[00:00:32] OH. OH. OH. OH. OH. OH. OH. [00:05:20] OH. OH. OH. OH. GO AHEAD. GOOD MORNING, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN. TODAY IS MONDAY, NOVEMBER 4TH, 2024. COMMISSIONERS COURT IS MEETING IN REGULAR OPEN SESSION. TODAY WE ARE JOINED BY ASL [1. OPEN MEETING] INTERPRETERS DANIEL GARCIA AND MONTSERRAT VILLASANA. COMMISSIONER OLGUIN, WOULD YOU LIKE TO INTRODUCE OUR PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE PERSON FOR TODAY? YES. THANK YOU. GOOD MORNING EVERYONE. I'M VERY PLEASED TO SAY THAT TODAY WE HAVE WITH US SARAH RODRIGUEZ, WHO IS A FORMER INTERN IN MY OFFICE AND IS ALSO A VERY CIVICALLY ACTIVE AND INVOLVED YOUNG ADULT MEMBER OF [2. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE] OUR COMMUNITY. SO THANK YOU, SARAH, FOR BEING HERE WITH US TODAY. PLEASE RISE FOR THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE. I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS. ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL. HONOR TO THE TEXAS FLAG. I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THEE, TEXAS. ONE STATE UNDER GOD, ONE AND INDIVISIBLE. AND, SARAH, WOULD YOU COME UP, PLEASE? I JUST HEARD FROM COMMISSIONER OLGUIN THAT YOU'RE A GREAT ADVOCATE FOR YOUNG ADULTS. AND VOTING. SO SHE WAS HOPING THAT YOU'D SAY A FEW WORDS ON ENCOURAGE OUR YOUNG ADULTS TO COME OUT AND VOTE. YES. I THINK THIS IS THE GREATEST OPPORTUNITY WE HAVE TO MAKE AN IMPACT ON NOT ONLY OUR COUNTRY, BUT OUR LOCAL INSTITUTIONS. WE LOVE TO DO A CHANGE AND THINK WE HAVE THE NEW IDEAS. AND I THINK THIS IS THE CHANCE WE GET AS YOUNG PEOPLE TO GO TO THE VOTING CENTERS. TOMORROW, 7 A.M. TO 7 P.M. AND CAST YOUR VOTE AND MAKE THE PATH YOU WANT EITHER. IT DOESN'T [00:10:03] MATTER WHO ARE YOU VOTING FOR. IT MATTERS THAT YOU ARE PUTTING YOUR VOICE OUT THERE AND USING THIS PRIVILEGE. WE HAVE TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN YOUR COMMUNITY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU SO MUCH. I UNDERSTAND YOU'RE VERY ACTIVE AND WE APPRECIATE THAT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU SARAH. THANK YOU SIR. AND NOW WE WILL RECEIVE AN INVOCATION FROM DEBORAH WAKEFIELD. WELCOME. THANK YOU. GOOD MORNING. GOOD MORNING. MAY WE BOW OUR HEADS, PLEASE? DEAR LORD, THANK YOU FOR THIS DAY. I [3. INVOCATION] ASK THAT YOU WOULD GUIDE OUR PATHS TODAY AND MORE SPECIFICALLY, OUR THOUGHTS, WORDS AND ACTIONS. PLEASE BE WITH US AS WE CELEBRATE THIS SPECIAL DAY. GRANT US TO SEE THE WORLD THROUGH EYES OF COMPASSION AND UNDERSTANDING. HELP US TO NAVIGATE WHATEVER COMES OUR WAY. GUIDE US TO REFLECT AND LIVE OUR LIVES IN A WAY THAT HONORS YOU. BLESS OUR NATION. BLESS OUR LEADERS, BLESS OUR MILITARY, AND GOD BLESS AMERICA AND ON BEHALF OF THE PASSING OF OUR FAVORITE ARTIST, I WOULD LIKE TO SAY LIVE LIFE, LAUGH, LOVE. AMEN. AMEN. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU FOR LEADING US INTO THE WEEK AND WE APPRECIATE THAT. THANK YOU. JUDGE, DO YOU HAVE ANY OPENING REMARKS YOU'D LIKE TO MAKE BEFORE WE BEGIN? YEAH. WELL, THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING HERE. ON BEHALF OF OUR COMMISSIONERS AND MYSELF, WE WELCOME YOU TO COMMISSIONERS COURT. AS YOU KNOW, EVERY DAY IS VETERANS DAY IN EL PASO. BUT WE'RE GOING TO INTENSIFY IT A LITTLE BIT MORE AT 2:00. WE'RE GOING TO HAVE THE ABOUT FOUR RESOLUTIONS THAT ARE RELATED TO THE VETERANS. I'M GOING TO SAY VETERANS WEEK BECAUSE WE HAVE SO MANY ACTIVITIES AND SO THIS IS A GREAT OPPORTUNITY. YOU KNOW, WE ARE THE VETERANS CAPITAL OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. BUT THIS IS WHERE WE INTENSIFY AND SHOW THE REST OF THE WORLD WHY WE SAY THAT. AND THAT IS THE LOVE, THE CARE AND THE RESPECT THAT WE GIVE FOR OUR VETERANS. IT'S VERY SPECIAL, AND I THINK WE TAKE IT FOR GRANTED. BUT THIS IS A COMMUNITY THAT KNOWS HOW TO RALLY AROUND VETERANS AND THAT WE KNOW WE CARE A LOT ABOUT THEM. SO ONCE AGAIN, WE THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. AND STAY TUNED. THIS AFTERNOON, I ALSO HAVE MY ADVISORY APPOINTEE THAT WILL BE PRESENTED ON THAT DAY ON THIS AFTERNOON AS WELL. SO ONCE AGAIN, LET'S LISTEN TO SARAH AND GET EVERYBODY TO GO VOTE. AND IF YOU HAVE GRANDKIDS THAT ARE YOUNG ADULTS NOW, ENCOURAGE THEM FOR THEY'RE THE ONES THAT ARE SORT OF LAGGING A LITTLE BEHIND IN VOTING. AND SO WE OBVIOUSLY NEED THEIR VOTE. JUST THE FACT THAT THEY SHOW UP, THEY BEGIN TO ENGAGE AND FEEL RESPONSIBLE FOR, FOR, YOU KNOW, THEIR VOTE. SO ONCE AGAIN, WELCOME. GOD BLESS ALL OF YOU AND HAVE A TREMENDOUSLY VETERANS HAPPY VETERANS WEEK. THANK YOU. ITEM NUMBER FOUR IS THE CONSENT AGENDA COMPOSED OF ITEMS FOUR A THROUGH FOUR A, Q. WE DO HAVE A CORRECTION TO READ IN FOR ITEM 4AD FROM THE GRANTS DIVISION. IT IS A GRANT AWARD APPROVAL AND AUTHORIZE THE COUNTY JUDGE TO ACCEPT THE OFFICE OF THE [4. CONSENT AGENDA] GOVERNOR. FY 24 SPECIALTY COURT PROGRAM GRANT AWARD FROM SEPTEMBER 1ST, 2024 THROUGH AUGUST 31ST, 2025, IN THE AMOUNT OF $159,615.50. NO COUNTY MATCHES REQUIRED, SUBJECT TO REVIEW AND APPROVAL FROM COUNTY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE. CONTRACT NUMBER 2024 0933. ARE THERE ANY ITEMS MEMBERS OF THE COURT OR PUBLIC WOULD LIKE TO PULL? YES, COMMISSIONER OLGUIN. THANK YOU. JUDGE. I WOULD LIKE TO PULL EX AND THEN A WOULD BE TO PULL AND DELETE AT THE REQUEST OF OUR COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR FOR FURTHER INFORMATION. THAT WAS ITEM AND COMMISSIONER LEON. I'M SORRY AA AA TO DELETE. YES. OKAY. AND LET ME JUST READ THAT IN FOR THE RECORD ITEM FOUR AA APPROVE AND AUTHORIZE THE REALLOCATION AND REPROGRAMING OF CAPITAL FUNDS FOR FY 24 QUARTER THREE, AS DESCRIBED IN THE ATTACHED LISTING AND PROJECT INDEX, WILL REQUEST FOR THIS TO BE DELETED. ANY OTHERS? COMMISSIONER LEON ITEM W. ANY OTHERS? IF NOT, I'LL MOVE TO APPROVE. AND DID YOU WANT TO PULL AC JUDGE? WHICH ONE? NO, I THINK I DIDN'T THINK WE WERE GOING TO PULL IT. I [00:15:01] THOUGHT IT WAS JUST GOING TO BE PART OF THE AFTERNOON. YES, SIR. OKAY. OKAY. HERE WE HAVE A MOTION FROM COMMISSIONER OLGUIN. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER STOUT. THE VOTING IS OPEN. MOTION CARRIES. ITEM FIVE IS PUBLIC COMMENT. WE DO HAVE SEVERAL SPEAKERS SIGNED UP FOR PUBLIC COMMENT. FIRST, WE HAVE MR. PEDRO SERRA. AND JUST AS A REMINDER, THERE IS A FIVE MINUTE [5. PUBLIC COMMENT] TIME LIMIT FOR PUBLIC COMMENT. GOOD MORNING COMMISSIONERS. GOOD MORNING PEDRO JUDGE. GOOD MORNING. I HAVEN'T BEEN IN BECAUSE I'VE BEEN KIND OF SICK. I DON'T KNOW IF YOU GUYS KNEW. I'M A BOXING COACH OUT THERE IN SOCORRO AND TODAY IS A MONTH THAT HAPPENED. AN ACCIDENT HAPPENED OUT THERE WHEN MY KIDS, HE. HE RAN OVER A WIRE OUT THERE IN BOWMAN STREET, AND HE KILLED HIMSELF IN A QUAD RIDING. AND THAT'S THE REASON I HAVEN'T COME IN. YOU KNOW, BUT NOT BECAUSE I HAVEN'T COME IN. THAT DOESN'T MEAN I'M. I'M DROPPING MY CASE. YOU KNOW, I'M STILL. I HAD A MEETING WITH YOU, MR. JUDGE. I HAD A MEETING WITH YOU, AND WE'RE STILL PENDING THAT THAT INFORMATION. AND I ALSO WENT REACHED OUT TO MARY GONZALEZ AND MARY GONZALEZ. TRY TO TAKE TRY TO TAKE CREDIT FOR EVERYTHING WE ALL HAVE DONE HERE, ESPECIALLY YOUR OFFICE. MISS OLGUIN. SHE TRIED TO TAKE CREDIT FOR EVERYTHING. AND I THOUGHT DAVID STROUD WAS BAD. NOW SHE'S EVEN WORSE OFF THAN DAVID, SO I DON'T KNOW WHY THEY'RE IN. WHY ARE THEY ELECTED TO OFFICE IF THEY'RE NOT WILLING TO HELP OUT THE PEOPLE THERE IN MY DISTRICT. SHE DOESN'T WANT TO HELP ME. SHE DOESN'T WANT TO GET INVOLVED. AND SHE'S A I'M SHE'S NOT EVEN TRYING TO HELP OUT AT ALL. SO RIGHT NOW, AT THE MOMENT I'M BACK. SO I'M TODAY IS A IS A MONTH THAT MY HE'S LIKE MY GRANDSON WHO PASSED AWAY. HE HE WAS ALWAYS WITH ME AND I'M JUST TRYING TO GET RECUPERATE FROM THAT. SO I'LL BE I'LL BE COMING IN. I NEED SOME HELP. SO LET'S FIGURE OUT WHAT'S GOING ON WITH MY CASE AND MOVE FORWARD AND TRY TO RESOLVE THE ISSUE. I MEAN, THE ISSUE IS RIGHT NOW THEY FOUND AN IMPROPER ASSESSMENT OR IMPROPER ASSESSMENT IS THAT MY SERVICES SHOULD BE REINSTATED BACK BECAUSE OF THAT PROPER ASSESSMENT. THEY WANT TO GIVE IT A YEAR EVEN THOUGH IT WAS AN IMPROPER ASSESSMENT. THEY WANT TO WAIT A YEAR. SO IT SOUNDS UNREASONABLE FOR THAT. BUT GUYS, MY CASE IT'S JUST BECAME PERSONAL. PERSONAL BETWEEN EMERGENCY AND ME. AND IT'S NOT FAIR THAT THAT I'M TRYING TO FIGHT A MULTI-BILLION DOLLAR COMPANY THAT IS THAT I DIDN'T EVEN FINISH HIGH SCHOOL, YOU KNOW, AND THEY'RE TRYING TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF EVERYTHING. SO I NEED YOUR HELP, GUYS. SO PLEASE HELP ME OUT, AND I'LL BE WALKING IN, IN AND OUT. BLESS YOU, SIR. AND I'LL BE WALKING IN AND OUT, YOU KNOW, ON THE OFFICES. A QUICK REVIEW OF WHAT'S SEE WHAT'S GOING WHAT'S GOING ON WITH YOU GUYS. AND I'LL BE COMING IN FROM NOW ON AGAIN, YOU KNOW, AND HOPEFULLY I MADE A COMMITMENT TO SERVE MY BOXER THAT I WILL BE COMPETING AGAIN IN FEBRUARY FOR THE MASTERS TOURNAMENT, AGAIN IN BOXING. SO GOD HELP ME WITH, WITH WITH IN IN FEBRUARY. SEE WHAT HAPPENS. SEE SEE IF THIS DEPRESSION THAT I HAVE GOES AWAY WITH A LITTLE BIT OF TRAINING. I GAINED 15 POUNDS SINCE I STOPPED WORKING THE DEPRESSION, BUT I MEAN AND SOMEBODY SENT IN THE WARRIOR FAREWELL CHECK OUT THERE FOR ME. AND THEY DID FIND ME THAT I WAS UNDER A LOT OF STRESS. SO MAYBE IT'S A GOOD THING THAT IT HAPPENED, BECAUSE THAT SHOULD PROVIDE SERVICES INSTEAD OF WAITING ENTIRE YEAR FOR A NEW ASSESSMENT. THIS, THIS, THIS, THIS WORLD CHECK THAT WAS GIVEN TO ME HELPS ME OUT BECAUSE IT WILL MAKE IT FASTER. BUT HOPEFULLY THEY SAID TEN DAYS AND WITHIN TEN DAYS THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT WAS GOING TO HELP. GIVE ME A CALL FOR THE FOR THE CRISIS CENTER. SEE WHAT SEE WHAT HAPPENS AFTER THAT. AND THAT'S [00:20:03] WHAT'S HAPPENING RIGHT NOW AT THE MOMENT. OKAY. THANK YOU GUYS. THANK YOU JUDGE THANK YOU EVERYBODY. THANK YOU PEDRO. OKAY I'LL SEE YOU. I DO HAVE THAT MEETING THAT WE PROMISED WITH WITH JUDGE PEREZ AND I'LL GET BACK TO YOU. OKAY. YEAH. THANK YOU SIR. I APPRECIATE IT. THANK YOU. OUR CONDOLENCES, PEDRO, FOR THE LOSS OF YOUR STUDENT'S LIFE. OUR NEXT SPEAKER. WE HAVE MISS ELIZABETH CRAWFORD. GOOD MORNIN. ELIZABETH. GOOD MORNING. THANK YOU. GOOD MORNING. NOVEMBER 20TH IS DESIGNATED AS WORLD CHILDREN'S DAY BY THE UNITED NATIONS. WE'RE TOLD THAT MATTHEW CHAPTER 18, THE WORDS OF THE LORD JESUS. TRULY I SAY TO YOU, UNLESS YOU BE CONVERTED AND BECOME LIKE LITTLE CHILDREN, YOU WILL NEVER ENTER INTO THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN. WHOSOEVER THEREFORE SHALL HUMBLE HIMSELF LIKE THIS LITTLE CHILD. THE SAME IS GREATEST IN THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN. AND WHOEVER SHALL RECEIVE ONE SUCH LITTLE CHILD IN MY NAME RECEIVES ME. THE WORDS OF THE LORD JESUS, THE UNITED NATIONS FOR THE THEME OF WORLD CHILDREN'S DAY. THE THEME IS FOR EVERY CHILD, EVERY RIGHT. THERE SHOULD BE A GIANT EXCEPTION CLAUSE. UNLESS YOU'RE A CHILD IN THE WOMB. I RECENTLY READ AN ARTICLE OF AN INTERVIEW WITH A FORMER ABORTIONIST. BOTH HUSBAND AND WIFE WERE ABORTIONISTS, AND THEY'VE CHANGED TO THE PRO-LIFE SIDE. HE JUST HE DESCRIBED THE HEART OF WHAT HE WAS PERFORMING AS A LUCRATIVE BUSINESS. HE AND HIS WIFE AUTHORED A BOOK, THE SCALPEL AND THE SOUL. THEY BROUGHT TO LIGHT THE INTERNATIONAL ABORTION SITUATION. ABORTION IS NOT JUST AN AMERICAN THING. ABORTION IN THE US ACCOUNTS FOR PROBABLY, WELL UNDER 2% OF GLOBAL ABORTIONS. REPORTS SAY THAT 73 MILLION ABORTIONS WORLDWIDE ARE DONE PER YEAR. THAT AMOUNTS TO 200,000 PER DAY. NO DOUBT, NO DOUBT. THAT FIGURE IS VERY LOW BECAUSE IT DOESN'T TAKE INTO ACCOUNT PROBABLY MOST OF THE BABIES WHO POTENTIALLY COULD BE ABORTED BY MORNING AFTER PILL, WHICH CAN POTENTIALLY CAUSE A VERY EARLY ABORTION. THE MOST COMMON BIBLE VERSE WE ALWAYS HAVE IS THROWN AT US AS PRO-LIFERS IS FROM THE WORDS OF JESUS JUDGE NOT THAT YE BE NOT JUDGED. THE PROBLEM IS, THAT'S NOT THE CONTEXT. I'VE HEARD THE SAYING THAT A TEXT WITHOUT A CONTEXT IS A PRETEXT, A PRESUMPTION, A WRONG CONCLUSION. THAT VERSE IS FOUND IN THE MIDST OF JESUS SERMON ON THE MOUNT. SOME OF THE VERY HARDEST WORDS OF JESUS TO READ MATTHEW FIVE SIX AND SEVEN JUDGE NOT THAT YE BE NOT JUDGED. FOR WITH THE JUDGMENT YOU JUDGE, YOU SHALL BE JUDGED, AND THE MEASURE YOU GIVE WILL BE. IT WILL BE MEASURED TO YOU. AGAIN, JESUS WAS NOT FORBIDDING ALL JUDGMENT. WERE THAT THE CASE, THE ENTIRE JUSTICE AND JUDICIAL SYSTEM WOULD BE WRONG. AND EVERY LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER AND GOVERNMENT LEADER SHOULD QUIT THEIR JOB AND GO HOME. NO, THAT'S NOT WHAT HE'S SAYING. IN THE CONTEXT. JESUS WAS FORBIDDING JUDGMENT BY A FALSE STANDARD AND UNRIGHTEOUS STANDARD, OR JUDGMENT OF ANOTHER PERSON WHILE PERSONALLY DOING THE SAME THING AND REFUSING TO ADDRESS IT IN ONE'S OWN LIFE. A NUMBER OF YEARS BACK, I MUST ADMIT, WHEN I SAW SOME GRAPHIC PRO-LIFE LITERATURE SITTING ON OUR KITCHEN TABLE ONE DAY WHEN I GOT HOME THAT HAD COME IN THE MAIL TO MY MOM, LITERATURE THAT SHOWED ABORTION FOR WHAT IT REALLY IS. I'M SAD TO ADMIT THAT I FELT DISGUSTED AND SPOKE TO MY MOM NEGATIVELY ABOUT THE GROUP. FOR SURE. AT THAT TIME, AND NEVER DID I AGREE WITH ABORTION. I WAS PRO-LIFE, YET I THOUGHT THAT IT WAS EXTREME. OVER THE YEARS, GOD HAD TO BRING ME TO REPENTANCE FOR MY APATHY AND MY ERRANT ATTITUDES TOWARD THE ABORTION HOLOCAUST IN OUR NATIO. NOVEMBER 3RD. YESTERDAY WAS THE DAY THAT CHRISTIANS HAVE DESIGNATED TO HONOR AND REMEMBER THE PERSECUTED CHURCH WORLDWIDE. THE DAY OF PRAYER FOR THE PERSECUTED CHURCH HAS RECENTLY SENT AN EMAIL OF A HORRIFIC ATTACK IN EASTERN UGANDA. A PASTOR AND HIS WIFE AND TWO DAUGHTERS, SEVEN AND FOUR, BURNED TO DEATH BY HIS ISLAMIST VILLAGERS IN UGANDA. THEIR CRIME LEADING THREE MUSLIMS TO FAITH IN JESUS CHRIST, THEIR LITTLE CHILDREN WERE SLAUGHTERED BY THE RADICALS. AS WE LIVE IN A WORLD THAT'S INCREASINGLY HOSTILE TO THE GOSPEL OF JESUS CHRIST, WE'RE REMINDED OF THE WORDS OF THE LORD JESUS IN HIS SERMON ON THE MOUNT. ENTER IN BY THE NARROW GATE, FOR THE GATE IS WIDE, AND THE WAY IS EASY, BROAD THAT LEADS TO DESTRUCTION. AND THOSE WHO ENTER BY IT ARE MANY. FOR THE GATE IS NARROW, AND THE WAY IS HARD THAT LEADS TO LIFE, AND THOSE WHO FIND IT ARE FEW. IN JOHN 14 SIX, JESUS SAID, I AM THE WAY, THE TRUTH, AND THE LIFE. NO ONE COMES TO THE FATHER EXCEPT BY ME. THE WORDS OF THE LORD JESUS IN HIS SERMON ON THE MOUNT, AND JUST BEFORE HIS CRUCIFIXION. THANK YOU SO MUCH. HOPE YOU HAVE A GOOD DAY. THANK YOU, THANK YOU ELIZABETH. HAVE A GOOD DAY. THANK YOU SIR. NEXT WE [00:25:02] HAVE COMMISSIONER SERGIO CORONADO, COMMISSIONER, CHURCH COMMISSIONERS. THANK YOU. I JUST PUBLICLY WANT TO SINCERELY THANK OUR COUNTY STAFF THAT SPENT THEIR SUMMER REACHING OUT TO OUR COMMUNITY REGARDING THE CAPITAL PLANNING BOND. YOU KNOW, THEY OFFERED OUR COMMUNITY AN OPPORTUNITY TO ASK QUESTIONS, GATHER INFORMATION AND LEARN THE HOW AND WHY OF THE PROPOSED PLAN. I KNOW THAT IT TOOK A LOT OF TIME AWAY FROM THEIR FAMILY, AND I WANT TO THANK THEM FOR SOLIDIFYING OUR CONNECTION TO OUR COMMUNITY. WE CONTINUE TO OFFER AND EXPLORE NEW WAYS TO INCORPORATE PUBLIC INPUT LIKE THE LIVE VIRTUAL MEETINGS THAT WE HAD. SO IT'S MY HOPE THAT WE CONTINUE TO INVITE OUR COMMUNITY TO PARTICIPATE IN THEIR COUNTY GOVERNMENT. THE PARTNERSHIP OF COMMUNITY SUPPORT AND ACTIVE COUNTY GOVERNMENT WITH THE POLITICAL WILL TO ACT, CAN PROPEL US TO AN EL PASO COUNTY THAT OFFERS A QUALITY OF LIFE WE ALL DESERVE AND ENJOY. TOMORROW IS THE LAST CHANCE TO MAKE YOUR VOICE HEARD BY VOTING. SO IF YOU HAVEN'T DONE SO ALREADY, I ENCOURAGE EVERYBODY IN THE COMMUNITY, PLEASE COME OUT AND MAKE YOUR VOICE HEARD AND VOTE. THANK YOU JUDGE. THANK YOU COMMISSIONER. APPRECIATE THAT. OUR FINAL SPEAKER, WE HAVE MISS LORENA RODRIGUEZ. WELCOME, LORENA. GOOD MORNING, JUDGE AND COMMISSIONERS, LORENA RODRIGUEZ, COUNTY ADMINISTRATION DEPARTMENT, AS THE VETERANS CAPITAL OF THE USA, EL PASO COUNTY PROUDLY SUPPORTS VETERAN ORGANIZATIONS WITH EXPENSES FOR COMMEMORATING VETERANS DAY THROUGH THROUGH VETERANS DAY, THROUGH EVENTS AND PARADES ACROSS OUR COMMUNITIES. TODAY, WE WOULD LIKE TO SPOTLIGHT SOME UPCOMING EVENTS THAT HONOR OUR VETERANS AND INVITE OUR COMMUNITY TO ATTEND AND SHOW THEIR SUPPORT. OUR FABENS VETERANS CEREMONY HOSTED BY THE VETERANS BY THE FABENS VETERANS PARK COMMITTEE, WILL BE HELD ON FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 8TH AT THE FABENS VETERANS PARK, LOCATED AT 602 FOURTH STREET NORTHEAST. BEGINNING AT 8 A.M. THE 28TH ANNUAL SAN ELIZARIO VETERANS DAY PARADE AND CEREMONY, HOSTED BY THE SAN ELIZARIO VETERANS COMMITTEE SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 9TH AT LOCATED AT 1501 MAIN STREET, SAN ELIZARIO HISTORIC DISTRICT. AT 9 A.M. EL PASO DOWNTOWN VETERANS DAY PARADE, HOSTED BY THE UNITED AMERICAN VETERANS ORGANIZATION, WILL BE HELD ON SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 9TH AT 10 A.M. THE STARTING POINT IS ON MYRTLE AND NORTH CAMPBELL STREET. AND LAST BUT NOT LEAST, THE NORTHEAST VETERANS DAY PARADE AND CEREMONY HOSTED BY THE FLAGS ACROSS AMERICA ON MONDAY, NOVEMBER 11TH AT 10 A.M, WHICH IS THE STARTING POINT ON HONDA PASS. WE JUST WANTED TO MAKE THE PUBLIC AWARE OF THOSE EVENTS. THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. I KNOW THERE'S SO MANY, IT'S HARD TO SORT OF CHOOSE. THERE'S SO MANY GREAT PARADES GOING ON AND ACTIVITIES. BUT SOMEHOW, SOMEWAY I'LL DO THE 2080. YOU KNOW, I'LL MISS 20% OF THEM, BUT HOPEFULLY I'LL GET THOSE 80%. THANK YOU. THAT COMPLETES PUBLIC COMMENT. ITEM SIX PRESENTATION SIX A RECEIVE A PRESENTATION FROM COUNTY ADMINISTRATION REGARDING FACTORS THAT ARE IMPACTING THE JAIL POPULATION. GOOD MORNING, COUNTY JUDGE. GOOD MORNING. GOOD MORNING, JOEL BISHOP WITH COUNTY ADMINISTRATION. WE HAVE A [A. Receive a presentation from County Administration regarding factors that are impacting the jail population. Joel Bishop, Executive Director, Justice Support & Community Services, 915-546-2215] PRESENTATION THIS MORNING FOR YOU TO UPDATE YOU ON THE WHAT'S HAPPENING WITH THE JAIL POPULATION. WE KNOW THAT WE'VE BEEN WATCHING IT CLOSELY OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS. AND IT CERTAINLY IS IMPACTING COUNTY REVENUE. AND SO THE PURPOSE OF THIS IS TO BRING SOME UPDATED UNDERSTANDING TO THE COMPLEXITIES THAT SURROUND THE JAIL POPULATION AND TO HELP US UNDERSTAND WHERE WE CAN HAVE AN IMPACT, WHAT WE CAN WE MIGHT BE ABLE TO CONTROL AS A, AS A LOCAL COMMUNITY AND AS A LOCAL GOVERNMENT VERSUS SOME THINGS THAT ARE OUT OF OUR CONTROL. I WOULD NOT SAY THAT THIS COVERS EVERYTHING, BUT I DO THINK THIS IS PROBABLY THE MOST COMPREHENSIVE ANALYSIS THAT I'VE SEEN DONE ON TEXAS JAIL POPULATIONS. AND I CAN TELL YOU THAT THIS IS A MAJOR CHALLENGE ACROSS THE STATE, AS FOR MANY JAILS. AND I'LL GET INTO THAT A LITTLE BIT HERE AS WELL. BUT FIRST, I DO WANT TO THANK OUR PARTNERS WHO ARE HERE WITH US, PRIMARILY THE COUNCIL OF JUDGES. THEY'VE WORKED WITH US CAREFULLY ON THIS. MICHAEL CUCCARO AND CRYSTAL LOZANO ARE HERE THIS MORNING AND THEY WE MEET EVERY WEEK WITH THEM. WE GO OVER THESE THINGS AND THEY'VE BEEN VERY RESPONSIVE AND HELPFUL. AND THEY ALSO HELPED US PUT THIS TOGETHER. SO I WANTED TO THANK THEM. AND OF COURSE, AS ALWAYS, JOSE DEBORAH AND JACOB MILES, WHO ARE HERE, AND JACOB WILL BE HELPING ME WITH THIS HERE IN A MINUTE. THANK YOU. WE'LL TRY TO [00:30:01] MAKE THIS AS, AS AS QUICK AS WE CAN, BUT WE WANT TO LEAVE SOME TIME FOR DISCUSSION OR QUESTIONS. I ALSO WANT TO RECOGNIZE A JUDGE MORALES RUBEN MORALES, FOR HIS CITE AND RELEASE PROGRAM, AND HE'S RUNNING THAT. HE'S NOT HERE THIS MORNING. BUT BUT THESE ARE THE KIND OF THINGS THAT THAT REALLY HELP. EVEN IF THEY'RE EVEN IF THE NUMBERS AREN'T HIGH, IT'S HELPFUL TO HAVE THAT COLLABORATION COORDINATION TO MAKE THESE THINGS HAPPEN IN JUNE OF 2010, ONLY 31% OF COUNTY JAILS, WHICH IS ACTUALLY MORE THAN I THOUGHT. BUT COUNTY JAILS IN TEXAS HOUSED INMATES OUTSIDE OF THEIR LOCAL JURISDICTION. THAT HAS INCREASED RECENTLY. OVER 40% OF TEXAS JAILS HAVE TO OUTSOURCE THEIR BEDS TO OTHER JURISDICTIONS. MANY ARE OUT OF STATE, MANY EAST TEXAS. IT'S VERY COMMON TO SEND THEM TO LOUISIANA BECAUSE THEY DON'T HAVE ROOM IN THEIR LOCAL JAILS. SO AND RIGHT NOW, SINCE 2018, OVER 2000 MORE INMATES HAVE BEEN OUTSOURCED TO OUTSIDE LOCAL JAILS BECAUSE OF LACK OF ROOM, HARRIS COUNTY WILL SPEND ALMOST $60 MILLION THIS YEAR. OUTSOURCING BEDS, BEXAR COUNTY SPENDING MILLIONS OF DOLLARS. WE MET WITH THEM LAST WEEK. WE TALKED WITH THEM ABOUT IT. THERE'S MANY, MANY OTHER COUNTIES THAT ARE AND MANY MILLIONS OF DOLLARS THAT ARE BEING SPENT OUTSOURCING BEDS. EL PASO HAS DONE A REALLY GOOD JOB OVER TIME IN ADDRESSING THIS ISSUE AND COMING UP WITH STRATEGIES TO AVOID THAT, AND WE KNOW THAT THE REFORM THAT WAS DONE BACK IN 2015 REDUCED THE PRETRIAL POPULATION BY 10% OR BY 8%, WHICH WAS OVER 100,000 JAIL BEDS. AND SINCE THAT'S OUR PRIMARY POPULATION, THAT'S A LOT OF JAIL BEDS IN A YEAR. SO IT SAVED OVER 100,000 JAIL BED NIGHTS IN A YEAR BY THAT REFORM. BUT THAT'S QUICKLY BEING EATEN UP, AS OTHER COUNTIES ARE SEEING BY AN INCREASE IN THE STATE POPULATION AND LOCAL JAILS. SO WE CAME UP WITH SOME OF THE PRIMARY FACTORS THAT CAN IMPACT A JAIL POPULATION HERE. AND WE'LL GO OVER THE ONES WE CAN QUANTIFY SOME OF THESE THINGS, WE CAN PUT NUMBERS TO SOME OF THEM. IT CAN'T. IT'S MORE COMPLEX. AND IT IT'S HARD TO LIKE GIVE YOU AN ESTIMATE, A PERCENTAGE WISE HOW MUCH THIS IS HAVING AN IMPACT. AND THESE CAN HAVE POSITIVE IMPACTS OR NEGATIVE IMPACTS DEPENDING ON THE PRACTICES IN THE JAIL. IT'S KIND OF LIKE A BATHTUB WHERE YOU HAVE WATER COMING IN AND WATER GOING OUT AND THAT AND THE VOLUME IS AFFECTED BY BOTH. SO WHEN YOU THINK OF THE JAIL, THE INTAKES IN THE JAIL IMPACT THE POPULATION, BUT ALSO THE OUTFLOW IMPACTS THE POPULATION. AND IF ONE IF YOU DON'T IF YOUR OUTFLOW SLOWS DOWN MORE THAN MORE THAN YOUR INTAKE, IT CAN GO UP AND VICE VERSA. SO THESE ARE IT MAKES IT VERY COMPLEX. SO LOTS OF DIFFERENT THINGS WE'LL GET INTO MOST OF THESE THROUGH THIS PRESENTATION. THE ONE OF OUR MOST RECENT POPULATION COUNTS IS, IS THE TOTAL CAPACITY OF 2592 WITH AN AUTHORIZED CAPACITY OF 2472. AND WE'LL TALK ABOUT WHAT THAT REALLY MEANS THE DIFFERENCE THERE. BUT SOMETIMES WE HAVE TO HAVE AREAS OF THE JAIL SHUT DOWN DUE TO REMODELS OR LIKE THE SEWER PROJECT RIGHT NOW IS HAVING A BIG IMPACT. THERE. YOU SEE, WE HAVE THE DOWNTOWN JAIL CAPACITY AND THE ANNEX CAPACITY COMBINING FOR THAT TOTAL CAPACITY OF 2592 WITH WITH THAT AUTHORIZED CAPACITY OF 2472. AND JUST AS A, FOR EXAMPLE, THAT WHEN WE'RE DOING UPGRADES, WE HAVE TO SHUT DOWN A FLOOR, SAY, IN THE DOWNTOWN THAT CAN AFFECT UPWARDS OF 200 BEDS AT A TIME. AND THAT'S 25% OF THAT FEDERAL POPULATION DECREASE JUST IN THAT ALONE, WHICH CAN COST US UP ABOUT $20,000 A DAY IN FEDERAL REVENUE. SO IT'S NOT JUST HOW MUCH IT COSTS US TO DO A SEWER UPGRADE, YOU KNOW, WHICH IS WHICH IS A LOT, BUT IT CAN ALSO IT ALSO COSTS US REVENUE. BUT THERE'S REALLY NOTHING WE CAN DO ABOUT THAT. I THINK WE THESE ARE UPGRADES THAT HAVE TO BE DONE, BUT THOSE ARE JUST SOME THINGS THAT IMPACT THE JAIL POPULATION. YOU CAN SEE OVER TIME, SINCE AROUND THE BEGINNING OF 2020, THE JAIL POPULATION REPORT, YOU CAN SEE DOESN'T APPEAR TO HAVE CHANGED THAT MUCH. BUT YOU CAN SEE THE POPULATION TYPE IS CHANGING AND HERE WE IF WE EXCLUDE THE FEDERAL POPULATION, YOU COULD SEE THAT BEGINNING IN THE SPRING OF 2022, WE BEGIN TO SEE A REAL INCREASE IN THE STATE POPULATIO. AND IT'S STEADILY JUST KEPT GOING. AND WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THIS OVER THE LAST YEAR, YEAR AND A HALF WITH THE JUSTICE COORDINATING COUNCIL, BECAUSE WE WERE SEEING THIS TREND IN THE DATA AND CERTAINLY HIGHLIGHTING IT PRETTY REGULAR BECAUSE THIS IS A TROUBLING TREND, BECAUSE THIS PUSHES OUT THAT FEDERAL POPULATION AS A STATE POPULATION INCREASES. WE ALSO SAW AT THIS TIME SB SIX KICKED INTO GEAR, WHICH RESTRICTED PUT SOME RESTRICTIONS ON PR BONDS, BUT WE DON'T THINK THAT HAS HAD AS BIG OF AN IMPACT AS THE OLS OPERATIONS OPERATION. LONE STAR, [00:35:04] WHICH KICKED IN AROUND THIS TIME. THAT SEEMS TO HAVE A BIGGER IMPACT ON THE POPULATION. I THINK WE CAN BREAK THAT DOWN INTO PERCENTAGES, WHICH WE'LL SHOW YOU HERE SHORTLY. BUT YOU CAN SEE PROPORTIONATE TO THAT INCREASE IN THE STATE POPULATIO. HERE IS THE DECREASE IN THE FEDERAL POPULATION AND THE FEDERAL REVENUE THAT'S IMPACTED AND HOW IT'S DECREASED OVER TIME. SO ROUGHLY 15 MILLION OR SO IN LOST REVENUE OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS DUE TO THAT DECREASE IN FEDERAL POPULATION AND THOSE, YOU KNOW, AND WE ALSO KNOW IT'S NOT JUST ABOUT MONEY, IT'S ABOUT IT'S ABOUT JUSTICE. AND IT'S ABOUT WHAT'S BEST FOR THAT FEDERAL POPULATION. I THINK OUR ANALYSIS PREVIOUSLY DONE SOME YEARS AGO, SHOWED THAT THEY'RE BETTER OFF IN EL PASO, NOT ONLY FOR REVENUE, BUT FOR THE FOR THEIR LEGAL DEFENSE AND BEING CLOSER TO FAMILY AND EVERYTHING ELSE. IT'S BETTER OFF TO HAVE THOSE PEOPLE HOUSED HERE WHENEVER WE CAN. THIS IS A DASHBOARD THAT WE'VE THAT WE'VE LINKED TO THE TO THE COURT. SO YOU CAN KEEP AN EYE ON THE IMPACTS OF SMUGGLING OF PERSONS AND THE RIOTING THAT HAPPENED THIS YEAR. THE RIOTING, ARRESTS AND THOSE THAT WERE BOOKED IN OUR JAIL FOR THOSE CHARGES HAS HAD AN IMPACT OF OVER $13 MILLION IN LOST FEDERAL REVENUE SINCE 2022. AS YOU SEE THAT INCREASING OVER TIME AND SIGNIFICANTLY GOING UP IN 2024, THAT CAN BE BROKEN DOWN. YOU CAN ON THAT DASHBOARD. I THINK YOU ALL HAVE ACCESS TO THAT. YOU CAN EXPLORE THE DATA IN MORE DETAIL AS YOU AS YOU GET INTO THAT DASHBOARD. BUT YOU CAN SEE JUST THOSE TWO ASPECTS OF OLS THAT'S NOT DOESN'T INCLUDE ALL OF THE OPERATION LONE STAR OPERATIONS, BUT THOSE TWO ASPECTS HAVE HAVE HAD A BIG IMPACT ON THE JAIL POPULATION. AND WITH THAT, I'M GOING TO TURN THIS OVER TO JACOB MILES TO GO OVER SOME OF THE OTHER FACTORS AND TALK ABOUT ALL THE DIFFERENT FACTORS THAT FROM THAT HAVE DECREASED THAT FEDERAL POPULATION OVER TIME. JACOB JACOB'S GOING TO EXPLAIN WHAT WE KNOW ABOUT THAT. WELCOME, JACOB. GOOD MORNING JUDGE. MORNING, COMMISSIONERS. JACOB MILES COUNTY ADMINISTRATION. SO HERE IS A GRAPH OF THE DISTRIBUTION OF FEDERAL BEDS VERSUS NON STATE BEDS VERSUS OLS BEDS. THIS IS TAKEN FROM A SNAPSHOT ON SEPTEMBER FIRST OF 2020. NOW YOU MAY NOTICE THERE IS ONE OLS. AND HOW CAN YOU HAVE AN OLS. BEFORE OLS WAS EVEN A THING. WE'RE USING RYE PARTICIPATION AND SMUGGLING OF PERSONS AS PROXIES FOR WHAT WE CONSIDER OLS CASES, SO I CAN GET COMPLETELY INTO THE MECHANICS OF THAT, BUT I DON'T WANT TO DRAW ATTENTION AWAY FROM WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO SHOW WITH THESE TWO PIE GRAPHS. SO HERE'S THAT DISTRIBUTION IN 2020 FOR YOU. NOTICE IN 2020 WE HAD 27% OF THE JAIL POPULATION WERE ALLOCATED TO FEDERAL JAIL BED DAYS. THAT SHRANK TO 3% IN 2024. THIS IS THE SAME DAY, SEPTEMBER 1ST OF 2020. FOUR OLS CASES AGAIN WERE RETURNING. RYE PARTICIPATION AND SMUGGLING OF PERSONS IS NOW 13% AND NON OLS STATE, SO EVERY OTHER STATE CHARGE IS NOW 84%. IF YOU OVERLAY THESE TWO GRAPHS ON TOP OF EACH OTHER. YOU'LL SEE PROPORTIONALLY THE REDUCTION OF FEDERAL JAIL BED DAYS IS SPLIT ROUGHLY ALMOST 50 OVER 5,046% FOR NON OLS AND 54% FOR OLS. SO OF THAT CHUNK THAT GOT REMOVED FROM FEDERAL A LITTLE OVER HALF IS FROM OLS AND A LITTLE UNDER HALF IS FROM NON OLS. SO I WANT TO MAKE CLEAR THAT IT IS NOT AN ENTIRELY OLS DRIVEN INCREASE IN THE NONFEDERAL POPULATION. IT IS THERE FOR SURE, BUT IT IS NOT THE ENTIRE REASON WHY THE POPULATION HAS INCREASED AND WHY THE FEDERAL POPULATION HAS SUBSEQUENTLY DECREASED. AGAIN, IT'S INCREASED. THE OLS HAS INCREASED BY 13%, WHILE THE NON OLS HAS INCREASED BY 11%. SO IT'S THOSE TWO. AND REMEMBER OLS IS STILL A STATE. THERE ARE STILL STATE OFFENSES. SO ALL OF THIS IS STATE. IT'S JUST THIS IS A SUBSET OF THOSE STATE OFFENSE. SO YOU MAY BE ASKING WHAT'S WHAT'S GOING ON. ARE BOOKINGS INCREASING. BECAUSE THAT WOULD BE A LOGICAL ASSUMPTION. THIS GRAPH SHOWS THAT BOOKINGS HAVE ACTUALLY DECREASED SINCE 2012. AND THEY HAVEN'T INCREASED THEIR PRE-PANDEMIC LEVELS YET. SO THEN IF BOOKINGS ARE DOWN, WHAT IS HAPPENING? THIS IS SHOWING THE AVERAGE LENGTH OF STAY IN JAIL PRETRIAL SINCE 2012. YOU CAN SEE [00:40:08] THE AVERAGE FROM 2012 TO 2019 WAS 24.1 DAYS. THE AVERAGE FROM 2020 TO 2023 WAS 33.5 DAYS. 2024 IS TOO RECENT. YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT WERE JUST BOOKED, BUT THEY HAVEN'T HAD A CHANCE TO BE RELEASED AND JUST FOR CLARITY AND FOR TRANSPARENCY, IF SOMEONE HAS NOT BEEN RELEASED AND I CUT THE DATE OFF AT SEPTEMBER 1ST, IS WHEN THIS REPORT WAS RUN. SO THEY'RE IN THERE AND THAT WOULD BE THE BEST CASE SCENARIO IF THEY WERE RELEASED ON SEPTEMBER 1ST, THEN THIS IS HOW LONG THEY WOULD HAVE STAYED. BUT SINCE THAT'S THE LAST DAY OF THE ACTUAL DATA, THAT'S WHERE I CUT OFF FOR NON RELEASES. AND THESE YEARS ARE BY BOOKING DATE. SO LET'S TALK ABOUT THE LONG TERM CUSTODY BREAKDOWN ON FEBRUARY 22ND OF THIS YEAR THERE WERE 228 INDIVIDUALS IN CUSTODY WHO HAD BEEN IN CUSTODY BETWEEN ONE AND TWO YEARS, 91 INDIVIDUALS HAVE BEEN THERE BETWEEN 2 AND 3 YEARS, 54 BETWEEN 3 AND 4, 24 BETWEEN 4 AND 5, 15 BETWEEN 5 AND 6, SIX BETWEEN 6 AND 7. NO ONE BETWEEN 7 AND 8, AND ONE INDIVIDUAL OVER EIGHT YEARS. AND THESE ARE PRETRIAL. CORRECT. SO THESE ARE PEOPLE WHO HAVE NOT BEEN CONVICTED OF AN OFFENSE. THAT IS CORRECT. SO WE BROUGHT THIS UP TO THE JUDGES, AND THEY DID A REALLY GOOD JOB OF ADDRESSING THESE LONG TERM INMATES. NOW BETWEEN 1 AND 2 YEARS ACTUALLY INCREASED BY 24%. BUT BETWEEN 2 AND 3 YEARS REDUCTION OF 56% BETWEEN 3 AND 4 YEARS REDUCTION OF 74% FOUR AND FIVE YEARS, A REDUCTION OF 29%, FIVE AND SIX, A REDUCTION OF 80%, SIX AND SEVEN A REDUCTION OF 50%. YOU CAN'T HAVE ANY CHANGES WITH ZERO. AND THEN THE OVER EIGHT YEARS HAS STAYED THE SAME. SO THE VERY LONG TERM INMATES IN CUSTODY. I WANT TO COMMEND THE JUDGES FOR DOING A GREAT JOB OF FOCUSING ON THOSE INDIVIDUALS. NOW, UNFORTUNATELY, THE TIME YOU SPENT ON THE LONG TERM INDIVIDUALS, THEN THE PEOPLE WHO WERE SHORT TERM NOW START TO REVERT TO LONG TERM TO 1 TO 2 YEARS. AND THAT'S WHY I BELIEVE THAT HAS INCREASED BY 24%. SO NOW THAT WE'VE ADDRESSED THE SEVERE LONG TERM, I BELIEVE NOW THAT KIND OF SHORT, LONG TERM WILL ALSO GO DOWN. NOW LET'S TALK ABOUT THE ACTUAL CUSTODY STATUS CHARGES. SO HERE'S AGAIN A SNAPSHOT FROM 2019 COMPARED TO A SNAPSHOT FROM 2024. IN 2019, WE HAD 829 FEDERAL INMATES WITH A CUSTODY STATUS OF FEDERAL INMATE 65. IN 2024. SO THAT'S A 92% REDUCTION FOUND INCOMPETENT. THIS INCLUDES PENDING TRANSFER TO A STATE HOSPITAL. WE HAD 24IN 2019. THAT'S JUMPED BY 204% TO 73 IN 2024. THOSE ON PAROLE AWAITING DISPOSITION READY TO TRANSFER FELONY NOT INDICTED. WE HAD 66 INDIVIDUALS IN 2019. THAT'S INCREASED BY 142% TO 160 IN 2024. FELONY NOT INDICTED. REMOVING PAROLE BECAUSE I WANT TO DOUBLE COUNT, INCLUDING STATE JAIL FELONIES 121 OF THOSE INDIVIDUALS IN 2019 INCREASE OF 122% TO 269 IN 2024. FELONY SENTENCED THE TDC NOT READY TO TRANSFER. THERE WERE 88 IN 2019 THAT INCREASED 105% TO 180. IN 2024, FELONY INDICTED, INCLUDING STATE JAIL FELONY BUT EXCLUDING PAROLE AGAIN, 533 OF THOSE INDIVIDUALS IN 2019, 920 IN 2024, AN INCREASE OF 73%. PROBATION VIOLATIONS 219. IN 2019, UP 27% IN 2024 TO 278, AND THEN MISDEMEANOR ABS AWAITING TRIAL 67 TO 2019 OF 24% IN 2024 TO 83. COMMISSIONER LEON ABSOLUTELY NOT READY TO TRANSFER. WHAT DOES THAT MEAN? SO ON FELONY SENTENCED TO TDC, NOT READY TO TRANSFER. SO THERE'S BEEN A SENTENCE. SO THERE'S AN ENTIRE PROCESS. I'VE BEEN LEARNING A LOT ABOUT THIS BECAUSE WE JUST CREATED A SUBCOMMITTEE FOR ENTERPRISE JUSTICE CONTROL BOARD. WE'RE ADDRESSING THIS. AND TRYING TO MAKE THIS AS AUTOMATED AS POSSIBLE. THERE ARE A NUMBER OF DOCUMENTS THAT MUST BE COLLATED INTO A PAPER READY PACKET BEFORE IT'S SUBMITTED TO THE TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS. SO THAT INCLUDES THE ORIGINAL [00:45:05] WRITTEN COMPLAINT FOR THE CASE. THAT INCLUDES THE BEHAVIOR OF THE INDIVIDUAL IN JAIL. IT INCLUDES THEIR DEMOGRAPHIC INFORMATION FROM A RAP SHEET. IT INCLUDES THE ACTUAL OF THE DISPOSITION OF THE CASE. SO THE ACTUAL CONVICTION AND SO IT INCORPORATES DOCUMENTS FROM THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY, THE DISTRICT CLERK'S, THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE, AND SO ALL OF THOSE AND ALL THOSE DOCUMENTS HAPPEN AT DIFFERENT POINTS IN THE CHRONOLOGY OF THE CASE. SO THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S, THE INITIAL COMPLAINT HAPPENS AT THE BEGINNING OF THE CASE, BUT ALL THE WAY UNTIL THE CASE IS DISPOSED THAT THOSE DOCUMENTS DON'T HAVE A HOME YET BECAUSE THEY DON'T KNOW WHAT THE CASE NUMBER IS. AND THEY DON'T KNOW IF THAT CASE WILL BE DISPOSED OF WITH A CONVICTION. SO THEN YOU HAVE TO RETROACTIVELY COLLATE ALL THOSE DOCUMENTS INTO WHAT WE'RE CALLING A SOAP FOLDER. AND I'M LEARNING ALL ABOUT THIS. IT'S VERY FASCINATING. AND SO THAT CAN TAKE A LONG TIME DEPENDING ON HOW MANY INDICTMENTS OR HOW MANY GUILTY PLEAS THAT YOU HAVE, HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE ACTUALLY SENTENCING TO DC, IF THAT IF THE COURTS ARE HAVING A HIGHER OUTPUT AND MORE PEOPLE ARE BEING SENTENCED NOW YOU HAVE MORE PACKETS TO PUT TOGETHER TO THEN SUBMIT TO TDC. SO THAT'S WHAT THIS WAS ABOUT. SO WE'RE TRYING TO FIND THERE'S A LOT WE FOUND A LOT. I JUST HAD A MEETING RICK ROCHA AND I HAD A LOT OF STAKEHOLDERS AT A MEETIN. WE DETERMINED THAT A LOT OF THOSE DOCUMENTS ARE WITHIN ENTERPRISE JUSTICE. AND SO WE'RE GOING TO WORK TO TRY AND AUTOMATE AS MUCH AS WE CAN TO EXPEDITE THAT PROCESS, BECAUSE THAT'S A VERY GOOD CONCERN, COMMISSIONER, IF WE CAN GET THAT DOWN NOW, WE START THE CLOCK FOR TDC. THEY HAVE 45 DAYS ONCE WE'RE PAPER READY TO THEN TAKE CONTROL OR TAKE RESPONSIBILITY OF THAT INDIVIDUAL. SO THE ONLY ONE OF THE ONLY THINGS WE CAN'T REALLY AUTOMATE IS A RAP SHEET, BECAUSE THAT'S VERY CLASSIFIED. AND SO WITHOUT THAT, EVERYTHING ELSE WE'RE TRYING TO AUTOMATE TO MAKE THAT TIME GO WAY DOWN. AND SO WE CAN KEEP YOU UP TO DATE ON THAT AS WE PROGRESS TO THAT. BUT THAT'S ONE OF MY EXCITING THINGS ABOUT WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO TO MAKE THIS PROCESS AS STREAMLINED AS POSSIBLE, TO ELIMINATE ALL THE OTHER WORK OF MANUALLY CREATING FOLDERS ON THE HARD DRIVE, MANUALLY LOOKING TO TRY AND CROSS-REFERENCE AN ARRESTING AGENCY TO THE CASE NUMBER. IT'S A LOT OF MOVING PARTS, AND SO WE'RE TRYING TO AUTOMATE THAT AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE. OKAY. THANK YOU JACOB, IS THERE ANY I THINK AT ONE TIME IT WAS DIFFICULT. THEY THE STATE WAS NOT ABLE TO TAKE THEM. IS THERE ANY BOTTLENECK ON THEIR END THAT. SO THERE HAS BEEN THERE HAVE BEEN RUMBLINGS THROUGHOUT THE STATE ABOUT TDC NOT TAKING PEOPLE AS, AS QUICKLY AS THEY SHOULD. AND THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE HAS HAS MENTIONED THAT THE STATE JAIL, THE ACTUAL STATE HOSPITAL, JAIL BEDS ARE KIND OF THEY'RE THEY'RE THEY'RE FULL. AND SO THOSE ARE TAKING KIND OF LONGER THAN THE GENERAL POPULATION. THAT'S THE ONES ON THE SECOND. THE SECOND LINE, THE FOUND INCOMPETENT, THE ONES WAITING THE STATE JAIL BED. RIGHT, A HOSPITAL BED. SO THOSE I'VE HEARD HAVE BEEN BACKED UP AND THEY'RE HAVING A HARD TIME TRYING TO CLEAR SPACE UP FOR THAT. AND SO WE HAVE TWO PROGRAMS THAT WE'RE WORKING ON IN THAT AREA. ONE IS THE FEDERAL, I'M SORRY, THE STATE FUNDING TO EXPAND PSYCH BEDS ACROSS THE STATE, BUT ALSO HERE LOCALLY, INCLUDING SOME FOR GEL, GEL. AND THEN THE SECOND THING IS WE'RE WORKING WITH EDEN TO START A PROGRAM FOR JAIL BASED COMPETENCY RESTORATION TO TRY IT AT THE LOCAL LEVEL. COMMISSIONER CORONADO, THANK YOU, JUDGE. BESIDES THE AUTOMATION OF THE PAPER READY FOR THE THOSE THAT ARE FELONY SENTENCED BUT NOT READY, IS THERE ANY PARTICULAR AREA RIGHT NOW WHERE THAT IS CREATING A HOLD UP? OR IS IT BETWEEN ALL THOSE AGENCIES YOU MENTIONED? IT'S JUST IT'S TRADITIONALLY BEEN A VERY MANUAL PROCESS. AND SO IT'S A LOT OF DIFFERENT ENTITIES WHO HAVE TO CONTRIBUTE IN ORDER TO MAKE THIS ONE. TDC READY PACKET. SO IT INVOLVES THE DA, BUT THEY'RE AT THE FRONT END OF THE ACTUAL CHRONOLOGY OF THE CASE. SO THEY HAVE TO FILE THOSE COMPLAINT. AND THAT COMPLAINT AFFIDAVIT INTO AN ARREST AN ARRESTING AGENCY FOLDER, BECAUSE THERE GENERALLY ISN'T A CAUSE NUMBER AT THAT POINT YET. OKAY THEN. SO THERE'S AN ENTIRE FOLDER OF THESE COMPLAINT AFFIDAVITS. NOW, ONCE THEY'RE FOUND, IF THEY'RE SENTENCED NOW THE DISTRICT CLERKS FORM A CREATE MANUALLY A SOAP FOLDER IN THE COMMON DRIVE, AND THEY THROW IN ALL THEIR DOCUMENTS. THEN THE SO HAS TO GO IN AND LOOK THROUGH ALL HAS TO MATCH AND TRY AND FIND WHO IS THE ARRESTING AGENCY. WHAT DAY [00:50:03] WERE THEY ARRESTED ON? AND NOW GO BACK TO THE DA FOLDER TO TRY AND FIND THAT PARTICULAR COMMAND AFFIDAVIT, TO THEN MANUALLY DRAG OVER INTO THE SOAP FOLDER. THEN THEY HAVE TO DO ALL THEIR BEHAVIORAL STUFF AND HOW THEY WERE BEHAVING IN JAIL, AND THEN THE RAP SHEET AND THEN THAT MANUALLY HAS TO BE ELEMENTS REDACTED. IT'S ONLY FOR DEMOGRAPHIC INFORMATION. HOWEVER, TDC WILL ONLY ACCEPT DEMOGRAPHIC INFORMATION FROM THE RAP SHEET. SO RAP SHEETS ARE SUPPOSED TO BE DESTROYED AS SOON AS THEY'RE MADE, LOOK AT THEM AND THEN DESTROY IT. SO THEY HAVE TO REDACT EVERYTHING AND MANUALLY DESTROY ALL THE CRIMINAL HISTORY AND JUST KEEP THE DEMOGRAPHIC INFORMATION, BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT TDC REQUIRE. SO THAT PROCESS IS PROBABLY THE MOST CUMBERSOME, AND THAT HAS TO BE DONE INDIVIDUALLY FOR EVERY SINGLE PERSON THAT'S GOING TO TDC. AND IT CAN'T BE DONE AT ANY OTHER POINT. IT HAS TO BE DONE AT THAT TIME. PROBATION WILL DO THEIR OWN FOR THEIR CLIENTS. HOWEVER, THEY WERE DOING IT FOR ALL OF THEM. BUT AND I THINK WISELY, THEY THEY ONLY STARTED DOING IT FOR THEIR OWN CLIENTS BECAUSE YOU'RE ACCESSING CRIMINAL HISTORY FOR INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE NOT YOUR CLIENTS. AND SO I THINK THAT WAS A SMART MOVE TO OFFLOAD THAT TO THE SHERIFFS BECAUSE THEY WERE RESPONSIBLE FOR EVERYONE. SO THEY DO THEY DO CONTRIBUTE BY PROVIDING RAP SHEETS FOR THEIR OWN CLIENTS BECAUSE THAT'S WHO THEY'RE SERVING. HOWEVER, EVERYONE ELSE THAT ISN'T FOR WEST TEXAS WILL THEN GO TO THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE, AND THEY WILL DO THE RAP SHEET THEMSELVES AND BACK TO IF THERE'S ANY LIKE ONE AREA, WHAT CAN HAPPEN, ESPECIALLY LIKE WHEN THERE'S ANY KIND OF SURGE OR LIKE LIKE WHEN THE COURTS MOVE A LOT QUICKLY. I HAD A CONVERSATION LAST WEEK WITH ONE OF THE UNITS THAT IF THERE'S A SLOWDOWN OR A SURGE THAT EACH AREA, THEN ONCE THE ONCE LIKE, SAY, FOR EXAMPLE, THE DA'S OFFICE CATCHES UP THEN AND THEY MOVE THEM ALL FORWARD TO THE NEXT PARTNER IN THE PROCESS. YOU KNOW, THERE'S A BACKLOG FOR THAT AREA TO CATCH UP AND THEN A NEXT AREA TO CATCH UP TO DO THEIR PIECES OF THE PROCESSING AND TELL ME WHO IS RESPONSIBLE FOR PUTTING THE DEMOGRAPHIC INFORMATION FROM THE RAP SHEET INTO THE PAPER. READY? FILE. THAT'S I CAN'T SPEAK AS TERMS OF LEGALLY WHO IS IF THERE IS AN ENTITY THAT IS REQUIRED. I JUST KNOW THAT IT IS A REQUIREMENT. PERIOD. WE DON'T KNOW WHO'S DOING THAT. WE KNOW THAT THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE IS DOING FOR ALL NON PEOPLE IN UNDER THE PAROLE AND PAROLE IS DOING THAT FOR ALL THEIR CLIENTS. BUT THOSE ARE THE ONLY TWO ENTITIES NOW THAT ARE DOING THOSE PROBATION FOR PROBATION. YES PROBATION. SO PROBATION AND PROBATION IS DOING THEIR CLIENTS. AND THEN THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE IS DOING EVERYONE ELSE OKAY. AND DO THEY HAVE ENOUGH PERSONNEL BECAUSE OF THIS CUMBERSOME ACTIVITY FOR THE DEMOGRAPHIC INFORMATION. SO I SPOKE TO THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE ABOUT THAT JUST RECENTLY BECAUSE THERE WAS A BACKLOG BECAUSE NOT NOT IT'S A GOOD BACKLOG TO HAVE. EVERYONE WAS MOVING AND GETTING CAUGHT UP, MOVING, MOVING THIS REDUCTION BETWEEN FEBRUARY AND OCTOBER, EVERYONE WAS FINALLY GETTING THEIR PIECES CAUGHT UP. AND THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE DID HAVE A LARGER THAN USUAL CASELOAD TO GET PAPER READY. BUT THEY HAVE SURGED RESOURCES TO THAT AREA SO THAT THEY CAN MOVE MORE PACKETS PER DAY, GET MORE PACKETS COMPLETED PER DAY. BUT THEY TOLD ME, WE HAVE ENOUGH. WE'RE OKAY. AND THIS IS ABNORMAL TO HAVE THIS MANY AT ONE TIME, BUT WE'RE OKAY AND WE HAVE THE RESOURCES INTERNALLY BECAUSE WE WERE OFFERING TO WE WERE CHECKING TO SEE IF THEY NEEDED ADDITIONAL LIKE RESOURCES TO GET THIS CAUGHT UP. AND THEY SAID, NO, WE'RE OKAY. THIS IS JUST FROM THE SURGE FROM EVERYONE ELSE. OKAY. NOW I HAVE A QUESTION REGARDING THE PAROLE. I DON'T SEE A SUBSET HERE FROM YOUR REPORT OF PAROLE AWAITING DISPOSITION, READY TO TRANSFER FELONY, NOT INDICTED. WHAT ABOUT WHEN THERE'S PAROLE BUT NO NEW CASE? THEY'RE JUST IN VIOLATION ON SOMETHING ELSE. DO WE HAVE INFORMATION ON THAT? BECAUSE THAT WOULDN'T BE OUR RESPONSIBILITY AT ALL. IT WOULD BE THE STATE'S. SO THESE ARE. SO WHEN I HAVE PAROLE, I HAVE EVERY SINGLE STATUS THAT HAS PAROLE IN IT. THESE ARE JUST THE TOP ONES THAT I LISTED AS SUBSETS. BUT WE DO HAVE THE ACTUAL LIST OF EVERY SINGLE CUSTODY STATUS FROM THESE TWO DATES. AND WE CAN PROVIDE THAT TO YOU AFTER THIS MEETING INDIVIDUALLY. BUT I JUST HAVE THEM COLLATED. SO IT'S KIND OF THERE'S A TON OF CUSTODY STATUSES. AND SO WE'RE TRYING TO CONDENSE THIS INTO SOMETHING THAT'S EASILY DIGESTIBLE. BUT WE CAN GET YOU THOSE INDIVIDUALS. I'D LIKE TO SEE THE ONES WHERE THEIR THEIR PAROLE AWAITING DISPOSITION BY PAROLE. IS THAT WHAT YOU'RE MEANING? RIGHT. SO. RIGHT. SO THIS IS PAROLE AWAITING DISPOSITION BY PAROLE. READY TO TRANSFER. PAROLE [00:55:05] FELONY. NOT INDICTED. SO ALL EVERYTHING THAT STARTS WITH A PAROLE IS COLLAPSED INTO THIS ONE LINE ITEM HERE FOR THIS ON THIS TABLE. BUT WE CAN GET YOU INDIVIDUAL OF WHAT PAROLE DISPOSITION IS BY ITSELF AND PAROLE READY TO TRANSFER BY ITSELF. WE CAN GET YOU ALL THOSE NUMBERS. YEAH, BECAUSE I'M INTERESTED TO SEE HOW MANY OUT THERE THAT ARE PAROLE AWAITING JUST DISPOSITION OF THE PAROLE BOARD. AND NO NEW PENDING CASE, NO PENDING CASES. STATE. ABSOLUTELY. WE CAN GET YOU THE. IS THAT SOMETHING THAT IS TOTALLY A STATE RESPONSIBILITY AND NOT THE COUNTY TO. AND WE MIGHT WANT TO TAKE A LOOK AT THAT. ABSOLUTELY. THE OTHER ONE IS. THE ONE WHERE I SEE A HUGE WELL, IT'S THE IT'S NOT JUST THE PAROLE BUT THE FOUND INCOMPETENT. DO WE KNOW THE NUMBER OF DAYS THAT ARE THE ONES THAT ARE FOUND INCOMPETENT AND CAN'T TRANSFER TO THE STATE HOSPITAL BECAUSE WHATEVER ISSUES. SO THESE ARE JUST SNAPSHOTS OF HOW MANY INDIVIDUALS ARE IN THERE ARE ON A SPECIFIC DATE. SO WE WOULD HAVE TO THEN IF WE WANT TO KNOW HOW OFTEN OR HOW LONG THEY WERE STAYING, WE HAVE TO RUN THE SNAPSHOT EVERY SINGLE DAY. YEAH. AND THEN MANUALLY COLLATE HOW OFTEN THEY WERE DOING THAT. AS FAR AS I KNOW, TYLER DOESN'T HAVE THAT FUNCTIONALITY IN NOW AT THIS POINT. NOW, ON THE FOUND INCOMPETENT, WHAT IS THE TIMELINE THAT THE STATE'S REQUIRED TO PICK THEM UP FROM US? I BELIEVE THAT'S LONGER THAN THE 45 DAYS, RIGHT. BUT I'M NOT SURE ON THE EXACT DAY TIMELINE THAT THEY HAVE. I'D HAVE TO CONSULT WITH THE S.O. ON THAT ONE AND THE ONES THAT ARE OKAY. I'D LIKE TO SEE A REPORT ON THAT NUMBER ONE. NUMBER TWO, ON THOSE THAT ARE THAT ARE PAPER READY ON FELONIES THAT ARE ALREADY PAPER READY, NOTHING PENDING, WAITING TO TRANSFER. AND THEY'RE ALREADY PAPER READY. HOW LONG ARE THEY STAYING BEYOND THE 45 DAYS. DO WE HAVE ANY OF THAT? I DON'T THINK WE HAVE A LOT. OR IF ANY, STAYING BEYOND THE 45 DAYS. CRYSTAL TOLD ME SHE SHE SPOKE WITH THE JAIL COMMISSIONER OR WHATEVER. THEY SAID THE AVERAGE IS ABOUT 27 DAYS. SO AND I DON'T THINK WE'VE SEEN ANY STAYING BEYOND THE 45. BUT AND TO YOUR POINT ON THE INCOMPETENT, THAT IS A BIG PROBLEM THERE. THERE'S SOME OF THE THEY'RE OFTEN THE ONES STAYING MORE THAN A YEAR ON THAT COMPETENCY ISSUE IS A BIG PROBLEM, NOT JUST FOR US, BUT BUT WE HAD A BIG CONVERSATION WITH THE WITH THE STATE AND OTHER COUNTIES LAST WEEK ABOUT THIS ISSUE AND INCLUDING WHATEVER LEGISLATIVE SOLUTIONS THAT MIGHT BE COME UP THIS YEAR. WE NEED TO WATCH THOSE CLOSELY AND TRY TO SUPPORT GOOD IDEAS ON THIS. THE I KNOW THE STATE PLANNERS ARE PROPOSING SOME IDEAS, BUT BUT, BUT THAT IS A IT'S A BIG ISSUE THAT WE NEED TO CONTINUE TO MONITOR CLOSELY. THERE HAVE BEEN JACOB WILL SHOW YOU THERE HAVE BEEN SOME RECENT POSITIVE TRENDS IN THAT AREA, BUT IT'S OBVIOUSLY INCREASED AS A PROBLEM OVER TIME. RIGHT. AND THE OTHER THE OTHER STATISTIC I'D LIKE TO SEE IS WHERE, YOU KNOW, BECAUSE I SEE THAT WE HAVE A HUGE NUMBER OF PEOPLE BETWEEN THE ONE AND TWO YEAR. THEY'RE STAYING IN THERE. SO I WONDER HOW MANY OF THOSE ARE STAYING IN THERE BECAUSE THEY ARE SENATE BILL SIX CASES. AND HOW MANY OF THOSE ARE OLS CASES? BECAUSE I IMAGINE THAT THAT'S A BIG GROUP. YOU CAN ABSOLUTELY LOOK INTO THAT. SO SB SIX AND OLS, I THINK THAT'S A REALLY INTELLIGENT SUBGROUP TO KIND OF ANALYZE TO SEE WHAT PROPORTION OF THAT 1 TO 2 SHORT LONG TERM IS DUE TO INCREASE IN OLS CHARGES THAT SEEMS TO BE A BIG OF ONE OF OUR BIGGEST PROBLEMS RIGHT NOW. AND GETTING THEM OUT, GETTING THEM PROCESSED THROUGH THE COURT SYSTEM. NOW, I KNOW WE'VE HAD THAT. THE THERE'S BEEN A JUDGE APPOINTED TO HANDLE THE OLS BACKLOG. IS THAT CORRECT? I BELIEVE SO, I'M NOT SURE THAT'S. CORRECT. WELCOME, MICHAEL. THANK YOU. MIKE COCCARO EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR FOR COUNCIL OF JUDGES. WE ACTUALLY HAVE TWO DOC TWO DOCKETS REALLY FOR WHAT WE CONSIDER OLS CASES. THERE WERE THE MISDEMEANOR RIOT CASES WHICH ARE DIRECTED TO CC7, AND THAT'S FOR THE MISDEMEANORS. FOR FELONIES, WHICH IS CONSTITUTED BY THE HUMAN TRAFFICKING CASES. THOSE ARE IN THE PROCESS OF BEING TRANSFERRED TO WHAT WE CONSIDER A REFERRAL OR SPECIAL DOCKET WITH A VISITING JUDGE WHO'S BEEN APPOINTED. THAT'S ALMA TREJO. AND THEN I THINK IT'S ROUGHLY 2 TO 300 OF THOSE HAVE ALREADY BEEN TRANSFERRED TO THAT DOCKET. SHE'S ACTIVELY WORKING THEM ALREADY HAVING HEARINGS. I THINK SHE'S EVEN [01:00:05] TAKEN SOME PLEAS IN SOME CASES. SO THAT'S MOVING. AND IT'S YEAH, I REALLY THINK THAT THAT'S A GOOD IDEA TO DO THAT. AND IF WE NEED MORE HELP THERE BECAUSE WE HAVE LIKE 200 PLUS OF THOSE INDIVIDUALS, THAT'S KIND OF A HUGE DOCKET THAT ARE SITTING IN THE DOCKETS OF OTHER COURTS, AND OTHER COURTS ARE TAKING PRIORITY WITH INCARCERATED THAT ARE SERIOUS FELONY CASES. THAT'S A BACKLOG FROM THE PANDEMIC STILL. RIGHT. AND SO THESE THESE OLS CASES ARE GETTING DELAYED BECAUSE THE JUDGES ARE JUST TOO BUSY WITH TRYING TO REDUCE THE BACKLOG OF THE MORE SERIOUS CASES THAT ARE INCARCERATED. IS THAT RIGHT? AND WE AND THE JUDGES ARE DIRECTED TO PRIORITIZE CERTAIN CASES. YOU HAVE SERIOUS CASES. YEAH, MURDERS, THINGS THAT HAVE TO GO TO TRIAL. IT. WE THINK OUR LOCAL ADMINISTRATIVE JUDGE AND THE OTHER JUDGES, I THINK, SEE THE BENEFIT OF CONSOLIDATING THEM SO THEY CAN BE PROCESSED TOGETHER. IF THERE IS THE OPPORTUNITY FOR STATE REIMBURSEMENT, WE WOULD HAVE THE ACCOUNTING OUT OF ONE NODE, MAKING IT EASIER. AND AGAIN, IT'S IF THAT IS THE PURPOSE THOSE ARE THE CASES IT'S GOING TO GET MOVED. AND I THINK WE'RE PRETTY HAPPY WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO WITH THE VISITING JUDGE. WE'RE CURRENTLY STAFFING IT WITH EXISTING RESOURCES, BUT THAT'S ACTUALLY IN A NORMAL DOCKET, DISTRICT COURT, CRIMINAL SLASH CIVIL TYPE CASELOAD. YOU'RE GOING TO SEE ABOUT 40 OF THESE, 40 TO 50 OF THESE TRAFFICKING CASES. AND IF YOU MOVE THOSE TO THE REFERRAL DOCKET, IT'S GOING TO HELP THOSE JUDGES GET TO THOSE MORE SERIOUS AND OLDER CASES FASTER WHILE IMPROVING OUR EFFICIENCY IN DEALING WITH THE HUMAN TRAFFICKING CASES. THAT'S THE THAT'S THE GOAL. AND WE THINK WE ARE OFF TO A GOOD STAR. MICHAEL. MAYBE I MISSED IT, BUT WHAT IS IT THAT CREATED THAT SPIKE WITH INCOMPETENT? I MEAN, YOU WOULD THINK THINGS WERE SHOULD BE THE SAME AS FAR AS THAT CATEGORY. IS THAT THE FOUND INCOMPETENT? YEAH. YEAH. SO THAT'S WHAT SPIKED IT FOR 5,204%. RIGHT. SO THAT'S ABOUT 50 INDIVIDUALS. AND I WOULD THINK THAT THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS THAT YOU'RE SEEING ACROSS THE BOARD. A LOT MORE ACTIVITY ACROSS THE SYSTEM. SO WE'RE SEEING MORE FELONIES INDICTED OR IN CASES IN GENERAL THAT ARE FILED INTO THE COURTS, MORE DISPOSITIONS. SO THE COURTS ARE SEEING MORE PEOPLE MOVING THROUGH. SO JUST THE NUMBER, THE RAW NUMBERS ARE GOING TO FORCE THAT UP. I DON'T KNOW OF ANY SPECIAL REASON. CRYSTAL. ANY IDEA WHY, EXCEPT FOR THE SHEER WEIGHT OF THE VOLUME OF THE VOLUME THAT THAT'S INCREASED? I THOUGHT THE NUMBERS SHOWED THAT BOOKINGS HAD GONE DOWN OVER THE OVER THE LAST NUMBER OF YEARS. SO I'M CONFUSED WHEN YOU'RE SAYING THE SHEER NUMBERS OF PEOPLE COMING IN, BUT IF BOOKINGS HAVE GONE DOWN, BOOKINGS MAY HAVE GONE DOWN. BUT WE ARE SEEING WE. ONE OF THE THINGS WE THE BOOKINGS IS ONE MEASURE, BUT THE MEASURES THAT WE LOOK AT ARE GOING TO BE CASES THAT ACTUALLY COME INTO THE COURTS. SO A BOOKING SOMEBODY MAY BE BOOKED, BUT THE CASE MAY BE LATER DECLINED BY THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE. WHAT A TRUER MEASURE FOR THE COURTS IS WHAT HAS BEEN FILED INTO A COURT, WHAT HAS BEEN GIVEN A CASE NUMBER BY THE COUNTY CLERKS OR THE DISTRICT CLERKS AND, YOU KNOW, THIS IS A IT'S A CASE OF WHAT HAPPENED TO US DURING THE PANDEMIC. AND THERE'S A WHOLE STORY THAT YOU CAN TELL. BUT WE SAW SOME OF THIS. WE SAW SOME OF THE SLOW FOR A WHILE. AND THEN THE NUMBER OF FILINGS HAS ACCELERATED, AND WE'RE DEALING WITH THAT. SO THE COURTS ARE DISPOSING OF MORE CASES. IN 2023. WE HAD A HARD TIME. WE WERE DOING MORE DISPOSITIONS, BUT WE WERE NOT KEEPING UP WITH THE SURGE. 2024. WE ARE MUCH MORE EFFECTIVELY DEALING WITH IT. THE NUMBER OF CASES, THE COURTS AND THE JUDGES ARE DISPOSING OF IS REALLY STAGGERING FOR THIS YEAR. IS THAT THE INCREASE IN THE FOUND INCOMPETENT? COULD THAT BE DUE TO CHANGES IN LEGISLATION THAT THAT HAVE FORCED HIGHER, HIGHER LEVELS OF SCREENING LIKE THE 1622, THOSE THOSE TYPES OF ASSESSMENTS THAT ARE DONE? I MEAN, MORE MENTAL HEALTH? I GUESS. RELATED ASSESSMENT. I HAVEN'T LOOKED AT THE DATA IN THE LAST FEW MONTHS, BUT MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT THE NUMBER OF 1620 TWOS THAT WE'RE DOING ARE DOWN. THERE WAS SOME SMALL CHANGES IN LEGISLATION, BUT THAT KIND OF EASED THE REQUIREMENTS FOR WHETHER YOU HAD TO DO ONE OR NOT. SO I THINK THE NUMBER OF 1620 TWOS IS DOWN OVERALL. AND IT'S LOGICAL OF YOUR CASES OR, YOU KNOW, MORE VIOLENT OR THEY'RE THEY'RE HARDER THAN THE CHANCES OF DELAYS ARE GREATER. [01:05:03] RIGHT. SO THAT PERCENTAGE, EVEN THOUGH YOUR BOOKINGS INCREASE THE TYPE OF CASES IS WHAT REALLY HAS BECOME. AND I THINK YOU YOU MAY BE CORRECT DURING OUR AND AGAIN WE WORK ON THIS EVERY WEEK WITH JOEL AND JACOB AND JOSE. BUT I THINK ONE OF THE THINGS WE DID SEE OVER THE LAST 18 MONTHS IS A IF YOU'RE LOOKING AT A RATIO OF MISDEMEANOR TO FELONY, THAT THE MORE SERIOUS CRIMES OR THAT WE'RE SEEING MORE SERIOUS CRIMES AS OPPOSED TO THE LESSER CRIMES. SO, SO THAT'S THAT IS A THAT IS A POSSIBILITY. BUT REALLY IT'S EVERY IT'S A CASE BY CASE BASIS. AND WE CAN LOOK INTO THAT. BUT I THINK EVEN GIVEN OTHER THINGS, I THINK THAT JUST THE WEIGHT OF THE CASELOAD AT THIS TIME TELLS US THAT THAT'S PUTTING PRESSURE TO INCREASE OR THAT'S A NATURAL PRESSURE FOR THE RISE IN THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE FOUND INCOMPETENT. THE OTHER, O, SORRY, JUDGE. GO AHEAD. SORRY. I DON'T KNOW IF YOU'RE JUST GOING TO SAY THAT. IF YOU LOOK AT THE FELONY, WHICH WOULD CREATE MORE COMPLEXITY, YOU'RE HAVING LIKE 73% INCREASE, WHICH THE MORE COMPLICATED THE CASE THEN THE MORE COMPLICATED THE PROCESS, RIGHT? I MEAN, IT JUST STANDS TO REASON. I'M SORRY. GO AHEAD. COMMISSIONER, THE OTHER AREA I'D LIKE TO SEE IS WHAT HAS BEEN THE FOR EXAMPLE, ON THE MISDEMEANOR ON THE BEES TO SEPARATE THOSE OUT AND WHICH ARE THERE HAVE, ARE THERE ANY SPENDING OVER OR CLOSE TO THE 180 DAYS. AND ON THE BE CLOSE TO THE 365 DAYS ON THE MISDEMEANOR BEES. YEAH, BECAUSE I'M THINKING THAT NONE OF THOSE SHOULD BE EVEN GETTING CLOSE TO THAT. IF THEY'RE IN JAIL WITH THE TIME CREDIT THEY GET RIGHT, THEY SHOULD BE NOT EVEN GETTING CLOSE TO THE 180 OR THE ONE YEAR IF THEY'RE INCARCERATED AND AWAITING TRIAL, I'D LIKE TO SEE WHAT THAT. IS ONE THEY SHOULD BE LET OUT ON BOND IF THEIR TIME PERIOD WITH GOOD TIME CREDIT IS MAXED. YEAH, THAT WAY I MEAN WE AND I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY THAT IS, BUT IT DOESN'T LOOK TO APPEAR TO BE A LOT OF THEM. BUT 83 IS STILL QUITE A BIT FOR SURE. AND AGAIN, IT'S I DON'T HAVE THE STATISTICS ON MISDEMEANOR TRIALS, BUT I CRYSTAL AND I WERE LOOKING AT FELONIES THIS YEAR AND WE'VE, WE'VE ALREADY WE WENT THROUGH AUGUST 27TH. IS THAT FOR A NUMBER OF TRIALS FELONY TRIALS. SO YEAH. AND BY AUGUST 27TH WE'D ALREADY DONE ONE MORE THAN WE HAD IN 20 IN ALL OF 2023. SO AGAIN, THINGS ARE MOVING. BUT I ALWAYS THINK OF IT LIKE A HIGHWAY WHERE YOU HAVE SLOW SLOWDOWNS IN THE SYSTEM AND IT TAKES A WHILE TO CATCH UP TO FULL SPEED, AND WE ARE. EVEN THROUGH THESE NUMBERS, THROUGH WHAT WE SEE, WE ARE BY SOME INDICATORS APPROACHING FULL SPEED, BY SOME INDICATORS, I THINK, EXCEEDING WHAT WE'VE DONE IN THE PAST, EVEN PRE-COVID. SO SYSTEMS AND MY QUESTION ON THE MISDEMEANORS, AND I UNDERSTAND THAT SOME OF THOSE ARE PROBABLY HAVE FELONIES PENDING. I DON'T WANT TO LOOK AT THOSE BECAUSE THOSE OBVIOUSLY THEY'RE THERE BECAUSE OF THE FELONY, NOT THE NOT THE MISDEMEANOR, JUST PLAIN OLD MISDEMEANORS. BY THEMSELVES PENDING. YEAH. JUST FOR CLARIFICATION FOR ME, I'M SORRY, FELONY NOT INDICTED AND FELONY INDICTED. SO FELONY NOT INDICTED IS MEANS THEY'RE THEY'RE STILL BEING THEY'RE STILL WAITING TO BE ADJUDICATED OR ARE THEY ARE THEY THEY DON'T EVEN BEEN CHARGED AND THEY HAVEN'T BEEN ADJUDICATED OR THEY HAVEN'T BEEN CHARGED AND THEY HAVEN'T. THEY'RE JUST SITTING THERE WITHOUT HAVING BEEN CHARGED. I DIDN'T CREATE THE CATEGORY, BUT I THINK THAT THIS WOULD BE AN UNFILLED CASE, WHICH MEANS IT HAS NO CASE NUMBER. IT IS NOT MOVED FROM THE MAGISTRATE COURT TO A TRIAL COURT AT THAT. IF IT'S IN THAT STAGE. SO IT'S THERE'S SOMETHING GOING ON, WHETHER IT'S INVESTIGATION OR SOMETHING THAT THE DA'S OFFICE IS PREPARING SO THAT THEY CAN TAKE IT TO A GRAND JURY FOR THAT INDICTMENT. ONCE THE INDICTMENT IS HANDED DOWN, IT GETS A CASE NUMBER, IT GOES TO A TRIAL COURT, AND THAT'S WHEN THE COURTS CAN START TO WRESTLE WITH THIS. I'M JUST TRYING TO I GUES, VISUALIZE WHAT STAGE IN THE PROCESS EACH OF THESE CATEGORIES IS IN. RIGHT. AND SO FELONY NOT INDICTED IS WHAT YOU JUST DESCRIBED. AND THEN FELONY [01:10:05] INDICTED MEANS THAT THEY HAVE BEEN FORMALLY CHARGED. THERE'S A CASE AND THAT'S WHY THAT NUMBER IS SO HIGH. BECAUSE MOST OF THE FOLKS IN THE I GUESS IN, IN THE JAIL RIGHT NOW HAVE HAVE AT LEAST BEEN INDICTED. OKAY. AND FOR THE FELONY, NOT INDICTED. ISN'T THERE A STATUTORY OR IS THERE A STATUTORY DEADLINE FOR WHICH AN INDICTMENT HAS TO BE FILED OR. NO. YES. IS IT 180 DAYS, I THINK NO, IT'S. FOR THE INDICTMENT. IT'S AN AUTOMATIC RELEASE. THEY HAVE TO BE RELEASED. MICROPHONE, MICROPHONE. AND WE ACTUALLY WENT THROUGH THIS AS A COUNTY. WAS IT TWO YEARS AGO OR ONE YEAR AGO WHERE WE WERE WE WERE HAVING HEARINGS HERE ABOUT THAT. YEAH. DON'T CALL ME ON THAT. BUT BUT IT IS THERE IS A THEY DO HAVE A TIME LIMIT OF HOW LONG THEY CAN BE IN JAIL BEFORE THEY'RE INDICTED AND THEN OUT OUT OF JAIL. I THINK IT IS 180, BUT RIGHT IN JAIL. SO WE ARE MONITORING THAT AND MAKE SURE I THINK JOSE, YOU STILL CREATE THE LIST. YEAH. OF SO WE WATCH HOW LONG PEOPLE ARE LET'S SAY WE ARE TALKING SYSTEMICALLY. WE DO. WE WATCH HOW LONG SOMEBODY IS IN IS AN INMATE WITHOUT AN INDICTMENT. YEAH. COMMISSIONER. COMMISSIONER, THERE IS 180 DAY LIMIT IF THEY'RE IF THEY'RE BEING HELD IN THE JAIL AND THEY HAVEN'T BEEN INDICTED ON A FELONY CASE, THAT'S WHAT THEY'RE BEING HELD AFTER 100 DAYS. THEY'RE ENTITLED TO FILE A PETITION TO ONE DISMISS IT. I THINK THE BETTER PROCESS WOULD BE, THOUGH. AND THAT'S UP TO THE DEFENSE LAWYERS, BUT IS TO JUST GET THEM OUT ON PR BOND BECAUSE THEY GET OUT THEY FILE A PETITION. IT BASICALLY THE CASE DOESN'T GET DISMISSED. THAT'S WHY THERE WAS A MISINFORMATION OUT IN THE PUBLIC ABOUT THESE CASES THAT WERE BEING DONE LAST YEAR. THOSE CASES AREN'T DISMISSED. WHAT'S DISMISSED IS THE WARRANT HOLDING THEM. THEY STILL CAN GET INDICTED, CHARGED AGAIN WITHIN THE STATUTE OF LIMITATIONS. AND IF THEY DO, WHAT HAPPENS? ANOTHER ARREST WARRANT GOES OUT AND THEY GET PUT RIGHT, PUT BACK IN JAIL. I THINK THE BETTER PROCESS WOULD BE TO RELEASE THESE THAT ARE 180 DAYS, OR ON THE MISDEMEANOR SIDE, THE LESS PERIOD RIGHT IS RELEASE THEM OUT ON PR BOND. BUT THAT'S UP TO THE DEFENSE LAWYER. I THINK IT SHOULD BE ENCOURAGED BECAUSE THAT WAY WE DON'T HAVE TO PUT THEM BACK IN JAIL AGAIN. WAITING AGAIN. AND I IMAGINE SOME OF THESE ARE THERE AND THEN WE CAN'T REDUCE THEIR BOND UNTIL AND IT WAS IT WAS TRICKY BECAUSE THEY'VE ALREADY PAID ONE BOND. RIGHT. BUT THEN IT'S CANCELED. THEN WHAT HAPPENS IF YOU HAVE ANOTHER WARRANT? YOU HAVE TO GET ANOTHER. YOU'VE PAID FOR TWO BONDS RIGHT? AT THAT POINT. RIGHT. SO OR OR OR WHAT WE SHOULD DO IS IF THEY ARE, I DON'T KNOW, ANOTHER WARRANT HAS TO GO OUT. BUT AS SOON AS THAT HAPPENS, WE SHOULD IDENTIFY THOSE THAT WERE 180 RELEASES AND MAYBE GIVE THEM A PR BOND WHEN THEY GET BACK IN JAIL THROUGH OUR CJC PROCESS. WELL, THE JUDGES TOO ARE THEY'VE TAKEN THIS INTO CONSIDERATION BECAUSE THIS HAS HAPPENED. RIGHT. AND THEY KNOW THAT AND THEY ARE THEY'VE ASKED THEY WANT TO THEY'VE SAID WE WANT TO KNOW IF IT'S ONE OF THESE CASES SO THAT WE CAN EVALUATE IT FOR WHAT IT IS, INSTEAD OF TREATING IT LIKE A REGULAR FIRST BOND. SO. RIGHT. OKAY. YEAH. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS. WELL IF NOT I'LL KEEP IT MOVING. YEAH. WE'RE STILL WE STILL GOT A LITTLE. DON'T GO TOO FAR. YEAH. THANK YOU. I WAS I WAS GOING TO SAY I WAS GOING TO SAY IF YOU BOTH COULD STAY THERE BECAUSE WE'RE GOING TO BE ASKING QUESTIONS. SO STAY CLOSE. THANKS, MIKE. GOING BACK TO WHAT JOEL WAS SAYING ABOUT THE INCOMPETENCY INCARCERATION. SO IN JUNE 11TH OF 2019, THERE WERE 24. AND SO WE'VE ALREADY ESTABLISHED IN THE PREVIOUS TABLE THIS HAS GONE UP SIGNIFICANTLY SINCE 2024. HOWEVER, WITHIN THE PAST FEW MONTHS THIS HAS GONE DOWN. AND SO WE ARE SEEING A TREND. IF YOU GRAPH THIS OUT OF VERY RECENTLY, IT'S NOW GOING BACK DOWN. SO THERE IS SOME CAUSE FOR OPTIMISM IN THAT REGARD. BUT FROM FIVE YEARS PRIOR IT IS STILL SIGNIFICANTLY HIGHER THAN THAT. SO THAT'S JUST WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO ADDRESS WITH THIS SLIDE HERE. HERE ARE WE TALKED ABOUT PROBATION VIOLATIONS. WE ALSO WANT TO TALK ABOUT PRETRIAL CONDITIONS AND PRETRIAL VIOLATIONS. SO IF YOU NOTICE THERE'S THERE ARE THREE LINES. THE TOPMOST IN THE BABY BLUE ARE THE APPEARANCE COMPLIANCE. AND WE WILL NOTE THAT WE ARE STILL SEEING 91% OF PERFECT ATTENDANCE FOR COURT DATES. FOR THOSE ON P, THE ORANGE LINE ARE THE AVERAGE OF NO RE-ARRESTS, SO THAT'S STAYING HIGH. THAT'S AT 84%. AND THEN THE DARK BLUE ARE THE [01:15:01] AVERAGE OF COMPLIANCE OF CONDITIONS FOR COMPLIANCE FOR P. SO THAT IS RIGHT NOW AT 76%. IT'S INCREASED SIGNIFICANTLY RECENTLY. IT TOOK A LITTLE BIT OF A DIVE. SO WE'RE MONITORING IT. BUT NOW IT'S BACK UP. AND THEY'RE STILL AT LEVELS THAT ARE COMPARABLE TO EARLIER IN 2022. SO THERE THIS IS ALSO ONE OF THE CONTRIBUTING FACTORS TO JAIL POPULATION. SO WE JUST WANT TO BE AS TRANSPARENT AS POSSIBLE. SO IT IS UP TO THE JUDGE. SO CJC WILL REPORT THIS VIOLATION IN NOVI TO THE JUDGE. THE JUDGE HAS DISCRETION TO EITHER ISSUE A WARRANT OR TO JUST BRING THE DEFENDANT IN AND ADMONISH THEM OR JUST THEY HAVE COMPLETE DISCRETION ON WHAT THEY WANT TO DO IN THE NEXT PHASE. SO IF THERE IS A WARRANT, THEN THAT WOULD BE A F.T.C. A FAIL TO COMPLY IN THAT CASE, I WOULD LIKE TO SAY THAT A LOT OF THESE CONDITIONS ARE NOT IN AND OF THEMSELVES CRIMINAL ACTIONS. THEY'RE JUST CONDITIONS OF YOUR RELEASE. SO THERE WOULD BE A DIFFERENCE BETWEEN I'M OUT ON BOND AND I CREATE A NEW CRIMINAL OFFENSE. AND THAT WOULD BE IN THE ORANGE RIGHT. BUT JUST VIOLATING EITHER A CURFEW OR ANY OTHER OTHER CONDITIONS OF RELEASE, DRUG TEST OR ALCOHOL TEST OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT. EXACTLY, EXACTLY. VERY GOOD QUESTION, COMMISSIONER. THIS LAST ONE'S I DO WANT TO. SO THIS IS THE TIME TO DISPOSITION FOR FELONY COURTS. AND SO THESE ARE THE PERCENTAGE OF CASES THAT ARE DISPOSED WITHIN ONE YEAR. AND THIS IS OVER TIME. NOW I DO WANT TO MENTION I WANT TO MAKE IT ABUNDANTLY CLEAR THAT NOT ALL PEOPLE IN HERE, IN FACT, VERY FEW, ONLY A VERY FEW PERCENTAGE OF THESE PEOPLE ARE ACTUALLY IN JAIL AT THE TIME OF DISPOSITION. SO A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE BEING RELEASED AND THIS INCLUDES EVERYONE, EVERY CASE, WHETHER THEY WERE IN JAIL AT THE TIME OF DISPOSITION OR WHETHER THEY WERE OUT ON BOND AT THE TIME OF DISPOSITION. SO THESE ARE JUST COURT METRICS. COURT TOOLS DOES NOT DISTINGUISH BETWEEN AN INCARCERATION RELEASE AND A NON INCARCERATION DISPOSITION. SO THESE ARE JUST OF ALL THE ENTIRE CASES. AND SO YOU SEE THAT DURING THE YEARS RIGHT AFTER THE PANDEMIC I MEAN AGAIN COURTS WERE CLOSED. LOTS OF THINGS WERE HAPPENING. WE HAVE JUMPED UP ON THE FELONY SIDE. WE'RE STILL NOT QUITE WHERE WE WERE PRE-PANDEMI, BUT WE ARE AT LEAST TRENDING OVER THE LAST FOUR YEARS IN AN UPWARD TRAJECTORY. AND BECAUSE WE CAN'T TALK ABOUT THE FELONY COURTS WITHOUT THE MISDEMEANOR COURTS, HERE IS THE TIME DISPOSITION FOR THE MISDEMEANOR COURTS. THIS IS WITHIN 180 DAYS, WHICH IS THE NTSC STANDARD. AND SO YOU SEE, THEY AGAIN, THERE IS A DIP RIGHT AFTER COVID. AGAIN, COMPLETELY UNDERSTANDABLE. COURTS ARE CLOSED. THERE'S A LOT OF SOCIAL DISTANCING DURING THAT TIME. THEY HAVE INCREASED. AND SO THESE TWO GRAPHS WILL TELL YOU WHAT'S HAPPENING ON THE HORIZON. SO HERE ARE THE AGE OF ACTIVE PENDING CASES FOR THE FELONY COURTS. AND ANYTHING TO THE LEFT OF THAT RED DASHED LINE WOULD BE LESS THAN THAT YEAR THRESHOLD THAT WE HAD IN THAT FIRST GRAPH. AND SO HERE, 72% OF ACTIVE FELONY PENDING CASES ARE LESS THAN A YEAR. SO AGAIN, WE WERE AT 77 FOR THOSE THAT ACTUALLY DISPOSED. SO THESE ARE THE ONES THAT ARE ON THE HORIZON. AND EVERYTHING TO THE RIGHT OF THAT DASHED LINE. THIS IS MORE OF THOSE LONG TERM ONES THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT. SO AGAIN, VERY RECENTLY THOSE THE FELONY COURTS HAVE BEEN ADDRESSING THOSE LONG TERM ONES. AND SO THE LONG TERM BAR GRAPHS HAVE GONE DOWN. BUT IN DOING THAT NOW YOU TEND TO NOT FOCUS AS MUCH ON THE RECENT PENDING CASES. AND SO THOSE WILL START TO CREEP. BUT AS LONG AS WE'VE ADDRESSED THE VERY LONG TERM THEN WE CAN KIND OF PUSH AND KEEP PUSHING INTO MORE AND MORE RECENT ONES. I THINK THAT'S THE MOST PRAGMATIC WAY OF ADDRESSING THIS. AND THEN HERE'S A MISDEMEANOR COURTS, 63% OF THEIR ACTIVE PENDING CASES ARE WITHIN THAT 180 DAY RANGE. AND SO THAT IS MUCH HIGHER THAN THE CURRENT 44% THAT THEY HAVE. SO WE THINK THERE WILL BE AN INCREASE BY THE END OF THE YEAR FOR MISDEMEANOR CASES. AND NOW HERE ARE OTHER FACTORS THAT WE'RE WATCHING. AND MR. BISHOP WILL ADDRESS THESE. YEAH OKAY. WE'LL WRAP THIS UP. BUT I JUST WANT TO WE WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT A FEW OTHER THINGS THAT THAT ARE HAVING IMPACTS. ONE OF THE THINGS WE'RE CONCERNED ABOUT IS THE MENTAL HEALTH FLAGS. AT THE BEGINNING, AS COMMISSIONER STOUT MENTIONED, THOSE 1620 TWOS AND WHAT'S GOING ON WITH THOSE? WE DO FIND THAT THEY SPEND FOUR TIMES LONGER IN JAIL IF THEY GET A MENTAL HEALTH FLAG. AND THAT'S AND REALLY THE IDEA THAT LEGISLATION WAS THAT THEY WOULD SPEND LESS TIME, NOT MORE. BUT WE'RE SEEING THAT HERE. IT'S NOT JUST HERE, BUT IN OTHER OTHER AREAS. WE'RE CONCERNED THAT IT'S A MORE OF A RISK FACTOR FOR JUDGES RATHER THAN AN OPPORTUNITY. AND WE DO [01:20:06] HAVE MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES IN THE JAIL, BUT THAT DOESN'T NECESSARILY A GOOD PLACE FOR THESE PEOPLE TO BE, TO GET GOOD OUTCOMES, BE BETTER TO HAVE THEM OUT, IF AT ALL POSSIBLE, IF THEY DON'T POSE A THREAT TO PUBLIC SAFETY. SO WE'RE WATCHING THAT. WE HAVE MADE THE JUDGES AWARE OF THAT. WE'RE LOOKING AT THAT. BOOKING TRENDS IS ANOTHER ONE THAT'S CREEPING BACK UP BEFORE YOU GO THERE, JUST SO THE PUBLIC WILL KNOW. WHY DOES THE MENTAL HEALTH FACTOR, YOU KNOW, LIKE YOU'RE SAYING, WE WE'RE TRYING OUR BEST THAT THAT BE THE LEAST THAT, YOU KNOW, WE WANT TO BE MORE EFFICIENT. BUT WHAT ARE THOSE SPECIFIC FACTORS THAT CREATE THAT INDIVIDUALS WITH MENTAL HEALTH, THE MENTAL HEALTH FLAG. YEAH, THERE'S AN ASSESSMENT AT THE BEGINNING THAT IS DONE. AND IT'S A IT'S A SHORT SCREEN ASSESSMENT. AND IT WILL CREATE A FLAG THAT FOCUSES ON THEM FOR A FURTHER ASSESSMENT THAT'S DONE LATER. BUT THE CONCERN IS THAT IF THAT'S VIEWED AS A AS A RISK FACTOR, IT COULD WIND UP INTO A JUDGE SETTING A MORE RESTRICTIVE BOND THAN IF THEY DIDN'T HAVE THE FLAG. AND SO YEAH, THE SCREENING ASSESSMENT, IT'S SUPPOSED TO CREATE A DIVERSION OPPORTUNITY, BUT IT CAN IF THAT STRATEGY, IF THAT'S NOT FRONT OF MIND OR IF THAT'S NOT THE FOCUS, IT CAN WIND UP CREATING MORE INCARCERATION AND MENTAL HEALTH IN AND OF ITSELF IS NOT EVEN IN THE TOP EIGHT CRIMINOGENIC RISK FACTORS. AND I THINK THAT'S IMPORTANT TO REMEMBER. MENTAL HEALTH IS NOT THE ONE OF THE TOP EIGHT CRIMINOGENIC RISK FACTORS OR REASON FOR RECIDIVISM. IT CAN AGGRAVATE SOME OF THOSE FACTORS, BUT IT'S NOT IN THE BIG EIGHT. OTHER THINGS LIKE, YOU KNOW, FAMILY, STABILITY, EMPLOYMENT, SUBSTANCE USE AND THINGS LIKE THAT ARE IN THE BIG EIGHT. AND, AND SO WE IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE ARE REAL SMART ABOUT HOW WE DEAL WITH THAT. AND WE ARE TALKING ABOUT THAT NOT ONLY LOCALLY BUT AT THE STATE LEVEL. SO DOES THAT MAKE SENSE JUDGE. WELL YEAH I JUST I WOULD HATE THAT WE STIGMATIZE. YES. RIGHT. BECAUSE YOU HAVE A MENTAL HEALTH. I MEAN, THINK ABOUT IT FROM A PUBLIC PERSPECTIVE. YOU HAVE A MENTAL HEALTH ISSUE. YOU'RE GOING TO STAY LONGER, WHICH WOULD BE, YOU KNOW, EXACTLY THE OPPOSITE OF WHAT WE WANT TO HAPPEN. SO I THINK WE HAVE TO BE VERY ASSERTIVE IN THAT SENSE TO UNDERSTAND THAT WE DIVERT. AND YOU HAVE SAID IT BEFORE, IF WE CATCH IT EARLY AND WE PREVENT IT AND THEY DON'T GO INTO THE JAIL SYSTEM, THEN WE HAVE MUCH OF A BETTER OPPORTUNITY THAN ONCE THEY'RE IN THERE. THEN WE HAVE TO RELY ON CERTAIN THE FLAGS AND YOU KNOW, AND WE AND WE KNOW THE LONGER THEY'RE IN JAIL, THE WORSE OUTCOMES WE SEE, THE WORSE THE OUTCOMES. AND SO WE DON'T I DON'T KNOW THAT WE'RE WE'RE YOU KNOW, WE MAY BE AGGRAVATING THOSE FACTORS. SO ARE WE ARE WE I MEAN, IS THERE DATA THAT SHOWS THAT WE'RE JAILING MORE PEOPLE THAT ARE MENTALLY ILL THAN BEFORE? NOT NECESSARILY THAN BEFORE, BUT WHEN THIS LEGISLATION WENT INTO PLACE A LONG TIME AGO, IT WAS INTENDED TO HAVE A DIVERSIONARY IMPACT. RIGHT. AND SO, YOU KNOW, FIND OUT WHO THEY ARE AND TRY TO HELP THEM, GET THEM OUT OF JAIL. IT IT THERE'S SOME CONCERNS THAT IT CAN BECOME MORE OF A OH, WELL, THEY HAVE A MENTAL HEALTH ISSUE. I DON'T WANT TO GIVE THEM THAT PR BOND OR I DON'T YOU KNOW, AND SO IT CAN CREATE A RISK FACTOR. I'M NOT SAYING THAT HAPPENS EVERY TIME, BUT IT CAN HAVE THAT EFFECT ON PEOPLE THAT THAT THAT GET THE 16, 22 OR 4 TIMES MORE. THEY'LL STAY FOUR TIMES LONGER OR FOUR TIMES LONGER THAN LONGER. JAIL ON AVERAGE. AND IF YOU DON'T GET A MENTAL HEALTH FLAG, SO THAT'S AND THAT'S AND IT'S NOT JUST US WE'RE TALKING WITH THE REST OF THE STATE. THEY FEEL LIKE THAT'S AN ISSUE. I DO THINK THAT THERE'S PROBABLY EVEN LEGISLATIVE WORK THAT NEEDS TO BE DONE TO, YOU KNOW, IS THIS REALLY HAVING THE EFFECT THAT IT WAS INTENDED TO HAVE? SO THIS NEEDS TO BE RESEARCHED FURTHER. AND WE'RE DEFINITELY I EVERY CHANCE I GET, I'M BRINGING ATTENTION TO THIS IS THAT IS THAT SOMETHING THAT'S ON LIKE OUR LEGISLATIVE AGENDA OR ANY ASSOCIATION. I MEAN SHOULD SHOULD I BRING IT UP TO THE COOK TO PUT THAT ON OUR LEGISLATIVE AGENDA? I DON'T KNOW, I MEAN, IF IT MAKES SENSE, JUST SAY EVEN EVEN EVEN TO RESEARCH IT FOR THE STATE TO RESEARCH THOSE IMPACTS WOULD BE GOOD. AND THAT'S SOME OF THE RESEARCH WE'RE FINISHING. CORRECT. AND WE'LL BE BRINGING AND I THINK HAVING THAT DATA, THE STATE LOOKING AT IT MORE AS WELL. YES. AND THEN THE BOOKING TRENDS ARE, AS JACOB POINTED OUT, THEY'VE BEEN DOWN. THEY HAVEN'T REACHED PRE-PANDEMIC LEVELS, BUT THEY'RE TRENDING BACK UP IN THE BACKLOG OF UNFILLED CASES IS AN ISSUE. THE USE OF DIMS IS I MEAN, THAT'S VERY IMPORTANT THAT THAT'S THAT'S MAXIMIZED. WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THAT THAT'S TO, YOU KNOW, WHERE WHERE IT WAS DESIGNED TO BE BOOKING DUE TO UNPAID FINES AND FEES. WE'RE WE'RE KEEPING AN EYE ON THAT. WE'RE GOING TO BE RESEARCHING THAT MORE. WE'LL TRY TO CREATE A DASHBOARD ON THAT. AND, AND THE FIRST CHANCE USE OF THAT PROGRAMING THAT'S IMPORTANT BY THE BPD AND I HAVE MET WITH THEM ON THAT. WE'RE HOPING WE CAN GET THEM TO USE THAT PROGRAM AGAIN. [01:25:05] THEY HAVEN'T USED THAT SINCE THEY STARTED THE SITE AND RELEASE. SO GOING BACK TO THE BOOKINGS DUE TO UNPAID FINES AND FEES, DO WE HAVE DO WE HAVE DATA ON THE PERCENTAGE OF FOLKS THAT THAT ARE CONSIDERED TO BE INDIGENT, THAT ARE THAT ARE IN JAIL? YEAH, THE INDIGENT DATA. AND JOSE, CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG, 85% ROUGHLY THAT ARE THAT ARE DEEMED INDIGENT IN THE JAIL AT BOOKING, AT BOOKING, ABOUT 85% ROUGHLY GIVE OR TAKE. AND SO IT'S A HIGH PERCENTAGE THAT ARE INDIGENT. THESE ARE NOT PEOPLE THAT ARE GOING TO BE ABLE TO PAY FORFEITURE FEES OR FINES AND FEES VERY EASILY, AND IT CAN CREATE A VICIOUS CYCLE. THAT'S SOMETHING WE NEED TO CONTINUE TO CONTINUE TO LOOK AT. AND I MEAN, I'VE TALKED TO YOU AND BETSY ABOUT IT IN THE PAST, BUT I KNOW THAT WE DON'T HAVE ANY COURTS AT THE COUNTY THAT THAT USE OMNIBUS. AND, AND BUT I THINK, I THINK WE REALLY NEED TO GET AWAY FROM JAILING PEOPLE BECAUSE THEY CAN'T PAY FINES. COMMISSIONER, I ATTENDED A I ANNE-MARIE NUNEZ ATTENDED A CONFERENCE SPECIFICALLY ON THAT. THE NATIONAL ORGANIZATION ON IT'S CITIES AND COUNTIES FOR FINE AND FEE JUSTICE. AND WE ARE LOOKING AT WE'VE ASKED JOE TO GET US SOME DOCUMENTATION OF THAT. IT IS DISHEARTENING THAT THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO, THE CITY OF DALLAS, MANY OTHER PLACES HAVE DONE THIS. AND WE HAVE A HIGHER INDIGENT POPULATION, AND WE HAVEN'T. SO I AM WORKING WITH JOE'S OFFICE AND WE WILL BE BRINGING A, I GUESS, A PRESENTATION TO THE COURT ABOUT THOSE ISSUES AND HOW WE CAN DEAL WITH THEM. I THINK IT'S HIGH TIME WE DO THAT. JOE, CAN YOU GIVE JUST ONE REAL QUICK AND THEN I'LL GO. COMMISSIONER NOT TODAY, BUT BUT WE THE DMS PROGRAM WAS ESTABLISHED TO, YOU KNOW, TO BE ABLE TO HAVE A SORT OF PRE-ASSESSMENT MAKE SURE THAT WE DON'T MOVE FORWARD ON CERTAIN SITUATIONS. AND AS I SAID EARLIER, ONCE SOMEONE THAT HAS BEEN FLAGGED WITH MENTAL HEALTH IS IN THE SYSTEM NOW, WE'RE ALMOST, YOU KNOW, PUTTING A SITUATION WHERE WE KNOW WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN BECAUSE OF THAT. AND SO IF WE COULD MAKE IT A POINT TO SORT OF REVISIT DMS AND I THINK WE REALLY NEED TO LOOK AT THAT, THAT FRONT END WORK PAYS OFF ON THE BACK END. AND WILLIAMSON COUNTY HAS A POPULATION OF ABOUT 715,000. THEIR JAIL POPULATION IS 600. AND IT'S INCREDIBLE TO SEE HOW LOW THEIR JAIL POPULATION IS WHEN THEY HAVE A HIGH POPULATION. I'VE TALKED TO THEM ABOUT THIS. I WAS TALKING TO THEM LAST WEEK, BUT THEY DO BELIEVE THAT THE FOCUS THAT REAL EXPERIENCED DA'S THAT ARE FOCUSING ON THAT FRONT END, YES, SCREENING IS, IS ONE OF THE PRIMARY REASONS OUR JAIL POPULATION IS SO LOW. AND SO EXACTLY. THAT IS DEFINITELY SOMETHING WE NEED TO YEAH. CONTINUE TO ENCOURAGE AND DIMS IS RIGHT ON TRACK WITH THAT. REVISIT COMMISSIONER LOGAN. THAT WAS GOING TO BE MY QUESTION ABOUT DMS, BECAUSE I KNOW WE HAD SEEN A REDUCTION IN THE USE OF THE PROGRAM, BUT HAS THAT BEEN COMING BACK UP TO PRE-PANDEMIC LEVELS OR WHERE WE ARE? WHERE ARE WE? I WISH I HAD DATA TO SAY FOR SURE WHERE WE'RE AT. I MEAN, IF I THE POLICE WOULD SAY IT'S BEING USED AS IT'S INTENDED, BUT THE MAGISTRATES WOULD SAY IT'S STILL NOT BEING USED AT 50, EVEN AT 50%. SO WE'RE STILL KEEPING AN EYE ON IT. WE'RE BRINGING AWARENESS TO IT. I THINK WE PROBABLY NEED TO ORGANIZE A MEETING TO MAKE SURE IT'S BEING USED PROPERLY. BUT AND MAXIMIZE, BECAUSE THAT IS A HUGE BENEFIT THAT WE HAVE A PROGRAM LIKE THAT. AND TO SEE IT USED TO ITS MAXIMUM LEVEL IS VERY IMPORTANT. SO THOSE STAKEHOLDERS DON'T CURRENTLY MEET ON A REGULAR BASIS. NO, NO. WELL THEY MAY AGAIN THIS DMS IS AN AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE DA'S OFFICE AND THE POLICE DEPARTMENT. I THINK THEY DO MEET REGULARLY. I CAN'T, BUT I DON'T KNOW THAT THEY HAVE JUST REGULAR DMS MEETINGS. SO I CAN'T SPEAK FOR THEM, BUT I DO. I DO THINK THERE'S NOT CLARITY ON ON WHETHER OR NOT IT'S BEING THE USE IS BEING MAXIMIZED BETWEEN BECAUSE REALLY I THINK ONE ONE STAKEHOLDER THAT NEEDS TO BE IN ON THOSE CONVERSATIONS IS THE MAGISTRATES WITH THE WITH THE DA AND THE PD, BECAUSE THEY SEE THEY'RE SEEING THE IMPACTS OF WHETHER OR NOT IT'S FULLY USED. SO, COMMISSIONER LEON, I THINK YOU'VE ANSWERED MOST OF MY QUESTIONS. I WAS JUST GOING TO PIGGYBACK. PIGGYBACK ON WHAT THE JUDGE SAID. AND I THINK I THINK THE EL PASO POLICE DEPARTMENT, WHICH IS BY FAR THE BIGGEST SUPPLIER OF OUR INMATES, NEEDS TO BE REALLY BROUGHT INTO THE FOLD INSOFAR AS DIMS. THAT'S WHY IT WAS PUT IN PLACE, AND IT ADDRESSES ISSUES OF MENTAL DIRECTIONS THAT THEY MAY WANT TO [01:30:04] TAKE WITH THIS INDIVIDUAL OR THE LACK OF EVIDENCE. I MEAN, THERE'S A LOT OF PEOPLE THERE THAT MAY HAVE COMMITTED THE CRIME, BUT THERE'S NOT ENOUGH EVIDENCE. IT'S NOT GOING TO GO ANYWHERE. SO WHY KEEP THEM IN JAIL? YES, EXACTLY. VERY GOOD POINT. AND THAT'S IT. THAT'S IT FOR TODAY. AND AGAIN, WE'LL KEEP YOU POSTED AS WE SEE CHANGES. WE JACOB AND MICHAEL AND CRYSTAL. AMAZING. AND I THINK WE'VE YOU KNOW WE WERE TALKING EARLIER THAT WE REALLY GOT TO GET AHEAD OF THIS. YOU KNOW THAT YOU KNOW A LOT OF QUESTIONS ARE COMING UP AND PEOPLE ARE LOOKING AT THE AT THE NUMBERS. AND IT'S IF YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND THE DYNAMICS AND THE MOVING PARTS, THEN YOU COULD MAKE CERTAIN CERTAIN INSINUATIONS INSTEAD OF WHAT'S RIGHT. SO I THINK THE PUBLIC WILL APPRECIATE THIS REPORT. THANK YOU. JUDGE AND TO REITERATE AT THE WE'RE NOT IN THE 40% OF COUNTIES THAT ARE HAVING TO OUTSOURCE BEDS YET. WE DON'T WANT TO GET THERE. SO WE WANT TO CONTINUE. I THINK THERE'S A REASON, AS WE'VE BEEN THOUGHTFUL ABOUT THE USE OF OUR JAIL, BUT WE CONTINUE TO NEED TO KEEP IT IN A PRIMARY FOCUS. LET'S AVOID THE TIPPING POINT. YES. THANK YOU. THANK YOU JACOB. OH, I'M SORRY, COMMISSIONER. YOU KNOW, I THINK WE'VE DONE A LOT OF GOOD, ESPECIALLY WITH PRETRIAL. CATHERINE HAS DONE A GREAT JOB AND SO IS JOEL. I THINK THAT MY BIG CONCERN IS THOSE THAT ARE PRETRIAL CASES THAT LOOK LIKE THEY'RE BEING HELD LONGER, BECAUSE THAT'S NOT ONLY A COST. I'D LIKE TO SEE WHAT THAT'S COSTING US ABOVE THE GUIDELINES, THAT THEY SHOULDN'T BE HELD IN THERE LONG. AND WHAT YOU KNOW AND WHAT KIND OF BECAUSE IT'S NOT JUST THE HUMAN COST. IT'S ASSOCIATED MONEY COST TO THE ENTIRE CONSTITUENCY OF THE COUNTY. AND SO I THINK IT BEHOOVES US TO, TO REALLY TAKE A LOOK AT THOSE NUMBERS, YOU KNOW, THOSE THAT ARE, THAT ARE PRETRIAL AND HELD FOR THIS LONG PERIOD OF TIME. I THINK WE REALLY NEED I KNOW WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON THOSE, BUT I THINK WE REALLY NEED TO PUSH THAT. AND I'M VERY APPRECIATIVE OF YOUR EXPERIENCE. I KNOW IT WILL HELP US TREMENDOUSLY BECAUSE COMMISSIONER CORNELL HAS GONE THROUGH THE PROCESS AND KNOWS ALL THE NUANCES. SO WE APPRECIATE ANY INSIGHTS THAT YOU MIGHT BRING TO THE COURT. SO THANK YOU. THANK YOU JUDGE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. JUDGE, WOULD YOU LIKE TO TAKE THE ITEMS THAT WERE PULLED FROM CONSENT? SURE. OKAY. THANK YOU. MICHAEL. ITEM FOUR W FROM THE CONSENT AGENDA PULLED BY COMMISSIONER LEON. APPROVE AND AUTHORIZE THE AWARD. RECOMMENDATION OF BID 24027. DESERT ACCEPTANCE SQUARE [W. Approve and authorize the award recommendation of Bid 24-027 Desert Acceptance (Square Dance) Linear Park with Shared-Use Path for the El Paso County, TX awarded to E.G.L. Construction, Inc. of El Paso, Texas to award Base Bid I for a total amount of $2,132,022.59 (upon funding availability Alternative Items 1-6 may be added). Purchasing approved on October 29, 2024. Funding is available CP-TN22-DESERTACC-CONSTRUCTION and CP-CO23A-SQLINEARPK-IMPROVEMNT. Karen Davidson, Purchasing Agent, Purchasing, 915-273-3349] DANCE LINEAR PARK WITH SHARED USE PATH FOR THE EL PASO COUNTY, TEXAS. AWARDED TO EGL CONSTRUCTION, INC. OF EL PASO, TEXAS TO AWARD BASE BID ONE FOR A TOTAL AMOUNT OF $2,132,022.59. UPON FUNDING AVAILABILITY. ALTERNATIVE ITEMS ONE THROUGH 6TH MAY BE ADDED. PURCHASING APPROVED ON OCTOBER 29TH, 2024. FUNDING IS AVAILABLE IN CP TEN TWO TWO DESERT ACCEPTANCE CONSTRUCTION AND CP CO TWO THREE, A SQUARE LINE. I'M SORRY, SQUARE LINEAR PARK IMPROVEMENT. OKAY, THANK YOU JUDGE. COMMISSIONERS. THE REASON I BROUGHT THIS OUT IS I JUST WANTED TO TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THIS PARK THAT MY OFFICE HAS BEEN WORKING WITH. SQUARE DANCE FOR YEARS, AND FINALLY THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE A PARK OUT THERE. THERE'S ABOUT 260 FAMILIES OUT THERE. AND BACK IN 2013, THERE WAS NO STREET LIGHTING, NO STREET SIGNS. WELL, THERE WAS STREET SIGNS ON SOME OF THE STREETS, SOME OF THE MOST OF THE PEOPLE DID HAVE WATER. SOME OF THEM DID NOT. THE VAST MAJORITY DID NOT HAVE SEWER SERVICE. SO ALL OF THIS CAME ABOUT NOT BECAUSE OF ME, BUT REALLY BECAUSE OF THIS COURT AND COURTS BEFORE THIS COURT THAT ALWAYS WOULD, WOULD VOTE IN FAVOR OF ASSISTING THESE PEOPLE OUT THERE. AND LIKE YOU SAID, JUDGE MANY TIMES BEFORE THAT FOR THE SIMPLE REASON THAT YOU DON'T LIVE INSIDE THE CITY LIMITS SHOULD NOT BE A REASON THAT YOU'RE DEPRIVED OF MANY OF THESE SERVICES THAT THEY SHOULD HAVE. AND THIS PARK IS FINALLY COMING INTO FRUITION. AND IT'S I THINK THE BUILDER HAS BEEN APPROVED. AND I'M EXCITED ABOUT THIS. AND LIKE I SAID, I JUST WANTED TO GIVE A LOT OF CREDIT TO THIS COURT. THE COURT'S BEFORE NORMA AND HER TEAM. THANK YOU FOR WORKING SO, SO WELL WITH ME AND LYDIA MUNZER MUNZER IS EVERYWHERE MAKING THINGS WORK, MAKING THINGS HAPPEN. BUT BUT I'VE GOT TO TELL YOU THAT THE PEOPLE OUT THERE REALLY ARE GOING TO APPRECIATE THIS PARK WHERE THEY HAD NOTHING BUT DIRT. THEY DIDN'T EVEN HAVE A BUS GOING INTO THAT AREA BEFORE. NOW [01:35:04] THEY DO SO I JUST WANTED TO SAY THANK YOU. THE GROUNDBREAKING MORE THAN LIKELY WILL NOT TAKE PLACE UNTIL I LEAVE OFFICE, WHICH IS FINE AS LONG AS THESE PEOPLE GET THEIR PARK AFTER SO MANY YEARS. SO THANK YOU, THANK YOU COURT, AND WE'LL HONOR YOUR YOUR PASSION. IT'S SORT OF A BITTERSWEET. AND WE'RE CANUTILL. AND TO THINK THAT, YOU KNOW, BARELY GETTING WATER AND SEWERAGE AND THE BITTERSWEET IS THAT THERE'S SO MUCH MORE TO DO. BUT IT'S QUITE AN ACCOMPLISHMENT. SO I THANK YOU FOR HIGHLIGHTING THAT. COMMISSIONER LEON, BEFORE YOU VOTE, NORMA, DID YOU WANT TO ADD SOMETHING ON THE TIMELINE ABOUT THE GROUNDBREAKING? YES. WE HOPE TO HAVE THE GROUNDBREAKING EARLY DECEMBER. SO THIS IS AWARDED TODAY. WE HAVE TALKED TO LEGAL ABOUT GETTING A CONTRACT RIGHT AWAY. AND THEY HAVE TEMPLATES. SO WE HOPE TO HAVE THIS GROUNDBREAKING EARLY DECEMBER. OKAY. THAT'S REALLY GOOD. WE MIGHT NOT BE ABLE TO HAVE A RIBBON CUTTING BEFORE YOU LEAVE OFFICE, BUT AS SOON AS IT'S READY, WE'LL INVITE YOU OUT TO USE THE EXERCISE EQUIPMENT ALONG THE WAY. SHOULD ONLY TAKE YOU SHOULD IT ONLY TAKE LIKE 2 OR 3 WEEKS TO GET IT DONE? YEAH, YEA. OKAY. THANK YOU. WE HAVE A MOTION BY JUDGE SAMANIEGO TO APPROVE. SECOND, BY COMMISSIONER CORONADO. THE VOTING IS OPEN. MOTION CARRIES. THANK YOU, THANK YOU. ITEM FOR X PULLED BY COMMISSIONER OLGUIN. APPROVE AN AUTHORIZE THE AWARD OF RFP 24022. BOOSTING TOURISM THROUGH STRATEGIC INITIATIVES AND COLLABORATIONS FOR THE COUNTY OF EL PASO FOR THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT, TO THE HIGHEST SCORING FIRMS [X. Approve and authorize the award of RFP 24-022 Boosting Tourism through Strategic Initiatives and Collaborations for the County of El Paso for the Economic Development Department to the highest scoring firms Destination El Paso of El Paso, TX; EFO Media LLC dba EFO Media of El Paso, TX; and LJA Engineering Inc. of EL Paso TX. Purchasing approved on October 22, 2024. Funds are available in ARP-1162 - SG-ARPLAN21-OPERATING EX. Karen Davidson, Purchasing Agent, Purchasing, 915-273-3349] DESTINATION EL PASO OF EL PASO, TEXAS. UFO MEDIA LLC, DOING BUSINESS AS UFO MEDIA OF EL PASO, TEXAS, AND LJ ENGINEERING, INC. OF EL PASO, TEXAS. PURCHASING. APPROVED ON OCTOBER 22ND, 2024. FUNDS ARE AVAILABLE IN ARP 1162, S, G, A, R PLAN, 21 OPERATING EXPENSES. COMMISSIONER HOLGUIN. THANK YOU, JUDGE. HI KAREN, I SEE YOU ON THE SCREEN, BUT I ALSO SEE DOCTOR RENTERIA AND CHRIS AND CHRISTIAN HERE. AND I THINK MY QUESTIONS ARE MORE FOR THEM. I'M JUST WONDERING IF WE COULD GET MORE INFORMATION ON THE DIFFERENT, BECAUSE THERE'S THREE FIRMS THAT WERE SELECTED THAT ARE GOING TO BE AWARDED, AND MAYBE THE RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE THREE DIFFERENT FIRMS. IF WE ALREADY HAVE SPECIFIC AMOUNTS OF FUNDING AVAILABLE. I JUST WANTED A LITTLE BIT MORE INFORMATION ON WHAT EXACTLY THE THREE FIRMS ARE GOING TO BE DOING. SURE. GOOD MORNING. COMMISSIONERS. JUDGE MARTINEZ, WITH THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT. SO THIS IS A THIS IS A PRETTY LARGE RFP. THERE'S VARIOUS ELEMENTS TO THE SCOPE OF WORK. AND SO AS A RESULT OF THAT, THE WAY IT WAS STRUCTURED WAS PROVIDING AN OPPORTUNITY FOR VENDORS TO BE ABLE TO BID ON DIFFERENT INDIVIDUAL ELEMENTS OF THAT RFP. AND SO AS WE RECEIVE THOSE PROPOSALS, THE EVALUATION TEAM, IN CONJUNCTION WITH, WITH, AND FACILITATED BY PURCHASING, MADE A DECISION FOR DIFFERENT ELEMENTS OF THE SCOPE OF WORK FITTING DIFFERENT VENDORS BASED OFF OF THEIR PROPOSALS BETTER. AND SO THE WAY IN WHICH THAT WAS DONE, AND I DO HAVE LIKE THE, THE TABULATION HERE, KAREN, WHICH IS WHAT I'M USING FOR THE FOR THE BREAKDOWN IS, IS THEY DID RECEIVE DIFFERENT AMOUNTS DEPENDING ON WHICH ELEMENT OF THE SCOPE OF WORK THEY GOT. SO FOR EXAMPLE, DESTINATION EL PASO WAS ALLOCATED OR WAS BEING AWARDED OR FOR YOUR, UNDER YOUR UNDER YOUR APPROVAL. RIGHT. AN AMOUNT OF $186,600. AND THOSE ELEMENTS WOULD BE FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION OF A TOURIST AMBASSADOR PROGRAM. AN OLD THE OLD EL PASO COUNTY JAIL, TOURISM PROGRAM. OVERALL BRANDING AND IDENTITY FOR ALL TOURISM AND MARKETING EFFORTS, AND THEN TOURS AND ACTIVITIES. AS A RESULT OF THAT TOTAL OF 285 500, THAT WAS OKAY. THAT'S FOR DESTINATION EL PASO. I HAVE THAT FOR LJ, BUT I MIGHT HAVE MY I MIGHT HAVE AN OLD FILE. I APOLOGIZE, THAT'S OKAY. SO DESTINATION EL PASO IS GOING TO BE GETTING 285,500. UFO MEDIA WILL BE GETTING 186 600. AND ELIJAH ENGINEERING WILL GET 252 900. IT DOES BREAK DOWN AS CHRISTIAN DESCRIBED FOR DESTINATION EL PASO, BUT THE TOTAL AMOUNT IS 285 500. CONTINUE. CHRISTIAN. I'M SORRY, I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE I JUST AND DOCTOR JUST GOT ME AN UPDATED FILE. SO I APPRECIATE THAT CLARIFICATION. AND SO THAT'S CORRECT FOR DESTINATION EL PASO FOR UFO. THEIR THEIR AMOUNT IS THE 186,600. AND THAT BREAKDOWN IS FOR ENHANCING [01:40:07] TOURISM COLLABORATIONS. THAT'S REALLY HELPING FACILITATE A LOT OF THE DIFFERENT STAKEHOLDERS AND PARTNERS REGIONALLY THAT ARE INVOLVED IN THIS, IN THIS SECTOR. RIGHT. AND WOULD KIND OF HELP INTEGRATE AND FACILITATE A LOT OF THE CONNECTIONS SO THAT WE'RE NOT WORKING IN SILOS AND MAKING SURE THERE'S SYNERGY THERE. IS THAT LIKE THE TOURS, WHENEVER WE TRY TO PLAN TOURS. SO THE TOURS WILL BE INDIVIDUALLY HANDLED THROUGH DESTINATION EL PASO. BUT EFA WILL HELP KIND OF ENSURE THAT THERE'S THAT WE'RE WORKING WELL WITH ALL OUR PARTNERS TO EXECUTE THAT. AND IT'S MORE THAN JUST THE TOURS. THERE'S, THERE'S OTHER ELEMENTS AS WELL. AND SO THAT'S WHY THEY RECEIVE THAT AS WELL AS THE HERITAGE AND TOURISM COLLABORATIONS. AND THEN AN ENHANCEMENT OF THE OLD COUNTY JAIL. SO THAT'S THE MEDIAS. AND THEN THE LAST ONE IS FOR THE LJ ENGINEERING IN THE AMOUNT OF $252,900. AND THEIRS IS FOR PROVIDING NARRATIVES OF ALL OF OUR HISTORIC ASSETS TO BE USED FOR BRANDING AND MARKETING, AS WELL AS MUSEUM CREATION AND EXHIBIT DESIGN FOR ASSETS OWNED BY THE COUNTY. DEVELOPMENT OF DIGITAL CONTENT AND A WEBSITE AND OUR ONLINE PRESENCE, AND THEN ALSO FOR WORKING WITH INFLUENCERS TO HELP MARKET AND ADVERTISE A LOT OF THE WORK THAT'S DONE BY ALL OF THE ALL OF THE POTENTIAL VENDORS HERE, THROUGH THAT, THROUGH THAT WORK. AND THEN THE LAST THING IS THE LAST COMPONENT THAT THEY'RE BEING AWARDED FOR IS FOR MARKETING AND AWARENESS, PROMOTIONAL RESOURCES. SO THAT WOULD BE LIKE CREATING A FLIER THAT CAN BE USED CONSISTENTLY THROUGHOUT. YES. SO IT'LL BE A COMBINATION OF BOTH PHYSICAL AND DIGITAL RESOURCES. RIGHT. AND SO IT'LL BE A WEBSITE. THERE'LL BE DIGITAL PAGES THAT HELP KIND OF DESCRIBE A LOT OF THE ACCOUNT CURRENTLY OWNED COUNTY HISTORICAL ASSETS BUT THEN ALSO PHYSICAL LIKE FLIERS LIKE YOU SAID, OR RESOURCES AND BOOKLETS THAT WE CAN GIVE OUT AT EVENTS LIKE WE'VE DONE RECENTLY. YEAH. SO A LOT OF THE ORGANIZATIONS THAT ARE INVOLVED ALL HAVE THEIR OWN, BUT IT WOULD BE NICE TO HAVE ONE LIKE A FLIER THAT REALLY ENCOMPASSES THE ENTIRE AREA. AND THAT'S CONSISTENT. YEAH. AND OVER THE NEXT COUPLE OF WEEKS, WHAT WE'RE GOING TO BE DOING, ASSUMING THIS IS APPROVE, IS MEETING WITH THESE VENDORS TO KIND OF FINALIZE THE SCOPE OF WORK IN A CONTRACT, RIGHT. AND THEN BRING THAT BACK TO THE COURT. AND SO THE COURT WILL HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO REVIEW THE ELEMENTS OF THAT CONTRACT AS WELL. AND IF THERE'S ANY FEEDBACK, GREAT. THANK YOU. THAT'S EXACTLY THE INFORMATION THAT I WAS LOOKING FOR. THANK YOU. ABSOLUTELY. THANK YOU KAREN. THANK YOU. YOU'RE WELCOME. COMMISSIONER. WE HAVE A MOTION FROM JUDGE SAMANIEGO TO APPROVE SECOND BY COMMISSIONER LEON. THE VOTING IS OPEN. MOTION CARRIES. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. JUDGE. AT THIS TIME, WE'D LIKE TO GO AHEAD AND MOVE INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION. WE DO HAVE A LEGAL MEMO FROM COUNTY ATTORNEYS. FIRST COMMISSIONERS ERIC GAGLIONE, ASSISTANT COUNTY ATTORNEY FOR ITEM 13 D THIS IS THE CONTRACT BETWEEN EL PASO OR THE PROPOSED CONTRACT BETWEEN EL PASO COUNTY AND SCHNEIDER [D. Pursuant to the Texas Government Code Seton 551.071 & 551.0725, discuss and receive legal advice regarding the negotiation of the Energy Construction Services Contract between El Paso County and Schneider Electric Building Americas, Inc and the corresponding financial lease purchase agreements. (#3750-OP) Ana Schumacher, Assistant County Attorney, County Attorney's Office, 915-273-3247] ELECTRIC. SECTION 551.0725 OF THE TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE AUTHORIZES THE COURT TO CONDUCT A CLOSED MEETING TO DELIBERATE BUSINESS AND FINANCIAL ISSUES RELATING TO A CONTRACT UNDER NEGOTIATIONS, IF CERTAIN CONDITIONS ARE MET. ASSISTANT COUNTY ATTORNEY ANNA SCHUMACHER DETERMINED THAT DELIBERATION IN OPEN MEETING CONCERNING BUSINESS AND FINANCIAL ISSUES AND NEGOTIATIONS WITH SCHNEIDER ELECTRIC BUILDINGS AMERICAS, INC. IT'S AN ENERGY AND CONSTRUCTION SERVICES CONTRACT, IF DISCUSSED IN OPEN, WOULD HAVE A DETRIMENTAL EFFECT ON THE POSITION OF THE COURT. SO WE'RE ASKING THAT YOU MAKE A VOTE THAT DELIBERATIONS IN OPEN MEETING WOULD HAVE A DETRIMENTAL EFFECT ON NEGOTIATIONS AND THE NEGOTIATIONS. EXCUSE ME? THE DISCUSSION TAKE PLACE IN CLOSED SESSION. WE'RE ASKING THE COURT TO DIRECT THE COUNTY CLERK TO ENSURE THAT ALL PROCEEDINGS IN CLOSED SESSION BE RECORDED, AND A COPY OF THE MEMO HAS BEEN FILED WITH THE CLERK'S REPRESENTATIVE. WE HAVE A MOTION FROM COMMISSIONER OLGUIN, SECOND, BY COMMISSIONER STOUT. THE VOTING IS OPEN. THE MOTION CARRIES COMMISSIONERS COURT WIL. COMMISSIONERS COURT WILL NOW RECESS INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION TO DISCUSS ITEMS 13 A, B, C AND D PURSUANT TO TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE SECTION 551.071 AND 551.0725. COMMISSIONERS COURT WILL RECONVENE TO TAKE OFFICIAL ACTION AT 11:15 A.M. [01:47:50] 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 DIECINUEVE LA VACUNA COVID ES GRATIS PARA LAS VACUNAS RUTINAS DE SUS HIJOS. VISITA EP HEALTH COM SABEMOS CUANTO A MAS A TUS HIJOS, ASI Q RECUERDA NO LO DUDES VACUNA. DE. [01:54:47] 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 [01:55:05] SHOULD GET THE VACCINE TOO. AND IF YOU'VE ALREADY GOTTEN THE VACCINE, YOU SHOULD GET YOUR BOOSTER FOR YOUR CHILD'S ROUTINE VACCINES. VISIT EP HEALTH.COM. WE KNOW HOW MUCH YOU LOVE YOUR CHILDREN, SO REMEMBER, DON'T HESITATE, VACCINATE AS IMPORTANT. Q SUS HIJOS TENGAN TODAS SUS VACUNAS ADEMAS DE LA 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 RUTINA DE SUS HIJOS. VISITA EP HEALTH.COM SABEMOS CUANTO ALMORZAR TUS HIJOS, ASI RECUERDA NO LO DUDES VACUNA. [02:01:44] 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 19. LA VACUNA COVID DIECINUEVE GRATIS PARA LAS VACUNAS RUTINAS DE SUS HIJOS. VISITA EP HEALTH.COM SABEMOS CUANTO A MAS A TUS HIJOS, ASI Q RECUERDA NO LO DUDES VACUNA. DE. [02:08:41] 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 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. [02:14:07] DE. [02:15:38] 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 DIECINUEVE IS GRATIS PARA LAS VACUNAS RUTINAS DE SUS HIJOS. VISITA EP HEALTH.COM SABEMOS CUANTO MAS A TUS HIJOS, ASI RECUERDA NO LO DUDES VACUNA. GO AHEAD. COMMISSIONERS COURT HAS RECONVENED TO REGULAR OPEN SESSION ITEM 14 A DISCUSS AND TAKE APPROPRIATE ACTION REGARDING ROAD AND SPEED SAFETY ISSUES IN EL PASO COUNTY. COUNTY ATTORNEY'S FILE NUMBER 002623 AA JUDGE COMMISSIONERS ERIC ROSALE, ASSISTANT COUNTY ATTORNEY. WE'RE ASKING FOR NO ACTION ON THIS ITEM AT THIS TIME. PLEASE. NO ACTION FOR 14 A ITEM. 14 B DISCUSS AND TAKE ACTION REGARDING THE PENDING EEOC CLAIM AND POTENTIAL LITIGATION OF CHARGE NUMBER 453 2024 01144 COUNTY ATTORNEY'S FILE. NUMBER 000624E. JUDGE. COMMISSIONERS ERIC ROSALES, GAGLIONE. ASSISTANT COUNTY ATTORNEY. WE'RE ASKING THE COURT TO DENY THE CLAIM. PLEASE. I'LL MAKE THAT MOTION. I'LL SECOND. A MOTION TO DENY CLAIM MADE BY COMMISSIONER STOUT. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER CORONADO. THE VOTING IS OPEN AND MOTION CARRIES. AND WE WILL NOW JUDGE. WOULD YOU LIKE TO GO AHEAD AND RECESS FOR LUNCH? LET'S SEE. WHAT WERE YOUR THOUGHTS ON. YOU COULD DO THE. IF YOU WANT TO GET SOME MORE DONE BEFORE YOU BREAK FOR LUNCH. JUDGE. YOU COULD DO ITEM EIGHT A THAT'S THE PURCHASING AWARD FOR SCHNEIDER. OKAY, LET'S DO THAT. YEAH OKAY. GIVE ME ONE SECOND. EIGHT. ITEM EIGHT A PURCHASING APPROVE AND AUTHORIZE THE [02:20:07] PURCHASE OF ENERGY PERFORMANCE CONTRACT PROGRAM FOR EL PASO COUNTY, TEXAS USING TIPS. CONTRACT 220104 AWARDED TO SCHNEIDER ELECTRIC. SCHNEIDER ELECTRIC BUILDINGS AMERICAS, INC [A. Approve and authorize the purchase of Energy Performance Contract Program for El Paso County, Texas using TIPS Contract 220104 awarded to Schneider Electric Schneider Electric Buildings Americas, Inc. of Carrollton, Texas for a total project cost $25,099,785. Purchasing approved on October 29, 2024. Pending Execution of Funding Agreements. Karen Davidson, Purchasing Agent, Purchasing, 915-273-3349] OF CARROLLTON, TEXAS, FOR A TOTAL PROJECT. COST $25,099,785. PURCHASING. APPROVED ON OCTOBER 29TH, 2024, PENDING EXECUTION OF FUNDING AGREEMENTS. KAREN. WELCOME. GOOD MORNING JUDGE. GOOD MORNING, COMMISSIONERS KAREN DAVIDSON, YOUR COUNTY PURCHASING AGENT. WE'RE ASKING FOR THE COURT TO APPROVE AND AUTHORIZE THE PURCHASE FOR OUR ENERGY PERFORMANCE CONTRACT USING A COOPERATIVE PURCHASING METHODOLOGY THROUGH TIPS. CONTRACT 220104 TO SCHNEIDER ELECTRIC IN THE AMOUNT OF 25,099,785, WITH NO SENSE I CAN SPEAK TO ANY TYPE OF PROCUREMENT YOU MIGHT HAVE, OR WE HAVE OPERATIONS HERE. IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS. QUESTIONS? NO. WE HAVE A MOTION BY JUDGE SAMANIEGO, SECOND BY COMMISSIONER CORONADO. THE VOTING IS OPEN. MOTION CARRIES. THANK YOU, THANK YOU. KAREN. JUDGE, IF YOU WANT TO BREAK NOW FOR LUNCH, THEN WHEN WE COME BACK, WE'LL TAKE THE REMAINING ITEMS RELATED TO THE SCHNEIDER CONTRACT. AND THEN THAT WILL SET US UP TO BE READY FOR 2:00 PM FOR THE VETERANS. PERFECT. OKAY. COMMISSIONERS COURT WILL RECESS FOR ONE HOUR. IT IS 11:52 A.M. 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 [02:25:03] BOOSTER FOR YOUR CHILD'S ROUTINE VACCINES. VISIT EP HEALTH.COM. WE KNOW HOW MUCH YOU LOVE YOUR CHILDREN, SO REMEMBER, DON'T HESITATE, VACCINATE AS IMPORTANT Q SUS HIJOS TENGAN TODAS SUS VACUNAS ADEMAS DE LA VACUNAS RUTINAS LOS NINOS MAYORES DE CINCO ANOS, AHORA SON ELEGIBLES PARA LA VACUNA DE COVID 19. LA VACUNA COVID ES GRATIS PARA LAS VACUNAS RUTINA DE SUS HIJOS. VISITA EP HEALTH COM SABEMOS CUANTO ALMORZAR TUS HIJOS. ASI RECUERDA NO LO DUDES VACUNA. [02:30:45] DE. 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 19. LA VACUNA COVID DIECINUEVE IS GRATIS PARA LAS VACUNAS RUTINA DE SUS HIJOS. VISITA EP HEALTH COM SABEMOS CUANTO A MAS DE TUS HIJOS? ASI RECUERDA NO LO DUDES VACUNA. [02:38:35] 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 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. DE. [02:45:31] IT'S IMPORTANT FOR YOUR CHILDREN TO STAY CURRENT ON ALL THEIR ROUTINE VACCINES. ALSO, CHILDREN [02:45:39] 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 IS GRATIS PARA LAS VACUNAS RUTINA DE SUS HIJOS. VISITA EP HEALTH.COM SABEMOS CUANTO AMAS A TUS HIJOS? ASI RECUERDA NO LO DUDES VACUNA. [02:52:30] 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 19. LA VACUNA COVID ES GRATIS PARA LAS VACUNAS RUTINAS DE SUS HIJOS. VISITA EP HEALTH.COM SABEMOS CUANTO A MAS A TUS HIJOS? ASI Q RECUERDA NO LO DUDES VACUNA. [02:59:25] IT'S IMPORTANT FOR YOUR CHILDREN TO STAY CURRENT ON ALL THEIR ROUTINE VACCINES. ALSO, CHILDREN FIVE AND OLDER ARE NOT ELIGIBLE FOR THE COVID 19 VACCINE. I AM CURRENT AND ALL MY VACCINES AND I ALSO GET THE COVID VACCINE, SO I AND MY LOVED ONES CAN BE PROTECTED. 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 [03:00:05] ELEGIBLES PARA LA VACUNA DE COVID NUEVE LA VACUNA COVID DIECINUEVE IS 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. DE. [03:06:22] 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 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. [03:13:20] 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 19. LA VACUNA COVID DIECINUEVE IS GRATIS PARA LAS VACUNAS RUTINAS DE SUS HIJOS. VISITA EP HEALTH.COM SABEMOS CUANTO ALMORZAR TUS HIJOS. ASI RECUERDA NO LO DUDES VACUNA. [03:20:16] IT'S IMPORTANT FOR YOUR CHILDREN TO STAY CURRENT ON ALL THEIR ROUTINE VACCINES. ALSO, CHILDREN [03:20:22] FIVE AND OLDER ARE NOW 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 IS GRATIS PARA LAS VACUNAS RUTINAS DE SUS HIJOS. VISIT EP HEALTH COM SABEMOS CUANTO AMAS A TUS HIJOS? ASI RECUERDA NO LO DUDES VACUNA. DE. [03:27:14] 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 RUTINAS DE SUS HIJOS. VISITA EP HEALTH.COM SABEMOS CUANTO MAS A TUS HIJOS, ASI RECUERDA NO LO DUDES VACUNA. [03:34:11] 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 IMPORTAN. GO AHEAD. COMMISSIONERS COURT HAS RECONVENED TO REGULAR OPEN SESSION. WE ARE ON ITEM NUMBER NINE. COUNTY ADMINISTRATION NINE A DISCUSS AND CONSIDER ADOPTION OF A RESOLUTION OF THE GOVERNING BODY OF EL PASO COUNTY, TEXAS, [03:35:02] AUTHORIZING THE EXECUTION AND DELIVERY OF A TAX EXEMPT EQUIPMENT LEASE PURCHASE AGREEMENT IN THE AGGREGATE PRINCIPAL AMOUNT OF $14,915,000. WITH RESPECT TO THE ACQUISITION, PURCHASE, FINANCING AND LEASING OF CERTAIN EQUIPMENT FOR THE PUBLIC BENEFIT AND FOR ENERGY SAVINGS. AUTHORIZING THE EXECUTION AND DELIVERY OF DOCUMENTS REQUIRED IN CONNECTION THEREWITH, AND AUTHORIZING THE TAKING OF ALL OTHER ACTIONS NECESSARY TO THE CONSUMMATION OF THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED BY THIS RESOLUTION. CONTRACT NUMBER 2024 0926. GOOD AFTERNOON. JUDGE. COMMISSIONERS OF THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATION. I'M GLAD TO BE ABLE TO PRESENT THIS ITEM BEFORE THE COURT FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION. THIS AFTERNOON. FOLLOWING THE ITEM, THE COURT CONSIDERED BEFORE LUNCH. THESE ARE NOW THE FINANCE AGREEMENTS THAT WILL PROVIDE THE COUNTY WITH THE FUNDING NECESSARY TO EXECUTE THE ENERGY SAVINGS AND CONSTRUCTION SERVICES AGREEMENT WITH SCHNEIDER ELECTRIC FOR THE PURPOSES OF INSTALLING GREEN INFRASTRUCTURES THROUGHOUT ALL COUNTY FACILITIES, MAKING NECESSARY UPGRADES AND MODERNIZATIONS TO THE COUNTY COURTHOUSE. THE WAY THAT THESE AGREEMENTS WORK IS THE COUNTY HAS CONTRACTED WITH SCHNEIDER ELECTRIC TO CONDUCT AN ENERGY AUDIT ON OUR COUNTY FACILITIES, IDENTIFYING AREAS WHERE WE CAN MAKE IMPROVEMENTS AND MODERNIZATIONS TO YIELD OPERATIONAL SAVINGS BY WAY OF REDUCED UTILITY COSTS TO THE COUNTY, AND THEN THEREBY ALLOWING THE COUNTY TO REPURPOSE THAT OPERATIONAL SAVINGS AS A AS A REPAYMENT SOURCE FOR OTHER CAPITAL INVESTMENTS ACROSS THE COUNTY, NAMELY IN THE CASE OF WHAT WE WERE PROPOSING BEFORE THE COURT THIS AFTERNOON TO MAKE MODERNIZATIONS TO THE COUNTY'S CENTRAL CHILLER PLANT AND HVAC SYSTEM. HERE AT THE COUNTY COURTHOUSE, WHICH IS THREE YEARS PAST ITS USEFUL EXPECTED LIFE OF 30 YEARS. AND SO A VERY CRITICAL PROJECT, AS WELL AS ALL OF THE OTHER ENERGY UPGRADES THAT ARE PROPOSED HERE. SO ON THIS CHART, YOU CAN SEE THE ITEM THAT WE ARE CURRENTLY ON, NINE A AND NINE B ARE THE TAX EXEMPT AND TAXABLE [A. Discuss and consider adoption of a Resolution of the Governing Body of El Paso County, Texas, Authorizing the Execution and Delivery of a Tax-Exempt Equipment Lease/Purchase Agreement in the aggregate Principal Amount of $14,915,000 with Respect to the Acquisition, Purchase, Financing and Leasing of Certain Equipment for the Public Benefit and for Energy Savings; Authorizing the Execution and Delivery of Documents Required in Connection Therewith; and Authorizing the Taking of all other Actions Necessary to the Consummation of the Transactions Contemplated by this Resolution. (Contract No. 2024-0926) Jose M. Landeros, Director, Strategic Capital Development, 915-546-2159] LEASE PURCHASE AGREEMENTS WITH TD BANK. TD BANK IS THE FINANCIAL INSTITUTION THAT IS BEING RECOMMENDED FOR THE COURT TO CONSIDER ENTERING INTO A LEASE PURCHASE AGREEMENT FOR THEM TO PROVIDE THE PROCEEDS NECESSARY TO EXECUTE THE AGREEMENT WITH SCHNEIDER. THE NEXT SLIDE HAS SOME FINANCIAL DETAILS ABOUT THAT, AND WE ALSO HAVE STIFEL, THE COUNTY'S FINANCIAL ADVISOR, MCCALL COUNTY'S BOND COUNSEL AVAILABLE, AND REPRESENTATIVES FROM SCHNEIDER ELECTRIC HERE IN THE AUDIENCE. AS YOU CONSIDER THE OTHER ITEMS BEFORE YOU. SO NINE A AND B ARE EFFECTIVELY THE FINANCE AGREEMENTS FOR THE FUNDING THAT WE'LL NEED TO THEN FOR THE COURT TO CONSIDER APPROVING ITEM NINE C, WHICH IS THE ENERGY SAVINGS AND CONSTRUCTION SERVICE AGREEMENT, WHICH IS THE ACTUAL AGREEMENT WITH SCHNEIDER ELECTRIC THAT IS BASED ON THE AWARD YOU ALL APPROVED BEFORE LUNCH. AND THEN MISS DAVIDSON PRESENTED IN OUR PURCHASING DEPARTMENT. FOLLOWING THAT, ITEMS TEN A AND B WILL BE PRESENTED BY MISS BARBARA PARKER, OUR COUNTY AUDITOR, AND RELATE TO THE FINANCIAL, INSTITUTIONAL SETUPS THAT ARE NECESSARY FOR THE COUNTY TO INVEST THESE FUNDS SO THAT WE CAN ENSURE THAT WE HAVE THE FUNDING NECESSARY TO COMPLETE OUR DEBT SERVICE, AS WELL AS SET UP ALL THE INITIAL ACCOUNTS. AND SO YOU CAN SEE HERE THAT THE PROJECT KICKOFF WOULD BE TOMORROW. SCHNEIDER WOULD BEGIN WORKING WITH OUR PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT, WHO WILL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR IMPLEMENTING THIS PROJECT. THE ESTIMATED COMPLETION BEING THE END OF MAY IN 2027, AND THEN THE GUARANTEED SAVINGS STARTS THE ENERGY SAVINGS PROGRAM STARTING THE FOLLOWING DAY ON JUNE FIRST, 2027. SO WE'RE APPROXIMATELY A LITTLE OVER TWO AND A HALF YEARS OUT FROM THIS WORK BEING COMPLETED. BUT AGAIN, THIS IS A WAY FOR THE COUNTY TO FINANCE SOME OF THESE NECESSARY INVESTMENTS WITHOUT IMPACTING THE COUNTY'S INTEREST IN SINKING TAX RATE THAT WE USE TO MAINTAIN DEBT. AND SO THESE ARE THE ITEMS BEFORE YOU, THE ONE THAT'S BEEN READ INTO THE RECORD IS ONE OF THE LEASE PURCHASE AGREEMENTS. THE REASON THERE IS A TAX EXEMPT AND TAXABLE SERIES IS TO PROVIDE PRESERVE THE COUNTY'S ABILITY TO MAKE INVESTMENTS IN THE DETENTION FACILITIES FOR PRIVATE USE. AS WE CONSIDER HOUSING INMATES UNDER CONTRACTS, INCLUDING WITH THE US MARSHAL'S OFFICE, WANT TO ENSURE THAT THAT IS PRESERVED. AND SO THE USE OF TAXABLE PROCEEDS IN THIS IN THE DETENTION FACILITIES IS NECESSARY SO THAT WE HAVE THAT FLEXIBILITY. SUBJECT TO YOUR QUESTIONS, WE'RE GOING TO BE ASKING FOR YOUR FAVORABLE CONSIDERATION ON ON THESE ITEMS. SO JUST FOR CLARIFICATION, MASS QUITE FREQUENTLY SCHNEIDER ELECTRIC, THE ONE WE HELPED TO BRING IN HERE AND THEN SCHNEIDER ELECTRIC, WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO WORK WITH, JUST A LITTLE BIT OF A LITTLE SYNOPSIS OF THE DIFFERENCE OF THE TWO. SURE. SO SCHNEIDER ELECTRIC THAT WE ARE DEALING WITH HERE IS THAT WE'RE CONTRACTING WITH THEM AS A VENDOR. THEY DO BUILDING AND ENERGY AUDIT MODERNIZATIONS ACROSS THE STATE. THEY WORK IN SCHOOLS, OTHER COUNTIES OR THEIR [03:40:02] LOCAL GOVERNMENTS. VERY MUCH IN THE THIS IS A SCOPE OF WORK THAT THAT THEY DO. AND BASED ON THE RELATIONSHIPS THEY HAVE WITH ENERGY AND OTHER EQUIPMENT SUPPLIERS AND PROVIDERS, THEY'RE ABLE TO DO THESE WORK TO MODERNIZE BUILDINGS AND HELP THEM MAKE INVESTMENTS IN THE LIGHTING AND WATER AND OTHER INFRASTRUCTURE ELEMENTS THAT ELEMENTS OF BUILDINGS HAVE THAT ARE MORE ENERGY EFFICIENT. THE SCHNEIDER THAT WE DEAL WITH ON THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT SIDE IS SUPPLYING A LOT OF THE ELECTRIC PRODUCTS THAT MAY OR MAY NOT BE ASSOCIATED WITH SOME OF THESE PROJECTS, BUT THAT'S REALLY A PRODUCTION AND OPERATIONAL SIDE, OBVIOUSLY, PART OF THE SAME GLOBAL PUBLICLY TRADED COMPANY, BUT TWO DIFFERENT DIVISIONS THAT WERE THAT WE'RE DEALING WITH. BUT DEFINITELY A VERY CRITICAL PARTNERSHIP FOR OUR REGIONAL ECONOMY THAT WE'VE STRUCTURED WITH, WITH SCHNEIDER IN TERMS OF THEIR PRESENCE HERE AND THEIR THEIR CONTINUED OPERATIONS HERE IN THE BORDERLAND. THANK YOU. GREAT SYNOPSIS. AND TO BE CLEAR, THERE WAS NOTHING WITHIN THE AGREEMENT OF THEM COMING IN HAVING TO DO WITH WHAT WE'RE DOING NOW. IT WAS TWO SEPARATE, SEPARATE ISSUES. OKAY. YES, SIR. THANK YOU. JOSIE, JUST JUST FOR THE PUBLIC'S BENEFIT. CAN YOU JUST KIND OF DESCRIBE, YOU KNOW, THE BENEFITS OR JUST THIS PROGRAM? SO WE'RE WE'RE WE'RE WORKING WITH SCHNEIDER ELECTRIC. WE DID AN ENERGY AUDIT. THEY CAME IN, THEY SHOWED US, YOU KNOW, INVESTMENTS THAT WE COULD MAKE THAT WILL BRING ABOUT SAVINGS AND THAT AND THAT THOSE SAVINGS WILL GO AND PAY FOR THOSE INVESTMENTS. CAN CAN I MEAN, CAN YOU JUST DO LIKE A QUICK DESCRIPTION OF, OF THIS TYPE OF PROGRAM AND WHY, WHY, WHY, WHY WE'RE DOING IT. YES, SIR. SO WHAT SCHNEIDER DID IS COME IN AND THEY WALKED EVERY BUILDING, INCLUDING OUR DETENTION FACILITIES, AND THEY LOOKED AT THE OPPORTUNITIES THAT MAY EXIST FOR US TO MODERNIZE SOME EXISTING LIGHTING FIXTURES IN PLACES WHERE WE STILL MAY HAVE TRADITIONAL FLUORESCENT MODERNIZING THOSE LIGHT FIXTURES WITH LED, MODERNIZING WATER FAUCETS WITH AUTO SHUT OFF FAUCETS AND THINGS LIKE THAT. THOSE ARE ELEMENTS THAT CAN THOSE ARE PIECES OF EQUIPMENT THAT CAN BE INSTALLED AND CAN LEAD TO A REDUCTION IN ELECTRIC AND WATER CONSUMPTION, WHICH LEADS US TO LOWER UTILITY BILLS. AND SO NOT ONLY IS THAT IN LINE WITH THE COURT'S VISION OF BEING A MORE CLIMATE CONSCIOUS LOCAL GOVERNMENT, BY REDUCING OUR OUR CARBON FOOTPRINT AND OUR USE OF NONRENEWABLE RESOURCES, BUT IT ALSO ALLOWS US TO REPURPOSE THAT SAVINGS FROM HAVING LOWER WATER AND ELECTRICITY BILLS TO ACT AS A FORM OF PAYING DOWN NOT ONLY FOR THE EQUIPMENT THAT WE'RE INSTALLING, BUT ALSO, IN THIS CASE, TO HELP THE COUNTY REPLACE THE HVAC SYSTEM HERE AT THE COUNTY COURTHOUSE WITHOUT HAVING TO TAKE OUT ANY OTHER TYPE OF DEBT TO FINANCE IT. SO IF WE FINANCED JUST THE ITEMS THAT ARE HELPING US BECOME MORE GREEN AND MORE CLIMATE CONSCIOUS, WE'D ACTUALLY SEE REDUCTION IN OUR IN OUR BUDGET BECAUSE WE'D BE MAKING THAT LEVEL OF INVESTMENT. WHAT WE'RE PROPOSING TO DO IS INSTEAD TAKE THAT SAVINGS, PLEDGE IT AS A AS A SOURCE OF REPAYMENT FOR THE BIG HVAC SYSTEM THAT WE NEED. AND THE OTHER UNDERLYING ELEMENT THAT I DID NOT MENTION, THAT CENTRAL TO ALL OF THESE TYPES OF AGREEMENTS IS THAT THE SAVINGS THAT IS FORECASTED IS GUARANTEED IN THE CONTRACT. IF, IN ANY EVENT, THE SAVINGS IS NOT ACHIEVED BASED ON WHAT IS FORECASTED IN THE SCHEDULE THAT SCHNEIDER HAS AGREED TO, SCHNEIDER WILL PAY THE DIFFERENCE BACK TO THE COUNTY OF WHAT THAT SAVINGS IS, SO THAT IT DOES NOT IMPACT OUR OUR SAVINGS. SO IT ACHIEVES THE COURT'S GOAL, AGAIN, OF BEING MORE ENVIRONMENTALLY AWARE, CLIMATE CONSCIOUS, GREEN, AND ALSO CONTINUES WITH THE COURT'S PRUDENT USE OF CAPITAL FINANCING TO ENSURE THAT WE'RE BEING AS EFFECTIVE AND EFFICIENT AS WE CAN IN MAKING INVESTMENTS IN THE ESSENTIAL INFRASTRUCTURE FOR OUR DAY TO DAY OPERATIONS HERE AT THE COUNTY COURTHOUSE. AND SO, SO JUST TO JUST TO REITERATE, WE'RE WE'RE WE'RE TAKING THIS ACTION AND WE'RE GOING TO BE ABLE TO INVEST CLOSE TO $25 MILLION IN. UPGRADES INFRASTRUCTURE WITHIN OUR WITHIN OUR FACILITIES WITHOUT NEGATIVELY AFFECTING THE TAX RATE, WITHOUT WITHOUT ASKING THE TAXPAYER FOR ADDITIONAL FUNDING. THAT'S CORRECT. IF WE IF WE DIDN'T DO IT THIS WAY, WE MIGHT BE HAVING TO ASK OUR TAXPAYERS FOR $25 MILLION WHETHER IT'S COULD HAVE BEEN THROUGH THE CO BOND OR GEO BOND OR, OR SOMETHING ELSE. RIGHT. AND SO, YOU KNOW, I THINK IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT FOR, FOR THE PUBLIC TO UNDERSTAND THAT WE'RE ACTIVELY LOOKING FOR WAYS TO FINANCE THINGS WITHOUT WITHOUT CREATING ANY IMPACT ON ON ON THEIR POCKETBOOKS. AND AT THE SAME [03:45:03] TIME, WE GET THE BENEFIT OF, LIKE YOU SAID, BEING MORE CLIMATE CONSCIOUS, WORKING TOWARDS REDUCING OUR CARBON FOOTPRINT AND BEING MORE EFFICIENT IN THAT MANNER. AND SO I THINK, YOU KNOW, IT'S I'M REALLY THANKFUL THAT THAT WE'RE THAT WE'RE FINALLY GETTING THIS DONE. I WAS JUST TALKING TO JOSE DURING THE BREAK, AND WE WERE TALKING LIKE WHEN DID YOU KNOW? I THINK IT WAS BACK IN 2016 OR 2017 WHEN MY OFFICE STARTED BRINGING THIS UP DURING STRATEGIC PLANNING AND ASKING THE COUNTY TO LOOK AT THIS. AND I THINK, COMMISSIONER LEON, YOU WERE THE ONLY ONE ON THE COURT BACK THERE BACK THEN WITH ME. AND I APPRECIATE YOUR SUPPORT OVER THE YEARS, AND I APPRECIATE THE SUPPORT OF THE OTHER COURTS THAT THAT WERE INVOLVED IN THIS. AND OF COURSE, THIS COURT THAT HAS FOLLOWED THROUGH. I KNOW THAT IT'S TAKEN SOME PATIENCE AND IT'S BEEN A VERY COMPLEX, I THINK, NEGOTIATION AND A COMPLEX PROCESS. BUT I'M, I'M REALLY PROUD THAT WE'RE WE'RE ABLE TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THIS. THERE WERE SOME POINTS WHERE I THOUGHT WE WEREN'T GOING TO BE ABLE TO, BUT BUT WE WERE ABLE TO WORK THINGS OUT WITH SCHNEIDER. THANK YOU TO SCHNEIDER ELECTRIC FOR WORKING THINGS OUT. THANK YOU TO OUR LEGAL TEAM. YOU ALL DID AN AMAZING JOB AND, YOU KNOW, DIDN'T DIDN'T LET UP AND KEPT U, KEPT US GOING AND MAKING SURE THAT WE, YOU KNOW, HAD HAD THE BEST CONTRACT THAT WE THAT THAT WE COULD FOR OUR, FOR OUR CONSTITUENTS. AND YOU KNOW, THAT'S REALLY IMPORTANT. I THIN, TO POINT OUT THAT THIS IS A VERY COMPLEX, VERY COMPLEX PROJECT. SO THANK YOU TO ANNA. THANK YOU TO THE REST OF OUR LEGAL STAFF. TO ERICA AND OTHERS. THANK YOU. THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH. THANK YOU BETSY. THANK YOU TO PUBLIC WORKS FOR ALSO WORKING ON THIS. JOSE, YOU'VE BEEN SHEPHERDING THIS THROUGH THE PROCESS FOR THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS, AND I APPRECIATE YOUR WORK. STIEFEL. THANK YOU FOR COMING IN AND MAKING THINGS BETTER FOR US AS WELL. THIS IS, AGAIN, A HUGE PROJECT, A COMPLEX PROJECT, AND IT HAD SO MANY MOVING PARTS AND SO MANY DIFFERENT INDIVIDUALS THAT HAD TO BE INVOLVED IN THIS. AND IT'S COMING TOGETHER AT THIS POINT, AND I'M, YOU KNOW, THIS IS THIS IS BIG. SO THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER. AND EMPHASIZING THAT OUR COMMITMENT TO BE A ROLE MODEL, IT'S HARD TO ASK THE COMMUNITY TO DO THINGS LIKE THAT. AND, YOU KNOW, ENERGY WISE AND ALL THE THINGS THAT ARE GOOD FOR THE COMMUNITY, IT'S HARD IF WE'RE NOT DOING IT. SO I HOPE OTHER ORGANIZATIONS FOLLOW SUIT ON THIS. SO, JOSE, THANK YOU COMMISSIONER. THANK YOU. JUDGE. I JUST WANT TO ECHO THE SENTIMENTS FROM COMMISSIONER STOUT AND THE COURT. THIS IS REALLY I JUST WANT TO THANK EVERYBODY INVOLVED IN DOING THI. THE OTHER THING IS THAT WE MAY END UP QUALIFYING FOR SOME REIMBURSEMENTS FROM THE UTILITY COMPANIES. ON TOP OF THAT, IS THAT CORRECT? YES, SIR. SO WHILE THE REBATE, THE POTENTIAL REBATES ARE ARE MAPPED OUT AND THINGS THAT WE ARE AWARE OF AND IT'S SOMETHING THAT THE COUNTY DOES TRADITIONALLY GO AFTER WHEN WE MAKE INVESTMENTS OURSELVES, THEY'RE NOT GUARANTEED. AND SO THESE NUMBERS ARE AS CONSERVATIVE AS CAN BE. BUT THERE IS THE POSSIBILITY OF THE COUNTY BEING ABLE TO SECURE REBATES THROUGH THE ELECTRIC COMPANY. BUT BECAUSE THERE'S SOME VOLATILITY THERE, THEY'RE NOT GUARANTEED IN THE CONTRACT. BUT IT IS SOMETHING THAT WE'LL WORK WITH SCHNEIDER ON AS WE IMPLEMENT THESE PROJECTS. AND MISS PALACIOS AND HER LEADERSHIP TEAM AND PUBLIC WORKS HAVE EXPERIENCE ON THAT. AND AS COMMISSIONER STOUT SAID, THEY'VE THEY'VE DONE AN AMAZING JOB OF BEING THE MAIN POINT OF CONTACT FOR THIS PROCESS AND HAVE BEEN PIVOTAL IN THE SUCCESS OF THE NEGOTIATIONS TO THIS POINT. RIGHT. AND, YOU KNOW, THIS ISN'T THE TYPICAL TYPE OF A TYPICAL AGREEMENT THAT SENT IN THESE IN THESE CASES. SO I APPRECIATE NOT JUST THAT OUR ADMINISTRATION AND COUNTY ATTORNEYS, BUT ALSO SCHNEIDER ELECTRIC FOR WORKING WITH US AND MAKING SURE THAT WE GET THINGS DONE. SO AS EVERYBODY SAID, IT WAS CLOSE TO NOT GETTING DONE. BUT WE APPRECIATE EVERYBODY'S COOPERATION. THANK YOU. THANK YOU SIR. SO DO WE NEED TO TAKE EACH EACH ITEM SEPARATELY OKAY. ON THE SCREEN HERE JUST FOR THE COURT'S AWARENESS AND THE PUBLIC'S. THESE ARE JUST THE DETAILS ASSOCIATED WITH THE AGREEMENTS. SO NINE A AND B ARE THE LEASE PURCHASE AGREEMENTS. THE FINANCING SOURCE. YOU CAN SEE THE TERMS THERE. THE TAXABLE HAVING A SHORTER PERIOD TO FINANCE WITH A HIGHER INTEREST RATE. AND THEN THE TAX EXEMPT HAVING A LONGER PERIOD BUT A LOWER INTEREST RATE. THE TAX EXEMPT. AGAIN THOSE PROCEEDS ARE GOING TO BE USED TO FINANCE THINGS IN MOST OF THE BUILDINGS. ASIDE FROM THE DETENTION FACILITIES, INCLUDING THE BIG INVESTMENT FOR THE COUNTY'S HVAC AND CHILLER SYSTEM HERE AT THE COUNTY COURTHOUSE. SO FOR NINE A, WE HAVE A MOTION BY JUDGE SAMANIEGO, SECOND BY [03:50:08] COMMISSIONER LEON. THE VOTING IS OPEN. MOTION CARRIES. ITEM NINE B DISCUSS AND CONSIDER ADOPTION OF A RESOLUTION OF THE GOVERNING BODY OF EL PASO COUNTY, TEXAS, AUTHORIZING THE EXECUTION AND DELIVERY OF A TAXABLE EQUIPMENT LEASE PURCHASE AGREEMENT IN THE AGGREGATE PRINCIPAL AMOUNT OF $6,970,500. WITH RESPECT TO THE ACQUISITION, PURCHASE, FINANCING, AND LEASING OF CERTAIN EQUIPMENT FOR THE PUBLIC BENEFIT AND FOR ENERGY SAVINGS. AUTHORIZING THE EXECUTION AND DELIVERY OF DOCUMENTS REQUIRED IN CONNECTION THEREWITH, AND AUTHORIZING THE TAKING OF ALL OTHER ACTIONS NECESSARY TO THE CONSUMMATION OF THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED BY THIS RESOLUTION. CONTRACT NUMBER 2024 0925. THIS IS JUST THE SECOND RESOLUTION FOR THE TAXABLE PROCEEDS. ALSO WITH TD BANK. A MOTION TO APPROVE BY COMMISSIONER STOUT, SECOND BY COMMISSIONER OLGUIN. THE VOTING IS OPEN. MOTION CARRIES. AND ITEM NINE C DISCUSS AND TAKE APPROPRIATE ACTION REGARDING THE ENERGY SAVINGS AND CONSTRUCTION SERVICES CONTRACT WITH SCHNEIDER ELECTRIC IN THE AMOUNT OF $25,099,785 FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION OF ENERGY CONSERVATION MEASURES, WHICH [C. Discuss and take appropriate action regarding the Energy Savings & Construction Services Contract with Schneider Electric in the amount of $25,099,785 for the implementation of energy conservation measures which will reduce the County’s energy usage, lower utility costs, improve the overall efficiency of County facilities. Funding for the upfront capital contribution of $3,339,977 is available in CP-TAXTN24-CONSULT/PROF SVCS. Further, approve and authorize the transfer of all available Interest Earned (CP-TAXTN24-INT EARN-INVESTMNTS on the Tax Note 2024 Proceeds to cover the projected shortfall of $23 to CP-TAXTN24-CONSULT/PROF SVCS. Remaining capital funding to be provided by the proposed lease-purchase agreements with TD Bank. (Contract No. 2024-0923) Jose M. Landeros, Director, Strategic Capital Development, 915-546-2159] WILL REDUCE THE COUNTY'S ENERGY USAGE, LOWER UTILITY COSTS, IMPROVE THE OVERALL EFFICIENCY OF COUNTY FACILITIES. FUNDING FOR THE UPFRONT CAPITAL CONTRIBUTION OF $3,339,977 IS AVAILABLE IN CPP TAX. TEN TWO FOUR CONSULT PROFESSIONAL SERVICES. FURTHER APPROVE AND AUTHORIZE THE TRANSFER OF ALL AVAILABLE INTEREST EARNED CPP TAX TEN TWO FOUR AND INTEREST EARNED INVESTMENTS ON THE TAX NOTE 2024. PROCEEDS TO COVER THE PROJECTED SHORTFALL OF $23 TO CPP TAX. TEN TWO FOUR CONSULT PROFESSIONAL SERVICES REMAINING CAPITAL FUNDING TO BE PROVIDED BY THE PROPOSED LEASE PURCHASE AGREEMENTS WITH TD BANK. CONTRACT NUMBER 2024 0923. IN THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATION, THAT ADDITIONAL LANGUAGE THAT YOU HEARD MISS DOMINGUEZ READ AT THE END OF THE AGENDA ITEM IS JUST TO ENSURE THAT ALL OF THE FUNDS THAT ARE AVAILABLE FOR THE TAX NOTE 2024 THAT THE COURT ISSUED EARLIER THIS YEAR ARE AVAILABLE FOR THAT UPFRONT CAPITAL CONTRIBUTION TO THE AGREEMENT, BECAUSE WE ARE FORECASTING ABOUT A $23,000,023, EXCUSE ME, DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE TWO ACCOUNTS. SO WE JUST NEED TO MAKE SURE ALL THE MONEY IS THERE SO WE CAN EXECUTE THE AGREEMENT ONCE THE COURT TAKES ACTION, I ASK YOUR FAVORABLE CONSIDERATION. MAKE THE MOTION TO APPROVE. MOTION BY COMMISSIONER STOUT, SECOND BY COMMISSIONER CORONADO. THE VOTING IS OPEN. MOTION CARRIES. THANK YOU. JUDGE. COMMISSIONERS. THANK YOU JOSE. GREAT JOB. THANKS. OKAY. ITEM TEN. AUDITOR TEN A APPROVE AND AUTHORIZE THE COUNTY JUDGE TO SIGN THE NECESSARY DOCUMENTS BETWEEN THE COUNTY OF EL PASO AND STIFLE CAPITAL MANAGEMENT FOR INVESTMENT ADVISORY SERVICES RELATED TO THE ACQUISITION FUND ACCOUNTS FOR TAX EXEMPT AND TAXABLE ENERGY LEASE PURCHASE AGREEMENTS. THE COST OF THE [A. Approve and authorize the County Judge to sign the necessary documents between the County of El Paso and Stifel Capital Management for investment advisory services related to the acquisition fund accounts for tax-exempt and taxable energy lease purchase agreements. The cost of the service to the County is a flat annual rate of $25. Funding is available in GF-GADM-CONTR SVC-GEN.  (Contract No. 2024-0816) Barbara Parker, County Auditor, County Auditor's Office, 915-273-3262] SERVICE TO THE COUNTY IS A FLAT ANNUAL RATE OF $25. FUNDING IS AVAILABLE IN GENERAL FUND G ADMIN CONTRACT SERVICES. GENERAL CONTRACT NUMBER 2024 0816. WELCOME, BARBARA. GOOD AFTERNOON. JUDGE. COMMISSIONERS BARBARA PARKER, YOUR COUNTY AUDITOR, AS THE ITEM SAYS, THIS IS JUST FOR THE ADVICE OF THE INVESTMENT ADVISORS THROUGH STIFEL. THEY HAVE A STIFLE CAPITAL MANAGEMENT DIVISION THAT WILL BE HELPING US WITH THIS. AND IT'S SPECIFICALLY FOR THIS TYPE OF AGREEMENT. THANK YOU. BARBARA. FOR A MOTION TO APPROVE BY JUDGE SAMANIEGO, SECOND BY COMMISSIONER STOUT, THE VOTING IS OPEN. MOTION CARRIES. FIVE BOOKS. ITEM TEN BE APPROVE AND AUTHORIZE THE COUNTY JUDGE TO SIGN THE BOC FINANCIAL EXCHANGE. USER ACCESS FORM AND CLIENT INFORMATION FORM FOR SETTING UP A CF ACCOUNTS AND ACCESS AUTHORIZATIONS RELATED TO THE [B. Approve and authorize the County Judge to sign the BOK Financial Exchange User Access Form and Client Information Form for setting up BOKF accounts and access authorizations related to the energy lease/purchase agreement acquisition funds, pending final review and approval from the County Attorney‘s Office. Fees for these accounts are included in the equipment lease/purchase agreement. (Contract No. 2024-0924) Barbara Parker, County Auditor, County Auditor's Office, 915-273-3262] ENERGY LEASE PURCHASE AGREEMENT. ACQUISITION FUNDS PENDING FINAL REVIEW AND APPROVAL FROM THE COUNTY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE. FEES FOR THESE ACCOUNTS ARE INCLUDED IN THE EQUIPMENT LEASE PURCHASE AGREEMENT. CONTRACT NUMBER 2024 0924. GOOD AFTERNOON, JUDGE. COMMISSIONERS BARBARA PARKER, YOUR COUNTY ATTORNEY, OR EXCUSE ME, COUNTY AUDITOR. AGAIN, THIS PARTICULAR THESE PARTICULAR [03:55:01] AGREEMENTS ARE FOR BOTH CF THEY WILL BE THE ESCROW HOLDER FOR THIS AGREEMENT. AND THIS WILL ALLOW US TO MAKE PAYMENTS AS NECESSARY. ONCE WE HAVE ALL THE DOCUMENTS IN PLACE. A MOTION TO APPROVE BY JUDGE SAMANIEGO, SECOND BY COMMISSIONER OLGUIN. THE VOTING IS OPEN. MOTION CARRIES. THANK YOU. ITEM TEN C DISCUSS AND TAKE APPROPRIATE ACTION REGARDING SHORTAGES FOR THE PERIOD OF APRIL 1ST, 2024 THROUGH SEPTEMBER 30TH, 2024. GOOD AFTERNOON, JUDGE AND COMMISSIONERS. BARBARA PARKER, YOUR COUNTY AUDITOR. AGAIN, THE REPORT OF SOME SHORTAGES AND [C. Discuss and take appropriate action regarding shortages for the period of April 1, 2024 – September 30, 2024. Barbara Parker, County Auditor, County Auditor's Office, 915-273-3262] OVERAGES IS ATTACHED TO THE ITE. WE'VE LOOKED AT THE OVERAGES AND SHORTAGES. WE DON'T FIND ANYTHING THAT'S OUT OF THE ORDINARY OR WOULD INDICATE NEGLIGENCE. WE'RE ASKING FOR THE INDEMNIFICATION OF OFFICIALS FOR A TOTAL OF $170.47. THIS IS A VERY SMALL PERCENTAGE, WHICH WE'RE CONSIDERING TO BE A COST OF DOING BUSINESS WHEN THE ACTUAL COLLECTIONS FOR THE COUNTY DURING THAT TIME WERE OVER $7 MILLION. I HAVE A MOTION FROM JUDGE SAMANIEGO TO APPROVE SECOND, BY COMMISSIONER OLGUIN. THE VOTING IS OPEN. MOTION CARRIES. THANK YOU, THANK YOU. BARBARA. ITEM 11. GRANT APPLICATIONS 11 A. DISCUSS AND TAKE APPROPRIATE ACTION REGARDING THE COUNTY SUBMISSION TO THE TEXAS SPACE COMMISSION, SPACE EXPLORATION AND AERONAUTICS RESEARCH FUND. GOOD AFTERNOON. JUDGE. COMMISSIONERS COUNTY ADMINISTRATION, THIS ITEM [A. Discuss and take appropriate action regarding the County’s submission to the Texas Space Commission Space Exploration and Aeronautics Research Fund. Jose M. Landeros, Director, Strategic Capital Development, 915-546-2159] BEFORE YOU IS TO ASK FOR THE COURT'S ADVANCE AUTHORIZATION TO SUBMIT AN APPLICATION TO THE TEXAS SPACE COMMISSION TO MEET A TENTATIVE DEADLINE OF NOVEMBER 14TH, 2024, TO TAP INTO THE NEWLY ESTABLISHED GRANT FUNDING THAT THE COMMISSION HAS MADE AVAILABLE. THE COURT MAY RECALL IN 2023, WORKING DILIGENTLY TO ESTABLISH A SPACEPORT DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION SO THAT WE COULD ACCESS THE TEXAS SPACE FUND. IT WAS ONLY AVAILABLE TO DEVELOPMENT CORPORATIONS AT THE TIME, AND SO WE WORKED DILIGENTLY TO ESTABLISH THAT FOLLOWING THE LAST LEGISLATIVE SESSION, A NEW AGENCY WAS STOOD UP IN PLACE OF THE SPACE TRUST FUND, WHICH IS NOW THE TEXAS SPACE COMMISSION. THEY HAVE THEIR OWN STAFF AND AS SUCH ARE ADMINISTERING THESE GRANTS IN A MANNER THAT'S DIFFERENT FROM WHAT THE RULES THAT WERE PRESCRIBED PREVIOUSLY. FUNDING IS NOW AVAILABLE TO ANY GOVERNMENTAL ENTITY, AND IT DOES NOT HAVE TO BE TIED BACK TO A SPACEPORT DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION. AND IN THE CONVERSATIONS WE'VE HAD WITH WITH VARIOUS PARTNERS, INCLUDING MEMBERS OF THE DELEGATION, DOCTOR WILSON, WHO ACTUALLY SITS ON THE TEXAS SPACE COMMISSION'S BOARD AS A COMMISSIONER, AND OTHERS, WE'VE GAINED INSIGHT THAT THE BOARD WILL BE CONSIDERING MAKING THE FIRST ROUND OF GRANTS AWARDS AT THEIR DECEMBER MEETING IN HOUSTON ON TUESDAY, DECEMBER 10TH. AND SO TO MEET THAT DEADLINE, WE DO NEED TO SUBMIT AN APPLICATION BY NEXT WEEK, NOVEMBER 14TH. GIVEN THE VETERANS DAY HOLIDAY THAT LANDS ON NEXT MONDAY, WE ARE ASKING FOR THE COURT TO ALLOW US TO CONTINUE TO WORK ON DEVELOPING THE CONCEPTS, SUBMIT THE GRANT APPLICATION TO MEET THAT 14TH DEADLINE, AND THEN WE'LL PLACE THE SUBMITTED APPLICATION ON THE COURT'S AGENDA FOR RATIFICATION ON NOVEMBER 18TH. WE WILL WORK WITH BUDGET AND FINANCE. THE AUDITOR'S OFFICE, AS WELL AS PURCHASING, TO ENSURE THAT WE'RE MEETING ALL THE NECESSARY AND STANDARD GRANT PROTOCOLS FOR SUBMISSIONS. THE CONCEPTS THAT WE'VE DEVELOPED AT THIS TIME REVOLVE AROUND TWO CONCEPTS ONE WHICH INCLUDES CONTINUING TO EXPAND GENERAL HANGAR SPACE AT THE FABENS AIRPORT TO CONTINUE TO SUPPORT AVIATION AND RESEARCH ACTIVITY IN THAT FACILITY, AS WELL AS A POTENTIAL PARTNERSHIP WITH THE MIDLAND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION. COMMISSIONER OLEAN, AS CHAIR OF THE SPACEPORT DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION, HAS HELD VARIOUS MEETINGS WITH REPRESENTATIVES FROM THE MIDLANDS DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION TO DISCUSS THE POSSIBILITY OF DEVELOPING AN INFRASTRUCTURE MAPPING COMPREHENSIVE PLAN BETWEEN MIDLAND AND EL PASO TO CREATE A WEST TEXAS SPACE BASIN. REALLY CITING A LOT OF INCREASED ACTIVITY ALONG THE COASTS BOTH IN HOUSTON AND BOCA CHICA AND SPACE X HERE IN TEXAS. BUT THEN EVEN GOING A LITTLE BIT FURTHER TO THE EAST AND WEST COAST. AND SO A MORE INLAND SPACE BASIN AND DESIGNATED AREA FOR VERTICAL AND VERTICAL LAUNCH AND TAKEOFF AND LANDINGS IS A LITTLE BIT MORE RESILIENT IN TERMS OF ITS SECURITY. AND SO A PARTNERSHIP WITH MIDLAND EDC MIGHT HELP DRAW RESOURCES FROM THE STATE TO THE CORRIDOR BETWEEN MIDLAND AND EL PASO, AND MIGHT SUPPORT ACTIVITIES AT BLUE ORIGIN JUST [04:00:04] NORTH OF VAN HORN AS WELL. SO THOSE ARE TWO CONCEPTS THAT WE'D LIKELY SUBMIT TO THE SPACEPORT COMMISSION FOR THEIR REVIEW. AND THEIR CONSIDERATION. AND AGAIN, WE'LL MAKE SURE THAT WE APPRIZE THE COURT OF THAT FINAL APPLICATION. YOU CAN SEE THE ATTACHED THE APPLICATION WAS ATTACHED TO THE BACKUP. IT IS NOT A VERY CUMBERSOME APPLICATION. PRETTY STRAIGHTFORWARD. SO WE FEEL CONFIDENT THAT WE CAN MAKE SURE THAT WE SUBMIT THAT HERE IN THE NEXT WEEK. SUBJECT TO YOUR QUESTIONS, COMMISSIONER, IF YOU HAVE ANYTHING YOU'D LIKE TO ADD, I'D LIKE TO HEAR FROM COMMISSIONER HOLGUIN. NO, JUST THAT THIS IS A WONDERFUL OPPORTUNITY TO TRY TO OBTAIN SOME OF THAT FUNDING. THAT WAS MADE AVAILABLE BY THE LEGISLATURE. IT'S A VERY FAST MOVING PROCESS. WE ONLY FOUND OUT ABOUT IT ABOUT A MONTH AGO. SO I WANT TO THANK OUR STAFF, JOSE, AND OF COURSE, COUNTY ADMINISTRATION FOR MOVING FORWARD WITH THIS, BECAUSE IT IS GOING TO BE A VERY GOOD OPPORTUNITY FOR OUR AREA NOT ONLY TO BENEFIT OUR FABENS AIRPORT SPECIFICALLY, BUT AS JOSE MENTIONED, WE'VE BEEN HAVING A LOT OF DISCUSSIONS WITH MIDLAND BECAUSE THERE IS THIS NEED OF HAVING A MORE CENTRALLY LOCATED LOCATED AEROSPACE CORRIDOR IN THE CENTRAL PART OF THE UNITED STATES TO COMPETE WITH THE CORRIDORS ON THE EAST AND THE WEST COAST. SO IF WE COULD BE A PART OF THAT, THAT WOULD BE TRANSFORMATIONAL FOR OUR LOCAL AEROSPACE INDUSTRY AND OUR ECONOMY HERE IN EL PASO. SO THAT'S WHAT WE'RE ASKING THE COURT FOR TODAY, FOR PERMISSION TO SUBMIT THESE REQUESTS TO THE TEXAS SPACE COMMISSION. AS JOSE MENTIONED, THE APPLICATIONS THAT ARE SUBMITTED NOW, THEY'RE NOT VERY BURDENSOME. THEY'RE THEY'RE PRETTY SHORT, BUT IF THEY'RE CHOSEN, THEN WE'LL BE ABLE TO EXPAND ON THOSE IDEAS AND SUBMIT MORE DETAILED APPLICATIONS IN THE FUTURE. WELL, THANK YOU FOR YOUR GREAT WORK ON THAT, COMMISSIONER. OF A MOTION FROM JUDGE SAMANIEGO TO APPROVE SECOND BY COMMISSIONER CORONADO. THE VOTING IS OPEN. COMMISSIONER. THANK YOU. MOTION CARRIES. THANK YOU. JUDGE. THANK YOU. WE'LL MAKE SURE TO PRESENT AS SOON AS WE HAVE MORE DETAILS. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. IF WE COULD GO BACK TO ITEM SEVEN. FROM BOARD APPOINTMENTS, ITEM SEVEN, A APPROVE THE APPOINTMENT OF COUNTY JUDGE RICARDO SAMANIEGO. NOMINEE DAVID FLORES, TO THE EL PASO COUNTY VETERAN'S ADVISORY BOARD FOR THE UNEXPIRED TWO YEAR TERM ENDING NOVEMBER 30TH, 2025. MISTER DAVID FLORES, YOU MIND STEPPING UP HERE? THANK YOU. GOOD AFTERNOON, JUDGE DAVID [A. Approve the appointment of County Judge Ricardo Samaniego's nominee, David Porras, to the El Paso County Veterans Advisory Board for the unexpired, two-year term ending November 30, 2025. Betsy C. Keller, Chief Administrator, County Administration, 915-546-2215] PORTALES, JUNIOR COMMISSIONERS, THANK YOU VERY MUCH. IT IS AN HONOR TO BE HERE THIS AFTERNOON. JUDGE AND COMMISSIONERS, JUDGE, THANK YOU FOR THE NATION. I LOOK FORWARD IN SERVING THIS COMMITTEE AND SERVING OUR COUNTY VETERANS, ESPECIALLY AS WE MOVE FORWARD TO PROMOTE THE CAPITAL COUNTY OF EL PASO AS A CAPITAL OF VETERANS. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. SO I LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH THE COMMITTEE. AND THANK YOU AGAIN FOR YOUR SUPPORT. YEAH. MR. FLORES HAS BEEN VERY INVOLVED. HE'S RIGHT NOW AT UTEP WITH THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT. AND SO WE THANK HIM VERY, VERY INVOLVED. I DON'T KNOW IF YOU GOT TO SEE WHEN WE HAD THE A US, NOT THE USA, THE MAGAZINE USA TODAY THAT I THINK WE HAD ALMOST A BILLION HITS AND WE HAD THIS GENTLEMAN AT THE FRONT PART OF OUR, OF OUR ANNOUNCEMENT ABOUT BEING THE VETERANS CAPITAL OF THE USA. BUT I WANT TO THANK YOU BECAUSE YOU'VE BEEN EXTREMELY ENCOURAGING FROM THE BEGINNING ON THE VETERANS CAPITAL AND UNDERSTANDING THE NEEDS OF THE VETERANS. SO I'M EXTREMELY, EXTREMELY PROUD TO ASK YOU TO BE PART OF THE ADVISORY BOARD, AND WE WELCOME YOU. AND I KNOW WE'RE GOING TO SEE SOME GREAT THINGS BASED ON YOUR ON THE HISTORY AND THE THINGS THAT YOU'VE DONE PRIOR TO BEING HERE TODAY. SO, MISTER DAVID, ALSO A GREAT FRIEND ALSO ON THE BOARD OF SAN VICENTE AND SO VERY CLOSE TO SOMEONE WE ALL KNOW AND CARE A LOT ABOUT, IS CHRISTINA, DOCTOR PAZ. SO ALL AROUND DAVID, I THINK IT'S A GREAT NOMINATION. SO I DON'T KNOW BECAUSE OF THE TIE, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO VOTE TO SEE, TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE ALL IN AGREEMENT THAT THAT. SO I'LL MAKE THE MOTION TO ACCEPT MR. FLORES MOTION BY JUDGE SAMANIEGO, SECOND BY COMMISSIONER OLGUIN. THE VOTING IS OPEN. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. TAKING A ROUND BECAUSE WE GOT THESE GREAT RESOLUTIONS. SO THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. APPRECIATE YOUR TIME. THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU VERY MUCH. JUDGE, WOULD YOU LIKE TO GO AHEAD AND BEGIN WITH THE [04:05:03] RESOLUTIONS OR. WELL I LIKE I ALWAYS LIKE TO MAKE SURE IT'S WE TELL THE PUBLIC IT'S 2:00 AND SO WE'LL START THE RESOLUTIONS AT TWO. WE GOT EVERYTHING ELSE. DO WE HAVE ANYTHING THAT WE. THOSE WERE ALL THE ITEMS WE HAVE NO, I THINK I THINK WE HAD IT BECAUSE WE DID. WE DID EVERYTHING IN EXECUTIVE SESSION. RIGHT. YEAH. BUT. WOULD YOU LIKE TO RECESS UNTIL 2:00? NO. THEY LEFT RED INK, BUT IT WAS FOR SOMETHING ELSE. IT WAS FOR THE SCHNEIDER STUFF. OH, I SEE, OKAY, OKAY. WOULD YOU LIKE TO RECESS UNTIL TWO RECESS AND WE'LL START AT 2:00. OKAY. COMMISSIONERS COURT WILL RECESS UNTIL 2:00. IT IS 1:36 P.M. IT'S IMPORTANT FOR YOUR CHILDREN TO STAY CURRENT ON ALL THEIR ROUTINE VACCINES. ALSO, CHILDREN FIVE AND OLDER ARE NOW 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 LA VACUNAS RUTINAS LOS NINOS MAYORES DE CINCO ANOS, AHORA SON ELEGIBLES PARA LA VACUNA DE COVID 19. LA VACUNA COVID DIECINUEVE IS GRATIS PARA LAS VACUNAS RUTINAS DE SUS HIJOS. VISITA EP HEALTH COM SABEMOS CUANTO ALMORZAR TUS HIJOS, ASI QUÉ RECUERDA NO LO DUDES VACCINATE. [04:15:34] IT'S IMPORTANT FOR YOUR CHILDREN TO STAY CURRENT ON ALL THEIR ROUTINE VACCINES. ALSO, CHILDREN [04:15:39] 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 DIECINUEVE LA VACUNA COVID DIECINUEVE ES GRATIS PARA LAS VACUNAS RUTINAS DE SUS HIJOS. VISITA EP HEALTH PUNTO COM SABEMOS CUANTO A MAS DE TUS HIJOS, ASI Q RECUERDA NO LO DUDES VACUNA. [04:22:31] 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 RUTINAS DE SUS HIJOS. VISITA EP HEALTH PUNTO COM SABEMOS CUANTO A MAS A TUS HIJOS? ASI RECUERDA NO LO DUDES VACUNA. [04:29:27] 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 [04:30:06] ELEGIBLES PARA LA VACUNA DE COVID 19. LA VACUNA COVID DIECINUEVE GRATIS PARA LAS VACUNAS RUTINA DE SUS HIJOS. VISITA EP HEALTH COM SABEMOS CUANTO A MAS DE TUS HIJOS, ASI RECUERDA NO LO DUDES VACUNA. THANK YOU, THANK YOU. GO AHEAD. COMMISSIONERS COURT HAS RECONVENED TO REGULAR OPEN SESSION. WE ARE ON ITEM 12 RESOLUTIONS. 12 A APPROVE AN ADOPT A RESOLUTION DECLARING THE MONTH OF NOVEMBER AS EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES. MONTH. COMMISSIONER STOUT. THANK YOU, JUDGE. THANK YOU COMMISSIONERS. GOOD AFTERNOON EVERYBODY. WELCOME. BEFORE BEFORE I READ THE RESOLUTION, I JUST WANT TO MAKE A FEW COMMENTS. EL PASO [A. Approve and adopt a resolution declaring the month of November as Employment Opportunities for People with Disabilities Month. David Stout, Commissioner, Precinct 2, 915-546-2111] COUNTY IS COMMITTED TO IS TO IS COMMITTED TO EQUITY. WHETHER IT'S BEEN THE ALL ABILITIES [04:35:01] PLAYGROUND THAT WE'VE THAT WE'VE PUT UP IN NUMEROUS PARKS OR UPDATING OUR ACCOMMODATIONS POLICY AS WE DID LAST WEEK. SO I'M REALLY GLAD TO BE ABLE TO BRING THIS RESOLUTION FORWARD. THE ROOTS GO BACK TO 1945, WHEN CONGRESS FIRST DECLARED THE FIRST WEEK OF OCTOBER NATIONAL EMPLOY. THE PHYSICALLY HANDICAPPED WEEK. IN 1962, THE WORD PHYSICALLY WAS DROPPED TO INCLUDE INDIVIDUALS WITH ALL TYPES OF DISABILITIES. AND AS WE KNOW, DISABILITIES CAN TAKE MANY FORMS AND WE NEED TO BE SURE THAT WE ARE SENSITIVE TO OTHERS. DON'T ASSUME THINGS, AND THAT WE PROVIDE OPPORTUNITY FOR EVERYBODY TO CONTRIBUTE. SO WITH THAT, I'LL READ THE RESOLUTION. I KNOW WE HAVE A NUMBER OF INDIVIDUALS HERE TO SPEAK, AND SO WE'LL CALL YOU ALL UP INTO THE TO THE PODIUM WHEN, WHEN AFTER WE READ THE RESOLUTION, THE RESOLUTION STATES WHEREAS CHILDREN'S DISABILITIES INFORMATION COALITION CDC WAS ESTABLISHED IN 1989 TO PROMOTE PARTNERSHIPS BETWEEN PARENTS, PROFESSIONALS AND VARIOUS AGENCIES TO WORK TOGETHER TO COMBINE RESOURCES AND TO FIND SOLUTIONS TO PROBLEMS WITHIN THE COMMUNITY THAT ARE AFFECTING CHILDREN WITH DISABILITIES. OUR DESIRE IS FOR ALL CHILDREN TO REACH THEIR FULLEST POTENTIAL AND BE RECOGNIZED AS VALUABLE TO THEIR COMMUNITY. AND WHEREAS CHILDREN'S DISABILITY INFORMATION COALITION WAS AWARDED THE OFFICE OF SPECIAL EDUCATION PROGRAM, OSEP TRAINING AND INFORMATION FOR PARENTS OF CHILDREN WITH DISABILITIES, COMMUNITY PARENT RESOURCE CENTER, CCRC GRANT THE OVERALL GOAL OF A CCRC IS TO IMPROVE THE OUTCOME OF CHILDREN WITH DISABILITIES. 0 TO 26 YEARS OLD BY PROVIDING PARENTS WITH INFORMATION, TRAINING AND RELATED SERVICES IN EL PASO, TEXAS AND THE SURROUNDING AREAS. CDIC IS THE ONLY FEDERALLY FUNDED CCRC IN THE STATE OF TEXAS, AND WHEREAS CDIC RECEIVED A GRANT FROM THE TEXAS COUNCIL FOR DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES, TCD TO PROVIDE LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT AND ADVOCACY TRAINING TO YOUTH WITH DISABILITIES AGES 14 TO 26. FAMILIES, FAMILY MEMBERS, AND THE COMMUNITY. AND WHEREAS, CDIC RECEIVED A GRANT FROM THE TEXAS COUNCIL FOR DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES FOR CIVIC ENGAGEMENT FOR PEOPLE WITH THE WITH DISABILITIES AND COMMUNITY ACTION PROGRAM. THE 15 PEER SUPPORT SPECIALISTS PARTICIPATING IN THE PROJECT ARE ADVOCATING FOR EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES IN THE CITY OF EL PASO. AND WHEREAS, THE CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL AND PREVENTION, CDC DISABILITY AND HEALTH PROMOTION, 61 MILLION ADULTS IN THE UNITED STATES LIVE WITH A DISABILITY AND 1 IN 4 ADULTS HAVE SOME TYPE OF DISABILITY. AND WHEREAS THE US DEPARTMENT OF LABOR BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS IN 2023 SAID 22.5% OF PEOPLE WITH A DISABILITY WERE EMPLOYED, THE UNEMPLOYMENT RATE FOR PEOPLE WITH A DISABILITY WAS 7.2%. ABOUT TWICE THAT OF THOSE WITH NO DISABILITY, 3.5% UNEMPLOYED PEOPLE ARE. THOSE WHO DID NOT HAVE A JOB WERE AVAILABLE FOR WORK, AND WERE ACTIVELY LOOKING FOR A JOB. AND WHEREAS OCTOBER 2024 MARKED THE 79TH ANNIVERSARY OF NATIONAL DISABILITY EMPLOYMENT AWARENESS MONTH. AND WHEREAS THE PURPOSE OF NATIONAL DISABILITY AWARENESS MONTH IS TO EDUCATE ABOUT DISABILITY EMPLOYMENT ISSUES AND CELEBRATE THE MANY AND VARIED CONTRIBUTIONS OF AMERICA'S WORKERS WITH DISABILITIES. AND WHEREAS CONGRESS IN 1945 DECLARED THE FIRST WEEK IN OCTOBER, EACH YEAR AS NATIONAL EMPLOY THE PHYSICALLY HANDICAPPED WEEK. AND WHEREAS, IN 1988 CONGRESS EXPANDED THE WEEK TO A MONTH AND CHANGED THE NAME TO NATIONAL DISABILITY EMPLOYMENT AWARENESS MONTH. AND WHEREAS EVERY OCTOBER THE US DEPARTMENT OF LABOR REAFFIRMS THEIR COMMITMENT TO ENSURING DISABLED WORKERS HAVE ACCESS TO GOOD JOBS EVERY MONTH OF THE YEAR. AND WHEREAS OCTOBER RECOGNIZES THE CONTRIBUTIONS OF PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES TO THE ECONOMY AND WORKFORCE, THIS MONTH ALSO EMPHASIZES THE IMPORTANCE OF INCLUSIVE EMPLOYMENT POLICIES. AND WHEREAS PRIORITIZING INCLUSIVE EMPLOYMENT POLICIES IMPROVES EQUALITY AND DEMONSTRATES OUR COMMITMENT TO VALUING ALL EL PASO CITIZENS. AND WHEREAS DISABILITY RIGHTS ARE NOT JUST CIVIL RIGHTS, BUT HUMAN RIGHTS, AND NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE EL PASO COUNTY JUDGE AND COMMISSIONERS COURT THAT THE MONTH OF OCTOBER SHALL BE KNOWN AS EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES. MONTH SIGNED THIS FOURTH DAY OF NOVEMBER 2020 FOR THE HONORABLE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS COURT. WE HAVE A MOTION BY COMMISSIONER STOUT, SECOND BY JUDGE SAMANIEGO. THE VOTING IS OPEN. THE MOTION CARRIES. SO I KNOW WE HAVE A NUMBER OF PARTICIPANTS IN THE IN THE PROGRAM. NATHAN AND NICOLE COLEMAN. DONOVAN GARCIA, JULIA VERA AND BRANDON LEMASTER. WE ALSO HAVE WITH US DIANA SERRANO, WHO IS THE COORDINATOR, AND [04:40:06] ELENA IBARRA, WHO WHO WORKS WITH ADMIN. I'D LOVE TO HAVE YOU ALL COME UP TO THE PODIUM AND PODIUM AND SHARE A FEW WORDS WITH US. THANK YOU. WELCOME. THANK YOU. GOOD AFTERNOON. MEMBERS OF THE EL PASO COUNTY COUNTY COMMISSIONERS COURT. MY NAME IS DIANA SERRANO. I'M THE COMMUNITY OUTREACH SPECIALIST AND THE PROGRAM COORDINATOR FOR THE CIVIC ENGAGEMENT, TRAINING AND COMMUNITY ACTION PROGRAM. HE WE ARE WELL, I'M ESPECIALLY GRATEFUL FOR OUR COUNTY COMMISSIONER, DAVID STOUT, WITH PRECINCT TWO, FOR ALLOWING US TO BE HERE. AND MISS NICOLE COLEMAN WILL BE SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF THE ENTIRE GROUP. I JUST HAVE A FEW WORDS AND WE WANT TO INFORM YOU THAT BY HAVING US HERE, WE'RE RAISING AWARENESS ABOUT THE VALUABLE CONTRIBUTIONS THAT PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES CAN PROVIDE OUR SOCIETY AND OUR COMMUNITY BY HAVING A POOL OF CANDIDATES WITH DIVERSE ABILITIES. YOU GUYS ARE IMPROVING MORALE THROUGH INCLUSION. YOU ALL ARE ALSO ENHANCING PRODUCTIVITY BY HAVING PEOPLE LIKE US, PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES AND WE CAN ALSO HAVE SOCIAL INTEGRATION AND WE CAN ALSO HAVE ECONOMIC EMPOWERMENT AND THAT'S JUST THE BEGINNING OF HAVING MORAL INCLUSION. THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU. GOOD AFTERNOON EVERYONE. GOOD AFTERNOON COLEMAN I'M A SORRY PEER SUPPORT SPECIALIST FOR THE CIVIC ENGAGEMENT TRAINING AND COMMUNITY ACTION PROGRAM. WE ARE HONORED TO ACCEPT THIS RESOLUTION. THIS IS A RECOGNITION IS A SORRY IS A TESTAMENT TO THE COLLECTIVE EFFORTS AND DEDICATION OF MY PEERS, MYSELF AND EVERYONE INVOLVED. I WOULD LIKE TO EXTEND OUR GRATITUDE TO THE COUNTY OFFICIALS AND COUNTY COMMISSIONER DAVID STOUT FOR ACKNOWLEDGING OUR WORK. YOUR SUPPORT WILL MAKE A POSITIVE IMPACT IN OUR IN OUR COMMUNITY TO START ACHIEVING OUR GOAL IN GETTING EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES. AS A GROUP, WE SORT OUT HELP FROM OUR CITY REPRESENTATIVE, CASSANDRA FERNANDEZ, AND SHE GAVE US THE OPPORTUNITY OPPORTUNITY TO OBTAIN EXPERIENCE THROUGH THE FELLOWSHIP CALLED ABILITY FELLOWS WITHIN THE CITY OF EL PASO. AS WE CONTINUE TO STRIVE FOR EXCELLENCE AND ADVOCATE FOR EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES. THIS RESOLUTION SERVES AS A POWERFUL REMINDER OF THE IMPORTANCE OF OUR GOAL AND INSPIRES US TO KEEP PUSHING FORWARD TO INNOVATE AND FOSTER A COMMUNITY WHERE PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES CAN THRIVE IN THE WORKPLACE. THANK YOU AGAIN FOR THIS INCREDIBLE HONOR. WE LOOK FORWARD TO HOPEFULLY WORKING IN COLLABORATION WITH THE COUNTY OF EL PASO AND MAKING THE GREATER STRIDES IN THE FUTURE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU. WOULD ANYBODY ELSE LIKE TO LIKE TO SPEAK? NO. LEAST INTRODUCE YOURSELF. YEAH. WE'D LOVE TO HAVE EVERYBODY INTRODUCE THEMSELVES. PLEASE. OKAY. MY NAME IS DONOVAN GARCIA. I'M A PEER SUPPORT SPECIALIST FOR CDC AS WELL. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. WELCOME. GOOD AFTERNOON. COUNCIL. MY NAME IS BRANDON LEMASTER. I'M ALSO ONE OF THE PEER SUPPORT SPECIALISTS FOR CDAC. HELLO, EVERYONE. MY NAME IS ELENA IBARRA, ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT AT CDC EL PASO. THANK YOU. NATHAN COLEMAN, CDC PEER SUPPORT SPECIALIST. GOOD AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS JULIA. I'M ALSO A PEER SUPPORT SPECIALIST WITH CDC. THANK YOU. WELL, COMMISSIONER STOUT, I WANT TO THANK YOU. YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE [04:45:06] THINGS WE TRY OUR HEART AND WE DEDICATE OURSELVES AS COMMISSIONERS, COURT IS ACCESSIBILITY. AND IF WE DON'T HAVE ACCESSIBILITY, THEN WE'RE NOT THE COUNTY THAT WE WANT TO BE. WE CANNOT LEAVE ANYBODY OUT. AND THIS IS ABOUT INCLUSION. AND I KNOW NOT ONLY THAT WE HAVE A LOT TO DO IN TERMS OF BUILDINGS HAVING THE RIGHT ACCESS, THE ABILITY FOR TRANSPORTATION. SO WE HAVE A LOT OF WORK TO DO. BUT I KNOW THAT THE COMMISSIONER STOUT HAS ALWAYS PUSHED HARD FOR THIS. AND SO WE THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING THAT YOU DO AND YOUR PATIENCE THAT WE CATCH UP ON THINGS THAT WE SHOULD BE DOING ALREADY. AND WE'RE STILL HAVING TO WORK ON. SO THANK YOU FOR THAT. THANK YOU FOR YOUR PATIENCE. AND WE LOVE THE FACT THAT TO HONOR, YOU KNOW, YOUR TALENTS AND YOUR ABILITIES, THAT WE DON'T KEEP YOU FROM, FROM THE EMPLOYMENT BECAUSE OF DISABILITIES, BECAUSE YOU HAVE SO MUCH MORE TO CONTRIBUTE TO EVERY ORGANIZATION. SO THE NUEVO GOD BLESS ALL OF YOU. THANK YOU. COMMISSIONER SCOTT. WELL, THANK YOU ALL ONCE AGAIN FOR ALLOWING MY OFFICE TO BE PART OF THIS RESOLUTION. IT'S GREAT TO SEE LEADERS LIKE YOU ALL. THANK YOU FOR BEING PEER SUPPORT SPECIALISTS AND THE WORK THAT YOU DO DAY IN AND DAY OUT. YOU'RE AMAZING ADVOCATES AND I'M JUST HAPPY TO BE PART OF THIS. SO CAN WE COME UP HERE AND WE'LL TAKE A PICTURE WITH EVERYBODY IN THE RESOLUTION. AND. ITEM ITEM 12 BE APPROVED. ADOPT A RESOLUTION RECOGNIZING NATIONAL NURSE PRACTITIONER WEEK IN EL PASO COUNTY, TEXAS. THANK YOU JESSICA. GOOD AFTERNOON [B. Approve and adopt a resolution recognizing National Nurse Practitioner Week in El Paso County, Texas. Iliana Holguin, Commissioner, Precinct 3, 915-546-2144] EVERYONE. IT'S MY HONOR TO BE ABLE TO PRESENT THIS RESOLUTION CELEBRATING AND RECOGNIZING THE INCREDIBLE WORK THAT NURSE PRACTITIONERS DO, NOT ONLY IN OUR COMMUNITY, BUT IN COMMUNITIES ACROSS OUR COUNTRY. WE'RE BLESSED TO HAVE WITH US TODAY. KRYSTAL GARCIA MARTINEZ, WHO CAN START MAKING HER WAY UP TO THE PODIUM AND WE'LL HEAR FROM HER AFTER THE RESOLUTION, IS READ. WHEREAS NURSE PRACTITIONERS HAVE SERVED A CRITICAL ROLE AS TRUSTED HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS FOR DECADES, AND WHEREAS NURSE PRACTITIONERS WORK TO EXPAND HEALTH CARE ACCESS IN [04:50:06] COMMUNITIES ACROSS OUR STATE, PROMOTE HEALTH EQUITY IN CARE, AND IMPROVE HEALTH OUTCOMES FOR ALL. AND WHEREAS PATIENTS DEPEND ON THE MORE THAN 385,000 LICENSED NURSE PRACTITIONERS IN THE UNITED STATES TO DIAGNOSE, MANAGE AND TREAT THEIR CHRONIC AND ACUTE HEALTH CARE CONDITION. AND WHEREAS, NURSE PRACTITIONERS PROVIDE HIGH QUALITY PRIMARY, ACUTE, AND SPECIALTY HEALTH CARE SERVICES WHILE EMPHASIZING HEALTH PROMOTION, DISEASE PREVENTION, HEALTH EDUCATION, AND COUNSELING, AND PARTNERING WITH PATIENTS TO IMPROVE THEIR HEALTH. AND WHEREAS, THE CONFIDENCE THAT PATIENTS HAVE IN NURSE PRACTITIONER DELIVERED HEALTH CARE IS EVIDENCED BY THE MORE THAN 1 BILLION VISITS MADE ANNUALLY TO NURSE PRACTITIONERS ACROSS THE COUNTRY. AND WHEREAS MORE THAN FIVE DECADES OF RESEARCH DEMONSTRATE THE HIGH QUALITY OF CARE PROVIDED BY NURSE PRACTITIONERS, AND WHEREAS, BETTER UTILIZATION OF NURSE PRACTITIONERS THROUGH MODERNIZED STATE LAWS AND IMPROVED POLICIES CREATES BETTER HEALTH THROUGH A MORE ACCESSIBLE, EFFICIENT COST EFFECTIVE AND HIGHER QUALITY HEALTH CARE SYSTEM AND WHEREAS MORE THAN HALF THE NATION, INCLUDING 27 STATES, THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, GUAM, AND THE NORTHERN MARIANA ISLANDS HAVE ADOPTED FULL PRACTICE AUTHORITY LEGISLATION OFFERING PATIENTS FULL AND DIRECT ACCESS TO THE OUTSTANDING CARE PROVIDED BY NURSE PRACTITIONERS. AND WHEREAS, LEADING GOVERNMENTAL AND POLICY ENTITIES, INCLUDING THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF MEDICINE, NATIONAL COUNCIL OF STATE, BOARDS OF NURSING, NATIONAL GOVERNORS ASSOCIATION AND FEDERAL TRADE COMMISSION HAVE TAKEN NOTICE OF THE BENEFITS OF PROVIDING PATIENTS FULL AND DIRECT ACCESS TO NURSE PRACTITIONER DELIVERED CARE. AND WHEREAS, NURSE PRACTITIONERS SERVE AS THE PROVIDER OF CHOICE FOR MANY AND PLAY A PIVOTAL ROLE IN THE HEALTH AND WELFARE OF OUR COMMUNITIES. AND THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED THAT THE EL PASO COUNTY COMMISSIONERS COURT HEREBY RECOGNIZES NOVEMBER 10TH THROUGH THE 16TH, 2024 AS NATIONAL NURSE PRACTITIONER WEEK IN OFFICIAL RECOGNITION THEREOF, THE JUDGE AND COMMISSIONERS OF THE COURT HEREBY AFFIX THEIR SIGNATURES ON THIS FOURTH DAY OF NOVEMBER, 2024, IN EL PASO COUNTY, TEXAS. WE HAVE A MOTION BY COMMISSIONER HOLGUIN, SECOND BY COMMISSIONER CORONADO, THE VOTING IS OPEN MOTION CARRIES. THANK YOU. WELCOME, CRYSTAL. WELCOME. HELLO, I'M DOCTOR GARCIA MARTINEZ, FAMILY NURSE PRACTITIONER REPRESENTING OUR EL PASO ADVANCED AREA PRACTICE NURSING AND I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO ALL OF YOU. AND THANK YOU FOR LILIANA HOLGUIN, WHO HAS DEFINITELY HELPED US ACCOMPLISHING THIS. AND RECOGNIZING ALL OF THE NURSE PRACTITIONERS IN EL PASO AND THROUGHOUT. THIS IS JUST A LITTLE STEPPING STONE FOR US TO RECOGNIZE ALL THE HARD WORK THAT'S DONE IN THE COMMUNITY AND AS WELL AS ALL OVER THE WORLD. WE'RE TRYING TO COME TOGETHER. AND OF COURSE, AS NURSE PRACTITIONERS PLAY A CRITICAL ROLE IN BRIDGING THE GAP IN HEALTH CARE. SO THANK YOU GUYS SO MUCH. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. YOU KNOW, I DON'T THINK I'VE EVER HAD THE APPRECIATION FOR YOUR ORGANIZATION AND FOR WHAT YOU DO WHEN YOU'RE SAYING ABOUT THE GAPS. AND DURING THE PANDEMIC WAS JUST SUCH AN INCREDIBLE YOU KNOW, WE RELIED MORE ON YOU HEALTH WORKERS MORE THAN WE DID EVER BEFORE. AND ONE OF THE THINGS I HOPE THAT THE COMMUNITY UNDERSTANDS THAT A LOT OF IT WAS BEHIND THE SCENES OF THINGS THAT YOU HAD TO GO THROUGH, THINGS YOU HAD TO ADDRESS, AND NOBODY WAS ACTUALLY SEEN THAT WE HAD A LOT OF FOCUS ON WHETHER OR NOT WE CLOSED A BUSINESS MUCH MORE THAN THE OVERWHELMINGNESS OF WHAT WAS HAPPENING AT THE HOSPITALS. AND I KNOW IT WAS A DIFFICULT SITUATION, BUT PLEASE SHOW YOUR APPRECIATION FOR OUR, YOU KNOW, HEALTH CARE WORKERS BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, WE LOST A LOT OF THEM BECAUSE ALMOST DUE TO LACK OF RESPECT FOR THEIR PROFESSION AND LACK OF UNDERSTANDING, THEY JUST DIDN'T FEEL LIKE WE UNDERSTOOD WHAT THEY GO THROUGH. THEY HAD TO DO THINGS THAT WE NEVER WOULD EVEN THINK ABOUT, EVEN LIVING IN HOTELS, SO THAT THEY WOULDN'T GO HOME TO THEIR FAMILIES. AND SO I'LL NEVER FORGET THE IMPORTANCE OF WHAT YOU DO. AND LIKE YOU SAID, ESPECIALLY THAT GAP OF HEALTH CARE THAT WE NEED, WE'RE JUST HAD SOME OF THE HIGHEST INDICES IN, IN, YOU KNOW, IN DIABETES AND CANCER AND HEART DISEASE. AND, AND YOU ARE ALWAYS THERE TO HELP OUT. SO I HOPE THAT THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER HOLGUIN. I THINK WE REALLY NEED TO GET THE COMMUNITY UNDERSTAND THAT WHEN WE HAVE DIFFICULT ISSUES, WHEN OUR HEALTH CARE DOESN'T WORK, OUR ECONOMY WILL COLLAPSE. AND YOU, YOU'RE THE ONES THAT HOLD, THAT HOLD US TOGETHER DURING THOSE TIMES. SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH. AND I HOPE YOU CONVEY THAT FROM ON BEHALF OF COMMISSIONERS COURT, JUST HOW MUCH WE APPRECIATE YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU ALL. THANK YOU FOR LETTING US PLAY A SMALL PART [04:55:03] IN RECOGNIZING THE INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT WORK THAT NURSE PRACTITIONERS DO. BUT THANK YOU FOR ALL OF THE WORK THAT YOU AND YOUR FELLOW NURSE PRACTITIONERS DO FOR OUR COMMUNITY EVERY SINGLE DAY. THANK YOU. THANK YO. DON'T LEAVE. DON'T WALK AWAY. WE'RE GOING TO TAKE A PHOTO. OKAY. ITEM 12 C APPROVE AND ADOPT A RESOLUTION RECOGNIZING JUDGE M KURITA OF COUNTY COURT AT LAW NUMBER SIX FOR HER SELECTION TO THE US SUPREME COURT BAR ADMISSIONS PROGRAM. [C. Approve and adopt a resolution recognizing Judge M. Sue Kurita of County Court at Law #6 for her selection to the U.S. Supreme Court Bar Admissions Program. Sergio Coronado, Commissioner, Precinct 4, 915-546-2044] COMMISSIONER CORONADO. THANK YOU. JUDGE. COMMISSIONERS. IT IS REALLY, REALLY MY GREAT HONOR TO PRESENT THIS RESOLUTION TO THE COURT FOR NOT JUST A FRIEND, A COLLEAGUE, BUT A GREAT JUDGE, A GREAT COUNTY COURT AT LAW JUDGE. SHE'S BEEN A MUNICIPAL JUDGE BEFORE, A PRIVATE PRACTITIONER. SHE'S BEEN ALL AROUND, BUT JUST AN ALL AROUND GREAT CITIZEN OF OUR COUNTY. AND I KNOW SHE'S HERE SUPPORTED BY MANY OF OUR OTHER EXCELLENT COUNTY COURT AT LAW JUDGES. I SEE JUDGE GONZALEZ, JUDGE MORALES IN THE BACK OVER THERE. JUDGE, IF YOU'D LIKE TO PLEASE COME UP. FELLOW JUDGES THAT ARE HERE SUPPORTING HER. COME ON. COME ON UP TO APPRECIATE YOU. JUDGE CHEW IS HERE. THANK YOU. JUDGE. JUDGE CARRASCO, WHO I'LL MENTION IS FROM A VERY, VERY SPECIAL PLACE IN THIS COUNTY. IT'S CALLED GOD'S COUNTRY. CANUTILLO. CANUTILLO, TEXAS. HE. HE'LL TAKE ANY OPPORTUNITY TO. JUDGE FROM COUNTY COURT AT LAW NUMBER THREE. JUDGE FROM COUNTY CRIMINAL COURT AT LAW NUMBER ONE. THEY'RE ALL HERE SUPPORTING, YOU KNOW, THIS GREAT LADY, I'LL TELL YOU A LITTLE STORY ABOUT AND I KNOW I THINK SHE KNOWS WHAT STORY I'M GOING TO TELL JUDGE KURITA. I'VE BEEN IN FRONT OF HER MANY TIMES FOR EVERYTHING FROM PLEASE PLEA HEARING, HEARINGS, PRETRIAL HEARINGS AND JURY TRIALS. BUT ONE TIME I WAS IN FRONT OF HER PLEADING MERCY FOR A CLIENT OF MINE. AND THIS GENTLEMAN WASN'T THAT OLD, BUT HE LOOKED OLD BECAUSE HE HAD HAD A HARD LIFE IN HIS JOB AND WORK. SO I'M ASKING JUDGE KURITA TO HAVE MERCY ON HIM AND NOT PUNISH HIM SO MUCH. AND SHE LOOKS AT SHE LOOKS AT THE DOCUMENT AND SEES HOW OLD MY CLIENT IS, AND SHE GOES, MR. CORONADO, DO YOU KNOW HOW OLD YOUR CLIENT IS? I SAID, YES, JUDGE. HE SAYS, HE'S AS OLD AS I AM. AND YOU'RE. ARE YOU SAYING SOMETHING? I SAID, NO, ABSOLUTELY NOT JUDGE, I AM NOT, ABSOLUTELY NOT. I TRIED TO GET OUT OF IT BY SAYING, YOU KNOW JUDGE HE'S YOU KNOW, X YEARS OLD, BUT HE LOOKS 70 AND YOU'RE X YEARS OLD, BUT YOU LOOK 30, OKAY. AND I WAS 25, 25. YOU MISSED IT BY FIVE. I STAND CORRECTED. YOU KNOW, THERE'S NEVER YOU KNOW I KNOW THEM ALL WELL. BUT YOU KNOW, THEY CAN KEEP ME IN LINE. THAT'S WHEN HE KNEW HE WAS GOING TO BE A POLITICIAN AT THAT MOMENT. RIGHT. BUT HER RESPONSE, I SAID, MAN, I DID GOOD TO TRY TO GET OUT. AND SHE GOES, YOUR FOOT'S NOT COMING OUT OF YOUR MOUTH, MISTER CORONADO. ANYWAYS, I APPRECIATE ALL THE WORK THAT SHE HAS DONE FOR OUR COMMUNITY AS [05:00:03] WELL AS THE SUPPORT OF OUR JUDGES. NOW, JUDGE COUNTY COURT AT LAW NUMBER ONE JUDGE IS HERE AS WELL. THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING HERE. JUDGE MORALES, ALL OF THEM THAT I'VE KNOWN AND PRACTICED WITH OVER THE YEARS. AND OF COURSE, JUDGE CARRASCO, WHO AND I HAVE BEEN BEST FRIENDS FOREVER SINCE WE AND WE WERE IN IN HIGH SCHOOL AND SO I REALLY, YOU KNO, IT'S REALLY AN HONOR TO PRESENT THIS RESOLUTION. I THINK, YOU KNOW, WE ARE VERY, VERY, VERY FORTUNATE TO HAVE THE KIND OF JUDICIARY, ESPECIALLY IN THE COUNTY COURTS AT LAW, REPRESENTED TO YOU BY ALL THESE INDIVIDUALS THAT ARE HERE, THESE JUDGES, JUST A GREAT, GREAT REPRESENTATION FOR THE COMMUNITY BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, THEY'RE VERY, VERY COGNIZANT OF EVERYTHING THAT THEY HAVE TO DO AS JUDGES AND ARE ABOVE ALL, THEY ARE JUST DOWN THE MIDDLE, FAIR AS THEY SHOULD BE. SO MY, MY CONGRATULATIONS AND MY APPRECIATION TO ALL THE OUR JUDICIARY HERE AND AS WELL AS TO THIS LADY, JUDGE KURITA. AND NOW I'LL READ THIS RESOLUTION, WHEREAS JUDGE KURITA GRADUATED FROM LAREDO ACADEMY IN 1972 AND HOLDS A BACHELOR'S DEGREE IN MODERN LANGUAGE FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT EL PASO AND A MASTER'S DEGREE IN COUNSELING FROM WEBSTER UNIVERSITY. AND WHEREAS, JUDGE KURITA WAS LICENSED TO PRACTICE LAW IN TEXAS IN MAY OF 1986. AFTER GRADUATING FROM TEXAS TECH UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF LAW, AND WHEREAS JUDGE KURITA HAS SERVED WITH DISTINCTION AS JUDGE OF EL PASO COUNTY COURT AT LAW NUMBER SIX SINCE 1998, AFTER PREVIOUSLY WORKING AS AN ATTORNEY AND MUNICIPAL JUDGE, AND WHEREAS, JUDGE KURITA SERVED ON THE TEXAS SUPREME COURT GRIEVANCE OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE FROM 2014 TO 2020, INCLUDING AS VICE CHAIR IN 2018 TO 2019 AND CHAIR IN 2019 TO 2020. AND WHEREAS, JUDGE KURITA SERVED THE STATE BAR OF TEXAS AS A MEMBER OF THE COURT RULES COMMITTEE, A MEMBER AND CHAIR OF THE DISTRICT 17 GRIEVANCE COMMITTEE, A MEMBER OF THE LOCAL BAR SERVICES COMMITTEE, A MEMBER OF THE JUDICIAL SECTION BOARD OF DIRECTORS, VICE CHAIR OF THE ADMINISTRATION OF RULES OF EVIDENCE COMMITTEE, AND A MEMBER OF THE DISABILITY RIGHTS AND ISSUES COMMITTEE. AND WHEREAS, MOST RECENTLY, JUDGE KURITA WAS CHOSEN AS ONE OF 12 JURISTS TO BE ACCEPTED INTO THE UNITED STATES SUPREME COURT. BAR ADMISSIONS PROGRAM. ON OCTOBER 8TH, 2024, IN WASHINGTON, D.C. WAS SWORN INTO THE HIGHEST COURT IN THE NATION. INVITATIONS TO THIS SIGNIFICANT DISTINCTION ARE MADE BY THE AMERICAN BAR ASSOCIATION'S JUDICIAL DIVISION, AND ARE A ONCE IN A LIFETIME OPPORTUNITY FOR JUDGES TO ACCEPT THE HONOR OF ADMISSION TO THE HIGHEST COURT. AND WHEREAS THE MILESTONE IS A TESTAMENT TO JUDGE KURITA'S HARD WORK, PERSEVERANCE AND DEDICATION TO THE LEGAL PROFESSION AND DEMONSTRATES THE BEST THAT EL PASO COUNTY HAS TO OFFER THE COUNTRY. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED THAT THE EL PASO COUNTY JUDGE AND COMMISSIONERS COURT RECOGNIZE JUDGE M KURITA FOR HER INCREDIBLE DISTINCTION AND CELEBRATE HER CONTRIBUTIONS TO ELEVATING STANDARDS FOR THE EL PASO COUNTY LEGAL COMMUNITY, SIGNED THIS FOURTH DAY OF NOVEMBER 20TH, 24 BY THE HONORABLE COMMISSIONERS COURT AND JUDGE SAMANIEGO. WE HAVE A MOTION BY COMMISSIONER CORONADO, SECOND BY COMMISSIONER OLGUIN. THE VOTING IS OPEN. MOTION CARRIES. WELCOME. I WANT TO SAY THAT IT WAS A BIG HONOR TO BE CHOSEN BY THE ABA TO PARTICIPATE IN THE SMALL GROUP ADMISSIONS COMMITTEE, BUT IT TOUCHES MY HEART TO BE HERE THIS AFTERNOON AND TO RECEIVE THIS RESOLUTION FROM FROM YOU ALL. I MEAN, THERE IS SUCH A HUGE CONNECTION BETWEEN ALL OF US AND EL PASO COUNTY HAS BEEN MY WORK HOME FOR OVER 26 YEARS. AND I LOOK AND I'M SO TOUCHED THAT MY COLLEAGUES ARE ALL HERE WITH ME AND STANDING BEFORE YOU IS PROBABLY 150 YEARS OF JUDICIAL EXPERIENCE. AND THAT'S PRETTY AMAZING IF YOU THINK ABOUT IT, THAT ONE THESE PEOPLE WANT TO SERVE, AND TWO, THAT THE VOTERS HAVE CONFIDENCE IN THE CALIBER OF THESE INDIVIDUALS THAT THAT I HAVE THE HONOR OF SERVING WITH AND HAVE SERVED WITH SO LONG BECAUSE WE NEVER DO IT ALONE. MY STAFF IS HERE ALSO, AGAIN, THEIR LONGEVITY HERE WITH ME AND WITH THE COUNTY IS INCREDIBLE. AND THEY'RE HERE AND THEY'RE IN THE BACK AS WELL. AND MY PRESENT STAFF AND ACTUALLY FORMER STAFF MEMBERS ARE HERE TO CELEBRATE THIS MOMENT BECAUSE, AS I SAID, [05:05:01] I NEVER DO ANYTHING ALONE. THEY ALL MAKE ME LOOK GOOD. MY TEAM HERE, THE OTHER COUNTY COURT OF LAW, JUDGES, MY BROTHERS AND MY SISTERS. IT IS SUCH A WONDERFUL UNIT. WHEN I FIRST STARTED WORKING HERE, WHEN I CAME FROM THE CITY, AFTER MY SHORT NINE YEARS OVER THERE, I WANT TO MAKE MY PARENTS AND MY FAMILY PROUD. MY PARENTS WERE STILL ALIVE AND I WANTED TO DO SOMETHING THAT WOULD MAKE THEM PROUD. AND I WANTED TO MAKE MY DAUGHTER PROUD. SHE IS NOW AND SINCE BECOME A LAWYER. NOW I'M SUPER PROUD OF HER. BUT WHAT MOTIVATES ME EVERY DAY, I THINK, IS, IS TO WORK AND TO BE A GOOD EXAMPLE AND A ROLE MODEL FOR THE NEXT GENERATION TO INCLUDE MY, MY, THE THREE GRANDKIDS, INCLUDING LOGAN, WHO TURNS ONE TOMORROW. SO I THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THIS. THIS RECOGNITION. AND I, YOU KNOW, I HOPE TO SERVE FINISH OFF MY TERM. MAYBE DO ANOTHER TERM. AND MAYBE INSTEAD OF BEING HERE A QUARTER OF A CENTURY, MAYBE I'LL MAKE IT TO A THIRD OF A CENTURY WITH YOU ALL. SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH. YES, JUDGE CORONADO, QUARTER CENTURY. THAT'S THAT'S JUST A LITTLE BIT OF TIME. SO AGAIN, THANK YOU AGAIN VERY MUCH FOR YOUR RECOGNITION. THANK YOU. JUDGE KURITA. DOES ANYONE HAVE JUDGE GONZALEZ? WOULD ANYONE WANT TO SAY A FEW WORDS FOR YOUR COLLEAGUE HERE? WE'LL BE HERE ANOTHER HOUR. NO, NO, I'M HONORED TO ACCOMPANY MY. MY DEAR FRIEND, MY COLLEAGUE, MY COMADRE SUE KURITA. AND IT'S JUST BEEN AN HONOR SERVING AS A COUNTY COURT OF LAW JUDGE. SHE'S ALSO OUR PRESIDING JUDGE FOR THE COUNTY COURTS. OUR FEARLESS LEADER. AND WE'RE ALL JUST SO PROUD OF HER, HER ACCOMPLISHMENTS. AND FOR SOMEONE LIKE ME WHO'S KNOWN HER SINCE SHE PRACTICED LAW, SHE WAS AN AMAZING ATTORNEY. SHE WAS. SHE'S BEEN AN AMAZING MOTHER, NOW A GRANDMOTHER. WHAT CAN I TELL YOU? JUST, JUST. I'M JUST SO PROUD OF HER. AND HONORED TO. TO BE WITH HER AS A AS A JUDGE. ALONG ALONG WITH HER. THANK YOU, JUDGE GONZALEZ. THANK YOU. ANYONE ELSE? IF NOT, WELL, WE PRETTY MUCH KNOW HE'S OKAY. THANK YOU. AND THEIR ANKLES. WE LOVE YOU. AND WE THINK. YEAH. NO, WE THANK YOU. WE'RE ALWAYS ALMOST IN A DESPERATE SITUATION TO HIGHLIGHT WHO EL PASO IS. SO ANY KIND OF NATIONAL RECOGNITION WHERE OTHERS GET TO KNOW ABOUT EL PASO. YOU'VE ALWAYS BEEN A HUGE ADVOCATE FOR EL PASO. AND OUR COMMUNITY AND FOR OUR BORDER. AND BUT NOW YOU HAVE ANOTHER STAGE AND ANOTHER FORUM TO BE ABLE A PLATFORM TO BE ABLE TO TALK ABOUT THIS BEAUTIFUL COMMUNITY. AND SO I KNOW WE ALL TRUST THAT THAT'S GOING TO BE SIGNIFICANT TO HAVE YOU IN THAT ROLE. SO AND THIS IS SO NICE TO HAVE ALL YOUR FRIENDS HERE. AND WE ALL KNOW YOU AS A FRIEND, WHICH I THINK IS ONE OF THE GREATEST MARKS OF A LEADER, IS THAT WE SEE YOU AS A FRIEND AS WELL AS A JUDGE AND ALL THE OTHER THINGS THAT YOU DO. SO, COMMISSIONER CORONADO, THANK YOU SO MUCH. AND FOR THIS RESOLUTION, AND I'LL SEND IT BACK TO YOU. THANK YOU. JUDGE. AND JUST FOR THE RECORD, I'D LIKE EACH ONE OF THE JUDGES THAT ARE HERE SUPPORTING YOU TO JUST IDENTIFY YOURSELVES FOR THE RECORD, THAT YOU'RE HERE ON BEHALF OF THIS RESOLUTION, FOR THE HONORABLE JUDGE. JUST COME TO THE PODIUM SO YOU CAN OR YOU COULD PASS THE MICROPHONE. THE MICROPHONE. JUDGE ALEJANDRO ALEX GONZALEZ, COUNTY COURT AT LAW NUMBER FOUR. THANK YOU. JUDGE CARLOS CARRASCO, COUNTY CRIMINAL COURT AT LAW NUMBER THREE. THANK YOU, RUTH REYES FOR COUNTY COURT AT LAW NUMBER ONE. THANK YOU, RUBEN MORALES, FOR COUNTY COURT AT LAW NUMBER SEVEN. THANK YOU, PATRICIA CHU, FOR THE STATUTORY PROBATE COURT. NUMBER ONE. THANK YOU. JOSEPH STRELITZ, ASSOCIATE JUDGE FOR STATUTORY PROBATE COURT NUMBER ONE. THANK YOU. MELISSA BELLEZA, COUNTY COURT AT LAW NUMBER THREE. THANK YOU. LINDA PEREZ, COUNTY CRIMINAL COURT AT LAW NUMBER ONE. AND THANK YOU, JUDGE KURITA, FOR ALL YOUR MENTORSHIP. WELL-DESERVED. THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU. AND YOU'RE RIGHT, COMMISSIONER CORONADO. NO BETTER JUDGES. NOWHERE. ABSOLUTELY, ABSOLUTELY. AND JUDGE, MAY I MENTION HOW YOUNG LOOKING YOU ARE THESE DAY? OKAY, KEEP SAYING THAT EVERY. I'M STILL TRYING TO GET OUT OF HOT WATER FROM FROM SEEING THAT COMMENT. SO? SO EVERY EVERY TIME [05:10:03] I GO VISIT HER COURT THAT SHE'S NOT THERE, I LEAVE A LITTLE CARD WITH MINE, MY BUSINESS CARD SAYING HELLO TO A YOUNG LOOKING JUDGE. ANYWAYS, BUT JUDGE, ON BEHALF OF THE COURT AGAIN, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ALL YOUR SERVICE, YOUR DEDICATED SERVICE TO THIS COMMUNITY, EVERYTHING THAT YOU'VE DONE FOR US, WE REALLY, FROM THE BOTTOM OF OUR OF OUR HEART, APPRECIATE ALL YOUR WORK AND YOUR SERVICE. THANK YOU SO MUCH. AT THIS TIME. ITEM 12 D APPROVE AND ADOPT A RESOLUTION RECOGNIZING NOVEMBER 4TH THROUGH 11, 2024, AS OPERATION GREEN LIGHT IN EL PASO COUNTY, TEXAS. [D. Approve and adopt a resolution recognizing November 4-11, 2024, as Operation Green Light, in El Paso County, Texas. Ricardo A. Samaniego, County Judge, County Judge's Office, 915-546-2098] [05:15:30] OKAY. OKAY. WE NOW GO INTO SOMETHING VERY SPECIAL, AND THAT IS OUR VETERANS. YOU KNOW, WE'VE ALWAYS SAID CARL STARTED, YOU KNOW, GETTING US TO SAY IN EL PASO EVERY DAY IS VETERANS DAY. WE ALSO WANT TO TAKE BECAUSE WE GOT FOUR RESOLUTIONS COMING UP, AND I'LL DO THE INTRODUCTION. BUT I ALSO WANT TO HONOR WE HAD OUR COMMISSIONER, CARL ROBINSON, WHO WAS ON OUR COMMISSION HERE. AND WE DON'T NO LONGER HAVE HIM, BUT WE DO HAVE HIS SPIRIT OF SUPPORTING VETERANS. AND WE FELT VERY GOOD ABOUT HAVING HIM ON OUR COURT. BUT THIS IS VERY SPECIAL. IT'S A VERY SPECIAL WEEK BECAUSE WE HAVE TO UPHOLD THE FACT THAT WE'RE THE VETERANS CAPITAL OF THE USA. BUT THIS IS A KIND OF LIKE WE SHOW THE REST OF THE WORLD WHY WE CAN SAY THAT AND WHY WE'RE, YOU KNOW, WE'RE ENTITLED TO BE ABLE TO SAY THAT WE HAVE SOME OF THE BEST VETERANS EVER. A LOT OF THEM THAT DIED IN WARS, A LOT OF THEM CONTINUE AS YOU'LL SEE THAT A LOT OF THEM CONTINUE THAT ENERGY, THAT OF WANTING TO SERVE. THEN THEY POUR THAT THEIR HEART LIKE THEY DID TO THE SERVICE THEY POURED INTO OUR COMMUNITY. AND SO THIS IS VERY SPECIAL FOR US. SO I'LL START WITH THE FIRST RESOLUTION. AND IT'S MY HONOR TO BE ABLE TO DO SO. WHEREAS THE RESIDENTS OF EL PASO COUNTY HAVE GREAT RESPECT, ADMIRATION AND THE UTMOST GRATITUDE FOR ALL MEN AND WOMEN AND HAVE SELFLESSLY, SELFLESSLY SERVED OUR COUNTRY WITH COMMUNITY IN THE ARMED FORCES. AND WHEREAS THE CONTRIBUTIONS AND SACRIFICES OF THE MEN AND WOMEN WHO SERVED IN THE ARMED FORCES HAVE BEEN VITAL IN MAINTAINING FREEDOMS AND A WAY OF LIFE ENJOYED BY OUR CITIZENS. WHERE EL PASO COUNTY SEEKS TO HONOR THESE INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE PAID THE HIGH PRICE FOR FREEDOM BY PLACING THEMSELVES IN HARM'S WAY FOR THE GOOD OF ALL. AND WHEREAS VETERANS CONTINUE TO SERVE OUR COMMUNITY IN THE AMERICAN LEGION, VETERANS OF FOREIGN WARS, RELIGIOUS GROUPS, CIVIL SERVICE, AND BY FUNCTIONING AS THE COUNTY VETERANS SERVICE OFFICERS IN 29 STATES TO HELP FELLOW FORMER SERVICE MEMBERS ACCESS MORE THAN 52 BILLION IN FEDERAL HEALTH, DISABILITY AND COMPENSATION BENEFITS. EACH YEAR, WHEREAS APPROXIMATELY 200,000 SERVICE MEMBERS TRANSITION TO CIVILIAN COMMUNITIES ANNUALLY. STUDIES INDICATE THAT 44 TO 72% OF SERVICE MEMBERS EXPERIENCE HIGH LEVELS OF STRESS DURING TRANSITIONS FROM MILITARY TO CIVILIAN LIFE. WHEREAS ACTIVE MILITARY SERVICE MEMBERS TRANSITIONING FROM MILITARY SERVICE ARE AT A HIGH RISK FOR SUICIDE DURING THEIR FIRST YEAR AFTER MILITARY SERVICE, THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF COUNTIES ENCOURAGES ALL COUNTIES, PARISHES, AND BOROUGHS TO RECOGNIZE OPERATION GREEN LIGHT FOR VETERANS, WHEREAS THAT IN OBSERVANCE OF THE OPERATION GREEN LIGHT, EL PASO COUNTY ENCOURAGES ITS CITIZENS IN PATRIOTIC TRADITION TO RECOGNIZE THE IMPORTANCE OF HONORING ALL THOSE WHO MADE IMMEASURABLE SACRIFICES TO PRESERVE FREEDOM BY DISPLAYING A GREEN LIGHT IN A WINDOW OF THEIR PLACE OF BUSINESS OR RESIDENCY. WHEREAS THE EL PASO COUNTY APPRECIATES THE SACRIFICE OF OUR UNITED STATES MILITARY PERSONNEL AND BELIEVES SPECIFIC RECOGNITION SHOULD BE GRANTED, THEREFORE, WE HEREBY PROCLAIM THAT EL PASO COUNTY WILL HENCEFORTH BE KNOWN AS THE VETERANS CAPITAL OF THE USA. WE ARE GROUNDING OUR CLAIM TO THE VETERANS CAPITAL, USA ON OUR RICH MILITARY HISTORY, CONTINUED PARTNERSHIP WITH FORT BLISS SOCIAL SUPPORT PARTNER NETWORK AND STEADFAST COMMITMENT TO VETERANS WHO EL PASO EVERY DAY IS VETERANS DAY. NOW, THEREFORE, BE RESOLVED THAT THE EL PASO COUNTY JUDGE AND COMMISSIONERS COURT DECLARE FROM NOVEMBER 4TH THROUGH THE 11TH A TIME TO SALUTE AND HONOR THE SERVICE AND SACRIFICE OF OUR VETERANS BY LIGHTING THE EL PASO COUNTY COURTHOUSE GREEN FOR NOVEMBER 4TH TO NOVEMBER 11TH. BY SHINING A GREEN LIGHT, COUNTY GOVERNMENTS AND OUR RESIDENTS WILL LET VETERANS KNOW THAT THEY ARE SEEN, APPRECIATED AND SUPPORTED. SIGNED THIS FOURTH DAY OF NOVEMBER 2024. WE HAVE A MOTION BY JUDGE SAMANIEGO, A SECOND BY COMMISSIONER STOUT. THE VOTING IS OPEN. MOTION CARRIES. THANK YOU. AND I WANT TO ADD THAT WITH OUR BANK WE [05:20:11] CALLED RICK FRANCIS AND HE'S GOING TO LIGHT THE BUILDING. GREEN HOME IS HAVING A LITTLE BIT OF ISSUES, BUT THEY'RE WORKING HARD AND DOING THE SAME AS WELL AS WE ARE HERE IN OUR COMMUNITY, BUT REALLY ENCOURAGE BECAUSE BECAUSE I'VE SEEN THAT WHEN THEY ARE APPRECIATED AND THEY BEGIN TO UNDERSTAND WHY THEY SERVED, ESPECIALLY THOSE THAT GOT WOUNDED AND THOSE THAT LOST OTHERS, THAT BY SHOWING, YOU KNOW THAT WE CARE. IT'S A REALLY BIG PART OF THE HEALING PROCESS AND THAT PEOPLE FEEL BETTER ABOUT THAT. SO WHATEVER YOU COULD DO, YOU KNOW, GET GET THOSE LIGHT BULBS, PUT THEM IN YOUR IN YOUR HOUSE AND LET EVERYONE KNOW HOW SPECIAL OUR VETERANS ARE. TONY. GOOD AFTERNOON, JUDGE AND COMMISSIONERS. ANTOINETTE HUNT, VETERAN COUNTY SERVICE OFFICER. THIS VETERANS DAY, THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF COUNTIES IS. THANK YOU. THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF COUNTIES AND THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF COUNTY VETERANS SERVICE OFFICERS INVITE THE NATION'S 3069 COUNTIES, PARISHES AND BOROUGHS TO JOIN OPERATION GREEN LIGHT AND TO SUPPORT OUR VETERANS BY LIGHTING OUR BUILDINGS GREEN FROM NOVEMBER 4TH TO 11TH. I JUST WANT TO SAY A SPECIAL THANKS. I KNOW THE CITY HAS FOLLOWED SUIT WITH THIS RESOLUTION, AND I BELIEVE PAUL AND THE CITY GOT THE STAR ON THE MOUNTAIN TO SHINE GREEN. IF YOU DIDN'T NOTICE IT THIS WEEKEND ALREADY. SO I REALLY WANT TO APPRECIATE IT. AND WHEN WE GET UP TO TAKE A PICTURE, I'D LIKE TO BRING ALL THE VETERANS IN THE AUDIENCE, WHICH I THINK IS JUST ABOUT EVERYBODY HERE TO COME TAKE A PICTURE, BECAUSE IT REALLY DOES TAKE ALL OF US TO TAKE CARE OF EACH OTHER AND TO LET LET OUR VETERANS KNOW THAT WE CARE AND THAT WE'RE HERE FOR EACH OTHER. SO IT'S PART OF AN INSIDE GROUP. WE HAVE OUR VETERANS. AND THEN WE HAVE OUR VETERAN ADVOCATES. AND SO WE REALLY APPRECIATE EVERYTHING THAT THIS COURT DOES TO ADVOCATE FOR US. AND WE CAN'T THANK YOU ENOUGH. THANK YOU. AND I WAS REMINDED THAT THE STAR ON THE MOUNTAIN WILL BE ABLE TO SEE IT GREEN IN HONOR OF OUR VETERANS. AND THAT ONE IS SO SIGNIFICANT BECAUSE THAT WAS THE BEGINNING OF THE START. IT WAS TO WELCOME, YOU KNOW, COMING BACK FROM THE MILITARY. THAT WAS ONE OF THE FIRST HEARTFELT EFFORTS FROM OUR COMMUNITY. SO ONCE AGAIN, THANK YOU. THANK YOU, BOTH OF YOU AS WELL. THANK YOU. WE HAVE BULBS IN THE BAG, SO I DON'T KNOW IF YOU WANT TO USE THOSE FOR WITH THE PICTURES, BUT WE IN THE BAG. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. IF I COULD, IF ALL THE VETERANS AND I KNOW WHO YOU ARE. SO DON'T SAY Y'ALL KNOW ME AND I KNOW YOU. SO GET UP AND LET'S JOIN THE PARTY. AND. I'M CAMERA. [05:27:07] READY TO GO? HOW ARE YOU? WHERE'S THE JUDGE? VERY GOOD. YEAH. JUDGE. I ACTUALLY DID WANT TO RECOGNIZE MAYOR PRO TEM FROM THE CITY OF EL PASO. BRIAN KENNEDY, WHO IS ALSO A VERY PROUD VETERAN. THANK YOU FOR BEING WITH US TODAY, MISTER KENNEDY. AND. K ITEM 12 V WE DO HAVE A CORRECTION TO READ IN FROM THE COUNTY JUDGE'S OFFICE, APPROVE AN ADOPT A RESOLUTION RECOGNIZING OUR NEW 2024 TO 2025 VETERAN OF THE YEAR IN EL PASO COUNTY, TEXAS. THANK YOU. I GOT [E. Approve and adopt a resolution recognizing our new 2024-2025 Veteran of the Year, Debo’ A. Wakefield, in El Paso County, Texas. Ricardo A. Samaniego, County Judge, County Judge's Office, 915-546-2098] YOU. OKAY. HERE WE GO. THIS IS REALLY, REALLY SPECIAL. OUR VETERANS OF THE YEAR HAVE MADE SUCH AN IMPACT ON OUR LIVES AND THE CHANGES THAT WE'VE HAD. AND I'LL HAVE THEM INTRODUCE THEMSELVES FROM THE LATEST ONE TO OUR PRIOR IN UNBELIEVABLE. OKAY. WHEREAS RETIRED SERGEANT MAJOR. I'M SORRY, I THINK I GOT THE. YOU PROMOTED. I HAVE THE WRONG ONE HERE. SERGEANT. FIRST CLASS, I GOT PROMOTED. I'LL TAKE THAT MONEY. I'VE GOT SO MANY, I DON'T KNOW WHICH ONE TO START. TO START READING. TO SEE HOW DIFFICULT IT IS. BUT THIS IS THE BAR ASSOCIATION. THE BOW. STOP IT. THANK YOU. TO THE NURSING HOME. YOU NEED TO STOP. WE ALSO GET NERVES HERE. OKAY? IT'S NOT JUST THAT THAT MIC, BUT THIS MIC HERE. BUT JUST IT'S REALLY, REALLY AN HONOR FOR ME TO BE ABLE TO PRESENT OUR NEW AND INCREDIBLE INDIVIDUAL AS A VETERAN OF THE YEAR WITH THE VETERANS WALL OF HONOR, BUILT IN 2019, LOCATED AT THE EL PASO COUNTY COURTHOUSE AS A TRIBUTE [05:30:03] TO ALL VETERANS IN OUR COMMUNITY WHO HAVE SERVED AND DEFENDED THIS GREAT NATION IN ANY OF THE SIX ARMED FORCES THROUGHOUT AMERICAN HISTORY, WHEREAS WE REMEMBER AND HONOR THOSE WHO FOUGHT AND THOSE WHO PAID THE ULTIMATE SACRIFICE AS PRISONERS OF WAR, MISSING IN ACTION OR IN THE FOLLOWING WAR CONFLICTS. THE SPANISH AMERICAN WAR, WORLD WAR ONE, WORLD WAR TWO, THE KOREAN WAR, THE VIETNAM WAR, THE PERSIAN WAR, OPERATION ENDURING FREEDOM, OPERATION IRAQI FREEDOM, OPERATION NEW DAWN, AND THE ISLAMIC STATE OPERATION FORCE. EACH YEAR, THE COUNTY WILL PASS A RECOGNIZES A VETERAN AND AN HONORARY VETERAN WHO, AFTER THEIR MILITARY SERVICE, CONTINUES TO GO ABOVE AND BEYOND TO GIVE BACK TO THE COMMUNITY WE CAN SAFELY CALL HOME BECAUSE OF THE VOLUNTEERISM AND SACRIFICES MADE BY OUR UNIFORMED SERVICE MEMBERS. AND WHEREAS, THE VETERAN OF THE YEAR WILL BE CELEBRATED THROUGHOUT THE COMMUNITY AND BE RECOGNIZED ON THE VETERANS WALL OF HONOR, THE CITIZENS AND VETERANS OF EL PASO COUNTY, THANK YOU FOR PROUDLY SERVING OUR COMMUNITY. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED THAT THE EL PASO COUNTY JUDGE AND COMMISSIONERS COURT DECLARES DEBO A WAKEFIELD AS A 2024 2025 EL PASO COUNTY VETERAN OF THE YEAR, SIGNED THIS FOURTH DAY OF NOVEMBER 2024. WE. ARE RIGHT ON RIGHT. OKAY. WE HAVE A MOTION BY JUDGE SAMANIEGO, SECOND BY COMMISSIONER LEON. THE VOTING IS OPEN. WELL, WE THANK YOU. CARRIES. OH, WELCOME. WHAT TIME IS IT? OH, WOW. NICE. GOOD AFTERNOON. I AM DEBORAH WAKEFIELD. I AM PROUD TO STAND HERE BEFORE YOU. VERY HUMBLED. AND ALMOST READY TO DO MY UGLY CRY. BECAUSE I AM A PERSON OF SERVICE. IT DOESN'T JUST STOP BECAUSE YOU GET OUT OF THE MILITARY. I'VE BEEN IN SERVICE ALL OF MY LIFE THAT I CAN REMEMBER FROM A CANDY STRIPER. AT 15 UNTIL MY RETIREMENT IN 1992, AND I CONTINUED AS A TRAVEL NURSE AND STILL DO A LOT IN THE COMMUNITY TODAY. FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO DON'T KNOW, I DO GO OUTSIDE OF THE COUNTRY TO WORK. I DO ONE WEEK EVERY YEAR FOR EL PASO OR WHICHEVER STATE I'M IN, TO SERVE ALL THE IMPOVERISHED PEOPLE IN HONDURAS. SO WE DO SURGERY OF ALL TYPES JUST FOR THAT PARTICULAR WEEK, AND WE DO QUITE A BIT OF SURGERIES FOR THE 25 STAFF THAT WE HAVE. I HAVE 108 YEAR OLD TUSKEGEE AIRMAN, FIRST LIEUTENANT JAMES CLAYTON FLOWERS. HE LIVES IN LAS CRUCES, NEW MEXICO, 45 MILES FROM ME. AND I'M A MEMBER OF THE BUFFALO SOLDIERS MOTORCYCLE CLUB. YES, I'M A MOTORCYCLE MAMA. WELL, WE GOT AND WE GO UP AND WE CLEAN HIS YARD AND TAKE CARE OF HIM AND GIVE HIM HIS GOODIES FOR 108. WOW. THAT'S A SMALL FEAT. WHEN I SAY EVERYBODY HAS TIME TO SERVE AND GIVE BACK. IT'S THE LITTLE THINGS. THE MILKY WAY, THE MARS CANDY BAR, AND HIS HAAGEN-DAZS VANILLA BEAN THAT KEEPS HIM HAPPY EVERY TIME HE SEES MY SMILING FACE. AND OUR MEMBERS OF OUR CLUB. I'M ALSO A PROUD MEMBER OF THE SILHOUETTES, CIVIC AND SOCIAL CLUB, WHICH I HAVE THEM HERE AS WELL. WHERE'D SHE GO? OH, AND OUR PRESIDENT IS ALSO PART OF YOUR COMMITTEE TODAY AS A NURSE PRACTITIONER FOR MERIDIAN MEDICAL CENTER. ALRIGHT. THANK YOU. I'M A VERY PROUD MEMBER AND WORKAHOLIC FOR FLAGS ACROSS AMERICA. THE BIG FLAGPOLE IN THE NORTHEAST. YES. AND OLD GLORY MEMORIAL, WHERE WE LOVE TO HAVE MORE PEOPLE COME AND SUPPORT US WITH SOME OF YOUR ACTIVITIES. I KNOW IT'S GETTING COLD, BUT WHEN IT WARMS UP, WE WILL TAKE NO EXCUSES. WE NEED TO SEE YOUR FACE IN THE PLACE, HUMBLED AND HONORED. AS I AM. THERE'S NOTHING LIKE GIVING BACK WHEN YOU SERVE AND YOU GIVE BACK TO YOUR COMMUNITY, THERE IS NOT A REWARDING FEELING THAT YOU CAN GET. IT'S LIKE THE LITTLEST, SMALLEST THING THAT YOU CAN DO. OPENING A DOOR FOR A VETERAN THAT CAN'T GET THROUGH, OPENING THE DOOR FOR A MOM WITH A CARRIAGE WITH HER BABY, AND SHE DIDN'T KNOW THE DOOR WAS GOING TO BE OPEN FOR HER. I'VE HAD MANY DOORS OPEN FOR ME BEING A WOMAN OF COLOR, A VETERAN, A DISABLED VETERAN, AND A MOTHER AND GRANDMOTHER. SO WHEN I SAY THAT IT'S THE LITTLE THINGS THAT WE CAN DO TO MAKE THE DIFFERENCE IN OUR COMMUNITY. JUST TAKE ONE DAY AND TAKE 20 MINUTES OUT OF YOUR SCHEDULE. TELL SOMEBODY THERE SLIPPERS HANGING TOO LONG. [05:35:03] THEY HAVE A PRETTY DRESS ON, BUT LET'S FIX THIS BECAUSE YOU WANT THEM TO LOOK GOOD. TELL SOMEBODY THEY GOT SOMETHING IN THEIR TEETH. THAT GREEN STUFF. LET THEM KNOW THAT THEY PRETTY WITH THAT SMILE. BUT GET THAT GREEN STUFF OUT OF THERE. GIVE A PERSON ONE SECOND WHEN YOU SEE THEM SMILE. IT DOESN'T COST YOU ANYTHING. AND I THINK YOU ALL HAVE ALLUDED TO IT. WE'RE VETERANS AND YOU CAN'T SEE OUR SCARS. SOME OF US, WE HAVE MENTAL ISSUES, PTSD FROM BEING IN WAR. YOU WOULDN'T KNOW THAT UNLESS YOU TOOK THE TIME TO JUST SMILE. YOU DON'T KNOW YOU SAVED THAT PERSON'S LIFE FOR THE DAY. THAT GIVES THEM ANOTHER DAY TO SAY SOMEBODY CARED ABOUT ME. THEY SMILED. THEY SPOKE TO ME. IT MAKES A DIFFERENCE. AND I KNOW BECAUSE I DO IT EVERY DAY AND I GET TOLD EVERY DAY I WAS GOING TO COMMIT SUICIDE. YOU TOOK TIME TO STOP AND ASK ME WAS MY DAY OKAY? HOW DID YOU KNOW? I SAID, I DIDN'T, BUT I HAVE THOSE DAYS MYSELF, SO I KNOW WHAT IT'S LIKE. EXCUSE ME TO NOT HAVE SOMEBODY SEE THOSE HIDDEN SCARS WHEN YOU CAN'T GET OUT YOUR BED, WHEN YOU NEED SOMEBODY JUST TO GIVE YOU THAT HUG. I LOVE ALL OF MY FRIENDS THAT HAVE COME TO SUPPORT ME. WOULD Y'ALL PLEASE STAND BECAUSE THEY GIVE ME THE TIME TO MOVE FORWARD EVERY DAY? THEY GIVE ME THE STRENGTH. THEY GIVE ME THE CONFIDENCE. THEY GIVE ME MY HUG. AND MY SISTER BEATS ME UP REGULARLY. BUT I'M TELLING YOU, THE LITTLE BIT OF TIME THAT YOU TAKE TO JUST SAY HELLO, SHAKE SOMEBODY'S HAND, GIVE THEM THAT LITTLE HUG OR EMBRACE. OR JUST SAY THAT YOU CARE. YOU SMELL GOOD. I DIDN'T EVEN KNOW THE JUDGE HERE. HE HUGGED ME WHEN I SAID, OOH, GOLLY, HE SMELLED GOOD. YOU KNOW, I'M A REAL WOMAN. SO I SAID, OOH, THAT WAS DELICIOUS. AND HE LIKED IT. HE SMILED BACK. BUT YOU HAVE TO OWN WHO YOU ARE. AND AS A VETERAN OF THE YEAR, MY DEDICATION AND PROMISE TO YOU IS I WILL NOT STOP MY SERVICE, I WILL CONTINUE, I WILL DRAG A BUNCH OF MY FRIENDS AND FAMILY WITH ME, AND WE WILL CONTINUE TO MAKE AND EMBRACE EL PASO AND MAKE IT EVEN A BETTER VETERANS CAPITAL. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. DAVID, DO YOU WANT TO GO AHEAD AND INTRODUCE YOURSELVES? BECAUSE WE HAVE SOME INCREDIBLE VETERANS OF THE YEAR, VETERANS OF THE YEAR, ALL VETERANS OF THE YEAR. COME ON UP HERE. SHE FORGOT TO TELL YOU THAT SHE IS A CHAPLAIN FOR OLD GLORY MEMORIAL. AND THAT ONE OF THE REASONS I ROOT AROUND WAS BECAUSE SHE STANDS FOR UNITY. SHE STANDS FOR LOVE. SHE STANDS FOR SPIRITUAL CONNECTION AND THEN IF YOU HAVEN'T EVER MET SOMEBODY THAT WILL PRAY FOR YOU IN AN HOUR OF NEED, DEBORAH WILL. YES. THANK YOU. BY THE WAY, I'M THE CURRENT. WELL, NO LONGER. I'M THE 2023 2024 VETERAN OF THE YEAR. I'M GOING TO GO LAST. GO AHEAD. I WAS FIRST. NOW YOU CAN GO IN THE ORDER. FIRST THING I WANT TO DO IS THANK GOD FOR GIVING US THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE HERE TODAY, TO CELEBRATE AND TO HONOR YOU AS THE VETERAN OF THE YEAR AND WELCOME YOU TO THE WALL OF HONOR. THANK YOU. AND I WAS THE VETERAN OF THE YEAR 2021, 2022, 2023 AS AN INTERIM FOR MISTER PETE FLORES AND ALSO THE FIRST AMBASSADOR OF THE VETERAN CAPITAL. AND I WANT TO WELCOME YOU TO THAT, TOO. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. DAVID. THAT'S MY CHURCH. I'M BOB WAY. I, I WAS THE FIRST VETERAN OF EL PASO AND I STILL GET GOOSEBUMPS WHEN I THINK ABOUT IT. BUT I THINK OF ALL THE NEW VETERANS COMING ON. AND SO FORTH AND WHAT THEY CONTRIBUTED TO THE COMMUNITY AND TO THE VETERANS AS A WHOLE. AND SO FORTH. AND I'M PROUD TO MAKE A NEW FRIEND. LIKEWISE, LIKEWIS. THANK YOU. OKAY. GO AHEAD AND WITHOUT LEAVING OUT MY DEAR FRIEND IN HEAVEN, CARL ROBINSON, HE LIVED IN THE NORTHEAST. I MOVED HERE AND I DIDN'T KNOW NORTH, SOUTH, EAST FROM WEST. I JUST BOUGHT A HOUSE THAT FIT MY NEEDS, MY TWO MOTORCYCLES AND MY TRAILER. AND MY REALTOR IS HERE. SHE'LL TELL YOU SHE LOOKED HARD FOR ME AND WE WOUND UP IN THE NORTHEAST, WHICH I LOVE. THE NORTHEAST. BUT CARL ROBINSON WAS THAT REPRESENTATIVE THAT NO MATTER WHAT DAY IT WAS, WHATEVER YOUR NEED WAS THAT MAN, I DIDN'T KNOW HIM. WHEN I GOT TO KNOW HIM, YOU COULD NOT DO ANYTHING BUT LOVE HIM FOR THE AMOUNT OF [05:40:03] ENERGY AND LOVE HE GAVE BACK TO EL PASO. NOT JUST THE NORTHEAST, EL PASO, AND GOD REST HIS SOUL, BUT HE WAS A GOOD EXAMPLE AND MARTYR FOR ME AS A VETERAN. I'M STANDING ON HIS SHOULDERS FOR EL PASO BECAUSE HE DID SO MUCH. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. WELL, AS YOU AS YOU COULD SEE, WE HAD AN INCREDIBLE FOUNDATION WITH THESE INCREDIBLE VETERANS OF THE YEAR AND WE THANK YOU. AND I KNOW THE COLLABORATION IS GOING. PEOPLE ASK ME LIKE, WHAT? WHAT DO WE NEED AT THIS TIME? AND IT'S THA. AND DONNA, YOU EXPLAINED IT VERY WELL. WE STILL NEED UNITY. WE STILL NEED COLLABORATION BETWEEN ALL THE VETERANS GROUPS SO THAT WE COULD SHOW THE STRENGTH. WE CAN'T WE CAN'T JUST SAY THAT WE'RE VETERANS OF THE YEAR, OR WE CAN'T JUST SAY THAT WE'RE THE VETERANS CAPITAL. WE HAVE TO PRODUCE IN SO MANY WAYS TO MAKE SURE THAT THAT HAPPENS. SO ONCE AGAIN, WE'RE VERY BLESSED. THANK YOU FOR THE INSPIRATIONAL TALK THAT YOU GAVE US. I THINK IT'S GOING TO MEAN A LOT TO A LOT OF PEOPLE FOR TO HEAR FROM WHAT'S HAPPENED TO YOU AND WHAT YOU'VE GONE THROUGH. AND THAT'S WHAT THEY'VE ALL DONE. THEY'VE EMERGED THEMSELVES. AND THIS IS WHAT HAPPENED TO ME. AND I DON'T WANT THAT TO HAPPEN TO OTHERS. AND THAT'S BEEN VERY, VERY BLESSED TO HAVE ALL OF THEM. TONY. GOOD AFTERNOON, JUDGE ANTOINETTE HUNT, VETERAN COUNTY SERVICE OFFICER I JUST WANT TO SAY, FIRST OF ALL, THANK YOU TO YOU, JUDGE, FOR REALIZING THAT WE HAVE VETERANS IN THIS COMMUNITY WHO ARE DOING AMAZING THINGS EVERY DAY. AND WHEN WE GET THE NOMINATION PACKETS FOR VETERANS, I WISH WE COULD NAME A VETERAN OF THE YEAR EVERY MONTH, BECAUSE THERE ARE SO MANY VETERANS DOING AMAZING THINGS, AND OUR COMMUNITY IS SURVIVING AND THRIVING BECAUSE OF IT. THE VETERAN COMMUNITY HERE IS STRONG BECAUSE OF IT. SO FIRST, THANKS TO YOU, JUDGE, I DO HAVE A BACKPACK FULL OF VETERAN CAPITAL SWAG FOR OUR NEW VETERAN OF THE YEAR. THANK YOU. AND I THINK THE JUDGE HAS SOMETHING FOR YOU AS WELL. BUT I WAS JUST GOING TO SAY BEFORE WE PROCEED, WE HAVE AN AMAZING ADVOCATE, PAUL ALBRIGHT. YOU BACK THERE. THANK YOU ALL. PAUL. PAUL, PAUL HAS EXTENDED, YOU KNOW, THE RELATIONSHIP WITH THE CITY AND THE SUPPORT FROM THE CITY AND INITIATED WITH THE COUNTY. BUT AS HE SAYS, WE JUST IT'S NOT COUNTY, IT'S NOT CITY. IT'S ANY VETERAN AT ANY SITUATION, ANY PLACE IN EL PASO THAT WE FEEL VERY STRONG ABOUT. SO PAUL, THANK YOU. I MEAN, I DON'T KNOW HOW YOU DO IT, BUT HE'S LIKE IN THREE MEETINGS IN THE SAME, YOU KNOW, HOUR OR SO. SO THANK YOU. GOT CLONES JUDGE HE THERE'S NO OTHER WAY. HE'S GOT CLONES. BUT SOMETHING THAT I WANTED TO SAY WAS THAT I DON'T THINK IF YOU READ HER BIO, I DON'T THINK IT DOES HER JUSTICE. LIKE THIS WOMAN IS AMAZING. AND WHEN I TELL YOU THAT, FIRST OF ALL, SHE JOINED THE WOMEN'S ARMY CORPS. SO IF YOU DON'T KNOW ANYTHING, THAT WAS BEFORE WOMEN WERE ALLOWED TO BE PART OF THE ARMY AND SO TO ME, THOSE ARE OUR PIONEERS, BECAUSE I KNOW THAT THESE LADIES DEALT WITH THINGS THAT THEY FIXED SO THAT I WOULDN'T HAVE TO DEAL WITH IT, AND THAT THE NEXT GENERATION DIDN'T HAVE TO DEAL WITH IT. AND WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT IT, I'M LIKE, SHE'S GOT SUCH A WEALTH OF KNOWLEDGE, I JUST WANT TO SIT HER DOWN. BUT ALSO SHE'S GOT THIS INFECTIOUS, POSITIVE ATTITUDE. I GOT TO TELL YOU, THE DAY I CALLED HER TO TELL HER THAT SHE WAS OUR VETERAN OF THE YEAR, I WAS NOT HAVING A GOOD MORNING, AND I BROUGHT HER TO THE OFFICE AND SHE GAVE ME THE BIGGEST BEAR HUG. YOU CAN GIVE LIKE SEVEN SECONDS. THE OXYTOCIN. DID I SAY THAT CORRECTLY KICKED IN AND I HAD A GOOD DAY THE REST OF THE DAY. LIKE SHE WAS ABLE TO IMMEDIATELY CHANGE MY DAY BECAUSE OF HER INFECTIOUS, POSITIVE ATTITUDE. AND I JUST WANT TO THANK I KNOW SHE'S GOING TO DO AMAZING THINGS, BUT I JUST WANT TO THANK YOU FOR THAT. AND I LOOK SO FORWARD INTO THIS NEXT YEAR, GOING INTO IT WITH ALL OF OUR ADVOCATES, FOR OUR VETERAN COMMUNITY, BECAUSE WE HAVE OUR PAST VETERANS OF THE YEAR, OUR VETERAN OF THE YEAR. CAN I GET THE MEMBERS OF OUR VALUES TO STAND UP, PLEASE? I KNOW YOU ALL ARE TRYING TO BE INCOGNITO, BUT I'VE GOT ONE AND TWO AND I THINK THERE'S. DID HE STEP OUT AND HER NEW MANNER BACK THERE? AND THEY'RE A VERY IMPORTANT PART OF THIS PROCESS. OUR VALUES IS WHO SELECTS OUR VETERAN OF THE YEAR. SO THEY TAKE THEIR THEY TAKE THIS JOB VERY SERIOUSLY. SO I WANT TO THANK THEM FOR EVERYTHING THAT THEY DO FOR THIS COUNTY AS WELL. AND TONY, WE THANK YOU AND YOUR TEAM TREMENDOUSLY. YES. I JUST WANT TO SAY ONE MORE THING. THERE IS NO AGE FOR BEING ABLE TO SUPPORT YOUR COMMUNITY OR YOUR FAMILY. I'M 71 YEARS YOUNG. WHAT IS ON RECORD 1972 AND I CAN DO IT. YOU CAN DO IT. YEAH, YOU. CAN. SO BELIEVE ME, READ THIS. IT'S A 24 2025 EL PASO COUNTY VETERAN OF THE YEAR DEVIL A WAKEFIELD SFC [05:45:09] RETIRED US ARMY FOR GOING ABOVE AND BEYOND YOUR CALL TO ACTION AND CONTINUING TO SERVE AND GIVE BACK TO THE EL PASO COMMUNITY. WE ARE FOREVER GRATEFUL FOR YOUR SERVICE. EL PASO COUNTY COMMISSIONERS COURT, NOVEMBER 4TH, 2024. AND WE'LL GO DOWN TH. * This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.