J. (ARPA-1162) Approve and authorize the County Judge to sign the Services Agreement with LJA Engineering, Inc. to provide comprehensive tourism and marketing services through the Boosting Tourism through Strategic Initiatives and Collaborations for the County of El Paso, from the date of signature through November 30, 2026, in the amount of $252,900. Funds are available in SG-ARPLAN21-OPERATING EX. (Contract No. 2024-0971) Roberto Ransom, Director, Economic Development, 915-546-2177

[A. Receive a presentation recognizing El Paso County as the “Leading the Way” Platinum Award recipient for the Aetna Wellbeing Award Program. Sam Trujillo, Interim Chief Human Resources Officer, Human Resources, 915-273-3520]

WITH THE HUMAN RESOURCES DEPARTMENT. TODAY, I HAVE THE PLEASURE OF INTRODUCING YOUR COUNTY WELLNESS TEAM, WHO WILL BE PRESENTING A COUPLE OF NEW AND EXCITING WELLNESS PROGRAMS IMPLEMENTED THIS YEAR. THESE PROGRAMS WERE PART OF THE COUNTY STRATEGIC HEALTH AND WELLNESS PLAN, AND WERE USED AS PART OF OUR APPLICATION TO AETNA FOR CONSIDERATION OF ONE OF THE FOUR WELLNESS AWARDS. I AM HAPPY TO ANNOUNCE THAT THE COUNTY WAS AWARDED THE HIGHEST WELLNESS AWARD, WHICH WAS THE PLATINUM AWARD. THIS AWARD WILL BE PRESENTED TO THE COURT TODAY BY THE AETNA ACCOUNT MANAGEMENT TEAM. THE SUCCESS OF THE PROGRAM IS A RESULT OF THE CONTINUED SUPPORT, COMMITMENT AND VISION OF THE COMMISSIONERS COURT. THE BOARD AND COUNTY ADMINISTRATION TO START US OFF ON OUR PRESENTATION TODAY, I WOULD LIKE TO INTRODUCE OUR WELLNESS COORDINATOR, SENIOR SABIEN SOLIS AND WELLNESS COORDINATOR, RUBY MUNOZ. WELCOME. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. GOOD MORNING. JUDGE AND COMMISSIONERS SABIAN SOLIS WELLNESS COORDINATOR SENIOR WITH THE HUMAN RESOURCES DEPARTMENT. IT IS WITH GREAT PLEASURE THAT WE GET TO PRESENT TO YOU TODAY ON OUR COUNTY WELLNESS PROGRAM. NEXT SLIDE PLEASE. OUR DIVERSE RANGE OF WELLNESS STRATEGIES ENSURES THERE'S SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE. OUR MISSION IS CENTERED AROUND EMPOWERING EMPLOYEES TO ADOPT HEALTHIER LIFESTYLES. WE ACHIEVE THIS THROUGH COMPREHENSIVE RANGE OF STRATEGIES DESIGNED TO ADDRESS AND MITIGATE CHRONIC CONDITIONS THAT IMPACT OUR WORKFORCE. BY FOCUSING ON CONDITIONS SUCH AS DIABETES, HYPERLIPIDEMIA, AND OBESITY. WE NOT ONLY FOSTER A MORE PRODUCTIVE AND ENGAGING WORKFORCE, BUT ALSO GENERATE SIGNIFICANT SAVINGS. NEXT SLIDE PLEASE. OUR DIVERSE RANGE OF WELLNESS STRATEGIES ENSURES THAT THERE'S SOMEONE THERE'S SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE, WHETHER IT'S OUR GROUP EXERCISE CLASSES WHERE EMPLOYEES ENGAGE IN PHYSICAL ACTIVITY OR OUR HEALTH FAIRS THAT EMPOWER EMPLOYEES WITH VALUABLE RESOURCES TO INTEGRATE INTO THEIR DAILY LIVES. WE ARE COMMITTED TO EQUIPPING OUR EMPLOYEES WITH THE TOOLS AND KNOWLEDGE NEEDED TO EMBRACE HEALTHIER LIFESTYLES. I WOULD LIKE TO TAKE A MOMENT TO HIGHLIGHT SOME OF THE KEY STRATEGIES THAT WE HAVE BEEN INSTRUMENTAL IN OUR SUCCESS.

FIRST, OUR NAVIGATE WELLBEING PORTAL SERVES AS A CENTRAL HUB FOR ALL THINGS WELLNESS.

EMPLOYEES CAN EXPLORE A VARIETY OF INCENTIVIZED ACTIVITIES, PARTICIPATE IN WELLNESS CHALLENGES, ENROLL IN COURSES ON VARIOUS HEALTH TOPICS, ACCESS HEALTHY EATING RECIPES AND RECEIVE DIRECT COMMUNICATION THROUGH PUSH NOTIFICATIONS. THIS PORTAL CONNECTS US WITH OVER A THOUSAND ACTIVE EMPLOYEES, KEEPING THEM INFORMED ABOUT UPCOMING EVENTS AND WELLNESS UPDATES IN ADDITION TO THE WEB BASED PLATFORM, HAS OUR MOBILE APP, WHICH ENSURES THAT WE REMAIN CONNECTED WITH EMPLOYEES ON THE GO. ANOTHER CORNERSTONE CORNERSTONE OF OUR PROGRAM IS THE HEALTHY HEART INITIATIVE, WHICH EMPOWERS EMPLOYEES TO ACTIVELY TRACK THEIR BLOOD PRESSURE READINGS. SO GONE ARE THE DAYS THAT WE HAVE SINGLE BLOOD PRESSURE READINGS IN OUR OFFICES. NOW, EMPLOYEES ARE ABLE TO LOG THEIR DAILY READINGS AND PROVIDE WEEKS AND MONTHS OF DATA FOR THEIR PHYSICIANS. THIS ALLOWS FOR A MORE COMPREHENSIVE VIEW OF THEIR HEALTH, ENHANCING THE LEVEL OF CARE PROVIDED. AS A RESULT, 61% OF PARTICIPANTS HAVE SUCCESSFULLY REDUCED THEIR BLOOD

[00:25:04]

PRESSURE, AND OF THOSE AT THE HIGHEST RISK, WHICH IS STAGE TWO HYPERTENSION, HAVE EXPERIENCED A MASSIVE 19% REDUCTION IN SYSTOLIC BLOOD PRESSURE. THIS REDUCTION IS PROFOUND AND HAS IMMENSE CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS, ACCORDING TO THE STUDY IN THE LANCET MEDICAL JOURNAL. A TEN POINT REDUCTION IN BLOOD PRESSURE IS ASSOCIATED WITH A 13% DECREASE IN CARDIOVASCULAR DEATHS, 27% REDUCTION IN STROKE, AND 17% REDUCTION IN CORONARY ARTERY DISEASE IN OUR PARTICIPANTS HAVE ACHIEVED GREATER RESULTS. FINALLY, OUR PLAN A NEW LIFESTYLE AND TRANSFORMATION PROGRAM, IS A HANDS ON COACHING INITIATIVE THAT GUIDES EMPLOYEES THROUGH BEHAVIORAL MODIFICATIONS TO DEVELOP HEALTHY EATING HABITS AND ADOPT AN ACTIVE LIFESTYLE.

WE'LL GO MORE INTO THIS IN FUTURE SLIDE. BUT FOR NOW, I WOULD LIKE TO PASS IT OVER TO THE NEXT SLIDE. PLEASE. UNDER THE PLAN, A NEW LIFESTYLE AND TRANSFORMATION PROGRAM, OUR PLANNED PROGRAM FOR SHORT IS FOCUSED ON ADDRESSING THE TOP CHRONIC DISEASES IMPACTING OUR WORKFORCE. THIS INCLUDES HYPERLIPIDEMIA, HYPERTENSION, DIABETES, AND OBESITY. WE ARE PROUD TO SAY THAT WE'VE DEVELOPED A PROGRAM THAT HAS BEEN PROVEN TO BE HIGHLY EFFICIENT IN TRANSFORMING LIVES, TO INCLUDE PARTNERING WITH THE DIABETES ASSOCIATION, AND TO DATE, WE'VE COMPLETED THREE COHORTS FOR OUR PILOT PROGRAM WITH A TOTAL OF 13 PARTICIPANTS AND AN IMPRESSIVE COHORT SUCCESS RATE OF 92%. MOST RECENTLY, OUR LAST COHORT, WHICH WAS CONDUCTED ON NOVEMBER 25TH, ACHIEVED A PERFECT SUCCESS RATE OF 100%. THESE INDIVIDUALS HAVE DEMONSTRATED REMARKABLE RESILIENCE, OVERCOMING PERSONAL CHALLENGES AND UNEXPECTED LIFE CIRCUMSTANCES WITHOUT LETTING ANYTHING DERAIL THEIR PROGRESS. OUR EMPLOYEES NOT ONLY ARE KNOWN AS INSPIRATION FOR OTHERS AS A RESULT OF THE PROGRAM, WE'VE SEEN A SIGNIFICANT IMPROVEMENT, INCLUDING REDUCTIONS IN TOTAL BODY WEIGHT, BODY FAT PERCENTAGE, MARKED IMPROVEMENT ON THEIR CRITICAL BLOOD PANEL METRICS SUCH AS TRIGLYCERIDES, CHOLESTEROL, AND A-1C LEVELS.

IT'S TRULY INSPIRING TO WORK WITH SUCH INDIVIDUALS WHO PUSH THEMSELVES AND OUR TEAM TOWARDS THE HEALTHIER FUTURE. AND SPEAKING OF TRANSFORMATIONS, I AM THRILLED TO SHARE A SPECIAL ACCOMPLISHMENT. JOSHUA SMITH, A PARTICIPANT FROM OUR FIRST COHORT AND A TEAM MEMBER OF THE DISTRICT CLERK'S OFFICE, HAS ACHIEVED OUR VERY FIRST COMPLETE LIFESTYLE TRANSFORMATION.

JOSHUA, WHO ONCE UTILIZED MEDICATIONS, IS NOW COMPLETELY MEDICATION FREE AND APPROACHING 100 POUNDS IN WEIGHT LOSS. SINCE HIS INITIAL WEIGH IN. WE'RE INCREDIBLY PROUD OF THE PROGRESS HE HAS MADE, AND EVERY ONE OF OUR PARTICIPANTS. NEXT, I WOULD LIKE TO SHARE A HIGHLIGHT VIDEO SHOWCASING SHOWCASING OUR PLATINUM AWARD WINNING PROGRAM. NEXT SLIDE PLEASE. THIS IS THE ATTACHMENT. THERE'S NO VIDEO ON THIS ONE OKAY OKAY. WE CAN GO INTO THE NEXT SLIDE PLEASE.

PERFECT. SO THIS IS A TESTAMENT TO THE GREAT WORK WE'RE ABLE TO ACHIEVE WITH THE SUPPORT OF ALL OF YOU. AND WE'RE JUST GETTING STARTED. THIS CONCLUDES MY PORTION OF THE PRESENTATION. I WILL NOW LIKE TO HAND OVER THE PRESENTATION TO MISS RUBY MUNOZ, WHO WILL TAKE US THROUGH OUR AWARD WINNING PROGRAM AND SHARE VALUABLE FEEDBACK FROM OUR EMPLOYEES. THANK YOU. THANK YOU.

WELCOME, RUBY. THANK YOU. SABIE. GOOD MORNING, JUDGE AND COMMISSIONERS, RUBY MUNOZ, THE WELLNESS COORDINATOR FOR THE COUNTY AND HUMAN RESOURCES DEPARTMENT. WE BELIEVE THAT OUR CONTINUED SUCCESS COMES FROM OUR EMPLOYEES DEDICATION TO THE PROGRAM. AS WE CONTINUE TO GROW, WE ARE COMMITTED TO PROVIDING OUR EMPLOYEES WITH THE RESOURCES THEY NEED TO BECOME SUCCESSFUL IN THEIR OVERALL HEALTH. THIS INCLUDES HELPING THEM ACHIEVE MORE YEAR AFTER YEAR PROFESSIONALLY AND PERSONALLY. OVER THE LAST YEAR, WE'VE IMPLEMENTED CLASSES AND EXERCISE PLANS TO ENGAGE OUR EMPLOYEES IN THE WELLNESS PROGRAM. OVERALL, SOME OF THOSE INCLUDE OUR GROUP EXERCISE CLASSES, POWER THURSDAYS. THESE CLASSES HAVE BEEN A SUCCESS NOT ONLY BY THE INCREASED ATTENDANCE, BUT THE USE OF OUR FITNESS AND WELLNESS CENTER MONTH AFTER MONTH. THIS SUCCESS WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN POSSIBLE WITHOUT THE DEDICATION OF OUR TEAM. OUR WELLNESS AMBASSADORS FROM VARIOUS DEPARTMENTS, AND OUR SUPPORTIVE LEADERSHIP. NEXT SLIDE PLEASE. I WOULD LIKE TO TAKE A MOMENT TO SHARE SOME OF THE WONDERFUL FEEDBACK WE'VE RECEIVED FROM OUR EMPLOYEES. HERE ARE JUST A FEW COMMENTS. WE'VE HEARD THE FRIENDLINESS OF THE STAFF MADE ME FEEL COMFORTABLE. THANK YOU FOR INFORMATIVE AND FUN. HOPE TO BE BACK SOON. GREAT PRESENTATION. LOOKING FORWARD TO THE FUTURE PRESENTATIONS. THANK YOU FOR PROVIDING THIS SERVICE.

AND LAST BUT NOT LEAST, EVERY YEAR THE FAIR GETS BETTER. THANK YOU SO MUCH! IT'S AN INCREDIBLY

[00:30:06]

REWARDING TO HEAR THAT OUR EFFORTS WITH OUR EMPLOYEES HAVE MOTIVATED THEM, AND IT MOTIVATES US TO CONTINUE DELIVERING OUR BEST WELLNESS EXPERIENCE. WE WOULD LIKE TO THANK THE DEPARTMENTS THAT ACTIVELY ENGAGE AND SUPPORT THEIR STAFF TO ADOPT A HEALTHIER LIFESTYLE ACROSS THE COUNTY. WELLNESS IS NOT JUST A PROGRAM, IT'S A CULTURE, A CULTURE THAT STARTS FROM THE TOP. ADDITIONALLY, WE WOULD LIKE TO THANK OUR PARTNERS EPI DIABETES AND DOMEX STRENGTH AND FITNESS AND MANY OTHERS WHO SHARE OUR COMMITMENT TO CARING FOR THE HEALTH OF OUR EMPLOYEES.

TOGETHER, WE'RE CREATING AN AWARD WINNING PROGRAM YEAR AFTER YEAR. NOW, IT'S MY PLEASURE TO PASS THE STAGE TO MR. MICHAEL GARZA, OUR AETNA ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE, WHO WILL PRESENT US WITH THE 2024 AETNA PLATINUM WELLNESS AWARD, A RECOGNITION THAT UNDERSCORES OUR COMMITMENT TO HEALTH AND WELLNESS. THANK YOU. RUBY. MR. GARZA. WELCOME. GOOD MORNING. JUDGE.

COMMISSIONERS, ON BEHALF OF AND OUR LEADERSHIP TEAM, WE JUST WANT TO SAY CONGRATULATIONS ON WINNING THE PLATINUM STATUS FOR WORKPLACE WELL-BEING AWARD. YEAR OVER YEAR. YOUR TEAM HAS ACHIEVED THIS LEVEL OF SUCCESS. THE INTENT BEHIND THESE AWARDS IS TO ACKNOWLEDGE, PLAN SPONSORS AROUND THE COUNTRY WHO HAVE A STRONG DEDICATION TOWARD WELLNESS AND WELL-BEING. YOU KNOW, A STRONG WELLNESS STRATEGY SUPPORTS THE REDUCTION IN ABSENTEEISM AS WELL AS CONTRIBUTES TO A REDUCTION IN MEDICAL COSTS FOR THE COUNTY. SO KUDOS. WE HAD ABOUT 147 PLAN SPONSORS THIS YEAR THAT PARTICIPATED, OF WHICH I THINK A LITTLE UNDER 30 ACHIEVED PLATINUM STATUS. SO KUDOS TO YOU AND YOUR TEAM. THEY DO AN AMAZING JOB HERE AT THE COUNTY, AND WE ARE SO THANKFUL TO HAVE BEEN A PARTNER WITH YOU GUYS OVER THE YEARS. AND AGAIN, CONGRATULATIONS. WELL, THANK YOU FOR RECOGNIZING WE HAVE WE KNOW WE HAVE A JUST AN INCREDIBLE TEAM, BUT IT'S BIGGER THAN THAN YOU MIGHT THINK. AND THAT IS THAT DURING THE PANDEMIC A COMMISSIONERS COURT, WE MADE A COMMITMENT THAT WE KNOW THAT THE FIRST LINE OF DEFENSE FOR THE PANDEMIC WAS OUR HEALTH. BEFORE THE MASK, BEFORE THE VACCINE, WE HAD THAT OUR HEALTH. THOSE WERE THE PEOPLE THAT WERE ABLE NOT TO GET INTO HOSPITALS, THAT WERE ABLE TO, YOU KNOW, SURVIVE A LOT OF THE BEGINNING OF THE VIRUS. SO WE MADE A COMMITMENT OF SEEING WHAT HAPPENED, YOU KNOW, 94% OF ALL THE INDIVIDUALS THAT DIED, THE SOULS THAT WE LOST HAD UNDERLYING CONDITIONS. SO IT'S REALLY DIFFICULT FOR US TO PROMOTE THAT IF WE DON'T BECOME A ROLE MODEL. AND SO BY GAINING THIS, THIS, YOU KNOW, THIS RECOGNITION, WE ALSO ARE ABLE TO CONTINUE TO BE THE ROLE MODEL FOR THE REST OF THE COMMUNITY BECAUSE WE, YOU KNOW, WE LOVE OUR COMMUNITY AND WE LOVE THEM THAT MUCH. WE DON'T WANT ANYONE TO BE UNHEALTHY OR NOT BE ABLE TO, YOU KNOW, GO THROUGH A VERY DIFFICULT SITUATION. SO WE FOCUS A LOT ON ON HEALTH. WE'RE ASKING THAT'S WHY WE FOCUSED A LOT OF EMPHASIS ON PARKS, AS YOU ALL REMEMBER, THAT THEY DIDN'T TAKE PARKS AWAY FROM US. THEY TOOK AWAY WE GOT SHELTERED SOME COUNTY JUDGE STARTED SHELTERING PEOPLE. AND, YOU KNOW, THAT KIND OF THING THAT WE HAD TO DO. BUT EVERYBODY WENT OUT TO THE PARKS. EVERYBODY BOUGHT, YOU KNOW, MACHINES, THEY BOUGHT BICYCLES. AND THAT WAS A START. AND WE DON'T WANT IT TO, TO END AND FORGET HOW IMPORTANT IT WAS. WE LOST LESS LIVES BECAUSE OF OUR HEALTH. AND SO THANK YOU FOR THAT RECOGNITION. BUT IT'S ALSO AN OPPORTUNITY TO BE THAT ROLE MODEL. AND THANK YOU EVERYONE.

BETSY, YOUR TEAM, OF COURSE, YOU KNOW, EVERYBODY TALKS ABOUT GOING TO THE TO OUR FITNESS PLACE THERE AND EVERYBODY LOVES AND THE WAY YOU TREAT THEM THE CARE AND ALSO THE QUALITY THAT YOU PROVIDE. SO ONCE AGAIN, THIS IS A VERY IMPORTANT, VERY PRESTIGIOUS BUT VERY IMPORTANT AWARD SO THAT WE COULD CONTINUE FIGHTING. WE HAVE SOME PEOPLE LIKE SANDRA HERE THAT THAT THAT, YOU KNOW, THEY KNOW ABOUT HOW DIFFICULT IT IS WHEN SOMEONE IS ILL AND WHEN THEY DON'T TAKE CARE OF THEMSELVES. SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH. FROM ON BEHALF OF MYSELF AND THE COMMISSIONERS HERE TODAY, THANK YOU. THANK YOU SIR. THANK YOU. SAM. SAM. SAM. TRIO. HUMAN RESOURCE DEPARTMENT I DON'T WANT TO TAKE THE SPOTLIGHT AWAY FROM FROM MY TEAM, BUT THIS ALL STARTED BACK WITH US JUST GETTING TOGETHER IN A ROOM WITH A BLANK PIECE OF PAPER AND START DEVELOPING A STRATEGIC PLAN. AND A LOT OF PEOPLE OVER THE YEARS PARTICIPATED IN THAT. AND EACH

[00:35:02]

YEAR IT JUST GOT BETTER AND BETTER. AND YOU CAN SEE WE GOT A VERY TALENTED TEAM RIGHT NOW THAT IS VERY DEDICATED. EVEN SO, WHERE I KIND OF TRY TO STAY AWAY FROM THEM BECAUSE I GET UPSET ABOUT NOT BEING ABLE TO EAT A CANDY AND YOU KNOW, THAT PIZZA, THINGS LIKE THAT. BUT THEY DO DO A HECK OF A JOB THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY. BUT IF WE COULD TAKE JUST A MOMENT AND GET A PICTURE.

ABSOLUTELY, ABSOLUTELY. WE'D LOVE THAT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. AND IT. IS.

A LITTLE BIT. EARLY. WE.

AND THE COMMISSIONER. MONITORS. SO WE CAN INCLUDE COMMISSIONERS.

ALEXIS, BEFORE YOU FINISH, WE DO HAVE A COUPLE OF OUR PARTICIPANTS FROM OUR PLANT PROGRAM IN THE AUDIENCE. CAN WE BRING THEM UP? I THINK WE HAVE MORE THAN ONE.

AND THEN OUR PARTNERS FROM THE EL PASO DIABETES ASSOCIATION, IF YOU ALL WANT TO COME UP, THEY'VE ALL BEEN PART OF THIS JOURNEY FOR US.

AND WE DECIDED TO. WE NEED TO LET OUR.

DO YOU KNOW YOU WANT 11? OKAY.

BETSY, YOU HAD COMMENTED ON SOME CHANGES OR WERE YOU DID YOU RELAY THEM TO CESAR? YES. THE ITEMS THAT WE'RE GOING TO BE ASKING THAT THE COURT TAKE IN A DIFFERENT ORDER IS WE'RE ASKING THAT ITEM EIGHT BE BE HEARD AFTER THE COURT HEARS ITEM EIGHT F, WE WILL BE ASKING THAT ITEM EIGHT F BE HEARD IN EXECUTIVE SESSION FOR LEGAL RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES. AND WE'D LIKE TO HEAR EIGHT B AFTER THAT. OKAY. THANK YOU. YOU GOT THAT, CESAR? YES, SIR. ITEM NUMBER

[00:40:08]

SEVEN A FROM THE REGULAR AGENDA. WE DO HAVE A CORRECTION TO READ IN FOR THIS ITEM AS WELL. ITEM SEVEN A SHOULD READ RECEIVE A PRESENTATION AND APPROVE AND AUTHORIZE THE COUNTY JUDGE TO

[A. Receive a presentation and approve and authorize the County Judge to sign the First Extended and Amended Interlocal Agreement by and between El Paso County, Texas and Housing Opportunity Management Enterprises (HOME) for Operation in the County Area Through December 31, 2034. (Contract No. 2024-0972) Joel Bishop, Chief Deputy County Administrator, Justice Support & Community Services, 915-546-2215]

SIGN THE FIRST EXTENDED AND AMENDED INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT BY. IN BETWEEN EL PASO COUNTY, TEXAS, AND HOUSING OPPORTUNITY MANAGEMENT ENTERPRISES. HOME FOR OPERATION IN THE COUNTY AREA, BUT OUTSIDE THE LIMITS OF THE CITY OF EL PASO THROUGH DECEMBER 31ST, 2034. CONTRACT NUMBER 2024 0972. TEASER. THAT WAS ALSO TO RECEIVE A PRESENTATION AS WELL. YES, YES. THANK YOU. GOOD MORNING, JUDGE AND COMMISSIONERS JOEL BISHOP WITH COUNTY ADMINISTRATION. THIS ITEM IS JUST AN EXTENSION OF WHAT YOU PREVIOUSLY APPROVED. IT'S AN EXTENSION FOR TEN YEARS, WHICH GIVES THE COUNTY THE RIGHT TO APPROVE PROJECTS BEFORE THEY BEGIN THROUGH HOME. BUT IT GIVES HOME THE RIGHT TO OPERATE WITHIN THE COUNTY. THE COURT'S APPROVA. JERRY CICHON AND HIS TEAM ARE HERE THIS MORNING TO PROVIDE AN UPDATE OF A PREVIOUSLY APPROVED PROJECT IN CLINT THAT THE COURT PREVIOUSLY APPROVED THEM TO WORK ON, AND SO BOTH TO RECEIVE A PRESENTATION AND FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION TO APPROVE THE EXTENDED EXTENSION OF THIS CONTRACT. WITH THAT, I'LL TURN IT OVER TO MISTER CICHON. FOR THE. GOOD MORNING, COUNTY JUDGE. GOOD MORNING, COMMISSIONERS.

JERRY CICHON, CEO OF THE HOUSING AUTHORITY FOR THE CITY OF EL PASO, NOW CALLED HOME, WANTED TO. FIRST OFF, BEFORE WE START, I WANT TO INVITE EVERYBODY TO OUR RIBBON CUTTING THAT'S OCCURRING ON THURSDAY RIGHT IN FRONT OF SAINT CLEMENS ON MONTANA. WE'RE GOING TO BLOCK OFF THE STREET, AND WE'RE GOING TO UNVEIL A 1.1 MILLION TILE MOSAIC. IT'S GREAT DOWNTOWN ART.

IT'S A REGIONAL CULTURAL PIECE THAT I THINK YOU'LL ALL BE VERY, VERY PROUD OF. IT'S ALL DONE IN GLASS, SO IT'LL NEVER FADE. OBVIOUSLY THE NAME OF THE COMMUNITY IS NUESTRA SENORA AND THE ART PIECE WILL BE COMMENSURATE TO THE NAME. SO WE'RE NOT UNVEILING IT. I MEAN, THE A ROPE WILL BE PULLED AND THE MAYOR WILL UNVEIL HER AT APPROXIMATELY 430, 445 THAT THURSDAY EVENING. YOU'RE ALL INVITED, YOUR STAFF IS INVITED, AND LOVE TO SEE YOU THERE. IT'S GOING TO BE A GREAT DAY. THANK YOU. CHAIR. SO AND THEN ANOTHER GREAT PROJECT THAT I WANT TO SPEAK TO IS THE ONE THAT WE TALKED ABOUT THREE YEARS AGO, AS WE WERE HERE. AND OBVIOUSLY SOME OF YOU WERE ARE AT THE, AT THE, THE GROUNDBREAKING WHERE WE ACTUALLY STARTED THIS GREAT PROJECT. SO THIS IS A COMMUNITY THAT'S RIGHT ACROSS FROM CLINT HIGH SCHOOL. THIS IS 44 INDIVIDUAL HOMES THAT WE BUILT THAT ARE 100% AFFORDABLE HOUSING. IT'S A MIX OF 30%, 50% AND 60% AMI UNITS THAT WERE FUNDED BY A 9% TAX CREDIT. APPROXIMATELY $8 MILLION WAS RAISED ON THE TAX CREDITS TOTAL. TOTAL CONSTRUCTION COSTS, I THINK, WAS AROUND 13. AND AS YOU CAN SEE, WE HAVE OFF STREET PARKING. WE HAVE GABLED ROOFS, 100% REFRIGERATION AIR AT THE VERY, VERY FRONT. THERE'S ACTUALLY TWO ROADS THAT COME IN TO TURN OFF, TURN OFF THE MAIN STREET THAT GETS YOU IN THERE, AND THEN RIGHT NEXT TO THAT, IF I CAN ADVANCE THIS, THIS GIVES YOU AN IDEA OF THE OF THE OF. OH, ACTUALLY IT'S ONE I'M SORRY. IT WAS GOING TO BE TWO BUT WE CHANGED IT TO ONE. SO IT'S ONE TURN IN. IT'S A WALLED COMMUNITY. EACH HOUSE AS YOU CAN SEE, ACTUALLY HAS A DEDICATED BACKYARD THAT INCREASES THE USABLE SQUARE FOOTAGE ON THE BACK. WE KEPT THINKING IT'D BE GREAT BECAUSE IT'S SUPPOSED TO BE DONE DIFFERENTLY, BUT WHEN YOU HAVE KIDS, YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN? YOU WANT TO PUT THEM BACK. YOU DON'T WANT THEM TO GET OUT, YOU KNOW? I MEAN, OBVIOUSLY WITH CARS AND EVERYTHING ELSE. SO ALL THAT'S BEEN CHANGED, THE, THE, THE SQUARE FOOTAGE IS A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT IN SIZE BECAUSE THERE WAS A GAS LINE THAT GAS LINE THAT RUNS INTO MEXICO. WAS THERE DIDN'T SHOW UP IN ANY OF OUR RESEARCH, ANY OF OUR TITLE INSURANCE OR ANYTHING ELSE. SO EVERYTHING KIND OF HAD TO GET PUSHED TOGETHER IN ORDER TO, TO DO THE, TO DO THE, THE, DO THE CONSTRUCTION. SO THESE ARE THIS GIVES YOU AN IDEA OF THE, OF THE INSIDE. IT'S AN OPEN FLOOR PLAN, KIND OF MORE OF A MODERN FLOOR PLAN WHERE YOU HAVE SPACE FOR, FOR KIND OF LIVING AREA AND KITCHEN AT THE SAME TIME. EVERYTHING'S DONE IN A, IN A VERY MODERN BLACK APPLIANCE WITH KIND OF A DARK GRAY TYPE OF A TYPE OF A CABINETRY. THIS IS A ON THE BOTTOM LEFT, YOU HAVE A BASKETBALL COURT AND YOU ALSO HAVE A PLAYGROUND FOR THE CHILDREN. AND IN THE UPPER LEFT IS ONE OF THE DESIGNS THAT WE HAVE AS YOU COME IN. THIS IS THE NAME OF IS KINSHIP. THE NAME WAS PICKED BECAUSE I MEAN THAT'S IT'S ALL ABOUT COMMUNITY. AND

[00:45:01]

THIS IS THE COMMUNITY CENTER WHERE PEOPLE CAN CAN COME, THEY CAN HAVE BAR MITZVAHS AND, AND ALL KINDS OF THINGS THAT THEY WOULD LIKE TO HAVE. AND THAT CAN BE THAT CAN BE RENTED OUT BY THE, BY THE TENANTS AT ANY TIME. THE LEASING HAS ALREADY BEGUN. SO RIGHT NOW WE HAVE APPROXIMATELY 17 FAMILIES THAT HAVE MOVED IN. THERE ARE 80 ON THE ON THE WAITING LIST. SO WE'RE WE'RE GOING THROUGH THAT NOW. WE WILL BE DOING A RIBBON CUTTING ON THIS ACTUALLY SOMETIME IN JANUARY JUST TO LET YOU KNOW. SO ONCE WE GET IT PRETTY CLOSE TO LEASED UP, WE'LL BE WE'LL BE BACK OUT THERE TO CELEBRATE THE SUCCESS AND THE FINALITY OF THIS PARTICULAR COMMUNITY. SO I JUST WANTED TO BRING THAT TO YOUR ATTENTION. THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION AND EVERYTHING THAT THAT YOU'VE ALLOWED HOME TO WORK WITH YOU O. AND I THINK IT'S A GREAT COMMUNITY, AND I'M HAPPY TO SHOW IT OFF. AND AGAIN, AS WE FINALIZE THAT DATES AGAIN, ANOTHER INVITATION TO EVERY ONE OF YOU TO BE PRESENT ON ON THAT RIBBON CUTTING. THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT. JUST WANT TO THANK YOU. THE CREATIVITY. AND THERE WAS A TIME WHEN IF IT WAS AFFORDABLE HOUSING, IT MEANT VERY LITTLE QUALITY AND IT JUST DIDN'T MAKE SENSE, RIGHT. FOR INDIVIDUALS TO START THEIR THEIR DREAMS LIKE THAT. BUT YOU KNOW, YOU AND I HAVE TALKED ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF, OF HAVING HOUSING IN A RURAL AREA SO THAT WE CAN KEEP PEOPLE THERE. YOU KNOW, A LOT OF OUR PEOPLE OR CONSTITUENTS WANT TO STAY IN THEIR COMMUNITIES, BUT THEY'RE SORT OF FORCED TO GO SOMEWHERE ELSE TO FIND HOUSING OR JOBS. AND SO WE THANK YOU. THIS IS VERY, VERY IMPORTANT, AND I HOPE IT SETS THE BAR FOR OTHERS TO DO THINGS OF THIS NATURE WITH THE QUALITY AND THE CARE THAT YOU DID THIS. SO JUST JUST WANT TO THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU DO. AND WE'LL BE THERE ON THURSDAY AS WELL. THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU JERRY. COMMISSIONER LEON, JERRY, THANK YOU SO MUCH AS YOU MIGHT REMEMBER, SOME YEARS BACK WHEN WE VOTED TO ALLOW HOME TO GO OUT INTO THE COUNTY, THIS IS EXACTLY WHAT I WAS HOPING FOR THAT LIKE THE JUDGE SAID, THAT WE HAVE HOMES NOW WHERE KIDS THAT GO TO HIGH SCHOOL GRADE SCHOOL ARE NOT ASHAMED TO INVITE THEIR FRIENDS OVER TO THEIR HOME FOR WHATEVER REASON. SO I HOPE YOU EXPLODE INTO THE COUNTY.

THIS IS EXACTLY WHAT I PERSONALLY HAD ENVISIONED. SO THANK YOU SO MUCH AND I HOPE YOU KEEP GROWING IN THIS ARENA. THANK YOU COMMISSIONER. COMMISSIONER HOLGUIN THANK YOU JUDGE. THANK YOU JERRY. IT IS A BEAUTIFUL COMMUNITY AND IT'S BEEN REALLY INCREDIBLE TO SEE IT COME UP SO QUICKLY, TO GO FROM A LITERALLY A PATCH OF NOTHING TO NOW THESE BEAUTIFUL HOMES, BUT CAN YOU GIVE US A LITTLE BIT MORE DETAIL ON THE BREAKUP OF THE ARMY? I KNOW YOU SAID IT WAS 30% ARMY, 50% ARMY, AND 60% ARMY. THE UNITS. DO YOU HAVE THE ACTUAL NUMBERS OF UNITS? IT'S 4%. AT 30%. ARMY. THERE'S 11 AT 50% ARMY. AND THERE IS 31 AT. THAT'S THE NUMBERS THEY GAVE ME.

THAT WOULD BE WRONG BECAUSE IT'D BE OVER 44, I THINK. ALL RIGHT. SO. RIGHT. SO I WAS TOLD THIS MORNING I WAS I GOT THE NUMBERS BECAUSE I KNEW I KNEW YOU'D ASK MISS MISS HOLGUIN AND I WAS TOLD IT WAS 31 AT 6% ARMY, BUT THAT THOSE NUMBERS DON'T ADD UP, I DON'T BELIEVE TO THE, TO THE 44.

I THINK THERE'S ONE, ONE, 1 OR 2 MANY JUST KIND OF CLOSE. PRETTY CLOSE. JUST JUST TO REITERATE COMMENTS THAT I HAD MADE PREVIOUSLY, IT WOULD BE REALLY GREAT IF WE COULD SEE MORE UNITS DEDICATED TO THE LOWEST ARMY, THE 30% ARMY, WHICH IS JUST THE RESIDENTS IN OUR COMMUNITIES WITH THE GREATEST, GREATEST NEED. SO THAT'S JUST THE ONLY COMMENT THAT I WOULD REQUEST THAT I WOULD MAKE. THANK YOU. COMMISSIONER. JUDGE. YES, COMMISSIONER STOUT, THANK YOU.

THANK YOU, MR. CHAIRMAN, FOR THE PRESENTATION. LOOKING FORWARD TO GOING TO THE UNVEILING OF THE OF THE PUBLIC ARTWORK. I MISSED THE GROUNDBREAKING AND AS YOU KNOW, IT'S IN MY DISTRICT. SO LOOKING FORWARD TO BEING THERE, LOOKING FORWARD TO BEING THERE. AND CONGRATULATIONS ON THIS ON THIS PROJECT OUT IN CLINT. SO I JUST HAD A QUESTION ON THE EXTENSION OF THE OF THE IS IT AN IS IT.

IT'S AN INTERLOCAL CONTRACT RIGHT. IT'S AN MOU. IT'S AN MOU. OKAY. SO IT'S BEEN IN PLACE FOR THREE YEARS. IS THAT. THAT'S CORRECT. THREE YEARS OKAY. AND THEN THE EXTENSION IS FOR TEN YEARS. AND SO WITHIN THOSE TEN YEARS WHAT'S PLANNED. DO YOU HAVE ANYTHING YET OR WHAT. SO YES. WHY ARE WE EXTENDING OUT TO TEN YEARS. WHY ARE WHY ARE WE DOING TEN INSTEAD OF 5 OR 10 INSTEAD OF ANOTHER THREE OR. WELL, I MEAN, BECAUSE THIS ACTUALLY EXPIRES BEFORE WE'RE COMING BACK TO YOU WITH THE NEXT PROJECT. SO THE NEXT PROJECT WILL BE COMING BACK TO YOU IS PROBABLY IN JANUARY FOR ANOTHER 9% TAX CREDIT APPLICATION. OKAY. AND SO WE'RE TRYING TO FINALIZE THAT RIGHT NOW. AND THERE'S A COUPLE OF THINGS THAT ARE UP IN THE AIR. SO IT'S A LITTLE LITTLE TOO EARLY TO BRING IT TO YOU. SO IN JANUARY WE'LL BE COMING BACK TO YOU ASKING FOR THAT REQUEST FOR ANOTHER 9%, HOPEFULLY SOMETHING SIMILAR TO WHAT THIS IS. IT'LL DEPEND UPON THE MONIES THAT ARE AVAILABLE. AS YOU KNOW, THINGS KEEP CHANGING. AND AGAIN, THE AMOUNT OF TAX CREDITS HAVE BEEN CHANGING. ALSO DEPENDING UPON WHAT THE TAX POLICY IS ON THE NATIONAL LEVEL, IT CHANGES HOW MUCH MONEY YOU CAN RAISE AND ALL IT IS. I MEAN, WE STILL HAVE TO COME BACK FOR EVERY TAX

[00:50:06]

CREDIT APPROVAL. IT DOESN'T CHANGE ANYTHING. IT JUST GIVES A LITTLE BIT MORE TIME ON ON THE BREADTH OF THE OF THE AGREEMENT. THAT'S ALL. OKAY. AND YOU KIND OF ALLUDED TO IT A LITTLE BIT, BUT DO YOU ALL SEE ANY FORESEE ANY ISSUES OR I MEAN WHAT ARE YOU EXPECTING WITH THE ADMINISTRATION THAT'S COMING IN FEDERALLY? AND IS THERE GOING TO BE MORE TAX CREDIT OPPORTUNITIES LESS? I MEAN, DO WE KNOW DO WE HAVE ANY INDICATION OF WHAT THINGS ARE GOING TO BE LOOKING LIKE. SO IT'S INTERESTING YOU ACTUALLY HAVE TWO DIFFERENT TRACKS GOING RIGHT NOW ON THE NATIONAL LEVEL. ONE OF THE THINGS WAS TO INCREASE THE BASIS OF TAX CREDITS. SO THAT WOULD ALLOW YOU, IF YOU WERE TO GET 4% OR 9%, TO ACTUALLY INCREASE THE AMOUNT OF MONEY THAT YOU COULD RAISE WITH A SIMILAR CREDIT. RIGHT. SO LIKE RIGHT NOW, IF I WAS TO SELL A 4% TAX CREDIT, IT USED TO BE I COULD GET 50% OF NEW CONSTRUCTION MONEY. NOW I'M DOWN AROUND 25, 27%. AND SO THEY'RE TALKING ABOUT INCREASING THAT BASIS CLOSER TO WHAT A 9% WOULD BE. SO THAT WOULD TAKE IT UP SUPPOSEDLY CLOSER TO 60% OF THAT MONEY. HOWEVER, YOU NEED TO REALIZE THOUGH, IF THERE IS A TAX POLICY, LIKE WHAT HAPPENED LAST TIME WHEN THEY REDUCED THE CORPORATE TAX RATE, THERE WAS A LOT LESS NEED FOR CORPORATIONS TO BUY TAX CREDITS. SO WE WENT FROM SELLING TAX CREDITS AT $1 OR $1, THREE ALL THE WAY DOWN TO LIKE $0.84 IS WHAT WE'RE SELLING NOW. SO WE LOST LIKE 15%. AND WHEN YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT SOMETHING THAT'S, YOU KNOW, $1 MILLION A YEAR OR $10 MILLION, 15% IS $1.5 MILLION IN ACTUAL CONSTRUCTION MONIES. AND SO THAT CREATES GAP, YOU KNOW, AND THAT GAP HAS TO BE, YOU KNOW, FILLED BY BY OTHER MEANS. AND SO IT IT REALLY DEPENDS UPON WHAT HAPPENS WITH THE LEGISLATION AND WHETHER YOU DO HAVE AN INCREASE IN BASIS FOR TAX CREDITS OR A REDUCTION OVERALL IN THE CORPORATE TAX RATE. AND BETSY, THERE'S WE FORESEE NO, I GUESS DOWNSIDE TO EXTENDING THIS CONTRACT FOR TEN YEARS. I KNOW THAT I KNOW THAT WE HAD A LOT OF LIVELY CONVERSATION ABOUT PUTTING IT IN PLACE IN THE FIRST PLACE. AND S, YES, SIR, JUST WANT TO GET YOUR PERSPECTIVE ON THAT. THE THING THAT I BELIEVE GIVES US AND GIVES THE COURT LONG TERM, I THINK WHAT WOULD GIVE YOU LONG TERM COMFORT WITH DOING THIS EXTENSION IS THEY ADDED A 30 DAY OUT CLAUSE. SO NOW WHICH THE CONTRACT DID NOT HAVE PREVIOUSLY. SO IF EITHER PARTY HAS A CONCERN THAT IS NOT ADDRESSED OR IS UNABLE TO BE WORKED OUT WITH HOME, WE WOULD OR IF WE HAVE A CONCERN THAT'S NOT ABLE TO BE WORKED OUT WITH HOME, WE CAN GIVE 30 DAYS NOTICE AND TERMINATE THE AGREEMENT. SO AND OF COURSE, I MEAN WE DON'T EXPECT THAT THAT WOULD EVER OCCUR. WE WOULD HOPE THAT WE'D BE ABLE TO WORK OUT ANY CONCERNS THAT WE HAVE. BUT YOU WILL NOW HAVE THAT ABILITY THAT YOU DID NOT HAVE UNDER THE PREVIOUS AGREEMENT. OKAY. AND THEN OTHER THAN THAT, WE HAVE THE SAME LEVEL OF OVERSIGHT THAT, THAT WE WANTED FROM, FROM THE WE HAVE THE SAME OVERSIGHT THAT WE HAD PREVIOUSLY. IT STILL REQUIRES IT TO COME BACK TO COMMISSIONERS COURT. OKAY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU COMMISSIONER. THANK YOU. CAN I JUST ASK ONE MORE QUESTION? I'M SORRY. THE WITH THE NEW DEVELOPMENT THAT YOU'RE PLANNING TO COME BACK TO THE COURT WITH IN JANUARY, HOW ARE THOSE NUMBERS LOOKING? DO YOU THINK IT WOULD BE POSSIBLE TO INCREASE THE NUMBER OF 30% AMI UNITS IN THAT NEW PROPOSAL? DON'T KNOW YET. IT'S A LITTLE IT'S A LITTLE EARLY, BUT I WILL I WILL SAY THIS AS A AS A PREFACE TO COMING BACK TO YOU. THE INCREASED NUMBER OF 30% AMI UNITS IS VERY, VERY DIFFICULT BECAUSE YOU'RE YOU'RE SUBSTITUTING THE RENT. SO YOU HAVE TO PAY FOR IT SOMEHOW. AND AS YOU INCREASE RATE, YOU HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT IT'S SELF SUFFICIENT. EVEN WITH THIS BREAKDOWN RIGHT HERE, THE HOUSING AUTHORITY PUT $3 MILLION IN GAP FINANCING INTO THE DEAL THAT THEY COULD NOT GET FINANCED FOR. SO MOST LIKELY YOU WON'T BE GETTING THAT MANY MORE UNITS UNLESS SOME FORM OF VOUCHERS OR SOMETHING ELSE THAT IS UTILIZED.

AND AS OF RIGHT NOW, I CAN'T I CAN'T SPEAK TO IT BECAUSE BECAUSE WE JUST DON'T KNOW AT THIS TIME IT'S A LITTLE TOO EARLY, BUT WE'LL HAVE MORE DETAILS ABOUT WHETHER OR NOT SOMETHING LIKE THAT IS POSSIBLE IN JANUARY. WHEN YOU COME BACK, THAT'S CORRECT. YEAH. BECAUSE I MEAN, I MEAN, ACQUISITION COSTS, RIGHT? LAND IS GETTING VERY, VERY EXPENSIVE. THAT DECREASES IT. HOW MUCH MONEY THAT WE'RE GOING TO BE ABLE TO ACTUALLY BRING DOWN. YOU JUST REALIZE ALSO THAT, I MEAN, AS YOU MAKE THESE MAKE THESE DECISIONS, IT'S FLOOR PLAN SIZE. I MEAN, IT MAY NOT NEED TO BE BE ABLE TO BE SINGLE FAMILY HOMES BECAUSE, I MEAN, AT THIS POINT YOU HAVE, YOU KNOW, INDEPENDENT ROOFS, YOU KNOW, NON-SHARED WALLS, A LOT OF DIFFERENT THINGS THAT INCREASE COST. SO ALL OF THAT'S GOING TO BE IS GOING TO HAVE TO BE CONSIDERED. AND THE WAITING LIST THAT YOU REFERENCED THAT YOU HAVE ALREADY FOR KINSHIP COMMONS OR IS THAT SOMETHING THAT CAN BE CAN WE SEE WHAT ARMY THEY WOULD FALL INTO? THE FOLKS THAT ARE ALREADY ON THE WAITING LIST, DO WE HAVE THOSE FIGURES? DON'T HAVE THAT UNTIL YOU UNTIL YOU THE INTERVIEW WITH THE FAMILIES.

OKAY. SO THE FAMILY HAS TO COME IN AND YOU SIT DOWN AND YOU SPEND A LOT OF TIME THEY HAVE TO

[00:55:04]

YOU HAVE TO GO THROUGH THE W-2 FORMS. YOU HAVE TO LOOK AT THEIR EARNINGS. YOU HAVE TO LOOK AT THEIR ASSETS. FROM THAT YOU DETERMINE WHAT THEIR AMI IS AND THEN WHICH THEY WOULD FIT INTO IF THEY IF THEY IF IT FITS INTO ANYTHING AT ALL. BUT THERE'S NO WAY TO KNOW. NOW, THE PEOPLE THAT ARE ON THE WAITING LIST, WHAT CATEGORY OF AMI THEY WOULD FALL INTO? NO. BECAUSE BASICALLY WHEN YOU SIGN UP, YOU JUST PUT YOUR NAME ON THE LIST AND THAT RESERVES YOUR PLACE IN LINE. BUT UNTIL MY STAFF ACTUALLY DOES THE ANALYSIS, WE CAN'T TELL YOU WHAT THE INCOME OF THE FAMILY IS, BUT WE'D BE ABLE TO KNOW AFTERWARDS. AFTER THE INTERVIEWS WERE CONDUCTED, JUST WHAT THE AMI BREAKDOWN WAS OF THE WAITING LIST, CORRECT? I MEAN, I CAN PROBABLY TELL YOU RIGHT NOW WITH THOSE 17 FAMILIES ARE, BUT I CAN'T TELL YOU. I MEAN, OBVIOUSLY THEY HAVE TO FIT WITHIN WITHIN AND THAT DOESN'T MEAN THAT, YOU KNOW, THAT A 30% WOULDN'T FIT INTO AN 80, A 60%.

IT JUST MEANS THEY HAVE TO PAY MORE RENT IN ORDER TO DO SO. OKAY. WELL, IT WOULD BE NICE TO HAVE THOSE FIGURES ONCE YOU HAVE THEM. YEAH. AND, COMMISSIONER, I JUST WOULD MENTION THAT THAT'S THAT'S A CONDITION IN THE AGREEMENT IS THAT THEY REPORT THE INCOME LEVELS IN THAT, IN THAT DATA AS PART OF THE PROJECT. SO OKAY. THANK YOU JOE. AND THERE'S A QUESTION FROM COMMISSIONER CORONADO. GO AHEAD. JUDGE. NO, I JUST WANT TO MAKE A COMMENT THAT I WANT TO THANK JERRY AND CONGRATULATE JERRY AND HIS ORGANIZATION ON THIS PROJECT. I'VE SEEN SOME OF THE OTHER PROJECTS THAT ARE THAT, THAT, THAT HIS ORGANIZATION HAS DONE WITHIN THE CITY. AND NOW TO SEE THESE OUT IN THE COUNTY, IT'S REALLY VERY, VERY GRATIFYING TO SEE THAT OUR CONSTITUENTS OUT IN THE OUTLYING AREAS OF THE COUNTY ARE ABLE TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THIS KIND OF HOUSING. SO, JERRY, THANK YOU VERY MUCH ON BEHALF OF MYSELF. THANK YOU. THANK YOU.

COMMISSIONER. JUDGE. SORRY. ANNA SCHUMACHER, ASSISTANT COUNTY ATTORNEY. I DID HAVE ONE CLARIFICATION, IF THAT'S OKAY. BASED ON WHAT COMMISSIONER STOUT HAD JUST MENTIONED, HIS QUESTION, IF THAT'S ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. SO I DID WANT TO NOTE THAT THERE'S TWO METHODS FOR POTENTIAL TERMINATION. THERE'S TERMINATION FOR CONVENIENCE. AND THEN THERE'S ALSO TERMINATION FOR CAUSE. SO THERE'S TWO AVENUES. HOWEVER EVERYTHING PERTAINS TO FUTURE PROJECTS.

RIGHT. SO WE WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO GO BACK AND UNDO PROJECTS FOR WHICH WE ALREADY GAVE APPROVAL.

I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE WE CLARIFIED THAT. SO THANK YOU. THANK YOU. AND JERRY, OUR CONDOLENCES. MY CONDOLENCES TO YOUR RECENT LOSS OF YOUR FATHER. THANK YOU. SO SORRY TO HEAR THAT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR YOUR KIND WORDS. THANK YOU. JERRY. YOU'RE READY. CAESAR. A MOTION TO APPROVE. WE HAVE A MOTION FROM JUDGE SAMANIEGO AND A SECOND FROM COMMISSIONER LEONE. THE VOTING IS OPEN. COMMISSIONER CORONADO. YOU. I THANK YOU, THANK YOU, SIR.

MOTION CARRIES. THANK YOU, SIR CAMILLA. ITEM NUMBER EIGHT A FROM COUNTY ADMINISTRATION RECEIVE A PRESENTATION FROM THE ENTERPRISE JUSTICE CONTROL BOARD REGARDING THE PROGRESS OF THE BOARD SINCE ITS INCEPTION IN JULY 2023. MELISSA. GOOD MORNING JUDGE. GOOD MORNING.

[A. Receive a presentation from the Enterprise Justice Control Board regarding the progress of the board since its inception in July 2023. Melissa Carrillo, Executive Director, County Operations, 915-546-2162]

COMMISSIONERS. THIS MORNING I HAVE THE VERY ESTEEMED PRIVILEGE OF BEING ABLE TO TURN THIS PRESENTATION OVER SHORTLY OVER TO MR. RICK ROCHA AND THE TEAM THAT YOU'RE SEEING STARTING TO COME UP. THIS IS ONE OF THE COMMISSIONERS COURT STRATEGIC GOALS REGARDING THE JUSTICE CONTROL SYSTEM AND HOW WE WORK TOGETHER WITH ONE ANOTHER, COLLABORATE ON SYSTEMS AND SOFTWARE SO THAT THOSE THAT HAVE TO GO THROUGH OUR CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM HAVE AN EQUITABLE, EFFICIENT AND REALLY FAIR PROCESS AS THEY GO THROUGH THIS SYSTEM. AND SO I'M GOING TO TURN THIS OVER TO RICK ROCHA, WHO'S GOING TO GIVE YOU AN UPDATE ON YOUR STRATEGIC GOAL AS IT SPECIFICALLY RELATES TO THE ENTERPRISE JUSTICE CONTROL BOARD THAT YOU ALL HELPED TO ESTABLISH IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE COUNCIL OF JUDGES LAST SUMMER. SO WITH THAT, I'M GOING TO TURN IT OVER TO MR. RICK ROCHA. WELCOME, RIC. WELCOME. THANK YOU. GOOD MORNING. GOOD MORNING, COMMISSIONERS. THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO PRESENT TODAY. AND AS MELISSA STATED, MY NAME IS RICK ROCHA AND I'M WITH THE COUNTY OPERATIONS DEPARTMENT. I'M HERE TO PROVIDE AN EVALUATION OF THE ENTERPRISE JUSTICE CONTROL BOARD, COMMONLY REFERRED TO AS THE JKB AND ITS EFFORTS OVER THE PAST YEAR. I'D LIKE TO TAKE A FEW MOMENTS. WE DO HAVE SOME MEMBERS IN ATTENDANCE TODAY, SO IF THEY PLEASE STEP UP TO THE PODIUM AND INTRODUCE THEMSELVES. WELCOME.

GOOD MORNING COMMISSIONERS. MY NAME IS CHAD BREUNIG. I'M A ATTORNEY WITH THE PUBLIC DEFENDER'S OFFICE. THANK YOU. CHAIRMAN. REESE, REPRESENTING THE DOMESTIC RELATIONS OFFICE.

THANK YOU. GOOD MORNING. COUNTY JUDGE AND COMMISSIONERS BERNADETTE MEDRANO WITH THE

[01:00:02]

DISTRICT CLERK'S OFFICE. CHIEF DEPUTY. THANK YOU. GOOD MORNING. LUIS BANDA, FUNCTIONAL ANALYST FOR THE COUNCIL OF JUDGES. THANK YOU. GOOD MORNING. I'M BRITTANY GATLIN FROM THE CJC. THANK YOU.

BRITTANY. GOOD MORNING ELIZABETH ARELLANO, A REENTRY MANAGER WITH CJC. THANK YOU, ELIZABETH. GOOD MORNING. I'M RICK RUBIO. I'M WITH THE COUNCIL OF JUDGES ADMINISTRATION. THANK YOU. GOOD MORNING. ROSARIO RAN FOR JUSTICE OF THE PEACE COURTS. THANK YOU. ROSARIO. GOOD MORNING, DIANA LEYVA WITH THE COUNTY CLERK'S OFFICE. THANK YOU. GOOD MORNING, JUDGE AND COMMISSIONERS. JUAREZ.

I'M A SERGEANT WITH THE CONSTABLE'S OFFICE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. I'D LIKE TO CONTINUE.

AND BY REVISITING HOW THE CB WAS ACTUALLY CREATED IN JUNE 2023, THE COUNCIL OF JUDGES PASSED A RESOLUTION TO CREATE THE ACB, WHICH WAS THEN LATER ADOPTED BY THIS VERY COURT IN JULY 2023.

THIS COLLABORATION MARKED A PIVOTAL MOMENT, DEMONSTRATING THE COUNTY'S COMMITMENT TO BUILDING A JUSTICE SOFTWARE BOARD THAT'S NOT ONLY EFFICIENT, BUT ADAPTABLE TO EVOLVING NEEDS.

THE FORMATION OF THE ACB ALIGNS WITH THE COUNTY'S STRATEGIC GOAL OF LEAD JUSTICE REFORM, ENSURING THAT OUR INITIATIVES ARE PART OF A LARGER VISION TO MODERNIZE AND IMPROVE JUSTICE SERVICES. THE NCB'S PRIMARY MISSION IS TO FOSTER A COLLABORATIVE ENVIRONMENT THAT ENHANCES THE FUNCTIONALITY AND USE OF THE ENTERPRISE JUSTICE SYSTEM. THIS FOUNDATION HAS ENABLED US TO ALIGN OUR EFFORTS EFFECTIVELY AND WORK TOWARDS GREATER SYSTEM USE AND ENHANCEMENT. OUR OUR OUR MEMBERSHIP STRUCTURE REFLECTS THE IMPORTANT THE IMPORTANCE OF DIVERSE EXPERTISE. THE COURT TEAM, MADE UP OF 13 VOTING MEMBERS, ACTS AS THE ENGINE DRIVING DECISIONS, WHILE OUR EXTENDED TEAM ARE NON-VOTING MEMBERS, PROVIDES VITAL SUPPORT. TOGETHER, THESE SUBJECT MATTER EXPERTS CONTRIBUTE UNIQUE INSIGHTS THAT ENSURE WELL-ROUNDED, INFORMED DECISION MAKING. WHAT ARE SOME OF THE RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE ACB? WELL, THE CCB OVERSEES KEY ACTIVITIES CRITICAL TO MAINTAINING AND IMPROVING OUR JUSTICE SYSTEM TECHNOLOGY. THESE INCLUDE, BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO, GOVERNING SOFTWARE CHANGES AND PLANNING UPGRADES. CONDUCTING AUDITS TO IDENTIFY AND ADDRESS GAPS, AND DESIGNING ROLE BASED TEMPLATES. FOR INSTANCE, AN AUDIT OF USER ACCOUNTS WITHIN THEIR CASE MANAGER PRODUCT CENTER NOT ONLY TIGHTENED SECURITY, BUT ALSO STREAMLINED WORKFLOWS, SAVING STAFF SIGNIFICANT TIME AND EFFORT. I MYSELF HAVE LED COACHING AND MENTORING SESSIONS ACROSS VARIOUS DEPARTMENTS TO EQUIP STAFF WITH SKILLS AND KNOWLEDGE NEEDED TO NAVIGATE EXISTING AND NEW SYSTEM FEATURES EFFECTIVELY.

THESE HANDS ON SESSIONS HAVE EMPOWERED USERS TO MAXIMIZE THE SYSTEM'S FUNCTIONALITY AND IMPROVE THE DAY TO DAY OPERATIONS. OUR SELF-EVALUATION SUMMARY WELL, THIS PAST YEAR, OUR SELF-EVALUATION REVEALED SEVERAL SIGNIFICANT STRENGTHS. WE'VE ENHANCED COLLABORATION AMONG STAKEHOLDERS, IMPROVED OUR COMMUNICATION CHANNELS, AND LEVERAGE THE DIVERSE PERSPECTIVES OF OUR MEMBERS THROUGH BIWEEKLY MEETINGS AND FOCUS GROUPS. ADDRESSING MATTERS LIKE THE PAPER READY PROCESS, WE AIM TO REDUCE RESPONSE TIMES AND ALIGN EFFORTS MORE EFFECTIVELY.

ADDITIONALLY, A CENTRALIZED COMMUNICATION PLATFORM NOW ALLOWS US TO SHARE INFORMATION QUICKLY AND MAKE DECISIONS EFFICIENTLY. THESE INITIATIVES HAVE STRENGTHENED PARTNERSHIPS AND DEEPENED OUR UNDERSTANDING OF THE BUSINESS PROCESSES WITHIN OUR COUNTY. WHAT ABOUT FUTURE INITIATIVES? WELL, LOOKING AHEAD, WE'RE FOCUSED ON ENHANCING GOVERNANCE AND OPERATIONAL EFFICIENCY. ONE SPECIFIC INITIATIVE IS AUTOMATING THE WORKFLOW FOR KNOW NO SHOW AFFIDAVITS AND IF AFFIDAVITS OF INCARCERATION. WE AIM TO REDUCE MANUAL ERRORS, SAVE TIME AND IMPROVE ACCURACY, AND IMPROVING COMMUNICATION CHANGES THAT WILL DIRECTLY BENEFIT OUR STAFF AND RESIDENTS ALIKE. OTHER PRIORITIES INCLUDE DEVELOPING STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURES, OPTIMIZING POSITION BASED TEMPLATES, AND EXPANDING TRAINING INITIATIVES TO MAXIMIZE SYSTEM UTILIZATION. THESE EFFORTS ARE DESIGNED TO ENSURE THE ENTERPRISE JUSTICE SYSTEM CONTINUES TO MEET THE EVOLVING NEEDS OF ITS USERS. LOOKING FORWARD. WELL, OUR WORK IS FAR FROM DONE, BUT THE PROGRESS WE'VE MADE HAS LAID A STRONG FOUNDATION FOR FUTURE SUCCESS.

IMAGINE A JUSTICE SYSTEM WHERE PROCESSES. PROCESSES ARE STREAMLINED. COLLABORATION IS SECOND NATURE, AND TECHNOLOGY SERVES AS A CATALYST FOR EXCELLENCE. WITH THE DEDICATION

[01:05:03]

OF OUR MEMBERS AND YOUR CONTINUED SUPPORT, WE'RE WELL POSITIONED TO ACHIEVE THAT VISION. AND BEFORE I CONCLUDE, I WANT TO EMPHASIZE THAT THIS IS NOT JUST THE ECB'S JOURNEY. IT'S A COLLECTIVE COUNTY EFFORT. THE ECB WILL PLAY A VITAL ROLE IN USING TECHNOLOGY TO HELP ENSURE A MORE FAIR AND EQUITABLE EXPERIENCE FOR INDIVIDUALS NAVIGATING THE SYSTEM, ALIGNING WITH OUR BROADER MISSION TO SERVE OUR COMMUNITY EFFECTIVELY. WHAT WOULD IT MEAN FOR OUR COUNTY IF WE COULD ELIMINATE REDUNDANT PROCESSES AND ACCELERATE JUSTICE OUTCOMES? YOUR INSIGHTS ARE INVALUABLE, AND I'D LOVE TO HEAR YOUR THOUGHTS OR SUGGESTIONS AS WE CONTINUE TO MAKE MEANINGFUL PROGRESS TOGETHER. THANK YOU. BETSY. DO YOU HAVE ANY ADDITIONAL BEFORE I COMMENT? JUDGE, I JUST WANT TO MENTION THAT THAT WHAT THE ECB HAS DONE IT REALLY. YOU KNOW, RICK TALKS ABOUT EFFICIENCY, BUT IT WAS IT'S ADDRESSED A LOT OF THE INEFFICIENCIES WE HAD PRIOR TO ITS EXISTENCE. IT ALSO ADDRESSED WE WERE WE WERE GOING THROUGH SEVERAL DIFFERENT STRUGGLES WITH SOFTWARE AND PRIORITIZATION. AND PROCESSES. AND THE TEAM DID THE WORK TO AND CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG, MELISSA, BUT SOME OF OUR TEAM WENT OUT AND SAW SOME OTHER COUNTIES AND HOW THEY WERE DOING IT. COLLIN COUNTY IS ONE OF THE PLACES WE WENT TO, AND THEY HAD A VERY ROBUST, SIMILAR PROCESS, BUT NOT AS GOOD AS OURS. IF YOU ASK ME, AND REALLY CAME BACK AND SET THIS MODEL UP TO HELP US ADDRESS THOSE EFFICIENCIES, MAKE SURE EVERYONE'S NEEDS WERE GETTING ADDRESSED AND THAT EVERYBODY HAD A SEAT AT THE TABLE TO DO THIS WORK. AND RICK HAS BEEN JUST A PHENOMENAL LEADER IN THIS WORK. AND I REALLY APPRECIATE MELISSA AND JOEL FOR THEIR TAKING THIS ON ORIGINALLY AND THEN RICK FOR SEEING IT THROUGH. AND THANK YOU, RICK AND EVERY ONE OF YOU. WE THANK YOU. YOU'RE ABSOLUTELY RIGHT ABOUT IT'S BEEN A COMMITMENT SINCE I REMEMBER. YOU KNOW, WE KNOW THAT IF YOU'RE IN THAT SITUATION AND YOU'RE PART OF THE JUSTICE, YOU KNOW, EFFICIENCY AND PROCESSES AND LIKE YOU SAID, NOT REPLICATING IT BECOMES VERY IMPORTANT. AND I THINK WE CONTINUE TO SHOW HOW IMPORTANT IT IS. I MEAN, THIS RELATIONSHIP THAT COMMISSIONERS HAVE WITH WITH THE JUSTICE SYSTEM DIDN'T EXIST AS STRONG AS IT DOES NOW. AND IT'S THANKS TO ALL OF YOU. SO FROM WE HAVE THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT FOR US. IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE TALK A LOT ABOUT. THERE ARE CERTAIN THINGS, CERTAIN LANES THAT THAT WE HAVE.

AND ONE OF THEM IS REALLY OUR JUSTICE SYSTEM. ACCESSIBILITY HAS BECOME SOMETHING VERY, VERY IMPORTANT FOR COMMISSIONERS. COURT. AND YOU CANNOT HAVE ACCESSIBILITY IF YOU DON'T HAVE THE RIGHT PROCESSES, IF YOU DON'T HAVE THE RIGHT WAY OF HANDLING A SITUATION OR HAVING TO WAIT BECAUSE YOU KNOW, WE'RE NOT PREPARED. AND SO I ALWAYS LOVE COMMISSIONER LEON'S THOUGHTS BECAUSE HE HAS BEEN SO BIG A PART OF THIS PROCESS. THANK YOU JUDGE. AND LIKE BETSY SAYS, I THINK THERE'S SO MANY THINGS THAT WOULD HAVE MADE THE NEWS THAT WERE AVERTED BECAUSE OF THE GOOD WORK. AND LIKE I ALWAYS SAY, WE DON'T KNOW WHAT WE PREVENT. WE REALLY KNOW WHAT WE WHAT WE CAN'T PREVENT. SO THANK YOU FOR THE VAST IMPROVEMENT AND THE PROGRESS THAT OTHER COUNTIES ARE TAKING NOTICE OF IN TEXAS. SO THANK YOU. THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER.

THANK YOU. AND THANK YOU, ALL OF YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU. THANK YOU RICK. THANK YOU.

CHIEF. DEPUTY. ITEM NUMBER EIGHT. SEE, DISCUSS AND TAKE APPROPRIATE ACTION REGARDING THE COUNTY SPONSORSHIP FOR THE CHAMBERS EL PASO DAYS EVENT IN 2025. WELCOME, MELISSA. GOOD

[C. Discuss and take appropriate action regarding the County sponsorship for the Chamber's El Paso Days event in 2025. Melissa Carrillo, Executive Director, County Operations, 915-546-2162]

MORNING. JUDGE. COMMISSIONERS MELISSA CARRILLO WITH COUNTY ADMINISTRATION. SO TODAY I JUST HAVE A VERY SHORT PRESENTATION TO DISCUSS THE POTENTIAL SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES THAT THE COUNTY CAN ENGAGE IN WITH EL PASO CHAMBER. I DO ALSO WANT TO MAKE MENTION THAT WE HAVE TWO MEMBERS FROM THE CHAMBER STAFF LOCATED IN OUR AUDIENCE TODAY, AND I BELIEVE THEY DO WANT TO ADDRESS THE COMMISSIONERS COURT. SO IF WE CAN GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE. SO EVERY TWO YEARS AS WE PREPARE FOR THE TEXAS LEGISLATIVE SESSION, THE CHAMBER OF EL PASO WORKS TO COORDINATE WHAT WE CALL EL PASO DAYS. AND THIS NEXT YEAR, IT WILL BE TAKING PLACE ON FEBRUARY 18TH AND 19TH IN AUSTIN, TEXAS. AND THE GOAL OF WHAT THE CHAMBER DOES IS BRINGS TOGETHER VARIOUS

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ORGANIZATIONS ACROSS MANY INDUSTRIES HERE IN EL PASO SO THAT AS WE GO TO AUSTIN, TEXAS, TO SPEAK ON VARIOUS LEGISLATIVE ITEMS THAT EACH OF US IS ADVOCATING FOR. THE GOAL IS TO BRING THE SYNERGY, BRING THESE INDUSTRIES TOGETHER AND GO AS ONE, REPRESENT EL PASO AS ONE IN AUSTIN, TEXAS WITH THAT COORDINATION. NEXT SLIDE, PLEAS. THE CHAMBER HOSTS A VARIETY OF SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES THAT DIFFERENT ORGANIZATIONS CAN PARTICIPATE IN SO THAT THEY CAN HELP WITH THE COST OF THE CHAMBER PUTTING THIS EVENT TOGETHER, WHAT I'VE GATHERED FROM THE STAFF IS IN GENERAL, IT COSTS APPROXIMATELY $100,000 FOR THEM TO HOST AND COORDINATE THIS EVENT AS THEY TAKE MANY DIFFERENT ORGANIZATIONS TO AUSTIN AND WHAT YOU SEE ON SCREEN TODAY, IF THE COUNTY IS INTERESTED, IS WE HAVE TWO SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES THAT ARE STILL AVAILABLE. THE ONE ON THE LEFT IS WHAT'S CALLED THE MARQUEE SPONSOR, AND IT IS POSTED AT 30,000. BUT I UNDERSTAND THAT THIS ONE WE COULD GET FOR ACTUALLY 25,000, WHILE THE ONE ON THE RIGHT IS A PLATINUM SPONSOR FOR 15,000. AND YOU'LL SEE JUST A FEW OF WHAT THAT SPONSORSHIP ENTAILS WITHIN EACH OF THE BULLETS. BUT WHAT'S SIGNIFICANT ON THE MARQUEE SIDE IS THAT IT INCLUDES TEN TICKETS, MEANING TEN PEOPLE CAN ATTEND THESE LEGISLATIVE ITEMS. THE CHAMBER EVENTS AND MEMBERS MEETINGS WITH MEMBERS OF OUR STATE DELEGATION. BUT ALSO IT INCLUDES WHAT'S CALLED THE WRAP UP CELEBRATION. SO AT THE END OF THE PERIOD ON FEBRUARY 19TH, THEY WOULD HAVE A GRAND RECEPTION AT THE END OF THE EVENING, A WRAP UP CELEBRATION.

AND THAT'S WHAT THIS SPONSORSHIP WOULD INCLUDE. AS PART OF THAT, IT WOULD ALLOW KEYNOTE SPONSORS, SPEAKERS BRANDED MERCHANDISE, THINGS OF THAT NATURE. THE IDEA ON THE LEFT HAND SIDE IS THE DIFFERENCE IS IT WOULD ONLY INCLUDE SIX TICKETS TO THE SAME EVENTS, BUT IT WOULD SPONSOR THE WELCOME ORIENTATION BREAKFAST INSTEAD OF THE WRAP UP CELEBRATION. SO A VERY DIFFERENT AUDIENCE. BUT THIS ONE IS SIGNIFICANTLY CHEAPER AT 15,000. AGAIN, PROMOTIONAL BRANDED MERCHANDISE, LOGOS, LOGOS, THINGS OF THAT NATURE. AND SO WHAT WE'VE ALWAYS TALKED ABOUT IS WHO CAN ATTEND, HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE ABLE TO ATTEND THESE THINGS, AND ARE WE ENSURING THE RIGHT PEOPLE ARE ATTENDING ON BEHALF OF EL PASO COUNTY? SO ON THE NEXT SLIDE, I WANTED TO REVIEW WHAT THE PER PERSON COST LOOKS LIKE. NEXT SLIDE PLEASE. YOU'LL SEE THAT THE PER PERSON COST IS 1250 FOR ANY INDIVIDUAL WHO WANTS TO ATTEND THE CHAMBER EVENTS AND THE LEGISLATIVE MEETINGS. AND SO IF YOU REMEMBER THE SLIDE BEFORE THAT, PLATINUM SPONSORSHIP INCLUDES SIX TICKETS. IF THE COURT WAS INTERESTED IN MAINTAINING A TEN PERSON REPRESENTATION, THEY COULD ADD ON, IF YOU WILL, THESE 1250 PER PERSON TICKETS, AND IT WOULD GET US TO THAT $20,000 NUMBER. THERE'S ALSO AN OPTION FOR PEOPLE WHO MAY TAKE STAFF WHO JUST WANT TO ATTEND THE CHAMBER EVENTS, BUT NOT NECESSARILY TO ADVOCATE OR MEET WITH LEGISLATORS AT THE STATE.

AND THAT'S $500. SO IN SUMMARY, YOU'LL SEE THE MARQUEE SPONSOR OPTION IS 30,000. BUT LIKE I SAID, WE COULD GET THIS FOR 25,000. INCLUDES 10-K, FORGIVE ME, TEN TICKETS AND THE WRAP UP CELEBRATION VERSUS THE PLATINUM SPONSOR OPTION, WHICH IS 20,000 FOR TEN TICKETS. AND THAT INCLUDES THE WELCOME ORIENTATION BREAKFAST. SO I WANTED TO SHARE THIS WITH YOU ALL. OF COURSE, IF YOU ALL HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR GUIDANCE AS WE THINK THROUGH HOW WE WANT TO SUPPORT THE CHAMBER IN EL PASO DAYS, NEXT SLIDE PLEASE, PLEASE, I BELIEVE IS QUESTIONS, DISCUSSIONS OR THOUGHTS. THANK YOU. WE HAVE MANY. YOU WANT TO CAN YOU GO BACK TO THE LAST SLIDE PLEASE.

WE HAVE IT UP. THANK YOU. I'M GOING TO TURN IT OVER TO MANNY AND VIENNA FROM THE CHAMBER.

WELCOME, MANNY. THANK YOU. GOOD MORNING, COUNTY JUDGE AND COMMISSIONERS. I'M HERE TODAY WITH MY COLLEAGUE DIANA, WHO IS OUR PROGRAMS MANAGER AND HAS BEEN SPEARHEADING THE LOGISTICAL EFFORTS IN PLANNING OUT EL PASO DAYS. I'M HONORED TO SPEAK ON BEHALF OF THE EL PASO CHAMBER, AND I WANT TO TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO EXPRESS OUR DEEPEST GRATITUDE FOR YOUR UNWAVERING SUPPORT IN THE PAST OF THE CHAMBER AND THE ADVOCACY EFFORTS THAT WE LEAD TO ADVANCE THE PRIORITIES OF OUR REGION. EL PASO DAYS IN AUSTIN IS ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT EVENTS ON OUR CALENDAR EVERY YEAR, SERVING AS A VITAL PLATFORM TO CHAMPION THE LEGISLATIVE AND POLICY NEEDS OF OUR COMMUNITY AT THE STATE LEVE. THROUGH YOUR SPONSORSHIP AND PARTNERSHIP, WE ARE ABLE TO ENSURE THAT EL PASO COUNTY'S VOICE RESONATES CLEARLY IN AUSTIN AT OUR STATE'S CAPITOL, HIGHLIGHTING THE UNIQUE OPPORTUNITIES AND CHALLENGES THAT OUR REGION FACES. THIS EVENT FOSTERS COLLABORATION BETWEEN THE PUBLIC AND PRIVATE SECTORS, UNITING STAKEHOLDERS AROUND A COMMON AGENDA THAT DRIVES GROWTH AND OPPORTUNITY FOR OUR COMMUNITY. AND YOUR COMMITMENT MAKES IT POSSIBLE FOR US TO AMPLIFY THESE EFFORTS AND SECURE THE RESOURCES AND POLICY CHANGES THE GREATER EL PASO REGION NEEDS TO THRIVE. WE'RE PROUD TO COLLABORATE WITH YOU

[01:15:01]

ALL. WE'VE BEEN PROUD TO DO SO IN THE PAST, AND HOPEFULLY WE'LL WILL CONTINUE TO DO THAT. MOVING INTO THE FUTURE. AND WE DEEPLY VALUE THE INVESTMENT YOU MAKE IN THESE ADVOCACY INITIATIVES. YOUR LEADERSHIP SETS A STRONG EXAMPLE OF WHAT EFFECTIVE GOVERNANCE AND PARTNERSHIP CAN ACHIEVE. THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONTINUED DEDICATION TO ADVANCING THE PROSPERITY OF OUR REGION. AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU ALL IN THE MONTHS AHEAD FOR EL PASO DAYS. THANK YOU. WELCOME.

GOOD MORNING EVERYONE. AND AS MANNY MENTIONED, I AM VIANEY VILLEGAS, PROGRAMS MANAGER AT THE CHAMBER. AND I DO LEAD THIS PROJECT AS FAR AS THE LOGISTICS, THAT BUDGETING, ALL OF THAT, OBVIOUSLY, MANNY IS THE LEAD IN THE ADVOCACY PART, BUT I'M GOING TO ECHO A LOT OF WHAT MANNY JUST ADDRESSED. WE'RE GRATEFUL TO HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK ON BEHALF OF THE EL PASO CHAMBER THIS MORNING. FIRST AND FOREMOST, THANK YOU FOR YOUR STEADFAST SUPPORT OF THE CHAMBER AND THE ADVOCACY WORK THAT WE DO ON BEHALF OF EL PASO COUNTY AND ITS RESIDENTS. EL PASO DAYS IN AUSTIN IS A CORNERSTONE OF OUR EFFORTS TO ADVANCE THE LEGISLATIVE PRIORITIES OF OUR REGION. THIS EVENT ALLOWS US TO BRING TOGETHER LEADERS FROM ACROSS SECTORS TO ELEVATE EL PASO'S NEEDS, AND TO ENSURE THAT THEY ARE FRONT AND CENTER AT THE STATE LEVEL. DISCUSSIONS FROM INFRASTRUCTURE TO ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT TO PUBLIC SAFETY, THE ISSUES WE PRESENT ARE CRITICAL TO THE LONG TERM SUCCESS OF OUR COMMUNITY. AS ALWAYS, YOUR SPONSORSHIP IS MORE THAN A FINANCIAL COMMITMENT. IT'S A TESTAMENT TO THE BELIEF AND THE POWER OF COLLABORATION AND THE IMPORTANCE OF ENSURING THAT EL PASO COUNTY REMAINS COMPETITIVE AND A THRIVING PART OF TEXAS. IT ALLOWS US TO ADVOCATE EFFECTIVELY AND WORK TOWARDS MEANINGFUL POLICY THAT CHANGES, IMPACT THE IMPACT RESIDENTS, BUSINESSES AND INSTITUTIONS IN OUR REGION. WE ARE GRATEFUL FOR YOUR PARTNERSHIP AND FOR THE EXAMPLE YOU SET IN PRIORITIZING THE NEEDS OF OUR COMMUNITY. THANK YOU FOR INVESTING IN THIS IMPORTANT INITIATIVE AT ANY LEVEL THAT YOU DO AND FOR YOUR DEDICATION TO MAKE EL PASO COUNTY A PLACE OF OPPORTUNITY, INNOVATION AND PROSPERITY AND IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MELISSA. THANK YOU JUDGE. THANK YOU COMMISSIONERS. AND THANK YOU MANNY AND VIANEY. SO AS THEY MENTIONED, THIS IS A DISCUSSION WE WANTED TO BRING TO THE COURT TO HEAR YOUR THOUGHTS, TO SEE IF AT THIS POINT THERE WERE ANY OF THESE SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES THAT YOU WERE INTERESTED IN WITH YOUR APPROVAL, WE WILL PROCEED IN MEETING WITH THE CHAMBER SO THAT WE CAN SECURE THAT SPONSORSHIP, BE INVOICED, AND THEN WE CAN PROCEED AS SUCH. COMMISSIONER SYDNEY. I HAVE QUESTIONS, COMMISSIONER. COMMISSIONER, I DO TOO, BUT GO AHEAD. THANKS. SO, SO WITH THE I JUST HAVE A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS. WHEN IT WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE TEN TICKETS. SO IF I WANT IF I WANT TO HAVE MY STAFF THERE ONE OF MY STAFF WOULD HAVE TO TAKE ONE OF THOSE TEN TICKETS.

RIGHT. BECAUSE THEY'RE I JUST AM THINKING ABOUT, YOU KNOW, PAST EL PASO DAYS WHERE, YOU KNOW, MY STAFF PAID. I THINK OR WAS ASKED TO PAY FULL PRICE, BUT THEY WERE ONLY ALLOWED INTO ONE MEETING WITH ME OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT. AND I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT IF I'M AT A MEETING, IT'S IMPORTANT THAT MY STAFF IS THERE AND I DON'T KNOW IF I NECESSARILY NEED TO BE PAYING EXTRA FOR THEM TO BE THERE. I UNDERSTAND WHEN IT COMES TO LIKE MAYBE SOME OF THE EVENTS OR FOOD AND THINGS LIKE THAT, BUT I KNOW THAT THOSE ARE ALSO SPONSORED. SO IT SEEMS TO ME THAT THAT NEEDS THAT NEEDS TO BE CLARIFIED. SO, COMMISSIONER, I THINK WHAT THE QUESTION IS THAT WE'VE HAD, WE'VE HEARD A FEW TIMES IS IF THE COMMISSIONER IS THERE AND IS INVITED INTO THE MEETING, BUT THE STAFF IS THERE, MAYBE NOT AT THE TABLE, BUT THERE TO SUPPORT THE COMMISSIONER, TO TAKE NOTES, TO SAY, OKAY, WE GOT TO FOLLOW UP AND GET THIS INFORMATION BACK TO THIS AGENCY OR TO THIS MEMBER OF THE DELEGATION. ARE WE PAYING FULL PRICE FOR THAT? AND OR CAN WE PAY THE 500 AND THEY STILL BE ALLOWED TO ATTEND? YES. ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I WAS ALSO JUST CLARIFYING WITH THE CHAMBER IS IN THE LAST ONE THAT WE ATTENDED IN MY FOR MY UNDERSTANDING, THE PERSON WHO GETS TO ATTEND WITH THIS TICKET SITS AT THE TABLE. ACTUALLY ENGAGES IN IN CONVERSATION WITH THAT REPRESENTATIVE. THERE WAS ALSO A SECTION WE CALLED IT THE GALLERY, WHERE PEOPLE WOULD TAKE GUESTS AND THEY WOULD SIT IN THE BACK END, NOT NECESSARILY TO ENGAGE OR HAVE A CONVERSATION, BUT WERE ABLE TO ATTEND WITH THAT PAID TICKET AND SIT IN THE GALLERY. AND I WAS CONFIRMING WITH MANNY AND VIVIANA, IF IN THIS PARTICULAR SITUATION, WOULD THAT STILL BE THE CASE IF YOU SAT AT THE TABLE WITH YOUR PAID TICKET, BUT YOUR STAFFER SAT IN THE GALLERY, WOULD THAT BE ALLOWED? AND MANNY AND VILLAINY ARE SAYING THAT THAT WOULD BE ALLOWED. YEAH. BECAUSE OKAY, THAT'S I MEAN, THAT'S GOOD TO KNOW BECAUSE I DON'T THINK THAT MY STAFF SHOULD HAVE TO PAY OR I SHOULD HAVE TO PAY $500 FOR MY STAFF TO SIT IN THERE TO STAFF ME IF THEY'RE NOT SO. SO WHAT YOU'RE SAYING IS, IF THEY DON'T ATTEND ANY OF THE EVENTS, THE RECEPTION EVENTS, BUT THEY JUST GO TO YOUR MEETINGS WITH THE OTHER MEMBERS, LIKE WITH MEMBERS OF THE DELEGATION OR AGENCIES.

[01:20:04]

RIGHT? I MEAN, I PLAN I MEAN, I TYPICALLY WILL TAKE MY STAFF TO ANY MEETING THAT I HAVE, RIGHT? SO THAT SO THAT, YOU KNOW, NOTES CAN BE TAKEN, THAT THEY CAN THEY CAN STAB ME FOR THE MEETING.

THEY CAN REMIND ME IF I NEED TO ASK A QUESTION. YOU KNOW, THAT'S WHAT THAT'S WHAT I HAVE THEM FOR. BUT, YOU KNOW, THEY'RE NOT THE ONES THAT ARE DIRECTLY ENGAGING. BUT AT THE SAME TIME, I NEED THEM AT THOSE MEETINGS. I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE THEM AT THOSE MEETINGS, BUT I DON'T THINK I SHOULD HAVE TO PAY $1,250 OR THAT THAT SHOULD BE ONE OF THE TEN TICKETS THAT WE THAT WE HAVE TO USE UP FOR, YOU KNOW, FOR OUR SPONSORSHIP. YES, SIR. AND THAT'S SOMETHING MELISSA AND I, WE STARTED TALKING ABOUT LAST WEEK TOO, IS WHO SHOULD BE ON THOSE TICKETS. SO ON THE TEN TICKETS FOR EXAMPLE, LIKE MAKING SURE WE HAVE OUR SUBJECT MATTER EXPERTS ALONG WITH MEMBERS OF THE COURT, USING THOSE TEN TICKETS AND THAT THE SUPPORT STAFF OR OTHERS WHO ARE NOT GOING TO BE ACTUALLY SITTING AT THE LEAD ENGAGEMENT, BE AT THE $500 REGISTRATION SEPARATE FROM OUR TEN TICKETS. AND THEN WHEN IT COMES TO I MEAN, IF WE'RE GOING TO DO YOU KNOW, A 30 DAY SPONSORSHIP, A MARQUEE SPONSORSHIP OR EVEN A PLATINUM ONE, THAT'S 20 K, I WOULD EXPECT THAT WE WOULD HAVE ACCESS TO ANY MEETING THAT WE WANT. AND I IN THE PAST HAVE BEEN EXCLUDED FROM IMPORTANT MEETINGS THAT I, THAT I WANTED TO BE IN. AND I DON'T THINK THAT, YOU KNOW, IT'S A GOOD IDEA FOR US TO BE PROVIDING SUCH A HIGH AMOUNT OF SPONSORSHIP IF WE'RE NOT GETTING INTO THE MEETINGS THAT WE WOULD LIKE TO BE IN. SO I, YOU KNOW, ESPECIALLY WHEN IT COMES TO LIKE THE TRANSPORTATION MEETING, I MEAN, I WAS ICED OUT LAST TIME AND I DON'T KNOW IF I'M GOING TO, YOU KNOW, MAYBE I HAVE A DIFFERENT VIEW ABOUT THINGS. BUT IF THE COUNTY I MEAN, THIS IS WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THIS IS, IS THIS THE CHAMBER'S AGENDA OR IS THIS THE COMMUNITY'S AGENDA? AND, AND IF IT'S THE COMMUNITY'S AGENDA, BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT THE PRESENTATION SAID, THAT WAS THAT YOU ALL GAVE THAT WE WANT TO BRING THE COMMUNITY'S ISSUES. THEN I, YOU KNOW, IF WE'RE GOING TO BE SPONSORING AT SUCH A HIGH LEVEL, WE SHOULD HAVE ACCESS TO AND THESE ARE THINGS THAT I'VE HEARD OTHER INDIVIDUALS BRING UP AS WELL. WHEN, WHEN, WHEN PROVIDING SPONSORSHIPS. AND SO, YOU KNOW, I THINK THAT WE NEED TO HAVE THAT GUARANTEE IF, IF I COULD RESPOND, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT'S BEING DONE DIFFERENT THIS TIME VERSUS TWO YEARS AGO IS ANDREA WAS STILL HERE WHEN THIS DISCUSSION CAME TO BE BECAUSE THERE WAS THERE WAS A DEBRIEFING SESSION OF WHAT WENT WELL, WHAT DID NOT GO WELL, WHAT COULD WE IMPROVE ON NEXT TIME? AND SO SOME OF THESE COMMENTS HAD BEEN MADE TO ANDREA WHEN SHE WAS STILL HERE. SO THIS YEAR, WHAT I'VE SEEN THE STAFF DO VERY DIFFERENTLY AT THE CHAMBER IS THEY'VE ENGAGED WITH THOSE WHO TYPICALLY SPONSOR AND ATTEND AND THROUGHOUT THESE PAST FEW MONTHS, THROUGHOUT THE YEAR, QUITE FRANKLY, THE STAFF HAS ALREADY BEEN MEETING TO SAY, THESE ARE OUR PRIORITIES, THESE ARE OUR INITIATIVES. THESE ARE THE PEOPLE WE THINK WE NEED TO MEET WITH. THEY'RE DRIVING IT VERSUS THE OTHER WAY AROUND. AND CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG WHERE THE CHAMBER FROM THE LAST TIME WE WENT THE CHAMBER SAID, HERE'S WHERE YOU'RE GOING AND HERE'S WHO YOU TALK TO, AND HERE'S WHAT YOU SAY. WE'VE LEARNED THAT THAT WAS NOT AS IMPACTFUL AS WE WOULD HAVE HOPED IT TO BE, BECAUSE WE HAVE OTHER THINGS WE WANT TO TALK ABOUT, AND WE DON'T THINK THAT WE HAVE THOSE OPPORTUNITIES TO EXPRESS THOSE VIEWPOINTS. SO THIS TIME, THERE'S BEEN A COMPLETE SHIFT WHERE THE STAFF IS DRIVING. I WANT TO TALK ABOUT BROADBAND. WELL, THEN THAT MEANS I NEED TO TALK WITH SO AND SO ABOUT THAT BECAUSE THEY'RE GOING TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN THAT PARTICULAR SUBJECT. SO I HAVE SEEN THAT TAKE PLACE. I KNOW LAURA IS IN THE AUDIENCE. I KNOW ALYSSA IS ONLINE, AND THOSE TWO HAVE BEEN REPRESENTING THE COUNTY AT THESE REGULAR MEETINGS OVER THE PAST FEW MONTHS TO HELP DRIVE NOT ONLY WHAT'S HAPPENING, BUT WHO THEY ACTUALLY MEET WITH. SO HOPEFULLY SOME OF THESE CHALLENGES ARE BEING ADDRESSED.

ONE THING I STILL THINK WOULD BE BENEFICIAL, AND I DON'T KNOW IF THE CHAMBER IS DOING THIS ON THEIR SIDE, BUT OR IF WE'VE DONE THIS IN THESE MEETINGS ABOUT SEVERAL SESSIONS AGO WE HAD A PRE MEETING WITH THE CHAMBER BOARD OR A SECTION OF THE CHAMBER BOARD WHO IS GOING TO BE ATTENDING THE EL PASO DAYS. AND WE WENT OVER WHY OUR AGENDA WAS IMPORTANT TO BUSINESS AND I THINK I THOUGHT WE HAD BETTER COLLABORATION THAT TIME THAN OTHER TIMES THAT WE'VE GONE TO EL PASO DAYS. SO WE MADE SURE THAT THE CHAMBER REPRESENTATIVES WHO WERE ATTENDING THE BUSINESS, REPRESENTATIVES WHO WERE ATTENDING, AND VARIOUS BOARD MEMBERS WERE AWARE WHY, LIKE I REMEMBER ONE OF THEM WAS ABOUT LAND CONTROL, LAND USE. AND NORMALLY IT'S SOMETHING THAT THE CHAMBER HAD NOT GOTTEN REALLY BEHIND FOR US. BUT WE TALKED ABOUT HOW WE ARE HAVING TO SPEND TAX DOLLARS, RESPONDING TO STORMWATER EVENTS AND THAT THAT WOULD BE BETTER SERVED DOING SOMETHING PREVENTATIVE. AND IF WE COULD HAVE SOME LAND USE CONTROL. AND ACTUALLY THAT YEAR WE DID GET SOME OF OUR LAND USE LEGISLATION MOVED A LITTLE BIT. AND SO JUST I THINK ANY SUPPORT

[01:25:05]

THAT WE WHATEVER WE CAN DO TO PREPARE SO THAT THE CHAMBER REPRESENTATIVES THAT ARE THERE UNDERSTAND WHY OUR AGENDA IS IMPORTANT TO YOU ALL AS WELL, WOULD BE BENEFICIAL TO THE COUNTY AND TO THE CHAMBER. THANK YOU. JUDGE. THANK YOU MELISSA. THANK YOU MANNY. THANK YOU VIENNA. SO JUST REALLY THE COMMENTS THAT I WERE GOING TO MAKE WERE VERY SIMILAR TO THE COMMENTS THAT COMMISSIONER STOUT MADE. AND THE CLARIFICATION THAT BETSY JUST GAVE. I'M JUST HOPING THAT THIS YEAR WE AS THE COUNTY HAVE MUCH MORE OF A SAY REGARDING THE MEETINGS, WHO WE'RE MEETING WITH, WHO'S SCHEDULED TO GO TO WHAT MEETING, AND THESE ARE DISCUSSIONS THAT I'VE HAD WITH MANNY AND NOW WITH RICARDO AND PREVIOUSLY WITH ANDREA. THAT LAST YEAR DID NOT FEEL VERY OR TWO YEARS AGO, I GUESS DID NOT FEEL VERY STRATEGIC WHEN IT CAME TO THE MEETINGS THAT THOSE OF US FROM THE COUNTY WERE SCHEDULED TO GO TO. IT WAS VERY MUCH, YOU KNOW, WE GET THERE. HERE'S YOUR FOLDER, HERE'S YOUR MEETING. THIS IS WHO YOU'RE GOING TO GO SPEAK WITH. AND WE DIDN'T REALLY SEEM TO HAVE ANY INPUT AT ALL INTO THOSE DISCUSSIONS. SO I'M GLAD THAT THOSE THOSE DISCUSSIONS ARE HAPPENING. AND I FEEL CONFIDENT IN LAURA AND ELISA THAT THEY'RE GOING TO MAKE SURE THAT ANY COUNTY FOLKS THAT DO ATTEND ARE GOING TO BE MEETING WITH LEGISLATORS AND THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE ON ON INITIATIVES THAT ARE IMPORTANT TO THE COUNTY. SO I JUST HOPE THAT THAT WE CONTINUE TO MAKE SURE THAT THAT'S HOW THE PROCESS MOVES FORWARD. REGARDING THE AMOUNT, I DO THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO TRY TO STAY AT THE TEN TICKETS. THE PAID TICKETS FOR HAVING THE SEAT AT THE TABLE, BECAUSE I IMAGINE BETWEEN THE COMMISSIONERS AND DEPARTMENT HEADS AND OTHER STAFF, WE'RE GOING TO NEED ALL OF THOSE SPACES. THE SPONSORSHIP LEVEL, I YOU KNOW, THIS THIS YEAR WE ALL AGREED WAS GOING TO BE A LEAN YEAR. AND WE ASKED A LOT OF OUR DEPARTMENT HEADS TO NOT TRY TO INCREASE BUDGETS. SO BECAUSE OF THAT, I FEEL LIKE WE SHOULD ALSO TRY TO LIMIT OURSELVES. I WOULD ACTUALLY PREFER THE PLATINUM AND SPONSOR THE SMALLER BREAKFAST EVENT AS OPPOSED TO THE LARGER CLOSE OUT EVENT. I THINK THAT THAT WENT REALLY WELL LAST YEAR WHEN WE DID THAT, WHEN WE SPONSORED THE BREAKFAST, SO THAT THAT WOULD BE MY PREFERENCE. BUT BUT STILL ADDING THE ADDITIONAL COST FOR THE TEN TICKETS.

COMMISSIONER LEON. YES, THANK YOU. AND MY COMMENTS ARE ALSO DOVETAILING WITH WITH OUR PREVIOUS COMMISSIONERS HAVE SAID NOW TAKING THINKING ABOUT THAT, WE DO HAVE LOBBYISTS THAT GET PAID FOR EXACTLY WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT. WE HAVE ELISA TAMAYO ALSO ASSIGNED AND IS ALWAYS AT THOSE SESSIONS, IS SHE'S TREMENDOUSLY HELPFUL. I KNOW THAT WHEN I WENT TO THE LAST EL PASO DAYS, THAT ONE OF THE MEETINGS THAT WAS FACILITATED, FACILITATED WAS A MEETING WITH THE DPS DIRECTOR. IN THE BACK OF MY MIND, I COULD HAVE DONE THAT MYSELF THROUGH EITHER THE LOBBYIST OR ELISA. AND WHAT IS IT? WHAT VALUE DO WE GET FROM SPONSORING AS OPPOSED TO JUST ATTENDING? AND ONE OF THE QUESTIONS THAT HAD COME UP AS YOU KNOW, MY STAFF HAS BEEN EMPLOYED BY THE CHAMBER IN THE PAST, SO I'M DERIVING ALL THIS INFORMATION FROM THEIR EXPERIENCE AND WHAT I HAVE SEEN HERE. I KNOW THAT SOME SOME YEARS BACK WE WERE TALKING ABOUT SOUTH BY SOUTHWEST, AND I WAS VERY I WAS NOT FOR THAT BECAUSE I DIDN'T THINK THAT THOSE DOLLARS REALLY PRODUCED BUSINESSES COMING TO EL PASO. TOURISM COMING TO EL PASO. AND I SORT OF FEEL THE SAME WAY ON THIS IS THE CHAMBER GOING TO BE WHAT SUPPORT ARE THEY GOING TO GIVE US IN THE FUTURE AS WE GO THROUGH THE OUR LEGISLATIVE PRIORITIES THROUGHOUT THE SESSION? ARE THEY GOING TO BE RIGHT THERE WITH US AS ASSISTING US, SOMETHING THAT OUR LOBBYIST OR ELISA CANNOT DO? AND THESE QUESTIONS, I'M NOT SAYING THAT I'M ALL FOR BEING THERE AND MEETING WITH SOME OF THESE FOLKS THAT CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE FOR EL PASO. I'M JUST SAYING THAT IN LOOKING AT OUR CURRENT FINANCIAL SITUATION AND WHAT OUR LOBBYIST AND LISA CAN DO FOR US, SOMETIMES I JUST DON'T SEE THE VALUE OF PAYING THIS THIS EXTRA MONEY FOR THE CHAMBER TO DO WHAT OUR LOBBYIST AND LISA CAN DO AND HAVE BEEN DOING. DID YOU WANT TO ADDRESS? YES. AS FAR AS THE VALUE GOES, I DO JUST WANT TO MAKE THE BIGGEST PUSH FOR THIS IS ABOUT THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY REGION FOR US TO GO TOGETHER AS ONE FORCE AND SAY, THIS IS WHAT WE'RE ADVOCATING FOR, THIS IS WHAT WE NEED. IN PARTICULAR FOR WHAT THE CHAMBER CAN DO WITH THE FOR THE COUNTY. THERE HAVE BEEN ALREADY A LOT OF TRANSPORTATION MEETINGS THAT WE HAVE SENT OUR MEMBERS, OUR, FOR EXAMPLE, WE

[01:30:03]

JUST GAINED HDR. THEY'RE WILLING TO TESTIFY IN FRONT OF WHATEVER COMMITTEES YOU ALL WOULD WANT THEM TO. OBVIOUSLY, IT'S ALL DEPENDING ON THEIR SCHEDULE, BUT WE HAVE A LOT OF MEMBERS WHO ARE WILLING TO GO AND SPEAK TO ANY PROJECTS. I'M SPEAKING RIGHT NOW DIRECTLY ABOUT TRANSPORTATION, BECAUSE THAT WAS ONE OF THE SUBJECTS THAT WAS BROUGHT UP. BUT WE HAVE, YOU KNOW, AS YOU KNOW, OUR MEMBERSHIP IS VERY VAST AND WE HAVE SUBJECT MATTER EXPERTS FOR MANY BUSINESSES IN EL PASO AND SO ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE ASK OF THEM IS THAT THEY COME AND SUPPORT EITHER THE COUNTY, THE CITY, WHENEVER THEY HAVE ANY BILLS OR LAWS THAT THEY'RE TRYING TO PUSH OR THAT THEY'RE TRYING TO MAKE AN EFFECT ON. WE ARE ASKING OUR MEMBERS TO GO OUT THERE AND SPEAK IN SUPPORT OF THOSE THINGS, SO THAT THAT'S REALLY THE BIGGEST PUSH, AND THOSE ARE GOING TO BE THE PEOPLE THAT PARTICIPATE IN EL PASO DAYS AS WELL. SO YOU GET TO HAVE THOSE CONVERSATIONS ON THE SIDE ALREADY BEING OUT THERE. THANK YOU. YOU'RE WELCOME. HI ONCE AGAIN, ALSO, JUST TO ADD TO WHAT JANET HAD MENTIONED OVER THE PAST COUPLE OF MONTHS SINCE I JOINED THE CHAMBER IN JUNE OF 2024, THE WHEEL WAS ALREADY TURNING IN TERMS OF WHAT WE WANTED FOR OUR LEGISLATIVE AGENDA TO LOOK LIKE SOMETHING THAT REALLY DIDN'T HAPPEN THE LAST TIME. AND SO WE'VE BEEN WORKING CLOSELY WITH OUR STAKEHOLDERS, NOT ONLY WITH SMALL BUSINESSES, BUT MEDIUM SIZED BUSINESSES AND LARGE BUSINESSES, AS WELL, AND THEN ALSO OUR COMMUNITY PARTNERS, EL PASO COUNTY IS CONSIDERED A COMMUNITY PARTNER AND SO IS THE CITY OF EL PASO. AND SEVERAL OF OUR NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS THAT THAT ALSO CONTRIBUTE TO THE A MEMBERSHIP WITH THE EL PASO CHAMBER. AND SO IN TERMS OF THE VALUE OF INVESTING IN EL PASO DAYS, THIS TIME AROUND IS TO ENSURE THAT ALL OF OUR ALL OF OUR ENTITIES ARE PUBLIC, PRIVATE, AND NONPROFIT ENTITIES ARE SINGING FROM THE SAME SHEET OF MUSIC AS AS WE ALL LIKE TO SAY. AND WE'VE BEEN ENGAGING IN THOSE DISCUSSIONS TO ENSURE THAT THAT DOES HAPPEN. WE'VE BEEN MEETING CLOSELY WITH ELISA TAMAYO FROM EL PASO COUNTY, AND ALSO WITH REPRESENTATIVES FROM THE CITY OF EL PASO, TO ENSURE THAT WE'RE WE'RE GOING TOGETHER AS ONE BEHIND THOSE UNITED EFFORTS OR THOSE ITEMS THAT MAY COME UP THAT REQUIRE FOR OUR FORCES TO JOIN TOGETHER TO ENSURE THAT WE ACHIEVE WHATEVER WE'RE WE'RE SET OUT TO ACHIEVE, TO ENSURE THAT THAT THAT WE BRING IN SOME LEGISLATIVE WINS TO, TO OUR REGION. AND SO I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT I GIVE YOU ALL SOME BACKGROUND IN TERMS OF THE WORK THAT HAS TAKEN PLACE OVER THE OVER THE PAST SEVERAL MONTHS AND, AND THE WORK THAT CONTINUES TO TAKE PLACE AS, AS WE MOVE INTO FEBRUARY. SO WE'RE EXCITED ABOUT THAT. THANK YOU.

AND ACTUALLY, LET ME ADD ONE MORE THING. AS FAR AS WHAT YOUR SPONSORSHIP INVESTMENT IN THERE IS THIS NEXT MEETING THAT WE'RE HAVING FOR EL PASO DAYS, THE COMMITTEE MEETING WE ARE PRESENTING THE MEETINGS THAT WE HOPE TO HAVE. SO TO YOUR POINT OF HOW INVOLVED CAN WE BE? THIS IS THE MEETING FOR AND IT'S VIRTUAL. SO I'LL I'LL MAKE SURE THAT EVERYONE HAS THE LINK. THIS IS THE MEETING WHERE I WOULD HOPE THAT YOU ALL EITHER HAVE A REPRESENTATIVE FROM YOUR OFFICE OR YOU YOURSELF LOG IN. SO THAT YOU CAN CHOOSE WHICH MEETINGS YOU PREFER TO BE IN. WE ARE TRYING OUR BEST TO GET EVERYONE WHERE THEY WANT TO BE, ESPECIALLY LIKE YOU MENTIONED, PEOPLE WHO MAKE A BIG INVESTMENT. SO THIS IS THE NEXT MEETING DECEMBER 19TH. IT'S VIRTUAL ONLY. THIS IS WHERE WE'RE GOING TO ASK YOU TO CHOOSE WHICH MEETINGS YOU ALL WANT TO BE IN. IF IT'S NOT LISTED, PLEASE LET US KNOW. SO YOU'LL SEND US THAT LINK FOR THE MEETING. OKAY. THANK YOU. AND YOU CAN ALSO ELISA CAN IF ELISA IS AWARE OF WHICH ONES EACH ONE WANTS TO BE IN, SHE WILL ALSO BE ABLE TO ATTEND. THAT'S THE SAME DAY AS YOUR SPECIAL MEETING, BUT SHE'LL ALSO BE ABLE TO ATTEND TO ADVOCATE. YES, AND WE HAVE ELISA ONLINE. SHE IS. ELISA, ARE YOU THERE? I THINK SHE WANTED TO ADDRESS YOU ALL AS WELL. HI, ALYSSA. ELISA. YES. THANK YOU.

BUENOS DIAS. IS MY CAMERA NOT ON? CAN YOU SEE ME? NO, NOT SEE YOU. I CAN HEAR YOU, BUT WE CAN'T. MY CAMERA IS ON. I PROMISE. I DON'T KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON. BUENOS DIAS. GOOD MORNING, JUDGE AND COMMISSIONERS, ELISA TAMAYO, GOVERNMENTAL AFFAIRS MANAGER. I JUST WANTED TO ECHO. WHAT MELISSA AND MANNY AND VIENNA SAID. AND BETSY THAT WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON FINDING SOME COMMON PRIORITIES. SO I THINK ONE OF THE LEARNING LESSONS FROM LAST TIME WAS THAT WE RECEIVED OUR PACKETS AND OUR AND THE MEETINGS AND TALKING POINTS A WEEK OR A FEW DAYS BEFORE EL PASO DAYS. AND THIS TIME WE HAVE WE'RE MANY THE CITY AND MYSELF HAVE BEEN MEETING TO FIGURE OUT WHERE WE WANT OUR LEADERS TO BE. WHO, WHOEVER ATTENDS FROM THE COUNTY, FOR EXAMPLE, ATTENDING LIKE THE COMPTROLLER'S OFFICE. WE WERE WORKING A LOT WITH THE BROADBAND DEVELOPMENT OFFICE AND MAKING SURE THAT WE'RE PART OF THOSE MEETINGS MORE PROACTIVELY THAN LAST TIME WHEN WE IT WAS BARELY LIKE A FEW DAYS OR A WEEK BEFORE EL PASO DAYS WHEN WE LEARNED WHICH MEETINGS WERE HAPPENING, WHO WAS ATTENDING, WHAT MEETING. SO THIS TIME WE'RE BEING MORE

[01:35:04]

PROACTIVE. I JUST WANTED TO CONFIRM THAT. THANK YOU LISA, AND WE WANT TO THANK YOU. AND OBVIOUSLY WE TRUST YOUR DIRECTION TREMENDOUSLY. SO THANK YOU FOR ANY COMMENTS. AND SO I HAVE A QUESTION, MANNY. MAYBE YOU CAN ANSWER. SO YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT YOU GUYS STARTED WITH YOUR, YOU KNOW, WORKING ON YOUR ON THE LEGISLATIVE AGENDA AND TRYING TO BE MORE STRATEGIC FROM THE BEGINNING. DO DO DO WE HAVE A LIST OF LIKE ALL THE THINGS THAT ARE GOING TO BE ADVOCATED FOR? BECAUSE I ALSO WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THAT WE ARE ON THE SAME PAGE. AND A LOT OF TIMES WE'RE NOT ALWAYS ON THE SAME PAGE. AND I DON'T WANT TO BE PAYING USING COUNTY MONEY TO BE FUNDING SOMEBODY WHO'S GOING TO BE ADVOCATING AGAINST OUR PRIORITIES OR THINGS THAT WE MAY DISAGREE ON. SO I WANT TO I'M REALLY CURIOUS AS TO, YOU KNOW, WHAT Y'ALL'S PRIORITIES ARE GOING TO BE AND THAT'S GOING TO PLAY. I THINK, INTO MY DECISION ON WHETHER I THINK WE SHOULD DO THIS OR NOT. I MEAN, BECAUSE, AGAIN, I DON'T THINK WE SHOULD BE PAYING $30,000 TO BE SHOOTING OURSELVES IN THE FOOT. AND, YOU KNOW, AND I THINK MAYBE GENERALLY OVER OVERALL, A LOT OF THE THINGS THAT WE THAT WE MIGHT BE ADVOCATING FOR ARE COMMON AND ON THE SAME PAGE, BUT THERE ARE SOME BIG THINGS THAT AREN'T SO GREAT. AND, AND THAT'S I THINK PART OF THE REASON WHY I'VE BEEN ICED OUT OF MEETINGS IN THE PAST THAT I, THAT I WANTED TO BE IN. WELL, COMMISSIONER STOUT, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I COULD LET YOU KNOW THIS THIS MORNING IS THAT IN TERMS OF THE MEETINGS THAT YOU WANT TO PARTICIPATE WITH, I'M HAPPY TO TALK TO, TO OUR MEMBERSHIP ABOUT MAKING SURE THAT WE'RE ALL ON THE SAME PAGE AND THAT WE COMMUNICATE TO THEM THAT YOU WANT TO PARTICIPATE IN PARTICULAR MEETINGS AND THAT THEY'RE ABLE TO COMMUNICATE BACK. AND, YOU KNOW, I'M SURE THAT WE CAN COME TO AN AGREEMENT IN TERMS OF WHAT WE'RE GOING TO BE ADVOCATING FOR. THAT'S REALLY SET BY OUR LEGISLATIVE AGENDA, WHICH OUR LEGISLATIVE AGENDA WAS FINALIZED A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO.

AND I'M HAPPY TO SEND YOUR RESPECTIVE OFFICES A COPY OF IT, HOWEVER, OR I SHOULD SAY, A LOT OF WHAT'S IN OUR LEGISLATIVE AGENDA IS IN ALIGNMENT WITH THE PRIORITIES OF THE GREATER EL PASO REGION, NOT ONLY WITH EL PASO COUNTY, BUT ALSO WITH THE CITY OF EL PASO AND SEVERAL OF OUR OTHER CRITICAL ENTITIES. AND SOME OF THOSE ARE SUPPORT FUNDING TO ADVANCE EFFORTS IN IN AEROSPACE AND DEFENSE, MAKING SURE THAT WE INCREASE ACCESS TO BROADBAND AND MAKING SURE THAT WE ARE ADVOCATING ON BEHALF OF OUR UTILITY COMPANIES THAT PROVIDE, YOU KNOW, SUCH A VITAL SERVICE TO OUR RESIDENTS AND THE FOR ELECTRICITY, WATER AND GAS AS WELL. THE AND THEN OF COURSE, ALSO WE HAVE OUR PRIORITIES IN THE MILITARY SPACE AND SEVERAL OTHER SECTORS. ONE OF THEM THAT COMES TO MIND THAT IS IN ALIGNMENT WITH THE COUNTY, AND IT MAY BE MORE RELEVANT TO PRECINCT THREE, BUT ALSO TO THE GREATER EL PASO COUNTY AREA. AND IT IS SUPPORT AND INVESTMENT IN THE MISSION TRAILS TO ENSURE THAT WE USE THAT OR THAT WE THAT WE SECURE INVESTMENTS TO ENSURE THAT IT IS A TOURIST ATTRACTION IN OUR REGION. AS AS THOSE EFFORTS HAVE CONTINUED, HAVE CONTINUOUSLY TAKEN PLACE OVER THE PAST COUPLE OF MONTHS. AND AS YOU KNOW, COMMISSIONER STOUT, OUR OUR GREATEST AREA THAT WE HAVE IN OUR, IN OUR LEGISLATIVE AGENDA IS THAT OF REGARDING TRANSPORTATION AND SO OF COURSE, WE CALL FOR ADDITIONAL INVESTMENT IN OUR PORTS OF ENTRY. WE ADVOCATE FOR PRO-BUSINESS IMMIGRATION REFORM TO ENSURE THAT EMPLOYERS INCREASE THEIR ACCESS TO EMPLOYMENT BASED VISAS. AND THEN, OF COURSE, A LOT OF THAT INCLUDES MAKING SURE THAT WE ARE ADVOCATING FOR THOSE PROJECTS THAT HAVE BEEN VERY CRITICAL IN TERMS OF SHAPING THE CONVERSATION FOR OUR COMMUNITY'S FUTURE TO INCLUDE THE EL PASO COUNTY OR TO INCLUDE THE DECK PARK PLAZA, AND THEN, OF COURSE, INVESTMENTS IN I-10. BUT LIKE I SAID, I KNOW THAT THERE ARE SOME DISAGREEMENTS AND DIFFERENT VIEWPOINTS THAT ARE SHARED, BUT I'M HAPPY TO MAKE SURE THAT WE GET YOU ALL IN THOSE SAME SPACES AND WE CAN COME TO AN AGREEMENT THAT THAT I THINK WILL SATISFY EVERYONE'S NEEDS. AND PRIORITIES. SO I HOPE THAT ANSWERS YOUR QUESTION. THANK YOU. THANK YOU MANNY. JUDGE. YES, COMMISSIONER CORONADO, THANK YOU. YOU KNOW, BEING BEING NEW ON THE COURT, I'VE ONLY BEEN TO ONE OF THESE EL PASO DAYS.

I'VE BEEN TO THEM BEFORE, BUT NOT AS PART OF THE COUNTY OF EL PASO. BUT I'LL TELL YOU WHAT.

LAST THE LAST TIME WE WENT, I WAS VERY DISAPPOINTED IN WHAT WE PARTOOK IN AND HOW IT WAS DONE.

I JUST DIDN'T FEEL THAT IT WAS A BENEFIT TO THE COUNTY. IF WE'RE GOING TO DO THIS, I'M HOPING THAT WHAT WE WOULD ASK FOR IS WHAT THOSE COMMON GOALS, THOSE COMMON POINTS OF ADVOCACY, ARE,

[01:40:04]

THAT THE CHAMBER IS DOING. BECAUSE I KNOW IN THE PAST WE YOU KNOW, I AGREE WITH MANNY THAT WE HAVE A LOT OF COMMON ONES, BUT WE ALSO HAVE SOME OTHER DIVERGENT INTERESTS THAT THE CHAMBER AND HAS, YOU KNOW, ADVOCATED ACTUALLY DIFFERENT FROM THE COUNTY. AND ADDITIONALLY, THE LAST TIME THAT I WENT, I MEAN, EVEN THE REPRESENTATIVE THAT WHOSE WAS THE CHAIR OF ONE OF THE COMMITTEES FAILED TO MEET WITH AND I WAS THERE ON BOTH THE COUNTY AND FOR ADVOCATING FOR OUR LOCAL SCHOOL DISTRICTS, DID NOT EVEN MEET WITH US AFTER A SCHEDULED MEETING. AND I DON'T KNOW HOW THE CHAMBER IS MONITORING THAT AND WHETHER THEY'RE DOING ANYTHING ABOUT IT. I WOULD JUST, YOU KNOW, UTTERLY DISAPPOINTED IN THE WAY THAT IT WAS HANDLED. IT JUST TO ME, I DIDN'T SEE ANY BENEFIT. WHAT BENEFIT HAVE WE ALSO DERIVED FROM THESE EL PASO DAYS IN THE PAST? I THINK WE NEED TO SERIOUSLY LOOK AT WHAT WE ARE GETTING. I AGREE WITH COMMISSIONER LEON. SOME OF COMMISSIONER LEON'S POINTS ON THAT. YOU KNOW, I DO WANT TO BE BE THERE ADVOCATING AS A UNIFIED FRONT FOR THE FOR EL PASO. I JUST THINK WE NEED TO BE MORE IN TUNE AND THERE NEEDS TO BE A LITTLE BIT MORE. I GUESS, SERIOUSNESS PUT IN TERMS OF THE PEOPLE THAT ARE MEETING WITH US OVER THERE, YOU KNOW, AND I KNOW THEY CAN'T CONTROL SOME OF THAT. IT'S JUST TO ME, WAS JUST BOGGLING THAT, YOU KNOW, A MEETING SCHEDULED BY THE CHAMBER WITH ONE OF THE COMMITTEE MEMBERS, AND HE JUST DIDN'T EVEN TALK TO US AND DIDN'T EVEN ACKNOWLEDGE US AND JUST LEFT JUDGE COMMISSIONERS. I MEAN, THERE IS AN OPTION THAT WE DON'T HAVE ON THE SCREEN AS WELL. IF THE COURT DID NOT WANT TO PARTICIPATE AT THAT LEVEL, I MEAN, IF THAT'S IF THERE'S A CONCERN ABOUT A MISALIGNMENT IN INTEREST AND AGENDAS, WHICH I MEAN, WE DO KNOW THAT THERE ARE TIMES WHERE THE LIKE, WITHOUT A DOUBT, THE CHAMBER TAKES A DIFFERENT ROLE THAN THE COUNTY DOES, OR A DIFFERENT NOT ROLE, BUT A DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVE OR A DIFFERENT POLICY APPROACH ON VARIOUS ISSUES. I BELIEVE RECENTLY WE WERE JOSE WAS TALKING THAT THE CHAMBER TOOK AN OPTION ON BODA. THAT IS DIFFERENT THAN OUR OPTION ON BODA. AND THOSE ARE THOSE ARE SOME PRETTY SIGNIFICANT DIFFERENCES THAT THAT HAVE BEEN TAKEN. IF, I MEAN, WE COULD ALWAYS NOT SPONSOR AND DO THE $500 PER PERSON TO ATTEND THE CHAMBER EVENTS OR THE 1250 FOR THOSE THAT WE WANT TO INCLUDE IN THE MEETINGS. I DO THINK THE CHAMBER, THOUGH, RELIES ON THE COUNTY, HAS RELIED ON THE COUNTY IN THE PAST, AND THIS YEAR, FROM A BUDGET PERSPECTIVE, TO BE ABLE TO DO THOSE EVENTS ON THAT KIND OF SPONSORSHIP. AND I BELIEVE THEY'VE SOLD ONE OR THE OTHER THREE SPONSORSHIPS. OKAY. AND SO THE DIAMOND SPONSORSHIP, SO THEY HAVE ONE OF THE SPONSORSHIPS COMPLETED, BUT THE OTHER TWO, I BELIEVE ARE AVAILABLE. SO I MEAN, IT DOES IMPACT THEIR ABILITY, ABILITY TO DO THOSE TYPES OF EVENTS. SO AND THEN WE WOULD BE PUTTING THE CHAMBER ON NOTICE THAT WE ONLY CHOSE TO ATTEND AT THE PER PERSON COST AND NOT DO A SPONSORSHIP, BUT LIKELY THEY WOULD NOT. THEY MAY NOT BE ABLE TO PULL OFF THOSE EVENTS OR HOST THOSE EVENTS. IF WE'RE NOT ONE OF THE SPONSORS, THE OTHER, AND THEN WE WOULD GO, BUT WE WOULD DO OUR OWN, SET UP OUR OWN MEETINGS, DO OUR OWN WORK WITH OUR LOBBYISTS AND WITH ALISA. BETSY, IF I CAN INTERRUP, COMMISSIONER, JUST TO FOLLOW UP SOMETHING THAT COMMISSIONER CORONADO SAID THAT THE LAST TIME I WENT, IT WAS VERY DISJOINTED AND SOME OF IT ISN'T THE CHAMBER'S FAULT. SOMETIMES THE PERSON WE WERE SUPPOSED TO MEET THERE, JACINTA STAFFORD. SO IT WAS VERY DIFFERENT. I TOO WAS VERY DISAPPOINTED AND WHAT WHAT ARE OUR GOALS FOR EL PASO DAYS? WHAT IS IT THAT WE'RE TRYING TO ACHIEVE? YOU KNOW, MY THOUGHTS ARE THE MORE PEOPLE WE MEET WITH, THE BETTER. FOR EL PASO. WE HAVE A STRONG VOICE, BUT WHAT WHAT WILL THE CHAMBER DO TO HAVE THAT VOICE MAGNIFIED AND CORRECT THOSE DEFICIENCIES THAT WE'VE SEEN IN THE PAST? I DON'T WANT TO SPEAK FOR THE CHAMBER, BUT THE CHAMBER IS HERE. YEAH. I MEAN, BEFORE YOU ANSWER THAT QUESTION, I JUST WANT TO MAKE MAKE THE COMMENT THAT I APPRECIATE THE WORK THAT YOU AND VIENNA AND THE STAFF HAS DONE. BUT RICARDO SHOULD BE HERE FOR

[01:45:05]

THIS CONVERSATION. I MEAN, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE COMMISSIONERS COURT IN A BIG SPONSORSHIP. AND TO ME, IT'S NOT ON YOU. I MEAN, AGAIN, STAFF IS AMAZING AND WE CAN'T DO ANYTHING WITHOUT OUR STAFF. BUT THIS IS AN IMPORTANT CONVERSATION THAT THE HEAD OF THE CHAMBER SHOULD BE HERE HAVING WITH US. AND IT KIND OF WORRIES ME THAT THAT, YOU KNOW, THAT WE'RE TAKING A BACKSEAT.

YEAH, WE'RE WE'RE LIKE BEING ASKED TO TAG ALONG AND TAKING A BACK SEAT AND, AND, YOU KNOW, IT'S DISAPPOINTING. I MEAN, THIS IS, THIS IS AN INDICATION OF HOW IT'S GOING TO GO IN THE FUTURE.

IT'S NOT NOT A GOOD INDICATION FOR ME AND COMMISSIONER, WE COULD POSTPONE THE ITEM AND INVITE HIM TO SEE IF HE'S AVAILABLE TO ATTEND NEXT WEEK. WE DID NOT REACH OUT AND ASK THAT HE ATTEND. WHEN WE PLACED THE ITEM ON, WE GOT THE INFORMATION. WE WANTED TO BRING IT TO YOU ALL FOR A DISCUSSION. WELL, IT SEEMS TO ME THAT IT SHOULD BE UNDER I MEAN, I DON'T KNOW. YOU'RE COMING. YOUR ORGANIZATION IS COMING IN FRONT OF THE COMMISSIONERS COURT AND YOU'RE ASKING FOR A HUGE SPONSORSHIP FOR THIS VERY IMPORTANT EVENT THAT WE DO EVERY TWO YEARS. AND YOU SHOULD BE HERE. I'M SORRY. AND IT'S NOT A I MEAN, NOT AGAINST YOU TO AT ALL. YOU GUYS DO AMAZING WORK. BUT THOSE ARE JUST MY THOUGHTS. I THINK THAT WE NEED TO HAVE THIS CONVERSATION WITH WITH THE WITH THE WITH WITH THE LEADERSHIP. SO WOULD YOU ALL LIKE FOR US TO POSTPONE THIS ITEM AND BRING IT BACK NEXT WEEK OR AND ASK ASK IF HE'S AVAILABLE TO ATTEND? I THINK SO, BECAUSE WE'RE ASKING QUESTIONS THAT NEED TO BE ANSWERED. YOU KNOW WHAT COMMISSIONER STOUT REQUESTED AND ALL THAT. AND I DON'T THINK WE COULD DO THAT TODAY. BUT I THINK THE MOST IMPORTANT MESSAGE IS THAT WE'RE VERY, VERY YOU KNOW, WE KNOW HOW IMPORTANT IT IS TO BE THERE AND THAT THAT I HOPE THAT'S THE STRONGEST MESSAGE THAT WE'RE CONCERNED OF PRODUCTIVITY. WE'RE CONCERNED ABOUT HOW WE SPEND THE MONEY. AND, YOU KNOW, JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT IT'S VERY EFFECTIVE, ESPECIALLY AS WE'RE GOING INTO THIS NEXT TWO YEARS. WE NEED A LOT OF SUPPORT. THE OTHER THING IS THAT I REMEMBER MANY, THAT ONE OF THE STRONG THINGS WAS NUMBERS. HOW MANY PEOPLE SHOW UP AND SO I HOPE THAT THE CHAMBER I REMEMBER HAVING A SMALL BUSINESS AND MEDIUM AND LARGE BUSINESS INDIVIDUALS REPRESENTING MADE A HUGE IMPACT. WHEN WE'RE IN A MEETING AND WE INTRODUCE SOMEONE THAT'S THAT'S NOT PART OF THE GOVERNMENT BUT IS PART OF THE COMMUNITY, THAT WAS REALLY, REALLY I FELT THAT THAT WAS A HUGE HIT. SO I'M HOPING THAT THE CHAMBER DOES FOCUS ON TRYING TO GET AS MANY PEOPLE. PEOPLE WILL REMEMBER SOMEONE WHO OWNS A BUSINESS HERE, SOMETIMES MORE THAN THAN WHEN WE SHOW UP THAT THEY KNOW THAT THEY'RE PART OF THE ECONOMY. SO WHATEVER YOU COULD DO THERE, I THINK WOULD BE VERY VALUABLE. BUT BUT I AGREE, BETSY, I THINK THERE'S A LOT OF QUESTIONS I THINK MAYBE WE COULD ADDRESS MORE THINGS TO MELISSA AND THEN HAVE RICARDO COME IN AND SORT OF TELL US WHERE HE'S AT WITH ALL OF THIS. SURE. AND I'M HAPPY TO ARRANGE TO ENSURE THAT HE THAT HE IS HERE PRESENT TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS THAT YOU ALL MAY HAVE. SO, SO JUST TO MAKE SURE THAT THAT WE GET THAT CHECKED OUT. BUT IN TERMS OF ALSO ANSWERING COMMISSIONER LEONE'S QUESTION, INITIAL QUESTIONS, WHAT DO WE INTEND TO DO TO ENSURE THAT WE WORK TOGETHER TO ADVANCE EL PASO COUNTY'S INTERESTS AND THE INTERESTS OF OUR OUR OTHER STAKEHOLDERS IS OUR ADVOCACY DOESN'T END ONCE EL PASO DE CONCLUDES. A BIG PART OF MY ROLE IN THE CHAMBER IS TO ENSURE THAT WE CONTINUE THOSE EFFORTS AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT THAT I'M HAPPY TO SHARE WITH YOU IS THAT COMING INTO THIS ROLE, I CAME IN FROM THE PUBLIC SECTOR, I CAME IN FROM FROM PREVIOUSLY FROM THE OFFICE OF CONGRESSWOMAN VERONICA ESCOBAR. SO I VALUE THE WORK THAT WE DO WITH OUR WITH OUR PUBLIC ENTITIES, NOT ONLY WITH EL PASO COUNTY, BUT WITH THE CITY OF EL PASO, AND ALSO WITH OUR INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICTS AND OUR OTHER PUBLIC ENTITIES LIKE EL PASO WATER AND SO FORTH AND SO ON. AND THE EL PASO COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE TO ENSURE THAT WE AMPLIFY THOSE, THOSE CONCERNS AND THOSE PRIORITIES. AND SO I MYSELF, THROUGHOUT SESSION WILL BE WORKING IN COORDINATION WITH WITH THE CITY OF EL PASO, WITH EL PASO COUNTY, WITH OUR SCHOOL DISTRICTS, WITH OUR PUBLIC UTILITY SERVICES, TO ENSURE THAT WE TAKE THOSE POINTS AND THOSE PRIORITIES AND THAT WE AMPLIFY THEM AND THAT WE SHARE THEM WITH THE CORRECT ORGANIZATIONS AND WITH THE CORRECT LEGISLATORS, THE CORRECT AGENCIES, THE CORRECT DEPARTMENT HEADS WITHIN THE STATE OF TEXAS, AND THAT WHEN THERE'S AN OPPORTUNITY OR WHEN THERE'S A BILL THAT COMES TO THE FLOOR OF THE HOUSE OR TO THE FLOOR OF THE SENATE, AND IF THERE'S AN OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO, TO US, FOR US TO IMPROVE IT OR TO ADD ANYTHING THAT MAY BE OF IMPORTANCE TO OUR REGION, THAT WE DO SO BY WORKING IN

[01:50:04]

COLLABORATION WITH, WITH OUR OUR STATE DELEGATION, WHICH WE'VE DEVELOPED A REALLY GREAT RELATIONSHIP IN JUST A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME THAT THAT I'VE BEEN THERE. SO THAT'S THAT'S HOW WE PLAN TO ADVANCE EL PASO COUNTY'S INTERESTS, BUT ALSO THE INTERESTS OF OUR OTHER STAKEHOLDERS. GOING INTO SESSIO. THANK YOU FOR THAT RESPONSE. THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU.

JUDGE. YES, JUDGE. YES, I'M SORRY COMMISSIONER, I DON'T SEE HIM ON THE SCREEN. OH, COMMISSIONER CORONADO. JUDGE, I WOULD LIKE TO JUST THANK MANNY FOR HIS PRESENTATION, BUT I KNOW HE MENTIONED THAT THE CHAMBER HAS PUT OUT RECENTLY THEIR POINTS OF THEIR LEGISLATIVE AGENDA AND THEIR ADVOCACY POINTS. I'D LIKE TO SEE IF THEY COULD FORWARD THAT TO US SO WE CAN HAVE THEM BEFORE THE NEXT MEETING, I AGREE. THANK YOU. ALYSSA, YOU'VE TAKEN A LOT OF NOTES. I'VE TAKEN A LOT OF NOTES. YES. THIS IS EXACTLY WHAT THIS IS FOR. NO, THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. AND I UNDERSTAND THE GUIDANCE IS WE'LL POSTPONE THIS ITEM. WE'LL INVITE MR. RICK MORA PERSONALLY. WE HAD NOT DONE THAT FOR THIS MEETING, BUT WE WILL INVITE HIM TO COME BACK NEXT MONDAY AND WE CAN CONTINUE THIS CONVERSATION. THEN. THANK YOU. ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE DID JUST NEED TO CLARIFY IS, AS I MENTIONED ON THIS FINAL SLIDE, WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE 30 K FOR THE MARQUEE, THAT ONE IS NOW 25,000. YES. GO AHEAD. I THINK BETSY, GO AHEAD. AND YEAH, IF YOU ALL WANTED TO PARTICIPATE INDIVIDUALLY AND NOT DO A SPONSORSHIP, THE PRICE TO ATTEND IS ACTUALLY 2500 PER PERSON. SO THIS 1250 THAT YOU SEE UP HERE THAT THAT'S IN ADDITION TO A SPONSORSHIP BECAUSE YOU'RE ALREADY MAKING SUCH A BIG INVESTMENT. WE'RE MAKING THAT DISCOUNT FOR ANY ADDITIONAL PEOPLE PAST EITHER THE TEN OR THE EIGHT I BELIEVE IS ON THE OTHER ONE. SO I JUST WANTED TO CLARIFY THAT IF YOU CHOOSE TO NOT DO A SPONSORSHIP, THE COST TO ATTEND IS 2500 PER PERSON. OKAY, OKAY. THANK YOU. YEAH. THANK YOU, THANK YOU. AND THIS MOTION IS TO POSTPONE TO POSTPONE? WE HAVE A MOTION FROM JUDGE SAMANIEGO. DO WE HAVE A SECOND? WE CAN VERBALLY. WE HAVE A SECOND FROM COMMISSIONER STOUT. THE VOTING IS OPEN.

COMMISSIONER, I VOTE. I THANK YOU, SIR. MOTION CARRIES. THANK YOU. JUDGE IN THE INTEREST OF TIME, CAN WE GO TO ITEM E FOR PREVAILING WAGE NEXT? SURE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. ITEM NUMBER EIGHT E RECEIVE A PRESENTATION AND DISCUSS AND TAKE APPROPRIATE ACTION TO ADOPT THE 2024 PREVAILING WAGE SURVEY. JUDGE. COMMISSIONERS, I APOLOGIZE THAT I'VE DOMINATED

[E. Receive a presentation and discuss and take appropriate action to adopt the 2024 Prevailing Wage Survey. Melissa Carrillo, Executive Director, County Operations, 915-546-2162]

TODAY'S AGENDA, BUT THIS MORNING I AM ALSO VERY EXCITED TO BE AT THIS POINT TO PRESENT BEFORE YOU ALL. WE HAVE MEMBERS FROM OUR PREVAILING WAGE COMMITTEE. IN THE AUDIENCE. WE HAVE ADRIANA CHAPARRO THAT'S SITTING WITH US AS WELL. AND THIS IS REALLY A HUGE ENDEAVOR AS WE WORK IN COLLABORATION NOT ONLY WITH OUR CONTRACTORS, OUR SUBCONTRACTORS, BUT ALSO OUR LOCAL UNIONS AND COUNTY STAFF TO REALLY PRODUCE A WAGE, A WAGE, SCHEDULES FOR BOTH BUILDING CONSTRUCTION AND HEAVY AND HIGHWAY THAT WE CAN BE PROUD OF, THAT WE CAN HAVE CONFIDENCE IN AS THIS ACTUALLY PERTAINS TO WHAT PEOPLE WILL BE PAID FOR. THESE TYPES OF JOBS IN THIS LOCAL ECONOMY FOR THE NEXT FOUR YEARS. AND SO I'M GOING TO TURN OVER THE PRESENTATION TO MISS ADRIANA CHAPARRO. YOU DO HAVE MEMBERS FROM OUR COMMITTEE IN THE AUDIENCE AS WELL, BUT WE ARE PREPARED TODAY TO PRESENT OUR FINAL WAGE SCHEDULES FOR BOTH OF THOSE CATEGORIES. AND, OF COURSE, ADDRESS ANY QUESTIONS YOU MIGHT HAVE. THANK YOU. WELCOME, ADRIANA. GOOD MORNING. GOOD MORNING. HOW ARE YOU? SO TWO WEEKS AGO WE CAME HERE AND WE PRESENTED A STATUS UPDATE ON THE PREVAILING WAGE. BUT TODAY WE ACTUALLY HAVE FINAL RESULTS. AND THEN. AND THEN RECOMMENDATIONS FROM OUR PREVAILING WAGE COMMITTEE ON THE 2024 PREVAILING WAGE. LET ME SE. CAN I MOVE IT TO THE NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE? I DON'T THINK IT'S UP YET. OH, OKAY. SO WITH THAT I'LL TURN IT OVER TO OUR LEGAL TEAM.

I'LL TURN IT OVER TO ANTHONY MARTINEZ, WHO WILL BE PRESENTING ON THE ON THE LAWSUIT AND THEN THE SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT REGARDING THE PREVAILING WAGE FOR THIS YEAR. GOOD MORNING.

JUDGE. COMMISSIONERS ANTHONY MARTINEZ, ASSISTANT COUNTY ATTORNEY I'M JUST GOING TO GIVE YOU A BRIEF OVERVIEW OF THE LEGAL BACKGROUND LEADING UP TO THIS PREVAILING WAGE SURVEY.

THERE WAS A SUIT THAT STEMMED FROM THE 2020 SURVEY COMMENCED IN 2021, AND IN 2023, THE EIGHTH COURT OF APPEALS ISSUED A DECISION THAT CONTINUED. THE LAWSUIT WAS SETTLED LATER. WE'LL TALK ABOUT THAT. BUT THERE ARE THREE KEY POINTS THAT CAME OUT OF THAT DECISION. THE FIRST IS

[01:55:03]

THAT UNDER GOVERNMENT CODE 2258.022, A, THE COUNTY HAS TWO OPTIONS. WHEN ESTABLISHING THE PREVAILING WAGE, EITHER THE COUNTY CAN CONDUCT A LOCAL SURVEY FOR WORK A SIMILAR WORK IN CERTAIN CATEGORIES, OR IT CAN ADOPT THE FEDERAL US DEPARTMENT OF LABOR DAVIS-BACON RATES, AND IT CAN DO THAT FOR EACH CATEGORY ITEM BY ITEM. BUT IT'S IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT THOSE ARE THE ONLY TWO CHOICES IT CAN'T USE ANOTHER METHODOLOGY OR ANOTHER APPROACH TO ESTABLISH THE PREVAILING WAG.

THE SECOND POINT IS THAT THE STATUTE LIMITS THE COUNTY'S DISCRETION TO ESTABLISHING PREVAILING WAGES BASED ON THE SPECIFIC LOCALITY FOR EACH WORKER WORK CLASSIFICATION, MEANING THAT WE'RE LIMITED TO EL PASO COUNTY. SO THIS SPEAKS TO THE METHODOLOGY. SO WHENEVER WE COME UP WITH A NUMBER, WE'RE LOOKING AT SPECIFICALLY EL PASO COUNTY WAGES. AND THE LAST POINT IS THAT FRINGE BENEFITS MUST BE CALCULATED TO ESTABLISH PREVAILING WAGE, MEANING THAT METHODOLOGICALLY, THE COUNTY CANNOT AVERAGE FRINGE WAGE ACROSS CONTRACTORS IN A CERTAIN CLASSIFICATION, MEANING FOR INSTANCE, IF THERE'S ONE, IF YOU SAY YOU DO THE SURVEY AND YOU GET YOU GET RESPONSES AND YOU'RE EVALUATING IF ONE IF ONE CONTRACTOR USES FRINGE AND TWO OF THE THREE DON'T, IT WOULD NOT BE CORRECT TO AVERAGE THOSE OUT ACROSS THE CONTRACTORS. AND WE'LL GET TO THE SETTLEMENT. BUT IN THE SETTLEMENT YOU WOULD YOU WOULD OMIT THAT FRINGE BENEFIT BECAUSE IT'S NOT THE PREVAILING WAGE. IT ONLY REPRESENTS ONE OF A MINORITY OF WHAT THE WAGES ARE PROVIDED IN THAT CATEGORY. SO NEXT SLIDE. SO IN THE SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT THAT FOLLOWED THE SAME YEAR, 2023, APPLYING IT APPLIES TO HEAVY AND HIGHWAY. BUT IT EITHER REQUIRED THE COUNTY TO ESTABLISH TO DO ITS OWN SURVEY OR TO ADOPT DAVIS-BACON FOR EACH CATEGORY BY DEADLINE OF DECEMBER THE 25TH, AND WE'RE APPROACHING THAT DEADLINE SOON. IT ALSO REQUIRED THE COUNTY TO NOTIFY AGC OF THE NEW SURVEY, AND TO PROVIDE AND ASK THE AGC TO PROVIDE A LIST OF CONTRACTORS INVOLVED IN HEAVY HIGHWAY CONSTRUCTION. AND IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING THAT THE COUNTY DID NOTIFY AGC AND THEY DID PARTICIPATE IN THIS PROCESS. ALSO, WE WERE REQUIRED TO USE TXDOT DATA INCLUDE THAT IN THE SURVEY ANALYSIS AND THEN WITH FRINGE BENEFITS CONSISTENT WITH THE EIGHTH COURT OF APPEALS OPINION, A FRINGE BENEFIT COULD ONLY BE INCLUDED IN EACH CATEGORY IF THE MAJORITY OF RESPONDENTS INCLUDED FRINGE AS WELL. SO IF A MAJORITY USES IT, IT'S AN OPTION TO INCLUDE. IF A MINORITY INCLUDES IT IN THE RESPONSES, THEN THAT WOULD BE EXCLUDED PER PER THE STATUTE, THE GOVERNMENT CODE. AND THEN LASTLY, ONCE COMMISSIONERS COURT APPROVES THE PREVAILING WAGES FOR 2020 FOR THIS PERIOD AND BEYOND, A COPY WOULD BE PROVIDED TO AGC WITHIN TEN DAYS OF APPROVAL BY COMMISSIONERS. COUR. DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FOR ME OR OKAY, ANY QUESTIONS. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. MOVING ON TO THE NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE. ADRIANA CHAPARRO, CONTRACT OPERATIONS MANAGER. SO WITH THAT, I'D LIKE TO PRESENT TO YOU THE FINAL JOB CLASSIFICATION DEFINITIONS FOR BOTH HEAVY AND HIGHWAY CONSTRUCTION AND THEN LAST BUT NOT LEAST IS THE BUILDING CONSTRUCTION OF THE OF THE DEFINITIONS AS WELL. ALEXIS, CAN YOU PULL UP THE HEAVY AND HIGHWAY PLEASE. SO WHAT WE SUGGEST OR WHAT THE COMMITTEE SUGGESTED ON THIS IS THAT WE'RE MORE IN LINE, IN ALIGNMENT WITH THE TXDOT DEFINITIONS. AND AS SOON AS THAT GETS PULLED UP, THEN YOU'LL SEE THE DIFFERENT DEFINITIONS BEING ADOPTED OR UP FOR ADOPTION. THIS MORNING. SO JUST GIVE US A SECOND OKAY. YES, COMMISSIONERS. THEY'RE PULLING THESE ATTACHMENTS UP. ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I JUST WANT TO EMPHASIZE IS AS AS WE GET TO THIS POINT AND YOU SEE A SPREADSHEET OF NUMBERS ESSENTIALLY IS WHAT YOU'RE GOING TO SEE, RIGHT? IT TOOK A LOT TO GET THERE. IT WAS WORKING WITH THE COMMITTEE ONE BY ONE. WELL WHY THIS? WHY NOT? WHAT HAPPENED IN 2020 IS SOMETHING LOWER. IT WAS A FINE TOOTH COMB IN MAKING SURE THAT WE DIDN'T JUST DISMISS ANY POSITION THAT WE LOOKED AT, EVERY SINGLE POSITION TOOK INTO ACCOUNT THOSE CONTRACTORS, THOSE UNIONS THAT ARE PAYING THESE PEOPLE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE MADE THE BEST DECISION AND RECOMMENDATION FOR YOU. SO AS

[02:00:01]

YOU SEE, THESE WAGE RATES, KNOW THAT THAT WAS WHAT WE DID FOR EVERY SINGLE SQUARE GOING DOWN THESE SHEETS. THANK YOU FOR THA.

MELISSA, AS WE WAIT FOR THOSE NUMBERS TO COME UP, IF IT'S OKAY WITH YOU. JUDGE, WAS THERE A DISAGREEMENT WITH THE COMMITTEE MEMBERS THAT ARE HERE TODAY WITH WHAT WE'RE PRESENTING THAT YOU'RE PRESENTING TODAY? I DON'T BELIEVE SO. I DEFINITELY THINK THERE WAS DISAGREEMENT THROUGHOUT FROM DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVES. AND YOU'RE ABSOLUTELY WELCOME TO TALK TO THEM. I THINK ESSENTIALLY WE GOT TO THE POINT WHERE WHERE WE FIGURED IT OUT. IT REALLY WAS LIKE A PUZZLE WHERE THE GOAL WAS NOT TO HURT OR HARM. ON THE CONTRARY, THE GOAL WAS TO ENSURE THAT WE DID THE BEST THING, THAT WE PICKED THE MOST PREVAILING RATE. AND IN WORKING WITH THE ATTORNEYS, YOU KNOW, SOME WILL USE THE WORD HIGHER. AND THAT'S NOT THAT WASN'T THE GOAL. IT WASN'T TO SAY, LET'S PAY THE HIGHEST. IT WAS WHAT'S THE MOST PREVAILING. AND THAT'S REALLY IMPORTANT BECAUSE AS YOU THINK THROUGH THE TYPES OF PEOPLE WHO CHOOSE THESE JOBS HERE IN EL PASO, IN THIS COMMUNITY, WE WANT TO ENSURE THAT WE'RE PAYING THE MOST PREVAILING, WHAT'S GOING TO KEEP YOU HERE? WHAT'S GOING TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU DON'T LEAVE US AND GO TO LAS CRUCES TO DO THE SAME WORK? WHAT'S GOING TO MAKE SURE YOU DON'T MOVE TO GO WORK IN THE OIL FIELDS IN MIDLAND AND ODESSA? HOW DO WE PAY YOU THE MOST PREVAILING RATE, SO THAT YOU CAN CONTRIBUTE TO THIS ECONOMY HERE AT HOME? AND I DO THINK AND I DON'T WANT TO SPEAK FOR YOU ALL, BUT I THINK WE DID GET THERE. YOU'RE COMFORTABLE WITH THAT? THANK YO. BECAUSE THAT'S THE MOST IMPORTANT THING, RIGHT. THAT THE FAIRNESS AND THAT WE DON'T NEGATIVELY IMPACT SOMEONE BECAUSE WE DIDN'T DO THE RIGHT THING. SO TAKING YOUR TIME AND DOING THAT AND HAVING, YOU KNOW, THAT REPRESENTATION MEANS A LOT TO THE REPRESENTATION IS EVERYTHING. THEY'RE THE ONES WHO, WHO, WHO KNOW THESE PEOPLE. THEY KNOW WHAT THEY DO. THEY KNOW WHAT WHAT THEY'VE DONE TO DEVELOP THAT TRADE. THE CONTRACTORS PAY THESE PEOPLE. AND SO THAT WAS REALLY CRITICAL TO HELP GUIDE STAFF AND THE ATTORNEYS IN PROPOSING THESE FINAL RATES FOR YOU ALL TODAY.

THANK YOU. I THINK WE'RE READY. MIGUEL. OKAY. ADRIANA, CONTRACT OPERATIONS MANAGER. SO HERE YOU HAVE THE 2024 HEAVY AND HIGHWAY CONSTRUCTION JOB DEFINITIONS. AND ESSENTIALLY WHAT HAPPENED IS THERE WAS A LOT OF MUCH ADVOCACY FOR ADOPTING THE TXDOT JOB DEFINITIONS ONLY TO, LIKE, STREAMLINE THE PROCESS HERE AND TO NOT HAVE AS MUCH OVERLAY WITH DIFFERENT JOB DESCRIPTIONS AND ALL THAT. SO THAT IS THE FIRST RECOMMENDATION. AND THEN FOR BUILDING AND HEAVY HIGHWAY, THEY REMAIN THE SAME. I MEAN BUILDING CONSTRUCTION REMAIN THE SAME. I APOLOGIZE FOR THAT. BUT THE DEFINITIONS, THE ONLY THING THAT CHANGED WAS THE WAS THE WORD HEAVY AND HIGHWAY CONSTRUCTION.

SO WITH THAT, WE'LL MOVE ON TO THE NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE. THE NEXT PAGE OR THE NEXT PRESENTATION.

LET'S GO AHEAD AND THE NEXT SLIDE ON THE PRESENTATION.

WHAT YOU'LL SEE NEXT IS THE WAGES FOR BUILDING CONSTRUCTION. AND THEN ALSO THEREAFTER IT WILL BE THE HEAVY AND HIGHWAY CONSTRUCTION. SO LET'S SEE WHAT WE'RE GOING THROUGH THIS.

OBVIOUSLY WE HAVE A LOT OF RESPECT THAT YOU WERE VERY INVOLVED IN H.R. AND ANY ADDITIONAL COMMENTS THAT CAN HELP OUR PUBLIC. I THINK WHAT'S IMPORTANT TO KNOW IS AND JUST TO SIMPLIFY, THESE ARE THE WAGES THAT MUST BE PAID ON FEDERALLY FUNDED PUBLIC WORKS PROJECTS ONCE YOU ADOPT THEM. CORRECT ME IF YOU'RE GOING TO ADD TO THIS. SOMETIMES IT'S FEDERALLY FUNDED, BUT IT COMES THROUGH THE STATE, BUT IT'S STILL FEDERAL FUNDING THAT FOR PUBLIC WORKS PROJECTS.

THESE ARE THE WAGES THAT MUST BE PAID. SO GOING FORWARD, ONCE WE ADOPT THESE PREVAILING WAGES AND THEN WE WORK WITH OTHER ENTITIES TO ADOPT THESE PREVAILING WAGES, I DO YOU WANT TO ADD SOMETHING TO THAT? SO YES, JUST TO CLARIFY THAT IT'S FOR ANY COUNTY CONSTRUCTION PROJECT THAT WE DECIDE TO BID ON OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT SPECIFICALLY, YOU FOR, FOR ENTITIES TO ADOPT THOSE

[02:05:08]

WAGES IS ABSOLUTELY UP TO THEM. SO WE COULD NOT IMPOSE THOSE WAGES ON THE CITY, IF I'M NOT MISTAKEN. ANTHONY. BUT JUST AS YOU KNOW, BUT WE DO WORK WITH THEM TO TRY TO GET THE OTHER AGENCIES TO ADOPT THESE, BUT WE TAKE THE LEAD KIND OF. OKAY. SO WE DO HAVE MEMBERS FROM LIKE THE CITY, WE HAVE MEMBERS FROM DIFFERENT SCHOOL DISTRICTS PARTICIPATING AS PART OF THE PREVAILING WAGE COMMITTEE. AND WHAT WE DO SEND OUT IS JUST AN EMAIL. AND WE ALSO PUBLISH THIS THESE WAGES ON OUR ON OUR COUNTY WEBSITE. AND THEN FROM THERE, IT'S REALLY ENTIRELY UP TO THEM TO DECIDE IF THEY WANT TO ADOPT THOSE WAGES OR IF THEY WANT TO GO WITH THE DAVIS-BACON WAGES.

THANK YOU. SO WITH THAT, YOU HAVE THE HEAVY AND HIGHWAY CONSTRUCTION WAGES, AS MELISSA PREVIOUSLY MENTIONED, THESE ARE WAGES THAT WERE CLEARLY CAREFULLY LOOKED AT ONE BY ONE AND REALLY THOUGHT, THOUGHT THROUGH THEM AND EVERYTHING. SO ESSENTIALLY THIS IS WHAT WOULD BE PUBLISHED ON OUR WEBSITE FOR HEAVY AND HIGHWAY. YOU'LL SEE THE SAME THING FOR BUILDING CONSTRUCTION. IT'S THE SAME LAYOUT. I THINK THE ONLY THING HERE WOULD BE THE WELDER ON THIS ONE. SO FOR THIS ONE, WHAT HAS BEEN SAID BEFORE IS THAT IT JUST DEPENDS ON THE CRAFT BEING PERFORMED. BUT WHAT YOU DO HAVE AN OPTION OF DOING IS ADOPTING WHAT WAS SET OUT ON THE ON THE SURVEY, WHAT WAS DETERMINED FROM THE SURVEY AS THE MINIMUM. BUT THEY CAN CHOOSE TO PAY AT LEAST THIS OR IF NOT, DEPENDING ON THE CRAFT THAT'S BEING PERFORMED, WHERE WELDING IS NECESSARY ON THAT SPECIFIC WAGE, AND IT GOES BOTH FOR HEAVY AND HIGHWAY CONSTRUCTION, AND ALSO FOR BUILDING CONSTRUCTION ON THIS ONE. WOULD YOU LIKE TO PULL UP THE BUILDING WAGES, PLEASE? IT'S ESSENTIALLY THE SAME FOR THE BUILDING CONSTRUCTION. THIS WOULD, WOULD BE, WOULD WOULD BE PUBLISHED ON OUR WEBSITE AS WELL. AND THE SAME THING FOR THE WELDER ON THIS ONE. SO THERE'S A MINIMUM OF 1689. BUT OBVIOUSLY IF WE WANT TO GO BY THE CRAFT THEN WE CAN GO AHEAD AND DO SO AS WELL. AND BRING THOSE DOWN AND THEN BRING UP THE NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE. OKAY. AND THEN THE NEXT STEPS. WELL IF THE COMMITTEE OR IF THIS COMMISSIONERS COURT DECIDES TO TAKE ACTION ON THIS ITEM WHICH IS TODAY THE WAGES WOULD BE EFFECTIVE TODAY AND THEY WOULD BE PUBLISHED AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. WORKING WITH OUR COUNTY WEB PAGE SYSTEM OR PEOPLE TO UPDATE THOSE WAGES. ADRIANA, CAN I ASK A QUESTION ON ALL OF THOSE? THE DIFFERENT CATEGORIES, LIKE, FOR EXAMPLE, IF WE DIDN'T GET A RESPONSE TO OUR SURVEY ON ANY PARTICULAR POSITION, WOULD THOSE THEN BE THE DAVIS-BACON WAGES OR. NO, THESE ARE ALL COMING DIRECTLY FROM THE RESULT OF OUR SURVEY LOCALLY. RIGHT. SO FOR BUILDING HIGHWAY BUILDING CONSTRUCTION IS A LITTLE DIFFERENT BECAUSE WHAT WE COULD HAVE DONE IS WE COULD HAVE GONE TO OUR 2020 SURVEY RESULTS AS OPPOSED TO DAVIS-BACON, JUST DEPENDING THE KEY HERE WAS NOT TO GO ANY LOWER THAN 2020 WAGES, GIVEN THAT IT WOULD STILL PREVAILING, IT WAS STILL A VALID SURVEY AND EVERYTHING. SO THAT'S WHAT WE DID FOR THAT ONE. WITH HIGHWAY CONSTRUCTION, IT WOULD BE A LITTLE DIFFERENT BECAUSE WE COULD NOT INCLUDE THOSE 2020 WAGES AS A RESULT OF THAT LAWSUIT. SO IN TERMS OF THAT, IT WAS EITHER ADOPTING WHAT WAS ON THE ACTUAL SURVEY OR WHAT WAS ON DAVIS-BACON, DEPENDING IF WE MANAGED TO GET THREE OR MORE RESPONSES ON THE HEAVY AND HIGHWAY SIDE FOR BUILDING CONSTRUCTION, IT WAS A LITTLE DIFFERENT BECAUSE WE DID HAVE THAT 2020 WAGE INCLUSION. SO IT'S KIND OF A COMBINATION. IT'S A COMBINATION OF DIFFERENT WAGES. THE ONE THAT GOT US TO THE BEST RESULT THAT EVERYONE AGREED. YES. OKAY. THANK YOU. AND WHAT I JUST WANT TO SAY IS AS WE WENT THROUGH THESE BOXES, LITERALLY, WE STARTED WITH DAVIS. IF DAVIS-BACON PREVAILS, WE WOULD USE THAT. UNLESS OUR SURVEY RESULTS PREVAILED, THEN WE WOULD SWITCH TO THE SURVEY.

AND ONLY IN THE BUILDING CONSTRUCTION CATEGORY WE SAID 2020 NUMBERS WOULD PLAY A PLAY A ROLE. IF THOSE WAGES WERE HIGHER THAN THE TWO. IF THEY WERE MORE PREVAILING, THEN THAT'S WHAT WE WOULD GO TO. WE HAD LIMITATIONS ON THE HEAVY HIGHWAY SIDE, BUT WE USED THIS PROTOCOL CONSISTENTLY THROUGHOUT AND APPLIED. BUT IT LITERALLY IS A COMBINATION OF DIFFERENT RATES.

[02:10:04]

IT'S NOT JUST ONE OR THE OTHER. AND WHAT YOU'RE SEEING HERE ARE NOT STRICTLY SURVEY RESULTS.

DAVIS-BACON AND 2020 SURVEY ARE EMBEDDED AS WELL. YEAH. THANK YOU MELISSA, CAN WE JUST HEAR VERY BRIEFLY MAYBE FROM SOME OF OUR COMMITTEE MEMBERS JUST. GOOD MORNING, MR. MARKHAM. GOOD MORNING. THE ELECTRICIANS UNION. I JUST WANT TO SAY IT WAS A GREAT TEAM EFFORT. ALL OF US COMING TOGETHER AND FINALLY COMING TO AN AGREEMENT. YES, THAT WAS THE PLAN. THE GOAL IS NOT TO REMAIN AS 2020 BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, THIS SURVEY AS IT IS, IT TAKES EVERY THREE YEARS FOR US TO DO THIS SURVEY. AND, YOU KNOW, COST OF LIVING IS GOING UP. YOU KNOW, THERE'S A LOT OF CONSTRUCTION GOING OUT HERE IN EL PASO, TEXAS. SO WHY NOT THE WAGE GO UP WITH THE SAME, YOU KNOW, WE ALL OF US HAVE APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAMS AND OUR WE'RE FIVE YEAR PROGRAMS AND WHEN I LOOK FOR US, YOU KNOW, OUR ELECTRICIANS TURN OUT, YOU KNOW, WE WANT THEM TO STAY HERE IN EL PASO AND CONTINUE WORKING HERE IN EL PASO. WE DON'T WANT THEM TO LEAVE BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT'S HAPPENING. YOU KNOW, THERE'S SO MUCH JUST OUR NEIGHBORHOOD, NEW MEXICO.

THERE'S A LOT OF WORK GOING ON OUT THERE. SO THEY'RE TAKING AND WE'RE TRAINING THEM FOR THEM TO LEAVE WHEN WE WANT TO TRAIN THEM AND KEEP THEM HERE TO CONTINUE WORKING HERE IN EL PASO COUNTY AND, AND, YOU KNOW, CONTINUE WITH THEIR FAMILIES. AND YOU KNOW, THEY DON'T A LOT OF PEOPLE DON'T WANT TO SEE THEIR THEIR HUSBAND, YOU KNOW, TAKE OFF AND HAVE TO GO WORK. AND YOU KNOW, MISS OUT ON THEIR CHILDREN'S, YOU KNOW, SCHOOL PROGRAMS OR, YOU KNOW, BASEBALL AND ALL THAT.

AND YOU KNOW, WE HEAR THAT ALL THE TIME. SO WHY NOT? YOU KNOW, LET'S STAY COMPETITIVE OUT THER.

AND SO I WANT TO SAY IT WAS GREAT. AND WE AS ALSO THE TRADES ARE ARE OKAY WITH WHAT THE TURNOUT WAS. THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. WELCOME. GOOD MORNING. HOW ARE YOU ALL DOING TODAY. GOOD, GOOD. THANK YOU. I JUST WANTED TO THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR TIME AND CONSIDERATION AND ALL THIS. I THINK THE IT WAS A LOT OF WORK ON EVERYBODY'S PART, AND THERE'S A LOT OF BACK AND FORTH AND SOME, SOME SERIOUS DISCUSSIONS AT TIME, BUT I FEEL LIKE THE COUNCIL AND EVERYBODY THAT WAS HERE AS A PART OF IT REALLY DID A GOOD JOB. AND I MEAN, ULTIMATELY OUR GOAL IS TO MAKE SURE THAT WE DON'T GO, GO BACKWARDS. WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE KEEPING THE MOST TALENTED, MOST CAPABLE PEOPLE HERE IN EL PASO TO BE ABLE TO GROW UP AND MOVE FORWARD. YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN? WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THIS MONEY CIRCULATES BACK IN EL PASO AND ISN'T BEING TAKEN ELSEWHERE. SO I REALLY THINK ULTIMATELY THE WAY WE WORKED EVERYTHING OUT IS GOING TO BENEFIT THE CONTRACTORS. IT'S GOING TO BENEFIT THE WORKERS, AND IT WILL BENEFIT THE END USERS AS WELL. SO THANK YOU. THANK YOU ALL AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. WE LOVE CONSENSUS VIENNA, SO I'M NOT SURE IF WE HAVE ANYBODY FROM THE HEAVY AND HIGHWAY SIDE ONLINE. I BELIEVE WE DO. BUT IF THERE'S ANYBODY THAT WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK TO THE SURVEY OR ANYTHING, I DO SEE SOME FOLKS, BUT I'M NOT CERTAIN THAT THEY WANT TO SPEAK ON IT. SO WITH THAT, JUST WANTED TO LET YOU ALL KNOW THAT OUR CONSULTANT, BOB LONGMIRE, AND OR PUBLIC SECTOR PERSONNEL CONSULTANTS, WE WORKED VERY LONG AND HARD ON ON THE SURVEY RESULTS AND EVERYTHING. SO HE'S VETTED OUT ALL THE INFORMATION ON THOSE SURVEYS, AND HE'S PLAYED A BIG, BIG PART ON ON CALCULATING THOSE SURVEYS AS WELL. SO BIG THANK YOU TO BOB ON THAT. AND THE ONLY THING I WANT TO SAY ABOUT THAT, THIS WAS THE FIRST TIME THAT THE COMMISSIONERS COURT SUPPORTED OUR PLAN TO INCORPORATE AN OUTSIDE WAGE CONSULTANT TO HELP GO THROUGH THE SURVEYS AND VALIDATE THE NUMBERS. AND SO, AS ADRIANA REFERENCES BOB AND MATT, THEY DID GREAT AND WE NEEDED THEM. BUT IT REALLY GOES A LONG WAY IN VALIDATING THE SURVEY DATA. AND THAT'S REALLY CRITICAL IN THE EVENT THAT WE HAVE DEFENSES THAT WE NEED TO ADDRESS IN THE FUTURE. BUT MORE THAN EVER, JUST TO MAKE SURE THAT WHAT WAS SUBMITTED BY THOSE THOSE RESPONDENTS ON THE SURVEY ARE TRUE VALID DATA. AND SO WE'RE REALLY GRATEFUL TO HAVE PARTNERED WITH SPC THIS TIME.

AND THANK YOU, COURT, FOR SUPPORTING US AND BEING ABLE TO CONTRACT WITH THEM. WELL, TYPICALLY WHEN YOU HAVE THIS KIND OF CONSENSUS, IT TOOK A LOT OF WORK BECAUSE IF YOU DON'T DO IT RIGHT, THERE'S NO CONSENSUS, YOU KNOW? BUT THANK YOU, EVERY ONE OF YOU. THIS IS IMPORTANT FOR OUR COMMUNITY. LIKE YOU SAID, WE TALK A LOT ABOUT, YOU KNOW, WE DON'T WANT OUR INDIVIDUALS TO LEAVE OR FIND WORK ELSEWHERE OR SPLITTING THE FAMILY. I MEAN, THIS IS NOT EL PASO WHERE YOU YOU'RE OKAY WITH THE DAD BEING SOMEWHERE OR THE MOM. AND SO THIS IS VERY IT HAS MORE OF AN IMPACT THAN PEOPLE MIGHT NOT REALIZE. EVERYTHING. THE IMPACT IS GOING TO HAVE ON

[02:15:01]

OUR COMMUNITY TO DO THIS. RIGHT. SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU. WE'RE READY. CAESAR, AS WE GET READY TO CLOSE, JUST WANTED TO SET OUT WHAT THE RECOMMENDATION IS FROM OUR COMMITTEE. AND FOR HEAVY AND HIGHWAY CONSTRUCTION WAGE RECOMMENDATION IS TO APPROVE AND ADOPT THE 2024 PREVAILING WAGE RATES AND JOB DEFINITIONS AS AS PRESENTED FOR THE HEAVY AND HIGHWAY CATEGORY. FOR THE BUILDING CONSTRUCTION WAGE AND RECOMMENDATION IS TO APPROVE THE 2024 PREVAILING WAGE RATES AND JOB DEFINITIONS AS PRESENTED FOR THE BUILDING CONSTRUCTION CATEGORY. NEXT SLIDE PLEASE. SO UNLESS THIS COURT HAS ANY QUESTIONS OR YEAH, WE ALREADY HAVE A MOTION. AND A SECOND WE HAVE A MOTION FROM COMMISSIONER STOUT, A SECOND FROM COMMISSIONER. ONLINE VOTING IS OPEN I VOTE I THANK YOU. MOTION CARRIES. SO WHOEVER YOU NEED TO REACH OUT TO AND LET THEM KNOW THAT WE'RE VERY THANKFUL. I HOPE THEY UNDERSTAND THAT THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT. IT'S SORT OF THE FOUNDATION OF THINGS. SO THANK YOU. DEFINITELY. THANK YOU SO MUCH, COMMISSIONER. THANK YOU. GREAT JOB. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU MELISSA. LET ME.

CAESAR DID THE MOTION INCLUDE BOTH HEAVY HIGHWAY AND BUILDING TRADES? YES IT DID. THANK YOU.

WOULD YOU LIKE TO GO BACK TO ITEM D? YES. ITEM NUMBER EIGHT D RECEIVE A PRESENTATION ON THE FERGUSON GROUP, LLC AND TAKE APPROPRIATE ACTION TO APPROVE AND AUTHORIZE THE COUNTY JUDGE TO SIGN THE THIRD AMENDMENT TO THE FERGUSON GROUP CONSULTING AGREEMENT FOR GRANT CONSULTATION

[D. Receive a presentation on The Ferguson Group, LLC (TFG) and take appropriate action to approve and authorize the County Judge to sign the Third Amendment to the Ferguson Group Consulting Agreement 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]

SERVICES FROM JANUARY 1ST, 2025 THROUGH JUNE 30TH, 2025. IN THE AMOUNT OF $60,000 FUNDS ARE AVAILABLE IN GENERAL FUND BUDGET GT GRANTS. CONTRACT SERVICES. GENERAL CONTRACT NUMBER 2024 0932. GOOD MORNING JUDGE COMMISSIONERS MELISSA CARRILLO, MY FINAL ITEM FOR YOU ALL THIS MORNING. THIS ITEM WAS ON LAST WEEK'S AGENDA. IF YOU RECALL, IT WAS PULLED FOR DISCUSSION. AND WHAT WE AGREED WAS THAT WE'D COME BACK WITH MORE INFORMATION, NOT ONLY ABOUT WHAT TFG DOES, WHO THEY ARE, BUT ALSO WHAT HAVE THEY DONE TO IMPACT EL PASO COUNTY. SO TODAY WE HAVE DAVID HOOVER WITH TFG ON SCREEN, AS WELL AS LETTY AND JESSICA FROM OUR BUDGET AND GRANTS DEPARTMENT, AND THEY WANT TO GIVE YOU AN UPDATE OF SOME OF THOSE QUESTIONS THAT WERE PULLED LAST WEEK SO THAT YOU ALL CAN MAKE A DECISION IF YOU'RE PREPARED TO, FOR TODAY.

OTHERWISE, GIVE US SOME MORE GUIDANCE AND DIRECTION. WE'D BE HAPPY TO COME BACK WITH THAT.

I'M GOING TO TURN IT OVER TO LETTY VIZCAINO WITH OUR GRANTS DEPARTMENT. GOOD MORNING, JUDGE.

COMMISSIONERS. FOR THE RECORD, LETICIA VIZCAINO WITH THE GRANTS MANAGER WITH THE GRANTS DEPARTMENT. SO JUST TO GIVE YOU A LITTLE BIT OF AN OVERVIEW OF THE FERGUSON GROUP, I'M GOING TO DO AN INTRODUCTION AND THEN I'M GOING TO TURN IT OVER TO MR. DAVID HOOVER WITH THE FERGUSON GROUP. FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION AND TO ANSWER SOME OF YOUR QUESTIONS THAT YOU MAY HAVE SOME. SO THE FERGUSON GROUP HAS BEEN WORKING WITH EL PASO COUNTY SINCE 2021. THEIR FIRST AGREEMENT WAS IN THE AMOUNT OF $150,000 THAT WAS FUNDED BY THE NACO, AND THAT ONE WAS FOR ECONOMIC RECOVERY. THEY MOSTLY WORKED WITH THE ECONOMIC DEPARTMENT, AND THEN THEIR SECOND AGREEMENT WAS ENTERED WITH THE COUNTY IN 2022. THAT WAS FUNDED BY THE ARPA FOR $350,000. THAT AGREEMENT INCLUDED SERVICES OF ECONOMIC RECOVERY, ADDITIONAL GRANT OPPORTUNITIES THAT WERE THAT THE COUNTY WAS ELIGIBLE FOR CONSULTING SERVICES, AND FEDERAL APPROPRIATE FEDERAL APPROPRIATIONS. THE THIRD AMENDMENT AMENDMENT IS IN THE AMOUNT OF $60,000 THAT, IF APPROVED TODAY, WILL GO INTO EFFECT JANUARY 1ST. IT'S A SIX MONTH AGREEMENT WITH THE FERGUSON GROUP, AND THAT'S THE ONE THAT'S ON THE AGENDA TODAY FOR APPROVAL. SOME OF THE PROFESSIONAL SERVICES THAT TFG OFFERS TO THE COUNTY ARE OUTLINED HERE, BUT THEY DO SUPPORT OUR DIVISION. AND THEN ALL COUNTY DEPARTMENTS, THEY

[02:20:05]

PROVIDE A WEEKLY NOTICES OF ALL FEDERAL GRANT OPPORTUNITIES THAT THE COUNTY IS ELIGIBLE FOR. WE DO SEND THOSE OUT TO THE PROSPECTIVE DEPARTMENTS SO THAT THEY CAN REVIEW AND CHOOSE THE ONES THAT THEY FEEL ARE APPROPRIATE OR ALIGNED WITH THEIR STRATEGIC PLAN. THE TFG PROVIDES NOTICE OF FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES ON A WEEKLY BASIS THROUGH EMAILS, UPDATES ON FEDERAL INFRASTRUCTURE AND HIGHWAY FUNDING PROGRAMS, WHICH GO OUT TO ALL THE DEPARTMENTS.

AS I MENTIONED, TFG ALSO ASSISTS THE DEPARTMENT. THE DEPARTMENTS SPECIFICALLY, ONCE THEY GET FEEDBACK AND DEFINING THE PROJECT SCOPES FOR FUNDING, ELIGIBILITY AND REVIEW OF SUPPORTING DOCUMENTATION SO THAT THESE PROGRAMS AND GRANT APPLICATIONS ARE READY AND COMPETITIVE AS WELL. OKAY. THANK YOU FOR THE TFG HAS BEEN INSTRUMENTAL IN HELPING THE COUNTY NAVIGATE THE ANNUAL FEDERAL APPROPRIATENESS PROCESS TO ADVANCE OUR COMMUNITY PROJECT FUNDING REQUEST FOR FISCAL YEAR 2025. THE COUNTY IS ON TRACK TO SECURE 4.1 MILLION IN EARMARK FUNDS FOR SEVERAL PROJECTS, INCLUDING SITE REMEDIATION AT THE CORBIN SOPRANO COMMUNITY CENTER AND THE ACQUISITION. ACQUISITION OF A FREE PREFABRICATED STRUCTURE TO SUPPORT VOCATIONAL PROGRAMS AT THE JUVENILE DETENTION CENTER. SO I I'M GOING TO PASS IT ON OVER TO MR. HOOVER, BUT I DO WANT TO SEE IF ANY OF YOU COMMISSIONERS AND JUDGE HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FOR ME IN REGARDS OF WHAT TFG HAS SPECIFICALLY WORKED WITH OUR DEPARTMENT, OR I CAN BE AVAILABLE AT THE END OF MR. HOOVER'S PRESENTATION. IF ANYTHING COMES UP. I'LL PASS IT ON TO MR. HOOVER. NOW. THANK YOU. LETTY. AND APPRECIATE YOUR COMMENTS. AND THE FERGUSON GROUP ALSO APPRECIATES THE OPPORTUNITY TO PROVIDE A REVIEW OF OUR WORK, COLLABORATING WITH THE COUNTY'S GRANTS TEAM AND MULTIPLE DEPARTMENTS ON FEDERAL AND STATE FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES, AND HOW TO BEST POSITION THE COUNTY TO WIN COMPETITIVE GRANTS AND APPROPRIATIONS. A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE FERGUSON GROUP FOR OVER 40 YEARS, WE HAVE PROVIDED FEDERAL LOBBYING SERVICES TO LOCAL GOVERNMENTS ACROSS THE COUNTRY, INCLUDING COUNTIES, CITIES, PUBLIC UTILITIES AND OTHER AGENCIES AND COALITIONS WITH A FOCUS ON FEDERAL LEGISLATION, REGULATIONS AND FUNDING. WE HAVE OVER 45 PROFESSIONALS ON STAFF WITH DECADES OF BIPARTISAN EXPERIENCE WORKING WITH CONGRESS AND FEDERAL AGENCIES IN A VARIETY OF AREAS. THE EL PASO TEAM INCLUDES ME AS THE MAIN POINT OF CONTACT. OUR CEO, ROGER GLENN, ALONG WITH PRINCIPAL ZACH ISRAEL, PROJECT GRANTS MANAGER JAY DELAROSA, AND ALSO A GRANT SPECIALIST, LIZ VELA, ARE ALL ON THE TEAM, AND WE HAVE BEEN WORKING OVER THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS WITH YOUR GRANTS DEPARTMENT SINCE 2015, TFG HAS HELPED OUR CLIENTS WIN MORE THAN $6 BILLION IN COMPETITIVE FEDERAL GRANTS AND LOANS AND SINCE FISCAL YEAR 2022, WHEN EARMARKS RETURNED, OUR CLIENTS HAVE SECURED NEARLY 300 MILLION IN FUNDING FOR THEIR PROJECT PRIORITIES. NEXT SLIDE. SO AFTER INITIAL CONVERSATIONS IN 2021 WITH THE COUNTY GRANTS TEAM, WE HELPED, WHICH HELPED US BETTER UNDERSTAND YOUR STRATEGIC PRIORITIES. TFG DRAFTED A 24 PAGE FEDERAL FUNDING STRATEGY IN SUPPORT OF YOUR AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN. CORONAVIRUS, STATE AND LOCAL FISCAL RECOVERY FUND PROJECTS. THIS DOCUMENT SERVED AS A STARTING POINT TO SHOW THE COUNTY THE REALM OF GRANT POSSIBILITIES ACROSS THE DIFFERENT FEDERAL AGENCIES AND OTHER TOPIC AREAS THROUGH ONGOING DISCUSSIONS AND DEPARTMENT INTERVIEWS, INCLUDING RECENT INTERVIEWS THIS PAST FALL, TFG HAS BEEN ABLE TO UPDATE THIS FEDERAL FUNDING STRATEGY TO KEEP TRACK OF THE COUNTY'S PROJECT PRIORITIES AND UPCOMING OPPORTUNITIES THROUGH GRANT FUNDING UPDATES, TFG SENDS GRANT FUNDING ALERTS TO THE COUNTY TO NOTIFY INTERESTED DEPARTMENTS OF RECENTLY ANNOUNCED OPEN GRANT PROGRAMS

[02:25:05]

THAT MATCH THEIR PROJECT FUNDING NEEDS. INFORMATION LIKE GRANT REQUIREMENTS, COST SHARES, AND MINIMUM AND MAXIMUM AWARD AMOUNTS ARE SUMMARIZED. THE ALERTS ALSO INCLUDE LINKS TO MORE IN-DEPTH GRANT PROFILES, WHICH TAKE A DEEPER DIVE INTO THAT FUNDING OPPORTUNITY. THESE RECENTLY ANNOUNCED PROGRAMS ARE HIGHLIGHTED IN OUR WEEKLY GRANTS UPDATE NEWSLETTER, WHICH IS PUBLISHED ON FRIDAYS. TFG ALSO PUBLISHES OTHER WEEKLY OR BIWEEKLY NEWSLETTERS LIKE THE TRANSPORTATION NOTES OR THE INFRASTRUCTURE FUNDING BULLETIN, AS LETTY MENTIONED, WHICH TRACKED ALL OF THESE GRANT ANNOUNCEMENTS AS WELL. ON THE SECOND THURSDAY OF EACH MONTH FOR SEVERAL YEARS NOW, TFG AND THE COUNTY MEET FOR ABOUT AN HOUR TO DISCUSS THESE FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES AND THEIR SUITABILITY FOR COUNTY PROJECTS. DURING THAT MEETING, TFG SHARES ITS GRANTS MATRIX, A SPREADSHEET WHICH INCLUDES INFORMATION ON ALL GRANT PROGRAMS OF INTEREST TO THE COUNTY. THE STATUS OF COUNTY GRANT APPLICATIONS, AND OR INITIAL PROJECT DISCUSSIONS AND INFORMATION SHARED WITH THE COUNTY SINCE THE LAST MONTHLY MEETING, SUCH AS GRANTS ALERTS.

TFG ALSO CREATED AN ONLINE GRANT PROJECT PORTAL SPECIFICALLY FOR THE COUNTY. SO YOUR GRANTS TEAM OR DEPARTMENT HEADS AND STAFF CAN SUBMIT POTENTIAL PROJECT IDEAS TO SEE WHAT GRANT FUNDING MIGHT MATCH UP WITH IT, OR ALSO INITIATE A GRANT WRITING OR REVIEW REQUEST FOR A SPECIFIC FEDERAL OR STATE GRANT PROGRAM. IF THE COUNTY MOVES FORWARD WITH A GRANT APPLICATION, TFG SCHEDULES AN APPLICATION KICKOFF CALL AND DRAFTS A NEED SHEET AND TIMELINE FOR THE COUNTY'S PROJECT TEAM, WHICH PROVIDES A CHECKLIST OF APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS AND INTERNAL DUE DATES FOR THE COMPLETION OF THE APPLICATION COMPONENTS. OUR GRANT WRITER THEN MEETS WITH THE TEAM FOR WEEKLY APPLICATION CALLS TO TRACK PROGRESS ON THE APPLICATION AND TO ENSURE THE TIMELY SUBMITTAL OF A COMPETITIVE APPLICATION AND ONCE SUBMITTED, TFG SOLICITS FEEDBACK FROM THE COUNTY'S PROJECT TEAM ABOUT THE APPLICATION PROCESS AND HOW IT CAN BE IMPROVED. IF FUNDING IS NOT AWARDED, THE COUNTY CAN REQUEST A DEBRIEF SESSION IF ALLOWED WITH A FEDERAL GRANTS PROGRAM MANAGER, AND THAT FEEDBACK PROVIDES VALUABLE INFORMATION IF THE COUNTY DECIDES TO RESUBMIT ITS APPLICATION IN A SUBSEQUENT FUNDING CYCLE, THIS ENTIRE GRANT PROCESS IS VERY COLLABORATIVE, AND TFG WORKS TO PROVIDE ADVANCE NOTICE OF THESE FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES. SO THE COUNTY HAS WEEKS BEFORE THE APPLICATION WINDOW OPENS, TO DO PREP WORK.

NEXT SLIDE. SO TFG WORKED WITH THE COUNTIES TO SUBMIT 15 COMPETITIVE GRANT APPLICATIONS AND COMMUNITY PROJECT FUNDING REQUESTS THAT WERE APPROVED BY HOUSE APPROPRIATORS. ABOUT 6.4 MILLION WAS AWARDED TO THE COUNTY THROUGH THE COMMUNITY PROJECT FUNDING REQUESTS. THAT'S THE WORK WE DID AT TFG WORKING WITH YOUR CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION, AS WELL AS APPROPRIATORS FROM THE SENATE AND HOUSE, FROM THE HOUSE APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE, MAKING SURE YOUR REQUESTS FOR PROJECT FUNDING HAD MET ALL QUALIFICATIONS AND ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS, AND THEN WORKING TO BASICALLY ADVOCATE FOR THOSE SPENDING REQUESTS OVER A TWO YEAR PERIOD, TFG HAD COUNTLESS DISCUSSIONS ON POTENTIAL GRANT APPLICATIONS, BUT FOR A VARIETY OF REASONS, SUCH AS ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS, THE COUNTY DID NOT MOVE FORWARD WITH A GRANT WRITING REQUEST FOR GRANT WRITING REQUESTS THAT DID MOVE FORWARD. SEVERAL APPLICATIONS WERE NOT SUBMITTED EITHER DUE TO THE LACK OF TIME TO DRAFT A COMPETITIVE APPLICATION OR SPECIFIC GRANT PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS FOR EXAMPLE, THE COUNTY DID NOT SUBMIT ITS FY 2023 REIMAGING JUSTICE GRANT BECAUSE OF THE PROCUREMENT PROCESS. IT WAS GOING TO BE TOO TIGHT OF A WINDOW TO SECURE VENDORS BASED ON INTERNAL COUNTY REVIEW PROCESSES. NEXT SLIDE.

CAN WE CAN OH, I'M SORRY. BEFORE WE MOVE ON FROM THIS SLIDE. NO, NO GO AHEAD. SO I HAD A QUESTION. THE PIE CHART TO THE RIGHT. TOTAL AMOUNT REQUESTED VERSUS AMOUNT AWARDED I THOUGHT I HEARD THAT THE 6.4 AWARDED. WAS THAT ALL CFP FUNDS OR THESE ARE OTHER GRANTS THAT ARE NOT CFP. YES. THAT WAS ALL COMMUNITY PROJECT FUNDING, WHICH IS A LENGTHY PROCESS THAT WE GO THROUGH. AND THE YOU KNOW, THE REASON FOR THAT, WE'VE NOT ALL OF THEM WERE COMMUNITY PROJECT.

THE AWARDS WERE ACTUALLY COMMUNITY PROJECT FUNDING AWARDS. BUT AS FAR AS ALL THE APPLICATIONS THAT WERE SUBMITTED, INCLUDING GRANTS, WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE GRANTS SPECIFICALLY, WE HAVE HAD FOR VARYING REASONS. AS I MENTIONED EARLIER, WE DO NOT HAVE AWARDS FOR SOME OF THOSE GRANTS. AND SO THE GRANTS THAT THE COUNTY BROUGHT TO US TO BASICALLY PARTICIPATE IN THE GRANT WRITING PROCESS, WE PUT THOSE APPLICATIONS TOGETHER. WE DID SUBMIT THOSE. BUT AS YOU PROBABLY ALL WELL UNDERSTAND, THE FEDERAL GRANTS PROCESS IS

[02:30:01]

VERY COMPETITIVE AND THE WE, YOU KNOW, HAVE DONE WORK ON HAVING DEBRIEFS, WHICH I'LL TALK TO YOU A MINUTE, IN A MINUTE. BUT A LOT OF TIMES WHEN WE DO GET FEEDBACK FROM GRANT PROGRAM MANAGERS AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL, THAT INFORMATION IS VERY HELPFUL FOR US TO ASSESS AND HOW TO MAKE CORRECTIONS, HOW TO IMPROVE THE APPLICATIONS FOR A SUBSEQUENT FUNDING CYCLE. YOU KNOW, WE HAVE HAVE NOT EVALUATED, YOU KNOW, OUR GRANT WIN RATE FOR THIS YEA, BUT ANYWHERE IT COULD BE AROUND 65, UP TO 70% WIN GRANT RATE. AND BASED ON THAT, YOU KNOW, LIKE I SAID, IT'S A VERY COMPETITIVE PROCESS. WE DO HAVE VERY SKILLED, EXPERIENCED GRANT WRITERS. WE WORK WITH THE COUNTY TO MAKE SURE THIS PROCESS IS SEAMLESS AND THAT WE'RE GETTING THE INFORMATION THAT WE NEED TO BASICALLY PUT TOGETHER SOME OF THESE COMPETITIVE APPLICATIONS. SO WERE ANY GRANT APPLICATIONS THAT WERE SUBMITTED WITH TFG'S ASSISTANCE APPROVED OTHER THAN THE CFP? SO TAKING THE CFP OUT OF THE EQUATION, HOW MANY AWARDS DID WE RECEIVE FOR APPLICATIONS SUBMITTED WITH TFG'S HELP? AT THIS POINT, ZERO. BUT AS YOU SEE FROM THE NEXT SLIDE, IF WE CAN MAYBE GO TO THAT. WE HAVE WE'RE CURRENTLY WORKING ON A RAISE GRANT, WHICH IS A INCREDIBLY LARGE COMPLEX GRANT APPLICATION.

WE SUBMITTED THIS GRANT IN 20. THE LAST FUNDING CYCLE. AND THIS PROJECT, JUST FYI, IS TO EXTEND A PORTION OF THE BOB HOPE DRIVE. THAT APPLICATION PROCESS IS GOING WELL, AND WE ARE ON TRACK TO MEET THE JANUARY 30TH DEADLINE NEXT YEAR. AS I SAID, THIS IS A RESUBMITTAL OF LAST YEAR'S GRANT APPLICATION AFTER UPDATING IT TO ADDRESS FEEDBACK DURING THE GRANT DEBRIEF WITH THE FEDERAL PROGRAM ADMINISTRATORS, LAST YEAR'S APPLICATION MADE IT TO THE SECOND ROUND OF REVIEW. TO PUT THIS IN PERSPECTIVE, THERE WERE ONLY FOUR RAISED GRANTS SELECTED FROM THE STATE OF TEXAS. YOU THINK OF HOW LARGE TEXAS IS. ALL THE COMMUNITIES THERE, AND YOU LOOK AT ALL THE APPLICATIONS THAT WERE SUBMITTED FROM THE STATE AS WELL AS NATIONALLY. YOU KNOW, I THINK THERE WAS ABOUT A 4% GRANT AWARD, BASICALLY PERCENTAGE. SO IT WAS VERY, VERY COMPETITIVE IN OUR EXPERIENCE, AS I MENTIONED, WHEN AN APPLICATION DEFICIENCIES ARE ADDRESSED AND AN APPLICATION IS RESUBMITTED, YOU KNOW, A GRANT AWARD IS MORE LIKELY. SO LIKE I SAID, WE'VE GOTTEN GOOD FEEDBACK ON THE RAISE GRANT FROM LAST YEAR. WE'RE WORKING WITH THE COUNTY TO BASICALLY ADDRESS SOME OF THE ISSUES, AND WE ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO SUBMITTING THAT AND KEEPING OUR FINGERS CROSSED ON THAT. THE NEXT SLIDE, SLIDE NINE. BEFORE YOU GO ON, ARE YOU FINISHED? YES, YES, BEFORE COMMISSIONER OLGUIN ASKED YOU A QUESTION, YOU HAD MADE A COMMENT THAT A SPECIFIC GRANT WE DIDN'T GO AFTER IT BECAUSE OF NOT BEING ENOUGH TIME. WHAT GRANT WAS THAT AND WHY WASN'T THERE ENOUGH TIME? WELL, FOR INSTANCE, WE ACTUALLY SUBMITTED AN APPLICATION. WELL, I'LL GET TO THE COMMUNITY CHANGE GRANT APPLICATION. BUT, YOU KNOW, THE ONES THAT WE LOOKED AT FOR INSTANCE, A YEAR AGO IN JANUARY, THIS 2023, WE WERE APPROACHED FROM THE COUNTY TO SUBMIT A DISTANCE LEARNING AND TELEMEDICINE GRANT FOR A PROJECT BENEFITING A RURAL AREA OF THE COUNTY. A COMMUNITY CENTER, SO THEY CAN BASICALLY DO ONLINE LEARNING, BASICALLY HELP WITH APPLICATIONS, EMPLOYMENT TYPE ISSUES, JOB APPLICATIONS, ALL THOSE TYPE OF THINGS THAT ARE HELPFUL USING BROADBAND. WE RECEIVED THAT PARTICULAR REQUEST QUITE LATE INTO THE PROCESS. AND BECAUSE I'M SORRY, CAN I STOP YOU THERE? YOU RECEIVED THE REQUEST FROM THE COUNTY. YES. YES. OKAY. NOW LET ME BEFORE YOU GO ON. ISN'T IT YOUR JOB THEN TO NOTIFY US? HEY, THIS THIS GRANT, THERE'S A POSSIBILITY YOU NOTIFY US BEFORE WE CATCH IT. YES, THAT'S WHAT WE DO. WE DO SEND OUT ALERTS AND WE DO TARGET THROUGH AS THE GRANTS MATRIX. I MENTIONED A LITTLE BIT EARLIER KIND OF NOTIFYING WHEN THESE APPLICATIONS ARE GOING TO COME OPEN. IN THIS PARTICULAR CASE, WE WERE NOT AWARE OF THE, YOU KNOW, THE NEED FOR THIS PARTICULAR PROJECT FUNDING WITH THIS DISTANCE LEARNING TELEMEDICINE PROJECT AND SO WE PIVOTED VERY QUICKLY. OUR GRANT WRITER BASICALLY SUBMITTED A FULL GRANT WITHIN THREE WEEKS.

IT'S NOT A HUGELY COMPLEX GRANT COMPARED TO LIKE A RAISE GRANT, BUT BECAUSE OF THAT, YOU KNOW, WE BASICALLY DID YEOMAN'S WORK WORKING WITH THE COUNTY STAFF TO BASICALLY PUT TOGETHER A

[02:35:01]

COMPETITIVE APPLICATION. BUT I THINK THE LESSONS LEARNED FROM THIS IS THE MORE HEADS UP WE HAVE WORKING WITH THE COUNTY, WE'VE MADE THOSE IMPROVEMENTS, WORKING WITH THE COUNTY TO MAKE SURE THAT WE KNOW ALL THE PROJECT PRIORITIES ARE AND WE HAVE BEEN DUTIFULLY NOTIFYING THE COUNTY OF THESE FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES AND MAKING SURE THEY'RE NOTIFIED. SO WE HAVE A PROCESS IN PLACE THAT GIVES US ADDITIONAL TIME TO BASICALLY DRAFT A COMPETITIVE APPLICATION.

THAT'S REALLY WHAT IT IS. I MEAN, IF YOU FAIL TO PLAN, YOU PLAN TO FAIL. AND WE HAVE BEEN DOING THAT WORKING WITH THE COUNTY TO IMPROVE THESE PROCESSES WITH THE COUNTY. SO THEY HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO BASICALLY BE IN THE BEST POSITION FORWARD IF THEY DECIDE TO MOVE WITH A GRANT WRITING REQUEST FROM TFG MR. HOOVER THANK YOU. AND I UNDERSTAND IN MY CONVERSATIONS WITH BETSY THAT YOUR COMPANY HAS BEEN VERY HELPFUL TO OUR COUNTY, EVEN BEFORE YOU HAD A CONTRACT WITH US. SO I DO APPRECIATE THAT. BUT WE'RE PAYING YOU OVER 385,000 OVER A TWO YEAR PERIOD. AND GOING BACK TO THIS SPECIFIC GRANT, AND I'M JUST TRYING TO BE AS CANDID AS I CAN, THAT YOU'RE AWARE OF THESE POSSIBILITIES. AND IN SOME INSTANCES, POSSIBLY YOU FAIL TO NOTIFY THE COUNTY, HEY, THIS IS COMING UP. YOU MIGHT BE INTERESTED IN THIS. SO I GUESS THAT'S MY QUESTION TO YOU. MAYBE IF YOU CAN RESTATE THE QUESTION AGAIN, THAT WHAT WAS IF I THINK I UNDERSTAND YOUR QUESTION IS THAT YOU BELIEVE TFG IS AWARE OF GRANT POSSIBILITIES, BUT WE'RE NOT AWARE THAT THAT DOES NOT MAKE US AWARE. I GUESS THAT'S THE BOTTOM LINE. YEAH, SPECIFICALLY THIS ONE. SO FIGURE OUT WHAT HAPPENED. YEAH. IF THEY KNEW ABOUT THIS ONE. AND I'VE GOT OTHER QUESTIONS ON ANOTHER GRANT. BUT THESE OPPORTUNITIES THAT YOU ARE PRIVY TO AND THEN YOU DON'T NOTIFY OUR COUNTY IN TIME TO TAKE ACTION. SO WHETHER YOU KNOW OR DON'T KNOW THAT WE'RE EVEN INTERESTED, I THINK IT WOULD BE VERY IMPORTANT TO US. HEY, THEY'RE NOTIFYING NOTIFYING US ABOUT THIS POSSIBILITY, AND WE. THEN IT'S UP TO US. NO, I DON'T THINK WE WANT TO GO IN THAT DIRECTION OR WE DO. SO AGAIN, I GUESS IT'S A VERY SIMPLE QUESTION. WHY WERE WE NOT NOTIFIED IN A TIMELY MANNER? I THINK WE, YOU KNOW, WE WERE ACTUALLY WHEN THE PROCESS HAS IMPROVED, WORKING WITH THE COUNTY, UNDERSTANDING THE COUNTY'S PROCESSES WITH THE GRANTS TEAM AND DIFFERENT DEPARTMENT HEADS, WE IMPROVED ON THOSE PROCESSES. I WILL ALSO SAY THAT, YOU KNOW, WE'VE HAD MULTIPLE TOUCH POINTS WHERE THE COUNTY GRANTS TEAM, WHERE WE HAVE ALERTED THEM, WE HAVE REVIEWED THESE WITH OUR MONTHLY MEETINGS AND WITH ALL OF OUR PUBLICATIONS AND THE GRANT ALERT EMAILS THAT GO OUT IMMEDIATELY. YOU KNOW, FOR INSTANCE, THERE'S USDA HAS A WASTEWATER AND WATER SYSTEM GRANT THAT JUST BECAME AVAILABLE AND WE HAD ALREADY BASICALLY PROVIDED THAT INFORMATION TO THE COUNTY WHEN THE GRANT WINDOW OPENED. WE IMMEDIATELY SENT A GRANT ALERT TO THEM JUST TO LET THEM KNOW. AND SO, YOU KNOW, OUR GOAL IS TO PROVIDE AS MUCH LEEWAY FOR THE COUNTY. ALSO, UNDERSTANDING THE COUNTY'S PRIORITIES. BASICALLY, MAKE SURE THAT WE'VE GOT THE LEAD TIME IN ORDER TO WRITE A COMPETITIVE APPLICATION.

COMMISSIONER, MAY I INTERJECT? THANK YOU, DAVID, I APPRECIATE THAT. ONE OF THE THINGS I ABSOLUTELY WANT TO SAY IS WHEN THE QUESTION IS ASKED, DID THEY NOTIFY US TIMELY? I THINK THEY DO AN EXCELLENT JOB COMMUNICATING WITH US. WE HAVE BY EVERY TWO WEEKS WE HAVE A STANDING CALL WHERE WE GET ON. WE REVIEW A LIST, WE SEE EVERYTHING THAT'S OUT THERE. WE LOOK TO SEE WHAT APPLIES POSSIBLY TO THE COUNTY, HOW IT RELATES TO OUR STRATEGIC PLANS.

THEY GET A COPY OF OUR STRATEGIC PLAN AS SOON AS YOU ALL MAKE YOUR DECISIONS AND WE ADOPT IT.

SO THEY CAN ACTIVELY GO LOOK FOR FUNDING THAT RELATES TO THOSE STRATEGIC PLANS. WHAT I WANT TO SAY IS WE'VE IDENTIFIED SOME AREAS OF OPPORTUNITY WITHIN OUR OWN INTERNAL GRANTS PROCESS AS WELL, WHERE WE NEED TO WORK TO IMPROVE HOW WE BRING THESE GRANTS TO FRUITION TO THE FULL COURT'S ATTENTION BEFORE WE EVEN MOVE FORWARD. AND I KNOW THE GRANT THAT YOU'RE GOING TO GET, TO WHICH WE DO HAVE SOME SLIDES TO ADDRESS, BUT WITH THAT, WITH THAT PARTICULAR GRANT, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT GLARINGLY SHOT OUT TO ME WAS WE HAD ALREADY MOVED THROUGH THIS HUGE OPPORTUNITY WHERE MONTHS INTO I, WE PICKED A PROJECT OR TWO. ONE FELL THROUGH, AND THEN WE'RE GETTING TO THE SECOND ONE THAT EVENTUALLY FELL THROUGH. AND YOU'LL HEAR MORE ABOUT THAT IN JUST A BIT. BUT ONE OF THE THINGS THAT JUMPED OUT TO ME IS WE DIDN'T COME TO THE COURT INITIALLY AND SAY, THERE'S THIS WONDERFUL EPA GRANT OPPORTUNITY FOR $20 MILLION. THESE ARE THE PROJECTS WE THINK WE SHOULD GO AFTER. WHAT DO YOU ALL THINK? WE DIDN'T DO THAT. WE JUST MOVED, RIGHT? WE JUST MOVED. AND SO AS THINGS STARTED FALLING APART BY JULY, BY AUGUST, KNOWING THE

[02:40:02]

DEADLINE WAS COMING IN NOVEMBER, WE DIDN'T HAVE ANYTHING ELSE TO GO OFF OF BECAUSE THESE WERE THE PROJECTS WE WERE ALREADY PUSHING FORWARD. SO WE'RE WORKING INTERNALLY. JESSICA, MYSELF AND IVAN GARCIA TO REDESIGN HOW ARE WE DOING THINGS SO THAT THIS DOESN'T HAPPEN SO THAT YOU, YOU ALL ARE GUIDING US AND MAKING DECISIONS ON PROJECTS THAT ARE IN YOUR PRECINCTS SO THAT WE INFORM TFG. AND SO JUST TO YOUR QUESTION, WHEN YOU SAY, ARE YOU NOTIFYING US, I THINK THEY DO AN EXCELLENT JOB NOTIFYING US. I THINK WE HAVE SOME WORK THAT WE'VE GOT TO DO ON HOW WE COMMUNICATE WITH OUR DEPARTMENTS, HOW WE NOTIFY YOU AND THEN HOW WE ACTUALLY AGREE TO MOVE FORWARD ON THESE GRANT OPPORTUNITIES. AND MELISSA, SINCE YOU BROUGHT UP THAT EPA GRANT, THERE'S A POSSIBILITY OF US, OF US HAVING LOST A THE OPPORTUNITY OF A $20 MILLION GRANT AND THIS IS MY QUESTION TO YOU AND FERGUSON, WHY DID FERGUSON WAIT OVER TWO MONTHS TO DETERMINE THAT THE WASTEWATER PROJECT WAS NOT COMPETITIVE? AFTER MEETING WITH MY PRECINCT AND ASKING TO CONSIDER AN ALTERNATIVE? THE MELISSA, I'LL ADDRESS THAT. AND MAYBE IF WE COULD. YES, MAYBE WE WE'LL GET TO THAT SLIDE. BUT I'LL SAY JUST OFFHAND THAT THAT PROJECT WAS ACTUALLY COMPETITIVE. WE WORKED WITH A PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT. THEY HAD A WASTEWATER PROJECT THAT BENEFITED THE ATHENA WEST AND THE VALLEY BAJO COMMUNITIES. ABOUT 300 HOMES, WHICH WOULD BE A SEPTIC TO SEWER CONVERSION PROJECT. THE ISSUE WITH THAT, AND WE'LL GET TO SOME OF THESE SLIDES IS SOMETIMES, YOU KNOW, THE REQUIREMENTS IN THE NOFO FOR THE EPA'S COMMUNITY CHANGE GRANT. IT BASICALLY REQUIRED A LOT OF THINGS THAT WERE NEVER PART OF THE ORIGINAL FUNDING REQUEST THAT THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT MADE, WHICH WAS BASED ON WASTEWATER AND THE ISSUE WITH THAT IS, YOU KNOW, IT'S IMPORTANT TO KEEP IN MIND THAT NOT ALL PROJECTS FIT NEATLY INTO GRANT PROGRAMS. OFTEN, APPLICANTS KIND OF MUST ADJUST THEIR PROJECTS TO FIT WITHIN THE CONFINES OF THE GRANT. NOW, THE ISSUE WITH THIS EPA CHANGE GRANT AS IT RELATES TO THE WASTEWATER PROJECT IS THAT ACTUALLY FIT PERFECTLY WITHIN THE NOFO REQUIREMENTS FOR THAT PART OF IT. BUT THERE WERE SIX OTHER BASICALLY REQUIREMENTS THAT HAD MULTIPLE STRATEGY RECOMMENDATIONS THAT YOU HAD TO FOLLOW. AND FOR INSTANCE, ONE OF THE THINGS WITH THE EPA COMMUNITY CHANGE GRANT PROGRAM WAS YOU NEEDED TO WORK WITH THE COMMUNITY BENEFITS ORGANIZATION, A CBO BASICALLY A COMMUNITY PARTNER, IN ORDER TO SUBMIT AN APPLICATION. AND WE HAD ORIGINALLY BEEN WORKING WITH THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE ON THE TORNILLO POINT OF ENTRY PROJECT, WHICH I'LL GET TO IN A MOMENT. BUT WE DECIDED TO LOOK AT THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE'S POTENTIAL APPLICANT, CBO, WITH THIS APPLICATION THAT DID NOT WORK FOR A SEVERAL. MR. HOOVER, I'M SORRY TO INTERRUPT YOU AGAIN. SURE. BUT WHEN AN ALTERNATIVE WAS OFFERED. BUT YET YOU FAILED TO CONSIDER THAT WHICH WE FELT WOULD ADMIT MORE, BETTER, BETTER FIT THE GRANT. THEN AFTER A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF TIME, IT WAS TOO LATE. WHY THAT LAG TIME? WE DIDN'T HAVE A BASICALLY A PARTNER TO WORK WITH, EVEN THOUGH WE HAD A COMPETITIVE GRANT. WHEN IT COMES TO THE ACTUAL PROJECT WASTEWATER, WHICH WAS ACTUALLY IN THE NOFO, SEPTIC CONVERSIONS WERE ACTUALLY LANGUAGE THAT WAS CONSIDERED A PROJECT THAT WAS ELIGIBLE IN THAT NOFO. BUT WE STILL NEEDED A PARTNER. WE HAD WORKED WITH TWO OTHER POTENTIAL COMMUNITY BENEFIT ORGANIZATIONS TO BE OUR PARTNER WITH THE COUNTY, AND BASED ON FEEDBACK FROM THEM, THEY WERE WORKING ON ANOTHER APPLICATION OR THEY DO NOT HAVE THE WHEREWITHAL TO TAKE IT ON AND THEN OR JUST A LACK OF COMMUNICATION BACK FROM THAT POTENTIAL PARTNER. WE SQUEEZED BLOOD OUT OF THE STONE. WE WENT BACK TO THIS THREE TIMES TRYING TO FIND AN ELIGIBLE COMMUNITY BENEFITS PARTNER, AND WE WERE HOPING THAT WE WOULD BE ABLE TO SUBMIT THIS COMPETITIVE APPLICATION BECAUSE IT WAS WE HAD EPA, THE REGIONAL DIRECTOR THERE IN TEXAS, AND SOME OTHER STATES, ALONG WITH OTHER STAFF MEMBERS THERE FROM THE EPA, MENTIONED THAT IF YOU COULD FIND A COMMUNITY BENEFITS ORGANIZATION, THIS APPLICATION WILL BE COMPETITIVE, BUT UNFORTUNATELY, WE DID NOT HAVE A PARTNER THAT FOR THE REASONS I HAD MENTIONED. AND THE OTHER THING IS WE DIDN'T WANT TO PUT THE COUNTY INTO A POSITION WHER, YOU KNOW, THIS GRANT WORK HAD TO BE STARTED WITHIN 120 DAYS. AND THEN THERE WAS A THREE YEAR TIMELINE WHERE YOU BASICALLY HAD TO HAVE THIS PROJECT COMPLETED,

[02:45:02]

AND THERE WAS A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF RESPONSIBILITIES PUT ON THE COMMUNITY BENEFIT ORGANIZATION, ALONG WITH COLLABORATING ENTITIES THAT WERE RESPONSIBLE FOR A LOT OF THIS PROJECT. AND BY NOT HAVING A PROJECT THAT WE COULD FEEL THAT THEY WOULD BRING TO THE TABLE WHAT THEY PROMISED WE WERE GOING TO PUT THE COUNTY IN A POSITION THAT YOU GUYS ARE GOING TO BE ON. IF YOU WERE AWARDED ANY MONEY, WHICH WOULD HAVE BEEN A DOUBTFUL SINCE WE DIDN'T HAVE A COMMUNITY, WE COULDN'T SUBMIT WITHOUT A GOOD CBO AT THIS POINT. BUT EVEN IF YOU HAD BEEN AWARDED THAT MONEY, THE ISSUE IS PARTNER MAY WOULD PROBABLY WOULD HAVE HAD DIFFICULTIES FOLLOWING THROUGH ON ALL THE REQUIREMENTS AND THE NOTICE OF FUNDING OBLIGATION. AND BECAUSE OF THAT, THAT'S WHY WE MADE THE RECOMMENDATION THAT WE HAVE TRIED EVERY POSSIBLE AVENUE HERE, BECAUSE WE KNEW HOW IMPORTANT THIS PROJECT WAS TO THE COURT HERE, AS WELL AS THE GRANTS DEPARTMENT, PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT. WE KNOW YOU GUYS NEED FUNDING, AND WE REALLY TRIED EVERY POSSIBLE AVENUE TO DO THAT. THIS WITH THIS PROJECT, AND IT DID NOT COME TO FRUITION.

AND WE DID NOT WANT TO SPEND ANY MORE OF THE COUNTY'S TIME OR RESOURCES BEATING A DEAD HORSE.

SO THIS THIS WAS THE RIGHT DECISION. IT WAS UNFORTUNATE HOW THIS PLAYED OUT. BUT WE WERE REALLY FOCUSED ON GETTING THIS DONE. MR. HOOVER AGAIN, AGAIN BEFORE YOU SAY SOMETHING ELSE, BETSY, ALSO, I NEEDED TO ADD THAT YOU HAVE A WE I'M LOOKING AT AN OCTOBER 8TH MEMO FROM YOU ALL LETTING US KNOW THAT FERGUSON GRANT WRITER WORKED WITH TWO OTHER EPA COMMUNITY CHANGE GRANT APPLICANTS BASED ON HIS ASSESSMENT OF THESE APPLICATIONS AND A REVIEW OF PREVIOUSLY ANNOUNCED GRANT AWARDS, HE DETERMINED THAT THE COUNTY'S APPLICATION WAS NOT COMPETITIVE AND WHAT HE WAS REFERRING TO IT WAS NOT COMPETITIVE FROM THE STANDPOINT THAT WE DIDN'T HAVE A CBO YET. SO THAT'S WHAT THE ISSUE WAS THAT WAS ALWAYS THE ISSUE, THE AND I KNOW THAT GRANT WRITER PERSONALLY, AND HE HAD WORKED ON TWO OTHER APPLICATIONS FOR OTHER ENTITIES THERE. AND, YOU KNOW, BASED ON THAT, THE ISSUE WAS THE PARTNER NOT HAVING A CBO THAT WE COULD RELY ON. AND IF YOU DON'T HAVE THAT, YOU DON'T HAVE A COMPETITIVE APPLICATION. YOU CAN'T EVEN SUBMIT. LET ME YOU NEED TO HAVE A CBO. AND THAT WAS PART OF THE REQUIREMENTS. LIKE I SAID, THE ANALOGY HERE IS TRYING TO FIT A SQUARE PEG INTO A ROUND HOLE. THE SQUARE PEG IS THIS WASTEWATER PROJECT THAT BENEFITS THESE TWO COMMUNITIES IN THE COUNTY. AND THE ROUND HOLE IS ALL OF THE REQUIREMENTS THAT YOU NEED TO GO THROUGH. BASICALLY, THERE'S A LOT OF LOOPS HERE THAT YOU HAVE TO GO THROUGH IN ORDER TO MEET ALL THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE GRANT PROGRAM AND SUBMIT IT.

SO THERE WAS ALL THIS ADDITIONAL STUFF THAT WE HAD TO DO. AND BECAUSE OF THAT, NOT HAVING A CBO THAT WOULD TAKE IT ALL ON THESE BASICALLY THESE RESPONSIBILITIES, WORKING WITH OTHER COLLABORATING ENTITIES, THAT WAS THE ISSUE. OKAY, DAVID, JUST A SECOND. BETSY, YOU HAVE A COMMENT. YOU'VE BEEN WANTING TO I THINK WHAT THE QUESTION IS, DAVID, IS WE BELIEVE THAT COMMISSIONER LEON IS BELIEVING AND UNDER WITH THE UNDERSTANDING THAT THERE WAS A DIFFERENT PROJECT SUBMITTED OR BROUGHT TO THE TABLE SOMETIME IN THE SUMMER OF 2024. THAT COMMISSIONER, I DON'T KNOW, DID WE ALREADY HAVE A COMMUNITY BENEFIT PARTNER FOR THAT PROJECT? I THINK SO THE PROBLEM WAS THAT IS, IT WAS OFFERED AND I GUESS FERGUSON JUST DIDN'T GIVE US AN ANSWER.

THEN AFTER A COUPLE OF MONTHS AND IT WAS TOO LATE, AND WE AT THAT POINT, WHAT WE SHOULD HAVE DONE IS WE SHOULD HAVE BROUGHT IT TO THE COURT TO MAKE A DECISION ON WHICH APPLICATION, WHICH PROJECT TO APPLY FOR. WE HAD BEEN WORKING ON THE ONE AND WE WERE TRYING TO FIND A COMMUNITY PARTNER FOR THAT ONE, AND WE WERE SO FOCUSED ON THAT ONE. I WAS NOT I WAS NOT AWARE OF THE OTHER ONE BEING BROUGHT FORWARD DURING THE SUMMER IN THAT MEETING. BUT WHEN THE OTHER ONE WAS BROUGHT FORWARD, WE SHOULD HAVE LOOKED TO SEE WHICH ONE WAS MORE VIABLE, WHICH ONE WAS MORE LIKELY TO HAVE A COMMUNITY BASED ORGANIZATION THAT WOULD BE WILLING TO COME TO THE TABLE. WE DID THINK WE WOULD HAVE SOMEBODY FOR THE STORM, THE SEWER PROJECTS, AND WE DID GET SOMEBODY, BUT THEY BY THE TIME THEY AGREED AND SUBMITTED AND THEY WERE WORKING ON, I BELIEVE, MULTIPLE THINGS AT THE SAME TIM, THE WHAT THEY SUBMITTED WAS NOT STRONG ENOUGH AS A COMMUNITY BENEFIT ORGANIZATION. CORRECT ME IF THAT'S INCORRECT, DAVID, BUT THAT'S THAT'S WHAT I UNDERSTOOD HAPPENED. COMMISSIONER, I DON'T KNOW IF YOU HAVE MORE INFORMATION ABOUT BY THE TIME WE IDENTIFIED THE COMMUNITY BENEFIT ORGANIZATION. YEAH. YOU KNOW, I, I DO AGREE WITH A LOT OF

[02:50:05]

COMMISSIONER LEON'S CONCERNS REGARDING AND I UNDERSTAND SOMETIMES YOU HIT ROADBLOCKS, SOMETIMES YOU FIND OUT THAT YOU'RE NOT REALLY ELIGIBLE WHEN YOU THOUGHT THAT YOU ORIGINALLY WERE, BUT IT JUST SEEMS THAT THIS PARTICULAR GRANT THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT, THE CHANGE GRANT, I MEAN, I STARTED BACK DURING THE FIRST ITERATION WHEN WE THOUGHT THAT IT WAS GOING TO BE THE PROJECT WITH THE TORNILLO PORT OF ENTRY. IT JUST SEEMS LIKE THESE DISCUSSIONS HAD BEEN GOING ON FOR SO LONG. THERE HAD ALREADY BEEN SO MUCH TIME AND EFFORT PUT INTO IT, FOR AT THE VERY END TO FIND OUT THAT REALLY, IT WASN'T A GOOD IDEA. WE DIDN'T. IT DIDN'T FIT, WE DIDN'T QUALIFY. I'M GOING BACK THROUGH SOME OF MY EMAILS AND JUST TO, I THINK, CORRECT, MAYBE SOMETHING THAT MELISSA HAD SAID ABOUT IT NOT BEING BROUGHT TO THE COURT. I ACTUALLY FOUND THE ORIGINAL MOU THAT THE COUNTY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE PREPARED WHEN WE FIRST STARTED HAVING THESE DISCUSSIONS. BACK THEN, IT WAS IN GREEN CORRIDORS. IT WAS ELEVATED FREIGHT TECHNOLOGIES, BUT THAT WAS SEPTEMBER OF 2003. SO I GUESS THAT'S MY FRUSTRATIO. I ECHO COMMISSIONER LEON'S FRUSTRATION THAT IT JUST SEEMS THAT SO MANY OF US WERE WORKING ON THIS PARTICULAR GRANT FOR SO MUCH TIME THAT IT WAS IT'S JUST REALLY DISHEARTENING WHERE WE GET SO CLOSE TO THE END, AND THEN WE FIND OUT IT'S JUST NOT GOING TO BE POSSIBLE, IF I MAY, IF WE CAN GO BACK TO THE SLIDES AND I CAN GO THROUGH SOME OF THIS WITH YOU, I THINK THAT WILL PROBABLY, YOU KNOW, HIGHLIGHT SOME OF THESE ISSUES, WHICH YOU GUYS ARE RAISING. LET'S FORWARD TO KEEP FORWARDING THE SLIDES, PLEASE. JUDGE. SO WE DID TALK ABOUT, YOU KNOW, LOOKING AT THE COMMUNITY CHANGE PROGRAM OVERAL.

AND THERE WERE TWO APPLICATION TRACKS THAT YOU COULD TAKE. TRACK ONE IS WHAT WE FELT WAS THE MOST BENEFICIAL TO THE COUNTY. AND YOU HAD TO BASICALLY ADDRESS EACH OF THESE SIX REQUIREMENTS. CLIMATE ACTION STRATEGY, POLLUTION REDUCTION STRATEGY, ALL OF THESE THAT YOU SEE HERE. WITHIN THOSE, THERE WERE PROJECT EXAMPLES AND BASICALLY RECOMMENDATIONS AND STRATEGIES YOU HAD TO MEET. SO THIS IS A VERY COMPLEX GRANT APPLICATION. GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE PLEASE. SO THE TORNILLO PORT OF ENTRY PROJECT, THE WITH THIS PARTICULAR PROJECT AS YOU GUYS HEARD. YES. WE WERE NOT BROUGHT INTO THE DISCUSSION ON THE TORNILLO POINT OF ENTRY PROJECT UNTIL LATE FEBRUARY OF THIS YEAR. WE WERE NOTIFIED BY THE GRANTS TEAM THAT THERE WAS INTEREST IN THIS. WE WERE GIVEN THE HEADS UP THAT THERE WERE SOME OTHER ORGANIZATIONS, INCLUDING GREEN CORRIDORS, AS WELL AS THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, THAT WERE INTERESTED IN COLLABORATING WITH THE COUNTY ON THIS PARTICULAR PROJECT. THE LOOK AT MY SLIDES HERE, THE APPLICATION HAD OPENED NOVEMBER 21ST OF 2023, AND IT CLOSED THIS PAST NOVEMBER 21ST. SO AS I MENTIONED, THE TFG WAS CONTACTED IN LATE FEBRUARY OF THIS YEAR ABOUT THIS INTEREST. THE WE HAVE TO GO THROUGH THE SAME CBO ARGUMENTS AND ALL THAT. YOU KNOW, THE COUNTY'S GRANT TEAM, THEY GAVE US A HEADS UP AND WE HAD A DISCUSSION WITH GREEN CORRIDORS. AND AS YOU KNOW, THERE ARE FOR PROFIT CONSULTING FIRMS. SO THEY WERE NOT ELIGIBLE TO BE TO BE A PARTNER WITH US ON THIS IN THE COUNTY ON THIS APPLICATION. THEY CAME TO THE COUNTY AND TFG WITH THREE CONCEPTUAL PLANS TO MAKE THIS TRANSPORTATION TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM A REALITY, AND THAT WAS INCLUDING TERMINAL FACILITIES, THE DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION OF AT GRADE INFRASTRUCTURE AND ELEVATED GUIDEWAYS, AND AN AUTOMATED AUTOMATIC UNMANNED CARGO TRANSPORT VEHICLES. SO IN ADDITION, THE EL PASO CHAMBER OF COMMERCE WAS INTERESTED IN FUNDING A BASE FUNDING TO BASICALLY CONDUCT A COMPREHENSIVE STUDY TO IDENTIFY AND ADAPT BEST PRACTICES TO ENHANCE, YOU KNOW, OPERATIONS AND EFFICIENCIES AT THE PORT OF ENTRY. SO WE HAD ALL THESE CONCEPTUAL PLANS, AND WHEN THEY CAME TO US, WE BASICALLY HAD TO DO PROJECT CONSULTING TO GO THROUGH EACH OF THESE TO SEE WHAT WAS VIABLE BASED ON THE REQUIREMENTS WITHIN THE NOFO. IF YOU GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE. ARE WE ABLE TO ADVANCE TO THE NEXT SLIDE? WE'RE ON THERE. IT'S ON SLIDE 12 TORNEO PORT OF ENTRY PROJECT. THERE WE GO. THANK YOU. SO THIS IS KIND OF A PROJECT TIMELINE. LOOKING AT EVERYTHING WE DID WORKING WITH THE COUNTY. AND THIS IS NOT INCLUDING WHAT THE COUNTY DID PRIOR TO BASICALLY REQUESTING HELP FROM TFG. YOU KNOW THE LOOKING THROUGH HERE, THE TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE AND TRAINING THAT THE COUNTY DID LOOKING AT AND WE, YOU KNOW, DECIDED THAT DESIGNATED CHAMBER OF COMMERCE TO LEAD THE PROJECT. BUT BASED

[02:55:01]

ON THAT, WE FOUND OUT THAT TECHNICALLY THEY HAD TO USE THEIR FOUNDATION AND NOT THE ACTUAL CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, SINCE THAT WAS MORE FOR PROFIT, TOO. WE LOOKED THROUGH A LOT OF THESE ELIGIBILITY AND PARTNERSHIP CHALLENGES. WE HAD MULTIPLE CALLS. AND I THINK ONE OF THE, YOU KNOW, WE'LL GET TO THE POINT AT THE VERY END OF THE SLIDE, BUT SOME OF THESE ISSUES WERE THE FACT THAT IN ORDER TO COMPLETE THIS HAVE A VIABLE PROJECT, WHY DON'T WE GO TO THE VERY LAST SLIDE? I THINK THIS WILL KIND OF BRING IT ALL TOGETHER, AT LEAST FOR THE TORNADO WASTE. THE TORNADO PROJECT. SO THE THANK YOU, THE NUMBER ONE, WE HAD THE ISSUES WITH THE STATUTORY PARTNER CHALLENGES LOOKING FOR THE CBO AND THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE. AND THE CHAMBER WAS GOING THROUGH A CHANGE IN LEADERSHIP WITH THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR THERE. AND SO WE WERE WORKING WITH A FOUNDATION IN ORDER TO PUSH THIS PROJECT FORWARD. IT WAS NOT SHOVEL READY, AS YOU HEARD. THESE WERE CONCEPTUAL PLANS OR STUDY. I KNOW THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE WAS PUSHING A STUDY, BUT THIS PARTICULAR GRANT PROGRAM DOES NOT FUND STUDIES.

IT BASICALLY FUNDS A SHOVEL READY PROJECTS. AS I MENTIONED EARLIER, THE PROJECT HAD TO START 120 DAYS AFTER THE AWARD DATE AND BE FULLY COMPLETED WITHIN 36 MONTHS FROM THE AWARD DATE. THERE WERE A LOT OF ISSUES WITH THAT. WHEN WE LOOKED AT THE DIFFERENT PROJECTS FROM THE POINT OF, YOU KNOW, JUST GETTING PERMITS FOR RIGHTS OF WAY SITING, AND THEN ON TOP OF THAT, HAVING A PRESIDENTIAL PERMIT, SINCE THIS IS A PROJECT THAT INCLUDES, YOU KNOW, BORDER PATROL, U.S. GOVERNMENT, BASICALLY, IN ORDER TO WORK WITH THE MEXICAN SIDE OF THE GOVERNMENT, YOU KNOW, WE HAD TO GET A PRESIDENTIAL PERMIT. THAT ALONE WAS GOING TO TAKE THREE YEARS TO DO THAT. A VERY, VERY, VERY COMPLEX PROCESS. AND SO YOU KNOW, LIKE I SAID, THIS THING HAD TO BE FULLY BUILT OUT WITHIN THREE YEARS. AND SO IF WE WERE NEEDED TO GET A PRESIDENTIAL PERMIT TO DO ANY WORK ON THE BORDER WITH A BORDER CROSSING, THAT ALONE WAS GOING TO BE PROBLEMATIC FOR US. MOVING FORWARD ON THIS. AND SO I THINK, YOU KNOW, FOR THOSE REASONS, YOU KNOW, WE DECIDED THAT MAYBE WE SHOULD PIVOT. AND IF WE GO BACK TO A SLIDE LOOKING AT THE TORNADO TIMELINE, YOU KNOW, AS YOU GO THROUGH HERE AND LOOK AT THESE DATES, YOU KNOW, WE, YOU KNOW, BY JULY FIRST WE HAD MET TO SEE WHETHER OR NOT THIS APPLICATION WOULD BE COMPETITIVE ENOUGH. AND THEN WE DECIDED THAT BASED ON ALL THESE ISSUES, WE REALLY DON'T HAVE A SHOVEL READY PROJECT. AND WE TRIED EVERYTHING POSSIBLE, EVEN, YOU KNOW, WHEN IT TALKS ABOUT THE STORAGE FACILITY, WE WERE LOOKING TO SEE IF WE COULD BUILD JUST A STORAGE FACILITY TO HOUSE SOME OF THIS IN ORDER TO GET SOME OF THE GRANT MONEY, KNOWING THAT THIS BECOME A PROJECT THAT HAD MULTIPLE STAGES SO WE COULD AT LEAST CHEW OFF A SMALL BITE OF IT AND BUILD A BASICALLY A STORAGE FACILITY. BUT I THINK THE ISSUE WAS TRYING TO COORDINATE THIS WITH WHAT EVERYTHING ELSE GREEN CORRIDOR WANTED TO DO, ALONG WITH THE COUNTY. IT BECAME VERY PROBLEMATIC FROM JUST A PROJECT SCOPE. AND SO BECAUSE OF THAT, WE KNEW WE WERE LOSING TIME BECAUSE THIS GRANT, YOU KNOW, THE GRANT DEADLINE WAS BASICALLY NOVEMBER 30TH OF LAST, YOU KNOW, LAST MONTH. AND THERE WERE ALREADY BASICALLY, YOU KNOW, SOME AT LEAST ONE PHASE OF AWARD ANNOUNCEMENTS WERE ALREADY ANNOUNCED, BASICALLY BACK IN AUGUST. SO TIME WAS OF AN ESSENCE. AND SO WE DECIDED IF YOU GO FORWARD TO THE NEXT SLIDE AND LOOK AT THE TIMELINE, ACTUALLY GO ONE MORE. THIS IS THE WASTEWATER WEATHERIZATION IMPROVEMENT APPLICATION TIMELIN.

AS YOU'LL SEE, THERE IS ACTUALLY OVERLAP. WE KNEW THAT WE WERE HAVING ISSUES WITH A TORNADO POINT OF ENTRY PROJECT BECAUSE OF ELIGIBILITY ISSUES, AND NOT HAVING REAL SHOVEL READY PROJECTS. AND SO BECAUSE OF THAT, THERE IS OVERLAP. WE DECIDED TO PIVOT, KEEP AND THEN LOOKING AT THE POTENTIAL OF FUNDING FOR THE PUBLIC WORKS WASTEWATER PROJECT. AND AS YOU SEE, THAT WE WORKED VERY HARD WITH THE COUNTY. THE COUNTY ALSO DID A LOT OF WORK CONSULTING WITH NEW MEXICO STATE UNIVERSITY AND ANDINA, WHICH PROVIDED TECHNICAL SUPPORT. WE LOOKED AT OTHER ISSUES, INCLUDING ELIGIBILITY AND PARTNERSHIP CHALLENGES. AND THEN, YOU KNOW, GETTING BACK TO THE POINT, WE DID NOT WE COULD NOT FIND A VIABLE PARTNER COMMUNITY BENEFITS PARTNER TO WORK WITH US. AND, MR. HOOVER, IF I CAN STOP YOU THERE, SEE, WE WERE WILLING TO GO OUT AND DO ALL THE LEGWORK INSOFAR AS FINDING A PARTNER. WE WANTED TO GO IN THE DIRECTION OF A GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE AND SOME WALKING TRAILS, BUT WE WEREN'T GIVEN THE CHANCE. AND BY THE TIME WE HAD A RESPONSE, IT WAS TOO LATE. SO I GUESS THE BOTTOM LINE IS YOU ALL

[03:00:03]

FAILED TO LISTEN TO SOME VIABLE IDEAS THAT WE HAD, AND THE TIME LIMITATIONS ENDED AND WE WERE LOCKED OUT OF THE POSSIBILITY OF RECEIVING THAT BIG GRANT. SO BUT BUT THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR YOUR RESPONSE. YEAH, I'LL JUST SAY THAT, YOU KNOW, THE ALTERNATIVES. I MEAN, THE PLANS THAT WERE BROUGHT TO US FOR THE TORNILLO POINT OF ENTRY WERE THOSE COMPONENTS FROM THE GREEN CORRIDORS AS WELL AS THE STUDY, AND THAT WAS NOT VIABLE BASED ON THE REASONS I SUBMITTED EARLIER.

AND THEN WHEN WE PIVOTED TO THE WASTEWATER PROJECT THAT WAS BROUGHT TO US, WE YOU, YOU BRING THE PROJECTS TO US, WE HELP CONSULT WITH YOU GUYS TO SEE WHAT'S VIABLE, WHAT'S ELIGIBLE BASED ON THE GRANT REQUIREMENTS. AND SO THE ONLY THING THAT WAS BROUGHT TO US THAT I'M AWARE OF WAS THIS WASTEWATER PROJECT, AND THAT QUITE HONESTLY FIT A LOT BETTER WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF THIS FUNDING OPPORTUNITY. EXCEPT WE HAD THE ISSUE WITH THE COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIP. AND BECAUSE OF THAT, THAT'S WHAT ULTIMATELY SUNK THIS. SO WE HAD PIVOTED MULTIPLE TIMES. WE WERE WILLING TO GET FEEDBACK FROM THE COUNTY GRANTS TEAM WORKING WITH THE COMMISSIONERS COURT TO FIGURE OUT ANOTHER PROJECT. BUT, YOU KNOW, WE ACTUALLY WENT THROUGH SOME SOME CONSULTING IDEAS. AND SO BASED ON ALL THAT, YOU KNOW, IT REALLY GOT BACK TO THE POINT WHERE A LOT OF THIS, BASED ON THE TIMELINE OF WHEN THIS HAD TO BE CONSTRUCTED, WE WERE GOING TO RUN INTO ISSUES ON TIMING AND A LOT OF OTHER TECHNICAL ISSUES. AND SO YES, THIS WAS A ONE TIME GRANT FUNDING OPPORTUNITY. IT ALIGNED WITH POTENTIALLY ALIGNED WITH SOME COUNTY PRIORITIES, BUT BASED ON ALL THE REQUIREMENTS IN THE APPLICATION, THE TIMING OF FEEDBACK WE GOT FROM THE COUNTY, WE ACTED AS A VERY EFFICIENT SHERPA WORKING WITH THE COUNTY, BUT AND WE PIVOTED, LIKE I SAID, TO FIND OPTIONS THAT WERE DOABLE AND WE DID NOT FIND ANYTHING. AND BECAUSE OF THAT, WE HAD TO BE EFFICIENT STEWARDS OF TAXPAYERS MONEY. MR. HOOVER, LET ME INTERRUPT YOU AGAIN. I'M SORRY. YOU PROBABLY FORGOT THE MEETING. YOU HAD WITH WITH JACKIE IN MY OFFICE. THAT WAS JULY. THE 25TH. SO IT HAD TO PIVOT AT THAT TIME. IT WOULD HAVE MADE A DIFFERENCE. I THERE WAS STILL NO CONCEPTUAL, REAL IDEAS THAT WERE BROUGHT TO US. WE HAD A CONVERSATION WITH HER QUICKLY. WE UNDERSTOOD WHAT SHE WAS LOOKING AT. BUT, YOU KNOW, WE DID NOT HAVE A VIABLE PROJECT BASED ON THAT QUICK DISCUSSION. AND SO, YEAH, WE UNDERSTOOD WHERE SHE WAS COMING FROM. AND SO WE TRIED TO PIVOT, YOU KNOW, THE IDEAS THAT SHE BROUGHT. I MEAN, THEY WEREN'T AT THAT POINT FROM WHAT WE YOU KNOW, WHAT WE UNDERSTOOD. AND THEY WERE JUST CONCEPTUAL IDEAS AT THAT POINT.

AND SO, YOU KNOW, HAPPY TO REVIEW THAT WITH JACKIE AGAIN. AND MELISSA. BUT, YOU KNOW, ONCE AGAIN FINDING CONCEPTUAL IDEAS THAT DON'T FIT THE REQUIREMENTS WAS ALWAYS GOING TO BE AN INCREDIBLE CHALLENGE. AND SO LIKE I SAID WE DID PIVOT MULTIPLE TIMES. MR. HOOVER, THANK YOU. I APPRECIATE IT. BUT JUDGE, IF I MAY I'M GOING TO CALL THE QUESTION IF WE CAN VOTE ON THIS. DO YOU HAVE A MOTION COMMISSIONER? OKAY. THE MOTION RIGHT NOW WOULD IN MY MIND AND ERICA OR HELPED ME WITH IT. I'M I'M GOING IN THE DIRECTION OF NOT RENEWING THIS CONTRACT. SO, COMMISSIONER, YOU'D BE MAKING A MOTION TO DENY THE THIRD AMENDMENT TO THE CONSULTING AGREEMENT. OKAY. YES. AND CAN I ASK A QUESTION JUST TO FOLLOW UP ON THAT? SO IF THE MOTION TO DENY THE AMENDMENT DOES PASS, DO WE HAVE A BACKUP PLAN? BETSY, WOULD WE HAVE TO GO TO AN RFQ FOR NEW GRANT WRITING SERVICES? WHAT IS THE TIMELINE OF THAT? LOOK LIKE? SO WE DO NOT HAVE A BACKUP PROVIDER. WE WOULD HAVE TO GO OUT THROUGH A PROCUREMENT AND THE FUNDING THAT WE ARE ASKING TO EXTEND FOR THE SIX MONTHS IS THE ONLY FUNDING WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO IDENTIFY. AS YOU MAY RECALL, THIS WAS ORIGINALLY FUNDED BY A GRANT THROUGH NACO. THEN IT WAS FUNDED WITH, I BELIEVE, ARPA FUNDING, AND NOW WE DON'T HAVE ANY OTHER FUNDING. WE WOULD USE THE 60,000 TO TRY TO GO OUT TO SECURE SERVICES. BUT I DON'T PROJECT THAT. THAT WOULD LAST. WE WERE PLANNING ON GOING OUT FOR AN RFP IF WE COULD IDENTIFY ADDITIONAL FUNDING AFTER THE SIX MONTHS OR DURING THE SIX MONTHS, AS WELL. CAN I ASK A COMMISSIONER JUST I'M A LITTLE CONCERNED ABOUT WE

[03:05:04]

HAVE TWO COMMISSIONERS OUT THERE WON'T BE VOTING. ARE YOU OKAY WITH THAT? WE CAN WAIT. I'M OKAY FOR THEM, FOR JUST WORRY WHEN IT'S AN IMPORTANT DECISION LIKE THAT. AND I DON'T HAVE COMMISSIONER STOUT. WELL, I THINK HE MIGHT BE COMING BACK. I THINK THAT WILL MAKE A DIFFERENCE IF WE COULD WAIT FOR THIS AFTERNOON. SURE. JUST TO HAVE A LITTLE BIT MORE REPRESENTATION. OKAY, SO I THINK WE HAVE IT HERE, BUT I DON'T KNOW WHAT. SO WE HAVE COMMISSIONER CORONADO ON. I DO BELIEVE COMMISSIONER STOUT'S ON VIRTUALLY, BUT I DON'T KNOW IF HE CAN ENGAGE. SO YOU'D LIKE FOR US TO. I DIDN'T REALIZE, COMMISSIONER, BECAUSE I COULDN'T SEE HIM. COMMISSIONER CORONADO, DO YOU HAVE ANY ADDITIONAL COMMENTS? YOU'RE MUTED.

COMMISSIONER. COMMISSIONER CORNELL, CAN YOU HEAR US? YEAH. YOU'RE MUTED. I BELIEVE. CAN YOU HEAR ME? YES, YES. NO I DON'T HAVE ANY QUESTIONS. YEAH. I WAS JUST GOING TO SAY HAVING I THOUGHT WE HAD BOTH OF THEM OUT. SO I THINK WE MIGHT BE READY AT THIS TIME. OKAY. GO AHEAD.

THERE'S A MOTION BY COMMISSIONER LEON AND A SECOND BY JUDGE SAMANIEGO TO DENY THE REQUEST.

VOTING IS OPEN. I VOTE I. AND COMMISSIONER STOUT IS ABSENT. NO. HE'S ONLINE NOW.

COMMISSIONER STOUT, I'M ON, I'M ON. I'M SORRY. I'M DRIVING, BUT VOTE I AS WELL. THANK YOU.

COMMISSIONER. MOTION CARRIES. OKAY. I FEEL BETTER THAT WE'RE ALL ONLINE. THANK YOU. I JUST WANTED TO MAKE A COMMENT. JUDGE, AS MELISSA MENTIONED EARLIER, WE ARE MEETING ON A REGULAR BASIS WHERE WE'RE CREATING AN INTERNAL PROCESS SO THAT THESE ITEMS THAT WE BRING TO THE COURT ARE BEING VETTED MORE EFFICIENTLY AND TIMELY. WE APPRECIATE THAT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME. I THOUGHT WE HAD MORE TIME THIS TOOK A LITTLE LONGER, SO WE'LL WAIT FOR THE. CAESAR.

WE'LL GO AHEAD AND THANK YOU. COMMISSIONERS. YOU WANT TO GO AHEAD AND. YES. OKAY. AT THIS TIME, COMMISSIONERS COURT WILL RECESS FOR ONE HOUR. IT IS 12:37 P.M.

IT'S IMPORTANT FOR YOUR CHILDREN TO STAY CURRENT ON ALL THEIR ROUTINE VACCINES. ALSO, CHILDREN FIVE AND OLDER ARE NOT ELIGIBLE FOR THE COVID 19 VACCINE. I AM CURRENT AND ALL MY VACCINES AND I ALSO GET THE COVID VACCINE, SO I AND MY LOVED ONES CAN BE PROTECTED. YOU AND YOUR KIDS SHOULD GET THE VACCINE TOO. AND IF YOU'VE ALREADY GOTTEN THE VACCINE, YOU SHOULD GET YOUR 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

[03:10:04]

PARA LA VACUNA DE COVID DIECINUEVE LA VACUNA COVID ES GRATIS PARA LAS VACUNAS RUTINAS DE SUS HIJOS. VISITA EP HEALTH PUNTO COM SABEMOS CUANTO A MAS DE TUS HIJOS, ASI Q RECUERDA NO LO DUDES VACUNA.

DE.

[03:17:28]

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

[03:25:31]

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

[03:25:37]

FIVE AND OLDER ARE NOT ELIGIBLE FOR THE COVID 19 VACCINE. I AM CURRENT AND ALL MY VACCINES AND I ALSO GET THE COVID VACCINE. SO I AND MY LOVED ONES CAN BE PROTECTED. YOU AND YOUR KIDS SHOULD GET THE VACCINE TOO. AND IF YOU'VE ALREADY GOTTEN THE VACCINE, YOU SHOULD GET YOUR BOOSTER FOR YOUR CHILD'S ROUTINE VACCINES. VISIT EP HEALTH.COM. WE KNOW HOW MUCH YOU LOVE YOUR CHILDREN, SO REMEMBER, DON'T HESITATE, VACCINATE AS IMPORTANT. QUÉ SUS HIJOS TENGAN TODAS SUS VACUNAS? ADEMAS DE LAS VACUNAS RUTINAS LOS NINOS MAYORES DE CINCO ANOS, AHORA SON ELEGIBLES PARA LA VACUNA DE COVID 19. LA VACUNA COVID ES 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 VACCINATE.

[03:33:36]

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 ES GRATIS PARA LAS VACUNAS RUTINAS DE SUS HIJOS. VISITA EP HEALTH PUNTO COM SABEMOS CUANTO A MAS DE TUS HIJOS, ASI QUÉ RECUERDA NO LO DUDES VACUNA.

[03:41:38]

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

[03:41:45]

FIVE AND OLDER ARE NOT ELIGIBLE FOR THE COVID 19 VACCINE. I AM CURRENT AND ALL MY VACCINES AND I ALSO GET THE COVID VACCINE. SO I AND MY LOVED ONES CAN BE PROTECTED. YOU AND YOUR KIDS SHOULD GET THE VACCINE TOO. AND IF YOU'VE ALREADY GOTTEN THE VACCINE, YOU SHOULD GET YOUR BOOSTER FOR YOUR CHILD'S ROUTINE VACCINES. VISIT EP HEALTH.COM. WE KNOW HOW MUCH YOU LOVE YOUR CHILDREN, SO REMEMBER, DON'T HESITATE, VACCINATE AS IMPORTANT. QUÉ SUS HIJOS TENGAN TODAS SUS VACUNAS ADEMAS DE LA VACUNAS RUTINAS LOS NINOS MAYORES DE CINCO ANOS. AHORA SON ELEGIBLES PARA LA VACUNA DE COVID 19. LA VACUNA COVID DIECINUEVE ES GRATIS PARA LAS VACUNAS RUTINAS DE SUS HIJOS. VISITA EP HEALTH COM SABEMOS CUANTO ALMORZAR TUS HIJOS. ASI RECUERDA NO LO DUDES VACUNA.

[03:49:42]

[03:50:04]

BOOSTER FOR YOUR CHILD'S ROUTINE VACCINES. VISIT EP HEALTH.COM. WE KNOW HOW MUCH YOU LOVE YOUR CHILDREN, SO REMEMBER, DON'T HESITATE, VACCINATE AS IMPORTANT. QUÉ SUS HIJOS TENGAN TODAS SUS VACUNAS ADEMAS DE LA VACUNAS RUTINAS LOS NINOS MAYORES DE CINCO ANOS. AHORA SON ELEGIBLES PARA LA VACUNA DE COVID 19. LA VACUNA COVID DIECINUEVE ES GRATIS PARA LAS VACUNAS RUTINAS DE SUS HIJOS. VISITA EP HEALTH PUNTO COM SABEMOS CUANTO A MAS DE TUS HIJOS, ASI RECUERDA NO LO DUDES VACUNA.

[03:57:47]

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 DIECINUEVE LA VACUNA COVID ES 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.

[04:05:50]

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

[04:05:56]

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 19 GRATIS PARA LAS VACUNAS RUTINAS DE SUS HIJOS. VISITA EP HEALTH PUNTO COM SABEMOS CUANTO MAS A TUS HIJOS, ASI Q RECUERDA NO LO DUDES VACUNA.

[04:13:54]

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 ES GRATIS PARA LAS VACUNAS RUTINAS DE SUS HIJOS. VISITA EP HEALTH PUNTO COM SABEMOS CUANTO A MAS A TUS HIJOS? ASI RECUERDA NO LO DUDES VACCINATE.

[04:21:58]

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

[04:22:04]

FIVE AND OLDER ARE NOT ELIGIBLE FOR THE COVID 19 VACCINE. I AM CURRENT AND ALL MY VACCINES AND I ALSO GET THE COVID VACCINE. SO I AND MY LOVED ONES CAN BE PROTECTED. YOU AND YOUR KIDS SHOULD GET THE VACCINE TOO. AND IF YOU'VE ALREADY GOTTEN THE VACCINE, YOU SHOULD GET YOUR BOOSTER FOR YOUR CHILD'S ROUTINE VACCINES. VISIT EP HEALTH.COM. WE KNOW HOW MUCH YOU LOVE YOUR CHILDREN, SO REMEMBER, DON'T HESITATE, VACCINATE AS IMPORTANT. QUÉ SUS HIJOS TENGAN TODAS SUS VACUNAS? ADEMAS DE LA VACUNA SOBRE LOS NINOS MAYORES DE CINCO ANOS, AHORA SON ELEGIBLES PARA LA VACUNA DE COVID 19. LA VACUNA COVID DIECINUEVE ES GRATIS PARA LAS VACUNAS RUTINAS DE SUS HIJOS. VISITA EP HEALTH.COM SABEMOS CUANTO MAS A TUS HIJOS, ASI QUÉ RECUERDA NO LO DUDES VACUNA.

[04:28:38]

GO AHEAD, COMMISSIONERS COURT HAS RECONVENED INTO REGULAR OPEN SESSION. IT IS 1:59 P.M. WE WOULD LIKE TO CALL UP PUBLIC COMMENT AGAIN. WE HAVE A SPEAKE, MR. PEDRO SERRA. PEDRO, CAN YOU HEAR US? YES, SIR. CAN YOU GUYS HEAR ME? YEAH. WERE YOU YOU HAD SOME. OKAY. YEAH. I CALLED THIS

[Public Comment - 2]

MORNING, SIR. THE REASON I'M CALLING IN IS BECAUSE I'VE. I HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO GO BECAUSE I'VE BEEN KIND OF SICK THIS THIS MONTH. BUT I'D LIKE TO INFORM YOU GUYS THAT NOT BECAUSE I'M NOT PRESENT IT MEANS THAT I'M GIVING UP. NO, I GOT MORE INFORMATION TO GIVE YOU GUYS. MY INFORMATION IS RIGHT NOW MY AMENDMENT FOR CORRECTING THE IMPROPER ASSESSMENT WAS DENIED.

EMERGENCY DENIED. IT. DIDN'T WANT TO ANSWER ME. NOW THEY'RE NOT CALLING ME. THEY'RE NOT.

THEY DON'T WANT TO RETURN MY CALLS OR ANYTHING. AND OF COURSE, CAN WE SET UP THAT MEETING WE HAD WE HAD ALREADY WITH MISS PEREZ. IF MISS PEREZ IS NOT AROUND, CAN WE CHARGE MISS THE CHILDREN'S DOCTOR, MISS STROUD, STROUD OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT? I CAN'T PRONOUNCE IT.

SORRY ABOUT THAT, GUYS, BUT, I MEAN, WE I NEED TO MOVE FORWARD ON THIS ISSUE BECAUSE, I MEAN,

[04:30:03]

IT SEEMS LIKE THEY'RE JUST THE DOCTOR WHO'S DENYING IT IS A DOCTOR FROM FROM EMERGENCY. THEY KNOW I'M NOT GOING TO GET NOWHERE WITH WITH THESE EMERGENCIES. THEY'RE VIOLATING MY RIGHTS TIME AFTER TIME AFTER TIME. AND I'M TIRED OF THIS, SIR, DUE TO ALL THIS. I MEAN, I'M STRESSED OUT BECAUSE OF ALL THIS SITUATION. I HAVEN'T GONE BECAUSE I'M SICK. NOT BECAUSE I DON'T WANT TO BE THERE. BECAUSE I LIKE BEING THERE. YOU KNOW? I LIKE MEETING THE PEOPLE THERE. I ENJOY YOU GUYS BECAUSE I GOT TO BE LIKE, I FELT YOU GUYS MAKE ME FEEL. FEEL LIKE I'M PART OF SOMETHING, YOU KNOW? EVEN THOUGH I'M NOT. BUT, I MEAN, IT MAKES ME PROUD TO KNOW YOU GUYS. AND I KNOW YOU GUYS ARE TRYING TO HELP ME OUT, BUT, I MEAN, WE NEED TO MOVE FORWARD ON THIS, MISTER.

MISTER JUDGE. BECAUSE, I MEAN, I'M JUST TIRED OF ALL THIS. THEY JUST GAVE ME A RUNAROUND, AND I JUST WAITED 60 DAYS FOR THIS AMENDMENT TO BE APPROVED. AND THEY DENIED IT, EVEN THOUGH SENATOR BLANCO WAS A WITNESS TO THIS ISSUE, IT SHOULD BE AN OPEN AND SHUT CASE. I SHOULDN'T HAVE WAITED 30 TO 60 DAYS FOR THIS. AND THAT'S THE WAY THEY WANT TO TREAT ME. IT'S ALMOST IT'S BEEN ALMOST 11 MONTHS, SO I IT'S ON FEBRUARY. I GET I GET MY FREE SHOT NOW BUT WHAT ABOUT THE VIOLATIONS THAT THEY'RE DOING RIGHT NOW. ALL THESE VIOLATIONS, SIR. BUT I JUST NEED YOUR HELP AGAIN. I'LL BE THERE TOMORROW. I'LL BE ALL DAY TOMORROW. I'LL GO TO COURT TOMORROW WITH TO THE COURT. AND I'LL. I'LL SPEND ALL DAY OVER THERE TRYING TO FIX THESE ISSUES AGAIN, REMIND YOU EVERYTHING WAS GOING ON. I TAKE MY PAPERWORK SO YOU GUYS CAN SEE AND. OKAY, CHANGING A LITTLE BIT TO THE SUBJECT RIGHT NOW, SAN DIEGO JUDGE, I WOULD LIKE TO SEE IF YOU CAN HELP ME OUT NOW. I DID EVERYTHING IN BOXING ALREAD. MARIA. JUDGE, REFEREE, BOXER, COACH. THERE'S NOTHING ELSE I CAN DO EXCEPT ONE DAY I NEED DO I WANT TO BE A PROMOTER? NOW I'M GOING TO DO PROMOTIONS. NOW I'M GOING TO DO EVENTS FOR THIS YEAR AND I'M GETTING SEE IF WE CAN HELP ME OUT IN SOME KIND OR SOMETHING. SEE, WE COULD DO SOMETHING, FIGURE OUT A PLACE LOCATION SO WE CAN DO AN EVENT.

AND RIGHT NOW I'M WORKING ON WE GOT EVERYTHING. I GOT THE JUDGES, I GOT THE REFEREES, I GOT THE BOXERS, I GOT EVERYTHING, JUST EVENTS AND LOCATION IS WHAT WHAT I'M NEEDING A LITTLE BIT OF SPONSORS SO WE CAN FILL IN THE BLANKS. AND THAT'S IT. SO I MEAN, AND RATHER THAN THAT, I MEAN, I JUST GOT ANOTHER, ANOTHER AWARD FROM, FROM THE BOARD OF BOXING, ONE OF THE HEAD OFFICIALS OUT THERE IN MIDLAND, I'VE BEEN GOING OUT THERE DOING THE JUDGING AND OUT OF FIVE EVENTS THAT WE'VE DONE, I'M THE HIGHEST OFFICIAL WITH THE HIGHEST SCORE AND IT WAS THIS IS ONE OF THE I'M THE HIGHEST OFFICIAL WITH THE SCORES. SO I MEAN, THAT MEANS I'VE DONE EVERYTHING IN BOXING. THERE'S NOTHING ELSE I COULD HAVE DEFINITELY DONE. SO I MEAN, THIS THIS EVENT THAT I'M TRYING TO DO IS, IS FOR THE LITTLE BOY WHO PASSED AWAY, LEO LEO TERRAZAS. SO MAYBE YOU GUYS CAN HELP ME OUT ON THIS AND IN THIS ISSUE. AND THAT'S ABOUT IT. SIR, IS THERE ANY FEEDBACK ON ON ON ANY OF THIS THIS INFORMATION AND GIVING YOU SIR JUST REAL QUICK I KNOW WE CAN'T COMMUNICATE A LOT, BUT I DID CALL I DID CALL THE SOCORRO. YOU HAD ASKED ME TO CALL THE SOCORRO. AND I TOLD THEM THAT THEY THEY WERE SUPPOSED TO CHECK ON YOU AFTER TEN DAYS. THEY SAID THEY THEY WOULD. I'M ASSUMING THEY DIDN'T. THEY DIDN'T. I'M ASSUMING THEY DIDN'T CHECK UP. OH, OKAY. OKAY. THIS IS WHAT THEY DID. THEY. YOU CALLED THE EMERGENCY ATTENTION.

EMERGENCY FAREWELL CHECK. AND WHAT THEY DID WAS THIS. THEY CAME BACK. I THEY DID NOT COME TO ME. SO I WENT TO THEM AFTER AFTER 15 DAYS, 20 DAYS, I WENT UP TO THEM AND SAID, WHAT'S GOING ON? I NEED A RESPONSE BACK. I SHOULD HAVE THE EVALUATION BEEN DONE AND THEY REFUSED TO DO THE EVALUATION BECAUSE THEY SAID I HAD. THEY HAD DONE AN EVALUATION A YEAR AGO. I HAD TO WAIT A YEAR. SO THAT IS INCORRECT. THE STANDARDS IS YOU DO AN EMERGENCY ATTENTION TO GET HELP AT THAT POINT TO GET HELP AND THEY REEVALUATE YOU. THAT'S CUTTING ALL THE WAITING TIME FOR THE YEAR. AND THEY'RE STILL REFUSING TO DO SO BECAUSE DIAGNOSTICS TEND TO CHANGE. AND THAT'S WHAT THEY'RE REFUSING TO TAKE CARE OF ME. SO I MEAN THIS ISSUE IS THEY'RE BLOCKING EVERY

[04:35:03]

RENEE IS BLOCKING EVERYTHING. RENE NAVARRO IS BLOCKING EVERYTHING. AND THEN I CAN TELL YOU IT'S JUST A BLOCK. IT'S ALL EVERYBODY WHO'S BLOCKING THIS EMERGENCE. THE STATE, EVERYTHING ELSE IS WITH ME EXCEPT EMERGENCY. EMERGENCY STOPPING ME RIGHT NOW. THEY'RE NOT GIVING AN EXPLANATION WHY THEY DON'T WANT TO UNDO MY MANAGEMENT. BECAUSE THEY DO THE MANAGEMENT. THEY HAVE TO GIVE ME AN EVALUATION IMMEDIATELY. SO THEY DID NOT WANT TO PUT IN MY RECORDS. SO I GOT TO SIT DOWN WITH EVERYBODY WHO'S INVOLVED WITH THIS ISSUE. BECAUSE OF THE SITUATION WHERE THEY'RE NOT GIVING ME AN EXPLANATION, THEY'RE JUST GIVING. THEY'RE JUST DENYING MY SERVICES. THEY'RE JUST SAYING THAT I'M NOT GOING TO GET IT. THAT'S IT. THEY'RE NOT SAYING WHY 30S THEY'RE NOT ANSWERING ME. SO I GOT TO GO. YEAH. SO I, I'M NOT SURE WHAT TO DO, SIR. NO MORE. OKAY. WELL WE'LL TALK ABOUT IT THIS WEEK OKAY. SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR PATIENCE. OKAY SIR. THANK YOU, THANK YOU OKAY. THANK YOU. NO THANK YOU. AND HAVE A NICE DAY OKAY GUYS. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. BYE BYE. BYE BYE. THIS CONCLUDES ALL OF OUR SPEAKERS FOR PUBLIC COMMENT. GOING BACK TO THE ORDER OF THE AGENDA ITEM EIGHT F RECEIVE A PRESENTATION AND DISCUSS ITEMS REGARDING THE DEVELOPMENT, IMPLEMENTATION, AND OVERSIGHT OF THE FISCAL YEAR 2024 MULTI YEAR CAPITAL PLAN FOR EL PASO COUNTY, INCLUDING PROJECTS, ELECTIONS, PERFORMANCE, OBJECTIVES AND OUTCOMES, PERFORMANCE MANAGEMENT, OPERATIONAL MANAGEMENT. CORRESPONDING FINANCIAL PLANNING RELATED TO CAPITAL INVESTMENTS AND OPERATIONAL NEEDS AND GENERAL CAPITAL DIRECTION RELATED TO THE 2024 CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT BOND AND OTHER DEBT FINANCING INSTRUMENTS. SO FOR THIS ITEM, ANNA SCHUMACHER, ASSISTANT COUNTY ATTORNEY WE ARE ACTUALLY GOING TO REQUEST TO MOVE THIS ITEM INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION. IF YOU AGREE TO DO SO, THE MOTION WOULD BE MOVE ITEM EIGHT F INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION. PURSUANT TO TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE SECTION 551.071 TO DISCUSS THE COUNTY'S LEGAL RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES PERTAINING TO THE DEVELOPMENT, IMPLEMENTATION AND OVERSIGHT OF THE FISCAL YEAR 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 RELATED TO THE 2024 CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT BOND AND OTHER DEBT FINANCING INSTRUMENTS. THANK YOU, THANK YOU. OKAY. WE HAVE A MOTION FROM JUDGE SAMANIEGO, A SECOND FROM COMMISSIONER LEON. THE VOTING IS OPEN. I VOTE I. AND COMMISSIONER STOUTE IS ABSENT. OH, I'M SORRY, I KNOW HE'S HERE. THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER. THANK YOU. MOTION CARRIES. AND WE WILL IF YOU ALL ARE ALL RIGHT WITH IT, WE'LL TAKE THIS TOGETHER WITH ALL OF THE OTHER EXECUTIVE SESSION ITEMS THIS AFTERNOON. THANK YOU ALL. JUDGE, WOULD YOU LIKE TO JUMP OVER TO THE ITEMS THAT WE HAD PENDING PRIOR TO OUR BREAK? ITEM TEN. ITEM TEN PURCHASING ITEM TEN A APPROVE AND AUTHORIZE THE PURCHASE OF M365 MICROSOFT ENTERPRISE AGREEMENT FOR EL PASO COUNTY USING DIR. CPO 5240 AWARDED TO ZONES LLC OF AUBURN, WASHINGTON FOR A GRAND TOTAL OF $7,141,253.76 TO INCLUDE AS NEEDED, TRUE UP LICENSES ACQUIRED THROUGHOUT THE TERM OF THE AGREEMENT, USING PRICING AS INDICATED ON THE COOPERATIVE CONTRACT, FUNDING IS AVAILABLE IN GENERAL FUND ITD MAINTENANCE AND REPAIR SOFTWARE PURCHASING APPROVED ON DECEMBER 2ND, 2024.

GOOD AFTERNOON KAREN. GOOD AFTERNOON JUDGE. GOOD AFTERNOON, COMMISSIONERS. KAREN DAVIDSON, YOUR COUNTY PURCHASING AGENT. AND THIS IS A PURCHASE A COOPERATIVE PURCHASE THAT WE WANT TO RECEIVE YOUR APPROVAL AND AUTHORIZATION TO MAKE FOR OUR OUR M 365 MICROSOFT ENTERPRISE AGREEMENT. IT IS GOING THROUGH A STATE OF TEXAS DIR CONTRACT WITH ZONES LLC. THE 7,141,253 76 IS FOR THREE YEARS. YOU'LL SEE IT'S BROKEN DOWN TO EACH ANNUAL YEAR IS 2,000,384 1792. AND AS A COMPONENT OF THIS AGREEMENT, IT DOES ALLOW US TO DO AN AS NEEDED SHORE UP SO THAT WHEN WE ADD AND SUBTRACT MICROSOFT LICENSE THROUGHOUT THE YEAR, WE SHORE UP ANNUALLY. I CAN CERTAINLY ANSWER ANYTHING REGARDING THE PROCUREMENT, AND I DO HAVE THE DEPARTMENT HERE. IF

[A. Approve and authorize the purchase of M365 Microsoft Enterprise Agreement for El Paso County using DIR-CPO-5240 awarded to Zones LLC of Auburn, WA for a grand total of $7,141,253.76, to include as-needed (true-up) licenses acquired throughout the term of the agreement, using pricing as indicated on the cooperative contract. Funding is available in GF-ITD-MAINT/REP-SOFTWARE. Purchasing approved on December 2, 2024. Karen Davidson, Purchasing Agent, Purchasing, 915-273-3349]

YOU HAVE ANY OPERATIONAL QUESTIONS. AND WE WOULD REQUEST YOUR APPROVAL. THANK YOU. WE

[04:40:06]

HAVE A MOTION FROM JUDGE SAMANIEGO, A SECOND FROM COMMISSIONER LEON. THE VOTING IS OPEN. VOTE. I THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER STOUT. I'M SORRY. THERE YOU GO. THANK YOU. SIR.

MOTION CARRIES. THANK YOU, THANK YOU. ITEM NUMBER TEN B APPROVE AND AUTHORIZE THE PURCHASE OF EL PASO COUNTY DETENTION FACILITY. INTERIOR RENOVATION, PHASE ONE AND PHASE TWO USING REGION 19.

JOB ORDER CONTRACT 247494 AWARDED TO JORDAN FOSTER CONSTRUCTION LLC OF EL PASO,

[B. Approve and authorize the purchase of El Paso County Detention Facility Interior Renovation Phase 1 and Phase 2 using Region 19 Job Order Contract (JOC) 24-7494 awarded to Jordan Foster Construction LLC of El Paso, Texas for Phase 1 in the amount of $2,688,107.70 and Phase 2 in the amount of $4,065,962.84 a grand total (Phase 1 and 2) of $6,754,070.54. Purchasing approved on November 18, 2024. Funding is available in CP-TN23B-DDF-RENOV-PROCESSCTR. Karen Davidson, Purchasing Agent, Purchasing, 915-273-3349]

TEXAS, FOR PHASE ONE IN THE AMOUNT. OF $2,688,107.70 AND PHASE TWO IN THE AMOUNT OF $4,065,962.84, A GRAND TOTAL OF $6,754,070.54. PURCHASING APPROVED ON NOVEMBER 18TH, 2024.

FUNDING IS AVAILABLE IN CP 1020 3BD, D, D, F RENOVATION PROCESSING CENTER. GOOD AFTERNOON AGAIN. JUDGE AND COMMISSIONERS KAREN DAVIDSON, YOUR COUNTY PURCHASING AGENT.

AND THIS IS FOR OUR DOWNTOWN JAIL FACILITY. IT IS WE'RE ASKING THE COURTS TODAY TO APPROVE AND AUTHORIZE THE PURCHASE FOR THE FIRST FLOOR AND SECOND FLOOR. WE BROKE THEM INTO PHASE ONE AND PHASE TWO USING A REGION 19 JOB ORDERING CONTRACT AWARDED TO JORDAN FOSTER.

CONSTRUCTION FOR THE TOTALITY O. $6,754,070 WITH $0.54. I'M CERTAINLY CAN ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS, AND I HAVE PUBLIC WORKS ON THE LINE. IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS. OPERATIONALLY.

JUDGE. YES, KAREN, THIS DOES INCLUDE THE REDO OF THE JAIL COURTROOM. IS THAT CORRECT? THE VIRTUAL COURTROOM HAS ALREADY BEEN COMPLETED, BUT YES, THE FIRST FLOOR. IT DOES INCLUDE THAT. YES, SIR. ALL RIGHT. AND THEY'LL BE THERE'LL BE A I KNOW BECAUSE THERE WAS AN ISSUE WITH RESPECT TO GETTING MORE ACCESS TO THE BACK DOOR FOR THE DETAINEES, TO THE COURTROOM, AT THE JAIL. THAT WOULD BE AN OPERATIONAL QUESTION. I WOULD LEAVE THAT OVER TO MISS NORMA RIVERA PALACIO IF SHE WANTED TO ANSWER THAT, OR MR. SULLIVAN, NORMA. GOOD AFTERNOON, JUDGE.

COMMISSIONERS. THE COURTROOM. THIS IS FOR THE FIRST AND SECOND FLOOR OF THE DOWNTOWN DETENTION FACILITY. YES. YEAH, YEAH. NORM, I JUST, YOU KNOW, IN THE PAST, WE'D HAD THE ISSUE WITH IS THERE'S A VERY, VERY SMALL AREA WHERE THE DETAINEES ARE HELD PRIOR TO OR PRIOR TO GOING INTO THE COURTROOM THERE. I'M WONDERING IF THAT'S GOING TO GET RELIEVED. IT'S BEEN A PROBLEM IN THE PAST. I KNOW BECAUSE OF SPACE ISSUES, WE STILL HAVE THAT PROBLEM. I JUST WANTED TO SEE IF THAT'S GOING TO BE RELIEVED. COMMISSIONER JOEL SET THE MIC. GO AHEAD. JOEL. YEAH. JUDGE.

COMMISSIONERS. JOEL BISHOP WITH COUNTY ADMINISTRATION. YEAH. THE TWO KEY THINGS THAT THIS PROJECT DOES, IS IT HELPS SECURE THAT FIRST FLOOR. THAT WAS A BIG PRIORITY FOR THE SHERIFF WHEN IT BETTER SECURITY PLUS BETTER PROCESSING, MODERNIZING THE PROCESSING OF THE FIRST AND SECOND FLOOR. AND IT DOES DO THAT. IT ENHANCES THE ABILITY TO HOLD DETAINEES BEFORE THEY GO INTO THE COURTROOMS. COMMISSIONER. SO THERE'S GOING TO BE EXTRA SPACE THERE. THAT WAS ALL WORKED OUT WITH THE KEY STAKEHOLDERS. AND I THINK IT'S GOING TO BE THE WHOLE THING WILL BE A BETTER SITUATION THAN WHAT WE HAVE NOW. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. APPRECIATE THAT. THANK YOU.

COMMISSIONER. THANK YOU JOEL. WE HAVE A MOTION FROM JUDGE SAMANIEGO, SECOND FROM COMMISSIONER OLGUIN. THE VOTING IS OPEN. I VOTE I, I ALSO VOTE I THANK YOU. MOTION CARRIES. THANK YOU. ITEM NUMBER TEN C APPROVE AND AUTHORIZE THE PURCHASE OF CONSTRUCTION. ERECTION OF A PREFABRICATED METAL BUILDING AND UTILITY CONNECTIONS AT THE VINTON MAINTENANCE FACILITY FOR THE EL PASO COUNTY, TEXAS. USING TIPS JOB ORDER CONTRACT 23010402 AWARDED TO KEYSTONE GC, LLC OF

[C. Approve and authorize the purchase of Construction/Erection of a Pre-Fabricated Metal Building and Utility Connections at the Vinton Maintenance Facility for the El Paso County, TX using TIPS Job Order Contract (JOC) 23010402 awarded to Keystone GC LLC of El Paso, Texas for a total cost of $1,585.008.00. Purchasing approved on November 25, 2024. Funding available in SG-ARPLAN21-CAP OUTLAYS. Karen Davidson, Purchasing Agent, Purchasing, 915-273-3349]

[04:45:09]

EL PASO, TEXAS FOR A TOTAL COST OF $1,585,008. PURCHASING. PURCHASING APPROVED ON NOVEMBER 25TH, 2020 FOR FUNDING AVAILABLE IN SPECIAL GRANT A AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN 21 CAPITAL OUTLAYS.

GOOD AFTERNOON AGAIN, COMMISSIONERS KAREN DAVIDSON, YOUR COUNTY PURCHASING AGENT, AND WE'RE ASKING FOR YOUR APPROVAL AND AUTHORIZATION TO PURCHASE THIS PREFABRICATED BUILDING. AND THE ERECTION AND INSTALLATION OF IT FOR THE BENTON MAINTENANCE FACILITY. AND WE'RE USING A JOB ORDERING CONTRACT. WE'RE AWARDING IT TO KEYSTONE G, GC, LLC FOR THE TOTAL AMOUNT OF THE $1,585,008 EVEN. AND I HAVE MR. FERNIE IS HERE TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU MIGHT HAVE ON THIS MAINTENANCE FACILITY. WE HAVE A MOTION FROM JUDGE SAMANIEGO, A SECOND FROM COMMISSIONER LEON. VOTING IS OPEN. I VOTE I THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER. COMMISSIONER STOU.

COMMISSIONER STOUT, ARE YOU AVAILABLE? THANK YOU. COMMISSIONER STOUT IS ABSENT.

MOTION CARRIES. THANK YOU. ITEM NUMBER TEN. D APPROVE AND AUTHORIZE THE AWARD OF RFQ 24017 AS NEEDED. ARCHITECTURAL AND ENGINEERING SERVICES FOR EL PASO COUNTY, TEXAS TO THE TOP 11.

[D. Approve and authorize the award of RFQ 24-017 As Needed Architectural & Engineering Services for El Paso County, Texas to the top 11 scoring firms ASA Architects. P. C. of El Paso, TX; Carl Daniel Architects of El Paso, TX; Countryman & Co. Architecture of El Paso, TX; Exigo Architecture, LLC of El Paso, TX; GA Architecture, Inc. of El Paso, TX; in*Situ Architecture of El Paso, TX; MNK Architects of El Paso, TX; Mijares-Mora Architects, Inc. of El Paso, TX; Parkhill, Smith & Cooper, Inc. dba Parkhill of El paso, TX; Stantec Consulting Services, Inc. of El Paso, TX; and Wilson & Company, Inc., Engineers & Architects of El Paso, TX. Purchasing approved on November 25, 2024. Funds are available in various accounts. Karen Davidson, Purchasing Agent, Purchasing, 915-273-3349]

SCORING FIRMS ASA ARCHITECTS, PC OF EL PASO, TEXAS CARL DANIEL ARCHITECTS OF EL PASO, TEXAS.

COUNTRYMEN AND COMPANY, ARCHITECTURE OF EL PASO, TEXAS. XSIGO ARCHITECTURE LLC OF EL PASO, TEXAS G.R. ARCHITECTURE INCORPORATED OF EL PASO, TEXAS INSITU ARCHITECTURE OF EL PASO, TEXAS M INC, ARCHITECTS OF EL PASO, TEXAS. MIJARES MORA ARCHITECTS, INCORPORATED OF EL PASO, TEXAS. PARK HILL, SMITH AND COOPER INCORPORATED, DOING BUSINESS AS PARK HILL OF EL PASO, TEXAS. STANTEC CONSULTING SERVICES, INCORPORATED OF EL PASO, TEXAS, AND WILSON AND COMPANY, INCORPORATED, ENGINEERS AND ARCHITECTS OF EL PASO, TEXAS. PURCHASING. APPROVED ON NOVEMBER 25TH, 2024. FUNDS ARE AVAILABLE IN VARIOUS ACCOUNTS. GOOD AFTERNOON AGAIN, KAREN.

DAVIDSON COUNTY PURCHASING AGENT. THIS WAS A REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATIONS FOR ARCHITECTURAL AND ENGINEERING FIRMS, AND WE DID RECEIVE 34 PROPOSALS ON THIS. THE HIGHEST RANKING, 11 ARE THE ONES THAT HAVE BEEN SELECTED TO MOVE FORWARD WITH CONTRACTS, AND THIS WILL BE AN EXCELLENT INFRASTRUCTURE CONTRACTS FOR OUR BOND PROJECTS. WHEN WE NEED ARCHITECTS AND ENGINEERS. WE DID LIST ALL 11 FIRMS FOR YOU IN ALPHABETICAL ORDER, AND I CAN ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU MIGHT HAVE ON THIS PROCUREMENT. WE HAVE A MOTION FROM JUDGE SAMANIEGO, SECOND FROM COMMISSIONER OLGUIN. VOTING IS OPEN. THESE NAMES ARE NOT RANKED RIGHT. YOU SAID ALPHABETICAL ORDER, RIGHT? THEY'RE NOT RANKED OKAY. THEY ARE NOT RANKED. THEY ARE JUST IN ALPHABETICAL ORDER, SIR. OKAY. THANK YOU, THANK YOU. I'M GOING TO VOTE I. BUT I JUST WANTED A QUESTION REGARDING HOW WE'RE GOING TO ASSIGN THESE FIRMS TO THE VARIOUS PROJECTS. THE TWO IN PARTICULAR THAT ARE VERY IMPORTANT. OBVIOUSLY, IS THE ONES THAT WE'RE GOING TO DO.

CONSTRUCTION MANAGER AT RISK. VERY GOOD QUESTION. ARE WE STILL GOING TO GO THROUGH A PROCESS TO SELECT THE FIRMS FOR THOSE TWO PROJECTS? AND IF SO, I'D LIKE TO SEE THAT THEY RANK THEM AND THEN BRING THEM TO THE COURT FOR THE COURT'S APPROVAL. COMMISSIONER, IF WE DO A CONSTRUCTION MANAGER AT RISK, THAT WOULD BE A SEPARATE RFP COMPLETED, AND IT WOULD ABSOLUTELY BE PRESENTED TO COMMISSIONERS COURT FOR AWARD. WHAT WE'RE DOING HERE IS A REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATIONS BASED ON THE SCOPE OF WORK, PUBLIC WORKS. AND I HAVE WORKED UP A ROTATIONAL PROCESS THAT WILL BE DONE ALPHABETICALLY UNLESS THE FIRM BEING SELECTED DOESN'T HAVE THE EXPERTISE FOR THAT SPECIFIC

[04:50:05]

PROJECT, THEN WE WOULD GO TO THE NEXT ONE IN LINE. SO WE DO HAVE A SET ROTATIONAL PROCESS FOR THESE A AND E FIRMS. BUT ANY CMA OR CONTRACT MANAGER AT RISK FOR A SPECIFIC PROJECT WOULD BE A SEPARATE RFP. AND THAT WOULD BE SEPARATELY BROUGHT TO THE COURT FOR APPROVAL OF THAT CMA PROCUREMENT. DOES THAT ANSWER YOUR QUESTION? AND SO WE'RE ASSIGNING THESE PROJECTS TO THE FIRMS ON AN ALPHABETICAL ORDER AND NOT RATHER ON THE RANKING THAT WE DID. CORRECT. AND THAT IS THE WAY THAT WE'RE GOING TO HANDLE THIS. SO THIS IS CONTRACTS TO PRESENT TO THEM. SO IF WE HAD A SCOPE OF WORK THAT WE WANTED THEM TO WORK ON, WE WOULD PRESENT IT TO THE TOP RANKING, THE TOP FIRM IN OUR LIST. RIGHT. SO A WOULD BE FIRST AND THEY WOULD HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO PROVIDE A BID ON THAT SCOPE OF WORK. IF THAT BID COMES BACK OR THAT TASK ORDER COMES BACK OVER 50,000, WE WILL BE BRINGING BACK THAT AGREEMENT TO THE COURT SO THAT YOU WOULD HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO APPROVE THAT. OKAY. I'M STILL NOT UNDERSTANDING YOU'RE SAYING THAT YOU'RE GOING TO ASSIGN THEM BY ALPHABETICAL ORDER AND THEN YOU MENTIONED TO THE HIGHEST RANKING FIRM, NO, THERE'S NO HIGHEST RANKING HERE, SIR. THEY'RE JUST BEING AWARDED ALPHABETICALLY AND USED ALPHABETICALLY. OKAY. RIGHT I VOTE I THANK YOU, SIR. COMMISSIONER STOUT THANK YOU SI.

COMMISSIONER STOUT, ARE YOU AVAILABLE? YES, SIR. I THANK YO. MOTION CARRIES. THANK YOU. GOING BACK TO ITEM NINE, A FROM AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN. DISCUSS AND TAKE APPROPRIATE ACTION REGARDING THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE EL PASO COUNTY AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN ACT. CORONAVIRUS, STATE AND LOCAL FISCAL RECOVERY FUNDS PORTFOLIO. MIGUEL, CAN YOU PULL UP THE

[A. Discuss and take appropriate action regarding the implementation of the El Paso County American Rescue Plan Act Coronavirus State & Local Fiscal Recovery Funds Portfolio. Jose M. Landeros, Director, Strategic Capital Development, 915-546-2159]

PRESENTATION, PLEASE? THANK YOU. SIR. GOOD AFTERNOON, JUDGE AND COMMISSIONERS, DANIELLE CHAVEZ, CAPITAL PLANNING ANALYST WITH STRATEGIC CAPITAL DEVELOPMENT. TODAY I'LL PROVIDE AN UPDATE ON THE AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN ACT PORTFOLIO, INCLUDING FINANCIAL OVERVIEWS, PROJECT UPDATES AND RECOMMENDATIONS FOR PROGRAMING AND PROJECT CLOSEOUTS. AS OF DECEMBER 5TH, THE TOTAL ARPA BUDGET IS AT $163 MILLION. ENCUMBRANCES TOTAL APPROXIMATELY 49.2 MILLION, AND ACTUAL EXPENDITURES AMOUNT TO $89.5 MILLION. THIS LEAVES AN AVAILABLE BUDGET OF $24.27 MILLION, WITH A RESERVE BALANCE OF 827,000. A LITTLE OVER $827,000 CURRENTLY, 14.89% OF THE TOTAL BUDGET REMAINS UNSPENT. AND JUST TO GIVE AN UPDATE AS OF THIS MORNING OR AS OF THIS AFTERNOON, I'M SORRY, WE ARE AT 11.05% REMAINING UNSPENT. YOU WILL SEE THIS UPDATE REFLECTED NEXT WEEK, AND THESE FIGURES HIGHLIGHT THE PROGRESS AND REMAINING OPPORTUNITIES WITHIN THE ARPA PORTFOLIO. THE NEXT SLIDE CONTAINS A DETAILED OVERVIEW OF THE AVAILABLE BALANCE. SO THE REMAINING $24.27 MILLION INCLUDES FUNDS ALLOCATED TO PERSONNEL COSTS, AWARDED PROJECTS PENDING ENCUMBRANCES OR TRANSFERS, AND PROJECTS REQUIRING FINALIZATION OR CONTRACT APPROVAL. PERSONNEL COSTS ACROSS ALL PROJECTS TOTAL AND ESTIMATED $1.1 MILLION REMAINING. AND I KNOW THIS SLIDE STATES THAT 16.9 MILLION REMAINS FOR AWARDED PROJECTS THAT ARE EITHER PENDING ENCUMBRANCES OR TRANSFER OF EXPENSES, BUT AS OF TODAY, THE UPDATED AMOUNT IS 10.7 MILLION. AS THE FY 24. SO SALARY EXPENSE TRANSFER HAS BEEN COMPLETED. FOR EXAMPLE, PROJECTS 1150 AND 1320 HAD CONTRACTS APPROVED ON NOVEMBER 25TH. AGENDA AND OUR PENDING REQUISITIONS TO BE ENTERED. WE HAVE TWO PROJECTS, 1161 AND 1162, THAT ARE PENDING CONTRACT APPROVALS. SORRY THAT TOTAL UP TO APPROXIMATELY $1.9 MILLION. AND AS YOU CAN SEE ON THE LIST HERE, THREE AGREEMENTS ARE ON TODAY'S AGENDA THAT WERE APPROVED AND THE OTHER TWO AGREEMENTS WILL BE ON THE AGENDA FOR NEXT WEEK'S COMMISSIONERS COURT. LAST, WE HAVE AN

[04:55:04]

ESTIMATED $4.7 MILLION IN PROJECTS THAT ARE PENDING FINALIZATION AND OR FUNDS TO BE TRANSFERRED. THERE IS APPROXIMATELY $2.7 MILLION IN FUNDING THAT WE ARE RECOMMENDING TO BE SWEPT, WHICH WILL BE PRESENTED FOR THE COURT'S REVIEW AND CONSIDERATION IN THE NEXT SLIDE. WE HAVE AN ESTIMATED $1.2 MILLION IN PROJECTS THAT ARE EITHER PENDING A FINAL CONTRACT IN OUR QUEUE, ENCUMBRANCE OR FURTHER ACTION. THIS WILL BE DISCUSSED LATER IN THE PRESENTATION. WE HAVE AN ESTIMATED $2.7 MILLION ACROSS PROJECTS THAT WE ARE RECOMMENDING TO CLOSE OUT AND REPROGRAM. AS YOU CAN SEE, OUT OF THE 17 PROJECTS LISTED, NINE OF THE PROJECTS ARE COMPLETE AND HAVE SAVINGS THAT ARE ELIGIBLE TO BE SWEPT. FIVE PROJECTS HAVE AGREEMENTS THAT WERE FINALIZED OR SOON TO BE FINALIZED, AND HAVE SAVINGS THAT ARE ELIGIBLE TO BE SWEPT. CONCERNING PROJECT 1168, WE ARE RECOMMENDING TRANSFERRING THE EXISTING ALLOCATION TO PROJECT 5030 TO MAKE USE OF THE AVAILABLE REVENUE LOSS DESIGNATION, THEREBY THEREBY ALLOWING THE COUNTY TO GAIN MORE FLEXIBILITY IN EXECUTING THE CREATIVE PLACE.

MAKING AGREEMENT WITH EL PASO COMMUNITY FOUNDATION, PROJECT 1250 WAS TEMPORARY AND CURRENTLY HAS VACANT POSITIONS. THEREFORE, THE REMAINING AMOUNT IS ELIGIBLE TO BE SWEPT. THE PROJECT INCLUDED POSITIONS IN THE DISTRICT CLERK'S OFFICE WHO HAS REQUESTED THAT ONE OF THE POSITIONS BE TRANSFERRED INTO GENERAL FUND MID-YEAR. FY 2025. WE HAVE SHARED THIS REQUEST WITH THE HR DEPARTMENT WHO ARE EVALUATING THIS PROPOSAL FOR THE COURT'S CONSIDERATION DURING NEXT WEEK'S COMMISSIONERS COURT MEETING. THE FINAL PROJECT WE WOULD LIKE TO HIGHLIGHT IS THE GUN BUYBACK EVENT BUDGET PROJECT 4060, WHICH HAS A REMAINING BALANCE. DURING THE LAST EVENT, THE COUNTY WAS LEFT WITH APPROXIMATELY $30,000 IN GIFT CARDS AND HAVE YET TO BE DISTRIBUTED AND CANNOT BE RETURNED AND HAVE AN EXPIRATION DATE OF JUNE OF 2025. THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE INDICATED IN NOVEMBER THAT THERE WAS NO CAPACITY FOR TO STAFF ANOTHER EVENT BEFORE THE END OF THE CALENDAR YEAR. THE RECOMMENDATION FROM OUR OFFICE IS TO SWEEP THE FUNDING AND ALLOW THE COURT TO DISCUSS OPTIONS ON STRUCTURING A GUN BUYBACK EVENT IN CALENDAR YEAR 2025, UTILIZING THE GENERAL FUND SAVINGS SIMILAR TO THE CREATIVE PLACEMAKING PROJECT I PREVIOUSLY DISCUSSED. OF THIS 2.7 MILLION AVAILABLE TO REPROGRAM FROM THE PROJECTS LISTED ON THE SCREEN, WE RECOMMEND THE COURT TO UTILIZE THE REMAINING $1.7 MILLION IN REVENUE LOSS DESIGNATION FUNDS TO TRANSFER ON TO PROJECT 5030 TO COVER COUNTY ADMINISTRATIVE COSTS THROUGH THE END OF FY 25 QUARTER ONE. I'LL PROVIDE MORE INFORMATION ON THIS IN THE NEXT COUPLE OF SLIDES. THIS WOULD THEN LEAVE A LITTLE OVER $1 MILLION TO BE TRANSFERRED INTO THE RESERVES, WHICH WOULD THEN BRING THAT BALANCE TO $1.87 MILLION. THE RESERVES WOULD BE CLOSED OUT DURING NEXT WEEK'S MEETING. THIS SLIDE SHOWS AN OVERVIEW OF THE PROJECTS THAT STILL HAVE REMAINING BALANCES, BUT ARE AWAITING FINAL ACTIONS, REQUISITIONS OR CONTRACT APPROVALS. THESE PROJECTS REPRESENT OPPORTUNITIES FOR POTENTIAL SWEEPING AND OR REALLOCATION. WE ARE ACTIVELY WORKING WITH THE DEPARTMENTS TO TRACK THE ENTERING OF REQUISITIONS OR CONTRACTS RELATED TO EXPENDING THESE FUNDS TO ACCURATELY CLOSE OUT THE PROJECTS. DURING THE DECEMBER 16TH COMMISSIONERS COURT MEETIN.

AS A SIDE NOTE, WE HAVE RECEIVED THE FINAL REQUISITION IN THE AMOUNT OF APPROXIMATELY 38,000 FROM FACILITIES FOR PROJECT 1101, AND SO THE REMAINING BALANCE FOR US TO SWEEP WILL BE A LITTLE OVER $2,700. THIS WILL ALLOW US TO CLOSE OUT THE PROJECT DURING THE MEETING SCHEDULED FOR NEXT WEEK, AND ALSO, AS ANOTHER SIDE NOTE, THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE HAS ALSO REQUESTED A SERGEANT POSITION FOR THE JAIL ANNEX COURTROOM BUILDOUT, WHICH WAS ALSO FUNDED BY ARPA. AND WE'LL BE BRINGING THAT RECOMMENDATION BACK TO THE COURT NEXT WEEK AS WELL. THE ARPA GUIDELINES ALLOW FOR A MAXIMUM OF $10 MILLION PER RECIPIENT IN REVENUE LOSS DESIGNATION. TO DATE, WE HAVE DESIGNATED A TOTAL OF APPROXIMATELY $8.3 MILLION IN REVENUE LOSS. WE PROPOSE USING THE REMAINING $1.7 MILLION IN REVENUE LOSS DESIGNATION FUNDS TO FUND PROJECT 5030 TO COVER COUNTY ADMINISTRATIVE COSTS THROUGH THE END OF FY 25 QUARTER ONE. THIS ACTION WILL PRODUCE SAVINGS IN THE SAME AMOUNT IN THE FY 2025 GENERAL FUND BUDGET, WHICH CAN THEN BE TRANSFERRED INTO A SINGLE FUND, ALLOWING THE COURT TO DISCUSS DEVELOPING A PROGRAM AND SPEND DOWN PLAN. IN THE SPRING OF 2025. JUST AS A SIDE NOTE, WE ARE WORKING WITH THE COUNTY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE AND THE COUNTY AUDITOR'S OFFICE TO DETERMINE IF PROJECT 1130, WHICH

[05:00:02]

IS SHERIFF VEHICLES, CAN BE TAKEN OUT OF REVENUE LOSS DESIGNATION AND RE AND PROGRAMED UNDER ANOTHER ELIGIBLE CATEGORY, WHICH COULD INCREASE THE TOTAL AMOUNT AVAILABLE FOR REDESIGNATION TO APPROXIMATELY $2.42 MILLION. WE WILL PRESENT THIS AT NEXT WEEK'S MEETING AS WELL. THE REVENUE LOSS CATEGORY ALLOWS THE COUNTY TO SPEND ARPA FUNDING ON ANY PUBLIC PURPOSE AND GOVERNMENTAL ACTION FUNCTION WITHIN THE BUDGET. CREATING THIS PROJECT WILL ALLOW THE COURT TO FREE UP 2025 FUNDS IN THE GENERAL FUND BY PAYING THEM OUT OF ARPA GRANT FUND INSTEAD, AND HAVE A DISCUSSION ON HOW TO PROGRAM THESE FUNDS IN THE SECOND QUARTER OF THE FISCAL YEAR, THE COURT WILL BE ABLE TO IDENTIFY ANY NUMBER OF USES FOR THESE FUNDS IN JANUARY, WITH NO RESTRICTIONS ON USES OR TIMING. THIS WILL ALSO PROVIDE COUNTY ADMINISTRATION WITH FLEXIBILITY IN EXECUTING THE CREATIVE PLACE, MAKING AGREEMENT WITH THE EL PASO COMMUNITY FOUNDATION, AS WELL AS TIMING TO CONSIDER FUNDING THE REMAINING GUN BY GUN BUYBACK EVENTS. AS PREVIOUSLY DISCUSSED. THERE ARE THREE SIGNIFICANT PROJECT AMENDMENTS AND UPDATES. PROJECT 1310 THE MICROWAVE LINK CONNECTIVITY. THE CHANGE ORDER WAS PROCESSED BACK IN OCTOBER OF 2023, AND THEREFORE THIS PROJECT REQUIRES AN ADDITIONAL $11,463.34, WHICH WE RECOMMEND FUNDING FROM PROJECT 1530 RESERVES. PROJECT 5010 FY 2020 FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT SALARIES. WE PROPOSE RENAMING THIS FY 24 THROUGH 26 LAW ENFORCEMENT SALARIES AND EXPANDING ITS SCOPE TO COVER ELIGIBLE EXPENDITURES THROUGH OCTOBER 2026. THIS DISTINCTION WILL ALLOW THE COUNTY TO NOT ONLY FINALIZE THE PORTFOLIO AMOUNTS BEFORE THE 1231 2024 DEADLINE, BUT ALSO ENSURE THAT ANY UNSPENT FUNDS FROM THE PROJECT WITH ACTIVE CONTRACT ENCUMBRANCES ARE REPROGRAMED TO BENEFIT THE COUNTY AND ARE NOT RETURNED TO THE FEDERAL, FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AND PROJECT 5030 FY 2025 PROPERTY INSURANCE. WE RECOMMEND RENAMING THIS TO FY 25 QUARTER ONE. CHIEF ADMIN DEPARTMENT SALARIES TO COVER ADMIN OPERATIONS, I.T. AND PUBLIC WORKS AND ESTABLISH THE MAXIMUM BUDGET OF $1.68 MILLION UNDER THE REVENUE LOSS DESIGNATION. EXPENDITURE CATEGORY. NOTE THIS AMOUNT COULD CHANGE IF WE CAN RE DESIGNATE PROJECT 1130. AS PREVIOUSLY MENTIONED. SO OUR RECOMMENDATIONS HERE THEY ARE FOR YOUR REVIEW. APPROVE AND AUTHORIZE THE RECOMMENDED REPROGRAMING OF FUNDS TOTALING 2,733,209 AND $1 MILLION AS PRESENTED HEREIN. AND INCLUDED ON THE ATTACHED LISTING TO THIS AGENDA ITEM BI ONE TRANSFERRING 1.1 MILLION $682,000 $903.87 TO PROJECT 50, 30 AND TWO, TRANSFERRING THE REMAINING $1,050,305.14 TO PROJECT RESERVE UNALLOCATED OR UNAPPROPRIATED FUND BALANCE. FURTHER APPROVE AND AUTHORIZE THE TRANSFER OF FUNDS FROM ELIGIBLE FY 2025 DEPARTMENT BUDGETS AS DESCRIBED IN THE PROJECT. SCOPE OF WORK. IN THE AMOUNT OF $1,682,000 NINE. I'M SORRY. $1,682,903.87 TO ESTABLISH THE FY 2025 RECOVERY PROGRAM BUDGET LINE ITEM FOR FURTHER PROGRAMING BY THE COURT AND THE SECOND ONE. APPROVE AND AUTHORIZE THE AMENDMENTS TO PROJECT 1310 MICROWAVE LINK CONNECTIVITY 1510 FY 2020 FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT SALARIES AND 5030 FY 2025 PROPERTY INSURANCE AS PRESENTED WITH THIS PRESENTATION. APPROVE AND AUTHORIZE THE CHIEF ADMINISTRATOR AND COUNTY AUDITOR AND THEIR DESIGNEES TO FACILITATE THE ADMINISTRATIVE AMENDMENTS TO THE AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN ACT PORTFOLIO VIA TRANSFERS. PROJECT CLOSEOUTS, REPROGRAMING, AND OTHER RELATED ACTIONS WITHIN THE PORTFOLIOS FUND FURTHER DIRECT THE CHIEF ADMINISTRATOR TO PLACE A REPORT OF ALL THE ADMINISTRATIVELY APPROVED ACTIONS AT THE EARLIEST AVAILABLE REGULAR MEETING OF THE COMMISSIONERS COURT IN JANUARY OF 2025. PLEASE NOTE THAT THIS RECOMMENDATION IS IN PLACE AS A CONTINGENCY MEASURE ONLY IN THE EVENT A CHANGE IS REQUIRED TO BE MADE. AFTER WE HAVE MET FOR THE FINAL MEETING OF 2024. GIVEN THE NEED TO FINALIZE THE STRUCTURE OF THE PORTFOLIO BEFORE THE 31ST OF DECEMBER. AND THIS CONCLUDES THE PRESENTATION. WE ASK THE WE ASK FOR THE COURT'S FAVORABLE CONSIDERATION, AND I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS OR PROVIDE

[05:05:04]

CLARIFICATION ON THE PROPOSED ACTIONS AND UPDATES. DANIELLE, I'M SORRY, ARE WE GOING TO SEE A FINAL REPORT ON THE FUNDS THAT WE'RE GOING TO SWEEP FROM THE NOFO PORTION OF OUR POT? AND I DID FORGET TO MENTION THAT, YES, I WILL BE BRINGING THAT BACK TO THE COURT NEXT MONDAY. NEXT WEEK. OKAY. CAN YOU GO BACK TO THE SLIDE? JUST BACK ONE SLIDE SO THEY CAN SEE THE ACTIONS.

WERE YOU GOING TO GO BACK TO A DIFFERENT SLIDE. THAT'S THAT. WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND. ALL RIGHT. WE HAVE A MOTION FROM JUDGE SAMANIEGO A SECOND FROM COMMISSIONER OLGUIN TO APPROVE THE PROPOSED RECOMMENDATIONS. VOTING IS OPEN. MOTION BY COMMISSIONER DEAN AND A SECOND BY JUDGE SAN DIEGO. I'M SORRY. MOTION BY COMMISSIONER OLGUIN, SECOND BY JUDGE SAMANIEGO.

VOTING IS OPEN. COMMISSIONER CORONADO. I VOTE, I VOTE I THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER STOUT. I THANK YOU, SIR. MOTION CARRIES. THANK YOU, DANIELLE, AND THANK YOU, JUDGE. COMMISSIONERS, ESPECIALLY COMMISSIONER STOUT. I KNOW YOU'RE LISTENING. AND WE ARE TRACKING THIS THAT AMOUNT THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT SWEEPING THAT WE HAVE NOT DESIGNATED. WE WILL BE SURE TO BRING THAT BACK AS A SPECIFIC DISCUSSION. I WILL RECOMMEND THAT WHATEVER THE COURT DECIDES, WHETHER IT GOES BACK TO FUND BALANCE OR WHETHER THE COURT ALLOCATES IT, THAT IT BE ALLOCATED FOR SOMETHING, THAT'S A ONE TIME EXPENSE.

ITEM 11 A AUDITOR APPROVE AND AUTHORIZE THE COUNTY JUDGE TO SIGN THE FOURTH AND FINAL OPTION TO EXTEND THE EXTERNAL FINANCIAL AUDITING SERVICES AGREEMENT WITH GIBSON RUDDOCK PATTERSON, LLC IN

[A. Approve and authorize the County Judge to sign the fourth and final option to extend the External Financial Auditing Services Agreement with Gibson Ruddock Patterson LLC in the amount of $227,125. Funding is available in GF-GADM-PROF SVC-EXT AUDIT. (Contract No. 2024-1024) Barbara Parker, County Auditor, County Auditor's Office, 915-273-3262]

THE AMOUNT OF $227,125. FUNDING IS AVAILABLE IN GENERAL FUND, GENERAL ADMINISTRATIVE, PROFESSIONAL SERVICES. AUDIT CONTRACT NUMBER 2024 1024. GOOD AFTERNOON, JUDGE AND COMMISSIONERS BARBARA PARKER, YOUR COUNTY AUDITOR. THIS IS THE ENGAGEMENT AGREEMENT THAT WE NEED TO HAVE APPROVED FOR THE FY 24 AUDIT TO CONTINUE THE FINANCIAL AUDIT. THIS IS THE LAST YEAR THAT WE WERE ABLE TO EXTEND THE CONTRACT WITH OUR CURRENT PROVIDER. WILL BE GOING OUT FOR BID NEXT YEAR FOR THESE SERVICES. WE HAVE A MOTION FROM COMMISSIONER LEON, A SECOND FROM COMMISSIONER OLGUIN. VOTING IS OPEN. I VOTE I THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER STOUT. I MOTION CARRIES. THANK YOU. ITEM NUMBER 12 A HUMAN RESOURCES RECEIVE A PRESENTATION ON THE EL PASO COUNTY'S FACILITIES THAT HAVE BEEN FULLY AND OR PARTIALLY UPDATED IN 2023, 2024 TO MEET

[A. Receive a presentation on the El Paso County’s Facilities that have been fully and/or partially updated in 2023/2024 to meet the Texas Accessibility Standards (TAS) and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Sam Trujillo, Interim Chief Human Resources Officer, Human Resources, 915-273-3520]

THE TEXAS ACCESSIBILITY STANDARDS AND THE AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT. GOOD AFTERNOON, JUDGE AND COMMISSIONERS DENISE ACOSTA WITH THE HUMAN RESOURCES DEPARTMENT.

TODAY, I HAVE THE PLEASURE OF INTRODUCING YOUR ADA COORDINATOR, AMANDA MANNING.

AMANDA PLAYS A VITAL ROLE IN ENSURING THE COUNTY'S FACILITIES AND PROGRAMS REMAIN ACCESSIBLE AND INCLUSIVE FOR ALL RESIDENTS. AS THE ADA COORDINATOR, AMANDA IS TASKED WITH UPHOLDING COMPLIANCE WITH BOTH THE AMERICANS, WITH DISABILITY ACT AND THE TEXAS ACCESSIBILITY STANDARDS, WHICH ARE CRITICAL LAWS THAT GUIDE HOW OUR BUILDINGS AND PROGRAMS MEET ACCESSIBLE REQUIREMENTS. AMANDA'S WORK INVOLVES A STRATEGIC AND COLLABORATIVE APPROACH, CONDUCTING INSPECTIONS BASED ON PUBLIC INPUT, COURT APPROVED PRIORITIES, AND THE COUNTY'S COMPREHENSIVE ADA TRANSITION PLAN. TODAY, AMANDA WILL PROVIDE VALUABLE INSIGHT INTO THE INSPECTION PROCESS, THE DEVELOPMENT OF COMPLIANCE REPORTS, AND THE ONGOING EFFORTS

[05:10:02]

TO UPDATE AND MAINTAIN THE COUNTY'S ACCESSIBILITY STANDARDS. I WILL NOW HAND OVER THE PRESENTATION TO AMANDA, WHO WILL PROVIDE THE COURT WITH INFORMATION ON INSPECTIONS THAT HAVE OCCURRED OVER THE PAST YEAR. AMANDA. AMANDA, WELCOME. HELLO. GOOD AFTERNOON.

COMMISSIONERS. JUDGE AMANDA MANNING, ADA COORDINATOR, HUMAN RESOURCES DEPARTMENT. AS PART OF OUR ANNUAL GOALS, SPECIFIC COUNTY BUILDINGS, PARKS, AND PROGRAMS ARE INSPECTED OR REVIEWED BASED ON THE PRIORITY LEVELS DEVELOPED THROUGH MEETINGS WITH THE PUBLIC AND APPROVED BY COMMISSIONERS. COURT GRIEVANCES OR NEW CONSTRUCTION MAY ALSO IMPACT PRIORITY INSPECTIONS IN ANY GIVEN YEAR. AFTER EACH INSPECTION, WE GENERATE A REPORT FOR EACH FACILITY OR PROGRAM, WHICH INCLUDES THE CORRECTIVE COURSE OF ACTION FOR PUBLIC WORKS FACILITIES AND OR THE DEPARTMENT TO BRING EACH ITEM OR AREA INTO COMPLIANCE WITH THE ADA AND OR TOS. THESE INSPECTIONS ARE NOT RANDOM, BUT PART OF THE TRANSITION PLAN DEVELOPED BY STAFF AND FIRST IMPLEMENTED IN 2012. THE TRANSITION PLAN SERVES AS AN INTERNAL GUIDE FOR ADA COMPLIANCE WITHIN THE COUNTY. THE TRANSITION PLAN IS UPDATED EVERY TWO YEARS AND APPROVED BY THE COMMISSIONERS COURT. THE NEXT UPDATE WILL IS EXPECTED IN NOVEMBER OF 2025. AS MENTIONED BY VERONESE EARLIER TODAY, WE WOULD LIKE TO PROVIDE THE COURT WITH INFORMATION AND RESULTS OF INSPECTIONS THAT HAVE OCCURRED OVER THE LAST YEAR. THE INSPECTION REPORTS WE GENERATE PROVIDE THE DEPARTMENTS WITH DETAILED DESCRIPTIONS AND PICTURES OF THE DEFICIENCIES FOUND IN EACH FACILITY. AS YOU CAN SEE, THERE ARE FOUR COLUMNS ON THE REPORT WITH THE HEADINGS OF SURVEY, QUESTION, TASK, REFERENCE, PICTURE, AND VIOLATIONS. COMMENTS. THE SURVEY QUESTION ASKS IF AN ITEM IS COMPLIANT. THE REFERENCE SECTION STATES THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE ITEM. THE PICTURE COLUMN SHOWS THE NONCOMPLIANCE ISSUE AND THE VIOLATIONS COMMENT SECTION EXPLAINS WHY THE ITEM IS IN VIOLATION. THIS SLIDE DEPICTS AN EXAMPLE OF A REPORT. PUBLIC WORKS FACILITATES AND EACH DEPARTMENT RECEIVES. THESE NEXT THREE SLIDES ARE JUST A FEW EXAMPLES OF WHAT THE COUNTY HAS DONE FOR ADA COMPLIANCE THIS YEAR. THE FABENS COMMUNITY CENTER HAS BEEN COMPLETED WITH THE ADA REMODEL OF BOTH RESTROOMS. THE RESTROOMS REQUIRED MORE SPACE AT THE ENTRANCE, ACCESSIBLE STALLS, LABORATORY MIRRORS, SOAP DISPENSERS WHICH ARE ALL BROUGHT INTO COMPLIANCE. THE AGUA DULCE COMMUNITY CENTER CREATED A DIGITAL LIBRARY IN THE BUILDING THAT USED HAD BEEN USED FOR STORAGE FOR THEIR TOOL LENDING PROGRAM. THIS REQUIRED SEVERAL CHANGES TO MAKE SURE IT WAS ACCESSIBLE. THE ENTRY WAY INTO THE BUILDING. THE RESTROOMS. THE DRINKING FOUNTAINS THEY WERE ALL MADE ACCESSIBLE. THE ALVA DULCE COMMUNITY CENTER STILL HAS THE TOOL LENDING PROGRAM, BUT IT WAS MOVED TO THE MAIN BUILDING AND BECAUSE OF THIS, A SIDEWALK WAS EXTENDED TO THE GARAGE DOORS TO PROVIDE ACCESSIBILITY TO THE LENDING PROGRAM. THE LAST HIGHLIGHT UNDER THE UPDATES IS THE ALL ABILITIES PLAYGROUND THAT WAS ADDED AT SECURITY PARK. THIS IS THE THIRD AND LARGEST ALL ABILITIES PLAYGROUND ADDED TO THE COUNTY'S PARK SYSTEM. THE FIRST TWO WERE AT GALLEGOS AND RISINGER PARK. THESE PLAYGROUNDS ARE SUCH AN IMPORTANT ADDITION TO OUR COUNTY PARKS. NOT ONLY DO THESE PLAYGROUNDS PROVIDE CHILDREN WITH DISABILITIES, THE OPPORTUNITY TO PLAY AT OUR PARKS, IT PROVIDES INTERACTION AMONG CHILDREN OF ALL ABILITIES TO PLAY TOGETHER, AND IT ALSO PROVIDES PARENTS WITH DISABILITIES THE ABILITY TO PLAY WITH THEIR CHILDREN ON THE PLAYGROUND. THE ADA AND TOS ENCOMPASSES SO MANY ASPECTS OF A FACILITY. EVERYONE KNOWS RAMPS ARE NEEDED WHERE THERE ARE STAIRS OR THAT ACCESSIBLE STALL IN THE RESTROOM NEEDS TO BE LARGER, OR THE NEED OF HAVING ACCESSIBLE PARKING SPACES TO OUR FACILITIES. BUT I'D LIKE TO POINT OUT SOME NOT VERY WELL KNOWN ADA AND TASK REQUIREMENTS THAT EVERYONE MAY NOT KNOW ABOUT. A FEW EXAMPLES WHENEVER THE COUNTY PROVIDES PORTABLE RESTROOMS, WE NEED TO MAKE SURE WE ALSO PROVIDE ACCESSIBLE PORTABLE RESTROOMS UNDER ANY INSTALLATION OF REMODELING OF FLOORING. IT MUST COMPLY WITH ACCESSIBILITY REQUIREMENTS. FOR INSTANCE. CARPET. IT CAN'T BE TOO SOFT. IT MAKES IT HARD FOR PEOPLE WHO USE WHEELCHAIRS OR WALKERS TO MOVE ACROSS THE FLOOR. WE WANT TO MAKE SURE ANY TILE THAT WE PLACE IS SLIP RESISTANT UNDER DRINKING FOUNTAINS. THE HEIGHT OF THE

[05:15:01]

WATER STREAM ON THE FOUNTAIN NEEDS TO BE AT LEAST FOUR INCHES. THIS IS BECAUSE SOMEBODY MAY BE NEEDS TO BE ABLE TO PUT A CUP OR A BOTTLE UNDER THE WATER FOUNTAIN TO FILL IT. UNDER WEB PAGES CAPTURE. WE'VE ALL SEEN THAT WHERE WE HAVE TO ENTER THE LETTERS AND NUMBERS. IF YOU'RE VISUALLY IMPAIRED, YOU'RE NOT ABLE TO DO THAT. SO THAT'S WHY WE NEED TO HAVE A VOICE OVER FOR THAT. UNDER DOOR LOCKS. WE CAN'T. AND THIS INCLUDES STALLS FOR RESTROOMS. WE CANNOT HAVE A TWISTING TYPE LOCK. IT NEEDS TO EITHER BE PUSH BUTTON OR IN THIS PICTURE AS IT SHOWS A LEVER THAT NEEDS TO BE PUSHED UP OR DOWN. UNDER ADA FUNDS, THE COMMISSIONERS COURT ALLOCATES $250,000 ANNUALLY FOR ADA PROJECTS IN ADDITION TO FUNDING PROVIDED AS PART OF AN APPROVED PROJECT. THE NEXT FOUR SLIDES ILLUSTRATE A LIST OF THE COST BREAKDOWN FOR THE ADA PROJECTS FOR FISCAL YEAR 2324. SOME OF THE PROJECTS LISTED ARE STILL IN PROGRESS BUT HAVE BEEN FUNDED.

WE WANTED TO MAKE NOTE OF THESE PROJECTS AND WILL UPDATE YOU ON THE PROGRESS ON THESE. THE PROGRESS AT OUR NEXT PRESENTATION. I WANT TO HIGHLIGHT ALL THE REMODELS, RENOVATIONS AND NEW CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS ARE REQUIRED TO COMPLY WITH BOTH ADA AND TOS. IT IS IMPORTANT TO NOTE, HOWEVER, THAT WHILE THESE PROJECTS MUST MEET THE STANDARDS, THEY ARE NOT ALWAYS FUNDED THROUGH THE ADA BUDGET. THESE PROJECTS THAT I HAVE HIGHLIGHTED COULD NOT HAVE BEEN ACCOMPLISHED WITHOUT THE BUDGET APPROVED BY THE COMMISSIONERS COURT, OR WITHOUT THE ASSISTANCE OF PUBLIC WORKS IN THE FACILITIES DEPARTMENT. WE HAVE ASKED FACILITIES MAINTENANCE DIRECTOR ROBIN SULLY TO JOIN US TODAY TO HELP ANY ANSWER, ANY QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE AT THE END OF THIS PRESENTATION. AGAIN, WE'D LIKE TO THANK COMMISSIONERS, COURT AND COUNTY ADMINISTRATION FOR THEIR SUPPORT. THIS CONCLUDES THE PRESENTATION. DOES THE COURT HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? I KEEP LOOKING THIS WAY. IT'S THIS WAY. NO, WE DO NOT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. GREAT ADVICE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. SAM.

I'D LIKE TO GO BACK TO THE ITEMS THAT WERE PULLED FROM THE CONSENT AGENDA. I WAS GOING TO SAY THAT. ITEM NUMBER FOUR, J A ARPA, ITEM 1162. APPROVE AND AUTHORIZE THE COUNTY JUDGE TO

[J. (ARPA-1162) Approve and authorize the County Judge to sign the Services Agreement with LJA Engineering, Inc. to provide comprehensive tourism and marketing services through the Boosting Tourism through Strategic Initiatives and Collaborations for the County of El Paso, from the date of signature through November 30, 2026, in the amount of $252,900. Funds are available in SG-ARPLAN21-OPERATING EX. (Contract No. 2024-0971) Roberto Ransom, Director, Economic Development, 915-546-2177]

SIGN THE SERVICES AGREEMENT WITH LJA ENGINEERING INCORPORATED TO PROVIDE COMPREHENSIVE TOURISM AND MARKETING SERVICES THROUGHOUT THROUGH THE BOOSTING TOURISM, THROUGH STRATEGIC INITIATIVES AND COLLABORATIONS FOR THE COUNTY OF EL PASO. FROM THE DATE OF SIGNATURE THROUGH NOVEMBER 30TH, 2026, IN THE AMOUNT OF $252,900. FUNDS ARE AVAILABLE IN SPECIAL GRANT AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN 21 OPERATING EXPENSES CONTRACT NUMBER 2024 0971. YES. OH, I'M SORRY, I WAS JUST GOING TO SAY MAYBE WE WANT TO READ ALL THREE OF THEM. I THINK THAT ALL OF OUR QUESTIONS ARE RELATED. OKAY. ITEM NUMBER 4K ARPA 1162. APPROVE AND AUTHORIZE THE COUNTY JUDGE TO SIGN THE SERVICES AGREEMENT WITH F O MEDIA TO PROVIDE COMPREHENSIVE TOURISM AND MARKETING SERVICES THROUGH THE BOOSTING TOURISM, THROUGH STRATEGIC INITIATIVES AND COLLABORATIONS FOR THE COUNTY OF EL PASO. FROM THE DATE OF SIGNATURE THROUGH NOVEMBER 30TH, 2026. IN THE AMOUNT OF $186,500, FUNDS ARE AVAILABLE IN SPECIAL GRANT AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN 21 OPERATING EXPENSE CONTRACT NUMBER 2024 0992. ITEM NUMBER FOUR EL AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN 1161 APPROVE AND AUTHORIZE THE COUNTY JUDGE TO SIGN THE COMPREHENSIVE TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TRAINING PROGRAM FOR MICRO AND SMALL BUSINESSES ACROSS EL PASO COUNTY, EL PASO COUNTY, TEXAS. SERVICES AGREEMENT WITH THE EL PASO HISPANIC CHAMBER IN THE AMOUNT OF $1 MILLION. FUNDS ARE AVAILABLE IN SPECIAL GRANT AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN 21 OPERATING EXPENSE CONTRACT NUMBER. 2024 0999. THANK YOU. CESAR. GOOD AFTERNOON ROBERTO.

SO FIRST OF ALL, I WANT TO COMMEND YOU AND YOUR STAFF FOR THE INCREDIBLE AMOUNT OF WORK THAT YOU ALL DID TO GET THESE RFPS OUT AND NOW TO GET THEM AWARDED. THE REASON I ASKED TO

[05:20:05]

PULL THE ITEMS IS BECAUSE I KNOW THAT A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO, WE APPROVED TWO CONTRACTS WITH THE SAME ARPA FUNDING FROM THE RFP. I THINK DESTINATION EL PASO, AND I CAN'T REMEMBER THE NAME OF THE OTHER COMPANY, BUT I JUST WANT TO KNOW IF YOU CAN GIVE US JUST REALLY BRIEFLY, A DESCRIPTION OF THE DIFFERENT SERVICES THAT THE DIFFERENT COMPANIES ARE GOING TO BE PERFORMING UNDER THE CONTRACTS. I KNOW SOME ARE SPECIFIC TO THE MISSION TRAIL. OTHERS ARE MORE COUNTY WIDE MARKETING EFFORTS. BUT I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE I UNDERSTAND WHO'S GOING TO BE RESPONSIBLE FOR WHAT. YES, MA'AM. ROBERTO RANSOM, GOOD AFTERNOON TO EVERYONE. DIRECTOR, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT FOR EL PASO COUNTY. AND YES, OVER THE LAST MONTHS, WE HAVE PUT TOGETHER FIVE RFPS, TWO OF THOSE ARE FUNDED THROUGH AN ALLOCATION COMING FROM CONGRESSWOMAN ESCOBAR SPECIFICALLY FOR THE MISSION TRAIL. AND THESE TWO ARE ONE IS THE 2020 4-0 22 BOOSTING TOURISM. THAT IS A SPECIFICALLY A MARKETING EFFORT ONLY FOR THE MISSION TRAIL AS ALLOCATED BY BY THE FUNDING SOURCE AND THE 20 4-0 25 IS TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE FOR COMPANIES ONLY WITHIN THE MISSION TRAIL TO STICK TO THE TO THE PURPOSE OF THE FUNDING. THE OTHER THREE RFPS, THE BUSINESS RESERVATION, TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE AND MARKETING THAT YOU'RE SEEING FUNDED THROUGH ANOTHER SOURCE, WHICH IS ARPA, IS NUMBER ONE, IS COUNTY WIDE. AND THESE THREE RFPS ARE A CHILD OF THE DIRECTION AND GUIDANCE PROVIDED BY BY YOU. ALSO, THEY OUTLINED TO THE SPECIFIC DELIVERABLES FROM THE STRATEGIC PLAN AS WELL. AND WE DID THIS IN PURPOSE. AND WE WERE WE SPENT A LOT OF TIME REALLY CONNECTING THE DOTS AND MAKING SURE THAT THIS MONEY, NOT ONLY COMPLIES WITH THE DIRECTION OF THE COURT AND THE STRATEGIC PLANNING, BUT ALSO THE LONG TERM VISION OF THIS IS FOR US TO HAVE A PROFILE UNDERSTANDING OF THE BUSINESSES IN OUR COMMUNITY. AND WITH THAT, TO BE ASSERTIVE WHEN WE'RE DOING POLICY IN THE LONG TERM, THE DIFFERENT SCOPES OF WORK FOR UNDER RFP 20 4-0 22, WHICH IS THE BOOSTING TOURISM COUNTYWIDE. IT INCLUDES THREE COMPANIES. THE REASON WHY IT INCLUDES THREE COMPANIES. DESTINATION EL PASO, WHO WAS AWARDED LAST LAST MONDA, UFO MEDIA AND LJ IS BECAUSE THIS THESE THREE COMPANIES OUT OF ALL THE PROPOSALS THAT WE RECEIVED, COMPANIES, LOCAL COMPANIES AND COMPANIES OUTSIDE OF THE OF THE STATE AND EVEN THE CITY. THEY'RE THE MOST COMPETITIVE PROPOSALS THAT WE RECEIVE. AND THAT'S WHY WE'RE ALLOCATING SEVERAL PROJECTS TO THIS DESTINATION, EL PASO TO UFO MEDIA AND LJ ENGINEERING. LJ ENGINEERING PROVIDED SPECIFIC VERY GOOD METHODOLOGY, VERY GOOD EXPERIENCE ON THE NARRATIVE OF HISTORIC ASSETS, MUSEUM CREATIO. THE DIGITAL CONTENT AND WEBSITE. THE CREATION OF WEBSITES, INFLUENCER AND BLOGGERS, AND MARKETING. THIS IS WHY LJ GOT AWARDED, WHICH IS, YOU KNOW THIS THIS FIRM. THEN UFO MEDIA GOT AWARDED FOR ENHANCING TOURISM COLLABORATIONS WHICH IS ONE OF THE DELIVERABLES INDICATED IN THE STRATEGIC PLAN. HERITAGE AND TOURISM COLLABORATIONS AND THE ENHANCEMENT OF THE OLD COUNTY JAIL. THIS AS FAR AS THE TOURISM EFFORT AS FAR AS THE TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE, WHICH IS 1 MILLION, $1 MILLION, IS OUR BUSINESS IS REALLY NEED A TECHNICAL LITERACY AS FAR AS UNDERSTANDING HOW TO DO THEIR BUDGETS, UNDERSTANDING HOW TO FILE THEIR TAXES. SO THIS WILL BE THERE'S A BIG PERCENTAGE THAT WILL BE PROVIDED AS A GRAN. AND THE OTHER COMPONENT THEY WILL BE BEFORE THEY RECEIVE A GRANT, THEY WILL BE EDUCATED ON ON HOW TO DO ALL THE ALL THE TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE. AND THIS THEN WE HAVE THE BUSINESS PRESERVATION, WHICH IS IT'S A RETENTION AND EXPANSION EFFORT THAT ALSO FOCUSES ON SUPPLIER DEVELOPMENT BETWEEN SMALL BUSINESSES. SOME OF THESE EFFORTS ARE COMPLETELY NEW. THEY HAVEN'T BEEN DONE IN THE HISTORY

[05:25:02]

OF THE COUNTY. AND AGAIN, THE OBJECTIVE IS NOT ONLY TO SERVE THIS SMALL BUSINESSES, BUT TO LEARN FROM THEIR NEEDS AND GENERATE POLICY AND INCENTIVES, AIM PRECISELY TO THEIR NEEDS. SO WHICH COMPANIES ARE GOING TO BE THE ONES OVERSEEING THE TOURISM PROMOTION SPECIFIC TO THE MISSION TRAIL FOR THE MISSION TRAIL IS GOING TO BE THE MARKETING, I BELIEVE, AND I'D LIKE TO ASK MY TEAM HERE TO, FOR SOME ASSISTANCE. IT'S FOR THE BOOSTING TOURISM I BELIEVE IS DOCTOR UFO MEDIA ONLY FOR THE MISSION TRAIL ONLY. SO THERE'S. I'M SORRY. GO AHEAD IN THE BACKUP. WHAT I READ AND WHAT I READ IN THE AGREEMENTS, COMMISSIONER. SO UNDER ITEM J WITH LJ ENGINEERING, THERE IS A MISSION TRAIL ELEMENT UNDER THERE. AND IT'S TO IDENTIFY ALL HISTORIC OR HELP US IDENTIFY AND PROVIDE GOOD DESCRIPTIONS AND STORIES BEHIND ANYTHING HISTORIC. AND ALSO, I BELIEVE, SMALL BUSINESSES THAT CONTRIBUTE TO THE MISSION TRAIL OVERALL. SO UNDER THAT ONE, THERE IS A MISSION TRAIL ELEMENT. THERE'S ALSO UNDER ITEM K, I BELIEVE, AND I APOLOGIZE, I STEPPED OUT FOR JUST A SECOND. LET ME CATCH BACK UP. CYNTHIA, IF YOU KNOW PLEASE JUMP IN. BUT I, I READ THE NARRATIVES ON ALL OF THEM AND I BELIEVE IT'S ALSO UNDER ITEM K, BUT GIVE ME ONE SECOND. SO UFO MEDIA WILL BE OVERSEEING THE ENHANCEMENT OF THE OLD COUNTY JAIL. SO WHEN WE SAY ENHANCEMENT OF THE JAIL, THIS IS GOING TO WORK IN COLLABORATION WITH LJ WHO IS GOING TO BE OVERSEEING THE REVISION AND UPDATE OF THE EXHIBITS. AND SO THE ENHANCEMENT OF THE OLD COUNTY JAIL IS WE ARE HOPING TO INCORPORATE TECHNOLOGY TO MAKE IT A MORE IMMERSIVE EXPERIENCE AT THE JAIL. SO REALLY WITH THE WITH DESTINATION EL PASO, WHICH WAS APPROVED A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO, LJ AND AFO WERE GOING TO BRING THEM TO THE TABLE AND HAVE A KICKOFF IN JANUARY TO BETTER OUTLINE FOR THEM. ALTHOUGH WE HAVE INFORMED THEM THAT THEY'LL BE WORKING TOGETHER AS A GROUP TO BRING FORWARD THIS COMPREHENSIVE PLAN THAT INCLUDES ASPECTS OF THE MISSION TRAIL. SO THE MISSION TRAIL REALLY DOES TOUCH ON EACH ONE OF THESE, BUT THIS IS A COUNTY WIDE EFFORT MAP. OKAY, OKAY. THANK YOU. AND I AND I DO RECALL COMMISSIONER HOLGUIN THAT FOR RFP 24 ZERO 19, THE TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE IS GOING TO BE THE HISPANIC CHAMBER ONLY FOR THE MISSION TRAIL WITH FUNDING FROM FROM THE APPROPRIATION FROM CONGRESSWOMAN ESCOBAR AND FOR RFP 20 4-0 22, WHICH IS A MARKETING COMPONENT THAT THE AWARDED COMPANY WAS AFO MEDIA. AND AGAIN, IS WITH THE SAME APPROPRIATION FROM CONGRESSWOMAN ESCOBAR. ONLY SERVING THE MISSION TRAIL AS FAR AS THAT THAT PARTICULAR BUCKET OF MONEY. OKAY. SO IT'LL BE THE SAME MOSTLY THE SAME COMPANIES ARE GOING TO BE WORKING ON THE MISSION TRAIL SPECIFIC PROJECTS, BUT THEN ALSO ON THE COUNTY WIDE PROJECT. SO THEY'LL BE DOING BOTH. YES. FOR MEDIA GOT AWARDED FOR TWO DIFFERENT THINGS. AND YES, WITH TWO DIFFERENT FUNDING ALLOCATIONS AND JUST WANTED TO SHARE WITH WITH THE COURT A CLARIFICATION ITEM HERE FOR RFP 24 ZERO 22. THIS SPECIFIC RFP ALLOWED FOR MULTIPLE SUBMISSIONS. AND THAT'S WHY WE HAVE MULTIPLE AWARDEES. AND WE AWARDED BASED ON THEIR CORE COMPETENCY. OKAY, GREAT. THAT WAS ALL OF MY QUESTIONS. THANK YOU. JUST JUST ONE IN REFERENCE TO EL AND THE LOOKING AT THE LARGE AMOUNT OF MONEY, THE EL PASO HISPANIC CHAMBER, ARE THEY GOING TO BE DOING THE TRAINING THEMSELVES OR DO THEY BID IT OUT? HOW DOES THAT WORK? YES, IT IS MY UNDERSTANDING THEY ARE VERY GOOD AT DOING THIS TRAINING AND YES, THEY WILL BE CONDUCTING THE TRAINING IN ENGLISH AND SPANISH IN ORDER TO SATISFY THE AUDIENCE. SO YES, THEY WILL BE ALLOCATING A BIG CHUNK OF MONEY TO GIVE GRANTS TO COMPANIES, BUT AFTER THEY RECEIVE TRAINING AND THEY'RE GOING TO BE DOING THE TRAINING SPECIFICALLY FOR THE MISSION TRAIL, OR IS IT GOING TO BE COUNTY WIDE? BOTH. YES, SIR. SO ONE EFFORT, THE RFP 20 4-0 22. IT'S A COUNTY WIDE EFFORT AND THE ONE THAT IS AT THE LOCAL LEVEL WITH ANOTHER SET OF FUNDING, WHICH IS THE ALLOCATION FROM CONGRESSWOMAN ESCOBAR, IS THE 20 4-0 19. BUT THIS ONE UNDER ITEM EL IS SPECIFICALLY COUNTY WIDE SMALL BUSINESS TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE. IT STARTS WITH A NEEDS ASSESSMENT AND CONSULTATION. THEN TAILORED SUPPORT PROGRAMS TO THOSE BUSINESSES AND THIS IS FOR SMALL BUSINESSES 20 OR LESS EMPLOYEES. THEY HAVE TO HAVE BEEN IN

[05:30:05]

BUSINESS A YEAR. SO IT IS A IT'S NOT FOR EVERY IT DOESN'T NOT EVERY BUSINESS WILL QUALIFY. BUT IT IS COUNTY WIDE AND 20 OR LESS EMPLOYEES ALSO COVERS THE MICRO BUSINESSES. YES, SIR. YES. OKAY.

I JUST DIDN'T KNOW THAT THEY HAD THAT EXPERTISE FOR THE TRAINING. THANK YOU. YES, SIR. THANK YOU.

MY PLEASURE. THANK YOU. JUDGE, I HAVE A QUESTION FOR ROBERTO. OKAY. GO AHEAD. ROBERTO, WITH WITH REGARD TO ITEM L, THE OR THE COMPANIES FOR THE TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE, TRAINING PROGRAM, HOW ARE THEY GOING TO BE SELECTED AND ARE THEY GOING TO BE APPORTIONED JUST COUNTY WIDE OR BY PRECINCT? ARE YOU GOING TO FOCUS ON EQUITY THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY? YES, SIR. THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME TO CLARIFY. YES. ON THE SCOPE OF WORK. A PART OF OUR OUR WORK WAS TO SPECIFICALLY INDICATE THAT WE WANT THE SAME NUMBER OF COMPANIES PER PRECINCT TO, FOR THEM TO GO OUT THERE AND HAVE BOOTS ON THE GROUND, BET THOSE COMPANIES AND THEN MAKE THEIR RECOMMENDATIONS TO ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT. ALSO WITHIN THE SCOPE OF WORK, WE ALSO LEFT A SPECIFIC AREA WHERE IF YOU HAVE A COMPANY THAT YOU LIKE TO RECOMMEND, WE WILL GO AHEAD AND RECEIVE YOUR RECOMMENDATION FROM YOUR OFFICE. WE'LL GO AHEAD AND EMBED IT ACCORDING TO THE CRITERIA OF THE RFP, AND WE CAN RECOMMEND THIS THAT THIS COMPANY GETS THE TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE FOR SLASH THE GRANT, THE GRANT FOR THE TRAINING. AND WE DO NOTE IN THE AGREEMENT THAT IT'S CRITICAL THAT THEY DEVELOP A WELL-ORGANIZED ARCHIVE OF THE CRITERIA USED TO ASSESS THE BUSINESSES AS IT'S SUBJECT TO AUDIT OR REVIEW, TO MAKE SURE THEY MEET THE STANDARDS.

COMMISSIONER CORONADO, AND IT GOES ON, AGAIN, IT IT SAYS, YOU KNOW WHAT WHAT WHAT IS THE ELIGIBILITY SPECIFIC CRITERIA. THEY CANNOT HAVE EARNED MORE THAN $2 MILLION IN THE LAST THREE YEARS. IT REALLY IS HAS CRITERIA TO GEAR IT TOWARDS SMALL BUSINESS AND ACROSS A VARIETY OF SECTORS. YES, YES, YES. AND IN ADDITION TO THAT, WE'RE DOING THAT AND ALSO THAT WE DO IT COUNTY WIDE AND ACTUALLY TO TRY AND FOCUS THAT IT'D BE EQUITABLE BY PRECINCT. I THINK THAT WAY ALL BUSINESSES ARE GETTING COVERED THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY. THANK YOU FOR THAT, SIR. YES. AND THE LAST THING THAT I JUST WANTED TO ADD IS THAT THERE'S ALSO CRITERIA TO SERVE AND TO GIVE PREFERENCE FOR WOMEN OWNED BUSINESSES AND FOR VETERAN OWNED BUSINESSES WITHIN THE CRITERIA. SO WE TRY TO BE AS INCLUSIVE AS POSSIBLE. OKAY. ALL RIGHT. VERY EXCITING. THANK YOU.

COMMISSIONERS ON NOTICE WITH THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATION, I JUST WANTED TO CLARIFY. SO THE REFERRALS THAT YOUR OFFICES MAY HAVE, THEY WILL BE SUBMITTED TO THE VENDOR THAT'S OPERATING THE PROGRAM RIGHT. WE JUST NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE IN COMPLIANCE WITH WITH THE RULES THAT ARPA SETS OUT. AND SO IF JUST LIKE WITH ANY OTHER PROCESS, WE WOULD FOLLOW THEM THROUGH THE SOLICITATION PROCESS AND THEY WOULD BE QUALIFIED AND DETERMINED TO BE ELIGIBLE BY, BY THE VENDORS THAT THAT HAVE BEEN RECOMMENDED FOR CONTRACTING ON YOUR AGENDA TODAY. AND, AND THE CONTRACT DOES SPECIFY SPECIFICALLY THAT THE CONTRACTOR SHOULD BE EQUITABLE AMONGST THE FOUR PRECINCTS. BUT CAN YOU ALL SEND THOSE RECOMMENDATIONS TO OUR OFFICES SO THAT IF ANY BUSINESSES COME UP, WE CAN SEE WHAT THE QUALIFICATIONS ARE? YES. YES, SIR. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU. WE HAVE A MOTION FROM COMMISSIONER OLGUIN TO APPROVE ALL THREE ITEMS. IS THERE A SECOND? WELL, YOU ALL ARE VOTING. I DO WANT TO CLARIFY, TOO. AND I MAY HAVE MISSED IT WHEN I WAS OUT, BUT THE CONTRACT SPECIFIES TO TRY TO HELP 100 BUSINESSES ACROSS THE COUNTY, 25 PER PRECINCT. OKAY. WE HAVE A MOTION FROM COMMISSIONER OLGUIN. A SECOND FOR FROM COMMISSIONER LEON TO APPROVE ITEMS J, K AND L, THE VOTING IS OPEN. I VOTE I THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER STOUT. I AND I THANK YOU, SIR. NO, IT'S STILL THANK YOU. MOTION CARRIES. THANK YOU. THEY CHANGED IT. AND THAT'S ALL. OKAY. BEFORE WE GO INTO EXECUTIVE

[05:35:24]

SESSION, I'D LIKE TO READ IN ITEMS 13 D AND 13 E FOR THE COUNTY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE. ITEM NUMBER 13 D PURSUANT TO TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE SECTIONS FIVE, FIVE, 1.071 AND FIVE FIVE,

[D. Pursuant to Texas Government Code Sections 551.071 and 551.0725, discuss legal rights and responsibilities and contract negotiations regarding the implementation and deployment of the Cotton Valley Connect Project funded by the US Department of Agriculture ReConnect Grant and Loan Program. Erica Rosales-Nigaglioni, Assistant County Attorney, County Attorney's Office, 915-273-3247]

1.0725 DISCUSS LEGAL RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES AND CONTRACT NEGOTIATIONS REGARDING THE IMPLEMENTATION AND DEPLOYMENT OF THE COTTON VALLEY CONNECT PROJECT, FUNDED BY THE US DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. RECONNECT GRANT AND LOAN PROGRAM AND ITEM NUMBER 13 E PURSUANT TO TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE SECTION 551.071 AND 551.0725 DISCUSS LEGAL RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES REGARDING THE INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT. PROJECT DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT FOR THE TORNILLO GUADALUPE PORT OF ENTRY STUDY. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. GOOD AFTERNOON. ANNA SCHUMACHER, ASSISTANT COUNTY ATTORNEY FOR EXECUTIVE SESSION ITEM 13 D AND 13 E STAFF IS ASKING THAT THESE ITEMS BE TAKEN INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION PURSUANT TO TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE SECTIONS FIVE, FIVE, 1.071 AND FIVE FIVE, 1.0725. FOR ITEM 13 E, 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 BE INCLUDED WILL INCLUDE RECOMMENDATIONS AS TO WHAT THE COUNTY'S NEGOTIATION, NEGOTIATION POSITION SHOULD BE, AND THE COMMISSIONERS COURT MUST BE FREE TO ANALYZE THE BUSINESS AND FINANCIAL CONCERNS CRITICALLY WITHOUT UNDERMINING THE COUNTY'S POSITION.

THEREFORE, I'M REQUESTING THAT COMMISSIONERS COURT UNANIMOUSLY VOTE THAT DELIBERATIONS IN OPEN MEETING WOULD HAVE A DETRIMENTAL EFFECT ON THE POSITION OF THE COMMISSIONERS 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 TO MOVE THESE ITEMS INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION AS DESCRIBED. I NEED A MOTION AND A SECOND AND A RECORDED VOTE AT THIS TIME, A COPY OF THESE LEGAL MEMOS HAVE BEEN PROVIDED TO THE COUNTY CLERK TO BE MADE PART OF THE OFFICIAL RECORD. SO I JUST NEED A MOTION. PLEASE. WE HAVE A MOTION FROM COMMISSIONER OLGUIN, A SECOND FROM COMMISSIONER LEON.

VOTING IS OPEN. I VOTE I HI FOR ME. THANK YOU, JUDGE SAMANIEGO. THANK YOU. MOTION CARRIES. ALSO, I'D LIKE TO READ. READ INTO ADDITIONAL ITEMS. THESE ARE ITEMS THAT WE ARE REQUESTING TO DELETE FROM EXECUTIVE SESSION. ITEM NUMBER 13 F PURSUANT TO TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE SECTION 551.071, DISCUSS LEGAL RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES PERTAINING TO THE SECTION 106 REVIEW PROCESS ESTABLISHED BY THE NATIONAL HISTORIC PRESERVATION ACT. ALSO, ITEM NUMBER 13, J.

DISCUSS FINANCIAL INFORMATION AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT NEGOTIATIONS RECEIVED REGARDING CHAPTER 381 AGREEMENTS WITH PROJECT POWER, A PRIVATE BUSINESS PROSPECT PURSUANT TO TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE SECTION 551.087. IF WE COULD HAVE A MOTION TO DELETE BOTH OF THESE ITEMS, PLEASE. WE HAVE A MOTION FROM COMMISSIONER OLGUIN, A SECOND FROM JUDGE SAMANIEGO. THE VOTING IS OPEN VOTE. I THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER. COMMISSIONER STOUT, I AS WELL FOR ME. THANK YOU. MOTION CARRIES. THANK YOU. COMMISSIONERS COURT WILL NOW RECESS INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION TO DISCUSS ITEMS 13 A THROUGH 13 E 13 G THROUGH 13 I, 13 K AND ITEM NUMBER EIGHT F PURSUANT TO TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE. SECTION 551.071551.07255, 1.0725 AND 551.087. COMMISSIONERS COURT

[05:40:11]

WILL RECONVENE TO TAKE OFFICIAL ACTION. IT IS 3:10 P.M.

IT'S IMPORTANT FOR YOUR CHILDREN TO STAY CURRENT ON ALL THEIR ROUTINE VACCINES. ALSO, CHILDREN FIVE AND OLDER ARE NOT ELIGIBLE FOR THE COVID 19 VACCINE. I AM CURRENT AND ALL MY VACCINES AND I ALSO GET THE COVID VACCINE. SO I AND MY LOVED ONES CAN BE PROTECTED. YOU AND YOUR KIDS SHOULD GET THE VACCINE TOO. AND IF YOU'VE ALREADY GOTTEN THE VACCINE, YOU SHOULD GET YOUR 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 VACUNA RETINAS LOS NINOS MAYORES DE CINCO ANOS, AHORA SON ELEGIBLES PARA LA VACUNA DE COVID NINE DE LA VACUNA. COVID DIECINUEVE GRATIS PARA LAS VACUNAS RUTINA DE SUS HIJOS. VISITA EP HEALTH.COM SABEMOS CUANTO AMAS A TUS HIJOS, ASI Q RECUERDA NO LO DUDES VACUNA.

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.