Oct 07, 2024 Commissioners Court Regular

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THAT. ALL. OF. THAT. MONEY. ALL OF. THAT. MONEY. ALL.

OF.

THAT.

ALL. OF. THAT.

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CAESAR! GO AHEAD. GOOD MORNING, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN. TODAY IS MONDAY, OCTOBER 7TH, 2024.

COMMISSIONERS COURT IS MEETING IN REGULAR OPEN SESSION THIS MORNING. WE'RE JOINED BY OUR ASL INTERPRETERS. TAMARA MARQUEZ AND DARIO GARCIA. COMMISSIONER ELGIN, WOULD YOU LIKE TO

[1. OPEN MEETING]

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[3. INVOCATION]

AND WE HOPE THAT WORKS OUT AND ALLOWS US TO REALLY FOCUS ON SOME OF THE MAJOR ISSUES WHEN WE'RE BRIGHT AND ALERT IN THE MORNING. AND SO WE THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. LOTS OF GREAT TOPICS TODAY. SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THOSE THAT ARE WATCHING US VIRTUALLY AND HEARING US VIRTUALLY, WE THANK YOU FOR JOINING US. SO WISHING ALL OF YOU A GREAT MONDAY AND JUST AN AMAZING WEEK. THANK YOU CESAR. ITEM NUMBER FOUR IS THE CONSENT AGENDA, COMPOSED OF ITEMS FOUR A THROUGH FOUR A, F. ARE THERE ANY ITEMS THAT MEMBERS OF THE COURT OR THE PUBLIC WOULD LIKE TO PULL FOR INDIVIDUAL DISCUSSION? IF THERE ISN'T, I'LL MOVE TO APPROVE. WE HAVE A MOTION FROM

[4. CONSENT AGENDA]

FIRST, WE HAVE MISS ELIZABETH CRAWFORD. I DO WANT TO REMIND SPEAKERS AND PUBLIC COMMENT THAT

[5. PUBLIC COMMENT]

WE'RE TRYING TO GET HER BACK ON THE CALL. OKAY. STAND BY. PLEASE GO TO THE NEXT ONE. PLEASE. ALL HAVE BEEN FORWARDED TO AN AUTOMATIC VOICE MESSAGE SYSTEM. SHE WASN'T AVAILABLE, SO WE'LL GO TO THE NEXT SPEAKER. MR. MAX GROSSMAN. OKAY. WHO'S THE NEXT SPEAKER? YES. MAX GROSSMAN HERE.

OKAY. WELCOME. CAN YOU HEAR ME? YES, YES. GO AHEAD. WELCOME, DOCTOR GROSSMAN. OKAY. THANK

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IF ALL OF THAT GETS APPROVED, WHICH WOULD GENERATE ABOUT 1.5 BILLION, MAYBE A BIT MORE IN PRINCIPAL AND INTEREST AT CURRENT INTEREST RATES. THE COUNTY HAS A MAXIMUM BONDING CAPACITY OF $500 MILLION. AS YOU'VE BEEN TOLD BY YOUR BOND COUNSEL. AND YOU'VE ALSO BEEN TOLD THAT YOU CANNOT ISSUE $1 BEYOND THAT IN DEBT UNTIL 2030. AND SO YOU ARE MAXED OUT IN TERMS OF YOUR BONDING CAPACITY FOR THE NEXT SIX YEARS. OTHERWISE, YOU WOULD RISK A CREDIT DOWNGRADE FROM FITCH, MOODY'S, MOODY'S AND S&P. AND THAT BRINGS ME TO THE DECK PLAZ.

THE COUNTY IS POISED TO SPONSOR THE DECK PLAZA, EVEN AS TEXDOT WOULD OWN IT. OKAY. NOW, IF YOU'VE READ MY EMAILS, YOU KNOW THAT STANTEC CAME BACK WITH A FIGURE OF $412 MILLION IN $2,027 FOR THE COST OF THIS PROJECT, AND I HAVE THE DOCUMENTATION. I'VE SHARED IT WITH THE PUBLIC IN THE MEDIA. YOU WERE TOLD 207 MILLION BY TRACY YELLEN, BETSY KELLER AND MANY OTHER PEOPLE.

THAT NUMBER IS A NUMBER THAT WAS ARBITRARY AND INVENTED, RIGHT? I SPOKE TO THE CITY MANAGER. I SPOKE TO A LOT OF PEOPLE, INCLUDING TRACY YELLEN, AND NOBODY CAN EXPLAIN TO ME HOW YOU GET FROM 412 MILLION TO 207 MILLION. WELL, WE'LL ELIMINATE THE PUBLIC PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS AND SO ON. BUT THE FACT IS THAT $412 MILLION FIGURE WAS NOT A DRAFT. THAT IS THE NUMBER, OKAY, THAT YOU PAID STANTEC TO PRODUCE. PART OF ME THAT YELLEN'S GROUP DID IN AT $1.3 MILLION FEASIBILITY STUDY. YOU SHOULD ALL BE VERY ALARMED ABOUT THAT. HAVE YOU SEEN THE $412 MILLION FIGURE WITH THE ITEMIZED BREAKDOWN OF COSTS? HAVE YOU ASKED HOW YOU GET FROM 412 MILLION TO 207 MILLION? NOW, A FEW POINTS HERE. THE DALLAS DECK PLAZA KLYDE WARREN PARK COST $5 MILLION A YEAR TO OPERATE. THAT'S A THREE BLOCK PARK. WE'RE TALKING ABOUT BUILDING A FIVE BLOCK PARK WITH A LOT OF STUFF ON TOP THAT WILL PROBABLY COST AT LEAST DOUBLE TO OPERATE.

OKAY. I SPOKE TO TRACY YELLEN TWO THURSDAYS AGO, AND I'M GOING TO TELL YOU SOMETHING REALLY IMPORTANT. I HOPE YOU'RE LISTENING. TRACY YELLEN TOLD ME POINT BLANK THAT THE COUNTY WILL BE LEGALLY RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY COST OVERRUN ON THIS DECK PLAZA, AS WELL AS ANNUAL KNOW. IF YOU AGREE TO SPONSOR THE PROJECT, THAT SHOULD BE REALLY SOBERING, CONSIDERING THE POTENTIAL FOR A NINE FIGURE COST OVERRUN. TXDOT WILL OWN THAT DECK PLAZA, WHICH MEANS THAT IF THERE'S MAINTENANCE REQUIRED, LIKE REPORTING OR SUPPORT OR DIFFERENTIAL SETTLEMENT THAT REQUIRES DEMOLITION, ANY ASSETS ON TOP OF THE DECK PARK CAN BE LOST AND TXDOT IS NOT GOING TO GUARANTEE ITS WORK TO SAFEGUARD THE ASSETS THAT ARE BUILT ON TOP OF IT. YELLEN ALSO TOLD YOU THAT SHE WANTS A TRES A QUARTER MILE ON EITHER SIDE OF THE DUCK PLAZA. THE CITY JUST ELIMINATED TRES TWO. THEY JUST ELIMINATED THE TRES BECAUSE IT WAS A MONEY LOSER. IN ANY CASE, YOU'VE BEEN SAYING SEVERAL OF YOU, CORONADO SAMANIEGO, THAT THE DECK PLAZA IS A GAME CHANGER. IT'S GOING TO INCREASE PROPERTY TAX REVENUES. YOU CREATE A TRES. YOU'VE JUST GIVEN AWAY THOSE PROPERTY TAX REVENUES. YOU'VE JUST GIVEN AWAY THE WINDFALL FOR WHO KNOWS HOW MANY YEARS IT GETS REABSORBED BY THE TRES, RATHER THAN ENDING UP IN THE COUNTY COFFERS. THE BOTTOM LINE IS, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO WHEN YOU FACE A COST OVERRUN IN THE HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS? PLUS, NO, OF $10 MILLION A YEAR OR MORE WHEN YOU CANNOT BOND A SINGLE DOLLAR MORE BETWEEN NOW AND THE YEAR 2030, YOU SHOULD NOT SPONSOR THIS THING. YOU SHOULD NOT SPONSOR THIS THING AT ALL. AND QUITE FRANKLY, CITY STAFF AND I'M TALKING ABOUT MISS KELLER SHOULD BE TELLING YOU THIS AND LOOKING AT YOUR FINANCES AND ADVISING YOU THAT IT'S INADVISABLE TO PROCEED WITH SPONSORSHIP OF A DECK PLAZA, NO MATTER HOW MUCH YOU WANT IT. OKAY, NOW, I'VE BEEN VERY DISAPPOINTED WITH THIS COMMISSIONERS COURT. WITH THE EXCEPTION OF ILIANA HOLGUIN ON

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BETSY, WILL YOU DO? THERE'S A COUPLE OF THINGS THAT WERE MENTIONED. COULD YOU SORT OF FACT CHECK THEM TO MAKE SURE THAT THAT THAT THE PUBLIC IS REALLY GETTING THE RIGHT INFORMATION OTHER THAN SINGULAR COMMENTS. SO BUT WE'LL WORK ON ON THAT DISCUSSION. THANK YOU.

WE'LL BRING THAT ITEM. OKAY. WE'LL PLACE AN ITEM BACK. THANK YOU BETSY. BETSY, FOR THE RECOR.

THE WHEN WE GO OUT FOR GENERAL OBLIGATION BONDS, THE COURT IS NOT ISSUING THESE BONDS ARE THEY. IT'S DEPENDING ON THE VOTERS. ALL THESE 600 AND 700 MILLION. RIGHT? CORRECT. YOU ORDER AN ELECTION, IT'S UP TO THE TAXPAYERS TO DECIDE THIS, NOT US. RIGHT. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. COMMISSIONER. GO AHEAD. THANK YOU. DO WE HAVE MISS? SHE'S NOT ON YET. WE'RE TRYING TO GET HER BACK ON. BUT WE CAN GO TO THE NEXT SPEAKER. SURE. NEXT. WE HAVE MR. BRIAN STANLEY. GOOD MORNING BRIAN. GOOD MORNING, COMMISSIONERS COURT. GOOD MORNING, JUDGE BRIAN STANLEY WITH THE DOMESTIC RELATIONS OFFICE. I'M HERE THIS MORNING. ONE OF MY EMPLOYEES, MISS JOSEFINA TOSCANO. THIS IS HER 20TH ANNIVERSARY HERE WITH EL PASO COUNTY THIS MONTH. AND I WANTED TO TELL YOU A LITTLE BIT ABOUT MISS TOSCANO. SHE WAS BORN IN JUAREZ, MEXICO. SHE WENT TO SCHOOL IN RIVERSIDE HIGH, WHERE SHE WAS THE CLASS SALUTATORIAN. SHE HAS TWO SONS. SHE HAS FOUR GRANDCHILDREN AND ONE GRANDCHILD ON THE WAY THIS THANKSGIVING, SHE ENJOYS YOGA, THE JOB TITLE SHE'S HAD SINCE SHE'S BEEN HERE. SHE'S A SOCIAL WORKER WITH OUR OFFICE FOR 20 YEARS. SHE CONDUCTS ORDERS ON ADOPTION EVALUATION AND LIMITED INVESTIGATION, AND SHE STARTED OUT WITH OUR OFFICE AS AN INTER. HER MOST MEMORABLE MOMENT HERE AT EL PASO COUNTY. SHE RECALLS SPENDING A CONSIDERABLE AMOUNT OF TIME WITH PARENTS TRYING TO REACH AGREEMENTS. MANY TIMES THE PARENTS WOULD INITIALLY AGREE TO SOMETHING AFTER SPENDING MUCH TIME WITH HER, ONLY TO CHANGE THEIR MIND LATER AT. THEIR ATTORNEY LATER ADDRESSED THIS ISSUE BY FORMALIZING THESE AGREEMENTS INTO ORDERS, MAKING THE EFFORTS SHE PUT FORWARD INTO AGREEMENTS WORTHWHILE. WHAT SHE LIKES MOST IS HERE, WORKING HER JOB HERE AND SPENDING TIME WITH HER GRANDCHILDREN WHO CALL HER LITA. SO PLEASE, I WOULD LIKE TO RECOGNIZE HER FOR ON HER 20TH ANNIVERSARY HERE IN EL PASO COUNTY. WE THANK YOU, BRIAN. WE ALWAYS LOVE THAT. BUT TELL US A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT YOURSELF, OKAY. JUST A LITTLE BIT MORE A LITTLE BIT MORE. OH MY GOODNESS. THANK YOU. WELL IT'S JUST BEEN A PLEASURE BEING HERE AT THE COUNTY. I'VE SEEN A LOT OF CHANGES SOMETIMES FOR THE GOOD, SOMETIMES NOT SO GOOD. BUT OVERALL I REALLY ENJOY MY JOB. CURRENTLY WE HAVE A GREAT TEAM.

MR. STANLEY HAS BEEN A GREAT BOSS AND MY BOSS ALSO MARIA. SHE'S AWESOME AND I REALLY ENJOY MY JOB WELL THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING THAT YOU DO. IF YOU DON'T MIND, IF WE COULD TAKE A QUICK PICTURE WITH YOU JUST TO HELP YOU CELEBRATE YOUR 20TH ANNIVERSARY. THANK YOU, THANK YOU, APPRECIATE. IT. I'M SORRY. HOW ARE YOU DOING YOURSELF? GOOD. I'M READY.

SMILES ONE. TWO. THREE.

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[A. Discuss and take appropriate action to authorize the waiver of parking fees at Ascarate Park on October 19, 2024, for the annual NAMI Walks El Paso event. David Stout, Commissioner, Precinct 2, 915-546-2111]

OKAY. IS HE THERE? I DON'T KNOW IF YOU HAVE ANYTHING. ANY COMMENTS YOU'D LIKE TO MAKE BEFORE WE BEFORE WE BEFORE WE VOTE. GOOD MORNING. YES. I'M SORRY TO SURPRISE YOU ALL HERE ONLINE. GOOD MORNING JUDGE. GOOD MORNING COMMISSIONERS. I HOPE YOU ALL ARE HAVING A WONDERFUL MORNING. THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER, FOR SUPPORTING THIS AND LOOKING FOR THE COMMISSIONER'S COURT SUPPORT. NAMI WALK EL PASO HAS BECOME OUR REGION'S LARGEST MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS EVENT. AND THAT'S NO DOING TO US. MOVING TO ASCOT PARK IN 2019, AND WE'VE BEEN GRACIOUSLY HOSTING IT SINCE THERE WHEN WE CAN OF COURSE, EXCEPT FOR THE YEARS OF COVID AND SO WE WOULD APPRECIATE THE CONTINUED SUPPORT THE CHANGE IN IN THE NO PARKING FEES WAS REALLY HELPFUL FOR US LOGISTICALLY, GETTING AS MANY PEOPLE THERE AS POSSIBLE. WE KNOW WE'RE TRIGGERING THE OVER THE 1000 BECAUSE WE HAVE CONTINUED TO BE THE LARGEST MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS EVENT, AND SO ANY SUPPORT AND MAKING SURE THAT WE CAN GET EVERYBODY THERE AS ACCESSIBLE AS POSSIBLE FOR EVERYBODY, WE WOULD REALLY APPRECIATE IT. AND WE APPRECIATE THIS COURT'S CONTINUED SUPPORT OF MENTAL HEALTH GENERALLY WITHIN POLICY, WITHIN THE COMMUNITY, AND ENSURING THAT WE CAN MAKE SURE THAT INDIVIDUALS HAVE AS MUCH ACCESS AS POSSIBLE AND THAT WE'RE CONTINUING THIS IMPORTANT CONVERSATION. THANK YOU. GREAT EVENT, BUT THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING THAT YOU DO. YOU'RE JUST RELENTLESS IN HELPING OUR COMMUNITY WITH WITH MENTAL HEALTH AND YOUR PARTNERSHIP WITH COMMISSIONER STOUT. WE THANK YOU FOR THAT. WE HAVE A MOTION FROM COMMISSIONER. I'M SORRY. GO AHEAD. SIR. NO, I WAS JUST GOING TO SAY I'LL MAKE THE MOTION. IF SOMEBODY ALREADY MADE IT. THAT'S FINE. YEAH. IF WE COULD DO THAT, WHOEVER'S PRESENTING MAKE THE MOTION IN THE SECOND. SO IT WOULD BE LIANA WOULD BE SECOND. YEAH. IF YOU COULD SECOND WITH ILEANA. IS IT POSSIBLE? IF NOT, WE'LL BE OKAY LIKE THAT. SO WE HAVE A MOTION FROM COMMISSIONER STOUT AND A SECOND FROM COMMISSIONER HOLGUIN. OKAY, PERFECT. THE VOTING IS OPEN. I VOTE I. AND MOTION CARRIES. THANK YOU. JUDGE, REALLY QUICK, BEFORE WE LEAVE THIS ITEM, IF I JUST MENTION COMMISSIONER STOUT. I'M SORRY. WE DID. WE HAVE PUT TOGETHER A COUNTY TEAM AND WE'VE SENT THE INVITE OUT TO COUNTY EMPLOYEES. WE'VE HAD A TEAM IN PAST YEARS, BUT IF ANY EMPLOYEE WOULD LIKE TO JOIN US FOR THE WALK, WE'VE SENT OUT INFORMATION ON HOW THEY CAN REGISTER. EXCELLENT. AND WE'VE ALREADY WE ALREADY HAVE FOUR PEOPLE SIGNED UP. WE JUST SENT IT OUT. SO WE LOOK FORWARD TO HAVING GREAT REPRESENTATION FROM THE COUNTY FOR A MATTER THAT'S REALLY IMPORTANT TO ALL OF US. EXCELLENT OR YEAH, MY TEAM WILL TRY TO BE THERE AS WELL. THANK YOU. THANK YOU SIR. THANK YOU. ITEM NUMBER SIX BE DISCUSS AND TAKE APPROPRIATE ACTION REGARDING A LETTER OF SUPPORT TO THE U.S. ENVIRONMENTAL

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[B. Discuss and take appropriate action regarding a letter of support to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for a community-led grant application for a study on the effects of climate change on low-income neighborhoods, and community-based engagement and mitigation at the neighborhood scale. (#6037-OP) David Stout, Commissioner, Precinct 2, 915-546-2111]

BUT OTHERWISE IT'S PRETTY SELF-EXPLANATORY. THE PROJECT GOALS INCLUDE IMPROVING INDOOR AIR QUALITY, REDUCING HEAT IN NEIGHBORHOODS, REDUCING EMISSIONS, CREATING JOBS, AND ENGAGING IN ENGAGING THE COMMUNITY, AMONG OTHER GOALS. IT DOES SO BY RETROFITTING MORE THAN 700 HOMES WITH HIGH QUALITY AIR FILTRATION SYSTEMS AND ENERGY EFFICIENT HVAC SYSTEMS, INSTALLING SOLAR SYSTEMS ON THREE BETWEEN 30 TO 100 HOMES, CONSTRUCTING COMMUNITY RESILIENCE HUBS WITH A MICROGRID INFRASTRUCTURE, PLANTING THOUSANDS OF TREES AND PROVIDING WORKFORCE TRAINING FOR OUR WORKFORCE. TRAINING PROGRAMS. OUR ATTORNEYS HAVE REVIEWED IT AND FIND THAT THERE'S NO ISSUES WITH THE LETTERS, SO I BELIEVE WE MAY HAVE SOME FOLKS ON THE LINE TO SPEAK, BUT ONCE THAT HAPPENS, WE'LL GO AHEAD AND VOT. WE HAVE SPEAKERS SIGNED UP FOR SIX C. WE DO NOT HAVE ANY SIGNED UP FOR BE OKAY. WE DON'T HAVE ANYBODY FOR B, OKAY, THEN I DON'T KNOW IF ANY OF THE MEMBERS OF THE COURT HAVE. WE DO HAVE A QUESTION. WE HAVE. GO AHEAD FOR THAT PARTICULAR ITEM. YES. OKAY. YEAH, ABSOLUTELY. GO AHEAD SIR. MR. PAUL DIP THANK YOU PAUL, FOR BEING HERE. THANK YOU JUDGE. GOOD MORNING. GOOD MORNING COMMISSIONERS. GOOD MORNING, COMMISSIONER STOUT. IT'S GREAT TO SEE YOU THIS MORNING. AND LET ME START BY SAYING THAT REGARDING AND I REPRESENT ECONOMY CASH AND CARRY REGARDING THE LETTER OF SUPPORT FOR ALL THE ITEMS THAT COMMISSIONER STOUT HAS JUST DESCRIBED, WE COULD WE ARE FULLY SUPPORTIVE OF BOTH HIS EFFORTS IN THIS REGARD AND BOTH THE MANNER IN WHICH RIO GRANDE IS APPROACHING THIS, BECAUSE WE OURSELVES ARE INVOLVED IN IN MANY CIVIC ORGANIZATIONS, INCLUDING NEIGHBORHOOD GROUPS. THE PURPOSE OF MY REQUEST TO VISIT WITH YOU TODAY IS SIMPLY TO MAKE YOU AWARE OF A BUSINESS PERSPECTIVE REGARDING THE PROPOSED CLOSURE OF COMMERCIAL TRAFFIC AT BODA FOR THOSE THAT MAY NOT KNOW, AND MANY OF US DID NOT KNOW UNTIL VERY RECENTLY, THE PROPOSAL THAT IS BEING PUT FORTH, IT'S RECOMMENDED BY THE GOVERNMENT, IS TO CLOSE THE COMMERCIAL LANES AT THE BRIDGE OF THE AMERICAS BRIDGE. I'D LIKE TO SHARE WITH YOU JUST A PERSPECTIVE HERE. AND AGAIN, COMMISSIONER STOUT, AS ALWAYS, YOU'VE ALWAYS YOU'RE ALWAYS QUITE THOUGHTFUL AND A LEADER IN NEIGHBORHOOD ISSUES. AND I WOULD LIKE TO SEPARATE WHAT YOU JUST DISCUSSED, WHICH WE FULLY SUPPORT WITH THE CLOSURE OF THE COMMERCIAL TRAFFIC, WHICH MAY, YOU MAY OR MAY NOT AGREE WITH. AND I'M NOT MAKING AN ASSUMPTION JUST JUST ONE SECOND. CAN WE. BECAUSE THAT'S NOT THE ITEM THAT WE'RE READING. IS THAT GOING TO BE AN ISSUE OR CAN WE CAN WE ALSO READ IN JUST SO WE HAVE THEM BOTH IN THE RECORD SEVEN SIX? THE SECOND ITEM THAT WE IT'LL BE MORE RELEVANT TO, I'M SORRY I IT'S JUST PROCEDURAL. YEAH. THIS THIS THIS THIS IS A LETTER OF SUPPORT FOR SOMETHING THAT THE RIO GRANDE NEIGHBORHOOD WANT WANTS TO DO. IT'S NOT THE, IT'S NOT THE LETTER THAT WE WOULD BE SENDING TO THE GSA, MR. GIBSON. SO I DON'T KNOW IF YOU WANT TO SPEAK ON THIS ONE AND THAT ONE OR JUST THE OTHER ONE. NO, SIMPLY THE OTHER ONE. OKAY.

THANK YOU. PAUL. COMMISSIONER STOUT, WHAT WERE WE GOING TO CHANGE THE WORD PORTFOLIO TO IN THE LETTER TO CHANGE. SO IT SAYS EL PASO COUNTY'S PORTFOLIO. BUT YOU SAID WE WERE YOU DIDN'T LIKE THE WORD PORTFOLIO. YEAH. HOLD ON ONE SECOND, COMMISSIONER. I THINK IT'S CHARGE. SO EL PASO COUNTY'S CHARGE CHARGE CHARGE INCLUDES PUBLIC. YES. OKAY. THANK YOU. YES. THANK YOU. WE HAVE A MOTION. SO YEAH. I'LL MOVE TO APPROVE. WE HAVE A MOTION FROM COMMISSIONER STOUT AND A SECOND FROM JUDGE SAMANIEGO. THE VOTING IS OPEN. I HAVE A QUESTION FOR YOU, COMMISSIONER STOUT. THIS GRANT APPLICATION, IS IT GOING TO REQUIRE FUNDS FROM THE COUNTY? MATCHING. THIS IS A LETTER OF SUPPORT. JUST TO SUPPORT, TO DO IT. THIS IS NOT WE'RE NOT, WE'RE

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THANK YOU. COMMISSIONERS. COMMISSIONER STOUT, YOUR VOTE PLEASE. COMMISSIONER YOU'RE MUTED AND WE CAN'T SEE YOUR CAMERA. YES. SORRY IT'S I MY VOTE IS I THANK YOU. MOTION CARRIES. ITEM NUMBER SIX SEE DISCUSS AND TAKE APPROPRIATE ACTION REGARDING THE SUBMISSION OF A LETTER OF SUPPORT TO THE U.S. GENERAL SERVICES ADMINISTRATION FOR ALTERNATIVE FOR THE PREFERRED ALTERNATIVE IDENTIFIED BY THE GSA IN ITS DRAFT ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT

[C. Discuss and take appropriate action regarding the submission of a letter of support to the U.S. General Services Administration for Alternative 4, the preferred alternative identified by the GSA in its draft Environmental Impact Statement published September 20, 2024.  (#6028-OP) David Stout, Commissioner, Precinct 2, 915-546-2111]

DO YOU WANT TO INTRODUCE THE ITEM? YEAH. OKAY. SO JUDGE AND COMMISSIONERS IS AS YOU KNOW, WE'VE BEEN ADVOCATING FOR REMOVING COMMERCIAL ACTIVITY FROM BOTAS SINCE WE STARTED TO ENGAGE WITH THE GSA ABOUT THIS PROJECT, WHICH AS FAR AS I KNOW, IS SUPPORTED BY EVERYONE WHO HAS REGISTERED AN OPINION THUS FAR FROM WHAT WE'VE FROM WHAT WE'VE ASCERTAINED, IT'S A LOT OF MONEY TO BE SPENT HERE. AND IT PROMISES SIGNIFICANT IMPROVEMENTS TO PORTS OPERATIONS, WHICH IS GOOD FOR OUR COMMUNITY AND FOR THE PEOPLE WHO WORK THERE. THE COURT AS A BODY HAS BEEN SUPPORTIVE OF ELEVATING PUBLIC HEALTH, BUT HAS ALSO WORKED VERY HARD TO PROMOTE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IN MANY WAYS, INCLUDING TRADE AT OUR PORTS OF ENTRY. AND I THINK THAT THIS IS THE TIME TO ISSUE A CLEAR STATEMENT IN SUPPORT OF BOTH. THE GSA HAS PRODUCED AN EXTENSIVE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT AND THE DOCUMENT IN WHICH THEY INVESTIGATE ECONOMIC, SOCIAL, ENVIRONMENTAL, CULTURAL AND OTHER CRITERIA. AND AFTER THAT, THEY RECOMMENDED ALTERNATIVE FOUR, WHICH STREAMLINING, WHICH WOULD BE STREAMLINING BRIDGE OPERATIONS TO FOCUS ON PASSENGER VEHICLES AND PEDESTRIAN TRAFFIC. I'M ASKING THE COURT SUPPORT TO SUBMIT A COMMENT IN FAVOR OF THAT FEDERALLY IDENTIFIED OPTIO. THIS AREA OF EL PASO IS OVERBURDENED WITH INDUSTRIAL FACILITIES AND ROADWAYS. THIS IS AN HISTORIC OPPORTUNITY TO REDUCE THE HARMFUL IMPACT OF COMMERCIAL TRAFFIC ON DENSELY POPULATED URBAN CORE NEIGHBORHOODS, WHILE AT THE SAME TIME CONTINUING TO FUNCTION REGIONALLY AS A SIGNIFICANT ISSUE FOR PEOPLE, GOODS AND SERVICES INTO OUR COUNTRY. THE TRAFFIC WILL BE INTERRUPTED FOR AT LEAST TWO YEARS, PROBABLY MORE REGARDLESS OF WHICH OPTION IS PICKED. SO UNLESS WE DON'T WANT THE PROJECT AT ALL, WE HAVE TO BE READY TO MAKE THE REGIONAL ADJUSTMENTS THAT WE NEED. AND I THINK WE DO WANT THE PROJECTS ACTUALLY, YOU KNOW, I KNOW WE DO. WE AT THE COUNTY HAVE BEEN PREPARING FOR THE CHANGES TO COME AND WE WILL CONTINUE TO DO SO. AND THAT'S WHY WE HAVE PROMOTED THE TORNILLO PORT OF ENTRY, THE MARCELINO SERNA PORT OF ENTRY. EVERY CHANCE THAT WE GET. FOR EXAMPLE, IT DID CREATE A BUZZ WHEN THE FUNDING WAS ANNOUNCED FOR FOUR YEARS AGO.

AND AS CONGRESSWOMAN ESCOBAR WROTE TO ALL OF US ON FRIDAY, QUOTE, IN AUGUST 2022, GSA BEGAN A SERIES OF MEETINGS THAT WOULD SPAN TWO YEARS AND INCLUDED GOVERNMENT AND ELECTED STAKEHOLDERS FROM EL PASO AND NEW MEXICO NEIGHBORHOOD GROUPS AND A NUMBER OF OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE PUBLIC AT LARGE TO ENGAGE ANY INDIVIDUALS OR GROUP WHO DID NOT WANT TO PARTICIPATE IN THE PUBLIC MEETINGS. HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO PROVIDE COMMENTS AND DATA DIRECTLY TO THE GSA.

END QUOTE. HER OFFICE HAS CONVENED A NUMBER OF MEETINGS AS WELL, AND SHE NOTES IN THE LETTER THAT TRAFFIC HAS BEEN TRENDING DOWN AT THE BRIDGE OF THE AMERICAS. AND THAT, QUOTE SAYS, WE HAVE BEEN ASSURED BY CBP A NUMBER OF TIMES THAT THE OTHER PORTS CAN TAKE ON THE ADDITIONAL COMMERCIAL TRAFFIC, END QUOTE. SO, AGAIN, TORNILLO IS A CRITICAL, CRITICAL PART OF THIS ABILITY, A BOOKEND TO SANTA TERESA TO THE WEST. AND YSLETA IN BETWEEN. JUST AS WE WANT THE PROJECT, WE'RE ALSO COMMITTED TO BEING A LEADING STAKEHOLDER IN EL PASO COUNTY, IS OPEN FOR THE FOR THE GROWING TRADE BETWEEN THE US AND MEXICO BECAUSE WE YOU KNOW, WE WANT THIS TO BE A GREAT COMMUNITY FOR ALL OF OUR RESIDENTS. AND THAT REQUIRES STRONG LEADERSHIP TO MAKE SURE THAT WE TAKE PUBLIC HEALTH AND NEIGHBORHOOD QUALITY OF LIFE INTO ACCOUNT AS WE CONTINUE TO EXPAND BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES. AND AGAIN, AS A CONGRESSWOMAN STATED IN HER LETTER, QUOTE, EL PASO AND CIUDAD JUAREZ MUST WORK TOGETHER TO CONSIDER HOW THE BEST OR HOW TO BEST ADJUST AND PREPARE FOR THE MOVEMENT OF COMMERCIAL TRAFFIC, WHICH IS CRITICALLY IMPORTANT FOR OUR INDUSTRY PARTNERS AND THE GENERAL WELFARE OF OUR LOCAL AND NATIONAL ECONOMY. AND I THINK WE

[00:40:01]

MR. DIP, PLEASE THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH AGAIN FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO ADDRESS YOU. CAN I ASK HOW LONG I HAVE SO FIVE, FIVE MINUTES. FIVE MINUTES. OKA. I'D LIKE TO OFFER YOU A BUSINESS PERSPECTIVE REGARDING THE PROPOSED CLOSURE OF THE COMMERCIAL TRAFFIC AT BODA. I'D LIKE TO START WITH THE HISTORY BODA HAS PROVIDED TRANSPORTATION ACCESS AND EXISTING INFRASTRUCTURE SERVING ALL PARTS OF THE CITY AT NO COST TO THE TRUCKERS. THE CORRIDOR IS WELL ESTABLISHED AND IN FACT, TXDOT HAS CREATED A SERIES OF ACCESS LANES TO DIFFERENT PARTS OF THE CITY. SO I'D LIKE TO STATE, AS WE WERE STUDYING AT ECONOMY, THE POSSIBILITY OF GOING TO NORTHEAST EL PASO TO EXPAND OUR OPERATION, WHICH WE DECIDED ULTIMATELY NOT TO DO, WE WERE LOOKING AT THE SAFEWAY DISTRIBUTION CENTER, WHICH IS AT THE CORNER OF TRANS MOUNTAIN AND NORTH LOOP. THE ACCESS POINT FROM THE BRIDGE TO THAT LOCATION IS 12 MINUTES, AND THAT'LL GIVE YOU ONE EXAMPLE OF THE MOST DISTANT LOCATION THAT THIS PROVIDES. HOWEVER, BUTTERFIELD TRAIL IS INFECTED, OF COURSE, AND THE ACCESS FROM BODA STRAIGHT TO BUTTERFIELD IS VERY ATTRACTIVE AS WELL AS THE AREAS IN THE CENTRAL PART OF THE CITY NEAR HAWKINS. THE INDUSTRIAL PARKS THAT ALIGN THE REST OF THE PARTS OF THE CITY. AND AS YOU KNOW, WE'RE RELIANT VERY MUCH ON MEXICO. WE'RE RELIANT ON THE TWIN PLANTS. AND THIS IS VERY CLOSE TO THE TWIN PLANTS. THEY RELY ON THIS ACCESS POINT IN GREAT MEASURE, AS THEY DO OTHERS. THE RENOVATION AND DISCONTINUING SERVICE AND RENO RELOCATION WERE NOT CLEARLY UNDERSTOOD. I SO I APPRECIATE THE CLARIFICATION, COMMISSIONER STOUT. WE BELIEVE THAT WE'RE IN THE FOREFRONT OF EXPORTING TO MEXICO AND IMPORTING FROM MEXICO. AS FAR AS OUR GROCERY BUSINESS, I CAN ASSURE YOU WE NEVER RECEIVED ANY INFORMATION ON THIS. WE WERE NEVER REQUESTED TO ATTEND A MEETING REGARDING THIS, AND WE WERE NOT AWARE OF THE CLOSURE OF THE LANES. I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO STATE THAT RECENTLY I PUT TOGETHER A GROUP OF 14 PEOPLE THAT MET AT RECENTLY LAST WEEK TO DISCUSS THIS VERY TOPIC AND NONE OF THE 14 WERE AWARE AS WELL. I'M NOT CLEAR IF WE DID NOT RECEIVE THE RIGHT INFORMATION AT THE RIGHT TIME. I'M NOT, BUT I CAN SAY THAT THAT THAT WAS A VERY BROAD BAND OF PEOPLE ON BOTH SIDES OF THE BRIDGE AND NO ONE, WE WERE TOLD BY THOSE 14 PEOPLE, MANY OF THEM VERY SIGNIFICANT PARTIES IN THE ROOM, THAT THEY THEY WERE NOT AWARE ABOUT THIS CLOSURE. I DON'T KNOW HOW THAT HAPPENED, BUT HERE WE ARE TODAY AS FAR AS THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY, WE WERE AWARE OF THE PLAN TO IMPROVE THE BRIDGE. WE WERE NOT AGAIN AWARE OF THE CLOSURE. THE DISTANCE TO TORNILLO IS 46 MILES DURING PEAK TRAFFIC. IT'S APPROXIMATELY ONE HOUR AND 45 MINUTES. THE DISTANCE TO SANTA TERESA IS 26 MILES AT PEAK. IT'S 45 MINUTES. THERE'S ABOUT A ONE HOUR DISPARITY THERE. OUR CONCERN IS THAT THE WAIT TIMES ARE TOO LONG AT ALL BRIDGES. THIS IS NOT A NEW FACTOR AND THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WE'VE LIVED WITH OUR ENTIRE LIFE. THE RESOLUTION, AS WE SEE IT, IS TO INCREASE THE TRAFFIC WITH THROUGH THE AUTOMATION OF THESE IMPROVEMENTS AND ADDING COMMERCIAL TRAFFIC TO THIS, TO THIS VERY CRITICAL BRIDGE. IT WOULD BE THE INCREASE OF PEOPLE AT THAT BRIDGE TO SERVICE THE CLIENTS. WE DO NOT SEE THAT HAPPENING IN THE PAST. WE HOPE IT HAPPENS IN THE FUTURE. BUT I THINK WE NEED TO TAKE A REALISTIC VIEW OF THE IMPACT OF THIS PARTICULAR ACTION. AND HOW WILL IT AFFECT THE BRIDGE LINES MOVING FORWARD? AS YOU KNOW, WHEN TXDOT CAME, WHEN THE DPS CAME TO DO THE TRUCK INSPECTIONS, WE WERE SADDLED WITH LINES THAT STAGGERED FOR DOZENS AND DOZENS OF MILES, ALMOST TO CHIHUAHUA. THAT MIGHT BE A SLIGHT EXAGGERATION, BUT IT'S NOT TOO MUCH OF AN EXAGGERATION. THE LINE WAS STAGGERING. WE SEE THE SAME SITUATION SCENARIO BEING REPRODUCED AT THESE BRIDGES AS A RESULT OF THE ELIMINATION OF THE COMMERCIAL TRAFFIC. I'D LIKE TO STATE THAT IT'S ONE THING FOR US TO PLAN, AND I BELIEVE THIS CAN BE PLANNED. AN INSTALLATION OF THE IMPROVED BRIDGES, INCLUDING COMMERCIAL TRAFFIC, IN A WAY THAT'S STAGGERED TO ALLOW SOME PORTION OF BRIDGE TRAFFIC IN.

IT'S ANOTHER THING TO ELIMINATE IT ALTOGETHER. I DON'T THINK ANYONE WANTS TO BE A PARTY IN EL PASO, TEXAS TO NOT. I KNOW I CLEARLY KNOW THAT 30S OUT AND ALL OF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT FOR OUR REGION AT A TIME THAT'S VERY CHALLENGING. WITH THE CHANGE OF ADMINISTRATIONS IN MEXICO, WITH THE UNCERTAINTY OF WHAT'S GOING ON WITH THE PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION, THE ADMINISTRATIONS AND THE POLITICAL SOCIOECONOMIC OF MEXICO IS COMPLICATED. AND

[00:45:05]

AND OF COURSE, THE FIRST PERSON ON THE TABLE ARE OUR WONDERFUL CONGRESSMAN ESCOBAR. TO HAVE HER HERE FIRSTHAND THESE CONCERNS. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR KINDNESS AND YOUR AND YOUR THANK YOU. THANK YOU, PAUL. APPRECIATE YOUR TIME AS WELL. GO AHEAD, COMMISSIONER CORONADO. THANK YO.

JUDGE. COMMISSIONERS, YOU KNOW, THIS IS REALLY A COMPLEX SITUATION. I AGREE WITH COMMISSIONER STOUT THAT IT LOOKS LIKE THIS IS PROBABLY WHAT, YOU KNOW, SHOULD BE HAPPENING. THE PROBLEM I HAVE WITH IT IS THAT WE'RE NOT GOING ABOUT IT THE RIGHT WAY. AND THAT IS RIGHT NOW. IN THE MEANTIME, I THINK THE BEST THING TO DO IS EXACTLY RIGHT. GET RID OF THE COMMERCIAL TRAFFIC AT BORDER. I'VE SEEN THE MAP, THE ENVIRONMENTAL STUDY DONE BY THE UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT, AND IT IS IT'S CENTRALIZED IN YOU KNOW, IN THE AREA AROUND THE BRIDGE OF THE AMERICAS. I AGREE WITH YOU. WHAT WE'RE DOING AT THIS POINT, ABOUT 70% OF THAT TRAFFIC, IT'S GOING TO CLOSE DOWN FOR SURE. AND MY, MY INDICATION FROM, FROM THE TIMELINE, THEY'VE SAID OVER TWO YEARS IT'S GOING TO BE THREE YEARS OR MORE. THESE TRUCKS, THESE COMMERCIAL TRAFFIC, AFTER YOU SEND THEM OUT FOR THREE YEARS, NUMBER ONE, THEY'RE NOT GOING TO COME BACK AFTER HAVING ADJUSTED TO OTHER PORTS. THEY'RE NOT COMING BACK. I WOULD I WOULD LOVE TO HAVE SEEN A THE ALTERNATIVE WHERE WHERE WE IN THE FUTURE WE WOULD CHANGE SOME OF THE COMMERCIAL TRAFFIC AT BORDER BACK. YOU KNOW WE EVENTUALLY IN THE FUTURE AND CONVERT IT OVER TO JUST THE REGULAR VEHICLES. BUT THAT WOULD BE TOO COSTLY. THE BEST THING I THINK WE SHOULD HAVE DONE IS WE SHOULD HAVE MODERNIZED, WE SHOULD HAVE EXPANDED THE ZARAGOZA BRIDGE FIRST, BECAUSE 70% OF THE TRAFFIC FROM BOW TO THE COMMERCIAL TRAFFIC IS GOING TO GO TO ZARAGOZA. SO ALL WE'RE DOING IN THE MEANTIME IS SHIFTING THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROBLEM OVER TO YSLETA AND THAT COMMUNITY. AND I DON'T SEE THAT. I DON'T SEE THE I DON'T SEE A PLAN RIGHT NOW TO EXPAND IT.

THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT WE SHOULD HAVE DONE FIRST, BECAUSE I THINK THAT'S REALLY WHERE THE FUTURE OF IT IS TO DO ZARAGOZA AND TORNILLO AND SANTA TERESA, AND THOSE ARE PLANS FOR EXPANSION.

AND I AGREE WITH YOU, MR. SHERIDAN. THE PROBLEM I HAVE WITH IT IS THAT WE HAVE NOT PLANNED RIGHT FOR IT. AND I THINK ZARAGOZA, WE SHOULD HAVE EXPANDED IT FIRST. RIGHT NOW, WHAT WE DO, FOR SURE IT'S GOING TO HAPPEN BECAUSE WE'RE GOING TO CLOSE. BORDER IS GOING TO CLOSE DOWN ABOUT 70% IS GOING TO GO TO ZARAGOZA. THE OTHER ONE IS GOING TO GO TO TORNILLO AND SANTA TERESA. TORNILLO. WE REALLY NEED TO GET ON THE BALL TO MAKE SURE THAT WE GET BOTH SIDES AND THE INFRASTRUCTURE READY, SO THAT IT'S A FULL BLOWN FOR EVERY TYPE OF CARGO, RIGHT NOW. WE CAN'T DO THAT. IT CAN TAKE ON CAPACITY LIKE WE'VE BEEN TOLD, BUT NOT FOR EVERY SINGLE KIND OF PRODUCT THAT'S GOING TO GET OVER. SO WE NEED IT REALLY BEHOOVES US TO REALLY MOVE WITH THE TORNILLO PORT OF ENTRY AS SOON AS POSSIBLE, BECAUSE THE CLOSURE OF BORDER IS COMING A LOT QUICKER THAN THE REST OF IT. AND SO BUT I REALLY THINK WE DO NEED TO HEAR FROM SOME OF THE OTHER BUSINESS INVOLVED. I THINK THE FUTURE, THOUGH, THIS IS THE RIGHT THING TO DO. I WISH WE'D

[00:50:05]

AFTER THREE YEARS TO SHIFT FROM ONE AND THEN GO BACK TO THE OTHER. AND I THINK WE'RE GOING TO SET UP AN INFRASTRUCTURE THAT WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO ALMOST ANTICIPATE, BUT NOT REALLY UNDERSTAND IF IT'S GOING TO HAPPEN. AND THAT KIND OF AN INVESTMENT WORRIES ME TREMENDOUSLY. AND YOU'RE RIGHT, COMMISSIONER, THIS I THINK WE HAVE A GREAT OPPORTUNITY AS A COUNTY TO CREATE A GREAT OPTION IN TORNILLO. I WAS ABLE TO MEET WITH THE INDIVIDUALS FROM OXXO AND THEY THEY ACTUALLY HAVE PURCHASED ALREADY, BUT THEY'RE ORGANIC GROWTH. THEY SAID THEY WOULD BE VERY INTERESTED IN SEEING HOW THEY CAN HELP WITH THE INFRASTRUCTURE ON THE TORNILLO SITE. AND SO THERE'S ALREADY GOING TO BE TRACTION IF I'M A BUSINESSMAN AND I THINK TORNILLO IS GOING TO BE, YOU KNOW, THERE FOR THREE YEARS, THEN I'M GOING TO START INVESTING IN THAT AREA. AND THE CHANCES THAT WE COME BACK TO BOULDER, I THINK ARE GOING TO BE VERY, VERY DIFFICULT. LIKE I SAID IN THE MAQUILADORA, IT'S LIKE AA5 YEAR PLAN. AND IF IT'S

[00:55:04]

AND ANYBODY ELSE ON THE COMMISSIONERS COURT WHO WOULD LIKE TO PARTICIPATE, I'M HAPPY TO HAVE THEM. AND REMEMBER, THIS IS A LETTER OF SUPPORT. IT DOESN'T MEAN THAT WE'RE EXCLUDING, YOU KNOW, THAT THAT'S NOT GOING TO HAPPEN. I MEAN, I STILL THINK WE NEED MORE PUBLIC INFORMATION AND I TOO AM SURPRISED THAT THAT THERE WASN'T THAT MY UNDERSTANDING WAS THAT EVERYBODY SORT OF KNEW ABOUT IT. AND SOME PEOPLE DECIDED NOT TO. BUT MR. DEPP REALLY COMMENTED ON THAT, THAT. SO I STILL FEEL STRONG ABOUT THE LETTER OF SUPPORT, BUT BUT NOT I. I WOULD LOVE TO CONTINUE HAVING DISCUSSIONS WITH EVERYONE EVER WITH CBA. AND I KNOW TAMI COMMUNICATED THAT TO ME AS WELL, BUT I THINK AT THIS POINT WITH THIS THREE YEAR KIND OF HIATUS

[01:00:05]

I'M SURE THEY'RE GOING TO TAKE INTO ACCOUNT ALL OF THE FEEDBACK THAT THEY'VE GOTTEN. AND, YOU KNOW, IT'S GREAT THAT, YOU KNOW, MR. DEPP AND OTHERS WILL BE ABLE TO WILL BE ABLE TO SEND THAT FEEDBACK BECAUSE AS I STATED EARLIER, FROM WHAT I UNDERSTAND, THERE WAS NOT IN ANY OF THE OTHER FEEDBACK PERIODS. YOU KNOW, THIS HAS BEEN A COUPLE OF YEARS IN THE PROCESS THAT, YOU KNOW, SINCE SINCE THE GSA ANNOUNCED AND CONGRESSWOMAN ANNOUNCED THIS PLAN, AND THERE HAVE BEEN A NUMBER OF OPPORTUNITIES FOR PUBLIC COMMENT. AND I DON'T THINK THERE HAS BEEN ANY BEEN ANY OPPOSITION TO THE PROJECT AT THIS POINT. THANK YOU. COMMISSIONER, JUDGE, COMMISSIONER, I THINK I THINK WE ALSO HAVE OTHER MEMBERS OR OTHER MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC THAT WOULD LIKE TO COMMENT. I DON'T KNOW IF WE CAN HEAR THEIR COMMENT AS WELL BEFORE WE BEFORE WE DELIBERATE ANYMORE. ABSOLUTELY. IS THAT OKAY JUDGE. YEAH. COMMISSIONER CONNELL FIRST AND THEN WE'LL GO TO PUBLIC COMMENTS. YOU KNOW, I REALLY THINK THAT APART FROM IN THIS LETTER I THINK IT SHOULD WE SHOULD URGE NOT JUST THE MPO BUT THE CITY OF EL PASO THAT THIS IS AN URGENT MATTER AND WE REALLY NEED TO GET ON TO THE ISSUE OF THE ZARAGOZA PORT OF ENTRY. I YOU KNOW, WE'RE MISSING THE BOAT, I THINK HERE I THINK IT'S REALLY IMPERATIVE THAT THIS IS THAT WE DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT AND TRY TO COLLABORATE WITH ALL THE ENTITIES INVOLVED THAT CAN MAKE THAT HAPPEN, BECAUSE IF WE DON'T DO THAT, WE'RE JUST GOING TO END UP WITH ANOTHER PROBLEM AT ZARAGOZA, LIKE WE HAVE AT BODA. AND IF WE DON'T GET ON, YEAH, WHAT ARE WE DOING THIS SHIFTING AND WE HAVEN'T PLANNED FOR THAT. WE KNEW IT WAS GOING TO HAPPEN AND HERE WE ARE. WE'RE DOING THINGS BACKWARD. WE SHOULD HAVE MODERNIZED OR EXPANDED ZARAGOZA FIRST. SO IF WE HAVEN'T DONE THAT, THAT'S WHERE WE REALLY NEED TO GET ON THE BALL RIGHT TO DO IT. AND I AGREE THIS IS LONG TERM. THIS IS THE WAY TO GO. I THINK WE NEED TO DO THIS. I JUST THINK WE'VE WE'VE GONE ABOUT IT IN REVERSE ORDER AND. RIGHT. AND I DON'T KNOW IF THAT'S SOMETHING THAT'S WITHIN OUR CONTROL. COMMISSIONER I MEAN AS THE COUNTY, WE DON'T WE DON'T DECIDE WHAT PRESIDENTIAL PERMITS ARE. YOU KNOW, ALL OF THIS. I MEAN, WE HAVE THE TORNILLO PORT OF ENTRY, AND I AGREE, YOU KNOW, THERE THERE ARE PROBABLY SOME THINGS THAT THAT, THAT MIGHT THAT MIGHT HAVE BEEN DONE. BUT FROM WHAT I UNDERSTAND, THE CITY IS I THINK GOING TO HAVE THEY HAVE THEIR MEETING TOMORROW AND THERE'S THE, THE I THINK THERE'S GOING TO BE AN ITEM ON THE AGENDA REGARDING SOME UPGRADES AT THE AT THE ZARAGOZA BRIDGE. I'M NOT SURE IF THEY'RE EXACTLY WHAT YOU'RE WANTING OR REFERRING TO, BUT YOU KNOW, THERE'S SO MANY MOVING PARTS AND SO MANY DIFFERENT STAKEHOLDERS INVOLVED IN ALL OF THIS. YOU KNOW, IT'S NOT IT'S NOT IT'S NOT AN EASY FEAT. AND, YOU KNOW, I'M NOT SURE WHO YOU EXPECTED TO HAVE HAVE, HAVE PLANNED. BUT YOU KNOW, WE I THINK WE ALL CAN AGREE THAT WE KNOW THAT WE KNOW THAT MORE COMMERCIAL TRAFFIC IS COMING. WE KNOW THAT THE NEARSHORING IS GOING TO BE A HUGE THING. WE KNOW THAT WE DON'T WANT THE EL PASO REGION TO BE LACKING OR OR FALL BEHIND WHEN IT COMES TO BEING BEING A PART OF THAT. I THINK WE ALL WE'RE ALL ON THE SAME PAGE WHEN IT COMES TO THAT. BUT, YOU KNOW, THE TORNILLO PORT OF ENTRY IS VERY UNDERUTILIZED. THERE'S CAPACITY AT ZARAGOZA THAT, THAT THAT CAN STILL BE UTILIZED. AND IT'S GOING TO I MEAN, WE'RE HERE I THINK, YOU KNOW, ARGUING ABOUT WHETHER OR NOT WE SHOULD DO THIS PROJECT. I'M TALKING ABOUT. I MEAN, IT SEEMS TO ME THAT THAT THE PROJECT IS GOING TO BE WHETHER IT'S THE TAKING, THE COMMERCIAL TRAFFIC OFF AT ALL OR COMPLETELY OR, YOU KNOW, THE

[01:05:02]

I THINK WE CAN POST. WE DON'T MEET NEXT MONDAY, BUT MAYBE THE WEEK AFTER, AND WE CAN HAVE A MEETING BEFORE THEN. BUT I YOU KNOW, I THINK THIS IS THIS IS WHAT WE NEED TO DO. I THINK WE JUST. OKAY. THANK YOU. CESAR, DO YOU WANT TO FOR PUBLIC COMMENTS, PLEASE. YES, SIR. FIRST UP WE HAVE VERONICA CARBAJAL AND ONCE AGAIN SPEAKERS ARE LIMITED TO FIVE MINUTES. WELCOME, VERONICA.

ARE YOU WELCOME, MISS CARBAJAL? GOOD MORNING. CAN YOU ALL HEAR ME? GOOD MORNING. YES. GOOD MORNING, I'M VERONICA CARBAJAL, CLIMATE JUSTICE AND CIVIL RIGHTS ORGANIZER WITH HOUSTON IN ACTION IN EL PASO. I ALSO CO-WROTE THE COMMENTS THAT WERE SUBMITTED TO THE GSA ON BEHALF OF TEXAS RIO GRANDE LEGAL AID, ON BEHALF OF A NUMBER OF COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS, INCLUDING FAMILIAS DEL CHAMIZAL AND SAN JAVIER, AND THAT WAS BACK IN FEBRUARY OF 2023, WHEN WE DID NOT KNOW THAT THIS WOULD BE THE OUTCOME. I AM REQUESTING THAT YOU VOTE YES ON ITEM SIX C AND SUPPORT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT'S CHOICE OF VIABLE ACTION ALTERNATIVE FOR, AS ARTICULATED IN THE DRAFT ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT FOR THE MODERNIZATION OF THE BRIDGE OF THE AMERICAS, WHICH WE CALL THE BORDER VIABLE ALTERNATIVE FOUR IS A RESULT OF TWO YEARS OF COMMUNITY DRIVEN ADVOCACY CENTERED AROUND THE HEALTH, SAFETY AND QUALITY OF LIFE OF THE RESIDENTS LIVING IN CLOSE PROXIMITY TO THE BORDER, AND IT WAS ALSO SUPPORTED BY HUNDREDS AND THOUSANDS OF ALLIES THAT LIVE IN EVERY SINGLE ONE OF YOUR PRECINCTS. THESE ALLIES INCLUDE EL PASOANS, WHO FOUGHT TO PROTECT THE COUNTY COLISEUM AND THE ICE SKATING RINK FROM BEING DEMOLISHED, AS WELL AS THOSE WHO ARE TIRED OF WAITING BEHIND SEMIS ON US 54 AND I-10 BECAUSE OF BACKUP INTO HEADING INTO MEXICO ON BORDER. IN ANNOUNCING ITS SELECTION, THE GSA HAS STATED THAT IT SELECTED VIABLE ALTERNATIVE FOUR AS ITS PREFERRED ALTERNATIVE BECAUSE IT BELIEVES THIS ALTERNATIVE WOULD BEST FULFILL ITS STATUTORY MISSION AND RESPONSIBILITIES, GIVING CONSIDERATION TO ECONOMIC, ENVIRONMENTAL, TECHNICAL AND OTHER FACTORS. THE GSA HAS IDENTIFIED ALTERNATIVE FOUR AS THE MOST ECONOMIC, EXCUSE ME, THE MOST COST EFFECTIVE OPTION, WHICH IS ALSO THE MOST ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY OPTION. THE GSA CAME TO THIS CONCLUSION TWO YEARS AFTER THE COMMUNITY BEGAN ASKING FOR IT. THE GSA HAS CONDUCTED A VERY THOROUGH REVIEW OF THE BENEFITS AND CONSEQUENCES OF REMOVING THE SEMIS. WE DIDN'T EVEN HAVE ALTERNATIVE FOUR AS AN OPTION UNTIL DECEMBER OF 2023. THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD WAS OPEN TO EVERYONE, INCLUDING THE MAQUILA AND TRUCKING INDUSTRY. THEY TOO HAVE HAD TWO YEARS TO BUILD THEIR CASE, AND YET THEY HAVEN'T. AND THEY HAVEN'T BECAUSE THEY CAN'T. THE MEDIA HAS COVERED THIS EXTENSIVELY. YOU HAVE DISCUSSED THIS A NUMBER OF TIMES. THE GSA HAS HAD SEVERAL ROUNDS OF PUBLIC COMMENT AND CONGRESSWOMAN ESCOBAR ALSO DID HER OWN SURVEY. REMOVING THE TRUCKS WILL FACILITATE PEDESTRIAN AND PASSENGER VEHICLE TRAFFIC, BOTH OF WHICH WILL FACILITATE OUR ECONOMIC, SOCIAL AND CULTURAL RELATIONSHIP WITH OUR SISTER CITY OF JUAREZ. AS STATED IN THE EIS, OTHER PORTS OF ENTRY CAN HANDLE THE SEMI TRAFFIC FROM BORDER. THIS IS ESPECIALLY TRUE BECAUSE THE CITY HAS INVESTED AND PLANS TO INVEST. LOTS OF MONEY, AND IN THE YSLETA PORT OF ENTRY. IN FACT, TOMORROW THEY'RE VOTING ON A $20 MILLION APPLICATION TO IMPROVE COMMERCIAL TRAFFIC. IN JANUARY OF 2023, THE MAYOR OF EL PASO AND THE MAYOR OF JUAREZ SIGNED AN MOU TO BEGIN EXPLORING THE MOST A MORE COMPREHENSIVE AND ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY TRANSPORTATION OF CARGO USING CONVEYOR BELTS ON YSLETA. AND AS YOU ALL KNOW, BOTH YSLETA AND TORNILLO PORTS OF ENTRY COLLECT TOLLS THAT ARE VITAL TO OUR LOCAL ECONOMY. PLEASE REMEMBER, YOU HAVE A DUTY TO PROTECT THE PUBLIC COFFERS AND PROPERTY IN ADDITION TO THE COMMUNITY'S HEALTH AND SAFETY. WE ARE LOSING MILLIONS AND MILLIONS OF DOLLAR, TOLLS. CURRENTLY, TENS OF

[01:10:06]

THIS IS A HUGE OPPORTUNITY TO HELP UNDO HUNDREDS OF YEARS OF ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE AND ENVIRONMENTAL RACISM AND I HOPE THAT YOU STAND WITH OUR COMMUNITY. THANK YOU SO MUCH.

THANK YOU VERONICA. APPRECIATE THAT. HAVE A WONDERFUL DAY. THANKS, CESAR. NEXT WE HAVE MISS EMILY ASLAN. AND I BELIEVE MISS ASLAN HAD A VIDEO THAT SHE HAD SENT IN TO OUR AV TEAM THAT SHE WANTED TO HAVE PLAYED AFTER HER COMMENTS. SO IF WE CAN CUE THAT UP, ALEXIS, WHEN WE GET A CHANC.

THANKS. YES, COMMISSIONER. IT'S READY. OH, WE DO HAVE IT. GOOD MORNING. YES. THANK YOU.

WELCOME. HELLO. AND THANK YOU. FOR THOSE WHO CUANDO. IN HOMBRES PABLO MARTINEZ. YO VOY A LA ESCUELA DE LA MANCHE PROTEGER NUESTROS SALUD PARA LAS TROPAS. ESTRELLA DE VILLA. ESTOY EN LA ESCUELA DE LAS. QUIERO SABER LAS TROPAS DEL PORVENIR LUCAS ARENA NO. YO QUIERO QUITAR. LAS TROPAS PORQUE DANIEL LOS A LA SALUD DE LOS NINOS Y COSAS EN EL HOSPITAL DE CAMPOS IS A CABO DE LA ESCUELA CHAMIZAL YO VOY AND DOUGLAS BROTHERS. RIGHT NOW YOUR FEARLESS UNION IS PROTEGER NUESTRA SALUD Y PARA LAS ROCAS. MI NOMBRE ES LOS ANGELES YA EL PASO LEADERSHIP ACADEMY PROTEGER NUESTRAS SALUD DE LA BOCA GOBIERNO. MI NOMBRE ES LA SANCHEZ. YO VOY A LAGAYAN MOROSCO PROTEGERNOS LA SALUD PARA EL NINO FRANCISCO TORRES, EL CHAMIZAL MI OCUPACION ES LA CONTAMINACION AFFECT A MI FAMILIA TORRES. SOY UNA JOVEN MIEMBRO DE FAMILIAS UNIDOS DE CHAMIZAL VIVO EN EL PASO, TEXAS, CON UN FAMILIA Y SI ME PREOCUPA LA SALUD Y LA FAMILIA ALGUNO ALGUNOS PROBLEMAS SON EN LA CALLE. NOS PODEMOS HACER MAS CON EL AIRE.

YO CANTO PORQUE EL PRESENTE NO ES EL TALENTO POR ESTO ES CUANDO CANTO CANTA EL PUEBLO SIENTE SOY EL PUEBLO PUEBLO SOY YA DONDE ME LEAVE PUEBLO VOY. GRACIAS I JUST TO TAKE A FEW MORE SECONDS OF YOUR TIME. THANK YOU. WE HAVE BEEN DEALING WITH THE TRUCKS AT EL PUENTE LIBRE FOR DECADES.

MUJER OBRERA IS NOT A STRANGER TO THAT DEBATE. HAVING HAD PROTESTED THERE OVER 20 YEARS AGO. BUT THIS IS THIS SHOULDN'T BE ABOUT POLITICS. THIS IS ABOUT CHILDREN. THIS IS ABOUT OUR FUTURE. AND THIS IS WHY WE DO I. IT IS. IT SADDENS ME TO HEAR PEOPLE CLAIM THAT THEY HAD NO

[01:15:02]

ROCHA. HELLO, SPEAKER. CUANDO AHORA QUEREMOS JUSTICIA CUANDO AHORA. WHAT IS THAT? MI NOMBRE ES MARIA RODRIGUEZ. YO TENGO UN PEQUENO GRANDE TESTIMONIO. SEGUN COMO LO QUIEREN VER Y LA COMUNIDAD. HEMOS VIVIDO MIS HIJOS Y YO MIS NIETOS POR MAS DE VEINTISIETE ANOS AQUI EN EL VECINDARIO DEL CHAMIZAL EL ANO PASADO, LA DETECTAN A MI HIJO CANCER DE PULMON EL FUMADO LO HACE DROGAS, PERO CRECIDO EN ESTA AREA. ANTES ESTABA PEOR POR LAS TROPAS ESTABAN EN TODO LA AÉREA DE LO ERA. LA PAISANO. AHORA, LOS NINOS DE TODA ESTA AÉREA SE HA TIEMPO DE CALOR. SEA TIEMPO DE FRIO LOS NINOS ESTAN CON TODOS ESTAN CON ALERGIA LOS ADULTOS YO MIS COMPANERAS A BASE DE QUÉ YO NO FUMO A BASE DE QUÉ TENEMOS ALERGIAS Y TENEMOS ESTOS PROBLEMAS DE PULMON A BASE DEL AMBIENTE ESTA CONTAMINADO POR TODO EL ORDEN DE LAS TROPAS DIARIAMENTE ESTAN POR AQUI.

AHORA VISTO TROCAS ESTAMOS PASANDO POR LA TV EN MEDIO DE LA COMUNIDAD. ESO NO ESTA BIEN Y LO ESTAN HACIENDO SIN PERMISO. TODO ESO NOS ESTA CONTAMINADO DE TAL MANERA LOS NINOS DE LA ZABALA LOS NINOS DE ALREDEDOR NO ESTAN AQUI. PERO SI LOS VIERON EN LA ESCUELA PARECE UN ORQUESTA CON TODOS CON ALERGIAS Y TODO BASADO EN QUÉ ESTAMOS DIARIAMENTE ESPERANDO UN TOXICO Q NOS HACE DANO LO DE MI HIJO ES COMO LO VUELVO A REPETIR COMO USTEDES LO VEAN YA SEA PEQUENO O GRANDE EL PROBLEMA. PERO AHORITA MI HIJO TIENE CANCER Y NO SABEMOS NO SABEN LOS MÉDICOS POR QUÉ. PERO YO PUEDO DECIR QUÉ PROBABLEMENTE PUEDA SER Q HA ESTADO DESDE PEQUENO IN ORLANDO. UN TOXICOS COMO LO QUÉ ES EL DIESEL. QUÉ ES LO Q USA. LAS DROGAS TOMO COMO USTEDES CREAN CONVENIENTES. PERO ES UN TESTIMONIO VIVO Q YO ESTOY VIVIENDO Y Q NI LOS MÉDICOS ME YO SABEMOS POR QUÉ ESTA SUCEDIENDO. ESO AUN NO SABEMOS SI HAY MAS ENFERMOS GRAVES. PERO PODEMOS ESTAR EN TODA LA COMUNIDAD BUSCANDO FAMILIAS Q TENGAN TESTIMONIOS PARECIDOS Y PODEMOS TREHALOSE. PARA QUÉ SE DA CUENTA LA COMUNIDAD DEL PASO Q ESTA HACIENDO UN DANNO ENORME Q LAS TROPAS PASAN. POR ESTE LADO. MUCHAS GRACIAS. BUENAS TARDES PUEDA POCAS PARA QUEREMOS JUSTICIA. CUANDO AHORA QUEREMOS JUSTICIA CUANDO AHORA. HOLA, MARIA. BUENOS DIAS. BUENOS DIAS, MR. SAMANIEGO. ESTOY AQUI. POR QUÉ PARA MI. ES MUY IMPORTANTE LO ESTA SUCEDIENDO Y ES MUY IMPORTANTE TOME UNA DECISION ADECUADA A BENEFICIO DE NUESTRA COMUNIDAD DE MI MISMA DE MI FAMILIA DE TODOS LOS Q VIVIMOS EN EL AREA DEL BARRIO CHAMIZAL VENGO UN REPRESENTATION DE FAMILIAS UNIDAS. ESTOY AQUI PORQUE LO VUELVO A REPETIR PARA NOSOTROS ES ALGO MUY IMPORTANTE PORQUE ESTA DANDO NUESTRA SALUD.

DE HECHO, TRAIGO AQUI DE NUEVE ANOS Q PUEDE HABLAR SI USTEDES QUIEREN EL VIVE CON LAS ALERGIAS DIARIAMENTE SE HA TIEMPO DE FRIO HACIA TIEMPO DE CALOR. NO NADA MAS. EL TODOS NUESTROS NINOS DE AHI MISMO. ESTE ESPERO TOMAN UNA DECISION CORRECTA EN BENEFICIO PARA LA COMUNIDAD PARA LOS Q.

[01:20:05]

YOU KNOW, IT MAY NOT BE SOMETHING WE NEED NOW BECAUSE OR NOT EXPERIENCED NOW BECAUSE THERE'S NOT MORE TRAFFIC. BUT WE NEED TO PLAN THAT. THERE'S GOING TO BE MORE TRAFFIC OVER THERE AND HOW IT'S GOING TO AFFECT THAT COMMUNITY. WE DON'T HAVE THE SAME PROBLEMS THAT ARE HAPPENING IN THE BORDER, AND WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN AND IS HAPPENING IN ZARAGOZA, AS IN TORNILLO, AND WE HAVE CONTROL OVER THAT. SO I THINK IT REALLY BEHOOVES US TO REALLY PLAN RIGHT FOR THIS EXPANSION. AND WE DON'T WANT ANYBODY, NONE OF OUR CONSTITUENTS, TO BE PLACED IN A SITUATION WHERE, YOU KNOW, THIS IS THESE HEALTH EFFECTS ARE HAPPENING. AND I SURMISE WE OUGHT TO PROBABLY EVEN LOOK AT IT EVEN FURTHER, BECAUSE I SURMISE THAT FOR THESE PORTS, IT'S NOT JUST THE TRUCKS. WE'VE GOT A LOT OF OTHER ISSUES THAT WE HAVE TO DEAL WITH, AND WE NEED TO TAKE A LOOK AT ALL OF THAT. AND IT'S NOT JUST THE TRUCKS, BUT CERTAINLY WHAT WE HAVE CONTROL OVER. WE SHOULD BE PLANNING FOR IT AND MAKE SURE IT DOESN'T HAPPEN SOMEWHERE ELSE.

AGREED. THANK YOU. GO AHEAD. AND I THINK THERE'S LOTS OF CONVERSATIONS. AND WITHIN THAT REALM, YOU KNOW, MODES OF TRANSPORTATION THAT CAN BE UTILIZED ACROSS FREIGHT, OVER PORTS OF ENTRY. YOU KNOW, THERE'S TRAINS AND THERE'S SHUTTLES THAT CAN TAKE CONTAINERS. AND, YOU KNOW, WE NEED TO INCLUDE THOSE THOSE CONVERSATIONS FOR THOSE POINTS IN THE CONVERSATIONS THAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT. COMMISSIONER CORONADO, BECAUSE I THINK THE ONE THING THAT EVERYBODY IS NOT HAPPY WITH IS THE FACT THAT, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE JUST SO MANY, SO MANY TRUCKS THAT ARE THAT ARE CAUSING A LOT OF POLLUTION. THAT'S, THAT'S I THINK THE, THE MAIN CONCERN. AND SO WHEN WE HAVE THESE CONVERSATIONS AND LOOKING FORWARD, WE REALLY NEED TO ADVOCATE FOR MULTIMODAL CROSS BORDER COMMERCE. THANK YOU. COMMISSIONER STONE. GO AHEAD.

CESAR, WE HAVE A MOTION FROM COMMISSIONER STOUT AND A SECOND FROM JUDGE SAMANIEGO TO APPROVE THE REQUEST. VOTING IS OPEN. I VOTE I. MOTION CARRIES. THANK YOU. THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH.

THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER. THANK YOU. AND THANK THANK YOU, MR. DEP. I'LL HAVE A SEAT TO REACH OUT TO YOU TO SET UP A MEETING WITH, WITH THE, WITH YOU AND THE STAKEHOLDERS THAT YOU THAT YOU MENTIONED. THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU. MR. DEPUTY. ITEM NUMBER SEVEN A FROM COUNTY ADMINISTRATION, AARP PROJECT 1320. APPROVE AND AUTHORIZE THE COUNTY JUDGE TO SIGN THE INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT WITH EL PASO. MR. DOING BUSINESS AS

[A. (ARP Project 1320) - Approve and authorize the County Judge to sign the Interlocal Agreement with El Paso MHMR dba Emergence Health Network to operate a Diversion (Sobering) Center for the County of El Paso through December 31, 2026, in the amount of $2,000,000. Funding is available in SG-ARPLAN21-OPERATING EX. (Contract No. 2024-0824) Joel Bishop, Executive Director, County Administration, 915-546-2215]

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IT'S GOT TO BE ONGOING. SO YOU FEEL COMFORTABLE. JOEL, FROM THE GRANT SITUATIONS AND SURE. AND I'M SURE RENEE HAS SOME COMMENTS ON THIS AS WELL BECAUSE IT DOES. THERE ARE GRANT OPPORTUNITIES.

BUT I ALSO MET WITH THE POLICE CHIEF LAST WEEK. I'VE MET WITH THE CHIEFS OVER TIME. I'VE MET WITH THE DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC SAFETY FOR THE CITY. THEY'RE VERY INTERESTED IN THIS. IT WILL MOSTLY BENEFIT THE POLICE DEPARTMENT, THE CITY. I MEAN, THAT'S GOING TO BE THE BY FAR THE NUMBER ONE BENEFICIARY OF THIS. AND THEY ASIDE FROM THE PEOPLE THAT IT HELPS. AND SO THEY'RE VERY INTERESTED IN FINDING FUNDING SOURCES AS WELL TO MAKE SURE SUSTAINABILITY IS THERE. I DIDN'T WANT TO OBLIGATE THE COUNTY AND WE HAVEN'T DONE THAT THROUGH THIS AGREEMENT TO LONG TERM OPERATIONAL COST LIABILITY, BECAUSE I THINK THERE'S OTHER I THINK OUR PARTNERSHIP WITH THE CITY AND GRANTS AND OTHER SOURCES ARE GOING TO BE ABLE TO COVER THIS, INCLUDING, AS BETSY MENTIONED, THE OPIOID. I AGREE, I WAS GOING TO SAY THAT PARTNERSHIP IS GOING TO BE KEY. RENEE. GO AHEAD. YES. SO THIS INITIAL INVESTMENT COVERS PRIMARILY ALTERATIONS TO THE PHYSICAL PLANT TO CREATE THIS THREE BED UNIT. BUT AS YOU SAID, GOING FORWARD WE DO FEEL CONFIDENT THAT BASED ON SOME OF THE SUBSTANCE USE DOLLARS THAT ARE OUT THERE, SOME OF THE GRANT OPPORTUNITIES, WE DO FEEL THAT THIS IS SUSTAINABLE LONG TERM. THANK YOU. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? NO, THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU BOTH. CRYSTAL RENEE. THANK YOU. WE HAVE A MOTION FROM COMMISSIONER CORONADO, A SECOND FROM JUDGE SAMANIEGO. THE VOTING IS OPEN. I VOTE AYE. MOTION CARRIES. THANK YOU. JOEL, THANK YOU VERY MUCH. GREAT JOB. JUDGE, I JUST WANT TO ALSO MENTION AND THANK JOEL HE YOU KNOW, WHEN WE HIT A ROADBLOCK, LIKE NOT GETTING RESPONSIVE BIDS TO SOMETHING THAT'S SO IMPORTANT AND CAN BE SO IMPACTFUL, HE'S ALWAYS OPEN AND LISTENING AND LOOKING FOR OTHER, OTHER WAYS WE CAN STILL DELIVER. AND SO I REALLY APPRECIATE JOEL'S LEADERSHIP ON THIS. WHAT I LIKE IS THAT WE RECOGNIZE HIS LEADERSHIP, BUT ALSO THE COMMUNITY BECAUSE I HEAR A LOT OF GREAT COMMENTS ABOUT JOEL AND HIS INTERACTIONS WITH EVERYBODY.

SO THANK YOU. ITEM NUMBER SEVEN BE RECEIVE A PRESENTATION FROM IPADS LGC STAFF REGARDING ONGOING TRANSIT SERVICES AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT CONTRIBUTIONS. WE'D LIKE TO MAKE A REQUEST TO

[B. Receive a presentation from EPATS LGC staff regarding ongoing transit services and local government contributions. Xavier Banales, Interim Director, Transit Operations, 915-273-3838]

MOTION CARRIES. ITEM NUMBER SEVEN. SEE, DISCUSS AND TAKE APPROPRIATE ACTION REGARDING THE COMMISSIONERS COURT MEETING SCHEDULE FOR NOVEMBER 2020. FOR DECEMBER 2024 AND JANUARY 2025.

BETSY JUDGE. COMMISSIONERS. ON THE SCREEN, WE HAVE THE CALENDARS. OF COURSE, THIS IS

[C. Discuss and take appropriate action regarding the Commissioners Court meeting schedule for November 2024, December 2024, and January 2025. Betsy C. Keller, Chief Administrator, County Administration, 915-546-2215]

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RIGHT. AND BECAUSE THE 20TH AND WE'VE SINCE WE VOTED TO GIVE OUR EMPLOYEES OFF THAT ENTIRE WEEK UP UNTIL RIGHT THERE THERE'S COMMISSIONER, WE HAVE WE'RE CLOSED FROM THE BASICALLY THE 23RD AND WE RETURN ON THE 2ND OF JANUARY, RIGHT. OKAY. GOOD. WE HAVE A MOTION FROM COMMISSIONER OLGUIN AND A SECOND FROM JUDGE SAMANIEGO. THE VOTING IS OPEN. I VOTE AYE. MOTION CARRIES. THANK YOU, THANK YOU. BETSY. ITEM NUMBER EIGHT A RECEIVE A PRESENTATION FROM THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT AND AECOM ON OPTIONS FOR THE RESTORATION OF ASCARATE LAKE. WE'D ALSO LIKE TO MAKE A REQUEST TO POSTPONE THIS ITEM FOR TWO WEEKS. PLEASE. SO WE HAVE A MOTION FROM JUDGE

[A. Receive a presentation from the Public Works Department and AECOM on options for the restoration of Ascarate Lake. Norma Rivera-Palacios, Executive Director, Public Works, 915-273-3330]

CAESAR, CAN WE GO INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION? YES, ABSOLUTELY. WE DO HAVE ONE ITEM THAT WE I DO NEED TO READ IN BEFORE WE GO INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION. ONE MOMENT, PLEASE. ITEM NUMBER TEN. SEE FROM EXECUTIVE SESSION PURSUANT TO TEXAS LOCAL GOVERNMENT CODES, SECTIONS FIVE, FIVE, 1.07155, 1.072 AND FIVE FIVE, 1.0725 DISCUSS AND RECEIVE LEGAL ADVICE REGARDING CONTRACT NEGOTIATIONS

[C. Pursuant to Texas Local Government Code Sections 551.071, 551.072, and 551.0725, discuss and receive legal advice regarding contract negotiations pertaining to a potential lease to Trade & Logistics Services LLC, for a property near the Tornillo Port of Entry. Roberto Ransom, Director, Economic Development, 915-546-2177]

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

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 DIECINUEVE LA VACUNA COVID DIECINUEVE IS GRATIS PARA LAS VACUNAS RUTINA DE SUS HIJOS. VISITA EP HEALTH.COM SABEMOS CUANTO A MAS AT LOS HIJOS? ASI RECUERDA NO LO DUDES VACUNA.

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CESAR GO AHEAD. COMMISSIONERS COURT HAS RECONVENED INTO REGULAR OPEN SESSION. WE ARE ON ITEM 11, A. POSTPONED SEPTEMBER 30TH, 2020 FOR DISCUSS AND TAKE APPROPRIATE ACTION REGARDING LITIGATION. STYLED LAS AMERICAS IMMIGRANT ADVOCACY CENTER VERSUS KEN PAXTON IN HIS OFFICIAL

[A. (Postponed 9/30/24) Discuss and take appropriate action regarding litigation styled Las Americas Immigrant Advocacy Center v. Ken Paxton, in his Official Capacity as Attorney General of Texas. Erica Rosales-Nigaglioni, Assistant County Attorney, County Attorney's Office, 915-273-3247]

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[A. Approve and adopt a resolution declaring October 14, 2024, as Indigenous People's Day in El Paso County, Texas. David Stout, Commissioner, Precinct 2, 915-546-2111]

LOOKS LIKE FOR SOME REASON, MY CAMERA IS NOT WORKING. NOW, COMMISSIONER, WOULD IT. WOULD YOU LIKE TO DISCONNECT AND COME BACK ON? YEAH, I JUST DID SO. AND FOR SOME REASON IT DID NOT WORK. SO. DO Y'ALL WANT TO GO AHEAD WITH ANOTHER RESOLUTION WHILE I'M TRYING TO FIGURE THIS OUT? YES, SIR. OKAY. WHAT WOULD BE THE ISSUE? HE CAN STILL HE CAN'T VOTE. BUT WE GOT THREE OF US. SO. AND IF YOU ALL WANT TO DO THE OTHER ONE, WE CAN COME BACK. I IF HE'S HAD ANY OTHER VIDEO CALLS ON ANY OTHER PLATFORM, YOUR CAMERA SOMETIMES WILL NOT RECONNECT ON TEAMS. SO YOU HAVE TO DISCONNECT AND RECONNECT. THAT MAY BE IT. SO IT MAY TAKE JUST A SECOND TO GET BACK ON SOMEONE FROM THE NEXT ONE. WE DO HAVE SOMEBODY HERE. I BELIEVE FOR NATIONAL LIGHTS ON AFTER SCHOOL. YES, WE DO. COME ON. ITEM NUMBER NINE BE APPROVED AND ADOPT A RESOLUTION RECOGNIZING OCTOBER 24TH, 2024 AS NATIONAL LIGHTS ON. AFTER SCHOOL AND EL PASO COUNTY,

[B. Approve and adopt a resolution recognizing October 24, 2024, as National Lights on After School in El Paso County, Texas. Ricardo A. Samaniego, County Judge, County Judge's Office, 915-546-2098]

YOU WOULD HAVE HAD AN AUDIENCE THIS MORNING. SO BUT BUT THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. SO WHEREAS THE PEOPLE OF THE COUNTY OF EL PASO, TEXAS, STAND FIRMLY COMMITTED TO QUALITY AFTER-SCHOOL PROGRAMS AND OPPORTUNITIES BECAUSE THEY PROVIDE SAFE, CHALLENGING, AND ENGAGING LEARNING EXPERIENCES THAT HELP CHILDREN DEVELOP SOCIAL, EMOTIONAL, PHYSICAL AND ACADEMIC SKILLS. SUPPORT WORKING FAMILIES BY ENSURING CHILDREN ARE SAFE AND PRODUCTIVE WHEN THEY ARE NOT AT SCHOOL. BUILD STRONGER COMMUNITIES AND PROMOTE POSITIVE RELATIONSHIPS BY INVOLVING STUDENTS, PARENTS, BUSINESS LEADERS AND ADULT VOLUNTEERS IN THE LIVES OF YOUNG PEOPLE. ENGAGE FAMILIES, SCHOOLS AND COMMUNITY PARTNERS IN ADVANCING YOUTH WELFARE AND OFFER YOUNG PEOPLE MANY DEMONSTRATED POSITIVE BENEFITS, PARTICULARLY IN THEIR ACADEMIC STUDIES, SOCIAL AND EMOTIONAL HEALTH, AND THEIR OVERALL PHYSICAL WELL-BEING. OF COURSE, AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAMS CONTINUE OFFERING INNOVATIVE PROGRAMING THAT KEEPS CHILDREN ENGAGED, SUPPORTS THEIR SOCIAL, EMOTIONAL LEARNING, AND IMPROVES THEIR ESSENTIAL SOFT SKILLS THAT ARE CRUCIAL TO THEIR DEVELOPMENT. AND WHEREAS THE COUNTY OF EL PASO IS HONORED TO BE HOME TO SEVERAL COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS THAT PROVIDE LEADERSHIP IN YOUTH HEALTH, EDUCATION AND BELIEF QUALITY, AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAMS HELP OUR CHILDREN BECOME SUCCESSFUL ADULTS, INCLUDING THE EL PASO DEL NORTE HEALTH FOUNDATION'S HEALTHY KIDS INITIATIVE, THE UNITED WAY OF EL PASO COUNTY, AND THE BOOST NETWORK AND ITS MEMBERS, WHERE STUDIES SHOW THAT YOUNG PEOPLE

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GOOD AFTERNOON. TELL US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE PROGRAM. SURE. MY NAME IS SANDRA DAY. I'M WITH THE PASO DEL NORTE HEALTH FOUNDATION. AND THIS IS ANA RAMIREZ. RAMIREZ IS FROM UNITED WAY. AND SO WE'RE JUST DELIGHTED TO BE HERE THIS AFTERNOON TRYING THIS NEW TIME. USUALLY WE ALSO HAVE A BIGGER CREW, BUT THIS IS A PRIME TIME FOR OUT-OF-SCHOOL TIME PROGRAMS TO GET STARTED. SO OUR PARTNERS COULDN'T BE HERE. I'M THE LEAD PROGRAM OFFICER FOR THE HEALTHY KIDS INITIATIVE, THE HEALTHY KIDS INITIATIVE OF THE PASO DEL NORTE HEALTH FOUNDATION HAS BEEN IN EXISTENCE SINCE 2017, AND WITH THE SOLE PURPOSE TO CONNECT DISCONNECTED YOUTH, NOT JUST IN EL PASO COUNTY, BUT ALSO CIUDAD JUAREZ AND THE THREE COUNTIES IN SOUTHERN NEW MEXICO LUNA, OTERO, DONA ANA. SO IT REALLY CONNECTS OUR BINATIONAL TRI-STATE COMMUNITY TO COME TOGETHER TO ADVOCATE FOR YOUTH, TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY ARE IN SAFE PLACES WITH A TRUSTED ADULTS AND A POSITIVE ACTIVITY TO KEEP THEM AWAY FROM GETTING INVOLVED WITH JUSTICE TO, YOU KNOW, ACT ON A LOT OF RISKY BEHAVIORS, YOU KNOW, TO INCLUDE DRUGS, ALCOHOL, VIOLENCE, YOU NAME IT. AND POST-PANDEMIC, IT HAS BECOME EVEN MORE IMPORTANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY ARE ENGAGED, THAT THEY KNOW HOW TO EVEN BE SOCIAL BECAUSE THEY LOST A LOT OF THOSE SOCIAL SKILLS DURING THE TIME THAT THAT THEY WERE AWAY FROM THEIR PEERS. WE'VE SEEN A LOT OF SUICIDE RATES GO UP ALSO AMONG YOUTH AT THE NATIONAL LEVEL. AND SO WE ARE THINKING ABOUT, YOU KNOW, WAYS TO KEEP THEM ENGAGED, TO KEEP THEM CONNECTED, BUT NOT JUST IN ANY KIND OF OUT-OF-SCHOOL TIME PROGRAM, BUT WITH HIGH QUALITY OUT-OF-SCHOOL TIME PROGRAMS. AND SO THE HEALTH FOUNDATION FUNDS MORE THAN 1.7 MILLION EVERY YEAR TO MAKE SURE THAT KIDS HAVE ACCESS TO OUT-OF-SCHOOL TIME PROGRAMS, NOT JUST THOSE THAT WHOSE PARENTS ARE ABLE TO PAY FOR THIS OUT-OF-SCHOOL TIME PROGRAMS FOR, YOU KNOW, FOR KIDS OF ALL KINDS OF INCOME AND BACKGROUNDS. AND SO WE COULDN'T DO THIS ALONE AT THE HEALTH FOUNDATION. SO WE PARTNERED WITH UNITED WAY OF EL PASO COUNTY TO SERVE AS A BACKBONE ORGANIZATION TO SUPPORT A LOT OF THESE LEADERS IN THE COMMUNITY THAT WORK WITH OUT-OF-SCHOOL TIME PROGRAMS AND SO THEY PROVIDE QUALITY, CAPACITY BUILDING AND TRAINING TO THIS OUT-OF-SCHOOL TIME PROVIDERS SO THAT WE ALL FALL UNDER THE SAME CURRICULUM SO THAT PROGRAMS ARE SOMEWHAT STANDARDIZED, SINCE THERE'S REALLY NOT A WHOLE LOT OF STANDARDS WHEN IT COMES TO OUT-OF-SCHOOL TIME PROGRAMING, AS THERE IS IN EDUCATION AND IN SCHOOLS THAT WE SEE. SO WE'RE JUST VERY THRILLED THAT YOU'RE RECOGNIZING THE IMPORTANCE OF OUT-OF-SCHOOL TIME PROGRAMS AND THIS NATIONAL HOLIDAY OF LIGHTS ON AFTER SCHOOL MEANS A LOT TO OUR COMMUNITY. IT REALLY PUTS EL PASO AND THE PASO DEL NORTE REGION IN THE MAP OF, YOU KNOW, AT THE NATIONAL LEVEL WHERE THEY CELEBRATE OUR BINATIONAL COMMITMENTS TO OUR YOUTH, THEIR WELL-BEING, AND THEN TO IMPROVE THEIR HEALTH OUTCOMES. SO JUST VERY PLEASED TO BE HERE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. AND UNITED WAY, WOULD YOU LIKE TO JUST THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO COME HERE DOING THIS RESOLUTION. WE ARE VERY PROUD OF OUR WORK AND WE'RE GROWING EACH MONTH, EACH YEAR, JOINING ALL THE COMMUNITY, ALL THE AFTER SCHOOL ORGANIZATIONS. SO YEAH. THANK YOU. WELL THANK YOU. I HAD TWO GREAT OPPORTUNITIES TO UNDERSTAND. I WAS A JUVENILE PROBATION OFFICER. AND SO WHEN I WOULD HAVE TO, YOU KNOW, THEY'D COME IN AFTER SCHOOL AND MOST OF

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THE BASKETBALL TOURNAMENTS, EVERYTHING BUT THE KIDS COULDN'T GO. SO I SORT OF MADE ROOM AND ALL OF A SUDDEN THE CENTER FILLED UP BECAUSE THEY WERE ALL OUT IN THE STREETS AND EITHER HANGING OUT AT DIFFERENT PLACES. SO WE CREATED COOKING CLASSES TO EVERYTHING YOU COULD THINK OF TO BRING THEM IN. AND I SAW THE DIFFERENCE OF WHAT YOU USED THE PERFECT WORD IS ENGAGEMENT.

THEIR ABILITY TO ENGAGE AND BE BUSY. AND THEN THEIR PARENTS WOULD COME IN AT 5 OR 6. AND SO THEY NO LONGER HAD THOSE TWO HOUR GAPS OF BEING ABLE TO GET INTO A LOT OF VERY DIFFICULT SITUATIONS. SO BUT I'LL PASS IT ON TO SOMEONE WHO LOVES EDUCATION AND HAS BEEN INVOLVED.

COMMISSIONER CORONADO, THANK YOU, JUDGE NO, I REALLY APPRECIATE, YOU KNOW, THE WORK THAT YOU ALL DO BECAUSE LIKE, LIKE THE JUDGE SAID, YOU KNOW, KIDS, GIVEN THE OPPORTUNITIES TO DO, YOU KNOW, THINGS THAT ARE PRODUCTIVE, YOU KNOW, THEY CAN ENGAGE IN THAT. AND THE OTHER THING IS THERE ARE KIDS THAT WANT TO DO PRODUCTIVE THINGS AND DON'T HAVE THE OUTLET FOR THEM AND NOT NECESSARILY GET IN TROUBLE, BUT THEY DON'T HAVE, YOU KNOW, AND SO THEY CAN'T PARTICIPATE. I'LL TELL YOU ONE STORY FROM GROWING UP IN IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD IS WHAT WE USED TO DO IS, YOU KNOW, WE'D USED TO PLAY OUT IN THE STREET. WE DIDN'T HAVE ANYTHING AVAILABLE, SO WE'D PLAY OUT IN THE STREET FOOTBALL. AND, YOU KNOW, I'M NOT GOING TO, I GUESS, ADMIT TO THIS, BUT WE WOULD CLOSE DOWN HALF OF THE STREET SO WE COULD HAVE A TRACK MEET OUT THERE.

THINK ABOUT THAT. WE DIDN'T HAVE ANY OTHER PLACE TO DO IT. AND SO WE WOULD MAKE OUR OWN. OF COURSE, YOU KNOW, THAT COULD HAVE GOTTEN US INTO TROUBLE OR SOME, YOU KNOW, SOMETHING WOULD HAPPEN TO US. BUT, YOU KNOW, THAT'S WHY I THINK THESE, THESE, THESE OPPORTUNITIES, THESE PROGRAMS THAT, YOU KNOW, WE TRY TO DO TO HELP KIDS MAKE SURE THAT THEY THEY DO SOME PRODUCTIVE AND HEALTHY, YOU KNOW, PHYSICAL ACTIVITIES IS REALLY GREAT. AND SO AND, YOU KNOW, WE WANT TO DO THAT BECAUSE THAT DOES, YOU KNOW, LIKE LIKE THE JUDGE SAID IT IT PROMOTES THEIR EDUCATIONAL SIDE OF IT, YOU KNOW, BECAUSE THEY LEARN A LOT, NOT JUST BY LEARNING IN SCHOOL, BUT BY LEARNING THINGS WITHIN THE ACTIVITIES THAT THEY DO. WE KNOW THAT IT'S VERY, VERY POSITIVE AND VERY GOOD TRAITS THAT THEY PROMOTE. AND SO WE REALLY APPRECIATIVE OF THAT. AND THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH, JUDGE. THANK YOU. OKAY. WE'LL TAKE A PICTURE WITH YOU. WE'LL HAVE THE COMMISSIONER SIGN IT AND GIVE IT BACK TO YOU. THANK YOU. PUT IT RIGHT HERE. I'LL HAVE THIS.

THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU.

YOU'RE GETTING THE PICTURE? YES. OKAY. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. APPRECIATE THE SUPPORT EVERY YEAR. THANK YOU. THANK YOU AGAIN. THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU. COMMISSIONER. ALL RIGHT. YES. CAESAR, COULD YOU HOLD IT FOR ME? AND I'LL HAVE COMMISSIONER STEELE SIGN IT. ITEM NUMBER NINE, A APPROVE AND ADOPT A RESOLUTION DECLARING

[Aa. Approve and adopt a resolution declaring October 14, 2024, as Indigenous People's Day in El Paso County, Texas.]

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ALABAMA-COUSHATTA. KICKAPOO. AND WHEREAS THE EL PASO COUNTY IS LOCATED ON THE US MEXICO BORDER, AND IT IS EQUALLY IMPORTANT THAT WE RECOGNIZE INDIGENOUS GROUPS IN PRESENT DAY NORTHERN MEXICO, THE RARAMURI TEPEHUAN, WHICH RICA AND NAHUATL PEOPLES, WHEREAS. AND. WHEREAS IN SHARED CELEBRATION OF THE COUNTY OF EL PASO, RECOGNIZES THE EFFORTS OF ORGANIZATIONS LIKE ARISE, THE ACADEMIC REVIVAL OF INDIGENOUS STUDIES AND EDUCATION, A UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT EL PASO STUDENT ORGANIZATION WHO WORKS TO EDUCATE THE CAMPUS COMMUNITY ABOUT THE DIVERSITY, HISTORY, AND CURRENT ISSUES OF INDIGENOUS PEOPLE, AND AS AN ENTITY TO PROMOTE INDIGENOUS VOICES. AND NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE EL PASO COUNTY JUDGE AND COMMISSIONERS COURT THAT EL PASO COUNTY CELEBRATES INDIGENOUS PEOPLES DAY EVERY SECOND MONDAY IN OCTOBER AND WILL CONTINUE TO RECOGNIZE THE DAY MOVING FORWARD. SIGN THE SEVENTH DAY OF OCTOBER 2020 FOR THE HONORABLE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS COURT. WE HAVE A MOTION FROM COMMISSIONER STOUT AND A SECOND FROM JUDGE SAMANIEGO. THE VOTING IS OPEN. COMMISSIONER STOUT, I MOTION CARRIES. GREAT. THANK YOU, DOCTOR LEYVA, I THINK I SAW YOU ON ONLINE. OKAY, THERE YOU ARE. GO AHEAD. THE FLOOR IS YOURS.

THANK YOU. WELCOME. DOCTOR LEYV. THANK YOU, JUDGE SAMANIEGO. AND GOOD AFTERNOON, JUDGE AND COMMISSIONERS COURT. I'VE SAID THIS TO YOU BEFORE, AND I'M GOING TO SAY IT AGAIN THAT IT'S ALWAYS A PLEASURE TO APPEAR BEFORE THIS COURT. YOU ARE ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF HISTORY WITH THIS RESOLUTION. AS YOU KNOW, EL PASO AND THE SURROUNDING REGION HAS A VERY RICH AND PROFOUND HISTORY OF INDIGENOUS PEOPLE WHO COMMISSIONER STOUT JUST JUST MENTIONED THE AGUA SUMA JUMANO PIRO, THE INDIAN PEOPLE, THE APACHE PEOPLE. AND THIS IS NOT JUST PART OF HISTORY, BUT IT IS ALSO PART OF OUR PRESENT DAY. JUST THINKING ABOUT THE HISTORY OF INDIGENOUS PEOPLE IN HUECO TANKS, THERE WAS INDIGENOUS PEOPLE LIVING THERE 10,000 YEARS AGO ON FORT BLISS. THE PIT HOUSES GO BACK 2000 YEARS. SO WE HAVE A VERY LONG HISTORY OF THE CONTRIBUTIONS AND TALENTS CULTURE OF INDIGENOUS PEOPLES HERE ON A VERY PERSONAL NOTE, THIS IS VERY MEANINGFUL TO ME THAT THE COMMISSIONERS COURT HAS PASSED THIS RESOLUTION, AND I THANK COMMISSIONER STOUT FOR SPONSORING THE RESOLUTION, AND I THANK THE ENTIRE COURT FOR SUPPORTING IT, BECAUSE MY GREAT GRANDMOTHER, ROCIO OF THE RARAMURI PEOPLE, WAS TAKEN AS A BABY FROM HER PEOPLE, MY VIS VIS, VIS VIS ABUELA PIO QUINTA WAS NOT DEEMED WORTHY OF A LAST NAME FOR INDIA. SHE WAS OF THE

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SO THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING THAT YOU DO. THANK YOU JUDGE. BACK TO YOU, COMMISSIONER STOUGHTON.

YEP. JUST WANT TO ECHO THOSE SENTIMENTS. THANK YOU SO MUCH, DOCTOR LEYVA. YOU'VE ALWAYS BEEN SUCH A STRONG VOICE IN MAKING SURE THAT THAT WE EXALT AND BRING, BRING TO LIGHT SO MANY DIFFERENT HISTORIES THAT THAT, YOU KNOW, HAVE NOT SEEN LIGHT IN SO MANY, IN SO MANY YEARS. SO THANK YOU AGAIN FOR ALL OF YOUR ADVOCACY AND FOR WORKING WITH US ON THIS RESOLUTION. AND THANK YOU TO THE COMMISSIONERS COURT FOR ONCE AGAIN DECLARING WHAT WAS ONCE COLUMBUS DAY, NOW INDIGENOUS PEOPLES DAY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. WE GET I WANT TO TELL YOU THAT I'M I COME TO YOU FROM MY CLASSROOM. YOU MIGHT SEE THE SCREEN IN THE BACK. MY CLASS IS WATCHING YOU RIGHT NOW. OH, HOW NICE. GREAT. SO I BROUGHT MY OWN AUDIENCE. OH, MIGHT NOT BE AN AUDIENCE THERE, BUT I HAVE MY MA AND PHD STUDENTS HERE WITH ME RIGHT NOW. TO THE STUDENTS, YOU'RE EXTREMELY I FEEL VERY HONORED TO HAVE DOCTOR LEYVA BECAUSE SHE'S JUST AMAZING. A LOT TO LEARN FROM JUST A WEALTH OF, OF INFORMATION. SO THANK YO. I THINK IF WE TURN THIS ONE AND BRING YOU CAN STAND OVER HERE, WE CAN HAVE HER ON THE SCREEN OKAY. WE'RE GOING TO TAKE A TAKE A PICTURE. BUT WE'RE GOING TO YOU'RE GOING TO BE ON THE SCREEN OKAY. THAT'S AWESOME. THANK YOU.

I.

YEAH.

THANK YOU. DOCTOR LEYVA I'LL SEND YOU SO MUCH I'LL SEND YOU THE PICTURE RIGHT NOW. AS SOON AS THEY SEND IT TO ME, I'LL SEND IT TO YOU. HOPEFULLY YOU CAN SHOW IT TO YOUR CLASSROOM. THAT WHEN TECHNOLOGY WORKS, IT WORKS. THANK YOU, THANK YOU. I HAVE A GOOD AFTERNOON. AND ONCE AGAIN, THANK YOU. THANK YOU, THANK YOU. YOU TOO. WE ACTUALLY VOTE. THIS COMPLETES ALL THE ITEMS ON OUR AGENDA. JUDGE, WE DID VOTE. LAST DAY TO REGISTER WHICH STATE? NO. YOU GO AHEAD. JUDGE. I JUST WANT TO BEFORE WE LOG OFF TO REMIND THE ENTIRE PUBLIC OUT THERE THAT TODAY IS OCTOBER 7TH AND IT'S

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COMMISSIONER STOUT AND COMMISSIONERS, EVERYONE HERE FOR PROMOTION TEAM, OUR TRANSLATORS, EVERYBODY. LEGAL TEAM MELISSA, EVERYBODY. BETSY HAVE A GREAT WEEK. THANK YOU. OKAY. THIS CONCLUDES TODAY'S MEETING AT 2:30 P.M.

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.