Jul 29, 2024 Commissioners Court Regular

MY NAME IS APRIL FRANCO AND I'M IN OFFICE ADMINISTRATION.

MY NAME IS BRANDON URBINA.

I'M TRYING TO GO INTO PROTECTIVE SERVICES.

MY NAME IS KENNY HERNANDEZ, AND I'M DOING OFFICE ADMINISTRATION.

GOOD MORNING. MY NAME IS ROBERTO HERNANDEZ, AND I'M DOING WELL.

MY NAME IS MICK TORRES AND I'M DOING REHAB TECHNICIAN.

I'M MARIANA HERNANDEZ, AND I'M DOING OFFICE ADMINISTRATION.

REGISTRATION. WELCOME. GOOD MORNING.

MY NAME IS GEMMA, AND I'M DOING OFFICE ADMINISTRATION.

THANK YOU. HELLO.

GOOD MORNING. MY NAME IS JACOBI.

I'M FROM DALLAS, TEXAS, AND I'M DOING WELDING.

THANK YOU. YOU CAN.

YOU CAN STAY UP HERE BECAUSE WE'LL BE TAKING A PICTURE WITH ALL OF YOU.

SO IF YOU WANT TO COME UP HERE.

THANK YOU. YOU KNOW, OUR OUR PROGRAM HERE AT THE EL PASO, WE'RE THE ONLY ONES THAT OFFER REHAB.

SO A LOT OF STUDENTS FROM OUT OF STATE DO COME TO JOIN REHAB.

WE'RE THE ONLY ONES THAT OFFER THAT TRADE.

THANK YOU. JUST WANT TO MAKE A COMMENT.

MR. CARRASCO, OBVIOUSLY AN ICON HERE IN EL PASO, AND HIS SON, DAVID CARRASCO JUNIOR, ACTUALLY GOT VERY INVOLVED IN THE WITH THE HEALING GARDEN ON A DOCUMENTARY.

HE'S JUST BEEN AMAZING.

HE ACTUALLY WROTE A PIECE AS HIS SON WROTE A PIECE.

IT'S JUST SAY THE NAMES, YOU KNOW, WHEN PEOPLE DIE, WE SAY 23 PEOPLE DIED.

AND HE SAID, SAY THE NAMES.

AND ELLEN FAR AWAY READ HIS ARTICLE.

AND THEN SHE CONTRIBUTED THE DRAWINGS, THAT OF EACH ONE OF THE VICTIMS THAT WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO DISPLAY IN DIFFERENT PLACES.

SO HE'S JUST BECOME QUITE AN ICON.

SO IT'S A BEAUTIFUL THING WHEN YOU HAVE A FATHER WHO WAS SO SUCCESSFUL AND BROUGHT SOME ALL THESE KIDS THAT, YOU KNOW, EVERYTHING THAT YOU'VE DONE IS BASED ON A MAN THAT BELIEVED IN HIS VISION OF HELPING OTHERS TO BE SUCCESSFUL, OF, YOU KNOW, THINGS SOMETIMES DON'T WORK OUT AND THINGS SEEM ROUGH FOR YOU.

BUT WE'VE ALWAYS SEEN AND I KNOW OUR COMMISSIONER CORONADO WILL FOCUSES A LOT ON EDUCATION, THAT THE EDUCATION AND HAVING A TRADE IS REALLY A GREAT WAY TO BEGIN YOUR LIFE AND TO DO SOME GREAT THINGS NOT FOR JUST FOR YOURSELF, BUT FOR THE COMMUNITY.

FOR SOME REASON, I HADN'T BEEN AS INVOLVED IN CULINARY.

I USED TO GO TO DIFFERENT PLACES WHERE WHERE YOU DID THE CULINARY ARTS, AND I HAD THE FOOD FOR US AND JUST IT WAS SPECTACULAR.

BUT I WANT TO THANK EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU FOR, YOU KNOW, WANTING TO MAKE YOUR LIFE BETTER, FOR WANTING TO GET THAT SPIRIT AND DOING SOMETHING FOR YOURSELF. AND I SAID, AND YOUR COMMUNITY, YOU'RE OUR FUTURE.

WE'RE DEPENDING ON ON OUR YOUNG PEOPLE TO, TO REALLY DO SOMETHING IMPORTANT.

SO HOWEVER WE COULD HELP.

I KNOW ALL THE COMMISSIONERS HERE ARE VERY INVOLVED IN WANTING TO HELP OUT, SO IF THERE'S ANYTHING WE COULD DO IF SPEAK TO THE KIDS, WHATEVER IT IS, WE WOULD BE VERY WILLING TO DO THAT.

SO EVERYBODY, THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER LEON.

YES, THANK YOU, MISS MARISCAL.

I SPOKE TO THE YOUNG PEOPLE THIS MORNING.

THEY WERE IN MY OFFICE.

I HAD THE HONOR OF KNOWING MR. CARRASCO BACK WHEN I WAS WITH THE POLICE DEPARTMENT AND MARY YOUNG AFTER HIM.

AND I TOLD YOUR STUDENTS THIS MORNING THAT NEVER TELL YOURSELVES NO.

I THINK IN GROWING UP AND I TOLD YOU, I GREW UP NOT TOO FAR FROM THE JOB CORPS CENTER, AND I WOULD TELL MYSELF NO CONSTANTLY.

THEN AFTER I LEARNED, HEY, MAKE SOMEBODY ELSE TELL ME, NO, I'M GOING TO GO AFTER THIS.

IF I CAN'T DO IT, WELL, THEY'LL TELL ME, NO, I'M NOT GOING TO DO IT.

BUT I HEARD A COMMENT A WHILE AGO ABOUT A LITTLE BIT OF A WORRY OR A LITTLE CONCERN, AND I THOUGHT ABOUT THIS BECAUSE I READ IT SOMEPLACE, PROBABLY ON THE INTERNET, YOU KNOW, AND IF IT'S ON THE INTERNET, IT HAS TO BE TRUE.

BUT I READ THAT WHEN A SHIP SINKS IN THE OCEAN IN THE WATER, IT DOESN'T SINK BECAUSE OF ALL THE WATER IN THE OCEAN.

IT SINKS BECAUSE OF THE WATER IT TAKES IN.

[00:25:02]

YOUR THOUGHTS ARE WHAT CAN SINK YOU BECAUSE YOU LET THEM IN.

THOSE NEGATIVE THOUGHTS.

BUT IF YOU KEEP THEM OUT, YOU'RE NOT GOING TO STAY AFLOAT.

YOU'RE GOING TO BE SOMEPLACE WHERE YOU WANT TO BE IN A FEW YEARS, BUT STAY WITH IT.

DON'T TELL YOURSELF NO, AND DON'T LET THAT WATER THOSE BAD THOUGHTS COME INTO YOUR MIND.

SO CONGRATULATIONS SO MUCH.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

WE APPRECIATE YOU. WE'LL TAKE A PICTURE WITH YOU.

YES. OF COURSE. THANK YOU.

PICTURE, PICTURE. THIS WERE TO STAND OR.

SIT IN THE COMPUTER.

CAN YOU PLEASE SQUEEZE A LITTLE BIT MORE? THANK YOU. THANK YOU.

ITEM FIVE B APPROVE AND ADOPT A RESOLUTION NAMING.

TUESDAY, JULY 30TH, 2024 GASTROSCHISIS AWARENESS DAY IN EL PASO COUNTY, TEXAS, RECOGNIZING THE EL PASO HISPANIC CHAMBER OF COMMERCE 2024 LEADERSHIP CLASS BORDERED BY CHANGE AND HONORING LAYLA MARTINEZ AND ALL OF THOSE WHO DEAL WITH LIFE ALTERING CONDITIONS.

[B. Approve and adopt a resolution naming Tuesday, July 30, 2024, Gastrochisis Awareness Day in El Paso County, Texas, recognizing the El Paso Hispanic Chamber of Commerce 2024 leadership class Bordered By Change, and honoring Laela Flor Martinez and all of those who deal with life-altering conditions. David Stout, Commissioner, Precinct 2, 915-546-2111]

COMMISSIONER STOUT.

ALL RIGHT. GOOD MORNING.

GOOD MORNING JUDGE. GOOD MORNING COMMISSIONERS.

GOOD MORNING EVERYBODY.

IT'S IT'S REALLY A PLEASURE FOR ME TO BE ABLE TO INTRODUCE THIS RESOLUTION AND TO INTRODUCE LATASHA MARTINEZ AND HER DAUGHTER, LILA FLOR.

WELCOME. I FIRST MET LATASHA AT AN EVENT THAT WAS SPONSORED BY THE HISPANIC CHAMBER WITH.

WITH DESIREE MANZANARES.

THANK YOU ALSO FOR JOINING US, DESIREE.

AND WE TALKED ABOUT HER FAMILY, HER DAUGHTER AND THE CONDITION, AND WE AND WE DECIDED TO TO TRY TO HELP THE CHAMBER AS WELL AS LATASHA AND LILA TO BRING SOME RECOGNITION AND TO TO WHAT THEY'VE GONE THROUGH, BUT ALSO TO BRING AWARENESS TO, TO THIS THIS ISSUE.

AND I'M REALLY PLEASED TO SEE HOW THE CHAMBER SUPPORTED THE COMMUNITY WORK TO RAISE THE VISIBILITY OF OF GASTROSCHISIS.

AND WE'RE GOING TO HEAR FROM FROM THEM AFTER THE RESOLUTION AS WELL.

I JUST WANT TO SAY, LAYLA, YOU'RE AN INSPIRATION.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

AND AND YOUR MOM IS IS JUST SUCH A FIERCE ADVOCATE.

YOU BOTH SHOULD BE SO, SO PROUD.

AND FOR OUR FOR OUR GUESTS WITH THE HISPANIC CHAMBER.

AGAIN, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR UPLIFTING THE COMMUNITY IN THIS WAY.

SO I'LL GO AHEAD AND READ THE RESOLUTION AND THEN WE CAN HEAR FROM FROM LATASHA AND LAYLA.

SO IT STATES WHEREAS GASTROSCHISIS IS A CONGENITAL CONDITION WHERE INTESTINES PROTRUDE THROUGH AN ABDOMINAL WALL DEFECT IN NEWBORNS, POSING SIGNIFICANT MEDICAL CHALLENGES AND REQUIRING LIFELONG SPECIALIZED CARE.

AND WHEREAS THIS CONDITION AFFECTS 1 IN 2000 BABIES BORN IN THE UNITED STATES, AND EARLY DETECTION AND INTERVENTION ARE CRUCIAL FOR IMPROVING OUTCOMES AND REDUCING COMPLICATIONS ASSOCIATED WITH GASTROSCHISIS.

THE SEVERITY VARIES, BUT TYPICALLY INCLUDES ONGOING TREATMENT AND SURGERY THAT CAN IMPOSE COSTS OF HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS AND PRODUCE LIFELONG DIFFICULTY EATING, GROWING,

[00:30:08]

AND MAINTAINING WELLNESS, SOMETIMES REQUIRING A FEEDING TUBE.

AND WHEREAS THERE IS A NEED TO ENHANCE PUBLIC AWARENESS AMONG HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS, EXPECTING PARENTS AND THE COMMUNITY ABOUT THE SIGNS, SYMPTOMS AND TREATMENT OPTIONS FOR GASTROSCHISIS. AND WHEREAS BORDERED BY CHANGE, A JOINT EFFORT BY THE EL PASO HISPANIC CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AND WELLS FARGO CHOSE TO DO JUST THAT FOR THEIR 20 2324 COMMUNITY PROJECT LED BY MISS LATASHA MARTINEZ AND MEMBER OF TEAM BLISS.

AS A MANAGEMENT SUPPORT ASSISTANT, MISS PEARL CONTRERAS OF RICE FEDERAL CREDIT UNION AND MARIA DE JESUS ORTIZ FRAUSTO OF FIRST LIGHT, FEDERAL CREDIT UNION AND JUAREZ, ADVOCACY ORGANIZATIONS AND SUPPORT GROUPS PLAY A VITAL ROLE IN PROVIDING INFORMATION, RESOURCES, AND EMOTIONAL SUPPORT TO FAMILIES AFFECTED BY GASTROSCHISIS AND WHEREAS, RECOGNIZING THE IMPORTANCE OF SOLIDARITY AND SUPPORT FOR INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES IMPACTED BY GASTROSCHISIS FOSTERS A MORE INCLUSIVE AND COMPASSIONATE COMMUNITY.

AND NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, THAT THE EL PASO COUNTY COMMISSIONERS COURT DECLARES JULY 30TH, 2024 TO BE GASTROSCHISIS AWARENESS DAY IN EL PASO COUNTY, TEXAS, RECOGNIZING THE EL PASO HISPANIC CHAMBER OF COMMERCE 2024 LEADERSHIP CLASS, BORDERED BY CHANGE AND HONORING LAYLA MARTINEZ AND ALL OF THOSE WHO DEAL WITH LIFE ALTERING CONDITIONS. SIGNED THIS 29TH DAY OF JULY, 2024.

THE HONORABLE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS COURT.

MOTION BY DAVID SNOW, SECOND BY COMMISSIONER LEON.

OKAY. THE FLOOR IS YOURS.

WELCOME. WELCOME.

GOOD MORNING, CAPTAIN, JUDGE AND COUNTY COMMISSIONERS.

MY NAME IS LILA MARTINEZ, AND I'M HERE TO TELL YOU ABOUT MY BIRTH DEFECT.

GASTROSCHISIS. I WAS BORN WITH FOUR, AND TED SAYS OUT OF STOMACH.

I HAD TWO SURGERIES WITHIN ONE WEEK OF BIRTH, WHICH CAUSED ME TO HAVE A BELLY BUTTON.

I AM THE MOTHER OF THIS AMAZING, BRAVE CHILD THAT HAS OVERCOME SO MUCH IN NINE YEARS.

GOOD MORNING.

I WAS A YOUNG MOTHER STRAIGHT OUT OF THE MILITARY.

I WAS 23.

I FOUND OUT AT 13 WEEKS THAT I WAS PREGNANT WITH A CHILD THAT HAD GASTROSCHISIS.

NEVER IN MY LIFE KNEW WHAT THAT MEANT.

AND SO I DID A LOT OF RESEARCH.

I HAD TO SEE SPECIALISTS, AND THANKFULLY FOR THE ARMY, IT WAS ALL PAID FOR.

FOR OTHERS THAT ARE NOT, YOU KNOW, AFFILIATED WITH THE MILITARY, I CAN'T IMAGINE THE COST THAT IT TAKES AND THE STRESS THAT IT BRINGS.

LIKE I WAS A YOUNG MOM, SHE HAD TO BE BORN BY 36, SIX WEEKS AND I HAD TO BE IN THE NICU WITH HER FOR 30 DAYS ALMOST.

SHE HAD A SURGERY DAY ONE AND DAY SIX TO PUT HER INTESTINES BACK IN, AND SHE HAD MULTIPLE SPECIALISTS.

SHE'S ONE OF THE LUCKY ONES.

SHE WAS ONLY IN THE NICU FOR 30 DAYS.

OTHERS ARE IN THERE FOR MONTHS, YEARS AND COME OUT WITH A FEEDING TUBE.

BREATHING ISSUES HAVE TO GO IN AND GET THEIR INTESTINES FIXED AGAIN.

LATELY HER LAST SURGERY WAS LAST YEAR.

SHE HAD HER GALLBLADDER AND APPENDIX OUT, WHICH I WISH I WOULD HAVE KNOWN BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, WE WOULDN'T HAVE PUT HIM BACK IN IF THAT WAS THE CASE.

BUT HERE WE ARE.

AND SHE'S GAINING WEIGHT.

SHE'S. I MEAN, YOU WOULDN'T EVEN KNOW UNLESS I TOLD YOU.

AND THE REASON BEHIND MY LOGO THAT I CAME UP WITH IS BECAUSE IT'S A BELLY BUTTON.

SO WHEN THEY'RE IN NICU AFTER THEIR SURGERIES, IT'S IN A SILO, SO THEIR INTESTINES ARE ABOVE THEIR STOMACH IN THIS BAG, AND GRAVITY TAKES IT.

AND THEN AFTER THE SURGERIES, IT'S THEN SEWN INTO A BELLY BUTTON BECAUSE THEY DON'T HAVE ONE, AND SO THEY CALL IT A BELLY BUTTON.

AND SO NOT ALL STARS BELONG IN THE SKY BECAUSE MINE IS RIGHT HERE.

AND THEN I PUT THE STAR IN EL PASO BECAUSE WE NOW CALL THAT HOME.

AND I APPRECIATE EVERY ONE OF YOU BEING HERE.

I HAVE STICKERS FOR THOSE THAT DIDN'T GET ANY WITH OUR LOGO ON IT.

AND IF YOU WOULDN'T MIND TO WEAR GREEN ON THE 30TH, IT IS A NATIONAL HOLIDAY.

THERE'S A NONPROFIT, ONE OF THE LARGEST CALLED AVERY'S ANGELS, AND THEY LIGHT UP EVERYWHERE.

THE NIAGARA FALLS IS LIGHTING UP GREEN.

THE EIFFEL TOWER DID IT LAST YEAR, AND WE'RE ACTUALLY ON THERE TO SHOW THAT WE'RE LIGHTING UP FOR THIS AWARENESS.

SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

ALL RIGHT. HAND IT OVER. THANK THANK YOU.

YOU KNOW, WE ALWAYS BELIEVE HERE IN OUR COURT WE KEEP SAYING IT IS THAT AWARENESS IS SO IMPORTANT.

BUT GO AHEAD. DID YOU HAVE DID YOU WANNA SAY SOMETHING.

NO. THANK YOU, THANK YOU.

BUT I JUST WANTED TO SAY ON BEHALF OF, WELL, I'M DESIREE MANZANARES WITH THE EL PASO HISPANIC CHAMBER, AND I ALSO AM THE DIRECTOR OF OUR LEADERSHIP CLASS, BORDERED BY CHANGE.

[00:35:01]

AND WE HAVE THREE FELLOWS, AND FORTUNATELY, TWO OF THEM COULD NOT MAKE IT TODAY.

BUT WE WANTED TO SEEK OUT A COMMUNITY PROJECT.

AND WHEN WE MET LATASHA AND WE HEARD HER STORY ABOUT, YOU KNOW, ALL THE TRIALS AND TRIBULATIONS OF RAISING A KIDDO LIKE THIS.

LIKE, IMAGINE THE DAY YOUR KIDDO WAS BORN.

YOU KNOW, YOU DON'T EVEN GET THAT BONDING TIME.

IT'S WITH. SHE'S WHISKED RIGHT INTO SURGERY, AND I MEAN TO HAVE TO GO THROUGH THAT, LIKE SHE SAID, WITH WITH INSURANCE OR WITHOUT INSURANCE.

HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS PER SURGERY.

AND IN EL PASO COUNTY, A LOT OF A LOT OF INDIVIDUALS DO NOT HAVE ACCESS TO AFFORDABLE INSURANCE.

SO FOR THEM THIS WOULD BE DEVASTATING FINANCIALLY.

SO WE WERE VERY HAPPY TO BE ABLE TO WORK TOGETHER AND GET EVERYTHING READY AND MAKE SURE THAT WE HIGHLIGHT THE BATTLE THAT PARENTS FACE WITH THIS, AND THE AMAZING SPIRIT AND BRAVERY THAT THESE LITTLE ONES COME OUT WITH.

DESIREE, AS ALWAYS, THANK YOU.

AND THANK YOU TO THE CHAMBER FOR ALL YOUR EFFORT.

BUT WE WANT TO THANK YOU SAYING EARLIER THAT THE AWARENESS THAT CAN HELP SO MANY INDIVIDUALS TO BE AWARE AND, YOU KNOW, BUT I WANT TO THANK YOU AS A MOM FOR YOUR COURAGE AS WELL.

AND OBVIOUSLY FOR LAYLA.

YOU'RE GOING TO BE AMAZING CHILDREN THAT THAT COME THROUGH THESE DIFFICULT SITUATIONS BECOME AMAZING INDIVIDUALS BECAUSE YOU'VE ALREADY BEEN TESTED AND YOU KNOW HOW TO DEAL WITH LIFE MORE THAN MOST KIDS CAN EVER DREAM OF.

SO I HOPE IT BECOMES, FROM A VERY DIFFICULT THING TO A BLESSING IN YOUR LIFE, AND A BLESSING IN BOTH YOUR LIVES OF.

BUT PLEASE CONTINUE.

LET PEOPLE KNOW THE STORY.

KEEP THE TESTIMONIALS.

I THINK IT'S GOING TO BE VERY IMPORTANT.

SO WE LOVE THAT YOU'RE HERE, LAYLA, AND THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.

DID A GREAT JOB WITH THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.

SO THANK YOU.

THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER STOUT.

WELL, THANK YOU ONCE AGAIN, NATASHA.

I APPRECIATE YOUR FRIENDSHIP AND YOUR TRUST IN US TO BE ABLE TO DO THIS RESOLUTION.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH, DESIREE. ALSO, FOR THE WORK THAT YOU AND YOUR ORGANIZATION ARE DOING.

AND MOST OF ALL, THANK YOU.

LAYLA, FOR BEING SUCH AN INSPIRATION AND AND SHARING WITH US.

I KNOW IT CAN BE NERVE WRACKING TO GET UP AND TALK IN FRONT OF ALL THESE PEOPLE THAT YOU DON'T KNOW, BUT YOU DID A GREAT JOB WITH SPEAKING TO US AS WELL AS WITH THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE. THANK YOU SO MUCH. SO LET'S TAKE A PICTURE.

YOU GOT TO GET YOU GOT TO GET YOU IN THE MIDDLE.

YOU READY? ALL RIGHT.

THANK YOU. SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE. THANK YOU.

HELLO. I'LL STAND BY, SIR.

HI, THIS IS PROFESSOR CARRASCO.

YES. STAND BY. SIR.

JUDGE, WE HAVE A PUBLIC SPEAKER ON THE LINE FOR THE LAST RESOLUTION.

MR. DAVID CARRASCO IS ON THE LINE.

CAN WE GO BACK TO THE PREVIOUS RESOLUTION? OKAY. THANK YOU.

ITEM FIVE A APPROVE AND ADOPT A RESOLUTION RECOGNIZING THE MONTH OF AUGUST 2024 AS DAVID EL CARRASCO JOB CORPS MONTH IN EL PASO COUNTY, TEXAS.

MR.. CARRASCO.

MR.. MR.. CARRASCO.

DOCTOR. CARRASCO. HOW ARE YOU DOING? HI, JUDGE. IT'S GOOD TO HEAR YOUR VOICE.

[Item 1]

ACTUALLY, I'M DRIVING, BUT I CAN TALK.

YEAH, I'M JUST VERY HAPPY BECAUSE I SAID, HOW CAN WE DO A RESOLUTION WITH YOUR DAD AND THIS GREAT MAN AND GREAT SON? WE DID TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT HIM, AND COMMISSIONER LEON HONORED HIM WITH A RESOLUTION.

AND THIS IS SO NICE TO HAVE YOU HERE WITH US RIGHT NOW.

WELL, IT'S ALWAYS AN HONOR TO BE CONNECTED WITH THE LEADERSHIP IN EL PASO.

WELL. GO AHEAD. I JUST WANTED YOU TO COMMENT A LITTLE BIT.

[00:40:02]

YOU KNOW, YOU KNOW YOUR DAD MORE THAN WE DO.

SO TELL US A LITTLE BIT.

YEAH, WELL, YOU'LL BE PLEASED TO KNOW THAT AMERICAN UNIVERSITY, WHERE HE WAS A BASKETBALL COACH JUST THIS LAST SPRING, HAD A HUGE EVENT IN HIS HONOR.

BECAUSE IN 1956, WHEN HE WAS THE BASKETBALL COACH AT AMERICAN UNIVERSITY, PARTLY BECAUSE OF HIS ROOTS IN EL PASO, HE WAS THE FIRST COACH IN THE WASHINGTON, DC AREA TO INTEGRATE COLLEGE SPORTS.

AND I THINK BECAUSE OF GROWING UP IN SOUTH EL PASO AND BECAUSE OF HIS RELATIONSHIP WITH HIS FATHER'S SCHOOL AT THE SMELTER VOCATIONAL SCHOOL.

THE VALUES THAT HE TOOK FROM EL PASO HE TOOK TO WASHINGTON, DC.

THESE WERE VALUES OF INCLUSION, OF FULL PARTICIPATION.

AND SO AMERICAN UNIVERSITY JUST HONORED HIM A FEW MONTHS AGO.

AND AS A RESULT OF THAT, YOU'LL BE PLEASED TO KNOW JUDGE AND OTHER PEOPLE IN EL PASO.

WE STARTED A DOCUMENTARY PROJECT ABOUT HIS LIFE AND ACHIEVEMENTS THAT'S GOING TO INCLUDE A BIG SECTION ON EL PASO.

SO A NUMBER OF PEOPLE FROM THE NBA, FROM AMERICAN UNIVERSITY, MY DAUGHTER AND I AND SOME FILMMAKERS WERE STARTING THIS DOCUMENTARY PROJECT, WHICH OF COURSE, WILL INCLUDE HIS LEADERSHIP IN EL PASO AT THE JOB CORPS CENTER.

WELL THAT'S EXCELLENT.

I KNOW YOU'RE PROBABLY AWARE WE'VE GOT THE FIFTH ANNIVERSARY OF THE WALMART TRAGEDY COMING UP.

IT'LL BE THIS SATURDAY, AND IT'S ALWAYS A.

I TOLD HIM EARLIER THAT YOU'RE VERY INVOLVED.

YOU'RE VERY INVOLVED WITH ELLEN.

YOU KNOW, READING YOUR ARTICLE AND DECIDING TO DO THE DRAWINGS OF THE 23 VICTIMS. SO WE'RE VERY PRIVILEGED.

IT'S HARD TO BELIEVE THAT WE'RE NOW ON OUR FIFTH ANNIVERSARY.

BUT I DO REMEMBER HOW YOU SPIRITED US.

GOT US SORT OF FEELING DIFFERENT AND VERY GOOD ABOUT HE'S A HISTORIAN AS WELL.

AND HE TOLD US A LOT ABOUT, FOR EXAMPLE, HAVING A GARDEN.

WE DIDN'T KNOW I HAD NAMED IT A GARDEN VERSUS ANYTHING ELSE.

AND THEN DOCTOR CARRASCO EXPLAINED THE SIGNIFICANCE IN YEARS AGO OF OF A GARDEN BECOMING A PLACE WHERE YOU WOULD TRY TO DEAL WITH, WITH A TRAGEDY. SO WE THANK YOU A LOT.

AND AS WE'RE GOING TO THE FIFTH ANNIVERSARY, DOCTOR CARRASCO, WE WE'RE VERY APPRECIATIVE OF HOW YOU GOT US HERE.

NO, NO, ON THE CONTRARY.

IT WAS YOUR LEADERSHIP AND THE SPIRIT OF EL PASO THAT JUST TRIGGERED THE IDEA THAT, YOU KNOW, ESPECIALLY THERE IN THE REGION WHERE YOU'RE IN THE DESERT, WHERE THERE'S ALWAYS A A LACK OF WATER AND PLANTS AND SO FORTH.

AND YET THE PEOPLE OF EL PASO, THE MEXICAN AMERICANS, OTHER PEOPLE HAVE TURNED, TURNED IT INTO ALSO A GARDEN OF CULTURE, A GARDEN OF MEANING, AND A GARDEN OF TRYING TO STRUGGLE FOR JUSTICE IN A WORLD OF SO MUCH INJUSTICE.

SO THE CREDIT GOES TO YOU.

I'M GLAD TO HAVE BEEN A FOOTNOTE.

WELL THANK YOU.

ACTUALLY, I'M WATCHING THE HISTORY CHANNEL, AND I SAW YOU THERE COMMENTING ON ON ONE OF THE TOPICS IN THE HISTORY CHANNEL SAYS, HEY, THERE'S MY FRIEND.

SO IT JUST HAPPENED A FEW WEEKS AGO, SO.

WELL, DOCTOR CARRASCO, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

LIKE I SAID, WE ALWAYS VERY PROUD OF OF YOUR CONTRIBUTION.

SONG OF CESAR WAS JUST AN INCREDIBLE ATTRIBUTE TRIBUTE TO TO THAT GRAND OPENING OF THE HEALING GARDEN.

SO ONCE AGAIN.

I LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING YOU THE NEXT TIME I'M IN EL PASO.

THANK YOU FOR THE CALL. THANK YOU.

BYE BYE. HASTA LUEGO.

WE HAVE A CORRECTION TO READ IN FOR THE COUNTY JUDGE'S OFFICE.

ITEM FIVE C.

APPROVE AND ADOPT A RESOLUTION HONORING NEWS ANCHOR JOHN PURVIS FOR HIS EXTRAORDINARY DEDICATION TO THE COMMUNITY OF EL PASO COUNTY, TEXAS, AND CONGRATULATING HIM ON HIS RETIREMENT. THANK YOU JOHN.

COME. COME UP TONY.

[C. Approve and adopt a resolution honoring News Anchor John Pervis for his extraordinary dedication to the community of El Paso County, Texas, and congratulating him on his retirement. Ricardo A. Samaniego, County Judge, County Judge's Office, 915-546-2098]

THANK YOU. SO IT'S ALWAYS AN HONOR SOMEONE WE GET TO SEE A LOT AND THAT THE WAY HE HAS CARRIED HIMSELF, THE HIGH VALUES.

SO I'LL READ INTO THIS INTO RESOLUTION AND WE'LL WE'LL HAVE A DISCUSSION ABOUT THIS WAS JOHN PURVIS FROM ROSWELL AND ARTESIA.

NEW MEXICO HAS BEEN INVOLVED IN JOURNALISM AND BROADCASTING FOR MOST OF HIS LIFE.

JOHN PURVIS HAS HAD AN ILLUSTRIOUS CAREER AS A JOURNALIST, SPANNING 44 YEARS, WITH OVER THREE DECADES DEDICATED TO EL PASO LAS CRUCES AREA.

JOHN WAS INSPIRED BY HIS MOTHER, A NEWSPAPER EDITOR, AND HIS BROTHER, A DISC JOCKEY, AND WAS MR. PURVIS EMBARKED IN HIS JOURNALISM JOURNEY IN HIGH SCHOOL AS A CAMERAMAN AT A TV STATION IN ROSWELL, NEW MEXICO.

WITH THE HELP OF HIS DAD, WHO HAS WORKED AT THE EMPLOYMENT OFFICE IN ROSWELL AND WHEREAS, MR.

[00:45:05]

PURVIS GRADUATED FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF NEW MEXICO IN ALBUQUERQUE WITH A DEGREE IN POLITICAL SCIENCE, HE SOON AFTER BEGAN TO WORK AS AN ANCHOR, REPORTER AND A NEWS DIRECTOR FOR SEVERAL YEARS IN ROSWELL.

JOHN THEN STARTED WORKING WITH AN ALBUQUERQUE TV STATION AS THEIR SANTA FE BUREAU CHIEF, COVERING STATE POLITICS AND NORTHERN NEW MEXICO NEWS, WHEREAS MR. PURVIS PASSION FOR REPORTING IS EVIDENT IN HIS UNWAVERING WORK ETHIC AND JOURNALISTIC INTEGRITY.

JOHN. JOHN OFTEN SHARED STORIES THAT SHED LIGHT ON THE PAST THROUGHOUT HIS CAREER.

JOHN HAS BEEN A TRUSTED VOICE DURING SOME OF THE MOST CHALLENGING TIMES, COVERING SIGNIFICANT EVENTS SUCH AS NINE OVER 11, THE 2006 FLOODS, THE TRAGIC EVENT OF AUGUST 3RD AND THE COVID PANDEMIC.

WHEREAS MR. PURVIS DEDICATION AND COMMITMENT TO HIS CRAFT HAVE MADE HIM A RESPECTED FIGURE IN THIS COMMUNITY, AND HIS CONTRIBUTIONS TO JOURNALISM ARE BOTH PROFOUND AND ENDURING.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED THAT THE EL PASO COUNTY JUDGE AND COMMISSIONERS COURT DO HEREBY RECOGNIZE AND HONOR JOHN PURVIS FOR HIS EXTRAORDINARY LEGACY AND DEDICATION TO THE EL PASO COMMUNITY.

SIGNED THIS 29TH DAY OF JULY, 2024.

WE HAVE A MOTION BY JUDGE SAMANIEGO AND A SECOND BY COMMISSIONER CORONADO.

RIGHT. HEY, I'M NOT HERE TO TALK ABOUT THE COSTUME OR ANYTHING, BUT.

THE MOTION CARRIES.

TONY. WOULD YOU.

AND AS YOU ALL KNOW, I WORKED AT FOX AND CBS ALONG WITH JOHN PURVIS.

AND IT'S FUNNY, BECAUSE WE WERE JUST TALKING LAST NIGHT, AND HE GOES, I'M NERVOUS ABOUT THIS.

AND I GO, YEAH, ME TOO.

I GO, I DON'T KNOW WHAT STORIES I CAN TELL OUT IN THE PUBLIC, BUT WE'LL GO FROM THERE.

BUT I FIRST MET JOHN IN 1992, WHEN I WAS 12 YEARS OLD, WHEN HE WAS AT KVEA.

I MEAN, GETTING READY FOR SCHOOL, WHETHER OR GOING OR AT DINNER, AT THE DINNER TABLE.

YOU FEEL LIKE YOU, YOU KNOW THESE PEOPLE BECAUSE YOU SEE THEM EVERY DAY, DAY IN AND DAY OUT.

SO THAT'S WHEN I MET JOHN.

THEN I GET HIRED AT FOX IN 1999, AND JOHN GETS HIRED IN 2001 TO REPLACE TYLER.

AND I DON'T KNOW IF YOU REMEMBER TYLER.

HE WAS THE FIRST ANCHOR AT FOX.

BLOND HAIR, BLUE EYES, CAUCASIAN.

AND THEN WE GET JOHN TYLER'S DAD.

TO SAY I WAS INTIMIDATED IS AN UNDERSTATEMENT, BECAUSE IT'S JOHN PURVIS.

THE GUY I GREW UP WATCHING.

THE GUY WHO HAS DONE SEVERAL STORIES, ANCHORED SEVERAL NEWSCASTS, ALL WITH THE SAME HAIRCUT.

THE GUY WITH SO MUCH KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE AT THAT TIME, AND I HAD ABOUT THIS MUCH TALENT.

SO I DEFINITELY LOOKED UP TO HIM.

AND ALL IN ALL, IN ALL.

YOU KNOW, BECAUSE I KNOW HE'S NOT GOING ANYWHERE.

BUT JOHN'S A GOOD GUY.

I SEE STUFF THAT PEOPLE DON'T GET TO SEE THAT ONLY SEE HIM ON TV.

DID YOU MENTIONED HE'S A TRUSTED, RESPECTED JOURNALIST, AND HE IS.

AND SO EL PASO'S DEFINITELY LOSING A LOT.

I KNOW HE STAYED HERE IN EL PASO, AND I'LL SEE HIM EVERY SUNDAY.

WE'LL BE ABLE TO STAY UP A LITTLE BIT LATER WATCHING FOOTBALL GAMES.

SO BECAUSE HE DOESN'T HAVE TO GO IN EARLY, AND THE ONE THING I CAN TELL, JOHN, IS THAT I KNOW WE LIVE AND BREATHE NEWS EVERY DAY.

BUT ONCE THAT'S DONE, YOUR HAIR GROWS, AS YOU CAN SEE FROM MINE.

SO YOU'RE IN GOOD HANDS.

BUT THANK YOU, JUDGE AND COMMISSIONERS, FOR RECOGNIZING MY BUDDY.

WELL, BEFORE YOU START, JOHN.

IT MEANS A LOT, TONY.

I'M JUST RESPECT HIM TREMENDOUSLY.

AND HOW HE FEELS ABOUT YOU SAYS A LOT ABOUT YOU BECAUSE I.

ONE OF THE WORDS HERE TRUSTING VOICE.

IT THAT IS REALLY, REALLY COVERS A LOT OF OF WHO YOU ARE.

BUT, JOHN, GO GO AHEAD.

WELL, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

FIRST OF ALL, FOR THIS HONOR, IT WAS REALLY UNEXPECTED.

AND I APPRECIATE, YOU KNOW, I'VE WORKED WITH GREAT PEOPLE OVER THE YEARS.

I MEAN, PART OF THIS JOB HAS BEEN STRESSFUL, BUT ANOTHER PART HAS BEEN WONDERFUL BECAUSE YOU WORK WITH GREAT PEOPLE LIKE SHAUNA ZIEGLER, MY NEWS DIRECTOR, AND TONY RODRIGUEZ, WHO WAS FOR YEARS OUR ASSIGNMENTS EDITOR AND HAS NOW MOVED ON TO BIGGER AND BETTER THINGS.

AND AND THAT'S THE GREAT THING ABOUT THIS BUSINESS IS THE GREAT PEOPLE YOU MEET AND ALSO THE PEOPLE YOU COVER IT.

IT REALLY IS A WONDERFUL JOB.

AND YOU KNOW, BUT 44 YEARS GOES BY IN THE BLINK OF AN EYE.

AND I FIRST ARRIVED IN EL PASO.

YEAH. IN OCTOBER OF 92.

AND IT'S A GREAT NEWS TOWN.

I MEAN, THAT'S THE OTHER THING.

THIS JOB, IN SOME WAYS HAS BEEN EASY BECAUSE WE ARE AT THE CENTER OF THE NATIONAL DEBATE.

ALWAYS HAVE BEEN, ALWAYS WILL BE.

I MEAN, A CENTURY AGO, IT WAS THE CASE.

IT'S STILL THE CASE NOW.

HALF A CENTURY AGO, IT WAS THE CASE.

I'VE BEEN THINKING A LOT ABOUT THREADS THAT RUN THROUGH LIFE.

AND EARLIER YOU HAD THE JOB CORPS CENTER UP HERE.

[00:50:02]

AND I REMEMBER ONE OF MY MOST MEMORABLE VISITS WAS TO SUNLAND PARK BECAUSE MY DAD, AT THE TIME, IN HIS JOB WITH THE NEW MEXICO DEPARTMENT OF LABOR, WAS AS THEIR, I GUESS, JOB CORPS COORDINATOR OR WHATEVER FOR SOUTHERN NEW MEXICO.

SO WE CAME FROM ROSWELL ONE SUMMER DAY WHEN I WAS OFF FOR THE SUMMER, AND I JUST SPENT THE DAY WITH HIM ON HIS BUSINESS TRIP DOWN HERE.

AND ONE OF THE MOST MEMORABLE PARTS WAS STOPPING BY THE ASARCO TOWERS.

AND I'D NEVER SEEN, YOU KNOW, HUGE TOWERS LIKE THAT BEFORE.

AND SO IT WAS IT WAS AN AMAZING SIGHT.

AND THEN IT BECAME MORE AMAZING WHEN A FEW MONTHS LATER, I SAW A MOVIE CALLED THE BORDER STARRING JACK NICHOLSON.

AND THERE'S AN ICONIC SCENE IN THAT MOVIE WHERE YOU SEE HIM RIGHT NEXT TO THE ASARCO SMOKESTACKS.

SO EL PASO HAS ALWAYS BEEN A MAJOR PART OF MY LIFE.

IT'S ALWAYS BEEN A PLACE WHERE I CAME.

MY MOM WORKED FOR YEARS FOR THE EL PASO TIMES AS THEIR SOUTHEASTERN NEW MEXICO REPORTER, SO IT HAS ALWAYS BEEN IN MY BLOOD JOURNALISM AND NEWS.

AND EL PASO WAS JUST A WONDERFUL PLACE.

I MEAN, IT'S IT'S A GREAT NEWS TOWN, BUT IT'S ALSO GREAT PEOPLE, GREAT CULTURE.

I COULDN'T FIND A PLACE, A BETTER PLACE TO MAKE MY HOME THAN HERE IN THE BORDERLAND.

AND I REALLY APPRECIATE THIS HONOR.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU. JOHN.

WOULD YOU LIKE TO.

YEAH. HI, I'M SHAWNA ZIEGLER, NEWS DIRECTOR.

I JUST WANTED TO THANK YOU GUYS FOR HONORING JOHN.

I CAN'T THINK OF SOMEBODY MORE DESERVING.

HE'S. THERE'S VERY FEW NEWSMAN MEN LEFT LIKE HIM.

THE BUSINESS IS CHANGING, AND HE'S DEFINITELY GOING TO LEAVE LIKE, A HOLE IN THE NEWSROOM AND IN THE CITY, SO.

THANK YOU. WELL, JOHN, YOU'RE LEAVING AT THE TOP OF YOUR GAME, I CAN TELL YOU THAT.

AND I KNOW THERE'S SO MUCH MORE FOR YOU.

I KNOW YOU'LL DO A LOT FOR FOR OUR COMMUNITY, BUT I WANT TO GO BACK TO THE TRUSTING VOICE.

HERE IN EL PASO, WE TALK ABOUT WHAT UNIQUE.

WE'RE VERY UNIQUE. AND SOMETIMES I ASK, WELL, WHAT MAKES US UNIQUE? WELL, IT'S INDIVIDUALS LIKE YOURSELF, YOU KNOW, THAT DECIDED TO TELL THE STORIES THE WAY THEY ARE, NOT HOW WHAT MAKES THEM DIFFERENT OR HOW YOU KNOW HOW THEY'RE GOING TO LISTEN TO THEM. AND AND THAT WAS ALWAYS CLEAR ABOUT YOU THAT, YOU KNOW, YOU SAID WHAT WHAT WAS MEANT TO BE SAID IN A VERY PROFESSIONAL WAY.

AND SO WE'RE VERY THANKFUL FOR ALL THE CONTRIBUTION OF THINGS THAT KEEP US TOGETHER AND KEEP US UNITED, ESPECIALLY DURING, YOU KNOW, AS YOU KNOW, AUGUST 3RD.

IT'S A COINCIDENTAL, BUT THAT WE'RE HAVING THE RESOLUTION AS WELL TO FOLLOW.

BUT YOU HAD A LOT TO DO WITH CONVEYING THE MESSAGE AND KEEPING PEOPLE FEELING GOOD ABOUT GOING FORWARD.

SO, JOHN, WE THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR FOR YOUR CONTRIBUTIONS.

THANK YOU. JUDGE. YES.

I JUST WANTED TO FELLOW JOURNALISTS.

YEAH. I JUST WANTED TO SAY SOMETHING AS WELL.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR SERVICE, MR. PURVIS, HERE IN EL PASO.

I ALSO MET YOU WHEN I WAS VERY YOUNG IN ROSWELL.

YOU? YEAH.

YOU DON'T REMEMBER, BUT I DO.

YOU KNOW, OUR.

IT'S FUNNY THAT OUR LIVES HAVE HAVE CROSSED PATHS IN SO MANY WAYS, SHAPES AND FORMS, YOU KNOW.

I MEAN, I KNOW EVERYBODY KNOWS THAT I WAS BORN IN WYOMING, BUT I LIVED IN CARLSBAD AND ROSWELL WHEN I WAS YOUNG AS WELL.

AND SO THAT'S WHERE I CAME ACROSS YOU THE FIRST TIME, AND I DID.

I STUDIED AT UNM AS WELL, AND WE BOTH ENDED UP HERE.

AND, YOU KNOW, IT'S YOU KNOW, HAVING BEEN A JOURNALIST AS WELL, THAT WAS WHAT IS WHAT BROUGHT ME HERE.

AND SO WE HAVE WE HAVE A LOT IN COMMON.

BUT I REALLY WANTED TO THANK YOU FOR FOR YOUR FOR YOUR SERVICE.

YOU KNOW, PUBLIC SERVICE IS ALSO JOURNALISM.

YOU KNOW, WE'RE PUBLIC SERVANTS.

BUT I ALWAYS FELT THAT AS A JOURNALIST, I WAS A PUBLIC SERVANT IN THAT REALM AS WELL.

AND YOU'VE YOU'VE DONE A LOT OF GREAT STORYTELLING AND BRINGING LIGHT TO ISSUES OVER THE YEARS.

AND I JUST WANT TO KNOW WHO'S GOING TO BE ASKING THE TOUGH QUESTIONS FROM NOW ON.

I'M SURE THEY'LL FIND SOMEBODY.

WELL, THANK, THANK, THANK, THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MR. PURVIS. CONGRATULATIONS.

AND I WISH YOU THE VERY BEST.

THANK YOU. I APPRECIATE IT.

THANK YOU SO. MUCH.

WELL, ONCE.

[00:55:18]

HOLD ON A SECOND. THERE'S SOME MORE STUFF.

ITEM FIVE D APPROVE AND ADOPT A RESOLUTION RECOGNIZING AUGUST 3RD AS A DAY OF UNITY AND HEALING IN HONOR OF THE 23 BEAUTIFUL LIVES LOST AND THOSE DEEPLY IMPACTED BY THE AUGUST 3RD TRAGEDY IN EL PASO COUNTY, TEXAS.

WELL, THIS IS VERY SPECIAL FOR ALL THE COMMISSIONERS, SOMETHING THAT WE FEEL VERY PROUD OF.

[D. Approve and adopt a resolution recognizing August 3rd as a Day of Unity and Healing, in honor of the 23 beautiful lives lost and those deeply impacted by the August 3rd tragedy, in El Paso County, Texas. Ricardo A. Samaniego, County Judge, County Judge's Office, 915-546-2098]

BUT I'D LIKE TO HAVE MY MY TEAM.

WOULD YOU MIND COMING TO THE PODIUM, PLEASE? I WANT TO TAKE THE TIME TO MY TEAM AND MY STAFF HAVE JUST THEY UNDERSTAND IT, YOU KNOW, NOT MORE THAN ANYBODY ELSE, BUT THEY DO UNDERSTAND THE IMPACT.

THEY GET TO SEE THE COMMENTS THAT WE HEAR FROM THE COMMUNITY ABOUT THE HEALING GARDEN.

THEY'VE GONE TO SEE THE VIGILS AND THE IMPACT THAT THE VIGILS HAVE HAD.

WHEN WE DO THE VIGILS THERE AT AT THE HEALING GARDEN FOR OTHER COMMUNITIES AND OUR ABILITY TO SHOW HOW WE TRANSITION AS A COMMUNITY AND HOW OTHER COMMUNITIES TRANSITION.

I REMEMBER WHEN SANTA FE, THE SCHOOL HAPPENED, IT WAS VERY DIFFICULT FOR US AS ONE OF THE FIRST, THAT WE STARTED UNDERSTANDING IT HAD AN IMPACT. AND THEY SAID, YOU KNOW, ALL WE'RE ASKING FOR YOU IS THAT YOU HELP OTHERS WHEN THAT HAPPENS TO THEM.

AND I THOUGHT, OH MY GOODNESS, YOU KNOW, IT'S ALREADY HAPPENED.

I DON'T THINK WE'RE GOING TO HAVE ANYTHING MORE IN THE NEAR FUTURE.

AND THEN MIDLAND HAPPENED, AND THEN OTHERS HAPPENED AND WE UVALDE HAPPENED.

AND SO THIS IS A PLACE WHERE NOT ONLY IS GOOD FOR OUR COMMUNITY, BUT IT ALSO HELPS OTHER COMMUNITIES UNDERSTAND HOW WE MOVE FORWARD AND THAT THERE'S A POSSIBILITY, BECAUSE EVERY TIME WHEN I REACHED OUT TO NEW YORK BUFFALO, IT ALMOST SEEMED LIKE THEY THINK IT'S NEVER GOING TO END.

YOU'RE NEVER GOING TO MOVE. YOU'RE NEVER GOING TO GO INTO AN ACCEPTANCE STAGE.

AND SO THIS HEALING GARDEN MEANS SO MUCH MORE THAN SOMETIMES WE UNDERSTAND.

AND THEN EVERYBODY BRINGS A STORY INTO IT.

SO I'LL READ THIS INTO THE RECORD.

WHEREAS EL PASO WAS FOREVER CHANGED BY THE HORRIFIC AND SENSELESS TRAGEDY THAT BEFELL OUR COMMUNITY ON AUGUST 3RD, 2019, THE PAIN THAT WAS FELT IN EL PASO AND ACROSS OUR BORDER ECHOED THROUGHOUT THE NATION AS WE ALL MOURNED THE BEAUTIFUL LIVES THAT WERE TAKEN, AND WHO HAS.

THE EL PASO COUNTY HEALING GARDEN AT ESCALANTE PARK STANDS AS A BEACON OF HOPE IN HONOR OF THOSE WE LOST AND THOSE WE WERE DEEPLY IMPACTED.

THE EL PASO COUNTY RECOGNIZES ORGANIZATIONS WHO HAVE ANSWERED THE CALL TO HELP ORGANIZE AND PROMOTE CONVERSATIONS AND ACTIVITIES THAT OFFER CONNECTION AND UNITY, AS WELL AS ACTIVITIES THAT MAY OFFER SUPPORT FOR THOSE HEALING FROM THE PAST, TRAUMAS AND SUFFERING.

AND WHEREAS, ON JULY 25TH, 2023, THE EL PASO COUNTY JUDGES OFFICE, IN COLLABORATION WITH LEO MARKETING AND THE EL PASO COMMUNITY FOUNDATION, RELEASED A DOCUMENTARY ENTITLED THE HEALING GARDEN HONORING THE MEMORY INSPIRING UNITY.

THIS FILM WAS DEVELOPED WITH DEEP RESPECT FOR ALL AFFECTED BY THE TRAGEDY, AND SERVES AS A TESTAMENT TO THE SPIRIT OF EL PASO, AIMING TO HONOR THE MEMORIES AND EXPERIENCES OF THOSE IMPACTED.

[01:00:02]

WHEREAS ON AUGUST 3RD, 2024, UNITED WAY OF EL PASO AND EL PASO COUNTY WILL PARTNER TO PROVIDE A SERIES OF ACTIVITIES THAT WILL TAKE PLACE AT THE EL PASO COUNTY HEALING GARDEN BEGINNING AT 6 P.M.

TO PROMOTE HEALING.

PEACE. HOPE.

UNITY. ACTIVITIES INCLUDE A GROUP RUN A SOUND BATH LUMINARIAS.

AS WE ALL LOVE AN EL PASO EXHIBIT AND UNVEILING OF PHASE TWO OF THE HEALING GARDEN.

AS IN PREVIOUS YEARS, LUMINARIAS WILL LIGHT UP ASCARATE PARK AND THE HEALING GARDEN, SYMBOLIZING OUR COMMUNITY'S PATH TO LONG TERM HEALING. AND OF COURSE, THIS YEAR MARKS THE FIFTH ANNIVERSARY OF THE TRAGEDY.

THE COUNTY JUDGE AND THE EL PASO COUNTY COMMISSIONERS SELECTED THREE EXCEPTIONAL LOCAL ARTISTS TO WORK IN UNITY TO CREATE A MURAL ON THE SOUTH FACING WALL OF THE HEALING GARDEN. THIS ENHANCEMENT IS A TRIBUTE TO THOSE WHO LOST AND THE RESILIENCE OF OUR COMMUNITY.

AND OF COURSE, IN HONOR OF THIS ANNIVERSARY, WE WILL END THE EVENING BY LIGHTING AN ETERNAL FLAME TO REMEMBER THE VICTIMS BY THROUGH TEXAS.

THIS IS THROUGH TEXAS GAS SERVICES GENEROUS CONTRIBUTIONS IN COORDINATION WITH THE EL PASO COMMUNITY FOUNDATION.

THIS FLAME WILL FOREVER BURN IN HONOR OF EACH VICTIM, THEIR FAMILY, AND OUR ENTIRE COMMUNITY.

WHEREAS MORE THAN JUST A MEMORIAL, THE HEALING GARDEN IS A TESTAMENT TO THE UNYIELDING SPIRIT OF UNITY AND RESILIENCE THAT ARISES IN THE FACE OF TRAGEDY.

THIS SACRED SPACE SERVES AS A BEACON OF HOPE AND SOLACE, WHERE THE COMMUNITY CAN COME TOGETHER, FIND COMFORT, AND DRAW STRENGTH FROM EACH OTHER DURING THE HEALING PROCESS.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE EL PASO COUNTY JUDGE AND COMMISSIONERS COURT THAT AUGUST THE 3RD BE DECLARED AS EL PASO DAY OF REMEMBRANCE SIGNED THIS 29TH DAY OF JULY, 2024.

MOTION FROM JUDGE SAMANIEGO.

SECOND BY COMMISSIONER CORONADO.

WELL, JUST LIKE I SAID, I JUST WANT TO THANK YOU INDIVIDUALS LIKE PASTOR GRADY.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

AND YOUR SUPPORT AND UNITED WAY IN OUR COMMUNITIES.

JUST IT'S JUST BEEN INCREDIBLE.

I DON'T THINK PEOPLE REALIZE WHAT WAS ACCOMPLISHED.

I SAID EARLIER THAT AN ENGINEER TOLD ME THAT IF SOMEBODY WANTED TO REPLICATE WHAT WE DID WOULD BE AT ABOUT OVER $3.5 MILLION IF WE REPLICATED THE WALL, THE SPACE, EVERYTHING THAT TOOK PLACE, IT WASN'T OUR TYPICAL, YOU KNOW, A $2 MILLION DOLLAR STUDY TO SEE IF IT WOULD HAPPEN, AND THEN DECIDE IF YOU KNOW WHAT ARCHITECT WOULD DO IT, AND THEN FIND OUT FIRMS THAT WOULD DO IT.

AND WHEN YOU GET THERE, IT SEEMS THAT WAY.

AND I HOPE AND YOU KNOW, I'M A LITTLE DISCOURAGED AND NOT ALL A LOT OF EL PASOANS HAVEN'T BEEN TO ONE OF THE BIGGEST, YOU KNOW, TRIBUTES TO VICTIMS, I THINK IN THE COUNTRY, BECAUSE WE ARE DIFFERENT AND WE'RE UNIQUE.

AND SO WE'RE VERY, VERY FORTUNATE THAT WE HAVE A COMMUNITY.

I KNOW WE'RE ALL GOING TO COME TOGETHER ON AUGUST THE 3RD, AND YOU'LL SEE SOME OF THE ACTIVITIES THAT ARE TAKING PLACE.

BUT ONCE AGAIN, I WANT TO THANK ALL OF YOU, OF MY STAFF, EVERYTHING THAT YOU'VE DONE.

ERICA HAS BEEN CHAMPIONING THE MURAL.

I THINK YOU'RE GOING TO ENJOY IT.

THERE'S STILL OPPORTUNITIES.

SO, BLANCA, ONE OF THE ARTISTS, IS HAVING ACTIVITIES WHERE THEY PAINT SOME OF THE ROCKS THAT ARE.

AND I SAY IT'S ALMOST LIKE, LIKE, WHAT ARE THOSE ROCKS DOING THERE THAT WE'RE ABLE TO PAINT, BUT EVERYTHING SORT OF FALLS IN ITS PLACE.

I THINK WE'RE OVER 100 ROCKS NOW, AND THEY'RE PRETTY LARGE ROCKS.

THOSE RIVER KIND ROCKS THAT THEY'VE PAINTED THEM.

THE COMMUNITY HAS BEEN PAINTING THEM.

THERE'S GOING TO BE MORE TO BE PAINTED.

SO WE'RE GOING TO MAKE THAT PART OF IT.

SO I THINK IT'S GOING TO BE A SPECTACULAR EVENT FOR OUR COMMUNITY.

AND WE SHOW, YOU KNOW, HOW TO HEAL AND HOW YOU DO IT WITHOUT HATRED.

AND THERE'S NOT ONE THING IN THE ENTIRE ENTIRE SYMBOLISM OF THE HEALING GARDEN THAT HAS TO DO WITH RACISM.

THAT'S SOMEBODY ELSE'S LANE.

I UNDERSTAND IT EXISTS.

I UNDERSTAND THERE'S OTHER STORIES, BUT THIS, THE STORY OF THE HEALING GARDEN IS VERY DIFFERENT, AND IT'S ONE OF MOVING FORWARD AND MAKING SURE THAT OUR COMMUNITY COMES TOGETHER AND THAT WE SHARE THIS HEALING WITH THE REST OF THE COUNTRY, IF NOT WITH THE REST OF THE WORLD.

SO WE THANK YOU ALL.

HOPEFULLY YOU'LL BE ABLE TO MAKE IT ON AUGUST 3RD.

AND I THANK YOU FOR FOR BEING THERE.

SO THANK YOU.

WE CAN TAKE A PICTURE WITH OUR STAFF.

[01:05:03]

THANK. YOU SO MUCH.

ELLIE, WHAT WAS THE ART SHOW? YEAH, LIKE 20 ON THERE.

THANK YOU. TAKE CARE. GOOD LUCK.

JUDGE, CAN I SAY SOMETHING? YES, SIR. JUDGE, I JUST WANT TO THANK YOU.

BECAUSE I KNOW IT WAS YOUR LEADERSHIP AND YOUR STEADFASTNESS IN MAKING SURE THAT WE HONORED THOSE THAT FELL AND WERE HURT ON AUGUST 3RD.

AND SO, ON BEHALF OF MY FAMILY AND MY CONSTITUENTS OF PRECINCT FOUR, WE THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP IN THAT REGARD.

THANK YOU COMMISSIONER. IT MEANS A LOT.

WE'RE GOING TO GO INTO CONSENT AGENDA AND THEN TO EXECUTIVE TOUCH.

THE FIRST ITEM WE HAVE THAT WAS PULLED FROM CONSENT IS ITEM FOUR R APPROVE AND AUTHORIZE THE COUNTY JUDGE TO SIGN THE INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT WITH THE EL PASO METROPOLITAN PLANNING ORGANIZATION FOR LOCAL MATCH TO DEVELOP DEVELOP AN INTERNATIONAL BORDER CROSSING SYSTEM WIDE ANALYSIS FROM THE DATE OF SIGNATURE THROUGH MAY 31ST, 2026, IN THE AMOUNT OF $135,000.

[R. Approve and authorize the County Judge to sign the Interlocal Agreement with the El Paso Metropolitan Planning Organization for Local Match to Develop an International Border Crossing System-Wide Analysis from the date of signature through May 31, 2026, in the amount of $135,000. Funds are available in GF-ECONIMPACT-INITIATIVE and SR-TRANSPFEE-RGNL MOBLTY AUTHO. (Contract No. 2024-0461) Michael McElroy, Director, Planning and Development, 915-273-3330]

FUNDS ARE AVAILABLE IN GENERAL FUND, ECONOMIC IMPACT INITIATIVE AND SPECIAL REVENUE TRANSPORTATION FEE.

REGIONAL MOBILITY AUTHORITY CONTRACT NUMBER 2024 0461.

YOU PULLED IT, I PULLED IT, THANKS.

THANKS, JUDGE. HOW ARE YOU DOING? I'M VERY FINE, THANK YOU.

I JUST HAD I WANTED SOME CLARITY ON ON ON WHAT? THIS AND WHAT THIS IS, IS THIS THE PORT TO PORT STUDY THAT? NO, THIS IS SOMETHING DIFFERENT THAN THE PORT TO PORT STUDY.

OKAY, WELL, FIRST OFF, I CAN ANSWER THOSE QUESTIONS.

BUT SPECIFICALLY, WE DO HAVE MR. CALVO FROM THE MPO TO ANSWER QUESTIONS FOR YOU.

SO PROBABLY THE BEST RESOURCE FOR THAT WOULD BE MR. CALVO. THANK YOU MICHAEL.

YOU'RE VERY WELCOME WITH ONE OF THOSE.

THANK YOU. GOOD MORNING, JUDGE AND COMMISSIONERS.

EDUARDO CALVO, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE EL PASO MPO.

MR. CALVO, THANK YOU.

SO SO I HAD A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS ABOUT I WAS LOOKING AT THE, THE THE SCOPE OF WORK FOR, FOR THIS PROJECT. AND SO CAN, CAN, CAN YOU I GUESS A COUPLE OF COUPLE OF COMMENTS AND AND QUESTIONS.

SO TASK TASK ONE IS, IS, IS JUST A LITERATURE REVIEW THAT WILL LOOK AT A NUMBER OF TRAFFIC STUDIES.

I GUESS THAT HAVE BEEN DONE THAT HAVE BEEN DONE IN THE PAST AND TREATIES.

BUT ONE THING THAT I THAT I NOTICED THAT THAT DOES NOT INCLUDE IS ANYTHING RELATED TO AIR, WATER, SOIL CONTAMINATION STUDIES THAT THAT SHOULD BE INCLUDED, IN MY OPINION, IN THIS TYPE OF WORK.

RIGHT. IF WE'RE LOOKING AT BECAUSE BECAUSE THERE I MEAN, THERE IS LANGUAGE IN THE SCOPE OF WORK TALKING ABOUT YOU KNOW, SOME

[01:10:09]

POLLUTANTS, BUT I DON'T I DIDN'T SEE ANY MENTION OF THAT, ESPECIALLY IN THE LITERATURE REVIEW.

IS THAT SOMETHING THAT'S GOING TO BE TAKEN INTO ACCOUNT OR.

NO. WELL, NOT REALLY IN THIS, IN THIS STUDY TYPICALLY WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE AT, YOU KNOW, WE CAN DO LIKE HIGH LEVEL ENVIRONMENTAL CONSTRAINTS ANALYSIS AT THIS LEVEL BECAUSE WE'RE DOING A FEASIBILITY STUDY.

AND IT'S REALLY TO DEVELOP A SORT OF LIKE A STRATEGIC PLAN FOR FOR THE THE BORDER CROSSINGS.

THE THE INITIAL OR THE MAIN GOAL OF THIS IS REALLY TO LOOK AT ALL OF THE OUR BORDER CROSSINGS WITHIN THE MPO REGION AS A SYSTEM, WHICH I REALLY THINK WE REALLY HAVE NEVER LOOKED AT THEM AS, AS A SYSTEM.

SO IT'S IT'S TAKING A VERY HIGH LEVEL VIEW.

SYSTEM WIDE OF ALL THE OF ALL THE BRIDGES, WITHOUT GETTING INTO A LOT OF DETAILS THAT TYPICALLY YOU LOOK AT THE PROJECT DEVELOPMENT STAGE.

SO FOR EXAMPLE, THE, YOU KNOW, WATER, SOIL THOSE ARE ARE TYPICALLY DONE MORE ONCE YOU HAVE A, A CLEAR PROJECT ON A SPECIFIC, IN THIS CASE ON A SPECIFIC CROSSING, WHAT WE ARE DOING IS TAKING ADVANTAGE OF THE TOOLS THAT THE MPO HAS DEVELOPED, OUR REGIONAL TRAVEL DEMAND MODELS BRINGING IN THE MODEL FOR CIUDAD JUAREZ AS WELL, AND THE MICROSIMULATION MODELS THAT WE HAVE BEEN DEVELOPING RECENTLY TO GET ALSO A GOOD PICTURE ON AIR QUALITY STUFF ON EMISSIONS, RIGHT.

SO WE WE HAVE THE ABILITY NOW TO LOOK AT THE NOT JUST OF THE TRANSPORTATION ELEMENTS AND MOBILITY ELEMENTS AT THE REGIONAL LEVEL, BUT LOOK AT THE AIR QUALITY IMPACTS OF OF, YOU KNOW, DOING DIFFERENT SCENARIOS AT THE AT THE REGIONAL LEVEL.

SO AIR QUALITY IS, IS, YOU KNOW, IMPORTANT WHEN IT COMES TO, YOU KNOW, LIKE, YOU KNOW, WATER AND, AND YOU KNOW, HAZMAT AND STUFF LIKE THAT, THAT THAT IS A LOT MORE DETAILED ENGINEERING THAT, THAT, YOU KNOW, IT'S NOT THE INTENT OF THIS OF THIS STUDY.

THIS IS MORE TO LOOK AT THE REGIONALLY SYSTEM WIDE.

HOW CAN WE MAKE THE, YOU KNOW, THE SYSTEM WORK BETTER AND COME UP WITH DIFFERENT ALTERNATIVE SCENARIOS? NOW, THE TOOLS THAT THAT WE HAVE ALLOW US TO LOOK AT DIFFERENT SCENARIOS AND DO SENSITIVITY ANALYSIS.

RIGHT. SO SO THAT WE CAN COMPARE, YOU KNOW, THE, YOU KNOW, ESTIMATE THE IMPACT AND COMPARE THE DIFFERENT SCENARIOS.

AS YOU KNOW, TO SEE HOW THEY IMPROVE OR THE IMPACT ON MOBILITY, WE HAVE THE ABILITY TO SEPARATE PRIVATE VEHICLES AND TRUCKS, WHICH IS OBVIOUSLY VERY IMPORTANT RIGHT NOW, ESPECIALLY IN, YOU KNOW, IN THE LIGHT OF THE THE IMPROVEMENTS FOR THE BRIDGE OF THE AMERICAS.

AND JUST TO GET A BETTER UNDERSTANDING AT THE REGIONAL LEVEL OF OF THE IMPACT OF THESE MEASURES.

SO IT SAYS FAITH PHASE THREE IS GOING TO FOCUS ON IDENTIFYING SPECIFIC INFRASTRUCTURE IMPROVEMENTS TO INDIVIDUAL INTERNATIONAL BORDER CROSSINGS BASED ON REGIONAL OPERATIONAL SCENARIOS IDENTIFIED IN PHASE TWO.

BUT I DON'T KNOW HOW YOU MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS ON INFRASTRUCTURE, INFRASTRUCTURE IMPROVEMENTS.

IF YOU'RE NOT TAKING INTO ACCOUNT THINGS LIKE CONTAMINATION, THINGS LIKE PUBLIC HEALTH.

YOU KNOW, I THINK, YOU KNOW, THIS IS A VERY YOU, I MEAN, YOU KNOW, UTILITARIAN APPROACH TO TO THE PORTS, BUT THEY HAVE TREMENDOUS, TREMENDOUS SOCIAL, CULTURAL QUALITY OF LIFE IMPLICATIONS BEYOND JUST FACILITATING THE MOST VOLUME OF TRAFFIC AND CROSS-BORDER COMMERCE THAT'S COMING THROUGH.

ABSOLUTELY. AND AND ALL OF THOSE ELEMENTS, AGAIN, TYPICALLY ARE DONE.

ONCE YOU HAVE YOU GO SPECIFICALLY INTO A CERTAIN PROJECT AND ANALYZE IT.

WHAT WE ARE ALSO DOING HERE, AND AGAIN, THIS IS ONE OF THE, ONE OF THE GAPS THAT THAT THAT I SEE IN OUR REGION IS THAT EVEN AT THIS HIGH LEVEL, WE DON'T HAVE, YOU KNOW, GOOD, SOLID, YOU KNOW, PROJECTS OR IDEAS, RIGHT, ON HOW TO IMPROVE OUR BORDER CROSSINGS.

I SEE THAT AS A COMPETITIVE DISADVANTAGE, FOR EXAMPLE, WITH OTHER BORDER CROSSINGS IN THE STATE OF TEXAS LIKE LAREDO.

YOU KNOW, THEY HAVE THEIR BIG, BIG, BIG CROSSINGS, RIGHT? BUT THEY HAVE PROJECTS.

THEY THEY HAVE A PROJECT THAT SAYS WE'RE GOING TO WIDEN, YOU KNOW, BRIDGE OF THE AMERICAS, YOU KNOW, FROM EIGHT LANES TO WHATEVER LANES.

YOU KNOW, RIGHT NOW, WE DON'T HAVE THOSE THOSE PROJECTS THAT WE OF COURSE, WE NEED TO DEVELOP AND, AND BUT IF YOU ASK ME RIGHT NOW, YOU KNOW, WHICH IS OUR NUMBER ONE BORDER CROSSING PROJECT WE DON'T HAVE I MEAN, WE HAVE A LOT OF WISHES, WE HAVE A LOT OF IDEAS, BUT WE NEED TO NARROW DOWN SOMETHING THAT IS

[01:15:10]

A LITTLE BIT MORE SPECIFIC THAT WE CAN PURSUE, YOU KNOW, PURSUE THE FUNDING TO DEVELOP THEM.

AND BUT, OF COURSE, YOU KNOW, ONCE WE GET INTO THE INDIVIDUAL PROJECTS, ALL OF ALL OF THESE DIFFERENT IMPACTS ARE TAKING INTO CONSIDERATION ALL OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL, YOU KNOW, BOTH FOR THE FOR THE HUMAN ENVIRONMENT, BUT ALSO THE PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT.

NOW, I UNDERSTAND THAT ONCE WE GET INTO THE PROJECTS, YOU'D GO THROUGH THOSE THINGS, BUT IT JUST SEEMS TO ME THAT IF THIS IS A STRATEGIC PLAN THAT OUR COMMUNITY IS WORKING ON, THESE ARE THINGS THAT WE SHOULD TAKE INTO ACCOUNT EVEN BEFORE YOU GET DOWN TO THE INDIVIDUAL PROJECT LEVEL.

AND, YOU KNOW, THAT'S JUST, IT SEEMS TO ME THAT WE'RE.

BUT AM I CORRECT, EDUARDO, THAT THIS IS THE FOUNDATION FOR OTHER THINGS? I MEAN, WE CAN DO ALL THINGS IN ONE THING.

I MEAN, THERE'D BE TEN OTHER PEOPLE SAY TEN OTHER THINGS THAT NEED TO BE DONE.

ABSOLUTELY. BUT I DO FEEL LIKE THIS IS A BEGINNING TO ALLOW US TO THEN SAY, THEN WE HAVE A POLLUTION ISSUE, OR WE HAVE A BASED ON THIS, THEN WE CAN FOCUS ON EACH ONE OF THE.

SO, SO I SEE IT ISOLATED FROM ALL THE OTHER THINGS THAT NEED TO BE DONE.

AND THEN IT'S I THINK IT'S GOING TO BE UP TO US TO MAKE SURE THAT THOSE THINGS TAKE PLACE.

BUT I THINK THE FUNDAMENTAL UNDERSTANDING OF THE PROJECT.

IT NEEDS TO HAPPEN. IS THAT.

YES, ABSOLUTELY.

AND I THINK TO I THINK I CAN CLARIFY YOUR QUESTION A LITTLE BIT BETTER, COMMISSIONER STOUT.

ALL OF THESE ELEMENTS, OF COURSE, WILL BE IDENTIFIED.

RIGHT. YOU KNOW, BUT FOLLOWING UP ON WHAT YOU JUST SAID, JUDGE.

YEAH, WE'RE LOOKING AT THIS AT A BIGGER LEVEL, AND IT'S REALLY THE FOUNDATION.

BUT THINK OF ALSO THAT A VERY IMPORTANT PART OF THIS, OF THIS STUDY WILL BE PUBLIC AND STAKEHOLDER INVOLVEMENT.

RIGHT. SO IT IS VERY IMPORTANT FOR US TO, AS PART OF THIS PUBLIC AND STAKEHOLDER INVOLVEMENT TO HELP US IDENTIFY PRECISELY THE THINGS THAT YOU'RE MENTIONING, COMMISSIONER.

I MEAN, IT'S JUST I MEAN, I UNDERSTAND, BUT THE WORDING OF THE SCOPE OF THE SCOPE OF WORK.

I MEAN, IT SEEMS TO ME LIKE YOU'RE NOT INCLUDING SOME VERY IMPORTANT THINGS THAT NEED TO BE LOOKED AT AND AND PUTTING, IN MY OPINION, THE CART BEFORE THE HORSE BECAUSE IT SAYS TASK FOR FUTURE SCENARIOS OF THE REGIONAL IBC SYSTEM.

SEVERAL FUTURE SCENARIOS WILL BE DEVELOPED AND EVALUATED TO PROVIDE QUANTIFIABLE INFORMATION ON BENEFITS AND COSTS OF DIFFERENT POTENTIAL PHYSICAL INFRASTRUCTURE AND OPERATIONAL CHANGES AND IMPROVEMENTS.

AGAIN, IF WE'RE NOT LOOKING AT THE SOCIAL HEALTH, QUALITY OF LIFE, CONTAMINATION, ALL OF THOSE THINGS, HOW ARE WE LIKE LOOKING OUR COMMUNITY IN THE FACE WITH A STRAIGHT FACE AND SAYING, YEAH, THESE ARE THESE ARE SCENARIOS THAT THAT ARE VIABLE, RIGHT? SO I THINK THE AGAIN, THIS IS A FEASIBILITY STUDY.

RIGHT? IT'S NOT, YOU KNOW, LIKE AN ENGINEERING STUDY WHERE YOU HAVE A VERY, VERY CLEAR SCOPE OF WHAT YOU WANT TO DO.

SO, YOU KNOW, AS AS WE MOVE FORWARD, AS WE BEGIN, YOU KNOW, THE SCOPE CAN BE TWEAKED AS WELL.

ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE ARE GOING TO CREATE IS A, A STEERING COMMITTEE.

AND OF COURSE, YOU KNOW, THE COUNTY AND THE OTHER AGENCIES THAT ARE PARTICIPATING WITH THE MATCH AND OTHER KEY STAKEHOLDERS WILL BE PARTICIPATING.

AND, YOU KNOW, THAT'S THE OPPORTUNITY ALSO TO ADJUST THE SCOPE OF WORK.

THE THE IDEA IN GENERAL TERMS, COMMISSIONER, IS, YOU KNOW, WE REALLY WANT TO DO WHAT IS BEST FOR THE REGION, YOU KNOW, AND REALLY LOOKING AT IT FROM A REGIONAL LEVEL.

AND AND HOW CAN WE, YOU KNOW, LOOK AT THIS HOLISTICALLY AT THE REGION AND THEN FOCUS ON INDIVIDUAL CROSSINGS.

RIGHT. BECAUSE I THINK, YOU KNOW, THAT'S THAT'S ONE THING THAT WE HAVE BEEN MISSING.

INSTEAD OF, YOU KNOW, LOOKING AT EACH CROSSING, MORE LIKE IN SILOS BECAUSE OF COURSE OWNERSHIP OF THE BRIDGES IS, IS DIFFERENT, RIGHT? YOU KNOW, FIRST OF ALL, SANTA TERESA IS EVEN IN THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO, RIGHT? BUT THIS IS A REALLY GOOD OPPORTUNITY TO BRING EVERYBODY TOGETHER.

LOOK AT THE AT THE, YOU KNOW, AT THE, AT THE SYSTEM OR AT THE, THE SIX CROSSINGS THAT WE HAVE AS A SYSTEM AND AND FIGURE OUT IMPROVEMENTS. THE OTHER THING THAT IS TREMENDOUSLY IMPORTANT THAT WE WANT TO, THAT WE MUST ACCOMPLISH WITH THIS IS THE COORDINATION ON THE MEXICAN SIDE, BECAUSE WE CAN THINK AND WE CAN SAY ALL WE WANT ON THIS SIDE, BUT IF WE DON'T HAVE THE CORRESPONDING, YOU KNOW, INFORMATION ANALYSIS WILL AND, AND, AND, YOU KNOW, EVENTUALLY PROJECTS ON THE MEXICAN SIDE, IT'S NOT GOING TO WORK.

RIGHT. SO SO YOU MENTIONED THE STEERING COMMITTEE.

SO WHAT IS THE MAKEUP OF THAT STEERING COMMITTEE.

SO THE STEERING COMMITTEE INITIALLY IS GOING TO BE MADE UP OF THE, THE THE ENTITIES THAT ARE PROVIDING THE MATCH IN THIS CASE, YOU KNOW, THE COUNTY OF THE CITY OF EL

[01:20:03]

PASO AND THE NEW MEXICO.

WELL, THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO, VERY MOST LIKELY IT'LL BE THE, THE WELL, THE MATCHES COMING FROM THE THE NEW MEXICO ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT.

SO, YOU KNOW, THE, THE MEMBERS OF THE OR THE AGENCIES THAT ARE PROVIDING THE MATCH ARE GOING TO BE, YOU KNOW, ARE GOING TO HAVE REPRESENTATION THERE.

AND I MEAN, IS THERE IS THERE LIKE A RESTRICTIONS OR RULES AS TO DO I HAVE TO BE SERVING ON THE MPO TO BE ABLE TO BE A MEMBER OF THAT STEERING COMMITTEE, MYSELF OR NO.

AGAIN, THIS IS YOU KNOW, WE'RE TRYING TO MAKE THIS, YOU KNOW, OPEN.

IT'S NOT A VERY IT'S TOTALLY DIFFERENT FROM A PRESCRIPTIVE IDEA.

WE THERE'S A LOT OF INFORMATION THAT THAT WE NEED TO GATHER.

AND AND REALLY, IN THE SPIRIT OF COOPERATION, BECAUSE THIS IT'S ALL ABOUT COOPERATION, RIGHT? SO IT'S ONE OF THE REALLY, YOU KNOW, COOL THINGS ABOUT BEING ABLE TO SPLIT THE MATCH BETWEEN DIFFERENT ENTITIES, NOT ONLY TO MAKE IT EASIER OR LESS ONEROUS ON ONE ENTITY IN PARTICULAR, BUT IT ALSO GIVES US THE OPPORTUNITY TO WORK TOGETHER.

IT'S MORE OF AN ADMINISTRATIVE NIGHTMARE, RIGHT? HAVING TO DO ALL THESE AGREEMENTS.

BUT AND ON THAT NOTE WORKING TOGETHER WHEN IT COMES TO STAKEHOLDER AND PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT, IS IS ARE WE GOING TO MAKE SURE THAT THAT NEIGHBORHOODS THAT ARE IN THE PATH OF THESE PLACES.

ABSOLUTELY. PART OF THE THE CONVERSATION, LIKE THE MISSION VALLEY NEIGHBORHOODS, THE CHAMIZAL NEIGHBORHOOD YOU KNOW, AND ABSOLUTELY, THOSE IN NORTH AND SOUTH OF THE RIVER VALLEY, AGAIN, WITHOUT, YOU KNOW, EFFECTIVE PUBLIC OUTREACH.

I DON'T THINK THAT THE PLAN WOULD BE VERY, VERY, YOU KNOW, SUCCESSFUL AND EFFICIENT.

SO THE ANSWER IS YES.

OKAY. AGAIN, I'D LIKE TO JUST REEMPHASIZE THE, THE, THE AND MAYBE I CAN CONTINUE TO DO SO IF, IF, IF YOU KNOW, WE MOVE FORWARD AND I'M ABLE TO, TO PARTICIPATE IN THE STEERING COMMITTEE, BUT I JUST WANT TO REEMPHASIZE THE NEED TO LOOK AT, LOOK AT OTHER THAN, YOU KNOW, THE THINGS THAT I'VE TALKED ABOUT.

SO I DON'T KNOW IF ANYBODY ELSE HAS ANY QUESTIONS OR THAT'S THAT'S ALL I HAD.

COMMISSIONER CORONADO. YEAH. MR. CALVO, THANK YOU. JUDGE.

WHEN WHEN HAS ANY STUDY LIKE THIS EVER BEEN DONE HERE? WELL, THERE IS THERE HAVE BEEN, YOU KNOW, SEVERAL STUDIES, MANY, MANY STUDIES DONE.

AND THAT'S WHY TASK ONE BECOMES SO IMPORTANT SO THAT WE CAN, YOU KNOW, GATHER ALL THE INFORMATION, IN MY OPINION, OF THE STUDIES HAVE BEEN VERY, EITHER VERY TARGETED FOR SOMETHING VERY SPECIFIC OR THEY HAVEN'T REALLY BEEN DEEP ENOUGH.

RIGHT? THEY HAVEN'T HAD THE COORDINATION ON THE MEXICAN SIDE.

SO, YOU KNOW, THIS IS A PRETTY AMBITIOUS ENTERPRISE.

I MEAN, I CAN THINK OF THE THE FIRST ONE THAT I WAS THAT I PARTICIPATED YEARS AGO, THE BORDER IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM THAT WAS DONE, I THINK, IN 2004, 2005 ISH.

BUT IT REALLY, YOU KNOW, NOT A LOT OF RECOMMENDATIONS CAME OUT OF THAT.

THERE WAS ONE THAT TEXDOT DID 2011.

IT WAS SORT OF LIKE AN OPERATIONS PLAN, BUT SAME THING.

DID NOT HAVE A LOT OF COORDINATION ON THE MEXICAN SIDE.

IT LACKED MORE MORE DATA.

RIGHT. AND BUT TO ME, THE MOST IMPORTANT THING IS THAT ONCE WE ONCE WE LOOK AND ONCE WE AGREE, YOU KNOW, MORE OR LESS WHAT THE PRIORITIES ARE, THEN LOOK AT EACH INDIVIDUAL CROSSING AND IDENTIFY PROJECTS THAT WE CAN, YOU KNOW, PUSH FORWARD.

RIGHT. I MEAN, IT'S ALL ABOUT PROJECTS, RIGHT? BUT WE WE DON'T WANT TO IDENTIFY OR COME UP WITH A PROJECT IDEA THAT DOESN'T HELP AT THE REGIONAL LEVEL.

SO SO NO STUDY HAS REALLY BEEN TAKEN COUNT REGIONALLY IN TERMS OF THE NEEDS AND HOW BEST TO OPTIMIZE THE TRAVEL BETWEEN OUR COUNTRIES.

AND IN MY OPINION, NO.

I MEAN, THEY'VE BEEN LOOKING AT, YOU KNOW, LIKE EITHER INDIVIDUAL CROSSINGS.

YOU KNOW, WE'VE LOOKED AT THE DELAYS.

I MEAN, THERE'S BEEN SO MANY STUDIES DONE BY INCLUDING, YOU KNOW, A COUPLE BY THE BY THE MPO.

BUT BUT NOTHING THAT REALLY LOOKS AT THIS MORE HOLISTICALLY AT THE, AT THE REGIONAL LEVEL.

THANK YOU. I LOOK FORWARD TO IT.

AND YOU KNOW, COMMISSIONER, IT IS SIMPLE THAT IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN.

WE NEVER LOOKED AT IT AS A SYSTEM.

SO WE'RE FAILING.

BUT IT'S COMPLICATED.

YOU HAVE ONE.

ONE'S A FEDERAL, YOU KNOW, A FEDERAL BRIDGE ONCE A STATE BRIDGE TO OUR CITY.

AND ONE IS IS THE COUNTY COUNTY.

IMAGINE TO BRING THEM ALL TOGETHER.

AND EVEN EVEN ONE OF THE STUDIES THAT I THINK THAT DAVID WAS CORONADO WAS INVOLVED IN, I KEPT SAYING, AND WHAT ABOUT TORNILLO?

[01:25:05]

WHAT ABOUT TORNILLO? BECAUSE THEY REMEMBER, BETSY, THAT THAT WE HAVE TO KEEP SAYING WHAT YOU'VE GOT HERE.

BUT THEY WERE DOING A STUDY ON THESE FOUR, YOU KNOW.

SO IT'S NEVER BEEN THIS BRINGING THEM ALL TOGETHER.

I CAN SAY WITHOUT A DOUBT, COMMISSIONER, THAT IF WE CREATE A SYSTEM, I DON'T THINK THERE'S GOING TO BE A MORE IMPORTANT GATEWAY FROM MEXICO TO THE UNITED STATES.

THERE IS NO WAY THAT LORETTA.

LORETTA LAREDO CAN DO IT.

WE CAN DO IT.

BUT WE NEED THAT COLLABORATION.

AND I THINK JUST THE MERE OF BRINGING NEW MEXICO INTO THE STUDY IS ALREADY, YOU KNOW, SIGNIFICANT THAT WE'RE WORKING COLLABORATIVE BECAUSE WE USED TO LEAVE THEM. SO IT WAS EITHER WE LEFT THEM OUT, THEY LEFT US OUT.

AND SO WE HAD A LITTLE BIT OF A SYSTEM GOING HERE, BUT WITHOUT TORNILLO.

AND NOW IT'S ALL COMING TOGETHER.

SO I'M VERY, YOU KNOW, OPTIMISTIC THAT THEN WE'LL FIND OUT WHAT ARE THE THINGS THAT WE NEED TO DO.

ONCE YOU SEE THAT, THEN WE'LL SEE THE IMPACT OF THE ON THE ENVIRONMENT, THE IMPACT ON ALL THE OTHER THINGS THAT WE NEED TO LOOK AT.

SO I THINK THIS IS A GREAT FOUNDATION AND WE'RE NOT HAVING TO I MEAN, WE'RE ALL TRYING TO WORK FOR TORNEO TO BE, YOU KNOW, PART OF US BECAUSE WE'RE THE COUNTY. BUT I THINK THIS WILL REALLY BRING US ALL TOGETHER AND THEN IT'LL MAKE TORNEO MORE OF A POSSIBILITY THAN IF WE ISOLATE IT OURSELVES.

SO, EDUARDO, THANK YOU.

AND, YOU KNOW, AND I'M HAPPY TO HEAR PEOPLE SINGING THE SAME SONG THAT I'VE BEEN SINGING FOR YEARS ABOUT ABOUT THIS TYPE OF THIS TYPE OF WORK AND YOU KNOW, BUT I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE MOVING FORWARD WITH THINKING ABOUT EVERYTHING.

ABSOLUTELY, JUDGE.

YES, SIR. YOU KNOW, AND ONE OF THE OTHER THINGS IS, ESPECIALLY NOW, IN LIGHT OF THE OF THE PROJECT GOING ON AT THE BRIDGE OF THE AMERICAS.

I'VE SEEN THE PROPOSED NEW TIMELINE FOR IT THAT, YOU KNOW, IT WAS ONLY GOING TO BE A YEAR THAT IT WAS GOT COMMISSIONED FROM WHAT I SEE ON THE TIMELINES, IT LOOKS LIKE IT'S GOING TO BE SUBSTANTIALLY MORE TIME THAT IS GOING TO BE DOWN THAN THAT.

THEY ARE PROJECTING A START OF SOMETIME BETWEEN 26 AND 29 TO COMPLETE.

SO IT'S NOT A YEAR, AS WE WERE PREVIOUSLY INFORMED.

I KNOW, AND THAT THAT WAS JUST MY UNDERSTANDING, SUBSTANTIAL COMPLETION IN 29.

IS THAT CORRECT, BETSY? YES, SIR. WE ARE TRYING TO GET MORE INFORMATION ON THAT, COMMISSIONER, BECAUSE WE HAVE WE UNDERSTAND THAT IT'S GOING TO BE ABOUT 18 MONTHS OF SIGNIFICANT TIME.

IT'S DOWN, BUT WE'RE TRYING TO FIND OUT MORE ABOUT THE THREE YEAR PERIOD.

YEAH. AND BECAUSE I WENT TO THE EL PASO ASSOCIATION OF CONTRACTORS MEETING LAST WEEK, AND THEY THEY HAD A PRESENTATION ON THE BRIDGE OF THE AMERICAS, AND THEY GAVE US A TIMELINE.

AND IT LOOKED FROM WHAT THEY WERE TELLING CONSTRUCTION FROM 26 AND SUBSTANTIAL COMPLETION IN 29.

NOT COMPLETELY.

SO WHEN YOU'RE LOOKING AT ALMOST THE NUMBERS HAVE BEEN ALL OVER.

BUT EVEN AT 900, RIGHT, WE'VE HEARD 900 MILLION.

YOU DON'T DO A 900 MILLION PROJECT IN ONE YEAR.

YEAH. THERE'S NO NO WAY THAT SO THAT'LL GET US READY I THINK IT'LL WILL IT INCLUDE SORT OF.

WELL, I GUESS BY UNDERSTANDING SYSTEMATICALLY, WHAT DO WE HAVE TO DO THEN WE'LL UNDERSTAND ALSO WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU'RE WHEN YOU'RE SHUTTING DOWN ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT BRIDGES IN OUR SYSTEM? EXACTLY. AND THAT'S EXACTLY IT.

AND USING THAT EXAMPLE, COMMISSIONER, THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THAT UP.

YOU KNOW, THE BRIDGE OF THE AMERICAS RIGHT THERE IN THE MIDDLE OF OF A DOWNTOWN OF THE METROPOLITAN AREA ON BOTH SIDES.

RIGHT. AND BUT, I MEAN, NOBODY REALLY KNEW THAT THAT MONEY WAS COMING IN FOR THE IMPROVEMENTS, RIGHT? YOU KNOW, WHY THAT BRIDGE AND NOT THE OTHER ONES, RIGHT? YEAH. I MEAN, IT'S A GREAT THING, RIGHT? BUT DON'T DON'T GET ME WRONG, BUT BUT THE OTHER THING THAT'S IMPORTANT IS THAT THE FUNDING CAME TO GSA, AND GSA ONLY LOOKS AT THE FOOTPRINT OF THEIR PROPERTY, RIGHT? THEY ONLY LOOK AT THAT.

OUR INITIAL REACTION WAS, OH, MAN, THAT'S A LOT OF MONEY.

SO CAN WE THINK ABOUT, YOU KNOW, THE CONNECTIONS, YOU KNOW, OUT OF THE THE PORT OF ENTRY AND THIS AND THAT AND SAID, NO, NO, NO, NO, THAT'S ONLY FOR US.

SO THEN HOW ARE WE, YOU KNOW, WHATEVER THEY CHOOSE TO DO.

RIGHT. HOW ARE THE VEHICLES AND PEOPLE AND, AND TRANSIT WHATEVER.

HOW ARE THEY GOING TO MOVE MORE EFFICIENTLY INTO THE NETWORK ON THE US SIDE AND ON THE MEXICAN SIDE, BUT NOT SOMEONE ELSE'S PROBLEM.

SO THAT'S WHEN WE SAID, THAT'S OUR PROBLEM.

WE NEED TO FIGURE THAT OUT, RIGHT? AND NOT JUST FOR THE BRIDGE OF THE AMERICAS, BUT, YOU KNOW, FOR FOR THE OTHER THE OTHER BRIDGES AS WELL.

SO IT'S NOT WHEN WE LOOK AT THE SYSTEM, IT'S NOT THE CROSSING ITSELF, THE BRIDGE ITSELF OR THE CBP OR THE GSA, YOU KNOW, PROPERTIES.

RIGHT? IT'S HOW ARE YOU GOING TO THE GET TO THE BRIDGES.

[01:30:01]

AND THAT'S WHY THE TRAVEL DEMAND MODELS AT THE REGIONAL LEVEL ARE SO IMPORTANT BECAUSE THE IMPACT OF, YOU KNOW, SHUTTING DOWN BRIDGE OF THE AMERICAS FOR FOR TRUCKS, WHETHER IT'S, YOU KNOW, WE KNOW IT'S GOING TO BE OF COURSE, DURING CONSTRUCTION.

BUT IF IT'S A PERMANENT SHUTDOWN, WELL, WE NEED TO FIGURE OUT HOW THESE TRUCKS ARE GOING TO BE MOVING.

RIGHT. AND PLAN FOR IT.

RIGHT NOW WE DON'T HAVE, YOU KNOW, THAT COLLECTION OF IDEAS OF AND ULTIMATELY PROJECTS, RIGHT.

IF THEY'RE GOING TO MOVE AND GO TO SANTA TERESA, WELL, WHAT DO WE NEED TO DO TO MAKE THAT EFFICIENT? RIGHT. AND THEN ONCE THEY CROSS INTO NEW MEXICO, I THINK WE'RE IN BETTER SHAPE, YOU KNOW, WITH THE PROJECTS.

RIGHT? OR IF THEY WANT TO GO TO THE ZARAGOZA, THE YSLETA BRIDGE OR TO TORNILLO.

WELL, WHAT DO WE NEED TO DO TO.

IT'S NOT JUST A CROSSING THE BRIDGE ITSELF, RIGHT? IT'S ALL THIS INFRASTRUCTURE AND AND NOT ONLY THAT, BUT ALSO OTHER TYPES OF POLICIES AND AND INCENTIVES TO, TO DEVELOP, YOU KNOW, THE, THE LAND AROUND IT, WHICH IS THE CASE OF TONY.

WE LEARNED THAT AT MPO THAT WE WERE ALWAYS DOING TIME STUDIES ON WHEN YOU GET TO THE BRIDGE, BUT WE WEREN'T MAKING STUDIES.

HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE YOU TO GET THERE BECAUSE OF THE TRAFFIC.

AND SO I MY WHAT I HOPE THE MOST IS THAT WHEN THEY SHUT IT DOWN, THAT WE DO SO WELL IN THE COMMERCIAL, THEY'LL CONSIDER NOT HAVING COMMERCIAL TRAFFIC ON BOWLER.

TO ME, THAT'S THE BIGGEST THING.

I FEEL THAT IF WE WERE ABLE TO FUNCTION AND WE SAY, WAIT A MINUTE, YOU KNOW, WHY ARE YOU GOING TO BRING COMMERCIAL TRAFFIC TO HERE? WE'RE DOING EXCEPTIONALLY WELL.

IF WE FAIL, THEN THEY'RE GOING TO PUSH FOR THE COMMERCIAL TRAFFIC TO SAY, YOU GUYS DIDN'T DO A GOOD JOB.

SO. SO I WANT TO BE ABLE TO SUBSTANTIATE.

HEY, WE CAN YOU DON'T NEED I MEAN, WHO THIS IS A VERY CONGESTED AREA.

IF WE CAN GET COMMERCIAL OUT OF THERE, I THINK IT WOULD BE GREAT FOR EVERYONE ELSE, BUT I THINK WE HAVE TO PROVE THAT WE'RE CAPABLE OF DOING IT.

AND THIS STUDY, I THINK, WILL HELP US SAY, WHAT IF YOU DON'T HAVE TO? HOW WOULD YOU FUNCTION? HOW WOULD YOU FUNCTION AROUND THAT? SO ANYWAY, WHATEVER.

AS ALWAYS, THANK YOU. I KNOW YOU TOOK THE TIME TO TO COME HERE, I APPRECIATE THAT.

HAPPY TO DO THAT. AND THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR CONSIDERING THIS THE MATCH ON THIS AND OTHER MPO INITIATIVES.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. REAL QUICK QUESTION, EDUARDO, WHEN WOULD WE EXPECT THE RESULTS OF THE ANALYSIS? WHEN CAN WE EXPECT THOSE? WELL, WE'RE LOOKING AT AT STARTING THE THE MODELING AND HAVE EARLY NUMBERS AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE RIGHT NOW.

YOU KNOW, WE WE OFFERED HELP TO GSA AS PART OF THE, AS PART OF THE THE.

WELL, THE EIS AND THE EVALUATION OF ALTERNATIVES RIGHT NOW SO THAT THEY CAN HAVE A BETTER IDEA, AT LEAST AT, AT THE REGIONAL, SO THAT THEY'RE NOT JUST LOOKING AT THE AT THE IMMEDIATE VICINITY. RIGHT.

I'M LOOKING AT.

I'M HOPEFUL THAT WE ARE GOING TO HAVE SOME SIGNIFICANT RESULTS ON THE MODELING SIDE WITHIN A YEAR.

OKAY. BUT BUT AGAIN, THE THE THE BEAUTY OF HAVING THE TOOLS IS THAT, YOU KNOW, WE CAN DO MULTIPLE, MULTIPLE SCENARIOS.

NOW, WE DON'T WANT TO, YOU KNOW, DROWN OURSELVES IN COMING UP WITH, YOU KNOW, 25 DIFFERENT SCENARIOS.

RIGHT. BUT BUT I THINK PART OF THE STEERING COMMITTEE IS TO FOCUS ON WHICH ARE THE THE SCENARIOS THAT WE REALLY NEED TO LOOK AT AND EVALUATE THEM.

AND, AND, YOU KNOW, WORK WITH THE COMMUNITY ALSO AND, AND OUR STAKEHOLDERS ON THE MEXICAN SIDE.

GREAT. WELL, I, FOR ONE, AM VERY EXCITED ABOUT TO SEE THE RESULTS OF THIS ANALYSIS.

I THINK ONE OF THE VERY FIRST CONVERSATIONS THAT YOU AND I HAD WAS SPECIFICALLY ABOUT THE TORNILLO PORT OF ENTRY, AND HOW WE CAN MAKE IT A MUCH MORE INTEGRAL PART OF OUR ENTIRE REGIONAL INTERNATIONAL CROSSING SYSTEM.

SO I'M VERY EXCITED TO SEE THE RESULTS OF THE STUDY.

THANK YOU COMMISSIONER.

GREAT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

THANK YOU. WE HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE BY COMMISSIONER STOUT.

SECOND BY COMMISSIONER CORONADO.

ITEM FOUR X APPROVE THE WATER AND SEWER RATES FOR THE EL PASO COUNTY WATER SYSTEM, DOING BUSINESS AS EAST MONTANA WATER SYSTEM, AS PRESENTED ON JULY 18TH, 2024, AND AUTHORIZE THE FEES TO TAKE EFFECT OCTOBER 1ST, 2024.

MOTION PASSES.

ADDITIONALLY, ESTABLISH A SPECIAL RATE SUPPORTING THE PROVISION OF AFFORDABLE WATER BY WATER HAULERS TO SUPPLY NON COMMERCIAL RESIDENTS LACKING PUBLIC WATER SERVICES.

[X. Approve the water and sewer rates for the El Paso County Water System d/b/a East Montana Water System as presented on July 18, 2024, and authorize the fees to take effect October 1, 2024. Additionally, establish a special rate supporting the provision of affordable water by water haulers to supply noncommercial residents lacking public water services. (#5197-OP) Norma Rivera-Palacios, Executive Director, Public Works, 915-273-3330]

OPINION NUMBER 5197 OP.

THANK YOU JUDGE.

COMMISSIONER. THIS QUESTION IS REALLY MORE FOR NORMA.

I KNOW YOU AND I HAVE SPOKEN ABOUT THOSE RATES BEFORE, BUT SINCE THE RATES WILL BE INCREASING.

IS THERE A PROACTIVE PROGRAM TO LET THE RESIDENTS KNOW THAT THIS IS COMING?

[01:35:01]

ALSO, THAT AND YOU AND I HAVE SPOKEN ABOUT THIS ALSO, THAT THERE IS GOING TO BE SOME ADJUSTMENTS FROM THE HAULERS TO THEIR FINAL DELIVERY SITES.

IF YOU COULD JUST HOPEFULLY YOUR RESIDENTS CAN SEE THIS.

GOOD MORNING. JUDGE. COMMISSIONERS.

NORMA RIVERA PALACIOS WITH THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT.

YES. ALL OUR CUSTOMERS WILL RECEIVE AN INSERT IN THEIR BILLS TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY'RE AWARE OF THE CHANGES THAT ARE COMING THEIR WAY. ADDITIONALLY, WHEN WORKING WITH MR. LUJAN, WE WILL HAVE AN INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT SPECIFICALLY WITH HIM.

AND IF THERE'S OTHER BUSINESSES THAT ARE INTERESTED IN PROVIDING WATER SERVICE, WE WILL DO THE SAME FOR THEM.

SO THE I HOPE THIS ANSWERS YOUR QUESTION.

YES IT DOES, BUT WHEN MORE OR LESS WILL THAT INFORMATION BE IN THEIR BILLS? THE INSERT ONCE IT'S APPROVED TODAY I'LL WORK WITH EL PASO WATER TO WORK ON THAT INSERT.

AND IT SHOULD BE IN THEIR NEXT BILL.

AND THESE RATES WON'T TAKE EFFECT UNTIL OCTOBER OF 2024.

OKAY. AND IT'S REAL IMPORTANT BECAUSE I THINK THAT FROM WHAT I UNDERSTAND, THE RATES ARE INCREASING IN THE AREA OF 17%.

SO SO IT'S SIGNIFICANT.

AND I WOULD REALLY LIKE FOR THEM TO BE NOT ONLY ONCE BUT MAYBE 3 OR 4 TIMES ON THAT BILL.

SO IF THEY DO HAVE QUESTIONS, THERE ARE NUMBERS THERE THAT THEY CAN CALL MY OFFICE, YOUR OFFICE.

BUT SO WE CAN SIT DOWN WITH THEM AND EXPLAIN TO THEM WHY THOSE RATES ARE GOING UP.

YES, SIR. WE CAN DO THAT.

YES, SIR. BETSY, DID YOU HAVE A.

I JUST WANTED TO ALSO FOR THE PUBLIC SHARE THAT THESE RATES ARE NOT SOMETHING WHERE THE COUNTY IS MAKING ANY KIND OF PROFIT.

THIS IS COVERING THE COST OF PROVIDING THE SYSTEM.

AND SO WE WE DO NOT SET THESE RATES BASED ON AN INTENT TO GENERATE REVENUE TO THE COUNTY.

I JUST, FOR THE PUBLIC'S PERSPECTIVE, WANTED TO SHARE THAT INFORMATION AND THAT THAT THE HAULING RATES WILL ACTUALLY HOPEFULLY IMPROVE RATES TO THE RESIDENTS, SETTING IT AT A LOWER TIER THAN WHAT THE HAULER WAS PREVIOUSLY BEING BILLED AT.

THANK YOU BETSY. I THINK THAT'S VERY IMPORTANT BECAUSE WE'RE NOT IN IT TO MAKE MONEY.

AS YOU SAID, THIS IS JUST THE COSTS ARE GOING UP ALL THE WAY AROUND, AND THIS IS THE ONLY WAY THAT WE CAN CONTINUE WITH THE GOOD SERVICE TO THOSE FOLKS OUT THERE. THANK YOU.

THANK YOU. COMMISSIONER.

WE HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE BY JUDGE SAMANIEGO, SECOND BY COMMISSIONER CORONADO.

ITEM FOUR A APPROVE AND AUTHORIZE THE COUNTY JUDGE TO SIGN THE FIRST RESPONDER.

MOTION PASSES.

COMPREHENSIVE ADDICTION AND RECOVERY ACT AGREEMENT BETWEEN EL PASO MR. DOING BUSINESS AS EMERGENCE HEALTH NETWORK AND EL PASO COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE PCSO TO COORDINATE TRAINING, DEVELOP A PROCESS FOR PROCURING NALOXONE, AND

[AA. Approve and authorize the County Judge to sign the First Responder Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act Agreement Between El Paso MHMR D/B/A Emergence Health Network and El Paso County Sheriff’s Office (EPCSO) to coordinate training, develop a process for procuring NALOXONE, develop a reporting and data collection process, and, when appropriate, guide community members to obtain substance use disorder services from EHN, in accordance with the terms. (Contract No. 2024-0586) Richard Wiles, Sheriff, EPCSO, (915) 538-2006]

DEVELOP A REPORTING AND DATA COLLECTION PROCESS AND, WHEN APPROPRIATE, GUIDE COMMUNITY MEMBERS TO OBTAIN SUBSTANCE ABUSE SUBSTANCE USE DISORDER SERVICES FROM EIN IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE TERMS. CONTRACT NUMBER 2024 0586.

GOOD MORNING, JUDGE SAMANIEGO.

JUDGE, I APOLOGIZE. I COULDN'T BE THERE IN PERSON.

THIS IS A LIEUTENANT SORIA WITH THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE.

THANK YOU. LIEUTENANT.

THIS IS COMMISSIONER SAID I'M THE ONE THAT PULLED THE ITEM.

I JUST WANTED TO TO HIGHLIGHT THE ITEM.

YOU KNOW, AND GIVE A LITTLE MORE INFORMATION TO THE PUBLIC BECAUSE I THINK THIS IS YOU KNOW, A PROJECT THAT THE COUNTY IS WORKING ON WITH, WITH THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT, WITH WITH THE EMERGENCE HEALTH NETWORK.

AND SOMETHING THAT THAT I WANT THE I WANT THE PUBLIC TO KNOW YOU KNOW, WHAT WE'RE DOING AND HOW WE'RE DOING IT WHEN IT COMES TO, YOU KNOW, TRYING TO REDUCE OVERDOSES WHEN, WHEN WE, WE HAVE OPIOID OVERDOSES.

AND SO I WAS WONDERING IF YOU COULD JUST GIVE A JUST A QUICK OVERVIEW OF, OF HOW THIS PARTNERSHIP IS GOING TO WORK OUT.

LIEUTENANT. YES, SIR.

COMMISSIONER STOUT. SO, OF COURSE, WE ARE IN HAVING A PARTNERSHIP WITH REFERENCE TO THE NARCAN.

THEY WILL BE GIVING TRAINING TO EACH AND EVERY OFFICER PATROL AS WELL AS DETENTION.

ONCE WE DO HAVE THE TRAINING, WE WILL PROCURE THE NARCAN TO HAVE IT USED IN THE JAIL AS WELL AS IN PUBLIC WHEN NEEDED.

AND CAN YOU CAN CAN YOU CAN YOU SPEAK A LITTLE BIT TO THE TO THE IMPORTANCE OF OF OF THE, OF THE PROGRAM AND WHY YOU ALL AT THE SHERIFF'S SHERIFF'S OFFICE NEED NARCAN BOTH INSIDE THE JAIL AND AND AS YOU ALL ARE GOING ABOUT YOUR YOUR PATROLLING ON THE STREETS.

[01:40:06]

SO, COMMISSIONER, IN THE PAST I HAVE ACTUALLY COMPILED DATA REFERENCE TO THE USE OF NARCAN AND I BELIEVE OVERALL TWO YEARS AGO, AS WELL AS LAST YEAR, I THINK THERE WAS SEVEN AND FIVE DEPLOYMENTS OF THE NARCAN, AND THEY WERE ALL POSITIVE DEPLOYMENTS.

AND THIS IS THROUGH JUST THE COUNTY.

SO IT IS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT THAT WE DO HAVE THIS NARCAN ISSUE TO US FOR THE MEASURES, OF COURSE, WHEN IT IS NEEDED FOR THE PUBLIC.

THANK YOU. LIEUTENANT. YOU KNOW, ANOTHER THING THAT I WANTED TO TO ALSO POINT OUT AND I THINK THAT'S THAT'S GREAT, IS THAT THERE'S GOING TO BE A REFERRAL PROTOCOL DEVELOPED OR THERE IS A REFERRAL PROTOCOL DEVELOPED THAT THAT HELPS WITH, WITH TIMELY AND ORDERLY REFERRALS BEING MADE TO EVEN TO MAKE SURE THAT THERE'S FOLLOW UP AFTER, AFTER THAT REFERRAL.

AND JUST AND ALSO MAKING SURE THAT WE'RE WE'RE, WE'RE GATHERING DATA AS, AS WE GO THROUGH THIS TYPE OF THIS TYPE OF PROGRAM AND TREATMENT FOR THE PUBLIC.

SO I DON'T HAVE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU. LIEUTENANT.

I JUST WANT TO THANK OUR STAFF, THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE AND AND EDEN FOR THEIR PARTNERSHIP.

THIS IS THIS IS SOMETHING THAT YOU KNOW, HAS, HAS, HAS BEEN NEEDED IN OUR COMMUNITY AND WILL CONTINUE TO BE NEEDED.

AND I REALLY WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT IT.

SO THANK YOU SO MUCH AND I'LL MOVE TO APPROVE THE ITEM.

IF SOMEBODY ALREADY HAS NOT.

WE HAD A MOTION FROM COMMISSIONER CORONADO, A SECOND FROM JUDGE SAMANIEGO.

OH, COMMISSIONER LEON STEPPED AWAY.

COMMISSIONER LEON IS ABSENT FOR THIS VOTE.

COMMISSIONERS. AND ESPECIALLY YOU, COMMISSIONER STOUT.

THANK YOU. JUDGE.

I APOLOGIZE FOR NOT BEING THERE IN PERSON, BUT I WANTED TO THANK YOU.

AND THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THIS UP AT OPEN COURT.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENTS.

THANK YOU. JUDGE, WE'D LIKE TO GO AHEAD AND MOVE INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION.

COMMISSIONER STOUT IS YOUR APPOINTEE HERE OR WE NEED TO POSTPONE.

WE NEED TO POSTPONE THAT ONE.

WE'RE STILL WAITING ON CONFIRMATION OF THE TRAINING THAT'S BEEN DONE.

SO YOU WANT TO GO AHEAD AND WE COULD JUST VOTE TO POSTPONE.

NO, WE DON'T NEED TO.

MAYBE TO THE END OF THE MEETING. YEAH.

WE'RE WORKING ON.

OKAY. OKAY. SO WE WILL BE MOVING INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION.

I WILL DO PUBLIC COMMENT FIRST.

A PUBLIC COMMENT. YES.

THANK YOU. SORRY.

THAT WAS MY FAULT, I PROBABLY JUST.

SO WE'RE GOING INTO PUBLIC COMMENTS, RIGHT? YES. WE DO HAVE ONE SPEAKER SIGNED UP FOR.

I SAW THEM MOVING OUT SO YOU CAN STAY.

WE HAVE CRAWFORD.

OKAY. OUR FIRST SPEAKER WE HAVE IS MISS ELIZABETH CRAWFORD.

AND JUST AS A REMINDER, THERE IS A FIVE MINUTE TIME LIMIT FOR PUBLIC COMMENT.

[PUBLIC COMMENT]

GOOD MORNING TO YOU ALL.

THANK YOU SO MUCH. GOOD MORNING.

GOOD MORNING ELIZABETH.

GOOD MORNING SIR.

THERE'S A HAS BEEN A VERY VOCAL GROUP IN EL PASO ADVOCATING FOR THE LIBERATION OF THE PALESTINIAN PEOPLE.

THEY STAND IN OPPOSITION TO, QUOTE, THE ACTIONS OF THE ZIONIST ENTITY.

THE SITUATION OF THE MIDDLE EAST HAS TAKEN OVER THE NEWS IN OUR NATION AND AROUND THE WORLD.

I WANT TO SPEAK BRIEFLY ABOUT A GROUP OF PEOPLE THAT'S OFTEN OVERLOOKED IN THE NEWS THE TINY CHRISTIAN COMMUNITIES IN GAZA.

CENTURIES BEFORE THE ADVENT OF THE LORD JESUS, IT WAS PROPHESIED BY THE HEBREW PROPHET ZECHARIAH THAT THE TINY NATION OF ISRAEL WOULD BE THE FOCAL POINT OF THE WHOLE WORLD.

WE'RE SEEING THIS COME TO PASS IN OUR LIFETIME.

ZECHARIAH CHAPTER 12.

THE BURDEN OF THE WORD OF THE LORD FOR ISRAEL, SAITH THE LORD, WHO STRETCHES FORTH THE HEAVENS AND LAYS THE FOUNDATION OF THE EARTH, AND FORMS THE SPIRIT OF MAN WITHIN HIM.

BEHOLD, I WILL MAKE JERUSALEM A CUP OF TREMBLING UNTO ALL THE PEOPLE ROUND ABOUT, WHEN THEY SHALL BE IN THE SIEGE, BOTH AGAINST JUDAH AND AGAINST JERUSALEM.

AND IN THAT DAY WILL I MAKE JERUSALEM A BURDENSOME STONE FOR ALL PEOPLE, ALL THAT BURDEN THEMSELVES WITH IT SHALL BE CUT IN PIECES, THOUGH ALL THE PEOPLE OF THE EARTH BE GATHERED TOGETHER AGAINST IT.

AS OUR MEDIA AND OUR WORLD HAVE GROWN INCREASINGLY PRO-PALESTINIAN AND ANTI-ISRAEL, I WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK ABOUT THIS TINY GROUP OF CHRISTIANS IN GAZA WHO ARE THREE TIMES THE VICTIMS OF HAMAS.

THEY HAVE REGULARLY BEEN DISCRIMINATED AGAINST AND TERRORIZED OVER THE DECADES FOR THEIR FAITH IN JESUS CHRIST.

NOW, THE CHRISTIANS OF GAZA ARE SUFFERING WITH THE ATTEMPTS OF THE IDF TO TRACK DOWN AND ELIMINATE HAMAS.

[01:45:03]

FURTHERMORE, THE GAZAN CHRISTIANS ARE UNABLE TO GET AID IN MANY CASES FOR THE PEOPLE OF INTENDED FOR THE PEOPLE OF GAZA AS IT GETS HIJACKED BY HAMAS. ALL OF OUR NATION.

WE SEE PROTESTS WITH THE SLOGAN FREE PALESTINE, FREE PALESTINE.

BUT TO WHAT? TO A COMBINED HAMAS AND FATAH LEADERSHIP TO BE GOVERNED BY THE OFFICIALS IT ONCE ELECTED HAMAS, THE TERRORIST GROUP.

IS THIS FREEDOM? NO. THE UN AND MAINSTREAM MEDIA ARE SERIOUSLY DECEIVED AND DECEITFUL.

THE HAMAS CHARTER EXPLICITLY LAYS OUT ITS GOAL.

YOU CAN SEE IT ONLINE THE DESTRUCTION OF ISRAEL.

THE HAMAS CHARTER, THE HAMAS COVENANT, IS EXPLICITLY STATES THAT THEIR GOAL.

AND NOW, IN THE NEWS ON ISRAEL'S OTHER BORDER, WE SAW HOW THE ROCKETS HIT A SOCCER STADIUM, A BALL FIELD, AND IN ISRAEL AND CHILDREN WERE KILLED.

THESE WERE DRUZE CHILDREN.

THESE WERE NOT EVEN ISRAELI CHILDREN.

THEY WERE ARABIC.

ARABIC CHILDREN WERE KILLED IN THIS CONFLICT.

MANY OF US, JUST ABOUT EVERY DAY ARE PRAYING FOR THE PEOPLE OF ISRAEL AND THE PEOPLE OF GAZA, FOR THE GOSPEL OF PEACE TO GO OUT, EVEN IN AN AREA RAVAGED BY WAR.

WE LOOK FORWARD TO THE DAY PREDICTED IN THE HEBREW SCRIPTURES.

IN ZECHARIAH 12 1314, GOD SPOKE THESE WORDS CENTURIES BEFORE THE FIRST ADVENT OF JESUS CHRIST.

AND I WILL POUR OUT UPON THE HOUSE OF DAVID AND UPON THE INHABITANTS OF JERUSALEM, THE SPIRIT OF GRACE AND OF SUPPLICATION.

AND THEY SHALL LOOK UPON ME, WHOM THEY HAVE PIERCED, AND THEY SHALL MOURN FOR HIM AS ONE MOURNETH FOR HIS ONLY SON, AND SHALL BE IN BITTERNESS FOR HIM AS ONE THAT IS IN BITTERNESS FOR HIS FIRSTBORN.

IN THAT DAY THERE SHALL BE A FOUNTAIN OPENED TO THE HOUSE OF DAVID, AND TO THE INHABITANTS OF JERUSALEM FOR SIN AND FOR UNCLEANNESS.

AND IT SHALL BE IN THAT DAY THAT LIVING WATERS SHALL GO OUT FROM JERUSALEM.

AND THE LORD SHALL BE KING OVER ALL THE EARTH.

IN THAT DAY THERE SHALL BE ONE LORD AND HIS NAME ONE.

FROM THE RIVER TO THE SEA, AND INFINITELY BEYOND.

ONE DAY GOD'S REDEEMED PEOPLE WILL BE FREE.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

I HOPE YOU HAVE A GOOD DAY. THANK YOU.

TAKE CARE ELIZABETH.

THANK YOU SIR. THANK YOU.

JUDGE. WE WILL BE GOING INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION NOW.

HOWEVER, WE DO HAVE A COUPLE MOTIONS WE NEED.

WE WILL BE DELETING ITEM 12 E PURSUANT TO TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE SECTION 551.071.

DISCUSS LEGAL RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES REGARDING LITIGATION STYLE.

UNITED STATES VERSUS TEXAS.

NUMBER 2450149.

COUNTY ATTORNEY'S FILE NUMBER 016523 PL, ALONG WITH THE CORRESPONDING ITEM IN REGULAR SESSION 13.

[E. Pursuant to Texas Government Code Section 551.071, discuss legal rights and responsibilities regarding litigation styled United States v. Texas, No. 24-50149, County Attorney’s File No. 0165-23-PL. Bernardo Cruz, Assistant County Attorney, County Attorney's Office, 915-273-3247]

B DISCUSS AND TAKE APPROPRIATE ACTION REGARDING LEGAL RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES REGARDING LITIGATION STYLED UNITED STATES VERSUS TEXAS.

NUMBER 2450149 COUNTY ATTORNEY'S FILE NUMBER 016523.

PL COULD WE HAVE A MOTION TO DELETE THOSE TWO ITEMS BEFORE? BEFORE WE TAKE UP THAT MOTION, I'D LIKE TO JUST MAKE A PUBLIC COMMENT THAT OUR THE EL PASO FIGURE SKATING CLUB CLUB HAS JUST WON THE WORLD

[B. Discuss and take appropriate action regarding legal rights and responsibilities regarding litigation styled United States v. Texas, No. 24-50149, County Attorney’s File No. 0165-23-PL. Bernardo Cruz, Assistant County Attorney, County Attorney's Office, 915-273-3247]

CHAMPIONSHIPS AGAIN IN THEIR ISI LEAGUE.

I WAS INFORMED THEY TRAIN AT OUR COUNTY ICE SKATING RINK AND WE RECOGNIZED THEM HIM LAST YEAR, BUT WOW, THEY DID IT AGAIN.

GREAT. SO JUST CONGRATULATIONS.

YEAH. THAT'S AMAZING.

AND WE HAVE A MOTION BY COMMISSIONER OLGUIN, SECOND BY COMMISSIONER STOUT TO DELETE THOSE TWO ITEMS. THE VOTING IS OPEN.

WE DO HAVE A LEGAL MEMO TO READ IN BY THE COUNTY ATTORNEYS.

AND ALSO FOR ITEM 12 H.

JUDGE, COMMISSIONERS ERIC GAGLIONE, ASSISTANT COUNTY ATTORNEY, SECTION 551.0725 OF THE TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE AUTHORIZES THE COURT TO CONDUCT A CLOSED MEETING TO DELIBERATE BUSINESS AND FINANCIAL ISSUES RELATING TO A CONTRACT UNDER NEGOTIATIONS IF THREE CONDITIONS ARE MET.

[H. Pursuant to Texas Government Code Section 551.0725, discuss ongoing negotiations regarding the Energy Construction Services Contract and the Equipment Lease/Purchase Agreement between El Paso County and Schneider Electric Building Americas, Inc. Jose Landeros, Director, Strategic Capital Development, 915-546-2215]

THE COURT VOTES UNANIMOUSLY.

THAT DELIBERATION AND OPEN WOULD HAVE A DETRIMENTAL EFFECT ON YOUR POSITION IN NEGOTIATIONS WITH A THIRD PARTY TO THE ATTORNEY ADVISES WRITTEN DETERMINATION THAT DELIBERATION AND OPEN MEETING WOULD HAVE A DETRIMENTAL EFFECT.

AND THEN THREE. A TAPE RECORDING OF THE PROCEEDINGS IN CLOSED SESSION IS MADE.

SO WE HAVE A MEMO THAT SERVES TO FULFILL THE REQUIREMENT.

AND TWO, ASSISTANT COUNTY ATTORNEY ANNA SCHUMACHER DETERMINED THAT DELIBERATION AND OPEN MEETING CONCERNING ISSUES RELATING TO NEGOTIATIONS WITH SCHNEIDER ELECTRIC BUILDINGS AMERICAS, INC.

REGARDING AN ENERGY AND CONSTRUCTION SERVICES CONTRACT MADE PURSUANT TO CHAPTER 302 OF THE TEXAS LOCAL GOVERNMENT CODE, IF DISCUSSED IN OPEN, WOULD HAVE A DETRIMENTAL EFFECT ON THE POSITION OF THE COURT IN NEGOTIATIONS.

SO WE'RE ASKING FOR A VOTE ON THAT MATTER, TO TAKE IT INTO CLOSED SESSION SESSION.

EXCUSE ME. AND THEN WE'RE GOING TO ASK THE COUNTY CLERK TO ENSURE THE PROCEEDINGS AND CLOSE ARE RECORDED.

AND THEN THIS MEMO HAS BEEN FILED WITH THE CLERK'S REPRESENTATIVE AS WELL.

[01:50:05]

HAVE A MOTION BY JUDGE SAMANIEGO, SECOND BY COMMISSIONER OLGUIN.

CARRIES. COMMISSIONERS COURT WILL NOW RECESS INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION TO DISCUSS ITEMS 12, A, B, C, D, E, F, G, AND H.

PURSUANT TO TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE SECTION 551.07155, 1.0745 AND 551.0725.

[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.]

I'M SORRY, THAT WAS 551.074.

COMMISSIONERS COURT WILL RECONVENE TO TAKE OFFICIAL ACTION.

[02:02:24]

IT'S IMPORTANT FOR YOUR CHILDREN TO STAY CURRENT ON ALL THEIR ROUTINE VACCINES.

[02:02:28]

ALSO, CHILDREN FIVE AND OLDER ARE NOT ELIGIBLE FOR THE COVID 19 VACCINE.

I AM CURRENT AND ALL MY VACCINES AND I ALSO GET THE COVID VACCINE, SO I AND MY LOVED ONES CAN BE PROTECTED.

AND IF YOU'VE ALREADY GOTTEN THE VACCINE, YOU SHOULD GET YOUR BOOSTER FOR YOUR CHILD'S ROUTINE VACCINES.

WE KNOW HOW MUCH YOU LOVE YOUR CHILDREN, SO REMEMBER DON'T HESITATE.

VACCINATE AS IMPORTANT SUS HIJOS TENGAN TODAS SUS VACUNAS.

ADEMAS DE LAS VACUNAS RUTINAS LOS NINOS MAYORES DE CINCO ANOS, AHORA SON ELEGIBLES PARA LA VACUNA DE COVID 19.

LA VACUNA COVID-19 ES GRATIS PARA LAS VACUNAS RUTINA DE SUS HIJOS.

VISITA EP HEALTH COM SABEMOS CUANTO A MAS DE TUS HIJOS, ASI RECUERDA NO LO DUDES VACCINATE.

SO TODAY WE ARE CELEBRATING THE 4TH OF JULY HERE AT ASCARATE PARK.

ONCE IT GETS DARK, WE'LL HAVE A BEAUTIFUL FIREWORKS DISPLAY FOR THE COMMUNITY.

YOU KNOW, ASCARATE PARK IS THE HEART OF EL PASO COUNTY.

THIS IS OUR COUNTY PARK WHERE FAMILIES FOR GENERATIONS HAVE LOVE TO COME AND PLAY AND FISH.

SO WE'RE REALLY HAPPY TO BE ABLE TO OPEN UP THE PARK ON THE 4TH OF JULY.

SO HOPEFULLY IF THERE'S FAMILIES OUT THERE THAT WEREN'T ABLE TO MAKE IT THIS YEAR, WE DEFINITELY WANT TO INVITE THEM TO JOIN US NEXT YEAR.

WE'RE GETTING OUR 4TH OF JULY GLASSES.

YEAH, IT'S JULY 4TH THIS YEAR.

WE'RE DOING OUR VIP EVENT, WHICH I'M STANDING IN FRONT OF RIGHT NOW HERE AT THE PAVILION, OUR SPECIAL EVENTS AREA.

WE EVEN HAVE A MOVIE INDOORS THAT THE KIDS WOULD PREFER TO WATCH A MOVIE OVER.

FIREWORKS. BUT THE TICKETS FOR OUR VIP AREA THIS YEAR WERE $45 FOR ADULTS, AND THAT PROVIDED A BRISKET DINNER.

AND THEN FOR THE REST OF THE PUBLIC, NOT AT THE VIP EVENT.

WE HAVE MULTIPLE FOOD TRUCKS OVER HERE AT THE SPECIAL EVENTS AREA AND ON OUR LAWN.

IF YOU HAVE NOT BEEN TO A FIREWORKS SHOW IN A SKELETON PARK, COME ON OUT.

[02:05:01]

YOU KNOW, PARKS ARE A PLACE OF DEMOCRACY WHERE WE ALL, YOU KNOW, ALL WALKS OF LIFE ARE COMING TOGETHER AND SHARING.

SO THAT'S KIND OF THE BEAUTY OF IT HERE ON INDEPENDENCE DAY.

I WAS NOT KNOWING WHAT TO DO HERE IN EL PASO AS A NEW RESIDENT, AND I LOOKED INTO SOME RESOURCES.

I WAS ABLE TO DISCOVER THAT HERE IN ASCARATE PARK THEY HAD A GREAT FIREWORKS EVENT.

THERE'S A NEW RESIDENT HERE TO THE COUNTY OF EL PASO.

I'M VERY GRATEFUL THAT WE HAVE SOMETHING LIKE THIS EXISTING.

HAPPY INDEPENDENCE DAY, EL PASO.

WE ARE AT EL PASO'S LARGEST ALL ABILITIES PLAYGROUND.

THIS IS A PROJECT THAT HAS BEEN MANY YEARS IN THE MAKING.

AND THIS HAS BEEN A BEAUTIFUL PROJECT AND EVERYONE IN THE COMMUNITY IS SO EXCITED.

YOU KNOW, THIS IS A GREAT PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN THE ORGANIZATION MOMS ON BOARD, THE NONPROFIT, THE COUNTY OF EL PASO, THE TEXAS PARKS AND WILDLIFE DEPARTMENT.

TOGETHER, WE CREATED THE PLAN OF HAVING THREE ALL ABILITIES PARKS INSTEAD OF JUST ONE, SO THAT WE COULD HAVE REACHED ALL CORNERS OF THE COUNTY.

WOW. SO THERE'S THE FIRST ONE THAT OPENED WAS GALLEGOS PARK IN THE FAR WEST AND FAR EAST WAS RISINGER IN FABENS.

THE FLOORING IS ALSO SPECIALLY MADE AND CONDUCIVE TO FOLKS WITH DIFFERENT TYPES OF ABILITIES.

ONE, TWO, THREE.

AND SO, YOU KNOW, WE'VE GOT SLIDES.

SO FOR EXAMPLE THIS ONE OVER HERE THE SWAY FAN, IT'S A IT'S A SEESAW.

BUT A CHILD OR A PERSON WHO'S USING A WHEELCHAIR OR A WHEELCHAIR DOES NOT NEED TO EXIT THEIR WHEELCHAIR.

THEY CAN WHEEL INTO IT AND EXPERIENCE THE FUN.

AND I REALLY WANT TO THANK EVERYONE FOR MAKING THIS HAPPEN.

WELCOME. WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THE PARK? IT'S VERY GOOD, OBVIOUSLY.

GREAT. WELL, ARE YOU GOING TO GO PLAY? YEAH. ALL RIGHT.

THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT THIS IS ALL ABOUT, RIGHT? CADEN AND HIS CLASSMATES AT RIVERSIDE ELEMENTARY WHO JOINED US TODAY.

THEIR PLAY ISN'T IMPACTED WITH NOW HAVING KIDS WITH DISABILITIES COME AND JOIN THEM.

IT OPENS UP THAT RELATIONSHIP AND THAT COMMUNICATION AND MORE IMPORTANTLY, THAT UNDERSTANDING OF OF EVERYBODY IN OUR HUMANITY.

WALK AROUND A DAY WITHOUT YOUR IDENTIFICATION AND SEE HOW MANY TIMES YOU REACH FOR YOUR WALLET AND IF YOU DON'T HAVE IT.

WHAT YOU CANNOT DO.

VERY EXCITED, HAPPY AND PROUD THAT THIS PROJECT HAS FINALLY COME TO FRUITION, BECAUSE THIS IS AN INITIATIVE THAT THE COUNTY STARTED WORKING ON, ALONG WITH BORDER NETWORK FOR HUMAN RIGHTS MANY, MANY YEARS AGO, NINE, ALMOST TEN YEARS AGO.

I KNOW THE GOVERNMENT WORKS SLOW, BUT, YOU KNOW, WE PERSEVERED AND WE WE WE DIDN'T GIVE UP.

WE DID HAVE TO TALK TO ALL OF OUR COMMUNITY PARTNERS TO MAKE SURE THAT THIS LIBRARY CARD WOULD BE ACCEPTED AS A FORM OF ID, AND I'M REALLY HAPPY TO REPORT THAT EVERYONE UNDERSTANDS WHY THIS PROGRAM IS IMPORTANT.

IT'S A VERY GOOD PROGRAM THAT CAME OVER HERE, ESPECIALLY HERE IN FABENS.

THE COMMUNITY NEEDS SOMETHING LIKE THIS TO BE ENHANCED AND FOR EVERYBODY TO KNOW, AND IT WILL HELP ALL OF US.

YOU HAVE A DIFFERENT COMMUNITIES WHO JUST CAN'T GET THAT STATE ISSUED ID, BUT BECAUSE THEY HAVE ACCESS TO THIS ENHANCED LIBRARY CARD, THEY'LL BE ABLE TO ENGAGE IN A LOT OF ACTIVITIES THAT THEY WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO OTHERWISE.

THIS IS GOING TO HELP PEOPLE ACCESS BANKING SERVICES, HEALTHCARE, MEDICAL SERVICES.

YOU'VE GOT FOLKS WHO NEED TO BE ABLE TO GET COPIES OF THEIR KIDS BIRTH CERTIFICATES FROM THE COUNTY CLERK, WHO CAN NOW USE THIS ID TO DO THAT AS WELL.

[02:10:01]

YOU HAVE PEOPLE WHO MAYBE DON'T HAVE AN ID, AND SO ARE AFRAID TO REPORT THAT THEY'VE BEEN THE VICTIM OF A CRIME TO POLICE BECAUSE THEY KNOW THAT THE POLICE MIGHT ASK THEM FOR ID.

SO NOW HAVING THIS ENHANCED LIBRARY CARD WILL GIVE THEM THAT SECURITY THAT THEY KNOW THEY CAN CALL AND ASK THE POLICE FOR HELP.

THIS IS A GREAT EXAMPLE OF A PARTNERSHIP THAT WE HAVE WITH THE CITY.

I THINK IF WE TRY, WE ARE PROVIDING ONE MORE LEVEL OF INCLUSIVITY FOR ALL OF THE RESIDENTS HERE IN EL PASO.

THAT'S WHAT I THINK THE COUNTY HAS ESPOUSED THE VALUE OF BEING INCLUSIVE.

I BET YOU'VE HEARD ABOUT ROUTE 66, BUT WHAT ABOUT THE MISSION TRAIL? IT MAY BE ONLY NINE MILES LONG, BUT IT'S A VERY SPECIAL PART OF THE AREA NEAR EL PASO, AND IT MIGHT JUST BE A FUN VACATION FOR THE ENTIRE FAMILY.

EL PASO COUNTY COMMISSIONER OF PRECINCT 13, ILIANA HOLGUIN, JOINS ME THIS MORNING.

BUT NOW I WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU EVERYTHING I CAN ABOUT EL PASO.

BECAUSE WE WANT TO INVITE PEOPLE TO COME AND GET TO KNOW EL PASO.

SPECIFICALLY, WE'RE KICKING OFF THE TOURIST SEASON ALONG THE MISSION TRAIL, WHICH, LIKE YOU SAID, IS A NINE MILE STRETCH OF ROAD ENCOMPASSING THREE HISTORIC MISSIONS.

THESE MISSIONS REPRESENT ABOUT 350 YEARS OF OUR CULTURE, OUR HISTORY, OUR TRADITIONS.

ON ANY GIVEN WEEKEND, YOU CAN STILL SEE WEDDINGS BEING PERFORMED QUINCEANERAS.

THE TIGUA CULTURAL DANCERS.

SO THESE ARE STILL ACTIVE MISSIONS THAT ARE VERY MUCH A PART OF THE COMMUNITY.

IF YOU LIKE ART, WE'VE GOT GREAT RESTAURANTS, A BREWERY, CAFES AND OF COURSE, THE SPEAKING ROCK ENTERTAINMENT CENTER, WHICH OFFERS FREE CONCERTS EVERY SINGLE WEEKEND.

SO I MUST SAY, EL PASO HAS TO BE A MUST VISIT DESTINATION BECAUSE THEY DON'T MAKE DOCUMENTARIES ABOUT ANYTHING NOWADAYS.

THERE'S A DOCUMENTARY THAT WAS JUST MADE ABOUT EL PASO.

YEAH, WE'RE VERY PROUD OF ALL OF THE NATIONAL ATTENTION THAT EL PASO IS RECEIVING.

AND JUST TO MENTION SOME MORE RECOGNITIONS THAT WE'RE VERY, VERY PROUD OF.

SO FOR 2023, TEXAS TRAVEL MAGAZINE NAMED THE MISSION TRAIL THE BEST HISTORIC SITE IN TEXAS AND ONE OF THE SMALL COMMUNITIES LOCATED ALONG THE MISSION TRAIL OF SAN ELIZARIO. THE CITY OF SAN ELIZARIO, WHICH IS HOME TO THE PRESIDIO CHAPEL OF SAN ELIZARIO, WAS NAMED THE BEST HISTORIC SMALL TOWN IN AMERICA FOR 2023 BY USA TODAY. AND WHAT'S SPECIAL THAT YOU GOT? I'M SURE YOU GUYS ARE GOING TO HAVE A LOT OF THINGS THAT ARE GOING TO BE HAPPENING OVER THE SUMMER, BUT THERE'S SOME SPECIAL STUFF THAT WILL BE HAPPENING THIS SUMMER.

WELL, ON ANY THIRD SUNDAY OF THE MONTH, FOLKS CAN COME DOWN TO SAN ELIZARIO WHERE WE HAVE AN ART MARKET.

WE HAVE A LOT OF WONDERFUL, WONDERFUL LOCAL ARTISTS WHO WILL SHOW OFF ALL OF THEIR ARTISTRY.

WE ALSO HAVE A REENACTMENT OF BILLY THE KID BREAKING INTO THE WHAT WAS THEN THE EL PASO COUNTY JAIL TO BREAK OUT A FRIEND OF HIS FROM JAIL. SO WE HAVE SOME LOCAL ACTORS WHO DO A REENACTMENT, AND IT'S JUST A VERY FUN ENVIRONMENT.

YOU CAN WALK AROUND, OF COURSE, EXPLORE THE CHAPEL.

AND WE ALSO HAVE A LOT OF GREAT RESTAURANTS AND NEW BUSINESSES THAT HAVE OPENED UP.

SO FOR EXAMPLE, NEAR THE SOCORRO MISSION IN SOCORRO, TEXAS.

WE HAVE A NEW BREWERY.

AND THEN IF YOU WANT TO GO TO THE YSLETA MISSION, THAT'S WHERE WE.

IT'S LOCATED RIGHT NEXT TO SPEAKING ROCK ENTERTAINMENT CENTER, WHERE, AS I MENTIONED, THEY HAVE A LOT OF FREE CONCERTS.

YOU ALSO HAVE A LOT OF TEGUA POTTERY.

THEY BAKE THEIR BREAD FRESH IN THE OVEN, SO YOU CAN SEE HOW BREAD IS BAKED IN THE OLD TRADITION.

IT SOUNDS LIKE IT'S A LOT OF HISTORY, BUT YOU GUYS HAVE INCORPORATED A LOT OF ENTERTAINMENT TO BRING THAT INTO LEARNING HISTORY ABOUT EL PASO.

DEFINITELY. SO WE'RE REALLY PROUD OF OUR HERITAGE AND OUR TRADITIONS.

AND ONE OF THE NEATEST THINGS I THINK ABOUT THE MISSIONS IS THAT THEY'RE STILL VERY ACTIVE PARTS OF OUR COMMUNITY.

SO A LOT OF TIMES YOU GO TO HISTORICAL PLACES AND YOU KNOW, THEY'RE ROPED OFF AND YOU CAN'T REALLY GO IN.

OKAY. SO FOR SOMEONE WHO'S NEVER BEEN TO EL PASO, WHAT'S THE PERFECT BLUEPRINT TO REALLY ENJOY EL PASO FOR THE FIRST TIME? WELL, WE HAVE SO MUCH TO DO.

SO DEFINITELY YOU KNOW, WE WANT TO START WITH THE MISSION TRAIL.

WE WANT TO INVITE EVERYONE TO COME OUT TO THE MISSION TRAIL, BUT WE ALSO HAVE WATER PARKS.

AND I THINK A LOT OF TIMES EL PASO IS, YOU KNOW, FOLKS KIND OF DRIVE THROUGH EL PASO ON THEIR WAY TO SOMEWHERE ELSE, BUT IT'S JUST SO WORTH IT TO STOP FOR A FEW DAYS AND SPEND TIME IN EL PASO. WE DEFINITELY WANT EL PASO TO BECOME A DESTINATION.

[02:15:01]

CITY COMMISSIONER ILIANA HOLGUIN, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING ME THIS MORNING.

IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO LEARN MORE INFORMATION ABOUT EL PASO OR PLANNING YOUR VACATION TO THIS AMAZING DESTINATION, YOU CAN GO TO THE WEBSITE YOU SEE ON YOUR SCREEN.

IT'S IMPORTANT FOR YOUR CHILDREN TO STAY CURRENT ON ALL THEIR ROUTINE VACCINES.

[02:20:02]

ALSO, CHILDREN FIVE AND OLDER ARE NOT ELIGIBLE FOR THE COVID 19 VACCINE.

I AM CURRENT AND ALL MY VACCINES AND I ALSO GET THE COVID VACCINE, SO I AND MY LOVED ONES CAN BE PROTECTED.

AND IF YOU'VE ALREADY GOTTEN THE VACCINE, YOU SHOULD GET YOUR BOOSTER FOR YOUR CHILD'S ROUTINE VACCINES, VISIT EP 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 LAS VACUNAS RUTINAS LOS NINOS MAYORES DE CINCO ANOS, AHORA SON ELEGIBLES PARA LA VACUNA DE COVID 19.

LA VACUNA COVID 19 ES GRATIS PARA LAS VACUNAS RUTINAS DE SUS HIJOS.

VISITA EP HEALTH.COM SABEMOS CUANTO A MAS DE TUS HIJOS? ASI RECUERDA NO LO DUDES VACUNA.

SO TODAY WE ARE CELEBRATING THE 4TH OF JULY HERE AT ASCARATE PARK.

ONCE IT GETS DARK, WE'LL HAVE A BEAUTIFUL FIREWORKS DISPLAY FOR THE COMMUNITY.

YOU KNOW, ASCARATE PARK IS THE HEART OF EL PASO COUNTY.

THIS IS OUR COUNTY PARK WHERE FAMILIES FOR GENERATIONS HAVE LOVED TO COME AND PLAY AND FISH.

SO WE'RE REALLY HAPPY TO BE ABLE TO OPEN UP THE PARK ON THE 4TH OF JULY.

SO HOPEFULLY, IF THERE'S FAMILIES OUT THERE THAT WEREN'T ABLE TO MAKE IT THIS YEAR, WE DEFINITELY WANT TO INVITE THEM TO JOIN US NEXT YEAR.

THIS YEAR WE'RE DOING OUR VIP EVENT, WHICH I'M STANDING IN FRONT OF RIGHT NOW HERE AT THE PAVILION, OUR SPECIAL EVENTS AREA.

YEAH, IT'S JULY 4TH.

IF THE KIDS WOULD PREFER TO WATCH A MOVIE OVER FIREWORKS.

BUT THE TICKETS FOR OUR VIP AREA THIS YEAR WERE $45 FOR ADULTS, AND THAT PROVIDED A BRISKET DINNER.

AND THEN FOR THE REST OF THE PUBLIC, NOT AT THE VIP EVENT.

WE HAD MULTIPLE FOOD TRUCKS OVER HERE AT THE SPECIAL EVENTS AREA AND ON OUR LAWN.

IF YOU HAVE NOT BEEN TO A FIREWORKS SHOW IN A SKELETON PARK, COME ON OUT.

YOU KNOW, PARKS ARE A PLACE OF DEMOCRACY WHERE WE ALL, YOU KNOW, ALL WALKS OF LIFE ARE COMING TOGETHER AND SHARING.

SO THAT'S KIND OF THE BEAUTY OF IT HERE ON INDEPENDENCE DAY.

I WAS NOT KNOWING WHAT TO DO HERE IN EL PASO AS A NEW RESIDENT, AND I LOOKED INTO SOME RESOURCES.

I WAS ABLE TO DISCOVER THAT HERE IN ASCARATE PARK THEY HAD A GREAT FIREWORKS EVENT.

THERE'S A NEW RESIDENT HERE TO THE COUNTY OF EL PASO.

I'M VERY GRATEFUL THAT WE HAVE SOMETHING LIKE THIS EXISTING.

I CAN'T ASK FOR MORE THAN A HAPPY INDEPENDENCE DAY, EL PASO.

WE ARE AT EL PASO'S LARGEST ALL ABILITIES PLAYGROUND.

THIS IS A PROJECT THAT HAS BEEN MANY YEARS IN THE MAKING.

AND THIS HAS BEEN A BEAUTIFUL PROJECT AND EVERYONE IN THE COMMUNITY IS SO EXCITED.

YOU KNOW, THIS IS A GREAT PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN THE ORGANIZATION MOMS ON BOARD, THE NONPROFIT, THE COUNTY OF EL PASO, THE TEXAS PARKS AND WILDLIFE DEPARTMENT.

TOGETHER, WE CREATED THE PLAN OF HAVING THREE ALL ABILITIES PARKS INSTEAD OF JUST ONE, SO THAT WE COULD HAVE REACHED ALL CORNERS OF THE COUNTY.

WOW. SO THERE'S THE FIRST ONE THAT OPENED WAS GALLEGOS PARK IN THE FAR WEST AND FAR EAST WAS RISINGER IN FABENS.

THE FLOORING IS IS ALSO SPECIALLY MADE AND CONDUCIVE TO FOLKS WITH WITH DIFFERENT TYPES OF ABILITIES.

ONE TWO, THREE.

READY. THE AMENITIES AND THE PLAY STRUCTURES ARE MORE INCLUSIVE.

[02:25:07]

SO FOR EXAMPLE, THIS ONE OVER HERE, THE SWAY FAN, IT'S A SEESAW.

BUT A CHILD OR A PERSON WHO'S USING A WHEELED A WHEELCHAIR DOES NOT NEED TO EXIT THEIR WHEELCHAIR.

AND I REALLY WANT TO THANK EVERYONE FOR MAKING THIS HAPPEN.

WELCOME. WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THE PARK? IT'S VERY GOOD, OBVIOUSLY.

GREAT. WELL, ARE YOU GOING TO GO PLAY? YEAH. ALL RIGHT.

THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT THIS IS ALL ABOUT, RIGHT? CADEN AND HIS CLASSMATES AT RIVERSIDE ELEMENTARY WHO JOINED US TODAY.

THEIR PLAY ISN'T IMPACTED WITH NOW HAVING KIDS WITH DISABILITIES COME AND JOIN THEM.

IT OPENS UP THAT RELATIONSHIP AND THAT COMMUNICATION AND MORE IMPORTANTLY, THAT UNDERSTANDING OF OF EVERYBODY IN OUR HUMANITY.

WE WALK AROUND A DAY WITHOUT YOUR IDENTIFICATION AND SEE HOW MANY TIMES YOU REACH FOR YOUR WALLET.

VERY EXCITED, HAPPY AND PROUD THAT THAT THIS PROJECT HAS FINALLY COME TO FRUITION.

BECAUSE THIS IS AN INITIATIVE THAT THE COUNTY STARTED WORKING ON, ALONG WITH BORDER NETWORK FOR HUMAN RIGHTS MANY, MANY YEARS AGO, NINE, ALMOST TEN YEARS AGO.

I KNOW THE GOVERNMENT WORKS SLOW, BUT, YOU KNOW, WE PERSEVERED AND WE WE WE DIDN'T GIVE UP.

IT'S A VERY GOOD PROGRAM THAT CAME OVER HERE, ESPECIALLY HERE IN FABENS.

THE COMMUNITY NEEDS SOMETHING LIKE THIS TO BE ENHANCED AND FOR EVERYBODY TO KNOW.

AND IT WILL HELP ALL OF US.

THIS IS GOING TO HELP PEOPLE ACCESS BANKING SERVICES, HEALTHCARE, MEDICAL SERVICES.

YOU'VE GOT FOLKS WHO NEED TO BE ABLE TO GET COPIES OF THEIR KIDS BIRTH CERTIFICATES FROM THE COUNTY CLERK, WHO CAN NOW USE THIS ID TO DO THAT AS WELL.

YOU HAVE PEOPLE WHO MAYBE DON'T HAVE AN ID AND SO ARE AFRAID TO REPORT THAT THEY'VE BEEN THE VICTIM OF A CRIME TO POLICE, BECAUSE THEY KNOW THAT THE POLICE MIGHT ASK THEM FOR ID.

SO NOW HAVING THIS ENHANCED LIBRARY CARD WILL GIVE THEM THAT SECURITY THAT THEY KNOW THEY CAN CALL AND ASK THE POLICE FOR HELP.

THIS IS A GREAT EXAMPLE OF A PARTNERSHIP THAT WE HAVE WITH THE CITY.

I THINK IF WE TRY, WE ARE PROVIDING ONE MORE LEVEL OF INCLUSIVITY FOR ALL OF THE RESIDENTS HERE IN EL PASO.

THAT'S WHAT I THINK THE COUNTY HAS ESPOUSED, THE VALUE OF BEING INCLUSIVE.

EL PASO COUNTY COMMISSIONER OF PRECINCT 13, ILIANA HOLGUIN, JOINS ME THIS MORNING.

BUT NOW I WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU EVERYTHING I CAN ABOUT EL PASO.

BECAUSE WE WANT TO INVITE PEOPLE TO COME AND GET TO KNOW EL PASO.

SPECIFICALLY, WE'RE KICKING OFF THE TOURIST SEASON ALONG THE MISSION TRAIL, WHICH, LIKE YOU SAID, IS A NINE MILE STRETCH OF ROAD ENCOMPASSING THREE HISTORIC MISSIONS.

THESE MISSIONS REPRESENT ABOUT 350 YEARS OF OUR CULTURE, OUR HISTORY, OUR TRADITIONS.

ON ANY GIVEN WEEKEND, YOU CAN STILL SEE WEDDINGS BEING PERFORMED QUINCEANERAS THE TIGUA CULTURAL DANCERS.

SO THESE ARE STILL ACTIVE MISSIONS THAT ARE VERY MUCH A PART OF THE COMMUNITY.

IF YOU LIKE ART, WE'VE GOT GREAT RESTAURANTS, A BREWERY, CAFES AND OF COURSE, THE SPEAKING ROCK ENTERTAINMENT CENTER, WHICH OFFERS FREE CONCERTS EVERY SINGLE WEEKEND.

SO I MUST SAY, EL PASO HAS TO BE A MUST VISIT DESTINATION BECAUSE THEY DON'T MAKE DOCUMENTARIES ABOUT ANYTHING NOWADAYS.

THERE'S A DOCUMENTARY THAT WAS JUST MADE ABOUT EL PASO.

YEAH, WE'RE VERY PROUD OF ALL OF THE NATIONAL ATTENTION THAT EL PASO IS RECEIVING.

AND JUST TO MENTION SOME MORE RECOGNITIONS THAT WE'RE VERY, VERY PROUD OF.

SO FOR 2023, TEXAS TRAVEL MAGAZINE NAMED THE MISSION TRAIL THE BEST HISTORIC SITE IN TEXAS AND ONE OF THE SMALL COMMUNITIES LOCATED ALONG THE MISSION TRAIL.

[02:30:10]

SAN ELIZARIO. THE CITY OF SAN ELIZARIO, WHICH IS HOME TO THE PRESIDIO CHAPEL OF SAN ELIZARIO, WAS NAMED THE BEST HISTORIC SMALL TOWN IN AMERICA FOR 2023 BY USA TODAY. AND WHAT'S SPECIAL THAT YOU GOT? I'M SURE YOU GUYS ARE GOING TO HAVE A LOT OF THINGS THAT ARE GOING TO BE HAPPENING OVER THE SUMMER, BUT THERE'S SOME SPECIAL STUFF THAT WILL BE HAPPENING THIS SUMMER.

WELL, ON ANY THIRD SUNDAY OF THE MONTH, FOLKS CAN COME DOWN TO SAN ELIZARIO WHERE WE HAVE AN ART MARKET.

WE HAVE A LOT OF WONDERFUL, WONDERFUL LOCAL ARTISTS WHO WILL SHOW OFF ALL OF THEIR ARTISTRY.

YOU CAN WALK AROUND, OF COURSE.

EXPLORE THE CHAPEL.

AND WE ALSO HAVE A LOT OF GREAT RESTAURANTS AND NEW BUSINESSES THAT HAVE OPENED UP.

SO FOR EXAMPLE, NEAR THE SOCORRO MISSION IN SOCORRO, TEXAS, WE HAVE A NEW BREWERY.

AND THEN IF YOU WANT TO GO TO THE YSLETA MISSION, THAT'S WHERE WE.

IT'S LOCATED RIGHT NEXT TO SPEAKING ROCK ENTERTAINMENT CENTER, WHERE, AS I MENTIONED, THEY HAVE A LOT OF FREE CONCERTS.

YOU ALSO HAVE A LOT OF TEGUA POTTERY.

THEY BAKE THEIR BREAD FRESH IN THE OVEN, SO YOU CAN SEE HOW BREAD IS BAKED IN THE OLD TRADITION.

IT SOUNDS LIKE IT'S A LOT OF HISTORY, BUT YOU GUYS HAVE INCORPORATED A LOT OF ENTERTAINMENT TO BRING THAT INTO LEARNING HISTORY ABOUT EL PASO.

DEFINITELY. SO WE'RE REALLY PROUD OF OUR HERITAGE AND OUR TRADITIONS.

AND ONE OF THE NEATEST THINGS I THINK ABOUT THE MISSIONS IS THAT THEY'RE STILL VERY ACTIVE PARTS OF OUR COMMUNITY.

SO A LOT OF TIMES YOU GO TO HISTORICAL PLACES AND YOU KNOW, THEY'RE ROPED OFF AND YOU CAN'T REALLY GO IN.

OKAY. SO FOR SOMEONE WHO'S NEVER BEEN TO EL PASO, WHAT'S THE PERFECT BLUEPRINT TO REALLY ENJOY EL PASO FOR THE FIRST TIME? WELL, WE HAVE SO MUCH TO DO.

SO DEFINITELY YOU KNOW, WE WANT TO START WITH THE MISSION TRAIL.

WE WANT TO INVITE EVERYONE TO COME OUT TO THE MISSION TRAIL, BUT WE ALSO HAVE WATER PARKS.

CITY COMMISSIONER ILIANA HOLGUIN, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING ME THIS MORNING.

IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO LEARN MORE INFORMATION ABOUT EL PASO OR PLANNING YOUR VACATION TO THIS AMAZING DESTINATION, YOU CAN GO TO THE WEBSITE YOU SEE ON YOUR SCREEN.

[02:37:33]

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 AM CURRENT AND ALL MY VACCINES AND I ALSO GET THE COVID VACCINE, SO I AND MY LOVED ONES CAN BE PROTECTED.

AND IF YOU'VE ALREADY GOTTEN THE VACCINE, YOU SHOULD GET YOUR BOOSTER FOR YOUR CHILD'S ROUTINE VACCINES.

WE KNOW HOW MUCH YOU LOVE YOUR CHILDREN, SO REMEMBER DON'T HESITATE.

ADEMAS DE LAS VACUNAS RUTINAS LOS NINOS MAYORES DE CINCO ANOS, AHORA SON ELEGIBLES PARA LA VACUNA DE COVID 19.

LA VACUNA COVID 19 ES GRATIS PARA LAS VACUNAS RUTINA DE SUS HIJOS.

VISITA EP HEALTH.COM SABEMOS CUANTO A MAS DE TUS HIJOS? ASI RECUERDA NO LO DUDES VACUNA.

SO TODAY WE ARE CELEBRATING THE 4TH OF JULY HERE AT ASCARATE PARK, WHERE IN A COUPLE OF HOURS, ONCE IT GETS DARK, WE'LL HAVE A BEAUTIFUL FIREWORKS DISPLAY FOR THE COMMUNITY.

YOU KNOW, ASCARATE PARK IS THE HEART OF EL PASO COUNTY.

THIS IS OUR COUNTY PARK WHERE FAMILIES FOR GENERATIONS HAVE LOVED TO COME AND PLAY AND FISH.

SO WE'RE REALLY HAPPY TO BE ABLE TO OPEN UP THE PARK ON THE 4TH OF JULY.

SO HOPEFULLY, IF THERE'S FAMILIES OUT THERE THAT WEREN'T ABLE TO MAKE IT THIS YEAR, WE DEFINITELY WANT TO INVITE THEM TO JOIN US NEXT YEAR.

YEAH. PUT THEM ON. IT'S JULY 4TH.

THIS YEAR WE'RE DOING OUR VIP EVENT, WHICH I'M STANDING IN FRONT OF RIGHT NOW HERE AT THE PAVILION, OUR SPECIAL EVENTS AREA.

IF THE KIDS WOULD PREFER TO WATCH A MOVIE OVER FIREWORKS.

BUT THE TICKETS FOR OUR VIP AREA THIS YEAR WERE $45 FOR ADULTS, AND THAT PROVIDED A BRISKET DINNER.

AND THEN FOR THE REST OF THE PUBLIC, NOT AT THE VIP EVENT.

[02:40:01]

WE HAD MULTIPLE FOOD TRUCKS OVER HERE AT THE SPECIAL EVENTS AREA AND ON OUR LAWN.

IF YOU HAVE NOT BEEN TO A FIREWORKS SHOW IN A SKELETON PARK, COME ON OUT.

YOU KNOW, PARKS ARE A PLACE OF DEMOCRACY WHERE WE ALL, YOU KNOW, ALL WALKS OF LIFE ARE COMING TOGETHER AND SHARING.

SO THAT'S KIND OF THE BEAUTY OF IT HERE ON INDEPENDENCE DAY.

I WAS NOT KNOWING WHAT TO DO HERE IN EL PASO AS A NEW RESIDENT.

AND I LOOKED INTO SOME RESOURCES, I WAS ABLE TO DISCOVER THAT HERE IN ASCARATE PARK THEY HAD A GREAT FIREWORKS EVENT.

THERE'S A NEW RESIDENT HERE TO THE COUNTY OF EL PASO.

I'M VERY GRATEFUL THAT WE HAVE SOMETHING LIKE THIS EXISTING.

FELICIDADES A HAPPY INDEPENDENCE DAY, EL PASO.

WE ARE AT EL PASO'S LARGEST ALL ABILITIES PLAYGROUND.

THIS IS A PROJECT THAT HAS BEEN MANY YEARS IN THE MAKING.

AND THIS HAS BEEN A BEAUTIFUL PROJECT AND EVERYONE IN THE COMMUNITY IS SO EXCITED.

YOU KNOW, THIS IS A GREAT PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN THE ORGANIZATION MOMS ON BOARD, THE NONPROFIT, THE COUNTY OF EL PASO, THE TEXAS PARKS AND WILDLIFE DEPARTMENT.

TOGETHER, WE CREATED THE PLAN OF HAVING THREE ALL ABILITIES PARKS INSTEAD OF JUST ONE, SO THAT WE COULD HAVE REACH ALL CORNERS OF THE COUNTY.

WOW. SO THERE'S THE FIRST ONE THAT OPENED WAS GALLEGOS PARK IN THE FAR WEST AND FAR EAST WAS RISINGER IN FABENS.

THE FLOORING IS IS ALSO SPECIALLY MADE AND CONDUCIVE TO FOLKS WITH WITH DIFFERENT TYPES OF ABILITIES.

ONE, TWO, THREE.

READY? THE AMENITIES AND THE PLAY STRUCTURES ARE MORE INCLUSIVE.

SO FOR EXAMPLE, THIS ONE OVER HERE, THE SWAY FAN, IT'S A IT'S A SEESAW.

BUT A CHILD OR A PERSON WHO'S USING A WHEELED A WHEELCHAIR DOES NOT NEED TO EXIT THEIR WHEELCHAIR.

AND I REALLY WANT TO THANK EVERYONE FOR MAKING THIS HAPPEN.

WELCOME. WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THE PARK? IT'S VERY GOOD OBVIOUSLY.

GREAT. WELL, ARE YOU GOING TO GO PLAY? YEAH. ALL RIGHT.

THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT THIS IS ALL ABOUT, RIGHT? CADEN AND HIS CLASSMATES AT RIVERSIDE ELEMENTARY WHO JOINED US TODAY.

IT JUST OPENS UP THAT THAT COMMUNICATION AND THAT COMMUNITY.

THEIR PLAY ISN'T IMPACTED WITH NOW HAVING KIDS WITH DISABILITIES COME AND JOIN THEM.

IT OPENS UP THAT RELATIONSHIP AND THAT COMMUNICATION AND MORE IMPORTANTLY, THAT UNDERSTANDING OF OF EVERYBODY IN OUR HUMANITY.

WALK AROUND A DAY WITHOUT YOUR IDENTIFICATION AND SEE HOW MANY TIMES YOU REACH FOR YOUR WALLET.

VERY EXCITED, HAPPY AND PROUD THAT THAT THIS PROJECT HAS FINALLY COME TO FRUITION.

BECAUSE THIS IS AN INITIATIVE THAT THE COUNTY STARTED WORKING ON, ALONG WITH BORDER NETWORK FOR HUMAN RIGHTS MANY, MANY YEARS AGO, NINE, ALMOST TEN YEARS AGO.

I KNOW THE GOVERNMENT WORKS SLOW, BUT, YOU KNOW, WE PERSEVERED AND WE WE WE DIDN'T GIVE UP.

IT'S A VERY GOOD PROGRAM THAT CAME OVER HERE, ESPECIALLY HERE IN FABENS.

THE COMMUNITY NEEDS SOMETHING LIKE THIS TO BE ENHANCED AND FOR EVERYBODY TO KNOW, AND IT WILL HELP ALL OF US.

[02:45:02]

THIS IS GOING TO HELP PEOPLE ACCESS BANKING SERVICES, HEALTHCARE, MEDICAL SERVICES.

YOU'VE GOT FOLKS WHO NEED TO BE ABLE TO GET COPIES OF THEIR KIDS BIRTH CERTIFICATES FROM THE COUNTY CLERK, WHO CAN NOW USE THIS ID TO DO THAT AS WELL.

YOU HAVE PEOPLE WHO MAYBE DON'T HAVE AN ID, AND SO ARE AFRAID TO REPORT THAT THEY'VE BEEN THE VICTIM OF A CRIME TO POLICE, BECAUSE THEY KNOW THAT THE POLICE MIGHT ASK THEM FOR ID.

SO NOW HAVING THIS ENHANCED LIBRARY CARD WILL GIVE THEM THAT SECURITY THAT THEY KNOW THEY CAN CALL AND ASK THE POLICE FOR HELP.

THIS IS A GREAT EXAMPLE OF A PARTNERSHIP THAT WE HAVE WITH THE CITY.

I THINK IF WE TRY, WE ARE PROVIDING ONE MORE LEVEL OF INCLUSIVITY FOR ALL OF THE RESIDENTS HERE IN EL PASO.

THAT'S WHAT I THINK THE COUNTY HAS ESPOUSED, THE VALUE OF BEING INCLUSIVE.

EL PASO COUNTY COMMISSIONER OF PRECINCT 13, ILIANA HOLGUIN, JOINS ME THIS MORNING.

BUT NOW I WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU EVERYTHING I CAN ABOUT EL PASO.

AND THAT'S WHY WE'RE HERE, BECAUSE WE WANT TO INVITE PEOPLE TO COME AND GET TO KNOW EL PASO.

SPECIFICALLY, WE'RE KICKING OFF THE TOURIST SEASON ALONG THE MISSION TRAIL, WHICH, LIKE YOU SAID, IS A NINE MILE STRETCH OF ROAD ENCOMPASSING THREE HISTORIC MISSIONS.

THESE MISSIONS REPRESENT ABOUT 350 YEARS OF OUR CULTURE, OUR HISTORY, OUR TRADITIONS.

ON ANY GIVEN WEEKEND, YOU CAN STILL SEE WEDDINGS BEING PERFORMED QUINCEANERAS THE TIGUA CULTURAL DANCERS.

SO THESE ARE STILL ACTIVE MISSIONS THAT ARE VERY MUCH A PART OF THE COMMUNITY.

IF YOU LIKE ART, WE'VE GOT GREAT RESTAURANTS, A BREWERY, CAFES AND OF COURSE THE SPEAKING ROCK ENTERTAINMENT CENTER, WHICH OFFERS FREE CONCERTS EVERY SINGLE WEEKEND.

SO I MUST SAY, EL PASO HAS TO BE A MUST VISIT DESTINATION BECAUSE THEY DON'T MAKE DOCUMENTARIES ABOUT ANYTHING NOWADAYS.

THERE'S A DOCUMENTARY THAT WAS JUST MADE ABOUT EL PASO.

YEAH, WE'RE VERY PROUD OF ALL OF THE NATIONAL ATTENTION THAT EL PASO IS RECEIVING.

AND JUST TO MENTION SOME MORE RECOGNITIONS THAT WE'RE VERY, VERY PROUD OF.

SO FOR 2023, TEXAS TRAVEL MAGAZINE NAMED THE MISSION TRAIL THE BEST HISTORIC SITE IN TEXAS AND ONE OF THE SMALL COMMUNITIES LOCATED ALONG THE MISSION TRAIL, SAN ELIZARIO. THE CITY OF SAN ELIZARIO, WHICH IS HOME TO THE PRESIDIO CHAPEL OF SAN ELIZARIO, WAS NAMED THE BEST HISTORIC SMALL TOWN IN AMERICA FOR 2023 BY USA TODAY. AND WHAT'S SPECIAL THAT YOU GOT? I'M SURE YOU GUYS ARE GOING TO HAVE A LOT OF THINGS THAT ARE GOING TO BE HAPPENING OVER THE SUMMER, BUT THERE'S SOME SPECIAL STUFF THAT WILL BE HAPPENING THIS SUMMER.

WELL, ON ANY THIRD SUNDAY OF THE MONTH, FOLKS CAN COME DOWN TO SAN ELIZARIO WHERE WE HAVE AN ART MARKET.

WE HAVE A LOT OF WONDERFUL, WONDERFUL LOCAL ARTISTS WHO WILL SHOW OFF ALL OF THEIR ARTISTRY.

YOU CAN WALK AROUND, OF COURSE, EXPLORE THE CHAPEL.

AND WE ALSO HAVE A LOT OF GREAT RESTAURANTS AND NEW BUSINESSES THAT HAVE OPENED UP.

SO, FOR EXAMPLE, NEAR THE SOCORRO MISSION IN SOCORRO, TEXAS, WE HAVE A NEW BREWERY, WE HAVE A CAFE, WE HAVE SOME GREAT RESTAURANTS.

AND THEN IF YOU WANT TO GO TO THE YSLETA MISSION, THAT'S WHERE WE IT'S LOCATED RIGHT NEXT TO SPEAKING ROCK ENTERTAINMENT CENTER, WHERE, AS I MENTIONED, THEY HAVE A LOT OF FREE CONCERTS. YOU ALSO HAVE A LOT OF TEGUA POTTERY.

THEY BAKE THEIR BREAD FRESH IN THE OVEN, SO YOU CAN SEE HOW BREAD IS BAKED IN THE OLD TRADITION.

IT SOUNDS LIKE IT'S A LOT OF HISTORY, BUT YOU GUYS HAVE INCORPORATED A LOT OF ENTERTAINMENT TO BRING THAT INTO LEARNING HISTORY ABOUT EL PASO.

DEFINITELY. SO WE'RE REALLY PROUD OF OUR HERITAGE AND OUR TRADITIONS.

AND ONE OF THE NEATEST THINGS I THINK ABOUT THE MISSIONS IS THAT THEY'RE STILL VERY ACTIVE PARTS OF OUR COMMUNITY.

SO A LOT OF TIMES YOU GO TO HISTORICAL PLACES AND YOU KNOW, THEY'RE ROPED OFF AND YOU CAN'T REALLY GO IN.

OKAY. SO FOR SOMEONE WHO'S NEVER BEEN TO EL PASO, WHAT'S THE PERFECT BLUEPRINT TO REALLY ENJOY EL PASO FOR THE FIRST TIME? WELL, WE HAVE SO MUCH TO DO.

SO DEFINITELY YOU KNOW, WE WANT TO START WITH THE MISSION TRAIL.

[02:50:03]

WE WANT TO INVITE EVERYONE TO COME OUT TO THE MISSION TRAIL.

BUT WE ALSO HAVE WATER PARKS.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING ME THIS MORNING.

IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO LEARN MORE INFORMATION ABOUT EL PASO OR PLANNING YOUR VACATION TO THIS AMAZING DESTINATION, YOU CAN GO TO THE WEBSITE YOU SEE ON YOUR SCREEN.

[02:55:07]

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 AM CURRENT AND ALL MY VACCINES AND I ALSO GET THE COVID VACCINE, SO I AND MY LOVED ONES CAN BE PROTECTED.

AND IF YOU'VE ALREADY GOTTEN THE VACCINE, YOU SHOULD GET YOUR BOOSTER FOR YOUR CHILD'S ROUTINE VACCINES.

WE KNOW HOW MUCH YOU LOVE YOUR CHILDREN, SO REMEMBER DON'T HESITATE.

ADEMAS DE LAS VACUNAS RUTINAS LOS NINOS MAYORES DE CINCO ANOS, AHORA SON ELEGIBLES PARA LA VACUNA DE COVID 19.

LA VACUNA COVID 19 ES GRATIS PARA LAS VACUNAS RUTINAS DE SUS HIJOS.

VISIT EP HEALTH COM SABEMOS CUANTO A MAS DE TUS HIJOS, ASI Q RECUERDA NO LO DUDES VACUNA.

SO TODAY WE ARE CELEBRATING THE 4TH OF JULY HERE AT ASCARATE PARK.

ONCE IT GETS DARK, WE'LL HAVE A BEAUTIFUL FIREWORKS DISPLAY FOR THE COMMUNITY.

YOU KNOW, ASCARATE PARK IS THE HEART OF EL PASO COUNTY.

THIS IS OUR COUNTY PARK WHERE FAMILIES FOR GENERATIONS HAVE LOVED TO COME AND PLAY AND FISH.

SO WE'RE REALLY HAPPY TO BE ABLE TO OPEN UP THE PARK ON THE 4TH OF JULY.

SO HOPEFULLY, IF THERE'S FAMILIES OUT THERE THAT WEREN'T ABLE TO MAKE IT THIS YEAR, WE DEFINITELY WANT TO INVITE THEM TO JOIN US NEXT YEAR.

YEAH. PUT THEM ON. IT'S JULY 4TH THIS YEAR.

WE'RE DOING OUR VIP EVENT, WHICH I'M STANDING IN FRONT OF RIGHT NOW HERE AT THE PAVILION, OUR OR SPECIAL EVENTS AREA.

IT'S THE FIRST TIME WE'VE DONE IT HERE, SO IT'S WHERE YOU GET YOUR OWN PERSONAL TABLE.

IF THE KIDS WOULD PREFER TO WATCH A MOVIE OVER FIREWORKS.

BUT THE TICKETS FOR OUR VIP AREA THIS YEAR WERE $45 FOR ADULTS, AND THAT PROVIDED A BRISKET DINNER.

AND THEN FOR THE REST OF THE PUBLIC, NOT AT THE VIP EVENT.

WE HAD MULTIPLE FOOD TRUCKS OVER HERE AT THE SPECIAL EVENTS AREA AND ON OUR LAWN.

IF YOU HAVE NOT BEEN TO A FIREWORKS SHOW AND A SCOUT AT THE PARK, COME ON OUT.

YOU KNOW, PARKS ARE A PLACE OF DEMOCRACY WHERE WE ALL, YOU KNOW, ALL WALKS OF LIFE ARE COMING TOGETHER AND SHARING.

SO THAT'S KIND OF THE BEAUTY OF IT HERE ON INDEPENDENCE DAY.

I WAS NOT KNOWING WHAT TO DO HERE IN EL PASO AS A NEW RESIDENT, AND I LOOKED INTO SOME RESOURCES.

I WAS ABLE TO DISCOVER THAT HERE IN ASCARATE PARK THEY HAD A GREAT FIREWORKS EVENT.

THERE'S A NEW RESIDENT HERE TO THE COUNTY OF EL PASO.

I'M VERY GRATEFUL THAT WE HAVE SOMETHING LIKE THIS EXISTING.

HAPPY INDEPENDENCE DAY, EL PASO.

HELLO. I.

THOUGHT.

WE ARE AT EL PASO'S LARGEST ALL ABILITIES PLAYGROUND.

THIS IS A PROJECT THAT HAS BEEN MANY YEARS IN THE MAKING, BUT I JUST WANTED TO SAY THANK YOU AGAIN AND THIS HAS BEEN A BEAUTIFUL PROJECT AND EVERYONE IN THE COMMUNITY IS SO EXCITED. YOU KNOW, THIS IS A GREAT PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN THE ORGANIZATION MOMS ON BOARD, THE NONPROFIT, THE COUNTY OF EL PASO, THE TEXAS PARKS AND WILDLIFE DEPARTMENT. TOGETHER, WE CREATED THE PLAN OF HAVING THREE ALL ABILITIES PARKS INSTEAD OF JUST ONE, SO THAT WE COULD HAVE REACHED ALL CORNERS OF THE COUNTY.

WOW. SO THERE'S THE FIRST ONE THAT OPENED WAS GALLEGOS PARK IN THE FAR WEST AND FAR EAST WAS RISINGER IN FABENS.

AND THIS ONE FINALLY TODAY, CENTRAL ASCARATE ONE TWO, THREE.

THE FLOORING IS IS ALSO ESPECIALLY MADE AND CONDUCIVE TO FOLKS WITH WITH DIFFERENT TYPES OF ABILITIES.

[03:00:03]

AND SO, YOU KNOW, WE'VE GOT SLIDES.

I MEAN, IT'S A GREAT PLAYGROUND.

SO FOR EXAMPLE THIS ONE OVER HERE, THE SWAY FAN, IT'S A IT'S A SEESAW.

BUT A CHILD OR A PERSON WHO'S USING A WHEELED A WHEELCHAIR DOES NOT NEED TO EXIT THEIR WHEELCHAIR.

AND I REALLY WANT TO THANK EVERYONE FOR MAKING THIS HAPPEN.

WELCOME. WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THE PARK? IT'S VERY GOOD, OBVIOUSLY.

GREAT. WELL, ARE YOU GOING TO GO PLAY? YEAH. ALL RIGHT.

THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT THIS IS ALL ABOUT, RIGHT? CADEN AND HIS CLASSMATES AT RIVERSIDE ELEMENTARY WHO JOINED US TODAY.

IT JUST OPENS UP THAT THAT COMMUNICATION AND THAT COMMUNITY.

THEIR PLAY ISN'T IMPACTED WITH NOW HAVING KIDS WITH DISABILITIES COME AND JOIN THEM.

IT OPENS UP THAT RELATIONSHIP AND THAT COMMUNICATION AND MORE IMPORTANTLY, THAT UNDERSTANDING OF OF EVERYBODY IN OUR HUMANITY.

WALK AROUND A DAY WITHOUT YOUR IDENTIFICATION AND SEE HOW MANY TIMES YOU REACH FOR YOUR WALLET.

VERY EXCITED, HAPPY AND PROUD THAT THAT THIS PROJECT HAS FINALLY COME TO FRUITION.

BECAUSE THIS IS AN INITIATIVE THAT THE COUNTY STARTED WORKING ON, ALONG WITH BORDER NETWORK FOR HUMAN RIGHTS MANY, MANY YEARS AGO, NINE, ALMOST TEN YEARS AGO.

I KNOW THE GOVERNMENT WORKS SLOW, BUT, YOU KNOW, WE PERSEVERED AND WE WE WE DIDN'T GIVE UP.

IT'S A VERY GOOD PROGRAM THAT CAME OVER HERE, ESPECIALLY HERE IN FABENS.

THE COMMUNITY NEEDS SOMETHING LIKE THIS TO BE ENHANCED AND FOR EVERYBODY TO KNOW, AND IT WILL HELP ALL OF US.

THIS IS GOING TO HELP PEOPLE ACCESS BANKING SERVICES, HEALTHCARE, MEDICAL SERVICES.

YOU'VE GOT FOLKS WHO NEED TO BE ABLE TO GET COPIES OF THEIR KIDS BIRTH CERTIFICATES FROM THE COUNTY CLERK, WHO CAN NOW USE THIS ID TO DO THAT AS WELL.

YOU HAVE PEOPLE WHO MAYBE DON'T HAVE AN ID AND SO ARE AFRAID TO REPORT THAT THEY'VE BEEN THE VICTIM OF A CRIME TO POLICE BECAUSE THEY KNOW THAT THE POLICE MIGHT ASK THEM FOR ID.

SO NOW HAVING THIS ENHANCED LIBRARY CARD WILL GIVE THEM THAT SECURITY THAT THEY KNOW THEY CAN CALL AND ASK THE POLICE FOR HELP.

THIS IS A GREAT EXAMPLE OF A PARTNERSHIP THAT WE HAVE WITH THE CITY.

I THINK IF WE TRY, WE ARE PROVIDING ONE MORE LEVEL OF INCLUSIVITY FOR ALL OF THE RESIDENTS HERE IN EL PASO.

THAT'S WHAT I THINK THE COUNTY HAS ESPOUSED, THE VALUE OF BEING INCLUSIVE.

EL PASO COUNTY COMMISSIONER OF PRECINCT 13, ILIANA HOLGUIN, JOINS ME THIS MORNING.

THANK YOU. DARRELL, FOR THE INVITATION.

EL PASO.

BUT NOW I WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU EVERYTHING I CAN ABOUT EL PASO.

BECAUSE WE WANT TO INVITE PEOPLE TO COME AND GET TO KNOW EL PASO.

SPECIFICALLY, WE'RE KICKING OFF THE TOURIST SEASON ALONG THE MISSION TRAIL, WHICH, LIKE YOU SAID, IS A NINE MILE STRETCH OF ROAD ENCOMPASSING THREE HISTORIC MISSIONS.

THESE MISSIONS REPRESENT ABOUT 350 YEARS OF OUR CULTURE, OUR HISTORY, OUR TRADITIONS.

ON ANY GIVEN WEEKEND, YOU CAN STILL SEE WEDDINGS BEING PERFORMED QUINCEANERAS THE TIGUA CULTURAL DANCERS.

SO THESE ARE STILL ACTIVE MISSIONS THAT ARE VERY MUCH A PART OF THE COMMUNITY.

IF YOU LIKE ART, WE'VE GOT GREAT RESTAURANTS, A BREWERY, CAFES AND OF COURSE, THE SPEAKING ROCK ENTERTAINMENT CENTER, WHICH OFFERS FREE CONCERTS EVERY SINGLE WEEKEND.

SO I MUST SAY, EL PASO HAS TO BE A MUST VISIT DESTINATION BECAUSE THEY DON'T MAKE DOCUMENTARIES ABOUT ANYTHING NOWADAYS.

THERE'S A DOCUMENTARY THAT WAS JUST MADE ABOUT EL PASO.

YEAH, WE'RE VERY PROUD OF ALL OF THE NATIONAL ATTENTION THAT EL PASO IS RECEIVING.

[03:05:05]

AND JUST TO MENTION SOME MORE RECOGNITIONS THAT WE'RE VERY, VERY PROUD OF.

WELL, ON ANY THIRD SUNDAY OF THE MONTH, FOLKS CAN COME DOWN TO SAN YSIDRO, WHERE WE HAVE AN ART MARKET.

WE HAVE A LOT OF WONDERFUL, WONDERFUL LOCAL ARTISTS WHO WILL SHOW OFF ALL OF THEIR ARTISTRY.

YOU CAN WALK AROUND, OF COURSE, EXPLORE THE CHAPEL.

AND WE ALSO HAVE A LOT OF GREAT RESTAURANTS AND NEW BUSINESSES THAT HAVE OPENED UP.

SO, FOR EXAMPLE, NEAR THE SOCORRO MISSION IN SOCORRO, TEXAS, WE HAVE A NEW BREWERY, WE HAVE A CAFE, WE HAVE SOME GREAT RESTAURANTS.

THEY BAKE THEIR BREAD FRESH IN THE OVEN SO YOU CAN SEE HOW BREAD IS BAKED IN THE OLD TRADITION, SO IT'S JUST REALLY GREAT. THERE'S PLENTY FOR EVERYONE TO ENJOY.

IT SOUNDS LIKE IT'S A LOT OF HISTORY, BUT YOU GUYS HAVE INCORPORATED A LOT OF ENTERTAINMENT TO BRING THAT INTO LEARNING HISTORY ABOUT EL PASO.

DEFINITELY. SO WE'RE REALLY PROUD OF OUR HERITAGE AND OUR TRADITIONS.

AND ONE OF THE NEATEST THINGS I THINK ABOUT THE MISSIONS IS THAT THEY'RE STILL VERY ACTIVE PARTS OF OUR COMMUNITY.

SO A LOT OF TIMES YOU GO TO HISTORICAL PLACES AND YOU KNOW, THEY'RE ROPED OFF AND YOU CAN'T REALLY GO IN.

OKAY. SO FOR SOMEONE WHO'S NEVER BEEN TO EL PASO, WHAT'S THE PERFECT BLUEPRINT TO REALLY ENJOY EL PASO FOR THE FIRST TIME? WELL, WE HAVE SO MUCH TO DO.

SO DEFINITELY YOU KNOW, WE WANT TO START WITH THE MISSION TRAIL.

WE WANT TO INVITE EVERYONE TO COME OUT TO THE MISSION TRAIL.

BUT WE ALSO HAVE WATER PARKS.

AND I THINK A LOT OF TIMES.

EL PASO IS, YOU KNOW, FOLKS KIND OF DRIVE THROUGH EL PASO ON THEIR WAY TO SOMEWHERE ELSE.

BUT IT'S JUST SO WORTH IT TO STOP FOR A FEW DAYS AND SPEND TIME IN EL PASO.

WE DEFINITELY WANT EL PASO TO BECOME A DESTINATION CITY.

COMMISSIONER ELIANA HOGAN, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING ME THIS MORNING.

IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO LEARN MORE INFORMATION ABOUT EL PASO OR PLANNING YOUR VACATION TO THIS AMAZING DESTINATION, YOU CAN GO TO THE WEBSITE YOU SEE ON YOUR SCREEN.

[03:12:42]

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 AM CURRENT AND ALL MY VACCINES AND I ALSO GET THE COVID VACCINE, SO I AND MY LOVED ONES CAN BE PROTECTED.

AND IF YOU'VE ALREADY GOTTEN THE VACCINE, YOU SHOULD GET YOUR BOOSTER FOR YOUR CHILD'S ROUTINE VACCINES.

WE KNOW HOW MUCH YOU LOVE YOUR CHILDREN, SO REMEMBER DON'T HESITATE.

ADEMAS DE LAS VACUNAS RUTINAS LOS NINOS MAYORES DE CINCO ANOS, AHORA SON ELEGIBLES PARA LA VACUNA DE COVID 19.

LA VACUNA COVID 19 ES GRATIS PARA LAS VACUNAS RUTINAS DE SUS HIJOS.

VISITA EP HEALTH.COM SABEMOS CUANTO AMAS A TUS HIJOS? ASI RECUERDA NO LO DUDES VACUNA.

SO TODAY WE ARE CELEBRATING THE 4TH OF JULY HERE AT ASCARATE PARK.

ONCE IT GETS DARK, WE'LL HAVE A BEAUTIFUL FIREWORKS DISPLAY FOR THE COMMUNITY.

YOU KNOW, ASCARATE PARK IS THE HEART OF EL PASO COUNTY.

THIS IS OUR COUNTY PARK WHERE FAMILIES FOR GENERATIONS HAVE LOVED TO COME AND PLAY AND FISH.

SO WE'RE REALLY HAPPY TO BE ABLE TO OPEN UP THE PARK ON THE 4TH OF JULY.

SO HOPEFULLY IF THERE'S FAMILIES OUT THERE THAT WEREN'T ABLE TO MAKE IT THIS YEAR, WE DEFINITELY WANT TO INVITE THEM TO JOIN US NEXT YEAR.

YEAH, PUT THEM ON. IT'S JULY 4TH THIS YEAR.

WE'RE DOING OUR VIP EVENT, WHICH I'M STANDING IN FRONT OF RIGHT NOW HERE AT THE PAVILION, OUR SPECIAL EVENTS AREA.

IF THE KIDS WOULD PREFER TO WATCH A MOVIE OVER FIREWORKS.

BUT THE TICKETS FOR OUR VIP AREA THIS YEAR WERE $45 FOR ADULTS, AND THAT PROVIDED A BRISKET DINNER.

[03:15:06]

AND THEN FOR THE REST OF THE PUBLIC, NOT AT THE VIP EVENT.

WE HAD MULTIPLE FOOD TRUCKS OVER HERE AT THE SPECIAL EVENTS AREA AND ON OUR LAWN.

IF YOU HAVE NOT BEEN TO A FIREWORKS SHOW AND A SCOUT AT THE PARK, COME ON OUT.

YOU KNOW, PARKS ARE A PLACE OF DEMOCRACY WHERE WE ALL, YOU KNOW, ALL WALKS OF LIFE ARE COMING TOGETHER AND SHARING.

SO THAT'S KIND OF THE BEAUTY OF IT HERE ON INDEPENDENCE DAY.

I WAS NOT KNOWING WHAT TO DO HERE IN EL PASO AS A NEW RESIDENT, AND I LOOKED INTO SOME RESOURCES.

I WAS ABLE TO DISCOVER THAT HERE IN ASCARATE PARK THEY HAD A GREAT FIREWORKS EVENT.

THERE'S A NEW RESIDENT HERE TO THE COUNTY OF EL PASO.

I'M VERY GRATEFUL THAT WE HAVE SOMETHING LIKE THIS EXISTING.

I CAN'T ASK FOR MORE THAN A HAPPY INDEPENDENCE DAY, EL PASO.

WE ARE AT EL PASO'S LARGEST ALL ABILITIES PLAYGROUND.

WOW. SO THERE'S THE FIRST ONE THAT OPENED WAS GALLEGOS PARK IN THE FAR WEST AND FAR EAST WAS RISINGER IN FABENS.

AND THIS ONE FINALLY TODAY, CENTRAL ASCARATE ONE TWO, THREE.

THE FLOORING IS ALSO SPECIALLY MADE AND CONDUCIVE TO FOLKS WITH WITH DIFFERENT TYPES OF ABILITIES.

AND SO YOU KNOW WE'VE GOT SLIDES I MEAN IT'S A GREAT PLAYGROUND.

READY. THE AMENITIES AND THE PLAY STRUCTURES ARE MORE INCLUSIVE.

SO FOR EXAMPLE THIS ONE OVER HERE THE SWAY FUN.

IT'S A SEESAW.

BUT A CHILD OR A PERSON WHO'S USING A WHEELED A WHEELCHAIR DOES NOT NEED TO EXIT THEIR WHEELCHAIR.

AND I REALLY WANT TO THANK EVERYONE FOR MAKING THIS HAPPEN.

WELCOME. WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THE PARK? IT'S VERY GOOD, OBVIOUSLY, AND I KIND OF LIKE IT.

GREAT. WELL, ARE YOU GOING TO GO PLAY? YEAH. ALL RIGHT.

THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT THIS IS ALL ABOUT, RIGHT? CADEN AND HIS CLASSMATES AT RIVERSIDE ELEMENTARY WHO JOINED US TODAY.

THEIR PLAY ISN'T IMPACTED WITH NOW HAVING KIDS WITH DISABILITIES COME AND JOIN THEM.

IT OPENS UP THAT RELATIONSHIP AND THAT COMMUNICATION AND MORE IMPORTANTLY, THAT UNDERSTANDING OF OF EVERYBODY IN OUR HUMANITY.

WALK AROUND A DAY WITHOUT YOUR IDENTIFICATION AND SEE HOW MANY TIMES YOU REACH FOR YOUR WALLET.

VERY EXCITED, HAPPY AND PROUD THAT THAT THIS PROJECT HAS FINALLY COME TO FRUITION, BECAUSE THIS IS AN INITIATIVE THAT THE COUNTY STARTED WORKING ON, ALONG WITH BORDER NETWORK FOR HUMAN RIGHTS MANY, MANY YEARS AGO, NINE, ALMOST TEN YEARS AGO.

I KNOW THE GOVERNMENT WORKS SLOW, BUT, YOU KNOW, WE PERSEVERED AND WE WE WE DIDN'T GIVE UP.

IT'S A VERY GOOD PROGRAM THAT CAME OVER HERE, ESPECIALLY HERE IN FABENS.

THE COMMUNITY NEEDS SOMETHING LIKE THIS TO BE ENHANCED AND FOR EVERYBODY TO KNOW, AND IT WILL HELP ALL OF US.

YOU HAVE A DIFFERENT COMMUNITIES WHO JUST CAN'T GET THAT STATE ISSUED ID, BUT BECAUSE THEY HAVE ACCESS TO THIS ENHANCED LIBRARY CARD, THEY'LL BE ABLE TO ENGAGE IN A LOT

[03:20:09]

OF ACTIVITIES THAT THEY WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO OTHERWISE.

THIS IS GOING TO HELP PEOPLE ACCESS BANKING SERVICES, HEALTHCARE, MEDICAL SERVICES.

YOU'VE GOT FOLKS WHO NEED TO BE ABLE TO GET COPIES OF THEIR KIDS BIRTH CERTIFICATES FROM THE COUNTY CLERK, WHO CAN NOW USE THIS ID TO DO THAT AS WELL.

YOU HAVE PEOPLE WHO MAYBE DON'T HAVE AN ID, AND SO ARE AFRAID TO REPORT THAT THEY'VE BEEN THE VICTIM OF A CRIME TO POLICE, BECAUSE THEY KNOW THAT THE POLICE MIGHT ASK THEM FOR ID.

SO NOW HAVING THIS ENHANCED LIBRARY CARD WILL GIVE THEM THAT SECURITY THAT THEY KNOW THEY CAN CALL AND ASK THE POLICE FOR HELP.

THIS IS A GREAT EXAMPLE OF A PARTNERSHIP THAT WE HAVE WITH THE CITY.

I THINK IF WE TRY, WE ARE PROVIDING ONE MORE LEVEL OF INCLUSIVITY FOR ALL OF THE RESIDENTS HERE IN EL PASO.

THAT'S WHAT I THINK THE COUNTY HAS ESPOUSED, THE VALUE OF BEING INCLUSIVE.

EL PASO COUNTY COMMISSIONER OF PRECINCT 13, ILIANA HOLGUIN, JOINS ME THIS MORNING.

EL PASO I'VE HEARD ABOUT EL PASO.

BUT NOW I WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU EVERYTHING I CAN ABOUT EL PASO.

BECAUSE WE WANT TO INVITE PEOPLE TO COME AND GET TO KNOW EL PASO.

SPECIFICALLY, WE'RE KICKING OFF THE TOURIST SEASON ALONG THE MISSION TRAIL, WHICH, LIKE YOU SAID, IS A NINE MILE STRETCH OF ROAD ENCOMPASSING THREE HISTORIC MISSIONS.

THESE MISSIONS REPRESENT ABOUT 350 YEARS OF OUR CULTURE, OUR HISTORY, OUR TRADITIONS.

ON ANY GIVEN WEEKEND, YOU CAN STILL SEE WEDDINGS BEING PERFORMED QUINCEANERAS THE TIGUA CULTURAL DANCERS.

SO THESE ARE STILL ACTIVE MISSIONS THAT ARE VERY MUCH A PART OF THE COMMUNITY.

IF YOU LIKE ART, WE'VE GOT GREAT RESTAURANTS, A BREWERY, CAFES AND OF COURSE, THE SPEAKING ROCK ENTERTAINMENT CENTER, WHICH OFFERS FREE CONCERTS EVERY SINGLE WEEKEND.

SO I MUST SAY, EL PASO HAS TO BE A MUST VISIT DESTINATION BECAUSE THEY DON'T MAKE DOCUMENTARIES ABOUT ANYTHING NOWADAYS.

THERE'S A DOCUMENTARY THAT WAS JUST MADE ABOUT EL PASO.

YEAH, WE'RE VERY PROUD OF ALL OF THE NATIONAL ATTENTION THAT EL PASO IS RECEIVING.

AND JUST TO MENTION SOME MORE RECOGNITIONS THAT WE'RE VERY, VERY PROUD OF.

SO FOR 2023, TEXAS TRAVEL MAGAZINE NAMED THE MISSION TRAIL THE BEST HISTORIC SITE IN TEXAS AND ONE OF THE SMALL COMMUNITIES LOCATED ALONG THE MISSION TRAIL.

SAN ELIZARIO THE CITY OF SAN ELIZARIO, WHICH IS HOME TO THE PRESIDIO CHAPEL OF SAN ELIZARIO, WAS NAMED THE BEST HISTORIC SMALL TOWN IN AMERICA FOR 2023 BY USA TODAY. AND WHAT'S SPECIAL THAT YOU GOT? I'M SURE YOU GUYS ARE GOING TO HAVE A LOT OF THINGS THAT ARE GOING TO BE HAPPENING OVER THE SUMMER, BUT THERE'S SOME SPECIAL STUFF THAT WILL BE HAPPENING THIS SUMMER.

WELL, ON ANY THIRD SUNDAY OF THE MONTH.

FOLKS CAN COME DOWN TO SUNDAY WHERE WE HAVE AN ART MARKET.

WE HAVE A LOT OF WONDERFUL, WONDERFUL LOCAL ARTISTS WHO WILL SHOW OFF ALL OF THEIR ARTISTRY.

YOU CAN WALK AROUND, OF COURSE, EXPLORE THE CHAPEL.

AND WE ALSO HAVE A LOT OF GREAT RESTAURANTS AND NEW BUSINESSES THAT HAVE OPENED UP.

SO, FOR EXAMPLE, NEAR THE SOCORRO MISSION IN SOCORRO, TEXAS, WE HAVE A NEW BREWERY, WE HAVE A CAFE, WE HAVE SOME GREAT RESTAURANTS.

THEY BAKE THEIR BREAD FRESH IN THE OVEN SO YOU CAN SEE HOW BREAD IS BAKED IN THE OLD TRADITION.

IT SOUNDS LIKE IT'S A LOT OF HISTORY, BUT YOU GUYS HAVE INCORPORATED A LOT OF ENTERTAINMENT TO BRING THAT INTO LEARNING HISTORY ABOUT EL PASO.

DEFINITELY. SO WE'RE REALLY PROUD OF OUR HERITAGE AND OUR TRADITIONS.

AND ONE OF THE NEATEST THINGS I THINK ABOUT THE MISSIONS IS THAT THEY'RE STILL VERY ACTIVE PARTS OF OUR COMMUNITY.

SO A LOT OF TIMES YOU GO TO HISTORICAL PLACES AND YOU KNOW, THEY'RE ROPED OFF AND YOU CAN'T REALLY GO IN.

OKAY. SO FOR SOMEONE WHO'S NEVER BEEN TO EL PASO, WHAT'S THE PERFECT BLUEPRINT TO REALLY ENJOY EL PASO FOR THE FIRST TIME?

[03:25:05]

WELL, WE HAVE SO MUCH TO DO.

WE HAVE SO MANY ATTRACTIONS, SO DEFINITELY.

YOU KNOW, WE WANT TO START WITH THE MISSION TRAIL.

WE WANT TO INVITE EVERYONE TO COME OUT TO THE MISSION TRAIL.

BUT WE ALSO HAVE WATER PARKS.

CITY COMMISSIONER ILIANA HOLGUIN, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING ME THIS MORNING.

IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO LEARN MORE INFORMATION ABOUT EL PASO OR PLANNING YOUR VACATION TO THIS AMAZING DESTINATION, YOU CAN GO TO THE WEBSITE YOU SEE ON YOUR SCREEN.

[03:30:16]

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 AM CURRENT AND ALL MY VACCINES AND I ALSO GET THE COVID VACCINE, SO I AND MY LOVED ONES CAN BE PROTECTED.

AND IF YOU'VE ALREADY GOTTEN THE VACCINE, YOU SHOULD GET YOUR BOOSTER FOR YOUR CHILD'S ROUTINE VACCINES.

WE KNOW HOW MUCH YOU LOVE YOUR CHILDREN, SO REMEMBER DON'T HESITATE.

ADEMAS DE LAS VACUNAS RUTINAS LOS NINOS MAYORES DE CINCO ANOS, AHORA SON ELEGIBLES PARA LA VACUNA DE COVID 19 LA VACUNA COVID-19 NUEVE GRATIS PARA LAS VACUNAS RUTINA DE SUS HIJOS.

VISITA EP HEALTH COM SABEMOS CUANTO ALMORZAR TUS HIJOS, ASI RECUERDA NO LO DUDES VACUNA.

SO TODAY WE ARE CELEBRATING THE 4TH OF JULY HERE AT ASCARATE PARK.

ONCE IT GETS DARK, WE'LL HAVE A BEAUTIFUL FIREWORKS DISPLAY FOR THE COMMUNITY.

YOU KNOW, ASCARATE PARK IS THE HEART OF EL PASO COUNTY.

THIS IS OUR COUNTY PARK WHERE FAMILIES FOR GENERATIONS HAVE LOVED TO COME AND PLAY AND FISH.

SO WE'RE REALLY HAPPY TO BE ABLE TO OPEN UP THE PARK ON THE 4TH OF JULY.

SO HOPEFULLY IF THERE'S FAMILIES OUT THERE THAT WEREN'T ABLE TO MAKE IT THIS YEAR.

WE DEFINITELY WANT TO INVITE THEM TO JOIN US NEXT YEAR.

YEAH, PUT THEM ON. IT'S JULY 4TH.

THIS YEAR WE'RE DOING OUR VIP EVENT, WHICH I'M STANDING IN FRONT OF RIGHT NOW HERE AT THE PAVILION, OUR SPECIAL EVENTS AREA.

IT'S WHERE YOU GET YOUR OWN PERSONAL TABLE.

IF THE KIDS WOULD PREFER TO WATCH A MOVIE OVER FIREWORKS.

BUT THE TICKETS FOR OUR VIP AREA THIS YEAR WERE $45 FOR ADULTS, AND THAT PROVIDED A BRISKET DINNER.

AND THEN FOR THE REST OF THE PUBLIC, NOT AT THE VIP EVENT.

WE HAD MULTIPLE FOOD TRUCKS OVER HERE AT THE SPECIAL EVENTS AREA AND ON OUR LAWN.

IF YOU HAVE NOT BEEN TO A FIREWORKS SHOW AND A SCOUT AT THE PARK, COME ON OUT.

YOU KNOW, PARKS ARE A PLACE OF DEMOCRACY WHERE WE ALL, YOU KNOW, ALL WALKS OF LIFE ARE COMING TOGETHER AND SHARING.

SO THAT'S KIND OF THE BEAUTY OF IT HERE ON INDEPENDENCE DAY.

I WAS NOT KNOWING WHAT TO DO HERE IN EL PASO AS A NEW RESIDENT, AND I LOOKED INTO SOME RESOURCES, I WAS ABLE TO DISCOVER THAT HERE IN ASCARATE PARK THEY HAD A GREAT FIREWORKS EVENT. THERE'S A NEW RESIDENT HERE TO THE COUNTY OF EL PASO.

I'M I FEEL VERY COMFORTABLE.

I'M VERY GRATEFUL THAT WE HAVE SOMETHING LIKE THIS EXISTING.

YOU KNOW, WHERE I'M HERE WITH MY THREE BOYS.

I CAN'T ASK FOR MORE FOR A HAPPY INDEPENDENCE DAY, EL PASO.

HELLO, I.

WE ARE AT EL PASO'S LARGEST ALL ABILITIES PLAYGROUND.

WOW. SO THERE'S THE FIRST ONE THAT OPENED WAS GALLEGOS PARK IN THE FAR WEST AND FAR EAST WAS RISINGER IN FABENS.

AND THIS ONE FINALLY TODAY CENTRAL ASCARATE.

ONE TWO, THREE.

[03:35:05]

THE FLOORING IS ALSO SPECIALLY MADE AND CONDUCIVE TO FOLKS WITH WITH DIFFERENT TYPES OF ABILITIES.

READY. THE AMENITIES AND THE PLAY STRUCTURES ARE MORE INCLUSIVE.

SO FOR EXAMPLE THIS ONE OVER HERE, THE SWAY FUN.

IT'S A SEESAW.

BUT A CHILD OR A PERSON WHO'S USING A WHEELED A WHEELCHAIR DOES NOT NEED TO EXIT THEIR WHEELCHAIR.

AND I REALLY WANT TO THANK EVERYONE FOR MAKING THIS HAPPEN.

WELCOME. WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THE PARK? IT'S VERY GOOD, OBVIOUSLY.

GREAT. WELL, ARE YOU GOING TO GO PLAY? YEAH. ALL RIGHT.

THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT THIS IS ALL ABOUT, RIGHT? CADEN AND HIS CLASSMATES AT RIVERSIDE ELEMENTARY WHO JOINED US TODAY.

THEIR PLAY ISN'T IMPACTED WITH NOW HAVING KIDS WITH DISABILITIES COME AND JOIN THEM.

IT OPENS UP THAT RELATIONSHIP AND THAT COMMUNICATION AND MORE IMPORTANTLY, THAT UNDERSTANDING OF OF EVERYBODY IN OUR HUMANITY.

WALK AROUND A DAY WITHOUT YOUR IDENTIFICATION AND SEE HOW MANY TIMES YOU REACH FOR YOUR WALLET AND IF YOU DON'T HAVE IT, WHAT YOU CANNOT DO.

VERY EXCITED, HAPPY AND PROUD THAT THAT THIS PROJECT HAS FINALLY COME TO FRUITION.

BECAUSE THIS IS AN INITIATIVE THAT THE COUNTY STARTED WORKING ON, ALONG WITH BORDER NETWORK FOR HUMAN RIGHTS MANY, MANY YEARS AGO, NINE, ALMOST TEN YEARS AGO.

I KNOW THE GOVERNMENT WORKS SLOW, BUT, YOU KNOW, WE PERSEVERED AND WE WE WE DIDN'T GIVE UP.

IT'S A VERY GOOD PROGRAM THAT CAME OVER HERE, ESPECIALLY HERE IN FABENS.

THE COMMUNITY NEEDS SOMETHING LIKE THIS TO BE ENHANCED AND FOR EVERYBODY TO KNOW, AND IT WILL HELP ALL OF US.

THIS IS GOING TO HELP PEOPLE ACCESS BANKING SERVICES, HEALTHCARE, MEDICAL SERVICES.

YOU'VE GOT FOLKS WHO NEED TO BE ABLE TO GET COPIES OF THEIR KIDS BIRTH CERTIFICATES FROM THE COUNTY CLERK, WHO CAN NOW USE THIS ID TO DO THAT AS WELL.

YOU HAVE PEOPLE WHO MAYBE DON'T HAVE AN ID, AND SO ARE AFRAID TO REPORT THAT THEY'VE BEEN THE VICTIM OF A CRIME TO POLICE, BECAUSE THEY KNOW THAT THE POLICE MIGHT ASK THEM FOR ID.

SO NOW HAVING THIS ENHANCED LIBRARY CARD WILL GIVE THEM THAT SECURITY THAT THEY KNOW THEY CAN CALL AND ASK THE POLICE FOR HELP.

THIS IS A GREAT EXAMPLE OF A PARTNERSHIP THAT WE HAVE WITH THE CITY.

I THINK IF WE TRY, WE ARE PROVIDING ONE MORE LEVEL OF INCLUSIVITY FOR ALL OF THE RESIDENTS HERE IN EL PASO.

THAT'S WHAT I THINK THE COUNTY HAS ESPOUSED, THE VALUE OF BEING INCLUSIVE.

I BET YOU'VE HEARD ABOUT ROUTE 66.

BUT WHAT ABOUT THE MISSION TRAIL? IT MAY BE ONLY NINE MILES LONG, BUT IT'S A VERY SPECIAL PART OF THE AREA NEAR EL PASO, AND IT MIGHT JUST BE A FUN VACATION FOR THE ENTIRE FAMILY.

EL PASO COUNTY COMMISSIONER OF PRECINCT 13, ILIANA HOLGUIN, JOINS ME THIS MORNING.

BUT NOW I WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU EVERYTHING I CAN ABOUT EL PASO.

BECAUSE WE WANT TO INVITE PEOPLE TO COME AND GET TO KNOW EL PASO.

SPECIFICALLY, WE'RE KICKING OFF THE TOURIST SEASON ALONG THE MISSION TRAIL, WHICH, LIKE YOU SAID, IS A NINE MILE STRETCH OF ROAD ENCOMPASSING THREE HISTORIC MISSIONS.

THESE MISSIONS REPRESENT ABOUT 350 YEARS OF OUR CULTURE, OUR HISTORY, OUR TRADITIONS.

ON ANY GIVEN WEEKEND, YOU CAN STILL SEE WEDDINGS BEING PERFORMED QUINCEANERAS THE TIGUA CULTURAL DANCERS.

SO THESE ARE STILL ACTIVE MISSIONS THAT ARE VERY MUCH A PART OF THE COMMUNITY.

IF YOU LIKE ART, WE'VE GOT GREAT RESTAURANTS, A BREWERY, CAFES AND OF COURSE, THE SPEAKING ROCK ENTERTAINMENT CENTER, WHICH OFFERS FREE CONCERTS EVERY SINGLE WEEKEND.

SO I MUST SAY, EL PASO HAS TO BE A MUST VISIT DESTINATION BECAUSE THEY DON'T MAKE DOCUMENTARIES ABOUT ANYTHING NOWADAYS.

[03:40:05]

THERE'S A DOCUMENTARY THAT WAS JUST MADE ABOUT EL PASO.

YEAH, WE'RE VERY PROUD OF ALL OF THE NATIONAL ATTENTION THAT EL PASO IS RECEIVING.

AND JUST TO MENTION SOME MORE RECOGNITIONS THAT WE'RE VERY, VERY PROUD OF.

WELL, ON ANY THIRD SUNDAY OF THE MONTH, FOLKS CAN COME DOWN TO SAN ELIZARIO WHERE WE HAVE AN ART MARKET.

WE HAVE A LOT OF WONDERFUL, WONDERFUL LOCAL ARTISTS WHO WILL SHOW OFF ALL OF THEIR ARTISTRY.

YOU CAN WALK AROUND, OF COURSE, EXPLORE THE CHAPEL.

AND WE ALSO HAVE A LOT OF GREAT RESTAURANTS AND NEW BUSINESSES THAT HAVE OPENED UP.

SO, FOR EXAMPLE, NEAR THE SOCORRO MISSION IN SOCORRO, TEXAS, WE HAVE A NEW BREWERY, WE HAVE A CAFE, WE HAVE SOME GREAT RESTAURANTS.

BUT SEEING THAT YOU WANT TO DO THE UMC ONE.

COMMISSIONERS COURT HAS RECONVENED TO REGULAR OPEN SESSION.

IT IS 1:12 P.M..

JUDGE, AT THIS TIME, WOULD YOU LIKE TO GO AHEAD AND RECESS FOR AFTERNOON BREAK? YES. COMMISSIONERS COURT WILL RECESS FOR ONE HOUR.

IT IS 1:12 P.M.

BECAUSE THE MORE TIME I HAVE, I WON'T TAKE UP THE TIME.

[RECESS]

[03:47:51]

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 AM CURRENT AND ALL MY VACCINES AND I ALSO GET THE COVID VACCINE, SO I AND MY LOVED ONES CAN BE PROTECTED.

AND IF YOU'VE ALREADY GOTTEN THE VACCINE, YOU SHOULD GET YOUR BOOSTER FOR YOUR CHILD'S ROUTINE VACCINES.

WE KNOW HOW MUCH YOU LOVE YOUR CHILDREN, SO REMEMBER DON'T HESITATE.

SUS HIJOS TENGAN TODAS LAS VACUNAS.

ADEMAS DE LAS VACUNAS RUTINAS LOS NINOS MAYORES DE CINCO ANOS, AHORA SON ELEGIBLES PARA LA VACUNA DE COVID 19, LA VACUNA COVID 19 GRATIS PARA LAS VACUNAS RUTINAS DE SUS HIJOS.

VISITA EP HEALTH PUNTO COM SABEMOS CUANTO ARMAS A TUS HIJOS.

ASI RECUERDA NO LO DUDES VACUNA.

SO TODAY WE ARE CELEBRATING THE 4TH OF JULY HERE AT ASCARATE PARK.

ONCE IT GETS DARK, WE'LL HAVE A BEAUTIFUL FIREWORKS DISPLAY FOR THE COMMUNITY.

YOU KNOW, ASCARATE PARK IS THE HEART OF EL PASO COUNTY.

THIS IS OUR COUNTY PARK WHERE FAMILIES FOR GENERATIONS HAVE LOVED TO COME AND PLAY AND FISH.

SO WE'RE REALLY HAPPY TO BE ABLE TO OPEN UP THE PARK ON THE 4TH OF JULY.

SO HOPEFULLY IF THERE'S FAMILIES OUT THERE THAT WEREN'T ABLE TO MAKE IT THIS YEAR, WE DEFINITELY WANT TO INVITE THEM TO JOIN US NEXT YEAR.

THIS YEAR WE'RE DOING OUR VIP EVENT, WHICH I'M STANDING IN FRONT OF RIGHT NOW HERE AT THE PAVILION, OUR SPECIAL EVENTS AREA.

YEAH, IT'S JULY 4TH.

[03:50:01]

IF THE KIDS WOULD PREFER TO WATCH A MOVIE OVER FIREWORKS.

BUT THE TICKETS FOR OUR VIP AREA THIS YEAR WERE $45 FOR ADULTS, AND THAT PROVIDED A BRISKET DINNER.

AND THEN FOR THE REST OF THE PUBLIC, NOT AT THE VIP EVENT.

WE HAD MULTIPLE FOOD TRUCKS OVER HERE AT THE SPECIAL EVENTS AREA AND ON OUR LAWN.

IF YOU HAVE NOT BEEN TO A FIREWORKS SHOW AND A SCOUT AT THE PARK, COME ON OUT.

YOU KNOW, PARKS ARE A PLACE OF DEMOCRACY WHERE WE ALL, YOU KNOW, ALL WALKS OF LIFE ARE COMING TOGETHER AND SHARING.

SO THAT'S KIND OF THE BEAUTY OF IT HERE ON INDEPENDENCE DAY.

I WAS NOT KNOWING WHAT TO DO HERE IN EL PASO AS A NEW RESIDENT, AND I LOOKED INTO SOME RESOURCES.

I WAS ABLE TO DISCOVER THAT HERE IN ASCARATE PARK THEY HAD A GREAT FIREWORKS EVENT.

THERE'S A NEW RESIDENT HERE TO THE COUNTY OF EL PASO.

I'M VERY GRATEFUL THAT WE HAVE SOMETHING LIKE THIS EXISTING.

I CAN'T ASK FOR MORE FOR A HAPPY INDEPENDENCE DAY, EL PASO.

WE ARE AT EL PASO'S LARGEST ALL ABILITIES PLAYGROUND.

THIS IS A PROJECT THAT HAS BEEN MANY YEARS IN THE MAKING.

AND THIS HAS BEEN A BEAUTIFUL PROJECT AND EVERYONE IN THE COMMUNITY IS SO EXCITED.

YOU KNOW, THIS IS A GREAT PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN THE ORGANIZATION MOMS ON BOARD, THE NONPROFIT, THE COUNTY OF EL PASO, THE TEXAS PARKS AND WILDLIFE DEPARTMENT.

TOGETHER, WE CREATED THE PLAN OF HAVING THREE ALL ABILITIES PARKS INSTEAD OF JUST ONE SO THAT WE COULD HAVE REACHED ALL CORNERS OF THE COUNTY.

WOW. SO THERE'S THE FIRST ONE THAT OPENED WAS GALLEGOS PARK IN THE FAR WEST AND FAR EAST WAS RISINGER IN FABENS.

123. WOOHOO! THE FLOORING IS ALSO SPECIALLY MADE AND CONDUCIVE TO FOLKS WITH WITH DIFFERENT TYPES OF ABILITIES.

SO FOR EXAMPLE THIS ONE OVER HERE THE SWAY FUN.

IT'S A IT'S A SEESAW.

BUT A CHILD OR A PERSON WHO'S USING A WHEELED WHEELCHAIR.

A WHEELCHAIR DOES NOT NEED TO EXIT THEIR WHEELCHAIR.

AND I REALLY WANT TO THANK EVERYONE FOR MAKING THIS HAPPEN.

WELCOME. WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THE PARK? IT'S VERY GOOD, OBVIOUSLY.

GREAT. WELL, ARE YOU GOING TO GO PLAY? YEAH. ALL RIGHT.

THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT THIS IS ALL ABOUT, RIGHT? CADEN AND HIS CLASSMATES AT RIVERSIDE ELEMENTARY WHO JOINED US TODAY.

THEIR PLAY ISN'T IMPACTED WITH NOW HAVING KIDS WITH DISABILITIES COME AND JOIN THEM.

IT OPENS UP THAT RELATIONSHIP AND THAT COMMUNICATION AND MORE IMPORTANTLY, THAT UNDERSTANDING OF OF EVERYBODY IN OUR HUMANITY.

WALK AROUND A DAY WITHOUT YOUR IDENTIFICATION AND SEE HOW MANY TIMES YOU REACH FOR YOUR WALLET AND IF YOU DON'T HAVE IT.

WHAT YOU CANNOT DO.

I KNOW THE GOVERNMENT WORKS SLOW, BUT, YOU KNOW, WE PERSEVERED AND WE WE WE DIDN'T GIVE UP.

IT'S A VERY GOOD PROGRAM THAT CAME OVER HERE, ESPECIALLY HERE IN FABENS.

THE COMMUNITY NEEDS SOMETHING LIKE THIS TO BE ENHANCED AND FOR EVERYBODY TO KNOW, AND IT WILL HELP ALL OF US.

[03:55:08]

THIS IS GOING TO HELP PEOPLE ACCESS BANKING SERVICES, HEALTHCARE, MEDICAL SERVICES.

YOU'VE GOT FOLKS WHO NEED TO BE ABLE TO GET COPIES OF THEIR KIDS BIRTH CERTIFICATES FROM THE COUNTY CLERK, WHO CAN NOW USE THIS ID TO DO THAT AS WELL.

YOU HAVE PEOPLE WHO MAYBE DON'T HAVE AN ID AND SO ARE AFRAID TO REPORT THAT THEY'VE BEEN THE VICTIM OF A CRIME TO POLICE BECAUSE THEY KNOW THAT THE POLICE MIGHT ASK THEM FOR ID.

SO NOW HAVING THIS ENHANCED LIBRARY CARD WILL GIVE THEM THAT SECURITY THAT THEY KNOW THEY CAN CALL AND ASK THE POLICE FOR HELP.

THIS IS A GREAT EXAMPLE OF A PARTNERSHIP THAT WE HAVE WITH THE CITY.

I THINK IF WE TRY, WE ARE PROVIDING ONE MORE LEVEL OF INCLUSIVITY FOR ALL OF THE RESIDENTS HERE IN EL PASO.

THAT'S WHAT I THINK THE COUNTY HAS ESPOUSED, THE VALUE OF BEING INCLUSIVE.

EL PASO COUNTY COMMISSIONER OF PRECINCT 13, ILIANA HOLGUIN, JOINS ME THIS MORNING.

BUT NOW I WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU EVERYTHING I CAN ABOUT EL PASO.

BECAUSE WE WANT TO INVITE PEOPLE TO COME AND GET TO KNOW EL PASO.

SPECIFICALLY, WE'RE KICKING OFF THE TOURIST SEASON ALONG THE MISSION TRAIL, WHICH, LIKE YOU SAID, IS A NINE MILE STRETCH OF ROAD ENCOMPASSING THREE HISTORIC MISSIONS.

THESE MISSIONS REPRESENT ABOUT 350 YEARS OF OUR CULTURE, OUR HISTORY, OUR TRADITIONS.

ON ANY GIVEN WEEKEND, YOU CAN STILL SEE WEDDINGS BEING PERFORMED QUINCEANERAS THE TIGUA CULTURAL DANCERS.

SO THESE ARE STILL ACTIVE MISSIONS THAT ARE VERY MUCH A PART OF THE COMMUNITY.

IF YOU LIKE ART, WE'VE GOT GREAT RESTAURANTS, A BREWERY, CAFES AND OF COURSE, THE SPEAKING ROCK ENTERTAINMENT CENTER, WHICH OFFERS FREE CONCERTS EVERY SINGLE WEEKEND.

SO I MUST SAY, EL PASO HAS TO BE A MUST VISIT DESTINATION BECAUSE THEY DON'T MAKE DOCUMENTARIES ABOUT ANYTHING NOWADAYS.

THERE'S A DOCUMENTARY THAT WAS JUST MADE ABOUT EL PASO.

YEAH, WE'RE VERY PROUD OF ALL OF THE NATIONAL ATTENTION THAT EL PASO IS RECEIVING.

AND JUST TO MENTION SOME MORE RECOGNITIONS THAT WE'RE VERY, VERY PROUD OF.

WELL, ON ANY THIRD SUNDAY OF THE MONTH, FOLKS CAN COME DOWN TO SAN ELIZARIO WHERE WE HAVE AN ART MARKET.

WE HAVE A LOT OF WONDERFUL, WONDERFUL LOCAL ARTISTS WHO WILL SHOW OFF ALL OF THEIR ARTISTRY.

YOU CAN WALK AROUND, OF COURSE, EXPLORE THE CHAPEL.

AND WE ALSO HAVE A LOT OF GREAT RESTAURANTS AND NEW BUSINESSES THAT HAVE OPENED UP.

SO, FOR EXAMPLE, NEAR THE SOCORRO MISSION IN SOCORRO, TEXAS.

WE HAVE A NEW BREWERY.

THEY BAKE THEIR BREAD FRESH IN THE OVEN, SO YOU CAN SEE HOW BREAD IS BAKED IN THE OLD TRADITION.

IT SOUNDS LIKE IT'S A LOT OF HISTORY, BUT YOU GUYS HAVE INCORPORATED A LOT OF ENTERTAINMENT TO BRING THAT INTO LEARNING HISTORY ABOUT EL PASO.

DEFINITELY. SO WE'RE REALLY PROUD OF OUR HERITAGE AND OUR TRADITIONS.

AND ONE OF THE NEATEST THINGS I THINK ABOUT THE MISSIONS IS THAT THEY'RE STILL VERY ACTIVE PARTS OF OUR COMMUNITY.

SO A LOT OF TIMES YOU GO TO HISTORICAL PLACES AND YOU KNOW, THEY'RE ROPED OFF AND YOU CAN'T REALLY GO IN.

[04:00:01]

OKAY. SO FOR SOMEONE WHO'S NEVER BEEN TO EL PASO, WHAT'S THE PERFECT BLUEPRINT TO REALLY ENJOY EL PASO FOR THE FIRST TIME? WELL, WE HAVE SO MUCH TO DO.

SO DEFINITELY YOU KNOW, WE WANT TO START WITH THE MISSION TRAIL.

WE WANT TO INVITE EVERYONE TO COME OUT TO THE MISSION TRAIL, BUT WE ALSO HAVE WATER PARKS.

CITY COMMISSIONER ILIANA HOLGUIN, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING ME THIS MORNING.

IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO LEARN MORE INFORMATION ABOUT EL PASO OR PLANNING YOUR VACATION TO THIS AMAZING DESTINATION, YOU CAN GO TO THE WEBSITE YOU SEE ON YOUR SCREEN.

[04:05:25]

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 AM CURRENT AND ALL MY VACCINES AND I ALSO GET THE COVID VACCINE, SO I AND MY LOVED ONES CAN BE PROTECTED.

AND IF YOU'VE ALREADY GOTTEN THE VACCINE, YOU SHOULD GET YOUR BOOSTER FOR YOUR CHILD'S ROUTINE VACCINES.

WE KNOW HOW MUCH YOU LOVE YOUR CHILDREN, SO REMEMBER DON'T HESITATE.

VACCINATE AS IMPORTANT SUS HIJOS TENGAN TODAS SUS VACUNAS.

ADEMAS DE LAS VACUNAS RUTINAS LOS NINOS MAYORES DE CINCO ANOS, AHORA SON ELEGIBLES PARA LA VACUNA DE COVID 19.

LA VACUNA COVID 19 ES GRATIS PARA LAS VACUNAS RUTINA DE SUS HIJOS.

SABEMOS CUANTO AMAS A TUS HIJOS? ASI RECUERDA NO LO DUDES VACCINATE.

SO TODAY WE ARE CELEBRATING THE 4TH OF JULY HERE AT ASCARATE PARK.

ONCE IT GETS DARK, WE'LL HAVE A BEAUTIFUL FIREWORKS DISPLAY FOR THE COMMUNITY.

YOU KNOW, ASCARATE PARK IS THE HEART OF EL PASO COUNTY.

THIS IS OUR COUNTY PARK WHERE FAMILIES FOR GENERATIONS HAVE LOVED TO COME AND PLAY AND FISH.

SO WE'RE REALLY HAPPY TO BE ABLE TO OPEN UP THE PARK ON THE 4TH OF JULY.

SO HOPEFULLY, IF THERE'S FAMILIES OUT THERE THAT WEREN'T ABLE TO MAKE IT THIS YEAR, WE DEFINITELY WANT TO INVITE THEM TO JOIN US NEXT YEAR.

THIS YEAR WE'RE DOING OUR VIP EVENT, WHICH I'M STANDING IN FRONT OF RIGHT NOW HERE AT THE PAVILION, OUR SPECIAL EVENTS AREA.

YEAH, IT'S JULY 4TH.

IT'S WHERE YOU GET YOUR OWN PERSONAL TABLE.

IF THE KIDS WOULD PREFER TO WATCH A MOVIE OVER FIREWORKS.

BUT THE TICKETS FOR OUR VIP AREA.

THIS YEAR WE'RE $45 FOR ADULTS, AND THEY'RE PROVIDED A BRISKET DINNER.

AND THEN FOR THE REST OF THE PUBLIC, NOT AT THE VIP EVENT.

WE HAVE MULTIPLE FOOD TRUCKS OVER HERE AT THE SPECIAL EVENTS AREA AND ON OUR LAWN.

IF YOU HAVE NOT BEEN TO A FIREWORKS SHOW IN A SKELETON PARK, COME ON OUT.

YOU KNOW, PARKS ARE A PLACE OF DEMOCRACY WHERE WE ALL, YOU KNOW, ALL WALKS OF LIFE ARE COMING TOGETHER AND SHARING.

SO THAT'S KIND OF THE BEAUTY OF IT HERE ON INDEPENDENCE DAY.

I WAS NOT KNOWING WHAT TO DO HERE IN EL PASO AS A NEW RESIDENT, AND I LOOKED INTO SOME RESOURCES.

I WAS ABLE TO DISCOVER THAT HERE IN ASCARATE PARK THEY HAD A GREAT FIREWORKS EVENT.

THERE'S A NEW RESIDENT HERE TO THE COUNTY OF EL PASO.

I'M VERY GRATEFUL THAT WE HAVE SOMETHING LIKE THIS EXISTING.

YOU KNOW, WHERE I'M HERE WITH MY THREE BOYS.

I CAN'T ASK FOR MORE THAN A HAPPY INDEPENDENCE DAY, EL PASO.

HELLO, I.

THOUGHT.

WE ARE AT EL PASO'S LARGEST ALL ABILITIES PLAYGROUND.

THIS IS A PROJECT THAT HAS BEEN MANY YEARS IN THE MAKING.

AND THIS HAS BEEN A BEAUTIFUL PROJECT AND EVERYONE IN THE COMMUNITY IS SO EXCITED.

YOU KNOW, THIS IS A GREAT PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN THE ORGANIZATION MOMS ON BOARD, THE NONPROFIT, THE COUNTY OF EL PASO, THE TEXAS PARKS AND WILDLIFE DEPARTMENT.

TOGETHER WE CREATED THE PLAN OF HAVING THREE ALL ABILITIES PARKS INSTEAD OF JUST ONE, SO THAT WE COULD HAVE REACHED ALL CORNERS OF THE COUNTY.

WOW. SO THERE'S THE FIRST ONE THAT OPENED WAS GALLEGOS PARK IN THE FAR WEST AND FAR EAST WAS

[04:10:02]

RISINGER IN FABENS.

THE FLOORING IS ALSO SPECIALLY MADE AND CONDUCIVE TO FOLKS WITH WITH DIFFERENT TYPES OF ABILITIES.

ONE, TWO, THREE.

SO FOR EXAMPLE, THIS ONE OVER HERE, THE SWAY FAN, IT'S A SEESAW.

BUT A CHILD OR A PERSON WHO'S USING A WHEELED A WHEELCHAIR DOES NOT NEED TO EXIT THEIR WHEELCHAIR.

AND I REALLY WANT TO THANK EVERYONE FOR MAKING THIS HAPPEN.

WELCOME. WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THE PARK? IT'S VERY GOOD, OBVIOUSLY.

GREAT. WELL, ARE YOU GOING TO GO PLAY? YEAH. ALL RIGHT.

THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT THIS IS ALL ABOUT, RIGHT? CADEN AND HIS CLASSMATES AT RIVERSIDE ELEMENTARY WHO JOINED US TODAY.

THEIR PLAY ISN'T IMPACTED WITH NOW HAVING KIDS WITH DISABILITIES COME AND JOIN THEM.

IT OPENS UP THAT RELATIONSHIP AND THAT COMMUNICATION AND MORE IMPORTANTLY, THAT UNDERSTANDING OF OF EVERYBODY IN OUR HUMANITY.

WE WALK AROUND A DAY WITHOUT YOUR IDENTIFICATION AND SEE HOW MANY TIMES YOU REACH FOR YOUR WALLET.

VERY EXCITED, HAPPY AND PROUD THAT THAT THIS PROJECT HAS FINALLY COME TO FRUITION.

BECAUSE THIS IS AN INITIATIVE THAT THE COUNTY STARTED WORKING ON, ALONG WITH BORDER NETWORK FOR HUMAN RIGHTS MANY, MANY YEARS AGO, NINE, ALMOST TEN YEARS AGO.

I KNOW THE GOVERNMENT WORKS SLOW, BUT, YOU KNOW, WE PERSEVERED AND WE WE WE DIDN'T GIVE UP.

IT'S A VERY GOOD PROGRAM THAT CAME OVER HERE, ESPECIALLY HERE IN FABENS.

EVENTS ARE. THE COMMUNITY NEEDS SOMETHING LIKE THIS TO BE ENHANCED AND FOR EVERYBODY TO KNOW, AND IT WILL HELP ALL OF US.

THIS IS GOING TO HELP PEOPLE ACCESS BANKING SERVICES, HEALTHCARE, MEDICAL SERVICES.

YOU'VE GOT FOLKS WHO NEED TO BE ABLE TO GET COPIES OF THEIR KIDS BIRTH CERTIFICATES FROM THE COUNTY CLERK, WHO CAN NOW USE THIS ID TO DO THAT AS WELL.

YOU HAVE PEOPLE WHO MAYBE DON'T HAVE AN ID, AND SO ARE AFRAID TO REPORT THAT THEY'VE BEEN THE VICTIM OF A CRIME TO POLICE, BECAUSE THEY KNOW THAT THE POLICE MIGHT ASK THEM FOR ID.

SO NOW HAVING THIS ENHANCED LIBRARY CARD WILL GIVE THEM THAT SECURITY THAT THEY KNOW THEY CAN CALL AND ASK THE POLICE FOR HELP.

THIS IS A GREAT EXAMPLE OF A PARTNERSHIP THAT WE HAVE WITH THE CITY.

WE CAN DO MORE OF THESE, I THINK IF WE TRY.

WE ARE PROVIDING ONE MORE LEVEL OF INCLUSIVITY FOR ALL OF THE RESIDENTS HERE IN EL PASO.

THAT'S WHAT I THINK THE COUNTY HAS ESPOUSED, THE VALUE OF BEING INCLUSIVE.

EL PASO COUNTY COMMISSIONER OF PRECINCT 13, ILIANA HOLGUIN, JOINS ME THIS MORNING.

BUT NOW I WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU EVERYTHING I CAN ABOUT EL PASO.

BECAUSE WE WANT TO INVITE PEOPLE TO COME AND GET TO KNOW EL PASO.

SPECIFICALLY, WE'RE KICKING OFF THE TOURIST SEASON ALONG THE MISSION TRAIL, WHICH, LIKE YOU SAID, IS A NINE MILE STRETCH OF ROAD ENCOMPASSING THREE HISTORIC MISSIONS.

THESE MISSIONS REPRESENT ABOUT 350 YEARS OF OUR CULTURE, OUR HISTORY, OUR TRADITIONS.

ON ANY GIVEN WEEKEND, YOU CAN STILL SEE WEDDINGS BEING PERFORMED QUINCEANERAS THE TIGUA CULTURAL DANCERS.

SO THESE ARE STILL ACTIVE MISSIONS THAT ARE VERY MUCH A PART OF THE COMMUNITY.

IF YOU LIKE ART, WE'VE GOT GREAT RESTAURANTS, A BREWERY, CAFES AND OF COURSE THE SPEAKING ROCK ENTERTAINMENT CENTER, WHICH OFFERS FREE

[04:15:06]

CONCERTS EVERY SINGLE WEEKEND.

SO I MUST SAY, EL PASO HAS TO BE A MUST VISIT DESTINATION BECAUSE THEY DON'T MAKE DOCUMENTARIES ABOUT ANYTHING NOWADAYS.

THERE'S A DOCUMENTARY THAT WAS JUST MADE ABOUT EL PASO.

YEAH, WE'RE VERY PROUD OF ALL OF THE NATIONAL ATTENTION THAT EL PASO IS RECEIVING.

AND JUST TO MENTION SOME MORE RECOGNITIONS THAT WE'RE VERY, VERY PROUD OF.

SO FOR 2023.

TEXAS TRAVEL MAGAZINE NAMED THE MISSION TRAIL THE BEST HISTORIC SITE IN TEXAS AND ONE OF THE SMALL COMMUNITIES LOCATED ALONG THE MISSION TRAIL.

WELL, ON ANY THIRD SUNDAY OF THE MONTH, FOLKS CAN COME DOWN TO SAN ELIZARIO WHERE WE HAVE AN ART MARKET.

WE HAVE A LOT OF WONDERFUL, WONDERFUL LOCAL ARTISTS WHO WILL SHOW OFF ALL OF THEIR ARTISTRY.

YOU CAN WALK AROUND, OF COURSE.

EXPLORE THE CHAPEL.

AND WE ALSO HAVE A LOT OF GREAT RESTAURANTS AND NEW BUSINESSES THAT HAVE OPENED UP.

SO FOR EXAMPLE, NEAR THE SOCORRO MISSION IN SOCORRO, TEXAS, WE HAVE A NEW BREWERY.

THEY BAKE THEIR BREAD FRESH IN THE OVEN, SO YOU CAN SEE HOW BREAD IS BAKED IN THE OLD TRADITION.

IT SOUNDS LIKE IT'S A LOT OF HISTORY, BUT YOU GUYS HAVE INCORPORATED A LOT OF ENTERTAINMENT TO BRING THAT INTO LEARNING HISTORY ABOUT EL PASO.

DEFINITELY. SO WE'RE REALLY PROUD OF OUR HERITAGE AND OUR TRADITIONS.

AND ONE OF THE NEATEST THINGS I THINK ABOUT THE MISSIONS IS THAT THEY'RE STILL VERY ACTIVE PARTS OF OUR COMMUNITY.

SO A LOT OF TIMES YOU GO TO HISTORICAL PLACES AND YOU KNOW, THEY'RE ROPED OFF AND YOU CAN'T REALLY GO IN.

OKAY. SO FOR SOMEONE WHO'S NEVER BEEN TO EL PASO, WHAT'S THE PERFECT BLUEPRINT TO REALLY ENJOY EL PASO FOR THE FIRST TIME? WELL, WE HAVE SO MUCH TO DO.

SO DEFINITELY YOU KNOW, WE WANT TO START WITH THE MISSION TRAIL.

WE WANT TO INVITE EVERYONE TO COME OUT TO THE MISSION TRAIL, BUT WE ALSO HAVE WATER PARKS.

CITY COMMISSIONER ILIANA HOLGUIN, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING ME THIS MORNING.

IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO LEARN MORE INFORMATION ABOUT EL PASO OR PLANNING YOUR VACATION TO THIS AMAZING DESTINATION, YOU CAN GO TO THE WEBSITE YOU SEE ON YOUR SCREEN.

[04:23:00]

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 AM CURRENT AND ALL MY VACCINES AND I ALSO GET THE COVID VACCINE SO I AND MY LOVED ONES CAN BE PROTECTED.

AND IF YOU'VE ALREADY GOTTEN THE VACCINE, YOU SHOULD GET YOUR BOOSTER FOR YOUR CHILD'S ROUTINE VACCINES.

WE KNOW HOW MUCH YOU LOVE YOUR CHILDREN, SO REMEMBER DON'T HESITATE.

ADEMAS DE LAS VACUNAS RUTINAS LOS NINOS MAYORES DE CINCO ANOS, AHORA SON ELEGIBLES PARA LA VACUNA DE COVID 19.

LA VACUNA COVID 19 ES GRATIS PARA LAS VACUNAS RUTINAS DE SUS HIJOS.

VISITA EP HEALTH.COM SABEMOS CUANTO ALMORZAR TUS HIJOS, ASI RECUERDA NO LO DUDES VACCINATE.

SO TODAY WE ARE CELEBRATING THE 4TH OF JULY HERE AT ASCARATE PARK.

ONCE IT GETS DARK, WE'LL HAVE A BEAUTIFUL FIREWORKS DISPLAY FOR THE COMMUNITY.

YOU KNOW, ASCARATE PARK IS THE HEART OF EL PASO COUNTY.

THIS IS OUR COUNTY PARK WHERE FAMILIES FOR GENERATIONS HAVE LOVED TO COME AND PLAY AND FISH.

SO WE'RE REALLY HAPPY TO BE ABLE TO OPEN UP THE PARK ON THE 4TH OF JULY.

SO HOPEFULLY, IF THERE'S FAMILIES OUT THERE THAT WEREN'T ABLE TO MAKE IT THIS YEAR, WE DEFINITELY WANT TO INVITE THEM TO JOIN US NEXT YEAR.

WE'RE GETTING OUR 4TH OF JULY GLASSES.

YEAH. PUT THEM ON.

IT'S JULY 4TH. THIS YEAR WE'RE DOING OUR VIP EVENT, WHICH I'M STANDING IN FRONT OF RIGHT NOW HERE AT THE PAVILION, OUR SPECIAL EVENTS AREA.

IT'S WHERE YOU GET YOUR OWN PERSONAL TABLE.

[04:25:01]

IF THE KIDS WOULD PREFER TO WATCH A MOVIE OVER FIREWORKS.

BUT THE TICKETS FOR OUR VIP AREA THIS YEAR WERE $45 FOR ADULTS, AND THAT PROVIDED A BRISKET DINNER.

AND THEN FOR THE REST OF THE PUBLIC, NOT AT THE VIP EVENT.

WE HAD MULTIPLE FOOD TRUCKS OVER HERE AT THE SPECIAL EVENTS AREA AND ON OUR LAWN.

IF YOU HAVE NOT BEEN TO A FIREWORKS SHOW IN A SKELETON PARK, COME ON OUT.

YOU KNOW, PARKS ARE A PLACE OF DEMOCRACY WHERE WE ALL, YOU KNOW, ALL WALKS OF LIFE ARE COMING TOGETHER AND SHARING.

SO THAT'S KIND OF THE BEAUTY OF IT HERE ON INDEPENDENCE DAY.

I'M VERY GRATEFUL THAT WE HAVE SOMETHING LIKE THIS EXISTING.

FELICIDADES A HAPPY INDEPENDENCE DAY, EL PASO.

HELLO. I.

THOUGHT.

WE ARE AT EL PASO'S LARGEST ALL ABILITIES PLAYGROUND.

THIS IS A PROJECT THAT HAS BEEN MANY YEARS IN THE MAKING.

AND THIS HAS BEEN A BEAUTIFUL PROJECT AND EVERYONE IN THE COMMUNITY IS SO EXCITED.

YOU KNOW, THIS IS A GREAT PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN THE ORGANIZATION MOMS ON BOARD, THE NONPROFIT, THE COUNTY OF EL PASO, THE TEXAS PARKS AND WILDLIFE DEPARTMENT.

TOGETHER, WE CREATED THE PLAN OF HAVING THREE ALL ABILITIES PARKS INSTEAD OF JUST ONE, SO THAT WE COULD HAVE REACHED ALL CORNERS OF THE COUNTY.

WOW. SO THERE'S THE FIRST ONE THAT OPENED WAS GALLEGOS PARK IN THE FAR WEST AND FAR EAST WAS RISINGER IN FABENS.

123. WOOHOO! THE FLOORING IS ALSO SPECIALLY MADE AND CONDUCIVE TO FOLKS WITH WITH DIFFERENT TYPES OF ABILITIES.

AND SO, YOU KNOW WE'VE GOT SLIDES.

READY. THE AMENITIES AND THE PLAY STRUCTURES ARE MORE INCLUSIVE.

SO FOR EXAMPLE, THIS ONE OVER HERE, THE SWAY FAN, IT'S A SEESAW.

BUT A CHILD OR A PERSON WHO'S USING A WHEELED A WHEELCHAIR DOES NOT NEED TO EXIT THEIR WHEELCHAIR.

AND I REALLY WANT TO THANK EVERYONE FOR MAKING THIS HAPPEN.

WELCOME. WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THE PARK? IT'S VERY GOOD, OBVIOUSLY.

GREAT. WELL, ARE YOU GOING TO GO PLAY? YEAH. ALL RIGHT.

THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT THIS IS ALL ABOUT, RIGHT? CADEN AND HIS CLASSMATES AT RIVERSIDE ELEMENTARY WHO JOINED US TODAY.

THEIR PLAY ISN'T IMPACTED WITH NOW HAVING KIDS WITH DISABILITIES COME AND JOIN THEM.

IT OPENS UP THAT RELATIONSHIP AND THAT COMMUNICATION AND MORE IMPORTANTLY, THAT UNDERSTANDING OF OF EVERYBODY IN OUR HUMANITY.

WALK AROUND A DAY WITHOUT YOUR IDENTIFICATION AND SEE HOW MANY TIMES YOU REACH FOR YOUR WALLET.

VERY EXCITED, HAPPY AND PROUD THAT THAT THIS PROJECT HAS FINALLY COME TO FRUITION.

BECAUSE THIS IS AN INITIATIVE THAT THE COUNTY STARTED WORKING ON, ALONG WITH BORDER NETWORK FOR HUMAN RIGHTS MANY, MANY YEARS AGO, NINE, ALMOST TEN YEARS AGO.

I KNOW THE GOVERNMENT WORKS SLOW, BUT, YOU KNOW, WE PERSEVERED AND WE WE WE DIDN'T GIVE UP.

WE DID HAVE TO TALK TO ALL OF OUR COMMUNITY PARTNERS TO MAKE SURE THAT THIS LIBRARY CARD WOULD BE ACCEPTED AS A FORM OF ID, AND I'M REALLY HAPPY TO REPORT THAT EVERYONE

[04:30:02]

UNDERSTANDS WHY THIS PROGRAM IS IMPORTANT.

IT'S A VERY GOOD PROGRAM THAT CAME OVER HERE, ESPECIALLY HERE IN FABENS.

THE COMMUNITY NEEDS SOMETHING LIKE THIS TO BE ENHANCED AND FOR EVERYBODY TO KNOW, AND IT WILL HELP ALL OF US.

THIS IS GOING TO HELP PEOPLE ACCESS BANKING SERVICES, HEALTHCARE, MEDICAL SERVICES.

IT'LL HELP FOLKS WITH SCHOOLS, WITH LIBRARIES, YOU'VE GOT FOLKS WHO NEED TO BE ABLE TO GET COPIES OF THEIR KIDS BIRTH CERTIFICATES FROM THE COUNTY CLERK, WHO CAN NOW USE THIS ID TO DO THAT AS WELL. YOU HAVE PEOPLE WHO MAYBE DON'T HAVE AN ID, AND SO ARE AFRAID TO REPORT THAT THEY'VE BEEN THE VICTIM OF A CRIME TO POLICE, BECAUSE THEY KNOW THAT THE POLICE MIGHT ASK THEM FOR ID.

SO NOW HAVING THIS ENHANCED LIBRARY CARD WILL GIVE THEM THAT SECURITY THAT THEY KNOW THEY CAN CALL AND ASK THE POLICE FOR HELP.

THIS IS A GREAT EXAMPLE OF A PARTNERSHIP THAT WE HAVE WITH THE CITY.

I THINK IF WE TRY, WE ARE PROVIDING ONE MORE LEVEL OF INCLUSIVITY FOR ALL OF THE RESIDENTS HERE IN EL PASO.

THAT'S WHAT I THINK THE COUNTY HAS ESPOUSED, THE VALUE OF BEING INCLUSIVE.

EL PASO COUNTY COMMISSIONER OF PRECINCT 13, ILIANA HOLGUIN, JOINS ME THIS MORNING.

THANK YOU, DARYL, FOR THE INVITATION.

EL PASO.

BUT NOW I WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU EVERYTHING I CAN ABOUT EL PASO.

AND THAT'S WHY WE'RE HERE, BECAUSE WE WANT TO INVITE PEOPLE TO COME AND GET TO KNOW EL PASO.

SPECIFICALLY, WE'RE KICKING OFF THE TOURIST SEASON ALONG THE MISSION TRAIL, WHICH, LIKE YOU SAID, IS A NINE MILE STRETCH OF ROAD ENCOMPASSING THREE HISTORIC MISSIONS.

THESE MISSIONS REPRESENT ABOUT 350 YEARS OF OUR CULTURE, OUR HISTORY, OUR TRADITIONS.

ON ANY GIVEN WEEKEND, YOU CAN STILL SEE WEDDINGS BEING PERFORMED QUINCEANERAS THE TIGUA CULTURAL DANCERS.

SO THESE ARE STILL ACTIVE MISSIONS THAT ARE VERY MUCH A PART OF THE COMMUNITY.

IF YOU LIKE ART, WE'VE GOT GREAT RESTAURANTS, A BREWERY, CAFES AND OF COURSE THE SPEAKING ROCK ENTERTAINMENT CENTER, WHICH OFFERS FREE CONCERTS EVERY SINGLE WEEKEND.

SO I MUST SAY, EL PASO HAS TO BE A MUST VISIT DESTINATION BECAUSE THEY DON'T MAKE DOCUMENTARIES ABOUT ANYTHING NOWADAYS.

THERE'S A DOCUMENTARY THAT WAS JUST MADE ABOUT EL PASO.

YEAH, WE'RE VERY PROUD OF ALL OF THE NATIONAL ATTENTION THAT EL PASO IS RECEIVING.

AND JUST TO MENTION SOME MORE RECOGNITIONS THAT WE'RE VERY, VERY PROUD OF.

WELL, ON ANY THIRD SUNDAY OF THE MONTH, FOLKS CAN COME DOWN TO SAN ELIZARIO WHERE WE HAVE AN ART MARKET.

WE HAVE A LOT OF WONDERFUL, WONDERFUL LOCAL ARTISTS WHO WILL SHOW OFF ALL OF THEIR ARTISTRY.

YOU CAN WALK AROUND, OF COURSE, EXPLORE THE CHAPEL.

AND WE ALSO HAVE A LOT OF GREAT RESTAURANTS AND NEW BUSINESSES THAT HAVE OPENED UP.

SO, FOR EXAMPLE, NEAR THE SOCORRO MISSION IN SOCORRO, TEXAS, WE HAVE A NEW BREWERY, WE HAVE A CAFE, WE HAVE SOME GREAT RESTAURANTS.

THEY BAKE THEIR BREAD FRESH IN THE OVEN, SO YOU CAN SEE HOW BREAD IS BAKED IN THE OLD TRADITION.

IT SOUNDS LIKE IT'S A LOT OF HISTORY, BUT YOU GUYS HAVE INCORPORATED A LOT OF ENTERTAINMENT TO BRING THAT INTO LEARNING HISTORY ABOUT EL PASO.

DEFINITELY. SO WE'RE REALLY PROUD OF OUR HERITAGE AND OUR TRADITIONS.

AND ONE OF THE NEATEST THINGS I THINK ABOUT THE MISSIONS IS THAT THEY'RE STILL VERY ACTIVE PARTS OF OUR COMMUNITY.

[04:35:03]

SO A LOT OF TIMES YOU GO TO HISTORICAL PLACES AND YOU KNOW, THEY'RE ROPED OFF AND YOU CAN'T REALLY GO IN.

OKAY. SO FOR SOMEONE WHO'S NEVER BEEN TO EL PASO, WHAT'S THE PERFECT BLUEPRINT TO REALLY ENJOY EL PASO FOR THE FIRST TIME? WELL, WE HAVE SO MUCH TO DO.

SO DEFINITELY YOU KNOW, WE WANT TO START WITH THE MISSION TRAIL.

WE WANT TO INVITE EVERYONE TO COME OUT TO THE MISSION TRAIL, BUT WE ALSO HAVE WATER PARKS.

COMMISSIONER ELIANA HOGAN, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING ME THIS MORNING.

IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO LEARN MORE INFORMATION ABOUT EL PASO OR PLANNING YOUR VACATION TO THIS AMAZING DESTINATION, YOU CAN GO TO THE WEBSITE YOU SEE ON YOUR SCREEN.

[04:40:34]

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 AM CURRENT AND ALL MY VACCINES AND I ALSO GET THE COVID VACCINE, SO I AND MY LOVED ONES CAN BE PROTECTED.

AND IF YOU'VE ALREADY GOTTEN THE VACCINE, YOU SHOULD GET YOUR BOOSTER FOR YOUR CHILD'S ROUTINE VACCINES.

WE KNOW HOW MUCH YOU LOVE YOUR CHILDREN, SO REMEMBER DON'T HESITATE.

ADEMAS DE LAS VACUNAS RUTINAS LOS NINOS MAYORES DE CINCO ANOS, AHORA SON ELEGIBLES PARA LA VACUNA DE COVID 19.

LA VACUNA COVID ES GRATIS PARA LAS VACUNAS RUTINA DE SUS HIJOS.

VISITA EP HEALTH PUNTO COM SABEMOS CUANTO A MAS DE TUS HIJOS, ASI Q RECUERDA NO LO DUDES VACUNA.

SO TODAY WE ARE CELEBRATING THE 4TH OF JULY HERE AT ASCARATE PARK.

ONCE IT GETS DARK, WE'LL HAVE A BEAUTIFUL FIREWORKS DISPLAY FOR THE COMMUNITY.

YOU KNOW, ASCARATE PARK IS THE HEART OF EL PASO COUNTY.

THIS IS OUR COUNTY PARK WHERE FAMILIES FOR GENERATIONS HAVE LOVED TO COME AND PLAY AND FISH.

SO WE'RE REALLY HAPPY TO BE ABLE TO OPEN UP THE PARK ON THE 4TH OF JULY.

SO HOPEFULLY, IF THERE'S FAMILIES OUT THERE THAT WEREN'T ABLE TO MAKE IT THIS YEAR, WE DEFINITELY WANT TO INVITE THEM TO JOIN US NEXT YEAR.

PUT THEM ON. IT'S JULY 4TH THIS YEAR.

YOU WANT SOME? YEAH.

WE'RE DOING OUR VIP EVENT, WHICH I'M STANDING IN FRONT OF RIGHT NOW HERE AT THE PAVILION, OUR SPECIAL EVENTS AREA.

IF THE KIDS WOULD PREFER TO WATCH A MOVIE OVER FIREWORKS.

BUT THE TICKETS FOR OUR VIP AREA THIS YEAR WERE $45 FOR ADULTS, AND THAT PROVIDED A BRISKET DINNER.

AND THEN FOR THE REST OF THE PUBLIC, NOT AT THE VIP EVENT.

WE HAD MULTIPLE FOOD TRUCKS OVER HERE AT THE SPECIAL EVENTS AREA AND ON OUR LAWN.

IF YOU HAVE NOT BEEN TO A FIREWORKS SHOW IN A SKELETON PARK, COME ON OUT.

YOU KNOW, PARKS ARE A PLACE OF DEMOCRACY WHERE WE ALL, YOU KNOW, ALL WALKS OF LIFE ARE COMING TOGETHER AND SHARING.

SO THAT'S KIND OF THE BEAUTY OF IT HERE ON INDEPENDENCE DAY.

YEAH. TODAY IS THE 4TH OF JULY OF THIS YEAR, 2024.

I WAS NOT KNOWING WHAT TO DO HERE IN EL PASO AS A NEW RESIDENT, AND I LOOKED INTO SOME RESOURCES, I WAS ABLE TO DISCOVER THAT HERE IN ASCARATE PARK.

THEY HAD A GREAT FIREWORKS EVENT.

THERE'S A NEW RESIDENT HERE TO THE COUNTY OF EL PASO.

I'M VERY GRATEFUL THAT WE HAVE SOMETHING LIKE THIS EXISTING.

FELICIDADES A HAPPY INDEPENDENCE DAY, EL PASO.

WE ARE AT EL PASO'S LARGEST ALL ABILITIES PLAYGROUND.

[04:45:01]

WOW. SO THERE'S THE FIRST ONE THAT OPENED WAS GALLEGOS PARK IN THE FAR WEST AND FAR EAST WAS RISINGER IN FABENS.

123. WOOHOO! THE FLOORING IS ALSO SPECIALLY MADE AND CONDUCIVE TO FOLKS WITH WITH DIFFERENT TYPES OF ABILITIES.

AND SO, YOU KNOW, WE'VE GOT SLIDES.

I MEAN, IT'S A GREAT PLAYGROUND.

READY? AT THE AMENITIES.

SO FOR EXAMPLE, THIS ONE OVER HERE, THE SWAY FAN, IT'S A IT'S A SEESAW.

BUT A CHILD OR A PERSON WHO'S USING A WHEELED A WHEELCHAIR DOES NOT NEED TO EXIT THEIR WHEELCHAIR.

AND I REALLY WANT TO THANK EVERYONE FOR MAKING THIS HAPPEN.

WELCOME. WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THE PARK? IT'S VERY GOOD OBVIOUSLY.

GREAT. WELL, ARE YOU GOING TO GO PLAY? YEAH. ALL RIGHT.

THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT THIS IS ALL ABOUT, RIGHT? CADEN AND HIS CLASSMATES AT RIVERSIDE ELEMENTARY WHO JOINED US TODAY.

IT JUST OPENS UP THAT THAT COMMUNICATION AND THAT COMMUNITY.

THEIR PLAY ISN'T IMPACTED WITH NOW HAVING KIDS WITH DISABILITIES COME AND JOIN THEM.

IT OPENS UP THAT RELATIONSHIP AND THAT COMMUNICATION AND MORE IMPORTANTLY, THAT UNDERSTANDING OF OF EVERYBODY IN OUR HUMANITY.

WALK AROUND A DAY WITHOUT YOUR IDENTIFICATION AND SEE HOW MANY TIMES YOU REACH FOR YOUR WALLET.

VERY EXCITED, HAPPY AND PROUD THAT THAT THIS PROJECT IS FINALLY COME TO FRUITION.

BECAUSE THIS IS AN INITIATIVE THAT THE COUNTY STARTED WORKING ON, ALONG WITH BORDER NETWORK FOR HUMAN RIGHTS MANY, MANY YEARS AGO, NINE, ALMOST TEN YEARS AGO.

I KNOW THE GOVERNMENT WORKS SLOW, BUT, YOU KNOW, WE PERSEVERED AND WE WE DIDN'T GIVE UP.

IT'S A VERY GOOD PROGRAM THAT CAME OVER HERE, ESPECIALLY HERE IN FABENS.

THE COMMUNITY NEEDS SOMETHING LIKE THIS TO BE ENHANCED AND FOR EVERYBODY TO KNOW, AND IT WILL HELP ALL OF US.

THIS IS GOING TO HELP PEOPLE ACCESS BANKING SERVICES, HEALTHCARE, MEDICAL SERVICES.

YOU'VE GOT FOLKS WHO NEED TO BE ABLE TO GET COPIES OF THEIR KIDS BIRTH CERTIFICATES FROM THE COUNTY CLERK, WHO CAN NOW USE THIS ID TO DO THAT AS WELL.

YOU HAVE PEOPLE WHO MAYBE DON'T HAVE AN ID AND SO ARE AFRAID TO REPORT THAT THEY'VE BEEN THE VICTIM OF A CRIME TO POLICE, BECAUSE THEY KNOW THAT THE POLICE MIGHT ASK THEM FOR ID.

SO NOW HAVING THIS ENHANCED LIBRARY CARD WILL GIVE THEM THAT SECURITY THAT THEY KNOW THEY CAN CALL AND ASK THE POLICE FOR HELP.

THIS IS A GREAT EXAMPLE OF A PARTNERSHIP THAT WE HAVE WITH THE CITY.

I THINK IF WE TRY, WE ARE PROVIDING ONE MORE LEVEL OF INCLUSIVITY FOR ALL OF THE RESIDENTS HERE IN EL PASO.

THAT'S WHAT I THINK THE COUNTY HAS ESPOUSED, THE VALUE OF BEING INCLUSIVE.

EL PASO COUNTY COMMISSIONER OF PRECINCT 13, ILIANA HOLGUIN, JOINS ME THIS MORNING.

THANK YOU. DARRELL, FOR THE INVITATION.

EL PASO.

BUT NOW I WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU EVERYTHING I CAN ABOUT EL PASO.

BECAUSE WE WANT TO INVITE PEOPLE TO COME AND GET TO KNOW EL PASO.

SPECIFICALLY, WE'RE KICKING OFF THE TOURIST SEASON ALONG THE MISSION TRAIL, WHICH, LIKE YOU SAID, IS A NINE MILE STRETCH OF ROAD ENCOMPASSING THREE HISTORIC MISSIONS.

THESE MISSIONS REPRESENT ABOUT 350 YEARS OF OUR CULTURE, OUR HISTORY, OUR TRADITIONS.

ON ANY GIVEN WEEKEND, YOU CAN STILL SEE WEDDINGS BEING PERFORMED QUINCEANERAS THE TIGUA CULTURAL DANCERS.

SO THESE ARE STILL ACTIVE MISSIONS THAT ARE VERY MUCH A PART OF THE COMMUNITY.

[04:50:03]

IF YOU LIKE ART, WE'VE GOT GREAT RESTAURANTS, A BREWERY, CAFES AND OF COURSE THE SPEAKING ROCK ENTERTAINMENT CENTER, WHICH OFFERS FREE CONCERTS EVERY SINGLE WEEKEND.

SO I MUST SAY, EL PASO HAS TO BE A MUST VISIT DESTINATION BECAUSE THEY DON'T MAKE DOCUMENTARIES ABOUT ANYTHING NOWADAYS.

THERE'S A DOCUMENTARY THAT WAS JUST MADE ABOUT EL PASO.

YEAH, WE'RE VERY PROUD OF ALL OF THE NATIONAL ATTENTION THAT EL PASO IS RECEIVING.

AND JUST TO MENTION SOME MORE RECOGNITIONS THAT WE'RE VERY, VERY PROUD OF.

SO FOR 2023, TEXAS TRAVEL MAGAZINE NAMED THE MISSION TRAIL THE BEST HISTORIC SITE IN TEXAS AND ONE OF THE SMALL COMMUNITIES LOCATED ALONG THE MISSION TRAIL.

WELL, ON ANY THIRD SUNDAY OF THE MONTH, FOLKS CAN COME DOWN TO SAN ELIZARIO WHERE WE HAVE AN ART MARKET.

WE HAVE A LOT OF WONDERFUL, WONDERFUL LOCAL ARTISTS WHO WILL SHOW OFF ALL OF THEIR ARTISTRY.

YOU CAN WALK AROUND, OF COURSE, EXPLORE THE CHAPEL.

AND WE ALSO HAVE A LOT OF GREAT RESTAURANTS AND NEW BUSINESSES THAT HAVE OPENED UP.

SO, FOR EXAMPLE, NEAR THE SOCORRO MISSION IN SOCORRO, TEXAS, WE HAVE A NEW BREWERY, WE HAVE A CAFE, WE HAVE SOME GREAT RESTAURANTS.

GO AHEAD. COMMISSIONERS COURT HAS RECONVENED BACK INTO REGULAR OPEN SESSION.

ITEM 13.

REGULAR SESSION 13 A.

APPROVE AND AUTHORIZE THE EL PASO COUNTY HOSPITAL DISTRICT TO PURCHASE APPROXIMATELY 8.7 ACRES OF LAND IN EAST EL PASO.

JUDGE. COMMISSIONERS. ERIC ROSALES, ASSISTANT COUNTY ATTORNEY.

CAN YOU JUST GIVE ME ONE MOMENT TO JUST MESSAGE UMC TO BE SURE THAT AN INDIVIDUAL'S ORDERS WILL TAKE ME ONE SECOND, OKAY.

[A. Approve and authorize the El Paso County Hospital District to purchase approximately 8.7 acres of land in East El Paso. R. Jacob Cintron, President & CEO, University Medical Center/EPCHD, 915-521-7600]

THANK. YOU.

JUDGE. COMMISSIONERS ERIC ROSALES, GAGLIONE, ASSISTANT COUNTY ATTORNEY, FOR THE COURT'S CONSIDERATION.

THE MOTION WOULD BE TO APPROVE AND AUTHORIZE THE EL PASO COUNTY HOSPITAL DISTRICT TO PURCHASE APPROXIMATELY 8.7 ACRES OF LAND IN EAST EL PASO.

WE HAVE A MOTION FROM COMMISSIONER LEON.

A SECOND FROM COMMISSIONER HOGAN.

JUDGE SIMONE GOES ABSENT FOR THIS VOTE.

ONE SECOND. I'LL VOTE.

DISCUSS AND TAKE APPROPRIATE ACTION REGARDING LITIGATION.

ITEM 13 C.

STYLED MICHAEL FLORES VERSUS COUNTY OF EL PASO, TEXAS.

CASE NUMBER 2019 CV 2227.

COUNTY ATTORNEY CASE NUMBER 0199-19 LD.

[C. Discuss and take appropriate action regarding litigation styled Michael Flores v. County of El Paso, Texas, Cause No. 2019DCV2227; Count Attorney case number 0199-19-LD. Michael Gomez, Assistant County Attorney, County Attorney's Office, 915-273-3247]

JUDGE. COMMISSIONERS. EXCUSE ME.

COMMISSIONERS ERIC ROSALES, ASSISTANT COUNTY ATTORNEY.

THE MOTION FOR THE COURT'S CONSIDERATION COULD BE TO APPROVE AND AUTHORIZE THE COUNTY JUDGE TO SIGN THE SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT AS DISCUSSED IN EXECUTIVE SESSION.

THE MEETING. MOTION BY COMMISSIONER STOUT, SECOND BY COMMISSIONER HOLGUIN.

JUDGE SAMANIEGO IS ABSENT.

I'M STILL NOT COMING UP BY VOTE.

I THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER.

THERE. THIS TIME WE'LL GO BACK TO THE REGULAR ORDER OF THE MEETING.

ITEM SEVEN BOARD APPOINTMENTS.

SEVEN A APPROVING THE APPOINTMENT OF COMMISSIONER STOUT'S NOMINEE, MARLENE SALAS, TO THE EL PASO COUNTY HOUSING AUTHORITY FOR THE UNEXPIRED TWO YEAR TERM ENDING MAY 14TH, 2026.

[04:55:01]

MICHELLE COCHRAN WITH COUNTY ADMINISTRATION, WE HAVE RECEIVED ALL OF THE TRAINING AS REQUIRED UNDER OUR UNIFORM POLICIES AND PROCEDURES BY MISS SALAS, AND SHE HAS

[A. Approve the appointment of Commissioner Stout's nominee, Marlene Salas, to the El Paso County Housing Authority for the unexpired, two-year term ending May 14, 2026. Betsy C. Keller, Chief Administrator, County Administration, 915-546-2215]

MET ALL OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR APPOINTMENT.

WE WOULD ASK FOR A MOTION TO APPROVE.

WE HAVE A MOTION FROM COMMISSIONER CORONADO, A SECOND FROM COMMISSIONER LEON.

COMMISSIONERS COURT EIGHT A.

THE MOTION CARRIES.

ITEM EIGHT.

DISCUSS AND TAKE APPROPRIATE ACTION REGARDING THE CONTINUATION AND RENEWAL OF THE DISASTER DECLARATION ISSUED BY THE EL PASO COUNTY JUDGE.

COUNTY JUDGE. COMMISSIONERS.

[A. Discuss and take appropriate action regarding the continuation and renewal of the Disaster Declaration issued by the El Paso County Judge. Ricardo A. Samaniego, County Judge, County Judge's Office, 915-546-2098]

AS YOU ALL KNOW, JUDGE SAMANIEGO ISSUED A DISASTER DECLARATION BASED ON THE FINANCIAL AND OPERATIONAL IMPACTS THE COUNTY HAS EXPERIENCED FROM OPERATION LONE STAR ACTIVITIES.

THIS ITEM IS REQUESTING THE COURT'S APPROVAL TO CONTINUE AND RENEW THE DISASTER DECLARATION.

YOU ALL ARE ABLE TO RENEW THIS FOR AN INDEFINITE PERIOD OF TIME OR A SET PERIOD OF TIME. I THINK ERICA HAS SOME INFORMATION TO SHARE ABOUT HOW YOU COULD DO IT FOR A LONGER PERIOD.

JUDGE. EXCUSE ME.

COMMISSIONERS ERICA GAGLIONE, ASSISTANT COUNTY ATTORNEY FOR THIS DISASTER DECLARATION ISSUED BY THE JUDGE.

THE COURT HAS IN PRIOR WITH PRIOR DISASTER DECLARATION ORDERS.

WE'VE DONE THIS AS WELL.

YOU HAVE THE DISCRETION TO DECIDE, AS MISS KELLER MENTIONED, ON AN END DATE.

OR WE COULD JUST DO IT, YOU KNOW, UNTIL TERMINATED AND THE TERMINATION COULD COME FROM THE COMMISSIONERS COURT.

COULD ALSO COME FROM OUR COUNTY JUDGE AS WELL.

SO I KNOW THIS IS IN CONNECTION WITH THE OLS GRANT.

SO I DON'T KNOW IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO JUST MAKE A MOTION TO RENEW THE DISASTER DECLARATION BY THE COUNTY JUDGE UNTIL TERMINATED COMMISSIONERS.

OKAY, GOOD. OKAY.

WE'LL GO THAT ROUTE. THANK YOU.

SO THE MOTION WOULD BE FOR OUR TEAM TO.

CONTINUE AND RENEW THE DISASTER DECLARATION UNTIL TERMINATED.

WE HAVE A MOTION FROM COMMISSIONER CORONADO, A SECOND FROM COMMISSIONER GUYNN.

STAND BY PLEASE. COMMISSIONER ELKINS.

OH! OH, SORRY.

MIGUEL IS ASKING THEM TO HOLD.

HOLD ON ONE SECOND, PLEASE. OKAY.

I NEEDED TO SEE THE VOTE.

ONE MORE TIME, PLEASE.

OKAY. THANK YOU.

ITEM EIGHT B DISCUSS AND TAKE APPROPRIATE ACTION ON A REQUEST FROM THE WAY OUT WEST.

FESTIVAL ORGANIZERS FOR COUNTY SPONSORSHIP IN THE AMOUNT OF $30,000 OVER THREE YEARS.

OPINION NUMBER 5211 OP.

YEAH. THANK YOU.

THANKS. YEAH.

I WANTED TO PRESENT THIS ITEM.

I DON'T KNOW IF WE HAVE SOMEBODY HERE TO PRESENT AS WELL, BUT BASICALLY, THE WAY OUT WEST FESTIVAL HAS BEEN A FESTIVAL THAT'S HAD A LOT OF SUCCESS IN EL PASO.

TRADITIONALLY THEY HAVE DONE THEIR THEIR FESTIVAL AT THE CHIHUAHUA STADIUM AT SOUTHWEST UNIVERSITY PARK, BUT IT SEEMS THAT THEY HAVE OUTGROWN THE CAPACITY THERE AND THEY WOULD LIKE TO EXPAND IT.

AND SO THEY'RE LOOKING AT DOING IT ON THE STREET DOWNTOWN NEXT TO THE THE CONVENTION CENTER,

[B. Discuss and take appropriate action on a request from the Way Out West Festival organizers for County sponsorship in the amount of $30,000 over three years. (#5211-OP) David Stout, Commissioner, Precinct 2, 915-546-2111]

KIND OF WHERE WE'VE SEEN FESTIVALS OCCUR IN THE PAST.

THE DOWNTOWN DOWNTOWN STREET FEST, NAMELY BUT FOR A RELATIVELY SMALL INVESTMENT FROM OUR HOTEL OCCUPANCY TAX, WE CAN SUPPORT THIS CONCERT THAT THAT DOES DRAW PEOPLE FROM A 300 MILE RADIUS, AND WE CAN PROMOTE COUNTY ACTIVITIES WHILE SUPPORTING THEM.

I THINK NOW IS A IT'S A GREAT TIME, THE SUMMER TO FALL SEASON LOTS OF LOTS OF EVENTS THAT WE THAT THAT ARE OCCURRING DOWNTOWN AND WE HAVE CHECKED WITH LEGAL AND WITH ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND THIS IS ALLOWABLE AND WE DO HAVE HOTEL HOTEL OCCUPANCY TAX FUNDS AVAILABLE.

SO I DON'T KNOW IF ANYBODY HAS ANY ANY QUESTIONS.

[05:00:01]

BUT BEFORE TURNING IT OVER, I DON'T KNOW IF DO WE HAVE ANYBODY FROM THE ORGANIZATION HERE TO PRESENT OR.

NO. COMMISSIONER.

I THOUGHT THEY MIGHT BE HERE, BUT I'M.

WHILE WE'RE WAITING, I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE I GAVE A CHANCE TO COMMISSIONER ELGIN.

WHO? WHO WORKED WITH ME ON ON MEETING WITH THE ORGANIZERS.

IF YOU HAVE ANYTHING YOU'D LIKE TO ADD.

YES. NO. THANK YOU.

SO IT'S IN ADDITION TO ALL OF THE NORMAL ACTIVITIES THAT WOULD BE PART OF THIS FESTIVAL WHICH IS LIVE MUSIC ALL KINDS OF VENDORS, FOOD, DRINKS.

THE ORGANIZERS ALSO AGREED THAT THE COUNTY COULD HAVE A SPACE WHERE WE COULD SHOW OFF OUR MISSION TRAIL, SO WE COULD ASK SOME OF OUR LOCAL BUSINESSES FROM THE MISSION TRAIL TO TO BE AT THIS SPACE, WE CAN INVITE THE LOCAL RESIDENTS WHO DO THE REENACTMENT OF THE BILLY THE KID SHOW.

WE COULD SHOW THE VIDEO.

THE MAJESTIC TRAIL VIDEO THAT THE COUNTY COMMISSIONED TO BE PRODUCED.

SO THEY'RE WILLING TO GIVE US A SPACE IN THE ABRAHAM CHAVEZ THEATER, FROM WHAT I REMEMBER.

SO THAT BASICALLY THAT COULD BE OUR LITTLE MISSION TRAIL CORNER, WHICH WOULD, OF COURSE, ALSO HELP US PROMOTE OUR MISSION TRAIL.

IN ADDITION TO THAT THEY'RE ALSO OFFERING THE OPPORTUNITY FOR THE COUNTY TO SPONSOR DISCOUNTS FOR ACTIVE MILITARY AND VETERANS.

SO YOU KNOW, THAT THAT THAT'S THAT'S A PLUS.

I THINK IT FALLS IN LINE WITH, WITH THE WORK THAT WE'VE BEEN DOING WITH VETERANS AND AND SUPPORTING THEM AS WELL.

SO ALL OF THE ADVERTISING, THE RADIO ADVERTISING FOR THE TICKETS WOULD SAY, YOU KNOW, MILITARY VETERAN DISCOUNT PROVIDED OR SPONSORED BY THE COUNTY OF EL PASO.

RIGHT, COMMISSIONER STOUT? YES. SO WOULD THIS BE $30,000 PER YEAR FOR THREE YEARS, OR 30,000 OVER THREE YEARS PER YEAR? PER YEAR. SO IF IF THE COURT TAKES ACTION TODAY, WE WOULD THEN WORK WITH THE ORGANIZERS TO BRING BACK AN AGREEMENT FOR FINAL APPROVAL.

AND JUST A QUICK QUESTION.

THE CITY, SINCE IT'S HAPPENING INSIDE THE CITY LIMITS ARE THEY PARTICIPATING ALSO? YEAH, IT'S A JOINT.

IT'S A JOINT PARTICIPATION.

SO A DESTINATION, EL PASO, THE CONVENTION AND VISITORS BUREAU, THEY ARE WORKING HEAVILY WITH, WITH THE WAY OUT WEST FEST TO TO PROVIDE THE SPACE AT THE CONVENTION CENTER, I THINK.

AND AND OTHER SUPPORTS.

YEAH. WELL, THAT'S GOOD TO HEAR.

AND SO THE AGREEMENT WE WOULD BRING BACK WOULD INCLUDE A MISSION TRAIL, PROMOTION SPACE, DISCOUNTED TICKETS IT'S FOR VETERANS AND ACTIVE MILITARY.

IS THAT WHAT YOU SAID, COMMISSIONER? YEAH. SO IS THERE A IS THERE A COPY? I DON'T KNOW WHY WE DON'T HAVE THE ORGANIZERS HERE.

DID WE PUT A COPY UP ON IN THE BACKUP? NO, SIR. NO.

OKAY. NO, SIR.

WELL, THAT'S THAT'S ON ME THEN.

THEY'RE THEY THEY HAVE A THEY HAVE A POWERPOINT PRESENTATION, BUT WE CAN SEND IT TO YOU.

BUT THAT I MEAN IT.

YES. WELL, PERFECT.

WE'LL MAKE SURE WE GET YOU THAT.

THE DETAILED INFORMATION AND THE WAY I UNDERSTOOD IS FOR THAT 30,000 PER YEAR PAYMENT.

THAT'S WHERE THE DISCOUNT IS GOING TO COME IN.

SO IT'S NOT LIKE IT'S ADDITIONAL FUNDS THAT WE PROVIDE.

IT'S ALL INCLUDED WITHIN THAT $30,000 AMOUNT.

CORRECT? YES. SO AND THEN WHAT WE WOULD DO IS WE WOULD WORK IN THE AGREEMENT BECAUSE OF COURSE, YOU CAN ONLY USE HOT FUNDS FOR CERTAIN THINGS.

SO WE WOULD OUTLINE WHAT THEY'RE GOING TO USE THE FUND FOR.

AND THEN WHAT SOME OF THE BENEFITS TO THE COUNTY FROM THE AGREEMENT WOULD INCLUDE.

YES. OKAY.

IF THERE'S IF THERE'S CONSENSUS AND ACTION TO DIRECT STAFF TO PREPARE THAT AGREEMENT WILL BRING BACK A CONTRACT FOR THE COURT'S APPROVAL. I'M OKAY.

WE NEED A MOTION TO TAKE ACTION TO SUPPORT A SPONSORSHIP IN THE AMOUNT OF $30,000 OVER THREE YEARS FOR THE WAY OUT WEST FESTIVAL, AND THEN WE'LL BRING BACK THAT AGREEMENT AND THAT POWERPOINT.

CAN YOU ALSO SEND IT TO THE REST OF THE COURT, COMMISSIONER? YEAH.

WE HAVE A MOTION BY COMMISSIONER STOUT, SECOND BY COMMISSIONER HOGAN.

ITEM NINE. COUNTY ADMINISTRATION NINE A DISCUSS AND TAKE APPROPRIATE ACTION REGARDING THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE FY 2024 MULTIYEAR CAPITAL PLAN FOR EL PASO COUNTY, INCLUDING PROJECT SELECTIONS, PERFORMANCE OBJECTIVES AND OUTCOMES, PERFORMANCE MANAGEMENT, OPERATIONAL MANAGEMENT, CORRESPONDING FINANCIAL

[A. Discuss and take appropriate action regarding the development of the FY2024 Multiyear Capital Plan for El Paso County, including: project selections, performance objectives and outcomes, performance management, operational management, corresponding financial planning related to capital investments and operational needs, and general capital direction. Jose Landeros, Director, Strategic Capital Development, 915-546-2215]

[05:05:07]

AND FOR YOUR INFORMATION, WE DO HAVE TWO SPEAKERS SIGNED UP FOR THIS ITEM.

GOOD AFTERNOON, COMMISSIONERS ON THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATION.

THIS ITEM IS THE THIRD SCHEDULED WORKSHOP THAT WE'VE PUT TOGETHER FOR THE COURT AS IT RELATES TO THE ONGOING CAPITAL PLANNING PROCESS.

I DIDN'T WANT TO SPEND SOME TIME DISCUSSING THIS AT A VERY HIGH LEVEL WITH THE COURT TODAY, GIVEN THE THE DIRECTION DISCUSSION THAT WE'VE BEEN HAVING AS IT RELATES TO WHAT WOULD COME NEXT AFTER AUGUST 12TH.

ONCE THE COURT DECIDES WHETHER OR NOT TO ORDER AN ELECTION.

IN THE EVENT THAT THE COURT DOES ORDER AN ELECTION, WE WANTED JUST TO GIVE YOU ALL SOME DATES ABOUT WHAT THE TIMELINE AHEAD LOOKS LIKE BETWEEN THE COURT'S ACTION ON THE 12TH AND THE ELECTION DAY BEING NOVEMBER 5TH.

AND SO, FOLLOWING MONDAY'S MONDAY, AUGUST 12TH COMMISSIONERS COURT, IF THE COURT DOES ORDER AN ELECTION, YOU GO INTO YOUR BUDGET HEARINGS THAT WEEK.

YOU'D BE CONSIDERING ADOPTION OF THE BUDGET MID-SEPTEMBER.

AND THEN ONCE THE BUDGET WAS ADOPTED, WE WOULD BEGIN THE PUBLIC OUTREACH CAMPAIGN.

OUR COMMUNICATIONS DIVISION IS PART OF THE OPERATIONS DEPARTMENT HAS BEGUN PUTTING TOGETHER SOME TENTATIVE OBJECTIVES AND GOALS ASSOCIATED WITH THIS THIRD PHASE OF OUTREACH.

WE WOULD LOOK TO HOST THREE PUBLIC MEETINGS PER PRECINCT.

WE WOULD RECOMMEND OR PRESENT TO THE COURT'S CONSIDERATION A MODIFICATION TO THAT SCHEDULE TO ALLOW FOR A HYBRID MEETING TO BE HELD DURING THE DAY. AND SO THE SCHEDULE, I BELIEVE, WOULD INCLUDE ONE ONLINE MEETING WITH EACH MEMBER OF THE COURT TO BE HELD DURING THE DAY.

AROUND MAYBE LIKE AROUND A LUNCHTIME.

SO YOU CAN HAVE A BIT OF A LUNCH AND LEARN.

ONE EVENING MEETING AND THEN ONE WEEKEND MORNING MEETING.

AND THAT WOULD AGAIN, THESE ARE JUST PROPOSALS, STARTING POINTS.

WE'RE LOOKING FOR ANY FEEDBACK THE COURT MAY HAVE TO OFFER, SO THAT WE CAN CONTINUE TO WORK ON FINALIZING THAT IN COORDINATION CLOSELY CLOSE, CLOSE COORDINATION WITH THE COMMUNICATIONS DIVISION.

DURING THAT SEPTEMBER 20TH 4TH TO OCTOBER 19TH PERIOD, YOU WILL NOTICE A LAG OF ABOUT A WEEK BETWEEN THE 17TH AND THE 24TH.

AND THAT IS BECAUSE WE WOULD WANT THAT WEEK TO PROMOTE THE SERIES DURING THE IN THIS LAST ROUND OF OF ACTIVITY, WE NOTICED AND WE'VE LEARNED THAT THE TWO MOST EFFECTIVE MEDIUMS THAT PEOPLE CITED ABOUT WHY THEY WENT TO THOSE MEETINGS WERE BOTH MALE AS WELL AS TV OR NEWS.

AND SO WE WOULD FOCUS OUR OUTREACH EFFORTS IN THOSE TWO MEDIUMS, COME UP WITH A PLAN FOR THE COURT'S CONSIDERATION, IMPLEMENT THAT PROMOTIONAL PERIOD ON THE 17TH, AND THEN LET THE MEETINGS BEGIN THE FOLLOWING WEEK ON THE 24TH.

SO THAT WOULD CONTINUE UP UNTIL THE SATURDAY BEFORE EARLY VOTING BEGINS.

ONCE EARLY VOTING BEGINS, WE WOULD NOT HAVE ANY MORE PUBLIC MEETINGS.

WE WOULD NOT WANT TO INTERFERE WITH THE ONGOING VOTING THAT THE PUBLIC WOULD HAVE UNDERWAY.

THAT WOULD RUN UNTIL NOVEMBER 1ST, AND THEN TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 5TH WOULD BE THE GENERAL ELECTION.

WHAT IS NOT INCLUDED HERE ARE OPPORTUNITIES THAT WE WOULD HAVE TO GO TO OTHER GOVERNMENTAL ENTITIES AND PRESENT DURING THEIR PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD, SIMILAR TO THE COMMENT THAT THE COURT HAS RECEIVED PREVIOUSLY FROM, I THINK, LAURA VALLEY WATER DISTRICT.

A FEW MONTHS BACK, WHEN THEY INDICATED THAT THEY WERE GOING TO BE PRESENTING A BOND FOR VOTERS CONSIDERATION, JUST TO USE THE THE EXISTING AUDIENCE THAT ARE TIED TO OTHER LOCAL GOVERNMENTS.

AND SO THAT IS SOMETHING THAT WE COULD CONSIDER ADDING HERE AS WELL.

BUT THIS IS GENERALLY WHAT THAT THIRD PHASE WOULD LOOK LIKE.

IT WOULD BE LED BY OUR COMMUNICATIONS DIVISION.

THEY ARE WORKING ON RECONCILING THE CONTRACT THAT WE CURRENTLY HAVE WITH OUR VENDOR TO DETERMINE WHAT TASKS CAN BE DEVELOPED, TO HAVE SOMETHING THAT'S READY TO GO VERY QUICKLY.

BUT ALL IN ALL, THIS IS GOING TO BE SOMETHING THAT IS HOW THAT IS MANAGED AND LED INTERNALLY BY OUR OUR TEAM AND STAFF HERE AT THE COUNTY.

[05:10:08]

SO THE UPCOMING DATES, AS I MENTIONED, AUGUST 12TH IS THE DATE THAT WE ARE TARGETING FOR THE COURT TO ADOPT THE FINAL PROJECT LIST FINANCE STRUCTURE.

AGAIN, YOU'D ALSO DISSOLVE THE EXISTING BOND ADVISORY COMMITTEE STRUCTURE BECAUSE THEY HAVE MET THEIR PURPOSE.

BUT WE WOULD REORGANIZE THAT LATER TO ENGAGE IN A MORE ACTIVE DEBT MONITORING AND PUBLIC TRANSPARENCY STRUCTURE.

AND THEN THE COURT WOULD ALSO CONSIDER THE ORDER CALLING FOR THE GO BOND.

AND THE REASON WHY THE FINANCE LIST AND FINANCE STRUCTURE IS A SEPARATE ACTION ITEM FROM THE ORDER CALLING FOR THE GO BOND IS.

THERE ARE CERTIFICATES OF OBLIGATION THAT ARE BEING PROPOSED FOR THE COURT TO HAVE, AND SO THIS IS THE REASON WHY IT'S REFERRED TO AS A MULTI-YEAR CAPITAL PLAN, IS BECAUSE THE DOCUMENT ITSELF WOULD SHOW FUTURE FUTURE ISSUANCES IN 2028 FOR THE CEO AS WELL AS 2025.

AND SO WE WANT TO ACCOUNT FOR THAT BEING PART OF THE OVERALL PLAN THAT IS ADOPTED BY THE COMMISSIONERS COURT TO ALLOW US TO MOVE FORWARD AND CONTINUE TO DEVELOP THOSE PROJECTS AS AS PRESENTED.

AND THEN POST AUGUST 12TH, AS I MENTIONED, PHASE THREE OF THAT COMMUNICATIONS PLAN THAT I JUST PRESENTED.

SO A FEW ACTIONS THAT WE WANT TO HIGHLIGHT BASED ON SOME REVISED TAX BASED VALUES THAT CAME IN LAST WEEK WHEN THOSE VALUES CAME IN.

WE DID SHARE THAT WITH STIFEL.

OUR FINANCIAL ADVISOR ASKED THEM TO LOOK AT WHETHER THE NEW TAX BASE FIGURES SHIFTED ANY OF THE NUMBERS THAT WE PREVIOUSLY PRESENTED.

THEY HAVE IN FACT.

AND SO FOLLOWING THAT, WE WORKED PRETTY DILIGENTLY OVER THE COURSE OF THE LAST SEVERAL DAYS WITH EVERY OFFICE THAT WAS POTENTIALLY AFFECTED BY THIS CHANGE TO PRESENT THE THE AND UPDATE THE MATERIALS, WE DID SEND THOSE OVER TO YOU ALL OVER THE WEEKEND.

THEY WERE UPLOADED TO THE AGENDA ITEM FIRST THING THIS MORNING.

THE PROJECT LIST THAT I HAD SENT OUT EARLY ON SATURDAY WAS ALSO UPLOADED TODAY THIS AFTERNOON.

AND SO WE HAVE A NEW PROJECT LIST THAT FOLLOWS THE SPIRIT OF WHAT THE BOND ADVISORY COMMITTEE AND COMMISSIONERS COURT HAVE DISCUSSED PREVIOUSLY, BUT IS OBVIOUSLY SOMETHING DIFFERENT THAN WHAT YOU ALL SAW LAST WEEK OR AT YOUR LAST WORKSHOP AT THE JULY SPECIAL SESSION.

SO THE UPDATED SLIDE, YOU CAN SEE HERE WHAT'S CHANGED IS HIGHLIGHTED IN YELLOW AND IT'LL BE THE SAME FOR ALL THE SLIDES MOVING FORWARD.

THE MAXIMUM FINANCE CAPACITY THAT CAN BE ISSUED UNDER COE, WHICH IS YOUR TAX RATE NEUTRAL AMOUNT, IS NOW $175 MILLION.

THAT'S DOWN FROM 195.

AND AGAIN THE REASON FOR THIS IS BECAUSE THE CERTIFIED VALUES THAT CAME IN FROM THE CENTRAL APPRAISAL DISTRICT WERE LOWER THAN PROJECTED.

THEY VALUES REDUCED BY OVER 6%.

THEY'VE NEVER DONE THAT IN THE PAST TEN YEARS.

AND THEY'VE HOVERED AROUND AN AVERAGE OF THREE AND A HALF TO 4% EVERY YEAR.

THE MODEL THAT STIFEL USED ASSUMED A 5% REDUCTION, WHICH SEEMED ABOVE AND BEYOND WHAT WE'VE SEEN.

BUT WE STILL EXCEEDED THAT THIS YEAR.

AND SO THAT'S THE REASON WHY THESE NUMBERS HAVE SHIFTED A LITTLE BIT.

THE MAXIMUM CAPACITY REMAINS UNCHANGED.

IT'S STILL $500 MILLION.

HOWEVER, THE AMOUNT THAT CAN BE ISSUED WITHOUT RAISING THE THE DEBT, WITHOUT RAISING THE DEBT.

TAX RATE HAS SHIFTED DOWN TO 175 FROM ONE.

95 AND THEN THE GEO BONDS HAVE IN TURN YOUR MAXIMUM CAPACITY FOR THOSE.

HAS SHIFTED UP TO 325 MILLION.

THIS IS ESTIMATED TO RAISE TAXES BY $0.03.

AND SO THE STAFF REVISED RECOMMENDATION BASED ON THESE NEW CONSTRAINTS.

YOU CAN SEE HERE THE TOTAL AMOUNTS BEING PROPOSED, 174 MILLION FOR CEOS AND 298 MILLION FOR GENERAL OBLIGATION BONDS, LEAVING US AT 472 MILLION TOTAL FOR BOTH CEOS AND CEOS.

AND AGAIN, YOUR MAXIMUM CAPACITY IS ABOUT 500 MILLION.

SO THERE'S APPROXIMATELY $28 MILLION OF UNSPENT CAPACITY THAT REMAINS FOR THE FOR THE COUNTY.

THIS IS THE SUMMARY TABLE DURING THE PRESENTATIONS I'VE HAVE REFERRED TO IT AS A TALLY, ESPECIALLY DURING THE BOND ADVISORY COMMITTEE MEETINGS.

YOU CAN SEE THIS IS WHERE WE WERE ORIGINALLY HEADING INTO MONDAY.

BUT AFTER THE REVISED AMOUNTS, YOU CAN SEE THIS IS CLOSER TO WHERE WE ARE.

NOW YOU'LL NOTICE THAT THE THE DIRECT PROJECT COSTS HAVE BEEN REDUCED.

AND THE REASON FOR THAT IS WE WORKED VERY CLOSELY WITH STIFEL AS THEIR FINANCIAL ADVISOR AND ALSO PUBLIC WORKS AND M AND K TO DISCUSS PROJECT SCHEDULES, WHICH IS THE LAST SET OF INFORMATION THAT WILL CLOSE OUT THE PRESENTATION.

[05:15:05]

PART OF THAT INCLUDED ACCELERATING AND DOING A LARGER AMOUNT OF DEBT ON THE FRONT END.

AND WHAT THAT EFFECTIVELY DOES IS ALLOWS US TO BEGIN PROJECTS SOONER, INCLUDING THE DESIGN.

AND WHAT THAT DOES IS THEN ALLOW CONSTRUCTION TO OCCUR SOONER.

AND SO THERE'S LESS OF AN INFLATION FACTOR TO ACCOUNT FOR BECAUSE THE PROJECTS ARE HAPPENING SOONER, ARE BEING COMPLETED SOONER, AND THAT REALLY ACCELERATES THE THE PROJECT SCHEDULE, BUT ALSO GENERATES SUBSTANTIAL SAVINGS.

AND SO WHEN WE THINK ABOUT THE FACT THAT THE GEO IS GOING TO BE THE LARGER OF THE TWO ISSUANCE TYPES THAT ARE BEING PROPOSED AND DISCUSSED BY THE COURT RIGHT NOW ACCELERATING A LOT OF THOSE PROJECTS MEANS A LOT OF SAVINGS.

AND SO OVER THE COURSE OF THE LAST FEW DAYS, WE'VE AGAIN WORKED CLOSELY TO CONFIRM THESE, THESE UPDATED FIGURES.

AND SO THIS IS THE AMOUNT THAT M AND K HAS, HAS ESTIMATED BASED ON THE SHIFTING PROJECT SCHEDULES, WHICH HAVE A LOT MORE PROJECTS BEGINNING A LOT SOONER.

THEREFORE, BEING ABLE TO HEAD INTO CONSTRUCTION SOONER, YIELDING SOME SAVINGS BACK TO THE COUNTY.

SO ALL OF THE PROJECTS REMAIN FUNDED THROUGH THE CEO OR THE GEO.

BUT AT THE TUNE OF $472 MILLION.

AND AGAIN, I'VE PRESENTED THOSE NUMBERS PREVIOUSLY, 174 UNDER THE KO AND 298 UNDER THE GEO.

YOU CAN SEE THAT 1% PROJECT ENHANCEMENT IS INCLUDED, AND ON TOP OF THAT IS THE $1.5 MILLION OF OF GREENWORKS INITIATIVE FOR TREES AND IRRIGATION SYSTEMS TO ADD TO THOSE PROJECTS.

SO ALL OF THAT STILL REMAINS BETWEEN BOTH PROJECTS, BETWEEN BOTH ISSUANCE TYPES.

AND WE'RE ABLE TO DELIVER THOSE PROJECTS AT A LOWER COST BY ACCELERATING SOME OF THEIR PROJECT DEVELOPMENT SCHEDULES.

DO YOU HAVE A QUESTION, COMMISSIONER? YES.

WHAT IS WHAT IS THE PERCENTAGE THAT WE ALLOTTED FOR INFLATIONARY PERIOD DURING THE TIME OF THE PASSING, OR RATHER REALLY FROM THE SELLING OF THE BONDS TO THE TIME WE COMPLETE THEM? HAVE WE WHAT PERCENT THAT WE INCLUDE IN THAT? I DON'T RECALL THE EXACT AMOUNT, BUT I BELIEVE IF MISS RENEE JIMENEZ IS IS ON THE CALL FROM MAC, SHE'D BE ABLE TO SPEAK TO WHAT THAT AMOUNT IS EXACTLY.

NONE ON. OKAY, SO I DO RECALL, SHE EXPLAINED.

IT DID VARY ALSO ON THE TYPE OF PROJECT OR WHAT WHAT IT ENTAILED.

THERE WAS DIFFERENT INFLATIONARY RATES DEPENDING ON WHAT IT WAS AND THE TIMING.

OKAY. I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE COVER THAT SO THAT WE'RE NOT, YOU KNOW, DOWN THE ROAD WE COME UP WITH THE ISSUE.

WELL, WE'RE SHORT ON THIS PROJECT AND WE'RE SHORT ON THIS PROJECT.

AND I DON'T WANT TO SEE THAT THAT HAPPENS TO US.

MAKE SURE I BELIEVE WE ESTIMATE.

AND WE'LL HAVE TO CONFIRM THIS WITH WITH MAC, BECAUSE THEY'RE THE ONES WHO PUT THE MODEL TOGETHER.

BUT I BELIEVE IT WAS ANYWHERE FROM 4 TO 7% THAT WE WERE ESTIMATING FOR AN ANNUAL INFLATION RATE.

OKAY. SO THIS IS THE ORIGINAL DRAWDOWN SCHEDULE.

SO YOU CAN SEE HERE THESE ARE THE PROJECT AMOUNTS NOT THE FULL DEBT SERVICE THAT WOULD BE REPAID.

BUT JUST IN TERMS OF WHAT THE PROJECT, WHAT THE PROJECT PROCEEDS ARE.

AND WHAT DOESN'T CHANGE IS THE ORIGINAL SCHEDULE.

SO THIS WAS BASED ON THE $195 MILLION CO AMOUNT.

BUT NOW THAT WE'VE HAD TO CHANGE IT YOU CAN SEE THE REVISIONS HIGHLIGHTED THERE IN YELLOW.

AND SO THE REVISED SCHEDULE IS A COMPLETELY NEW SCHEDULE THAT PUTS MORE OF THE CO INSTEAD OF ON, EXCUSE ME, PUTS MORE FUNDING UP FRONT ON THE GEO TO ALLOW PROJECT DEVELOPMENT TO BE ACCELERATED.

AND SO WHEN WE LOOK AT BIG PROJECTS LIKE THE COLOSSEUM BEING IN THERE, STARTING THAT PROJECT DESIGN AND SOME OF THE PHASE CONSTRUCTION DURING THE FIRST TRANCHE OF ISSUANCE DOES GENERATE SAVINGS WHEN THE PROJECT IS NEARING $60 MILLION IN TOTAL.

AND SO THAT'S HOW WE START TO SHAVE OFF A LOT OF THE FUNDING THAT THE PROJECT COSTS WOULD NOT INCUR BECAUSE OF THAT EXTRA WEIGHT OF THAT INFLATION. AND SO WHEN YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT 4 TO 7% OF $60 MILLION PER YEAR, THAT IS A PRETTY SUBSTANTIAL AMOUNT OF TIME TO BE WAITING ON.

AND SO WE'RE ABLE TO TO SEE SOME OF THOSE SAVINGS HERE.

AND JOSE, JUST A QUICK QUESTION IN REFERENCE TO THE EL PASO COUNTY'S PROJECT SCHEDULE.

I LIKE THE WAY IT'S LAID OUT, BUT I'VE ALWAYS HAD A QUESTION, AND I THINK ALL OF OUR CONSTITUENTS WILL HAVE THE SAME QUESTION.

IT STOPS.

IT STOPS AT CONSTRUCTION WHEN IT CONSTRUCTION BEGINS, BUT IT DOESN'T GIVE US A DATE WHEN IT'S COMPLETED.

[05:20:03]

OKAY. RIGHT. SO THAT WAS AN IMPORTANT DISTINCTION THAT WE ASKED MACKAY TO MAKE.

THOSE DIAMONDS REPRESENT THE END OF THAT PERIOD.

SO WE'RE THE DIAMOND THAT SAYS CONSTRUCTION IS IT NOW REFERS TO THE END OF CONSTRUCTION.

SO THAT IS WHAT THE PROJECT SCHEDULE IS TO BE WHEN IT'S EXPECTED TO BE COMPLETED.

OKAY, SO THAT'S THE ACTUAL TERMINATION.

YES, SIR. OKAY.

WELL, THAT'S GOOD TO KNOW.

SO RIGHT HERE YOU CAN SEE THE PROPOSAL WOULD BE THAT IN 2025 THE COURT CONSIDERS $75 MILLION CERTIFICATE OF OBLIGATION ISSUANCE.

$125 MILLION.

GEO ISSUANCE PENDING THE ONE THE COURT CALLING THAT ELECTION AND THEN TWO, THE VOTERS APPROVING THAT IN NOVEMBER.

THE VOTERS DO APPROVE IT.

THEN THE COURT WOULD DO THE FIRST TRANCHE OF ISSUANCE TO THE TUNE OF ABOUT 125 MILLION.

AND THEN IN 2027, TWO YEARS LATER, THE SECOND GEO ISSUANCE, THE TRANCHE WOULD BE ISSUED AT $200 MILLION. AND THEN IN 2028 A SECOND CERTIFICATE OF OBLIGATION PACKAGE OF ABOUT $100 MILLION.

AND SO THAT COMPLETELY TOTALS UP TO THE $500 MILLION.

AND THESE ARE THE MAXIMUM SOME AMOUNTS.

RIGHT. AND SO WHAT WE'VE DONE AS YOU WHAT WE'VE WORKED WITH M AND K TO DO IS TO FRONT LOAD THE COST THAT WE KNOW ARE GOING TO BE SEEN AND EXPERIENCED IN 25, BECAUSE THAT'S THE CLOSEST ONE THAT WE KNOW.

AND SO IT'S PROPOSED THAT YOU DO THE 75 AND THE 125 AND 25, AND THEN THE 27 AND 28 AMOUNTS, WHATEVER SAVINGS IS, IS AVAILABLE.

IF THE COURT DOESN'T GO TO THE FULL CAPACITY, THEY WOULD BE REDUCED PROPORTIONATELY BETWEEN THE GEO AND THE CO AND THOSE TWO ISSUANCES.

BECAUSE I JUST GOING BACK TO THE SAME QUESTION I HAD EARLIER, SHOULD THIS NOT ALSO SHOW THE WHEN CONSTRUCTION BEGINS? SO WHEN THE BIDDING AND NEGOTIATION POINT BEGINS IS GENERALLY THOUGHT TO BE THE NEXT PHASE OF THE PROJECT.

AND SO IF YOU'RE IF YOU'RE LOOKING ON THAT PROJECT TIMELINE BETWEEN THE LAST TWO DIAMONDS, THERE'S ONE THAT SAYS BN AND ONE THAT SAYS CON, THAT IS THE CONSTRUCTION PERIOD.

SO BETWEEN BN AND CONSTRUCTION.

YES. SO THAT IS WHERE WE WOULD PROCEED WITH CONTRACTOR MOBILIZATION.

GROUNDBREAKING. ALL OF THOSE FRONT END PROJECT ELEMENTS.

AND THAT'S WHERE THE CONSTRUCTION THAT'S.

THE THE END OF THE PHASE THAT PRECEDES IT IS THE BEGINNING OF THE SECOND PHASE.

OKAY. AND GOING BACK AGAIN, I'M SORRY.

OUR PUBLIC MEETINGS THEN WILL NOT START.

UNTIL THE 24TH OF SEPTEMBER AS IS PROPOSED RIGHT NOW.

YES, THAT IS THE. THAT IS THE SCHEDULE AND THE AND BUT THAT PROCESS IS STILL BEING DEVELOPED BY COMMUNICATIONS.

SO IT COULD CHANGE TO BE WHAT I'M HOPING FOR THAT THEY BEGIN EARLIER THAN THE 24TH.

YES, SIR. YEAH.

RENE JIMENEZ IS ON THE LINE.

OKAY. IF NEEDED. AND RENE, THE COURT WAS ASKING A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE ASSUMPTIONS THAT GO INTO THE INFLATION.

WHAT WAS THE AMOUNT THAT WE PROJECTED FOR EACH YEAR? YES, WE USED A 7% INFLATION PER YEAR ACROSS THE BOARD ON ALL PROJECTS.

OKAY. SO WITH INFLATION SLOWING DOWN, BASED ON THE LATEST NUMBERS THAT HAD IT IN ABOUT 3.5%, THAT'S IF THAT THAT TREND CONTINUES, WE'LL END UP SEEING PROJECT SAVINGS BECAUSE WE'LL HAVE LESS.

WE'LL HAVE MORE FUNDS AVAILABLE IN THE ACTUAL COST OF THE PROJECT.

YEAH. OKAY.

THANK YOU. RENEE. YOU'RE WELCOME.

SO THIS IS A NEW SLIDE THAT WAS NOT AT ALL IN THE ORIGINAL PRESENTATION THAT WAS POSTED ON FRIDAY THAT THAT I DID ADD YESTERDAY, JUST TO ENSURE THAT THE COURT KIND OF UNDERSTOOD WHAT CHANGES HAVE BEEN MADE TO THE LIST AS IT CAME OVER FROM THE BOND ADVISORY COMMITTEE.

SO AT OUR FIRST WORKSHOP, PROJECT 14 WAS MOVED FROM THE COE TO THE GEO, AND PROJECT TEN WAS MOVED FROM THE GEO TO THE COE.

THEY WERE PROPORTIONATE AMOUNTS.

AND SO THE SWAP WAS MADE ON JULY 18TH.

THERE WERE NO FORMAL CHANGES MADE UNDER CONSIDERATION AT THE TIME.

WAS ADDING PROJECT ONE THE COURTHOUSE HVAC BACK INTO THE CO, AND DOING SO WOULD MEAN LIKELY MOVING PROJECT TEN FROM THE CO TO THE GEO COMING TO TODAY.

THERE HAVE BEEN TWO REVISIONS MADE TO THE EXISTING PROJECT LIST AS A RESULT OF THE LOWER CAPACITY THAT WE HAVE ON THE CO, WE'RE 20 MILLION.

WE HAVE 20 MILLION LESS IN CAPACITY ON THE CO THAN WE THAN WE DID A FEW WEEKS AGO.

AND SO IN ORDER TO KEEP THE THE THE CO BALANCED, WE MOVED PROJECT 63 FROM THE CO TO THE GEO AND ALSO PROJECT TEN FROM THE CO TO THE GEO.

[05:25:03]

UNDER CONSIDERATION IS ADDING PROJECT ONE THE COURTHOUSE HVAC TO THE CEO.

I THINK WE RECEIVED DIRECTION FROM THE COURT ON THAT MATTER.

SO THAT MAY NO LONGER BE THOSE LAST TWO BULLET POINTS MAY NO LONGER BE RELEVANT.

BUT WHAT IS UP FOR DISCUSSION IS THE MOVEMENT OF PROJECTS 63 AND PROJECT TEN, FROM THE CEO TO THE CEO, IN ORDER TO MAKE THE CEO BALANCE UNDER $175 MILLION THOSE PROJECTS WERE CHOSEN BASED ON THEIR AMOUNT.

THERE'S NOTHING THAT MEANS THAT OTHER PROJECTS AND THE CEO COULDN'T BE MOVED FROM THE CEO TO THE GEO.

THAT WAS JUST DONE FOR THE PURPOSES OF PRESENTING YOU ALL WITH AN OPTION STARTING POINT FOR THE FOR THE AMOUNTS THAT WE ARE TRYING TO WORK WITH ON THE CEO AND THE GEO.

THESE FOUR SLIDES WERE TIMELINES OF THE PROJECTS.

THESE ARE A LITTLE BIT MORE DIFFICULT TO READ THAN THOSE PROJECT SCHEDULE.

11 BY 17 PAGES THAT WE HANDED OUT TO YOUR OFFICES.

BUT THESE ARE UPDATED ONES.

AND SO HERE YOU CAN SEE THE REVISIONS ARE REFLECTED IN THE HIGHLIGHTED.

SO FOR ONE WE REFERRED WE UPDATED THE REFERENCE FROM STORMWATER TO FLOOD CONTROL.

AND SO THOSE FOUR PROJECTS REMAIN IN PLACE.

FIRST TIME WATER AND WASTEWATER WAS NOT ON THE ORIGINAL SCHEDULE YOU'D SEEN EVEN THOUGH THE BOND ADVISORY COMMITTEE HAD MOVED IT OUT.

SO WE DID BRING THAT INTO THE NEW DOCUMENT FOR YOUR REVIEW.

AND THEN UNDER THE MODERNIZATION OF EXISTING FACILITIES 44 THE DESIGN WAS ADDED IN 45, THE DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION WAS ADDED.

THIS IS LARGELY DUE TO THE FACT THAT THERE IS AN ACCOMPANYING GEO ITEM RELATED TO THE ANNEX WEST.

THAT IS BECAUSE THE USE DOES REQUIRE VOTER APPROVAL.

IT CANNOT BE CONSTRUCTED USING A COE.

AND THIS IS WHERE WE DO THE SENIOR NUTRITION PROGRAM AND THE FUNDING THAT WE RECEIVED THROUGH THE CONGRESSIONAL.

THE COMMUNITY PROJECT FUNDING ALLOCATION FROM CONGRESSWOMAN ESCOBAR'S OFFICE WILL HELP FUND THE WEST SIDE OF THE BUILDING.

AND SO, OPERATIONALLY, IT MAKES SENSE TO FIND TO DESIGN THE TO FUND THE DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION OF THE ENTIRE BUILDING.

AT THE SAME TIME, EVEN THOUGH THERE'S TWO FUNDING SOURCES ASSOCIATED WITH THAT AND THEN PHASED CONSTRUCTION, WHAT THAT REFERS TO IS THE FACT THAT THESE PROJECTS WILL BEGIN A PHASE OF CONSTRUCTION BEFORE THE SECOND ISSUANCE.

RIGHT. AND SO THIS THIS LIST HERE REFERS TO THE PROJECTS AND THEIR CORRESPONDING PHASES THAT WILL BE FINANCED USING PROCEEDS THAT WE HAVE AND WE RECEIVE IF THE COURT ISSUES CERTIFICATES OF OBLIGATION IN 2025.

SO IN 2025 WE WOULD FUND THE CONSTRUCTION OF THREE AND WHOLE OF THREE STORMWATER PROJECTS AND THE DESIGN OF ONE OF THOSE PROJECTS, FOR EXAMPLE.

BUT WE WOULD ALSO FINANCE THE DESIGN AND CERTAIN PHASES OF CONSTRUCTION OF THE JPD IMPROVEMENTS AND THE REST OF THE CONSTRUCTION WE WOULD FUND THROUGH THE SUBSEQUENT 2028 CERTIFICATE OF OBLIGATION.

WHAT YEAR? AGAIN, IN 2028, THE CERTIFICATES OF OBLIGATION ARE 2025 AND 2028.

THE GENERAL OBLIGATION BOND TRANCHE ISSUANCES ARE 2025 AND 2027.

SO REALLY QUICKLY BEFORE WE MOVE ON FROM THIS SLIDE.

SO PROJECT 92 COURTHOUSE SECOND FLOOR REMODEL, ISN'T THAT THE DISCUSSION THAT WE HAD ABOUT THE DA'S OFFICE AND WHETHER OR NOT WE RECEIVED THE EMAIL FROM MR. MONTOYA? YES, MA'AM.

THE NECESSITY OF THAT PROJECT.

SO DID WE DECIDE TO KEEP THAT PROJECT THERE? I THOUGHT WE DECIDED NOT TO KEEP IT.

AND THERE WAS NO DIRECTION FROM THE COURT WHETHER TO TO KEEP THAT PROJECT OR MOVE IT FROM WHAT I RECALL.

AND I DO BELIEVE ONE OF THE DISCUSSIONS WE CAN DISCUSS IT UNDER THE ITEM ON SPACE.

ONE OF THE THINGS I'VE HEARD OFTEN FROM PUBLIC WORKS IS THE LAYOUT OF THAT SPACE.

MAYBE THERE'S THINGS THAT COULD BE DONE TO MAKE IT MORE CONDUCIVE TO THE THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE IN THE SPACE, AND SO THAT DESIGN WOULD BE PART OF THAT LAYOUT REMODEL, HOW TO MAKE IT AS USEFUL AS POSSIBLE TO AS MANY PEOPLE AS POSSIBLE.

SO IT WOULD ONLY INCLUDE THE DESIGN.

THAT'S WHAT 92 IN THIS AREA IS SHOWN FOR DESIGN UNDER UNDER CO 2025.

IF THOSE FUNDS WERE AVAILABLE, WE WOULD ONLY FUND THE DESIGN OF PROJECT 92.

THE CONSTRUCTION WOULD BE IN 2028.

OKAY. AND SO HERE YOU CAN SEE THE SECOND HALF OF THE

[05:30:04]

CERTIFICATE OF OBLIGATION FUNDING.

SO YOU CAN SEE AGAIN STORMWATER IS UPDATED TO FLOOD CONTROL.

THE O'LEARY CROSSING CONSTRUCTION PROJECT WAS SHIFTED OUT FROM 2025 TO 2028, AGAIN TO MAKE ROOM FOR SOME OF THE OTHER CONSTRAINTS THAT THAT WE'VE DISCUSSED.

IT'S UNFORTUNATELY NOT JUST THE REDUCTION IN IN CAPACITY THAT WE HAVE ON THE CEOS.

IT'S SOME OF THE OTHER ELEMENTS THAT I MENTIONED, LIKE BUILDINGS LIKE THE SLED ANNEX BEING TIED TO CONGRESSIONAL EARMARK FUNDING AND HAVING ONE HALF OF THE BUILDING CONSTRUCTED WITH ONE THE GEO, AND THE SECOND HALF WITH THE CEO.

OPERATIONALLY, IT'S JUST IMPOSSIBLE.

THEY NEED TO BE TREATED AS ONE PROJECT, EVEN IF THEY'RE ON TWO SIDES OF THE FUNDING COIN.

SO THAT'S THE REASON WHY THEY ARE SOME OF THE OTHER CONSTRAINTS THAT ARE ADDED HERE.

THE COUNTY FACILITY SECURITY.

THE DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION THAT IS MOVED OUT FROM 25 TO 2028, AGAIN TO MAKE ROOM UNDER THE CONSTRAINTS THAT ARE THAT ARE THERE.

AND THEN THE REMAINING PHASES OF THE WATER AND WASTEWATER IMPROVEMENTS ARE IN THAT SECOND CERTIFICATE OF OBLIGATION.

AND THEN, COMMISSIONER, AS YOU POINTED OUT, FOR EXAMPLE, PROJECT 92, THE CONSTRUCTION YOU CAN SEE THERE BEING FUNDED UNDER THE 2028 CEO.

MOVING ON TO THE GEO.

SO YOU CAN SEE MORE YELLOW HERE.

AND THAT'S LARGELY DUE TO SOME A LOT OF THOSE PROJECTS MOVING UP IN SCHEDULE.

AND 33 IS THE ANNEX DESIGN.

AND PHASE CONSTRUCTION IS A GOOD EXAMPLE WHERE WE'RE BEGINNING THE PROJECT SOONER AND ALSO BEGINNING THE CONSTRUCTION SOONER, WHICH AGAIN YIELDS A LOT OF THAT SAVINGS.

AND SO YOU'LL SEE PHASED CONSTRUCTION ADDED QUITE A BIT THROUGHOUT THIS PROJECT LISTING, WHICH ENSURES THAT EVEN IF THE PROJECT'S DESIGN IS READY, IT'S NOT SITTING ON A SHELF WAITING FOR CONSTRUCTION AND THAT WE CAN LOCK IN A PRICE SOONER AND THAT YIELDS SOME PROJECTED SAVINGS.

AND SO ALL OF THE PARKS, A MAJORITY OF THE PARKS PROJECTS, BUT A FEW ALL BEGIN THE DESIGN AND PHASE CONSTRUCTION UNDER THE 2025 GEO BOND TRANCHE ISSUANCE, WITH THE EXCEPTION OF SAN FELIPE PARK, WHICH IS FULLY CONSTRUCTION.

AND THAT IS BECAUSE OF THE GRANT THAT WE RECEIVED PREVIOUSLY.

AND JUST THE DESIGN IS ALREADY DONE, IS JUST ABOUT FINDING THE FULL DOLLARS FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF THAT PROJECT.

55 A AND B, THE COLISEUM PROJECTS ARE ALSO ACCELERATED TO BEGIN DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION.

THOSE ARE TREATED AS ONE, EVEN THOUGH THEY'RE TWO SEPARATE SCOPES OF WORK, ONE ONE CONTRACTOR AND ONE DESIGN CONSULTANT IS PROBABLY PREFERABLE FOR FOR THAT, BECAUSE IT DOESN'T MAKE SENSE TO HAVE TWO DIFFERENT ONES IN THE SAME SPACE WORKING AT THE SAME TIME, WHICH MAY YIELD SOME SAVINGS AS PUBLIC WORKS ENTERS CONTRACT NEGOTIATIONS FOR THAT SCOPE OF WORK FOR THE DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION.

THE THERE'S A TYPO ON THE TOP THAT THIS IS THE GEO BONDS 2027, NOT 2025.

BUT THE MODERNIZE THE EXISTING FACILITIES.

THE CONSTRUCTION CONTINUES.

THAT'S ADDED TO THE LIST.

YOU CAN SEE THE CONSTRUCTION CARING FOR A NUMBER OF THESE PROJECTS.

THE PARK PROJECTS THAT ARE PROPOSED TO BEGIN DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION ARE SHOWN.

THERE. AND THEN YOU ALSO SEE THE THE NEW COUNTY FACILITIES THAT ARE BEING PROPOSED.

THE ALL OF THEM ARE PROPOSED TO BEGIN WITH CONSTRUCTION.

WE BEGIN DESIGN IN 25.

CONSTRUCTION CONTINUING THROUGH 27.

WE ARE WORKING CLOSELY WITH BOND COUNCIL ON PROJECT 75, THE 75 ACRE SITE.

INFRASTRUCTURE. AS YOU ALL RECALL, THIS IS THE SITE THAT WE HAVE PROPOSED TO LOCATE THE NEW OFFICE OF THE MEDICAL EXAMINER BUILDING.

THERE WERE SOME QUESTIONS THAT BOND COUNCIL HAD THIS MORNING ON A CALL WITH THE COUNTY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE AND OUR OFFICE ABOUT THAT SPECIFIC PROJECT.

THE PROJECT DETAILS AND ELIGIBILITY UNDER THE COE AND THE GEO.

SO WE'LL BE WORKING TO COLLECT A LITTLE BIT MORE INFORMATION BEFORE BRINGING THAT ITEM BACK FOR YOUR DISCUSSION AS SOON AS POSSIBLE, LIKELY NEXT MONDAY ON AUGUST 5TH.

SO THE COURT HAS AN UPDATED OUTLOOK ON WHAT THAT PROJECT LOOKS LIKE.

AND THAT CONCLUDES THE MY PRESENTATION.

THERE WAS AN INFLATION ANALYSIS THAT STIFEL HAD COMPLETED THAT WAS REQUESTED BY THE COURT PREVIOUSLY.

MR. ANGST AND MR. ROCCA WITH STIFFLER HERE IN CASE THE COURT HAS ANY QUESTIONS, COULD ALSO BRING UP THE PROJECT LIST IF THERE'S ANY DISCUSSION ON PROJECT ELEMENTS AND TIMING THAT THE COURT WOULD LIKE TO DISCUSS YOU'RE POSTED FOR A VERY ON A VERY BROAD ITEM BECAUSE THIS IS A EFFECTIVELY A WORKSHOP FOR THE COURT TO DISCUSS ANY REVISIONS THAT YOU ALL WOULD LIKE TO TO SEE MADE TO THE LIST AS WE WORK TO, TO FINALIZE IT.

[05:35:05]

WE'RE NOT ASKING FOR ANY FORMAL ACTION AGAIN TODAY.

JUST ANY UPDATES TO DIRECTION ON HOW WE STRUCTURE THIS SO WE CAN CONTINUE WORKING ON PRODUCING OTHER DOCUMENTS FOR THE AUGUST 12TH COMMISSIONERS COURT MEETING.

WAS IT THE 7% IS BUILT INTO ALL THE PROJECTS? YES, SIR. WE ALSO DO HAVE MEMBERS, A FEW MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC SIGNED UP TO SPEAK.

IF YOU AT ANY POINT WHEN THE COURT IS READY TO EITHER ACCEPT THE PUBLIC COMMENT.

OKAY. YEAH, WE CAN DO THAT NOW.

THANK YOU. WE'LL BEGIN WITH THE INDIVIDUALS THAT ARE HERE IN PERSON.

FIRST, WE HAVE ENRIQUE ROMERO.

JUST AS A REMINDER TO EVERYBODY ON PUBLIC COMMENT, YOU WILL HAVE FIVE MINUTES TO ADDRESS THE COURT.

WELL, GOOD AFTERNOON, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, MEMBERS OF THE COURT.

MY NAME IS ENRIQUE ROMERO, AND TODAY I'M HERE TO MAKE A PUBLIC STATEMENT REGARDING CERTIFICATES OF OBLIGATION AS RESIDENTS AND TAXPAYERS OF EL PASO.

WE OPPOSE THE ISSUANCE OF CERTIFICATES OF OBLIGATION DUE TO THE FACT THAT IT BYPASSES VOTER APPROVAL IN THE DECISION MAKING PROCESS.

THIS FINANCIAL PRACTICE CIRCUMVENTS THE FUNDAMENTAL PRINCIPLE OF FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY AND TRANSPARENCY IN GOVERNANCE BY BYPASSING GOVERNMENT BY BYPASSING VOTER APPROVAL.

CERTIFICATES OF OBLIGATION DIMINISHED PUBLIC OVERSIGHT AND ACCOUNTABILITY OVER SIGNIFICANT FINANCIAL DECISIONS THAT DIRECTLY IMPACT TAXPAYERS, REGARDLESS OF WHAT THE CERTIFICATES OF OBLIGATION MAY BE FOR.

SUCH ACTIONS SHOULD ALWAYS BE PUT FORTH TO THE VOTERS TO DECIDE ON WHETHER OR NOT THEY WANT TO FOOT THE BILL.

IN THE CURRENT ECONOMIC ENVIRONMENT, WHERE OPPORTUNITIES TO THRIVE ARE FEWER, WHERE THE COST OF LIVING CONTINUES TO INCREASE, AND WHERE THE AMERICAN DREAM SEEMS FARTHER AWAY FROM EVERYDAY PEOPLE, THIS ACTION WILL ONLY HAVE A NEGATIVE IMPACT IN OUR COMMUNITY.

WE LIVE IN A COMMUNITY WHERE THE RISING COST OF HOUSING ARE HAVING A NEGATIVE, NEGATIVE IMPACT ON PEOPLE'S DAILY LIVES.

BUYING HOMES IN EL PASO HAS BECOME AN UNAFFORDABLE FINANCIAL BURDEN FOR EL PASOANS.

WE LIVE IN A COMMUNITY WHERE, ACCORDING TO DATA USA, THE MEDIAN HOUSEHOLD INCOME IS STILL BETWEEN 51,000 AND $55,000 PER YEAR, WHICH IS STILL WELL BELOW THE STATE AND NATIONAL MEDIAN INCOMES.

WE CANNOT IN GOOD CONSCIENCE SUPPORT A PRACTICE THAT WILL HAVE EL PASOANS OVERTAXED AND UNDERPAID.

WE BELIEVE IN EMPOWERING COMMUNITIES THROUGH INFORMED DECISION MAKING AND DEMOCRATIC PROCESSES.

ISSUING CERTIFICATES OF OBLIGATION UNDERMINES THE PRINCIPLES BY EXCLUDING THE PUBLIC FROM CRUCIAL FINANCIAL DECISIONS THAT WILL IMPACT THEIR DAILY LIVES DIRECTLY. THIS LACK OF TRANSPARENCY CAN LEAD TO MISALLOCATION OF RESOURCES AND UNDERMINES TRUST IN LOCAL GOVERNMENT.

IN THE PAST, THAT COMMUNITY HAS COME TOGETHER AGAINST SUCH PRACTICES BECAUSE SUCH AS BACK IN 2012.

IN 2022, THE PETITION SIGNED BY OVER 35,000 EL PASOANS AGAINST THE UMC CERTIFICATES OF OBLIGATION PROPOSAL, IS A TESTAMENT TO THE FACT THAT EL PASOANS DO NOT WANT THEIR LOCAL GOVERNMENTS TO BE ISSUING DEBT WITHOUT THEIR APPROVAL.

IT IS NOT IN THE BEST PRACTICE OR INTEREST TO THE COMMUNITY OF EL PASO TO ISSUE OUT NON VOTER APPROVED DEBT.

I PERSONALLY BELIEVE THAT OPPORTUNITY FOR AMERICANS TO REACH THEIR VERSION OF THE AMERICAN DREAM IS STILL THERE, BUT NOT THROUGH THE PRACTICE OF ISSUING NON VOTER APPROVED DEBT IN THE IN THE FORM OF CERTIFICATES OF OBLIGATION.

EL PASOANS SHOULD ALWAYS HAVE A CHOICE ON DECISIONS THAT INVOLVE TAXPAYER DOLLARS AND HOW THEY SHOULD BE SPENT.

BORDER CONSTITUENT INTENT SHOULD ALWAYS BE UPHELD WHEN THEIR TAXPAYER DOLLARS ARE PART OF THE DECISION MAKING.

INSTEAD, WE URGE THE EL PASO COUNTY OFFICIALS TO UPHOLD THE PRINCIPLES OF FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY AND ACCOUNTABILITY BY ALLOWING THE COMMUNITY TO HAVE A SAY IN SUCH DECISIONS THAT WILL IMPACT THEIR DAILY LIVES AND TO ADHERE TO THE DEMOCRATIC PROCEDURES.

BY DOING SO, WE ENSURE THAT TAXPAYER DOLLARS ARE SPENT WISELY AND IN ALIGNMENT WITH THE PRIORITIES THAT NEED.

AND NEEDS OF OUR COMMUNITY, BUT MOST IMPORTANTLY, THAT THEY HAVE A CHOICE.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR TIME.

THANK YOU. NEXT WE HAVE JAMES SPINATO.

[05:40:09]

GOOD AFTERNOON, COUNTY COMMISSIONERS COURT.

MY NAME IS JAMES SPINATO.

I'M THE CHAIRMAN FOR THE EL PASO REPUBLICAN LIBERTY CAUCUS.

OUR ORGANIZATION HAS THREE CORE VALUES, TWO OF WHICH KIND OF INFORM ON WHAT A PERSPECTIVE I WANTED TO SHARE WITH YOU GUYS TODAY.

THIS CORE VALUE OF LIMITED GOVERNMENT.

THE TEXAS CONSTITUTION LAYS OUT THE ROLES THAT A COUNTY GOVERNMENT IS ENTRUSTED WITH TO PERFORM FOR THE COMMUNITY.

AND THE OTHER CORE VALUE OF OURS IS CHAMPIONING THE FREE MARKET.

IT IS OUR BELIEF THAT EL PASO COUNTY IS IS TOO FAR RELIANT ON THE STATE AT VARIOUS LEVELS TO PROVIDE SERVICES FOR THE COMMUNITY, AND THAT IS A DETRIMENT OVER THE LONG RUN FOR THE PEOPLE OF EL PASO.

IT'S UNFORTUNATE THAT IN EL PASO, WE HAVE MORE CERTIFICATE OF OBLIGATION BOND DEBT THAN ALL THE OTHER MAJOR CITIES OF TEXAS COMBINED.

AND THIS SHOWS NOW.

AND THAT MIGHT BE IN REFERENCE TO JUST THE CITY OF EL PASO AND NOT THE COUNTY, BUT STILL CO BONDS CONSIDERED AND PASSED FROM THIS BODY WILL HAVE THAT SAME DETRIMENTAL IMPACT ON THE PEOPLE.

AND IT JUST SHOWS THAT, YOU KNOW, MORE CO BOND DEBT THAN ALL THE OTHER CITIES OF EL OF TEXAS COMBINED, SHOWS THAT THIS TOOL MAY HAVE HAD GOOD REASON FOR, YOU KNOW, FINANCING PROJECTS IN THE BEGINNING.

BUT IN EL PASO IT'S BEEN ABUSED.

AND SO WE DEFINITELY FEEL THAT THE COUNTY SHOULD PUT ALL PROJECTS IN CONSIDERATION AS GEO BONDS, SO THAT THEY CAN BE DEBATED AND VOTED UPON.

WE WE'VE WORKED TO OVERTURN CO BONDS IN THE PAST AND AND WE DO HAVE RECORDS OF OF YOU KNOW OR WE HAVE WAYS OF ACCESSING THOSE RECORDS OF WHO SIGNED OUR PETITION LAST TIME.

AND SO IT WOULDN'T BE AS HARD THE SECOND TIME TO TO GO BACK AND SEE WHAT THEY'D LIKE TO SIGN ANOTHER PETITION TO BLOCK A CO BOND.

AND WE WOULD PREFER THAT THIS COMMISSIONERS COURT CONSIDER PROJECTS THAT ARE, YOU KNOW, IN LINE WITH ITS CHARTER.

SOME OF THE PROJECTS THAT WE'RE A LITTLE BIT MORE SCRUTINIZING OVER THAN OTHERS WOULD BE DEFINITELY ANYTHING TO DO WITH PARKS.

ALTHOUGH PARKS ARE NICE.

WE'D LOVE FOR COUNTY COMMISSIONERS COURT TO TO WORK HARDER, TO LOOK FOR PRIVATE PUBLIC PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS, OR TO TO TAKE SOME OF THESE PARKS OFF OF THE THE SHEET OF LIABILITIES THAT YOU GUYS MANAGE AND MAYBE LOOK INTO PRIVATIZING SOME OF THESE PARKS? LOOK FOR CORPORATE SPONSORS OF THESE PARKS AND OTHER PARTS OF THE COUNTRY.

THEY DO THIS TO PERFORM ALL KINDS OF SERVICES, AND THAT CREATES REAL ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITIES.

IT CREATES BUSINESSES.

IT CREATES JOBS. AND THOSE JOBS AND BUSINESSES, YOU KNOW, PAY INTO THE TAX BASE RATHER THAN EXTRACT FROM IT.

AND SO WE JUST URGE YOU TO WORK HARDER.

WE'VE NOT TAKEN A FINAL POSITION ON BECAUSE WE DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU GUYS WILL DO, BUT WE'RE WATCHING.

AND I THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.

NEXT WE HAVE ON THE PHONE MAX GROSSMAN.

GO AHEAD, MR. GROSSMAN.

MIGUEL, DO WE HAVE SOMEBODY ELSE ALSO? THE OTHER PERSON JUST HUNG UP AS WELL.

I'M GOING TO ATTEMPT TO CALL THE OTHER PERSON.

HELLO? HELLO.

I BELIEVE THEY'RE ON.

OKAY. AND DOCTOR GROSSMAN, WE HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO GET THEM BACK ON.

COMMISSIONERS, IF YOU WANT TO HEAR FROM FINANCIAL ADVISORS.

WE CAN TRY TO CONTACT THE OTHER PUBLIC COMMENT.

YEAH, LET'S DO THAT.

GOOD AFTERNOON, COMMISSIONERS BRAD ANGST AND NANCY ROCA WITH STIFEL PUBLIC FINANCE.

WE SERVE AS THE COUNTY'S FINANCIAL ADVISOR.

WE DID PREPARE AN INFLATION ANALYSIS.

[05:45:04]

BASED ON SOME COMMENTS FROM A FEW WEEKS BACK.

IS THAT IS THAT PRESENTATION AVAILABLE? A CHANCE? WHAT WE HAD DONE IS WE WANTED TO LOOK AT THE COST OF WAITING TO DO SOME OF THESE PROJECTS.

AND WE LOOKED AT THREE YEARS FROM NOW WHEN.

THANK YOU. WHEN THE CAPACITY UNDER THE FIVE ESSENTIAL PURPOSE PROJECT FUND MAY ALLOW FOR ADDITIONAL CAPACITY.

AND WE WANTED TO SEE WHAT IT WOULD WAIT WHAT WHAT THE COST OF WAITING MIGHT BE BETWEEN NOW AND THAT THREE YEAR PERIOD FROM NOW.

AND SO WE LOOKED AT A FEW DIFFERENT THINGS.

ULTIMATELY, WE'RE ABLE TO FIND THROUGH THE SAINT LOUIS FED, PART OF THE FOMC AND THE FEDERAL RESERVE SYSTEM, A INFLATION PERCENTAGE FOR GOVERNMENT CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS.

AND WE THOUGHT THIS CAPTURED THE COUNTY'S PROJECTS.

WELL, IT LOOKS AT THE SERVICES THAT ARE INCLUDED, THE LABOR, THE MATERIALS, AND REALLY ALL PROJECTS WITHIN A GOVERNMENT CONSTRUCTION PROJECT. AND WHAT WE FOUND THROUGH THAT DATA IS THAT OVER THE LAST FIVE YEARS, THE AVERAGE INFLATION PERCENTAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 6.8, WHICH IS WHICH IS ACTUALLY IN LINE WITH THE INFLATIONARY RATE THAT WAS BEING ASSUMED EARLIER.

IN THE IN THE CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS MENTIONED BY THE ARCHITECT AND IN DESIGN.

AND THEN OVER A TEN YEAR PERIOD, WE RECOGNIZE THAT, YOU KNOW, THE LAST FEW YEARS HAVE BEEN HIGHER INFLATION THAN HISTORICAL.

SO WE WENT FURTHER BACK.

THE TEN YEAR INFLATION RATE WAS ABOUT 4.6.

AND SO THAT'S ON GOVERNMENT PROJECTS OVER THE LAST 5 TO 10 YEARS.

WE'RE LOOKING AT APPROXIMATELY 4.6 UP TO A HIGH MARK OF 6.8% INFLATION AVERAGE.

THAT'S YEAR OVER YEAR.

THE FED PUTS TOGETHER A NUMBER OF INDICES.

RIGHT. YOU CAN YOU IF YOU IF YOU CAN THINK OF IT IF THEY HAVE A AN INDEX FOR IT.

BUT THIS IS THE MOST RELEVANT GIVEN THAT THE QUESTION AT HAND, HOW MUCH WOULD IT COST US TO WAIT? OR WHAT WOULD BE THE IMPACT OF AN INFLATIONARY HIKE ON THE ACTUAL COST, WHICH AGAIN, IS RELEVANT TO SOME OF YOUR COMMENTS.

COMMISSIONER CORONADO, AS TO WHETHER OR NOT THAT ASSUMPTION IS IS FACTORED INTO THE COST OF THE PROJECT.

AND WE HAVE SEVERAL OTHER CATEGORIES THAT WE EVALUATED AND LOOKED AT.

THOSE ARE PRESENTED ON THE BOTTOM HALF OF THAT PAGE, BUT WE WANTED TO APPLY THOSE INFLATION PERCENTAGES TO ACTUAL PROJECT OR PROJECT COST.

AND SO IN THIS ANALYSIS, WE LOOKED FIRST AT DOING 300 MILLION OF PROJECTS TODAY.

AND WE WANTED TO LOOK AT THE TOTAL DEBT SERVICE.

SO NOT JUST THE PRINCIPAL, BUT LOOKING AT THE COST TO PAY OFF THAT 300 MILLION OF PROJECTS USING TODAY'S INTEREST RATES, WE FIND THAT THAT COST OVER A 20 YEAR PERIOD TO BE APPROXIMATELY 434 MILLION IN TOTAL COST TO PAY OFF THOSE PROJECTS.

AND THEN FROM THERE, THAT'S OUR THAT'S OUR BASE CASE.

SO FROM THERE WE WANTED TO LOOK AT OKAY, SO IF WE APPLY THOSE FIVE YEAR INFLATION RATES THAT WE USED OR THAT WE FOUND FOR THE CONSTRUCTION TYPE PROJECTS, AND SO THAT WAS A 6.87%.

IF WE APPLY THAT FOR THREE YEARS TO THE 300 MILLION OF PROJECTS, IT MEANS THAT THE PROJECT COST IN ABOUT THREE YEARS TIME WOULD BE 366 MILLION FOR APPROXIMATELY THE SAME TYPE OF PROJECT, THAT 300 MILLION OF PROJECTS IS NOW 366, AND THE DEBT SERVICE ON THAT 366.

USING AGAIN TODAY'S INTEREST RATES, WE WANTED TO TRY AND COMPARE APPLES TO APPLES.

THE THE RESULT FOR THAT WAS A 530 MILLION OF DEBT SERVICE FOR A 20 YEAR PROJECT USING THE SAME INTEREST RATE. SO ABOUT $95 MILLION INCREASE FOR THE COST OF THOSE PROJECTS.

IF YOU APPLY THAT INFLATION PERCENTAGE TO TO INCREASE THE PROJECT SIZE.

WE DIDN'T WANT TO STOP THERE.

WE SAID, WELL, YOU KNOW, TODAY'S INTEREST RATES ARE A LITTLE BIT HIGHER THAN THEY HAVE BEEN.

SO WHAT HAPPENS IF WE DECREASE THESE.

AND SO WE DECIDED TO DECREASE THE INTEREST RATES WE USE ON THE IN THE FUTURE BY 50 BASIS POINTS.

THAT'S HALF A PERCENT.

AND SO THE RESULT ON THAT GAVE US $366 MILLION OF PROJECTS.

BUT THE COST OF DEBT SERVICE WAS 511 MILLION.

AND SO A LITTLE BIT REDUCED.

THAT'S THAT'S ABOUT 20 MILLION LESS BUT STILL 65 TO 70 MILLION ABOVE WHAT DOING THOSE SAME PROJECTS

[05:50:09]

TODAY ARE.

NOW THAT WAS THE FIVE YEAR INFLATION PERCENTAGE.

SO AGAIN AS I MENTIONED THAT'S A LITTLE BIT HIGH.

WE'VE HAD THIS HIGH INFLATIONARY PERIOD.

SO WE ALSO WANTED TO USE THE TEN YEAR AVERAGE AND THE TEN.

BLESS YOU SIR. AND THE SCENARIOS FOUR AND FIVE IN THE DARK BLUE SHOW THOSE SCENARIOS.

SO THAT'S A 4.6 INFLATION RATE.

AND SO THAT INCREASES THE PROJECT SIZE FROM 300 MILLION TO ABOUT 343.

IF YOU DO THESE IN THREE YEARS TIME.

AND THE TOTAL DEBT SERVICE ON THAT, THE FIRST ONE AT TODAY'S RATES IS 497, COMPARED TO 434, ABOUT A $63 MILLION INCREASE.

AND THEN ON THE PROJECTS 343 WITH A REDUCED INTEREST RATE, WE GOT A RESULT OF 480 MILLION.

SO THAT'S ABOUT 46 MILLION INCREASE ON THOSE PROJECT SIZES.

SO SO WE WANTED TO PRESENT THESE RESULTS.

IT REALLY YOU KNOW, IS DEPENDENT ON WHAT INFLATION DOES IN THE FUTURE, EVEN AT THE LOWER LEVELS AND AT THE LOWER INTEREST RATE LEVELS, WE'RE FINDING ABOUT 45 MILLION OF INCREASE IN THE PROJECT COST THAT WE'D BE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS HOW WE WENT THROUGH THIS.

BUT WANTED TO PROVIDE THIS DATA POINT AS YOU CONSIDER TO MOVE FORWARD WITH SOME OF THESE FINANCINGS IN THE FUTURE.

COMMISSIONER BRAD, ONE OF THE QUESTIONS I HAD, IT WAS VERY DETAILED ON THE SLIDE BEFORE, BUT IT DIDN'T.

UNLESS LABOR IS INCLUDED IN ALL THAT, WOULD THAT BE SEPARATE OR IT'S INCLUDED IN THE INCREASE IN THAT TOP CATEGORY GOVERNMENT CONSTRUCTION.

THE THE LABOR COST TOWARDS A CONSTRUCTION PROCESS PROJECT HAS BEEN INCLUDED.

SO IT'S TALKING SPECIFICALLY ABOUT THE CONSTRUCTION LABOR.

OKAY. WELL THANK YOU SIR.

BIG DIFFERENCE. WE HAVE THE TWO PUBLIC SPEAKERS ONLINE READY TO GO.

AS A REMINDER, YOU HAVE FIVE MINUTES FOR YOUR COMMENT.

FIRST, WE HAVE MAX GROSSMAN.

YOU MIGHT HAVE TO DIAL STAR FIVE THREE.

HEAR ME? YES, WE DO.

WE HEAR YOU, SIR.

HELLO? CAN YOU HEAR ME? COMMISSIONERS.

JUDGE? YES.

HELLO. YES, WE CAN HEAR YOU.

DOCTOR GROSSMAN, GO AHEAD.

EXCELLENT. THANK YOU.

MAX GROSSMAN HERE CHECKING IN FROM NEWARK AIRPORT ON MY WAY BACK FROM EUROPE.

THANK YOU FOR ADMITTING THIS COMMENT.

SO IF THE COUNTY WERE TO APPROVE $472 MILLION OF NEW DEBT, PLUS THE $396.6 MILLION FROM UMC, THAT WOULD INCREASE OUR DEBT SERVICING PRINCIPAL AND INTEREST TO AROUND $1.6 BILLION.

THAT HEAPED UP ON TOP OF THE $10.7 BILLION THAT THE TAXPAYERS OWE BECAUSE OF THE DEBT OF THE FIVE TAX PAYING ENTITIES.

YOU SEE, WHEN I LOOK AT YOUR DEBT ISSUANCES, I'M NOT JUST LOOKING AT THE COUNTY.

I'M LOOKING AT THIS FROM THE STANDPOINT OF A TAXPAYER PAYING A MORTGAGE.

AND, YOU KNOW, ON THE ONE HAND, YOU HAVE THE CITY, WHICH USED TO BE THE BAD ACTOR, WHICH IS NOW GOING TO ACHIEVE TWO YEARS IN A ROW OF NO NEW REVENUE.

AND YOU HAVE THE COUNTY, WHICH HAD ALWAYS BEEN FISCALLY PRUDENT, WHICH IS GOING IN THE EXACT OPPOSITE DIRECTION, AS IF THE CITY AND THE COUNTY SWITCHED ROLES.

RIGHT. AND YOU'RE TOYING WITH THE IDEA OF ISSUING SOMEWHERE BETWEEN 170 AND $180 MILLION OF CERTIFICATES OF OBLIGATION WITHOUT VOTER APPROVAL. IT'S PERFECTLY LEGAL.

DOESN'T MAKE IT RIGHT.

I THINK IT'S TOTALLY UNETHICAL.

I'LL GO A STEP FURTHER. I THINK IT'S UN-AMERICAN.

YOU SHOULD TRUST THE VOTERS WITH THESE KINDS OF DEBT ISSUANCES.

WHEN YOU GET INTO NINE FIGURES LIKE THIS.

YOU SAW WHAT HAPPENED WITH UMC.

35,000 SIGNATURES IN THE BLINK OF AN EYE.

AND YOU'VE GOT THE HEAD OF THE SAME ORGANIZATION, LIBRE, STANDING IN FRONT OF YOU, AND THEY COULD EASILY DO THE SAME THING.

WHO NEEDS THAT? IF THAT GETS SHOT DOWN IN FLAMES, AND YOU HAVE TO WAIT FOR YEARS BEFORE YOU CAN GO FOR ANOTHER DEBT ISSUANCE, PUT THE ENTIRE THING ON THE BALLOT.

TRUST THE VOTERS.

DO IT PROPERLY, PLEASE.

YOU SHOULD TRUST YOUR CONSTITUENTS AND TRUST THE VOTERS TO MAKE UP THEIR OWN MINDS ABOUT HOW URGENT THESE PROJECTS ARE.

[05:55:04]

AND JUST TO PUT THINGS IN PERSPECTIVE.

I'M AWARE THAT THE CITY WAS BLEEDING OUT OF THEIR EYEBALLS TO FIND $5 MILLION TO GET TO.

NO NEW REVENUE.

AND IT LOOKS LIKE THEY'RE GOING TO GET THEIR $5 MILLION, IS HOW MUCH YOU GUYS WANT TO SPEND ON ONE TRAIL, AND THEN ANOTHER AND ANOTHER.

I MEAN, ALL THESE PROJECTS ARE WONDERFUL, BUT WHAT I'M NOT HEARING TODAY OR AT THE LAST MEETING WHERE YOU DISCUSSED THIS, IS ANY CONCERN FOR THE PLIGHT OF THE TAXPAYER. AND JUDGE SAMANIEGO, WITH ALL DUE RESPECT, THE LAST MEETING SUGGESTED THAT EL PASOANS ARE LEAVING THE CITY TO GO TO PLACES LIKE SAN ANTONIO.

HE CITED BECAUSE THERE ARE MORE AMENITIES THAN OTHER PLACES.

THAT'S NOT WHY THEY'RE LEAVING, JUDGE.

THEY'RE LEAVING BECAUSE OUR TAXES ARE SO HIGH.

I CAN NAME 20 PEOPLE WITHIN TWO BLOCKS OF ME WHO HAVE MOVED TO NEW MEXICO TO EVADE OUR TAX BURDEN, AND THE POPULATION OF THE COUNTY HAS RISEN VERY ANEMICALLY.

THE POPULATION OF THE CITY HAS DECLINED BY 6000 THOUSAND PEOPLE SINCE 2017.

WE'RE WAY BEHIND TEXAS IN THIS RESPECT.

AND IT'S NOT BECAUSE OF THE BRAIN DRAIN.

IT'S NOT BECAUSE OF THE LACK OF AMENITIES.

IT'S BECAUSE WE'RE BEING FORCED OUT OF OUR HOMES.

AND IT WOULD BE REALLY, REALLY USEFUL IF THE COMMISSIONERS COURT, IF THE COUNTY WOULD TALK TO THE CITY, THE SCHOOL DISTRICTS, EPC, UMC AND ACTUALLY AGREE ON A STRATEGY TO LOWER OUR OVERALL TAX BURDEN SO THAT WE'RE IN LINE WITH OTHER TEXAS CITIES SO THAT WE DON'T HAVE THIS ANTI-COMPETITIVE ATMOSPHERE THAT FORCES PEOPLE OUT OF THEIR HOMES, ESPECIALLY RETIREES, AND SCARES BUSINESSES AWAY. RIGHT.

IN ANY CASE, PLEASE DON'T VOTE FOR THIS CERTIFICATE OF OBLIGATION.

I DON'T CARE IF THE CITY DID IT 5 OR 6 TIMES, OR IF YOU HAVEN'T ISSUED DEATH SINCE 1992 OR 1993 OR WHATEVER, PLEASE DON'T DO THAT.

IT'S JUST GOING TO MAKE PEOPLE VERY, VERY ANGRY, VERY UPSET.

IT'S AS IF YOU DON'T TRUST US.

ONE LAST THOUGHT.

I'M LISTENING TO YOUR CONSULTANTS AND YOUR STAFF CONSTANTLY TALKING ABOUT YOUR BONDING CAPACITY.

YOU CAN ISSUE THIS MUCH DEBT WITHOUT GETTING DINGED BY S&P AND MOODY'S AND ALL THE OTHERS.

YOU CAN MAINTAIN YOUR BOND RATING.

WHAT A STRANGE WAY TO THINK.

HOW ABOUT HOW MUCH CAN WE LOWER OUR SPENDING IN ORDER TO PROVIDE THE TAXPAYERS OF EL PASO COUNTY WITH SOME RELIEF? HOW ABOUT THINKING LIKE THAT? HOW ABOUT TURNING IT AROUND AND LOOKING AT IT THAT WAY? INSTEAD OF HOW MUCH CAN WE GET IF WE MAX OUT OUR CREDIT CARD? AND THIS COMES ON THE HEELS OF A $34 MILLION TAX HIKE RIGHT UP TO THE ROLLBACK RATE, AND THE THIRD DOUBLE DIGIT SALARY INCREASE SINCE 2016. YOU ALL ARE PAID DOUBLE WHAT YOU WERE PAID IN 2016.

I JUST I DON'T KNOW, MY FRIENDS.

I'M VERY DISAPPOINTED, ESPECIALLY IN THOSE MEMBERS OF THIS COMMISSIONER'S COURT WHO CAMPAIGNED ON FISCAL PRUDENCE.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ADMITTING MY COMMENT.

CAN WE COMMENT BECAUSE IT'S ON THE TOPIC, RIGHT? YES, SIR. YOU'RE POSTED FOR.

OKAY. NO, I APOLOGIZE.

DOCTOR GROSSMAN, I CAME IN, I HAD A COMMITMENT, BUT JUST GOT BACK IN.

WHEN I SAY THAT THEY'RE LEAVING BECAUSE OF AMENITIES AND THE QUALITY OF LIFE MAYBE YOU DO THAT.

I DON'T. I REPRESENT PEOPLE.

WE HAVE SO MUCH EXPOSURE.

I HAVE YET, PERSONALLY, TO HEAR SOMEONE SAY THEY'RE LEAVING BECAUSE OF PROPERTY TAXES.

THEY LEAVE BECAUSE THEY GET PAID MORE SOMEWHERE ELSE, WHICH HAS TO DO THAT.

WE NEED TO BRING COMPANIES.

TO BRING COMPANIES. YOU HAVE TO DO CERTAIN THINGS.

I'VE NEVER HAD TO.

I'VE TALKED ABOUT THE, YOU KNOW, BEING IN SAN ANTONIO, MORE THINGS TO DO, THE EXPOSURE OF COSMOPOLITAN ENVIRONMENT.

THEY FEEL LIKE THERE'S MORE GROWTH THERE.

SO I'VE NEVER I JUST WANT TO MAKE IT CLEAR THAT I DON'T MAKE COMMENTS BASED ON WHAT I THINK.

BUT ON THE NUMBER OF EXPOSURES, I MEAN, WE TALK TO SO MANY PEOPLE, IT'S UNBELIEVABLE THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE, FAMILIES AND EVERYBODY TALKING TO US ABOUT WHAT THEY'RE THINKING.

AND WHEN I MADE THAT COMMENT, IT WASN'T I HAVE NEVER HEARD ME PERSONALLY.

SOMEBODY TELL ME THEY'RE LEAVING EL PASO BECAUSE OF TAXES, BUT THEY LEAVE BECAUSE THEY DON'T HAVE THE AMENITIES AND THE CULTURE AND THE LIFE THAT THEY WANT TO LIVE.

SO I JUST WANT TO CLARIFY THAT.

AND AND ALSO JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE YOU UNDERSTAND THAT WE TAKE THIS VERY SERIOUS.

I MEAN, WE WE IT'S IT'S NOT AT A WHIM.

WE HAVE CONVERSATIONS.

WE HAVE TO LOOK AT A LOT OF DIFFERENT THINGS.

IT IS REALLY DIFFERENT.

[06:00:01]

OR FOR YOU.

YOU'RE NOT INVOLVED IN THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE THAT WE SEE, THE SITUATIONS THAT WE GO THROUGH.

WE HAVE TO LOOK AT A LOT OF DIFFERENT ELEMENTS IN THE DECISIONS WE MAKE.

SO YOU'RE PROBABLY NOT DOING THIS, BUT I JUST HOPE THAT YOU'RE NOT THINKING THAT IT'S NOT HARD ON US.

IT'S NOT A BURDEN ON US THAT WE HAVE TO THINK THROUGH THINGS.

I MEAN, IT'S A PAIN FOR US TO PASS TAXES OR INCREASE TAXES.

BELIEVE ME, WE DON'T SLEEP AT NIGHT AND WE WE GO THROUGH A VERY DIFFICULT TIME HAVING TO MAKE DECISIONS.

SO I HOPE YOU'RE NOT THINKING THAT THAT IT'S OKAY FOR US TO, YOU KNOW, THE TAXPAYERS ARE GOING TO GET TO THEY'RE GOING TO PAY MORE MONEY.

AND THAT'S ALL ABOUT WE GO THROUGH A VERY DIFFICULT PROCESS TO GET TO THAT POINT, TO WHERE WE HAVE TO DO OR DO SOME ACTIONS THAT THAT MIGHT INCLUDE INCREASING THE TAXES, BUT IT'S A VERY DIFFICULT PROCESS THAT WE GO THROUGH, AND IT'S REALLY HARD ON EACH ONE OF US.

AND FOR SOME REASON I FELT THAT IT WAS LIKE LIKE WE WERE OKAY, THAT OUR CONSTITUENTS GET THE TAX INCREASE.

WE'RE I CAN SPEAK FOR MYSELF.

WE'RE NOT OKAY.

WE FIND OURSELVES SOMETIMES IN THE POSITION OF A LOT OF DECISIONS THAT WERE MADE BEFORE, A LOT OF THINGS OTHER COMMISSIONERS COURT THAT SHOULD HAVE DONE THAT THEY DIDN'T DO.

LIKE PERHAPS, MAYBE DO SOME OF THESE THINGS THAT WE'RE DOING NOW SO THAT WE DON'T HAVE TO DEAL.

I CAN GUARANTEE YOU ON SOME OF THE THINGS OF INCREASING TAXES, AND WE DON'T DO IT.

AND BECAUSE PEOPLE ARE SENSITIVE ABOUT IT, BUT THEN FIVE YEARS FROM NOW, SIX YEARS FROM NOW, THEY'RE GOING TO PAY MUCH MORE TAXES BECAUSE WE DIDN'T DO IT ON TIME, WE DIDN'T DO THE RIGHT THINGS. AND SO WE'RE TRYING TO DO THE BEST WE CAN IN EVERY DECISION THAT WE MAKE.

AND IT'S BASED ON A LOT OF DIFFERENT VARIABLES.

SO JUST WANTED TO COMMENT ON THAT.

COMMISSIONER CORONADO.

THANK YOU JUDGE.

YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT OUR COMMUNITY AND OUR CONSTITUENTS IN THIS COUNTY NEED TO REALIZE IS THAT PART OF WHAT THE INCREASE IN OUR REVENUE THAT WE HAVE TO FUND IS, IS, COMES FROM THE STATE.

IT DOESN'T COME FROM US.

WE HAVE TO PROVIDE FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT.

WE HAVE TO PROVIDE FOR THE JAIL.

WE HAVE TO PROVIDE FOR ALL THESE MANDATED ISSUES, INCLUDING INDIGENT CARE.

THAT'S A RESPONSIBILITY THE STATE PLACES ON US.

AND I UNDERSTAND PEOPLE WHEN THEY SAY THAT, YOU KNOW, WE WE PAY NOT HIGHER TAXES, BUT RATHER A HIGHER RATE, MAYBE.

YEAH, WE ARE PROPERTY POOR, MORE SO THAN OTHER METROS IN THE STATE OF TEXAS.

BUT I REFUSE TO LET SOME OF OUR PEOPLE, SOME OF OUR CONSTITUENTS LIVE IN THIRD WORLD CONDITIONS BY HAVING NOT HAVING WATER OR SEWER.

SOME OF THESE PEOPLE THAT COME UP AND TELL US THEY ENJOY ALL THESE AMENITIES.

A LOT OF OUR CONSTITUENTS OUT IN THE OUTLYING AREAS DON'T ENJOY THAT, AND IT'S A SAFETY ISSUE.

AND THE OTHER THING IS THE STATE HAS PLACED ON US, YOU KNOW, DURING THIS BUDGET YEAR, IT'S PROBABLY GOING TO END UP COSTING US SOMEWHERE BETWEEN 30 AND $50 MILLION BECAUSE OF THE INCREASE IN THE ARREST THAT THE STATE HAS MADE UNDER OPERATION LONE STAR.

OKAY. THAT'S BECAUSE OF ARREST.

THE STATE HAS MADE. NOW.

ARE THEY PAYING FOR THIS? ABSOLUTELY NOT.

WE LOCALLY HERE HAVE TO BEAR THOSE BURDENS.

I WANT TO SEE HOW MANY OF OUR CONSTITUENTS AND PEOPLE THAT SPEAK UP ARE SPEAKING UP AGAINST THE STATE FOR NOT REIMBURSING US FOR THOSE COSTS.

I DON'T SEE THEM TELLING US ABOUT THAT, THAT THEY'RE GOING OUT THERE TO DO THAT.

TELLING THE STATE LEADERSHIP THAT THEY NEED TO REIMBURSE US FOR THOSE COSTS.

THEY'RE PLACING IT ON THE BURDEN ON EVERY SINGLE TAXPAYER.

BUT I DON'T HEAR ANY OF THAT FROM, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE INVOLVED IN COMING UP TO US AND TELLING US THAT WE'RE RAISING THEIR TAXES.

IT'S THE STATE.

HOW ABOUT WE DO THAT? WHY DON'T YOU JOIN US IN DOING THAT? MR. GROSSMAN? YOU KNOW, THAT SEEMS TO BE LEFT OUT OF THE TALKING POINTS.

YOU KNOW, WE HAVE TO BEAR THE BURDEN, AND WE.

YEAH. ARE WE A PROPERTY? POOR REGION.

COUNTY? ABSOLUTELY.

MORE THAN OTHER METROS.

THE OTHER METROS.

BUT IT COSTS A AIR CONDITIONER FOR US.

THE SAME THING THAT IT COSTS ONE OF THOSE OTHER COUNTIES.

YOU KNOW, BUT WHEN THEY PUT THE BURDEN ON US TO PUT THOSE KIND OF AMENITIES IN OUR JAIL, IN OUR FACILITIES THAT ARE MANDATED SERVICES, NOBODY WANTS TO TALK ABOUT THAT. US FIVE HERE ARE PLACED IN THAT SITUATION TO MAKE THOSE CONSIDERATIONS AND HAVE TO MAKE THOSE HARD DECISIONS.

YOU KNOW, AND WE HAVE TO ACT FOR ALL THE CONSTITUENTS.

EVERYBODY AND SOME OF OUR CONSTITUENTS, FRANKLY, DON'T LIVE IN A VERY SAFE SITUATION.

AND THAT'S THE MAJORITY OF THE INDIVIDUALS LIVING IN THE OUTLYING AREAS.

[06:05:03]

AND THE STATE OVER THE YEARS HAVE REFUSED TO GIVE US THE AUTHORITY TO DO SOME OF THOSE REGULATIONS AND ZONING SO WE CAN PROVIDE, JUST LIKE THE MUNICIPALITIES DO.

HOW ABOUT HELPING US WITH THAT? HOW ABOUT HELPING US WITH THE STATE TO PROVIDE, YOU KNOW, SOME OF THE FUNDING FOR THESE EXTRA COSTS THAT THEY DO IT.

BETSY, WHAT'S THE COST OF OUR MANDATED SERVICES AS STATE REQUIRES TO DO NOW OUT OF OUR BUDGET FROM 55 TO 60%? YES, SIR. 55 TO 60% OF $100 GOES TOWARDS MANDATED STATE SERVICES.

YOU KNOW, THE SCHOOL DISTRICTS SUED THE STATE BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, THEY MANDATED EDUCATION FOR EVERYBODY.

IT'S A STATE RESPONSIBILITY.

WELL, THE STATE RESPONSIBILITY IS ALSO FOR SAFETY, FOR JAILS, FOR INDIGENT HEALTH CARE.

AND, YOU KNOW, THE SCHOOL DISTRICTS AND THE COURTS SIDED WITH THE SCHOOL DISTRICTS TO SAY, HEY, YEP, THIS IS A STATE RESPONSIBILITY.

WHY DOESN'T THE REST OF THE STATE PROVIDE FOR THOSE OTHER AREAS THAT ARE PROPERTY POOR TO SHARE THE TAXES? WHY DON'T WE TALK ABOUT DOING THAT WITH THE STATE FOR ALL THESE MANDATED SERVICES? WE'RE NOT A STEPCHILD.

WE'RE NOT A THIRD RATE COUNTY.

OUR CONSTITUENTS DESERVE EVERY BIT AS MUCH AS THESE OTHER PLACES DO.

AND JUST BECAUSE WE'RE PROPERTY POOR DOESN'T MEAN THAT THEY DON'T DESERVE IT.

WE HAVE A HARD, HARD DECISION TO MAKE ALL FIVE OF US HERE RESPECT TO THAT.

YOU KNOW, AND THEY ALL THINK THAT WE'RE JUST DOING IT NILLY, WILLY, TO GO OUT AND JUST RAISE PEOPLE'S TAXES.

COME AND SIT UP HERE WITH US.

GO AHEAD. RUN. RUN FOR A POSITION, I WELCOME IT, I WELCOME IT.

NO, WE HAVE A HARD DECISION TO DO THAT.

AND THE STATE UNFORTUNATELY, IN SOME INSTANCES PLACES US IN THAT, IN THAT KIND OF A PRECARIOUS SITUATION.

SO, YOU KNOW, WE TAKE OUR JOB VERY SERIOUSLY.

WE DON'T WANT TO RAISE TAXES.

WE'RE TAXPAYERS. TO JILL, WE'VE GOT ANOTHER PUBLIC COMMENT.

YES, JUDGE. WE HAVE ONE MORE ON THE PHONE.

MISS SOLO. YOU MIGHT HAVE TO DIAL STAR FIVE THREE TO UNMUTE YOURSELF, MISS SOLO.

I'D LIKE TO. YOU'RE STILL MUTED, MISS SOLO.

YOU HAVE TO. MIGHT HAVE TO DIAL STAR FIVE THREE.

MIGUEL, CAN YOU TRY TO CONNECT.

AND I'D LIKE TO HEAR COMMISSIONER STOUT.

STOKES. I WILL TRY RECALLING.

YES. GO AHEAD.

I WANTED TO TO ECHO A LITTLE BIT OF WHAT COMMISSIONER CORONADO WAS JUST GOING OVER.

YOU KNOW, I'VE BEEN AT THE COUNTY FOR NINE YEARS AND, AND HAVE HAVE BEEN QUITE INVOLVED WITH THE STATE LEGISLATURE AND GOING TO GOING TO AUSTIN TO ADVOCATE ON BEHALF OF, ON BEHALF OF COUNTIES AND YOU KNOW, THERE'S THERE IS THERE IS HAS BEEN A CONCERTED ATTACK AGAINST LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND COUNTIES OVER THE YEARS.

AND PART OF THAT IS PURPOSEFULLY MISLEADING, FOLKS.

AND IT'S UNFORTUNATE THAT HERE IN EL PASO, EVEN THOUGH YOU KNOW, WE SPEND SO MUCH TIME TRYING TO TALK ABOUT THIS AND I'VE SPENT ACTUALLY PERSONALLY MUCH TIME WITH DOCTOR GROSSMAN TALKING ABOUT THIS.

AND WE STILL ARE SOMEHOW PUT IN THIS BUCKET BOX OF WE'RE, WE'RE BAD ACTORS BECAUSE WE, WE RAISED TAXES LAST YEAR AND BECAUSE WE'RE LOOKING AT PAYING FOR THINGS THAT ARE NEEDED.

IT'S ACTUALLY CLOSE CLOSER TO 70% OF OUR BUDGET THAT GOES TO PROGRAMS AND SERVICES THAT THE STATE MANDATES US TO PROVIDE AND DOESN'T GIVE US MONEY FOR.

55% IS LIKE THE DIRECT COST, AND THERE'S ANOTHER 15%, PROBABLY THAT THAT ARE INDIRECT COSTS, BUT ARE SUPPORT SERVICES THAT GO INTO THOSE SERVICES. SO YOU KNOW, IN THE END, BEFORE LAST YEAR, THE TWO YEARS BEFORE THAT, THE COST OF THOSE UNFUNDED MANDATES WENT UP BY $35 MILLION.

THAT WAS OUR BUDGET DEFICIT LAST YEAR, $35 MILLION.

THAT'S WHY WE HAD TO RAISE TAXES.

PART OF IT WAS ALSO PUBLIC SAFETY.

YOU KNOW, EVERY NUMBER OF YEARS WE HAVE TO RENEGOTIATE CONTRACT WITH OUR SHERIFF'S ASSOCIATION.

AND YOU KNOW, WE WE AGREED TO PROVIDE THEM YOU KNOW, SALARY INCREASES AND BENEFIT INCREASES.

[06:10:08]

WE ALL VOTED FOR THAT.

EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THIS, MEMBERS OF THIS THIS COURT VOTED IN FAVOR OF THAT.

AND AND THAT WAS AN ADDITIONAL 6 TO $8 MILLION THIS YEAR ABOVE AND BEYOND THAT, $35 MILLION THAT IN THE UNFUNDED MANDATES THAT THAT WENT UP OVER THE LAST TWO YEARS.

THERE'S INFLATIONARY COSTS THAT THIS COUNTY ALSO HAS TO DEAL WITH.

WE ARE NOT IMMUNE TO THE TO INFLATIONARY COSTS AND TO THE SUPPLY CHAIN ISSUES AND TO, YOU KNOW, LABOR SHORTAGES.

ALL OF THOSE THINGS PLAY INTO THE DECISION THAT WE HAD TO MAKE LAST YEAR.

AND SO, YOU KNOW, I, YOU KNOW, IT'S VERY DISAPPOINTING FOR ME TO HEAR PEOPLE CALLING US BAD ACTORS WHEN WE ARE TRYING TO BE AS FISCALLY RESPONSIBLE AS WE POSSIBLY CAN.

AND YOU KNOW, WE COULD HAVE CUT WE COULD HAVE CUT SERVICES, WE COULD HAVE CUT PROGRAMS, BUT ONLY 30% OF OUR BUDGET IS IS AVAILABLE TO CUT, BECAUSE 70% HAS TO BE PROVIDED OR HAS TO BE SPENT ON THOSE, ON THOSE UNFUNDED MANDATES.

AND SO WHEN IT COMES TO CUTTING $35 MILLION, I DIDN'T HEAR ANYBODY COME AND TALK TO US ABOUT IDEAS WHERE WHERE WE WHERE WE SHOULD TRY TO CUT YOU KNOW, IS THAT IS THAT IN PARKS IS THAT SENIOR.

SENIOR NUTRITION PROGRAMING.

IS THAT VETERAN SERVICES? WOULD YOU ALL LIKE US TO CUT VETERAN SERVICES? YOU KNOW THIS IS NOT A PORK BARREL BUDGET.

WE ARE WE WE ARE ON A VERY, IN MY OPINION, A VERY FISCALLY RESPONSIBLE BUDGET.

AND WE, WE DON'T WASTE MONEY.

AND WE HAVE AND WE HAVE PROVEN THAT BY ACTUALLY BEING ABLE TO SET OURSELVES UP FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO GO OUT TO BOND AT THIS POINT IN TIME, BECAUSE IN THE PAST WE HAVE DONE REFUNDING AND WE HAVE DONE WE'VE DONE THINGS WITH OUR, WITH OUR DEBT PORTFOLIO THAT, THAT HAVE THAT HAVE SAVED THE COUNTY MILLIONS OF DOLLARS WITH THE HELP OF OUR FINANCIAL ADVISORS.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR, FOR FOR YOUR HELP WITH THAT.

YOU KNOW, WE'RE WE'RE WITH THEIR HELP, MONITORING THINGS EVERY DAY AND LOOKING FOR WAYS TO REDUCE THE BURDEN ON TAXPAYERS, ESPECIALLY WHEN IT COMES TO OUR DEBT SERVICE AND AND THE THE MANY OF THE PROJECTS THAT ARE ON THE CERTIFICATE OF OBLIGATION LIST.

YOU DON'T SEE PARKS, YOU DON'T SEE YOU KNOW, QUOTE UNQUOTE QUALITY OF LIFE PROJECTS.

YOU HAVE SOME PROJECTS THAT ARE NECESSITIES FOR PEOPLE, AS COMMISSIONER CORONADO EXPLAINED.

THEY'RE THEY'RE UPGRADES THAT WE THAT WE HAVE TO MAKE TO OUR TO OUR FACILITIES.

BECAUSE IF WE DON'T, FOR EXAMPLE, MAKE UPGRADES TO OUR JAIL OR OUR JUVENILE PROBATION DEPARTMENT, WE'RE STILL ON THE HOOK FOR HOLDING THOSE PEOPLE OR THOSE THOSE KIDS AND PAYING FOR THEIR DETENTION.

BUT WE WOULD HAVE TO DO IT SOMEWHERE ELSE, WHICH MEANS TRANSPORTATION COSTS WOULD GO UP, WHICH MEANS WE DON'T.

WE WOULDN'T HAVE THE OVERSIGHT THAT WE HAVE HERE AND IT WOULD COST TAXPAYERS MORE.

THAT TO ME, YOU KNOW, FOR FOR ME, WHEN IT COMES TO THE CERTIFICATE OF OBLIGATION ISSUANCE, YOU KNOW, WE'RE WE'RE TALKING ABOUT FACILITIES AND PROJECTS THAT, YOU KNOW, I THINK ALL TAXPAYERS MUST BE MADE AWARE AND SHOULD UNDERSTAND THAT WHEN YOU BUILD A BUILDING AND YOU INVEST IN THE BUILDING FROM THE BEGINNING, YOU HAVE TO EXPECT TO RENOVATE THAT BUILDING AT SOME POINT, OR YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE TO KNOCK IT DOWN AND BUILD A NEW ONE, WHICH WHICH CAN BE EVEN MORE COSTLY.

SO, YOU KNOW, THESE, THESE ITEMS A LOT OF THESE ITEMS THAT ARE ON THE COE ARE, ARE EXACTLY THAT THEY'RE PROJECTS THAT ARE GOING TO SAVE, SAVE PEOPLE FROM HAVING THEIR, THEIR HOUSES FLOODED.

IT'S GOING TO IT'S GOING TO SAVE THE COUNTY FROM HAVING TO REBUILD AND EVERY YEAR REBUILD ROADS.

AND YOU KNOW, I'VE, I'VE COMPLAINED ABOUT THE FACT THAT ON THE KO LIST, THERE ARE NO ITEMS IN THE, IN MY DISTRICT BECAUSE ALL MY DISTRICTS WITHIN THE CITY LIMITS. AND EVEN THOUGH FOLKS ARE WITHIN THE CITY LIMITS, THEY STILL PAY COUNTY TAXES AND SHOULD SEE SOMETHING FOR THEIR TAXES.

BUT YOU KNOW, AND I'M GOING TO CONTINUE TO ADVOCATE FOR THAT.

BUT IF YOU LOOK AT THE ITEMS THAT ARE ON THIS, THIS LIST FOR THE CEOS, THIS IS NOT WASTE.

THESE ARE THINGS THAT WE NEED TO SAVE TO BE FISCALLY RESPONSIBLE.

[06:15:06]

AND AND I YOU KNOW, I'M HAPPY TO HAVE A DEEPER CONVERSATION WITH YOU ALL OFFLINE IN MY OFFICE TO, TO TO TALK ABOUT THESE THINGS MORE. BUT, I MEAN, I'D RATHER HAVE YOU ON OUR SIDE SUPPORTING THESE THINGS BECAUSE IF THEY DON'T GET PAID FOR, THEN TAX TAXPAYERS ARE GOING TO BE IN FOR A LOT MORE. AND, YOU KNOW, AGAIN, IT'S NOT ABOUT NOT TRUSTING TAXPAYERS.

IT'S ABOUT WE ALREADY ASKED THE TAXPAYERS TO FUND THIS BUILDING AND WE HAVE TO UPKEEP IT.

SO I MEAN, TO ME, IT'S IT'S A CONTINUED IT'S A CONTINUED EXPENSE THAT WE ALREADY ASKED TAXPAYERS FOR, FOR PERMISSION TO DO.

THANK YOU. COMMISSIONER. COMMISSIONER LEONE.

YES, SIR.

I JUST WANTED TO ADD ONE THING.

ONE THING TO THAT MR. GROSSMAN TALKED ABOUT TRUST YOUR VOTERS, AND WE HAVE TRUSTED THEM.

THAT'S WHY WE SET UP ALL THOSE MEETINGS.

AND THEY ARE THE FOLKS THAT ARE TELLING US WHAT THEY NEED, WHAT THEY'D LIKE TO SEE.

SO IT'S INCLUDED IN THE POSSIBILITY OF OUR CEOS AND GEOS COMING FROM OUR CONSTITUENTS.

THAT'S WHAT THE BOOK WAS ALL ABOUT.

YOU MAY HAVE BEEN AT SOME OF THE MEETINGS.

I DIDN'T SEE YOU AT ANY OF THE EAST SIDE MEETINGS WHERE I WAS AT.

I DIDN'T SEE MR. GROSSMAN IN ANY OF THOSE MEETINGS SO THAT I WAS AT.

SO I THINK IT'S SO IMPORTANT THAT WE DON'T FORGET THAT, THAT THIS COURT IS VERY TRANSPARENT.

AND WE ASKED FOR THOSE MEETINGS.

WE WANTED THE INPUT FROM OUR CONSTITUENTS AND WE GOT IT.

COMMISSIONER. SO I AGREE WITH YOU, COMMISSIONER LEON, THAT THE COUNTY I THINK WE DID EVERYTHING POSSIBLE TO TRY TO GET AS MANY RESIDENTS AS POSSIBLE TO ATTEND OUR MEETINGS.

COMMISSIONER. JUDGE.

BUT UNFORTUNATELY, THE TRUTH IS THAT NOT VERY MANY DID.

I MEAN, I THINK I'M TRYING TO REMEMBER THE FINAL NUMBER.

BETSY. I THINK IT WAS 800 AND SOMETHING, INCLUDING THE FOCUS GROUPS.

SO THAT INPUT THAT WE RECEIVED FROM PEOPLE WAS ACTUALLY FROM A VERY SMALL PERCENTAGE OF OUR POPULATION.

I WOULD HAVE REALLY, REALLY LIKE TO SEE MUCH MORE POPULATION.

AND THAT'S NOT I DON'T THINK I THINK THE COUNTY, OUR STAFF DID EVERYTHING THAT WE COULD TO TRY TO GET PEOPLE TO MEETINGS, BUT UNFORTUNATELY, I DON'T THINK WE CAN JUST RELY ON THE OUTCOME OF THOSE MEETINGS OR THE SURVEYS BECAUSE IT WAS ACTUALLY A VERY SMALL PERCENTAGE OF THE POPULATION THAT PARTICIPATED.

BUT I WANT TO FOLLOW UP ON A COUPLE OF COMMENTS THAT WERE MADE BY THE PUBLIC.

ONE WAS ABOUT SENDING EVERYTHING TO THE VOTERS.

THIS IS SUCH A LARGE DEBT ISSUANCE.

IN THE PAST WHEN WE'VE DONE CUTS OR TAX NOTES.

IT IS BECAUSE THERE WAS A SENSE OF EMERGENCY TO THOSE PROJECTS.

WE COULDN'T WAIT TO CALL AN ELECTION AND HAVE IT GO BEFORE THE VOTERS.

AND SO WE DID ISSUE COS TO FUND IMPROVEMENTS AT THE JAIL.

JPD OTHER THINGS THAT REALLY WERE EMERGENCY PROJECTS.

I'M WONDERING WHY WHY HAVE WE NOT DISCUSSED TAKING ALL OF THESE ITEMS TO THE VOTERS? WE CLEARLY HAVE THE TIME.

I MEAN, WE'RE DISCUSSING SETTING IT FOR AN ELECTION NOW.

SO WHY WHY AREN'T WE DISCUSSING THAT PIECE OF IT? WHY HAVE WE ALWAYS TALKED ABOUT A CERTAIN DOLLAR AMOUNT FOR COS AND A CERTAIN DOLLAR AMOUNT FOR GEOS? I MEAN, I THINK NOT JUST THE COMMENTS THAT WE'VE HEARD TODAY BECAUSE IT WAS ONLY A HANDFUL OF PEOPLE, BUT A LOT OF THE COMMENTS THAT I RECEIVED, THE EMAILS, THE PHONE CALLS, THE MESSAGES ON FACEBOOK FROM RESIDENTS IN MY PRECINCT IS ASKING THAT SPECIFICALLY WHY ALL OF THESE PROJECTS CAN'T GO TO THE VOTERS.

IF WE CLEARLY HAVE THE TIME TO DO THAT, WE STILL HAVE THE TIME TO CALL AN ELECTION, AND THEY WOULD BE THE DEBT WOULD BE ISSUED IN 25.

I MEAN, I DON'T I DON'T THINK THAT THE SCHEDULE WOULD CHANGE TOO MUCH.

SO I'M NOT SURE. JOSE, IS THAT SOMETHING THAT WE CAN STILL CONSIDER IF THAT'S WHAT THE PUBLIC IS REQUESTING? I THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER. YES.

ALL THE ALL THE PROJECTS THAT ARE ELIGIBLE UNDER THE CEOS ARE GOING TO BE ELIGIBLE UNDER THE GEO.

SO THAT THE COURTS PREROGATIVE ON STRUCTURING THE ISSUANCE.

TIMING REMAINS THE SAME.

I THINK THE ONLY RISK WITHOUT WOULD BE ANY PROJECT THAT'S SENT OUT TO THE VOTERS THAT IF IT IS NOT APPROVED, WOULD NOT BE THE COURT CANNOT ISSUE CERTIFICATES OF OBLIGATION FOR THAT DEBT.

BUT THAT RISK ALSO EXISTS WITH THE COS IF SUFFICIENT SIGNATURES ARE COLLECTED.

RIGHT. ISN'T IT THE SAME RISK? SO THE THE RISK.

WELL, I THINK IT'S A LITTLE EVENTUALLY BECAUSE IF THE COS ARE ISSUED AND THERE IS A PETITION, THE COURT COULD ORDER AN ELECTION AND THEN IF THE ELECTION, THE ELECTION HAPPENS AND THE ELECTION FAILS, THEN IT'S THE SAME.

IT IS THE SAME CALCULATED RISK.

WELL, I YOU KNOW, I'VE MADE THESE COMMENTS BEFORE.

I THINK COMMISSIONER STOUTE, YOU DID A GREAT JOB OF OUTLINING ALL OF THE FINANCIAL CHALLENGES THAT THE COUNTY IS FACING RIGHT NOW WITH SALARY INCREASES AND INFLATION AND THE

[06:20:02]

UNFUNDED MANDATES THAT JUST ALWAYS SEEM TO INCREASE AND NEVER DECREASE.

BUT TO ME, ALL OF THOSE ARE REASONS WHY WE SHOULD BE VERY, VERY PRUDENT AND CAREFUL AND CALCULATING WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT ISSUANCES OF THIS SIZE.

I MEAN, TO ME, THOSE ARE ALL REASONS WHY WE SHOULDN'T, JUST BECAUSE WE HAVE THE CAPACITY TO ISSUE DEBT OF $500 MILLION.

TO ME, THESE ARE ALL REASONS WHY JUST BECAUSE WE HAVE THAT CAPACITY DOESN'T MEAN THAT WE SHOULD DO IT.

I WOULD MUCH RATHER SEE US TAKE PROJECTS ON THAT REALLY ARE PRIORITIES.

AND THEN IF OUR FINANCIAL SITUATION GETS BETTER IN THE FUTURE, THEN LOOK AT TAKING ON MORE AND MORE PROJECTS RATHER THAN DOING IT ALL AT ONCE, JUST BECAUSE WE HAVE THE CAPACITY TO DO IT. SO SO I AGREE WITH YOU.

ALL OF THOSE CHALLENGES.

THERE ARE HUGE CHALLENGES, BUT TO ME, THOSE ARE REASONS WHY WE SHOULDN'T BE ISSUING DEBT OF THIS MAGNITUDE.

AND IF WE INSIST ON DOING IT, THEN I THINK WE SHOULD TAKE IT ALL TO THE VOTERS AND LET THE VOTERS DECIDE.

CAN I CAN I ASK YOU SOMETHING, COMMISSIONER? EVERYTHING YOU SAID IS TRUE, AND YOU'RE YOU'RE ADVOCATING I MAY HAVE MISUNDERSTOOD UNDERSTOOD YOU, BUT YOU'RE ADVOCATING TO TAKE ALL OF IT, IF NOT MOST OF IT TO THE VOTERS.

BUT I THINK IT WAS NOT LESS THAN TWO WEEKS AGO.

YOU SAID THAT YOU DON'T WANT TO PUT THIS ALL THIS BURDEN ON THE VOTERS.

SO I JUST WANT TO UNDERSTAND WHERE YOU STAND.

NO, IT'S NOT THAT. I DON'T WANT TO PUT THE BURDEN ON THE VOTERS.

WHAT I WAS REFERRING TO WAS THAT I THOUGHT WE SHOULD LIMIT ANY ISSUANCE, WHETHER IT'S A CEO OR A CEO, TO THE AMOUNT THAT WOULD NOT RAISE TAXES.

I DON'T THINK IT'S RIGHT THAT WE TELL PEOPLE THAT THEY HAVE TO RAISE THEIR OWN TAXES IF THEY WANT BETTER PARKS, OR IF THEY WANT BETTER FACILITIES.

I THINK WE SHOULD BE ABLE TO DO THAT FOR THEM WITHOUT FORCING THEM TO VOTE TO RAISE THEIR OWN TAXES.

THAT'S WHAT I WAS TALKING ABOUT.

I HAVE NEVER HAD A PROBLEM WITH TAKING DEBT ISSUANCES, ESPECIALLY OF THIS MAGNITUDE, TO THE VOTERS.

AND I THINK THAT MAYBE THERE ARE SOME LISTS ON THE CBO PROJECTS THAT REALLY ARE EMERGENCIES.

BUT AGAIN, THE ONLY REASON, THE REASON WE'VE ISSUED THOSE IN THE PAST IS BECAUSE WE JUST DIDN'T HAVE TIME TO CALL THE ELECTION.

WE DON'T FIND OURSELVES IN THAT SITUATION NOW.

WE CLEARLY HAVE TIME TO CALL AN ELECTION NOW.

SO I MEAN, WE YOU KNOW, WE KEEP TALKING ABOUT WE TRUST THE VOTERS TO SUPPORT THESE PROJECTS.

SO I'M NOT SURE WHY WE WOULDN'T JUST LET THEM VOTE ON ALL OF THEM.

OKAY, SO I MISUNDERSTOOD YOU THE LAST TIME WHEN YOU SAID DO NOT PUT IT ON THE VOTERS PACKS.

YEAH, I JUST MEANT THAT. I DON'T THINK IT'S FAIR THAT WE'RE FORCING THE VOTERS TO VOTE TO RAISE THEIR OWN TAXES, WHEN WE COULD ISSUE $175 MILLION IN DEBT FOR NECESSARY PROJECTS THAT WOULD NOT IMPACT THE TAX RATE.

THANK YOU. JUDGE, WE STILL HAVE THAT PUBLIC SPEAKER WAITING.

OKAY. YEP. I'M HERE.

GO AHEAD. JENNY. HELLO? OKAY. HI.

MY NAME IS JENNY SOLO.

COMMISSIONERS AND JUDGE.

I'VE LIVED IN EL PASO FOR A COUNTY FOR FOUR YEARS.

AS A RESIDENT WHO DEEPLY CARES ABOUT OUR COMMUNITY, I'M HERE TO EXPRESS MY FRUSTRATION AND DISAPPOINTMENT WITH THE CEOS.

IT'S INCREDIBLY DISHEARTENING TO SEE A PROPOSAL WHEN I SEE FIRSTHAND OUR CURRENT SERVICES AND INFRASTRUCTURE IS ALREADY STRUGGLING.

THE PARKS WHERE MY KIDS PLAY ARE NEGLECTED.

THE ROADS I DRIVE ON ARE FULL OF POTHOLES, IN NEED OF REPAIRS.

AND YET, DESPITE THESE ISSUES, YOU'RE CONSIDERING ADDING MORE DEBT TO OUR COMMUNITY.

AND I'VE ACTUALLY ATTENDED THOSE MEETINGS, THOSE BOND MEETINGS, HOPING TO GET CLEAR ANSWERS ABOUT HOW OUR MONEY IS BEING SPENT.

INSTEAD, MY QUESTIONS WERE LEFT UNANSWERED, AND I LEFT FEELING LIKE THERE'S A SERIOUS LACK OF TRANSPARENCY AND RESPONSIBLE PLANNING.

THIS EXPERIENCE HAS MADE ME MADE IT REALLY HARD FOR ME TO TRUST THAT THESE ADDITIONAL FUNDS THAT YOU ARE ISSUING WILL BE MANAGED WISELY.

AND I JUST WANTED TO REMIND YOU THAT WE'RE WATCHING YOU CLOSELY AND HOLDING YOU ACCOUNTABLE IN ELECTIONS WHEN WE VOTE.

I WANTED TO I LISTENED TO WHAT THEY SAID ABOUT THE LAST FEW COMMENTS, AND I'M HOPING THAT I CAN ADDRESS IT REALLY QUICKLY.

JUDGE SAMANIEGO.

YOU SAID THAT YOU HAVEN'T HEARD ABOUT PEOPLE MOVING AWAY.

I'D BE GLAD TO TAG YOU IN EVERY SINGLE COMMENT THAT'S ON THERE, BECAUSE I'VE RUN SO MANY GROUPS IN EL PASO, ON FACEBOOK, ONLINE, AS WELL AS, YOU KNOW, ON INSTAGRAM AND ALSO NEXTDOOR. I'LL BE GLAD TO TAG YOU IN EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THOSE, BECAUSE YOU'RE NOT LISTENING TO YOUR CONSTITUENTS.

IF YOU'RE NOT HEARING THAT THE TAXES ARE MAKING THEM THINK ABOUT MOVING OR MOVING AWAY.

SO IF THAT'S A PUBLIC SERVICE I CAN PROVIDE TO YOU, I WOULD BE GLAD TO.

THE SECOND THING IS THAT, COMMISSIONER STOUT, YOU STATED THAT NONE OF THE PROJECTS ARE IN YOUR ZONES.

I'M LOOKING AT YOUR MAP RIGHT NOW, AND I LITERALLY AM SEEING WHEN I WENT TO THE MEETING, THERE'S PROJECT CODE ID NUMBER 65.

THAT'S IN YOUR $16 MILLION FOR THE BORDER TO NASCO BUILDING.

I SEE PROJECT NUMBER 63, $4 MILLION FOR THE ANNEX.

[06:25:03]

I SEE PROJECT NUMBER 37, WHICH IS A REMODEL OF THE FOURTH FLOOR.

11 MILLION. THEIR PROJECT.

35 FOR THE COURTHOUSE.

5 MILLION THERE.

AND ALSO THE THE PROJECT ID NUMBER ONE, WHICH IS 10,000,861 BASICALLY ROUGHLY $11 MILLION FOR AN HVAC SYSTEM.

AND WHEN I ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT WHY WE NEED THE HVAC SYSTEMS, THEY COULDN'T EXPLAIN TO ME WHY THEY CHOSE TO GO THE WAY THAT THEY DID VERSUS OTHER, MORE, LESS EXPENSIVE ROUTES JUST BECAUSE THAT THEY HAD TO, TO REPLACE IT.

AND SO WE DON'T NECESSARILY NEED IT.

WE ARE REPLACING IT BECAUSE ITS END OF TERM.

AND SO USING UTILIZING THIS IS LIKE, WELL, WE'RE ASKING YOU TO PAY MORE FOR SOMETHING THAT WE REALLY DON'T NEED RIGHT NOW, BUT WE WILL LATER ON MAYBE.

AND SO WE DON'T WANT TO SERVICE IT ANYMORE.

SO NOW WE'RE, WE'RE WE'RE JUST GOING TO REPLACE IT.

I MEAN, I DON'T DO THAT IN MY HOUSE.

I DON'T HAVE THE BUDGET TO SEND SAY, WELL, YOU KNOW, MY AIR CONDITIONING IS AT END OF SERVICE LIFE.

I'M GOING TO GO AHEAD AND REPLACE IT WHEN IT'S CURRENTLY WORKING.

SO THOSE ARE THE QUESTIONS I ASKED THEM.

AND AS FAR AS COMMISSIONER.

COMMISSIONER CORONADO, YOU SAID THAT THERE'S PEOPLE THAT ARE IN THE OUTLIERS.

I'VE SEEN THOSE PROJECTS AT THE MEETINGS AS WELL.

I ASKED ABOUT A ROAD THAT THEY WERE LOOKING TO BUILD BECAUSE IT FLOODS ALL THE TIME.

AND I SAID, WHO ARE THESE PEOPLE? I MEAN, LIKE IN THESE COMMUNITIES, HOW MANY? I MEAN, WE'RE SPENDING MILLIONS OF DOLLARS.

HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE IS THIS GOING TO SERVICE? AND THEY SAID 64 FAMILIES, 64 FAMILIES FOR MILLIONS OF DOLLARS.

I DON'T THINK THAT'S A PRUDENT INVESTMENT IN ANY WAY, SHAPE OR FORM.

AND THE THE VOTERS SHOULD BE ABLE TO VOTE ON THIS IF THEY KNEW HOW MUCH WE'RE SPENDING ON THINGS THAT AFFECT ONLY A VERY SMALL CONSTITUENTS OF PEOPLE.

WE'RE BEING ASKED TO, TO TO PAY FOR ALL THESE PROJECTS.

AND THIS IS THRUST UPON US.

AND LIKE COMMISSIONER SAYS, WHY AREN'T YOU LETTING US DECIDE IF YOU'RE REALLY LISTENING TO US, WHICH IT SEEMS LIKE YOU'RE NOT, BECAUSE I'M CONFUSED ABOUT WHY YOU'RE SPENDING THE MONEY THE WAY YOU ARE, HOW YOU'RE SPENDING THE MONEY.

AND I LITERALLY WENT TO THE MEETINGS MORE CONFUSED THAN WHEN I LEFT.

I MEAN, WHEN I CAME IN, I LEFT.

AND YOU'RE SENDING MONEY TO HOST THESE MEETINGS IN ORDER TO DO SO, AND IT STILL IS NOT INFORMING ANY OF US.

IT'S CONFUSING THE BOTH OF US.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU JENNY.

APPRECIATE THAT.

SO REAL QUICK, I WILL QUALIFY MY STATEMENT BECAUSE I GUESS YOU HADN'T TUNED INTO OTHER COMMISSIONERS COURT MEETINGS WHERE I'VE MADE MADE STATEMENTS ABOUT THE CEOS AND NOT HAVING SPENDING IN MY DISTRICT.

WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT IS SPENDING THAT IS DIRECTLY BENEFICIAL JUST TO INDIVIDUALS IN MY, IN MY DISTRICT.

ALL OF THE PROJECTS THAT ARE ON THE SEO LIST THAT ARE IN PRECINCT TWO, AT THE COURTHOUSE, AT THE JAIL, AT THE FAMILY YOUTH SERVICES CENTER.

I SEE THOSE AS PROJECTS THAT THAT ARE COUNTY WIDE BENEFITS, NOT JUST PRECINCT TWO BENEFITS.

AND SO I'M TALKING ABOUT INDIVIDUAL PRECINCT TWO BENEFICIAL PROJECTS.

WELL, SIR, COMMISSIONERS THIS ITEM IS YOUR LAST SCHEDULED WORKSHOP.

I DID MENTION EARLIER THAT WE ARE WORKING ON UPDATING THE DETAILS ASSOCIATED WITH PROJECT 75 RELATED TO THE 75 ACRES THAT THE COUNTY OWNS TO THE INFRASTRUCTURE LAYOUT FOR THE OFFICE OF THE MEDICAL EXAMINER FACILITY.

GIVEN THAT WE STILL HAVE DETAILS TO DISCUSS WITH THE COURT AND WORK CLOSELY WITH PUBLIC WORKS OVER THE NEXT WEEK WE'RE RECOMMENDING THAT WE ADD ANOTHER THIS ITEM ONCE AGAIN TO YOUR AGENDA FOR NEXT MONDAY, THE FIFTH, TO ALLOW US A CHANCE TO PRESENT THAT UPDATED INFORMATION.

WE DON'T HAVE THAT.

AND THEN WHAT WE'LL BE LOOKING FOR ON AUGUST 5TH IS IS CLEAR DIRECTION FROM THE COURT ON THE STRUCTURE THAT YOU ALL WOULD LIKE TO PURSUE.

WHETHER THAT'S GOING TO BE A CERTIFICATE OF OBLIGATION, GENERAL OBLIGATION BONDS OR A COMBINATION THEREOF.

THE COURT CAN ALWAYS PROVIDE THAT DIRECTION AS SOON AS YOU FEEL READY TO DO SO.

BUT I WANTED TO ENSURE THAT THE COURT KNEW THAT WE PLAN TO BRING BACK UPDATED INFORMATION, AND THAT MAY AFFECT THE BUDGET ON PROJECT 75 NEXT, NEXT MONDAY, AUGUST 5TH.

AND THAT WILL BE THE LAST MEETING PRIOR TO THE COUNTY NEEDING TO BRING THIS ITEM BACK FOR THE COURT TO MAKE A DETERMINATION ON AN ORDER, WHETHER ONE WAY OR THE OTHER. THANK YOU BETSY.

OKAY, GREAT.

THANK YOU JUDGE. THANK YOU JOSEPH.

APPRECIATE THAT. NO.

ACTION ITEM NINE A ITEM TEN AUDITOR.

TEN A TNA PURSUANT TO THE TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE TITLE TEN, SUBSECTION 2256.023, EXCEPT THE ATTACHED PRESENTATION AND INVESTMENT REPORT FOR

[06:30:07]

FISCAL YEAR 24.

THIRD QUARTER ENDED JUNE 30TH, 2024.

GOOD AFTERNOON. JUDGE.

[AUDITOR]

COMMISSIONERS BARBARA PARKER, COUNTY AUDITOR.

[A. Pursuant to the Texas Government Code, Title 10, § 2256.023, accept the attached presentation and investment report for FY24 third quarter ended June 30, 2024. Barbara Parker, County Auditor, County Auditor's Office, 915-273-3262]

IN TODAY'S PRESENTATION, WE'RE GOING TO TALK ABOUT THE COUNTY'S INVESTMENTS FOR THE THIRD QUARTER OF FISCAL YEAR 24.

JUST AS A REFRESHER, THE INVESTMENTS ARE DIRECTLY RELATED TO STRENGTHENING THE COUNTY'S FINANCIAL HEALTH.

THERE ARE TWO MAJOR GOALS FOR INVESTING FUNDS.

ONE IS FOLLOWING THE STATUTORY PRINCIPLES AND RETURN ON INVESTMENT IS THE SECOND.

STATUTORY AND PRINCIPLES INCLUDE SAFETY, LIQUIDITY AND DIVERSIFICATION IN THAT ORDER.

OUR INVESTMENT VEHICLES HAVE NOT CHANGED, ONLY THE MIX HAS CHANGED.

MORE HAS BEEN INVESTED IN TECH SCHOOL CRIME AND LESS IN CASH AND TECH SCHOOL THAN COMPARED TO LAST YEAR.

THE TOTAL INVESTMENTS INCREASED FROM LAST YEAR BY $1 MILLION.

AS A RESULT, THE INTEREST EARNED INCREASED BY 3.8 MILLION, AND PRIMARILY THIS IS DUE TO INCREASED RATES AS WELL AS THE INVESTABLE FUNDS.

RATES. LAST YEAR IN THE SAME QUARTER RANGED FROM 4.80 TO 5.5% AND 4.99 TO 5.30 FOR TAXABLE AND TAXABLE PRIME. AS YOU CAN SEE, THE RATES FOR BOTH HAVE HELD STEADY OVER THE LAST QUARTER AT ABOVE 5%.

THE 90 DAY TREASURY BILL RATES ARE SHOWN ON THE ORANGE LINE, AND THE COUNTY'S WEIGHTED AVERAGE YIELD IS SHOWN ON THE BLUE LINE.

THE COUNTY IS CURRENTLY AT 18 BASIS POINTS BELOW THE 90 DAY TREASURY BILL BENCHMARK.

THIS SLIDE SHOWS THE TREND OF INVESTMENTS OVER THE LAST 12 MONTHS FOR ALL COUNTY FUNDS, NOT JUST GENERAL FUND.

INVESTMENT BALANCES AT THE END OF THE THIRD QUARTER FOR EACH FUND ARE SHOWN ON THIS SLIDE.

GENERAL FUND CAPITAL PROJECTS AND SPECIAL REVENUE GRANTS ARE THE LARGEST SLICES OF THE PIE.

THIS JUST SHOWS YOU THE TREND OF OUR INVESTABLE FUNDS, THAT THE GENERAL FUND REACHES ITS HIGHEST POINT IN FEBRUARY, AND DECREASES UNTIL THE AD VALOREM TAXES BEGIN TO BE COLLECTED AGAIN, AND THE INVESTABLE CAPITAL PROJECT FUND SLIGHTLY DECREASED FOR THE THIRD QUARTER.

THE SPECIAL REVENUE GRANTS INVESTIBLE FUND SLIGHTLY DECREASED ALSO, AND THIS IS BECAUSE WE ARE SPENDING THOSE FUNDS, THE CAPITAL FUNDS AND THE GRANT FUNDS.

THE FULL INVESTMENT REPORT, WITH ALL STATUTORILY REQUIRED INFORMATION, CAN BE FOUND ON THE INTERNET, AS WELL AS IN THE BACKUP OF THIS ITEM.

IF THERE ARE NO QUESTIONS, IS THERE A MOTION TO ACCEPT THE INVESTMENT REPORT PRESENTATION? WE HAVE A MOTION BY COMMISSIONER HOLGUIN, SECOND BY COMMISSIONER LEON.

ARE YOU ABLE TO VOTE? YES. THANK YOU.

JUDGE. JUDGE.

MOTION CARRIES. THANK YOU.

THANK YOU. BARBARA. TEN B PURSUANT TO THE TEXAS LOCAL GOVERNMENT CODE, SECTION 1150.021 AUDIT AND SETTLE ALL ACCOUNTS AGAINST THE COUNTY SHOWN ON THE ATTACHED LISTING AND DIRECT THE PAYMENT OF THOSE ACCOUNTS.

JUDGE. COMMISSIONERS. BARBARA PARKER, COUNTY AUDITOR.

THIS ITEM IS LISTED SEPARATE FROM THE CONSENT AGENDA ITEM BECAUSE IT'S FOR COMMISSIONER CORONADO, AND THIS WOULD ALLOW HIM TO ABSTAIN FOR THE VOTE IF HE CHOOSES TO.

[B. Pursuant to the Texas Local Government Code, Section 115.021, audit and settle all accounts against the County shown on the attached listing and direct the payment of those accounts. Barbara Parker, County Auditor, County Auditor's Office, 915-273-3262]

I WILL ABSTAIN.

WE HAVE A MOTION FROM JUDGE SAMANIEGO, SECOND FROM COMMISSIONER GUYNN.