Aug 19, 2024 Commissioners Court Regular

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ONE. ONE. ONE. ONE. ONE. ONE. ONE.

OH OH. ONE.

OH OH. ONE. ONE. ONE. ONE. ONE.

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ONE. ONE. ONE. ONE. ONE. GO AHEAD. GOOD MORNING, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN. TODAY IS MONDAY, AUGUST 19TH, 2024. COMMISSIONERS COURT IS MEETING IN REGULAR OPEN SESSION. TODAY WE ARE JOINED BY

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[OPEN MEETING]

[PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE]

JUDGE. I APPRECIATE THAT. AND GOOD MORNING, ALL OF JUDGE AND COMMISSIONERS. ALL ARE WELCOME

[INVOCATION]

JUDGE, DO YOU HAVE ANY OPENING COMMENTS YOU'D LIKE TO MAKE BEFORE WE BEGIN? YEAH. THANK YOU, THANK YOU. ON BEHALF OF MYSELF AND OUR COMMISSIONERS, WE WELCOME ALL, ALL OF YOU TO COMMISSIONERS COURT. AS YOU CAN SEE, SOME GREAT RESOLUTIONS TODAY. A LOT OF EXCITEMENT. SO WE THANK YOU THAT BEING PART OF COUNTY GOVERNMENT. WE'VE GOT COMMISSIONER STOUT IS ON VIRTUAL AND WE YOU KNOW WE WISH ALL OF YOU JUST AN AMAZING DAY AND JUST A WONDERFUL WEEK. AND THANK YOU FOR THESE ACTIVITIES THAT REALLY UNITE US AS A COMMUNITY. VERY DIFFICULT TIMES. BUT OUR COMMUNITY CONTINUES TO BE A TREMENDOUS ROLE MODEL FOR HOW OTHER COMMUNITIES SHOULD BE. SO VERY THANKFUL TO BE A PART OF THIS COMMUNITY. AND YOUR COUNTY JUDGE, THANK YOU. ITEM FOUR IS THE CONSENT AGENDA, COMPOSED OF ITEMS FOUR A THROUGH FOUR Y. WE DO HAVE A CORRECTION FOR ITEM FOUR O. ITEM FOUR O SHOULD READ, APPROVE AND AUTHORIZE THE COUNTY JUDGE TO SIGN THE SECOND OPTION

[CONSENT AGENDA]

[O. Approve and authorize the County Judge to sign the Second Option to Renew Professional Services Agreement between El Paso County and Public Sector Personnel Consultants (PSPC) for Classification and Compensation Services from August 25, 2024, through August 24, 2025, in an amount not to exceed $50,000. Funds are available in GF-HR-CONTR SVCGEN & GFGADM-CONTR SVC-GEN. (Contract No. 2024-0655) Sam Trujillo, Interim Chief Human Resources Officer, Human Resources, 915-273-3520]

[H. Approve and authorize the County Judge to sign the Contract Service Agreement between the County of El Paso and the following service provider participating in the Border Prosecution Unit (BPU) initiative (Grant #2283712) from September 1, 2024, through August 31, 2025, LaToya Scott Robinson. No County match is required. (Contract No. 2024-0640) Bill D. Hicks, District Attorney, District Attorney's Office, 915-546-2059]

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[RESOLUTIONS]

[A. Approve and adopt a resolution recognizing August 23, 2024, as a day to celebrate “Our History” through an augmented reality experience at the El Paso County Courthouse. Sergio Coronado, Commissioner, Precinct 4, 915-546-2044]

CALLEJAS IS UNBELIEVABLE, YOU SAW THE AT THE HEALING GARDEN, I'M GOING TO HAVE TO PLUG MY FAMILY IN BECAUSE I'VE GOT ON THIS PARTICULAR ONE, I'VE GOT MY GREAT GRANDFATHER, MY GREAT GRANDMOTHER, AND MY GREAT UNCLE ARE THERE. AND IT'S AN AMAZING HOW FEW PEOPLE GET TO SEE IT.

IT'S NOT REALLY HIDDEN, BUT IT SORT OF IS HIDDEN. SO IF YOU HAVE A CHANCE ON THE THIRD FLOOR, ONCE YOU LEAVE HERE, YOU GO BACK THIS WAY. IT'S JUST AN AMAZING STORY. THE HISTORY OF OUR COUNTRY. AND SO I THANK YOU THAT YOU HIGHLIGHT THAT, COMMISSIONER. I THINK IT'S JUST GOING TO BE VERY VALUABLE. WE HAVE GREAT ATHLETES, WE HAVE BEAUTIFUL INDIVIDUALS. AND WE ALSO HAVE GREAT, GREAT MURALISTS AND ARTISTS. AND I THINK THIS WOULD REALLY HIGHLIGHT THEIR TALENT. WELL, YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE THINGS IS THAT WE ALWAYS TAKE A LOOK. SOMETIMES WE LOOK

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AND, AND WHAT, WHAT THEY CONTRIBUTED TO OUR COMMUNITY. AND SO THIS IS REALLY GOING TO BE SOMETHING GREAT ON FRIDAY. SO THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER. YES, SIR. AND IF I COULD JUST ADD, I'D BE REMISS IF I DIDN'T TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO JUST PROMOTE THE, THE EVENT THAT WE ACTUALLY DO HAVE GOING ON THIS FRIDAY FROM 3 TO 5, I BELIEVE, WHERE WE'LL BE UNVEILING THE AUGMENTED REALITY, AND ALSO TAKING THE OPPORTUNITY TO HONOR MR. GALLEGO. AND SO IT'S AN EVENT THAT'S OPEN TO THE PUBLIC. AND SO FOR, ANYONE THAT IS NOT AWARE, WE ENCOURAGE YOU ALL TO COME DOWN TO THE COURTHOUSE AND HEAR ABOUT THE HISTORY OF, OF THAT MURAL AND THEN ALSO GET AN OPPORTUNITY TO INTERACT WITH THE LAUNCHING OF THAT, OF THAT TECHNOLOGY AS WELL. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. APPRECIATE IT. GREAT THING. JESSICA. ITEM FIVE B APPROVE AND ADOPT A RESOLUTION RECOGNIZING LOCAL CAR CLUBS. STREET MEMORIES DETROIT IRON AND BORDERTOWN MUSCLE FOR HELPING RAISE FUNDS FOR VARIOUS CITIZENS FIGHTING LIFE THREATENING ILLNESSES IN EL PASO COUNTY,

[B. Approve and adopt a resolution recognizing local car clubs Street Memories, Detroit Iron and Border Town Muscle for helping raise funds for various citizens fighting life threatening illnesses in El Paso County, Texas. Ricardo A. Samaniego, County Judge, County Judge's Office, 915-546-2098]

AND MIA. COME ON GUYS. HI, MIA. EVERYBODY, THIS IS MIA. SAY HI. MIA. MIA! MIA. COME ON GUYS. BEFORE I START, I REALLY WANT TO THANK JOHNNY GUERRERO. HE'S A LITTLE SHY, YOU KNOW, A SHY INDIVIDUAL, BUT WE'LL GET HIM TO SAY A FEW WORDS. BUT, JOHNNY, THANK YOU FOR THIS. THIS IS REALLY NICE. ALL THE INDIVIDUALS THAT ARE HERE TODAY. BUT YOU'LL SEE THE IMPACT THAT THESE, ALL OF THESE INDIVIDUALS HAVE FOR, FOR OUR COMMUNITY. SO I WILL READ THE RESOLUTION INTO THE RECORD. WHEREAS SINCE 2020 STREET MEMORY CAR CLUB DETROIT IRON AND CLUB AND BORDERTOWN MUSCLE CAR CLUB HAVE CONSISTENTLY DEMONSTRATED AN UNWAVERING COMMITMENT TO ENHANCING THE WELL-BEING OF OUR COMMUNITY THROUGH PHILANTHROPIC EFFORTS AND DEDICATION. WAS THEIR CLUB'S COMBINES HAVE ORGANIZED AND HAVE HELPED RAISE MONEY FOR THE ALZHEIMER'S ASSOCIATION, RIO GRANDE CANCER FOUNDATION, EL PASO FIGHTING HUNGER, FOOD BANK, AMERICAN LEGION, POST 36, WOMEN'S AUXILIARY POST 36, EL PASO STATE CENTER, THE ZERO PROSTATE CANCER ORGANIZATION, CHRISTMAS TRAILS FOR TOYS, THE VARIOUS CITIZENS FIGHTING LIFE THREATENING ILLNESSES FOR A COMBINED SUBSTANTIAL AMOUNT OF 50,000 $50,000 FOR COMMUNITY CAUSES AND ORGANIZATIONS, INCLUDING LOCAL YOUTH PROGRAMS AND FAMILY ASSISTANCE SERVICES WITH THE CA, CLUBS HAVE CONTRIBUTED THEIR TIME, RESOURCES AND ENTHUSIASM TO ENSURE THE SUCCESS OF THESE EVENTS, FOSTERING A SPIRIT OF GENEROSITY AND CAMARADERIE WITH OUR COMMUNITY. WHEREAS THE FUNDS RAISED BY STREET MEMORIES, DETROIT IRON AND BORDERTOWN MUSCLE CAR CLUB HAVE SIGNIFICANTLY IMPACTED THE LIVES OF SARSAWA, A SIX YEAR OLD BOY WHO WAS DIAGNOSED WITH NEUROBLASTOMA THAT HELPED RAISE 17,000 FOR HIS MEDICAL SERVICES. MIA VASQUEZ, A SEVEN YEAR OLD GIRL WITH DOWN SYNDROME WHO WAS RECENTLY DIAGNOSED WITH LEUKEMIA, HELPED RAISE 27,000 FOR HER MEDICAL NEEDS. THEY HAVE HELPED RAISE 8000 FOR RETIRED EL PASO POLICE DEPARTMENT OFFICER,

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AND WHEREAS THE DEDICATION AND HARD WORK OF STREET MEMORIES, DETROIT IRON, BORDERTOWN, MUSCLE, CAR CLUBS EXEMPLIFY THE VALUES OF COMMUNITY, SPIRIT AND CHARITABLE GIVING, SETTING A COMMENDABLE EXAMPLE FOR OTHERS TO FOLLOW. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED THAT THE EL PASO COUNTY JUDGE AND COMMISSIONERS COURT HEREBY RECOGNIZE AND EXTEND OUR HEARTFELT GRATITUDE TO STREET MEMORIES. DETROIT IRON AND BORDERTOWN MUSCLE CAR CLUBS FOR THEIR OUTSTANDING SERVICE AND REMARKABLE CONTRIBUTION TO OUR COMMUNITY. THEIR EFFORTS HAVE NOT ONLY DEMONSTRATED A COMMITMENT TO CHARITABLE CAUSES, BUT HAVE ALSO BROUGHT OUR COMMUNITY CLOSER TOGETHER THROUGH SHARED PURPOSE AND ACTION. SIGN THIS 19TH DAY OF AUGUST 2024. MAY I HAVE A MOTION FROM JUDGE SAMANIEGO, A SECOND FROM COMMISSIONER LEON. THE VOTING IS OPEN. MOTION CARRIES.

THANK YOU. JOHNNY, TAKE. TAKE THE MIC AND LET US KNOW WHAT'S WHAT'S HAPPENING HERE TODAY. AND YOU GAVE ME THE MIC. HOLD ON TO THIS, MIA, WHERE'S BILL? BILL. THANK YOU. BILL I COULD NOT BE WITH US THIS MORNING. I'LL LET GRANDPA TELL YOU WHERE HE'S GOING. THIS IS LOURDES. SHE'S MIA'S PA. SHE'S THE ONE THAT BROUGHT MIA TO OUR ATTENTION. AND, OF COURSE, THIS IS OUR SHINING HERO, MIA, WE LOVE HER TO DEATH. SHE'S MAKING GOOD PROGRESS. I BELIEVE IS ON THE WAY TO, IS ON HIS WAY TO FORT WORTH AS WE SPEAK. HE LEFT THIS MORNING ON HIS THREE MONTH FOLLOW UP. HE GOES EVERY THREE MONTHS FOR A FOLLOW UP. HE IS CANCER FREE, BUT HE HAS SOME DAMAGES DUE TO THE RADIATION AND CHEMO. HIS HEARING IN HIS HEART. SO HE IS CANCER FREE. THEY TEST EVERY THREE MONTHS AND THEY'RE FOLLOWING UP ON HIS HEART AND HIS HEARING AS WE SPEAK. SO. BUT WITH THE EFFORTS EVERYBODY HAS PUT FORTH, HE COULDN'T BE WHERE HE'S AT AND HEALTHY AS HE IS.

THANK YOU. WELL THANK YOU. I CAN'T TELL YOU HOW MUCH WE APPRECIATE AND THE OPPORTUNITY TO RALLY BEHIND THESE AMAZING INITIATIVES. WE'RE VERY CLOSE TO THE CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL, AS YOU KNOW. YOU KNOW, WE GET TO VISIT A LOT AND ALWAYS VERY HEARTFELT THE STRUGGLES. BUT I THINK THE CHILDREN COME OUT STRONGER BECAUSE OF THE COMMUNITY AND EVERYBODY RALLYING TOGETHER. SO THIS IS A VERY IMPORTANT AND I THINK THE RESOLUTION CLARIFIES THAT THIS IS EL PASO. WHAT YOU'RE DOING THIS IS LIKE EXEMPLIFIES WHO WE ARE AS A COMMUNITY. HOW WE COME TOGETHER WHENEVER WE SEE A NEED OR SOMETHING NEEDS TO HAPPEN. EL PASO COMES TOGETHER. AND JOHNNY, YOU'VE ALWAYS DONE THAT FOR AS LONG AS I CAN REMEMBER, YOU JUST, HAVE DONE SUCH AN AMAZING JOB. AND ALL OF YOU, THANK YOU SO MUCH. AND WE APPRECIATE THAT. AND WE'D LOVE TO TAKE A PICTURE WITH ALL OF YOU. SO CAN THEY JUST THE TWO OF THEM JUST A LITTLE BIT. HI, MIA. HI HI, HI, HI, HI. SO THIS IS MIA, WE WERE RECENTLY DIAGNOSED IN DECEMBER. ACTUALLY, THE 24TH OF DECEMBER.

SO DUE TO THIS, HER DOCTORS ALWAYS FOLLOW UPS AND, YOU KNOW, BEEN ON TOP OF EVERYTHING WITH US. AND IT WAS UNFORTUNATE WE CAME ACROSS A DIAGNOSIS, AND WE'RE HERE TODAY. WE'RE WE'RE STILL BATTLING. IT'S ABOUT A TWO AND A HALF YEAR BATTLE. SHE IT'LL BE, YOU KNOW, SOME STRUGGLES HERE AND THERE. BUT SEEING HOW SHE'S BEEN SO STRONG AND RESILIENT TO ALL THIS HAS REALLY YOU KNOW GIVEN US ALL STRENGTH AS A FAMILY AND THE COMMUNITY. THANK YOU EVERYONE.

YOU KNOW, BECAUSE YOU DON'T REALIZE HOW MUCH OF AN IMPACT IT DOES EMOTIONALLY, PHYSICALLY, MENTALLY, FINANCIALLY AND WITH THE WHOLE COMMUNITY COMING TOGETHER FOR HER AND SUPPORTING, IT JUST SHOWS WHAT EL PASO IS ALL ABOUT. AND WE WANT TO THANK EVERYONE FOR THAT AND TELL THEM, WHERE ARE YOU GOING? WHERE ARE YOU GOING? WHERE ARE YOU GOING? GO TO DISNEYLAND. WHERE ARE YOU GOING? NOTHING. THANK YOU MISTER, THE ONLY THING THAT I WOULD LIKE TO ADD IS THAT, YOU KNOW, FOR ME, AS FUNDRAISER, WE WERE VERY BLESSED BECAUSE WE ALSO HAD OTHER CAR CLUBS THAT JOINED US AS WELL. THEY'RE NOT HERE, BUT WE HAD A LOT OF OTHER CAR CLUBS. THE CAR CLUB COMMUNITY CAME OUT INCREDIBLY BIG THAT DAY AND WE HAD YEAH, WE HAD MOTORCYCLE CLUBS THAT CAME OUT AS WELL, BUT WE HAD, I THINK AT THE END ABOUT TEN DIFFERENT CAR CLUBS, NOT INCLUDING 15

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WAY BACK, I TOLD YOU ABOUT A STORY THAT WE WORKED TOGETHER IN 1974, BRINGING THE CIRCUS TO EL PASO IN THE 80S. SO, I'M PROUD TO SAY THAT YOU'RE YOU'RE A TREMENDOUS RETIREE FROM THE EL PASO POLICE DEPARTMENT. AND THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU HAVE DONE. AND WHAT YOU CONTINUE TO DO. THANK YOU, SIR. THANK YOU, ALL OF YOU. THANK THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR SHOWING EL PASO WHAT WE'RE LIKE WHEN WE NEED TO GET TOGETHER. THIS IS VERY VALUABLE. SO AND VERY HEARTFELT.

THANK YOU. WE'LL GO DOWN THERE WITH YOU. THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK. THANK YOU SO MUCH. TO ALL OF MY PEOPLE. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ALL THE WORK OF. I NOT MANY OF US. YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE TO TELL ME.

WHO PERFECT. THANK YOU. EVERYBODY THANK YOU. AND NOW IN SPANISH QUESO. GRACIAS. THANK YOU. GRACIAS. WE HAVE TO LEAVE THAT FOR THE NEXT. BUT IF YOU HAVE TO LEAVE, THAT'S OKAY.

THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU. THANK YOU. YOU HAVE ONE FOR EACH OTHER ALSO. DO WE HAVE ONE TO EACH OTHER? OKAY. SO DO YOU WANT TO. CAN WE KEEP THIS? THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING YOU DID. FOR THE.

QUISIERA APROVECHAR. WHO'S SAMANIEGO? CORTE DE COMISIONADO. MUCHAS GRACIAS DE AGRADECER.

INFINITAMENTE DE USTEDES DE VIDA PARA TODO ESTE TIPO DE PROCLAMATIONS. ES ALGO INCREIBLE MUY LOVABLE PARA LA COMUNIDAD. REALIDAD ESTABA PIDIENDO. ERA CAME DIERON UNA COPIA DE LA REVOLUCION HUBO PARA CANAL 26. DESPUÉS DE LOS CUARENTA ANOS, FIJENSE NADA MAS ASI RAPIDAMENTE PARA NO ENTRE ELLOS, YO EMPECÉ A CUBRIR LA CORTE DE COMISIONADO EN EL ANTIGUO EDIFICIO DE LA CORTE, YA LO MENCIONABA EL COMISIONADO CORONADO. CUANDO ESTABA LA CORTE EL JUEGO DEL CONDADO EN ESE TIEMPO ERA ESCEN. PAT O'ROURKE, PATRICK O'ROURKE. QUÉ POSTERIORMENTE SALIO EN UNO DE LOS PROGRAMAS A NIVEL NACIONAL, DONDE MENCIONABA LA COMPOSICION DEMOGRAFICA DEL PASO CU ESA IBA A SER LA LA COMPOSITION DEMOGRAFICA EN EL FUTURO. PARECE ESTABA HACIENDO CU IBA A SUCEDER MUCHAS COSAS NO AQUI EN EL CONDADO DEL PASO. CUANDO ESTABA ALICIA CHACON, ROGELIO SANCHEZ, ORLANDO FONSECA INTERRUPT JUST A SECOND. COULD WE READ IN PUBLIC COMMENT THE ITEM? SORRY, JUST VERY QUICKLY PLEASE. THANK YOU. SEE GO AHEAD. OKAY. ONE SECOND. COMO COMENTARIO. NADA MAS QUERIA AGRADECER ESO Y UN MINUTO, POR FAVOR. SI VAMOS PARA ITEM SIX IS PUBLIC COMMENT. IF YOU COULD PLEASE INTRODUCE YOURSELF ONE MORE TIME FOR THE COURT. PLEASE.

SIR. MIL DISCULPAS SOY DE UNIVISION 26 Y LA RAZON POR LA ESTOY AGRADECIDO INFINITAMENTE A

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[PUBLIC COMMENT]

HECTOR. GRACIAS. TAMBIÉN AQUI POR TODO LO Q HA HECHO ESTE SIEMPRE INFORMANDO LA COMUNIDAD DE LA MEJOR MANERA Y TE AGRADECEMOS MUCHO ESE ENFOQUE Q LES VAS Y GRACIAS POR ESTAR AQUI Y AYUDARNOS A FELICITAR A MARISA Y UN ULTIMO COMENTARIO QUERRIA DECIR DE Q EN CINCO CUANDO SE FORMA LA PRIMERA ESTACION DE ESPANOL. USTEDES CREARON Q LOS DISTRITOS ESCOLARES DE EL PASO DE TODO EL CONDADO DEL PASO NO SOLAMENTE SE ESTABAN CUANDO ALGUIEN HABLABA ESPANOL, SINO Q LO CASTIGAN HEMOS EVOLUCIONADO MUCHO GRACIAS A PUES A LAS AUTORIDADES COMO USTEDES.

GRACIAS. PORQUE PUES LA DISCRIMINACION ESTA QUEDANDO ATRAS. GRACIAS POR AL CONTRARIO.

GRACIAS HECTOR. ITEM FIVE. SI. APPROVE. ADOPT A RESOLUTION CELEBRATING MARISA TEJO FOR HER OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENTS THAT HAVE BROUGHT SIGNIFICANT ACCLAIM TO OUR COMMUNITY IN EL PASO COUNTY. MARISA, YOU WANT TO COME UP AND HAVE YOUR FAMILY COME WITH YOU AND EVERYBODY THAT'S

[C. Approve and adopt a resolution celebrating Marissa Teijo for her outstanding achievements that have brought significant acclaim to our community in El Paso County. Ricardo A. Samaniego, County Judge, County Judge's Office, 915-546-2098]

I WAS GOING TO GO. TO. NO. THAT'S OKAY. WELL. THANK YOU. LET ME READ THIS, AS YOU ALL KNOW, THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF EXCITEMENT ABOUT MARISA, AND SHE HAS JUST BECOME SUCH AN AMAZING ROLE MODEL, YOU KNOW, SHOWING US, THAT, YOU KNOW, HOW IMPORTANT HEALTH IS AND TAKING CARE OF OURSELVES. AND IF YOU LOOK AT HER FOLLOWERS, PEOPLE ARE GETTING EXCITED. PEOPLE WANT TO EMULATE HER. THEY WANT TO BE LIKE HER. AND I THINK THIS IS SUCH AN IMPORTANT THING, ESPECIALLY FOR OUR YOUNG WOMEN, THAT ARE DEVELOPING. YOU KNOW, I ALWAYS SAY EL PASO, TO KNOW US IS TO LOVE US, BUT WE HAVE TO CONTINUE BEING WHO WE ARE. AND YOU'RE DOING EXACTLY THAT, MARISA, YOU'RE HELPING OUR COMMUNITY REALLY UNDERSTAND THE IMPACT.

JUST LOOK AT THE INDIVIDUALS HERE TO JOIN YOU. SO. SO LET ME READ THIS AND FOR SOME REASON, IT'S VERY SMALL PRINT OKAY. SO LET ME SEE IF I COULD DO THIS PROPERLY. WHEREAS IT IS WITH GREAT PRIDE AND ADMIRATION THAT WE ACKNOWLEDGE AND CELEBRATE THE EXCEPTIONAL CONTRIBUTIONS OF MARISA TEJO TO OUR COMMUNITY. AND WHEREAS MARISA TEJO GREW UP IN A FARMING COMMUNITY IN TEXAS PANHANDLE, WHERE SHE LEARNED THE IMPORTANCE OF HARD WORK, PERSEVERANCE AND SELF-DISCIPLINE, MR. EKO IS A RETIRED EDUCATOR WITH 38 YEARS OF TEACHING ACROSS VARIOUS TEXAS CITIES, INCLUDING AMARILLO, HOUSTON, HARLINGEN, AND EL PASO, AND WITH THE SOCORRO INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT. AT A YOUNG AGE, MARISA DEVELOPED A KEEN INTEREST IN HEALTH, NUTRITION EXERCISE TO MAINTAIN PHYSICAL FITNESS. WHEREAS AT THE AGE OF 40, MARISA BECAME SERIOUSLY INTERESTED IN WEIGHTLIFTING AFTER SEEING A FEMALE BODYBUILDER AT THE GYM, HER SIGNIFICANT PROGRESS LED AN INSTRUCTOR TO SUGGEST SHE ENTER A LOCAL COMPETITION, WHERE SHE PLACED SECOND. THIS ENCOURAGED HER TO COMPETE IN THE NATIONAL PHYSIQUE COMMITTEE NPC EVENTS ACROSS SOUTH TEXAS FOR THE NEXT DECADE, CONSISTENTLY FINISHING FIRST OR SECOND. MARISSA'S FINAL COMPETITION WAS IN 1999, AND IN SOUTH PADRE ISLAND, WINNING FIRST PLACE IN ALL CATEGORIES, QUALIFYING HER FOR PROFESSIONAL COMPETITION. WHEREAS UPON RETIRING, MARISA JOINED THE JUNIOR LEAGUE OF EL PASO TO BECOME MORE INVOLVED IN COMMUNITY PROJECTS AND LEARN HOW TO ADDRESS LOCAL NEEDS THROUGH VOLUNTEERING AND UNWAVERING DEDICATION AND ENTHUSIASM IN PROMOTING THE COUNTY OF EL PASO.

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APPOINTED SPECIAL ADVOCATES FOR CHILDREN, CASA EL PASO CENTER FOR DIABETES CENTER, THE AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF UNIVERSITY WOMEN VICE PRESIDENT MEMBERSHIP, AND BEING VOTED INTO THE WHO'S WHO AMONG AMERICAN TEACHERS, WHICH HAS ENRICHED THE CULTURE, ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL FABRIC OF OUR COMMUNITY. WHEREAS MARISA TIJO EFFORTS HAVE NOT ONLY FOSTERED A GREATER SENSE OF PRIDE AND UNITY AMONG RESIDENTS, BUT HAVE ALSO ENHANCED THE CITY'S REPUTATION AS A VIBRANT AND STRIVING PLACE TO LIVE, WORK AND VISIT. MARISA EXPRESSES HER HEARTFELT THANKS TO JACKIE MARTINEZ FROM BAZAAR MODEL MANAGEMENT. HER DAUGHTER LEILA GARCIA PEREZ, LONGTIME FRIEND AND SUPPORTER LISA ZAMARRIPA, MARY OVALLE, FRIEND AND BUSINESS OWNER, OWNER OF THE MARKETING HUNTERS LLC. SPONSOR AND FRIEND RUBEN ALVAREZ AND PERSONAL TRAINER. BODYBUILDING COMPETITOR AND OWNER OF SMART MUSCLE LLC. SAUL ESCALANTE FOR HIS INCREDIBLE SUPPORT AND CONTRIBUTIONS WHICH HAVE BEEN INSTRUMENTAL IN ACHIEVING THESE ACCOMPLISHMENTS AND SUCCESSES.

NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED THAT THE EL PASO COUNTY JUDGE AND COMMISSIONERS COURT DO HEREBY RECOGNIZE AND COMMEND MARISA TEJO FOR HER EXTRAORDINARY DEDICATION AND ACHIEVEMENTS, HER REMARKABLE CONTRIBUTIONS SERVE AS AN INSPIRING EXAMPLE OF CIVIC PRIDE AND LEADERSHIP. SIGN THIS 19TH DAY OF AUGUST 20TH, 24, WE HAVE A MOTION FROM JUDGE SAMANIEGO, A SECOND FROM. THANK YOU. I GOT GOOSEBUMPS HERE. A SECOND. THANK YOU. GOOD. THANK YOU. ONE MINUTE, ONE MINUTE, A SECOND FROM COMMISSIONER OLGUIN, COMMISSIONER LEON, MAY WE HAVE YOUR VOTE, SIR? OH MOTION CARRIES. I'M SORRY. GO AHEAD. OH, OKAY. THERE WE GO. ALL RIGHT. SO THANK YOU. GOOD MORNING, FRIENDS AND FAMILY. THANK YOU FOR JOINING ME ON THIS VERY SPECIAL DAY. AND THANK YOU, JUDGE SAMANIEGO, FOR SPONSORING THIS RESOLUTION. AND THANK YOU TO THE TO ALL THE COMMISSIONERS WHO ARE HERE, CARLOS LEON, DAVID STOUT, ELIANA OLGUIN AND SERGIO CORONADO FOR HONORING ME WITH THIS AWARD. I AM PROUD TO BE A PART OF THE EL PASO COMMUNITY.

THE COMMUNITY MEMBERS WHO HAVE RECEIVED THIS HONOR BEFORE ME, THE ONES THAT WERE HERE, WERE FANTASTIC. I'M TRULY IMPRESSED AND I REALLY, REALLY AM PROUD TO BE AN EL PASOAN AND I AM TRULY HUMBLED TO RECEIVE THIS AWARD. I FEEL LIKE, MY GOODNESS, I DON'T KNOW IF I DESERVE IT, BUT I AM AMAZED AT HOW MANY WOMEN AND GIRLS ARE SO GRATEFUL AND HAPPY TO HAVE A MATURE WOMAN PARTICIPATE IN SOMETHING WHICH IS COMMONLY ONLY FOR YOUNG WOMEN AND GIRLS. IT HAS BEEN AN HONOR TO HAVE INSPIRED SO MANY WOMEN AND YOUNG GIRLS, ALL OVER THE COUNTRY AND THE WORLD. ALSO TO BELIEVE THERE IS BEAUTY AT ANY AGE AND TO WORK HARD TO ACHIEVE THEIR GOALS. THIS DREAM HAS OPENED SO MANY DOORS FOR ME THAT I NEVER THOUGHT I WOULD EVER HAVE. IT'S TRUE. IT'S NEVER TOO LATE TO SET A NEW GOAL OR DREAM A NEW DREAM. BUT THIS DREAM WOULD NEVER HAVE HAPPENED HAD IT NOT BEEN FOR JACKIE MARTINEZ, A BAZAAR MODEL MANAGEMENT. HER VISION WHEN SHE INVITED ME TO ENTER THE MISS TEXAS USA COMPETITION, I TOLD HER I CAN'T COMPETE WITH ALL THOSE YOUNG GIRLS AND YOUNG WOMEN. I'M WAY TOO OLD. I'LL NEVER WIN AND I LIKE TO WIN. HER ANSWER WAS, YOU LOOK FABULOUS. JUST DO IT FOR THE EXPERIENCE. IT'LL BE GOOD FOR EL PASO. THAT IS WHAT

[00:40:09]

I WANTED TO PROVE TO MY TEACHERS AND PEERS THAT I DESERVED THEIR SUPPORT. LATER IN MY ADULT LIFE, I GOT ANOTHER CHALLENGE SINCE I HAD BEEN ACTIVE IN ■FITNESS AND LIVING A HEALTHY LIFESTYLE AS A YOUNG GIRL, I JOINED A GYM IN A SMALL TEXAS TOWN, HARLINGEN, ONE OF THE FITNESS COACHES AND GYM OWNERS, SAW HOW HARD I WAS WORKING AND SUGGESTED I ENTER A BODYBUILDING COMPETITION. I WAS VERY SMALL AND I THOUGHT I WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO DO IT, BUT HE BELIEVED IN ME AND MADE IT HIS MISSION TO TRAIN AND ENCOURAGE ME. AND BECAUSE OF HIS BELIEF IN ME, I WAS ABLE TO SUCCEED IN ALL MY COMPETITIONS AS AN AMATEUR CONTESTANT. I HAVE EXPERIENCED FIRSTHAND HOW ENCOURAGING WORDS BELIEVE IN MY ABILITIES AND INSPIRATION FROM THE PEOPLE I ENCOUNTERED THROUGHOUT MY LIFE AND THAT HAS HAD A HUGE POSITIVE IMPACT IN MY LIFE, MY IN MY LIFE. WITH THIS IN MIND, I HOPE ALL OF YOU WHO ARE HERE OR ARE LISTENING LIVE STREAM. MAKE IT A HABIT TO ALWAYS HAVE WORDS OF ENCOURAGEMENT, SUPPORT AND INSPIRATION TO SOMEONE YOU KNOW WHO YOU THINK DESERVES IT.

COMING FROM YOU. A SUCCESSFUL AND ACCOMPLISHED ROLE MODELS, IT COULD CHANGE SOMEONE'S LIFE. SO MY LIFE HAS BEEN A WONDERFUL JOURNEY AND I APPRECIATE ALL THE PEOPLE IN MY LIFE WHO HAVE HELPED AND SUPPORTED ME. THANK YOU TO SAULO ESCALANTE OF SMART MUSCLE, WHO TRAINED AND PREPARED ME FOR THIS. THE FITNESS PART OF THE COMPETITION. HE INSISTED. I SEND PHOTOS OF THE MEALS I WAS EATING EVERY DAY, AND SOMETIMES IF I POSTED SOMETHING ELSE THAT I WAS PARTYING WITH MY FRIENDS, HE WOULD SAY, DID YOU EAT THAT? DID YOU DRINK THAT? I SAID, NO, NO, SAULO. I THOUGHT, WELL, ANYWAY, SO I DID. I WAS VERY GOOD AND I THOUGHT, IF I DON'T WIN, AT LEAST I WILL BE A VERY FIT 71 YEAR OLD WOMAN ON THAT STAGE, I WAS 71 AT THAT TIME. I'M 72 NOW. THANK YOU. SAULO I COULDN'T HAVE DONE IT WITHOUT YOU. ALTHOUGH HE MADE MY LIFE A LITTLE MISERABLE. NO SO, RUBEN ALVAREZ OF THE MARKETING HUNTERS, WHO IS ONE OF MY SPONSORS, ALSO SUPPORTED ME EVER SINCE I MET HIM. AND THANK YOU, RUBEN, FOR YOUR UNWAVERING SUPPORT. MY GOOD FRIENDS WHO ARE HERE, BIANCA, LISA, MARY, YVONNE AND MELISSA. THANK YOU ALSO FOR SUPPORTING ME AND FOR YOUR KIND WORDS OF ENCOURAGEMENT. AND OF COURSE, THANK YOU TO ALL MY FRIENDS HERE THAT ARE HERE. I

[00:45:01]

THIS IS LAYLA. I'M A LOT TALLER. YEAH, SHE KEEPS SAYING THAT. SO LASTLY, I JUST WANT TO SAY HOW MUCH I APPRECIATE BEING PART OF THE EL PASO COMMUNITY. THANK YOU AGAIN, JUDGE SAMANIEGO AND COMMISSIONERS FOR YOUR COMMITMENT TO RECOGNIZING PEOPLE WHO CONTRIBUTE TO OUR GREAT COMMUNITY. THANK YOU. YOU WANT TO SAY A FEW WORDS FOR YOUR MOM? YEAH THANK YOU. THAT WAS BEAUTIFUL. OKAY, I'LL KEEP THIS SHORT, BUT GOOD MORNING, JUDGE, AND GOOD MORNING, COURT. MY NAME IS LAYLA GARCIA, AND THIS IS MY MOTHER, MARISSA TEJO. SO AS I LISTEN TO THE WORDS SPOKEN THIS MORNING HONORING MY MOTHER, I AM OVERWHELMED WITH PRIDE AND ADMIRATION. SO GROWING UP IN THE TEXAS PANHANDLE, MY MOTHER LEARNED THE VALUES OF HARD WORK, PERSEVERANCE, AND SELF-DISCIPLINE. AS SHE MENTIONED. SO THESE ARE QUALITIES THAT HAVE NOT ONLY SHAPED HER LIFE, BUT ALSO TOUCHED THE LIVES OF OTHERS. HER JOURNEY FROM A SMALL FARMING COMMUNITY TO THE NATIONAL STAGE, COMPETING IN BODYBUILDING AT THE AGE OF 40. AND I'M 41, SO I'VE GOT TO START, IS A TESTAMENT OF HER TENACITY AND PASSION, HER RECENT PARTICIPATION IN THE MISS TEXAS USA PAGEANT, AT 71 YEARS OLD, IS JUST ONE MORE EXAMPLE OF HOW SHE CONTINUES TO INSPIRE WOMEN OF ALL AGES, INCLUDING MYSELF, TO PURSUE HER DREAMS AND VIGOR AND DETERMINATION. SO AS A MOTHER OF THREE MYSELF, I AM DEEPLY GRATEFUL FOR THE EXAMPLE SHE HAS SET MY MOTHER'S LIFE AND JOURNEY SHE HAS BEEN ON AS A LIVING LESSON IN RESILIENCE, PASSION, AND THE POWER OF NEVER GIVING UP OR LETTING THE DOUBT OF OTHERS WHEN THEY SAY YOU CAN'T, YOU SHOULDN'T. YOU'RE TOO OLD. OR MAYBE IT'S TOO LATE. SHE HAS TAUGHT ME THAT NO MATTER OUR AGE OR STAGE IN LIFE, WE CAN ALWAYS STRIVE FOR MORE. FOR BETTER, FOR HEALTHIER, BECAUSE IT REALLY IS NEVER TOO LATE.

MOM, YOUR JOURNEY HAS NOT ONLY BROUGHT POSITIVE RECOGNITION TO OUR FAMILY AND OUR CITY, BUT IT HAS ALSO INSTILLED IN ME AND MANY OTHERS, A PROFOUND SENSE OF WHAT IT MEANS TO LIVE A LIFE OF PURPOSE AND IMPACT. SO THANK YOU. WHERE ARE YOU? SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR UNYIELDING DEDICATION, YOUR STRENGTH AND YOUR LOVE. AND I'M SO PROUD TO BE YOUR DAUGHTER AND TO CARRY FORWARD THE VALUES THAT YOU HAVE LIVED BY. OH, THOSE BEAUTIFUL LAYLA. JACKIE. I TAUGHT HER TO BE PREPARED TO.

JACKIE, YOU WERE MENTIONED SO MUCH. I WOULD LOVE TO HEAR FROM YOU AS WELL. YES ABSOLUTELY.

HELLO EVERYONE. THANK YOU FOR HAVING US AGAIN, JUDGE AND COMMISSIONERS, FOR HAVING US TODAY. MY NAME IS JACQUELINE GARCIA FROM BIZARRE MODEL MANAGEMENT AND WE PRIDE OURSELVES IN REPRESENTING TALENT FROM ALL OVER OUR CITY, FROM SEVERAL DIFFERENT BACKGROUNDS OF ALL AGES AND MISS SAMANIEGO IS ONE OF OUR TALENTS THAT HAVE BEEN WITH US FOR, I WANT TO SAY, A LITTLE OVER A YEAR AND A HALF, MAYBE TWO NOW, AND, PRIDING OURSELVES ON WORKING WITH SO MANY DEMOGRAPHICS AND AS YOU CAN SEE, EL PASO IS A BIG MELTING POT, MISS SAMANIEGO, WAS I MEAN, MISS SAMANIEGO, MARISSA WAS SENT TO MISS TEXAS USA AS ONE OF OUR EIGHT CONTESTANTS THAT PARTICIPATED THIS YEAR. AND SHE WAS JUST SUCH A ROLE MODEL. FOR ALL OF US, AS HER DAUGHTER HAD MENTIONED, AS YOU HAD MENTIONED IN THE PROCLAMATION AS WELL, I DID WRITE SOMETHING FOR MARISSA BECAUSE I THINK SHE'S BEING MODEST, HONESTLY, BEING UP HERE. BUT IF YOU DON'T KNOW ALREADY, SHE WAS ALSO FEATURED IN PEOPLE'S MAGAZINE. SHE WAS PART OF ONE OF DOCTOR PHIL'S TV SHOWS. GOOD MORNING AMERICA, DESPIERTA AMERICA ON THE ON THE SPANISH STATIONS. AND WE JUST WANT TO SAY THAT, MARISSA, YOUR JOURNEY TO MISS TEXAS USA WAS NOT JUST A PERSONAL VICTORY, BUT A VICTORY FOR EVERY WOMAN WHO HAS EVER BEEN TOLD SHE IS TOO DIFFERENT. THAT THEIR TIME HAS

[00:50:05]

FASHION. THAT'S OUR FRIEND'S BOUTIQUE. BECAUSE WE ALSO ALWAYS SUPPORT LOCAL. OUR BOND HAS GROWN OVER THE YEARS AND WE SHARED MANY GREAT MEMORIES TOGETHER, INCLUDING A FUN GIRLS TRIP TO SCOTTSDALE. MARISSA, YOU'RE AN INSPIRATION TO SO MANY OF US. I KNOW SHE'S AN INSPIRATION TO ME, BATTLING CANCER AND, SHE HAS TAUGHT ME ABOUT BEING HEALTHY, STRONG AND TO CONTINUE TO REMAIN YOUTHFUL. YOU'RE THE EPITOME OF CLASS AND BEAUTY, BOTH INSIDE AND OUT, WHICH MADE PERFECT SENSE THAT YOU WERE A CONTESTANT FOR THE MISS TEXAS PAGEANT. AND NOW THAT YOU'RE A ROLE MODEL FOR THE REST OF THE WORLD, MARISSA SPENT MANY YEARS TEACHING CHILDREN, AND IT SHOWS IN HER SOUL. SHE EXEMPLIFIES LOVE, KINDNESS, AND COMPASSION FOR OTHERS. OUR FRIENDSHIP IS MADE UP OF SIX EXCEPTIONAL WOMEN. SOME ARE HERE RIGHT NOW. IT'S WHICH WE STRENGTHENED OUR BOND BEYOND FASHION WHEN WE CAME TOGETHER TO DO CHRISTMAS CAROLING FOR THE CASA DE LAS ABUELITAS, A SHELTER FOR HOMELESS WOMEN, WHICH MARISSA HELPED AND WAS INSTRUMENTAL IN ORGANIZING THE EVENT. WE ALSO HELPED RAISE FUNDS FOR THE CENTER FOR DIABETES FOUNDATION THROUGH THE LOVE OF FASHION. IT'S A TRUE HONOR BEING YOUR FRIEND AND SEEING YOU SHINE LIKE THE BRIGHT STAR THAT YOU ARE. MARISSA AMON. BIANCA, MARY, YVONNE AND I LOVE YOU AND WISH YOU CONTINUED SUCCESS AND GOD'S BLESSINGS. CONGRATULATIONS. THANK YOU.

THANK YOU FOR THOSE BEAUTIFUL WORDS. AND YOU KNOW, MARISSA, YOU HAVE SUCH AN AMAZING PLATFORM. BUT YOU KNOW HOW TO HANDLE THAT PLATFORM. AND, YOU KNOW, IT HAS TO DO WITH MENTAL HEALTH, RIGHT NOW, WE HAVE SO MANY CHALLENGES. WE HAVE, YOU KNOW, HIGH RATES OF SUICIDE, OF YOUNG WOMEN, NOT FEELING THAT THEY CAN ACCOMPLISH THINGS OR THAT LIFE IS PRETTY TOUGH ON THEM. VERY DIFFICULT FOR THEM. AND SO I REALLY, REALLY BELIEVE THAT THAT YOU IF YOU CONTINUE THIS WILL GIVE THAT SPIRIT AND THE COURAGE JUST LIKE TO YOU OF FIGHTING THINGS THAT ARE OVERWHELMING. BUT WE THANK YOU FOR THAT. YOU KNOW, MY MOTTO IS EL PASO TO KNOW US IS TO LOVE US. AND I'M I'M GOING TO HAVE TO CHANGE A LITTLE BIT TO MARISSA. TO KNOW YOU IS TO LOVE YOU. AND THAT'S WHAT I SEE HERE. THANK YOU. AND I WAS JUST ONE OF WONDERING IF, WHAT YOUR TRAINER, THE TRAINER. I WONDER IF YOU COULD DO SOMETHING WITH US TO HEAR. GOOD MORNING. MY NAME IS SAUL ESCALANTE. I'M THE OWNER OF SMART MUSCLE. THAT'S WHERE MARISSA TRAINS. AND, YES, YOU'RE WELCOME TO GO. HI I ACTUALLY, LIKE CHALLENGE A LITTLE A LITTLE HARDER FOR YOU THAN MARISSA, NO, I'VE HAD MORE CHALLENGES. PEOPLE WITHOUT FINGERS, HANDS, KNEE PROBLEMS. AND I LIKE THOSE CHALLENGES BETTER THAN PEOPLE THAT ARE GOING TO BE ENTITLED AND TRYING TO PUSH ME AROUND.

BECAUSE IT SHOWS THAT EVERYONE CAN DO IT. IF HE CAN WALK, THEN I'LL PUSH YOU TO WALK. IF YOU CAN WALK, THEN WE'LL DO SOMETHING ELSE. GOOD FOR YOU. BUT I TRY TO PUSH THAT BECAUSE, THE BYPRODUCT OF LIVING A HEALTHY LIFE IS LOOKING GOOD. AND YOU DON'T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT A TRIP OR, YOU KNOW, DOING THINGS FOR SHORT TERM AND TRYING TO. I NEED TO LOSE 3 POUNDS AND

[00:55:06]

OKAY. THIS ONE PLEASE. NO, IT'S OKAY. MISTER CORNEJO, STAND BY. YOU WILL BE ALLOWED TO SPEAK HERE AFTER THIS ITEM. THANK YOU. YOU KNOW THAT'S OKAY TO. AWESOME THANK YOU FOR DOING THIS. IN TWO DAYS, YOU. THAT'S MY PLAN. TO POST TALLER. AND THEN. LET'S SEE HERE. I'M GOING TO BE OKAY. YEA.

ALL RIGHT. COMMISSIONER STOUT. HEY. HOW ARE YOU? GOOD, GOOD, GOOD. THANK YOU FOR COMING TODAY. THANK YOU. I'M JUST KIDDING. OH SEE? I COULD NOT BELIEVE THAT SHE SAID. YOU HAVE 40, 40, 50. MAYBE MICHELLE, CAN YOU PUT ME ON PUBLIC COMMENT? ALSO NOT JUST FOR CALICO, BUT SOMETHING ELSE. TO SEE YOU. AFTER. AFTER. MISTER OUR LAST ONE. DO WE HAVE OTHERS SIGNED UP FOR FAST? TAMALES. ERICA THANK YOU. WE'RE GOING TO MAKE THEM THIS MORNING. OKAY.

I DON'T REALLY CARE TO SHOW UP. CONGRATULATIONS. THANK YOU.

[01:00:03]

[PUBLIC COMMENT]

SO THANK YOU FOR THAT AND LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING YOU ON ON FRIDAY. THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU. THAT IS A BIG HONOR TO, TO BE TO GET ANY KIND OF RECOGNITION. EL PASO MEANS SO MUCH TO ME. AND I'M SO MUCH PART OF THAT OF THAT MURAL AND OF THE HISTORY OF EL PASO. MY, MY WHOLE BEING IS, I WAS SO FORTUNATE, AND PEOPLE KIND OF, TAKE IT FOR GRANTED THAT, YOU KNOW, THE FORMATIVE YEARS IN SOMEBODY'S, AGE PLAYS SUCH AN IMPORTANT, INTEGRAL ROLE OF YOUR BEING AND YOUR MAKEUP AND YOUR SPIRIT, YOUR CONNECTION TO THE LAND. SO, I ALWAYS HOLD EL PASO, CIUDAD JUAREZ VERY CLOSE TO MY HEART. AND I CLAIM IT, ALL OF MY OWN. SO THROUGHOUT MY LIFE, I ALWAYS I'M VERY PROUD TO SAY THAT I ALWAYS PROTECTED AND, YOU KNOW, AND LOVE IT. SO YOU'VE MADE US EXTREMELY PROUD. EXTREMELY PROUD. SO WE THANK YOU FOR THAT. I'M SURE THERE'S A LOT OF ARTISTS AND MURALISTS THAT WE'RE GOING TO BE HERE BECAUSE A LOT OF SEE HIM AS THE ROLE MODEL OF ROLE MODELS. AND SO WE'LL WE'LL INVITE A LOT OF YOUR, PEOPLE THAT REALLY RESPECT AND CARE FOR YOU. I APPRECIATE THAT VERY MUCH. MUCHAS GRACIAS. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, THANK YOU. CARLOS.

I'LL SEE YOU. GO AHEAD. I'M SORRY. YEAH. THANK YOU, CARLOS, AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR RENDITION OF OUR HISTORY. AND WE'LL SEE YOU HERE ON FRIDAY. I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO SEE YOU ALL. GUY.

LOVE YOU ALL. BYE BYE. NEXT WE HAVE ELIZABETH CRAWFORD. JUST AS A REMINDER, YOU HAVE FIVE MINUTES. HELLO ELIZABETH. GOOD MORNING. THANK YOU SO MUCH. GOOD MORNING. AUGUST 25TH, 21ST HAS BEEN DESIGNATED AS NATIONAL SENIOR CITIZENS DAY. ONE OF THE TEN COMMANDMENTS IN GOD'S WORD IS HONOR YOUR FATHER AND MOTHER. THAT YOUR DAYS MAY BE LONG ON THE LAND WHICH THE LORD YOUR GOD GIVES YOU. THE TRAGEDY IS THAT WE AS A NATION ARE TURNING FAR MORE TOWARD THE BEHAVIOR OF OUR NORTHERN NEIGHBOR, CANADA, THAN TO OUR SOUTHERN NEIGHBOR, MEXIC, AND HOW WE TREAT OUR ELDERLY LATINO CULTURE HAS HIGHLIGHTED RESPECT FOR PARENTS AND GRANDPARENTS, FOR DECADES. BY CONTRAST, EUTHANASIA QUOTE MERCY KILLING IS NOW EPIDEMIC IN CANADA, AND IT HAS BEEN LEGALIZED IN TEN STATES IN THE US AND IN D.C. EVEN NOW, TARGETING STATES, STATES WHICH HAVE A HIGH PERCENTAGE OF LATINO RESIDENTS, ACCORDING TO LIFENEWS.COM, EUTHANASIA IS NOW THE FIFTH LEADING CAUSE OF DEATH IN CANADA. THE MAID PROGRAM, MEDICAL AID IN DYING IS THE

[01:05:05]

ABORTION AND EUTHANASIA GO HAND IN HAND, ACCORDING TO LIFESITE NEWS. NEW MEXICO IS SPENDING $400,000 TO RECRUIT OUT OF STATE ABORTIONISTS, A NUMBER OF THEM FROM TEXAS. AS WE'VE WATCHED THE ISRAEL-GAZA NEWS DAY AFTER DAY IN THE NEWS, ONE THING THAT HAS COME OUT REPEATEDLY IS THE DISRESPECT AND DISDAIN THAT MANY MUSLIMS FEEL TOWARD WESTERN CULTURE. THEY WILL REFERENCE ISRAEL AS LITTLE STATE IN THE US AS GREAT SATAN, IN HAVING HAD OPPORTUNITY OVER THE YEARS TO BEFRIEND A NUMBER OF MUSLIMS AND LISTEN CAREFULLY TO THEIR RATIONALE. I'VE HEARD THEM SAY THINGS LIKE THE WEST IS EVIL, THE WEST IS IMMORAL. THEY AND OTHER IMMIGRANTS ARE APPALLED AT THE WAY WE OFTEN TREAT CHILDREN AND THE ELDERLY IN OUR NATION. AND ON THIS PARTICULAR POINT, YES, THEY ARE RIGHT. IN THESE CONVERSATIONS, I'VE TRIED HARD TO POINT OUT TO THEM THAT CONTRARY TO WHAT THEY THINK AND HAVE BEEN TAUGHT, NO, AMERICA IS NOT A CHRISTIAN NATION, AND THESE OBSERVATIONS THAT THEY ARE MAKING ARE THE RESULTS OF A NATION THAT HAS REJECTED CHRISTIANITY. MUCH OF THE ISSUE IN OUR NATION SPRINGS FROM THE CLASSROOM ON WHAT BASIS SHOULD WE TREAT OTHERS WITH RESPECT IF WE ALL ARE JUST EVOLVED FROM LOWER FORMS OF ANIMALS? IF WE'RE NOT CREATED, THEN WHAT IS THE BASIS FOR TREATING OUR YOUNG AND OUR ELDERLY WITH RESPECT? ONE OF THE MOST BELOVED PASSAGES IN GOD'S WORD IS A PARABLE JESUS TOLD OF THE PRODIGAL SON. OUR PRAYER IS THAT GOD IN MERCY WILL BRING MANY PRODIGALS IN OUR NATION HOME BEFORE IT'S TOO LATE, BACK TO EARTHLY FATHERS, BACK TO OUR HEAVENLY FATHER. AS WE WATCH THE DNC AND FREE ABORTIONS BEING OFFERED OUTSIDE THE DNC CONVENTION, WE'RE REMINDED OF HOW FAR OUR NATION HAS FALLEN AWAY IN THE VERSES JUST PRECEDING THE PARABLE OF THE PRODIGAL SON, THE WORDS OF THE LORD JESUS CHRIST. LIKEWISE I SAY UNTO YOU, THERE IS JOY IN THE PRESENCE OF THE ANGELS OF GOD OVER ONE SINNER THAT REPENTS. WE ARE PRAYING FOR OUR NATION, FOR MERCY AND FOR REPENTANCE. THANK YOU SO MUCH. HOPE YOU HAVE A GOOD DAY. THANK YOU, THANK YOU ELIZABETH. HAVE A GOOD DAY. THANK YOU SIR, THANK YOU SIR, THANK YOU. NEXT WE HAVE COMMISSIONER CORONADO. THANK YOU. JUDGE. I JUST WANT TO A COUPLE COUPLE THINGS. I JUST WANT TO MENTION IS, TO THE COMMUNITY OF WESTWAY THAT, TODAY WE APPROVED THE REDOING OF YOUR BASKETBALL COURT, SOMETIME IN THE FUTURE, WE WILL HAVE THAT GROUNDBREAKING. AND I ALSO WANT TO CONGRATULATE OUR, OUR COLLEAGUE, COMMISSIONER STOUT, WHO'S OUT IN CHICAGO FOR A HISTORIC EVENT. CONGRATULATIONS, COMMISSIONER AND WISH YOU WELL. HAVE A GREAT TIME OVER THERE. I KNOW YOU WILL. THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER. THANK YOU. COMMISSIONER.

ITEM SEVEN BUDGET AND FINANCE SEVEN A PURSUANT TO HEALTH AND SAFETY CODE, SECTION 775.305, DISCUSS AND TAKE APPROPRIATE ACTION TO APPROVE OR DENY THE RECOMMENDED FISCAL YEAR 2025 BUDGET AND TAX RATE FOR EMERGENCY SERVICES. DISTRICT NUMBER ONE, ESD ONE. GOOD

[BUDGET AND FINANCE]

[A. Pursuant to Health and Safety Code Section 775.305, discuss and take appropriate action to approve or deny the recommended FY2025 budget and tax rate for Emergency Services District No.1 (ESD1). John Sarah, Director, Budget and Finance, 915-546-2262]

[01:10:04]

THEY'RE NOT NECESSARILY CALLED OUT IN THE BUDGET, BUT I DO KNOW THAT THAT'S SOMETHING NORMALLY THE COURT ASK, HOW MUCH ARE SALARIES CHANGING THIS YEAR? LIKE WHAT ARE THE PLANNED SALARY CHANGES? WHAT IS YOUR MINIMUM WAGE, BUT I, I DID NOT I COULDN'T GARNER THAT FROM THE, THE BUDGET ITSELF. BUT WE DON'T HAVE ANY OF THOSE QUESTIONS. THOSE ARE JUST SOME THINGS THAT THE COURT FREQUENTLY ASK. THOSE ARE THINGS THAT WE'D LIKE TO KNOW WITH THROUGH OUR TEAM ATTENDING THE MEETINGS IN ADVANCE FOR NEXT YEAR. RIGHT. AND WE'LL DO THAT IN ADVANCE.

JUST BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, WE WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT IT COINCIDES WITH OUR, YOU KNOW, WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO IN THE COUNTY IN TERMS OF THE WAGES. AND SO WE JUST WANT ALL OF US TO BE ON TRACK WITH, REGIONALLY TO MAKE SURE THAT WE TAKE CARE OF OUR EMPLOYEES. SO AND NOW WE'RE SAYING THAT MAYBE BOTH WOULD, WOULD PARTICIPATE ON A, MAYBE A QUARTERLY, DURING OUR SPECIAL SESSIONS THAT YOU WOULD HAVE, YOU KNOW, A BRIEF PRESENTATION THAT WAY WE DON'T FALL SO FAR BEHIND AND WE GET TO UNDERSTAND WHAT'S GOING ON AND HOW WE COULD SUPPORT YOU AS WELL. SO IF YOU COULD COORDINATE THAT, BETSY FOR US. YES, SIR. OKAY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, CHIEF. THANK YOU BOTH. THANK YOU. SO DO THEY HAVE THE MOTION? THEY HAVE A MOTION. WAS THERE A WE WERE WORKING ON IT. ONE MOMENT.

ONE MOMENT. WE'RE GETTING THE NUMBERS SPECIFICALLY FROM THE. WANT US TO VERBALLY JUST WE HAVE TO READ IN THE, THE TAX RATE NUMBER, THE TAX RATE NUMBERS ONE SECOND. I HAVE IT HERE IF YOU WANT TO. SO OUR BUDGET THIS YEAR IS $18,201,046, $0.66, WITH A TEN CENT TAX RATE.

THE. LET ME JUST READ THAT IN. RIGHT ONTO IT. GO AHEAD. THEY'RE WORKING ON IT. THEY HAVE IT THE BREAKDOWN OF NO. AND INS. SO WE HAVE TO BREAK IT DOWN BY THE M AND O AND THE INS. AND FOR THE WE HAVE IT ONE SECOND. SO APPROVE AND ADOPT THE PROPOSED TAX RATE OF $0.10, WHICH IS MADE UP OF NO OF 0.052474 AND INS OF 0.047526 FOR A TOTAL BUDGET IN THE AMOUNT. OF 18,201,000 $201,046, AND $0.66. COMMISSIONERS. MAY I MAKE A CORRECTION ON THE NO. THE NO.

SHOULD BE 0.0526. YOU HAD FOUR. SO NO. AGAIN IS 0.052674. 26742674. YES MA'AM. OKAY. LET US GET THAT CORRECTION UP ON THIS MOTION. ONE MOMENT. OKAY. IS IT CORRECT ON THE SCREEN. SO JUST FOR THE PUBLIC THE CORRECTION IS TO THEM. AND NO. 0.052674 WE HAVE A MOTION FROM COMMISSIONER OLGUIN, A SECOND FROM COMMISSIONER LEON. THE VOTING IS OPEN. MOTION CARRIES.

[01:15:02]

[B. Pursuant to Health and Safety Code Section 775.305, discuss and take appropriate action to approve or deny the recommended FY2025 budget and tax rate for Emergency Services District No. 2 (ESD2). John Sarah, Director, Budget and Finance, 915-546-2262]

AND WE HAVE ESD TWO, OUR ESD, ESD TWO PARTNERS HERE TO ALSO GO OVER THEIR BUDGET AND THEIR TAX RATES. THANK YOU. WELCOME, CHIEF. GOOD MORNING JUDGE. GOOD MORNING, COMMISSIONERS. THANK YOU FOR HAVING US. AS YOU RECALL, LAST WEEK WE PRESENTED OUR DATA PRESENTATION FOR YOU ALL. AND YOU ALL MIGHT HAVE HAD SOME QUESTIONS. AND WE'RE WILLING TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS IF YOU HAVE ANY. JUST WANT TO MAKE IT CLEAR THAT THIS IS THE FIRST YEAR OF EL PASO COUNTY IS NUMBER TWO, MERGES ALL OUR BUDGET INTO ONE, WE NORMALLY HAD IT BROKEN DOWN BY FIRE STATION, BUT THIS IS GOING TO MAKE OUR STREAMLINE OUR BUDGET EVEN FASTER. THAT'S WHY YOU SEE A COUPLE OF ITEMS THAT MIGHT LOOK OFF. SO THAT'S THAT'S THE REASON FOR IT. THANK YOU. QUESTIONS? AND I THINK, BETSY, YOU MENTIONED SOME ISSUES WITH RESPECT TO THE SPECIFICITY IN THERE AS WELL AS I THINK WE'D LIKE TO, YOU KNOW, GET THE INFORMATION AGAIN WITH REGARD TO SALARY ISSUES. SO THAT, YOU KNOW, THE POLICIES THAT WE TRY TO INSTILL IN OUR COUNTY EMPLOYEES THAT THEY MATCH WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO, AND THAT YOU ALL ARE WORKING ON THOSE ISSUES, AND WE'D LOVE TO HAVE THAT. COMMISSIONER. OKAY. IF WE CAN HAVE A MOTION FOR ESD TWO FOR THE PROPOSED TAX RATE OF 0.078856, WHICH IS MADE UP OF M AND 00.054112, AND INS OF 0.024744, FOR A TOTAL BUDGET OF $11,863,593, $0.76. CAN YOU LEAVE IT UP JUST A SECOND? SORRY. SO WE CAN MAKE SURE THE RATES 24744. THANK YOU. WE HAVE A MOTION FROM COMMISSIONER LEVINE, A SECOND FROM COMMISSIONER CORONADO. THE VOTING IS OPEN. COMMISSIONER CORONADO WOULD YOU. AND THE MOTION CARRIES. THANK YOU. THANK YOU BOTH HAVE A GOOD, GOOD, GOOD DAY. JUDGE, BEFORE WE GO INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION, WE NEED A MOTION TO DELETE EIGHT B. AND EIGHT E. EIGHT E AND NINE A. THANK YOU. WE HAVE A MOTION FROM JUDGE SAMANIEGO, A SECOND FROM COMMISSIONER OLGUIN. THE VOTING IS OPEN. AND THE MOTION CARRIES. COMMISSIONERS COURT WILL RECESS INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION TO DISCUSS ITEMS 8A8C, EIGHT D, EIGHT F PURSUANT TO TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE SECTION 551.07155, 1.076 AND 551.072. COMMISSIONERS COURT WILL RECONVENE TO TAKE OFFICIAL ACTION.

[01:23:01]

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 IT'S JULY 4TH THIS YEAR.

WE'RE DOING OUR VIP EVENT, WHICH I'M STANDING IN FRONT OF RIGHT NOW HERE AT THE PAVILION, OUR SPECIAL EVENTS AREA. IT'S THE FIRST TIME WE'VE DONE IT HERE, SO IT'S WHERE YOU GET YOUR OWN

[01:25:04]

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 FOR A HAPPY INDEPENDENCE DAY. EL PASO.

HELLO. I.

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 YOU GO. READY AT 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 FAN, IT'S A SEESAW. BUT A CHILD OR A PERSON WHO'S USING A WHEELED A WHEELCHAIR DOES NOT NEED TO EXIT THEIR WHEELCHAIR. 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. 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. WE WALK 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 IS FINALLY COME TO FRUITION. BECAUSE THIS IS AN INITIATIVE THAT THE COUNTY STARTED WORKING ON, ALONG WITH BORDER NETWORK FOR HUMAN RIGHTS. MANY, MANY YEARS AGO, NINE, ALMOST TEN YEARS AGO. I KNOW THE GOVERNMENT WORKS SLOW, BUT, YOU KNOW, WE PERSEVERED AND WE 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

[01:30:04]

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

[01:35:02]

NOW.

[01:40:35]

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 IT'S JULY 4TH THIS YEAR. WE'RE DOING OUR VIP EVENT, WHICH I'M STANDING IN FRONT OF RIGHT NOW HERE AT THE PAVILION, OUR SPECIAL EVENTS AREA. IT'S 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 SKELETON 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 FOR A HAPPY INDEPENDENCE DAY. EL PASO.

HELLO. I.

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

[01:45:01]

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

[01:50:01]

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 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 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.

[01:56:26]

YOU IT'S IMPORTANT FOR YOUR CHILDREN TO STAY CURRENT ON ALL THEIR ROUTINE VACCINES. ALSO, CHILDREN FIVE AND OLDER ARE NOT ELIGIBLE FOR THE COVID 19 VACCINE. I AM CURRENT AND ALL MY VACCINES AND I ALSO GET THE COVID VACCINE. SO I AND MY LOVED ONES CAN BE PROTECTED. 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. QUÉ SUS HIJOS TENGAN TODAS SUS VACUNAS? ADEMAS DE LAS VACUNAS RUTINAS LOS NINOS MAYORES DE CINCO ANOS, AHORA SON ELEGIBLES PARA LA VACUNA DE COVID 19. LA VACUNA COVID DIECINUEVE ES GRATIS PARA LAS VACUNAS RUTINAS DE SUS HIJOS. VISIT EP HEALTH PUNTO COM SABEMOS CUANTO A MAS DE TUS HIJOS? ASI RECUERDA NO LO DUDES VACUNA. 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.

PUT THEM ON ITS JULY 4TH THIS YEAR. WE'RE DOING OUR VIP EVENT WHICH I'M STANDING IN FRONT OF

[02:00:06]

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 SKELETON 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. FELICIDADES A HAPPY INDEPENDENCE DAY. EL PASO. HELLO. I.

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 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 FAN, IT'S A IT'S A SEESAW. BUT A CHILD OR A PERSON WHO'S USING A WHEELED A WHEELCHAIR DOES NOT NEED TO EXIT THEIR WHEELCHAIR. 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. 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. YOU 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 IS FINALLY COME TO FRUITION. BECAUSE THIS IS AN INITIATIVE THAT THE COUNTY STARTED WORKING ON, ALONG WITH BORDER NETWORK FOR HUMAN RIGHTS. MANY, MANY YEARS AGO, NINE, ALMOST TEN YEARS AGO. I KNOW THE GOVERNMENT WORKS SLOW, BUT, YOU KNOW, WE PERSEVERED AND WE DIDN'T GIVE UP. WE DID HAVE TO

[02:05:05]

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 GOT? I'M SURE YOU GUYS ARE GOING TO HAVE A LOT OF THINGS THAT ARE GOING TO BE HAPPENING OVER THE SUMMER, BUT THERE'S SOME SPECIAL STUFF THAT WILL BE HAPPENING THIS SUMMER. WELL, ON ANY THIRD SUNDAY OF THE MONTH, FOLKS CAN COME DOWN TO SAN ELIZARIO WHERE WE HAVE AN ART MARKET. WE HAVE A LOT OF WONDERFUL, WONDERFUL LOCAL ARTISTS WHO WILL SHOW OFF ALL OF THEIR ARTISTRY. WE ALSO HAVE A REENACTMENT OF BILLY THE KID BREAKING INTO THE WHAT WAS THEN THE EL PASO COUNTY JAIL TO BREAK OUT A FRIEND OF HIS FROM JAIL.

SO WE HAVE SOME LOCAL ACTORS WHO DO A REENACTMENT AND IT'S JUST A VERY FUN ENVIRONMENT. 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 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

[02:10:03]

IN. THE.

[02:15:45]

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 HAD MULTIPLE FOOD TRUCKS OVER HERE AT THE SPECIAL EVENTS AREA AND ON OUR LAWN. IF YOU HAVE NOT BEEN TO A FIREWORKS SHOW IN A 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. FELICIDADES A HAPPY INDEPENDENCE DAY. EL PASO. HELLO. I.

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

[02:20:05]

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

[02:25:04]

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 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 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.

AND.

[02:33:19]

[02:35:01]

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 HAD MULTIPLE FOOD TRUCKS OVER HERE AT THE SPECIAL EVENTS AREA AND ON OUR LAWN. IF YOU HAVE NOT BEEN TO A FIREWORKS SHOW IN A SKELETON PARK, COME ON OUT. 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. A HAPPY INDEPENDENCE DAY. EL PASO. HELLO. I. GO AHEAD. COMMISSIONERS COURT HAS RECONVENED INTO REGULAR OPEN SESSION. WE'RE GOING TO GO BACK TO THE CONSENT AGENDA. ITEM FOUR W APPROVE AND AUTHORIZE THE COUNTY JUDGE TO SIGN THE FIRST AMENDMENT TO THE AGREEMENT WITH BARRACUDA PUBLIC RELATIONS, LLC FOR THE PROVISION OF PROFESSIONAL SERVICES RELATED TO THE 2024 MULTI-YEAR CAPITAL PLAN. NO ADDITIONAL COUNTY FUNDS REQUIRED. CONTRACT NUMBER 2024 0664. JUDGE COMMISSIONERS I

[W. Approve and authorize the County Judge to sign the First Amendment to the agreement with Barracuda Public Relations, LLC. for the provision of professional services related to the 2024 Multiyear Capital Plan. No additional County funds required. (Contract No. 2024-0664) Jose M. Landeros, Director, Strategic Capital Development, 915-546-2159]

THAT'S A PORTION THAT'S ABOUT 60% OF THE BUDGET THAT'S BEEN SET ASIDE AT THIS POINT. IS FOR AD BUYS ON TV, RADIO, AS WELL AS A MAILER TO HELP INFORM THE PUBLIC OF THE UPCOMING MEETING SCHEDULE. AND SO 45,000 OF THE OF THE REMAINING FUNDS WILL GO TOWARD THAT. THE REST IS PRODUCTION OF THE MESSAGING, AND THEY'LL BE WORKING WITH, DOCTOR GALLEGOS AND HER TEAM TO DESIGN AND ALSO TO DEVELOP TALKING POINTS, DESIGN A SLIDESHOW THAT'LL ALL BE USED. SO IT'S A LOT OF THE PRODUCTION OF THE MATERIALS THAT WILL BE USED FOR THE MEETINGS. BUT THOSE AGAIN, ALL UNDER THE DIRECTION OF DOCTOR GALLEGOS, AND THOSE MEETINGS ARE BEING ORGANIZED BY THE COUNTY AND WILL BE STAFFED BY COUNTY STAFF. AND, JOSE, WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT DESIGN AND PRODUCTION AND AD BUYS, NOW, WE'RE NOT TRYING TO CONVINCE THE PUBLIC TO GO ONE WAY OR THE OTHER. WE JUST WANT THEM TO KNOW ABOUT. THAT'S CORRECT. SOME OF THESE POSSIBILITIES AND THE AD BUYS ARE ABOUT THE MEETINGS, CORRECT? RIGHT. YEAH. YES, MA'AM. THEY'RE SPECIFICALLY ABOUT THE MEETING DATES, YOU KNOW, STATING THE COMMISSIONERS COURT ADOPTED AN ORDER CALLING FOR AN ELECTION TO BE HELD ON THESE DATES ON THE NOVEMBER 5TH, 2024 BALLOT. THE COUNTY WILL BE HOLDING INFORMATIONAL MEETINGS. WE'RE WORKING VERY CLOSELY WITH MCCALL, WHICH IS OUR BOND

[02:40:05]

OKAY, THAT MAKES SENSE. I DON'T WANT TO MISSPEAK FOR SOMEBODY ELSE'S PRECINCT WHEN THEY'RE ASKING ME A QUESTION ABOUT THE COLISEUM. ABSOLUTELY SOMETHING OUTSIDE OF PRECINCT ONE. YES, SIR. AND AGAIN, WE WILL BE GOING PROJECTS BY PROJECT TO SAY, YOU KNOW, THAT THERE ARE 19 PROJECTS THAT ARE PROPOSED UNDER THE PARKS PROPOSITION, AND HERE THEY ARE. AND WE'LL GO PROJECT BY PROJECT. SO WE DO ANTICIPATE THAT BEING, REALLY THE MEAT AND POTATOES OF THE, OF THE INFORMATIONAL SESSION. PERFECT. BETSY, DID YOU WANT ME TO DRAG IT OUT SOME MORE A LITTLE BIT, ASK MORE QUESTIONS, COULD YOU PLEASE. YEAH WE NOT TO ADD TO THE FACT THAT WE HAVE 16 MINUTES BEFORE 1230, BUT, WE WILL BE MEETING WITH, AND TRAINING. WE HAVE WE HAVE SCHEDULED TIME TO MEET WITH EACH OF YOU INDIVIDUALLY TO GO OVER ALL OF THE MATERIALS AND INFORMATION AGAIN SO THAT YOU, YOU HAVE THAT FAMILIARITY HEADING INTO THOSE, HEADING INTO THOSE, THOSE MEETINGS. SO WE'RE TRYING TO PREPARE AND THEN WE'LL BE DOING A RUN THROUGH WITH OUR DEPARTMENT HEAD TEAM, JUST TO ENSURE THAT WE GET ANY FEEDBACK AND THINK ABOUT ANY ELEMENTS THAT WE MAY NEED TO IMPROVE AS WE HEAD INTO THE FINAL MEETINGS. BUT WE SHOULD START SEEING THE MEETINGS PROMOTED AND MEDIA. AND WITH MAILERS LANDING IN MAILBOXES THE WEEK AFTER LABOR DAY, THE WEEK OF SEPTEMBER 9TH, AND THEN THE FIRST MEETING IS SCHEDULED TO BE TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 17TH. SO WE DID HAVE TO SHIFT THAT OUT FROM ONE OF OUR GOALS. BUT AGAIN, THAT'S JUST TO ENSURE THAT WE ARE REVIEWING EVERYTHING ACCURATELY WITH WITH MCCALL, OUR BOND COUNSEL, TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE LIMITATIONS THAT THAT WE FACE IN TERMS OF BEING ABLE TO SHARE INFORMATION IN AN INFORMATIONAL MANNER WITH THE PUBLIC. ONLY THIS WAS VERY HELPFUL TO ME. THANK YOU. WE NEED A MOTION TO APPROVE. WE HAVE A MOTION FROM

[02:45:08]

THANK YOU. JUDGE. COMMISSIONERS. THANK YOU, MR. JOSE, YOU LET ME DOWN. USUALLY YOU HAVE MUCH MORE TO SAY. NINE BE DISCUSS AND TAKE APPROPRIATE ACTION TO DECREASE THE FINANCIAL AND OPERATIONAL IMPACT TO EL PASO COUNTY AS IT PERTAINS TO LAW ENFORCEMENT ACTIONS BY THE STATE, INCLUDING ARRESTS ALONG THE EL PASO BORDER. OH, AND I WAS JUST GOING TO SAY ANNA SCHUMACHER,

[B. Discuss and take appropriate action to decrease the financial and operational impact to El Paso County as it pertains to law enforcement actions by the State, including arrests along the El Paso border. Christina Sanchez, County Attorney, County Attorney's Office, 915-273-3247]

RIGHT THEN IT'LL BE VERY QUICK. YEAH. SO 15 AND THEN OKAY COMMISSIONERS COURT WILL RECESS FOR 15 MINUTES.

[02:50:52]

IT'S JULY 4TH THIS YEAR. WE'RE DOING OUR VIP EVENT WHICH I'M STANDING IN FRONT OF RIGHT NOW HERE AT THE PAVILION. OUR SPECIAL EVENTS AREA. IT'S 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 HAD MULTIPLE FOOD TRUCKS OVER HERE AT THE SPECIAL EVENTS AREA AND ON OUR LAWN. IF YOU HAVE NOT BEEN TO A FIREWORKS SHOW IN ESCALANTE PARK, COME ON OUT. IT'S A IT'S A FUN TIME.

PEOPLE ARE ENJOYING IT, YOU KNO, 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 THAN A HAPPY INDEPENDENCE DAY. EL PASO.

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

[02:55:01]

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

[03:00:07]

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 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, 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. GO AHEAD. ITEM TEN. ADDENDUM TO THE AGENDA TEN A APPROVE AND AUTHORIZE THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT TO ACCEPT A DONATION OF A PERFORMANCE BY RADIO AND BY BALLET FOLKLORICO OF EL PASO AND CELEBRATION OF THE OUR HISTORY IN AUGMENTED

[ADDENDUM TO THE AGENDA]

[A. Approve and authorize the Economic Development Department to accept a donation of a performance by (1) Radio la Chusma and by (2) Ballet Folklorico of El Paso in celebration of the “Our History,” An Augmented Reality Experience event happening Friday, August 23, 2024, in the El Paso County Courthouse, pursuant to Texas Local Government Coded 81.032. POSTED FRIDAY, AUGUST 16, 2024, AT 12:30 P.M. Roberto Ransom, Director, Economic Development, 915-546-2177]

COMMISSIONERS CHRISTINE MARTINEZ WITH THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT. THIS IS IN REFERENCE TO THE EVENT AS MENTIONED IN THE ITEM HAPPENING THIS FRIDAY FROM 3 TO 5 P.M, AS PART OF THE COORDINATION FOR THAT EVENT, STAFF, PARTICULARLY DOCTOR RENTERIA, HAS HAS BEEN ABLE TO COORDINATE AND RECEIVE OFFERS FOR PERFORMANCES. PROVIDED AT NO COST FROM BOTH RADIO RADIO LA

[03:05:07]

HAPPY TO. HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU MIGHT HAVE. WE HAVE A MOTION FROM JUDGE SAMANIEGO AND A SECOND FROM COMMISSIONER CORONADO. THE VOTING IS OPEN. THE MOTION CARRIES. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. JUDGE, THIS COMPLETES ALL OF THE ITEMS ON TODAY'S AGENDA. THANK YOU EVERYBODY. HAVE A GREAT WEEK. BETSY, WE HAVE SOME. THANK YOU.

COMMISSIONERS COURT HAS ADJOURNED AT 12:35 P.M. ANYTHING SPECIAL OR WE DON'T DO. IT'S 330. COMMISSIONER. 330 HERE AT THE FRIDAY. FRIDAY AT 3:00. I BELIEVE. 3 TO 5.

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.