RESOLUTIONS

[A. Approve and adopt a resolution designating the week of September 15 - September 21, 2024, as Forensic Science Week in El Paso County, Texas. Carlos Leon, Commissioner, Precinct 1, 915-546-2014]

[00:30:40]

OKAY. ITEM FIVE A APPROVE AND ADOPT A RESOLUTION DESIGNATING THE WEEK OF SEPTEMBER 15TH THROUGH SEPTEMBER 21ST, 2024, AS FORENSIC SCIENCE WEEK IN EL PASO COUNTY, TEXAS. I KNOW THAT WE'VE GOT A LOT OF FOLKS HERE FOR THIS RESOLUTION. IF YOU DON'T MIND STEPPING UP TO THE PODIUM. AND I'VE GOT TO TELL YOU, MAYBE WE OUGHT TO START EACH MEETING LIKE THAT. AND EVERY DAY, EVERY SUNDAY, EVERY MONDAY, AND PASS OUT A LITTLE MEZCAL. THERE FOR THE AUDIENCE. I THINK IT'D BE GOOD. OKAY, OKAY, OKAY. YES. IS ASHLEY HERE? OKAY, OKAY, WE'LL I'LL READ THE RESOLUTION. THEN MAYBE YOU CAN SAY A FEW WORDS, BUT I'VE GOT TO TELL YOU THAT, AS I, AS I READ THIS RESOLUTION TO MYSELF LAST NIGHT AND I LOOKED AT IT, AS, YOU KNOW, I CAME FROM THE POLICE DEPARTMENT AND MY FIRST PROMOTION WAS TO IDNR, WHICH BACK THEN WAS WHAT YOU ALL DO RIGHT NOW. AND I'VE GOT TO TELL YOU, IF I DIDN'T HAVE IT, EXCUSE ME, I WOULD HAVE NEVER SUCCEEDED AS I DID BECAUSE OF THAT FOUNDATION THAT YOU ALL HAVE, RIGHT NOW AS YOU START YOUR CAREERS. BUT IT'S IT WAS GREAT. I COULD EVEN READ FINGERPRINTS WAY BACK THEN. SO, AGAIN, THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

I'LL READ IT AND THEN YOU CAN SAY SOME WORDS TO US, WHEREAS FORENSIC SCIENCE WEEK 2024 IS OBSERVED NATIONALLY TO RECOGNIZE THE CRITICAL ROLE FORENSIC SCIENCE PLAYS IN THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM AND TO HONOR THE PROFESSIONALS WHO WORK DILIGENTLY TO ENSURE JUSTICE IS SERVED. AND WHEREAS THE EL PASO COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE IS PROUD TO HAVE A DEDICATED TEAM OF CRIME SCENE INVESTIGATORS, EVIDENCE SECTION PERSONNEL, LATENT PRINT EXAMINERS, FORENSIC EXAMINERS, AND FORENSIC SCIENTISTS WHO WORK TIRELESSLY TO MAINTAIN THE INTEGRITY OF EVIDENCE, CONDUCT THOROUGH INVESTIGATIONS, AND PROVIDE CRUCIAL EXPERTISE IN SOLVING CRIMES. AND WHEREAS THESE PROFESSIONALS EMPLOY ADVANCED TECHNIQUES AND TOOLS TO COLLECT, ANALYZE, AND INTERPRET PHYSICAL EVIDENCE, THEREBY CONTRIBUTING TO THE SUCCESSFUL RESOLUTION OF CRIMINAL CASES AND THE PROTECTION OF PUBLIC SAFETY AND WHEREAS THEIR UNWAVERING COMMITMENT, TECHNICAL SKILLS, AND THE PROFESSIONALISM SIGNIFICANTLY ENHANCE THE EFFECTIVENESS AND EFFECTIVENESS OF LAW ENFORCEMENT AND THE PURSUIT OF JUSTICE IN EL PASO COUNTY. AND WHEREAS, FORENSIC SCIENCE WEEK PROVIDES AN OPPORTUNITY TO ACKNOWLEDGE AND EXPRESS APPRECIATION FOR THE REMARKABLE CONTRIBUTIONS OF FORENSIC SCIENCE PROFESSIONALS AND TO HIGHLIGHT THE IMPORTANCE OF THEIR WORK WITHIN THE COMMUNITY. WHEREAS THE COMMISSIONERS COURT ENCOURAGES ALL RESIDENTS TO RECOGNIZE THE VITAL ROLE OF FORENSIC SCIENCE PROFESSIONALS AND TO SUPPORT THEIR CONTINUED EFFORTS IN ADVANCING THE FIELD OF FORENSIC SCIENCE AND CRIMINAL JUSTICE. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE EL PASO COUNTY JUDGE AND COMMISSIONERS COURT THAT THE COUNTY OF EL PASO HEREBY RECOGNIZES THE WEEK OF SEPTEMBER 15TH THROUGH SEPTEMBER 21ST, 2024, AS FORENSIC SCIENCE WEEK 2024, IN EL PASO COUNTY, WE HAVE A MOTION BY COMMISSIONER LEON, A SECOND BY COMMISSIONER OLGUIN. THE VOTING IS OPEN. COMMISSIONER STOUT, I. MOTION CARRIES. CONGRATULATIONS. THE PODIUM IS YOURS. GOOD MORNING. MY NAME IS ASHLEY ROSALES. I AM THE CRIME SCENE UNIT SUPERVISOR FOR THE EL PASO COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE. IT IS AN HONOR FOR US TO BE HERE, TO BE RECOGNIZED BY YOU GUYS. THIS MORNING IN THIS FORENSIC SCIENCE WEEK. IT'S NATIONAL. SO IT'S VERY IMPORTANT THAT OUR COUNTY GETS TO HONOR THESE FORENSIC SPECIALISTS TODAY, AND I'M VERY THANK YOU FOR APPRECIATING THEM. THE FORENSICS AND EVIDENCE UNIT FOR WHAT THEY DO, THE EVIDENCE SECTION, THE CRIME SCENE SECTION, AND THE LATENT PRINT EXAMINERS ARE ALL VERY HARD WORKING UNITS THAT EXEMPLIFY TEAMWORK, THEY ARE VITAL UNITS FOR OUR INVESTIGATIONS, AND THEY'RE THE LAST RESPONDERS FOR OUR INVESTIGATIONS. THEY WORK VERY LONG HOURS, AND THEY DEAL WITH DIFFICULT SCENES THAT NOT EVERYONE CAN ENDURE. WE ARE GRATEFUL TO HAVE THEM SERVE THE EL PASO COUNTY. THANK YOU GUYS FOR EVERYTHING THAT YOU GUYS DO, AND I'M VERY PROUD TO BE PART OF THIS TEAM. ALL OF YOUR HARD WORK

[00:35:05]

DOES NOT GO UNNOTICED. AND THANK YOU, COMMISSIONERS, FOR RECOGNIZING THEM THIS WEEK. NO, THANK YOU. AND I'VE GOT TO SAY, AS YOU ALL KNOW, THAT, EVIDENCE HAS SHIFTED SO MUCH IN THE LAST SEVERAL DECADES FROM EYEWITNESSES TO WHAT YOU ALL ARE DOING TODAY. AND WHILE EYEWITNESSES ARE REALLY CRITICAL NOW, AS THEY WERE BEFORE. BUT, YOU KNOW, THE EVIDENCE THAT YOU ALL PROVIDE IS YOU CAN'T YOU CANNOT ARGUE WITH THAT. I MEAN, THAT'S IN BLACK AND WHITE. THERE IT IS. SO CONGRATULATIONS AND THE BEST OF LUCK TO YOU ALL IN THE FUTURE. BUT YOU ARE AT THE FOUNDATION OF YOUR DEPARTMENT, COMMISSIONERS, COMMISSIONER CORONADO, THANK YOU.

COMMISSIONER AND OTHER COMMISSIONER LEON, COMMISSIONER OLGUIN AND STOUT, I JUST WANT TO SAY THAT, YOU KNOW, THE UNITED STATES, WE ARE KNOWN THROUGHOUT THE WORLD FOR OUR JUSTICE SYSTEM, YOU KNOW, AND PART OF THAT IS WE AIM TO TRY TO GET AT THE TRUTH AND REALLY NOTHING MORE THAN REALLY FORENSICS THAT, YOU KNOW, TO GET VERIFIABLE INFORMATION THROUGH SCIENCE RELATED TO THE CASES, TO MAKE SURE THAT JUSTICE IS DONE. AND SO YOU GUYS REALLY ARE AT THE HEART OF WHAT, YOU KNOW, OUR JUSTICE SYSTEM IS ABOUT AND MAKING SURE THAT WE GET AT THE TRUTH RELIABLY AND OBJECTIVELY. AND WE THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE, TO THE DEDICATION THAT YOU ALL HAVE. AND ALSO THE CONTRIBUTIONS TO OUR JUSTICE SYSTEM, BECAUSE, LIKE I SAID, YOU KNOW, WE REALLY STAND OUT IN THE WORLD BECAUSE OF OUR JUSTICE SYSTEM. AND SO THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH. APPRECIATE YOU. AND EVEN, YOU KNOW, YOU'LL YOU'LL SEE SOME TELEVISION SHOWS THAT SHOWS DUSTING FOR FINGERPRINTS AND, AND A NICE CLEAN OFFICE DURING A BUSINESS HOURS. I MEAN, WOULDN'T THAT BE PERFECT? BUT THE TRUTH IS, YOU ALL HAVE TO GO TO SOME PRETTY HORRIBLE SCENES.

YOU HAVE TO GO OUT TO THE MORGUE AND TAKE FINGERPRINTS FROM PEOPLE WHO HAVE PASSED ON. SO, WHAT YOU SEE ON TELEVISION AND THE WHAT THE REALITY IS, ARE DAY AND NIGHT. SO I FOR ONE, THAT THAT HAS BEEN SOMEWHAT ON THAT ROAD. I CAN'T THANK YOU ENOUGH FOR WHAT YOU DO AND THE CASES THAT YOU BRING TO TRIAL THAT WE GET CONVICTIONS ON BECAUSE OF, OF THE EVIDENCE. BUT WOULD YOU MIND INTRODUCING THE REST OF YOUR TEAM? YES. SO THIS IS CARLOS SANTANA. SHE'S ONE OF OUR CRIME SCENE INVESTIGATOR, CARLA OLIVAS. SHE'S OUR LATENT PRINT EXAMINER. JASMINE WHILE SHE'S ONE OF OUR CRIME SCENE INVESTIGATORS, SARAH IRELAND, SHE'S A LATENT PRINT EXAMINER.

CARLOS CERVANTES. THIS IS ONE OF OUR CRIME SCENE INVESTIGATORS, RICHARD PRYOR. HE'S OUR LEAD CRIME SCENE INVESTIGATOR. AND THEN I DON'T KNOW IF YOU GUYS WANT TO PRESENT YOUR EVIDENCE SECTION. AND THEN NAVARRO IS A CRIME SCENE INVESTIGATOR WITH US AS WELL. WELL, CONGRATULATIONS.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU. CAN YOU TAKE A PHOTO OF THIS? PLEASE. SURE. I DON'T. YEAH YEAH, YEAH. OVER HERE. ONE, TWO. THREE. WE CAN. ALL THE FILES, PLEASE. ALL THE WAY. TO. THE.

BOTTOM. OKAY THANK YOU. OKAY. THANK YOU.

[00:40:15]

ITEM FIVE B APPROVE AND ADOPT A RESOLUTION RECOGNIZING THE RECIPIENTS OF THE 2024 COMMUNITY. COMMUNITY AND ACCION LATINO LEGACY AWARD. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. COMMISSIONERS. I AM

[B. Approve and adopt a resolution recognizing the recipients of the 2024 Community en Accion Latino Legacy Award. Carlos Leon, Commissioner, Precinct 1, 915-546-2014]

TRULY HONORED TO BE ABLE TO READ THIS AND TO THE TO THE RECORD. AND I KNOW WE HAVE A LOT OF PEOPLE HERE TO SPEAK ON THIS, AND I'M SO GRATEFUL THAT YOU MADE TIME TO JOIN US THIS MORNING. SO. WHAT I'LL DO IS I'LL READ THE RESOLUTION. WE'LL VOTE THEN. WE'D LOVE TO HEAR FROM YOU. WHEREAS COMMUNITY AND ACTIONS MISSION STATEMENT IS TO MOBILIZE LATINO LEADERS TO IMPACT ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL EQUALITY, EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES AND CULTURAL APPRECIATION. AND WHEREAS COMMUNITY AND ACTION WAS INCORPORATED IN 2011 AS A 501 C3 NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION, AND WHEREAS, COMMUNITY AND ACTIONS RECENT PROGRAMS HAVE AWARDED SCHOLARSHIPS TO AREA STUDENTS, SPEARHEADED THE COMPLETION OF THE MEN OF COMPANY E MONUMENT THAT HONORS MEMORY THE MEMORY OF BRAVE MEN FROM EL PASO WHO SACRIFICED THEIR LIVES DURING WORLD WAR TWO, CONDUCTS THE YOUNG ACHIEVERS FORUM IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT EL PASO, AND TOUCHES THE LIVES OF THOUSANDS OF STUDENTS FROM AREA SCHOOLS, ENCOURAGING THEM, ENCOURAGING THEM TO CONTINUE THEIR EDUCATION BEYOND HIGH SCHOOL. AND WHEREAS COMMUNITY AND ACTIONS LATINO LEGACY AWARD RECOGNIZES INDIVIDUALS WHO LEFT A LEGACY WORTHY OF RECOGNITION AT THE HIGHEST LEVELS. AND WHEREAS COMMUNITY IN ACTION HAS NAMED THE FOLLOWING INDIVIDUALS AS THE RECIPIENTS OF THE 2024 LATINO LEGACY AWARD. MRS. LUCY ACOSTA, WHO DEDICATED HER LIFE TO CIVIC INVOLVEMENT, COMMUNITY SERVICE, AND THE ADVANCEMENT AND ADVANCEMENT OF WOMEN, HISPANICS, YOUTH, AND OLDER ADULTS. SHE CO-FOUNDED LULAC PROJECT AMISTA, A FLAGSHIP SOCIAL SERVICE AGENCY PROVIDING ESSENTIAL SERVICES TO OUR COMMUNITY. HER NUMEROUS HONORS AND RECOGNITIONS REFLECT THE COMMUNITY'S APPRECIATION OF HER HARD WORK AND DEDICATION TO OUR COMMUNITY. MR. JACOB CINTRON, WHO DEDICATED WHO IS RECOGNIZED FOR HIS LEADERSHIP AND ADMINISTRATIVE EXPERIENCE IN THE MEDICAL FIELD. MR. CINTRON IS PRESIDENT AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER OF THE EL PASO COUNTY HOSPITAL DISTRICT, BETTER KNOWN AS THE UNIVERSITY MEDICAL CENTER. THROUGH HIS GUIDANCE, OUTREACH, HEALTH CLINICS AND EMERGENCY CARE FACILITIES HAVE EXPANDED THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY, REACHING THOUSANDS OF EL PASOANS AND OTHER RESIDENTS. MR. CESAR VIRAMONTES, A COMPETITOR OF ALL COMPETITORS WHO THROUGH HARD WORK AND PERSEVERANCE FROM HUMBLE BEGINNINGS, GREW TO A MOST SUCCESSFUL BUSINESS AND REACHED THE HIGHEST LEVELS OF CORPORATE AMERICA. HE BECAME A DEDICATED PHILANTHROPIST WHO GENEROUSLY SUPPORTED COUNTLESS COMMUNITY BASED ORGANIZATIONS AND LIVES. BY HIS MOTTO, IF I HAVE IT, I WILL HELP THOSE IN NEED. WHEREAS ON SEPTEMBER 21ST, 2020 FOR COMMUNITY ACTION IS RECOGNIZING THESE EXCEPTIONAL MEMBERS OF OUR COMMUNITY AT THE PASO DEL NORTE HOTEL IN EL PASO, TEXAS. AND NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE EL PASO COUNTY JUDGE AND COMMISSIONERS COURT THAT THE COUNTY OF EL PASO CONGRATULATES THESE RECIPIENTS AND ENCOURAGES OUR COMMUNITY TO JOIN IN HONORING AND CELEBRATING THE LIVES AND ACCOMPLISHMENTS OF THE 2024 LATINO LEGACY AWARD RECIPIENTS SIGNED THE 16TH DAY OF SEPTEMBER 20TH, 24. WE HAVE A MOTION BY COMMISSIONER LEON, A SECOND BY COMMISSIONER LEON. THE VOTING IS OPEN. MOTION CARRIES, THE FLOOR IS YOURS. BUT IN JUST LOOKING OUT, I AM SO HONORED.

JUST BY. BY YOUR PRESENCE HERE AND WHAT YOU HAVE DONE. THE IMPACT OF MISS ACOSTA, WHO IS NO LONGER HERE. AND BY LOOKING AT YOU ALL AND WHAT YOU HAVE ACCOMPLISHED AND TRANSFORMED EL PASO TO WHAT WE ARE NOW, THE FLOOR IS YOURS. THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER LEON. AND GOOD MORNING, COMMISSIONERS AND DISTINGUISHED GUESTS. MY NAME IS ANA LIMON. I'M THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF COMMUNITY IN ACTION AND ON BEHALF OF CEA AND OUR BOARD AND MEMBERSHIP, MANY WHO ARE HERE, WE ARE DEEPLY HONORED TO ACCEPT THIS RESOLUTION. WE ARE TRULY GRATEFUL TO THE COUNTY

[00:45:02]

COMMISSIONERS FOR THIS RECOGNITION, WHICH REFLECTS NOT ONLY THE EFFORTS OF OUR TEAM, BUT ALSO THE SUPPORT OF OUR ENTIRE COMMUNITY. AS YOU MENTIONED, THE LATINO LEGACY AWARDS WERE STARTED IN 2017, AND THIS EVENT CELEBRATES THE TRIUMPH, RESILIENCY, PRIDE, HARD WORK AND LEGACY OF UP TO THREE LATINOS AND LATINAS EVERY YEAR. THE GOAL IS TO SHOWCASE THE CRITICAL ROLE THAT THEY HAVE PLAYED IN BUILDING AND SHAPING OUR COMMUNITY, AND MAKING SURE THAT THOSE STORIES ARE TOLD AND NOT FORGOTTEN. WE HAVE THE HONOREES FAMILIES HERE. WE HAVE JACOB, AND WHAT I'M GOING TO DO IS I'M GOING TO TURN OVER THE FLOOR TO THEM FOR THEM TO SAY A FEW WORDS. BUT, YOU KNOW, I WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT THIS SUPPORT AND ACKNOWLEDGMENT REINFORCES THE VALUES OF OUR WORK, AND IT RECOGNIZES AND ENERGIZES US TO CONTINUE PUSHING FORWARD WITH EVER GREATER COMMITMENT. I ALSO WANT TO TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO THANK OUR SPONSOR, MARATHON MARATHON PETROLEUM. THANKS TO THEM, WE'RE HAVING THE OPPORTUNITY TO PUT THIS EVENT TOGETHER. BUT I DON'T KNOW IF ANNA, ANNA ACOSTA AND ALEX. GOOD MORNING, COMMISSIONERS. GOOD MORNING. MY NAME IS ANNA ACOSTA, AND ON BEHALF OF THE ACOSTA FAMILY, WE WOULD LIKE TO THANK YOU AND COMMUNITY IN ACTION FOR THIS WONDERFUL HONOR. MY GRANDMOTHER WAS A TRUE PIONEER IN SO MANY WAYS, AND WE ARE SO PROUD AND GRATEFUL FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO CONTINUE AND CELEBRATE HER LEGACY IN THE EL PASO COMMUNITY. THANK YOU AGAIN. GOOD MORNING, I WANT TO THANK YOU ON BEHALF OF MY FATHER, CESAR VIRAMONTES. HE COULDN'T BE WITH US THIS MORNING, BUT HE'S ALWAYS BEEN COMMITTED TO EL PASO. AND IT'S AN HONOR FOR HIM TO RECEIVE THE LATINO LEGACY AWARD. AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT. AND WE WILL CONTINUE TO BE COMMITTED TO EL PASO. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. I'M USUALLY UP HERE ASKING FOR OTHER THINGS, BUT REALLY, I AM HUMBLED BY THIS RECOGNITION. I DON'T KNOW THAT I REALLY AM DESERVING. WHEN YOU LOOK AT COMMUNITY IN ACTION AND THE THINGS THEY DO, I DO KNOW THAT YOU KNOW WE ARE A PRODUCT OF OUR OUR LEGACY FROM OUR PARENTS, GRANDPARENTS AND OTHER GENERATIONS THAT HAVE MOLDED AND SHAPED WHO WE ARE TODAY. SO I REALLY THINK THAT HONOR REALLY BELONGS, IN MY CASE, TO MY ANCESTORS STARTING, YOU KNOW, ESPECIALLY MY GRANDMOTHER AND MOTHER WHO MOLDED ME, PEOPLE THAT I GREW UP WITH, INCLUDING SOME STANDING HERE WHEN WE WERE VERY YOUNG AND DIDN'T THINK WE WERE GOING TO GO THAT FAR, BUT VERY HONORED ABOUT, YOU KNOW, HOW OUR COMMUNITY DOES A LOT TO HELP ONE ANOTHER OUT. AND IF WE IF WE'RE NOT DOING IT, THEN WHO IS? AND SO AGAIN, I'M HONORED BY THIS RECOGNITION. BUT IT LEAVES A NAME MANY OTHER HEROES IN OUR COMMUNITY THAT SACRIFICE EVERY DAY, WHETHER IT BE THAT GRANDMOTHER RAISING GRANDKIDS OR, YOU KNOW, THE SINGLE PARENT WORKING VERY HARD. REALLY, IF WE ARE TO REPRESENT THEM, THEN WE NEED TO HONOR THE VALUES THEY'VE TAUGHT US. SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH. MR. BARCELO OR MR. BANALE? NO THANK YOU VERY MUCH. AND WE WOULD LOVE TO HAVE A PHOTO. YES DID WE HAVE ANY MORE SPEAKERS, EVERYBODY TURNED AROUND AND LOOKED AT YOU. HERE WE GO. HI.

GOOD MORNING, COMMISSIONERS. MY NAME IS ANDREW RAMIREZ. I'M THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER AT AMISTAD. AND I WOULD SAY PROBABLY OVER 50 YEARS AGO, MY PREDECESSOR, LUCY ACOSTA, SHE IS REALLY A WOMAN THAT I ASPIRE TO BE. I NEVER GOT TO MEET HER, BUT I LIVE HER LEGACY EVERY SINGLE DAY. SHE GIVES ME PURPOSE AND I'M COMMITTED TO HER, ESPECIALLY IN THIS ROLE, AND I WISH I COULD GIVE HER A HUG BECAUSE I THINK SHE WOULD BE PROUD OF ME. BUT I'M REALLY PROUD OF HER. AND SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR SUPPORT. AND THANK YOU, ANNA, AND THE CA TEAM FOR BEING REALLY THE WIND BENEATH MY WINGS AS WELL. THANK YOU SIR, THANK YOU. AND WHAT YOU ALL SAID BRINGS TO MY MEMORY LAST WEEK, AS I WAS DRIVING ON THE WEST SIDE OF TOWN AND MY WIFE MENTIONED THAT LOOK, IT SEEMS LIKE A LADY FELL OFF HER WHEELCHAIR THERE OFF OF WEST WING, ONE OF THOSE STREETS. SO BY THE TIME I WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER BECAUSE NO ONE WAS THERE HELPING HER, BUT BY THE TIME I WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER AND START WALKING TO HER, THERE WAS ALREADY SIX CARS PULLED OVER. SO WHAT EXAMPLE? WHAT A GREAT EXAMPLE OF WHO WE ARE AND WHAT WE DO FOR OUR NEIGHBORS. SO AGAIN, CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL OF YOU. PLEASE SAY SAY HELLO TO CESAR AND FOR ALL OF YOU THAT STAND HERE. I MEAN, I AM JUST SO PROUD OF EVERY ONE OF YOU. AND THANK YOU FOR JUST GRACING OUR

[00:50:06]

COURTHOUSE THIS MORNING, COMMISSIONERS. THEN WE'D LOVE TO TAKE A PHOTO WITH YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU. I NEED IT, YEAH, WE CAN GO TO LUNCH. SURE. WHERE'S YOUR STEP STOOL? I KNOW, I THINK I CAN MANAGE FOR THIS ONE. THAT'S PRETTY COOL. YEAH. YOU'RE GOING TO NEED IT FOR SOMETHING. I'LL GET OFF MY COMING DOWN. THERE YOU GO. YEAH. FOR EVERYTHING. I USED TO WAIT FOR THE BUS TO THE HIGH SCHOOL. OH, YEAH. CONGRATULATIONS, JACOB.

PROBABLY ALSO, YOU. KNOW. THANK YOU.

FOR EVERYTHING YOU. THANK GOD. FOR THANK YOU.

FOR YOUR WORDS TODAY. ONE OF MY TENURE EMPLOYEES HAVING SCOLIOSIS SURGERY. SHE'S WORKIN.

ITEM FIVE D APPROVE AND ADOPT A RESOLUTION HONORING ALICIA VILLA FOR HER MANY YEARS OF EFFECTIVE COMMUNITY ADVOCACY. AND FOR HER RECOGNITION THIS YEAR AS JEFFERSON HIGH SCHOOL OUTSTANDING X. WELL-DESERVED ROUND OF APPLAUSE. GOOD MORNING EVERYBODY. I HAVE THE HONOR OF

[D. Approve and adopt a resolution honoring Alicia Villa for her many years of effective community advocacy, and for her recognition this year as Jefferson High School Outstanding Ex. David Stout, Commissioner, Precinct 2, 915-546-2111]

BEING ABLE TO READ THIS RESOLUTION INTO THE RECORD, WE HAVE, MISS VILLA WITH US, WITH SOME OF HER FAMILY MEMBERS. I KNOW BOTH OF HER DAUGHTERS ARE HERE, AND WE'RE ALSO JOINED BY THE MEMBERS OF THE, OUTSTANDING X SELECTION COMMITTEE FROM FROM JEFFERSON HIGH SCHOOL. SO I'M GOING TO GO AHEAD AND, MAKE A COUPLE OF COMMENTS AND READ THE RESOLUTION AND THEN AND THEN WE'LL HEAR FROM FROM YOU, MRS. VILLA. SO I JUST WANT TO TALK ABOUT PRECINCT TWO. YOU KNOW, IT'S THE HEART OF THE CITY AND IN THE HEART OF PRECINCT TWO, THERE ARE FOUR HIGH SCHOOLS OF THE CLASSIC URBAN CORE EL PASO, AUSTIN, BOWIE AND JEFFERSON, SO THE ROOTS GO DEEP IN THIS PART OF OUR IN THIS, IN THIS PART OF OUR COMMUNITY, IT'S OF COURSE, WE ALL KNOW IT'S A CLASSIC QUESTION. WHEN YOU'RE FROM EL PASO, WHAT HIGH SCHOOL DID YOU GO TO, MAYBE MAYBE IT STARTED WITH THESE FOUR HIGH SCHOOLS AND YSLETA, WHICH, YOU KNOW, OUT THERE IN WHICH BACK THEN WAS SUBURBAN AND RURAL, NOWADAYS WE HAVE SOMETHING LIKE 30 PUBLIC HIGH SCHOOLS, AND I'M SURE

[00:55:08]

EVERYBODY IS PROUD OF THE SCHOOL THAT THEY WENT TO, WHICH OFTEN REPRESENTS THEIR NEIGHBORHOOD.

AND THE PART OF TOWN THAT THEY LIVE IN. BUT I THINK LA JEFF TAKES IT TO ANOTHER LEVEL. YOU KNOW, THE X'S ARE STRONG AND THE X THAT WE ARE HONORING TODAY REALLY EXEMPLIFIES THAT. AND I'VE BEEN HONORED TO KNOW MISS VILLA FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS, HER FAMILY MEMBERS WHO HAVE PROVIDED GREAT SERVICE TO OUR COMMUNITY, SHE SAID A GREAT EXAMPLE FOR HER DAUGHTERS. AND THEY HAVE THEY HAVE CONTINUED THAT LEGACY, YOU KNOW, CYNTHIA, DOCTOR CYNTHIA RENTERIA, WORKED WORKED IN MY OFFICE FOR A COUPLE OF YEARS AND NOW SHE'S IN ANOTHER OFFICE HERE AT THE COUNTY. BUT YOU GAVE THEM A GREAT EXAMPLE, AND, YOU KNOW, WE'RE ALL PROUD OF THE WORK THAT THAT YOU AND THEY HAVE DONE. SO I'M GOING TO GO AHEAD AND READ THE RESOLUTION AND THEN AND THEN WE'LL LET YOU SHARE A FEW WORDS WITH US, OKAY. THE RESOLUTION STATES WHEREAS ALUMNI NETWORKS REFLECT THE ONGOING IMPACT OF THE INSTITUTION ON ITS GRADUATES AND SIGNIFIES A COMMITMENT TO THE SUCCESS OF BOTH PAST AND FUTURE GRADUATES. AND WHEREAS, EVERY YEAR, A COMMITTEE OF THOMAS JEFFERSON HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS AND TEACHERS SELECT AN OUTSTANDING X IN RECOGNITION OF THEIR ACCOMPLISHMENTS, DEDICATION, AND SERVICE TO THE SCHOOL. AND WHEREAS ALICIA VILLA GRADUATED FROM THE CLASS OF 1963, IS THIS YEAR'S OUTSTANDING X. AND WHEREAS AS A BUSINESSWOMAN, ALICIA DEMONSTRATED INNOVATION, CREATIVITY AND LOVE FOR EVERY CHILD THAT ATTENDED HER DAYCARE.

WHEN SHE RAN, SHE RAN FOR 40 YEARS. AND WHEREAS AT ALMOST 80 YEARS OLD, ALICIA VILLA SERVES ON THE JEFFERSON SILVA PTSA BOARD AND IS AN ACTIVE MEMBER OF THE MARDI GRAS COMMITTEE.

EX-STUDENT ASSOCIATION AND 75TH DIAMOND ANNIVERSARY PLANNING COMMITTEE. AND WHEREAS, ALICIA WAS THE FIRST CHAIR OF THE ALUMNI DANCE FUNDRAISER COMMITTEE, A TRADITION THAT CONTINUES TODAY. AND WHEREAS ALICIA ALSO SERVED ON THE PLANNING COMMITTEE FOR THE 1999 JEFFERSON 50TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION, AND WHEREAS SHE IS NOT AFRAID TO WORK IN FUNDRAISE IN SUPPORT OF THE CURRENT JEFFERSON STUDENTS OVER THE DECADES THAT SHE HAS SOLD TICKETS FOR FULL TABLES AND DANCES, FOOD AND RAFFLES. AND WHEREAS HER HER DEDICATION AND COMMITMENT TO JEFFERSON IS UNMATCHED, INSPIRING YOUNGER GENERATIONS OF ALUMNI AND SUPPORTING LEADERSHIP CHANGES OVER THE YEARS, SHE RECOGNIZES THAT THE GOAL OF SERVICE IS FOR THE STUDENTS AND WHEREAS, FOLLOWING IN HER PARENTS FOOTSTEPS, SHE HAS DEDICATED DECADES OF HER LIFE IN SERVICE TO HER ALMA MATER. AND NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, THAT THE EL PASO COUNTY JUDGE AND COMMISSIONERS COURT HONORS ALICIA VILLA AS A THOMAS JEFFERSON HIGH SCHOOL OUTSTANDING X FOR THE SCHOOL'S 75TH ANNIVERSARY AND COMMEND HER YEARS OF SERVICE TO THOMAS JEFFERSON HIGH SCHOOL, SIGNED THE 16TH DAY OF SEPTEMBER, 2024.

WE HAVE A MOTION BY COMMISSIONER STOUT, SECOND BY COMMISSIONER LEON. THE VOTING IS OPEN. OKAY.

MOTION CARRIES. MORNING, MISS VILLA, GOOD MORNING. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THIS GREAT HONOR.

AND THIS IS THE STUDENTS THAT GAVE ME THIS GREAT HONOR AS BEING THEIR, 20, 24 OUTSTANDING X. AND I'M VERY PROUD AND I'M JUST FOLLOWING THE LEGACY OF MY PARENTS, FRANCISCO AND ISABEL VILLA. AND THEY WERE ONE OF THE GROUP OF THE FOUNDERS OF JEFFERSON HIGH SCHOOL. SO I'VE BEEN IN JEFFERSON SINCE FIVE YEARS. I PROBABLY ATTENDING EVERY SINGLE, FUNDRAISER, EVERY SINGLE DANCE, EVERY SINGLE MARDI GRAS. AND THEY ALL WORK FOR THE STUDENTS. AND THAT I'M FOLLOWING THAT LEGACY THAT I WILL ALWAYS WORK HARD, RAISE MONEY, AND GIVE SCHOLARSHIPS, AS MEMBERS OF ALL THE ORGANIZATIONS OF JEFFERSON. AND THIS IS ALL WE DO FOR ALL OUR STUDENTS AND ALSO FOR OUR COMMUNITY THERE AT JEFFERSON HIGH SCHOOL. SO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THIS GREAT HONOR. THANK YOU. MISS, I'VE GOT TO TELL YOU THAT THE SELECTION THAT YOU ARE THE HONOR, I MEAN, WITH SO MANY, GREAT PEOPLE, SO MANY GREAT NAMES THAT CAME OUT OF THAT SCHOOL, DURING THAT YEAR ALSO, IT JUST SHOWS THE WHAT, WHAT A DIFFERENCE YOU HAVE MADE, IN NOT ONLY THE JEFFERSON AREA, BUT IN THE CITY. SO CONGRATULATIONS. AND, COMMISSIONER STOUT, THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THIS TO OUR ATTENTION. AND I SHOULD MENTION ALSO THAT MR. CESAR VIRAMONTES, HE WAS A GRADUATE OF JEFFERSON HIGH SCHOOL. HE GREW UP WITH MY BROTHERS BECAUSE I HAVE FIVE, WE WERE FIVE SIBLINGS AND ATTENDED JEFFERSON SINCE IT'S FOUNDED. MY BROTHER LUIS VILLA FROM 1952, MY BROTHER, J VILLA FROM 1957, MY BROTHER FRANK VILLA FROM 1959, MYSELF, 1963. AND MY SISTER TERESA VILLA RAMIREZ FROM 1967.

[01:00:10]

AND SHE IS A LAWYER. BUT SHE WORKS OVER THERE IN HOUSTON. WELL, WHAT A GROUP. YES, CONGRATULATIONS. AND I KNOW IF OUR IF OUR COUNTY JUDGE WERE HERE, HE'D PROBABLY BE, PROUDLY, YOU KNOW, SMILING VERY PROUDLY AND WEARING HIS RED JACKET BECAUSE HE'S ALSO A AND. YES.

AND HIS BROTHERS AND, YOU KNOW, LIKE JESUS SAMANIEGO, HE GREW UP WITH MY BROTHERS. THEY ALL PLAYED FOOTBALL. AND SO WE'RE LIKE, I THINK JEFFERSON IS A GREAT. AND OUR COMMUNITY IS A GREAT FAMILY. SO, YOU KNOW, WE'RE ALL FAMILY AND THESE ARE OUR STUDENTS. THOSE ARE OUR FUTURE. AND I HOPE THEY CONTINUE OUR LEGACY. THANK YOU SO MUCH. WELL, THANK THANK YOU. ONCE AGAIN AND CONGRATULATIONS. IF ANYBODY WANTS TO FIND MISS VILLA, YOU CAN FIND HER AT ZAPATA. SHE'S THERE EVERY DAY. I'M ALSO A VOLUNTEER THERE, KEEPING THINGS IN ORDER, AND, YOU KNOW WHAT A WHAT A WHAT A GREAT HONOR. CONGRATULATIONS. THANK YOU SO MUCH. SO PROUD OF YOU SO MUCH. AS THE JUDGE WOULD SAY, VIVA LA JEFE. VIVA LA JEFF! YAY.

OKAY VERY WELL DESERVED. OH, THANK YOU. JEFF. DEPARTMENT. YES. GO. WE'LL LEAVE THEM THERE.

YEAH, BUT I'M HERE. AND THEN. THANK YOU. THANK YOU SO MUCH. I'M GOING TO DO. OH, YOU'RE GOING TO HOLD. IT A LITTLE BIT MORE CLOSER TOGETHER.

PEOPLE HAVE SEVEN MORE. IT FEELS GOOD TO SEE. YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. ITEM FIVE E APPROVE AND ADOPT A RESOLUTION RECOGNIZING. SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 22ND, 2024, AS LINCOLN PARK DAY IN EL PASO COUNTY, TEXAS. AGAIN, JUDGES. WELL, I GUESS THE JUDGES IN HERE, COMMISSIONERS AND

[E. Approve and adopt a resolution recognizing Sunday, September 22, 2024, as Lincoln Park Day in El Paso County, Texas. David Stout, Commissioner, Precinct 2, 915-546-2111]

EVERYBODY, THANK YOU VERY MUCH. I ALSO HAVE THE HONOR OF READING THIS ONE INTO INTO THE RECORD. I BELIEVE WE HAVE, HECTOR GONZALEZ AND CORRINE CHACON FROM THE LINCOLN PARK CONSERVATION COMMITTEE, I THINK IT'S FITTING THAT, THAT THIS FOLLOWS THE OUTSTANDING RESOLUTION, BECAUSE LINCOLN PARK REPRESENTS SO MANY THINGS, GREAT THINGS IN EL PASO, PRIDE CULTURE, A SENSE OF PLACE, STRENGTH. YOU KNOW, SOME ARE SOME OF THE WORDS THAT I THINK COME TO MIND WHEN WE WHEN WE TALK ABOUT LINCOLN PARK. ANOTHER IS SURVIVAL. ONE OF THE REASONS THAT I FEEL VERY PASSIONATE ABOUT TAKING ADVANTAGE OF THE BRIDGE OF THE AMERICAS PORT RECONSTRUCTION TO REMOVE TRUCKS OR OR TRYING TO GET THE COURT SUPPORT SO THAT WE CAN KEEP TXDOT FROM UNNECESSARILY AND

[01:05:05]

DESTRUCTIVELY WIDENING I-10 DOWNTOWN IS BECAUSE OF WHAT HAPPENED TO THIS AREA AND THE FACILITIES, THAT WERE BUILT HERE INITIALLY, COLLECTIVELY, THOUSANDS OF HOMES AND BUSINESSES AND PEOPLE WERE DESTROYED TO MAKE WAY FOR THESE FACILITIES. AND LINCOLN PARK REPRESENTS THE RESILIENCE OF LIFE, STRONG ENOUGH TO GROW THROUGH THE CONCRETE THAT WE'VE SMOTHERED SO MUCH OF THE RIVER VALLEY WITH, I REALLY APPRECIATE THE WORK OF THE LINCOLN PARK CONSERVATION COMMITTEE, THE FIELD OF STARS PROJECT, AND EVERYONE WHO HAS WORKED TO KEEP THE PARK ALIVE AND THE LINCOLN CENTER STILL STANDING. AND SO WITH THAT, I'LL READ THE RESOLUTION, AND THEN WE CAN HEAR FROM OUR GUESTS, THE RESOLUTION STATES, WHEREAS FOR THE PAST 20 YEARS, THE LINCOLN PARK CONSERVATION COMMITTEE LPCC IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE LATIN PRIDE CAR CLUB, HAS PROMOTED LINCOLN PARK AS A NEXUS OF THE LATINO COMMUNITY IN EL PASO AND AS EL CORAZON DEL PASO. AND WHEREAS LINCOLN PARK DAY WAS FIRST ORGANIZED IN 2005 BY THE LATIN PRIDE CAR CLUB AND TODAY THE LPCC CONTINUES TO HOST THIS EVENT AND WHEREAS THE LPCC SEEKS TO MODEL ITSELF AFTER THE CHICANO PARK STEERING COMMITTEE IN SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA CONNECTING CHICANO, PACHUCO AND LOWRIDER CULTURE FROM EL CHUCO TO CALIFAS. AND WHEREAS THE FREE TO ATTEND LINCOLN PARK DAY CELEBRATION HOSTS OVER 200 EXHIBITORS, INCLUDING FOOD TRUCKS, DANZAS, TECA AND BAILE FOLKLORICO, AND DRAWING OVER 5000 SPECTATORS, MANY FROM OUT OF TOWN AND WHEREAS MURALS ARE SIGNIFICANT, ARE A SIGNIFICANT PART OF THE PARK'S ESTHETIC. AND THIS YEAR THE LPCC WILL UNVEIL THE PARK'S NEWEST MURAL, A TRIBUTE TO CHICANO ACTIVIST DOLORES HUERTA, TITLED NATALIE BY ARTIST GABRIEL S GAITAN. AND AS THIS YEAR IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE MEXICAN AMERICAN CULTURAL INSTITUTE, MASSEY AND THIS EVENT WILL ALSO INCLUDE EL PASO'S FIELD OF STARS, CAMPO DE ESTRELLAS, A MOBILE EXHIBIT THAT COMMEMORATES AND HONORS THE WORK OF LOCAL AND NATIONAL LATINO LATINA LEADERS. AND NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, THAT THE EL PASO COUNTY JUDGE AND COMMISSIONERS COURT CELEBRATES THE 20TH ANNIVERSARY OF LINCOLN PARK DAY, AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 22ND, WILL BE KNOWN AS LINCOLN PARK DAY IN EL PASO COUNTY, TEXAS, SIGNED THE 16TH DAY OF SEPTEMBER, 2024. WE HAVE A MOTION BY COMMISSIONER STOUT. COMMISSIONER. THE VOTING IS OPE. MOTION CARRIES. THANK YOU ALL FOR JOINING US. HECTOR AND CORINNE. MORNING, COMMISSIONER STOUT, THE REST OF THE COMMISSIONERS, ON BEHALF OF THE LINCOLN PARK CONSERVATION COMMITTEE, I'D LIKE TO THANK YOU FOR THIS HONOR OF RECOGNIZING THE WORK WE'VE DONE FOR THE LAST 20 YEARS. THIS YEAR, WE'LL BE CELEBRATING THE LINCOLN PARK DAY CELEBRATION, A CELEBRATION OF OUR INDIGENOUS, MEXICAN, AMERICAN, CHICANO HISTORY, TRADITIONS, AND CULTURE. IT'S FITTING THAT THAT WE KIND OF WENT BEHIND THE MEXICAN CONSULATE, SOMETHING THAT SOMEBODY THAT PARTICIPATES AT OUR EVENT ON, ON SOME OCCASIONS. AND THEN WE CAME UP AFTER, OF COURSE, WHICH IS RIGHT IN THE HEART OF OUR DISTRICT. AND THEN PROJECT AMISTAD, WHICH WAS ORIGINALLY FOUNDED. MY UNDERSTANDING WAS FOUNDED AT THE LINCOLN CENTER AND OPERATED OUT OF THE LINCOLN CENTER FOR MANY YEARS, WE'RE CURRENTLY PARTNERED WITH THE MEXICAN AMERICAN CULTURAL INSTITUTE TO REOPEN THE LINCOLN CENTER. THAT'S ONGOING, WE WORK WITH THE MISS CORRINE CHACON WITH THE FIELD OF STARS.

AND WE WE'RE VERY HONORED TO HAVE THIS, RECOGNITION PLACED UPON US THIS YEAR, 20 YEARS AGO, WE BEGAN THIS ENDEAVOR, WE HAD ABOUT TWO VENDORS AND ABOUT 40 LOWRIDERS SHOWED UP, AND WE HAD ABOUT 200 PEOPLE SHOW UP TO THE PARK THIS YEAR, WE'LL HAVE ABOUT 350 LOWRIDERS, ABOUT 35 VENDING BOOTHS. AND WE EXPECT ABOUT 7000 PEOPLE TO ATTEND. SO THE EVENT HAS GROWN ENORMOUSLY. AND THERE WAS A VACUUM WITH THE LOSING OF THE FIESTA DE LAS FLORES, WHICH WAS TRADITIONALLY ON THE SOUTH SIDE OF EL PASO. BUT THIS EVENT HAS BECOME EL PASO'S PREMIER CULTURAL EVENT. AND KIND OF TAKING SOME OF THE WEIGHT OFF OF THAT AND GIVING THE PEOPLE OF EL PASO A SOURCE OF PRIDE. SO WITH THAT, I'D LIKE TO JUST MENTION THAT WE WILL BE UNVEILING THE DOLORES HUERTA MURAL BY ARTIST GABRIEL S GAITAN, WHICH IS, UNFORTUNATELY CURRENTLY UNDER WORK. BUT WE WILL HAVE IT DONE ON SUNDAY. AND WE ALSO ARE GOING TO HAVE A SPECIAL PRESENTATION HONORING MISTER LEO RIVERA. I BELIEVE CHIEF LEON MAY REMEMBER LEO RIVERA. HE WAS A THE LEADER OF THE LOWRIDER ASSOCIATION. AND WE WILL BE HONORING WITH A MEMORIAL ON THE 20TH ANNIVERSARY OF HIS PASSING. SO THAT'S A

[01:10:07]

SPECIAL HIGHLIGHT OF THE EVENT THIS YEAR. AND WITH THAT, I'D LIKE TO TURN IT OVER TO MISS CORRINE CHACON SO THAT SHE MIGHT GIVE US A FEW WORDS. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. GOOD MORNING EVERYON, JUDGE CHACON SENDS HER REGARDS AND, THE FIELD OF STARS WAS BORN. THE CAMPO DE ESTRELLAS WAS BORN AS A CONCEPT THAT WAS INTRODUCED TO THE MEXICAN AMERICAN CULTURAL INSTITUTE. AND THE DAY AFTER I PRESENTED THE CONCEPT, WHICH IS TO HAVE FLAGS THAT HONOR COMMUNITY LEADERS WHO REALLY ARE STAND UP FOR FAIRNES. THE HÉCTOR GONZALEZ CALLED ME UP AND SAID THAT THE LINCOLN PARK GUYS HAD BEEN THINKING, AND THEY WANTED TO COMMISSION SIX FLAGS BECAUSE THEY BELIEVED IN THE POWER OF THE PROJECT AND HOW IMPORTANT IT WAS TO PRESERVE HISTORY, NOT JUST FOR OUR OWN EDIFICATION, BUT FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS TO KNOW THESE STORIES. AND I KNOW THAT THIS COURT IS VERY MUCH COMMITTED TO TELLING AN ACCURATE STORY, A FULL STORY OF EL PASO'S HISTORY.

GIVEN THAT SO OFTEN OTHER PLAYERS WANT TO TAKE THAT STORY AND TELL IT IN DIFFERENT WAYS FOR THEIR OWN POLITICAL AGENDAS, OUR AGENDA IS THE FACT. OUR AGENDA IS TO INSPIRE YOUNG PEOPLE. AND WITH THAT BEING SAI, THIS YEAR, THE FIELD OF STARS AND EACH FLAG, KEEP IN MIND, IS SPONSORED BY THE COMMUNITY. SO THIS IS A COMMUNITY HISTORY PROJECT, PROBABLY POSSIBLY UNPARALLELED IN THE COUNTRY FOR A CITY, FOR A COMMUNITY TO TAKE HOLD OF ITS NARRATIVE AND SAY, WE'RE GOING TO SUPPORT THESE STORIES, WE'RE GOING TO DEFINE WHAT LEADERSHIP IS. WE'RE GOING TO TELL YOU WHO OUR HEROES AND HEROINES ARE. WE'RE NOT JUST GOING TO ADOPT A STORY THAT SOMEONE ELSE WANTS TO TELL. THAT BEING SAID, THERE'S BEEN 60 FLAGS THIS YEAR THAT WE'VE ACHIEVED 60 STORIES THAT ARE, GOING TO BE TOLD AND SHARED IN SCHOOLROOMS, NOT ONLY IN EL PASO, BUT WHEREVER ELSE WE'RE INVITED TO DISPLAY THE FLAGS. THE ENTIRE EXHIBIT WAS JUST INVITED TO SAN ANTONIO TO THE ANNUAL CONFERENCE OF THE NATIONAL LATINO BEHAVIORAL HEALTH ASSOCIATION, WHICH DREW 500 PEOPLE, ALL OF THEM WERE ABLE TO SEE THE FLAGS AND TO LEARN ABOUT EL PASO'S COMMITMENT TO TELLING AND SHAPING ITS VALUES AND NOT HAVING SOMEONE ELSE SHAPE THOSE VALUES FOR US. SO WITHOUT FURTHER ADO, I WOULD LIKE TO READ THE 60 NAMES, THE 60 PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN HONORED WITH A FLAG AT THE FIELD OF STARS, AND TO HIGHLIGHT THAT THIS YEAR, WE'RE PROUD TO BE UNVEILING THE FLAG FOR CASSANDRO EL EXOTICO AND FOR MISS CARMEN RODRIGUEZ. OKAY, SHE'LL JOIN THE REST OF THIS FIELD. REYES. LOPEZ. TIJERINA, DOLORES HUERTA, RODOLFO CORKY GONZALEZ, JOSE ANGEL GUTIERREZ, RUBÉN SALAZAR, ILEANA LIMON ROMERO, CARLOS RIVERA, ENRIQUE MORENO. CAROLINA. REYES, TOMMY. ESPINOZA, SILVESTRE. REYES MONSIGNOR. ARTURO. BANUELOS CESAR. CHAVEZ JOSE. GARCIA BENJAMIN. ALIRE SAENZ, HECTOR.

OLGUIN HONORABLE ALBERTO ARMENDARIZ. SENIOR HONORABLE ALICIA CHACON, ANTHONY TRUJILLO GEORGE MCCALMAN MARSHALL, AND EULALIE MCCALL, WHO USED TO LIVE IN THE LINCOLN AREA. YOLANDA LEYVA, RUBEN CUBILLOS, CARLOS MARENTES. I THINK WITH MY EMOTION THAT I'M CONVEYING WHAT A TREASURE THESE PEOPLE ARE TO OUR COMMUNITY AND YOU ALL BECAUSE YOU'RE COMMITTED TO PUBLIC SERVICE, YOU'RE JOINING IN THAT TREASURE. CARLOS MARENTES, GUITAR HERO PETE DUARTE, HONORABLE PAUL MORENO. ESTHER ROSENKRANZ, GABRIEL GAITAN, BELEN ROBLES, DOCTOR ALFREDO SANTOS, DOCTOR WILLIAM SERRATA, CARMEN FELIX, CAROLYN REDDICK, MARTHA DURAN HERNANDEZ, RUDOLFO ANAYA, HONORABLE CARL ROBINSON, DONITA. MORALES, ROSA. GUERRERO MIKE. DIP, DANNY OLIVAS, SENATOR JOSE RODRIGUEZ, DOCTOR OSCAR MARTINEZ, GASPAR ENRIQUEZ, LA VIRGEN DE GUADALUP,

[01:15:08]

FERMIN. DORADO, JUAN ARANDA, JUDGE THOMAS BEASLEY, CARMEN RODRIGUEZ, DAVID LIVINGSTON CARRASCO, DENNIS BIXLER. MARQUEZ, RAUL. TARANGO VIOLA DEL TORO, LITTLE JOE HERNANDEZ, DOCTOR LAWRENCE NIXON, HECTOR SERRANO, SUSANA ARIZA, CASSANDRO, GUILLERMO MEMO ACOSTA, AND DOCTOR LUIS GUERRA. THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH FOR YOUR COMMITMENT, FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY TO BE HERE WITH YOU AND FOR JUST THIS ONGOING EMBODIMENT OF THE SPIRIT OF ETHICAL AND FAIR PUBLIC SERVICE. THE COMMUNITY NEEDS YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU. AND WE'D JUST LIKE TO INVITE THE COMMISSIONERS AND THE GENERAL PUBLIC THIS SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 22ND, FROM 11 A.M. TO 5 P.M. TO LINCOLN PARK. UNDERNEATH THE SPAGHETTI BOWL, RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE IN EL CORAZON DEL PASO.

COME OUT AND ENJOY, DANZA AZTECA LIVE MUSIC. MATACHINES, THE REGION'S MOST ANTICIPATED LOWRIDER EVENT. THE PRESENTATION OF THE FIELD OF STARS AND ALL THE OTHER ACTIVITIES THAT WILL BE TAKING PLACE THAT DAY. WE'D LIKE TO INVITE EVERYBODY TO COME OUT AND JOIN US. THANK YOU.

WELL, THANK YOU, THANK YOU, HECTOR. AND CORINNE ONCE AGAIN FOR ALL THAT YOU DO FOR, FOR YOUR COMMUNITY AND FOR HIGHLIGHTING THIS AND MAKING SURE THAT WE, WE UNDERSTAND WHO EL PASO IS AND WHAT EL PASO IS ABOUT. CORINNE. THANK YOU. AND ALSO, PLEASE SAY HELLO TO THE JUDGE FOR US. AND I'VE GOT TO TELL YOU WHAT A DIFFERENCE YOU ALL HAVE MADE. AND FOR THE GENERATIONS BEFORE US, AS I SAID EARLIER, WHAT A DIFFERENCE THEY HAVE MADE. I REMEMBER GROWING UP HERE IN EL PASO WHEN I WENT TO RAMONA GRADE SCHOOL. THEY USED TO SPANK US FOR SPEAKING SPANISH, AND IF THAT'S THE ONLY LANGUAGE, YOU KNOW, IT WAS KIND OF KIND OF ROUGH DAYS UNTIL YOU PICKED IT UP. SO, SOMETIMES YOU DON'T HEAR IT AS MUCH AS YOU SHOULD. BUT WHAT A DIFFERENCE YOU ALL HAVE MADE IN EL PASO FOR EVERYONE. SO THANK YOU. I FORGOT TO SAY THANK YOU. THE MOST IMPORTANT THING IN THE WORLD, I JUST WANTED TO SAY THAT THIS YEAR WE HAVE VOLUNTEERS FROM EL PASO COMMUNITY COLLEGE, FROM THE CHICANO STUDIES PROGRAM AT UTEP, AND FROM THE YOUNG WOMEN'S LEADERSHIP ACADEMY, IN ADDITION TO FAMILY, FRIENDS, AND MEMBERS AND A LOT OF GREAT VOLUNTEERS. SO THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH.

ITEM FIVE F APPROVE AND ADOPT A RESOLUTION REAFFIRMING EL PASO COUNTY'S COMMITMENT TO BEING A WELCOMING COMMUNITY FOR ALL AND ENCOURAGING ALL RESIDENTS, COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS, AND LOCAL BUSINESSES TO JOIN US IN CELEBRATION OF WELCOMING WEEK 2024 CITIZENSHIP DAY. AND THIS

[F. Approve and adopt a resolution reaffirming El Paso County’s commitment to being a Welcoming Community for all and encouraging all residents, community organizations, and local businesses to join us in celebration of Welcoming Week 2024, Citizenship Day, and 16 de Septiembre. David Stout, Commissioner, Precinct 2, 915-546-2111]

IS A SEPTEMBER. ALL RIGHT. LAST ONE FROM FROM PRECINCT TWO. I JUST WANT TO SAY, YOU KNOW, I LOVE THE FACT THAT, THAT EL PASO IS, IS A WELCOMING COMMUNITY, AND I'M SO PROUD OF OUR COURTS AND UNEQUIVOCAL SUPPORT FOR THE CONCEPT OF, NEW, NEW NEWCOMERS, NEW ARRIVALS AND NEW AMERICANS

[01:20:07]

TO THIS AREA. AND I'M PROUD TO JOIN COMMUNITIES ACROSS OUR COUNTRY FROM JOHNSON COUNTY, IOWA, TO CHAMPAIGN, ILLINOIS, TO FORT WAYNE, INDIANA. I'M PROUD THAT WE LIVE IN A COUNTRY THAT HAS IDEALS AND THAT WE HAVE THE FREEDOM TO STRIVE TO MEET THOSE IDEALS. I'M PROUD OF OUR WELCOMING COMMUNITY, THE HUNDREDS AND THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE WHO HAVE, AT ONE POINT OR ANOTHER, VOLUNTEERED TIME OR MONEY TO ASSIST THE NONPROFITS AND FAITH ORGANIZATIONS THAT DO THIS WORK. I'M PROUD AGAIN OF THE COURT FOR STANDING STRONG ON OUR LOFTY IDEALS OF WELCOME IN THE FACE OF FEAR, IN THE FACE OF IGNORANCE, IN THE FACE OF POLITICS, IN THE FACE OF SCAPEGOATING OTHERS THAT WE SEE SO PREVALENT. THESE DAYS IN PUBLIC DISCOURSE. AND I AM PROUD OF THE WORK THAT WE'VE DONE WITH THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT. OUR PARTNERSHIP TO SET UP A HUMANE SYSTEM OF MOVEMENT FOR PEOPLE PASSING THROUGH OUR COMMUNITY AND OF OUR COUNTY STAFF WHO HAVE DONE SUCH GREAT WORK IN COORDINATING WITHIN AND OUTSIDE OF EL PASO. SO I'M GOING TO GO AHEAD AND READ THE RESOLUTION. AND THEN WE HAVE A NUMBER OF GUESTS THAT WE'D LIKE TO HEAR FROM. THANK YOU ALL FOR JOINING US THIS MORNING. THE RESOLUTION STATES, WHEREAS WELCOMING WEEK 2024 CELEBRATED FROM SEPTEMBER 13TH TO SEPTEMBER 22ND, IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO RECOGNIZE AND CELEBRATE THE CONTRIBUTIONS OF IMMIGRANTS AND ALL RESIDENTS IN OUR COMMUNITY. AND WHEREAS CITIZENSHIP DAY OBSERVED ON SEPTEMBER 17TH, COMMEMORATES THE SIGNING OF THE U.S CONSTITUTION AND HONORS THE JOURNEY OF THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN CHOSEN TO BECOME AMERICAN CITIZENS, ENRICHING OUR NATION AND OUR LOCAL COMMUNITY WITH THEIR DIVERSE CULTURES, PERSPECTIVES AND TALENTS. AND WHEREAS SEPTEMBER 16, 2024 MARKS A CELEBRATION OF THE SEPTEMBER SORRY, THE SEIS DE SEPTIEMBRE, A DAY OF PRIDE AND REMEMBRANCE FOR OUR MEXICAN HERITAGE, SYMBOLIZING THE ENDURING VALUES OF INDEPENDENCE, FREEDOM AND CULTURAL RICHNESS THAT ARE INTEGRAL TO THE IDENTITY OF EL PASO COUNTY. AND WHEREAS EL PASO COUNTY HAS LONG BEEN A BEACON OF INCLUSIVITY, STRIVING TO MAKE EL PASO A WELCOMING COMMUNITY FOR ALL, RECOGNIZING THAT DIVERSITY IS OUR STRENGTH AND THAT THE INTEGRATION OF ALL PEOPLE INTO THE FABRIC OF OUR SOCIETY ENHANCES THE VIBRANCY AND RESILIENCE OF OUR COMMUNITY. AND WHEREAS IMMIGRANTS AND NEW AMERICANS ARE VITAL CONTRIBUTORS TO THE ECONOMIC PROSPERITY OF EL PASO COUNTY, BRINGING INNOVATION, SKILLS AND HARD WORK THAT BOLSTER OUR LOCAL ECONOMY AND CREATE JOBS, HELPING TO SUSTAIN A THRIVING AND DYNAMIC MARKETPLACE. AND WHEREAS SMALL BUSINESSES, MANY OF WHICH ARE IMMIGRANT OWNED, ARE THE BACKBONE OF OUR LOCAL ECONOMY, FUELING ENTREPRENEURSHIP AND PROVIDING OPPORTUNITIES FOR ALL RESIDENTS WHILE ENHANCING THE CULTURAL AND ECONOMIC LANDSCAPE OF EL PASO COUNTY. AND WHEREAS WE EXPRESS OUR DEEPEST APPRECIATION TO COMMUNITY PARTNERS NEAR AND FAR LOCAL SHELTERS AND HOSPITALITY SITES, ADVOCACY GROUPS FOR THEIR TIRELESS WORK IN PROVIDING RECEPTION AND MEETING THE ESSENTIAL NEEDS OF ALL PEOPLE. OFFERING A WARM, HUMANE WELCOME THAT REFLECTS THE COMPASSIONATE AND WELCOMING SPIRIT OF EL PASO COUNTY. THANK YOU TO THE ANNUNCIATION HOUSE NETWORK. BORDER SERVANT CORPS, LAS AMERICAS, ESTRELLA DEL PASO, HOPE BORDER INSTITUTE, RESCUE MISSION, SALVATION ARMY, OPPORTUNITY CENTER, SACRED HEART, WORLD VICTORY CENTER, THE BORDER NETWORK FOR HUMAN RIGHTS, CENTRO DE TRABAJADORES, AGRICOLAS, EL PASO COUNCIL FOR INTERNATIONAL VISITORS, EL PASO COMMUNITY FOUNDATION, PASO DEL NORTE HEALTH FOUNDATION, CITY OF EL PASO OFFICE OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT, IBARRA, EL PASO, EL PASOANS, FIGHTING HUNGER, JS, UNHCR, CWA, IRC, GLOBAL CARE FORCE AND SO MANY OTHER COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS AND NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED THAT EL PASO COUNTY IN CELEBRATION OF WELCOMING WEEK 2024, CITIZENSHIP DAY AND EL DIOCESIS DE SEPTIEMBRE, REAFFIRMS ITS COMMITMENT TO BEING A WELCOMING COMMUNITY FOR ALL, EMBRACING OUR SHARED FUTURE AND FOSTERING AN ENVIRONMENT WHERE EVERYONE, REGARDLESS OF THEIR BACKGROUND, HAS THE OPPORTUNITY TO THRIVE.

AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT WE ENCOURAGE ALL RESIDENTS, COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS AND LOCAL BUSINESSES TO JOIN US IN THESE CELEBRATIONS AND TO CONTINUE THEIR EFFORTS IN MAKING EL PASO COUNTY A PLACE WHERE ALL FEEL WELCOME INCLUDED AND EMPOWERED. SIGNED THE 16TH DAY OF SEPTEMBER 2024, THE HONORABLE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS COURT. WE HAVE A MOTION BY COMMISSIONER STOUT, SECOND BY COMMISSIONER LEON. THE VOTING IS OPEN. MOTION CARRIES. THANK YOU, THANK YOU COMMISSIONERS. GOOD MORNING. MY NAME IS STEPHANIE BLAKEMAN. I WORK AT THE COUNTY'S OFFICE OF NEW AMERICANS. AND THANK YOU FOR TODAY'S RESOLUTION. AND SO, EL PASO COUNTY OFFICE OF NEW

[01:25:04]

AMERICANS IS PLEASED TO MARK WELCOMING WEEK ALONGSIDE OUR COMMUNITY PARTNERS THIS YEAR. TO DATE, THE COUNTY'S MIGRANT SERVICES SUPPORT CENTER HAS WELCOMED NEARLY 35,000 ASYLUM SEEKERS WHOSE FIRST STEPS IN THE UNITED STATES WERE IN OUR CITY. AND THIS IS ONLY A FRACTION OF THE TOTAL NUMBER OF NEWCOMERS THAT HAVE COME THROUGH EL PASO. BUT THIS IS ONLY POSSIBLE WITH THE COLLABORATION OF DOZENS OF SERVICE PROVIDERS AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS WHO HAVE STEPPED UP TO EXTEND A WARM WELCOME TO THE STRANGER AND DEMONSTRATE THE CORE VALUES OF OUR CITY AND OUR COUNTRY, OFFERING A GENUINE WELCOME TO THOSE PURSUING A BRIGHTER FUTURE FOR THEMSELVES AND FOR THEIR FAMILIES, RIGHT ON THE BORDER, EL PASO IS UNIQUE NOT ONLY FOR OUR LOCATION, BUT ALSO FOR THIS RESPONSE FROM OUR COMMUNITY, OUR PARTNERS, FROM FEDERAL ENTITIES LIKE CBP AND ICE TO THE LOCAL DOWNTOWN SHELTER NETWORK AND THE ANNUNCIATION HOUSE NETWORK, AS WELL AS LIFE SAVING SERVICES FROM TEXAS TECH UMC AND FIERCE ADVOCACY GROUPS LIKE LAS AMÉRICAS AND ESTRELLA DEL PASO, EACH PLAY A CRUCIAL ROLE IN ENSURING A DIGNIFIED AND ORDERLY RECEPTION OF NEWCOMERS TO OUR CITY HAS BANDED TOGETHER TO EMBRACE THE VERY NEWEST AMERICANS AND SUPPORT THEIR NEW LIVES IN OUR COUNTRY. AND SO, IN THIS WAY, WE'RE VERY GRATEFUL TO BE ABLE TO CONTINUE IN THE TRADITION OF EL PASO DEL NORTE. SO THANK YOU. I'LL PASS IT TO SAMANTHA. GOOD MORNING EVERYONE. MY NAME IS SAMANTHA SINGLETON AND I'M THE POLICY DIRECTOR AT THE BORDER NETWORK FOR HUMAN RIGHTS. IT'S AN HONOR TO STAND TODAY BEFORE YOU ALL AS WE KICK OFF A TRULY SPECIAL TIME OF THE YEAR. WELCOMING WEEK. THIS WEEK IS NOT JUST A SERIES OF EVENTS OR ACTIVITIES. IT'S A CELEBRATION OF OUR SHARED HUMANITY AND A TESTAMENT TO THE POWER OF COMMUNITY. AT ITS CORE, WELCOMING WEEK IS ABOUT CREATING AN ENVIRONMENT WHERE EVERYONE FEELS VALUED, RESPECTED, AND INCLUDED IN A WORLD THAT OFTEN SEEMS DIVIDED. THIS WEEK SERVES AS A POWERFUL REMINDER OF WHAT WE CAN ACHIEVE WHEN WE COME TOGETHER WITH OPEN HEARTS AND OPEN MINDS. THE IMPORTANCE OF WELCOMING WEEK CANNOT BE OVERSTATED. IT IS A TIME WHEN WE SET ASIDE OUR DIFFERENCES AND FOCUS ON WHAT UNITES US BY WELCOMING NEWCOMERS AND EMBRACING DIVERSITY, WE FOSTER A CULTURE OF INCLUSION THAT STRENGTHENS OUR COMMUNITIES AND ENRICHES OUR LIVES. EACH OF US HAS A UNIQUE STORY, A DISTINCT BACKGROUND, AND AN INDIVIDUAL EXPERIENCE THAT CONTRIBUTE TO THE RICH TAPESTRY OF OUR COMMUNITY. BY COMING TOGETHER AND SHARING THESE STORIES, WE BUILD BRIDGES OF UNDERSTANDING AND EMPATHY. WE LEARN TO SEE THE WORLD THROUGH DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVES, WHICH HELPS TO BREAK DOWN STEREOTYPES AND COMBAT PREJUDICE. WELCOMING WEEK HIGHLIGHTS THE STRENGTH THAT COMES FROM DIVERSITY. THEY ARE THE SOURCES OF INNOVATION, CREATIVITY, AND GROWTH. WHEN WE EMBRACE DIVERSITY, WE UNLOCK THE FULL POTENTIAL OF OUR COMMUNITY, MAKING IT MORE DYNAMIC, RESILIENT AND VIBRANT. SO LET US ALSO REMEMBER THAT THE SPIRIT OF WELCOMING WEEK SHOULD EXTEND BEYOND THE NEXT SEVEN DAYS. THE RELATIONSHIPS WE BUILD, THE ATTITUDES WE FOSTER, AND THE CHANGES WE IMPLEMENT SHOULD BE LASTING, TRUE, INCLUSIVE INCLUSIVITY IS NOT A ONE TIME EVENT, BUT A CONTINUOUS EFFORT TO CREATE A COMMUNITY WHERE EVERYONE FEELS THEY BELONG AND CAN THRIVE. LET US CELEBRATE OUR DIFFERENCES AND FIND STRENGTH IN OUR SHARED HUMANITY. THANK YOU. ELDER GARCIA, GOOD MORNING TO EVERYONE. GOOD TO BE HERE. PART OF THIS CEREMONY AND, JUST WANT TO SHARE A FEW THOUGHTS ABOUT WHAT WELCOMING HAS MEANT TO ME AND BEING PART OF THIS. ALSO, THIS TEAM OF THIS PROJECT IN 1962, IN MARCH OF 1962, MY MOTHER, MY BROTHER AND I, LEFT CUBA AS POLITICAL ASYLUM SEEKERS AND CAME TO MIAMI, FLORIDA WITH NO RESOURCES, NO MONEY, AND STARTED A NEW LIFE. AND I'VE REFLECTED LATELY HOW WHAT I'M DOING NOW AS A JESUIT, YEARS LATER, CONNECTS WITH MY OWN, MY OWN ORIGINS, LITTLE DID I KNOW BACK THEN THAT I WOULD BE COMING TO EL PASO, WHICH IS KNOWN AS SO MUCH AS A WELCOMING CITY. AND THIS AREA KNOWN AS THE ELLIS ISLAND OF THE SOUTHWEST. AND I FIND MYSELF IN THE MIDDLE OF ALL THIS IN 1994, WHEN I CAME AND BECAME PASTOR OF SACRED HEART CHURCH, WHICH HAS ALWAYS WELCOMED SINCE 1893, IMMIGRANTS, THE POOR, PARTICULARLY THE POOR, IMMIGRANTS, AND STILL TODAY WELCOMES THOSE WHO ARE STILL CURRENTLY EXCLUDED FROM SO MANY ASPECTS OF OUR SOCIETY AND SO MANY DIFFERENT WAYS ARE EXCLUDED. SO THAT'S A LITTLE BIT OF THE BACKGROUND FOR ME. ALSO, IN DECEMBER OF 2022, WE WERE PUT IN A SITUATION. THANKS BE TO GOD TO BE ABLE TO RESPOND, TO BE WELCOMING, IN CONJUNCTION WITH SO MANY OTHER CHURCHES AND ORGANIZATIONS TO THE VENEZUELAN PEOPLE THAT WERE COMING INTO OUR CITY AND MADE HISTORY AS WE SAW IT ON INTERNATIONAL NEWS, PEOPLE WERE ON THE STREETS AND WE WERE VERY HAPPY THAT WE COULD RESPOND

[01:30:04]

BY OPENING THE DOORS OF OUR OLD GYMNASIUM BUILDING TO BECOME A SHELTER. CASA DEL SAGRADO CORAZON, WHICH OPENED ON DECEMBER 13TH, 2022. SINCE THEN, IT'S BEEN OPEN SEVEN DAYS A WEEK AND WE'VE WELCOMED AND HELPED ABOUT A LITTLE BIT OVER 25,000 PEOPLE SINCE WE'VE OPENED, IT'S A IT'S BEEN A PRIVILEGE TO WORK. I CONTINUE TO WORK WITH ALL THE OTHER SHELTERS AND THE OTHER CHURCHES AND SO MANY OTHER PEOPLE OF GOODWILL WHO WANT TO SERVE, AND I'D LIKE TO JUST MENTION ONE LAST THING, A QUOTE FROM POPE FRANCIS, WHO, OF COURSE, HAS BEEN, WE COULD SAY, A POPE OF WELCOMING, ONE OF THE FIRST THINGS HE DID AS POPE WAS TO GO TO LAMPEDUSA, THE ISLAND SOUTH OF ITALY, WHERE THE PEOPLE WERE COMING IN FROM AFRICA, SHIPWRECK. THERE AND HE SAID SOMETHING RECENTLY IN AUGUST 28TH, WHICH I'M SURE BISHOP SEITZ WILL ALSO REPEAT. HE SAID THERE ARE THOSE WHO SYSTEMATICALLY AND WITH EVERY MEANS POSSIBLE, REPEL MIGRANTS.

AND THIS IS DONE WITH THE AWARENESS AND RESPONSIBILITY THAT IT IS A GRAVE SIN. LET US NOT FORGET WHAT THE SCRIPTURES SAY. YOU SHALL NOT WRONG A STRANGER OR OPPRESS HIM OR HER FROM THE BOOK OF EXODUS. SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH. IT'S BEEN AN HONOR TO BE HERE. THANK YOU.

GOOD MORNING. MY NAME IS JESSE HERRERA, REPRESENTING BORDER SERVANT CORPS. BY BEING PART OF THIS RESOLUTION, I REFLECT IN THIS FACT WE ARE A VERY SPECIAL HOMOGENEOUS GROUP OF ORGANIZATIONS. ALL OF THEM HAVE THEIR OWN VISION AND MISSION. BUT AT THE END, ALL OF US ALIGN WITH A COMMON GOAL. THIS GOAL IS TO OFFER A DIGNIFIED WELCOME TO THOSE WHO, DUE TO DIFFERENT CIRCUMSTANCES, COME TO OUR COMMUNITY. THIS IS WHAT MAKES US A SPECIAL GROUP, SPECIAL, INTEGRATED, HARD WORKING. BUT ABOVE ALL, A VERY COMPASSIONATE COMMUNITY BECAUSE WE VALUE NOT ONLY CULTURAL DIVERSITY BUT ALSO THE DIFFERENT TALENTS THAT THEY THEY BRING BSE IS VERY PLEASED TO BE PART OF THIS GROUP OF ORGANIZATIONS. I IN PARTICULAR FEEL VERY PROUD TO REPRESENT BSE BY IMPLEMENTING ACTUALLY BEING THE CATALYST OF THIS PROJECT AT THE AIRPORT, WHICH I NAMED WELCOME WITH DIGNITY AT THE AIRPORT PROJECT. I THANK YOU FOR THE SUPPORT IN SUPPORTING THIS RESOLUTION AND IF I HAVE YOUR PERMISSION, MAY I SAY THIS IN SPANISH? SI. BUENO SER PARTE DE ESTA RESOLUTION. YO TENGO UNA REFLEXION. SOMOS UN GRUPO MUY ESPECIAL HOMOGENEOUS COMPARTIENDO UNA SOLA META RESPETANDO MISSION AND VISION DE CADA UNA DE LAS ORGANIZACIONES.

LA META COMUN ES OFRECER UNA BIENVENIDA CON DIGNIDAD DEBIDO A DIFERENTES CIRCUNSTANCIAS LLEGAN PERSONAS NUEVAS A NUESTRA COMUNIDAD, PERO TENEMOS VALORAR. DE HECHO, LOS ALAMOS SUS TALENTOS Y VIENEN A SER PARTE DE UNA COMUNIDAD MUY TRABAJADORA. ESO NOS DISTINGUE AQUI EN EL PASO. SOMOS MUY SOLIDARIOS SOBRE TODO CON COMPASSION. ESO NADIE NO LO QUITA BORDERS URBANCORP SECOND PLACE EN SER PARTE DE ESTE GRUPO DE ORGANIZACIONES YO PERSONALMENTE SIENTO MUCHO ORGULLO DE HABER FORMADO ESTE PROYECTO EN EL AEROPUERTO, AL CUAL YO SÉ BIENVENIDOS CON DIGNIDAD, MUCHAS GRACIAS. GRACIAS AL AMIGO. GRACIAS POR SU LIDERAZGO. GRACIAS COMISIONADO POR APOYAR ESTA RESOLUCION EN ESTA SEMANA ESPECIAL DE BIENVENIDA. GRACIAS. GOOD MORNING. MORNING, MY NAME IS MELISSA LOPEZ. I'M THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR AT ESTRELLA DEL PASO, OR FOREVER KNOWN AS DIOCESAN MIGRANT AND REFUGEE SERVICES BY SOME. I FIRST WANT TO THANK, THE

[01:35:05]

COUNTY JUDGE WHO'S NOT HERE TODAY. AND EACH OF YOU INDIVIDUALLY FOR THE WORK THAT THE COUNTY HAS DONE TO WELCOME, BUT ALSO THE WORK THAT EACH OF YOU DO INDIVIDUALLY, YOU KNOW, , I DO WHAT I DO TODAY AND I AM WHERE I AM TODAY BECAUSE OF COMMISSIONER HOLGUIN. SHE GAVE ME A JOB COMING OUT OF LAW SCHOOL AND THE REST, AS THEY SAY, IS HISTORY, BUT I APPRECIATE EVERYTHING THAT YOU ALL DO INDIVIDUALLY, I HAD THE PRIVILEGE OF SPEAKING, TESTIFYING BEFORE THE UNITED STATES HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES JUDICIARY COMMITTEE LAST WEEK, WHICH WAS INTERESTING, BUT I TOOK SOME OF WHAT I SAID THERE, AND I FEEL LIKE IT'S KIND OF APPROPRIATE FOR TODAY. I WAS BORN AND RAISED IN EL PASO, THE CHILD OF IMMIGRANTS FROM MEXICO.

THOUGH BORN IN MEXICO. MY PARENTS ARE NOW NATURALIZED CITIZENS WHO HAVE SPENT MORE OF THEIR LIVES IN THE UNITED STATES THAN MEXICO. IN MY 17 YEAR CAREER WORKING WITH AND REPRESENTING IMMIGRANTS AND IMMIGRATION MATTERS, IT'S BEEN MY EXPERIENCE THAT IMMIGRANTS COME TO THE UNITED STATES TO CONTRIBUTE IN POSITIVE WAYS. THEY MAKE OUR COUNTRY, OUR COMMUNITIES, MORE VIBRANT BY SHARING THEIR CULTURE, LANGUAGE, TRADITIONS, AND THEIR FAMILIES.

I HAVE BEEN BLESSED TO WORK WITH THOUSANDS OF IMMIGRANTS FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD. MY CAREER HAS TAUGHT ME ONE SPECIAL LESSON. THE ONLY DIFFERENCE BETWEEN ME AND MY CLIENTS IS WHERE WE WERE BORN. HAD I BEEN BORN JUST A FEW MILES SOUTH IN JUAREZ, I WOULD BE ONE OF THEM. OUR CLIENTS ARE SIMPLY TRYING TO PROVIDE FOR THEIR FAMILIES AND ENSURE THEIR SAFE. MY MOM ALWAYS SAYS THAT A PARENT'S GOAL IS TO CREATE A LIFE THAT ALLOWS THEIR CHILDREN TO DO BETTER THAN THEY DID. AND I DEFINITELY FIND THIS TO BE TRUE IN MY OWN CLIENTS. THEY WALK WELL OVER 2000 MILES TO ENSURE THAT THEIR CHILDREN ARE SAFE, CAN THRIVE, AND LIVE A PEACEFUL LIFE WHERE THEY CAN ACHIEVE THEIR DREAMS. IN TRUTH, I'M A PRIME EXAMPLE OF WHAT THE CHILDREN OF IMMIGRANTS CAN DO.

THE FIRST IN MY FAMILY TO GRADUATE COLLEGE, THE FIRST IN MY FAMILY TO OBTAIN A PROFESSIONAL DEGREE. THE FIRST IN MY FAMILY TO BECOME AN ATTORNEY, AND I AM WHO I AM BECAUSE OF MY PARENTS AND THEIR HARD WORK, I KNOW THAT ONE OF THE BIGGEST BLESSINGS OF MY LIFE IS BEING BORN AND RAISED IN EL PASO. EL PASO IS A BINATIONAL, BINATIONAL, BICULTURAL COMMUNITY ON THE BORDER WITH THE US AND MEXICO. EL PASO IS A COMMUNITY RICH IN LOVE AND CULTURE. EL PASO IS AN IMMIGRANT COMMUNITY. SO MANY PEOPLE WERE BORN IN EL PASO, BUT RAISED IN JUAREZ OR VICE VERSA. AS EL PASOANS, WE HAVE LEARNED THAT WELCOMING PEOPLE WITH LOVE IS JUST THE RIGHT THING TO DO. WE WRAP OUR ARMS AND OUR RESOURCES AROUND IMMIGRANTS BECAUSE THAT'S WHO WE ARE. EL PASO VERY SIMPLY, IS LOVE. WE RECOGNIZE, APPRECIATE, AND RESPECT THE DIGNITY IN EVERY SINGLE PERSON. WE TREAT PEOPLE WITH THE DIGNITY THEY DESERVE BECAUSE AT THE END OF THE DAY, WE'RE ALL JUST HUMAN BEINGS. THANK YOU. GOOD MORNING COMMISSIONERS. MY NAME IS JOHN MARTIN. I'M WITH THE OPPORTUNITY CENTER FOR THE HOMELESS. ONE OF THE ADVANTAGES OF GOING LAST BEHIND SOME INCREDIBLE SPEAKERS IS THAT I CANNOT SAY MORE THAN WHAT THEY'VE INDICATED. I WAS BORN AND RAISED HERE IN EL PASO. HOWEVER, I AM NOT AN IMMIGRANT AS SOME OF THE OTHERS HAD MENTIONED. AND FOR THOSE HERE JUST TO DO THE SHOUT OUT, I WENT TO CORONADO HIGH SCHOOL. OKAY.

SO THAT WE CAN GET THAT DONE. GREAT NAME. BUT JUST RECENTLY, LAST WEEK, MYSELF, IRENE GUTIERREZ WITH THE COUNTY OF EL PASO, ADELA ALONSO WITH THE CITY OF EL PASO. WE WENT TO HOUSTON, TEXAS TO DO A PRESENTATION TO THE TEXAS HOMELESS NETWORK. WE TALKED ABOUT A COMMUNITY IN CRISIS. AND IF YOU LOOK AT THE LAST FIVE YEARS OF WHAT WE HAVE AND WHAT WE'VE GONE THROUGH AND WHAT WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO ADAPT TO WITH THE SHOOTING AT WALMART IN AUGUST OF 2019, SHORTLY FOLLOWED BY COVID, WHICH WAS TWO VERY DIFFICULT YEARS FOR OUR COMMUNITY, WHERE WE WENT FROM ONE OF THE WORST TO ONE OF THE BEST, AND THEN YOU FOLLOW THAT UP WITH THE MIGRANTS. IT WAS RECENTLY I WAS ASKED A QUESTION BY A REPORTER AS TO WHEN WE WOULD GET BACK TO NORMAL, AND MY RESPONSE WAS, I'M NOT SURE WHAT NORMAL IS, BUT ONE STATEMENT THAT I'VE ALWAYS MADE ABOUT EL PASO IS THE FACT THAT I'M PROUD TO BE FROM EL PASO, DUE TO THE COLOR OF MY SKIN, I'M IN THE MINORITY, BUT I NEVER FELT THAT WAY. EL PASO IS A WELCOMING COMMUNITY. IT IS A RESILIENT COMMUNITY. IT IS A VERY GENEROUS COMMUNITY. AND WHEN I SAY GENEROSITY, I DON'T MEAN THAT IN THE CONTEXT OF FINANCIAL RESOURCES. WE DO HAVE POCKETS OF WEALTH, BUT THE REALITY OF IT IS WE'VE GOT SOME INCREDIBLE PEOPLE HERE. THEY GIVE OF THEIR TIME. THEY GIVE OF THEIR HEART. THEY

[01:40:06]

GIVE OF THEIR PASSION AND THEY COME TOGETHER. WHEN PEOPLE ARE IN NEED. AND TO ME, THAT IS TRULY ILLUSTRATIVE OF WHAT A WELCOMING COMMUNITY THAT EL PASO IS. AND WE ARE ALL VERY PROUD TO BE IN EL PASO. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. GOOD MORNING EVERYONE. GOOD MORNING COMMISSIONERS. MY NAME IS CLAUDIA JIMENEZ AND I'M HERE WITH THE OFFICE OF NEW AMERICANS, IT IS WITH GREAT PLEASURE TO SHARE WITH YOU A RECAP OF OUR UPCOMING ACTIVITIES FOR WELCOMING WEEK, AN INITIATIVE DESIGNED TO CELEBRATE AND PROMOTE INCLUSIVITY AND DIVERSITY IN OUR GREAT CITY. WE KICK OFF THE WEEK WITH OUR RESOLUTION AS WE RECOGNIZE AND CELEBRATE WELCOMING WEEK. THANK YOU EVERYONE WHO IS PRESENT IN PERSON AND VIRTUALLY HERE TODAY. ON TUESDAY, WE INVITE OUR COMMUNITY TO ESTRELLA DEL PASO FROM 5 TO 7, AS THEY WILL BE HAVING THE ART OF WELCOMING LOCAL ARTISTS WILL SHOWCASE THEIR TALENTS BY DISPLAYING OUR COMMUNITY'S DIVERSE STORIES AND EXPERIENCES. IT WILL BE A TRULY INSPIRING EVENING. WEDNESDAY WE WILL BE AT UTEP, HOPE AND EL PASOANS FIGHTING HUNGER COMMUNITY FAIR FROM 8 TO 1. WE EXTEND THIS INVITATION TO THE COMMUNITY AS THERE WILL BE HEALTH SCREENINGS AND RESOURCES DESIGNED TO SUPPORT OUR WELL-BEING. LATER IN THE EVENING, WE WILL HOST A VIRTUAL CITIZENSHIP INFORMATIVE INFORMATION, SORRY INFORMATION. INFORM. I'M SORRY INFORMATIVE SESSION WITH OUR REPRESENTATIVE FROM USCIS FROM 6 TO 7. ON THURSDAY, WE WILL BE AT THE EL PASO COMMUNITY FOUNDATION DISPLAYING MIGRANTS DIARIES, EXHIBIT A POWERFUL NARRATIVE OF IMMIGRATION, IMMIGRATION STORIES TITLED FROM FIVE TO FROM 5 TO 6. WE WILL CONCLUDE THE DAY FROM 6 TO 730 WITH BANNERS MOVING.

DOCUMENTARY A THREE MINUTE HUG FOLLOWED WITH BY LIGHT REFRESHMENTS AND SNACKS PROVIDED BY THE EL PASO COUNCIL FOR INTERNATIONAL VISITORS. LASTLY, ON FRIDAY, WE WILL CONCLUDE OUR WELCOMING WEEK WITH A COMMUNITY GATHERING AT AARONS AND GEORGE'S FILM CAFE FROM 11 TO 1. THIS EVENT WILL FEATURE AN OPEN MIC WHERE EVERYONE IS INVITED TO SHARE THEIR STORIES OR READ A POEM, ALL IN THE SPIRIT OF WELCOMING AND UNITY. WE ENCOURAGE EVERYONE TO COME OUT AND CELEBRATE THESE EVENTS, TO EXPERIENCE FIRSTHAND THE JOY. THIS WEEK HAS TO OFFER. LASTLY, THANK YOU TO ALL THOSE WHO HAVE CONTRIBUTED TO MAKING WELCOMING WEEK A SUCCESS. YOUR SUPPORT.

ENTHUSIASM. THAT IS WHAT MAKES OUR COMMUNITY STRONG. WE LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING OUR COMMUNITY AND COME TOGETHER IN CELEBRATION OF WELCOMING WEEK. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. WOULD ANYBODY ELSE LIKE TO LIKE TO SPEAK? NO. CAN I JUST MAKE SOME REMARKS? YES, OF COURSE, OF COURSE, SO THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING HERE. AND ESPECIALLY THANK YOU FOR ALL OF THE INCREDIBLE WORK THAT EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU DO EVERY DAY, AS MANY OF YOU KNOW, MIGRATION ISSUES HAVE A VERY SPECIAL PLACE IN MY HEART, AS I'VE DEDICATED MOST OF MY PROFESSIONAL CAREER AS AN ATTORNEY TO WORKING WITH MIGRANTS AND THEIR FAMILIES. AND I'VE HAD THE HONOR OF WORKING WITH SO MANY OF YOU ALL DIRECTLY. OF COURSE, DMRS. I'M ONE OF THOSE THAT WILL ALWAYS KNOW IT AS DMRS. AND THE WONDERFUL ATTORNEYS AND STAFF WHO DEDICATE SO MUCH OF THEIR, PASSION, DEDICATION AND COMMITMENT TO HELPING THEIR CLIENTS. AND OF COURSE, OUR PARTNERS AT BORDER NETWORK FOR HUMAN RIGHTS AND ALL ALL THAT THEY DO TO MAKE SURE THAT THESE ISSUES ARE AT THE FOREFRONT OF OUR DISCOURSE EVERY DAY. AND OF COURSE, THE INCREDIBLE FATHER GARCIA, WHO IS THE EPITOME OF WELCOMING THY STRANGER AND SHOWING LOVE TO OUR BROTHERS AND SISTERS EVERY SINGLE DAY. AND PASTOR TIMOTHY, THANK YOU FOR ALL YOU DO. TO HELP THE MOST VULNERABLE IN OUR COMMUNITY, AND OF COURSE, TO ALL OF OUR STAFF AT OUR OFFICE OF NEW AMERICANS.

THANK YOU FOR ALL YOU DO AS WELL, SO THANK YOU AGAIN TO ALL OF YOU. WE DON'T THANK YOU ENOUGH FOR ALL OF THE INCREDIBLE WORK THAT YOU DO, BUT PLEASE KNOW THAT YOUR WORK IS TREMENDOUSLY APPRECIATED. THANK YOU. CAN WE TAKE A PHOTO WITH YOU? THANK YOU. THANK YOU.

OH. DID SHE. YEAH. ON. YOU. THANK YOU. SIR. SHE JUST TOLD ME YOU'RE A CORONADO. I AM, THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU FOR. HEY. HOW ARE YOU? MOST OF THE WORK THAT

[01:45:13]

YOU DO. THANK YOU. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR EVERYTHIN. THANK YOU. OKAY. NOW THIS. OKAY.

YES.

WE'RE BACK. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, THANK. YOU KNOW, I'M SURE YOU HAVE OVER THE YEAR.

THANK YOU. FATHER. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. I TOLD THE FATHER THAT. TELL ME WHEN YOU HAVE CHILDREN AT THE CHURCH. I DON'T KNOW. OH. HE WAS AT SACRED HEART FOR A LONG TIME.

BUT THEN. THANKS. THANK YOU. YEAH OH, GOD. ITEM FIVE G APPROVE AND ADOPT A RESOLUTION RECOGNIZING SEPTEMBER 21ST, 2024 AS MASSING OF THE COLORS DAY IN HONOR OF THE MILITARY ORDER OF THE WORLD WARS. GREATER EL PASO CHAPTERS ANNUAL EVENT. THANK YO, COMMISSIONER LEON AND

[G. Approve and adopt a resolution recognizing September 21, 2024 as "Massing of the Colors Day" in honor of the Military Order of the World Wars Greater El Paso Chapter's annual event. Sergio Coronado, Commissioner, Precinct 4, 915-546-2044]

COMMISSIONER JEAN AND STOUT. IS MISTER THAXTON HERE? THERE HE IS. COME ON UP, MISTER THAXTON.

I'M REALLY HONORED AND PROUD TO PRESENT THIS RESOLUTION TO THE COURT. MISTER THAXTON, CAN YOU TELL US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE COLORS OF THE FLAG THAT REPRESENTS THE AMASSING OF THE COLORS? WELL, THE MASSING OF THE COLORS IS AN EVENT THAT IS SPONSORED BY THE MILITARY ORDER OF THE WORLD WARS. THE MILITARY ORDER OF THE WORLD WARS WAS FOUNDED IN 1919. BY GENERAL OF THE ARMIES JOHN JAY BLACKJACK PERSHING AS A MEANS FOR HIS OFFICERS COMING BACK FROM WORLD WAR ONE TO INTEGRATE BACK INTO CIVILIAN LIFE, BUT REMAIN CLOSE TOGETHER WITH THE, AND SOME HAVE SOME CAMARADERIE WITH WITH THEIR FELLOW OFFICERS AND SUCH AND, FOR THE FIRST 105 YEARS OF ITS EXISTENCE THROUGH LAST MONTH, ITS MEMBERSHIP WAS LIMITED TO OFFICERS, COMMISSIONED OFFICERS, LIEUTENANTS, UP TO GENERALS, WARRANT OFFICERS, ALL BRANCHES OF THE SERVICE AND OF ARMY, NAVY, AIR FORCE, MARINES, COAST GUARD. OUR CHAPTER HAS BEEN ADVOCATING FOR SOME TIME AND WAS SUCCESSFUL THIS YEAR AT OUR NATIONAL CONVENTION, TO OPEN THE MEMBERSHIP TO SENIOR NCOS, E-9 E-7 SERGEANTS MAJORS, FIRST SERGEANTS SERGEANT, MASTER SERGEANTS, AND SUCH. AND SO FOR

[01:50:04]

THE VERY FIRST TIME, WE'RE WE'RE ABLE TO EXPAND OUR MEMBERSHIP THERE. BUT THE MASSING OF THE COLORS IS A IS AN EVENT THAT IS SPONSORED BY THE, MO WW, AND IT BRINGS TOGETHER ALL FORMS OF, TYPES OF ORGANIZATIONS, MILITARY ORGANIZATIONS, ROTC GROUPS, CIVIC ORGANIZATIONS, AND SUCH THAT HAVE COLORS AND ARE PROUD OF THOSE. AND WE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE ABOUT 50 OR 60 COLOR GUARDS ALL REPRESENTED AT THE SAME TIME AND SUCH. THEY MARCH IN IN PROCESSION AND WE BLESS THE COLORS. WE HAVE A COUPLE OF SPEAKERS AND THE FIRST ARMORED DIVISION BAND AT FORT BLISS WILL BE PLAYING. OUR TWO SPEAKERS THIS YEAR ARE THE, GARRISON COMMANDER AT FORT BLISS, COLONEL GALLAGHER AND THE OUR MO WW, SENIOR VICE COMMANDER IN CHIEF FROM ARIZONA. MARLIN RUIZ, WHO IS COMING IN FOR IT AND IT'S ABOUT AN HOUR LONG PRESENTATION. YOU'VE ATTENDED BEFORE? I HAVE THE COUNTY JUDGE HAS ATTENDED BEFORE, I KNOW HE WON'T BE ABLE TO BE THERE, BUT HOPEFULLY YOU CAN. YOU CAN COME AND READ THE RESOLUTION AT OUR MEETING. WE'VE INVITED COMMISSIONER HOGAN AS WELL, AND SUCH, BUT IT'S A VERY PATRIOTIC ORGANIZATION. AND ALL THE ORGANIZATIONS LOVE, LOVE COMING TO IT EVERY YEAR. IT'S VFW IS THE, AMERICAN LEGION, THE VIETNAM VETERANS, THE KOREAN WAR VETERANS, ALL OF THOSE ORGANIZATIONS ARE REPRESENTED AND LOOK FORWARD TO GETTING TOGETHER AT THIS EVENT ONCE A YEAR. SO IT IT IS A GREAT THING TO SEE ALL THE COLOR GUARDS THERE PRESENT. IT'S REALLY VERY, VERY MOVING, VERY, VERY YOUNG ONES TOO. YES, YES. SO, WITH ME TODAY, I HAVE, MAJOR BILL TARPLEY. RETIRED MAJOR, HE AND I HAVE KNOWN EACH OTHER A LITTLE OVER 50 YEARS. WE WENT TO ERVIN HIGH SCHOOL TOGETHER, AND, AND THEN TO UTEP, AND, WE'RE COMMISSIONED, THROUGH, UTEP, ROTC AND ARE NOW IN THE, THE, THE MILITARY ORDER OF WORLD WAR, THE, PERSHING REC, FOUNDED TWO ORGANIZATIONS, THE PERSHING RIFLES AND THE MILITARY ORDER OF WORLD WARS. AND WE'VE BEEN MEMBERS OF BOTH. WELL, THANK YOU ALL FOR THE WORK THAT YOU'VE DONE. AND IT'S NOW MY HONOR TO READ THIS RESOLUTION INTO THE RECORD. WHEREAS THE GREATER EL PASO CHAPTER OF THE MILITARY ORDER OF WORLD WARS WILL CONDUCT ITS 46TH ANNUAL CHANGING OF THE NATIONAL OR, YEAH, CHANGING OF THE NATIONAL AND ORGANIZATION COLORS ON SEPTEMBER 21ST, 2024, AT THE EL PASO COMMUNITY COLLEGE, EL PASO, TEXAS. AND WHEREAS THIS YEAR, 2024, CELEBRATES THE 105TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE ORDER AND WHEREAS THE MASSING OF THE COLORS IS A SIMILAR CEREMONY THAT DATES FROM 1922 AND IS A PATRIOTIC CEREMONY THAT ENCOURAGES CITIZENS TO REDEDICATE OUR FAITH IN THE COLORS OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. AND WHEREAS GENERAL OF THE ARMIES JOHN J. BLACKJACK PERSHING FOUNDED THE MILITARY ORDER OF THE WORLD WARS IN 1919, AND WHEREAS GENERAL PERSHING WAS STATIONED AT FORT BLISS FROM 1914 TO 1917, WHERE HE LED THE EXPEDITION INTO MEXICO AGAINST PANCHO VILLA. AND WHEREAS THE MASSING OF THE COLORS IS DESIGNED TO SHOW OUR UNITED SUPPORT OF SERVICE MEMBERS, PAST AND PRESENT, WHOM THOSE COLORS REPRESENT TO DEFEND THE HONOR, INTEGRITY AND SUPREMACY OF OUR NATIONAL GOVERNMENT AND THE CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES. AND WHEREAS THE MASSING OF THE COLORS IS DESIGNED TO REPRESENT ALL BRANCHES OF THE ARMED FORCES, ROTC, JROTC, VETERAN, CIVIC, LAW ENFORCEMENT, PATRIOTIC, FRATERNAL ORGANIZATIONS, BOY SCOUTS, GIRL SCOUTS, AND OUR GOLD STAR MOTHERS, GOLD STAR FAMILIES, GOLD STAR WIVES, AND MILITARY WIDOWS. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED THAT THE EL PASO COUNTY JUDGE AND COMMISSIONERS COURT RECOGNIZE SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 21ST, 2024, TO BE MASSING OF THE COLORS DAY IN EL PASO COUNTY, TEXAS, AND FURTHER CELEBRATE THE CONTRIBUTIONS OF THE EL PASO CHAPTER OF THE MILITARY ORDER TO THE EL PASO COMMUNITY UPON THE 105TH ANNIVERSARY OF ITS FOUNDING, AND WILL BE SIGNED THIS 16TH DAY OF SEPTEMBER 20TH, 24. HAVE A MOTION BY COMMISSIONER CORONADO, SECOND BY COMMISSIONER STOUT. THE VOTING IS OPEN. MOTION CARRIES. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. BILL IS OUR IS OUR TREASURER. AND ALSO OUR ROTC COORDINATOR. SO HE STAYS IN TOUCH WITH THE SENIOR ROTC PROGRAMS AT NEW MEXICO STATE AND UTEP. AND THEN ALL OF THE HIGH SCHOOLS, AS YOU MENTIONED, WE'VE GOT LIKE 30, 35 HIGH SCHOOLS IN THE EL PASO AREA THAT ALL PARTICIPATE WITH US. NOT ALL OF

[01:55:07]

THEM WILL BE PRESENT ON SATURDAY, BUT MOST OF THEM WILL. AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO IT. AND I THINK, THE EVENT IS AT THE EL PASO COMMUNITY COLLEGE ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICE CENTER.

OFF OF VISCOUNT. I THINK THE ADDRESS IS 9500 VISCOUNT AND, COMMISSIONER LEON, THAT'S IN YOUR DISTRICT. AND I DON'T KNOW THAT YOU'VE EVER ATTENDED, BUT WE'RE CERTAINLY WOULD WELCOME YOUR YOUR PARTICIPATION THERE. AND WE INVITE ALL THE PUBLIC THERE. WE USUALLY HAVE A PRETTY GOOD CROWD. THERE'S A LITTLE OVER 200 PEOPLE, THAT THAT ARE INVOLVED IN IN THIS ORGANIZATION. IT IS A GREAT THING TO SEE AND TO ATTEND. SO THANK YOU ALL FOR THE WORK THAT YOU DO FOR THIS ORGANIZATION. APPRECIATE YOU ALL BEING HERE. CAN WE THANK YOU. AND AS A MATTER OF FACT, I REMEMBER WHEN YOU USED TO HAVE THEM AT SAN RAFAEL CHURCH. THAT'S WHERE I WENT THERE A COUPLE OF TIMES. SO CAN WE ALL TAKE A PHOTO WITH US? YES. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANKS. THANK YOU SIR, CHRIS AND LIZ ARE HERE, RIGHT? YES. I SEE THEM BACK THERE. ITEM FIVE H. APPROVE AND ADOPT A RESOLUTION RECOGNIZING THE EL PASO COUNTY CRIMINAL JUSTICE COORDINATION DEPARTMENT FOR THEIR SERVICE TO OUR COMMUNITY AND INVITING THE PUBLIC TO ATTEND ITS FIRST REENTRY RESOURCE FAIR ON SEPTEMBER 18TH, 2024. WELCOME, CHRISTOPHER. LIZ I KNOW, CATHERINE CAN'T BE HERE, BUT I

[H. Approve and adopt a resolution recognizing the El Paso County Criminal Justice Coordination Department for their service to our community, and inviting the public to attend its first Reentry Resource Fair on September 18, 2024. Sergio Coronado, Commissioner, Precinct 4, 915-546-2044]

DO WANT TO SAY A FEW THINGS ABOUT, ABOUT CATHERINE, SHE RECEIVED RECENTLY A NATIONAL AWARD, AND WE'RE REALLY, REALLY PROUD OF THE WORK THAT SHE'S DONE HERE IN OUR, OUR ORGANIZATION. THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF PRETRIAL SERVICES CHOSE CATHERINE JONES FOR THEIR MEMBER OF THE YEAR AWARD. SHE WAS RECOGNIZED ON MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 8TH IN NEW ORLEANS IN FRONT OF MORE THAN 1300 OF HER PEERS FROM AROUND THE COUNTRY. CATHERINE HAS STRIVED TO MAKE THE CJC A NATIONAL MODEL FOR BEST PRACTICES. SHE IS CURRENTLY IN THE PROCESS OF GETTING NATIONAL ACCREDITATION THROUGH NAFSA, WHICH VERY FEW OTHER AGENCIES HAVE ACHIEVED. SHE HAS KEPT THE CJC ON THE CUTTING EDGE OF PRETRIAL JUSTICE THROUGH ONGOING PRETRIAL ASSESSMENT VALIDATION PROJECTS, STAFF NAPSA CERTIFICATIONS, AND UPDATING THE COLLABORATIVE SUPERVISION GUIDELINES. SHE ALSO IMPLEMENTED A RESPONSE TO PRETRIAL VIOLATIONS PROTOCOL RECENTLY, WHICH WAS ADOPTED BY THE JUDGES AND WAS A BIG ACCOMPLISHMENT. WE ARE VERY PROUD OF THE CJC AND THE WORK MISS JONES HAS DONE TO MAKE IT A NATIONAL MODEL IN PRETRIAL JUSTICE, AS PART OF PART OF HER NOMINATION, SHE WAS COMPLIMENTED BY ONE OF HER OWN STAFF FOR BEING HONEST AND HOLDING PEOPLE ACCOUNTABLE FOR THEIR WORK. MISS JONES HAS DONE HAS PUT EL PASO IN THE NATIONAL SPOTLIGHT FOR BEST PRACTICES IN PRETRIAL JUSTICE, AND WE'RE REALLY INCREDIBLY PROUD OF CATHERINE, AND WE THANK HER AND HER DEPARTMENT FOR ALL THE SUPPORT AND THAT THEY PROVIDE TO OUR COURTS AND OUR JUSTICE SYSTEM. SO I'M GOING TO AT THIS TIME, READ THE RESOLUTION.

[02:00:02]

WHEREAS REENTRY PROGRAMS GIVE PEOPLE THE SUPPORT THEY NEED TO SAFELY AND SUCCESSFULLY RETURN TO THEIR COMMUNITIES AFTER INCARCERATION. AND WHEREAS RETURNING COMMUNITY MEMBERS OFTEN EXPERIENCE MORE STIGMAS AND BARRIERS TO FINDING EMPLOYMENT, HOUSING AND OTHER CRITICAL RESOURCES THAT ALLEVIATE CHALLENGES TO HEALTHY REENTRY. AND WHEREAS, TO ENSURE RETURNING COMMUNITY MEMBERS NOT ONLY HAVE ACCESS TO RESOURCES, BUT CAN SIGN UP FOR SERVICES WITH EASE, THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE COORDINATION OR CJC DEPARTMENT'S RECOVERY PROGRAM WILL HOST ITS FIRST REENTRY RESOURCE FAIR ON WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 18TH, 2024, FROM 9 A.M. THROUGH 12 P.M. AT THE ASCARATE PARK PAVILION. AND WHEREAS THIS EVENT IS A CULMINATION OF IMMENSE SUPPORT FOR MORE THAN 40 EL PASO COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS COMING TOGETHER TO PROVIDE RETURNING COMMUNITY MEMBERS WITH VITAL INFORMATION ON POTENTIAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES, HOUSING AND OTHER LOCAL RESOURCES AND SERVICES IN ONE PLACE. AND WHEREAS COLLABORATIVE COMMUNITY EVENTS LIKE THE REENTRY RESOURCE FAIR DEMONSTRATE EL PASO COUNTY AND OUR NETWORK OF COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS BELIEVE IN THE INHERENT VALUE OF OUR RETURNING COMMUNITY MEMBERS. AND WHEREAS THESE PARTNERSHIPS PROVE REENTRY IS ABOUT MORE THAN JUST A FRESH START, IT IS REASSURANCE THAT IF ONE PERSON CAN HEALTHILY RETURN TO THEIR COMMUNITIES, EVERYONE CAN. AND NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, THAT THE EL PASO COUNTY JUDGE AND COMMISSIONERS COURT COMMEND THE EL PASO COUNTY CRIMINAL JUSTICE COORDINATION REENTRY PROGRAM AND OUR NETWORK OF COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS FOR THEIR WORK TO HELP OUR COMMUNITY THRIVE. AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT THE EL PASO COUNTY JUDGE AND COMMISSIONERS COURT RECOGNIZE. WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 18TH, 2024 AS A DAY TO PROUDLY SUPPORT REENTERING COMMUNITY MEMBERS AS EVERY PERSON IS WORTHY OF A SECOND CHANCE TO BE SIGNED. THE 16TH DAY OF SEPTEMBER 2024, WE HAVE A MOTION BY COMMISSIONER CORONADO, SECOND BY COMMISSIONER STOUT. THE VOTING IS OPEN. MOTION CARRIES.

THANK YOU. COURT PRESS. GOOD MORNING, COMMISSIONERS. MY NAME IS CHRISTOPHER RAY, SENIOR MANAGER WITH THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE COORDINATION DEPARTMENT. FIRST AND FOREMOST, I'D LIKE TO THANK CATHERINE JONES, THE DIRECTOR. SHE'D LIKE TO BE HERE TODAY, BUT I KNOW SHE SHARES IN THE SENTIMENT OF WHAT WE'RE DOING. THIS WOULD NOT BE POSSIBLE WITHOUT HER LEADERSHIP.

SHE'S QUICK TO GIVE US KUDOS, HER TEAM. BUT THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR OUR TEAM TO GIVE THE KUDOS TO HER BECAUSE UNDER HER LEADERSHIP, 2023, WE WERE THE PRETRIAL AGENCY IN TEXAS OF THE YEAR AS WELL AS, YOU KNOW, HER BEING THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AWARD THAT SHE RECEIVED FOR HER EFFORTS IN PRETRIAL JUSTICE. SO, AGAIN, THANK YOU TO HER FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY. BUT FIRST AND FOREMOST, WHAT IS THIS? WHAT IS YOUR CJC OFFICERS? WHAT ARE WE DOING FOR YOU GUYS AND FOR THE COMMUNITY? AND ONE OF THESE IS TRYING TO LEAD JUSTICE REFORM.

AND THAT'S BY BEING ABLE TO PROVIDE INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE GOING THROUGH THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE PROCESS, WHETHER THAT'S PRETRIAL OR EXITING THROUGH THE INCARCERATION. AND SOME SOMETIMES INDIVIDUALS HAVE BARRIERS TO SUCCESS, WHETHER THAT'S EMPLOYMENT, OTHER SERVICES, MENTAL HEALTH, EVEN FINDING SOMETHING AS SIMPLE AS PEER SUPPORT, SOMEBODY THAT'S GOING WITH YOU THROUGH THE STRUGGLE, AND SO THAT'S WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO, TRYING TO COMMUNICATE, CONNECT WITH THE COMMUNITY. BUT I WANT TO HIGHLIGHT SOME OF THE, THE WORK THAT THESE INDIVIDUALS HAVE DONE. OUR REENTRY MANAGER, ELIZABETH ARELLANO, AS WELL AS AMBER MARTINEZ, WHO IS OUR COMMUNITY RESOURCE COORDINATOR. I'D LIKE TO POINT OUT THAT THEY'VE NEVER HAD ANY EXPERIENCE PUTTING THIS TOGETHER, BUT THEY'VE GONE OUT AND MET WITH OVER 40 BUSINESSES, NGOS AND JUST COMMUNITY PARTNERS TO BE ABLE TO DO THIS, ESPECIALLY AMBER HERE, WHO HAS GONE OUT, GOTTEN A LOT OF DONATIONS, A LOT OF OUR PARTNERS AT THESE BUSINESSES WHO ARE HELPING. THIS IS A COMMUNITY EVENT, COMMUNITY MEMBERS HELPING COMMUNITY MEMBERS. AND SO I WANT TO HIGHLIGHT THEIR WORK. BUT ALSO, I WANT TO ASK IF ELIZABETH PROVIDES SOME DETAILS ON OUR EVENTS. SO THAT WAY EVERYONE KNOWS. IF YOU GUYS CAN ALSO PLEASE SHARE IT WITH PEOPLE THAT YOU KNOW. ONE THING THAT I WOULD WANT TO SAY IS THAT WE DON'T TURN ANYONE, ANYONE AWAY. SO IF YOU'RE A MEMBER OF THE COMMUNITY AND YOU NEED HELP, WE WILL STILL SEE YOU. WE'LL TRY TO CONNECT YOU WITH THE RESOURCES. BUT THIS IS, AGAIN, JUSTICE INVOLVED.

FOCUS, FOR FAMILY MEMBERS, IF YOU HAVE FAMILY MEMBERS THAT ARE ABOUT TO GET OUT OF JAIL OR INCARCERATION, PLEASE COME SO YOU CAN GIVE THEM INFORMATION SO THEY HAVE A HEAD START ON BEING ABLE TO PROVIDE THOSE RESOURCES TO THOSE INDIVIDUALS. SO THEY'RE SUCCESSFUL. SO ELIZABETH, PLEASE. THANK YOU. GOOD MORNING. COMMISSIONERS, ELIZABETH, I KNOW REENTRY MANAGER, I JUST WANT TO REITERATE WHAT MR. RAY SAID. WE ARE FOCUSED ON JUSTICE INVOLVED BECAUSE WE ARE REENTRY, THERE'S A LOT OF RESOURCES OUT THERE, BUT I THINK WE FOCUS ON MENTAL HEALTH. WE FOCUS ON THE YOUTH, AND SO I THINK THIS IS OUR OPPORTUNITY TO FOCUS ON GIVING PEOPLE A SECOND CHANCE. AND, A LOT OF THE PARTNERS THAT WE HAVE ARE GOING TO BE MENTAL HEALTH. EL PASOANS FIGHTING, EL PASOANS FIGHTING HUNGER FOOD BANK. THANK YOU. THE OTHER FOOD BANKS, THE SHELTERS, RECOVERY ALLIANCE, IT'S GOING TO BE AN ARRAY OF SERVICES AND RESOURCES FOR THE COMMUNITY, SO WE'RE EXCITED.

[02:05:05]

WE'RE VERY NERVOUS. WE'RE VERY ANXIOUS. SO VERY EXCITED. HOPEFULLY WE HAVE A GREAT TURNOUT. WE'VE REACHED OUT TO ALL SORTS OF COMMUNITY MEMBERS FOR THEIR SUPPORT AND TO INVITE THE PUBLIC, THE SCHOOL DISTRICTS. ALSO. YOU KNOW, WE HAVE YOUTH THAT ARE UNFORTUNATELY ALREADY PART OF THE JUSTICE SYSTEM. SO WE WANT TO HELP EVERYONE THAT WE CAN IN THE COMMUNITY, AND I ALSO WANT TO THANK AMBER. SHE'S DONE A GREAT JOB JUST REACHING OUT, GOING DOOR TO DOOR, REACHING OUT TO THE BUSINESSES OUT THERE WHO HAVE DONATED, DONATIONS OF THE GIFT CARDS. ALSO OF FOOD, COFFEE, THINGS OF THAT NATURE FOR THE VENDORS AND RAFFLE ITEMS. HOME DEPOT DONATED A GRILL AND DIFFERENT ITEMS FOR US TO BE ABLE TO RAFFLE TO THE PUBLIC. SO THANK YOU AND THANK YOU, AMBER. ONE MORE THING. IF I MAY, WE'RE ALSO GOING TO BE ROLLING OUT THE EL PASO PROGRAM. WE'RE GOING TO HAVE OUR REPRESENTATIVE THERE, SPECIAL THANKS TO MISTER CORONADO WITH THE EFFORTS THERE, BUT WE'RE GOING TO BE INTRODUCING THAT TO THE COMMUNITY. SO PLEASE, IF AGAIN, IF YOU ALL ARE MORE THAN WELCOME TO ATTEND AND THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH FOR ALL THE WORK YOU DO. AND PRETTY SOON TO COME, THE PROMISE PROGRAM WILL REALLY TAKE OFF. AND I KNOW IT'S, YOU KNOW, NOT THAT FAR AWAY THAT WE'RE ABLE TO BE UNDER THE SAME PROGRAM WITH REENTRY AND THE PROMISE PROGRAM TO GET WORKFORCE TRAINING AND EDUCATION TO THESE INDIVIDUALS THAT ARE JUST AS INVOLVED AND TRY AND DIVERT THEM FROM THE SYSTEM. SO THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH. COMMISSIONERS, ANYBODY? THANK YOU. COMMISSIONER CORONADO, FOR BRINGING THIS TO OUR ATTENTION. AND PLEASE LET MISS JONES KNOW HOW PROUD WE ARE OF HER AND ALL OF YOU THAT WE GET THIS TYPE OF RECOGNITION HERE IN EL PASO. THE OTHER LOCATIONS ARE LOOKING AT US AND THE TYPE OF WORK THAT WE DO. SO AGAIN, CONGRATULATIONS. AND AMBER, DID YOU WANT TO SAY A FEW WORDS? SO AGAIN CONGRATULATIONS. CAN WE TAKE A PHOTO WITH YOU? RIGHT AWAY.

OKAY. 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

[PUBLIC COMMENT]

TIME LIMIT FOR PUBLIC COMMENT. GO AHEAD, MISS CRAWFORD. THANK YOU SO MUCH. GOOD MORNING. CAN YOU SPEAK RIGHT INTO THE INTO THE PHONE. CAN YOU SPEAK MORE INTO THE PHONE? I'M SORRY. CAN YOU CAN YOU HEAR ME? IS THAT OKAY? YOU SOUND OFF IN THE DISTANCE. GOOD. OKAY CAN I TRY ONE? TRY ONE MORE TIME. CAN YOU HEAR ME? BETTER NOW? OH SEPTEMBER HAS BEEN DESIGNATED AS NATIONAL BABY SAFETY MONTH. WE'RE TOLD THAT THE MOST DANGEROUS PLACE FOR A BABY IN AMERICA TODAY IS TO BE IN THE WOMB OF THE MOTHER. IN LIGHT OF STATEMENTS COMING IN NATIONAL DEBATE FROM BOTH SIDES OF THE POLITICAL AISLE, I'D LIKE TO SPEAK BRIEFLY ABOUT PRO-LIFE ACTIVIST EVA EAGLE IS 89 YEARS OLD. SHE'S A GERMAN SURVIVOR OF A COMMUNIST PRISONER, PRISONER OF WAR CONCENTRATION CAMP DURING WORLD WAR TWO. FOLLOWING HER ESCAPE FROM THAT CAMP, SHE BEGAN A LEGACY OF FIGHTING FOR THE RIGHT OF ALL HUMAN BEINGS. THE FIRST TIME I REALIZED THERE WERE ABORTION CLINICS IN OUR COUNTRY WAS IN 1988, SHE SAID. I SAID TO MY HUSBAND, THESE ARE THE DEATH CAMPS OF AMERICA. I SAW PEOPLE SITTING IN FRONT OF ABORTION CLINICS IN ATLANTA, AND I'VE BEEN INVOLVED EVER SINCE, SHE SAID. I BELIEVE EVERY JURISDICTION CITY, COUNTY, STATE, FEDERAL, INTERNATIONAL SHOULD IMMEDIATELY CRIMINALIZE ABORTION AND EVERY DAY, WOE TO US IF WE DON'T. THE WRATH OF GOD IS AGAINST US AND TIME IS SHORT TO WASTE EFFORT TRYING TO REGULATE THE CHILD KILLING. WE WIND UP ON THE WRONG SIDE OF THE LINE. GOD'S WORD HAS SO CLEARLY

[02:10:06]

DRAWN IN THE SAND. A CHILD OF DANUBE SWABIAN HERITAGE, YUGOSLAVIAN BY BIRTH, BUT GERMAN BY HERITAGE AND LANGUAGE WAS JUST SIX YEARS OLD WHEN THE NAZIS INVADED YUGOSLAVIA, AND HER FAMILY WAS SAFE IN THEIR RURAL HOME UNTIL HER FAMILY WAS TAKEN BY THE NAZIS. AFTER HER FATHER BECAME ILL AND PUT IN AN INFIRMARY, HE SENT HIS FAMILY A LETTER URGING THEM TO FLEE BECAUSE THE RED ARMY WAS COMING, BUT THEY DID NOT ESCAPE IN TIME, EAGLE SAID SHE AND HER FAMILY WERE DEHUMANIZED BY THE COMMUNISTS AND TARGETED FOR GENOCIDE. AT FIRST, SHE AND HER SIBLINGS FOUND SAFETY WITH THEIR GRANDMOTHER, WHO WAS HUNGARIAN AND THEREFORE ABLE TO HIDE IN PLAIN SIGHT. BUT SOON EVA'S MOTHER WAS KIDNAPED TO DIG TRENCHES FOR THE WAR. WITH HER PROTECTOR AND HER HERO GONE, FEAR BEGAN TO TORMENT EVA'S SOUL. FEAR OF THE CONSEQUENCES OF HER OWN SIN, FEAR OF JUDGMENT DAY. EVA AND HER TWO SIBLINGS WERE TAKEN TO A FORCED LABOR CAMP. EVA AND HER GRANDMOTHER PUT ON A TRAIN TO A CONCENTRATION CAMP. THE SOVIETS AND NAZIS HAD BEGUN THE WAR AS ALLIES, BUT WHEN HITLER INVADED RUSSIA AND SLAUGHTERED MILLIONS OF CITIZENS, THE RUSSIAN LUST FOR VENGEANCE RAMPED UP. UNLIKE NAZI CONCENTRATION CAMPS AND COMMUNIST CONCENTRATION CAMPS, DID NOT SHUT DOWN WHEN THE WAR ENDED. THEY WERE JUST GETTING STARTED. EVENTUALLY SHE WAS RESCUED AND IMMIGRATED TO AUSTRIA AND THEN THE US, WHERE BY THAT TIME ANOTHER GENOCIDE WAS OCCURRING THE GENOCIDE OF ABORTION. ACCORDING TO THE BIO ON HER WEBSITE, EVA FELT THE CALL OF GOD TO LAY DOWN HER LIFE TO RESCUE UNBORN CHILDREN.

JOSEPH'S BROTHERS LAID DOWN THEIR LIFE TO RESCUE HER, SHE EXPLAINED ON HER SITE AND THE HEAT, THE RAIN, THE SNOW AS BABIES ARE BEING KILLED, I TRY TO OBEY PROVERBS 31 QUOTE OPEN YOUR MOUTH FOR THE SPEECHLESS IN THE CAUSE OF SUCH AS ARE APPOINTED TO DESTRUCTION. OPEN YOUR MOUTH, JUDGE RIGHTEOUSLY, AND PLEAD THE CAUSE OF THE POOR AND NEEDY. THROUGH THE YEARS, EVA HAS GIVEN HER LIFE TO RESCUE WOMEN AND BABIES AT ABORTION BUSINESSES. ADDRESSING THE CHURCH, EVA STATED, I DO BELIEVE THAT WE MUST BE WILLING TO LAY DOWN OUR COMFORTS AND EVEN OUR LIVES TO RESCUE THE LEAST OF GOD'S CHILDREN. SHE SAID, OUR CHILDREN AND OUR GRANDCHILDREN'S FREEDOM WILL BE NO MORE SECURE THAN THE INNOCENT WHO WHOSE CRIES THE CHURCH IGNORES. TODAY, WE SHOULD PROTECT THEM AS WE WOULD WANT TO BE PROTECTED. WE SHOULD INSIST ON THE ABOLITION OF ALL ABORTIONS AND ACCEPT NOTHING LESS. THE WORDS OF PROVERBS CHAPTER 31. OPEN YOUR MOUTH TO THE SPEECHLESS IN THE CAUSE OF ALL, SUCH AS ARE APPOINTED TO DESTRUCTION. OPEN YOUR MOUTH, JUDGE RIGHTEOUSLY, AND PLEAD THE CAUSE OF THE POOR AND NEEDY. THANK YOU SO MUCH.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MISS CRAWFORD. ITEM SEVEN. PRESENTATION SEVEN A RECEIVE A PRESENTATION RECOGNIZING THE BOND ADVISORY COMMITTEE FOR THEIR INVALUABLE CONTRIBUTIONS TO EL PASO COUNTY. GOOD MORNING, COMMISSIONERS SURROUNDED US WITH COUNTY ADMINISTRATION. VERY

[A. Receive a presentation recognizing the Bond Advisory Committee for their invaluable contributions to El Paso County. Jose M. Landeros, Director, Strategic Capital Development, 915-546-2159]

PROUD TO BE ABLE TO STAND UP HERE WITH, THE COUNTY'S, FORMER BOND ADVISORY COMMITTEE, WHO REALLY HELPED LEAD THE WAY IN THE MULTI-YEAR CAPITAL PLANNING PROCESS THAT THAT LED US TO WHERE WE ARE TODAY, BEFORE WE GET STARTED WITH ANY FURTHER REMARKS, FROM MYSELF, FROM THE COMMITTEE, OUR COMMS DIVISION HAS PREPARED A SMALL VIDEO SHOWING THE WORK THAT THEY DID OVER THE COURSE OF SEVERAL MONTHS EARLIER THIS YEAR. SO I'LL ASK THEM TO START PLAYING THAT.

[02:15:37]

THE COMMISSIONERS THIS MORNING, WE ARE JOINED BY YOUR BOND ADVISORY COMMITTEE CHAIR, MR. ROBERTO FRANCO, MR. HENRY CASTILLO, MR. HENRY OSEGUERA, SELENA ARRIOLA, MR. CARLOS MARTINEZ, MR. JESUS REYES, MR. DAVID ZABLOCKI AND MISS CINDY HERNANDEZ, OTHER MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE WHO ARE NOT ABLE TO JOIN US THIS MORNING INCLUDE MISS VIRGINIA PRICE, MISS VERONICA CARRILLO, AND MISS LILIA MALDONADO. I CAN TELL YOU THAT WORKING DIRECTLY WITH THE BOND ADVISORY COMMITTEE HAS BEEN ONE OF THE MOST REWARDING OPPORTUNITIES I'VE HAD TO DO HERE AT THE COUNTY BECAUSE OF THE LEVEL OF ENGAGEMENT THAT EACH MEMBER POSSESSES THROUGHOUT THIS ENTIRE PROCESS, THEY GAVE UP TIME FROM AWAY FROM THEIR FAMILIES, FROM THEIR WORK, FROM OTHER SENSITIVE COMMITMENTS TO BE HERE AND TO UNDERSTAND THE NEEDS THAT THE COUNTY HAS, THE OPPORTUNITIES THE COUNTY HAS WITH REGARD TO A NUMBER OF CAPITAL PROJECTS. AND THEY WERE INCREDIBLY COMMITTED. THE QUESTIONS THAT THEY ASKED OF STAFF EVERY WEEK WERE CHALLENGING, MADE US, I THINK, LEAD TO DEVELOP A PRODUCT THAT IS SOMETHING THAT I THINK THE COUNTY CAN CAN BE PROUD OF. THIS IS THE FIRST TIME THE COUNTY HAD UNDERTAKEN SOMETHING LIKE THIS, AND I THINK IT'S IN ITS HISTORY TO HAVE SOMETHING LED BY A GROUP OF VOLUNTEER CITIZENS. SO I WOULD LIKE TO INVITE ANY MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE WHO WOULD LIKE TO OFFER ANY REMARKS, TO THE COMMISSIONERS COURT AND LET THEM KNOW ALSO THAT WE THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR SERVICE OVER THIS PAST SEVERAL MONTHS. AND THANK YOU ALL FOR, FOR DEALING WITH WITH US AS WELL. THANK YOU. JOSE, ARE WE GOING TO HAVE A SPEAKER BEHIND YOU? OKAY. THERE HE IS. GOOD MORNING. GOOD MORNING COMMISSIONERS. IT'S A IT'S A PLEASURE TO BE HERE, JUST A FEW WORDS ARE PEOPLE WHO ARE ON THE BOARD VERY, VERY COMMITTED, YOU SAW ATTENDANCE WAS ALMOST 100% EVERY TIME. PEOPLE REALLY ENGAGED, THE INFORMATION THAT WAS GIVEN TO US WAS CHALLENGING BECAUSE THERE WAS SO MUCH INFORMATION, BUT IT WAS ALL VERY GOOD INFORMATION. AND I THINK THAT WE HAD SOME VERY GOOD EXCHANGE, A LOT OF GOOD DIALOG, AND WE CAME TO CONCLUSIONS, ASKED A LOT FROM THE STAFF, AND THEY PROVIDED EVERYTHING. SO I THINK THE CONGRATULATIONS TO YOUR STAFF PROVIDING ALL THAT INFORMATION. BUT IF I CAN JUST SAY ONE THING OF MY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT EXPERIENCE, HAVING WORKED AS ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR IN PHOENIX, ARIZONA, FOR 15 YEARS AND PRESIDENT OF A PROGRAM CALLED PHOENIX NEW MARKET TAX CREDITS, AND THEN HERE IN EL PASO FOR TEN YEARS AS ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR, I'VE HEARD A LOT OF COMMENTS ABOUT INFRASTRUCTURE THAT WERE JUST TAXING PEOPLE. BUT I ASKED PEOPLE GO DRIVE AROUND THE 375 ALL THE WAY TO THE END, GO DRIVE AROUND TO ARTCRAFT, LOOK AT ALL THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND BUSINESSES THAT ARE GOING IN THERE. JUST AIRCRAFT BY ITSELF, THE EXCHANGE THERE, THERE'S COMPANIES GOING IN THERE, THE MEDICAL DEVELOPMENT THAT IS GOING ON, WRESTLER. ALL THAT IS BECAUSE PEOPLE CAN GET IN AND GET OUT AND GO BACK TO THEIR JOBS. SO INFRASTRUCTURE NOT ONLY IS GOOD FOR INDUSTRY, BUT IT CREATES JOBS. AND THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE CANNOT LOSE FOCUS. AS MUCH AS PEOPLE COMPLAIN ABOUT THAT WE'RE GOING TO TAX THEM. YOU KNOW EVERYTHING. BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY, WHO ELSE IS GOING TO MAKE THE INFRASTRUCTURE? COMPANIES ARE GOING TO COME IN AND SAY, I'M GOING TO PUT IN $30 MILLION WORTH OF INFRASTRUCTURE BECAUSE I NEED TO MOVE MY COMPANY THERE. THEY EXPECT THE COUNTY, THEY EXPECT THE CITY TO DO THAT FOR THEM. AND THAT'S OUR ROLE OF GOVERNMENT. IF YOU DON'T BELIEVE ME, GOOGLE ROLE OF GOVERNMENT INFRASTRUCTURE AND YOU'LL SEE THE ARTICLES ARE GOING TO COME UP AND TELL YOU ABOUT HOW IMPORTANT INFRASTRUCTURE AND THE INVESTMENT THAT YOU'RE MAKING IN YOUR COMMUNITY WITH PARKS, YOU KNOW, VINTON AND EAST EL PASO ARE NEEDED. SO THAT'S THE ONLY THING THAT I CAN SAY IN THE PAST FEW DAYS THAT I'VE SEEN A LOT OF EXCHANGE. AND I SAY, YOU KNOW, I LIVED IN PHOENIX FOR 15 YEARS, AND I SAW THE COUNTY, THE CITY JUST SATURATED. THERE WAS NO PLACE FOR COMPANIES TO COME IN.

NOW THEY'RE GOING INTO THE COUNTY BECAUSE THEY HAD BEDDED DOWN, BID UP THE PRICE OF THE LAND IN THE CITY OF PHOENIX, THAT THEY WERE GOING OUT TO THE OUTSKIRTS AND THAT'S WHAT I SEE HERE IN IN OUR COUNTY OF EL PASO HAPPENING EVERYTHING. SO AGAIN, THANK YOU FOR THE RESPONSIBILITY

[02:20:04]

THAT YOU GAVE ME. THANK YOU FOR THE RESPONSIBILITY THAT YOU GAVE OUR BOARD MEMBERS. THEY WERE VERY ENGAGED AND I ASKED ANY OF THEM IF THEY WANT TO COME UP AND SAY A FEW WORDS BEFORE YOU SIT DOWN. LET ME SAY, NUMBER ONE, ON BEHALF OF THE JUDGE AND ALL THE COMMISSIONERS, WE JUST CAN'T THANK YOU ENOUGH. AND I'VE GOT TO TELL YOU ALL THE COMPLIMENTS THAT WE RECEIVED AND THE WAY THAT YOU ALL PUT THINGS TOGETHER. I'VE GOT TO SAY THAT WE WERE ELECTED TO HELP RUN THIS THIS COUNTY. I'VE BEEN HERE. THIS IS MY 12TH YEAR, AND I THINK WE ARE TASKED WITH WHAT IS GOOD FOR THE COUNTY. WHICH WAY SHOULD WE BE GOING? AND WE CAN'T SIT UP HERE AND SAY, HEY, THIS IS THE DIRECTION WE'VE GOT TO GO TO OUR CITIZENS. AND WHAT BETTER WAY THAN THE WAY? AS JOSE SAYS, THIS IS THE FIRST TIME IT'S EVER BEEN DONE. AND I WOULD HEAR THIS ABOUT THE BOY, THAT ABOUT THE BOY. AND NOW, AS YOU KNOW IT, IT'S GOING TO FRUITION. THE BOND ISSUANCE OR THE BOND ELECTION.

AND EVERY MEETING THAT I WENT TO AS FAR AS THE COMMUNITY MEETINGS WERE CONCERNED, WERE, WELL, WELL PUT TOGETHER WITH THE QUESTIONS THAT YOU ALL ASK ACTUALLY CAME OUT TO. YEAH. THE PARKS YOU TALKED ABOUT PARKS, THE WATER ISSUES AND ALL THE OTHER RELATED ITEMS THAT CAME UP. DURING THIS, THESE SESSIONS. BUT I'VE GOT TO SAY THAT I JUST IF THIS WAS AN EXCELLENT COMMITTEE, YOU DID A GREAT JOB. AND MOST OF YOU I KNOW PERSONALLY AND I'D REALLY LIKE TO HEAR FROM ALL OF YOU, AND WHAT YOU THINK THE PROCESS, HOW THE PROCESS WORKED. AND WHAT DO YOU THINK THE FUTURE OF A COMMITTEE LIKE YOURS SHOULD BE? THANK YOU. SIR. YOU KNOW, THE ONLY THING, THE ONLY THING I CAN SAY ADDITIONALLY, IS THAT PEOPLE COMPLAIN. WELL, GET INVOLVED. I'VE TOLD THEM ATTEND THESE MEETINGS, SEE WHAT IT TAKES. I MEAN, THERE WERE FOUR HOUR MEETINGS. GIVE UP SOME OF YOUR TIME, UNDERSTAND THE CONSEQUENCES BECAUSE PEOPLE ARE RELYING ON ON THE DECISIONS THAT THIS COMMITTEE WAS MAKING. SO WHEN I GET A LOT OF CRITICISMS FROM PEOPLE, I SAY, YOU KNOW WHAT? HOW MUCH TIME? FIRST OF ALL, ARE YOU REGISTERED TO VOTE? THE SECOND THING IS, HOW MUCH TIME HAVE YOU SPENT ONE OF THESE COMMITTEES? HAVE YOU GONE TO YOUR COMMISSIONER AND EXPLAINED TO HIM YOUR CONCERNS? WELL, IT'S EASY FOR YOU TO MAKE COMMENTS ON FACEBOOK. THAT'S GREAT. BUT YOU KNOW, AT THE END OF THE DAY, GET INVOLVED, BE BE A PARTICIPANT IN OUR COMMUNITY. I'VE GOT TO TELL YOU THAT ONE OF THOSE MEETINGS THAT I WENT TO AT, AT AMERICUS HIGH SCHOOL, IT WAS AT THE LIBRARY AND WE HAD MAYBE ABOUT SEVEN PEOPLE THERE. AND I WAS TALKING TO THE LIBRARIAN, THANKING HER FOR LETTING HER LETTING US USE THE FACILITY. AND I TOLD HER THAT, MAN, I JUST WISH WE HAD MORE PARTICIPATION. JUST LIKE WHAT YOU SAID. AND SHE SAID SOMETHING THAT REALLY MADE SENSE TO ME. SHE SAID, IF THE PEOPLE HERE IN EL PASO WERE MAD AT YOU, THEY'D BE HERE. SO THAT TOLD ME A LOT OF THINGS ABOUT OUR COUNTY, HOW PROUD I AM. AND I KNOW. AND LOOKING AROUND, I KNOW CARLOS WANTS TO SAY A FEW WORDS, HENRY, THAT I WENT TO HIGH SCHOOL WITH WOULD LIKE TO SAY A FEW WORDS. BECAUSE YOU ARE NOT QUIET AND, WELL, I'M USUALLY VERY, VERY QUIET, ESPECIALLY COMING FROM YSLETA HIGH SCHOOL. RIGHT. CARLOS YEAH, BUT WHAT I DO WANT TO SAY, AND I WANT TO REITERATE THE GREAT STAFF SUPPORT. MR. JOSE LANDEROS DID A FANTASTIC JOB. BETSY KELLER OVER HERE, NORMA FLORES, YOU YOU DID A FANTASTIC JOB. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR HELP AND YOUR GUIDANCE, WHEN WE CAME IN TO THE MEETINGS, EVERYTHING WAS PREPARED. WE HAD BOOKLETS, WE HAD INFORMATION SO THAT WE COULD DO AN ANALYSIS AND ACTUALLY COME UP WITH A GOOD DECISION. AND THEN THE PROJECTS, THE PROJECT LIST, VERY WELL PRIORITIZED. WE KIND OF KNEW WHAT WE NEEDED TO LOOK AT. AND SO, YEAH, YOU THANK US, BUT WE WANT TO THANK JOSE LANDERO AND HIS STAFF. THANK YOU HENRY, THANK YOU. AND I KNOW CINDY, I KNOW THAT YOU ALL HAVE YOU ALL OF YOU HAVE PLENTY TO SAY, MR. REYES. SO WE'D LOVE TO HEAR FROM ALL OF YOU. I JUST WANT TO COMMEND YOU ALL FOR ESTABLISHING THE COMMITTEE IN AND OF ITSELF, I THINK IT PROVIDES A DIFFERENT LEVEL OF TRANSPARENCY REGARDING BONDS, AND I DON'T THINK I'VE SEEN ANYTHING DONE LIKE THIS, HERE IN THE COUNTY OR IN THE CITY. SO I JUST WANT TO COMMEND YOU ALL, GOING THROUGH THE EXPERIENCE, THERE WAS A LOT OF LEARNING, MAKING DIFFICULT DECISIONS, IT WAS GREAT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU.

HELLO. MY NAME IS HENRY CASTILL. AND ASIDE FROM WHAT EVERYBODY SAID ABOUT YOUR STAFF, IT'S ABSOLUTELY TRUE. THEY WERE GREAT. BUT I'LL SHARE AN EXPERIENCE THAT I HAD IN MY

[02:25:02]

BACKYARD ON A SUNDAY. I INVITED MY NEIGHBOR, AND HE'S AN ENGINEER, WORKS IN THE PETROLEUM INDUSTRY, AND, WE GOT TO TALKIN, AND I EXPLAINED TO HIM WHAT WE WERE DOING AND WHY WE WERE DOING IT. AND JUST LIKE A LOT OF PEOPLE IN EL PASO, WHY SHOULD I PAY MORE TAXES? AND THAT LED TO A CONVERSATION. WELL AND I DON'T I DON'T HAVE TO GO THROUGH EVERYTHING THAT WE KNOW THAT WE NEED, BUT IT'S JUST A REAL LIFE EXPERIENCE OF WHAT THE PUBLIC THINKS AND BEING, HAVING BEING EXPOSED TO EVERYTHING THAT WE SAW AS A COMMITTEE, I WAS ABLE TO ANSWER HIS QUESTIONS. I MIGHT NOT HAVE CONVINCED HIM, BUT AT LEAST IT GAVE HIM A SENSE OF, LOOK, THIS IS WHAT WE NEED. AND THIS IS WHY WE NEED. AND IT WAS BECAUSE OF THE STAFF THAT MADE IT SO EASY FOR US TO UNDERSTAND.

BUT ANYWAY, THANK YOU. THANK YOU TO, CARLOS. GOOD MORNING. THANK YOU FOR HAVING US HERE, COMMISSIONER HOLGUIN, THANK YOU FOR NOMINATING ME TO THIS COMMITTEE. BUT HAVING WORKED 20 YEARS OUT IN THE IRRIGATION DISTRICT, RUNNING THE IRRIGATION DISTRICT, I GOT TO SEE FIRSTHAND THE PEOPLE WITHOUT WATER, THE PEOPLE WITHOUT SEWER, THE PEOPLE THAT STILL CARRY BARRELS OF, OF WATER TO THEIR HOMES IN ORDER TO BATHE AND COOK AND SO ON. IT, IT REALLY, YOU KNOW, IT REALLY TOUCHES YOUR HEART WHEN, WHEN YOU ACTUALLY WORK OUT THERE AND SEE ALL THIS HAPPENING. BUT, A LOT OF A LOT OF THINGS NEED, NEED REPAIR THE JUVENILE CENTER, JUVENILE HOME. IT NEEDS A LOT OF WORK. AND HAVING WORKED LAW ENFORCEMENT, HAVING RUN THIS JAIL RIGHT NEXT TO US, I CAN I CAN UNDERSTAND WHAT WHAT THE PROBLEMS ARE THAT THEY'RE HAVING THERE AND THEN TOURING THE COURTHOUSE. OH, MY GOD, THE POOR DA'S OFFICE WORKING IN THE HALLWAYS. STAFF ACTUALLY TRYING TO DO WORK IN THE HALLWAYS AS PUBLIC IS MOVING IN AND OUT, WITNESSES AND SO ON, THERE'S A LOT OF THINGS THAT NEED TO BE DONE, AND I JUST HOPE THE PUBLIC WILL COME OUT AND LOOK AT THIS AND SEE THE IMPORTANCE THAT WE NEED TO GET WATER OUT TO PEOPLE. WE NEED STORMWATER PROJECTS OUT IN THE COUNTY WHERE PEOPLE STILL GET FLOODED, WE THERE'S A LOT OF THINGS THAT WE NEED, AND UNFORTUNATELY, THERE'S ONLY SO MUCH MONEY YOU ALL HAVE. SO, I THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR HARD WORK. I KNOW IT'S HARD TO MAKE THOSE DECISIONS THAT YOU ALL MAKE, AND I THANK YOU FOR SERVING ON THIS COMMITTEE. THANK YOU. AS YOU KNOW, WE CANNOT RIGHT NOW BECAUSE IT IS GOING TO BE ON THE BALLOT. WE COULD NOT PUSH FOR THE BOND OR OR SPEAK AGAINST IT. BUT I'VE GOT TO TELL YOU WHAT YOU JUST SAID THAT IN TALKING TO SOME OF THE FOLKS THAT HAVE TO HAVE THEIR WATER TRUCKED OUT THERE, HOW MUCH FOR GRANTED? SOME OF US, TAKE, BEING ABLE TO JUST OPEN THE TAP OF WATER AND YOU CAN DRINK IT, YOU CAN BATHE IN IT, YOU CAN COOK WITH IT, WHEN OTHERS CAN'T, SO WE STILL HAVE A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT I'D LIKE TO HEAR FROM. HELLO, MY NAME IS DAVID ZABLOCKI. COMMISSIONER, THANK YOU FOR THE APPOINTMENT. THANK YOU ALL FOR THE WORK THAT YOU DO. CERTAINLY WANT TO THANK THE THIS GROUP OF FOLKS BEHIND ME BECAUSE, THERE WAS SOME VERY DIFFICULT DECISIONS, BUT SOME TREMENDOUS COLLABORATION, DISCUSSION, TAKING INTO CONSIDERATION DIFFERENT VIEWPOINTS. IT WAS JUST A PHENOMENAL, PLACE TO BE, THE OFTEN, AS OFTEN AS WE CAME, THERE WAS ALWAYS MORE INFORMATION. WE WISH WE HAD $1 BILLION, RIGHT? THAT'S WHAT WE WISH WE HAD. WE OBVIOUSLY DON'T. THE PRIORITIZATION TOOK PLACE AND OBVIOUSLY IT NEEDED TO BE IN A COLLABORATIVE EFFORT. SO PERSONALLY, MY, MY, MY, MY FOCUS WAS IN THE PARKS, I LIVED IN FABENS ALL OF MY LIFE. I WAS BORN IN THE HOUSE I LIVE IN. AND I'VE SEEN THE GENERATIONS GO THROUGH AND, AND PART OF WHAT'S BEEN MISSING IS QUALITY OF LIFE.

PARKS, WE'VE HAD PARKS FABENS VETERANS PARK IS A PARK THAT REALLY IS, KEPT UP BY VOLUNTEER.

I AM ONE OF THEM AND CERTAINLY WANT TO CONTINUE TO VOLUNTEER AND DO THE ALL THAT WE CAN THERE. BUT THERE'S PARKS IN IN IN THE UPPER VALLEY, IN CANUTILLO THAT THAT NEED WORK AND TORNILLO AND SAN ELIZARIO AND SO THESE ARE AND WE WISH WE COULD HAVE HAD EVEN MORE PARKS.

[02:30:04]

BUT BUT THE EFFORT THAT THAT WAS PUT OUT IS CERTAINLY SATISFYING. AND A LOT HAVE MADE THE POINT ABOUT AND YOU HAVE MADE IT ABOUT, YOU KNOW, THE PEOPLE WILL NOT KNOW EXACTLY WHAT WE SAW.

THE EYES, YOU KNOW, THEY SAY A PICTURE IS WORTH A THOUSAND WORDS. AND WE SAW SO MANY THINGS, DILAPIDATED DRAINAGE SYSTEMS, CAUSING PEOPLE TO BE PRETTY MUCH IN AN ISLAND IF IT RAINED. AND I'VE HAD A, I HAD A QUADRUPLE BYPASS IN DECEMBER OF, OF 2018, I'D HATE FOR SOMEONE TO NEED, EMERGENCY SERVICES TO REACH THEM, AND THEY CAN'T CROSS AND THEY CAN'T GO OVER TO HELP SAVE SOMEONE'S LIFE. SO THESE THESE, ITEMS THAT THAT HAVE BEEN SET FORTH BEFORE OUR GENERAL PUBLIC, I URGE THEM TO SUPPORT THEM, I WISH THEY COULD SEE EVERYTHING THAT WE WERE ABLE TO SEE, BUT IT CERTAINLY WAS MOVING FOR ME, TO SEE ALL THAT THAT THAT WAS CONSIDERED. AND I WISH IT HAD I WISH IT TAXPAYERS COULD AFFORD MORE. AND THE COUNTY COULD AFFORD MORE. AND OF COURSE, I THINK EVERYTHING WENT IN WITH GOOD CONSCIENCE. SO THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH. THANK YOU. OUR TWO APPOINTEES WERE MR. OSEGUERA AND MISS, ARRIOLA, CAN YOU SAY A FEW WORDS FOR US? GOOD MORNING. MY NAME IS SELENA ARRIOLA. THANK YOU ALL FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SERVE ON THIS BOARD, ONE THING I WANTED TO MENTION, BESIDES ALL THE SENTIMENTS THAT THE BOARD MEMBERS SPOKE TO, IS THAT MR. LEON, YOU TALKED ABOUT YOUR. YOU ASKED THE QUESTION, HOW CAN WE CONTINUE DOING SOMETHING LIKE THIS MOVING FORWARD? I THINK THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT TO ANYTHING THE COUNTY IS GOING TO BE DOING THAT INVOLVES CITIZENS. A BOARD LIKE THIS, NOT ONLY DID IT GIVE US THE OPPORTUNITY TO GIVE YOU GUYS FEEDBACK, BUT IT HELPED US TO REALLY LEARN WHAT'S GOING ON. PRIOR TO THIS EXPERIENCE, I HAD NOT SERVED IN ANY KIND OF, BOARD IN THIS CAPACITY. SO LEARNING A LOT ABOUT THE COUNTY, LEARNING ABOUT THE PROJECTS, IT WAS VERY VALUABLE TO ME TO GO OUT AND SHARE THAT INFORMATION WITH OTHERS, HE KIND OF SPOKE TO A SITUATION WHERE HE MET SOMEONE WHO MAYBE JUST NEEDED A DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVE. AND BEING ON THIS BOARD UNDER THE DIRECTION OF MR. LANDEROS WAS VERY HELPFUL IN SHARING THAT MESSAGE. SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH. WE GOT, LIKE YOU SAID, WE HAVE THE WE HAVE RECEIVED A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF INPUT FROM THE COMMUNITY. AND I THINK ONE OF YOU, CINDY, MENTIONED THE TRANSPARENCY, WE'RE NOT I DON'T THINK WE'RE WELL, I KNOW WE'RE NOT TRYING TO JUST OVERNIGHT.

OKAY WE, WE GOT TO HAVE THESE THINGS. IT WAS A PROCESS THAT TOOK MONTHS, BUT IT WORKED. IT WORKED. AND THE FINAL DECIDERS IS OUR COMMUNITY. SO THANK YOU. COMMISSIONERS, THANKS FOR PUTTING US ON THE SPOT, I THINK FIRST AND FOREMOST, YOU ALL SHOULD BE VERY PROUD OF YOUR STAFF, AS ALWAYS, THE LEVEL OF PROFESSIONALISM THAT THEY CARRY OUT FOR THE COUNTY IS EXEMPLARY, IT WAS THE FIRST TIME OF THEM DOING THIS, AND I THINK THEY DID A PHENOMENAL JOB AS AS EVERYONE SAID, BRINGING THIS INFORMATION OVER AND OVER AGAIN, YOU KNOW, IT'S DIFFICULT WHEN THERE'S SO MUCH NEED, YOU ALL KNOW THIS, AND WE CERTAINLY WENT THROUGH IT, BUT MORE, MORE THAN ANYTHING, YOU ALL SHOULD BE PROUD THAT THAT YOU ALL UNDERTOOK THIS EFFORT BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, SERVING YOUR CONSTITUENTS IS PARAMOUNT. AND ENSURING THAT YOUR EMPLOYEES HAVE THE BEST FACILITIES POSSIBLE IS ALSO IMPORTANT TO THEIR QUALITY AND THE WORK AND THE SERVICES THAT THEY PROVIDE. THIS COMMUNITY. SO THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY AND CONGRATULATIONS FOR SETTING IT UP THIS WAY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. COMMISSIONER.

I JUST WANT TO ECHO ECHO THE SENTIMENTS OF EVERYBODY, YOU KNOW, AND, AND, AND THANK THE COMMISSIONERS COURT AND OF COURSE, OUR STAFF FOR FOLLOWING THE COMMISSIONERS COURT'S LEAD AND, YOU KNOW, TRYING TO MAKE THIS AS PUBLIC A PROCESS. YOU KNOW, I THINK MANY TIMES WE SEE EXAMPLES OF, YOU KNOW, ELECTED OFFICIALS AND GOVERNMENT JUST GOING THROUGH THE MOTION, RIGHT, SAYING, OH, YOU KNOW, WE'RE GOING TO DO THESE PROJECTS. THIS IS WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DO. AND WE'RE GOING TO TAKE YOUR FEEDBACK, BUT IT'S NOT REALLY GOING TO BE TAKEN INTO ACCOUNT.

RIGHT. BUT YOU KNOW, THIS, I THINK PROCESS WAS, WAS, WAS MUCH BETTER. AND YOU ALL ON THE, ON THE BOARD, THE BOND OVERSIGHT ADVISORY COMMITTEE, I THINK REALLY BROUGHT THAT HOME. AND, AND, YOU KNOW, I KNOW IT WAS A LOT OF TIME AND A LOT OF EFFORT ON YOUR BEHALF TO, TO GO THROUGH

[02:35:04]

EACH AND EVERY PROJECT TO TAKE THE FIELD TRIPS TO, TO LEARN ABOUT WHAT, WHAT EXACTLY WE'RE LOOKING AT WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THESE DIFFERENT, POSSIBLE INVESTMENTS AND, AND ALSO, YOU KNOW, LOOKING AT THE PUBLIC'S FEEDBACK, RIGHT? WE DID DOZENS AND DOZENS OF PUBLIC MEETINGS AND THANK YOU ALL FOR ALSO, CONSIDERING THE PUBLIC AND, YOU KNOW, THIS THIS I THINK IS A VERY GREAT EXAMPLE OF SOMETHING THAT I'VE TALKED ABOUT WANTING TO DO AT THE COUNTY FOR A LONG TIME, WHICH IS PARTICIPATORY BUDGETING. RIGHT AND THIS IS A GREAT EXAMPLE OF THAT. AND US BEING ABLE TO DEPEND UPON YOU ALL AND, AND TAKE YOUR FEEDBACK, YOU KNOW, WAS, WAS REALLY SO VERY HELPFUL. YOU KNOW, I THINK THAT THE WORK THAT YOU DID TO COME UP WITH THE, THE, THE LIST OF PROJECTS WASN'T EASY, YOU KNOW, THERE'S JUST SO MUCH NEED AND SO, SO LITTLE RESOURCES. BUT YOU DID A GREAT JOB, AND IT WAS A VOLUNTEER WORK, AND WE CANNOT THANK YOU ENOUGH FOR EVERYTHING YOU DO. I WANT TO ESPECIALLY THANK MY APPOINTEES, CARLOS MARTINEZ AND VERONICA AND CARRILLO FOR, FOR THEIR SUPPORT, BUT I, YOU KNOW, I AGAIN, I LIKE COMMISSIONER LEON. YOU KNOW, MAYBE OFFLINE WE CAN WE CAN HAVE A FEEDBACK SESSION WHERE YOU CAN LET US KNOW, YOU KNOW, WHERE WE COULD IMPROVE ON ANY TIME WE DO THIS AGAIN IN A IN A FUTURE PROCESS. WE, YOU KNOW, NOTHING'S PERFECT. NO. NO PROCESS IS EVER PERFECT. BUT WE WANT TO STRIVE TO BE TO BE AS, AS GOOD AS WE CAN AND DO BETTER EVERY TIME. SO, YOU ALL DID A GREAT JOB. AND, YOU KNOW, WE'LL SEE WHAT THE VOTERS SAY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER NOLAN. I JUST WANT TO NOT JUST THANK THE COMMITTEE, BUT I WANT TO COMMEND YOU ALL BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, I KNOW IT'S DIFFICULT. I'VE PARTICIPATED IN THESE KINDS OF COMMITTEES BEFORE, YOU KNOW, IN MY SCHOOL DISTRICT. AND IT IS IT IS VERY TOUGH BECAUSE OF THERE'S ALWAYS NOT ENOUGH MONEY TO GO AROUND TO DO EVERYTHING RIGHT.

AND IT'S A MATTER OF, OF, OF PRIORITIZING. WE CAN SIT UP HERE AND JUST SAY, YOU KNOW, WE PREFER THIS FROM WHAT WE KNOWLEDGE HERE. BUT, YOU KNOW, THE CONSTITUENTS DESERVE TO HAVE A VOICE IN THIS. AND YOU ALL ARE THAT VOICE, IT IS VERY, VERY DIFFICULT. BUT, YOU KNOW, JUST JUST AS A MATTER WE DON'T WANT TO WE CAN'T ADVOCATE FOR OR AGAINST THIS, BUT WHAT WE CAN DO IS TELL THE PUBLIC, LIKE YOU SAW WHAT ACTUALLY THE FACTUAL MATTERS THAT EXIST IN OUR INFRASTRUCTURE, IN OUR PARKS. WE CAN FACTUALLY TELL THAT TO THE COMMUNITY. THIS IS WHAT IT IS, AND THESE ARE WHAT THE PROPOSALS ARE. AND SO WE WANT TO THANK YOU ALL FOR, FOR, YOU KNOW, SEEING WHAT THAT FACTUAL, MATTER IS IN THE STATE OF OUR, NOT JUST OUR FACILITIES, BUT OUR PARKS AND OUR JUSTICE SYSTEM, THE JAIL, EVERYTHING THAT, YOU KNOW, THAT THANKFULLY, BECAUSE OF YOUR WORK, WE'RE ABLE TO PRESENT THESE PROPOSALS TO THE COMMUNITY AND LET THEM DECIDE, BUT, YOU KNOW, WE WILL BE GOING OUT THERE TO COMMUNITY MEETINGS. THERE'S ONE THIS WEEK IN MY AREA, OUT IN CANUTILLO CANUTILLO HIGH SCHOOL THIS THURSDAY EVENING. AND SO, YOU KNOW, WE WELCOME THE ENTIRE PUBLIC TO SHOW UP TO THESE MEETINGS SO THAT YOU CAN FACTUALLY SEE WHAT THOSE, PROPOSALS ARE AND WHAT THOSE WHAT EXACTLY EXISTS IN OUR FACILITIES AND EVERYTHING THAT, YOU KNOW, IS FACTUAL ABOUT THESE PROPOSALS. AND SO WE WANT TO AGAIN, I WANT TO COMMEND YOU AND THANK YOU. I KNOW IT TOOK A LOT OF TIME AND WE REALLY, VERY, VERY DEEPLY APPRECIATED, ALL THE WORK THAT YOU ALL DO. AND THANK YOU TO OUR STAFF FOR GUIDING YOU ALL. BUT WE REALLY THANK YOU FOR THE FOR YOUR DECISIONS, BECAUSE THEY ARE THERE WERE A LOT OF HELP TO US. AND AS YOU CAN SEE, A LOT OF THOSE PROPOSALS THAT YOU ALL PROPOSE ARE IN THAT. SO THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH. THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER LEON. I JUST WANT TO TAKE A MINUTE TO THANK THE ENTIRE COMMITTEE FOR YOUR DEDICATION AND ESPECIALLY MY TWO APPOINTEES, MR. SABLOSKY AND MR. REYES. I KNOW HOW HARD IT IS TO TAKE TIME AWAY FROM YOUR FAMILY, YOUR OTHER RESPONSIBILITIES, AND SPEND MANY, MANY HOURS HERE AT THE COURTHOUSE. BUT IT'S INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT TO HAVE THE INPUT OF THE COMMUNITY. AND WE'RE JUST INCREDIBLY THANK YOU. THANKFUL THAT YOU WERE ABLE TO DONATE THAT TIME TO US. SO THANK YOU AGAIN FOR ALL OF YOUR HARD WORK, AND IT'S VERY NICE TO SEE YOU ALL HERE WITH US. I KNOW

[02:40:03]

WE'RE MISSING A COUPLE OF BOARD MEMBERS, BUT I'M SURE JOSE WILL BE ABLE TO THANK THEM ON OUR BEHALF. THANK YOU. YEAH AND PLEASE, THANK YOU FOR THE PRESTIGE THAT YOU BROUGHT TO THIS COURT AND THE TRANSPARENCY THAT THE COMMUNITY SAW, WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO ACCOMPLISH.

THANK YOU. COMMISSIONERS WE DO HAVE A FEW. WE DO HAVE A TOKEN OF APPRECIATION FOR EACH MEMBER, AND WE IF WE COULD INVITE THE COURT DOWN FROM THE DAIS TO THEN LET THE COMMITTEE SHAKE YOUR HANDS, AND THEN WE'LL TAKE A GROUP PHOTO AFTER THAT. SO START OFF AGAIN WITH THE BOARD CHAIR, MR. ROBERTO FRANCO, IF YOU WANT TO COME THROUGH. YEAH. OH, OKAY. WELL, I GUESS WE DON'T NEED TO NAME EVERYONE. OH YEAH. OKAY. SO IF YOU ALL WANT TO JUST JOIN THE COMMISSIONERS UP HERE FOR A PHOTO. THANK YOU. YEAH AND THEN THERE IS, THERE'S ONE. THANK YOU SIR. THANK YOU. OKAY HOW ARE YO? THANK YOU. COMMISSIONERS, IF I MAY JUST ADD ONE MORE INDIVIDUAL FOR THIS RECOGNITION. SO 11 MEMBERS DEALING WITH ME, DEALING WITH ME IS CHALLENGING ENOUGH, I THINK.

THANK YOU. COMMISSIONER BUT I REALLY WANTED TO MAKE SURE TO TAKE THE TIME TO ALSO IN FRONT OF THE COMMITTEE AND THE COURT, THANK MISS CHRISTINE CUEVAS, OUR OFFICE'S EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT.

SHE WAS THE POINT OF CONTACT FOR THE COMMITTEE FACILITATING THE MEETING. SECURE THE SPACE, HELD THE GOT THOSE TOUR BUS RESERVATIONS AND EVERYTHING ELSE. AND THIS PROCESS WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN AS STREAMLINED OR AS SUCCESSFUL AS IT WOULD AS IT WAS WITHOUT HER LEADERSHIP ON THIS.

AND SO, CHRISTINE, IF YOU WOULD PLEASE COME UP, WE HAVE A TOKEN OF APPRECIATION AS WELL FOR YOU.

TO PLEASE JOIN THE. AND THEN WE'LL DO A FEW PHOTOS HERE. NO. SURE. BY THE WAY, WE'RE GOING TO NEED. A RECYCLED.

PAPER THANK YOU SO MUCH. APPRECIATE ALL YOUR TIME. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. SURE. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. NO, THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. YES. OKAY. LET ME KNOW IF YOU. ALL RIGHT. THAT WAS A LOT OF TIME. THEY SPENT. YEAH GREAT DEFENSIVE LEADERSHIP.

YEAH. VERY NICE TO MEET YOU. NICE TO MEET YOU TOO. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. YEAH. YOU DID? NO, NO, I WAS GOING TO SAY. THAT WAS VERY NICE MEETING YOU. THANK. I KNOW, WHAT DO YOU HAVE ONE OF THESE? LET ME GIVE YOU THIS. I HAVE ONE I HAVEN'T SEEN. THIS. ONE. FOR A LONG TIME. AND THEN

[02:45:02]

THEY GIVE YOU DEPUTY COMMISSIONER LEON, WOULD YOU LIKE TO CONTINUE OR WOULD YOU LIKE TO RECESS AT THIS TIME? DO WE HAVE ANYBODY ELSE HERE WAITING FOR AN ITEM? WELL, HAVE A GREAT DAY, OKAY. CAN WE DO? YEAH. THE DOOR. WHAT NUMBER IS THAT? IT SHOULD BE THE NEXT ONE, I THOUGHT. OH IT'S NINE NINE. MAYBE YEAH. DO YOU ALL COMMISSIONERS MIND IF WE DO THIS? I DON'T MIND, OKAY. WE'RE GOOD. OKAY. AND TEN. OKAY GIVE ME ONE SECOND, BECAUSE WE HAVE OUR DISTRICT CLERK HERE, SO. OKAY. ITEM NINE LITIGATION JUSTICE AND LAW ENFORCEMENT NINE A PURSUANT TO TEXAS FAMILY CODE SECTION 157.551, CONDUCT A PUBLIC HEARING TO RECEIVE COMMENT ON THE NEED TO ADOPT AN ORDINANCE OR ORDER THAT IMPOSES A CIVIL PENALTY FOR INTERFERENCE

[A. Pursuant to Texas Family Code § 157.551, conduct a public hearing to receive comment on the need to adopt an ordinance or order that imposes a civil penalty for interference with a Child Custody Order, of not more than $500, for engaging in conduct described by Section 25.03 of the Penal Code. (3179-OP) Brian Stanley, Executive Director, Domestic Relations Office, 915-834-8200]

WITH A CHILD. CUSTODY ORDER OF NOT MORE THAN $500 FOR ENGAGING IN CONDUCT DESCRIBED BY SECTION 25.03 OF THE PENAL CODE. OPINION NUMBER 3179. COULD WE HAVE A MOTION TO OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING? SO WE HAVE A MOTION FROM COMMISSIONER CORONADO, SECOND BY COMMISSIONER LEON. THE VOTING IS OPEN. I'M HAVING TROUBLE. THE LITTLE BUBBLES NOT POPPING UP. THERE WE GO. MINE'S NOT POPPING UP, BUT I VOTE YAY! YES! MOTION CARRIES A PUBLIC HEARING IS OPEN. GO AHEAD.

BRIAN. OKAY. GOOD MORNING, COMMISSIONERS. WELCOME. I'M BRIAN STANLEY. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR LETTING US BRING THIS ITEM BEFORE YOU TODAY. SO DURING THE 88TH LEGISLATURE, AN AMENDMENT TO THE FAMILY CODE WAS PASSED ALLOWING COUNTIES TO ADOPT A CIVIL PENALTY OF UP TO $500 FOR VIOLATING CUSTODY ORDERS IF ADOPTED. EL PASO COUNTY WOULD BE THE FIRST COUNTY IN TEXAS TO IMPLEMENT SUCH AN ORDER FOR DENYING ACCESS AND POSSESSION OF CHILDREN. DIVORCE DECREES AND PATERNITY ORDERS ESTABLISHED SCHEDULES ENSURING BOTH PARENTS HAVE ACCESS TO THEIR CHILDREN, AS OUTLINED IN THE TEXAS FAMILY CODE, WHICH PRIORITIZES THE CHILD'S BEST INTEREST. HOWEVER, SOME PARENTS DENY ACCESS FOR REASONS UNRELATED TO THE CHILD'S WELL-BEING, WHICH CAN HARM THE CHILD EMOTIONALLY. FOR EXAMPLE, I JUST RECEIVED A CALL LAST WEEK FROM A FATHER WHO HAD BEEN DENIED ACCESS TO HIS CHILD FOR OVER 90 DAYS. HE TOLD ME THAT HE WAS BEING DENIED BECAUSE HE HAD FALLEN BEHIND ON HIS CHILD SUPPORT PAYMENTS. THE TEXAS FAMILY CODE ESSENTIALLY SAYS THAT ACCESS AND POSSESSION CANNOT BE CONTINGENT UPON PAYMENT OF CHILD SUPPORT. THE EL PASO COUNTY DOMESTIC RELATIONS OFFICE IS WELL POSITIONED TO ENFORCE THIS ORDER WITHOUT THE NEED FOR ADDITIONAL STAFF. WE OFFER EDUCATIONAL AND LEGAL ENFORCEMENT SERVICES TO ENSURE COMPLIANCE WITH ACCESS AND POSSESSION. CURRENTLY THE ONLY AVAILABLE CIVIL REMEDY FOR THE DRO CAN TAKE MONTHS OR YEARS AND MAY LEAD TO COMMUNITY SUPERVISION OR JAIL TIME. THE ADDITION OF A CIVIL PENALTY WOULD EXPEDITE HEARINGS AND PROVIDE AN ALTERNATIVE ENFORCEMENT TOOL, IMPROVING ACCESS TO BOTH PARENTS. WHILE SUPPORTING THE CHILD'S BEST INTEREST. LIKE I SAID THIS, THIS THIS WOULD BE NEW IF PASSED. HOWEVER, THERE IS ANOTHER REMEDY ON THE CRIMINAL SIDE. HOWEVER, THE DOMESTIC RELATIONS OFFICE ONLY EXISTS ON THE CIVIL SIDE, SO THERE IS A CRIMINAL REMEDY THAT IS AVAILABLE. BUT HOWEVER IT'S ONLY IT'S NOT AVAILABLE TO OUR OFFICE. THE DOMESTIC RELATIONS OFFICE OFFERS ADMINISTRATIVE RULES, ADMINISTRATIVE REMEDIES. EXCUSE ME. EDUCATION, COMMUNICATION BETWEEN PARENTS. WE OFFER LEGAL ENFORCEMENT AND MODIFICATION OF ACCESS AND POSSESSION. HOWEVER, FOR CONTEMPT PURPOSES, WE WOULD NEED THREE MISSED VISITS WHICH WOULD PROLONG THE NONCUSTODIAL PARENTS DENIAL TIME WITH THE CHILD. AND SO I DID A LITTLE TIMELINE HERE. IT'S KIND OF CANDYLAND, BUT I THOUGHT IT'S IN THE INTEREST OF CHILDREN. SO, WHAT YOU WOULD HAVE INITIALLY ON OUR ON YOUR CIVIL CONTEMPT ACTION WOULD BE YOU HAVE YOUR DENIAL AND ACTUALLY THIS WOULD HAPPEN HAVE TO TAKE PLACE THREE TIMES. SO KIND OF YOUR DO NOT PASS GO. YOU'D HAVE TO DO THIS THREE TIMES BEFORE YOU PROCEED.

SO THEY WOULD BE DENIED ON THEIR INITIAL DENIAL. THEY WOULD CALL LAW ENFORCEMENT OR OUR OFFICE IF DENIED. WHEN THEY USUALLY CALL LAW ENFORCEMENT, THEY'LL TAKE A STATEMENT. USUALLY WHAT HAPPENS IS THEY'LL BE DIRECTED FROM WHAT OUR APPLICANTS TELL US IS USUALLY DIRECTED TO A SUBSTATION TO SUBMIT AN AFFIDAVIT OF WHAT'S HAPPENED, USUALLY OUR APPLICANTS TELL US THAT LAW ENFORCEMENT USUALLY TELLS THEM THERE'S NOT MUCH THEY CAN DO. THIS IS A CIVIL MATTER. AND TAKE THEIR STATEMENT. SO BEFORE THEY WOULD HAVE THE APPLICATION, LIKE I SAID, THEY WOULD NEED TO HAVE

[02:50:06]

THREE MISSED VISITS. BUT AFTER THEY DO THAT, THEY COULD COMPLETE THEY COMPLETE AN APPLICATION ONLINE WITH OUR OFFICE OR IN PERSON. WE REVIEW THE APPLICATIONS. ONE OF THE BIG ITEMS THAT WE REVIEW IS FOR FAMILY VIOLENCE. ANY KIND OF INCIDENTS OF FAMILY VIOLENCE.

AND WE DON'T ACCEPT THOSE, WE CHECK FOR ENFORCEABILITY OF THE EXISTING ORDER AS WELL AS DOCUMENTATION. WE HAVE A COURT ORDER ORIENTATION CLASS THAT'S ONLINE, THAT'S FREE. IT'S OFFERED 24 OVER SEVEN FOR INDIVIDUALS TO PARTICIPATE IN THAT CLASS ONLINE. THEY GET A CERTIFICATE AT THE END OF IT. IT'S ONE OF THOSE STEPS THAT WE HAVE TO TRY AND ENSURE THAT THEY HAVE A THOROUGH UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT AN ACCESS POSSESSION ORDER ACTUALLY HAS IN IT. SO THEN AFTER WE THEY'VE COMPLETED THEIR EDUCATION, WE DO A VETTING OF THE APPLICATION BY OUR LEGAL DEPARTMENT TO SEE IF IT'S APPROPRIATE. SOMETIMES ENFORCEMENT IS APPROPRIATE, SOMETIMES MODIFICATION IS APPROPRIATE, BUT SOMETIMES WE CAN'T MOVE FORWARD. SOMETIMES THE REASONS WE CAN'T MOVE FORWARD IS THERE'S ALREADY A LEGAL ACTION ON THE CASE, AND OUR OFFICE DOES NOT PROVIDE LEGAL REPRESENTATION, OR THERE COULD BE AN ACTIVE INVESTIGATION BY CHILD PROTECTIVE SERVICES, EITHER ONE OF THOSE WE WOULD NOT MOVE FORWARD JUST BECAUSE OF WHAT'S GOING ON WITH THE CASE. IF WE'RE NOT ABLE TO PROCEED, WE HAVE A LIST OF FAMILY LAW ATTORNEYS THAT WE HAVE THAT WE'RE ABLE TO PROVIDE TO THEM, OR WE REFER THEM UP TO THE LAW LIBRARY FOR THE SELF-REPRESENTED LITIGANT INFORMATION. POSSIBLE OTHER REASONS FOR DENIAL. THEY DIDN'T FOLLOW THEIR COURT ORDER. THEY WENT ON THE WRONG DAY, WRONG TIME. THEY ONLY DID 1 OR 2 MISSED VISITS. SO THEN, IF THE CASE ACTUALLY MERITS GOING FORWARD FOR ENFORCEMENT OR MODIFICATION, WE WOULD FILE THAT ACTION. THEN BASED ON THE COURT'S DOCKET. SOMETIMES THAT MAY BE 2 OR 3 MONTHS OUT TO GET A HEARING DATE. WE'RE COMING UP ON NOVEMBER DECEMBER. THE HOLIDAYS ARE UP. SO THAT WOULD ALSO DELAY THEIR HEARING TIMES. SO FROM THE INITIAL MISS VISIT TO NOW GETTING A HEARING DATE, YOU'RE LOOKING AT POSSIBLY SIX MONTHS, ANOTHER DELAY COULD BE SERVICE. WE HAVE TO HAVE THE PARTIES SERVED OR THEY SIGN A WAIVER. IF WE'RE UNABLE TO GET A PARTY SERVED BECAUSE THEY'VE MOVED OR WE DON'T KNOW A DATE LOCATION TO GET THEM SERVED, THIS CAN ALSO DELAY THE PROCESS. SO EVENTUALLY WE GET TO A POINT WHERE WE GET AN ORDER, EITHER FOR A MODIFICATION, WHERE WE'VE GOT A NEW SCHEDULE, OR ENFORCEMENT, WHERE A PARENT IS PLACED EITHER ON PROBATION OR PLACED IN JAIL. SO FROM START TO FINISH, THIS COULD TAKE ANYWHERE FROM A YEAR TO TWO YEARS. I HAD ONE OF MY EMPLOYEES THAT'S A MILITARY, AND SHE WAS DEPLOYED FOR SIX MONTHS, AND SHE CAME BACK AND SAID HER CHILD DIDN'T RECOGNIZE HER. CAN YOU IMAGINE IF YOU HAVE A PARENT WITH A YOUNG CHILD THAT'S BEING DENIED OVER A YEAR OR TWO YEARS? WHAT THE REACTION WOULD BE FOR THAT PARENT TO START HAVING TO INTERACT WITH THE CHILD THAT THEY HAVEN'T SEEN IN A YEAR OR TWO. ANOTHER CONCERN WITH OUR CIVIL CONTEMPT ACTIONS IS IF WE HAVE A PARTY SERVED AND THEY FAIL TO SHOW UP TO COURT TRYING TO GET THEM TO SHOW UP TO COURT, THE REMEDY IS ISSUE AN ARREST WARRANT TO BRING THEM TO COURT. DO WE REALLY WANT TO ISSUE AN ARREST WARRANT TO GET THAT PARTY TO COURT WHEN THEY HAVE A CHILD WITH THEM, OR ISSUING JAIL TIME, ESPECIALLY ONCE AGAIN, WHO'S GOING TO BE THE CARETAKER OF THAT CHILD IF THEY'RE IN JAIL, YOU KNOW, BOTH OF THOSE ARE VERY DIFFICULT DECISIONS THAT WE HAVE TO MAKE. PLUS THE REACTION THAT IT COULD HAVE ON THE CHILD. HI, MY NAME IS DOUGLAS KANOUTE. I'M THE SENIOR TRIAL ATTORNEY MANAGER FOR THE EL PASO COUNTY DOMESTIC RELATIONS OFFICE. JUST TO GET INTO THE LEGAL TECHNICALITIES OF IT, WHAT WE'RE SPECIFICALLY LOOKING AT IS SECTION 157 .55. ONE OF THE TEXAS FAMILY CODE, WHICH WAS JUST ENACTED AT THIS LAST LEGISLATIVE SESSION, THIS LETS A COUNTY ADOPT A COUNTY ORDER OR ORDINANCE IMPOSING UP TO A $500 CIVIL PENALTY FOR INTERFERENCE WITH POSSESSION AND ACCESS. THAT IS TO SAY, A PERSON COMMITS THIS OFFENSE IF THEY KNOWINGLY TAKE OR RETAIN A CHILD OF 18 YEARS OR YOUNGER. KNOWING THAT THAT TAKING OR RETENTION VIOLATES THE EXPRESS TERMS OF A JUDGMENT OR COURT ORDER, DISPOSING OF A CHILD'S CUSTODY. IN THIS CASE, POSSESSION AND ACCESS. NOW, THIS CONDUCT IS MIRRORED FROM SECTION 25.03 OF THE PENAL CODE. BUT THIS IS NOT A CRIMINAL SUIT. THIS IS A CIVIL CASE THAT INVOLVES ALL THE REGULAR PROTECTIONS OF A FULL, PROPER CIVIL LITIGATION THAT INCLUDES PROPER SERVICE, PROPER PLEADINGS, A PROPER HEARING, PROPER ORDERS. WE DON'T WANT TO CUT ANY CORNERS. WE WANT BOTH PARTIES TO HAVE THE MAXIMUM PROCEDURAL PROTECTIONS UNDER THE LAW. WHEN CARRYING OUT SUITS OF THIS NATURE. THANK YOU, THIS NEW ORDINANCE WOULD ONLY REQUIRE ONE MISSED VISIT UNDER THE LANGUAGE PROVIDED BY THE PENAL CODE, AND WOULD BE PUNISHABLE BY A CIVIL PENALTY, A FINE. THAT MEANS THAT WE'RE NOT GOING FOR CONTEMPT. THERE'S NO WARRANTS, NO PROBATION, NO COMPLIANCE HEARING

[02:55:04]

AND NO JAIL TIME. THAT MEANS WE CAN EXPECT A FASTER COURT PROCESS WITH FEWER RESETS AND FEWER APPEALS, MEANING THAT THE TIME IT TAKES BETWEEN A PARTY'S INITIATION OF THE PROCESS AND WHEN THEY CAN EXPECT A RESOLUTION IS MUCH, MUCH SHORTER, AND IT ALSO GIVES US GROUNDS TO THROTTLE DOWN ON THESE CASES RATHER THAN GOING FROM INFORMATION SHARING AND TALKING ABOUT A CASE STRAIGHT TO THE HARD STUFF, YOU KNOW, PROBATION, JAIL TIME, WE CAN MORE EASILY TAILOR THE REMEDY OF THE CASE TO THE FACTS ON THE GROUND. WITH THESE PARTIES, SINCE THE CIVIL PENALTY IS UP TO $500, IT CAN BE DIALED BACK DOWN OR RATCHETED BACK UP AS NEEDED.

EXCUSE ME. SO IT'S UP THROUGH THE AGE OF 18, YES, SIR. EMANCIPATION OF THE CHILD TAKES PLACE AT THE AGE OF 18 OR GRADUATION FROM HIGH SCHOOL, WHICHEVER HAPPENS LATER. SO, LIKE I SAID, EL PASO COUNTY IS POISED TO MAKE HISTORY AS BEING THE FIRST COUNTY TO BE ABLE TO PASS THIS LEGISLATION AS AN ORDER. THIS WOULD BE AND I THINK IT'S IN LINE WITH OUR STRATEGIC PLAN OF JUSTICE REFORM. I HAVE PLENTY I HAVE TONS AND TONS OF TOOLS THAT I CAN USE ON CHILD SUPPORT, ON ACCESS AND POSSESSION. THERE'S VERY FEW, FEW TOOLS THAT ARE AVAILABLE. SO IT'S REALLY AN ACCESS TO JUSTICE INITIATIVE. BY PASSING THIS ORDER. AND AS FAR AS THE EL PASO COUNTY DOMESTIC RELATIONS OFFICE TAKING OVER THESE RESPONSIBILITIES, WE ARE STATUTORILY AUTHORIZED TO CONDUCT ENFORCEMENT OF CHILD POSSESSION ACCESS CASES UNDER SECTION 203.004 OF THE TEXAS FAMILY CODE. WE ARE EQUIPPED TO HANDLE CIVIL CASES. THE DA IS SADLY LIMITED ON THEIR END TO JUST THE CRIMINAL SIDE OF THINGS, SO WE FEEL LIKE WE CAN BE THE OPPOSITE SIDE OF THAT COIN. PURSUING THESE CASES AS PART OF A CIVIL REMEDY IN THE COURTS WHERE THESE ISSUES ARE ALREADY BEING HEARD. THESE ARE NOT ESTABLISHMENT CASES. THESE ARE CASES THAT HAVE BEEN RULED ON BY COURTS HERE IN EL PASO. AND SO WE FEEL THAT GOING BACK IN FRONT OF THE SAME JUDGES AND OBTAINING RULINGS ON THESE CASES CAN LEAD TO A MORE CONSISTENT OUTCOME FOR PERSONS SEEKING THESE SERVICES. AND OF COURSE, THIS DOESN'T TAKE ANYTHING AWAY FROM THE PRIVATE BAR. THEY STILL HAVE THE POWER TO FILE TRADITIONAL CONTEMPT WRITS OF HABEAS OR SEEK MONEY DAMAGES UNDER SECTION 42 OF THE TEXAS FAMILY CODE. WHAT WE'RE LOOKING TO DO IS TO EMPOWER THE EL PASO DRO WITH THIS BROADER RANGE OF REMEDIES. AND OF COURSE, AS PART OF THIS PROCESS, WE HAVE CREATED A METICULOUS EVALUATION CRITERIA FOR THESE CASES INVOLVING OUR STAFF, OUR ATTORNEYS, CALLS TO BOTH PARTIES AND A THOROUGH REVIEW OF THE COURT RECORD. THIS INCLUDES WE WANT TO CHECK THE LANGUAGE OF THE UNDERLYING ORDER. WE WANT TO CHECK FOR PRIOR FAMILY VIOLENCE. WE WANT TO VERIFY THE UNDERLYING FACTS TO THE EXTENT POSSIBLE. WE WANT TO CHECK FOR OUTSTANDING CRIMINAL CASES, PRIOR CPS CASES, AND EVERY ONE OF OUR PLEADINGS COMES WITH OR WILL NEED TO COME WITH, A SIGNED AFFIDAVIT INDICATING THE DATES, TIMES AND SPECIFIC LOCATIONS WHERE THESE ALLEGED VIOLATIONS OCCURRED. WE WANT GOOD, SOLID PLEADINGS GOING TO COURT TO GET GOOD SOLID ORDERS AND THAT WILL ALSO LET THE DRO ACT AS AN INTERMEDIARY TO PREVENT THIS NEW LAW FROM BEING ABUSED WITH FRIVOLOUS LITIGATION AND TONS OF SUITS MEANT TO HARASS ANOTHER PARTY. NO, THEY'VE GOT TO COME THROUGH US. WHICH MEANS THAT IF THESE CASES ARE BLATANTLY AN ABUSE OF PROCESS, WE WILL NOT ALLOW THEM TO GO FORWARD, AND AS I SAID BEFORE, THIS IS NOT A TICKETED INFRACTION. THIS IS A FULL CIVIL CASE IN FRONT OF THEIR COURTS OF CONTINUING EXCLUSIVE JURISDICTION. AND ALL THE PROCEDURAL PROTECTIONS THAT ENTAILS. AND OUR APPLICATION FEE FOR THIS PROCESS IS FAIRLY NOMINAL. $15, AND THE DRO DOES NOT REPRESENT EITHER PARTY IN THESE ACTIONS. WE HAVE KIND OF A PRIVILEGED POSITION IN THAT WE ARE AUTHORIZED BY STATUTE TO FILE AS FRIEND OF THE COURT. SO WE ARE NOT ADVOCATING FOR EITHER SIDE. WE ARE PLATFORMING THESE ISSUES TO THE COURT AND THEN GIVING THE PARTIES BOTH A CHANCE TO HAVE THEIR SAY GIVE THEIR SIDE OF THE STORY, AND FOR THE JUDGE TO MAKE A HOLISTIC DETERMINATION OF FACTS AS TO WHAT IS APPROPRIATE IN THESE CASES. AND I'LL POINT OUT THAT THIS IS UP TO $500, WHICH ALLOWS THE TAILORED, YOU KNOW, TAILORED OUTCOMES FOR THESE CASES. SO IF WE HAVE A DENIAL OF POSSESSION ACCESS BECAUSE YOU DON'T LIKE DAD'S NEW GIRLFRIEND, THAT'S A PRETTY BAD REASON FOR THIS SORT OF THING. THAT MIGHT BE THE $500 INFRACTION. MAYBE DAD SHOWED UP DRUNK AT THE EXCHANGE LOCATION. THAT'S A VIOLATION. BUT MAYBE THAT'S THE $1 INFRACTION. AND THE DRO. AND THESE ACTIONS CAN ALSO ACT AS A PIPELINE TO OTHER DRO SERVICES. IF THERE IS VIOLATIONS OCCURRING, BECAUSE THE UNDERLYING ORDERS ARE BROKEN OR THE TERMS NO LONGER APPLY, MAYBE WE CAN'T GO AHEAD ON AN ENFORCEMENT REMEDY, BUT WE CAN OFFER MODIFICATION SERVICES OR

[03:00:02]

OUR NON-LEGAL RESOLUTION PROCESSES THROUGH TRAINING AND EDUCATION, THESE CASES WILL ALSO INCREASE THE AMOUNT OF SAFETY THAT WE CAN OFFER TO POTENTIAL CUSTOMERS. THAT IS TO SAY THAT BECAUSE WE ARE NOT INVOKING THE CONSTITUTIONAL PROTECTION, THE RIGHT TO FACE YOUR ACCUSER IN A TRADITIONAL CONTEMPT ACTION, WE CAN DO THESE CASES DIGITALLY NOW. IT'S UP TO THE DISCRETION OF THE COURT WHETHER THEY WANT TO DO THAT. BUT IN CASES OF GENUINE ANIMOSITY BETWEEN THE PARTIES, HAVING THEM NOT HAVE TO BE IN THE SAME ROOM CAN DIAL DOWN THE TEMPERATURE OF A CASE WAY, WAY BETTER AND ALLOW FOR A BETTER HEARING ON THE ACTUAL FACTS OF THE MATTER BEFORE THE COURT, RATHER THAN EVERYONE JUST HOLLERING AT EACH OTHER IN A NONPRODUCTIVE MANNER.

THANK YOU. DO YOU HAVE QUESTIONS FOR US ABOUT THIS PROPOSED ORDER? THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER LEON. YOU KNOW I'M IN FAVOR OF THIS. I KNOW THAT YOU KNOW, AS AS HAVING PRACTICED IN THIS AREA FOR QUITE SOME TIME, I KNOW THE I GUESS THE RESISTANCE ON THE ACTUAL CRIMINAL SIDE TO FILE ON THESE CASES, BUT IT'S SO IMPORTANT YOU KNOW, WE DO HAVE A REALLY, I GUESS, VERY, VERY EFFECTIVE, ARM WHEN IT COMES TO PEOPLE NOT PAYING THEIR CHILD SUPPORT AND THEY GET CRIMINALIZED A LOT EASIER THAN FOR, YOU KNOW, RESISTING, ACCESS TO CHILDREN, YOU KNOW, FOR VISITATION. BUT I, YOU KNOW, THAT'S ALSO SUPER IMPORTANT THAT EACH PARENT HAVE THE RIGHT TO DO THAT. AND IN THE PAST, I THINK ENTIRELY AS A STATE AND A COMMUNITY, WE HAVE FAILED IN THAT RESPECT. AND I THINK THIS GIVES US A LITTLE, MORE, I GUES, ALTERNATIVES TO TRY AND SEE THAT, THAT THERE'S COMPLIANCE WITH THESE ORDERS BECAUSE IT'S REALLY FOR THE FOR THE BEST INTEREST OF THE CHILDREN. RIGHT? YES, SIR, EACH PARENT SHOULD DECIDE WHETHER OR NOT THE CHILD SHOULD HAVE ACCESS TO THE OTHER PARENT. YOU KNOW, THAT SHOULD BE THE COURT'S DECISION, AND IT SHOULD BE FOLLOWED. AND I AGREE WITH THAT. I WISH WE ALSO HAD, YOU KNOW, A BETTER YOU KNOW, BECAUSE A LOT OF TIMES I HEAR ABOUT PEOPLE GOING TO LAW ENFORCEMENT AND THEY TELL THEM, YOU KNOW WHAT, WHEN THEY COULD FILE IT AND THEY JUST TELL, YOU KNOW, YOU HAVE A CIVIL REMEDY AND THAT'S NOT GOOD ENOUGH, YOU KNOW, BUT THIS IS A LITTLE MORE EXPEDITIOUS. AND I THINK IT MAY GET PEOPLE'S ATTENTION A LOT QUICKER THAN GOING THE CRIMINAL ROUTE, YOU KNOW, I WISH WE DID BOTH BETTER, BUT IT IS WHAT IT IS. AND I FULLY SUPPORT THIS, SO THANK YOU. THANK YOU. WE DID HAVE A SPEAKER SIGNED UP FOR THE PUBLIC HEARING. OKAY YES I SAW YES, JUDGE RODRIGUEZ. MR. RODRIGUEZ, JUDGE OF COUNTY COURT LAW NUMBER FIVE. COMMISSIONERS, I'LL BE VERY BRIEF JUST TO LET YOU KNOW THAT THE FAMILY COURT JUDGES DID PARTICIPATE IN THIS. WE DID LOOK OVER THE ORDINANCE, ALONG WITH THE DRO AND THE COUNTY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE, WE'RE ALL IN FAVOR OF THIS ORDINANCE.

I THINK IT'S A GOOD THING. I THINK AS COMMISSIONER CORONADO HAD MENTIONED, THE POINT OF GETTING PEOPLE'S ATTENTION, I THINK ONCE THE PROCESS STARTS, I DO BELIEVE IT WILL SERVE AS A DETERRENT, WHEN WORD GETS OUT, IT'S LIKE, HEY, THEY'RE FINDING PEOPLE OUT THERE FOR DOING THIS, THESE KINDS OF THINGS, BUT ALSO TO REASSURE EVERYONE. AND I KNOW MR. STANLEY HAD INDICATED THAT THEIR VETTING PROCESS IS GOING TO BE VERY, VERY THOROUGH. BUT JUST LIKE ANY OTHER CASE, IT COMES BEFORE THE COURTS. THEY TOO, WILL HAVE TO PROVE UP THEIR CASE. IT IS NOT AN AUTOMATIC. WE ARE NOT ANYBODY'S RUBBER STAMP, YOU WILL HAVE TO. WE'LL HAVE TO TAKE THE FACTS AS THEY ARE PRESENTED TO US, APPLY THE LAW AND SEE IF THE FINE IS APPROPRIATE AND THE AMOUNT OF THE FINE. BUT JUST TO REASSURE YOU THAT THE JUDICIARY DID HAVE THEIR HAND IN THIS TO A CERTAIN EXTENT. OKAY THANK YOU. JUDGE. GOOD MORNING COMMISSIONERS, I AM GIL MUNIZ. I'M A CHILD SUPPORT OFFICER WITH THE DRO AND I'M HERE IN SUPPORT OF THE ADOPTION OF THIS ORDINANCE. NOW, 13 YEARS AGO, I WAS A POLICE OFFICER IN THE EL PASO POLICE DEPARTMENT. AND INTERFERENCE WITH CHILD CUSTODY IS A VERY COMMON CALL FOR PATROL. SO TYPICALLY, WHAT WOULD OCCUR YOU RESPOND TO THE CALL, YOU MEET WITH THE NON-CUSTODIAL PARENT, THE INDIVIDUAL COURT ORDERED TO PAY CHILD SUPPORT. SIR THE OTHER PARENT IS NOT ALLOWING ME VISITATION WITH THE CHILD. DO

[03:05:01]

YOU HAVE YOUR COURT ORDER TO SHOW ME? SO WE. I WOULD REVIEW THE COURT ORDER AND SURE ENOUGH, THE INDIVIDUAL HAD THE RIGHT TO ACCESS AND POSSESSION OF THE CHILD AT THAT TIME. SO THEN I WOULD MEET WITH THE CUSTODIAL PARENT, SIR OR MA'AM. WHY ARE YOU NOT ALLOWING THE OTHER PARTY TO HAVE ACCESS OF THAT CHILD AT THIS TIME? SO THE PERSON WOULD SAY, YOU KNOW, I DON'T TRUST HI.

MY CHILD IS ILL RIGHT NOW. WHAT'S WRONG? WELL, SHE'S GOT A LITTLE BIT OF A OF A COLD. HE DOESN'T KNOW HOW TO TAKE CARE OF CHILDREN. HE DOESN'T KNOW HOW TO APPLY THE APPROPRIATE DOSAGE OF MEDICATION. AND YOU KNOW WHAT? TO BE HONEST WITH YOU, SIR, I DON'T LIKE HIS NEW GIRLFRIEND. I DON'T TRUST HER. SO YOU'RE DENYING THE PARTY? THE NON-CUSTODIAL PARENT ACCESS TO THE CHILD RIGHT NOW? YES, I AM OKAY, WELL, WE'RE GOING TO FILE A POLICE REPORT. JUST BE AWARE OF THAT. IN FACT, HERE'S MY NAM. HERE'S THE CASE INFORMATION SHEET WITH THE WITH THE CASE NUMBER FOR THE POLICE REPORT. GO BACK TO DISCUSS THE MATTER. THE OUTCOME WITH THE OTHER PARTY WHO TYPICALLY TO KEEP THE PEACE. THE OTHER PARTIES OUTSIDE THE CURTILAGE OF THE HOME. SO THEN WE GO MEET WITH THE OTHER PARTY AND EXPLAIN WHAT THE OUTCOME IS. WE'RE GOING TO FILE THIS POLICE REPORT. YOU KNOW, THAT PARTY WOULD THANK US. AND THAT IS ESSENTIALLY HOW MOST OF THESE WOULD BE HANDLED. SO CERTAINLY IF YOU HAD SOMETHING WITH MORE OF A BITE OR YOU WOULD IMPOSE A FINE ON INDIVIDUALS FOR VIOLATION OF INTERFERENCE WITH CHILD CUSTODY, I THINK IT WOULD GO A LONG WAY TO, AS BEEN STATE, DETERRING PARTIES FROM VIOLATING THAT STATUTE. THAT'S MY EXPLANATION. THANK YOU. DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FOR ME? THANK YOU. SO WE HAVE, I THINK THAT'S UNLESS THERE WAS ONE, WE ALSO HAD ITEM NINE B, WHICH WAS TO MOVE FORWARD IF THE COURT FELT COMFORTABLE. I THINK WE'RE STILL IN PUBLIC. YES SIR. ARE THERE ANY OTHER MEMBERS THAT WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK FOR PUBLIC COMMEN? OKAY. THAT COMPLETES ALL THE PUBLIC SPEAKERS FOR THIS ITEM, COULD WE PLEASE HAVE A MOTION TO CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING? CAN WE HAVE A MOTION BY COMMISSIONER OLGUIN? SECOND, BY COMMISSIONER STOUT, THE VOTING IS OPEN. MOTION CARRIES. ITEM NINE B, PURSUANT TO TEXAS FAMILY CODE SECTION 157.551, DISCUSS AND TAKE APPROPRIATE ACTION TO APPROVE AND ADOPT AN ORDER THAT IMPOSES A CIVIL PENALTY FOR INTERFERENCE WITH A CHILD.

CUSTODY ORDER OF NOT MORE THAN $500 FOR ENGAGING IN IN CONDUCT DESCRIBED BY SECTION 25.03 OF THE PENAL CODE. OPINION NUMBER 3179. BRIAN STANLEY, WITH THE DOMESTIC RELATIONS OFFICE. SO WE'RE SEEKING YOUR FAVORABLE APPROVAL OF THIS ITEM TODAY. I WILL SO MOVE. A MOTION BY COMMISSIONER CORONADO, SECOND BY COMMISSIONER STOUT. THE VOTING IS OPEN. MOTION CARRIES. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH FOR THE WORK. THANK YOU. AND I WOULD LIKE TO THANK MY TEAM AS WELL. AND MR. RODRIGUEZ, THANK YOU. THANK YOU, THANK YOU. FIRST IN THE STATE. YES, YES. THANK YOU, IF YOU ALL DON'T MIND, CAN WE DO ONE MORE? BECAUSE MISS BARCELLOS STILL BEEN HERE ALL MORNING. ITEM NUMBER TEN, COUNTY AND DISTRICT CLERK TEN, A APPROVE

[B. Pursuant to Texas Family Code § 157.551, discuss and take appropriate action to approve and adopt an order that imposes a civil penalty for interference with a Child Custody Order, of not more than $500, for engaging in conduct described by Section 25.03 of the Penal Code. (3179-OP) Brian Stanley, Executive Director, Domestic Relations Office, 915-834-8200]

AND RECORD INTO THE COMMISSIONERS COURT MEETING MINUTES. THE DISTRICT CLERK CERTIFICATION OF THE DISTRICT JUDGE'S ORDER TO APPROVE THE COUNTY AUDITOR'S BUDGET FOR FISCAL YEAR 2025. PURSUANT TO TEXAS LOCAL GOVERNMENT CODE 84.021, 84.90111, 1.04415,

[A. Approve and record into the Commissioners Court meeting minutes, the District Clerk's certification of the District Judge's Order to approve the County Auditor's Budget for Fiscal Year 2025, pursuant to Texas Local Government Code 84.021; 84.901; 111.044; 152.031; 152.032; 152.034; and 152.905. Norma Favela-Barceleau, District Clerk, District Clerk's Office, 915-546-2029]

2.03115, 2.03215, 2.034 AND ONE FIVE, 2.905. GOOD AFTERNOON COMMISSIONERS. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR TAKING THIS ITEM UP, I'M NORMA FAVELA BARCELO, YOUR DISTRICT CLERK, AND ASK FOR THE SUPPORTING DOCUMENTATION THAT WAS SUBMITTED FOR THIS PARTICULAR AGENDA ITEM. THE DISTRICT COURT JUDGES HELD A PUBLIC HEARING ON JULY 25TH, 2024, BY A MAJORITY VOTE SIGNED THE ORDER TO APPROVE THE APPOINTMENT OF THE EL PASO COUNTY AUDITOR AND HER 75

[03:10:04]

ASSISTANTS. ANNUAL SALARIES AS COMPENSATION FOR SERVICES AND OPERATING EXPENSES FOR A BUDGET TOTALING. $8,650,175 FOR FISCAL YEAR 2025, AS DISTRICT CLERK, I HEREBY CERTIFY THE COUNCIL OF JUDGE'S ORDER AND RECORD INTO THE MINUTES OF TODAY'S SEPTEMBER 16TH, 2024 COMMISSIONERS COURT MEETING PURSUANT TO SECTION 152 .031 OF THE TEXAS LOCAL GOVERNMENT CODE, OUR ADMINISTRATIVE JUDGE, ANNA PEREZ, SENDS HER REGARDS. WOULD HAVE BEEN HERE FOR THE ITEM. I THINK SHE WOULD HAVE SAT HERE AND WAITED FOR IT AS WELL. BUT SHE'S IN THE MIDDLE OF A TRIAL AND SENDS HER REGARDS. AND, WE ARE HERE WITH OUR COUNTY AUDITOR, BARBARA PARKER, IN THE EVENT THAT YOU HAVE ANY SPECIFIC QUESTIONS TO THIS PARTICULAR ITEM. THANK YOU. COMMISSIONERS WE'RE READY TO VOTE. A MOTION BY COMMISSIONER STOUT, SECOND BY COMMISSIONER OLGUIN. THE VOTING IS OPEN MOTION CARRIES. THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH. THANK YOU FOR WAITING. OKAY. AT THIS TIME, WOULD YOU LIKE TO GO AHEAD AND RECESS? YES. OKAY. COMMISSIONERS COURT WILL NOW RECESS FOR ONE HOUR. IT IS 12:41 P.M.

[03:15:15]

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

[03:23:08]

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 LA VACUNAS RUTINAS LOS NINOS MAYORES DE CINCO ANOS, AHORA SON ELEGIBLES PARA LA VACUNA DE COVID NUEVE LA VACUNA COVID DIECINUEVE GRATIS PARA LAS VACUNAS RUTINA DE SUS HIJOS. VISITA EP HEALTH COM SABEMOS CUANTO MAS A TUS HIJOS, ASI RECUERDA NO LO DUDES VACUNA.

[03:31:02]

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

[03:31:08]

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

[03:38:55]

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 LA VACUNAS RUTINAS LOS NINOS MAYORES DE CINCO ANOS. AHORA SON ELEGIBLES PARA LA VACUNA DE COVID DIECINUEVE LA VACUNA COVID ES GRATIS PARA LAS VACUNAS RUTINA DE SUS HIJOS. VISITA EP HEALTH PUNTO COM SABEMOS CUANTO MAS A TUS HIJOS, ASI RECUERDA NO LO DUDES VACUNA.

[03:46:47]

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

[03:46:53]

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 LA VACUNAS RUTINAS LOS NINOS MAYORES DE CINCO ANOS. AHORA SON ELEGIBLES PARA LA VACUNA DE COVID DIECINUEVE LA VACUNA COVID DIECINUEVE ES GRATIS PARA LAS VACUNAS RUTINAS DE SUS HIJOS. VISITA EP HEALTH.COM SABEMOS CUANTO A MAS DE TUS HIJOS? ASI RECUERDA NO LO DUDES VACUNA.

[03:54:40]

[03:55:02]

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 LA VACUNAS RUTINAS LOS NINOS MAYORES DE CINCO ANOS. AHORA SON ELEGIBLES PARA LA VACUNA DE COVID NUEVE LA VACUNA COVID DIECINUEVE ES GRATIS PARA LAS VACUNAS RUTINA DE SUS HIJOS. VISITA EP HEALTH PUNTO COM SABEMOS CUANTO MAS DE TUS HIJOS, ASI RECUERDA NO LO DUDES VACUNA.

[04:02:33]

IT'S IMPORTANT FOR YOUR CHILDREN TO STAY CURRENT ON ALL THEIR ROUTINE VACCINES. ALSO, CHILDREN FIVE AND OLDER ARE NOT ELIGIBLE FOR THE COVID 19 VACCINE. I AM CURRENT AND ALL MY VACCINES AND I ALSO GET THE COVID VACCINE. SO I AND MY LOVED ONES CAN BE PROTECTED. 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. VISITA EP HEALTH PUNTO COM SABEMOS CUANTO A MAS A TUS HIJOS? ASI RECUERDA NO LO DUDES VACUNA.

[04:10:25]

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

[04:10:32]

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 LA VACUNA SATANAS, LOS NINOS MAYORES DE CINCO ANOS AHORA SON ELEGIBLES PARA LA VACUNA DE COVID 19. LA VACUNA COVID DIECINUEVE ES GRATIS PARA LAS VACUNAS RUTINA DE SUS HIJOS. VISITA EP HEALTH.COM SABEMOS CUANTO A MAS DE TUS HIJOS, ASI RECUERDA NO LO DUDES VACCINATE.

[04:16:48]

GO AHEAD, COMMISSIONERS COURT HAS RECONVENED TO SPECIAL. I'M SORRY TO REGULAR OPEN SESSION.

WE ARE ON ITEM 1111 BUDGET AND FINANCE 11 A APPROVE AND AUTHORIZE THE REVISIONS TO THE EL PASO COUNTY HOLIDAY LEAVE POLICY. BUENAS TARDES. COMMISSIONERS, HOW ARE YOU?

[A. Approve and authorize the revisions to the El Paso County Holiday Leave Policy. Sam Trujillo, Interim CHRO, Human Resources, 915-273-3520]

NATALIA CHAPARRO WITH HUMAN RESOURCES. SO THE PURPOSE OF THIS AGENDA ITEM IS TO OBTAIN YOUR APPROVAL ON THE HOLIDAY. ON THE HOLIDAY LEAVE POLICY UPDATES DURING THE RECENT BUDGET SESSIONS, THE COMMISSIONERS COURT APPROVED THE FOUR ADDITIONAL ONE TIME USE HOLIDAYS IN DECEMBER FOR COUNTY EMPLOYEES WHO ARE NOT COVERED BY THE COLLECTIVE BARGAINING AGREEMENT AND WHO ARE NOT COVERED BY THE DEPUTY CONSTABLE PAY POLICY. SO AS WE WERE REVIEWING THE POLICY, ONLY FULL TIME EMPLOYEES ARE ELIGIBLE TO FOR THE HOLIDAY AND DEPARTMENTS HAVE THE FLEXIBILITY TO TAKE FOR TO ALLOW EMPLOYEES TO TAKE THE HOLIDAY. THE LEAVE 30 DAYS BEFORE OR AFTER THE HOLIDAY IF IT CAN'T BE GRANTED ON THE DESIGNATED DATE. SO AS WE WERE LOOKING AT THE POLICY IN ORDER TO PROMOTE FAIRNESS AND FLEXIBILITY, WE'RE RECOMMENDING TWO MAIN CHANGES TO THAT POLICY, WHICH IS ARE INCLUDED IN YOUR BACKUP DOCUMENTS. SO THE FIRST ONE IS INCLUSION OF PART TIME EMPLOYEES TO RECEIVE THE HOLIDAY PAY. THIS IS DETERMINED BY THE AMOUNT BEING PRORATED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE NUMBER OF HOURS THEIR BUDGETED THEIR POSITION IS BUDGETED. EXCUSE ME.

AND SO THE COUNTY CURRENTLY HAS 64 PART TIME EMPLOYEES. THAT WOULD BE DIRECTLY IMPACTED BY THIS POLICY UPDATE. AND THE SECOND MAJOR CHANGE IS ENABLING THE CHIEF ADMINISTRATOR TO EXTEND THE TIME FRAME FOR EMPLOYEES TO TAKE THE LEAVE IF THEY'RE NOT ABLE TO DO SO ON THE DESIGNATED HOLIDAY. SO WE WANTED TO BRING THESE POLICY UPDATES TO YOU. I'M OPEN TO ANY QUESTIONS.

AND YOUR FAVORABLE CONSIDERATION OF THIS ITEM. WHAT ARE THE MINIMUM HOURS THAT A PART TIMER HAS? I WE HAVE A MAXIMUM HOURS OF 29. I DON'T BELIEVE WE HAVE A MINIMUM. THE MINIMUM THAT WE HAVE ACTUALLY ON THE BOOKS IS 20 HOURS. 20 HOURS OR MORE IS WHAT THEY WERE. SO WE WHEN WE PULLED THIS DATA FOR THIS POLICY, THERE'S BASICALLY TWO GROUPS. THERE'S 20 HOUR PEOPLE WHO ARE BUDGETED AT 20 HOURS A WEEK, AND PEOPLE WHO ARE BUDGETED AT 29. THAT'S CORRECT. WE HAVE TWO OR MORE, NO, 20 OR 29 IS WHAT THEY'RE BUDGETED AT. THEN AFTER THAT, IT GOES TO FULL TIME. FULL TIME. OKAY NO QUESTIONS. THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THIS. I THINK IT'S ONLY FAIR TO DO THIS FOR.

YEAH FOR ALL OUR EMPLOYEES. AND WE HAVE A MOTION FROM COMMISSIONER HOLGUIN TO APPROVE SECOND, BY COMMISSIONER CORONADO. THE VOTING IS OPEN AND MOTION CARRIES. GRACIAS. THANK YOU, THANK YOU. I SKIPPED OVER ONE ITEM WE HAD PENDING ITEM EIGHT A. I'LL GO AHEAD AND MOVE

[04:20:09]

TO THAT ITEM FIRST. ITEM EIGHT. COUNTY ADMINISTRATION EIGHT A DISCUSS AND TAKE APPROPRIATE ACTION REGARDING THE IDENTIFIED CAPITAL PROJECT SHORTFALL FOR THE DOWNTOWN DETENTION FACILITY.

ELEVATOR MODERNIZATION PROJECT AND THE COUNTY COURTHOUSE FREIGHT ELEVATOR MODERNIZATION

[A. Discuss and take appropriate action regarding the identified capital project shortfall for the Downtown Detention Facility – Elevator Modernization Project and the County Courthouse Freight Elevator Modernization Project. Jose M. Landeros, Director, Strategic Capital Development, 915-546-2159]

PROJECT. GOOD AFTERNOON COMMISSIONERS. SO SIT ON THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATION PROVIDING THIS, STARTING OFF THIS ITEM FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION THIS AFTERNOON, THERE ARE TWO PROJECTS THAT WERE ORIGINALLY LISTED UNDER THE TAX NOTE 2022 FROM THE SUMMER OF 2022. THAT INCLUDED MODERNIZING A NUMBER OF ELEVATORS AT THE DOWNTOWN DETENTION FACILITY, AS WELL AS ELEVATOR NUMBER NINE IN THE COUNTY COURTHOUSE, NUMBER FIVE, WHICH IS THE NO ELEVATOR MODERNIZING THE FREIGHT ELEVATOR RIGHT BEHIND THE COMMISSIONERS COURT, FACILITIES USE THOSE FUNDS TO FIRST OBTAIN A CONSULTANT TO ENSURE THAT THEY COULD DEVELOP THE NECESSARY BID SPECIFICATIONS. TO PUT THIS OUT FOR PROCUREMENT THAT WENT THROUGH ITS OWN PROCESS. THROUGH THAT PROCESS, THE RIGHT SPECIFICATIONS WERE WERE DESIGNED, AND THE DEPARTMENT IS PENDING. MAKING THE AWARD OF AFTER SOLICITING BIDS FROM THE COMMUNITY, THEY HAVE IDENTIFIED A POTENTIAL FUNDING SHORTFALL. AND THAT IS THE REASON WHY THIS ITEM IS COMING BEFORE YOU TODAY.

IN SHORT, THE PROPOSED SOLUTION TO MEET THE SHORTFALL IS TO, TRANSFER FROM SOME SAVINGS ON EXISTING STORMWATER PROJECTS UNDER TAX NOTE 2022 OF ABOUT $200,000. MOVE THAT ON TO THE PROJECT AND THEN ALSO USE ABOUT $570,000 FROM TAX. NOTE 2023 D, THAT MONEY IS AVAILABLE AS IT WAS FUNDING THAT WAS PREVIOUSLY GOING TO BE USED WITH THE M AND K CONTRACT THAT WE HAVE FOR A MULTI-YEAR CAPITAL PLANNING PROCESS, BECAUSE THE BARRACUDA MARKETING SERVICES WERE CARVED OUT AND NOT ELIGIBLE FOR USE UNDER THE TAX. NOTE THAT FUNDING IS AVAILABLE TO HELP MEET THE SHORTFALL. AND SO THE, THE RECOMMENDED TRANSFERS AND THE MOTION ARE WITH THE AGENDA TEAM, AND WE'D ASK FOR YOUR FAVORABLE CONSIDERATION THIS AFTERNOON, MISTER SULLY, WITH FACILITIES AND MISS PALACIOS WITH PUBLIC WORKS ARE AVAILABLE TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS. AND BEFORE DOING THAT, I JUST WANTED TO LET YOU ALL KNOW THERE IS AN UPDATE FROM WHAT WAS ON THE AGENDA. THE AGENDA ITEM INCORRECTLY LISTED TAX NOTE 23 SERIES A AS THE FUNDING SOURCE, BUT IT SHOULD ACTUALLY BE TAX NOTE 23 SERIES D AS THE FUNDING SOURCE. AND IT'S THE AMOUNTS, ARE SLIGHTLY ADJUSTED JUST TO CHANGE THAT FUNDING SOURCE BECAUSE THERE WASN'T THE SAME AVAILABILITY OF FUNDS. BUT FOR THE MOST PART, THE SHORT OF THAT, THAT RECOMMENDATION REMAINS THE SAME.

AND WAS WHAT WAS THE TOTAL AMOUNT? THE TOTAL AMOUNT OF THE FUNDS THAT ARE NECESSARY IS APPROXIMATELY 2.9 MILLION. AND THE AMOUNT OF FUNDING THAT'S CURRENTLY AVAILABLE. LET ME CONFIRM THAT RIGHT NOW IS.

IS APPROXIMATELY 1.8 MILLION. SO A SHORTFALL OF ABOUT $1.1 MILLION, 1.1.1, 1.1. YES, SIR.

THE 1.8 IS WHAT'S CURRENTLY AVAILABLE FOR THESE SPECIFIC PROJECTS. YES, MA'AM. OKAY. AND THE 2.9 IS THE IS THE COST IS THE ESTIMATED COST OF FUNDING THAT WILL BE NECESSARY TO, TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THE PROCUREMENT PROCESS TO AWARD THE BID. AND YOU SAID IT WAS SERIES D, SERIES D? YES, MA'AM. AND HOW MUCH IS AVAILABLE IN THE TAX NOTES IN TAX NOTES SERIES D THERE'S APPROXIMATELY 571 MILLION. THAT IS AVAILABLE THERE. AND WHAT WAS THAT 571,000 THOUSAND OKAY. THAT'S WHAT I THOUGHT I WAS LIKE WHAT YOU SAID MILLION. YEAH. DID I SAY MILLION? 571 MILLION. THAT'S WHERE WE'VE BEEN KEEPING IT. YEAH, I WAS GOING TO GO, OKAY, 571,000. YES, MA'AM. OKAY. SO THE FUNDING COCKTAIL IS A LITTLE INTRICATE HERE, BUT WE'RE CLOSING OUT SOME PROJECTS THAT HAVE SEEN SAVINGS IN THEIR TAX. NOTE 22, WHICH IS THE ORIGINAL FUNDING SOURCE, MOVING ABOUT $200,000 IN PROJECT SAVINGS. THERE AND THEN THE REST OF ABOUT 400 AND, ABOUT 480,000 IS COMING FROM TAX NOTE 22 D RESERVE. AND THEN THE REMAINING 571 IS COMING

[04:25:07]

FROM TAX NOTE 23 D. SO WE HAVE TWO FUNDING SOURCES TAX NOTE 22 THE ORIGINAL. AND THEN TAX NOTE 23 D AND AFTER THIS 571 GETS MOVED. THERE'S NOT GOING TO BE ANY FUNDING AVAILABLE IN SERIES D ANYMORE. NO MA'AM. WE WILL CLOSE THAT OUT. THE ONLY REMAINING EXPENSES THAT WE HAVE THERE ARE REMAINING PAYMENTS WITH M AND K FOR THE MULTI-YEAR CAPITAL PLANNING PROCESS. MISS DANIELLE CHAVEZ IS WORKING ON COORDINATING A MEETING WITH PUBLIC WORKS AND MR. ROBERT REID, WHO'S A SIGNED THAT CONTRACT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE CLOSE THAT PROJECT DOWN IF THERE'S ANY NEED TO COME IN AND SWEEP THOSE FUNDS, WE WILL PRESENT THAT ITEM TO THE COURT AT A LATER DATE. AND THOSE FUNDS THAT THAT WE'RE MOVING AROUND, NONE OF THEM ARE RESTRICTED. NO.

THEY'RE BOTH TAXABLE, MEANING THEY HAVE THE MOST FLEXIBILITY AND ALSO THE FUNDING FOR AND BOTH ORDERS FOR TAX NOTE 22 AND TAX NOTE 23 D ARE VERY BROAD. SO WE HAVE VERY A LOT OF LATITUDE TO USE THOSE FOR ANY PURPOSE AUTHORIZED UNDER THE STATUTE WHICH THESE MEET. AND SOMETHING I DIDN'T SEE IN THE BACKUP IS ONCE ALL THIS IS APPROVED, WHEN DO WE ESTIMATE THAT THE WORK WILL BEGIN? I DEFER TO MR. SULLY AND MISS PALACIOS ON THAT QUESTION, SIR. GOOD AFTERNOON, COMMISSIONERS ROBIN SULLY, FACILITY MAINTENANCE DIRECTOR, AS PER YOUR QUESTION, THE WORK WILL BEGIN. IT WOULD TAKE APPROXIMATELY 16 TO 20 WEEKS FOR THEM TO JUST TO ORDER THE MATERIAL TO MODERNIZE THE ELEVATORS. AFTER THE BID IS AWARDED ABOUT 30 DAYS, THEN THEY WILL START ORDERING THE MATERIAL AND EQUIPMENT TO MODERNIZE THE ELEVATORS. AND DID YOU SAY ABOUT HOW MUCH TIME TO GO, 16 WEEKS FOR THE MATERIAL TO COME IN? YES, COMMISSIONER. OKAY, COMMISSIONER. THANK YOU. WE DO HAVE A MOTION FROM COMMISSIONER STOUT, A SECOND BY COMMISSIONER CORONADO. THE VOTING IS OPEN MOTION CARRIES. OKAY. THANK YOU, THANK YOU. COMMISSIONERS, THANK YOU. ITEM 11 B FROM BUDGET AND FINANCE PURSUANT TO THE TEXAS LOCAL GOVERNMENT CODE, SECTION 111.067, CONDUCT A PUBLIC HEARING ON THE PROPOSED EL PASO COUNTY BUDGET FOR THE FISCAL

[B. Pursuant to the Texas Local Government Code § 111.067, conduct a Public Hearing on the Proposed El Paso County budget for the fiscal year beginning October 1, 2024, and ending September 30, 2025. John Sarah, Director, Budget and Finance, 915-546-2262]

YEAR BEGINNING OCTOBER 1ST, 2024 AND ENDING SEPTEMBER 30TH, 2025. GOOD AFTERNOON, COMMISSIONERS BETSY KELLER, I'M THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR. TODAY, OUR TEAM WILL BE PRESENTING INFORMATION THAT SUMMARIZES THE VISION THE COURT HAS PROVIDED AND THE WORK THAT OUR TEAM HAS DONE IN PREPARING THE OPERATING BUDGET FOR FISCAL YEAR 2025. BETSY, COULD WE GO AHEAD AND OPEN UP THE PUBLIC HEARING? OH, SORRY. NO, I WASN'T GOING TO WAIT FOR THAT PART. THANK YOU, THANK YOU.

OKAY, WE HAVE A MOTION BY COMMISSIONER CORONADO, SECOND BY COMMISSIONER OLGUIN. OKAY.

MOTION CARRIES. GO AHEAD. THANK YOU. SORRY. GOT EXCITED FOR THIS. SO AS I WAS SAYING, TODAY, WE ARE GOING TO BE PRESENTING INFORMATION THAT SUMMARIZES THE VISION THE COURT HAS PROVIDED AND THE WORK OUR TEAM HAS DONE IN PREPARING THE OPERATING BUDGET FOR FISCAL YEAR 2025.

THIS PREPARATION BEGAN AS SOON AS THE COURT ENDED AND ADOPTED THE BUDGET FOR THIS FISCAL YEAR.

WE'VE ACTUALLY ALREADY STARTED THE PREPARATION FOR FISCAL YEAR 2026, BUT THIS BUDGET IS BASED ON THE COURT'S TAX POLICY AND STRATEGIC PLAN AND THE OPERATIONS OF OUR INDEPENDENT ELECTED OFFICIALS AND APPOINTED OFFICES LIKE THE JUSTICE SYSTEM, JUVENILE PROBATION, THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE, ELECTIONS, AS WELL AS MANY OTHERS WHO ARE COMMITTED TO SERVING OUR COMMUNITY. YOU'VE HEARD ME SAY THIS BEFORE, BUT THE COUNTY BUDGET IS MUCH MORE THAN ACCOUNTING AND NUMBERS. IT'S A COMPREHENSIVE PLAN THAT REFLECTS OUR DEDICATION TO MEETING THE NEEDS OF OUR COMMUNITY. TO BEGIN OUR PUBLIC HEARING PRESENTATION, I'D LIKE TO SHARE A VIDEO OUR COMMUNICATIONS TEAM HAS PUT TOGETHER THAT CAPTURES SOME OF OUR ACTIVITIES FOR THIS YEAR THAT ARE MADE POSSIBLE THROUGH BUDGET TEAM. WILL YOU PLEASE ROLL THE VIDEO?

[04:33:53]

THIS PAST YEAR I'VE SEEN THE COUNTY AT THE HIGHEST LEVEL OF ACTION AND ACTIVITIES FOR OUR COMMUNITY AND OUR ORGANIZATION. AND WHEN I SAID THAT THE VIDEO CAPTURES SOME OF OUR ACTIVITIES FOR THIS YEAR, IT TRULY IS A GLIMPSE OF WHAT'S BEEN ACCOMPLISHED. THE NEXT FEW SLIDES LISTS MANY ADDITIONAL ACCOMPLISHMENTS WE'VE HAD THIS YEAR, AND I'M GOING TO MENTION A FEW OTHERS THAT WE HAVE NOT YET CAPTURED.■ LET'S START WITH BEIG PROUD OF THE RECOGNITION AND NATIONAL AWARDS WE'VE EARNED ACROSS SEVERAL DEPARTMENTS THIS PAST YEAR. A FEW LISTED INCLUDE THE ANIMAL WELFARE BEING RECOGNIZED AS THE AGENCY OF THE YEAR BY THE ANIMAL CONTROL REPORT, RECEIVING OUR SECOND LOCAL GOVERNMENT EXCELLENCE AWARD FROM THE INTERNATIONAL CITY COUNTY MANAGEMENT ASSOCIATION, AND SIX NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF COUNTY ACHIEVEMENT AWARDS, PLUS OTHER RECOGNITION THAT WE HAVE NOT YET ADDED. LIKE AETNA PLATINUM WELLNESS AWARD, TWO AWARDS FROM THE TEXAS ASSOCIATION OF COUNTIES AND CATHERINE JONES. AS YOU HEARD EARLIER, JUST GETTING THE DIRECTOR OF THE YEAR AWARD FROM THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF PRETRIAL SERVICE AGENCIES. WE HAVE LIVED UP TO OUR EPIC VALUES AND HAVE THE ATTENTION OF OUR

[04:35:03]

PEERS AND PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS FOR THE AWARD WINNING WORK WE'RE DOING IN EL PASO COUNTY. NEXT, THANKS TO COMMISSIONER LEON JACKIE BUTLER, CARL MCELHANEY AUDITOR'S OFFICE, SHERIFF'S OFFICE JOSE FROM COUNTY ADMIN AND SEVERAL OTHERS. COMBINED WITH ARPA FUNDING, WE LAUNCHED OUR FIRST VERY SUCCESSFUL GUN BUYBACK EVENT. YOU ALSO SAW IN THE VIDEO THE MAJESTIC MISSION TRAIL VIDEO AND MARKETING PLAN LAUNCHED AND LAUNCHED THIS YEAR AND HAS RAPIDLY PROGRESSED THANKS TO COMMISSIONER OLGUIN, OUR COMMUNICATIONS TEAM, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND ALL OF THE COURT FOR MAKING THIS HAPPEN AND FOR PROMOTING THE VIDEO AROUND THE REGION. I'M INCREDIBLY PROUD OF THE VOLUNTEER PROGRAM AND THE WORK BEING DONE BY THE VOLUNTEERS. THANK YOU TO OPERATIONS MELISSA CARRILLO AND HER TEAM FOR LAUNCHING THIS PROGRAM AND OUR COUNTY NUTRITION PROGRAM CELEBRATED 50 YEARS OF VALUE OF FEEDING OUR VALUED SENIORS. THANK YOU TO IRENE GUTIERREZ AND HER TEAM. FROM ENHANCED LIBRARY CARDS, THANKS TO COMMISSIONER STOUT'S UNWAVERING DRIVE TO A PET POTTY TO THE VETERANS CAPITAL OF THE USA, THANKS TO JUDGE SAMANIEGO'S VISION, WE MET DIVERSE NEEDS AND STRIVED FOR INCLUSION OF ALL OF OUR COMMUNITY. THE BOND ADVISORY COMMITTEE, AS WE RECOGNIZED OUR COMMITTEE MEMBERS EARLIER TODAY, THEY DELIVERED ON AN EXTREMELY TOUGH TASK AND THEY WERE ENGAGED, HAD CIVIL DEBATES, AND WERE GREAT TO WORK WITH. IN ADDITION, UNDER THE COLLABORATE AND ENGAGEMENT GOAL YOU HAVE PROVIDED AND CONTINUE TO PROVIDE MORE COMMUNITY OUTREACH ON THESE PROJECTS AND RECOMMENDATIONS THAN I'VE EVER SEEN, WE CANNOT THANK OUR PUBLIC WORKS OPERATIONS AND STRATEGIC CAPITAL DEVELOPMENT TEAMS ENOUGH FOR THEIR WORK TO DELIVER THIS OUTREACH. JOSE AND YOUR TEAM ESPECIALLY, THANK YOU. WE BROKE GROUND ON HANGARS, WATER, WASTEWATER PARKS, AND WE CUT RIBBONS ON PLAYGROUNDS AND EV CHARGING STATIONS TO NAME A FEW. NORMA, THANKS FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP IN THOSE PROJECTS. WE'VE ALSO GROWN OUR BINATIONAL RELATIONSHIPS AND HAVE WORKED TO PROMOTE AND INCREASE USE OF OUR MARCELINO SERNA PORT OF ENTRY. THANK YOU TO ROBERTO RANSOM AND WE WON THE HEARTS. I THINK I'M LET'S SEE IF I MOVED. YES. OKAY. AND WE WON THE HEARTS AND WILL BE HISTORIC INVESTMENT OF MEHTA, WHO WILL BE BUILDING THE FIRST DATA CENTER IN THE COMMUNITY, BUT PROBABLY NOT THE LAST. AND SOME OF THE THINGS THAT WE HAVE NOT LISTED YET INCLUDE WE ACQUIRED THE BORDER TOBACCO BUILDING, AND THEN WE TEMPORARILY LEASED IT TO WARNER BROTHERS FOR SOMETHING ELSE. WE'RE PROUD TO NOTE A MAJOR FILM CODE NAMED THE BC PROJECT, BEING SHOT HERE IN EL PASO. WE CONTINUED TO MOVE AND MANAGE OUR ARPA PORTFOLIO OF PROJECTS, AND WE COMPLETED DESIGNS ON TEN STORMWATER PROJECTS. THANK YOU TO FERNIE HERNANDEZ, SECURITY INFRASTRUCTURE WAS ALSO ENHANCED AT THE COURTHOUSE GARAGE AND OTHER LOCATIONS. I'M THANKFUL TO ROBIN SOLEY FOR HIS WORK IN THAT AND UNDER THE LEADERSHIP OF BRIAN STANLEY, WE LAUNCHED THE SELF-REPRESENTED LITIGANT ASSISTANCE PROGRAM WITH GRANT FUNDING. WE LAUNCHED AND EXPANDED THE USE OF INTERACTIVE KIOSK TO THE ANNEXES, AND WE ARE ON TRACK TO HAVE ANOTHER RECORD BREAKING YEAR OF CHILD SUPPORT COLLECTIONS TO STRENGTHEN FAMILIES IN OUR COMMUNITY. WE SAW THE LARGEST EXPANSION OF TRANSIT SERVICES THROUGH OUR LOCAL GOVERNMENT CORPORATION AND HIRED THE FIRST INTERIM DIRECTOR. WE HAVE NEW GIS DASHBOARDS WE'VE IMPLEMENTED AND AWARDED THE FIRST NEIGHBORHOOD IMPROVEMENT PROJECT PROGRAM. AND THAT'S THANK YOU TO MICHAEL MCELROY. WE REINSTATED INTERNAL MANAGEMENT OF OUR SWIMMING POOLS AND OFFERED SWIM LESSONS. I DON'T EVER REMEMBER US OFFERING SWIM LESSONS OR IF WE DID, IT'S BEEN A VERY LONG TIME. WE PLANTED EVEN MORE TREES. TO THE CREDIT OF COMMISSIONER CORONADO AND HIS TEAM, AND HAD RECORD ENROLLMENTS IN LEAGUES, ATTENDANCE AND TOURNAMENTS AT THE SPORTS PARK. AND I WANT TO THANK TIM FULTON. WE UNVEILED THE MURAL MURALS AND AN INTERNAL FLAME AT THE HEALING GARDEN. WE ENGAGED OUR NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATIONS TO SELECT A DESIGN PREFERENCE FOR CORBIN ZAMBRANO, AND CONTRACTED FOR THE DEMOLITION OF THE PRIOR STRUCTURES ON THE SITE. THANK YOU TO JOEL FOR HIS LEADERSHIP. WE CONTINUED OUR PROJECTS FOR HISTORIC INVESTMENT IN WATER, WASTEWATER AND FLOOD CONTROL, AND THIS YEAR WE AWARDED BIDS TO EXPAND BROADBAND IN OUR COMMUNITY. OUR VETERINARIAN RESIDENT PROGRAM PARTICIPANTS ARE PROGRESSING, AND WE WERE ABLE TO ATTRACT AND REHIRE AN EXPERIENCED VETERINARIAN. IT WILL NOT BE LONG BEFORE WE CUT THE RIBBON ON OUR NEW ANIMAL CLINIC. THANK YOU TO KRYSTAL REYES. WE IMPLEMENTED THE ENTERPRISE JUSTICE COORDINATION BOARD, MADE IMPROVEMENTS IN PUBLIC SAFETY INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY SERVICES, HIRED OUR NEW DEPUTY MEDICAL EXAMINER, HAD ADDITIONAL MEDICAL EXAMINER

[04:40:05]

INVESTIGATION INVESTIGATORS BECOMING CERTIFIED, AND WE MAINTAINED AND RECENTLY RECEIVED WORD THAT WE'VE RENEWED OUR NAMI KNOM ACCREDITATION. THANK YOU TO DOCTOR RASCON. WE VALUED OUR COUNTY EMPLOYEE FAMILY. WE RAISED THE MINIMUM WAGE AT THE COUNTY TO 1549. AN HOUR, AND WE GRADUATED OUR FIRST TWO CLASSES FROM OUR PLANT ENHANCED WELLNESS PROGRAM. WE IMPLEMENTED OUR PILOT PAID INTERNSHIP PROGRAM, WHICH IS PROVING TO BE VERY SUCCESSFUL. AND THAT IS THANK YOU TO THE LEADERSHIP FROM SAM TRUJILLO FOR WE REPEATEDLY AND WITH FEARLESS PASSION, DEFENDED THE RIGHTS OF INDIVIDUALS CHARGED WITH RIOTING AND OTHER CRIMES. AND WE WERE SUCCESSFUL IN THAT FIGHT OVER AND OVER. THANK YOU TO KELLY AND HER TEAM. WE DEPLOYED VOIP VOICE OVER INTERNET PROTOCOL. I BELIEVE IT STANDS FOR. I GOT THAT WRONG, BUT WE DEPLOYED VOIP CONTACT CENTER SOFTWARE TO OUR TAX OFFICE AND SEVERAL OTHER LOCATIONS AHEAD OF PROJECT SCHEDULE. WE STARTED THE MIGRATION TO A.GOV PLATFORM. THANK YOU TO ART NAVARRO AND OUR IT TEAM. WE MADE HISTORIC INVESTMENTS IN FLEET AND EQUIPMENT UNDER THE KEEN OVERSIGHT OF HOPETON STAPLE. OUR VETERAN SERVICES MANAGER, ANTOINETTE HUNT ENSURED THAT SHE AND HER NEWEST TEAM MEMBER BECAME CERTIFIED VETERAN SERVICES OFFICERS. AND WE UNVEILED THE FLAG CASE AFTER MUCH WAIT. WE'RE VERY PROUD OF THEM. AND THEN I WANT TO JUST MENTION OUR ADMIN TEAM, MICHELL, CESAR, JESSICA, LORENA, RAMONE, EILEEN, JACOB AND CLAUDIA DELIVERED ON IMPROVED STRATEGIC PLANNING PROCESSES AND MANAGEMENT. NEW AGENDA MANAGEMENT SOFTWARE, PROPERTY MANAGEMENT RESEARCH AND POLICY DEVELOPMENT TO NAME JUST A FEW.

I APPRECIATE ALL OF THEM FOR THEIR DEDICATION AND WE DEDICATED OUR FISHING PIER TO OUR BUDGET GURU AND DEAR FRIEND, THE LATE WALLY HARGROVE. ON THE FIRST ANNIVERSARY OF HIS PASSING, I COULD GO ON, BUT IN THE INTEREST OF TIME AND I WANT TO SAVE SOME FOR OUR ANNUAL REPORT, WHICH WILL RELEASE LATER THIS YEAR. IN CLOSING, THIS IS ONLY POSSIBLE WITH THE COURT'S LEADERSHIP AND SUPPORT AND IT IS. OUR DEPARTMENT HEADS, ELECTED OFFICIALS AND TEAM MEMBERS THAT MAKE THIS ALL POSSIBLE. THEY ARE REMARKABLE AND WE'RE GRATEFUL ALL OF THIS WORK AND EVERYTHING I MENTIONED IS POSSIBLE AGAIN, BECAUSE OF THE VISION AND LEADERSHIP OF THE COURT THROUGH THIS BUDGET AND ITS STRATEGIC PLAN. WE THANK YOU FOR LETTING US TAKE THIS TIME TO REFLECT BACK AS WE BEGIN TO LOOK FORWARD AND WE ARE PROUD. WE HOPE YOU ARE TOO. BUT WE KNOW WE CAN'T REST AS THERE IS MORE WORK TO DO AHEAD, WHICH THE FY 2025 STRATEGIC BUDGET ENABLES US TO PERFORM EACH YEAR. THE BUDGET IS BASED ON THE POLICIES AND THE STRATEGIC PLAN OF THE COURT AND THE FY 2025 STRATEGIC BUDGET IS NO DIFFERENT. THE COURT HAS REFINED AND CONTINUED TO COMMIT TO ITS NINE GOALS. TO MOVE TOWARD YOUR VISION OF AN EXTRAORDINARY QUALITY OF LIFE FOR ALL. HERE YOU CAN SEE A BREAKDOWN OF OUR BUDGET BY GOAL. YOU'LL NOTICE THAT GOAL SIX, WHICH IS OUR ADVANCED COMMUNITY SUPPORT SERVICES, MAKES UP 39.94% OF OUR BUDGET.

APPROXIMATELY ONE THIRD OF THE BUDGET TOTAL BUDGET GOES TO SERVICES LIKE PUBLIC SAFETY FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT, JAILS, CONSTABLES, AS WELL AS COMMUNITY SUPPORT SERVICES LIKE ANIMAL WELFARE, SENIOR NUTRITION, GENERAL ASSISTANCE, DIGITAL LIBRARY AND MORE. AND JUST OVER 24%, OR ABOUT A QUARTER OF OUR BUDGET SUPPORTS GOAL ONE LEADING JUSTICE REFORM. THAT DOESN'T.

THAT INCLUDES NOT ONLY STATE MANDATES, SUCH AS PROVIDING STAFF AND RESOURCES TO THE JUSTICE SYSTEM AND CREATING THE PROPER RECORD HISTORY. BUT IT ALSO INCLUDES THE WORK WE'RE DOING TO ENSURE THAT JUSTICE IS HANDLED MORE EQUITABLY AND EFFICIENTLY. AND WHILE IT APPEARS HERE THAT UPGRADE INFRASTRUCTURE IS 7.74% OF THE BUDGET, IT DOES NOT TAKE INTO ACCOUNT GRANT FUNDED PROJECTS AND THE CAPITAL INVESTMENTS WE CONTINUE TO MAKE THROUGH ARPA AND OTHER PROGRAMS. HERE YOU WILL SEE ANOTHER $16 MILLION IN MAJOR INVESTMENTS IN THE FY 2025 BUDGET. OUR LAW ENFORCEMENT WAGES THROUGH COLLECTIVE BARGAINING ACCOUNT FOR $5.2 MILLION IN THE FY 25 BUDGET AND ARE IMPORTANT TO COMMUNITY SAFETY. BETWEEN THE AUGUST 3RD MASS SHOOTING TRIAL, PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION YEAR COST JAIL CONTINGENCIES DUE TO INCREASED STATE DETAINEES AND JAIL, MEDICAL AND MENTAL HEALTH. WE INVESTED 5.4 MILLION IN CRITICAL PROCESSES, AND WE'VE SET ASIDE $1 MILLION TO CONTINUE TO ADDRESS THE COUNTY'S SECURITY NEEDS FOR THE SAFETY OF THE PUBLIC AND OUR EMPLOYEES. YOU'LL NOTE WE'RE BUDGETING $4.3 MILLION FOR MOVING GRANT FUNDED POSITIONS TO THE GENERAL FUND. BUT IT'S ALSO IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT OF THAT, 3.5 MILLION IS ARPA FUNDED POSITIONS, WHICH ALSO CAME WITH A $3.8 MILLION

[04:45:07]

REVENUE INDUCTION INTO THE GENERAL FUND FROM ARPA. THIS BUDGET FOR FY 25 IS LOWER THAN THE FY 24 BUDGET. WE HAVE DECREASED EXPENSES TO OFFSET THE LOSS OF REVENUE FROM FEDERAL DETAINEES AND THE INCREASED EXPENSES DUE TO AN INCREASE IN STATE DETAINEES FROM INCREASED DPS OPERATIONS. IN OUR COMMUNITY. WE WILL GO OVER SOME OF THE REDUCTION WE HAVE THIS YEAR IN THE NEXT SLIDE. BUT BEFORE WE DO, I WANT TO MENTION THAT JUST A FEW YEARS AGO, OUR BUDGET INCLUDED OVER $20 MILLION IN REVENUE FROM THE US GOVERNMENT FOR HOUSING FEDERAL DETAINEES. AND THIS NEXT YEAR, IT INCLUDES ABOUT 10% OF THAT AMOUNT IN REVENUE, 54% OF THIS BUDGET INCLUDES UNFUNDED OR UNDERFUNDED STATE MANDATES, SUCH AS OUR JUDICIAL SYSTEM, ADULT AND JUVENILE PROBATION, ELECTIONS, PAUPER BURIALS, COURTHOUSE SECURITY, VETERANS ASSISTANCE, AND MUCH MORE. AND I MENTIONED THE REDUCTIONS IN EXPENSES WE HAVE MADE. SOME OF THE SIGNIFICANT ONES INCLUDE ELIMINATING OUR DEPARTMENTAL OPERATING EQUIPMENT, LINE ITEMS, FORGOING OUR CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM OF OVER $13 MILLION, REDUCING OUR ECONOMIC IMPACT FUND BY 5.9 MILLION, AND FORGOING ACHIEVING OUR 10% RESERVE GOAL, WHICH WOULD HAVE REQUIRED AN ADDITIONAL $19 MILLION IN BUDGET IMPACTS. WHILE THE RESERVE IS AT 5.13% TODAY, I PROJECT IT WILL BE HIGHER BY THE TIME WE CLOSE FY 24 THIS YEAR. THIS COMING YEAR WILL BE A YEAR OF REBUILDING BY IDENTIFYING OTHER REVENUE SOURCES AND EXPENSE REDUCTIONS TO ACHIEVE OUR GOALS AND IMPORTANTLY, THE COURT RECOGNIZED A NEED TO ADOPT A LOWER TAX RATE FOR THE RESIDENTS AND BUSINESSES OF OUR COMMUNITY. THIS YEAR BY ADOPTING THE NO NEW REVENUE RATE. THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME THIS TIME TO SHARE THIS INFORMATION WITH YOU IN THE PUBLIC AS PART OF OUR PUBLIC HEARING, I'D LIKE TO TURN THE PRESENTATION OVER TO COUNTY AUDITOR BARBARA PARKER, WHO WILL GO OVER SOME OF OUR REVENUE PROJECTIONS FOR FY 25. THANK YOU. BETSY. GOOD AFTERNOON, COMMISSIONERS. BARBARA PARKER, YOUR COUNTY AUDITOR. THIS AFTERNOON, WE'LL BE TALKING ABOUT SUMMARY OF THE CERTIFIED COUNTY AUDITOR REVENUE PROJECTIONS FOR FY 24 AND FY 25.

THIS SLIDE SHOWS THE FISCAL YEAR 24 PROJECTED ACTUALS VERSUS FISCAL YEAR 25 BUDGETED ACTUALS.

GENERAL FUND SHOWS A DECREASE OF ALMOST $4.3 MILLION. THE DECREASE IN THE DEBT SERVICE FUND CODES IS DUE PRIMARILY TO TAX NOTE 22 BEING DEFEATED IN FEBRUARY OF 24 AND FISCAL YEAR 24. TAX NOTE BEING ISSUED IN SEPTEMBER OF 24. THE DETAILS FOR GENERAL FUND AND SPECIAL REVENUE WILL BE ON THE FOLLOWING SLIDES. THE GENERAL FUND REVENUE ESTIMATE COMPARISONS FOR FISCAL YEAR 24 AND PROJECTED ACTUALS VERSUS FISCAL YEAR 25. ESTIMATE BY CATEGORY SHOWS THAT WE HAVE UNFAVORABLE VARIANCES OF $10.2 MILLION, WHICH ARE PRIMARILY DUE TO INTEREST OF 3.1 MILLION. WE ARE BUDGETING LESS IN INTEREST BECAUSE WE'RE EXPECTING A DECLINE IN THE PRINCIPAL AND IT'S ANTICIPATED DUE TO SPEND DOWN OF ARPA FUNDS. CHARGES FOR SERVICES ARE DOWN BY 2.8 MILLION, MOSTLY DUE TO THE FEDERAL PRISONER DECREASE. INTERGOVERNMENTAL OF 2.6 MILLION IS DUE TO THE FEMA REIMBURSEMENT WE RECEIVED OF $1.4 MILLION, AND THE DISABLED VETERANS PAYMENT OF 987,000. WE DON'T KNOW THAT WE'LL RECEIVE THOSE TYPES OF FUNDS NEXT YEAR. SO WE'RE NOT BUDGETING FOR THEM. OTHER FINANCING SOURCES ARE DOWN BY 1.5 MILLION, WHICH WAS DUE TO THE HEALTH FUND TRANSFER THAT HAPPENED THIS YEAR. THE FAVORABLE VARIANCES ARE $5.9 MILLION AND ARE PRIMARILY DUE TO PROPERTY TAXES. THE CERTIFIED ASSESSMENT DEPICTS 1.3 BILLION IN NEW TAXABLE VALUE TO BE ADDED TO THE TAX ROLLS, APPROXIMATELY $4.9 MILLION IS PROJECTED BY THE COUNTY AUDITOR BASED ON THE TAX RATE ADOPTED FOR FISCAL YEAR 25. UNDER SPECIAL REVENUES, THE SLIDE THAT'S SHOWN IS NOT THE SLIDE THAT WAS INCLUDED IN YOUR PACKETS. THE SLIDE INCLUDED IN YOUR PACKETS HAD THE FY 24 BUDGET AND NOT THE FY 24 PROJECTED ACTUALS ON IT. I TAKE

[04:50:02]

IT BACK. THEY GOT IT UPDATED FOR ME, BUT IT'S NOT THE SAME ONE THAT WAS IN YOUR PACKETS. YOU WILL SEE THAT THE WE'RE SHOWING A FAVORABLE VARIANCE OF $1.1 MILLION IN TOTAL, WHICH COMBINES OTHER FINANCING, WHICH IS MOSTLY TOURIST PROMOTION, PROPERTY TAXES FOR THE PID AND HOTEL MOTEL TAXES, UNFAVORABLE VARIANCES OF $1.9 MILLION ARE NETTED WITH THAT, AND THOSE CAN BE SEEN IN INTERGOVERNMENTAL. WE'RE SEEING ELECTIONS IS DOWN 1.2 MILLION AND THE OPIOID SETTLEMENT OF 159,000, WE'RE EXPECTING TO GET THAT, BUT WE DON'T HAVE ANYTHING DOCUMENTED TO SAY WE'LL GET IT. SO IT'S NOT INCLUDED IN THE BUDGET. INTEREST IS ALSO DOWN BY 500,000. SO THAT GIVES US A NET DECREASE IN SPECIAL REVENUES OF $777,000. COMING BACK TO THE BIG PICTURE FOR GENERAL FUND REVENUE AND EXPENDITURE PROJECTIONS HAVE BEEN BASED ON ACTUAL DATA THROUGH JULY OF 2024 AND PROJECTIONS THROUGH 930 OF 2024. UPDATES HAVE BEEN DEVELOPED IN COLLABORATION WITH BUDGET AND FISCAL POLICY. THE ENDING GENERAL FUND DEPICTS AN END OF FISCAL YEAR 24 FUND 23 FUND BALANCE OF 98.2, AND THAT'S FINALIZED. WE'VE FINISHED THE AUDIT ON THAT. WE'RE LOOKING AT PROJECTED FISCAL YEAR REVENUES OF 388.4 MILLION, PROJECTED EXPENSES OF 401.3 MILLION. THIS IS FOR FY 24, WHICH GIVES US A NET OF 12, A -12.9 MILLION. THAT MEANS OUR FY 24 PRELIMINARY PROJECTED FUND BALANCE AS OF 930 IS 85.3 MILLION. THIS NUMBER WILL CHANGE AS WE BEGIN TO CLOSE THE BOOKS FOR THE YEAR. WE STILL NEED TO GET THROUGH THE MONTH OF SEPTEMBER AND THEN THROUGH THE AUDIT. AS DISCUSSED IN THE PRIOR SLIDE, FISCAL YEAR 23 SHOWS THE GENERAL FUND BALANCE OF APPROXIMATELY 98.2 MILLION, WHICH IS ROUNDED TO 98 ON THE SLIDE. THE FISCAL YEAR 24 PROJECTED FUND BALANCE IS BASED, AS I SAID, ON THE PROJECTED REVENUES OF 388.4 AND A PROJECTED EXPENDITURES OF 401.3, WHICH GIVES US AN INCREASE OF 39.6 MILLION, OR 11%, ON THE EXPENDITURES. THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN REVENUES AND EXPENSES IS 12.9 MILLION, BECAUSE THERE'S TOO MANY VARIABLES. I WOULDN'T DEPEND A LOT ON ANY OF THE INFORMATION. THAT'S AFTER FY 24. AND AS MISS KELLER PREVIOUSLY MENTIONED IN HER OPENING COMMENTS ON THE FINANCIAL HEALTH OF THE COUNTY, THE FUND BALANCE PLAYS AN IMPORTANT PART ON HOW EXTERNAL AGENCIES PERCEIVE OR RATE THE FINANCIAL HEALTH OF THE COUNTY. IF THERE'S NO QUESTIONS, I'D LIKE TO TURN THE PRESENTATION OVER TO JOHN. SARAH. OUR BUDGET DIRECTOR.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU. BARBARA. GOOD AFTERNOON, COMMISSIONERS. JOHN SARAH, DIRECTOR OF BUDGET AND FINANCE, WHAT WE'RE GOING TO GO THROUGH HERE IS GOING TO BE THE FINAL PORTION OF TODAY'S PRESENTATION, AND I WILL BE PROVIDING AN OVERVIEW OF OUR TAX RATE SUMMARY OF THE FY 25 BUDGET SUMMARY, AS WELL. AND WE WILL BE SEEKING A MOTION FROM THE COURT REGARDING THE ADOPTION OF THE PROPOSED BUDGET. OVER HERE YOU CAN SEE OUR HISTORICAL TAX RATES FOR THE LAST TEN YEARS, FOR FY 25, THE TAX RATE WAS ADOPTED ON AUGUST 26TH. 2024 AT 0.4 26 323. THIS IS A 7% DECREASE OVER LAST YEAR'S RATE, AND IT IS ALSO THE SECOND LOWEST TAX RATE IN THE PAST TEN YEARS, WITH THE ABSOLUTE LOWEST BEING IN FY 23. NOW OBVIOUSLY THIS IS BECAUSE OF THE INCREASE IN PROPERTY VALUES.

SO IT EVENS OUT. ON THIS SLIDE, WE SEE THAT THIS CHART HAS BEEN UPDATED TO PROVIDE THE ILLUSTRATION OF HOW MUCH THE AVERAGE HOMEOWNER'S TAX DOLLAR IS DIVIDED UP AMONGST ENTITIES BY YEAR, BY PERCENTAGE, AND BY RATE, AND THIS TAX RATE CHART IS BASED ON THE NEWLY ADOPTED TAX RATES OF EACH ONE OF THOSE ENTITIES. IN FY. SORRY, IN 2024. BLESS YOU. IN 2024, THE COUNTY'S

[04:55:01]

TAX RATE WAS 16.59% OF THE AVERAGE HOMEOWNER'S TOTAL TAX BILL, WHILE IN FY 25 OR IN 2025.

I'M SORRY, THE COUNTY'S TAX RATE IS GOING TO BE 16.42 OF THE TOTAL BILL. AND THIS IS A LIST OF ALL THE CHANGES THAT WERE INCREASED OR DECREASED AS WE WERE WORKING WITH DEPARTMENTS.

AND IT HAS BEEN UPDATED TO INCLUDE THE ADDITIONS THAT WERE MADE SINCE WE SHARED THIS. THIS TABLE WITH YOU ON AUGUST 26TH, AT THIS TIME, SINCE OUR BUDGET HEARING A MONTH AGO, THE TOTAL INCREASE TO THE BUDGET IS 5,024,000 AND $207. SO TO BREAK DOWN FY 25 BUDGET, THE ENTIRE BUDGET IS, 584 MILLION, 584.5 MILLION. SORRY FOR THE COUNTY, WHICH IS 1.99% DECREASE FROM LAST YEAR. AND IF WE WERE TO BREAK IT DOWN BY CATEGORY, 54% OF OUR BUDGET IS PERSONNEL EXPENDITURE, 39% IS OPERATING EXPENDITURES, 3% IS CAPITAL AND 4% ARE TRANSFER OUTS, THE TRANSFER OUTS INCLUDE GRANT MATCHES. NOW, IF WE WERE TO BREAK IT DOWN BY FUND TYPE, THEN GENERAL FUND WOULD BE AT $467 MILLION. SPECIAL REVENUE AT $71.4 MILLION, DEBT SERVICE IS AT THREE 33.8 MILLION, ENTERPRISE FUND IS AT 5.1, AND THE CAPITAL PROJECTS ARE AT $6.9 MILLION. AS A REMINDER, OUR BUDGET RIGHT NOW, OUR FY 25 BUDGET, RIGHT NOW, IF ADOPTED, IT PROJECTS A RESERVE PORTION AT THE CLOSE OF FY 25 OF 5.13%. BUT WE EXPECT THAT THIS THIS PERCENTAGE IS GOING TO INCREASE TO 6.22% AS MISS KELLER, JUST, SHOWED IN A DIFFERENT SLIDE ONCE WE SORT OUT THE ARPA TRANSFERS. OUR GENERAL FUND MAKES UP 79.9% OF THE TOTAL BUDGET, FOLLOWED BY SPECIAL REVENUE AT 12.23%. DEBT SERVICE AT 5.79%, AND CAPITAL PROJECTS AT 1.9%, WE DO NOT BUDGET GRANTS WITHIN THE BUDGET THAT WE TAKE TO YOU FOR ADOPTION, AND WHILE THE GRANTS ARE IMPORTANT PART OF OUR COST DEFERRAL STRATEGY, THEY ARE NOT RECOGNIZED UNTIL AWARDED AND THEREFORE ARE NOT INCLUDED IN OUR ANNUAL FINANCIALS. NOW THE FUNDS ARE BROKEN BY STRATEGIC GOAL, AS MISS KELLER MENTIONED, HOWEVER, THIS SLIDE HIGHLIGHTS OUR GENERAL HOW OUR GENERAL FUND IS BROKEN OUT BY PROGRAM. PUBLIC SAFETY IS OUR LARGEST PORTION OR LARGEST PROGRAM AT 33.46%. AND IT INCLUDES COSTS OF THE SHERIFF, CONSTABLES AND DETENTION FACILITIES, OUR SECOND LARGEST IS GENERAL GOVERNMENT. AND THAT MAKES UP 32.67%. IT INCLUDES OUR RESERVES, CONTINGENCY ACCOUNTS AND THE FUNDING FOR COLLECTIVE BARGAINING INCREASES, AND THEN WE HAVE THE ADMINISTRATION OF JUSTICE, WHICH MAKES UP 20.98%. AND IT INCLUDES COSTS FOR ALL OUR COURTS, COURTS AND SUPPORT DEPARTMENTS. IN CLOSING, I WOULD LIKE TO THANK THE COUNTY DEPARTMENTS FOR THEIR COLLABORATION AND THE COUNTY ADMIN FOR THEIR GUIDANCE, AND UNLESS THE COMMISSIONERS HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, THEN THE MOTION THAT'S BEEN REQUESTED AFTER WE CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING IS TO APPROVE AND ADOPT THE ATTACHED EL PASO COUNTY AND ANNUAL OPERATING BUDGET FOR THE FISCAL YEAR BEGINNING OCTOBER 1ST, 2024, AND ENDING SEPTEMBER 30TH, 2025. JOHN CAN YOU EMPHASIZE THAT IT'S LOWER THAN LAST YEAR? AND THE REASON BEHIND THAT? I IN READING THE BACKGROUND, IT'S A 3%, LESSER TAX RATE, NOT NOT ENTIRELY. BETSY, WOULD YOU LIKE TO. I'M SORRY, WHAT I SAID $0.03. IT'S NOT 3% LOWER. IT'S $0.03 LOWER. DID I SAY 3%? YES I

[05:00:05]

PROBABLY MISHEARD, SIR. YEAH, YEAH. $0.03. YEAH $0.03 LOWER. YEAH. IT'S 1.99%. AND I THINK THAT'S IMPORTANT FOR THE MEDIA. YES. FOR THE MEDIA TO, TO CATCH, BECAUSE IT'S, YOU KNOW, WE'RE BEING SO FRUGAL WITH, WITH THE TAXPAYER MONEY. YES, THAT, WE'RE ACTUALLY, OFFERING THE PUBLIC A TAX SAVINGS. IS THAT CORRECT? SO WE'RE AT NO NEW REVENUE, WHICH MEANS IT'S GOING TO BE MORE OR LESS THE SAME AS LAST YEAR AS THE VALUES GO UP, THE TAX RATE WILL GO DOWN, OBVIOUSLY NOT EVERYBODY WILL SEE EXACTLY THAT RESULT. BUT IN GENERAL, ON AVERAGE, THAT'S GOING TO BE IT.

NOW, OUR TOTAL BUDGET HAD HAS DROPPED BY 1.99%, WHICH IS SIGNIFICANT. WE'RE A $600 MILLION COUNTY, WHEN IT COMES TO BUDGET. SO AND IT DROPPED FROM, FROM 24 BUDGET AS COMPARED TO THE UPCOMING 25 BUDGET. YEAH. AND SO OBVIOUSLY THE REVENUE, WE HAVE MULTIPLE SOURCES OF REVENUE, WHICH SOME OF THEM, AS YOU'RE WELL AWARE, ARE NO LONGER COUNTED FOR FY 25. SO WE HAD TO SHRINK OUR EXPENDITURES ACCORDINGLY AS MISS BETSY, MISS KELLER ACTUALLY MENTIONED BEFOR, COMMISSIONER. NO. AND ON ON THAT NOTE, I JUST WANT TO BE SURE TO ONCE AGAIN, THANK ALL OF OUR DEPARTMENT HEADS, ALL OF OUR ELECTED OFFICIALS. BECAUSE REALLY, FOR THIS YEAR, EVERYONE HAD TO COME TOGETHER. YES, TO TRY TO MAKE THOSE NECESSARY CUTS IN ORDER TO PREVENT A TAX INCREASE TO OUR RESIDENTS. SO I JUST ONCE AGAIN, I WANT TO MAKE SURE TO THANK OUR ELECTED OFFICIALS, OUR DEPARTMENT HEADS, FOR UNDERSTANDING HOW IMPORTANT THAT WAS AND FOR DOING EVERYTHING THAT THEY COULD TO MAKE SURE THAT THEIR BUDGETS, IN A LOT OF CASES, WERE REDUCED AND CERTAINLY NOT INCREASED. ABSOLUTELY. YEAH COMMISSIONERS, COMMISSIONER QUESTION. GO AHEAD.

I BETSY, I HAVE ONE QUESTION. THE RESERVE THAT WE MADE FOR THEIR CAPITAL FOR THE FOR THE DEPARTMENT STILL STANDS THE SAME AS LAST TIME THAT WAS PRESENTED. I KNOW WE DROPPED IT FROM AROUND 11 MILLION OR SO TO ABOUT 1 MILLION. IS THAT RIGHT? CORRECT. WE ONLY BUDGETED ABOUT $1 MILLION OF THE CAPITAL THAT WE NORMALLY BUDGET OVER 14 MILLION. SO ON THAT LIST OF REDUCTIONS ON THE SLIDE OF REDUCTIONS, IT'S OVER $13 MILLION. WE REDUCED FROM OUR CAPITAL. AND COMMISSIONER, IF I MAY ADD ON TO WHAT YOU'RE ASKING, THAT FUND IS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT FOR US TO WORK TO RESTORE, BECAUSE THAT FUND PROHIBITS OR PREVENTS US. I'M SORRY, PREVENTS US FROM HAVING TO ASK FOR THAT FUNDING THROUGH SOME OTHER FORM OF DEBT. LONGER TERM DEBT. AND IT'S MORE AFFORDABLE OR IT'S BETTER TO USE YOUR MONEY AND BE ABLE TO BUY VEHICLES AND THINGS WITH OPERATING CAPITAL VERSUS HAVING TO GET LONG TERM DEBT, LONGER TERM DEBT TO DO THAT. SO OVER THIS NEXT YEAR, WE'LL BE REALLY WORKING TOWARDS RESTORING SOME OF THOSE IMPORTANT THINGS THAT WE HAD TO CUT. YEAH. THAT WAS, YEAH, THAT JUST TO POINT OUT THAT. YEAH. WHILE WE'RE WHILE WE'RE YOU KNOW, DOING THE BEST WE CAN FOR THIS YEAR TO, DO THE NO NEW REVENUE RATE, IT'S STILL I DON'T SEE IT SUSTAINABLE BECAUSE OF THAT ISSUE AND BECAUSE OF THE DROP IN THE FUNDS THAT WE RECEIVE FROM THE FEDS FOR THE FEDERAL INMATES, BECAUSE OF THE INCREASE FROM THE STATE INMATES ON THE OPERATION, LONE STAR HAS BEEN HAS TAKEN A HIT TO OUR BUDGET, MY UNDERSTANDING THAT TOTAL ABOUT 40 MILLION THIS YEAR. IT'S AN IMPACT IN SUSTAINED EXPENSES. AND WE HAVE HAD SO THE DECLINE IN FEDERAL REVENUE IS ABOUT 18 MILLION. AND SO IT'S ABOUT 18 MILLION IN LOST REVENUE. AND THOSE EXPENSES WE'VE HAD TO ABSORB RIGHT. AND JUST SO I PART OF THAT IS OLS PART OF IT IS ALSO SB SIX OR SB FOUR, BILL SIX, SENATE BILL SIX. SORRY I START. WE'VE HAD SO MANY DIFFERENT HARD HITS, SB SIX AND THEN ALSO SOME OF THE OTHER THINGS IMPACTING OUR OUR JAIL POPULATION, ESPECIALLY THE MEDICAL SIDE ALSO HAS GONE WAY UP. YES, SIR. YES AND BEFORE WE GO ANY FURTHER, I JUST WANTED TO ACKNOWLEDGE REPRESENTATIVE JOE MOLINA. THANK YOU FOR JOINING US AND PARTAKING IN OUR BUDGET SESSION. THANK YOU. COMMISSIONER. YOU KNOW, I JUST, THIS IS, YOU KNOW, A WORKABLE BUDGET, BUT I DON'T SEE IT TO BE SUSTAINABLE FOR NEXT YEAR,

[05:05:03]

SPECIFICALLY BECAUSE OF WHAT BETSY HAS MENTIONED ON OUR CAPITAL THAT WE ALLOW EACH YEAR, THAT'S THINGS LIKE VEHICLES OR VESTS FOR OUR LAW ENFORCEMENT, OUR SAFETY VESTS. SO, YOU KNOW, EVERYBODY AND I CONGRATULATE STAFF AND ALL THE DEPARTMENTS THAT DO THAT, BUT, WE NEED TO WE NEED TO PROBABLY BRING THAT UP NEXT YEAR, WE CANNOT SUSTAIN SOMETHING LIKE THAT FOR OUR DEPARTMENT, ESPECIALLY OUR LAW ENFORCEMENT. SO THAT'S ALL I HAVE. COMMISSIONER COMMISSIONER, THANK. THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. JOHN. OKAY. IS THERE ANYBODY IN THE AUDIENCE WHO WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK FOR PUBLIC COMMENT? NO. IF NOT, WE HAVE SOMEBODY. MR. MOLINARO, IF YOU'LL JUST COME TO THE MIC, PLEASE, SIR, WE WILL. WE'LL HAVE YOU SIGN IN AFTERWARDS, SIR.

WELCOME THANK YOU VERY MUCH. MY NAME IS JOE MOLINARO, FOR THE RECORD. COMMISSIONER LEONE, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THE ACKNOWLEDGMENT. I STAND BEFORE YOU HUMBLY BEFORE THIS COURT TO ALL THE COMMISSIONERS I KNOW, JUDGE SAMANIEGO IS NOT PRESENT, BUT TWO OF MY ESTEEMED COLLEAGUES AS WELL. I AM A CITIZEN OF THE CITY OF EL PASO, BUT ALSO OF THE COUNTY OF EL PASO AND THE STATE OF TEXAS. I'M REALLY INTERESTED ON WHAT THE FINANCIAL IMPACT WOULD BE FOR THE COMMON HOUSEHOLD AND THE COUNTY OF EL PASO. HOW MUCH IS THIS GOING TO IMPACT THEM? I KNOW, COMMISSIONER CORONADO, YOU MENTIONED SUSTAINABILITY. THERE'S A LOT OF TIMES WHERE WE CAN'T SUSTAIN CERTAIN THINGS, BUT SOMEHOW OR ANOTHER, BECAUSE WE ARE ELECTED OFFICIALS, WE NEED TO MAKE GOOD THINGS AND EVEN GREAT THINGS HAPPEN FOR THE COMMUNITIES THAT WE SERVE. SO I KNOW PASSING BUDGETS IS NOT THE NECESSARILY THE EASIEST THING TO DO. YOU HAVE TO CUT CORNERS. YOU HAVE TO GO BACK. YOU HAVE TO GO BACK TO THE DRAWING BOARD. YOU GOT TO MAKE SURE THINGS ARE HAPPENING, NOT HAPPENING. NOT EVERYONE IS GOING TO BE SATISFIED. I UNDERSTAND THAT COMPLETELY, IT'S BEEN ROUGH. THERE'S THINGS THAT ARE HAPPENING AND NOT HAPPENING. WE STILL LIVE IN A POST COVID WORLD. BUT THANK YOU VERY MUCH, GENTLEMEN AND MA'AM, FOR ALL YOUR SERVICE IN PUBLIC. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. I BELIEVE THOSE WERE ALL THE SPEAKERS FOR THE PUBLIC HEARING. COULD WE GO AHEAD AND HAVE A MOTION NOW TO CLOSE BEFORE WE DO THAT? BETSY OR WHAT, REPRESENTATIVE MOLINARO WAS ASKING IN TERMS OF THE IMPACT TO THE REGULAR TAXPAYER, THERE IS GOING TO BE A REDUCED TAX RATE, BUT ACTUALLY NO INCREASE IN TAXES. THAT IS CORRECT, COMMISSIONER. THE IT'S A NO NEW REVENUE TAX RATE. SO WHILE OUR RATE IS GOING DOWN $0.03, IF A HOMEOWNER DID NOT SEE IF A HOMEOWNER SAW NO CHANGE IN VALUE, THEIR TAX BILL WOULD GO DOWN IF THEIR THEY SAW AN INCREASE IN THE VALUE OF THEIR HOME BASED ON THE AVERAGE INCREASE, THEN THEY THEIR TAX RATE, THEIR TAX BILL WOULD BE FLAT IF THEIR IF THEIR VALUE OF THEIR HOME INCREASED MORE THAN THAT AVERAGE, THEN THEY WOULD SEE AN INCREASE. BUT IT'S NOT BECAUSE OF OUR RATE, IT'S BECAUSE OF THEIR VALUATION INCREASE. EXACTLY. THAT JUST TO CLARIFY THAT. YEAH. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU. CAN WE HAVE A MOTION TO CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING? OKAY. WE HAVE A MOTION BY COMMISSIONER CORONADO, A SECOND BY COMMISSIONER STOUT. THE VOTING IS OPEN. MOTION CARRIES. SO NOW ITEM. 11 C PURSUANT TO TEXAS LOCAL GOVERNMENT CODE SECTION. OKAY. I'M SORRY, ITEM 11 C PURSUANT TO TEXAS LOCAL

[C. Pursuant to Texas Local Government Code, § 111.068, approve and adopt the attached El Paso County annual operating budget for the fiscal year beginning October 1, 2024, and ending September 30, 2025. John Sarah, Director, Budget and Finance, 915-546-2262]

GOVERNMENT CODE SECTION 111.068 APPROVE AND ADOPT THE ATTACHED EL PASO COUNTY ANNUAL OPERATING BUDGET FOR THE FISCAL YEAR BEGINNING OCTOBER 1ST, 2024 AND ENDING SEPTEMBER 30TH, 2025.

GOOD AFTERNOON, COMMISSIONERS. SO THAT'S THE PRESENTATION WE WENT THROUGH, IT'S NOW UP TO YOU TO DECIDE WHETHER YOU WANT TO ADOPT THIS BUDGET OR NOT. CAN YOU PUT THE SLIDE BACK UP WITH THEM? PROPER MOTION TO APPROVE. COMMISSIONER, I WANTED TO MAKE A COMMENT HERE. YES COMMISSIONER STOUT. THANK YOU. I JUST WANTED TO, TO COMMENT REAL QUICKLY ON THE ON THE BUDGET, I WANT TO

[05:10:01]

FIRST OF ALL, THANK OUR STAFF FOR WORKING SO HARD TO FOLLOW OUR DIRECTIVES TO HOLD THE LINE WHICH WHICH I THINK WE REALLY WE REALLY DID, YOU KNOW, THIS IS A BUDGET THAT, YOU KNOW, IS VERY AUSTERE. IT'S, YOU KNOW, A BUDGET THAT WE, YOU KNOW, THAT I THINK REFLECTS OUR VALUES, EVEN THOUGH WE, YOU KNOW, TAKING INTO ACCOUNT THAT WE HAD TO CUT SOME AREAS THAT TYPICALLY WE TRY TO.

TAKE CARE OF, I ALSO WANT TO CONTINUE TO POINT OUT TO, TO THE PRESS AND TO THE PUBLIC, TO OUR TO OUR LEGISLATIVE DELEGATION THAT THE COST OF UNFUNDED MANDATES FROM THE STATE CONTINUES TO GROW, I DON'T I DON'T KNOW IF WE CAN GO. I DON'T KNOW IF WE HAVE THE OTHER THE OTHER, PRESENTATION THAT WE JUST THAT WE JUST HAD THAT WE CAN PULL UP AGAIN. BUT I THINK I SAW ON THE SLIDE THAT RIGHT THERE. YEAH. SO, YOU KNOW, OVER THE LAST, OVER THE LAST TWO YEARS, SPENT EXPENDITURES THAT WERE MANDATED BY THE STATE WENT UP NEARLY $20 MILLION. 238 MILLION TO 256 MILLION. AND THEN THE SUPPORT SERVICES, WHICH I ALSO AND WE ALSO SHOULD CONSIDER AS, AS PART OF SOME OF THE WHAT GOES TOWARDS THOSE STATE MANDATED PROGRAMS AND SERVICES HAS GONE UP BY CLOSE TO 5 MILLION. SO WE'RE LOOKING AT, YOU KNOW, BETWEEN 20 AND $25 MILLION IN ADDITIONAL UNFUNDED STATE MANDATE COSTS THAT THAT TAXPAYERS HERE IN EL PASO COUNT, ARE, YOU KNOW, ARE LOOKING AT IT WE AND THAT WE AT THE COUNTY HAVE TO DEAL WITH, YOU KNOW, THIS JUST MEANS THAT THE AMOUNT OF OUR BUDGET AND THE PERCENTAGE OF OUR BUDGET THAT IS DISCRETIONARY THAT WE ACTUALLY GET TO DECIDE UPON AND WORK WITH CONTINUES TO SHRINK. AND IT'S, YOU KNOW, IT'S GOING TO CONTINUE TO HAPPEN THAT WAY, ESPECIALLY WITH OPERATION LONE STAR. AND IF YOU KNOW, SB FOUR, THE LAW, THAT WOULD BASICALLY, I THINK BRING ANYWHERE FROM 8 TO 10,000 MORE PEOPLE INTO OUR JAIL. CRIMINALIZING THEM FOR BEING UNDOCUMENTED IN THE STATE OF TEXAS, YOU KNOW, THAT'S THAT'S IT'S JUST UNSUSTAINABLE FOR US. AND SO I REALLY WANT TO REITERATE THE FACT THAT, THIS IS THE STATE, FORCING US TO, TO CUT SERVICES THAT ARE IMPORTANT. AND IN THE PAST, IT'S THE STATE THAT HAS BEEN THE CAUSE OF US HAVING TO RAISE TAXES IN MY HUMBLE OPINION. AND SO, YOU KNOW, I THINK WE NEED TO CONTINUE TO BE VIGILANT. I THINK WE NEED TO CONTINUE TO WORK WITH OUR STATE DELEGATION FOR THEM TO PUSH AND ASK THEM FOR TO ASK FOR THEM TO PUSH FOR ANY TYPE OF TYPE OF BILL THAT WOULD, CURB THIS, THIS, THIS GROWTH IN, IN UNFUNDED MANDATES, IN THIS INDIRECT STATE TAX THAT WE GET BLAMED FOR, HERE AT THE LOCAL LEVEL, I THINK IT'S A LOT OF SMOKE AND MIRRORS AT THE STATE LEVEL. THEY TALK ABOUT PROVIDING TAX RELIEF, YOU KNOW, WITH WITH REVENUE WITH REVENUE CAPS. AND THEY TALK ABOUT PROVIDING TAX RELIEF WHEN IT COMES TO OTHER TAXING ENTITIES LIKE THE SCHOOL DISTRICTS. BUT OVER HERE, THEY'RE INCREASING THE AMOUNT OF, FUNDING OR SPENDING THAT WE HAVE TO DO AT THE COUNTY LEVEL.