* This transcript was created by voice-to-text technology. The transcript has not been edited for errors or omissions, it is for reference only and is not the official minutes of the meeting. GOOD [00:00:01] MORNING. WELCOME TO COMMISSIONER'S COURT MEETING OF TUESDAY, APRIL 28TH, 2026. UH, [1. Opening Prayer: Father Jimmy Drennan from St. Margaret Mary's Catholic Church (Tommy Calvert)] COMMISSIONER CALVERT, I BELIEVE YOU HAVE THE OPENING PRAYER WITH, UH, FATHER JIMMY AND THE PLEDGE OF ALLE. AND I BELIEVE COMMISSIONER CALVERT, YOU ARE PRESENT AND I WILL, UH, YIELD THE FLOOR TO YOU. THANK YOU, UH, SO MUCH. JUDGE. WE, UH, UNFORTUNATELY HAD A LITTLE MISHAP WITH FATHER JIMMY, BUT WE ARE SO FORTUNATE TO HAVE A LIFELONG FRIEND, REVEREND DEBORAH SEWARD, WHO IS OUR MLK CHAIR, UH, AND ALSO THE COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT COORDINATOR FOR THE SAN ANTONIO ARCHIVE, AFRICAN AMERICAN ARCHIVE AND MUSEUM. UH, REVEREND SEWARD IS A PROUD ALUM OF HIGHLAND UNIVERSITY, UH, EXCUSE ME, OF HIGHLANDS HIGH SCHOOL. UH, 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 PER AND, UH, PASTORAL STUDIES FROM THE OBLATE SCHOOL OF THEOLOGY. UH, HER DIVINE CALLING LED HER TO, UH, BECOMING LICENSED IN MINISTRY ON JANUARY THE 15TH, 2020 SE 2017. AND SHE IS MARRIED TO REVEREND BUTCH SEWARD, MOTHER TO ONE BIOLOGICAL DAUGHTER, AND AFFECTIONATELY KNOWN AS MOM TO MANY, INCLUDING MYSELF, UH, WHO, BECAUSE I'VE KNOWN HER SINCE I WAS, UH, UH, LITERALLY A CHILD. SHE, SHE LOOKS THE SAME. SHE HASN'T DATES DAY. UH, 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. UH, BEYOND HER WORK AT THE MUSEUM, SHE ALSO ACTIVELY CONTRIBUTES TO HER COMMUNITY. AS I SAID, SHE IS OUR MLK MARCH CHAIR, REVEREND SEWARD, UH, IF ALL WOULD RISE IN THE COMMISSIONER'S COURT, UH, YOU HAVE THE FLOOR REFERENCE 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 WANNA 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 BLESSING ON THEIR STAFFERS AS THEY CONTINUE TO SUPPORT THE LEADERSHIP. LORD AND I ASKED A RICH BLESSING ON THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO AND BARAR COUNTY AND THE SURROUNDING CITIES, LORD, WE NEED YOU MORE THAN ANYTHING, TO 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 ASKED, AND I PRAY, AND I BELIEVE AMEN. AMEN. THANK YOU, REVEREND SE. IF EVERYONE WOULD, UH, TURN TOWARDS THE FLAG AND, UH, 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.] TAKE UP AGENDA ITEM THREE, REQUEST OF COMMISSIONER COURT. IDENTIFY ITEMS FROM CONSENT AGENDA FOR ADDITIONAL DISCUSSION. APPROVE REMAINING CONSENT. AGENDA ITEMS, COMMISSIONER CLAY FLOTIS, CAN YOU COME BACK TO ME PLEASE? ALRIGHT, UH, COMMISSIONER RODRIGUEZ WILL SHORTLY BE HERE. COMMISSIONER MOODY. I DON'T HAVE COMMISSIONER CALVERT. NO ITEMS, JUDGE. THANK YOU. OKAY, I'M BACK TO YOU, COMMISSIONER. NOTHING EQUAL, JUDGE. ALL RIGHT. OKAY. IS THERE A MOTION MOVE FOR APPROVAL? MOTION BY COMMISSIONER CLAY FLORES. SECOND. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER MOODY. ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SIGN BY SAYING AYE. AYE. AYE. ANY OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES. LET ME SEE THAT. I BELIEVE THERE MIGHT BE SOME CITIZENS TO BE HEARD. I NEED IN, IN REGARDS TO CONSENT. LET ME HAVE THOSE RIGHT NOW, PLEASE. ALRIGHT, WHICH ONE? SO THESE ARE, UM, RANDOM. WHICH ONE ARE RANDOM? UH, THESE RIGHT HERE. OKAY. THESE ARE EIGHT RIGHT THERE. MM-HMM. WHICH ONE ARE CONSENT? THIS ONE RIGHT HERE. THESE [00:05:01] ARE CONSENT. OKAY. 52. OKAY. YEAH, THESE ARE ALL 52 5 36. OH YEAH, THAT ONE. SIX. OKAY. OKAY. 52 AND THEN THOSE WERE 52. 52. 52, 52. WHAT'S THIS ONE? IT DOESN'T HAVE, OKAY. THAT ONE, JUST NUMBER ALL, UH, 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 AND CONSENT ARE NOW BEEN PASSED BY UNANIMOUS VOTE OF THE COURT. HOWEVER, IN ORDER TO ACCOMMODATE AND AS A PROFESSIONAL COURTESY, I WANT THOSE THAT SIGNED UP. IF YOU STILL WISH TO SPEAK. UH, I WILL. I HAVE AGENDA ITEM 52. I HAVE, UH, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 PEOPLE. 52 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 WAIVE. I CERTAINLY UNDERSTAND. UH, FIRST ONE WILL BE JIM BURKE. DO YOU WISH TO SPEAK 52? THIS IS AGENDA ITEM 52. OBJECTION. THANK YOU. I'M REPRESENTING MR. BURKE AND, AND THE OTHER FOLKS HAVE SIGNED UP FOR ITEM NUMBER 52. SO, MR. BURKE HAD SIGNED UP TO MAKE A PRESENTATION WHEN THE ITEM 52 CAME UP. UH, BUT IF NO PRESENTATIONS, I DONATE MY TIME TO ROB KILL. ALRIGHT, ROB, KILLEN, YOU HAVE THREE OBJECTION, ACTUALLY, YOU GOT SIX MINUTES WITH HIM YIELDING. NO, NO, I, I ACTUALLY SIGNED UP FOR, FOR MYSELF AS WELL TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM 52. BUT DURING CITIZENS, AGAIN, MR. BURKE AND THE OTHER SPEAKERS ON ITEM 52, UH, REALLY HE'S HERE. MR. BURKE IS HERE TO ANSWER QUESTIONS ABOUT THE ITEM. BUT IF YOU'D LIKE ME TO SPEAK, UH, UNDER MY SIGN, IF I CAN DO THAT RIGHT NOW, PROCEED. SO, THANK YOU, UH, JUDGE GUY COMMISSIONERS. MY NAME IS ROB KILLEN. I'M AN ATTORNEY WITH THE LAW FIRM OF KILLEN GRIFFIN IN FAIRMONT. OUR ADDRESS IS 1 0 1 0 1 REUNION PLACE IN SAN ANTONIO HERE ON BEHALF OF MR. BURKE. MR. BURKE IS HERE TODAY TO MAKE A DONATION TO BEAIRD COUNTY. THE AMOUNT OF $2.175 MILLION. AND THAT DONATION IS TO PAY FOR CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE IN SOUTHEAST SAN ANTONIO, WHICH WILL BE CONSIDERED UNDER ITEM 52. ON THE AGENDA, YOU HAVE A COUPLE ITEMS. ONE IS AN AGREEMENT FOR MR. BURKE'S DONATION TO BEAIRD COUNTY, AND THEN AN ADVANCE FUNDING AGREEMENT TO TAKE MR. BURKE'S DONATION AND GIVE IT TO TXDOT TO PAY FOR A RAMP AT 37 AND MILITARY. SO, PROJECT THAT TXDOT HAS BEEN WORKING ON FOR A WHILE, IT IS SIMILAR TO AN AGREEMENT THAT THIS COURT APPROVED BACK IN 2015. UH, SO 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, THERE'S A ENTITY CALLED CIRCA THAT WAS PART OF THE ORIGINAL AGREEMENT. THEY'RE GONE. SO BASICALLY BRING IT UP TO SPEED. AND SO MR. BURKE, UH, HAS, UH, BEEN AND HIS FAMILY HAVE BEEN FREQUENT AND HEAVY, HEAVILY ENGAGED THROUGHOUT THE YEARS WITH SAN ANTONIO AS LEADERS, AS DONORS. UH, MR. BURKE HAS MADE A NUMBER OF DONATIONS OF LAND OR MONEY OVER THE YEARS FOR PARKS, UH, FOR BROOKS 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 TEXTILE, WORKING WITH THE REPUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT. UH, 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 FOR TODAY. SO, UH, I JUST REALLY WANNA SAY TODAY, THANK YOU. UH, I WANNA THANK YOUR PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT. I WANT TO THANK, UH, 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, UH, COMMISSIONER CALVERT. I KNOW COMMISSIONER CALVERT IS REMOTE, BUT COMMISSIONER CALVERT, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR, FOR TAKING THE LEAD ON THIS. BUT REALLY JUST WANNA THANK THE COURT FOR THEIR ENGAGEMENT ON THIS IMPORTANT VITAL PIECE OF PUBLIC INFRASTRUCTURE. SO, WITH THAT, I WILL CONCLUDE MY REMARKS AND, AND ASK YOU TO ACCEPT MR. BURKE'S, UH, DONATION OF 2.175. ROB, WOULD YOU PLEASE STAY RIGHT THERE? YES, SIR. THE COURT, 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 GONNA 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 THEIR MOTION. WE HAVE APPROVAL TO HAVE ALL LATE FILED ITEMS ON THE AGENDA. MOTION BY COMMISSIONER CALVARY, SECOND BY COMMISSIONER CLAY FLORES. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SIGN BY SAYING AYE. AYE. AYE. ANY OPPOSED? [00:10:01] ANY ABSTENTION? MOTION CARRIED. [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 APPROPRIATE ACTION RELATED TO THE GRANT AND EXCEPTION TO ADMINISTRATIVE POLICY 1.2 TO AUTHORIZE THE CONSIDERATION OF FOLLOWING LATE FILE AGENDA ITEM 52 A, HAVING APPROVED THE LATE FILE 52. A DISCUSSION, APPROPRIATE ACTION REGARDING APPROVAL OF INDEMNITY AGREEMENT BETWEEN BEX 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 AND AMENDMENT NUMBER ONE FOR PURPOSE OF TERMINATING THE ADVANCED FUNDING AGREEMENT EXECUTED BETWEEN TXDOT AND BEXAR COUNTY ON NOVEMBER 13TH, 2015, AND APPROVAL OF A VOLUNTARY LOCAL GOVERNMENT CONTRIBUTIONS, ADVANCED FUNDING AGREEMENT FOR $2,175,000 BETWEEN BEXAR COUNTY AND THE TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION. DO WE NEED A PRESENTATION BY MR. WEGMAN? I JUST, 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 WE HEARD FROM MR. KILLEN. I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE ANYBODY IS HERE. 'CAUSE MIRANDA AGUIRE. ARE YOU HERE? MIRANDA, WHERE ARE YOU? MIRANDA AGUIGUI. AGUIRE AND JUDGE. IT WOULD BE, I THINK, VERY GOOD FOR THE PUBLIC TO GET, UH, DAVE WEGMAN'S PRESENTATION, JUST BECAUSE IT'S SUCH AN IMPORTANT INFRASTRUCTURE INTERSECTION. IT HELPS TO EDUCATE THE COMMUNITY. SO HOPEFULLY HE'S CLOSE. SO NOTED. BUT LET GO AHEAD AND GET THE, UH, CITIZENS TO BE HEARD. DIEGO DEAL. MR. RODRIGUEZ, WE HAVE THE PROCLAMATIONS. PRISCILLA? YES. SHELLY, BUT BUCKMAN. OH, REALLY? BUCHMAN. SHELLY BUCHMAN. ALRIGHT. ROGER WILLIAMS. ROGER WILLIAMS. OKAY. STEVEN VICKERS. STEVEN VICKERS. ALRIGHT, MR. WEGMAN, WHERE ARE YOU? THE COURT HAS CALLED, IS UH, JEFF BRADLEY IN THE ROOM? JEFF, DID YOU SIGN UP? YOU DIDN'T PUT WHAT YOU SIGNED UP FOR. WHICH, WHICH ITEM? AGENDA ITEM JEFF BRADLEY. NUMBER FIVE. NUMBER FIVE. OKAY. GOT IT. OKAY, SIR. ALL MR. SMITH. NO, LOOK, I JUST, DO YOU WANT ME? HE'S NOT HERE. OKAY. YOU TAKE MARCUS'S NOTES. ALL I, I HAD MARCUS OUT SUPPOSED HIM. WHO'S GONNA PRESENT OR HOW DO WE, BUT ANYWAY, HOLD ON, HOLD ON. WE GOT A MOTION ON THE FLOOR. WE'RE ON 52. I THOUGHT IT WAS CONSENT. JUSTIN'S NOT HERE. THERE IT IS. THERE WE GO. MR. GARCIA, JUDGE. MM-HMM . UM, DAVID, DAVID WEB COULDN'T MAKE IT HERE TODAY, SO I'M REPRESENTING HIM. UH, THIS ITEM WAS ON CONSENT AND IT GOT PULLED. UH, UNFORTUNATELY WE DIDN'T HAVE A PRESENTATION, UH, BUT I BELIEVE, UH, UH, GENTLEMAN OVER HERE ALREADY PRESENTED THE ITEM. SO, DO YOU HAVE, DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? ALL RIGHT, COMMISSIONER CALVERT, THIS IS IN YOUR PRECINCT. DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR FURTHER COMMENT? NO, I'M, I'M, UH, APPRECIATIVE, UH, TO MOVE THIS INFRASTRUCTURE FORWARD TO IMPROVE THE INTERCHANGE AT 37 AND SOUTHEAST MILITARY. IT'S A VERY CONGESTED AREA, AND THIS, UH, HELPS US, UH, WITH THAT CONGESTION. UH, IT'LL BE ANOTHER TRIANGLE, I BELIEVE, UH, CONFIGURATION SIMILAR TO WHAT BLANCO ROAD IS, UH, DEVELOPING. SO, UM, I'D LIKE TO MOVE APPROVAL OF THE INDEMNITY AGREEMENT BETWEEN BEXAR COUNTY AND INDIAN HOMES LTD 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 GONNA TAKE IT IN SEPARATE MOTIONS. WE GOT THEM THREE MOTIONS. SO SECOND BY COMMISSIONER RODRIGUEZ. ANY [00:15:01] FURTHER DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, SECOND BY SAYING AYE. AYE. AYE. ANY OPPOSED? ANY ABSTENTION? COMMISSIONER CALVERT SECOND MOTION? YES, SIR. APPROVAL OF AMENDMENT NUMBER ONE FOR THE PURPOSE OF TERMINATING THE ADVANCED FUNDING AGREEMENT EXECUTED BETWEEN TEX SIDED AND BEXAR COUNTY ON NOVEMBER 13TH, 2015. SECOND MO MOTION BY COMMISSIONER CALVER. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER RODRIGUEZ. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SIGN, I SAY AYE. AYE. ANY OPPOSED? ANY ABSTENTION? MOTION CARRIES. THIRD MOTION. IT'LL BE, UH, 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. SECOND. MOTION BY COMMISSIONER VER. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER RODRIGUEZ. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? SECOND SAYING AND AYE. AYE. ANY OPPOSED? ANY POSITION? MOTION CARRIES. I BELIEVE THAT CONCLUDES MR. KILLEN. YOU HAVE, I'LL LET YOU HAVE THE CLOSING STATEMENT. YEAH. THANK YOU SO MUCH, JUDGE. COMMISSIONERS, COMMISSIONER CALVERT AND, AND EVERYONE INVOLVED ON COUNTY STAFF AS WELL AS, AGAIN, OUR FRIENDS AT TXDOT. THIS IS A CRITICALLY IMPORTANT PIECE OF INFRASTRUCTURE OF THE DIVERGING DIAMOND. UH, DESIGN WILL SIGNIFICANTLY REDUCE, UH, WAIT TIMES AT THAT INTERSECTION, 2040 MINUTES IN SOME CASES. SO WE'RE VERY EXCITED TO HAVE IT HAPPEN AND, UH, LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING THAT. BILL. 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. UH, 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 YOU BREVITY, MR. BURKE. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. ALL RIGHT, [4. CEREMONIAL ITEM(S}] LET US GO BACK THEN TO CEREMONIAL AND GET THROUGH THAT. AND I'M GONNA 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. AYE. GOOD MORNING. WELL, IT'S AN HONOR TO BE ABLE TO RECOGNIZE MAY'S JEWISH AMERICAN HERITAGE MONTH, AND, UH, TO SEE IF, UH, TODAY'S PROCLAMATION. WE HAVE SOME FRIENDS FROM THE JEWISH FEDERATION OF SAN ANTONIO WITH US TODAY, I THINK I HAVE EVERYBODY. AMANDA, FIGHT. LESLIE MET SARAH EDINGER, SARAH RAM, LISA GUERRERO. I DON'T SEE CRAIG. I DO SEE NOAH AND RA LASKY. SO THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE TO, UH, 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 BAIRD 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 ARRIVE 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 BEX 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, 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 BEAR COUNTY'S COMMITMENT TO COMBATING PREJUDICE, STANDING AGAINST ANTISEMITISM AND ALL FORMS OF HATE, AND PROMOTES UNITY AMONG OUR RESIDENTS OF THIS COUNTY. NOW THEREFORE, BE RESOLVED AT 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. UM, THANK YOU. IT'S AN HONOR. THANK YOU. COMMISSIONER MOODY AND, UM, JUDGE SAKA, COMMISSIONER RODRIGUEZ, COMMISSIONER CLAY FLORES AND COMMISSIONER CALVERT. UM, WE'RE REALLY HONORED TODAY TO MARK THE BEGINNING OF JEWISH AMERICAN HERITAGE MONTH FOR THE MONTH OF MAY. [00:20:01] AND, UM, WE'RE JUST PROUD RESIDENTS OF BEXAR COUNTY AND, UM, JUST REALLY HAPPY TO BE PART OF THE VIBRANT FABRIC OF OUR COUNTY. THANK YOU. WOULD YOU PLEASE STEP FORWARD, ACCEPT PROCLAMATION, AND TAKE A PICTURE. 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 BEXAR COUNTY COMMISSIONER'S COURT, RECOGNIZING APRIL 30TH AS NATIONAL THERAPY ANIMAL DAY AND THE WORK OF VOLUNTEERS. CYNTHIA, HAPPY, BUT, BUT IT'S NOT BUTLER, IT'S BUTS AND LINDA KAISER AND THEIR THERAPY ANIMALS SERVING THE BEXAR COUNTY COMMUNITY. SO I'LL ASK FOR A CORRECTION OF THE AGENDA TO SAY BUTS. B-U-T-T-L-E-S. ALRIGHT, COME, COME HERE. THANK, THANK YOU SO MUCH, JUDGE. AND, UH, ALL THE TEAM THAT'S DOWN THERE. AND, UH, WE HAVE THIS PROCLAMATION IN THE NAME BY THE AUTHORITY OF THE COMMISSIONER'S COURT OF BEAR COUNTY. AND IT READS, WHEREAS THERAPY ANIMAL TEAMS SERVE COMMUNITIES ACROSS THE UNITED STATES, INCLUDING BEAR 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 WELLBEING 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 BEX 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 BEX COUNTY COMMISSIONER'S COURT HEREBY RECOGNIZES AND CELEBRATES. UH, WE GOT A TYPO HERE, APRIL 30TH, 2026 AS NATIONAL THERAPY ANIMAL DAY WITNESS OUR SIGNATURES AND SEAL OF OFFICE. THIS 28TH DAY OF APRIL, 2026, SIGNED BY YOUR COMMISSIONER'S COURT. HAPPY AND TEAM, HAPPY TO HEAR FROM YOU. THANK YOU. GO AHEAD, JUDGE. GO AHEAD, JUDGE. AH, OR IS IT THE HONORABLE JUDGE BOYD? AH, THANK YOU SO MUCH. GOOD MORNING, JUDGE BOY. OH, GOOD MORNING. IT IS AN HONOR TO BE HERE AND I WANT TO THANK, UH, JUDGE SAKA AND THANK THE COMMISSIONERS FOR, UH, DOING THIS. I CAN TELL YOU THAT I'VE HAD THERAPY DOGS IN MY COURT, UH, 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 IN PIPER. AND I SEE COMMISSIONER RON, UH, COMMISSIONER, EXCUSE ME, THE HONORABLE OF JUDGE RON. RON HILL, 3 79. GOOD MORNING, JUDGE SAKA. GOOD MORNING, UH, 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. MM-HMM . ANYWAY, I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR HAVING US TODAY. LET ME TELL YOU JUST A FEW, 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, UH, VICTIMS OF CRIME, DEFENDANTS, AND 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. UM, 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, FEELS A CASE WHERE A YOUNG MAN SHOT AT A COUPLE OF OTHER YOUNG FOLKS. A POLICE OFFICER [00:25:01] RUNS UP TO A 16-YEAR-OLD CHILD, TURNS HER AROUND, TRIES TO SAVE HER LIFE, AND SHE PASSES AWAY ON VIDEO ON THE, ON THE OFFICER'S DASH CAM. THAT WAS VERY STRESSFUL FOR THE WITNESSES, VERY STRESSFUL FOR THE JURORS. I THINK THE THERAPY DOGS COMING IN REALLY HELPED TO ALLEVIATE, UM, THAT PARTICULAR STRESS, THAT PARTICULAR ANXIETY, AND ALLOW FOLKS TO COME WITH A CONCLUSION IT 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, COME FORWARD OR COME FORWARD FOR YOUR PROCLAMATION AND A PICTURE. THANK YOU GUYS. JUDGE COMMISSIONER, UH, PRESENTATION PROCLAMATION ON BEHALF OF BEXAR COUNTY COMMISSIONER'S COURT REGARDING THE RECOGNIZING THE HUNDRED 50TH ANNIVERSARY OF SAN ANTONIO LODGE. NUMBER ONE, THE FIRST MASONIC LODGE OF AFRICAN AMERICANS IN THE STATE OF TEXAS. OH, COMMISSIONER CLAY FLORES. YEAH, I'M READING IT FOR COMMISSIONER CALVERT. IF YOU GUYS WANNA COME FORWARD, PLEASE. WHEREAS SAN ANTONIO LODGE NUMBER ONE, UNDER THE MOST WORSHIPFUL PRINCE HALL GRAND LODGE, FREE AND ACCEPTED MASONS OF TEXAS AND JURISDICTIONS ORIGINATES FROM ESTABLISHMENTS IN 1873 AS ONE OF THE FIRST MASONIC LODGE OF BLACK MEN IN TEXAS, LATER RECHARTERED AS SAN ANTONIO LODGE NUMBER ONE IN 1876. AND RAZ, SAN ANTONIO LODGE, NUMBER ONE 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 ITS ANNIVERSARY OF SAN ANTONIO LODGE, NUMBER ONE 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 BEAR COUNTY COMMISSIONER'S COURT HEREBY RECOGNIZES THE ANNIVERSARY OF SAN ANTONIO LODGE. NUMBER ONE, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE. FIRST GIVING HONOR TO GOD, UH, THE HONORABLE JUDGE, AKA COMMISSIONERS. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE RECOGNITION. UH, 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 US VETERANS, UH, AS WELL AS THE MILITARY, VARIOUS SERVICES. AND I KNOW MY, MY BROTHER MARINE THERE, UH, WAS OVER AT THE DOWNTOWN FOR THE, UH, CEREMONY FOR THE EIGHT, UH, UH, ON THE ROOFTOP CEREMONY LAST TIME I SAW YOU THERE. BUT THAT WAS GREAT. BUT ONCE AGAIN, WE WANNA THANK YOU ALL. WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO NOT JUST CELEBRATING 150 YEARS, BUT CELEBRATING ANOTHER 50 YEARS. UH, I HOPEFULLY I'LL BE AROUND FOR THAT TIME. I DON'T THINK SO MM-HMM . BUT WE DO HAVE A NEW GENERATION OF MASONS THAT ARE, THAT'S 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. THANK YOU. [00:30:46] ALL RIGHT, COMMISSIONER TINA PRESENTATION ON PROCLAMATION BEHALF OF COMMISSIONER'S COURT, RECOGNIZED IN APRIL AS SECOND CHANCE MONTH HIGHLIGHTING THE IMPORTANCE OF REENTRY AND RECOVERY SUPPORT SERVICES FOR INDIVIDUAL TRANSITIONING FROM INCARCERATION. THANK YOU SO MUCH. AND I'LL JUST SAY AS A MA MASON'S, UH, UH, LEAVE, MY GRANDFATHER WAS A 32ND DEGREE MASON, SO, UH, CONGRATULATIONS ONCE AGAIN. WELL, UH, JUDGE AND COMMISSIONERS, I WANNA 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, OF PROGRESS. UH, AS, UH, OUR TEAMS FROM THE REENTRY CENTER COME TO THE DIOCESE, WE HAD OVER A THOUSAND PEOPLE, UH, WHO PRE-REGISTERED AND CAME, UH, FOR JOBS. AND, UH, MANY OF THOSE FOLKS WERE JUST AS INVOLVED. UH, WE HAD A RECORD NUMBER OF EMPLOYERS, I BELIEVE, OVER 80 THIS YEAR. UH, 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, UH, OUR OFFICE IN THE COUNTY. AND I WANT TO THANK HER ALL THE WAY UP TO IDA AND HER GREAT TEAM, UH, AT THE REENTRY CENTER, WHO HAVE HELPED TO, UH, REALLY CHANGE THE CULTURE IN BEAR COUNTY OF, UH, OUR SECOND CHANCE COMMUNITY. SO THIS PROCLAMATION READS, WHEREAS BEAR COUNTY IS COMMITTED TO STRENGTHENING PUBLIC SAFETY AND COMMUNITY STABILITY BY SUPPORTING INDIVIDUALS RETURNING 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, 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 28TH DAY OF APRIL, 2026, SIGNED BY YOUR COMMISSIONER'S COURT. WE'D LOVE TO HEAR FROM YOU ALL AT THE DAAS. GOOD MORNING JUDGE, AKA AND COMMISSIONERS, THANK YOU FOR HAVING US HERE TODAY. MY NAME IS AIDA NEGRO. 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 20 23, 1 0.8 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 US HAS ROUGHLY 5% OF THE WORLD'S POPULATION AND HAS MORE THAN 25% OF THE WORLD'S PRISON POPULATION. THE US 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 A HUNDRED MILLION AMERICANS, ROUGHLY ONE IN THREE [00:35:01] ADULTS, HAVE A CRIMINAL RECORD. ADDITIONALLY, THIS IS THE REASON WHY NEARLY NI 75% OF PEOPLE WHO WERE INFORMALLY 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 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 WANNA ASSIST YOU IN YOUR JOURNEY TO CHANGE YOUR LIFE. NIJA BROUGHT SOME A PACKAGE, SHE'S OUR EMPLOYER SPECIALIST, AND, UM, WE WANNA SHARE THAT WITH YOU. I ALSO WANNA THANK ALL OF YOU FOR, UM, RECOGNIZING APRIL AS SECOND CHANCE MONTH, AND COMMISSIONER CALVERT HAS BEEN A CHAMPION, LIKE I SAID, AND WONDERFUL AT, UH, GETTING THE WORD OUT ABOUT OUR EVENT. AND I KINDLY REQUEST THAT YOU SHARE THE PACKET WITH EMPLOYERS IN YOUR PRECINCT. SO THAT WAY NEXT YEAR IN 2027, WE HAVE A HUNDRED EMPLOYERS AT OUR JOB FAIR. UM, BUT LASTLY, BEFORE I, I, I FINISH OR I WOULD LIKE TO LET NAISHA SAY A FEW WORDS, IF THAT'S OKAY WITH EVERYBODY. UM, I WANTED TO CALL UP SUSIE MALONE. SHE'S 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. UM, 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, UM, HELPING INCARCERATED AS WELL AS RETURNING CITIZENS OVER THE PAST 15 YEARS. I WOULD APPRECIATE IT. YES. ALRIGHT, WE, MS. MALONE? YEAH, SHE'S GOING. UM, 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. UH, SHRM, UH, WHICH IS THE ORGANIZATION, NATIONAL ORGANIZATION THAT PROVIDES HR MANAGERS WITH INFORMATION ON HOW TO CHANGE POLICIES AT YOUR WORKPLACE THAT, UH, WILL ALLOW AN INDIVIDUAL TO WORK THERE, UH, AND JUST NOT CUT THEM OFF BECAUSE THEY HAVE A BACKGROUND. THANK YOU SO MUCH. HELLO EVERYONE. MY NAME IS NIJA BARRAS. 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, UM, WHAT WE DO AND WHAT WE SEE EVERY DAY IN OUR OFFICE. UH, WE SIT WITH PEOPLE WHO ARE READY TO GROW, CONTRIBUTE, AND WORK. UM, 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. UM, WE'RE WORKING REALLY CLOSE TO EDUCATE EMPLOYERS, UM, ON THE INCENTIVES AND BENEFITS AROUND SECOND CHANCE HIRING, RIGHT? WE HAVE THIS BIG TALENT POOL THAT'S UNTAPPED INTO OF, UM, 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, UM, AND BE A PART, UM, 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, UH, HAVING US HERE TODAY. UM, UM, SIR, I BELIEVE THE, UH, UNITY PEOPLE ARE HERE AS WELL. DO THEY? DO THEY WANNA STAY? OH, WE GOTTA GO. OKAY. SORRY. [00:40:27] THANK YOU VERY MUCH MR. CALT, FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP ON THE RE REENTRY PROGRAM. THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT. ALL RIGHT, UH, THE NEXT ONE WILL BE PRESENTATION PROCLAMATION BEHALF OF COMMISSIONER COURT, RECOGNIZING MAY 4TH THROUGH THE EIGHTH, 2026 IS BEAR COUNTY SMALL BUSINESS WEEK, AND HIGHLIGHTED IN PARTNERSHIP AND EFFORTS TO THE US SMALL BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION, SBA SAN ANTONIO DISTRICT OFFICE, TEXAS SOUTHWEST, SBDC NETWORK, U-T-S-A-S-B-D-C, AND BEXAR COUNTY SMALL BUSINESS AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP DEPARTMENT, MR. 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 RISK, AND BELIEVE IN THE POWER OF THE AMERICAN DREAM. AND WHEREAS IN OUR FIELDS, ON OUR F 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 OUTTA THREE NET NEW JOBS IN OUR ECONOMY. WE CANNOT RESOLVE TO CREATE JOBS AND SPUR ECONOMIC GROWTH IN AMERICA WITHOUT DISCUSSING WAYS TO SUPPORT 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 ENTREPRENEURSHIP THROUGH THE US 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 7TH, 2026 AT THE NORSE CONFERENCE CENTER. THAT'LL BE NOW, THEREFORE BE RESOLVED THAT THE BEXAR COUNTY COMMISSIONER'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. I SERVE AS A DIRECTOR OF THE SMALL BUSINESS AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP DEPARTMENT AT BEAR COUNTY. TODAY IS GAME DAY, WHICH IMPACTS A LOT OF SMALL BUSINESSES IN OUR COMMUNITY. SO WE ARE GONNA START OFF BY SAYING GOLD 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 ARE RECOGNIZED IN OUR PARTNERSHIP WITH THE US 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, UH, DEPUTY DISTRICT DIRECTOR ANESA, AND SHE WILL GIVE YOU SOME REMARKS ON BEHALF OF THE SBA. WELCOME. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, RENEE. GOOD MORNING COMMISSIONERS, PARTNERS AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS. MY NAME IS INES KO. I'M A DEPUTY DISTRICT DIRECTOR WITH THE SAN ANTONIO DISTRICT OFFICE OF US SMALL BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION, AS YOU SAID, JUDGE SAKA. WE'VE BEEN AROUND SINCE 1953, ALMOST 80 YEARS OF CELEBRATING NATIONAL SMALL BUSINESS WEEK. AND WE ARE HERE TODAY, AND IT IS OUR PRIVILEGE TO JOIN YOU CELEBRATING NATIONAL SMALL BUSINESS WEEK AND THE PROCLAMATION, RECOGNIZING MAY 4TH THROUGH EIGHTH, 2026 AS BEAR 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 BE 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, UT SBDC, AND OF COURSE, BEARER 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. [00:45:01] THIS COLLABORATION REPRESENTS THE SUCCESS, WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE BETWEEN FEDERAL, STATE, CITY, COUNTY, ACADEMIC, AND LOCAL PARTNERS, WORKING TOGETHER TO ENSURE THAT SMALL BUSINESSES NOT ONLY ENDURE, BUT GROW AND THRIVE. THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP, JUDGE AKAI COMMISSIONERS. IN RECOGNIZING OUR SMALL BUSINESS COMMUNITY, WE LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUING THIS IMPORTANT WORK TOGETHER. VEEVA NATIONAL SMALL BUSINESS WEEK, BEAR COUNTY . GONNA DO THE PROCLAMATION, UH, PRESENTATION PROCLAMATION BEHALF OF COMMISSION'S COURT, RECOGNIZING AND CELEBRATING THE GREATER SANTA 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, THE AMERICAN RED CROSS WAS FIRST CHARTED ON FEBRUARY 11TH, 1916. SPROUT SPROUTING AN OPPORTUNITY FOR GREATER SAN ANTONIO VOLUNTEERS AND SUPPORTERS TO ADVANCE THE NOBLE MISSION OF PREVENTING 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 1700 IMPACTED RESIDENTS OF BEXAR COUNTY. THE CHAPTER ALSO INSTALLED 1,500 SMOKE ALARMS IN 430 AREA HOMES AND INITIATIVE HAS SAVED OVER 30 LIVES AND MADE 1,200 PEOPLE SAFER BUILDING 70, INCLUDING 70 INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE DEAF OR HARD OF HEARING. 90 VETERANS, 220 YOUTH, 160 INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES AND 400 SENIORS. WOO. 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 IN NEED. NOW THEREFORE, BE RESOLVED THAT THE BEX COUNTY COMMISSIONERS GO HERE HEREBY RECOGNIZE AND CELEBRATE GREATER SANITARY CHAPTER, 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 THE 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 55 OH, WE HAVE ALREADY OBVIOUSLY APPROVED BY LATE FILE. WE WILL NOW TAKE UP 50 A DISCUSSION, APPROPRIATE ACTION REGARDING APPROVAL AND EXTENSION TO THE 2023 AGREEMENT BETWEEN BEXAR COUNTY AND THE LAW FIRM, BERGER, GOGAN, BLAIR, AND SAMSON, LLP AND APPRAISAL COLLECTION TECHNOLOGIES, A COMPANY WHOLLY OWNED BY THE LAW FIRM FOR A 60 DAY PERIOD, BEGINNING MAY 9TH, 2026, TO PROVIDE DELINQUENT TAX, COLLECTIONS AND SOFTWARE LICENSE, HARDWARE PURCHASE AND MAINTENANCE. MR. RUSTY JUDGE COMMISSIONERS, UH, THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING US TO BE HERE TODAY. IN MARCH OF THIS YEAR, WE, UH, UPON THE ADVICE OF THE PURCHASING DEPARTMENT, AN RFQ WAS ISSUED FOR PROFESSIONAL SERVICES, FOR DELINQUENT COLLECTIONS AND TAX COLLECTION SOFTWARE, LINEBARGER, GOGGIN, BLAIR, AND S SAMSON. LLC WAS THE SOLE RESPONDENT. WE CURRENTLY HAVE A CONTRACT WITH LINEBARGER THAT WILL EXPIRE ON MAY 9TH, 2026. WE ARE WORKING TO FINALIZE OUR NEW CONTRACT ALONG WITH THE PURCHASING DEPARTMENT, UH, SO THAT WE CAN NOT, THE, 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 FOR A BRIEF [00:50:01] PERIOD OF 60 DAYS, SO WE CAN BRING BACK TO COURT AN AGREEMENT FOR THE NEW TERM. I'M GONNA TURN IT OVER TO MR. GALLOWAY AND THEN CLIFF DOUGLAS FROM LINEBARGER HERE. IF YOU ALL HAVE ANY QUESTIONS. GALLOWAY AGREE, YOUR HONOR. UH, COMMISSIONERS, GOOD MORNING. GREG GALLOWAY, BEXAR COUNTY PURCHASING AGENT. UH, JUST AS I JUST, UH, STATED, WE ARE WORKING THROUGH THE, UM, EXTENSION, UH, REQUESTING AN EXTENSION SO THAT WE CAN, UM, FINALIZE THE NEW AGREEMENT, UH, WITH LINEBARGER. UM, IF YOU HAVE ANY SPECIFIC QUESTIONS, WE, WE'D BE GLAD TO, UM, ADDRESS THOSE FOR YOU, MOVE APPROVAL OF ANY QUESTION. COMMISSIONER CALVERT, I WAS JUST MOVING APPROVAL OF THE EXTINCTION, I'M SORRY. MOTION BY COMMISSIONER CALVERT SECOND. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER RODRIGUEZ. ANY FURTHER DISCUSSIONS? HEARING NONE. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF THE MOTION SECOND BY SAYING AYE. AYE. ANY OPPOSED? ANY INTER EXTENSION? 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, YOU 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. UH, I'M CLIFF DOUGLAS. I HAVE BEEN WITH THE LAW FIRM, UH, OH MY GOSH, SINCE 1987, AND WE'VE HAD THE PRIVILEGE TO REPRESENT, UH, BEARER COUNTY TO COLLECTIONS DELINQUENT PROPERTY TAXES, UH, FOR THE PAST 46 YEARS, I THINK. AND WE WANT TO, TO CONTINUE THAT AND IT'S AN HONOR AND A PRIVILEGE FOR US TO DO SO. SO WE THANK YOU. THIS IS AS, AS, UH, MR. ESTI 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. ALRIGHT. I BELIEVE WE'RE AT THE TIME CERTAIN, [5. a. 10:00 a.m. - Presentation and discussion regarding jail diversion programs and strategies. ] SO WE WILL NOW GO TO AGENDA ITEM FIVE, A PRESENTATION, DISCUSSION, JAIL DIVERSION PROGRAM AND STRATEGIES. MR. THOMAS GUEVARA, DO YOU HAVE THE FLOOR FOR PURPOSES FOR THE PUBLIC? UH, THIS, 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 PE I DO BELIEVE WE HAVE CITIZENS TO BE HEARD. I WILL CALL YOU UP AFTER THE PRESENTATIONS. BUT MR. GEVA, I YIELD THE FLOOR TO YOU FOR THE PRESENTATION ON THE ISSUES REGARDING JAIL, DIVERSION PROGRAMS AND STRATEGIES OF BEAR COUNTY. THANK YOU JUDGE COMMISSIONERS FOR THE RECORD. THOMAS AVADA, OFFICE OF THE COUNTY MANAGER. UH, I'M JOINED TODAY BY, UH, LETICIA MORENO, OUR DEPUTY DIRECTOR FOR THE OFFICE OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE, AS WELL AS, UH, ANTONIO SAL ROSAS, OUR PRETRIAL SERVICES MANAGER. UH, I'M ALSO JOINED BY DR. UM, UH, ANDREA G**O, OUR DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC HEALTH, AS WELL AS, UH, 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 DEFACTO MENTAL HEALTH, UM, UH, 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, 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, THE DEFLECTION AND DIVERSION. WE WILL THEN PROVIDE AN OVERVIEW AND A SNAPSHOT OF BOTH THE OFFICE OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE AND THE PUBLIC HEALTH DEPARTMENTS ACTIVITIES IN BOTH, UH, DEFLECTION AND DIVERSION. AND 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, UH, 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 PURPOSE OF PURPOSES OF THIS PRESENTATION AND USE, USING THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF PRETRIAL SERVICES DEFINITION, WE WANT TO ENSURE THAT WE'RE PROVIDING DISTINCT, UH, TERMINOLOGY AND DEFINITIONS FOR BOTH TERMS. SO WE'RE GONNA MAKE THIS VERY SIMPLE. DEFLECTION PROGRAMS WILL BE THOSE EFFORTS WHERE, WHERE THAT OCCURS BEFORE AN INDIVIDUAL IS ARRESTED. AND DIVERSION PROGRAMS ARE THOSE AFTER AN ARREST OCCURS, BUT PRIOR TO CONVICTION. BUT I WANNA BE CLEAR THAT BOTH CONCEPTS AIM TO, TO, TO ADDRESS UNDERLYING ISSUES THAT OFFER TREATMENT INSTEAD OF INCARCERATION. [00:55:01] I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY BEFORE WE MOVE ON TO RECOGNIZE COMMISSIONER'S COURT AND THIS COUNTY'S EFFORTS IN DIVERSION GOING BACK TO THE MID NINETIES WITH THE ESTABLISHMENT OF, OF, UH, THE ADULT DRUG SPECIALTY COURT. WE'VE BEEN RECOGNIZED AS A LEADER IN THOSE AREAS. SO I, I'D LIKE TO REMIND, WE'VE BEEN DOING THIS FOR, FOR YEARS, AND IN FACT, THOSE SPECIALTY COURTS HAVE EXPANDED. I BELIEVE WE HAVE 12 NOW, UH, IN A VARIETY OF, UH, SPECIALTY AREAS. SO DEFLECTION, THE NEXT FEW SLIDES WILL COVER THE CONCEPT OF, 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 AND LIEU OF AN ARREST. CHARGES ARE EITHER SUSPENDED OR NEVER FILED BY THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE, AND NO ARREST RECORD IS CREATED. ELIGIBILITY, UH, FOR WHICH CHARGES TO PURSUE IS AT THE DISCRETION OF THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE. A VERY KEY POINT. EXAMPLES OF ELIGIBLE CHARGES INCLUDE, UH, 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, UH, DETERMINED, ELIGIBLE FOR, FOR, UH, DEFLECTION. A DEF A DEFLECTION LOCATION IS WHERE TREATMENT BEGINS IMMEDIATELY. AND AN EXAMPLE OF THAT IS OUR, UH, PUB, THE PUBLIC, SO SOBERING UNIT OPERATED BY CHCS. ANOTHER KEY CRIMINAL DEFLECTION PROGRAM EMPLOYED HERE IN BEXAR COUNTY IS SITE AND RELEASE, AND IT'S USED BY LAW ENFORCEMENT TO ISSUE CITATIONS INSTEAD OF TAKING SOMEONE INTO CUSTODY FOR CERTAIN LOW LEVEL OFFENSES. SITE AND RELEASE IS USED IN CASES FOR NONVIOLENT 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 A DC AND INCREASES EFFICIENCIES IN BOTH TIME AND RESOURCES FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT. SOME OF OUR PARTICIPATING AGENCIES ARE LISTED BELOW, INCLUDING SAPD OR 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, UH, WHEN AN INDIVIDUAL IS NOT ELIGIBLE FOR DIVERSION, THAT IN THAT CAN OCCUR WHEN A PR BOND IS DENIED BY THE JUDGE. UH, CASE IS DISMISSED PRIOR TO US FINISHING OUR REFERRAL PROCESS, OR IF THE DEFENDANT HIMSELF OR HERSELF, UH, DENIED THE PR BOND OR DIVERSION PROGRAM DIRECTLY. SO THE OFFICE OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE PARTICIPATES AND OVERSEE 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 JILL JAMESON AND HER TEAM ARE HERE WITH US AND AVAILABLE FOR QUESTIONS. I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO TAKE, UH, A LITTLE POINT OF RECOGNI 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, UH, EFFORTS. SO, UH, I'D LIKE TO BRING ANTONIO UP HERE TO TALK ABOUT THE COUNTY COURT AT LAW TWO PILOT PROGRAM WITH THE NONPROFIT CONTINUUM. AGAIN, UH, THAT IS FOR OUTPATIENT SERVICES, AND I'D ASK ANTONIO TO COME UP AND JUST KIND OF HIGHLIGHT WHAT WE'RE DOING THERE. THANK YOU, THOMAS. GOOD MORNING JUDGE AND COMMISSIONERS. UH, I GONNA, I'VE BEEN ASKED TO SPEND A LITTLE BIT ON THE COUNTY COURT TWO PILOT PROGRAM WITH CONTINUUM. AS THOMAS HIGHLIGHTED, THIS IS ONE OF THE PROGRAMS WHERE, UH, THE TREATMENT SERVICES REALLY, IT'S A PARTNERSHIP WITHIN PROVIDERS IN THE COMMUNITY. UH, AND I WANT TO GIVE YOU SOME NUMBERS ON THAT PROGRAM, RIGHT? AND A LITTLE BIT OF INFORMATION ON THAT PROGRAM. SO JUDGE SIGNS THE PRESIDING JUDGE FOR COUNTY COURT TWO AT REACH 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, UH, FOR ADDRESSING SUBSTANCE USE, MENTAL HEALTH HOMELESSNESS. UH, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT BECAME APPARENT IS THAT WE HAVE, OBVIOUSLY, THOSE ARE THE THREE MAJOR ISSUES WHEN WE LOOK AT JAIL POPULATION. UH, [01:00:01] SO WE STARTED WORKING ON, UM, YOU KNOW, THE POTENTIAL OF ADDRESSING AND IDENTIFYING INDIVIDUALS WITH SUBSTANCE USE DISORDERS, UH, 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 JAIL DIVERSIONARY, UH, PROCESS AND PROGRAMS THAT WE HAVE THROUGH OCJ. UH, AND LIFETIME RECOVERY WAS OUR, OUR PRIME PARTNER FOR THE OUTPATIENT SERVICES. UM, AND, AND THE REASON I WANNA HIGHLIGHT OUTPATIENT SERVICES IS WE IDENTIFIED THAT INDIVIDUALS RELEASING TO THE COMMUNITY, ESPECIALLY WITH A CHARGE FROM COUNTY COURT NUMBER TWO, ARE MISDEMEANOR CASES. A LOT OF THESE INDIVIDUALS, WE WANTED TO ONE, ENSURE THAT SUBSTANCE USE DISORDER WAS AN ISSUE FOR THEM. UH, AND TWO, WE WANTED TO ADDRESS THAT IN A, IN AN APPROPRIATE WAY, RIGHT? AND, AND THAT WAS DONE THROUGH A COUPLE OF WAYS, PUBLIC HEALTH, UH, PROVIDED AT THE BEGINNING OF THE PROGRAM BY, UM, 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, AND OTHER THINGS THAT THEY STILL HAVE TO, TO BE OUT IN THE COMMUNITY, RIGHT? SO THAT THEY CAN BE SUCCESSFUL. SO WITH COUNTY COURT TWO AND THE CONTINUUM PARTNERSHIP THAT WE STARTED IN, UH, DECEMBER OF 2025, I JUST WANT TO GIVE YOU SOME NUMBERS, RIGHT? SO WE'VE BEEN ABLE FROM PRETRIAL SERVICES TO, UH, CONTINUUM 226 REFERRALS. OUT OF THOSE 226 REFERRALS FROM INDIVIDUALS BEING RELEASED INTO THE COMMUNITY 109, UH, ARE CURRENTLY ENGAGED IN PROGRAMMING RIGHT NOW, 55 HAVE SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETED THEIR OUTPATIENT TREATMENT AND ARE STILL OUT IN THE COMMUNITY. UH, 59 HAVE BEEN REFERRED TO A HIGHER LEVEL OF CARE, WHICH IS RESIDENTIAL SERVICES OR MEDICATED ASSISTED TREATMENT. AND ALSO PART OF THAT 59 HAS ALSO HAVE THEIR CASES, UH, ADJUDICATED OR DISMISSED AND NO LONGER IN PRETRIAL SUPERVISION. THE BIG KEY OF THIS PROGRAM IS, LIKE THOMAS MENTIONED, IS 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, RIGHT? SO THIS A HUNDRED AND TWO, TWO HUNDRED AND TWENTY SIX REFERRALS, UH, WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO AGAIN, WORK ON THAT, ON THOSE INDIVIDUALS WITHOUT ANY OF THE DIVERSIONARY FUNDING. RIGHT? AND AGAIN, REALLY WHAT THAT HAS DONE, 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, UH, AS WE, 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, 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 THERE WITHIN THE JUDICIAL PROCESS. AGAIN, A BIG PART OF THE JAIL POPULATION AT MANY TIMES IS THE PRETRIAL STAGE. AND IT'S INDIVIDUALS THAT ARE, HAVE NOT BEEN ADJUDICATED AND ARE WAITING TO GO TO COURT FOR THEIR CASES. UH, WE HAVE OTHER PARTS OF THE JAIL POPULATION THAT ARE PART OF INDIVIDUALS THAT HAVE BEEN SENTENCED AND AWAITING A TREATMENT BID. WE HAVE INDIVIDUALS, AS THOMAS MENTIONED, UH, OUR PARTNERSHIP WITH THE CENTER FOR HEALTHCARE SERVICES AND ADDRESSING INCOMPETENCY, UH, THAT ARE STILL REMAINING AT THE JAIL. BUT WHEN WE'RE LOOKING AT DIVERSION, I WANNA MAKE SURE THAT EVERYBODY UNDERSTANDS THAT WE ARE DEFINITELY, PUBLIC SAFETY IS AT THE, YOU KNOW, 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 THOSE INDIVIDUALS THAT ARE GONNA 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, UH, UNSHELTERED INDIVIDUALS. UH, 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. UH, AND AGAIN, THO THOSE ARE THE THINGS I WANTED TO SHARE WITH YOU REGARDING SOME OF THE PROGRAMMING AND JAIL, UH, CRIMINAL JUSTICE DIVERSION PROGRAMS. THANK YOU. THANKS ANTONIO. AND I FAILED TO RECOGNIZE TONY COSTUS, OUR, UH, DIRECTOR OVER AT THE JUSTICE INTAKE AND ASSESSMENT AREA. UH, SO THANKS TONY. SO TO DATE, UH, THIS SLIDE INCLUDES A SNAPSHOT OF THIS YEAR'S FISCAL YEAR'S STATS TO DATE FOR CURRENT CRIMINAL JUSTICE DIVERSION AND DEFLECTION PROGRAMS. FOR EXAMPLE, UH, AS YOU SEE HERE, WE'VE, UH, IN THE [01:05:01] AREA OF RESIDENTIAL TREATMENT, WE'VE SERVED 136 INDIVIDUALS TO DATE WITH THE PROJECTED 275 INDIVIDUALS TO BE TREATED BY SEPTEMBER OF 2026 IN THE AREA OF TRANSITIONAL HOUSING, UH, THROUGH CRIMINAL JUSTICE. WE'VE SERVED OVER A HUNDRED 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, UH, PUBLIC HEALTH AND THE PUBLIC HEALTH DEPARTMENT, UH, AND THEIR DEFLECTION AND DIVERSION PROGRAMS. SO AGAIN, PROGRAMS THAT, THAT YOU SEE ON THIS, UH, SLIDE HERE COURT, UH, YOU'VE SEEN ON THE SIDE OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE AS WELL. UH, 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 DEESCALATION THAT PROVIDES ON SCENE BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SUPPORT DURING EMERGENCIES. AGAIN, THESE PROGRAMS THAT ARE INTENDED TO BE PREVENTATIVE AND YEAH, SORRY ABOUT THAT. SO NOW WE'LL MOVE INTO SOME SP SPECIFIC DIVERGENT PROGRAMS IN PUBLIC HEALTH. UH, THE BEXAR COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH, OVERSEAS, THE MENTAL HEALTH AND IDD ASSESSMENT PROCESSES THAT OCCUR IN THE GA IN PARTNERSHIP WITH UHS AND ACOG. AND I KNOW WE HAVE, UH, OUR PARTNERS WITH UH HERE, UH, UH, UH, BECOMES, BECAME THE MENTAL HEALTH PROVIDER IN THE GA IN OCTOBER OF 2025. AND PUBLIC HEALTH IS IMPLEMENTING A PATHWAY FOR DIVERSIONS FOR THOSE RELEASED DIRECTLY FROM THE GA, THAT INCLUDES MULTIPLE PROVIDERS. THOSE PROVIDERS INCLUDE GT SAN ANTONIO TRUE MENTAL HEALTH, AND OTHERS THAT WILL FACILITATE REFERRALS TO MENTAL HEALTH APPOINTMENTS AND OTHER SERVICES, INCLUDING TRANSPORTATION. AGAIN, ANOTHER SNAP SNAPSHOT OF THOSE STRATEGIES IN THE PUBLIC HEALTH REALM. UH, AGAIN, THIS COURT, ONE THING I WOULD LIKE TO HIGHLIGHT IN SOME OF THESE, UH, IN THE FUNDING COLUMN, UH, 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, UH, BY OFFICE OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE, OUR PARTNERS, AND THE PUBLIC HEALTH DEPARTMENT. SO WHAT DOES THAT MEAN FOR OUR JAIL POPULATION AND OUR, 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'VE REACHED OVER 6,100 INDIVIDUALS LAST YEAR, PUTTING EVEN MORE STRAIN ON DETENTION STAFF AND COSTING THIS COMMUNITY WITH OUT OT COUNTY, UH, 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 MEADOW 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, UH, INVESTMENTS BY THIS COMMISSIONER'S COURT THROUGH THE AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN ACT, OPIOID FUNDING, UH, TO FACILITATE, UH, MANY OF THE, THE RESOLUTIONS THROUGH THOSE RECOMMENDATIONS. WE'VE ALSO HAD, UH, PARTNERSHIPS LIKE THE MOU, UH, WITH CHCS ON JAIL BASED COMPETENCY IN REGARDS TO THE MEADOWS, UH, 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 HEALTH HOUSTON, UH, STUDY OBSERVATION IS THE ISSUE OF DUAL MAGISTRATION. DR. TESTA STUDY RECOMMENDED ASSEMBLING A JOINT COUNTY, CITY, UH, WORKING GROUP TO END THE DUAL MAGISTRATION SYSTEM TO ADDRESS INEFFICIENCIES AND CHALLENGES POSED BY THE, BY THE CURRENT SYSTEM. THE WORKING GROUP SHOULD, UH, SHOULD WORK COLLABORATIVELY TO PLAN A TRANSITION TO A UNIFIED SYSTEM WHERE ALL DETAINEES ARE PROCESSED AT A SINGLE CENTRALIZED FACILITY. IT BE IMPORTANT THAT SHOULD THE COURT DIRECT US TO, 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, UH, AND STAFF HERE, YOU KNOW, WE CAN'T DO THIS ALONE. THERE'S A LOT OF COLLABORATIVE EFFORTS HERE. UH, IT'S NOT ALL ON THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE, IT'S NOT ALL ON THE STAFF BACK HERE, OR 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. UH, THE FIRST IS A, UH, CHCS COSA, UH, CITY OF SAN ANTONIO, I SHOULD SAY. UH, UNIVERSITY HEALTH FUNDED, UH, DIVERSION FEASIBILITY STUDY [01:10:01] THAT HAS, UH, KICKED OFF, UH, JUST RECENTLY, UH, AND WILL BE, UH, OUR STAFF WILL BE A PART OF THAT AS, AS FAR AS THOSE INTERVIEWS ARE CONCERNED. SECONDLY, COMMISSIONER RODRIGUEZ AND COUNCILWOMAN CASTILLO WILL BE KICKING OFF A DIVERSION AND RECOVERY COMMITTEE TO WORK AND COMMISSIONER, I'LL KIND OF DEFER TO YOU DOWN, DOWN THE LINE TO, 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 STICK. AGAIN, THE STICK IS A WIDE RANGING COLLABORATION THAT HAS EXISTED OVER MANY YEARS. THAT CONSISTS, UH, HOSPITAL SYSTEMS OR MENTAL HEALTH PROVIDERS, THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO, BEXAR COUNTY, AND, UH, AND CHCS, UH, WITH STR SERVING AS THE CONVENER DATA PARTNER AND SUBJECT MATTER EXPERT, UH, ON RESOURCE COORDINATION. ERIC LEY 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, 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, UH, TO A PREVIOUS ASSESSMENT IS DUAL MAGISTRATION. SO WE'VE IDENTIFIED THAT AS A FUTURE STRATEGY, AND WE WOULD CONTINUE TO IDENTIFY GRANT FUNDING, UH, 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, WE'VE PUT MONEY INTO CAPITAL PROGRAMS PROJECTS, UH, TO EXPAND BED CAPACITY. ONE EXAMPLE IS, UH, THE AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN, APPLEWHITE DUAL DIAGNOSIS CENTER THAT, UH, 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 WANNA LOOK AT OTHER WAYS THAT WE CAN, UH, PROVIDE SUPPORT SERVICES TO REDUCE RECIDIVISM. UH, AGAIN, WHAT ONE AREA I DID NOT GO OVER, UH, THAT THIS COURT HAS HEARD PREVIOUSLY WAS THE SASH REVIEW STUDY THAT DAN CURRY PRESENTED BACK IN NOVEMBER, DECEMBER OF 2024. I KNOW THAT IS MORE OF A LONG-TERM, UH, STRATEGY DOWN THE LINE THAT'S GONNA REQUIRE, UH, LEGISLATION AND, AND OTHER COLLABORATIVE EFFORTS. UH, BUT WE'VE LISTED THAT ON HERE AND ONE AREA AS WE WERE GOING THROUGH THIS PRESENTATION AND WE'RE, UH, RECEIVING UPDATES FROM OUR PARTNERS. WE'VE ALSO, WE'VE ALSO BEEN, UH, MADE AWARE OF CERTAIN GAPS. UH, I MENTIONED EARLIER, UH, THE DUAL DIAGNOSIS, UH, CENTER AT APPLEWHITE, UH, THAT THE FACILITY, FACILITY HAS BEEN COMPLETED. BUT IN OUR DISCUSSIONS WITH, UH, JARVIS ANDERSON, WHO I BELIEVE IS HERE AS WELL, UH, WE'VE IDENTIFIED, UH, SOME GAPS IN PARTICULAR, GAPS IN, UH, FUNDING FOR SUBSTANCE USE, UH, UH, UH, DISORDERS. AND ON THAT SIDE OF THE, THE, THE COIN THERE. SO, UH, WE ARE NOT AVAILABLE RIGHT NOW AT THE MOMENT. YOU'RE CORRECT. SO 130, I BELIEVE THAT'S 130 BEDS IF YOU DOUBLE UP, THAT'S ABOUT 200. UM, BUT JARVIS WORKING WITH, UH, THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH, I BELIEVE WE'RE GONNA TRY TO FORMULATE A STRATEGY HERE, AND I'LL LET JARVIS AND, AND DR. A SPEAK A LITTLE BIT MORE TO THAT. BUT WE'VE IDENTIFIED POSSIBLY USING OPIOID FUNDING TO BRIDGE THAT GAP. UH, BUT AGAIN, THAT'S OVER A HUNDRED INDIVIDUALS CURRENTLY IN THE JAIL THAT ONCE WE GET STARTED, THAT'S A SHORT TERM SOLUTION THAT WE CAN ADDRESS IMMEDIATELY. UM, SO WITH THAT, I WILL, UH, TURN OVER THE PRESENTATION FOR QUESTIONS, COMMENTS, AND AGAIN, WE HAVE BOTH STAFF, VARIOUS, UH, PARTNERS, UH, SEE ED ANOS AND HIS TEAM HERE, UH, AS WELL. SO, UH, AGAIN, COURT, WE'LL TURN IT BACK OVER TO YOU ASK THE COURT FOR DIRECTION. WE HAVE CITIZENS TO BE HEARD. I'D LIKE TO CALL THEM UP. OKAY. AND THEN WE'LL GET BACK TO ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION. AND THEN, UH, I WILL OPEN, OPEN UP TO COMMISSIONERS TO DIRECT QUESTIONS OR OTHER SPEAKERS. ALRIGHT, SO AT THIS TIME I'M BRINGING UP THOSE THAT SIGNED UP FOR CITIZEN TO BE HEARD ON THIS PARTICULAR AGENDA. ITEM. OH, JUDGE, UH, COMMISSIONER RODRIGUEZ, POINT OF PERSONAL PRIVILEGE. YEAH. THANK YOU, JUDGE. UH, I GUESS IN STICKING WITH THE THEME, IF I CAN DIVERT THE CONVERSATION BRIEFLY, UH, WE'VE GOT SOME YOUNG STUDENTS UP HERE FROM WILSON ELEMENTARY IN S-A-I-S-D. YEAH. [01:15:01] CAN YOU GUYS STAND AND BE RECOGNIZED? GIVE 'EM A ROUND OF APPLAUSE. UH, THEY ARE HERE, MA, THANK YOU FOR ARRANGING THE TOUR. AND THEY'RE HERE, UH, LEARNING ABOUT, ABOUT LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND, AND CIVIC ENGAGEMENT. THESE ARE ALL FUTURE LEADERS. UH, WE'RE VERY PROUD OF WHAT YOU DO AND REPRESENTING YOUR SCHOOL AND YOUR COMMUNITY. SO THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. I KNOW MA'S TAKING GREAT CARE OF YOU, MAORI, THANK YOU FOR DOING THAT AGAIN, UH, CONTINUE ON, STUDY HARD, AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO YOU GUYS LEADING THIS CITY AND COUNTY IN THE FUTURE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. ALRIGHT, CITIZEN BE HEARD, LYDIA LES, YOUR FIRST LYDIA LES. GOOD MORNING, JUDGE. GOOD MORNING, COMMISSIONERS. THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING US TO BE HERE. MY NAME IS SI HAVE VOICES BEHIND THE CELL. IT IS FROM GRIEF TO JUSTICE, FROM SILENCE TO ACCOUNTABILITY. MY NAME IS S AND I STAND HERE BEFORE YOU AS THE MOTHER OF JULIAN DENA. MY SON ENTERED THE BEAR COUNTY JAIL ALIVE. HE SHOULD HAVE COME HOME ALIVE. INSTEAD, I WAS LEFT WITH A PAIN THEN 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 FACED 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, AND 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 AND CUSTODY MESSAGE TO ELECTED OFFICIALS. TO SHERIFF ALAD, 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 BEAR COUNTY JAIL AND ACROSS TEXAS. IN LOVING MEMORY OF JULIAN DENA, 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, PROJECT 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 JOLEN JAMON, THE CEO FOR CHCS. I WANNA THANK YOU EARLIER FOR YOUR SUPPORT IN THE MOU WITH CHCS TO CONTINUE THE JAIL BASED COMPETENCY PROGRAM CURRENTLY BEING OPERATED AT OUR JAIL. UM, 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 MEADOW 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, UH, AND PROMOTING, UH, THERAPEUTIC JUSTICE FOR THIS COMMUNITY. WELL, WE CAN'T DO IT ALONE. AND SO YOUR [01:20:01] 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 WELLBEING. 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 THE FEAS, INVALIDATING 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 JUDICI 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 NON-VIOLENT OFFENSES WHO CYCLE THROUGH THE SYSTEM BECAUSE OF UNTREATED MENTAL ILLNESS. AND IDD, THIS COMMUNITY NEEDS A JAIL DIVISION 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 SAND. GOLDIE VAN SAND. GOOD MORNING, COMMERS AND JUDGE. MY NAME IS GOLDIE VAN ZA. I AM A US NAVY VETERAN AND A CLIENT ADVOCATE WITH TEXAS JAIL PROJECT. WE ARE A STATEWIDE ADVOCACY ORGANIZATION WORKING ON COUNTY JAILS, CONDITIONS AND PRETRIAL DETENTION. OUR CO-FOUNDING THE ED SERVICE ON THE ADMINISTRATIVE RULES ADVISORY COMMITTEE OF THE TEXAS COMMISSION ON JAIL STANDARDS AND THE TEXAS JUDICIAL COMMISSION ON MENTAL HEALTH. WE HEARD JUDGE JUDGE'S PRESENTATION AT THE JAIL COMMISSION MEETING IN FEBRUARY ON THE PROPOSAL FOR A MENTAL HEALTH DIVERGENT 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 OF BEING HELD IN YOUR COUNTY JAIL, WHICH IS CUSTODY DEATH. WE RAN A QUICK ANALYSIS BASED ON DATA FROM THE TESTING 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 PRETRIAL. IN THE PAST FIVE YEARS, THE NUMBER OF DEATHS IN BEAR COUNTY HAVE ALMOST MATCHED HARRIS COUNTY. DESPITE, DESPITE THE JAIL POPULATION BEAR ROUGHLY HALF OF HARRIS COUNTY, THE MAJORITY OF THESE DEATHS SEEM TO BE DRIVEN BY SUICIDES. WHAT'S MISSING FROM OUR ANALOGIES OF DEATHS? IT'S A 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. I 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 SITS FROM 2021 AND SENATE BILL NINE FROM 2025 PREVENT DIVERSION ON THE WIDE RANGES OF CHARGES. IN OUR EXPERIENCE, THERE'S A REVOLVING DOOR BETWEEN THE PUBLIC MENTAL HEALTH AND THE COUNTY JAIL SYSTEM DUE TO THE LACK OF CONTINUITY OF CARE PROTOCOLS UPON RELEASE FROM JAIL. AND YOUR LOCAL MENTAL HEALTH AUTHORITIES PATTERNED OF PRACTICE OF PLACING PEOPLE IN APPROPRIATE LEVELS OF CARE. BUT INSTEAD OF STUDYING [01:25:01] THE EFFECTIVENESS OF LMH PROGRAMS, COUNTIES KEEP EXPANDING THEIR JAILS, WHICH DOESN'T HELP SOLVE THE UNDERLYING PRO PROBLEM. THE STATE HAS ADVOCATED ITS RESPONSIBILITY TO CREATE A MEANINGFUL CONTINUUM, UH, COMMUNITY-BASED MENTAL HEALTHCARE 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 IS A, THE IDD POPULATION IS A GOOD EXAMPLE OF THIS ISSUE. THE STATE SUPPORTED LIVING CENTERS OR S SL LCS ARE ENTIRELY FOR PEOPLE WITH IDD, BUT INSTEAD OF PLACING THEM ON AN INPATIENT CARE WAIT LIST, YOUR A-A-C-O-G PROVIDES INAPPROPRIATE PLACEMENT SUCH AS GROUP HOMES LEADING TO ARREST AND MORE CRIMINALIZATION. HOW DO WE KNOW THIS? HHS CS ON DATA, THE LARGEST NUMBER OF TRANSFERS TO S-L-L-C-S OF PEOPLE WITH IDD HAPPENS FROM COUNTY JAILS. SO INSTEAD OF ACCESSING AN SLLC THROUGH THE SILVER SIDE, THIS POPULATION IS FORCED TO JAIL FIRST BEFORE THEY CAN ACCESS SLLC THROUGH THE FORENSIC PATHWAY. YES, WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH LSLC BEDS, BUT HHSC HAS MADE NO RECOMMENDATION TO THE LEGISLATION FOR EXPANDING THOSE BEDS. THEY SEEM MORE THAN COMFORTABLE PUSHING PEOPLE INTO JAILS AND PRISONS. OUR ORGANIZATION HELPED PASS TWO RIDERS LAST SESSION. ONE MANDATING THE JAIL COMMISSION TO COLLECT AND PUBLISH CCQ GATHER AND ORDERING FOR HHSC TO CREATE A COMMUNITY BASED UPON BASE 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, UH, JUDGE, COMMISSIONERS AND THE REST OF THE PEOPLE HERE. UH, MA'AM, I'M VERY SORRY TO HEAR ABOUT YOUR LOSS. I WANT TO COMPLIMENT THE COURT HERE TODAY. UM, SEVERAL THINGS I'VE ALREADY SEEN IS THAT YOU HAVE, UM, YOUR SECOND CHANCE PROGRAM WAS HERE, YOUR COURT THERAPY ANIMALS, WHICH IS A HUGE HELP THAT A LOT MORE THAN PEOPLE REALIZE, ESPECIALLY FOR JUVENILES. UH, YOUR DIVERSION SPEAKERS, UH, AT SOME POINT WOULD LOVE TO TALK TO THEM. THAT WAS AN EXCELLENT PRESENTA PRESENTATION AND A VERY GOOD START FOR WHAT YOU'RE LOOKING TO DO. AND ALSO THE MAMMOTH WHO JUST SPOKE ABOUT THERAPEUTIC JUSTICE, THAT'S ALSO WHAT I'M HERE TO TALK TO YOU ABOUT TODAY, UM, ADDRESSING THOSE ISSUES. UH, MY NAME'S JEFF BRADLEY. I'M WITH HOK ARCHITECTURE. I'M THEIR NATIONAL DIRECTOR, AND I LIVE HERE IN TEXAS. AND THE FIRST, UH, DIVERSION TYPE PROGRAM THAT ADDRESSED MENTAL HEALTH I WAS INVOLVED IN WAS DALLAS COUNTY ABOUT 14 YEARS AGO. WE DID, UH, 200, UH, MENTAL HEALTH BEDS, UH, A HUNDRED MEDICAL BEDS AND IT'S BEEN A VERY SUCCESSFUL PROGRAM FOR THEM. UM, SINCE THEN. UH, OUR, OUR FIRM IS ACTUALLY A LEADER IN CIVIC AND JUSTICE DESIGN WORK, BUT WE'RE NOT JUST ARCHITECTS, WE'RE CONSULTANTS. WE HAVE THE HEALTHCARE PEOPLE INSIDE. WE HAVE MENTAL HEALTH PEOPLE, AND WE ALSO WORK WITH OTHER FIRMS SUCH AS MEADOWS. UH, AND ACTUALLY WHAT YOUR UHS STUDY, UH, WE DID THAT WE WORKED FOR MEADOWS AND WE WERE HERE INVOLVED IN THAT, UH, WITH ALTA, UH, ALTA ARCHITECTURE, A LOCAL FIRM HERE ON YOUR UHS PROGRAM ABOUT, IT WAS ABOUT TWO YEARS AGO, AND THAT WAS FOR A NEW MEDICAL FACILITY, A CLINIC, AND AN INFIRMARY. UH, 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 IT, OF THE ACTUAL JUSTICE SYSTEM, BOTH THE SYSTEM OVERALL AND THEN ALSO WITHIN THE JAIL ITSELF. AND THAT'S WHERE THE SHERIFF AND, AND IS. THOSE FOLKS REALLY NEED TO BE INVOLVED AS WELL. YOUR MENTAL HEALTH PEOPLE, THE SHERIFF PEOPLE, UH, THE, THE LEADERSHIP AND SUCH. UH, IN ORDER TO DELIVER A SUCCESSFUL PROGRAM OVER, OVER THE PAST, EXCUSE OVER THE LAST EIGHT OR 10 YEARS OR SO OR SO, UH, WE'VE DONE 11 MENTAL HEALTH DIVERSION FACILITIES FOR COUNTIES AROUND THE COUNTRY. UH, A LITTLE OVER 1900 SPECIALTY BEDS FOR THAT. THE, UH, FOR STATES WE'VE DONE 12 SPECIALTY MENTAL HEALTH FACILITIES AND STATE PRISONS TOTALING OVER 6,000 BEDS. SO WE'VE DONE ALMOST ALL 8,000 BEDS FOR SPECIAL MENTAL HEALTH NEEDS. SOMEBODY MENTIONED EARLIER TODAY THAT, UH, UH, ABOUT THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE WHO HAVE MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES AND OVER 60% OF THE PEOPLE WHO ARE INCARCERATED AROUND THE COUNTRY, UH, DO HAVE MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES AND THE MAJORITY OF THEM ARE ON SOME SORT OF PSYCHOTROPIC DRUGS. IT, IT'S, [01:30:01] UH, IT'S, IT'S IMPORTANT THAT YOU HAVE PEOPLE THAT YOU HAVE ACCESS TO ALL THE PEOPLE FROM OUR FIRM THAT WOULD BE, UH, EVER DO ANY WORK FOR YOU. WE ACTUALLY, WE HAVE A COMPLETE JUDGE. COMMISSIONERS THE TIME HAS EXPIRED. I'M SORRY, THAT'S THREE MINUTES. WRAP IT UP. OKAY. UM, YEAH, I'VE GOT, UH, SOME THINGS TO PASS OUT HERE TO YOU TO THE ADDITIONAL PROJECTS I GOT FOR THE COMMISSIONER'S COURT FOR DAN CURRY, UH, THE COUNTY AUDITOR, AND SOME LETTERS FROM, UH, OTHER COUNTY JUDGES AROUND THE STATE, UH, FOR YOU TO READ, TAKE A LOOK AT. SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. ALRIGHT. WAS THERE ANYBODY ELSE SIGNED UP? I, THAT'S ALL I HAD FOR ITEM NUMBER FIVE. LET ME THEN YIELD TO COMMISSIONER MOODY. OH, WHO, CAN YOU STATE YOUR NAME? NEVERMIND. NEVERMIND. NO. OKAY. COMMISSIONER MOODY. LET ME YIELD TO YOU AND THEN, OH, THERE'S ONE MORE. OH, THERE'S ONE MORE. JUDGE. OFFICER KAZEN, ARE YOU HERE ON AGENDA ITEM NUMBER FIVE? NUMBER FIVE? YES. YES, YES. DO YOU HAVE YOUR THREE MINUTES? YES. UM, I KNOW THIS IS ONLY THE CITIZENS TO BE HEARD PART, UH, BUT I JUST WISH TO ECHO FOR EVERYONE THAT, UH, ESPECIALLY THE 25 PLUS YEARS THAT I'VE BEEN DOING MENTAL HEALTH, IT IS SUCH A MUCH, 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, JUST AROUND 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, UM, MOST PEOPLE AREN'T AWARE THAT WE, UH, 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'VE 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 IN 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 IN THE HANDOFF 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, UH, THAT WE CAN RELY ON WHEN WE NEED THEIR HELP. UH, WITH THAT, I JUST, LIKE I SAID, I JUST WANTED IT TO BE A QUICK REMINDER TO THE PUBLIC AT LARGE, SHOULD THEY BE WATCHING THAT, 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. , THANK YOU FOR YOUR LONGSTANDING COMMITMENT TO THE PROBATE COURTS AS A PROBATE JUDGE, AND OBVIOUSLY FOR THE MENTAL HEALTH SYSTEM. AND I, 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. WELL, AND IT'S PERHAPS THAT'S AN OVER-EXAGGERATION, BUT THERE'D 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 COME TOGETHER WITH ALL THE DIFFERENT PARTS OF OUR JUSTICE SYSTEM. SO THANK YOU JUDGE CAER FOR BRINGING THAT UP TO YOU. I WANNA THANK TOMAS AS WELL. HE'S BEEN VERY GOOD TO IN TALKING TO US ABOUT THIS. THANK YOU. ALRIGHT, THANK YOU. ALRIGHT. 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? UM, PLEASE. BUT, UH, THERE'S GONNA BE A LOT OF PLAYERS, I THINK, RIGHT? SO THOMAS AND TEAM COME BACK. YEAH. SOME PRESENTATIONS. OKAY. SO FIRST OF ALL, APPRECIATE THE PRESENTATION. I'M GLAD WE'RE HERE. UM, I THINK THIS DISCUSSION WAS OVERDUE, BUT AT LEAST WE'RE HERE. UM, [01:35:02] I JUST WANNA REITERATE TO ME, YOU KNOW, THERE MAY BE SOME THINGS WE, WE DISAGREE ON HERE, BUT THIS IS NOT A POLITICAL ISSUE. 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, WE HAVE TO COME TO THE TABLE HERE. WE HAVE TO HAVE SERIOUS CONVERSATIONS ABOUT ALL THE, 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. UH, I'M DEFINITELY LOOKING FORWARD TO, TO GETTING YOUR THOUGHTS HERE AS WELL. AND FIRST OF ALL, I'LL APOLOGIZE UP FRONT. COVERED A LOT OF INFORMATION AND THERE'S OTHER THINGS I STILL WANT TO COVER. SO I'LL TRY TO GET THROUGH EVERYTHING HERE AND, UH, HOPEFULLY, UH, GET SOME ENGAGEMENT AND CONVERSATION GOING ON WHERE WE GO FROM HERE, UM, WHERE WE STAND TODAY. SO THOMAS, YOU MENTIONED OUR CURRENT, UH, CAPACITY AT THE JAIL, WHICH PUTS US PROBABLY IN, UH, WHAT, 93%, 94%, SOMETHING LIKE THAT. I KNOW BRANDON WOOD LATER CAN, CAN TALK TO US ABOUT RECOMMENDATIONS FROM THE STATE. ABOUT 90% CAPACITY GOING BEYOND 90% CAN BECOME A STRAIN. UM, HOW MUCH OF OUR COUNTY BUDGET IS CURRENTLY SPENT AT THE JAIL? AND I DON'T NEED AN EXACT FIGURE HERE. I'M NOT TRYING TO PUT ANYBODY ON THE SPOT, BUT IN TERMS OF ALL THE DETENTION OFFICERS THAT WE HAVE, WHICH IS CLOSE TO A THOUSAND, DO YOU HAVE A BALLPARK FIGURE AT THE JAIL? I THINK THAT MIGHT INCLUDE, UH, PATROL. IT'S ABOUT 87. YEAH, 87 MILLION. I WAS GONNA SAY A HUNDRED MILLION. SO I WAS PRETTY CLOSE. UM, WHILE THROWING OVERTIME COSTS. WHAT WERE OUR OVERTIME COSTS LAST YEAR, TINA? UH, ABOUT 2,000,020. SO NOW YOU'RE OVER A HUNDRED MILLION, $107 MILLION 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, THE CENTERPIECE OF, OF THE COUNTY'S BUDGET AND, AND OUR WORK. UM, HOW MUCH DID WE SPEND LAST YEAR HOUSING INMATES OUT AT A COST? SO ABOUT 4 MILLION. AND, AND IS THAT WHAT WE BUDGETED THIS YEAR? FOUR POINT? YEAH, 4.5, I THINK. BUT BASED ON THE CHANGE IN COST AT KIRK COUNTY, WE INCREASED THAT $2 MILLION, CORRECT. CORRECT. IF WE USE THOSE BEDS RIGHT. AS AS EXPECTED. SO YOU GOT ANOTHER FOUR TO 8 MILLION THERE, DEPENDING ON HOW MANY BEDS YOU PLAN TO USE, UH, AT SURROUNDING COUNTIES. UM, GOING TO YOUR PRESENTATION, I, I KNOW YOU HAD SOME NUMBERS HERE, BUT THE TOTAL, TOTAL AMOUNT OF INVESTMENTS IN CRIMINAL JUSTICE STRATEGIES, WHETHER THAT'S AN ANNUAL NUMBER OR OVER THE PAST FEW YEARS. UH, I AM, IF I'M JUST LOOKING AT WHAT'S ON THIS, UH, PRESENTATION, IT LOOKS LIKE A COUPLE MILLION DOLLARS. I'M SORRY. UH, COMMISSIONER, UH, CAN YOU REPEAT THAT QUESTION? UH, WHICH SLIDE ARE YOU LOOKING AT? JUST, JUST THE FUNDING FOR CURRENT CRIMINAL JUSTICE STRATEGIES. THOSE ARE THE ONES THAT YOU HAVE HIGHLIGHTED HERE ON SLIDE EIGHT. IT'S, UH, . YEAH, THAT SOUNDS ABOUT RIGHT. UH, COMMISSIONER AGAIN, THIS IS FOR THIS CURRENT FISCAL YEAR. SO IT DOESN'T INCORPORATE, UH, INVESTMENTS THAT WE'VE HAD, UH, THROUGH ARPA THAT ARE MULTI-YEAR, ET CETERA. SO THIS IS FISCAL YEAR ONLY. OKAY? MM-HMM . AND THEN, I'M SORRY, I MISSED THE NUMBER. COMMISSIONER. WHAT 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, UH, COMMISSIONER CALVERT AS YOU KNOW. UH, WE'VE, WE'VE, UH, ADDED A LOT OF RESIDENTIAL, UH, PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING THROUGH ARPA. IT DOESN'T INCLUDE ANY OF THOSE NUMBERS, UH, WHAT YOU'VE INVESTED IN FOR REHABBING, UH, YOU KNOW, THE, THE COMMON OF THE SAFETY TRAILS, ET CETERA. SOME OF THOSE COMMUNITY BASED PROGRAMS THAT YOU COULD ALSO INCORPORATE INTO THIS DOLLAR AMOUNT. SO THIS IS JUST A SNAPSHOT. OKAY. AND THEN, UH, GOING TO THE PUBLIC HEALTH STRATEGIES, THERE'S EVEN A LOT MORE THAN THAT. [01:40:01] UH, LOOKS LIKE 45 TO $15 MILLION. THAT IS CORRECT. OKAY. AND, AND I'LL COME BACK TO THAT TOO HERE IN A SECOND, BUT I THINK MY, 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. UH, SPENDING SOME TIME ACTUALLY DIVING INTO THIS, UH, NOT TO MENTION, UH, THE, THE DEATHS THAT WE HEARD ABOUT EARLIER AND, AND SOME OF THE OTHER, UM, CONCERNS THAT, THAT ARE OUT THERE IN THE JAIL. SO LET ME CIRCLE BACK TO, TO A COUPLE OTHER COMMENTS JUST TO MAKE, SO I KNOW THE, THE JAIL POPULATION HAS BOUNCED AROUND SIGNIFICANTLY, RIGHT? AND WE'RE ACTUALLY DOWN SEVERAL HUNDRED FROM WHERE WE WERE KIND OF AT A PEAK. HOWEVER, IF YOU LOOK AT THE, UM, THE EXPECTED GROWTH RATES FOR BEXAR COUNTY OVER THE NEXT 15 YEARS, WERE PROJECTED TO GROW 29% OVER THE NEXT 35 YEARS. THAT'S 54%. UM, IF YOU JUST HELD INCARCERATION RATES CONSTANT, THAT WOULD LEAD TO AN ADDITIONAL 1500 INMATES AND 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 GONNA 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, IF WE LOOK AT THE, THE NUMBERS WE HAVE TODAY AND THE, THE CURRENT, UM, TRAJECTORY OF GROWTH, AND 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. UM, SO I'M, AND AGAIN, I DIDN'T WANT TO DIVE INTO, UH, YOU KNOW, THIS JUST BEING A CAPACITY CONVERSATION BECAUSE THERE'S, THERE'S MULTIPLE PIECES HERE, AND I AM NOT OPPOSED TO EXPLORING, UH, DIVERSION. I'VE SAID SEVERAL TIMES, UH, THAT I THINK DIVERSION EFFORTS ARE NECESSARY BUT NOT SUFFICIENT TO SOLVE THE OVERALL PROBLEM. AND SO THERE'S, THERE'S SOME SHORT TERM SOLUTIONS. THERE'S, UH, 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 GONNA REQUIRE SOME SERIOUS INVESTMENTS BY BEXAR COUNTY. AND I THINK WE CAN'T LOOK PAST THAT BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT THESE BIG, UH, PROJECTS CAN TAKE YEARS, UH, AND NOT TWO OR THREE YEARS, 5, 6, 7 YEARS BY THE TIME WE, UH, WE ACTUALLY SEE THEM REALIZED. I'M GONNA COME BACK TO, TO SOME OF THE PRESENTATIONS THAT I I, THAT HAVE BEEN REFERENCED AND, AND, UH, HIGHLIGHTED HERE. BUT ONE OTHER THING I WANTED TO MENTION. I SEE THIS, THERE'S, THERE'S THREE SEPARATE, UH, DISCUSSION ITEMS. I THINK TODAY TO ME, THERE'S, THERE'S THIS DEMAND PART OF THE PROBLEM THAT IS MAINLY, UH, WRAPS AROUND, UH, DEFLECTION AND DIVERSION, RIGHT? HOW, HOW ARE WE NOT CREATING, HOW ARE WE REDUCING THE DEMAND FOR FACILITIES AND BED SPACE? UH, AND WE CAN TALK ABOUT THAT. AND THEN THERE'S A 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 THE ABOVE. AND THEN THERE'S A THIRD PART OF THIS. AND, 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, UM, 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, THE, THE FIGHTS, THE, THE, UH, ONGOING FIGHTS THAT WE HAVE BETWEEN DIFFERENT ORGANIZATIONS AND DIFFERENT PARTNERS, WE NEED TO WORK THROUGH THIS, RIGHT? FOR THE GOOD OF THE COUNTY. WE CAN'T SEE CONTRACTS LAPSE, WE CAN'T SEE PEOPLE NOT [01:45:01] GET PAID. UH, WE, WE CAN'T, UH, ALLOW SOME OF THE CAPACITY. WE DO HAVE TO DISAPPEAR, RIGHT? WE'RE, 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 GONNA HAVE TO BE, BE ANSWERED ON THAT FRONT. UM, LEMME JUST GO BACK TO TO YOUR PRESENTATION, AND, AND THERE'S A FEW THINGS HERE. LET'S JUST GO BACK TO THE, THE PUBLIC HEALTH STRATEGIES AND THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE STRATEGIES. YOU MENTIONED, YOU SAID WE'VE BEEN DOING DIVERSION FOR A LONG TIME, CORRECT? CORRECT. UM, 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, JENNIFER? YEAH, I BRING UP, I DOUBT HE'S GONNA BE ABLE TO ANSWER THAT. I, I DO KNOW, I DO KNOW, UM, AND LOOKING OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF FISCAL YEARS, THE INDIVIDUALS WHO GO THROUGH THE DOORS AT AD UH, AT THE ADULT DETENTION CENTER RANGES BETWEEN 37 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, WE, UH, WENT OVER THAT ARE ALLOWED, UH, BY THE DA'S OFFICE, UH, THAT ARE ELIGIBLE. WE WERE IDENTIFYING THROUGH A FISCAL YEAR, MORE OR LESS, AROUND A THOUSAND INDIVIDUALS THAT WE DEEMED ELIGIBLE JUST KIND OF A ROUND NUMBER. PERFECT, PERFECT. UH, OF THAT THOUSAND, I BELIEVE WE WERE ACTUALLY DIVERTING MAYBE ANYWHERE BETWEEN 500 TO 600 INDIVIDUALS OF THAT NUMBER. UH, SO AGAIN, THOSE ARE OVER THE LAST FEW FISCAL YEARS. SO JUST KIND OF HIGH LEVEL NUMBERS. SO, UH, AGAIN, UH, I JUST WANT TO GET AT THE BALLPARK FIGURED SO WE CAN UNDERSTAND. AND THAT PERCENTAGE WAS 26%, UH, ACCORDING TO STAFF THIS FISCAL YEAR. CORRECT? JENNIFER, YOU SAID 26% WERE ELIGIBLE? YES. FOR PR, FOR PR FOR PR BONDS ONLY. UH, SO I'M, WELL NOW I'M GONNA HAVE TO TRY TO RECONCILE THE 26% WITH A THOUSAND VERSUS 40,000 BECAUSE I THOUGHT IT WAS MUCH SMALLER PERCENTAGE BASED ON THOSE NUMBERS THAT MM-HMM . YOU FIRST PROVIDED. YES. I 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. UM, WELL, WHETHER IT'S, UH, A FEW PERCENTAGE POINTS OR WHETHER IT'S 20%, UH, IT'S STILL A SMALLER PERCENTAGE OF, OF THE TOTAL, RIGHT? CORRECT, CORRECT. WHO ARE ELIGIBLE, IF 26% OF THOSE WERE ELIGIBLE THAN YOU WOULD HAVE A LOT MORE, UM, I MEAN, YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE POTENTIALLY. UH, SO I'M NOT SURE, YOU KNOW, AGAIN, WE WE NEED CLARITY ON THAT. EXACTLY. WHO'S ELIGIBLE? UM, I THINK ONE OF THE, 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, WE'RE, WE'RE HIGHLIGHTING THIS AND WE'RE, WE'RE THROWING OUT, YOU KNOW, NUMBERS. UM, WE DON'T REALLY KNOW LIKE WHAT ADDITIONAL NEED, UM, ADDITIONAL CAPACITY AVAILABLE AND HOW PRODUCTIVE, LIKE WHAT ARE THE PERFORMANCE INDICATORS HERE? WE WE'RE, 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, A HUNDRED RESIDENTIAL TREATMENT BETS, UH, 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 A HUNTER, WE'RE CAPPED OUT. WE HAVE NO CAPACITY. YOU KNOW, SO THERE'S, THERE'S NO UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT THE, THE LIMITS ARE ON SOME OF THESE CATEGORIES OR WHAT THE ADDITIONAL COSTS WOULD BE. UH, AND SO I THINK IT'S HARD FOR US TO DETERMINE, WE HAD A, A CONVERSATION WITH, WITH, UH, UH, EDOS AND, AND, UH, JIMMY HASLAUER 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, HOW ARE THE GEARING RATIOS BETWEEN ALL THESE CATEGORIES? AND THE, THE OTHER QUESTION I'LL JUST MENTION BEFORE, BEFORE YOU JUMP IN, IS, OF ALL THESE DOLLARS THAT ARE LISTED HERE, HOW MANY OF, WHAT'S THE BREAKDOWN BETWEEN BEXAR COUNTY DOLLARS, ARPA DOLLARS, OPIOID DOLLARS? BECAUSE I THINK THERE'S, WE NEED TO UNDERSTAND WHETHER [01:50:01] THOSE, UH, EXISTING INVESTMENTS ARE GONNA BE ABLE TO CONTINUE, OR WHETHER THEY'RE GONNA HAVE TO NOW COME OUT OF THE GENERAL FUND TO CONTINUE, UH, IF THEY WERE ARPA FUNDED OR OPIOID FUNDED. AND SO IF YOU COULD SPEAK TO THAT AS WELL. SURE. THANK YOU. UH, COMMISSIONERS, JUDGE. I'M DR. ANDREA GUERRERO. I'M THE DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC HEALTH FOR BARAR COUNTY. UM, 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, UH, HELP FOLKS LIMIT THEIR EXPOSURE TO THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM BEFORE THEY BECOME IN, UH, BEFORE THEY HAVE AN ENCOUNTER WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT. UM, SO REALLY PREVENTATIVE AND UPSTREAM. UM, AS WHEREAS PUB, UH, OFFICE OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE, ALL OF THE PROGRAMS THAT THEY ARE OPERATING ARE ONCE SOMEONE HAS ALREADY BEEN ARRESTED, MAYBE AGAIN, UM, 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, UM, THEY'RE, THEY'RE A MIX. SO THE INPATIENT, UM, PSYCHIATRIC BEDS, THAT IS A CONTRACT THAT WE HAVE WITH STR FOR EIGHT, ALMOST $8 MILLION. AND THAT WAS COMPLETELY ARPA FUNDED. UM, AND I'LL, AND I'LL SAY THAT IT WAS KIND OF UNDERSPENT UNTIL, UNTIL WE, UM, EXPANDED THE SCOPE TO INCLUDE PEDIATRIC BEDS, AND THEN WE WERE ABLE TO REALLY, UM, INCREASE THOSE BED DAYS AND, UM, GET THAT NUMBER UP SO THAT WE'RE, UM, SPENDING ALL THAT MONEY. SO THAT'S ARPA FOR THE SMART TEAM MOBILE MULTIDISCIPLINARY TEAM, THAT IS A MIX OF GENERAL FUND. THE EXPANSION TO 24 7 WAS MADE POSSIBLE THROUGH ARPA FUNDS FOR RESIDENTIAL TREATMENT ALMOST ENTIRELY. ALL OF THAT IS OPIOID FUNDING. UH, OPIOID SETTLEMENT FUNDING TO PLACES LIKE LIFESTYLE LIFETIME, ALPHA HOME, UH, PAY IT FORWARD, CROSSPOINT EITHER FOR, UM, SOME CONSTRUCTION, BUT MOSTLY RESIDENTIAL TREATMENT. UM, THE OTHER, UH, ARPA FUNDS THAT SUPPORT RESIDENTIAL TREATMENT WOULD BE RISE RECOVERY, WHICH IS A SCHOOL-BASED HIGH SCHOOL THAT, UM, FOCUSES ON RECOVERY FOR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS. UM, AND THEN THE OUTPATIENT LOWER ACUITY. THAT IS ALMOST ENTIRELY ARPA, UM, THAT WAS MADE POSSIBLE OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS. OKAY. IF YOU COULD JUST SUM UP THEN ON, ON THAT PAGE WITH THE, WHAT, WHAT DID WE SAY WAS $45 MILLION, HOW MUCH OF THAT IS BEXAR COUNTY VERSUS ARPA VERSUS OPIOID FOR, UH, FOR ALL OF THESE, THE ENTIRE THING? UM, IT'S ALMOST ENTIRELY ARPA AND OPIOID, WITH THE EXCEPTION OF PART OF THE SMART BUDGET. SO PROBABLY ABOUT WHAT, HALF OF THAT, ABOUT HALF OF THAT WOULD BE GENERAL FUND. SO WHAT, WHAT IS THE PLAN FOR REPLACING THOSE FUNDS? OR IS THERE A PLAN OR AN OPTION? WELL, I, 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, OUR FOCUS IS ON NOT JUST FORMATIVE EVALUATION, SUMMATIVE EVALUATION, BUT LOOKING AT WHAT IS THE IMPACT OF THESE PROGRAMS, WHETHER HOWEVER THEY WERE FUNDED, WHETHER THEY WERE GENERAL FUNDS, SMART FUND OR, UH, GENERAL FUND, ARPA OR OPIOID. UM, AND SOME OF THE THINGS, ESPECIALLY WITH RESIDENTIAL TREATMENT, BECAUSE THOSE ARE THE ONES THAT HAVE, UM, A REALLY HIGH RISK OF, UM, BECOMING REARRESTED. BUT WE'RE LOOKING AT, UH, RECIDIVISM RATES AS IS OCJ. UM, WE ARE LOOKING AT THE NUMBER OF DAYS TO REARREST. WE'RE LOOKING WHETHER OR NOT THAT NUMBER, NUMBER OF DAYS TO REARREST CORRELATES WITH THE NUMBER OF DAYS THEY SPENT IN INPATIENT, UM, TO, AND, 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 IMPO, IT'S SOMETIMES, UH, 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 DAYS LENGTH OF STAY TO THE DAYS TO REARREST, FOR EXAMPLE, I'LL JUST CALL OUT LIFETIME, THEY HAVE OVER 150 DAYS TO REARREST. UM, AND THE PER PEOPLE THAT ARE IN THERE IN RECOVERY VOLUNTARILY, IT'S NOT A CONDITION OF THEIR BOND FOR THE, FOR THE CONTRACT UNDER PUBLIC HEALTH. SO WE'RE TRACKING ALL OF THESE MEASURES FOR ALL OF THE PROGRAMS. AND SIMILARLY, UM, WITH MENTAL HEALTH PROGRAMS AS WELL. UM, THE MENTAL HEALTH, THE $20 MILLION ARBIT INVESTMENT INTO SCHOOL-BASED AND THE ISDS TO PROVIDE MENTAL HEALTH, UH, SERVICES THERE, IT'S NOT INCLUDED IN THIS PRESENTATION BECAUSE IT'S, IT'S REALLY UPSTREAM TO JUDGE CAINS, UH, POINT ABOUT THE PIPELINE, BUT, UM, PREVENTATIVE AWAY UPSTREAM. SO, UH, I'M GLAD THAT YOU'RE, UH, 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 AND 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, UM, PROVIDE STANDARDS AND STANDARDIZING THOSE METRICS ACROSS PROGRAMS SO THAT WE'RE COLLECTING DATA GOING FORWARD. SO WE'RE COMPARING APPLES TO APPLES. OKAY. YES. BUT, BUT JUST AGAIN, TO CLARIFY, 'CAUSE THIS IS, YOU KNOW, I, I DID NOT HAVE THE ANSWER COMING IN HERE, BUT ALL THAT FUNDING ON SLIDE [01:55:01] 11 IS ARPA FUNDED AND THAT THOSE ARE PROGRAMMATIC DOLLARS. THOSE WEREN'T JUST CAPITAL DOLLARS FOR EXPANSION ON FACILITY, CORRECT? 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 CURRENT, CURRENTLY UNDER EVALUATION. OKAY. AND, UH, I DID WANNA BRING UP ANTONIO TO DISCUSS THE SAME THING ON OUR CRIMINAL JUSTICE STRATEGIES IN THOSE NUMBERS AND, AND, AND ADD THIS INTO ANOTHER DIFFICULT CONVERSATION THAT'S UPCOMING ABOUT OUR LONG-TERM FINANCIAL FORECAST. AND IT'S DOUBLE CONCERNING, UH, 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, UH, WE'RE LOOKING AT ALL OUR CONTRACTS AND REALIGNING THEM TO ENSURE ACCOUNTABILITY, RIGHT? AND ENSURING THAT THE DOLLARS ARE GOING, UH, TO A POINT WHERE WE CAN MEASURE THE SUCCESS AND THE METRICS, RIGHT? SO FOR OCJ, WE'RE LOOKING AT RECIDIVISM AS OUR MAIN FACTOR, RIGHT? UH, 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, UH, 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, THE COST THAT IS GOING TO THAT, RIGHT? UH, BUT AGAIN, WE'RE ALIGNING ALL OUR CONTRACTS, UH, 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. UH, MY PREVIOUS ROLE AS OBVIOUS OVERSEEING THE JAIL POPULATION, RIGHT? 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 THE SAME DIRECTION, RIGHT? AND THAT WE CAN CROSS COLLABORATE NOT ONLY INTERNALLY, BUT ALSO WITH OUR, UH, OUR PROVIDERS OUT IN THE COMMUNITY, RIGHT? BECAUSE I THINK THERE'S A LOT OF GAPS AND, AND MAY MISSED OPPORTUNITIES THAT WE HAVE TO BE ABLE TO MAXIMIZE SOME OF THE COUNTY FUNDING AND SOME OF THE STUFF THAT WE HAVE. OKAY. NO, I APPRECIATE IT. THANK YOU. UM, BUT YEAH, LEMME JUST FINISH MY THOUGHT HERE. UM, AND ONE THING, UH, COMMISSIONER, JUST TO ADD, JUST BEFORE I FORGET, WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE FUNDING STREAMS, A LOT OF THAT IS GENERAL FUND HERE, UH, UH, ACROSS THE BOARD HERE, WHICH PART? THE MAJORITY, MAJORITY OF THESE SERVICES AND STRATEGIES ON THE OCJ SIDE IS GENERAL FUNDED. UH, WE DO HAVE A COUPLE OF GRANTS IN HERE, BUT FOR THE MOST PART, THAT IS, UH, GENERAL FUNDED. WHICH, WHICH SLIDE ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT? UH, SLIDE EIGHT. OKAY. THAT'S THE, THAT'S THE SMALL ONE. IT'S, IT'S THE OTHER BIG ONE. THAT'S, THAT'S THE CHALLENGE. SO YOU HAVE 45 MILLION, UH, NOT A CLEAR FUNDING MECHANISM TODAY. WE KNOW WE'RE GONNA TALK ABOUT OUR LONG RANGE FINANCIAL FORECAST, UM, AND WE KNOW THAT, UM, THERE'S, THERE'S AN INCREASING NEED. SO, UH, I'LL GO AHEAD AND, UH, YIELD TO COLLEAGUES. MR. CLIFF, YOU HAVE A MOMENT. UM, FIRST OF ALL, THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. I JUST WANNA RECOGNIZE, UM, SOME OF THE, SOME OF THE GOOD WORK WE ARE DOING. SO I RUN WANNA RECOGNIZE DR. NORMA GREENFIELD LABIA. I KNOW SHE WAS UNABLE TO BE HERE TODAY, BUT OF COURSE HER DEPUTIES HERE, HER STAFF IS HERE. UM, ALSO CHCS AND THE WORK THAT THEY HAVE BEEN PARTNERING WITH US. UM, I RECENTLY MET WITH MY APPOINTEE REGARDING SOME OF THESE, SOME OF THESE ISSUES. AND OF COURSE UHS, UM, THE SOUTH SIDE HOSPITALS 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, UM, I'M NOT GONNA SAY FIGHT 'CAUSE 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 PREVENTATIVE. 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, 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 BEFORE I BECAME COMMISSIONER WAS [02:00:01] ABLE TO IMPLEMENT. AND I'VE BEEN CL 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, UM, OUR LOBBYISTS, IF YOU'RE LISTENING, WE PASSED Y'ALL'S CONTRACTS LAST MONTH AND I PULLED IT, UM, 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 THE 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, UM, I WANNA 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 FOR, UM, APPLEWHITE, WHICH IS IN MY PRECINCT. AND IT IS A BEAUTIFUL FACILITY. IT IS OPEN. SO THE, THE FACILITY IS THE COUNTY FACILITY. BUT JARVIS IS AN INTERESTING ROLE BECAUSE I GUESS PART OF YOUR FUNDING AND YOUR EMPLOYEES, ALTHOUGH ARE COUNTY EMPLOYEES, BUT GET FUNDED THROUGH THE STATE, UM, 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. UH, GOOD MORNING AND, AND WHAT WE CAN DO ABOUT TO MAKE THAT HAPPEN. MORNING COUNTY JUDGE COMMISSIONER JARVIS ANDERSON, DIRECTOR OF BEAR COUNTY COMMUNITY DIVISION CORRECTIONS DEPART, AND JARVIS TALL. SO YOU'RE GONNA NEED TO SPEAK INTO THE MIC A LITTLE BIT. OR THAT THANK YOU. SO, SO THE BED'S BEAUTIFUL CAMPUS, AND I, AND I THANK THE COUNTY FOR THEIR INVESTMENT AND IT WAS UPPER DOLLAR, SO I APPRECIATE THAT. UM, WE, WE RECEIVED THE CERTIFICATE OF DE ANCY IN FEBRUARY. WE STARTED MOVING PEOPLE OVER FROM THE OLD 300 BUILDING TO THE NEW WING IN MARCH. UH, THE, THE, THE ISSUE THAT WE DISCOVERED, COMMISSIONER AND, AND JUST SO FOR THE RECORD, UM, ALL THE EMPLOYEES ARE KIND OF JUDICIAL EMPLOYEES GET FUNDED BY THE STATE. THEY WORK FOR ME. UM, SO WE WERE NOT COUNTY EMPLOYEES, BUT WE RECEIVE SOME COUNTY BENEFITS. OKAY? THE, THE ISSUE THAT WE DISCOVERED FROM ALL OF THIS IS PSYCH MEDS, RIGHT? THAT'S THE MAIN HOLD UP FOR US, RIGHT? UM, WORKING ON A LONG-TERM PLAN WHERE THE STATE WILL ACTUALLY FUND THAT. BUT THE INTERIM, THE ONLY WAY PSYCH GET FUNDED IN THE DDRF, IF THEY GO THROUGH OMI, WHICH PARTNER WITH THE CENTER FOR HEALTHCARE SERVICES, THAT'S MY MAIN ISSUE THERE, RIGHT? I CAN, I CAN BRING IN COUNSELORS, I CAN, I CAN ABSORB THE FOOD AND THE SECURITY, BUT THAT'S THE ONE ISSUE I HAVE. UH, I'M WORKING WITH, WITH BEAR COUNTY MENTAL HEALTH DEPARTMENT TO SEE IF WE CAN DO SOMETHING, UH, IN THE INTERIM WHERE I WORK ON A LONG-TERM SOLUTION WHERE THE STATE WILL FUND US, RIGHT? THE, THE, THE ENGAGEMENT SENATOR, THE DDRF FACILITY, UH, WE, WE HAVE A CODE FOR THE STATE CAN FUND US IN THE FUTURE, RIGHT? SO THAT'S MY MAIN ISSUE RIGHT NOW. COMMISSIONER IS GETTING THE PSYCH MEDS RESOLVED. RIGHT? AND I HAVE A MEETING THIS FRIDAY WITH YOU EXIST TO SEE IF THERE'S SOMETHING WE CAN DO IN THE INTERIM. SO THE, THE BEDS ITSELF IS 130 BEDS. SO I, I WILL NEVER DOUBLE ANYONE IN THAT SPACE 'CAUSE I DON'T WANT TO PUT PEOPLE WITH MENTAL ILLNESS KIND OF IN SARDINE CANS WHERE THEY'RE ON TOP OF ONE RATHER, RIGHT? UM, I WELCOME ALL THE COMMISSIONERS TO COME OUT, LOOK AT THIS SPACE BECAUSE IT'S, IT'S TRULY REMARKABLE WHAT'S HAPPENING OUT THERE. UM, THE FACILITY IS A CORE AND CARING 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, RIGHT? 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 SO THEN I CAN GET SOMEONE, I CAN GET THOSE INDIVIDUALS OUT TO JAIL, ABOUT A HUNDRED OF THEM AT APPLEWHITE WITHIN THE NEXT THREE TO FOUR MONTHS. AND, AND I DO WANNA SAY THE WORK THAT YOU GUYS ARE DOING AT APPLEWHITE IS REALLY EXCELLENT HAVING BEEN THERE, HAVING SPOKEN TO, 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, UM, COMMISSIONER'S COURT CAN DO OR MY OFFICE SPECIFICALLY, PLEASE REACH OUT TO ME AND YOU'RE MY CONSTITUENT TOO, AS YOU KNOW. YES. SO, UM, PLEASE REACH OUT TO US. UM, DR. ANDREW, DID YOU HAVE SOME A COMMENT? UH, AND TO YOUR POINT, COMMISSIONER MOODY, JUST ABOUT COLLABORATION, RIGHT? UH, JARVIS AND I, IN GOING OVER THIS PRESENTATION, MAKING SURE THAT WE ARE TELLING THE RIGHT STORY WHEN WE TALK ABOUT APPLEWHITE, UM, AND LISTENING TO, YOU KNOW, WHY, WHY AREN'T WE FILLING THESE BEDS? THE SOLUTION THAT WE'VE COME UP WITH IN THE SHORT TERM IS THAT, UM, JARVIS [02:05:01] HAS SAID THAT HE HAS ABOUT 105 PEOPLE THAT ARE CURRENTLY IN THE JAIL. UM, THAT IF WE CAN SOLVE THE MEDICATION PROBLEM OVER THE NEXT THREE MONTHS, IT WILL COST US ABOUT $60,000. UM, AND WE CAN DO THAT THROUGH THE OPIOID SETTLEMENT FUND. UM, AND THEN WORK WITH, UH, UM, AND BRING, YOU KNOW, HAVE A NEW CONVERSATION WE'RE ALREADY TALKING TO, TO THEIR JAIL BASED DETENTION FOLKS ABOUT COMING WITH A LONGER TERM SOLUTION INSTEAD OF PURCHASING, UM, NOT JUST PSYCH MEDS, BUT ALSO LIKE BLOOD PRESSURE MEDICATION MEDS. 'CAUSE 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 FOR, WE WILL, WE'LL BRING BACK TO THIS COURT AS SOON AS POSSIBLE, HOPEFULLY AT THE NEXT MEETING, UM, UH, A REQUEST FOR, UM, AT LEAST $60,000, WE'LL COME UP WITH 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, AND WE KNOW THAT DIVERSION CENTERS ALONE AREN'T GONNA, UM, SOLVE THE JAIL POPULATION ISSUES. UM, 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 GONNA REDUCE GEL POPULATION, YOU KNOW, ISN'T GONNA EMPTY OUT THE GEL, BUT IT IS ONE PART OF A HOLISTIC PLAN THAT WE, WE DO NEED TO, UH, DIVE DOWN. 'CAUSE WE KNOW THE BENEFITS, UH, THAT IT CAN, UH, ACHIEVE. AND THAT'S FIRST AND FOREMOST INDIVIDUAL THEMSELVES, UH, BECOMING STABILIZED AND, AND, AND GETTING THE TREATMENT THEY DESERVE IN A FACILITY THAT ISN'T, UH, YOU KNOW, UH, THE GEL. SO, SO THAT IS ONE ASPECT THAT WE DO WANT TO GO DOWN THAT PATHWAY. YES, MA'AM. AND, UM, YOU KNOW, I RECOGNIZE SOME OF OUR OUTSIDE PARTNERS EARLIER, BUT OF COURSE IT TAKES THE WHOLE COUNTY, I BELIEVE. UM, JEN, I DON'T KNOW IF LYN'S STILL HERE, BUT SHE HAD MENTIONED THIS, SO IT ALSO, OH, THERE IS THAT HER? YEAH, SHE'S TALKING. OKAY. UM, 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 WANNA SPEAK A LITTLE BIT, I KNOW COMMISSIONER RODRIGUEZ CAN SPEAK MORE TO THIS ABOUT HOW HARRIS COUNTY DA HANDLES, UM, HANDLES THEIR DEFLECTION PROGRAMS. AND THEN I DON'T KNOW IF COMMISSIONER RODRIGUEZ WANTS TO CHIME IN FROM HIS VISIT. UH, YES. COMMISSIONER, UH, HAVING THE OPPORTUNITY TO VISIT, UH, HARRIS COUNTY ALONG WITH, UH, THE TEAM HERE AND, AND THE COMMISSIONER, UH, 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. UH, SO IN THAT CONCEPT, UH, YOU HAVE A LAW ENFORCEMENT, UH, 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, UH, TEAM CAN LET THAT LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER KNOW YOU DON'T HAVE ENOUGH INFORMATION OR, UH, ENOUGH EVIDENCE, UH, TO BRING THAT INDIVIDUAL IN. WE, WE WOULDN'T CHARGE, WE WOULD DISMISS THOSE CHARGES. SO DON'T BRING THAT INDIVIDUAL IN, OR, HEY, YOU HAVEN'T, YOU HAVE SOME, BUT YOU NEED A LITTLE BIT MORE CALL BACK, DO YOUR INVESTIGATION OR BRING THEM IN. WE WILL 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 AS TIME EFFORT, UH, RIGHT THEN AND THERE, THE, THE DA'S OFFICE IS SAYING YES OR NO. UM, SO THAT IS ONE CONCEPT THAT WE'VE, WE'VE KIND OF, THEY'VE BEEN DOING IT FOR A WHILE. IT, IT APPEARS SO LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS THERE, THAT'S, I GUESS THAT'S WHAT THEY'RE TRAINED TO DO. IT'S, IT'S, IT'S BEEN AROUND FOR, FOR SOME TIME. BUT THAT IS ONE AREA THAT WE KIND OF SAW, UH, UH, AS AN OPPORTUNITY. WE ACTUALLY WERE ABLE TO SEE A, A CALL IN REAL TIME, UH, WHERE THE DA THEMSELVES SAID, YOU DON'T HAVE ENOUGH, UH, UH, DON'T, DON'T RING THIS INDIVIDUAL IN. UH, AND I, I THINK THAT CREDIBILITY OF THOSE, UH, UH, INTAKE, UH, PROSECUTORS WITH EXPERIENCE IN THE COURTROOM, I THINK PROVIDES SOME, SOME, UH, CONFIDENCE THAT THIS IS TRULY A PUBLIC SAFETY CALL. UH, THEY UNDERSTAND KIND OF WHAT THOSE DYNAMICS ARE, UH, THAT, THAT PROSECUTOR WOULD HAVE TO DEAL WITH IN THE COURTROOM. SO, UH, THAT IS ONE AREA. COMMISSIONER, I DON'T KNOW, OR STAFF. I DON'T KNOW IF I, I JUST WANT TO COMMENT ON, BASED ON WHAT YOU'RE, YOU CAN COME UP, IS IT ANTONIO? YES. YEAH. UM, 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. OKAY, THANK YOU. CORRECT. UH, COMMISSIONER, I, 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? 'CAUSE I THINK IN PREVIOUS VISITS TO HARRIS COUNTY, I GOT TO SEE AN INDIVIDUAL [02:10:01] ESSENTIALLY BEING REJECTED FROM THE FIELD, FROM BRINGING THEM INTO CUSTODY. UH, BUT ALSO GOT TO SEE ANOTHER SITUATION WHERE AN INDIVIDUAL, IT WAS A LIFE CALL AND THEY WERE ACTUALLY GETTING MORE INFORMATION AND BUILDING A STRONGER CASE FROM THE SCENE. RIGHT? SO FOR PUBLIC SAFETY ASPECT, THEY WERE EVEN ABLE TO BUILD A STRONGER CASE AS THEY'RE BRINGING SOMEBODY INTO CUSTODY. 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, AS THEIR ABILITY TO BE ABLE TO ELECTRONICALLY FILE CASES, RIGHT? SO THEY'RE ABLE TO ELECTRONICALLY FILE CASES. SO IN THE, IN THE SENSE, TO GIVE YOU A SENSE OF TIMEFRAMES, MISDEMEANOR CASES WITHIN 24 HOURS, SAME DAY, YOU'RE FILING A CASE, RIGHT? WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT EFFICIENCIES, UH, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT HOW LONG HAS IT TAKEN BEXAR COUNTY RIGHT NOW WITHOUT ELECTRONIC FILING TO FILE CASES, WHICH IN MISDEMEANOR CASES MANY TIMES LEADS TO INDIVIDUALS BEING IN CUSTODY 15 DAYS, UH, 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, UH, RIGHT INTO THE SYSTEM. THANK YOU. OKAY. UH, THANK YOU, JUDGE. UM, YEAH, LET ME, LET ME START WITH, UH, THAT DISCUSSION ON THE DIVERSION CENTER. 'CAUSE I WAS WITH THOMAS AND, AND, AND MY TEAM, I GUESS, BACK IN MARCH, VISITING HARRIS COUNTY. UM, AND I KNOW DR. TESTA WAS THERE AS WELL. UH, THANK YOU FOR, FOR, FOR DOING THAT, DOC. UM, SO, YOU KNOW, A LOT OF THE DISCUSSION FOCUSES AT LEAST, UH, PUBLICLY ON KIND OF A, A BRICKS AND MORTAR DIVERSION CENTER. UM, AS HAS BEEN POINTED OUT, I THINK THERE'S BEEN STRATEGIES IN PLACE FOR SOME TIME WHERE WE'VE BEEN, UH, TRYING TO, UH, DIVERT, DEFLECT, UH, FOLKS FROM THE SYSTEM. UM, AND SO I, I THINK PART OF THE DISCUSSION, AND THIS IS GREAT, THAT WE'RE HAVING THIS DISCUSSION, WE'RE NOT GONNA SOLVE IT ALL IN 90 MINUTES TODAY. UH, 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, UH, UH, YEAR. UH, BUT THE, THE, THE SYNERGIES IN HARRIS COUNTY, AS YOU MENTIONED, THOMAS, WERE, UH, WHAT I NOTICED MORE RELATED TO PROCESSES, UH, FOR, FOR, UH, PROPER DIVERSION AND DEFLECTION, RIGHT? IT WAS THE, UM, DIFFERENT ELECTED OFFICIALS, THE DIFFERENT DEPARTMENT HEADS. UM, HARRIS HEALTH WAS A SIGNIFICANT PART OF THEIR DIVERSION CENTER THERE. SO I THINK THOSE ARE THINGS THAT WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO, UH, IMPROVE ON, DESPITE THE, THE BEST EFFORTS OF A LOT OF FOLKS HERE. UH, JOLY AND CHCS. I KNOW JUDGE KAZEN TALKED ABOUT A LITTLE BIT OF WHAT HE'S DONE. UH, ALL OF THE SPECIALTY COURTS THAT HAVE PUT IN, BEEN PUT IN PLACE FOR DECADES, UM, THAT HAVE WORKED TOWARDS THE RESTORATIVE THERAPEUTIC JUSTICE MODEL. UM, WE, WE, YOU KNOW, I, I THINK IN AN IDEAL WORLD, WE'D HAVE A SMALL, A SMALLER BRICKS AND MORTAR JAIL, AND A BIGGER BRICKS AND MORTAR DIVERSION CENTER SO THAT WE COULD HELP FOLKS, UM, THAT RATHER THAN LOCK THEM UP. AND SO, UM, 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, UM, YOU KNOW, I SAID I SAW DAVID HERE, UM, YOU KNOW, FROM FROM LIFETIME. I MET, UH, THE NEW CEO JOHN HORNSBY RECENTLY. UM, 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, WE CENTER BACK THE DISCUSSION ON, ON A DIVERSION TYPE, UH, UNIT OR, OR BUILDING. UM, I WANTED TO ASK, AND I WAS GONNA PUT YOU IN THE SPOTLIGHT, ED, 'CAUSE I KNOW YOU JUST HAD A, A RE A RECENT SURGERY LOOK GREAT, BY THE WAY. BUT, UM, IF ED WOULD COME UP, BECAUSE I THINK, UM, AGAIN, THE, THESE ARE JUST MY IMPRESSIONS. UM, I HOPE YOU'RE DOING WELL, ED, BY THE WAY. YOU LOOK GREAT. UM, THANK YOU, ED DID NOT LISTEN TO ME AND STAY HOME, . I KNOW YOU SHOULD BE, YOU SHOULD NOT BE HERE. SHOULD BE, YOU SHOULD BE AT HOME. BUT THAT'S HOW I LISTEN TO THE COMMISSIONER ON EVERYTHING SHE NEEDS TO, TO THAT. SHE SAYS, UH, THAT'S HOW IMPORTANT THIS DISCUSSION IS, ED. AND SO WE APPRECIATE YOU BEING HERE. UM, YOU KNOW, GOING BACK TO MY FIRST BUDGET ON COMMISSIONER'S COURT 2019, UM, WITH A DISCUSSION THAT I HAD WITH YOU AND GEORGE HERNANDEZ AND REED HURLEY, UM, IF YOU RECALL, WE HAD A DISCUSSION BACK THEN ABOUT POTENTIALLY, UH, TINKERING WITH YOUR TAX RATE. UM, AND IT WOULD'VE BEEN BACK THEN A DI MINIMIS, UH, AMOUNT TO AN AVERAGE HOMEOWNER, BUT IT WOULD'VE MEANT $7 MILLION OR 8 MILLION TO YOUR BUDGET. AND THE DISCUSSION BACK THEN WAS, UH, CAN WE USE, UH, THAT INSTEAD TO BOLSTER WHAT UNIVERSITY HEALTH IS DOING IN THE MENTAL HEALTH SPACE? YOU REMEMBER THAT ED? MM-HMM . AM I RECOLLECTING THAT RIGHT? ABSOLUTELY. OKAY. YES. SO WE, WE, WE BROUGHT THAT TO COURT. WE EVENTUALLY GOT, UH, COMMISSIONERS TO AGREE TO THAT. UM, AND SO I WANTED TO, TO HIGHLIGHT [02:15:01] THAT BECAUSE WE TEND TO FORGET THAT, UM, YOU KNOW, EVERYBODY THINKS OF UNIVERSITY HEALTH AS A PLACE YOU GO WHEN YOU NEED A SURGERY. UH, BUT THE REALITY IS THERE ARE, UH, PREVENTATIVE, UH, PROGRAMS THAT YOU'RE WORKING ON THAT YOU'RE COMMITTED TO. AND INCREASINGLY, THOSE HAVE BEEN IN THE MENTAL HEALTH SPACE, UM, AND EVEN RECENTLY WITH RESPECT TO THOSE THAT INTERFACE WITH OUR JUSTICE SYSTEM AT THE JAIL. UM, SO, SO ED, I WANTED TO, TO, UM, FIRST OF ALL, THANK YOU FOR THE COMMITMENT THAT THE, THE UHS HAS MADE, UM, IN THE PAST. AND I THINK, UM, AGAIN, JUST ME SPEAKING, THE COURT'S GONNA WEIGH IN. I THINK THAT WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO LEAN IN, UH, TO THAT PARTNERSHIP EVEN FURTHER. AND, AND, UM, I'D LIKE TO HEAR YOUR THOUGHTS ON, UM, HOW YOU SEE THAT IN TERMS OF YOUR VISION FOR HELPING US THROUGH WHAT I, I THINK IS A CORE, UH, FUNCTION. AND NOT JUST THAT, NOT ONLY IS IT A CORE RESPONSIBILITY OF OURS, BUT I THINK IT'S WHAT MAKES THE MOST IMPACT, UM, IN A LOT OF AREAS, QUALITY OF LIFEWISE ON WHERE PEOPLE CHOOSE TO, TO, TO WORK AND LIVE. SO, UM, IF YOU CAN TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT, UM, MAYBE WHAT, WHAT YOU'VE DONE PAST BUDGETS WITH THOSE DOLLARS AND, AND HOW, UH, YOU SEE, UH, THE VISION FOR MOVING FORWARD. YEAH. WELL, UM, FIRST OF ALL, I'M GLAD TO BE HERE, . UM, AND I WANNA THANK ALL OF ALL THE COMMISSIONERS AND, AND JUDGE AKA WHO HAVE REACHED OUT. UM, IT WAS VERY, VERY NICE OF YOU. AND I, I APPRECIATE THAT. AND, UM, UM, I'M ONE OF 13,000 EMPLOYEES AT UNIVERSITY HEALTH THAT ARE COMMITTED TO THIS COUNTY AND TO SOUTH TEXAS. UM, IF SOMEBODY NEEDS HELP, WE'RE GONNA MAKE SURE THAT WE CAN PROVIDE THE CARE. UM, AND, UM, I WANNA RECOGNIZE A FEW PEOPLE. IT WOULDN'T BE WITHOUT THE LEADERSHIP OF MR. JIMMY HAS LOCKER AS OUR BOARD CHAIR, ALL OF YOUR APPOINTEES. UM, I CAN'T SAY ENOUGH HOW WONDERFUL EVERY ONE OF OUR BOARD MEMBERS ARE WHO TAKE THIS SERIOUSLY. UM, EVERY ISSUE WHEN IT COMES TO, UH, MEDICAL AND MENTAL HEALTH IN OUR, IN OUR COMMUNITY. UM, WE HAVE A PUBLIC HEALTH SUBCOMMITTEE THAT MET LAST NIGHT, UM, AGAIN, AT THE URGING OF COMMISSIONER CLAY FLORES. I WANNA JUST TELL YOU HOW WE START TO, UM, WE SEE THE PROBLEM, WE ADDRESS THE PROBLEM, AND WE TRY WORKING TOGETHER WITH ALL THE ORGANIZATIONS. AND I WANNA 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 PICK TEAMS, THE, THE WORKING WITH THE SHERIFF AND HIS TEAMS, AND THEN THE STAFF IN THE BACK, UM, DR. ABBY LAZANO, WHO'S OVER OUR MEN, UH, MENTAL HEALTH, STEPHANIE STIFFER, WHO'S OVER THE JAIL, UH, SERVICE AND CORRECTIONAL SERVICES, SALLY TAYLOR, UM, WHO'S RETIRED, BUT DOESN'T RETIRE, SO SHE STILL WORKS WITH US. UM, BUT JUST TO GIVE YOU AN EXAMPLE, THE COMMITMENT WE KNEW NEEDED TO BE ON THE SOUTH SIDE. THAT CLINIC OPENED. UM, 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 ADDRESSED 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. UM, WE'VE, WE'RE UP TO ABOUT 370 LIGHT 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, UH, REGULAR, UH, WHAT I WOULD SAY, REGULAR MENTAL HEALTH AS WELL AS MEDICAL PROVIDERS DOWN THERE, UM, IN A VERY BIG, LARGE FACILITY THAT IS NOT A HOSPITAL WHERE YOU CAN DO THINGS AS EASILY. UM, WORKING TOGETHER AS A GROUP, NO ONE DEPARTMENT, COUNTY, INDIVIDUAL DEPARTMENT, WE HAVE TO WORK TOGETHER AS A TEAM. UM, WE HAVE LOTS OF OPPORTUNITIES TO LOOK AT ALTERNATIVE FUNDINGS, AS WE'VE MENTIONED. UM, WHEN IT COMES TO MEDICATION MANAGEMENT, [02:20:01] UH, THERE'S OPPORTUNITIES TO GET PHARMACEUTICALS FUNDED IF THEY'RE OUTPATIENTS THROUGH THE THREE 40 B PROGRAM, FEDERAL PROGRAMS, OTHER PROGRAMS. WE HAVE A GRANTS DEPARTMENT. WE HAVE, UH, 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, UH, THROUGH OUR BUDGET. UM, IT IS SO IMPORTANT THAT WE ALL WORK TOGETHER AND COLLABORATIVELY, AS YOU MENTIONED TODAY. UM, AND, UM, UH, I, I'D LIKE TO JUST TAKE THE LIBERTY. UM, WE ALL PUT SOME EDITORIALS IN THE NEWSPAPER, A FEW OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF MONTHS. AND, UM, ONE OF THE EDITORIALS THAT I WAS, UM, 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, UM, I RECEIVED A UNIQUE LETTER, AND I JUST WANNA READ SOME EXCERPTS TO YOU. AND IT SAYS, AFTER READING YOUR RECENT ARTICLE IN THE SAN ANTONIO NEWS EXPRESS, I FEEL EXCITED AND QUASI, UH, LOUD, UH, 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 DO HAVE, AND I HAVE BENEFITED FROM FASTER, 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 HAS EXPERIENCED. BEAR COUNTY HAS REMANDED MANY INMATES, MYSELF INCLUDED, WITHOUT BOND UNDER MENTAL HEALTH. 16, 20, 22, KEEP ALL 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. BANIS, IS TO CONTINUE TO STRIVE WITH COLLABORATIVE LEGISLATION TO IMPROVE TREATMENT, TIMELINESS OF CARE, AND ALTERNATIVES TO JAIL. AND BEXAR COUNTY ESPECIALLY. THANK YOU FOR YOUR WILLINGNESS TO VOICE YOUR OPINION AS AN INCARCERATED VETERAN US ARMY. I'M VERY AWARE OF THE PROBLEMS THAT ARISE FROM BEING IN JAIL WITH MENTAL ILLNESS, EVEN WITH MEDICATIONS, THE PROBLEMS, CONDITIONS WORSE. AND THEN AT, AT THE VERY, VERY END, IT SAYS, PS 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 OUR LIVES ARE IN JAIL. UM, WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY'RE TAKEN CARE OF. I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT UNIVERSITY CAN BE A PART OF THE SOLUTION, BUT THE SOLUTION IS NOT JUST UNIVERSITIES ALONE. YES. IT'S ALL THE PEOPLE THAT ARE IN THIS ROOM WORKING TOGETHER. UM, I, YOU HAVE MY COMMITMENT. I DON'T WANT MR. HOUSE LOCKER'S COMMITMENT AND THE BOARD THAT WE ARE GONNA DO EVERYTHING WE CAN TO MAKE BEAR 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 GONNA 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, FOR SHARING THAT. UM, I'M GONNA, I'M GONNA LET YOU, YEAH, LET'S GIVE A ROUND OF APPLAUSE. UM, I'M GONNA LET YOU SIT DOWN BECAUSE I KNOW, I KNOW YOU'RE STILL, UH, GETTING BACK ON YOUR FEET FROM YOUR, FROM YOUR SURGERY, BUT, UM, YOU KNOW, I, I THINK PEOPLE THINK ABOUT YOU, ED, AND JIMMY, AND, YOU KNOW, YOU GUYS JUST RUN A HOSPITAL, BUT YOU'RE REALLY IMPACTING, UH, A LOT OF LIVES IN A LOT OF DIFFERENT WAYS. AND I THINK THAT, UM, WE CERTAINLY RECOGNIZE THAT, AND I THINK THAT'S PART OF THE REASON. UM, YOU KNOW, AS I MENTIONED, WE'RE GONNA BE EVEN MORE, UH, JOINED AT THE HIP IN TERMS OF FIGURING THIS OUT WITH THE REST OF THE FOLKS IN THIS ROOM. UM, JOLYNN INCLUDED, I MEAN, I'VE WORKED WITH JOLYN SINCE WE WERE BOTH AT THE CITY. UM, AND, AND SO THERE'S A LOT OF FOLKS, UM, FROM COUNTY STAFF [02:25:01] TO OUR PARTNERS THAT, UM, YOU KNOW, IF, IF WE'RE GONNA, THE, THE NEXT COURT IN 10 OR 20 YEARS IS TALKING ABOUT, UH, WHAT WE'RE DOING, UH, THERE'S GONNA BE A DIFFERENT, UH, FOOTPRINT FOR HOW WE GET THERE. AND, UM, I'M VERY CONFIDENT THE FOLKS IN THIS ROOM CAN HELP MAKE THAT HAPPEN. UH, SO THANK YOU, ED FOR THAT. UM, THOMAS, I WANTED TO ASK YOU A COUPLE THINGS, BUT, BUT I'M GONNA LET YOU SIT DOWN. ED, THANK YOU. UM, THANK YOU. PART, PART OF, BY THE WAY, I KNOW, ED, YOU'RE, YOU'RE, UM, PART OF THE CITY COUNTY, UM, COMMITTEE. I KNOW THERE'S A A BY THE WAY, THERE'S A, A INITIAL PLANNING MEETING THIS AFTERNOON. THAT COMMISSIONER, I MEAN, A COUNCILWOMAN CASTILLO AND I ARE CO-CHAIRING, SO I DON'T KNOW IF YOU'RE GONNA BE THERE OR SOMEBODY FROM YOUR TEAM. WILL, SOME OF OUR TEAM WILL BE THERE. THEY'RE ATTENDING AND THEY'RE ACTUALLY GONNA GO TO THE, ON THE FIELD TRIP TO, UM, HARRIS HEALTH AS WELL. YES. THAT, THAT SHE SAID SCHEDULED PERFECT AT THEIR OFFICE. JIMMY, DO YOU WANNA ADD SOMETHING? ED, CAN YOU PLEASE GO HOME AND RU , UH, I ECHO WHAT ED, ED HAS SAID. THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT. YOU'VE GOTTA HAVE A HEALTHY COMMUNITY. AND PART PART OF THAT HAS TO BE THAT WE ALL WORK TOGETHER IN ORDER TO BE ABLE TO HELP THESE PEOPLE THAT, THAT NEED TO HELP YOU. LOOK AT THE LAUREL RIDGE SITUATION RIGHT NOW. UH, JUDGE CA 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 UNIVERSITY. AND WE WILL PROBABLY TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT IT TONIGHT AT OUR, UH, BOARD MEETING THAT WE'RE HAVING, UH, 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, UH, HAVING THIS SESSION THIS MORNING, AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU. THANK YOU, JIMMY. APPRECIATE THAT. UM, THOMAS, LEMME JUST ASK REAL QUICK, BACK TO THE PRESENTATION. UH, JUST TO CLARIFY IN MY HEAD, THAT SLIDE, UM, 11 THAT IS LISTS THE 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. MM-HMM . OKAY. IT MIGHT JUST FOR A CROSSPOINT, DR. A CAN COULDN'T HEAR YOU. UM, IF, IF I'M NOT MISTAKEN, PART OF THE RESIDENTIAL TREATMENT MIGHT HAVE BEEN FOR CROSSPOINT, I, I'D HAVE TO DOUBLE CHECK AND SEE IF THAT, BUT, BUT THE MAJORITY IS FOR DIRECT SERVICES. OKAY. YES. SO, SO, UM, IF YOU GUYS CAN GET US THE BREAKDOWN BREAK, ABSOLUTE ABSOLUTELY BREAKDOWN, THAT WOULD BE GREAT. AND THIS IS, YOU KNOW, A FORECAST FOR OUR BUDGET TEAM, AND IT'S ALREADY GONNA BE A, A TOUGH BUDGET. AND I KNOW WE'VE ALREADY, UM, HAD FOLKS, DIFFERENT DEPARTMENTS ASK US, AND I THINK THIS COURT IN THE PAST HAVE BEEN VERY SUPPORTIVE, UM, FOR EXAMPLE, AND ADDING, UH, LAW ENFORCEMENT, UM, ADDING CONSTABLES. UM, IT MAY NOT BE THAT, UH, WE CAN DO THAT THIS, UH, THIS PARTICULAR BUDGET, UH, BECAUSE WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO PRIORITIZE AND MAKE SOME TOUGH DECISIONS ON PROGRAMS THAT IMPACT PEOPLE AND THAT REALLY, UM, HELP THEM TURN THEIR LIVES AROUND. NOT TO SAY THAT LAW ENFORCEMENT DOESN'T, BUT I THINK THAT'S GONNA BE PART OF THIS DISCUSSION. THIS COURT'S GONNA HAVE TO HAVE ON, UM, YOU KNOW, MAKING SOME OF THOSE TOUGH DECISIONS AND PRIORITIZING BECAUSE, UM, AS WE'VE SEEN SOME OF THE INITIAL REVENUE NUMBERS FROM PROPERTY TAX, UM, FLATTENED OUT A LITTLE BIT AND, AND PROBABLY WILL BE FOR THE NEXT COUPLE YEARS, COUPLED WITH THE FACT THAT THOSE ARPA DOLLARS ARE, ARE, UH, ARE, ARE ON THE DOWN, UM, DRAWN DOWN. SO, UM, OKAY, LET ME ASK ONE MORE THING AND I'LL, I'LL LET MY OTHER, MY COLLEAGUES CHIME IN. UM, ACTUALLY, YOU KNOW WHAT COMMISSIONER CLAY FLO HAS ASKED ABOUT THE APPLEWHITE. UM, AND SO JARVIS, THANKS FOR THANK YOU. YOU DON'T NEED TO COME BACK UP. THANK YOU FOR, FOR, FOR DOING WHAT YOU CAN TO GET THAT ON TRACK. I KNOW IT SEEMS LIKE, UH, WE MADE THAT ALLOCATION, OR AT LEAST THE APPROPRIATION SEVERAL YEARS AGO. UM, I THINK THE SOONER WE CAN GET THAT GOING, THE BETTER. UM, BUT, UH, WE APPRECIATE YOUR WORK ON DOING THAT. YOU KNOW, I'LL, I'LL GO AHEAD AND PASS, UM, MY TIME FOR NOW, BUT I APPRECIATE THE WORK THAT EVERYBODY'S DONE, AND I LOOK FORWARD TO, TO CONTINUING THE CONVERSATION. THANK YOU, JUDGE AND COMMISSIONER COT, BUT I'M NOT GONNA FORGET. YES, THANK YOU, JUDGE. YOU'RE WELCOME. THANK YOU, UH, COMMISSIONER MOODY FOR HELPING TO GET THIS, ALL THE STAFF AND EVERYONE THERE PRESENT. UM, COMMISSIONER MOODY ASKED A QUESTION ABOUT ASSUMPTIONS THAT, UH, WE HAVE, UH, THAT MAY BE MISSING. I WOULD SAY THAT ONE OF THE BIG CRIMINAL JUSTICE CHANGES WE JUST HEARD FROM ED WITH RESPECT TO THE SOUTH SIDE PUBLIC HEALTH, [02:30:01] UH, DEVELOPMENT IS, IS THIS, UH, INCREASE IN THERAPEUTIC JUSTICE AND THE MOVEMENT OF, OF THERAPY INTO SCHOOLS. UH, YOU ALL HAVE HEARD ME SAY BEFORE, THIS WAS NOT SOMETHING POSSIBLE, 10, EXCUSE ME, 12 YEARS AGO WHEN, 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, UM, WE HAVE TO LOOK AT IN TERMS OF ASSUMPTIONS IS WHAT IS THE TEXAS LEGISLATURE GOING TO DO WITH RESPECT TO, UM, ADVERSE CHILDHOOD EXPERIENCES? UM, ADVERSE CHILDHOOD EXPERIENCES ARE POTENTIALLY TRAUMATIC EVENTS OCCURRING BEFORE THE AGE OF 18, INCLUDING ABUSE AND NEGLECT AND HOUSEHOLD DYSFUNCTION, UH, WHEN THERE'S ADDICTION IN THE HOUSE, WHEN THERE ARE SOMETIMES DIVORCE OR INCARCERATION. UM, 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. UH, 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, UH, 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, UH, FORGET AND LET THE LEGISLATURE FORGET THAT THEY SHOULD BE HAVING, UH, THE BURDEN FINANCIALLY OF SUPPORTING, UH, UH, THE KIND OF MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES THAT THE COMMISSIONER'S COURT PROVIDED AS A RESULT OF THE AMERICAN RECOVERY PLAN. THAT IS NOT SOMETHING THAT THE COUNTY, UM, HAS REALLY ALL THE TIME UNDER ITS STATUTORY MANDATE, BUT IT'S SOMETHING THAT THE LEGISLATURE SHOULD USE AS PART OF SCHOOL PROGRAMMING, PART OF COMMUNITY SCHOOL PROGRAMMING, SOMETHING THAT WE CAN PARTNER WITH THEM. UM, AND WE ALSO NEED TO EXPAND THE AMOUNT OF COUNSELORS THAT ARE AVAILABLE IN ORDER TO MEET THE DEMAND. UM, I THINK THAT IS A LOT TO DO WITH THOSE 10,000 MENTAL HEALTH DETENTIONS THAT JUDGE KAZEN CAME IN AND TALKED ABOUT, UM, ARE SUCH A PROBLEM. SO I, I THINK THAT WE, WE NEED TO LOOK AT THE FACT THAT IN THE PAST WHEN WE DID PROJECTIONS FOR JAIL POPULATION, WE DID NOT HAVE, UH, 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 PRISON PIPELINE? WHAT DOES IT DO TO REDUCE THAT? I THINK NAMI NEEDS TO BE IN THIS CONVERSATION, THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION FOR MENTAL ILLNESS. UM, SCHOOL DISTRICTS NEED TO BE BROUGHT, UH, THE STATE OF TEXAS'S PUBLIC HEALTH, UH, DIRECTOR OR, OR PUBLIC HEALTH COMMISSIONER RATHER, AND, AND PROBABLY A DIRECTOR TOO. OUR CHARTERS ARE NONPROFITS. ALL OF THOSE FOLKS, UH, MAY BE AT THE TABLE, BUT THEY ARE, ARE VERY IMPORTANT. NOW, WITH RESPECT TO THIS PHARMACEUTICAL ISSUE, WE'VE GOT UNIVERSITY HEALTH FOLKS IN THE ROOM. UH, I'M NOT EXACTLY SURE WHAT THE HOLDUP IS, BUT I THINK THAT, UM, CONSIDERING THAT WE HAVE A HUNDRED AND PLUS UNUSED BEDS, UH, IF WE GOTTA GET H-E-B-C-V-S, UH, WALMART OR TEAS PHARMACY, WHOEVER, TO HELP US, UH, WITH THE LICENSING AND THE, THE NEEDS THAT WE HAVE, I THINK WE NEED TO MAKE THAT A PRIORITY SO THAT THE BEDS ARE NOT EMPTY AND ACTUALLY, UM, DEALING WITH RECIDIVISM. UM, WE ALSO HAVE NOT TAKEN INTO CONSIDERATION, UH, COMMISSIONER'S COURT, THE EXPANSION OF MENTAL HEALTH THAT CAN TAKE PLACE AT THE STATE HOSPITAL. WE KNOW THAT THAT'S A REGIONAL, UM, YOU KNOW, THAT'S NOT ALL BEAR COUNTY, BUT THE ADDITION OF $300 MILLION FOR THAT CAMPUS IS, IS IMPORTANT, UH, IN SOME OF THE SEVERE ACUTE, UH, CASES THAT COME THROUGH THE BE COUNTY JAIL. BUT MOREOVER, IN THIS LEADING THE OTHER ELECTED OFFICIALS AROUND THE STATE AND AN AGENDA THAT HELPS ADDRESS, UH, JAIL PREVENTION AND, AND, AND DIVERSION, THE A HUNDRED, THERE'S LITERALLY 111 ACRES OF EMPTY LAND, UM, THERE WHERE THE STATE HOSPITAL IS THAT COULD BE, UH, PLACED FOR ADDITIONAL, UM, MEDICAL. SO 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, HOW DO WE DO THAT TREATMENT, UM, IN PARTNERSHIP WITH ALL THE FOLKS THAT YOU'VE MENTIONED TODAY. SO I WANTED TO THROW THAT OUT [02:35:01] THERE. I'M ACTUALLY QUITE OPTIMISTIC THAT THE POLITICAL WINS IN THE NEXT FIVE YEARS IN TEXAS ARE GONNA BE SUCH THAT, UM, THERE'S GONNA BE MORE INVESTMENTS, UM, TO STEM THE SCHOOL, THE PRISON PIPELINE, AND, AND THAT GEL DIVERSION, UH, THAT GEL, UH, DEFLECTION, WHATEVER THE TERM, Y'ALL KNOW, WHAT WE'RE SUPPOSED TO, WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO SAY, WHATEVER IT IS, IS GOING TO HELP US, UH, NOT HAVE TO NECESSARILY BUILD A BILLION DOLLARS, UH, FOR EXPANSION OF OUR JAIL. SO, THANK YOU, JUDGE. THANK YOU COURT FOR THIS DISCUSSION. COMMISSIONER MOODY, BACK TO YOU. THANK YOU, JUDGE. UM, APPRECIATE ALL THE, UH, THE ENGAGEMENT HERE AND, AND I THINK IT'S, IT'S GOOD. IT'S GOOD TO HEAR ALIGNMENT AND SUPPORT. UM, THERE'S A FEW THINGS I STILL WANTED TO COVER AND I WANTED TO MAKE SURE ALL OF OUR PARTNERS HAD A CHANCE TO, TO SPEAK AS WELL. UM, JUST ONE QUICK THING, THOMAS, BEFORE GOING ON SLIDE 12, I WAS JUST LOOKING AT THE, THE JAIL POPULATION SNAPSHOT, THE DIVERTED NUMBERS, UH, THAT JUST DIDN'T LOOK LIKE THEY MATCHED UP WITH BETWEEN THE TWO LINES. THERE ARE THE, THE NUMBERS IN PARENTHESES, RIGHT? OR THE, THE GAP BETWEEN THE LINES. HMM. YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT THE, UH, YEAR TO DATE, THE 5 60 60, THE FIVE 30 MM-HMM . I WAS JUST TRYING TO UNDERSTAND THOSE, THOSE TWO NUMBERS VERSUS THE, BETWEEN THE LINES. IT LOOKS LIKE IT'S MORE THAN THAT. I DON'T KNOW WHERE WE GOT 'EM. THE YEAH, THE, THE, THE GAP IS CORRECT. I MEAN THE, THE JOE POP SNAPSHOT, THERE'S OTHER ITEMS, NOT JUST THE DIVERSION THAT'S ADJUDICATION, OTHER STUFF THAT'S MOVING PEOPLE OUT. THERE'S OTHER THINGS. OKAY. UM, AND THIS WILL LEAD INTO, UH, TO THE OTHER CONVERSATION I WANTED TO HAVE, BUT YOU HAD A BUNCH OF RECOMMENDATIONS HERE, BUT I SAW THAT THE ONSITE ANNEX AT THE JAIL WAS NOT INCLUDED AS AN ASSESSMENT RECOMMENDATION. WERE THERE OTHER, LIKE, RECOMMENDATIONS FROM THE SASH STUDY, MEADOWS TESTA THAT WERE NOT INCLUDED HERE? ANY OTHER NO. NOT SIGNATURE. I THINK, UH, THE ONLY THINGS WE KIND OF LEFT OFF FROM THOSE WERE KIND OF, UH, SOME MINOR POLICIES, SOME, SOME TECHNOLOGY. SO I THINK THOSE ARE THINGS WE'RE GONNA BE HANDLING, YOU KNOW, BACK OF THE HOUSE. UH, BUT OKAY. UM, 'CAUSE KINDA WANNA PULL, 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, UH, THE JAYA EVALUATION BY DR. CHESA, THE MEADOW 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, UM, ONE OF THE, THE HIGHLIGHTS HERE THAT WAS PART OF THE SASH STUDY WAS A NEW MEDICAL BEHAVIORAL HEALTH FACILITY ON THE CURRENT A DC CAMPUS, UM, THAT COULD PROVIDE IMPROVED MEDICAL, UH, FACILITIES FOR UHS AS WELL AS, UH, MENTAL HEALTH BEDS, FORENSIC BEDS, UM, AND ALSO, YOU KNOW, POTENTIALLY ADDRESS THE, THE GIAS SITUATION, WHICH IS ONGOING IN, IN ANOTHER SEPARATE STORY. UM, BUT, BUT THAT WASN'T INCLUDED IN, IN YOUR, UH, SLIDES. AND I JUST WANTED TO, UH, TO GO BACK. UH, IS THAT STILL ONE OF THE RECOMMENDATIONS, MR. CURRY FROM THE, UH, THE MEADOW STUDY? IS THAT CORRECT? YEAH, THE, THE, UH, THE SASH REUSE PIECE, OR THE, FORGIVE ME, THE, THE BUILDING OF MEDICAL FACILITY AT THE JAIL CAMPUS WAS A RECOMMENDATION BURIED IN THE MEADOWS ASSESSMENT. UH, THE PHASE TWO OF THAT ASSESSMENT, I KNOW THEY DID A REGIONAL COMMUNITY BASED LOOK AND THEN A DETENTION BASED LOOK TO TWO PHASES OF THAT STUDY. IN THE DETENTION BASED PHASE OF THAT STUDY, THEY RECOMMENDED ADDITIONAL MEDICAL AND MEDICAL MENTAL HEALTH TREATMENT FACILITY BEDS ON THE JAIL CAMPUS OR SOME, SOME OTHER LOCATION AS PART. SO OUR, OUR SAAS PRESENTATION WAS DIRECTLY IN LINE WITH THAT RECOMMENDATION FROM THE MEADOWS STUDY TO EXPAND THAT MENTAL HEALTH, UH, SUPPLY CHAIN. OKAY. NO, APPRECIATE THAT. BECAUSE I THINK IT'S, UH, IT'S A 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, UH, MADE THAT RECOMMENDATION TO, TO THIS, UH, COMMISSIONER'S COURT. AND, AND I DON'T THINK WE SHOULD LOOK PAST IT, ESPECIALLY AFTER TALKING WITH OUR PARTNERS AT UHS AND, AND KNOWING THEIR CONCERNS, KNOWING ALSO THE IMPACT ON STAFFING OVER TIME WITH ALL THE TRANSPORTATION ISSUES, UH, GOING BACK AND FORTH BETWEEN THE, THE JAIL. UM, I KNOW COMMISSIONER RODRIGUEZ HIGHLIGHTED IT. UH, YOU KNOW, I VERY [02:40:01] MUCH APPRECIATE U-H-S-U-H S'S COMMITMENT TO PARTNERING WITH US. WE'VE HAD SOME GREAT DISCUSSIONS, UH, 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, UH, HIGHLIGHTS, YOU KNOW, GAPS IN INFORMATION. LIKE, WE DIDN'T KNOW SOME, SOME BEDS WE'RE SITTING VACANT. WE KNOW THERE NEEDS TO BE MEDICATION. YOU KNOW, DOES UHS HELP WITH THAT? HOW, HOW DO WE SOLVE THAT? SO I THINK THAT'S GREAT, BUT IN THE MID TO LONG TERM, UH, WHAT DOES THAT LOOK LIKE IN TERMS OF, UM, PSYCHIATRIC HOSPITAL IN TERMS OF A PARTNERSHIP, A FINANCIAL PARTNERSHIP, POTENTIALLY BETWEEN UHS AND BEXAR COUNTY ON A FACILITY THAT, THAT COULD, YOU KNOW, UM, AGAIN, BE ON THE, THE CURRENT GROUNDS OF, OF THE, THE JAIL OR SOMEWHERE ELSE THAT WOULD PROVIDE THOSE MENTAL HEALTH BEDS, MEDICAL FACILITIES CLOSE BY, UH, TO FACILITATE THE, THE CARE THAT WE NEED IN THE JAIL AS WELL. SO I THINK THOSE ARE ALL, UH, IMPORTANT THINGS TO, UH, TO HIGHLIGHT. AND, AND I DID CAPTURE YOUR COMMENT, UH, 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 MEDICAL FACILITIES NECESSARY TO BE ABLE TO, TO DO THAT. UM, I WANTED TO MAKE SURE AND, AND CALL UP, UH, WE HAD A COUPLE OTHER INVITED GUESTS, UM, ERIC EPLEY, WOULD YOU MIND, UH, JUST COMING UP AND, AND SPEAKING TO US, UH, BRIEFLY FROM THANK YOU FOR YOUR PATIENCE. UH, I KNOW IT'S BEEN BEEN A LONG DISCUSSION HERE, BUT FROM TRACK'S PERSPECTIVE, I KNOW YOU'VE DONE A LOT OF OF WORK OUT THERE AND MAKING SURE PEOPLE IN CRISIS GET THE CARE THEY NEED AND HAVE A LOT OF, UH, EXPERIENCE IN THIS SPACE. WOULD LOVE TO GET YOUR RECOMMENDATIONS, YOUR THOUGHTS, AND ANY CHALLENGES YOU'RE DEALING WITH, WITH SMART TEAMS OR, OR ANYTHING ELSE AT THIS POINT. THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER MOODY, UM, AND COMMERS. AND JUDGE, IT'S A GREAT CHANCE TO HAVE A CONVERSATION WITH YOU. IT'S A TOUGH CONVERSATION. UH, 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. UH, I, I CONVENED A MEETING OF THE, THE HEALTHCARE PRINCIPLES, UM, ABOUT TWO, TWO OR THREE MONTHS AGO. AND WE CAME TO CONSENSUS ON THOSE THREE LEGS. MR. VANIS WAS A KEY LEADER IN THAT DISCUSSION. BUT THE OTHER HEALTHCARE SYSTEM, 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 A 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. UH, THE SMART TEAM ALONE DID 2,500, ALMOST 2,500 PATIENTS LAST YEAR RESPONDED TO IN THE COUNTY, BOTH 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, SO HONESTLY, YOU LOOK AT AN EFFECTIVE DIVERSION DEFLECTION EFFORT. THE SMART TEAM IS CRITICAL. IT'S CRITICAL TO OUR SUCCESS RIGHT NOW. IT'S A NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF COUNTY'S BEST PRACTICE AWARD WE RECEIVED FOR IT. IT'S IN JEOPARDY. IT'S IN JEOPARDY RIGHT NOW. STRAC IS COMMITTED TO THE SMART TEAM, TO THE SMART TEAM MISSION. STRAC HAS BEEN COMMITTED TO THIS FROM DAY ONE FOR THAT PURPOSE. RIGHT NOW, WE FIND OURSELVES FUNDING OUR PARTNERS, BEXAR COUNTY, ESD, DISTRICT TWO, 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 BEAR COUNTY DEPUTY, AN ESD TWO PARAMEDIC, [02:45:01] AND A-C-H-C-S MENTAL HEALTH CLINICIAN IN THAT, IN THAT, 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'RE AWARE OF THAT, BUT I WANNA MAKE THE COURT AWARE OF THAT. WE'D LIKE TO RESOLVE THE ISSUES WITH THAT. BUT, 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, WON'T EVEN TALK TO OUR LAWYERS FACE TO FACE OR ON THE PHONE. ZOOM. I, I, I, 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, WITH PERHAPS ONE OF YOU, MAYBE A COUPLE OF, UM, COMMISSIONER OR YOU OR, AND, AND MEDIATE SOME OF THESE DISCUSSIONS BECAUSE IT, I, THIS, THIS, THIS IS TOO IMPORTANT. OMISSION. I HAVE A LOT OF OTHER THINGS TO SAY. I'M GONNA DROP THAT NOW, BUT THAT'S MY, THAT'S MY REQUEST. JUDGE. UH, 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. UM, I THINK THIS IS SIGNIFICANT TO OUR COMMUNITY. CMS DOESN'T DO, DOESN'T TAKE THE, THIS IS A PRETTY RASH ACTION. CMS TAKES THIS ACTION ABOUT SEVEN TO 10 TIMES A YEAR ACROSS THE ENTIRE UNITED STATES. SO, SO LAUREL RIDGE'S COMMITMENT TO ME FROM THEIR LEADERSHIP IS THEY'RE GONNA STAY OPEN WHERE A VERY SMALL UNIT, 20 TO 40 BEDS, THEY'RE GONNA 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. MM-HMM . IT COULD BE THREE MONTHS, IT COULD BE SIX MONTHS, IT COULD BE A YEAR, IT COULD BE A DAY. IT'S NOT GONNA BE A DAY. MM-HMM . OKAY. 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 CHCS IS SO GENEROUSLY PROVIDING THROUGH HHSC FUNDS. WE CURRENTLY HAVE ABOUT 68 CONTRACT BEDS. 22 OF THOSE ARE AT LAUREL RIDGE. UH, EARLIER IT WAS MENTIONED, WE HAVE THOSE ARPA BEDS AS WELL. THANK YOU FOR THOSE EIGHT ADDITIONAL, UH, CONTRACT BEDS. THAT'S THE 60 PLUS EIGHT. 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. UH, THAT'S GONNA HAVE IMPACT TO THE PSYCHIATRIC CENTERS IN THIS TOWN THAT'S GONNA HAVE IMPACT TO THE ERS IN THIS TOWN. I WOULD, I WOULD ENCOURAGE OUR HEALTHCARE PARTNERS TO REMEMBER 2015 AND 2016, THAT'S WHERE WE'RE GOING BACK TO ON FRIDAY MORNING. IT'S GONNA IMPACT THE POLICE AND THE SHERIFF. THERE'S NO DOUBT IT'S GONNA IMPACT THE JAIL. WE'RE TALKING ABOUT TRYING TO REDUCE THE JAIL. BUT WHAT IT'S AS THE FINAL DESTINATION, IF THERE IS NO OTHER DESTINATION, WE'VE SEEN IT OVER AND OVER AND THAT'S COMING. IT'S GONNA IMPACT THE SHELTERS. IT'S GONNA IMPACT EVERY PART OF OUR SOCIETY. AND, AND IT, I IT'S COMING LIKE A FREIGHT TRAIN. YOU KNOW, CRISIS MENTAL HEALTH IS COMPLEX BECAUSE IT HAS THREE COMPONENTS. YOU OF COURSE HAVE A HEALTHCARE COMPONENT, BUT YOU ALSO HAVE A GEO. WE YOU HAVE THIS JUSTICE, JUSTICE COMPONENT AND A PUBLIC SAFETY COMPONENT. WELL, PUBLIC SAFETY AND JUSTICE ARE USED TO HAVING GEOPOLITICAL LINES. HEALTHCARE DOESN'T DEAL IN GE. WE KNOW YOU'RE, OH, YOU'RE FROM COUNTY. YEAH, WE'RE NOT GONNA SEE YOU OVER HERE AT METHODIST OR BAPTIST. LIKE THAT DOESN'T EXIST. WE, IT'S, IT'S A CATCHMENT AREA IS HOW FAR CAN YOU DRAW PATIENTS? AND, AND THOSE GEOPOLITICAL LINES CREATE A GREAT DEAL OF THE COMPLEXITY RELATED TO CRISIS MENTAL HEALTH SHOWS WHERE PEOPLE CAN BE FUNDED AND NOT FUNDED, ET CETERA. WE ARE COMMITTED TO TRYING TO HELP NAVIGATE [02:50:01] THAT COMPLEXITY AT STICK AT THE, AT THE STRIKE SOUTH SOUTHWEST TEXAS CRISIS COLLABORATIVE. UM, I'VE SAID ENOUGH. I'M GONNA PAUSE THERE, . WELL, I, I APPRECIATE YOUR CANDOR AND YOUR WILLINGNESS TO, TO GIVE US FACTS. UH, I THINK FIRST OF ALL, I MEAN, YOU HAVE MY COMMITMENT TO, UH, TO, 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 WANNA SEE CONTINUED. UH, BUT OBVIOUSLY WE NEED TO SORT THAT OUT IN TERMS OF THE CONTRACT. UM, I ALSO THINK YOU BRING UP SOME SERIOUS, UH, POINTS THAT WE NEED TO CONSIDER. I MEAN, WE WANNA, WE WANNA THINK ABOUT PLAYING OFFENSE ON THIS ISSUE, BUT I MEAN, SHOOT, WE GOTTA PLAY DEFENSE TOO. I MEAN, WE'RE LOSING HUNDREDS OF BEDS AND, AND WHAT DOES THAT LOOK LIKE, UH, YOU KNOW, NEXT WEEK? SO, UM, I, I THINK THAT THOSE ARE SOME DEFINITELY SOBERING, UH, UH, NUMBERS AND STATS THAT WE NEED TO CONSIDER GOING FORWARD. BUT APPRECIATE YOUR WILLINGNESS TO COME HERE AND, AND SHARE ALL THAT. AND, UH, I DON'T KNOW IF ANYBODY ELSE HAS ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS TO, I I WANTED TO BRING, UH, UH, BRANDON WOOD UP AS WELL. BUT THANK YOU, ERIC. I THINK I, BRANDON, IF YOU COULD JOIN US, I JUST WANTED TO, UH, INTRODUCE BRANDON WOOD, UM, FORMER DIRECTOR OF THE, THE TEXAS JAIL COMMISSION. I, I, I BELIEVE. AND RECENTLY WE SAT DOWN FOR A BREAKFAST AND GOT TO PICK HIS BRAIN ON WHAT HE'S SEEN OVER THE YEARS. UH, BOTH, BOTH, YOU KNOW, IN TERMS OF STATS WITH, WITH OUR JAIL AND CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM, BUT ALSO ACROSS THE STATE. UH, HE'S WATCHED SOME OF THE THINGS THAT ARE GOING ON IN HARRIS COUNTY, DALLAS COUNTY, TRAVIS COUNTY, AND OTHER BIG URBAN, UH, AREAS. SO, UM, I'M JUST GONNA KIND OF OPEN IT UP TO YOU RATHER THAN, THAN TALKING ANYMORE. BUT IF YOU COULD TELL US ABOUT, YOU KNOW, YOUR EXPERIENCE AND, AND KIND OF WHAT YOU'VE SEEN AND, AND SOME OF THE CHALLENGES AND HOW OTHER BIG URBAN COUNTIES ARE, ARE THINKING ABOUT THIS AND, AND DEALING WITH THESE ISSUES. UH, BRANDON WOOD, UH, FORMER EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF TEXAS COMMISSIONER ON JAIL STANDARDS CURRENTLY, UH, WITH GMJ. AND, UH, I APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO, UH, SPEAK TO, UH, AN EXTREMELY IMPORTANT ISSUE. AND TO BE HONEST WITH YOU, 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. UM, IT MAY HAVE MORE LEGS, UH, THAN JUST THREE BECAUSE CRIMINAL JUSTICE, UH, IS AN EXTREMELY COMPLICATED PROGRAM. PROBABLY ONE OF THE LEAST POPULAR, UNFORTUNATELY, OR FORTUNATELY, WHICH, WHATEVER WAY YOU WANNA LOOK AT IT, THAT COUNTIES ARE REQUIRED TO OPERATE. UM, YOUR GENERAL PUBLIC NORMALLY DOES NOT HAVE, UH, 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'LL 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. YOU ARE, YOU DIVERTING THEM TO WHAT TYPE OF CARE IS BEING PROVIDED. ONE OF THE THINGS THAT IS EXTREMELY AS 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. SO THAT PROGRAMMING IS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT. QUICK MATH, UH, BASED UPON SOME OF THE DATA THAT Y'ALL WERE THROWING OUT THERE EARLIER, UM, YOUR COUNTY IS PROJECTED TO BE A 3.3 MILLION, I BELIEVE IS THE, UH, NUMBER THAT I HEARD PREVIOUSLY BY 2050 IN ABOUT 25 YEARS, 20, 24 YEARS NOW. UM, EVEN IF YOU WERE ABLE TO DRIVE YOUR INCARCERATION RATE DOWN TO 2.0, UH, WHICH IS WHERE WE SEE MOST OF THE LARGER URBAN COUNTIES ACROSS THE STATE, YOU WOULD STILL PROBABLY HAVE AN INMATE POPULATION OVER 6,500. SO EVEN IF YOU ARE DOING EVERYTHING THAT YOU NEED TO DO, YOU DO HAVE TO HAVE A PLAN AT SOME POINT IN THE FUTURE TO PROVIDE THAT ADDITIONAL CAPACITY. CAN'T DIVERT AND DEFLECT EVERYONE. I'M SORRY, WHAT WAS THAT QUESTION? WE CAN'T DIVERT AND DEFLECT EVERYONE. NO, [02:55:01] SIR. UH, THE PROVIDING OF PUBLIC SAFETY IS ONE OF THE PRIMARY FUNCTIONS OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND STATE GOVERNMENT. AND ENSURING THAT YOU HAVE PROPER SPACE FOR THOSE INDIVIDUALS THAT YOU CANNOT SAFELY RELEASE BACK OUT IN THE PUBLIC IS SOMETHING THAT WE ARE BURDENED WITH. BUT YOU SHOULD STILL TRY AS MUCH AS YOU POSSIBLY CAN. YOU HAVE TO DRIVE DOWN YOUR INCARCERATION RATES. YOU HAVE TO ENSURE THAT IF THAT INDIVIDUAL CAN BE PLACED SAFELY BACK INTO THE COMMUNITY, THAT SHOULD BE YOUR NUMBER ONE GOAL AFTER THE PROVISION OF PUBLIC SAFETY. SO, A REALISTIC APPROACH. DO YOU HAVE TRIP WIRES IN PLACE WHERE IF YOUR INMATE POPULATION REACHES A CERTAIN AMOUNT, WHAT OCCURS AT THAT POINT IN TIME? OR IF THE PROGRAMS THAT YOU ARE PUTTING IN PLACE ARE NOT PROVIDING THE OUTCOMES THAT YOU ARE EXPECTING, WHAT IS THE RETURN ON INVESTMENT IN REGARDS TO THESE PROGRAMS? REINFORCE SUCCESS ON THOSE PROGRAMS. SO I WOULD ENCOURAGE YOU TO KEEP HAVING THESE DISCUSSIONS, THESE PROGRAMS, JUST LIKE ANY LARGE ORGANIZATION HAVING COME FROM STATE BUREAUCRACY, I CAN SPEAK TO THIS FIRSTHAND. WE HAVE A TENDENCY TO FIND OURSELVES OPERATING IN A SILO. YOU HAVE TO ENSURE THAT YOU ENGAGE YOUR PARTNERS, OPEN LINES OF COMMUNICATION, HOLDING EVERYBODY ACCOUNTABLE TO WHAT THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO BE DOING. THAT CAN BE DIFFICULT AT TIMES, I KNOW. BUT IT IS IMPERATIVE THAT THE COUNTY CONTINUE DOWN THE PATH. BEXAR COUNTY WAS TRADITIONALLY SEEN AS VERY PROGRESSIVE IN THIS REGARD. WHENEVER I FIRST STARTED, I WAS BLOWN AWAY BY THE, UH, THE MATCH PROGRAM MOTHERS AND THEIR CHILDREN THAT WAS BEING OPERATED AT THE JAIL. UM, THE OTHER PROGRAMS THAT WERE BEING PROVIDED, UM, WITH THE COMMUNITY, COMMUNITY SUPPORT, PROVIDING THOSE PROGRAMS SO THAT YOU CAN DIVERT THESE INDIVIDUALS PROVISION OF HEALTHCARE WITHIN JAILS. EVERY JAIL THAT WE SEE COMING ONLINE NOW TO INCLUDE ONE THAT WE ARE CURRENTLY HELPING PROGRAM, LARGE AMOUNTS OF SPACE ARE BEING PROVIDED FOR ADDITIONAL HEALTHCARE TO BE PROVIDED ONSITE AT THE COUNTY JAIL. YOU'RE NOT EXPECTED TO POSSIBLY BE OPERATING A LEVEL ONE TRAUMA CENTER AT THESE JAILS, BUT YOU DO NEED THE SPACE AND THE RESOURCES AVAILABLE TO PROVIDE THAT LEVEL OF CARE. WE WANT TO REDUCE THE NUMBER OF IN-CUSTODY DEATHS. EVERYBODY HAS THAT GOAL. NOBODY SETS OUT WANTING TO BE RANKED NUMBER ONE IN THE STATE FOR DEATH. AND CUSTODYS. WE UNDERSTAND THAT. UNFORTUNATELY, SOME OF THE INDIVIDUALS THAT WE DO INTERACT WITH IN OUR CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM HAVE PRE-EXISTING HEALTH CONDITIONS. THEY HAVE NOT HAD ACCESS TO HEALTHCARE THAT WOULD HELP THEM. BUT REDUCTION OF SUICIDES, ELIMINATION OF HOMICIDES, THOSE ARE ITEMS THAT HAVE TO BE DONE. MM-HMM . AND ENSURING THAT YOU HAVE THAT SEAMLESS TYPE OF TRANSITION WHENEVER YOU ARE MOVING THESE PEOPLE OUT CAN HELP YOU ACCOMPLISH THAT. BUT YOU HAVE TO BE PROVIDING THOSE SERVICES IN THAT COUNTY JAIL. WELL, I, I APPRECIATE ALL THOSE THOUGHTS. I JUST HAVE A COUPLE QUICK QUESTIONS, AND I WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT A COUPLE OF YOUR POINTS. FIRST OF ALL, THAT YOU SAID, MEDICAL ON SITE IS A BEST PRACTICE THAT IS BEING UTILIZED IN, IN ALL NEW, UH, NEW CONSTRUCTION. BASICALLY AT THIS POINT. IT IS. UM, YOU ALSO HIGHLIGHTED THE, THE MATH SAYS, BASED ON OUR GROWTH RATE, EVEN IF WE DROVE INCARCERATION RATES DOWN, AGAIN, WE WERE TALKING ABOUT ASSUMPTIONS EARLIER, YOU WOULD STILL, UH, BE LOOKING AT 6,500 INMATES, WHICH WE'RE AT 5,000 CAPACITY. SO THAT, THAT WOULD BE A, A SERIOUS PROBLEM. UM, TO YOUR POINT ABOUT TRIP WIRES AND, AND HAVING A PLAN, I THINK THAT THAT'S SOMETHING WE, WE REALIZED WHEN WE HIT THE TRIP WIRE AND WE DIDN'T HAVE A PLAN. UM, AND SO WE DID, UH, YOU KNOW, GET THESE CONTRACTS WITH SURROUNDING COUNTIES. UH, BUT WE'RE STILL TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT THAT PROCESS LOOKS LIKE AND HOW WE PULL INMATES BACK WHEN WE HAVE THAT ADDITIONAL CAPACITY. AND WE DON'T OVERUSE THOSE CONTRACTS. BUT HOW DOES THAT LOOK LIKE STATEWIDE AT THIS POINT? BECAUSE IF, IF MORE AND MORE COUNTIES ARE HAVING TO LOOK TO OTHER SURROUNDING COUNTIES FOR ADDITIONAL CAPACITY, UM, ARE YOU SEEING A LOT OF THAT? AND I MEAN, WE JUST SAW ONE OF OUR COUNTIES INCREASE THE COST PER, PER, UH, BED PER NIGHT, $20, YOU KNOW, 30% OVERNIGHT. SO ARE, ARE YOU SEEING, UH, DWINDLING SUPPLY OF, OF THOSE COUNTIES THAT ARE WILLING TO DO THAT? WE SEE COUNTIES GET INTO BIDDING WARS AGAINST EACH OTHER FOR THOSE AVAILABLE BEDS. THAT IN TURN HAS FORCED SOME COUNTIES TO ACTUALLY HOUSE THEIR INMATES OUT OF STATE. AND THAT IS AN ISSUE THAT WE WERE NOT ABLE TO PREVENT BECAUSE WE DID NOT HAVE THE AUTHORITY WHILE I WAS WITH THE COMMISSION. UM, BUT WE HAD CONCERNS WITH THAT PRACTICE BECAUSE THOSE ARE [03:00:02] CITIZENS OF THE STATE OF TEXAS AND THEY ARE NO LONGER BEING HELD WITHIN THE CONFINES OF THE STATE. AND WHENEVER YOU HAVE OVER 1000 OF YOUR INMATES HOUSED OUT OF STATE, AND THEN WE HAD OTHER COUNTIES, SMALLER COUNTIES SIMPLY DID NOT HAVE THE ABILITY TO COMPETE WITH SOME OF THE LARGER COUNTIES CONSUMING THESE AVAILABLE BEDS. THEY WERE ALSO STARTING TO MOVE THEIR INMATES OUT OF STATE. SO THE REDUCTION IN EXCESS CAPACITY ACROSS THE STATE, UM, HAS FINALLY REACHED THE POINT THAT YOU CANNOT SIMPLY JUST PICK UP THE PHONE AND SECURE 500 BEDS WITHOUT ANY ISSUE. UH, A COUNTY MAY GUARANTEE YOU 100 BEDS, BUT THEY MAY EVEN SAY THAT YOU'RE GONNA PAY FOR THOSE 100 BEDS EVEN IF YOU DO NOT FILL THEM. MM. SO THAT IS THE NEW MODEL THAT IS COMING INTO PLAY, AND I BELIEVE THAT WILL CONTINUE INTO THE NEAR FUTURE. YEAH. THERE'S, THERE'S TWO PARTS TO THAT. FIRST OF ALL, YOU, YOU, IF YOU DO FIND THEM, THERE'S GONNA BE ENOUGH COMPETITION THAT THE PRICE IS GONNA GO UP, WHICH WE JUST SAW. YES. UH, WITH KIRK COUNTY. AND THAT'S IF YOU'RE LUCKY, IF NOT, YOU CAN'T FIND THOSE BEDS AND THEN YOU GOT A BIGGER PROBLEM. THAT'S CORRECT. SO APPRECIATE YOU SHARING THAT. NOW, I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE ANSWER TO THIS QUESTION WILL BE, BUT I WANT YOU TO JUST SPEAK TO WHAT YOU KNOW ABOUT THE DALLAS COUNTY SITUATION. 'CAUSE I KNOW THEY ARE BUILDING A NEW JAIL THERE. I'M NOT SUGGESTING THAT WE BUILD A NEW JAIL, BUT THEY ARE. SOMETIMES WE PARTISAN POLITICS CREEPS IN HERE. DALLAS COUNTY DOESN'T HAVE A REPUBLICAN ON THEIR COMMISSIONER'S COURT. THEY ARE BUILDING A NEW, UH, DALLAS COUNTY JAIL. THEY'RE SLIGHTLY BIGGER THAN WE ARE, BUT COULD YOU SPEAK TO THE DETAILS OF THAT AND WHAT COMPELLED THEM TO BELIEVE THAT THEY NEEDED TO DO THAT AT THIS TIME? SO THE DALLAS COUNTY JAIL SYSTEM HAS SEVERAL SIMILARITIES TO BEAR COUNTY, UH, MULTI FACILITIES THAT HAVE BEEN BUILT OVER THE YEARS. UM, THEY HAVE TRIED TO MAKE THEM AS EFFICIENT AS POSSIBLE, BUT IN THE END, IT WAS THE REALIZATION THAT THEY DID NEED TO MOVE, UM, PROBABLY OUT OF DOWNTOWN AND, UH, ADDRESS THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE NEEDS OF THE COUNTY FOR THE NEXT 30 TO 50 YEARS, UH, RIGHT OUT OF THE BAT. NOW, IF THAT INCLUDES DOING A PHASED APPROACH, UH, THAT MAY BE ONE OF THE THINGS THAT THEY DO UNDERTAKE, BUT THEY WANNA MAKE SURE THAT THEY'RE PROVIDING THE RIGHT TYPE OF BEDS ALONG WITH DIVERSION, PROGRAMMED INTO IT, IN ORDER TO TRY TO REDUCE THE END NUMBER OF BEDS THAT THEY WOULD NEED AT THAT 50 YEAR PERIOD. SO THE AGE OF THE FACILITIES, MAINTENANCE OF THESE FACILITIES CAN BECOME EXORBITANT. YOU ARE DEALING WITH SYSTEMS THAT AGE OUT, VENDORS NO LONGER PRODUCE THE PARTS. AND THEN WHENEVER YOU HAVE THE RESPONSIBILITY TO ENSURE THAT ALL YOUR DOORS ACTUALLY LOCK AND STAY LOCKED, BUT THAT VENDOR NO LONGER PRODUCES THOSE PARTS, ALL OF A SUDDEN YOU'RE ENCOUNTERING A SITUATION IN WHICH YOU ARE NOW HAVING TO DO A COMPLETE REPLACEMENT OF DOORS, SECURITY, ELECTRONICS, COMPUTER SYSTEMS, ALL THOSE ITEMS, YOU KNOW, WHETHER IT'S PLANNED OBSOLESCENCE OR WHATEVER YOU WANT TO CALL IT, THEY HAVE TO BE REPLACED ON AN ONGOING BASIS. THEN YOU HAVE ALL THE LIFE SAFETY SYSTEMS THAT ARE IN PLACE. AND ANYTIME THAT YOU'RE DEALING WITH THESE OLDER BUILDINGS, THEY DECAY, THEY ARE USED 24 7, 365 DAYS A YEAR. IT IS NOT LIKE YOUR TRADITIONAL OFFICE BUILDING, WHICH GETS A BREAK. SO THE COST OF MAINTENANCE OF THESE JAILS, THE OLDER THEY ARE, THE HIGHER IT BECOMES. AND AT CERTAIN POINTS, YOU HAVE TO REALIZE THAT YOU ARE NO LONGER GETTING OUT OF THAT JAIL. WHAT YOU NEED TO GET OUT OF IT, YOU'RE SPENDING MORE ON IT THAN IT WOULD ALMOST COST TO BUILD A NEW ONE. BUT IT IS I A BREAK EVEN POINT. NO, I, I APPRECIATE THAT. UH, UH, BRANDON, AND I THINK THAT IT'S, UM, YOU KNOW, I USED THE EXAMPLE ONE TIME ABOUT, YOU KNOW, YOUR, YOUR TRUCK, YOUR, YOUR CHEVY, UH, PICKUP TRUCK, RIGHT? LIKE, YOU'RE GOOD AT 150,000 MILES. YOU KNOW, YOU START SPENDING MORE AND MORE ON MAINTENANCE, YOU GET TO 200,000 MILES. I I SEE YOU THOMAS , YOU GET TO 250,000 MILES. I MEAN, AT SOME POINT YOU START, I NEED A NEW ENGINE, I NEED A NEW TRANSMISSION. YOU START PUTTING SO MUCH MONEY OUT IN TERMS OF MAINTENANCE COSTS THAT YOU, YOU FIGURE, WELL, I COULD ACTUALLY GO OUT AND, AND PURCHASE, UH, A NEW TRUCK AND SAVE MONEY GOING THAT WAY. AND EVENTUALLY THOMAS, EVERYBODY GETS THERE . BUT, BUT I THINK THAT, THAT, THAT BRINGS TO YOUR POINT. RIGHT. AND I'D LIKE, DAN, IF, IF YOU WOULDN'T MIND COMING UP JUST BRIEFLY, I'M GONNA, I'M GONNA CLOSE THINGS DOWN HERE, JUDGE, SHORTLY. BUT, UM, IF, UH, DAN, COULD YOU JUST SPEAK TO THE DIFFERENT ANNEXES AND, AND THE DATES, LIKE, AND, AND BRANDON, I'D LIKE TO HEAR YOUR THOUGHTS TOO, ON THE USEFUL LIFE OF, UH, UH, JAIL IN GENERAL. UH, WELL, I THINK YOU'RE LOOKING AT, YOU KNOW, OUR DETENTION FACILITIES AND THEIR AGE. SO AGAIN, THE ORIGINAL BE [03:05:01] COUNTY DETENTION CENTER ON THE AL CAMPUS WAS BNC TOWER AND WAS CONSTRUCTED AROUND 1986. UH, A FEW YEARS LATER IN 1989, THEY ADDED A TOWER, SO PRETTY QUICKLY AFTER THAT. SO THAT'S WHAT WE CALL THE MAIN JAIL. 40 YEARS. CORRECT. OKAY. YEAH. YEAH. UH, THE, UH, TENSION CENTER ANNEX WAS COMPLETED, UH, IN THE EARLY NINETIES, UH, WHEN THOSE CAME ONLINE, I THINK 95 WAS WHEN, UH, THE BUILDING WAS RENOVATED A AND B TOWER, AND THEN CD TOWERS ADDED TO THAT. SO A QUICK PROGRESSION IN THAT 20 YEAR WINDOW OF ADDING A SIGNIFICANT NUMBER OF BEDS TO THAT CAMPUS. AND IN, BACK IN 2015, WE ADDED 512 BEDS TO THE SOUTH TOWER FACILITY, WHICH INCLUDES THE GA INTAKE CENTER. HAVE WE SEEN AN INCREASE IN, IN, UH, ESCALATION IN MAINTENANCE COSTS? I, I MEAN, ARE THERE ANY, UM, YOU KNOW, MAINTENANCE COSTS THAT ARE JUST GONNA BE, UH, AN EXTREME BURDEN IN THE COMING YEARS? WELL, I, I WILL, I WILL TELL YOU, I I, I'M THANKFUL THAT THE COURT HAS IN THE PAST INVESTED HEAVILY IN MAKING SURE THAT JAIL STAYS IN COMPLIANCE MM-HMM . AND IT HAS ALL THE PUBLIC PHYSICAL PLANT ATTRIBUTES THAT IT NEEDS. YEAH. UH, YOU ALLOWED US TO REPLACE THE DETENTION TOILETS, WHICH WERE CAUSING CONCERN, REPLACE DETENTION, LIGHTING. SO I DON'T KNOW, UH, AKIN TO WE KIND OF PULLING THE SKELETON OUT OF THE BODY AND PUTTING IT BACK IN. UM, BUT IT IS A SIGNIFICANT INVESTMENT, UH, FOR THE COUNTY AS YOU WELL NOTED. AND WE'RE DOING OUR BEST TO MAKE SURE THAT WE BRING YOU PROJECTS TO MAKE SURE IT STAYS IN COMPLIANCE WITH STANDARDS. YEAH. AND I, I, I HOPE THAT WE CAN KIND OF CONTINUE THIS CONVERSATION BECAUSE I, I KNOW WE COULD CONTINUE ON FOR ANOTHER COUPLE HOURS, BUT, UH, I KNOW WE GOT OTHER BUSINESS TO, TO, UH, ATTEND TO AS WELL. UH, SO I WANTED TO KIND OF CLOSE THINGS DOWN, BUT I DO THINK UNDERSTANDING LIKE OUR ONGOING MAINTENANCE COSTS, UH, FOR THE JAIL, LIKE LOOKING AT THEM OVER THE LAST 10 YEARS AND WHAT, WHAT'S EXPECTED OVER THE NEXT 10 YEARS WOULD BE HELPFUL IN THINKING ABOUT THIS TOO. UH, MR. WOOD, IF YOU WOULDN'T MIND JUST, UH, ANSWERING THAT QUESTION AS WELL IN TERMS OF USEFUL LIFE. SO ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE ALWAYS ENCOURAGE COUNTIES TO TAKE INTO ACCOUNT IS THAT YOU WANT THAT JAIL TO BE ABLE TO LAST 20 YEARS WITHOUT HAVING TO ADD ONTO IT. NOW, EVEN DURING THAT 20 YEARS, BECAUSE 20 YEARS IS TRADITIONALLY THE LENGTH OF THE BOND THAT IS ISSUED, PAID OFF, SO FORTH AND SO ON, NOBODY EVER WANTS TO GO BACK OUT TO THE VOTERS AND SAY, YEAH, WE DIDN'T, UH, DIDN'T ASK FOR ENOUGH MONEY, BUILD ENOUGH JAIL BEDS. BUT EVEN DURING THAT 20 YEAR PERIOD, YOU KNOW, ROOFS ARE GOING TO NEED TO BE REPLACED. YOU CAN HAVE MECHANICAL SYSTEMS START GOING OUT. SO, YOU KNOW, HOPEFULLY YOU GET A GOOD FIVE YEARS WHERE YOU ARE LIKE IN REALLY GOOD SHAPE. BUT AFTER THAT, YOU'RE PROBABLY GONNA START INCURRING PREVENTATIVE MAINTENANCE COSTS AND SOME REPLACEMENT COSTS. YOU MAY HAVE A GENERATOR GO OUT, GENERATORS GET HIT BY LIGHTNING, WHATEVER THE CASE MAY BE. SO, YOU KNOW, WE ALWAYS ENCOURAGE COUNTIES LOOK AT THAT 20 YEAR WINDOW RIGHT THERE. AND THEN COUNTIES WANT TO OPERATE THAT JAIL AND NOT BUILD ANYTHING FOR 120 YEARS. I GET IT. I UNDERSTAND. UM, THERE ARE SOME IN THE STATE THAT ARE APPROACHING THAT AGE, BUT THEY'RE SMALLER COUNTIES. THEY SHOULD BE MUSEUMS RATHER THAN JAILS, BUT THEY STILL HANG ON. SO IT'S JUST THAT BALANCING ACT THAT COUNTIES HAVE TO DO, NOT JUST WITH JAILS, BUT EVERYTHING ELSE THAT Y'ALL ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR. BUT JAILS, UM, YOU'RE DEALING WITH A VERY UNIQUE SITUATION AND IT'S VERY CHALLENGING. AND IT'S ALSO ONE OF THE REASONS WHY WE ENCOURAGE COUNTIES TO PAY ATTENTION TO THE TYPE OF JAIL BEDS THAT THEY BUILD SO THAT THE OPERATOR, THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE HAS WHAT THEY NEED BECAUSE THAT DESIGN IS GONNA DRIVE OPERATIONS AND OPERATIONS CAN ENSURE A SAFER AND MORE SECURE FACILITY THROUGHOUT. OKAY, THANK YOU. YES, SIR. ALRIGHT, I'M GONNA FINAL COMMENTS HERE AND, UH, WE'LL, WE WILL, UH, LET THE JUDGE FINISH THIS OUT, BUT, UM, THE, THE MEDICAL MENTAL HEALTH ANNEX RECOMMENDATION, I, I DON'T THINK WE SHOULD BE EXCLUDING THAT FROM THE MIX, UH, BECAUSE IT ALSO TOUCHES ANOTHER POINT THAT THAT ISN'T INCLUDED IN THE RECOMMENDATION. BUT THE JA RIGHT, AND WE'VE TALKED ABOUT DOUBLE MAGISTRATION A LITTLE BIT. I THINK WE NEED TO TALK ABOUT IT MORE. 'CAUSE WE KNOW IT'S A, IT'S AN ISSUE. IT'S DELAYING THE INTAKE PROCESS AND, UH, WE, WE, WE GOTTA SOLVE THAT. UM, BUT A NEW MEDICAL MENTAL HEALTH ANNEX WOULD PROVIDE THE OPPORTUNITY TO REBUILD THE JA, UH, WITH THE SCALE AND, AND, UH, FLOW THAT IT NEEDS TO, TO BE SUCCESSFUL FOR BOTH THE CITY AND THE COUNTY. SO I, I, I DO STILL WANNA, UH, KEEP THAT IN THE MIX OF OPTIONS AS WE GO FORWARD AND THINK ABOUT THINGS. UM, I KNOW SASH, THE, THE ACTUAL, UH, RENOVATION OF THE BUILDINGS, WE DIDN'T GET INTO THE DETAILS THERE. THAT WAS SOMETHING THAT WAS PRESENTED BY DAN CURRY AS WELL WITH THAT SASH STUDY. THE REQUIRES, YOU KNOW, ENGAGEMENT WITH THE STATE. I'LL BE HONEST, WE DIDN'T HAVE THE LEVEL OF ENGAGEMENT I THINK THAT WE NEEDED OR ALIGNMENT ON WHAT OUR PLAN WAS IN ORDER TO DO THAT AND GO TO THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE, UM, [03:10:01] I'M WILLING TO DO THAT, BUT WE HAVE TO BE ALIGNED AND HAVE A PLAN THAT MAKES SENSE AND, AND THAT WE'RE COMMITTED TO AND BEHIND. I TALKED TO THE LUBBOCK COUNTY JUDGE ABOUT WHAT THEY WERE DOING OUT IN LUBBOCK COUNTY. I TALKED TO THE TRAVIS COUNTY JUDGE, BUT WE NEED TO GO DEEPER AND MAKE SURE THAT THIS COURT'S ALIGNED IF WE'RE GONNA GO INTO THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION AND MAKE A BIG ASK FOR, UH, RENOVATION DOLLARS AND, AND MORE IMPORTANTLY, NOT JUST THE MONEY TO RENOVATE THE BUILDINGS, BUT IN ACTUAL TO BE ABLE TO, UH, TAKE CONTROL OF THOSE BEDS SO WE CAN UTILIZE THOSE BEDS, RIGHT? IF NOT, THEY'RE A STATE ASSET AND, YOU KNOW, WE'RE, WE'RE AT THE MERCY OF THE STATE, RIGHT? SO WE REALLY WANNA HAVE CONTROL OF THE BEDS TOO. SO IT'S A, IT'S KIND OF A DUAL ASK IN THE STATE LEGISLATURE. SO I THINK THOSE ARE, ARE TWO THINGS WE, WE PROBABLY NEED TO TALK MORE ABOUT. I KNOW THE SHERIFF HAS, HAS MADE SOME SUGGESTIONS ON THE, THE JAYA, UM, THE DUAL MAGISTRATION SITUATION THAT WE NEED TO CONTINUE TO DIVE DEEPER INTO. BUT, UM, I THINK WE SAW TODAY THERE WAS A FEW THINGS, IF THERE ARE BARRIERS THAT PARTNERS SEE, ELEVATE THOSE BARRIERS. I DON'T THINK ANYBODY UP HERE WAS AWARE OF THE, THE SITUATION, UH, AT APPLEWHITE, RIGHT? I'M SURE THERE'S OTHER, UH, THINGS MAYBE THAT YOU'VE TALKED ABOUT IN THE BACK OF THE, THE ROOM HERE THAT WE NEED TO, WE NEED TO BE AWARE OF. WE CAN'T ADDRESS THINGS WE WE'RE NOT AWARE OF AND THAT WE AREN'T ABLE TO TALK ABOUT. SO I HOPE THAT IF ANYTHING TODAY WE'VE ELEVATED THE CONVERSATION, WE'VE GAINED SOME AWARENESS ABOUT WHAT SOME OF THE CHALLENGES ARE, WHAT SOME OF THE OPPORTUNITIES ARE. SHOOT, I MEAN, I'VE, I'VE BEEN VERY ACTIVE, CLEARLY IN ENGAGING WITH A LOT OF OUR PARTNERS. UH, YOU KNOW, THE POINTS THAT WERE MADE ABOUT ALL THE FUNDING THAT WE HAVE FOR PROGRAMMATIC FUNDING, UH, WITHIN BEHAVIORAL HEALTH, PUBLIC HEALTH, AND THAT NONE OF THOSE DOLLARS ARE IN OUR CURRENT GENERAL BUDGET. I MEAN, THAT WAS EYE-OPENING AND, AND IT CREATES A HUGE GAP AS WE GO FORWARD AND HAVE A CONVERSATION ABOUT OUR LONG-TERM FINANCES. MAYBE THAT'S ANOTHER CONVERSATION TO HAVE WITH UHS, RIGHT? HOW CAN WE ASK FOR SUPPORT ON THAT FRONT TO, TO HELP FILL THAT GAP ON THE THINGS THAT WE THINK ARE, ARE PRIORITIES. BUT I HOPE THAT AS WE GO FORWARD, AGAIN, I, I WANNA THANK, UH, JUDGE AND MY COLLEAGUES FOR THE WILLINGNESS TO HAVE THIS CONVERSATION. I WANNA THANK ALL OF OUR PARTNERS IN THE ROOM, UH, ESPECIALLY JIMMY, ED, ERIC, BRANDON COMING IN FROM OUT OF TOWN AND OTHERS. UM, THIS IS GONNA TAKE A TEAM EFFORT AND WE DIDN'T SOLVE ANYTHING TODAY, BUT AT LEAST WE STARTED THE CONVERSATION. I HOPE WE CONTINUE THAT GOING FORWARD, BECAUSE I THINK THIS IS TOO BIG A PROBLEM FOR US TO LOOK PAST IT. THANK YOU, . YEAH, JUST, UM, WE SPENT A LOT OF TIME ON THIS AND WE'VE TALKED A LOT ABOUT A LOT OF STUFF, AND JUST TO REMIND EVERYONE, IT'S NOT JUST ABOUT NUMBERS AND STATS AND BUDGET, BUT AS THE PARENT IS STILL BACK THERE, UM, ED, THANK YOU FOR READING THAT LETTER. I MEAN, I GUESS IT WAS A SHOUT OUT EXPRESS NEWS THIS YEAR, BUT TO KNOW THAT PEOPLE IN JAIL ARE READING THE EXPRESS NEWS AND THAT YOU'RE TAKING TIME TO OPEN YOUR MAIL AND OR SOMEONE OPENED IT FOR YOU AND, AND, AND YOU'RE READING THAT AND TO REMEMBER THAT EVERY MENTAL HEALTH PROGRAM, EVERY SCHOOL-BASED PROGRAM THAT I FOUGHT FOR EVERY DIVERSION PROGRAM, DEFLECTION PROGRAM, EVERY PERSON IN CHCS, EVERY PERSON SITTING IN JAIL RIGHT NOW IS SOMEBODY'S CHILD, SOMEBODY'S FATHER, SOMEONE'S SISTER. THESE ARE LIVES WE'RE TALKING ABOUT. THEY'RE NOT JUST STATS AND NUMBERS. THANK YOU. WE WEIGH, I'VE BEEN QUIET. WELL, THE COMMISSIONERS HAVE ARTICULATED THEIR THOUGHTS AND POSITIONS ON THIS. OBVIOUSLY THERE'S SOME CLEAR TAKEAWAYS, BUT I DON'T WANNA LEAVE OUT. THERE'S ONE PERSON THAT I BELIEVE IS HERE. DR. TESTA, WHERE ARE YOU AT? COME UP FORWARD. THOMAS. STAY RIGHT THERE. THOMAS T UP SLIDE. YOU MIGHT STEP OUT. 13, 14. DID DR. TESSA STEP OUT? HE WAS HERE ALL MORNING. WELL, WHILE Y'ALL ARE FINDING DR. TESSA, UM, Y'ALL BEEN STANDING UP FOR A LONG TIME. IF Y'ALL WANNA SIT DOWN, SIT DOWN. IF WE WANNA CALL YOU UP, WE CAN. IF, IF YOU'D LIKE TO SIT DOWN. SO AS WE, HOPEFULLY DR. TESTA DIDN'T LEAVE. I, I WOULD, WOULD WANT HIS INPUT, BUT THE POINT BEING MADE, THOMAS, AND DID WE GET THE SLIDES UP? 1314, WHICH ARE THE ASSESSMENT RECOMMENDATIONS. I WANT IT NOTED FOR THE RECORD THAT THESE ARE STUDIES THAT DIDN'T GET ON A SHELF AND WE FORGOT ABOUT 'EM. THE COUNTY HAS BEEN ACTIVELY PARTICIPATING AND ACTIVELY ENGAGED IN DIVERSION AND DEFLECTION AS COUNTY JUDGE. I WORKED VERY CLOSELY WITH THOMAS AND THE BUDGET OFFICE AND THE MANAGER'S OFFICE IN ORDER TO LEND MY EXPERTISE FROM THE [03:15:01] JUDICIAL SYSTEM HAVING WORKED, ALTHOUGH NOT, ALBEIT NOT IN THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SIDE, BUT OBVIOUSLY AS LOCAL ADMINISTRATIVE JUDGE AND A FORMER PROSECUTOR IN THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE. SO, THOMAS, WHERE I'M GOING WITH THAT IS IF YOU DID BRING UP THOSE SLIDES, IT LOOKS LIKE MOST OF ALL RECOMMENDATIONS HAVE BEEN COMPLETED. SOME ARE STILL IN PROGRESS AND WE'VE HEARD THAT THEY'RE ACTIVELY ENGAGED. WE GOT THE APPLE WIDE ISSUE PUT ON THE TABLE, AND I THINK THAT IS SOMETHING THAT I HAVE GIVEN DIRECTION THAT WE NEED TO GET THOSE BEDS OPEN. I EXPECT A PROPOSAL SO THAT WE CAN GET THAT DONE. THE REASON WHY I WANTED TO TALK TO DR. TESTA, AND APPARENTLY HE'S LEFT AND AND THOMAS ARE GONNA HAVE TO RELY ON YOU TO LET US KNOW FROM THE STUDY. DR. TESTA HAS IDENTIFIED THE DUAL MAGISTRATION, DOUBLE MAGISTRATION AS AN IMPEDIMENT, AS AN ISSUE AS TO THE PROCESS IN REGARDS TO DIVERSION DEFLECTION. CAN YOU EXPLAIN THAT AS TO WHY DOUBLE MAGISTRATION IS SUCH IS A HINDRANCE OBSTACLE? YES. UH, JUDGE, UH, AGAIN, RIGHT NOW FOR CERTAIN CLASS C MISDEMEANORS, UH, IF YOU'RE A SAN ANTONIO POLICE OFFICER, YOU'RE TAKING THOSE INDIVIDUALS TO REO STREET AND THOSE INDIVIDUALS ARE GOING THROUGH, UH, THE, THEIR MAGISTRATE PROCESS THAT CAN TAKE UP TO ANYWHERE BETWEEN SIX TO EIGHT HOURS BEFORE THOSE INDIVIDUALS ARE TRANSFERRED OVER TO THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE AND OUR INTAKE CENTER. AND DURING THAT TIME, THE REASON THAT'S IMPORTANT AND THOSE INEFFICIENCIES THERE IS DURING THAT TIME, IF AN INDIVIDUAL IS HAVING A SUBSTANCE USE, UH, UH, IS SUFFERING FROM SUBSTANCE USE OR, OR MENTAL ILLNESS, THAT'S TIME DELAYED BEFORE OUR TEAM CAN REALLY TAKE A LOOK AT THOSE INDIVIDUALS AND HOPEFULLY DIVERT THEM FROM, FROM THOSE AREAS. SO IT'S REALLY THAT TIME GAP BETWEEN RECEIVING THOSE INDIVIDUALS FROM THE CITY OVER TO, TO THE COUNTY WHERE WE CAN REALLY, UM, INVEST IN THEIR CARE. AND THAT, THAT IS ONE OF THE, THE SYSTEMATIC AREAS THAT WE REALLY NEED TO IMPROVE ON. UH, AGAIN, AS, AS MANY OF, UH, OUR PARTNERS HAVE HAVE ADVOCATED FOR, THAT'S THE TIME WHERE WE SHOULD BE REALLY FOCUSING ON THESE INDIVIDUALS, WHETHER IT'S DE FLEX, UH, DI DIVERSION OR DE DEFLECTION OPPORTUNITY. SO IT'S REALLY THAT KEY AREA, JUDGE, IT'S TIME. IT'S THOSE INEFFICIENCIES THERE, UH, IN GETTING THOSE CERTAIN INDIVIDUALS, UH, TREATMENT. SOMETIMES PEOPLE WILL DIE AS A RESULT OF THAT LACK OF ATTENTION. CORRECT? CORRECT. CLEARLY HEARD TODAY. SO LET, LET ME PUT ON RECORD. WHAT I SEE IS CLEAR TAKEAWAYS. IT IS CLEAR THAT THE JAIL ISSUES OF THE JAIL POPULATION, THE DIVERSION AND INFLECTION THAT THE COUNTY HAS BEEN COMMITTED TO IS INDEED COMPLEX AND MULTIFACETED. THE SOLUTIONS REQUIRE EXTENSIVE COORDINATION AND COMMUNICATION BETWEEN INTERNAL AND EXTERNAL STAKEHOLDERS. AND WE'VE ONLY TOUCHED A FEW OF THEM. THERE'S THE DA'S OFFICE HAS, HAS AND THE SHERIFF ARE ALSO INTER INTEGRATED PARTS OF THE PO PUZZLE. TODAY, THE COUNTY HAS PROVIDED AN IMPORTANT DEFINITION FOR DIVERSION. THAT WAS THE MAIN THING I WANTED THIS PRESENTATION TO BE IS DIVERSION AND DEFLECTION OR DEFLECTION. DIVERSION IS AN ALTERNATIVE TO INCARCERATION. CORRECT, THOMAS? CORRECT. OR ELSE WE HAVE STARTED THAT CONVERSATION. DO WE JUST, DO WE NEED ANOTHER JAIL? DO WE NEED A BIGGER JAIL? AND I THINK WE'VE HEARD THAT THE COUNTY HAS BEEN VERY EFFECTIVE AND THOSE GRASS, LET'S GO TO THE GRASS. THAT'S DOES THAT NUMBER 11, THAT BUT FOR YOUR EFFORTS WE SEE THAT WE HAVE MADE SIGNIFICANT AND THAT IS A BIG COST SAVINGS, CORRECT? CORRECT. BUT WE HAVE ONGOING PROGRAMS THAT ARE BEING FUNDED THROUGH THE ARPA, THROUGH THE OPIOID, AND AS JUST MR. RODRIGUEZ HAS POINTED OUT, WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO FIGURE OUT WHAT RETURN OF INVESTMENT WE HAVE AND WHAT WE WILL CONTINUE TO DO. THE COMMISSION'S COURT, IT IS CLEAR IN THE LAST THREE YEARS, HAS MADE SIGNIFICANT INVESTMENTS. SO I DON'T WANT ANYBODY IN THIS COMMUNITY OR IN THIS COURTROOM TO FEEL THAT THE COUNTY HAS NOT MADE A COMMITMENT TO DEFLECTION AND DIVERGENT STRATEGIES. THIS SHOWS THE SIGNIFICANT IMPACT THAT WE MADE DIVERTING ELIGIBLE PEOPLE IN ALTERNATIVES, INCARCERATION, ERIC EPLEY'S STATEMENT OF THE SMART PROGRAM, WHICH I'M COMMITTED TO MAKE SURE WE CONTINUE. I WILL BRING THAT BACK. I'M GONNA ASK THE COUNTY MANAGER GET THAT ON THE NEXT AVAILABLE AGENDA SO THAT WE CAN HAVE A DISCUSSION THERE IN ORDER TO HELP RESOLVE WHATEVER ISSUES THERE ARE. I AM FAMILIAR WITH IT AND I AM MAKING MY POSITION KNOWN. WE WILL CONTINUE THAT PROGRAM BECAUSE YOU HEARD THAT PROGRAM HAS KEPT INDEED PEOPLE FROM BEING ARRESTED AND WITHOUT THAT PROGRAM I, I KNOW FOR A FACT THOSE PEOPLE WOULD'VE ENDED UP IN THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM. SO WE INVESTED IN AND PROMOTED PROGRAMS FOR DEFLECTION, WHICH IS DIVERTING PEOPLE FROM THE JAIL. PRE-ARREST, [03:20:01] REMEMBER PRE-ARREST, A GREAT EXAMPLE IS A CIDER RELEASE PROGRAM FOR ELIGIBLE MINOR OFFENSES. YOU HEARD MR. WOOD SAY, YEAH, BUT YOU GOTTA BE CAREFUL WITH CIDER RELEASE. 'CAUSE AS WE KNOW, THAT BECAME A POLITICAL ISSUE OF PEOPLE NOT BEING HELD IN THE JAIL. SO WE HAVE TO BE CAREFUL AND CAUTIOUS, ESPECIALLY IN REGARDS TO PUBLIC SAFETY. WE KNOW THAT WITHOUT THESE EFFORTS, THE COUNTY WOULD'VE BEEN FORCED HOUSING A THOUSAND PLUS PEOPLE, OUR DECISIVE INVESTMENTS IN STUDYING AND ADDRESSING THE PROBLEM PREVENTED THAT SCENARIO BY HELPING MORE THAN A THOUSAND PEOPLE GET DIVERTED TO THE APPROPRIATE ALTERNATIVE TO INCARCERATION. IN MY EXPERIENCE AS COUNTY JUDGE, I SEE THAT DLEC DEFLECTION AND DIVERSION ARE AS MUCH ABOUT THE PROCESS OF IDENTIFYING AND ROUTING ELIGIBLE POPULATIONS OR THE PORTAL OF DIVERSION AS IT ABOUT OUTLETS FOR DIVERSION, INCREASING CAPACITY IN COURT THAT'S GONNA COST US MONEY AND WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO FIGURE OUT WHERE WE PUT OUR MONEY FOR THE BEST RETURN OF INVESTMENT. THESE OUTLETS FOR DIVERSION ARE COMMUNITY-BASED SUPPORTS. THAT'S WHY IT IS A PUBLIC PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP WITH OUR NONPROFIT COMMUNITY, OUR FAITH-BASED COMMUNITY, AND THOSE PEOPLE THAT ARE DEDICATED TO THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM AND THE ADVOCATES THAT, AND THE PEOPLE THAT ARE MOST AFFECTED. AND WE'VE HEARD THOSE STORIES TODAY OF PEOPLE THAT ARE MOST AFFECTED BY OUR CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM. WE KNOW THAT THE ISSUES ARE ABOUT SUBSTANCE RECOVERY, MENTAL HEALTH TREATMENT, AS WELL AS SUPPORT SYSTEMS. SO WRAPAROUND SERVICES THAT MR. ELEY HAS IDENTIFIED, ESPECIALLY FOR INDIVIDUALS WITH INTELLECTUAL AND DEVELOPMENTAL DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES, THE IDD, WE HAVE PEOPLE IN OUR JAIL THAT ARE SEVERELY HAVE SEVERE MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES AND ARE MENTALLY ILL AND THEY'RE IN THERE BECAUSE OF THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM. WE HAD A THOROUGH DISCUSSION OF THE APPLEWHITE DUAL DIAGNOSIS FACILITY. IS IT A GOOD EXAMPLE OF WHERE WE MADE AN INVESTMENT, A MULTIMILLION DOLLAR INVESTMENT WHERE WE INVESTED TO EXPAND CAPACITY WHERE MENTAL HEALTH AND SUBSTANCE USE DIVERSION? BUT WE UNDERSTOOD TODAY IT'S ABOUT PROCESS AND BECAUSE OF THE PROCESS WE CAN'T GET THAT THING ONLINE. AND I'VE ORDERED THE THE COUNTY MANAGER AND BUDGET OFFICE FIX IT, FIGURE IT OUT. BUT THIS CONVERSATION IS BIGGER THAN A DISCUSSION ABOUT FACILITIES. LET ME REPEAT, THIS IS A BIGGER THAN A DISCUSSION ON JUST FACILITIES. THERE IS NO ONE BUILDING, NO ONE PROGRAM. THERE IS NO ONE SHOT SILVER BULLET SOLUTION. THIS IS A COMPLICATED MULTIFACETED PROBLEM. IT IS GONNA TAKE COLLABORATION, A POLICY PROGRAM, FACILITIES, WHICH THE COUNTY HAS BEEN STEADILY INVESTED IN AND A GOOD DISCUSSION COMMISSIONER MOODY ABOUT WHERE DO WE GO. AND YOU HAVE BEEN VERY INVOLVED IN THAT. SO I APPRECIATE YOUR DEDICATION ON TRYING TO IMPROVE OUR CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM. ABOVE ALL, I BELIEVE THAT PROCESS AND STAKEHOLDER COORDINATION WILL MAKE THE BIGGEST DIFFERENCE IN IMPROVING DIVERSION AND DEFLECTION. IF WE BUILD WITHOUT DOING THIS FOUNDATIONAL ALIGNMENT WORK, WE WILL NOT GET, GET VERY FAR. SO WITH ALL DUE RESPECT TO YOUR ANALOGY, YOU KNOW WHAT, WE CAN KEEP THOSE OLD VEHICLES WITH 200,000. WE JUST GOTTA CHANGE THE OIL, CHANGE THE TIRES AND MAKE SURE IT RUNS AND THOSE CARS KEEP RUNNING AND SO LONG WE DON'T RUN 'EM IN THE GROUND. AND THAT'S WHAT WE HAVE TO DO BECAUSE THE EFFECT IS HOW IT AFFECTS THE PEOPLE THAT ARE IN OUR SYSTEM. AND THAT'S BEEN MADE VERY CLEAR TODAY. OBVIOUSLY DUAL MAGISTRATES IS ANOTHER PERFECT EXAMPLE. IF WE BUILD A NEW FACILITY BUT WE'RE WORKING UNDER SEPARATE MAGISTRATE SYSTEM BY THE CITY AND COUNTY, WE LOSE KEY DIVERSION OPPORTUNITIES. AND YOU'VE EXPLAINED WHY THE CITY SYSTEM IS A DUPLICATION OF SERVICES THAT CAN BE CORRECTED TO ASSIST WITH BUDGET CHALLENGES. AND I BELIEVE WE ARE STARTING CONVERSATIONS AT THIS TIME AND I APPRECIATE SHERIFF SALAZAR IN STARTING THOSE CON CONVERSATIONS. WE MUST COME TOGETHER TO ELIMINATE DOUBLE MAGISTRATION. THE COUNTY HAS WORKED WITH THE EXPERTS, WITH OUR COMMUNITY PARTNERS, WITH OUR STUDIES, AND WE BASICALLY HAVE BROUGHT ALL THE EXPERTS TO THE TABLE, SO TO SPEAK, AND WE HAVE MUCH, MUCH MORE WORK TO DO. NEAR THE START OF MY TERM, I STARTED A PUBLIC SAFETY ACTION COMMITTEE WITH THE CITY, WHICH HELPED COORDINATE THE NECESSARY STAKEHOLDERS. I'M GOING TO RECONVENE THAT STAKEHOLDER COMMITTEE IN ORDER TO HAVE THESE DISCUSSIONS IN REGARDS TO WHERE THE FLEXION AND DIVERSION AND HOW DO WE MAKE THE PROCESS BETTER. AND THE REMAINDER OF MY TERM AS COUNTY JUDGE, I'M COMMITTED TO CONTINUE TO LEAD THE WAY ON REFORMING AND INCREASING COORDINATION WITHIN OUR LOCAL CRIMINAL JUSTICE AND COMMUNITY HEALTH SYSTEMS. AND I LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH THE JUDICIAL SYSTEM. I'VE ALWAYS RECOGNIZED THAT OUR JUDGES, ESPECIALLY ON THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SIDE, HAVE WORKED VERY HARD TO MOVE THOSE CASES. WE HAVE WORKED WITH THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE TO PROVIDE THE FUNDING, THE STAFFING, TO DEAL WITH THE BACKLOG. AND QUITE FRANKLY, [03:25:01] COMMISSIONER MOODY, YOU'VE ALWAYS POINTED OUT, WE STILL HAVE A BACKLOG, SO WE STILL HAVE MUCH, MUCH WORK TO DO IN ORDER TO UH, PROVIDE AN EFFECTIVE ASSISTANCE. I WANT TO APPRECIATE THE WORK OF UHS BECAUSE THEY STEPPED IN TO WORK WITH THE G THERE, THE MAGISTRATION SYSTEM, AND WE ARE CONTINUING TO LOOK AT HOW UHS CAN CONTINUE TO PROVIDE SUPPORT AND YOU ARE A VERY, VERY VALUABLE PARTNER. THANK YOU. I THINK WE HEARD A DISCUSSION THAT WE NEED SOME MEDICATION ISSUES OVER AT THE APPLEWHITE, SO I'M SURE KNOWING MY CONVERSATIONS WITH BANS, WE'RE GONNA GET THINGS FIXED OVER THERE. SO WITH THAT, I WANNA LEAVE WITH A NOTE OF OPTIMISM WITH HOPE AND WITH THE ORDER TO THIS COURT THAT WE MUST CONTINUE TO FIX THE SYSTEM. IT NEEDS TO BE FIXED. THANK YOU FOR EVERYBODY WHO'S MADE THIS, UH, PRESENTATION AVAILABLE. THANK YOU FOR ALL THAT PARTICIPATING TODAY. I THANK THE COLLEAGUES ON THIS COURT FOR THEIR PARTICIPATION AND INVOLVEMENT AND THEIR INPUT. ALRIGHT, I BELIEVE WE'RE AT THE LUNCH HOUR. I'M GONNA HAVE TO, I'M DECLARING A RECESS AT THIS TIME. I KNOW WE STILL HAVE CITIZEN TO BE HEARD. I KNOW WE STILL HAVE BUSINESS TO DO. LET'S TAKE ABOUT A 45 MINUTE BREAK GUYS. RIGHT? WE DON'T WANNA EAT. YEAH, LET'S, LET'S, LET'S, AND WE, AND SO, UH, COURT, LET'S TAKE A RECESS AND WE'LL COME BACK AND TAKE, THERE WE GO. ALRIGHT. THE TIME IS NOW 1:33 PM THE COURT'S BACK IN SESSION. WE FINISHED THE TIME CERTAIN, UH, COMMISSIONER RODRIGUEZ, YOU HAD SOMETHING YOU WANTED TO BRING UP TO THE COURT'S ATTENTION. WELL JUST WHEN WE GET TO ITEM SEVEN. ITEM SEVEN. ALRIGHT, SO, [6. Filing for record the following legal and administrative documents and directing the Criminal District Attorney's Office to take action, if necessary] UH, COURT WILL TAKE UP AGENDA ITEM SIX, FILING FOR THE RECORD THE FOLLOWING LEGAL ADMINISTRATIVE DOCUMENTS DIRECTING CRIMINAL DISTRICT ATTORNEYS TO TAKE ACTION IF NECESSARY, UH, WITH, UH, SUBSECTION A COURT TAKES NOTE. UH, [7. Approval of Commissioners Court minutes for Tuesday, April 14, 2026.] SEVEN APPROVAL OF COMMISSIONER'S COURT MINUTES FOR TUESDAY, APRIL 14TH, 2026. YES, JUDGE, AND I'D LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE MINUTES WITH ONE AMENDMENT. UH, THERE'S A, A TYPOGRAPHICAL ERROR IN THE MINUTES. UM, ON ITEM NUMBER 43, THE DOLLAR AMOUNT SHOULD BE $1,820,000 DOLLARS RATHER THAN $1,800,000. SO I'D MAKE THAT AMENDMENT AND A MOTION TO APPROVE. MOTION BY COMMISSIONER RODRIGUEZ. THERE A SECOND. SECOND, SECOND BY COMMISSIONER MOODY, UH, WITH THAT STIPULATION OF CORRECTION. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SECOND BY SAYING AYE. AYE. AYE. ANY OPPOSED? ANY ABSTENTION? MOTION CARRIES. WE'LL NOW [8. Communications from citizens who signed the register to speak.] GO TO AGENDA ITEM NUMBER EIGHT, CITIZENS TO BE HEARD AND WE WILL START WITH MR. KEITH WILSON. I WILL NOTE FOR THE RECORD THAT I HAVE 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 ADDITIONAL SPEAKERS, I, I WILL CALL 'EM OUT. ALL HAVE INDICATED ON THEIR NOTE THAT THEY YIELD TO KEITH WILSON. SO, UH, KEITH, IF YOU'LL JUST ALLOW ME, KARA SCHNEIDER, JUST WANNA MAKE SURE SHE, SHE HAD TO LEAVE, SIR. ALRIGHT. SHE HAD TO LEAVE AND SHE'S YIELD. SHE HAD TO LEAVE? YES, SIR. KRISTEN GR GREEN, ARE YOU YIELDING YOUR TIME? OKAY. DAMIEN LO LO, HAVE YOU YIELDING YOUR TIME? GOT IT. GARY LOCKHART, ARE YOU YIELDING YOUR TIME? GARY LOCKHART HERE. OKAY, YOU YIELDING YOUR TIME? ERIC BODEN. YOU YIELDING YOUR TIME? YES, SIR. OKAY. FRED ALVARADO YIELDING YOUR TI YOUR HONOR. OKAY. WELL LET HIM KNOW THAT I CALLED HIS NAME AND HE, HE'S NOTED HE'S YIELDING HIS TIME. GEORGE WEST FAIR? YES, SIR. YIELDING YOUR TIME. YES. THANK YOU. AND CATHERINE SMITH. PETER, I YIELD MY TIME. GOT IT. MR. KEITH WILSON, DO YOU HAVE THE FLOOR JUDGE? AKA COMMISSIONERS. GOOD MOR. GOOD AFTERNOON. MY NAME'S KEITH WILSON. I'M A RETIRED SOLDIER AND I'M THE FORMER DIRECTOR OF BEXAR COUNTY'S DEPARTMENT OF MILITARY AND VETERAN SERVICES. I JOINED THE COUNTY NEARLY FOUR YEARS AGO AND I NEVER IMAGINED I'D BE STANDING HERE LIKE I AM TODAY. I'M GRATEFUL TO HAVE FRIENDS, FAMILY, AND COMMUNITY PARTNERS THAT JOIN ME TODAY IN SUPPORT IN SOLIDARITY TO ALL THE EMPLOYEES AND THE DEPUTIES THAT MADE A POINT TODAY TO COME TO ME AND SAY HELLO AND EXPRESS SUPPORT. THANK YOU. I'M TRULY HUMBLED BY YOU EACH AND EVERY DAY AND YOU ARE THE REASON WHY I AM HERE TODAY. I COME BEFORE YOU TO RAISE CONCERNS [03:30:01] ABOUT THIS GOVERNMENT AS AN INSTITUTION. PUBLIC SERVICE ONLY WORKS WHEN THE PUBLIC SERVANTS DOING THE WORK ARE VALUED. WHEN GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES ARE TREATED AS EXPENDABLE OR SILENCED, THE CONSEQUENCES ARE FELT ACROSS THE COMMUNITY. SERVICES. WEAKEN AND TRUST ERODES THE VERY INSTITUTION MEANT TO SERVE THE PUBLIC BEGINS TO LOSE THEIR WAY. I GREW UP IN SAN ANTONIO, GRADUATED FROM WEST POINT. I SERVED A CAREER IN THE MILITARY. I HAVE LITERALLY SPENT MY ENTIRE ADULT LIFE IN SERVICE TO OTHERS. AS A RETIRED ARMY OFFICER, I HAD THE PRIVILEGE OF LEADING SOLDIERS FOR NEARLY THREE DECADES AT VARYING LEVELS OF STAFF AND COMMAND RESPONSIBILITIES. THAT EXPERIENCE REINFORCED ONE CORE BELIEF. OUR PEOPLE ARE OUR GREATEST RESOURCE. I BROUGHT THAT PHILOSOPHY TO THE DEPARTMENT AND IT DROVE TANGIBLE RESULTS THAT DIRECTLY BENEFITED OUR COMMUNITY. WE NEARLY DOUBLED STAFFING, EXPANDED SERVICES FROM TWO LOCATIONS TO 10 AND CREATED NEW INITIATIVES FOR SURVIVING SPOUSES AS WELL AS OUR HOMELESS AT RISK AND JUSTICE INVOLVED VETERANS. WE ALSO ADDED NEW CRITICAL CAPABILITIES INCLUDING FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE AND PEER SUPPORT PROGRAMS FOR VETERANS AND THEIR FAMILIES. UNFORTUNATELY AS OF LAST WEEK, BOTH OF THOSE PROGRAMS WERE RECOMMENDED TO NOT BE RENEWED BY THE STATE'S GRANT REVIEW BOARD. THIS WOULD BE A SIGNIFICANT LOSS OF RESOURCES TO OUR COMMUNITY THAT FOLLOWS THE APPARENT RECENT LOSS OF GRANT FUNDING FOR THREE OF OUR COURTS. MISDEMEANOR DRUG, FELONY DRUG AND PROSTITUTION. THIS PATTERN OF LOST GRANT FUNDING AND LOST CAPABILITIES REFLECTS A BROADER CONCERN WITH MANAGERIAL OVERSIGHT AND INSTITUTIONAL CONTINUITY THAT ULTIMATELY HARMS THE VETERANS AND THE RESIDENTS WHO DEPEND ON THESE SERVICES. BUT MY EXPERIENCE WITH THE COUNTY ALSO EXPOSED SOMETHING EVEN MORE TROUBLING. LAST SUMMER, A NUMBER OF MY DEPARTMENT STAFF HAD THE TRUST AND THE CONFIDENCE TO BRING FORWARD CONCERNS TO ME DIRECTLY. AN ACT OF COURAGE THAT SHOULD BE RECOGNIZED AND PROTECTED. AFTER ELEVATING THOSE CONCERNS THROUGH APPROPRIATE COUNTY CHANNELS AND SPECIFICALLY REQUESTING AN EXTERNAL INVESTIGATION INTO THEM, I BECAME THE SUBJECT OF A DISPUTED PERFORMANCE IMPROVEMENT PLAN THAT SIGNIFICANTLY MISCHARACTERIZED BOTH MY ACTIONS AND MY PERFORMANCE. THE PIP ASSERTED I WAS NOT PRESENT IN MY OFFICE DURING CORE BUSINESS HOURS, BUT FAILED TO ACCOUNT FOR THE OPERATIONAL REALITY OF A DEPARTMENT DEPENDENT UPON COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS AND SERVING THE COMMUNITY ACROSS 10 LOCATIONS WHERE MOST CLIENT WORK OCCURRED IN THE FIELD, NOT AT A CENTRAL HEADQUARTERS. A TYPICAL DAY FOR ME OFTEN INVOLVED A COM ATTENDING COMMUNITY EVENTS, RESOURCE FAIRS, MEETINGS LIKE THE MILITARY TRANSFORMATION TASK FORCE CO-CHAIRED BY COMMISSIONER MOODY OR THE GRANT THE GREATER CHAMBER'S MILITARY ADVISORY COUNCIL. I WOULD ROUTINELY MEET COMMUNITY PARTNERS LIKE BROKEN WARRIOR'S ANGELS TO WALK THROUGH HOMELESS ENCAMPMENTS IN PLACES LIKE LIVE OAK HILL, COUNTRY VILLAGE, ALAMO RANCH, AND THE FAR SOUTH SIDE. JUST OFF ROOSEVELT AVENUE AREAS THAT THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO AND ORGANIZATIONS LIKE HAVEN FOR HOPE AND SAM MINISTRIES DO NOT REGULARLY VISIT THERE WE ENCOUNTERED BOTH VETERANS AND NON-VETERANS. OUR TEAM HELPED WITH CONNECTING OUR VETERANS TO CRITICAL RESOURCES, ENROLLING THEM IN VA HEALTHCARE AND HELPING THEM FILE VA DISABILITY CLAIMS THAT IN MANY CASES RESULTED IN LITERALLY LIFE-CHANGING BENEFITS. COUNTY SOCIAL SERVICES PROVIDED ADDITIONAL ASSISTANCE AND RESOURCES TO THEM AND TO THE NON-VETERAN RESIDENTS AT A TIME WHEN BEXAR COUNTY IS EXPERIENCING NEVER BEFORE SEEN GROWTH AND AN INCREASE IN GEOGRAPHICALLY DISPERSED HOMELESS RESIDENTS, PARTICULARLY IN SUBURBAN COMMUNITIES AND UNINCORPORATED AREAS, THE COUNTY HAS A GREATER RESPONSIBILITY THAN EVER TO ADDRESS THIS ESCALATING NEED. TRAGICALLY, THE COUNTY INSTEAD HAS STOPPED ALL HOMELESS OUTREACH EFFORTS AT THE MOMENT OF GREATEST NEED LEAVING VULNERABLE RESIDENTS WITHOUT THE OUTREACH AND THE RESOURCE CONNECTIONS THEY ONCE RECEIVED. MY ROLE REQUIRED REGULAR PRESENCE IN THE COMMUNITY TO [03:35:01] DELIVER EXPECTED RESULTS. MANDATING A CONSTANT PRESENCE AT A SINGLE HEADQUARTERS WHERE ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT FUNCTIONS PRIMARILY OCCURRED WOULD'VE BEEN INCONSISTENT WITH THE MISSION AND THE EXPECTATIONS GIVEN TO ME. OF NOTE, NOT ONE OF THE INDIVIDUALS ON MY TEAM THAT RAISED THE INITIAL CONCERNS WERE BASED IN THAT HEADQUARTERS. THE PIP ALSO CLAIMED I DELEGATED RESPONSIBILITIES WITHOUT OVERSIGHT. YET NEITHER I NOR ANY OF MY LEADERSHIP TEAM WERE INTERVIEWED DURING THAT INVESTIGATION TO EXPLAIN THE SYSTEMS THAT WE HAD IN PLACE. WHEN I FORMALLY REQUESTED CLARIFICATION ON THE DISPUTED PIP AND RAISED GOOD FAITH CONCERNS THAT IT COULD BE RETALIATORY, MY PRIMARY REQUEST WAS TO HAVE IT RESCINDED AND REMOVED FROM MY RECORD SO I COULD GET BACK TO SERVING VETERANS. BEXAR COUNTY THEN PLACED ME ON ADMINISTRATIVE LEAVE AND RETAINED THE LAW FIRM CALDWELL CLARK FUCCI AND FINLAYSON AT A COST OF UP TO $100,000 OF PUBLIC FUNDS TO INVESTIGATE ME. THAT INVESTIGATION DRAMATICALLY EXPANDED WELL BEYOND THE ORIGINAL PIP AND WAS LIKELY DIRECTED BY THE SAME LEADERSHIP I HAD IDENTIFIED IN MY CONCERNS. WHAT BEGAN AS A LEGITIMATE REQUEST FOR CLARIFICATION AND CONCERNS ABOUT POTENTIAL RETALIATION WAS LATER REFRAMED IN THE INVESTIGATIVE FINDINGS AS QUOTE INSUBORDINATION QUOTE. THIS IS PRECISELY THE KIND OF DYNAMIC THE EEOC EXISTS TO PREVENT LEGITIMATE EFFORTS TO ADDRESS POSSIBLE RETALIATION BEING RECAST AS MISCONDUCT. PRIOR TO ALL OF THIS, I HAD NO DOCUMENTED DISCIPLINARY ACTIONS OR NEGATIVE PERFORMANCE ISSUES DURING MORE THAN THREE AND A HALF YEARS OF MY TIME WITH THE COUNTY. YET ON MARCH 10TH, 2026 WHILE I WAS OUT OF THE STATE ON PREVIOUSLY APPROVED PTO WITH JUST MY 9-YEAR-OLD DAUGHTER, THIS COURT MADE THE DECISION TO TERMINATE MY EMPLOYMENT. APPARENTLY BASED IN PART ON THE FINDINGS OF THAT EXTERNAL INVESTIGATION, I WAS NOTIFIED BY THE COUNTY VIA VOICEMAIL AND TEXT OF MY TERMINATION WHILE I WAS OUT OF THE STATE WITH MY DAUGHTER. I HAVE SERIOUS RESERVATIONS ABOUT HOW THE INVESTIGATION WAS CONDUCTED AND MORE IMPORTANTLY HOW ITS FINDINGS WERE PRESENTED TO THIS COURT. NOTABLY, WHILE VERSIONS OF THIS REPORT AND ITS FINDINGS HAVE BEEN RELEASED TO LOCAL MEDIA, I HAVE STILL NEVER RECEIVED FROM THE COUNTY A COPY OF THE FULL REPORT. ANY SUMMARY OR EVEN THE FINDINGS. IN FACT, MY OPEN RECORDS REQUEST OVER A MONTH AGO FOR THE COMPLETE DOCUMENT WAS FORWARDED TO THE TEXAS ATTORNEY GENERAL FOR RULING ON EXCEPTIONS WITH NOTHING BEING PROVIDED TO ME WHILE THE ME MEDIA RECEIVED THE FINDINGS. WHAT I WILL SHARE TODAY IS NOT AN EXHAUSTIVE REBUTTAL, BUT A SNAPSHOT OF KEY OMISSIONS AND MISSING CONTEXT. FIRST, THEY CLAIM I DISCLOSED CONFIDENTIAL COUNTY RECORDS TO A THIRD PARTY WITHOUT AUTHORIZATION OR VALID LEGAL BASIS. WHAT THEY FAILED TO MENTION IS THE THIRD PARTY WAS MY PERSONAL ATTORNEY INCLUDED ON A FORMAL GRIEVANCE THAT I MADE TO THE COUNTY MANAGER TO SEEK CLARIFICATION AND RAISE CONCERNS OF POTENTIAL RETALIATION. THIS WAS A PROTECTED LEGAL COMMUNICATION, NOT AN INDEPENDENT OR IMPROPER DISCLOSURE. THE REPORT ALSO SEEMS TO ADMIT THE FACT THAT THE SAME EXACT DOCUMENT WITH THE SAME EXACT ATTACHMENTS WITH NO REDACTIONS WAS EMAILED ON THE SAME DAY TO THE SAME THIRD PARTY BY COUNTY ATTORNEY LARRY ROBERSON DEMONSTRATING INCONSISTENT APPLICATION OF CONFIDENTIALITY STANDARDS AND I WAS NEVER ASKED ABOUT IT. SECOND, THE REPORT CLAIMS THAT I ENGAGED IN INAPPROPRIATE PHYSICAL CONTACT WITH AN COUNTY EMPLOYEE. FIRST AND FOREMOST, I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT INCIDENT THIS IS SUPPOSEDLY REFERRING TO. THE REPORT RELIES ON INTENTIONALLY AMBIGUOUS PHRASE, INAPPROPRIATE CONTACT. THAT QUOTE COULD BE INTERPRETED AS SEXUAL IN NATURE. SUPPOSEDLY STEMMING FROM SOME THIRD PARTY INTERPRETATION OF MY INTERACTION WITH MY DATE, WHAT IS LATER DESCRIBED IN THE REPORT AS A PUBLIC DISPLAY OF AFFECTION. THIS ALLEGED EVENT SUPPOSEDLY INVOLVED A PERSONAL RELATIONSHIP OF MINE. THERE IS NO FORMAL COMPLAINT, NO INVESTIGATION, AND NO DISCIPLINARY ACTION AT THE TIME OF THIS ALLEGED EVENT SUPPOSEDLY INVOLVING ME WITH A [03:40:01] COUNTY EMPLOYEE REPORTED BY SOME THIRD PARTY. IN FACT, THE ALLEGATION SEEMS TO ONLY HAVE SURFACED DURING THIS EXTERNAL INVESTIGATION. AFTER I RAISED MY CONCERNS ABOUT POTENTIAL RETALIATION AND AGAIN, I WAS NEVER ASKED ABOUT IT. THE REPORT ALSO REFERENCES METADATA ON MY COUNTY PHONE ASSOCIATED WITH AN ADULT WEBSITE. THE REPORT PRESENTS US AS QUOTE, INAPPROPRIATE USE, BUT WHAT IT ACTUALLY REFERS TO ARE OLD INTERNET BOOKMARKS FROM A PERSONAL GOOGLE ACCOUNT SAVED YEARS BEFORE I EVER JOINED THE COUNTY ONE NEARLY 10 YEARS AGO THAT WERE AUTOMATICALLY AND UNBEKNOWNST TO ME, DOWNLOADED TO THE PHONE WHEN I LOGGED INTO CHROME BROWSER SIMPLY TO ACCESS THE PASSWORD MANAGER LIKE MANY COUNTY EMPLOYEES AND POSSIBLY SOME OF YOU HAVE DONE. THERE IS NO EVIDENCE PRESENTED THAT I EVER VISITED OR EVEN ATTEMPTED TO ACCESS THE SITES. YET THE WAY IT IS WRITTEN STATES INAPPROPRIATE USE AND SUGGESTS INTENTIONAL MISCONDUCT AND CREATES A FAR MORE SERIOUS IN SALACIOUS IMPRESSION THAN THE PROVIDED FACTS SUPPORTED. AND AGAIN, I WAS NEVER ASKED ABOUT IT. ANOTHER ALLEGATION SUGGESTED I VIOLATED ADMINISTRATIVE LEAVE BY HOLDING A MEETING WITH COMMUNITY PARTNERS TO DISCUSS COUNTY BUSINESS. IN REALITY, I MET IN A PERSONAL CAPACITY WITH MY FRIEND STEVEN PRICE AND LEADERS FROM THE AMERICAN GI FORUM, BOTH OF WHO ARE HERE TODAY AT THEIR LOCATION TO DISCUSS THEIR INTERNAL INITIATIVES. DURING MY THREE MONTHS ON ADMINISTRATIVE LEAVE, I VOLUNTEERED WITH A NUMBER OF COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS. FRANKLY, I DID NOT WANT TO GO CRAZY SIT IN MY HOUSE WONDERING WHAT WAS GOING ON. I ALWAYS MADE IT CLEAR I COULD NOT AND WOULD NOT DISCUSS COUNTY BUSINESS AND I NEVER DID. THE ONE PARTICIPANT IN THAT MEETING WHO WAS INTERVIEWED BY THE LAW FIRM, MR. STEVEN PRICE, CONFIRMED WITH THE LAW FIRM THAT I WAS NOT SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF THE COUNTY YET STILL, SOMEHOW THAT MADE IT INTO THE FINDINGS AS SUBSTANTIATED AND AGAIN, I WAS NEVER ASKED ABOUT IT. FINALLY, ANOTHER ITEM RAISED IN THE REPORT REGARDS CONTRACTING AND GIFTED SPACES. I REGULARLY TOUTED THE FACT THAT WE ONLY PAID FOR TWO OF THE 10 OFFICE LOCATIONS AND THAT THE EIGHT LO EIGHT LOCATIONS WE OCCUPIED RENT FREE WERE THROUGH MEMORANDA OF UNDERSTANDING WITH COMMUNITY PARTNERS. MANY OF THE SAME LOCATIONS WERE OFFICIALLY OPENED WITH RIBBON CUTTING CEREMONIES IN WHICH SEVERAL OF YOU AS MEMBERS OF THIS COURT PERSONALLY PARTICIPATED AND PUBLICLY SUPPORTED. THE REPORT STATES THAT QUOTE, BECAUSE THESE ENTITIES PROVIDED SPACE AT NO CONTEST, THE ARRANGEMENTS CONSTITUTE GIFTS WHICH MUST BE APPROVED BY THE COMMISSIONER'S COURT UNDER COUNTY POLICY AND TEXAS LAW. ACCEPTING OR EXECUTING THESE ARRANGEMENTS WITHOUT PROPER AUTHORIZATION EXCEEDED MR. WILSON'S INDIVIDUAL AUTHORITY AND VIOLATED COUNTY POLICY. THE REPORT GOES ON TO SAY THAT AT LEAST ONE ONE MOU HAD BEEN SIGNED SOLELY BY ME. WHAT THE REPORT FAILS TO MENTION IS THAT OUR DEPARTMENT PROPERLY STAFFED THESE MOUS AND WE RECEIVED SPECIFIC GUIDANCE FROM LARRY ROBERSON'S ATTORNEYS AT CIVIL DIVISION REGARDING WHAT REQUIRED COMMISSIONER'S COURT APPROVAL AND WHAT I COULD EXECUTE ADMINISTRATIVELY. AND WE FOLLOWED THAT GUIDANCE. THE REPORT CLEARLY OMITS THE FACT THAT MY ACTIONS WERE COORDINATED WITH COUNTY LEGAL GUIDANCE AND WERE NOT UNILATERAL DECISIONS. SOME OF THE MOUS WERE STILL IN THIS STAFFING PROCESS WHEN I WAS PLACED ON ADMINISTRATIVE LEAVE. THESE ARE ONLY A FEW EXAMPLES AND YET THE SAME GAPS IN CONTEXT APPEAR THROUGHOUT THE REPORT. I WAS NOT GIVEN THE OPPORTUNITY TO RESPOND TO MOST OF THE ALLEGATIONS PRIOR TO THE REPORT BEING FINALIZED, PRESENTED TO YOU AND RELEASED TO THE MEDIA. IN FACT, DESPITE MORE THAN FIVE HOURS THAT I SENT, I SPENT SITTING WITH THE LAWYERS AT THAT LAW FIRM. I WAS ONLY SPECIFICALLY ASKED ABOUT TWO OF THE ALLEGATIONS AGAINST ME. BOTH OF THOSE WERE ULTIMATELY UNSUBSTANTIATED. NOW I ASK YOU THIS, IF ANY OF THE INFORMATION I JUST PROVIDED IS NEW TO YOU, OUR ELECTED OFFICIALS, ASK YOURSELF IF THAT IS HOW YOU WANT TO MAKE DECISIONS. WHAT SEEMS TO BE CHERRY PICKED INFORMATION PRESENTED IN A MANIPULATIVE MANNER TO DRIVE SOMEONE ELSE'S [03:45:01] PREDETERMINED, DESIRED OUTCOME? I WOULD SUGGEST THIS IS NOT HOW GOVERNMENT SHOULD FUNCTION. WHAT MATTERS MOST IS NOT ANY SINGLE ALLEGATION, BUT WHETHER THE PROCESS USED TO IDENTIFY AND EVALUATE THEM WAS FAIR, CONSISTENT, AND COMPLETE. IN THE END, WHAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN RECOGNIZED AS EMPLOYEES DEMONSTRATING THE COURAGE TO RAISE CONCERNS AND A LEADER'S ACTIVE RESPONSE. LEVERAGING COUNTY RESOURCES FOCUSED ON ADDRESSING THEM. INSTEAD DEVOLVED INTO A PROCESS THAT SHIFTED FOCUS AWAY FROM THE ORIGINAL CONCERNS AND ONTO THE INDIVIDUAL, ELEVATING THEM HIGHER. BUT THIS IS NOT EVEN ABOUT ONE POSITION OR ONE PERSON. IT REFLECTS A BROADER PATTERN THAT HAS BEEN PUBLICLY DOCUMENTED. A RECENT SAN ANTONIO OBSERVER ARTICLE ATTRIBUTES A STATEMENT TO COMMISSIONER CALVERT THAT INCLUDES QUOTE, RETRIBUTION VIA DRAGGING OF FEET. DENIAL OF RESOURCES. CHARACTER ASSASSINATION IS STANDARD PRACTICE IN BEAR COUNTY. THAT COMMENT IS NOT AN OUTLIER. IT ALIGNS WITH A GROWING BODY OF PUBLIC REPORTING INVOLVING SENIOR COUNTY LEADERSHIP ACROSS MULTIPLE OFFICES. THESE ARE NOT ISOLATED HEADLINES TAKEN TOGETHER. THEY SUGGEST A DEEPER INSTITUTIONAL PROBLEM AT THE HIGHEST OF LEVELS ONE THAT SPANS DEPARTMENTS ROLES IN YEARS. A COUNTY CULTURE THAT APPEARS TO PRIORITIZE BUREAUCRACY AND ADMINISTRATIVE PROCESS OVER THE PEOPLE TREATING DEDICATED PUBLIC SERVANTS AS MERE TOOLS OF IMPLEMENTATION RATHER THAN THE VERY RESOURCE THAT MAKES EFFECTIVE GOVERNMENT POSSIBLE ENVIRONMENTS WHERE EMPLOYEES FEEL DISCOURAGED FROM RAISING CONCERNS OR WHERE DOING SO INVITES RETALIATION ULTIMATELY UNDERMINE THE VERY MISSION THEY ARE MEANT TO SERVE. LEADERS IN TURN BECOME RELUCTANT TO TAKE APPROPRIATE ACTION FOR FEAR OF THEIR OWN PROFESSIONAL SURVIVAL. THIS IS PRECISELY WHY EEOC INVOLVEMENT MATTERS. IT REINFORCES THE RIGHT AND THE NECESSITY OF EMPLOYEES RAISING LEGITIMATE CONCERNS AND LEADERS ADDRESSING THEM. WITHOUT FEAR. BEXAR COUNTY HAS AN OPPORTUNITY AND A RESPONSIBILITY TO ADDRESS THIS. COUNTY. EMPLOYEES ARE NOT JUST STAFF. THEY'RE MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY, THEY'RE ARE NEIGHBORS, AND THEY'RE YOUR CONSTITUENTS. THE COUNTY HAS ALREADY DEMONSTRATED A WILLINGNESS TO COMMIT SIGNIFICANT RESOURCES TO EXTERNAL LEGAL INVESTIGATIONS AND SETTLEMENTS. THAT SAME WILLINGNESS SHOULD NOW BE APPLIED MORE BROADLY TO PREVENT THESE ISSUES FROM HAPPENING IN THE FIRST PLACE. INSTEAD OF FOCUSING RESOURCES NARROWLY, BEXAR COUNTY SHOULD INVEST IN AN INDEPENDENT SYSTEM-WIDE ASSESSMENT OF ITS WORKPLACE CULTURE AND PRACTICES. AT THE SAME TIME, THE ROLE OF THE COUNTY MANAGER MUST EVOLVE BEYOND A TRADITIONAL ADMINISTRATIVE FUNCTION, FOCUSED PRIMARILY ON MANAGING BUREAUCRACY. IT SHOULD TRANSITION INTO A TRUE LEADERSHIP POSITION. ONE GROUNDED IN ROBUST EXPERIENCE, ACTUALLY LEADING PEOPLE, STRATEGIC THINKING AND PLANNING AND THE PROVEN ABILITY TO DRIVE CROSS-FUNCTIONAL EFFORTS ACROSS DEPARTMENTS AND EXTERNAL PARTNERS TO ADDRESS KEY COUNTY PRIORITIES. ULTIMATELY, THIS LEADERSHIP MUST BE ROOTED IN THE SIMPLE BUT POWERFUL PHILOSOPHY THAT OUR PEOPLE ARE OUR GREATEST RESOURCE. ONLY THEN CAN BEAR COUNTY EFFECTIVELY ADDRESS ITS MOST PRESSING CHALLENGES, GROWTH, HOUSING INSTABILITY, HOMELESSNESS, BEHAVIORAL HEALTH AND INFRASTRUCTURE STRAIN. NONE OF THOSE OPERATE IN SILOS AND NEITHER SHOULD WE THROUGH A TRUE WHOLE OF GOVERNMENT MODEL THAT ALIGNS STRATEGIC PRIORITIES, COORDINATES CROSS DEPARTMENT INITIATIVES AND DELIVERS MEASURABLE OUTCOMES FOR OUR COMMUNITY. THIS IS NOT ABOUT ASSIGNING BLAME, IT'S ABOUT DEMANDING BETTER OTHER SECTORS, INCLUDING MANUFACTURING, OFTEN HIGHLIGHTED BY THIS VERY COURT, HAVE LONG RECOGNIZED THAT INVESTING IN PEOPLE LEADS TO BETTER OUTCOMES, GREATER EFFICIENCY AND STRONGER PERFORMANCE. GOVERNMENT SHOULD BE NO DIFFERENT. BEXAR COUNTY HAS THE TALENT, THE MISSION AND THE RESOURCES TO LEAD. WHAT IT NEEDS NOW IS A TRUE SHIFT IN LEADERSHIP MINDSET FROM PRIORITIZING BUREAUCRACY TO TRULY VALUING PEOPLE AS ITS GREATEST RESOURCE. BECAUSE WHEN WE TAKE CARE OF THOSE WHO SERVE, THEY'RE BETTER ABLE TO SERVE US ALL. THAT IS WHAT WHAT THIS COUNTY NEEDS AND THAT IS WHAT OUR COMMUNITY DESERVES. WHILE MY FIGHT IS CLEARLY NOT OVER, [03:50:01] THERE REMAINS AN OPPORTUNITY RIGHT NOW FOR THIS COURT TO DEMAND MORE FROM THE INSTITUTION THAT YOU LEAD FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE MEN AND THE WOMEN WHO SHOW UP EVERY SINGLE DAY COMMITTED TO SERVING OTHERS. THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO FINALLY PROVIDE YOU MY PERSPECTIVE. ALRIGHT, THE NEXT SPEAKER IS SERGIO DICKERSON. BUT SERGIO, YOU ALSO HAVE PAUL BURNELL AND STEVEN PRICE. BOTH HAVE INDICATED ON THEIR RE UH, REQUEST TO YIELD YOUR TIME TO SERGIO ARE SO LEMME CALL IT PAUL BURNELL. HE'S HERE. YES, YOUR HONOR. YOU YIELD ANY YOUR TIME? YES SIR. HONOR, SIR STEVEN PRICE. YIELDING YOUR TIME. MR. SERGIO DICKERSON. THE FLOOR IS YOURS. THANK YOU, JUDGE. GOOD AFTERNOON JUDGE COMMISSIONERS AND DISTINGUISHED MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY. MY NAME IS ER DICKERSON. I AM THE PRESIDENT AND CEO OF THE AMERICAN GI FORUM, NATIONAL VETERANS OUTREACH PROGRAM. I'M HERE TODAY TO DISCUSS A NEED IN THE COMMUNITY FOR A CENTRALIZED PLACE. WE, VETERANS TRANSITIONING FROM SERVICE ARE OFFERED RESOURCES THAT RESULT IN JOBS, WELLNESS, SERVICES, DISABILITY, AND MANY OTHER CRITICAL RESOURCES THAT LEAD TO THE SUCCESS AND THEIR STABILITY. WHEN MR. KEITH WILSON WAS HEAD OF THE MILITARY AND VETERAN SERVICE CENTER, WE WERE BUILDING THAT TRANSITION CENTER AND THAT PROGRAM, SINCE HIS SUDDEN DEPARTURE, THAT EFFORT HAS ENDED. I'VE BEEN IN THE VETERAN BUSINESS HERE IN SAN ANTONIO SINCE 2015. BUT JUST FOR CONTEXT AND PRIOR MY SERVICE WITH THIS COMMUNITY, I SPENT THE BETTER PART OF 30 YEARS IN THE ARMY COMMANDING AT EVERY LEVEL THROUGH BRIGADE COMMAND. THE NVOP WAS INVOLVED WITH MA, UH, MAYOR IVY AT THE TIME AND THE COMMUNITY TO TRY TO END VETERAN HOMELESSNESS. ACHIEVED FUNCTIONAL ZERO AND METRIC USED BY HUD TO DESCRIBE A COMMUNITY THAT HAS HAD SUFFICIENT RESOURCES TO DEAL WITH VETERAN HOMELESSNESS. AND AT THE TIME IT WAS A MILESTONE ACHIEVEMENT. AND I FELT WE HAD CHANGED THE TRAJECTORY OF VETERANS SERVING IN OUR COMMUNITY. AND I DON'T WANNA MINIMIZE THIS, IT WAS A HUGE WIN AND IT SET IN MOTION A MOVEMENT THAT CONTINUES TODAY WITH MANY HOMELESS VETERAN LIVES CHANGED FOR THE BETTER. AT THE TIME, VETERAN SUICIDE WAS 22 PER DAY AND TWO WORLD WARS WERE STILL GOING ON IN THE MIDDLE EAST LAST YEAR, POST COMBAT, THAT NUMBER WAS 18 NATIONALLY. ACCORDING TO THE VA'S OFFICIAL WEBSITE, I COULDN'T TELL YOU WHAT IT IS IN SAN ANTONIO, BUT I REALLY WOULD LIKE TO KNOW TODAY. MY ORGANIZATION ALONE HOUSES ALMOST 2000 VETERANS A YEAR THROUGHOUT TEXAS. ARGUABLY ONE OF THE MOST OF ANY SINGLE NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION IN TEXAS. I SPENT $12 MILLION A YEAR ALONE, MAINLY VA FUNDING, BUT ALSO STATE AND PRIVATE FUNDING, PUTTING VETERANS, MOSTLY HOMELESS AND AT RISK IN HOMES. IN THAT 11 YEARS, THAT NUMBER HAS INCREASED TENFOLD IN MY ORGANIZATION. IT STARTED AT 500,000. IT IS NOW 12 MILLION. ASK ME WHERE WE'VE COME SINCE THEN. SO WHY AREN'T THE NUMBERS COMING DOWN SIGNIFICANTLY AFTER 11, 11 YEARS OF STUDYING THIS PROBLEM IN SAN ANTONIO AND THE BEXAR COUNTY AREA, IT'S DUE TO AN UTTER FAILURE TO TRANSITION VETERANS FROM MILITARY SERVICE TO CIVILIAN SERVICE NATIONWIDE, BUT ALSO HERE IN THE COUNTY AND IN THE CITY. WHAT IS THE DANGER OF CONTINUING DOWN THIS PATH? LET ME TELL YOU FOR ONE, THESE RESULTS ARE AN AUDITOR'S DREAM. TO ARGUE, TO ARGUE REALLY FOR THE CUTTING OF THESE FUNDS. EVENTUALLY THAT CUT IS COMING. WE'VE SEEN SOME OF THAT ALREADY. I AM NOT SUGGESTING THAT WE IGNORE THE IMMEDIATE HOMELESS CRISIS. I'M MAKING A POINT THAT WE CANNOT SIMPLY CONTINUE TO REACT TO HOMELESSNESS. WE NEED TO PREVENT IT ALTOGETHER. WE ARE FAILING TO ADDRESS THE TRANSITIONING OF VETERANS TO OUR COMMUNITIES. WHY? BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE A FOCAL POINT FOR THEM TO SEEK SERVICES. THEY OFTEN GET LOST IN THE MYRIAD OF LITERALLY HUNDREDS OF ORGANIZATIONS ALL WELL INTENDED, INCLUDING MY OWN, TO HELP THEM. [03:55:01] THE RESULT, PARTICULARLY FOR THE YOUNGER VETERAN SERVICE MEMBERS, E 1 34, MAYBE TWO TO FOUR YEARS IN SERVICE WHEN THEY LEAVE THE MILITARY, I CAN TELL YOU WHAT THEY'RE CONSIDERED BY US HOMELESS. THEY WERE LIVING IN THE BARRACKS. NOW THEY'RE NOT. THEY DID HAVE A PAYCHECK, NOW THEY DON'T. AND THEY HAVE NO DISABILITY AT LEAST SIX TO 10, 10 MONTHS AFTER THEY LEAVE. SO THEY HAVE NOTHING. THAT IS THE VETERAN THAT'S COMING INTO OUR COMMUNITIES. I AM NOT MERELY SUGGESTING THAT THIS IS A PROBLEM. I'M TELLING YOU IT IS. I'VE SPOKEN TO THOSE VETERANS OVER THE PAST 11 YEARS. I WOULD ASK EVERYONE HERE TO TAKE SOME TIME AND WATCH AMERICAN SONS A PBS DOCUMENTARY. WE SUPPORTED THE DOCUMENTS TO TRAJECTORY OF A PROUD ELITE MARINE UNIT THAT LOST MORE OF ITS MEMBERS AFTER COMBAT THAT THEY DID IN COMBAT. AND THEIR LOSSES IN COMBAT WERE PRETTY SIGNIFICANT. AND THESE ARE THE ELITES OF THE MILITARY. MANY VETERANS HERE TODAY, INCLUDING THIS SOLDIER BEFORE YOU HAVE EXPERIENCED THE HORRORS OF COMBAT AND HAVE PERSEVERED BECAUSE WE HAVE PURPOSE AND CONNECTION TO THIS COMMUNITY. IT IS NOT JUST A VA PROBLEM ALONE EITHER. IT'S A COMMUNITY PROBLEM. IT'S A COMMUNITY PROBLEM BECAUSE IT INVOLVES CITIZENS AND FAMILIES OF THIS GREAT COMMUNITY. TO SET THESE YOUNG WARRIORS ON THE RIGHT COURSE SERVES NOT ONLY THEM, BUT THE COMMUNITY ITSELF. VETERANS GET BETTER JOBS, SPEND LESS TIME IN EXPENSIVE STATE AND FEDERAL PROGRAMS. AND I AM WILLING TO BET MY PENSION THAT IT DECREASES SUICIDE RATES ALSO. NOT ONLY THAT, BUT IT'S CHEAPER DOWN THE ROAD. 'CAUSE WE'RE FOCUSING ON THE END OF THE PROBLEM, NOT THE BEGINNING OF IT BEFORE IT BECOMES A PROBLEM. BEFORE THEY TAKE THE DRUGS, BEFORE THEY GET IN TROUBLE WITH THE LAW, BEFORE THEY LOSE THEIR FAMILY AND THEY GET A DIVORCE BEFORE THEY LOSE THEIR KIDS, BEFORE THEY COMMIT SUICIDE. WHO WON? DISTINGUISHED MEMBERS. WE NEED A CENTRALIZED CLEARING HOUSE FOR VETERANS IN BEXAR COUNTY. IT WILL PAY FOR ITSELF AND IT WILL BE A MODEL FOR THE NATIONAL EFFORT TO TRANSITION VETERANS. I'M NOT HERE SIMPLY TO POINT AT THE PROBLEM. MY ORGANIZATION, THE NVOP, IS WILLING TO LEAD THAT EFFORT WITH BEXAR COUNTY AND SET THE EXAMPLE FOR THE NATION BECAUSE IT STARTS IN A PLACE LIKE MILITARY CITY AND THEN IT EXPOUNDS OUT TO THE COUNTRY AND THEN THE NATION PICKS IT UP AS THEIR PROGRAM. AND THAT'S HOW WE GET MORE FUNDING. WE ARE ALREADY DOING THIS IN A SMALLER EXTENT WITH EXCELLENT SUCCESS IN LIN AIR FORCE BASE. TO THAT POINT, NO ONE WE HAVE HELPED AT TRANSITION. NO ONE IN BEXAR COUNTY HAS ENDED UP HOMELESS 'CAUSE WE PREVENTED IT AND WE SPENT FAR LESS MONEY THAN WE ARE NOW ON THOSE THAT ARE ALREADY HOMELESS. IT IS TIME TO LEAD THIS EFFORT IN MILITARY CITY USA. PLEASE HELP ME TO GET THIS DONE. THANK YOU, JUDGE. UH, JUDGE, MAY I JUST ASK A QUICK QUESTION? YES, SIR. TO OUR THANK YOU JUDGE COMMISSIONER, CO PRESIDENT. THANK, THANK YOU FOR YOUR, UH, TESTIMONY COMING DOWN. VERY IMPORTANT. YOU'VE MADE A REQUEST TO THE COURT FOR SUPPORT OF THE RENOVATION OF SOME BUILDINGS AROUND SAN PEDRO. CAN YOU REMIND US WHAT THAT, WHAT THAT COST REQUEST WAS TO THE COURT? UH, YES SIR. SO WE HAVE A FACILITY RIGHT NOW, UH, IN SAN PEDRO THAT, UH, IS THREE STORIES. IT'S 15,000 SQUARE FEET. IT'S CURRENTLY EMPTY. UH, WE DO HAVE SOME FOLKS USING IT RIGHT NOW BECAUSE WE DIDN'T SEE THAT THERE WAS ANY MOVEMENT ON BRINGING THE SERVICES TO THAT FACILITY, BUT WE COULD ALWAYS DO THAT. AGAIN, WE OWN THE BUILDING. WE COULD PUT THOSE SERVICES IN THAT BUILDING. WE WOULD NEED SOME FUNDING TO GET IT STARTED AND TO LEAD THAT EFFORT. BUT I THINK WE COULD DO THAT. I THINK WE COULD ALSO USE THE HELP OF BEXAR COUNTY TO TRY TO ENGAGE THE LOCAL INSTALLATIONS. 'CAUSE THIS IS MORE THAN A VA PROBLEM. THIS IS A DOD ISSUE. AND IF WE COULD GET THOSE VETERANS AS THEY TRANSITION, THEN WE COULD SET THE CONDITION FOR THOSE INDIVIDUALS TO GET SET UP IN OUR COMMUNITY AND THEN WE'D SPEND LESS MONEY AND TIME ON THOSE INDIVIDUALS [04:00:01] AND THEY WOULD BE MORE SUCCESSFUL IN OUR COMMUNITY WHERE IT REALLY COUNTS THAN IF WE IGNORED THE PROBLEM UNTIL THEY BECAME A PROBLEM. BUT WHAT'S THAT AMOUNT THAT YOU WERE REQUESTING? I I, I DON'T HAVE THAT NUMBER RIGHT NOW, SIR, BUT, UH, WE, WE CAN DISCUSS THAT AT A LATER DATE. I DIDN'T COME PREPARED TO TALK FINANCES AT THE TIME, BUT WE OWNED THE BUILDING SO IT WOULD SEE SOMETHING LESS THAN BUYING A NEW BUILDING. THANK YOU. YES, SIR. OKAY, THANK YOU. YES, SIR. ARTHUR REITZ. ARTHUR REITZ. YES, YOUR HONOR. THERE YOU ARE. GOOD AFTERNOON, JUDGE HAI. GOOD AFTERNOON. COMMISSIONER FLORES MOODY, COMMISSIONER RODRIGUEZ. COMMISSIONER CALVERT. I WANNA SPEAK, UH, BRIEFLY ABOUT A FRAUD, WASTE AND ABUSE IN THE BEXAR COUNTY ELECTIONS. THE STATE OF TEXAS RECOGNIZES MY ADDRESS AND I GAVE, UH, A MAP OF SHOWING THE ADDRESS BECAUSE OF THERE'S A LOT OF DISCUSSION ABOUT THE, UM, THE, THE ROAD IN BEAR. UH, SOUTHEAST BEAR COUNTY DOES NOT EXIST, AND I WOULD LIKE TO REDRAW THAT, UH, THAT PHOTO AFTERWARDS IN, UH, AUSTIN, UH, I DIDN'T GET, NOT GET A, UM, UH, THE VOTER REGISTRATION CARD. SO I WENT TO AUSTIN AND THEY SAID THAT, UH, MY ADDRESS IS VALID. SO I CAME BACK TO BEXAR COUNTY AND, UM, MADE MY PRESENTATION TO ONE OF THE CLERKS THERE. AND SHE SAYS THAT, UM, IT DOESN'T MATTER ABOUT THE VOTER REGISTRATION. THE VOTER REGISTRATION CARD DOES MATTER BECAUSE IF YOU HAVE A TEXAS DRIVER LICENSE, YOU CAN MOVE AND IT'S INVALID OR HAVE A MILITARY ID. AND, UH, SO IT'S INVALID TO HAVE A CROSS, UH, A, A CROSS, UM, UM, VALIDATION WITH THAT MAY BEING MADE, I FINALLY GOT MY VOTER REGISTRATION CARD, UH, FROM THE BEAR COUNTY. THE PHYSICAL ADDRESS OF 1 2 8 3 1 EAST PITMAN, UH, ROAD, UH, UH, REFLECTS THAT. BUT THE MAILING ADDRESS SAYS 1 2 8 3 1 PITTMAN ROAD. SO THEY WOULD NOT, UM, HONOR IT, UH, OR, UM, MY, UH, UH, PRESENTATION. SO I GAVE THEM, I SAID, YOU KEEP THE VOTER REGISTRATION CARD. I WILL NOT BE VOTING THIS, UH, THE COMING ELECTIONS BECAUSE I WILL NOT PARTICIPATE IN FRAUD. AND THE, UM, THE VIOLATION OF USC CODE AND THE, UH, VOTER REGISTRATION, UH, VIOLATIONS IN THERE. AND THERE'S 20 PEOPLE ON THAT STREET. AND I'M NOT ONLY TALKING ABOUT MYSELF, I DO HAVE OTHER NEIGHBORS THAT I REPRESENT, UH, STAND BEFORE THE COURT. SO ALL OF THOSE 20 INDIVIDUALS, MY NEIGHBORS ARE INVOLVED IN THIS. AND JUDGE AS YOU BEING THE CEO OF BEXAR COUNTY. I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT IN FOLLOWING SOMETHING, SOMETHING RECENTLY, I, UH, FILED A REPORT WITH BEAR COUNTY SHERIFF ON THAT INCIDENT. IT REFLECTS 1 2 8 3 1 EAST PITMAN. JUST DAY BEFORE YESTERDAY, I FILED A, UH, ANOTHER INCIDENT AND THE DEPUTY, UH, I ASKED TO VALIDATE TO LOOK AT THEIR, UH, COMPUTER IN THEIR CRUISER. AND SHE SAID, YES IT DID. JUDGE COMMISSIONERS, THE TIME HAS EXPIRED. I'M, I'LL BE WRAPPING IT UP, UP, GO AHEAD. BUT ANYWAY, UH, WITH THAT, UH, WHEN SHE ARRIVED AT THE, AT MY HOME, COME TO FIND OUT THAT IT REFLECTED EAST PITMAN. THE DIFFERENCE IS THE COUNTY HAS USED A THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS TO GO AHEAD AND FACILITATE THE COMMUNICATIONS. IF YOU DON'T USE THE BEXAR COUNTY, UH, ASSET AND USES A WIRELESS DEVICE THAT PLACES THE DE UH, THE, THE, UH, THE SAFETY OF THE DEPUTY AND THE HEALTH OF THE LAW ENFORCEMENT, IT'S IMPORTANT TO RECOGNIZE THIS ADDRESS BECAUSE IT IS FOR THE SAFETY AND THE HEALTH. I THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. I WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK A LITTLE BIT MORE, BUT, UH, A FRIEND OF MINE INFORMED ME ONCE BEFORE JUST COME AND TALK IN FRONT OF THE COURT BECAUSE I'VE TRIED TO ADDRESS IT WITH THE STAFF AND I HAVEN'T. WHEN THE PRESIDENT, PRESIDENT, PRESIDENTS, LIKE, UM, COMMISSIONER ATKINSON, I ALWAYS GOT AN OPEN [04:05:01] DOOR TO, UH, DISCUSS THE MATTER WITH IT. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. THANK YOU. ALRIGHT. I BELIEVE THAT CONCLUDES THE CITIZENS TO BE HEARD. I BELIEVE WE GOT THROUGH CONSENT, THERE WERE NO ITEMS PULLED. SO COURT I'D LIKE, UH, SUPPORT PER PRIVILEGE [49. Discussion and appropriate action regarding 1. the negotiation and purchase of a linear park to be developed adjacent to the San Pedro Creek Cultural Park connecting Bexar County's current and proposed parking garages to the San Pedro Creek Cultural Park in an amount not to exceed $10 million with appropriate repayment provisions; and authorization for County Judge Peter Sakai to execute the agreement and any ancillary documents necessary to effectuate the purchase once finally approved by the attorneys and bond counsel representing Bexar County; and 11. the release of Bexar County's portion of the Houston Street Tax Increment Reinvestment Zone tax increment guarantee under the previously approved Memorandum of Agreement and authorization for County Judge Peter Sakai to execute any necessary documents to effectuate the release once finally approved by the attorneys and bond counsel representing Bexar County; with direction to place the finalized documents on the next available Court's agenda for acknowledgement and appropriate filing in the minutes."] TO TAKE UP ITEM 49. IT IS A MATTER THAT WE, UH, HAD ELICIT EXECUTIVE. IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING THAT WE HAVE AN AGREEMENT. IF NOT, UH, PLEASE TELL ME THAT WE NEED TO TAKE THIS EXECUTIVE. BUT IS THERE ANY OBJECTIONS TAKING THIS UP AT THIS TIME? 49 DISCUSSION, APPROPRIATE ACTION REGARDING AND IY Y'ALL CAN READ SUBSECTION A AND ONE AND TWO, TWO. YES, WE CAN READ. ALRIGHT. SO AT THIS TIME, IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE PRESENTATION OR IS THERE A PRESENTA? DAVID? I MEAN, I THINK RANDY'S HERE, RIGHT? AND DO YOU WANNA JUST KIND OF REVIEW THE THINGS THAT WE ASKED FOR AND WHAT THE COMMITMENTS ARE AND THEN WE CAN PUSH IT THROUGH QUICKLY? OKAY. SO WE WERE ASKED TO EXPLORE THREE OPTIONS BY THE COURT MM-HMM . IS THAT WHAT YOU'RE REFERRING TO? OKAY. UM, OFF THE TOP OF MY HEAD, ONE OF THEM WAS TO EXPLORE, UH, AFFORDABLE HOUSING OPPORTUNITIES WITHIN THE DEVELOPMENT BEING PROPOSED AND PLEDGED BY THE DEVELOPER. THE OTHER WAS TO EXPLORE THE COMMITMENT OF 100% OF THE, IN AGGREGATE 15% ASSESSMENT ON PROPERTIES AS OPPOSED TO THE 10% THAT WAS BEING ALLOCATED TO REPAY THE COUNTY. AND FINALLY WAS THE, UH, UM, AGREEMENT TO PAY AN INTEREST ON THE ADVANCED $10 MILLION FOR WHICH THE COUNTY WOULD RECEIVE, UH, TWO PARCELS THAT COULD BECOME ONE OR TWO COUNTY PARKS, UH, ADJACENT TO THE BALLPARK. AND BASICALLY AT THAT POINT, I LEFT IT UP TO YOUR OFFICES AND THE DEVELOPER TO DISCUSS YOUR THOUGHTS ABOUT EACH OF THOSE. OKAY. IT IS, I CAN BE CORRECTED IF I'M WRONG, BUT IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING THAT THE DEVELOPER WOULD CONCUR TO PAY THE INTEREST COST ON THE ADVANCED FUNDS, WHICH WE ESTIMATED TO BE A BLEND OF SIX DIFFERENT, UH, SOURCES. THAT THAT $10 MILLION WOULD COME FROM JUST OVER 4%. I BELIEVE THEY'RE AMENABLE TO PAYING THAT THEY CAN EXPLAIN THAT THEY DON'T BELIEVE IT'S FEASIBLE TO ALLOCATE TO THE COUNTY THE ENTIRE 15, UH, PERCENT OF THE SELF-ASSESSMENT. BUT THEY WOULD CONTINUE TO PLEDGE TO ALLOCATE 10% OF THE 15% ASSESSMENT TO REPAY, UH, THAT ADVANCE FROM THE COUNTY. AND I'LL LEAVE IT UP TO THEM TO DISCUSS, UH, THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING COMPONENT, BUT I BELIEVE THEY BELIEVE THAT WOULD BE CHALLENGING TO THE BUSINESS MODEL IN THE CURRENT ENVIRONMENT. JUST SO COMMISSIONER MOODY, JUST, JUST, UH, OKAY, NOW I'M ON. UM, I MEAN, FIRST OF ALL, I, I APPRECIATE THEIR WILLINGNESS TO, UH, TO, TO MEET US THERE ON THE, UH, THE INTEREST. UM, I THINK THAT MAKES A LOT OF SENSE. AND ALSO TO THE OTHER POINT ABOUT THE ENTIRE 15%, IF WE'RE GETTING PAID A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF INTEREST, THEN HAVING THAT MONEY PAID OFF SOONER DOESN'T NECESSARILY, ISN'T THE SAME DRIVER IT WOULD BE IF WE WERE NOT GETTING INTEREST ON THAT LOAN. SO, UM, YOU KNOW, I, I'M, I'M GOOD WITH, WITH THAT, UH, AS IS WITH, WITH BEING ABLE TO GET THE CONCESSION ON THE INTEREST RATE. UM, I APPRECIATE THEM BEING ABLE TO BE A, A GOOD BROKER AND WORK WITH US ON THIS IN, IN GOOD FAITH. AND, UH, SO I'M SUPPORTIVE OF THAT. MR. RODRIGUEZ? YEAH, I, I WOULD JUST, UH, ASK DANIEL OR, OR RANDY, PLEASE COME UP. UM, I, I MEAN, I KNOW WE HAD A, A LOT OF DISCUSSION ON THIS IN EXECUTIVE SESSION. I AM GONNA BE SUPPORTIVE. I THINK WE LANDED IN A, A PLACE WHERE, UM, WE CAN MOVE THE PROJECT FORWARD. UM, BUT I THINK JUST IM IMPORTANT FOR, UH, THE PUBLIC DISCOURSE THAT WE FRAMED THE, THE CONVERSATION. OBVIOUSLY WE ARE HERE, THIS IS ON, UH, THE NORTHWEST CORNER OF DOWNTOWN MY PRECINCT, BUT OBVIOUSLY DOWNTOWN BELONGS TO EVERYBODY. UH, BUT PART OF THE DISCUSSION ON THIS TRANSACTION, UM, WAS, UH, I GUESS A LITTLE BIT OF A, A RESTRUCTURING ON THE FINANCE, UH, DUE TO A LITTLE BIT OF A [04:10:01] SHORTFALL. UH, THE, THE, THE COUNTY IS ESSENTIALLY LOANING SOME MONEY, BUT WE'RE ALSO GETTING, UH, A, UH, PUBLIC PARK SPACE IN, IN, IN EXCHANGE. I DON'T WANT TO MISCHARACTERIZE THIS, BUT I JUST THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE JUST TRY TO SIMPLIFY IT FOR THE PUBLIC DISCUSSION. UM, RANDY, DANIEL, AM I MISSING ANYTHING ON, UH, I GUESS JUST WHAT DAVID LAID OUT OR ANYTHING ELSE THAT YOU WANT TO, TO ADD? JUST AGAIN, SO, SO WE CAN JUST PUT IT OUT IN, IN THE PUBLIC? SURE. THANK YOU COMMISSIONER. UH, DANIEL ORTIZ HERE ON BEHALF OF THE TEAM. RANDY SMITH ON BEHALF OF THE OWNERSHIP IS ALSO HERE IN CASE THERE ARE ANY FOLLOW UP QUESTIONS. BUT IN ESSENCE, THE, THE FUNDING, UM, THAT THE COUNTY IS ALLOCATING IS ALREADY ISSUED CERTIFICATES OF OBLIGATION, RIGHT. WHICH ESSENTIALLY HAVE STRINGS ON THEM. THEY CAN ONLY BE SPENT ON CERTAIN USES, RIGHT? THIS WILL BE ONE OF THOSE USES. UM, SO WITH TODAY'S, UM, AMENDMENT, FRIENDLY AMENDMENT, THE COUNTY WOULD BE BEING PAID BACK A HUNDRED PERCENT OF THE PRINCIPLE. SO THE 10 MILLION ALONG WITH THE INTEREST, AND THAT MONEY COMING BACK HAS NO STRINGS ON IT. IT COMES INTO THE GENERAL FUND, RIGHT? SO THE COUNTY, IT'S A SMART, IT'S A SMART, UH, BUSINESS DEAL, IF YOU WILL. UH, BUT THAT'S THE CORE OF THE FINANCIAL ASPECT OF WHAT'S HAPPENING FROM THE COUNTY END. I WILL ADD, UH, THAT BEFORE WE EVEN GOT HERE TO TRY TO SOLVE FOR THE, THE ISSUE, THE TEAM TOOK OUT ABOUT $7 MILLION OF EXPENSES AND PUT 'EM ON THEIR SIGN, UH, SIDE OF THE LEDGER, IF YOU WILL. SO INCREASING THEIR COMMITMENTS, AND THEN IN ADDITION, THEY'RE ALSO ADDING, UH, YET ANOTHER 5 MILLION ON TOP OF THAT FOR A PARK THAT WOULD COMPLIMENT THE STADIUM ITSELF. RIGHT. SO, SO, UM, THE, I JUST WANTED TO, AGAIN, JUST, UH, AS SIMPLY AS WE COULD PUT IT OUT THERE, I KNOW, I KNOW SOMETIMES WE GET BOGGED DOWN IN THE DETAILS ON THESE. IT'S IMPORTANT. UM, RANDY, IF YOU COULD JUST COME UP, I KNOW, UM, PART OF THESE LONG, UH, ONGOING DISCUSSIONS, UH, FOR THIS VISION, UM, PART OF THE, THE, THE ASK I KNOW WAS RELATED TO, UM, AFFORDABLE HOUSING. I KNOW THAT, UM, AS IT AS IT RELATES TO THE FOOTPRINT OF THE CURRENT DEVELOPMENT, ITS MARKET RATE. UM, BUT I KNOW YOU AND AND YOUR TEAM HAVE DONE OTHER AFFORDABLE, UH, HOUSING, UH, PROJECTS, MIXED USE, UH, OUR MIXED INCOME, UH, IE THE CONTINENTAL THAT WE WORKED ON THROUGH OUR PFC. UH, I KNOW THIS IS NOT, THIS IS KIND OF OUTSIDE THE SCOPE OF WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT HERE, BUT I KNOW IN SPEAKING WITH YOU AND YOUR TEAM, YOU GUYS ARE ALSO COMMITTED PARTICULARLY, UH, IN THE URBAN CORE AT LOOKING FOR OTHER OPPORTUNITIES, HOPEFULLY, UH, WHERE THERE'S MAYBE SOME MIXED INCOME OR, UM, AFFORDABLE UNITS. IS THAT RIGHT? YES, COMMISSIONER, THANK YOU. UM, IF I KIND OF TAKE OFF MY MISSIONS HAT SURE. AND PUT ON MY WEST URBAN HAT, I WOULD JUST TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO SAY WORKING WITH THE COURT AND STAFF ON THE CONTINENTAL TO PROVIDE MIXED INCOME, AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN THE CORE OF DOWNTOWN. I AND MY TEAM WOULD ECHO, THIS IS THE PROJECT THAT WE'RE MOST PROUD OF. AND SO YOU ARE CORRECT WITHIN THE FOOTPRINT OF THE BALLPARK, THE FINANCE MECHANISM DOES NOT ALLOW FOR THAT, RIGHT. BUT WE HAVE AMPLE OPPORTUNITY AROUND THAT TO CONTINUE WORKING WITH THE COUNTY TO HELP DELIVER MORE OF THAT. RIGHT? WE LOVE THAT. WE, WE APPRECIATE THAT AND, AND I KNOW, UH, AND WORKING WITH YOU AND YOUR TEAM, UH, OVER THE PAST COUPLE YEARS, UH, YOU, YOU GUYS ARE, ARE, UH, YOU STICK TO YOUR WORDS. SO WE APPRECIATE YOUR EFFORTS. THANK YOU. UM, SO, UH, I'M GONNA GO AHEAD AND MAKE THE MOTION, JUDGE. I KNOW WE'VE GOT TWO DIFFERENT ITEMS HERE. ONE IS THE, UM, I GUESS THE NEGOTIATION PURCHASE OF THE, OF LINEAR PARK, UH, WHICH IS ITEM 49 1. I'LL MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE. SECOND MOTION BY COMMISSIONER RODRIGUEZ, SECOND BY COMMISSIONER CLAY FLORES. ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? YEAH, JUST COMMENT, COMMISSIONER CLAY FLORES. UM, SO I WANNA THANK RANDY AND DANIEL FOR BEING HERE. RANDY, I THINK ANOTHER THING YOU SHOULD BE PROUD OF IS THAT BEAUTIFUL SIGN ON THE SIDE OF THE FROST BANK CENTER. IT SAYS GHOST FIRST GO ONE WHEN IT WAS, I GUESS Y'ALL STOPPED IN BETWEEN BECAUSE OF THE RAIN. YES, MA'AM. I TOLD MARCUS THAT SIGNS TO SAY GHOST SPURS GO. AND I KNEW IT SO THAT IF Y'ALL HAVEN'T SEEN IT, YOU NEED TO, YOU NEED TO GO LOOK AT IT. IT'S VERY NICE. BUT THANK YOU FOR CONTINUING TO WORK WITH US, FOR BEING, UM, WILLING TO NEGOTIATE BACK AND FORTH SO THAT WE CAN HAVE EVEN MORE BENEFIT FOR OUR CONSTITUENTS. OF COURSE, THIS IS A PROJECT, UM, THAT PASSED INITIALLY WITH THE THREE, ONLY THREE OF US VOTED IN FAVOR OF IT. UM, SO I'VE BEEN SUPPORTIVE ALL ALONG, SO I'M HAPPY TO SUPPORT IT AGAIN TODAY. THANK YOU. ANY FURTHER COMMENT? COMMISSIONER MOODY. SORRY. SINCE WE BROUGHT THE, UH, THE SPURS HERE, UM, EXCITING OPPORTUNITIES RIGHT NOW WITH THE WATCH PARTIES OUT AT THE ROCK. I NEED TO GET WITH YOU, DANIEL, ABOUT UH, PARKING AND, AND AVAILABILITY OUT THERE BECAUSE THE COMMUNITY IS COMING OUT IN FULL FORCE, UH, AND I'M SURE THEY WILL BE TONIGHT AS WELL. OKAY. LEMME JUST SAY THANK YOU TO DANIEL AND RANDY [04:15:01] AND THE WHOLE TEAM. UH, THIS BASEBALL PROGRAM AND STATE ARENA NEW ARENA IS A NEW PARADIGM SHIFT FOR THE DOWNTOWN. UH, WE'VE HAD SOME HARD NEGOTIATIONS, BUT I THINK WE HAVE, UH, AN AGREEMENT AT LEAST FROM THE COUNTY PERSPECTIVE, THAT ENGAGES ISSUES OF HOUSING AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND THE ABILITY TO REVITALIZE THE DOWNTOWN. AND IT'S BEEN MY PLEASURE TO LEAD THIS WITH THE BASEBALL OWNERSHIP ALONG WITH THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO. AND I THANK THE CO MY COLLEAGUES FOR GIVING ME THE AUTHORITY TO SIGN OFF ON ALL THE AGREEMENTS. OBVIOUSLY, IT'LL STILL HAVE TO BE APPROVED BY COUNSEL AND THE COUNTY MANAGER'S OFFICE TO MAKE SURE ALL I'S ARE DOTTED AND T'S ARE CROSSED. BUT I EXPRESSED MY SINCERE APPRECIATION FOR GETTING THIS AND OBVIOUSLY WE STILL HAVE MUCH MORE WORK TO DO AND, UH, LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING TO THE END OF THE YEAR. ALRIGHT, I'LL CALL FURTHER VOTE. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY BY SAYING AYE. AYE. AYE. ANY OPPOSED? ANY ABSTENTIONS? MOTION CARRIES. WE ALSO NEED A MOTION JUDGE FOR 49, UH, TWO, WHICH IS THE RELEASE OF BEXAR COUNTY'S PORTION OF THE HOUSTON STREETTS AND, UH, THE MOU AND AUTHORIZATION FOR THE COUNTY JUDGE TO EXECUTE ANY NECESSARY DOCUMENTS. SECOND MOTION COMMISSIONER RODRIGUEZ. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER CLAY FLORES. ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? YE SAYING AYE. AYE. ANY OPPOSED? ANY ABSTENTION? MOTION IS SENATE INCLUSIVE ALL LINE? IS HE STILL HERE? THE WHAT IS COMMISSIONER COWART STILL LISTENING? COMMISSIONER COT? I'M HERE. WHAT, WHAT WAS QUESTION? ALL RIGHT, WE'RE CALLING FOR THE VOTE. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? SIGNAL RIGHT SAYING AYE. AYE. ANY OPPOSED? ANY ABSTENTIONS? MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY. THANK YOU. ALRIGHT, SHOULD WE TAKE UP, GO BACK. 53. IS THERE NO PROBLEM WITH 53? IT'S THE, THAT, UH, [53. 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 #53a. a. Discussion and appropriate action regarding approval of an agreement with West Publishing Corporation d/b/a Thomson Rueters for subscription to West Proflex, which includes CoCounsel 400 V2 and Westlaw All Analytical for twenty-six (26) attorneys at a cost of $2,284.03 per month with a 5% increase for year two (2) and year three (3) and CLEAR Proflex proprietary law enforcement investigation solution at a cost of $233.42 per month with a 5% increase for year two (2) and year three (3)] 53 DISCUSSION PROGRAM RELATED TO THE GRANT AND EXCEPTION. WE ALREADY APPROVED THE LATE FILE OF ITEM 53. A DISCUSSION, APPROPRIATE ACTION REGARDING APPROVAL AND AGREEMENT WITH WEST PUBLISHING DBA THO REUTERS FOR A SUBSCRIPTION TO WEST PROLE, WHICH INCLUDES A CO-COUNSEL 400 V TWO AND WESTLAW, ALL ANALYTICAL FOR 26 ATTORNEYS AT, AT A COST OF $2,284 AND 3 CENTS PER MONTH WITH A 5% INCREASE FOR YEAR TWO AND YEAR THREE AND CLEAR PRO FLEX PROPRIETARY LAW ENFORCEMENT INVESTIGATION SOLUTION AT A COST OF $233 OR 42 CENTS PER MONTH WITH A 5% INCREASE FOR YEAR TWO AND THREE. MS. MULAH, GOOD AFTERNOON, JUDGE COMMISSIONERS. UM, CARRIE MALLON, CHIEF PUBLIC DEFENDER I'M HERE BECAUSE WE HAVE THE MONEY IN OUR BUDGET TO PAY FOR THIS FISCAL YEAR, BUT BECAUSE THE CONTRACT AS A WHOLE IS OVER $50,000, I NEED THE COURT'S APPROVAL. IT'S THE SAME PROGRAMS THAT WERE IN PLACE BEFORE I CAME ON AS CHIEF PUBLIC DEFENDER. SAME PROGRAMS THAT THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFF USE OFFICE USES. IT'S OUR LEGAL RESEARCH, UM, FOR WESTLAW AND CLEARS FOR OUR INVESTIGATORS TO HELP FIND PEOPLE. MOTION BY COMMISSIONER MOODY. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER RODRIGUEZ. ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? I, I WANNA MAKE A COMMENT. YES. APPOINT COMMISSIONER CALVERT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. UM, DAVID, UH, I JUST WAS KIND OF CAUGHT OFF GUARD ON THE 50,000 THRESHOLD SINCE WE RAISED IT IN POLICY 8.0 A FEW MONTHS AGO. SO OSTENSIBLY, UH, THIS WOULDN'T HAVE HAD TO COME BEFORE AS AN INDIVIDUAL I ITEM CORRECT? I'M SORRY, COMMISSIONER, I CAN'T HEAR YOU. UH, SO IT WAS FOR DAVID SMITH, OR, OH, I'M SORRY. I CAN'T SEE WHO ELSE IS THERE FROM THE COUNTY MANAGER'S OFFICE OR PURCHASING. UM, WE MR. HOW YOU DOING? OH, OKAY. UH, WE HAD, UH, RAISED THE THRESHOLD FOR WHAT COMES BEFORE THE COURT IN CHANGING POLICY 8.0 A FEW MONTHS AGO. SO EIGHT. THAT THAT'S CORRECT. COMMISSIONER, WE, WE RAISED THE THRESHOLD UP TO 100,000 PRIOR TO, UM, UM, NEEDING COURT APPROVAL. RIGHT. SO THIS IS UNDER THAT THRESHOLD? CORRECT. WHAT, WHAT WOULD THE TOTAL BE? IT WAS, I'M NOT SURE WHAT THE TOTAL WAS. IT WAS OVER 50, BUT LESS THAN A HUNDRED THOUSAND FOR SURE. YEAH. SO THIS MIGHT JUST BE AN ERROR OF THE OLD WAY THAT YOU GOT CAUGHT. UM, YOU MIGHT HAVE BEEN MAKING THE REQUEST PRIOR TO THE CHANGE AND IT JUST WAS KIND OF, UH, REMNANT OF THAT PASS. BUT, UH, IN ANY EVENT, I DIDN'T, I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT, UH, YOU ALL WERE AWARE OF THAT CHANGE. THANK YOU, JUDGE. IT'S A MULTI-YEAR AGREEMENT. YEAH. IT WAS A LATE FILED ITEM AND IT [04:20:01] INVOLVED MORE THAN ONE PER ONE YEAR PURCHASE. SO THOSE ARE TWO DIFFERENT REASONS. ONE, THAT IT WOULD BE ON THE AGENDA IN THE FIRST PLACE, AND THE SECOND WHY IT'S ON INDIVIDUAL IS BECAUSE OF THE LATE FILED NATURE. OKAY. UH, MULTI-YEAR SENSE. OKAY. THANK YOU. ALRIGHT, I JUST WANTED TO COMMENT, UM, IN REGARDS TO, UM, CARRIE AND THE PUBLIC DEFENDER'S OFFICE. YOU WERE HERE DURING THE WHOLE DIVERSION DISCUSSION THIS MORNING AND IT JUST WENT ON, UM, VERY LONG. SO I DIDN'T ACKNOWLEDGE YOU. SO I JUST WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE WORK THAT YOU AND YOUR TEAM DO, BECAUSE YOU TOO ARE PART OF, OF THE SUCCESS, UM, EVEN THOUGH WE STILL HAVE WORK TO DO. SO I JUST WANTED TO ACKNOWLEDGE YOU, SO THANK YOU. THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER. I APPRECIATE THAT. ALRIGHT. CALL FOR A VOTE. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR THE MOTION SIGN BY SAYING AYE. AYE. ANY OPPOSED? ANY ABSTENTIONS MOTION? YOU UNANIMOUSLY CARRIES. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. ALRIGHT, LET'S GO BACK TO THE VERY FRONT OF [47. Presentation, discussion and appropriate action regarding the authorization for Bexar County Judge Peter Sakai to execute a proposed agreement on behalf of Commissioners Court related to a Domestic Violence System Evaluation with the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston in partnership with the non-profit Caminar Latino, with a 2-year term, in an amount not to exceed $744,000, subject to the attorney representing the County approving the agreement's terms and conditions; and direction to staff to place the executed agreement on the next available Commissioners Court agenda following final execution for acknowledgement and record filing purposes. A budget transfer is included.] INDIVIDUAL ITEM 47 PRESENTATION. DISCUSSION. APPROPRIATE ACTION REGARDING THE AUTHORIZATION OF BEXAR COUNTY. JUDGE PETER AKA EXECUTE, EXECUTE A PROPOSAL AGREEMENT ON BEHALF OF COMMISSION'S COURT RELATED TO DOMESTIC VIOLENCE SYSTEM EVALUATION WITH THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS HEALTH SCIENCE CENTER AT HOUSTON. IN PARTNERSHIP WITH A NONPROFIT COMING OUT LATINO WITH A TWO YEAR TERM IN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED 744,000 SUBJECT TO THE ATTORNEY REPRESENTING THE COUNTY, APPROVING THE AGREEMENTS, TERMS AND CONDITIONS, DIRECTION TO STAFF, PLACE EXECUTE AGREEMENT ON THE NEXT AVAILABLE COMMISSION'S COURT AGENDA. FOLLOWING THE EXECUTION FOR ACKNOWLEDGEMENT AND RECORD, RECORD FILING PURPOSES, A BUDGET TRANSFER IS INCLUDED. DR. GUDE. HI, GOOD AFTERNOON COURT. UM, I AM DR. ANDRE GUERRERO. I'M THE DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC HEALTH. UM, AND WE ARE HERE TO OFFER, UM, OR ASK FOR RECOMMENDATION TO AUTHORIZE THE COUNTY JUDGE TO EXECUTE A CONTRACT. WE CAN GO OVER THE RECOMMENDED MOTION AT THE END. SO LITTLE HISTORY ON THIS PROJECT. THIS, UH, DOMESTIC VIOLENCE EVALUATION RESEARCH STUDY WAS ORIGINALLY APPROVED OR RECOMMENDED, UM, THROUGH ARPA FUNDING. SO THE ORIGINAL AMOUNT BUDGETED THROUGH ARPA WAS $750,000 BACK IN 2022. UM, AND WE DID HAVE A RECOMMENDED ENTITY THAT WE WERE NEGOTIATING WITH. WE WERE UNABLE TO COME TO TERMS WITH THAT ENTITY, RELATIVE TO SOME, UM, SPECIFICS OF AN ARPA AGREEMENT. UM, AND SO WE WEREN'T ABLE TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THAT ENTITY, BUT, UM, ACKNOWLEDGING THAT WE STILL NEEDED AN EVALUATION OF THIS SORT AND THE, AND THE VALUE, UM, THAT IT WILL BRING TO BEXAR COUNTY AND TO, UM, PEOPLE WHO ARE INVOLVED IN DOMESTIC AND FAMILY VIOLENCE. UM, WE SET OUT TO FIND ANOTHER CONTRACTOR, ANOTHER VENDOR TO WORK WITH. UM, AS WE WERE BUILDING THE STAR PROGRAM THAT'S BEEN IN PROCESS FOR THE ALMOST TWO YEARS NOW. IN JULY, WE'LL BE CELEBRATING IT. WE WORKED WITH A LOT OF OUR FOLKS AND PARTNERS, UM, ALL OVER THE STATE, BUT A LOT WITH HARRIS COUNTY. UM, AND AS WE WERE WORKING WITH HARRIS COUNTY, ONE OF OUR BIGGEST, UH, QUESTIONS WAS, HOW ARE YOU DOING EVALUATION? HOW ARE YOU EVALUATING NOT ONLY JUST YOUR SERVICES, BUT THAT OF YOUR PARTNERS? UM, AND IN THAT, IN THOSE CONVERSATIONS, WE MET DR. LEILA WOOD, WHO, UM, HAS BEEN ONE OF THEIR PRIMARY EVALUATORS OVER THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS. UM, AND STARTED TALKING TO HER, UM, ONCE, UH, COMMISSIONERS, UM, IN DECEMBER SAID, YOU KNOW, YOU CAN NEGOTIATE WITH SOMEONE ELSE, UM, AND FIND WHO THAT IS. AND SO WE IDENTIFIED DR. LEILA WOOD, UM, AND HAVE BEEN WORKING WITH THE A DA AND WITH PURCHASING TO CONFIRM THAT, UM, AN ILA WOULD BE THE MOST APPROPRIATE DOCUMENT, UM, BECAUSE DR. LEILA WOOD. UM, AND THEN AGAIN, WE ADDED DR. ALEXANDER TESTA TO THE EVALUATION TEAM, BOTH, UM, OUR FACULTY AT THE UT HEALTH HOUSTON SCHOOL OF PUBLIC HEALTH. SO THE PURPOSE OF THE EVALUATION, UM, AFTER WE'VE, UM, STARTED WORKING WITH DR. WOOD AND DR. TESTA, DR. WOOD BEING AN EXPERT IN DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, AND DR. TESTA BEING AN EXPERT IN CRIMINAL JUSTICE, AND ESPECIALLY WITH THE BEXAR COUNTY CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM. UM, AND THEY HAVE WORKED TOGETHER AS RESEARCH PARTNERS. UM, AND SO BETWEEN THE TWO OF THEM, AND THEN ALSO WITH THE ADDITION, UM, OF ANOTHER RESEARCHER, UM, EVALUATOR NAMED DR. JOSEPHINE ERTA, WHO WORKS WITH AN ORGANIZATION CALLED CAMINA LATINA, UM, THAT THE, THE ADDITION OF DR. ERTA, UM, WOULD EN ENSURE THAT WE ARE FOCUSING ON CULTURALLY RESPONSIVE EVALUATION AS WELL AS PROCESS EVALUATION, UM, HER SPECIALTY, AND SHE'S THE NATIONALLY RENOWNED EVALUATOR IN THE AREA OF CULTURALLY RESPONSIVE EVALUATION TO ENSURE, ENSURE LINGUISTIC APPROPRIATENESS TALKING TO FOLKS, UM, IN THE APPROPRIATE LANGUAGE AND WITH THE CONTEXT OF CULTURE AND EVERYTHING ELSE THAT THAT IS INVOLVED, UM, TO ENSURE THAT OUR RESULTS ARE VALID. THE GOAL OF THE EVALUATION IS TO ASSESS THE CURRENT SYSTEM RESPONSE ACROSS PUBLIC HEALTH, CRIMINAL JUSTICE, SOCIAL SERVICE, AND COMMUNITY GROUPS PRIMARILY. WE'RE REALLY FOCUSING, AS, YOU KNOW, THE, THE CORE SERVICES THAT ARE PROVIDED BY BEX COUNTY, WHICH STARTS WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT, BUT THEN ALSO SAPD [04:25:01] BECAUSE THEY ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR A NUMBER OF THE CASES THAT GET BROUGHT INTO THE SYSTEM. UM, SO BEGINNING WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT INVOLVING OUR STAR PROGRAM, BUT ALSO THE FAMILY JUSTICE CENTER, UM, CIVIL AND CRIMINAL COURTS, THE DA'S OFFICE, TEXAS LEGAL AID. UM, SO A NUMBER OF STAKEHOLDERS THAT ARE PART OF THE CONTINUUM OF CARE THAT A SURVIVOR HAS TO INTERACT WITH AS THEY GO THROUGH THE SYSTEM. BUT THEN ALSO PROGRAMS THAT ARE ADJACENT TO OUR SYSTEM THAT AREN'T NECESSARILY OPERATED BY THE COUNTY, LIKE FAMILY PREVENTION, BETTER WOMEN'S SHELTER, THE PEACE INITIATIVE, AND OTHER SUPPORT, UH, USUALLY SURVIVOR SERVICES. UM, BUT IF THEY HAVE AN IMPACT ON THE EXPERIENCE OF A PERSON GOING THROUGH OUR SYSTEM, THEY WOULD ALSO BE INVOLVED IN THIS EVALUATION. SO THE IDEA IS TO IDENTIFY OUR NEEDS AT GAPS, OPPORTUNITIES, UM, AND THEN DEVELOP RECOMMENDATIONS. SOME, YOU KNOW, DEVELOP FINDINGS AND THEN RECOMMENDATIONS FOR HOW WE CAN IMPROVE SYSTEMS. AND I REALLY APPRECIATE THE DISCUSSION WE HAD THIS MORNING AROUND MEADOWS AND AROUND THE GIA EVALUATION STUDY BECAUSE, UM, IT WAS ABLE TO DEMONSTRATE THAT THESE ARE, UM, EVALUATIONS AND STUDIES THAT DON'T JUST GET PUT ON A SHELF, THAT THEY ARE ACTIONABLE RECOMMENDATIONS THAT WE CAN PUT INTO PROCESS, UM, AND ALSO, UM, CREATE LASTING IMPACT. SO SOME OF THE STAKEHOLDERS THAT WE'VE IDENTIFIED SO FAR, LAW ENFORCEMENT, PRIMARILY BCSO AND SAPD, THERE COULD BE OTHER JURISDICTIONS ONCE WE GET INTO THE DATA COLLECTION. UM, IF A LAW ENFORCEMENT JURISDICTION HAS A SIGNIFICANT IMPACT, UM, SOME OF THE LARGER ONES, THEN THEY WOULD ALSO BE INCLUDED. CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM, UM, THE DA'S OFFICE, COURTS, MAGISTRATION, VICTIM ADVOCATES ON THE CIVIL SIDE, THOSE THAT DEAL WITH PROTECTIVE ORDERS, COURTS, FAMILY VIOLENCE PREVENTION PROGRAM, UM, FAMILY JUSTICE CENTER, SURVIVOR SERVICES, AND ALL OF THE PROGRAMS THAT ARE HOUSED THERE. UM, THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT PROGRAMS, WHICH WOULD INCLUDE OUR BEXAR COUNTY STAR PROGRAM, BUT THEN ALSO METRO HEALTH VIOLENCE PREVENTION, WHICH IS SIMILAR TO OUR STAR PROGRAM, UH, SUPERVISION, PRETRIAL SERVICES, UH, FOLKS OR ADULT PROBATION. UM, AND THEN FOLKS, UH, THAT ARE IN THE JAIL WHO MIGHT BE HELPING US WITH SOME DATA COLLECTION. AND THEN, LIKE I MENTIONED, NONPROFIT PARTNERS, SPECIFICALLY WOMEN'S SHELTER PEACE INITIATIVE, TEXAS LEGAL AID. SO IT'S A FOUR PHASE PROJECT OVER TWO YEARS. THE FIRST PHASE PRIMARILY FOCUSED ON, AND DR. TESTIS HERE, HE CAME BACK, UM, IN CASE THERE'S ANY QUESTIONS, BUT, UM, UH, AND DR. WOOD IS WATCHING, UM, VIA, UH, THE LIVESTREAM. UM, BUT THE FIRST PHASE, WHICH IS IN PHASE ONE IN YEAR ONE WOULD BE PRIMARY DATA COLLECTION, UM, MAKING SURE WE'RE COLLECTING DATA FROM ODYSSEY DOCUMENT AND POLICY REVIEW AND SITE VISITS. SO LOOKING AT ALL OF THE, THE ENTITIES THAT I JUST MENTIONED, LOOKING AT THEIR SOPS, UM, AND, UH, HOW, HOW ARE YOU OBSERVING HOW THE PROCESS WORKS, BUT THEN BASED ON THEIR POLICY REVIEW, IS IT WORKING IN THE SAME WAY THAT THEY SAID THAT IT WOULD? PHASE TWO IS GOING TO BE PRIMARILY FOCUSED ON SURVIVOR FOCUS GROUPS, AT LEAST SIX. UM, AND THOSE WOULD BE RECRUITED FROM ANY NUMBER OF ORGANIZATIONS AND STAKEHOLDERS, BUT THOSE WOULD BE PEOPLE WHO HAD, HAVE EITHER BEEN INVOLVED IN DOMESTIC VIOLENCE OR FAMILY VIOLENCE OR ARE CURRENTLY INVOLVED IN IT. SO IT COULD BE SOMEBODY WITH AN EXISTING CASE OR, UM, SOMEONE WHO HAS PREVIOUSLY EXPERIENCED IN THE PAST, AND ALSO KEY INFORMANT INTERVIEWS. SO PEOPLE WHO ARE INVOLVED IN THE SYSTEM, UM, WHO CAN PROVIDE SPECIFIC INSIGHT ABOUT HOW THAT ENTITY OR STAKEHOLDER ENTITY OR ORGANIZATION WORKS, COULD BE ANY OF YOU. UM, WHO, UM, HAVE INSIGHT TO OFFER ABOUT THE SYSTEM, UM, OR, YOU KNOW, JARVIS ANDERSON OR PATRICIA CASTILLO AND THOSE FOLKS, SO CAN INFORM AN INTERVIEWS. AND BECAUSE THIS IS AN ITERATIVE PROCESS FOR THE, THE, THE, WHAT WE LEARN OR WHAT THE RESEARCHERS LEARN FROM THE FIRST PHASE WILL BE INCORPORATED INTO, OR USED TO CREATE THE INTERVIEW QUESTIONS FOR THOSE SURVIVOR GROUPS AND FOR THE KEY INFORMANT INTERVIEWS. AND THEN THE QUALITATIVE DATA THAT IS COLLECTED DURING PHASE TWO WILL BE USED TO CREATE PHASE THREE SURVIVOR SURVEYS, WHERE WE, UM, SIGNIFICANTLY INCREASE OUR, UH, OUR SAMPLE SIZE UP TO AT LEAST 400. UM, SO THAT WE'RE ESSENTIALLY VALIDATING WHAT WE'VE LEARNED THROUGH THE QUALITATIVE DATA COLLECTION. THEN THERE'LL BE A SECONDARY DATA REVIEW AND ANALYSIS, AND IT'S IN PHASE THREE. WE'RE ALSO GOING TO INCORPORATE TWO OTHER THINGS. ONE'S NOT ON HERE, BUT INCORPORATING THOSE WHO DO HARM. SO PERPETRATOR FOCUS GROUPS, PEOPLE WHO HAVE CHOSEN, OR THE CHOICES THAT THEY'VE MADE HAVE, UM, RESULTED IN HARM TO SOMEBODY ELSE OR HAVE RESULTED IN A DOMESTIC VIOLENCE CASE OR AN INTIMATE PARTNER VIOLENCE CASE. UM, AND TO ACTUALLY HAVE FOCUS GROUPS THAT COLLECT THEIR PERSPECTIVES. UM, AND THAT'S IMPORTANT BECAUSE PRIMARILY A LOT OF SURVIVOR SERVICES. AND WHAT OUR SYSTEM DOES RIGHT NOW, UM, IS TO FOCUS ON MAKING SURE THAT A SURVIVOR IS, UM, SAFE, THAT THEY ARE EMPOWERED, THAT THEY RECEIVE RESOURCES, THAT THEY ARE CONFIDENT THAT THEY CAN LEAVE A SITUATION WITH SAFETY. BUT UNLESS WE UNDERSTAND THE PERSPECTIVES AND, UH, THE CHOICES THAT ARE MADE BY SOMEBODY WHO DOES HARM, THEN THAT PERSON IS FREE TO MOVE ON AND HARM SOMEONE ELSE. AND SO REALLY WANNA MAKE SURE WE INCORPORATE THAT PERSPECTIVE [04:30:01] SO THAT WE GET A PRIMARY PREVENTION, AND NOT JUST FROM A PUNITIVE PERSPECTIVE, LIKE, DID THEY GO TO JAIL? WHAT KIND OF SENTENCE DO THEY, BUT WHAT DOES REAL ACCOUNTABLE ACCOUNTABILITY LOOK LIKE? AND THAT'S PART OF OUR EVALUATION QUESTIONS. HOW DO WE HOLD SOMEONE ACCOUNTABLE SO THAT IT CREATES REAL BEHAVIOR CHANGE SO THAT WE'RE REALLY MOVING THE NEEDLE TO DECREASE FAMILY VIOLENCE IN BEXAR COUNTY? SO, UM, AND THEN ALSO IN PHASE THREE, AND IT'S NOT ON THIS SLIDE, UM, WE'VE ASKED THE RESEARCHERS TO LOOK AT A COST ANALYSIS OF THE TYPICAL CASE WE'VE HEARD FROM OUR, OUR COUNTERPARTS IN HARRIS COUNTY. UM, AND I DON'T KNOW WHAT THEIR METHODOLOGY WAS TO CALCULATE THIS, THAT IT COST $17 MILLION TO PROSECUTE A DOMESTIC VIOLENCE HOMICIDE. UM, AND THAT'S ALL OF THE COSTS THAT ARE ASSOCIATED WITH STAFFING AND JAIL AND LAW ENFORCEMENT. UM, AND WE WOULD LIKE TO UNDERSTAND WHAT IS THE REAL COST OF FAMILY VIOLENCE IN BEXAR COUNTY? AND SO, UH, THE DATA COLLECTION WILL BE BASICALLY A VALUE COSTING TO LOOK AT ALL OF THE DEPARTMENTS BASED ON SOME BUDGET DATA. HOW MUCH DOES IT COST TO RUN THE START PROGRAM OR TO, TO PROSECUTE OR TO, UM, TO, UH, GRANT A PROTECTIVE ORDER TO PROSECUTE, UM, A FAMILY VIOLENCE CASE. UM, AND THEN CREATE SOME, SOME COSTING MODELS TO ACTUALLY SHOW WHAT THE IMPACT OF THE FINANCIAL IMPACT OF THAT IS. UM, JUST SO THAT THIS COURT CAN HAVE THAT INSIGHT AS YOU MOVE FORWARD AND MAKE POLICY ABOUT FUNDING. UM, SO THEN AFTER PHASE THREE, UM, SOMETIMES WHAT HAPPENS WITH EVALUATIONS IS, UM, WE, WE FINISH ALL OF THESE, WE DO THE FOCUS GROUPS, THEN THEY HAVE SOME FINDINGS, SOME, SOME CONCLUSIONS, UM, AND THEN THEY MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS. BUT THEN, UNLESS YOU GO BACK TO THE FOLKS WHERE THE, WHOSE DATA YOU HAVE COLLECTED AND SAY, DOES THIS MAKE SENSE? ARE THESE CONCLUSIONS REASONABLE? ARE THESE RECOMMENDATIONS FEASIBLE? UM, THEN SOMETIMES YOU WILL GET A, A STUDY THAT SITS ON THE SHELF. IT'S NOT ACTIONABLE. SO PHASE FOUR WOULD BE GOING BACK TO THOSE WHO HAVE PARTICIPATED IN A, UM, CREATING SOME ADDITIONAL SURVIVOR INTERVIEWS AND KEY INFORMANT FOCUS GROUPS TO GO BACK AND BASICALLY DO SOME MEMBER CHECKING AND VALIDATION TO SAY, DOES THIS MAKE SENSE? IS THIS A DOABLE PLAN? UM, BECAUSE WE ALL KNOW, JUST, JUST BECAUSE IT SORT OF SEEMS THAT WAY AT THE END OF DATA COLLECTION DOESN'T NECESSARILY MEAN IT CAN BE ACTIONABLE. SO THAT IS HOW WE WRAP UP PHASE FOUR. AGAIN, THE GOALS ARE TO EVALUATE HOW THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM IDENTIFIES, RESPONDS TO AND HOLDS ACTORS ACCOUNTABLE. SO THOSE WHO DO HARM, HOW WELL THE SYSTEM RESPONDS AND SUPPORTS SURVIVORS AND THEIR FAMILIES. UM, ASSESSING COORDINATION AND COLLABORATION. HOW ARE WE COMMUNICATING AND WORKING TOGETHER BETWEEN DIFFERENT DEPARTMENTS, WHETHER IT'S PUBLIC HEALTH IN THE OFFICE OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE OR THE FAMILY JUSTICE CENTER OR THE DA'S OFFICE. UM, BUT EVERY PART OF THE CONTINUUM THAT'S INVOLVED IN ADDRESSING DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, ASSESSING THOSE COSTS, IDENTIFYING WEAKNESSES AND GAPS, EVALUATING PREVENTATIVE EFFORTS, UH, WITHIN SUPPORT SERVICES, NOT JUST AT BEXAR COUNTY, BUT WITHIN OUR PARTNER, UH, RELATIONSHIPS, AND THEN RECOMMENDING THOSE IMPROVEMENTS. THIS IS THE BUDGET. SO GOING FROM, UH, TWO YEARS, UH, WE HAVE MOST OF, MOST OF THE COST IS IN PERSONNEL, UM, AND A LITTLE BIT OF TRAVEL. UM, WE ARE INCLUDING INCENTIVES AND TRANSCRIPTIONS FOR THOSE WHO ARE INCENTIVES FOR THOSE WHO PARTICIPATE IN THE FORM OF AN HEB GIFT CARD, UM, FOR, FOR THEIR PARTICIPATION AND TRANSCRIPTION SERVICES. THERE'S GONNA BE A LOT OF QUALITATIVE DATA THAT'S COLLECTED. AND SO TRANSCRIPTION SERVICES IS EXPENSIVE. UM, UH, CAMINA LATINO, WHICH IS THE, THE THIRD EVALUATOR, UM, AND THEN OTHER CONSULTANTS THAT WHERE WE MIGHT NEED SOME SUBJECT MATTER EXPERTISE, SOME INDIRECT. AND SO OUR TOTAL OVER TWO YEARS, UM, WILL BE 711,462. AND AGAIN, THIS WAS ORIGINALLY, ORIGINALLY, UH, BUDGETED OUT OF ARPA FUNDS THAT WERE CONVERTED A COUPLE YEARS AGO. SO NEXT STEPS, UH, SO THE, WHAT WE'RE DOING RIGHT NOW IS BRIEFING KEY STAKEHOLDERS. WE'VE BRIEFED YOUR OFFICES. UM, BUT WHAT WE DIDN'T, WHAT WE WANTED TO AVOID WAS EXECUTING A CONTRACT WITH A SCOPE THAT SET IN STONE WITHOUT SPEAKING TO A LOT OF THESE STAKEHOLDERS PERSONALLY, AND SAYING, HERE, NUMBER ONE, ARE YOU WILLING, DO WE HAVE BUY-IN FROM YOUR ORGANIZATION, LIKE THE DA'S OFFICE AND LIKE SAPD IN THE CITY TO SAY, HERE'S THE TYPE OF TYPE OF DATA WE NEED FROM YOU. HERE'S HOW YOUR PARTICIPATION WILL LOOK. AND TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE ALL OF THOSE THINGS, UM, PRETTY WELL SOLID BEFORE WE EXECUTE A CONTRACT, BECAUSE I DON'T WANNA LOCK ANYBODY INTO PARTICIPATION IF IT'S NOT POSSIBLE OR IF THEY'RE NOT WILLING. UM, SO WE'RE DOING THAT RIGHT NOW. WE'VE MET WITH MANY OF THE ENTITIES IN THE STAKEHOLDERS THAT I ALREADY DESCRIBED. UM, SO THAT'S GONNA BE, THAT'S HAPPENING AS WE SPEAK. UM, AND SO, UM, THE RECOMMENDATION OR RECOMMENDED MOTION IS TO AUTHOR, AUTHORIZE THE COUNTY JUDGE TO EXECUTE. SO AS SOON AS SOON AS WE'RE ABLE TO WRAP UP ALL OF THAT PREP WORK, UM, PUT THE SCOPE INTO A CONTRACT WORKING WITH THE DA'S OFFICE, AND, UM, AND MAKE SURE THAT IT COMES TO COURT AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. SO THIS WOULD BE TO AUTHORIZE THE JUDGE TO EXECUTE THAT, AND THEN WE WOULD BRING THAT BACK AS A FINAL STEP FOR THIS COURT TO APPROVE. [04:35:01] MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE SECOND MOTION RODRIGUEZ SECOND BY COMMISSIONER DISCUSSION QUESTIONS? I HAVE FEW QUESTIONS. COMMISSIONER COWER. OH, I HAD, OR COMMISSIONER MOODY. OKAY. DIDN'T KNOW. UM, TWO YEARS. UH, OBVIOUSLY WE KNOW THIS IS, UM, AN ISSUE THAT WE NEED TO DEAL WITH, BUT TWO YEARS IN, IN THE TOTAL COST OF THE PROJECT. I'M JUST NOT SURE. MAYBE COUNTY STAFF CAN TELL ME, HAVE WE EVER HAD A, A STUDY AT THIS PRICE POINT? HE LEFT. AGAIN, I WAS GONNA SAY WHAT NOT OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, BUT I'M PRETTY SURE WE SPENT THAT MUCH ON CONSULTANTS ON ANY NUMBER. UM, THE, THE LONG TIMELINE IS BECAUSE OF THE SCOPE OF THE ENTITIES INVOLVED. THIS IS NOT JUST ONE PROGRAM OR JUST ONE EVALUATION OF JUST THE GA, IT'S A VERY CON UH, CONTAINED CLOSED AREA. YEAH, THIS IS MOVING ACROSS MULTIPLE SYSTEMS, UM, ACROSS MULTIPLE BUREAUCRACIES. AND WE'RE, WE'RE NOT AWARE, AND IN TALKING WITH DR. WOOD AND DR. TESTA THAT THIS IS EVER REALLY, IT'S VERY AMBITIOUS, BUT THAT THIS HAS EVER BEEN DONE IN TEXAS, UM, OR MAYBE EVER. SO, UM, YES, IT IS A LONG TIMELINE, BUT I DO FEEL LIKE IT WILL ADD VALUE AND IT WILL YIELD IMPROVEMENTS TO THE SYSTEM THAT WE CURRENTLY HAVE. OKAY. AND SO YOU HAVE TWO PROJECT MANAGERS, IS THAT CORRECT? TWO RESEARCHERS, WHICH ARE, UM, WELL, THEY'RE LISTED AS PROJECT MANAGERS HERE IN YOUR FILE, SO OH, IN THE BUDGET? YES. I MEAN, THEY, THERE ARE STAFF ASSOCIATED WITH THE TWO RESEARCH TEAMS OR THE TWO RESEARCHERS THAT ARE PART OF THEIR TEAM. SO YES, THIS IS, SO THIS IS US CONTRACTING WITH DR. WOOD AND DR. TESTA AND THEN TELLING US THIS IS WHAT WE WOULD NEED TO ACCOMPLISH THESE GOALS. SO THESE ARE NOT EMPLOYEES OF BEXAR COUNTY. THESE ARE THE RESEARCH TEAM THAT WE WOULD CONTRACT WITH. OKAY. AND THE SURVEY, HOW LONG IS THE SURVEY OR IS THAT DESIGNED YET? DO YOU HAVEN'T EXPECTED LENGTH? IT DEPENDS. UH, I MEAN, IT, IT, I MEAN, WE WOULD DESIGN THE SURVEY IN A WAY THAT WOULD BE, UM, EFFICIENT FOR SOMEONE TO PARTICIPATE. OBVIOUSLY WE KNOW THE POPULATION THAT WE'RE WORKING WITH AND WE WANNA MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE A GOOD RETURN. UM, BUT THE SURVEY WOULD DEPEND ON THE DATA COLLECTION THAT HAPPENS DURING PHASE ONE AND PHASE TWO. AND I'M JUST LOOKING AT THE BUDGET, IT, IT LOOKS LIKE THERE'S A A $50 REIMBURSEMENT FOR THE SURVEY, WHICH SEEMS REALLY HIGH. I'VE, I'VE DONE SURVEYS BEFORE, ACTUALLY WE'RE WORKING ON ONE WITH UTSA, BUT IT'S TYPICALLY LIKE FIVE OR $10. SO I DIDN'T KNOW IF THE SURVEY'S EX EXTENSIVE AND MULTI-HOUR OR WHAT'S DRIVING THAT. IT WOULDN'T BE MULTI-HOUR PRICE. NO, BUT I MEAN, WE, WE VALUE PEOPLE'S PARTICIPATION. WE WANNA MAKE SURE THAT INCENTIVES MATCH THAT. UM, BUT NO, WE DON'T HAVE THE SURVEY CREATED YET, BUT LIKE I SAID, IT'S AN ITERATIVE PROCESS THAT WILL BE DEVELOPED AS WE GO THROUGH PHASES ONE AND PHASE TWO. OKAY. UM, I WOULD, I WOULD JUST CAUTION AGAINST THAT KIND OF REIMBURSEMENT BECAUSE YOU MAY SEE THE WRONG PEOPLE PARTICIPATE JUST OUT OF, UH, DESIRE FOR, FOR, UH, THE REIMBURSEMENT RATHER THAN NECESSARILY CARING ABOUT THE ISSUE. WELL, IT WOULDN'T, IT WOULDN'T BE JUST A BLANKET CALL FOR PARTICIPATION. THESE WOULD BE PEOPLE WHO WE'VE IDENTIFIED AS ENDURE HAVE HAVING HAD ENDURED SOME LEVEL OF FAMILY OR DOMESTIC VIOLENCE. UM, SO I MEAN, THERE'S ALREADY GONNA BE A SELECTION BIAS IN THAT THEY'VE HAD THAT EXPERIENCE, BUT I, IT'S, IT WOULDN'T BE JUST AN OPEN CALL TO THE PUBLIC TO SAY, WOULD YOU LIKE TO PARTICIPATE IN THIS? WE, THESE WOULD BE RECRUITED FROM OUR PARTNER ORGANIZATIONS. OKAY. UM, AND YOU SAID THIS WAS ARPA FUNDS THAT HAVE BEEN REALLOCATED, BUT THEY ORIGINALLY CAME FROM ARPA? CORRECT. OKAY. NO FURTHER QUESTIONS. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? IS THERE A MOTION? YEAH, MOTION. YOU HAD A MOTION? ALRIGHT. THERE A MOTION A SECOND. ALRIGHT, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SECOND BY SAYING AYE. AYE. ANY OPPOSED? ANY ABSTENTION? MOTION CARRIES. ALRIGHT, THANK YOU. [48. Presentation, discussion and appropriate action regarding the FY2026-27 - FY2030-3 l Long-Range Financial Forecasts for the General Fund and Debt Service Fund.] AGENDA ITEM 48, PRESENTATION DISCUSSION. APPROPRIATE ACTION REGARDING FY 26 27 FY 30 31 LONG RANGE FINANCIAL FORECAST FOR THE GENERAL FUND AND DEBT SERVICE FUND, MS. GAAN. THANK YOU JUDGE. UH, GOOD AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS TANYA HON, BUDGET AND FINANCE DIRECTOR. TODAY I'LL BE PRESENTING, UM, AN UPDATE FOR THE COURT ON OUR LONG RANGE FINANCIAL FORECAST SPECIFICALLY FOR OUR GENERAL FUND. AS YOU MAY KNOW, WE ARE IN, UH, THE PROCESS, UH, FOR NEXT FISCAL YEAR. UM, OFFICES AND DEPARTMENTS ARE CURRENTLY DEVELOPING THEIR REQUESTS FOR NEXT YEAR, WHICH WILL BE DUE NEXT WEEK. AND SO WHAT WE WANTED TO DO TODAY IS TO PRESENT, UM, THE FINANCIAL STABILITY OF THE GENERAL FUND USING OUR LONG RANGE FINANCIAL FORECAST TO GIVE YOU AN UPDATE AND SOME INFORMATION THAT WE RECEIVED FROM THE BEAR APPRAISAL DISTRICT ON OUR FIRST PRELIMINARY REPORTS. [04:40:03] TODAY WE'RE NOT ASKING FOR ANY ACTION, THIS IS JUST SIMPLY INFORMATION FOR THE COURT AND FOR OFFICES AND DEPARTMENT, UH, DEPARTMENTS AS WELL AS FOR THE PUBLIC. SO, AS I MENTIONED ON PROPERTY TAXES, WE NORMALLY RECEIVE OUR FIRST APPRAISAL, UH, REPORT AT THE END OF APRIL, WHICH WE RECEIVED YESTERDAY. AND THEN WE'LL RECEIVE OUR FINAL REPORT IN JULY FROM THE BILL APPRAISAL DISTRICT. UH, THE BUDGET OFFICE DID RECEIVE IT. UM, AND BELOW IS THE INFORMATION THAT WE RECEIVE FROM THEM. SO AS YOU CAN SEE HERE, ONE OF THE FIRST THINGS THAT I WANNA POINT OUT IS ALL OF THESE, UM, ALL THIS DATA THAT YOU'RE SHOWING IN THE TABLE ARE FROM ALL OF THE APRIL REPORTS. SO IT'S THE SAME TIMEFRAME AS PREVIOUS YEARS AS THE ONE THAT WE RECEIVED THIS WEEK. AS YOU CAN SEE, PAST YEARS, UH, STARTING IN THE FIRST, UM, UH, IN THE FIRST REPORT WE HAD A GROWTH OF ABOUT 14% ALL THE WAY DOWN TO 5%. AND THIS YEAR WE'RE ACTUALLY STARTING MUCH LOWER THAN PREVIOUS YEARS AT JUST UNDER 1%. AND I WOULD LIKE TO POINT OUT THAT WE STILL DO NOT KNOW THE OUTCOME OF PROTESTS AND HOW MANY PEOPLE WILL APPLY FOR PROTESTS. SO THAT'S STILL AN UNKNOWN. SO TANYA, LET ME JUMP IN HERE REAL QUICK. SO JUST TO RESET, WHAT WE'RE DOING HERE IS GIVING YOU A QUICK SNAPSHOT LOOK AHEAD MUCH EARLIER THAN WE'VE NORMALLY DONE THIS FOR PREVIOUS BUDGET PROCESSES. UM, WE, AND I WANT TO THANK THE BUDGET OFFICE STAFF BECAUSE WE JUST YESTERDAY RECEIVED THE FIRST REPORT FROM THE APPRAISAL DISTRICT ON NEXT BUDGETS APPRAISED PROPERTY VALUES. THAT WAS YESTERDAY. NOW WE'VE BEEN, WE HAD A HEADS UP LAST YEAR THAT PROPERTY VALUES WERE NOT INCREASING AS FAST AS THEY HAD BEEN HISTORICALLY. SO WE WERE SORT OF PRIMED TO BE READY IN CASE THIS HAPPENED. BUT IF WE COULD PULL UP THAT SLIDE AGAIN. WHAT TANYA'S SLIDE IS SHOWING YOU IS THAT OUR YEAR OVER YEAR GROWTH IN PROPERTY ASSESSED VALUES, INCLUDING NEW CONSTRUCTION, HAS DECLINED IN A PERIOD OF A FEW YEARS FROM DOUBLE DIGIT GROWTH TO BARELY ANY GROWTH AT ALL. THE LAST TIME WE HAVE SEEN NUMBERS THIS LOW, I DON'T THINK JUDGE SKAY, YOU WERE IN THE COUNTY, BUT YOU WEREN'T ON COMMISSIONER'S COURT. I WAS HERE, IT WAS RIGHT AFTER THE FINANCIAL CRASH OF 2008. YEP. WE ARE LOOKING AT THAT LEVEL OF PROPERTY TAX X DECLINE SLASH NO GROWTH, WHICH IS HIGHLY UNUSUAL. HAD IT NOT BEEN FOR THE 6.6 BILLION IN NEW CONSTRUCTION, YOU'D BE LOOKING AT A DECLINE OVERALL OF SEVERAL PERCENT OR AT LEAST 1%. BUT AS TANYA POINTED OUT, THE APPRAISAL DISTRICT DOESN'T EVEN YET KNOW HOW MUCH OF THIS VALUE WILL BE PROTESTED. THOSE LOSSES WON'T BE KNOWN IN FULL UNTIL JULY IF THEY RUN ANYWHERE LIKE THE, IF HISTORICALLY RUN, YOU COULD BE LOOKING AT SOMETHING IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD OF $6 BILLION, MAYBE MORE OF LOSS TO PROTEST IF THAT HAPPENS. ESSENTIALLY YOU'RE LOOKING AT A DECLINE IN OVERALL ASSESSED VALUES, WHICH WE DIDN'T EVEN, IT I WOULD SAY WOULD BE GREATER THAN WHAT WE SAW AFTER THE HOUSING CRASH. SO THIS IS NOT NORMAL. THIS IS VERY DIFFERENT BUDGET ENVIRONMENT WE'RE ABOUT TO WALK INTO AND IT'S GONNA REQUIRE VERY DIFFERENT MEASURES TO STABILIZE THE BUDGET, WHICH TANYA WILL GET INTO. BUT AGAIN, THANKS TO TINA, TANYA AND THE BUDGET TEAM FOR BEING ABLE TO GET THIS TO YOU AS EARLY AS WE HAVE. SO WE'VE GOT AS MUCH TIME AS POSSIBLE AS THE COUNTY TO TRY AND MAKE SURE THAT WE CAN MITIGATE ANY POTENTIAL NEGATIVE IMPACTS. SO, THANKS. SO DAVID, IS THIS AS A RESULT OF THE NEW APPRAISAL ELECTED BOARD? I CAN'T PINPOINT IT TO ANY ONE THING. LIKE I SAID, A NUMBER OF THINGS HAVE CHANGED. WE HAD A BOARD THAT'S LARGELY ELECTED NOW. I REALLY DON'T KNOW IF THAT'S CHANGED THE PATTERN OF PROTEST AND THAT ANY OF THAT, UM, WE'VE SEEN A DECLINE IN, UM, WE'VE SEEN AN INCREASE, I BELIEVE IN THE AMOUNT OF PROTEST AND THE, THE SUCCESS OF THOSE PROTESTS OVER YEARS AND, UM, NEW EXEMPTIONS. OH, THAT'S RIGHT. AND AS TANYA WILL GET INTO THE LEGISLATURE IN THE LAST SESSION, [04:45:01] PASSED SOME NEW BUSINESS RELATED EXEMPTIONS THAT ARE IMPACTING THIS UPCOMING YEAR. AND FINALLY, I'LL JUST POINT OUT THAT DATA BOTH LOCALLY AND NATIONALLY SUGGEST A PRETTY DRAMATIC SLOWDOWN IN NEW HOUSING CONSTRUCTION SALES. THAT IS PROBABLY IMPACTING US AS WELL. I CAN TELL YOU JUST ANECDOTALLY FROM DRIVING THROUGH AREAS WHERE YOU OUGHT, I CAN SEE MANY NEW SUBDIVISIONS THAT HAVE BEEN BULL DO PLATTED BULLDOZED GOTTEN READY, AND THE RATE OF NEW HOUSES GOING INTO THOSE SUBDIVISIONS IS SURPRISINGLY SLOW, BUT THAT'S JUST ANECDOTAL ON MY PART. UH, MOVING ON TO, UH, THE IMPACTS AS THE COUNTY MANAGER MENTIONED. UH, ONE FACTOR IS THE RESULT OF, UH, LOWER PROPERTY VALUES IN ADDITION TO $9 BILLION IN ADDITIONAL EXEMPTIONS COMPARED TO LAST YEAR. THIS INCLUDES NEW EXEMPTIONS THAT WERE APPROVED BY THE LEGISLATIVE BOARD AND THE NUMBER OF PROPERTIES WITH THOSE EXEMPTIONS INCREASED BY 50,000 PROPERTIES COMPARED TO LAST YEAR. THIS APRIL, AGAIN DOES NOT INCLUDE PROTESTS AND AS THE COUNTY MANAGER ME, UH, MENTIONED, UM, AND THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS PROTESTS HAVE INCREASED. AS AN EXAMPLE, LAST YEAR, $97 BILLION WAS PROTESTED, UM, INITIALLY IN MAY, WHICH IS THE DUE DATE FOR PROTESTS. AND OVER THE LAST TWO YEARS, THE COUNTY HAS LOST ABOUT SIX TO $7 BILLION IN THOSE PROTESTS BY, BY THE FINAL REPORT IN JULY. SO WE ARE MAKING THE SAME ASSUMPTION OF THAT LOSS. IT COULD BE MORE, IT COULD BE LESS, UM, FOR THIS UPCOMING BUDGET PROCESS. SO HOW DOES THAT IMPACT OUR REVENUE? SO LAST COURT, OUR LAST PROPOSED BUDGET, WHEN WE PRESENTED OUR LONG RANGE FINANCIAL FORECAST TO THE COURT AND TO THE PUBLIC, WE HAD A GROWTH OF 2.7% TO 3.4% ON OUR FIVE YEAR FORECAST, WHICH WAS THROUGH 2030. AT THE TIME, SINCE WE RECEIVED THIS NEW INFORMATION, WE ARE NOW ASSUMING WITH THE $6 BILLION LOSS BASED ON THE APRIL REPORT, UH, WE ARE ASSUMING THAT WE WILL ACTUALLY LOSE JUST UNDER 2% IN PROPERTY VALUES AND WHICH EQUATES TO THE REVENUE IN THE GENERAL FUND. AND AS YOU'RE AWARE, THE GENERAL FUND, ABOUT 80% OF THAT IS DUE, IS CARRIED BY PROPERTY TAXES. WE THEN UPDATED VERY MODESTLY FOR THE REST OF THE FORECAST, UH, TO FLAT REVENUE 1% AND THEN 2% THEREAFTER. REAL QUICK, JUST IF YOU CAN GO BACK, THAT NEGATIVE 1.7 IF THAT ENDS UP HAPPENING WILL EXCEED WHAT WE ACTUALLY EXPERIENCED IN OUR WORST YEAR AFTER THE HOUSING CRASH BY QUITE A BIT. THIS WOULD BE THE WORST YEAR FOR PROPERTY TAX REVENUE THAT WE'VE SEEN. WELL, CERTAINLY SINCE I'VE SEEN, AND THAT'S GOING ON 30 BUDGETS. NOW, AS I MENTIONED, WHEN WE PRESENTED THE LONG RANGE FINANCE FINANCIAL FORECAST, UH, WE WERE PROJECTING THAT BY FISCAL YEAR 2029 THAT WE'LL BE IN A DEFICIT OF ABOUT $28 MILLION IN THE GENERAL FUND. NOW WITH THOSE UPDATED, UH, PERCENTAGES AND GROWTH, UM, GROWTH PERCENTAGES FOR THE LONG RANGE FINANCIAL FORECAST, WE ARE PROJECTING IN THE SAME YEAR TO BE INCREASED, UH, BY TWO $145 MILLION. SO THIS IS SIGNIFICANTLY HIGHER. UM, THIS IS BASED OFF OUR SECOND QUARTER ESTIMATES AS WELL AS LIKE I MENTIONED, OUR NEW GROWTH PROJECTIONS. SO AS DAVID MENTIONED, UH, INITIALLY WHEN WE HAD THE HOUSING CRISIS, WE HAD TO DO SOME PRETTY QUICK MITIGATION, UM, ACTIONS DURING THAT TIME. AND HERE ARE SOME OF THE, UM, ACTIONS THAT THE COURT TOOK AT THE TIME, WHICH INCLUDES NO COST OF LIVING ADJUSTMENTS, FREEZING VACANT CIVILIAN POSITIONS, NO NEW PROGRAM CHANGES OR CAPITAL PROJECTS. AS YOU KNOW, THAT THE TAX RATE ALSO IMPACTS OUR DEBT FORECAST AND ALSO ADJUSTING OUR HEALTH INSURANCE PLANS FOR EMPLOYEES. SO THESE ARE JUST SOME IDEAS. AGAIN, WE'RE NOT ASKING FOR ANY ACTION, BUT THIS IS, THESE ARE THE THINGS THAT WE'LL BE LOOKING AT, UH, FOR THE UPCOMING PROCESS FOR FISCAL YEAR 27. SO AGAIN, THIS WILL NOT BE A NORMAL B BUDGET PROCESS. THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS HAVE BEEN PRETTY SIGNIFICANT GROWTH, UH, BASED OFF OF OUR PROPERTY TAXES. SO WE WERE ABLE TO, UH, GROW NEW PROGRAMS, PROGRAM CHANGES, OFFER COST OF LIVING, ADJUSTMENTS TO EMPLOYEES. UH, BUT THIS YEAR WE'LL BE LOOKING AT SCALING THAT BACK MITIGATION IS ABSOLUTELY NECESSARY THIS YEAR. AGAIN, WE'RE OKAY OVER THE NEXT TWO YEARS, BUT WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO PREVENT IS ACTUAL CUTS, UH, TO EXISTING PROGRAMS BY FISCAL YEAR 29. SO WE WANNA, UH, RECOMMEND TO DO MITIGATION ACTIONS. UM, RIGHT NOW THE BUDGET OFFICE WILL CONTINUE TO MONITOR, WE RECEIVE THOSE APPRAISAL REPORTS ON A MONTHLY BASIS [04:50:01] AT THE END OF EACH MONTH. IT'S TYPICALLY THE LAST FRIDAY OF EACH MONTH. AND SO WE'LL CONTINUE TO UPDATE THE COURT AS WE RECEIVE THOSE REPORTS TO SEE HOW, UH, OUR PROJECTIONS ARE BEING IMPACTED BY THOSE. AND, UH, YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? I'M AVAILABLE FOR YOU. UH, I'M SORRY. JUST ONE OTHER THING I WANTED TO POINT OUT BY TAKING QUICK ACTION IN PRIOR, IN A FEW, WE'VE HAD A FEW TOUGH BUDGET YEARS OVER THE PAST FEW DECADES. I MEAN, UH, CO ITSELF WASN'T A GREAT EVENT FOR PROPERTY TAXES EITHER. AND THEN POST NINE 11 THERE WAS SOME DECLINE IN PROPERTY AVALOR OF GROWTH AS WELL. BUT BY TAKING QUICK ACTION IN THE PAST, WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO AVOID MORE DRASTIC STEPS SUCH AS FORCED, UM, REDUCTIONS IN FORCE IE ACROSS THE BOARD PERCENTAGE STAFFING CUTS. WE'VE NEVER HAD TO DO THAT YET, BUT THIS, IF THESE FORECAST NUMBERS HOLD WITHOUT ANY OTHER MITIGATION, I CAN'T PREDICT WHAT MENU OF ACTIONS WOULD BE NEEDED. PART OF WHAT WE'LL HAVE TO DO IN THE UPCOMING INTERVENING COUPLE OF MONTHS IS COME TO YOU WITH ASSESSMENT OF, OKAY, HOW MUCH WOULD WE SAVE BY FREEZING VACANCIES? HOW MUCH WOULD WE SAVE BY NOT HAVING A COST OF LIVING ADJUSTMENT? SO YOU CAN BEGIN TO SEE THE ORDER OF MAGNITUDE OF THOSE KIND OF STEPS, BUT WE JUST WANTED TO GET IN FRONT OF YOU AND THE REST OF THE COUNTY AND LET YOU KNOW RIGHT NOW THIS WILL NOT BE, UH, STEADY AS SHE GOES KIND OF BUDGET THIS UPCOMING YEAR. TANYA, UM, IF WE GO BACK TO SLIDE SEVEN, JUST HELP ME UNDERSTAND THE FUNDS AVAILABLE. 'CAUSE I'M THINKING ABOUT, UM, YOU KNOW, WE'RE DEPLETING ANY KIND OF RESERVES FOR A PERIOD OF TIME, BUT YOU KNOW, UNLESS WE BELIEVE THAT LONG-TERM APPRAISALS ARE GONNA CONTINUE NEGATIVE, WHY DOES THE LINE CONTINUE DOWN, I GUESS THE ORANGE LINE FUNDS AVAILABLE? SO THAT'S DUE TO EXPENSES. SO AS, UM, DAVID MENTIONED, IF WE CAN CONTINUE AT THE RATE OF GROWTH, UH, AND CONTINUE OUR RECURRING COSTS, OUR, OUR REVENUES ARE BELOW OUR FUNDS AVAILABLE. SO WE ARE, LIKE YOU SAID, ARE DEPLETING OUR CARRY FORWARD BALANCE EACH YEAR. SO A COUPLE OF THINGS HAPPEN, COMMISSIONER, WHEN WE DO A FORECAST, UH, WE TYPICALLY DON'T ASSUME A COLA, BUT WE KNOW YOU'RE GONNA DO IT, BUT WE DON'T NECESSARILY ASSUME THAT. BUT THERE ARE CERTAIN COSTS THAT ARE JUST BUILT IN AND YOU CAN CUT THEM, BUT WE DON'T ASSUME YOU'RE, YOU'VE DONE THAT, YOU HAVEN'T GIVEN US THE DIRECTION. SO IF I'LL MAKE SOMETHING UP, IF THE COST OF GASOLINE HAS BEEN GOING UP OVER THE PAST FIVE YEARS BY 2% A YEAR, WE WOULD OFTEN ASSUME IT CONTINUES TO GO UP BY 2% A YEAR. AND IT'S SO ON OUR BASELINES, WE'LL USE HISTORICAL INCREASES TO GUIDE OUR ESTIMATE FOR THE NEXT FIVE YEARS. BUT WHAT THIS GRAPH REALLY SHOWS IS A COUPLE OF THINGS. THIS COURT HAS, IN MY OPINION, WISELY BUILT UP A PRETTY SIGNIFICANT OPERATING RESERVE IN THE GENERAL FUND OVER THE PAST FEW YEARS. THAT IS ACTUALLY WHAT'S BUYING YOU THAT 12 TO 24 MONTHS OF CUSHION. BUT IF YOU MAKE NO CHANGES, THAT CUSHION IS GONE. AND THE REAL BOTTOM LINE IS THIS, OUR RECURRING REVENUES AND RECURRING EXPENDITURES ARE NOT IN BALANCE. SO WE'RE SPENDING, BUT BECAUSE WE'VE HAD THIS CUSHION, THAT HASN'T BEEN A CRISIS, THAT HASN'T BEEN SOMETHING THAT HAD TO BE ADDRESSED. AND IT WAS GENERALLY A SMALL EN IT WAS ONLY OUT OF BALANCE BY A SMALL ENOUGH AMOUNT THAT THAT COULD EASILY BE MADE UP BY A PERCENT HIGHER IN PROPERTY TAX GROWTH IN THE FOLLOWING YEAR. UNFORTUNATELY, THAT'S NOT WHAT'S HAPPENING. YEAH. SO IF YOU DON'T MAKE CORRECTIONS ON THE CO, THERE'S VERY LITTLE YOU CAN DO OTHER THAN RAISE TAXES TO AFFECT THE REVENUE SIDE. WE DON'T ASSUME YOU'RE INCREASING THE TAXES IN THIS FORECAST. WHAT YOU DO CONTROL TO SOME DEGREE IS THE COST SIDE. BUT AGAIN, THE FORECAST JUST LOOKS AT YOUR FIVE YEAR HISTORY. YEAH, I THINK, THINK I UNDERSTAND RIGHT. THE FUNDS REQUIRED INCORPORATES THOSE, UH, UH, CONTINUED INCREASES IN COST, COST OF DOING BUSINESS COST TO SERVE THE COUNTY. UM, I THINK A BIG QUESTION MARK THAT REMAINS IN THERE IS, AGAIN, WHICH OF THESE ARPA PROGRAMS, I MEAN, HEY, WE WERE TALKING ABOUT THIS MORNING, ALL THIS STUFF, UH, SERVICES AROUND MENTAL HEALTH THAT ARE GOING AWAY AND HOW WILL THAT, [04:55:01] WHICH ONES WILL BE FUNDED IN THE FUTURE AND HOW WILL THEY BE FUNDED, I THINK IS A BIG QUESTION INTO THE, THE FUNDS REQUIRED LINE, BUT THE FUNDS AVAILABLE. I THINK IN MY MIND, ULTIMATELY THERE'S THE BUFFER THAT'S BEING WHITTLED DOWN, BUT THEN WE CAN'T CONTINUE TO OPERATE AT A DEFICIT, RIGHT? SO ULTIMATELY THAT, THAT FUNDS REQUIRED WOULD HAVE TO DRAMATICALLY SHIFT DOWN OR THE FUNDS AVAILABLE WOULD'VE TO COME UP. SO IF YOU THINK ABOUT YOUR CHECKING ACCOUNT, YOUR HOME BUDGET, IT'S REALLY NOT THAT DIFFERENT JUST IN SCALE AND COMPLEXITY. BUT YEAH, IF YOU MAKE $5,000 A MONTH AND YOU START THE, THE, YOU START THE MONTH OF MAY WITH A THOUSAND DOLLARS IN YOUR CHECKING ACCOUNT, THEORETICALLY YOU COULD SPEND UP TO $6,000 IN MAY AND YOU, YOU'D STILL BE OKAY. THE PROBLEM IS YOU ONLY TAKE IN 5,000 A MONTH. SO THAT MEANS IN JUNE IF YOU CONTINUE THAT PATTERN, YOU START WITH ZERO IN THE BANK, SPEND 6,000, NOW YOU'RE IN DEFICIT BY A THOUSAND. YEP. WITH A LOT MORE ZEROS. THAT'S A SORT OF WHAT WE'RE SEEING HERE. YEAH. AND YOU KNOW, THIS IS WHY WE TALKED A LOT ABOUT LEGACY COSTS AND WE ALSO TALKED ABOUT OVERRIDING STAFF RECOMMENDATIONS WHEN IT CAME TO COST OF LIVING LAST YEAR, UM, AND GOING ABOVE AND BEYOND BECAUSE THOSE ARE ADDITIVE COSTS AND THEY'RE CUMULATIVE AND THEY CONTINUE TO ADD YEAR AFTER YEAR AFTER YEAR. SO WE NEED TO BE MINDFUL OF THAT. AND, UM, I, I APPRECIATE THE PRESENTATION. I I THINK THIS IS GREAT INFORMATION THAT NEEDS TO BE DIGESTED AND UNDERSTOOD AS WE KIND OF GO FORWARD WITH THE BUDGET PROCESS. ANYTHING ELSE? COMMISSIONER CALVERT, MR. STILL WITH US? HE'S GOOD. OKAY. THANK YOU TANYA. THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT, I'LL COMMISSIONER COT. HE SAID WE'RE GOOD. OKAY. COMMISSIONER MOODY, UH, YOU'VE ASKED THE, UH, PUT 51 UP THAT IS SET FOR EXECUTIVE, YOU'RE JUST ASKING THAT WE BRING IT TO THE TABLE, IS THAT I'M FINE WITH IT. ALRIGHT. IT HAS BEEN APPROVED FOR A LATE FILE, SO I'M TAKING UP 51 A DISCUSSION, APPROPRIATE ACTION RELATED TO DIRECTION OF STAFF. PROCEED WITH PRELIMINARY FEASIBILITY ANALYSIS REGARDING POTENTIAL TARGET PRECINCT THREE SATELLITE OFFICE PROJECT TO INCLUDE THE EVALUATION OF THE POTENTIAL LOCATION ASSOCIATED ACQUISITION DEVELOPMENT COSTS TO INCLUDE RENOVATION AND NECESSARY OR ADVISABLE DEVELOPMENT CONSIDERATION RELATED TO THE TARGET SITE LOCATED SATO CREEK AND LOOP 1604 WEST AREA COMMISSIONER MOODY. YEAH, AND WE'RE GONNA DEFER TO DAN TO PRESENT, SAID WHY SHOULD WE HAVE A PRESENTATION IN EXECUTIVE AND OPEN COURT? WE'LL JUST DIVE INTO IT. UM, I'M GONNA LET DAN PRESENT HERE, BUT A COUPLE THINGS TO, UH, TO HIGHLIGHT HERE. WHAT'S THAT, WHAT'S RIGHT? A COUPLE THINGS TO, UH, HIGHLIGHT AND IT'S NOT LOST ON ME THAT WE'RE JUST TALKING ABOUT BUDGET CONSTRAINTS AND, AND NOW WE'RE TALKING ABOUT, UH, POTENTIAL REAL ESTATE PURCHASE. I'M SORRY, COMMISSIONER, JUST, JUST A, I'M SORRY TO INTERRUPT YOU, BUT JUST A QUICK POINT OF INQUIRY. UM, NORMALLY WE HAVE THESE IN EXECUTIVE SESSION BECAUSE IT'S A REAL ESTATE POTENTIAL REAL ESTATE TRANSACTION, UM, AND WE DON'T NEGOTIATE THESE THINGS PUBLICLY. SO I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE WE ARE DOING THE RIGHT THING HERE BY DISCUSSING A POTENTIAL REAL ESTATE TRANSACTION IN PUBLIC. UH, CAN YOU OPINE ON THAT LARRY? WE HAVE, OH, SORRY. UH, YOU'RE CORRECT, COMMISSIONER. USUALLY THE ORDER IS REVERSED. WE HAVE THE SUBSTANTIVE DISCUSSIONS BECAUSE OBVIOUSLY REVEALING THE PROPERTY AND THE NATURE OF THE PROPERTY CAUSES SOME ISSUES WITH DOWNSTREAM PURCHASES. SO WE TALK ABOUT THE SUBSTANTIVE ISSUES IN EXECUTIVE AND THEN WE COME OUT AND THE COURT WILL DIRECT STAFF ACCORDINGLY. SO, BUT YOU KNOW, THAT'S AT THE COURT'S DISCRETION. IT'S YOUR FAULT. I JUST, YEAH, UH, I MEAN, UH, POINT WELL TAKEN, BUT I THINK THIS IS IMPORTANT THAT WE BRING IT IN OPEN COURT. THE INFORMATION'S ALREADY OUT THERE ANYWAY PUBLICLY, SO, AND WE DON'T, I MEAN IT'S, IT'S REALLY BUILDING AGNOSTIC, RIGHT? IT'S A QUESTION. WELL, NOT UNTIL YOU CONFIRM IT. IT'S, IT'S SPECULATION. WELL, IT IS. UM, OKAY. ANYWAY, THE, UH, AND AND AGAIN, WE DON'T HAVE TO GET INTO SPECIFICS OF, OF, OF THE BUILDING OTHER THAN THE SQUARE FOOTAGE AND BALLPARK, UH, PRICING, RIGHT? IT'S MORE AROUND QUESTIONS ABOUT POLICY AND WHETHER SOMETHING LIKE THIS, THIS MAKES SENSE FOR THE COUNTY. UH, AND THAT WAS KIND OF JUST HOW I WANTED TO TEE THIS UP. I WANT TO HEAR FROM DAN, I WANNA HEAR FROM COUNTY STAFF ABOUT WHETHER THIS MAKES SENSE FOR THE COUNTY IN THEIR OPINION. BASED ON WHAT I HAVE SEEN, I THINK A STRONG ARGUMENT CAN BE MADE THAT, THAT THIS MAKES SENSE OVER THE MID TO LONG TERM FOR THE COUNTY WHEN IT COMES TO [05:00:01] SPACE. WE CAN BE PENNYWISE AND POUND FOOLISH, UM, AND WE CAN OBVIOUSLY NOT INCUR ANY ADDITIONAL COST TODAY, BUT WE ALSO STILL HAVE TO CONTINUE TO TO, TO BUILD FOR THE, THE FUTURE AND, AND BE MINDFUL OF THAT. SO, UM, I HAVE, I'VE SAID ALL ALONG, I DON'T THINK THIS IS A PRECINCT THREE BUILDING. THIS HAS TO MAKE SENSE FOR THE COUNTY IN TERMS OF THE FUNCTIONS THAT WOULD BE THERE IN TERMS OF THE LEASES THAT WOULD BE ABLE TO BE CANCELED AND COST SAVINGS FOR THE COUNTY, UH, ADDITIONAL REVENUE FROM OTHER GOVERNMENT ENTITIES THAT MIGHT GO INTO THE BUILDING BECAUSE IT IS TWICE THE SQUARE FOOTAGE OF OUR CURRENT EXISTING FACILITY ON INNER PARK. AND I THINK THAT THAT'S LIKE AN IMPORTANT PIECE HERE TO NOTE AS WE'RE LOOKING FOR, FOR, UH, SQUARE FOOTAGE IN SPACE FOR COUNTY EMPLOYEES AND FOR FUNCTIONS AND FOR NEW COURTS, RIGHT? JUDGE, WE'VE, WE'VE TALKED ABOUT, UH, THAT AND UH, NO DOUBT WHETHER IT'S THIS YEAR OR NEXT YEAR, UH, THERE WILL BE ADDITIONAL NEEDS FOR, FOR COURT SPACE AS WELL. UM, THAT BEING SAID, I'LL LET DAN DIVE INTO IT, RUN THROUGH THIS, AND THEN I HAVE A FEW QUESTIONS AND, AND I'D LOVE TO GET FEEDBACK FROM THE COURT. SO I'M, I'M HAPPY TO DO WHATEVER THE COURT DIRECTS. UM, SO AGAIN, WE, WE PRE-PREPARED A, UH, PRESENTATION BASED ON UH, UM, OKAY. UM, LET ME, UH, YOU NEED ANY ONE? YEAH, LET ME, LET ME UH, MOVE, WALK YOU THROUGH THE PRESENTATION IF I CAN REMEMBER IT CORRECTLY. YEAH, WE HAVE IT. YOU WANT MINE. SO AGAIN, THIS APOLOGIZE, THIS WAS INTENDED FOR A EXECUTIVE SESSION, UH, CONVERSATION, BUT DAN, CAN YOU NOT IDENTIFY THE SPECIFIC PROPERTIES? JUST KEEP IT GENERAL. CAN I IDENTIFY THE SPECIFIC PROPERTY, NOT IDENTIFY THE SPECIFIC YEAH, NO, FOR ABSOLUTELY. OH SURE. WE'LL, WE'LL WE'LL KEEP IT SANITIZED AT YOUR REQUEST. SO I WANNA TAKE A STEP BACK AND JUST TELL YOU FROM A GLOBAL PERSPECTIVE, THE COUNTY OBVIOUSLY HAS SPACE CONSTRAINTS, RIGHT? SO THAT'S NOT A MYSTERY THAT THERE'S SPACE NEEDED FOR JAIL BEDS AS WE HEARD TODAY. DIVERSION STRATEGIES, COURTROOMS, OFFICE DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICES, PROSECUTORS, ALL OF THAT STUFF. SO OUR FOCUS RIGHT NOW IS WE HAVE A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF SQUARE FOOTAGE. IT'S ABOUT A 4 MILLION SQUARE FEET. THAT'S TRUE. AND WE MANAGE THAT, WHAT WE CALL TO THE HIGHEST AND BEST USE. AND THAT'S PROBABLY SOMETHING YOU'VE HEARD, HEARD DAVID SAY, AND I'VE USED IT BEFORE. WHAT IS THE HIGHEST AND BEST USE OF THAT SPACE? SOMETIMES THE BEST USE OF THAT SPACE ISN'T NECESSARILY FOR AN ADMIN FUNCTION, BUT I MEAN IT'S A COURTS FUNCTION OR IT'S A COURT, YOU KNOW, VICE VERSA. UM, AND WHAT WE WANT TO TRY TO DO IS LEVERAGE THE EXISTING FOOTPRINTS WE HAVE FOR THAT HIGHEST AND BEST USE. SO COURT BUILDINGS THAT ALREADY HAVE COURTS IN THEM, LET'S ADD MORE COURTS TO THOSE BUILDINGS BECAUSE THE SECURITY PERIMETER'S ALREADY EXISTING, THE INFRASTRUCTURE'S ALREADY THERE. IT'S THE BEST USE OF YOUR COUNTY SPACE LONG TERM. AGAIN, AS A REMINDER, COMMISSIONER'S COURT CONTROLS SPACE ASSIGNMENT FOR ALL COUNTY OFFICES AND DEPARTMENTS AND WE'RE JUST THE INSTRUMENT TO HELP YOU GUYS, UH, DO THAT. UM, SO I WANT TO TALK ABOUT THE INNER PARK, UH, PROPERTY PROJECT, WHICH IS THE CURRENT PRECINCT THREE LOCATION FOR THE JP AND THE CONSTABLE. UH, THAT PROPERTY WAS, UH, ACQUIRED IN 2015, UH, FOR A LITTLE UNDER $3 MILLION. IT WAS AN OLD A DP CHECK PROCESSING FACILITY AND WE RENOVATED THAT. UM, AND IT OPENED IN JUNE, 2019, UH, FOR ABOUT FIVE, UH, $0.86 MILLION. SO THAT WAS ONLY FOR THE JP AND THE CONSTABLE FUNCTIONS. UH, THE BUILDING WASN'T BIG ENOUGH TO FIT THE TAX OFFICE IN IT, WHICH WE DID TRADITIONALLY ADD TO OUR PRECINCT SATELLITE BUILDINGS AS IS PRECINCT ONE AND PRECINCT FOUR, AND THEN PLANNED OBVIOUSLY FOR PRECINCT TWO. UH, AND IN 2023 WE DID A SMALL, UH, COMMUNITY ROOM RENOVATION PROJECT, UM, FOR THE COMMISSIONER AT THE TIME. THAT WAS JUST BEFORE COMMISSIONER MOODY. UM, WE PRESENTED A OPTION, UM, A FEW BUDGET CYCLES AGO TO COLLAPSE A LEASE AT THE NACODOCHES FACILITY, UH, FOR THE TAX OFFICE TAX ASSESSOR COLLECTOR AND MOVE THAT FUNCTION, THE TAX ASSESSOR COLLECTOR FUNCTION TO INTER PARK TO CONSOLIDATE THAT INTO A, WHAT WE CALL A FULL PRECINCT THREE SATELLITE FACILITY. SO ALL OF THOSE FUNCTIONS THAT EXIST AT PRECINCT ONE, PRECINCT FOUR, EVENTUALLY PRECINCT TWO WOULD, WOULD BE CONSISTENT AFTER WE DID THE INITIAL DESIGN LAYOUT. UM, OF THE ADDITION, THERE'S SOME CONSTRAINTS THAT EXISTED. PARKING BEING NUMBER ONE, THE TEXTOR COLLECTOR DRIVES A LARGE AMOUNT OF PEOPLE TO HIS LOBBY INTO HIS, HIS FUNCTION AND THAT WOULD CONFLICT DIRECTLY WITH THE JPS OPERATION. AND SO RIGHTLY SO, THEY BROUGHT UP SOME CONCERNS SAYING, HEY, WE, WE, WE WE'RE CONCERNED ABOUT THE CAPACITY ISSUE WITH THE CURRENT SITE OF INTER PARK. SO WE HAD SOME ALTERNATES DEVELOPED, YOU KNOW, UH, [05:05:01] DO WE LEASE ADDITIONAL PARKING CAPACITY MAYBE FROM THE NEIGHBORING CHURCH OR COMMERCIAL PROPERTY? UH, WE COULD EXPAND THE INTER PARK PHYSICAL FOOTPRINT BY ACQUIRING LAND ADJACENT TO IT, UM, AND WE COULD RELO OR WE COULD RELOCATE THE ENTIRE PRECINCT THREE FUNCTION TO A DIFFERENT SITE WHERE THIS CANNOT ACCOMMODATE ALL OF THOSE FUNCTIONS TOGETHER. UM, SO AS FAR AS THE EXPANDING INNER PARK OPTION, LEMME STEP BACK. LEASING PARKING SPACES FROM A PRIVATE ENTITY, WHETHER IT BE A CHURCH OR COMMERCIAL PROPERTY, IS NOT MY RECOMMENDATION TO YOU GUYS 'CAUSE THOSE HAVE NUMEROUS PITFALLS. WE LIKE TO BE IN CONTROL OF OUR OWN FATES AND RELYING ON A SEPARATE BUSINESS ENTRY AND A CONTRACT THAT WAS WRITTEN BY A PREVIOUS COURT IS NOT ALWAYS A SUSTAINABLE MODEL. UM, EXPANDING INTER PARK SITE, THERE ARE TWO ADJACENT PARCELS THAT ARE VACANT AT THIS POINT NEXT TO THE CURRENT SITE THAT THE COUNTY OWNS IN INNER PARK. UM, ONE IS, UH, BOTH OF THEM ARE, HAVE BEEN CONTACTED. BOTH DO NOT APPEAR TO BE, UH, OPEN TO, UH, ACQUISITION AT THIS TIME. UM, BUT IF WE WERE TO DO THAT PROJECT, WE WOULD ACQUIRE THAT PROPERTY AND POTENTIALLY BUILD A STANDALONE TAX OFFICE ON THAT SITE OR CREATE ENOUGH PARKING TO ACCOMMODATE THE FULL NEEDS. UM, SO WE LOOKED AT THE RELOCATION OPTION, UH, WITH THE HELP OF THE COMMISSIONER, SOME REAL ESTATE EXPERTS AND SOME COUNTY OTHER COUNTY STAFF. AND WE LOOKED AT, IF ORIGINALLY IF WE WERE JUST LOOKED BY PROPERTY OUT IN WHAT WE CALL THE GEOGRAPHIC CENTER OF PRECINCT THREE, WHICH IS ALONG 1604, IT WOULD BE FISCALLY UNREASONABLE FOR ME TO SUGGEST TO YOU TO BUY A PROPERTY FOR A MILLION DOLLARS AN ACRE AND THEN BILLED ANOTHER $20 MILLION FACILITY ON TOP OF IT. UM, THAT JUST DOESN'T MAKE, YEAH, WHEN WE TALKED ABOUT THAT, WHAT IT WAS GONNA BE, $30 MILLION PLUS, UH, AROUND THERE, I MEAN, AGAIN, WE, THESE ARE ROUGH ORDER AND MAGNITUDE NUMBERS. I MEAN, WE HAVEN'T DIALED ANY OF THESE, BUT, BUT IT IS, IT IS WOULD BE PARTICULARLY BASED ON THE CONVERSATION WE JUST HAD, NOT A WISE, UH, STEP FOR AS FAR AS A, A FACILITY SOLUTION. UH, SO THEN WE STARTED TO LOOK AT EXISTING PROPERTIES IN THAT CORRIDOR. AND THERE IS AN EXISTING PROPERTY, IT IS A LARGE PROPERTY, IT'S THREE STORIES, 55,000 SQUARE FEET. UM, AND IT IS IN THAT LOCATION WHERE IT COULD FIT THE GEOGRAPHIC CENTER OF THE PRECINCT THREE AREA. UM, AND SO WE COMPARED TWO PROJECTS STAYING AT INNER PARK, ACQUIRING PROPERTY AND FINISHING THE ORIGINAL INTENT OF THAT PROJECT IS CREATING A TAX OFFICE EDITION OR RELOCATING THE ENTIRE FUNCTION TO, TO THAT, UH, ALTERNATE SITE. SO IF WE LOOK AT JUST THE INNER PARK EXPANSION, WE KNOW THAT WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO MORE THAN LIKELY CONDEMN ONE OF THOSE PROPERTIES TO ACQUIRE IT. AND THOSE PROPERTIES CAN BE BETWEEN ONE AND A HALF TO $2 MILLION EACH. AND THEN THE CONSTRUCTION OF THAT TAX OFFICE COULD BE UP TO $7 MILLION. SO AGAIN, THAT COULD BE A $9 MILLION PROJECT TO COMPLETE WITH THE ORIGINAL INTENT OF THE, OF THE ADDITION WAS THE FUTURE RELOCATION OPTION. AGAIN, AT THIS POINT, UH, WE'RE ONLY ASKING THE COURT TO CONSIDER ACQUISITION OF THE BUILDING, UM, FUTURE USE OF THE BUILDING, WHO GOES THERE, WHO GOES WHERE, ASSIGNMENT OF SPACES AND LEASES. THAT'S REALLY UP TO THE COURT AND I'M NOT TRYING TO RECOMMEND ANYBODY BE SLOTTED ANYWHERE 'CAUSE IT'S WAY TOO SOON FOR THAT CONVERSATION. UM, THE, THE SPACE IS MORE THAN A TYPICAL PRECINCT BUILDING HAS. THOSE PRECINCT BUILDINGS ARE AROUND 30 TO 35,000 SQUARE FEET. AND SO THERE WOULD BE ADDITIONAL CAPACITY IN THAT BUILDING FOR FUTURE COUNTY FUNCTIONS, WHATEVER THE COURT DECIDES THOSE FUNCTIONS ARE, WHETHER IT'S COLLAPSING THE EXISTING LEASE, MOVING ANOTHER DEPARTMENT, MOVING SOMEBODY OUT OF DOWNTOWN TO MAKE A WAY FOR COURT FUNCTIONS OR THOSE OTHER SPACES. UM, AND AT, AT THIS POINT, I BELIEVE, UH, WITHOUT GETTING INTO THE TOO MANY DETAILS, BUT THEIR EXISTING MONEY THAT EXISTS WITHIN THE CAPITAL PROJECT FOR THE TAX OFFICE EDITION, ORIGINALLY INNER PARK, THE COMMISSIONER MOODY'S IDENTIFIED ADDITIONAL FUNDS FROM PRECINCT THREE CAPITAL PROJECTS TO GO TOWARDS POTENTIAL ACQUISITION OF A BUILDING. UM, AND THEN WE WOULD, AGAIN, IF WE WERE GIVEN DIRECTION BY THE COURT, DO OUR DUE DILIGENCE AND THEN BRING THOSE DISCUSSIONS BACK TO THE COURT ON SPECIFICALLY WHAT A FAIR SALES PRICE WOULD BE IF WE WANNA DO AN OFFICIAL APPRAISAL AND THOSE KIND OF DISCUSSIONS. BUT I'M TRYING TO BE VAGUE AT THE DIRECTION OF, OF COUNSEL WITHOUT GOING TOO DETAILED. UM, BUT UH, WE KNOW, JUST TO SUMMARIZE, WE KNOW THAT THERE ARE FUNCTIONS IN THE COUNTY. THEY'RE REQUESTING SPACE. A LOT OF THOSE ARE AROUND COURTS, DISTRICT ATTORNEY ELECTIONS OF PURCHASING, ALL THOSE OTHER FUNCTIONS. SO WE KNOW THAT THERE'S A NEED FOR SPACE AND WE'RE GONNA TRY TO HELP YOU GUYS DELIVER IT AS ECONOMICALLY AS POSSIBLE. UM, I KNOW I'VE SAID MANY, MANY TIMES ACQUIRING PROPERTIES WAY CHEAPER THAN BUILDING AT THIS POINT. AND, BUT WE HAVE VERY PURPOSE-BUILT [05:10:01] FACILITIES WE HAVE TO BUILD FROM GROUND UP. 'CAUSE THEY DON'T, THEY DON'T HAVE SPARE ANIMAL CARE FACILITIES, YOU KNOW, ON THE MARKET. UH, SO SOME OF THOSE THINGS WERE JUST PIGEONHOLED INTO ACTUALLY DELIVERING FROM GROUND UP. UH, BUT THIS WOULD BE AN OPPORTUNITY TO ACQUIRE SOMETHING THAT'S ALREADY CONSTRUCTED FAIRLY NEW AND THEN RENOVATE IT IN THE FUTURE FOR ACCOUNTING FUNCTION AND AS NEEDED. RIGHT? BECAUSE, UM, AS YOU SAID, WITH CLOSE TO 55, 60,000 SQUARE FEET, UH, YOU WOULDN'T NEED THAT FOR ANY OF THOSE FUNCTIONS TODAY. UM, YOU COULD LEAVE A FLOOR, A FLOOR AND A HALF AS IS POTENTIALLY, RIGHT. SO YOU COULD PHASE ANY SOME OF THOSE RENOVATIONS IN OVER TIME. UM, COUPLE QUICK QUESTIONS. DAVID, I KNOW YOU TALK ABOUT DEBT AND AND LEASES, LIKE WHAT'S YOUR, UH, YOUR, UH, FACTOR THAT YOU USE? LIKE WHEN WE THINK ABOUT COST SAVINGS ON A LEASE, IS IT, SO IF YOU WANT TO, WITHOUT DOING RESEARCH, JUST TRY AND CALCULATE THE NET PRESENT VALUE OF A ANNUAL LEASE OVER TIME, ASSUMING NO ANNUAL INCREASES, BASICALLY TIMES 10. 10. OKAY. SO I MEAN THE, THE POINT I'M GOING WITH THERE IS YOU START THINKING ABOUT LEASES THAT 200,000, THERE'S MULTIPLE LEASES AT 200,000, YOU HAVE SOME OTHER LEASES AT A HUNDRED THOUSAND. IF YOU WERE TO TAKE TWO OF THOSE AT 200,000, 400,000 TIMES 10, THAT'S 4 MILLION, RIGHT? IN TERMS OF WHAT WOULD BE CONSIDERED DEBT SAVINGS, WELL, ADDITIONAL DEBT LEASE SAVINGS BY, BY CANCELING THOSE, THOSE LEASES. SO THE LEASES WOULD PAY THE DEBT SERVICE ON THE DEBT YOU WOULD HAVE TO ISSUE IS HOW I WOULD FRAME IT. YEAH, JUST OPPOSITE BECAUSE WE'RE NO LONGER PAYING THE LEASES, SO NO, I'M SAYING THE MONEY YOU'RE NOT PAYING IN THE LEASE. MM-HMM . WOULD NOW BE SHIFTED TO PAY THE DEBT SERVICE ON UP TO 4 MILLION IN THAT CASE, RIGHT? YEP. UM, SO I'M GONNA PUT YOU ON THE SPOT, DAN. I MEAN, WE TALKED ABOUT THIS AND I HIGHLIGHTED THIS UP FRONT FOR, FOR MY COLLEAGUES. I ONLY WANNA LIKE PRESS FORWARD WITH THIS IF THERE'S ALIGNMENT THAT THIS MAKES SENSE FOR THE, THE COUNTY IN TERMS OF BUYING ADDITIONAL SQUARE FOOTAGE REAL ESTATE, UM, WITH THE COST SAVINGS AND EVERYTHING ELSE. YES, I I THINK IT MAKES SENSE GEOGRAPHICALLY FOR PRECINCT THREE, BUT, UM, YOU KNOW, IT'S GOTTA MAKE SENSE FOR THE COUNTY. SO YOUR YOUR THOUGHTS ON THIS AND, AND MY FOLLOW UP QUESTION IS GONNA BE ON OUR OTHER OPTIONS BECAUSE THE OTHER OPTIONS AREN'T GREAT. SURE. YEAH. SO I, UM, YOU KNOW, THEY SAY IN REAL ESTATE LOCATION AND LOCATION, LOCATION, UH, THIS IS A, A EXCELLENT LOCATION AS FAR AS VISIBILITY AND TRAFFIC COUNTS TO PROVIDE SERVICES TO THE CONSTITUENTS OF BEAR COUNTY. WE, ABOVE ALL, ALL THINGS, IT IS A MUCH BETTER LOCATION THAN THE CURRENT LOCATION. UM, IT IS A NEWER BUILDING AS FAR AS NEW CONSTRUCTION THAT COMES WITH, AS WE KNOW, WE HAD A JAIL DISCUSSION. NEWER THINGS BREAK LESS THAN OLDER THINGS. UH, NOT THAT INTER PARK IS AN OLDER BUILDING, UH, BUT THOSE ARE FACTORS DEFINITELY INVOLVED IN THAT CONVERSATION. UM, SO AGAIN, THERE'S REALLY THREE OPTIONS HERE. THERE'S CONTINUE FORWARD, I MEAN, LISTEN, LET'S TAKE, UH, LET'S MAKE IN A, UH, ACTION TO, TO GO FORWARD AND PURCHASE OFF THE TABLE, RIGHT? WE CAN EITHER GO FORWARD WITH ADDITIONAL DUE DILIGENCE, UH, TODAY OR, AND, AND THIS IS, IS OPTION, UH, ONE WITH A, A NEW LOCATION. OPTION TWO, TRY TO DO WHAT EVERYONE OTHER PRECINCT IS DOING AND CONSOLIDATE SERVICES AT INNER PARK. AND THAT REQUIRES CONDEMNATION, ADDITIONAL LAND ACQUISITION AND CONSTRUCTION COSTS THAT ARE GONNA COME CLOSE TO EQUALING THE, THE COST OF PURCHASING A NEW BUILDING. AND WE'RE STILL GONNA BE STUCK WITH 30,000 SQUARE FEET, NOT 55,000 SQUARE FEET. YES, THAT'S CORRECT. OR DO NOTHING. AND WE DO NOT CONSOLIDATE, UH, UNLIKE THE OTHER PRECINCTS. AND WE ALSO, UM, MAINTAIN CERTAIN PROBLEMATIC LEASES OUT THERE THAT ARE GONNA CONTINUE TO HIT OUR GENERAL FUND YEAR AFTER YEAR. SO, SO THOUGHTS ON THE OTHER OPTIONS? WELL, LISTEN, I UM, YOU'RE PUTTING ME ON A SPOT HERE, , UH, I I TOLD YOU, I WARNED YOU . I, I, UH, BUT YEAH, BUT UM, AGAIN, WELL JUDGE THE MOTION TODAY. THE ONLY MOTION TODAY IS WHETHER THE, THE STAFF MOVES FORWARD WITH THE PRELIMINARY FEASIBILITY STUDY. THOSE OTHER OPTIONS AREN'T PART OF THIS CAPTION. JUST, [05:15:01] WELL CLEARLY LARRY, THIS IS EXACTLY WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT. IF WE'RE GONNA GO FORWARD WITH ONE, THEN WE'RE NOT GONNA GO FORWARD WITH THE OTHER TWO. IF WE'RE NOT GONNA GO FORWARD WITH, WITH A NEW LOCATION PURCHASE, THEN WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO GO FORWARD WITH, UH, THE EXISTING STATUS QUO. THAT'S NOT WHAT THE COURT'S VOTING ON HERE. THIS HAS, THE ONLY THING IT'S DOING IS FEASIBILITY STUDY. THAT'S THE ONLY ISSUE. IT'S THE COURT. IT'S CLEARLY RELATED, CLEARLY. WELL THAT MAY BE, THAT'S NOT WHAT THE COURT'S VOTING ON. THIS IS PART OF A DISCUSSION ABOUT AN ITEM THAT'S ON THE COURT AGENDA. WELL, YOU, YOU SET UP A MOTION WHERE THE COURT HAD TO DECIDE THOUGH, BETWEEN THREE ISSUES. AND THAT'S NOT WHAT THIS, THE COURT'S CONSIDERING. I'M JUST MAKING THAT CLEAR. OKAY, WELL, I I COMPLETELY, UH, DISAGREE WITH THAT TAKE BECAUSE JUDGE, WELL THAT'S WHY WE SUBMITTED JUDGE, HOW YOU MAKE A DECISION. HOW CAN YOU MAKE A DECISION ABOUT ONE OPTION THAT'S ON THE AGENDA IF YOU'RE NOT LOOKING AT THE OTHER OPTIONS FACING THE COUNTY. MAY, MAY I COMMENT, COMMISSIONER. UM, IT'S NOT ABOUT DISAGREEMENT, IT'S ABOUT STATE OF TEXAS LAWS AND THIS IS WHAT WE POSTED. SO THIS DOESN'T, YOU KNOW, TALKING ABOUT CONSOLIDATING SO, UH, OTHER COUNTY RESOURCES DOESN'T HELP MY CONSTITUENTS. IT'S TOO FAR AWAY. THE BUDGET TEAM JUST PUT THIS PRESENTATION TOGETHER AND IT SAYS NO NEW CAPITAL PROJECTS. SO THAT'S ENOUGH FOR ME. I CANNOT SUPPORT THIS. IT DOESN'T, IT DOESN'T MAKE SENSE FOR THE COUNTY, ESPECIALLY WITH OUR FINANCIAL SITUATION RIGHT NOW. WELL JUDGE, I'M JUST CLARIFYING WHAT'S ON THE AGENDA, WHAT'S IN THE CAPTION AND WHAT'S SUBJECT TO OPEN MEETINGS. AND IT IS WHETHER THE COURT VOTES TO MOVE FORWARD WITH A PRELIMINARY FEASIBILITY ANALYSIS OF THIS LOCATION, NOT THE OTHER ISSUES. SO I, I JUST WANT THAT, MAKE SURE THAT THAT'S CLEAR TO THE COURT. THEY'RE NOT VOTING ON WHAT TO DO AFTER THIS ITEM. LEMME ASK A FORM ORDER COMMISSIONER, I JUST HAD A QUICK QUESTION. COMMISSIONER . OKAY. UM, I, SO I BELIEVE THE NUMBERS ARE THAT, UH, YOU HAVE ABOUT 13 MILLION THAT YOU'VE IDENTIFIED COULD BE UTILIZED FOR, UH, THE ACQUISITION. IS THAT, IS THAT, AM MY NUMBERS RIGHT? UH, YEAH, IT IS AROUND $12 MILLION, YES. OKAY. SO YEAH, YOU HAVE ABOUT 3 MILLION FROM THE LEASE, UH, LOCATION TO THE DEBT SERVICE AND 9 MILLION FROM INTER PARK, BASICALLY, IS THAT RIGHT? I I BELIEVE IT'S 4.8 FROM THE EXISTING, UH, CAPITAL PROJECT. AND THEN COMMISSIONER MOODY HAS IDENTIFIED THE SUPPLEMENTAL FUNDING TO GET TO THE, WHAT AGAIN, THE PURCHASE PRICE IS UNDETERMINED. UH, WE PUT AN ESTIMATE TOGETHER, UH, WHAT WE THINK THE FAIR MARKET VALUE OF THAT PROPERTY IS, BUT AGAIN, NOTHING'S DECIDED UNTIL WE'RE, WE'RE ALLOWED TO HAVE THOSE OFFICIAL TALKS WITH THE PROPERTY OWNER. OKAY. UM, SO, YOU KNOW, FROM MY PERSPECTIVE, IF A COMMISSIONER FINDS SAVINGS AND RE APPROPRIATIONS FROM FUNDS THAT WERE PREVIOUS, PREVIOUSLY ALLOCATED, THE COURT'S ALWAYS TRIED TO WORK WITH THE COMMISSIONER IN THE INTEREST OF RECIPROCITY. UM, IT'S NOT NECESSARILY EVEN A NEW EXPENDITURE. UM, IT IT'S JUST A REAPPROPRIATION OF OF DOLLARS. SO IT'S, IT AGAIN, IT'S UH, IT'S A DO UNTO OTHERS KIND OF SITUATION. WE HAVE, UM, OTHER FACILITIES THAT HAVE THE SERVICES. UH, THIS ONE DOESN'T HAVE THE JP WE DO SEEM TO HAVE, UM, I MEAN PEOPLE, PEOPLE FROM ALL OVER, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE FROM MY PRECINCT MAY WORK, UH, AROUND THE AREA THAT THIS MAY BE LOCATED. UM, IT, IT, IT, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE, PEOPLE MIGRATE. SO, YOU KNOW, I THINK HAVING THE COUNTY IN POPULATION CENTERS FOR CONVENIENCE, NO MATTER WHERE THEY'RE AT, UM, IS A GOOD THING. UM, SO IT'S, IT, I AM, I LEAN IN FAVOR PARTICULARLY WHEN, UH, THE COMMISSIONER HAS GOTTEN, UH, SOME NUMBERS TOGETHER, UH, TO TRY TO MAKE IT WORK. SO THAT'S, THAT'S WHERE I'M AT AND THAT'S WHY I'M WHERE I'M AT. WELL, APPRECIATE THAT. COMMISSIONER CALVERT, HOLD ON. I HAVE A QUESTION TO COUNSEL, AND THEN I HAVE A QUESTION TO DAN AS FAR AS DUE DILIGENCE. SO THE POINT OF ORDER IS, AND I'M TRYING TO MAKE SURE WE COMPLY WITH OPEN MEETINGS, IS THAT THE, THE AGENDA ITEM IS PHRASED TO, TO DISCUSS THE POTENTIAL TARGETS, WHICH IS THE POT, THE BUILDING THAT IS BEING LOOKED AT FOR POSSIBLE PURCHASE, CORRECT? WELL, THE ONLY DECISION IS WHETHER OR NOT THE COURT DECIDES TO DIRECT STAFF TO PROCEED WITH A PRELIMINARY ANALYSIS. IT IS NOT TO DIS [05:20:01] DIRECT, UH, CONSOLIDATION OF ANYTHING, ANY OTHER BUILDINGS OR ANY OF THE OTHER MATTERS. YOU, YOU'RE RIGHT, COMMISSIONER, YOU CAN HAVE THAT DISCUSSION RELATED TO THIS, BUT IT'S NOT SETTING UP THE COURT TO DECIDE THOSE MATTERS TODAY. NO, ABSOLUTELY. OKAY. I MEAN, MAYBE WE'RE ON THE WRONG PAGE THERE. I JUST THOUGHT DISCUSSION WAS BEING CUT OFF, AND I DON'T KNOW HOW WE CAN HAVE A CONVERSATION ABOUT THE ITEM IF WE DIDN'T. AND, AND I GET IT. THEN AS A QUESTION OF DUE DILIGENCE, DAN, UH, THIS INVOLVES PRECINCT THREE AND OTHER ELECTED OFFICIALS, WHICH ARE NECESSARY. IT DOES STAKEHOLDERS ONE, JUST AS OF PEACE CONSTABLE, AND THEN A POSSIBILITY OF THE TAX ASSESSOR COLLECTOR. SO HAVE, HAVE, DO WE HAVE SUPPORT FROM THOSE ELECTEDS FOR COMMISSIONER? DO YOU KNOW, OR STAFF, DO THEY WANT TO MOVE TO THIS POSSIBLE? 'CAUSE IF THEY DON'T, I NEED TO KNOW WHAT POSITION THEY TAKE. SO, UM, WE HAVE SOLICITED FEEDBACK, UH, FROM ALL OF THOSE, UH, INDIVIDUALS. UM, WE HAVE SAT DOWN, UH, A COUPLE TIMES AND MM-HMM . AND, UH, DAN HAS ADDRESSED SOME OF, OF THE CONCERNS IN TERMS OF A MOVE. UM, I THINK THAT, YOU KNOW, IF WE GO FORWARD WITH JUST CONTINUED DUE DILIGENCE, THAT WILL GIVE US ADDITIONAL TIME TO CONTINUE TO EXPLORE ANY REMAINING CONCERNS AND, UH, SEE IF THEY CAN BE ADDRESSED AND MITIGATED. I DON'T BELIEVE MY QUESTION WAS ANSWERED, COMMISSIONER. OH, I THOUGHT IT WAS, DID, DID THE ELECTED OFFICIALS OF THE JUSTICE PEACE PRECINCT THREE, CONSTABLE PRECINCT THREE, AND THE TAX ASSESSOR COLLECTOR, WHOSE OFFICE MAY BE PART OF THIS FEASIBILITY STUDY, DO THEY SUPPORT THIS PARTICULAR PROJECT, DAN, OR WE DON'T KNOW. I, I, I WOULD SAY, I REALIZE YOU'RE AG AND I I RESPECT YOU'RE AGNOSTIC. I'M AGNOSTIC, JUDGE, RIGHT? AND I DON'T WANNA SPEAK FOR THE COMMISSIONER, BUT NOBODY LIKES CHANGE. EVERYBODY'S FEARFUL OF, HEY, I, I'M GONNA GET BOXED INTO SOMETHING THAT DOESN'T WORK FOR ME, OR DO THOSE OTHER KIND OF THINGS. WE'VE, WE'VE GOT INITIAL FEEDBACK FROM THOSE ELECTED OFFICIALS AND WE, WE TALKED WITH THE COMMISSIONER MOODY ABOUT THOSE CONCERNS. SOME OF 'EM WERE VERY SPECIFIC, LIKE AN EGRESS DOOR HERE, OR FIRE ESCAPE STAIRS THERE, UM, THAT WE BELIEVE ARCHITECTURALLY WE CAN SOLVE. UM, BUT AGAIN, THERE IS A, THERE'S A MUCH LARGER CONVERSATION THAT HAS TO HAPPEN TO ENSURE THAT THE OCCUPANTS ARE COMFORTABLE ONCE WE MOVE IN. SO, IS IT FAIR TO SAY THAT THEY HAVE YET TO STATE AN OPINION OR FOR, OR AGAINST THEY HAVE, I, I'M NOT GONNA SPEAK FOR AN ELECTED. THEY HAVE CONCERNS, OBVIOUSLY, THEY'VE EXPRESSED CONCERNS TO YOU. OKAY. ALRIGHT. COMMISSIONER, JUDGE. YEAH, I THINK, JUDGE, WE'RE JUST LOOKING AT FEASIBILITY. THIS IS NOT A PURCHASE, IT'S NOT A MANDATE OF ANYBODY MOVING. IT'S JUST DUE DILIGENCE'S JUST FURTHER DUE DILIGENCE. YEAH, AGREED. UM, I, I, I THINK WE'VE, YOU KNOW, IT'S LATE IN THE DAY AND, AND WE'VE COVERED THIS. WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO DO IS JUST, UH, TAKE THE, THE MINOR STEP FORWARD TO CONTINUE DUE DILIGENCE TO CONTINUE TO SEE IF WE CAN GAIN ALIGNMENT, UH, WITH LIKELY TENANTS AND, AND THE, UH, UM, IF THE BUILDING WERE TO BE PURCHASED AND, UM, YOU KNOW, CONTINUE TO, TO SHARPEN OUR PENCILS ON WHAT THE FINANCIAL IMPACT TO THE COUNTY WOULD BE AND OR ANY ADDITIONAL SAVINGS THAT COULD COME WITH A SAID PURCHASE. I, I WILL MOVE THAT AS A, UH, AS A MOTION TO CONTINUE DUE DILIGENCE ON THE PROSPECTIVE BUILDING. I'LL SECOND THAT. ALL RIGHT. THERE'S A MOTION. AND SECOND, CAN ASK FOR CLARIFICATION. WHAT, WHAT IS, IS IT ADOPTING THE LANGUAGE OF 51 A OR IS IT A MODIFICATION? AND THEN AS A POINT OF ORDER, DOES THAT SATISFY OPEN MEETINGS REQUIREMENTS? LARRY, DO YOU WHAT FROM I, I BELIEVE, WELL, I'LL HAVE TO LET THE COMMISSIONER, UM, ANSWER THAT, BUT I BELIEVE THAT THEY ARE MAKING A MOTION CONSISTENT WITH 51 A TO CONTINUE THE FEASIBILITY ANALYSIS. BUT I'LL LET THE COMMISSIONER CONFIRM THAT. OH, I WOULD CONCUR WITH THAT. YEAH. OKAY. DUE DILIGENCE. FEASIBILITY ANALYSIS. YES. ALRIGHT. SO, UH, IF I CAN JUST, UH, UH, STATE ON THE RECORD, UM, YOU KNOW, I I'D LOVE TO BE SUPPORTIVE. I, I'M NOT GONNA SUPPORT THIS. I, I DISAGREE THAT WE SHOULD BE HAVING THESE DISCUSSIONS PUBLICLY. THESE ARE EXECUTIVE SESSION, UH, DISCUSSIONS WHEN IT COMES TO REAL ESTATE. UM, SO FOR THAT REASON, I'M GONNA VOTE NO. ALRIGHT. ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? CALL FOR A VOTE. SOUNDS LIKE I NEED TO DO A VOICE VOTE. COMMISSIONER CLAY FLORES? NOPE. COMMISSIONER RODRIGUEZ? NO. COMMISSIONER MOODY? YES. COMMISSIONER CALVERT. AYE. JUDGE [05:25:02] SAYS NO, BUT AT THE SAME TIME, COMMISSIONER MOODY, AFTER DUE DILIGENCE, FURTHER DUE DILIGENCE, I WILL BE WILLING TO RE-LOOK AT THAT, ESPECIALLY AFTER THE OTHER ELECTED OFFICIALS AND I GET FEEDBACK FROM THEM. OR I CAN, I CAN CERTAINLY C CALL 'EM AND ASK THEM. ALRIGHT, SO I'M WILLING TO RE-LOOK AT THIS, BUT FOR TODAY, LET'S DO MORE HOMEWORK PLEASE. ALRIGHT. ALRIGHT, LET'S MOVE ON. DOES THAT FINISH ALL THE MATTERS EXCEPT FOR EXECUTIVE PRISCILLA? JUST TRYING TO CHECK. SO IF THAT JUDGE I THINK WE MIGHT NEED TO DO THE FFR. THE WHAT THEN, WHICH I THINK IS NUMBER SIX. WHERE? OKAY. WHICH, WHICH ONE NUMBER SIX. SIX SIX. DID THAT. THAT WAS THE ONE YOU WHAT DID, WHAT DID IT'S MINISTERIAL. OH, THE MINISTERIAL. WE TOOK, WE DID, I TOOK NOTE OF THE, UH, FILING FOR THE RECORD. WE, WE DON'T VOTE ON IT. WE DON'T VOTE. WE JUST TOOK, I JUST TOOK NOTE OF IT. ALRIGHT, IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE THAT I'VE MISSED? SO THEN LET US NOW, BUT THERE ARE MATTERS THAT HAVE BEEN BROUGHT TO MY ATTENTION. LET ME READ INTO THE RECORD. TO TAKE UP THE EXECUTIVE SESSION ITEM ON NEGOTIATIONS OF A DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE CO COUNTY, THE CAB AND THE RODEO, WE MUST UNANIMOUSLY VOTE IN OPEN COURT THAT DELIBERATION OF BUSINESS AND FINANCIAL ISSUES IN AN OPEN MEETING WOULD'VE DETRIMENTAL EFFECT ON A POSITION OF COMMISSIONER'S COURT. IN NEGOTIATIONS WITH A THIRD PARTY, WE HAVE REQUESTED AN OPINION FOR LARRY ROBERSON WITH THE DA'S CIVIL DIVISION AND ASK THAT THE STAFF ENTER THAT OPINION INTO THE RECORD. I'LL ASK THAT THIS LETTER BE MADE PART FROM A, UH, MEMO FROM MR. GONZALEZ FROM MR. ROBERSON, UH, TO THE COURT REQUEST PURSUANT TO SECTION 5 5 1 0.0725, TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE. IS THERE A MOTION TO GO TO EXECUTIVE SESSION ON THIS SPECIFIC ISSUE WITH THE UNANIMOUS VOTE? SO MOVED. SECOND MOTION BY COMMISSIONER RODRIGUEZ, SECOND BY COMMISSIONER CLAY FLORES. ANY FURTHER DISCUSSIONS? HEARING NONE, I'LL ASK FOR A VOTE. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR. SECOND BY SAYING AYE. AYE. ANY OPPOSED? ANY ABSTENTIONS PA MOTION PASSES UNANIMOUSLY [EXECUTIVE SESSION (DISCUSSION ONLY: CLOSED TO PUBLIC)] WILL GO INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION. WE WILL THEN GO INTO, UH, CONVENE EXECUTIVE SESSION TO AND MAY BE DISCUSSED IN ACT UPON IF APPROPRIATE PURSUANT TO SECTION 5 51 0 7. ONE OF TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE EXECUTIVE SESSION WILL BE HELD FOR CONSULTATION WITH THE COURT'S ATTORNEY FOR ADVICE REGARDING THE FOLLOWING MATTERS PENDING OR CONTEMPLATED LITIGATION OR SETTLEMENT OFFERS IN THE MATTER OF PACHECO VERSUS BE COUNTY DEPUTY RICHARD CALDERON. LEGAL ISSUES, UH, PERTAINING TO THE FOLLOWING MATTERS IN WHICH THE DUTY OF THE ATTORNEY FOR BEXAR COUNTY AND THE TEXAS DISCIPLINARY RULES OF PROFESSIONAL CONDUCT OF THE STATE BAR OF TEXAS CLEARLY CONFLICTS WITH THE OPEN MEETINGS ACTS. LEGAL ISSUES RELATED TO THE COLLECTIVE BARGAIN AGREEMENT WITH THE DEPUTY SHERIFF'S ASSOCIATION OF BEXAR COUNTY ENTERED IN PURSUANT TO CHAPTER 1 7 4 OF THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT CODE. I BELIEVE SUBSECTION TWO HAS BEEN WAIVED AND HAS BEEN VOTED ON IN OPEN COURT PURSUANT TO SECTION 5 5 1 0 7 2. THE TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE RELATED TO DELIBERATIONS REGARDING REAL PROPERTY THAT MATTER TOO HAS JUST BEEN DISCUSSED IN OPEN COURT AND WAIVED PURSUANT TO SECTION 5 5 1 0 1 7 2 5. UH, I HAVE ALREADY STATED THAT WE ARE GONNA TAKE UP A MATTER INVOLVING BEXAR COUNTY, A POLITICAL SUBDIVISION COLISEUM ADVISORY BOARD, SAN ANTONIO LIVESTOCK EXPOSITION, A TEXAS NONPROFIT IN REGARDS TO REDEVELOPMENT REVITALIZATION OF FREEMAN COLISEUM COMPLEX GROUNDS. AND THE COURT HAS VOTED UNANIM TO ENTER INTO, UH, EXECUTIVE SESSION. ALSO TOO, I BELIEVE THE MATTER OF 5 5 1 0 7 8 7 OF THE TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE TO DELIBERATE MATTERS RELATED TO ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT NEGOTIATIONS IN REGARDS TO THE BASEBALL, UH, ARENA STADIUM IN REGARDS TO THE SAN PEDRO CREEK CULTURAL PARK. THAT MATTER HAS ALSO BEEN ADDRESSED IN OPEN COURT AND THE EXECUTIVE SESSION WAIVED. IS THERE ANY OTHER MATTERS THAT WE PUT ON RECORD? IF SO, WE ARE NOW IN EXECUTIVE SESSION. THE TIME IS 3:36 PM ALRIGHT. YES, WE'RE GOOD. YOU SAID. ALRIGHT. THE TIME IS 4:23 PM THE COURT IS NOW IN OPEN SESSION. THE COURT IS NOT TAKING ANY ACTION AFTER EXECUTIVE SESSION. IS THERE A MOTION TO ADJOURN? I MOVED. SECOND MOTION BY COMMISSIONER R. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER CLAY FLORES. COMMISSIONER CLAY FLORES, DO YOU HAVE ANY MEMORIALS? YES. I'D LIKE TO ADJOURN A MEMORY OF MANUEL RIO BAN. COMMISSIONER RODRIGUEZ. THANK YOU JUDGE. I WOULD LIKE TO JOIN IN, UM, ADJOURNING IN THE NAME OF [05:30:01] DR. BEDA ELBA, WHO WAS A PIONEER OF SORTS HERE LOCALLY AND STARTED THE UTSA PREP PROGRAM. I THINK. I THINK HE WAS COMMISSIONER CALVERT'S, UH, CONSTITUENT, BUT I KNOW IMPACTED THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY. UM, ALSO WOULD LIKE TO ADJOURN IN THE NAME OF REVEREND MANUEL GARZA. UH, DORA P SANCHEZ AND GUADALUPE FISHER, WHO'S THE MOTHER OF, UH, STATE REP TREY MARTINEZ FISHER PASSED AWAY THIS WEEK. THANK YOU. COMMISSIONER MOODY ON BEHALF OF COMMISSIONER CALVERT. UH, WILL ADJOURN IN THE MEMORY OF AUSTIN LEWIS FLORES, ELMER WESLEY, TOMAN MAY ELLA BRANCH CAROLYN PETERSON, JUAN HERNANDEZ AND OLIVIA LADSON, WHO IS A SPURS USHER FOR 59 YEARS. COMMISSIONER CALVERT. HE'S OFF. HE'S OFF. ALRIGHT, I'LL JOIN IN WITH, UH, DR. MANUEL EZ. ALSO JOE CHARLES CARAM, WHO IS A MCKELLAN HIGH SCHOOL WHO HIS CHIEF NATIONAL IS A MEMBER OF THE PAN AMERICAN UNIVERSITY BASKETBALL TEAM THAT WON THE 1963 NATIONAL BASKETBALL CHAMPIONSHIP IN THE NIA CONFERENCE AND A DEAR FAMILY FRIEND. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF THE MOTION ADJOURN SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE. AYE. ANY OPPOSED? ANY ADJOURN? THANK Y'ALL. * This transcript was created by voice-to-text technology. The transcript has not been edited for errors or omissions, it is for reference only and is not the official minutes of the meeting.