M. Approve and authorize the County Judge to sign the First Amendment to the Facility Management Agreement between El Paso County and the El Paso Sports Commission. (Contract No. 2024-0076) Further, approve and authorize the County Judge to sign the First Amendment to Chapter 381 Economic Development Program Tourist Promotion Program Agreement between El Paso County and the El Paso Sports Commission. (Contract No. 2024-0067) Funding is available in SR-CLSMTRPROM-OPS EXP-GEN. Melissa Carrillo, Executive Director, County Operations, County Operations

[A. Approve and adopt a resolution urging President Biden to use his executive authority to grant work permits for long-term undocumented immigrants who have significantly contributed to the U.S. economy, raised families, and embodied the “American Dream,” and urges Congress to pass immigration reforms. David Stout, Commissioner, Precinct 2, 915-546-2111]

US ECONOMY. RAISED FAMILIES, AND EMBODIED THE AMERICAN DREAM, AND URGES CONGRESS TO PASS IMMIGRATION REFORMS. COMMISSIONER STOUT. THANK YOU. JUDGE. THANK YOU. COMMISSIONERS, I THINK, WE ALL ARE AWARE THAT THERE IS A GREAT MISMATCH BETWEEN THE REALITY OF IMMIGRANTS LIVING IN OUR COUNTRY, WHETHER THEY ARE HERE WITHOUT, WITH OR WITHOUT AUTHORIZATION. AND THE RHETORIC AND POLICIES OR LACK OF POLICIES MEANT TO ADDRESS THIS REALITY, I THINK IT'S SHOCKING THAT PEOPLE IN THE UNITED STATES SUPPORT IMMIGRANTS. YET IT IS SO EASY FOR FOLKS TO DEMONIZE THEM. AND THAT, IN MY OPINION, IS WHAT SO CALLED BORDER SECURITY IS ALL ABOUT. AND PEOPLE KNOW AND SUPPORT THEIR IMMIGRANT NEIGHBORS, BUT WHEN THE QUESTION IS FRAMED AS, QUOTE, SECURITY AND IT INVOLVES NAMELESS AND FACELESS PEOPLE, IT'S FAR EASIER TO RAISE FEARS THAN TO TURN THAT TURN INTO HATE, AND THAT'S WHY I SPEAK STRONGLY ABOUT SO-CALLED BORDER SECURITY AND DPS OPERATIONS. AND I THINK ALL OF US DO, BECAUSE, WE DO NOT BELIEVE IT IS A GOOD FAITH EFFORT TO ADDRESS TRUE PUBLIC SAFETY CONCERNS, BUT RATHER A VERY EXPENSIVE, PUBLICLY FUNDED CAMPAIGN GIMMICK TO DEMONIZE IMMIGRANTS FOR ELECTORAL PURPOSES, ALONG THE WAY, I BELIEVE IT ERODES TRUE COMMUNITY SAFETY, PUSHES PEOPLE INTO THE SHADOWS, INFRINGES ON BASIC CIVIL LIBERTIES AND MANY OTHER NEGATIVE CONSEQUENCES. AND SO WE NEED TO DO MUCH MORE, BUT WORK PERMITS ARE A PIECE OF THAT PUZZLE, AND I'M GLAD TO PRESENT THIS RESOLUTION TODAY. AND FINALLY, I WANT TO SHOUT OUT, ALL OF THE ORGANIZATIONS HERE IN EL PASO, INCLUDING THE BORDER NETWORK FOR HUMAN RIGHTS, FOR THE WORK THAT THEY HAVE DONE.

OTHER ORGANIZATIONS LIKE THE BORDER SERVANT CORPS, ALSO, LAS AMERICAS, ESTRELLA DEL PASO, BORDER HOPE, I KNOW THERE ARE MEMBERS IN THE AUDIENCE THAT ARE GOING TO SPEAK ON THIS, ON THIS ITEM. AND, YOU KNOW, WHO HAVE ALL ASSISTED IN THE IMPLEMENTATION OF A PILOT PROGRAM TO ALLOW ASYLUM SEEKERS WHO APPLIED VIA CBP, ONE TO APPLY FOR IMMEDIATE WORK AUTHORIZATION IN THE ABSENCE OF POLICY SOLUTIONS. THESE ARE PRICELESS MEASURES AND MUST BE PROTECTED AND BUILT UPON. AND SO WITH THAT, I'LL GO AHEAD AND READ THE RESOLUTION AND I KNOW THAT I SAW, MELISSA AND DYLAN AND OTHERS, IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO COME UP TO THE PODIUM WHILE I READ THE RESOLUTION, AND THEN WE CAN HEAR FROM YOU ALL, LET ME PULL UP THE RESOLUTION HERE. THE RESOLUTION STATES, WHEREAS THE ABSENCE OF LONG AWAITED COMPREHENSIVE REFORM FROM CONGRESS HAS LEFT NEW ARRIVALS AND THE LONG TERM UNDOCUMENTED COMMUNITY SUSCEPTIBLE TO DANGEROUS WORK CONDITIONS AND EXPLOITATION, LED TO THE IRREPARABLE HARM OF FAMILY SEPARATION AND FORCED MILLIONS INTO THE SHADOWS OF SOCIETY AND WHEREAS, DESPITE THE ABSENCE OF IMMIGRATION RELIEF, LONG TERM IMMIGRANTS HAVE POSITIVELY CONTRIBUTED TO OUR SOCIETY AND POSED A TREMENDOUS VALUE TO THE U.S ECONOMY AS NEIGHBORS, TAXPAYERS, WORKERS, CONSUMERS AND ENTREPRENEURS. AND WHEREAS, AMIDST CONGRESSIONAL INACTION TO FIX OUR BROKEN IMMIGRATION SYSTEM, LOCAL GOVERNMENTS AROUND THE COUNTRY ARE REQUESTING ADMINISTRATIVE ACTION TO EXTEND PAROLE TO LONG TERM CONTRIBUTORS, INCLUDING DREAMERS, WITH AND WITHOUT DACA AND IMMIGRANTS WITH IMMEDIATE FAMILY OF U.S. CITIZENS AND REDESIGNATION OF TEMPORARY PROTECTED STATUS. TPS AND DEFERRED ENFORCEMENT. DEPARTURE AND WHEREAS A SUBSTANTIAL MAJORITY OF AMERICANS STRONGLY ENDORSED THE EXTENSION OF WORK PERMITS FOR INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE EMBRACED THE UNITED STATES AS THEIR HOME AND HAVE OVER DECADES WORKED DILIGENTLY, PAY TAXES, RAISE FAMILIES, STARTED BUSINESSES, BOUGHT HOMES, AND MADE LONG TERM CONTRIBUTIONS.

AND WHEREAS THE EXPANSION OF THE EXISTING PAROLE PROGRAM THAT WOULD EXTEND WORK PERMITS TO LONG TERM CONTRIBUTORS IS NOT ONLY THE MORALLY RIGHT THING TO DO FOR OUR COMMUNITIES, BUT ALSO

[00:30:02]

A STRATEGIC MOVE FOR THE ECONOMY THAT COULD RESULT IN HIGHER WAGES, INCREASED TAX CONTRIBUTIONS ESTIMATED AT $13.8 BILLION ANNUALLY, AND WORKPLACE PROTECTIONS FOR VULNERABLE MEMBERS OF OUR COMMUNITIES. AND WHEREAS LEGAL SCHOLARS AFFIRM PRESIDENTIAL AUTHORITY TO EXTEND WORK PERMITS TO LONG TERM IMMIGRANTS AND THE BACKING OF 80 PLUS MEMBERS OF CONGRESS, AMERICAN BUSINESS, IMMIGRATION COALITIONS, 300 PLUS EMPLOYERS, CEOS, AND ASSOCIATIONS, AS WELL AS LABOR ORGANIZATIONS LIKE THE SEIU, UNITE HERE, TEAMSTERS AND UNITED AUTO WORKERS, UAW UNDERSCORES THE BROAD SUPPORT ON THIS MATTER. AND NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, THAT THE COUNTY THAT THE COUNTY OF EL PASO RESPECTFULLY URGES PRESIDENT BIDEN AND HIS ADMINISTRATION TO UTILIZE ITS STATUTORY AUTHORITY TO ESTABLISH NEW WORK PERMIT PROGRAMS FOR LONG TERM UNDOCUMENTED IMMIGRANTS WHO HAVE SIGNIFICANTLY CONTRIBUTED TO THE US ECONOMY, RAISED FAMILIES, AND EMBODIED THE AMERICAN DREAM, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO UNDOCUMENTED IMMIGRANTS WITH IMMEDIATE FAMILY OF US CITIZENS, DREAMERS WHO ARE INELIGIBLE, INELIGIBLE FOR DACA, AND LONG TERM WORKERS. AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, THE COUNTY OF EL PASO COMMENDS I'M SORRY, COMMENDS THE USE OF EXECUTIVE AUTHORITY TO EXPAND WORK PERMIT ACCESS FOR AMERICA'S LONG TERM IMMIGRANT COMMUNITIES WHO HAVE WAITED RELIEF FOR DECADES AS THIS POLICY WOULD BENEFIT WORKERS NATIONWIDE BY SHIELDING IMMIGRANTS FROM EXPLOITATION AND ENABLING THEM TO SEEK JOBS THAT MATCH THEIR SKILLS, THEREBY FOSTERING BETTER WORKING ENVIRONMENTS AND INCREASING THE ANNUAL TAX REVENUE. AND BE IT FINALLY, FINALLY RESOLVED THAT THE COUNTY OF EL PASO RECOGNIZES IMMIGRANTS AS VALUED MEMBERS OF OUR COMMUNITY AND URGES PRESIDENT BIDEN, HIS ADMINISTRATION, AND CONGRESS TO HONOR THEIR HUMAN DIGNITY BY GRANTING THEM THE NECESSARY IMMIGRATION RELIEF, PASSING A COMPREHENSIVE IMMIGRATION REFORM, AND CREATING OPPORTUNITIES TO CHANGE THE TIDE FROM CRISIS. TO SUPPORT FOR NEW ARRIVALS AND LONG TERM UNDOCUMENTED RESIDENTS. SIGNED THIS THIRD DAY OF JUNE 2020 FOR THE HONORABLE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS COURT. WE HAVE A MOTION FROM COMMISSIONER STOUT AND A SECOND FROM COUNTY JUDGE SAMANIEGO. THE VOTING IS OPEN. MOTION CARRIES. THANK YOU. CAESAR DISAGREE. GOOD MORNING EVERYONE. GOOD MORNING. MY NAME IS DESIREE MANZANARES AND I'M THE PUBLIC POLICY ADVOCATE FOR THE EL PASO HISPANIC CHAMBER OF COMMERCE. AND I JUST WANT TO COME HERE WITH SOME NUMBERS, HARD NUMBERS FOR YOU GUYS TO TAKE A LISTEN TO. SO OF COURSE, WE STAND WITH COMMISSIONER STOUT AS WELL AS THE AMERICAN BUSINESS IMMIGRATION COALITION, AS WE URGE, ELECTED OFFICIALS AND PRESIDENT BIDEN TO EXPAND WORK AUTHORIZATION TO UNDOCUMENTED IMMIGRANTS, UNDOCUMENTED IMMIGRANTS PLAY A VITAL ROLE IN OUR ECONOMY. THEY HARNESS NEARLY $33.9 BILLION IN SPENDING IN TEXAS. THERE ARE 80 AVAILABLE WORKERS FOR EVERY 100 JOBS NATIONWIDE, AND THERE ARE 8.7 MILLION JOBS OPEN AND ONLY 6.4 MILLION THAT ARE UNEMPLOYED. IF EVERYONE THAT IS A CITIZEN IN THE UNITED STATES HAD A JOB, THERE WOULD STILL BE 2.4 MILLION JOBS OPEN. THE WORK SHORTAGE HAS EVERYTHING TO DO WITH INFLATION. FOOD IS UP 6% IN COST. IT NOW TAKES SIX WEEKS OR LONGER FOR HOME BUILDERS TO BUILD A HOME. THESE ARE JOBS THAT IMMIGRANTS WHO GET SKILLS CAN USE AND WORK.

THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THEM TO MAKE A LIFE HERE FOR THEMSELVES AND TO FEEL WELCOME IN OUR COMMUNITY. THERE'S OVER 46,000 UNDOCUMENTED IMMIGRANTS IN EL PASO, AND NEARLY 67% OF THEM HAVE LIVED HERE FOR OVER A DECADE. THEY ARE OUR NEIGHBORS. THEY WORK AT THE STORES, WE GO TO. THESE ARE OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS. THE EL PASO HISPANIC CHAMBER OF COMMERCE BELIEVES THAT ENTREPRENEURSHIP IS IN THE HANDS OF THESE IMMIGRANTS. WE WANT THEM TO HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO HELP MAKE EL PASO GREATER, TO HELP BUSINESSES GET FURTHER. SO I STAND HERE AND JUST SAY, YOU KNOW, THANK YOU FOR ALL THE WORK YOU DO. COMMISSIONER STOUT, THANK YOU FOR THE RESOLUTION.

AND WE ARE PROUD TO STAND BEHIND THIS DESREY THANK YOU. IT IS SO OBVIOUS WHAT HISPANIC CHAMBER HAS DONE FOR SMALL BUSINESSES. AND IF ANYBODY UNDERSTANDS THE DYNAMICS AND THE IMPORTANCE OF JOB CREATION, IT'S THE HISPANIC CHAMBER. THANKS TO CINDY RAMOS AND YOU, DESIREE AND EVERY AND YOUR TEAM. BUT THANK YOU FOR SUPPORTING SOMETHING AS IMPORTANT AS THIS. THANK YOU.

YES, IF WE CAN PROVIDE ANY FEEDBACK, ANY NUMBERS FOR YOU GUYS, WE'D BE MORE THAN HAPPY TO. YEAH, WE HAVE A GREAT PARTNERSHIP AND IT WILL CONTINUE. THANK YOU FOR YOUR FRIENDSHIP AS WELL. THANK YOU, THANK YOU. GO AHEAD. GOOD MORNING JUDGE. GOOD MORNING COMMISSIONERS, MY NAME IS SARAGA . I'M HERE ON BEHALF OF THE HUNDREDS OF FAMILIES ORGANIZED

[00:35:05]

UNDER THE BORDER NETWORK FOR HUMAN RIGHTS, AND I WANT TO START OFF BY THANKING COMMISSIONER STOUT FOR HIS LEADERSHIP AND HIS HELP IN PRESENTING THIS RESOLUTION. AND I ALSO WANT TO THANK JUAN CARLOS AND HIS TEAM AT THE AMERICAN BUSINESS IMMIGRATION COALITION FOR THEIR LEADERSHIP, THEIR SUPPORT AND THEIR COMMITMENT TO THIS ISSUE. THE BNR IS NO STRANGER TO THE HARSH REALITIES OUR COMMUNITIES ARE FACING. WE ARE NO STRANGER TO THE DEVASTATING IMPACTS OF OUR BROKEN IMMIGRATION SYSTEM, WHICH HAS CRUELLY SEPARATED HUNDREDS OF CHILDREN FROM THEIR PARENTS, A SYSTEM THAT HAS MADE THEM SUSCEPTIBLE TO DANGEROUS WORK CONDITIONS AND EXPLOITATION, AND A SYSTEM THAT HAS FORCED MILLIONS INTO THE SHADOWS OF SOCIETY. WE UNDERSTAND THE URGENT NEED FOR A SOLUTION, ESPECIALLY WHEN TEXAS AND OTHER STATES HAVE UNLEASHED UNPRECEDENTED ATTACKS TOWARDS VULNERABLE UNDOCUMENTED MIGRANT AND REFUGEE COMMUNITIES. AS I WAS PREPARING FOR THIS, I COULDN'T STOP AND REMEMBER WHAT IT FELT LIKE TO BE AT OUR HOGSNORT WELLS EVENT, WHERE WE REUNITE FAMILIES. I STILL CAN'T GET THAT FEELING OUT OF MY CHEST, OF KNOWING THAT THERE'S STILL PARENTS THAT ARE NOT ABLE TO BE WITH THEIR CHILDREN, THEY'RE STILL CHILDREN THAT ARE GROWING UP HERE WITHOUT THEIR PARENTS, WITH WITH SOME OTHER RELATIVES, AND I KNOW THAT THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WOULD IT'S A STEPPING STONE TOWARDS A GREATER SOLUTION. SO TODAY WE PROUDLY SUPPORT THIS RESOLUTION BECAUSE AT ITS CORE, IT REPRESENTS THE BELIEF THAT WE CAN DO MORE THAN CRIMINALIZE IMMIGRANTS, THAT WE CAN DO MORE THAN STRIP THEM OF THEIR HUMANITY. WHAT THIS RESOLUTION AIMS TO DO IS RECOGNIZE IMMIGRANT UNDOCUMENTED COMMUNITIES, DREAMERS, WITH AND WITHOUT DACA AS VALUABLE TO THE SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC FABRIC OF OUR SOCIETY. DESPITE THE ABSENCE OF IMMIGRATION RELIEF, THEY ALL HAVE POSITIVELY CONTRIBUTED TO OUR SOCIETY AS OUR NEIGHBORS, AS TAXPAYERS, AS WORKERS, AS CONSUMERS, AND AS ENTREPRENEURS. THEY ARE THE EMBODIMENT OF THE AMERICAN DREAM AND ARE, AND AS SUCH, ARE DESERVING OF THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE FORMALLY INTEGRATED AND RECOGNIZED INTO OUR AMERICAN SOCIETY. SO TODAY, AS ONE COLLECTIVE VOICE, WE JOINED THIS CALL FOR PRESIDENT BIDEN AND HIS ADMINISTRATION TO ESTABLISH NEW WORK PERMIT PROGRAMS FOR LONG TERM UNDOCUMENTED IMMIGRANTS. AT THE SAME TIME, WE ELEVATE THIS CALL TO CONGRESS. WE URGE THEM TO RESTORE THE HUMAN DIGNITY OF OUR COMMUNITIES BY GRANTING US THE NECESSARY IMMIGRATION RELIEF BY PASSING A COMPREHENSIVE IMMIGRATION REFORM. IT IS TIME TO CREATE OPPORTUNITIES TO CHANGE THE TIDE FROM CRISIS TO ONE THAT SUPPORTS BOTH NEW ARRIVALS AND LONG TERM UNDOCUMENTED RESIDENTS. THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. YOUR ORGANIZATION HAS BEEN JUST INCREDIBLE. KEEPING THINGS THERE IN THE FOREFRONT, AND I WOULD SAY, I MEAN, IF I THINK OF ANYTHING THAT WOULD SOLVE A LOT OF THE ISSUES IS THE ABILITY TO WORK. I CAN TELL YOU THAT I PERSONALLY RECEIVE CALLS FROM AND I KNOW IRENE AND YOU KNOW, ALFONSO AND EVERYONE ABOUT ABOUT GETTING PEOPLE TO GO WORK ALL OVER THE UNITED STATES AND COMMUNITIES HAVE A VERY DIFFICULT TIME ACCEPTING MIGRANTS IF THEY'RE NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO WORK. SO THEY'RE ACTUALLY THEY THEY FEEL LIKE THEY WOULD BE BURNING THEIR COMMUNITY, THEY WANT THEM, BUT THEY DON'T KNOW IF THEY CAN MAINTAIN THE RESOURCES TO BE ABLE TO SATISFY THEM BEING THERE. SO TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF INTEREST, EVEN FROM PLACES LIKE SOUTH DAKOTA, NORTH DAKOTA, ALL OF THESE PLACES, ESPECIALLY AGRICULTURAL IN THE OKLAHOMA AREA. AND IT SEEMS TO ME THAT IT'S SUCH A NECESSARY BARRIER TO SOLVE A HUGE ISSUE, BECAUSE IT'S HARD FOR A COMMUNITY TO BE WELCOMING. THEY TRY. WE'VE SEEN IT IN DENVER AND OTHER PLACES, BUT AS SOON AS THEY GET MORE THAN THEY CAN HANDLE, THEY PUSH BACK ON US. BUT WHEN THEY CONTRIBUTE, THEY DO. AMAZING, THE DISCUSSIONS I'VE HAD WITH IMMIGRANTS, THEY WANT TO WORK. I MEAN, THERE'S NO DOUBT IN MY MIND THAT THEY WANT TO WORK. THEY'RE NOT HERE TO, YOU KNOW, THEY TELL US WE DON'T WANT TO BE HERE TO BURN YOUR COMMUNITY. WE WANT TO BE ABLE TO HELP THE COMMUNITY. AND BY THAT, WE ALSO HELP OURSELVES AND OUR FAMILIES. SO THANK YOU FOR FERNANDO AND EVERYONE THAT HAS BEEN SUCH A SUPPORT IN THIS INITIATIVE. THANK YOU AND THANK ALL OF YOU. THANK YOU. MY GOOD PASTOR AND FRIEND. WELCOME BUENOS DIAS. GOOD MORNING, COUNTY COMMISSIONERS, COUNTY JUDGE.

RECEIVED THE PHONE CALL. IT'S GOING TO KIND OF SOUND KIND OF PERSONAL ABOUT THE HERE TO WORK.

BUT BEFORE I SHARE THE PHONE CALL, I WANT TO THANK YOU GUYS FOR WHAT YOU DO, WHAT YOU STAND FOR, DAVID. AMAZING JOB, EVEN THOUGH YOU'RE NOT HERE PRESENT, WE CAN FEEL YOUR YOUR HEART AND YOUR SPIRIT HERE, ON ON FRIDAY EVENING, I HAD A CONVERSATION. ONE OF THE LOCAL PASTORS AND

[00:40:05]

JUAN CARLOS SAID THAT FROM A BIG GET CLOSER TO. OH, I'M SORRY. I'M SO SORRY. I'M. I'M NOT PREACHING TODAY. OKAY? IT'S A PERSONAL ITEM. IMPOSSIBLE. VERY NEAR AND DEAR TO MY HEART WITH THEIR TO WORK IMMIGRANTS. SO CAN YOU HEAR ME NOW? I CAN THANK YOU, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WAS BROUGHT TO MY ATTENTION THIS PAST FRIDAY WITHIN SEVERAL PASTORS WITHIN THE COMMUNITY, IS THE IMPORTANCE OF KEEPING FAMILIES NOT ONLY TOGETHER, WITHIN THE INTENT OF PROVIDING OR FORMING A COMMUNITY, BUT ALSO GIVING THEM THE HOPE, AND ONE OF THE COMMENTS THAT I SPOKE TO JUAN CARLOS, WHICH IS THE STATE DIRECTOR OF, OF, TEXAS FOR ABQ, IS THE IMPORTANCE OF COMMUNICATING THAT HOPE. AND THIS IS THE RESOLUTION. THAT'S WHAT IT DOES. IT PROVIDES THE DAWN IN THE MONTH OF NOVEMBER OF LAST YEAR. AND I'LL BE SHORT, I PROMISE, WE WENT TO DC TO MARCH, FOR, FOR THIS RESOLUTION THAT'S PRESENT. SO I WANT TO THANK YOU, I'M PRAYING FOR YOU, COUNTY JUDGE, FOR ANOTHER 100 YEARS FOR YOUR LIFE, AND, HE DIDN'T HE DIDN'T SMILE. YOU DIDN'T. YOU'RE NOT SMILING. SHE SAID YES. THANK YOU, BUT, COMMISSIONER CARLOS. LEON. COMMISSIONER. LEON.

COMMISSIONER. STOUT. COMMISSIONER CORONADO, THANK YOU VERY MUCH. AND I WANT YOU TO LET YOU KNOW THAT THE FAITH BASED COMMUNITY HERE IN EL PASO IS PRAYING DEEPLY FOR YOU GUYS AND ARE WILLING TO CORRELATE AND COME TOGETHER SO WE CAN JOIN THIS BATTLE AND BE ON THE FOREFRONT FOR ALL OF OUR IMMIGRANTS HERE IN EL PASO AND ACROSS THE NATION. SO THANK YOU ONCE AGAIN AND GOD BLESS. THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR THE UNITY OF KEEPING THE PASTORS TOGETHER AND SUPPORTING US NOT ONLY IN THIS, BUT IN SO MANY OTHER THINGS. BUT THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR PRAYERS. I TRULY BELIEVE IN THE POWER OF PRAYER AND I THANK YOU FOR THAT. SO 100 YEARS? YES 99 MAYBE BECAUSE. GOOD MORNING. GOOD MORNING. YES. HI, HOW ARE YOU? I'M WELL. HOW ARE YOU? REAL GOOD. THANK YOU. EXCELLENT. MY NAME IS MARISSA LIMON GARCIA. I'M THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF LAS AMERICAS IMMIGRANT ADVOCACY CENTER, A 37 YEAR OLD BINATIONAL ORGANIZATION ACCOMPANYING PEOPLE AT THE INTERSECTION OF POVERTY AND THE US IMMIGRATION SYSTEM. I, COMMISSIONER STOUT, APPRECIATE THE RESOLUTION AND ITS EFFORT TO CALL ON PRESIDENT BIDEN TO TAKE MORE ROBUST ACTION WHEN IT COMES TO WORK AUTHORIZATIONS FOR THE MILLIONS OF SHADOW WORKERS ACTIVELY CONTRIBUTING TO THE US ECONOMY WITHOUT PROTECTION. I INVITE US TO REMEMBER THAT WE DO NOT LIVE IN A ZERO SUM WORLD. WE ARE THE WEALTHIEST COUNTRY ON THE PLANET, AND SO WE, IN AN EFFORT TO PROVIDE SUPPORT FOR ONE GROUP OF IMMIGRANTS, DO NOT NEED TO DEMONIZE ANOTHER GROUP OF IMMIGRANTS, THAT THERE'S ENOUGH FOR EVERYTHING TO GO AROUND. AND SO IN THAT EFFORT, I WANT TO COMPLIMENT THIS PERSPECTIVE BY HIGHLIGHTING A NEW PROGRAM, THAT IS GROUNDED HERE IN ECONOMIC JUSTICE AND IN THE DIGNITY OF WORK IN OUR VERY OWN BACKYARD. AND SO THE OPPORTUNITY FOR INVESTMENT IN THE EL PASO COMMUNITY VIA MIGRANTS RIGHTS TO WORK AND THEIR ECONOMIC EMPOWERMENT IS ALSO SHOWCASED BY THE UNIQUE USCIS WORK AUTHORIZATION PROGRAM, PILOTED IN JUST THREE LOCATIONS ACROSS THE US MEXICO BORDER, INCLUDING SAN DIEGO, BROWNSVILLE AND EL PASO. THE PROGRAM INVOLVES USCIS AGENTS STAFFED AT THE PASO DEL NORTE PORT OF ENTRY, WHO OFFER RAPID BIOMETRICS PROCESSING ON SITE FOR ALL INDIVIDUALS WHO ENTER THE US VIA THE CBP ONE APP. REMEMBER, THIS IS THE TOOL THAT THIS ADMINISTRATION IS USING FOR PEOPLE TO GAIN AUTHORIZED ACCESS TO THE UNITED STATES TO SEEK PROTECTION. THOSE WHO ENTER VIA CBP ONE ARE IMMEDIATELY ELIGIBLE TO APPLY FOR WORK AUTHORIZATION IN THE VAST MAJORITY ELECT TO OPT IN TO BIOMETRICS SO THEY CAN SUBMIT THEIR WORK PERMIT APPLICATIONS WITHIN THE FIRST WEEK OF THEIR ARRIVAL. UPON SUBMISSION, THESE APPLICATIONS ARE ADJUDICATED WITHIN A FRACTION OF THE TIME WORK AUTHORIZATION PERMITS ARE TYPICALLY LEFT PENDING, WITH MOST BEING ADJUDICATED AND THE CARDS ISSUED TO THE APPLICANTS WITHIN 30 DAYS OF SUBMISSION. TO FACILITATE ACCESS TO THIS PILOT BORDER SERVANT CORPS WITH THE SUPPORT OF LAS AMERICAS AND ESTRELLA DEL PASO, UTILIZE FEDERAL FUNDING TO ESTABLISH LEGAL WORKSHOPS AT THE VISTA NUEVA LOCATION, ALLOWING SERVICE PROVIDERS LIKE US TO STAND UP WORK PERMIT CLINICS WHERE LEGAL REPRESENTATIVES AND VOLUNTEERS WORK ALONGSIDE NEWLY PAROLED INDIVIDUALS TO COMPLETE AND MAIL OUT THEIR APPLICATIONS WITHIN 24 TO 48 HOURS OF THEIR ENTRY INTO THE UNITED STATES. ALREADY WITHIN JUST ONE MONTH, LAS AMERICAS AND ESTRELLA RAN CLINICS AT VISTA NUEVA, FACILITATED THE APPLICATIONS OF MORE THAN 400 INDIVIDUALS. HOWEVER, THIS CRITICAL SERVICE AND OPPORTUNITY FOR THE CITY AND COUNTY TO BUILD UP A NEWLY READY AND ABLE WORKFORCE IS UNDER THREAT, AND AS A DIRECT RESULT OF PARTIZAN POLITICS BLOCKING BORDER SERVANT CORPS IN THEIR EFFORTS AND THEIR ACCESS TO CRITICAL FUNDS DESIGNATED FOR HUMANITARIAN RELIEF AT OUR BORDER. THIS RESOLUTION OFFERS A KEY OPPORTUNITY FOR EL PASO TO TAKE A LEADING VOICE IN BRIDGING THE CONNECTION BETWEEN ECONOMIC EMPOWERMENT, LOCAL INVESTMENT AND SUPPORT FOR NEW AND LONGSTANDING NEIGHBORS SEEKING

[00:45:02]

OPPORTUNITY TO PROVIDE FOR THEMSELVES AND THEIR FAMILIES. AND SO WE CHAMPION THIS EFFORT.

WE WELCOME IT. WE ALSO CELEBRATE THE EFFORTS THAT HAVE BEEN DONE BY THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION TO ENSURE THAT NEWCOMERS AND NEIGHBORS ALIKE HAVE ACCESS TO THE DIGNITY OF WORK THAT SO MANY OF US ENJOY. WE ARE IN A CAPITALIST WORLD, AND THERE'S NO WAY TO MAKE ENDS MEET WITHOUT WORK. AND WE KNOW THAT THE DIGNITY THAT COMES WITH A PROTECTED LABOR IS INCREDIBLY HELPFUL AND CAN CHANGE THE TRAJECTORY OF A PERSON'S LIFE. SO WE JUST ADD THIS INFORMATION TO COMPLEMENT YOUR PERSPECTIVE ON WHAT'S HAPPENING IN OUR REGION AND THE KIND OF INVESTMENTS THAT THIS ADMINISTRATION CAN MAKE WHEN THEY WANT TO, TO SUPPORT THE ECONOMIC ENGINE OF A COMMUNITY LIKE OURS WITH NEWCOMERS WHO WILL HELP OUR COUNTRY FLOURISH AS WELL AS PEOPLE WHO'VE BEEN HELPING OUR COUNTRY FLOURISH IN THE SHADOWS FOR DECADES. THANK YOU, THANK YOU. MARISA HAS NEVER BEEN SHY ABOUT, YOU KNOW, STANDING UP FOR THE RIGHTS AND THE HUMAN RIGHTS. SO WE'RE VERY FORTUNATE TO HAVE A PERSON LIKE MARISA IN OUR COMMUNITY. THANK YOU. ANYONE ELSE YOU WANT TO. OKAY, WELL, THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. WE'VE GOT ANOTHER ITEM THAT WILL BE VERY MUCH IN ALIGNMENT, WITH OUR CONVERSATION TODAY. SO WE THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING HERE. THANK YOU. YEAH. JUST JUDGE JUST JUST WANTED TO JUST WANTED TO ADD THAT, YOU KNOW, I, RECENTLY READ THAT THAT , THE PRESIDENT MAY BE, LOOKING TO TIGHTEN ASYLUM RULES AND GOING THE WRONG DIRECTION INSTEAD OF INSTEAD OF DOING WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT HERE IS, YOU KNOW, TIGHTENING OF ASYLUM AND GOING BACK TO SOME, TO SIMILAR POLICIES THAT WERE IMPLEMENTED UNDER THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION. AND SO THAT MAKES IT EVEN MORE IMPORTANT THAT, THOSE ARE, THAT ARE HERE, THAT THEY BE ABLE TO APPLY AND, AND FOR, FOR, WORK, WORK PERMITS AND RECEIVE EXPEDITED WORK PERMITS AND, AND BE ABLE TO WORK AND OF COURSE, THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN HERE MANY YEARS, ESPECIALLY THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN HERE MANY YEARS AS, AS, AS WAS STATED IN THE RESOLUTION.

SO, AGAIN, I JUST WANT TO THANK ALL OF THE ORGANIZATIONS WHO, DAY IN AND DAY OUT, CONTINUE THIS WORK AND ESPECIALLY THE ADVOCACY FOR POLICIES THAT THAT ARE NOT RESTRICTIVE, THAT, ARE WELCOMING. I THINK THAT WE JUST, WE, WE COULD WE COULD I THINK WE COULD FIX THINGS EASILY, YOU KNOW, I MEAN, MORE PATHWAYS FOR, FOR FOLKS TO COME TO THIS COUNTRY AND WORK. IT'S THERE'S NO, I THINK, DOUBT IN OUR MINDS THAT THAT WE NEED THESE FOLKS AND, AND, THAT THEY ARE, SUCH A GREAT BENEFIT TO OUR COMMUNITIES AND TO OUR SOCIETY. AND, YOU KNOW, THESE ORGANIZATIONS THAT STOOD UP TODAY AND THAT WERE PART OF CREATING THIS RESOLUTION AND WERE PART OF THAT PILOT PROGRAM, YOU KNOW, REALLY, REALLY EMBODIED EMBODY THAT THAT EFFORT AND THAT WORK. SO THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER STOUT, FOR SOUNDING THE ALARM AND, AND FOR RALLYING SUCH AN IMPORTANT THING. I THINK WE ALL KNOW AND FEEL THE IMPORTANCE OF, OF JOB CREATIONS AND WHAT IT MEANS TO THE DIGNITY OF INDIVIDUALS COMING TO OUR COMMUNITY. SO THANK YOU, CESAR.

NUMBER ITEM NUMBER FIVE, BE APPROVING. ADOPT A RESOLUTION DECLARING JUNE 2024 AS IMMIGRANT HERITAGE MONTH AND JUNE 20TH, 2024 AS WORLD REFUGEE DAY IN EL PASO COUNTY, TEXAS. COMMISSIONER

[B. Approve and adopt a resolution declaring June 2024 as Immigrant Heritage Month and June 20, 2024, as World Refugee Day in El Paso County, Texas. Iliana Holguin, Commissioner, Precinct 3, 915-546-2144]

OLGUIN, THANK YOU, JUDGE, IT'S MY HONOR TO PRESENT THIS RESOLUTION, WHICH CONTINUES WITH THE THEME OF THE MORNING, WHICH IS RECOGNIZING THE IMMENSE CONTRIBUTIONS THAT IMMIGRANTS AND REFUGEES MAKE TO OUR COMMUNITIES, AND THEN PERHAPS JUDGE AFTER THIS RESOLUTION, WE CAN GET ALL OF OUR COMMUNITY PARTNERS FOR BOTH RESOLUTIONS TO COME UP SO WE CAN TAKE ONE BIG GROUP PHOTO. THANK YOU, SO AS I READ THE RESOLUTION, I KNOW THAT WE HAVE, DYLAN FROM HOPE BORDER INSTITUTE IS HERE, PASTOR TIMOTHY MELISSA FROM ESTRELLA DEL PASO, MARISSA FROM LAS AMERICAS. WHOEVER WOULD LIKE TO MAKE SOME REMARKS, PLEASE GO AHEAD AND MAKE YOUR WAY UP TO THE PODIUM. YEAH. GO AHEAD. WHEREAS EL PASO COUNTY IS A COMMUNITY RICH IN CULTURAL DIVERSITY WITH A SIGNIFICANT PORTION OF ITS POPULATION COMPRISED OF IMMIGRANTS AND REFUGEES WHO CONTRIBUTE TO THE VIBRANT CULTURAL, TAPESTRY AND ECONOMIC VITALITY OF THE REGION.

AND WHEREAS IMMIGRATION HAS BEEN ESSENTIAL TO EL PASO COUNTY'S HISTORY, AND IMMIGRANTS HAVE PLAYED A VITAL ROLE IN SHAPING THE UNIQUE CHARACTER AND IDENTITY OF OUR COMMUNITY. AND WHEREAS IMMIGRANTS CONTINUE TO BE A SIGNIFICANT SOURCE OF OUR WORKFORCE, CONTRIBUTING THEIR TALENTS, SKILLS AND DIVERSE PERSPECTIVES TO EVERY SECTOR OF OUR ECONOMY, AND WHEREAS IMMIGRANT OWNED BUSINESSES ARE A DRIVING FORCE IN EL PASO COUNTY'S ECONOMIC GROWTH, CREATING JOBS, FOSTERING INNOVATION, AND ENRICHING THE CULTURAL TAPESTRY OF OUR COMMUNITY. AND WHEREAS THE CULTURAL DIVERSITY BROUGHT BY IMMIGRANTS STRENGTHENS THE

[00:50:02]

SOCIAL FABRIC OF EL PASO COUNTY, MAKING IT A VIBRANT AND WELCOMING PLACE TO LIVE. AND WHEREAS IMMIGRANT HERITAGE MONTH, CELEBRATED ANNUALLY IN JUNE, PROVIDES AN OPPORTUNITY TO HONOR THE ENDURING CONTRIBUTIONS OF IMMIGRANTS WHO HAVE SHAPED THE HISTORY, CULTURE AND ECONOMY OF THE UNITED STATES, AND TO ACKNOWLEDGE THEIR SACRIFICES AND RESILIENCE. AND WHEREAS WORLD REFUGEE DAY OBSERVED ON JUNE 20TH, IS DESIGNATED BY THE UNITED NATIONS TO RECOGNIZE THE STRENGTH AND COURAGE OF REFUGEES AROUND THE GLOBE AND TO FOSTER UNDERSTANDING AND SUPPORT FOR INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE BEEN FORCED TO FLEE THEIR HOME COUNTRIES DUE TO PERSECUTION, CONFLICT, OR VIOLENCE, AND WHEREAS EL PASO COUNTY HAS A LONG STANDING TRADITION OF WELCOMING IMMIGRANTS AND REFUGEES, AND VALUES THE RICH CONTRIBUTIONS THEY MAKE TO OUR SOCIETY, INCLUDING ENHANCING CULTURAL UNDERSTANDING, FOSTERING INNOVATION AND DRIVING ECONOMIC GROWTH AND WHEREAS, THE COUNTY OF EL PASO REAFFIRMS ITS COMMITMENT TO PROVIDING A SAFE AND INCLUSIVE ENVIRONMENT FOR ALL RESIDENTS, REGARDLESS OF THEIR COUNTRY OF ORIGIN, AND TO SUPPORTING INITIATIVES THAT PROMOTE INTEGRATION, CULTURAL EXCHANGE AND EQUAL OPPORTUNITY.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED THAT THE EL PASO COUNTY COMMISSIONERS COURT, IN RECOGNITION OF THE HISTORY OF OUR IMMIGRANT COMMUNITIES PAST AND PRESENT, DECLARES THE MONTH OF JUNE 2024 AS IMMIGRANT HERITAGE MONTH. AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT THE EL PASO COUNTY COMMISSIONERS COURT, IN ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF THE COURAGE AND CONTRIBUTIONS OF REFUGEES WHO HAVE FOUND A NEW HOME IN OUR COMMUNITY, DECLARES THE 20TH DAY OF JUNE 2024 AS WORLD REFUGEE DAY IN OFFICIAL RECOGNITION THEREOF, THE COMMISSIONERS COURT HEREBY AFFIXES THEIR SIGNATURES.

THIS THIRD DAY OF JUNE 2024. WE HAVE A MOTION FROM COMMISSIONER OLGUIN AND A SECOND FROM COUNTY JUDGE SAMANIEGO. THE MEETING, THE VOTING IS OPEN. MOTION CARRIES. THANK YOU. AND BEFORE WE HAND OVER THE MICROPHONE TO OUR AMAZING NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION HERE IN EL PASO, WORKING WITH THE IMMIGRANT COMMUNITY, I JUST WANT TO THANK REALLY QUICKLY A COUPLE OF OUR COUNTY EMPLOYEES, MY INTERN FOR THE SUMMER, CAMILA GUERRERO, FOR ALL OF HARD WORK, HER HARD WORK ON THIS RESOLUTION, AND OF COURSE, LAURA GONZALEZ FLORES FROM OUR OFFICE OF NEW AMERICANS. THEY BOTH DO. THEY DID A LOT OF WORK ON THIS RESOLUTION, AND I WANT TO THANK BOTH OF THEM FOR THEIR HELP. ALL RIGHT. WHO'S GOING TO GO FIRST? DYLAN YES. GOOD MORNING. GOOD MORNING, JUDGE SAMANIEGO, COMMISSIONERS. STOUT. LEON AND CORONADO, THANK YOU SO MUCH, COMMISSIONER OLGUIN, FOR PREPARING AND PRESENTING THIS RESOLUTION DECLARING JUNE 20TH, 2024, IMMIGRANT HERITAGE MONTH AND JUNE 20TH WORLD REFUGEE DAY IN EL PASO COUNTY. MY NAME IS MELISSA LOPEZ. I'M THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF ESTRELLA DEL PASO, KNOWN FORMALLY AS DIOCESAN MIGRANT AND REFUGEE SERVICES, AS IT WILL FOREVER BE KNOWN TO COMMISSIONER. YES, I'M TELLING YOU THAT RIGHT NOW. I'M SORRY. MIGRATION HERITAGE IS LOOSELY DEFINED AS PEOPLE'S EXPERIENCE OF LEAVING ONE COUNTRY AND CULTURE, TRAVELING, SETTLING IN AND ADAPTING TO A NEW CULTURE AND PLACE, BECOMING FAMILIAR WITH IT AND ITS PEOPLE, AND CONTINUING AND ADAPTING TRADITIONAL CULTURE. THERE IS NO BETTER PLACE FOR SOME TO SETTLE, FOR SOMEONE TO SETTLE AND ADAPT TO A NEW CULTURE THAN EL PASO. WE ARE A WELCOMING COMMUNITY THAT HAS HELPED TENS OF THOUSANDS OF IMMIGRANTS. THROUGHOUT THE HISTORY OF OUR COMMUNITY. WE HAVE FLOURISHED AND BEEN ENRICHED BY THE CULTURE, FOOD, CUSTOMS AND LANGUAGE OF THOSE WHO COME TO OUR COMMUNITY. FOR NEARLY 40 YEARS, ORGANIZATIONS LIKE ESTRELLA DEL PASO AND LAS AMERICAS IMMIGRANT ADVOCACY CENTER HAVE ENSURED THAT WELL OVER HALF A MILLION INDIVIDUALS HAVE RECEIVED LEGAL REPRESENTATION TO AID IN THEIR ADJUSTMENT AND MOVE TO OUR COUNTRY. IN THE PAST TEN YEARS, WE HAVE WORKED WITH THE HOPE BORDER INSTITUTE TO WORK ON ISSUES BEYOND THE LEGAL AND VENTURED INTO TRUE POLICY ADVOCACY FOR OUR INDIVIDUAL CLIENTS AND FOR OUR COMMUNITY, STATE AND NATION. I'M TRULY GRATEFUL FOR THE WORK OF THE COUNTY OF EL PASO HAS HAS UNDERTAKEN ON BEHALF OF IMMIGRANTS UNDER THE GUIDANCE OF THIS BODY, JUDGE SAMANIEGO AND THE OTHER MEMBERS OF THE COMMISSIONER'S COURT, YOU HAVE BEEN AT THE FOREFRONT OF STANDING UP AND DOING WHAT IS RIGHT AND JUST WHEN IT COMES TO SERVING IMMIGRANTS BY PROVIDING HOUSING, SUPPORTING THE HOUSING NETWORK, PROVIDING CASE MANAGEMENT TO INDIVIDUALS, TO ENSURE THAT THEY CAN MAKE IT TO THEIR FINAL DESTINATION IN THE UNITED STATES. AMONGST A LIST OF MANY OTHER THINGS THAT THE COUNTY DOES, TIME AND AGAIN, YOU HAVE SPOKEN OUT AGAINST INDIVIDUALS, STATES AND GOVERNMENT ENTITIES WHO AIM TO VILLAINIZE IMMIGRANTS AND MAKE THEM THE SCAPEGOATS FOR EVERYTHING NEGATIVE THAT HAPPENS IN OUR NATION. TIME AND AGAIN, YOU HAVE SPOKEN OUT AGAINST OPERATION LONE STAR AND THE HARMFUL IMPACTS IT HAS HAD IN OUR COMMUNITY. GOVERNOR ABBOTT AND THE TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF HOME, OF PUBLIC SAFETY HAVE MADE EL PASO STREETS DANGEROUS. THEY HAVE UNDERTAKEN A CAMPAIGN TO

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ARREST AS MANY IMMIGRANTS AS THEY CAN, BECAUSE THEY BELIEVE THAT JAILING PEOPLE WILL DETER OTHERS FROM COMING TO THE UNITED STATES. WE'VE SEEN THE DANGER OF THIS RHETORIC BEFORE IN 2019.

THIS RHETORIC BROUGHT A MURDERER TO OUR COMMUNITY. I STAND BEFORE YOU TODAY TO THANK YOU FOR ALL YOU HAVE DONE, BUT I HAVE TO FOLLOW YOUR LEAD AND SPEAK UP WHEN I BELIEVE THAT WE AS A COMMUNITY AND AS LEADERS ARE MAKING A BAD DECISION. I KNOW THAT THE COUNTY HAS SUBMITTED A REQUEST TO THE STATE OF TEXAS FOR MONEY TO EXPAND THE EL PASO COUNTY JAIL SYSTEM, BECAUSE OF THE HIGH NUMBERS OF ARRESTS UNDER OPERATION LONE STAR. WE ALL KNOW THAT THE REASON WE ALL KNOW THE REASONS THE COUNTY SUBMITTED THE REQUEST, BUT WE ALSO KNOW THAT ACCEPTING MONEY FROM THE STATE OF TEXAS WILL ENTANGLE EL PASO COUNTY IN FURTHERING THE MISSION AND DAY TO DAY WORK OF OPERATION LONE STAR. INSTEAD OF ADVOCATES SPEAKING OUT AGAINST A PROBLEMATIC POLICY, THE COUNTY OF EL PASO BECOMES A WILLING PARTICIPANT. AS A PARTICIPANT, THE COUNTY CAN NO LONGER CONTINUE THE WORK OF WELCOMING AND SUPPORTING IMMIGRANTS.

INSTEAD, EL PASO COUNTY WILL BECOME JUST ANOTHER TOOL IN GOVERNOR ABBOTT'S TOOL CHEST TO ARREST AND DETAIN PEOPLE WHO ARE FLEEING THEIR COUNTRIES WITH NO REGARD FOR THE REASONS WHY THEY LEFT. TODAY'S RESOLUTION IS WHO WE ARE AS A COUNTY AND AS A COMMUNITY, A WELCOMING COMMUNITY THAT SEES THE BEAUTY IN EVERY SINGLE HUMAN BEING THAT WALKS INTO OUR COMMUNITY, REGARDLESS OF THE DECISIONS THEY HAD TO MAKE TO GET HERE OR WHY THEY CAME. BECAUSE AS THE POET WARSAN SHIRE SAID, NO ONE LEAVES HOME UNLESS HOME IS THE MOUTH OF A SHARK. SHE FURTHER SAID, YOU HAVE TO UNDERSTAND THAT NO ONE PUTS THEIR CHILDREN IN A BOAT UNLESS WATER IS SAFER THAN LAND.

EL PASO COUNTY IS NOT OPERATION LONE STAR. WE ARE NOT THE NARROW MINDED INDIVIDUALS WHO ESCAPED SCAPEGOAT IMMIGRANTS. WE ARE A COMMUNITY THAT LOVES, ACCEPTS, AND WELCOMES THEM. THANK YOU, THANK YOU. IT WILL BE TAKEN TO HEART WHAT YOU JUST SAID. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER OLGUIN, FOR THIS, RESOLUTION. JUDGE SAMANIEGO AND THE MEMBERS OF THE COURT, SALOMON GARZA, AGAIN FROM LAS AMERICAS IMMIGRANT ADVOCACY CENTER. WE CERTAINLY APPRECIATE THE MESSAGE OF HERITAGE, UPLIFTING THE CONTRIBUTIONS OF IMMIGRANTS TO OUR REGION AND TO OUR COUNTY.

WE'RE AN ORGANIZATION MADE UP OF IMMIGRANTS AND THE CHILDREN OF IMMIGRANTS. AND DAILY WE WALK WITH PEOPLE SEEKING RELIEF AND RECOGNITION THROUGH THE PATCHWORK OF COURTS, AGENCIES AND SYSTEMS BUILT UP AROUND IMMIGRATION. THIS RESOLUTION COMES AT AN INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT TIME FOR OUR REGION, OUR STATE, AND OUR COUNTRY. WE LIVE IN AN UNPRECEDENTED TIME OF GLOBAL MIGRATION, OVER 100 MILLION PEOPLE AND COUNTING ARE ON THE MOVE THROUGHOUT THE WORLD. WHAT WE SEE AT OUR SOUTHERN BORDER IS ONE SMALL PIECE OF THIS LARGER PHENOMENON KNOWN AS FRONTERIZOS.

WE KNOW THIS FIRSTHAND. WE LIVE IT DAILY. I CHALLENGE YOU IN THE BROADER COMMUNITY TO SEE THE IMMIGRANTS OFTEN MADE OUT AS THE OTHER, WITH MUCH MORE NUANCE THAN OFTENTIMES PORTRAYED. SO LET'S TAKE THE MOST INCLUSIVE DEFINITION POSSIBLE. THE IMMIGRANT IS THE NEIGHBOR WHOSE FAMILY CAME TO THE UNITED STATES FLEEING THE MEXICAN REVOLUTION. SHE'S THE PERSON WHO'S LIVED HERE FOR DECADES, PROVIDING FOR HER CHILDREN AND COMMUNITY. AFTER HER TOURIST VISA EXPIRED.

HE'S A FARM WORKER EKING OUT, EKING BY ON EACH POUND OF HARVEST SHE IS A FIRST GEN AEROSPACE ENGINEER, COMPLETING HER STUDIES AT UTEP. HE'S AN ENTREPRENEUR THAT SEES THE VALUE OF A BINATIONAL REGION. FOR HIS WORK, SHE SEEKS PROTECTION FROM CORRUPTION AND VIOLENCE THAT IMPEDES HER FAMILY'S ABILITY TO SURVIVE. LET ALONE THRIVE. A TRUE RECOGNITION OF IMMIGRANT HERITAGE CELEBRATES AND RECOGNIZES ALL THIS INCLUSIVE APPROACH ALLOWS US TO TAKE A LOOK AT THE BIGGER PICTURE, AND BY DOING SO, THIS RESOLUTION CAN MOVE US PAST RECOGNITION AND COMMIT US TO ACTION. LIKE DEMOCRACY. THE TRUE RECOGNITION OF A HERITAGE REQUIRES MAINTENANCE AND PRACTICE. IT'S MADE MANIFEST BY POLICY CHOICES AND DECISIONS. IT TAKES WORDS AND PUTS THEM INTO ACTION. 14 YEARS AGO THIS FRIDAY, A 15 YEAR OLD MEXICAN BOY WAS FATALLY SHOT BY A US BORDER PATROL AGENT IN A CONCRETE CULVERT BETWEEN THE UNITED STATES AND MEXICO. MANY OF YOU ON THIS DAIS RECALL HOW OUR COMMUNITY RESPONDED IN HORROR. SADLY, CONDITIONS ARE RIPE FOR THIS TRAGEDY TO PLAY OUT AGAIN, A TRUE THREAT TO IMMIGRANTS AND ALL BORDERLAND RESIDENTS. AND OUR 2024 REALITY IS VASTLY DIFFERENT FROM 2010. NOWADAYS, OPERATION LONE STAR AND LAWS LIKE SB FOUR THREATEN OUR WAY OF LIFE, OUR WELL-BEING, AND OUR VALUES. COPYCAT VERSIONS OF THESE LAWS ARE ON THE BOOKS IN A GROWING NUMBER OF RIGHT LEANING STATES ACROSS THE

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COUNTRY. THE PAST PRESIDENT, REGARDLESS OF HIS RECENT CONVICTION, HAS MADE HIS PLAN TO DEPORT MILLIONS OF IMMIGRANTS ACROSS THIS COUNTRY VERY PUBLIC. I BELIEVE IT'S THE INFRASTRUCTURE THAT COMES WITH OPERATION LONE STAR AND SB FOUR THAT WILL MAKE THIS VISION A REALITY IF LEFT UNCHECKED. THIS IMMIGRANT HERITAGE MONTH WE CALL ON YOU TO RESIST THOSE UNCHECKED EFFORTS BY THE STATE OF TEXAS TO FORCE US OUT OF ALIGNMENT WITH OUR VALUES AND OUR BELIEF IN THE DIGNITY AND WORTH OF ALL IMMIGRANTS. TO HONOR AN IMMIGRANT IS TO BE IN SOLIDARITY WITH AN IMMIGRANT, NOT ENFORCED OPPOSITION. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MARISSA. THANK YOU. GOOD MORNING EVERYBODY. WELCOME, DYLAN. THANK YOU. THANK YOU COMMISSIONER OLGUIN, FOR THIS IMPORTANT RESOLUTION. I WANT TO THANK THE JUDGE AND THE ENTIRE COURT TO FOR YOUR DEFENSE OF THE RIGHTS AND DIGNITY OF THOSE WHO MIGRATE. AND ALSO, COMMISSIONER STOUT, FOR HIS PREVIOUS RESOLUTION. I ALSO WANT TO RECOGNIZE TO THE COUNTY STAFF FOR THE AMAZING WORK THAT THEY DO, WHICH MAKES EL PASO PROUD. IN SOME WAYS. IT'S EASY TO DEFEND EL PASO'S HERITAGE. THIS IS A COMMUNITY DEEPLY COMMITTED TO THE LIFE AND DIGNITY OF THOSE WHO MIGRATE. WE ARE BLESSED WITH MANY LEADERS, MANY FAITH COMMUNITIES AND ORGANIZATIONS THAT PUT THESE VALUES INTO PRACTICE EVERY DAY. CLEARLY, MY COLLEAGUES, MELISSA AND MARISSA, BUT WE NEED TO BE CLEAR EYED TODAY, OUR HERITAGE AS A WELCOMING COMMUNITY IS UNDER REAL THREAT, AND IT MAY NOT BE SO EASY TO DEFEND IN THE FUTURE. THIS WEEKEND, I WAS OUT AT THE BORDER WALL WITH ABOUT A HALF A DOZEN DOCTORS AND MY TEAM PROVIDING MEDICAL CARE TO THOSE AT THE THRESHOLD OF THE CONCERTINA WIRE. AMONG THOSE IN NEED OF CARE WERE THOSE WITH WOUNDS AND INJURIES FROM PEPPER BALLS AND RUBBER BULLETS INFLICTED BY OUR TEXAS NATIONAL GUARD SATURDAY EVENING, WE PROVIDED PSYCHOLOGICAL FIRST AID TO A WOMAN WHOSE CHILD AND HUSBAND MADE IT THROUGH THE WIRE, BUT SHE HERSELF WAS PUSHED BACK BY THE GUARD WHEN SHE GOT CAUGHT ON THE WIRE. AND THEN SHE WAS BERATED AND DEMEANED BY A GUARDSMAN AS A BAD MOTHER. THIS IS WHAT WE CALL OPERATION LONE STAR, AND IT IS A STAIN ON OUR HERITAGE. YOU KNOW IT WELL. AS BEFORE, THE DEADLY HIGH SPEED CHASES THE BORDER, DEATHS, OUR DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S DECISION TO ARREST AND RE-ARREST, AND INDICT AND DETAIN AND CLOG OUR JAIL AND PURSUE MISDEMEANOR CHARGES IN CASES WHICH HAVE BEEN DISMISSED BY JUDGES MULTIPLE TIMES. ALL OF THIS IS AS EXPENSIVE AND DRAINING ON OUR COUNTY'S RESOURCES AS IT IS IMMORAL, AND AN ASSAULT ON OUR HERITAGE. AT THE MOMENT. YOU'RE ALSO CONSIDERING SOMETHING WHICH WILL HAVE A DEFINITE BEARING ON OUR HERITAGE. THE EXPANSION OF COUNTY DETENTION SPACE, AND TO APPLY FOR OPERATION LONE STAR RESOURCES TO DO IT. YES, IT IS BECAUSE OF THE GOVERNOR'S OUTRAGEOUSLY EXPENSIVE, ILLEGAL AND PERFORMATIVE IMMIGRATION ENFORCEMENT REGIME AT THE BORDER. BUT AS STEWARDS OF OUR RESOURCES AND OUR HERITAGE, I URGE YOU TO PROCEED WITH THE GREATEST CAUTION. THIS MAY SEEM LIKE AN ISOLATED FINANCIAL DECISION, BUT IT WOULD ENMESH OUR COUNTY MORE DEEPLY INTO THE SORDID BUSINESS OF IMMIGRANT DETENTION. THIS MAY BE A DEAL WITH THE DEVIL, WHICH OFFERS US A BARGAIN TODAY, BUT AT WHAT COST? TOMORROW IT MAY PERHAPS INVOLVE PASSING AN EMERGENCY DECLARATION AS PART OF THE PACKAGE, WHICH, MAKE NO MISTAKE, WOULD OFFER BALLAST IN SUPPORT OF THE GOVERNOR'S SUPREMACIST TROPE OF INVASION. AN EMERGENCY DECLARATION WOULD GUARANTEE EVEN MORE PEOPLE TO PAY FOR IN OUR COUNTY JAILS BECAUSE, AS WE'VE ALREADY SEEN IN OTHER COUNTIES, THESE EMERGENCY DECLARATIONS BUMP UP CLASSES OF MISDEMEANORS. MAKE NO MISTAKE, GOVERNOR ABBOTT WILL NOT STOP. HE WILL CONTINUE DRAWING THE COUNTY DEEPER AND DEEPER INTO HIS OWN ILLEGAL ENFORCEMENT REGIME. THE EXPANSION OF DETENTION SPACE UNDER BOOT OF THE GOVERNOR IS ALSO A DRY RUN FOR TWO THINGS.

FIRST, FOR SB FOUR, IF AND WHEN IT COMES INTO EFFECT, AND A PRACTICE RUN FOR SOMETHING MORE SINISTER. SHOULD TRUMP BE ELECTED, HE HAS ALREADY STATED THAT HE WILL USE GOVERNOR THE GOVERNOR'S LONE STAR IN SB FOUR APPROACH AS HIS MEANS OF MASS DEPORTATION. WE HAVE LIVED THIS BEFORE. THIS IS NO EMPTY THREAT AND SO THE QUESTION REALLY IS, ARE WE BUILDING THE INFRASTRUCTURE OF THE TRUMP DEPORTATION MACHINE AT THE END OF 22 CAME THE NATIONAL GUARD, AND THEN THE HUMVEES AND THE CONCERTINA WIRE, THEN DPS, THEN THE HIGH SPEED CHASES, THEN AS BEFORE, THEN THE ATTACK ON ANNUNCIATION HOUSE. IT WILL NOT STOP AND IT WILL BECOME NORMALIZED UNLESS THERE IS MEANINGFUL RESISTANCE. AS COMMISSIONER STOUT MENTIONED THAT TOMORROW THE PRESIDENT WILL ANNOUNCE TRUMP STYLE WEAKENINGS OF HUMANITARIAN PROTECTION HERE AT THE BORDER. OUR MAYOR IS SLATED TO STAND SIDE BY SIDE WITH HIM AS HE DOES SO, A SENIOR OFFICIAL OF THIS COUNTY RECENTLY TOLD ME THAT IT MAY NO LONGER BE TRUE, THAT WE CAN CALL OURSELVES

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A COMMUNITY, A WELCOMING COMMUNITY, AT LEAST WITH ANY INTEGRITY GIVEN OPERATION LONE STAR, WHEN THINGS BECOME LESS EASY, OUR HERITAGE MUST NOT JUST BE PROCLAIMED AND CELEBRATED, BUT DEEPENED AND DEFENDED, LEST WE TAKE IT FOR GRANTED. WE DON'T ALWAYS GET TO CHOOSE THE TERMS OF THE FIGHT, BUT WITHOUT MEANINGFUL RESISTANCE TO OPERATION LONE STAR, THERE MAY COME A DAY WHEN RESOLUTIONS LIKE THESE, AS IMPORTANT AS THEY ARE, BECOME PERFORMATIVE, AND THAT DAY MAY COME SOONER THAN WE THINK. IF WE DON'T FIGHT BACK, AS THE BIBLE SAYS, LET US BREAK THEIR CHAINS AND THROW OFF THEIR SHACKLES. WE CAN DO THAT IN EL PASO. WE DO DO THAT. IT IS OUR HERITAGE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, DYLAN, AND THANK YOU FOR THE DIOCESE AND EVERYTHING THAT THEY'VE DONE AS WELL. THANK YOU. GOOD MORNING AGAIN. AND, GOOD MORNING, COMMISSIONER. WE LOVE YOU GUYS, I'D LIKE TO BEGIN BY INTRODUCING A SCRIPTURE THAT TALKS ABOUT THE RESOLUTION, BUT THE IMPORTANCE OF THIS PARTICULAR PROPOSAL AND YOUR APPROVAL. AND IF I MAY, I WOULD LIKE TO OPEN UP THE SCRIPTURES IN THE BOOK OF ROMANS WHERE IT SAYS IT, THAT IF YOU EARN OR YOU GIVE RESPECT, YOU WILL RECEIVE RESPECT. AND IF YOU HONOR THOSE WHO ARE IN HONOR, YOU WILL RECEIVE HONOR. SO WHAT YOU'RE DOING, COMMISSIONER OLGUIN, IS JUST SOWING BACK, AND YOU'RE GOING TO REAP BENEFITS THROUGHOUT THIS PROCESS. AS A SECOND GENERATION IMMIGRANT MYSELF AND ALSO A PASTOR OF NEW LIFE FAITH CENTER AND HORIZON IS ONE OF MY DUTY TO STAND FIRM, WITHIN THIS COMMUNITY, BUT ALSO TO MOVE FORWARD. AND I BELIEVE THIS PARTICULAR HERITAGE, WITH THE CONTEXT OF DELIVERING THAT MESSAGE, NOT ONLY PROVIDES THAT HOPE FOR OUR LOCAL COMMUNITY, BUT YOU GUYS ARE STANDING FIRM ON WHAT WE BELIEVE. AND EVEN THOUGH WE FORESEE IN THE FUTURE, YOU KNOW, THIS COMPROMISE AND TOMORROW WE HAVE THIS IN OUR BACK. WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN? WE HAVE TO RELY ON SCRIPTURE THAT SAYS WHEN YOU HONOR THOSE AND RECOGNIZE THOSE THAT YOU ARE SOWING INTO THEIR FUTURE, SO AS THIS PAST WEEK, I ATTENDED SEVERAL GRADUATIONS AND YESTERDAY I WAS ABLE TO PRAY FOR THREE OF OUR YOUNG PERSONS THAT SAID, YOU KNOW WHAT? I'M AN IMMIGRANT. MY PARENTS ARE HERE, BUT I AM HERE TO STAY. I TOLD THEM, YOU GOT YOU GOT TO STAND FIRM IN WHAT YOU BELIEVE AND WHETHER YOU SEE YOURSELF EITHER BEING THROTTLED FROM LEFT TO RIGHT. WE HAVE TO STAND FIRM. AND THE ANALOGY I USE YESTERDAY IS LIKE A PALM TREE. THE PALM TREE HAS ROOTS DEEP AND WE SELL THOSE WHO ARE FLORIDIANS WHO LIVE IN FLORIDA, THAT WHEN THE HIGH WINDS PEAK TO THEIR HIGHEST, HOW DOES THE PALM TREE STAND FIRM BY THE ROOTS AND ONLY BENDS AND ONLY BENDS? IT ONLY BENDS. BUT WHEN THE WINDS ARE NO LONGER PRESENT, STANDS FIRM. SO THIS PROCLAMATION AND THE WORK THAT'S BEEN DONE BY DIFFERENT NGOS AND BY THE LOCAL LEADERS IS JUST A STATEMENT ONCE MORE AND SAYING, YOU KNOW WHAT? WE'RE GOING TO STAND FIRM AND WHAT WE BELIEVE, AND WE'RE GOING TO GRASP ON THAT HOPE THAT'S RELIED HERE IN THIS UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. AND I CLOSE WITH THIS BECAUSE I BELIEVE IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE ALLUDE TO THE SITUATION, BUT WE PROVIDE A SOLUTION. AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I GATHER MYSELF AND I AND I THINK AND I PRAY EVERY DAY IS THAT WHAT WOULD HAPPEN TO ME IF I WAS IN THOSE SHOES, IF I WAS BEARING THAT PARTICULAR, YOU KNOW, UNCERTAINTY BEHIND MY SHOULDERS? WHAT SHOULD I DO? AND THE ONLY THING THAT COMES TO ME AS FAR AS A RESOLUTION IS HAVING PEOPLE THAT STAND FIRM AND SAY, YOU KNOW WHAT? WE ARE COMMITTED TO YOU. AND THAT'S WHERE I BELIEVE BEING PART OF THE RESOLUTION AND BEING PART OF WHAT'S BEEN, ESTABLISHED TODAY IS A STRONG WORD OF COMMITMENT TO OUR COMMUNITY OF NEWCOMERS. SO I THANK YOU ONCE AGAIN, AND I'M STILL PRAYING FOR YOU. AND I LOVE YOU GUYS. AND I JUST WANT TO HAND THE APPLAUSE. COME ON. WHAT YOU GUYS ARE DOING, CAN WE GIVE THEM A ROUND OF APPLAUSE TO. COME ON. THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING THAT YOU DO. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU. ANYONE ELSE? I JUST WANT TO MAKE THE POINT THAT, YOU KNOW, THIS, OPERATION LONE STAR, YOU KNOW, SORT OF PUT A BOOT IN OUR THROAT KIND OF THING, YOU KNOW, AND TRYING TO FIGURE THINGS OUT. I CAN TELL YOU WE'RE VETTING IT, IT HASN'T BECOME A REALITY.

WE'VE TRIED OUR BEST TO UNDERSTAND IT. ONE THING I CAN TELL YOU AND THE COMMUNITY SHOULD FEEL REALLY GOOD ABOUT IS THAT WE'VE BECOME SORT OF LIKE THE LAST FRONTIER OF DIGNITY.

[01:10:06]

HUMAN ISM, THE THINGS THAT WE DO HERE. IF WE WERE TO DROP THE BALL A LITTLE BIT, THAT GIVES ALL THE BORDER COMMUNITIES THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE EVEN WORSE IN WHAT THEY DO. FOR SOME REASON, THEY KEEP IT'S HARD FOR THEM TO NOT DO WHAT WE'RE DOING BECAUSE WE CONTINUE TO DO THEM. WE SHOW HOW WE DO THEM, WE LESSEN SOME OF THE CONFLICT. WE HAVE LESS INDIVIDUALS IN THE STREETS. WE HAVE SOME AMAZING NGOS. I MEAN, WE JUST HAVE THIS INCREDIBLE TRACTION OF DEFENDING OUR CONSTITUTION. PROBABLY MORE SO THAN ANY COMMUNITY THAT I KNOW OF. THANKS TO ALL THE NGOS THAT ARE HERE TODAY. AND SO IT'S TO ME, IT'S JUST A PRIVILEGE TO SAY WE HAVE TO CONTINUE THAT BECAUSE I'M TELLING YOU ANYTHING WE DO, LET'S JUST IT OPENS UP MORE AND MORE SITUATIONS. SO SO FAR I THINK WE'VE BEEN CHALLENGING OTHER COMMUNITIES AND MAKING THEM RETHINK ABOUT HOW THEY DO THINGS. AND SO A LOT OF CHALLENGES. BUT I CAN TELL YOU WHEN IN THAT THOSE MEETINGS THAT THAT YOU HAVE AND THE COMMUNICATIONS AND KNOWING THAT YOU'RE THERE EVERY TIME WE HAVE SOME OF AN INCREASE AND WE HAVE THIS INCREDIBLE NUMBER OF NGOS, I BELIEVE THAT'S BEEN THE ESSENCE OF OUR SUCCESS ARE THE NGOS AND WHAT THEY'VE DONE. SO ONCE AGAIN, I THANK YOU. AND I THANK COMMISSIONER THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THIS. IT'S JUST A VERY BEAUTIFUL, RECOGNITION OF OUR NGOS. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. JUDGE. AND THANK ALL OF YOU FOR YOUR REMARKS. AND PLEASE KNOW THAT WE, DO TAKE YOUR REMARKS TO HEART, IT IS A VERY DIFFICULT SITUATION FOR THE COUNTY RIGHT NOW, THE GOVERNOR'S ACTIONS ARE, CAUSING TREMENDOUS HARM IN OUR COMMUNITY. BUT MAKE NO MISTAKES.

OUR RESIDENTS ARE PAYING FOR IT. WE ARE BEING FORCED TO PAY FOR HIS ACTIONS, AND WE'RE TRYING TO FIND SOLUTIONS SO THAT THAT ISN'T HAPPENING SO THAT OUR COMMUNITY DOESN'T HAVE TO PAY FOR THE GOVERNOR'S ACTIONS, BUT IT IS DIFFICULT. IT IS CHALLENGING. BUT CERTAINLY WE APPRECIATE, HEARING FROM ALL OF YOU AND CONTINUING TO WORK WITH ALL OF YOU TO MAKE SURE THAT EL PASO REMAINS THE WELCOMING, TOLERANT, INCREDIBLY PROUD IMMIGRANT COMMUNITY THAT WE HAVE ALWAYS BEEN. THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER, WE'D LIKE TO HAVE EVERYONE ELSE COME UP. I THINK IF WE COULD HAVE EVERYONE FROM BOTH RESOLUTIONS. COMMISSIONER STOUT, IF THAT'S OKAY WITH YOU.

SO WE CAN HAVE A BIG GROUP PICTURE WITH EVERYBODY. THANK YOU.

YES. CAN WE GET TOGETHER? I THINK. I HAVE TO MAKE TWO LINES. SO TOPICAL THAT. I KNOW PEOPLE HERE.

MILES. ONE. TWO. THREE. NEXT NEXT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU.

MY WAY FROM OVER THERE. GOOD.

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ITEM NUMBER FIVE. SEE APPROVE AN ADOPT A RESOLUTION RECOGNIZING EMERGENCE HEALTH NETWORK AND RICARDO GANDARA FOR BEING NOMINATED BY THE NATIONAL COUNCIL ON MENTAL WELL-BEING FOR

[C. Approve and adopt a resolution recognizing Emergence Health Network Ed Ricardo Gandara for being nominated by the National Council on Mental Wellbeing for the Community for Instructor of the Year Award, in El Paso County, Texas. Ricardo A. Samaniego, County Judge, County Judge's Office, 915-546-2098]

THE COMMUNITY. FOR THE COMMUNITY. INSTRUCTOR FOR INSTRUCTOR OF THE YEAR AWARD IN EL PASO COUNTY, TEXAS. THANK YOU, CHRISTY. THANK YOU, MR. GANDARA. HI. GOOD MORNING. GOOD MORNING. IT'S A GREAT HONOR FOR ME TO READ THIS INTO THE RECORD. WHEREAS IN A CEREMONY HELD AT MENTAL HEALTH FIRST AID MHA SUMMIT IN SAINT LOUIS, MISSOURI, ON APRIL 14TH, 2020, FOR THE NATIONAL COUNCIL FOR MENTAL HEALTH WELL-BEING RECOGNIZED MHFA INSTRUCTORS AND COORDINATORS FOR THE SIGNIFICANT EFFORTS TO EXPAND MFA'S REACH IN THEIR LOCAL COMMUNITIES AND BEYOND. WHEREAS THE MHFA IMPACT AWARDS CELEBRATE INDIVIDUALS AND GROUPS THAT HAVE INFLUENCED THEIR COMMUNITIES BY CHANGING THE CONVERSATION SURROUNDING MENTAL HEALTH, WELL-BEING WAS A TOP CRITERIA USED TO DETERMINE THE MH FOR IMPACT AWARD. WINNERS INCLUDE THE NUMBER OF INDIVIDUALS TRAINED IN MFA'S, MEASURABLE IMPACT, AND EXCELLENCE AND EFFECTIVENESS WHILE CONDUCTING THE TRAINING COURSE, AND WHEREAS, THE 2024 MHFA COMMUNITY SPECIFIC COURSE WAS AWARDED TO RICARDO J. GANDARA, A COMMUNITY EDUCATOR AT EMERGENCE HEALTH NETWORKS SINCE 2015 AND IS CERTIFIED IN ADULT YOUTH AND TEEN MENTAL HEALTH FIRST AID AND WHEREAS FORMERLY A DETENTION OFFICER AT EL PASO COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE AT, RICARDO CONTINUES TO TEACH MENTAL HEALTH STIGMA REDUCTION COURSES AT THE SHERIFF'S ACADEMY AND THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY.

WHEREAS AT RICHARD'S ABILITY TO CONNECT WITH THE RESIDENTS AND SHARE VALUABLE MENTAL HEALTH INFORMATION TRULY EMPOWERS OUR COMMUNITY. AND WHERE THIS RECOGNITION SHINES, A NATIONAL SPOTLIGHT ON EL PASO COUNTY AND EMERGENCE HEALTH NETWORK EFFORT TO COMBAT STIGMA AND ENSURE ACCESS TO LIFE SAVING BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SERVICES TO ALL THAT NEED THEM. NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED THAT THE EL PASO COUNTY JUDGE AND COMMISSIONERS COURT DO HEREBY RECOGNIZE EDUARDO GANDIA FOR HIS CONTRIBUTIONS, CONTINUOUS EDUCATION OF MENTAL WELL-BEING, AND COMMITMENT TO THE BETTERMENT OF THE COUNTY OF EL PASO COMMUNITY. SIGNED THIS THIRD DAY OF JUNE, 2024. WE HAVE A MOTION FROM JUDGE SAMANIEGO AND A SECOND FROM COMMISSIONER OLGUIN. THE VOTING IS OPEN.

COMMISSIONER. COMMISSIONER LEON IS ABSENT. THE MOTION CARRIES. CHRISTY WILL YOU DO US THE HONOR? GOOD MORNING. SORRY, I SHOULD KNOW THIS BY NOW. AND I JUMPED THE GUN, SO I APOLOGIZE, BUT THANK YOU. CHRISTY DOHERTY, CEO, EMERGENCE HEALTH NETWORK. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR HAVING US THIS MORNING, YOU'VE TALKED A LOT ABOUT ED RICARDO'S BACKGROUND ALREADY AS A PEACE OFFICER, BUT THAT HAS MADE HIM AN INVALUABLE RESOURCE BOTH ON THE LOCAL, STATE AND NATIONAL LEVEL. AND THIS NATIONAL AWARD IS JUST AN EXAMPLE OF HOW MUCH HE HAS CONTRIBUTED TO THE MENTAL HEALTH FIRST AID COMMUNITY. I'M VERY PROUD TO SAY THAT HE IS PART OF EMERGENCE HEALTH NETWORK'S TRAINING TEAM. SEVERAL OF THEM ARE HERE TODAY WITH US, AND WE ARE A RECOGNIZED, LEADER IN THE MENTAL HEALTH FIRST AID WORLD IN BOTH. LIKE I SAID, AT THE STATE AND NATIONAL LEVEL, HE'S DONE AMAZING WORK ON A DAY TO DAY BASIS. BUT HE ALSO, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I WANT TO HIGHLIGHT, TOO, IS THAT HE ALSO DOES THIS TRAINING IN SPANISH, AND THERE'S VERY FEW MENTAL HEALTH FIRST AID COMMUNITIES THAT DO THE TRAINING IN SPANISH. SO WE'RE VERY PROUD TO BE A LEADER IN THAT EFFORT AS WELL. SO I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR HIGHLIGHTING HIS HARD WORK AND HIS AND RECOGNIZING HIS AWARD TODAY. AND I'M GOING TO GIVE HIM A FEW MINUTES TO SAY A FEW.

CHRISTY JUST A LITTLE BIT MORE ON ON WHAT IT MEANS TO HAVE THE FIRST STATE MENTAL HEALTH. JUST SO OUR PUBLIC KNOWS THE MENTAL HEALTH FIRST AID. ACTUALLY, I'M GOING TO LET ED RICARDO DO THAT BECAUSE HE JUST GOT RECOGNIZED FOR BEING A TRAINER, MENTAL HEALTH FIRST AID. AND I THINK HE CAN DO IT, DO IT MUCH MORE JUSTICE THAN I CAN. THANK YOU CHRISTY. SURE. AS RICARDO, THANK YOU SO MUCH. AND YOU'RE WELCOME. GOOD MORNING. HERE. THANK YOU CHRISTY. GOOD MORNING, COMMISSIONERS AND, COUNTY JUDGE, I APOLOGIZE. WHAT WAS YOUR QUESTION, SIR, JUST A LITTLE BIT. ABOUT WHAT? WHAT IT IS WHEN YOU DO, THE FIRST STATE IN MENTAL HEALTH, KIND OF, SO THANK YOU, MENTAL HEALTH FIRST AID IS A PROGRAM THAT TEACHES US HOW TO HELP THE COMMUNITY LAYPERSON IN SITUATIONS SUCH AS CRISIS NON-CRISIS, HOW TO GO UP TO THEM AND SAY, YOU KNOW, THERE'S A LG

[01:20:03]

PLAN. THERE'S A PLAN THAT WE USE TO INCORPORATE AND HOW TO HELP THOSE INDIVIDUALS, IT MIGHT GO UP TO GETTING THEM PROFESSIONAL HELP. IT MIGHT JUST BE JUST TALKING TO THEM. AND THAT'S WHAT THIS PROGRAM PROGRAM DOES FOR THE COMMUNITY. AND ONE OF THE THINGS I REALLY, REALLY WANT TO APPRECIATE IS CHRISTY, YOU KNOW, SHE HAS BEEN ON THE FOREFRONT OF THIS PROGRAM, SINCE THE INCEPTION. AND BECAUSE SHE KNOWS THAT THIS IS AN EMPIRICAL, RESEARCH BASED PROGRAM, SHE KNOWS THAT SHE NEEDED TO PUSH THIS OUT TO THE COMMUNITY. AND I REALLY, REALLY THANK HER AND THE BOARD BECAUSE SOMETIMES WE NEEDED THAT PUSH, WHETHER IT BE MONETARY OR BE JUST, YOU KNOW WHAT? WE JUST NEED TO GO OUT THERE BECAUSE OUR COMMUNITY NEEDS THIS. AND LIKE I'VE SAID BEFORE AND I'VE TOLD CHRISTY, THIS AWARD IS NOT MINE, IT'S OURS. IT'S OUR COMMUNITY BECAUSE WE'RE THE ONES THAT WE'RE RESPONSIBLE TO HELP OUR COMMUNITY OUT. AND I THINK THAT'S WHAT I DON'T THINK I KNOW. THAT'S WHAT CHRISTY HAS ALWAYS INSTILLED INTO US AND TO ALL OUR EMPLOYEES, ALL OUR ASSOCIATES AND, THAT'S WHY SHE'S ONE OF THE BEST CEOS WE'VE HAD, I'VE KNOWN THROUGHOUT THIS COUNTRY. SO. OKAY, I APOLOGIZE. THIS IS MY FIRST TIME DOING THIS . YOU'RE DOING GREAT. SO, BEING A RETIRED JAILER, I HAVE A COUPLE OF FRIENDS. DEPUTIES BACK HERE AND THE ACADEMY, AND I WANT TO REALLY THANK LIEUTENANT GALINDO AND HER STAFF BACK HERE.

THANK YOU SO MUCH. ALSO COMING UP, THEY'LL BE COMING UP HERE WITH US AND LUIS MORE. LUIS, MY AND MY TEAM BACK THERE THAT HAVE ALWAYS SUPPORTED WE'VE ALWAYS SUPPORTED OTHERS. AND I THINK YOU YOU TOUCHED UP ON ON SOMETHING AS LAW ENFORCEMENT, SHERIFF WILES HAS BEEN ALWAYS IN COOPERATION WITH MISS CHRISTY AND CHIEF CASILLAS. NOW, WE HAVE BEEN WORKING TO PUT THOSE CLASSES, WHETHER BE MENTAL FIRST AID OR OTHERS INCORPORATE INTO THOSE ACADEMIES. I FEEL THAT THE ACADEMIES, THE CADETS AND OTHER OFFICERS WILL BENEFIT, AND THE DEPUTIES WOULD BENEFIT FROM THESE TYPE OF CLASSES. AND I THINK AS WHAT MISS CHRISTY WAS TALKING ABOUT IS THIS COOPERATION THAT WE HAVE TO REDUCE THAT MENTAL HEALTH STIGMA WITHIN THE LAW ENFORCEMENT COMPONENT IS VERY, VERY IMPORTANT BECAUSE BECAUSE WE SEE THAT, YOU KNOW, ACROSS THE COUNTRY, THERE'S SO MUCH NEED FOR IT. AND I AND I KNOW THAT THIS COMMUNITY IS BENEFITING ALL THE WAY AROUND FROM US GOING IN INSIDE THEIR ACADEMIES TO TRY TO HELP, BE THEM, BE THERE FOR THEM . WE THANK YOU. I MEAN, THIS IS VERY, VERY SPECIAL. WE ALREADY WE ALREADY LOVE YOU BECAUSE YOU'RE PART OF THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT. SO THIS TAKES IT TO TAKES OUR LOVE TO THE TO THE NEXT LEVEL. BUT ANYONE ELSE. WELL AND JUDGE, I JUST WANT TO ADD A FEW THINGS. FIRST OF ALL, LIEUTENANT GALINDO IS ON OUR BOARD. AND SO WE REALLY APPRECIATE HER SUPPORT ACROSS THE BOARD ON EVERYTHING WE DO AT EON. AND SHE'S THE SHERIFF'S APPOINTEE ON OUR BOARD. THE OTHER THING I WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT IS NOT ONLY ARE WE DOING WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT, THIS GROUP OF INDIVIDUALS FROM EON BEHIND ME, THEY'VE ALSO ONE OF THE REALLY HIGHLIGHTS I LIKE TO TALK ABOUT IS WE TRAINED ALL THE SUB METRO BUS DRIVERS. AND SO IF YOU THINK ABOUT WHEN IT'S HOT, WHEN IT'S COLD, PEOPLE USE THE BUS FOR, YOU KNOW, SHELTER. SOMETIMES AND THEY MAY BE EXPERIENCING SOME SORT OF PSYCHIATRIC CRISIS. AND SO THE CITY HAS ACTUALLY TAKEN IT ON TO TRAIN THOSE BUS DRIVERS TO WHERE THEY CAN ADDRESS THAT NEED IMMEDIATELY. AND THEN GET GET THE PROFESSIONAL HELP, AND THEY KNOW WHO TO CALL, THEY KNOW WHO TO CONTACT. AND THESE INDIVIDUALS HAVE DONE THAT TRAINING SCHOOL DISTRICTS. I KNOW LUIS, THEY'VE DONE A TON IN THE SCHOOL DISTRICT. TEACHERS SPEND MORE TIME WITH OUR KIDS AWAKE THAN WE DO SOMETIMES, AND SO IT'S IMPORTANT THAT THOSE TEACHERS ARE TRAINED AND WE'RE REALLY PROUD OF THOSE PARTNERSHIPS AND THE TIME THAT THE DISTRICTS ARE TAKING TO TRAIN THEIR STAFF, CAFETERIA WORKERS, CROSSING GUARDS, EVERYBODY THAT THEY GO THROUGH THIS MENTAL HEALTH FIRST AID TRAINING. IT'S JUST LIKE CPR. IT HELPS KEEP THAT PERSON SAFE UNTIL THE PROFESSIONALS CAN ARRIVE. THANK YOU. YOU KNOW, THANK YOU FOR CONNECTING THE HEALTH. WHEN YOU SAY FIRST STATE OR FIRST REACTION, WE UNDERSTAND. RIGHT. IT LOOKS LIKE WE HAVE A TREMENDOUS GRASP OF HEALTH AND HOW TO ADDRESS HEALTH ISSUES, BUT WE DON'T KNOW HOW TO ADDRESS MENTAL HEALTH. IT'S VERY DIFFICULT FOR A COMMUNITY. THEIR SUBTLE. WE DON'T UNDERSTAND THEM SOMETIMES. AND I KNOW WITH MY BACKGROUND IT'S VERY DIFFICULT TO. SO ANYTIME THAT YOU CONNECT JUST HEALTH PHYSICAL HEALTH WITH MENTAL HEALTH AND MAKE IT VERY SIMILAR, RIGHT. YOU HAVE FIRST AID. EVERYBODY UNDERSTANDS THEY GET A CUT, YOU FIRST AID, EVERYBODY GETS IT. BUT WHEN I'M IN A PANIC SITUATION, PEOPLE DON'T UNDERSTAND THAT YOU NEED FIRST AID, THAT YOU NEED SOMEONE TO STEP UP AND SAY, YOU KNOW, HELP OUT AND ANY ONE OF US WOULD . IF YOU SEE SOMEBODY FALL, WE GO. WE TAKE CARE OF THEM. WE SEE WHAT WE COULD DO. BUT WHEN IT'S MENTAL HEALTH, WE STEP AWAY AND WE DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO, AND WE SORT OF MOVE AWAY FROM IT. AND IT'S A STIGMA, RIGHT, THAT WE THAT WE HAVE, WE DON'T KNOW HOW TO DEAL WITH IT. BUT I THINK THE AWARENESS OF MENTAL HEALTH AS BEING JUST VERY, VERY SIMILAR, LIKE ONE IN, IN ITSELF A COMPONENT OF, OF A HOLISTIC UNDERSTANDING OF, OF OUR BODY IS

[01:25:06]

HEALTH, MENTAL HEALTH AND HEALTH. AND SO I THANK YOU VERY MUCH. AS YOU KNOW, IT'S A VERY SUBTLE SITUATION THAT WE HAVE, BUT WE NEED TO CHALLENGE US. SO, LUIS, WOULD YOU. YES, JUDGE, THANK YOU FOR HAVING US OUT HERE. COMMISSIONERS A COUPLE THINGS I WANT TO SAY, MY NAME IS LUIS CHAVARRIA. I HAPPEN TO HAVE THE PRIVILEGE OF LEADING. AND RICARDO HERE IN THIS EFFORT, BUT IN REGARDS TO THAT TOPIC, RIGHT, THIS IDEA OF HOW DO WE HAVE THIS CONVERSATION OF HEALTH AND MENTAL HEALTH? HOW CAN WE UNDERSTAND IT CAN BE SO CHALLENGING. THAT'S WHY IT'S SO IMPORTANT TO RECOGNIZE THAT, RICARDO, BECAUSE IT REALLY TAKES SOMEBODY WHO IS VERY GENTLE TO HAVE THAT CONVERSATION TO WHO IS MINDFUL AND REALLY HAS THE AWARENESS OF OUR COMMUNITY, OUR CULTURE, TO EVEN TAP INTO HAVING THAT CONVERSATION AND INVITING THAT CONVERSATION IN A REALLY SAFE SPACE. SO, THAT'S REALLY A BIG COMPONENT OF WHY HE RECEIVED THIS NATIONAL RECOGNITION AND THE WORK THAT HE'S DOING. SO THAT'S WHAT I WANTED TO SHARE, MEANS A LOT. YES. I ALSO WANT TO INTRODUCE, MISS ARIEL. MISS, MISS BIANCA SAUCEDA, OF COURSE, A PART OF OUR TEAM. IT TAKES A TEAM TO SUPPORT OUR COMMUNITY AND TO SUPPORT RICARDO IN CONSTRUCTING AND DOING ALL THESE SPECIAL THINGS. SO I APPRECIATE YOU. WE THANK YOU VERY MUCH. AND TO THE COMMUNITY AND THOSE THAT ARE ONLINE, STEP UP IN THE SAME WAY, IF YOU SEE SOMEONE IN A DIFFICULT EMOTIONAL SITUATION, STEP UP JUST LIKE YOU WOULD IF YOU SOMEBODY GOT HURT. AND JUST BEING THERE FOR SOMEONE MEANS SO MUCH TO THEM. AND I THINK OUR FIRST REACTION IS STEP BACK. I THINK IF WE COULD ASK OUR COMMUNITY TO UNDERSTAND THAT BEING CLOSE TO SOMEONE, DEALING WITH A SITUATION, ENCOURAGING THEM, GUIDING THEM IS VERY HELPFUL IN OUR COMMUNITY. ONCE AGAIN, I BELIEVE. AND I'LL NEVER STOP BELIEVING THAT THIS COMMUNITY CAN SHOW OTHER COMMUNITIES WHAT WHAT WE NEED TO DO TO MENTAL HEALTH. YOU KNOW, WE HAVE OUR GRADUATING CLASSES. THESE ARE THE, THE LAST, COVID, THE REACT. YOU KNOW, WHEN THEY WENT TO COVET THE SENIOR CLASS NOW IS ONE OF THE ONES THAT GOT HIT THE HARDEST. I CAN TELL YOU TOTALLY DIFFERENT GRADUATION SITUATIONS. TOTALLY. YOU COULD TELL THAT WE'VE GOT SOME CHALLENGES COMING UP. I'VE HEARD A LOT OF THINGS THAT DIDN'T USED TO HAPPEN IN GRADUATIONS AND THE BEHAVIORS AND ALL THAT. SO OUR COMMUNITY NEEDS TO UNDERSTAND WE HAVE A CHALLENGE AND IT'S OUT THERE. WE CAN'T PRETEND THAT WE DON'T, AND IT'LL CARRY FORTH IF WE DON'T DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT. OKAY. SO ONCE AGAIN, I REALLY THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING EACH ONE OF YOU DO. CHRISTY, YOUR TEAM AND THE EMERGENCE AND EVERYONE ELSE. COMMISSIONER STOUT WAS A PART OF THAT. AND SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR BEING HERE TODAY. SO THANK YOU. THANK YOU. AND I JUST A FEW WORDS.

[01:30:12]

ITEM NUMBER SIX IS PUBLIC COMMENT. WE HAVE ONE SPEAKER THIS MORNING. WE HAVE MISS ELIZABETH CRAWFORD. JUST AS A REMINDER FOR SPEAKERS, PUBLIC COMMENT IS LIMITED TO FIVE MINUTES. EVERYBODY IS BEING TIMED. THANK YOU. GOOD MORNING. THANK YOU SO MUCH. GOOD MORNING,

[PUBLIC COMMENT]

WE'RE TOLD IN GOD'S WORD THAT LIKE, AS A FATHER PETIE'S HIS CHILDREN. SO THE LORD PITIES THEM THAT FEAR HIM, FOR HE KNOWS OUR FRAME. HE REMEMBERS THAT WE ARE DUST, THIS MONTH, AS WE HONOR FATHER'S DAY, WE CAN LOOK TO THE SCRIPTURES AND KNOW THAT GOD IS THE ULTIMATE AND THE PERFECT HEAVENLY FATHER, I WANT TO JUST SHARE BRIEFLY ABOUT GOD'S DEALINGS WITH ME AS A HEAVENLY FATHER AND RELATE IT TO A HOSPITAL IN NEW YORK CITY WITH A STORY AT THE CORE OF WHAT'S BEING CELEBRATED. THIS MONTH, IN RELATION TO THE STONEWALL PROTEST IN RELATION TO BELLEVUE HOSPITAL, NEW YORK CITY, IN RELATION TO THE DATE JUNE 28TH. I WAS 13 YEARS OLD. MY SISTER IS 14. I WAS BROUGHT UP IN A CHRISTIAN HOME. I BELIEVE IN JESUS, BUT I WAS GOING THROUGH A STAGE OF DOUBT AND REBELLION. I WAS LIVING BY FEELINGS. I WAS ENJOYING THE USE OF MY MOUTH TO MOCK PEOPLE AND I WAS REBELLIOUS. I DETERMINED TO START LIVING LIFE MY WAY. IT WAS 1986. WE FINISHED SCHOOL LATE THAT YEAR. WE HAD LOTS OF SNOW DAYS. JUNE 27TH, THE LAST DAY OF SCHOOL, JUNE 28TH, THE START OF SUMMER. IT WAS A SATURDAY. I HAD AN EXCITING SUMMER AHEAD OF ME.

I'M 13 AFTER ALL. WHAT DO MY PARENTS KNOW? TIME TO START LIVING LIFE MY WAY. THE EVENTS ARE FUZZY NOW BECAUSE WE TEND TO FOG OUT BAD MEMORIES. I THOUGHT, THAT'S PRETTY COOL. JUNE 28TH MY FATHER LEFT THE HOUSE AFTER MOWING THE FRONT LAWN. HE NEVER CAME HOME AGAIN. THAT EVENING, OUR CITY POLICE SHOWED UP AT THE DOOR. A MAN HAD DIED OF A MASSIVE HEART ATTACK ON THE SIDEWALK OF NEW YORK CITY. WE WERE TO GO TO BELLEVUE HOSPITAL, NEW YORK CITY MORGUE THE NEXT DAY TO IDENTIFY THE BODY. IT WAS MY FATHER. BRUTAL AS THAT EVENT ONCE, AND NOW I STILL BEAR SCARS FROM THAT EVENT. I CAN SAY THAT I'M ETERNALLY GRATEFUL THAT MY HEAVENLY FATHER LOVED ME ENOUGH TO INTERVENE AND INTERCEPT ME, TO SPARE ME FROM AN ADOLESCENCE OF REBELLION, TO SPARE ME FROM A PRIDE THAT SAID I WILL LIVE LIFE MY WAY, NOT GOD'S WAY. THAT SUMMER WAS NOT A FUN SUMMER FOR ME, BUT IT WAS AN AWESOME SUMMER . I BEGAN TO REALLY GET TO KNOW THE LORD AS MY HEAVENLY FATHER.

SOON AFTER, I WAS INTRODUCED TO A CHURCH IN THE NEXT TOWN OVER WITH A YOUTH GROUP FULL OF TEENAGERS READING THEIR BIBLES TALKING ABOUT JESUS. MANY OF THEM WENT ON FROM HIGH SCHOOL TO VARIOUS CHRISTIAN COLLEGES, BIBLE COLLEGES, WANTING TO PREPARE FOR SERVICE VOCATIONS.

ONE OF MY CLASSMATES NOW LEADS THE CHURCH WE WERE IN AS TEENAGERS BELLEVUE HOSPITAL IN NEW YORK CITY. THE MORGUE THAT WE TO GO TO IDENTIFY MY DAD'S BODY. IT WAS ALL OVER THE NEWS WHEN COVID HIT NEW YORK. THEY HAD A MAKESHIFT MORGUE PREPARED THERE FOR BODIES THAT THEY WERE EXPECTING TO PILE UP. BUT RECENTLY, I LEARNED TWO MORE THINGS ABOUT BELLEVUE HOSPITAL BELLEVUE HOSPITAL'S PROBABLY ONE OF THE MOST MASSIVE DISPENSERS OF THE ABORTION PILL IN NEW YORK CITY, VERY POSSIBLY THE HIGHEST IN OUR NATION, EVEN IN THE WORLD. TRAGIC IT'S A PLACE OF DEATH BY CHOICE. BELLEVUE HOSPITAL, ONE OF THE OLDEST PUBLIC HOSPITALS IN AMERICA, A LANDMARK IN THE 1970 PROTESTS RELATING TO THE STONEWALL UPRISING, THE EVENTS OF JUNE 28, 1969, NOW HELD UP AS A KEY DATE IN THE PRIDE MOVEMENT. GREENWICH VILLAGE, NEW YORK CITY BELLEVUE HOSPITAL, NEW YORK CITY, JUNE 28TH. THAT IS THE EXACT PLACE AND THE EXACT DAY OF THE YEAR THAT GOD USED IN MY LIFE TO BREAK MY PRIDE, TO BREAK MY ARROGANCE, TO BRING ME THROUGH HIS HAND OF CHASTENING, TO BOW MY KNEES TO MY LORD AND SAVIOR JESUS CHRIST. I AM SO THANKFUL FOR A HEAVENLY FATHER WHO LOVED ME SO MUCH. HE WOULD NOT PERMIT ME TO CONTINUE IN MY FEAR OF RUNNING AWAY FROM HIM. WE ARE TOLD IN THE PSALMS, OH, GIVE THANKS TO THE LORD, FOR HE IS GOOD, FOR HIS LOVING KINDNESS ENDURES FOREVER. THANK YOU SO MUCH. HOPE YOU HAVE A GOOD DAY.

THANK YOU, THANK YOU ELIZABETH. HAVE A WONDERFUL DAY. THANK YOU, THANK YOU SIR. DO WE HAVE ANYBODY ELSE IN THE AUDIENCE WHO WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK IN PUBLIC COMMENT? HEARING NONE. WE'LL CONTINUE ON. ITEM NUMBER SEVEN A PRESENTATION APPROVING. ADOPT A RESOLUTION AND PRESENT AN ESTIMADO AMIGO AWARD TO RECOGNIZE COUNTY ATTORNEY JOANNE BERNAL FOR 30 YEARS OF SERVICE.

[01:35:06]

WHERE DO WE START? THIS IS, JUST SUCH A SUCH A PRIVILEGE. REALLY. AND, BETSY, I DON'T WANT TO BE

[A. Approve and adopt a resolution and present an Estimado Amigo Award to recognize County Attorney Jo Anne Bernal for 30 years of service. Commissioners Court, Commissioners Court, 915-546-2000]

TELLING YOU. WHY ARE YOU CRYING? OKAY. PLEASE BUT NO, THIS IS JUST AN AMAZING OPPORTUNITY THAT, I REMEMBER WHEN I BARELY STARTED. AND CONGRESSWOMAN ESCOBAR SAYS MAKE SURE YOU LEAN INTO HER AND BETSY, BUT LEAN INTO OUR COUNTY ATTORNEY AND I HAVE A TREMENDOUS RESPECT FOR HER, SO I. I TOOK IT AS SUCH, BUT IT DIDN'T EVEN COME CLOSE TO EVERYTHING THAT THAT WE'VE BEEN INVOLVED IN, BEHIND THE SCENES, FROM THE FIRST, SITUATION THAT WE HAD WITH THE, YOU KNOW, WITH OUR SHERIFF BEING A DEPUTY BEING KILLED. AND, YOU KNOW, MY EXPERIENCE WITH THAT, AND THEN PEDREIRA AND THEN THE FIRST OUTBREAK OF, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE THE CRISIS AND WE HAD THE WALMART SHOOTING. THEN WE HAD THE PANDEMIC. AND EVERY STEP OF THE WAY, MY SENSE OF SECURITY AND I'M SURE THAT OF THE COMMISSIONERS COURT WAS THAT HAVING JOANNE AND HER ABILITIES, HER EXPERIENCE, HER CALMNESS, I'VE NEVER HEARD HER SAY NO QUICKLY. I'VE ALWAYS HEARD HER SAY, LET ME THINK ABOUT IT. AND THEN WE TALK ABOUT IT. BUT IT'S ALWAYS THIS ENCOURAGEMENT OF JUST FEELING EXTREMELY GOOD AND SECURE. HER ETHICS UNBELIEVABLE. HER DIRECTION UNBELIEVABLE. AND SO I'M VERY PRIVILEGED AND I'M WE'LL HEAR FROM THE COURT AS WELL. BUT I JUST, HAVE JUST THIS, THIS HONOR OF BEING ABLE TO REACH THIS RESOLUTION THAT THAT I CAN TELL YOU IT'S A REALLY A GREAT HONOR FOR ME TO DO THIS. WHEREAS IN NOVEMBER 20TH, 2009, JOANNE BRUNELLE BECAME THE FIRST FEMALE COUNTY ATTORNEY IN EL PASO'S COUNTY'S HISTORY BEFORE COMMISSIONERS COURT APPOINTED HER MISS BERNAL HAD BEEN WORKING WITH THE COUNTY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE FOR 16 YEARS, 14 YEARS AS FIRST ASSISTANT ATTORNEY, COUNTY ATTORNEY. WHEREAS COUNTY ATTORNEY, MRS. BERNAL HAS MANAGED AN OFFICE WITH AN ANNUAL BUDGET OF 7.7. 5 MILLION AND MORE THAN 100 EMPLOYEES. IN ADDITION TO HANDLING COMPLEX LITIGATION, SHE HAS OVERSEEN MORE THAN 40 ATTORNEYS WHO PRACTICE BOTH CIVIL AND CRIMINAL LAW IN AREAS THAT RANGE FROM CIVIL RIGHTS LITIGATION TO JUVENILE PROSECUTION. SHE ALSO HAS PROVIDED LEGAL SERVICES TO OTHER AGENCIES, INCLUDING THE COUNTY HOSPITALS, DISTRICT AND LOCAL MENTAL HEALTH AUTHORITY, WHEREAS JOANNE BERNAL WAS BORN AND RAISED IN EL PASO AND IS MARRIED TO EDDIE CASTILLO AND HAS TWO DAUGHTERS, CASSANDRA AND ALEXIS, MRS. BERNAL. MISS BERNAL RECEIVED HER LAW DEGREE FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT AUSTIN IN 1986. SINCE THEN, MRS. BERNAL HAS BEEN A PRACTICING ATTORNEY REPRESENTING ELECTED AND APPOINTED OFFICIALS IN LITIGATION IN STATE AND FEDERAL COURTS. MISS BERNAL IS BOARD CERTIFIED IN CIVIL TRIAL LAW BY THE TEXAS BOARD OF LEGAL SPECIALIZATION, AND IS CURRENTLY ONE OF ONLY THREE OF THE ONLY FEMALE ATTORNEYS TO HOLD THIS CERTIFICATION IN EL PASO COUNTY. WHEREAS PRIOR TO JOINING THE EL PASO COUNTY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE IN 1993, MISS BERNAL SERVED SIX YEARS AS AN ASSISTANT ATTORNEY GENERAL IN THE LAW ENFORCEMENT DIVISION OF THE TEXAS ATTORNEY GENERAL'S OFFICE, WHERE HAS SINCE BECOMING A LAWYER. MISS BERNAL HAS BEEN VERY INVOLVED IN COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS THAT SEEK THE WELFARE OF EL PASO RESIDENTS. SHE HAS SERVED ON THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE ADVOCACY CENTER FOR CHILDREN OF EL PASO THAT TAKES CARE OF CHILDREN WHO ARE VICTIMS OF CRIME. MISS BERNAL HAS ALSO SERVED ON THE STATE BAR OF TEXAS COMMITTEE ON LEGAL SERVICES TO THE POOR AND THE EL PASO POLICE DEPARTMENT CITIZENS ADVISORY COMMITTEE. IN ADDITION, SHE HAS REGULARLY VOLUNTEERED AT THE OPPORTUNITY CENTER FOR THE HOMELESS OF EL PASO, HAS SERVED AS A MOCK TRIAL COACH FOR AREA HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS, AND IS FOUNDING MEMBER OF THE EL PASO WOMEN'S POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE. WHEREAS MISS BERNARD HAS RECEIVED SEVERAL AWARDS OVER HER CAREER THAT RECOGNIZES HER PROFESSIONAL WORK, AMONG THEM OUTSTANDING YOUNG LAWYER OF EL PASO BY THE EL PASO YOUNG LAWYERS ASSOCIATION IN 1996, THE 2009 OUTSTANDING LAWYER OF THE YEAR BY THE MEXICAN AMERICAN BAR ASSOCIATION, MALBA TRAILBLAZER AWARD BY THE WOMEN'S BAR ASSOCIATION. LA MUJER OBRERA AWARD, MCDONALD'S, HISPANOS AND FLORES WOMEN OF DISTINCTION AWARD BY THE TEXAS ASSOCIATION OF MEXICAN AMERICAN CHAMBERS OF COMMERCE. THE ALBERT ARMENDARIZ JUNIOR LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT

[01:40:06]

AWARD FROM THE EL PASO BAR ASSOCIATION, AND SHE HAS BEEN INDUCTED INTO THE EL PASO'S WOMEN HALL OF FAME. AND WHEREAS, MISS BERNARD HAS DEVOTED HER LONG AND SUCCESSFUL CAREER TO ADDRESSING AND RESOLVING SOME OF THE MOST PRESSING AND MONUMENTAL ISSUES ISSUES FACING OUR COMMUNITY, INCLUDING MASS MIGRATION, ENSURING FINANCIAL SUSTAINABILITY OF THE CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL AND ACCESS TO CRITICAL MEDICAL SERVICES. HUMAN TRAFFICKING, FRAUD, ELECTED OFFICIAL ACCOUNTABILITY, DECEPTIVE BUSINESS PRACTICES, DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, DATING VIOLENCE, ELDER ABUSE, AND ILLEGAL AND. WHEREAS SHE HAS TIME TIRELESSLY CHAMPIONED EQUALITY, HUMAN RIGHTS, ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTIONS, MENTAL HEALTH, LOCAL CONTROL, NUISANCE ABATEMENT, AND COUNTLESS OTHER LEGAL RIGHTS FOR INDIVIDUALS AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT, SIGNIFICANTLY ENHANCING THE WELL-BEING AND JUSTICE WITHIN OUR COMMUNITY.

WHEREAS MISS BERNARD HAS BEEN STEADFAST IN DEVELOPING NEW TALENT WITHIN THE LEGAL PROFESSION, AS YOU COULD SEE, MENTORING AND GUIDING THE NEXT GENERATION OF LEGAL PROFESSIONALS, AND WHERE SHE HAS SERVED AS AN INVALUABLE, TRUSTED AND MUCH SOUGHT AFTER ADVISOR TO ELECTED AND APPOINTED OFFICIALS ACROSS JUDICIAL, EXECUTIVE AND LEGISLATIVE BRANCHES OF LOCAL, STATE AND FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, PROVIDING INVALUABLE WISDOM AND GUIDANCE. HER ADVICE HAS BEEN PARAMOUNT TO NAVIGATING UNIMAGINABLE EVENTS LIKE COVID 19 PANDEMIC AND AUGUST 3RD MASS SHOOTING, AS WELL AS RESPONDING TO VARIOUS FEDERAL AND STATE ACTIONS THAT HAVE CAUSED INCREDIBLE CHALLENGES OF OUR LOCAL LEVEL. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED THAT THE EL PASO COUNTY JUDGE AND COMMISSIONERS COURT DO BY HEREBY RECOGNIZE AND HONOR JOANNE BERNAL FOR HER EXTRAORDINARY. LET ME EMPHASIZE THAT BECAUSE IT'S EXTRAORDINARY DEDICATION TO THE COMMUNITY OF EL PASO COUNTY AND BESTOWING ITS MOST PRESTIGIOUS AWARD, THIS, THE ESTIMADO AMIGO AWARD, UPON HER SIGNED THIS THIRD DAY OF JUNE 2024.

THERE'S A MOTION FROM JUDGE SAMANIEGO AND A SECOND FROM COMMISSIONER CORONADO. THE VOTING IS OPEN. GOOD MORNING. I WAS JUST MENTIONING TO MELISSA AND DILLON THAT IT WAS SO NICE THAT THEY STAYED BECAUSE PEOPLE ALWAYS LEAVE AFTER THEIR RESOLUTIONS. SO THANKS VERY MUCH. JUDGE SAMANIEGO, COMMISSIONERS. COMMISSIONER STOUT ON A SCREEN ON, COMMISSIONER, LEON OLGUIN AND CORONADO, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THIS. THIS HONOR, THIS RECOGNITION, THE VERY KIND WORDS. I AM SO GRATEFUL TO BE HERE TODAY. AND I'M SO GRATEFUL FOR THE SUPPORT THAT YOU HAVE SHOWN MY OFFICE AND VERSIONS OF THIS COURT OVER THE MANY YEARS.

IT HAS BEEN MY DEEP HONOR AND PRIVILEGE TO SERVE AS YOUR COUNTY ATTORNEY, BUT I DO UNDERSTAND THAT ANY SUCCESS I HAVE, ANY RECOGNITION I HAVE EVER RECEIVED, HAS BEEN AS A RESULT OF THE VERY HARD WORK OF THE DEDICATED AND EXCELLENT PROFESSIONALS IN THE COUNTY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE, AND SOME OF THE LAWYERS AND STAFF ARE HERE TODAY. SO I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING HERE. AS ALWAYS. THIS IS LIKE IN LAW SCHOOL WHERE THEY'RE ALL SITTING IN BACK BECAUSE THEY DON'T WANT TO GET CALLED ON. SO GOT THAT, I DO WANT THE PUBLIC TO KNOW THAT I HAVE EVERY EXPECTATION THAT THE LEGAL WORK OF THE COUNTY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE IS NOT GOING TO SKIP A BEAT, I AM SO EXCITED FOR MY SUCCESSORS, SUCCESS. BEST WISHES TO CRISTINA SANCHEZ. SHE IS GOING TO MAKE AN EXCELLENT COUNTY ATTORNEY AND I CAN'T WAIT TO SIT ON THE SIDELINES AND CHEER HER ON. SO MY BEST OF LUCK TO YOU. I HAVE BEEN TELLING THE LAWYERS IN THE STAFF IN MY

[01:45:01]

OFFICE THAT I'M NOT SAYING GOODBYE UNTIL I'M REALLY GONE. AND I HAVE ONE WORD. ONE WEEK OF WORK LEFT AND I HOLD OVER FOR THE WEEKEND UNTIL MY SUCCESSOR IS APPOINTED. SO I'M NOT GOING TO SAY GOODBYE TODAY. I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU, MY SINCERE THANK YOU. I WOULD LIKE TO RECOGNIZE ALSO MY HUSBAND, EDDIE CASTILLO, IS IN THE ROOM. EDDIE EDDIE. COME ON, COME ON, GET OVER HERE. MY MOTHER IS HERE TODAY. FRANCES. MY GOODNESS. ANGELA MY DAUGHTER ALEXIS CASTILLO IS HERE. SO FOR THOSE THE FAMILY. FAMILY COME UP AND WANT TO COME SIT UP. YEAH, PLEASE. THEY SAID NO, EDDIE'S A LAWYER, TOO. HE WAS DOING LIKE, LAW SCHOOL AND BACK, SO HE DIDN'T GET CALLED ON. BUT THAT'S WHAT HAPPENS. SO THOSE OF YOU WHO ARE ELECTED OFFICIALS, YOU KNOW THAT THERE IS NO SUCCESS WITHOUT THE SUPPORT OF YOUR FAMILY AND YOUR FRIENDS AND MOST CHILDREN DON'T GROW UP HOLDING POLITICAL SIGNS. MINE DID, OUR OTHER DAUGHTER, CASSIE CASTILLO, IS NOT WITH US TODAY. SHE'S IN DALLAS, BUT SHE GREW UP HOLDING SIGNS, TOO. SO I AM VERY GRATEFUL TO MY FAMILY FOR ALL OF THEIR SUPPORT, BEING THE FAMILY OF AN ELECTED OFFICIAL IS A SPECIAL, A SPECIAL KIND OF FAMILY AND A SPECIAL KIND OF RESPONSIBILITIES. SO THANK YOU, SERVING AS YOUR COUNTY ATTORNEY HAS BEEN SUCH A GIFT TO ME. I HAVE ALWAYS HAD A LOVE OF THE LAW, A LOVE OF PUBLIC SERVICE. AND THIS JOB OFFERED ME THE ABILITY TO COMBINE MY LOVE OF THE LAW WITH MY LOVE OF PUBLIC SERVICE. AND, IT COULDN'T HAVE BEEN BETTER. EVERY DAY WE HAVE EXCITING AND NEW CHALLENGES IN THE COUNTY. AS THE COUNTY GROWS AND DEVELOPS, THE LEGAL WORK BECOMES MORE COMPLEX, AND IT'S SOMETHING THAT IS LAWYERS THAT WE ARE INVIGORATED BY AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO, THE BEST PART OF THIS JOB, HOWEVER, WAS SERVING WITH EACH OF YOU, THE OTHER COUNTY ELECTED OFFICIALS, MEMBERS OF THE JUDICIARY, SOME OF MY FRIENDS THAT ARE HERE TODAY, AND, AND THE PROFESSIONAL STAFF AND COUNTY EMPLOYEES, YOU KNOW, I'VE BEEN HERE A LITTLE OVER 30 YEARS AND I'VE SEEN A LOT, WORKED WITH A LOT OF PUBLIC OFFICIALS AND A LOT OF, DEPARTMENT HEADS, EMPLOYEES AND PEOPLE THAT YOU CAN ALWAYS COUNT ON IF I, IF I TRY TO THANK EVERYBODY, I WILL FORGET SOMEBODY. SO I'M NOT GOING TO TRY TO THANK EVERY PERSON WHO HAS SUPPORTED ME THE LAST 30 YEARS. I DON'T WANT TO LEAVE ANYBODY OUT, BUT THEY KNOW WHO THEY ARE. THEY KNOW HOW MUCH I APPRECIATE THEM AND THEY KNOW HOW MUCH I CARE FOR THEM. I WANT THE PUBLIC TO KNOW AND I WISH MORE OF THE PUBLIC UNDERSTOOD THAT THIS IS A COURT THAT GOVERNS BY ITS VALUES. AND AS I HAVE REFLECTED OVER THE LAST 30 YEARS ABOUT SOME OF THE LEGAL CHALLENGES WE FACED, SOME OF THE THINGS THAT YOU MENTIONED HERE TO JUDGE, I WAS STRUCK BY THREE THINGS IN PARTICULAR THAT STAND OUT IN MY MIND, AND THAT WAS OUR OUR MIGRANT CRISIS. AT FIRST IT WAS A CRISIS, THE AUGUST 3RD SHOOTING AND THE PANDEMIC AND THE PUBLIC SHOULD KNOW THAT IN EVERY INSTANCE, THIS COURT HAS DEMONSTRATED COMPASSION AND KINDNESS FOR THOSE PEOPLE IN OUR COMMUNITY. THEY'RE THE MOST VULNERABLE, AND JUST ONE QUICK STORY IS THAT I RECALL IN OUR VERY EARLY, VERY FIRST MIGRANT CRISIS, IT WAS A SATURDAY, AND I DON'T KNOW IF I GOT A CALL FROM BETSY OR IF BETSY CALLED ME, BUT I COULD HEAR NOISE IN THE BACKGROUND AND I ASKED HER WHERE SHE WAS, AND SHE SAID SHE WAS AT WHATABURGER, BUYING A LOT OF WHATABURGER'S BECAUSE SHE HAD ENCOUNTERED A LOT OF MIGRANTS ON THE STREET WHO WERE HUNGRY. AND BETSY KNEW THAT IT WAS OKAY TO GO GET WHATABURGER BECAUSE SHE KNEW THAT EVERY SINGLE ONE OF YOU WOULD HAVE DONE THE SAME THING. THAT'S THE COUNTY THAT I LOVE, IT IS A COUNTY, THAT UNDERSTANDS THAT GOVERNANCE IS ABOUT SERVICE. AND EACH OF YOU DEMONSTRATE THAT EVERY DAY AND EACH OF THE COUNTY EMPLOYEES AND THE ELECTED OFFICIALS AND THE PROFESSIONAL DEPARTMENTS THEY LEAD WITH THAT UNDERSTANDING THAT GOVERNANCE IS ABOUT SERVICE, I HAVE BEEN SO PROUD TO BE OF SERVICE TO YOU IN THIS COUNTY, AND I THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THIS RECOGNITION. JOANNE, THIS IS. SO MANY TIMES. TO THE FAMILY THAT. THANK YOU FOR LENDING HER FOR LONG, LONG HOURS AND TREMENDOUS, I THINK IT WILL STAND THAT FROM START TO FINISH. I DON'T THINK YOU'RE GOING TO SEE AN ELECTED OFFICIAL FROM START TO FINISH. SO MANY YEARS HAVE SUCH INCREDIBLE, YOU KNOW, THE RESPECT AND THE VALUES AND

[01:50:08]

THE ETHICS THAT THAT YOU HAVE HAD. I REALLY BELIEVE THAT. I THANK YOU EVERY TIME THAT WE SEND OUR LOVE TO THE GOVERNOR, THAT YOU HELPED ME WITH THAT, THAT LOVE THAT CAME OUT FROM HERE, THAT I WANTED TO SAY THAT, BUT I THOUGHT I SHOULD. THAT WAS VERY IMPORTANT BECAUSE I THINK WE PROVED WE PUSHED BACK TO THE POINT THAT THAT I DON'T THINK IF WE HAD EASED OFF A LITTLE BIT, I THINK WE WOULD HAVE BEEN OVERRUN. AND THANKS TO THE COMMISSIONERS AND I KNOW THEY THEY, THEY SHARE THE SAME RESPECT AND I'LL PASS IT ON TO COMMISSIONER LEON. THANK YOU.

JUDGE. AND WHAT CAN I SAY, WITH ALL THOSE PAGES THAT WERE READ ABOUT YOU, JOANNE. WHAT A SHINING, SHINING EXAMPLE OF LEADERSHIP, JOANNE IS AND HAS BEEN, WHAT A LEADER THAT THE COUNTY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE HAS HAD. WHAT A LEADER THAT THIS COURT HAS HAD. AND I TOLD JOANNE AND MAYBE MOST OF YOU ALL THAT WHEN I LOOK UP AND I SEE, JOANNE SITTING THERE, I SAY, OKAY, ALL THINGS ARE GOOD. AND I KNOW THAT I WILL HAVE THAT FEELING WITH CHRISTINA, I'VE GOT TO TELL YOU, JOANNE, THAT YOU HAVE ALWAYS BEEN A PERSON THAT'S SORT OF IN THE BACKGROUND. YOU COULD HAVE VERY EASILY IN THESE MANY YEARS, BEEN IN FRONT OF THE CAMERA MANY, MANY TIMES. BUT YOU DIDN'T. YOU WERE IN THE BACKGROUND, ALWAYS ENRICHING YOUR OFFICE, ENRICHING THIS COURT, AND REALLY ENRICHING THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY BECAUSE OF ALL THE THINGS THAT YOU DO NOT ONLY ON COUNTY BUSINESS, BUT ON YOUR OWN TIME, THAT I SEE YOU AT DIFFERENT TYPES OF EVENTS, WHAT A TREMENDOUS LOSS THAT THAT WE ARE GOING TO SEE. I'VE GOT TO TELL YOU THAT EVERY TIME I HAVE A QUESTION. WELL, DID YOU CALL JOANNE? THAT'S THE FIRST THING. EVEN AT HOME. I'LL TALK TO MY WIFE. WELL DID YOU ASK JOANNE? AND IT IS TRUE. I MEAN, WHAT A CALMING, YOU KNOW, WHEN WE HAVE SORT OF A CRISIS IN ANY ISSUE THAT COMES UP, YOU CALL JOANNE AND SHE SAYS, WELL, WHAT A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF, OF, HER POWER TO JUST PUT THINGS IN PERSPECTIVE AND SEE THE BIG PICTURE. WELL IF WE GO THIS ROUTE, WE CAN DO THIS. IF WE GO THAT ROUTE, WE MIGHT BE ABLE TO DO THIS. BUT I'VE NEVER CALLED JOANNE'S OFFICE OR SPOKEN TO JOANNE AND GOTTEN A NO. WE CAN'T DO THAT. WE THINK OF WAYS THAT WE TRY TO DO DO IT AND DO THE RIGHT THING. BUT JOANNE, FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART AND I KNOW I SPEAK FOR EVERYBODY, THANK YOU FOR THE SERVICE THAT YOU GAVE THIS GREAT COMMUNITY. AND THEY WILL NEVER, EVER KNOW WHAT YOU REALLY HAVE DONE FOR US . THANK YOU. THANK YOU. COMMISSIONER. COMMISSIONER STOUT . THANK YOU, JUDGE AND COMMISSIONERS, YOU KNOW, SO MANY, SO MANY THINGS COME TO MY MIND, WHEN I WHEN I THINK ABOUT JOANNE AND SO MANY THINGS THAT THAT I WANT TO SAY, ONE OF THE FIRST MEMORIES THAT I HAVE OF YOU WAS WHEN I WAS WORKING FOR CHANNEL 26, AND THE WAY THAT YOU WOULD RUN AWAY FROM ME BECAUSE YOU DIDN'T WANT TO DO THE INTERVIEW IN SPANISH AND, AND, YOU'RE JUST SO HUMBLE ABOUT, YOU KNOW, YOU SAYING NO, YOU SHOULD SPEAK TO SOMEBODY ELSE, BUT, YOU KNOW, YOU JUST, AN AMAZING, AN AMAZING, PUBLIC SERVANT FROM THOSE DAYS. AND I AND I REMEMBER WHEN I STARTED WORKING FOR SENATOR RODRIGUEZ, YOU KNOW, JUST HOW HOW, RESPECTED YOU WERE IN THAT OFFICE AND HOW MANY PEOPLE, NOT JUST HERE LOCALLY, BUT ACROSS THE STATE, REALLY LOOK UP TO YOU, IDOLIZE YOU, AND WANT TO EMULATE YOU AND SEE YOU AS THEIR HERO AND JUST HAVE SO MANY GREAT THINGS TO SAY ABOUT YOU, YOU, YOU ARE AN EMINENCE. AND, NOT JUST HERE IN EL PASO, BUT BUT STATEWIDE, AND THEN, YOU KNOW, JUST THE, THE ABILITY TO, YOU KNOW, THE HONOR OF, OF HAVING BEEN ABLE TO WORK WITH YOU OVER THE LAST NINE YEARS, YOU KNOW, I ALSO HAVE HAVE REALLY BEEN THANKFUL FOR THE TIMES THAT YOU HAVE CALLED ME AND, AND, GIVEN ME ADVICE, AND YOU WOULD START BY SAYING THIS MAY BE UNSOLICITED, BUT, YOU KNOW, I WANT TO HELP YOU. AND, YOU KNOW, I'M SO HAPPY THAT THAT YOU MADE THOSE CALLS THAT YOU THAT YOU BROUGHT THINGS TO MY ATTENTION, THAT, YOU KNOW, YOU DIDN'T JUST SIT BACK AND, LET THINGS HAPPEN. YOU YOU WERE SO PROACTIVE IN, IN, IN HELPING ALL OF US ON THE COMMISSIONERS COURT , YOU KNOW, I, I THINK THAT, YOU KNOW, THIS COURT AND THE JUDGE

[01:55:06]

WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN ABLE TO DO WHAT WE DID DURING THE PANDEMIC. AND, YOU KNOW, WHEN WE STOOD UP TO THE GOVERNOR, YOU KNOW, THAT WAS A SO MUCH OF THAT WAS YOU SO MUCH OF EVERYTHING THAT WE HAVE DONE, THE GREAT THINGS THAT WE HAVE DONE AS A COMMISSIONERS COURT OVER THE LAST NUMBER OF YEARS IS REALLY AN A TRIBUTE TO YOUR YOUR HELP AND YOUR WORK AND YOUR SUPPORTING US, AND, YOU KNOW, YOU, I THINK, CAN LOOK AT YOUR STAFF AND THE PEOPLE THAT HAVE COME THROUGH YOUR OFFICE, MANY OF THOSE WHOM HAVE WORKED UNDER YOU, WHO NOW HAVE ELECTED POSITIONS, YOU YOU ARE LEAVING A LEGACY, THAT, WILL, YOU KNOW, PERMEATE AND WILL CONTINUE TO, BRING GREAT THINGS TO THIS COMMUNITY THROUGH THE FOLKS THAT YOU INSPIRED AND THE FOLKS THAT WORKED WITH YOU AND LEARNED FROM YOU, TO YOUR FAMILY HAVE GOTTEN THE CHANCE TO KNOW EDDIE AND FRANCES AND ALEXIS AS WELL, THANK YOU ALL FOR LENDING US YOUR DAUGHTER AND YOUR WIFE AND YOUR MOTHER. YOU KNOW, THESE JOBS ARE SOMETIMES THANKLESS. THEY'RE LONG HOURS. AND WE WE'RE CALLING HER ON THE WEEKENDS AND AT NIGHT, AND, YOU KNOW, BEING ABLE TO SUPPORT HER AND MAKING SURE THAT SHE WAS SUCCESSFUL AND MAKING SURE THAT WE WERE SUCCESSFUL IS REALLY SOMETHING THAT, AS AS SHE SAID, YOU KNOW, IT TAKES A VERY, VERY SPECIAL FAMILY TO, TO DO THAT. AND SO, YOU KNOW, I'M REALLY HAPPY THAT, YOU'LL HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE HER BACK NOW, AND SHE'LL BE ABLE TO SPEND SO MUCH MORE TIME WITH YOU ALL, YOUR RETIREMENT IS JUST SO WELL DESERVED. YOU KNOW, I'M GLAD THAT YOU'RE THAT YOU'RE DOING IT. I KNOW THAT, YOU KNOW, I REMEMBER A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO WHEN YOU WERE. WHEN YOU WERE GOING THROUGH YOUR BOUT WITH CANCER, AND I, YOU KNOW, I THOUGHT, YOU KNOW, WE, WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT SHE TAKES THE TIME AND TAKES CARE OF HERSELF. AND I KNOW YOU DID THAT, BUT IT DIDN'T SEEM LIKE YOU WERE GONE. IT DIDN'T SEEM LIKE YOU HAD YOU HAD TAKEN ANY TIME OFF. AND I DON'T KNOW HOW YOU DID THAT, JOANNE, BUT, YOU KNOW, YOU YOU YOU KEPT THIS COURT, SAFE. YOU KEPT THIS COUNTY SAFE. YOU YOU WORKED SO HARD, EVEN WHEN YOU WERE DEALING WITH THAT, THAT VERY PERSONAL ISSUE. AND, YOU KNOW, I DON'T THINK MANY PEOPLE COULD HAVE DONE THAT. AND SO, YOU KNOW, JUST I COULD PROBABLY GO ON FOR HOURS. JOANNE AND SINGING YOUR PRAISES AND THANKING YOU, I LOVE YOU TO DEATH. AND I KNOW THAT YOU'RE GOING TO BE HERE, CALLING ME WITH WITH, WITH THAT ADVICE, AND I HOPE YOU DO, BECAUSE YOU'RE AN AMAZING PERSON, A BELLWETHER FOR ME AND MY POLITICS AND THE WORK THAT I DO. AND I'M GOING TO CONTINUE TO DEPEND UPON THAT.

SO, I KNOW THAT THIS IS NOT GOODBYE AND YOU'LL BE AROUND, BUT, YOU KNOW, IT'S SAD TO SEE YOU GO, BUT YOU'VE LEFT YOUR OFFICE IN SUCH GREAT SHAPE, AND, AGAIN, NOT MANY PEOPLE CAN AND WILL DO WHAT YOU HAVE DONE FOR THIS COUNTY, SO THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER, VERY MUCH. THANK YOU. COMMISSIONER, GO TO COMMISSIONER CORONADO AND THEN TO COMMISSIONER JEAN SO SHE CAN FINALIZE THE DISCUSSION. SO THANK YOU. THANK YOU.

COMMISSIONERS. JOANNE, YOU KNOW, IT'S BEEN A PRIVILEGE TO SEE YOU AND WORK IN THIS COMMUNITY, I, AS A PREVIOUS MEMBER OF THE OFFICE OF THE COUNTY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE BACK IN 1986. I'M NOT THAT OLD, OKAY, BUT, YOU KNOW, I THINK I CAN REMEMBER ONLY SOMEBODY THAT SHORTLY CAME AFTER ME, AND I THINK THAT'S ERIC WHO'S STILL HERE IN THE BACK. YOU KNOW, IT WAS QUITE DIFFERENT THAN, BEING A PROSECUTOR IN THAT OFFICE. YOU KNOW, I HAD A CHANCE TO WORK EITHER AT THE DA'S OFFICE OR THE COUNTY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE WHEN I CAME FROM AUSTIN. AND I CHOSE TO BE IN THE OFFICE OF THE COUNTY ATTORNEY'S, AND, IT WITH, WITH, WITH GOOD REGARD. AND, YOU KNOW, AND I'VE SEEN THAT OFFICE BOTH WORKING IN THE OFFICE AND SUBSEQUENTLY DEALING WITH THAT OFFICE AND, I JUST HAD TO TELL YOU THAT UNDER YOUR DIRECTION AND YOUR PREVIOUS, LEADERS IN THERE, THAT YOUR OFFICE HAS COME TO BE ONE WHERE IT'S RECOGNIZED AND WE CAN ALL SEE IT AS MEMBERS OF THE BAR BECAUSE OF THE MORALE IN YOUR OFFICE. AND IT JUST SPEAKS VOLUMES OF THE LEADERSHIP THAT YOU HAVE ENTRUSTED INTO THE PEOPLE THAT YOU SUPERVISE AND THAT WORK ALONGSIDE YOU, IT'S VERY IMPORTANT, YOU KNOW, AND TO CONTINUE TO, THAT ETHICS AND, YOU KNOW, THE SUPPORT OF YOUR STAFF, I KNOW ALL THE ATTORNEYS HERE THAT, THAT, THAT ARE SITTING HERE AND SUPPORT YOU AND BEHIND YOU AND NOT JUST YOU, BUT ALL YOUR STAFF AND YOUR LEADERSHIP IN THE OFFICE, IT'S

[02:00:04]

REALLY A WELCOMING SIGHT TO KNOW THAT THAT THE COUNTY GOVERNMENT HAS BEEN IN REALLY GOOD HANDS AND WILL CONTINUE TO BE IN GOOD HANDS BECAUSE OF CRISTINA AND SO, I JUST WANT TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE, I KNOW YOU'LL BE AROUND, AND WE THANK YOU VERY, VERY MUCH, WITH DEEP GRATITUDE, WE REALLY APPRECIATE YOUR SERVICE TO THIS COMMUNITY. AND THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU.

COMMISSIONER. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER CORONADO. COMMISSIONER OLGUIN, THANK YOU, JUDGE JOANNE, I WANT TO START BY THANKING YOU AND ALL OF YOUR, STAFF MEMBERS FROM YOUR INCREDIBLE OFFICE FOR ALL OF THE SUPPORT THAT YOU GAVE ME AND THAT THEY GAVE ME WHEN I FIRST JOINED THE COMMISSIONER'S COURT IN JANUARY OF 2021, IT WAS WE WERE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE PANDEMIC. IT WAS VERY, VERY CHALLENGING. BUT YOUR OFFICE WAS JUST ALWAYS SO AVAILABLE AND SO ACCESSIBLE AND SO PROFESSIONAL AND KNOWLEDGEABLE. I WILL ALWAYS BE FOREVER GRATEFUL FOR THAT, BUT I WANT TO THANK YOU SPECIFICALLY FOR, ASIDE FROM OUR PROFESSIONAL RELATIONSHIP, SINCE I JOINED THE COURT FOR BEING SUCH A GOOD FRIEND FOR ALL THE MANY YEARS THAT I'VE KNOWN YOU.

YOU WERE ONE OF THE VERY FIRST PERSONS THAT ENCOURAGED ME TO THINK ABOUT RUNNING FOR OFFICE AND TO HEAR YOU TELL ME WHY YOU THOUGHT I WOULD MAKE A GOOD PUBLIC SERVANT COME FROM SOMEONE THAT I ADMIRED SO MUCH, PROFESSIONALLY, ETHICALLY, MORALLY, HEARING THAT FROM YOU, I THINK, REALLY DID CHANGE THE TRAJECTORY OF MY LIFE. AND I DON'T KNOW IF I WOULD HAVE CHOSEN THIS PATH HAD NOT. I NOT HEARD THOSE ENCOURAGING WORDS FROM YOU. SO THANK YOU FOR THAT, I WANT TO THANK YOU. NOT ONLY FOR BEING AN INSPIRATION TO ME AND TO EVERYONE ELSE HERE IN THIS ROOM AND UNDOUBTEDLY THROUGHOUT OUR COUNTY, FOR BEING SUCH AN INSPIRATION, NOT ONLY AS A LAWYER, BUT ALSO AS WHAT A TRUE PUBLIC SERVANT SHOULD BE. SO THANK YOU, JOANNE. I'M NOT GOING TO SAY BY EITHER. I KNOW YOU HAVE A WEEK LEFT, BUT I'M STILL NOT GOING TO SAY BYE BECAUSE I KNOW THAT YOU WILL STILL BE AROUND. YOU WILL STILL BE HERE STANDING WITH US, FIGHTING THE GOOD FIGHT, BECAUSE THAT'S WHO YOU ARE. I KNOW THAT YOU'RE NEVER GOING TO STOP. YOU MAY BE OFFICIALLY RETIRED, BUT I HAVE A FEELING THAT WE. SO I'M WARNING YOU NOW, EDDIE, I HAVE A FEELING THAT WE WILL STILL SEE YOU HERE AT THE COURTHOUSE, AT RALLIES, AT COMMUNITY MEETINGS, I KNOW FOR A FACT THAT WE HAVE NOT SEEN THE LAST OF JOANNE BRUNO. AND FOR THAT, I AM GRATEFUL. THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU SO MUCH. AND THANK YOU AGAIN TO ALL OF YOU. I KNOW THAT YOU HAVE A VERY LENGTHY EXECUTIVE SESSION, WHICH I WILL BE BACK FOR, SO HANG ON. WE HAVE A LONG DAY, BUT I COULDN'T BE MORE GRATEFUL TO ALL OF YOU. SO THANK YOU SO MUCH. IF YOU DON'T MIND, LET ME REACH, SOME OF THE THAT WE'RE GOING TO RECOGNIZE. OH I WANT TO GET A, FROM ALEXIS.

GET BY THE MICROPHONE. GET BY THE MICROPHONE. SO I'LL READ IT FROM HERE. IF YOU DON'T MIND. SO THIS IS A, FROM YOUR FRIEND THAT, PATRICK GABALDON, AND IT SAYS JOANNE. THANK YOU FOR YOUR GUIDANCE, COMPASSION AND LEADERSHIP. YOU LEAVE AN INDELIBLE MARK ON OUR COMMUNITY AND ALL OF US. BEST WISHES ON YOUR WELL-DESERVED RETIREMENT. EL PASO COUNTY COMMISSIONERS COURT, JUNE 2024. OH, HOW BEAUTIFUL. THANK YOU. DO WE GET TO TAKE A PICTURE? YES, YES.

COME UP WITH ME FOR THE PICTURE. YEAH, YEAH. THIS IS ALSO, A VERY, TO US. IT'S NOT GIVEN OUT VERY, VERY OFTEN, THIS IS SO WELL DESERVING, BUT THIS IS EL PASO COUNTY ESTIMADO AMIGO AWARD FOR JOANNE BERNAL, COUNTY ATTORNEY, JUNE 3RD, 2024. SEE, SHE'S NEVER SEEN A BIG.

SO, LIKE THE FIRST YEAR, LAST YEAR, NOBODY COME WITH YOUR FAMILY, AND THEN WE'LL CAN COME UP. FOR YOU. COMMISSIONER. IT'S RICK.

[02:05:36]

FILES, PLEASE. OKAY ARE YOU READY FOR US? AFTER THAT, TOMORROW I'LL BE HERE.

PLEASE. ALL RIGHT. COME ON. BACK. YOU'RE OH, YES. YEAH THIS IS SO PRETTY. SHE'S GOT. LIKE YOU JUST TOLD ME. YOU GOTTA DO IT. AND YOU'RE TALL. THIS GUY.

ARE YOU DOING. AARON, I WAS GONNA VOLUNTEER. I KNOW I'M SCRAPPY. HERE. ARE THESE PHOTOS GONNA BE. I CAN SEND THEM TO THE STAFF. I'M NOT STAFF. I'M DONE. OH, OKAY, I CAN FLAGSTAFF. I CAN SEND THEM DIRECTLY TO JOANNA. OKAY. YES. OTHERWISE. OKAY. WE ALL NEED TO GET AS CLOSE AS YOU CAN. I'M JUST KIDDING. OKAY. OH, THERE IS THERE LOOKS LIKE A BIG BAG. I GOT YOU. THANK YOU. OKAY, LET'S SEE. MILES 33. OKAY. THAT'S IT. OH. ONE MORE, ONE MORE, ONE MORE, ONE MORE, ONE MORE, ONE MORE. ERICA WE HAVE A LOT OF PEOPLE. COMING. YOUR WAY. THANK YOU, THANK YOU. THANK YOU GUYS. ALL RIGHT. I KNOW. WELL. OR BIG GROUP. BLAME IT ON THE BIG GROUP. ALL RIGHT. THAT'S ALL RIGHT. YES, I. I KNOW. I KNOW YOU REALLY? HOW ARE YOU OUT HERE? LET ME GET MY BAG. RIGHT. IT'S A LOT. HOW ARE YOU? GOOD TO SEE YOU. I SAW YOU GUYS FOR BEING HERE. I LOVE IT. THAT WAS REALLY SWEET. I SAW YOU WALK IN. THANK YOU. JUDGE NO. YES I WILL.

THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. OKAY, WELL, I'LL SEE YOU GUYS AT EXECUTIVE. OH, YEAH. YOU DON'T

[02:10:04]

REMEMBER THE. OH, I JUST WANTED TO SAY THANK YOU FOR. YOU WANT TO GO TO EIGHT OR DO YOU WANT TO DO COLISEUM? WHERE WE CAN GO TO EIGHT. EIGHT? YEAH, WE CAN GO TO EIGHT. I'LL COME OVER HERE.

BECAUSE. ARE YOU DOING. I KNOW I . SO IN LOVE WITH YOU. OH, YEAH. I. YOU HAVE NO CHOICE.

YES. THIS CHRISTINA. NO. I WILL BE BACK. YEAH. WE'RE JUST A SHORT. I'LL BE. CAN YOU KEEP ME POSTED? ON WHAT TIME YOU START? YEAH. FOR SURE. I'LL BE BACK FOR EXECUTIVE.

BEAUTIFUL. WASN'T IT? OH, MY GOSH, THE ORANGE. SO SHE TOLD ME . I.

AND THEN I WAS LIKE, JUST FORGET IT. I LOVE THAT. AND THEN. AND THEN.

YES SO, ARE WE GOING TO DO ITEM 88A? YES. WHAT? YEAH. ITEM NUMBER EIGHT A DISCUSS AND TAKE APPROPRIATE ACTION REGARDING THE EL PASO AREA. TRANSPORTATION SERVICES, LOCAL GOVERNMENT CORPORATIONS, PROPOSED FISCAL YEAR 2025 STAFFING PLAN. OKAY. THANK YOU. AND I'M SORRY, JOSE,

[A. Discuss and take appropriate action regarding the El Paso Area Transportation Services, Local Government Corporation’s proposed Fiscal Year 2025 Staffing Plan. Carlos Leon, Commissioner, Precinct 1, 915-546-2014]

YOU HAD TO FOLLOW THE JOANNE CEREMONY. NO, BUT I'VE GOT TO TELL YOU, JUDGE, COMMISSIONERS, WE STARTED THE LGC SOME YEARS BACK. AND NOW WHAT I FIND OURSELVES DOING IS ACTUALLY THE, THE BOARD IS ACTUALLY DOING OPERATIONAL ISSUES INSTEAD OF REALLY WORKING ON POLICY. SO WE COME TO A POINT WHERE WE HAVE TO MAKE AN APPOINTMENT OF SOME SORT OF DIRECTOR, MAYBE AN INTERIM.

THEN WE GO INTO OUR OUR PERMANENT DIRECTOR IN THE FUTURE. BUT JOSE WILL OUTLINE IT FOR YOU ALL A LOT BETTER THAN I CAN. GOOD MORNING. JUDGE. COMMISSIONERS NELSON COUNTY ADMINISTRATION IN THIS CAPACITY THIS MORNING, AS ONE OF THE DIRECTORS OF THE, LGC BOARD OF DIRECTORS, AS, AS COMMISSIONER LEON MENTIONED. AND COMMISSIONER LEON SERVES AS CHAIR OF THE LGC, THE LGC WAS ESTABLISHED, YEARS AGO WITH THE INTENT OF PARTNERING WITH OTHER LOCAL GOVERNMENTS TO REALLY ENHANCE AND EXPAND REGIONAL TRANSIT SERVICE, WITH THE ULTIMATE GOAL OF HAVING ONE SEAMLESS REGIONAL TRANSIT PROVIDER FOR THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY, OVER THAT TIME, WE'VE BEGUN TO REALLY DEVELOP A LOT OF, PROCESS PROCEDURE AND IN THIS PAST YEAR HAVE DONE A

[02:15:06]

NUMBER OF, OF INITIATIVES THAT REALLY SPEAK A LOT TO THE VISION AND THE GOAL THAT WE HAVE OF ENHANCING TRANSIT SERVICE IN PARTICULAR, MOST RECENTLY, WE ARE ON THE CUSP OF, PROVIDING FIRST TIME ADA PARATRANSIT SERVICE. AND THIS IS A HUGE STEP IN THE DIRECTION THAT WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN POSSIBLE WITHOUT THE FINANCIAL CONTRIBUTION AND PARTNERSHIP THAT THE LGC ALLOWS FOR. AND THAT WAS REALLY ONE OF THE FOUNDATIONAL REASONS WHY THE LGC WAS EVEN NEEDED, AND IT WAS BECAUSE WE COULD DO MORE, WE COULD GAIN ECONOMY OF SCALE BY PARTNERING AND INSTEAD OF HAVING SEPARATE TRANSIT AGENCIES AND SEPARATE TRANSIT INITIATIVES, BE ABLE TO DO MORE BY HAVING EVERYONE WORKING TOGETHER, AND SO SOME OF THESE YOU WILL RECOGNIZE AS INITIATIVES THAT HAVE BEGUN UNDER THE COUNTY THAT ARE BEING CONTINUED NOW TO BE UPDATED AND MONITORED BY THE LGC , INCLUDING THE PASSENGER SHELTERS, UPGRADING OUR FLEETS, BUT ADA PARATRANSIT WAS REALLY THE FIRST STEP THAT THE ORGANIZATION TOOK TO, TO SIGNIFICANTLY START TO EXPAND SERVICE. AND WHAT'S ON THE CUSP FOR THE NEXT FEW YEARS, IN A COUPLE OF SLIDES, IS A CONTINUATION OF THAT EXPANSION OPPORTUNITY. I DON'T KNOW WHAT HAPPENED. THE SLIDE THAT WAS UP WAS THE TABLE. THIS DOES NOT COUNT AGAINST MY TEN MINUTES. BETSY. BETSY TOLD ME TEN MINUTES AND THIS DOESN'T COUNT. THIS IS DO YOU HAVE A HARD COPY? I DO NOT I DO NOT HAVE A HARD COPY.

LET ME GIVE YOU THIS BY. KNOW IT'S A BIG CHUNK. SO WHILE THE WHILE WE WORK ON BRINGING THAT UP. OH. THANK YOU. ALEXIS. HERE WHAT YOU WHAT YOU DO HAVE, IS A IS A TABLE, AND THE TABLE IS A VERY EXPENSIVE TABLE TO COME TO BECAUSE WE ACTUALLY TASK, THE TEXAS A&M TRANSPORTATION INSTITUTE WITH DEVELOPING THIS FOR US. AND I THINK IT'S ONE OF THE REASONS WHY THE LGC HAS BEEN SUCCESSFUL, WHEN WE WERE IDENTIFYING WHAT IT WOULD BE TO WHAT THE COST WOULD BE TO DEVELOP A COST SHARE MODEL BETWEEN THE COUNTY AND OTHER AGENCIES, WE WANTED TO ENSURE THAT THERE WAS A STANDARD TRANSIT METHODOLOGY BEHIND IT, AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, THAT IT WASN'T AN AGENCY, THAT THE COUNTY WASN'T DOING IT SPECIFICALLY BECAUSE THAT'S HOW WE WANTED TO BUILD CREDIBILITY WITH THESE OTHER AGENCIES, LETTING THEM KNOW THAT IT WAS US, OTHER, A TRANSIT AGENCY THAT FOCUSES SPECIFICALLY ON THIS TYPE OF WORK THAT WAS HELPING DEVELOP THIS COST ESTIMATE. AND SO HERE YOU CAN SEE THE BREAKDOWN, THAT IS THAT EVERY MUNICIPALITY IS RESPONSIBLE FOR. AND I WILL SAY THAT WHEN WE STARTED THIS, IT WAS THE COUNTY HORIZON CITY, SAN ELIZARIO AND VINTON. AND SO WE HAD WE HAD THOSE MEMBERS SINCE WE'VE, BEEN ON BOARD, WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO SECURE PARTNERSHIPS WITH, THE TOWN OF CLINT AND THE TOWN OF ANTHONY AS WELL. AND SO EVERY AND THE CITY OF EL PASO IS NOW AN EX-OFFICIO BOARD MEMBER. AS WELL. AND SO WE HAVE EVERY LOCAL GOVERNMENT IN THE COMMUNITY, WITH THE EXCEPTION OF ONE REALLY WORKING TOWARD, TRANSPORTATION, PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION ENHANCEMENT AND SERVICE DELIVERY . AND SO, WHAT THE TABLE SHOWS IS, IS THE BREAKDOWN OF ALL THE DIFFERENT MEMBERS AND THE AND THE SERVICE LINES THAT INCLUDE THE COMMUTER BUS SERVICE, ADA PARATRANSIT SERVICE, AS WELL AS SOME OF THE ADMINISTRATIVE COSTS THAT ARE ASSOCIATED WITH WITH THIS. AND SO, AS COMMISSIONER LEON MENTIONED, IN RECENT MONTHS, THE BOARD HAS FOUND ITSELF ENGAGING IN MORE AND MORE DISCUSSIONS ABOUT OPERATIONAL ISSUES, SIMILAR TO ANY ORGANIZATION. I THINK IT'S A NATURAL GROWING STEP, GROWING PAIN OF AN AGENCY THAT AS YOU ARE EVALUATING WHAT YOUR DEMANDS ARE, YOU START TO IDENTIFY WHAT THE SOLUTIONS TO SOME OF THOSE DEMANDS MIGHT BE. AND SO JUST RECENTLY, THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS HAD A CONVERSATION ABOUT NEEDING TO TAKE THE NEXT STEP, WANTING TO TAKE THAT NEXT STEP IN THE EVOLUTION OF THE LGC, WHICH WAS STAFFING, AND SO WHAT THE BOARD DID JUST LAST MONTH AT LAST MONTH'S MEETING IS ADOPT A STAFFING PLAN FOR FY 2025. AND SO THAT STAFFING PLAN INCLUDES CREATING A NEW POSITION, WHICH WOULD BE A DIRECTOR OF TRANSIT OPERATIONS. THEN ALSO THE REQUEST THAT THE COUNTY BE A PARTNER TO THE LGC AND WORK THROUGH THE HIRING OF THIS OF THESE EMPLOYEES, SIMILAR TO THE WAY THAT WE HIRE EMPLOYEES FOR THE PURCHASING DEPARTMENT FOR ADULT PROBATION, WHERE THE DIRECTOR IS A DIRECT REPORT TO THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS AND DOES NOT REPORT TO WITHIN THE ADMINISTRATIVE ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE OF COMMISSIONERS COURT, THIS IS SIMILAR AGAIN TO THE PURCHASING BOARD TO THE

[02:20:05]

ELECTIONS, BUT ALL THE EMPLOYEES ARE COUNTY EMPLOYEES. BY BY FUNCTION. BUT IN TURN, THEY ORGANIZE, THEY REPORT TO SOMEONE ELSE FOR OPERATIONAL GUIDANCE AND ISSUES, AND SO THE BOARD VOTED TO CREATE A DIRECTOR POSITION THAT WOULD BE THE BOARD'S SOLE EMPLOYEE, AND THEN ALSO MADE THE REQUEST THAT THE EXISTING COUNTY STAFF THAT WORKS ON TRANSIT, THAT'S CURRENTLY IN THE PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT, TRANSITION OVER AT THE BEGINNING OF THE FISCAL YEAR, TO BE PART OF THAT TEAM AND THAT ONE ADDITIONAL POSITION THAT'S CURRENTLY VACANT, BE RECLASSIFIED INTO A PROJECT MANAGER POSITION TO HELP CONTINUE THE THIS EFFORT AND THESE INITIATIVES AND SO THIS WAS VOTED ON BY THE LGC BOARD RECENTLY AND APPROVED, WE HAVE HAD NUMEROUS CONVERSATIONS WITH HUMAN RESOURCES DEPARTMENT ABOUT WHAT THE STRUCTURE COULD LOOK LIKE. THEY'VE PROVIDED ASSESSMENTS AND TIMELINES. HIRING A DIRECTOR COULD TAKE 15 WEEKS FROM THE START OF THE RECRUITMENT PROCESS TO HAVING THEM ON BOARD. WE'VE ALSO DISCUSSED THIS WITH MISS NORMA PALACIOS AND MR. MICHAEL MCELROY AND PUBLIC WORKS, AND WE'VE HAD CONVERSATIONS WITH THE STAFF LETTING THEM KNOW THAT IF THE COURT DOES APPROVE THIS REQUEST, THIS IS HOW IT WOULD MINIMIZE DISRUPTION TO THEM. THEY WOULD RETAIN THEIR COUNTY EMPLOYMENT STATUS, BUT THEY WOULD JUST BE SHIFTING OVER INTO A NEWLY ESTABLISHED DEPARTMENT. SOME ITEMS THAT ARE ON THE HORIZON FOR FY 25 I MENTIONED CONTINUE TO EXPAND YOUTH SERVICES, PARTICULARLY WITH ON DEMAND RESPONSE AND MICROTRANSIT, WHICH EFFECTIVELY IS A GOOD EXAMPLE OF A PUBLICLY SUBSIDIZED UBER SERVICE HELPING RESIDENTS OF ANY COMMUNITY GET TO WHERE THEY NEED TO GO THROUGH A FARE, EITHER BY TAKING THEM TO THEIR ULTIMATE DESTINATION OR HAVING THEM GET ON BOARD, A TRANSIT ROUTE, HELPING TO SOLVE THE FIRST MILE LAST MILE CHALLENGE THAT IS THE REASON WHY A LOT OF PEOPLE DON'T END UP USING TRANSIT, WE'RE ALSO GOING TO LOOK AT, REDUCING SERVICE TO NONPARTICIPATING AREAS. I MENTIONED WE HAD ONE MUNICIPALITY, THE CITY OF SOCORRO, WHO HAS NOT AGREED TO PARTICIPATE. AND SO RIGHT NOW THE COUNTY IS CURRENTLY, COVERING THAT COST. BUT THE BOARD HAS GIVEN DIRECTION TO STAFF TO START TO COME UP WITH AN OUTREACH PLAN TO NOTIFY RESIDENTS OF SOCORRO THAT BY THE END OF THIS CALENDAR YEAR, SERVICE WILL BE REDUCED OR COMPLETELY ELIMINATED. AND SO WE'RE WORKING THROUGH THAT, AND ALSO COORDINATING WITH MISS PALACIOS ON SPACE, IF THE LGC IS THERE IF THERE IS SPACE WITHIN COUNTY FACILITIES TO HOUSE THE NEW STAFF, THE LGC CAN MAKE THOSE IMPROVEMENTS AND HAVE A LEASE AGREEMENT WITH THE COUNTY, AND SO WE FEEL THAT WOULD BE A BENEFIT TO, TO BOTH AGENCIES TO HAVE THE LGC HOUSE SOMEWHERE IN THE DOWNTOWN AREA. AND THEN WE'LL ALSO CONTINUE TO FOCUS ON EXPANDING THE BOARD WITH NEW AGENCIES, NEW PARTNERS, AND ALSO REBRANDING. YOU SAW IN THE FIRST SLIDE, YOU CAN SEE IN THE BOTTOM RIGHT OF THIS SLIDE, VERY FAINTLY, THE ETA LOGO, THE LGC BOARD HAS ADOPTED THAT AS THE NEW BRAND. SO YOU'LL SEE VEHICLES ROLL OUT WITH THE ETA EL PASO TRANSPORTATION AUTHORITY , LOGO AS THE NEW FACE. SO IT'S NOT THE COUNTY'S BUS SYSTEM ANYMORE. IT REALLY DOES BELONG TO THE LGC AND COLLABORATION WITH ALL OF OUR PARTNERS. COULD YOU GO BACK A LITTLE BIT? TELL US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT SOCORRO. YOU KNOW WHAT THE DIALOG HAS BEEN OR WHAT ARE SOME OF THE ISSUES RESISTANCE. I MEAN, JUST TO SEE. YES, SIR. YEAH. SO GOING BACK TO THESE PAST TWO YEARS SINCE THE LBCC'S BEEN FORMALLY IN EXISTENCE, WE PRESENTED TO ALL THE COUNCILS, WHAT THE WHAT THE COST SHARE MODEL WAS GOES BACK TO THIS SLIDE HERE.

SOMETHING ABOUT THAT SLIDE. YEAH. IT DOESN'T LIKE THAT SLIDE. NO IT DOESN'T. AND SO THAT SLIDE AGAIN WAS THE METHODOLOGY THAT WE ADOPTED TO, WELL NOT WE BUT, BUT T.TI ADOPTED FOR THIS EFFORT TO ENSURE THAT WE KNEW HOW TO, COST SHARE BECAUSE IT WAS SOMETHING THAT WE RECOGNIZED. WE DIDN'T HAVE ANY EXPERIENCE IN TI. DID. FOR MOST AGENCIES, THAT WAS, AN ALL AGENCY SINCE 2016 HAVE BEEN INVOLVED IN THIS PROCESS. IT'S ALWAYS BEEN KNOWN TO I WAS GOING TO DO THIS BECAUSE TI HAS HAD VERSIONS OF THIS TABLE GOING BACK EIGHT YEARS. BUT IN RECENT NEGOTIATIONS WITH THE CITY, THERE WERE A NUMBER OF CONCERNS ABOUT THE TERMS OF THE AGREEMENT , THE COST OF THE AGREEMENT COMPARED TO OTHER AGENCIES AND, THAT WAS THOSE WERE I THINK THOSE ARE THE TWO OF THE MAIN ISSUES WE HAD NUMEROUS CONVERSATIONS WITH CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS, COMMISSIONERS LEON AND OLGUIN, BOTH MEETING WITH MEMBERS OF COUNCIL AND GOING TO CITY COUNCIL MEETINGS TO DISCUSS IT. ULTIMATELY, THEY JUST DID NOT AGREE TO, TO PARTICIPATE, AND IF I CAN INTERRUPT JUST FOR A SECOND, JUDGE, I'VE HAD SEVERAL CONVERSATIONS WITH RESIDENTS OF SOCORRO, AND THEY'RE VERY CONCERNED. AND, AS TO THE REDUCTION OF SERVICES COMING UP, WHICH IS AS OF JANUARY 1ST, AND I'VE GOT TO THANK REALLY, COMMISSIONER

[02:25:03]

OLGUIN A LOT BECAUSE THEY WERE OUT THERE AND IN SEPARATE MEETINGS, TO INCLUDE CITY COUNCIL MEETINGS, TRYING TO SHOW THEM HOW BENEFICIAL IT WOULD BE FOR THEIR OWN CITIZENS, AND FOR A WHILE, I THINK THEY WERE GOING IN THAT DIRECTION WHERE THEY WERE GOING TO VOTE THAT IN. BUT SOMETHING HAPPENED TO TRIGGER THEM TO OPT OUT. SO I THINK IN THE FUTURE THEY, THEIR OWN CITIZENS MAY CONVINCE CITY COUNCIL TO CHANGE THEIR MINDS. BUT AGAIN, COMMISSIONER OLGUIN, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR ALL YOUR EFFORTS TO TRY TO CONVINCE, SOCORRO TO GO IN THAT DIRECTION.

AND I WANT TO MAKE SURE TO THANK OUR STAFF, JOSE, AND ALL OF OUR COUNTY STAFF. WE HAD, AS COMMISSIONER LEON SAID, MANY, MANY MEETINGS WITH CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS, WITH THE CITY MANAGER'S OFFICE, WITH MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY JUST TRYING TO MAKE SURE THAT THE CITY OF SOCORRO UNDERSTOOD THE RAMIFICATIONS AND THE CONSEQUENCES OF NOT JOINING THE LGC, BECAUSE ULTIMATELY, IT'S GOING TO BE THEIR RESIDENTS WHO ARE GOING TO BE HURT BY THEIR DECISION. I ALSO WAS HOPEFUL THAT THEY WOULD CHANGE THEIR MIND AND AGREE TO JOIN THE LGC, AND UNFORTUNATELY, THAT DIDN'T HAPPEN. WE HOPE THAT IN THE FUTURE THEY MAY RECONSIDER, BUT I THINK THE ONLY WAY THAT WE'RE GOING TO GET TO THAT POINT IS IF THEIR RESIDENTS, REALLY, REALLY DEMAND THAT THAT SERVICE BE REPLACED. AND THE ONLY ONES THAT CAN DO THAT ARE THE CITY COUNCIL, SO ANYTHING THAT WE CAN DO TO KEEP THE RESIDENTS INFORMED OF WHAT'S HAPPENING, TO THE BUS SERVICE IN SOCORRO, WE ABSOLUTELY HAVE TO DO THAT BECAUSE I THINK THE RESIDENTS ARE THE ONLY ONES WHO ARE ULTIMATELY GOING TO BE ABLE TO CONVINCE THE CITY COUNCIL THAT THEY REALLY SHOULD JOIN THE LGC FOR THE BENEFIT OF THAT COMMUNITY. THANK YOU. THAT WAS THE PURPOSE OF MY. YOU'VE DONE EVERYTHING THAT YOU CAN. THE DUE DILIGENCE AND BUT BUT THANK YOU FOR AND TO JUST TO COMMISSIONER OLGUIN'S POINT TO ROUND OUT THAT THAT POINT THAT DISCUSSION POINT IS THE BOARD IS AT THE LGC BOARD IN JUNE. THIS MONTH WILL CONSIDER A TASK ORDER WITH OUR PR FIRM TO RELEASE THEM TO DEVELOP A PROMOTIONAL CAMPAIGN LETTING RESIDENTS KNOW IN SOCORRO THAT SERVICE WILL BE REDUCED OR ELIMINATED. AND IF THEY HAVE ANY QUESTIONS TO CONTACT THEIR CITY COUNCIL.

THERE IS ONE OPPORTUNITY THAT WE ARE IN THE MIDDLE OF BUDGET SEASON THAT THE CITY OF SOCORRO COULD MAKE THE APPROPRIATION FOR FISCAL YEAR 25 TO PARTICIPATE IN THE LGC. YOU CAN SEE THE COST HERE HIGHLIGHTED ON THAT TABLE OF, THAT FINAL NUMBER OF 216 NINE $216,900. THE COST THAT THE COUNTY, INCURS BY PARTNERING WITH THE SUN METRO FOR ONE ROUTE ALONE IS OVER $300,000, AND THAT'S ROUTE 84. AND YOU CAN SEE HERE THAT'S BELOW THAT. AND THEY HAVE THREE ROUTES THAT RUN ACTUALLY FOUR ROUTES THAT RUN THROUGH THE CITY OF SOCORRO TO SERVICE THE AREA. AND SO A LOT OF THE, THAT'S THE REASON WHY ONE OF THEIR COSTS ARE SO HIGH. BUT WE'RE HOPEFUL THAT, AGAIN, THEY CAN SEE THE VALUE OF WORKING TOGETHER, THE ECONOMIES OF SCALE AND THE PURCHASING POWER OF BUYING SERVICE FOR AN ENTIRE REGION AS OPPOSED TO INDIVIDUAL AREAS. SO WE WILL BEGIN THAT, AND WE'LL MAKE SURE THAT WE KEEP THE COURT INFORMED OF THAT PROCESS. THANK YOU.

JOSE. THESE ARE THE REQUESTED ACTIONS. IF THE COURT IS IN AGREEMENT, IS TO CREATE A MIDYEAR GRANT FUNDED POSITION, USUALLY UTILIZING THE TXDOT FUNDING. THAT WOULD DO WE DO RECEIVE WE HAVE WE HAVE RECEIVED CONCURRENCE FROM TXDOT THAT THERE IS FUNDING IN THE GRANT TO COVER THE NEW POSITION OF THE DIRECTOR, TO THEN GOING INTO FISCAL YEAR 25, ESTABLISH A TRANSIT DEPARTMENT BUDGET, THAT WILL ALSO BE FUNDED USING THE TXDOT FUNDS AND THEN TO TRANSITION THE THREE POSITIONS. AND THAT LAST BULLET POINT INTO THAT DEPARTMENT UNDER THE OVERSIGHT OF THE NEW DIRECTOR OF TRANSIT OPERATIONS. SO THAT'S THE REQUEST THAT THE STAFFING PLAN THE BOARD MADE AND THAT IS BEING MADE OF THE COMMISSIONERS COURT. AND I'M AVAILABLE TO TAKE ANY QUESTIONS THAT THE COURT MAY HAVE. JUST. COMMISSIONER, JUST, CHRISTINA, IS THAT, THE WAY THE MOTION SHOULD READ? YES, THAT THAT WOULD BE APPROPRIATE, COMMISSIONER, TO APPROVE THE PLAN IN EVERY SUBSEQUENT, ISSUE THAT'S HERE ON THIS SLIDE, THAT WOULD BE APPROPRIATE. YES, SIR.

THANK YOU. MAY I ASK A QUESTION, JOSE? SO I UNDERSTAND THESE POSITIONS ARE COMPLETELY GRANT FUNDED BY TXDOT. AND THANK YOU AGAIN TO ALL OF OUR STAFF FOR ALL OF THE HARD WORK THAT THEY DO TO MAKE SURE THAT WE DO GET FUNDING FROM TXDOT, FOR THIS EFFORT, BUT JUST TO MAKE SURE.

SO ONCE THEY ARE TRANSFERRED OVER, WE DON'T THAT DOESN'T LEAVE ANY VACANCIES IN OUR COUNTY STAFF. ARE THERE GOING TO BE POSITIONS THAT WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO FILL BECAUSE WE ARE TRANSFERRING, THESE EMPLOYEES. YEAH. THERE ARE TWO POSITIONS IN THE IN THE PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT STAFFING TABLE THAT ARE FUNDED 50% BY THE, BY THE GRANT. AND IT'S THE

[02:30:05]

TRANSPORTATION ENGINEER AND THE ASSISTANT TRANSPORTATION ENGINEER, AND SO YOU WOULD THE COURT WOULD HAVE TO PICK UP THE 50% OR ONE FTE AND FISCAL YEAR 25 IF, IF THERE WAS AN INTEREST IN KEEPING BOTH POSITIONS, OR YOU COULD USE THE SALARY SAVINGS FOR, OR YOU COULD USE THE, THE TWO HALVES TO MAKE ONE FTE IF THAT WAS SUFFICIENT. THAT I THINK THAT'S SOMETHING THAT, MISS KELLER AND MISS PALACIOS HAVE BEEN IN DISCUSSIONS WITH AS WE MOVE THROUGH BUDGET, BUT THAT WOULD BE THE MOST BACKFILL THAT WOULD HAVE TO OCCUR WOULD BE THE STAFFING TABLE INCREASING BY ONE FTE ON THE GENERAL FUND SIDE. SO JUST TO CLARIFY, THE THOUGHT HAS BEEN THAT WE WOULD AND WE'VE BEEN WORKING IN THE DEPARTMENT AS FAR AS SEPARATING AND ALIGNING DUTIES SO THAT THERE WOULD BE ONE FTE GENERAL FUND WITHOUT ANY BUDGET IMPACT, AND THEN THE FULL ONE POSITION OVER TO TRANSIT. RIGHT. OKAY. GREAT. THANK YOU, JUDGE. COMMISSIONER. OKAY. SO I UNDERSTAND THAT THIS IS EVEN THIS FIRST YEAR, THE GRANTS ARE NOT GOING TO COVER ALL THESE POSITIONS RIGHT NOW.

THE GRANT WILL COVER THESE POSITIONS. ALL OF THEM. YES, SIR. AND THEN THE FOLLOWING YEAR , WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO ABSORB ONE POSITION. NO, NO. SO RIGHT NOW, THESE POSITIONS THAT ARE ON THE COUNTY STAFFING TABLE, THERE ARE TWO ENGINEERING POSITIONS THAT ARE HALF FUNDED FROM THE GRANT. BUT SINCE THESE POSITIONS WILL MOVE OVER INTO A NEW DEPARTMENT, HALF OF THOSE POSITIONS WILL. HALF OF THOSE TWO POSITIONS WILL REMAIN UNFUNDED. AND, BUT WHAT MISS KELLER JUST MENTIONED IS THAT THE PLAN IS TO FULLY FUND ONE POSITION AND THEN IT SOUNDS LIKE ONE POSITION WOULD WOULD BE REMOVED FROM THE STAFFING TABLE. SO THERE THERE WOULD BE A SLIGHT BUDGET IMPACT, BUT NOT NOT MORE THAN, BUT NOT A FULL FTE. SO THERE WOULD BE NO BACKFILLING ON THE, ON THE GENERAL FUND. AND WHAT IS THE TOTAL IMPACT? I DON'T HAVE THAT OFF THE TOP OF MY HEAD, BUT, WE CAN CERTAINLY PROVIDE YOU THAT INFORMATION. SO RIGHT NOW, THE INTENT, BY TAKING THE 50% GENERAL FUND, I CAN GIVE YOU A DOLLAR AMOUNT, A BALLPARK. THE. BUT THAT WOULD COME FROM YOUR PERSONNEL CONTINGENCY BUDGET, WHICH WE SET UP. WE HAVE A FUND EVERY YEAR FOR THINGS THAT HAPPEN MID-YEAR OR THINGS THAT MAY, MAY OCCUR. SO THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WE WOULD WORK THROUGH, STAFFING ADJUSTMENT REQUEST. AND WE WOULD GO THROUGH THAT PERSONNEL CONTINGENCY FUND FOR THINGS THAT HAPPEN, DURING THE YEAR WHERE A POSITION IS CHANGED OR ADDED DUTIES OR DOWNGRADED AND THAT FUND IS USED TO MAKE UP THAT DIFFERENCE, IT WOULD BE MINIMAL. OKAY. SO WE DON'T HAVE IT IN THE BUDGET. WE HAVE MONEY IN THE CONTINGENCY FUND TO PAY FOR IT. CORRECT IN THE PERSONNEL CONTINGENCY FOR THOSE KINDS OF CHANGES. ALL RIGHT. AND HOW MANY PEOPLE DO WE HAVE EMPLOYED IN THE DEPARTMENT RIGHT NOW IN THE TRANSPORTATION? SO THE REQUEST IS TO ESTABLISH THE TRANSIT DEPARTMENT. IT WOULD BE, BUT CURRENTLY ON THE STAFFING TABLE, YOU HAVE AND THESE ARE ALL IN THE PLANNING DEPARTMENT TO THE, THREE FTES. ONE POSITION IS ONE IS VACANT AND HAS BEEN VACANT FOR QUITE SOME TIME. TWO ARE ACTIVELY FILLED. AND THEN YOU HAVE THE TWO HALF POSITIONS THAT WE WERE REFERENCING. SO TOTAL YOU HAVE ROUGHLY FOUR FULL TIME EQUIVALENTS UNDER THE PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT. AND THOSE WOULD ALL BE IF YOU GO BACK TO THAT STAFFING TABLE, THE DIRECTOR, THE PROJECT COORDINATOR, AND THEN THE TWO ACTIVELY FILLED POSITIONS. SO IT'S ALMOST A LATERAL TRANSFER OF THE FOUR POSITIONS. BUT THE DIRECTOR WOULD WOULD LIKELY HAVE A SALARY INCREASE. BUT THE GRANT CAN COVER ANY INCREASE AT THIS TIME. OKAY. THANK YOU. WE HAVE A MOTION FROM JUDGE SAMANIEGO AND A SECOND FROM COMMISSIONER LEON.

THE VOTING IS OPEN. MOTION CARRIES. THANK YOU. JUDGE. COMMISSIONERS. THANK YOU.

APPRECIATE YOUR WORK. THANK YOU. JUDGE. WOULD YOU LIKE TO GO AHEAD AND TAKE THE AFTERNOON BREAK THIS AFTERNOON? OKAY COMMISSIONERS COURT WILL RECESS FOR ONE HOUR. IT IS 12:04 P.M.

THANK YOU.

[02:36:31]

FOR.

IT'S IMPORTANT FOR YOUR CHILDREN TO STAY CURRENT ON ALL THEIR ROUTINE VACCINES. ALSO, CHILDREN FIVE AND OLDER ARE NOT ELIGIBLE FOR THE COVID 19 VACCINE. I'M CURRENT AND ALL MY VACCINES AND I ALSO GET THE COVID VACCINE. SO I AND MY LOVED ONES CAN BE PROTECTED. YOU AND YOUR KIDS SHOULD GET THE VACCINE TOO. AND IF YOU'VE ALREADY GOTTEN THE VACCINE, YOU SHOULD GET YOUR BOOSTER FOR YOUR CHILD'S ROUTINE VACCINES, VISIT EPI HEALTH.COM. WE KNOW HOW MUCH YOU LOVE YOUR CHILDREN, SO REMEMBER, DON'T HESITATE. VACCINATE AS IMPORTANT SUS HIJOS TENGAN TODAS SUS VACUNAS. ADEMAS DE LA VACUNA SALTENAS LOS NINOS MAS DE CINCO ANOS, AHORA SON ELEGIBLES PARA LA VACUNA DE COVID NUEVE LA VACUNA COVID NUEVAS GRATIS PARA LAS VACUNAS RUTINAS DE SUS HIJOS VISITED EPI HEALTH.COM SABEMOS CUANTO AMASA TUS HIJOS, ASI Q RECUERDA NO LO DUDES VACCINATE.

THE EL PASO COUNTY ELECTIONS DEPARTMENT WANTS YOU TO KNOW HOW QUICK AND EASY IT IS TO VOTE.

OUR ELECTIONS ARE SAFER AND MORE SECURE THAN EVER. AFTER BEING CHECKED IN, YOU WILL RECEIVE AN ACTIVATION CARD. NOW, ALL YOU HAVE TO REMEMBER IS THAT YOU'RE DONE IN FOUR AND YOU'RE OUT THE DOOR FIRST AND THIRD. THE ACTIVATION CARD INTO THE VOTING MACHINE. SECOND, MAKE YOUR SELECTIONS USING THE TOUCH SCREEN OR AUDIO TACTILE KEYPAD. THIRD, PRINT AND REVIEW YOUR CHOICES. IF YOU SEE A MISTAKE OR YOU CHANGE YOUR MIND ABOUT A CHOICE, TELL AN ELECTION WORKER YOU CAN CORRECT YOUR BALLOT UP TO TWO MORE TIMES SO THAT IT IS EXACTLY THE WAY YOU WANT IT.

STEP NUMBER FOUR YOUR VOTE IS OFFICIALLY CAST WHEN YOU INSERT YOUR REVIEWED BALLOT INTO THE

[02:40:01]

BALLOT SCANNER. WHEN THE SCREEN DISPLAYS THE AMERICAN FLAG THAT INDICATES YOUR BALLOT WAS SCANNED AND YOUR VOTE HAS BEEN COUNTED. REMEMBER THAT VOTERS IN EL PASO COUNTY ARE ELIGIBLE TO VOTE AT ANY POLLING LOCATION DURING THEIR EARLY VOTING PERIOD OR ON ELECTION DAY FOR MORE INFORMATION OR TO FIND YOUR CLOSEST POLLING LOCATION, PLEASE VISIT EP COUNTY VOTES.COM. IF A VOTER IS PHYSICALLY UNABLE TO ENTER THE POLLING PLACE WITHOUT ASSISTANCE OR LIKELIHOOD OF INJURY TO HIS OR HER HEALTH, THEY MAY ASK THAT AN ELECTION WORKER BRING A VOTING MACHINE DURING THE EARLY VOTING PERIOD OR ON ELECTION DAY, TO THE ENTRANCE OF THE POLLING PLACE, AND CAST THEIR VOTE FROM THEIR VEHICLE. IF YOU ARE A VOTER REQUESTING CURBSIDE VOTING, LOOK FOR THE CURBSIDE VOTING SIGN. PARK IN FRONT OF THE SIGN AND YOU MAY CALL OR TEXT THE NUMBER DISPLAYED ON THE SIGN TO REQUEST ASSISTANCE. HELLO. HOW ARE YOU? GOOD. AS REQUIRED BY TEXAS LAW, YOU WILL BE ALLOWED THE SAME VOTING EXPERIENCE AND PRIVACY WHEN CASTING YOUR VOTE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR VOTING, MA'AM . YOU DIDN'T GIVE ME A STICKER. IT'S ABOUT TO GIVE ME. FOR MORE INFORMATION, VISIT EP COUNTY VOTES COM. ANDY. MONICA, MY PARENTS ALWAYS USED TO TAKE US WHEN WE WERE LITTLE TO THE LITTLE DINER FOR THEIR INFAMOUS GORDITAS. NOW, YEARS LATER, I WAS ABLE TO RETURN AND TALK TO THE GENERAL MANAGER ABOUT THE HISTORY OF THE RESTAURANT. THOSE WHO ARE ON THE HUNT FOR AUTHENTIC MEXICAN CUISINE IN THE BORDERLAND MIGHT BE SURPRISED THAT OFF THE BEATEN PATH IN CANUTILLO, TEXAS, LITTLE DINER HAS BEEN OFFERING THAT FOR OVER 40 YEARS. THE ORIGINAL OWNERS, IRENE AND RAY, OPENED IT UP IN 76. THEY SOLD IT TO THEIR DAUGHTER LOURDES IN THE LATE 80S. SHE SOLD IT TO MY FAMILY IN 2016. WITH EVERY RESTAURANT THEY HAVE, WHAT THEY CALL THE HEART, THE MAIN PLACE. AND YOU'RE TELLING ME THAT YOU ALL HAVE ONE? CAN YOU EXPLAIN THAT? YEAH, ABSOLUTELY. SO WE'RE KNOWN FOR OUR GORDITAS. THAT'S OUR SPECIALTY. THAT'S WHY WE WERE OPENED IN THE FIRST PLACE. THIS AREA RIGHT HERE IS WHERE WE ACTUALLY PREPARE THE MASA FOR OUR GORDITAS. WE COOK THE CORN IN HERE, IT COMES IN, YOU KNOW, IT'S COMPLETELY RAW. WE DO IT JUST LIKE, YOU KNOW, THEY USED TO DO IT WAY BACK IN THE DAY.

IT'S THIS BIG OLD MACHINE HERE THAT DOES IT FOR US. AND THEN ONCE IT GRINDS THE CORN, THEN WE CAN TAKE IT TO OUR MIXMASTER WHERE WE'RE MAKING THE MASA FOR OUR GORDITAS AND ALSO OUR TAMALES THAT WE MAKE HERE COMPLETELY FROM SCRATCH. TRADITIONAL MEXICAN COOKING DOES NOT STOP THERE, MIXING OLD SCHOOL METHODS WITH NEW AND IMPROVED TECHNIQUES, LITTLE DINER HAS PERFECTED THEIR ALREADY DELICIOUS GORDITAS. THIS IS WHERE WE MAKE OUR TORTILLAS NOW. SO BEFORE THEY JUST JUST USED TO RUN ON THE CONVEYOR BELT. NOW WE'VE GOT SOMEONE, MOVING THEM ALONG THROUGH HERE COOKING THEM. IT'S USUALLY A ONE PERSON JOB, BUT, YOU KNOW, TWO PEOPLE CAN KNOCK IT OUT A LOT FASTER. WE USE THIS TO MAKE OUR SALSA FRESH JUST ABOUT EVERY DAY. WE'RE PROBABLY GONNA MAKE SOME IN IN ABOUT AN HOUR OR SO, ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT. WE HAD POTS AND POTS AND PANS, A BUNCH OF THESE STOVES THAT YOU SEE OVER HERE. THAT'S HOW WE WOULD KEEP EVERYTHING HOT AND WARM. EVERYTHING UP. NOW, THIS STEAM. THIS STEAM TABLE ALLOWS US TO KEEP A LOT MORE FOOD HOT LITTLE DINER HAS GROWN FROM A SMALL BUILDING OFF THE BEATEN PATH TO ONE OF THE MAINSTAYS IN CANUTILLO THAT HAS SERVED GENERATIONS OF FAMILIES. I KNOW A LOT OF PEOPLE'S MOMS THAT I WENT TO SCHOOL WITH, BUT I KNEW THEM HERE, YOU KNOW, I GOT TO KNOW THEM HERE. SO WE I GET TO KNOW A LOT OF THE COMMUNITY AND DIFFERENT GENERATIONS OF THAT COMMUNITY. IT'S REALLY NICE LOOKING BACK ON THEIR HUMBLE BEGINNINGS AND HOW THEY ARE KEEPING TRADITIONS ALIVE. THE LITTLE DINER IS NOW LOOKING TOWARDS THEIR FUTURE. WE'VE BEEN LOOKING AT, SHIPPING OUR TAMALES , OUR GORDITA MASA OUT OF STATE ALSO EVEN TO OTHER BUSINESSES THAT, YOU KNOW, THEY CAN USE THAT. IT'S, YOU KNOW, A LITTLE MORE AUTHENTIC THAN WHAT THEY MAY BE SELLING AT THE MOMENT. SO THAT'S ONE OF THE WAYS WE'RE GROWING. LOPEZ SAYS THAT THEY WILL CONTINUE TO HONOR THE TRADITIONS THAT HAS MADE LITTLE DINER WHAT IT IS TODAY, BUT WE'LL BE BRINGING IN NEW TECHNIQUES TO FURTHER THEIR SUCCESS. I'M TONY DAVIS, BACK TO YOU. ANDY AND MONICA. THE HONORABLE ROBERT J. GALVAN COUNTY LAW LIBRARY IS A PUBLIC LEGAL RESEARCH FACILITY THAT COUNTY RESIDENTS CAN USE IN ORDER TO FACILITATE ACCESS TO LEGAL INFORMATION AND ENHANCE THE ADMINISTRATION OF JUSTICE. AS PART OF THE COUNTY'S DOMESTIC RELATIONS OFFICE AND EL PASO COUNTY PRIVATE BAR ASSOCIATION, THE LAW LIBRARY'S ACCESS TO JUSTICE COMMITMENT IS MADE THROUGH AN AVAILABILITY OF EXTENSIVE COLLECTION OF LEGAL RESOURCES, ACCESS TO TECHNOLOGY, AND AVAILABILITY OF IMPORTANT LEGAL FORMS AND OTHER RESOURCES WITH A CONNECTION TO THE PAST, DELIVERING PRESENT SERVICES AND ENVISIONING THE FUTURE. THE LAW

[02:45:03]

LIBRARY IS A UNIQUE COUNTY RESOURCE. KNOWLEDGE AND INFORMATION IS POWER. EVERYONE HAS THE RIGHT TO ARM THEMSELVES WITH INFORMATION ACCURATE, CURRENT, FREELY ACCESSIBLE INFORMATION WHICH YOU WILL FIND HERE. ESTABLISHED IN 1950, THE LAW LIBRARY GREW FROM THE TEXAS'S EIGHTH DISTRICT COURT OF APPEALS COLLECTION OF CASE LAW AND PRACTICE MATERIALS. THE EIGHTH COURT OF APPEALS, WHICH IS LOCATED NEXT TO THE LAW LIBRARY ON THE 12TH FLOOR OF THE ENRIQUE MORENO EL PASO COUNTY COURTHOUSE, STILL SHARES CUSTODY OF THE COLLECTION AND CONTINUES TO UPDATE SEVERAL RESOURCES. THE LAW LIBRARY WAS NAMED AFTER LAW LIBRARY COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN JUDGE ROBERT J. GALVAN. IN 2004. THE LAW LIBRARY ENSURES THAT OUR LEGAL PRACTITIONERS CAN PROVIDE EXCEPTIONAL REPRESENTATION TO THEIR CLIENTS, AND IS A RESOURCE FOR ALL COUNTY CITIZENS TO ACCESS JUSTICE. BUT SELF-REPRESENTATION BECAME SOMETHING TO WHERE PEOPLE ACTUALLY COULDN'T AFFORD AN ATTORNEY, AND IT GAVE THEM AN OPPORTUNITY TO GO AND LOOK UP THINGS FOR THE BENEFIT OF THEIR CASE. AND I'M TALKING ANYWHERE FROM MUNICIPAL COURT TICKETS, SPEEDING TICKETS, JP TICKETS, LANDLORD TENANT ISSUES TO CASES THAT WERE IN OUR COUNTY COURTS AND DISTRICT COURTS. WE HAVE BUILT OUR COLLECTION AND CURATE THE RESOURCES SO THAT THEY CAN BE SUCCESSFUL IN ACCOMPLISHING WHAT THEY NEED TO DO WITHIN THE COURT SYSTEM. THE TWO FLOOR LIBRARY FACILITY HAS A COMPREHENSIVE COLLECTION OF PRINT AND ELECTRONIC RESOURCES COVERING FEDERAL, REGIONAL, STATE, AND LOCAL JURISDICTIONS. CONFERENCE ROOMS TO ACCOMMODATE ATTORNEYS AND THEIR CLIENTS, OR FOR MEETING SPACE. THERE ARE COMPUTERS WITH WEBCAM CAPABILITIES AND PRIVATE STUDY ROOMS, PRINTING, COPYING SERVICES ARE AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC FOR A FEE. THERE IS ALSO TECHNOLOGY ON HAND TO SCAN AND FAX DOCUMENTS. THIS IS AN ACCESS TO JUSTICE INITIATIVE. THIS IS SO IMPERATIVE TO THOSE MANY HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS WHO LIVE IN EL PASO, BECAUSE WITHOUT THAT , WITHOUT THEIR ABILITY TO HAVE ACCESS TO INFORMATION, ACCESS TO BOOKS, ACCESS TO COMPUTERS, ACCESS TO BE ABLE TO USE THE JUSTICE SYSTEM, THEY'RE LEFT OUT IN THE COLD. THE LAW LIBRARY IS A GREAT LOCATION TO ACCESS IMPORTANT LEGAL RESOURCES TO INCLUDE PUBLISHED CASES, FORMS, COURT RULES, PRACTICE GUIDES, PLUS HISTORICAL LEGAL BOOKS NOT AVAILABLE DIGITALLY WHILE GUIDED BY EXPERIENCED STAFF. WE'RE OPEN. WE HAVE COMPUTERS THAT YOU CAN USE YOUR PRINTERS. LAW LIBRARY STAFF PERFORMS OUTREACH IN ORDER TO HELP ENSURE THE MOST VULNERABLE IN OUR COMMUNITY IS AWARE OF THE SERVICES OFFERED. THE LAW LIBRARY STAFF IS ALSO KEY IN PROVIDING THE PUBLIC IN PERSON INFORMATION ON THE HISTORY OF THE COUNTY COURTHOUSE BY PROVIDING GUIDED TOURS TO THE PUBLIC. YOU CAN SEE SHE'S NOT BLINDFOLDED, AND THROUGHOUT HISTORY, THERE'S BEEN TIMES WHERE SHE BLINDFOLDED THE LAW LIBRARY IS OPEN FROM 8 A.M. TO 5 P.M. WEEKDAYS. FOR MORE INFORMATION, CALL (915) 546-2245 OR EMAIL EP LAW LIBRARY AT EP COUNTY.COM. YOU WILL FIND THE LIBRARY TO BE A WELCOMING AND JUDGMENT FREE PLACE WHERE YOU WILL BE MET WITH DIGNITY, RESPECT AND DISCRETION. THE ROBERT J GALVAN COUNTY LAW LIBRARY IS COMMITTED TO FACILITATE ACCESS TO LEGAL INFORMATION FOR THE CITIZENS OF EL PASO COUNTY. AND YOU KNOW WHAT, ANDY? I THINK WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT IT FOR, WHAT, 27 DAYS STRAIGHT NOW? FOR SURE. TRIPLE DIGIT HIGHS. IT IS JUST AWFULLY BRUTAL. BUT I FEEL LIKE THERE'S ANOTHER WAY TO BEAT THE HEAT. AND THAT IS WITH A SHAVED ICE. AND WHAT I WOULD DO RIGHT NOW FOR, FOR ONE OF THOSE, IT'S SUPER POPULAR FROM WHAT I HEAR. IN FACT, A COUPLE OF OUR PRODUCERS, BEFORE WE HEADED OUT THE DOOR, THEY WERE JUST LIKE, BRING US SOME. YES, BRING US BACK ONE OF THOSE. WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO TRY IT OUT. SOME OF THAT POPULARITY, TOO, IS BECAUSE THE OWNER, THEY SAY A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE SAYING THAT SHE TREATS HER CUSTOMERS LIKE FAMILY. OH, WOW, I LOVE THAT. I LOVE THAT SO MUCH. THAT'S THE BIG CONCEPT BEHIND THIS. TAKE A LOOK AT IT.

UNA CHICA CHERRY. WELL I HAVE THIS SPECIAL MACHINE, SINCE, LIKE I SAID, LIKE 30, 30 YEARS, 35 YEARS. AND IT'S BEEN VERY GREAT BECAUSE I HAVE RAISED MY KIDS THROUGH MY SNOW CONE PLACE.

A LOT OF PEOPLE TALKS ABOUT THE MANGONADA. THEY'RE FROZEN, BUT MINOR SNOW CONES. THIS IS A DIFFERENT TYPE OF FLAVOR AND TASTE THAT THEY BRING. IT JUST BRINGS A LITTLE TASTE FROM BACK, FROM HOME, FROM MEXICO. YEAH. THIS IS MY FAVORITE. THIS IS THE MANGONADA RIGHT HERE. I FEEL LIKE THIS IS ONE OF THE CUSTOMER FAVORITES HERE. AND THE MANGONADA IS WITH FRESH MANGO

[02:50:03]

WHICH I MAKE. THAT'S AWESOME. THAT'S REALLY COOL. WHEN I LIVE IN MEXICO, THEY DO THE SAME WAY.

WELL, AS WHAT PEOPLE TELLS ME IS VERY POPULAR BECAUSE I HAVE PEOPLE, NOT JUST LOCAL PEOPLE FROM EL PASO. WE LIVE IN FLAGSTAFF, ARIZONA, AND I WOULD SAY COME AND BUY MY MANGONADA BECAUSE IT'S SO GOOD. THEY TELL ME THAT WHEN THEY COME ON I-10, WHAT THEY DO, THEY STOP HERE BEFORE THEY GO ANYWHERE ELSE AND GET THEIR SNOW CONES. I WOULD HIGHLY RECOMMEND THIS TO ANYONE IN CANUTILLO, TEXAS THAT WANTS TO GET A RASPA OR A GOOD TREAT. I TAKE CARE OF THIS PLACE MYSELF. I MANAGE THIS PLACE. I MADE SURE MY CUSTOMERS ARE HAPPY , MY CUSTOMERS ARE SATISFIED.

THE QUALITY AND THE FACT THAT THEY'RE OPEN EVERY DAY. I GIVE THEM A LOT OF RESPECT FOR THAT.

I TRY TO KEEP MY PRODUCT GOOD AND AT GOOD PRICES, YOU KNOW? SO LIKE IN THE EVENINGS, LIKE IF YOU COME IN THE EVENING, YOU HAVE LIKE 20, 30 PEOPLE IN LINE WAITING. AND THAT MAKES ME FEEL VERY HAPPY. LA DONA BRINGS LIKE TWO CULTURES TOGETHER, EVEN THOUGH WE'RE NOT IN MEXICO, THIS MAKES YOU FEEL LIKE YOU'RE IN. JUST LIKE THE LITTLE. LIKE THE SHAPE OF IT REMINDS YOU OF BACK HOME. I'M VERY GRATEFUL AND I'M VERY THANKFUL TO MY CUSTOMERS. I TRY TO TREAT MY CUSTOMERS AS MY FAMILY. SO EVER SINCE I WAS A KID, I'VE BEEN COMING HERE PROBABLY FOR MORE THAN OVER, LIKE TEN YEARS NOW. THANK YOU. THANK YOU MY CUSTOMERS, FOR COMING TO MY PLACE. AND I INVITE YOU, EVERYBODY, TO COME AND HAVE A SNOW CONE. THANK YOU. HASTA LUEGO.

ONE OF THE GREAT THINGS ABOUT VOLUNTEERING WITH THE COUNTY IS THE COUNTY DOES SO MANY DIFFERENT THINGS. IT GIVES PEOPLE AN OPPORTUNITY TO SEE WHAT'S GOING ON IN THEIR COUNTY GOVERNMENT. WHEN I ENGAGE WITH THE FAMILIES AND I GIVE MY TIME TO THEM, I FEEL LIKE I WAS STILL ABLE TO SERVE THEM. I JUST THINK IT'S FASCINATING SEEING ALL THE COMMUNITY GETTING TOGETHER, PEOPLE FROM ALL AGES, FROM YOUNG KIDS TO ADULT PEOPLE, THE WAY IT HAS, VOLUNTEERING HAS IMPACTED ME PERSONALLY IS THE FACT THAT I'M STILL DOING WHAT I USED TO DO, AND I GET TO USE ALL THOSE TRAINING SKILLS THAT THE DEPARTMENT GAVE ME AND PUT THEM BACK INTO PLAY. BUT THEY REALLY ENJOY, PARTICULARLY GAINING NEW SKILLS. SO SOME OF OUR VOLUNTEERS ARE YOUNGER AND THEY ENJOY THE CONFIDENCE BUILDING, THE OPPORTUNITY TO CONNECT WITH PEOPLE IN A DIFFERENT WAY, WELL, EVERYONE IS SO FRIENDLY, EVERYONE IS WILLING TO HELP EACH OTHER. I THINK IT'S SEEING VOLUNTEERS WHO OTHERWISE NEVER WOULD HAVE MET BEFORE, THEY LIVE IN DIFFERENT PARTS OF EL PASO.

THEY'RE DIFFERENT AGES, DIFFERENT BACKGROUNDS, AND SEE THEM COME TOGETHER AND REALIZE NOW THEY'RE FRIENDS. ACTUALLY, YOU KNOW, I'M AN ADVOCATE FOR VETERANS TO GET OUT AND GET ABOUT IN THE COMMUNITY. DEFINITELY JOIN TO THE VOLUNTEERING PROGRAM, BECAUSE YOU'RE JUST HELPING IN THE COMMUNITY AND IT'S GOOD FOR US, FOR ALL OF US. VOLUNTEERS GIVE THEIR TIME AND THERE'S NOTHING MORE VALUABLE THAN THAT. SO WE TRULY APPRECIATE ALL THAT OUR VOLUNTEERS DO TO SERVE WITH US IS TO STRENGTHEN US. SO THANK YOU, VOLUNTEERS, FOR HELPING MAKE THIS A STRONG AND VIBRANT COMMUNITY. FOR THE ENEMY, IT'S THE BEST PEP PARTY BEING SPONSORED BY EL PASO COUNTY. OUR PARTY WITH OUR PUPPIES. THAT'S LIKE THE BEST WAY TO SPEND A SATURDAY MORNING. RIGHT NOW, OUR PET WALK IS OCCURRING. THEN, OF COURSE, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE OUR COSTUME CONTEST. THIS IS COCO. AND SO HE IS DRESSED UP AS RAFAEL FROM THE TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES. CHIMBLEY HE'S A YEAR OLD, SO HE'S HAVING A BLAST, MEETING ALL THE PUPPIES. I THINK IT'S A WONDERFUL OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO SPEND TIME WITH OUR FUR BABIES.

YES, HE'S A GOOD BOY. SO WE'RE TRYING TO ACTUALLY CREATE THE FIRST MEGA ADOPTION EVENT HERE IN EL PASO. WE HAVE APPROXIMATELY SEVEN ADOPTABLE PETS. THOSE ARE JUST PUPPIES.

OKAY. THEY'RE ALREADY POTTY TRAINED, CRATE TRAINED, FULLY VACCINATED, SPAYED AND NEUTERED.

SO WE TAKE THE HARD PART OUT OF, YOU KNOW, TRAINING THE PET. I MEAN, THEY'LL GIVE YOU EVERYTHING, AND ALL THEY'RE ASKING FOR IS FOOD, WATER, A PLACE TO SLEEP AND TO HAVE LOVE.

AND THEY'LL GIVE YOU EVERYTHING. YES. WE'RE WAITING FOR THE BUNNY , IT IS SO NICE TO SEE SO MANY

[02:55:06]

PEOPLE WITH THEIR PETS HERE AT ASCARATE PARK ENJOYING THIS BEAUTIFUL DAY. WE NEED TO HAVE MORE EVENTS LIKE THIS. MORE EVENTS LIKE THIS HERE IN EL PASO . EVERYONE, ALL OF US LOVE OUR PETS. WE LOVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO BRING THEM OUT. LET THEM PLAY, LET THEM MAKE NEW FRIENDS, SO IT'S A BEAUTIFUL DAY. WE GOT REALLY LUCKY WITH THE WEATHER. OF COURSE, ASCARATE IS A BEAUTIFUL LOCATION TO HAVE THIS EVENT AND WE HOPE THAT THIS IS AN EVENT THAT WILL CONTINUE FOR YEARS IN THE FUTURE. I LOVE YOU! VISIT THE MISSION TRAIL FOR MANY REASONS A WEALTH OF HISTORY, CULTURE AND ARTS. YOU'LL BE ABLE TO TASTE IT. YOU'LL BE ABLE TO HEAR IT. YOU'LL BE ABLE TO SEE IT. YOU'LL BE ABLE TO DANCE TO IT. TO KNOW US IS TO LOVE US. YOU'RE GOING TO MEET PEOPLE AS IF THEY'RE YOUR FRIENDS. IF YOU COME HERE TO THE MISSION TRAIL, YOU'RE GOING TO GET A REALLY DEEP SENSE OF THE UNITY THAT WE HAVE BECAUSE OF THIS CONNECTION THAT WE ALL HAVE. I THINK THE MISSION TRAIL HAS SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE. OH IT HAS HISTORY. IT HAS CULTURE. YOU CAN LEARN, YOU CAN RELAX AND YOU CAN CONNECT. IT JUST KIND OF FILLS YOUR SOUL. YOU DEFINITELY WANT TO SEE EVERYTHING THAT WE HAVE TO OFFER. IT'S JUST SOMETHING THAT YOU HAVE TO SEE AND EXPERIENCE FOR YOURSELF. WE HAVE SOMETHING VERY SPECIAL GOING ON HERE AND IT'S JUST STARTING. THE PEOPLE HERE ARE VERY WELCOMING. WE WELCOME YOU TO THE HISTORIC MISSION TRAIL. WELCOME EVERYONE.

IT'S TIME TO COME DOWN AND CHECK US OUT.

YOU WANT TO TALK A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT WHERE WE ARE RIGHT NOW? AS MONICA MENTIONED, WE'RE AT THE CAMINO REAL TERMINAL HERE. LOTS OF REALLY TRAIN INSPIRED THEMES HERE. YOU GOT SOME OF THE BOX CARS AND SOME OF THE TRAINS AND WHATNOT, AND IT'S BEEN A PART OF THIS COMMUNITY FOR DOZENS OF YEARS. YEAH. AND, YOU KNOW WHAT? THE OWNER KEEPS RENOVATED RENOVATING IT ACTUALLY, ANDY, WHERE WE'RE AT, HE ADDED THIS STRETCH. SO IT ENDED RIGHT BEHIND US. AND HE ADDED MORE TO ACCOMMODATE THE VENUES. AND WE ACTUALLY GOT TO SPEAK WITH HIM. AND HE TELLS A LITTLE BIT OF A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT THIS INCREDIBLE VENUE. CHECK IT OUT. IT'S A VERY SHORT DRIVE AND YOU FEEL LIKE YOU'RE IN THE COUNTRY. IT FEELS LIKE IT IS NOT AS HARD AS THE CITY. YOU KNOW, WE HAVE A LOT OF GRASS, WE HAVE SOME FOUNTAINS, WE HAVE A POND. SO IT'S A IT'S A VERY NICE PLACE TO COME AND LOOK AROUND, BECAUSE THIS PLACE HAS BEEN HERE FOR, I DON'T KNOW, 40, 50 YEARS.

AND, A LOT OF PEOPLE PASSES BY HERE ON DONOVAN AND THEY JUST LOOK. BUT THEY HAVEN'T COME. YOU CAN SEE WE HAVE THREE TRAIN CARS. ONE, IT'S LIKE AN OBSERVATORY AND TWO CABOOSES.

IT'S AN EVENT CENTER. IT'S A VENUE. OKAY. SO WE HAVE, FROM WEDDINGS, QUINCEANERAS, BIRTHDAY PARTIES, RETIREMENT PARTIES, PINATAS, WHATEVER ANNIVERSARY PARTIES. AND WE DO OFFER CATERING TABLES, CHAIRS, LINENS, WE HAVE VALET PARKING, WAITERS AND BARTENDERS, EVERYTHING. SO WE CAN HELP YOU WITH THE PARTY. YOU KNOW, IN EVERYTHING YOU NEED. AND WE HAVE A LOT OF ANTIQUES. OLD STUFF, SOME, NICE STUFF. FROM HIGH END PRICES TO A PIECE OF WOOD. A PIECE OF IRON.

IT'S SOMETHING FOR EVERYBODY. WE'RE IN THE BUSINESS OF RESTORING CLASSIC CARS AND SELL THEM. SO WE GOT EVERYTHING HERE. WE GOT OUR OUR SHOP, THE ANTIQUE PLACE, THE VENUE AND OUR OUR HOME. WE WORK HERE. WE LIVE HERE NOW. WE ARE COUNTY RESIDENTS. WE FEEL REAL BLESSED. WE THANK GOD A LOT TO PUT US HERE. WE DON'T KNOW WHY AND HOW AND WHAT THE PURPOSE, BUT WE ARE HERE. WE'RE VERY HAPPY AND, WELL, HOPING AND WAITING FOR WHOEVER WANTS TO COME AND VISIT. WELCOME BACK TO KTSM NINE NEWS SMALL TOWN SPOTLIGHT SHOW LIVE FROM CAMINO REAL TERMINAL HERE IN KANO. TILL

[03:00:04]

NOW, ABOUT TEN MINUTES AWAY FROM HERE, YOU'LL FIND CANUTILLO HIGH SCHOOL. AND IT'S A MUST SEE SITE FOR HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL. TWO REASONS. THEY'VE CRANKED OUT SOME REALLY GREAT FOOTBALL TEAMS IN RECENT YEARS, AND THEY HAVE A REALLY, REALLY, REALLY UNIQUE FOOTBALL FIELD. KTSM NINE SPORTS DIRECTOR COLIN DEAVER BRINGS YOU THE ORIGIN STORY OF THE TURF. THEY CALL CANUTILLO BLUE.

IT GIVES US OUR OWN KIND OF BRAND, I GUESS, AND WE'VE HAD A LOT OF SUCCESS ON ON THE BLUE, SO I DON'T I DON'T THINK I'D EVER WANT TO CHANGE IT. THE EAGLES BLUE TURF WAS, OF COURSE, INSPIRED BY THE ORIGINAL BLUE TURF AT ALBERTSONS STADIUM IN IDAHO, THE HOME OF THE BOISE STATE BRONCOS. IT'S THE GREATEST MARKETING TOOL IN THE HISTORY OF COLLEGE ATHLETICS, IN MY OPINION. THE CONNECTION BETWEEN CANUTILLO AND BOISE STATE IS EVEN DEEPER NOW BECAUSE CURRENT BRONCOS ATHLETIC DIRECTOR JEREMIAH DICKEY IS AN EL PASO NATIVE AND A FRANKLIN HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATE. DICKEY SAYS HE DIDN'T KNOW ABOUT CANUTILLO BLUE TURF UNTIL WE CALLED HIM UP FOR THIS STORY, BUT HE'S PLEASED TO HEAR THAT BOISE'S INFLUENCE HAS FOUND HIS HOME TOWN. YOU KNOW, IT'S A POINT OF PRIDE FOR ME. YOU KNOW, I LOVE EL PASO AND IT'S ACTUALLY ON MY LIST NOW WHEN I GO HOME TO GO CHECK IT OUT. BOISE STICKS SINCE 1986, IS NOW A REAL PATENT AND TRADEMARK.

ANYONE THAT WANTS A NON-GREEN FIELD ACTUALLY HAS TO ASK FOR BOISE STATE'S PERMISSION TO DO SO. I GOT A LETTER WITHIN A COUPLE OF DAYS THAT WE COULD NOT CALL IT BOISE BLUE. THAT IT HAD TO BE BLUE TURF, AND I MOVED OFF. I WISH I STILL HAD IT BECAUSE WE HAD A POSTER OF THE LETTER. THEY USUALLY DON'T CHARGE ANY MONEY, BUT THEY DO WANT EVERYONE TO KNOW WHO DID IT FIRST. BOISE STATE'S PATENT INCLUDES BLUEFIELDS LIKE CANUTILLO, BUT IT EXTENDS TO RED FIELDS LIKE EASTERN WASHINGTON, PURPLE AND GRAY LIKE CENTRAL ARKANSAS, AND EVEN TEAL GRIDIRONS LIKE COASTAL CAROLINA. IT'S SO MUCH MORE POWERFUL THAN JUST A FOOTBALL FIELD, IT'S WHO WE ARE. AND IT DEFINITELY REPRESENTS SOMETHING THAT THAT, I THINK WE'RE, REALLY PROUD OF IN TERMS OF OUR INNOVATION OFF THE WALL FIELDS, SUCCESSFUL FOOTBALL TEAMS AND DISPELLING URBAN MYTHS. HAVEN'T HAD A BIRD LAND ON IT YET. I MEAN, WE HAD A BIRD, BUT NOT THINKING IT'S WATER. SCOTT BROOKS AND JEREMIAH DICKEY WILL HAVE PLENTY TO TALK ABOUT WHEN THEY FINALLY GET TO MEET IN PERSON. REPORTING FROM THE BLUE TURF. NOT TO BE CONFUSED WITH THE BOISE BLUE COLIN DEAVER KTSM NINE SPORTS.

[03:05:36]

IT'S IMPORTANT FOR YOUR CHILDREN TO STAY CURRENT ON ALL THEIR ROUTINE VACCINES. ALSO, CHILDREN FIVE AND OLDER ARE NOT ELIGIBLE FOR THE COVID 19 VACCINE. I'M CURRENT, AND ALL MY VACCINES, AND I ALSO GET THE COVID VACCINE. SO I AND MY LOVED ONES CAN BE PROTECTED. AND YOU AND YOUR KIDS SHOULD GET THE VACCINE TOO. AND IF YOU'VE ALREADY GOTTEN THE VACCINE, YOU SHOULD GET YOUR BOOSTER FOR YOUR CHILD'S ROUTINE VACCINES, VISIT EPI HEALTH.COM. WE KNOW HOW MUCH YOU LOVE YOUR CHILDREN, SO REMEMBER, DON'T HESITATE. VACCINATE AS IMPORTANT SUS HIJOS TENGAN TODAS SUS VACUNAS ADEMAS DE LA VACUNAS LATINAS, LOS NINOS MAS DE CINCO ANOS AHORA SON ELEGIBLES PARA LA VACUNA DE COVID. NUEVE LA VACUNA COVID-19 ES GRATIS PARA LAS VACUNAS RUTINAS DE SUS HIJOS. VISITA EPI HEALTH.COM SABEMOS CUANTO AMASA TUS HIJOS, ASI RECUERDA NO LO DUDES VACCINATE.

THE EL PASO COUNTY ELECTIONS DEPARTMENT WANTS YOU TO KNOW HOW QUICK AND EASY IT IS TO VOTE.

OUR ELECTIONS ARE SAFER AND MORE SECURE THAN EVER. AFTER BEING CHECKED IN, YOU WILL RECEIVE AN ACTIVATION CARD. NOW, ALL YOU HAVE TO REMEMBER IS THAT YOU'RE DONE IN FOUR AND YOU'RE OUT THE DOOR FIRST IN 30. ACTIVATION CARD INTO THE VOTING MACHINE. SECOND, MAKE YOUR SELECTIONS USING THE TOUCH SCREEN OR AUDIO TACTILE KEYPAD. THIRD, PRINT AND REVIEW YOUR CHOICES. IF YOU SEE A MISTAKE OR YOU CHANGE YOUR MIND ABOUT A CHOICE, TELL AN ELECTION WORKER YOU CAN CORRECT YOUR BALLOT UP TO TWO MORE TIMES SO THAT IT IS EXACTLY THE WAY YOU WANT IT. STEP NUMBER FOUR YOUR VOTE IS OFFICIALLY CAST WHEN YOU INSERT YOUR REVIEWED BALLOT INTO THE BALLOT SCANNER.

WHEN THE SCREEN DISPLAYS THE AMERICAN FLAG, THAT INDICATES YOUR BALLOT WAS SCANNED AND YOUR VOTE HAS BEEN COUNTED. REMEMBER THAT VOTERS IN EL PASO COUNTY ARE ELIGIBLE TO VOTE AT ANY POLLING LOCATION DURING THEIR EARLY VOTING PERIOD OR ON ELECTION DAY. FOR MORE INFORMATION OR TO FIND YOUR CLOSEST POLLING LOCATION, PLEASE VISIT EP COUNTY VOTES.COM. IF A VOTER IS PHYSICALLY UNABLE TO ENTER THE POLLING PLACE WITHOUT ASSISTANCE OR LIKELIHOOD OF INJURY TO HIS OR HER HEALTH, THEY MAY ASK THAT AN ELECTION WORKER BRING A VOTING MACHINE DURING THE EARLY VOTING PERIOD OR ON ELECTION DAY TO THE ENTRANCE OF THE POLLING PLACE, AND CAST THEIR VOTE FROM THEIR VEHICLE. IF YOU ARE A VOTER REQUESTING CURBSIDE VOTING, LOOK FOR THE CURBSIDE VOTING SIGN. PARK IN FRONT OF THE SIGN AND YOU MAY CALL OR TEXT THE NUMBER DISPLAYED ON THE SIGN TO REQUEST ASSISTANCE. HELLO, HOW ARE YOU? GOOD AS REQUIRED BY TEXAS LAW, YOU WILL BE ALLOWED THE SAME VOTING EXPERIENCE AND PRIVACY WHEN CASTING YOUR VOTE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR VOTING, MA'AM . GIVE ME A STICKER. FOR MORE INFORMATION, VISIT EPI COUNTY VOTES COM. ANDI. MONICA. MY PARENTS ALWAYS USED TO TAKE US WHEN WE WERE LITTLE TO THE LITTLE DINER FOR THEIR INFAMOUS GORDITAS. NOW, YEARS LATER, I WAS ABLE TO RETURN AND TALK TO THE GENERAL MANAGER ABOUT THE HISTORY OF THE RESTAURANT. THOSE WHO ARE ON THE HUNT FOR AUTHENTIC MEXICAN CUISINE IN THE BORDERLAND MIGHT BE SURPRISED THAT OFF THE BEATEN PATH IN CANUTILLO, TEXAS, LITTLE DINER HAS BEEN OFFERING THAT FOR OVER 40 YEARS. THE ORIGINAL OWNERS, IRENE AND RAY, OPENED IT UP IN 76. THEY SOLD IT TO THEIR DAUGHTER, LOURDES IN THE LATE 80S. SHE SOLD IT TO MY FAMILY IN 2016. WITH EVERY RESTAURANT, THEY HAVE WHAT THEY CALL THE HEART. THE MAIN PLACE. AND YOU'RE TELLING ME THAT YOU ALL HAVE ONE? CAN YOU EXPLAIN THAT? YEAH, ABSOLUTELY. SO WE'RE KNOWN FOR OUR GORDITAS. THAT'S OUR SPECIALTY. THAT'S WHY WE WERE OPENED IN THE FIRST PLACE. THIS AREA RIGHT HERE IS WHERE WE ACTUALLY PREPARE THE MASA FOR OUR GORDITAS. WE COOK THE CORN IN HERE, IT COMES IN, YOU KNOW, IT'S COMPLETELY RAW. WE DO IT JUST LIKE, YOU KNOW, THEY USED TO DO IT WAY BACK IN THE DAY. IT'S THIS BIG OLD MACHINE HERE

[03:10:02]

THAT DOES IT FOR US. AND THEN ONCE IT GRINDS THE CORN, THEN WE CAN TAKE IT TO OUR MIXMASTER, WHERE WE'RE MAKING THE MASA FOR OUR GORDITAS AND ALSO OUR TAMALES THAT WE MAKE HERE COMPLETELY FROM SCRATCH. TRADITIONAL MEXICAN COOKING DOES NOT STOP THERE. MIXING OLD SCHOOL METHODS WITH NEW AND IMPROVED TECHNIQUES. LITTLE DINER HAS PERFECTED THEIR ALREADY DELICIOUS GORDITAS. THIS IS WHERE WE MAKE OUR TORTILLAS NOW. SO BEFORE THEY JUST JUST USED TO RUN ON THE CONVEYOR BELT . NOW WE'VE GOT SOMEONE, MOVING THEM ALONG THROUGH HERE COOKING THEM. IT'S USUALLY A ONE PERSON JOB, BUT, YOU KNOW, TWO PEOPLE CAN KNOCK IT OUT A LOT FASTER.

WE USE THIS TO MAKE OUR SALSA FRESH JUST ABOUT EVERY DAY. WE'RE PROBABLY GONNA MAKE SOME IN ABOUT AN HOUR OR SO, ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT. WE HAD POTS AND POTS AND PANS, A BUNCH OF THESE STOVES THAT YOU SEE OVER HERE. THAT'S HOW WE WOULD KEEP EVERYTHING HOT AND WARM.

EVERYTHING UP. NOW, THIS STEAM, THIS STEAM TABLE ALLOWS US TO KEEP A LOT MORE FOOD. HOT LITTLE DINER HAS GROWN FROM A SMALL BUILDING OFF THE BEATEN PATH TO ONE OF THE MAINSTAYS IN CANUTILLO THAT HAS SERVED GENERATIONS OF FAMILIES. I KNOW A LOT OF PEOPLE'S MOMS THAT I WENT TO SCHOOL WITH, BUT I KNEW THEM HERE, YOU KNOW, I GOT TO KNOW THEM HERE. SO WE I GET TO KNOW A LOT OF THE COMMUNITY AND DIFFERENT GENERATIONS OF THAT COMMUNITY. IT'S REALLY NICE LOOKING BACK ON THEIR HUMBLE BEGINNINGS AND HOW THEY ARE KEEPING TRADITIONS ALIVE. THE LITTLE DINER IS NOW LOOKING TOWARDS THEIR FUTURE. WE'VE BEEN LOOKING AT, SHIPPING OUR TAMALES , OUR GORDITA MASA OUT OF STATE ALSO EVEN TO OTHER BUSINESSES THAT, YOU KNOW, THEY CAN USE THAT. IT'S, YOU KNOW, A LITTLE MORE AUTHENTIC THAN WHAT THEY MAY BE SELLING AT THE MOMENT. SO THAT'S ONE OF THE WAYS WE'RE GROWING. LOPEZ SAYS THAT THEY WILL CONTINUE TO HONOR THE TRADITIONS THAT HAS MADE LITTLE DINER WHAT IT IS TODAY, BUT WE'LL BE BRINGING IN NEW TECHNIQUES TO FURTHER THEIR SUCCESS. I'M TONY DAVIS, BACK TO YOU. ANDY AND MONICA.

THE HONORABLE ROBERT J. GALVAN COUNTY LAW LIBRARY IS A PUBLIC LEGAL RESEARCH FACILITY THAT COUNTY RESIDENTS CAN USE IN ORDER TO FACILITATE ACCESS TO LEGAL INFORMATION AND ENHANCE THE ADMINISTRATION OF JUSTICE. AS PART OF THE COUNTY'S DOMESTIC RELATIONS OFFICE AND EL PASO COUNTY PRIVATE BAR ASSOCIATION, THE LAW LIBRARY'S ACCESS TO JUSTICE COMMITMENT IS MADE THROUGH AN AVAILABILITY OF EXTENSIVE COLLECTION OF LEGAL RESOURCES, ACCESS TO TECHNOLOGY, AND AVAILABILITY OF IMPORTANT LEGAL FORMS AND OTHER RESOURCES WITH A CONNECTION TO THE PAST, DELIVERING PRESENT SERVICES, AND ENVISIONING THE FUTURE. THE LAW LIBRARY IS A UNIQUE COUNTY RESOURCE. KNOWLEDGE AND INFORMATION IS POWER. EVERY ONE HAS THE RIGHT TO ARM THEMSELVES WITH INFORMATION ACCURATE, CURRENT, FREELY ACCESSIBLE INFORMATION WHICH YOU WILL FIND HERE. ESTABLISHED IN 1950, THE LAW LIBRARY GREW FROM THE TEXAS'S EIGHTH DISTRICT COURT OF APPEALS COLLECTION OF CASE LAW AND PRACTICE MATERIALS. THE EIGHTH COURT OF APPEALS, WHICH IS LOCATED NEXT TO THE LAW LIBRARY ON THE 12TH FLOOR OF THE ENRIQUE MORENO EL PASO COUNTY COURTHOUSE, STILL SHARES CUSTODY OF THE COLLECTION AND CONTINUES TO UPDATE SEVERAL RESOURCES. THE LAW LIBRARY WAS NAMED AFTER LAW LIBRARY COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN JUDGE ROBERT J. GALVAN IN 2004. THE LAW LIBRARY ENSURES THAT OUR LEGAL PRACTITIONERS CAN PROVIDE EXCEPTIONAL, REPRESENT NATION TO THEIR CLIENTS, AND IS A RESOURCE FOR ALL COUNTY CITIZENS TO ACCESS JUSTICE. BUT SELF-REPRESENTATION BECAME SOMETHING TO WHERE PEOPLE ACTUALLY COULDN'T AFFORD AN ATTORNEY, AND IT GAVE THEM AN OPPORTUNITY TO GO AND LOOK UP THINGS FOR THE BENEFIT OF THEIR CASE. AND I'M TALKING ANYWHERE FROM MUNICIPAL COURT TICKETS, SPEEDING TICKETS, JP TICKETS, LANDLORD TENANT ISSUES TO CASES THAT WERE IN OUR COUNTY COURTS AND DISTRICT COURTS. WE HAVE BUILT OUR COLLECTION AND CURATE THE RESOURCES SO THAT THEY CAN BE SUCCESSFUL IN ACCOMPLISHING WHAT THEY NEED TO DO WITHIN THE COURT SYSTEM. THE TWO FLOOR LIBRARY FACILITY HAS A COMPREHENSIVE COLLECTION OF PRINT AND ELECTRONIC RESOURCES COVERING FEDERAL, REGIONAL, STATE, AND LOCAL JURISDICTIONS. CONFERENCE ROOMS TO ACCOMMODATE ATTORNEYS AND THEIR CLIENTS, OR FOR MEETING SPACE. THERE ARE COMPUTERS WITH WEBCAM CAPABILITY AND PRIVATE STUDY ROOMS, PRINTING, COPYING SERVICES ARE AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC FOR A FEE. THERE IS ALSO TECHNOLOGY ON HAND TO SCAN AND FAX DOCUMENTS. THIS IS AN ACCESS TO JUSTICE INITIATIVE. THIS IS SO IMPERATIVE TO THOSE MANY HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS WHO LIVE IN EL PASO, BECAUSE WITHOUT THAT , WITHOUT THEIR ABILITY TO HAVE ACCESS TO INFORMATION, ACCESS TO BOOKS, ACCESS TO COMPUTERS, ACCESS TO BE ABLE TO USE THE JUSTICE SYSTEM, THEY'RE LEFT OUT IN THE COLD. THE LAW LIBRARY IS

[03:15:08]

A GREAT LOCATION TO ACCESS IMPORTANT LEGAL RESOURCES TO INCLUDE PUBLISHED CASES, FORUMS, COURT RULES, PRACTICE GUIDES, PLUS HISTORICAL LEGAL BOOKS NOT AVAILABLE DIGITALLY WHILE GUIDED BY EXPERIENCED STAFF. WE'RE OPEN. WE HAVE COMPUTERS THAT YOU CAN USE YOUR PRINTERS LAW LIBRARY STAFF PERFORMS OUTREACH IN ORDER TO HELP ENSURE THE MOST VULNERABLE IN OUR COMMUNITY IS AWARE OF THE SERVICES OFFERED. THE LAW LIBRARY STAFF IS ALSO KEY IN PROVIDING THE PUBLIC IN PERSON INFORMATION ON THE HISTORY OF THE COUNTY COURTHOUSE BY PROVIDING GUIDED TOURS TO THE PUBLIC, BLINDFOLDED AND THROUGHOUT HISTORY, THERE HAVE BEEN TIMES WHERE WE WERE BLINDFOLDED. THE LAW LIBRARY IS OPEN FROM 8 A.M. TO 5 P.M. WEEKDAYS. FOR MORE INFORMATION, CALL (915) 546-2245 OR EMAIL EP LAW LIBRARY AT EP COUNTY.COM. YOU WILL FIND THE LIBRARY TO BE A WELCOMING AND JUDGMENT FREE PLACE WHERE YOU WILL BE MET WITH DIGNITY, RESPECT AND DISCRETION.

THE ROBERT J GALVAN COUNTY LAW LIBRARY IS COMMITTED TO FACILITATE ACCESS TO LEGAL INFORMATION FOR THE CITIZENS OF EL PASO COUNTY. AND YOU KNOW WHAT, ANDY? I THINK WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT IT FOR, WHAT, 27 DAYS STRAIGHT NOW? FOR SURE. TRIPLE DIGIT HIGHS. IT IS JUST AWFULLY BRUTAL. BUT I FEEL LIKE THERE'S ANOTHER WAY TO BEAT THE HEAT, AND THAT IS WITH LA DUENA.

RIGHT. AND WHAT I WOULD DO RIGHT NOW FOR, FOR ONE OF THOSE, IT'S SUPER POPULAR FROM WHAT I HEAR.

IN FACT, A COUPLE OF OUR PRODUCERS BEFORE WE HEADED OUT THE DOOR, THEY WERE JUST LIKE, BRINGING US SOME. YES, BRING US BACK ONE OF THOSE. WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO TRY IT OUT. SOME OF THAT POPULARITY, TOO, IS BECAUSE THE OWNER, THEY SAY A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE SAYING THAT SHE TREATS HER CUSTOMERS LIKE FAMILY. OH, WOW, I LOVE THAT. I LOVE THAT SO MUCH. THAT'S THE BIG CONCEPT, BEHIND THIS. TAKE A LOOK AT IT. CHICA CHERRY. WELL, I HAVE THIS SPECIAL MACHINE, SINCE, LIKE I SAID, LIKE 30, 30 YEARS, 35 YEARS. AND IT'S BEEN VERY GREAT BECAUSE I HAVE RAISED MY KIDS THROUGH MY SNOW CONE PLACE. A LOT OF PEOPLE TALKS ABOUT THE MANGONADA. THEY'RE FROZEN, BUT MINE IS SNOW CONES. THIS IS A DIFFERENT TYPE OF FLAVOR AND TASTE THAT THEY BRING. IT JUST BRINGS A LITTLE TASTE FROM BACK FROM HOME, FROM MEXICO. YEAH. THIS IS MY FAVORITE. THIS IS THE MANGONADA RIGHT HERE. I FEEL LIKE THIS IS ONE OF THE CUSTOMER FAVORITES HERE. AND THE MANGONADA IS WITH FRESH MANGO, WHICH I MAKE. THAT'S AWESOME. THAT'S REALLY COOL. WHEN I LIVE IN MEXICO, THEY DO THE SAME WAY. WELL, AS WHAT PEOPLE TELLS ME. VERY POPULAR BECAUSE I HAVE PEOPLE, NOT JUST LOCAL PEOPLE FROM EL PASO. WE LIVE IN FLAGSTAFF, ARIZONA, AND I WOULD SAY COME AND BUY MY MANGONADA BECAUSE IT'S SO GOOD. THEY TELL ME THAT WHEN THEY COME ON I-10, WHAT THEY DO, THEY STOP HERE BEFORE THEY GO ANYWHERE ELSE AND GET THEIR SNOW CONES. I WOULD HIGHLY RECOMMEND THIS TO ANYONE IN CANUTILLO, TEXAS THAT WANTS TO GET A RASPA OR A GOOD TREAT.

I TAKE CARE OF THIS PLACE MYSELF . I MANAGE THIS PLACE. I MADE SURE MY CUSTOMERS ARE HAPPY. MY CUSTOMERS ARE SATISFIED. THE QUALITY AND THE FACT THAT THEY'RE OPEN EVERY DAY. I GIVE THEM A LOT OF RESPECT FOR THAT. I TRY TO KEEP MY PRODUCT GOOD AND AT GOOD PRICES, YOU KNOW, SO LIKE IN THE EVENINGS, LIKE IF YOU COME IN THE EVENING, YOU HAVE LIKE 20, 30 PEOPLE IN LINE WAITING. AND THAT MAKES ME FEEL VERY HAPPY. LA DONA BRINGS LIKE TWO CULTURES TOGETHER, EVEN THOUGH WE'RE NOT IN MEXICO, THIS MAKES YOU FEEL LIKE YOU'RE IN. JUST LIKE THE LITTLE, LIKE THE SHAPE OF IT REMINDS YOU OF BACK HOME. I'M VERY GRATEFUL AND I'M VERY THANKFUL TO MY CUSTOMERS. I TRY TO TREAT MY CUSTOMERS AS MY FAMILY. EVER SINCE I WAS A KID, I'VE BEEN COMING HERE PROBABLY FOR MORE THAN OVER LIKE TEN YEARS NOW. THANK YOU, THANK YOU. MY CUSTOMERS, FOR COMING TO MY PLACE. AND I INVITE YOU, EVERYBODY, TO COME AND HAVE A SNOW CONE. THANK YOU. HASTA LUEGO.

ONE OF THE GREAT THINGS ABOUT VOLUNTEERING WITH THE COUNTY IS THE COUNTY DOES SO MANY DIFFERENT THINGS, GIVES PEOPLE AN OPPORTUNITY TO SEE WHAT'S GOING ON IN THEIR COUNTY GOVERNMENT. WHEN I ENGAGE WITH THE FAMILIES AND I GIVE MY TIME TO THEM, I FEEL LIKE I WAS STILL ABLE TO SERVE THEM. I JUST THINK IT'S FASCINATING SEEING ALL THE COMMUNITY GETTING TOGETHER, PEOPLE FROM ALL AGES, FROM YOUNG KIDS TO ADULT PEOPLE, THE WAY IT IS, VOLUNTEERING HAS IMPACTED ME

[03:20:02]

PERSONALLY IS THE FACT THAT I'M STILL DOING WHAT I USED TO DO, AND I GET TO USE ALL THOSE TRAINING SKILLS THAT THE DEPARTMENT GAVE ME AND PUT THEM BACK INTO PLAY. BUT THEY REALLY ENJOY, PARTICULARLY GAINING NEW SKILLS. SO SOME OF OUR VOLUNTEERS ARE YOUNGER AND THEY ENJOY THE CONFIDENCE BUILDING, THE OPPORTUNITY TO CONNECT WITH PEOPLE IN A DIFFERENT WAY, WELL, EVERYONE IS SO FRIENDLY, EVERYONE IS WILLING TO HELP EACH OTHER. I THINK IT'S SEEING VOLUNTEERS WHO OTHERWISE NEVER WOULD HAVE MET BEFORE, THEY LIVE IN DIFFERENT PARTS OF EL PASO.

THEY'RE DIFFERENT AGES, DIFFERENT BACKGROUNDS. AND SEE THEM COME TOGETHER AND REALIZE NOW THEY'RE FRIENDS. ACTUALLY YOU KNOW, I'M AN ADVOCATE FOR VETERANS TO GET OUT AND GET ABOUT IN THE COMMUNITY. DEFINITELY JOIN TO THE VOLUNTEERING PROGRAM, BECAUSE IT'S JUST HELPING IN THE COMMUNITY, AND IT'S GOOD FOR US, FOR ALL OF US. VOLUNTEERS GIVE THEIR TIME AND THERE'S NOTHING MORE VALUABLE THAN THAT. SO WE TRULY APPRECIATE ALL THAT OUR VOLUNTEERS DO. TO SERVE WITH US IS TO STRENGTHEN US. SO THANK YOU, VOLUNTEERS, FOR HELPING MAKE THIS A STRONG AND VIBRANT COMMUNITY.

IT'S THE BEST PET PARTY BEING SPONSORED BY EL PASO COUNTY. OUR PARTY WITH OUR PUPPIES. THAT'S LIKE THE BEST WAY TO SPEND A SATURDAY MORNING. RIGHT NOW, OUR PET WALK IS OCCURRING. THEN, OF COURSE, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE OUR COSTUME CONTEST. THIS IS COCO. AND SO HE IS DRESSED UP AS RAFAEL FROM THE TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES. CHIMBLEY. HE'S A YEAR OLD, SO HE'S HAVING A BLAST. MEETING ALL THE PUPPIES. I THINK IT'S A WONDERFUL OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO SPEND TIME WITH OUR FUR BABIES. YOU'RE SUCH A GOOD BOY. SO WE'RE TRYING TO ACTUALLY CREATE THE FIRST MEGA ADOPTION EVENT HERE IN EL PASO. WE HAVE APPROXIMATELY SEVEN ADOPTABLE PETS. THOSE ARE JUST PUPPIES. THEY'RE ALREADY POTTY TRAINED, CRATE TRAINED, FULLY VACCINATED, SPAYED AND NEUTERED.

SO WE TAKE THE HARD PART OUT OF, YOU KNOW, TRAINING THE PET. AND, I MEAN, THEY'LL GIVE YOU EVERYTHING, AND ALL THEY'RE ASKING FOR IS FOOD AND WATER, A PLACE TO SLEEP AND TO HAVE LOVE.

AND THEY'LL GIVE YOU EVERYTHING. YES. WE'RE WAITING FOR THE BUNNY. IT IS SO NICE TO SEE SO MANY PEOPLE WITH THEIR PETS HERE AT ASCARATE PARK ENJOYING THIS BEAUTIFUL DAY. WE NEED TO HAVE MORE EVENTS LIKE THIS. MORE EVENTS LIKE THIS HERE IN EL PASO. EVERYONE ALL OF US LOVE OUR PETS. WE LOVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO BRING THEM OUT. LET THEM PLAY, LET THEM MAKE NEW FRIENDS. SO IT'S A BEAUTIFUL DAY. WE GOT REALLY LUCKY WITH THE WEATHER. OF COURSE ASCARATE IS A BEAUTIFUL LOCATION TO HAVE THIS EVENT AND WE HOPE THAT THIS IS AN EVENT THAT WILL CONTINUE FOR YEARS IN THE FUTURE. I LOVE YOU! VISIT THE MISSION TRAIL FOR MANY REASONS A WEALTH OF HISTORY, CULTURE AND ARTS. YOU'LL BE ABLE TO TASTE IT. YOU'LL BE ABLE TO HEAR IT. YOU'LL BE ABLE TO SEE IT. YOU'LL BE ABLE TO DANCE TO IT. TO KNOWS IS TO LOVE US.

YOU'RE GOING TO MEET PEOPLE AS IF THEY'RE YOUR FRIENDS. IF YOU COME HERE TO THE MISSION TRAIL, YOU'RE GOING TO GET A REALLY DEEP SENSE OF THE UNITY THAT WE HAVE BECAUSE OF THIS CONNECTION THAT WE ALL HAVE. I THINK THE MISSION TRAIL HAS SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE. OH, IT HAS HISTORY. IT HAS CULTURE. YOU CAN LEARN, YOU CAN RELAX AND YOU CAN CONNECT. IT JUST KIND OF FILLS YOUR SOUL.

YOU DEFINITELY WANT TO SEE EVERYTHING THAT WE HAVE TO OFFER. IT'S JUST SOMETHING THAT YOU HAVE TO SEE AND EXPERIENCE FOR YOURSELF. WE HAVE SOMETHING VERY SPECIAL GOING ON HERE AND IT'S JUST STARTING. THE PEOPLE HERE ARE VERY WELCOMING. WE WELCOME YOU TO THE HISTORIC MISSION TRAIL. WELCOME EVERYONE. IT'S TIME TO COME DOWN AND CHECK US OUT.

[03:25:07]

ACTUALLY, ANDY, WHERE WE'RE AT, HE ADDED THIS STRETCH. SO IT ENDED RIGHT BEHIND US. AND HE ADDED MORE TO ACCOMMODATE THE VENUES. AND WE ACTUALLY GOT TO SPEAK WITH HIM. AND HE TELLS A LITTLE BIT, A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT THIS INCREDIBLE VENUE. CHECK IT OUT. IT'S A VERY SHORT DRIVE AND YOU FEEL LIKE YOU'RE IN THE COUNTRY. IT FEELS LIKE IT IS NOT AS HARD AS THE CITY. YOU KNOW, WE HAVE A LOT OF GRASS, WE HAVE SOME FOUNTAINS, WE HAVE A POND. SO IT'S A IT'S A VERY NICE PLACE TO COME AND LOOK AROUND, BECAUSE THIS PLACE HAS BEEN HERE FOR, I DON'T KNOW, 40, 50 YEARS.

AND, A LOT OF PEOPLE PASSES BY HERE ON DONIPHAN AND THEY JUST LOOK, BUT THEY HAVEN'T COME. YOU CAN SEE WE HAVE THREE TRAIN CARS. ONE, IT'S LIKE AN OBSERVATORY AND TWO CABOOSES.

IT'S AN EVENT CENTER. IT'S A VENUE. OKAY. SO WE HAVE, FROM WEDDINGS, QUINCEANERAS, BIRTHDAY PARTIES, RETIREMENT PARTIES, PINATAS, WHATEVER ANNIVERSARIES. AND WE DO OFFER CATERING TABLES, CHAIRS, LINENS, WE HAVE VALET PARKING. WAITERS, BARTENDERS, EVERYTHING. SO WE CAN HELP YOU WITH THE PARTY. YOU KNOW, IN EVERYTHING YOU NEED. AND WE HAVE A LOT OF ANTIQUES, OLD STUFF, SOME, NICE STUFF FROM HIGH END PRICES TO A PIECE OF WOOD, A PIECE OF IRON. IT'S SOMETHING FOR EVERYBODY. WE'RE IN THE BUSINESS OF RESTORING CLASSIC CARS AND SELL THEM. SO WE GOT EVERYTHING HERE. WE GOT OUR OUR SHOP, THE ANTIQUE PLACE, THE VENUE AND OUR OUR HOME. WE WORK HERE. WE LIVE HERE NOW. WE ARE COUNTY RESIDENTS. WE FEEL REAL BLESSED. WE THANK GOD A LOT TO PUT US HERE. WE DON'T KNOW WHY AND HOW AND WHAT THE PURPOSE, BUT WE ARE HERE. WE'RE VERY HAPPY AND, WELL, HOPING AND WAITING FOR WHOEVER WANTS TO COME AND VISIT. WELCOME BACK TO KTSM NINE NEWS, A SMALL TOWN SPOTLIGHT SHOW LIVE FROM CAMINO REAL TERMINAL HERE IN KANO. TILL NOW, ABOUT TEN MINUTES AWAY FROM HERE, YOU'LL FIND CANUTILLO HIGH SCHOOL. AND IT'S A MUST SEE SITE FOR HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL. TWO REASONS. THEY'VE CRANKED OUT SOME REALLY GREAT FOOTBALL TEAMS IN RECENT YEARS, AND THEY HAVE A REALLY, REALLY, REALLY UNIQUE FOOTBALL FIELD. KTSM NINE SPORTS DIRECTOR COLIN DEAVER BRINGS YOU THE ORIGIN STORY OF THE TURF THEY CALL CANUTILLO BLUE.

CANUTILLO FOOTBALL COACH SCOTT BROOKS HASN'T FORGOTTEN HIS INITIAL REACTION TO THE IDEA OF A BLUE FOOTBALL FIELD AT LOEWENBERG STADIUM. WHAT DID YOU FIRST THINK? I MEAN, WHEN THEY WERE LIKE, WE'RE WE'RE GOING TO PUT BLUE TURF IN. I THOUGHT IT WAS CRAZY. THE POSSIBILITY WAS FIRST BROUGHT UP AT A SCHOOL BOARD MEETING IN 2011. THE SUPERINTENDENT AT THE TIME, I DIDN'T EVEN KNOW ABOUT IT, TOOK A PICTURE AND HAD OUR EMBLEM SUPERIMPOSED ON BLUE TURF. THE IDEA TOOK OFF FROM THERE. THE SCHOOL BOARD, PLAYERS, PARENTS AND FANS IMMEDIATELY GOT BEHIND IT, AND 12 YEARS LATER IT'S CANUTILLO CALLING CARD. IT'S UNIQUE TO US. IT GIVES US OUR OWN KIND OF BRAND, I GUESS, AND WE'VE HAD A LOT OF SUCCESS ON THE BLUE, SO I DON'T I DON'T THINK I'D EVER WANT TO CHANGE IT. THE EAGLES BLUE TURF WAS, OF COURSE, INSPIRED BY THE ORIGINAL BLUE TURF AT ALBERTSONS STADIUM IN IDAHO, THE HOME OF THE BOISE STATE BRONCOS. IT'S THE GREATEST MARKETING TOOL IN THE HISTORY OF COLLEGE ATHLETICS IN MY OPINION. THE CONNECTION BETWEEN CANUTILLO AND BOISE STATE IS EVEN DEEPER NOW, BECAUSE CURRENT BRONCOS ATHLETIC DIRECTOR JEREMIAH DICKEY IS IN EL PASO NATIVE AND A FRANKLIN HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATE. DICKEY SAYS HE DIDN'T KNOW ABOUT CANUTILLO BLUE TURF UNTIL WE CALLED HIM UP FOR THIS STORY. BUT HE'S PLEASED TO HEAR THAT BOISE'S INFLUENCE HAS FOUND HIS HOME TOWN. YOU KNOW, IT'S A POINT OF PRIDE FOR ME. YOU KNOW, I LOVE EL PASO AND IT'S ACTUALLY ON MY LIST NOW WHEN I GO HOME TO GO CHECK IT OUT. BOISE STICKS SINCE 1986, IS NOW A REAL PATENT AND TRADEMARK. ANYONE THAT WANTS A NON-GREEN FIELD ACTUALLY HAS TO ASK FOR BOISE STATE'S PERMISSION TO DO SO. I GOT A LETTER WITHIN A COUPLE OF DAYS THAT WE COULD NOT CALL IT BOISE BLUE. THAT IT HAD TO BE BLUE TURF, AND I MOVED OFF. I WISH I STILL HAD IT BECAUSE WE HAD A POSTER OF THE LETTER. THEY USUALLY DON'T CHARGE ANY MONEY, BUT THEY DO WANT EVERYONE TO KNOW WHO DID IT FIRST. BOISE STATE'S PATENT INCLUDES BLUEFIELDS LIKE CANUTILLO, BUT IT EXTENDS TO RED FIELDS LIKE EASTERN WASHINGTON, PURPLE AND GRAY LIKE CENTRAL ARKANSAS, AND EVEN TEAL GRIDIRONS LIKE COASTAL CAROLINA. IT'S SO MUCH MORE POWERFUL THAN JUST A FOOTBALL FIELD, IT'S WHO WE ARE. AND IT DEFINITELY REPRESENTS SOMETHING THAT THAT, I THINK WE'RE, REALLY PROUD OF IN TERMS OF OUR INNOVATION OFF THE WALL FIELDS, SUCCESSFUL FOOTBALL TEAMS AND DISPELLING URBAN MYTHS. HAVEN'T HAD A BIRD LAND ON IT YET. I

[03:30:05]

MEAN, WE HAD A BIRD, BUT NOT THINKING IT'S WATER. SCOTT BROOKS AND JEREMIAH DICKEY WILL HAVE PLENTY TO TALK ABOUT WHEN THEY FINALLY GET TO MEET IN PERSON. REPORTING FROM THE BLUE TURF. NOT TO BE CONFUSED WITH THE BOISE BLUE COLIN DEAVER KTSM NINE SPORTS.

IT'S IMPORTANT FOR YOUR CHILDREN TO STAY CURRENT ON ALL THEIR ROUTINE VACCINES. ALSO, CHILDREN FIVE AND OLDER ARE NOT ELIGIBLE FOR THE COVID 19 VACCINE. I'M CURRENT AND ALL MY VACCINES, AND I ALSO GET THE COVID VACCINE. SO I AND MY LOVED ONES CAN BE PROTECTED. YOU AND YOUR KIDS SHOULD GET THE VACCINE TOO. AND IF YOU'VE ALREADY GOTTEN THE VACCINE, YOU SHOULD GET YOUR BOOSTER FOR YOUR CHILD'S ROUTINE VACCINES, VISIT EPI HEALTH.COM. WE KNOW HOW MUCH YOU LOVE YOUR CHILDREN, SO REMEMBER, DON'T HESITATE. VACCINATE AS IMPORTANT SUS HIJOS TENGAN TODAS SUS VACUNAS ADEMAS DE LA VACUNA SALTENAS LOS NINOS DE CINCO ANOS , AHORA SON ELEGIBLES PARA LA VACUNA DE COVID. NUEVE LA VACUNA COVID-19 ES GRATIS PARA LAS VACUNAS RUTINAS DE SUS HIJOS.

VISITA EPI HEALTH.COM SABEMOS CUANTO AMASA TUS HIJOS, ASI RECUERDA NO LO DUDES VACCINATE.

THE EL PASO COUNTY ELECTIONS DEPARTMENT WANTS YOU TO KNOW HOW QUICK AND EASY IT IS TO VOTE.

[03:35:04]

CHOICES. IF YOU SEE A MISTAKE OR YOU CHANGE YOUR MIND ABOUT A CHOICE, TELL AN ELECTION WORKER YOU CAN CORRECT YOUR BALLOT UP TO TWO MORE TIMES SO THAT IT IS EXACTLY THE WAY YOU WANT IT.

STEP NUMBER FOUR YOUR VOTE IS OFFICIALLY CAST WHEN YOU INSERT YOUR REVIEWED BALLOT INTO THE BALLOT SCANNER. WHEN THE SCREEN DISPLAYS THE AMERICAN FLAG, THAT INDICATES YOUR BALLOT WAS SCANNED AND YOUR VOTE HAS BEEN COUNTED. REMEMBER THAT VOTERS IN EL PASO COUNTY ARE ELIGIBLE TO VOTE AT ANY POLLING LOCATION DURING THEIR EARLY VOTING PERIOD OR ON ELECTION DAY. FOR MORE INFORMATION OR TO FIND YOUR CLOSEST POLLING LOCATION, PLEASE VISIT EP COUNTY VOTES.COM. IF A VOTER IS PHYSICALLY UNABLE TO ENTER THE POLLING PLACE WITHOUT ASSISTANCE OR LIKELIHOOD OF INJURY TO HIS OR HER HEALTH, THEY MAY ASK THAT AN ELECTION WORKER BRING A VOTING MACHINE DURING THE EARLY VOTING PERIOD OR ON ELECTION DAY, TO THE ENTRANCE OF THE POLLING PLACE, AND CAST THEIR VOTE FROM THEIR VEHICLE. IF YOU ARE A VOTER REQUESTING CURBSIDE VOTING, LOOK FOR THE CURBSIDE VOTING SIGN. PARK IN FRONT OF THE SIGN AND YOU MAY CALL OR TEXT THE NUMBER DISPLAYED ON THE SIGN TO REQUEST ASSISTANCE. HELLO, HOW ARE YOU? GOOD AS REQUIRED BY TEXAS LAW, YOU WILL BE ALLOWED THE SAME VOTING EXPERIENCE AND PRIVACY WHEN CASTING YOUR VOTE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR VOTING, MA'AM . GIVE ME A STICKER. FOR MORE INFORMATION, VISIT EPI COUNTY VOTES COM. ANDI MONICA. MY PARENTS ALWAYS USED TO TAKE US WHEN WE WERE LITTLE TO THE LITTLE DINER FOR THEIR INFAMOUS GORDITAS. NOW, YEARS LATER, I WAS ABLE TO RETURN AND TALK TO THE GENERAL MANAGER ABOUT THE HISTORY OF THE RESTAURANT. THOSE WHO ARE ON THE HUNT FOR AUTHENTIC MEXICAN CUISINE IN THE BORDERLAND MIGHT BE SURPRISED THAT OFF THE BEATEN PATH IN CANUTILLO, TEXAS, LITTLE DINER HAS BEEN OFFERING THAT FOR OVER 40 YEARS. THE ORIGINAL OWNERS, IRENE AND RAY, OPENED IT UP IN 76. THEY SOLD IT TO THEIR DAUGHTER, LOURDES IN THE LATE 80S. SHE SOLD IT TO MY FAMILY IN 2016. WITH EVERY RESTAURANT, THEY HAVE WHAT THEY CALL THE HEART. THE MAIN PLACE. AND YOU'RE TELLING ME THAT YOU ALL HAVE ONE? CAN YOU EXPLAIN THAT? YEAH, ABSOLUTELY. SO WE'RE KNOWN FOR OUR GORDITAS. THAT'S OUR SPECIALTY. THAT'S WHY WE WERE OPENED IN THE FIRST PLACE. THIS AREA RIGHT HERE IS WHERE WE ACTUALLY PREPARE THE MASA FOR OUR GORDITAS. WE COOK THE CORN IN HERE. IT COMES IN, YOU KNOW, IT'S COMPLETELY RAW. WE DO IT JUST LIKE, YOU KNOW, THEY USED TO DO IT WAY BACK IN THE DAY. IT'S THIS BIG OLD MACHINE HERE THAT DOES IT FOR US. AND THEN ONCE IT GRINDS THE CORN, THEN WE CAN TAKE IT TO OUR MIXMASTER WHERE WE'RE MAKING THE MASA FOR OUR GORDITAS AND ALSO OUR TAMALES THAT WE MAKE HERE COMPLETELY FROM SCRATCH. TRADITIONAL MEXICAN COOKING DOES NOT STOP THERE. MIXING OLD SCHOOL METHODS WITH NEW AND IMPROVED TECHNIQUES. LITTLE DINER HAS PERFECTED THEIR ALREADY DELICIOUS GORDITAS, AND THIS IS WHERE WE MAKE OUR TORTILLAS NOW. SO BEFORE THEY JUST JUST USED TO RUN ON THE CONVEYOR BELT. NOW WE'VE GOT SOMEONE, MOVING THEM ALONG THROUGH HERE COOKING THEM. IT'S USUALLY A ONE PERSON JOB, BUT, YOU KNOW, TWO PEOPLE CAN KNOCK IT OUT A LOT FASTER. WE USE THIS TO MAKE OUR SALSA FRESH JUST ABOUT EVERY DAY. WE'RE PROBABLY GOING TO MAKE SOME IN ABOUT AN HOUR OR SO, ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT. WE HAD POTS AND POTS AND PANS, A BUNCH OF THESE STOVES THAT YOU SEE OVER HERE. THAT'S HOW WE WOULD KEEP EVERYTHING HOT AND WARM. EVERYTHING UP. NOW THIS STEAM, THIS STEAM TABLE ALLOWS US TO KEEP A LOT MORE FOOD. HOT LITTLE DINER HAS GROWN FROM A SMALL BUILDING OFF THE BEATEN PATH TO ONE OF THE MAINSTAYS IN CANUTILLO THAT HAS SERVED GENERATIONS OF FAMILIES. I KNOW A LOT OF PEOPLE'S MOMS THAT I WENT TO SCHOOL WITH, BUT I KNEW THEM HERE, YOU KNOW, I GOT TO KNOW THEM HERE. SO WE I GET TO KNOW A LOT OF THE COMMUNITY AND DIFFERENT GENERATIONS OF THAT COMMUNITY. IT'S REALLY NICE LOOKING BACK ON THEIR HUMBLE BEGINNINGS AND HOW THEY ARE KEEPING TRADITIONS ALIVE. THE LITTLE DINER IS NOW LOOKING TOWARDS THEIR FUTURE. WE'VE BEEN LOOKING AT, SHIPPING OUR TAMALES , OUR GORDITA MASA OUT OF STATE ALSO EVEN TO OTHER BUSINESSES THAT, YOU KNOW, THEY CAN USE THAT. IT'S, YOU KNOW, A LITTLE MORE AUTHENTIC THAN WHAT THEY MAY BE SELLING AT THE MOMENT. SO THAT'S ONE OF THE WAYS WE'RE GROWING. LOPEZ SAYS THAT THEY WILL CONTINUE TO HONOR THE TRADITIONS THAT HAS MADE LITTLE DINER WHAT IT IS TODAY, BUT WE'LL BE BRINGING IN NEW TECHNIQUES TO FURTHER THEIR SUCCESS. I'M TONY DAVIS, BACK TO YOU. ANDY AND MONICA.

[03:40:05]

THROUGH AN AVAILABILITY OF EXTENSIVE COLLECTION OF LEGAL RESOURCES, ACCESS TO TECHNOLOGY, AND AVAILABILITY OF IMPORTANT LEGAL FORMS AND OTHER RESOURCES WITH A CONNECTION TO THE PAST.

DELIVER PRESENT SERVICES AND ENVISIONING THE FUTURE. THE LAW LIBRARY IS A UNIQUE COUNTY RESOURCE. KNOWLEDGE AND INFORMATION IS POWER. EVERYONE HAS THE RIGHT TO ARM THEMSELVES WITH INFORMATION, ACCURATE, CURRENT, FREELY ACCESSIBLE INFORMATION WHICH YOU WILL FIND HERE. ESTABLISHED IN 1950, THE LAW LIBRARY GREW FROM THE TEXAS'S EIGHTH DISTRICT COURT OF APPEALS COLLECTION OF CASE LAW AND PRACTICE MATERIALS. THE EIGHTH COURT OF APPEALS, WHICH IS LOCATED NEXT TO THE LAW LIBRARY ON THE 12TH FLOOR OF THE ENRIQUE MORENO EL PASO COUNTY COURTHOUSE, STILL SHARES CUSTODY OF THE COLLECTION AND CONTINUES TO UPDATE SEVERAL RESOURCES. THE LAW LIBRARY WAS NAMED AFTER LAW LIBRARY COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN JUDGE ROBERT J. GALVAN IN 2004. THE LAW LIBRARY ENSURES THAT OUR LEGAL PRACTITIONERS CAN PROVIDE EXCEPTIONAL REPRESENTATION TO THEIR CLIENTS, AND IS A RESOURCE FOR ALL COUNTY CITIZENS TO ACCESS JUSTICE, BUT SELF-REPRESENTATION BECAME SOMETHING TO WHERE PEOPLE ACTUALLY COULDN'T AFFORD AN ATTORNEY, AND IT GAVE THEM AN OPPORTUNITY TO GO AND LOOK UP THINGS FOR THE BENEFIT OF THEIR CASE. AND I'M TALKING ANYWHERE FROM MUNICIPAL COURT TICKETS, SPEEDING TICKETS, JP TICKETS, LANDLORD TENANT ISSUES TO CASES THAT WERE IN OUR COUNTY COURTS AND DISTRICT COURTS. WE HAVE BUILT OUR COLLECTION AND CURATE THE RESOURCES SO THAT THEY CAN BE SUCCESSFUL IN ACCOMPLISHING WHAT THEY NEED TO DO WITHIN THE COURT SYSTEM. THE TWO FLOOR LIBRARY FACILITY HAS A COMPREHENSIVE COLLECTION OF PRINT AND ELECTRONIC RESOURCES COVERING FEDERAL, REGIONAL, STATE, AND LOCAL JURISDICTIONS. CONFERENCE ROOMS TO ACCOMMODATE ATTORNEYS AND THEIR CLIENTS OR FOR MEETING SPACE. THERE ARE COMPUTERS WITH WEBCAM CAPABILITIES AND PRIVATE STUDY ROOMS, PRINTING. COPYING SERVICES ARE AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC FOR A FEE. THERE IS ALSO TECHNOLOGY ON HAND TO SCAN AND FAX DOCUMENTS. THIS IS AN ACCESS TO JUSTICE INITIATIVE. THIS IS SO IMPERATIVE TO THOSE MANY HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS WHO LIVE IN EL PASO, BECAUSE WITHOUT THAT, WITHOUT THEIR ABILITY TO HAVE ACCESS TO INFORMATION, ACCESS TO BOOKS, ACCESS TO COMPUTERS, ACCESS TO BE ABLE TO USE THE JUSTICE SYSTEM, THEY'RE LEFT OUT IN THE COLD. THE LAW LIBRARY IS A GREAT LOCATION TO ACCESS IMPORTANT LEGAL RESOURCES TO INCLUDE PUBLISHED CASES, FORMS, COURT RULES, PRACTICE GUIDES, PLUS HISTORICAL LEGAL BOOKS NOT AVAILABLE DIGITALLY WHILE GUIDED BY EXPERIENCE. STAFF. WE'RE OPEN. WE HAVE COMPUTERS THAT YOU CAN USE. YOU HAVE PRINTERS, LAW, LIBRARY STAFF PERFORMS OUTREACH IN ORDER TO HELP ENSURE THE MOST VULNERABLE IN OUR COMMUNITY IS AWARE OF THE SERVICES OFFERED. THE LAW LIBRARY STAFF IS ALSO KEY IN PROVIDING THE PUBLIC IN PERSON INFORMATION ON THE HISTORY OF THE COUNTY COURTHOUSE BY PROVIDING GUIDED TOURS TO THE PUBLIC, BLINDFOLDED AND THROUGHOUT HISTORY, THERE HAVE BEEN TIMES WHERE THEY'RE BLINDFOLDED. THE LAW LIBRARY IS OPEN FROM 8 A.M. TO 5 P.M.

WEEKDAYS. FOR MORE INFORMATION, CALL (915) 546-2245 OR EMAIL EP LAW LIBRARY AT EP COUNTY.COM.

YOU WILL FIND THE LIBRARY TO BE A WELCOMING AND JUDGMENT FREE PLACE WHERE YOU WILL BE MET WITH DIGNITY, RESPECT AND DISCRETION. THE ROBERT J GALVAN COUNTY LAW LIBRARY IS COMMITTED TO FACILITATE ACCESS TO LEGAL INFORMATION FOR THE CITIZENS OF EL PASO COUNTY. AND YOU KNOW WHAT, ANDY? I THINK WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT IT FOR, WHAT, 27 DAYS STRAIGHT NOW? FOR SURE.

TRIPLE DIGIT HIGHS. IT IS JUST AWFULLY BRUTAL. BUT I FEEL LIKE THERE'S ANOTHER WAY TO BEAT THE HEAT, AND THAT IS WITH A SHAVED ICE. RIGHT AND WHAT I WOULD DO RIGHT NOW FOR, FOR ONE OF THOSE, IT'S SUPER POPULAR FROM WHAT I HEAR. IN FACT, A COUPLE OF OUR PRODUCERS BEFORE WE HEADED OUT THE DOOR, THEY WERE JUST LIKE, BRINGING US, YES. BRING US BACK ONE OF THOSE. WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO TRY IT OUT. SOME OF THAT POPULARITY, TOO, IS BECAUSE THE OWNER, THEY SAY A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE SAYING THAT SHE TREATS HER CUSTOMERS LIKE FAMILY. OH, WOW, I LOVE THAT. I LOVE THAT SO MUCH. THAT'S THE BIG CONCEPT BEHIND THIS. TAKE A LOOK AT IT. CHICA CHERRY. WELL, I HAVE THIS SPECIAL MACHINE, SINCE, LIKE I SAID, LIKE 30, 30 YEARS, 35 YEARS. AND IT'S BEEN VERY GREAT BECAUSE I HAVE RAISED MY KIDS THROUGH MY SNOW CONE PLACE. A LOT OF PEOPLE TALKS ABOUT THE

[03:45:02]

MANGONADA. THEY'RE FROZEN, BUT MINE IS SNOW CONES. THIS IS A DIFFERENT TYPE OF FLAVOR AND TASTE THAT THEY BRING. IT JUST BRINGS A LITTLE TASTE FROM BACK, FROM HOME, FROM MEXICO. YEAH.

THIS IS MY FAVORITE. THIS IS THE MANGONADA RIGHT HERE. I FEEL LIKE THIS IS ONE OF THE CUSTOMER FAVORITES HERE. AND THE MANGONADA IS WITH FRESH MANGO WHICH I MAKE. THAT'S AWESOME.

THAT'S REALLY COOL. WHEN I LIVE IN MEXICO, THEY DO THE SAME WAY. WELL, AS WHAT PEOPLE TELLS ME IS VERY POPULAR BECAUSE I HAVE PEOPLE, NOT JUST LOCAL PEOPLE FROM EL PASO. WE LIVE IN FLAGSTAFF, ARIZONA, AND I WOULD SAY CAN AND BUY MY MANGONADA BECAUSE IT'S SO GOOD. THEY TELL ME THAT WHEN THEY COME ON I-10, WHAT THEY DO, THEY STOP HERE BEFORE THEY GO ANYWHERE ELSE AND GET THEIR SNOW CONES. I WOULD HIGHLY RECOMMEND THIS TO ANYONE IN CANUTILLO, TEXAS THAT WANTS TO GET A RASPA OR A GOOD TREAT. I TAKE CARE OF THIS PLACE MYSELF. I MANAGE THIS PLACE. I MADE SURE MY CUSTOMERS ARE HAPPY , MY CUSTOMERS ARE SATISFIED. THE QUALITY AND THE FACT THAT THEY'RE OPEN EVERY DAY. I GIVE THEM A LOT OF RESPECT FOR THAT. I TRY TO KEEP MY. CESAR, GO AHEAD. COMMISSIONERS COURT HAS RECONVENED INTO REGULAR OPEN SESSION. ITEM NUMBER FOUR. EM FROM THE CONSENT AGENDA. APPROVE AND AUTHORIZE THE COUNTY JUDGE TO SIGN THE FIRST AMENDMENT TO THE FACILITY MANAGEMENT AGREEMENT BETWEEN EL PASO COUNTY AND THE EL PASO SPORTS COMMISSION. CONTRACT NUMBER 2024 0076.

FURTHER APPROVE AND AUTHORIZE THE COUNTY JUDGE TO SIGN THE FIRST AMENDMENT TO CHAPTER 381 ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM. TOURIST PROMOTION PROGRAM AGREEMENT BETWEEN EL PASO COUNTY AND THE EL PASO SPORTS COMMISSION. CONTRACT NUMBER 2024 0067. FUNDING IS AVAILABLE IN SPECIAL REVENUE. COLISEUM TOURIST PROMOTIONS. OPERATIONS. EXPENSES. GENERAL GOOD AFTERNOON, COUNTY JUDGE. COMMISSIONERS CHRISTINA SANCHEZ, ASSISTANT COUNTY ATTORNEY FOR THIS ITEM, IT IS MY UNDERSTANDING THAT THE COURT WOULD LIKE TO MOVE THIS INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION. SO WE'LL BE MOVING THIS INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION UNDER TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE SECTION 551.0725. CONTRACT NEGOTIATIONS. BEFORE DOING SO, WE DO NEED TO MAKE A FINDING ON THE RECORD, WE HAVE MADE THE DETERMINATION AS YOUR LEGAL ADVISORS THAT A DELIBERATION IN AN OPEN MEETING CONCERNING THE BUSINESS AND FINANCIAL ISSUES RELATING TO THESE NEGOTIATIONS WOULD HAVE A DETRIMENTAL EFFECT ON THE POSITION OF THE COMMISSIONERS COURT IN THESE NEGOTIATIONS. THEREFORE, WE ARE REQUESTING THAT THE COURT UNANIMOUSLY VOTE THAT DELIBERATION IN AN OPEN MEETING WOULD HAVE A DETRIMENTAL EFFECT ON THE POSITION OF THE COUNTY IN THESE NEGOTIATIONS. AND THAT ALL SAID DELIBERATIONS TAKE PLACE IN CLOSED SESSIONS, SO AT THIS TIME, WE'D ASK THAT THE COURT MAKE A MOTION TO, MOVE THIS INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION, BASED ON THOSE REASONS, AS I JUST MENTIONED. AND DO WE DO THAT ORALLY, OR IS THERE GOING TO BE A SEPARATE, WINDOW THAT'S GOING TO COME UP FOR THE MOTION TO MOVE IT INTO EXECUTIVE? BECAUSE THE MOTION THAT'S ON OUR WINDOW NOW IS JUST FOR THE SIGNATURE. OH, NO, NO, NO NO NO, WE NEED TO MOVE SEPARATELY INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION WHEN WE PULL IT UP. SO DO YOU HAVE, WE'LL BE ABLE TO SEE THAT ON THE VIDEO SCREEN OR DO WE JUST MAKE THAT MOTION ORALLY, YES. WE HAVE A MOTION FROM, JUDGE SAMANIEGO AND A SECOND FROM COMMISSIONER CORONADO. NO, BUT BUT THIS IS I THINK THIS IS THE WRONG MOTION. IT'S NOT GIVING THEM THAT OPTION OR SCREEN IS TO AUTHORIZE.

APPROVE AND AUTHORIZE THE COUNTY JUDGE TO SIGN THE FIRST AMENDMENT TO THE FACILITY. BUT THAT'S NOT. THAT'S NOT WHAT? NO, YOU'RE NOT TAKING ACTION ON THAT. RIGHT NOW. I THINK THEY'RE GOING TO WE NEED TO FILL THAT BLANK IN OKAY. SO WE'LL DO AN ORAL MOTION. NO. THERE. OH GOTCHA. OKAY. AS FAR AS WHAT COMES UP ON THE SCREEN WE'LL HAVE TO MAKE THAT CHANGE. YOU CAN WE CAN TAKE THE, IF YOU'D LIKE TO GO AHEAD AND READ THE FINDINGS THOUGH. OKAY. THE FINDINGS ARE THAT THE, HAVING THIS IN OPEN SESSION WOULD HAVE A DETRIMENTAL EFFECT ON THE COUNTY'S CONTRACTING NEGOTIATIONS. AND THEREFORE, YOU WOULD LIKE TO TAKE THIS ITEM INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION. AND WE HAVE ALSO, AS YOUR LEGAL ADVISORS, HAVE MADE THE DETERMINATION THAT HAVING THESE DISCUSSIONS IN OPEN SESSION WOULD HAVE A DETRIMENTAL EFFECT ON YOUR POSITIONING. SO WE'RE REQUESTING THAT THIS BE PULLED INTO EXECUTIVE. ONCE AGAIN, WE HAVE A MOTION FROM JUDGE SAMANIEGO AND A SECOND FROM COMMISSIONER CORONADO TO MOVE INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION. VOTING IS OPEN. YES. WE SEE THE LANGUAGE NOW. WE'RE JUST WAITING. WELL, AT LEAST I'M WAITING FOR THE LITTLE BUTTON. THE AYE OR NAY OR FOR THOSE TO

[03:50:05]

POP UP. OH, THERE WE ARE. OKAY JUST TO BE CLEAR, THIS IS TO MOVE IT INTO EXECUTIVE UNDER 551.0725. THANK YOU. MOTION CARRIES. CHRISTINA. YES, SIR. ITEMS B D AND E, I'D LIKE TO HAVE CARL AND JACKIE OUT OF MY STAFF. ALSO ATTEND. OKAY. YES, SIR. AND WE'LL READ THEM IN.

YES, SIR. OKAY, OKAY. GOT IT. OKAY OKAY. GOING TO ITEM NUMBER TEN FROM PURCHASING. NOW ITEM NUMBER TEN, A. ITEM NUMBER TEN A APPROVE THE AWARD OF RFP 24-004. BROADBAND INFRASTRUCTURE DEPLOYMENT. IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN ACT FOR THE PLANNING AND STRATEGIC DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT TO THE HIGHEST SCORING FIRMS. SOUTHWESTERN BELL TELEPHONE

[A. Approve the award of RFP 24-004 Broadband Infrastructure Deployment in Compliance with the American Rescue Plan Act for the Planning and Strategic Development Department to the highest scoring firms Southwestern Bell Telephone Company dba AT&T Texas, of Dallas, TX and Spectrum Gulf Coast, LLC dba Charter Communications of St. Louis MO. Purchasing approved on May 29, 2024. Funds are available in SG-ARPLAN21-OPERATING EX. Karen Davidson, Purchasing Agent, Purchasing, 915-273-3349]

COMPANY, DOING BUSINESS AS AT&T TEXAS OF DALLAS, TEXAS. AND SPECTRUM GULF COAST LLC, DOING BUSINESS AS CHARTER COMMUNICATIONS OF SAINT LOUIS, MISSOURI. PURCHASING APPROVED ON MAY 29TH, 2020 FOR FUNDING. FUNDS ARE AVAILABLE IN SPECIAL GRANT AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN 21 OPERATING EXPENSE. GOOD AFTERNOON KAREN. GOOD AFTERNOON JUDGE. GOOD AFTERNOON, COMMISSIONERS, KAREN DAVIDSON, YOUR COUNTY PURCHASING AGENT. WE DID COMPLETE AN ARPA RFP 24 004 FOR THE BROADBAND INFRASTRUCTURE AND INFRASTRUCTURE, COUNTYWIDE, WE WANT TO NAMELY FIBER OPTIC AND INTERNET BE PUT IN BY THESE COMPANIES SO THAT WE WILL HAVE THE ALL OF THE COUNTY AVAILABLE TO HAVE THE BROADBAND INFRASTRUCTURE. SO WE COMPLETED THE RFP AND WE'VE COME UP WITH THE TOP SCORING FIRMS, AND WE'RE READY TO AWARD TO AT&T AND CHARTER COMMUNICATIONS OR SPECTRUM FOR THIS AWARD, AND I HAVE, MR. LANDEROS IS HERE. HE CAN SPEAK TO IT OR MR. CHRISTIAN MARTINEZ IN REGARD TO THE PROGRAM, BUT I CAN SPEAK TO ANYTHING THAT YOU MIGHT HAVE QUESTIONS ON FOR THE, PROCUREMENT. THANK YOU. OKAY. THANK YOU. GOOD AFTERNOON.

JUDGE. COMMISSIONERS OTHERS WITH COUNTY ADMINISTRATION, HAPPY TO BRING THESE TWO FIRMS UP FOR AWARD. REALLY FOCUSED ON EVALUATING THE PROPOSALS THAT WE'RE GOING TO DEPLOY FIBER INTO THE GROUND TO HELP SOME SOLVE SOME OF THE LAST MILE SERVICE NEEDS THAT THAT THESE COMMUNITIES HAVE. AND SO BOTH PROPOSALS INCLUDE A PRIVATE MATCH FROM THE COMPANY. SO THIS IS NOT BEING 100 A FULL COST TO THE COUNTY, SO THIS IS A PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN BOTH COMPANIES AND BOTH COMPANIES ALSO INCLUDE, PROPOSALS THAT ARE, THAT ARE COUNTYWIDE. SO THEY'VE IT'S THE REASON WHY THE COMMITTEE RECOMMENDED FUNDING FOR, FOR BOTH AT&T AND SPECTRUM AVAILABLE TO TAKE ANY QUESTIONS THE COURT MAY HAVE. I DON'T KNOW, CARLOS. ANY COMMENTS OR ANYBODY FROM WHICH JUST APPRECIATE MAYBE JUST, A BRIEF, SURE. JUDGE, COMMISSIONERS, WE'RE REALLY EXCITED FOR THIS FIRST PART OF, OF THIS PROGRAM. WE'RE EXCITED, HOPEFULLY FOR YOUR APPROVAL AND THEN WE'LL GO INTO CONTRACT NEGOTIATIONS. SO JUST SUPER EXCITED FOR THIS THIS FIRST STEP. THANK YOU SIR. I KNOW YOU'VE BEEN WAITING. AND I HATE YOU, JUDGE. NOT TO BE ABLE TO GIVE US YOUR VIEWS ON THIS, YEAH. NO THANK YOU VERY MUCH. WE APPRECIATE IT, AS YOU ALL KNOW, Y'ALL HAVE BEEN INVOLVED IN SOME OF THE, KIND OF GROUNDBREAKINGS THAT WE'VE DONE THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY ALREADY. WE LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUE OUR, INFRASTRUCTURE BUILD OUT AND LOOKING FORWARD TO GETTING HIGH SPEED INTERNET TO ALL THE RESIDENTS OF THE COUNTY, THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU.

GREAT. GREAT PARTNERSHIPS. EVEN BEYOND THIS, ALWAYS A GREAT PARTNERSHIP. CARLOS, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR EFFORT. JOSE. THANK YOU. JOSE, CAN I ASK YOU A QUESTION? DO WE ALREADY KNOW THE AREAS WHERE THE TWO COMPANIES ARE GOING TO BE WORKING IN? HAS THAT BEEN DETERMINED OR. WE DON'T KNOW THAT YET. WE DO HAVE THAT HASN'T BEEN RELEASED AT THIS POINT BECAUSE IT HASN'T, WE'RE WAITING FOR THE AWARD TO COME BEFORE THE COMMISSIONERS COURT, BUT NOW WE DO HAVE DETAILED MAPS AS WE NEGOTIATE THE CONTRACTS. AS MR. MARTINEZ MENTIONED, WE CAN START TO PROVIDE SOME OF THAT PRELIMINARY INFORMATION TO THE COMMISSIONERS COURT. GREAT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. WE HAVE A MOTION FROM COMMISSIONER LEON AND A SECOND FROM COUNTY JUDGE SAMANIEGO. THE VOTING IS OPEN. MOTION CARRIES. THANK YOU. KAREN THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU. JUDGE.

COMMISSIONERS. THANK YOU SIR. ITEM NUMBER NINE COUNTY ADMINISTRATION. AN ITEM NINE A RECEIVE A PRESENTATION, DISCUSS AND TAKE APPROPRIATE ACTION REGARDING EL PASO COUNTY'S 89TH TEXAS LEGISLATIVE SESSION. AGENDA TO BE DELIVERED TO THE EL PASO STATE DELEGATION. THAT IS.

[A. Receive a presentation, discuss and take appropriate action regarding El Paso County’s 89th Texas Legislative Session Agenda to be delivered to the El Paso State Delegation. Melissa Carrillo, Executive Director, County Operations, County Operations]

[03:55:02]

GOOD AFTERNOON, JUDGE AND COMMISSIONER ELISA TAMAYO. GOVERNMENTAL AFFAIRS MANAGER.

AND TODAY WE HAVE, SOME MORE ITEMS TO CONTINUE ON WITH THE LAST, COMMISSIONERS MEETING WHERE WE DISCUSSED THE FIRST AID PROPOSALS FOR THE 89TH, LEGISLATIVE SESSION AGENDA FOR THE COUNTY, WE TOOK SOME ACTION LAST SESSION. I DON'T KNOW IF WE HAVE THE SLIDES OR IF YOU ARE SEEING THE SLIDES ON YOUR SCREENS. COMMISSIONERS. STANDBY. THANK YOU. LISA.

OKAY. THERE YOU GO, SO ON THE NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE, WE HAVE THE ITEMS THAT WERE PREVIOUSLY ADOPTED DURING THE MAY 20TH, MEETING. I KNOW WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO THIS TIME IS NOT JUST CARRY OVER EVERYTHING THAT DID NOT PASS LAST SESSION AND JUST TRY TO REFILE IT AGAIN, AS WE HAVE MENTIONED, WE WANT TO HAVE A MORE CONCISE, PRIORITIZED AGENDA. AND, AND SO THE ITEMS THAT THAT I'VE BEEN RECEIVING, WERE SUBMISSIONS THROUGH OUR DEPARTMENTS, OUR DEPARTMENT HEADS THAT SENT A GOOGLE FORM AND THEN FROM THESE ITEMS IS EIGHT THAT YOU SEE ON THE SCREEN, WE CHOSE FOUR OF THEM TO MAKE THEM VALUE STATEMENTS. AND AND THEN, YOU KNOW, PRIORITIZE THE OTHER FOUR AS ITEMS THAT WE WILL, CARRY ON TO OUR AGENDA. SO IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, I'LL GO ON TO THE NEXT SLIDE. I HAVE ONE, LISA, ON THE ITEM THAT READS ZONING AUTHORITY FOR COUNTIES. THE REASON I'M ASKING THIS IS NEXT WEEK WE WILL HAVE OUR ONE OF OUR FIRST MEETINGS WITH THE FIRE TASK FORCE THAT WE PUT TOGETHER SOME WEEKS BACK. AND IN THAT MEETING, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A COUPLE OF STATE REPS ALSO. AND, WE'RE VERY, VERY, WORRIED ABOUT LEGISLATION THAT DOES NOT ALLOW COUNTIES, ANY KIND OF ZONING AUTHORITY OVER SOME OF THESE BUSINESSES THAT, THAT HAVE, PALLETS AND WHAT HAVE YOU, YOU WILL HAVE NOTICED THE, THE BIG FIRE THAT THE CITY HAD ON THE SALVAGING COMPANY AND PALLETS ALSO THERE. BUT, AS WE MOVE FORWARD, I THINK THAT IS A VERY CRITICAL, PIECE OF LEGISLATION THAT I THINK AT LEAST TWO OF OUR STATE REPS ARE WILL BE WILLING TO CARRY FOR US. IS THAT THE SAME THING, ELISA, OR IS IT DIFFERENT? CORRECT. SO WE DON'T HAVE LANGUAGE ON THAT ITEM YET, BUT WE CHOSE TO KEEP IT A PRIORITY BECAUSE BACK IN SEPTEMBER, WE OF COURSE HAD ALSO THAT FIRE IN MONTANA VISTA. WE HAD WE HAD A LOT OF RESIDENTS COME AND TESTIFY HERE. AND WE WANT WE DON'T HAVE SPECIFIC ASK JUST YET, BUT I LOOK FORWARD TO HEARING, WHAT WHAT COMES OUT OF THAT MEETING THAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT WITH THIS TASK FORCE AND USING THAT TO HOPEFULLY HAVE OUR HOPEFULLY, OUR COUNTY ATTORNEYS HELP US DRAFT SOMETHING THAT WILL HELP COUNTIES. I DON'T WANT TO GET ANYBODY'S HOPES UP BECAUSE OBVIOUSLY, LAST SESSION WE SAW THINGS LIKE THE DEATH STAR BILL THAT TIES OUR HANDS EVEN MORE, OR, YOU KNOW, MAYBE NOT THE COUNTIES AS MUCH, BECAUSE WHAT WE'VE TALKED ABOUT IS THAT THE COUNTIES CAN ONLY DO WHAT'S, SPECIFIC ON ON STATUTE, ON THE, ON THE TEXAS CONSTITUTION AND THE CODE. WE DON'T WE CAN'T GO OUT OF THAT. AND SO I THINK THE IDEA HERE IS TO ALLOW, EITHER THE COUNTY TO HAVE SOME SORT OF ZONING AUTHORITY FOR THIS TYPE OF BUSINESSES OR WORKING WITH TC TO SEE WHAT KIND OF ENFORCEMENT THEY CAN DO. SO I THINK THIS ITEM IS VERY OPEN RIGHT NOW. IT DOESN'T HAVE A SPECIFIC LANGUAGE TYPE TO IT YET, BUT I LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOUR OFFICE AND WITH THE TASK FORCE TO SEE WHAT LANGUAGE COMES OUT OF THAT, OR WHAT STEPS WE CAN TAKE AND SUPPORT NEXT SESSION, BECAUSE IT IS, LIKE YOU SAID, A BIG PRIORITY AND BIG CONCERN FOR THESE FIRES THAT KEEP HAPPENING AND ENVIRONMENTAL HAZARDS THAT WE NEED TO BE AWARE OF. NO, THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. AND IT IS IT IS A VERY TROUBLING AND VERY REAL DANGER TO OUR COMMUNITIES OUT THERE, NOT ONLY THIS COUNTY, BUT I WOULD VENTURE TO SAY SEVERAL COUNTIES. THANK YOU. YES, ABSOLUTELY. AND I'LL BE WORKING WITH THE TEXAS ASSOCIATION OF COUNTIES AS WELL TO SEE IF THEY CAN HELP US IDENTIFY OTHER COUNTIES OR ALLIES THAT CAN HELP US PUSH FOR THIS, BECAUSE I KNOW WE'RE, LIKE YOU SAID, NOT THE ONLY COUNTY. AND SO THE BIGGER THE COALITION THAT WE CAN BUILD, THE STAKEHOLDERS, THIS TASK FORCE, THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT, THE BETTER, TO ADVOCATE FOR WHAT WE NEED BECAUSE, I MEAN, WE NEED TO PRIORITIZE THIS, THESE TYPES OF THINGS. OKAY THANK YOU, WE CAN GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE. I'LL TRY TO GO FAST, BECAUSE I UNDERSTAND YOU HAVE A LOT OF ITEMS IN EXECUTIVE SESSION, SO WE HAVE THE FOLLOWING, PROPOSALS THAT WE RECEIVED THROUGH DIFFERENT DEPARTMENTS, THE FIRST ONES ARE FROM OUR PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT. SO THIS NUMBER I'M STARTING ON NUMBER NINE BECAUSE WE APPROVED THE FIRST EIGHT LAST, MEETING. SO MOVING ON TO NUMBER NINE, IT WOULD BE A PROVISION FOR LOSS

[04:00:06]

WITHIN 750FT FROM AN EXISTING WATERLINE, TO MAKE THE. SO THE OWNER CANNOT SELL UNTIL THAT WATER IS INSTALLED, THE STATE ALREADY REQUIRES THIS. DEVELOPERS OF THIS NEW SUBDIVISIONS TO HAVE ACCESS TO WATER IN EVERY LOT. SO WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO IS, WHAT THIS BILL WOULD DO IS REQUIRE THAT THE LOTS THAT HAVE ALREADY BEEN PLOTTED FOLLOW THOSE SAME RULES.

THE NEXT ONE, NUMBER TEN. I'M SORRY ON THAT ONE. IF I MAY, AND I KNOW THIS ISSUE HAS COME UP.

SO NOW WE'RE GOING TO PUT IT ON THE CURRENT PROPERTY OWNER TO EXTEND THE WATER LINE. I'M JUST TRYING TO THINK IF THIS WILL CREATE, MORE PEOPLE WHO WILL ABANDON THE PROPERTY BECAUSE THEY CAN'T AFFORD TO DO THE WATER LINE, AND THEN IT WILL BECOME TRUSTEES. THAT'S A GOOD CONSIDERATION. AND I'M NOT SURE IF THERE'S SOMEBODY FROM PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT HERE TODAY, TO ANSWER ANY OF THESE QUESTIONS, BECAUSE I KNOW SOME OF THEM HAVE LOTS OF DETAILS ON.

HI. THANK YOU. GOOD MORNING. JUDGE AND COMMISSIONERS, JORGE ORTIZ, ASSISTANT PLANNER WITH PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT, TO ANSWER, MISS KELLER'S QUESTION, ONE OF THE ISSUES THAT WE DO HAVE RIGHT NOW IS A LOT OF PEOPLE BUYING LOTS THAT AREN'T, AREN'T BEING TOLD THAT THERE'S NO WATER IN THIS LOCATION. AND SO I DO SEE THE, THE ISSUE OF NOT SO MUCH ABANDONMENT, BUT THEY MAY BE WITH THEM FOR A LONGER PERIOD OF TIME. AND SO WHEN IT COMES TO THE ABANDONMENT ISSUE THAT WE HAVE IN THE FAR EAST SIDE, THAT'S THAT'S MORE OF , OF, THE WATER LINE IS MILES AWAY AND IT WOULD TAKE PROBABLY MILLIONS OF DOLLARS FOR, FOR THEM TO, TO GET IT. BUT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT WITHIN 750FT. SO IT'S IN THE VICINITY OF AND THE MAJORITY OF, OF WHERE THIS IS AN ISSUE IS IN THE MONTANA VISTA AREA. AND SO IT'S IN THE VICINITY. BUT JUST GETTING IT THAT EXTRA 100, 200FT IS A REAL, REAL BIG COST TO SOMEBODY WHO MIGHT JUST BE, MAYBE LOW INCOME AND JUST WANTING TO PUT A MOBILE HOME ON THEIR, ON THEIR PROPERTY . AND SO WE THOUGHT AS A DEPARTMENT, IT WOULD BE BETTER THAT THE LANDOWNER WHO'S SELLING THIS LAND AS A RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT BE GIVEN THAT BURDEN TO BE ABLE TO MAKE SURE THAT THERE'S WATER IN THAT PROPERTY.

OKAY. SO I'M JUST WHAT I'M WONDERING IS, DO WE HAVE AN INVENTORY OR DO WE KNOW HOW MANY OF THOSE PROPERTIES ARE OWNED BY INDIVIDUALS RIGHT NOW WHO CAN'T AFFORD TO PUT THE WATER IN? SO THEN THEY WOULD NEVER BE ABLE TO AFFORD TO SELL THEIR PROPERTY EITHER. AT THIS POINT, WE DON'T HAVE THAT INVENTORY. AND IF YOU HAD TO GUESS, WHAT THE COST WOULD BE FOR THE SELLER OF THE PROPERTY, WITHIN 750FT OF A WATER LINE, HOW MUCH DO YOU THINK THAT COST? ARE WE TALKING ABOUT, LIKE TO BETSY'S CONCERN? IS THAT SOMETHING THAT'S PROHIBITIVELY EXPENSIVE FOR THE PERSON TRYING TO SELL THE LOT? YES, I BELIEVE SOME IN SOME INSTANCES WITH THAT 750FT, WE'VE HEARD ANYTHING FROM 20 TO $25,000, EVEN EVEN MORE, THE AVERAGE VALUE OF THOSE LOTS, THAT'S WHAT I'M CURIOUS, BECAUSE, I MEAN, I'VE SEEN THE AVERAGE VALUE OF SOME OF THOSE LOTS OUT. THERE AREN'T THAT MUCH EACH. SO IT JUST CONCERNS ME IF A PROPERTY OWNER SAYS, WELL, I'M NEVER GOING TO BE ABLE TO DEVELOP THIS. SO I'D RATHER SELL IT AND USE WHAT I CAN GET FROM WHAT I SELL IT FOR, TO MOVE SOMEWHERE WHERE I CAN HAVE WATER AND LIVE. I'M JUST I'M JUST WONDERING ABOUT HOW BIG BOTH WAYS. I MEAN, YOU DON'T WANT A BUYER TO GET A PROPERTY AND THAT THEY CAN'T AFFORD TO DO IT. BUT YOU ALSO HAVE A SELLER WHO ALREADY HAS THE PROPERTY AND CAN'T AFFORD TO DO IT. I'M JUST WONDERING IF WE'VE LOOKED AT LIKE, OTHER OPTIONS OR SOLUTIONS OR, HOW BIG OF AN ISSUE THIS WILL BE. BETSY, JUST FOLLOWING UP ON WHAT YOU JUST SAID, WE HAD AN EXAMPLE WHERE THIS COUPLE BOUGHT A LOT. THERE IS WATER ACROSS THE STREET, BUT IN ORDER TO BRING THAT WATER FROM THERE TO THEIR PROPERTY WOULD HAVE BEEN WELL OVER $100,000. RIGHT.

AND SO IF YOU OWN ONE OF THOSE LOTS OUT THERE AND YOU THINK, WELL, I CAN'T AFFORD THAT, IF WE GET THIS BILL PASSED, YOU'LL NEVER BE ABLE TO SELL IT. SEE, IN THIS PARTICULAR CASE, IT WAS THE LOT, THE PROPERTY OWNER THAT FAILED TO TELL THEM IT'S GOING TO BE EXPENSIVE TO BRING IT ACROSS. THE PURPOSE OF THIS, AND I DON'T THINK THAT'S LOST ON THE COURT, IS NOT TO ENCUMBER, CURRENT PROPERTY OWNER WITH NOT BEING ABLE TO USE THEIR PROPERTY. IT'S TO NOT PERPETUATE THE ISSUE INTO THE FUTURE. THAT'S WHY THIS PROVISION IS PEGGED TO THE SALE OF THE PROPERTY WITHIN 750FT, THERE WOULD BE UNDOUBTEDLY MANY PROPERTY OWNERS THAT WOULD BE

[04:05:03]

AFFECTED BY THIS. BUT IF IT'S NOT, IF WE DON'T APPLY IT SOME REGULATION TO IT NOW, THAT WOULD STILL BE THE CASE. AND IT'S SIMPLY A WAY TO, DO DO SOMETHING RATHER THAN THE EXISTING PRECLUSION AND LEAVE, ABSOLUTE UNCERTAINTY ON A POTENTIAL BUYER WHO MIGHT NOT HAVE THE WHEREWITHAL OR THE KNOWLEDGE OR THE, ADVICE CONSULTATION OF SOMEONE WHO KNOWS THESE MATTERS AND THEN BE BURDENED WITH A VERY EXPENSIVE, INSTALLATION AFTER THE FACT. AND SO IT'S REALLY TO NOT BURDEN ANYONE CURRENTLY, THEY CAN FULLY ENJOY THEIR PROPERTY, BUT IT'S TO MAKE SURE THAT FUTURE BUYERS DON'T HAVE THIS. THIS COST. AND I THINK THE PROBLEM IN A LOT OF THESE SALES IS THAT, THE BUYER FREQUENTLY IS COMPLETELY UNAWARE THAT IT'LL BE THEIR RESPONSIBILITY TO CONNECT TO WATER. AND I, I EVEN VENTURE TO SAY THAT PROBABLY SOME SELLERS IMPLY TO THE BUYERS, OH, DON'T WORRY, THE COUNTY IS GOING TO EVENTUALLY COME AND CONNECT YOU TO WATER. AND WE KNOW THAT THAT'S NOT THE CASE. SO THIS IS DEFINITELY A HUGE PROBLEM THAT WE HAVE TO TRY TO FIND A SOLUTION FOR. I UNDERSTAND, BETSY, YOUR CONCERNS THAT THE SELLERS MAY NOT BE ABLE TO SELL THEIR PROPERTIES BECAUSE THEY DON'T HAVE THE MONEY TO PUT IN THE INFRASTRUCTURE, BUT I THINK WE ALSO HAVE TO THINK ABOUT PROTECTING THE BUYERS LIKE MICHAEL IS SAYING WHO? AND I'M JUST NOT SURE IF THERE'S ANY OTHER WAY TO FORCE SELLERS TO IF WE COULD FORCE SELLERS, TO BE HONEST WITH BUYERS SO THAT A BUYER UNDERSTANDS WHAT THEY'RE GETTING INTO. BUT I DON'T SEE HOW WE'D BE ABLE TO FORCE THEM TO DO THAT. HOW DO WE FORCE A SELLER TO BE TRUTHFUL WHEN THEY'RE TRYING TO SELL THEIR PIECE OF PROPERTY TO A BUYER? I DON'T KNOW HOW ELSE WE DO THAT.

AGREED. RIGHT. OR YOU YOU MAKE IT A PART OF THE PROPERTY SELL TRANSACTION THAT IT HAS TO INCLUDE THE QUOTE FOR A UTILITIES AND A REAL QUOTE FOR UTILITIES. BUT THAT'S MY POINT.

HOW DO YOU FORCE THAT? LIKE IF YOU'VE GOT JUST A, YOU KNOW, A PERSONAL A PERSON WHO'S SELLING A PIECE OF PROPERTY USING SOME VERY INFORMAL DEED TYPE OF DOCUMENT, HOW DO YOU ENFORCE THAT? HOW DO WE EVEN KNOW THAT THEY'RE DOING IT? SO THAT, I DON'T KNOW, MAYBE IT'S SOMETHING I DON'T KNOW ENOUGH ABOUT REAL ESTATE LAW BECAUSE, I MEAN, I KNOW WE CHANGED IT AT SOME POINT. THE LAW CHANGED TO REQUIRE THAT LIKE DISCLAIMER THAT THERE'S NO PROPERTY, THERE'S NO UTILITY TO THE PROPERTY, BUT I'M IMAGINING SOME TYPE OF CHANGE TO THE LAW. REAL ESTATE LAW THAT BEFORE THIS PROPERTY CAN BE RECORDED OR THIS TRANSACTION CAN BE RECORDED, IT HAS TO INCLUDE A QUOTE FROM A CURRENT REPUTABLE COMPANY. YOU KNOW, TO EXTEND UTILITIES, YOU KNOW, KIND OF EYES WIDE OPEN. I JUST I'VE HEARD OF THE STORIES OF THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE BOUGHT THIS PROPERTY, AND THEY'VE TIED UP THEIR LIFE SAVINGS IN IT, AND NOW THEY WILL NOT BE ABLE TO GET OUT OF IT EITHER. YEAH, YEAH. WHAT ABOUT IN THE DISCLOSURE? IF THERE WAS SOMETHING, YOU KNOW, HOW YOU'RE ASKED TO DISCLOSE EVERYTHING IN THE THERE IS A DISCLOSURE THAT YOU DISCLOSE THAT IT DOESN'T HAVE ACCESS TO THAT NOW, BUT YOU DON'T HAVE TO DISCLOSE HOW EXPENSIVE IT WILL BE TO GET IT. OR MAYBE THERE IS SOME TYPE OF PROCESS. WHERE THEY DON'T HAVE TO DO IT, BUT THEY CAN PROVE THAT THEY GAVE THE FULL DISCLOSURE OF THE COST AND THE BUYER WAS WILLING TO ACCEPT IT. I DON'T KNOW, I DON'T KNOW, I DON'T KNOW HOW WE GET THEM TO GIVE. BECAUSE WHEN THERE'S A PERSONAL A PRIVATE SALE OF PROPERTY, THEY DON'T. IF THEY'RE NOT DOING ANY REPLANNING OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT, WE MAY NOT EVEN KNOW ABOUT IT. RIGHT. YOU ALL ONLY KNOW WHEN THERE'S A REQUEST TO REPLAT OR TO CHANGE SOMETHING FROM THE ORIGINAL PLAT. CORRECT? WE USUALLY FIND OUT ABOUT THINGS, MORE OFTEN THAN NOT WHEN THEY COME IN FOR UTILITY SERVICES MORE THAN ANYTHING, OR THEY INQUIRE ABOUT UTILITY SERVICES, TO MISS KELLER'S POINT, I DON'T DISAGREE WITH HER, I THINK ANYTHING IS BETTER THAN THE SITUATION THAT EXISTS. SO, WE WOULD FULLY BE OPEN TO, DISCLOSURE, PROVISION, WE CHOSE THIS PARTICULAR ASPECT IN TERMS OF INSTALLATION BECAUSE IT GETS THE JOB DONE. I MEAN, THAT'S THE GOAL. AND SO WE ARE ADVOCATING FOR THE GOAL, BUT IF THERE'S ANY INTERMEDIA THREE STEP THAT IS MORE FAVORABLE TO YOU, ALL THAT IS EQUALLY OKAY WITH US. BECAUSE THE POINT IS, IS THAT SOMETHING IS DONE RATHER THAN NOTHING AT ALL. AND MAYBE, MAYBE IN THE PROPOSED LEGISLATION, WE GIVE AN EXCEPTION. SO YOU HAVE TO HAVE THE PROPERTY, SEA WATER EXTENDED TO THE PROPERTY IF IT'S WITHIN THE 750FT OR YOU ASK FOR A

[04:10:01]

VARIANCE FROM THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT, THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT TO APPROVE, BECAUSE IF SOME BODY COMES IN AND SAYS, HERE, I'M TELLING THE BUYER, THE BUYER IS WILLING TO ACCEPT IT, ACCEPT THE COST. WE COULD GRANT A VARIANCE, SOMETHING LIKE THAT TO ME, WOULD GIVE US ALSO A WAY TO PROTECT THE PROPERTY OWNERS WHO ARE NOW STUCK WITH THESE PROPERTIES. SO BETSY, YOU KNOW, IN TOWN, I MEAN, WHEN YOU BUY A HOME, YOU HAVE TO HAVE AN INSPECTOR GO OUT THERE AND GIVE YOU A REPORT. BUT COULD WE NOT INCORPORATE SOMETHING LIKE THAT WHERE THEY HAVE AN INSPECTOR GO OUT AND TELL THEM, YEAH, THERE IS WATER, BUT IT'S GOING TO COST YOU X AMOUNT OF MONEY TO GET IT OVER TO YOUR PROPERTY BEFORE YOU. YOU CLOSE ON THAT PROPERTY. I THINK THAT'S, IF WHAT I HEARD WAS WHAT YOU'RE SAYING, THEN I THINK THAT WOULD BE JUST EXACTLY WHAT MISS KELLER IS ADVOCATING FOR SOME, PROFESSIONAL, CONSULTATION OR ADVISEMENT OF WHAT A REALISTIC COST WOULD BE BEFORE THE CLOSURE. YEAH AND WE CAN HELP, COMMISSIONERS WILL WORK WITH. I'LL HAVE, ERIC MORALES OR STEPHEN ARELLANO REACH OUT AND MAYBE KIND OF THINK THROUGH SOME OF THESE ISSUES THAT WERE THAT WERE RAISED. I DON'T KNOW IF MR. MORALES HAD ALREADY LOOKED AT THIS OR NOT, BUT WE CAN KIND OF HEARING WHAT THE COURT'S FEEDBACK IS TO SEE HOW WE'D INCORPORATE THAT. AND OF COURSE, ON THE ISSUES ON THE POLICY SIDE OF IT AS WELL. SO THANK YOU. YEAH. SO I THINK WE DEFINITELY ELISA ARE ALL IN AGREEMENT THAT THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WE DO NEED TO ADVOCATE FOR. BUT MAYBE TWEAKING A LITTLE BIT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE NOT ALSO HARMING THE PROPERTY OWNERS THAT DON'T HAVE THE MEANS TO DO IT, SO THAT THEY DON'T GET STUCK WITH A PIECE OF PROPERTY THAT THEY'LL NEVER BE ABLE TO DEVELOP. SO THANK YOU. AND THANK YOU, CHRISTINA. I'M ADDING ON MY NOTES HERE TO PUT THAT EXEMPTION OR GRANT A VARIANCE LIKE, BETSY WAS SAYING ON OUR ON OUR ASK WHEN WE FINISH THIS, THIS AGENDA ITEM. OKAY, I'LL MOVE ON TO NUMBER TEN, WHICH IS ADDING A NO DRUG TRAFFIC SIGN, TO RESTRICT THE TRUCKS ON RESIDENTIAL ROADS IF, NOT DESIGNATED OR CONSTRUCTED TO WITHSTAND SUCH, HEAVY TRUCK TRAFFIC. SO IF A DEVELOPER DOES NOT CONSTRUCT THESE ROADS FOR TRUCK TRAFFIC, THIS LAW SHOULD TRIGGER THAT THE COUNTY HAS THE ABILITY TO PUT UP THE THOSE SIGNS AND THOSE ROADS. AND JUST FOR EVERYONE'S INFORMATION, THIS IS A HUGE ISSUE IN THE MISSION RIDGE EAST LAKE AREA WHERE YOU HAVE THE RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOODS.

OBVIOUSLY, EAST LAKE ITSELF WAS BUILT FOR HIGH TRAFFIC, FOR TRUCK TRAFFIC, BUT YOU HAVE A LOT OF THE TRUCKS THAT ARE GOING THROUGH THE NEIGHBORHOODS WHERE THE STREETS WERE NOT BUILT FOR HIGH TRAFFIC, SO THIS IS A HUGE, HUGE ISSUE IN THAT NEW AREA THAT CONTINUES TO DEVELOP. I MEAN, THEY'RE EXPECTING THOUSANDS MORE HOMES TO BE BUILT OUT THERE. SO THE PROBLEM IS ONLY GOING TO GET WORSE. COMMISSIONER. SO THE ISSUES ON THIS, THE TWO ISSUES ON THIS SLIDE, WE WANT TO MAKE THEM PRIORITIES AND NOT JUST LEGISLATIVE VALUES, BUT ACTUALLY, YOU KNOW, TAKE THE, YOU KNOW, THE LEAD ON ON DEVELOPING THE LANGUAGE AND, YOU KNOW, ASKING FOR THE BILL AND ALL THE WORK, THE LEGWORK THAT THAT WOULD BE REQUIRED TO MAKE THEM PRIORITIES. NEXT SLIDE PLEASE. NUMBER 11 WOULD BE OUR AN ABILITY TO GIVE THE COUNTY THE ABILITY TO CHARGE IMPACT FEES FOR CERTAIN INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS LIKE PUBLIC FACILITIES, STORMWATER, ROADWAYS, UTILITIES IN THE COUNTY, RIGHT OF WAY, ALSO PROPOSED BY PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT, BECAUSE WE THE COUNTY IS LEFT WITH A TASK OF PRODUCING THESE AMENITIES THAT RESIDENTS WANT, WITHOUT THE FUNDS NEEDED TO DO SO. SO WE'RE ABLE TO, MAKE THE NEW DEVELOPMENT PAY FOR ITSELF IN A WAY, THROUGH THESE IMPACT FEES THAT WOULD ALLOW US TO KEEP UP WITH THE DEMANDS OF OUR GROWING, POPULATION IN THE COUNTY. AND PLEASE, MICHAEL AND GEORGE, FEEL FREE TO JUMP IN IF I'M MISSING ANYTHING ON THESE ITEMS. NUMBER 12 WOULD BE AMENDING THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT CODE SECTION 230 2.0 29, SECTION C TWO TO ADD THE SELLING AND CONVEYANCE CRITERIA TO THE LOT OF RECORD EXEMPTION TO LIMIT, COLONIAL STYLE DEVELOPMENT. RIGHT NOW, AS A LAND OWNER, YOU NEED TO SHOW PROOF OF WATER AND SEPTIC IN ORDER TO GET THAT CERTIFICATE OF COMPLIANCE FOR ELECTRICITY AND GAS. SO WHAT THIS WOULD DO IS ALLOW THE OWNER TO DEVELOP AND LIVE ON THEIR LAND WITHOUT NECESSARILY HAVING TO, TO DO THAT. ELISA, YOU'RE MUTED. I'M SO SORRY. I DON'T KNOW HOW I GOT MUTED, DID YOU HEAR NUMBER 11 AND NUMBER 12 YOU GOT CUT OFF. SHOULD I GO OVER 11 1111? OKAY.

SO, NUMBER 11 WOULD BE THE ABILITY TO CHARGE IMPACT FEES FOR CERTAIN, PROJECTS LIKE

[04:15:05]

PUBLIC FACILITIES, STORMWATER ROADWAYS AND UTILITIES IN THE COUNTY RIGHT OF WAY. SO RIGHT NOW, THE COUNTY IS LEFT WITH THE TASK OF PRODUCING THESE AMENITIES THAT PEOPLE WANT AND, YOU KNOW, PARKS, LIBRARIES, ETC. BUT WE DON'T HAVE THE FUNDS TO DO THAT NECESSARILY. SO BEING ABLE TO MAKE THIS NEW DEVELOPMENT PAY FOR ITSELF THROUGH THE IMPACT FEES WOULD ALLOW US TO KEEP UP WITH WHAT THE RESIDENTS WOULD LIKE TO SEE IN THESE AREAS THAT ARE QUICKLY GROWING. NUMBER 12 WOULD BE AMENDING THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT CODE SECTION 232 .09, SECTION C TWO TO ADD THE SELLING SLASH CONVEYANCE CRITERIA TO THE LOT OF RECORD EXEMPTION TO LIMIT COLONIAL STYLE DEVELOPMENT, SO RIGHT NOW A LAND OWNER NEEDS TO SHOW PROOF OF WATER AND SEPTIC IN ORDER TO GET A CERTIFICATE OF COMPLIANCE FOR ELECTRICITY AND GAS, THIS EXEMPTION WOULD ALLOW THE OWNER TO DEVELOP AND LIVE UNDER LAW WITHOUT NECESSARILY HAVING TO DO THE POTABLE WATER.

AND. MICHAEL. GEORGE. YEAH. SORRY. GO AHEAD. REALLY QUICK, JUDGE, COMMISSIONERS, JUST TO ELABORATE A LITTLE ON NUMBER 12, WHAT WE'RE SEEING HERE IS CURRENTLY THERE IS AN EXEMPTION WITHIN THE COC LAW THAT ALLOWS A LANDOWNER TO NOT TO DEVELOP A PROPERTY WITHOUT WATER AND SEWER PROOF, WE ARE ARE LOOKING TO SEE IF WE CAN GET, A SELLING OR CONVEYANCE CRITERIA FOR WHEN THAT HAPPENED. SO IT'S ANYTHING BEFORE 1989, ANY, ANY SALE OR TRANSACTION BEFORE 1995? WE DON'T KNOW THAT THE LAW IS UNCLEAR WITH THAT. AND SO THAT IS WHAT THIS BILL WOULD BE DOING IS, IS STILL ALLOWING FOR THE EXEMPTION BECAUSE WHEN THE COC, LAW CAME INTO PLACE, THEY WANTED THIS EXEMPTION. BUT WE WANT TO SAY, WELL, THIS IS ONLY AN EXEMPTION FROM WHEN THE PAPER PLATS WERE FIRST DEVELOPED TO THE FIRST OWNER. AND NOT ANY ANYWHERE AFTER THAT. AND SO WE WANT THAT, MORE GUIDANCE IN THIS, IN THIS LAW TO, TO HELP US BETTER, BE ABLE TO ENFORCE THIS, THIS, ISSUE. WE HAVE IN THE, IN THE MAINLY THE PAPER PLATS, EVERYTHING IN THE EAST HORIZON AREA. CAN YOU GIVE US AN EXAMPLE LIKE OF A SITUATION THAT YOU'VE ACTUALLY SEEN? THIS WOULD SOLVE? SO WHAT COULD HAPPEN IS IF, LET'S SAY SOMEBODY CURRENTLY, BOUGHT IT WITHIN IN THE LAST TEN YEARS AND THEY COME TO THE, COUNTY AND ASK FOR A COC FOR ELECTRICITY. AND I USUALLY SAY, OKAY, WELL, WE NEED TO SEE YOUR WATER AND PROOF OF SEWER OR SEPTIC SYSTEM AND THEY COULD EASILY SAY THAT, OKAY. WELL, MY, MY LOT IS A LOT OF RECORD, AND SO I DON'T NEED TO ADHERE TO THAT, THAT SPECIFIC TITLE IN THE, IN THE COC CODE. AND SO THAT'S WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO, TO PREVENT AND TO BE HONEST WITH YOU, COMMISSIONER, THIS HASN'T HAPPENED YET. BUT WHEN WE WENT THROUGH OUR COC TRAINING THIS YEAR, WE FOUND THIS EXEMPTION AND WE'RE JUST TRYING TO GET AHEAD OF IT BEFORE IF ANYBODY WOULD WANT TO TRY IT OUT IN THE FUTURE, BECAUSE WE ARE NOTICING A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE STARTING TO DEVELOP A LOT OF THOSE, ABANDONED LOTS OUT THERE. AND SO THIS IS ONE ISSUE WHERE WHERE GILBERT, OUR DEVELOPMENT SERVICES MANAGER, FOUND AND WANTED TO TRY TO TACKLE BEFORE IT BECAME AN ISSUE FOR US. SO THE GOAL WOULD BE TO ALLOW THE EXEMPTION TO APPLY TO FUTURE OWNERS, NOT JUST THE ORIGINAL OWNERS. NO, NO, THE EXEMPTION WOULD ONLY BE FOR THE ORIGINAL OWNER. THE ONE THAT BOUGHT IT FROM THE DEVELOPER BACK IN THE 70S. THAT'S WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO CLEAR UP WITH. THE WITH THE DATES. THANK YOU, ANYONE THAT BOUGHT. I'M SORRY. GO AHEAD. I WAS GOING TO ELABORATE ON. SO IF GEORGIA MADE CLEAR. AND THAT'S WHY I KIND OF STOOD UP, SO THIS, THE EXEMPTION IS THAT IF YOU HAVE A LOT OF RECORDS, SOMETHING THAT'S PLATTED BEFORE 1989, YOU CAN YOU CAN GET A COC BECAUSE OF THAT, THAT DATE. AND SO REALLY IT OPENS UP ALL THE PAPER PLATS TO HABITATION. SO WE WANT THIS CHANGE IN THE LAW TO SPECIFY THAT THAT ONLY APPLIES TO THAT ORIGINAL OWNER BEFORE 1989 AND NOT ANY SUBSEQUENT OWNERS. YES.

OKAY. GOT IT. THANK YOU. WE BOUGHT THE PROPERTY AFTER JANUARY 1ST, 1990. THIS IS WHEN THIS WOULD APPLY, RIGHT? CORRECT. BUT THAT WAS MY UNDERSTANDING. YES. OKAY. THAT'S WHAT WE'RE GOING TO LOOK FOR. WE STILL NEED TO TALK TO COUNTY ATTORNEYS AND ALL THAT TO. OKAY MOVING ON TO NUMBER 13, THIS IS OUR SCRAP TIRE PROPOSAL THAT WE'RE NOT GIVING UP ON. I KNOW THAT LAST SESSION, WE SAW DIFFERENT APPROACHES, AND WE'RE TRYING TO GET CREATIVE ON WHAT WE CAN SUPPORT, WE SUPPORTED SOMETHING, BUT THIS IT WAS NOT, THE PERFECT ENFORCEMENT

[04:20:01]

MECHANISM FOR THE PROPER DISPOSAL OF SCRAP TIRES. AND WE ARE TRYING TO WORK WITH, VICE CHAIR MARY GONZALEZ TO SEE IF THERE'S ANY ROOM FOR AN APPROPRIATION REQUEST FOR, MACHINERY TO PROPERLY RECYCLE OR DISPOSE OF THESE TIRES, IN THE COUNTY SEEKING TO LEASE OR BUY OR DO SOMETHING. WE'VE HAD CONVERSATIONS WITH, STAKEHOLDERS AROUND THE COMMUNITY ACROSS THE BORDER AS WELL. AND SO, AGAIN, THIS IS NOT SOMETHING THAT THAT IS THAT WE HAVE LANGUAGE FOR PER SE. AND THAT'S WHY I'M PUTTING ON HERE THAT WE WANT TO ADD THIS AS A LEGISLATIVE VALUE STATEMENT, UNLESS OTHERWISE INDICATED, OF COURSE. AND UNLESS WE SEE LIKE A CLEAR PATH FORWARD TO MAKE THIS LIKE A PRIORITY THAT WE SPEARHEAD THROUGH OUR OWN, LIKE, LOBBY TEAM AND, AND DEPARTMENTS. BUT FOR NOW, WE'RE PUTTING IT AS A VALUE STATEMENT. IF, IF APPROVED. AND THEN NUMBER 14, AMENDING THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT CODE SECTION 232 .025 TO REQUIRE PARKLAND DEDICATION THROUGH OUR SUBDIVISION ORDER. AND THIS IS ANOTHER PROPOSAL BY OUR PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT, WHERE, CURRENTLY COUNTIES DO NOT HAVE THE AUTHORITY TO REQUIRE PARKS AS PART OF THEIR SUBDIVISION ORDERS UNLESS IT IS THROUGH A VARIANCE, AND AS WE KNOW, PARKS ARE ESSENTIAL PART OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD. SO WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO IS TO, YOU KNOW, THIS PUBLIC LANDS TO IMPROVE, QUALITY OF LIFE AND, AND JUST ALLOWING US TO, TO HAVE THAT REQUIREMENT BY AMENDING THE CODE ON HERE. AND I DON'T KNOW, AGAIN, GEORGE OR MICHAEL, IF YOU WANT TO ADD ANYTHING TO THIS ONE. THIS IS THE LAST ONE I HAVE FROM PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT.

OKAY. AND NO, SHE SHE COVERED IT, THOROUGHLY. THIS WOULD JUST PUT IT IN OUR ORDER. SO ANYTHING RIGHT NOW WITH OUR VARIANCE, WE HAVE A RULE THAT SAYS, OKAY, IF YOU IF YOU WANT TO DETER FROM ANY OF OUR, REGULATIONS, LIKE, NARROWER STREETS OR LESS, SQUARE FOOTAGE ON A LOT, YOU HAVE TO INPUT A PARK IF YOU'RE OVER 100, LOTS WITHIN YOUR SUBDIVISION. AND SO WE'RE LOOKING TO NOT HAVE THAT REQUIREMENT ANYMORE. ANY ANYTHING OVER 100 LOTS. WE WOULD LIKE TO START REQUIRING THAT THAT PARKLAND TO BE TO BE BUILT BY THE DEVELOPER OR AT THE VERY LEAST, MAYBE, PARK FEES IN LIEU OF DEVELOPMENT. OF COURSE, THAT WOULD BE UP TO THE COMMISSIONERS COURT. BUT THAT'S WHAT WE'RE SEEING HERE. SEEKING HERE. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU ALL. AND THEN THE LAST ONE, FROM NEW PROPOSALS, IT'S NUMBER 15, I THINK OUR AUDITOR HAVE HAS EXPLAINED THIS BEFORE IN PREVIOUS MEETINGS, BUT IT'S EXTENDING THE DEADLINE FOR THE CONTROLLER'S PAYMENT PAYMENT APPLICATION FOR LOCAL GOVERNMENTS THAT ARE DISPROPORTIONATELY AFFECTED BY THE DISABLED, VETERANS PROPERTY TAX EXEMPTION AND ALLOWING FOR THE TOTAL VALUE LOSS TO A SURVIVING SPOUSE OF A US ARMED SERVICES MEMBER THAT WAS KILLED IN THE LINE OF DUTY TO BE INCLUDED IN THAT CALCULATION. AND SO RIGHT NOW, IT'S NOT JUST US. I THINK IT'S OTHER LOCAL GOVERNMENTS THAT HAVE THE SAME FISCAL YEAR END OF DECEMBER 31ST. THAT IT'S NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE TO FILE ON TIME FOR THESE PAYMENTS. AND WHAT WE'RE ASKING IS THAT WE EXTEND THAT DEADLINE BY ONE MONTH SINCE MAKING IT APRIL 1ST, EXTENDING, TO MAY 1ST ON ON WHAT'S IN STATUTE RIGHT NOW TO ALLOW US TO QUALIFY AND THEN ALSO TO INCLUDE THE, THE SURVIVING SPOUSE, IN THAT CALCULATION. AND, BARBARA, I DON'T KNOW IF YOU WANT TO TALK MORE ABOUT THIS ONE. I KNOW, I JUST I WANT TO YES. BARBARA PARKER COUNTY AUDITOR. I'D WANTED TO CLARIFY, OUR FISCAL YEAR END IS 930. BUT IF YOU WERE A COUNTY AND YOU QUALIFIED FOR THIS EXEMPTION AND YOU'RE FISCAL YEAR END WAS 1231, THERE IS NO WAY YOU WOULD EVER BE ABLE TO MEET THIS DEADLINE CURRENTLY OF APRIL FIRST, OUR ISSUE HAS BEEN THAT WITH THE RECENT GATSBY CHANGES, WE HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO MEET THE DEADLINE. WE DIDN'T EVEN QUALIFY FOR THIS EXEMPTION UNTIL FISCAL YEAR 22, AND SO WE WERE NOT ABLE TO MEET THE DEADLINE FOR 22. WE DID MEET THE DEADLINE FOR FY 23 BASED ON DRAFT INFORMATION, WHICH THEY ACCEPTED, BUT THEY'RE NOT REQUIRED TO ACCEPT DRAFT INFORMATION THERE. THEY ACTUALLY REQUIRE THE ACTUAL ACT FOR STATEMENT, SO IT WOULD BE HELPFUL TO US TO HAVE THAT ADDITIONAL MONTH. BARBARA OKAY. AND WE ALREADY HAVE LANGUAGE.

THANK YOU, ERIC BAUER, ASSISTANT COUNTY ATTORNEY, FOR PROVIDING THAT LANGUAGE THAT WE'RE ALREADY SUBMITTING, TO SEE IF IT WOULD BE, DOABLE. AND IF SO, THEN IT WOULD BE A COUNTY LED INITIATIVE, AND THAT WE'RE HOPING THAT OUR DELEGATION WILL SUPPORT, IF I COULD LOOK DOWN THE NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE. AND I DON'T KNOW IF YOU WANT TO DO SEPARATE MOTIONS TO APPROVE

[04:25:03]

THIS, ALL THESE NEW ITEMS TOGETHER AND THEN THE REFILE ON A SEPARATE MOTION, OR IF YOU WANT TO DO JUST ONE MOTION TO APPROVE ALL OF THEM, ONE, ONE MOTION REAL, REAL QUICKLY ON THE ITEM NUMBER 17 ON ON THE VCF ITEM, I JUST WANTED TO, TO, TO BRING UP THAT, YOU KNOW, I KNOW THAT, THERE, YOU KNOW, IT'S TIED TO THE STATE CONSTITUTION AND IT REQUIRES, YOU KNOW, VA FUNDS TO BE SPENT ONLY ON ROADS. BUT I JUST WANTED TO, YOU KNOW, ADVOCATE FOR LOOKING INTO IF, YOU KNOW, WE MOVE FORWARD WITH THIS, SEEING IF THEY CAN BE USED TO FIX URBAN STREETS WHICH ARE IN DISREPAIR AND ALSO JUST GIVE DIRECTION TO STAFF THAT, WE SHOULD SEEK MAXIMUM FLEXIBILITY FOR USE, YOU KNOW, THE MAXIMUM POSSIBLE, JUST SO THAT, YOU KNOW, YOU KNOW, AGAIN, I KNOW THAT IT'S TIED TO THE STATE CONSTITUTION, BUT I BUT, YOU KNOW, I WISH THAT WE COULD USE IT FOR, OTHER COSTS THAT THAT ARE BROUGHT ABOUT BY VEHICLES LIKE AIR POLLUTION AND, AND, ANYTHING, YOU KNOW, ANYTHING THAT RELATES TO IMPACT OF VEHICLES AS WELL, NOT JUST ROADS THAT ARE, THAT ARE BEING DRIVEN ON. BUT I JUST KIND OF WANTED TO BRING THAT UP. AND, GIVE THAT DIRECTION TO STAFF, IF THAT'S POSSIBLE. HERE, SO AGAIN, GOING BACK TO THOSE. SO THERE'S ONLY THREE ITEMS THAT WE HAVE. THAT WE'RE CURRENTLY SEEKING TO REFILE FROM PREVIOUS AGENDAS. SO THE FIRST ONE WOULD BE THE SCARF LAW, I THINK WE'VE HEARD A LOT ABOUT THIS ONE IN PREVIOUS YEARS. CLOSING THE LOOPHOLE TO MAKE THE, OUR IT SYSTEM COMPLIANT WITH THE STATE LAW AND ALLOWING US TO COLLECT THOSE OUTSTANDING FEES, MR. GONZALEZ HAS DONE TREMENDOUS WORK ON THIS AND ALREADY HAS, BEEN ADDRESSING THE CONCERNS FROM SENATOR BLANCO THAT HE USED TO HAVE OR THAT HE BROUGHT UP LAST SESSION ABOUT NOT GOING AFTER PEOPLE THAT ARE, 200% OF THE FEDERAL POVERTY LINE, MAKING SURE THAT WE'RE NOT , YOU KNOW, PENALIZING PEOPLE THAT LIVE IN POVERTY THAT MIGHT BE LIVING IN THEIR CARS. AND SO WE, OR TAX ASSESSOR-COLLECTOR GONZALEZ, YOU KNOW, CHANGED THE LANGUAGE AND WE MADE SURE THAT WE INCLUDED THAT ON THE NEW, OR MODIFIED LANGUAGE FOR THIS LEGISLATION, WE'VE ALREADY ASKED , TRANSPORTATION CHAIRMAN TO LOOK INTO THIS. AND SO HE'S DOING A LOT OF THE LEGWORK THAT WILL BE REQUIRED FOR THIS PRIORITY IF, IF THE COURT DECIDES TO PUT THIS ON OUR AGENDA AGAIN AND, AND THEN THE NUMBER 17, THAT'S COMMISSIONER STOUT WAS SAYING THIS IS, A REFILE FROM PREVIOUS YEARS. WE I THINK WE MADE A LOT OF PROGRESS LAST SESSION WHEN IT PASSED OUT OF THE HOUSE AND, BEXAR COUNTY DID AN AMENDMENT ON THE FLOOR AND, YOU KNOW, TO BE INCLUDED IN THIS BILL, WHICH WAS EL PASO SPECIFIC, BUT THEN WITH THE BURKE COUNTY DELEGATION'S SUPPORT, THEY AMENDED THE LANGUAGE TO MAKE IT FOR BEAR AND EL PASO COUNTIES. AND, SO I THINK WITH MORE BROAD SUPPORT FROM THE BEGINNING, THIS TIME AROUND, WE MIGHT HAVE A BETTER CHANCE AT PASSING THIS. AND I WILL MAKE NOTES OF, WHAT COMMISSIONER SHARP WAS SAYING TO SEEKING THAT MAXIMUM FLEXIBILITY AND WORKING WITH STAFF TO, TO SEE WHAT WE CAN BE, WHAT CAN BE DONE WITH THESE FUNDS, IF THERE'S NO QUESTIONS, I'LL GO ON TO THE LAST ONE, THE LAST, CARRY OVER PROPOSAL OR REFILE, NUMBER 18, AND SORRY, THIS IS ANOTHER PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT, PROPOSAL. LAST TIME IT WAS FILED, BUT IT DIDN'T GET A HEARING. HOPEFULLY WE CAN GET MORE SUPPORT THIS TIME BEFORE SESSION STARTS TO GET THIS ON THE, YOU KNOW, TO GET THIS ONE GOING. SO IT WOULD BE INCREASING THE REQUIREMENT AND CONDITION TO, OBTAIN THE COX, OR ADDING LIKE ADEQUATE DRAINAGE ON, ON THIS, I MEAN ON THE CODE AND THIS WAS SENATE BILL 2542 FROM LAST SESSION. AND AGAIN, IT WOULD GIVE THE COUNTY ENFORCEMENT TO ENSURE DEVELOPERS OR HOMEBUILDERS BUILD THOSE ONSITE PONDS ON EACH LOT WHEN THE SUBDIVISION DOES NOT HAVE, LIKE A REGIONAL POND. I DON'T KNOW IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS ON ANY OF THESE ITEMS OR IF WE COULD, GET A MOTION TO ADD ALL THESE ITEMS AND THE CARRYOVERS FROM LAST SESSION TO OUR NEW 89TH LEGISLATIVE SESSION AGENDA. I THINK ON THE LAST SLIDE, I HAVE THE LANGUAGE FOR THE MOTION . TO GET THIS ON THE DRAFT AGENDA, CAN YOU GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE THAT HAS THE MOTION? SO WOULD BE A PROVEN ADOPT THE SUGGESTED CHANGES TO EL PASO

[04:30:06]

COUNTY'S 89TH LEGISLATIVE SESSION AGENDA, AS PRESENTED IN THE SLIDES TODAY, AND WITH THE COMMENTS THAT WERE MADE BY COMMISSIONER, COMMISSIONER STOUT, COMMISSIONER LEON. WE HAVE A MOTION FROM COMMISSIONER OLGUIN AND A SECOND BY JUDGE SAMANIEGO. SO THE VOTING IS OPEN . MOTION CARRIES. THANK YOU, THANK YOU, JUDGE. THANK YOU. COMMISSIONERS THANK YOU LISA.

GOOD JOB.

UP. QUALIFICATIONS HAVE BEEN DETERMINED BY THE HIRING AGENCY. THIS, WILL ALLOW IT TO BE, RELEVANT ONLY AFTER THEY HAVE MET THE MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS IN ESTABLISHING THE, OUR EL PASO PROMISE PROGRAM AND REENTRY PROGRAM, AND CJC AND SEVERAL OTHER OF OUR JUSTICE FOCUSED PARTNERS HAVE INDICATED THAT, THE NEED FOR THIS LEGISLATIVE ACTION. AND THERE'S SIGNIFICANT DIFFICULTY. WE KNOW THAT CERTAIN FOLKS BEING ABLE TO, GET ACCESS TO EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES. AND CURRENTLY 37 STATES AT THIS TIME HAVE THESE SIMILAR KINDS OF POLICIES, INCLUDE MANY OF THE CITIES AND, AND COUNTIES AND WE HAD ASKED THAT WE ADD THIS TO OUR LEGISLATIVE, I GUESS, SO TO SPEAK, THAT THIS WOULD BE OUR, OUR VALUE STATEMENT, FOR THE COUNTY. AND I KNOW WE'VE SPOKEN TO ELISA ABOUT THIS, I'D ASK THAT THAT WE ADD THIS AS A POLICY STATEMENT OF OUR VALUES.

COMMISSIONER I THINK WE RECEIVED IT AFTER I SUBMITTED THE PRESENTATION AFTER THE DEADLINE FOR POSTING, SO I APOLOGIZE. I WAS PLANNING ON BRINGING THIS ON OUR NEXT, PRESENTATION. WE'RE NOT DONE WITH THESE ITEMS PROBABLY UNTIL, JUNE 21ST WHEN WE HAVE A DEADLINE FROM OUR DELEGATION TO GIVE THEM A DRAFT. BUT WE CAN ADD ITEMS, YOU KNOW, ALL THE WAY UNTIL NOVEMBER. I WOULD SAY WE CAN ADD IT TODAY OR IN THE NEXT MEETING. OKAY. AND THAT WOULD ALLOW US ALSO BECAUSE THERE ARE THERE'S ALREADY SOME LAWS THAT HELP HELP ADDRESS THIS. AND WE CAN MAKE SURE THAT WE CRAFT THE LANGUAGE TO BE WHAT THE GAPS ARE. OKAY, GOOD. AS LONG AS WE'RE LOOKING AT THAT.

I'LL BRING IT BACK IN THE NEXT PRESENTATION. COMMISSIONER, UNLESS YOU WANT TO MAKE THE MOTION TODAY TO ADD THIS VALUE STATEMENT TODAY. OR SHOULD WE WORK ON THE LANGUAGE? BETSY? PROBABLY. RIGHT. I WORK WITH WORKING ON THE LANGUAGE AND THEN BRING IT BACK. OKAY. WELL, THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER, LISA, HAVE A WONDERFUL DAY. THANK YOU. YOU TOO. OKAY.

OKAY. THIS BRINGS US TO ITEM 11, A FROM PUBLIC WORKS PURSUANT TO TEXAS TRANSPORTATION CODE SECTION 251. 013D HOLD A PUBLIC HEARING REGARDING THE RENAMING OF A PORTION OF FOURTH STREET TO

[A. Pursuant to Texas Transportation Code Section 251.013(d), hold a public hearing regarding the renaming of a portion of 4th Street to PFC. Fernando Gutierrez Street in the unincorporated area of Fabens, Texas. (OP-1554 & OP-22-0072) (CC Precinct 3) Michael McElroy, Director, Planning and Development, 915-273-3330]

PRIVATE FIRST CLASS FERNANDO GUTIERREZ STREET IN THE UNINCORPORATED AREA OF FABENS, TEXAS. OPINION NUMBER 1554 AND OPINION 22-0072. COULD WE PLEASE HAVE A MOTION TO OPEN A PUBLIC HEARING? A MOTION FROM COMMISSIONER OLGUIN AND A SECOND FROM THE JUDGE. VOTING IS OPEN. AND MOTION CARRIES. THE PUBLIC HEARING IS OPEN. THANK YOU, THANK YOU. CESAR. GOOD AFTERNOON , JUDGE AND COMMISSIONERS. JORGE REYES, ASSISTANT PLANNER WITH, PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT, TODAY WE'RE HAVING A PUBLIC HEARING ON THE NAME CHANGE OF FOURTH, FOURTH NORTHEAST STREET TO PRIVATE FIRST CLASS FERNANDO GUTIERREZ STREET, PROVIDE A VERY BRIEF, STAFF REPORT, SIMILAR TO THE INFORMATION THAT WAS PRESENTED BY COMMISSIONER HOGAN ON ON THE MAY 13TH MEETING. AND THEN WE'LL OPEN UP FOR PUBLIC COMMENT. ONCE PUBLIC COMMENT IS DONE, THEN WE'LL CLOSE OUT THE PUBLIC HEARING AND HAVE A DISCUSSION AND VOTE ON THE ON THE ITEM. I THINK WE HAVE THE PRESENTATION BACK UP. THANK YOU. AND SO THE COMMUNITY I REACHED

[04:35:15]

OUT TO COMMISSIONER HOGAN'S OFFICE FOR THIS REQUEST, THEY WANTED TO HONOR ONE OF THE FABENS VETERANS BY RENAMING A PORTION OF FOURTH STREET, THAT'S RIGHT NEXT TO FABENS VETERANS PARK, WHICH IS, THAT GREEN LINE IS THE CURRENT FOURTH STREET, AND THEN FABENS VETERANS PARK IS TO THE TO THE RIGHT OF THAT. AND, THE NAME CHANGE WILL HAPPEN FROM, G AVENUE. ON THE NORTH ALL THE WAY DOWN TO THE NORTHEAST, CAMP STREET ON, IN THE SOUTH. CURRENTLY, THIS ONLY AFFECTS TWO LOTS FOR FABENS ISD THERE. EARLY COLLEGE AS WELL AS THEIR THEIR PUBLIC LIBRARY THEY HAVE THERE AND, WE SENT OUT CERTIFIED MAIL ON MAY 14TH TO THE ISD, AND WE RECEIVED BACK CONFIRMATION THAT THEY DID RECEIVE THAT, THAT, THAT NOTICE THAT WE SENT TO THEM. AND WE HAVEN'T RECEIVED ANY PUBLIC COMMENT, FOR THAT, AT LEAST OUR DEPARTMENT HAS NOT, SO THIS CONCLUDES THE STAFF REPORT.

AND I'LL NOW OPEN IT UP FOR PUBLIC COMMENT. WE HAVE NOBODY SIGNED UP FOR PUBLIC COMMENT. IS THERE ANYBODY ELSE IN THE AUDIENCE? I JUST WANT TO MENTION THAT THE ISD WAS VERY SUPPORTIVE OF THE NAME CHANGE. THEY DON'T ACTUALLY RECEIVE MAIL AT EITHER OF THOSE TWO PROPERTIES, SO IT WASN'T GOING TO AFFECT THEM. AND JUST TO MAKE THE COMMENT, AND TO SAY THANK YOU BOTH TO GEORGE AND TO MICHAEL AND EVERYONE IN OUR PLANNING STAFF, THE COMMUNITY OF FABENS WAS VERY APPRECIATIVE OF THIS EFFORT. SO I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR OUR COUNTY STAFF KNOWS THAT THEIR HARD WORK IS VERY MUCH APPRECIATED BY THE COMMUNITY. THANK YOU. COMMISSIONER WITH NO PUBLIC COMMENT, CAN I GET A MOTION TO CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING? WE HAVE A MOTION FROM JUDGE SAMANIEGO, A SECOND FROM COMMISSIONER OLGUIN. THE VOTING IS OPEN AND THE MOTION CARRIES.

ITEM NUMBER 11 B, PURSUANT TO TEXAS TRANSPORTATION CODE SECTION 251. 013D, DISCUSS AND TAKE APPROPRIATE ACTION REGARDING THE RENAMING OF A PORTION OF FOURTH STREET NORTHEAST STREET TO PRIVATE FIRST CLASS FERNANDO GUTIERREZ STREET IN THE UNINCORPORATED

[B. Pursuant to Texas Transportation Code Section 251.013(d), discuss and take appropriate action regarding the renaming of a portion of 4th NE Street to PFC. Fernando Gutierrez Street in the unincorporated area of Fabens, Texas. (OP-1554 & OP-22-0072) (CC Precinct 3) Michael McElroy, Director, Planning and Development, 915-273-3330]

UNINCORPORATED AREA OF FABENS, TEXAS. OPINION NUMBER ONE FIVE, FIVE, FOUR AND OPINION 22-0072.

OKAY JUDGE AND COMMISSIONERS, THE, THE RECOMMENDED MOTION IS TO APPROVE THE RENAMING OF FOURTH NORTHEAST STREET TO, PFC FERNANDO GUTIERREZ STREET IN THE UNINCORPORATED AREA OF FABENS, TEXAS, PURSUANT TO TEXAS TRANSPORTATION CODE SECTION 251. 013D. YOU HAVE A MOTION FROM COMMISSIONER OLGUIN AND A SECOND FROM COMMISSIONER CORONADO. VOTING IS OPEN AND THE MOTION CARRIES. ITEM NUMBER 11. C PURSUING TO TEXAS TRANSPORTATION CODE SECTION 251. 013D HOLD A PUBLIC HEARING REGARDING THE RENAMING OF A PORTION OF FIFTH STREET TO WILDCAT NATION STREET IN THE UNINCORPORATED AREA OF FABENS, TEXAS. OPINION 1554 AND OPINION

[C. Pursuant to Texas Transportation Code Section 251.013(d), hold a public hearing regarding the renaming of a portion of 5th Street to Wildcat Nation Street in the unincorporated area of Fabens, Texas. (OP-1554 & OP-22-0072) (CC Precinct 3) Michael McElroy, Director, Planning and Development, 915-273-3330]

220072. WE HAVE A MOTION, PLEASE, TO OPEN A PUBLIC HEARING . A MOTION FROM COMMISSIONER OLGUIN AND A SECOND FROM JUDGE SAMANIEGO. VOTING IS OPEN. AND THE MOTION CARRIES. OKAY. THIS IS THE SECOND ONE. THIS IS THE NAME CHANGE FOR FIFTH NORTHEAST STREET TO WILDCAT NATION STREET.

LIKE I SAID, THERE'LL BE NO LOTS AFFECTED, BUT WE STILL, SENT OUT A NOTICE TO FABENS ISD JUST

[04:40:03]

BECAUSE IT ABUTS THEIR, THEIR LAND. AND, WE DID RECEIVE THAT. THEY DID RECEIVE THAT, THAT NOTICE, THIS CONCLUDES THE STAFF REPORT, I'LL NOW OPEN IT UP FOR PUBLIC COMMENTS. DO WE HAVE ANYBODY IN THE AUDIENCE JUST ONCE AGAIN, TO THANK MICHAEL AND GEORGE AND EVERYONE AT PLANNING FOR ALL OF THEIR HARD WORK, AGAIN, THIS IS SOMETHING THAT THE COMMUNITY HAD REQUESTED AND WAS VERY, VERY EXCITED, THAT THANKS TO YOUR WORK THAT IT CAN BE DONE. WE HAVE A MOTION FROM COMMISSIONER OLGUIN AND A SECOND FROM COMMISSIONER LEON. CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING. THE VOTING IS OPEN. MOTION CARRIES. ITEM NUMBER 11. D, PURSUANT TO TEXAS TRANSPORTATION CODE SECTION 251.

013D, DISCUSS AND TAKE APPROPRIATE ACTION REGARDING THE RENAMING OF A PORTION OF FIFTH NORTHEAST STREET TO WILDCAT NATION STREET IN THE UNINCORPORATED AREA OF FABENS,

[D. Pursuant to Texas Transportation Code Section 251.013(d), discuss and take appropriate action regarding the renaming of a portion of 5th NE Street to Wildcat Nation Street in the unincorporated area of Fabens, Texas. (OP-1554 & OP-22-0072) (CC Precinct 3) Michael McElroy, Director, Planning and Development, 915-273-3330]

TEXAS. OPINION NUMBER 15554 AND OPINION NUMBER 22-0072. IF THERE ARE NO QUESTIONS, THE RECOMMENDED MOTION WILL BE APPROVED. THE RENAMING OF FIFTH NORTHEAST STREET TO WILDCAT NATION STREET IN THE UNINCORPORATED AREA OF FABENS, TEXAS, PURSUANT TO TEXAS TRANSPORTATION CODE SECTION 251. 013D. WE HAVE A MOTION FROM COMMISSIONER OLGUIN AND A SECOND FROM THE JUDGE VOTING IS OPEN. MOTION CARRIES. THANK YOU ALL. HAVE A GOOD DAY. THANK YOU.

GREAT JOB. ITEM NUMBER 11 E. WE DO HAVE A CORRECTION TO READ IN FOR THE PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT. THE ITEM SHOULD READ, GRANT, AWARD, APPROVE AND AUTHORIZE THE COUNTY JUDGE TO SIGN THE ADVANCE FUNDING AGREEMENT WITH THE TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION FOR THE TRANSPORTATION ALTERNATIVES SET ASIDE PROGRAM PROJECT UTILIZING TRANSPORTATION DEVELOPMENT CREDITS. THIS TXDOT SELECTED OFF SYSTEM PROJECT IS FOR THE ENGINEERING, DESIGN, CONSTRUCTION, AND OVERSIGHT AND ADMINISTRATION OF THE ALAMO ALTO SEGMENT. PASO DEL NORTE TRAIL PHASE THREE PROJECT. IN THE AMOUNT OF $10,479,794 TO BE REIMBURSED 100% BY TXDOT CONTRACT NUMBER 2024 0399. GOOD MORNING. WELL, AFTERNOON, COMMISSIONERS GEORGE, MY NAME IS DANIEL MARQUEZ, TRANSPORTATION ENGINEER AND I THINK THERE SHOULD BE A PRESENTATION. WELL JUST GENERAL INFORMATION. THERE ARE TWO ITEMS. THERE ARE TOGETHER, THE COUNTY RECEIVE AN AWARD FROM TEXAS FOR THE TRANSPORTATION ALTERNATIVES PROGRAM FOR THE CONSTRUCTION AND DESIGN OF THE PDM TRIAL PHASE THREE, AS WELL ON THE CONSTRUCTION AND DESIGN OF THE HOMESTEAD MILLS PROJECT. I'M CONFIRMING WITH IT. RIGHT. CAN YOU SEE THE SCREEN IN FRONT OF YOU? OKAY, GENERAL INFORMATION. THE COUNTY HASN'T MENTIONED. WE RECEIVED AN AWARD FROM TEXAS TRANSPORTATION ALTERNATIVES PROGRAM TO COMPLETE A SEGMENT OF ALMOST FOUR MILES TO CONNECT THE FABENS COMMUNITY AND THE TORNILLO COMMUNITY AS PART OF THE PASO DEL NORTE HEALTH FOUNDATION PROGRAM AT. THIS DATES BACK TO REPORT THAT WAS COMPLETED AND SUBMITTED TO THE MPO A FEW YEARS AGO TO DO A 68 MILE TRAIL FROM ANTHONY ALL THE WAY TO TORNILLO. PRETTY MUCH FROM COUNTY, PRETTY MUCH COUNTY WIDE PROJECT. THE PROJECT TODAY IN FRONT OF YOU IS JUST TO DISCUSS THE WORK FROM THE FROM TEXAS TO THE COUNTY TO COMPLETE THIS SEGMENT. THIS THE MSA IN FRONT OF YOU SHOWS THAT THE COUNTY HAVE ALREADY SECURED FUNDING FOR PHASE ONE AND PHASE TWO. BOTH PROJECTS ARE CURRENTLY UNDER DESIGN AND HOPEFULLY WE WILL BE BEGIN CONSTRUCTION NEXT YEAR. OVERALL, AS I MENTIONED, WAS COMPLETED GOING FROM FABENS ALL THE WAY TO TORNILLO. THAT WILL BE A 7.3 MILE SPUR ROAD, APD AND TRAIL SEGMENT IN ADDITION TO THE 2.5 MILES THAT WE HAVE ALREADY COMPLETED IN THE PAST. AS PART OF THE TORNILLO CHURCH'S PATH PROJECT, THE IMAGE IN FRONT OF YOU SHOWS A GENERAL INFORMATION HOW THE TYPICAL SECTION WILL BE. THIS PROJECT IS, FOR THE MOST PART, LOCATED ALONG ALAMEDA, SO WE ARE EXPECTING TO DO SOME ADDITIONAL INFRASTRUCTURE IMPROVEMENTS FOR COUNTY SAFETY. INFRASTRUCTURE,

[04:45:05]

BECAUSE HOW CLOSE WE ARE TO THE ROADWAY, WHERE WE STILL FEEL COMFORTABLE THAT WE ARE GOING TO HAVE THE ROADWAY REQUIRED FOR THE PROJECT, AND THAT IS BASED ON FIELDING INSPECTIONS, RIGHT NOW THE PROJECT IS GOING TO BE 12FT WIDE. ILLUMINATION, LANDSCAPING, ALL THOSE PEDESTRIAN AMENITIES TO MAKE IT A REALLY EXCELLENT TRAIL. AND I'M NOT SURE YOU HAVE SEEN THE OPPORTUNITY TO VISIT THE ONE ON TORNILLO. WE ARE PRETTY MUCH DOING THE SAME. ENGINEERING COMPONENTS FROM THAT PROJECT TO THIS PROJECT. THE IMAGE IN FRONT OF YOU, AS I MENTIONED, THIS IS PART OF THE BIGGER SEGMENT OF TRAILS CONNECTING ALL THE WAY FROM ANTHONY ALL THE WAY TO TORNILLO. ONCE WE COMPLETE THIS SEGMENT, THE COUNTY WILL HAVE, I WILL SAY, FOR THE MOST PART, COMPLETE A REALLY GOOD SEGMENT OF THE PROJECT. AT THIS MOMENT, 20 MILES HAVE BEEN COMPLETED. WE ARE TARGETING TO COMPLETE ANOTHER 20 MILES IN COORDINATION WITH EL PASO HEALTH FOUNDATION, TEXAS CITY OF EL PASO AND ADDITIONAL MUNICIPALITIES. THE JUST SOMETHING REALLY IMPORTANT.

AND JUST ONE SIDE NOTE FOR THE ALAMO TRAIL SEGMENT, I'M NOT SURE YOU KNOW, THAT WE HAVE A STATE CHAMPIONS ON THE TORNILLO FROM THE TORNILLO INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT WHO CURRENTLY ARE UTILIZING THE TRAIL ON TORNILLO, AND THE INTENT IS TO ALSO BUILD THIS SEGMENT FOR OLDER ATHLETES. THE NEXT PROJECT IS LOCATED ON THE HOMESTEAD MEADOWS COMMUNITY. THIS WILL BE THE FIRST PROJECT OR THIS CATEGORY I BELIEVE THAT'S IN THE NEXT ITEM. DID YOU READ THEM BOTH IN CESAR, SURE. JUST A SECOND. SORRY. JUST SO WE CAN HAVE ON BOTH ENDS SO YOU CAN COVER THEM BOTH. THANK YOU. ITEM 11, F GRANT AWARD. APPROVE AND AUTHORIZE THE COUNTY JUDGE TO SIGN THE ADVANCED FUNDING AGREEMENT WITH THE TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION FOR THE TRANSPORTATION ALTERNATIVES SET ASIDE PROGRAM PROJECT UTILIZING TRANSPORTATION

[E. GRANT AWARD - Approve and authorize the County Judge to sign the Advance Funding Agreement (AFA) with the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) for the Transportation Alternatives Set-Aside (TASA) Program Project, utilizing Transportation Development Credits (TDC). This TxDOT-selected off-system project is for the engineering design, construction, oversight, and administration of the Alamo Alto Segment PDN-Trail Phase 3 project (CSJ. No. 0924-06-731) in the amount of $10,479,74 to be reimbursed 100% by TxDOT. (Contract No. 2024-0399) Michael McElroy, Director, Planning and Development, 915-273-3330]

DEVELOPMENT CREDITS. TXDOT SELECTED OFF SYSTEM PROJECT IS FOR THE ENGINEERING DESIGN,

[F. GRANT AWARD - Approve and authorize the County Judge to sign the Advance Funding Agreement (AFA) with the Texas Deparment of Transportation (TXDOT) for the Transportation Alternatives Set-Aside (TASA) Program Project, Utilizing Transportation Development Credits (TDC) TxDOT-Selected Off-System, project is for the engineering design, construction, oversight and administration of the Homestead Meadows (CSJ. No. 0924-06-727) in the amount of $5,634,702 to be reimbursed 100% by TxDOT. (Contract No. 2024-0398) Michael McElroy, Director, Planning and Development, 915-273-3330]

CONSTRUCTION, OVERSIGHT, AND ADMINISTRATION OF THE HOMESTEAD MEADOWS IN THE AMOUNT OF $5,634,702 TO BE REIMBURSED 100% BY TXDOT CONTRACT NUMBER 2024 0398. THANK YOU. THIS IS OUR PROJECT. WE HAVE TO GO HAND IN HAND. IT WAS A SINGLE WORD, BUT TECHNICALLY WE HAVE TWO CONTRACTS. THE SECOND PROJECT IS A COMMUNITY. THIS IS THE FIRST OF THIS KIND ON THIS COMMUNITY, ON ON SUNSET MEADOWS. WE ARE PLANNING TO BUILD TRAILS AS WELL. SIDEWALLS, THE PORTION THAT YOU SEE ON GREG, IT WILL BE 100% 12FT. SHORTEST PATH CONNECTING AND EXISTING TRAIL ALONG ASHMEAD ROAD ALL THE WAY TO ASCENSION, GREG, BASED ON THE FUNDING AVAILABLE, WE WERE. WE ARE GOING TO BUILD 60% CHURCHES, PART 12FT WIDE AND THE REST WILL BE SIDE WALLS. HOPEFULLY WE SECURE ADDITIONAL FUNDING OR SOME SAVINGS ON CONSTRUCTION. WE CAN BUILD IT 12FT WIDE THROUGHOUT THE GREG SEGMENT ON SANTISTEVAN. IT WILL BE JUST SIDE WALLS, IN FRONT OF YOU.

I'VE GOT A QUICK QUESTION. SORRY TO INTERRUPT, DO YOU HAVE A TIMELINE ON THIS? AND IN RESPECT TO EL PASO WATER GOING IN THEIR LANE, SOME OF THEIR UTILITY, DOES THAT MEAN THAT THEY WOULD ACTUALLY HAVE TO CUT, ONCE OUR, OUR PROJECT IS COMPLETED, OR ARE YOU WORKING WITH THEM TO AVOID THAT? THIS PROJECT. WE JUST GOT AWARD ONCE WE BEGIN THE DESIGN PHASE, ONE OF THE MAIN THINGS THAT OUR CONSULTANTS DO IS WE COORDINATE ALL THOSE MEANS WITH THE UTILITY COMPANIES IN THAT AREA. OUR TIMELINE FOR THIS PROJECT IS TO BEGIN CONSTRUCTION ALREADY ON JUNE, JULY, AND HOPEFULLY ADVERTISE A PROJECT BASED ON THE SCHEDULE FROM TEXAS , JULY NEXT YEAR, IF POSSIBLE, EVEN ON MAY BY EL PASO, OUR UTILITIES WERE TO HAVE A PROJECT WE WILL WORK WITH THEM TO THE POINT THAT WE CAN AIR PHASE OUR PROJECT. IF THEY WERE GOING TO BE FIRST ON US, OR JUST PRETTY MUCH LEAVE THE SEGMENT UNDERSTANDING THAT THEY WILL BE DOING THEIR PORTION FOR US. SO IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE WILL BE WORKING WITH THEM ON THE NEXT MONTHS. SO WHAT YOU'RE SAYING IS INITIALLY WE WOULD LEAVE, LET THEM GO IN FIRST NUMBER ONE, IF THEY'RE GOING TO CUT ACROSS.

EXACTLY. AND NUMBER TWO, LEAVE A SECTION UNFINISHED UNTIL THEY DO THAT. YES. BECAUSE THEN THEN IT WILL BE ENOUGH FOR US TO FILL A SEGMENT OF IT THROUGH ALL THE WAY IN THE NEXT FIVE MONTHS, FOR EXAMPLE, THEY WILL HAVE TO TEAR APART SO IT WILL WORK SOMETHING PRETTY MUCH ON PAPER, BECAUSE I KNOW THAT THEY WILL STILL HAVE TO COMPLETE A SMALL SEGMENT, BUT THAT WILL BE THE RESPONSIBILITY OF EL PASO WATER IF IT'S GOING TO BE INTERFERING WITH YOUR PROJECT. BECAUSE ALL OTHER PROJECTS WE ARE DOING ALWAYS, FOR THE MOST PART, WITHIN THAT RIGHT OF WAY OR THE PROPERTY. SO PRETTY MUCH WE ARE NOT NEXT TO THE ROADWAY. WE ARE NEXT TO THE I WILL SAY IT'S CONSIDERED A SHOULDER OR PATHWAY TO PRETTY MUCH AVOID MANY OTHER UTILITIES ON THAT AREA. SO I JUST WANT TO

[04:50:02]

UNDERSTAND THAT IN MY OWN MIND, WHEN YOU SAY WE WILL NOT COMPLETE A CERTAIN SECTION SO THEY CAN GO AHEAD AND LAY THEIR PIPE, DOES THAT MEAN THAT THE ROAD WILL REMAIN, YOU CANNOT TRAVEL ON IT UNTIL THAT'S COMPLETED? YOU CAN. WELL, IF THERE IS AN OPEN TRENCH, THEY ARE GOING TO TEAR APART THE ROADWAY FOR THE PROJECT. YES. UNFORTUNATELY WE WILL HAVE TO CLOSE A SEGMENT UNTIL THE COMPLETE THE IMPROVEMENTS FOR OUR PROJECT. WE WERE TO LEAVE ANY SEGMENT UNCOMPLETED BECAUSE WE ARE EXPECTING FOR THEM TO VIEW ALL THE. BUT IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE WILL HAVE TO WORK WITH THEM BECAUSE IF THERE'S A SEGMENT THAT ARE ANTICIPATING TO BUILD FIRST, THEN WE CAN JUST PUSH OUR PROJECT 1 OR 2 PHASES SO THEY CAN FINALIZE THEIR IMPROVEMENTS, AND THEN WE CAN COME AFTER SIMILAR TO WHAT WE ARE DOING ON JOHN HAYES WHEN THEY ARE INSTALLING THE WATERLINES SEGMENT. AND THEN WE ARE GOING TO VIEW OUR ROADWAY ON TOP. OKAY. I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU ARE IN FACT WORKING WITH ALL THE UTILITIES TO MAKE SURE WE DON'T HAVE TO GO IN THERE AND CUT NO. YES. WE USUALLY WE COORDINATE WITH EL PASO ELECTRIC TEXAS GAS, EL PASO WATER UTILITIES AND ADDITIONAL COMMUNICATION LINES BECAUSE SOMETIMES THEY PREFER, FOR EXAMPLE, ANY COMMUNICATION LINE, THEY PREFER TO BE WITHIN THE PARKWAY. WHEN THE TRAIL, MAJOR UTILITIES THEY LIKE TO BE WITHIN. I WILL SAY UNDER THE ROADWAY, SIMILAR TO EL PASO WATER. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, THE IMAGE IN FRONT OF YOU SHOWS THE IMPROVEMENTS THAT WE ARE DOING FOR STREET. IT WILL DEFER, EXCHANGES. AS I MENTIONED, SOME WILL HAVE A FULL TRAIL. AND ANOTHER ONE, A COMBINATION OF TRAIL AND SIDEWALLS. SIMILAR TO THE TYPICAL SECTION. BEFORE WE ARE ANTICIPATING TO BUILD A ROADWAY WITHIN THE PROPERTY LINE, WE ARE INTERFERING IN THE ACTUAL ROADWAY, BUT AT THE SAME TIME TO HAVE PRETTY MUCH TO UTILIZE ON USE LAND AT THIS MOMENT. THE IMAGE IN FRONT OF YOU IS JUST COMPLETED PROJECTS.

THIS WAS THE FIRST ONE. THIS IS A TORNILLO, SHARED USE PATH THAT WAS COMPLETED BACK IN 2022. IT WAS 2.5 MILES. AND FUNNY STORY IS THAT IF YOU GO TO ANY GIVEN DAY ON THE AFTERNOON RIGHT NOW IN SUMMER, YOU CAN SEE EASILY 100 PEOPLE UTILIZING THE TRAIL. THEY ARE ALSO UTILIZING THE TRAIL ON THE MORNING. SO WHEN WE WERE BUILDING THE TRAIL, THE PICTURES WE TOOK WERE DOING CONSTRUCTION, SO THERE WERE ALREADY MANY USERS UTILIZING THE TRAIL, WHICH IS REALLY WHERE THAT IS WHAT WE'RE EXPECTING FOR BOTH PROJECTS. AND THIS IS ANOTHER, TRAIL SEGMENT THAT WAS COMPLETED ON THE NEXT PART. THIS IS PLAYA TRAIN TRAIL, AND PRETTY MUCH WE ARE UTILIZING THE SAME AMENITIES THAT THEY HAVE AND SOME ADDITIONAL THINGS THAT WE HAVE LEARNED THROUGH THE YEARS TO MAKE THIS A REALLY, I WILL SAY, USER FRIENDLY TRAIL WITHOUT, I'M NOT SURE IF THERE ARE ANY QUESTIONS WITH YOUR CONCURRENCE, WE WOULD LIKE TO ASK FOR, APPROVE OR THIS BOTH ITEMS TO GO TO SECURE THE FUNDING AND THEN MOVE TO THE DESIGN PHASE OF THE PROJECT.

WELL, WE ALREADY HAD THE FUNDING ISSUES TO MAKE A FORMAL. AND DANIEL, I JUST WANT TO THANK YOU FOR ALL OF THE INCREDIBLE AMOUNT OF WORK THAT YOU DO. I KNOW HOW HARD IT IS HAVING TO WORK WITH SO MANY OTHER ENTITIES. TECH START THE IRRIGATION DISTRICT, THE UTILITIES. SO I KNOW IT'S A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF WORK FOR YOU, BUT PLEASE KNOW THAT OUR RESIDENTS GREATLY APPRECIATE IT.

THEY LOVE THESE TRAILS AND LIKE YOU SAY, THEY COME OUT AND THEY REALLY DO USE THEM. SO THANK YOU FOR ALL OF YOUR WORK. THANK YOU. COMMISSIONER QUESTIONS. TWO SEPARATE MOTIONS. IT WILL BE TWO SEPARATE MOTIONS. SO WE JUST NEED TO RECORD EACH ONE SECOND. IT DOES SAY IT SAYS APPROVE ITEMS 11 E AND 11 F. IS THAT OKAY. PERFECT. ALL RIGHT. WE HAVE A MOTION FROM COMMISSIONER OLGUIN, A SECOND FROM JUDGE SAMANIEGO. AND THE MOTION CARRIES. THANK YOU. AT THIS TIME, COMMISSIONERS COURT WILL RECESS INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION TO DISCUSS ITEMS 12 A THROUGH 12 G.

AND ADDENDUM 14 A AND ITEM FOUR M FROM CONSENT PURSUANT TO TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE SECTION 551.071551.07655, 1.074 AND 551.0725. COMMISSIONERS COURT WILL RECONVENE TO TAKE OFFICIAL ACTION.

[04:58:06]

IT'S IMPORTANT FOR YOUR CHILDREN TO STAY CURRENT ON ALL THEIR ROUTINE VACCINES. ALSO CHILDREN FIVE AND OLDER ARE NOT ELIGIBLE FOR THE COVID 19 VACCINE. I'M CURRENT AND ALL MY VACCINES AND I ALSO GET THE COVID VACCINE. SO I AND MY LOVED ONES CAN BE PROTECTED. YOU AND YOUR KIDS SHOULD GET THE VACCINE TOO. AND IF YOU'VE ALREADY GOTTEN THE VACCINE, YOU SHOULD GET YOUR BOOSTER FOR YOUR CHILD'S ROUTINE VACCINES, VISIT EPI HEALTH.COM. WE KNOW HOW MUCH YOU LOVE YOUR CHILDREN, SO REMEMBER, DON'T HESITATE. VACCINATE AS IMPORTANT SUS HIJOS TENGAN TODAS SUS VACUNAS. ADEMAS DE LA VACUNA SALTENAS LOS NINOS DE CINCO ANOS, AHORA SON ELEGIBLES PARA LA VACUNA DE COVID 19. LA VACUNA COVID ES GRATIS PARA LAS VACUNAS RUTINAS DE SUS HIJOS. VISITA EP HEALTH.COM SABEMOS CUANTO AMASA TUS HIJOS, ASI RECUERDA NO LO DUDES VACCINATE.

THE EL PASO COUNTY ELECTIONS DEPARTMENT WANTS YOU TO KNOW HOW QUICK AND EASY IT IS TO VOTE.

OUR ELECTIONS ARE SAFER AND MORE SECURE THAN EVER. AFTER BEING CHECKED IN, YOU WILL RECEIVE AN ACTIVATION CARD. NOW, ALL YOU HAVE TO REMEMBER IS THAT YOU'RE DONE IN FOUR AND YOU'RE OUT THE DOOR FIRST. IN THIRD. THE ACTIVATION CARD INTO THE VOTING MACHINE. SECOND, MAKE YOUR SELECTIONS USING THE TOUCH SCREEN OR AUDIO TACTILE KEYPAD. THIRD, PRINT AND REVIEW YOUR CHOICES. IF YOU SEE A MISTAKE OR YOU CHANGE YOUR MIND ABOUT A CHOICE, TELL AN ELECTION WORKER

[05:00:02]

YOU CAN CORRECT YOUR BALLOT UP TO TWO MORE TIMES SO THAT IT IS EXACTLY THE WAY YOU WANT IT.

STEP NUMBER FOUR YOUR VOTE IS OFFICIALLY CAST WHEN YOU INSERT YOUR REVIEWED BALLOT INTO THE BALLOT SCANNER. WHEN THE SCREEN DISPLAYS THE AMERICAN FLAG THAT INDICATES YOUR BALLOT WAS SCANNED AND YOUR VOTE HAS BEEN COUNTED. REMEMBER THAT VOTERS IN EL PASO COUNTY ARE ELIGIBLE TO VOTE AT ANY POLLING LOCATION DURING THEIR EARLY VOTING PERIOD OR ON ELECTION DAY FOR MORE INFORMATION OR TO FIND YOUR CLOSEST POLLING LOCATION, PLEASE VISIT EP COUNTY VOTES.COM. IF A VOTER IS PHYSICALLY UNABLE TO ENTER THE POLLING PLACE WITHOUT ASSISTANCE OR LIKELIHOOD OF INJURY TO HIS OR HER HEALTH, THEY MAY ASK THAT AN ELECTION WORKER BRING A VOTING MACHINE DURING THE EARLY VOTING PERIOD OR ON ELECTION DAY, TO THE ENTRANCE OF THE POLLING PLACE, AND CAST THEIR VOTE FROM THEIR VEHICLE. IF YOU ARE A VOTER REQUESTING CURBSIDE VOTING, LOOK FOR THE CURBSIDE VOTING SIGN. PARK IN FRONT OF THE SIGN AND YOU MAY CALL OR TEXT THE NUMBER DISPLAYED ON THE SIGN TO REQUEST ASSISTANCE. HELLO. HOW ARE YOU? GOOD. AS REQUIRED BY TEXAS LAW, YOU WILL BE ALLOWED THE SAME VOTING EXPERIENCE AND PRIVACY WHEN CASTING YOUR VOTE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR VOTING, MA'AM . GIVE ME A STICKER. IT'S ABOUT TO GET. FOR MORE INFORMATION, VISIT EPI. COUNTY VOTES .COM. ANDY. MONICA. MY PARENTS ALWAYS USED TO TAKE US WHEN WE WERE LITTLE TO THE LITTLE DINER FOR THEIR INFAMOUS GORDITAS. NOW, YEARS LATER, I WAS ABLE TO RETURN AND TALK TO THE GENERAL MANAGER ABOUT THE HISTORY OF THE RESTAURANT. THOSE WHO ARE ON THE HUNT FOR AUTHENTIC MEXICAN CUISINE IN THE BORDERLAND MIGHT BE SURPRISED THAT OFF THE BEATEN PATH IN CANUTILLO, TEXAS, LITTLE DINER HAS BEEN OFFERING THAT FOR OVER 40 YEARS. THE ORIGINAL OWNERS, IRENE AND RAY, OPENED IT UP IN 76. THEY SOLD IT TO THEIR DAUGHTER LOURDES IN THE LATE 80S. SHE SOLD IT TO MY FAMILY IN 2016. WITH EVERY RESTAURANT THEY HAVE, WHAT THEY CALL THE HEART,

[EXECUTIVE SESSION Only the members of the Commissioners Court have a right to attend an executive session, except that legal counsel must be present if the executive session is held pursuant to Government Code section 551.071. In addition to legal counsel, Commissioners Court may include in executive session certain officers and employees if it finds that (1) their participation is necessary to the matter under consideration; (2) their interests are not adverse to the county, and (3) their presence will not waive the attorney client privilege. Generally, the Chief Administrator, Budget Executive Director, County Clerk's representatives, and County Auditor's Office representatives attend the closed session items based on the enumerated criteria, and certain other persons may attend based on the above-listed criteria or as otherwise provided by law.]

THE MAIN PLACE. AND YOU'RE TELLING ME THAT YOU ALL HAVE ONE? CAN YOU EXPLAIN THAT? YEAH, ABSOLUTELY. SO WE'RE KNOWN FOR OUR GORDITAS. THAT'S OUR SPECIALTY. THAT'S WHY WE WERE OPENED IN THE FIRST PLACE. THIS AREA RIGHT HERE IS WHERE WE ACTUALLY PREPARE THE MASA FOR OUR GORDITAS. WE COOK THE CORN IN HERE, IT COMES IN, YOU KNOW, IT'S COMPLETELY RAW. WE DO IT JUST LIKE, YOU KNOW, THEY USED TO DO IT WAY BACK IN THE DAY. IT'S THIS BIG OLD MACHINE HERE THAT DOES IT FOR US. AND THEN ONCE IT GRINDS THE CORN, THEN WE CAN TAKE IT TO OUR MIXMASTER WHERE WE'RE MAKING THE MASA FOR OUR GORDITAS AND ALSO OUR TAMALES THAT WE MAKE HERE COMPLETELY FROM SCRATCH. TRADITIONAL MEXICAN COOKING DOES NOT STOP THERE, MIXING OLD SCHOOL METHODS WITH NEW AND IMPROVED TECHNIQUES, THIS LITTLE DINER HAS PERFECTED THEIR ALREADY DELICIOUS GORDITAS. THIS IS WHERE WE MAKE OUR TORTILLAS NOW. SO BEFORE THEY JUST JUST USED TO RUN ON THE CONVEYOR BELT. NOW WE'VE GOT SOMEONE, MOVING THEM ALONG THROUGH HERE COOKING THEM. IT'S USUALLY A ONE PERSON JOB, BUT, YOU KNOW, TWO PEOPLE CAN KNOCK IT OUT A LOT FASTER. WE USE THIS TO MAKE OUR SALSA FRESH JUST ABOUT EVERY DAY. WE'RE PROBABLY GONNA MAKE SOME IN ABOUT AN HOUR OR SO, ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT. WE HAD POTS AND POTS AND PANS, A BUNCH OF THESE STOVES THAT YOU SEE OVER HERE. THAT'S HOW WE WOULD KEEP EVERYTHING HOT AND WARM.

EVERYTHING UP. NOW, THIS STEAM, THIS STEAM TABLE ALLOWS US TO KEEP A LOT MORE FOOD HOT LITTLE DINER HAS GROWN FROM A SMALL BUILDING OFF THE BEATEN PATH TO ONE OF THE MAINSTAYS IN CANUTILLO THAT HAS SERVED GENERATIONS OF FAMILIES. I KNOW A LOT OF PEOPLE'S MOMS THAT I WENT TO SCHOOL WITH, BUT I KNEW THEM HERE, YOU KNOW, I GOT TO KNOW THEM HERE. SO WE I GET TO KNOW A LOT OF THE COMMUNITY AND DIFFERENT GENERATIONS OF THAT COMMUNITY. IT'S REALLY NICE LOOKING BACK ON THEIR HUMBLE BEGINNINGS AND HOW THEY ARE KEEPING TRADITIONS ALIVE. THE LITTLE DINER IS NOW LOOKING TOWARDS THEIR FUTURE. WE'VE BEEN LOOKING AT, SHIPPING OUR TAMALES , OUR GORDITA MASA OUT OF STATE ALSO EVEN TO OTHER BUSINESSES THAT, YOU KNOW, THEY CAN USE THAT. IT'S, YOU KNOW, A LITTLE MORE AUTHENTIC THAN WHAT THEY MAY BE SELLING AT THE MOMENT. SO THAT'S ONE OF THE WAYS WE'RE GROWING. LOPEZ SAYS THAT THEY WILL CONTINUE TO HONOR THE TRADITIONS THAT HAS MADE LITTLE DINER WHAT IT IS TODAY, BUT WE'LL BE BRINGING IN NEW TECHNIQUES TO FURTHER THEIR SUCCESS. I'M TONY DAVIS, BACK TO YOU. ANDY AND MONICA.