[00:00:31] IT. ALL. OF IT. ALL OF. IT. ALL. OF. IT. ALL. OF. [00:05:19] IT. ALL. GO AHEAD. GOOD MORNING, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN. TODAY IS MONDAY, NOVEMBER 25TH, 2024. COMMISSIONERS COURT IS MEETING IN REGULAR OPEN SESSION. TODAY WE ARE JOINED BY ASL [1. OPEN MEETING] INTERPRETERS DANIEL GARCIA AND TAMARA MARQUEZ. COMMISSIONER OLGUIN, WOULD YOU LIKE TO INTRODUCE OUR PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE PERSON FOR TODAY? YES. THANK YOU. THANK YOU JESSICA. GOOD MORNING EVERYONE. SO I AM VERY HAPPY TO ASK KEVIN VALERA IF HE COULD COME UP TO THE PODIUM. HE IS A UTEP STUDENT MAJORING IN ENGINEERING MANAGEMENT AND WHO WILL BE [2. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE] GRADUATING IN DECEMBER OF 2025. AND HE IS ALSO AN INTERN FOR COMMISSIONER STOUT. SO WELCOME, KEVIN. THANK YOU COMMISSIONER. PLEASE RISE FOR THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE. I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS. ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL. NOW FOR THE TEXAS PLEDGE. HONOR THE TEXAS FLAG. I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE TEXAS ONE STATE UNDER GOD. ONE AND INDIVISIBLE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. KEVIN. APPRECIATE IT. THANK YOU KEVIN. AND NOW WE WILL RECEIVE AN INVOCATION FROM ROMAN BUSTILLOS. WELCOME. GOOD MORNING. GOOD MORNING. THIS CALL TO MOMENT FOR A MOMENT HERE THAT WE ARE ALWAYS UNDER GOD'S PRESENCE. WE BEGIN IN THE NAME OF THE FATHER. THE SON AND OF THE HOLY SPIRIT. AMEN. GOOD MORNING, HEAVENLY FATHER. WE THANK YOU FOR TODAY, [00:10:05] AND WE THANK YOU FOR ALL THE BLESSINGS THAT YOU HAVE GRANTED EACH OF US EACH AND EVERY DAY. WE GIVE YOU THANKS FOR YOUR CONSTANT LOVE AND MERCY THAT YOU SO GENEROUSLY POUR OUT UPON US EACH AND EVERY SINGLE DAY. HEAVENLY FATHER, WE ASK FOR YOUR CONTINUED BLESSINGS AND WE HUMBLY ASK THAT YOU SEND THE HOLY SPIRIT TO BLESS OUR JUDGE, OUR COMMISSIONERS, THE STAFF, AND ALL THOSE APPEARING BEFORE COMMISSIONERS, COURT THAT ALL OF THEIR DEALINGS MAY BE FAIR AND HONEST FOR THE GOODNESS OF THE HEALTH, SAFETY AND WELFARE OF OUR COMMUNITY, AND THAT OUR ACTIONS FURTHER GLORIFY YOUR NAME. PLEASE BLESS THE JUDGE, THE COMMISSIONERS, WITH THE VIRTUES OF WISDOM, KNOWLEDGE, UNDERSTANDING AND FORTITUDE TO INSPIRE THEM TO MAKE THE BEST DECISIONS FOR OUR COMMUNITY. HEAVENLY FATHER, WE ASK THAT YOU CONTINUE. CONTINUE TO HEAL OUR COMMUNITY, OUR COUNTRY AND THE ENTIRE WORLD FROM ALL DISEASE AND EVERY AFFLICTION THAT CHALLENGE OUR HUMANITY, ESPECIALLY THOSE COMMUNITIES DEVASTATED BY THE CURRENT AND IMPENDING NATURAL DISASTERS. HEAVENLY FATHER, WE HUMBLY ASK FOR YOU TO PROTECT OUR MILITARY SONS AND DAUGHTERS FROM HARM'S WAY, ESPECIALLY WITH THE CURRENT CRISIS IN ISRAEL, SUDAN, AND UKRAINE. PLEASE GRANT US PEACE IN OUR DAY AND PROTECT US FROM ALL VIOLENCE. HEAVENLY FATHER, WE RAISE UP OUR HUMBLE PRAISE OF THANKSGIVING AND OUR FAITHFUL PETITION THROUGH THE INTERCESSION OF ALL OUR BROTHERS AND SISTERS, OUR BLESSED MOTHER AND ALL YOUR HOLY ANGELS AND SAINTS AND HEAVENLY FATHER, WE RAISE UP THIS PRAYER TO YOU THROUGH THE PRECIOUS BODY AND BLOOD, SOUL AND DIVINITY OF YOUR DEARLY BELOVED SON, OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST. MAY ALMIGHTY GOD MAY. MAY ALMIGHTY GOD BLESS US, PROTECT US FROM ALL EVIL, AND BRING US TO EVERLASTING LIFE. AMEN. THANK YOU. THANK YOU AND HAPPY THANKSGIVING TO EVERYONE. YOU'RE ALWAYS WELCOME HERE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. GREAT WAY TO START THE WEEK. THANK YOU. GREAT. THANK YOU. JUDGE, WOULD YOU LIKE TO MAKE ANY OPENING COMMENTS BEFORE WE BEGIN? YEAH, JUST WANT TO THANK ALL OF YOU FOR BEING HERE AND ON BEHALF OF MYSELF AND THE COMMISSIONERS, WE THANK YOU FOR BEING PART OF THE GOVERNMENT OR GOVERNMENT PROCESS. BUT MORE THAN ANYTHING, ON BEHALF OF THEM, AS WELL AS WISHING ALL OF YOU, AS WE GO INTO THE HOLIDAYS, THAT WE HAVE A VERY THANKFUL OPPORTUNITIES THAT WE HAVE ALL THE BLESSINGS THAT WE GET, THAT WE'RE ABLE TO BE WITH FAMILY. BUT MORE THAN ANYTHING, PLEASE BE SAFE DURING THE HOLIDAYS. AND, YOU KNOW, JUST WELL, WE BLESS ALL OF YOU. THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE TODAY. ONCE AGAIN, HAVE A JUST A TREMENDOUS WEEK AS WE'RE GOING INTO YOUR HOLIDAYS. SO THANK YO. ITEM NUMBER FOUR IS THE CONSENT AGENDA COMPOSED OF ITEMS FOUR A THROUGH 4AL. WE DO HAVE TWO CORRECTIONS TO READ IN FIRST ITEM. ITEM FOUR X APPROVE AND AUTHORIZE THE COUNTY JUDGE TO SIGN THE CONTRACT BETWEEN OWNER AND CONTRACTOR WITH EGL [3. INVOCATION] CONSTRUCTION, INC. FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE DESERT ACCEPTANCE SQUARE DANCE. LINEAR PARK, WHICH WITH SHARED USE PATH IN THE AMOUNT OF $2,132,022.59. FUNDS ARE AVAILABLE IN CP 222, DESERT ACCEPTANCE CONSTRUCTION AND CP CO 238 SCORE LINE LINEAR PARK IMPROVEMENT CONTRACT NUMBER 2024 0958. THE SECOND CORRECTION FOR ITEM FOUR, A H. APPROVE AND AUTHORIZE COUNTY JUDGE TO SIGN THE INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT FOR SCHOOL RESOURCE OFFICERS BETWEEN EL PASO COUNTY AND THE CLINT INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT FOR A SCHOOL BASED POLICING PROGRAM THROUGH SCHOOL RESOURCE OFFICERS FROM OCTOBER 1ST, 2024 THROUGH SEPTEMBER 30TH, 2025. FURTHER AUTHORIZE THE CREATION OF 14 NEW DEPUTY POSITIONS. FOR THE PURPOSE OF THIS AGREEMENT, CISD WILL COMPENSATE THE COUNTY $1,338,361 FOR SCHOOL RESOURCE OFFICERS AND SERVICES, AND $49,000 FOR ASSIGNED VEHICLES. CONTRACT NUMBER 2024 1005. ARE THERE ANY ITEMS MEMBERS OF THE COURT OR PUBLIC WOULD LIKE TO PULL? F AND I F, AND I FOR COMMISSIONER STOUT AND DID H WAS THAT GETTING PULLED OR ONLY THERE WAS A CORRECTION BEING MADE BECAUSE I THINK THERE MAY BE A CLARIFICATION ON WHETHER OR [4. CONSENT AGENDA] NOT THESE ARE NEW POSITIONS. SO, COMMISSIONER, I DON'T KNOW IF WE NEED TO PULL IT, BUT THESE ARE EXISTING POSITIONS. THEY'RE MOVING FROM GRANT FUNDING TO BEING REIMBURSED BY THE SCHOOL DISTRICT. OKAY. IS THAT OKAY FOR THE CLARIFICATION THAT YOU WANTED TO MAKE? OKAY, THEN WE DON'T NEED TO PULL IT. THANK YOU. ARE THERE ANY OTHER ITEMS? YES. ITEM. ITEM T AS IN TOM. TOM FOR COMMISSIONER LEON. ANY OTHERS? IF NOT, I'LL MOVE TO APPROVE ACCEPTANCE. I HAVE A [00:15:15] MOTION BY JUDGE SAMANIEGO, SECOND BY COMMISSIONER LEON, TO APPROVE THE VOTING IS OPEN. SOMETHING'S WRONG WITH MINE. SO I VOTE I. MOTION CARRIES. ITEM FIVE. PUBLIC COMMENT. WE DO HAVE ONE SPEAKER SIGNED UP FOR PUBLIC COMMENT. WE HAVE MISS ELIZABETH CRAWFORD ON THE LINE. GOOD MORNING. ELIZABETH. WELCOME. GOOD MORNING. THANK YOU. GOOD MORNING. WE'RE IN ADVENT SEASON. [5. PUBLIC COMMENT] I WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK BRIEFLY ABOUT ADVENT SEASON, LIFE IN THE WOMB AND A VERY SPECIAL PREGNANCY. A NUMBER OF YEARS BACK, I WAS TEACHING ENGLISH AND HAD A YOUNG MAN IN MY CLASS, HISHAM. I REALLY ENJOYED HAVING HIM IN THE CLASS. HE WAS THE FIRST PERSON I HAD EVER MET WHO IDENTIFIED AS PALESTINIAN, PALESTINIAN, MUSLIM. WE HAD SOME REALLY INTERESTING CONVERSATIONS AND ONE DAY HE TOLD ME, I'M FROM RAMALLAH AND IT'S NEAR BETHLEHEM. I WAS FASCINATED AS WE KNOW, THIS AREA IS PART OF THE WEST BANK, AN AREA THAT'S IN OUR DAILY NEWS NOW. THEN, AS NOW, BETHLEHEM WAS NOT IN A QUIET, SERENE CONDITION OR SITUATION. WE KNOW THAT CAROL, O LITTLE TOWN OF BETHLEHEM, HOW STILL WE SEE THEE LIE ABOVE THY DEEP AND DREAMLESS SLEEP. THE SILENT STARS GO BY. IT'S A GREAT SONG WITH MANY GOOD LYRICS, BUT THOSE PARTICULAR WORDS ARE NOT ACCURATE. BETHLEHEM WAS IN CHAOS. THEY WERE UNDER THE OPPRESSION OF ROMAN RULE. CENTURIES BEFORE JESUS WAS BORN, THE HEBREW PROPHETS MICAH AND ISAIAH HAD SPOKEN OF THE BIRTH OF THE MESSIAH. MICAH. MICAH FIVE TWO BUT THOU. BETHLEHEM. EPHRATA. THOUGH THOU BE LITTLE AMONG THE THOUSANDS OF JUDAH, YET OUT OF THEE SHALL HE COME FORTH UNTO ME, THAT IS, TO BE RULER IN ISRAEL. WHOSE GOINGS FORTH HAVE BEEN FROM OF OLD, FROM EVERLASTING. ISAIAH NINE SIX FOR UNTO US A CHILD IS BORN, UNTO US A SON IS GIVEN. AND THE GOVERNMENT SHALL BE UPON HIS SHOULDER, AND HIS NAME SHALL BE CALLED WONDERFUL COUNSELOR, THE MIGHTY GOD, THE EVERLASTING FATHER, THE PRINCE OF PEACE. BETHLEHEM, WHICH MEANS HOUSE OF BREAD, WAS ALSO THE LOCATION WHERE CENTURIES BEFORE RUTH THE MOABITESS LADY, THE OUTSIDER, WAS WELCOMED. GOD RAISED UP THE HEBREW MAMBO AS HER KINSMAN REDEEMER. THIS WOMAN AND HER FAMILY, WHO COULD HAVE BEEN ON THE VERGE OF STARVATION BECAUSE OF LIFE CIRCUMSTANCES, WAS PROTECTED AND CARED FOR BY GOD'S HAND OF PROVIDENCE. RUTH BECAME THE MOTHER OF OBED, WHO IS THE GRANDFATHER OF DAVID. KING DAVID OF ISRAEL. BETHLEHEM. HOUSE OF BREAD, THE PLACE OF GOD'S AMAZING PROVIDENCE. THE GENEALOGIES OF MATTHEW AND LUKE SHOW HOW GOD SUPERINTENDED THE WHOLE PROGRESSION OF EVENTS THROUGH THE ROYAL LINE OF DAVID, TILL THAT AWESOME DAY IN BETHLEHEM, WHEN THE VIRGIN MARY BROUGHT FORTH HER FIRSTBORN SON, WRAPPED HIM IN SWADDLING CLOTHES, AND LAID HIM IN A MANGER. BUT THERE WAS NO ROOM FOR HIM, FOR THEM IN THE INN. JUMPING TO OUR DAY AMONG AN INFINITE LIST OF OTHER ISSUES, THE PROBLEM WITH THE ABORTION INDUSTRY AND THE PRO-CHOICE MINDSET IS THE ASSUMPTION THAT PROBLEMS IN LIFE ARE A BAD THING TO BE AVOIDED AT ALL COSTS. GOD'S WORD TEACHES THAT IT CAN BE JUST THE OPPOSITE. GOD'S WORD TEACHES THAT IN THE TIMES OF CRISIS IS WHEN GOD'S GLORY SHINES FORTH AS HE WORKS FOR THE GOOD OF THOSE WHO LOVE HIM, WHO ARE THE CALLED ACCORDING TO HIS PURPOSE, WHO SURRENDERED TO HIM, AND TO HIS WILL. EVEN IN SITUATIONS IN OUR DAY SUCH AS TEEN PREGNANCY, PREGNANCY RESULTING FROM EXTRAMARITAL RELATIONSHIPS, DIAGNOSIS OF WHAT WOULD BE CALLED FETAL ANOMALIES IN THE WOMB FROM A HUMAN PERSPECTIVE, THESE SITUATIONS LOOK HOPELESS AND ABORTION IS THE EASY ESCAPE OUT OF THEM. THERE ARE TIMES WHEN GOD WORKS PURE MIRACLES FOR HIS PEOPLE, NOT UNDENIABLE MIRACLES. THERE ARE OTHER TIMES WHEN HE PROVIDENTIALLY WORKS CIRCUMSTANCES AND DOES GREAT THINGS FOR HIS PEOPLE. IN THE MIDST OF AND EVEN THROUGH THE VERY HARDSHIPS THAT HE DOESN'T REMOVE. THE TERM HANDMAID HAS COME TO BE MOCKED BY THOSE WHO ESPOUSE ABORTION, EVEN DRESSING UP AS HANDMAIDS TO MAKE FUN OF THE PRO-LIFE POSITION. BUT THE HANDMAID TRUTH IN SCRIPTURE IS BEAUTIFUL. A PASSAGE WHICH MOST OF US HAVE HEARD MANY TIMES. LUKE ONE. WHEN THE ANGEL ANNOUNCED TO THE VIRGIN MARY THAT SHE WOULD HAVE THE PRIVILEGE OF BEARING THE MESSIAH, BRING THE CHRIST CHILD INTO THIS WORLD. LUKE CHAPTER ONE FOR WITH GOD NOTHING SHALL BE IMPOSSIBLE. AND MARY SAID, BEHOLD THE HANDMAID OF THE LORD. BE IT UNTO ME ACCORDING TO THY WORD. AND MARY SAID, MY SOUL DOTH MAGNIFY THE LORD. MY SPIRIT HATH REJOICED IN GOD MY SAVIOR. FOR HE IS REGARDED THE LOWEST STATE OF HIS HANDMAIDEN. FROM BEHOLD. FOR BEHOLD, FROM HENCEFORTH ALL GENERATIONS SHALL CALL ME BLESSED. FOR HE THAT IS MIGHTY HAS DONE TO ME GREAT THINGS, AND HOLY IS HIS NAME. AND HIS MERCY IS ON THEM THAT FEAR HIM FROM GENERATION TO [00:20:02] GENERATION. THE BEAUTY AND THE THING TO BE THANKFUL FOR THIS THANKSGIVING IS ISAIAH 714 BEHOLD, THE VIRGIN SHALL CONCEIVE AND BEAR A SON, AND SHALL CALL HIS NAME EMMANUEL, GOD WITH US. GOD HAS PROMISED TO BE WITH THOSE WHO TRUST IN HIM THROUGH THE HARDEST OF TIMES, AND THAT'S THE GREATEST REASON WHY WE HAVE TO GIVE THANKS. THANK YOU SO MUCH. HOPE YOU HAVE A GOOD THANKSGIVING. THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU, THANK YOU ELIZABETH. APPRECIATE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. ITEM SIX PRESENTATION SIX A RECEIVE A PRESENTATION FROM CONGRESSWOMAN VERONICA ESCOBAR IN RECOGNITION OF COMMISSIONER CARLOS LEON'S PUBLIC SERVICE. WELCOME, CONGRESSWOMAN. GOOD MORNING. WELCOME HOME. IT'S. THANK YOU. IT'S SO WONDERFUL TO BE HERE. [A. Receive a presentation from Congresswoman Veronica Escobar in recognition of Commissioner Carlos Leon's public service. Betsy C. Keller, Chief Administrator, County Administration, 915-273-3600] JUDGE. COMMISSIONERS TO ALL OF THE TEAM. BETSY. CHRISTINA. NORMA, IT'S SO GOOD TO BE HERE. IT DOES FEEL LIKE BEING HOME. I AM HERE TODAY. COMMISSIONER LEON, TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR INCREDIBLE SERVICE TO OUR COMMUNITY. I HAD THE INCREDIBLE PRIVILEGE OF SERVING WITH YOU. AND IT WAS AN EXTRAORDINARY EXPERIENCE. WE LIVED THROUGH SO MANY CHALLENGING, DIFFICULT MOMENTS. SOME CRITICAL CONVERSATIONS ABOUT THE FUTURE OF OUR COMMUNITY, THE FUTURE OF THIS ORGANIZATION, THE FUTURE OF HEALTH CARE AND ALL OF THOSE DECISIONS THAT YOU MADE, I KNOW, WERE ALWAYS DONE IN A VERY THOUGHTFUL WAY, IN A WAY THAT REQUIRED A LOT OF COURAGE. AND I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR SHARING THAT COURAGE AND SHARING YOUR LEADERSHIP WITH THIS COMMUNITY FOR SO LONG. I WANT TO THANK YOUR BEAUTIFUL WIFE FOR THE SACRIFICES THAT YOU'VE MADE SO THAT YOUR HUSBAND CAN SERVE. I KNOW IT'S HARD ON A FAMILY WHEN PEOPLE ARE IN PUBLIC SERVICE. ALL OF YOU KNOW THIS. THERE'S A LOT OF SACRIFICE INVOLVED TO GIVING OF YOURSELF. BUT THEN THE SACRIFICE IS SHOULDERED BY FAMILY MEMBERS. AND DURING DIFFICULT MOMENTS, IT'S THE FAMILY MEMBERS WHO FEEL IT. THE MOST. SO BONNIE, CONGRATULATIONS AND THANK YOU FOR ALL OF THE SACRIFICES YOU'VE MADE SO THAT THE COMMISSIONER CAN SERVE THE COMMUNITY. AND COMMISSIONER, I HAVE TWO ITEMS THAT I WANT TO PRESENT TO YOU. THE FIRST. IS A FLAG THAT WE HAD FLOWN IN YOUR HONOR OVER THE UNITED STATES CAPITOL. AND SO I WANT YOU TO TAKE THIS HOME. TAKE THIS PIECE OF WASHINGTON, DC AND OUR NATION'S CAPITOL HOME, AND KNOW THAT FOR AN ENTIRE DAY, YOU, YOUR NAME, YOUR LEGACY WAS FLYING OVER THE MOST POWERFUL CAPITOL IN THE WORLD. AND SO THIS IS FOR YOU AND THE OTHER ITEM THAT I WANT TO SHARE WITH YOU IS A CONGRESSIONAL RECORD IN YOUR HONOR, THAT THAT WAS ENTERED INTO THE LIBRARY OF CONGRESS. AND JUST FOR FOLKS WATCHING AT HOME, A CONGRESSIONAL RECORD, THE LIBRARY OF CONGRESS, IF ANY OF YOU HAVE EVER BEEN TO WASHINGTO, DC, THE LIBRARY OF CONGRESS IS NEXT TO THE SUPREME COURT ACROSS FROM THE US CAPITOL, AND IT HOLDS ALL OF THE RECORDS, ALL EVERYTHING THAT WE DO, ALL OF THAT IS HELD. IT'S PART OF AMERICAN HISTORY. AND WHEN WE ENTER WORDS INTO THE CONGRESSIONAL RECORD, THEY GET HELD IN THE LIBRARY OF CONGRESS AND IT BECOMES A PART OF AMERICAN HISTORY. SO I'M GOING TO READ WHAT WE ENTERED INTO THE RECORD ON YOUR BEHALF. THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES HONORING CARLOS LEON'S CAREER IN SERVICE, HONORABLE VERONICA ESCOBAR OF TEXAS IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. MR. SPEAKER, I RISE TO HONOR EL PASO COUNTY COMMISSIONER CARLOS LEON, A LIFELONG EL PASOAN WHO HAS DEDICATED HIS CAREER TO SERVING EL PASO, TEXAS, FOR OVER FOUR DECADES. COMMISSIONER LEON BEGAN HIS CAREER IN 1974 WITH THE EL PASO POLICE DEPARTMENT, WHERE HE SERVED FOR THREE DECADES. AS A CAPTAIN, HE CHAMPIONED COMMUNITY POLICING, THE LAW ENFORCEMENT POLICY OF FOSTERING STRONG RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN LAW ENFORCEMENT AND RESIDENTS THAT BUILDS TRUST AND CREATES SAFER NEIGHBORHOODS. IN 1999, HE WAS APPOINTED CHIEF OF POLICE, LEADING EL PASO TO ITS FIRST NATIONAL RECOGNITION AS THE SAFEST CITY IN AMERICA. COMMISSIONER LEON'S DEDICATION CONTINUED WITH HIS ELECTION AS COUNTY COMMISSIONER FOR PRECINCT ONE, WHERE HE SERVED THREE TERMS. I HAD THE PRIVILEGE OF WORKING WITH COMMISSIONER LEON ON THE COMMISSIONER'S COURT, WITNESSING FIRSTHAND HIS PASSION [00:25:01] FOR A RESPONSIVE, EFFICIENT GOVERNMENT. HE WAS INSTRUMENTAL IN CREATING A COUNTY ADMINISTRATION OFFICE TO STREAMLINE AND PROFESSIONALIZE COUNTY OPERATIONS, EXPANDING HEALTH CARE ACCESS THROUGH UNIVERSITY MEDICAL CENTER CLINICS AND CHAMPIONING A $15 MINIMUM WAGE FOR ALL COUNTY EMPLOYEES. IT IS MY PRIVILEGE TO HONOR COMMISSIONER CARLOS LEON FOR HIS DECADES OF DEDICATED SERVICE TO THE CITIZENS OF EL PASO COUNTY, HIS LEADERSHIP IN PUBLIC SAFETY, INFRASTRUCTURE, ACCESS TO HEALTH CARE AND ECONOMIC EQUITY HAS LEFT A LASTING IMPACT ON OUR COMMUNITY. I EXTEND MY HEARTFELT GRATITUDE FOR HIS YEARS OF SERVICE AND WISH HIM AND HIS BELOVED FAMILY THE VERY BEST IN HIS WELL-DESERVED RECOGNITION, RETIREMENT. COMMISSIONER. CONGRATULATIONS. THANK YOU. THANK YOU ALSO. THANK YOU. YES. I WOULD LOVE THAT. YES. YOU KNOW, CONGRESSWOMAN, I REMEMBER SOME ISSUES THAT WOULD COME UP, BUT FOR THE MOST PART WE WOULD. I KNEW THAT YOU DO THE RIGHT THING WITH REGARDLESS OF HOW POPULAR OR UNPOPULAR, AND I WOULD HEAR HER BACK THEN AS JUDGE START THE SENTENCE BY. WELL, HERE'S THE THING. I KNOW, OH MAN. I REMEMBER SO MANY ISSUES WOULD COME UP. WELL, HERE'S THE THING. THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER. RYAN TWO. THINGS I THINK. COMMISSIONER. DON'T FORGET ABOUT. HAPPY THANKSGIVING. THANK YOU. HAPPY THANKSGIVING. HAPPY THANKSGIVING. WE'LL SEE YOU ALL LATER. ITEM SEVEN. REGULAR AGENDA SEVEN A RECEIVE A PRESENTATION ON THE 2024 PREVAILING WAGE SURVEY. OH THANK GOD. VERY NICE. GOOD MORNING, JUDGE AND COMMISSIONER, ADRIANA CHAPARRO, COUNTY [A. Receive a presentation on the 2024 Prevailing Wage Survey. Melissa Carrillo, Executive Director, County Operations, 915-546-2162] CONTRACT OPERATIONS MANAGER HERE FOR EL PASO COUNTY. WE'RE HERE TO PROVIDE YOU WITH A STATUS UPDATE ON THE 2024 PREVAILING WAGE SURVEY. AT THIS TIME. OKAY, SO JUST A LITTLE BACKGROUND ON WHAT THE PREVAILING WAGE SURVEY IS AND HOW WE CAME ACROSS IT AND HOW WE CONTINUE TO MOVE THROUGH THE PROCESS. SO AS OF 20 OF 2004, THIS COMMISSIONERS COURT HAS GIVEN US THE DIRECTION AND AUTHORIZATION TO ENGAGE IN THE 2024 PREVAILING WAGE SURVEY. THIS INVOLVES POLITICAL [00:30:06] SUBDIVISION REPRESENTATIVES, LABOR REPRESENTATIVES AND CONTRACTOR REPRESENTATIVES AS WELL. SO PREVAILING WAGE ENSURES TWO THINGS. CONTRACTORS HAVE EQUAL ACCESS TO BIDDING ON PUBLIC PROJECTS. AND THEN ALSO THE WORKERS ARE PAID A FAIR WAGE WHEN WORKING ON THESE PROJECTS. SO DECEMBER 18TH OF 2023, THIS COURT GAVE US AUTHORIZATION TO ENGAGE IN THE 2024 PREVAILING WAGE SURVEY. AND AS SUCH, WE HAVE AN UPDATE ON THAT. THIS IS A JUST WHERE WE'RE AT ON THE PROCESS. SO I'LL BEGIN WITH HOW WE STARTED THE PROCESS. AND THAT WAS THROUGH A RECORDS REQUEST THAT WE GAVE TO POLITICAL SUBDIVISIONS HERE OF EL PASO COUNTY BACK IN JANUARY OF 2024, OF 2024. AND THEN WE FOLLOWED UP WITH A COMMITTEE KICKOFF MEETING BASED ON THE RESPONSES THAT WE RECEIVED FROM THAT RECORDS REQUEST, WE INVITED MOST OF THOSE CONTRACTORS, OR I SHOULD SAY, ALL OF THE CONTRACTORS, TO THIS COMMITTEE KICKOFF MEETING, AND THAT WAS HELD ON MARCH 26TH OF 2024. WE THEN FOLLOWED UP WITH THE COMMITTEE, BASED ON SOME OF THE RECOMMENDATIONS THAT THEY HAD MADE ON THE JOB DESCRIPTIONS AND SOME OF THEIR CONCERNS. AND SO THAT MEETING WAS HELD ON APRIL 25TH OF 2024. WE THEN OPENED THE SURVEY AFTER MUCH THOUGHT AND THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF THAT COMMITTEE, WE OPENED THAT SURVEY TO THE COMMITTEE OR TO THE CONTRACTORS IN JUNE, AND THAT LASTED APPROXIMATELY TWO MONTHS. DURING THAT TIME, THERE WAS FOLLOW UP CONVERSATIONS OR COMMUNICATIONS WITH THE CONTRACTORS TO HAVE THEM MORE INVOLVED IN THE IN THE PROCESS. THE SURVEY THEN CLOSED ON AUGUST 16TH OF 2024, AND AS SOON AS THAT HAPPENED, THE OUR CONSULTANT SPEAK OR PUBLIC SECTOR PERSONNEL CONSULTANTS STARTED ENGAGING IN THE ANALYSIS OF THE DATA AND SEEING WHERE WE WERE AT WITH THE SURVEY RESPONSES AND SUCH. WHERE WE'RE AT NOW, WE'RE IN THE PROCESS OF REVIEWING THOSE SURVEYS AND THOSE NUMBERS, AND THEN ALSO WE'RE IN CONSTANT FOLLOW UP WITH THE COMMITTEE. WE'VE HELD TWO COMMITTEE MEETINGS AFTER THAT, AND WE'RE CONTINUING TO ANALYZE THOSE RESULTS AS WE GO ALONG. WE HOPE TO COME BACK TO YOU BEFORE DECEMBER 25TH OF 2024 TO ADOPT THOSE WAGES JUST BASED ON THE RECOMMENDATIONS AND BASED ON YOUR DIRECTION AS WELL. SO JUST A LITTLE BIT OF HOW THOSE SURVEYS WERE CONDUCTED. THERE WAS TWO SEPARATE SURVEYS, ONE FOR HEAVY AND HIGHWAY CONSTRUCTION, ANOTHER FOR BUILDING CONSTRUCTION. OUT OF THE SURVEY OUTCOME, BASICALLY THERE WAS 373 SURVEYS SENT, 88 SURVEYS RECEIVED WITH A 23.6 RESPONSE RATE. THE REASON FOR THAT WAS BECAUSE BASED ON THE ON THE RECORDS REQUEST, THERE WAS SOME INFORMATION SHARED WHERE THERE WAS A LOSS OF COVID FUNDING BECAUSE OF COVID, AND THEN ALSO BECAUSE OF THE LACK OF SUPPLY AND THEN ALSO PRICE INFLATION PLAYED INTO THIS FACTOR. LIKE I MENTIONED BEFORE, THE DATA COLLECTION METHODOLOGY. SO THE RECORDS REQUEST REQUESTED APPROXIMATELY THREE THINGS. AND THAT WAS THE NAME OF THE PROJECT WHEN THE PROJECT BEGAN, WHEN IT ENDED. AND THEN ALSO CONTRACTOR INFORMATION, NAME, PHONE NUMBER, THAT SORT OF THING. THE SURVEY LAUNCHED TO THOSE CONTRACTORS IDENTIFIED IN THAT PUBLIC RECORDS REQUEST FOR A PERIOD OF TWO MONTHS. AS I MENTIONED, THERE WAS A FOLLOW UP COMMUNICATIONS TO THE CONTRACTORS, AND THEN THERE WAS AN EXTENSION TO THAT SURVEY FOR AUGUST 16TH OF 2024. WHAT OUR NEXT STEPS ARE IN THIS PROCESS IS WE HOPE TO BRING THE FINAL RESULTS TO YOU, OR SOME RECOMMENDATIONS FROM THE COMMITTEE ON DECEMBER 9TH. THOSE WAGES WOULD BECOME EFFECTIVE THE DAY THAT WE TAKE THIS UP FOR RECOMMENDATION AND ADOPTION. AND THIS WOULD BE FOR ANY NEW BID PROJECTS. SO ANYTHING THAT COMES AFTER THAT, THAT'S WHEN WE WOULD GO AHEAD AND START THOSE NEW WAGES, AND THEN WE'LL WORK WITH THE COUNTY WEB TEAM JUST TO UPDATE THE PREVAILING WAGE NUMBERS ON, ON THE PUBLIC WORKS [00:35:02] WORKS WEBSITE. SO UNLESS THIS COMMISSIONERS COURT HAS ANY QUESTIONS, I'LL BE HAPPY TO ANSWER THOSE. YES, I'VE GOT MANY QUESTIONS, BUT I KNOW THERE'S SOMEBODY IN THE AUDIENCE THAT IS PART OF THE UNION. WE MET MY OFFICE, MET WITH A LOT OR A FEW OF THE REPRESENTATIVES A COUPLE OF WEEKS BACK, AND THEY BROUGHT UP SOME VERY INTERESTING POINTS. AND IF YOU DON'T MIND, SIR, IF YOU WOULD COME FORWARD AND TALK ABOUT THE ISSUES THAT THAT YOU SPOKE TO MY OFFICE ABOUT. GOOD MORNING, COMMISSIONERS COURT. MY NAME IS JAVIER CASAS. I'M WITH A MEMBER OF LOCAL FIVE, 83 ELECTRICIANS AND ALSO A MEMBER OF THE BUILDING TRADES AND SOME OF THE CONCERNS THAT WE HAD WHEN WE WERE GOING THROUGH THIS WAGE SURVEY WAS AN ISSUE ON THE FRENCH BENEFITS. I THINK AT FIRST THEY THERE WAS SOME DISCUSSION THAT THEY WERE NOT GOING TO BE INCLUDED IN OUR WAGE SURVEY AND WHAT HAVE YOU, BUT AFTER SEVERAL DISCUSSIONS AND EVERYTHING, I THINK THEY THEY ARE GOING TO INCLUDE THE FRENCH BENEFITS IN OUR WAGE SURVEY. ONE OF OUR CONCERNS ALSO ON THIS WAGE SURVEY IS THAT AS WE PRESENTED THOSE NUMBERS IN THERE, THERE WERE SOME IN MY OPINION, A LOW TURNOUT AS FAR AS FROM THE CONTRACTORS RESPONDING TO THE SURVEY. WE HAD SOME IN SOME OF THE TRADES OR CLASSIFICATIONS. YOU KNOW, WE ONLY HAD ONE RESPONSE, AND SO IT WAS GOING TO BE HARD TO MAKE A DECISION OUT OF ONE RESPONSE. SO I THINK IN OUR LAST MEETING, WE DECIDED THAT OUT OF THE THREE SURVEYS WE WERE GOING TO GET THE HIGHEST FOR EACH TRADE, WHETHER IT BE THE ELECTRICIANS, THE SHEET METAL WORKERS, PLUMBERS AND WHAT HAVE YOU. SO THEY'RE GOING TO MAKE A COMBINATION OF THE WAGE SURVEY THAT THE COUNTY DID ALSO, ALONG WITH THE FEDERAL DAVIS-BACON AND WHICHEVER IS THE HIGHEST, THEY'RE GOING TO ADOPT THAT WITH WITH A FRENCH PACKAGE, IF I'M NOT MISTAKEN. SO THAT WAS ONE OF OUR CONCERNS. OUR BIGGEST CONCERN WAS THE FRENCH PACKAGE NOT BEING INCLUDED, BUT BECAUSE I'VE DONE THIS MANY, MANY YEARS AND FRENCH PACKAGES ARE ALWAYS INCLUDED IN THE WAGE SURVEY BECAUSE THESE ARE CONTRACTORS THAT ARE PAYING EXTRA TO THEIR EMPLOYEES, WHETHER IT BE A RETIREMENT, AN ANNUITY, WHATEVER IT IS, THEY'RE PAYING THAT TO THEIR EMPLOYEES. YOU KNOW, SO AND THAT'S GOOD FOR THE COMMUNITY. SO IT IS ALSO OUR BELIEF THAT SOME OF THE RESULTS THAT WE SAW AS FAR AS FOR THE ELECTRICIANS CAME OUT LOWER. SO WE WERE GOING BACKWARDS IN WAGES. IT SAYS IT CAN'T BE, YOU KNOW, I MEAN THE WAY THE ECONOMY IS GOING, RIGHT NOW IN CONSTRUCTION, I'M SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF THE CONSTRUCTION IS GOING SO STRONG AND EVERYTHING THE WAGES ARE WERE INCORRECT, YOU KNOW, BUT THAT'S A SURVEY, YOU KNOW. BUT YOU GET A SURVEY LIKE THAT WHEN YOU GET A POOR TURNOUT. SO AND I DO COMMEND THE COUNTY FOR MAKING THAT DECISION THAT THEY'RE GOING TO LOOK AT ALL THE SURVEYS OUT THERE AND WHICHEVER IS HIGHER, THEY'RE GOING TO ADOPT THAT ONE. SO AND MR. GARCIA, ONE OF THE AREAS THAT I WASN'T FAMILIAR WITH IS FRINGE BENEFITS. HOW DOES A COMPANY PAY THOSE BENEFITS IF IT'S AN EMPLOYEE? AND I'LL EXPLAIN WHAT YOU ALL TOLD ME, THAT GOES FROM REALLY THEIR PART TIME JOBS IN A JOB MAY LAST A YEAR, MAY LAST LONGER OR SHORTE, DEPENDING ON WHAT YOU ALL ARE BUILDING. SO I DIDN'T UNDERSTAND HOW DO YOU HOW CAN YOU PAY FRINGE BENEFITS IF THIS EMPLOYEE GOES SOMEPLACE ELSE OVER AND OVER? BUT I WAS TOLD INSTEAD OF A BASE PAY OF LET'S SAY $15 AN HOUR, THEN AT $17 AN HOUR, AND THAT TAKES CARE OF THE EMPLOYEE HIMSELF OR HERSELF, WILL FIND THEIR OWN HEALTH INSURANCE OR WHATEVER, SO THAT PART WAS EXPLAINED TO ME. BUT I GUESS THIS HAS BEEN OVERSIMPLISTIC IN OUR CONVERSATIONS. WE SAID THAT. WHY DON'T WE JUST GO TO DAVIS-BACON? AND I'M SURE MELISSA, THERE'S ISSUES THERE, BUT I REALLY DIDN'T UNDERSTAND WHAT THOSE ISSUES WERE AND WHAT WHY IS THERE A RESISTANCE TO GO WITH THIS OTHER PAY SCALE? AND I THINK, LIKE I SAID, I THINK IT WAS CLARIFIED BECAUSE OF THE POOR TURNOUT IN MY OPINION, THAT WE HAD ON ON SOME OF THE TRADES. IT WAS GOING TO BE HARD TO MAKE A, I GUESS, A REASONABLE WAGE SURVEY OUT THERE. SO IT WAS DECIDED THAT THEY WERE GOING TO HAVE A COMBINATION OF THE WAGE SURVEY THAT THE COUNTY DID, ALONG WITH THE ONE WITH THE. WE HAVE FEDERAL DAVIS-BACON RIGHT NOW FOR THE COUNTY OF EL PASO, AND THEY'RE GOING TO COMPARE EACH TRADE FOR EACH ONE. AND WHICHEVER IS HIGHER, THEY'RE GOING TO ADOPT THAT ONE. FOR INSTANCE, FOR THE ELECTRICIANS AND THE ELECTRICIANS THE COUNTY CAME OUT AT I CAN'T REMEMBER 24 OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT. FEDERAL [00:40:03] DAVIS IS 25, 50 PLUS THE FRINGES. SO IT WAS DECIDED WE'RE GOING TO ADOPT THE FEDERAL DAVIS-BACON FOR THE BUILDING. OKAY, I'M TALKING BUILDING HERE FOR THE BUILDING OF CONSTRUCTION, NOT THE HIGHWAY OR THE HEAVY. I'M TALKING ABOUT BUILDING HERE. SO THAT WAS THAT WAS THAT IS WHAT WAS THE CONSENSUS IN OUR IN OUR MEETING TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THIS WAGE SURVEY ON THE BUILDING PART OF IT. I SAW YOU GET UP MELISSA. I GUESS I'M GOING TO EXPLAIN IT A LITTLE BIT. YES. THANK YOU, THANK YOU. GOOD MORNING. JUDGE. COMMISSIONERS MELISSA CARRILLO WITH COUNTY OPERATIONS. SO TODAY WE WANTED TO BRING YOU THIS UPDATE JUST TO SHARE A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHERE WE WERE IN THE PROCESS. BUT TO MR. CASA'S POIN, ABSOLUTELY. WE'VE BEEN MEETING WITH OUR COMMITTEE. AND WHAT WE WERE TALKING ABOUT THIS MORNING IS AS THESE SURVEY RESPONSES START COMING IN, WE HAVE TO START ANALYZING THEM. AND MR. CASAS IS CORRECT. THERE WERE SURVEY RESPONSES IN SOME SITUATIONS WHERE ONLY ONE SURVEY RESPONSE WAS RECEIVED. AND SO AS WE MEET WITH THE COMMITTEE, WE DEFINITELY WEREN'T AT A PLACE INITIALLY TO SAY, WHERE SHOULD WE GO THAT WE DON'T KNOW THE RECOMMENDATION INITIALLY, BUT WHEN WE MET WITH THEM TO HEAR THEIR CONCERNS, TO HEAR WHAT HOW IT IMPACTS THEIR WORKFORCE, HOW DOES IT IMPACT POTENTIALLY OUR ECONOMY, WE TALKED THROUGH POTENTIAL SOLUTIONS THAT WE CAN BRING TO YOU AS A COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION, WHICH WE HOPE TO DO IN THE NEXT FEW WEEKS. BUT ONE OF THE THINGS THAT HAS YET TO BE MENTIONED, THAT'S PLAYING A BIG PART HERE, AND I WON'T GET INTO THE SPECIFICS, BUT WE DO HAVE COUNTY ATTORNEYS ONLINE. THE LAST TIME WE DID THIS PREVAILING WAGE SURVEY IN 2020, WE DID HAVE A LAWSUIT BROUGHT AGAINST US. AND SO WHEN THAT LAWSUIT WAS BROUGHT AGAINST US, A SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT WAS ENTERED INTO. AND THAT SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT DOES HAVE CERTAIN TERMS IN WHICH NOT ON THAT THERE'S A TEXAS HEAVY, THERE'S A HEAVY HIGHWAY, AND THEN THERE'S THE BUILDING AND CONSTRUCTION PIECE OF THESE TWO SURVEY RESPONSES. THE SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT HAS AN IMPACT ON THE HEAVY HIGHWAY PORTION, NOT THE BUILDING CONSTRUCTION. AND ONE OF THE SPECIFIC IMPACTS IS THAT WE CANNOT WE ARE PROHIBITED FROM INCLUDING FRINGE WHEN CALCULATING THE SURVEY ON THE PREVAILING WAGES, ONLY ON THE HEAVY HIGHWAY PIECE, NOT ON THE BUILDING CONSTRUCTION, BUT ON THE HEAVY HIGHWAY PIECE. SO AS WE WORK THROUGH THESE RESTRICTIONS, AS WE WORK THROUGH THESE SURVEY OUTCOMES WITH ONLY ONE RESPONSE, THERE ARE SEVERAL FACTORS THAT ARE PLAYING INTO WHAT ARE THE REAL RECOMMENDATIONS WE WANT TO BRING TO YOU. WE'RE NOT AT A POINT TO BRING THOSE TO YOU TODAY, BUT WE WORK REALLY CLOSELY WITH OUR COMMITTEE. WE HEAR THEIR CONCERNS, WE WORK WITH OUR COUNTY ATTORNEYS SO THAT WE CAN CONTINUE VETTING THROUGH THOSE OPTIONS BEFORE WE'RE READY TO COME BEFORE YOU. I DO THINK OUR MEETING LAST WEEK WAS VERY FRUITFUL, VERY PRODUCTIVE. WE HEARD FROM SEVERAL CONTRACTORS AND SUBCONTRACTORS, AND WE'RE WORKING THROUGH THE OPTIONS THAT WE CAN BRING TO YOU WHEN WE SAY THE HIGHEST OF THE TWO AND WE VET ONE BY ONE, THOSE JOBS IN WORKING WITH THE COUNTY ATTORNEYS, OUR GOAL IS TO ENSURE THAT WE BRING YOU THE MOST PREVAILING WAGE OF THOSE TWO ITEMS WHERE ABLE. SO MAYBE ON THE HEAVY HIGHWAY PIECE WE CAN INCLUDE FRINGE, BUT IF WE CAN ADOPT DAVIS-BACON, WHICH IS WITHIN THE ALLOWABILITY OF THAT SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT, DAVIS-BACON DOES INCLUDE FRINGE, RIGHT. AND IT'S VERY SPECIFIC. SO DEPENDING ON WHICH ONE WILL BRING THAT RECOMMENDATION TO YOU, AND THEN SECONDLY, ON THE BUILDING CONSTRUCTION PIECE, WE ARE NOT PROHIBITED FROM INCLUDING FRINGE. SO IT'S A MATTER OF LOOKING AGAIN TO SEE WHICH IS THE MOST PREVAILING WAGE. SO WE CAN BRING THOSE RECOMMENDATIONS TO YOU. BUT WE ARE WORKING VERY CLOSELY WITH OUR COMMITTEE. WE'RE HEARING OUR CONCERNS. WE WANT TO ENSURE THAT WE HELP RETAIN A VERY STRONG WORKFORCE HERE IN EL PASO COUNTY, SO THAT WE CAN CONTINUE CONTRIBUTING TO A STRONG ECONOM, BUT WE'RE VETTING THROUGH THE MANY OPTIONS BEFORE WE BRING THOSE RECOMMENDATIONS TO YOU. THERE'S JUST A LOT IN PLAY HERE THAT IN A TYPICAL YEAR THERE'S NOT. AND THEN ADDITIONALLY, WHAT I WANT TO SAY IS ADRIANA CHAPARRO, WHEN WE BEGAN THE IDEA OF DO WE DO A SURVEY OR DO WE DO DAVIS-BACON RATES, WE WENT OUT AND LOOKED AT COMPARABLE COUNTIES AND WHAT DO THEY TYPICALLY DO? AND QUITE A BIT OF COUNTIES IN TEXAS DO JUST DEFAULT TO THE DAVIS-BACON RATES. THEY DEFAULT TO THOSE THEY DON'T ENGAGE IN A SALARY SURVEY. BUT WE BROUGHT YOU THAT OPTION LAST YEAR, AND WE RECOMMENDED THE SURVEY. WE WENT THROUGH IT. AND AT THIS POINT THERE ARE SOME INSTANCES WHERE THE DAVIS-BACON WAGES ARE HIGHER THAN THE PREVAILING WAGE SURVEY RATES. THAT'S NOT ALWAYS THE CASE. IN YEARS PAST, WE'VE SEEN THAT DAVIS-BACON RATES ARE OFTENTIMES LOWER THAN WHAT THE PREVAILING SURVEY RATES ARE. AND SO BY DOING THE TWO, WE GET TO SEE WHAT THOSE NUMBERS LOOK LIKE. AND AGAIN BRING YOU A STRONG RECOMMENDATION, WHICH SHOULD BE FORTHCOMING IN THE NEXT FEW WEEKS. THANK YOU MELISSA. BETSY, YOU WANT TO ADD YOU'VE BEEN IN THIS SCENARIO LOTS OF TIMES. SO YOUR COMMENTS WOULD BE VERY APPRECIATED. THANK YOU. JUDGE, I THINK OUR TEAM AND WHAT MELISSA DESCRIBED IS EXACTLY A GOOD OVERVIEW. THIS IS US WORKING AS THE DATA COMES IN. THERE'S A LOT OF LIKE DISCUSSION. BUT WHEN YOU FIRST SEE THE NUMBERS IN THE DATA THERE'S CONCERNS. BUT THE COMMITTEE WORKS THROUGH THAT. WE ALWAYS TRY TO BRING FORWARD A RECOMMENDATION THAT THE WHOLE COMMITTEE IS SUPPORTIVE OF, THAT WILL SET THE PREVAILING WAGES GOING FORWARD. WE ARE WORKING [00:45:01] ALSO, AS MELISSA ALLUDED. I MEAN, WE ARE ALSO WORKING TO POSSIBLY PUT TOGETHER SOME GUIDING PRINCIPLES OR POLICIES THAT WE WOULD HAVE TO REFER BACK TO THAT WE WOULD ALSO DISCUSS WITH COMMITTEE WHAT THESE WOULD BE. BUT LIKE WHEN THERE IS NO RESPONSE, WHICH WAGE DO WE ADOPT WHEN THERE IS A RESPONSE, BUT IT'S LESS THAN DAVIS-BACON WHEN THERE IS A RESPONSE AND IT DOESN'T INCLUDE FRINGE BENEFITS. THOSE THOSE KINDS OF ISSUES. AND AS COMMISSIONER LEON, AS YOU MENTIONED, COMMISSIONER STOUT BROUGHT ME INTO A MEETING WITH THE SOME OF THE COMMITTEE MEMBERS, AND WE TALKED ABOUT THE FRINGE BENEFITS AND HOW THEY'RE NOT APPLES TO APPLES, BUT IT IS AN AVERAGE AND THAT IT CAN EITHER BE IT'S TOTAL COMPENSATION VALUE, BASICALLY WHETHER OR NOT IT'S THE MONEY'S IN THE FRINGE OR IN THE WAGES, AS LONG AS THE TOTAL VALUE OF WHAT INDIVIDUALS ARE COMPENSATED IS WHAT WE SHOULD BE CONSIDERING. WHEN WE BRING FORWARD OUR FINAL RECOMMENDATION OR WHEN THESE WAGES ARE PAID. BUT I THINK OUR TEAM, I CAN'T SAY ENOUGH ABOUT THE WORK OUR TEAM HAS BEEN DOING, LED BY MELISSA AND THE WITH THE COMMITTEE MEMBERS. I JUST I REALLY APPRECIATE EVERYTHING, EVERYTHING THAT THEY'VE BEEN DOING TO GET THIS TO A POINT THAT EVERYONE'S IN AGREEMENT WHEN WE BRING FORWARD A RECOMMENDATION. THANK YOU. BETS. AND ONE MORE THING, JUDGE. I WANTED TO ADDRESS AS FAR AS RESPONSES, I UNDERSTAND WE SENT IT TO MORE RECIPIENTS, BUT I BELIEVE THE NUMBER OF RESPONSES IS SIMILAR. IT'S JUST A LOWER PERCENTAGE BECAUSE I BELIEVE WE SENT IT TO MORE O O SAME PERCENTAGE BUT LOWER NUMBER BECAUSE THERE WERE LESS IDENTIFIED CONTRACTORS. IS THAT CORRECT? AND SO IT'S THE SAME PERCENTAGE RESPONSE RATE. JUST IT'S A LOWER NUMBER BECAUSE THERE WERE LESS PEOPLE TO SEND THE SURVEYS TO THIS TIME. I GUESS MELISSA AND BETSY, THAT I GUESS OUR CONCERN IS JUST LIKE THE ENTIRE COURT SAID, WE JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THOSE EMPLOYEES ARE TREATED FAIRLY AND ARE PAID. WHAT THEY SHOULD BE PAID AND NOT THERE'S CHEATING THAT GOES ON BEYOND OUR CONTROL, BUT WHAT WE CAN CONTROL AND WHAT WE SHOULD CONTROL, I THINK AS LONG AS WE WORK IN YOUR COMMITTEE, IS WORKING WITH REPRESENTATIVES OF THESE TRADES, I THINK WE SHOULD BE IN GOOD HANDS. BUT, MR. CASAS, YOU BROUGHT UP SEVERAL ISSUES. I CAN'T RECALL WHAT THEY WERE RIGHT OFF HAND, BUT IN WORKING WITH AS WE MOVE FORWARD, ARE YOU INCLUDING SOME OF THESE FOLKS IN YOUR MEETINGS? ABSOLUTELY. YES, SIR. MR. CASAS IS IN THOSE MEETINGS. THERE ARE SEVERAL. WE OFFER THEM IN A HYBRID CAPACITY. SO SOME CONTRACTORS AND SUBCONTRACTORS WILL ATTEND IN PERSON. BUT THERE'S QUITE A BIT THAT ARE ONLINE IN A TEAM'S FORMAT. AND AS BETSY MENTIONED, THE IDEA IS LET'S HEAR DIRECTLY FROM THOSE WHO PAY THESE EMPLOYEES. WHAT ARE YOUR CONCERNS ONE WAY OR ANOTHER? AND WE ARE IN AGREEMENT WITH WHAT WE WANT THE OUTCOME TO BE. WE WANT TO ENSURE FAIR, EQUITABLE WAGES FOR THESE PEOPLE WHO DO THIS TYPE OF WORK. AND IT IT ONLY WORKS WHEN WE COMMUNICATE WITH EACH OTHER SO THAT WE CAN BRING YOU STRONG RECOMMENDATIONS. BUT AS BETSY MENTIONED INITIALLY, WHEN WE SHARE THE SURVEY RESULTS, THERE DEFINITELY IS. SOME ARE, SOME OUTLIERS. THEY JUMP OUT AT YOU AND YOU WONDER HOW CAN THAT BE? HOW IS THAT LOWER THAN IT WAS FOUR YEARS AGO? HOW IS DAVIS-BACON HIGHER IN THESE SITUATIONS? AND SO WE WORK THROUGH THOSE DIRECTLY WITH THE CONTRACTORS AND SUBCONTRACTORS SO THAT WE CAN DETERMINE WHAT ARE SOME SOLUTIONS WE CAN BRING FORWARD TO YOU AND I. AND I THINK THE BIGGEST CONCERN WAS THE LACK OF PARTICIPATION FROM FROM SOME OF THESE CONTRACTORS. ANTHONY, ANY ADDITIONAL COMMENTS? GOOD MORNING. JUDGE. COMMISSIONERS. ANTHONY MARTINEZ ASSISTANT COUNTY ATTORNEY I JUST WANTED TO CLARIFY. SO AS MISS CARRILLO STATED, THE STANDARD IS DETERMINING A PREVAILING WAGE. AND IN MAKING THAT CALCULATION IN EITHER CATEGORY, FRINGE MAY BE CONSIDERED IF THE MAJORITY OF RESPONDENTS ALSO INCLUDED FRINGE. THAT'S WHAT MAKES IT THE PREVAILING WAGE. IF THE MAJORITY OF RESPONDENTS DO NOT INCLUDE FRINGE, THEN INCLUDING FRINGE IN THE RESULT WOULD NOT. IT WOULDN'T REPRESENT THE PREVAILING WAGE. SO THAT'S THAT'S THE CALCULATION. THERE. IF AGAIN, IF MAJORITY OF RESPONDENTS INCLUDE FRINGE, THEN IT CAN BE INCLUDED IN THE FINAL NUMBER. IF THEY DON'T, THEN THEN IT WOULD NEED TO BE EXCLUDED. AND THAT'S CONSISTENT WITH THE EIGHTH COURT OF APPEALS OPINION. AND IN THAT 2021 CASE, AND ALSO THE SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT IN 2023, AND THAT INFORMATION THAT HE REFERENCES IS SPECIFIC TO THE LAWSUIT AS WELL. ON THE HEAVY HIGHWAY SIDE. SO HAD OUR RESPONSES COME FORWARD AND THE MAJORITY OF THOSE RESPONSES FOR HEAVY HIGHWAY PROJECTS INCLUDED FRINGE BENEFITS, THEN WE COULD HAVE INCLUDED FRINGE BENEFITS ON THAT SIDE AS WELL. BUT BECAUSE THEY DID NOT CURRENTLY, THE LAWSUIT PROHIBITS US FROM INCLUDING THEM ONLY ON HEAVY HIGHWAY PROJECTS AND UNDER DAVIS-BACON. I DON'T THINK THEY INCLUDE FRINGE ON HEAVY HIGHWAY. [00:50:04] JUST ON THE ELECTRICIANS. OKAY. THANK YOU FOR THEIR COMMENTS. NO THANK YOU. THANK YOU, THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR TIME. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR WORK. APPRECIATE IT. AND ANTHONY, THANK YOU. WE'LL BE BACK SOON. THANK YOU. THANK YOU ALL. THANK YOU. ITEM EIGHT COUNTY ADMINISTRATION EIGHT A. DISCUSS AND TAKE APPROPRIATE ACTION REGARDING COUNTY MEMBERSHIP TO THE GLOBAL SPACE SPACEPORT ALLIANCE. FUNDING IN THE AMOUNT OF $2,000 IS AVAILABLE IN GENERAL FUND [A. Discuss and take appropriate action regarding County membership to the Global Spaceport Alliance. Funding in the amount of $2,000 is available in GF-ECONDEV-DUES. Jose M. Landeros, Director, Strategic Capital Development, 915-546-2159] ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DUES. GOOD MORNING. JUDGE. COMMISSIONERS WITH STRATEGIC CAPITAL DEVELOPMENT. THIS ITEM IS BEING BROUGHT FORTH FOR THE COURT'S DISCUSSION AND CONSIDERATION. THIS MORNING IS AN ITEM THAT WE FEEL SUPPORTS THE COUNTY'S ONGOING EFFORTS TO ENHANCE SPACEPORT DEVELOPMENT ACTIVITY, AND IT'S SOMETHING THAT COMMISSIONER GUYNN BROUGHT TO OUR ATTENTION AFTER PARTICIPATING IN A CONFERENCE AND ATTENDING WITH WITH STAFF FROM ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT OVER IN MIDLAND JUST A FEW WEEKS AGO. AND SO THE ASSOCIATION PROVIDES NETWORKING OPPORTUNITIES WITH AEROSPACE COMPANIES. THEY HOST AN ANNUAL TRADE SUMMIT EVERY YEAR, WHICH IS SCHEDULED TO BE IN FLORIDA THIS COMING JANUARY. AND SO THE MEMBERSHIP ALSO PROVIDES UP TO THREE MEMBERSHIPS FOR THE COUNTY, OR THREE REGISTRATIONS TO THAT EVENT FOR THE COUNTY. IN ADDITION TO BEING FURTHERING THE COUNTY'S COMMITMENT TO SUPPORTING AEROSPACE DEVELOPMENT AS AN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY FOR THE COUNTY IN ALIGNMENT WITH THE COUNTY'S STRATEGIC GOAL AND PLAN. SO WE'VE IDENTIFIED FUNDING WITHIN THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT BUDGET TO SUPPORT THIS INITIATIVE AND WE'D ASK FOR YOUR FAVORABLE CONSIDERATION, SUBJECT TO YOUR QUESTIONS THIS MORNING. AND JUST TO ADD A LITTLE BIT TO THAT. SO, CHRISTIAN MARTINEZ AND I ATTENDED A HIGH SPEED FLIGHT CONFERENCE IN MIDLAND, AND IT WAS JUST VERY IMPRESSIVE TO SEE THE PARTICIPATION AT THIS PARTICULAR CONFERENCE IN MIDLAND, OF ALL PLACES. YOU HAD PEOPLE WHO TRAVELED FROM AUSTRALIA. SO IT'S A VERY CLOSE KNIT, SPECIALIZED AREA, AND I BELIEVE THAT IT WOULD BE IMPORTANT FOR US TO BECOME INVOLVED AND START MAKING SOME OF THOSE CONNECTIONS. IF WE REALLY ARE SERIOUS ABOUT ADVANCING THE AEROSPACE INDUSTRY HERE IN EL PASO. SO WHEN WE LOOKED AT THE POSSIBILITY OF JOINING THIS ALLIANCE, AND I THINK FOR THE BENEFIT THAT WE'LL RECEIVE IN MAKING SOME OF THESE CONNECTIONS, THE COST OF MEMBERSHIP IS WELL WORTH IT. THANK YOU. COMMISSIONER, WE HAVE A MOTION FROM COMMISSIONER OLGUIN TO APPROVE SECOND, BY COMMISSIONER CORONADO. THE VOTING IS OPEN. MOTION CARRIES. THANK YOU. JOSE. APPRECIATE IT. ITEM EIGHT B DISCUSS AND TAKE APPROPRIATE ACTION REGARDING THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE FY 2024 MULTI YEAR CAPITAL PLAN FOR EL PASO COUNTY, INCLUDING PROJECT SELECTIONS, PERFORMANCE OBJECTIVES AND OUTCOMES, PERFORMANCE MANAGEMENT, OPERATIONAL MANAGEMENT, CORRESPONDING FINANCIAL PLANNING RELATED TO CAPITAL INVESTMENTS AND OPERATIONAL NEEDS AND GENERAL CAPITAL DIRECTION. GOOD MORNING AGAIN, JUDGE. COMMISSIONERS WITH STRATEGIC CAPITAL DEVELOPMENT. WE, THE COUNTY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE, HAS PROVIDED THE COMMISSIONERS COURT CLERKS WITH A COPY OF THE MOTION TO MOVE THIS ITEM INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION FOR US TO PROVIDE UPDATES TO THE COURT ON A FEW MATTERS BASED ON THE PREVIOUS CONVERSATIONS AND DIRECTION. THE COURT HAS PROVIDED STAFF, WE'D BE ASKING THAT THIS BE TAKEN IN REGULAR ORDER IN EXECUTIVE SESSION. ONCE THE COURT ARRIVES. AT THAT POINT AT YOUR AGENDA NOT TO GO OUT OF ORDER THIS MORNING AND IT'S TO RECEIVE LEGAL ADVIC. I HAVE A MOTION BY COMMISSIONER LEON, A SECOND BY COMMISSIONER STOUT. THE VOTING IS OPEN. MOTION CARRIES. THANK YOU. JUDGE. COMMISSIONERS. THANK YOU. ITEM NINE. AUDITOR NINE. A PURSUANT TO TEXAS LOCAL GOVERNMENT CODE, SECTION 114.023114.024114.025 AND 114.026. ACCEPT THE ATTACHED PRESENTATION AND THE INTERIM FINANCIAL REPORT FOR THE MONTH [A. Pursuant to Texas Local Government Code § 114.023, 114.024, 114.025 and 114.026, accept the attached presentation and the interim financial report for the month ended October 2024. The interim financial report is located on the internet at: http://www.epcountytx.gov/auditor/publications/monthlyreports.htm. Barbara Parker, County Auditor, County Auditor's Office, 915-273-3262] ENDED OCTOBER 2020. FOR THE INTERIM FINANCIAL REPORT IS LOCATED ON THE INTERNET AT HTTP COLON. FORWARD SLASH, FORWARD SLASH WEBB COUNTY, TX DOT GOV FORWARD SLASH AUDITOR FORWARD SLASH PUBLICATIONS FORWARD SLASH MONTHLY REPORTS DOT HTM. GOOD MORNING COMMISSIONERS AND JUDGE. THE PRESENTATION TODAY IS ON THE OCTOBER INTERIM FINANCIALS. THIS EXECUTIVE SUMMARY SHOWS THE [00:55:02] REVENUES AND EXPENDITURES OF ALL FUNDS FOR THE CURRENT YEAR. THIS IS THE CONDENSED FINANCIAL FOR OCTOBER 2024, PUBLISHED IN THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER. THIS SLIDE PRESENTS ALL REVENUE COLLECTED WITHIN THE COUNTY, BROKEN DOWN BY FUND TYPE. THE SLIDE IS SHOWN IN THOUSANDS FOCUS THROUGHOUT. THIS PRESENTATION EMPHASIZES THE GENERAL FUND, WHICH IS THE MAIN OPERATING FUND OF THE COUNTY, AND DURING THE CURRENT MONTH, THE GENERAL FUND COLLECTED ALMOST $6 MILLION. TOTAL PROPERTY TAXES COLLECTED AS OF OCTOBER 2024 DECREASED $2 MILLION COMPARED TO FISCAL YEAR 24. DUE TO THIS IS DUE TO TIMING DIFFERENCE IN COLLECTIONS THIS YEAR, THE GENERAL FUND PROPERTY TAXES DECREASED BY 1.8 MILLION IN TOTAL. THE BREAKDOWN OF FISCAL YEAR 25 YEAR TO DATE GENERAL FUND REVENUE, COLLECTIONS BY REVENUE TYPE ARE SHOWN HERE. IN THOUSANDS AND COMPARED TO THE SAME PERIOD FOR LAST FISCAL YEAR, THE TOTAL GENERAL FUND COLLECTIONS HAVE DECREASED COMPARED TO THE SAME PERIOD IN THE PRIOR YEAR. THE TOP INCREASING AREAS ARE FINES AND FORFEITS, WHICH INCREASED 106,000, THE TOP DECREASING AREAS ARE PROPERTY TAXES. AS MENTIONED ON THE PREVIOUS SCREEN, INTERGOVERNMENTAL AND INTEREST. AND BARBARA, WHAT WAS THE DISCREPANCY? YOU SAID THE TIMELINE DISCREPANCY FOR WE BELIEVE IT'S TIMING. IT'S THE BILLS ARE SENT OUT IN OCTOBER AND IT APPEARS THAT LESS PEOPLE ACTUALLY PAID IN OCTOBER, AS FROM LAST YEAR COMPARED TO LAST YEAR, AS THE BILLS SENT WERE ACTUALLY MORE THAN WHAT THEY WERE LAST YEAR. JUST LESS PEOPLE PAID IN OCTOBER. THAT'S WHAT WE THINK. YES. THIS SLIDE SHOWS REVENUE COLLECTED COMPARED TO THE ESTIMATED BUDGET FOR THE YEAR AS OF OCTOBER, 8.33% OF THE FISCAL YEAR HAS EXPIRED. SO FAR THIS YEAR, GENERAL FUND HAS COLLECTED 1.56% OF THE BUDGETED REVENUES. AND I WANT TO MAKE SURE YOU UNDERSTAND THE ANALYSIS EXCLUDES $83 MILLION, WHICH WERE DESIGNATED FOR FUND BALANCE RESERVES IN THIS PARTICULAR SLIDE, YOU'LL SEE THAT THERE IS NO SALES TAX COLLECTED IN OCTOBER. WE DID RECEIVE SALES TAX IN OCTOBER. HOWEVER, FOR ACCOUNTING PURPOSES IT'S PUT INTO SEPTEMBER'S REVENUES. SO YOU DON'T SEE IT COMPARED. THE SAME THING HAPPENED LAST YEAR. THERE'S NO THERE'S NO REVENUES RECEIVED FOR SALES TAX IN THE MONTH OF OCTOBER. THE ACTUAL TAXES RECEIVED WERE $5.8 MILLION. LAST YEAR THEY WERE $6.1 MILLION. IT'S 6.16.1. YEAH. OF THE TOTAL YEAR TO DATE REVENUES COLLECTED AS OF OCTOBE, 57.56% OF THE REVENUES. RECEIVED WERE PROPERTY, 57.56% OF THE REVENUES RECEIVED WERE TAXES AND 57.43% OF THOSE REVENUES WERE PROPERTY TAXES. THE DIFFERENCE WAS BINGO TAX. THIS SLIDE SHOWS THE TREND FOR TOTAL REVENUES. THE LINES AT THE TOP AND THE BOTTOM OF THE CHART SHOW YOUR BUDGET AND YOUR ACTUAL REVENUES, AND THEN THE LAST. THIS IS ALL OVER THE LAST THREE YEARS. THE COMPARISONS TO BUDGET AND ACTUALS ARE ACTUALLY ON THE BAR. THE CURRENT YEAR GENERAL FUND REVENUE COLLECTIONS INCREASED COMPARED TO THE PERCENTAGE OF THE BUDGET PROPERTY TAX COLLECTIONS AT 1.4% OF THE BUDGET ARE LAGGING COMPARED TO PREVIOUS YEARS, WHILE SALES AND USE TAXES ARE STILL PENDING. COLLECTIONS. AS PREVIOUSLY MENTIONED. AS I MENTIONED, WE DID ACTUALLY RECEIVE SALES TAXES FOR OCTOBER. THEY WERE PUT INTO THE SEPTEMBER, AND WE JUST WANTED TO SHOW YOU WHAT THE TRENDS WERE FOR THE FOUR TOP CATEGORIES THAT WE RECEIVED SALES TAX IN RETAIL TRADE DECREASED BY 4.3%. ACCOMMODATION AND FOOD SERVICES INCREASED BY 4.9%, INFORMATION INCREASED BY 14.6% AND WHOLESALE TRADE DECREASED BY 34.3%. REGARDING [01:00:05] EXPENDITURES, THIS SLIDE SHOWS ALL EXPENDITURES FOR THE COUNTY BY FUND TYPE. ONCE AGAIN IN THOUSANDS FOR THE MONTH OF OCTOBER, THE GENERAL FUND RECORDED TOTAL EXPENDITURES OF 12.4 MILLION. THE FOLLOWING SLIDES WILL GIVE US A DETAILED BREAKDOWN OF THE GENERAL FUND EXPENDITURES. THIS SLIDE BREAKS THE EXPENDITURES DOWN. FOR GENERAL FUND, THE PERCENTAGE OF THE YEAR EXPIRED IS 8.3%. THE PERCENTAGE OF BUDGET EXPENDED IS 2.74%. GENERAL GOVERNMENT WAS 3.8 MILLION, OR 2.46% OF THE BUDGET BEING EXPENDED. ADMINISTRATION OF JUSTICE WAS 2.9 MILLION, OR 2.92% OF THE BUDGET, AND PUBLIC SAFETY WAS 4.9 MILLION, OR 3.05% OF THE BUDGET. THE REVISED BUDGET AND GENERAL GOVERNMENT EXCLUDES 20.5 MILLION, ALMOST 20.6 MILLION FOR DESIGNATED UNFORESEEN EMERGENCIES. FOR FY 25 EXPENDED THROUGH JUST THROUGH OCTOBER. THE FIRST MONTH OF THE YEAR. THESE SHOW THE GENERAL FUND EXPENDITURES BY CATEGORY. THIS IS COMPARED TO LAST YEAR. ALL CATEGORIES ARE LOWER THAN LAST YEAR EXCEPT FOR CAPITAL OUTLAY, WITH AN OVERALL TOTAL DECREASE OF 22.02%. THE PERSONNEL EXPENDITURES WERE $10 MILLION, OR DECREASE OF 849,000. THIS IS MOSTLY DUE TO ACCOUNTING ACCRUALS. LAST YEAR, OUR PAYROLL PERIOD ENDED SUCH THAT THE FULL TWO WEEKS WAS ALREADY INCLUDED IN SEPTEMBER, SO THERE WERE NO ACCRUALS FOR OCTOBER THIS YEAR. WE HAD TO MOVE ONE WEEK AND SO THAT'S WHY IT'S LESS THIS YEAR. OPERATING EXPENDITURES WERE 2.5 MILLION, A DECREASE OF 491,000. THIS WAS DUE TO GENERAL GOVERNMENT INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY AND WHICH WAS OFFSET SLIGHTLY BY AN INCREASE IN INSURANCE FOR GENERAL AND PROPERTY. THIS SLIDE SHOWS US GENERAL FUND CHANGES BY GOVERNMENT FUNCTION IN COMPARISON WITH THE SAME PERIOD IN THE PRIOR YEAR. TOP AREAS OF CHANGE ARE RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT, HEALTH AND WELFARE, GENERAL GOVERNMENT AND CULTURE AND RECREATION. THESE CHANGES INCLUDE ALL CATEGORIES THAT WE SAW IN THE PREVIOUS SCREEN. THIS SLIDE GIVES US A PICTURE OF A COMPARISON OF BUDGET SPENT TO BUDGET FOR THE FULL YEAR, AS WELL AS ON THE PORTION THAT'S SPENT WHERE THE MONEY WAS SPENT. SO PUBLIC SAFETY ACCOUNTED FOR 39.7% OF THE YEAR TO DATE EXPENDITURES. GENERAL GOVERNMENT 30.8. ADMINISTRATION OF JUSTICE 23.3. AND OTHER FUNCTIONS 6.2. THE TOTAL EXPENDED AMOUNT FROM BUDGET WAS 2.74%. FOR FUND BALANCE, THE FY 24 PROJECTIONS CONTINUE TO BE UPDATED AS WE CLOSE THE BOOKS FOR THE YEAR. THEY CURRENTLY INCLUDE GENERAL FUND REVENUES OF 390.2 MILLION AND EXPENDITURES OF 401 MILLION. THIS GIVES US A PROJECTED GENERAL FUND BALANCE OF APPROXIMATELY $87.4 MILLION. THIS IS THE SAME AMOUNT THAT WE PROJECTED LAST YEAR. THE 87 OR LAST MONTH, THE 87 MILLION ON THIS CHART. IT CHANGED BY THE 750,000, WHICH STILL KEPT IT WITHIN THE SAME 87 DUE TO ROUNDING. THE DIFFERENCES FROM LAST MONTH INCLUDE AN INCREASE OF $1 MILLION IN PROJECTED REVENUES AND AN INCREASE IN EXPENDITURES OF 321,000. THE INCREASE IN EXPENDITURES WAS DUE TO INCREASED JAIL MEDICAL COSTS, AND THE INCREASE IN REVENUES WAS DUE TO REIMBURSEMENTS FOR PRIOR YEAR EXPENSES THAT WERE RECEIVED AND MOVED TO GRANTS. THE FY 25 I'M SORRY THE FY 25 PROJECTIONS ARE BASED ON $391.4 MILLION OF REVENUES, AND THIS PROJECTION INCLUDES CERTIFIED REVENUES, ALONG WITH AN ADJUSTMENT OF $7.3 MILLION IN ADDITIONAL PROPERTY TAXES THAT WERE BUILT IN OCTOBER. I DON'T THINK WE'VE EVER INCLUDED THAT IN THE PAST ON OUR PROJECTIONS, BUT IT SEEMS REASONABLE TO ME THAT IF WE ARE, IF WE ACTUALLY BILLED FOR IT, WE SHOULD BE RECEIVING THE MONEY. SO WE'RE INCLUDING IT. THE ADDITIONAL PROPERTY TAXES HAVE YET TO BE ADJUSTED FOR EXPECTED [01:05:06] DELINQUENCIES, AND THIS MAY BE ADJUSTED IN FUTURE MONTHS. EXPENDITURES ARE PROJECTED AT 95% OF THE APPROVED FY 25 BUDGET, AND EXPENDITURE PROJECTIONS ARE FOR 424.1 MILLION, WHICH SHOWS A FURTHER DECREASE IN FUND BALANCE. SO NETTED WE'RE SEEING AN INCREASE. LAST MONTH WE REFLECTED 50 MILLION AND NOW WE'RE REFLECTING 55. THIS IS THE TABLE OF CONTENTS FROM THE FULL REPORT THAT'S LISTED ONLINE. HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? I'D BE HAPPY TO ANSWER. QUESTIONS? NO. THANK YOU BARBARA. THANK YOU. IS THERE A MOTION TO ACCEPT THE REPORT? WE HAVE A MOTION FROM COMMISSIONER HOLGUIN, SECOND BY COMMISSIONER CORONADO. THE VOTING IS OPEN. MOTION CARRIES. THANK YOU. BARBARA. APPRECIATE IT. ITEM TEN. JUDICIARY AND CORRECTIONS. I'LL BE READING IN ITEMS TEN EIGHT THROUGH TEN D TOGETHER. ITEM TEN A ARPA 1320. APPROVE AND AUTHORIZE THE COUNTY JUDGE TO SIGN THE JUSTICE INVOLVED. PROGRAMING SERVICES AGREEMENT [10A-10D. JUDICIARY AND CORRECTIONS] BETWEEN THE COUNTY OF EL PASO AND THE EL PASO ALLIANCE BEGINNING UPON THE DATE OF SIGNATURE THROUGH DECEMBER 31ST, 2026. IN THE AMOUNT OF $1,500,000 FUNDING IS AVAILABLE IN SG ARPA PLAN 21 OPERATING EXPENSES. CONTRACT NUMBER 2024 0535. ITEM TEN B ARPA 1320. APPROVE AND AUTHORIZE THE COUNTY JUDGE TO SIGN THE JUSTICE INVOLVED PROGRAMING SERVICES AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE COUNTY OF EL PASO AND THE EL PASOANS FIGHTING HUNGER FOOD BANK BEGINNING UPON THE DATE OF SIGNATURE THROUGH DECEMBER 31ST, 2026, IN THE AMOUNT OF $1,432,076.40. FUNDING IS AVAILABLE IN SG ARPA PLAN 21 OPERATING EXPENSES CONTRACT NUMBER 2024 0536. ITEM TEN C ARPA 1320 APPROVE AND AUTHORIZE THE COUNTY JUDGE TO SIGN THE JUSTICE INVOLVED PROGRAMING SERVICES AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE COUNTY OF EL PASO AND THE RESCUE MISSION OF EL PASO, BEGINNING UPON THE DATE OF SIGNATURE THROUGH DECEMBER 31ST, 2026. IN THE AMOUNT OF $2,028,654, FUNDING IS AVAILABLE IN SG ARPA PLAN 21. OPERATING EXPENSES CONTRACT NUMBER 2024 0537. ITEM TEN D ARPA 1320. APPROVE AND AUTHORIZE THE COUNTY JUDGE TO SIGN THE JUSTICE INVOLVED PROGRAMING SERVICES AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE COUNTY OF EL PASO AND THE OPPORTUNITY CENTER FOR THE HOMELESS, BEGINNING UPON THE DATE OF SIGNATURE THROUGH DECEMBER 31ST, 2026. IN THE AMOUNT OF $1,105,521.60, FUNDING IS AVAILABLE IN SG ARPA PLAN 21 OPERATING EXPENSES CONTRACT NUMBER 2024 0538. GOOD MORNING, JUDGE. COMMISSIONERS JOEL BISHOP WITH COUNTY ADMINISTRATION. THESE ITEMS ARE ARE SOME OF THE MOST REWARDING. I THINK I'VE SEEN IN A LONG TIME PERSONALLY. ANYWAY, FROM WORKING ON THIS FOR MANY YEARS, COMMISSIONER STOUT, I THINK IT'S BEEN FOUR YEARS SINCE WE TOURED THE MADDOX THINKING ABOUT THIS CONCEPT AND TO SEE THIS ALL COMING TOGETHER LIKE IT IS, WE WERE THINKING ABOUT BUILDING A COUNTY RUN FACILITY AND THEN LOOKED AT OUR OUR NONPROFITS APPROACHED US AND, AND MADE MANY SUGGESTIONS. AND IT'S TAKEN A LOT OF TIME, BUT IT'S REALLY AMAZING TO SEE THE VARIETY OF PROJECTS THAT WE HAVE HERE. AND THE WAY THAT THESE THIS ARPA WILL STRENGTHEN THE LOCAL, THESE LOCAL NONPROFITS. I THINK THAT WE'RE GOING TO SEE TWO THINGS REALLY ACCOMPLISH FROM THIS. WE'RE GOING TO SEE WE'RE GOING TO SEE A GAP FILLED IN EL PASO THAT'S BEEN THERE FOR A LONG, LONG TIME. WE'VE HEARD ABOUT IT FOR MANY YEARS WITH THE SHELTERING INFRASTRUCTURE NEEDS, EVEN BEFORE COVID, IT WAS SOMETHING WE HEARD ABOUT AND IT'S SOMETHING THAT THAT THEY HAD BEEN ASKING THE COUNTY AND THE CITY TO ENGAGE IN FOR A LONG TIME. AND THIS IS REALLY UNPRECEDENTED, AND WE'RE GOING TO SEE THAT UP FRONT INFRASTRUCTURE BOOST TO ALL OF THESE AGENCIES IN A VARIETY OF WAYS. WE'RE ALSO GOING TO SEE THE GAP OF JUSTICE INVOLVED INDIVIDUALS BEING FILLED IN AN UNPRECEDENTED WAY. THIS AND ALSO AT MILLIONS AND MILLIONS OF DOLLARS CHEAPER THAN THE COUNTY RUNNING OUR OWN PROGRAM. SO WE'RE GOING TO SEE THOUSANDS OF [01:10:01] EL PASOANS THAT ARE JUST AS INVOLVED BENEFIT FROM THIS, AND SOME THAT AREN'T JUSTICE INVOLVED. THOSE WHO ARE JUST WANTING TO GO THROUGH THE SPARK PROGRAM AT THE FOOD BANK, WHICH IS AN EXCELLENT PROGRAM. COMMISSIONER OLGUIN, I KNOW YOU WERE OUT THERE AT THE GRADUATION RECENTLY, AND IT WAS AMAZING TO SEE THE LIVES CHANGED ALREADY THROUGH THAT SPARK PROGRAM AND THE WAY THAT IT'S GOING TO INTERSECT WITH THESE, WITH, WITH THIS SHELTERING AND HOUSING AND PROGRAMING THAT ARE GOING TO BE PROVIDED FOR JUSTICE INVOLVED INDIVIDUALS AND ALSO TYING INTO THE EL PASO PROMISE PROGRAM, IT REALLY LINKS INTO THAT PERFECTLY AND IS GOING TO SUPPLEMENT COMPLEMENT THAT PROGRAM THAT COMMISSIONER CORONADO HAS ENVISIONED FOR THE LAST FEW YEARS. SO WE ARE GOING TO SEE 95 BEDS IN RETURN. I MEAN, EVEN IF WE DIDN'T GET THIS, THESE BEDS AND RETURN, THIS WOULD BE A GREAT INVESTMENT FOR THE COUNTY. AND I THINK BECAUSE IT'S GOING TO GIVE THEM A MUCH STRONGER INFRASTRUCTURE FOR EXAMPLE, THE RESCUE MISSION IS GOING TO BE ABLE TO PURCHASE THAT LOT THAT THEY'VE BEEN LEASING FOR A WHILE, AND THAT WILL BE A PERMANENT ASSET. THEY'RE GOING TO BE ABLE TO ALSO REHABILITATE THE BUILDING THERE. AND ADD AND ENHANCE THEIR SHELTERING CAPACITY. BUT ON TOP OF ALL THAT, FOR THE NEXT SEVEN YEARS, THIS INVOLVES 95 JUSTICE INVOLVED BEDS FOR THOSE WHO DON'T HAVE A GOOD PLACE TO GO, THAT GO INTO THE JAIL, THAT ARE OFTEN THEIR LIVES ARE DISRUPTED. THEY'LL GO IN WITH A PLACE THEY COME OUT WITH HOMELESS. THIS WILL PROVIDE THEM A GOOD PLACE TO STAY. PLUS, THE PROGRAMING THAT THEY'RE GOING TO GET. THE VARIETY OF PROGRAMING AND THE CUSTOMIZED PROGRAMING, THEY'LL GET UNIQUE PROGRAMING FROM EACH ONE OF THESE. THESE NONPROFITS THAT WERE AWARDED HERE IS FANTASTIC. AND THE FOOD BANK GIVING THEM THIS, NOT ONLY THE OPPORTUNITY TO VOLUNTEER AND BOOST THEIR VOLUNTEER BASE, BUT ALSO THE OPPORTUNITY TO GET ON THEIR FEET WITH A GREAT JOB AND GREAT JOB TRAINING AND JOB POTENTIAL. SO I'M GOING TO TURN IT OVER TO MISS CATHERINE JONES. I REALLY WANT TO THANK HER FOR ALL HER WORK PUTTING THIS TOGETHER, WORKING HARD WITH THE COUNTY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE, WHO REALLY HELPED US A LOT WITH THI. IT'S THESE ARE FANTASTIC OPPORTUNITIES, I THINK. AND KATHY, DO YOU WANT TO GIVE A LITTLE MORE DETAILS TO THE COURT ON ON WHAT THESE INVOLVED? AND THEN I KNOW WE HAVE JOHN MARTIN, SUSAN GOODELL, DON DOMINGUEZ AND OTHERS FROM THESE NONPROFITS THAT ARE THAT MAY BE HERE THAT WANT TO COMMENT. BUT THANK YOU KATHY. THANK YOU JOEL. WELCOME, CATHERINE. GOOD MORNING. COUNTY JUDGE, COMMISSIONERS CATHERINE JONES, CRIMINAL JUSTICE COORDINATION, A CRIMINAL JUSTICE DIRECTOR WITH YOUR CRIMINAL JUSTICE COORDINATION DEPARTMENT, THAT IS A LOT TO SAY. I'M GLAD THEY READ ALL OF THESE IN AT ONCE. INDEED. I'M SO HAPPY TO BE HERE. CHRISTMAS HAS COME EXACTLY ONE MONTH EARLY FOR ME TODAY, AND THERE'S A COUPLE REASONS FOR THAT. THE FIRST IS I BELIEVE THAT IF YOU APPROVE THESE AGREEMENTS, WE ARE ABOUT TO EMBARK ON SOME OF THE MOST POSITIVE PROGRAMING AND CHANGE THAT WE AS A COMMUNITY CAN PROVIDE FOR SOME OF OUR MOST VULNERABLE RESIDENTS. THE SECOND REASON IS BECAUSE I GET THE PRIVILEGE OF WORKING WITH SOME REALLY INCREDIBLE COMMUNITY PARTNERS AND COMMUNITY LEADERS WHO ARE OUT ON THE FRONT LINES EVERY SINGLE DAY, DOING THINGS THAT WE CAN'T IMAGINE TO HELP PEOPLE, AND THEY'RE DOING IT JUST BECAUSE THEY'RE REALLY, REALLY GOOD HUMANS AND THEY WANT TO CHANGE PEOPLE'S LIVES. SO THIS HAS BEEN A WHOLE LOT OF WORK FOR A LITTLE OVER A YEAR. WELL, NO, SINCE I GOT HERE, I THINK JOEL, JOEL GOT ME STARTED ON THIS WHEN I FIRST ARRIVED. BUT WRITING THE RFP AND WORKING ON THE CONTRACTS FOR THE PAST YEAR, WE I'M SO EXCITED. AND I'M JUST GOING TO QUICKLY GIVE YOU A LITTLE RUNDOWN WITH THE RECOVERY ALLIANCE. WE ARE GOING TO BE PROVIDING. WE'RE GOING TO GET 15 BEDS AT ANY GIVEN POINT IN TIME, AND INDIVIDUALS WILL GET TO STAY IN THESE BEDS AND GET COMPREHENSIVE EVIDENCE BASED PROGRAMING AND PEER SUPPORT THAT WILL CHANGE THEIR LIVES AND HELP THEM BREAK THE CYCLE OF ADDICTION. WITH THE EL PASOANS FIGHTING HUNGER. AND I KNOW I SAW COMMISSIONER LEON AND COMMISSIONER OGIN THERE, IT WAS INCREDIBLE. I DON'T KNOW ABOUT YOU, BUT BUT HEARING THE TESTIMONIALS, I MEAN, THIS REALLY, YOU KNOW, MEAN, COLD WOMAN. I HAD TEARS IN MY EYES, OKAY? THEY WARMED MY HEART. IT WAS BEAUTIFUL. THEY'RE GOING TO BE GETTING CERTIFICATIONS WHERE THEY CAN GO OUT AND GET JOBS. JOBS THAT ARE AVAILABLE IN THIS COMMUNITY. IT'S REALLY EXCITING. [01:15:04] AND WHILE THEY'RE DOING IT, THEY'RE VOLUNTEERING TO THEY'RE HELPING OTHER PEOPLE. SO THERE'S THIS ADDED BENEFIT. YOU GET THIS GREAT JOB TRAINING, BUT YOU'RE HELPING OTHER PEOPLE AND YOU'RE REALIZING HOW VALUABLE IT IS TO PROVIDE THIS SERVICE WITH THE RESCUE MISSION. LIKE JOEL SAID, WE'RE WE'RE GOING TO HAVE AVAILABLE TO US AT ANY GIVEN POINT IN TIME, 50 BEDS FOR JUSTICE INVOLVED IN REENTRY. OUR REENTRY POPULATION. AND IT IS IT IS GOOD HOUSING. BLAKE AND I HAVE DISCUSSED THESE INDIVIDUALS WILL HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO GO INTO JOB TRAINING WITH HALLELUJAH BARBECUE. AND THEY ALSO HAVE SUBSTANCE ABUSE TRAINING PROGRAMS THAT THEY CAN ENTER AND BE A PART OF THEIR. WITH THE OPPORTUNITY CENTER, WE'RE GOING TO GET 30 BEDS AT ANY GIVEN POINT IN TIME AND INDIVIDUALS WHO WERE THERE. I MEAN, JOHN MARTIN HAS AN INCREDIBLE PROGRAM GOING ON THERE WHERE WE'RE THEY'RE GETTING HEALTH CARE, THEY'RE GETTING PSYCHIATRIC CARE, THEY'RE GETTING ALL SORTS OF ADDITIONAL ROBUST PROGRAMING THAT'S OCCURRING. AND WITH YOUR SUPPORT AND YOUR APPROVAL, THE COUNTY IS GOING TO BE ABLE TO HELP THEM WITH THIS INFRASTRUCTURE AND HELP THEM CONTINUE WITH THEIR MISSIONS. YOU'VE HEARD ENOUGH FROM ME. I'M GOING TO ASK IF ANY OF THESE WONDERFUL PEOPLE WANT TO COME UP AND SAY A FEW WORDS. COME ON, DON'T BE SHY THERE. YOU'RE WELCOME. SIMPLISTIC. GOOD MORNING. ADAM DOMINGUEZ. THE RECOVERY ALLIANCE PROGRAM DIRECTOR. AND I JUST WANT TO THANK THE COURT FOR ENVISIONING FOR YEARS AGO, STARTING THIS REENTRY PROGRAM, YOU KNOW, REENTRY, YOU KNOW, CRIMINALS AND DRUG ADDICTS GET THE BUM RAP IN SOCIETY. AND KNOWING THAT SOME OF THESE PROBLEMS CAN BE AVERTED. AND OUR COMMUNITY, OUR PROGRAM IS A RECOVERY BASED PROGRAM WHERE ALL OF THE INDIVIDUALS WORKED. OUR PEER RECOVERY ACTUALLY PEER RECOVERY WITH LIVED EXPERIENCE SO THEY KNOW THEY'VE BEEN THERE AND THEY LEND THEIR SUPPORT AND GUIDANCE TO THESE INDIVIDUALS THAT HAVE COME UP A FEW YEARS AGO, WE WERE ABLE TO GET A SMALL GRANT TO ALLOW US TO WORK WITH THE REENTRY PROGRAM AND START OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH JOEL AND CATHERINE AND ALL THE WHOLE REENTRY AND PROJECT TEAM TO START VISITING WITH INCARCERATED INDIVIDUALS SIX MONTHS PRIOR TO THEIR RELEASE. AND SO WE START THERE, AND THEN WE LEAD THEM INTO WHAT WE WOULD HAVE OUR CASA VIDA PROGRAM. THROUGH OTHER SOURCES OF FUNDING. WE WERE ABLE TO KEEP THEM THERE AND GIVE THEM A FOUNDATION FOR RECOVERY SUPPORT. SO THAT'S BEEN GOING ON FOR A WHILE, AND WE APPRECIATE JOEL COMING OUT AND VISITING AND SEEING THE WHOLE MODEL AND HOW IT WORKS. AND IT'S ALL A ROBUST SET OF PROGRAMING THAT THAT IS THAT IS STRUCTURED TO HELP THEM REHABILITATE AND FIND JOBS, EDUCATION, TRAINING, DEPENDING ON WHAT THEIR WISHES ARE. AND SO THIS PROGRAM ALLOWS US TO NOW EXPAND THAT INTO OUTER SPACE AN, AND SAVE THE COUNTY A LOT OF MONEY. AND, AND THE COMMUNITY, A LOT OF SUFFERING THAT HAPPENS WHEN WE LET THESE INDIVIDUALS GO WITHOUT SUPPORT. AND THEN THEY JUST RECYCLE INTO THE WHOLE COUNTY JUSTICE SYSTEM. AND SO THIS IS A BIG DAY FOR US, TOO. AND AT RECOVERY ALLIANCE, WE'VE BEEN A SMALL AGENCY, BUT THESE PROGRAMS HAVE ALLOWED US TO EXPAND AND GIVE THESE INDIVIDUALS A LOT MORE SUPPORT. SO THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR VISION AND OUR OPPORTUNITY TO SERVE THE COMMUNITY. THANK YOU, MR. DOMINGUEZ. APPRECIATE YOUR WORDS. THANK YOU. HELLO, JOHN. GOOD MORNING JUDGE. GOOD MORNING COMMISSIONERS. MY NAME IS JOHN MARTIN. I'M THE DEPUTY DIRECTOR FOR THE OPPORTUNITY CENTER FOR THE HOMELESS. THE FUNDING THAT WE HAVE TODAY WILL HELP US TO SOLIDIFY A PROGRAM THAT WILL SPECIFICALLY INVOLVE THE JUSTICE INVOLVED, INDIVIDUALS. AS EACH OF YOU KNOW, OUR THREE BASIC TENETS WITHIN OUR MISSION STATEMENT ARE TO WORK WITH ALL, TO TRANSITION THOSE THAT CAN AND THEN TO PROTECT THOSE THAT CANNOT. AND WHEN WE TALK ABOUT TRANSITION AND PROTECTION, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN HOUSING AND SHELTER, ROUGHLY A THIRD OF OUR POPULATION SELF-REPORT SOME TYPE OF AN INCIDENT AS IT RELATES TO JUSTICE INVOLVEMENT. THE KEY WORD THERE IS SELF-REPORT. IF YOU TALK TO OUR CASE MANAGERS, OUR SUPPORT STAFF, THEY WILL TELL YOU THE NUMBER IS PROBABLY CLOSER TO 80%. AND THAT TIES INTO THAT WORD ALL. SO THE FUNDING THAT WE'RE RECEIVING TODAY, WHICH IS JUST A LITTLE OVER $1.1 MILLION, APPROXIMATELY [01:20:04] 60% OF THAT WILL GO TO WHAT I REFER TO AS BRICK AND MORTAR, WHICH WILL HELP US TO EXPAND OUR CAPACITY AT THE OPPORTUNITY CENTER, SPECIFICALLY WITHIN THE BUILDING THAT HOUSES THE SINGLE ADULT MALE POPULATION. DEPENDING UPON HOW YOU LOOK AT IT, IT COULD BE ANYWHERE FROM 50 TO 70 BEDS. WHETHER WE USE A MATS ON THE FLOOR OR A COTS CONCEPT, COTS SIMPLY TAKING UP MORE ROOM. ALSO CRITICAL IS THE BALANCE, WHICH IS THE 40%. OUR HOPE IS TO DEVELOP A PROGRAM THAT IS VERY SPECIFIC TO THE JUSTICE INVOLVED, THAT IS TIED IN TO THE ACTIVITIES OF MISS JONES AND HER STAFF. AS IT RELATES TO REENTRY. THIS WILL BE A FIRST FOR THE OPPORTUNITY CENTER. WE'VE ALREADY WORKED WITH THIS POPULATION, BUT WE SPECIFICALLY WANT TO FOCUS ON IT BECAUSE IT DOES INCLUDE A MAJORITY OF WHAT WE ARE DOING. THIS, COMBINED WITH WHAT WE'RE DOING ON A DIFFERENT FRONT AS IT RELATES TO A MENTAL HEALTH INITIATIVE, WILL BRING US TO THE FOREFRONT SO THAT WE CAN PROVIDE THE WRAPAROUND SERVICES THAT ARE NEEDED FOR THE INDIVIDUALS THAT WE SERVE, SO THAT HOPEFULLY SOMETIME WITHIN THE NEAR FUTURE, WE SEE RELATIVELY FEW PEOPLE IN THE SHELTER. THAT IS WHAT OUR GOAL IS. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR SUPPORT AND IF THERE'S ANY QUESTIONS, JUST LET ME KNOW. JOHN, THANK YOU FOR ALL YOU DO. WELCOME, SUSAN. GOOD MORNING JUDGE. GOOD MORNING COMMISSIONERS. I DON'T HAVE PREPARED REMARKS THIS MORNING BECAUSE I REALLY WANT TO TALK FROM THE HEART. I WANT TO THANK EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU AND ALL OF YOUR COLLEAGUES HERE AT THE COUNTY FOR BEING SUCH AMAZING PARTNERS FOR THE FOOD BANK. THIS PARTICULAR PROJECT IS SO IMPORTANT. WE STARTED OUR JOB TRAINING PROGRAM. OUR FIRST CLASS STARTED OVER THE SUMMER. WE PREPARED FOR A LONG TIME TO BE READY FOR THIS CLASS, AND I HAVE TO TELL YOU, I FELL IN LOVE WITH EVERY SINGLE MEMBER OF THAT CLASS AND EVERY CLASS MEMBER SINCE THEN. TO HEAR THEIR STORIES, TO HEAR A GENTLEMAN IN HIS EARLY 40S TALK ABOUT HOW HE HAD NEVER HAD A JOB IN HIS LIFE, BECAUSE HE HAD BEEN IN PRISON SINCE HE WAS A TEENAGER, TO HEAR ABOUT THE MANY, MANY CHALLENGES THAT OUR VULNERABLE STUDENTS HAVE IS HEARTBREAKING, BUT IT'S ALSO HEARTWARMING BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT THEY HAVE A BETTER FUTURE WHEN THEY GRADUATE FROM THIS PROGRAM. WE STAY IN TOUCH WITH THEM AND WE HEAR THEIR STORIES AND HOW THEIR LIVES HAVE CHANGED FOR THE BETTER. THIS IS MAKING THE FOOD BANK BETTER. IT IS MAKING. IT IS MAKING THE LIVES OF SOME OF THE PEOPLE IN OUR LINES BETTER. FOR THOSE WHO HAVE THE ABILITY TO LEAVE THE FOOD BANK LINE TO GET THE SKILLS THAT THEY NEED TO HAVE DECENT PAYING JOBS, THAT GET THEM OUT OF THAT CYCLE OF POVERTY AND RECIDIVISM BACK INTO OUR CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM. IT IS INCREDIBLE TO WATCH, AND I KNOW AT LEAST A COUPLE OF YOU WERE AT OUR FIRST GRADUATION, AND I KNOW IT'S INCREDIBLY POWERFUL, AND I HOPE THAT EVERYONE WILL GET A CHANCE TO MEET SOME OF THESE INCREDIBLE INDIVIDUALS BECAUSE IT IS POWERFUL. THANK YOU FOR HELPING OUR FOOD BANK. THANK YOU FOR HELPING THE MOST VULNERABLE IN OUR COMMUNITY. AND THANK YOU FOR HELPING TO BUILD A FOOD BANK THAT IS A FULL SERVICE, FULL SERVICE INSTITUTION THAT NOT ONLY PROVIDES FOR PEOPLE WHO NEED HELP TODAY, BUT MAKES LIVES BETTER IN THE FUTURE. THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING YOU DO AND LAYING THE FOUNDATION SO WE COULD DO THIS. THANK YOU. SO I AM THE LUCKY PERSON WHO GETS TO WORK WITH THESE GUYS NOW OVER THE NEXT DECADE. HERE, I'D LIKE TO THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH FOR YOUR FORETHOUGHT IN, IN SUGGESTING THIS MONEY BE USED TO HELP PEOPLE WITH REENTRY NEEDS. THAT'S HOW YOU GET PEOPLE OUT OF THE SYSTEM. YOU CAN'T ARREST AWAY YOUR PROBLEMS, BUT YOU CAN REHABILITATE PEOPLE AND YOU CAN HELP THEM. AND I THANK YOU FOR THAT. AND I WANT TO THANK BETSY, AND I WANT TO THANK JOEL BECAUSE THEY CARE, OKAY? BECAUSE THEY TRULY CARE. AND THEY PUSH US TO DO THE BEST WE CAN TO HELP PEOPLE. I ALSO WANT TO THANK THEM FOR HIRING ME BECAUSE BECAUSE I REALLY LIKE EL PASO, I REALLY DO. I LIKE IT OTHER PLACES ARE NOT LIKE EL PASO, RIGHT? THEY'RE NOT. AND THE FACT THAT YOU'RE TRYING TO HELP PEOPLE IS I THE GREATEST, THE GREATEST MISSION THAT THAT WE CAN HAVE. AND IT MAKES A CAREER IN CRIMINAL JUSTICE BETTER KNOWING THAT WE'RE CHANGING LIVES. AND I THANK YOU ALL FOR THAT. AND JUST REAL QUICK, I, I DON'T THINK HE EVER GETS ENOUGH CREDIT, BUT I WANT TO THANK ERIC [01:25:03] BAUER WITH THE COUNTY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE. THAT POOR GUY WORKED WITH ME FOR SO LONG ON THIS AND WENT THROUGH SO MUCH WITH ME. AND HE IS AMAZING. PLEASE DON'T EVER TAKE HIM AWAY FROM ME. AND THANK YOU VERY MUCH IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS. QUITE A COMPLIMENT FOR ERIC. THANK YOU. BUT THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING YOU DO. AND THANK YOU FOR WANTING TO STAY IN EL PASO. WE LOVE THE FACT THAT YOU CAME IN AND LIKE OTHERS, FELL IN LOVE WITH EL PASO. THANK YOU JUDGE, I WANTED TO I THINK WE HAVE TWO QUESTIONS. YEAH, WELL, I DON'T HAVE A QUESTION, BUT I JUST WANTED TO CONGRATULATE EVERYBODY FOR THE HARD WORK. AND, YOU KNOW, THIS IS A VISION THAT STARTED MANY, MANY YEARS AGO. AND, YOU KNOW, SOMETIMES, YOU KNOW, WE WORK WE GOVERNMENT CAN BE CAN WORK SLOW. AND IT'S AND IT'S DIFFICULT. BUT I REALLY APPRECIATE YOU KNOW EVERYBODY'S WORK ON THIS. THANK YOU. THANK YOU MISS JONES FOR EVERYTHING THAT YOU'VE DONE. THANK YOU. YOU KNOW JOEL, THANK YOU TO OUR PARTNERS, OUR COMMUNITY PARTNERS, THE RECOVERY ALLIANCE AND THE OPPORTUNITY CENTER AND THE FOOD AND EL PASOANS FIGHTING HUNGER. THIS IS, YOU KNOW, SOMETHING THAT I THINK IS SO WORTH IT. IT'S GOING TO BE TRANSFORMATIONAL. THIS IS, YOU KNOW, WHERE WHERE WE CAN SEE TANGIBLE RESULTS IN HOW WE'RE AFFECTING PEOPLE'S PEOPLE'S LIVES. AND LIKE MISS JONES SAID, YOU KNOW, WE CAN JAIL EVERYBODY. BUT BUT IT'S BETTER TO TRY TO REHABILITATE, REHABILITATE THEM AND BRING THEM INTO THE INTO SOCIETY AND SUPPORT THEM AS THEY'RE IS THEY'RE EXITING AND BETSY, TO OUR COUNTY ATTORNEY'S EVERYBODY I MEAN, THIS IS THIS IS I'M REALLY PROUD OF THIS. WE NEED TO DO SOME PRESS ON THIS. WE NEED TO WE NEED TO, LIKE, REALLY PUT THIS OUT THERE AND LET THE COMMUNITY KNOW ABOUT THIS OPPORTUNITY AND ABOUT ABOUT THESE GREAT PARTNERSHIPS THAT WE THAT WE CONTINUE TO, TO FOSTER AND CREATE WITH, WITH THE NGOS IN OUR COMMUNITY AND, YOU KNOW, I'M JUST VERY, VERY PROUD THIS IS ONE OF ONE OF ONE OF THE, I THINK, PROUDEST MOMENTS. I THINK FOR, FOR ME IN THIS COUNTY AND THE WORK THAT WE'RE DOING WITH OUR COMMUNITY. SO CHRISTMAS IS EARLY FOR ME TOO. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER. COMMISSIONER CORONADO, THANK THANK YOU, JUDGE, COMMISSIONERS AND COMMISSIONER STOUT, I JUST WANT TO THANK CATHERINE. YOU, JOEL, CHRIS, LIZ, EVERYBODY, OUR PARTNERS, YOU KNOW, FOR SECURING THESE THESE PARTNERSHIPS. IT IS REALLY LIKE COMMISSIONER STOUT MENTIONED. THIS IS REALLY SOMETHING GREAT FOR OUR COMMUNITY. I'VE SEEN, YOU KNOW, REALLY YOU ALL ARE CJC PROGRAMS REALLY IS A LEADER IN MAKING SURE THAT OUR JUSTICE INVOLVED INDIVIDUALS RECEIVE THAT SUPPORT. AND THAT REALLY IT MESHES VERY WELL OUR REENTRY AND PROMISE PROGRAM ARE MESHED REALLY, REALLY WELL BECAUSE WE ARE FOCUSING INSTEAD OF, YOU KNOW, I'VE SEEN IT IN MY CAREER THAT, YOU KNOW, WITHOUT WITHOUT THESE SERVICES TO THESE PEOPLE THAT ARE INVOLVED IN THE JUSTICE SYSTEM, THEY ONLY GO BACK INTO THEIR HARMS WAY OR INTO OTHER ISSUES THAT YOU KNOW, ARE NOT PRODUCTIVE, NOT ONLY FOR THE PERSON, BUT FOR US AS A SOCIETY. AND I REALLY THINK WE HAVEN'T. YOU KNOW, I'VE SEEN IT IN, YOU KNOW, SINCE SINCE I WAS A YOUNG ATTORNEY THAT THE SYSTEM JUST WAS NOT PROVIDING AND HAS NOT IN THE PAST PROVIDED ALL THESE THIS ASSISTANCE TO THESE INDIVIDUALS BECAUSE OF JUST THE AMOUNT OF PEOPLE THAT ARE IN THERE AND BECAUSE WE FOCUS TOO MUCH ON, YOU KNOW, JAILING PEOPLE AND PUNISHING THEM FOR LACK OF A BETTER FOCUS, AND WE REALLY SHOULD BE FOCUSING ON REHABILITATING THESE INDIVIDUALS. AND I YOU KNOW, I'VE SEEN, LIKE YOU MENTIONED, ABOUT THESE STORIES ABOUT SOME OF THESE INDIVIDUALS THAT HAVE GONE THROUGH THE PROGRAM AT SPARK. I'VE SEEN THEM IN MY CAREER. YOU KNOW, WHERE THEY THEY'RE HOMELESS. THEY GET KICKED OUT AT A VERY YOUNG AGE FROM THEIR HOMES. SOME OF THEM WHO ARE IN ONE PARTICULAR INDIVIDUAL IS IN HIGH SCHOOL LIVING BEHIND THE HIGH SCHOOL IN A DITCH. OKAY. THESE ARE IN OUR COMMUNITY, OKAY. THESE THESE PEOPLE ARE IN OUR COMMUNITY WHERE THEY'RE LEFT ALONE FOR THEMSELVES. WE DON'T REALIZE HOW MUCH OF THAT EXISTS IN OUR COMMUNITY, BUT IT DOES. AND SO YOU KNOW, I REALLY THINK THAT THAT WE ARE ON THE WAY ALONG WITH OUR REENTRY AND OUR PROMISE PROGRAM IS WELL ON ITS WAY TO BEING ABLE TO BE THE MODEL PROGRAM FOR NOT JUST THE STATE OF TEXAS, BUT FOR THE ENTIRE COUNTRY. YOU KNOW, OUR PROMISE [01:30:03] PROGRAM IS THE ONLY ONE THAT IS GOING TO REALLY FOCUS ON JUSTICE INVOLVED INDIVIDUALS AND BOTH WORKFORCE TRAINING AND CERTIFICATIONS. TO THAT END, I THINK THE DALLAS PROGRAM, WHICH IS THE FIRST IN TEXAS, IS GOING TO FOLLOW OUR SUIT AND START INCLUDING CERTIFICATIONS AND WORKFORCE TRAINING. AND SO I REALLY THINK WE'RE WE'RE GOING TO BE LEADING IN THIS, BUT NOT NOT JUST TO BE LEADERS, BUT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE TAKE CARE OF THESE INDIVIDUALS AND BRING THEM BACK TO BE PRODUCTIVE MEMBERS OF OUR SOCIETY, THAT THEY CAN HELP INSTEAD OF HAVING BURDENING THE SYSTEM AND CAUSING US MORE ISSUES, WE NEED TO PUT THAT INVESTMENT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE, YOU KNOW, SOLVE THEIR OBSTACLES, SO TO SPEAK, THAT THEY HAVE IN MAKING SURE THAT THEY ARE PRODUCTIVE CITIZENS. SO I WANT TO THANK EVERYBODY INVOLVED. THIS IS JUST A GREAT PARTNERSHIP FOR OUR COMMUNITY, AND I LOOK FORWARD THAT WE'RE GOING TO BE SOON VERY PROVIDING AND INTEGRATE MORE WORKFORCE TRAINING FOR THESE INDIVIDUALS THROUGH OUR PROMISE PROGRAM. I THINK WE'RE RIGHT THERE. SO THANK YOU EVERYBODY. JUDGE. THANK YOU. COMMISSIONER CORONADO. COMMISSIONER LEON, PLEASE. YES. I JUST THOUGHT OF SOMETHING. AND JUST TO FOLLOW UP ON WHAT COMMISSIONER CORONADO AND STOUT SAID WHEN WE WERE SITTING THERE, I THINK IT WAS A FORKLIFT CERTIFICATION COURSE THAT THAT I WENT TO. AND AFTER THE CEREMONY WAS OVER, WE WERE TAKING PICTURES WITH SOME OF THE GRADUATES. AND I REMEMBER TALKING TO ONE OF THE MOTHERS, OF ONE OF THE GRADUATES WHO WAS IN HIS 40S, AND SAID THAT THE SYSTEM HAD ALWAYS WORKED AGAINST HIM. AND FINALLY NOW IT SEEMED LIKE HE'S GOING TO HAVE A START, A START IN HIS 40S WITH THIS TYPE OF TRAINING. SO SHE WAS REALLY EXCITED FOR THE POSSIBILITY OF HER SON LEADING A VERY DIFFERENT LIFE. YEAH. SO THANK YOU. THANK YOU. GREAT JOB TO ALL OF YOU. I RECALL BEING A JUVENILE PROBATION OFFICER AND THERE WAS NO RESOURCES. I CAN TELL YOU THE NUMBER OF KIDS THAT HAD TO STAY IN MY OFFICE. I DON'T KNOW IF THAT WAS THE RIGHT THING TO DO, BUT THERE'S NOWHERE. AND THEY'D STAY IN THE OFFICE. LATER, WHEN I WORKED FOR LA TUNA, I GOT TO SEE THOSE SAME KIDS. NOW IN PRISON, IN A FEDERAL PRISON, BECAUSE NOTHING HAPPENED. THERE WAS NO INTERVENTION. AND IT'S ALWAYS THE SAME THING. EDUCATION. NO, NO PLACE TO LIVE AND NO JOB. IF YOU GET THOSE THREE GOING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION, IT'S AMAZING WHAT WE COULD DO FOR, YOU KNOW, TO PREVENT THEM TO COME IF THEY'RE IN THE JUSTICE SYSTEM. BUT WE DON'T WANT THEM BACK. SO, CATHERINE, EVERYBODY ELSE HERE, THANK YOU SO MUCH, JOEL. BACK TO YOU. THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU I THIS DID REALLY START I WANTED TO REMIND EVERYONE THIS STARTED BACK. IT WAS BEFORE I GOT HERE IN 2017. THE COURT HAD ALREADY ENVISIONED REENTRY AND IRENE VALENZUELA RESEARCHING IT. AND GOING FROM THERE. SO IT'S COME A LONG WAYS. IT'S REALLY EXCITING. BUT ONE OTHER THING I WANTED TO MENTION, TOO, IS I'VE GOTTEN TO KNOW EACH ONE OF THESE AGENCIES AND EACH ONE OF THE LEADERS OF THESE AGENCIES, AND THEY ALL REALLY DO HAVE A HEART FOR THESE PEOPLE THAT WE'RE TRYING TO REACH OUT TO. I SAY THAT LIKE I SAY THAT GENUINELY, AND THEY HAVE SUCH A SINCERE DESIRE TO HELP THEM AND AN INCREDIBLE EXPERIENCE IN DOING SO FROM SO MANY DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVES. SO THIS IS A JUST SUCH A GREAT OPPORTUNITY. I WANT TO THANK THE COURT AGAIN FOR YOUR SUPPORT THROUGH THE PROCESS. I KNOW WE'VE GONE THROUGH CURVES AND CHANGES AND YOU'VE BEEN FLEXIBLE AND PATIENT. SO I JUST WANTED TO THANK YOU. DID YOU SEE WHO JUST WALKED IN? OH YEAH. BEN BARTH AGAIN. WOULD YOU LIKE TO SAY ANYTHING? NO. YEAH. OKAY. YOU'RE WELCOME TO. COME ON, COME ON. NO, WE CAN'T LEAVE YOU BEHIND. I SINCERELY THOUGHT I HAD SKIPPED OUT OF THE REMARKS. NICE TRY. NICE. NICE TRY. LISTEN, I THINK MR. MR. DOMINGUEZ PRETTY MUCH SAID IT FOR US. WE ARE GRATEFUL Y'ALL ARE MAKING IT ABLE, MAKING US ABLE TO PROVIDE SERVICES OVER A LONG PERIOD OF TIME. AND, YOU KNOW, WE'RE OUR MAIN FACILITY IS OVER 100 YEARS OLD. AND SO WE'RE GRATEFUL FOR THE HELP YOU ALL ARE ABLE TO GIVE US TO GET THAT GOING AND WE LOVE WORKING WITH THOSE JUSTICE INVOLVED GUYS. ANYWAY, THANK YOU VERY MUCH. NO THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING YOU DO. THANK YOU. APPRECIATE IT. THE JUDGE, COMMISSIONERS, I BELIEVE WE ARE ASKING FOR A MOTION ON ALL FOUR ITEMS. WE HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE FROM COMMISSIONER STOUT. [01:35:05] SECOND BY COMMISSIONER CORONADO. THE VOTING IS OPEN. MOTION CARRIES. THANK YOU, JUDGE. THANK YOU, COMMISSIONERS, AND THANK YOU TO OUR ENTIRE TEAM. THANK YOU. I THINK THAT PRESERVES THE RECORD. ITEM TEN E GRANT AWARD. APPROVE AND AUTHORIZE THE COUNTY JUDGE TO ACCEPT THE BJA FY 24 COMPREHENSIVE OPIOID STIMULANT AND SUBSTANCE ABUSE SUBSTANCE USE SITE BASED PROGRAM IN THE AMOUNT OF $1,600,000 FROM OCTOBER 1ST, 2024 TO SEPTEMBER 30TH, 2027. NO COUNTY MATCHES [E. GRANT AWARD - Approve and authorize the County Judge to accept the BJA FY24 Comprehensive Opioid, Stimulant, and Substance Use Site-Based Program in the amount of $1,600,000 from October 1, 2024, to September 30, 2027. No County match is required. (Contract No. 2024-0984) Catherine Jones, Director, Criminal Justice Coordination, 915-273-3353] REQUIRED. CONTRACT NUMBER 2024 0984. GOOD MORNING AGAIN. JUDGE AND COMMISSIONERS JOEL BISHOP WITH COUNTY ADMINISTRATION I ASKED KATHY AND CHRIS IF I COULD DO A QUICK INTRODUCTION TO THIS ITEM BECAUSE I THINK THIS IS ANOTHER GAME CHANGER. IF YOU REMEMBER, THE INITIAL INVESTMENT OF OPIOID FUNDS, ONE OF THE INVESTMENTS WAS A POSITION THAT FOCUSED ON REHABILITATION IN THE CJC AND THAT THAT'S FUNDED CHRIS RAY'S POSITION AND HE'S A HE'S AN INTERESTING GUY. HE'S SUCH A SUCH AN ASSET TO THE COUNTY. HE WAS A HE SPENT MANY YEARS AS A SOCORRO POLICE OFFICER LOCKING PEOPLE UP. AND NOW HE'S HE'S HELPING THE ONES THAT THAT HE ONCE LOCKED UP. AND HE'S GOT SUCH A HEART FOR IT. AND I WANTED TO JUST MENTION THIS. GRANT, I THINK IF WE'VE COUNTED RIGHT, IS THE SIXTH GRANT THAT HE'S HELPED US GET. AND MILLIONS OF DOLLARS NOW IN, IN RETURN ON INVESTMENT IN THAT POSITION THAT THAT HE HAS HELPED LEAD THE WAY WITH. AND I THINK KATHY WILL COMMENT ON THAT MORE. BUT THIS IS SUCH ANOTHER EXCITING OPPORTUNITY. A GREAT SHOWS, A GREAT RETURN ON INVESTMENT FOR THE OPIOID FUNDS. AND WITH THAT, I'LL TURN IT OVER TO MISS JONES. THANK YOU. GOOD MORNING JUDGE. THANK YOU. KATHERINE JONES, CRIMINAL JUSTICE DIRECTOR WITH YOUR CRIMINAL JUSTICE COORDINATION DEPARTMENT. I AM VERY EXCITED TO BE HERE TODAY. WE CAME BEFORE YOU REQUESTING YOUR PERMISSION TO APPLY FOR THIS GRANT SEVERAL MONTHS AGO. WE WERE HOPEFUL. WE YOU KNOW, $1.6 MILLION, NO MATCH. WHEN WE RECEIVED NOTICE THAT THAT WE GOT IT. CHRIS WILL TELL YOU I SMILED FOR AN ENTIRE WEEK. MY FACE WAS HURTING. THIS IS AMAZING. THIS IS AN AMAZING THING THAT WE ARE ABOUT TO PROVIDE TO THIS COMMUNITY. CHRIS RAY, JOEL, JOEL TALKED ABOUT HIM A LITTLE BIT. HE'S BEEN IN THIS POSITION FOR ABOUT 15 MONTHS NOW, AND HE HAS BROUGHT INTO THE COUNTY $3,140,000 IN GRANTS. OKAY, I GET THE PLEASURE OF WORKING WITH HIM EVERY SINGLE DAY. HE IS EVERYTHING, JOEL SAID. BUT SO MUCH MORE WORKING WITH HIM IS MY INTENSE PLEASURE. RECENTLY, I WAS STANDING IN THE LOBBY OF THE COURTHOUSE AND I RAN INTO TWO DIFFERENT DEPARTMENT HEADS AND THEY EACH TOLD ME THEY WERE GOING TO TRY TO TAKE CHRIS FROM ME. CHIEF MEDINA, IF YOU ARE LISTENING. NO, NO ONE CAN HAVE HIM THROW DOWN THE GANTLET HERE. YEAH. I CAN I'M A REALLY NICE PERSON, BUT. BUT IF YOU TRY TO TAKE HIM, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A PROBLEM. NO, HE HE IS REMARKABLE. AND THE THINGS THAT HE IS DOING, THE PROGRAMS HE'S COMING UP WITH, I'M GOING TO LET HIM TALK ABOUT THIS. GRANT, BECAUSE THIS IS HIS BRAINCHILD. THANK YOU. JUDGE. COMMISSIONERS. WELCOME. RAY. SENIOR MANAGER WITH THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE COORDINATION DEPARTMENT. BUT FIRST AND FOREMOST, I'D LIKE TO THANK ESTELLA BECAUSE IT'S A TEAM. ME AND HER. THIS WAS REALLY JUST OUR WORK. AND SO YOU SAID THAT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. BECAUSE SHE REALLY IS MY CHECKS AND BALANCES. ANYTHING THAT I'M MISSING, SHE TELLS ME. BUT I JUST WANT TO TALK ABOUT THIS GRANT FOR A LITTLE BIT. AGAIN, THIS IS NOT MY IDEA. THIS IS WORKING WITH THE REENTRY TASK FORCE AND JUST KIND OF SEEING WHAT THE GAPS WERE, ESPECIALLY WITH OPIATES. YOU KNOW, THIS IS GOING TO BE A JUSTICE INVOLVED, FOCUSED GRANT, BUT IT'S OPEN TO THE COMMUNITY. ANY MEMBER OF THE COMMUNITY WHO HAS AN ISSUE WITH OPIATES IS ELIGIBLE, ESPECIALLY IF THEY DON'T HAVE ACCESS TO HEALTH CARE. ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE'RE GOING TO BE ABLE TO DO THROUGH THIS GRANT IS PROVIDE A RIDE SHARE, BECAUSE IT'S EASY TO GET PEOPLE BUS PASSES, BUT [01:40:01] THEY STILL GOT TO WALK MILES TO GET TO THAT BUS. WE'RE GOING TO BE ABLE TO PROVIDE THEM WITH AN UBER AND LYFT FROM THEIR HOME TO SAN VICENTE, TO GET THE CARE THAT THEY NEED. THIS GRANT IS GOING TO BE ABLE TO PROVIDE A NURSE PRACTITIONER WHO WILL BE ABLE TO HELP WITH EITHER DIAGNOSING THEM WITH, WITH SOME TYPE OF WHATEVER IT IS THEY MAY BE FACING, AS WELL AS PROVIDE THEM BEHAVIORAL HEALTH CARE AS WELL. AND IN ADDITION TO THAT, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I REALLY ENJOYED WITH OUR REENTRY TASK FORCE IS THE KNOWLEDGE ABOUT PEER SUPPORT. I THINK MANY OF US HERE HAVE GONE THROUGH ADVERSITY. SOMETIMES WE'RE IN THAT DEEP, DARK PIT, BUT THE ONLY ONE, THE ONLY WAY THAT YOU CAN GET OUT OF IT IS, IS SOMEBODY HELPING YOU GET OUT. AND THAT'S WHAT WE'RE GOING TO BE PROVIDING ABOUT 200 000 TO OLIVIA, AS WELL AS RECOVERY ALLIANCE. AND THEY'RE GOING TO BE ABLE TO GIVE US THAT PEER SUPPORT FOR THOSE INDIVIDUALS WHO WHO NEED HELP. AND WE'RE GOING TO BE ABLE TO CARRY EACH OTHER'S BURDENS. RIGHT. WE'RE GOING TO TRY TO HELP EL PASO HEAL FROM THE OPIATE ADDICTIONS THAT THEY HAVE. AND AGAIN, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I SAW WHEN I WAS IN LAW ENFORCEMENT, IS IT WAS GUT WRENCHING TO ME HAVING TO ARREST AN INDIVIDUAL WHO'S TAKING THESE TYPE OF DRUGS JUST SO THEY NOT THEY'RE NOT SICK, THEY'RE NOT TRYING TO BREAK THE LAW. THEY WERE JUST SO ADDICTED THAT THEY NEEDED IT TO SURVIVE. AND WE'RE GOING TO BE ABLE TO DO THAT BY PROVIDING THEM THE HELP WITH THIS GRANT. SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR LISTENING TO ME AND MRS. JONES. AND AGAIN, MY LEADERSHIP, IT'S VERY EASY TO KNOW WHAT TO APPLY FOR BECAUSE YOU GUYS ALL ARE VERY CLEAR ON WHAT IT IS THAT YOU GUYS ARE LOOKING FOR. WHAT IS IT THAT YOU WANT? SO IT'S NOT HARD FOR ME TO DO MY JOB BECAUSE IT'S PRETTY CLEAR YOU GUYS COMMUNICATE WITH US VERY WELL. SO THANK YOU. THANK YOU, THANK YOU FOR ALL YOU DO. AND WE CAN GUARANTEE YOU YOUR REQUEST, CATHERINE. BUT WE'LL SUPPORT IT. WELL, IS THERE ANY QUESTIONS? GREAT JOB. THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONTINUED SUPPORT. CONGRATULATIONS. THANK YOU. WE HAVE A MOTION BY JUDGE SAMANIEGO TO APPROVE, SECOND BY COMMISSIONER STOUT. THE VOTING IS OPEN. MOTION CARRIES. WE JUMP. THANK YOU. ITEM 11 ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT. I'LL BE READING IN BOTH 11 A AND 11 B. ITEM 11 A ARP 1150. APPROVE AND AUTHORIZE THE COUNTY JUDGE TO SIGN THE ARPA BROADBAND INFRASTRUCTURE AGREEMENT WITH SPECTRUM GULF COAST, LLC IN THE [11. ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT] [A. (ARP-1150) Approve and authorize the County Judge to sign the ARPA broadband infrastructure agreement with Spectrum Gulf Coast LLC in the amount of $2,257,150, subject to final legal review and approval. Funds are available in SG-ARPLAN21-OPERATING EX. (Contract No. 2024- 0946) Roberto Ransom, Director, Economic Development, 915-546-2177] AMOUNT OF $2,257,150, SUBJECT TO FINAL LEGAL REVIEW AND APPROVAL. FUNDS ARE AVAILABLE IN S, G ARPA PLAN 21 OPERATING EXPENSES CONTRACT NUMBER 2024 0946, AND ITEM 11 B ARP 1150 APPROVE AND AUTHORIZE THE COUNTY JUDGE TO SIGN THE ARPA BROADBAND INFRASTRUCTURE AGREEMENT WITH AT&T TEXAS, LLC IN THE AMOUNT OF $3,934,000, SUBJECT TO FINAL LEGAL REVIEW AND APPROVAL. FUNDS ARE AVAILABLE IN SG ARPA PLAN 21 OPERATING EXPENSES, CONTRACT NUMBER 2024 0947. GOOD MORNING AGAIN, JUDGE. COMMISSIONERS NETTLES WITH STRATEGIC CAPITAL DEVELOPMENT. THE ARC OF THIS PROJECT VERY MUCH FOLLOWS WHAT MR. BISHOP AND MISS JONES JUST MENTIONED WITH REGARD TO REENTRY. THE COUNTY'S EXPLORING EXPLORATION OF TRYING TO INVEST IN BROADBAND GOES BACK TO THE EARLY DAYS OF THE PANDEMIC, WHEN THE COUNTY ACTUALLY REPURPOSED AND DESIGNATED CARES ACT FUNDING TO INITIATE A STUDY IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE HUNT INSTITUTE TO EVALUATE WHERE EXACTLY OUR GAPS WERE. FROM THAT STUDY, WE LEARNED A LOT ABOUT WHERE THOSE WERE. WE LEARNED SPECIFICALLY THAT ABOUT A THIRD ONE OUT OF EVERY THREE HOMES RESIDENTIAL HOMES IN EL PASO DOES NOT HAVE WHAT THE FCC DEFINED AT THE TIME AS BROADBAND ACCESS. WE ALSO LEARNED THAT ONE OUT OF EVERY FIVE BUSINESSES DO NOT HAVE BROADBAND ACCESS. AND IN AN ERA WHERE BROADBAND IS CENTRAL TO WHAT WE DO, WHETHER IT'S AT HOME OR AT WORK, ACCESS TO THIS CAN BE TRANSFORMATIVE, ESPECIALLY FOR UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES, BECAUSE THE INTERNET IS NOW THE LINK TO HEALTH CARE, EDUCATION, LEARNING, WORKFORCE TRAINING. AND THAT'S REALLY THE REASON WHY THIS HAS BEEN AN INITIATIVE THAT HAS RESIDED WITHIN THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT. WE'VE HAD SOME AMAZING WORK DONE BY BY OUR STAFF, AND I REALLY WANT TO COMMEND MR. RANSOM, MR. MARTINEZ FROM ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT FOR THEIR WORK. WOULDN'T HAVE BEEN POSSIBLE WITHOUT THE INPUT FROM OUR PLANNING DEPARTMENT, INCLUDING LEADERSHIP FROM MR. MCELROY AND LETTING US THE WIZARD OF ALL THINGS UTILITIES. MR. MUNZER AL-SARRAJ TO PROVIDE INPUT AND ACCESS ON ON THIS PROCESS AND THE AGREEMENTS THAT ARE BEFORE YOU FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION REVIEW TODAY WERE DRAFTED AND REVIEWED AND LABORED OVER BY THE COUNTY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE. I REALLY WANT TO THANK [01:45:03] MISS ERICA ROSALES AND GAGLIONE AND MISS DIANA SCHEER FOR THE TIME AND EFFORT THAT THEY'VE PUT INTO IT. NEGOTIATING WITH COMPANIES IS FOR CONTRACTS IS ALWAYS UNIQUE, ESPECIALLY WHEN THERE'S A LARGE AMOUNT OF SENSITIVE INFORMATION BECAUSE OF ITS BECAUSE OF THE TELECOMMUNICATION INDUSTRY ITSELF. AND SO REALLY WANT TO THANK OUR PARTNERS AT SPECTRUM AND AT&T FOR THE PROCESS THAT THEY'VE UNFOLDED HERE TODAY. BUT WITH THAT, I DO WANT TO TURN IT OVER TO MR. MARTINEZ, WHO WILL PROVIDE A LITTLE BIT MORE INSIGHT INTO THOSE CONTRACTS AND THEN HERE TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS THAT YOU ALL MAY HAVE. GOOD MORNING. JUDGE. COMMISSIONERS CHRISTINA MARTINE, MANAGER FOR THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT, ALSO PROVIDED A GREAT OVERVIEW. BUT JUST AS AS YOU MENTIONED SOME OF THE DETAILS, WE HAVE TWO CONTRACTS BEFORE YOU TODAY FOR YOUR APPROVAL, THE FIRST OF WHICH IS WITH SPECTRUM. AND THAT'S A $2.26 MILLION CONTRACT. AND AT&T AT A $3.93 MILLION CONTRACT. COLLECTIVELY, THESE CONTRACTS ACCOUNT FOR THE PROVISION OF FIBER AT ABOUT JUST UNDER 1800 TOTAL HOUSEHOLD LOCATIONS THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY. AND WHICH INCLUDES AT LEAST 57 COLONIAS THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY AND THREE PRECINCTS WITHIN WITH WITHIN THE COUNTY. WITHIN WITHIN THE COUNTY REGION. AND SO I DO ALSO I KNOW MR. LANDREAUX ALREADY MENTIONED IT, BUT I DO ALSO WANT TO GIVE MY THANKS TO THE COUNTY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE, IN PARTICULAR, ERICA ROSALES. MISS DIANA SHEARER, WHO DID WORK TIRELESSLY ON BOTH OF THESE CONTRACTS OVER THE LAST SEVERAL WEEKS AND MONTHS TO GET THEM TO THIS PLACE. I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU ALL MAY HAVE OVER ANY OF THE CONTRACTS. GENTLEMEN, DO YOU HAVE SOMEBODY FROM AT&T? YES. I DID ALSO WANT TO MENTION THAT IF THERE ARE SOMEBODY, WE DO HAVE A REPRESENTATIVE FROM AT&T WOULD BE HAPPY TO HEAR SOME COMMENTS FROM HIM AS WELL. YEAH, I DON'T THINK WE RECOGNIZE THIS GENTLEMAN COMING UP. THANK YOU. MR. MARTINEZ. I'M THE LESSER MR. MARTINEZ. THANK YOU. GOOD MORNING JUDGE. COMMISSIONERS CARLOS MARTINEZ WITH AT&T, LIKE JOSE HAD MENTIONED, THIS IS REALLY Y'ALL'S INSIGHT. AND THOUGHTFULNESS DURING THE PANDEMIC THAT REALLY LED YOU ALL TO A POSITION IN A PLACE WHERE WE'RE HERE TODAY. WE'RE VERY, VERY EXCITED ABOUT THIS COLLABORATION. AND VERY, VERY EXCITED TO GET OUT INTO THE COLONIAS AND TO SERVE A LOT OF FOLKS WHO FOR WHOM THIS IS GOING TO BE GAME CHANGING. A LOT OF MULTIGENERATIONAL HOUSEHOLDS EXIST IN THIS COMMUNITY. AS YOU ALL WELL KNOW, AND IT TAKES A SPECIAL KIND OF SERVICE, HIGHER CALIBER OF SERVICE, SO THAT ALL OF THOSE FOLKS WITHIN THAT HOME WHO ARE DOING HOMEWORK, WHO ARE WORKING, WHO ARE DOING TELADOC APPOINTMENTS ALL AT THE SAME TIME, HAVE THE CONNECTIVITY THEY NEED TO ADVANCE, TO BE HEALTHY, TO PROGRESS. SO REALLY EXCITED AGAIN FOR THIS COLLABORATION. AND THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP. AND THANK YOU TO THE COUNTY ATTORNEYS FOR THEIR PATIENCE WITH US, AS WELL AS CHRISTIAN AND JOSE. WE REALLY, REALLY APPRECIATE IT AND THANK YOU ALL AND YOUR INSISTENCE. WE THANK YOU FOR THAT AS WELL. THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU. SO IF THERE ARE THERE ARE NO QUESTIONS AT THIS TIME, STAFF WOULD ONLY ASK FOR YOUR FAVORABLE CONSIDERATION OF BOTH CONTRACT ITEMS. THIS IS TO APPROVE ITEM 11 A WE HAVE A MOTION BY COMMISSIONER GREEN. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER STOUT. THE VOTING IS OPEN. THE. MOTION CARRIES. AND FOR ITEM 11 B, WE HAVE A MOTION BY JUDGE SAMANIEGO, SECOND BY COMMISSIONER STOUT. THE MOTION CARRIES. THANK YOU. GREAT JOB. THANK YOU. ROBERTO, WE'D LIKE TO GO AHEAD AND MOVE INTO THE ITEMS PULLED FROM CONSENT. WE'LL START WITH ITEM FOUR. I PULLED BY COMMISSIONER STOUT, AARP 116 TO APPROVE AND AUTHORIZE THE COUNTY JUDGE TO SIGN THE SERVICES AGREEMENT WITH DESTINATION EL PASO TO PROVIDE COMPREHENSIVE TOURISM AND MARKETING SERVICES COUNTYWIDE IN THE AMOUNT OF [I. (ARP-1162) Approve and authorize the County Judge to sign the Services Agreement with Destination El Paso to provide comprehensive tourism and marketing services countywide in the amount of $285,500. Funds are available in SG-ARPLAN21-OPERATING EX. (Contract No. 2024-0985) Roberto Ransom, Director, Economic Development, 915-546-2177] $285,500. FUNDS ARE AVAILABLE IN SG, ARPA PLAN 21 OPERATING EXPENSES. CONTRACT NUMBER 2024 0985. GOOD MORNING JUDGE. THANK. I JUST PULLED THE ITEM BECAUSE , I WANTED TO JUST MAKE SURE WE [01:50:02] UNDERSTAND THIS. THIS IS GOING TO BE FOR COUNTYWIDE OR IS IT OR USE OR. YES COMMISSIONER. YES. THIS IS COUNTYWIDE. YES, SIR. I MEAN I KNOW I SAID I SAW IT ON THERE, BUT I JUST WANTED TO, TO, TO CHECK ON THAT AND MAKE SURE THAT WAS THE CASE. YES. THANK YOU COMMISSIONER, IF I, IF I MAY REAL QUICKLY. YES. THIS THIS ARE COUNTYWIDE. SO IT'S TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE AND THE BUSINESS PRESERVATION PROGRAM AND I JUST WANTED TO TAKE ONE MINUTE TO THANK DIFFERENT PLAYERS STARTING BY THE VESSEL, THE PURCHASING DEPARTMENT, THEY MOVED SO QUICKLY ON FIVE RFPS TO DIFFERENT FUNDING SOURCES. ALSO THE LEGAL DEPARTMENT MADE IT POSSIBLE. JUST WANT TO THANK THANK THEM AND TO CONGRATULATE ALL OF THE AWARDEES WHO PUT IMPRESSIVE PROPOSALS. WE HAD AWARDEES FROM OUT OF TOWN, OUT OF STATE, AND WE'RE VERY HAPPY TO HAVE DESTINATION PASCO TO BE ONE OF THE AWARDEES. SO I JUST WANT TO THANK THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE THAT COMMENT AND APPRECIATE ALL THE SUPPORT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. OKAY. THANK YOU. YEAH. I'M A MOTION TO APPROVE BY COMMISSIONER STOUT. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER CORONADO. THE VOTING IS OPEN MOTION CARRIES. OKAY. NEXT ITEM FROM CONSENT ITEM FOUR F PULLED BY COMMISSIONER STOUT. APPROVE AND AUTHORIZE THE COUNTY JUDGE TO SIGN AN ISSUE. TERMINATION LETTERS FOR THE FOLLOWING HUMANITARIAN SUPPORT AGREEMENTS. PREMIER REAL ESTATE CONTRACT NUMBER 2022 1051, AS AMENDED BY [F. Approve and authorize the County Judge to sign and issue termination letters for the following humanitarian support agreements: Premier Real Estate (Contract No.’s 2022-1051, as amended by 2024-0034) #6580-OP;  The Providencia Group #6581-OP (Contract No.’s 2022-0807, as amended by 2024-0131) ; Garda World Federal Services (Contract No.’s 2023-0394, as amended by 2024-0572) #6582-OP; Misioneros, Inc. (Contract No. 2024-0671) #6583-OP; and Merchant Security (Contract No. 2024-0132) #6584-OP.  Irene Gutierrez, Executive Director, Community Services, 915-273-3485] 2024 0034. OPINION NUMBER 6580. THE PROVIDENCIA GROUP NUMBER I'M SORRY. OPINION NUMBER 6581. CONTRACT NUMBER 2022 0807, AS AMENDED BY 2024 0131 GARDAWORLD FEDERAL SERVICES CONTRACT NUMBER 2023 0394, AS AMENDED BY 2024 0572. OPINION. NUMBER 6582 MISIONEROS INC. CONTRACT NUMBER 2024 0671. OPINION NUMBER 6583 AND MERCHANT SECURITY CONTRACT NUMBER 2024 0132. OPINION NUMBER 6584. SO I WANTED TO PULL THIS ITEM AS WELL JUST TO PROVIDE A LITTLE BETTER EXPLANATION TO THE PUBLIC AS TO WHY WE'RE DOING THIS. WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A CHANGE IN ADMINISTRATION THAT WAS NOT HELPFUL TO US WHEN THEY WERE IN OFFICE LAST TIME, AND WE DON'T EXPECT THEM TO BE HELPFUL. I MEAN, BETSY, CAN YOU GO A LITTLE MORE INTO, YOU KNOW, WE'VE BEEN WORKING WITH THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION AND FEMA, AND THEY'VE BEEN REIMBURSING THE COUNTY FOR EXPENDITURES THAT WE'VE BEEN MAKING FOR PROCESSING, SHELTERING AND TRANSPORTING MIGRANTS. AND WE FULLY EXPECT THAT THIS IS GOING TO GO AWAY. THIS PARTNERSHIP THAT WE HAD WITH THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT CAN, CAN CAN YOU JUST EXPLAIN A LITTLE MORE IN DETAIL WHAT WE'RE EXPECTING AND WHY THIS IS SO SIGNIFICANT? YES, SIR. AND I ALSO HAVE IRENE ONLINE, BUT I WANT TO MENTION THAT AS COMMISSIONER STOUT STARTED THE EXPLANATION, WE HAVE HAD THESE AGREEMENTS, SOME OF THEM SINCE 2022, AND THE COUNTY HAS BEEN OPERATING MULTIPLE SERVICES IN THE ASSISTANCE OF IN A HUMANITARIAN WAY, HELPING MIGRANTS MOVE THROUGH OUR COMMUNITY. AND I WANT TO ALSO BACK UP AND SAY THIS ORIGINALLY STARTED JUDGE, YOU MAY RECALL BORDER PATROL, CUSTOMS AND BORDER PATROL REACHED OUT TO THE COUNTY AND ASKED FOR ASSISTANCE. THEY WERE CONCERNED WITH THE VOLUMES THAT THEY WERE HOUSING AND WHAT THEY WERE PROCESSING, AND THEY WERE ALSO NOT WANTING TO RELEASE PEOPLE TO THE STREETS, WHICH IS NOT HUMANE AND NOT GOOD FOR PUBLIC PUBLIC SAFETY, FOR THEIR SAFETY, AS THEY'RE VERY VULNERABLE. AND SO AT THAT TIME, OUR TEAM THEN PUT TOGETHER THIS PROGRAM, WHICH IS REALLY IT'S EXPANDED OVER TIME. BUT WE STARTED WITH PUTTING TOGETHER. WE STARTED WITH TRANSPORTATION. IF I REMEMBER FIRST, AND WE WERE HELPING TRANSPORT MIGRANTS FROM SHELTERS TO THE AIRPORTS AND THE BUS STATIONS AND TO SHELTERS. BLESS YOU. AND THEN WE EXPANDED TO OUR MIGRANT SERVICES CENTER, WHICH INCLUDED US BEING ABLE TO ASSIST PEOPLE GO TO THEIR FINAL DESTINATION TO NAVIGATE THE SYSTEMS, THE TRAVEL SYSTEMS, THE HOTELING, THE SHELTERING, EVEN TRANSPORT FROM THAT PLACE TO THE AIRPORT OR THE BUS STATION AND I [01:55:07] COMMISSIONER, FIRST OF ALL, I THANK YOU FOR PULLING THIS BECAUSE THIS IS THIS IS COMING TO A POINT WHERE, AS YOU MENTIONED, WE WANT TO MAKE SURE WE DON'T EXPOSE THE COUNTY TO ANY FINANCIAL LIABILITY THAT WE DO NOT GET REIMBURSED FOR. ALL OF THIS HAS BEEN FUNDED BY THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT. THE MAJORITY WILL ACTUALLY ALL OF IT TO THIS DATE HAS BEEN FUNDED UP FRONT BY THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT. WE ARE NOW GOING INTO A TIME WHERE WE WOULD BE REQUIRED TO PUT FUNDING OUT AND ASK THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO REIMBURSE US, AND THAT IS OUR CONCERN, IS THAT WE WOULD NOT BE REIMBURSED. IN ADDITION TO PROVIDING THESE NOTICES TO TERMINATE THESE HUMANITARIAN SUPPORT AGREEMENTS, IT IS COMING. IT'S BRINGING TO AN END THE OPERATION THAT WE HAVE DONE FOR OVER TWO YEARS. I REMEMBER IN MAY, I THINK IT WAS MAY OF 2022, AND I ALL GET EMOTIONAL BECAUSE OUR TEAM, WE TRAVEL TO BROWNSVILLE, WE WATCHED THEIR MODEL, WE SAW HOW MUCH, WHAT A WHAT A HUMANITARIAN, STREAMLINED, EFFICIENT OPERATION. IT WAS. AND I WAS SO PROUD OF THE WAY PEOPLE WERE TREATED. AND I'M SO THANKFUL FOR YOUR SUPPORT AND FOR IRENE'S LEADERSHIP THAT WE EMBEDDED THAT SAME MODEL HERE IN EL PASO, BECAUSE THE WAY WE TREAT EACH OTHER IS IT'S JUST WHAT OUR VALUES ARE. THE HUMANITARIAN VALUES. AND I'M JUST INCREDIBLY I'M SAD IN A WAY THAT IT'S COMING TO AN END BECAUSE OF THE WORK THAT OUR TEAM HAS DONE. I'VE BEEN SO PROUD. I'VE BEEN SO PROUD OF OUR PARTNERS. BUT THAT'S WHAT THIS ITEM DOES. IT BRINGS THOSE SERVICES TO AN END. IT PUTS THOSE PROVIDERS ON NOTICE SO THAT WE CAN START WRAPPING UP THIS OPERATION AND NOT EXPOSE THE COUNTY TO FINANCIAL LIABILITY. WE ARE CONTINUING TO MONITOR WHAT SERVICES WILL BE NEEDED OR MAY BE NEEDED LONGER TERM, AND WE WILL BRING BACK A PROPOSAL ON ANYTHING THAT WE BELIEVE THAT THE COUNTY MAY NEED TO CONSIDER CONTINUING TO OPERATE OR FUND. IRENE, DO YOU WANT TO ADD ANYTHING? IRENE, WELCOME. IT'S TOUGH. I SHARE BETSY'S FEELINGS. IT IS A LITTLE BITTERSWEET FOR ME AND MY TEAM. IT'S SOMETHING WE'VE INVESTED QUITE A BIT OF TIME, LITERALLY SWEAT AND TEARS FOR THE LAST TWO AND A HALF YEARS. BUT IT'S BEEN A VERY IMPACTFUL AND VERY REWARDING PART OF THE WORK THAT MY DEPARTMENT DOES. SO I ECHO BETSY'S EXPRESSION, I SINCERELY AM VERY GRATEFUL TO YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP, THE THOUGHTFULNESS BEHIND EVERYTHING THAT YOU PROVIDED, DIRECTION ON, AND HOW WE NEED TO MOVE FORWARD IN THIS EFFORT. AND I SAID THIS BEFORE THAT THE CONSENSUS IN ALL OF YOU WAS VERY HELPFUL TO US AS AS EMPLOYEES THAT YOU ALL WERE IN AGREEMENT WITH HOW WE MOVE FORWARD VERSUS ANY CONFLICT BETWEEN YOU ALL. AND SO I'M VERY GRATEFUL THAT THAT, THAT, THAT WENT AS SMOOTH AS, AS IT DID IN YOUR LEADERSHIP. SO THANK YOU FOR THAT. BUT JUST TO ADD TO BETSY, VERY TRUE. THE CONCERN THAT WE HAVE THAT WE WOULDN'T GET REIMBURSED IF WE INCUR EXPENSES, WE'RE ACTUALLY BEING TOLD BY SOME MEMBERS OF THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION NOT TO COUNT ON REIMBURSEMENT. COME, COME JANUARY. IF WE IF WE INCUR EXPENSES. SO AT THIS POINT, BECAUSE WE HAVE BEEN ADVANCED FUNDING FROM FEMA AND WE WOULDN'T GET ADVANCED IN THE FUTURE EFFECTIVE JANUARY AND FORWARD, IT IS CONCERNING THAT WE INCUR EXPENSES AND THEN RUN THE RISK OF NOT GETTING REIMBURSED. BUT HAVING SAID THAT, WE HAVE COMMUNICATED WITH FEMA, THE CURRENT FUNDING DOES EXPIRE DECEMBER 31ST. HOWEVER, THERE IS WE STILL HAVE MONEY IN THE BANK LEFTOVER. WE THINK WE HAVE ENOUGH MONEY TO FUNCTION FOR ONE FULL QUARTER INTO 2025. AND WE'VE REACHED OUT TO THE FEMA. ACTUALLY, THE UNITED WAY NATIONAL BOARD, WHICH FEMA PROVIDED ALL THE FUNDING TO, AND THE NATIONAL UNITED WAY IS WHO DISBURSED FUNDING. SO IT'S REALLY OUT OF FEMA HANDS. THE CURRENT FUNDING WE HAVE. AND SO WE'VE REACHED OUT TO THEM TO SEE IF THEY COULD CONSIDER YET ANOTHER EXTENSION BEYOND 1231, SO THAT WE COULD EXHAUST THE REMAINING FUNDS THAT WE HAVE. AND HOPEFULLY WE COME BEFORE YOU IF THEY DO DECIDE TO EXTEND. AND IF YOU ALL WOULD APPROVE AND CONSIDER US MOVING FORWARD FOR THE NEXT QUARTER, THEN WE WOULD WE WOULD CONTINUE TO DO THIS WORK. BUT FOR NOW, WE NEED TO TERMINATE BECAUSE SOME OF OUR [02:00:06] HUMANITARIAN AGREEMENTS HAVE A 30 DAY TERMINATION CLAUSE. AND SO WE NEED TO GIVE THEM A 30 DAY BEFORE 1231. IRENE, BETSY. AND THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER STOUT. THIS IS ALMOST LIKE AN ANOMALY THAT THE COMMUNITY ALWAYS EXPECTED US RIGHT TO BE AT THE FOREFRONT. SO I JUST WANT EVERYONE IN THE COMMUNITY TO KNOW THAT THIS IS VERY THOUGHT OUT. IT'S BALANCING BETWEEN HAVING TO FUND SOMETHING THAT WE CAN REALLY AFFORD AND OBVIOUSLY TAKING MONEY FROM SOMEWHERE ELSE AND BALANCING THAT SITUATION. SO IT'S VERY IT'S A, YOU KNOW, IT'S HARD FOR EVERYBODY THAT'S BEEN IN THE FOREFRONT, ESPECIALLY OUR, YOU KNOW, OUR NGOS THAT DEPEND SO MUCH ON, ON US TO, TO BE ABLE TO PROVIDE FOR THEM. BU, YOU KNOW, NOT DOING THIS WOULD I THINK WOULD BE DETRIMENTAL TO OUR BUDGET AND IT WOULD BE HARD FOR US TO SUSTAIN ANYTHING LIKE THAT. SO IF WE DON'T, IF WE DON'T TERMINATE THE CONTRACTS, THAT MEANS WE CONTINUE WITH THEM. AND THEN THE MONEY WOULD HAVE TO COME FROM FEMA. AND I THINK EVEN FOR THEM TO PUT THEM UNDER THAT CIRCUMSTANCE. SO IT'S SOMETHING WE HAVE TO DO. BUT I THINK IT'S SOMETHING THAT I HOPE THAT YOU HAVE, THAT ALL THE CONFIDENCE THAT WE WILL LOOK FOR EVERY POSSIBLE WAY, BECAUSE I GET A LOT OF QUESTIONS ABOUT WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN. YOU KNOW, IF WE DO HAVE A LARGE AMOUNT OF MIGRANTS COMING INTO OUR COMMUNITY, GOING INTO, INTO, YOU KNOW, INTO OUR PARKS AND WHEREVER, YOU KNOW, WHEREVER THEY'RE GOING TO BE ABLE TO STAY UNTIL WE FIGURE THINGS OUT. IT'S NOT AN EASY QUESTION TO ANSWER, BUT I THINK WE'LL DO EVERYTHING POSSIBLE. AND I THINK WHATEVER WE DO, IT'S PROBABLY GOING TO BE TEN TIMES BETTER THAN MOST COMMUNITIES BECAUSE WE DO HAVE THAT KIND OF SUPPORT. WE'VE ALWAYS HAD THAT SUPPORT FROM THE DIOCESE, SO I KNOW WE'LL BE REACHING OUT TO BISHOP SITES AND BECAUSE AT ONE TIME THEY DIDN'T HAVE OUR SUPPORT AND WE SORT OF CAUGHT UP WITH THEM AND REALIZED HOW MUCH OF A BURDEN THEY HAD. AND THEN WE TRY TO SHARE THAT WITH WITH OUR SUPPORT AND OUR FUNDING. SO JUST TO LET THE COMMUNITY AND NGOS KNOW THAT THIS IS A VERY DIFFICULT SITUATION. IT'S YOU KNOW, THE AMOUNT OF WORK AND HEART THAT YOU, IRENE AND BETSY AND YOUR TEAM HAVE PUT INTO THIS AND THEN HAVE TO SORT OF AT THIS POINT, NOT NOT KNOW, WILL NOT DO WHAT WE WOULD TYPICALLY DO SIMPLY BECAUSE WE'RE WE KNOW BETTER THAN, THAN TO EXPECT MONEY FROM AT ONE END. THEIR NARRATIVE IS VERY NEGATIVE ABOUT IMMIGRATION. AND THEN TO THINK THAT THEN THEY WOULD PROVIDE US MONEY TO SUPPORT THE IMMIGRATION WOULD BE SO COUNTERINTUITIVE. SO ONCE AGAIN, IRENE, EVERYBODY, BETSY, OUR LEGAL TEAM, EVERYBODY THAT'S BEEN WORKING SO, SO HARD I KNOW IT'S A IT'S A DIFFICULT SITUATION, BUT I THINK I HAVE THE FAITH THAT THAT WE'LL FIGURE SOMETHING OUT TO, TO MAKE SURE THAT WE CONTINUE TO BE A HUMANITARIAN COMMUNITY. YEAH. WE NEED TO FIGURE SOMETHING OUT. I MEAN, WE NEED TO HAVE. WE NEED TO TALK WITH THE CITY AS WELL. I THINK BECAUSE, YOU KNOW WHAT? WHAT WHAT WHAT WORRIES ME IS WE'RE GOING TO GO BACK TO UNANNOUNCED RELEASES INTO THE COMMUNITY. LACK OF THE COMPLETE LACK OF OR VERY DIFFICULT, YOU KNOW, DEALINGS WITH, WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY AND SOME LACK OF TRANSPARENCY AND THAT WE THAT WE EXPERIENCED DURING THE LAST ADMINISTRATION, WE NEED TO CONTINUE TO HAVE CONTACT WITH DHS AND THE BORDER PATROL AND. YOU KNOW, THE OTHER FEDERAL AGENCIES TO SEE WHAT WE CAN GET. BUT I AM GLAD THAT WE STILL HAVE THE OFFICE OF NEW AMERICANS. AND, YOU KNOW, IRENE AND LAURA WORKING, WORKING THROUGH THAT, THAT OFFICE. AND, YOU KNOW, I ALSO WANT TO THANK THANK YOU ALL FOR THE WORK THAT YOU DID. YOU KNOW, WE WENT AND SAW THE MODEL IN BROWNSVILLE AND WE SET UP OUR OWN, OUR OWN SHOP HERE, WHICH WAS ALSO A MODEL FOR, FOR MANY, MANY FOLKS. I MEAN, WE EVEN HAD A PRESIDENTIAL VISIT COME TO, YOU KNOW, PRESIDENT BIDEN WAS WAS GIVEN A TOUR OF THE MAYOR OF NEW YORK, WAS GIVEN A TOUR. A NUMBER OF PEOPLE FROM ALL OVER THE COUNTRY CAME DOWN AND SAW OUR OPERATION. AND, YOU KNOW, IT'S SOMETHING THAT I WAS VERY PROUD OF. YOU KNOW, WHEN I, WHEN I WAS TALKING TO PEOPLE LIKE AT NACO OR WITH LOCAL PROGRESS OR OTHER, YOU [02:05:01] KNOW, NATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS WITH WITH WHICH I INTERFACE AND SO, YOU KNOW, THANK YOU. THANK YOU, IRENE, TO YOU AND YOUR TEAM FOR ALL YOU DO. I KNOW YOU DID IT WITH GREAT PASSION AND, AND LOVE AND HUMANITY AND THAT'S, YOU KNOW, PART OF PART OF WHO WE ARE AS EL PASO AND AS EL PASO COUNTY AND, YOU KNOW, IT'S HARD TO TELL IF THERE'S GOING TO BE ANY, ANY INCREASES IN FOLKS COMING AND HOW WE'RE GOING TO DEAL WITH THAT WITHOUT WITHOUT THE SUPPORT FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT. BUT WE NEED TO STAND READY AS WELL. WE CAN'T JUST LEAVE THE BURDEN ON THE NGOS IF SOMETHING HAPPENS. I MEAN, WE YOU KNOW, WE'RE IN A DIFFERENT SITUATION NOW THAN WE WERE BACK IN 2018 WHEN WE HAD, YOU KNOW, A LARGE A LARGE NUMBER OF FOLKS COMING IN. AND I REMEMBER I THINK IT WAS CHRISTMAS AROUND CHRISTMAS TIME WHEN THE BORDER PATROL JUST DUMPED PEOPLE INTO OUR DOWNTOWN, AND IT WAS MAINLY THE NGOS THAT HAD TO STEP UP AND COORDINATE AND HELP AND HELP THOSE FOLKS. WE DIDN'T HAVE THE ONDA THEN. WE DO NOW. SO I KNOW THAT WE'RE, WE'RE WE'RE IN A MUCH BETTER POSITION TO BE ABLE TO STEP IN AND TRY TO HELP. BUT I THINK WE NEED TO AS A COURT, YOU KNOW, HAVE A VERY SERIOUS CONVERSATION ABOUT NEEDING TO IDENTIFY FUNDS THAT THAT WILL HELP WITH, WITH FUTURE HUMANITARIAN EFFORTS, EVEN THOUGH WE DON'T GET MONEY FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT. I KNOW IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE PROBABLY COULDN'T PUT THE FULL BILL FOR. BUT, YOU KNOW, WE THERE'S GOING TO BE A NEW ADMINISTRATION IN THE CITY. HOPEFULLY WE CAN HAVE CONVERSATIONS WITH THEM AND HAVE BETTER COMMUNICATION AND COLLABORATION TO, YOU KNOW, AS A COMMUNITY WITH THE NGOS, YOU KNOW, HAVE HAVE A, HAVE A STRATEGY AND A PLAN TO MOVE FORWARD. SO THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER. JUDGE. COMMISSIONER. YES, IRENE. I'M SORRY. DID YOU GIVE US THE AMOUNT THAT WE MIGHT POTENTIALLY STILL HAVE AVAILABLE IF THE EXTENSION IS GRANTED? YOU SAID POSSIBLY FOR THE FIRST QUARTER OR THE FIRST THREE MONTHS OF 2025. DO WE KNOW WHAT THAT AMOUNT IS? YES, MA'AM. IT'S A LITTLE OVER $5 MILLION. I BELIEVE IT'S 5.3 MILLION. YEAH. THAT'S SIGNIFICANT. HOPEFULLY WE'LL RECEIVE SOME GOOD NEWS ABOUT THAT EXTENSION. DID THEY GIVE YOU AN INDICATION OF WHEN THEY MIGHT MAKE THAT DECISION ON THE EXTENSION REQUEST? THE UNITED WAY NATIONAL BOARD WILL MEET ON DECEMBER 6TH TO TAKE UP. AND JUST AS A NOTE, JUST I THINK THE COUNTY AND THE CITY OF EL PASO WERE THE ONLY AGENCIES THAT STILL HAVE MONEY LEFT FROM THAT FUNDING SOURCE. SO IT COULD BE A GOOD INDICATION FOR THE NATIONAL BOARD. IT WOULDN'T BE SUCH AN INCONVENIENCE FOR THEM TO EXPAND IT, BECAUSE IT'S ONLY TWO ENTITIES. SO AND I UNDERSTAND THE CITY OF EL PASO ALSO REQUESTED AN EXTENSION BEYOND DECEMBER 31ST AS WELL. EXCELLENT. YEAH. THANKS. SO THAT I THINK THAT UNDERSCORES COMMISSIONER STOUT'S POINT ABOUT TRYING TO COORDINATE WITH THE CITY. THAT'S GOING TO BE REALLY IMPORTANT IF WE CAN BOTH RECEIVE THAT EXTENSION. THANK YOU. IRENE, THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR WORK AND YOUR TEAM AS WELL. THANK YOU COMMISSIONER. MY PLEASURE. THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER CORONADO. YEAH, I AGREE WITH COMMISSIONER AND COMMISSIONER AND YOU JUDGE ALL OF US ON THE COURT FEEL PRETTY MUCH THE SAME WAY ABOUT WHAT'S GOING ON. AND I THINK WE NEED TO DO DO START TALKING ABOUT HOW WE'RE GOING TO HANDLE THE ADMINISTRATION, INCOMING ADMINISTRATION'S POLICIES REGARDING OUR IMMIGRATION, IMMIGRATION HERE IN OUR LOCAL AREA. I THINK I FEAR THAT IF WE DON'T GET NOTICE QUICKLY, THERE'S GOING TO BE HARD FOR US TO RAMP BACK UP, AND IT'S ONLY GOING TO BE MORE EXPENSIVE FOR US TO DO THAT. SO I'M HOPING THAT WE GET A QUICKER RESPONSE. SO THAT WE'RE ABLE TO CONTINUE THAT. I HAD A MEETING THIS MORNING WITH MR. ESPARZA. HI, MISS ESPARZA, AND HE'S BEEN EXTREMELY, EXTREMELY SUPPORTIVE ON SOME OF THE OTHER ISSUES. BUT ALSO HIS SORT OF INSIGHTS AND HIS SUPPORT OF HOW IMPORTANT IT IS FOR THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO BEAR SOME OF THAT, THAT BURDEN, INSTEAD OF PUTTING IT ON THE COMMUNITY. THE COMMUNITY'S VERY APPRECIATIVE OF THAT DISCUSSION. SO THAT THAT MONEY THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT, I MEAN, CAN ANY OF THOSE FUNDS BE USED TO SUPPORT OTHER SERVICES, OR IT JUST HAS TO GO TO THE SHELTER AND SHELTERING? AND SO, ANNA, DO YOU WANT ME TO ANSWER THAT? BETSY. SO ANNA IS THE COUNTY ATTORNEY. SO UNDER THE EFSP, THERE'S A LIMITED LISTING OF ITEMS THAT CAN AND SERVICES THAT CAN BE PROVIDED. IT HAS TO BE FOR INDIVIDUALS THAT ARE ENCOUNTERED BY DHS, FOR EXAMPLE. AND THERE'S CERTAIN TRACKING AND REPORTING WE HAVE TO PROVIDE FOR USE OF THOSE FUNDS. SO IT WOULD HAVE TO BE DELINEATED WITHIN THE EFSP PROGRAM FOR US TO BE ABLE TO USE THAT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. OKAY. MOVE TO APPROVE THE ITEM. WE HAVE A MOTION BY COMMISSIONER STOUT, SECOND BY JUDGE SAMANIEGO. THE VOTING IS OPEN. [02:10:16] SIX. THE MOTION CARRIES. AND THE LAST ITEM PULLED FROM CONSENT PULLED BY COMMISSIONER LEON. ITEM 40, APPROVE AND AUTHORIZE THE COUNTY JUDGE TO SIGN THE THIRD AMENDMENT TO THE FERGUSON GROUP CONSULTING AGREEMENT WITH THE FERGUSON FERGUSON GROUP, LLC FOR GRANT CONSULTATION SERVICES [T. Approve and authorize the County Judge to sign the Third Amendment to the Ferguson Group Consulting Agreement with The Ferguson Group, LLC (TFG) for grant consultation services from January 1, 2025, through June 30, 2025, in the amount of $60,000. Funds are available in GF-BDGTGRANTS-CONTR SVC-GEN. (Contract No. 2024-0932) Melissa Carrillo, Executive Director, County Operations, 915-546-2162] FROM JANUARY 1ST, 2025 THROUGH JUNE 30TH, 2025. IN THE AMOUNT OF $60,000 FUNDS ARE AVAILABLE IN THE GENERAL FUND. BUDGET. GRANTS. CONTRACT SERVICES. GENERAL CONTRACT NUMBER 2024 0932. THANK YOU. JUDGE. COMMISSIONERS. THIS CAUGHT MY EYE BECAUSE OF A GRANT THAT WE POSSIBLY WOULDN'T HAVE GOTTEN ANYWAY, BUT WE MISSED OUT ON IT. IT WAS THE EPA COMMUNITY CHANGE GRANT, WHICH COULD HAVE BEEN WORTH UP TO $20 MILLION. AND I UNDERSTAND THAT THE FERGUSON GROUP WAS ASSISTING THE COUNTY. THEY WERE GOING IN A WE AND THEM AND THE FERGUSON GROUP WAS GOING IN A CERTAIN DIRECTION. A MEMBER OF MY STAFF APPROACHED THEM AND ADVISED THAT POSSIBLY IT BE ANOTHER DIRECTION, THAT WE'D HAVE A BIGGER CHANCE IN OBTAINING SOME OF THOSE FUNDS. THE FERGUSON GROUP SAID NO, I THINK THE DIRECTION THAT WE'RE GOING IN IS WHERE WE SHOULD BE. NOW. I MAY BE OFF A LITTLE BIT, BUT ULTIMATELY THEY THEMSELVES ADVISED THAT WE WERE NOT GOING TO BE COMPETITIVE, SO WE LOST OUT ON THIS. THE POSSIBILITY OF GETTING SOME OF THIS, THIS MONEY. I UNDERSTAND THAT. THERE'S A I THINK THE TOTAL REQUESTED OVER TWO FULL YEARS IS ABOUT $385,000. AND IN MY OPINION, WE'RE PAYING FERGUSON A LOT OF MONEY TO HELP US FIND AND WIN GRANTS. AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I ASKED MY TEAM TO PUT SOME QUESTIONS TOGETHER BEFORE I VOTE YES ON THIS, THAT I'D LIKE TO HAVE SOME ANSWERS IS HOW MANY GRANT APPLICATIONS HAS FERGUSON ASSISTED WITH OVER THE LAST TWO YEARS? HOW MANY GRANT APPLICATIONS HAS FERGUSON ASSISTED WITH THAT HAVE BEEN GRANTED THAT WE'VE BEEN SUCCESSFUL? HOW MANY OTHER PROJECTS OR GRANTS HAS FERGUSON CURRENTLY OR ARE CURRENTLY ASSISTING WITH, AND THAT THE COUNTY EVER GO OUT FOR BID ON THIS ON THIS GROUP? I DON'T THINK WE DID. AND I'D LIKE TO HAVE A FULL BRIEFING OF WHAT THEY DO, HOW THEY DO IT, AND HOW THEY ASSIST US BECAUSE THIS SPECIFIC GRANT, MAYBE WE WOULD HAVE MISSED IT ANYWAY. BUT WE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO CHANGE COURSE. WE DIDN'T. AND WE LOST A, I THINK A GREAT OPPORTUNITY. AND IF I CAN ADD TO THAT, COMMISSIONER LEON, I KNOW THE GRANT THAT YOU'RE REFERRING TO AND IT WAS VERY FRUSTRATING WHEN THE RECOMMENDATION WAS NOT TO MOVE FORWARD WITH SUBMITTING IT, BECAUSE OUR STAFF HAD ALREADY SPENT SO MUCH TIME WORKING ON LOOKING INTO THIS GRANT AND WORKING ON THIS APPLICATION. WE HAD STARTED WORKING ON IT. I MEAN, I WANT TO SAY ALMOST AN ENTIRE YEAR BEFORE THE RECOMMENDATION WAS MADE THAT WE ACTUALLY SHOULDN'T GO FORWARD BECAUSE WE WOULDN'T BE COMPETITIVE. I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY STAFF HOURS, BUT JUST IN MY OFFICE, MY STAFF WAS INVOLVED. WE WORKED CLOSELY, OF COURSE, WITH MUNZER. WE WERE HAVING MEETINGS WITH AN OUTSIDE VENDOR REGARDING SOME OF THE INITIAL PROPOSALS ON GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE OUT IN TORNILLO. I MEAN, IT WAS HOURS AND HOURS AND HOURS AND HOURS OF WORK BY JUST OUR STAFF THAT WERE PUT INTO THIS POTENTIAL GRANT. AND THEN AT THE END, IT TURNS OUT THAT IT WAS DECIDED WE SHOULDN'T SUBMIT IT. AND SO THAT WAS VERY FRUSTRATING TO ME. AND THESE CONVERSATIONS WERE TAKING PLACE IN JULY. THEN COME OCTOBER, WE WERE ADVISED THAT WE SHOULD HAVE GONE IN ANOTHER DIRECTION, THAT WE WEREN'T COMPETITIVE ENOUGH. SO JUDGE, COMMISSIONERS, IF YOU'D LIKE FOR US TO PUT TOGETHER A COMPREHENSIVE PRESENTATION, THEN WE WOULD ASK TO POSTPONE THIS ITEM AND LET US PUT THAT TOGETHER AND BRING IT BACK ON EVERYTHING THAT TFG'S BEEN INVOLVED IN. I ALSO BELIEVE IT WOULD BE HELPFUL TO DO AN OVERVIEW OF THAT CHANGE GRANT AND SORT OF BASICALLY KIND OF GO BACK THROUGH THE HISTORY OF IT. I BELIEVE THE WAY IT ORIGINALLY CAME TO US WAS NOT IT WASN'T EVEN I THINK INITIALLY OUR GRANT APPLICATION, IT CAME TO US FROM ANOTHER AGENCY AND THEN IT [02:15:02] MORPHED OVER TIME BECAUSE THAT ONE WASN'T GOING TO WORK. SO IT'D BE A MORE DETAILED OVERVIEW OF THAT. AND THEN THESE QUESTIONS THAT YOU'VE ASKED MELISSA, WOULD THAT BE POSSIBLE TO POSTPONE THIS? YEAH, I'D BE IN AGREEMENT WITH THAT. THANK YOU BETSY, APPRECIATE IT. SO IF YOU'LL ACTUALLY IF TODAY WE JUST DELETE IT, WE'LL BRING IT BACK AS SOON AS WE HAVE THE THAT WILL BRING BACK ALL THE INFORMATION AND BRING BACK THE ITEM. I DO WANT TO MENTION ALL OF THESE ARE VERY VALID CONCERNS AND QUESTIONS. WE DO PLAN TO GO OUT FOR BID FOR THESE SERVICES AFTER THIS EXTENSION. WE ALSO I WANT TO ALSO MENTION THAT PRIOR TO US EVER PARTNERING WITH TFG, MANY OF THE GRANTS THAT WE WERE MADE AWARE OF WERE THROUGH TFG. SO EVEN BEFORE WE HAD AN AGREEMENT WITH TFG, THEY WOULD STILL SEND US NOTICE OF FEDERAL GRANT FUNDING THAT WAS BECOMING AVAILABLE FOR US TO APPLY FOR. AND IT WAS, YOU KNOW, JUST THEY WERE ALWAYS MAKING US AWARE EVEN BEFORE WE HAD ANY KIND OF FORMAL AGREEMENT WITH THEM. SO WE NEED TO INCLUDE THAT TYPE OF INFORMATION AS WELL. WHAT WHAT ELSE HAVE THEY DONE AND WHAT DO THEY DO THAT'S BENEFICIAL? AND THEN WHAT ARE SOME OF THESE PERFORMANCE METRICS. WE'LL WE'LL BRING THAT BACK. THEY ALSO HAVE MADE US AWARE PART OF THAT IS THEY'VE MADE US AWARE OF WHAT WE DON'T QUALIFY FOR NOW, BUT WHAT WE'LL NEED TO DO TO BECOME QUALIFIED. BUT WE NEED TO INCLUDE ALL OF THAT IN OUR IN OUR PRESENTATION. THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU SIR. WE HAVE A MOTION BY JUDGE SAMANIEGO TO DELETE SECOND BY COMMISSIONER ELGIN. THE VOTING IS OPEN. MOTION CARRIES. OKAY, JUDGE, AT THIS TIME, WOULD YOU LIKE TO GO AHEAD AND RECESS OR MOVE INTO EXECUTIVE? WE'RE CLOSE TO. THOUGHTS? BITSY. RECESS AT THIS TIME. COME BACK A LITTLE EARLIER I THINK WITH THAT, IF THAT WORKS FOR THE COURT RECESS AND THEN WE'LL COME BACK FOR EXECUTIVE SESSION. YES, COMMISSIONERS COURT WILL RECESS FOR ONE HOUR. IT IS 11:47 A.M. [02:20:56] 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 IS 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 GRATIS PARA LAS VACUNAS RUTINAS DE SUS HIJOS. VISITA EP HEALTH PUNTO COM SABEMOS CUANTO A MAS DE TUS HIJOS, ASI RECUERDA NO LO DUDES VACUNA. [02:27:55] IT'S IMPORTANT FOR YOUR CHILDREN TO STAY CURRENT ON ALL THEIR ROUTINE VACCINES. ALSO, CHILDREN FIVE AND OLDER ARE NOT ELIGIBLE FOR THE COVID 19 VACCINE. I AM CURRENT AND ALL MY VACCINES AND I ALSO GET THE COVID VACCINE, SO I AND MY LOVED ONES CAN BE PROTECTED. YOU AND YOUR KIDS SHOULD GET THE VACCINE TOO. AND IF YOU'VE ALREADY GOTTEN THE VACCINE, YOU SHOULD GET YOUR BOOSTER FOR YOUR CHILD'S ROUTINE VACCINES. VISIT EP HEALTH.COM. WE KNOW HOW MUCH YOU LOVE YOUR CHILDREN, SO REMEMBER, DON'T HESITATE, VACCINATE AS IMPORTANT. QUÉ SUS HIJOS TENGAN TODAS SUS VACUNAS ADEMAS DE LA VACUNAS RUTINAS LOS NINOS MAYORES DE CINCO ANOS, AHORA SON ELEGIBLES PARA LA VACUNA DE COVID 19. LA VACUNA COVID DIECINUEVE IS 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. [02:34:51] 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 [02:35:03] 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 AMAS A TUS HIJOS, ASI RECUERDA NO LO DUDES VACUNA. [02:41:47] 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 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. [02:48:45] 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. VISIT EP HEALTH PUNTO COM SABEMOS CUANTO A MAS DE TUS HIJOS? ASI RECUERDA NO LO DUDES VACUNA. [02:54:48] DE. [02:55:40] 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 IS 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 MAS DE TUS HIJOS? ASI RECUERDA NO LO DUDES VACUNA. [03:02:38] 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. VISIT EP HEALTH.COM. SABEMOS CUANTO A MAS DE TUS HIJOS? ASI RECUERDA NO LO DUDES VACUNA. [03:09:35] 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 [03:10:01] CHILDREN, SO REMEMBER, DON'T HESITATE, VACCINATE AS IMPORTANT. QUÉ SUS HIJOS TENGAN TODAS SUS VACUNAS? ADEMAS DE LAS VACUNAS RUTINAS LOS NINOS MAYORES DE CINCO ANOS, AHORA SON ELEGIBLES PARA LA VACUNA DE COVID 19. LA VACUNA COVID IS GRATIS PARA LAS VACUNAS RUTINA DE SUS HIJOS. VISITA EP HEALTH PUNTO COM SABEMOS CUANTO A MAS DE TUS HIJOS, ASI RECUERDA NO LO DUDES VACUNA. [03:16:32] 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 AMAS A TUS HIJOS? ASI RECUERDA NO LO DUDES VACUNA. [03:23:29] IT'S IMPORTANT FOR YOUR CHILDREN TO STAY CURRENT ON ALL THEIR ROUTINE VACCINES. ALSO, CHILDREN FIVE AND OLDER ARE NOT ELIGIBLE FOR THE COVID 19 VACCINE. I AM CURRENT AND ALL MY VACCINES AND I ALSO GET THE COVID VACCINE. SO I AND MY LOVED ONES CAN BE PROTECTED. YOU AND YOUR KIDS SHOULD GET THE VACCINE TOO. AND IF YOU'VE ALREADY GOTTEN THE VACCINE, YOU SHOULD GET YOUR BOOSTER FOR YOUR CHILD'S ROUTINE VACCINES. VISIT EP HEALTH.COM. WE KNOW HOW MUCH YOU LOVE YOUR CHILDREN, SO REMEMBER, DON'T HESITATE, VACCINATE AS IMPORTANT. QUÉ SUS HIJOS TENGAN TODAS SUS VACUNAS? ADEMAS DE LAS VACUNAS RUTINAS LOS NINOS MAYORES DE CINCO ANOS. AHORA SON ELEGIBLES PARA LA VACUNA DE COVID DIECINUEVE LA VACUNA COVID DIECINUEVE ES GRATIS PARA LAS VACUNAS RUTINAS DE SUS HIJOS. VISITA EP HEALTH.COM SABEMOS CUANTO A MAS DE TUS HIJOS, ASI QUÉ RECUERDA NO LO DUDES VACUNA. [03:30:26] IT'S IMPORTANT FOR YOUR CHILDREN TO STAY CURRENT ON ALL THEIR ROUTINE VACCINES. ALSO, CHILDREN [03:30:32] FIVE AND OLDER ARE NOT ELIGIBLE FOR THE COVID 19 VACCINE. I AM CURRENT AND ALL MY VACCINES AND I ALSO GET THE COVID VACCINE. SO I AND MY LOVED ONES CAN BE PROTECTED. YOU AND YOUR KIDS SHOULD GET THE VACCINE TOO. AND IF YOU'VE ALREADY GOTTEN THE VACCINE, YOU SHOULD GET YOUR BOOSTER FOR YOUR CHILD'S ROUTINE VACCINES. VISIT EP HEALTH.COM. WE KNOW HOW MUCH YOU LOVE YOUR CHILDREN, SO REMEMBER, DON'T HESITATE, VACCINATE AS IMPORTANT. QUÉ SUS HIJOS TENGAN TODAS SUS VACUNAS ADEMAS DE LA 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. [03:37:23] IT'S IMPORTANT FOR YOUR CHILDREN TO STAY CURRENT ON ALL THEIR ROUTINE VACCINES. ALSO, CHILDREN FIVE AND OLDER ARE NOT ELIGIBLE FOR. GO AHEAD. COMMISSIONERS COURT HAS RECONVENED TO REGULAR OPEN SESSION. WE ARE AN ITEM 13 EXECUTIVE SESSION. COMMISSIONERS COURT WILL NOW RECESS INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION TO DISCUSS ITEMS 13 A AND 13 C, AS WELL AS ITEM EIGHT B. BEFORE WE DO THAT, WE DO HAVE A MEMO TO READ IN FOR ITEM 13 C. THANK YOU. GOOD AFTERNOON. ASSISTANT COUNTY ATTORNEY FOR ITEM 13. C STAFF IS ASKING THAT THIS ITEM BE TAKEN INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION PURSUANT TO TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE SECTIONS FIVE, FIVE, 1.071 AND 551.0725 FOR ITEM 13 C. THE COUNTY IS CURRENTLY IN NEGOTIATIONS WITH INSIGHT PUBLIC SECTOR, INC FOR A POTENTIAL AMENDMENT TO THE AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE COUNTY AND INSIGHT RELATING TO THE COTTON VALLEY CONNECT BROADBAND PROJECT. THE INFORMATION TO BE DISCUSSED INCLUDES ISSUES INVOLVING BUSINESS AND FINANCIAL INFORMATION RELATED TO THOSE ACTIVE CONTRACT NEGOTIATIONS. THIS INFORMATION WILL INCLUDE RECOMMENDATIONS AS TO WHAT THE COUNTY'S NEGOTIATION POSITION WOULD BE, AND THE COMMISSIONERS COURT MUST BE FREE TO ANALYZE THE BUSINESS AND FINANCIAL CONCERNS CRITICALLY, WITHOUT UNDERMINING THE COUNTY'S POSITIONS. THEREFORE, YOUR LEGAL ADVISOR, DIANA SCHEER, HAS DETERMINED THAT DELIBERATION IN OPEN MEETING CONCERNING THESE BUSINESS AND FINANCIAL ISSUES RELATING TO THOSE NEGOTIATIONS WOULD HAVE A DETRIMENTAL EFFECT ON THE POSITION OF THE COMMISSIONERS COURT IN NEGOTIATIONS. THUS, I AM REQUESTING THAT THE COMMISSIONERS COURT UNANIMOUSLY VOTE THAT DELIBERATIONS IN AN OPEN MEETING WOULD HAVE A DETRIMENTAL EFFECT ON THE POSITION OF THE COMMISSIONERS COURT IN NEGOTIATIONS, AND THAT ALL SAID DELIBERATIONS TAKE PLACE IN CLOSED SESSION. I WOULD FURTHER REQUEST THAT THE COMMISSIONERS COURT DIRECT THE COUNTY CLERK TO ENSURE THAT ALL PROCEEDINGS IN CLOSED SESSION BE RECORDED. IF THE COMMISSIONERS COURT AGREES, I NEED A MOTION IN A SECOND AND A RECORDED VOTE AT THIS TIME TO TAKE ITEM 13 C INTO EXECUTIVE AND A COPY OF THIS LEGAL MEMO HAS BEEN PROVIDED TO THE COUNTY CLERK AND BEEN MADE PART OF THE OFFICIAL COURT RECORD. SO I JUST NEED THAT MOTION. PLEASE. ONE SECOND. WE HAVE A MOTION BY JUDGE SAMANIEGO, SECOND BY COMMISSIONER STOUT. THE VOTING IS OPEN. THE MOTION CARRIES. COMMISSIONERS COURT WILL NOW RECESS INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION TO DISCUSS ITEMS 13 A THROUGH 13 C, [03:40:05] AS WELL AS ITEM EIGHT B PURSUANT TO TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE SECTION 551.071 AND 551.0725. COMMISSIONERS COURT WILL RECONVENE TO TAKE OFFICIAL ACTION. 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 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 A MAS DE TUS HIJOS, ASI Q RECUERDA NO LO DUDES VACUNA. [03:49:53] 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 [03:50:04] I ALSO GET THE COVID VACCINE. SO I AND MY LOVED ONES CAN BE PROTECTED. YOU AND YOUR KIDS SHOULD GET THE VACCINE TOO. AND IF YOU'VE ALREADY GOTTEN THE VACCINE, YOU SHOULD GET YOUR BOOSTER FOR YOUR CHILD'S ROUTINE VACCINES. VISIT EP HEALTH.COM. WE KNOW HOW MUCH YOU LOVE YOUR CHILDREN, SO REMEMBER, DON'T HESITATE, VACCINATE AS IMPORTANT. Q SUS HIJOS TENGAN TODAS SUS VACUNAS ADEMAS DE LAS VACUNAS RUTINAS LOS NINOS MAYORES DE CINCO ANOS, AHORA SON ELEGIBLES PARA LA VACUNA DE COVID 19. LA VACUNA COVID IS GRATIS PARA LAS VACUNAS RUTINAS DE SUS HIJOS. VISITA EP HEALTH.COM SABEMOS CUANTO A MAS DE TUS HIJOS? ASI Q RECUERDA NO LO DUDES VACUNA. [03:56:50] 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 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. VISIT EP HEALTH.COM. SABEMOS CUANTO MAS DE TUS HIJOS ASI Q RECUERDA NO LO DUDES VACUNA. [04:03:47] 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 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 NUEVE LA VACUNA COVID DIECINUEVE GRATIS PARA LAS VACUNAS RUTINAS DE SUS HIJOS. VISITA EP HEALTH.COM SABEMOS CUANTO ALMORZAR TUS HIJOS, ASI Q RECUERDA NO LO DUDES VACUNA. [04:10:43] IT'S IMPORTANT FOR YOUR CHILDREN TO STAY CURRENT ON ALL THEIR ROUTINE VACCINES. ALSO, CHILDREN [04:10:49] FIVE AND OLDER ARE NOT ELIGIBLE FOR THE COVID 19 VACCINE. I AM CURRENT AND ALL MY VACCINES AND I ALSO GET THE COVID VACCINE. SO I AND MY LOVED ONES CAN BE PROTECTED. YOU AND YOUR KIDS SHOULD GET THE VACCINE TOO. AND IF YOU'VE ALREADY GOTTEN THE VACCINE, YOU SHOULD GET YOUR BOOSTER FOR YOUR CHILD'S ROUTINE VACCINES. VISIT EP HEALTH.COM. WE KNOW HOW MUCH YOU LOVE YOUR CHILDREN, SO REMEMBER, DON'T HESITATE, VACCINATE AS IMPORTANT. Q SUS HIJOS TENGAN TODAS SUS VACUNAS ADEMAS DE LAS VACUNAS RUTINAS LOS NINOS MAYORES DE CINCO ANOS, AHORA SON ELEGIBLES PARA LA VACUNA DE COVID 19. LA VACUNA COVID ES GRATIS PARA LAS VACUNAS RUTINAS DE SUS HIJOS. VISIT EP HEALTH.COM. SABEMOS CUANTO A MAS DE TUS HIJOS? ASI Q RECUERDA NO LO DUDES VACUNA. [04:17:41] 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. 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 NUEVE LA VACUNA COVID DIECINUEVE ES GRATIS PARA LAS VACUNAS RUTINA DE SUS HIJOS. VISITA EP HEALTH.COM SABEMOS CUANTO A TUS HIJOS, ASI Q RECUERDA NO LO DUDES VACUNA. [04:24:37] 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 [04:25:03] 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 RUTINAS DE SUS HIJOS. VISITA EP HEALTH.COM SABEMOS CUANTO MAS A TUS HIJOS? ASI Q RECUERDA NO LO DUDES VACUNA. [04:31:34] IT'S IMPORTANT FOR YOUR CHILDREN TO STAY CURRENT ON ALL THEIR ROUTINE VACCINES. ALSO, CHILDREN FIVE AND OLDER ARE NOT ELIGIBLE FOR THE COVID 19 VACCINE. I 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. VISIT EP HEALTH PUNTO COM SABEMOS CUANTO ALMORZAR TUS HIJOS, ASI Q RECUERDA NO LO DUDES VACUNA. [04:38:31] 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. 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 NUEVE 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. [04:45:28] IT'S IMPORTANT FOR YOUR CHILDREN TO STAY CURRENT ON ALL THEIR ROUTINE VACCINES. ALSO, CHILDREN [04:45:34] FIVE AND OLDER ARE NOT ELIGIBLE FOR THE COVID 19 VACCINE. I AM CURRENT AND ALL MY VACCINES AND I ALSO GET THE COVID VACCINE. SO I AND MY LOVED ONES CAN BE PROTECTED. YOU AND YOUR KIDS SHOULD GET THE VACCINE TOO. AND IF YOU'VE ALREADY GOTTEN THE VACCINE, YOU SHOULD GET YOUR BOOSTER FOR YOUR CHILD'S ROUTINE VACCINES. VISIT EP HEALTH.COM. WE KNOW HOW MUCH YOU LOVE YOUR CHILDREN, SO REMEMBER, DON'T HESITATE, VACCINATE AS IMPORTANT. Q SUS HIJOS TENGAN TODAS SUS VACUNAS. ADEMAS DE LAS VACUNAS RUTINAS LOS NINOS MAYORES DE CINCO ANOS, AHORA SON ELEGIBLES PARA LA VACUNA DE COVID 19. LA VACUNA COVID ES GRATIS PARA LAS VACUNAS RUTINA DE SUS HIJOS. VISITA EP HEALTH.COM SABEMOS CUANTO A MAS DE TUS HIJOS? ASI RECUERDA NO LO DUDES VACUNA. [04:50:58] WE'RE WE'RE ON. COMMISSIONERS COURT HAS RECONVENED TO REGULAR OPEN SESSION ITEM 14 A DISCUSS AND TAKE APPROPRIATE ACTION REGARDING THE IMPLEMENTATION AND DEPLOYMENT OF THE COTTON VALLEY. CONNECT PROJECT, FUNDED BY THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. RECONNECT GRANT AND LOAN PROGRA. GOOD JOB. DID WE READ 14? 14 A WAS READ SO 14 A NO ACTION. OKAY. THANK YOU. NO ACTION FOR ITEM 14 A ITEM. ITEM EIGHT B DISCUSS AND TAKE APPROPRIATE ACTION REGARDING THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE FY 2024 MULTI YEAR CAPITAL PLAN FOR EL PASO COUNTY, INCLUDING PROJECT SELECTIONS, PERFORMANCE OBJECTIVES AND OUTCOMES, PERFORMANCE MANAGEMEN, OPERATIONAL MANAGEMENT, [B. Discuss and take appropriate action regarding the development of the FY2024 Multiyear Capital Plan for El Paso County, including: project selections, performance objectives and outcomes, performance management, operational management, corresponding financial planning related to capital investments and operational needs, and general capital direction. Jose M. Landeros, Director, Strategic Capital Development, 915-546-2159] CORRESPONDING FINANCIAL PLANNING RELATED TO CAPITAL INVESTMENTS AND OPERATIONAL NEEDS AND GENERAL CAPITAL DIRECTION. AND WE WILL TAKE NO ACTION FOR ITEM EIGHT B. ITEM 12 RESOLUTIONS. 12 A APPROVE AND ADOPT A RESOLUTION DECLARING NOVEMBER 23RD, 2024 AS NATIONAL ADOPTION DAY IN EL PASO COUNTY, TEXAS. THANK YOU. COMMISSIONERS AND THE JUDGE. I THINK HE'LL BE COMING BACK [A. Approve and adopt a resolution declaring November 23, 2024, as ”National Adoption Day", in El Paso County, Texas. Carlos Leon, Commissioner, Precinct 1, 915-546-2014] SHORTLY, BUT VANESSA AND MAYBE SOME OF YOUR STAFF CAN CAN COME UP. I'LL READ THE RESOLUTION AND YOU CAN SPEAK ON IT. AND I KNOW WE HAVE OTHER SPEAKERS READY TO SAY A FEW WORDS ALSO. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. WHEREAS NATIONAL ADOPTION DAY IS CELEBRATED ANNUALLY TO RAISE AWARENESS ABOUT CHILDREN AND FOSTER CARE WHO ARE AWAITING ADOPTION. AND WHEREAS NATIONAL ADOPTION DAY PROVIDES AN OPPORTUNITY TO RECOGNIZE THE IMPORTANCE OF ADOPTION AND ENSURING A BRIGHT FUTURE FOR CHILDREN AND FAMILIES. AND WHEREAS THE NATIONAL ADOPTION DAY HONORS THE DEDICATION OF ADOPTION PROFESSIONALS, ADVOCATES AND FAMILIES WHO OPEN THEIR HEARTS TO CHILDREN IN NEED. AND WHEREAS, 4181 CHILDREN WERE ADOPTED THROUGH THE TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF FAMILY AND PROTECTIVE SERVICES IN FISCAL YEAR 2023, INCLUDING 49 CHILDREN IN EL PASO AREA, AND WHEREAS 4076 CHILDREN IN STATE CARE CURRENTLY ARE AWAITING ADOPTION. AS OF SEPTEMBER 2024, INCLUDING 74 IN THE EL PASO AREA. WHEREAS EL PASO COUNTY RECOGNIZES THE CONTINUING NEED TO SECURE ADOPTION PLACEMENT FOR ALL CHILDREN IN FOSTER CARE WITH FAMILIES WHO CAN OPEN THEIR HOMES AND THEIR HEARTS TO ADOPTION. NOW, THEREFORE, IT BE RESOLVED THAT THE COMMISSIONERS COURT OF EL PASO COUNTY, TEXAS, HEREBY DECLARES NOVEMBER 23RD, 2024 AS NATIONAL ADOPTION DAY IN EL PASO COUNTY, TEXAS, AND RECOGNIZES THE SERVICE AND DEDICATION OF ADOPTIVE FAMILIES AND IT BE FURTHER RESOLVED THAT THE COMMISSIONERS COURT OF EL PASO COUNTY URGES ALL EL PASO COUNTY RESIDENTS TO CONSIDER THE HONOR OF PROVIDING FOSTER CARE TO CHILDREN IN NEED OF LOVING AND SUPPORTIVE HOMES. SIGNED THIS 25TH DAY OF NOVEMBER, 2024, WE HAVE A MOTION BY COMMISSIONER LEON, SECOND BY JUDGE SAMANIEGO. THE VOTING IS OPEN. OKAY. WELL GOOD AFTERNOON. GOOD AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS VANESSA LEON AND I AM THE EXECUTIVE. GIVE ME ONE SECOND. ONE SECOND. SORRY. ONE MORE MOTION CARRIES. OKAY. WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE [04:55:03] APPROVED IT. I JUST FEEL LIKE I'M ON MY TOES TODAY WITH FAMILY IN THE ROOM. SO ONCE AGAIN, VANESSA. LEON, I AM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE ART GALLERY OF EL PASO. AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, I AM THE DAUGHTER IN LAW OF CARLOS LEON. SO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR HAVING US HERE TODAY. VERY IMPORTANT, VERY IMPORTANT. THAT'S THE BEST PART. YEAH. WE WOULD LIKE TO THANK THE COMMISSIONERS COURT FOR THIS IMPORTANT RESOLUTION RECOGNIZING NATIONAL ADOPTION DAY, WHICH WE CELEBRATED THIS PAST SATURDAY AT LA NUBE. THIS RESOLUTION BEAUTIFULLY ALIGNS WITH THE MISSION OF THE ART GALLERY OF EL PASO. AS WE WORK DILIGENTLY TO CONNECT CHILDREN AND FOSTER CARE WITH LOVING AND ADOPTIVE PARENTS. AS COMMISSIONER LEON MENTIONED, WE HAVE 74 CHILDREN IN THE EL PASO AREA THAT ARE STILL AWAITING ADOPTION, AND THE HEART GALLERY SERVES AS A PLATFORM TO HIGHLIGHT THEIR STORIES AND ENCOURAGE OUR COMMUNITY TO OPEN UP THEIR HEARTS AND HOMES. I WOULD LIKE TO INTRODUCE SYLVIA PITCHER AND JESSICA PERALES WITH THE TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF FAMILY AND PROTECTIVE SERVICES TO SAY A FEW WORDS. WELCOME. AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS JESSICA PERALES, AND I'M HERE WITH THE TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF FAMILY AND PROTECTIVE SERVICES AND I HAVE A FEW WORDS. WE WOULD LIKE TO BRING AWARENESS TO OUR COMMUNITY ON THE NEED OF ADOPTIVE HOMES FOR CHILDREN IN THE FOSTER CARE SYSTEM. MANY YOUTH AGE OUT OF THE FOSTER CARE SYSTEM WITHOUT A FOREVER FAMILY AND WITHOUT A PERMANENT FAMILY CONNECTION. WHY ADOPT, YOU MAY ASK? BY ADOPTING, YOU'RE PROVIDING A CHILD OR A YOUTH WITH THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE LOVED AND WITH THE OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE A PERMANENT FAMILY TO CARE FOR THEM. EVEN AS A YOUNG ADULT, THERE IS A NEED TO BELONG AND A LONGING TO GO BACK HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS AND VISIT YOUR LOVED ONES BY ADOPTING YOUR MAKING A DIFFERENCE IN A CHILD'S LIFE AND HELPING THEM REACH POSITIVE PERMANENCY, I WILL LEAVE YOU WITH THE FOLLOWING MESSAGE. THE WORLD MAY NOT CHANGE IF YOU ADOPT A CHILD, BUT FOR THAT CHILD, THE WORLD WILL CHANGE. THANK YOU FOR PROVIDING US THE OPPORTUNITY TO SHARE THIS IMPORTANT MESSAGE AND BRINGING AWARENESS ON ADOPTION. THANK YO. THANK YOU. I DO HAVE SOME BOOKS THAT WERE PROVIDED THROUGH EMERGENCE, AND BECAUSE WE DID HAVE OUR NATIONAL ADOPTION DAY ON NOVEMBER 23RD THIS SATURDAY, THE THEME WAS FAMILIES ARE OUT OF THIS WORLD. AND THEY WERE. IT WAS ACTUALLY HELD AT LA NUBE. SO WE DO HAVE SOME OF THE BOOKS, AND WE WOULD LIKE TO PROVIDE YOU WITH A COPY. WOULD YOU LIKE TO SAY A FEW WORDS OR. YEAH, THANK YOU. HI. GOOD MORNING. MY NAME IS SYLVIA OR GOOD AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS SYLVIA PITCHER, AND I'M WITH THE TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF FAMILY AND PROTECTIVE SERVICES. AGAIN. JUST WANT TO HIGHLIGHT AGAIN THE CHILDREN THAT WE HAVE IN OUR COMMUNITY WHO ARE AVAILABLE FOR ADOPTION. WE THANK YOU FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY TO RAISE AWARENESS OF THE GREAT NEED THAT WE HAVE HERE IN EL PASO. THANK YOU AND JUDGE. WE ALSO HAVE OTHER SPEAKERS. MISTER MCELROY. HI. HELLO JUDGE AND COMMISSIONERS. WELL, THIS IS AN IMPORTANT THING FOR ME. AND MY WIFE AND I ADOPTED AND SO SORRY, JUST A LITTLE EMOTIONAL. SO I DIDN'T SEE THIS ON THE AGENDA THIS MORNING, BUT I REQUESTED IT IF I COULD SAY A FEW WORDS AND I AM NOT PREPARED TO SAY ANYTHING SPECIFICALLY, BUT JUST WANT TO LEND MY SUPPORT. ADOPTION COULD HAPPEN AT ANY AGE. ANY CHILD WOULD DESERVE A FAMILY. SO JUST SHARE THAT WITH YOU AND. THANK YOU FOR THIS RECOGNITION TO THIS THIS ORGANIZATION. AND JUST BLESS ALL THOSE CHILDREN. MICHAEL. THANK YOU. I MEAN, IN PARENTS AND FOLKS THAT HAVE ADOPTED CHILDREN, I THINK THEY ARE SO SPECIAL TO GIVE A CHILD A CHANCE AT LIFE LIKE THAT. SO THANK YOU. THANK YOU. VANESSA, DID YOU HAVE OTHER SPEAKERS? NO, JUST JUST WANT TO THANK YOU WITH MY BACKGROUND IN MENTAL HEALTH AND BEING A PROBATION OFFICER AND ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT THINGS FOR A CHILD'S DEVELOPMENT IS CONSISTENCY. AND SO WHEN THEY'RE WAITING FOR, YOU KNOW, SOMEONE TO RECEIVE THEM, IT'S A LOT OF ANXIETY HAPPENS, A LOT OF DISTRACTION FROM THEIR DEVELOPMENT. AND SO, I MEAN, I JUST GOT TO SEE THE DIFFERENCE OF SOMEONE WAITING TO, TO BE ADOPTED OR TO GO INTO A FOSTER HOME AND THEN SOMEONE THAT ACTUALLY GETS ADOPTED LIKE A CHANGE, LIKE YOU SAID, IT'S IT CHANGES YOUR WORLD. SO I REALLY APPRECIATE THAT, ESPECIALLY IN TODAY'S WORLD WHERE YOU HAVE THE ON TOP OF THAT, WHAT HAPPENED WITH THE PANDEMIC, THE MENTAL HEALTH SITUATION, HOW THEY WERE SHELTERED AND, YOU KNOW, SO THEY'VE GOT ADDITIONAL CHALLENGES. AND SO JUST VERY APPRECIATIVE OF WHAT YOU'RE DOING BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, YOU SAW [05:00:02] THE EMOTION IN MICHAEL AND WHAT HE'S SEEN MAKES SUCH A BIG DIFFERENCE. SO I THANK HIM FOR HAVING THE COURAGE TO BE A TESTIMONY LIKE THAT. IT'S VERY IMPORTANT. THANK YOU FOR SHARING THAT. IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT THE HEART GALLERY OF EL PASO IS GOING BEYOND JUST ADOPTION. WE'RE CURRENTLY OFFERING POST ADOPT SERVICES TO ENSURE THAT OUR FAMILY AND YOUTH ARE BEING PLACED IN POSITIVE HOMES PERMANENTLY. SO WE ARE DOING SOME POST ADOPT WORK RELATED TO MENTAL HEALTH COUNSELING, AS WELL AS OFFERING OTHER SERVICES IN OUR COMMUNITY. SO OUR COMMUNITY WILL BE HEARING A LOT MORE ABOUT THOSE DIFFERENT INITIATIVES THAT WE'RE TAKING ON IN 2025. AND I THINK THE PARENTS ALSO, THEY KNOW THAT THERE'S GOING TO BE SOME SUPPORT BECAUSE SOMETIMES IT'S THAT, CAN I DO THIS? IS IT GOING TO BE DIFFICULT? BUT I THINK IF THEY SEE THE SUPPORT, YOU COULD GIVE THEM, IT'S NOT JUST LIKE, HERE'S YOUR CHILD AND THEN WE'LL SEE YOU LATER. BUT IF THEY CAN GET IF THEY'RE AWARE OF THAT SUPPORT, I THINK THERE'D BE MORE WILLING TO AT LEAST CONSIDER. THANK YOU JUDGE. I ALSO WANTED TO ADD MY $0.02. THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER, FOR BRINGING THE RESOLUTION. AND THANK YOU ALL FOR WHAT YOU DO. WHEN MY GRANDFATHER PASSED AWAY, WE FOUND OUT THAT HE HAD BEEN ADOPTED BACK IN LIKE 1917 WHEN HE WAS WHEN HE WAS BORN. AND THEN I'VE GOT A COUSIN, THE ONLY COUSIN THAT I HAVE ON MY MOTHER'S SIDE WAS ADOPTED. AND THEN MY LITTLE SISTER HAS BEEN FOSTERING MEDICALLY FRAGILE CHILDREN FOR THE LAST NUMBER OF YEARS. AND WE JUST FINALIZED THE ADOPTION OF HER TO THEIR TWIN BOYS THAT SHE'S BEEN FOSTERING FOR SIX YEARS. WOW. AND SO THIS IS SOMETHING THAT'S NEAR AND DEAR TO MY HEART THAT I UNDERSTAND COMPLETELY. YOU KNOW, THESE KIDS DESERVE ALL DESERVE A LOVING HOME. AND YOU KNOW WHAT A WHAT A BLESSING IT IS TO HAVE THEM, YOU KNOW, COME INTO FAMILIES LIKE OURS AND THEY JUST BRING SO MUCH HAPPINESS AND LIGHT AND JOY. AND SO THANK YOU ALL FOR THE FOR THE WORK THAT YOU DO IN THIS AREA. IT'S REALLY JUST IT'S GOD'S WORK. THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR SHARING THAT. THANK YOU COMMISSIONER. THANK YOU. CAN WE TAKE A PHOTO WITH YOU? IF YOU WANT ME TO. IF YOU. I THINK IT'S. THANK YOU. ITEM 12 B. WE DO HAVE A CORRECTION TO READ IN FOR THIS ITEM. APPROVE AND ADOPT A RESOLUTION RECOGNIZING RESEARCH PERFORMED BY UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT EL PASO GRADUATE STUDENT TAYA O'DONNELL, WHO WON FIRST PLACE IN THE NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION, NSF ENGINEERING [B. Approve and adopt a resolution recognizing research performed by University of Texas at El Paso graduate student Tayia Oddonetto, who won first place in the National Science Foundation (NFS) Engineering Research Centers Perfect Pitch Competition for her work converting salt water into fresh water. David Stout, Commissioner, Precinct 2, 915-546-2111] RESEARCH CENTER'S PERFECT PITCH COMPETITION FOR HER WORK CONVERTING SALT WATER INTO FRESH WATER. COMMISSIONER STOUT, THANK YOU, JUDGE. THANK YOU, COMMISSIONERS, I HAVE THE HONOR OF READING THE RESOLUTION INTO THE RECORD. I LEARNED ABOUT TIA'S WORK FROM THE NEWS, ACTUALLY, AND I WAS LIKE, WOW, THIS IS SUCH AN AMAZING, AMAZING PROJECT. IT'S GREAT TO HAVE SOMETHING LIKE THIS HAPPENING HERE IN EL PASO AND AT UTEP. AND THANK YOU, DOCTOR SANTIAGO. WE'VE WORKED WITH YOU MANY, MANY, MANY, MANY TIMES OVER THE LAST NUMBER OF YEARS HERE AT THE COUNTY. BUT I JUST WANT TO START BY SAYING WATER IS, YOU KNOW, IT'S ESSENTIAL TO LIFE. RIGHT? AND WE LIVE IN THE DESERT. AND SO WE'RE NOT REALLY AWASH IN IT. WE HAVE TO WE HAVE TO BE CAREFUL. BUT, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE TO MAKE THE MOST OF WHAT WE HAVE. AND EL PASO HAS BEEN A GLOBAL LEADER WHEN IT COMES TO DESALINATION WITH THE WITH THE KAY BAILEY HUTCHINSON PLANT THAT WE HAVE OUT ON THE BASE AND I'M REALLY GLAD TO SEE THAT UTEP IS A PART OF THIS WORK AND THIS RESEARCH, NOT ONLY IN PROVIDING STUDENTS THE OPPORTUNITY TO GROW AND LEARN, BUT ALSO CONTRIBUTING TO OUR LOCAL SUSTAINABILITY EFFORTS. AND I'M GLAD THAT WE HAVE AN AREA OF RESEARCH THAT NOT ONLY CAN BENEFIT OUR REGION, BUT ALSO THE WORLD. SO I'LL READ THE RESOLUTION AND TY AND DOCTOR SANTIAGO, IF YOU WANT TO COME UP, SANTIAGO, IF YOU WANT TO COME UP THE RESOLUTION STATES. [05:05:03] WHEREAS TIA HORNEDO, A DOCTORAL STUDENT AT THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT EL PASO, UTEP HAS DEVELOPED AN INNOVATIVE METHOD TO CONVERT SALT WATER INTO FRESH DRINKING WATER WITH THE POTENTIAL TO HELP REDUCE UTILITY BILLS NATIONWIDE AND PROMOTE WATER CONSERVATION. AND WHEREAS, WITH THE GUIDANCE OF DOCTOR YVONNE SANTIAGO, MISS ADORNETTO CONVERTED 90% OF SALT WATER INTO FRESH WATER, SIGNIFICANTLY IMPROVING ON THE LIMITATIONS OF CURRENT DESALINATION TECHNOLOGIES SUCH AS REVERSE OSMOSIS, WHICH TYPICALLY CONVERTS ONLY 80% OF SALT WATER WHILE LEAVING BEHIND HARMFUL CONCENTRATED BRINE. AND WHEREAS THIS WORK NOT ONLY ADDRESSES WATER SCARCITY, BUT ALSO OFFERS AN ENVIRONMENTALLY SUSTAINABLE SOLUTION TO THE DISPOSAL OF BRINE, WHICH TRADITIONALLY POSES RISKS DUE TO DEEP WELL INJECTION AND THE LOSS OF VALUABLE METALS AND MINERALS, INCLUDING LITHIUM. ESSENTIAL FOR MODERN TECHNOLOGY. AND WHEREAS MISS ADORNETTO EARNED FIRST PLACE IN THE PRESTIGIOUS NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION ENGINEERING RESEARCH CENTER, PERFECT PITCH COMPETITION, FURTHER VALIDATING THE IMPORTANCE AND POTENTIAL OF HER WORK. AND WHEREAS MISS ADORNETTO NOW IS COLLABORATING WITH KEY PARTNERS INCLUDING THE NATIONAL ALLIANCE FOR WATER INNOVATION AND EL PASO WATER, THE KAY BAILEY HUTCHISON DESALINATION PLANT, NEW MEXICO STATE UNIVERSITY AND THE US BUREAU OF RECLAMATION TO ADVANCE THE RESEARCH AND EXPLORE WAYS TO MAKE THE METHOD MORE COST EFFICIENT AND SCALABLE. AND WHEREAS THIS ACHIEVEMENT SERVES AS AN INSPIRATION TO STUDENTS, RESEARCHERS, AND INNOVATORS AROUND THE WORLD, DEMONSTRATING THE POWER OF DETERMINATION AND CREATIVITY IN ADDRESSING GLOBAL CHALLENGES. AND NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, THAT THE EL PASO COUNTY COMMISSIONERS COURT HEREBY RECOGNIZES AND CONGRATULATES MISS TAYA O'DONNELL FOR HER WORK AND ENCOURAGES CONTINUED SUPPORT FOR HER RESEARCH IN THE FURTHER DEVELOPMENT OF HER METHOD. SIGNED THIS 25TH DAY OF NOVEMBER 2024, THE HONORABLE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS COURT HAVE A MOTION BY COMMISSIONER STOUT, SECOND BY JUDGE SAMANIEGO. THE VOTING IS OPEN. MOTION CARRIES. WELCOME, WELCOME, WELCOME, DOCTOR SANTIAGO WITH YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THIS HONOR. AND I YOU KNOW, I THINK OF RESOLUTIONS AS CALLING THE ATTENTION TO THINGS THAT ARE TAKING PLACE IN THE CITY. I WANT TO JUST POINT OUT ABOUT THE NATIONAL ADOPTION DAY, BECAUSE I ADOPTED A TEN YEAR OLD THAT HAD TWO FAILED ADOPTIONS BEFORE HIM. SO THAT REALLY TOUCHED MY HEART. AND THIS IS SOMETHING THAT YOU DON'T HAVE TO BE A SUPERHERO TO ADOPT. AND WITH THE RIGHT SUPPORT FROM FAMILY, FRIENDS AND THE GOVERNMENT, I THINK IT'S POSSIBLE. SO THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THIS IMPORTANT SUBJECT TO YOUR ATTENTION AND TO THE ATTENTION OF EVERYBODY HERE IN THE CITY AND BEYOND, SPECIFICALLY WITH TAYLOR'S RECOGNITION. I REALLY AM VERY GRATEFUL TO JUDGE AND COMMISSIONER STOUT FOR INITIATING THIS RESOLUTION, MAINLY BECAUSE THE PEOPLE NEED TO KNOW THAT WE ARE DOING WORLD CLASS RESEARCH HERE AT UTEP AND THAT HER RESULTS NOT ONLY WILL AFFECT HOW WE DEAL WITH BRINE FROM DESALINATION HERE IN EL PASO, BUT I EXPECT THAT IN THE NEXT FEW YEARS WE'LL SEE WHAT SHE'S DOING. BEING APPLIED IN MANY OTHER PLACES AND SAVING ULTIMATELY TO RATEPAYERS MONEY. RIGHT, BECAUSE NOT JUST THE UTILITY. SO WE'RE VERY, VERY THANKFUL FOR THAT. AND I DON'T KNOW IF I INTRODUCE MYSELF, YVONNE SANTIAGO, UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT EL PASO. SO I'LL LET HER INTRODUCE HERSELF. THANK YOU, DOCTOR SANTIAGO. GOOD AFTERNOON. IT'S REALLY, REALLY AMAZING TO BE HERE. AND I REALLY WANT TO TAKE A MOMENT TO THANK THE HONORABLE JUDGE, AS WELL AS ALL OF THE COMMISSIONERS HERE, BECAUSE THIS MEANS A LOT TO ME. IT'S BEEN AN UPHILL BATTLE. I'VE FACED A LOT OF DIFFERENT CHALLENGES DURING MY PHD WITH MY PI, MY PROFESSORS LEAVING AND KIND OF CONTINUING TO JUST STICK WITH IT BECAUSE I BELIEVED IN THIS RESEARCH. AND IT'S SO IT'S REALLY, REALLY VALUABLE FOR ME TO RECEIVE THIS RECOGNITION BECAUSE I REALLY, AS DOCTOR SANTIAGO HAS SAID, I BELIEVE THAT THIS REALLY IS A KEY PIECE OF THE PUZZLE IN CONTINUING TO BUILD A SUSTAINABLE FUTURE IN NOT ONLY JUST EL PASO, BUT IN THE SOUTHWEST, IN THE MIDDLE EAST AND JUST AROUND THE WORLD. SO I THANK YOU SO MUCH. IT MEANS A LOT. TELL US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT YOUR BACKGROUND. WE'RE VERY INTERESTED IN HOW YOU GOT TO THIS POINT IN LIFE. SO I INITIALLY STARTED AS AN ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE STUDENT AT THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT SAN ANTONIO, AND I WAS IN A CLASS AND ONE OF MY PROFESSORS WAS TALKING ABOUT HOW DESALINATION IS REALLY GOING TO BE PLAYING A HUGE ROLE IN THE FUTURE AS WE MOVE INTO A MORE WATER SCARCE WORLD. AND SHE SAID, IF SOMEBODY COULD FIGURE OUT WHAT TO DO WITH THE CONCENTRATED BRINE, BECAUSE RIGHT, WHEN YOU DESALINATE WATE, YOU GET THAT FRESHWATER, BUT YOU ALSO GET THIS REALLY SALTY WATER THAT CURRENTLY WE REALLY DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO WITH. IN EL PASO. WE PIPE IT ALL THE WAY BY HUECO TANKS AND INJECT IT INTO A [05:10:03] WELL. AND SHE HAD SAID, IF SOMEONE COULD FIGURE OUT WHAT TO DO WITH THIS, THAT WOULD REALLY CHANGE THE WORLD. AND I WAS LIK, WOW, THAT REALLY RESONATED WITH ME. AND SO I WENT FORTH AND WENT ON TO MY PHD HERE AT UTEP, JUST BECAUSE OF THE RESEARCH THAT UTEP HAS DONE WITH ELECTRODIALYSIS AND I HAVE FOUND THAT IT REALLY HAS BEEN A GAME CHANGER. AND I THINK THAT THROUGH THE WORK THAT I'VE DONE AND THE WORK THAT DOCTOR SANTIAGO HAS ALSO DONE, THAT WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO RAISE AWARENESS TO THIS ISSUE AS WELL AS THIS TECHNOLOGY. AND IT'S PLAYED A IT'S GOING TO PLAY A KEY ROLE IN THE FUTURE. AND WHERE ARE YOU ORIGINALLY FROM? I'M FROM COLORADO ORIGINALLY. YEP. GRAND JUNCTION, YOU'VE GOT A GREAT ADVOCATE HERE. YEAH. ALL MY FAMILY IS FROM COLORADO. NICE. NO, I THINK JOEL LIVED IN GRAND JUNCTION FOR A WHILE TOO, BEFORE HE CAME HERE. BORN AND RAISED. YEAH, REALLY? FOR A WHILE. RIGHT. WELL, THANK YOU VERY MUCH. IT'S JUST I KNOW WHEN DOCTOR SANTIAGO SAID WORLD AND I SAW THIS SORT OF COME UP LIKE, LIKE THIS IS WHAT YOU'RE REALLY INTERESTED IN. IT'S BIGGER THAN THAN WE CAN IMAGINE. THE PEOPLE THAT STRUGGLE TO GET WATER THAT HAVE TO, YOU KNOW, HAVE TO WALK MILES EVERY SINGLE DAY. AND THE AMOUNT OF PEOPLE YOU'RE GOING TO TOUCH, YOU KNOW, THE AMOUNT OF, YOU KNOW, AVOIDING THIS, THIS HAVING A SACRIFICE FOR THINGS THAT WE TAKE. SO NATURAL. SO THIS IS A BEAUTIFUL THING. I MEAN, I'M GLAD YOU'RE AT UTEP. YOU KNOW, WE'RE HOPING THAT YOU DO DECIDE TO STAY IN EL PASO. I DON'T KNOW IF BETSY, ANY OFFERS AT THIS TIME OR NO. WELL, THANK YOU, THANK YOU. AND THANK YOU FOR THE MENTORING THAT TAKES PLACE FOR OUR YOUNG ADULTS TO, YOU KNOW, JUST TO, TO DO THESE KINDS OF THINGS. AND I THINK THAT'S WHAT WE'RE ALL ABOUT. SO I KNOW YOU'LL BE VERY NURTURED IN EL PASO TO, TO DO SOME GREAT THINGS. AND I HOPE YOU CONSIDER STAYING HERE. AND I DO MEAN THA. SO THANK YOU BOTH. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU. COMMISSIONER STOUT. THANK YOU. CAN YOU ALL COME UP AND SO WE CAN TAKE A PICTURE OF YOU ALL WITH THE RESOLUTION? OKAY. GREAT. THANK YOU, THANK YOU. RESOLUTION. 19. ITEM 12 C APPROVED. ADOPT A RESOLUTION RECOGNIZING CREATIVE KIDS FOR 25 YEARS OF WORK TO TEACH, TO HEAL, AND TO PRODUCE HEALTHIER, HAPPIER, AND MORE CREATIVE KIDS IN EL PASO DEL [C. Approve and adopt a resolution recognizing Creative Kids for 25 years of work to teach, to heal, and to produce healthier, happier, and more creative kids in El Paso del Norte. David Stout, Commissioner, Precinct 2, 915-546-2111] NORTE. COMMISSIONER STOUT ALL RIGHT. I ALSO HAVE THE DISTINCT HONOR OF BEING ABLE TO RECOGNIZE CREATIVE KIDS. ANDREW, WOULD YOU LIKE TO COME UP TO THE PODIUM WITH WITH YOUR WITH YOUR DAUGHTER AND WHOMEVER ELSE YOU'VE YOU'VE BROUGHT SO CREATIVE KIDS HAS BEEN A VERY SIGNIFICANT LOCAL INSTITUTION OVER THE YEARS. 25 NOW TO BE EXACT. I WANT TO I WANT TO THANK ANNETTE GUTIERREZ OF THE RIO GRANDE COUNCIL OF GOVERNMENTS FOR, FOR BRINGING THIS TO OUR ATTENTION. AND SHE'S ON THE BOARD FOR, FOR THIS ORGANIZATION. I DON'T THINK SHE'S HERE, BUT SHE, SHE HAS SINCE SOMEBODY IN HER, IN HER STEAD. I KNOW THAT THE COUNTY HAS WORKED WITH CREATIVE KIDS IN THE PAST. I MYSELF HAVE SENT MY CHILD TO CLASSES AT CREATIVE KIDS, AND I'M SURE MANY OTHER EL PASOANS HAVE, YOU KNOW, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO CONTINUE TO WORK WITH, WITH, WITH THIS ORGANIZATION TO MAKE SURE THAT IT CONTINUES ON FOR ANOTHER 25 YEARS. I THINK THE CONCEPT IS JUST SIMPLE AND BRILLIANT. WE TALK A LOT ABOUT THE ARTS AND [05:15:07] THE ROLE IN EVERY FACET OF LIFE. IT'S, I THINK, BOTH PUBLIC AND PERSONAL. IT HEALS, IT ENLIGHTENS, ENLIVENS, ENHANCES, AND, YOU KNOW, REALLY EXISTS FOR ITS OWN SAKE AND AN ESSENTIAL FORM OF HUMAN EXPRESSION AND SPARKS IDEAS AND COMMERCE. EVEN SO, AGAIN, CREATIVE KIDS HAS BEEN SUCH AN IMPORTANT PART OF THE ARTS IN EL PASO, AND I'M GLAD TO BE ABLE TO READ THIS RESOLUTION. I WILL DO SO AND THEN WE'LL HEAR FROM FROM ANDREW. THANK YOU. IT SAYS WHEREAS CREATIVE KIDS HAS DEMONSTRATED A PROFOUND COMMITMENT TO ENRICHING THE LIVES OF CHILDREN AND YOUTH THROUGH VARIOUS ART PROGRAMS, INCLUDING PROJECT AIM, RESILIENCY, ART PROGRAM, WRAP, PROJECT, ABLE, PROJECT MAP, LITTLE PICASSO'S KIDS AND MIGRANT FAMILIES, AND PAST PROGRAMS SUCH AS THE EARLY COLLEGE HIGH SCHOOL PROGRAM AND KIDS WITH SPECIAL NEEDS IN THE PASO DEL NORTE REGION FOR 25 YEARS. AND WHEREAS PROJECT AIM HAS BEEN RECOGNIZED NATIONALLY, RECEIVING THE PRESIDENT'S COMMITTEE ON ARTS AND HUMANITIES YOUTH PROGRAM AWARD AND BEING NAMED A BEST PRACTICE MODEL FOR ARTS IN HEALTH CARE PROGRAMING BY THE NATIONAL ENDOWMENT FOR THE ARTS, AND WHEREAS, THE RESILIENCY ART PROGRAM WAS ESTABLISHED IN RESPONSE TO THE TRAGIC EVENTS OF AUGUST 3RD, 2019, IN EL PASO, TEXAS, AND AIMS TO PROMOTE HEALING, DIALOG AND RESILIENCE THROUGH THE ARTS. AND WHEREAS, PROJECT ABLE PROVIDES VITAL AFTER SCHOOL ARTS EDUCATION TO DISCONNECTED YOUTH IN FABENS AND SAN ELIZARIO, TEXAS AND MOST RECENTLY EXPANDING INTO RURAL SOUTHERN NEW MEXICO, FOSTERING SELF-EXPRESSION, LEADERSHIP SKILLS, AND SELF-ESTEEM. AND WHEREAS PROJECT MAP, IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB OF EL PASO AND THE TEXAS ACE PROGRAM, OFFERS SUPPLEMENTAL ACADEMIC AND ENRICHMENT ACTIVITIES TO STUDENTS FROM HIGH POVERTY AND LOW PERFORMING SCHOOLS, AND HAS LITTLE PICASSO'S OFFERS, EARLY ACCESS TO ART EDUCATION FOR CHILDREN AGED 4 TO 8, ENCOURAGING CREATIVITY AND SELF-EXPRESSION THROUGH AGE APPROPRIATE ACTIVITIES. AND WHEREAS PAST PROGRAMS SUCH AS THE EARLY COLLEGE HIGH SCHOOL PROGRAM AND KIDS WITH SPECIAL NEEDS HAVE PROVIDED ESSENTIAL SKILLS AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR YOUTH TO REALIZE THEIR TALENTS AND PURSUE HIGHER EDUCATION AND CAREER GOALS. AND NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, THAT THE EL PASO COUNTY COMMISSIONERS COURT CONGRATULATES CREATIVE KIDS FOR 25 YEARS OF WORK AND COMMENDS THE ORGANIZATION AND ITS FOUNDERS, STAFF, VOLUNTEERS, DONORS, AND OF COURSE, THE KIDS FOR OUTSTANDING CONTRIBUTIONS TO OUR COMMUNITY THROUGH DIVERSE AND IMPACTFUL ART PROGRAMS. SIGNED THIS 25TH DAY OF NOVEMBER 2024, THE HONORABLE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS COURT. WE HAVE A MOTION BY COMMISSIONER STOUT, SECOND BY JUDGE SAMANIEGO. THE VOTING IS OPEN. MOTION CARRIES. WELCOME. THANK YOU SO MUCH. I'M ANDRE GATES, I'M THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR AND CO-FOUNDER OF CREATIVE KIDS, ALONG WITH MY HUSBAND, STEVEN ENGEL. HE COULDN'T BE HERE TODAY, BUT HE WANTED TO GIVE HIS REGARDS TO THE COURT FOR RECOGNIZING THIS IMPORTANT MILESTONE. IT'S HARD TO BELIEVE 25 YEARS HAS COME AND GONE, BUT IT DOES. BUT WE ARE HONORED TO DO THE WORK THAT WE'VE DONE FOR THE PAST 25 YEARS, AND WE ALWAYS SAY THAT THIS HAS BEEN POSSIBLE BECAUSE OF OUR COMMUNITY, EL PASO. THEY'VE ALWAYS COME TOGETHER TO HELP US. AND SO THIS ISN'T JUST A CREATIVE KIDS. THIS IS A COMMUNITY CELEBRATION. BECAUSE REALLY, IT'S EVERYONE THAT PLAYED A PART AND HAS LEFT A MARK ALONG WITH US ON THIS JOURNEY. AND SO IT'S BEEN AN HONOR TO SERVE PEDIATRIC ONCOLOGY PATIENTS AT PROVIDENCE MIGRANT YOUTH AT RISK YOUTH HOMELESS YOUTH. AND MOST RECENTLY, AS YOU MENTIONED, WE WORK WITH THE FAMILIES FROM AUGUST 3RD. YOU KNOW, OUR HOME IS RIGHT HERE IN THE HEART OF DOWNTOWN IN UNION PLAZA. WE HAVE A 16,000 SQUARE FOOT GALLERY, WHICH WE ENCOURAGE EVERYONE TO COME BECAUSE WE DO HAVE AN EXHIBIT RIGHT NOW THAT COMMEMORATES AUGUST 3RD. AND WE CONTINUE TO GROW AND EXPAND. WE'RE NOW IN SOUTHERN NEW MEXICO, SO WE'RE EXCITED FOR THE NEXT 25 YEARS AND SEE WHERE WE'RE WHERE WE GO. AND OUR PROGRAM WILL BE TAKING OFF NATIONALLY IN SPRING OF 2025, WITH MORE DETAILS TO COME. I WON'T TAKE UP THE TIME, BUT WE JUST THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE HONOR AND RECOGNITION AND HOPEFULLY WE'LL DO THIS IN ANOTHER 25 YEARS. THANK YOU. AND IT'S 25TH ON THE 25TH OF NOVEMBER. SO THAT WAS PERFECT. SO THANK YOU SO MUCH. AND WITH THIS WE HAVE WE ALSO HAVE OUR VICE PRESIDENT VANESSA LEON WHO'S ON OUR BOARD OF DIRECTORS. AND WE HAVE THE NORTH HEALTH FOUNDATION, WHO'S ALSO ONE OF OUR HUGE SUPPORTERS AND UNDERWRITERS. AND OF COURSE, THE RIO GRANDE COUNCIL OF GOVERNMENT AND MY OWN LITTLE CREATIVE KIDS. EVELINA, SHE CAME TO IT. SO THANK YOU SO MUCH. I WANT TO SAY A FEW WORDS ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS FOR CREATIVE KIDS. AS DREA MENTIONED, I DO SERVE AS VICE PRESIDENT. I DO THANK YOU ALL FOR THIS RECOGNITION. WE SEE ON A DAILY BASIS THE HARD WORK THAT GOES IN FROM BOTH THE CO-FOUNDERS AND THE STAFF AND THE VOLUNTEERS, AND WE JUST TRULY BELIEVE THEY DON'T GET THANKED ENOUGH FOR THE IMPACT THAT THEY ARE MAKING IN OUR COMMUNITY, NOT JUST IN CHILDREN'S LIVES, BUT ALSO IN THE ARTS PROGRAM. SO THANK YOU FOR THIS RECOGNITION TODAY. THANK YOU. WOULD YOU LIKE TO SAY A FEW WORDS? JUST. YEAH. LOWER [05:20:07] THE MICROPHONE. HI THERE. YOU GO. GOOD AFTERNOON. I'M EVELINA ENGEL AND I AM THE PROUD DAUGHTER OF MY MOTHER. AND FATHER OF ANDREA AND STEVEN ENGEL. OH MY GOODNESS. WELCOME. THAT SAYS IT ALL. I CAN'T POSSIBLY FOLLOW THAT. THANK YOU EMOTIONAL RESOLUTION DAY, FOR SURE. GOOD AFTERNOON. JUDGE. COMMISSIONERS YVETTE LUGO WITH THE RIO GRANDE COUNCIL OF GOVERNMENTS. AND I'M HERE ON BEHALF OF OUR EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, ANNETTE GUTIERREZ, WHO UNFORTUNATELY COULD NOT BE HERE BUT FELT THIS WAS AN IMPORTANT RESOLUTION. SO THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER STOUT, FOR CHAMPIONING THIS FOR US. AND IT FELT VERY STRONGLY AS WELL AS OURSELVES IN THE WORK THAT CREATIVE KIDS HAS DONE FOR OUR REGION. THEY'VE OFTEN BEEN THE RECIPIENT OF FUNDING THAT'S COME AND FUNNELED THROUGH THE COUNCIL OF GOVERNMENTS. AND SO WE'RE VERY PROUD OF THE WORK, THE 25 YEARS. AND I AGREE, IT DOESN'T FEEL LIKE 25 YEARS, BUT YOU'VE DONE AMAZING WORK. YOU AND STEVEN HAVE DONE WONDERFUL WORK FOR OUR COMMUNITY, AND WE'RE JUST SO VERY PROUD TO BE A PARTNER IN THAT AND TO SEE A LITTLE BIT OF THAT. THANK YOU FOR YOUR FORESIGHT AND VISION, FOR EVERYTHING THAT YOU'VE DONE FOR OUR COMMUNITY. AND JUST THE FUTURE OF CHILDREN. I THINK, AS WAS SAID, YOU'VE MADE A DIFFERENCE IN SO MANY LIVES. AND ANNETTE JUST REALLY, REALLY WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU ALL KNEW THAT. AND WE APPRECIATE YOU ALL HELPING AND SUPPORT THAT ENDEAVOR AS PART OF A TOKEN OF OUR APPRECIATION, WE'D LIKE TO GIVE YOU ALL A TOTE BAG THAT FEATURES SOME OF THE ART THAT HAS BEEN DONE BY CREATIVE KIDS. SO I HAVE WITH US HERE, JUDY CISNEROS, OUR FINANCE DIRECTOR AND THANK YOU. SO SHE'D LIKE TO COME BY AND PASS THOSE OUT. THANK YOU. THE THOSE ACTUALLY THAT I DON'T KNOW THE WHOLE STORY BEHIND THAT, BUT WE HAVE THE THAT'S ON THE PLAYA DRAIN. YOU'LL SEE THAT ART. WE ALSO HAVE IT HANGING THERE IN OUR FOYER THERE AT THE AT THE COUNCIL OF GOVERNMENTS. BUT MORE THAN ANYTHING, JUST WE TRULY, TRULY JUST APPRECIATE YOU ALL AND THE WORK THAT YOU'VE DONE FOR OUR COMMUNITY. THANK YOU, JUDGE COMMISSIONERS, FOR THIS RECOGNITION FOR CREATIVE KIDS. AND THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR WHAT I CAN JUST IMAGINE HOW EXCITED YOU MUST FEEL LIKE THE KIDS THAT END UP DOING THESE AMAZING THINGS. TWO OF MY CHILDREN ARE NOW LAWYERS. IT WAS A FREUDIAN SLIP. I WANTED THEM TO BE DOCTORS, BUT THEY I SAID, YOU KNOW, GERONTOLOGY, NOT, YOU KNOW, I'VE GOT ENOUGH ATTORNEYS ALREADY. BUT BUT THEY WERE VERY FORTUNATE. I GOT TO BE VERY INVOLVED IN IT AS A PARENT. AND I GOT TO SEE, YOU KNOW, HOW THIS GETTING THAT CREATIVE OUT OF THEM. ONE OF THE THINGS THAT IMPRESSED ME, EL PASO HAS GOT SO MUCH TALENT AND YOU JUST HAVE TO IDENTIFY IT. BUT WHEN WE DID THE HEALING GARDEN, BLANCA WORKED. YOU KNOW, I DON'T KNOW IF YOU SAW THE RIVER ROCKS AND SHE ASKED CHILDREN TO START. YOU KNOW, DRAWING AND SHE WAS EXPECTING, YOU KNOW, A LITTLE NOT AS CREATIVE. AND SHE WAS JUST SHOCKED AND SHE'D ASK HIM, HAD YOU EVER DONE THIS? HE GOES, NO, THIS WAS THE FIRST TIME. SO THERE'S SO MANY CHILDREN OUT THERE THAT NEED TO DISCOVER THOSE ABILITIES. AND THANK YOU FOR DOING THAT FOR SO MANY YEARS, AND I SHOULD MENTION, BECAUSE WE JUST DID A REALLY BEAUTIFUL DOCUMENTARY, IT'S ON OUR CREATIVE KIDS INSTAGRAM IN OUR HOW DO YOU SAY, HOW DO THE COOL KIDS SAY IT NOW IT'S IN YOUR PROFILE LINK IN BIO, LINK IN BIO. THAT'S WHAT IT IS. AND YOU'LL SEE A DOCUMENTARY WE DID. WE HAVE KIDS FROM 25 YEARS AGO THAT HAVE GONE THROUGH VARIOUS TRAGEDIES, AND NOW THEY'RE THRIVING AS ADULTS. AND IT'S THEIR TESTIMONIALS AND A REALLY BEAUTIFUL DOCUMENTARY. SO I ENCOURAGE YOU TO LOOK AT THAT. THANK YOU. THANK ALL OF YOU. THE PARTNERSHIPS THAT YOU HAVE OFFERED TO THAT. OKAY. WELL, THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU. THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH. ONCE AGAIN, CAN WE TAKE A PICTURE WITH THE RESOLUTION? SPEAKING FOR THESE PEOPLE, DO YOU WANT TO HOLD THE RESOLUTION? YOU DID GREAT, SWEETIE. I THINK YOUR HANDS. CONGRATULATIONS. SHOW US. THANK YOU AGAIN AND AGAIN. I'M JUST KIDDING. FIVE YEARS WILL BE. WE'LL DO THIS IN 25 YEARS. I HAVEN'T GOTTEN TO THAT ONE YET. OKAY. [05:25:41] SO I INVITE. YOU. GREAT JOB. YOU JUST CAME FROM. ITEM 12 D. APPROVE AND ADOPT A RESOLUTION DECLARING NOVEMBER 22ND, 2024 AS JUNIOR LEAGUE. A CHRISTMAS FAIR DAY IN EL PASO COUNTY, TEXAS. COME ON UP. THANK YOU. WELL, IT'S MY PRIVILEGE TO READ THIS [D. Approve and adopt a resolution declaring November 22, 2024, as “Junior League: A Christmas Fair Day,” in El Paso County, Texas. Ricardo A. Samaniego, County Judge, County Judge's Office, 915-546-2098] RESOLUTION INTO THE RECORD. WHEREAS THE JUNIOR LEAGUE OF EL PASO, INC, FOUNDED IN 1933, SET OUT TO PREPARE ITS MEMBERS FOR MEANINGFUL INVOLVEMENT IN THE COMMUNITY THROUGH EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS, VOLUNTEER WORK, THE NEWLY ESTABLISHED LEAGUE LAUNCHED AN INNOVATIVE PROJECT CALLED THE SOCIAL SERVICE EXCHANGE, AIMED AT INCREASING THE EFFECTIVENESS OF EXISTING SOCIAL SERVICE ORGANIZATIONS IN THE CITY. SINCE ITS INCEPTION, THE LEAGUE HAS CONSISTENTLY SUPPORTED THE ARTS, AND DURING THE 1939 1940 PERIOD HOSTED THE FIRST YOUNG PEOPLE'S SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA, IS PART OF THE ASSOCIATION OF JUNIOR LEAGUES INTERNATIONAL, INC, WHICH OVERSEES OVER 290 LEAGUES GLOBALLY, IMPACTING APPROXIMATELY 1.9 MILLION WOMEN, WHEREAS J. J LLP IS A WELL-ESTABLISHED WOMEN'S ORGANIZATION THAT FOSTERS VOLUNTEERISM, EMPOWERS WOMEN, AND PROMOTES COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT. IT OFFERS OPPORTUNITIES FOR PERSONAL AND PROFESSIONAL GROWTH THROUGH THE LEADERSHIP, EDUCATION, SERVICE PROJECTS, AND RELATIONSHIP BUILDING. WHEREAS J LLP ADDRESSES COMMUNITY NEEDS BY CREATING A TARGETED PROGRAMS BASED ON AN IN-DEPTH RESEARCH. SINCE ITS FOUNDING, IT HAS CONTRIBUTED OVER 6 MILLION TO EL PASO AND PROVIDES 30,000 VOLUNTEER HOURS ANNUALLY, EQUATING TO NEARLY 1 MILLION IN COMMUNITY SERVICE. IT HAS TRAINED OVER 2000 WOMEN TO LEAD AND SERVE, AND WAS HAVING RECENTLY CELEBRATED ITS 92ND ANNIVERSARY. J LLP HAS BUILT A SIGNIFICANT AND ENDURING PRESENCE IN THE EL PASO AREA, LAUNCHING NUMEROUS INFLUENTIAL INITIATIVES SINCE ITS EARLY YEARS. IN THE 1930S. KEY PROJECTS INCLUDE THE EL PASO COMMUNITY FOUNDATION, RONALD MCDONALD HOUSE, AND GIRLS ON THE RUN, AMONG OTHERS, MANY OF WHICH CONTINUE TO MAKE A SIGNIFICANT IMPACT TODAY WAS J. LP'S FLAGSHIP EVENT. A CHRISTMAS FAIR WILL CELEBRATE ITS 52ND YEAR IN 2024. ORIGINALLY KNOWN AS THE CHRISTMAS BOUTIQUE, THE EVENT FEATURES OVER 100 LOCAL VENDORS, COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES AND SPECIAL CHILDREN'S PROGRAMS. IT IS THE LEAGUE'S LARGEST FUNDRAISER, WITH PROCEEDS BENEFITING JL PROGRAMS AND INITIATIVES IN THE EL PASO COMMUNITY NOW THEREFORE BE RESOLVED THAT THE EL PASO COUNTY JUDGE AND COMMISSIONERS COURT RECOGNIZES NOVEMBER THE 22ND AS JUNIOR LEAGUE, A CHRISTMAS FAIR DAY SIGNED THIS 25TH DAY OF NOVEMBER 2024. WE HAVE A MOTION BY JUDGE SAMANIEGO, SECOND BY COMMISSIONER STOUT. THE VOTING IS OPEN. MY BATTERY'S DOWN, SO I PLEASE. COMMISSIONER LEON. OKAY. MOTION CARRIES. THANK YOU. WELCOME, WELCOME. THANK YOU. MY NAME IS LAURA GUNTER, AND I AM THE PR AND MARKETING CHAIR FOR JUNIOR LEAGUE. BUT I AM A PAST CHRISTMAS FAIR CHAIR. CHRISTMAS FAIR IS A LABOR OF LOVE. YOU KNOW, IT IS THE ONE EVENT THAT EVERY JUNIOR LEAGUE MEMBER PARTICIPATES IN. AND IF NOT MANY PEOPLE KNOW, WE TAKE OVER THE CONVENTION CENTER FOR ONE WEEKEND, WHICH JUST HAPPENED THIS PAST WEEKEND. IF ANYONE GOT TO ATTEND AND ALL THOSE PROCEEDS [05:30:07] THAT WE RAISED THROUGH MERCHANTS, THROUGH TICKET SALES, ALL OF THAT GETS RETURNED TO OUR PROGRAMS AND OUR PROJECTS. THANK YOU. WELCOME. HELLO. THANK YOU FOR HAVING US HERE TODAY. I AM WENDY LANSKY. I AM ALSO A PAST FAIR CHAIR AND A PAST PRESIDENT OF THE JUNIOR LEAGUE. AND THE PROCLAMATION. AND WHAT LAURA HAS SHARED IS EXACTLY WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO ALSO EXPRESS TODAY. SO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR HAVING US. WE ARE SO PROUD TO BE PART OF THE EL PASO COMMUNITY AND CONTINUE EVERY YEAR TO GIVE BACK TO THE EL PASO COMMUNITY THROUGH CHRISTMAS FAIR. WELL, THANK YOU. YOU KNOW, THE WE HAVE WE HAD SUCH A HUGE SHIFT OF VOLUNTEERISM. IT USED TO BE OR, YOU KNOW, MOST OF THE ELDERLY WERE INCREDIBLY INVOLVED. MOST PEOPLE BEFORE WE STARTED HEARING ABOUT IMMIGRATION AND SOME OF THE ISSUES THAT WE HAD WAY BEFORE THAT, A LOT OF VOLUNTEERS WERE TAKING CARE, WORKING FOR THE CHURCH, MAKING SURE THAT, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE WERE DIGNIFIED. AND I GOT TO SEE PEOPLE FEELING THAT THAT WAS THE BEST THING THAT EVER HAPPENED TO THEM IN THEIR LIFETIME. BY JUST BEING AND BEING IN A SHELTER TO THEM WAS AMAZING. THAT HAS SHIFTED BECAUSE OF THE PANDEMIC. WE DON'T HAVE THE SAME LEVEL OF VOLUNTEERISM FROM THAT GROUP. AND SO NOW WE'RE REALLY AT A SITUATION WHERE WE'RE CHALLENGED COMPLETELY BECAUSE IF YOU DON'T HAVE VOLUNTEERS, WHAT'S THE NEXT THING IS YOU HAVE TO HIRE AND THAT BECOMES A HUGE BURDEN FOR OUR COMMUNITY AND OBVIOUSLY FOR THE COUNTY. SO THIS WORK ON VOLUNTEERISM IS JUST SO IMPORTANT IN OUR COMMUNITY. WE HAVE SOME CHALLENGES COMING. YOU KNOW, AS YOU KNOW, EARLIER TODAY, WE SPOKE A LOT ABOUT HAVING TO TERMINATE A LOT OF THE SHELTERS AND A LOT OF THE CONTRACTS THAT WE HAVE. AND SO WE'RE LOOKING FOR, YOU KNOW, HOW DO WE GET PEOPLE TO VOLUNTEER? SO WE CAN MAKE UP THAT DIFFERENCE? SO THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING THAT YOU DO. I MEAN IT'S SOMETHING THAT'S SUCH AN IMPACT. AND OF COURSE THE YOUNGER THEY ARE WHEN THEY VOLUNTEER, THE MORE SUCCESSFUL THEY'RE GOING TO BE. I ALWAYS SAID THAT THE BEST, BEST EMPLOYEES ARE THE ONES THAT VOLUNTEER. I MEAN, WHEN THEY VOLUNTEER, THERE'S SOMETHING DIFFERENT ABOUT EMPLOYEES. THEY'RE JUST CONTRIBUTE A LOT MORE. SO ONCE AGAIN, THANK YOU VERY MUCH. AND WE REALLY APPRECIATE THIS. AND WE WOULD BE HAPPY TO PARTNER WITH ANYBODY TO PROVIDE VOLUNTEERS. SO I JUST WANTED TO PUT THAT OUT THERE. OH THANK YOU. EVERY YEAR WE DO WE DO DO OUR PROJECTS AND PROGRAMS AND SURVEY THE COMMUNITY AS TO WHAT THE NEEDS ARE. AND OUR VOLUNTEERS ARE OUT THERE AS OUR MONEY IS. SO WE ARE DEFINITELY A GOOD VOLUNTEER BASE FOR A LOT OF NOT FOR PROFIT ORGANIZATIONS. WELL THANK YOU. WE'LL BE DEPENDING A LOT ON THAT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU. OKAY. ITEM 12 E APPROVE AN ADOPT A RESOLUTION ENDORSING THE TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION'S MESSAGE, ENCOURAGING THE PUBLIC TO PRIORITIZE SAFETY ON THE HIGHWAYS AND ROADS DURING THE 2024 HOLIDAY SEASON. JUDGE ANCHONDO AND COMPANY. [E. Approve and adopt a resolution endorsing the Texas Department of Transportation's message, encouraging the public to prioritize safety on the highways and roads during the 2024 holiday season. Ricardo A. Samaniego, County Judge, County Judge's Office, 915-546-2098] JUDGE. REMEMBER, YOU'RE YOU'RE FROM JEFFERSON, OKAY? YOU HAVE TO STAND UP TO THESE THINGS. [05:35:11] YEAH. THANK YOU. JUDGE. IT'S NOT THE SAME IF YOU'RE NOT PART OF THIS. OKAY, I WILL READ THIS INTO THE RECORD, THIS RESOLUTION. WHEREAS DURING THE HOLIDAY SEASON, WE ENTER A CHALLENGING TIME FOR DRIVERS UTILIZING OUR ROADWAYS. AND WHEREAS WE RECOMMEND DRIVERS TO BE SAFE AS THERE ARE MORE PEOPLE ON THE ROAD, THUS MORE OPPORTUNITIES FOR COLLISIONS. WHEREAS MORE THAN 87,000 MOTHERS, FATHERS, HUSBANDS, WIVES AND CHILDREN HAVE DIED IN SENSELESS, PREVENTABLE COLLISIONS OVER THE PAST 24 YEARS IN TEXAS, A NUMBER THAT COULD EASILY FILL THE COTTON BOWL. AND WHEREAS THERE HAS BEEN AN AVERAGE OF TEN DEATHS PER DAY IN TEXAS ROADS SO FAR THIS YEAR, STATEWIDE 982 PEOPLE HAVE BEEN KILLED IN SPEED RELATED CRASHES, ONE OUT OF FOUR DEATHS HAVE BEEN CAUSED BY DRUNK DRIVING. DISTRACTED DRIVING HAS BEEN THE CAUSE OF DEATH FOR 250 PEOPLE, 457 PEDESTRIANS HAVE BEEN KILLED IN TRAFFIC CRASHES AND 718 UNBUCKLED. PEOPLE HAVE DIED IN TRAFFIC CRASHES WITH DRUNK DRIVING HAS BECOME MORE COMMON BECAUSE OF ALCOHOL IS SERVED AT MANY HOLIDAY GATHERINGS, WHEREAS IN EL PASO COUNTY THERE WERE A TOTAL OF 14,464 CRASHES FROM 2024 THROUGH SEPTEMBER 30TH, 2024, AND IN 2023, THERE WERE 19,924 CRASHES FOR THE YEAR, 23% OF ALL CRASHES IN 2024 HAVE BEEN SPEED RELATED 16% DISTRACTED DRIVING RELATED, 2% OR DWI RELATED ALCOHOL AND OR DRUGS, WHEREAS THERE HAVE BEEN 51 FATAL CRASHES IN EL PASO COUNTY THROUGH SEPTEMBER 30TH, 2024, 43% WERE SPEED RELATED, 31% WERE DWI RELATED, WHEREAS THE SEVERITY OF CRASH SIGNIFICANTLY INCREASES WHEN SPEED AND ALCOHOL OR DRUGS ARE INGESTED. EVERYONE MUST TAKE THEIR SHARE OF RESPONSIBILITY TO PREVENT THESE EVENTS. WITH THE TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION, EL PASO DISTRICT IMPLORES OUR COMMUNITY TO DO ITS PART TO SAVE LIVES, PREVENT INJURIES, AND REDUCE ECONOMIC AND OTHER SOCIAL COSTS DUE TO ROAD CRASHES. TO ACHIEVE A VISION OF ZERO FATALITIES BY BUCKLING UP, SLOWING DOWN, PAYING ATTENTION AND NEVER DRIVING DISTRACTED OR UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF ALCOHOL OR OTHER DRUGS. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED THAT THE EL PASO COUNTY JUDGE AND COMMISSIONERS COURT ENDORSE THE TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION'S MESSAGE, ENCOURAGING THE PUBLIC TO PRIORITIZE SAFETY ON THE HIGHWAYS AND ROADS DURING THE 2024 HOLIDAY SEASON, SIGNED THIS 25TH DAY OF NOVEMBER, 2024. WE HAVE A MOTION BY JUDGE SAMANIEGO, SECOND BY COMMISSIONER CORONADO. THE VOTING IS OPEN. I THANK YOU. MOTION CARRIES. THANK YOU. WELCOME. THANK YOU. SO GOOD AFTERNOON EVERYONE. MY NAME IS EDUARDO PERALES. I'M THE DIRECTOR OF TRANSPORTATION OPERATIONS FOR TXDOT. EL PASO DISTRICT. FIRST OF ALL, I JUST WANT TO THANK YOU ALL FOR THE RECOGNITION AND JUST JUST CRITICAL REMINDER DURING THIS WINTER SEASON AND THE HOLIDAY SEASON, I DO WANT TO CIRCLE BACK TO THOSE STATS THAT YOU JUST READ. THE 2% OUT OF THE TOTAL CRASHES SEEM LIKE VERY LOW, BUT WHEN IT TRANSLATES TO FATALITIES, THAT NUMBER, THAT PERCENT GOES ALL THE WAY TO 31%, WHICH IS ONE THIRD, RIGHT? ONE THIRD OF OUR FATALITIES ARE DWI RELATED. THAT'S JUST TOO MANY, YOU KNOW, ALSO CONCERNING YOU READ THE TRAFFIC FATALITIES, NEARLY HALF ARE SPEED RELATED. BUT WHAT'S A LITTLE BIT MORE SCARY IS THAT WHEN YOU COMBINE UNDER THE INFLUENCE, THEY JUST THEY THEY SPEED A LOT MORE. AND THAT'S OVER. I MEAN, 70% OF OUR FATALITIES JUST ON THOSE TWO EMPHASIS AREAS THAT WE FOCUS ON, ON TXDOT. SO IN TXDOT, YOU KNOW, TXDOT SAFETY IS ALWAYS OUR PRIORITY. WE DO CONTINUE TO IMPLEMENT HIGH ENGINEERING STANDARDS. WHEN WE BUILD OUR SYSTEM. WE ALWAYS DO. WE TAKE EVERYTHING INTO ACCOUNT STATEWIDE. WE'VE CONTRIBUTED OVER $17 BILLION IN OUR STATEWIDE TEN YEAR PROGRAM PLAN LOCALLY. YOU KNOW, WE'VE DONE A LITTLE BIT OF LOCAL SMALL CHANGES THAT SEEM SMALL, BUT THEY GO A LONG WAYS. YOU ALL SEEN THE PROFILE STRIPING THAT WE HAVE ON THE FLOOR. WE'VE GONE FROM SIX I MEAN FROM 4 INCH TO 6 INCH. THAT INCREASES A LOT. WE HAVE A LOT OF RUN OFF THE ROADS. IT ALSO KIND OF TENDS TO SLOW DOWN THE TRAVELING PUBLIC. WE'VE DONE INNOVATION INTERSECTIONS LIKE ROUNDABOUTS THROUGHOUT THE COMMUNITY. THESE JUST DROPPED [05:40:01] 90% OF ALL THE FATALITIES AT INTERSECTIONS. WE'VE DONE HIGH MAST LIGHTING AND A LOT OF ROADWAYS. WRONG-WAY DRIVERS, WHICH HAS BEEN A BIG INFLUENCE ON DWIS. THEY DRINK, THEY DRIVE, THEY GO THE WRONG WAY. SO AGAIN, I JUST WANT TO HIGHLIGHT THAT OUR 2024 STATEWIDE IMPAIRED DRIVING HOLIDAY CAMPAIGN IS NOW UNDERWAY. IT'S A CRITICAL POINT RIGHT NOW. SO THE CAMPAIGN SHARES CRITICAL MESSAGES DURING THIS POTENTIAL TIME AND ENCOURAGES TEXANS TO WRITE SOBER. AND WE TALKED ABOUT THAT RIGHT NOW. SO IT INCLUDES A PARTNERSHIP WITH WALMART AND SOME INTERACTIVE EXHIBITS THAT WE'RE GOING TO PRESENT. THE CAMPAIGN WILL MAKE A STOP AT THE EL PASO WALMART SUPERCENTER, LOCATED AT TEN 277227 GATEWAY WEST. THE CAMPAIGN RUNS IN TANDEM WITH AND IT INTENSIFIES LAW ENFORCEMENT. YOU KNOW THAT RUNS FROM DECEMBER 13TH ALL THE WAY TO JANUARY 1ST. YOU KNOW, WHEN MORE OFFICERS ARE ON THE ROAD AND THEY'RE LOOKING TO ARREST DRIVERS. SO AGAIN, THIS HOLIDAY SEASON, WE URGE YOU TO CONTINUE TO SUPPORT US AND TRYING TO END THE STREAK. IT'S BEEN NOVEMBER OF 2000 SINCE WE HAVE HAD NOT ONE DAY THAT WE HAVE A FATALITY ON OUR ROADWAYS, SO WE'RE GOING ON 24 YEARS, 25 YEARS ALREADY. WE'RE ALMOST THERE. SO AGAIN, NOT ONE DAY THAT WE HAVE A FATALITY ON ANY OF OUR ROADWAYS. SO AGAIN, WE REALLY APPRECIATE YOUR SUPPORT AND WE THANK YOU FOR THE RECOGNITION AND THANK YOU. AND THANK YOU FOR TEXDOT. COMMISSIONER AND I ARE ON MPO, SO WE GET TO HEAR A LOT ABOUT SAFETY AND THINGS THAT YOU DO FROM AN ENGINEERING STANDPOINT TO SEE IF WE COULD, YOU KNOW, EITHER SLOW DOWN THE TRAFFIC OR MAKE THEM MORE AWARE. SO WE THANK TXDOT FOR EVERYTHING THAT YOU'VE BEEN DOING. SIR. DO YOU WANT TO? SURE. MY NAME IS MARTY ESCOBEDO. HELLO, MARIO. WE MET A MONTH AGO HERE AT THE COMMISSIONERS COURT, WHERE WE RECOGNIZE THE JUDGE FOR THE 20 YEARS OF THE DWI PROGRAM. AND I'M HEADING THE ALUMNI TRYING TO GET PEOPLE TO CONTINUE THEIR RECOVERY AND GIVE BACK IN SERVICE, BACK TO THE COMMUNITY. I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR TAKING THIS TIME TO RECOGNIZE THAT WE NEED TO RECOGNIZE THAT IT IS THE MOST WONDERFUL TIME OF THE YEAR, AND THAT WE CAN CONTINUE TO DO THAT BY STAYING SAFE AND KEEPING OUR ROADWAYS SAFE. AND THANK THE STATE OF TEXAS AND EVERYBODY THAT'S HERE, THAT'S RECOGNIZING THAT TODAY. WELL, THANK YOU, MARIO. APPRECIATE THAT. ANYONE ELSE THAT. BUT I DO NEED TO THANK BOTH OF YOU. OUR JUDGES AND YOUR COMMITMENT AND OBVIOUSLY, IF YOU HAVEN'T BEEN TO THE OUR TREATMENT COURT AND YOU GET TO SEE THE STORIES OF INDIVIDUALS THAT IT JUST HAVING A VERY DIFFICULT TIME GETTING OUT OF THAT SITUATION. BUT THEIR SUCCESS HAS BEEN JUST TREMENDOUSLY. SO WE'LL WE'LL DO WHATEVER IT TAKES TO SUPPORT AND MAKE SURE THAT WE, YOU KNOW, WE'VE GOT I THINK WE HAVE A MEETING TOMORROW, TOMORROW JUDGE ANCHONDO WITH THE COMMISSIONER, VERONICA ESCOBAR, CONGRESSWOMAN. AND A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE VERY CONCERNED ABOUT WHAT'S BEEN HAPPENING LATELY IN EL PASO. I MEAN, WE LOVE THE NATIONAL ATTENTION WHEN IT'S POSITIVE, BUT WE ARE GETTING A LOT OF ATTENTION IN EL PASO FOR THE NUMBER OF TRAFFIC DEATHS AND DWI THAT ARE TAKING PLACE. SO I'M GLAD WE'RE ALL GETTING TOGETHER A LOT OF DIFFERENT PARTNERS GETTING TOGETHER TO SEE WHAT IS IT THAT WE COULD DO ABOUT, YOU KNOW, I RECEIVED A LONG TEXT FROM MY FROM MY SON. HE'S AT TEXAS A&M AND LIKE, HE COULDN'T FROM THE OUTSIDE, HE COULDN'T BELIEVE ALL THE NEWS THAT'S COMING ABOUT EL PASO AND OUR TRAFFIC SITUATION. SO WE HAVE TO STEP UP. I KNOW, AND I'M VERY COMFORTABLE THAT WHEN EL PASO REALIZES THAT WE HAVE A CHALLENGE THAT WE KNOW HOW TO COME TOGETHER. SO HOPEFULLY WITH ALL YOUR HELP HERE, THAT WE SORT OF RALLY AND, AND, YOU KNOW, DO SOMETHING ABOUT HOW HORRIFIC IT'S BEEN. SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH. YES. COMMISSIONER CORONAD, I JUST WANT TO, YOU KNOW, TO LET OUR ENTIRE COMMUNITY AND PUBLIC KNOW THAT ON BEHALF OF OUR COURT AND OUR COUNTY GOVERNMENT, THAT THERE REALLY IS NO NEED FOR PEOPLE TO BE DRIVING WITH WITH THE ADVENT OF TECHNOLOGY, I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE TELL OUR COMMUNITY THAT TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERYBODY HAS THEIR APP FOR THEIR UBER, FOR LYFT, YOU KNOW, IN THE PAST MAY HAVE BEEN AN EXCUSE THAT I COULDN'T FIND ANYBODY, BUT THAT IS NOT SUCH AN EXCUSE ANYMORE. THERE'S AVAILABILITY OF, YOU KNOW, SOMEBODY ELSE TAKING YOU HOME IN A SAFE MANNER WITHOUT EXPOSING YOURSELF AND THE PUBLIC AT LARGE TO ALL THESE HORRIFIC SITUATIONS. SO AND THANK YOU AGAIN TO TXDOT AND JUDGE, THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THIS. THANK YOU. WE'RE READY TO KICK IT OFF. [05:45:27] GOOD. HOW ARE YOU? * This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.