEALTH, AS WELL AS MANY OF YOUR PARTNERS HERE.

AT THE REQUEST OF COMMISSIONER'S COURT, STAFF WAS TASKED TO BRING BACK A DISCUSSION ITEM ON VARIOUS PUBLIC SAFETY STRATEGIES TO REDUCE JAIL POPULATION.

COMMUNITY DISCUSSION ON JAIL POPULATION AND THE ISSUE OF DIVERSION HAS BEEN AMPLIFIED IN RECENT MONTHS.

THOSE CONVERSATIONS CONTINUE TO HIGHLIGHT THAT OUR COUNTY JAIL SERVES AS THE LARGEST DE FACTO MENTAL HEALTH HOSPITAL FOR MENTAL ILLNESS.

AS OF MONDAY, YESTERDAY, APRIL 27TH, THE JAIL TRACK REPORT INDICATED THE CUSTODIAL JAIL POPULATION AT 4,685 COMPARED TO 4,975 THE SAME DAY LAST YEAR.

SO AS PART OF OUR AGENDA TODAY, STAFF WILL COVER THE FOLLOWING AREAS.

FIRST, WE WILL COVER TWO CONCEPTS THAT TEND TO BE USED SYNONYMOUSLY, BUT HAVE DISTINCT CHARACTERISTICS, DEFLECTION AND DIVERSION.

WE WILL THEN PROVIDE AN OVERVIEW AND A SNAPSHOT.

OF BOTH THE OFFICE OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE AND THE PUBLIC HEALTH DEPARTMENT'S ACTIVITIES IN BOTH DEFLECTION AND DIVERSION.

THE PRESENTATION WILL INCLUDE A PROGRESS REPORT ON IMPLEMENTED RECOMMENDATIONS FROM TWO PREVIOUSLY FUNDED COMMISSIONER'S COURT STUDIES ON OUR CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM, AND WE WILL CONCLUDE WITH THE AVAILABILITY FOR COMMENTS AND SHARE OTHER COMMUNITY EFFORTS AIMED AT REDUCING JAIL POPULATION.

SO AS I MENTIONED EARLIER, COURT, THE USE OF DEFLECTION AND DIVERSIONS ARE SOMETIMES USED INTERCHANGEABLY, BUT FOR THE PURPOSES OF THIS PRESENTATION AND USING THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF PRETRIAL SERVICES DEFINITION, WE WANT TO ENSURE THAT WE'RE PROVIDING DISTINCT TERMINOLOGY AND DEFINITIONS FOR BOTH TERMS. SO WE'RE GOING TO MAKE THIS VERY SIMPLE.

DEFLECTION PROGRAMS WILL BE THOSE EFFORTS WHERE THAT OCCURS BEFORE AN INDIVIDUAL IS ARRESTED.

AND DIVERSION PROGRAMS ARE THOSE AFTER AN ARREST OCCURS, BUT PRIOR TO CONVICTION.

BUT I WANT TO BE CLEAR THAT BOTH CONCEPTS AIM TO ADDRESS UNDERLYING ISSUES THAT OFFER TREATMENT INSTEAD OF INCARCERATION.

[00:55:01]

GOING BACK TO THE MID-90S WITH THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE ADULT DRUG SPECIALTY COURT, WE'VE BEEN RECOGNIZED AS A LEADER IN THOSE AREAS.

SO I'D LIKE TO REMIND WE'VE BEEN DOING THIS FOR YEARS.

AND, IN FACT, THOSE SPECIALTY COURTS HAVE EXPANDED.

I BELIEVE WE HAVE 12 NOW IN A VARIETY OF SPECIALTY AREAS.

SO DEFLECTION.

THE NEXT FEW SLIDES WILL COVER THE CONCEPT OF DEFLECTION IN THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE REALM.

THE EMERGENCE OF DEFLECTION PROGRAMS RECOGNIZES THAT JUSTICE-INVOLVED INDIVIDUALS COULD BE HELPED BEFORE AN ARREST OCCURS.

DEFLECTION MAY ALLOW FOR A LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER TO DROP OFF AN INDIVIDUAL AT A TREATMENT CENTER IN LIEU OF AN ARREST.

CHARGES ARE EITHER SUSPENDED OR NEVER FILED BY THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE, AND NO ARREST RECORD IS CREATED.

ELIGIBILITY FOR WHICH CHARGES TO PURSUE IS AT THE DISCRETION OF THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE, A VERY KEY POINT.

EXAMPLES OF ELIGIBLE CHARGES INCLUDE THEFT CHARGES UNDER $750, POSSESSION OF MARIJUANA.

LESS THAN FOUR OUNCES AND CRIMINAL JUSTICE AND MENTAL HEALTH HISTORIES ARE FACTORS TAKEN INTO CONSIDERATION WHETHER AN INDIVIDUAL IS DETERMINED ELIGIBLE FOR DEFLECTION.

A DEFLECTION LOCATION IS WHERE TREATMENT BEGINS IMMEDIATELY AND AN EXAMPLE OF THAT IS THE PUBLIC SOBERING UNIT OPERATED BY CHCS.

ANOTHER KEY CRIMINAL DEFLECTION PROGRAM EMPLOYED HERE IN BEXAR COUNTY IS CITE AND RELEASE.

AND IT'S USED BY LAW ENFORCEMENT TO ISSUE CITATIONS INSTEAD OF TAKING SOMEONE INTO CUSTODY FOR CERTAIN LOW-LEVEL OFFENSES.

CITE AND RELEASE IS USED IN CASES FOR NON-VIOLENT MISDEMEANORS, SUCH AS MINOR THEFT, TRESPASSING, LOW-LEVEL DRUG POSSESSION, AND TRAFFIC VIOLATIONS.

BENEFITS INCLUDE PREVENTING LOW-LEVEL OFFENDERS FROM BEING BOOKED UNNECESSARILY INTO OUR ADC, AND INCREASES EFFICIENCIES IN BOTH TIME AND RESOURCES FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT.

SOME OF OUR PARTICIPATING AGENCIES ARE LISTED BELOW, INCLUDING SAPD, OUR SHERIFF'S OFFICE, AND A VARIETY OF OUR SUBURBAN CITIES.

THE NEXT COUPLE OF SLIDES WILL COVER THE CONCEPT OF DIVERSION AND CURRENT PROGRAMS OPERATED BY OR IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE OFFICE OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE.

AGAIN, THE ELIGIBILITY IS AT THE DISCRETION OF THE DA'S OFFICE FOR WHAT CHARGES TO PURSUE.

AGAIN, CRIMINAL JUSTICE AND MENTAL HEALTH HISTORY ARE IMPORTANT FACTORS.

AND WHEN AN INDIVIDUAL IS NOT ELIGIBLE FOR DIVERSION, THAT CAN OCCUR WHEN A PR BOND IS DENIED BY THE JUDGE, A CASE IS DISMISSED PRIOR TO US FINISHING OUR REFERRAL PROCESS, OR IF THE DEFENDANT HIMSELF OR HERSELF DENIED THE PR BOND OR DIVERSION PROGRAM DIRECTLY.

SO THE OFFICE OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE PARTICIPATES AND OVERSEES A VARIETY OF DIVERSION PROGRAMS, INCLUDING GPS FOR PRETRIAL DEFENDANTS AND SPECIALTY COURTS, AS I PREVIOUSLY DISCUSSED.

EARLIER TODAY, COMMISSIONER'S COURT, ON YOUR CONSENT AGENDA, APPROVED A MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING WITH THE CENTER FOR HEALTHCARE SERVICES FOR JAIL-BASED COMPETENCY RESTORATION, TARGETING 80 INDIVIDUALS IN AN EFFORT TO INCREASE ACCESS TO RESTORATION SERVICES AND REDUCING THE INPATIENT PSYCHIATRIC BED WAIT LIST.

AND JILLIAN JAMESON AND HER TEAM ARE HERE WITH US AND AVAILABLE FOR QUESTIONS.

I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO TAKE A LITTLE POINT OF RECOGNITION OF OUR STAFF.

OBVIOUSLY, Y'ALL FUND...

A VARIETY OF THESE PROGRAMS THROUGH YOUR ANNUAL BUDGET, BUT WE'RE ALWAYS CONSTANTLY LOOKING FOR PARTNERSHIPS AND OPPORTUNITIES TO REDUCE JAIL EFFORTS.

SO I'D LIKE TO BRING ANTONIO UP HERE TO TALK ABOUT THE COUNTY COURT AT LAW 2 PILOT PROGRAM WITH THE NONPROFIT CONTINUUM.

AGAIN, THAT IS FOR OUTPATIENT SERVICES, AND I'D ASK ANTONIO TO COME UP AND JUST KIND OF HIGHLIGHT WHAT WE'RE DOING THERE.

GOOD MORNING, JUDGE AND COMMISSIONERS.

I'VE BEEN ASKED TO...

SPAN A LITTLE BIT ON THE COUNTY COURT II PILOT PROGRAM WITH CONTINUUM.

AS THOMAS HIGHLIGHTED, THIS IS ONE OF THE PROGRAMS WHERE THE TREATMENT SERVICES, REALLY IT'S A PARTNERSHIP WITHIN PROVIDERS IN THE COMMUNITY.

AND I WANT TO GIVE YOU SOME NUMBERS ON THAT PROGRAM, RIGHT, AND A LITTLE BIT OF INFORMATION ON THAT PROGRAM.

SO JUDGE SINES, THE PRESIDING JUDGE FOR COUNTY COURT II, HAD REACHED OUT TO ME IN 2025 WHILE I WAS THE JAIL POPULATION IMPACT CONTROL UNIT MANAGER.

AND SHE WAS ASKING ME AS FAR AS, WHAT SERVICES DO WE HAVE FOR INDIVIDUALS THAT ARE GETTING RELEASED INTO THE COMMUNITY FOR ADDRESSING SUBSTANCE USE, MENTAL HEALTH, HOMELESSNESS.

ONE OF THE THINGS THAT BECAME APPARENT IS THAT WE HAVE, OBVIOUSLY, THOSE ARE THE THREE MAJOR ISSUES WHEN WE LOOK

[01:00:02]

SO WE STARTED WORKING ON THE POTENTIAL OF ADDRESSING AND IDENTIFYING INDIVIDUALS WITH SUBSTANCE USE DISORDERS THAT WERE BEING RELEASED INTO THE COMMUNITY.

SO IN AUGUST 2024, WE STARTED THIS PILOT PROGRAM, AND I WILL SAY AT THE BEGINNING, IT WAS SUPPORTED THROUGH THE GEL DIVERSIONARY PROCESS AND PROGRAMS THAT WE HAVE THROUGH OCJ.

AND LIFETIME RECOVERY WAS OUR PRIME PARTNER FOR THE OUTPATIENT SERVICES.

AND THE REASON I WANT TO HIGHLIGHT OUTPATIENT SERVICES IS WE IDENTIFIED THAT INDIVIDUALS RELEASING TO THE COMMUNITY, ESPECIALLY WITH A CHARGE FROM COUNTY COURT NUMBER 2, ARE MISDEMEANOR CASES.

A LOT OF THESE INDIVIDUALS WE WANTED TO, ONE, ENSURE THAT SUBSTANCE USE DISORDER WAS AN ISSUE FOR THEM, AND TWO, WE WANTED TO ADDRESS IT IN AN APPROPRIATE WAY, RIGHT? AND THAT WAS DONE THROUGH A COUPLE OF WAYS.

PUBLIC HEALTH PROVIDED AT THE BEGINNING OF THE PROGRAM BY HELPING US, RIGHT, WITH THE SCREENINGS AND IDENTIFYING THE APPROPRIATE TYPE OF TREATMENT FOR THESE INDIVIDUALS.

WE WANTED TO FOCUS ON OUTPATIENT TREATMENT BECAUSE WE UNDERSTAND THAT INDIVIDUALS GETTING RELEASED BACK INTO THE COMMUNITIES ON BOND STILL HAVE JOBS.

FAMILIES AND OTHER THINGS THAT THEY STILL HAVE TO BE OUT IN THE COMMUNITY, RIGHT, SO THAT THEY CAN BE SUCCESSFUL.

SO WITH COUNTY COURT 2 AND THE CONTINUUM PARTNERSHIP THAT WE STARTED IN DECEMBER OF 2025, I JUST WANT TO GIVE YOU SOME NUMBERS, RIGHT? SO WE'VE BEEN ABLE FROM PRETRIAL SERVICES TO CONTINUUM 226 REFERRALS.

OUT OF THOSE 226 REFERRALS FROM INDIVIDUALS BEING RELEASED INTO THE COMMUNITY, 109.

ARE CURRENTLY ENGAGED IN PROGRAMMING RIGHT NOW.

FIFTY-FIVE HAVE SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETED THEIR OUTPATIENT TREATMENT AND ARE STILL OUT IN THE COMMUNITY.

FIFTY-NINE HAVE BEEN REFERRED TO A HIGHER LEVEL OF CARE, WHICH IS RESIDENTIAL SERVICES OR MEDICATED ASSISTANT TREATMENT.

AND ALSO PART OF THAT FIFTY-NINE HAS ALSO HAD THEIR CASES ADJUDICATED OR DISMISSED AND NO LONGER IN PRETRIAL SUPERVISION.

THE BIG KEY OF THIS PROGRAM IS, LIKE THOMAS MENTIONED, IT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT IS REALLY COSTING THE COUNTY MONEY IN THE SENSE OF FUNDING FOR TREATMENT.

WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO PARTNER UP WITH CONTINUUM, AND CONTINUUM IS PROVIDING THIS TREATMENT AS LONG AS WE HAVE A PATHWAY AND A WAY TO WORK TOGETHER.

SO THESE 226 REFERRALS, WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO, AGAIN, WORK ON THOSE INDIVIDUALS WITHOUT ANY OF THE DIVERSIONARY FUNDING.

AND AGAIN, REALLY WHAT THAT HAS DONE TO PRETRIAL SERVICES, OCJ, THE OFFICE OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE, IS REALLY IDENTIFYING...

OTHER PARTNERSHIPS AND FUNDING, RIGHT, THAT IS IN THE COMMUNITY TO BE ABLE TO ASSIST INDIVIDUALS AS THEY'RE GOING BACK INTO THE COMMUNITY, RIGHT? AND ONE OF THE THINGS, SINCE I'M HERE, I WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT FROM PRETRIAL AND AS WE SPEAK ABOUT, YOU KNOW, DIVERSION PROGRAMS, IS WHEN WE'RE LOOKING AT DIVERSION ON OUR END, RIGHT, OFFICE OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE, WE'RE LOOKING AT IT THROUGH A LENS OF THE JUDICIAL SYSTEM, RIGHT? SO WHEN I'M LOOKING AT THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM AND THE JAIL POPULATION, FOR EXAMPLE, I AM TAKING A LOOK AT IT FROM A POPULATION STANDPOINT OF WHAT STAGE ARE THEY WITHIN THE JUDICIAL PROCESS.

AGAIN, A BIG PART OF THE JAIL POPULATION MANY TIMES IS THE PRETRIAL STAGE, AND IT'S INDIVIDUALS THAT HAVE NOT BEEN ADJUDICATED AND ARE WAITING TO GO TO COURT FOR THEIR CASES.

WE HAVE OTHER PARTS OF THE JAIL POPULATION THAT ARE PART OF INDIVIDUALS THAT HAVE BEEN SENTENCED AND ARE WAITING A TREATMENT BID.

WE HAVE INDIVIDUALS, AS THOMAS MENTIONED.

OUR PARTNERSHIP WITH THE CENTER FOR HEALTHCARE SERVICES IN ADDRESSING INCOMPETENCY THAT ARE STILL REMAINING AT THE JAIL.

BUT WHEN WE'RE LOOKING AT THAT VERSION, I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERYBODY UNDERSTANDS THAT WE ARE DEFINITELY, PUBLIC SAFETY IS AT THE FOREFRONT OF WHAT WE DO, AND WE'RE ALWAYS LOOKING AT PUBLIC SAFETY.

TO ENSURING THAT INDIVIDUALS THAT ARE BEING DIVERTED TO PROGRAMS ARE THOSE INDIVIDUALS THAT ARE GOING TO BENEFIT FROM THIS PROGRAMMING AND THAT ARE LOW-RISK OFFENDERS GOING BACK INTO THE COMMUNITY.

WHEN WE'RE LOOKING AT DIVERSION, WE'RE ALSO LOOKING OBVIOUSLY AT MENTAL HEALTH, LIKE I MENTIONED EARLIER, SUBSTANCE USE DISORDER, AND UNSHELTERED INDIVIDUALS.

AND AGAIN, OUR SUPPORT ALSO GOES TO REENTRY AND POST-RELEASE OF INDIVIDUALS COMING OUT OF THE JAIL.

BECAUSE OUR MAIN GOAL AT THE OFFICE OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE IS TO REDUCE RECIDIVISM.

AND AGAIN, THOSE ARE THE THINGS I WANTED TO SHARE WITH YOU REGARDING SOME OF THE PROGRAMMING AND CRIMINAL JUSTICE DIVERSION PROGRAMS. THANK YOU.

THANKS, ANTONIO.

AND I FELT TO RECOGNIZE TONY KOSTADIS, OUR DIRECTOR OVER AT THE JUSTICE INTAKE AND ASSESSMENT AREA.

THANKS, TONY.

SO TO DATE, THIS SLIDE INCLUDES A SNAPSHOT OF THIS YEAR'S FISCAL YEAR STATS TO DATE FOR CURRENT CRIMINAL JUSTICE DIVERSION AND DEFLECTION PROGRAMS. FOR EXAMPLE, AS YOU SEE HERE,

[01:05:01]

IN THE AREA OF TRANSITIONAL HOUSING, THROUGH CRIMINAL JUSTICE, WE'VE SERVED OVER 100 INDIVIDUALS, BUT THEY PROJECTED 215 INDIVIDUALS TO RECEIVE ASSISTANCE BY THE END OF THE FISCAL YEAR.

SO NOW WE'LL MOVE INTO THE AREA OF PUBLIC HEALTH AND THE PUBLIC HEALTH DEPARTMENT AND THEIR DEFLECTION AND DIVERSION PROGRAMS. SO AGAIN, PROGRAMS THAT YOU SEE ON THIS SLIDE HERE, COURT, YOU'VE SEEN ON THE SIDE OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE AS WELL.

BUT ONE OF THE MOST VISIBLE PROGRAMS WE HAVE IN THIS COMMUNITY IN THE TERMS OF DEFLECTION IS OUR SMART PROGRAM, A CRISIS INTERVENTION TEAM SPECIALIZED IN DE-ESCALATION THAT PROVIDES ON-SCENE BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SUPPORT DURING EMERGENCIES.

AGAIN, THESE PROGRAMS ARE INTENDED TO BE PREVENTATIVE.

SORRY ABOUT THAT.

SO NOW WE'LL MOVE INTO SOME SPECIFIC DIVERSION PROGRAMS IN PUBLIC HEALTH.

THE BEXAR COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH OVERSEES THE MENTAL HEALTH AND IDD ASSESSMENT PROCESSES THAT OCCUR IN THE GIA IN PARTNERSHIP WITH UHS AND ACOG, AND I KNOW WE HAVE OUR PARTNERS AT UH HERE, UH BECAME THE MENTAL HEALTH PROVIDER IN THE GIA IN OCTOBER OF 2025, AND PUBLIC HEALTH IS IMPLEMENTING A PATHWAY FOR DIVERSIONS FOR THOSE RELEASED DIRECTLY FROM THE GIA.

THAT INCLUDES MULTIPLE PROVIDERS.

THOSE PROVIDERS INCLUDE UT SAN ANTONIO, TRUE MENTAL HEALTH, AND OTHERS.

THAT WILL FACILITATE REFERRALS TO MENTAL HEALTH APPOINTMENTS AND OTHER SERVICES, INCLUDING TRANSPORTATION.

AGAIN, ANOTHER SNAPSHOT OF THOSE STRATEGIES IN THE PUBLIC HEALTH REALM.

AGAIN, THIS COURT, ONE THING I WOULD LIKE TO HIGHLIGHT IN THE FUNDING COLUMN, THIS COURT HAS INVESTED A LOT OF OPIOID DOLLARS TO COVER MOST, IF NOT ALL, THE SUBSTANCE USE DISORDER PROGRAMS WITHIN THE STRATEGIES ATTACHED.

SO WE'VE GONE OVER DEFLECTION AND DIVERSION PROGRAMS, BOTH OPERATED BY OFFICE OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE, OUR PARTNERS, AND THE PUBLIC HEALTH DEPARTMENT.

SO WHAT DOES THAT MEAN FOR OUR JAIL POPULATION AND OUR TEAM OVER THERE? AS YOU CAN SEE, THE YELLOW LINE GRAPH ILLUSTRATES JAIL POPULATION AVERAGES WITH DIVERSION PROGRAMS SINCE 2023, FISCAL YEAR 2023.

THE BLUE LINE REPRESENTS THAT WITHOUT THAT COUNTY AND COMMUNITY INVESTMENTS AND EFFORTS, JAIL POPULATION WOULD HAVE REACHED OVER 6100.

INDIVIDUALS LAST YEAR PUTTING EVEN MORE STRAIN ON DETENTION STAFF AND COSTING THIS COMMUNITY WITH OUT-OF-COUNTY BEDS.

AS I MENTIONED EARLIER AND AS PART OF THE DISCUSSION, I WOULD LIKE TO HIGHLIGHT CERTAIN PROGRAMS AND PROJECTS THAT THIS COURT HAS INVESTED IN BASED ON TWO IMPORTANT CRIMINAL JUSTICE-BASED ASSESSMENTS THAT WE'VE CONDUCTED, THE MEADOWS STUDY AND THE UT HEALTH HOUSTON STUDY.

CONDUCTED BY DR.

TESSA AND HIS TEAM.

AS YOU CAN SEE FROM THE CHART, THERE'S BEEN SIGNIFICANT INVESTMENTS BY THIS COMMISSIONER'S COURT THROUGH THE AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN ACT, OPIOID FUNDING, TO FACILITATE MANY OF THE RESOLUTIONS THROUGH THOSE RECOMMENDATIONS.

WE'VE ALSO HAD PARTNERSHIPS LIKE THE MOU WITH CHCS ON GEL-BASED COMPETENCY IN REGARDS TO THE MEADOWS STUDY.

SO KIND OF THIS PARTICULAR CHART IS JUST TO KIND OF HIGHLIGHT WHERE WE'VE COMPLETED SOME OF THOSE RECOMMENDATIONS.

AREAS THAT ARE STILL IN PROGRESS AND THOSE FUNDING SOURCES.

ONE KEY RECOMMENDATION IN THE UT...

THE HEALTH HOUSTON STUDY OBSERVATION IS THE ISSUE OF DUAL MAGISTRATION.

DR.

TESS'S STUDY RECOMMENDED ASSEMBLING A JOINT COUNTY-CITY WORKING GROUP TO END THE DUAL MAGISTRATION SYSTEM TO ADDRESS INEFFICIENCIES AND CHALLENGES POSED BY THE CURRENT SYSTEM.

THE WORKING GROUP SHOULD WORK COLLABORATIVELY TO PLAN A TRANSITION TO A UNIFIED SYSTEM WHERE ALL DETAINEES ARE PROCESSED AT A SINGLE CENTRALIZED FACILITY.

IT WILL BE IMPORTANT.

SHOULD THE COURT DIRECT US TO GO DOWN THAT PATH THAT WE WORK WITH DAN CURRY AND HIS TEAM TO DO ANY OF OUR NEEDS ASSESSMENTS FOR FACILITIES? AND AGAIN, COMMISSIONERS AND STAFF HERE, WE CAN'T DO THIS ALONE.

THERE'S A LOT OF COLLABORATIVE EFFORTS HERE.

IT'S NOT ALL ON THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE.

IT'S NOT ALL ON THE STAFF BACK HERE.

OUR COURT OR SOME OF OUR OTHER INTERNAL PARTNERS, BUT WE HAVE A LOT OF COLLABORATIVE EFFORTS THAT ARE CURRENTLY ONGOING, ARE ABOUT TO KICK OFF.

THE FIRST IS A CHDS COSA, CITY OF SAN ANTONIO, I SHOULD SAY, A UNIVERSITY HEALTH FUNDED

[01:10:01]

AND WE'LL BE, OUR STAFF WILL BE A PART OF THAT AS FAR AS THOSE INTERVIEWS ARE CONCERNED.

SECONDLY, COMMISSIONER RODRIGUEZ AND COUNCILWOMAN CASTILLO, WE'LL BE KICKING OFF A DIVERSION AND RECOVERY COMMITTEE TO WORK AND COMMISSIONER I'LL KIND OF DEFER TO YOU DOWN THE LINE TO DISCUSS THAT A BIT MORE.

AND ANOTHER AREA THAT WE WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT WAS OUR SOUTHWEST TEXAS CRISIS COLLABORATIVE, WHICH WE COMMONLY REFER TO AS THE STIC.

AGAIN, THE STIC IS A WIDE-RANGING COLLABORATION THAT HAS EXISTED OVER MANY YEARS THAT CONSISTS OF HOSPITAL SYSTEMS, OUR MENTAL HEALTH PROVIDERS.

THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO, BEXAR COUNTY, AND CHCS, WITH STRAC SERVING AS THE CONVENER, DATA PARTNER, AND SUBJECT MATTER EXPERT ON RESOURCE COORDINATION.

ERIC EPLEY IS ALSO HERE AND AVAILABLE FOR QUESTIONS.

SO AS WE START TO WIND DOWN, STAFF RECOGNIZES THAT WE MUST DO MORE AND WE CAN DO MORE.

IT WILL REQUIRE STRENGTHENING OUR PARTNERSHIPS, BOTH INTERNALLY AND EXTERNALLY.

THEREFORE, STAFF IS COMMITTED, AND WE WOULD RECOMMEND THAT WE FIRST START WITH REVIEWING OUR INTERNAL POLICIES AND PROCEDURES TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE OPTIMIZING ALL OUR EFFICIENCY OPPORTUNITIES.

AGAIN, ONE AREA THAT WE'VE NOT ADDRESSED TO A PREVIOUS ASSESSMENT IS DUAL MAGISTRATION, SO WE'VE IDENTIFIED THAT AS A FUTURE STRATEGY.

AND WE WOULD CONTINUE TO IDENTIFY GRANT FUNDING, BOTH LOCAL, STATE, AND FEDERAL, TO HELP TRY TO BRIDGE THE GAP WITH SOME OF THESE AREAS.

SO IN SUMMARY, I JUST WANT TO RECOGNIZE THAT BEXAR COUNTY, WE HAVE INVESTED IN MANY PROCESS IMPROVEMENTS THAT HAVE ALREADY BEEN IDENTIFIED IN PREVIOUS ASSESSMENTS.

WE'VE PUT MONEY INTO CAPITAL PROGRAMS, PROJECTS TO EXPAND BED CAPACITY.

ONE EXAMPLE IS THE AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN APPLE WHITE DUAL DIAGNOSIS CENTER THAT WE RIBBON CUT BACK OCTOBER, NOVEMBER OF LAST YEAR.

AND WE'VE EXPANDED BED AND HOUSING TREATMENT CAPACITY.

BUT WE ALSO RECOGNIZE THAT THERE'S FURTHER CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES TO ADDRESS.

SO THE FIRST, THE BIG ONE HERE, IS DUAL MAGISTRATION.

AGAIN, I'VE ALREADY TALKED ABOUT OPTIMIZING OUR PROCESS TO IMPROVE EFFICIENCIES.

WE WANT TO LOOK AT OTHER WAYS THAT WE CAN PROVIDE SUPPORT SERVICES TO REDUCE RECIDIVISM.

AGAIN, ONE AREA I DID NOT GO OVER THAT THIS COURT HAS HEARD PREVIOUSLY WAS THE SASH REUSE STUDY.

THAT DAN CURRY PRESENTED BACK IN NOVEMBER, DECEMBER OF 2024.

I KNOW THAT IS MORE OF A LONG-TERM STRATEGY DOWN THE LINE THAT'S GOING TO REQUIRE LEGISLATION AND OTHER COLLABORATIVE EFFORTS, BUT WE'VE LISTED THAT ON HERE.

AND ONE AREA, AS WE WERE GOING THROUGH THIS PRESENTATION AND WE WERE RECEIVING UPDATES FROM OUR PARTNERS, WE'VE ALSO BEEN MADE AWARE OF CERTAIN GAPS.

I MENTIONED EARLIER THE DUAL DIAGNOSIS CENTER AT APPLEWHITE.

THAT THE FACILITY FACILITY HAS BEEN COMPLETED BUT IN OUR DISCUSSIONS WITH JARVIS ANDERSON WHO I BELIEVE IS HERE AS WELL WE'VE IDENTIFIED SOME GAPS IN PARTICULAR GAPS IN UH FUNDING FOR SUBSTANCE USE UH UH DISORDERS AND ON THAT SIDE OF THE THE COIN THERE SO UH WE AT THE MOMENT YOU'RE CORRECT SO 130 I BELIEVE THAT'S 130 BEDS IF YOU DOUBLE UP THAT'S ABOUT 200.

BUT JARVIS WORKING WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH, I BELIEVE WE'RE GOING TO TRY TO FORMULATE A STRATEGY HERE.

JARVIS AND DR.

A SPEAK A LITTLE BIT MORE TO THAT, BUT WE'VE IDENTIFIED POSSIBLY USING OPIOID FUNDING TO BRIDGE THAT GAP.

BUT AGAIN, THAT'S OVER 100 INDIVIDUALS CURRENTLY IN THE JAIL THAT ONCE WE GET STARTED, THAT'S A SHORT-TERM SOLUTION THAT WE CAN ADDRESS IMMEDIATELY.

SO WITH THAT, I WILL TURN OVER THE PRESENTATION FOR QUESTIONS, COMMENTS.

AND AGAIN, WE HAVE BOTH STAFF, VARIOUS PARTNERS, ED BANOS AND HIS TEAM HERE AS WELL.

ALSO AGAIN, COURT, WE'LL TURN IT BACK OVER TO YOU.

THE COURT FOR DIRECTION.

WE HAVE CITIZENS TO BE HEARD.

I'D LIKE TO CALL THEM UP, AND THEN WE'LL GET BACK TO ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION, AND THEN I WILL OPEN UP THE COMMISSIONERS TO DIRECT QUESTIONS OR OTHER SPEAKERS.

ALL RIGHT? SO AT THIS TIME, I'M BRINGING UP THOSE THAT SIGNED UP FOR CITIZENS TO BE HEARD ON THIS PARTICULAR AGENDA ITEM.

OH, COMMISSIONER RODRIGUEZ.

POINT OF PERSONAL PRIVILEGE.

YEAH, THANK YOU, JUDGE.

I GUESS IN STICKING WITH THE THEME, IF I CAN DIVERT THE CONVERSATION BRIEFLY, WE'VE GOT SOME YOUNG STUDENTS UP HERE FROM WILSON ELEMENTARY

[01:15:01]

CAN YOU GUYS STAND AND BE RECOGNIZED? GIVE THEM A ROUND OF APPLAUSE.

THEY ARE HERE.

MADI, THANK YOU FOR ARRANGING THE TOUR.

AND THEY'RE HERE LEARNING ABOUT LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND CIVIC ENGAGEMENT.

THESE ARE ALL FUTURE LEADERS.

WE'RE VERY PROUD.

PROUD OF WHAT YOU DO IN REPRESENTING YOUR SCHOOL AND YOUR COMMUNITY.

SO THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.

I KNOW MARTY'S TAKING GREAT CARE OF YOU.

MARTY, THANK YOU FOR DOING THAT.

AGAIN, CONTINUE ON, STUDY HARD, AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO YOU GUYS LEADING THIS CITY AND COUNTY IN THE FUTURE.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU.

ALL RIGHT.

CITIZENS BE HEARD.

LYDIA LAOS, YOU'RE FIRST.

LYDIA LAOS.

GOOD MORNING, JUDGE.

GOOD MORNING, COMMISSIONERS.

THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING US TO BE HERE.

MY NAME IS LIDIA LEOS.

I HAVE VOICES BEHIND THE CELL.

IT IS FROM GRIEF TO JUSTICE, FROM SILENCE TO ACCOUNTABILITY.

MY NAME IS LIDIA LEOS, AND I STAND HERE BEFORE YOU AS THE MOTHER OF JULIAN DENNA.

MY SON ENTERED THE BEXAR COUNTY JAIL ALIVE.

HE SHOULD HAVE COME HOME ALIVE.

INSTEAD, I WAS LEFT WITH A PAIN THAT NO PARENT SHOULD...

EVER CARRY WITH QUESTIONS NO FAMILY SHOULD EVER HAVE TO FIGHT TO HAVE ANSWERED JULIAN WAS NOT A CASE NUMBER HE WAS NOT A STATISTIC HE WAS MY SON HE WAS LOVED VALUED AND HIS LIFE MATTERED I'M SORRY WHAT BEGAN AS HEARTBREAK BECAME A PURPOSE WHAT BEGAN AS GRIEF BECAME A MOVEMENT THROUGH VOICES BEHIND THE CELL I NOW STAND FOR EVERY FAMILY WHO HAS BEEN IGNORED DISMISSED OR LEFT IN THE DARK AFTER LOSING A LOVED ONE IN CUSTODY.

TOO MANY FAMILIES IN TEXAS STILL FACE THE SAME FAILURES.

DELAYED NOTIFICATION DURING EMERGENCIES OR HOSPITALIZATIONS.

LACK OF CLEAR ANSWERS WHEN A LOVED ONE IS IN A CRISIS.

MENTAL HEALTH NEEDS IGNORED OR MISHANDLED.

INADEQUATE MEDICAL CARE.

PREVENTABLE DEATHS FOLLOWED BY SILENCE.

FAMILIES FORCED TO SEARCH FOR TRUTH ON THEIR OWN.

THAT IS WHY WE DEMAND REAL REFORM.

WHAT MUST CHANGE NOW? IMMEDIATE FAMILY NOTIFICATION DURING EMERGENCIES, HOSPITALIZATIONS, OR DEATH.

INDEPENDENT INVESTIGATION IN ALL IN-CUSTODY DEATHS.

MENTAL HEALTH TREATMENT AND DIVERSION BEFORE JAIL BECOMES THE ANSWER.

ACCOUNTABILITY FOR NEGLIGENT MEDICAL CARE.

PUBLIC TRANSPARENCY ON DEATH AND CRITICAL INCIDENTS.

CONSEQUENCES FOR REPEATED FAILURES, RESPECT FOR EVERY HUMAN LIFE IN CUSTODY, MESSAGE TO ELECTED OFFICIALS, TO SHERIFF SALAZAR, COUNTY COMMISSIONER, JUDGES, LAWMAKERS, THE POWER TO CORRECT THE SYSTEM IS IN YOUR HANDS.

FAMILIES SHOULD NOT HAVE TO BECOME INVESTIGATORS TO LEARN WHAT HAPPENED TO THEIR LOVED ONES.

WE NEED ACTION.

WE NEED TRANSPARENCY.

WE NEED ACCOUNTABILITY.

WE NEED CORRECTION IN BEXAR COUNTY JAIL AND ACROSS.

TEXAS IN LOVING MEMORY OF JULIAN DENNA.

JULIAN'S NAME WILL NOT BE FORGOTTEN.

HIS LIFE NOW FUELS FIGHT FOR TRUTH AND CHANGE BECAUSE CUSTODY SHOULD NEVER BECOME A DEATH SENTENCE BECAUSE SILENCE PROJECTS SILENCE PROTECTS NEGLIGENCE BECAUSE EVERY FAMILY DESERVES ANSWERS.

I SHOULD NOT HAVE STAYED AT HOME NOT KNOWING MY SON WAS ON LIFE SUPPORT FOR 12 HOURS BECAUSE THE JAIL WAS LAZY.

TWO HOURS IS ENOUGH TIME.

TO BE BUSY, PUT YOUR PAPERWORK TOGETHER, BUT NOT 12, NOT 10 HOURS WHERE WE DON'T KNOW THAT OUR LOVED ONES HAVE BEEN TRANSPORTED OUT OF THE FACILITY AND ARE ON LIFE SUPPORT.

BY THE TIME I GOT THE NEXT OF KIN CALL, ALL I WAS LEFT TO DO WAS DISCONNECT LIFE SUPPORT.

THANK YOU SO MUCH AND HAVE A GOOD DAY.

GOOD MORNING, COMMISSIONERS.

I AM JOLENE JAMISON, THE CEO FOR CHCS.

I WANT TO THANK YOU EARLIER FOR YOUR SUPPORT IN THE MOU WITH CHCS TO CONTINUE THE JAIL-BASED COMPETENCY PROGRAM CURRENTLY BEING OPERATED AT OUR JAIL.

CHCS HAS BEEN AN INNOVATOR AND BEEN INVOLVED IN JAIL DIVERSION SINCE 1994, AND WE STAND BEFORE YOU ENJOYING THE INVESTMENT, PREVIOUS INVESTMENT, BY UNIVERSITY HEALTH IN THE MEADOWS STUDY AND BY BEXAR COUNTY IN THE UT STUDY.

AND WE'VE USED THOSE STUDIES TO COMMUNICATE WITH OUR COMMUNITY OVER THE PAST EIGHT MONTHS ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF A JAIL DIVERSION CENTER AND PROMOTING THERAPEUTIC JUSTICE FOR THIS COMMUNITY.

[01:20:01]

THE STRATEGY THAT YOU'RE DISCUSSING TODAY OF LIMITING ACCESS TO THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM SHOULD WORK HAND-IN-HAND WITH THE EXPANSION OF THERAPEUTIC JUSTICE.

THERAPEUTIC JUSTICE FOCUSES ON THE OVERALL WELL-BEING, IT'S A COLLABORATIVE APPROACH, AND IT CERTAINLY INVOLVES PROBLEM-SOLVING COURTS TO ADDRESS THE ISSUES THAT WE'RE SEEING IN OUR COMMUNITY.

WHILE THERAPEUTIC JUSTICE REFORMS THE EXPERIENCE WITHIN THE SYSTEM, WE DO BELIEVE LIMITING EXPOSURE ALSO AIMS TO KEEP PEOPLE OUT OF THE SYSTEM.

AND SO WE NEED INVESTMENT IN BOTH.

DECRIMINALIZATION, DIVERSION PROGRAMS, AND COMMUNITY-BASED PROGRAMMING WILL WORK HAND-IN-HAND IN REDUCING THE OVERALL NEGATIVE COLLATERAL CONSEQUENCES THAT WE ARE EXPERIENCING IN OUR COMMUNITY WITH INDIVIDUALS WHO LIVE WITH MENTAL HEALTH AND SUBSTANCE USE ISSUES AND FIND THEMSELVES STAYING IN JAIL.

I HOPE YOU WILL CONTINUE TO SUPPORT YOUR STAFF'S INVOLVEMENT WITH CHCS IN VALIDATING THE FEASIBILITY AND NEED OF A DIVERSION CENTER AND COMING UP WITH A PLAN TO RECOMMEND TO BOTH BEXAR COUNTY AND THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO, BUT WE NEED ALL OF BEXAR COUNTY TO SUPPORT THIS EFFORT.

WE NEED YOUR DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE, WE NEED YOUR JUDICIAL DEPARTMENTS, AND WE NEED YOUR STAFF TO COME TO THE TABLE WITH US AS WE DEVELOP THIS PLAN.

FOR THIS DIVERSION CENTER IN THIS COMMUNITY.

OUR GOAL IS THAT IT WILL BE A THERAPEUTIC ALTERNATIVE TO JAIL FOR INDIVIDUALS WITH LOW-LEVEL OFFENSES AND NONVIOLENT OFFENSES WHO CYCLE THROUGH THE SYSTEM BECAUSE OF UNTREATED MENTAL ILLNESS AND IDD.

THIS COMMUNITY NEEDS A JAIL DIVERSION CENTER TO REDUCE OUR JAIL POPULATION, TO IMPROVE OUR OVERALL HEALTH OUTCOMES AND EXTEND THE LIFE EXPECTANCY OF OUR CITIZENS IN THIS COMMUNITY.

AND WE NEED TO LOWER THE LONG-TERM COST TO OUR TAXPAYERS, EXCUSE ME.

SO I COME TO YOU TODAY SEEKING YOUR SUPPORT FOR THIS EFFORT, CONTINUED WORK WITH YOUR STAFF, BUT THE CONTINUED SUPPORT OF ALL OF BEXAR COUNTY AS WE CONSIDER THIS JAIL DIVERSION CENTER IN THE FUTURE.

I THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT.

GOLDIE VAN ZANDT.

GOOD MORNING, COMMISSIONERS AND JUDGE.

MY NAME IS GOLDIE VAN ZANDT.

I AM A U.S.

NAVY VETERAN AND A CLIENT ADVOCATE WITH TEXAS JAIL PROJECT.

WE ARE A STATEWIDE ADVOCACY ORGANIZATION WORKING ON COUNTY JAILS, CONTENTION, AND PRETRIAL DETENTION.

OUR CO-FOUNDER IN THE ED SERVES ON THE ADMINISTRATIVE RULES ADVISORY COMMITTEE OF THE TEXAS COMMISSION ON JAIL STANDARDS AND THE TEXAS JUDICIAL COMMISSION ON MENTAL HEALTH.

WE HEARD JUDGE SIKAI'S PRESENTATION AT THE JAIL COMMISSION MEETING IN FEBRUARY ON THE PROPOSAL FOR A MENTAL HEALTH DIVERSION CENTER, AND WE READ THE 72-PAGE REPORT THAT HE SUBMITTED TO THE COMMISSION.

WHAT'S MISSING FROM THAT REPORT WAS DATA ON THE WORST OUTCOMES.

ARE BEING HELD IN YOUR COUNTY JAIL, WHICH IS CUSTODY DEATH.

WE RAN A QUICK ANALYSIS BASED ON DATA FROM THE TEXAS COMMISSION ON JAIL STANDARDS FOR THE PAST DECADE.

YOU CAN SEE IN THE HANDOUT, 124 PEOPLE REPORTEDLY DIED IN CUSTODY BETWEEN 2015 AND 2025.

MOST OF THEM WERE PRETRIALS.

IN THE PAST FIVE YEARS, THE NUMBER OF DEATHS IN BEXAR COUNTY HAVE ALMOST MATCHED HARRIS COUNTY.

DESPITE THE JAIL POPULATION BEING ROUGHLY HALF OF HARRIS COUNTY.

THE MAJORITY OF THESE DEATHS SEEM TO BE DRIVEN BY SUICIDES.

WHAT'S MISSING FROM OUR ANALYSIS OF DEATHS IS THE CONNECTION WITH THE MENTAL HEALTH CCQ DATA AND THE FORENSIC WAIT LIST, DATA THAT ONLY THE COUNTY HAS ACCESS TO.

WE RECOMMEND THAT BEFORE THIS COURT INVESTS A LOT OF RESOURCES INTO A DIVERSION CENTER, YOU MAY CONSIDER DOING A DEEP DIVE.

INTO YOUR JAIL PSYCHIATRIC POPULATION.

EXCEPT FOR HARRIS COUNTY, DIVERSION CENTERS IN ALL COUNTIES ARE BEING UNDERUTILIZED BECAUSE ALL DIVERSION IS VOLUNTARY AND ONLY FOR LOW-LEVEL, NON-VIOLENT CHARGES.

PLUS, NEW LEGISLATION SUCH AS SENATE BILL 6 FROM 2021 AND SENATE BILL 9 FROM 2025 PREVENT DIVERSION ON A WIDE RANGE OF CHARGES.

IN OUR EXPERIENCE, THERE'S A REVOLVING DOOR BETWEEN THE PUBLIC MENTAL HEALTH THANK YOU.

AND THE COUNTY JAIL SYSTEM, DUE TO THE LACK OF CONTINUITY OF CARE PROTOCOLS UPON RELEASE FROM JAIL, AND YOUR LOCAL MENTAL HEALTH AUTHORITY'S PATTERN OF PRACTICE OF PLACING PEOPLE IN APPROPRIATE LEVELS OF CARE.

[01:25:02]

THE STATE HAS ADVOCATED ITS RESPONSIBILITY TO CREATE A MEANINGFUL CONTINUUM I'M SORRY.

COMMUNITY-BASED MENTAL HEALTH CARE AND PUSH THIS CRISIS INTO THE COUNTIES WHERE YOU ARE NOW PAYING FOR A PUBLIC HEALTH ISSUE THROUGH YOUR LIMITED PUBLIC SAFETY DOLLARS.

THE IDD POPULATION IS A GOOD EXAMPLE OF THIS ISSUE.

THE STATE-SUPPORTED LIVING CENTERS OR SLCS ARE INTOLERANT FOR PEOPLE WITH IDD, BUT INSTEAD OF PLACING THEM ON THE INPATIENT CARE WAIT LIST, YOUR AACOG PROVIDES INAPPROPRIATE PLACEMENTS SUCH AS GROUP HOAXES.

LEADING TO ARRESTS AND MORE CRIMINALIZATIONS.

HOW DO WE KNOW THIS? HHSC'S OWN DATA.

THE LARGEST NUMBER OF TRANSFERS TO SLCS OF PEOPLE WITH IDD HAPPENS FROM COUNTY JAILS.

SO INSTEAD OF ACCESSING AN SLC THROUGH THE SILVER SIDE, THIS POPULATION IS FORCED INTO JAIL FIRST BEFORE THEY CAN ACCESS SLC THROUGH THE FOR-REQUISITE PATHWAY.

YES, WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH SLC BEDS, BUT HHSC HAS MADE NO RECOMMENDATION TO THE LEGISLATURE FOR EXPANDING THOSE BEDS.

THEY SEEM MORE THAN COMFORTABLE PUSHING PEOPLE INTO JAILS AND PRISONS.

OUR ORGANIZATION HELPED PASS TWO RIDERS LAST SESSION.

ONE MANDATED THE JAIL COMMISSION TO COLLECT AND PUBLISH CCQ DATA IN ORDER FOR HHSC TO CREATE A COMMUNITY-BASED OPTION FOR THE HIGH-NEEDS POPULATION THAT CYCLES BETWEEN THE JAIL AND STREETS.

WE HOPE THIS COURT WILL TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THESE RIDERS TO MAKE ROBUST, DATA-INFORMED DECISIONS.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.

JUDGE, COMMISSIONERS, AND THE REST OF THE PEOPLE HERE, MA'AM, I'M VERY SORRY TO HEAR ABOUT YOUR LOSS.

I WANT TO COMPLIMENT THE COURT HERE TODAY.

SEVERAL THINGS I'VE ALREADY SEEN.

IS THAT YOU HAVE YOUR SECOND CHANCE PROGRAM WAS HERE, YOUR COURT THERAPY ANIMALS, WHICH IS A HUGE HELP, A LOT MORE THAN PEOPLE REALIZE, ESPECIALLY FOR JUVENILES.

YOUR DIVERSION SPEAKERS, AT SOME POINT WE'D LOVE TO TALK TO THEM.

THAT WAS AN EXCELLENT PRESENTATION AND A VERY GOOD START FOR WHAT YOU'RE LOOKING TO DO.

AND ALSO THE MAN WHO JUST SPOKE ABOUT THERAPEUTIC JUSTICE, THAT'S ALSO WHAT I'M HERE TO TALK TO YOU ABOUT TODAY.

ADDRESSING THOSE ISSUES.

MY NAME IS JEFF BRADLEY.

I'M WITH HOK ARCHITECTURE.

I'M THEIR NATIONAL DIRECTOR AND I LIVE HERE IN TEXAS.

AND THE FIRST DIVERSION TYPE PROGRAM THAT ADDRESSED MENTAL HEALTH I WAS INVOLVED IN WAS DALLAS COUNTY ABOUT 14 YEARS AGO.

WE DID 200 MENTAL HEALTH BEDS, 100 MEDICAL BEDS, AND IT'S BEEN A VERY SUCCESSFUL PROGRAM FOR THEM.

SINCE THEN, OUR FIRM IS ACTUALLY A LEADER.

AND CIVIC AND JUSTICE DESIGN WORK, BUT WE'RE NOT JUST ARCHITECTS, WE'RE CONSULTANTS.

WE HAVE THE HEALTH CARE PEOPLE INSIDE.

WE HAVE MENTAL HEALTH PEOPLE.

WE ALSO WORK WITH OTHER FIRMS SUCH AS MEADOWS.

ACTUALLY, YOUR UHS STUDY, WE DID THAT.

WE WORKED FOR MEADOWS, AND WE WERE HERE INVOLVED IN THAT WITH ALTA ARCHITECTURE, A LOCAL FIRM HERE, ON YOUR UHS PROGRAM.

IT WAS ABOUT TWO YEARS AGO, AND THAT WAS FOR A NEW MEDICAL FACILITY, A CLINIC, AND AN INFIRMARY.

A FEW OTHER THINGS I'D LIKE TO SHARE WITH YOU AND TALKED ABOUT IS WHAT'S IMPORTANT IS THAT THE PEOPLE YOU TALK TO ARE ALSO EXPERTS IN THE OPERATIONAL OF THE ACTUAL JUSTICE SYSTEM, BOTH THE SYSTEM OVERALL AND THEN ALSO WITHIN THE JAIL ITSELF.

AND THAT'S WHERE THE SHERIFF AND THOSE FOLKS REALLY NEED TO BE INVOLVED AS WELL.

YOUR MENTAL HEALTH PEOPLE, THE SHERIFF PEOPLE, THE LEADERSHIP AND SUCH IN ORDER TO DELIVER A SUCCESSFUL PROGRAM OVER THE PAST.

OVER THE LAST EIGHT OR TEN YEARS OR SO, WE'VE DONE 11 MENTAL HEALTH DIVERSION FACILITIES FOR COUNTIES AROUND THE COUNTRY, A LITTLE OVER 1,900 SPECIALTY BEDS FOR THAT.

FOR STATES, WE'VE DONE 12 SPECIALTY MENTAL HEALTH FACILITIES IN STATE PRISONS, TOTALING OVER 6,000 BEDS.

SO WE'VE DONE ALMOST 8,000 BEDS FOR SPECIAL MENTAL HEALTH NEEDS.

SOMEBODY MENTIONED EARLIER TODAY THAT...

ABOUT THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE WHO HAVE MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES, AND OVER 60% OF THE PEOPLE WHO ARE INCARCERATED AROUND THE COUNTRY DO HAVE MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES, AND THE MAJORITY OF THEM ARE ON SOME SORT

[01:30:02]

IT'S IMPORTANT THAT YOU HAVE PEOPLE THAT YOU HAVE ACCESS TO.

ALL THE PEOPLE FROM OUR FIRM THAT WOULD EVER DO ANY WORK FOR YOU, WE ACTUALLY HAVE A COMPLETE JUDGE, COMMISSIONERS, THE TIME HAS EXPIRED.

I'M SORRY, THAT'S THREE MINUTES? OKAY.

YEAH, I'VE GOT SOME THINGS TO PASS OUT HERE TO YOU TO THE ADDITIONAL PROJECTS I GOT FOR THE COMMISSIONER'S COURT, FOR DAN CURRY, THE COUNTY AUDITOR, AND SOME LETTERS FROM OTHER COUNTY JUDGES AROUND THE STATE FOR YOU TO TAKE A LOOK AT.

SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.

ALL RIGHT.

WAS THERE ANYBODY ELSE SIGNED UP? THAT'S ALL I HAD FOR ITEM NUMBER FIVE.

LET ME THEN YIELD TO COMMISSIONER MOODY.

OH, CAN YOU STATE YOUR NAME? NO? LET ME YIELD TO YOU AND THEN, OH, THERE'S ONE MORE.

JUDGE OSCAR KAZIN, ARE YOU HERE ON AGENDA ITEM NUMBER FIVE? NUMBER FIVE? YES.

DO YOU HAVE YOUR THREE MINUTES? I KNOW THIS IS ONLY THE CITIZENS TO BE HEARD PART.

BUT I JUST WISH TO ECHO FOR EVERYONE THAT, ESPECIALLY IN THE 25 PLUS YEARS THAT I'VE BEEN DOING MENTAL HEALTH, IT IS A MUCH BIGGER PROCESS.

AND I ADMIRE WHAT THE COMMISSIONER'S COURT IN THIS COUNTY IS DOING BY WAY OF THE JAIL AND JAIL DIVERSION AND PREVENTING THE DEATHS AND PREVENTING INJURIES AT THE JAIL, ET CETERA.

BUT I JUST WANTED TO PAUSE IN ALL OF THE DISCUSSION JUST TO SURROUND THE COMMUNITY AT LARGE.

I KNOW YOU'RE AWARE OF IT.

THAT THAT PIPELINE THAT WE SPEAK TO TODAY IS SO MUCH BIGGER.

FOR EXAMPLE, MOST PEOPLE ARE UNAWARE THAT WE CONDUCT AND DO OVER 10,000 EMERGENCY DETENTIONS.

THAT'S WHERE SOMEBODY IS DANGEROUS TO SUFFER, OTHERS, A POLICE OFFICER HAS SHOWN UP.

IN DAYS PAST, THEY WOULD HAVE GONE TO THE JAIL.

CAN YOU IMAGINE RIGHT NOW? IF THOSE EMERGENCY DETENTIONS, IF THE TEAMS THAT WERE DEVOTED TO TRANSFERRING THEM TO HOSPITALS WEREN'T AVAILABLE.

CAN YOU IMAGINE WHAT THE DISCUSSION WOULD BE TODAY IF YOU HAD TO DEAL WITH ANOTHER 10,000 ARRESTS? BECAUSE IF THERE'S NO PLACE TO GO, THE BEXAR COUNTY JAIL IS THE BIGGEST MENTAL HEALTH FACILITY IN THE COUNTY.

I URGE THE COMMUNITY AT LARGE AND THIS COMMISSION AND THE COMMISSIONER'S COURT, AFTER THEY GET PAST THIS VERY IMPORTANT TASK OF JAIL AND JAIL DIVERSION, TO CONTINUE THE DISCUSSION.

ON THE REST OF THAT PIPELINE.

THOSE ARE THE COURT PROGRAMS AND COURT AGENDAS THAT KEEP PEOPLE OUT OF JAIL.

THOSE ARE THE SERVICES THAT WE PROVIDE, AND THEY'LL HAND OFF AFTERWARDS.

THOSE ARE THE THINGS THAT TRULY IMPACT, IN THE END, OUR JAIL POPULATION.

AND LASTLY, I URGE THIS COMMISSION TO LOOK AT HOW WE CAN BUILD A BIGGER SYSTEM OF PROVIDERS IN THIS COMMUNITY, A BIGGER SYSTEM OF HELP AND UTILIZATION.

SO THAT WE HAVE MANY VOICES THAT WE CAN RELY ON WHEN WE NEED THEIR HELP.

WITH THAT, LIKE I SAID, I JUST WANTED IT TO BE A QUICK REMINDER TO THE PUBLIC AT LARGE, SHOULD THEY BE WATCHING, THAT THIS PIPELINE IS SO MUCH BIGGER.

ALTHOUGH THIS IS AS TERRIBLY IMPORTANT AS ANYTHING ELSE, THE REST OF THAT PIPELINE SHOULDN'T BE FORGOTTEN.

YOUR LONG-STANDING COMMITMENT TO THE PROBATE COURTS AS A PROBATE JUDGE AND OBVIOUSLY FOR THE MENTAL HEALTH SYSTEM.

AND I'LL JUST KIND OF TIE THE, CONNECT THE DOTS, SO TO SPEAK.

YOUR PROGRAM TRULY IS PART OF DEFLECTION.

THAT'S WHAT YOU JUST SAID.

WITHOUT YOUR SYSTEM, WE WOULD PROBABLY HAVE 10,000 PEOPLE MORE IN OUR CRIMINAL, AND PERHAPS THAT'S AN OVER-EXAGGERATION, BUT THERE WOULD BE MANY, MANY MORE PEOPLE.

SO IT IS A VERY COMPLICATED, COMPLEX SYSTEM.

IT IS A NEED OF FUNDING AND INITIATIVE, AND THE ABILITY OF THIS COMMUNITY TO COME TOGETHER WITH ALL THE DIFFERENT PARTS.

OF OUR JUSTICE SYSTEM.

SO THANK YOU, JUDGE KAYSER, FOR BRINGING THAT UP TO US.

I WANT TO THANK TOMAS AS WELL.

HE'S BEEN VERY GOOD IN TALKING TO US ABOUT THIS.

THANK YOU.

ALL RIGHT.

HAVING HEARD THAT, LET ME YIELD TO COMMISSIONER MOODY AND OPEN UP.

AND COMMISSIONER MOODY, IF WE NEED THE TEAM TO COME BACK UP, DO YOU WANT THE TEAM TO COME BACK UP? PLEASE, BUT THERE'S GOING TO BE A LOT OF PLAYERS.

ALL RIGHT.

SO THOMAS AND TEAM, COME BACK.

YES.

OKAY.

SO, FIRST OF ALL, I APPRECIATE THE PRESENTATION.

I'M GLAD WE'RE HERE.

I THINK THIS DISCUSSION WAS OVERDUE, BUT AT LEAST WE'RE

[01:35:01]

I JUST WANT TO REITERATE, TO ME, YOU KNOW, THERE MAY BE SOME THINGS WE DISAGREE ON HERE, BUT THIS IS NOT A POLITICAL ISSUE.

IT STARTS AS A PUBLIC SAFETY ISSUE, AND THEN IT BECOMES A MANAGEMENT ISSUE AND A LEADERSHIP ISSUE.

AND THAT'S WHY...

I THINK WE HAVE TO COME TO THE TABLE HERE.

WE HAVE TO HAVE SERIOUS CONVERSATIONS ABOUT ALL THE CURRENT PROBLEMS OUR CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM IS FACING AND THEN HOW WE ADDRESS THEM AS A COUNTY AND WITH OUR PARTNERS, MANY OF WHICH ARE HERE IN THE ROOM.

SO, THANK YOU TO ALL THE PARTNERS.

I'M DEFINITELY LOOKING FORWARD TO GETTING YOUR THOUGHTS HERE AS WELL.

FIRST OF ALL, I'LL APOLOGIZE UP FRONT.

I COVERED A LOT OF INFORMATION AND THERE'S OTHER THINGS I STILL HAVE TO SAY.

SO I'LL TRY TO GET THROUGH EVERYTHING HERE AND HOPEFULLY GET SOME ENGAGEMENT AND CONVERSATION GOING ON WHERE WE GO FROM HERE.

WHERE WE STAND TODAY.

SO THOMAS, YOU MENTIONED OUR CURRENT CAPACITY AT THE JAIL, WHICH PUTS US PROBABLY IN WHAT, 93%, 94%, SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

NO, BRANDON WOOD LATER CAN TALK TO US ABOUT RECOMMENDATIONS FROM THE STATE ABOUT 90% CAPACITY GOING BEYOND 90% CAN BECOME A STRAIN.

HOW MUCH OF OUR COUNTY BUDGET IS CURRENTLY SPENT AT THE JAIL? AND I DON'T NEED THE EXACT FIGURE HERE.

I'M NOT TRYING TO PUT ANYBODY ON THE SPOT.

BUT IN TERMS OF ALL THE DETENTION OFFICERS WE HAVE.

WHICH IS CLOSE TO A THOUSAND.

DO YOU HAVE A BALLPARK FIGURE? AT THE JAIL? I THINK THAT MIGHT INCLUDE PATROL.

87 MILLION.

I WAS GOING TO SAY 100 MILLION, SO I WAS PRETTY CLOSE.

WE'LL THROW IN OVERTIME COSTS.

WHAT WERE OUR OVERTIME COSTS LAST YEAR, TINA? 20.

SO DOWN HERE, OVER 100 MILLION.

A MILLION DOLLARS JUST AT THE COUNTY JAIL.

A HUGE PORTION OF THE COUNTY BUDGET, AND THAT DOESN'T INCLUDE THE REST OF THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM.

THIS IS THE CENTERPIECE OF THE COUNTY'S BUDGET AND OUR WORK.

HOW MUCH DID WE SPEND LAST YEAR HOUSING INMATES OUT AT A COST? ABOUT $4 MILLION.

IS THAT WHAT WE BUDGETED THIS YEAR? YEAH, $4.5 MILLION, I THINK.

BUT BASED ON THE CHANGE IN COST AT KERR COUNTY, WE INCREASED THAT $2 MILLION, CORRECT? CORRECT.

IF WE USE THOSE BEDS AS EXPECTED.

SO YOU GOT ANOTHER $4 TO $8 MILLION THERE, DEPENDING ON HOW MANY BEDS YOU PLAN TO USE AT SURROUNDING COUNTIES.

GOING TO YOUR PRESENTATION, I KNOW YOU HAD SOME NUMBERS HERE, BUT THE TOTAL AMOUNT OF INVESTMENTS IN CRIMINAL JUSTICE STRATEGIES.

WHETHER THAT'S AN ANNUAL NUMBER OR OVER THE PAST FEW YEARS, IF I'M JUST LOOKING AT WHAT'S ON THIS...

PRESENTATION LOOKS LIKE A COUPLE MILLION DOLLARS I'M SORRY COMMISSIONER CAN YOU REPEAT THAT QUESTION WHICH SLIDE ARE YOU LOOKING AT JUST THE FUNDING FOR CURRENT CRIMINAL JUSTICE STRATEGIES THOSE ARE THE ONES THAT YOU HAVE HIGHLIGHTED HERE ON SLIDE EIGHT YEAH THAT SOUNDS ABOUT RIGHT UH COMMISSIONER AGAIN THIS IS FOR THIS CURRENT FISCAL YEAR SO IT DOESN'T INCORPORATE INVESTMENTS THAT WE'VE HAD THROUGH ARPA THAT ARE MULTI-YEAR, ET CETERA.

SO THIS IS FISCAL YEAR ONLY.

OKAY.

I'M SORRY, I MISSED THE NUMBER, COMMISSIONER.

WAS THAT $8 MILLION, DID YOU SAY, COMMISSIONER? WELL, I SAID TWO BASED ON THE NUMBERS I'M SEEING ON SLIDE EIGHT.

AND AGAIN, IT DOES NOT INCLUDE COMMISSIONER CALVERT.

AS YOU KNOW, WE'VE ADDED A LOT OF RESIDENTIAL PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING THROUGH ARPA.

IT DOESN'T INCLUDE ANY OF THOSE NUMBERS.

WHAT YOU'VE INVESTED IN FOR REHABBING, YOU KNOW, THE COMMONS OF THE ST.

PETER'S TRAILS, ET CETERA, SOME OF THOSE COMMUNITY-BASED PROGRAMS THAT YOU COULD ALSO INCORPORATE INTO THIS DOLLAR AMOUNT.

SO THIS IS JUST A SNAPSHOT.

[01:40:02]

AND THEN GOING TO THE PUBLIC HEALTH STRATEGIES, THERE'S EVEN A LOT MORE THAN THAT.

IT LOOKS LIKE $45 TO $50 MILLION.

THAT IS CORRECT.

OKAY.

AND I'LL COME BACK TO THAT TO YOU HERE IN A SECOND.

BUT I THINK MY POINT UP FRONT IS WE'RE SPENDING HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM, RIGHT? SO THAT ABSOLUTELY DEMANDS THE LEVEL OF ATTENTION AND FOCUS AND CONVERSATION THAT WE'RE TRYING TO HAVE HERE TODAY.

SPENDING SOME TIME ACTUALLY DIVING INTO THIS, NOT TO MENTION THE DEATHS THAT WE HEARD ABOUT EARLIER AND SOME OF THE OTHER CONCERNS THAT ARE OUT THERE IN THE JAIL.

SO...

LET ME CIRCLE BACK TO A COUPLE OTHER COMMENTS JUST TO MAKE.

SO I KNOW THE THE JAIL POPULATION HAS BOUNCED AROUND SIGNIFICANTLY RIGHT WE'RE ACTUALLY DOWN SEVERAL HUNDRED FROM WHERE WE WERE KIND OF AT A PEAK HOWEVER IF YOU LOOK AT THE EXPECTED GROWTH RATES FOR BEXAR COUNTY OVER THE NEXT 15 YEARS WE'RE PROJECTED TO GROW 29 PERCENT OVER THE NEXT 35 YEARS 54%.

IF YOU JUST HELD INCARCERATION RATES CONSTANT, THAT WOULD LEAD TO AN ADDITIONAL 1,500 INMATES IN 15 YEARS OR 2,500 INMATES IN 35 YEARS.

AGAIN, INCARCERATION RATES CONSTANT.

SO I THINK THAT BEGS THE QUESTION, FIRST OF ALL, ARE WE PLANNING FOR THAT LEVEL OF GROWTH, OR ARE THERE SOME ASSUMPTIONS UNDERLYING HERE THAT, YOU KNOW, INCARCERATION RATES ARE GOING TO DRAMATICALLY DECREASE OR, YOU KNOW, THE THROUGHPUT OF OUR COURT SYSTEM IS GOING TO GO FROM 60 DAYS TO 30 DAYS OR ARE THERE SOME OTHER ASSUMPTIONS THAT I'M TOTALLY MISSING? BECAUSE IF WE LOOK AT THE NUMBERS WE HAVE TODAY AND THE CURRENT TRAJECTORY OF GROWTH, THEN IT BEGS THE QUESTION, LIKE WHAT ARE YOUR ASSUMPTIONS IF YOU DON'T THINK WE NEED ADDITIONAL CAPACITY? I THINK IT'S A FAIR QUESTION FOR EVERYBODY IN THE ROOM.

SO I'M, AND AGAIN, I DIDN'T WANT TO DIVE INTO, YOU KNOW, THIS JUST BEING A CAPACITY CONVERSATION BECAUSE THERE'S MULTIPLE PIECES HERE.

AND I AM NOT OPPOSED TO EXPLORING DIVERSION.

I'VE SAID SEVERAL TIMES THAT I THINK DIVERSION EFFORTS ARE NECESSARY BUT NOT SUFFICIENT TO SOLVE THE OVERALL PROBLEM.

AND SO THERE'S SOME SHORT-TERM SOLUTIONS.

THERE'S...

DIVERSION EFFORTS, THERE'S THINGS WE MAYBE CAN CLEAN UP IN OUR COURT SYSTEM, BUT ULTIMATELY THERE'S SOME MID-LONG-TERM SOLUTIONS THAT ARE GOING TO REQUIRE SOME SERIOUS INVESTMENTS BY BEXAR COUNTY.

AND I THINK WE CAN'T LOOK PAST THAT BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT THESE BIG PROJECTS CAN TAKE YEARS, AND NOT TWO OR THREE YEARS, FIVE, SIX, SEVEN YEARS BY THE TIME WE ACTUALLY SEE THEM REALIZED.

I'M GOING TO COME BACK TO SOME OF THE PRESENTATIONS THAT HAVE BEEN REFERENCED AND HIGHLIGHTED HERE.

ONE OTHER THING I WANTED TO MENTION, I SEE THERE'S THREE SEPARATE DISCUSSION ITEMS, I THINK, TODAY.

TO ME, THERE'S THIS DEMAND PART OF THE PROBLEM THAT MAINLY WRAPS AROUND DEFLECTION AND DIVERSION.

HOW ARE WE NOT CREATING...

HOW ARE WE REDUCING THE DEMAND FOR FACILITIES AND BED SPACE? AND WE CAN TALK ABOUT THAT.

AND THEN THERE'S SUPPLY SIDE, AND THIS REALLY HAS TO DO WITH FACILITIES.

THIS HAS TO DO WITH DAN CURRY.

THIS HAS TO DEAL WITH THE SHERIFF.

THIS HAS TO DO WITH US TALKING ABOUT ADDITIONAL MENTAL HEALTH BEDS, FORENSIC BEDS, CIVIL BEDS, POTENTIALLY JAIL BEDS, MEDICAL BEDS, ALL OF THE ABOVE.

AND THEN THERE'S A THIRD PART OF THIS, AND TO BE HONEST, THIS HAS COME MORE TO ME IN THE LAST...

COUPLE DAYS, BUT THERE IS THERE ARE ISSUES AROUND COORDINATION AND PARTNERSHIP IN THIS SPACE THAT WE HAVE TO ADDRESS.

AND, YOU KNOW, WE CAN'T DIVE REALLY DEEP INTO EACH ONE OF THOSE HERE TODAY, BUT WE GOT A LOT OF COOKS IN THE KITCHEN, BUT WE HAVE TO REMEMBER WE'RE ON THE SAME TEAM AND KNOW THAT WE'RE TRYING TO MOVE THE COUNTY FORWARD.

AND, YOU KNOW, BASED ON SOME OF THE THINGS I'VE HEARD AND SOME OF THE FIGHTS, THE ONGOING FIGHTS THAT WE HAVE BETWEEN DIFFERENT ORGANIZATIONS AND DIFFERENT PARTNERS, WE NEED TO WORK THROUGH THIS

[01:45:01]

WE CAN'T SEE CONTRACTS LAPSE.

WE CAN'T SEE PEOPLE NOT GET PAID.

WE CAN'T ALLOW SOME OF THE CAPACITY WE DO HAVE TO DISAPPEAR.

WE'RE TALKING ABOUT ADDITIONAL CAPACITY WE NEED, AND I KNOW ERIC EPLEY CAN SPEAK TO THE FACT THAT WE'RE LOSING CAPACITY TODAY.

SO SOME SERIOUS QUESTIONS ARE GOING TO HAVE TO BE ANSWERED ON THAT FRONT.

LET ME JUST GO BACK TO YOUR PRESENTATION, AND THERE'S A FEW THINGS HERE.

LET'S JUST GO BACK TO THE PUBLIC HEALTH STRATEGIES AND THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE STRATEGIES YOU MENTIONED.

YOU SAID WE'VE BEEN DOING DIVERSION FOR A LONG TIME, CORRECT? CORRECT.

I KNOW A PREVIOUS VERSION OF ONE OF THESE SLIDES ACTUALLY HAD...

TOTAL CASES VERSUS ELIGIBLE.

VERSUS ACCEPTED FOR DIVERSION.

WHAT PERCENT OF TOTAL INMATES TODAY ARE ELIGIBLE FOR DIVERSION? SO TOTAL PERCENT AND SHOULD WE NOT HAVE SOMEONE FROM THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE TO ANSWER THAT? I BRING UP I DOUBT HE'S GOING TO BE ABLE TO ANSWER THAT.

I DO KNOW I DO KNOW, IN LOOKING OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF FISCAL YEARS, THE INDIVIDUALS WHO GO THROUGH THE DOORS AT THE ADULT DETENTION CENTER RANGES BETWEEN 37,000 TO 38,000 INDIVIDUALS, UNIQUE INDIVIDUALS THAT GO THROUGH THOSE DOORS.

ABOUT 50% OF THOSE INDIVIDUALS ARE RELEASED WITHIN THREE DAYS, THREE TO FOUR DAYS.

UNDER THE CURRENT CHARGES THAT WE WENT OVER THAT ARE ALLOWED BY THE DA'S OFFICE THAT ARE ELIGIBLE, WE WERE IDENTIFYING THROUGH A FISCAL YEAR MORE OR LESS AROUND 1,000 INDIVIDUALS THAT WE DEEMED ELIGIBLE, JUST KIND OF A ROUND NUMBER.

OF THAT 1,000, I BELIEVE WE WERE ACTUALLY DIVERTING MAYBE ANYWHERE BETWEEN 500 TO 600 INDIVIDUALS OF THAT NUMBER.

SO, AGAIN, THOSE ARE OVER THE LAST FEW FISCAL YEARS, SO JUST KIND OF HIGH-LEVEL NUMBERS.

AGAIN, I JUST WANT TO GET AT THE BALLPARK FIGURES SO WE CAN UNDERSTAND.

AND THAT PERCENTAGE WAS 26%.

ACCORDING TO STAFF THIS FISCAL YEAR, CORRECT, JENNIFER? YOU SAID 26% WERE ELIGIBLE? YES, FOR PR BONDS ONLY.

SO, WELL, NOW I'M GOING TO HAVE TO TRY TO RECONCILE THE 26% WITH THE 01,000 VERSUS 40,000 BECAUSE I THOUGHT IT WAS A MUCH SMALLER PERCENTAGE BASED ON THOSE NUMBERS THAT YOU FIRST PROVIDED.

YES, I THINK THE PERCENTAGE I GAVE YOU WAS FOR ONE SET OF ELIGIBLE.

SO, I WOULD...

I WOULD GO OFF THE WHOLE NUMBERS THAT I JUST PRESENTED.

OKAY.

WELL, WHETHER IT'S A FEW PERCENTAGE POINTS OR WHETHER IT'S 20%, IT'S STILL A SMALLER PERCENTAGE OF THE TOTAL, RIGHT, WHO ARE ELIGIBLE.

IF 26% OF THOSE WERE ELIGIBLE, THEN YOU WOULD HAVE A LOT MORE.

I MEAN, YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE POTENTIALLY.

SO I'M NOT SURE.

AGAIN, WE NEED CLARITY ON THAT, EXACTLY WHO'S ELIGIBLE.

I THINK ONE OF THE OTHER QUESTIONS I HAD WAS JUST IN TERMS OF THE FUNDING THAT IS BEING SPENT THERE TODAY FOR BOTH PUBLIC HEALTH AND CRIMINAL JUSTICE STRATEGIES.

WE'RE HIGHLIGHTING THIS AND WE'RE THROWING OUT NUMBERS.

WE DON'T REALLY KNOW WHAT ADDITIONAL NEED, ADDITIONAL CAPACITY AVAILABLE.

AND HOW PRODUCTIVE, LIKE WHAT ARE THE PERFORMANCE INDICATORS HERE? WE'RE SHOWING NUMBERS THAT HAVE GONE THROUGH THIS PROGRAM, WE'RE SPENDING MONEY ON THESE, BUT I DON'T REALLY SEE THE PERFORMANCE INDICATORS OR KNOWING THE CAPACITY.

HEY, WE ACTUALLY HAVE ANOTHER, YOU KNOW, 100 RESIDENTIAL TREATMENT BEDS, AND THERE IS A DEMAND, AND THERE ARE ELIGIBLE INDIVIDUALS.

YOU KNOW, WHAT'S THE STICKING POINT? OR IS IT TRANSITIONAL HOUSING? WELL, WE'RE AT 100, WE'RE CAPPED OUT, WE HAVE NO CAPACITY.

SO THERE'S NO UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT THE...

THE LIMITS ARE ON SOME OF THESE CATEGORIES OR WHAT THE ADDITIONAL COSTS WOULD BE.

AND SO I THINK IT'S HARD FOR US TO DETERMINE.

WE HAD A CONVERSATION WITH ADVANOS AND JIMMY HASLACHER AND HIS TEAM.

I KNOW THEY SHOWED THE TRIANGLE OF CARE, RIGHT? AND AT THE BOTTOM, WE HAVE A LOT OF THESE PUBLIC HEALTH STRATEGIES AND INVESTMENTS.

BUT HOW DO WE THINK ABOUT THE PERFORMANCE OF THEM, WHERE THERE'S ADDITIONAL NEED? HOW ARE THE GEARING RATIOS BETWEEN ALL THESE CATEGORIES? AND THE OTHER QUESTION I'LL JUST MENTION BEFORE YOU JUMP IN IS, OF ALL THESE DOLLARS THAT ARE LISTED HERE, WHAT'S THE BREAKDOWN BETWEEN BEXAR COUNTY DOLLARS, ARPA DOLLARS, OPIOID DOLLARS? BECAUSE I THINK WE NEED TO

[01:50:01]

IF THEY WERE ARPA-FUNDED OR OPIOID-FUNDED, AND SO IF YOU COULD SPEAK TO THAT AS WELL.

THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER'S JUDGE.

I'M DR.

ANDREA GUERRERO.

I'M THE DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC HEALTH FOR BEXAR COUNTY, AND I CAN SPEAK SPECIFICALLY TO THE PUBLIC HEALTH STRATEGIES, BUT I WILL REITERATE THAT THE REASON WE'RE DOING THIS PRESENTATION AND PRESENTING PUBLIC HEALTH ALONGSIDE THE OFFICE OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE IS TO DEMONSTRATE HOW WE DOVETAIL THESE STRATEGIES.

PUBLIC HEALTH IS FOCUSED ON PRIMARY PREVENTION TO HELP FOLKS.

LIMIT THEIR EXPOSURE TO THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM BEFORE THEY BECOME, BEFORE THEY HAVE AN ENCOUNTER WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT.

SO REALLY PREVENTATIVE AND UPSHOT.

...AS, WHEREAS OFFICE OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE, ALL OF THE PROGRAMS THAT THEY ARE OPERATING ARE ONCE SOMEONE HAS ALREADY BEEN ARRESTED, MAYBE AGAIN, AND THE DIVERSION OR DEFLECTION PROGRAM IS A CONDITION OF THEIR RELEASE, IT'S A CONDITION OF THEIR BOND.

SO JUST MAKING THAT DISTINCTION.

SO TO ADDRESS YOUR QUESTION, COMMISSIONER, THE INVESTMENTS THAT YOU SEE HERE FOR THIS FUNDING YEAR, THEY'RE A MIX.

SO THE INPATIENT PSYCHIATRIC BEDS, THAT IS A CONTRACT THAT WE HAVE WITH STRAC FOR ALMOST $8 MILLION.

AND THAT WAS COMPLETELY ARPA FUNDED.

AND I'LL SAY THAT IT WAS KIND OF UNDERSPENT UNTIL WE EXPANDED THE SCOPE TO INCLUDE PEDIATRIC BEDS, AND THEN WE WERE ABLE TO REALLY INCREASE THOSE BED DAYS AND GET THAT NUMBER UP SO THAT WE'RE SPENDING ALL THAT MONEY.

SO THAT'S ARPA.

FOR THE SMART TEAM, MOBILE MULTIDISCIPLINARY TEAM, THAT IS A MIX OF GENERAL FUNDS.

THE EXPANSION TO 24-7 WAS MADE POSSIBLE THROUGH ARPA FUNDS.

FOR RESIDENTIAL TREATMENT, ALMOST ENTIRELY ALL OF THAT IS OPIOID FUNDING.

OPIOID SETTLEMENT FUNDING TOOK PLACES LIKE LIFE.

LIFETIME, ALPHA HOME, PAY IT FORWARD, CROSSPOINT, EITHER FOR SOME CONSTRUCTION BUT MOSTLY RESIDENTIAL TREATMENT.

THE OTHER ARPA FUNDS THAT SUPPORT RESIDENTIAL TREATMENT WOULD BE RISE RECOVERY, WHICH IS A SCHOOL-BASED HIGH SCHOOL THAT FOCUSES ON RECOVERY FOR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS.

AND THEN THE OUTPATIENT LOWER ACUITY, THAT IS ALMOST ENTIRELY ARPA, THAT WAS MADE POSSIBLE OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS.

OKAY.

IF YOU COULD JUST SUM UP THEN ON THAT PAGE WITH THE...

SAY IT WAS $45 MILLION.

HOW MUCH OF THAT IS BEXAR COUNTY VERSUS ARPA VERSUS? FOR ALL OF THESE, THE ENTIRE THING, IT'S ALMOST ENTIRELY ARPA AND OPIOID WITH THE EXCEPTION OF PART OF THE SMART BUDGET.

SO MAYBE PROBABLY ABOUT HALF OF THAT WOULD BE GENERAL FUND.

SO WHAT IS THE PLAN FOR REPLACING? WELL, I'LL ADDRESS YOUR OTHER QUESTION ABOUT OUTCOMES AND HOW ARE WE MEASURING SUCCESS OR NOT OF A LOT OF THESE THINGS.

AND SO WE HAVE AN ENTIRE TEAM, AND OUR FOCUS IS ON NOT JUST FORMATIVE EVALUATION, SUMMATIVE EVALUATION, BUT LOOKING AT WHAT IS THE IMPACT OF THESE PROGRAMS, HOWEVER THEY WERE FUNDED, WHETHER THEY WERE GENERAL FUND, ARPA, OR OPIOID.

AND SOME OF THE THINGS, ESPECIALLY WITH RESIDENTIAL TREATMENT, BECAUSE THOSE ARE THE ONES THAT HAVE A REALLY HIGH RISK OF BECOMING REARRESTED.

BUT WE'RE LOOKING AT...

RECIDIVISM RATES, AS IS OCJ, WE ARE LOOKING AT THE NUMBER OF DAYS TO RE-ARREST.

WE'RE LOOKING WHETHER OR NOT THAT NUMBER, NUMBER OF DAYS TO RE-ARREST, CORRELATES WITH THE NUMBER OF DAYS THEY SPENT IN INPATIENT.

AND THAT TYPE OF EVALUATION WILL GIVE US BETTER INSIGHT INTO THE THINGS THAT ARE MORE OR LESS A GOOD INVESTMENT, THE ONES THAT COME UP WITH THE HIGHEST AMOUNT OF COST AVOIDANCE.

SO OF COURSE WITH PUBLIC HEALTH IT'S SOMETIMES HARD TO MEASURE WHAT DIDN'T HAPPEN BECAUSE IT WAS PREVENTION.

BUT WE CAN TELL, LIKE, FOR EXAMPLE, WITH THE DAYS, IF WE'RE CORRELATING THE LENGTH OF STAY TO THE DAYS TO RE-ARREST, FOR EXAMPLE, I'LL JUST CALL OUT LIFETIME, THEY HAVE OVER 150 DAYS TO RE-ARREST.

AND THE PEOPLE THAT ARE IN THERE IN RECOVERY VOLUNTARILY, IT'S NOT A CONDITION OF THEIR BOND FOR THE CONTRACT UNDER PUBLIC HEALTH.

SO WE'RE TRACKING ALL OF THESE MEASURES FOR ALL OF THE PROGRAMS. AND SIMILARLY, WITH MENTAL HEALTH PROGRAMS AS WELL, THE MENTAL HEALTH, THE $20 MILLION ARPIT INVESTMENT INTO SCHOOL-BASED.

AND THE ISDS TO PROVIDE MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES THERE.

IT'S NOT INCLUDED IN THIS PRESENTATION BECAUSE IT'S REALLY UPSTREAM TO JUDGE KAZIN'S POINT ABOUT THE PIPELINE, BUT PREVENTATIVE AWAY UPSTREAM.

SO I'M GLAD THAT YOU'RE MAINTAINING PERFORMANCE INDICATORS WITHIN PROGRAMS. I THINK THE CHALLENGE IS ACROSS PROGRAMS, RIGHT, AND HOW DO WE COMPARE DIFFERENT PROGRAMS THAT MAYBE HAVE DIFFERENT MEASUREMENTS, PERFORMANCE INDICATORS? SO THAT WILL BE SOMETHING LIKE WE KIND OF HAVE TO WORK ON.

WE'VE BECOME VERY PRESCRIPTIVE IN HOW WE CREATE OUR CONTRACTS, HOW WE PROVIDE STANDARDS AND STANDARDIZING THOSE METRICS ACROSS PROGRAMS SO THAT WE'RE COLLECTING DATA GOING FORWARD.

SO WE'RE COMPARING APPLES TO APPLES.

OKAY.

BUT JUST, AGAIN, TO CLARIFY, BECAUSE THIS IS, YOU KNOW,

[01:55:01]

THOSE WEREN'T JUST...

CAPITAL DOLLARS FOR EXPANSION ON FACILITY, CORRECT? YES.

AND SO JUST TO BE CLEAR, THOMAS, WE DON'T HAVE A PLAN RIGHT NOW ON HOW WE'RE GOING TO BACKFILL ANY OF THOSE PROGRAMS OR WHICH PROGRAMS WILL BE BACKFILLED.

THAT IS CORRECT.

THAT'S CURRENTLY UNDER EVALUATION.

OKAY.

AND I DID WANT TO BRING UP ANTONIO TO DISCUSS THE SAME THING ON OUR CRIMINAL JUSTICE STRATEGIES IN THOSE NUMBERS.

AND ADD THIS INTO ANOTHER...

DIFFICULT CONVERSATION THAT'S UPCOMING ABOUT A LONG-TERM FINANCIAL FORECAST, AND IT'S DOUBLE CONCERNING TO ME.

GO AHEAD.

THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER.

I THINK A LOT OF THE POINTS THAT YOU MADE ARE DEFINITELY IN PART WITH...

WHAT DR.

GUERRERO JUST MENTIONED, AND REALLY THE COUNTY MANAGER'S OFFICE, WE'RE LOOKING AT ALL OUR CONTRACTS AND REALIGNING THEM TO ENSURE ACCOUNTABILITY, RIGHT, AND ENSURING THAT THE DOLLARS ARE GOING TO A POINT WHERE WE CAN MEASURE THE SUCCESS IN THE METRICS, RIGHT? SO FOR OCJ, WE'RE LOOKING AT RECIDIVISM AS OUR MAIN FACTOR, RIGHT? TO YOUR POINT, FOR EXAMPLE, 136 INDIVIDUALS WENT TO RESIDENTIAL TREATMENT.

WE'RE ALIGNING ALL OUR CONTRACTS TO ENSURE THAT WE CAN REPORT TO THE COURT OUT OF THE 136, THIS IS THE RECIDIVISM RATE FOR THOSE INDIVIDUALS.

MORE IMPORTANTLY, NOT ONLY JUST FOR RESIDENTIAL TREATMENT, BUT REALLY FOR ALL OF THE SERVICES THAT WE'RE PROVIDING, RIGHT? SO THAT WAY WE CAN COME BACK AND SAY INDIVIDUALS THAT ARE BENEFITING FROM RESIDENTIAL TREATMENT FACILITIES OR ANY OF THE OTHER PROGRAMS THAT WE HAVE, TRANSITIONAL HOUSING, THEY'RE NOT COMING BACK TO THE JAIL, RIGHT? BECAUSE ULTIMATELY THAT, AT THE END OF THE DAY, WE CAN THEN QUANTIFY AND PUT SOME OF THE COST THAT IS GOING TO THAT, RIGHT? BUT AGAIN, WE'RE ALIGNING ALL OUR CONTRACTS.

THE COUNTY MANAGER'S OFFICE HAS BROUGHT...

REALLY THE DEPARTMENTS AND TO YOUR POINT, COLLABORATION IS ONE OF THE KEY THINGS THAT WE'VE IDENTIFIED.

MY PREVIOUS ROLE AS OVERSEEING THE JAIL POPULATION IS ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WORKING HAND IN HAND WITH THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE, WITH ALL THE DEPARTMENTS, RIGHT, TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE, TO YOUR POINT, IN THE SAME TEAM AND GOING IN THE SAME DIRECTION, RIGHT, AND THAT WE CAN CROSS COLLABORATE NOT ONLY INTERNALLY BUT ALSO WITH OUR PROVIDERS OUT IN THE COMMUNITY, RIGHT, BECAUSE I THINK THERE'S A LOT OF GAPS.

MISSED OPPORTUNITIES THAT WE HAVE TO BE ABLE TO MAXIMIZE SOME OF THE COUNTY FUNDING AND SOME OF THE STUFF THAT WE HAVE.

OKAY.

I APPRECIATE IT.

BUT LET ME JUST FINISH MY THOUGHT HERE.

AND ONE THING, COMMISSIONER, JUST TO ADD, JUST BEFORE I FORGET, WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE FUNDING STREAMS, A LOT OF THAT IS GENERAL FUND HERE ACROSS THE BOARD HERE.

THE MAJORITY OF THESE SERVICES AND STRATEGIES ON THE OCJ SITE IS GENERAL FUNDED.

WE DO HAVE...

A COUPLE OF GRANTS IN HERE, BUT FOR THE MOST PART, THAT IS GENERAL FUNDS.

WHICH SLIDE ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT? SLIDE 8.

OKAY.

THAT'S THE SMALL ONE.

IT'S THE OTHER BIG ONE THAT'S THE CHALLENGE.

SO YOU HAVE $45 MILLION, NOT A CLEAR FUNDING MECHANISM TODAY.

WE KNOW WE'RE GOING TO TALK ABOUT OUR LONG-RANGE FINANCIAL FORECAST, AND WE KNOW THAT THERE'S AN INCREASING NEED.

SO I'LL GO AHEAD.

YIELD TO COLLEAGUES.

FIRST OF ALL, THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.

I JUST WANT TO RECOGNIZE SOME OF THE GOOD WORK WE ARE DOING.

SO I WANT TO RECOGNIZE DR.

NORMA GREENFIELD-LABORDI.

I KNOW SHE WAS UNABLE TO BE HERE TODAY, BUT OF COURSE HER DEPUTY IS HERE, HER STAFF IS HERE.

ALSO CHCS AND THE WORK THAT THEY HAVE BEEN PARTNERING WITH US.

I RECENTLY MET WITH MY APPOINTEE REGARDING SOME OF THESE ISSUES.

AND OF COURSE, UHS.

THE SOUTHSIDE HOSPITAL IS, OF COURSE, BEING BUILT, BUT THE PREVENTATIVE HEALTH, AND I'M USING PREVENTATIVE HEALTH, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT DEFLECTION, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT DIVERSION, BUT AS DR.

ANDREA WAS TALKING ABOUT, I USE THE WORD PREVENTATIVE A LOT.

SO THE PREVENTATIVE HEALTH BUILDING IS OPEN FOR BUSINESS, Y'ALL.

AND THE THIRD FLOOR, BECAUSE ED AND I, WE HAD A LOT OF CONVERSATIONS, AND I'M NOT GOING TO SAY FIGHT, BECAUSE WE DON'T FIGHT, BUT ADVOCATE IT VERY WELL.

AND BECAUSE OF THAT ADVOCACY, THE THIRD FLOOR IS SOLELY DEDICATED TO MENTAL HEALTH AND BEHAVIORAL HEALTH.

BECAUSE THIS IS ABOUT PREVENTATIVES.

SO WAY BEFORE I WAS COMMISSIONER, I WAS TALKING ABOUT IN THE STATE OF TEXAS, OUR JAILS ARE THE NUMBER ONE PROVIDERS OF MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES.

AND THAT IS A SHAME.

TO THE PARENT WHO SPOKE EARLIER, WHO'S STILL HERE IN THE BACK, I WROTE DOWN SOMETHING SHE SAID.

HORRIBLE TO SAY, BUT IT WAS A QUOTE THAT SHE SAID, CUSTODY SHOULDN'T BE A DEATH SENTENCE.

AND SO IN ORDER TO AVOID THAT, WE NEED TO MAKE SURE WE ARE ABOUT PREVENTATIVE HEALTH.

SO THE 20 MILLION SCHOOL-BASED, COUNTY-WIDE MENTAL HEALTH PROGRAM IS A COMMUNITY DEFLECTION PROGRAM THAT I HAVE BEEN TALKING ABOUT WAY

[02:00:01]

AND I'VE BEEN CLEAR WITH SCHOOL DISTRICTS, THIS IS SEED FUNDING, BECAUSE THESE ARE OPERA DOLLARS.

SO USE THE BEST PRACTICES, USE THE SUCCESS STORIES TO THEN GO AND BE ABLE TO GET MORE MONEY.

SO WE NEED TO MAKE SURE OUR LOBBYISTS, IF YOU'RE LISTENING, WE PASSED Y'ALL'S CONTRACTS LAST MONTH AND I PULLED IT, BUT VOTED FOR IT.

SO TO OUR LOBBYISTS, TO MELISSA SHANNON, WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT AT THE STATE LEVEL THAT WE CONTINUE TO ADVOCATE FOR...

THESE SCHOOL MENTAL HEALTH PROGRAMS SO THAT WE WON'T HAVE THESE SITUATIONS.

AND AGAIN, SINCE BEFORE I GOT HERE, WAS TALKING ABOUT WE NEED MORE MENTAL HEALTH BEDS BECAUSE PEOPLE SHOULD NOT BE ROTTING IN JAIL.

AND SO.

I WANT TO ASK JARVIS IF YOU WOULD COME UP PLEASE.

SO IT'S A LITTLE CONFUSING WITH JARVIS SO WE PUSHED A LOT OF FUNDING I BELIEVE IT WAS 25-30 MILLION DOLLARS FOR APPLEWHITE WHICH IS IN MY PRECINCT AND IT IS A BEAUTIFUL FACILITY IT IS OPEN SO THE FACILITY IS THE COUNTY'S FACILITY BUT JARVIS IS THE INTERESTING ROLE BECAUSE I GUESS PART OF YOUR FUNDING AND YOUR EMPLOYEES ALTHOUGH ARE COUNTY EMPLOYEES BUT GET FUNDED THROUGH THE STATE, SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

IT'S VERY CONFUSING.

SO CAN YOU TELL US WHY THE BEAUTIFUL FACILITY AND THE BEDS, WHY THEY'RE NOT FILLED YET? YES.

GOOD MORNING.

AND WHAT WE CAN DO ABOUT TO MAKE THAT HAPPEN.

GOOD MORNING, COUNTY JUDGE, COMMISSIONER JARVIS ANDERSON, DIRECTOR OF BARRETT COUNTY COMMUNITY DIVISION AND CORRECTIONS DEPARTMENT.

AND JARVIS, YOU'RE TALL, SO YOU'RE GOING TO NEED TO SPEAK INTO THE MIC A LITTLE BIT.

OR THAT.

THANK YOU.

SO THE BEDS, BEAUTIFUL CAMPUS.

AND I THANK THE COUNTY FOR THEIR INVESTMENT, AND IT WAS OUR PER DOLLAR, SO I APPRECIATE THAT.

WE RECEIVED THE CERTIFICATE OF ADVOCACY IN FEBRUARY.

WE STARTED MOVING PEOPLE OVER FROM THE OLD 300 BUILDING TO THE NEW WING IN MARCH.

THE ISSUE THAT WE DISCOVERED, COMMISSIONER, AND JUST FOR THE RECORD, ALL THE EMPLOYEES ARE KIND OF JUDICIAL EMPLOYEES, GET FUNDED BY THE STATE, THEY WORK FOR ME.

SO WE'RE NOT COUNTY EMPLOYEES, BUT WE RECEIVE SOME COUNTY BENEFITS.

OKAY.

THE ISSUE THAT WE DISCOVERED FROM ALL OF THIS IS PSYCH MEDS, RIGHT? THAT'S THE MAIN HOLDUP FOR US, RIGHT? I'M WORKING ON A LONG-TERM PLAN WHERE THE STATE WILL ACTUALLY FUND THAT.

BUT IN THE INTERIM, THE ONLY WAY PSYCH MEDS GET FUNDED IN THE DVRF, IF THEY GO THROUGH TACOMA, WHICH PARTNER WITH THE CENTER FOR HEALTHCARE SERVICES.

THAT'S MY MAIN ISSUE THERE, RIGHT? I CAN BRING IN COUNSELORS, I CAN ABSORB THE FOOD AND SECURITY, BUT THAT'S THE ONE ISSUE I HAVE.

I'M WORKING WITH THE COUNTY MENTAL HEALTH DEPARTMENT TO SEE IF WE CAN DO SOMETHING IN THE INTERIM WHERE I WORK ON A LONG-TERM SOLUTION WHERE THE STATE WILL FUND THIS.

THE ENGAGEMENT CENTER, THE DDRF FACILITY, WE HAVE A CODE WHERE THE STATE CAN FUND US IN THE FUTURE.

SO THAT'S MY MAIN ISSUE RIGHT NOW, COMMISSIONER.

IS GETTING THE PSYCH MEDS RESOLVED, RIGHT? AND I HAVE A MEETING THIS FRIDAY WITH UHSS TO SEE IF THERE'S SOMETHING WE CAN DO IN THE INTERIM.

SO THE BEDS THEMSELVES, THERE'S 130 BEDS, SO I WILL NEVER DOUBLE ANYONE IN THAT SPACE BECAUSE I DON'T WANT TO PUT PEOPLE IN ALL THIS KIND OF IN SARDINE CANS WHERE THEY'RE ON TOP OF ONE ANOTHER.

RIGHT.

I WELCOME ALL THE COMMISSIONERS TO COME OUT AND LOOK AT THIS SPACE BECAUSE IT'S TRULY REMARKABLE WHAT'S HAPPENING OUT THERE.

THE FACILITY IS A CORE AND CURRENT FACILITY, SO YOU CAN'T COME OUT THERE JUST FOR MENTAL ILLNESS.

IT HAS TO BE A SUBSTANCE USE DISORDER AS WELL.

WE'VE BEEN OUT THERE IN OPERATIONS SINCE 1987.

THAT PARTICULAR FACILITY CAME OUT IN 2005.

WE PARTNER WITH THE CENTER TO DO THAT.

THEY DO THE CLINICAL ASPECT OF IT.

WE DO THE SUBSTANCE USE DISORDER ASPECT OF IT.

SECURITY, TREATMENT, FOOD, EVERYTHING ELSE.

SO IF I CAN SOLVE THE MEDICATION, THEN I CAN GET THOSE INDIVIDUALS OUT TO JAIL.

ABOUT 100 OF THEM AT APPLEWHITE WITHIN THE NEXT THREE TO FOUR MONTHS.

AND I DO WANT TO SAY THE WORK THAT YOU GUYS ARE DOING AT APPLEWHITE IS REALLY EXCELLENT, HAVING BEEN THERE, HAVING SPOKEN TO SOME OF THE PEOPLE WHO ARE GETTING TREATMENT THERE AND BEING SERVED THERE, BUT WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT THE REST OF THE BEDS ARE FILLED.

SO IF THERE'S ANYTHING THAT COMMISSIONER'S COURT CAN DO OR MY OFFICE SPECIFICALLY, PLEASE REACH OUT TO ME.

AND YOU'RE MY CONSTITUENT, TOO, AS YOU KNOW.

SO PLEASE REACH OUT TO US.

DR.

ANDREW, DID YOU HAVE A COMMENT? AND TO YOUR POINT COMMISSIONER MOODY, JUST ABOUT COLLABORATION, RIGHT? JARVIS AND I, IN GOING OVER THIS PRESENTATION, MAKING SURE THAT WE'RE TELLING THE RIGHT STORY WHEN WE TALK ABOUT APPLEWHITE AND LISTENING TO WHY AREN'T WE FILLING THESE BEDS, THE SOLUTION THAT WE'VE COME UP WITH

[02:05:01]

AND WE CAN DO THAT THROUGH THE OPIOID SETTLEMENT FUND, AND THEN WORK WITH UH AND HAVE A NEW CONVERSATION.

WE'RE ALREADY TALKING TO THEIR JAIL-BASED DETENTION FOLKS ABOUT COMING WITH A LONGER-TERM SOLUTION INSTEAD OF PURCHASING NOT JUST PSYCH MEDS, BUT ALSO LIKE BLOOD PRESSURE MEDICATION MEDS, BECAUSE THEY LEAVE THE JAIL WITH SEVEN DAYS, BUT THEY NEED A LONGER-TERM SOLUTION TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY HAVE MEDICATION SUFFICIENT FOR THEIR STAY AT APPLEWHITE.

SO WE'LL BRING BACK TO THIS COURT AS SOON AS POSSIBLE, HOPEFULLY AT THE NEXT MEETING.

A REQUEST FOR AT LEAST $60,000.

WE'LL COME UP WITH A MORE SPECIFIC BUDGET TO PURCHASE THOSE MEDICATIONS WITH THE INTENT TO WORK WITH...

UH ON A LONG-TERM SOLUTION SO WE CAN GET THEIR PRICING INSTEAD OF PURCHASING THEM OUTRIGHT AT FULL COST.

AND WE KNOW THAT DIVERSION CENTERS ALONE AREN'T GOING TO SOLVE THE JAIL POPULATION ISSUES.

I DON'T KNOW IF SOMEONE WANTS TO SPEAK TO THAT.

THANK YOU, JARVIS.

YOU'RE CORRECT, COMMISSIONER.

I MEAN, THE DIVERSION CENTER ALONE ISN'T GOING TO REDUCE JAIL POPULATION, YOU KNOW, ISN'T GOING TO EMPTY OUT THE JAIL.

BUT IT IS ONE.

PART OF A HOLISTIC PLAN THAT WE DO NEED TO DIVE DOWN BECAUSE WE KNOW THE BENEFITS THAT IT CAN ACHIEVE.

AND THAT'S FIRST AND FOREMOST THE INDIVIDUAL THEMSELVES BECOMING STABILIZED AND GETTING THE TREATMENT THEY DESERVE IN A FACILITY THAT ISN'T, YOU KNOW, THE GEL.

SO THAT IS ONE ASPECT THAT WE DO WANT TO GO DOWN THAT PATHWAY.

AND, YOU KNOW, I RECOGNIZE SOME OF OUR OUTSIDE PARTNERS EARLIER, BUT OF COURSE IT TAKES...

THE WHOLE COUNTY, I BELIEVE, I DON'T KNOW IF JENLYN'S STILL HERE, BUT SHE HAD MENTIONED THIS.

SO IT ALSO, OH THERE, IS THAT HER? YES, SHE'S TALKING.

OKAY.

IT'S ALSO ABOUT ALL OF OUR DEPARTMENTS WORKING TOGETHER, INCLUDING OUR DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE, OUR SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT.

IT TAKES ALL OF US.

SO DO YOU WANT TO SPEAK A LITTLE BIT? I KNOW COMMISSIONER RODRIGUEZ CAN SPEAK MORE TO THIS ABOUT HOW HARRIS COUNTY DA HANDLES THEIR DEFLECTION PROGRAMS. AND THEN I DON'T KNOW IF COMMISSIONER RODRIGUEZ WANTS TO CHIME IN FROM HIS VISIT.

YES, COMMISSIONER, HAVING THE OPPORTUNITY TO VISIT HARRIS COUNTY ALONG WITH THE TEAM HERE AND THE COMMISSIONER.

ONE AREA THAT THE DA'S OFFICE IS HEAVILY INVOLVED WITH IN THE AREA OF DEFLECTION IS HAVING A DEDICATED INTAKE TEAM WITH EXPERIENCED PROSECUTORS FIELDING PHONE CALLS FROM LAW ENFORCEMENT ACTUALLY STILL IN THE FIELD.

SO IN THAT CONCEPT, YOU HAVE A LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER IN THE FIELD DETAINING SOMEONE, CALLING THAT IN TO THE DA.

PROVIDING THAT INFORMATION, WHAT THEY HAVE THAT INDIVIDUAL DETAINED FOR, AND AT THAT MOMENT, IN REAL TIME, THE DA'S INTAKE TEAM CAN LET THAT LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER KNOW, YOU DON'T HAVE ENOUGH INFORMATION OR ENOUGH EVIDENCE TO BRING THAT INDIVIDUAL IN.

WE WOULDN'T CHARGE.

WE WOULD DISMISS THOSE CHARGES, SO DON'T BRING THAT INDIVIDUAL IN.

OR, HEY, YOU HAVE SOME, BUT YOU NEED A LITTLE BIT MORE, CALL BACK, DO YOUR INVESTIGATION.

OR BRING THEM IN.

WE'LL GO AHEAD AND CHARGE.

SO BEFORE THAT LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER FROM, YOU KNOW, INCLUDING SUBURBAN CITIES OVER THERE, BRINGS THAT INDIVIDUAL ALL THE WAY DOWNTOWN, THAT'S TIME, EFFORT.

RIGHT THEN AND THERE, THE DA'S OFFICE IS SAYING YES OR NO.

SO THAT IS ONE CONCEPT THAT WE'VE KIND OF, THEY'VE BEEN DOING IT FOR A WHILE, IT APPEARS.

SO LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS THERE, I GUESS THAT'S WHAT THEY'RE TRAINED TO DO.

IT'S BEEN AROUND FOR SOME TIME.

THAT IS ONE AREA THAT WE KIND OF SAW AS AN OPPORTUNITY.

WE ACTUALLY WERE ABLE TO SEE A CALL IN REAL TIME WHERE THE DA THEMSELVES SAID, YOU DON'T HAVE ENOUGH, DON'T BRING THIS INDIVIDUAL IN.

AND I THINK THAT CREDIBILITY OF THOSE INTAKE PROSECUTORS WITH EXPERIENCE IN THE COURTROOM, I THINK PROVIDES SOME CONFIDENCE THAT THIS IS TRULY A PUBLIC SAFETY CALL.

THEY UNDERSTAND KIND OF WHAT THOSE DYNAMICS ARE.

THAT PROSECUTOR WOULD HAVE TO DEAL WITH IN THE COURTROOM.

SO THAT IS ONE AREA.

COMMISSIONER, I DON'T KNOW, OR STAFF.

I JUST WANTED TO COMMENT ON, BASED ON WHAT YOU'RE, YOU CAN COME UP.

IS IT ANTONIO? YES.

SO WE'RE TALKING ABOUT, OBVIOUSLY, THE BUDGET COMING UP AND NOT THE GREAT PROJECTION OF HOW THINGS ARE LOOKING NATIONALLY AND WORLDWIDE.

SO WE CAN TALK ABOUT LACK OF FUNDING, BUT BASED ON WHAT YOU JUST SAID, THERE'S SOME THINGS THAT CAN BE MORE EFFICIENT.

THAT WE ALREADY HAVE THAT WE JUST NEED TO PUT IN PLACE BETTER, CORRECT? ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU.

CORRECT.

COMMISSIONER, I JUST WANTED TO ADD, I KNOW, TO THOMAS' POINT, RIGHT, THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS WE SAW CAN OBVIOUSLY HELP ON BOTH ENDS, RIGHT, BECAUSE I THINK ON PREVIOUS VISITS TO HARRIS

[02:10:01]

IN ADDITION TO THAT, I WOULD SAY ONE OF THE OTHER THINGS THAT I'M ALWAYS LOOKING AT EFFICIENCY, RIGHT, ESPECIALLY WITHIN THE JUDICIAL SYSTEM, IS THEIR ABILITY TO BE ABLE TO ELECTRONICALLY FILE CASES, RIGHT? SO THEY'RE ABLE TO ELECTRONICALLY FILE CASES IN THE SENSE TO GIVE YOU A SENSE OF TIME FRAMES, MISDEMEANOR CASES WITHIN 24 HOURS, SAME DAY YOU'RE FILING A CASE.

WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT EFFICIENCIES, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT HOW LONG IS IT TAKING BEXAR COUNTY RIGHT NOW WITHOUT ELECTRONIC FILING TO FILE CASES WHICH MISDEMEANOR CASES MANY TIMES LEADS TO INDIVIDUALS BEING IN CUSTODY 15 DAYS PLUS, RIGHT, JUST TO TRY TO GET A CASE FILED.

SO THOSE ARE SOME OF THE THINGS THAT, TO YOUR POINT, COMMISSIONER CLAY FLORES, RIGHT, IS WE'RE TALKING ABOUT EFFICIENCIES RIGHT INTO THE SYSTEM.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU, JUDGE.

YEAH, LET ME START WITH THAT DISCUSSION ON THE DIVERSION CENTER BECAUSE I WAS WITH THOMAS AND MY TEAM, I GUESS, BACK IN MARCH.

VISITING HARRIS COUNTY, AND I KNOW DR.

TESTA WAS THERE AS WELL.

THANK YOU FOR DOING THAT, DOC.

SO, YOU KNOW, A LOT OF THE DISCUSSION FOCUSES, AT LEAST PUBLICLY, ON KIND OF A BRICKS-AND-MORTAR DIVERSION CENTER.

AS HAS BEEN POINTED OUT, I THINK THERE'S BEEN STRATEGIES IN PLACE FOR SOME TIME WHERE WE'VE BEEN TRYING TO DIVERT, DEFLECT FOLKS FROM THE SYSTEM.

AND SO I THINK...

PART OF THE DISCUSSION, AND THIS IS GREAT THAT WE'RE HAVING THIS DISCUSSION.

WE'RE NOT GOING TO SOLVE IT ALL IN 90 MINUTES TODAY, SO HOPEFULLY, JUDGE, WE CAN HAVE AN ONGOING DIALOGUE AS IT LEADS INTO OUR BUDGET, INTO THE CITY'S BUDGET, INTO UNIVERSITY HEALTH'S BUDGET THIS YEAR.

BUT THE SYNERGIES IN HARRIS COUNTY, AS YOU MENTIONED, THOMAS, WERE, WHAT I NOTICED, MORE RELATED TO PROCESSES FOR PROPER REMEMBER, DIVERSION AND DEFLECTION, RIGHT? IT WAS THE DIFFERENT ELECTED OFFICIALS, THE DIFFERENT DEPARTMENT HEADS.

HARRIS HEALTH WAS A SIGNIFICANT PART OF THEIR DIVERSION CENTER THERE.

SO I THINK THOSE ARE THINGS THAT WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO IMPROVE ON DESPITE THE BEST EFFORTS OF A LOT OF FOLKS HERE, JOLENE AND CHCS.

I KNOW JUDGE KAZIN TALKED ABOUT A LITTLE BIT OF WHAT HE'S DONE, ALL OF THE SPECIALTY COURTS THAT HAVE BEEN PUT IN PLACE FOR DECADES THAT HAVE WORKED TOWARDS THE RESTORATIVE THERAPEUTIC JUSTICE MODEL, I THINK IN AN IDEAL WORLD, WE'D HAVE A SMALLER BRICKS AND MORTAR JAIL AND A BIGGER BRICKS AND MORTAR DIVERSION CENTER SO THAT WE COULD HELP FOLKS RATHER THAN LOCK THEM UP.

AND SO I THINK THAT THAT IS THE GOAL.

I DON'T KNOW WHAT THAT NUMBER OF BEDS LOOKS LIKE, BUT I WANTED TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE FACT THAT, YOU KNOW, I SAID I SAW DAVID HERE.

YOU KNOW, FROM LIFETIME, I MET THE NEW CEO, JOHN HORNSBY, RECENTLY.

BIG SHOES TO FILL THERE AT LIFETIME.

BUT I'VE KNOWN JOHN FOR 25 YEARS, AND I KNOW HE'S COMMITTED TO BEING A PARTNER.

WE CAN'T, AS A COUNTY, JUST FULLY RELY ON OUR PARTNERS, AND I THINK THAT'S WHERE WE CENTER BACK THE DISCUSSION ON A DIVERSION-TYPE UNIT OR BUILDING.

I WANTED TO ASK, AND I WAS GOING TO PUT YOU IN THE SPOTLIGHT, EDDIE, BECAUSE I KNOW YOU JUST HAD A RECENT SURGERY.

YOU LOOK GREAT, BY THE WAY.

BUT IF ED WOULD COME UP, BECAUSE I THINK, AGAIN, THESE ARE JUST MY IMPRESSIONS.

I HOPE YOU'RE DOING WELL, ED, BY THE WAY.

YOU LOOK GREAT.

THANK YOU.

ED DID NOT LISTEN TO ME AND STAY HOME.

I KNOW.

YOU SHOULD NOT BE HERE.

YOU SHOULD BE AT HOME.

I LISTEN TO THE COMMISSIONER ON EVERYTHING SHE NEEDS THAT SHE SAYS.

THAT'S HOW IMPORTANT THIS DISCUSSION IS, ED, AND SO WE APPRECIATE YOU BEING HERE.

YOU KNOW, GOING BACK TO...

MY FIRST BUDGET ON COMMISSIONER'S COURT 2019, WITH THE DISCUSSION THAT I HAD WITH YOU AND GEORGE HERNANDEZ AND REED HURLEY, IF YOU RECALL, WE HAD A DISCUSSION BACK THEN ABOUT POTENTIALLY TINKERING WITH YOUR TAX RATE, AND IT WOULD HAVE BEEN BACK THEN A DE MINIMIS AMOUNT TO AN AVERAGE HOMEOWNER, BUT IT WOULD HAVE MEANT $7 MILLION.

OR $8 MILLION TO YOUR BUDGET, AND THE DISCUSSION BACK THEN WAS, CAN WE USE THAT INSTEAD TO BOLSTER WHAT UNIVERSITY HEALTH IS DOING IN THE MENTAL HEALTH SPACE? YOU REMEMBER THAT, ED, BY RECOLLECTING THAT, RIGHT? OKAY.

SO WE BROUGHT THAT TO COURT.

WE EVENTUALLY GOT COMMISSIONERS TO AGREE TO THAT.

AND SO I WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT THAT BECAUSE WE TEND

[02:15:13]

PREVENTATIVE PROGRAMS THAT YOU'RE WORKING ON, THAT YOU'RE COMMITTED TO, AND INCREASINGLY THOSE HAVE BEEN IN THE MENTAL HEALTH SPACE, AND EVEN RECENTLY WITH RESPECT TO THOSE THAT INTERFACE WITH OUR JUSTICE SYSTEM AT THE JAIL.

SO, ED, I WANTED TO, FIRST OF ALL, THANK YOU FOR THE COMMITMENT THAT THE UHS HAS MADE IN THE PAST, AND I THINK, AGAIN, JUST ME SPEAKING, THE COURT'S GOING TO WEIGH IN.

I THINK THAT WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO LEAN IN TO THAT PARTNERSHIP EVEN FURTHER.

AND I'D LIKE TO HEAR YOUR THOUGHTS ON HOW YOU SEE THAT.

IN TERMS OF YOUR VISION FOR HELPING US THROUGH WHAT I THINK IS A CORE FUNCTION, AND NOT JUST THAT, NOT ONLY IS IT A CORE RESPONSIBILITY OF OURS, BUT I THINK IT'S WHAT MAKES THE MOST IMPACT IN A LOT OF AREAS, QUALITY OF LIFE-WISE, ON WHERE PEOPLE CHOOSE TO WORK AND LIVE.

SO IF YOU CAN TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT MAYBE WHAT YOU'VE DONE PAST BUDGETS WITH THOSE DOLLARS AND HOW YOU SEE THE VISION FOR MOVING FORWARD.

WELL, UM...

FIRST OF ALL, I'M GLAD TO BE HERE.

AND I WANT TO THANK ALL OF THE COMMISSIONERS AND JUDGE SAKAI WHO HAVE REACHED OUT.

IT WAS VERY, VERY NICE OF YOU, AND I APPRECIATE THAT.

AND I'M ONE OF 13,000 EMPLOYEES AT UNIVERSITY HEALTH THAT ARE COMMITTED TO THIS COUNTY AND TO SOUTH TEXAS.

IF SOMEBODY NEEDS HELP, WE'RE GOING TO MAKE SURE THAT WE CAN PROVIDE THE CARE.

I WANT TO RECOGNIZE A FEW PEOPLE.

IT WOULDN'T BE WITHOUT THE LEADERSHIP OF MR. JIMMY HASLACHER AS OUR BOARD CHAIR, ALL OF YOUR APPOINTEES.

I CAN'T SAY ENOUGH HOW WONDERFUL EVERY ONE OF OUR BOARD MEMBERS ARE WHO TAKE THIS SERIOUSLY, EVERY ISSUE WHEN IT COMES TO MEDICAL AND MENTAL HEALTH IN OUR COMMUNITY.

WE HAVE A PUBLIC HEALTH SUBCOMMITTEE.

THAT MET LAST NIGHT.

AGAIN, AT THE URGING OF COMMISSIONER CLAY FLORES, I WANT TO JUST TELL YOU HOW WE START TO, WE SEE THE PROBLEM, WE ADDRESS THE PROBLEM, AND WE TRY WORKING TOGETHER WITH ALL THE ORGANIZATIONS.

AND I WANT TO RECOGNIZE ALSO ERIC EPLEY, WHO HAD THE VISION WHEN I CAME HERE IN 2015 ABOUT ALL THE HEALTH SYSTEMS WORKING TOGETHER.

THE CITY, THE COUNTY, AND WE WOULDN'T BE WHERE WE ARE TODAY, WHICH IS MUCH BETTER OFF THAN A LOT OF CITIES ACROSS THE COUNTRY, BY HAVING LAW ENFORCEMENT NAVIGATION, THE TEAMS, THE PIC TEAMS, WORKING WITH THE SHERIFF AND HIS TEAMS, AND THEN THE STAFF IN THE BACK, DR.

ABBY LOZANO, WHO'S OVER OUR MENTAL HEALTH, STEPHANIE STIEFER, WHO'S OVER THE JAIL SERVICE, THE CORRECTIONAL SERVICES, SALLY TAYLOR, WHO'S RETIRED, BUT DOESN'T RETIRE, SO SHE STILL WORKS WITH US.

BUT JUST TO GIVE YOU AN EXAMPLE, THE COMMITMENT WE KNEW NEEDED TO BE ON THE SOUTH SIDE.

THAT CLINIC OPENED.

WE SAW 554 PATIENTS ALREADY THERE, 187 NEW JUST IN A FEW MONTHS, 456 THERAPY VISITS.

OUR LARGEST POPULATION IS FROM 18 TO 39.

WE'RE TREATING ANXIETY.

DEPRESSION, PTSD.

WE HAVE A DOMESTIC VIOLENCE ADDRESS DOWN THERE.

WE HAVE A ZERO SUICIDE PROGRAM DOWN THERE.

WE HAVE LICENSED CHEMICAL DEPENDENCY PEOPLE DOWN THERE.

WE'RE TREATING THIS IN THE OUTPATIENT BEFORE THEY CAN BECOME PART OF THE SYSTEM THAT WE'VE DISCUSSED TODAY.

IN THE JAIL, WE'RE UP TO ABOUT 370 HEALTHCARE PROVIDERS.

IN THE JAIL, A GROWTH OF OVER $30 MILLION IN EXPENSE FOR EMPLOYEES.

WE HAVE CHEMICAL DEPENDENCY COUNSELORS DOWN THERE, SOCIAL WORKERS, PSYCHIATRISTS, REGULAR, WHAT I WOULD SAY, REGULAR MENTAL HEALTH, AS WELL AS MEDICAL PROVIDERS DOWN THERE IN A VERY BIG, LARGE FACILITY THAT IS NOT A HOSPITAL WHERE YOU CAN DO THINGS AS EASILY.

WORKING TOGETHER AS A GROUP, NO ONE DEPARTMENT, COUNTY, INDIVIDUAL DEPARTMENT, WE HAVE TO WORK TOGETHER AS A TEAM.

WE HAVE LOTS OF OPPORTUNITIES TO LOOK AT ALTERNATIVE FUNDINGS, AS WE MENTIONED, WHEN IT COMES TO MEDICATION MANAGEMENT.

[02:20:02]

PHARMACEUTICALS FUNDED IF THEY'RE OUTPATIENTS THROUGH THE 340B PROGRAM, FEDERAL PROGRAMS, OTHER PROGRAMS. WE HAVE A GRANTS DEPARTMENT.

WE HAVE, WE ALSO HAVE TO HOLD THE STATE ACCOUNTABLE, WHICH IS THE STATE'S RESPONSIBLE FOR MENTAL HEALTH AND MAKING SURE THAT FUNDING IS AVAILABLE, THE DOLLARS THAT WE MAKE SURE THAT ARE AVAILABLE THROUGH OUR BUDGET.

IT IS SO IMPORTANT THAT WE ALL WORK TOGETHER AND COLLABORATIVELY AS YOU MENTIONED TODAY.

AND I'D LIKE TO JUST TAKE THE LIBERTY WE ALL PUT SOME EDITORIALS IN THE NEWSPAPER OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF MONTHS AND ONE OF THE EDITORIALS THAT I WAS LUCKY ENOUGH TO BE ABLE TO PUT IN WAS TALKING ABOUT HOW WE COULD ALL WORK TOGETHER, HOW WE HAVE, AS COMMISSIONER MOODY MENTIONED, THE PYRAMID.

THERE'S MULTIPLE LAYERS, THE LAST PARTS BEING THAT WE DON'T WANT INPATIENT HOSPITALIZATIONS OR INCARCERATION AS OUR GOAL WHEN WE KNOW THAT WE CAN TREAT ON AN AMBULATORY SIDE.

AND I RECEIVED A UNIQUE LETTER, AND I JUST WANT TO READ SOME EXCERPTS TO YOU, AND IT SAYS, AFTER READING YOUR RECENT ARTICLE IN THE SAN ANTONIO NEWS EXPRESS, I FEEL EXCITED AND QUASI-LOVED KNOWING THAT PEOPLE SUCH AS YOURSELF HAVE THE HEART THAT BEATS.

AS A CURRENT INMATE IN THE BEXAR COUNTY JAIL AND UNDER PRESCRIBED MENTAL HEALTH MEDICATION, I RELATE TO YOUR MISSION AND SUPPORT THIS THINKING.

I AM NOT UNDER THE SUBOXONE OR OPIOID PROGRAM HERE IN JAIL, BUT MANY OF THOSE IN MY HOUSING UNIT DO NEED THIS TREATMENT, AND I HAVE BENEFITED FROM FAST-REALT...

AND I COULD HAVE BENEFITED FROM FASTER ALTERNATIVE TREATMENTS RATHER THAN INCARCERATION.

IF I MAY, I'D LIKE TO SHARE WITH YOU ANOTHER ISSUE THAT I MYSELF HAVE EXPERIENCED.

BEXAR COUNTY HAS REMANDED MANY INMATES, MYSELF INCLUDED, WITHOUT BOND UNDER MENTAL HEALTH 1622.

KEEPS ALL THE JAIL POPULATION WITH MANY INMATES THAT COULD BENEFIT FROM PROGRAMS MENTIONED IN YOUR ARTICLE.

I'VE BEEN INSIDE THE JAIL FOR OVER A YEAR.

AWAITING A COMPETENCY RESTORATION PROGRAM.

I HAVE HEARD CODE ONE BLUE WHEN INMATE IS UNRESPONSIVE.

I'VE HEARD IT ANNOUNCED IN THE MENTAL HEALTH UNITS OF THE BUILDING MORE TIMES THAN I CAN REMEMBER.

IT GOES ON, AND I JUST WANT TO SAY IS MY APPEAL TO YOU, MR. BANAS, IS TO CONTINUE TO STRIVE WITH COLLABORATIVE LEGISLATION TO IMPROVE TREATMENT, TIMELINESS OF CARE, AND ALTERNATIVES TO JAIL IN BEXAR COUNTY ESPECIALLY.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR WILLINGNESS TO VOICE YOUR OPINION.

AS AN INCARCERATED VETERAN, U.S.

ARMY, I AM VERY AWARE OF THE PROBLEMS THAT ARISE FROM BEING IN JAIL WITH MENTAL ILLNESS.

EVEN WITH MEDICATIONS, THE PROBLEM'S CONDITION'S WORSE.

AND THEN AT THE VERY, VERY END, IT SAYS, P.S.

THANK ALL THE MEDICATION NURSES IN THE JAIL.

THEIR SMILES MAKE A DIFFERENCE FOR THOSE OF US WITH MENTAL ILLNESS.

I JUST WANTED TO PUT A LITTLE PERSONAL STORY TO THAT, BECAUSE WE'RE TALKING ABOUT PEOPLE THAT THEIR LIVES ARE IN JAIL.

WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY'RE TAKEN CARE OF.

I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT UNIVERSITY CAN BE PART OF THE SOLUTION, BUT THE SOLUTION IS NOT JUST UNIVERSITIES ALONE.

IT'S ALL THE PEOPLE THAT ARE IN THIS ROOM WORKING TOGETHER.

YOU HAVE MY COMMITMENT.

I DON'T WANT MR. HAUSLACHER'S COMMITMENT AND THE BOARD THAT WE ARE GOING TO DO EVERYTHING WE CAN TO MAKE BEXAR COUNTY THE SHINING STAR IN THE STATE, IF NOT THE NATION.

ON HOW WE CAN DO THIS RIGHT.

WE KNOW THAT PEOPLE DON'T NEED TO BE IN THE JAIL.

WE KNOW THAT WE CAN KEEP THEM OUT OF THE JAIL WITH PREVENTATIVE TREATMENT.

WE KNOW THAT IN THE COMMUNITY WE CAN TAKE CARE OF THEM.

WE KNOW IF WE INVEST OUR DOLLARS FOR THIS, THESE ARE GOING TO BE THE LEAST EXPENSIVE DOLLARS BEFORE WE HAVE TO DO THE MORE EXPENSIVE DOLLARS.

AND I'M COMMITTED TO ALL OF YOU TO MAKING SURE THAT WE CAN SOLVE THIS PROBLEM TOGETHER.

ED, THANK YOU FOR...

SHARING THAT.

I'M GOING TO LET YOU, YEAH, LET'S GIVE HIM A ROUND OF APPLAUSE.

I'M GOING TO LET YOU SIT DOWN BECAUSE I KNOW YOU'RE STILL GETTING BACK ON YOUR FEET FROM YOUR SURGERY.

BUT, YOU KNOW, I THINK PEOPLE THINK ABOUT YOU, ED, AND JIMMY, AND, YOU KNOW, YOU GUYS JUST RUN A HOSPITAL, BUT YOU'RE REALLY IMPACTING A LOT OF LIVES IN A LOT OF DIFFERENT WAYS.

AND I THINK THAT WE CERTAINLY RECOGNIZE THAT.

AND I THINK THAT'S PART OF THE REASON YOU KNOW, AS I MENTIONED, WE'RE GOING TO BE EVEN MORE JOINED AT THE HIP IN TERMS OF FIGURING THIS OUT WITH THE REST OF THE FOLKS IN THIS ROOM, JALYNN INCLUDED.

I MEAN, I'VE WORKED WITH JALYNN SINCE WE WERE BOTH

[02:25:01]

AND SO THERE'S A LOT OF FOLKS FROM COUNTY STAFF TO OUR PARTNERS THAT, YOU KNOW, IF WE'RE GOING TO THE NEXT COURT IN 10 OR 20 YEARS IS TALKING ABOUT WHAT WE'RE DOING.

THERE'S GOING TO BE A DIFFERENT...

FOOTPRINT FOR HOW WE GET THERE AND I'M VERY CONFIDENT THE FOLKS IN THIS ROOM CAN HELP MAKE THAT HAPPEN SO THANK YOU ED FOR THAT THOMAS I WANTED TO ASK YOU A COUPLE THINGS BUT BUT I'M GONNA LET YOU SIT DOWN ED THANK YOU THANK YOU PART OF BY THE WAY I KNOW ED YOU'RE YOU'RE PART OF THE CITY COUNTY COMMITTEE I KNOW THERE'S A BY THE WAY THERE'S A INITIAL PLANNING MEETING THIS AFTERNOON THAT COMMISSIONER, I MEAN A COUNCILWOMAN BECAUSE YOU AND I ARE CO-CHAIRING, SO I DON'T KNOW IF YOU'RE GOING TO BE THERE OR SOMEBODY FROM YOUR TEAM WILL.

SOME OF OUR TEAM WILL BE THERE.

THEY'RE ATTENDING, AND THEY'RE ACTUALLY GOING TO GO TO THE CHURCH.

ON THE FIELD TRIP TO HARRIS HEALTH AS WELL, THAT SHE SAID SCHEDULED.

PERFECT.

JIMMY, DO YOU WANT TO ADD SOMETHING? ED, CAN YOU PLEASE GO HOME AND REST? I ECHO WHAT ED HAS SAID.

THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT.

YOU'VE GOT TO HAVE A HEALTHY COMMUNITY, AND PART OF THAT HAS TO BE THAT WE ALL WORK TOGETHER IN ORDER TO BE ABLE TO HELP THESE PEOPLE THAT NEED THE HELP.

YOU LOOK AT THE LAUREL RIDGE SITUATION RIGHT NOW, JUDGE KAZIN AND I WERE IN THE BACK DISCUSSING IT.

IT'S A VERY DIFFICULT SITUATION.

IT'S GOING TO PUT A LOT OF PRESSURE ON THE ERS AROUND TOWN FOR ALL THE HOSPITALS, NOT JUST THE UNIVERSITY.

AND WE WILL PROBABLY TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT IT TONIGHT AT OUR UH BOARD MEETING THAT WE'RE HAVING THIS EVENING.

BUT THIS IS A PROBLEM THAT TAKES...

A LOT OF PARTNERS TO BE ABLE TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE AND WE ALL MUST WORK TOGETHER BECAUSE THERE'S AN AWFUL LOT OF MONEY THAT'S BEING SPENT THAT WE ALL IF WE GOT TOGETHER COULD PROBABLY GO A LITTLE BIT FURTHER AND THANK THE COMMISSIONERS FOR HAVING THIS SESSION THIS MORNING AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU THANK YOU JIMMY APPRECIATE THAT UM THOMAS LET ME JUST ASK REAL QUICK BACK TO THE PRESENTATION JUST TO CLARIFY IN MY HEAD THAT'S SLIDE 11 THAT IS A LIST OF STRATEGIES.

SO I THOUGHT YOU HAD SAID, IF I HEARD YOU CORRECTLY, OR SOMEONE SAID THAT THESE ARE ALL PROGRAMMATIC DOLLARS.

NONE OF THIS INCLUDES THE CAPITAL.

NO, I BELIEVE THAT INCLUDES CAPITAL IN THERE.

IT IS.

OKAY.

DR.

AIKEN, COULDN'T HEAR YOU.

IF I'M NOT MISTAKEN, PART OF THE RESIDENTIAL TREATMENT MIGHT HAVE BEEN FOR CROSSPOINT.

I'D HAVE TO DOUBLE CHECK AND SEE IF THAT, BUT THE MAJORITY IS FOR DIRECT SERVICES.

OKAY.

SO, IF YOU GUYS CAN GET US A BREAKDOWN, THAT WOULD BE GREAT.

AND THIS IS A FORECAST FOR BUDGET TEAM, AND IT'S ALREADY GOING TO BE A TOUGH BUDGET, AND I KNOW WE'VE ALREADY HAD FOLKS, DIFFERENT DEPARTMENTS ASK US, AND I THINK THIS COURT IN THE PAST HAS BEEN VERY SUPPORTIVE, FOR EXAMPLE, IN ADDING LAW ENFORCEMENT, ADDING CONSTABLES.

IT MAY NOT BE THAT WE CAN DO THAT THIS PARTICULAR BUDGET, BECAUSE WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO PRIORITIZE AND MAKE SOME TOUGH DECISIONS ON PROGRAMS THAT IMPACT PEOPLE AND THAT REALLY...

AND HELP THEM TURN THEIR LIVES AROUND.

NOT TO SAY THAT LAW ENFORCEMENT DOESN'T, BUT I THINK THAT'S GOING TO BE PART OF THIS DISCUSSION THIS COURT'S GOING TO HAVE TO HAVE ON MAKING SOME OF THOSE TOUGH DECISIONS AND PRIORITIZING, BECAUSE AS WE'VE SEEN, SOME OF THE INITIAL REVENUE NUMBERS FROM PROPERTY TAX FLATTENED OUT A LITTLE BIT AND PROBABLY WILL BE FOR THE NEXT COUPLE YEARS, COUPLED WITH THE FACT THAT THOSE ARPA DOLLARS ARE ON THE DRAWING DOWN.

SO, UM, OKAY, LET ME ASK ONE MORE THING, AND I'LL LET MY COLLEAGUES CHIME IN.

ACTUALLY, YOU KNOW WHAT? COMMISSIONER CLAYFOOT HAS ASKED ABOUT THE APPLEWHITE.

AND SO, JARVIS, YOU DON'T NEED TO COME BACK UP.

THANK YOU FOR DOING WHAT YOU CAN TO GET THAT ON TRACK.

I KNOW IT SEEMS LIKE WE MADE THAT ALLOCATION, OR AT LEAST THE APPROPRIATION, SEVERAL YEARS AGO.

I THINK THE SOONER WE CAN GET THAT GOING, THE BETTER.

BUT WE APPRECIATE YOUR WORK.

ON DOING THAT.

YOU KNOW, I'LL GO AHEAD AND PASS MY TIME FOR NOW, BUT I APPRECIATE THE WORK THAT EVERYBODY'S DONE, AND I LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUING THE CONVERSATION.

THANK YOU, JUDGE.

IS IT COMMISSIONER COWART? I WON'T FORGET.

YES.

THANK YOU, JUDGE.

THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER MOODY, FOR HELPING TO GET THIS, ALL THE STAFF AND EVERYONE THERE PRESENT.

COMMISSIONER MOODY ASKED A QUESTION ABOUT ASSUMPTIONS THAT WE HAVE THAT MAY BE MISSING.

I WOULD SAY THAT ONE OF THE BIG CRIMINAL JUSTICE CHANGES WE JUST HEARD FROM ED

[02:30:02]

YOU ALL HAVE HEARD ME SAY BEFORE, THIS WAS NOT SOMETHING POSSIBLE 10, EXCUSE ME, 12 YEARS AGO WHEN I WAS ON COMMISSIONER'S COURT.

IT WAS VERY TABOO FOR SUPERINTENDENTS TO DO MENTAL HEALTH.

SO I THINK ONE OF THE THINGS THAT...

WE HAVE TO LOOK AT IN TERMS OF ASSUMPTIONS IS WHAT IS THE TEXAS LEGISLATURE GOING TO DO WITH RESPECT TO ADVERSE CHILDHOOD EXPERIENCES.

ADVERSE CHILDHOOD EXPERIENCES ARE POTENTIALLY TRAUMATIC EVENTS OCCURRING BEFORE THE AGE OF 18, INCLUDING ABUSE AND NEGLECT AND HOUSEHOLD DYSFUNCTION.

WHEN THERE'S ADDICTION IN THE HOUSE, WHEN THERE ARE SOMETIMES DIVORCE OR INCARCERATION.

THESE ARE VERY COMMON THINGS THAT HAPPEN IN OUR COMMUNITY, AND ABOUT 61% OF ADULTS REPORT AT LEAST ONE ADVERSE CHILDHOOD EXPERIENCE, AND THAT CAN LEAD TO LONG-TERM TOXIC STRESS THAT NEGATIVELY IMPACTS BRAIN DEVELOPMENT AND LONG-TERM PHYSICAL AND MENTAL HEALTH.

SO I THINK OUR LEGISLATIVE TEAM NEEDS TO PERHAPS LOOK AT SOME OF THE POSITIVE TEA LEAVES.

AND ALSO BEGIN TO WORK AROUND THE STATE.

I DON'T SAY THIS FOR A PARTISAN REASON.

I JUST SAY THIS AS A POLITICAL OBSERVER.

IT LOOKS LIKE THE TEXAS HOUSE MAY END UP CHANGING PARTIES.

AND THAT WOULD, I THINK, BE POSITIVE FOR ADDRESSING ADVERSE CHILDHOOD EXPERIENCES.

AND I THINK IT'S UP TO US AS OTHER LEADERS ON THE GROUND LOOKING AT THIS TO NOT FORGET.

AND LET THE LEGISLATURE FORGET THAT THEY SHOULD BE HAVING THE BURDEN FINANCIALLY OF SUPPORTING THE KIND OF MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES THAT THE COMMISSIONER'S COURT PROVIDED AS A RESULT OF THE AMERICAN RECOVERY PLAN ACT.

THAT IS NOT SOMETHING THAT THE COUNTY HAS REALLY ALL THE TIME UNDER ITS STATUTORY MANDATE, BUT IT'S SOMETHING THAT THE LEGISLATURE SHOULD USE AS PART OF SCHOOL PROGRAMMING, AS PART OF COMMUNITY SCHOOL PROGRAMMING.

SOMETHING THAT WE CAN PARTNER WITH THEM, AND WE ALSO NEED TO EXPAND THE AMOUNT OF COUNSELORS THAT ARE AVAILABLE IN ORDER TO MEET THE DEMAND.

I THINK THAT...

IS A LOT TO DO WITH THOSE 10,000 MENTAL HEALTH DETENTIONS THAT JUDGE KAZIN CAME IN AND TALKED ABOUT ARE SUCH A PROBLEM.

SO I THINK THAT WE NEED TO LOOK AT THE FACT THAT IN THE PAST WHEN WE DID PROJECTIONS FOR JAIL POPULATION, WE DID NOT HAVE MENTAL HEALTH COUNSELING IN OUR SCHOOLS.

AND WHAT DOES, SOMEBODY NEEDS TO DO A STUDY ON, WHAT DOES THE INCLUSION OF MENTAL HEALTH COUNSELING DO IN TERMS OF THAT SCHOOL-TO-PRISON PIPELINE? WHAT DOES IT DO TO REDUCE THAT? I THINK NAMI NEEDS TO BE IN THIS CONVERSATION, THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION FOR MENTAL ILLNESS.

SCHOOL DISTRICTS NEED TO BE BROUGHT.

THE STATE OF TEXAS'S PUBLIC HEALTH DIRECTOR, OR PUBLIC HEALTH COMMISSIONER, RATHER, AND PROBABLY A DIRECTOR, TOO.

OUR CHARTERS, OUR NONPROFITS, ALL OF THOSE FOLKS MAY BE AT THE TABLE, BUT THEY ARE VERY IMPORTANT.

NOW, WITH RESPECT TO THIS PHARMACEUTICAL ISSUE.

WE'VE GOT UNIVERSITY HEALTH FOLKS IN THE ROOM.

I'M NOT EXACTLY SURE WHAT THE HOLDUP IS, BUT I THINK THAT CONSIDERING THAT WE HAVE 100 PLUS UNUSED BEDS, IF WE GOT TO GET HEB, CVS, WALMART, ORTIZ PHARMACY, WHOEVER, TO HELP US WITH THE LICENSING AND THE NEEDS THAT WE HAVE, I THINK WE NEED TO MAKE THAT A PRIORITY SO THAT THE BEDS ARE NOT EMPTY AND ACTUALLY DEALING YOU WITH RECIDIVISM.

WE ALSO HAVE NOT TAKEN INTO CONSIDERATION, COMMISSIONER'S COURT, THE EXPANSION OF MENTAL HEALTH THAT CAN TAKE PLACE AT THE STATE HOSPITAL.

WE KNOW THAT THAT'S A REGIONAL, YOU KNOW, THAT'S NOT ALL BEXAR COUNTY.

BUT THE ADDITION OF $300 MILLION FOR THAT CAMPUS IS IMPORTANT IN SOME OF THE SEVERE ACUTE CASES THAT COME THROUGH THE BEXAR COUNTY JAIL.

BUT MOREOVER, IN THIS...

LEADING THE OTHER ELECTED OFFICIALS AROUND THE STATE IN AN AGENDA THAT HELPS ADDRESS JAIL PREVENTION AND DIVERSION.

THERE'S LITERALLY 111 ACRES OF EMPTY LAND THERE WHERE THE STATE HOSPITAL IS THAT COULD BE PLACED FOR ADDITIONAL MEDICAL AND MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES AND PARTNERSHIPS FOR A NUMBER OF ORGANIZATIONS.

AND I WOULD SUBMIT THAT WE NEED TO...

GET WITH THE STATE FACILITIES CORPORATION AND OTHERS AND BEGIN PLANNING HOW DO WE DO THAT TREATMENT IN PARTNERSHIP WITH ALL THE FOLKS THAT YOU'VE MENTIONED TODAY.

[02:35:07]

I'M ACTUALLY QUITE OPTIMISTIC THAT THE POLITICAL WINDS IN THE NEXT FIVE YEARS IN TEXAS ARE GOING TO BE SUCH THAT THERE'S GOING TO BE MORE INVESTMENTS TO STEM THE SCHOOL-TO-PRISON PIPELINE, AND THAT JAIL DIVERSION, THAT JAIL DEFLECTION, WHATEVER THE TERM, YOU ALL KNOW WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO SAY.

WHATEVER IT IS, IS GOING TO HELP US NOT HAVE TO NECESSARILY BUILD A BILLION DOLLARS FOR EXPANSION OF OUR JAIL.

SO THANK YOU, JUDGE.

THANK YOU, COURT, FOR THIS DISCUSSION.

COMMISSIONER MOODY, BACK TO YOU.

THANK YOU, JUDGE.

APPRECIATE ALL THE ENGAGEMENT HERE, AND I THINK IT'S GOOD.

IT'S GOOD TO HEAR ALIGNMENT AND SUPPORT.

THERE'S A FEW THINGS I STILL WANT TO COVER AND I WANTED TO MAKE SURE ALL OF OUR PARTNERS HAD A CHANCE TO SPEAK AS WELL.

JUST ONE QUICK THING, THOMAS, BEFORE GOING ON.

SLIDE 12, I WAS JUST LOOKING AT THE JAIL POPULATION SNAPSHOT.

THE DIVERTED NUMBERS, IT JUST DIDN'T LOOK LIKE THEY MATCHED UP BETWEEN THE TWO LINES THERE.

THE NUMBERS IN PARENTHESES RIGHT OR THE GAP BETWEEN THE LINES? YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT THE YEAR TO DATE? THE 560 AND THE 530? I WAS JUST TRYING TO UNDERSTAND THOSE TWO NUMBERS VERSUS THE...

BETWEEN THE LINES, IT LOOKS LIKE IT'S MORE THAN THAT.

I DON'T KNOW WHERE WE GOT THEM.

YEAH, THE GAP IS CORRECT.

I MEAN, THE JOE POP SNAPSHOT, THERE'S OTHER ITEMS, NOT JUST...

DIVERSION OF THE JUDICATION OTHER STUFF THAT PEOPLE OTHER THINGS OKAY AND THIS WILL LEAD INTO TO THE OTHER CONVERSATION ONE TO HAVE BUT YOU HAD A BUNCH OF RECOMMENDATIONS HERE BUT I SAW THAT THE ON-SITE ANNEX AT THE JAIL WAS NOT INCLUDED AS AN ASSESSMENT RECOMMENDATION WERE THERE OTHER LIKE RECOMMENDATIONS FROM THE SASH STUDY MEADOWS TEST THAT WERE NOT INCLUDED HERE I THINK THE ONLY THINGS WE KIND OF LEFT OFF FROM THOSE WERE KIND OF SOME MINOR POLICIES AND SOME TECHNOLOGY.

SO I THINK THOSE ARE THINGS WE'RE GOING TO BE HANDLING, YOU KNOW, BACK OF THE HOUSE.

OKAY.

BECAUSE I KIND OF WANT TO PULL A COUPLE THINGS TOGETHER.

I DID SHARE WITH MY COLLEAGUES HERE THE OLD STUDIES THAT WE HAVE SEEN HERE IN COMMISSIONER'S COURT, RIGHT, FROM THE JAYA EVALUATION BY DR.

TESTA, THE MEADOWS STUDY, THE SASH STUDY THAT WAS PRESENTED TO US BY DAN CURRY, AND HE MAY WANT TO COME OUT AS WELL.

OH, YOU'RE BACK THERE.

BUT ONE OF THE HIGHLIGHTS HERE THAT WAS PART OF THE SASH STUDY WAS A NEW MEDICAL BEHAVIORAL HEALTH FACILITY ON THE CURRENT ADC CAMPUS THAT COULD PROVIDE IMPROVED MEDICAL FACILITIES FOR UHS, AS WELL AS MENTAL HEALTH BEDS, FORENSIC BEDS, AND ALSO POTENTIALLY ADDRESS THE JAYA SITUATION, WHICH IS ONGOING AND ANOTHER SEPARATE STORY.

BUT THAT WASN'T INCLUDED IN YOUR SLIDES, AND I JUST WANTED TO GO BACK.

IS THAT STILL ONE OF THE RECOMMENDATIONS, MR. CURRY, FROM THE MEADOWS STUDY? IS THAT CORRECT? YEAH, THE SASH REUSE PIECE, OR THE, FORGIVE ME, THE BUILDING A MEDICAL FACILITY AT THE JAIL CAMPUS WAS A RECOMMENDATION BURIED IN THE MEADOWS ASSESSMENT, THE PHASE TWO OF THAT ASSESSMENT.

I KNOW THEY DID A REGIONAL COMMUNITY-BASED LOOK AND THEN A DETENTION-BASED.

LOOK, TWO PHASES OF THAT STUDY.

IN THE DETENTION-BASED PHASE OF THAT STUDY, THEY RECOMMENDED ADDITIONAL MEDICAL AND MENTAL HEALTH TREATMENT FACILITY BEDS ON THE JAIL CAMPUS OR SOME OTHER LOCATION.

SO OUR SAS PRESENTATION WAS DIRECTLY IN LINE WITH THAT RECOMMENDATION FROM THE MEADOWS STUDY TO EXPAND THAT MENTAL HEALTH SUPPLY CHAIN.

NO, APPRECIATE THAT, BECAUSE I THINK IT'S AN IMPORTANT OMISSION, BECAUSE THAT THAT CONCEPT, THAT RECOMMENDATION THAT CAME BEFORE I WAS ON COURT, RIGHT, AND THAT STUDY WAS OUT THERE AND COMPLETED BEFORE WE WERE ON COURT, MADE THAT RECOMMENDATION TO THIS COMMISSIONER'S COURT, AND I DON'T THINK WE SHOULD LOOK PAST IT, ESPECIALLY AFTER TALKING WITH OUR PARTNERS AT UHS AND KNOWING THEIR CONCERNS, KNOWING ALSO THE IMPACT ON STAFFING OVER TIME WITH ALL THE TRANSPORTATION ISSUES GOING BACK AND FORTH BETWEEN THE JAIL.

I KNOW COMMISSIONER RODRIGUEZ

[02:40:02]

YOU KNOW, I VERY MUCH APPRECIATE UHS'S COMMITMENT TO PARTNERING WITH US.

WE'VE HAD SOME GREAT DISCUSSIONS OVER IN THE PET TOWER REGARDING THIS.

AND I THINK, YOU KNOW, WE NEED TO START LOOKING AT SOLUTIONS, RIGHT? WE'RE IN ALIGNMENT.

WE'RE STARTING TO SEE ALIGNMENT HERE AND SOME GOOD DISCUSSION.

BUT WHAT DOES THAT MEAN, RIGHT? IN THE NEAR TERM, THAT COMMUNICATION HIGHLIGHTS, YOU KNOW, GAPS IN INFORMATION.

LIKE, WE DIDN'T KNOW SOME BEDS WERE SITTING VACANT.

WE KNOW THERE NEEDS TO BE MEDICATION.

YOU KNOW, DOES UHS HELP WITH THAT? HOW DO WE SOLVE THAT? SO I THINK THAT'S GREAT.

BUT IN THE MID TO LONG TERM, WHAT DOES THAT LOOK LIKE IN TERMS OF PSYCHIATRIC HOSPITAL, IN TERMS OF A PARTNERSHIP, A FINANCIAL PARTNERSHIP, POTENTIALLY, BETWEEN UHS AND BEXAR COUNTY ON A FACILITY THAT COULD, YOU KNOW, YOU KNOW.

AGAIN, BE ON THE CURRENT GROUNDS OF THE JAIL OR SOMEWHERE ELSE THAT WOULD PROVIDE THOSE MENTAL HEALTH BEDS, MEDICAL FACILITIES CLOSE BY TO FACILITATE THE CARE THAT WE NEED IN THE JAIL AS WELL.

SO I THINK THOSE ARE ALL IMPORTANT THINGS TO HIGHLIGHT.

AND I DID CAPTURE YOUR COMMENT, ED, ABOUT NOT A HOSPITAL.

IT ISN'T A HOSPITAL, RIGHT? BUT WE KNOW WE HAVE TO PROVIDE MEDICAL CARE THERE IN THE JAIL, AND SO WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE THE MEDICAL FACILITIES NECESSARY TO BE ABLE TO DO THAT.

I WANTED TO MAKE SURE AND CALL UP, WE HAD A COUPLE OTHER INVITED GUESTS.

ERIC EPLEY, WOULD YOU MIND JUST COMING UP AND SPEAKING TO US BRIEFLY FROM, THANK YOU FOR YOUR PATIENCE.

I KNOW IT'S BEEN A LONG DISCUSSION HERE, BUT FROM STRAC'S PERSPECTIVE, I KNOW YOU'VE DONE A LOT OF WORK OUT THERE IN MAKING SURE PEOPLE IN CRISIS GET THE CARE THEY NEED AND HAVE A LOT OF EXPERIENCE IN THIS SPACE.

WE'D LOVE TO GET YOUR RECOMMENDATIONS, YOUR THOUGHTS, AND ANY CHALLENGES YOU'RE DEALING WITH WITH SMART TEAMS OR ANYTHING ELSE AT THIS POINT.

THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER MOODY.

AND, COMMISSIONERS AND JUDGES, IT'S A GREAT CHANCE TO HAVE A...

CONVERSATION WITH YOU.

IT'S A TOUGH CONVERSATION.

I'M GLAD YOU'RE TACKLING THE DIVERSION DEFLECTION CENTER.

IT'S ONE OF THE THREE LEGS OF THE STOOL.

IT'S ONE OF THE THREE LEGS.

I CONVENED A MEETING OF THE HEALTHCARE PRINCIPALS ABOUT TWO OR THREE MONTHS AGO, AND WE CAME TO CONSENSUS ON THOSE THREE LEGS.

MR. BANAS WAS A KEY LEADER IN THAT DISCUSSION, BUT THE OTHER HEALTHCARE SYSTEM CEOS AND OTHER KEY LEADERS WERE IN THAT ROOM, AND THOSE THREE LEGS ARE PRETTY SIMPLE.

THEY'RE EXPENSIVE, BUT THEY'RE PRETTY SIMPLE.

DIVERSION DEFLECTION CENTER, WHICH YOU'RE TACKLING RIGHT NOW, WHICH WE APPRECIATE.

WRAPAROUND SERVICES, BECAUSE IT DOESN'T MATTER IF IT'S A DIVERSION CENTER OR IF IT'S AN INPATIENT, INPATIENT ACTUAL PSYCHIATRIC HOSPITAL OR INPATIENT BED CAPACITY.

THAT'S THE THIRD LEG.

THE WRAPAROUND SERVICES MAKE SURE THOSE THINGS STAY ELIGIBLE FOR MORE PATIENTS.

TRANSITIONAL HOUSING, PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING, MULTIDISCIPLINARY RESPONSE TEAMS. SOME OF THOSE THINGS WE'RE DOING PRETTY WELL.

YOU MENTIONED THE SMART TEAM.

WE ALSO HAVE THE CORE TEAM IN THE CITY.

WE ARE HAVING TROUBLE WITH THAT.

THE SMART TEAM ALONE DID 02,500, ALMOST 2,500 PATIENTS LAST YEAR RESPONDED TO IN THE COUNTY, THOSE ON THE EAST AND WEST SIDE.

WE HAD NO ARRESTS.

WE HAD NO ARRESTS.

AND WE ALMOST HAD NO USE OF FORCE.

WE HAD ONE USE OF FORCE, BUT ONLY BECAUSE THE GENTLEMAN TOOK OFF AND RAN INTO A BUSY INTERSTATE, AND WE HAD TO TASE HIM TO BE ABLE TO STOP HIM BEFORE HE WAS COMMITTING SUICIDE.

SO, HONESTLY, YOU LOOK AT AN EFFECTIVE DIVERSION-DEFLECTION EFFORT, THE SMART TEAM IS CRITICAL.

IT'S CRITICAL TO OUR SUCCESS RIGHT NOW.

SO NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF COUNTIES...

BEST PRACTICE AWARD WE RECEIVED FOR IT.

IT'S IN JEOPARDY.

IT'S IN JEOPARDY RIGHT NOW.

STRACC IS COMMITTED TO THE SMART TEAM, TO THE SMART TEAM MISSION.

STRACC HAS BEEN COMMITTED TO THIS FROM DAY ONE FOR THAT PURPOSE.

RIGHT NOW, WE FIND OURSELVES FUNDING OUR PARTNERS, BEXAR COUNTY ESD DISTRICT 2.

GREAT GUYS ARE PROVIDING PARAMEDICS TO THE SMART TEAM.

MR. FLORES, I THINK YOU KNOW THAT.

CHCS WONDERFUL PARTNER WITH CLINICIANS TO GO ON THOSE TEAMS. YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT A BEXAR COUNTY DEPUTY, AN ESD2 PARAMEDIC, AND A CHCS MENTAL HEALTH CLINICIAN IN THAT TAHOE.

THEY'RE MAKING THESE RUNS EVERY DAY.

THEY DESERVE TO BE PAID.

WE'VE BEEN PAYING THEM.

WE'RE DOING THAT WITHOUT A CONTRACT.

I KNOW SOME OF YOU ARE AWARE OF THAT, BUT I WANT TO MAKE THE COURT AWARE

[02:45:01]

WE'D LIKE TO RESOLVE THE ISSUES WITH THAT, BUT THE COUNTY ATTORNEY WILL NOT EVEN MEET WITH US FACE TO FACE.

WE HAVE TO GIVE ALL OF OUR COMMENTS, EVEN FROM OUR LAWYERS.

WE WON'T EVEN TALK TO OUR LAWYERS FACE TO FACE OR ON THE PHONE, ZOOM.

I DON'T KNOW HOW TO RESOLVE ISSUES OVER RED LINES THAT TAKE WEEKS TO COME BACK AND FORTH.

THAT'S WHY WE'RE EIGHT MONTHS.

I THINK A FACE-TO-FACE MEETING, JUDGE, WITH PERHAPS ONE OF YOU, MAYBE A COUPLE OF COMMISSIONERS.

OR YOU OR AND MEDIATE SOME OF THESE DISCUSSIONS BECAUSE THIS IS TOO IMPORTANT A MISSION.

I HAVE A LOT OF OTHER THINGS TO SAY.

I'M GOING TO DROP THAT NOW, BUT THAT'S MY REQUEST, JUDGE.

THINGS YOU MAY NOT KNOW ABOUT THE LAUREL RIDGE TREATMENT CENTER CLOSURE.

THEY'VE LOST THEIR CMS PROVIDER STATUS.

CMS HAS BEEN WORKING WITH THEM FOR MONTHS, SO THIS IS NOT...

THIS DIDN'T HAPPEN OVERNIGHT.

I THINK THIS IS SIGNIFICANT TO OUR COMMUNITY.

CMS DOESN'T TAKE THIS.

THIS IS A PRETTY RASH ACTION.

CMS TAKES THIS ACTION ABOUT SEVEN TO TEN TIMES A YEAR ACROSS THE ENTIRE UNITED STATES.

SO LOWER RIDGE'S COMMITMENT TO ME FROM THEIR LEADERSHIP IS THEY'RE GOING TO STAY OPEN WITH A VERY SMALL UNIT, 20 TO 40 BEDS.

THEY'RE GOING TO REAPPLY.

FOR THEIR CMS STATUS, BECAUSE THEY CAN'T BILL MEDICARE, MEDICAID, AND MANY CONTRACTS, PRIVATE CONTRACTS, REQUIRE YOU TO HAVE YOUR CMS STATUS AS SORT OF A LEVEL OF CAPABILITY, RIGHT? THERE WILL BE A WAITING PERIOD BEFORE THEY'RE ALLOWED TO REAPPLY.

DO YOU KNOW HOW LONG THAT WILL BE? THEY DON'T KNOW.

IT COULD BE THREE MONTHS, IT COULD BE SIX MONTHS, IT COULD BE A YEAR, IT COULD BE A DAY.

IT'S NOT GOING TO BE A DAY.

WE'LL KNOW THAT HOPEFULLY NEXT WEEK.

THEY HAVE 86 PATIENTS AS OF TODAY, AND BY FRIDAY THEY WILL BE DOWN TO THE 20.

THAT IS A 330 BED FACILITY.

330 BED LOSS TO OUR INPATIENT CAPABILITY.

22 OF THOSE 330 BEDS ARE WHAT WE CALL THE UNFUNDED CONTRACT BEDS THAT CSCS IS SO GENEROUSLY PROVIDING THROUGH HHSC FUNDS.

WE CURRENTLY HAVE ABOUT 68 CONTRACT BEDS.

22 OF THOSE ARE AT LAUREL RIDGE.

EARLIER IT WAS MENTIONED WE HAVE THOSE ARPA BEDS AS WELL.

THANK YOU FOR THOSE EIGHT ADDITIONAL CONTRACT BEDS.

THAT'S THE 60 PLUS 8.

THAT'S HOW WE GET TO 68.

SO WE'RE LOSING LAUREL RIDGE ON FRIDAY.

WE'RE LOSING THOSE 22 CONTRACT BEDS THAT LAUREL RIDGE HAS PROVIDED.

AND WE'RE LOSING THE ARPA BEDS ON FRIDAY MIDNIGHT.

THAT'S GOING TO HAVE IMPACT.

THE PSYCHIATRIC CENTERS IN THIS TOWN, THAT'S GOING TO HAVE IMPACT TO THE ERS IN THIS TOWN.

I WOULD ENCOURAGE OUR HEALTH CARE PARTNERS TO REMEMBER 2015 AND 2016.

THAT'S WHERE WE'RE GOING BACK TO ON FRIDAY MORNING.

IT'S GOING TO IMPACT THE POLICE AND THE SHERIFF, THERE'S NO DOUBT.

IT'S GOING TO IMPACT THE JAIL.

WE'RE TALKING ABOUT TRYING TO REDUCE THE JAIL, BUT...

AS THE FINAL DESTINATION IF THERE IS NO OTHER DESTINATION.

WE'VE SEEN IT OVER AND OVER, AND THAT'S COMING.

IT'S GOING TO IMPACT THE SHELTERS.

IT'S GOING TO IMPACT EVERY PART OF OUR SOCIETY, AND IT'S COMING LIKE A FREIGHT TRAIN.

YOU KNOW, CRISIS MENTAL HEALTH IS COMPLEX BECAUSE IT HAS THREE COMPONENTS.

YOU, OF COURSE, HAVE A HEALTH CARE COMPONENT.

BUT YOU ALSO HAVE THIS JUSTICE COMPONENT AND A PUBLIC SAFETY COMPONENT.

WELL, PUBLIC SAFETY AND JUSTICE ARE USED TO HAVING GEOPOLITICAL LINES.

HEALTH CARE DOESN'T DEAL IN...

OH, YOU'RE FROM COMEL COUNTY? YEAH, WE'RE NOT GOING TO SEE YOU OVER HERE AT METHODIST OR BAPTIST.

LIKE, THAT DOESN'T EXIST.

IT'S A CATCHMENT AREA.

IT'S HOW FAR CAN YOU DRAW PATIENTS.

AND THOSE GEOPOLITICAL LINES...

CREATE A GREAT DEAL OF THE COMPLEXITY RELATED TO CRISIS MENTAL HEALTH.

[02:50:01]

WE'RE COMMITTED TO TRYING TO HELP NAVIGATE THAT COMPLEXITY AT STIC, AT THE SOUTHWEST TEXAS CRISIS COLLABORATIVE.

I'VE SAID ENOUGH.

I'M GOING TO PAUSE THERE.

WELL, I APPRECIATE YOUR CANDOR AND YOUR WILLINGNESS TO...

GIVE US FACTS.

I THINK, FIRST OF ALL, I MEAN, YOU HAVE MY COMMITMENT TO TRY TO FACILITATE THIS GOING FORWARD WITH THE SMART TEAMS. I THINK THERE'S AGREEMENT THAT THIS IS SOMETHING THAT HAS BEEN HUGELY SUCCESSFUL AND THAT WE WOULD WANT TO SEE CONTINUED, BUT OBVIOUSLY WE NEED TO SORT THAT OUT IN TERMS OF THE CONTRACT.

I ALSO THINK YOU BRING UP SOME SERIOUS POINTS THAT WE NEED TO CONSIDER I MEAN, WE WANT TO THINK ABOUT PLAYING OFFENSE ON THIS ISSUE, BUT, I MEAN, SHOOT, WE'VE GOT TO PLAY DEFENSE TOO.

I MEAN, WE'RE LOSING HUNDREDS OF BEDS, AND WHAT DOES THAT LOOK LIKE NEXT WEEK? SO I THINK THAT THOSE ARE SOME DEFINITELY SOBERING NUMBERS AND STATS THAT WE NEED TO CONSIDER GOING FORWARD.

BUT I APPRECIATE YOUR WILLINGNESS TO COME HERE AND SHARE ALL THAT.

AND I DON'T KNOW IF ANYBODY ELSE HAS ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS.

I WANTED TO BRING BRANDON WOOD UP AS WELL.

THANK YOU, ERIC.

I THINK, BRANDON, IF YOU COULD JOIN US.

I JUST WANTED TO INTRODUCE BRANDON WOOD, FORMER DIRECTOR OF THE TEXAS JAIL COMMISSION, I BELIEVE, AND RECENTLY WE SAT DOWN FOR A BREAKFAST.

GOT TO PICK HIS BRAIN ON WHAT HE'S SEEN OVER THE YEARS, BOTH IN TERMS OF STATS WITH OUR JAIL AND CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM, BUT ALSO ACROSS THE STATE.

HE'S WATCHED SOME OF THE THINGS THAT ARE GOING ON IN HARRIS COUNTY, DALLAS COUNTY, TRAVIS COUNTY, AND OTHER BIG URBAN AREAS.

SO I'M JUST GOING TO KIND OF OPEN IT UP TO YOU RATHER THAN TALKING ANYMORE.

BUT IF YOU COULD TELL US ABOUT...

YOUR EXPERIENCE AND KIND OF WHAT YOU'VE SEEN AND SOME OF THE CHALLENGES AND HOW OTHER BIG URBAN COUNTIES ARE THINKING ABOUT THIS AND DEALING WITH THESE ISSUES.

BRANDON WOOD, FORMER EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF TEXAS COMMISSION ON JAIL STANDARDS, CURRENTLY WITH GMJ.

I APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK TO AN EXTREMELY IMPORTANT ISSUE.

TO BE HONEST WITH YOU, YOU'RE ASKING YOU'RE ASKING THE RIGHT QUESTIONS AND YOU'RE SAYING THE RIGHT THINGS.

YOU UNDERSTAND THAT THERE IS A NEED FOR DEFLECTION AND DIVERSION.

YOU'VE HEARD THAT IT IS ONE PART OF THIS THREE-LEGGED STOOL.

IT MAY HAVE MORE LEGS THAN JUST THREE BECAUSE CRIMINAL JUSTICE IS AN EXTREMELY COMPLICATED PROGRAM, PROBABLY ONE OF THE LEAST POPULAR, UNFORTUNATELY, OR FORTUNATELY, WHICHEVER WAY YOU WANT TO LOOK AT IT, THAT COUNTIES ARE REQUIRED TO OPERATE.

YOUR GENERAL PUBLIC NORMALLY DOES NOT HAVE A GENERAL UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT THESE JAILS CONSIST OF.

AND THE FIRST THING I ALWAYS TELL PEOPLE IS THAT YOUR COUNTY JAIL IS JUST ONE PART OF A CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM.

AND IF ANY PART OF THAT SYSTEM IS NOT WORKING AND OPERATING AS EFFECTIVELY AND AS EFFICIENTLY AS POSSIBLE, YOUR JAIL POPULATION WILL GO UP AND YOU WILL CONTINUE TO EXPERIENCE THE OUTCOMES THAT YOU'RE TRYING TO AVOID.

DEFLECTION AND DIVERSION.

WE HEAR PEOPLE TALK ABOUT IT ALL THE TIME ACROSS THE STATE, ALL ACROSS THE NATION.

AND THE FIRST THING THAT I'D ASK IS, YOU WANT TO DEFLECT THESE PEOPLE, YOU WANT TO DIVERT THEM, WHERE ARE YOU DIVERTING THEM TO? WHAT TYPE OF CARE IS BEING PROVIDED? ONE OF THE THINGS THAT IS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT IS ALSO TO ENSURE THAT LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT HAS BUY-IN AND UNDERSTANDS THE VALUE OF THESE DIVERSION CENTERS.

BECAUSE, FOR EXAMPLE, I'VE HEARD TIME AND TIME AGAIN AND HAVE SEEN IT AS WELL, IF AN INDIVIDUAL IS PICKED UP AND TAKEN TO A DIVERSION CENTER AND THEY ARE ABLE TO CHECK THEMSELVES OUT WITHIN THREE TO FOUR HOURS AND THAT SAME OFFICER RUNS ACROSS THAT INDIVIDUAL ON HIS SAME SHIFT, THEY HAVE LESS OF AN INCENTIVE TO UTILIZE THOSE FACILITIES.