G. Approve and authorize the County Judge to sign the Cultural Heritage Society HOT Event Grant Service Agreement with the Cultural Heritage Society of the Camino Real de Tierra Adentro, pursuant to Texas Tax Code Sections 352.1015, 352.102(a)(2), and 352.102(a)(3), for the general promotion and tourist advertising of the County of El Paso and its vicinity to attract visitors from August 21-25, 2024, in the amount of $15,000. Funds are available in SR-TOURPROM-HISTORICAL EVENTS. (Contract No. 2024-0554) Roberto Ransom, Director, Economic Development, 915-546-2177

[A. Approve and adopt a resolution recognizing August 2024 as Black Business Month in El Paso County, Texas. David Stout, Commissioner, Precinct 2, 915-546-2111]

READ THIS RESOLUTION INTO THE RECORD, AS YOU ALL MAY KNOW, MY OFFICE SPONSORED THE SONY STORY RAISES SERIES OF EVENTS, WHICH IS WHERE THE COLISEUM MURAL CONCEPT CAME FROM. BUT IN THE COURSE OF THAT PROGRAMING AND IN COORDINATION WITH OUR AMAZING CITY OF EL PASO HISTORY MUSEUM PROGRAMING, WE WERE ABLE TO LEARN AND SHOWCASE, SO MUCH ABOUT THE HISTORY AND THE PRESENT OF THE BLACK COMMUNITY HERE IN EL PASO. AND THERE WAS SUCH A STRONG CLUSTER OF BUSINESSES FROM THE LONG GONE BILL PARK BARBECUE TO STEEN'S BARBERSHOP, WHICH MANY OF US HAVE HEARD ABOUT. AND WE'LL HEAR ABOUT MORE IN THE VERY NEAR FUTURE. AND THERE ARE CURRENTLY MANY, MANY STRONG ENTREPRENEURS WHO ARE CONTRIBUTING TO THE BLACK COMMUNITY AND TO ALL OF EL PASO, AND I WAS, HONORED TO BE ABLE TO SPEND SOME TIME WITH, WITH, THE BLACK EL PASO VOICE AT AN EVENT THAT THEY HAD ON SATURDAY, WHERE THEY WERE HONORING, LILY CROUCH FOR HER MANY, MANY YEARS OF SERVICE. SERVICE IN THIS COMMUNITY AS A TEACHER AND ADMINISTRATOR, AND WHERE THEY HIGHLIGHTED THE WORK OF MANY ORGANIZATIONS AND BUSINESSES THAT THAT CONTRIBUTE TO THIS GREAT COMMUNITY. AND REALLY HAPPY THAT THE BLACK EL PASO VOICE BROUGHT THIS RESOLUTION TO MY OFFICE AND REALLY HAPPY TO PRESENT IT. SO WE HAVE MONICA TUCKER HERE WITH, WITH, WITH SOME OTHER FOLKS. CAN YOU ALL COME UP TO THE TO THE PODIUM AND I'LL READ THE RESOLUTION AND THEN I'D LOVE TO HEAR FROM YOU, THE RESOLUTION READS, WHEREAS NATIONAL BLACK BUSINESS MONTH, FOUNDED IN 2004, INVITES US TO RECOGNIZE BLACK OWNED BUSINESSES ACROSS THE COUNTRY AND HIGHLIGHT THEIR IMPORTANCE TO COMMUNITIES AND THE NATIONAL ECONOMY. AND WHEREAS THE COUNTY OF EL PASO RECOGNIZES THE VALUABLE CONTRIBUTIONS MADE BY BLACK ENTREPRENEURS AND BUSINESS OWNERS TO OUR LOCAL COMMUNITY AND LOCAL ECONOMY IN PROMOTING ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, JOB CREATION AND COMMUNITY EMPOWERMENT, ENCOURAGING ECONOMIC SELF-SUFFICIENCY AND INSPIRING FUTURE GENERATIONS OF ENTREPRENEURS. AND WHEREAS, THROUGHOUT HISTORY, AND DESPITE BEING SYSTEM SYSTEMICALLY ISOLATED FROM INVESTMENT CAPITAL DEVELOPMENT RESOURCES AND DIGITAL VISIBILITY, BLACK BUSINESSES HAVE PERSEVERED AND THRIVED DESPITE FACING SYSTEMIC RACISM, REDLINING AND EVEN EXTREME VIOLENCE SUCH AS THE TULSA MASSACRE OF 1921. AND WHEREAS, THE COUNTY OF EL PASO RECOGNIZES AND GIVES HONOR TO THOSE WHO HAVE PAVED THE WAY FOR THE CURRENT INCREASE OF ENTREPRENEURS IN EL PASO COUNTY, SUCH AS JOHN AND MARY WOODS, WHO WERE BORN INTO SLAVERY, AND WHO AFTER THE CIVIL WAR MARRIED AND BECAME EL PASO'S FIRST BLACK ENTREPRENEURS WHO BUILT A NETWORK OF FLOURISHING BUSINESSES. AND WHEREAS EL PASO CAN VALUE THE IMPACT AND INFLUENCE OF BLACK BUSINESSES BY SUPPORTING INITIATIVES SUCH AS EL PASO BLACK PAGE.COM, A FREE PLATFORM FOR EL PASO'S BLACK BUSINESS OWNERS. EL PASO BLACK BUSINESS NETWORK, BLACK EL PASO VOICE, AND VARIOUS LOCAL INITIATIVES THAT PROMOTE BUSINESS DIVERSITY AND CELEBRATE THE MILESTONES, SUCCESSES AND PROGRESS OF BLACK BUSINESSES AND ENTREPRENEURS AND WHEREAS BLACK OWNED BUSINESSES THRIVED IN SOUTH CENTRAL EL PASO ALONG VIBRANT COMMERCIAL MAIN STREETS LIKE ALAMEDA, COPIA PIEDRAS AND WHILE THE FREEWAY CONSTRUCTION AND THE PASSAGE OF TIME ERASED MANY BUSINESSES, BLACK OWNED BUSINESS CONTINUES TO THRIVE HERE IN EL PASO, AS WITH BLACK, EL PASO VOICE, WHICH CELEBRATES AND UPLIFTS COMMUNITY AND EFFORTS ARE UNDERWAY TO REMEMBER THE PREVIOUS GENERATIONS, SUCH AS WITH THE AUSTIN'S BARBERSHOP PROJECT. AND WHEREAS BLACK ENTREPRENEURS AND BUSINESS OWNERS BRING UNIQUE PERSPECTIVES, TALENTS AND INNOVATIVE IDEAS THAT ENRICH THE FABRIC OF OUR CITY, SUCH AS THE 2024 BLACK BUSINESS AWARD RECIPIENTS, DIFFERENT BREED PERFORMANCE TRAINING JEZELLE NASH AND ALEXIS THORNTON, ENTREPRENEUR CYNTHIA D HORTON SHIFT TO GROW COMPANY, GENTLEMAN BOUTIQUE, CHARLES W SMITH AND SEVERAL OTHERS WHO ARE PROGRESSING IN BUSINESS AND COMMUNITY. AND NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, THAT THE EL PASO COUNTY COMMISSIONERS COURT DECLARES AUGUST AS BLACK BUSINESS MONTH IN EL PASO COUNT, TEXAS, AND URGES ALL RESIDENTS AND BUSINESSES TO RECOGNIZE AND CELEBRATE THE CONTRIBUTIONS OF BLACK ENTREPRENEURS. SIGNED THIS FIFTH DAY OF AUGUST 2020 FOR THE HONORABLE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS COURT. WE HAVE A MOTION BY COMMISSIONER STOUT, SECOND BY COMMISSIONER OLGUIN. THE VOTING IS OPEN. WELCOME, COMMISSIONER STOUT. DO WE. MOTION CARRIES. OKAY WE'RE STILL GETTING USED TO

[00:20:08]

THIS ELECTRONIC VOTING STUFF. WELCOME. HI. GOOD MORNING, MY NAME IS MONICA TUCKER. I'M THE FOUNDER AND PUBLISHER OF BLACK EL PASO VOICE. AND WE ALSO HAVE THE BLACK ROUNDTABLE, WHERE WE HAVE VARIOUS BLACK LEADERS IN THE COMMUNITY WHO COME TOGETHER FOR US TO NETWORK AND SUPPORT ONE ANOTHER IN BUSINESS GROWTH HERE. AND WE APPRECIATE THE COMMISSIONERS COURT FOR THIS HONOR, WITH THE RESOLUTION AND, ESPECIALLY COMMISSIONER STOUT, WHO, WHO'S ALWAYS AT EVERYTHING, WE TRY WE TRY TO DO. SO WE APPRECIATE THAT ALSO, SATURDAY, WE HONORED LOCAL BLACK BUSINESSES AND ORGANIZATIONS IN THE COMMUNITY, WHO HELP US THROUGHOUT THE YEAR. AND OUR WE ALSO HELP THOSE WHO MAY NOT BE CONSIDERED. SOME DON'T CONSIDER SPEAKERS AS A BUSINESS, BUT THEY ARE. AND ONE OF OUR SPEAKERS WAS, MISS MICHELLE GRADY, WHO WAS A SURVIVOR OF THE INCIDENT THAT OCCURRED ON AUGUST THIRD, SO WE'RE JUST GRATEFUL. AND, I WOULD LIKE TO, YOU KNOW, ALLOW SOME OF THE PEOPLE WHO WHO RECEIVED SOME OF THE AWARDS TO BE ABLE TO SAY A FEW WORDS, BUT WE WOULD LIKE TO, TO BE ABLE TO CONNECT WITH THE COUNTY ON HOW WE CAN IDENTIFY MORE BLACK OWNED BUSINESSES. AND UNFORTUNATELY, IT'S A DIFFICULT TASK, BUT WE'RE HOPING TO BE ABLE TO SHARE WITH THEM SOME OF THE RESOURCES THAT WE'VE BEEN PRIVY TO IN THE COUNTY AND THE CITY ALSO. SO WE WOULD LIKE THE TO BE ABLE TO ONE DAY MEET WITH THE COUNTY TO SEE HOW WE CAN COLLABORATE, TO IDENTIFY MORE BLACK OWNED BUSINESSES HERE. BUT, WITH US TODAY, WE HAVE MR. CHARLES SMITH FROM GENTLEMAN'S BOUTIQUE AND A DIFFERENT BREED PERFORMANCE TRAINING. THEY ARE MAGNIFICENT AND I KNOW I MAY SAY IT WRONG, SO I'LL LET THEM, YOU KNOW, INTRODUCE THEMSELVES, BUT THEY'RE FANTASTIC IN SPORTS AND IT'S JUST AN HONOR TO HAVE ALL OF THEM HERE IN THE COMMUNITY REPRESENTING BLACK OWNED BUSINESSES. THANK YOU. CHARLES HELLO, EVERYBODY. WELCOME. MY NAME IS CHARLES SMITH, OWNER OF GENTLEMAN BOUTIQUE BY GONE, I CONSIDER IT AN HONOR TO BE HERE.

AND I THANK YOU GUYS FOR THE RESOLUTION HONORING BLACK BUSINESSES, ME BEING AN ENTREPRENEUR AND AN ADVOCATE IN OUR COMMUNITY, IT WAS JUST A BEAUTIFUL TIME THAT WE HAD AT THE BLACK EL PASO VOICE AWARD, WHERE I WAS SURPRISINGLY, I GOT THE CITIZENSHIP AWARD, AND I ALSO GOT THE FASHION STYLIST OF THE YEAR AWARD, WHICH IS AMAZING TO BE ABLE TO CONTRIBUTE TO OUR COMMUNITY, WHEN IT COMES DOWN TO THAT. SO I THANK YOU GUYS FOR EVERYTHING THAT YOU'RE DOING.

AND IT JUST IT'S ALWAYS A HONOR AND PLEASURE TO BE HERE. THANK YOU. CHARLES. SO MY NAME IS ALEXIS THORNTON AND I'M BILL NASH AND WE ARE THE OWNERS OF DIFFERENT BREED PERFORMANCE TRAINING, CURRENTLY IN OUR COMMUNITY, WE ARE TRAINING ATHLETES ANYWHERE FROM THREE YEARS OLD ALL THE WAY UP TO PROFESSIONAL, WE BASICALLY ENHANCE THEIR SKILLS, BUT WE ALSO ARE ENHANCING THEIR KNOWLEDGE FOR THE GAME AS WELL IN GENERAL LIFE, SO WE'VE BEEN DOING IT FOR NOW, FOUR YEARS, AND IT'S BEEN AN HONOR. THANK YOU, BLACK EL PASO VOICE FOR HONORING US. WE ACTUALLY GOT A BUSINESS OF THE YEAR THIS YEAR, AND SO WE WANT TO THANK YOU GUYS AS WELL FOR HONORING US AND, BEING ABLE TO HAVE THIS RESOLUTION TODAY. DO YOU HAVE SOMETHING LAST SPEAK THAT MUCH? I'M SORRY, BUT THANK YOU. I APPRECIATE YOU GUYS. THANK YOU.

WELL, CONGRATULATIONS, CHARLES. GREAT JOB. YOU HAVE AN AMAZING, THE FATHER THAT WE ALL LOVE AND RESPECT TREMENDOUSLY. SO THANK YOU FOR THAT, BUT YOU KNOW, THE SMALL BUSINESS IS SUCH A FORCE IN EL PASO, AND YOU'RE ABSOLUTELY RIGHT, MONICA, THAT, YOU KNOW, WE NEED TO SORT OF UNDERSTAND HOW WE COULD SUPPORT AND BE ABLE TO HELP YOU CONTINUE, RIGHT, TO ENHANCE THIS BUSINESS. A SMALL BUSINESSES, LIKE I SAID, DO. SO MUCH FOR OUR COMMUNITY. WE JUST DON'T SEE IT.

WE THINK OF THE BIGGER BUSINESSES. BUT WHEN YOU ACCUMULATE ALL THE SMALL BUSINESSES TOGETHER, IT'S JUST AMAZING. AND I KNOW THE HISPANIC CHAMBER HAS ALWAYS BEEN VERY INVOLVED IN THE SMALLER BUSINESS, SECTOR. SO, YOU KNOW, WE'RE VERY PROUD OF ALL OF YOU.

AND WE THANK YOU. AND WE WILL TAKE THAT TO HEART ABOUT HOW DO WE GET MORE INVOLVED IN HELPING YOU WITH YOUR OBJECTIVES AND GOALS AS BUSINESS INDIVIDUALS. SO THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER STOUT. DID YOU WANT TO DID YOU WANT TO ADD SOMETHING? NO. OKAY I JUST I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU ONCE AGAIN, IT WAS A GREAT TIME THE OTHER EVENING. IT WAS GREAT TO SEE ALL THE AMAZING INDIVIDUALS THAT ARE CONTRIBUTING SO MUCH TO THE COMMUNITY. AND, YOU KNOW, WE'RE I'M COMMITTED TO CONTINUING TO WORK WITH YOU ALL AND, TRY TO TRY TO TRY TO DO WHAT YOU'RE ASKING, MISS MISS TUCKER. SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH. WE MISSED PASTOR GRADY AND MICHELLE. WE HAD THE FIFTH ANNIVERSARY THERE AT THE HEALING GARDEN, HE'S ALWAYS BEEN A PART OF IT, BUT I SAID YOU'RE DOING SOMETHING GREAT OVER THERE AT THE OTHER PLACE. SO WE WERE VERY FORTUNATE

[00:25:06]

ALWAYS TO BE. MICHELLE HAS BEEN JUST SUCH AN AMAZING PERSON, GONE THROUGH VERY DIFFICULT TIMES. BUT I THINK SHE'S SHOWN, WHAT COURAGE IS ALL ABOUT. SO THANK YOU. SO IF Y'ALL CAN COME UP HERE, I'LL HAND Y'ALL THE RESOLUTION. WE'LL TAKE A PICTUR. RIGHT NOW. YES, YES, I CAN TELL.

ITEM FIVE BE APPROVE AND ADOPT A RESOLUTION DECLARING AUGUST 4TH THROUGH 10TH, 2024 AS NATIONAL HEALTH CENTER WEEK IN EL PASO COUNTY, TEXAS. THANK YOU. COMMISSIONER. LET ME COME. I'M ALREADY CALLING HER COMMISSIONER FOR SHE'S ON THE COMMISSION OR WOMEN'S COMMISSION, WHICH I'M

[B. Approve and adopt a resolution declaring August 4 - 10, 2024, as National Health Center Week in El Paso County, Texas. Ricardo A. Samaniego, County Judge, County Judge's Office, 915-546-2098]

VERY PROUD OF. THANK YOU BOTH FOR BEING HERE TODAY. SO I'LL READ THIS INTO THE RECORD.

[00:30:06]

PROVE AN EFFECTIVE MEANS OF OVERCOMING BARRIERS TO HEALTH CARE ACCESS, INCLUDING GEOGRAPHY, INCOME AND INSURANCE STATUS, IMPROVING HEALTH OUTCOMES, AND REDUCING HEALTH CARE SYSTEM COSTS. WHEREAS COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTERS REDUCE OVERALL COSTS OF CARE BY HELPING MANAGE PATIENTS CHRONIC CONDITIONS, WHICH KEEPS THEM OUT OF MORE EXPENSIVE HEALTH CARE SETTINGS LIKE HOSPITAL EMERGENCY ROOMS. WHEREAS THE COMMUNITY HEALTH CARE CENTERS ARE ON THE FRONT LINE OF EMERGING HEALTH CARE CRISIS, PROVIDING ACCESS TO CARE FOR OUR NATION'S VETERANS, ADDRESSING THE OPIOID EPIDEMIC AND RESPONDING TO PUBLIC HEALTH THREATS IN THE WAKE OF NATURAL DISASTERS. COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTERS OPERATE OVER 900 MOBILE UNITS, PROVIDING ACCESSIBILITY HEALTH SERVICES IN HUNDREDS OF RURAL AND URBAN COMMUNITIES. WHEREAS NATIONAL HEALTH CARE CENTER WEEK OFFERS THE OPPORTUNITY TO CELEBRATE AMERICA'S MORE THAN ONE ONE 1400 COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTER ORGANIZATIONS, OVER 15,000 SERVED DELIVERY SITES, INCLUDING OVER 3600 SCHOOLS. WE HONOR THEIR DEDICATED STAFF, BOARD MEMBERS, PATIENTS, AND ALL THOSE RESPONSIBLE FOR THEIR CONTINUED SUCCESS AND GROWTH. SINCE THE FIRST HEALTH CENTERS OPENED THEIR DOORS, MORE THAN 50 YEARS AGO. WHEREAS DURING NATIONAL HEALTH CENTER WEEK, WE CELEBRATE THE LEGACY OF AMERICA'S COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTERS AND THEIR VITAL ROLE IN SHAPING THE PAST, PRESENT, AND FUTURE OF AMERICA'S HEALTH CARE SYSTEM. I ENCOURAGE ALL AMERICANS TO PARTICIPATE THIS WEEK BY VISITING THEIR LOCAL HEALTH CENTER AND CELEBRATING THIS VITAL PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN AMERICA'S COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTERS AND THE COMMUNITIES THEY SERVE. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED THAT THE EL PASO COUNTY JUDGE AND COMMISSIONERS COURT PROCLAIM AUGUST 4TH THROUGH 10TH AS NATIONAL HEALTH CENTER WEEK SIGN THIS FIFTH DAY OF AUGUST 2024, WE HAVE A MOTION BY JUDGE SAMANIEGO, SECOND BY COMMISSIONER STOUT. THE VOTING IS OPEN. FETCH YOUR VOTE. YES. THANK YOU. MOTION CARRIES. DOCTOR PUS. WELCOME. THANK YOU.

JUDGE HERE. GOOD MORNING. COMMISSIONERS. IT'S ONLY FITTING THAT WE GET TO CELEBRATE NATIONAL HEALTH CENTER CARE WEEK BEGINNING WITH YOU GUYS. SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR HAVING US HERE TODAY. CENTRO SAN VICENTE, ALONG WITH PROJECT VIDA AND LA FE, ARE DELIBERATELY PLACED IN THESE AREAS TO BE ABLE TO PROVIDE AN ARRAY OF SERVICES FOR OUR COMMUNITY, PRIMARILY HEALTH CARE. JUDGE COMMISSIONERS. I HAVE A PATIENT WHO USED TO USE AN EXTENSION CORD FROM HER TRAILER TO ANOTHER TO ACCESS ELECTRICITY TO BE ABLE TO HEAT A PANCAKE GRIDDLE WITH WATER ON IT, TO BE ABLE TO BATHE HER BABIES. SOMEHOW, SHE UNDERSTOOD THAT HER HEALTH WAS WAS VITAL TO HER AND TO HER BABIES. SO SHE SOUGHT CARE AT CENTRO SAN VICENTE AND IS STILL UNDER MY CARE. IT'S AN HONOR TO BE ABLE TO TAKE CARE OF HER. SHE WITHOUT CENTRO SAN VICENTE, WOULD PROBABLY NOT HAVE A PLACE TO GO FOR HEALTH CARE BECAUSE CENTERS LIKE OURS, PROJECT VIVA, CENTRO SAN VICENTE AND LA FE PROVIDE SERVICES REGARDLESS OF THEIR ABILITY TO PAY. SO THANK YOU, JUDGE. THANK YOU COMMISSIONERS, FOR RECOGNIZING NATIONAL HEALTH CARE CENTER WEEK AND RECOGNIZE CENTERS LIKE OURS WITH YOUR RELENTLESS RECOGNITION, OUR CENTERS ARE CONTINUED TO BE AMPLIFIED AND WE CAN CONTINUE TO SERVE MORE INDIVIDUALS AND MAKE AWARENESS OF WHAT THE GOOD WORK THAT WE DO. AND TODAY I BROUGHT WITH ME MY RIGHT HAND, MISTER HOWARD WILLIAMS, CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER. WE EXTENDED AN INVITATION OUT TO THE OTHER CENTERS. THEY WERE NOT ABLE TO BE HERE TODAY JUST BECAUSE OF THE BUSY WEEK THAT WE HAVE AHEAD OF US. BUT IF ANYBODY WOULD LIKE TO JOIN US FOR ANY OF OUR CELEBRATIONS, PLEASE FEEL FREE TO REACH OUT AND I CAN DEFINITELY GET YOU SOME DETAILS. THANK YOU DOCTOR BOSS. GO AHEAD, MISTER WILLIAMS. I DON'T SPEAK MUCH ALSO, BUT THANK YOU. WELL, DOCTOR, I REALLY WANT TO THANK YOU. I MEAN, YOU'VE BEEN SUCH A GREAT ROLE MODEL. WE'RE VERY PROUD. AND THE WOMEN'S COMMISSION AND EVERYTHING THAT YOU'RE TRYING TO ACCOMPLISH THERE, AND I KNOW HEALTH HAS BECOME A BIG PART OF IT, AND THANK YOU FOR, YOU KNOW, IF ANYBODY GOT INVOLVED IN THE PANDEMIC AND WE GOT TO SEE THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE THAT DIED, AND WE SAW THE INCIDENCES OF DIABETES AND CANCER, AND YOU KNOW, HEART ISSUES THAT WERE BEYOND MOST COMMUNITIES, WE JUST COULDN'T WALK AWAY FROM IT, IT'S SO HARD JUST TO HAVE EXPERIENCED THAT OR HAVING GONE THROUGH THAT DIFFICULT TIME IN THE MORTUARIES AND FIND OUT THAT 95% HAD UNDERLYING CONDITIONS, AND IT WAS SO DIFFICULT. AND SO IT HELPS ME. AND I KNOW IT HELPS OUR COMMISSIONERS THAT WE CONTINUE TO LOOK AT WHAT WE COULD DO FOR OUR COMMUNITY, BECAUSE IF ANYBODY FEELS COMMITTED NOW, ARE THOSE THAT GOT TO SEE, WE ALREADY KNEW THAT FOR SOME SENSE. YOU KNOW, WE

[00:35:07]

KNEW ALSO IN JUAREZ, THEY HAVE A VERY DIFFICULT CHALLENGES. BUT VERY SIMILAR TO OURS. SO WHEN WE TALK ABOUT THIS REGION OF NEW MEXICO AND OURSELVES AND JUAREZ, WE HAVE A LOT OF CHALLENGES. AND I WANT TO THANK YOU BECAUSE I JUST DON'T WANT TO STEP AWAY FROM WHAT WE SAW. YOU KNOW, AND FORGET THAT, YOU KNOW, THIS COULD HAPPEN AGAIN AND THAT WE WOULD BE VERY VULNERABLE IF WE EVER HAVE A PANDEMIC OR COMMUNITY, BE VERY VULNERABLE, BECAUSE WE'VE ALWAYS SAID THE FIRST LINE OF DEFENSE WAS OUR HEALTH BEFORE THE MASKS, BEFORE EVERYTHING ELSE. THOSE THAT WERE HEALTHIER WERE ABLE TO RESIST THE VIRUS BETTER. THOSE WERE HEALTHIER, DIDN'T GET INTO THE HOSPITAL THAT ENDED UP IN THE VENTILATORS THAT ENDED UP DYING. AND SO ALL OF US, AS A COMMUNITY, WE JUST CAN'T LET GO OF THAT. AND I KNOW BETSY AND I AND EVERYONE THAT YOU KNOW, WE'RE TRYING OUR BEST TO MAKE SURE THAT WE DON'T FORGET THAT OUR COMMUNITY IS MORE VULNERABL, FOR WHATEVER REASONS THAT IS. BUT IF YOU LOOK ACROSS THE COUNTRY, WE'RE A VERY VULNERABLE COMMUNITY. SO YOU'RE I KNOW YOU'RE FOCUSING A LOT ON THAT. YOU KNOW, WE WANT TO FOCUS A LOT ON PREVENTION, EVERYBODY GOT OUT THEIR BIKES AND EVERYTHING, BUT THEY'RE PUTTING THEM BACK.

THEY'RE THEY'RE THEY'RE LEAVING THEM. OR NOW THEY'RE GREAT CLOTHES HANGERS, YOU KNOW, FOR CLOTHES IN THE GARAGE AND STUFF. SO WE GOT TO GET BACK OUT THERE. I MEAN, WE HAVE TO YOU KNOW, I KNOW THAT THIS COMMISSIONERS COURT IS VERY, YOU KNOW, VERY PROUD TO SAY THAT THE RECREATION, RECREATION, PARKS AND EVERYTHING OUT THERE WAS JUST A BLESSING. I MEAN, THEY TOOK AWAY A LOT OF STUFF AWAY DURING THE PANDEMIC, BUT THEY DIDN'T TAKE THE OUTDOORS AWAY FROM US. AND SO THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING YOU'RE DOING. AND EVERYTHING THAT YOU'RE THE ROLE MODEL THAT YOU ARE. I'M VERY, VERY PROUD TO BE YOUR FRIEND AND ALSO TO BE THAT YOU'RE INVOLVED IN THIS. SO THANK YOU. JUDGE FROM PROJECT. SORRY I DIDN'T. OH YES. VERY LAST TIME TO JOIN.

THANK YOU. I JUST WANTED TO SAY YOU'RE VERY WELCOME AND THANK YOU FOR THE APPRECIATION ON THIS WEEK. IT'S VERY IMPORTANT FOR US THAT YOU RECOGNIZE THE WORK THAT OUR HEALTH CENTERS DO. I DO APPRECIATE IT, AND THANK YOU FOR THE INVITE. AS WELL. THANK YOU. PROJECT VETO DOES AN AMAZING JOB AS WELL. SO ONCE AGAIN, THANK YOU VERY MUCH. AND IF YOU WANT TO GO TAKE A PICTURE YES OF COURSE.

ITEM NUMBER SIX IS PUBLIC COMMENT. WE DO HAVE ONE SPEAKER SIGNED UP FOR PUBLIC COMMENT. WE HAVE MISS ELIZABETH CRAWFORD ON THE PHONE. AND JUST AS A REMINDER, THERE IS A FIVE MINUTE TIME LIMIT FOR PUBLIC COMMENT. GOOD MORNING ELIZABETH. THANK YOU. GOOD MORNING. GOOD MORNING.

[6. PUBLIC COMMENT]

THANK YOU. THANK YOU, THE UNITED NATIONS HAS DESIGNATED AUGUST 22ND THE DAY TO REMEMBER THE VICTIMS OF VIOLENCE BASED ON RELIGION OR BELIEF. I WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK OF ABORTION VICTIMS AS MEMBERS OF THIS CATEGORY IN MISSOURI, IN AND AROUND 2018, THE SATANIC TEMPLE ARGUED FOR THE RIGHT TO ABORTION BASED ON FREEDOM OF RELIGION. THE TEMPLE OF SATAN NOW OPENLY BOASTS OF RITUAL ABORTIONS. TRST, THE SATANIC TEMPLE NOW HAS ITS ABORTION HEADQUARTERS IN NEW

[00:40:05]

MEXICO. ITS HEADQUARTERS. WHAT WE AS PRO-LIFERS HAVE BEEN SAYING FOR DECADES IS NOW BEING OPENLY DECLARED BABIES ARE THE VICTIMS OF VIOLENCE BASED ON THE RELIGION OF SATAN AND REFERRING TO THE ENEMY OF OUR SOULS. THE LORD JESUS SPOKE THESE WORDS JOHN TEN THE THIEF COMES NOT BUT FOR TO STEAL AND TO KILL, AND TO DESTROY. I AM COME THAT THEY MIGHT HAVE LIFE, AND THAT THEY MIGHT HAVE IT MORE ABUNDANTLY. THE WORDS OF JESUS CHRIST FOR THOSE OF US WHO STAND ON THE SIDEWALKS FOR LIFE, ONE OF OUR KEY GOALS RECENTLY HAS BEEN TO GET WORD OUT ABORTION PILL REVERSAL IS A PROCEDURE THAT HAS SAVED MANY LIVES. A LARGE NUMBER OF BABIES HAVE BEEN SAVED VIA THE ABORTION PILL REVERSAL.COM WEBSITE THAT A MOTHER, UPON REALIZING SHE WAS WRONG IN TAKING THE FIRST ABORTION PILL. THAT'S BEFORE TAKING THE SECOND ONE. AND IN MANY CASES, THAT BABY IS FINE. AS RIDICULED AS IT MAY BE IN OUR MODERN CULTURE, THE LORD JESUS CHRIST STILL STANDS FOR THOSE WHO HAVE ALREADY PARTICIPATED IN THE ABORTION, ABORTION INDUSTRY AND PRACTICE. HE STILL STANDS READY AND WILLING TO FORGIVE THE REPENTANT. THIS MONTH, EL PASO IS HOSTING A HEAVY METAL CONCERT THAT OPENLY MOCKS THE LAMB OF GOD. ON AUGUST 25TH. LIKE THE OPENING CEREMONY OF THE OLYMPICS, THE PROMOTION OF THIS CONCERT IS FOUL AND IT'S BLASPHEMOUS. IT'S PURE DARKNESS. IT IS AN INSULT TO THE ONE WHO TRULY IS THE LAMB OF GOD, WHO TAKES AWAY THE SIN OF THE WORLD. YET TO THOSE OF US WHO KNOW AND LOVE THE LAMB OF GOD, WE TAKE COMFORT IN THE TRUTH PROCLAIMED IN GOD'S WORD. PHILIPPIANS TWO. ONE DAY EVERY KNEE WILL BOW AND EVERY TONGUE CONFESS THAT JESUS CHRIST IS LORD, TO THE GLORY OF GOD THE FATHER. UNTIL THAT DAY AND BEFORE IT'S TOO LATE, WE APPEAL, BE RECONCILED TO GOD. THANK YOU SO MUCH. HOPE YOU HAVE A GOOD DAY. THANK YOU. HAVE A GOOD DAY, ELIZABETH. THANK YOU SIR. ITEM SEVEN. PRESENTATION SEVEN A RECEIVE A PRESENTATION FROM THE EL PASO CENTRAL APPRAISAL DISTRICT ON THE COUNTY OF EL PASO 2024, CERTIFIED APPRAISAL ROLL. GOOD MORNING JUDGE. GOOD MORNING,

[A. Receive a presentation from the El Paso Central Appraisal District on the County of El Paso 2024 Certified Appraisal Roll. John Sarah, Director, Budget and Finance, 915-546-2262]

COMMISSIONERS. JOHN SARAH, DIRECTOR OF BUDGET AND FINANCE, PROPERTY TAXES ARE THE LARGEST SOURCE OF FUNDING THAT THE COUNTY HAS TO FUND ITS OPERATIONS AND THE SERVICES IT PROVIDES. ON JULY 24TH, WE RECEIVED THE CERTIFIED TAXABLE VALUES FROM OUR PARTNERS AT EPCARD. AND THOSE VALUES ACTUALLY ARE THE CORNERSTONE FOR OUR TAX RATES AND THEIR CALCULATIONS. SO TODAY I WOULD LIKE TO INTRODUCE MISS DANA KILGORE AND MR. DAVID STONE TO PROVIDE US WITH THEIR OVERVIEW, THEIR, FOR THE VALUES, THEIR CALCULATIONS AND METHODOLOGY FOR FY 25. GOOD MORNING. JUDGE. COMMISSIONERS DANA KILGORE, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, EL PASO CENTRAL APPRAISAL DISTRICT, HOW ARE Y'ALL DOING THIS MORNING? THANK YOU. I'M GOING TO START OFF WITH GOING OVER SOME INFORMATION REGARDING THE PROTEST SEASON. AND OVER OUR CERTIFIED NUMBERS, KIND OF GIVE YOU AN IDEA OF WHERE WE ARE. AND DAVID HAS PUT TOGETHER SOME GRAPHS. DAVID STONE, A DEPUTY CHIEF, HAS PUT TOGETHER SOME GRAPHS TO SHOW YOU SOME HISTORICAL NUMBERS THAT MIGHT HELP YOU GOING FORWARD. FIRST OF ALL, WE HAD ABOUT 5000 MORE PROTESTS THIS YEAR THAN WE HAVE HAD IN THE PAST. WE HAD ABOUT 238,133 PARCEL COUNTS FOR RESIDENTIAL THIS YEAR. SO WE HAD QUITE A FEW OF OUR PROTESTS WERE FOR, RESIDENTIAL PROPERTIES. OUR COMMERCIAL, AS YOU CAN TELL, WE HAVE ABOUT 12,087 PARCEL COUNT AND COMMERCIAL. SO WE ARE SEEING A LITTLE BIT OF AN INCREASE AND WE'LL GO OVER THOSE NUMBERS HERE IN A LITTLE BIT AND KIND OF GIVE YOU AN IDEA OF WHERE WE'VE SEEN SOME INCREASE IN NEW CONSTRUCTION. WE DID CERTIFY A LITTLE BIT EARLY. PLEASE DON'T COUNT ON THAT. BUT WE DID CERTIFY ON THE 24TH. ABOUT 99% OF THE APPRAISAL ROLL WAS CERTIFIED. SO THAT MEANS THERE'S LESS THAN A PERCENT. THAT'S STILL BEING FINISHED WITH THE HEARINGS. FRIDAY WAS THE LAST DAY FOR TIMELY PROTEST HEARINGS.

THE ARB IS NO LONGER IN SESSION. APPRAISAL REVIEW BOARD IS NO LONGER IN SESSION. THEY WILL BE BACK IN OCTOBER MID-OCTOBER TO HEAR LATE PROTESTS AND ANY TIMELY PROTESTS THAT MAY HAVE MISSED THE SCHEDULING. SO THEY WILL BE BACK THEN IN THE HEARINGS. WHAT WAS INTERESTING THIS YEAR THAT I THOUGHT THE COMMISSIONERS MIGHT LIKE TO HEAR FOR RESIDENTIAL HEARINGS, ALMOST

[00:45:05]

90% OF THE PROTESTS WERE HEARD INFORMALLY, THAT'S WHAT WE TRIED TO DO. WE TRY TO GET PEOPLE TO SIT DOWN AND VISIT WITH AN APPRAISER AND UNDERSTAND THE PROCESS. THEY MAY NOT LIKE THE OUTCOME, BUT IF THEY LEAVE, HAVING A LITTLE BIT OF KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING THE PROCESS, THAT WAS VERY IMPORTANT TO US, COMMERCIALLY, ABOUT 70% OF THE PROPERTIES THAT WERE FILED, PROTESTS WERE HANDLED INFORMALLY. THE INTERESTING THING IS IT'S THE VALUE. ABOUT 55% OF COMMERCIAL PROPERTIES WERE HEARD BY THE ARB, BUT THAT CONSTITUTED 86% OF COMMERCIAL VALUE. SO MAJORITY OF THE PROPERTIES THAT WERE FILED ARE FILED BY TAX AGENTS AND THEY ARE HEARD ON A FORMAL BASIS. SO WE ARE TRYING TO DO AS MUCH AS WE CAN INFORMALLY. IT SOUNDS REALLY GOOD, 70% INFORMALLY, BUT VALUE WISE IT'S MOSTLY THE APPRAISAL REVIEW BOARD THAT HEARS THOSE ACCOUNTS. AGAIN, WE CERTIFIED ON THE 24TH AND WE CERTIFIED FOR THE COUNTY TAXABLE VALUE OF JUST A LITTLE OVER $67 BILLION IN IN VALUE. I THINK IT'S INTERESTING TO POINT OUT ABOUT 15.6 BILLION IS EXEMPT PROPERTY, THAT MEANS THOSE ARE YOUR HOMESTEADS. YOUR OVER 65, YOUR VETERANS, YOUR CHURCHES, CHARITABLE, ALL ALL OF THE PROPERTIES THAT ARE EXEMPT, SO THAT IS STILL QUITE A BIT I THINK IT'S INTERESTING, FOR AN ENTITY TO UNDERSTAND. SO IF THEY'RE GOING TO GRANT ANY OTHER EXEMPTIONS, THEY CAN SEE WHAT KIND OF PERCENTAGE THAT DOES TAKE OFF OF THE OVERALL ROLE, LITIGATION. WE'RE DOWN TO ABOUT 356 ACTIVE SUITS. THAT'S REALLY GOOD. WE WERE UP AT ALMOST 1300.

SO WE'VE BEEN WORKING REALLY HARD ON THOSE. THERE'LL BE MORE SUITS THAT WILL BE ADDED, OF COURSE, BECAUSE THE HEARINGS ARE OVER. BUT IT ONLY CONSTITUTES ABOUT 5% OF THE OVERALL. VALUE APPRAISAL ROLE THAT YOU GUYS HAVE. SO IT'S A VERY SMALL PERCENTAGE AND IT'S STRETCHED OUT OVER YEARS FROM ABOUT 2015, TO, TO NOW. SO IT'S NOT, NOT ALL IN ONE YEAR. I WANTED TO KIND OF GIVE YOU AN IDEA. I THINK THIS IS A GOOD CHART. IT'S HARD FOR YOU TO READ, BUT HOPEFULLY YOU CAN SEE IT ON YOUR SCREEN, THAT THIS INFORMATION IS VERY INTERESTING BECAUSE IT SHOWS AN OVERALL INCREASE IN VALUE OF JUST UNDER 10%. SO THE VALUES WE HAVE TO FOLLOW MARKET. I KNOW PROPERTY OWNERS GET VERY UPSET AND I UNDERSTAND I'M A PROPERTY OWNER TOO. I HAVE TO PAY PROPERTY TAXES LIKE EVERYBODY ELSE. BUT THE MARKET IS STILL VERY ACTIVE, DOCTOR FULLERTON, TOM FULLERTON FROM UTEP RECENTLY HAD AN ARTICLE IN THE PAPER AND WAS TALKING ABOUT IT'S STILL A VERY HEALTHY MARKET HERE, INTEREST RATES ARE GOING DOWN. I'M SURE YOU READ ABOUT THAT OVER THE WEEKEND, BUT HOUSING MARKET IS STILL VERY STRONG. YOU'RE SEEING MORE INVENTORY BEING BUILT UP. SO WE ARE SEEING A LITTLE BIT OF INVENTORY BUILT UP, SOME MORE CONSTRUCTION GOING ON. SO WE'RE NOT SEEING THE HUGE SPIKES THAT WE WERE SEEING, BUT WE'RE STILL SEEING A VERY, VERY HEALTHY REAL ESTATE MARKET GOING INTO 2025. WE WILL CONTINUE TOTAL REAPPRAISAL FOR 2025 SO THAT WE CAN KEEP TRACK OF THAT MARKET AND AS IT STABLES OR GOES, GOES DOWN. I DON'T KNOW IF THAT WILL HAPPEN A LITTLE BIT MAYBE, HOPEFULLY. BUT WE WILL DEFINITELY WATCH THAT. WHAT IS INTERESTING IS THAT IN RESIDENTIAL SINGLE FAMILY, YOU HAD 1.3% NEW CONSTRUCTION AND MULTIFAMILY, WHICH IS YOUR APARTMENTS AND YOUR LARGER DUPLEXES. YOU HAD 1.5% OF NEW CONSTRUCTION, AND IN COMMERCIAL REAL PROPERTY YOU HAD ABOUT 3.9, ALMOST 4% OF NEW CONSTRUCTION.

SO THAT'S VERY ENCOURAGING FOR THE COUNTY, FOR THE ENTITIES AND OF COURSE, FOR THE PROPERTY OWNERS TO SEE THAT WE ARE SEEING A GROWTH IN COMMERCIAL PROPERTIES. I'M GOING TO GO AHEAD AND LET MR. STONE KIND OF TAKE OVER. THIS IS YOUR CHART THAT WILL SHOW YOU YOUR NET TAXABLE VALUES BROKEN DOWN BY YOUR RESIDENTIAL, YOUR COMMERCIAL, YOUR BUSINESS PERSONAL PROPERTY, SO YOU CAN SEE HOW IT CHANGED FROM 2023 TO 2024. HI, I'M DAVID STONE. I'M THE DEPUTY CHIEF APPRAISER AT THE APPRAISAL DISTRICT. THIS CHART IS SHOWING THE FIVE YEAR HISTORY OF THE DECREASE IN VALUE FROM WHEN THE PRELIMINARY VALUES COME OUT TO WHEN WE CERTIFY, AS, AS, YOU KNOW, IT'S VERY TYPICAL FOR THE VALUES TO DECREASE BECAUSE THE PRELIMINARY VALUES ARE BEFORE THE TAXPAYERS HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO PROTEST THEIR VALUES AND THEY ALWAYS GO DOWN,

[00:50:05]

AS YOU CAN SEE, WE'RE A LITTLE BIT HIGHER ON THE DECREASE THIS YEAR THAN WE HAVE BEEN IN PRIOR YEARS, BUT THE AVERAGE IS STILL ABOUT 4.75%. EVERY YEAR. THE DECREASE NOW, ANOTHER INTERESTING THING ON THIS CHART IS IF YOU NOTICE, WE'VE HAD REAPPRAISAL YEARS EVERY YEAR SINCE 2021, SINCE AFTER COVID, THAT'S BECAUSE AS DIANA MENTIONED BEFORE, WE'RE SEEING A VERY ACTIVE MARKET. AND THIS IS UNPRECEDENTED IN THE HISTORY OF THE TIME THAT I'VE BEEN WORKING AT THE APPRAISAL DISTRICT. I'VE BEEN THERE LIKE 30 YEARS, WE DON'T TYPICALLY SEE INCREASES IN VALUE LIKE THIS IN EL PASO, WE'RE NOT AS BAD AS IT GETS IN AUSTIN OR DALLAS OR HOUSTON, BUT THIS IS A LARGE THIS IS A SUSTAINED AND STEADY INCREASE IN EL PASO OVER THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS. AND I CAN SEE THE OR THE TAXPAYERS ARE CONCERNED, BUT UNFORTUNATELY UNDER STATE LAW, WE'RE REQUIRED TO FILE THE FOLLOW THE MARKET. AND THAT'S WHAT WE HAVE TO DO. THIS IS A HISTORY OF THE TAXABLE VALUE IN EL PASO COUNTY OVER THE LAST TEN YEARS. AS YOU CAN SEE, TEN YEARS AGO, WE WERE AT 38 BILLION. THIS YEAR WE'RE AT 67.3 BILLION. SO WE'VE ALMOST DOUBLED IN VALUE IN THE LAST TEN YEARS. THERE'S SOME COMPARISON OF RESIDENTIAL AND COMMERCIAL. AS YOU CAN SEE.

COMMERCIAL. THE BLUE LINE ON THE BOTTOM HAS GONE UP FROM 7.2 BILLION TO 12.1 BILLION. BUT THE RESIDENTIAL VALUE HAS GONE FROM 24.2 BILLION TO 52.5 BILLION. SO RESIDENTIAL VALUES MORE THAN DOUBLED. UNFORTUNATELY OR FORTUNATELY, I GUESS IF YOU'RE COUNTING ON YOUR HOUSE VALUE TO SELL IT. LOOKING AT NEW CONSTRUCTION, WE HAD A LARGE, INCREASE AFTER COVID WENT FROM ABOUT 900 MILLION TO 1.3 BILLION, WE WENT UP LAST YEAR, BUT THIS YEAR WE KIND OF DIPPED.

WE'RE OVER. AS YOU CAN SEE, WE'RE STILL ABOVE WHAT THE WHAT THE NORMAL LINE HAS BEEN. BUT WE DID DIP FROM LAST YEAR AND THE YEAR BEFORE. NEW CONSTRUCTION VALUE, NUMBER OF PROTESTS OVERALL. THE WE HAD ABOUT 40,878 PROTESTS THIS YEAR. WE HAD 45, EIGHT, 78, ALMOST, OR MORE THAN A 10% INCREASE, AS YOU CAN SEE, THE BULK OF THE INCREASE CAME FROM RESIDENTIAL, WHICH WAS 29,000 LAST YEAR, AND IT'S 34,000 THIS YEAR. COMMERCIAL PROPERTY HAD A SLIGHT INCREASE.

USUALLY COMMERCIAL PROPERTY PROTESTS EVERY YEAR ANYWAY, SO YOU WOULDN'T EXPECT TO SEE AN INCREASE THERE. AND BUSINESS PERSONAL PROPERTY ACTUALLY HAS A SLIGHT DECREASE IN THE NUMBER OF PROTESTS FROM 3600 TO 3400. I WANT TO TALK ABOUT SOME IMPORTANT LEGISLATIVE CHANGES THAT PASSED IN THE LAST SESSION THAT HAD AN IMPACT THIS YEAR. THE FIRST OF ALL, FIRST ONE IS THE 20% CIRCUIT BREAKER ON NON HOMESTEAD REAL PROPERTY. FOR MANY YEARS NOW WE'VE HAD A WHAT THEY CALL A CAP ON HOMESTEAD PROPERTY THAT HOMESTEADS MAY NOT INCREASE MORE THAN 10% IN VALUE FROM THE PREVIOUS YEAR. THE CIRCUIT BREAKER I DON'T KNOW WHY THEY CALL IT CIRCUIT BREAKER INSTEAD OF CAP, BUT THEY DID. IS PUTTING A SIMILAR, LIMITATION ON NON HOMESTEAD PROPERTY OF 20%.

SO THAT PROPERTY MAY NOT INCREASE MORE THAN 20% YEAR OVER YEAR UNLESS THERE'S NEW CONSTRUCTION, THAT INCLUDES COMMERCIAL PROPERTY, RESIDENTIAL RENTAL PROPERTY, MULTIFAMILY APARTMENTS, THE ONLY THING IT DOESN'T INCLUDE IS BUSINESS, PERSONAL PROPERTY, THIS IS THE FIRST YEAR THAT THE CIRCUIT BREAKERS BEEN IMPLEMENTED. AND THE LOSS TO THE COUNTY IN TAXABLE VALUE DUE TO THAT WAS JUST OVER $1 BILLION. THIS YEAR. NOW, THIS IS A PILOT PROGRAM, IT HAS TWO MORE YEARS, AND I'M SURE LEGISLATION WILL PROBABLY HAVE IT ON SOMEBODY'S AGENDA. THAT COMING UP THIS YEAR IN COMMITTEE MEETINGS. THE MAXIMUM AMOUNT IS SET BY THE COMPTROLLER'S OFFICE.

SO WE'LL GET MORE INFORMATION AS WE GET READY TO START SETTLING THE OUR VALUES FOR THE PRELIMINARY ROLE IN 2025. BUT THIS WAS THE FIRST YEAR OF A THREE YEAR PILOT PROGRAM, THE

[00:55:04]

NEXT ISSUE I WANTED TO BRING UP WAS THERE WERE SEVERAL NEW EXEMPTIONS THAT WERE GRANTED BY THE LEGISLATURE. THIS YEAR. THE FIRST ONE IS THE CHILD CARE FACILITY, EXEMPTION, THAT WAS KIND OF LIMITED BECAUSE IT ONLY APPLIED TO THE COUNTY AND THE MUNICIPALITIES. IT DID NOT APPLY TO SCHOOL DISTRICTS OR ANY SPECIAL DISTRICTS, IT HAD TO BE VOTED ON BY THE ENTITIES TO GRANT IT. AND IT COULD BE ANYWHERE FROM 50% TO 100% OF THE REAL PROPERTY. ONLY THE COUNTY OF EL PASO AND THE CITY OF EL PASO WERE THE ONLY, TAXING ENTITIES IN THE COUNTY THAT GRANTED THE EXEMPTION. YOU BOTH GRANTED IT AT 100%. WE ENDED UP WITH 20, APPLICANTS, AND THE TOTAL LOSS OF VALUE DUE TO THE EXEMPTION WAS JUST OVER $9 MILLION. THE I THINK A MISCONCEPTION THAT SOME TAXPAYERS HAD ABOUT THIS EXEMPTION WAS IT DOES NOT APPLY TO HOME DAYCARES. SO IF YOU HAVE A DAYCARE IN YOUR HOME, YOU'RE NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO GET THIS EXEMPTION. AND IT ONLY APPLIES TO THE PROPERTY OWNER. SO IF THE DAYCARE IS LEASING THE PROPERTY, THEY HAVE TO CONVINCE THE PROPERTY OWNER TO APPLY FOR THE EXEMPTION AND THE PROPERTY OWNER WILL RECEIVE THE EXEMPTION. AND IN TURN, HE'S SUPPOSED TO PROVIDE A RENT REDUCTION TO THE CHILD CARE FACILITY CORRESPONDING TO THE EXEMPTION THAT HE WAS ABLE TO GET, THE SECOND EXEMPTION WAS FOR, MEDICAL OR BIOMEDICAL, RESEARCH AND, AND PRODUCTION PROPERTY. WE HAD FOUR OF THOSE. AND THE TOTAL LOSS TO THE COUNTY WAS 50. ALMOST $57.5 MILLION, THERE WAS ANOTHER, EXEMPTION, I THINK THEY CALL THEM JEDI'S J E T, WHICH IS FOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT. WE DID NOT HAVE ANYBODY IN THE COUNTY, RECEIVING THAT THIS YEAR. ANOTHER BIG CHANGE FOR EVERYBODY IS THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS AT THE APPRAISAL DISTRICT, SINCE ITS INCEPTION, THE APPRAISAL DISTRICT HAS HAD A NINE MEMBER BOARD THAT WAS ALLOCATED AMONGST THE DIFFERENT ENTITIES IN EL PASO COUNTY, BASED, LOOSELY BASED ON, PROPERTY TAXES THAT THEY COLLECTED, THE CURRENT OR THE THAT COMPOSITION WAS THE COUNTY HAD ONE DEDICATED BOARD MEMBER, THE CITY OF EL PASO HAD TWO. EL PASO ISD HAD TWO. YSLETA ISD HAD ONE, THE SMALL WEST SIDE ENTITIES HAD ONE AND ALL THE EAST SIDE ENTITIES HAD TWO. AND THAT'S HOW WE'VE BEEN SINCE OUR INCEPTION, THIS YEAR IN THIS PAST SESSION, THE LEGISLATORS LEGISLATURE DECIDED THAT THEY WANTED TO HAVE ELECTED MEMBERS ON THE EL PASO CENTRAL APPRAISAL DISTRICT BOARD OF DIRECTORS. SO ALL APPRAISAL DISTRICTS IN TEXAS ARE REQUIRED TO HAVE THREE ELECTED MEMBERS. THE ELECTION WAS THIS PAST MAY, WE HAD TWO MEMBERS THAT WERE ELECTED, THE THIRD POSITION WAS NOT FILLED, AND THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS APPOINTED SOMEONE TO FILL THAT POSITION. SO THOSE THREE MEMBERS TOOK OFFICE IN JULY, FIRST OF THIS YEAR, AND THEY WILL REMAIN ON THE ON THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS UNTIL THE END OF 2026, FROM JULY 1ST UNTIL THE END OF THIS YEAR, IN 2024. THEREFORE, THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS WILL HAVE 12 MEMBERS.

THE ORIGINAL NINE THAT WE HAD, PLUS THE THREE ELECTED POSITIONS STARTING ON JANUARY 1ST, 2025.

THE NUMBER OF MEMBERS APPOINTED BY THE TAXING ENTITIES WILL DROP FROM 9 TO 5. SO, THE APPOINTED MEMBERS WERE NO LONGER BE ALLOCATED TO TAXING ENTITIES ON A DEDICATED BASIS. ALL THE TAXING ENTITIES WILL HAVE TO NOMINATE AND VOTE FOR DIRECTORS TO THE BOARD. THERE'S GOING TO BE FIVE POSITIONS THAT CAN BE, VOTED ON OR NOMINATED AND VOTED ON. SO, THE BOARD WILL CONSIST OF THE FIVE APPOINTED BY THE TAXING ENTITIES, PLUS THE THREE ELECTED PLUS FOR THE COUNTY, THE COUNTY TAX ASSESSOR, COLLECTOR IS NOW THE COUNTY'S REPRESENTATIVE ON THE CDD BOARD OF DIRECTORS. SO FOR THE YEARS OF 2025 AND 26, THAT WILL BE THE COMPOSITION OF THE BOARD OF

[01:00:05]

DIRECTOR WITH, NINE MEMBERS. I KNOW WE BROUGHT THIS UP TO THE COUNTY BEFORE WE BROUGHT IT UP TO ALL THE ENTITIES, BECAUSE THIS IS A BRAND NEW FOR US AND FOR EL PASO COUNTY, WE ARE REMINDING EVERYBODY WE DID SEND OUT LETTERS IN JULY TO THE ENTITIES THE SCHOOL DISTRICTS AND THE CITIES THAT WILL BE VOTING, ALONG WITH THEIR NUMBER OF VOTES. THOSE NUMBERS OF VOTES ARE BASED ON THE LEVY, AND SO THEY HAVE THEIR NUMBER OF VOTES. THEY HAVE UNTIL OCTOBER 1ST TO GET BACK THEIR NOMINEES, BECAUSE THIS IS SET BY STATE LEGISLATIO, THE DEADLINES ARE SET BEFORE WE COULD ALWAYS SAY, OKAY, AS LONG AS YOU GET THEM TO US BY THE END OF THE YEAR, YOU KNOW, WE START OUR FIRST BOARD MEETING IN JANUARY. WE'RE GOOD. WELL NOW IT'S SET. SO IF AN ENTITY DOESN'T GET A NOMINEE TO US, THEN THAT'S IT. THEY'RE DONE. THEY CAN STILL VOTE ON WHATEVER NOMINEES THE OTHER ENTITIES. SUPPLY, ENTITIES CAN NOMINATE AS MANY AS THEY WANT, WE WILL THEN PUT TOGETHER AN ELECTION SHEET THAT WILL HAVE ALL OF THE NOMINEES FROM ALL OF THE CITIES AND THE SCHOOL DISTRICTS, MUNICIPALITIES, EL PASO COMMUNITY COLLEGE, THAT THAT ARE ON THIS. AND WE'LL SEND THAT TO THEM. AND THEN THEY WILL THEN VOTE BASED ON THEIR, THEIR, NUMBER OF VOTES. AND GET IT BACK TO THE APPRAISAL DISTRICT BY DECEMBER FIRST. SO, THEN WE'LL HAVE THAT INFORMATION CALCULATED AND SENT BACK TO EVERYBODY BY THE 15TH OF DECEMBER. SO AGAIN, I'M SURE YOU'VE HEARD THIS FROM US BEFORE, BUT BECAUSE IT IS SO NEW, WE'RE WANTING NOT JUST THE ENTITIES, NOT JUST THE COMMISSIONERS COURT, BUT OTHER ENTITIES AND THE PUBLIC TO UNDERSTAND THAT THIS IS A WHOLE DIFFERENT WAY OF GETTING BOARD MEMBERS. AND IS THE COMPOSITION GOING TO CHANGE AFTER 2026? NO, MA'AM. IN 2026, IT WILL BE THE NEXT ELECTION FOR THE THREE ELECTED. BUT UNLESS LEGISLATION GOES IN AND CHANGES IT, THIS COMPOSITION WILL REMAIN THE SAME. YES, MA'AM. NOW, EVERY YEAR, THOUGH, THEY'LL THEY'LL SERVE ALTERNATE TERMS. THEY ARE SERVING FOUR YEAR TERMS. SO SOME OF THE BOARD MEMBERS WILL BE ON A THREE YEAR AND SOME WILL BE ON A ONE YEAR. SO THEY'LL THEY'LL SERVE ALTERNATE TERMS. SO PRETTY MUCH EVERY YEAR, EVERY OTHER OTHER YEAR WE'LL BE SENDING AGAIN GOING THROUGH THE PROCESS AGAIN FOR ALL THE ENTITIES TO FILL IN THOSE SPOTS WHERE THE TERM WHERE THEY'VE TERMED OUT THE ELECTED OFFICIALS STAY ON UNTIL THE NEXT ELECTION, AND IF THEY'RE VOTED BACK ON FINE. IF THEY'RE NOT, THEN WHOEVER'S VOTED ON A LOT TO KEEP TRACK OF. OH, AND I WOULD LIKE TO, JUDGE SAMANIEGO, PLEASE. MY THANKS TO, LISA WISE AND THE EDUCATION, I MEAN, THE ELECTION DEPARTMENT THAT YOU HAVE HERE. THEY WERE SO INSTRUMENTAL IN HELPING US THROUGH THIS PROCESS, BACK WAY BACK WHEN IT FIRST STARTED AT THE FIRST OF THE YEAR TO MAKE SURE WE UNDERSTOOD THE DEADLINES AND WHAT WE HAD TO DO. SO PUBLICLY. I WOULD LIKE TO THANK THAT DEPARTMENT AND ESPECIALLY MISS WISE. OH, VERY NICE OF YOU TO SAY THANK YOU. COUPLE OF QUESTIONS. THANK YOU ALL. AS USUAL, FOR THE PRESENTATION, I'VE GOT A I'VE GOT A COUPLE OF, OF, OF QUESTIONS. SO, WE CONTINUOUSLY HEAR THAT THAT PART OF THE REASON WHY VALUATIONS MAY BE, MAY BE GOING UP IS THAT, THE STATE REQUIRES THEM TO BE WITHIN 95% OF WHAT THE COMPTROLLER ESTIMATES IS THAT. THAT'S CORRECT. THAT'S CORRECT. THAT'S STILL ONGOING. OKAY. HOW HOW DOES A STATE ARRIVE AT THEIR AT THEIR VALUATION, DO THEY, DO THEY PROVIDE LIKE AN OVERALL VALUE FOR EL PASO, OR DOES IT SET LIKE A VALUE CATEGORY, WHAT THEY DO IS THEY HAVE THEIR OWN APPRAISERS THAT THEY HAVE TRAINED AT THE STATE. AND THOSE APPRAISERS, THEY HAVE ONE FOR RESIDENTIAL PROPERTIES, ONE FOR COMMERCIAL PROPERTIES AND ONE FOR BUSINESS. PERSONAL PROPERTY. WE ARE IN A PROPERTY VALUE STUDY FOR 2024, THEY WILL DO A RANDOM SAMPLING OF PROPERTIES IN ALL CATEGORIES, THEY WILL SEND US A LIST OF RECORDS, PROPERTIES THAT THEY WANT. ALL OF OUR INFORMATION ON. THEY WILL DO THEIR OWN APPRAISALS. THEY MAY CONTRACT OUT FOR APPRAISALS AND THEY SEND OUT THEIR OWN SALES QUESTIONNAIRES. IT'S AMAZING HOW MANY PEOPLE WILL RESPOND TO THE STATE ON A SALES QUESTIONNAIRE, BUT WILL NOT RESPOND TO US WHEN WE SEND OUT OUR SALES QUESTIONNAIRES, BUT IT IS THE STATE, SO THEY HAVE ACCESS TO INFORMATION THAT WE DON'T AND WE DON'T GET THAT UNTIL AFTER THE STUDY IS DONE. AND THEY GIVE US OUR FINAL REPORT, WHICH WILL BE IN 2025, SO YES, THEY DO A RANDOM SAMPLING OF ALL PROPERTIES AND THEY, THEY GO BUY RESIDENTIAL, COMMERCIAL AND BUSINESS PERSONAL PROPERTY. SO

[01:05:04]

SAY AN EXAMPLE IN RESIDENTIAL, THEY'LL LOOK AT ALL DIFFERENT CATEGORIES OF CLASSIFICATIONS OF HOMES. IN COMMERCIAL THEY'LL LOOK AT RETAIL. THEY'LL LOOK AT INDUSTRIAL. THEY'LL LOOK AT OFFICES. THEY'LL PICK A RANDOM SAMPLING, THEY'LL PICK THEIR FIRST GROUP THAT THEY'LL LOOK AT. IF IT'S INFORMATION THAT, IS NOT SATISFACTORY TO THEM, THEY MAY PICK ANOTHER GROUPING OF RANDOM SAMPLING AND THEY'LL DO A STRATIFICATION OF VALUES, WE ONE OF THE THINGS THAT HAS CHANGED THIS YEAR IS THE APPRAISAL DISTRICT HAS ALWAYS TAKEN RESPONSIBILITY. IF A SCHOOL DISTRICT AND THESE ARE ON THE SCHOOL DISTRICTS, THE NINE SCHOOL DISTRICTS, IT AFFECTS THEIR FUNDING, WE HAVE IF WE HAVE FALLEN OUT OF THAT CONFIDENCE, OUT OF THAT 95% CONFIDENCE LEVEL, WE WILL GET PERMISSION FROM THE SUPERINTENDENT WHO WILL SIGN A FORM AND WE WILL GO AHEAD AND PROTEST THOSE VALUES AND SUBMIT ALL OF OUR EVIDENCE TO THE COMPTROLLER'S OFFICE TO GET THEM TO ADJUST IT BASED ON US. THIS YEAR, IT HAS CHANGED. WE'VE NOTIFIED THE SCHOOL DISTRICTS A RESOLUTION NOW HAS TO BE PASSED BY THE SCHOOL BOARD TO ALLOW THE APPRAISAL DISTRICT TO DO THAT, AND THEN THAT RESOLUTION HAS TO COME BEFORE THE APPRAISAL DISTRICT BOARD OF DIRECTORS TO APPROVE THE STAFF DOING THAT, WE THINK IT'S VERY IMPORTANT THAT WE STAY ON TOP OF THAT. WE'RE THE ONES THAT HAVE THE INFORMATION. WE'RE THE ONES THAT DEAL WITH THE COMPTROLLER'S OFFICE. BUT IF A SCHOOL DISTRICT WISHES TO DO IT ON THEIR OWN, WE WILL GIVE THEM WHATEVER INFORMATION THAT THEY NEED. IF WE COME OUT OF CONFIDENCE. NOW, THE PROBLEM IS WE HAVE VERY LIMITED TIME. ONCE THEY SUBMIT THE REPORT, WE ONLY HAVE ABOUT 40 DAYS IN WHICH TO GET OUR PROTEST IN. AND WE ALL KNOW SCHOOL BOARD MEETINGS AND APPRAISAL DISTRICT BOARD MEETINGS MAY NOT ALWAYS BE IN CONCURRENT. SO WE'VE ALREADY SENT OUT A LETTER TO THE SCHOOLS ASKING THEM TO GO AHEAD, IF NECESSARY TO ALLOW US TO FILE A PROTEST ON THE PROPERTY VALUE STUDY FROM THE COMPTROLLER'S. IF WE FALL OUT OF THAT CONFIDENCE, WE WERE HOPING IN THE LAST, WHAT DO YOU CALL IT WHEN THEY COUNT ALL THE PEOPLE IN HERE THIS LAST CENSUS THAT WE WOULD BE OVER A MILLION IN POPULATION BECAUSE THEN WE COULD BE 10%, HOUSTON AND AUSTIN ARE OVER A MILLION IN POPULATION, SO NOW THEY CAN BE AT 10% OF THE PROPERTY VALUE INSTEAD OF 5%. BUT WE DIDN'T QUITE MAKE IT. SO COME ON, PEOPLE HAVE BABIES. WE NEED, THE ONE ONE FOLLOW UP. ONE FOLLOW UP QUESTION. DO DO Y'ALL THINK I GUESS, I MEAN, IF YOU DIDN'T, YOU MIGHT PROTEST, BUT THAT THE STATE HAS HAS ACCURATELY VALUED THE COMMERCIAL AND INDUSTRIAL PROPERTY HERE. AND, WOULD YOU VALUE IT DIFFERENTLY IF YOU WEREN'T CONSTRAINED BY THAT? 5%, OF THE STATE CALCULATION? NO, SIR. I THINK WE WOULD STILL WE'RE VERY DILIGENT. AND THE INFORMATION THAT WE HAVE, UNFORTUNATELY, THEY HAVE INFORMATION THAT WE CAN'T GET.

WE DON'T GET IF WE PUT IN AN OPEN RECORDS REQUEST, WE HAVE TO PUT IN AN OPEN RECORDS REQUEST FOR THAT INFORMATION. BUT IT COMES AFTER THE END OF THE STUDY. IS DONE, WE HAVE BEEN THIS LAST PROPERTY VALUE STUDY IN 2022. WE PASSED 100% ACROSS THE BOARD. WE WERE AT 95 AND ABOVE ON ALL NINE SCHOOL DISTRICTS, TWO YEARS BEFORE THAT, WE FELL OUT IN A COUPLE OF SCHOOL DISTRICTS IN THE LOWER VALLEY. WE WERE ABLE TO GET THAT ADJUSTED BASED ON OUR INFORMATION THAT WE HAVE IN THE OFFICE. AND A LOT OF TIMES THEY'LL INCLUDE MULTIPLE PROPERTIES THAT ARE NOT PART OF THAT PROPERTY, SOMETHING AS SIMPLE AS THAT. WE CAN HANDLE THAT IN A CLERICAL ERROR TYPE SITUATION. BUT I FEEL LIKE, OUR STAFF IS VERY DILIGENT TO BE ABLE TO STAY WITHIN THAT 95 TO 100%. I JUST WANT TO ADD THAT IT'S NOT LIKE THE STATE IS ARBITRARILY DECIDING WHAT VALUES ARE GOING TO BE. BOTH US AND THE STATE ARE REQUIRED BY THE LEGISLATURE TO VALUE PROPERTIES AT MARKET VALUE. SO MARKET VALUE IS THE ULTIMATE DETERMINANT OF WHAT THE VALUES OF THE PROPERTY IS. AND WE'RE TRYING TO GET TO IT IN THE STATE. IS TRYING TO GET TO IT. AND SOMETIMES WE DON'T ALWAYS AGREE BECAUSE THEY MAY HAVE DIFFERENT INFORMATION THAN WE HAVE, AND WE MAY HAVE SOME DIFFERENT INFORMATION THAN THEY HAVE. AND THAT'S WHY WE GO THROUGH THE PROPERTY VALUE STUDY APPEAL PROCESS. IF WE FEEL THAT WE KNOW SOMETHING THAT THEY DON'T, WE WANT TO PUT THAT FORWARD. SO THEY TAKEN INTO ACCOUNT, UNFORTUNATELY, THE STREET DOESN'T RUN THE OTHER WAY. AND LIKE DIANA SAID, WE OFTEN CANNOT GET THE INFORMATION THAT THEY KNOW THAT WE DON'T KNOW UNTIL LIKE A YEAR LATER OR MORE. SO, IT WE'RE KIND OF IN

[01:10:09]

CONTENTION BECAUSE OF COURSE, WE WANT ALL OF OUR SCHOOL DISTRICTS TO BE AT 95% AND TO BE ABLE TO RECEIVE THE, THE AMOUNT OF STATE FUNDING THAT THEY'RE ENTITLED T, BUT IT'S JUST A PROCESS, JUST LIKE PROPERTY OWNERS PROTEST THEIR VALUES TO US, WE PROTEST OUR VALUES TO THE STATE. ONE OF THE THINGS BEFORE WE SEND OUT NOTICES, WHEN WE'RE DOING ALL OF OUR FIELD WORK AND DOING ALL OF OUR TESTING, WE RUN A STATISTICS AND WE DO STRATIFICATION, AND WE DO RANDOM SAMPLINGS, AND WE RUN OUR RATIO STUDIES. AND WHEN WE START THE HEARINGS, WE'RE AT 95 OR ABOVE DURING THE PROTEST SEASON, PEOPLE BRING US IN INDIVIDUAL INFORMATION THAT WE MAY NOT BEEN AWARE OF ON A MASS APPRAISAL BASIS. SO THAT'S WHERE WE WILL LOSE A LOT OF THAT, STARTING AT 95 TO 100% OF VALUE.

WE'LL LOSE THAT DURING THE HEARINGS. UNFORTUNATELY, WHEN WE'RE HAVING A PROPERTY VALUE STUDY, THEY DON'T COUNT THAT AS BEING, AN ACCURATE WAY OF LOWERING THE VALUE. SO WE WILL HAVE TO, IF THAT IS A PROPERTY THAT THEY PULLED, WE WILL HAVE TO GET THE DATA THAT WE HAD VERSUS THE DATA THAT WE WERE ABLE TO GET AND THEN PRESENT THAT TO THEM. ONE OF THE ISSUES THAT WE HAVE IS WE ARE A VERY RURAL COMMUNITY HERE. OUR COLONIALS, YOU KNOW, WE WERE TALKING ABOUT HEALTH, WATER, YOU KNOW, THOSE TYPES OF THINGS IN OUR IN OUR COMMUNITY. AND AN EXAMPLE SEVERAL YEARS AGO, THEY DIDN'T ALLOW OUR EXPENSE FOR WATER FOR AGRICULTURAL, A LOT OF OUR FARMERS, YOU KNOW, THE WATER RATE THAT THEY PAY GOES UP AND DOWN BASED ON DROUGHT, YOU KNOW.

AND SO WE HAD TO TAKE THAT INFORMATION, AND WE WORKED WITH OUR FARMERS AND GOT THAT INFORMATION. SOME OF THE OTHER THINGS IS, YOU KNOW, WHEN AN APPRAISER FROM A DIFFERENT PART OF THE STATE OF TEXAS COMES INTO EL PASO AND THEY'RE DRIVING AROUND AND THEY SEE A HOME THAT LOOKS COMPLETE, THEY MAY PUT THAT VALUE ON THERE AS A COMPLETED HOME. BUT WE KNOW BECAUSE WE VISITED WITH THE PROPERTY OWNER THAT IT IS STILL A DIRT FLOOR AND THEY'RE STILL WORKING ON IT ON THE INSIDE. YOU KNOW, WHEN WE'RE OUT IN THE COUNTY, A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE BUILDING WITHOUT PERMITS AND THEY'RE BUILDING AS THEY HAVE THE RESOURCES. SO THOSE ARE THE TYPE OF THINGS THAT WE'RE WE'RE LUCKY ENOUGH TO HAVE THAT KIND OF INFORMATION THAT WE CAN THEN PRESENT. I KNOW THAT THE LEGISLATURE HAS IN THE PAST SPOKEN ABOUT GETTING RID OF THE PROPERTY VALUE STUDY. THEY ALSO HAVE A METHODS AND PROCEDURES REVIEW THAT THEY DO BASED ON THE TAX CODE, TO MAKE SURE WE'RE FOLLOWING ALL THE STATUTES OF THE TAX CODE, TAX CODE THAT'LL BE IN 2025. THEY'VE DIVIDED THE STATE HALF IN THE EVEN YEAR HALF AND AN ODD YEAR. SO THEY HAVE TALKED ABOUT IT IN THE PAST BECAUSE I THINK IT'S SO CONNECTED TO SCHOOL FUNDING, I'M NOT SURE WHERE THAT'S GOING TO GO BECAUSE IF AN APPRAISAL DISTRICT FAILS ONE YEAR, YOU'RE IN A GRACE FOR THE SCHOOL. SO THEN THE APPRAISAL DISTRICT HAS JUST ONE YEAR, NOT TWO YEARS, BUT THE NEXT YEAR TO GET OUT OF GRACE AND GET BACK INTO OUR CONFIDENCE LEVEL, WE DO HAVE A COUPLE OF SCHOOL DISTRICTS, EL PASO ISD DOES THEIR, THEIR OWN STUDY AND WE GIVE THEM WHATEVER INFORMATION THEY NEED AND THEY USE A OUTSIDE LEGAL ASSISTANCE FOR THAT, BUT WE'RE VERY PROUD OF OUR WORK, COMMISSIONER STOUT. AND SO WE'RE WE'RE KIND OF LIKE THAT. WE'RE GOING TO DEFEND IT.

WE'RE GOING TO GIVE THE INFORMATION AND GET IT TO THEM. AND WE'VE BEEN, YOU KNOW, KNOCK ON WOOD, HAVE THE INFORMATION TO BE ABLE TO GET US BACK IN CONFIDENCE. IF THEY DEEM THAT WE'RE OUT. AND, THE STATE IS ALSO NOT PRIVY TO SALES PRICES UNLESS PEOPLE REPORT THOSE SALE PRICES. SO THEY DO HAVE ACCESS. OH, THEY DO HAVE ACCESS TO THAT. OKAY, OKAY. BUT WE DON'T YOU THE CAD HERE DOES NOT HAVE ACCESS TO THAT. SIR. MOST APPRAISAL DISTRICTS DON'T. RIGHT. OKAY.

WELL, THANK THANK YOU FOR THE INFORMATION. I JUST, YOU KNOW, YOU KNOW, AS, AS WE ALWAYS TRY TO GRAPPLE WITH, ESPECIALLY THE LAST FIVE YEARS FOR 4 OR 5 YEARS WITH, WITH PROPERTY VALUES INCREASING, I THINK IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT FOR THE COURT AND THE PUBLIC TO UNDERSTAND, YOU KNOW, WHAT'S WHAT'S CAUSING THESE, THESE INCREASES AND, AND, YOU KNOW, I FEEL SOMETIMES LIKE THE STATE LEGISLATURE HAMSTRINGS, LOCAL CADS AND, AND EVEN THE COMPTROLLER'S OFFICE, IN SOME MANNERS IN THE DECISIONS THAT, THAT, THAT HAVE BEEN MADE WHEN IT COMES TO APPRAISAL VALUES AND ESPECIALLY RESIDENTIAL PROPERTY OWNERS, BECAUSE WE'VE SEEN, A HUGE INCREASE IN, IN RESIDENTIAL VALUES AND, AND NOT NOT NEARLY AS MUCH IN COMMERCIAL AND INDUSTRIAL VALUES. AND THAT REALLY HURTS OUR COMMUNITY BECAUSE, WE, WE CONTINUE TO SEE A WIDER GAP BETWEEN THE BURDEN

[01:15:09]

THAT IS BORNE BY RESIDENTIAL AND, AND COMMERCIAL PROPERTY OWNERS. I THINK WHEN I FIRST STARTED IN OFFICE, IT WAS A 65, 35 SPLIT, AND NOW IT'S CLOSE TO 70% THAT THE RESIDENTIAL THAT THE RESIDENTIAL PROPERTY OWNERS BEAR, AND SO, YOU KNOW, AND WE'VE DONE WE'VE DONE A LOT OVER THE YEARS WITH THE CITY AND THE COUNTY AND, AND, AND OTHER ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AGENCIES TO TRY TO BRING MORE CORPORATIONS IN, TO TRY TO, BALANCE THAT OUT A LITTLE BIT MORE BECAUSE, I MEAN, EL PASO IS QUITE AN ANOMALY WHEN IT COMES TO THAT. MOST OTHER BIG CITIES, IT'S THE INVERSE. THE INDUSTRIAL AND COMMERCIAL PROPERTY BASE PAYS MORE THAN THAN THE RESIDENTIAL.

AND, AND SO, ONE, ONE OTHER I THINK STARK DIFFERENCE IS THAT CORPORATIONS AND, AND INDUSTRIAL TAXPAYERS REALLY HAVE I THINK, MORE AND BETTER MEANS TO BE ABLE TO PROTEST, AND RESIDENTIAL PROPERTY OWNERS, YOU KNOW, JUST WE, WE DON'T. AND SO IT'S ALSO, IN MY OPINION, A RESULT OF THE STATE SKEWING THINGS AGAINST RESIDENTIAL PROPERTY OWNERS. AND SO I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE CONTINUE TO TALK ABOUT THAT BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, AS WE LOOK AT OUR OWN BUDGET AND, AND ARE VERY TIGHT AND HAVE BUDGET SHORTFALLS AND, AND DON'T WANT TO RAISE TAXES, IT ALL IT ALL HAS, IT'S ALL IT'S ALL RELATED. SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR PRESENTATION AND, AND TO COMMISSIONER CORONADO FOR HIS SERVICE ON THE BOARD. COMMISSIONER, COMMISSIONERS, ONE MORE THING. I'M VERY HAPPY TO ANNOUNCE THAT OUR TWO LARGEST PROPERTY OWNERS, AMAZON AND, THE REFINERY, SETTLED WITH WAIVERS, A LITTLE BIT OF AN INCREASE IN VALUE, BUT SIGNED OFF ON A WAIVER. SO NO LAWSUITS ON THAT. THAT TO ME, THAT'S. YEAH, THAT'S THAT'S A STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION. YES, SIR. WE WORK HARD FOR THAT. THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER CORONADO. THANK YOU. JUDGE. YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE OTHER THINGS THAT I THINK, THAT OVER THIS, THIS LAST YEAR WHEN THE LEGISLATURE PUT IN PLACE THAT WE HAVE THREE ELECTED BOARD MEMBERS FOR THE ENTIRE COUNTY IS THAT I THINK WE NEED TO, ACTIVELY SEEK SOME KIND OF, AMENDMENT TO THAT LAW WHERE NOW, EVEN IF, THERE'S ONLY TWO BOARD MEMBERS RUNNING FOR ONE POSITION, OR RATHER THREE, AND THERE'S A AND THERE'S NOT A 50% BY ANY ONE OF THE INDIVIDUALS. WE HAVE TO HAVE A RUNOFF. I THINK WE NEED TO I THINK WE AND THAT'S GOING TO COST US ANOTHER ELECTION. AND MORE MONEY TO THE ENTIRE TAXING ENTITY. SO I THINK WE OUGHT TO, GO AHEAD AND, PUT THAT ON OUR LEGISLATIVE AGENDA.

I'VE SPOKEN TO SOME OF OUR LEGISLATIVE, REPRESENTATIVES, AND THEY'RE ON BOARD, TO TRY AND SEE IF THEY CAN DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT. BUT I THINK WE OUGHT TO ADD THAT TO OUR, AT LEAST TO KEEP FROM HAVING TO DO A SECOND RUNOFF ELECTION. AND THAT'S JUST GOING TO ADD COST, TO THE ENTIRE COUNTY. THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER CORONADO. THAT HAS BEEN A PROBLEM IN THIS STATE. WELL, FOR ONE THING, NOBODY BUDGETED FOR IT. THIS HAPPENED AFTER ALL THE BUDGETS WERE APPROVED. SO COMING UP WITH THE MONEY. BUT THERE WAS SOME APPRAISAL DISTRICTS THAT HAD TO HAVE THE RUNOFFS. AND BY THE TIME THEY FINISHED, THEY WERE ANYWHERE FROM 2 TO $4 MILLION. IS WHAT SOME OF THE BIGGER ONES WERE HAVING TO PAY, HAVING THAT 51% OF THE VOTE ON SOME OF THOSE WHEN YOU HAD THREE PEOPLE RUNNING, YOU KNOW, YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE A WELL, YOU CAN BE PRETTY SURE NOTHING'S UNKNOWN, BUT, THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER CORONADO. I THINK THAT WOULD BE I MEAN, JUST ADD THAT TO THE PILE OF UNFUNDED MANDATES THAT THAT WE'RE ALREADY DEALING WITH, HERE LOCALLY. AND, YOU KNOW, WE NEED TO CONTINUE TO PUSH THIS, YOU KNOW, TO THE PUBLIC AND, AND SO THAT THEY UNDERSTAND, 70% OF OUR BUDGET GOES TO UNFUNDED MANDATES. WE HAVE THIS IN ADDITION TO THAT, WE HAVE SO MANY OTHER THINGS. AND THEN ALL OF THIS ISSUE, YOU KNOW, THE ISSUES THAT WE JUST WENT OVER, WITH, WITH APPRAISALS AND, AND, THE DISCREPANCIES IN THE AND THE PROBLEMS WITH THAT. I MEAN, IT'S THE STATE LEGISLATURE. IT'S NOT US AGAIN. AND THEY SMOKE AND MIRRORS. THEY TALK ABOUT TAX RELIEF HERE AND TAX TAX RELIEF THERE. IT'S SMOKE AND MIRRORS. AND WE NEED TO HOLD THEM ACCOUNTABLE AS WELL. I THINK ONE OF THE ISSUES WE'RE HAVING RIGHT NOW, WHY THE PROPERTY VALUE STUDY IS SO IMPORTANT FOR US, FOR THE SCHOOL DISTRICTS TO ALLOW US IF THEY'RE OUT OF CONFIDENCE, IS BECAUSE OF CHANGES IN LEGISLATURE. THE SCHOOLS ARE HURTING. THEY'RE A

[01:20:01]

LOT OF THEM THROUGHOUT THE STATE ARE HAVING TO GO OUT FOR BONDS BECAUSE THEY'RE NOT GETTING THE FUNDING. SO FOR US TO NOT FIGHT A VALUE, IF THE STATE PROPERTY VALUE STUDY FINDS THAT IT'S NOT IN CONFIDENCE LEVEL, NOT AT 95%, I THINK IT'S VERY, VERY IMPORTANT FOR THE SCHOOL DISTRICTS BECAUSE OF THOSE THOSE CHANGES AND LEGISLATION. YES, SIR. AND, DANA, DAVID, JUST FOR THE PUBLIC'S KNOWLEDGE, WHAT WILL AN ELECTION COST THE ENTIRE COUNTY, DIVIDED BY ALL THE TAXING ENTITIES? EVERY TIME THAT WE HAVE TO HAVE AN ELECTION FOR THESE THREE, WELL, ARE ACTUALLY FOR NOW, TO 2 IN 1 ELECTION AND ONE IN THE OTHER. WHEN WE FIRST STARTED LOOKING AT IT, WE WERE SUPPOSED TO BE THE ONLY ONES THAT WERE HAVING A MAY ELECTION. AND IT WAS GOING TO BE OVER $700,000 JUST FOR THAT. AND THEN A RUNOFF WOULD HAVE COST US ABOUT THE SAME, BECAUSE WE THIS IS AN AT LARGE. SO IT'S THE ENTIRE COUNTY NOW AS THE NOVEMBER ELECTION IN 2026, THERE'LL BE OTHER ELECTIONS GOING ON. SO THAT COST WILL BE SPLIT. BUT AGAIN, EXAMPLE, I THINK IT WAS EITHER SAN ELIZARIO THAT HAD A BOND, IN MAY, BUT THAT'S ONLY FOR SAN ELIZARIO, SO WE STILL WOULD HAVE HAD THE BULK BECAUSE WE'RE COUNTYWIDE. SO. BUT THAT WAS 700,000 WAS AN ESTIMATE FOR US, AND WE WERE VERY GRATEFUL TO OUR BOARD BY ALLOWING US TO MOVE SOME FUNDS AROUND AND TAKE SOME MONEY OUT OF OUR CONTINGENCY. WE DIDN'T HAVE A ROOF BLOW OFF, BUT WE DID HAVE LEGISLATION THAT WAS JUST THE SAME AS A STRONG WIND THAT AFFECTED US, BUT, SO IT COULD COST UP TO THAT. I KNOW, I BELIEVE AUSTIN'S FIRST TRAVIS FIRST ESTIMATE WAS 1.2 MILLION.

SO, NOVEMBER IT PROBABLY WON'T BE AS MUCH BECAUSE THERE'LL BE MORE THAT WILL BE SHARING IT, BUT I DON'T I DON'T KNOW THE PERCENTAGES RIGHT NOW, BUT JUST SO THE PUBLIC UNDERSTANDS, EVERY TWO YEARS THERE WILL BE AN ELECTION. SO ONE YEAR, ONE ONE OF THOSE ELECTIONS, IT'LL BE FOR ONE ELECTED OFFICIAL. SO THE COST COUNTYWIDE TO ELECT ONE OFFICIAL IS GOING TO BE VERY, VERY SUBSTANTIAL. THE FOLLOWING YEAR, IT'LL BE FOR THE FOLLOWING TWO YEARS. THE ELECTION WILL BE FOR TWO INDIVIDUALS. EITHER WAY, THIS IS JUST A SUBSTANTIAL COST, I THINK, YOU KNOW, PROBABLY COST US MORE THAN WHAT TO ELECT OUR LOCAL STATE REPRESENTATIVES. IT'S JUST. YEAH, I WOULDN'T DOUBT IT IF YOU. YEAH IF YOU DO IT ON A PER ELECTED OFFICIAL BASIS. SO ANOTHER CHANGE ALSO DEALING WITH THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS IS THEY MADE A CHANGE IN THE STATUTE THAT THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS NOW WILL APPOINT THE APPRAISAL REVIEW BOARD MEMBERS. THEY'VE GONE AWAY, WHICH THEY TOOK THEM AWAY FROM THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS BECAUSE THEY WANTED TRANSPARENCY AND THEY WANTED TO BE EQUAL AND UNIFORM ACROSS THE BOARD BY GOING WITH THE LOCAL ADMINISTRATIVE JUDGE, THEY'VE NOW TAKEN IT AWAY FROM THE LOCAL ADMINISTRATIVE JUDGES GIVEN BACK TO THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS. BUT AT LEAST TWO OF THE ELECTED OFFICIALS MUST BE THERE TO APPROVE THOSE BOARD. APPRAISAL REVIEW BOARD APPOINTEES OR NOMINEES. SO, IF THE STATE CAN BLAME YOU MORE FOR, FOR THE PROPERTY VALUES GOING UP. YES CORRECT. SO, WELL, YOU KNOW, THEY'RE WE'RE LUCKY, YOU KNOW, EL PASOANS WE ALL GET ALONG. YOU KNOW PRETTY WELL. BUT THERE ARE SOME OTHER, COUNTIES, SOME OTHER APPRAISAL DISTRICTS THAT ARE ALREADY FORESEEING AN ISSUE OF NOT POSSIBLY NOT GETTING A OR B MEMBERS APPRAISAL REVIEW BOARD MEMBERS APPROVED BY THE BOARD, SOMEBODY YOU KNOW, TWO OF THE ELECTED COULD JUST NOT SHOW UP. SO THAT'S THAT'S A VERY SCARY THOUGHT BECAUSE EVERYBODY STARTS HEARINGS, YOU KNOW, AFTER THE FIRST OF THE YEAR WITH TRAINING IN THE STATE COMPTROLLER TRAINING, AND YOU DON'T HAVE A FULL BOARD, SOMEONE LIKE, I BELIEVE DALLAS HAS 185 A OR B MEMBERS. AND TO GET A QUORUM OF 185, YOU KNOW, SO YOU DON'T HAVE THOSE FULFILLED, HEARINGS THAT ARE DONE. WE FINISHED ON FRIDAY. WE FINISHED A WEEK AHEAD OF TIME, EVEN WITH HAVING 5000 MORE PROTESTS. BUT THINK ABOUT, AUSTIN WITH ALMOST WHAT LAST COUNT WAS 150,000, HOUSTON WITH OVER A MILLION, IT CAN, YOU KNOW, THE REPERCUSSIONS DOWN THE LINE. SO I'M HOPING THIS LEGISLATION, THEY'LL GO IN AND MAYBE TIGHTEN SOME THINGS UP AND DO SOME CLERICAL CHANGES TO SPECIFY MORE CLEARLY, ONE LAST THING I WANTED TO MENTION, IS, AS I WAS THINKING ABOUT THE CIRCUIT BREAKER THAT YOU DESCRIBED, MR. STONE, YOU KNOW, MAYBE WE ALSO, LOOK AT OUR, OUR LEGISLATIVE AGENDA AND, YOU KNOW, TALK ABOUT, CIRCUIT BREAKER BASED ON INCOME OR, OR THE AGE OF THE HOME OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT, SOMETHING CREATIVE, A CREATIVE CIRCUIT BREAKER THAT

[01:25:04]

COULD THAT COULD MAKE HELP MAKE PROPERTY TAX LESS, LESS, LESS REGRESSIVE. AND, I MEAN, WE CAN TALK TALK TO YOU ALL OFFLINE AND SEE IF YOU HAVE ANY IDEAS ABOUT THAT. BUT, I, YOU KNOW, THERE'S, WE WILL BE VISITING PEOPLE ARE SUFFERING, YOU KNOW, AND, YOU KNOW, WE WILL BE VISITING WITH THE OUR STATE REPS, AS WE NOW WE'RE GETTING INTO THE COMMITTEE MEETING COMMITTEE MANY MEETINGS AND THINGS LIKE THAT. I KNOW IN THE PAST THEY'VE TALKED ABOUT EXPANDING THE SENIOR CITIZEN TO MAKE THEM 100% EXEMPT. IF THEY'RE OF A CERTAIN AGE, BUT THAT'S FOR SCHOOL DISTRICTS, YOUR COUNTY AND YOUR CITY HAVE A LOCAL OPTION TO PUT, YOU KNOW, WHATEVER AMOUNT YOU WANT TO EXEMPT ON THERE, SO IN THE PAST, THERE'S BEEN TALK ABOUT THAT AND IT HASN'T GONE VERY FAR. THE, THE CAP RIGHT NOW FOR THE CIRCUIT BREAKER IS 5 MILLION. BUT THAT'S GOING TO BE SET BY THE COMPTROLLER'S OFFICE USING A CPI FORMULA. SO WE'RE NOT SURE WHAT THAT CAP WILL BE, PERSONAL PROPERTY DOES NOT HAVE ANY KIND OF A CIRCUIT BREAKER. ANOTHER THING MAYBE TO LOOK AT IS BECAUSE WE'VE RECEIVED A LOT OF COMPLAINTS, NOT COMPLAINTS, BUT A LOT OF PEOPLE SAYING, WHY DID THEY LEAVE US OUT? IS YOUR DAYCARES THAT ARE IN STRIP CENTERS AND THERE'S OWNERS OF STRIP CENTERS THAT DON'T WANT TO GO THROUGH THAT PROCESS OF PUTTING IN AN APPLICATION, BEING APPROVED AND THEN ADJUSTING THE RENT TO MAKE UP FOR THE EXACT AMOUNT. SO, YOU KNOW, THOSE MAY BE SOME THINGS THAT THAT NEED TO BE TWEAKED A LITTLE BIT. YOU KNOW, ONE OPTION WOULD BE TO, ALLOW A DIRECT TAX INCENTIVE TO THE CHILD CARE FACILITIES DIRECTLY UNDER BUSINESS PROPERTY. RIGHT. AND THAT'S LEFT OFF THE CIRCUIT BREAKER RIGHT NOW. RIGHT. SO OKAY. THAT'S ALL I HAD. THANK YOU. SORRY FOR MONOPOLIZING THE TIME. THANK YO. I JUST HAD A QUESTION, DAVID, ABOUT THE TWO CHARTS THAT YOU SHOWED US WITH THE HISTORICAL TAXABLE VALUE AND THE HISTORICAL MARKET VALUE, WHERE WE SEE A DOUBLING OR NEAR DOUBLING OF THE VALUES. IS THIS A PHENOMENON THAT'S THAT WE'RE SEEING IN OTHER COUNTIES IN TEXAS, OR IS IT SOMETHING UNIQUE TO EL PASO? THIS REALLY SUBSTANTIAL INCREASE A LOT OF COMMUNITIES, ESPECIALLY IN THE TEXAS TRIANGLE AREA. THEY SEE LIKE 30% RESIDENTIAL INCREASES EVERY YEAR OF COURSE, IT'S LIMITED BY THE CAP, BUT IT DIDN'T APPLY TO LIKE RENTAL PROPERTIES. AND NOW THE CIRCUIT BREAKER WILL KICK IN AND LIMIT THOSE INCREASES TO 20%. BUT WE DON'T SEE THOSE KIND OF INCREASES IN EL PASO. AND WE HAVEN'T EVEN WITH THE INCREASES THAT WE'VE BEEN HAVING YEAR ON YEAR. SO, I MEAN, I THINK, I THINK, 7% INCREASE PER YEAR WILL DOUBLE THE VALUE IN TEN YEARS. SO THAT'S NOT LIKE AN EXCESSIVE INCREASE, SO THAT'S PROBABLY NORMAL FOR, FOR, A METRO AREA LIKE EL PASO. YEAH. NO, WE HAVE SEEN EVEN SMALLER COMMUNITIES THROUGHOUT THE STATE, LUBBOCK AREA SAW AN INCREASE HAS BEEN SEEING AN INCREASE OVER THE LAST FIVE, SIX YEARS. PLANO, DENTON HAVE SEEN BIG INCREASES, A LOT OF FOLKS ARE MOVING TO TEXAS, AND THEY LIKE THESE AREAS BECAUSE THEY'RE CLOSE TO A BIG METRO LIKE DALLAS OR HOUSTON, SO THEY ARE SEEING THOSE BIGS. THEY HAVE, LIKE US SEEN KIND OF A LITTLE BIT OF A SLOWDOWN. WE'RE NOT SEEING THE HUGE SPIKES THAT WE WERE. AND THAT'S WHY MOST APPRAISAL DISTRICTS OF ANY SIZE ARE DOING THE REAPPRAISALS JUST TO FOLLOW THAT, TO SEE WHERE WE ARE, I HAVE READ AND HEARD IN LIKE TRAVIS AREA WILLIAMSON, THEIR PERCENTAGE OF INCREASE DID GO DOWN, BUT IT'S STILL ABOVE THE AVERAGE. SO THEY ARE STILL SEEING GROWTH TAKING A LITTLE BIT LONGER TO SELL. THEY'RE NOT SELLING OVERNIGHT WITH BID WARS, SO IT'S KIND OF TURNED A LITTLE BIT FROM A SELLER'S TO A BUYER'S, SO, HOPEFULLY WE SEE MORE OF THAT GOING FORWARD. YES, MA'AM. COMMISSIONER EL PASO USED TO SEE LIKE AROUND A 3% INCREASE WAS NORMAL TO US BEFORE COVID.

BUT SINCE COVID, OUR MARKET'S BEEN REALLY ACTIVE. AND THAT'S WHY WE'RE SEEING THESE INCREASE PERCENTAGES, LIKE DIANA SAID, THE RESIDENTIAL INCREASE IN IN EL PASO COUNTY OVER THE PAST YEAR WAS NINE 9%. THAT'S LIKE THREE TIMES WHAT'S NORMAL, PRE-COVID NOW, YOU KNOW HOW LONG THAT'S GOING TO LAST? WHO CAN SAY, BUT THAT'S WHERE WE'RE AT RIGHT NOW. THAT'S WHY WE GIVE

[01:30:04]

YOU A PRELIMINARY ROLL IN APRIL, SO YOU CAN SEE WHAT WE'VE SEEN. WE'RE ALREADY STARTING TO GATHER DATA. WE'LL BE USING INFORMATION THAT WE RECEIVED DURING THE PROTEST SEASON. AND WE'RE ALREADY DOING OUR RESEARCH FOR 2025. COMMISSIONER CORONADO, YOU KNOW, AND ONE OF THE OTHER THINGS THAT WE MIGHT ALSO, WITH OUR LEGISLATIVE DELEGATION AND LISTED IS IF WE'RE GOING TO IF WE CAN'T GET RID OF THESE, ELECTIONS FOR THESE THREE BOARD MEMBERS ON CAD, MAYBE WHAT WE SHOULD DO IS TRY AND SEE IF WE CAN MODIFY IT, BECAUSE RIGHT NOW, THOSE THREE BOARD MEMBERS CAN RUN, COUNT THAT, RUN COUNTYWIDE, AND THEY CAN BE FROM THE SAME HOUSEHOLD. ALL THREE OF THEM. AND THAT'S NOT A PROBLEM. AND SO I THINK MAYBE WHAT WE COULD DO IS ALONG FROM ALONG WITH NOT HAVING, RUNOFFS IN THESE ELECTIONS IS MAYBE WE CAN SEPARATE IT INTO DISTRICTS, SO TO SPEAK, SO THAT THAT WILL EVEN MINIMIZE, SOME OF THE, THE COSTS IF WE DON'T, YOU KNOW, RATHER THAN HAVING TO RUN THEM COUNTYWIDE, EVERY TWO YEARS, WE ONLY DO IT FOR ONE OF THOSE DISTRICTS. SO THAT MIGHT ALSO REDUCE THE COST OF THE ELECTION IF WE'RE NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO GET RID OF IT. BUT WE COULD WE COULD ULTIMATELY HAVE THE THREE ELECTED ALL FROM THE SAME STREE, THE SAME PART OF TOWN, AND NOT HAVE REPRESENTATION, ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU HAVE FOR AN EXAMPLE, THE CITY IS GOING TO HAVE ABOUT 1900 VOTES, THE NEXT ONE IS GOING TO BE EPISD WITH ABOUT 1100 VOTES. SO WHEN YOU SEE YOUR OTHER AREAS OF TOWN THAT HAVE 50 VOTES OR 100 VOTES, YOU CAN SEE WHAT'S GOING ON. SO WE COULD WITH THREE ELECTED AND THEN WITH ALL THE VOTES GOING TO ONE AREA, I JUST LOVE THE WAY WE HAD IT BEFORE. AND MOST OF YOUR LARGE AND MEDIUM APPRAISAL DISTRICTS DID WHAT THEY CALLED THE THREE QUARTER RULE. BECAUSE YOU INCORPORATED PEOPLE FROM THE ENTIRE COUNTY, SO IT'LL BE INTERESTING TO SEE, HOPEFULLY, YOU KNOW, IT PLAYS OUT FINE. MAY BE THAT WAY FOR THE NEXT COUPLE OF YEARS, BUT WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN DOWN? IT IS IT IS SOMETHING THAT WE'RE WATCHING. AND JUST SO YOU KNOW, COMMISSIONER CORONADO, THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WE HAVE DISCUSSIONS ABOUT AT THE CAC AS WELL. AND THEIR ADVOCACY TEAM IS TUNED INTO THIS, RIGHT? YEAH COVERED EVERYTHING. UNLESS Y'ALL HAVE SOMETHING ELSE. AND OF COURSE, WE'RE ALWAYS AVAILABLE, TO GIVE US A CALL OR COME DOWN AND WE'LL BE HAPPY TO ADDRESS.

THANK YOU. BETSY, FROM YOUR END. ANYTHING. BETSY RELATED TO OUR. NO, SIR. OR BARBARA, ANYONE? WE'RE WE'RE WE'RE WORKING ON NORMALLY TODAY. WE ALSO HAVE TO TRY TO HAVE YOUR PROPOSED TAX RATES ON, BUT WITH THE CHANGES IN WHAT WE'RE DOING ON DEBT AND HOW WE'RE STRUCTURING OUR, FINANCES, WE'LL HAVE THOSE ON FOR NEXT MONDAY. AND WE APPRECIATE ALL THE INFORMATION AND THE SUPPORT WE GET FROM DIANA AND DAVID. WELL, THANK YO, JUDGE. I WANT TO THANK, YOU KNOW, THE CENTRAL APPRAISAL DISTRICT, YOU KNOW, I'VE GOTTEN TO KNOW THEM OVER THIS LAST YEAR AND A HALF, AND THEY ALL DO EXCELLENT WORK AND THEY HAVE TO DEAL WITH SOME REALLY HARD CIRCUMSTANCES. SOMETIMES WHEN ANGRY PEOPLE GO OVER THERE, OVER THEIR EVALUATIONS. AND THAT'S SOMETHING THAT REALLY HAS BEEN JUST, OVER THE LAST 4 OR 5 YEARS, JUST A PROBLEMATIC THANK YOU. AND THANK YOU. WE DO TRY TO UNDERSTAND THEM. WE'RE ALL TIED IN THE POCKETBOOK AND WE ALL A LOT OF US ARE HOMEOWNERS. AND SO WE DEFINITELY UNDERSTAND. SO THANK YOU, COMMISSIONERS, FOR, JUDGE FOR SUPPORTING US. AND THANK YOU VERY MUCH. WE CONSIDER YOU OUR PARTNERS. SO THANK YOU.

YES, WE ARE PARTNERS. YES. WORK TOGETHER. THANK YOU. WE'RE GOING TO GO TO NINE A PLEASE, JUST THANK YOU. THANK YOU. YES. ITEM NINE BOARD APPOINTMENTS NINE A APPROVE THE APPOINTMENT OF COMMISSIONER STOUT'S NOMINEE, REGGIE MAYNARD, TO THE EL PASO COUNTY VETERAN'S ADVISORY BOARD FOR THE UNEXPIRED TWO YEAR TERM ENDING NOVEMBER 30TH, 2025. THANK YOU, THANK YOU. JUDGE AND

[A. Approve the appointment of Commissioner Stout's nominee, Reggie Mainor, to the El Paso County Veteran’s Advisory Board for the unexpired, two-year term ending November 30, 2025. Betsy C. Keller, Chief Administrator, County Administration, 915-546-2215]

COMMISSIONERS. MR. MAYNOR, IF YOU'D LIKE TO JOIN US AT THE PODIUM, I APOLOGIZE FOR NOT CALLING YOU UP EARLIER, BUT AT LEAST NOW YOU'RE AN EXPERT IN IN APPRAISAL ISSUES, RIGHT? AFTER HEARING THAT DISCUSSION, I JUST WANT TO SAY THAT WE HAD WE HAD I WAS VERY HAPPY TO HAVE A LOT OF STRONG AND WELL QUALIFIED APPLICANTS FOR THIS POSITION IN MY OFFICE ON THE VETERANS ADVISORY BOARD, AS YOU ALL KNOW, ALEXIS MCRAE, WHO WAS MY FORMER APPOINTEE, HAD TO LEAVE AND, YOU KNOW, DID A GREAT JOB. AND SO WE OPENED UP AN APPLICATION PROCESS AND HAD A NUMBER OF PEOPLE COME AND TALK TO US ABOUT THEIR THEIR INTEREST IN, MR. MAYNOR WAS WAS ONE OF THOSE. AND I WANT TO

[01:35:07]

THANK, OF COURSE, MICHELLE COCHRAN FOR MANAGING. I DON'T KNOW IF I CAN SEE HER, BUT SHE'S OVER THERE TO MY LEFT, THIS AND OTHER COMMITTEES. PAULINA TAMAYO FROM MY OFFICE FOR COORDINATING THE INTERVIEWS AND OTHER STEPS. AND OF COURSE, MR. MAYNOR, FOR YOUR INTEREST IN SERVING YOUR FELLOW VETERANS HERE IN EL PASO COUNTY, JUST A LITTLE BIT ABOUT, MR. MAYNOR. HE'S HE HAS EXTENSIVE KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS FROM DRILL SERGEANT SCHOOL IN 1992 TO ADVANCE BUDGETING COURSES IN, THE OTS TO MORE RECENTLY, LEAN SIX SIGMA, AND THAT, YOU KNOW, I'M LEAVING PROBABLY A LOT OUT. HE HAS DEGREES, AS ASSOCIATE OF SCIENCE AND MANAGEMENT FROM THE SUMMIT UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA IN NEW ORLEANS, BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION, INSTRUCTIONAL SYSTEMS SPECIALIST CERTIFICATION, AND MASTER OF ARTS IN EDUCATION WITH SPECIALIZATIONS AS WELL. TEACHING AND INSTRUCTION FROM TUI UNIVERSITY INTERNATIONAL CYPRESS, CALIFORNIA. AND HIS PROFESSIONAL CAREER HAS SPANNED FROM ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR, INSTRUCTIONAL SYSTEMS SPECIALIST AT THE UNIVERSITY OF US ARMY, ARMY SERGEANTS MAJOR, ACADEMY TO MOST RECENTLY SERVING AS A DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE INSTRUCTIONAL SYSTEM SPECIALIST, WHICH HE LEFT IN 2023. SO I'M VERY DELIGHTED TO, WELCOME HIM TO EL PASO COUNTY. AND SO WE'LL GO AHEAD AND VOTE. AND THEN IF YOU'D LIKE TO SHARE A FEW WORDS WITH US, MR. MAYNOR, WE'LL WE'LL, WE'LL HEAR FROM YOU. WE HAVE A MOTION BY JUDGE SAMANIEGO, SECOND BY COMMISSIONER LEON. OPEN MOTION CARRIES. WELL WELL. ALL RIGHT. WELL, WELCOME TO THE EL PASO COUNTY FAMILY. THANK YOU FOR THANK YOU FOR YOUR YOUR WILLINGNESS TO CONTINUE TO SERVE YOUR COMMUNITY. THANK YOU VERY MUCH, I FIRST, I'D LIKE TO SAY GIVING HONOR TO GOD FOR GIVING ME THIS OPPORTUNITY TO SERVE THIS GREAT COUNTY AND THE CITY AND THIS GREAT COMMISSION THAT WE HAVE BEFORE US THAT HAVE SUCH A CONCERN FOR OUR VETERANS. I AS, COMMISSIONER STRAUSS SAID, I SPENT 30 YEARS WITHIN THE MILITARY AND MY WIFE AND I HAVE BEEN HERE, RESIDENTS OF PARCEL FOR 25 YEARS, ORIGINALLY FROM NEW JERSEY, BUT MY HEART'S DESIRE IS TO SEE AND TO ENSURE THAT THE BEST OF MY ABILITY AS I JOIN COMMISSIONER STRAUSS AND HIS TEAM TO ENSURE THAT OUR VETERANS GET WHAT THEY DESERVE, GET THE HELP THAT THEY NEED, AND OPEN DOORS OPEN FOR THEM TO DO THINGS THAT THEY ARE UNAWARE OF, I AM HONORED AGAIN TO BE A PART OF THIS TEAM AND LOOK FORWARD TO DOING THE THINGS THAT I'M ALLOWED TO DO AND THE DIRECTION THAT, MR. STRAUSS TAKES ME IN AND MY KNOWLEDGE THAT I MAY HAVE AND BE ABLE TO SHARE WITH THE BOARD AND THE MEMBERS. THANK YOU AGAIN. WELL, THANK YOU, AS YOU CAN WELL SEE, WE'RE VERY, VERY EXCITED ABOUT OUR VETERANS, THEIR CONTRIBUTIONS, THEIR SO TO, TO US HERE AT COMMISSIONERS COURT, IT'S VERY SPECIAL BOARD, BECAUSE THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF EFFORT TO REALLY HIGHLIGHT, THE KIND OF VETERANS WE HAVE, MAKE SURE THAT WE ADDRESS THE GAPS THAT WE HAVE. SO THERE'S SORT OF DIFFERENT PILLARS, YOU KNOW, A LOT OF TRACTION NOW WITH THE VETERANS CAPITAL OF THE USA. BUT THAT MAKES US EVEN MORE ACCOUNTABLE AND MORE RESPONSIBLE. A LOT OF EYES ARE ON US TO LOOK AT, YOU KNOW, HOW DO WE TREAT OUR VETERANS? WHAT KIND OF GAPS ARE WE TRYING TO FILL QUICKLY, SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THIS TO ME, VERY SPECIAL, BOARD. AND I KNOW THAT YOU'LL GET THE SUPPORT. AND I THINK IT'S A GREAT NOMINATION FROM COMMISSIONER STOUT. THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU, SIR. THANK YOU. LOOKING FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU. OKAY. ITEM NUMBER EIGHT, REGULAR AGENDA EIGHT A APPROVE AND AUTHORIZE THE COUNTY JUDGE TO EXECUTE AND SUBMIT THE NECESSARY DOCUMENTS RELATING TO THE COUNTY'S APPLICATION AND RECEIPT OF FEDERAL COMMUNITY PROJECT FUNDING ON BEHALF OF THE EL PASO COUNTY HOSPITAL DISTRICT, SUBJECT TO LEGAL REVIEW. FURTHER

[A. Approve and authorize the County Judge to execute and submit the necessary documents relating to the County’s application and receipt of federal community project funding on behalf of the El Paso County Hospital District subject to legal review. Further give staff direction to draft an agreement with the Hospital District to effectuate the award and bring that agreement back to the Commissioners Court for consideration and final approval. R. Jacob Cintron, President & CEO, University Medical Center/EPCHD, 915-521-7600]

GIVE STAFF DIRECTION TO DRAFT AN AGREEMENT WITH THE HOSPITAL DISTRICT TO EFFECTUATE THE AWARD AND BRING THAT AGREEMENT BACK TO THE COMMISSIONER'S COURT FOR CONSIDERATION AND FINAL APPROVA.

WELCOME GOOD MORNING, JUDGE AND COMMISSIONERS, CAN YOU HEAR ME? OKAY. YES. YEAH, WE CAN HEAR YOU VERY WELL. THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE WITH US. EXCELLENT. ABSOLUTELY. RUBEN VOTE FOR THE RECORD. CHIEF ADVOCACY OFFICER FOR THE HOSPITAL DISTRICT, FOR THE COURTS CONTEXT, IN 2024, WE SUBMITTED AN APPLICATION THROUGH THE COMMUNITY PROJECT FUNDING PROCESS THROUGH, THE FEMA PRE-DISASTER MITIGATION CATEGORY TO REPLACE AN AGING EMERGENCY GENERATOR AND ADD SOLAR CAPACITY. NOW, TO BE ELIGIBLE AS THE COURT IS AWARE, YOU HAVE TO BE A POLITICAL SUBDIVISION OR A GOVERNMENTAL ENTITY. NONPROFITS DURING THE LAST TWO ROUNDS WERE NO LONGER ELIGIBLE. SO FEMA, BECAUSE THEY SAW THAT WE WERE A NONPROFIT, QUESTIONED WHETHER OR NOT THE HOSPITAL DISTRICT WAS

[01:40:04]

ELIGIBLE TO RECEIVE FUNDS. WE DID PROVIDE THE CONGRESSWOMAN'S OFFICE WITH INFORMATION SHOWCASING THAT WE WERE A POLITICAL SUBDIVISION OF THE STATE, AND IT SEEMED TO HAVE CLARIFIED THE ISSUE. HOWEVER, IN AN ABUNDANCE OF CAUTION, WE DID COME TO THE COURT ON APRIL 17TH OF 2023, ASKING AS A BACKUP TO HAVE THE COURT ACCEPT THE FUNDS IF AWARDED ON BEHALF OF THE HOSPITAL DISTRICT AND COORDINATE WITH DEPARTMENTS ON THE REPORTING, ETC. THAT ITEM RECEIVED UNANIMOUS SUPPORT. SO WE FAST FORWARD TO 2024. WE DID RECEIVE NOTIFICATION BY CONGRESSWOMAN ESCOBAR'S OFFICE EARLIER THIS YEAR THAT WE HAD BEEN SELECTED UNDER THE ASSUMPTION THAT THE AWARD WAS GOING TO THE HOSPITAL DISTRICT. WE BEGAN WORKING AND MEETING WITH FEMA AND THE TEXAS DIVISION OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT TO PUT TOGETHER OUR FORMAL APPLICATION TO BEGIN THE PROJECT. IN FACT, ONE OF THE FIRST ITEMS THAT WE WORKED TO ADDRESS WITH THEM WAS THE SCOPE MODIFICATION, WE HAD BEEN AWARDED 1.3 MILLION, BUT HAD REQUESTED 7.3. SO BECAUSE THE GAP IN FUNDING, WE ASKED FEMA TO HAVE THE PROJECT ONLY FOCUSING ON PURCHASING THE EMERGENCY GENERATOR, WHICH IS THE TRUE MITIGATION PROJECT AND REMOVING THE SOLAR COMPONENT FOR NOW. AND FEMA AGREED. SO AS WE CONTINUED WORKING WITH THE AGENCIES LAST WEDNESDAY, FEMA NOTIFIED US THAT EL PASO COUNTY AND NOT THE EL PASO COUNTY HOSPITAL DISTRICT, WAS INADVERTENTLY LISTED AS THE SUBRECIPIENT OF THE FUNDS IN THE CONSOLIDATED APPROPRIATIONS ACT.

THAT WAS A SURPRISE TO US. ALONG WITH THE CONGRESSWOMAN'S OFFICE. BUT BECAUSE IT'S IN LAW, IT CAN'T BE CHANGED. SO AS SUCH, FEMA HAS ASKED THAT THE HOSPITAL DISTRICT, IN ORDER TO ACCESS THE FUNDS, SUBMIT THE APPLICATION TO THEM, THROUGH THE COUNTY. AND A MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING WOULD NEED TO BE ENTERED INTO PROVIDING THE HOSPITAL DISTRICT FULL AUTHORITY AND RESPONSIBILITY ON ALL ASPECTS OF THE AWARD, WHICH THIS AGENDA ITEM ASKS FOR NOW, THE COUNTY AND THE HOSPITAL DISTRICT ARE VERY FAMILIAR WITH THIS KIND OF ARRANGEMENT. WE KIND OF USE THE SAME SETUP WHEN THE COUNTY PROVIDED THE HOSPITAL DISTRICT ARPA FUNDING FOR COVID EXPENSES.

ESSENTIALLY, THE HOSPITAL DISTRICT WILL DO THE WORK, WILL PREPARE THE DOCUMENTS, THE APPLICATION, ETC. AND COLLABORATION WITH THE PERTINENT COUNTY DEPARTMENTS OVER THE DURATION OF THE GRANT. AND THEY WOULD BE THE ONES SUBMITTING THAT INFORMATION ON OUR BEHALF, AGAIN, WE'RE GRATEFUL FOR THE COURT HAVING APPROVED THIS TO SOME EXTENT ON APRIL 17TH, BUT WE WANTED TO REALLY FORMALIZE IT AND MEMORIALIZE IT THROUGH THIS AGENDA ITEM, LASTLY, WHAT YOU'LL SEE IN THE BACKUP IS A CURRENT DRAFT OF OUR APPLICATION TO THE FEDERAL AND STATE AGENCIES.

WE'RE WAITING FOR THEM TO OPEN UP THE APPLICATION. SO WE CAN ADDRESS A FEW CHANGES THAT THEY ASKED FOR US TO, TO MAKE IN LIGHT OF THIS SITUATION. AND A COUPLE OF OTHER CLARIFYING ITEMS. SOME OF THOSE INCLUDE CHANGING, OBVIOUSLY, THE DOCUMENT INFORMATION FROM THE HOSPITAL DISTRICT TO THE COUNTY, THEY HAVE ASKED US TO PLACE A BIT OF MORE INFORMATION AROUND OUR BUDGET NARRATIVE AND THEN ALSO ENSURING THAT THE TITLE OF THE PROJECT REMAINS REPLACING AGING EMERGENCY GENERATOR, ADDING SOLAR CAPACITY. EVEN THOUGH THEY'VE APPROVED THE SCOPE MODIFICATION THEY WANT, THE PROJECT TO REMAIN OR THE TITLE TO REMAIN THE SAME, BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT'S IN LAW, WE ARE CURRENTLY WORKING TO SET UP A MEETING BETWEEN FEMA AND TDM, ALONG WITH THE COUNTY AND UMC STAFF, TO WALK THROUGH THE PROCESS. WHAT THE MOU EXPECTATIONS ARE, AND ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS THAT THEY THAT WE HAVE OF THEM. I REALLY WANT TO THANK ANNA SCHUMACHER, BETSY KELLER, MICHELLE COCHRAN AND SEVERAL OTHERS FOR THEIR QUICK RESPONSE.

LAST WEEK WHEN WE LEARNED ABOUT THIS SITUATION. I APOLOGIZE FOR THE LONG WINDED, NARRATIVE, BUT WANTED TO MAKE SURE WE GAVE THE COURT A FULL SCOPE OF WHAT WAS HAPPENING AND WHY. WE GOT TO THIS POINT AND RESPECTFULLY ASKED FOR YOUR APPROVAL. AND I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS THAT YOU MAY HAVE. AND THANK YOU, RUBEN, NOT ONLY FOR US, BUT, FOR THE PUBLIC TO UNDERSTAND. IT'S A LITTLE COMPLICATED, DID HEAR ABOUT IT IN LEGAL THIS MORNING, BETSY, ANY COMMENTS OR ANYTHING YOU WANT TO ADD TO THIS DISCUSSION? THANK YOU. JUDGE, WE'RE GOING TO BE WORKING CLOSELY TOGETHER WITH UMC THROUGH THIS PROCESS. IF THE COURT AS APPROVES, AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO HELPING THEM BE ABLE TO COMPLETE THIS PROJECT AND US HELP WITH THE GRANT SUPPORT ON THE COUNTY SIDE. OKAY. I THINK YOU MENTIONED IT'S A TWO YEAR ALSO, IT'S A TWO YEAR GRANT. AND SO WE WOULD BE WORKING TO DO ANY NECESSARY REPORTING AND THINGS WITH UMC, THROUGH THIS TIME OR TO UMC TO ALSO HAVE ACCESS AND HELP US WITH THAT AS WELL. AND AS ALWAYS, ANNA, AND YOUR TEAM, THANK YOU FOR BEING ON TOP OF THIS. THANK YOU. OKAY. WE HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE BY COMMISSIONER STOUT. SECOND BY JUDGE SAMANIEGO. THE VOTING IS OPEN MOTION CARRIES. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. WE VERY MUCH APPRECIATE THE SUPPORT AND LOOK FORWARD TO COLLABORATING WITH

[01:45:06]

THE COUNTY AND THE GREAT STAFF THERE. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR PARTNERSHIP. THANK YOU.

ITEM EIGHT B RECEIVE A PRESENTATION FROM THE EL PASO SPORTS COMMISSION REGARDING ITS QUARTERLY STATUS REPORT. GOOD MORNING. JUDGE. COMMISSIONERS MELISSA CARRILLO WITH COUNTY OPERATIONS THIS QUARTER AS WE TYPICALLY DO, WE INVITE OUR SPORTS COMMISSION PARTNERS JUST

[B. Receive a presentation from the El Paso Sports Commission regarding its quarterly status report. Melissa Carrillo, Executive Director, County Operations, 915-546-2162]

TO GIVE AN UPDATE ON WHAT'S BEEN HAPPENING. AND SO TODAY, OMAR AND THEA WILL BE PRESENTING ON QUARTER THREE ON THEIR GREAT ACTIVITY HAPPENING AT THE COLISEUM EL PASO SPORTS COMMISSION. SO I'LL TURN IT OVER TO OMAR NOW. THANK YOU BOTH. THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. THANK YOU. ALMOST. GOOD MORNING JUDGE. COMMISSIONERS OMAR RAPEL WITH THE EL PASO SPORTS COMMISSION.

THIS IS FOR QUARTER THREE. AND ON THE VENUE MANAGEMENT SIDE, THAT DOOR FROM THE SHERMAN BARN WAS ALREADY BROKEN. WE BUILT A NEW ONE IN HOUSE AND WE FIXED IT. WE USED THE SHERMAN BARN RIGHT NOW AS A WAREHOUSE TO STORE A LOT OF, OF THINGS LIKE STAGING AND CHAIRS AND OTHER STUFF. SO IT WAS REALLY NEEDED AND WE DID IT IN THERE. WE CONTINUE OUR FANS WITH THE FABRICATION AND THE DELTA SIDE. AS YOU CAN SEE, WE'RE, ON THE PICTURE ON THE ON THE RIGHT, THERE'S STILL THE GATE THAT IT'S THAT IT'S WITH WIRE AND WE ALREADY HAVE THE DOOR IS GOING TO BE A SLIDING DOOR INSTEAD OF A SWINGING DOOR. I THINK IT'S BETTER FOR SAFETY, BUT WE NEED TO POUR CONCRETE AND PUT A RAILING IN THERE. AND WE'RE GOING TO DO THAT IN HOUSE AS WELL, WE'RE ABOUT 30 PIECES OF METAL LEFT, SO WE CAN REACH THE CORNER OF DELTA AND BOONE, AND THAT'LL BE THE OPPOSITE CORNER OF WHERE WE STARTED IN PAISANO AND SHELTER. WE STILL HAVE A LITTLE BIT LEFT, BUT I JUMPED BECAUSE DELTA SIDE NEEDED MORE, MORE ATTENTION ON THE FENCE. BUT WE'RE WE'RE ALMOST READY. I CALCULATE THAT BY OCTOBER WE'LL BE DONE ON THE DELTA SIDE WITH NEW FENCE AND, EVENTS THAT WE HAD IN THE QUARTER. WE DID OUR SUNDAY MARKETS IN THE PAVILION, WHICH WAS ON APRIL 7TH, MAY 5TH AND JUNE 2ND. CINCO DE MAYO WAS A BLAST. AND WE'RE WE'RE STILL CONTINUING TO DO ONE EACH MONTH. EVERYBODY'S ATTENDING. IT'S FREE TO THE PUBLIC, AND WE'RE HAVING ONE NEXT, NEXT SUNDAY AS WELL. AND, WE HAD OUR NATURALIZATION CEREMONY ON APRIL 18TH AND ONCE AGAIN IN JUNE 13TH. AND FOR NEXT WEEK, WE HAVE ANOTHER ONE IN THE THURSDAY. SO WE'RE DOING APPROXIMATELY BETWEEN 500 AND 600 APPLICANTS. THEY'RE GETTING THEIR US CITIZENSHIP EVERY MONTH OR EVERY EVERY SECOND MONTH. IT'S REALLY NICE AND IT'S REALLY, REALLY GOOD, WE HAD A DOG SHOW, AND IT WAS GOING TO BE IN THE JUDGING ARENA. IT WAS SUPER WINDY. IT WAS HIGH WINDS.

IT WAS VERY BAD WEATHER. WE DIDN'T HAVE ANYTHING GOING ON IN THE COLISEUM, SO WE MOVED THEM INTO THE COLISEUM. THEY LOVED IT. AND, THEY HAD THEY HAD THEIR DOG DOG EVENT AND, APRIL 27TH, WE HAD, SUPERSTAR JUDY, WHO REMEMBERS HER. SHE WAS DOING HER 40TH ANNIVERSARY TOUR, AND SHE BROUGHT IN, SHE THEY TOLD US AND SAID, HEY, SHE NEEDS MARIACHIS. CAN YOU GET A LOCAL ONE? SO TONY CALLS HIS CONTACTS AND THE MARIACHI THAT YOU SEE IN THAT PICTURE IS THE MARIACHI FROM FRANKLIN HIGH SCHOOL WHO ACTUALLY WON A STATE CONTEST. SO THEY HAD THE PRIVILEGE OF ACTUALLY PERFORMING FOR JUDY LIVE THERE ON STAGE. EVERYBODY WAS SO EXCITED AND ACTUALLY, JUDY SIGNED AN AUTOGRAPH FOR THE COLISEUM FOR OUR MUSEUM THAT WE WANT TO PUT ALONG THE LINE OVER THERE, AND I THINK THIS IS HER. FOR ONE. I HAVE THIS DONE FOR ONE OF THE BIG. DID. WHAT A GREAT EXPERIENCE FOR THE MARIACHI GROUP. AND SINGING AMORE ETERNO FROM JUAN GABRIEL FROM HERE FOR THE BORDER WITH THE MARIACHIS. I MEAN, IT WAS ALL JUST GOT IT ALL PERFECT. YES ALSO, IN THE MONTH OF MAY, WE DID MOTIONLESS IN WHITE. IT WAS A ROCK. AND, IT WAS, IT WAS PRETTY, PRETTY PACKED, AND, AFTER THAT, THE NEXT WEEK WE DID INTERPOL, WHICH IS ALSO ROCK.

THEY'RE COMING FROM NEW ZEALAND, AND THEY DID A TWO WEEKS BEFORE THEY DID A FREE CONCERT IN EL ZOCALO OF MEXICO CITY WITH 160,000 PEOPLE. SO THEY COME IN HERE AND EVERYBODY KNEW ABOUT IT. SO WE DID A SELLOUT WITH WITH INTERPOL AS WELL, WITH THAT MMA IN THE MONTH OF MAY, MIXED MARTIAL ARTS ABOUT 5 TO 600 PEOPLE. BUT FOLLOWING THE DIRECTION OF THE COUNTY THAT YOU WANT MORE CONTACT SPORTS, WE'RE TRYING TO MAKE IT GROW AS WELL. AND WE HAD ALSO PANDORA AND FLANS. THEY GOT TOGETHER, BIG, POP GROUP FROM THE 90S, BOTH OF THEM. AND, AND THEY ALSO DID A

[01:50:05]

HALF HOUSE AND THE COLISEUM AS WELL. IN MAY 18TH. THEN THREE DAYS LATER, WE HAD MON LAFERTE MON LAFERTE HAS A SPECIAL GROUP OF PEOPLE, A SPECIAL GROUP OF FOLLOWERS, THEY THEY ALL DRESSED LIKE HER, LIKE VICTORIAN STYLE. SO IT WAS ALSO A SHOW IN AND OUT OF THE OF THE STAGE AS WELL, AND THEN WE ARE, PARTNERING UP WITH THE VALVERDE NEIGHBORHOOD COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION AND THEY DID A SENIOR CITIZENS DANCE THERE FROM AROUND THERE. AND THAT'S A COMMUNITY EVENT THAT WE JUST HAVE THEM HAD THERE. AND IN THE IN THE MONTH OF MAY AS WELL. BELANOVA ALSO SHOWED UP THERE, ELECTRONIC POP. AND THEY DID IT IN MAY 24TH. WE HAD ALSO A FARMERS MARKET, KIND OF A PRE RODEO PARTY TO, TO KICK OFF THAT WEEK. BUT IN BETWEEN WE HOSTED CAIFANES AND CAFE TACUBA, WHICH THEY GET TOGETHER. THEY DID A FULL SELLOUT. IT WAS ONE HELL OF A BLAST OF A SHOW. AND IN JUNE WE DID THE RODEO. CAME BACK FOR THE SECOND YEAR. THEY DID IT A BIGGER AND BETTER. THEY ADDED A THIRD SHOW ON SUNDAY AND IT WAS IT WAS GREAT. THIS IS. SO TELL ME. TOUCHING YOU. SEE MY. KIDS NEVER SEEN. SO YOU. THE RODEO CLOWN IS THE PUMPING OF THE. EL PASO. YEAH HE MAY BE THE BEST RODEO. YEAH, THAT'S THAT'S MY PART TIME. THANK YOU FOR BEING. IT'S MY 20TH. AND, LIKE. LIKE HE SAID, YOU KNOW, THEY GOT TO BE ONE OF THE BEST, FANS OUT THERE IN TEXAS. THE EL PASO FANS.

THAT'S GREAT PROMOTIONAL MATERIAL. OH, YES. OH, YES. DEFINITELY. AND WE, IN JULY, WE HAD OUR PALOMAS NORTENO RING WARS, WHICH HAS HAPPENED. AND THEN WE'RE EXPECTING A MANUEL EDITION SPECIAL HAPPENED THIS SATURDAY. LAMB OF GOD, WHICH IS MORE ROCK? ROCK IS COMING BACK, AND THEN, WE'RE, FINISHING THE QUARTER WITH FRANCO ESCAMILLA AND THE EL PASO COUNTY FAIR AND THE JEFFERSON HIGH SCHOOL 75TH ANNIVERSARY, WHICH IS HAPPENING IN THE LATE, QUARTER NUMBER FOUR DURING EVENTS. TONY RODRIGUEZ AND MYSELF WENT TO VENUE MANAGEMENT. MANAGEMENT SCHOOL IN TAMPA, AND WE GRADUATED. SO NOW WE ARE OFFICIALLY, CBP OR CERTIFIED VENUE PROFESSIONALS, WHICH IS ALSO IT'S UP TO OUR CERTIFICATIONS, AND WE'RE BRINGING KNOWLEDGE THAT WE CAN APPLY HERE IN OUR IN OUR BELOVED COLISEUM. AND FOR SPORTS TOURISM. I WOULD LIKE TO BRING, THEA CHAMBERS, SO SHE CAN TALK ABOUT, THIS QUARTER AS WELL. YES. THEA DOESN'T KNOW THIS.

SHE, SHE AND JANET VARGAS WENT TO, NORTH CAROLINA FOR AN ESPORTS CONFERENCE. JANET VARGAS ALSO, CERTIFIED AS A SPORTS TOURISM STRATEGIST. MY WHAT I WHAT I WANT TO DO IS IF SOMEBODY CALLS THE SPORTS COMMISSION, EVEN FROM THE PERSON WHO ANSWERS THE PHONE, THEY KNOW WHAT WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT, ABOUT SPORTS TOURISM. AND THEN SHE DIRECTS IT TO TONY, WHO'S, YOU KNOW, THE BOOTS ON THE GROUND, AND TO THEA, WHO'S, YOU KNOW, WITH HER KNOWLEDGE AND EVERYTHING. SO EVERYBODY, IT'S WITHIN THE SPORTS TOURISM STRATEGY BUSINESS. GO AHEAD. MR. THANK YOU. GOOD MORNING. JUDGE. COMMISSIONERS OUR QUARTERS DOWN A LITTLE BIT FROM WHAT WE HAD PROJECTED, BUT WE'RE STILL FINISHING. WELL, SOME OF THE EVENTS THAT WE HAD ARE THE SOUTHWEST CHILI PEPPER CLASSIC. THIS WAS THEIR LARGEST. SO FAR. SO THEY'RE VERY EXCITED. 360 HOTEL ROOM NIGHTS, IN MEMORY OF DON HASKINS BASKETBALL, A YOUTH BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT WAS 215 HOTEL ROOM NIGHTS, THE COBRAS SOCCER COPA DE CAMPEONES. DID I SAY THAT CORRECTLY? THANK YOU, THIS WAS THE FIRST TIME THAT THEY HAD THIS NUMBER OF TEAMS. THEY REACHED A TOTAL OF ROOM NIGHTS OF 1322. THERE WERE TEAMS FROM ALL OVER MEXICO, ARIZONA, NEW MEXICO, IT WAS JUST A HUGE TURNOUT. THE THIS FAMILY, THE SOSA FAMILY DOES TREMENDOUS EVENTS. AND THEY'VE BEEN IN THIS COMMUNITY FOR 14 OR 15 YEARS CONDUCTING SOCCER TOURNAMENTS. SO I'M REAL PROUD OF THEM, TEXAS STATE GYMNASTICS, THIS WAS A U.I.L EVENT FOR YSLETA INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT THAT WE WERE ABLE TO ASSIST, I DON'T KNOW IF ANY ONE OF YOU HAVE SEEN BELLAIRE HIGH SCHOOL'S NEW

[01:55:07]

GYMNASTICS FACILITY. IT'S STATE OF THE ART. IT RIVALS NORTH TEXAS IN TERMS OF ITS MODERNITY AND ITS USEFULNESS. THERE'S A FEW PICTURES OF IT. HOW MANY PICTURES DO WE HAVE? OKAY. AND THAT'S ALL. OKAY PROBABLY OUR FLAGSHIP IS THE WEST TEXAS FOOTBALL OFFICIALS CLINIC, AND I WANT TO THANK YOU, JUDGE, FOR COMING AND ATTENDING, AS WELL AS YOU, COMMISSIONER OLGUIN, THESE GUYS ARE GREAT. THAT'S A PICTURE OF TROY VINCENT RIGHT THERE. WE'RE AT THE. I BELIEVE IN THIS PHOTOGRAPH. WE'RE AT THE JEFFERSON HIGH SCHOOL STADIUM, WHERE HE SPOKE TO A TEAM OF STUDENTS TO THAT WERE DOING SCRIMMAGES FOR THE EVENT. IF YOU DON'T KNOW THE EVENT, THE EVENT IS, ATTENDED BY MEN AND WOMEN ALL OVER THE COUNTRY WHO WANT TO LEARN HOW TO BECOME FOOTBALL OFFICIALS. AND THE NFL HAS FLAGGED US AS ONE OF THE TOP THREE ELITE FACILITIES IN THE COUNTRY FOR TRAINING FOOTBALL OFFICIALS AND THESE GENTLEMEN COME IN, THEY GET CLASSROOM TRAINING. THEY ALSO GET TO GO OUT AND OFFICIATE SCRIMMAGES FOR OUR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS ALL OVER THE CITY. AND SO WE HAVE A LOT OF GREAT COMMUNITY PARTNERS IN THIS. SOCORRO INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT IS ONE OF OUR LARGEST. WE WERE AT THE SAC, AND THEY ALSO PROVIDE BUSSING FOR US, FOR US TO BUS OUR OFFICIALS AND CLINICIANS. IT BRINGS IN PROBABLY 40 OR 50 CLINICIANS FROM THE NFL TO OVERSEE AND TEACH, AND IT'S JUST A GREAT EVENT THIS THIS YEAR, THEIR ROOM NIGHT TOTAL WAS 1119. SO THAT'S A HUGE EVENT FOR US. I'M SORRY. OH, TROY VINCENT, THE GENTLEMAN YOU SEE THERE WITH THE BUCKET HAT ON IS THE VICE PRESIDENT OF OPERATIONS FOR THE NFL FOOTBALL LEAGUE. SO HE'S KIND OF FAR UP THERE AND HE'S A FASCINATING MAN, A CHRISTIAN MAN. AND I'LL TELL YOU ABOUT SOME OF THE THINGS THAT THE NFL WANTS TO BRING TO US IF, IF OR SHOULD I GO ON AND DO IT LATER? OKAY. DO IT LATER. OKAY. GOLIATH WORLD QUALIFIER. THAT'S A POWER LIFTING EVENT. THEY HAD A VERY GOOD TURNOUT. 215 ROOM NIGHTS, ISPS, HISPANIC WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS. WE WEREN'T ABLE TO MANAGE EXPECTATIONS AS WELL AS WE HAD WANTED TO ON THIS EVENT, BUT, YOU KNOW, IT STILL WAS A GREAT EVENT. THE TEAMS THAT DID SHOW UP HAD A GREAT TIME. AND I THINK WE HAVE A LITTLE VIDEO FOR YOU. NO WE DON'T. OKAY. WHERE'S THE VIDEO GO? I DON'T KNOW OKAY, COBRAS CHALLENGER SPORTS CAMP. WE HAD SOME GENTLEMAN CONTACT US FROM CANADA AND BRITISH COLUMBIA. THEY WANT THEY GO AROUND AND THEY CONDUCT FREE OF CHARGE TO THE CITY. THE HOST CITY CAMPS FOR KIDS, WEEK LONG CAMPS FOR KIDS TO WORK ON THEIR SOCCER SKILLS AND SO WE HAD TO, THEY'RE MOSTLY LOCAL KIDS, SO THERE WAS NO ROOM NIGHT THING. BUT THIS WAS MORE OF A COMMUNITY, BRINGING SOMETHING WORTHWHILE TO THE COMMUNITY THAT HASN'T BEEN OFFERED SO FAR. EX WESTERN NATIONALS, THEY I DON'T HAVE THEIR FINAL ROOM COUNT YET, ACTUALLY I DO. IT WAS OVER 200. IT JUST DIDN'T MAKE IT ON THE REPORT, THIS IS THEIR THIRD YEAR IN EL PASO, AND I BELIEVE THEY'LL BE COMING BACK AGAIN NEXT YEAR, WE'VE GOT SOME OTHERS I WANT TO HIGHLIGHT. NATIONAL PREMIER, THEY'RE A YOUTH BASEBALL. PROVIDER, AND HE'S BROUGHT US A NUMBER OF TOURNAMENTS. AND IN FACT, WE'RE HOPEFULLY IN SOME NEGOTIATIONS RIGHT NOW TO SEE IF WE CAN GET A VERY LARGE TOURNAMENT TAKEN FROM LAS CRUCES AND BROUGHT TO EL PASO. HE WOULD LIKE TO COME TO EL PASO. UP TO DATE, HE HAS BROUGHT 794 ROOM NIGHTS TO OUR COMMUNITY FROM VARIOUS TOURNAMENTS. SO THAT'S IT. IF I CAN, BORE YOU FOR JUST A MINUTE, THE NFL IS MAKING AN INVESTMENT IN EL PASO. THEY'RE VERY IMPRESSED WITH EL PASO. AND IN THE TIME THAT I WAS ALLOWED TO SPEND WITH TROY VINCENT, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT HE TOLD ME WAS ALL I HEAR ON THE NEWS ABOUT EL PASO IS THAT PEOPLE ARE, YOU KNOW, THERE'S PEOPLE JUMPING THE FENCE, THEY'RE THROWING DRUGS OVER THE WALL, THEY'RE RAPING, THEY'RE KILLING. THEY'RE YOU KNOW, THE PUBLIC PERSPECTIVE OF OUR LOVELY COMMUNITY IN THE UNITED STATES ISN'T VERY POSITIVE, HE SAID. BUT WHAT HE SAW WHEN HE CAME HERE WAS JUST HARD WORKING, HONEST FAMILIES

[02:00:03]

VALUING THEIR KIDS, SUPPORTING THEIR KIDS, HE SAYS. WE WERE AT JEFF AND WE COULD POINT TO THE BORDER RIGHT THERE. AND HE WAS ASTONISHED. HE SAID, THERE'S AND THIS IS YOUR ALMA MATER, CORRECT? JUDGE, YOU WERE THERE? YES. YEAH. HE WAS ASTONISHED. SO ONE OF THE THINGS THE NFL PLANS TO DO TO SHOWCASE OUR COMMUNITY IS THEY THEY PRODUCE THESE LITTLE 30 MINUTE, DOCUMENTARY DOCUMENTARIES ON COMMUNITIES, AND THEY'RE AIRED ON ESPN. THEY'VE CHOSEN US TO DO A 30 FOR 30 SEGMENT. SO WE WILL BE WORKING ON GETTING STORYLINES AND, TALKING TO THEM ABOUT WHAT ARE THE THINGS THAT MAKE EL PASO AND FOOTBALL SPECIAL. WHAT IS IT ABOUT THIS COMMUNITY THAT PRODUCES NFL PLAYERS? YOU KNOW, THAT HAS PEOPLE COMING BACK, THAT HAS PEOPLE LOVING IT? SO WE'LL BE, TONY AND I WILL BE WORKING VERY CLOSELY AND DEVELOPING STORYLINES FOR THEM TO COME AND SHOOT. SO AND I DON'T KNOW, I DON'T HAVE AN AIR DATE YET, ON WHEN THIS WILL AIR ON ESPN, BUT THAT'S PRETTY EXCITING. ANOTHER BIG THING THAT'S COMING IS THE NFL WANTS TO INTRODUCE FEMALE FLAG FOOTBALL IN THE HIGH SCHOOLS. THEY'VE DONE IT IN OTHER COMMUNITIES. THEY NOW HAVE A BLUEPRINT. THEY'RE EXCITED ABOUT BRINGING IT HERE, RIGHT NOW, U-I-L ISN'T EXCITED ABOUT IT BECAUSE THEY DON'T WANT TO ROCK THE BOAT ON. YOU KNOW, THE GUYS AND THE FOOTBALL SCHEDULE FOR THE GUYS. SO WE'RE GOING TO LOOK AT SOME ALTERNATE TIMES. MAYBE WE DO IT IN THE SPRING. I KNOW WE HAVE IT IN THE, ALREADY IN THE MIDDLE SCHOOLS. IT'S REALLY POPULAR. BUT THESE MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS NEED A PLACE TO TRANSITION WHEN THEY GO INTO HIGH SCHOOL. SO IT'S GOING TO TAKE US 2 TO 3 YEARS BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT IT TOOK IN OHIO FOR THEM TO PUT IT TOGETHER. AND JUST, YOU KNOW, GET BUY IN FROM THE STATE AND ACTUALLY HAVE YOU'LL CONSIDER THIS A GAME THAT THE GIRLS CAN PLAY IN THE HIGH SCHOOLS. SO WE'RE EXCITED ABOUT THAT. WE'VE GATHERED THE, ATHLETIC DIRECTORS FROM ALL OF THE AREA HIGH SCHOOLS WILL BE MEETING AT THE VIP ROOM AT THE COLISEUM. WE'LL BE MEETING WITH TROY VINCENT VIA, SKYPE OR TEAMS. AND WE'RE ALSO GOING TO HAVE TWO OF HIS RIGHT HAND PEOPLE COMING DOWN AND TALKING TO ALL OF OUR ADS AND SEEING HOW IT IS WE APPROACH THIS BECAUSE IT STARTS WITH THE ADS, YOU KNOW, AND SO IT'S VERY IMPORTANT THAT WE HAVE THEIR INPUT AS PROBABLY THE FIRST LINE OF COMMUNICATION. AND WE'VE CONTACTED SUPERINTENDENTS. SO THEY ARE ON BOARD. THEY'RE JUST NOT SURE HOW DO WE GET IT DONE. AND SO THAT'S WHAT WE'LL BE WORKING TO FIGURE OUT. SO REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THE INVESTMENTS BEING MADE IN EL PASO BY THE NFL. FORGIVE MY VOICE. I'VE GOT TERRIBLE ALLERGIES. AND WE'RE VERY EXCITED ABOUT WHAT'S TO COME NEXT YEAR WHEN WE HAVE THE FOOTBALL OFFICIALS CLINIC, WE'LL BE HAVING IT IN THE NEW CIVIC CENTER. AND WE'LL ALSO DURING THAT TIME, BE PREMIERING A TOURNAMENT WITH OUR 32 FEMALE FLAG FOOTBALL TEAMS. 32 IS THE MAGIC NUMBER THAT WE'RE SHOOTING FOR, WE'LL BE PREMIERING THAT AT THE SAME TIME. AND ALSO HAVING A COACHING CLINIC THAT THE NFL WILL COME IN AND CONDUCT. SO AGAIN, THE NFL'S PRETTY EXCITED ABOUT EL PASO. SO WE'RE PRETTY EXCITED ABOUT THE NFL. SO YOU KNOW, I WANT TO THANK YOU I KNOW OUR COMMISSIONERS WE'RE EXCITED. THOSE CONTEXTS. LIKE TROY I HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK TO HIM.

MY GOODNESS HIS REACH. YEAH. ACROSS THE WORLD IF NOT ACROSS THE COUNTRY. YES, REALLY BECOMES AN AMBASSADOR. HE WAS SO EXCITED, SO AMUSED THAT, YOU KNOW, WHAT HE THOUGHT? AND WHAT HAPPENED? WE ALWAYS. YES YES. YOU WERE. WE ALWAYS SAY IT'S DON'T COME HERE. IT'S NOT WHAT YOU THINK. IT'S WHAT IS REALLY HAPPENING. AND SO THESE ARE VERY IMPORTANT KEYS. AND I MEAN, I REALLY CONSIDER EL PASO COULD BE JUST, AS YOU KNOW, THIS LITTLE HUB OF, OF SPORTS OF, OF FROM THE BOXING, THE CONTACT SPORTS THAT WE'VE TALKED ABOUT, GETTING WOMEN MORE, YOU KNOW, EXCITED ABOUT THE FLAG FOOTBALL, ALL OF THESE THINGS, THAT'S THAT'S PART OF WHAT MAKES US UNIQUE. SO I'M VERY GRATEFUL FOR EVERYTHING THAT YOU'RE ALL DOING. TO WE'RE VERY PROUD. WOULDN'T BE POSSIBLE WITHOUT RICHARD CORONA WITH ZEBRA SPORTS WHO PUTS ON THAT FOOTBALL OFFICIALS CLINIC. YES.

WHO'S BEEN HAD A RELATIONSHIP WITH THE NFL NOW FOR ALMOST TEN YEARS. SO, YOU KNOW, WE'RE JUST WE'RE EXCITED. EVERYTHING EVERYTHING COMING TOGETHER. AND MELISSA, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR

[02:05:03]

BEING PART OF THE PARTNERSHIP. SO, COMMISSIONER STONES, THANK YOU ALL FOR THE, FOR THE UPDATE.

I JUST HAD A QUESTION QUICKLY ON THE, ON THE EVENTS THAT THAT AREN'T HAPPENING AT THE COLISEUM. WHAT LEVEL OF ENGAGEMENT OR WHAT LEVEL OF INVOLVEMENT DO YOU ALL ACTUALLY HAVE IN THOSE EVENTS? I MEAN, ARE YOU ALL THE ONES THAT ARE RECRUITING THOSE EVENTS? ARE YOU ALL THE ONES THAT ARE SETTING THEM UP THAT ARE ORGANIZING THEM, OR OR ARE YOU PLAYING MORE OF A AUXILIARY ROLE, LIKE, CAN YOU I MEAN, I'D LIKE TO UNDERSTAND WHEN WE'RE HAVING THESE REPORTS, YOU KNOW, WHAT EVENTS THE SPORTS COMMISSION, WHAT WE DO AND IS ACTUALLY, YOU KNOW, AND AT WHAT LEVEL? WE'RE ENGAGED AT THE SPORTS PARK IN ASCARATE AND ALL THAT. YES.

YEAH. TYPICALLY, WHAT WILL HAPPEN IS I WILL GO DIGGING AND I WILL UNCOVER EITHER THROUGH PLAY EASY, WHICH IS SOMETHING THAT WE SUBSCRIBE TO FOR OUT OF TOWN, TOURIST, I MEAN, EVENT RIGHTS OWNERS WHO ARE LOOKING FOR HOST CITIES. THAT'S ONE WAY. ANOTHER WAY IS I WILL CONTACT A LOCAL EVENT OPERATOR AND WE'LL START TALKING ABOUT THEIR EVENT. WHAT IS IT? WHAT DO YOU DO? WHAT DO YOU WHAT ARE YOUR CHALLENGES? WHAT ARE YOUR OBSTACLES? WELL, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE A HARD TIME GETTING ROOM BLOCKS OR WE HAVE A HARD TIME GETTING SCHEDULING, TO MAIN, YOU KNOW, TO HAPPEN AT WHATEVER FACILITY. SO I WALK THEM THROUGH FROM START TO FINISH. SOMETIMES THEY NEED ADVERTISING SUPPORT, SOMETIMES THEY NEED SMALL GRANT SUPPORT THAT ALLOWS THEM TO INVITE A TEAM FROM OUT OF TOWN THAT THEY WOULD NOT ORDINARILY BE ABLE TO INVITE. AND WHEN WE SIT DOWN AND WE TALK, WE TALK ABOUT WHAT IS THE HISTORY OF THIS EVENT, WHAT IS THIS EVENT DONE FOR TOURISM? BECAUSE YOU HAVE TO UNDERSTAND, WHILE I LOVE YOU AND YOUR SPORT, MY WHOLE REASON FOR EXISTENCE ON THIS PLANET IS TO GENERATE SPORTS TOURISM. SO IF YOUR SPORT PUTS HEADS IN BEDS, WE NEED TO TALK TO EACH OTHER. WE NEED TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO MAKE THIS LARGER. THAT'S IN EVERY SPORT.

THAT'S TENNIS, THAT'S VOLLEYBAL. THAT'S YOUTH BASEBALL. SOFTBALL SOFT PITCH, MARTIAL ARTS, FOOTBALL OFFICIATING. WHERE WE BASED ON CONVERSATIONS, WE DEVELOP. WHAT IS YOUR ANTICIPATED NUMBER OF HOTEL ROOM NIGHTS YOU THINK YOU'RE GOING TO GENERATE? OKAY WE WORK WITH THAT AND WE HELP THEM FIND WAYS. SOMETIMES I'LL CONTACT A SPORT THAT DOESN'T REALIZE THAT THERE IS A CHAPTER IN ANOTHER CITY THAT'S NOT THAT FAR AWAY, THAT THEY CAN PARTNER WITH, AND IT'S JUST A PARTNERSHIP, A COOPERATION WHERE WE GO FROM THE INCEPTION OF THE EVENT TO IT HAPPENING. AND THEN AT THE END OF THAT, THE NUMBERS THAT YOU SEE ARE WHEN WE'VE DONE OUR RECAP, WHICH, OKAY, I KNOW WE THOUGHT WE WERE GOING TO GENERATE 500 HOTEL ROOMS. OKAY.

HOW MANY DID WE REALLY GENERATE. AND THERE'S A FORM THAT'S FILLED OUT AND A RECAP THAT'S DONE THAT TELLS ME EXACTLY. OKAY, THIS PERSON, THESE PEOPLE STAYED AT THIS HOTEL. THEY TOOK THIS MANY ROOM NIGHTS AND THIS IS IT WAS FOR THIS PARTICULAR TOURNAMENT. SO BY THE TIME YOU BECOME AWARE OF IT, IT'S ALREADY IT'S HAPPENED. THE ROOM NIGHTS ARE TRACKED AND DOCUMENTED. NOW I DON'T TRACK TO THE HOTEL MOTEL I TRACK FROM THE INDIVIDUAL EVENT RIGHTS HOLDERS. I'VE ENCOURAGED THE HOTEL MOTELS TO ASK YOUR GUESTS WHEN THEY SIGN IN WHY THEY'RE THERE. ASK THEM WHY THEY'RE THERE. THEY'RE MORE THAN FORTHCOMING ABOUT TELLING YOU, YOU KNOW WHAT? WE'RE HERE FOR THIS TOURNAMENT. WE'RE HERE FOR THAT TOURNAMENT, AND SO THAT WAY WE KIND OF CAN WORK TOGETHER.

YEAH. I MEAN, THE REASON, THE REASON I ASK THE QUESTION IS BECAUSE I WOULD JUST LIKE MORE CLARITY ON THESE EVENTS THAT ARE COMING IN AND JUST UNDERSTANDING HOW THE SPORTS COMMISSION IS ACTUALLY INVOLVED. RIGHT? AT WHAT LEVEL? I MEAN, IF IT'S SOMETHING THAT YOU'RE ORGANIZING AND RECRUITING OR IF IT'S SOMETHING THAT THAT YOU'RE, YOU'RE ASSISTING WITH OR, AND HOW AND HOW WE'RE ASSISTING, I JUST I MEAN, I SEE THE, THE, THE EVENTS AND THE AND THE, YOU KNO, THE HEADS AND BEDS AND THINGS LIKE THAT. BUT I JUST WANT TO KNOW, LIKE WHAT VALUE WE'RE GETTING FROM YOU ALL WHEN IT COMES TO THOSE, THOSE EVENTS. NO I DON'T KNOW THAT I'M NOT SURE THAT I'M UNDERSTANDING THE QUESTION. WHAT IS THE QUESTION? BECAUSE WE'RE INVOLVED IN ALL DIFFERENT ASPECTS OF THE EVENT. SO. SO YOU WENT THROUGH A LIST OF, LIKE, MAYBE TEN EVENTS THAT WERE NOT AT THE COLISEUM OR AT A OR AT A COUNTY, A COUNTY FACILITY, AND, AND IN THE PRESENTATION, IT TALKS ABOUT THE EVENT AND THE NUMBER OF HOTEL, HOTEL ROOMS. RIGHT. AND I KNOW THAT THAT'S, YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE TALKED ABOUT WITH THE CONTRACT HERE IS, IS WORKING TO BRING MORE HEADS, HEADS AND BEDS. RIGHT. AND SO I'M JUST TRYING TO UNDERSTAND,

[02:10:03]

WHAT EXACTLY WE'RE INITIATING. WHAT EXACTLY? WE'RE WE'RE RESPONSIBLE FOR WHEN IT COMES TO THESE EVENTS. SO THE SO THE LIKE THE REFEREE EVENT, WAS THAT SOMETHING THAT YOU ALL ORGANIZED? WAS THAT SOMETHING THAT YOU ALL INITIATED? WAS THAT SOMETHING THAT YOU ALL RECRUITED? WERE INVOLVED IN THE PLANNING? SOMETHING RECRUITED? IT WERE INVOLVED IN THE PLANNING. SO THAT'S THAT'S THAT'S WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT FOR 15 YEARS. YES. YEAH. SO I JUST WANT TO UNDERSTAND A LITTLE MORE DEEPLY WHAT THE SPORTS COMMISSION'S INVOLVEMENT IS IN, IN EACH OF THESE EVENTS INSTEAD OF JUST, YOU KNOW, SOMETIMES IT'S PROVIDING VOLUNTEER SUPPORT IF THEY NEED VOLUNTEERS FOR AN EVENT, RIGHT? NO, I MEAN, THAT'S THAT'S THAT'S PERFECTLY FINE. I JUST WANT TO AS WE'RE IN FOLLOWING PRESENTATIONS THAT WE RECEIVED FROM YOU ALL, I WOULD LIKE TO SEE, OTHER THAN JUST, YOU KNOW, THE NUMBER OF HOTEL ROOMS, WHAT IS OUR INVOLVEMENT IN EACH AND WHAT SERVICE, WHAT SERVICE? WE'RE PROVIDING, WHETHER OR NOT WE INITIATED IT, WHETHER WE WHETHER WE RECRUITED THE EVENT TO COME HERE. WHAT SERVICE WE'RE ACTUALLY PROVIDING TO THE EVENT. AND AS PART OF, OUR ORGANIZATION, DUE TO OUR LACK OF FACILITIES TO BRING MANY EVENTS INTO THE CITY, WE HAVE BEGUN KIND OF TAKING EXISTING LOCAL EVENTS UNDER OUR ARM AND HELPING THEM TO GROW. I CAN'T JUST GO AND GET A HUNDRED TEAM TOURNAMENTS. I DON'T HAVE THE FACILITIES FOR IT, AND SO WHAT? WE'LL DO, RATHER THAN JUST SEE NOTHING HAPPEN, IS. AND THIS IS A GOOD THING FOR THE COMMUNITY AS WELL, BECAUSE WHAT THEY ALWAYS SAY IS I WENT TO THE CVB AND THEY JUST SAID, I'LL GIVE YOU A CHAPSTICK. YEAH. AND WE ALL KNOW THAT TO BE TRUE. YEAH.

YOU KNOW, SO WHAT THEY LOOK TO US FOR IS A LITTLE MORE GUIDANCE. AND SOMETIMES IT'S SOME HOT TAX MONEY USED TO MARKET IT OR TO AGAIN PROVIDE A SCHOLARSHIP FOR AN OUT OF TOWN TEAM THAT CAN'T AFFORD THE TEAM FEES. WE MAKE IT BACK IN HOTEL ROOM NIGHTS, SO IT JUST DEPENDS ON WHAT THE EVENT NEEDS FROM US. SOMETIMES WE'RE THE PRESENTING SPONSOR OF THE EVENT. YEAH, I MEAN, THAT'S I'D JUST LIKE A DEEPER UNDERSTANDING OF THAT WHEN, WHEN WE'RE PRESENTING THE EVENTS AND I UNDERSTAND THERE EVERY EVENT IS PROBABLY GOING TO BE DIFFERENT. AND WHAT INVOLVEMENT YOU ALL HAVE. BUT I JUST I'D LIKE THAT, COMMISSIONER. WE CAN WORK WITH, MELISSA, WE CAN WORK WITH THE TEAM TO MAKE SURE WE TRY TO ADD SOME OF THAT, WHEN WE GO FORWARD. OKAY. AND I DON'T KNOW IF THERE'S A, LIKE, A SET UP LIST OF EVENTS OR, YOU KNOW, WHEN THINGS ARE HAPPENING AND WHERE THEY'RE HAPPENING, I'D LOVE TO HAVE MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THINGS THAT ARE GOING ON IN PRECINCT TWO WHEN THEY'RE HAPPENING. I KNOW THAT AT THE COLISEUM, LOTS OF EVENTS ARE GOING ON, YOU KNOW, I'D LIKE TO HAVE THE SAME INFORMATION ANYBODY ELSE ON THE COURT DOES? I KNOW THAT THEY'VE BEEN ADVISED OR INVITED TO EVENTS, AND I MAY NOT HAVE. AND ESPECIALLY IF THEY'RE IN MY DISTRICT, I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW AND HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE TO BE A PARTICIPANT. THERE IS A FISHING EVENT COMING UP. IT'S A COMMUNITY EVENT FOR, FOR KIDS WHERE THEY GET A FREE FISHING POLE. I KNOW THAT WE HAVE A SIMILAR PROGRAM, BUT THAT ORGANIZATION, THEY'RE GETTING TIRED. YOU KNOW, THEY'RE NOT WANTING TO DO IT AS MUCH. AND SO THAT'S FINE. THIS IS SOMEBODY WHO'S NOT FROM HERE WHO'S WILLING TO COME HERE AND PUT ON AN ALL DAY FISHING EVENT. AND I IN OCTOBER. SO I JUST THIS IS THE FIRST TIME I'M ACTUALLY INTERACTING WITH YOU. SO LET ME EXTEND AN INVITATION TO YOU, AND I WILL GET YOU THE DETAILS ON THAT PARTICULAR EVENT, AND I THINK YOU'LL ENJOY IT. IT'S FOR THE KIDS. IT'S NOT PUTTING ANY HEADS IN BEDS, NOT EVERYTHING WE DO IS GOING TO PUT A HEAD IN THE BED. OF COURSE, BUT BUT WE STILL INVITE THE INVITATION REGIONALLY, JUST IN CASE SOMEBODY AND MOSTLY OUR, OUR COMMISSIONER WILL. BECAUSE MOST OF WHAT WE DO IS AT THE SPORTS PARK AND THAT'S, THAT'S HER THING, SO BUT WE'LL TRY TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERYBODY IS AWARE.

OKAY. THANK YOU. YES. THANK YOU. REALLY QUICK, THANK YOU. YEAH. NO, FINANCIAL REPORT. THIS IS FOR THE FIRST THREE QUARTERS, WE ARE, THREE MONTHS AWAY, AND WE ARE ABOUT $120,000. 200, $200,000 AWAY FROM BEATING OUR LAST YEAR'S MARK. SO HOPEFULLY, IF WE AVERAGE AROUND $70,000, WE WILL REACH THE MARK AND MAYBE EVEN SURPASS IT FROM WHAT WE DID GENERATED IN REVENUE FOR THE COUNTY FROM LAST YEAR. AND THIS IS THE HOTEL ROOM NIGHTS ALSO FOR THE ENTIRE QUARTER. AND I UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU'RE SAYING, COMMISSIONER. I MEAN, THERE IS A WAY OF SAYING, WELL, WE HELPED

[02:15:05]

THEM WITH MAYBE CATERING. WE HELPED THEM WITH, YOU KNOW, GUIDING THEM FROM THE YOU KNOW, THERE'S A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT WE GO LIKE, YOU HAVE A LOCAL TOURNAMENT, WHY DON'T YOU MAKE IT, YOU KNOW, REGIONAL TOURNAMENT AND THEY DON'T KNOW HOW WELL WE DO. UNFORTUNATELY IN THE COLISEUM THERE'S NOT MANY SPORTS THAT WE CAN DO, BUT OUR FIRST DIRECTIVE IS GO TO THE COUNTY AND IF WE CAN, WE CAN GO TO THE CITY IF WE NEED EXTRA MUCH. BUT YES, DEFINITELY, WE'LL INCLUDE IT IN THE REPORT. LAST YEAR, TOTAL IN THE 12, IN THE 12 MONTHS OF THE FISCAL YEAR, WE DID A LITTLE BIT MORE THAN 4400. THIS YEAR, WE HAVE SURPASSED THE 13,000. AND WE ARE EXPECTED TO REACH THE 18,000 HOTEL ROOM MARK, WHICH, YOU KNOW, IF THE MULTIPLY THAT BY $359, WE'RE CLOSE TO $7.7 MILLION IN ECONOMIC IMPACT FOR WHAT WE HAVE GENERATED IN HOTEL ROOMS. AND THAT'S IT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, THANK YOU. ITEM TEN COUNTY ADMINISTRATION TEN A. DISCUSS AND TAKE APPROPRIATE ACTION REGARDING THE ADOPTION OF A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING REDEMPTION OF A PORTION UP TO $5,610,000 OF THE EL PASO COUNTY, TEXAS TAX NOTE

[A. Discuss and take appropriate action regarding the adoption of a Resolution Authorizing Redemption of a Portion, up to $5,610,000, of the El Paso County, Texas Tax Note, Taxable Series 2023B. (Contract No. 2024-0606) Jose M. Landeros, Director, Strategic Capital Development, 915-546-2215]

TAXABLE SERIES 2023 B CONTRACT NUMBER. 2024 0606. GOOD MORNING, COMMISSIONERS WILSON WITH COUNTY ADMINISTRATION, BRINGING THIS ITEM BEFORE YOU, FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION. AS THE COURT RECALLS IN JUNE OF 2024, FOLLOWING OUR FINANCIAL ADVISORS, PRESENTATION TO THE COURT, WE DISCUSSED THE POSSIBILITY OF A DEFEASANCE AT THAT TIME, THE COURT GAVE DIRECTION TO DO THAT. WORKING CLOSELY WITH SEVERAL OFFICES OVER THE LAST SEVERAL MONTHS, WE'VE NOW ARRIVED AT THE POINT WHERE WE ARE PROPOSING THE DEFEASANCE USING EXCESS FUNDS THAT ARE AVAILABLE IN OUR INS BUDGET, AND SO THE MOTION THAT THAT YOU THAT THE COURT WOULD CONSIDER TODAY, IS TO APPROVE AND AUTHORIZE THE ADOPTION OF A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING REDEMPTION OF A PORTION IN THE AMOUNT OF $2,061,660.96 OF THE EL PASO COUNTY, TEXAS, TAX NOTE TAXABLE SERIES 2023 B, AND TO FURTHER AUTHORIZE THE COUNTY JUDGE AND CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER TO EXECUTE ALL NECESSARY DOCUMENTS RELATED TO THE REDEMPTION UPON FINAL LEGAL REVIEW AND APPROVAL BY THE COUNTY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE AND BOND COUNSEL. OPERATIONALLY, THIS WILL DEFEASE DEBT THAT THE COUNTY ISSUED WITH TAX NOTE IN 2023, FOR A NUMBER OF IMPROVEMENTS, INCLUDING IMPROVEMENTS TO THE JAIL, THAT WAS OUR TAXABLE SERIES, WHICH IS A HIGHER INTEREST RATE. SO THIS DEFEASANCE WILL, EFFECTIVELY PAY DOWN $2 MILLION WORTH OF DEBT, IN AN ACCELERATED MANNER OVER THE NEXT SEVERAL YEARS, MISS NANCY ROCHA WITH STIFEL IS HERE.

AND MR. SEGURA WITH MCCALL, OUR BOND COUNSEL, IS ONLINE. IN THE EVENT THE COURT HAS ANY QUESTIONS. GOTTA CHECK TO SEE IF THE JUDGES ARE IN A. IT'S ALL YOU, COMMISSIONER LEON. ARE WE GOING TO WAIT THIS TIME FOR THE JUDGE? BECAUSE THIS IS A PRETTY GOOD, PRETTY GOOD SIZE VOTE. WE SURE CAN. LET ME SEE IF I CAN GET THE JUDGE. ONE MOMENT. TO EXPLAIN THE NEXT ITEM, WILL I GET THE JUDGE? YES. WE CAN GO TO 13 A THE ADDENDUM. THANK YOU. ITEM 13, ADDENDUM TO THE AGENDA 13 A DISCUSS AND TAKE APPROPRIATE ACTION REGARDING THE ADOPTION OF AN ORDER OF THE COMMISSIONERS COURT OF EL PASO COUNTY, TEXAS, AUTHORIZING THE ISSUANCE AND SALE OF UP TO $3,500,000 IN EL PASO COUNTY, TEXAS. TAX NOTE TAXABLE SERIES 2024 TO FUND RENOVATIONS AT

[A. Discuss and take appropriate action regarding the adoption of an Order of the Commissioners Court of El Paso County, Texas, Authorizing the Issuance and Sale of up to $3,500,000 in El Paso County, Texas Tax Note, Taxable Series 2024 to Fund Renovations at County Facilities; Levying an annual Ad Valorem Tax and Providing for the Security for and Payment of Said Note; and Enacting other Provisions Relating to the Subject. POSTED FRIDAY, AUGUST 2, 2024, AT 11:30 A.M. Jose M. Landeros, Director, Strategic Capital Development, 915-546-2159]

COUNTY FACILITIES. LEVYING AN ANNUAL AD VALOREM TAX, AND PROVIDING FOR THE SECURITY FOR AND PAYMENT OF SAID NOTE, AND ENACTING OTHER PROVISIONS RELATING TO THE SUBJECT. GOOD MORNING AGAIN, COMMISSIONERS, THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATION, ONE CLARIFICATION POINT FOR BOTH TEN A AND 13 A IS THAT YOU'LL NOTICE THE LANGUAGE STATED UP TO. BUT NOW WORKING DILIGENTLY OVER THE WEEKEND AND THROUGH THE END OF LAST WEEK, WITH ALL THE PARTIES INVOLVED, WE HAVE FINAL NUMBERS RELATED TO THE DEFEASANCE. AND SO THE DEFEASANCE IS THAT 2 MILLION, APPROXIMATELY $2 MILLION NUMBER THAT I READ OFF IN THAT MOTION, YOUR TAX NOTE SALE HERE. WAS STRUCTURED OVER

[02:20:01]

THE LAST WEEK, AND THE ACTUAL AMOUNT WILL BE 3.34, APPROXIMATELY 3.34 MILLION, THAT THE COUNTY WILL WILL ISSUE IN TAX NOTES. THIS ALLOWS THE COUNTY TO MAKE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS THAT WE CAN THAT WE CAN THEN IDENTIFY THAT WOULD HAVE OTHERWISE BEEN FUNDED THROUGH THE MAINTENANCE AND OPERATIONS SIDE OF OUR OF OUR BUDGET. AS WE ALL KNOW, WE FACE MORE COMPRESSION ON THE NO SIDE. AND SO THIS ALLOWS US TO FUND THAT USING, ONE YEAR CAPITAL.

AND SO THIS IS A TAX NOTE THAT WILL THAT WILL BE REPAID IN 12 MONTHS. SO ONE YEAR AND WILL ALLOW I GUESS WILL ALLOW US AGAIN THAT FLEXIBILITY ON THE NO SIDE TO HELP OUR, OUR FUND BALANCE AND MEET SOME OF THE OPERATIONAL CHALLENGES THAT WE FACE AS WE HEAD INTO FISCAL YEAR 2025. AND SO THIS HAS BEEN REVIEWED BY ALL THE OFFICES THAT REVIEWED THE DEFEASANCE ORDER AS WELL, AND I CAN READ THE RESOLUTION INTO THE RECORD HERE, AND IT WOULD BE TO, APPROVE AND AUTHORIZE THE ADOPTION OF AN ORDER OF THE COMMISSIONERS COURT OF EL PASO COUNTY, TEXAS, AUTHORIZING THE ISSUANCE AND SALE OF $3,374,000 IN EL PASO COUNTY, TEXAS. TAX NOTE TAXABLE SERIES 2024 TO FUND RENOVATION THAT COUNTY FACILITIES, LEVYING AN AD VALOREM TAX AND PROVIDING FOR THE SECURITY FOREIGN PAYMENT OF SAID NOTE AND ENACTING OTHER PROVISIONS RELATED TO THE SUBJECT. FURTHER AUTHORIZE THE COUNTY JUDGE AND CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER TO EXECUTE ALL NECESSARY DOCUMENTS RELATED TO SAID NOTE UPON FINAL LEGAL REVIEW AND APPROVAL BY THE COUNTY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE AND BOND COUNSEL. AND SO WITH THAT, WE'D ASK FOR THE COURT'S FAVORABLE CONSIDERATION FOR ITEMS TEN A AND 13 A. SO CAN YOU REALLY QUICKLY, ONE MORE TIME, GO OVER WHAT FACILITY, WHAT WHAT THE MONEY'S GOING TO BE SPENT ON THE TAX NOTE RIGHT NOW IS, IS VERY BROAD. AND SO IT ALLOWS US TO IDENTIFY ANY PUBLIC WORK AS ALLOWED BY THE STATUTE. WE ARE INTENDING TO AS WE CONTINUE TO WORK THROUGH THE ENERGY AUDIT AND MAKE ENERGY EFFICIENCY IMPROVEMENTS TO THE COURTHOUSE, WE ARE EXPECTING THIS TO BE, TO HELP US MEET THAT, THAT CONTRIBUTION OF THAT GOAL. BUT IN THE EVENT THAT WE PIVOT AND THERE'S ANOTHER EMERGENT NEED THAT COMES UP, WE WOULD HAVE THAT 3.3 MILLION AVAILABLE FOR WHATEVER THAT CASE MAY BE.

WE HAVE A MOTION. THIS IS FOR ITEM 13 A. WE HAVE A MOTION BY JUDGE SAMANIEGO SECOND BY COMMISSIONER LEON. THE VOTING IS OPEN. MOTION CARRIES. NOW WE NEED ONE FOR ITEM TEN. A CORRECT ONE SECOND. THE MOTION FOR ITEM TEN A IS UP. HAVE A MOTION BY COMMISSIONER CORONADO. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER OLGUIN. THE VOTING IS OPEN. MOTION CARRIES. AND JUST. JUST TO CORRECT FOR THE RECORD. OR TO BE CLEAR, FOR THE RECORD, THE ITEM IN THE MOTION SHOWED UP TO 5.6, JUST SLIGHTLY OVER 5.6 MILLION. BUT IT'S ACTUALLY. $2,061,660.96. CAN YOU REPEAT THE NUMBER, BETSY? I'M SORRY, $2,061,660.96. OKAY. THE CORRECTION WAS APPLIED TO THE MOTION. THANK YOU ALL. ITEM TEN B DISCUSS AND TAKE APPROPRIATE ACTION REGARDING THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE FY 2024 MULTI YEAR CAPITAL PLAN FOR EL PASO COUNTY, INCLUDING PROJECT SELECTIONS, PERFORMANCE OBJECTIVES AND OUTCOMES, PERFORMANCE MANAGEMENT, OPERATIONAL MANAGEMENT, CORRESPONDING FINANCIAL PLANNING RELATED TO CAPITAL INVESTMENTS

[B. 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]

AND OPERATIONAL NEEDS AND GENERAL CAPITAL DIRECTION. GOOD MORNING JUDGE, COMMISSIONERS OF THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATION HERE FOR, WHAT WE EXPECT TO BE YOUR FINAL CAPITAL PLANNING WORKSHOP HEADING INTO THE NEXT SEVERAL WEEKS, WE WILL BE ASKING FOR DIRECTION AND CONCURRENCE ON A FEW ITEMS THAT WILL ALLOW US TO CONTINUE TO WORK ON DEVELOPING ANY NECESSARY NEXT STEPS RELATED TO THE ONGOING CAPITAL PLANNING PROCESS. AGAIN, WE STAND HERE AT THIS POINT, YOU CAN SEE THAT THIS HAS TAKEN US APPROXIMATELY 12 MONTHS TO ARRIVE HERE. DATING BACK TO LAST SUMMER WHEN WE

[02:25:06]

BEGAN THE COLLECTION ANALYSIS AND, DEVELOPMENT OF WHAT HAS EVENTUALLY BECOME THE CAPITAL PLANNING PROCESS THAT HAS GENERATED A LIST FOR YOUR REVIEW AND YOUR CONSIDERATION. WE ARE NOW IN, CRITICAL TIME IN TERMS OF WHAT STEPS MAY BE CONSIDERED NEXT, ESPECIALLY IF THE COURT IS GOING TO ORDER, AN ELECTION TO BE ON THE NOVEMBER 5TH BALLOT, THE EARLIEST REGULARLY SCHEDULED COMMISSIONERS COURT DATE THAT THE COURT IS AUTHORIZED TO DO THAT WOULD BE NEXT MONDAY ON AUGUST 12TH. AND WE ARE PROPOSING THAT IF THE COURT PROCEEDS WITH THE GO BOND WITH CALLING AN ELECTION, THAT THE COURT CONSIDER THAT ACTION ON NEXT WEEK'S COMMISSIONERS COURT MEETING. WANTED TO LET YOU ALL KNOW THAT WE HAVE BEEN WORKING CLOSELY WITH THE COMMUNICATIONS DIVISION AND OPERATIONS TO DEVELOP THE PHASE THREE OUTREACH SCHEDULE, AND SO WE'LL BE WORKING ON PROVIDING A MORE DETAILED OUTLINE OF WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE. BUT I DID WANT TO APPRIZE THE COURT OF WHAT IS BEING PROPOSED. YOU CAN SEE HERE THAT WE'VE ADJUSTED SOME OF THE DATES, THE INITIAL THE ORIGINAL SCHEDULE HAD US BEGINNING OUTREACH MID SEPTEMBER. WE'RE ACTUALLY PROPOSING TO ACCELERATE THAT BY A COUPLE OF WEEKS, STARTING THE OUTREACH THE WEEK OF SEPTEMBER 9TH, THAT GIVES US ENOUGH TIME TO WORK ON DEVELOPING ALL OF THE OUTREACH MATERIALS BASED ON THE FEEDBACK THAT WE SAW FROM THE SECOND ROUND OF PUBLIC MEETINGS. THAT WILL INCLUDE MAILING, RESIDENTS IN THE COMMUNITY, LETTING THEM KNOW ABOUT THE, THE PUBLIC MEETINGS, DOING AD BUYS ON, ON RADIO AND TV AND SOCIAL MEDIA AS WELL. SO THAT RESIDENTS CAN COME AND KNOW ABOUT WHAT THE PROPOSAL THAT IS ON THE BALLOT WILL INCLUDE, THE SCHEDULE AS IS BEING PROPOSED BY THE TEAM, IS CURRENTLY 12 MEETINGS, EIGHT OF WHICH ARE IN PERSON AND FOUR OF WHICH ARE PROPOSED TO BE VIRTUAL. THERE'D BE THREE MEETINGS PER PRECINCT, AND THOSE MEETINGS WOULD BE HELD ON TUESDAYS, THURSDAYS IN THE EVENING, AND THEN SATURDAY MORNINGS. AND THAT IS WHAT WE'RE CURRENTLY WORKING ON, WE'RE ALSO WORKING ON DEVELOPING, ALL OF THE MATERIALS THAT WILL BE USED IN THOSE MEETINGS THAT THE STRUCTURE OF THE MEETING IS STILL BEING DEVELOPED, LIKE THE RUN OF SHOW, BUT IT WOULD INCLUDE AN INFORMATIONAL VIDEO OUTLINING SOME OF THE MAJOR HIGHLIGHTS OF WHAT IS ON THE BALLOT, IT WOULD ALSO INCLUDE AND THEN WOULD GIVE THE, THE PUBLIC A TAKEAWAY FOR THEM TO HAVE INFORMATION ABOUT WHAT THEY GATHERED AT THE MEETING AND THEN ALSO HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THE PUBLIC TO ENGAGE WITH, YOU ALL AS MEMBERS OF THE COURT. SO YOUR ATTENDANCE IN THOSE MEETINGS WILL BE WILL BE CRITICAL TO THE STRUCTURE AND THE SUCCESS. I THINK OF, OF EACH OF THOSE MEETINGS, WE'RE WORKING ON. WE HAVE SOME, SOME CAPACITY UNDER THE EXISTING CONTRACT WITH OUR MARKETING FIRM TO BE ABLE TO DEVELOP A LOT OF THESE MATERIALS SO THAT WE CAN KEEP THIS TO THIS ACCELERATED TIMELINE. THIS PROCESS IS BEING LED BY OUR INTERNAL COMMUNICATIONS DIVISION. BUT WITH SUPPORT FROM THE CONTRACTOR. AND SO IN THE COMING WEEKS, YOU'LL SEE A CONTRACT AMENDMENT TO NOT INCREASE THE SIZE OF THE BUDGET, BUT TO ALLOW ADJUSTMENTS TO BE MADE FOR AD BUYS. THAT WILL BE A SIGNIFICANT PORTION OF WHAT WILL, TASK. THE CONSULTANT TO DO IS MAKE THE AD BUYS ON BEHALF OF THE COUNTY. AND SO THAT WILL OCCUR THROUGH SEPTEMBER INTO EARLY OCTOBER. EARLY VOTING STARTS TOWARD THE END OF OCTOBER AND WRAPS UP RIGHT BEFORE HALLOWEEN. AND THEN ELECTION DAY IS TUESDAY, NOVEMBER FIFTH. AND SO THIS IS AN ITEM THAT WE'RE SEEKING SOME INPUT OR SOME CONCURRENCE FROM THE COURT. IF YOU ALL ARE IN AGREEMENT WITH, THE PROPOSED OUTREACH SCHEDULE OR THE PROPOSED STRUCTURE, WE DO NEED TO START WORKING ON SCHEDULING THOSE FACILITIES. WE ARE WORKING TO IDENTIFY THE USE OF COUNTY FACILITIES AS AS MUCH AS WE CAN OR, OR SISTER AGENCIES SUCH AS THE EMERGENCY SERVICES DISTRICT, AND USING SOME OF THE SPACES THAT THEY HAVE AVAILABLE IN MONTANA VISTA AND SD TWO, AS WELL AS HORIZON CITY AND SD ONE, AND AS WELL AS USE OF OUR COUNTY ANNEXES AND THE COURTHOUSE AND FACILITIES. I JUST GOT AT THE PARK AND AGAIN, WE'RE PROPOSING 12 TOTAL MEETINGS, FOUR OF WHICH WOULD BE VIRTUAL IN THE EVENING. AND THEN THE REMAINING EIGHT WOULD BE IN PERSON WITH ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS OR, CONCURRENCE ON THAT STRUCTURE.

I'M IN AGREEMENT WITH THE PROPOSED OUTREACH. IF THE COURT DECIDES TO ORDER THE ELECTION.

WE'LL PROCEED WITH THAT, AGAIN, THE UPCOMING DATES NEXT MONDAY, AUGUST 12TH. THIS IS A SLIDE.

[02:30:08]

THAT'S THAT'S THAT YOU ALL HAVE SEEN MANY TIMES, AUGUST 12TH IS WHEN THE COURT WOULD BE ASKED TO ADOPT THE FINAL PROJECT LIST. AND THE FINANCE STRUCTURE, IF THE COURT WANTS TO PURSUE A GO BOND, THAT WOULD BE THE OPPORTUNITY TO DO THAT. AND THEN AFTER THAT, WE'D BEGIN WORKING ON IMPLEMENTING THAT THIRD PHASE OF OUTREACH AND OUR INFORMATION. AND IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT OUR ACTIVITY IN THESE MEETINGS, THAT WHAT WE JUST DISCUSSED IS VERY MUCH LIMITED TO PROVIDING THE PUBLIC WITH INFORMATION. AND WE CANNOT ADVOCATE FOR OR AGAINST THE MEASURE BECAUSE IT IS A POLITICAL MATTER ON A BALLOT, SO THROUGH THE WORKSHOP LAST WEEK, THE, JUST SOME A FEW NUMBERS.

THERE'S A MAXIMUM FINANCE CAPACITY WITH THE BOAC RECOMMENDED THERE IN THE MIDDLE AND THEN THE STANDING AMOUNT BASED ON THE WORKSHOP THAT WE HELD, LAST WEEK, YOU CAN SEE HERE THAT THERE'S APPROXIMATELY $28.3 MILLION IN CAPACITY THAT REMAINS THE GEO BOND PROPOSAL IS UNDER 300 MILLION. AND THE CEOS ARE JUST AT ABOUT 174 MILLION. WE DID MENTION AND HERE'S HOW THAT BREAKS DOWN IN TERMS OF DIRECT PROJECT COSTS. SOME OF THE PROJECT ENHANCEMENT THAT'S BEEN DISCUSSED, INCLUDING THE 1.5 MILLION FOR, GREEN WORK ENHANCEMENTS. AND THEN THE TOTALS. SO THIS IS THE LIST AS IT STOOD LAST WEEK. THIS IS THE DRAWDOWN SCHEDULE OF WHEN THE FUNDING WOULD ACTUALLY BE, ISSUED TO THE COUNTY. AND SO 20, 2025 WOULD BE A BIG YEAR. IT'D BE APPROXIMATELY $200 MILLION IN ISSUANCE. AND AGAIN, THIS IS BASED ON MAXIMUM CAPACITIES.

THIS THESE NUMBERS WOULD BE ADJUSTED BASED ON WHATEVER SCHEDULE AND PROJECT LIST THE COURT ADOPTS, AND THEN IN 2027, YOU'D SEE THE REMAINDER OF GO BOND, BE ISSUED IN 2027. AND THEN THE REMAINING CAPACITY FOR THE CEO TO BE ISSUED IN 2028. HERE'S A SUMMARY OF THE REVISIONS THAT HAVE BEEN MADE, SO I WANT TO BE VERY CLEAR ON THIS. ON JULY 19TH, THE FIRST WORKSHOP PROJECT, 14 AND TEN WERE EFFECTIVELY SWAPPED OUT FOR EACH OTHER. 14 WAS RECOMMENDED BY THE BOAC TO BE IN THE COE, AND THE COURT MOVED IT TO THE GEO. AND THEN THE COURT MOVED PROJECT TEN FROM THE GEO TO THE COE. SO THOSE SWAPPED, ON JULY 18TH, YOUR SECOND WORKSHOP, THERE WERE NO FORMAL CHANGES DISCUSSED. SOMETHING THAT WAS UNDER CONSIDERATION WAS WHETHER OR NOT THE COURTHOUSE HVAC SYSTEM WOULD NEED TO BE ADDED TO THE COE, AND IF SO, THAT MEANT THAT THE PROJECT TEN SHELTER. THE SHELTER PROJECT WOULD NEED TO MOVE BACK TO THE GEO. LAST AT LAST WEEK'S MEETING TO ACCOMMODATE THE FINANCIAL CONSTRAINTS AND THE REVISED CAPACITY AMOUNTS, THERE WERE NO FORMAL CHANGES DISCUSSED, BUT WE DO NEED CONCURRENCE FROM THE COURT. NOW, AT THIS POINT, TO BRING THE PROJECT AMOUNT BACK UNDER THE EXISTING CAPACITY FOR THE COE. AND SO TO BECAUSE THE COE CAPACITY DROPPED FROM 195 TO 175, WE DO NEED TO MOVE TWO PROJECTS BACK TO THE GEO. AND THAT INCLUDES PROJECT TEN AND PROJECT 63, THESE GOT AT THE ANNEX. AND SO BOTH OF THOSE WILL NEED TO GO OUT TO THE GEO IN ORDER FOR THE, STRUCTURE TO MAKE SENSE SO THAT WE CAN HAVE A CERTIFICATE OF OBLIGATION THAT AS WE'VE, AS WE'VE, SHARED WITH THE PUBLIC, WOULD, WOULD BE TAX RATE NEUTRAL. AND THEN TO THAT'S REALLY WHAT IS PROMPTING THOSE CHANGES. AND SO THAT WAS DISCUSSED LAST WEEK. BUT WE'RE GOING TO ASK FOR THE COURT'S FORMAL DIRECTION ON THAT, TODAY OR SOME ALTERNATIVE THEREOF. A QUESTION JUDGE, COMMISSIONER CORONA, WHAT IS UNDER THE NEW, REVISIONS FROM OUR BOTH OUR, OUR STAFF AND FROM OUR, COUNSEL FOR, YOU KNOW, THE STIEFEL WITH REGARD TO THE CAPACITY, WHAT IS OUR NEW CAPACITY UNDER THE COS, BASED ON THE NEW DEFEASANCE THAT WE DID, IT REMAINS UNCHANGED. SO THE $175 MILLION, THE DEFEASANCE IS BEING FUNDED OUT OF EXCESS. INS FUND BALANCE THAT WAS THERE, AND SO IT ACTUALLY REMAINS THE SAME. AND SO TODAY'S ACTIONS ALLOW US TO STILL OFFER $175 MILLION COE WITHOUT IMPACTING THE TAX RATE. AND AS IS 175 THE MAX ON THE CEOS, ON THE CEOS AT THIS POINT. WELL, IT'S A MAX ON

[02:35:03]

NOT BEING TAXED OR NOT BEING TAXED OR NEUTRAL. I'M BEING TAXED OR NEUTRAL. YES. THANK YOU COMMISSIONER NEUTRAL BECAUSE YEAH, WE NEED TO LIKE SEPARATE OUT THE CEOS AND THE GEOS BECAUSE WE COULD IF, IF, IF WE WANTED, WE COULD DO ALL CEOS OR WE COULD DO ALL GEOS. IT'S JUST 175 MILLION WILL NOT INCREASE THE TAX RATE. THAT'S CORRECT. WELL, BUT THE PROBLEM WITH DOING THE CEOS WOULD BE IN A LESSER TIME FRAME OVER THE IS THAT CORRECT? HOW DO YOU MEAN? AS FAR AS THE BONDS, THE LENGTH OF THE BONDS KNOW IF IT STILL BE OKAY TO DO THE SAME IN TERMS OF TIME? YEAH. RIGHT NOW WE'RE PROPOSING A 20 YEAR REPAYMENT SCHEDULE FOR BOTH FOR BOTH THE COE AND THE GEO. OKAY JUST MAKE SURE. LET ME ASK MR. ROSHA TO CONFIRM. YES. YEAH. WE'RE PROPOSING A 20 YEAR RESCHEDULE FOR REPAYMENT ON BOT. AND THE 500 MILLION IS STILL HASN'T CHANGED FROM THE CAPACITY SO THAT OUR, CREDIT RATING ISN'T AFFECTED. THAT'S CORRECT. THE $500 MILLION REMAINS IN PLACE.

THE IN TERMS OF WHAT AMOUNT CAN BE ISSUED WITHOUT IMPACTING THE TAX RATE, THAT IS WHAT'S WHAT'S SHIFTED A LITTLE BIT. SO OUR INITIAL STARTING POINT WAS 150 MILLION. THAT WAS TAX NEUTRAL.

AND THEN THAT INCREASED TO 195. WHEN WE SAW THE PRELIMINARY CERTIFIED VALUES. BUT THEN AFTER PROTESTS AND WE SAW THE CERTIFIED VALUES, THAT NUMBER CAME BACK DOWN TO 175. AGAIN, WE'RE ERRING ON THE SIDE OF BEING CONSERVATIVE ON THIS SO THAT WE DO NOT PUT THE COUNTY IN A POSITION OF HAVING TO ADOPT A FINANCE PLAN THAT ENDS UP HAVING TO INCREASE TAXES, WHEN WE'VE LARGELY INDICATED THAT THAT AMOUNT COULD BE ISSUED WITHOUT RAISING THE TAX RATE. AND WILL WILL THESE, OBVIOUSLY THESE BONDS WILL HAVE A, A CALL DATE THAT WE CAN PUT IN THERE. IS THAT CORRECT? YES SIR. TYPICALLY AFTER TEN YEARS IS WHEN WE TYPICALLY SEE A LOT OF THE CALL DATES INSERTED INTO INTO THESE BONDS. IS IT AT THE TEN YEARS OR PRIOR TO THE TEN YEARS? THE REASON I'M ASKING IS BECAUSE IF THE INTEREST RATES GO DOWN AND IT'S AND IT IS SO IT DEPENDS ON THE APPETITE OF THE, OF THE INVESTORS. SO SOMETIMES WE CAN STRUCTURE A TRANSACTION THAT HAS A NINE YEAR CALL, IF THE DEMAND IS THERE, IF THERE ARE INVESTORS WHO ARE BUYING, A BONDS WITH NINE YEAR CALL, THE STANDARD IS TEN YEAR. BUT WE ALWAYS TRY TO PUSH, INVESTORS TO MAYBE TAKE LESS, AND THAT'S OBVIOUSLY AT A COST. THAT WOULD MAKE SENSE. SO, YOU KNOW, OBVIOUSLY AS WE GET CLOSER TO THAT ISSUANCE, WE WOULD TEST, WE WOULD GO OUT AND SEE WHAT IS PRICING AND WHAT INVESTORS ARE ACCEPTING AS A CALL DATE. THE TEN YEAR IS STANDARD. BUT LIKE I SAID, WE ALWAYS, LOOK FOR OPPORTUNITY TO MAYBE MAKE IT LESS IF IT MAKES SENSE, FINANCIALLY. RIGHT. JUST TO SEE BECAUSE IF IN THE NEAR FUTURE THE RATES GO DOWN, WE'D BE ABLE TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE REFUNDING. YEAH, OF COURSE. OKAY. ALL RIGHT. AND LAST WEEK'S MEETING, WE MENTIONED THE NEED TO UPDATE PROJECT 75, AND THEN WE'D BE WORKING WITH PUBLIC WORKS TO BRING BACK UPDATED INFORMATION RELATED TO THIS, THIS IS THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE 75 ACRE SITE THAT THE COUNTY OWNS AT THE INTERSECTION OF PELLICANO AND LOOP 375. THIS WAS GOING TO BE THE PLACE THAT THE OFFICE OF THE MEDICAL EXAMINER FACILITY WAS GOING TO BE LOCATE, AS WE WENT THROUGH THE PROCESS OF PREPARING THE SITE, THE SITE IS PARTIALLY LOCATED WITHIN THE CITY OF EL PASO, AND BECAUSE OF THAT, IT IS SUBJECT TO THE CITY'S SUBDIVISION AND ZONING REQUIREMENTS. AND WHEN, PARTICULARLY WHEN IT COMES TO PLATTING. AND SO THE COUNTY THEN SHIFTED FROM BEING A LOCAL GOVERNMENT TO EFFECTIVELY BEING A DEVELOPER OF A 75 ACRE SITE. AND SO THE CITY'S REQUIREMENTS FOR INFRASTRUCTURE IN TERMS OF PROVIDING FOR WATER, SEWER, STORM SEWER AND ROADWAYS WERE TRIGGERED JUST AS THEY WOULD BE FOR ANY OTHER LANDOWNER THAT WAS DEVELOPING A 75 ACRE SITE. AND SO THAT SIGNIFICANTLY INCREASED THE COST TO ACTUALLY MAKE THE SITE READY FOR THE MEDICAL EXAMINER FACILITY TO BE LOCATED ON THERE. AND SO THE PROJECT AS IT WAS ORIGINALLY DEVELOPED, TOTALED ABOUT $48.5 MILLION. AND IT WAS JUST THE INFRASTRUCTURE THAT ACTUALLY DID NOT INVOLVE THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE MEDICAL EXAMINER FACILITY AT ALL, AND COORDINATING WITH WITH BOND COUNSEL, IT'S BEEN ADVISED THAT THE COUNTY CONSIDER REVISING THE SCOPE OF THAT PROJECT, SO THAT IT CAN FIT ON THE GO BALLOT, MAKE SURE THAT IT MEETS ALL THE ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS. AND SO WHAT'S BEING PROPOSED IS A REVISION TO THAT SCOPE OF WORK. AND INSTEAD OF DEVELOPING THAT 75 ACRE SITE, WE WOULD MOVE AWAY FROM THAT SITE AND INSTEAD AT THIS TIME REVISE THE PROJECT

[02:40:05]

SCOPE TO, LAND DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION OF THE MEDICAL EXAMINER FACILITY. WE DO HAVE FUNDING IDENTIFIED IN THE CERTIFICATES OF OBLIGATION AND TAX NOTES THAT THE COURT ISSUED IN 2023 TO ACTUALLY FUND THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE FACILITY AND THE NEXT SLIDE GOES, OR YOU CAN SEE THERE WE HAVE, IT'S ACTUALLY IN THE TAX NOTES, INCLUDING SOME OF THE TAX NOTES THAT THE COURT JUST TOOK ACTION TO DEFUZE IN ITEM TEN, A, 8 MILLION FOR THE CONSTRUCTION, SET ASIDE. AND THEN THE DESIGN HAS BEEN FUNDED THROUGH THE AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN ACT PORTFOLIO. AND SO THE PROPOSED REVISION WOULD BE TO IDENTIFY A NEW SITE AND HAVE FUNDING IN THE BUDGET. IN THE EVENT THAT WE NEED TO ACQUIRE THE PROPERTY, OUR MISS PALACIOS AND PUBLIC WORKS AND HER TEAM ARE WORKING WITH DOCTOR RASCON AND HIS TEAM AND THE ME'S OFFICE TO DETERMINE IF SOME OF THE COUNTY OWNED ASSETS THAT WE HAVE, MIGHT BE A GOOD FIT FOR THEIR NEEDS. BUT IN THE EVENT NOT, WE WOULD WANT TO ENSURE THAT WE HAD WE HAD FUNDING TO ACQUIRE A NEW SITE, THE DESIGN WOULD NEED TO BE MODIFIED BECAUSE IT'S BEEN DESIGNED FOR THE EXISTING FACILITY. WOULDN'T HAVE TO BE COMPLETELY ABANDONED, BUT JUST ADJUSTED FOR WHATEVER NEW LOCATION WOULD BE PROPOSED.

AND THEN WE WOULD ALSO PROVIDE FUNDING FOR ANY SHORTFALL IN CONSTRUCTION. GIVEN THAT PRICES ARE HIGH, IT WAS INTENDED THAT THIS DESIGN WOULD BE WRAPPED UP IN THIS PROJECT, BE UNDER CONSTRUCTION AT THIS POINT IN TIME. BUT BECAUSE OF THE, UNFORESEEN DELAYS ASSOCIATED WITH GOING THROUGH THE CITY ZONING AND SUBDIVISION PROCESS, THE PROJECT'S DESIGN HAS BEEN PUT ON HOLD AND CONSTRUCTION PRICES HAVE INCREASED SINCE THEN. SO WHEN AT THE TIME THAT WE PUT THIS SLIDE TOGETHER FOR THE AGENDA, WE WERE ESTIMATING A BUDGET OF APPROXIMATELY $20 MILLION AND DISCUSSING WITH MISS PALACIOS AND WITH M AND K, WE'RE LOOKING SOMEWHERE BETWEEN 25 TO 30 MILLION BEING THE AMOUNT TO ACQUIRE A PIECE OF PROPERTY, REDESIGN AND THEN COVER ANY CONSTRUCTION SHORTAGES, THAT NUMBER AGAIN GOES DOWN IN THE EVENT THAT WE DON'T ACTUALLY HAVE TO ACQUIRE A NEW PIECE OF LAND, AND WE CAN MAKE AN EXISTING PIECE OF LAND WORK FOR WHAT THE MEDICAL EXAMINER AND HIS TEAM ARE LOOKING FOR. AND SO THE BUDGET WOULD BE REVISED TO APPROXIMATELY $30 MILLION, GIVING US A SAVINGS OF ABOUT $18.5 MILLION OF CAPACITY ON THE GO BOND. SO I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE I UNDERSTAND BECAUSE, THE 48 MILLION FOR THE 75 ACRES HAS ALWAYS BEEN INCLUDED AS PART OF THE GEO LIST OF PROJECTS, RIGHT? SO NOW THAT WE'RE REDUCING WELL, HERE IT SAYS REVISED BUDGET OF 20, BUT YOU'RE SAYING IT'S ACTUALLY 30. IT'S PROBABLY MORE ACCURATE. SO THE REDUCTION OF 18 MILLION, ARE THERE GOING TO BE NEW PROJECTS THAT ARE GOING TO BE NOW ADDED TO THE GEO, OR IT'S JUST THE REDUCTION OF THE 18 MILLION TO LOWER THE AMOUNT OF THE GEO? WELL, I THINK THAT'S FOR THE COURT TO DISCUSS. I THINK AT THIS POINT, GIVEN HOW MUCH EFFORT HAS BEEN PUT INTO THE EXISTING LIST, I BELIEVE IT WOULD BE. IT'S AT THE COURT'S DISCRETION. BUT WE'RE NOT. THE STAFF IS NOT PROPOSING THE ADDITION OF ANY NEW OF ANY NEW PROJECTS. IT WOULD BE TO JUST REDUCE THE AMOUNT OF THE GEO. SO I THINK A FEW SLIDES BEFORE, WHEN WE HAD ALL THE NUMBERS FOR THE GEO, THE FINAL STAFF RECOMMENDED GEO AMOUNT WAS 300.

NO, 294. AND THAT INCLUDES THE REDUCTION, CORRECT? NO THERE ISN'T. THERE'S ANOTHER SLIDE THAT FOLLOWS THAT SHOWS WHAT THOSE NUMBERS LOOK LIKE. ALL RIGHT. SO THERE'S ALSO SOME THINGS WE MOVED OKAY. YES. SO THERE WE'LL GET TO THAT RIGHT HERE. BUT YOU CAN SEE HERE THAT WITH THE REVISION THE DIRECT PROJECT COSTS UNDER THE GEO GOES DOWN TO 265. OKAY. BECAUSE IT WAS LIKE A 290, 92, 90, 80 SOMETHING. OKAY JOSE I'M SORRY. GO BACK DOWN TO THE LAST SLIDE THAT IS AT THE 20 MILLION OR IS THAT THAT AT THE IS THAT AT THE 30 MILLION FOR THE MEDICAL EXAMINER PROPERTY. THIS IS AT THE 20. SO THAT NUMBER WOULD INCREASE TO 275. YOU CAN SEE THERE UNDER DIRECT PROJECT COSTS GEO. IT SAYS 265. THAT NUMBER WOULD INCREASE TO 275 BECAUSE WE'D ADD ANOTHER 10 MILLION ON FROM THE AND THAT'S THE DIFFERENCE OF 20 TO 30. SO THE, THE ENHANCEMENT CHANGES BECAUSE IT'S 1% OF THE DIRECT PROJECT COST. AND SO ALL THESE TOTALS WOULD, WOULD NEED TO BE UPDATED BASED ON THAT. BUT IT WOULD BE SOMETHING SIMILAR TO THIS AMOUNT. THEY'RE JUST EFFECTIVELY BE 10 MILLION, 10,000,001% WOULD BE 10,000,001 10 MILLION, 10,000. THE 10 MILLION. THERE WOULD BE AN ADDITIONAL 10 MILLION. AND THE REMAINING CAPACITY WOULD REDUCE BY 10,010,000. SO THERE'D BE APPROXIMATELY 47 MILLION OF REMAINING CAPACITY THAT WOULD NOT BE, TAPPED INTO AT THIS TIM. AND SO THE STAFF'S

[02:45:02]

RECOMMENDATION IS TO IS 100,000. TO NOT TO NOT ADD ANY OTHER ANY OTHER ANY ANYTHING ELSE ONTO ONTO THE BOND LIST, EVEN THOUGH, FOR EXAMPLE, LIKE THE COLISEUM COMES UP SHORT, WE'RE NOT RECOMMENDING WE'RE NOT PROPOSING ANY OTHER CHANGES. BUT GO BACK TO YOUR SLIDE, JOSE, WITH THE TOTALS, BUT THE COURT HAS OPTIONS IF YOU'D LIKE TO, BUT. RIGHT NOW, THE GEO LINE WOULD BE ABOUT 280 MILLION. WITH THE CHANGE TO THE, I'M A LITTLE LES. BUT WITH THE CHANGE TO THE MEDICAL EXAMINER, THAT'D BE 280. AND SO YOU WOULD STILL HAVE CAPACITY OF ABOUT 47 MILLION IF YOU WANTED TO USE A PORTION OF THAT CAPACITY. ONLY ABOUT 45 OF THAT WOULD BE ON THE GEO SIDE, AND WHAT'S THE WHAT'S THE, DISCREPANCY BETWEEN WHAT WE'VE WHAT WE'VE SET ASIDE FOR THE COLISEUM AT THIS POINT TO WHAT THE TOTAL THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT, ABOUT 44 MILLION, 44 MILLION. I MEAN, WHAT WE'LL I DON'T KNOW IF WE'RE GOING TO TALK ABOUT IT NOW OR NEXT MONDAY OR. BUT BUT I YOU KNOW, I, I THINK IF WE'RE GOING TO DO THE COLISEUM, WE SHOULD DO THE COLISEUM. SO THERE'S, SO TO JUST TO LAY THE FOUNDATION FOR THE COURT TO HAVE THE DISCUSSION, WE ARE LOOKING FOR DIRECTION BECAUSE THIS IS GOING TO BE REQUIRED FOR US. WE'RE NOT LOOKING FOR A FORMAL MOTION OR ACTION, BUT DIRECTION AND CONCURRENCE FROM THE COURT, SO THAT WE KNOW WHAT TO STRUCTURE FOR NEXT WEEK IN THE EVENT THE COURT IS GOING TO PURSUE A GEO BOND, AND SO THERE'S SOME REVISIONS THAT NEED TO BE FORMALLY CONCURRED WITH BY THE COMMISSIONERS COURT. AND THAT IS A MOVEMENT OF PROJECT 63 AND PROJECTS TEN FROM THE CEO LIST TO THE GEO LIST. AGAIN, WE'VE DISCUSSED THAT, BUT WE'VE NEVER ASKED FOR YOUR CONCURRENCE ON THAT. WE'RE ALSO ASKING TO REVISE PROJECT 75, TO RENAME IT TO THE NEW MEDICAL EXAMINER'S OFFICE SITE AND BUILDING AND TO REVISE THE BUDGET, FROM THE EXISTING 48.5 MILLION TO 30 MILLION INSTEAD OF THAT 20. AND THAT'S JUST BECAUSE SOME OF THAT INFORMATION CAME IN, OVER THE WEEKEND. WELL, IS THERE ANY OTHER IMPACTS TO ANY OF THE OTHER PROJECTS? NO, THAT WAS THE ONLY ONE THAT STILL HAD THAT ITEM PENDING THAT WE WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE GATHERED INFORMATION BEFORE PRESENTING IT LAST WEEK, AND THEN THE OTHER DIRECTION IS TO STRUCTURE THE CAPITAL FINANCE PLAN, THERE ARE WANT TO MAKE SURE THE COURT IS AWARE OF THIS, SO THE CEO'S CURRENTLY ARE, ARE AT 174 MILLION. IT'S ABOUT 1.2 MILLION IN REMAINING CAPACITY IN THE CEOS. AND THEN THERE IS 200 AND APPROXIMATELY 269 MILLION IN THE GENERAL OBLIGATION BONDS. THIS IS THE NUMBER THAT MISS KELLER MENTIONED WOULD NEED TO BE REVISED TO 200. APPROXIMATELY 279 MILLION IF WE ADDED THE BECAUSE OF THAT 10 MILLION THAT WE'RE GOING TO NEED TO ADD FROM THE MEDICAL EXAMINERS OFFICE.

AND SO THAT NUMBER THAT IS ON THIS SLIDE HERE UNDER GEO TOTAL 269 MILLION, THAT NUMBER WOULD INCREASE TO, APPROXIMATELY 279 MILLION. WE'LL NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE RUN THE NUMBERS TO, TO HAVE THAT, BUT THAT WILL BE REFLECTED IN NEXT WEEK'S AGENDA ITEM. IF THE COURT DOES GIVE US DIRECTION, TO STRUCTURE A GENERAL OBLIGATION BOND, ORDER, UNDER THE GEO BOND AND PRELIMINARY CONVERSATIONS WITH BOND COUNSEL, THERE WOULD BE FIVE PROPOSITIONS ON THE BALLOT FOR THE PUBLIC'S CONSIDERATION, THE FIRST WOULD BE, AND THESE ARE IN NO PARTICULAR ORDER AT THIS TIME, BUT THE ANIMAL WELFARE SHELTER AND CLINIC, A SHELTER WOULD BE A STANDALONE PROPOSITION, ALL PARKS WOULD BE UNDER A SECOND PROPOSITION. THE THIRD ONE WOULD BE THE SUB COURTHOUSES, THE COUNTY ANNEXES, INCLUDING THE CORBIN ZAMBRANO CENTER. THAT WOULD BE THE THIRD.

THE COUNTY COLISEUM WOULD BE ITS STANDALONE PROPOSITION. AND THEN NOW THE MEDICAL EXAMINER FACILITY WOULD BE THE FINAL ONE. AND SO ALL FIVE WOULD BE PROPOSITIONS A THROUGH E THAT VOTERS WOULD BE ASKED TO CONSIDER, WE'RE WORKING WITH BOND COUNSEL, A NUMBER OF INTERNAL OFFICES, INCLUDING THE COUNTY CLERKS AND ELECTIONS WITH RESPECT TO, PREPARING FOR THAT.

AND THAT'S IN THAT, IN THAT INTEREST THAT WE ARE HOPING THAT THAT WE ARE REQUESTING DIRECTION FROM THE COURT TO, STRUCTURE THE FINANCE PLAN FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION ON AUGUST 12TH TO INCLUDE THAT ONCE WE HAVE YOUR DIRECTION TO DO THAT, WE WILL WORK ON POSTING ALL THE

[02:50:01]

NECESSARY ITEMS ON NEXT WEEK'S AGENDA. AND THEN WE'RE ASKING FOR YOUR CONCURRENCE ON THOSE PROJECT REVISIONS THAT ARE LISTED AT THE TOP OF THAT SLIDE AS WELL. WITH THE AMENDMENT BEING MADE TO THE BUDGET FOR PROJECT 75 BEING 30 MILLION INSTEAD OF 20 MILLION. NOW, AT THIS POINT, IF THERE'S ANY OTHER REVISIONS THAT THE COURT WOULD LIKE TO CONSIDER, WE CAN DEFINITELY DISCUSS THOSE AND MAKE SURE THAT WE TRACK THOSE INTO NEXT WEEK'S ITEMS. CAN I ASK A REALLY QUICK QUESTION BEFORE WE DO THAT THOUGH? SO THESE FIVE PROPOSITIONS DOES THAT. THESE ARE FIVE DIFFERENT PROPOSITIONS THAT THE VOTERS WILL BE ABLE TO VOTE ON INDIVIDUALLY. YES, MA'AM. OKAY AND THEY MAY NOT BE IN THAT EXACT ORDER. RIGHT WE DID HAVE A DISCUSSION ABOUT, WHETHER THERE'S ANY ROOM TO COMBINE SOME OF THEM. SO WE HAVE FEWER PROPOSITIONS. BOND COUNCIL'S ADVISED US THAT GIVEN THE USE OF, OF THE FACILITIES, THAT THIS IS THE RECOMMENDED STRUCTURE, THAT WE HAVE FIVE STANDALONE PROPOSITIONS.

I, I'M, I AM OKAY WITH THE PROPOSED PROJECT REVISIONS IS LISTED ON THE TOP OF THE PAGE AND THE FINANCING PLAN STRUCTUR. I THINK WE ADDED JUST WITHOUT HAVING TO PUT THE EXACT DOLLARS OUT. WE ADDED JUST EVEN AND OUT. LIKE MAYBE THE 279 AND 174. OF COURSE, THOSE ARE GOING TO BE DISTRIBUTED THROUGHOUT THE RIGHT. THAT'S CORRECT. SO THAT MAY NOT HAPPEN THAT WAY. RIGHT ESPECIALLY ON THE ON THE ON THE CERTIFICATES OF OBLIGATION, THE WAY THAT THOSE WILL BE STRUCTURED, THERE'LL BE MORE FLEXIBILITY TO MOVE, FUNDING BETWEEN PROJECTS, BUT THE COURT CAN ONLY MOVE IF THIS GOES OUT TO A VOTE. AND IF THE VOTERS APPROVE IT, THE COURT CAN ONLY MOVE FUNDING BETWEEN LINE ITEMS AND SIMILAR PROPOSITIONS. SO IF THERE IS A SHORTFALL UNDER THE ANIMAL WELFARE PROJECT AND THEIR SAVINGS IN THE MEDICAL EXAMINER FACILITY, WE CANNOT MOVE FUNDING FROM THE MEDICAL EXAMINER FACILITY PROJECT ONTO THE ANIMAL WELFARE, WHICH IS WHY THE ESTIMATING THAT MAC HAS DONE BEING AS CONSERVATIVE AS IT IS, INCLUDING CONTINGENCY, IS USEFUL SO THAT WE CAN ENSURE THAT, WE HAVE THE, THE, THE AMOUNT THAT WE'LL NEED AND THEN SEPARATING THE ISSUANCES BY TWO YEARS ALSO ALLOWS US TO HAVE UPDATED CONSTRUCTION COST ESTIMATES. SO IN THE EVENT WE DON'T NEED TO ISSUE AS MUCH, THESE ARE ALWAYS NOT TO EXCEEDS. SO WE THE COURT COULD CONSIDER A LOWER AMOUNT IF A LOWER AMOUNT WAS NEEDED, A GOOD EXAMPLE WOULD BE THE MEDICAL EXAMINER. IF WE'RE ABLE TO IDENTIFY A SITE AND WE DON'T NEED TO USE ALL 30 MILLION IN CAPACITY, THAT COULD ALSO BE REDUCED, THEN WE'RE ALSO, SINCE WE WERE ADDING THE GREEN, ENHANCEMENTS. RIGHT. THOUGH IT'LL STILL BE BY PROJECTS. SO THEY'LL BE DIVIDED BETWEEN THE LINE ITEMS. ALL RIGHT. AND THAT'S THE TYPE OF CONSENSUS OR FEEDBACK WE NEED SO THAT WE CAN BRING BACK THE PROPER INFORMATION FOR NEXT MONDAY. THANK YOU COMMISSIONER I'M OKAY WITH IT. I, I'M GOING TO REITERATE A STATEMENT THAT I MADE BEFORE. I THINK THAT WE SHOULD ASK THE VOTERS TO DECIDE ON ALL OF THESE PROJECTS. SO I WOULD ACTUALLY ADVOCATE FOR ALL OF THEM BEING ON THE GEO SINCE WE'RE NOT UNDER ANY EMERGENCY TIME CONSTRAINTS LIKE WE HAVE BEEN IN THE PAST WHEN WE'VE ISSUED CODES. COMMISSIONER STOUT, ANY QUESTIONS, I'M, YOU KNOW, I'M, I GUESS FINE WITH THE WITH THE REVISIONS. AND JUST AGAIN, WANT TO ADVOCATE FOR FULLY FUNDING THE COLISEUM IF WE HAVE ADDITIONAL CAPACITY IN THE GEO SITE, IS THERE A CONSENSUS TO DO THAT? I'M OKAY TO TAKE A LOOK AT IT. AS LONG AS WE KNOW WHAT IT'S FOR. I KNOW WHAT THE EXTRA AMOUNT WAS FOR. SINCE THE PROJECT GOT REDONE TO THE APPROXIMATE 60 MILLION, SO I DON'T KNOW. SO THE ORIGINAL PROJECT WAS 104 MILLION. THERE WAS 29 MILLION IN MAINTENANCE NEEDS, AND THE REMAINING AMOUNT IN IMPROVEMENTS TO THE ENTIRE SITE. AND SO WE WERE SCALING IT BACK FROM THE IMPROVEMENTS, FOCUSING MORE ON THE ACTUAL COLISEUM BUILDING ITSELF AND THE IN THE ENHANCEMENTS. CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG, JOSE. CORRECT, AND SO THIS WOULD ALLOW MORE IMPROVEMENTS TO THE TO THE ENTIRE GROUNDS, THE ENTIRE ALL THE FACILITIES ON THE GROUNDS.

AND WAS ANY OF THE FUNDS DEDICATED TO ASCOT AT THAT REDUCED BECAUSE OF THE COLISEUM AT THE 104 LEVEL? NO WE'RE GOOD ON THAT. OKAY I'M WILLING TO CONSIDER IT IF THE COURT, IS

[02:55:02]

THERE AN AMOUNT, THE COURT, I MEAN, THE COURT IS ALWAYS HAD A NUMBER UNDER 300 MILLION. IN TERMS OF WHAT IS ON THE GEO BON, THERE'S GOING BACK TO THIS TABL, YOU CAN SEE THAT 55 MILLION IN CAPACITY UNDER THE GEO. THAT'S GOING TO REDUCE APPROXIMATELY 10 MILLION IS GOING TO COME DOWN TO 45 MILLION. WHAT AMOUNT WOULD BECAUSE THIS IS WHAT CAN THIS IS THE INFORMATION THAT WILL BE HELPFUL FOR PUBLIC WORKS AND THE CONSULTANT TO ACTUALLY BE ABLE TO FIGURE OUT WHAT THAT MONEY WILL GO TO, BASICALLY WHAT WE'RE ASKING IS, ARE YOU WILLING IF WE DID THE ENTIRE $44 MILLION THAT THE COLISEUM PROJECT REQUIRED FOR EVERYTHING THAT WOULD TAKE THAT UP OVER TO 324 AND 20, 323 MILLION OR 324 MILLION FOR THE GEO. THERE'D BE NO CAPACITY REMAINING UNDER EITHER C OR GEO.

I'D BE WILLING TO SET UP TO UP TO 40. THAT THAT GIVES US A LITTLE BIT OF ROOM UNDERNEATH.

AND AS WE MOVE FORWARD, I MEAN, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE SPECIFIC PROJECTS, RIGHT? WE IT'S VERY SPECIFIC, ALREADY OUTLINED IN THE PROJECTS. I'M TALKING ABOUT THE COLISEUM. YES, SIR. ANOTHER ADDITIONAL 40 MILLION ONTO THE COLISEUM PROJECT. SO, SO, YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT THERE WOULDN'T BE ANY MORE. ANY MORE CAPACITY. BUT IF WE'RE NOT GOING TO ADD ANYTHING ELSE TO THE LIST, WE DON'T NEED TO USE THAT ADDITIONAL. I MEAN, IT DOESN'T MATTER, RIGHT? IT'S NOT LIKE WE'RE GOING TO WE COULD WE COULD GO UP TO THAT. YES, SIR. THAT THAT ADDITIONAL AMOUNT. AND IT'S NOT FOR ANY PROJECT. SO IT WOULDN'T BE USABLE ANYWAYS. YEAH. THE REMAINING CAPACITY IN IS IMPORTANT IN THE TERMS OF IN THE EVENT THAT THERE WAS SOME UNFORESEEN CIRCUMSTANCE AND THERE WAS A $30 MILLION EMERGENT CAPITAL NEED BECAUSE OF A CATASTROPHE, AND THE COUNTY WANTED TO ISSUE CERTIFICATES OF OBLIGATION, WE WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO WE WOULD THE COURT REMAINED HAS THE AUTHORITY TO DO SO, BUT IT MIGHT COME AT THE HARM OF THE CREDIT RATING AT THE OF THE BOND RATING. THAT'S IT. AND THEN THERE'S ALSO SOME UNFORESEEN THINGS THAT COME UP WITH, LOW INTEREST LOAN PROGRAMS THAT REQUIRE DEBT TO BE ISSUED. I FEEL LIKE THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WAS UNDERSTOOD THE WHOLE TIME WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT. ABSOLUTELY $500 MILLION, RIGHT? YES, SIR. I MEAN, SO IN YOUR GEO CAPACITY, IF YOU TAKE OFF THE $10,100,000, THERE'S 45.8 MILLION AND LEFT IN CAPACITY, BUT THAT WOULD MAX OUT YOUR GEO BOND CAPACITY. AND THAT'S THAT IS THE AND THAT WOULD THAT WOULD ALSO JUST FOR FULL CLARITY, THE TAX RATE INCREASE NECESSARY FOR THE 279 VERSUS THE IF YOU ADDED THE, THE 44,000, 44 MILLION TO THAT. GIVE ME ONE SECOND, $325 MILLION JOKE GO BOND ISSUANCE. THE MAXIMUM AMOUNT WILL RAISE TAXES BY $0.03 CENTS. ANYTHING LESS WILL BE LESS THAN $0.03. AND WE'LL WORK WITH STIFEL TO, IT'D BE TWO AND A HALF AND THREE PENNIES. COME UP WITH THAT AMOUNT BETWEEN BETWEEN TWO AND A HALF AND THREE PENNIES. WE DO NEED TO REPORT. WE DO NEED TO POST THAT ONTO THE BALLOT LANGUAGE. SO WHEN VOTERS GO OUT, THEY'LL SEE HOW MUCH EACH PROPOSITION WILL INCREASE THEIR TAX RATE. SO THAT'S THAT'S WHAT WE NEED CLARITY TO BRING BACK THE PROPER LANGUAGE. DO YOU WANT TO ADD 40 MILLION OR 44 MILLION? 44 MILLION IS HOW MUCH THERE WAS IN A GAP IN THE COLISEUM. THE FULL PROPOSED COLISEUM PROJECT? I'D LIKE TO SEE IT FULLY FUNDED. IF WE CAN. I'D RATHER STICK WITH STAFF'S RECOMMENDATION AND LEAVE THAT CUSHION FOR FUTURE ISSUANCES IN CASE THERE IS AN EMERGENCY. CUSHION THAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT. IS IT 5 OR 10? NO, I MEAN, I THE ENTIRE 40 I MEAN, STAFF WAS ORIGINALLY PROPOSING THAT WE LEAVE OR MAYBE 30. IT WOULD. RIGHT. IT WOULD BE ABOUT 47,000,000 MILLION. MR. LEONE AND CORONADO, I'M IN FAVOR OF USING IT. THE ENTIRE AMOUNT TO THE 40. THE 44. AND I'M OKAY WITH IT. AS LONG AS WE'RE UNDERNEATH. AND, EVEN EVEN IF WE HAVE A LITTLE BIT OF CAPACITY

[03:00:02]

LEFT FOR SOME UNFORESEEN CIRCUMSTANCES, DURING DURING THE YEAR. AND THE IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT THIS IS A SNAPSHOT IN TIME TODAY, CHANGES TO THE TAX BASE CONTINUE TO AFFECT THESE. AND SO IF OUR TAX BASE CONTINUES TO GROW AT A FASTER RATE THAN PROJECTED IN THE MODELS THAT STIFEL HAS PUT TOGETHER, THERE MAY BE ADDITIONAL CAPACITY THAT WE GAIN INHERENTLY JUST BY VIRTUE OF THAT. AND SO WE CONTINUE TO MONITOR THAT. BUT THIS IS THE THIS IS CONSERVATIVE ABSOLUTE ESTIMATE, RIGHT? I WANT TO BE AS CONSERVATIVE AS WE CAN ON THIS. OKAY. AND THEN WE HAVE CONCURRENCE. THESE NUMBERS WILL BE ADJUSTED. WE'LL WORK WITH THE ENTIRE TEAM TO ADJUST THOSE NUMBERS AND PROVIDE THOSE. AND THEN NEXT WEEK'S COMMISSIONERS COURT WILL WORK ON HAVING THE AGENDA AND LANGUAGE FOR THAT, I'D LIKE TO PROPOSE THAT THE COURT CONSIDER, SETTING A TIME FOR THAT PRIMARILY AFTER LUNCH, JUST IN TERMS OF COMMUNICATION, SO THAT WE CAN LET THE PUBLIC KNOW, IN THE INTEREST OF TRANSPARENCY, THAT THIS ITEM WILL BE CONSIDERED AT APPROXIMATELY 1:00 AFTER YOUR RECESS FOR LUNCH, IF THE COURT IS IN AGREEMENT WITH THAT AS WELL. GOOD THANK YOU. JUDGE. COMMISSIONERS THANK YOU. THANK YOU. JUDGE, AT THIS TIME, WOULD YOU LIKE TO RECESS FOR LUNCH? YES. COMMISSIONERS COURT WILL RECESS FOR ONE HOUR. IT IS 12:31 P.M.

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

[03:05:05]

FIVE AND OLDER ARE NOT ELIGIBLE FOR THE COVID 19 VACCINE. I'M CURRENT AND ALL MY VACCINES AND I ALSO GET THE COVID VACCINE. SO I AND MY LOVED ONES CAN BE PROTECTED. YOU AND YOUR KIDS SHOULD GET THE VACCINE TOO. AND IF YOU'VE ALREADY GOTTEN THE VACCINE, YOU SHOULD GET YOUR BOOSTER FOR YOUR CHILD'S ROUTINE VACCINES. VISIT EP HEALTH.COM. WE KNOW HOW MUCH YOU LOVE YOUR CHILDREN, SO REMEMBER, DON'T HESITATE, VACCINATE AS IMPORTANT Q SUS HIJOS TENGAN TODAS SUS VACUNAS ADEMAS DE LA VACUNA SALTENAS LOS NINOS DE CINCO ANOS, AHORA SON ELIGIBLES PARA LA VACUNA DE COVID 19, LA VACUNA COVID ES GRATIS PARA LAS VACUNAS RUTINAS DE SUS HIJOS. VISITA EP HEALTH.COM SABEMOS CUANTO A TUS HIJOS, ASI Q RECUERDA NO LO DUDES VACCINATE. GOOD AFTERNOON, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN. HAPPY 4TH OF JULY. WE ARE FRECUENCIA. SOMEBODY MAKE SOME NOISE. SO TODAY WE ARE CELEBRATING THE 4TH OF JULY HERE AT ASCARATE PARK. WE'RE 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. HEY, WE'RE GETTING OUR 4TH OF JULY GLASSES. YEAH 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 THE FIRST TIME WE'VE DONE IT HERE. SO IT'S WHERE YOU GET YOUR OWN PERSONAL TABLE. YOU HAVE, AREAS WHERE YOU CAN PLAY GAMES. WE HAVE BLOW UP SLIDES FOR THE CHILDREN. WE EVEN HAVE A MOVIE INDOORS. 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 THEY 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 SCOUT AT THE PARK, COME ON OUT. IT'S A IT'S A FUN TIME. PEOPLE ARE ENJOYING IT, 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 HIGH FIVE. 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 QUITE IMPRESSED.

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. YOU KNOW, WE'RE IN A SAFE ENVIRONMENT. I CAN'T ASK FOR MORE. REALLY HAPPY INDEPENDENCE DAY, EL PASO. I LOVE.

THAT WAS COOL. 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 ALSO ESPECIALLY 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 SWINGS. THERE

[03:10:01]

YOU GO. READY THE AMENITIES AND THE PLAY STRUCTURES ARE MORE INCLUSIVE. THEY ALLOW FOR WHEELED DEVICES TO BE UTILIZED. 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. THEY CAN, WHEEL INTO IT AND EXPERIENCE THE FUN. AND I REALLY WANT TO THANK EVERYONE FOR MAKING THIS HAPPEN. I REALLY APPRECIATE IT. WELL, THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. THANKS FOR JOINING US. YOU'RE 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. HAVE FUN, HAVE FUN. THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU. 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, KIDS WITHOUT DISABILITIES WILL NOT. THEIR PLAY ISN'T IMPACTED WITH NOW HAVING KIDS WITH DISABILITIES COME AND JOIN THEM. SO IT OPENS UP THAT DIALOG. IT OPENS UP THAT RELATIONSHIP AND THAT COMMUNICATION AND MORE IMPORTANTLY, THAT UNDERSTANDING OF EVERYBODY IN OUR HUMANITY. WALKING AROUND TODAY 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 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, HEALTH CARE, MEDICAL SERVICES. IT WILL 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. 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 AND THIS, I THINK, EMBODIES THAT. 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. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE. THANK YOU, DARYL, FOR THE INVITATION. EL PASO, I'VE HEARD ABOUT EL PASO. I'VE NEVER BEEN, 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. WE HAVE WONDERFUL ART GALLERIES THERE. 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.

[03:15:02]

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 GUYS? 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. THERE'S A LOT TO DO, A LOT TO SEE. 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 TIGUA POTTERY. SO THAT'S THE HOME OF THE YSLETA DEL SUR PUEBLO. SO YOU HAVE A LOT OF NATIVE POTTERY THERE.

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. YOU KIND OF HAVE TO SEE THEM FROM AFAR. AND THAT'S NOT THE CASE WITH OUR MISSIONS. WITH OUR MISSIONS, THEY'RE STILL VERY ACTIVE. SO MASS IS STILL HELD THERE ON SUNDAYS. 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. 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. WE ALSO HAVE A BASEBALL STADIUM. SO WE HAVE A LOT TO DO IN EL PASO. 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 ILIANA HOLGUIN, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING ME THIS MORNING. THANK YOU FOR THE INVITATION. 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.

[03:22:34]

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

VISITA EP HEALTH.COM SABEMOS CUANTO A TUS HIJOS, ASI RECUERDA NO LO DUDES VACCINATE. GOOD AFTERNOON, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN. HAPPY 4TH OF JULY. WE ARE FRECUENCIA. SOMEBODY MAKE SOME NOISE. SO TODAY WE ARE CELEBRATING THE 4TH OF JULY HERE AT ASCARATE PARK. WE'RE 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. HEY THERE, 4TH OF JULY GLASSES. YEAH. PUT THEM ON 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 THE FIRST TIME WE'VE DONE IT HERE, SO IT'S WHERE YOU GET YOUR OWN PERSONAL TABLE. YOU HAVE, AREAS WHERE YOU CAN PLAY GAMES. WE HAVE BLOW UP SLIDES FOR THE CHILDREN. WE EVEN HAVE A MOVIE INDOORS. 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 THEY 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

[03:25:06]

EVENTS AREA AND ON OUR LAWN. IF YOU HAVE NOT BEEN TO A FIREWORKS SHOW IN A SCOUT AT THE PARK, COME ON OUT. IT'S A IT'S A FUN TIME. PEOPLE ARE ENJOYING IT. YOU KNOW, PARKS ARE A PLACE OF DEMOCRACY WHERE WE ALL, YOU KNO, ALL WALKS OF LIFE ARE COMING TOGETHER AND SHARING. SO THAT'S KIND OF THE BEAUTY OF IT HERE ON INDEPENDENCE DAY. YEAH HIGH FIVE. 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 QUITE IMPRESSED.

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. YOU KNOW, WE'RE IN A SAFE ENVIRONMENT. I CAN'T ASK FOR MORE. REALLY HAPPY INDEPENDENCE DAY, EL PASO. I LOVE.

THAT WAS COOL. 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 WAY. THE FLOORING IS ALSO ESPECIALLY MADE IN CONDUCIVE TO FOLKS WITH WITH DIFFERENT TYPES OF ABILITIES. AND SO, YOU KNOW WE'VE GOT SLIDES I MEAN IT'S A GREAT PLAYGROUND SWINGS. THERE YOU GO. READY THE AMENITIES AND THE PLAY STRUCTURES ARE MORE INCLUSIVE.

THEY ALLOW FOR WHEELED DEVICES TO BE UTILIZED. SO FOR EXAMPLE, THIS ONE OVER HERE, THE SWAY FU.

IT'S A SEESAW. BUT A CHILD OR A PERSON WHO'S USING A WHEELED, 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. I REALLY APPRECIATE IT. WELL, THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. THANKS FOR JOINING US. YOU'RE 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. HAVE FUN, HAVE FUN. THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU. 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, KIDS WITHOUT DISABILITIES WILL NOT THEIR PLAY ISN'T IMPACTED WITH NOW HAVING KIDS WITH DISABILITIES COME AND JOIN THEM. SO IT OPENS UP THAT DIALOG. IT OPENS UP THAT RELATIONSHIP AND THAT COMMUNICATION AND MORE IMPORTANTLY, THAT UNDERSTANDING 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 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

[03:30:03]

LOT OF ACTIVITIES THAT THEY WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO OTHERWISE. THIS IS GOING TO HELP PEOPLE ACCESS BANKING SERVICES, HEALTH CARE, MEDICAL SERVICES. IT WILL 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. 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. AND THIS, I THINK, EMBODIES THAT. 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. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE. THANK YOU, DARYL, FOR THE INVITATION. EL PASO, I'VE HEARD ABOUT EL PASO. I'VE NEVER BEEN, 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. WE HAVE WONDERFUL ART GALLERIES THERE. 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 GUYS? 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. THERE'S A LOT TO DO, A LOT TO SEE. 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 TIGUA POTTERY. SO THAT'S THE HOME OF THE YSLETA DEL SUR PUEBLO. SO YOU HAVE A LOT OF NATIVE POTTERY THERE.

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. YOU KIND OF HAVE TO SEE THEM FROM AFAR. AND THAT'S NOT THE CASE WITH OUR MISSIONS, WITH OUR MISSIONS, THEY'RE STILL VERY ACTIVE. SO MASS IS STILL HELD THERE ON SUNDAYS. 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. WE HAVE SO MANY ATTRACTIONS, SO DEFINITELY, YOU KNOW, WE WANT TO START WITH THE

[03:35:05]

MISSION TRAIL. WE WANT TO INVITE EVERYONE TO COME OUT TO THE MISSION TRAIL, BUT WE ALSO HAVE WATER PARKS. WE ALSO HAVE A BASEBALL STADIUM. SO WE HAVE A LOT TO DO IN EL PASO. 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. THANK YOU FOR THE INVITATION. 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.

[03:40:08]

GOOD AFTERNOON, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN. HAPPY 4TH OF JULY. WE ARE FRECUENCIA. SOMEBODY MAKE SOME NOISE. SO TODAY WE ARE CELEBRATING THE 4TH OF JULY HERE AT ASCARATE PARK. WE'RE 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. HEY, WE'RE GETTING OUR 4TH OF JULY GLASSES. YEAH 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 THE FIRST TIME WE'VE DONE IT HERE, SO IT'S WHERE YOU GET YOUR OWN PERSONAL TABLE. YOU HAVE, AREAS WHERE YOU CAN PLAY GAMES. WE HAVE BLOW UP SLIDES FOR THE CHILDREN. WE EVEN HAVE A MOVIE INDOORS. 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 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 SCOUT AT THE PARK, COME ON OUT. IT'S A IT'S A FUN TIME. PEOPLE ARE ENJOYING IT, 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 HIGH FIVE. 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 QUITE IMPRESSED.

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. YOU KNOW, WE'RE IN A SAFE ENVIRONMENT. I CAN'T ASK FOR MORE. REALLY. HAPPY INDEPENDENCE DAY, EL PASO. I LOVE.

THAT WAS COOL. 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 ALSO ESPECIALLY MADE IN CONDUCIVE TO FOLKS WITH WITH DIFFERENT TYPES

[03:45:03]

OF ABILITIES. AND SO, YOU KNOW WE'VE GOT SLIDES I MEAN IT'S A GREAT PLAYGROUND SWINGS. THERE YOU GO. READY THE AMENITIES AND THE PLAY STRUCTURES ARE MORE INCLUSIVE. THEY ALLOW FOR WHEELED DEVICES TO BE UTILIZED. 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. THEY CAN, WHEEL INTO IT AND EXPERIENCE THE FUN. AND I REALLY WANT TO THANK EVERYONE FOR MAKING THIS HAPPEN. I REALLY APPRECIATE IT. WELL, THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. THANKS FOR JOINING US. YOU'RE 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. HAVE FUN, HAVE FUN. THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU. 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, KIDS WITHOUT DISABILITIES WILL NOT THEIR PLAY ISN'T IMPACTED WITH NOW HAVING KIDS WITH DISABILITIES COME AND JOIN THEM. SO IT OPENS UP THAT DIALOG. IT OPENS UP THAT RELATIONSHIP AND THAT COMMUNICATION AND MORE IMPORTANTLY, THAT UNDERSTANDING 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 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. 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. 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. AND THIS I THINK, EMBODIES THAT. 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. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE. THANK YOU, DARYL, FOR THE INVITATION. EL PASO, I'VE HEARD ABOUT EL PASO. I'VE NEVER BEEN, 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. WE HAVE WONDERFUL ART GALLERIES THERE. 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

[03:50:06]

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 GUYS? 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. THERE'S A LOT TO DO, A LOT TO SEE. YOU CAN WALK AROUND, OF COURSE, EXPLORE THE CHAPEL, 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 TIGUA POTTERY. SO THAT'S THE HOME OF THE YSLETA DEL SUR PUEBLO. SO YOU HAVE A LOT OF NATIVE POTTERY THERE.

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. YOU KIND OF HAVE TO SEE THEM FROM AFAR. AND THAT'S NOT THE CASE WITH OUR MISSIONS. WITH OUR MISSIONS, THEY'RE STILL VERY ACTIVE. SO MASS IS STILL HELD THERE ON SUNDAYS. 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. 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. WE ALSO HAVE A BASEBALL STADIUM. SO WE HAVE A LOT TO DO IN EL PASO. 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. THANK YOU FOR THE INVITATION. 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.

[03:57:43]

HEY, WE'RE GETTING OUR 4TH OF JULY GLASSES. YEAH, PUT THEM ON IN 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 THE FIRST TIME WE'VE DONE IT HERE. SO IT'S WHERE YOU GET YOUR OWN PERSONAL TABLE. YOU HAVE, AREAS WHERE YOU CAN PLAY GAMES. WE HAVE BLOW UP SLIDES FOR THE CHILDREN. WE EVEN HAVE A MOVIE INDOORS. 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

[04:00:07]

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 SCOUT AT THE PARK, COME ON OUT. IT'S A IT'S A FUN TIME. PEOPLE ARE ENJOYING IT.

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 HIGH FIVE. 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 QUITE IMPRESSED. 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. YOU KNOW, WE'RE IN A SAFE ENVIRONMENT. I CAN'T ASK FOR MORE. REALLY A HAPPY INDEPENDENCE DAY. EL PASO. I LOVE.

THAT WAS COOL. 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 ALSO ESPECIALLY MADE IN CONDUCIVE TO FOLKS WITH WITH DIFFERENT TYPES OF ABILITIES AND SO YOU KNOW WE'VE GOT SLIDES I MEAN IT'S A GREAT PLAYGROUND SWINGS. THERE YOU GO. READY THE AMENITIES AND THE PLAY STRUCTURES ARE MORE INCLUSIVE. THEY ALLOW FOR WHEELED DEVICES TO BE UTILIZED. 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. THEY CAN, WHEEL INTO IT AND EXPERIENCE THE, THE FUN. AND I REALLY WANT TO THANK EVERYONE FOR MAKING THIS HAPPEN. I REALLY APPRECIATE IT. WELL, THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. THANKS FOR JOINING US. YOU'RE 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. HAVE FUN, HAVE FUN. THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU. 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, KIDS WITHOUT DISABILITIES WILL NOT THEIR PLAY ISN'T IMPACTED WITH NOW HAVING KIDS WITH DISABILITIES COME AND JOIN THEM. SO IT OPENS UP THAT DIALOG. IT OPENS UP THAT RELATIONSHIP. AND THAT COMMUNICATION AND MORE IMPORTANTLY, THAT UNDERSTANDING 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 WORKED SLOW, BUT, YOU KNOW, WE PERSEVERED AND 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

[04:05:04]

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, HEALTH CARE, MEDICAL SERVICES. IT WILL 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. 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. AND THIS, I THINK, EMBODIES THAT. 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. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE. NO, THANK YOU, DARYL, FOR THE INVITATION. EL PASO, I'VE HEARD ABOUT EL PASO. I'VE NEVER BEEN. 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. WE HAVE WONDERFUL ART GALLERIES THERE. 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 GUYS? 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'LL BE HAPPENING THIS SUMMER. 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. 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. THERE'S A LOT TO DO, A LOT TO SEE YOU CAN WALK AROUND, OF COURSE, EXPLORE THE CHAPEL, 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. SO THAT'S THE HOME OF THE YSLETA DEL SUR PUEBLO. SO YOU HAVE A LOT OF NATIVE POTTERY THERE. 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. GO AHEAD.

COMMISSIONERS COURT HAS RECONVENED TO REGULAR OPEN SESSION. OKAY. BEFORE WE GO INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION, WE ARE GOING TO GO AHEAD AND, ADDRESS A COUPLE OF ITEMS FOR ITEM 11. B

[04:10:09]

PURSUANT TO TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE SECTION 551.071, DISCUSS LEGAL RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES REGARDING LITIGATION STYLED UNITED STATES VERSUS TEXAS. NUMBER 2450149.

COUNTY ATTORNEY'S FILE NUMBER 016523 PL ALONG WITH ITS CORRESPONDING REGULAR SESSION ITEM. ITEM 12 A DISCUSS AND TAKE APPROPRIATE ACTION REGARDING LEGAL RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES REGARDING LITIGATION STYLE. UNITED STATES VERSUS TEXAS, NUMBER 2450149.

COUNTY ATTORNEY'S FILE NUMBER 016523. WE ARE ASKING FOR THESE ITEMS TO BE DELETED.

[A. 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]

WE HAVE A MOTION TO DELETE. SO MOVED. SECOND COMMISSIONER OKAY I COMMISSIONER LEON I COMMISSIONER STOUT I COMMISSIONER CORONADO I JUDGE SAMANIEGO. MOTION CARRIES. AND FOR ITEM 11 D AN EXECUTIVE PURSUANT TO TEXAS LOCAL GOVERNMENT CODE SECTIONS 551.0725 DISCUSS CONTRACT NEGOTIATIONS REGARDING THE INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT RELATED TO ARPA PROJECT 1160 TORNILLO GUADALUPE PORT OF ENTRY STUDY BETWEEN EL PASO COUNTY AND THE CAMINO REAL REGIONAL MOBILITY AUTHORITY CONTRACT NUMBER 2024 0211. COULD WE ALSO HAVE A MOTION TO DELETE THIS ITEM? SO MOVED? SECOND COMMISSIONER OKAY. HIGH COMMISSIONER LEON.

COMMISSIONER STOUT, HIGH COMMISSIONER CORONADO I JUDGE SAMANIEGO I MOTION CARRIES. NOW CAN I ASK WILL THIS ITEM BE BROUGHT BACK AT A FUTURE DATE OR WHICH ONE? COMMISSIONER. SORRY ONE FOR TORNILLO AND CREMA. YEAH, COMMISSIONER, I BELIEVE THAT THIS ISSUE THAT WE WERE WORKING WITH, IN TERMS WITH THE AUDITORS WAS RESOLVED. SO I BELIEVE WE SHOULD BE I DON'T KNOW IF THE AGREEMENT WAS ACTUALLY FINALIZED, WAS ALREADY APPROVED. I BELIEVE. THEY'RE GOING TO FINALIZE AND BRING BACK. I'M SORRY. OKAY. THANK YOU. COMMISSIONERS. THANK YOU.

AND ALSO NOW FOR THE ITEM FOR THAT WAS PULLED FROM THE CONSENT AGENDA. JUST GIVE G ITEM FOUR G.

I BELIEVE WE HAVE A LEGAL MEMO TO READ IN FOR THAT ITEM, YES. SO WE ACTUALLY STAFF IS ASKING THAT ITEM G BE TAKEN INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION PURSUANT TO TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE SECTION 551.0725, AS WELL AS 551.071 TO RECEIVE LEGAL ADVICE PERTAINING TO THE SAME. SO IF YOU AGREE TO

[G. Approve and authorize the County Judge to sign the Cultural Heritage Society HOT Event Grant Service Agreement with the Cultural Heritage Society of the Camino Real de Tierra Adentro, pursuant to Texas Tax Code Sections 352.1015, 352.102(a)(2), and 352.102(a)(3), for the general promotion and tourist advertising of the County of El Paso and its vicinity to attract visitors from August 21-25, 2024, in the amount of $15,000. Funds are available in SR-TOURPROM-HISTORICAL EVENTS. (Contract No. 2024-0554) Roberto Ransom, Director, Economic Development, 915-546-2177]