[00:10:17]
          LIVE FROM EL PASO COUNTY, TEXAS, THE VETERANS CAPITAL OF THE USA. 
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FROM INSIDE THE ALICIA COUNTY COMMISSIONERS COURTROOM OF THE ENRIQUE MORENO COUNTY
COURTHOUSE. 
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YOU ARE WATCHING THE EL PASO COUNTY COMMISSIONERS COURT MEETING. 
          GOOD MORNING, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN. TODAY IS THURSDAY,
JANUARY 23RD, 2025. 
          COMMISSIONERS COURT IS MEETING IN SPECIAL OPEN SESSION. 
          WOULD YOU PLEASE RISE AND JOIN US FOR THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE? 
          [1. OPEN MEETING]
ITEM NUMBER THREE IS PUBLIC COMMENT. WE HAVE NOT RECEIVED ANY NOTICES FOR PUBLIC COMMENT,
SO WE'LL TAKE NO ACTION ON ITEM THREE. 
          AND ITEM NUMBER. CAN I JUST OPEN? I'M SORRY. GO AHEAD. 
          SIR. THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE ON MY BEHALF AND OUR COMMISSIONERS. 
          SO WE WELCOME YOU. GREAT TOPICS TODAY, AND I SEE SOME AMAZING PEOPLE IN THE AUDIENCE AND
JUST WANT TO THANK YOU TO BEING PART OF THE OF THE PROCESS, 
          [3. PUBLIC COMMENT]
BUT ALSO JUST AN OPPORTUNITY. LOTS OF THINGS GOING ON. 
          YOU KNOW, A LOT OF THINGS THAT ARE TAKING PLACE,
A LOT OF CHANGES. 
          YOU KNOW, WE'RE TRYING OUR BEST NOT TO SPECULATE ON ANYTHING AND WAITING FOR THINGS TO,
TO HAPPEN, BUT JUST LET YOU KNOW THAT OUR COMMISSIONERS AND MYSELF ARE VERY,
VERY ACTIVE IN TRYING TO PREPARE. 
          YOU KNOW, I MYSELF AND OTHERS HAVE BEEN PART OF THE ADMINISTRATION MY FIRST TWO YEARS. 
          I DID HAVE PART OF THAT ADMINISTRATION. SO WE FEEL VERY COMFORTABLE. 
          SO JUST SORT OF RELY ON HOW CAPABLE WE ARE AS A COMMUNITY. 
          I MEAN, I KNOW WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO SEE A LOT OF THINGS ABOUT TRYING TO BE SAFE AND THAT
THAT EVERYTHING'S GOING TO BE OKAY. 
          I DON'T PARTICULARLY LIKE THE WORD. IT'S GOING TO BE OKAY BECAUSE WE DON'T KNOW,
AND WE DON'T WANT PEOPLE AS MUCH AS WE DON'T WANT YOU TO BE OVERCAUTIOUS. 
          WE ALSO DON'T WANT YOU TO TO NOT SORT OF UNDERSTAND THAT THINGS ARE GOING TO CHANGE. 
          BUT I THINK IF YOU LOOK BACK, IF YOU LOOK BACK HOW WE HANDLED THE WALMART SHOOTING AND HOW
WE CAME TOGETHER, HOW WE ENDED UP INSTEAD OF WITH NOTHING, WE ENDED UP WITH A BEAUTIFUL HEALING GARDEN. 
          WE BROUGHT FAMILIES TOGETHER. THEN WE HAD WE'VE HAD A LOT OF THE IMMIGRATION SITUATIONS. 
          WE HANDLED THEM, I BELIEVE, BETTER THAN ANY COMMUNITY. 
          WHEREAS OTHER COMMUNITIES WOULD HAVE 15 20,000 IN THE STREET AND FOR LONG PERIODS OF TIME, WE WERE ABLE TO ADDRESS THAT. SO I FEEL IN THE PANDEMIC,
OBVIOUSLY BEING ONE OF THE WORST HIT TO BEING ONE OF THE THE FIRST TO COME OUT OF THE HAVE TO REACH HERD IMMUNITY. SO I JUST WANT THE COMMUNITY TO HELP EACH OTHER,
MAKE SURE THAT YOU GET, YOU KNOW, THERE'S PEOPLE THAT ARE STRUGGLING COMING OUT OF THE PANDEMIC. 
          THERE WAS OBVIOUSLY WE'VE BEEN HIT EMOTIONALLY AND A LOT OF DEPRESSIONS AND MORE SUICIDES
AND MENTAL HEALTH HAS BEEN AN ISSUE. 
          AND SO ANYTHING ON TOP OF THAT WILL CREATE EVEN MORE A NEED FOR US TO COME TOGETHER AS A
COMMUNITY. 
          IT'S GOING TO BE VERY IMPORTANT. I HAVE BEEN STRESSING EVERY OPPORTUNITY THAT I HAVE TO
THE FAMILY IS THAT THAT YOU UNITE AS A FAMILY FIRST, TAKE CARE OF YOURSELF, TAKE CARE OF YOUR FAMILY,
BE THERE FOR YOUR FAMILY. 
          AND WHEN YOU DO THAT, YOU'RE GOING TO BE THERE FOR THE COMMUNITY. 
          THE BREAKDOWN THAT'S THE WORST BREAKDOWN OF ANY SOCIETY IS NOT WHAT IS HAPPENING NOW. 
          IF IT REACHES THE COMMUNITY AND THEN IT REACHES THE FAMILY AND THE FAMILY BEGINS TO BREAK
DOWN, THAT'S WHEN YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE VERY DIFFICULT SITUATIONS AND IT CAN HAPPEN. 
          THERE'S DIFFERENCES IN OPINION WITHIN A SAME FAMILY AND JUST TRY TO REMIND EVERYBODY THAT
FIRST YOU'RE A FAMILY, THEN THE POLITICS IS SECOND. BUT FIRST, PLEASE UNITE AS A FAMILY. 
          IT'S IMPORTANT TO ME AND TO COMMISSIONERS, BECAUSE WE REALLY FEEL THAT EL PASO IS GOING TO
BE SORT OF THE LAST STRONGHOLD FOR HUMANITY, A STRONGHOLD FOR DOING THE THINGS THAT ARE RIGHT. 
          AND SO A LOT OF PEOPLE DEPEND ON US THAT WE CONTINUE TO BE STRONG SO THAT OTHER
COMMUNITIES CAN DO THE SAME. 
          SO I APOLOGIZE. I DON'T WANT TO TAKE TOO MUCH OF THE TIME,
BUT I REALLY THANK YOU FOR, YOU KNOW, 
          [00:15:04]
UNDERSTANDING THAT WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO HANDLE IT,
HAVE THAT LEVEL OF FAITH AND STRENGTH, AND THEN LET'S JUST STAY UNITED AND DO THE BEST WE CAN AND MAKE SURE THAT THAT WE ANTICIPATE WHAT WE NEED TO ANTICIPATE AND MAKE SURE THAT WE
STAND FOR WHAT WE BELIEVE IN AS WELL. 
          SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR BEING HERE. THANK YOU. 
          CESAR. I JUST WANT TO LET YOU KNOW THAT COMMISSIONER CORONADO IS VIRTUAL AND BUT HE'S VERY
ACTIVE, EVEN VIRTUAL. SO WE'RE WE'RE VERY GLAD TO HAVE YOU. 
          COMMISSIONER. THANK YOU. GOOD MORNING EVERYBODY. 
          ITEM NUMBER FOUR A FROM THE REGULAR AGENDA. PURSUANT TO THE TEXAS LOCAL GOVERNMENT CODE,
SECTION 115.021 AUDIT AND SETTLE ALL ACCOUNTS AGAINST THE COUNTY SHOWN ON THE ATTACHED LISTING AND DIRECT THE PAYMENT OF THOSE
ACCOUNTS. 
          [A. Pursuant to the Texas Local Government Code, Section 115.021, audit and settle all accounts against the County shown on the attached listing and direct the payment of those accounts.
Barbara Parker, County Auditor, County Auditor's Office, 915-273-3262]
GOOD MORNING, COMMISSIONERS. GOOD MORNING. FIRST ASSISTANT COUNTY AUDITOR. 
          AS YOU MAY RECALL, THIS IS A ROUTINE ITEM. WE PLACE IT USUALLY ON CONSENT AGENDA,
BUT WE DIDN'T HAVE A CONSENT AGENDA TODAY. 
          SO AGAIN, IT'S JUST A ROUTINE ITEM TO PROCESS SOME PAYMENTS. 
          WE HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE FROM JUDGE SAMANIEGO. 
          DO WE HAVE A SECOND? YOU HAVE A SECOND FROM COMMISSIONER BUTLER. 
          THE VOTING IS OPEN. I VOTE AYE. THANK YOU. COMMISSIONER. 
          I'M GOING TO VOTE AYE AS WELL. ORALLY. CAESAR. 
          I'M HAVING TROUBLE LOGGING IN. BUT THANK YOU,
COMMISSIONER. 
          COMMISSIONER STOUTE. MINE SAYS I VOTE AYE. I MEAN,
IT'S SHOWING UP HERE THAT I DID SO. 
          BUT THANK YOU, SIR. THANK YOU COMMISSIONERS. THANK YOU. 
          APPRECIATE IT. ITEM NUMBER FOUR B RECEIVE AN UPDATE FROM THE CAMINO REAL REGIONAL MOBILITY AUTHORITY REGARDING THE PELLICANO
WIDENING PROJECT. 
          WELCOME, RAYMOND. THANK YOU. GOOD MORNING. JUDGE. 
          COMMISSIONERS RAY MONTES. I'M WITH THE CAMINO REAL REGIONAL MOBILITY AUTHORITY. 
          [B. Receive an update from the Camino Real Regional Mobility Authority regarding the Pellicano Widening Project. (TxDOT CSJ 0924-06-534)
Norma Rivera-Palacios, Deputy County Administrator, Public Works, 915-273-3330]
SO I'M HERE TO PROVIDE AN UPDATE ON THE PELLICANO PROJECT. 
          I THOUGHT FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE PUBLIC, I MIGHT STEP BACK A MOMENT AND GIVE SOME OF THE
BACKGROUND AS TO WHY WE'RE STILL TALKING ABOUT THIS WILL BE REALLY GOOD FOR PUBLIC. 
          THANK YOU. THANK YOU. SO AS A REMINDER, THE THE HMA PARTNERED WITH THE COUNTY OF EL PASO
SEVERAL YEARS BACK TO DEVELOP THIS PROJECT. 
          WE DEVELOPED THE DESIGN PLANS AND THEN EVENTUALLY SELECTED A CONTRACTOR TO COMPLETE THE
PROJECT. 
          WE BEGAN THE PROJECT AND THE CONTRACTOR GOT TO ROUGHLY 50% COMPLETION OF THE PROJECT AND
THEN COULD NOT FINISH THE PROJECT. 
          AND THEN AT THAT POINT, THE HMA DEFAULTED THE CONTRACTOR AND MADE A CLAIM AGAINST THE
SURETY BOND. 
          AND SO FOR THE AGAIN FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE PUBLIC,
WHEN A PUBLIC ENTITY CONTRACTS WITH A CONTRACTOR FOR A PROJECT LIKE THIS, WE WILL REQUIRE A SURETY BOND, WHICH IS IN ESSENCE IT'S OFTEN REFERRED TO AS SIMILAR TO AN
INSURANCE COMPANY WHO WOULD STEP INTO THE SHOES OF THE CONTRACTOR THAT COULDN'T FINISH AND WOULD FINISH THE PROJECT. AND SO ONCE WE FILED THE DEFAULT AND MADE THE CLAIM AGAINST THE
PERFORMANCE BOND, THE SURETY THEN ALL SORTS OF OTHER ISSUES CAME UP PRIMARILY. 
          THE CONTRACTOR, J.R. CONCRETE, FILED FOR BANKRUPTCY. 
          WHEN THEY DID THAT, THEY ALSO FILED A CLAIM AGAINST THE RMA. 
          AND AND AMONG THE CLAIM ISSUES WAS AN ARGUMENT THAT THE DEFAULT WAS IMPROPER. 
          AND SO WHEN THAT THAT CLAIM FOR IMPROPER DEFAULT WAS FILED,
THE SURETY THEN RESPONDED TO THE RMA SAYING WE WILL NOT START RESTART CONSTRUCTION BECAUSE OF THE CLAIM THAT IT WAS AN IMPROPER DEFAULT. 
          SO LOTS OF OTHER ISSUES CAME UP ALONG THE WAY THROUGH THE BANKRUPTCY. 
          THE BANKRUPTCY WAS ORIGINALLY FILED UNDER CHAPTER 11,
EVENTUALLY CONVERTED TO CHAPTER SEVEN BY THE COURT. 
          IN FACT, THE BANKRUPTCY JUDGE RETIRED IN THE MIDDLE OF IT. 
          SO WE'VE GOT A NEW JUDGE THAT HAD TO COME ONLINE WITH A CONVERSION FROM CHAPTER 11 TO
CHAPTER SEVEN. 
          YOU THEN ARE ASSIGNED A TRUSTEE WHO TAKES OVER THE ASSETS AND THE LIABILITIES OF THE OF
THE BANKRUPT ENTITY. 
          SO LOTS OF LEARNING CURVES, LOTS OF DELAYS ALONG THE WAY. 
          ANYHOW, AT ONE SO EARLY IN 2024, THE MMA FILED A DECLARATORY JUDGMENT ACTION IN THE
BANKRUPTCY COURT TO FORCE THE JUDGE TO DETERMINE THE QUESTION OF THE DEFAULT WAS IT PROPER OR WAS IT
NOT PROPER SO THAT THAT WAS OUR INTENT TO TO ADVANCE THE PROJECT? WE'VE HAD SEVERAL MINI TRIALS. THE JUDGE HAS BROKEN THIS,
THIS CASE UP INTO SEVERAL SEGMENTS. 
          WE'VE HAD SEVERAL MINI TRIALS ALONG THE WAY,
SEVERAL RULINGS IN OUR FAVOR, THANKFULLY. 
          AND MOST RECENTLY WE HAD ANOTHER MINI TRIAL IN JANUARY,
JANUARY 13TH, 14TH AND 15TH. 
          AND THAT'S ULTIMATELY TO GET TO THE ANSWER OF THE QUESTION ON THE DEFAULT. 
          WITH THAT, AT THE END OF THAT TRIAL ON THE I BELIEVE IT WAS JANUARY 15TH,
THE MMA IS NOW SUBMITTING A BRIEF NEXT WEDNESDAY. 
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ITS DUE. AND THEN THE SURETY OR EXCUSE ME, THE TRUSTEE ON THE OTHER SIDE WILL FILE THEIR
BRIEF TWO WEEKS LATER. 
          THAT WILL CONCLUDE THAT THAT AS I UNDERSTAND IT FROM THE JUDGE THAT WILL CONCLUDE THIS
PIECE OF THE OF THE PROCESS, AND WE SHOULD RECEIVE A RULING FROM THE JUDGE ON THE SPECIFIC QUESTION OF THE DEFAULT AT
THAT POINT. 
          SO WE'RE VERY CLOSE TO RECEIVING TO THE END OF THIS PROCESS. 
          IN THE EVENT THAT WE RECEIVE A FAVORABLE RULING FROM THE JUDGE,
THAT WOULD MEAN THEN THAT WE WOULD GO RIGHT BACK TO THE SURETY, POINT OUT THAT THE THE DEFAULT WAS DEEMED PROPER,
AND BEGIN CONVERSATIONS ON THE SURETY TAKING OVER THE ENTIRE PROJECT. 
          SO WE'RE VERY CLOSE TO THAT, AND I'M VERY EXCITED TO TO SHARE THAT WITH YOU. I WILL TELL
YOU, THOUGH, AS AS WE'VE DISCUSSED IN THE PAST, IN ADDITION TO GOING THROUGH THE THE NORMAL
PROCEDURES, THE MMA HAS ALSO REACHED OUT DIRECTLY TO THE SURETY AND ASKED THE SURETY IF THERE WAS ANY
WAY THAT WE COULD ADVANCE THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE PROJECT WHILE WE FIGHT ABOUT THE REST OF IT IN COURT. SO WE'VE REFERRED TO THAT ALONG THE WAY AS THE INTERIM
PHASE. 
          SO THE IDEA WAS THE CONTRACTOR FINISHED ABOUT 50% OF THE PROJECT. 
          WE HAVE ABOUT HALF THE TOTAL PROJECT FUNDS ROUGHLY $1,011 MILLION AVAILABLE FOR
CONSTRUCTION. 
          WE CAN'T ACCESS IT BECAUSE WE WE DECLARE DEFAULT. 
          TXDOT AND THE FEDS HAVE SAID WE DON'T HAVE ACCESS TO THOSE FUNDS. THOSE ARE OWNED BY THE
SURETY. 
          THE SURETY WON'T TAKE ACTION. SO WE WERE KIND OF STUCK. AND THAT'S THAT'S AGAIN WHY WE
HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO ADVANCE THE PROJECT. 
          HOWEVER, WE REACHED OUT AGAIN TO THE SURETY,
ASKED IF THEY WOULD BE WILLING TO ENTERTAIN VARIOUS OPTIONS TO RESTART CONSTRUCTION, PERHAPS GET ACCESS TO THE TEN AND A HALF. $1,011 MILLION AND AND COMPLETE A PORTION OF THE
PROJECT JUST SO THAT WE COULD SEE SOME ALLEVIATION OF THE CONGESTION, SOME OF THE ISSUES THAT ARE OUT THERE. THEY AGREED IN CONCEPT. 
          AND SO WE AT THAT POINT, WE TOOK THE DESIGN PLANS,
REPACKAGED THEM FOR THE ITEMS THAT ARE WERE NOT COMPLETED. 
          SO IN EFFECT, WE WENT OUT AND ASSESSED THE PROJECT IN TERMS OF WHAT WAS COMPLETED,
TOOK THE PLANS, IDENTIFIED WHAT WAS NOT COMPLETED, CREATED A NEW SET OF PLANS,
PROVIDED THOSE TO THE SURETY COMPANY. 
          THE SURETY HAS PUT THAT OUT ON THE STREET AND THEY'VE NOW RECEIVED BIDS AND THEY'VE
THEY'VE IDENTIFIED A POTENTIAL WAY FORWARD. 
          I SPOKE AGAIN WITH THE SURETY THIS MORNING, AND THEY ARE FORWARDING THOSE BID RESULTS TO
US TODAY, AND WE WILL SPEAK WITH THEM VERY SOON, HOPEFULLY NEXT,
AS SOON AS NEXT WEEK TO TALK ABOUT ADVANCING THAT INTERIM PHASE THAT I MENTIONED. 
          INCIDENTALLY, THE INTERIM PHASE IS WHEN YOU'RE OUT THERE RIGHT NOW,
THE CONTRACTOR WAS ABLE TO COMPLETE ROUGHLY FROM ROUTE 375 HEADING EAST TO ABOUT ERCOUPE. SO YOU SEE, THAT'S COMPLETED CONCRETE ROADWAY. 
          WE'VE IN EFFECT, ASKED AS THE INTERIM PHASE TO COMPLETE THE NORTH SECTION. 
          SO FROM ERCOUPE HEADING BACK TO 375, THAT WOULD ALLEVIATE THE MAJORITY OF THE PROBLEMS. OBVIOUSLY, THERE'S A LOT OF ROADWAY LEFT THAT WOULD NOT BE COMPLETE WITH A LOT OF IMPACTED
OWNERS STILL. 
          BUT IF WE'RE ABLE TO FIX A COMPLETE THIS INTERIM PHASE,
WE WOULD ALLEVIATE CONGESTION CONCERNS FROM THE MAJORITY OF THE RESIDENTS, THE MAJORITY OF THE BUSINESSES, THE SCHOOL AND EVERYONE ALONG 375. 
          SO IT'S A REALLY HOPEFULLY A VERY POSITIVE FIX. 
          AND WE'RE REALLY HOPEFUL THAT WE CAN ADVANCE THAT VERY SOON. 
          THAT'S WHAT I HAVE. I'M CERTAIN THERE'S GOING TO BE SOME QUESTIONS,
SO I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER. THANK YOU RAYMOND. WELL, I'M GLAD TO HEAR THAT THE BANKRUPTCY PROCEEDING IS MOVING FORWARD. IS THE JUDGE. I IMAGINE THE JUDGE IS AWARE JUST OF THE
SENSITIVITY OF THE PROJECT AND THE MAJOR DISRUPTION THAT IT'S CAUSING FOR RESIDENTS AND EVERYONE IN THAT AREA. 
          DO YOU FEEL THAT ONCE THE BRIEFS ARE SUBMITTED,
WILL RECEIVE A DECISION FROM THE JUDGE? DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA HOW LONG THAT MIGHT TAKE? HE HASN'T PROVIDED A TIMELINE FOR THAT, BUT HE HAS ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS BECAUSE WE'VE
INCLUDED IT IN OUR BRIEFS, IN OUR TESTIMONY, IN OUR ARGUMENTS ALONG THE WAY,
HE RECOGNIZES THE IMPACT THAT IT'S HAVING ON THE COMMUNITY. 
          WE TALKED ABOUT STALLED PROJECTS. WE'VE TALKED ABOUT ALL SORTS OF THINGS. SO HE RECOGNIZES
THAT, AND HE'S MADE NOTE OF IT WITHIN THE RECORD OF THE TRIALS. 
          I WOULD ALSO MENTION AS I. THIS IS A STRANGE CASE FOR A NUMBER OF REASONS. 
          ONE OF THEM IS THAT THIS. THIS JUDGE HAS BROKEN THE CASE INTO DIFFERENT PIECES AND HAS
TAKEN A LOT OF TIME TO TO OUTLINE THOSE PIECES AND TO TO TAKE THE TIME TO ACTUALLY UNDERSTAND AND MAKE RULINGS ON THEM. 
          SO I, I THINK THE MAJORITY OF THE WORK IS DONE. 
          SO I THINK ONCE THE BRIEFS GO IN, I FEEL AND HE HAS SAID SOMETHING TO,
TO THIS EFFECT WITHIN THE, WITHIN THE COURT, THAT HE WOULD BE ABLE TO RULE FAIRLY SOON THEREAFTER,
HOPEFULLY. 
          AND THEN YOU MENTIONED THAT THE SURETY HAS RECEIVED BIDS. 
          FOR TO COMPLETE THAT THE, THE PORTION THAT YOU MENTIONED WILL THE MMA BE INVOLVED IN THE
SELECTION OF THE NEW CONTRACTOR OR IS IT COMPLETELY UP TO THE SURETY? I MEAN, I GUESS MY POINT IS WE DON'T WANT TO FIND OURSELVES
IN THE SAME PLACE WHERE A CONTRACTOR IS CHOSEN BECAUSE I THINK AND THEN THEY'RE ALSO NOT 
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ABLE TO COMPLETE THE WORK. SO HOW MUCH INVOLVEMENT WILL THE MMA HAVE WITH THE SELECTION OF
THE NEW CONTRACTOR, OR IS THAT COMPLETELY UP TO THE SURETY? WELL,
IT'S AN INTERESTING QUESTION BECAUSE IF YOU LOOK AT THE BOND, THE BOND SAYS THAT THE MMA HAS THE ABILITY TO APPROVE OR NOT APPROVE A PROPOSED TAKEOVER
CONTRACTOR. 
          THIS IS A LITTLE BIT OUTSIDE OF THAT BECAUSE IT'S AN INTERIM FIX. IT'S A IT'S A LITTLE BIT
DIFFERENT. 
          BUT I WILL TELL YOU AS RECENTLY AS THIS MORNING IN SPEAKING WITH THE VICE PRESIDENT OF
CLAIMS, THEY'RE COMPLETELY OPEN TO DISCUSSING THIS WITH US AND COMING TO A COLLECTIVE AGREEMENT. 
          SO AS OF RIGHT NOW, THEY'RE SAYING, YES, ABSOLUTELY. 
          THE ARMY WILL BE A PART OF THAT CONVERSATION. 
          THAT'S GOOD NEWS. SO BY NEXT WEEK, YOU FEEL LIKE THEY'RE THE SURETY MAY HAVE CHOSEN A
CONTRACTOR. 
          IS THAT RIGHT? DID I HEAR THAT RIGHT? WELL, I DON'T KNOW THAT I COULD SAY THAT WE'RE
GETTING THE BID INFORMATION TODAY. 
          AND SO HOPEFULLY WE'LL BE ABLE TO GO THROUGH THOSE OVER THE NEXT DAYS. 
          I'D SAY WITHIN WITHIN BY THE END OF NEXT WEEK. 
          WE SHOULD HAVE A GOOD FEEL FOR WHAT'S IN THERE,
WHAT WHAT WE WOULD RECOMMEND GOING FORWARD. NOW REMEMBER TO THE SURETY HAS A LOT MORE FLEXIBILITY IN SELECTING A CONTRACTOR THAN A PUBLIC AGENCY DOES. 
          SO THERE MIGHT BE OTHER REASONS WHY THEY WANT TO SELECT THIS CONTRACTOR OVER THAT ONE. 
          IF, FOR EXAMPLE, THERE ARE OTHER PROJECTS THAT THEY HAVE THEM ON. 
          MAYBE THEY GET BETTER PRICING. THERE ARE OTHER REASONS IN THERE THAT THAT MIGHT SWAY SOME
OF THAT, THE DECISION MAKING. AND SO I DON'T KNOW THAT I'M NECESSARILY ANSWERING YOUR QUESTION,
BUT THAT'S BECAUSE I CAN'T TELL YOU HOW QUICKLY WE'LL HAVE SOMEBODY ON BOARD. 
          BUT I WILL TELL YOU THE PROCESS IS MOVING AND WE WILL GET THAT INFORMATION TODAY. SURE. 
          SO IF BY THE END OF NEXT WEEK THERE IS, YOU KNOW,
THE RMA IS ABLE TO TELL THE SURETY, THIS IS WHO WE WOULD RECOMMEND OR WE AGREE WITH, AT THAT POINT, WE MIGHT HAVE A BETTER SENSE OF TIMELINE. 
          WE SHOULD. YES, MA'AM. SO THEN IN A COUPLE OF WEEKS,
CAN WE ASK YOU TO COME BACK TO PROVIDE US WITH ANOTHER UPDATE IN CASE WE DO HAVE MORE OF THAT TIMELINE ONCE THE CONTRACTOR IS CHOSEN? ABSOLUTELY. 
          AND I WOULD MENTION, TOO, THAT TIMING IS LINING UP IN A VERY CURIOUS WAY. 
          RIGHT. SO IF YOU RECALL, THE ORIGINAL REASON WHY THE ARMY ASKED FOR THIS INTERIM FIX WAS
THAT WE THOUGHT THAT THE COURT CASE WAS WAS GOING TO GO ON FOR YEARS AND YEARS, AND THERE'S STILL OTHER PIECES IN THE COURTS THAT WILL BE GOING ON EVEN AFTER THIS,
THIS NEXT RULING THAT WE'RE ANTICIPATING. 
          BUT THE IDEA WAS, LET'S JUST GET SOME WORK GOING. 
          WE'LL DEAL WITH THE COURT CASE OUTSIDE OF THAT. 
          AND BUT IT LOOKS LIKE THEY'RE LINING UP ACTUALLY REALLY CLOSELY. 
          RIGHT. SO WE HAVE BIDS IN HAND. NOW WE HAVE A JUDGE THAT LOOKS LIKE HE MAY BE RULING
WITHIN THE NEXT THREE, 4 OR 5 WEEKS. SO THERE MIGHT BE A REASON TO TO HOLD BACK THE INTERIM FIX TO,
TO PUT IT ALL TOGETHER AS A, AS A SINGLE PROJECT. COMPLETELY UNCLEAR. AND I'M NOT SAYING THAT THAT WILL HAPPEN. 
          I GUESS MY POINT IS, I WANT TO JUST NOTE THAT THERE ARE OTHER VARIABLES THAT COULD COME
INTO PLAY, BUT WE ARE DEFINITELY MOVING FORWARD. THAT'S THE MOST IMPORTANT PART. 
          I MEAN, IT'S JUST UNFORTUNATE THAT IT TOOK THE SURETY SO LONG TO AGREE TO THE INTERIM FIX
BECAUSE THE BANKRUPTCY WAS FILED IN MAY OF 23, IF I REMEMBER CORRECTLY. SO WE'RE ALMOST AT THE TWO YEAR MARK. 
          AND THE WHOLE POINT OF THE INTERIM FIX WAS FOR IT TO BE HAPPENING WHILE THE COURT CASE WAS
GOING FORWARD. 
          SO IT'S IT'S A SHAME THAT IT'S TAKEN THE SURETY THIS LONG TO GET TO WHERE WE ARE. 
          BUT I GUESS YOU'RE RIGHT. THERE SEEMS TO BE A LIGHT AT THE END OF THE TUNNEL. 
          HOPEFULLY MOMENTUM KEEPS GOING IN OUR FAVOR. YES,
MA'AM. 
          RAYMOND, COULD YOU ADDRESS THERE'S BEEN SOME CONCERN THAT BECAUSE OF WHAT'S BEEN
HAPPENING, THAT THE QUALITY OF THE PROGRAM OR THAT SOME OF THE THE MONEY THAT WAS GOING TOWARDS THAT
WOULD BE DIFFERENT? COULD YOU TALK A LITTLE BIT BECAUSE WE DO GET A LOT OF COMMENTS. 
          IS IT IS IT GOING TO BE SORT OF A, YOU KNOW,
A LESS LESSER QUALITY FINISH BECAUSE OF THAT? IF YOU COULD ADDRESS THAT FOR THE PUBLIC? CERTAINLY. 
          I THINK THE THE QUICK ANSWER TO THAT IS ABSOLUTELY NOT. 
          SO THE THE PLANS THAT ARE IN PLACE, THE THE MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS,
THIS IS STILL A FEDERALLY FUNDED PROJECT. 
          SO IF THERE WERE A LESSER QUALITY MATERIAL PLACED OUT THERE,
THE FEDS WOULDN'T PERMIT IT BECAUSE WE'RE USING 92% EVERY DOLLAR THAT'S USED TO PAY FOR A CONTRACTOR OR SUPPLIES MATERIALS. 92% OF THAT COMES FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT. 
          THEY HAVE TO REVIEW AND APPROVE. SO THE STANDARD WILL NOT CHANGE INDEPENDENT OF INFLATION
AND DEPENDENT OF RISING IN COST IN OTHER MATERIALS. THEY'LL BE ABLE TO COVER THAT. SO SO THAT'S WHERE THE NEXT FIGHT IS. 
          AND I'LL BE HONEST WITH YOU. SO WHEN WHEN A SURETY TAKES OVER,
THE SURETY IS RESPONSIBLE THROUGH THE BOND THAT THEY EXECUTED, THE SURETY IS RESPONSIBLE FOR PROVIDING THAT SET OF PLANS THAT WAS ORIGINALLY CONTRACTED. 
          SO THEY HAVE TO PROVIDE EVERYTHING THAT WE ASKED FOR. 
          NOW WHEN THE SURETY COMES IN, OBVIOUSLY THEY THERE IS NOW A HUGE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE
BID AMOUNT THAT WE CONTRACTED WITH J.R CONCRETE AND WHAT IT'S ACTUALLY GOING TO COST. 
          SO ON PAPER THE SURETY IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THAT GAP. 
          THEY HAVE TO PAY 100% OF THAT. WE HAVE TO GET OUR DESIGN PLANS. 
          THIS IS ALL THE MONEY YOU'RE GOING TO GET. HOWEVER MUCH IT COSTS YOU DOESN'T MATTER TO US.
IN REALITY, THERE ARE ARGUMENTS AND THERE ARE NEGOTIATIONS THAT WILL HAPPEN POTENTIALLY,
BUT NONE OF THEM DEAL WITH QUALITY, 
          [00:30:01]
THE QUALITY OF THE WORK AND THE ROADWAY THAT THAT WILL RESULT OUT THERE WILL BE EXACTLY AS
REQUIRED BY THE PLANS AND REQUIRED. 
          AND MORE IMPORTANTLY, REQUIRED AND OVERSEEN BY THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT. WE DEAL SO MUCH
WITH CHANGE IN PRICE BECAUSE OF INFLATION THAT I THOUGHT MAYBE THAT WOULD BE ALSO PART OF OUR CHALLENGE, BUT I'M GLAD TO HEAR THAT. 
          YES, SIR. WELL, IN FACT, THAT WAS ONE OF THE REASONS WHY WE TOLD THE SURETY TWO YEARS AGO, YOU REALLY NEED TO GET WORKING BECAUSE IT'S GOING TO COST YOU A WHOLE LOT MORE EVERY DAY
THAT YOU WAIT, IT'S GOING TO COST YOU MORE. BUT THEY MADE A BUSINESS DECISION. 
          YEAH. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? I DO HAVE A QUESTION,
COMMISSIONER BUTLER. 
          MAYBE IT'S JUST A CLARIFYING QUESTION, BUT WHAT HAPPENS IF THE JUDGE'S RULING IS NOT
FAVORABLE? DOES THAT MEAN WE CAN ONLY MOVE FORWARD WITH THE INTERIM PLANS,
AND THEN HAVE TO FIND FUNDING FOR THE REMAINDER OF THE PROJECT SOMEWHERE ELSE? IT'S AN EXCELLENT QUESTION. 
          WE'VE LOOKED AT IT A COUPLE OF DIFFERENT TIMES. I DON'T KNOW THAT I WOULD. 
          I'M NOT I DON'T KNOW THAT I'M PREPARED TO GIVE YOU A COMPLETE ANSWER ON THAT. 
          I WOULD SIMPLY SAY, IF THAT'S THE RESULT, THEN WE WOULD ROUNDTABLE IT AND COME BACK TO YOU
WITH SEVERAL OPTIONS FOR YOUR FOR YOUR DETERMINATION. 
          BUT WOULD THE SURETY, THE INTERIM PLAN BE ABLE TO MOVE FORWARD WHILE WE HAVE AN
UNFAVORABLE RULING? SO THAT'S ONE OF THE BENEFITS OF THE INTERIM INTERIM FIX. 
          THE IDEA WAS IF THE SURETY COULD JUST GET GOING WITHIN THE TAKEOVER AGREEMENT THAT WE HAVE
THAT WE'RE DEVELOPING WITH THE SURETY COMPANY, THERE'S A PROVISION IN THERE THAT EFFECTIVELY SAYS IF THERE'S AN ADVERSE RULING AGAINST
THE MMA, THE MMA WOULD THEN INHERIT THAT CONSTRUCTION CONTRACT SO WE COULD CONTINUE WITH THE
INTERIM FIX UNDER UNDER THE MMA AND THE SURETY WOULD SIMPLY STEP OUT. 
          OKAY, OKAY. THANK YOU COMMISSIONER. AND AT THAT POINT,
THE MMA COULD ACCESS THE FUNDS THAT WE CAN'T CURRENTLY ACCESS. 
          THAT'S EXACTLY RIGHT. YES, MA'AM. ANY FURTHER QUESTIONS? THANK YOU. APPRECIATE. AND WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO A QUICK RETURN. 
          IF YOU COULD GIVE US A LITTLE BIT OF AN UPDATE. THANK YOU. YES,
SIR. THANK YOU. APPRECIATE IT. 
          ITEM NUMBER FOUR. SEE? RECEIVE A PRESENTATION FROM EL PASO GOLD STAR FAMILIES REGARDING
THE PROPOSAL FOR A MEMORIAL HONORING THE BRAVE MEN AND WOMEN WHO LOST THEIR LIVES IN SERVICE TO OUR COUNTRY. WELCOME. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. 
          [C. Receive a presentation from El Paso Gold Star Families regarding their proposal for a Memorial honoring the brave men and women who lost their lives in service to our Country.
Ricardo A. Samaniego, County Judge, County Judge's Office, 915-546-2098]
GOOD MORNING. HONORABLE MEMBERS OF THE COMMISSIONERS COURT AND JUDGE COUNTY JUDGE
SAMANIEGO. 
          THANK YOU ALL FOR INVITING OUR BOARD MEMBERS TO BE HERE TODAY. 
          MY NAME IS DOLORES DUARTE VALENZUELA, AND I HAVE THE HONOR OF SERVING AS THE PRESIDENT OF
THE EL PASO GOLD STAR FAMILIES MEMORIAL. 
          I DON'T REALLY KNOW HOW TO. IS IT? YEAH. I'M PRESSING. OKAY. THERE IT IS. OKAY. AS A GOLD STAR DAUGHTER, THIS CAUSES DEEPLY PERSONAL TO ME. MY FATHER WAS A UNITED STATES MARINE SERGEANT ROBERTO
DUARTE. 
          HE MADE THE ULTIMATE SACRIFICE FOR OUR FREEDOMS ON DECEMBER THE 11TH,
1965, IN KAZAN, VIETNAM. 
          TO TODAY I STAND BEFORE YOU NOT ONLY AS A DAUGHTER WHO HAS LOST A LOVED ONE,
BUT ALSO AS SOMEONE WHO IS COMMITTED TO ENSURING THAT THE SACRIFICES OF OUR FALLEN HEROES AND THEIR FAMILIES ARE NEVER FORGOTTEN. THE EL PASO GOLD STAR FAMILIES MEMORIAL IS A
TRIBUTE TO THOSE WHO HAVE GIVEN EVERYTHING FOR OUR COUNTRY. 
          OUR MILITARY SERVICE MEMBERS WHO MADE THE ULTIMATE SACRIFICE. 
          IT IS DEDICATED TO THE GOLD STAR FAMILIES, THOSE WHO HAVE LOST A LOVED ONE IN MILITARY
SERVICE. 
          THIS MEMORIAL IS NOT JUST A STATUE OR SCULPTURE OR A GATHERING SPACE. 
          IT IS A SYMBOL OF RESPECT, A PLACE FOR REFLECTION,
AND AN OPPORTUNITY FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS TO LEARN THE COST OF FREEDOM. 
          THE PROPOSED SITE FOR THE EL PASO GOLD STAR FAMILIES MEMORIAL WILL BE LOCATED AT THE OLD
GLORY MEMORIAL AT 9550 GATEWAY NORTH BOULEVARD, ADJACENT TO THE VIETNAM VETERANS MEMORIAL,
WHICH IS A VERY FITTING LOCATION. 
          WE BELIEVE IT IS IMPORTANT THAT THE EL PASO COMMUNITY HAS A CENTRAL PLACE WHERE FAMILIES,
VETERANS AND VISITORS CAN COME TOGETHER TO REFLECT ON THE SACRIFICES MADE BY THOSE WHO SERVE AND THEIR FAMILIES. WE HAVE THE NEXT SLIDE. SO THIS IS WHERE THIS WILL BE LOCATED,
ADJACENT TO THE VIETNAM VETERANS MEMORIAL. 
          WE AIM TO COMPLETE THE PROJECT BY SEPTEMBER 2026. 
          [00:35:02]
HOWEVER, WE ARE MOVING AHEAD WITH THE PLANNING AND DESIGN RIGHT NOW AND WE ARE VERY
EXCITED TO SHARE THE DETAILS OF THIS AMBITIOUS PROJECT WITH YOU TODAY. 
          THE EL PASO GOLD STAR FAMILIES MEMORIAL WILL BE A MONUMENTAL SCULPTURE THAT USES THE BAS
RELIEF TECHNIQUE, COMBINING BOTH 2D AND 3D ELEMENTS TO CREATE A DEEPLY TEXTURED AND LIFELIKE REPRESENTATION
OF THE JOURNEY OF MILITARY FAMILIES. SIMILAR TECHNIQUE IS THE COMPANY E MEMORIAL,
WHICH IS LOCATED AT WASHINGTON PARK HERE IN EL PASO, TEXAS. THE MEMORIAL WILL FEATURE THE SIX EMBLEMS REPRESENTING THE MILITARY BRANCHES DEPICTED IN FULL AUTHENTIC COLORS. 
          THE SCENES PORTRAYED WITH WILL REFLECT THE RESPECT,
COMMITMENT, AND PROFOUND SACRIFICE OF OUR SERVICE MEMBERS AND THEIR FAMILIES. 
          EACH SCENE TELLS A DIFFERENT PART OF THIS JOURNEY. 
          THE FIRST SCENE IS A GOLD STAR NATIONAL EMBLEM,
WHICH WILL BE A GOLD PLATED EMBLEM. 
          THIS SYMBOLIZES NATIONAL RECOGNITION OF OF GOLD STAR FAMILIES. 
          THE SECOND SCENE IS THE SALUTING SOLDIER, WHICH IS THE SOLDIER SALUTING TO REPRESENT THE
RESPECT FOR SERVICE MEMBERS. 
          THE THIRD SCENE IS A SOLDIER DEPLOYING, A SOLDIER BEING DEPLOYED,
REPRESENTING COMMITMENT AND BRAVERY. 
          THE FOURTH SCENE IS NOTIFICATION OF KIN WHEN FAMILY MEMBERS RECEIVE THE NEWS OF THEIR
LOVED ONE'S DEATH, SYMBOLIZING THE EMOTIONAL LOSS. THE FIFTH SCENE WILL BE THE DIGNIFIED TRANSFER. 
          THE TRANSFER OF A FALLEN SOLDIERS REMAINS, EMPHASIZING RESPECT. 
          THE SIXTH SCENE IS THE FLAG PRESENTATION. A FEMALE SOLDIER PRESENTING THE AMERICAN FLAG TO
THE FAMILY AS A FINAL TRIBUTE. 
          THERE WILL ALSO BE THREE BATTLE CROSSES AND FOUR BASES. 
          THREE BATTLE CROSSES REPRESENTING FALLEN SOLDIERS FROM WORLD WAR ONE,
WORLD WAR TWO, KOREA, VIETNAM, DESERT STORM, IRAQ AND AFGHANISTAN. 
          THE FOURTH BASE WILL BE LEFT EMPTY, SYMBOLIZING HOPE THAT NO ADDITIONAL BATTLE CROSSES
WILL EVER BE REQUIRED. 
          THE MEMORIAL WILL STAND 11FT HIGH AND TEN FEET WIDE,
WITH AN INTERNAL LIGHT AT ITS CENTER. 
          WITH THE ETERNAL LIGHT AT ITS CENTER, SYMBOLIZING THE NEVER ENDING FLAME OF REMEMBRANCE
FOR THOSE WHO MADE THE ULTIMATE SACRIFICE. 
          THIS LIGHT WILL BE VISIBLE BOTH NIGHT AND DAY,
OFFERING A CONSTANT REMINDER TO US ALL THAT THEIR MEMORY SHALL NEVER FADE. 
          THE BAS RELIEF TECHNIQUE WILL ALLOW FOR THAT LEVEL OF DETAIL THAT IS NOT ONLY ARTISTIC BUT
ALSO MEANINGFUL. 
          BRINGING THE LIFE, BRINGING TO LIFE THE DEEP EMOTIONAL EXPERIENCES OF GOLD STAR FAMILIES. 
          OUR VISION FOR THE GOLD STAR FAMILIES MEMORIAL IS CLEAR. 
          WE WANT TO CREATE A PLACE OF PEACE, HONOR AND REFLECTION FOR ALL WHO THOSE WHO VISIT. 
          THE BRONZE THAT IS GOING TO BE USED IN THE MEMORIAL IS SPECIFICALLY MADE OUT OF 95.5%
SILICONE BRONZE, WHICH IS A MATERIAL THAT HAS BEEN USED IN OUTDOOR ENVIRONMENTS FOR OVER 6000 YEARS. 
          IT HAS BEEN CHOSEN FOR ITS DURABILITY AND TIMELESS BEAUTY IN THE HARSH DESERT ENVIRONMENT
OF EL PASO. 
          WE WANT THE MEMORIAL TO ENDURE FOR GENERATIONS TO COME,
JUST LIKE THE MEMORIES OF THE HEROES IT HONORS. 
          [00:40:01]
BUT WE NEED YOUR HELP. THE PROJECT. THE PROJECT BUDGET FOR THE EL PASO GOLD STAR FAMILIES
MEMORIAL IS $625,500, AND WE ARE DEDICATED TO BRINGING THIS VISION TO LIFE. 
          AGAIN, I WANT TO EMPHASIZE THAT THIS MEMORIAL IS NOT JUST A SYMBOL OF OUR GRIEF,
BUT OF OUR GRATITUDE, OUR RESOLVE, AND OUR COMMITMENT TO REMEMBERING THOSE WHO GAVE EVERYTHING FOR OUR FREEDOM. 
          THIS IS A PROJECT FOR ALL OF US, FOR EVERY MEMBER OF THE EL PASO COMMUNITY,
FOR EVERY GOLD STAR FAMILY, AND FOR EVERY AMERICAN WHO VALUES THE SACRIFICE OF OUR MILITARY. 
          ON BEHALF OF OUR COMMUNITY AND THE GOLD STAR FAMILIES MEMORIAL MONUMENT,
WE ARE RESPECTFULLY REQUESTING YOUR CONSIDERATION FOR A $50,000 DONATION TO SUPPORT THIS MEANINGFUL PROJECT. THIS MONUMENT WILL SERVE AS A LASTING TRIBUTE TO THE
COURAGEOUS FAMILIES WHO HAVE ENDURED THE ULTIMATE SACRIFICE FOR OUR NATION, FOSTERING REMEMBRANCE AND GRATITUDE FOR GENERATIONS TO COME. 
          YOUR CONTRIBUTION WILL ENSURE THE SUCCESSFUL COMPLETION OF THIS MEMORIAL,
HONORING THE LEGACY OF THE EL PASO GOLD STAR FAMILIES AND THEIR LOVED ONES. 
          WE ARE LOOKING FOR YOUR SUPPORT IN BRINGING THIS VISION TO LIFE AS LEADERS IN OUR
COMMUNITY. 
          YOUR SUPPORT WOULD BE INVALUABLE NOT ONLY IN RAISING AWARENESS,
BUT ALSO IN SECURING THE RESOURCES NEEDED TO MAKE THIS MEMORIAL A LASTING TRIBUTE. 
          YOUR INVOLVEMENT AND SUPPORT IN ANY CAPACITY WILL HELP ENSURE THAT THE STORIES AND
SACRIFICES OF OUR FALLEN HEROES AND THEIR FAMILIES ARE NEVER FORGOTTEN. 
          TOGETHER, WE CAN BUILD A MEANINGFUL AND ENDURING SYMBOL OF GRATITUDE AND REMEMBRANCE FOR
EL PASO AND BEYOND. 
          THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME, YOUR LEADERSHIP AND COMMITMENT TO RECOGNIZING THE SACRIFICES MADE
FOR OUR COUNTRY AND FOR SUPPORTING THE EL PASO GOLD STAR FAMILIES MEMORIAL. GOD BLESS EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU AND GOD BLESS THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. 
          THANK YOU. DOLORES. ARE THEY IS THE AUDIENCE ABLE TO SEE? BECAUSE I WOULD LOVE FOR YOU TO IF YOU COULD TURN TURN IT AROUND SO THAT THEY COULD SEE
THE THE WHOLE IMPACT, IF YOU DON'T MIND. YES, SIR. AND I'LL MAKE A. 
          SO THIS IS THE FIRST SCENE IS THE GOLD STAR NATIONAL EMBLEM,
WHICH WILL BE GOLD PLATED EMBLEM THAT SYMBOLIZES NATIONAL RECOGNITION OF GOLD STAR FAMILIES. THE SECOND SCENE IS THE SALUTING SOLDIER,
WHICH IS THE SOLDIER SALUTING TO REPRESENT FOR SERVICE MEMBERS. THE THIRD SCENE IS A SOLDIER DEPLOYING, A SOLDIER BEING DEPLOYED, REPRESENTING COMMITMENT AND BRAVERY. 
          THE FOURTH SCENE IS NOTIFICATION OF KIN WHEN FAMILY MEMBERS RECEIVE THE NEWS OF THEIR
LOVED ONE'S DEATH, SYMBOLIZING NATIONAL LOSS. THE FIFTH SCENE WILL BE THE DIGNIFIED TRANSFER. 
          THE TRANSFER OF THE FALLEN SOLDIERS REMAINS,
EMPHASIZING RESPECT. 
          THE SIXTH SCENE IS A FLAG REPRESENTATION, A FEMALE SOLDIER PRESENTING THE AMERICAN FLAG TO
THE FAMILY AS A FINAL TRIBUTE. 
          AND AGAIN, THERE WILL ALSO BE THREE BATTLE CROSSES THAT REPRESENT WORLD WAR ONE WORLD WAR
TWO, KOREA, VIETNAM, DESERT STORM, IRAQ AND AFGHANISTAN. 
          THE FOURTH PLACE WILL BE LEFT EMPTY. THIS IS SYMBOLIZING HOPE THAT NO ADDITIONAL BATTLE
CROSS WILL EVER BE REQUIRED. 
          THANK YOU DOLORES, AND I'LL MAKE A FEW COMMENTS. 
          ON BEHALF OF THE GOLD STAR FAMILIES MEMORIAL BOARD,
WE WOULD LIKE TO PRESENT EACH OF YOU WITH A COMMEMORATIVE T SHIRT WHICH HAS BEEN PLACED IN FRONT OF YOU IN FRONT OF YOUR SEATS. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR HAVING US. 
          APPRECIATE IT. WELL, THANK YOU, DOLORES. OBVIOUSLY EMOTIONAL FOR ME,
OBVIOUSLY, MY MY BROTHER WAS KILLED IN VIETNAM. FIRST FATALITY IN VIETNAM. 
          AND I WAS 15 YEARS OLD. AND I RECEIVED THE THE NOTICE MYSELF BY MYSELF. 
          SO THAT ALWAYS BECAME A THE IMPACT I'VE HAD ABOUT THE VETERANS CAPITAL,
ABOUT HONORING. 
          AND IF YOU COULD SEE IT IS SO HEALING BECAUSE IT WAS THE FIRST TIME,
THE FIRST MEETING WE HAD WITH THE ARTIST AND TALKED ABOUT THE PROCESS, AND I WAS HONORED TO BE PART OF THE INITIAL PART OF IT WITH
LINDA MACE AND NOW, 
          [00:45:07]
DOLORES, THAT YOU'VE TAKEN OVER. BUT IT'S IT'S JUST I THINK WHAT I COULD SAY IS THAT WE WE
HONORED THE WE DIDN'T HONOR THE THE VETERANS THAT CAME BACK FROM FROM VIETNAM. 
          AND AS YOU REMEMBER, I DON'T THINK THERE'S ANYBODY IN THE AUDIENCE THAT DOESN'T RECALL HOW
DIFFICULT IT WAS BECAUSE THEY JUST DIDN'T THEY FELT THAT THEY WERE IN A WAR THEY SHOULDN'T HAVE BEEN. LIKE I SAID, IF IT WAS THEIR DECISION. 
          AND THEN THE SAME THING HAPPENED TO THE FAMILY. 
          BUT WE DIDN'T. NOBODY CAME AROUND TO SAY THAT WE'RE OKAY. 
          I MEAN, I GOT COMMENTS, FOR EXAMPLE, IT'S A SHAME THAT YOUR BROTHER DIED IN SUCH A USELESS
WAR. 
          SO WE GOT THE SAME AS A FAMILY. WE GOT THE SAME KIND OF LACK OF APPRECIATION FOR LOSING. 
          AND SO ONE OF THE MOST DIFFICULT THINGS WAS THAT YOU CAN IMAGINE THE NUMBER THAT DIED. 
          BUT WE. IT'S CALLED DISENFRANCHIZED GRIEF, WHERE I,
AS A BROTHER, SHOULDN'T BE THAT UPSET. 
          IT SHOULD BE THE MOM AND IT SHOULD BE THE WIFE,
AND SOMETIMES NOT EVEN THE CHILDREN. 
          AND SO IN THIS SCENARIO, AS YOU'RE SEEING IT,
THEN THE FAMILY IS BROUGHT TOGETHER BECAUSE WHATEVER YOU MULTIPLY THE NUMBER OF, OF THAT DIED, MULTIPLY THAT BY TEN 1520 OF FAMILY MEMBERS THAT NEVER WERE ABLE TO
GRIEVE ABOUT THAT. I CAN TELL YOU I NEVER WAS GIVEN THAT OPPORTUNITY TO FEEL BAD THAT MY BROTHER HAD
DIED. 
          HE WAS HE WAS MY HERO. HE WAS SOMEONE VERY IMPORTANT IN MY LIFE. 
          YET IT WAS LIKE I SAID, DISENFRANCHIZED GRIEF IS LIKE WHEN YOU LOSE A PET AND EVERYBODY
DOESN'T GET IT. 
          IT MEANT A LOT TO YOU, BUT YOUR PET DIED KIND OF THING. 
          THAT'S THE APPROACH THAT PEOPLE TOOK, THAT IT WAS SECONDARY,
THAT IT WOULD HAVE BEEN MY MOM, WHICH OBVIOUSLY WAS EXTREMELY DISTRAUGHT, AND MY MY DAD. 
          BUT THE REST OF THE FAMILY NEVER GOT THAT OPPORTUNITY TO GRIEVE. 
          SO OBVIOUSLY I'M BIASED ABOUT THIS PARTICULAR YOU KNOW,
PROGRAM, BUT BUT I THINK IT WILL HELP UNITE ANYTHING THAT WE COULD DO NOW IN TODAY'S WORLD THAT UNITES US INSTEAD OF SEPARATES US. 
          AND I THINK YOU SAID IT RIGHT, DOLORES, THAT IF WE IF YOU SEE IT,
THAT IT'S A CAUSE FROM THE FAMILY BY ITSELF. 
          I DON'T THINK THAT'S GOING TO BE THE I WILL MISS. 
          THE POINT IS THE COMMUNITY COMING TOGETHER AND DOING A LITTLE BIT OF WHAT HAPPENED TO OUR
VETERANS. 
          THEY STARTED FEELING BETTER ABOUT THE FACT THAT THAT,
YOU KNOW, WE'RE THANKING THEM NOW. 
          WE'RE WELCOME HOME. I MEAN, THEY'RE GETTING WELCOME HOME BARELY AT THIS TIME. 
          SOME OF THEM, THEY'RE NOW GOING TO THEY GO TO WASHINGTON AND THEY GET TO SEE THE VIETNAM
MEMORIAL FOR THE FIRST TIME IN, IN THEIR LIVES UP TO THIS, I MEAN, WE'VE HAD 8090 YEAR OLDS THAT ARE BARELY DOING THAT. 
          SO ANYWAY, JUST I THINK IT'S A GREAT PROGRAM,
A GREAT I MEAN, THE ARTIST IS AMAZING. 
          JULIO IS AMAZING AS TO WHAT HE WANTS TO ACCOMPLISH. 
          AS YOU CAN SEE, HE CAPTURES EVERYTHING WE TALK ABOUT. 
          ALL WE HAVE TO DO IS SAY, THIS IS THE THIS IS WHAT WE WENT THROUGH FROM MY BROTHER LEAVING
AND TALKING TO MY MOM SAYING THAT, YOU KNOW, HE HAD CHOSE TO GO TO VIETNAM INSTEAD OF GERMANY. 
          AND WE ALL REMEMBER THAT MOMENT. AND THEN TO GETTING THE NOTICE. 
          IN OUR CASE, WE WAITED A YEAR AND A ALMOST, ALMOST MORE THAN A YEAR AND A HALF TO GET THE
BODY TO OUR FAMILY. 
          AND SO IT'S A HUGE HEALING PROCESS. AND IT SHOULD BE SORT OF LIKE THE HEALING GARDEN. 
          THE HEALING GARDEN IS NOT MEANT ONLY FOR THE VICTIMS,
BUT FOR THE COMMUNITY AND A LOT OF US. 
          I DON'T THINK ANYONE HERE DOES NOT HAVE A BROTHER OR SISTER OR SOMEONE THAT HAS SOMETHING
TO DO WITH SOMEONE DYING IN WAR. 
          SO. SO, DOLORES, LIKE I SAID, YOU KNOW, I'LL PROMOTE IT FROM MY BEHALF. 
          AND, YOU KNOW, IT'S VERY IMPORTANT AS TO WHAT YOU'RE TRYING TO ACCOMPLISH. 
          AND I HOPE THE COMMUNITY WE'RE NOT SET FOR ACTION TODAY,
BUT IT'S SOMETHING THAT THAT, YOU KNOW, THAT WE COULD TRY TO UNDERSTAND. AND NORMALLY WE COULD. 
          YOU KNOW, THE IDEA, I BELIEVE, IS TO GIVE YOU A DIRECTIVE TO SEE IF,
IN FACT, WE HAVE FUNDING FOR THE 50,000 THAT THEY'RE PROPOSING, AND THEN BRING IT BACK TO COMMISSIONERS COURT TO SEE IF IF THEY AGREE WITH THE
FUNDING SOURCE AND ALSO THE, THE, YOU KNOW, PROVIDING THE MONEY FOR THEM. SO TODAY,
LIKE I SAID, IT'S MORE AN OPPORTUNITY TO LET THE COMMUNITY KNOW WHAT'S BEEN HAPPENING FOR ALMOST, I GUESS ABOUT TWO AND A HALF YEARS, I GUESS WE STARTED WORKING ON THIS PROJECT. 
          AND ALSO, I MEAN, YOU KNOW, I KEEP SAYING THAT ONE OF THE GREATEST THINGS THAT EVER
HAPPENED TO US IS TO BE RECOGNIZED AS A VETERANS CAPITAL OF 
          [00:50:02]
THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. AND WITH THAT COMES RESPONSIBILITY THAT WE CONTINUE TO SHOW
WHY. 
          REMEMBER, WE WE PROCLAIMED IT. REMEMBER WE DID A LOT OF RESEARCH,
AND THEN WE PROCLAIMED THAT WE'RE THE VETERANS CAPITAL. 
          AND SO WE'RE ALWAYS TRYING TO SHOW THE REST OF THE COUNTRY,
IF NOT THE WORLD, THAT WE ARE IN FACT. 
          AND THESE ARE THE KINDS OF THINGS THAT WE'RE SHOWING THAT THIS IS WHY WE'RE THE VETERANS
CAPITAL. 
          ONE OF THE THINGS THAT'S VERY SAD, AND I HOPE THAT YOU HELP US WITH IT,
IS FLAGS ACROSS AMERICA IS ONE OF THE MOST UNIQUE PLACES IN THE COUNTRY. 
          BUT UNFORTUNATELY, IF I ASK 100 PEOPLE IF THEY'VE BEEN THERE,
I WOULD VENTURE MAYBE 2 OR 3. 
          AND IT'S SPECTACULAR. IT'S GOT THE MEMORIAL,
THE KOREAN MEMORIAL. 
          IT HONORS THE WOMEN, THE VIETNAM MEMORIAL, IT'S IT'S JUST A BEAUTIFUL,
BEAUTIFUL PLACE. 
          THE AMOUNT OF ENERGY AND DONATIONS TO GET THAT FLAG AND THE POLE AND EVERYTHING THAT'S
THERE IS AMAZING. 
          AND THANKS TO COMMUNITY COLLEGE FOR PROVIDING THAT PART OF THE LAND. 
          SO THERE ARE SO, SO I GUESS WHAT I'M SAYING IS THAT IF WE ARE IN FACT,
YOU KNOW, FEELING GOOD ABOUT BEING THE VETERANS CAPITAL. IT DOES COME WITH A LEVEL OF RESPONSIBILITY TO CONTINUE. 
          EVERY TIME THAT WE HAVE TO DO SOMETHING THAT MOST COMMUNITIES WOULDN'T,
WOULDN'T DO, THEY WOULDN'T HAVE THAT KIND OF UNITY. 
          SO I THANK YOU. YES, COMMISSIONER OLGUIN, THANK YOU,
JUDGE. 
          THANK YOU, DOLORES, AND THANK YOU, EVERYONE,
FOR BEING HERE AND FOR THE PRESENTATION. IT'S GOING TO BE A BEAUTIFUL, BEAUTIFUL MEMORIAL. I JUST HAD A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS ABOUT WHETHER YOU'VE RECEIVED ANY
OTHER COMMITMENTS REGARDING FUNDING OR IF THERE'S PLANS FOR FUNDRAISING. 
          JUST TO GET AN IDEA OF OF. YES, MAYBE WE HAVE GOTTEN SEVERAL SPONSORS TO DATE AND WE ALSO
ARE PLANNING ON EVENTS. WE WILL BE HAVING AN OPEN HOUSE THAT'S IN THE WORKS RIGHT NOW. 
          WE WILL ACTUALLY BE HAVING AN OPEN HOUSE FOR OUR PROJECT AT THE FLAGS ACROSS AMERICA OLD
GLORY MEMORIAL. 
          THIS WILL PROBABLY BE THE 1ST MARCH, THE NINTH MONTH. 
          RIGHT AROUND, I THINK AROUND MARCH THE 9TH. THE REASON BEING IS THAT THEY'RE UNDERGOING
CONSTRUCTION RIGHT NOW, SO THEY'RE WAITING FOR A DEFINITIVE DATE, WHICH SHOULD BE UP IN FEBRUARY. 
          AND SO WE'RE CONTINUING WITH OUR EVENTS OUR FUNDRAISERS AND PROMOTING THIS,
ALSO REACHING OUT TO OTHER COMMUNITY LEADERS BUSINESSES AS WELL. THERE'S A LOWER VALLEY VETERAN'S ALLIANCE WHERE A LOT OF THE VETERANS
GROUPS FROM THE LOWER VALLEY, FROM SAN ELIZARIO, FROM CLINT HORIZON, THEY HAVE VERY ACTIVE MEMBERSHIPS,
BUT THEY MEET ONCE A MONTH. 
          IF YOU ALL ARE INTERESTED IN GETTING THOSE MEETING DATES SO THAT YOU COULD PRESENT TO
THEM, AND PERHAPS THEY COULD HELP WITH SOME OF THOSE FUNDRAISING EFFORTS. 
          IF YOU STOP BY MY OFFICE, JAVIER CAN PROVIDE YOU THAT INFORMATION. 
          THANK YOU SO MUCH. WE REALLY APPRECIATE IT. THE MORE WE SPREAD THE WORD IN THE COMMUNITY,
I THINK. YES, MA'AM. YES, MA'AM. COMMISSIONER? YES, MA'AM. ONE AND I DON'T WANT TO SOUND LIKE THE SALESMAN THAT SAYS IF YOU DON'T BUY IT NOW. 
          BUT JULIO, THE THE, THE ARTIST, THIS IS GOING TO BE HIS LAST PROJECT. 
          HE'S MOVING TO COSTA RICA, BUT HE WAS WILLING TO TO WAIT TO SEE IF THERE IS TRACTION FROM
THE COMMUNITY. 
          AND I KNOW IT SOUNDS LIKE, BUT HE'S, YOU KNOW,
DOESN'T HAVE HIS SHOP ANYMORE. 
          HE ACTUALLY HAS BEEN IN COSTA RICA AND WE'VE HAD DISCUSSIONS WITH HIM. 
          HE'S WILLING TO SEE IF THAT THIS WOULD BE HIS LAST PROJECT. 
          AND SO THERE'S A LITTLE BIT OF SENSITIVITY, AND ALL WE HAVE TO SHOW HIM IS THAT WE'RE
REALLY COMMITTED TO DOING THAT. 
          WE DON'T HAVE TO SAY, OKAY, HERE'S ALL THE MONEY. 
          BUT I THINK IF HE SEES THAT WE'RE COMMITTED,
THAT WE'RE NOT WASTING HIS TIME OR THAT WE WAIT A LONG TIME AND THEN, YOU KNOW, IT DOESN'T HAPPEN. SO ANYWAY, JUST LIKE I SAID,
IT'S NOT I'M NOT TRYING TO MAKE ANY MORE PITCHES. 
          BUT IF I MAY TAKE JUST A MOMENT OF YOUR TIME,
I WOULD LIKE TO INTRODUCE OUR BOARD MEMBERS. 
          EACH OF OUR BOARD MEMBERS AND GENERAL MEMBERS ARE ALL GOLD STAR FAMILY MEMBERS. 
          IF I CAN HAVE YVETTE DUSHANE. SAY HI. I'M YVETTE DUSHANE. MY SON WAS KILLED IN AFGHANISTAN IN 2010. 
          SEPTEMBER 16TH. HIS NAME IS DANNY RAY SANCHEZ. 
          AND THE MEPS IN FORT BLISS IS ACTUALLY NAMED AFTER HIM. 
          THANK YOU. IDA TOVAR. SHE IS OUR SECRETARY. YVETTE IS OUR VICE PRESIDENT AND IS A THANK
YOU. 
          WELCOME, BETTY. MY FATHER WAS SERGEANT ROBERTO DUARTE,
US MARINE CORPS, KILLED IN ACTION IN VIETNAM DECEMBER 11TH, 1965. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. WE HAVE OUR TREASURER. 
          [00:55:04]
ELIZABETH MADE US FOR THIS. HELLO. MY BROTHER,
SERGEANT DIEGO RAMIREZ JUNIOR, WAS KILLED IN VIETNAM ON NOVEMBER 26TH, 1967. WE HAVE SANTIAGO GONZALEZ IS ONE OF OUR GENERAL MEMBERS AND. 
          GOOD MORNING. MY NAME IS SANTIAGO GONZALEZ. ROBERTO WAS MY COUSIN. 
          I REMEMBER THAT DAY THAT IT HAPPENED. I TOOK CARE OF MY GRANDMA. 
          I WAS 12 YEARS OLD BECAUSE WE DIDN'T WANT TO LET HER KNOW WHAT HAPPENED. 
          BUT THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. 
          MISS MARGIE LAPUMA, WHO IS OUR COMMUNITY OUTREACH COORDINATOR. 
          GOOD MORNING AND THANK YOU. I AM MARGIE LAPUMA AND MY BROTHER,
SERGEANT DIEGO RAMIREZ. 
          JUNIOR WAS KILLED IN ACTION NOVEMBER 26TH, 1967. 
          SO THIS IS VERY CLOSE TO MY HEART. THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR HELP. 
          THANK THEN WE HAVE DAVID VALDEZ, WHO IS ALSO A GENERAL MEMBER AND ONE OF OUR VOLUNTEERS. 
          WELCOME, DAVID. DAVID VALDEZ. I AM THE HUSBAND OF LIZ AND OF COURSE,
MY BROTHER, WHICH IS MY BROTHER IN LAW. 
          HE'S THE ONE THAT PASSED AWAY. AND WHILE WE'RE TOGETHER,
THE FAMILY HERE. 
          THANK YOU FOR YOUR ASSISTANCE AND YOUR HELP. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. 
          DOLORES. THANK YOU. WE'LL GET. WE'LL GET BACK TO YOU. THANK YOU. 
          THANK YOU, COMMISSIONERS, FOR ALLOWING. GO AHEAD. 
          CESAR. JUDGE. I APOLOGIZE, JUDGE. I APOLOGIZE IF I MAY. 
          YES, JUDGE. OH, I'M SORRY COMMISSIONER. THAT'S RIGHT JUDGE. 
          I WAS JUST GOING TO MAKE A COMMENT THAT, YOU KNOW,
OBVIOUSLY, THIS IS A VERY WORTHWHILE PROJECT AND EFFORT FOR THE ENTIRE OUR ENTIRE COMMUNITY. AND I THINK AND I KNOW WE'RE GOING TO DISCUSS IN ITEM G WITH RESPECT TO THE
VETERANS PROGRAMS FUNDING POLICY, MAYBE WE OUGHT TO MAKE THAT TIE THIS INTO OUR FUNDING POLICY FOR THE VETERANS AND INVOLVE
THE VETERANS ADVISORY BOARD WITH RESPECT TO SOME OF THESE PROJECTS AND GET, YOU KNOW, A LITTLE MORE I GUESS, FOCUSED ON THESE PROJECTS THAT THE CAN GO
THROUGH OUR FUNDING POLICY AND PROCEDURES THROUGH OUR VETERANS ADVISORY BOARD AND,
AND HOW WE CAN DEDICATE FUNDS THAT, YOU KNOW, ARE BEING REQUESTED FROM OUR COMMUNITY AND OBVIOUSLY FROM THE COUNTY WITH RESPECT TO SOME
OF THESE PROJECTS AND OTHER, I'M SURE, OTHER PROJECTS THAT THE VETERANS ADVISORY BOARD WANTS TO TAKE ON. 
          SO I JUST I JUST WANTED TO MENTION THAT. YEAH. 
          THANK YOU. AND WE HAVE BEEN THEY'RE ACTUALLY IN THEIR NEXT MEETING WILL BE INVOLVED IN,
IN LOOKING AT ALL THESE PROJECTS AND UNDERSTANDING THEIR ROLE. 
          I'VE BEEN MEETING WITH MY APPOINTEE AND AS WELL TRYING TO TO GET THEM. 
          AND I KNOW EACH ONE OF YOU IS DOING THE SAME TO TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE A BETTER FOCUS
AND THAT, YOU KNOW, WE'RE MORE EFFICIENT AND EFFECTIVE WITH THAT WITH OUR ADVISORY BOARD. 
          TONY, ANY COMMENT? I DON'T WANT TO LEAVE YOU OUT OF THE PICTURE. 
          YOU ARE THE OUR HEAD OF OUR VETERANS PROGRAM,
SO. 
          TONY, GOOD MORNING, JUDGE AND COMMISSIONERS,
TONY HUNT. 
          ANTOINETTE HUNT, VETERAN COUNTY SERVICE OFFICER. 
          I'VE BEEN WORKING WITH THE VA VERY HARD TO GET FOCUSED. 
          WE'RE PREPARED. THE VA'S PREPARED TO DO ANY DIRECTION THAT THE COURT DEEMS NECESSARY. 
          SO IF THIS IS PART OF IT. AND THEN WHEN WE GET TO ITEM G,
WE'LL TALK FURTHER ABOUT WHAT THE INTENT IS FOR THOSE FUNDS AND HOW WE CAN BETTER HELP THE COMMUNITY WITH THOSE PROJECTS. AND THANK YOU. 
          THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING YOU DO. YOU GO UNNOTICED MORE THAN YOU SHOULD,
BUT YOU'VE DONE TREMENDOUSLY. 
          THANK YOU. TONY. ABSOLUTELY. THANK YOU. CESAR. 
          ITEM NUMBER FOUR. D RECEIVE A PRESENTATION FROM WORKFORCE SOLUTIONS BORDERPLEX REGARDING
THE AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN ACT FUNDED DOWNTOWN CHILDCARE FACILITY FEASIBILITY STUDY. GOOD MORNING, JUDGE AND COMMISSIONERS. 
          [D. Receive a presentation from Workforce Solutions Borderplex regarding the American Rescue Plan Act Funded Downtown Childcare Facility Feasibility Study.
Jose M. Landeros, Deputy County Administrator, Strategic Capital Development, 915-546-2159]
SARANDOS WITH STRATEGIC CAPITAL DEVELOPMENT. VERY EXCITED TO BE ABLE TO INTRODUCE MISS
LEILA MELENDEZ WITH WORKFORCE SOLUTIONS BORDERPLEX AND MR. CARLOS GRANADA WITH ABLE CITY WHO HAVE BEEN WORKING ON COMPLETING THE FEASIBILITY
STUDY FOR A CHILDCARE CENTER FOR DOWNTOWN EL PASO. 
          AS THE COURT MAY RECALL, WE HAD AN EXISTING ARPA AGREEMENT WITH WORKFORCE TO HELP UPSKILL. 
          A LOT OF OUR DAYCARE IS INTO EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION CENTERS AS PART OF THE RISING STAR
CERTIFICATION PROGRAM THROUGH THE STATE, 
          [01:00:08]
AND IN LATE FALL OF LAST YEAR, WE AMENDED THE AGREEMENT TO ADD THIS TASK TO THAT
COMPONENT. 
          AND IT WAS TO HELP ADDRESS ONE OF THE BIGGEST DESERTS OF CHILD CARE THAT EXISTS IN OUR
COMMUNITY, AND THAT'S HERE IN DOWNTOWN EL PASO. THE RAMIFICATIONS OF NOT HAVING CHILDCARE IN AN URBAN
AREA LIKE THE LIKE THE CITY CENTER ARE SIGNIFICANT. IT PREVENTS BUSINESSES THAT MAY WANT TO LOCATE INTO DOWNTOWN FROM DOING SO,
BECAUSE THEY WANT TO ENSURE THAT EMPLOYEES HAVE ACCESS TO CERTAIN LEVEL OF SERVICES. CHILD CARE PREVENTS INDIVIDUALS FROM ENTERING THE
WORKFORCE. 
          I KNOW THAT I WOULD LOVE TO ENSURE THAT MY TWO DAUGHTERS WERE A STONE'S THROW FROM WHERE I
WAS WORKING IN THE EVENT THAT THEY WERE SICK OR SOMETHING CAME UP. 
          AND SO THE BENEFITS ARE TREMENDOUS. THE FEASIBILITY STUDY WALKS US THROUGH SOME ANALYSIS
THAT THAT THE TEAM HAS DONE. 
          AND IT'S A IT'S A GREAT PRESENTATION. I THINK WE HAVE A LOT OF POTENTIAL TO TO EXPLORE AND
CONSIDER. 
          THE SECOND PART OF OUR AGREEMENT WITH WORKFORCE,
THE REALLY MEAT AND POTATOES OF IT, WHICH WAS THE ASSISTANCE TO EXISTING FACILITIES. 
          WE ARE WORKING ON PRESENTING, PUTTING A PRESENTATION TOGETHER. 
          WORKFORCE WILL BE PRESENTING THAT AT NEXT MONTH'S SPECIAL MEETING. TO TALK A LITTLE BIT
ABOUT THE SUMMARY OF THE WORK THAT HAPPENED. TODAY'S ITEM IS LIMITED JUST TO THE FEASIBILITY STUDY. AND SO WITH THAT I WILL TURN IT OVER TO MISS LILA MELENDEZ. 
          WELCOME, LILA. JUDGE. COMMISSIONERS. GOOD MORNING. 
          THANK YOU ALL FOR HAVING US TODAY AND GIVING US THE TIME TO PRESENT THIS TO YOU. 
          I'M LILA MELENDEZ, CEO OF WORKFORCE SOLUTIONS,
BORDERPLEX. 
          I WANT TO THANK THE COURT AND THE COUNTY FOR YOUR LONG STANDING SUPPORT OF ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT AND WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT. 
          AND AT THE HEART OF THAT IS OUR CHILD CARE AND EARLY EDUCATION INDUSTRY. 
          WE'VE BEEN HARD AT WORK OVER THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS ON STABILIZING AND REBUILDING AND AND
HELPING OUR CHILD CARE INDUSTRY BECAUSE THEY WE CONSIDER THEM OUR FIRST INDUSTRY,
BECAUSE SO MANY OTHER INDUSTRIES AND OCCUPATIONS RELY ON CHILD CARE AND EARLY EDUCATION FOR INDIVIDUALS, WORKING ADULTS TO GO TO WORK. 
          AND SO THROUGH OUR CHILD CARE PROGRAM, IF WE CAN ADVANCE THE SLIDE HERE,
AM I ABLE TO ADVANCE THAT MYSELF? OKAY. HERE WE GO. JUST A REALLY QUICK SUMMARY OF SOME OF THE WORK THAT WE DO DAY TO DAY ON
OUR REGULAR THROUGH OUR REGULAR FUNDING IS WE SERVE. WE PAY FOR THE COST OF CARE FOR OVER 5700 CHILDREN EVERY SINGLE DAY
TO ATTEND CHILDCARE SO THAT THEIR PARENTS, WHICH ARE CLOSE TO 4000 PARENTS,
MAY GO TO WORK. 
          AND IF IT WASN'T FOR A SUBSIDY, THOSE INDIVIDUALS WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO WORK,
WHICH IS WOULD BE DETRIMENTAL TO OUR ECONOMY. 
          SO WE CONSIDER OURSELVES A LIFELINE TO OUR ECONOMY AND TO PROVIDING THESE FAMILIES WITH
THAT SUPPORT. 
          BUT WE ALSO PROVIDE A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF SUPPORT THROUGH MENTORING,
CURRICULUM, PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT FOR THE ACTUAL CHILDCARE INDUSTRY. 
          WE HAVE OVER 275 CHILDCARE PROVIDERS THAT ARE ON CONTRACT WITH WORKFORCE SOLUTIONS. 
          THEY ARE PART OF OUR TEXAS RISING STAR PROGRAM. 
          THEY ARE A QUALITY LEARNING ENVIRONMENT. THEY ARE NOT JUST A PLACE TO LEAVE YOUR CHILD AND
MAKE SURE THAT THEY ARE SAFE, BUT YOUR CHILD IS ACTUALLY LEARNING IN THOSE CHILDCARE PROVIDERS,
WHICH MAKES THEM KINDERGARTEN READY SO THAT THEY ENTER THE EDUCATION SYSTEM, THE K THROUGH 12 SYSTEM READY TO LEARN. AND THEN THEREFORE CAN SUCCESSFULLY NAVIGATE
THROUGH THAT EDUCATION SYSTEM. 
          SO WE CONSIDER THAT CHILDCARE INDUSTRY THE NUMBER ONE STEP IN A CHILD'S EDUCATION CAREER. 
          SO WE WE MAKE SURE THAT THOSE CHILDCARE PROVIDERS ARE ARE ABLE TO HIRE STAFF,
RETAIN STAFF TRAIN THAT STAFF AND THAT THEY ARE PART OF OUR OVERALL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT. 
          SO THROUGH YOUR OTHER SUPPORT AND WE WILL TALK ABOUT THAT AT A FUTURE DATE. 
          THE SUPPORT THAT YOU ALL HAVE GIVEN US FROM SOME OF YOUR RECOVERY FUNDS HAS BEEN IN
HELPING THESE CHILDCARE PROVIDERS, AND WE'VE DONE A TREMENDOUS JOB, AND WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO GIVING YOU AN UPDATE OF
WHERE WE ARE WITH THOSE. 
          BUT AS JOSE MENTIONED THIS PARTICULAR TOPIC IS ALSO VERY IMPORTANT HAVE HAVE MYSELF AND OUR HEADQUARTERS OFFICE BEING IN DOWNTOWN EL PASO AND IN WORKING WITH MANY OTHER
EMPLOYERS AND INDIVIDUALS THAT ARE LOOKING FOR WORK. 
          THE DEFINITION OF A CHILD CARE. CHILD CARE DESERT IS WHERE THERE IS A LARGE POPULATION AND
THERE IS NO SERVICES, 
          [01:05:03]
NO QUALITY SERVICES FOR CHILD CARE, AND OF WHICH DOWNTOWN IS THE FACT THAT INDIVIDUALS
DON'T LIVE IN DOWNTOWN. 
          YOU KNOW, MAKES THAT DEFINITION A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT. BUT PART OF AND THE REASON FOR
THIS STUDY WAS TO DETERMINE EXACTLY WHAT IS OUR DOWNTOWN MAKEUP, WHO WHAT IS THE DEMOGRAPHICS, HOW MANY INDIVIDUALS WORK DOWNTOWN? HOW MANY EMPLOYERS WORK DOWNTOWN AND DETERMINE IF THERE IS A DEMAND,
A POTENTIAL DEMAND, A NEED FOR THAT FOR OUR EXISTING WORKFORCE THAT WORKS AND LIVES IN THE DOWNTOWN AREA. 
          SO IN IN THE FALL, WORKFORCE SOLUTIONS HIRED ABLE CITY AND MR. CARLOS GUINARD, WHO IS AN EXPERT IN IN LAND PLANNING TO CONDUCT THIS STUDY,
TO DO ALL OF THE RESEARCH NECESSARY TO DETERMINE WHAT IT WOULD MEAN TO ESTABLISH A CHILD CARE CENTER DOWNTOWN AND THEN TO DETERMINE IF THERE IS INDEED A DEMAND. 
          SO, YOU KNOW, HAVING THIS AMENITY IN A DOWNTOWN CORE WITH SO MUCH EMPHASIS IN OUR DOWNTOWN
OVER THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS, WE THINK THAT A CHILD CARE CENTER IS CRITICAL TO NOT JUST THE EXISTING BUSINESS
ENVIRONMENT THERE, BUT THE ENVIRONMENT THAT WE WANT TO CREATE AND THAT INVESTMENT HAS GONE INTO TO FURTHER
THRIVE OUR DOWNTOWN. 
          SO THERE ARE SEVERAL BENEFITS, OBVIOUSLY, TO HAVING A CHILD CARE CENTER IN DOWNTOWN,
SUPPORT FOR WORKING PARENTS, COMMUNITY SUPPORT FOR ESPECIALLY FOR SINGLE PARENT HOUSEHOLDS,
THE CONVENIENCE OF REDUCED TRAVEL TIME, AND SPEAKING ANECDOTALLY TO PARENTS, A LOT OF PARENTS PREFER TO BE NEARBY,
HAVE THEIR CHILDREN NEARBY WHERE THEY WORK IN CASE THERE NEEDS TO BE A RESPONSE. 
          IT'S IT'S IMMEDIATE. AND THEN ECONOMIC GROWTH. 
          THIS IS A CORE FUNCTION, A CORE SERVICE THAT IS AVAILABLE TO WORKING FAMILIES. 
          AND HAVING IT AVAILABLE IN THE URBAN DISTRICT IS,
YOU KNOW, CAN FURTHER SPUR OTHER ECONOMIC ACTIVITY, EDUCATIONAL AND SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT, AND THEN OBVIOUSLY CONTINUE TO CONTRIBUTE TOWARDS THE
REVITALIZATION, REVITALIZATION OF DOWNTOWN. SO I AM GOING TO NOW HAND IT OVER TO CARLOS GUINARD. 
          HE'LL GO INTO MORE OF THE STUDY OF THE WORK THAT THEY DID. 
          BUT I ALSO WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THERE ARE SEVERAL PARTNERS THAT WE HAVE INCLUDED AS
PART OF THIS PROCESS AND ARE IN THE ROOM. 
          WE'VE GOT QUITE A SUPPORT GALLERY IN THE AUDIENCE WITH US,
INCLUDING INDIVIDUALS FROM THE CITY AND FROM THE PRIVATE SECTOR, AND SEVERAL FOLKS FROM OUR STAFF THAT WORK DAY TO DAY WITH OUR CHILD CARE PROVIDERS. 
          SO THEY'RE HERE, THEY PARTICIPATED IN THIS, AND THEY'RE EAGER TO HEAR THIS REPORT AS WELL.
SO I'LL HAND IT OVER NOW TO CARLOS. THANK YOU. 
          THANKS. GOOD MORNING. GOOD MORNING. JUDGE SAMANIEGO,
COUNTY COMMISSIONER CARLOS GAINER WITH ABLE CITY. 
          HAPPY TO BE WITH YOU THIS MORNING, AS LAILA MENTIONED. 
          ABLE CITY WAS HIRED TO CONDUCT THE FEASIBILITY STUDY FOR A CHILD CARE FACILITY. 
          SO WE APPROACHED THIS BOTH FROM A TECHNICAL PERSPECTIVE,
RIGHT, FROM A LAND USE PERSPECTIVE, FROM A SPACE PLANNING PERSPECTIVE. BUT MANY IN OUR COMPANY AND MANY OF YOUR EMPLOYER'S
EMPLOYEES ARE ALSO PARENTS. 
          RIGHT. I HAVE TWO TEENAGE KIDS, BUT AS JOSE MENTIONED,
RIGHT, THE BENEFIT OF HAVING AND MY WIFE AND I WERE LUCKY ENOUGH TO HAVE OUR KIDS CLOSE BY TO OUR, OUR HOME, IN OUR IN OUR, IN OUR PLACE OF EMPLOYMENT AT THE TIME CITY OF EL PASO
LA FE CLINIC. 
          BUT THE BENEFIT OF HAVING THE PROXIMITY OF HAVING YOUR CHILD CLOSE TO YOU IS ALMOST YOU
CAN'T THERE'S IT'S IMMEASURABLE. 
          RIGHT? AS JOSE MENTIONED, SOMETIMES THERE'S EMERGENCIES,
SOMETIMES THERE'S HEY, I GOT MY KID SICK. 
          I HEY, GUYS, I GOT TO RUN AND INSTEAD OF HAVING TO TRANSVERSE ALL THE WAY TO EAST EL PASO
OR WEST EL PASO OR NORTHEAST EL PASO, WHEREVER THAT MAY BE, THE CONVENIENCE OF BEING ABLE TO HAVE A FACILITY SUCH AS THE ONE
WE'RE GOING TO PRESENT TO YOU AGAIN IS IMMEASURABLE. 
          AND WHAT I JUST WANTED TO MENTION THAT TO YOU,
JUST IN TERMS OF HOW WE AGAIN, FROM A FROM A SENSITIVITY SENSITIVITY PERSPECTIVE. 
          RIGHT. WE APPROACHED IT, YES, FROM A TECHNICAL PERSPECTIVE,
BUT WE'RE ALSO PARENTS AND WE'RE AND WE ALSO VALUE OUR FAMILIES. 
          AND OUR KIDS ARE A PART OF THAT ENGAGEMENT THAT LAYLA TALKED ABOUT DID INCLUDE HAVING
STAKEHOLDERS. 
          SO WE CONVENED MANY OF THE STAKEHOLDERS, MANY OF WHICH ARE DOING WORK DOWNTOWN. 
          SO AGAIN, FROM THE PUBLIC SECTOR, CITY OF EL PASO,
EL PASO COUNTY, CERTAINLY YOUR STAFF, YOU SHOULD KNOW, WAS HEAVILY ENGAGED. AND THEN SOME FROM THE NONPROFITS,
DESTINATION EL PASO, NONPROFIT SECTORS AND SOME PRIVATE SECTOR EMPLOYERS AS WELL, ALTHOUGH NOT ON THE LIST, I COULD TELL YOU THAT MYSELF AND SOME OF OUR STAFF THAT WAS HERE
AS PART OF THE COUPLE DAY CHARRETTE, WE DID WALK DOWN SOUTH EL PASO STREET, DOWN SAN ANTONIO STREET,
AND HANDED OUT THE FLIERS FOR THE SERVICE, OF WHICH I'LL TALK ABOUT IN JUST A SECOND. SO THERE WAS SOME DEGREE OF ENGAGEMENT. 
          WE TEND TO FOCUS TO SOME DEGREE ON ON THE WHITE COLLAR PROFESSIONAL PARENT,
WHICH WHICH IS IMPORTANT, 
          [01:10:04]
BUT EQUALLY IMPORTANT IS ALSO THE BLUE COLLAR SERVICE WORKER WORKING IN HOTELS,
WORKING IN THE RETAIL SHOPS OF SOUTH EL PASO. 
          SO WE DID SPEND SOME TIME ENGAGING WITH THAT POPULATION TO ENSURE THAT WE'RE GETTING A
GREAT SWATH OF EMPLOYEES THAT MAY BE ABLE TO BENEFIT FROM THIS PROGRAM. SO THIS IS JUST IS THAT WHAT THE ASTERISKS NEXT TO DOWNTOWN
WORKERS DENOTES THOSE THOSE EFFORTS? I'M SORRY. THE ASTERISKS. YES. DOWNTOWN. THAT'S WHAT IT IS. 
          YES, THAT'S EXACTLY RIGHT. SO WE DID WE DID WALK. 
          WE DID TALK TO SOME OF THE RETAIL SHOPS DOWN IN SOUTH EL PASO AND SOME OF THE AREAS SOUTH
OF OF SAN JACINTO PLAZA, THE CENTRAL BUSINESS DISTRICT. THAT'S RIGHT. YES,
MA'AM. SO WE ALSO HAD THE SURVEY. WE SENT THE SURVEY OUT TO CITY OF EL PASO,
COUNTY OF EL PASO. 
          AGAIN, WE PASSED OUT THE FLIER TO SERVE SERVICE WORKERS IN DOWNTOWN EL PASO. 
          THERE'S A COMPLETE ANALYSIS IN THE REPORT. I'M ONLY GOING TO SHARE WITH YOU SOME OF THE
VARIOUS QUESTIONS THAT WERE ASKED. 
          BUT ONE OF THE FIRST ONE IS, WOULD YOU PREFER YOUR CHILDCARE PROVIDER TO BE LOCATED CLOSE
TO WORK, CLOSE TO HOME? EITHER OR OR IT DOESN'T MATTER. 
          25% SAID IT DOESN'T MATTER, BUT 75% SAID EITHER CLOSE TO WORK OR CLOSE TO HOME,
OR EITHER ONE OF THOSE LOCATIONS. 
          RIGHT. SO WE START TO SEE A TREND OF A CERTAIN SEGMENT OF THE POPULATION SEEING THAT IT
WOULD BE BENEFICIAL TO HAVE CHILDCARE SERVICES WITHIN, AGAIN CLOSE, CLOSE PROXIMITY TO THEIR TO WHERE THEY WORK. 
          DO YOU WORK IN THE DOWNTOWN AREA? 85% SAID YES. 
          SO AGAIN, WE'RE GETTING A GOOD SEGMENT OF THE DOWNTOWN WORKER. 
          AND THEN THE QUESTION IS, WOULD YOU BE INTERESTED IN A DOWNTOWN FACILITY WITHIN WALKING
DISTANCE OF YOUR WORK? SO WE'VE ALREADY ESTABLISHED THAT MANY OF THE FOLKS RESPONDING TO THE SURVEY ARE FROM
DOWNTOWN. 
          AND THEN WE'RE NOW SEEING THAT A GOOD MAJORITY OF THEM,
85% OF THEM, WOULD SAY YES TO HAVING A CHILDCARE FACILITY WITHIN WALKING DISTANCE TO, TO TO THEIR JOB. JUST TO BE CLEAR YOU ONLY ASKED THOSE THAT HAD CHILDREN,
SO IT WON'T BE SKEWED BY SOMEONE THAT BECAUSE IF YOU ASKED, FOR EXAMPLE, YOU ASKED ME, I MIGHT SAY NO, BECAUSE I DON'T HAVE YOUNG CHILDREN. 
          SO, JUDGE SAMANIEGO, THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION. 
          WE CAN WE CAN ENGAGE THAT. SO THERE WAS A QUESTION THAT SAID,
DO YOU HAVE CHILDREN? AND THE AND SO THERE WAS A QUESTION THAT SAID,
DO YOU HAVE TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION. 
          YES. RIGHT. SO THERE WAS AN ENGAGEMENT PROCESS IN WHICH WE ASKED,
DO YOU HAVE CHILDREN? YES OR NO? IF YOU HAD YES, THEN YOU WENT AHEAD AND ANSWERED THE QUESTIONS FURTHER BECAUSE
IT WOULD BE LESS RIGHT IF IF YOU WERE TO ASK PEOPLE THAT SAID NO, BUT THEY DIDN'T HAVE CHILDREN. OKAY. YES, SIR. THANK YOU. QUESTION. 
          SO PART OF THE ASSESSMENT AGAIN THINKING THROUGH THE STAKEHOLDERS AND THEN NOW THINKING
THROUGH THE ACTUAL PHYSICAL SPACE PLANNING OF WHERE WE NEED TO BE. 
          SO AGAIN THINKING THROUGH DOWNTOWN EL PASO. RIGHT. 
          WE KNOW THAT EVEN WITHIN DOWNTOWN THERE'S SEVERAL AREAS OF DOWNTOWN THAT YOU WANT TO
CONCENTRATE IN. 
          SO THE FIRST ONE WAS THE CENTRAL BUSINESS DISTRICT. 
          THINK SAN JACINTO PLAZA, THINK AROUND THE PLAZA THEATER,
AROUND THE BANKING AREAS. 
          WE ALSO LOOKED AT SEGUNDO BARRIO. AS LAILA MENTIONED,
THE WSB DOES PROVIDE CHILDCARE SERVICES TO DIFFERENT SEGMENTS OF THE POPULATION. 
          I WANT TO POINT OUT THAT WHEN WE DID THE ANALYSIS OF HOW MANY CHILDCARE FACILITIES THERE
ARE WITHIN THE DOWNTOWN, THERE'S ONLY ONE AND IT'S IN SOUTH EL PASO. IT'S ON FATHER ROM STREET. 
          AND SO IT'S A SMALL FACILITY, PART OF PART OF THE PROCESS. 
          ALSO INCLUDED. AGAIN, WE TEND TO FOCUS ON THE WHITE COLLAR PROFESSIONAL SEGMENT OF THE
POPULATION. 
          BUT IN SPEAKING WITH LEYLA AND HER STAFF, SHE WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE WERE CAPTURING
THE POTENTIAL OF HAVING SEGUNDO BARRIO FAMILIES BEING ABLE TO ALSO HAVE ACCESS TO THIS FACILITY. SO AGAIN,
WE LOOKED AT SEGUNDO BARRIO, WE LOOKED AT THE TEXAS AVENUE CORRIDOR, WHICH IS A TRANSPORTATION CORRIDOR FOR PEOPLE COMING FROM EAST EL PASO INTO DOWNTOWN. 
          WE LOOKED AT THE GOVERNMENT DISTRICT, WHICH INCLUDES THIS FACILITY,
AND THE CITY OF CITY OF EL PASO, AND THEN PAISANO DRIVE, WHICH IS ALSO ANOTHER MAJOR CORRIDOR,
BOTH FROM COMING FROM UTEP AND COMING FROM SOUTH CENTRAL EL PASO. 
          SO THAT WAS THE SORT OF THE POPULATION. RIGHT? SO AGAIN, WITHIN THE WITHIN THE BOUNDARIES OF DOWNTOWN,
CAN WE IDENTIFY A PHYSICAL LOCATION OF WHICH WE CAN PLACE A CHILD CARE FACILITY. 
          AND THEN WE'RE ALSO LIMITED BY SOME SPECIFICATIONS BY THE STATE. 
          SO THERE ARE STATE REGULATIONS. THAT IS INDUSTRY THAT'S HEAVILY REGULATED. 
          AND THE STATE REQUIRES THAT FOR AN INDOOR SPACE YOU NEED 30FT² PER KID. 
          AND THEN FOR OUTDOOR SPACE YOU NEED 80FT² PER KID. 
          WE DID ASK THE QUESTION AGAIN RECOGNIZING THAT THIS IS AN URBAN ENVIRONMENT. 
          IF YOU WERE TO PLACE THIS FACILITY IN OTHER AREAS OF EL PASO WHERE THERE'S GROWING
POPULATION, YOU'RE GOING TO GET THE ABILITY TO PLACE IT IN IN VACANT LAND,
RIGHT? 
          [01:15:06]
AND YOU'RE GOING TO BE ABLE TO PROGRAM IT ACCORDINGLY BASED ON THE MARKET,
BASED ON THE FINANCING, BASED ON THE BUDGET. BUT WE KNOW THAT THERE'S SOME LIMITATIONS WITHIN DOWNTOWN. 
          AGAIN, IT'S IT'S COMPACT. IT'S DENSE. THERE'S NOT VERY MANY POPULATIONS. 
          EXCUSE ME. MANY PROPERTIES IN WHICH YOU COULD ACCOMMODATE,
AGAIN, 30FT² PER KID OR 80 80FT² OF OUTDOOR SPACE. 
          SO WE DID ASK THE QUESTION IF WE COULD FIND WHAT IF WE CAN'T FIND? A BUILDING THAT HAS A PARKING LOT. WHAT IF WE CAN'T FIND A BUILDING THAT HAS AN ADJACENT
VACANT LOT? CAN WE? OR THE CAN CAN THE WSB OR THE FACILITY PROVIDER PROVIDE THAT OUTDOOR SPACE IN SOME
INDOOR SPACE WITH SOME CAVEAT THAT, YOU KNOW, YOU'D HAVE OTHER REGULATIONS? THE ANSWER WAS YES, BUT YOU'D HAVE TO YOU WOULD HAVE TO JUMP THROUGH HOOPS. 
          AND SO AGAIN, WE WERE LIMITED BY THE BY THE LOCATION OF DOWNTOWN. 
          AND THEN WE'RE NOW LIMITED BY THE SPACE. AND THEN THERE'S OTHER DESIGN CONSIDERATIONS. 
          IT HAS TO BE AT THE GROUND LEVEL. YOU HAVE TO COMPLY WITH ADA. 
          YOU HAVE TO HAVE INGRESS AND EGRESS EMERGENCY EXITS TO ENSURE THAT KIDS ARE SAFE. 
          AGAIN, ALL OF THESE THINGS THAT MAKE SENSE AND THEN AN IMPORTANT ONE IN SPEAKING TO THE
STAKEHOLDERS AND SPEAKING TO SOME OF THE EMPLOYEES. 
          AGAIN, ANECDOTALLY, IT WOULD BE CONVENIENT. EVEN THOUGH WE ARE WORKING DOWNTOWN,
THERE'S SOME THERE WOULD BE SOME CONVENIENCE IN BEING ABLE TO DROP OFF MY KID GOING TO WORK PARK AND THEN AGAIN DURING LUNCH, PICK UP,
MEET ME FOR LUNCH OR FOR, YOU KNOW, TAKE A WALK DOWNTOWN, THAT SORT OF THING. BUT THERE WAS THERE WAS A THERE WAS A EMPHASIS ON HAVING SOME SORT OF
DRIVEWAY FACILITY FOR PARENTS. 
          AND SO WITH ALL THAT THIS IS WE STARTED LOOKING AT SEVERAL PROPERTIES. 
          AGAIN, THE REPORT DETAILS THE VERY SPECIFIC LOCATIONS THAT WE LOOKED AT. 
          THESE ARE NINE AREAS THAT WE PROPERTIES THAT WE ENDED UP LOOKING AT. 
          EACH OF THEM HAD SOME PROS AND CONS, RIGHT? SOME OF THEM WERE HAD ENOUGH SPACE BUT DID NOT
HAVE THE OUTDOOR SPACE. 
          SOME OF THEM WERE TOO SMALL. SOME OF THEM DIDN'T HAVE THE DRIVEWAY ACCESS. 
          THAT, AGAIN, WOULD BE AN AMENITY TO HAVE FOR PEOPLE USING THE CHILDCARE FACILITY. 
          AND THEN AT THE END OF THE DAY, WE LOOKED AT THIS ONE AGAIN,
WORKING WITH YOUR STAFF. 
          THIS IS A FACILITY THAT THE COUNTY HAS RECENTLY PURCHASED. 
          IT'S OUR UNDERSTANDING. AND SO WHEN WE LOOKED AT IT,
IT MEETS MANY OF THE CRITERIA. 
          THE LOCATION IS WITHIN THE GOVERNMENT SECTOR AREA. 
          IT'S WITHIN IT'S DIRECTLY ADJACENT TO BASSANO. 
          IT WOULD SERVICE BOTH POPULATIONS OF SEGUNDO BARRIO AND THE CENTRAL BUSINESS DISTRICTS,
AND IT IS AVAILABLE. 
          AND SO WHEN WE STARTED TO LOOK AT IT FROM A SPACE PLANNING PERSPECTIVE,
WE THEN DID THE ANALYSIS OF HOW MANY CHILDREN WE COULD FIT. 
          AND IT FITS ABOUT 9192 KITS. AGAIN, BECAUSE YOU NOW HAVE THE INDOOR FACILITY AND THEN YOU
HAVE THE PARKING LOT THAT CAN BE CONVERTED TO A PLAYGROUND. 
          SO THE NEXT FOLLOWING SLIDES AGAIN AND IT'S OUTLINED IN YOUR IN THE REPORT. 
          THIS IS WHAT IT WOULD LOOK LIKE RIGHT. THERE'S A POTENTIAL FOR A REALLY BEAUTIFUL CHILD
CARE CENTER WITHIN DOWNTOWN EL PASO THAT MEETS THE NEEDS OF BOTH EMPLOYERS AND EMPLOYEES. 
          YOU KNOW, THERE'S THERE'S NOW AS THERE SHOULD BE AN EMPHASIS ON FAMILIES HAVING AMENITIES
THAT BENEFIT AND ENHANCE THEIR WORK. CERTAINLY I THINK THE THE YOU ALL HAVE DONE A GREAT JOB OF MOVING IN THAT DIRECTION. 
          SO THIS WOULD JUST BE AN ADDITIONAL ADDED AMENITY TO DOWNTOWN EMPLOYEES TO BE ABLE TO HAVE
ACCESS TO THEIR KIDS. 
          SO THIS IS WHAT THE PLAYGROUND WILL LOOK LIKE. 
          AGAIN, WE PROGRAMED IT TO BE ABLE TO FIT A GOOD AMOUNT OF KIDS. 
          AND EVEN THEN, I BELIEVE THAT THERE WILL STILL PROBABLY BE SOME NEED FOR FOR ADDITIONAL
SPACE. 
          BUT THE NEED IS THERE. AND AGAIN, THE STRATEGIC LOCATION OF DOWNTOWN OF WHICH WE HAVE
PLACED THIS BUILDING SEEMS TO BE A REALLY GOOD FIT FOR THE PROGRAMING OF A CHILDCARE CENTER IN DOWNTOWN EL PASO. 
          DO YOU? OH, ACTUALLY, THIS IS WHAT I WAS GOING TO ASK FOR A RENDERING OF HOW MUCH OF THE
PARKING AREA WOULD NEED TO BE USED FOR THE PLAYGROUND. 
          SO THIS IS THE PREFERRED LOCATION. THIS IS THE SITE PLAN. 
          AGAIN, THERE, THE, THE THE SQUARE FOOTAGE OF THE BUILDING IS ABOUT 9500FT². 
          YOU TAKE ABOUT ONE THIRD OF THAT FOR HALLWAYS AND BATHROOMS,
AND THEN YOU'RE LEFT WITH THE SQUARE FOOTAGE FOR THE FACILITY OF 6600FT². 
          AND THEN YOU DO THE MATH. AND WITH THE SQUARE FOOTAGE THAT YOU HAVE AVAILABLE AND THE
PLAYGROUND, WE ARE ABLE TO ACCOMMODATE ABOUT 93 CHILDREN WITHIN THIS FACILITY. 
          THE PARKING SO THE PARKING COULD BE NECESSARY,
BUT IT COULD ALSO BE SOMETHING THAT COULD BE REMOVED. COMMISSIONER ELGIN, BECAUSE PRESUMABLY YOU'RE ASSUMING THAT THERE'S OTHER PARKING
LOCATIONS, SUCH AS THE PARKING GARAGE ADJACENT TO THIS BUILDING AND DIRECTLY IN FRONT OF THIS
FACILITY. 
          [01:20:04]
AND SO THE PARKING COULD BE SOMETHING THAT COULD BE ACCOMMODATED EITHER IN OTHER PARKING
AREAS, SUCH AS THE PARKING GARAGE OR ON STREET LEVEL. 
          AND SO WE RECOGNIZE THAT PART OF THE CONVERSATION THAT WE NEED TO HAVE AS WE MOVE FORWARD
IS THE ADJACENT PROGRAMING OF THE WAREHOUSE FOR THE PURCHASING DEPARTMENT. SO THOSE ARE ALL THINGS THAT COULD STILL BE IRONED OUT,
BUT FROM BUT FROM A STRICTLY CHILDCARE FACILITY. 
          THIS IS A RENDERING OF THE SITE PLAN OF WHAT IT COULD LOOK LIKE. 
          OKAY. THANK YOU. YES, MA'AM. THANK YOU. CARLOS. 
          SO I WANT TO JUST REMIND THE COURT THAT THIS IS A CONVERSATION STARTER. 
          WE'VE HAD MULTIPLE CONVERSATIONS OVER THE YEARS WITH INDIVIDUALS,
PRIVATE SECTOR PARTNERS ABOUT A POTENTIAL FACILITY OR A SITE DOWNTOWN. 
          THE THE CONVERSATION ENDER. THE NONSTARTER WAS ALWAYS THE OUTDOOR SPACE. 
          AND WE JUST NEVER HAD THE THE ABILITY TO, TO REALLY STUDY THIS. 
          BUT NOW WE DO. AND NOW WE AT LEAST HAVE ANSWERS TO THOSE QUESTIONS THAT WE WANT TO
CONTINUE THE CONVERSATION WITH THE COUNTY, BUT WITH OTHER PARTNERS, INCLUDING THE CITY,
PRIVATE SECTOR PARTNERS AND US OURSELVES. 
          WORKFORCE SOLUTIONS, AS PART OF A STATE AGENCY,
HAS RESOURCES THAT WE COULD POTENTIALLY BRING TO THE TABLE. 
          WE CAN CONVENE SOME PARTNERS OF INTEREST AND DETERMINE,
YOU KNOW, NOW, POSSIBILITIES. 
          WE KNOW THERE'S A IT'S FEASIBLE. WHAT IS THE ACTUAL POSSIBILITY AND POTENTIAL AND HOW
COULD IT ACTUALLY COME TO WORK. 
          SO WE ARE HAPPY TO DO THAT AT WORKFORCE SOLUTIONS TO BE THAT CONVENER,
BE THAT LEAD CONVERSATION STARTER AND THEN SEE WHERE SEE WHERE THIS GOES, SEE WHAT CAN HAPPEN. AT THE END OF THE DAY, YOU SAW ONE OF THE SLIDES. 
          THERE ARE ABOUT 11,000 EMPLOYEES IN THE DOWNTOWN AREA. 
          IF EVEN HALF OF THOSE ARE WORKING PARENTS AND EVEN HALF OF THOSE ARE OF YOUNG CHILDREN. 
          THAT THE THE DEMAND FOR A CHILD CARE CENTER IS EASILY FILLED WITH THIS. 
          AND THERE'S THERE WOULD EVEN BE OVER DEMAND. RIGHT. 
          SO THIS THE ABILITY TO SERVE 93 WOULD QUICKLY THAT THAT CENTER WOULD QUICKLY GET FILLED UP
WITH JUST EVEN A FRACTION OF THE NUMBER OF WORKING PARENTS AND WORKING ADULTS IN THE DOWNTOWN AREA. 
          SO, YOU KNOW, THIS THIS GIVES US AN OPPORTUNITY TO TALK ABOUT YOU KNOW,
WHAT NEXT? WHAT ARE SOME NEXT STEPS? BUT, COMMISSIONER BUTLER,
YOU HAD A QUESTION. 
          I HAVE A QUESTION JUST JUST BASED OFF OF THE THE SURVEYS AND THE NUMBERS OF EMPLOYEES
DOWNTOWN, DID YOU HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO ASK THOSE 3600 PARENTS THAT YOU ALREADY SERVICE,
IF ANY OF THEM WORK DOWNTOWN AND WOULD BENEFIT FROM A LOCATION DOWNTOWN? WE DO. WE HAVE WE WE DO HAVE ACCESS TO A LOT OF THOSE PARENTS,
AND WHICH IS ALSO PART OF WHY WE INCLUDED PRIVATE SECTOR PARTNERS FROM DESTINATION EL PASO, FROM THE CHIHUAHUAS,
THE SOUTHWEST UNIVERSITY PARK. 
          SEVERAL OF OUR EXISTING PARENTS WORK FOR PROP FOR EMPLOYERS DOWNTOWN AND AND HAVE
EXPRESSED. 
          ABSOLUTELY. AND WHEN IT COMES TO OUR CHILD CARE SUBSIDY PROGRAM,
PARENTS HAVE CHOICE OF WHERE TO PLACE CHILDREN ACROSS ALL THOSE 300 CHILD CARE PROVIDERS. 
          SO GIVEN THE CHOICE AND GIVEN THAT OPTION, ESPECIALLY IF OF OF,
YOU KNOW, A CHILD CARE CENTER IS OPEN EVENING HOURS OR EVEN ON WEEKENDS, THAT ABSOLUTELY SERVES THOSE PARENTS THAT ARE WORKING IN THAT SECTOR,
WHICH WAS VERY IMPORTANT TO US TO INCLUDE THAT SERVICE SECTOR, THE EMPLOYEES THAT WORK IN THE HOTEL OR THE ENTERTAINMENT INDUSTRY YOU KNOW,
ESPECIALLY DOWNTOWN. 
          SO YES, THEY WOULD THERE WOULD BE A PRESUMABLY A NUMBER OF PARENTS THAT WOULD COULD
POTENTIALLY TRANSFER INTO THIS, INTO THIS SITE. OKAY. BUT THERE IS THAT FLEXIBILITY WHERE THEY WOULD BE ABLE TO. THAT'S
CORRECT. THEY HAVE THE CHOICE OKAY. CORRECT. YES. THANK YOU. THANK YOU COMMISSIONER. SO JUST BACK TO THIS PARTNERSHIP, WORKFORCE SOLUTIONS. 
          NOT ONLY CAN WE CONVENE THE PARTNERS, BUT WE ALSO HAVE THAT SUBSIDY PROGRAM. 
          BUT THERE MAY BE OTHER FUNDS AVAILABLE FROM THE STATE. 
          THE STATE IS VERY EAGER AND IN EXPANDING CAPACITY AND ADDING SLOTS. 
          YOU KNOW, TODAY WE CAN ONLY SERVE AS MANY SLOTS AS ARE AVAILABLE IN THE COMMUNITY. 
          THE MORE SPACES AND THE MORE KIDS THAT WE CAN SERVE,
THE MORE THEN THAT WE CAN SUPPORT. 
          SO THERE'S RESOURCES AND AVAILABLE MATCHING GRANTS FOR PRIVATE SECTOR PARTNERS WHEN THEY
COME TO THE TABLE. 
          WE COULD ALSO CONVENE, YOU KNOW, AND ASK PRIVATE SECTOR PARTNERS,
A LOT OF THOSE EMPLOYERS THAT THAT HAVE EMPLOYEES DOWNTOWN THAT MAY BE INTERESTED IN PROVIDING THIS AS SOME KIND OF A BENEFIT TO THEIR EMPLOYEES. 
          AND THEN OBVIOUSLY, YOU KNOW, SOME PUBLIC SECTOR PARTNERS. 
          SO THERE THERE MAY BE A MYRIAD OF WAYS OF HOW SEVERAL ORGANIZATIONS CAN COME TOGETHER AND
POTENTIALLY MAKE THIS HAPPEN? 
          [01:25:13]
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? WELL. THANK YOU. I DO WANT TO TAKE A LITTLE BIT OF TIME TO THANK
LAYLA, BECAUSE PEOPLE DIDN'T REALIZE THAT DURING THE AFTER THE PANDEMIC,
THERE WAS SOME, YOU KNOW, JUST THIS COMMENTS ABOUT THE FACT THAT PEOPLE WERE NOT JUST NOT WANTING TO GO TO WORK,
BUT SHE IDENTIFIED THAT IT WAS A CHILD CARE THAT WAS HOLDING BACK. 
          WE ALSO FOUND OUT THE HUGE BURDEN THAT WOMEN DEALT WITH,
AND WE DIDN'T YOU KNOW, WE DIDN'T EVER PUT THAT IN PERSPECTIVE THAT AS MEN, WE HAD A LITTLE BIT OF AN EASIER WAY OF JUST GO TO WORK,
RIGHT. 
          AND LET'S SEE WHAT HAPPENS TO THE CHILDREN. NOT EVERYBODY OBVIOUSLY. 
          I DON'T WANT TO GENERALIZE THAT, BUT BUT JUST THE FACT THAT THERE'S BEEN A HUGE SHIFT TO
REALIZING THAT WE HAD A LOT OF OPTIONS THAT MIGHT NOT HAVE BEEN THE BEST FOR OUR CHILDREN. 
          AND WHEN YOU LOOKED AT THE STUDIES WHEN THEY WENT INTO SCHOOL,
THEY WERE AT A DISADVANTAGE BECAUSE THEY DIDN'T HAVE QUALITY HEALTH CARE. 
          AND AS MUCH AS WE LOVED OUR GRANDMOTHERS AND AUNTS AND UNCLES THAT WERE TAKING CARE OF
THEM, IT DIDN'T PROVIDE THEM WITH THE EDUCATIONAL COMPONENTS AND THE DEVELOPMENT THAT WAS
REQUIRED. 
          SO ESPECIALLY HISPANIC CHILDREN WERE A HUGE DISADVANTAGE GOING INTO SCHOOL BECAUSE THEY
HAD NOT GOTTEN THE PREPARATION TO TO BE READY. 
          AND SO THIS IS WHAT I LIKE ABOUT THIS. AND I KNOW THE COMMISSIONERS WE LOVE WHEN THERE'S
LIKE YOU'RE DOING ONE PROJECT THAT HAS IMPACTS ON SO MANY OTHER THINGS. 
          IF YOU THINK ABOUT IT, THE ECONOMY, WE HAVE TO HELP. 
          WE'VE SEEN SORT OF THE DOWNTOWN TAKING OFF, BUT IT'S IT'S STALLING A LITTLE BIT. 
          AND WHY? BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE CHILDCARE. WE DON'T HAVE YOU KNOW,
WE DON'T HAVE INDIVIDUALS LIVING DOWNTOWN. 
          WE DON'T HAVE I MEAN, WE HAVE RESTAURANTS, OBVIOUSLY,
BUT WE DON'T HAVE GROCERY STORES. WE DON'T HAVE. 
          AND IF WE WANTED TO STRIVE, WE NEED ALL THESE COMPONENTS TO BE THERE,
THAT IT'S ACTIVE, THAT ITS PEOPLE ARE MOVING THEIR MOVEMENT WITHIN THE COMMUNITY. IT JUST BEHOOVES US TO HAVE A DOWNTOWN THAT IS RICH WITH,
WITH, WITH PEOPLE AND CHILD CARE AND SO FORTH. 
          AND TO US, OBVIOUSLY WE'RE A LITTLE BIASED, BUT WE LOVE TO TAKE CARE OF OUR COUNTY
EMPLOYEES. 
          WE SEE OURSELVES AS A BIG FAMILY. AND SO THIS WOULD PROVIDE THAT THAT OPPORTUNITY. 
          SO I'M VERY I'M VERY GLAD THAT, YOU KNOW, THE QUALITY OF THAT YOU'LL HAVE HERE. 
          I JUST ONE OF THE THINGS I WISH WE COULD DO AND OBVIOUSLY WE ALREADY I LIKE THE FACT THAT
THE MOMENT THAT THERE'S MAYBE NOT THE RIGHT PARKING, MAYBE NOT THE RIGHT GREEN SPACE, AND WE'RE NOT MOVING AWAY FROM THAT AS SAYING,
OH, WELL, I GUESS WE CAN'T DO THAT. AND THEN WE, WE DON'T ALLOW TO THE OPPORTUNITY FOR SO MANY
FAMILIES HERE. 
          I MEAN, I WOULD LIKE AND I MEAN, THIS IS JUST IN MY,
ON MY WISH LIST THAT THERE'S A POTENTIAL FOR GROWTH. 
          AND, AND I'M SURE THAT IT'S GOING TO BE DIFFICULT TO FIND ONE LOCATION,
BUT MAYBE THERE'S ALTERNATIVE LOCATIONS, BECAUSE ONE OF THE VERY DISCOURAGING THINGS IS THAT IF I HAVE CHILDREN AND THERE'S AN
OPPORTUNITY, AND BY NEXT DAY IT FILLS UP AND THEN I DON'T HAVE THAT OPPORTUNITY,
IT'S SORT OF DIFFICULT, RIGHT, TO SAY I DIDN'T GET MY CHILD IN. SO IF WE COULD LOOK AT WHATEVER WE COULD DO WITH
THE COUNTY TO SAY, IS THERE MORE AVAILABLE SPACES AND SPLIT UP THE PROJECT INTO MAYBE MORE LOCATIONS,
BECAUSE 91 IS REALLY A VERY MINIMAL, MINIMAL AMOUNT WHEN YOU'RE LOOKING AT 11,000,
YOU KNOW, EMPLOYEES THAT WORK HERE DOWNTOWN. 
          SO I THINK IT'S A IT'S A GREAT PROJECT. I KNOW THAT COMMISSIONER STOUT WILL BE VERY HAPPY
BECAUSE THAT'S RIGHT DOWN HIS PRECINCT. 
          AND SO I DON'T KNOW, COMMISSIONER, IF YOU'D LIKE TO COMMENT FOR SURE. 
          I'M EXCITED ABOUT. SORRY. I'M EXCITED ABOUT THIS THIS PROJECT AND THIS POSSIBLE
PARTNERSHIP FOR SURE. 
          I WANT TO TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE THE GENESIS OF THE COUNTY ACTUALLY GETTING INVOLVED
IN AND TALKING ABOUT HELPING WITH CHILDCARE AND, AND HIGHLIGHT THE IMPORTANCE OF, OF OUR BEING INVOLVED IN ORGANIZATIONS LIKE NATIONAL
ASSOCIATION OF COUNTIES AND ICMA BECAUSE THE PROPOSAL THAT I, THAT I MADE TO TO HAVE THE COUNTY GET INVOLVED IN CHILD CARE ACCESS CAME FROM NACO
AND MY INVOLVEMENT IN IN A SUBCOHORT IN NACO CALLED THE ECONOMIC MOBILITY LEADERSHIP NETWORK. 
          ECONOMIC, ECONOMIC MOBILITY HAS BEEN ONE OF MY PRIORITIES FROM THE VERY BEGINNING,
THE LAST TEN YEARS THAT I'VE BEEN IN OFFICE, AND I WAS VERY BLESSED AND LUCKY TO HAVE BEEN INCLUDED IN THAT COHORT. 
          AND THAT'S REALLY WHERE I STARTED LEARNING ABOUT YOU KNOW,
HOW ACCESS TO CHILD CARE REALLY HELPS WITH ECONOMIC MOBILITY AND, YOU KNOW, COMING BACK AND HAVING CONVERSATIONS WITH WITH LAILA PROBABLY A NUMBER OF YEARS
AGO ABOUT ABOUT, 
          [01:30:07]
YOU KNOW, HOW THE COUNTY COULD, COULD GET MORE INVOLVED IN THESE THINGS AND JUST THE WAY
THAT THAT, THAT IT'S THAT WE'VE KIND OF GROWN YOU KNOW,
THE THE LAW THAT WAS RECENTLY PASSED THAT, THAT THAT THE COMMISSIONERS COURT HAD HAD INVOLVEMENT WITH IN, IN HELPING OTHER CHILD CARE AGENCIES TO GET THAT STAR. 
          THE STAR DESIGNATION I THINK WAS REALLY IMPORTANT. 
          AND SO I'M REALLY THANKFUL TO THE REST OF THE COURT FOR,
FOR JOINING IN ON THIS VISION AND, AND, YOU KNOW, WORKING TO PUT ASIDE ARPA FUNDING AND DOING THIS THIS SURVEY. 
          SO THANK YOU MR. GAINER, FOR FOR YOUR WORK ON THIS AND KIND OF BRINGING IT ALL TOGETHER
AND OF COURSE LAYLA, FOR FOR FOR YOUR HELP. AND YOU KNOW, I THINK IT'S REALLY EXCITING THAT WE HAVE THE
OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE THIS GREAT IMPACT ON OUR WORKFORCE AND CONTINUING TO BUILD ECONOMIC MOBILITY WITHIN,
WITHIN OUR WITHIN OUR REGION. 
          AND, OF COURSE, I'M HAPPY THAT IT'S IN MY DISTRICT. 
          YOU KNOW ONE THING THAT I DID WANT TO I DID WANT TO ASK,
THOUGH, THE JUDGE KIND OF MENTIONED IT A LITTLE BIT, BUT WHERE OR MAYBE MAYBE JOSIE, YOU CAN ANSWER THIS. 
          WERE THERE OTHER PROPERTIES THAT THE COUNTY OWNS THAT,
THAT THAT MIGHT BE FEASIBLE OPTIONS FOR, FOR THIS THAT ARE, THAT ARE HERE DOWNTOWN. I KNOW THAT WE,
YOU KNOW, WE HAVE THE BORDER TOBACCO BUILDING. 
          WE HAVE WE HAVE THIS BUILDING, THE BOND BUILDING AS WELL. 
          ARE THERE ANY OTHER OPTIONS JUST TO TO KIND OF DOVETAIL ON WHAT THE,
WHAT THE JUDGE WAS ASKING ABOUT AND AND ANOTHER CLARIFICATION. 
          SO IS IT 90 KIDS OR. BECAUSE I THOUGHT I SAW ON A SLIDE 200. 
          YOU HAVE YOU HAVE SPACE FOR 200 KIDS. COMMISSIONER STOUT,
TO ANSWER YOUR SECOND QUESTION, 93 KIDS, BASED ON THE SQUARE FOOTAGE OF THE BUILDING AND THE CAPACITY OF THE PARKING
GARAGE TO BE CONVERTED TO THE PLAYGROUND. 
          OKAY. YES, SIR. THANK YOU. CARLOS. COMMISSIONER,
THE DISCUSSION WITH WITH THE GROUP HERE ACTUALLY WAS INTENDED TO LOOK AT THE SPACE THAT WE HAD HERE IN THE COURTHOUSE. 
          THERE WAS ABOUT, YOU KNOW, LOOKING AT THE SPACE DOWNSTAIRS,
THE OPEN AIR AREAS. 
          THAT ONE HALF IS FOR THE CURRENTLY USED BY THE GYM FOR FOR PROGRAMING. 
          THE OTHER HALF COULD HAVE BEEN USED FOR, FOR THIS JUST GIVEN THAT SPACE AND HOW UNIQUE
THAT SPACE WAS. 
          YOU KNOW, WE VERY LATE KIND OF ENDED UP LOOKING AT THE BORDER TOBACCO BUILDINGS ANNEX
SITE. 
          THE THE OLD BAIL BOND BUILDING AS AS A LIKELY AREA. 
          AND THERE'S A LOT OF CONSIDERATIONS THAT GO INTO THAT IN TERMS OF SECURITY AND NOT HAVING
TO ENTER THE COURTHOUSE. SO WE DID EXPLORE SOME SOME OF THOSE OPTIONS. 
          THAT AREA IS, I THINK, WELL SUITED FOR, FOR FOR WHAT'S BEING PROPOSED HERE. 
          MR. GIANARIS SECTION OF THE PRESENTATION OUTLINED WHAT THAT LOOKED LIKE. 
          BUT ITS PROXIMITY TO MAIN MAIN THOROUGHFARE. RIGHT. 
          WHEN, WHEN TRAFFIC IS COMING IN OFF THE BORDER HIGHWAY,
YOU'RE COMING IN OFF OF BASSANO MOST TIMES. 
          SO THERE'S A LOT THERE WAS A LOT OF VALUE TO THAT SITE SPECIFICALLY,
BUT WE HAD WHEN WE WHEN WE TOURED IT, IT WAS MISS CARRILLO. MYSELF MISS PALACIOS ENSURED THAT THE FACILITIES WAS,
WAS ABLE TO SHOW US THE SPACE AND THE BAIL BOND BUILDING AND WE DID GO DOWNSTAIRS AND WE THOUGHT, YOU KNOW,
WHAT A SHAME TO TRY AND TAKE AWAY FROM WHAT WE'VE DONE IN TERMS OF WELLNESS FOR OUR EMPLOYEES, FROM THE GYM AFFECTING THE CAFETERIA AND THE OPERATION THERE WOULD NOT BE IDEAL
EITHER. 
          AND SO THIS SPACE WAS, I THINK, BETTER. AND JUST GIVEN THE FACT THAT YOU ALSO DON'T WANT
YOUNG KIDS ENTERING A SECURE FACILITY, JUST GIVEN THE NATURE OF THE WORK OF THE COURTS AND THE INDIVIDUALS THAT THAT MAY BE IN
THE COURTHOUSE IN CERTAIN DAYS BECAUSE OF THE TRIALS AND THE MOVEMENT OF COURTS. 
          AND SO THAT SPACE WAS KIND OF WHAT WE LANDED ON AS BEING THE THE PRIME LOCATION FOR
ANALYSIS AND CONSIDERATION AS PART OF THE FEASIBILITY STUDY. 
          AND I WOULD ADD JUST ALSO A DISCLAIMER ABOUT THE FEASIBILITY,
THE SITE PLAN THERE'S NO PROGRAMING BEING CONSIDERED FOR BORDEAUX TOBACCO IN THAT CONCEPT IN THAT CONCEPTUAL ARRAY. 
          AND SO AS WE'RE CONTINUING TO EVALUATE WHAT OUR OPTIONS ARE FOR THE BOARD OF TOBACCO
BUILDING IF WE WERE PROCEEDING ON THIS JOINT TIMELINE OF ACTIVATING THAT SPACE, ACTIVATING THE BAIL BOND BUILDING, WE WOULD WANT TO ENSURE THAT WE WERE PROVIDING
ENOUGH RESOURCES TO THE DEPARTMENTS THAT ARE PROPOSED TO BE LOCATED IN THE BOARD OF TOBACCO BUILDING. SOME OF THE SERVICES. AND SO THIS IS A THE STARTING POINT OF A
CONVERSATION. 
          BUT I THINK IF WE'RE HAVING A CONVERSATION ABOUT HOW WE HAVE THOSE FACILITIES COEXIST NEXT
TO EACH OTHER, 
          [01:35:03]
I THINK IT'S A GOOD FACILITY. YOU KNOW, YOU MIGHT HAVE THAT ALLEY SERVE AS A DROP OFF
EXCEPT DURING ELECTIONS OR, YOU KNOW, SO THOSE THERE'S A LOT OF DISCUSSION THAT WE WOULD NEED TO HAVE IF THIS IS
SOMETHING THE COURT WOULD LIKE US TO CONTINUE TO PURSUE AND AND EVALUATE HOW WE CAN IMPLEMENT IT. IT'S A GREAT START. GREAT DIALOG HERE. 
          YES, COMMISSIONER LILA, FOR THE PRIVATE PARTNERS WHO WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE
CONSTRUCTION AND MANAGEMENT OF THE FACILITY, DO WE HAVE ANY WHO HAVE ALREADY EXPRESSED AN INTEREST? DO WE HAVE ANY LEADS OR IS THAT SOMETHING THAT YOU WOULD BE STARTING FROM SCRATCH IS
TRYING TO IDENTIFY THOSE POTENTIAL PRIVATE PARTNERS. 
          SO THERE ARE FOLKS THAT HAVE ASKED US, THERE ARE SEVERAL DOWNTOWN EMPLOYERS THAT HAVE
ASKED US ABOUT THIS. 
          AND THERE WERE CONVERSATIONS HAD OVER THE YEARS. 
          BUT YOU KNOW, NOT NOT SOLID. AND THEN COVID REALLY DISRUPTED THAT. 
          SO NOW THAT WE'RE KIND OF ON THIS SIDE, WE'RE RESTARTING THAT CONVERSATION. 
          AND WE WANTED TO GET THESE TECHNICAL QUESTIONS ANSWERED FIRST SO THAT NOW WE CAN COME BACK
AND SAY IT IS ACTUALLY FEASIBLE AND THERE IS A DEMAND AND WE KNOW WE KNOW WHAT IT WOULD TAKE. NOW, WHAT CAN WE PUT ON THE TABLE AMONGST ALL OF THE PARTNERS? SO WE'D ALMOST BE STARTING FROM SCRATCH, BUT THERE IS INTEREST IN SEVERAL DOWNTOWN PRIVATE
EMPLOYERS. 
          AND WHAT I ALSO WANT TO SAY IN NO PRESSURE IS THAT WHEN WE SAW WE JUST IT WAS LITERALLY
LIKE THE LAST WEEK OF THE YEAR THAT WE SAW THIS SITE. 
          THE FACT THAT IT IS ON PAISANO SERVES BOTH, YOU KNOW,
IT SERVES BOTH SIDES OF PAISANO. 
          IT WOULD SERVE THE THE THE CENTRAL BUSINESS DISTRICT,
BUT ALSO VERY FEASIBLE TO SOUTH PAISANO AND SEGUNDO BARRIO. 
          SO IT'S GOT A DUAL IT WOULD BE LARGE ENOUGH TO SERVE BOTH COMMUNITIES. 
          AND THAT WAS REALLY IMPORTANT TO US. AND AND WE THOUGHT IT WAS JUST A GREAT ADDED FEATURE
TO LIKE, YOU KNOW, PRACTICALLY A PERFECT SITE. I ALSO WANT TO MENTION,
JUDGE TO YOUR POINT IS IN THE 276 PROVIDERS THAT WE HAVE RIGHT NOW, THAT'S A COMBINATION OF OF COMMERCIAL AND HOME BASED CENTERS. 
          WE WORK VERY CLOSELY ALSO WITH HOME BASED CENTERS AND PART OF SOME OTHER PROJECTS THAT
WE'VE DONE OUT IN OUR RURAL AREA WITH OTHER PRIVATE DOLLARS HAS BEEN IN EXPANDING CAPACITY IN HOME BASED PROVIDERS, HELPING THOSE HOME BASED PROVIDERS GET THE
RESOURCES THAT THEY NEED. 
          WE KNOW THAT THERE ARE, YOU KNOW, ABUELA, SENIORS AND FAMILIES,
THE FRIENDS AND FAMILY NETWORK THAT CARE FOR CHILDREN AND COMMUNITIES. 
          YOU KNOW, THAT'S BEEN AROUND AS LONG AS, AS AS WE HAVE. 
          BUT THEY ARE NOT OFFICIALLY ON THE BOOKS. AND IF THEY ARE NOT OFFICIALLY ON THE BOOKS,
WE CANNOT PROVIDE THEM RESOURCES. 
          SO WE'VE RELIED ON PRIVATE RESOURCES TO GET THEM ON THE BOOKS. 
          ONCE THEY ARE ON THE BOOKS, WE CAN THROW RESOURCES TO THEM AND WE HAVE. 
          SO WE ARE ACTIVELY WORKING ON TRYING TO EXPAND CAPACITY IN GETTING HOME BASED PROVIDERS
TO, YOU KNOW, JUST TO START WITH ONE, TWO KIDS GET LICENSED,
REGISTERED, AND THEN ONCE YOU'RE OFFICIAL, THEN WE CAN PROVIDE MORE RESOURCES TO HELP THEM EXPAND AND AND SERVE MORE CHILDREN. 
          A PROGRAM LIKE THIS COULD HELP WITH THAT. AND IT YOU KNOW,
IT CREATES IT. 
          IT BRINGS TO LIGHT THE REAL DEMAND. AND THEN THEREFORE,
WE CAN START TO PROVIDE SOME RESOURCES TO OTHER HOME BASED PROVIDERS OR OTHER COMMERCIAL CENTERS THAT MIGHT WANT TO REOPEN. THERE HAVE THERE ARE SOME SITES THROUGHOUT THE CENTRAL
BUSINESS AREA GOING OUT TO COTTON THAT USED TO BE CHILD CARE CENTERS. 
          THEY WERE BUILT FOR THAT PURPOSE, AND MAYBE THEY'VE CLOSED. SO THEY'RE OUT THERE. 
          YOU KNOW, WHAT I THINK THIS WOULD DO IS SPUR THAT ACTIVITY AND SPUR THAT CONVERSATION. 
          SO ANYWAY, WE'RE JUST REALLY EXCITED TO HAVE COMPLETED THIS AND AT LEAST HAVE THESE
QUESTIONS ANSWERED THAT WE CAN NOW GO TO THE TABLE WITH SOME OF THOSE PARTNERS AND KEEP THE CONVERSATION GOING AND KEEP IT FRESH. THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR TIME. 
          THANK YOU, THANK YOU JUDGE SORRY I HAVE YES COMMISSIONER. 
          JUST MORE COMMENTS THAN QUESTIONS. I JUST WANTED TO TO THANK YOU,
WORKFORCE SOLUTIONS AND COUNTY STAFF AND COMMISSIONER STOUT FOR FOR BRINGING THIS INITIATIVE FORWARD TO THE COUNTY. IT'S REFRESHING TO SEE MEANINGFUL CONVERSATION AROUND
CHILD CARE AT THE THE COUNTY AND CITY LEVEL, ESPECIALLY ACKNOWLEDGING NOT ONLY HOW IMPORTANT IT IS FOR OUR OWN WORKFORCE IMPROVING
THEIR QUALITY OF LIFE AND AND HAVING CHILD CARE CLOSE TO WORK, BUT FOR,
FOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND FOR THE COMMUNITY. 
          I WAS NOT SURPRISED. BUT, YOU KNOW, I WANTED TO TO POINT OUT THE STATISTIC THAT YOU
PROVIDED, LEILA, ABOUT 96% OF THE PARENTS THAT YOU SERVICE ARE WOMEN,
RIGHT? AND SO IT'S TIMELY THAT WE HAVE OUR WOMEN'S COMMISSION HERE TODAY. 
          BUT TO THE JUDGE'S COMMENTS THAT THAT CHILD CARE DISPROPORTIONATELY INHIBITS WOMEN FROM
ENTERING THE WORKFORCE AND FROM CONTRIBUTING TO ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND ECONOMIC AUTONOMY. 
          RIGHT. AND SO, YOU KNOW, EVERY PARENT IN THE ROOM,
EVERYBODY WHO'S HAD CHILDREN KNOWS THAT THAT GAP, 
          [01:40:04]
YOU KNOW, BETWEEN BIRTH AND FOUR YEARS OLD IS IT'S TERRIBLE,
RIGHT. 
          TRYING TO FIND COVERAGE. AND YOU'RE TRYING TO LIKE,
YOU KNOW, FIND FRIENDS AND AND GRANDPARENTS AND I KNOW ME PERSONALLY WHEN MY KIDS WERE YOUNGER. YOU KNOW, THEIR THEIR GRANDMA WAS LIKE,
DON'T YOU DARE SEND MY, YOUR, MY GRANDCHILDREN TO DAYCARE. 
          RIGHT. BUT IF I HAD HAD A FACILITY NEAR WORK WHERE I COULD SAY,
ACTUALLY, I'M GOING TO BE NEXT DOOR TO THEM. 
          IT WOULD HAVE BEEN A COMPLETELY DIFFERENT CONVERSATION. AND SO I KNOW THAT WE'RE IN A
UNIQUE CULTURAL SPACE HERE IN EL PASO. 
          BUT I KNOW JUST ANECDOTALLY, BASED ON ON FRIENDS THAT I HAVE WHO HAD CHILDREN WHEN I HAD
CHILDREN IT'S, IT'S A, IT'S GOING TO IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR EVERYBODY WHO,
WHO WORKS DOWNTOWN OR LIVES LIVES NEAR DOWNTOWN. 
          SO I APPRECIATE THE EFFORTS. I'M REALLY HAPPY TO SEE THE COUNTY ENGAGING IN THIS. 
          AND THEN JUST JUST ONE MORE POINT. COMMISSIONER STOUT I'VE VERY BRIEFLY INTRODUCED AND
BEEN INTRODUCED TO NACO. 
          I WENT TO ONE CONFERENCE AND I SAT IN A SESSION ABOUT CHILD CARE,
AND I WAS I WAS REALLY SURPRISED TO SEE HOW COUNTIES ARE REALLY TAKING THE LEAD AND NOT JUST IN TEXAS,
BUT ACROSS THE COUNTRY IN IN ADDRESSING EARLY CHILDHOOD DEVELOPMENT AND AND ACKNOWLEDGING THAT THIS IS YOU KNOW, THAT GOVERNMENT HAS A ROLE TO PLAY IN SUPPORTING THIS HARRIS
COUNTY, FOR EXAMPLE, WHICH I KNOW, LIKE, YOU KNOW, I HESITATE TO COMPARE ANYBODY TO HARRIS COUNTY, BUT THEY HAVE A WHOLE DEPARTMENT ON EARLY CHILDHOOD DEVELOPMENT. 
          AND SO I THINK IT'S TOTALLY APPROPRIATE FOR EL PASO COUNTY TO BE ENGAGING IN THESE
DISCUSSIONS, BECAUSE IT REALLY IS AN ISSUE THAT IMPACTS EVERY SINGLE PERSON WHO LIVES HERE. 
          SO THANK YOU. THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER BUTLER. 
          THANK YOU ALL FOR A GREAT PRESENTATION. THANK YOU. 
          JUDGE, IF I MAY. OH, YES, COMMISSIONER CORONADO. 
          YEAH, YEAH. YOU KNOW, I'M FULLY SUPPORTIVE OF OF THIS PROJECT TO TRY AND,
YOU KNOW, GET THIS CHILD CARE. 
          AND IT NOT ONLY GOES WELL WITH OUR, YOU KNOW,
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT GOALS, BUT ALSO IT HAS A PROMISE PROGRAM OPTION THAT, YOU KNOW, WE CAN DIRECT SOME OF OUR PROGRAM PROMISE PROGRAM PARTICIPANTS FOR
EITHER APPRENTICESHIPS, INTERNSHIPS AND ADDITIONALLY, THOSE THAT, YOU KNOW,
THAT THIS FACILITY WOULD BE CLOSE TO DOWNTOWN AND UTEP, THOUGH. SO APPARENTLY IT'S NOT JUST THE WORKFORCE,
BUT PEOPLE THAT ARE ATTENDING SCHOOL THAT DON'T HAVE CHILDCARE, AND IT'S PREVENTING THEM FROM GOING AND CONTINUING THEIR EDUCATION. 
          THIS FITS RIGHT WELL IN THERE. I WISH WE HAD MORE SPACE AVAILABLE,
BUT MAYBE WE NEED TO START LOOKING TO SEE WHAT, YOU KNOW, IF THERE'S ANOTHER OPTION OR ADDITIONAL SPACE WHERE WE CAN FIND IN THE CENTRAL
AREA WHERE WE MIGHT WANT TO, YOU KNOW, HELP AND EXPAND THIS. ANOTHER OPPORTUNITY IS WHEN WE GO DOWN TO AUSTIN THIS IN
FEBRUARY ABOUT MAYBE MEETING WITH THE WORKFORCE WITH, I GUESS, THE REPRESENTATIVES ON THE COMMITTEES. 
          I KNOW THAT THE STATE DOES HAVE YOU KNOW THEY HAVE FUNDS AVAILABLE,
JUST AS THEY DID TWO YEARS AGO. 
          THEY AND WE MIGHT BE ABLE TO TRY AND SEE IF WE CAN GET OUR LEGISLATIVE DELEGATION,
DELEGATION TO HELP US WITH SOME OF THAT TOWARDS, YOU KNOW, THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PART AS WELL AS THE WORKFORCE TRAINING MAYBE OUR
WORKFORCE. 
          COMMISSIONER I KNOW WE HAVE A NEW WORKFORCE COMMISSIONER AT THE HELM AND MAYBE MEETING
WITH THE COMMITTEE MEMBER WHOEVER IS THE CHAIR WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT THERE MIGHT HELP US IN SECURING MAYBE FOR MORE PUBLIC FUNDS FOR THIS PROJECT. 
          SO THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER, AND I GUESS YOU'LL HELP US WITH THAT CONNECTION. 
          AS A MATTER OF FACT, WE WE BROUGHT FUNDS TO THE TABLE FOR ALPINE ISD. 
          THEY HAD THEIR ONLY CHILD CARE CENTER IN THE COMMUNITY CLOSED DURING COVID AND WAS,
YOU KNOW, FOR A RURAL COMMUNITY LIKE THAT WAS WAS SIGNIFICANT IMPACT. 
          BUT WE HELPED THEM STAND UP A NEW CHILD CARE CENTER AND THEIR SCHOOL DISTRICT. 
          AND IT THIS IS THEY ARE IN THEIR 18TH MONTH OF OPERATION. 
          SO THAT'S THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT WE DO. THESE ARE THE SERVICES THAT WE DO. 
          SO HAPPY TO HAVE THAT AND LEAD THAT CONVERSATION. 
          AND, COMMISSIONER CORONADO, I'LL BE IN TOUCH WITH YOU ALL. 
          IF ANYBODY IS GOING TO EL PASO DAYS WITH THE CHAMBER,
WE'VE GOT MEETINGS SET UP WITH OUR COMMISSIONER, AND ONE OF THEM IS ACTUALLY IN TOWN TODAY. AND I'LL GO AND I'LL TELL HIM THAT WE'RE ON HIS SCHEDULE SOON. 
          SO THANK YOU ALL. WELL, THANK YOU. AND I THINK YOU'VE DONE THE THE IMPRESSION LATELY THAT
THE COMMISSIONERS ARE VERY SUPPORTIVE OF CHILD CARE AND THAT WHATEVER WE'LL TRY TO DO OUR BEST WE CAN TO TO PARTICIPATE. THANK YOU. ON THAT NOTE,
I JUST WANT TO CONFIRM THAT THE COURT IS IN AGREEMENT WITH US CONTINUING TO PROCEED AT THE STAFF LEVEL, WORKING WITH WITH LAYLA ON BEGINNING TO IDENTIFY NEXT STEPS ON IMPLEMENTING
THIS VISION. 
          [01:45:06]
ABSOLUTELY. I THINK THANK YOU. THANK YOU. IF OUR BODY LANGUAGE DIDN'T TALK,
THEN MAYBE WE NEED TO CONFIRM ON THE RECORD. 
          YEAH. THANK YOU. THE RECORD. FULLY ON THE RECORD. 
          THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. 
          TOO BAD MY KIDS ARE. DEAD. 
          CESAR, CAN WE BRING UP THE WOMEN'S COMMISSION SO THAT WE. 
          I KNOW WE COULD ADDRESS THAT ONE, AND THEN WE'LL GO TO THE NEXT ONE. 
          YES, SIR. ITEM NUMBER FOUR F. 
          RECEIVE AN UPDATE FROM THE EL PASO COUNTY WOMEN'S COMMISSION REGARDING THEIR
RECOMMENDATIONS. 
          THANK YOU. GOOD MORNING, JUDGE AND 
          [F. Receive an update from the El Paso County Women’s Commission regarding their recommendations.
Betsy C. Keller, Chief Administrator, County Administration, 915-273-3600]
COMMISSIONERS MICHELLE COCHRAN WITH COUNTY ADMINISTRATION,
JUST AS THE COMMISSIONERS MAKE THEIR WAY UP. 
          JUST A QUICK UPDATE FOR YOU FOR THE RECOMMENDATIONS THAT THE COMMISSION PRESENTED IN
SEPTEMBER OF LAST YEAR. 
          THEY HAD A FRUITFUL MEETING LAST MONTH, THEIR FIRST MEETING OF THE NEW YEAR,
AND THEY JUST WANTED TO COME AND CHECK IN AND PROVIDE A QUICK UPDATE. 
          SO WITH THAT, I'LL TURN IT OVER TO YOUR CHAIRWOMAN,
SACHSE RODRIGUEZ. GOOD MORNING. 
          THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. OF COURSE. THANK YOU FOR HAVING US AND FOR LENDING US SOME TIME. 
          I'M SOICHI RODRIGUEZ, CHAIRWOMAN OF THE EL PASO WOMEN'S COMMISSION. 
          ALWAYS HAPPY TO BE WITH YOU. AT THE CLOSE OF LAST YEAR,
WE PROVIDED A PRESENTATION THAT INCLUDED, OF COURSE, A BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE WORK WE HAD CONDUCTED SINCE INCEPTION,
AND THEN A LIST OF RECOMMENDATIONS. 
          I THINK WE WANTED REALLY TO FOCUS IN ON TWO UPDATES TODAY FOR YOU. 
          AFTER HEARING FROM HONORABLE JUDGE VASQUEZ AND KATHERINE JONES WITH THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE
DEPARTMENT. 
          JUDGE VASQUEZ PROVIDED AN UPDATE TO INFORM US THAT SHE'S NOW IN THE PROCESS OF ENSURING
THAT FIRST TIME DOMESTIC VIOLENCE OFFENDERS WITH NO CRIMINAL HISTORY ARE GIVEN TIMELY INFORMATION ABOUT HER COURT'S PRETRIAL PROGRAM,
WHICH IS LAUNCHING. 
          WE'RE THRILLED FOR THAT. THE GOAL OF THE JUDGE'S VITAL WORK,
OF COURSE, IS TO ADDRESS ROOT CAUSES THAT LEAD TO OFFENDERS COMMITTING VIOLENCE. 
          WITH THE BROADEST GOAL OF OF PREVENTING RECIDIVISM. 
          THE JUDGE IS NOW WORKING TO GET WORD OUT TO DEFENSE ATTORNEYS,
PRIVATE AND IN THE PUBLIC SPACE. 
          SO WE'RE REALLY EXCITED TO KNOW THAT SHE'S SUCCEEDED. 
          WE'RE INSPIRED, OBVIOUSLY, AND LOOKING FORWARD TO CONTINUE DIALOG WITH HER AS CASES BEGIN
TO BE ASSIGNED. 
          IT'S OUR UNDERSTANDING THERE'S BEEN NO CASES ASSIGNED YET AS OF A WEEK AGO. 
          BUT THAT'S ALL UNDERWAY. WE ALSO HEARD FROM CATHERINE JONES,
WHO IS WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE AND CORRECTIONS. 
          WE HEARD ABOUT HER INCREDIBLE LEADERSHIP IN CREATING PROGRAMS FOR WOMEN WHO ARE JUST AS
INVOLVED, MOSTLY PROVIDED THERE AT THE JAIL ANNEX ON MONTANA. 
          WE LEARNED ABOUT PROJECT CHANCE, WHICH WE UNDERSTAND PROVIDES LIFE SKILLS TRAINING,
EMPLOYMENT TRAINING, GED SERVICES, PARENTING CLASSES, AND MORE. WE'RE IN THE PROCESS OF SCHEDULING A VISIT OUT
THERE AND REALLY EXCITED TO TO MEET THE WOMEN WHO ARE IN THAT PROGRAM AND THE WOMEN THAT ARE CURRENTLY AT THE ANNEX, MANY OF WHICH, IF NOT MOST WHO HAVE HISTORIES OF DOMESTIC AND
FAMILY VIOLENCE. 
          WE ALSO LEARNED ABOUT A NEW PROGRAM THAT'S TENTATIVELY LAUNCHING IN JULY THIS YEAR. 
          AND THAT WILL ADDRESS THE ROOT CAUSE OF GENERATIONAL TRAUMA. 
          SO, YOU KNOW, LOOKING AT JUSTICE AND JUSTICE INVOLVED PARENTS WHO ARE CURRENTLY IN THE
PROJECT CHANCE PROGRAM, MAKING SURE THEY UNDERSTAND THE WAY DOMESTIC VIOLENCE,
PERVASIVE DOMESTIC VIOLENCE WITHIN THE HOME ENVIRONMENT SPILLS OVER TO CHILDREN. 
          RIGHT. AND WE AND A CYCLE IS CREATED SO THAT THESE CHILDREN ALSO GROW UP TO BE INVOLVED IN
DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND EVENTUALLY BECOME VICTIMS OF IT, LIKELY OR IN SOME OTHER WAY ARE INVOLVED. SO WE'RE EXCITED TO HEAR MORE ABOUT THAT
PROGRAM. 
          IT'S OUR UNDERSTANDING THAT IT LAUNCHES COMPLETELY THROUGH PARTNERSHIPS AND RELATIONSHIPS.
IT WON'T HAVE ANY FUNDING INITIALLY OUT THE GATE. I THINK THAT WAS WHAT WAS MOST COMPELLING ABOUT MRS. JONES UPDATE. AND THAT'S WHAT WE WANTED TO SHARE WITH YOU ALL TODAY.
WE KNOW THAT IN LOW RESOURCE COMMUNITIES THERE'S A LOT OF GAPS THAT HAVE TO BE FILLED. 
          AND REALLY THOSE GAPS SO OFTEN, ESPECIALLY IN THIS REGION,
ARE FILLED THROUGH PARTNERSHIPS AND COLLABORATIONS ACROSS AGENCIES ENTITIES, 
          [01:50:02]
WHETHER PUBLIC OR PRIVATE. AND MRS. JONES SHARED THAT ALL OF THE WORK SHE HAS DONE HAS
BEEN DONE THROUGH PARTNERSHIPS AND HER RELATIONSHIPS WITH COMMUNITY PROVIDERS AND SERVICE ORGANIZATIONS. AND YOU ALL MIGHT RECALL,
IT'S LISTED HERE. 
          BUT ONE OF OUR RECOMMENDATIONS WAS TO CREATE A ROUND TABLE THAT WOULD FOCUS ON DOMESTIC
VIOLENCE. 
          USING THAT AS A LENS THROUGH WHICH WE WOULD LOOK AT DISPARITY IN EDUCATION,
HEALTH CARE, ECONOMIC MOBILITY. 
          AND ON THE REQUEST OF MRS. JONES, IN THIS LAST MEETING THAT WE HAD,
AS WELL AS JUDGE VASQUEZ, WE ARE NOW IN THE PROCESS OF COORDINATING AND SORT OF CARVING OUT A VISION FOR THAT
SUMMIT. 
          THIS YEAR, WE FORMED A SUBCOMMITTEE, AND I THINK WE ALL JOINED THE SUBCOMMITTEE. 
          SO IT'S BASICALLY THE SAME AS THE COMMISSION. 
          BUT WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO WORKING CLOSELY,
OF COURSE, WITH COUNTY STAFF, COMMUNITY PARTNERS AND ANYONE ELSE TO SORT OF CARVE OUR ROLE IN THAT PROCESS, SINCE IT'S OUR UNDERSTANDING IT'S NOT BEEN DONE BEFORE,
BUT WE JUST SAW SUCH A VITAL NEED TO BRING VOICES TOGETHER INTO ONE ROOM SO THAT FOLKS AREN'T WORKING IN THESE SILOS. WE KNOW AND HAVE HEARD PRESENTATION AFTER PRESENTATION. 
          WE DON'T HAVE BUDGET. THERE ARE NO RESOURCES. 
          WE'RE DOING EVERYTHING WE CAN. AND THEN WE HAVE HEARD WHEN WE ASK,
WELL, HAVE YOU HAD A CONVERSATION WITH X, Y, Z? TYPICALLY THE ANSWER HAS BEEN NO, RIGHT OR NOT ENOUGH CONVERSATION HAS OCCURRED. 
          COLLABORATION HASN'T BEEN ROBUST ENOUGH. AND SO WE'RE VERY EXCITED TO CARVE AGENDAS,
YOU KNOW, WITH A LOT OF COMMUNITY FEEDBACK AND IN COLLABORATION WITH COMMUNITY LEADERS INVOLVED WITH
DOMESTIC VIOLENCE TO ADDRESS ESSENTIALLY WHAT SHOULD BE A SHARED CONVERSATION FOR THE BETTER OF THE COMMUNITY. I THINK THAT THESE ARE THE MAIN HIGHLIGHTS. 
          WE'RE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS, BUT MOSTLY PROUD TO SHARE THIS UPDATE WITH YOU AND
LOOKING REALLY FORWARD TO THE YEAR AHEAD. 
          AND SO THANK YOU. WE'VE HEARD SUCH GREAT THINGS. 
          I HAPPEN TO HAVE DOCTOR CHRISTINA PASS IS MY APPOINTEE AND SHE'S JUST LIKE AMAZED AT THE
WOMEN AROUND HER. 
          AND I'M THINKING, WOW, SHE'S YOU KNOW, SHE'S PRETTY GOOD HERSELF,
RIGHT? AND SO SHE JUST TALKS SO HIGHLY OF OF THE COMMISSION AND WHAT YOU'RE DOING THE AMOUNT OF
HOURS THAT YOU'RE PUTTING IN. 
          IT'S JUST A VERY AMAZING. AND LIKE I SAID, YOU HAVE INCREDIBLE MEMBERS THAT WE HAVE,
AND I WOULD LOVE TO HEAR FROM THE OTHERS AS WELL. 
          WOULD YOU MIND? YES, PLEASE. OH, YEAH. YEAH. YEAH. 
          IT'S WELL. GOOD MORNING. GOOD MORNING. IT'S DEFINITELY BEEN A AN AMAZING JOURNEY WITH WITH
MY FELLOW COMMISSIONERS AND YOU KNOW, JUST BEING ON A BOARD OF SUCH POWERFUL WOMEN AND AND,
YOU KNOW, JUST CONCERNED WOMEN THAT WANT TO BRING THE BEST FOR FOR THOSE IN OUR COMMUNITY AND IN OUR
COUNTY TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERYONE HAS HAS THE BEST SHOT AT,
YOU KNOW, HAVING HAVING EDUCATION HEALING, GROWING EVERYTHING THAT, THAT,
YOU KNOW, THIS COUNTY CAN OFFER THEM. 
          SO IT'S IT'S DEFINITELY BEEN A, A WONDERFUL JOURNEY TO BE ABLE TO BE A PART OF THIS. 
          WELL THANK YOU. PLEASE. HELLO, EVERYONE. MY NAME IS SISSY BIRD AND I AM THE VICE CHAIR FOR
THIS COMMISSION BOARD. AND I WOULD JUST LIKE TO SAY THAT,
YOU KNOW, WHEN WE STARTED, WE DIDN'T KNOW HOW MANY LIVES THAT THERE WAS A POSSIBILITY OF A OF US TOUCHING. 
          WE HAVE LEARNED SO MUCH IN OUR MEETINGS, AND WE HAVE LEARNED SO MUCH FROM THE SPEAKERS
THAT WE HAVE HAD. 
          AND EVEN WHEN A YOUNG LADY CAME TO VISIT US TO TELL US ABOUT HER LIFE BEING ABUSED. IT MADE US EVEN GROW MORE FONDER OF THIS BOARD BECAUSE WE HELPED HER LIFE CHANGE. SO, YOU KNOW, ALL IT TAKES IS ONE PERSON'S LIFE TO CHANGE,
AND THEN, YOU KNOW, IT'S GOING TO BE CONTINUOUSLY CHANGING OTHER WOMEN'S LIVES. 
          AND SINCE WE FOCUS ON THE WOMEN, WE ALSO FOCUS ON THE VETERAN WOMEN. 
          SO THIS IS A GOOD, GOOD BOARD THAT WE HAVE. ALL OF US GET ALONG. 
          WE MAKE SURE WE HAVE OUR MEETINGS AND DON'T MISS OUR MEETINGS,
SO WE CAN TRULY WORK ON WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE IN OUR COMMUNITY. 
          AND I WOULD JUST LIKE TO SAY THANK YOU SO MUCH. 
          THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING YOU DO OVER AND ABOVE. 
          JUDGE TO PLEASE. GOOD MORNING. GOOD MORNING. THANK YOU,
LINDA CHU. 
          [01:55:07]
FIRST, LET ME JUST SAY THAT WE ALL APPRECIATE YOUR CONFIDENCE AND I HOPE SUPPORT FOR THE
WORK THAT WE WERE DOING. 
          AND IT HAS BEEN A LOT OF WORK. AND ONE OF THE VALUES I THINK,
THAT WE HAVE THAT WE'RE ABLE TO SHARE WITH YOU IS THE VALUE OF BEING ABLE TO CALL EVERYBODY IN AT ONE TIME OVER A SERIES. 
          YOU ALL HAVE PLENTY ON YOUR PLATE, YOU HAVE LOTS OF THINGS GOING ON,
BUT ALL WE WANT TO DO IS FOCUS ON THESE ISSUES. 
          AND THAT'S WHAT. AND WE SELECTED ONE OUT OF A PRIORITY. 
          WE HAVE A BIG LIST BY THE WAY. SO WE'VE SELECTED ONE AREA AND WE'VE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO
REALLY FOCUS ON THAT. 
          AND AND THAT'S THE VALUE I THINK OF HAVING THIS KIND OF A COMMISSION IS THAT WE CAN FOCUS
ON THAT. 
          I HOPE THIS OUR CHAIR REFERRED TO IT AS WHAT WE'VE REALIZED IS THAT THERE ARE SO MANY
DIFFERENT RESOURCES, BUT THEY ALL WORK. AND THE TERM THAT I'VE USED THAT I'VE HEARD IS SILOS. 
          AND SO YOU HAVE ALL THESE DIFFERENT SILOS DOING DIFFERENT THINGS. 
          AND WHEN YOU ASK ANY. DO YOU GUYS EVER GET TOGETHER? DOES ANYBODY EVER HAVE A BIG TALK ABOUT WHAT WE KNOW NEVER DONE? AND SO I THINK THIS CONCEPT OF A SUMMIT TO BRING EVERYBODY TOGETHER TO IT'S SORT OF LIKE
WHAT, WHAT UMC HAS JUDGE AND COMMISSIONERS WHEN, YOU KNOW,
THEY HAVE THIS BIG SYSTEM THAT'S SET UP SO THAT ANYBODY CAN CALL IN AND YOU CAN FIGURE OUT WHERE THIS PERSON IS AND WHAT THEY'RE DOING AND WHAT'S WHAT'S BEEN WE
HAVE THAT OPPORTUNITY NOW. 
          AND SO IF WE CAN BRING TOGETHER THIS SUMMIT,
WHAT A VALUE FOR THE COMMUNITY OF EL PASO FOR EVERYBODY TO BE TALKING IN THE SAME ROOM AT THE SAME, NOT AT THE SAME TIME,
BUT TOGETHER. 
          AND SO I HOPE THAT YOU WILL SUPPORT US IN THAT AND ENDORSE THAT IDEA. 
          AND THEN LASTLY, I WILL TELL YOU THAT WE ARE MEETING NEXT MONTH WITH THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY
WITH THE SHERIFF AND I BELIEVE WITH THE POLICE CHIEF ONCE AGAIN, TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE LISTENING TO EVERYBODY AND THAT WE CAN BE
INCLUSIVE. 
          SO GREAT OPPORTUNITY FOR ALL OF US. WE APPRECIATE IT. 
          AND WE INTEND TO MAKE YOU PROUD. SO THANK YOU. 
          YOU ALREADY HAVE. THANK YOU. WE HAVE A COUPLE. 
          GOOD MORNING. COMMISSIONERS. MY NAME IS TERESA CERVERA. 
          I AM A RETIRED POLICE OFFICER. I WORKED WITH THE CITY OF EL PASO FOR 26 YEARS. 
          I NOW WORK WITH THE CENTER AGAINST SEXUAL ASSAULT AND FAMILY VIOLENCE AS AN ADVOCATE,
I JUST WANTED TO THANK YOU ALL FOR HAVING US HERE AND HEARING US OUT. 
          I REALLY APPRECIATE IT. ALSO, I WANTED TO COMMEND THE LADIES ON THIS COMMISSION FOR THE
VALUE THAT THEY BRING AND THE EXPERIENCE. 
          I HAVE BEEN INVOLVED, IN ONE WAY OR ANOTHER OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND SEXUAL ASSAULT
VICTIMS, AND LITERALLY HAVE EXPERIENCED SPEAKING WITH HUNDREDS OF VICTIMS OF BOTH AND TRYING TO
NAVIGATE THOSE PROCESSES AS FAR AS WHAT WHAT THEY NEED TO DO AND HOW TO SURVIVE THESE KIND OF INCIDENTS,
AND HOW THE CITY AND THE COUNTY CAN HELP THEM IN THOSE KINDS OF THINGS. 
          AND SO I REALLY APPRECIATE THIS TIME AND ALL OF THESE PEOPLE GETTING TOGETHER,
BECAUSE I THINK THIS WOULD BE BENEFITS OF THINGS THAT I'VE SEEN FOR PROBABLY ABOUT 35 YEARS OR MORE TRYING TO GET THIS OFF, YOU KNOW,
TO A TO A POSITIVE PLACE WHERE EVERYBODY IS IN WORKING TOGETHER. 
          LAWS HAVE CHANGED. THINGS ARE GETTING BETTER FOR EVERYBODY. 
          AND SO I REALLY APPRECIATE THAT IF WE CAN UTILIZE ALL OF THOSE THINGS AND PUT THEM IN THE
PROCESS AS FAR AS HELPING PEOPLE MOVE FORWARD AND OUT OF THESE TYPES OF SITUATIONS. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. I APPRECIATE THAT,
AND WHAT YOU'VE ALL SAID IS THIS INCLUSIVENESS OF GETTING EVERYBODY AT THE TABLE. 
          AND IT'S BEEN IT'S ALMOST LIKE WHAT'S HAPPENED WITH THE VETERANS AT THE BEGINNING THAT
EVERYBODY WAS SORT OF DOING AMAZING THINGS, BUT EVERYBODY TAKING OFF IN DIFFERENT DIRECTIONS. 
          AND I THINK GETTING TOGETHER WITH THE SUMMIT,
I THINK IT WILL CREATE THAT SYNERGISM THAT I'M ALWAYS SAYING NO COMMUNITY BETTER THAN OURS. IF YOU GET THEM UNITED AND BEGIN TO GIVE THAT DIRECTION,
WE SEE SOME AMAZING THINGS. 
          ONE QUICK CORRECTION. WE'VE ASKED AND ARE HOPING THAT WE'LL GET THOSE PRESENTATIONS AT THE
NEXT MEETING. 
          IT WAS DIFFICULT LAST YEAR TO PIN EVERYBODY DOWN,
BUT OBVIOUSLY WITH THE CHANGE IN LEADERSHIP, WE'RE HOPING THOSE WILL BE PRESENTATIONS WE RECEIVE AT THE NEXT MEETING. 
          ONE LAST UPDATE OUR SUBCOMMITTEE, BECAUSE YOU ALL CAN TELL WE WORK VERY HARD AND FAST AND
FURIOUS. 
          [02:00:03]
I THINK OUR SUBCOMMITTEE IS MEETING WITHIN THE NEXT THREE WEEKS,
SO WE'LL HAVE HOPEFULLY SOME NEWS TO SHARE AFTER THAT FIRST MEETING AS WE CARVE THE SUMMIT AND THEN A MOMENT OF URGING, WE DO INVITE YOU ALL INTO THE PROCESS OF THIS SUMMIT AND HOPE
THAT YOU AND YOUR STAFFS ARE WILLING AND ABLE AND EXCITED TO PARTNER WITH US AND GUIDE US IN PROBABLY MANY CIRCUMSTANCES, AS WE SORT OF PUT THE PUZZLE PIECES TOGETHER,
BECAUSE IT WILL BE A BIG LIFT WITH LOTS OF FOLKS AT THE TABLE, WHATEVER WE COULD DO. THANK YOU SO MUCH, COMMISSIONERS. 
          THANK YOU. APPRECIATE IT. YES, COMMISSIONER. CORONADO. 
          YEAH, IF I MAY. THANK YOU. JUDGE. THIS IS ACTUALLY A VERY EXCELLENT PROJECT THAT THE
WOMEN'S COMMISSION HAS CHOSEN. 
          AND AND I KNOW, JUST AS JUDGE VASQUEZ IS VERY INVOLVED IN THIS,
I'VE REACHED OUT TO OUR DA, MR. MONTOYA. I THINK JUDGE VASQUEZ IS HAVING A MEETING TOMORROW. 
          AND MR. MONTOYA, OUR DA WILL HAVE A REPRESENTATIVE THERE. 
          THIS IS A GREAT OPPORTUNITY, YOU KNOW, NOT JUST FOR,
YOU KNOW, EMPOWERING ISSUES RELATED TO WOMEN, BUT ALSO FOR OUR, YOU KNOW REIMAGINING OUR JUSTICE INITIATIVES,
FAIRNESS TO IN OUR JUSTICE SYSTEM AS WELL AS, YOU KNOW, TOWARDS ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT. IT REALLY BODES WELL WITH ALL OUR COUNTY GOALS. 
          AND I WANT TO THANK THE COMMISSION FOR FOR HAVING CHOSEN THIS PROJECT THAT'S YOU KNOW,
REALLY SOMETHING VERY, VERY POSITIVE THAT HITS ON A LOT OF THE COUNTY'S GOALS THAT WE ARE PURSUING. 
          SO I WANT TO THANK THEM AND ALL THE SUPPORT THAT WE CAN GIVE THEM I KNOW THEY WILL REALLY
APPRECIATE. 
          THANK YOU. COMMISSIONER CORONADO. THANK YOU ALL. 
          JUST HAVE A GREAT, GREAT EVENING. THANK YOU. COMMISSIONER BYRD. 
          YES, I DO MIND IF WE DO A QUICK PICTURE. ALL YEAR ROUND? NO. 
          THANK YOU. 
          NO, THANK. YOU. I'LL SEND MY HUGS TELEPATHICALLY. 
          TELEPATHICALLY TO ALL. 
          OH. 
          ITEM NUMBER FOUR. E RECEIVE A FINANCIAL UPDATE PRESENTATION REGARDING THE EL PASO COUNTY
FISCAL YEAR 25 BUDGET. 
          GOOD MORNING. JUDGE. COMMISSIONERS MELISSA CARRILLO WITH COUNTY OPERATIONS. 
          [E. Receive a financial update presentation regarding the El Paso County FY25 Budget.
Melissa Carrillo, Deputy County Administrator, County Operations, 915-546-2162]
TODAY I'M EXCITED TO BE BEFORE YOU. I HAVE JESSICA GARZA,
OUR ASSISTANT BUDGET AND FINANCE DIRECTOR. 
          AND IF YOU ALL RECALL, YEARS, YEARS IN IN THE PAST,
WE USED TO COME AND PRESENT THESE TYPES OF THINGS TO A LITTLE MORE REGULARLY, AND IT'S TAKEN OUR TEAM SOME TIME JUST TO GET SITUATED AND WHERE WE WANT TO BE. 
          [02:05:03]
AND SO TODAY, I MEAN IT WHEN I SAY THAT I'M EXCITED TO BE BEFORE YOU AND SHARE SOME
UPDATES WITH YOU, WHAT'S REALLY CRITICAL ABOUT THE BUDGET FINANCE PROJECTIONS THAT AND REPORT THAT WE GIVE
YOU IS THAT WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE COME IN JANUARY BEFORE YOUR YEAR STARTS, BEFORE THIS CALENDAR YEAR CONTINUES, SO THAT YOU HAVE A REALLY GOOD UNDERSTANDING OF NOT
ONLY WHAT'S HAPPENING NOW, BUT ALSO WHAT WE ANTICIPATE HAPPENING IN THE FUTURE TO TO BETTER HELP GUIDE YOUR DECISIONS
THROUGHOUT THE NEXT FEW MONTHS. 
          SO WE WORK REALLY CLOSELY WITH THE COUNTY AUDITORS AND WHAT'S REALLY DISTINGUISHED ABOUT
WHAT WE'RE GOING TO PRESENT VERSUS WHAT THEY TYPICALLY PRESENT IS WE'LL INCLUDE ACTUAL NUMBERS, BUT WE'LL ALSO USE THESE MONTHLY PRESENTATION OPPORTUNITIES TO SHARE PROJECTIONS
THAT MAY IMPACT THE FUTURE. 
          AND THE AUDITORS WILL COME IN ON MONDAY AND PRESENT ON ACTUALS ONLY. 
          SO WE WORK REALLY CLOSELY WITH THEM. TODAY WE HAVE A VERY SHORT PRESENTATION WITH SOME
SLIDES THAT WE JUST WANT TO SHARE WITH YOU AND THEN OF COURSE ADDRESS ANY QUESTIONS THAT YOU MIGHT HAVE. SO THIS IS JUST A LITTLE DISCLAIMER TYPE SLIDE TO LET YOU KNOW THAT OUR
PRESENTATION AND OUR NUMBERS WILL INCLUDE ACTUALS, BUT IT WILL HAVE SOME ESTIMATES AND SOME FORECASTS. 
          AND YOU'LL SEE THOSE DENOTED BY FOOTNOTES AND ASTERISKS ON THE FOLLOWING SLIDE. 
          SO THIS FIRST SLIDE I WANT TO CALL TO YOUR ATTENTION IS BASICALLY JUST A YEAR TO DATE
WHERE WE'RE AT WITH OUR MONEY. 
          AND YOU CAN SEE AS A REMINDER UP TOP, WHAT OUR ADOPTED BUDGET LOOKS LIKE FROM A REVENUE
AND AN EXPENSE STANDPOINT. 
          YOU CAN SEE FURTHER ON THE LEFT COLUMN WHAT THE REVENUE LOOKS LIKE. 
          OCTOBER, NOVEMBER AND DECEMBER, OCTOBER AND NOVEMBER ARE ACTUAL NUMBERS. 
          AND THEN ON THE RIGHT SIDE YOU CAN SEE YOUR EXPENSES,
WHAT THOSE ACTUAL NUMBERS ARE, WITH DECEMBER BEING THE ONLY CAVEAT. 
          THOSE ARE PROJECTIONS FROM THE BUDGET DEPARTMENT. AND AGAIN,
BARBARA AND MICHAEL WILL COME IN THE FUTURE TO SHARE WITH THE ACTUALS FOR DECEMBER LOOK LIKE. BUT AT THIS POINT IN THE YEAR, WE CAN CONFIDENTLY SAY THAT ABOUT 41% OF YOUR
REVENUES HAVE ALREADY COME IN. 
          AND JUST A REMINDER, DECEMBER AND JANUARY ARE THOSE TWO MONTHS WHERE A LARGE MAJORITY OF
YOUR REVENUES DO COME IN. 
          SO, SO FAR YOU HAVE 41% OF THOSE REVENUES IN. 
          AND THEN ON THE EXPENSE SIDE, YOU HAVE ABOUT 18.75% OF THOSE EXPENSES SPENT. 
          SO AT THIS POINT IN THE YEAR, YOU SEE THAT YOU'RE ABOVE ON REVENUE BY 74 MILLION. 
          BUT JUST KNOW THAT'S GOING TO CHANGE IN THE NEXT FEW MONTHS. 
          THOSE EXPENSES ARE DEFINITELY GOING TO RISE GIVEN CONTRACTUAL OBLIGATIONS OR ANY OTHER
EXPENSES THAT TYPICALLY HAPPEN IN THE SECOND, THIRD AND FOURTH QUARTERS. BY FEBRUARY, WE EXPECT YOUR REVENUES TO HIT ABOUT THE 70%
THRESHOLD, AND THEN IT'LL START TO SLOW DOWN FOR THE REMAINDER OF THE YEAR. 
          MELISSA. YES, MA'AM. SO AND I KNOW THAT MOST OF OUR REVENUE IS IN THESE MONTHS THAT WE'RE
IN RIGHT NOW. 
          BUT IS OCTOBER ALWAYS THAT LOW? HOW DOES THAT COMPARE WITH OTHER YEARS? THE REVENUE FROM OCTOBER. IS THERE ALWAYS THAT MUCH OF A DIFFERENCE IF I. 
          DID YOU WANT TO SAY, JESSICA, I'M SHOWING THIS LIGHT NOW,
WHICH IS THE GRAPHICAL REPRESENTATION. 
          YOU CAN SEE THAT LINE WHICH IS THE THREE YEAR AVERAGE. 
          I CAN GO BACK AND LOOK TO SEE EXACTLY WHAT OCTOBER LOOKS LIKE. 
          JESS, DID YOU WANT TO CHIME IN? I HEAR HER, SORRY. 
          IT'S JUST YES, OCTOBER IS GENERALLY THE LOWEST MONTH FOR REVENUES,
OKAY? AND IT'S USUALLY AT AROUND SOMETHING SIMILAR TO THAT. 
          SO THAT'S NOT ANYTHING SURPRISING THAT OCTOBER IS SO SUBSTANTIALLY LOWER THAN THE OTHER
ONES. 
          OKAY. SO WHAT YOU'RE SEEING HERE AGAIN, WE'RE ONE QUARTER IN. 
          SO YOU CAN SEE THE GRAPHICAL REPRESENTATION OF THESE NUMBERS. AND WHAT WE WANT TO DO IS
ADDRESS EXACTLY THOSE QUESTIONS. 
          DOES THIS LOOK RIGHT. IS SOMETHING OFF. AND IF SO SHARE WITH THE COURT WHAT THOSE
ANOMALIES MIGHT LOOK LIKE. 
          BUT HERE ON THE LEFT SIDE YOU SEE YOUR REVENUES. 
          ON THE RIGHT SIDE YOU SEE YOUR EXPENSES. THE BLUE BAR REPRESENTS WHAT'S BEEN BUDGETED. 
          SO OVER THE NEXT FEW MONTHS WHEN WE COME MONTH TO MONTH,
YOU'RE GOING TO SEE THE NUMBERS GROW. 
          YOU'RE GOING TO SEE THE YELLOW AND GRAY START GROWING. AND IT HELPS TO KEEP THE COURT JUST
REALLY IN MIND AND IN LINE WITH WHAT IS HAPPENING. 
          WHERE ARE WE AT IN THIS YEAR? AND THEN AGAIN,
SHOWING WHAT THOSE THREE YEAR HISTORICALS LOOK LIKE. 
          WE'VE BEEN TALKING INTERNALLY AND WE HAVE AN IDEA OF A DIFFERENT SLIDE WE WANT TO BRING TO
YOU IN FEBRUARY TO KIND OF ADDRESS HISTORICALS IN A BETTER WAY. 
          THAT CAN ALSO HELP US WITH PROJECTIONS GOING FORWARD. 
          AND THIS SLIDE JUST SUMMARIZES WHAT WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT. 
          YOU LOOK AT DECEMBER AS OF THE CLOSE OF DECEMBER AGAIN,
PROJECTION WHAT OUR REVENUE IS, WHAT OUR EXPENSES ARE. 
          AND FOR THE MONTH ALONE, WE HAD MORE REVENUE COME IN THAN EXPENSES,
CLOSING US AT AN AVERAGE OF ABOUT 99 MILLION. 
          BUT YEAR TO DATE, FOR THE FIRST THREE MONTHS,
FOR THE QUARTER, YOU SEE THAT OUR REVENUES ARE AT ABOUT 74 MILLION ABOVE EXPENSES. 
          SO IT'S JUST A REALLY GOOD WAY TO SAY HERE'S WHERE WE'RE AT FINANCIALLY. 
          BUT THEN I'M GOING TO TURN IT OVER TO JESS. AND WHAT I'D LIKE FOR HER TO DO NOW IS SHARE
SOME OF THE IMPACTS OR THE IDEAS OR THE PROJECTS THAT YOU'RE STARTING TO DISCUSS, AND WHAT THOSE IMPACTS MAY DO TO FY 26 BUDGET. 
          TURN IT OVER TO JESS AT THIS POINT. THANK YOU MELISSA. 
          GOOD MORNING, JUDGE AND COMMISSIONERS, JESSICA GARZA,
BUDGET AND FINANCE DEPARTMENT. 
          THIS SLIDE IS WHERE WE'RE AT RIGHT NOW WITH THE REGISTER. 
          IT IS A LIST OF ITEMS THAT HAVE ALREADY BEEN BEFORE THE COURT AND APPROVED THAT WILL HAVE
AN IMPACT ON FISCAL YEAR 26. 
          [02:10:02]
THAT ARE MATERIAL, MEANING THAT THEY ARE GREATER THAN 50,000. 
          AND SO YOU'VE ALREADY APPROVED SOME ADDITIONAL CONTRACTS THAT HAVE INCREASES. 
          SOME ADDITIONAL SALARIES, BUT INDIVIDUALLY THEY'RE NOT MATERIAL. 
          AND AS WE COME BEFORE YOU EACH MONTH, YOU'LL START TO SEE MAYBE LIKE A SINGLE LINE WHERE
WE'LL ROLL ALL THOSE ADDITIONAL INCREASES INTO THE BUDGET REGISTER. THE TOTAL HERE IS 6.4 MILLION IN INCREASE THAT WE'RE ALREADY ANTICIPATING FOR
FISCAL YEAR 26, WHICH IS EQUAL TO ABOUT 0.0096 OF OUR TAX RATE BASED ON OUR CURRENT CERTIFIED TAX
VALUES. 
          THIS WILL ADJUST AS WE START TO RECEIVE OUR NEW TAX VALUES FOR NEXT FISCAL YEAR. 
          BUT AT THIS TIME, WE'RE USING THIS NUMBER AS OUR STARTING POINT SINCE THAT'S WHAT WE BASED
OUR BUDGET OFF OF. 
          AND THEN AS WE GET CLOSER TO JULY, MORE NUMBERS WILL COME IN. 
          AND AND AGAIN, THAT MAY GO UP OR DOWN DEPENDING ON WHAT OUR VALUES START TO LOOK LIKE. 
          I ALSO HAVE FOR YOU PROBABLY THE SAME QUESTION. 
          GIVEN THAT THAT THAT LAST LINE ITEM, THE, THE 1 MILLION THAT WAS SET ASIDE FOR THE THE
MATCH. 
          THAT WASN'T AWARDED TO THE MPO IS THERE? AT WHAT POINT WILL A CONVERSATION BE HAD ON,
ON ON THAT SET ASIDE FUNDING? AND SO THE LIST DOES CHANGE AS WE GO THROUGH THE YEAR AND AS WE GET
NOTIFIED THAT GRANTS AREN'T AWARDED OR ARE AWARDED, OR THERE'S ADJUSTMENTS TO THE MATCH AMOUNT WILL UPDATE. 
          AND SO KNOWING NOW THAT IT WASN'T AWARDED PROBABLY IN FEBRUARY WHEN YOU GET IT,
YOU WON'T SEE THAT, OKAY. IT'LL JUST COME OFF OF THAT LIST. SO I ALSO WANTED TO TO TO TALK ABOUT THAT FOR A
SEC, BUT ALSO MENTIONED MENTIONED SOMETHING ELSE. BUT I'LL START WITH THE THE GRANT MATCH THAT
WE, THAT WE APPROVED FOR THE FOR THE DECK PARK. I KNOW THAT I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S BEEN,
LIKE, ANNOUNCED BY THE, BY THE ACTUAL COALITION OR THE ORGANIZATION THAT'S THAT'S DOING THE DECK PARK. 
          BUT WE'VE HEARD IN THE NEWS, RIGHT, RIGHT. IT WAS I HAVEN'T HEARD DIRECTLY FROM FROM
ANYBODY AT THE AT THE FOUNDATION THAT THAT'S THE CASE. I AGAIN SAW IT IN THE NEWS. SO I GUESS WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT THAT'S A THING I
DON'T KNOW, JUDGE. HAVE YOU HAS ANYBODY ELSE BEEN CONTACTED BY. 
          I HAVE SPOKEN TO THE TO THE MPO AND THEY CONFIRMED THAT THAT IT WASN'T AWARDED. 
          OKAY. AND SO, I MEAN, I SUPPORTED THE, YOU KNOW,
THAT ALLOCATION BECAUSE I WANT MORE GREEN SPACE IN AND AROUND DOWNTOWN. 
          AND YOU KNOW, I ALSO WANTED TO BE KEPT IN THE LOOP. 
          I DON'T KNOW IF THAT'S REALLY HAPPENED OR NOT,
BUT I KNOW BETSY WAS SUPPOSED TO GO TO SOME MEETING A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO AND THEN WAS UNINVITED. I'M NOT SURE WHY. I MEAN, WAS ANYBODY ON THE COMMISSIONERS COURT INVOLVED IN
THAT JUDGE? WERE, YOU KNOW, TO TO WHAT SPECIFICALLY A MEETING REGARDING THE THE DECK PARK AND THE I GUESS WHAT'S GOING ON WITH. I'VE BEEN TO SEVERAL,
BUT BUT I DON'T KNOW SPECIFICALLY, BUT. 
          OKAY. AND IT'S BEEN PART OF THE SO, I MEAN, I,
I'M JUST I WAS JUST WONDERING, BECAUSE I KNOW THAT BETSY TOLD ME THAT THERE WAS A MEETING THAT WAS THAT SHE HAD BEEN INVITED TO, BUT THEN WAS TOLD THAT IT WAS SHE WAS NOT INVITED. 
          SO THAT'S CONCERNING. THAT'S CONCERNING. YEAH. 
          SO I'M NOT I'M NOT SURE. WHAT I MEAN WHAT THAT MEANING OR WHO WAS IN THAT MEETING. 
          I THOUGHT THAT MAYBE SOMEBODY ON, ON A POLITICAL LEVEL MIGHT HAVE BEEN INVITED TO THAT,
TO THAT MEETING, BUT I GUESS NOT. BECAUSE I BECAUSE I WAS NOT IN PARTICULAR. 
          I DON'T KNOW IF THAT'S THE ONE. WAS IT A COUPLE? I DON'T KNOW, ABOUT TWO WEEKS AGO. TWO WEEKS AGO. 
          OKAY. HE WAS INVITED, BUT SHE COULDN'T. SHE COULDN'T ATTEND. 
          OKAY. BUT I DID. MR.. WE CAN LOOK INTO THAT AND AND ASK FOR KIND OF AN OFFICIAL STATUS OF
WHERE WE'RE AT. 
          AND AS SOON AS WE GET THAT CONFIRMATION, THEN WE'LL REMOVE IT FROM THE BUDGET REGISTER. 
          YEAH. I MEAN, I MEAN, ROLL IT OVER INTO A DIFFERENT PURPOSE. 
          RIGHT. I MEAN, I GUESS I GUESS IT WOULD HAVE BEEN GOOD FOR US TO HAVE BEEN KEPT IN THE
LOOP, LIKE, OFFICIALLY, RIGHT? I MEAN, I DON'T KNOW WHY COMMISSIONER BUTLER HAD TO ASK THE MPO ABOUT IT AFTER SHE SAW IT IN THE NEWS, BUT WE HAD A MEETING ON OTHER THINGS AND I JUST
CONFIRMED, OKAY BUT WE NEED TO TALK TO THE MPO AND ALSO THE FOUNDATION ABOUT MAKING SURE THAT WE
DON'T FIND OUT ABOUT THINGS IN THE NEWS, ESPECIALLY WHEN WE'RE A MAJOR PARTNER. BUT, YOU KNOW,
I, I'M, YOU KNOW, HEARING DIFFERENT THINGS, BUT, YOU KNOW WHETHER THE PLAN FOR IT TO CONTINUE TO BE A GREEN SPACE IS STILL IS STILL A
PLAN, OR IF THERE'S GOING TO BE A LARGE STRUCTURE FOR A SPECIFIC PURPOSE FOR DIFFERENT RUMBLINGS
WITH, 
          [02:15:06]
WITH CONVERSATIONS THAT I'VE HAD WITH, WITH FOLKS. 
          YOU KNOW, I ALSO WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT IT CONTINUES TO BE PART OF THE OVERALL GOAL OF
MAKING MAKING SURE WE HAVE, YOU KNOW, WALKABLE NEIGHBORHOODS. AND DOWNTOWN IS NOT JUST AN ATTRACTION FOR PEOPLE TO
DRIVE TO BUT A PLACE WHERE PEOPLE CAN LIVE IN ADDITION TO WORKING AND SOCIALIZING, BUT ALSO WANT TO KIND OF UNDERSTAND HOW IT'S CONNECTED TO THE RENEWAL OF OUR
RENEWAL OF OUR URBAN CORE AND THE NEIGHBORHOODS FROM FORT BOULEVARD TO ALAMEDA AND FROM ASCARATE TO TO UTEP. 
          BUT I THINK THERE'S A LOT OF A LOT TO CONSIDER THERE. 
          BUT FOR NOW, I DO THINK THAT WE SHOULD WE SHOULD KEEP THAT MONEY IN THE BUDGET IN THE 2026
BUDGET AND BE PREPARED TO PLAY SOME TYPE OF ROLE. 
          I THINK THAT I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE PLAN IS TO COME BACK. 
          AND SINCE THAT ORIGINAL GRANT WAS NOT RECEIVED BUT I THINK WE WE SHOULD CONSIDER KEEPING
IT KEEPING IT THERE FOR NOW JUST TO MAKE SURE THAT THAT WE CAN CONTINUE TO PLAY A ROLE AND BE A PART OF THAT. 
          THAT'S IMPORTANT FOR ME BECAUSE IT'S IN IT'S IN PRECINCT TWO. 
          YOU KNOW, OBVIOUSLY, I'M STILL OPPOSED TO THE EXPANSION OF OF OF THE HIGHWAY AND WOULD NOT
LIKE, WOULD LIKE TO CONTINUE TO PUSH FOR, YOU KNOW,
THE PARK NOT BEING CONTINGENT UPON THAT. 
          BUT YOU KNOW, WE HAVE THAT REGIONAL PORT STUDY THAT'S UNDERWAY AND,
AND WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE PROMOTING ALTERNATIVE TRUCK TRAFFIC AND ROUTES SUCH AS THE BORDERLAND EXPRESSWAY FOR,
FOR THROUGH TRAFFIC INSTEAD OF DOWNTOWN. 
          BUT I THINK FOR BUDGET PURPOSES AND FOR TODAY'S DISCUSSION,
I'D LIKE TO SUGGEST THAT WE KEEP IT IN THE BUDGET FOR NOW. 
          AND THE OTHER THING THAT I WANTED TO POINT OUT AND ASK ABOUT IS THE CLEAT,
THE CLEAT INCREASE SO THAT THAT $5.2 MILLION, IS THAT IS THAT GOING TO BE MORE THAN THE THAN THE AMOUNT THAT WE'RE THAT
WE'RE EXPECTING TO THAT WE WOULD EXPECT TO BRING IN IF WE KEPT OUR TAX RATE AT THE NO NEW REVENUE RATE. 
          I MEAN, BECAUSE I FEEL LIKE, YOU KNOW, THE AMOUNT THAT WE'VE I THINK OVER THE LAST COUPLE
OF YEARS THAT WE'VE GONE TO THE NO NEW REVENUE RATE. 
          AND SO THE INCREASE IN OUR BUDGET THAT HAS COME FROM BASICALLY NEW PROPERTIES ON THE TAX
ROLL HAS BEEN LESS THAN, THAN THAT AMOUNT. SO I JUST WANT THE COURT TO UNDERSTAND THAT YOU KNOW,
WE MADE THAT DECISION, BUT THAT MEANS THAT IT'S QUITE POSSIBLE THAT IF WE ASK OR IF WE WANT TO TRY TO GO TO THE
NO NEW REVENUE RATE, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO CUT SOMEWHERE ELSE OR TO BE ABLE TO FUND THAT CONTRACT. 
          WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO INCREASE OUR REVENUE SOME OTHER WAY. 
          COMMISSIONER, THAT'S A REALLY GOOD POINT. I WOULD SAY OVER THE LAST 4 OR 5 YEARS OUR NEW
CONSTRUCTION GROWTH IN OUR TAXABLE VALUES HAS COME IN LESS THAN WHAT OUR, OUR OBLIGATION TO THE,
TO THE COMMITMENT IS TO THE TO THE COLLECTIVE BARGAINING AGREEMENT. OKAY. AND SO AT THIS POINT,
IF, IF IN JUST KIND OF LOOKING FORWARD, IT WOULD BE DIFFICULT FOR ME TO SAY WE'RE GOING TO HAVE ADDITIONAL REVENUE BASED ON NEW
VALUES BECAUSE THAT WILL ABSORB MOST OF IT. 
          YEAH. I MEAN, AGAIN, I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THAT'S CLEAR TO EVERYBODY ON THE COURT
BECAUSE WHEN WE WHEN WE GO TO FUND THE BUDGET, IF WE'RE APPROVING THE BUDGET AND WE GO TO FUND THE BUDGET,
IF WE DON'T CUT SOMEWHERE ELSE. 
          AND I'M NOT PROPOSING THAT THAT'S WHAT WE DO. 
          EITHER WAY. BUT I THINK WE NEED TO GO INTO YOU KNOW,
THE YEAR UNDERSTANDING THAT WE ARE ALREADY IN THE NEGATIVE AND JUST BECAUSE OF THAT CONTRACT. AND SO WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO EITHER RAISE REVENUE,
POSSIBLY TAXES. 
          I'M NOT SAYING THAT THAT'S WHAT WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO DO,
BUT OR, YOU KNOW, IF, IF MEMBERS OF THE COURT DON'T WANT TO DO THAT, THEN WE NEED TO WORK TO FIND OTHER WAYS TO MAKE UP THAT MONEY,
AND WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO CUT OTHER SERVICES. 
          COMMISSIONER BUTLER. I JUST HAD A QUESTION ON THAT 5.2 MILLION FOR FOR MY UNDERSTANDING. 
          SO THIS, THIS FY 26 INCREASE, IS THAT THE SAME AS THE INCREASE WE SAW IN FY 25? AND SO IT'S JUST WE'RE JUST ADDING IT. WE CARRY IT FORWARD. 
          YES WE CARRY IT FORWARD. SO INSTEAD OF INSTEAD OF INCLUDING IT IN THE GENERAL FUND MOVING
FORWARD WE'RE ADDING IT. 
          THIS IS THE GENERAL FUND. OKAY. BUT WHAT I MEAN IS SO SO IN FY 25 WE WE INCREASE UNDER
THAT AGREEMENT BY BY 5 MILLION. RIGHT. AND OUR EXPECTATION BASED ON THAT AGREEMENT IS THAT IN FY 26 WE'LL
NEED TO INCREASE ANOTHER 5 MILLION. 
          [02:20:08]
IT'S AN ADDITIONAL ON TOP OF WHAT WE'RE ALREADY AT IN ON TOP OF WHAT WE ALREADY HAVE PAID
FOR IN FY 25. 
          BUT BECAUSE IT'S A MULTI-YEAR CONTRACT AND EVERY YEAR HAS AN INCREASE,
IT WILL CONTINUE TO GROW EACH YEAR. 
          I DON'T KNOW. I GUESS I JUST THINK THE WAY THAT IT'S LABELED HERE MEANS LIKE,
IT'S A NEW IT'S IT LOOKS LIKE IT'S A NEW EXPENDITURE FOR US WHEN WE WE ALREADY DID IT IN FY 25 AND, AND HAVE TALKED ABOUT THAT HUGE IMPACT OF THAT
INCREASE ON THE BUDGET. I, I THINK FOR MY UNDERSTANDING, IT'D BE HELPFUL TO KNOW WHAT THAT ACTUAL THE,
THE YEAR OVER YEAR INCREASES. BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, WE ALREADY WE ALREADY DECIDED TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THE
CONTRACT AND ALREADY FUNDED IT FOR A FULL YEAR. 
          SO, I DON'T KNOW, IT JUST IT JUST ISN'T AS CLEAR AND TRANSPARENT AS THAT. 
          AND SO WE'VE ALREADY FUNDED IT IN FY 25 ACCORDING TO THE COLLECTIVE BARGAINING AGREEMENT. 
          AND WHEN WE GET INTO 26 WE'LL HAVE TO INCREASE THOSE SALARY BUDGETS BY THIS 5 MILLION. 
          SO PART OF THE PURPOSE OF THIS REGISTER IS TO KIND OF REMIND US ALL. 
          WE APPROVED A CONTRACT TWO YEARS AGO THAT CONTINUES TO INCREASE OUR BUDGET AS WE MOVE
FORWARD, AND IT'S JUST TO NOT LOSE SIGHT OF THOSE INCREASES THAT HAVE BEEN APPROVED EITHER THIS
FISCAL YEAR OR IN PRIOR FISCAL YEARS THAT CONTINUE TO IMPACT FUTURE FISCAL YEARS. 
          THIS IS AN INCREASE ABOVE WHERE WE'RE AT. WE ALREADY INCREASED IN FOR 2025. 
          SO YOU KNOW, WE WHEN WE VOTED FOR THE WHEN WE VOTED FOR THE CONTRACT,
WAS IT LAST YEAR OR TWO YEARS AGO, TWO YEARS, TWO YEARS AGO. THAT WAS IN THE CONTRACT. 
          YES. BUT WHEN WE'RE, WHEN WE'RE BUDGETING YEAR OVER YEAR. 
          SO WHATEVER THIS IS ABOVE AND BEYOND WHAT WE SPENT THIS YEAR. 
          THAT'S CORRECT. FOR 2025. SO IT IS AN INCREASE. 
          YOU KNOW, IF WE WANT IF WE WANT TO COMPARE, IF,
YOU KNOW, ALL OF THESE ARE INCREASES THAT WE'VE ALREADY APPROVED FOR 2026 BUDGET OVER 2025, THE EXPENDITURES THAT WERE ALREADY MAKING IN 2025. 
          OKAY. THAT IS CORRECT. AND SO LIKE I SAID, YOU'LL SEE OTHER CONTRACTS WHERE YOU'RE
RENEWING THE CONTRACT AND BUILT INTO THE ORIGINAL CONTRACT MIGHT BE LIKE A CPI INCREASE ANNUALLY. SO WHEN YOU APPROVED IT, IT WAS MAYBE 200,000. 
          AND THEN ANNUALLY THERE MIGHT BE LIKE A 5% CPI ON IT. 
          YOU'LL SEE THAT DIFFERENCE ON THE REGISTER ALSO AS YOU'RE RENEWING THAT CONTRACT BECAUSE
WE'VE ALREADY COMMITTED TO THAT 5% INCREASE. 
          RIGHT. BUT BUT IT'S NOT BUDGETED IN THE FUTURE YET. 
          THANK YOU. THANK YOU. BACK TO THE PAST. TO GET TO THE FUTURE. 
          JUDGE. YES, JUDGE. OH, YOU'RE OVER THERE NOW. 
          THIS ONE'S BLANK. COMMISSIONER CORONADO. THANK YOU. 
          YEAH. YOU KNOW, I AGREE WITH COMMISSIONER STOUT WITH RESPECT TO THE MILLION DOLLARS ON THE
DECK PARK. 
          I THINK WE NEED TO WAIT AND SEE. I KNOW THERE'S I KNOW THERE'S GOING TO BE OTHER PLANS TO
TRY AND GET ADDITIONAL FUNDING FROM OTHER SOURCES FOR THE PARK. 
          I THINK FOR NOW, WE OUGHT TO LEAVE IT IN THERE WITH RESPECT TO THE 5.2 MILLION. 
          I MEAN, THAT'S JUST SOMETHING WE ALL VOTED FOR. NOW WE NEED TO,
YOU KNOW STAND UP AND MAKE SURE THAT THAT'S FUNDED PERIOD. 
          I JUST WANT TO REMIND THE COURT THAT OUR BUDGET FOR THIS YEAR INCLUDES A $20 MILLION
DEFICIT, PERIOD THAT WE'RE TAKING FROM FUND BALANCE. AND WE HAD TO DO THAT IN ORDER TO MAKE SURE
THAT WE DIDN'T RAISE TAXES LAST YEAR. 
          AND A LOT OF OUR DEPARTMENTS ARE SUFFERING BECAUSE OF THAT,
INCLUDING OUR LAW ENFORCEMENT FOR VEHICLES VESTS ALL OTHER DEPARTMENTS FOR EQUIPMENT, CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS. SO IT'S NOT JUST THESE 5.2 MILLION AND THIS OTHER
MILLION AND WHAT'S BEING PRESENTED TO US. 
          WE HAVE TO TAKE INTO ACCOUNT THESE OTHER ISSUES THAT ARE YOU KNOW,
DEPLETED. 
          AND OBVIOUSLY, AS WE ALL KNOW, A BIG PORTION OF THAT IS WHAT HAS BEEN CAUSED ON US BY THE
STATE WITH RESPECT TO HAVING TO HOUSE ADDITIONAL INMATES, STATE INMATES AND A BIG PORTION OF THAT HAS BEEN THE OPERATION
LONE STAR SMUGGLING CASES. 
          SO WE NEED TO ALSO UNDERSTAND THAT, YOU KNOW,
THESE THESE ARE FUNDS THAT YOU KNOW, THESE THIS 5.2 MILLION AND THIS MILLION THAT WE'RE DOING FOR THAT DECK PARK IS NOT EVEN CLOSE TO WHAT WE INCLUDED AS A DEFICIT IN THIS YEAR'S
BUDGET. 
          SO WE ARE GOING TO HAVE SOME HARD DECISIONS. BUT WE'VE ALREADY VOTED TO APPROVE THESE
FUNDS FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT. 
          NOW WE NEED TO STEP UP IN THIS COMING BUDGET,
MAKE SURE THAT THAT'S FUNDED, PERIOD. 
          YOU KNOW THAT'S JUST THE WAY IT IS. THESE ARE HARD DECISIONS WE MAKE,
BUT WE NEED WE'VE DECIDED WE NEED TO TAKE CARE OF OUR LAW ENFORCEMENT. 
          [02:25:09]
WE'RE NOT. YOU KNOW, WE DIDN'T TAKE CARE OF THE REST OF OUR EMPLOYEES LAST YEAR. 
          WE NEED TO. THOSE ARE THINGS ON THE ON THE HORIZON FOR THIS COMING YEAR THAT WE REALLY
NEED TO SERIOUSLY TAKE A LOOK AT. 
          SO I JUST, YOU KNOW, THESE ARE NOT JUST THE ONLY THINGS THAT ARE GOING TO BE IMPACTING US. 
          WHAT WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO DECIDE FOR THIS COMING YEAR'S BUDGET. 
          THANK YOU. COMMISSIONER. JESSICA. THANK YOU JUDGE. 
          SO ON THIS SLIDE IS EXACTLY WHAT THE COMMISSIONER WAS MENTIONING. 
          IT INCLUDES THE ITEMS THAT WE REMOVED FROM THE BUDGET LAST YEAR TO ENSURE THAT WE ADOPTED
A BALANCED BUDGET. 
          AND THESE ARE A LIST OF OTHER ITEMS. AND IF IT'S OKAY WITH YOU,
COMMISSIONER STOUT, WE CAN MOVE THAT 1 MILLION AS SOON AS WE GET OFFICIAL WORD TO THIS LIST. UNTIL THE COURT TAKES OFFICIAL ACTION IN WHERE THEY WANT IT. 
          BUT THIS WAY, IT'LL BE KIND OF A PLACEHOLDER FOR THAT MILLION DOLLARS. 
          AND SO ON. THIS LIST, AGAIN, IS RESTORING CIP,
RESTORING THE ECONOMIC IMPACT FUND, RESTORING THE SMALL EQUIPMENT FUND FOR FOR THE DEPARTMENTS THEIR SMALL CAPITAL ITEMS THAT THEY NEED
FOR THEIR OPERATIONS. 
          AND THIS LIST, EXCUSE ME, TOTALS $30 MILLION. 
          AND AND IF YOU'LL RECALL, WHEN WE ADOPTED THE BUDGET,
WE TALKED ABOUT CUTTING 40 MILLION FROM THE BUDGET IN ORDER TO BALANCE. 
          THIS LIST DOES NOT INCLUDE THE POTENTIAL OR THE PROPOSED STEP IN COLA. 
          THAT WAS PART OF THAT 40 MILLION THAT WE TALKED ABOUT LAST YEAR. 
          ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS ON THIS ITEM? WITH THAT,
I WILL TURN IT BACK OVER TO MELISSA AND ANY OTHER QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE. THANK YOU JESSICA. I ALSO REAL QUICK,
I WANTED TO ASK ABOUT THE THE CAN YOU GO BACK TO THE TO THE TO THE PRIOR SLIDE? THE RAISE GRANT. IT'S ALSO SOMETHING THAT I'M NOT OPPOSED TO,
BUT I BUT IT IS IT'S A PRETTY BIG CHUNK OF DISCRETIONARY FUNDING. 
          AND I WANT TO I WANT TO CONTINUE TO PUSH FOR THE COUNTY,
YOU KNOW, TRYING TO UNDERSTAND COST BENEFIT FOR, FOR THESE TYPES OF INVESTMENTS AND, AND ALSO WHETHER WE'RE GIVING A BENEFIT TO DEVELOPERS
AND TO PEOPLE WHO ARE MAKING THE CHOICE TO LIVE FURTHER FROM THE CENTER CENTER OF THE CITY, OR WHETHER IT'S A GENERAL PUBLIC,
I GUESS, BENEFIT IN TERMS OF OF OUR FUTURE BUDGET. 
          SO, I MEAN, DOES THE GROWTH PAY FOR ITSELF OVER TIME THROUGH TAXES THAT ARE BEING PAID BY
NEW DEVELOPMENT? AND IF NOT YOU KNOW, IS THIS THIS IS A TYPE OF BENEFIT THAT WE THAT WE DON'T PROVIDE OTHER
DEVELOPERS AT THIS LEVEL. 
          I KNOW THAT NEW ROADS COST MILLIONS OF MILLIONS UPON MILLIONS OF DOLLARS,
AND SOMETIMES TENS OF MILLIONS, AND IT MAY PAY FOR ITSELF THROUGH THE TAX BASE OR SALES TAX,
OR INDIRECTLY THROUGH ECONOMIC ACTIVITY. 
          BUT BUT IF WE'RE WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE IN GOING DOWN THAT ROAD IN THAT GAME AND POSSIBLY
SPURRING AND DIRECT ECONOMIC ACTIVITY, WE HAVE TO LOOK AT THE TYPE AND THE SCOPE OF THE INCENTIVES
FOR OTHER TYPES OF DEVELOPMENT. 
          YOU KNOW, WHAT, IF WE SPENT SIMILAR AMOUNTS OF MONEY TO IMPROVE THINGS LIKE DELTA DRIVE
BETWEEN DOWNTOWN AND THE COLISEUM, FOR EXAMPLE? AND I THINK FOR FUTURE BUDGETING PURPOSES,
AGAIN, WE REALLY NEED A DETAILED EXAMINATION OF THE COST BENEFIT OF CONTINUED DEVELOPMENT IN THE UNINCORPORATED PARTS OF THE COUNTY AND WHERE WE PUT OUR DISCRETIONARY
INFRASTRUCTURE FUNDS. 
          I FEEL LIKE WE'RE KIND OF ON AUTOPILOT, SENDING TENS OF HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS
OVER THE YEARS FURTHER AND FURTHER OUTWARD. 
          AND WE HAVEN'T REALLY EXAMINED WHETHER IT BENEFITS THE MAJORITY OF OUR EXISTING
CONSTITUENTS OR JUST THOSE WHO ARE MOVING TO THOSE NEW NEIGHBORHOODS. I THINK THIS IS. SORRY, JUDGE. 
          I THINK THIS IS PROBABLY PART OF A LARGER DISCUSSION THAT NEEDS TO HAPPEN ON THE COURT
WHEN IT COMES TO A TRANSPORTATION EXPANSION IN THIS PARTICULAR AREA. 
          AND THIS IS IN PRECINCT THREE. BUT IT CONNECTS A LARGE GROWING POPULATION OF THE COUNTY TO
THE CITY. 
          AND IN MY PERSPECTIVE, IT'S NOT SPURRING GROWTH. 
          THE GROWTH IS ALREADY THERE. THE PEOPLE LIVE THERE. 
          IT'S IT'S A LOT OF IT WAS BROUGHT ON BY AMAZON AND THE EAST LAKE AREA. 
          GROWTH. YOU CAN'T IGNORE THE FACT THAT YOU HAVE 30,000 NEW RESIDENTS IN A IN AN AREA THAT
ARE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO, 
          [02:30:08]
TO COMMUTE AND TO GET OUT OF THEIR NEIGHBORHOODS IN A SAFE WAY. 
          I THINK OUR RESPONSIBILITY AS A COUNTY IS TO TO BE ABLE TO PROVIDE SAFE ROADS AND,
AND HELP PEOPLE ACCESS RESOURCES AND GET TO THEIR JOBS AND GET TO SCHOOLS. AND IN THE COUNTY, THAT'S THE ONLY RESOURCE THAT OUR CONSTITUENTS
HAVE. 
          THAT'S IT. THERE'S NO OTHER THERE'S NO OTHER GOVERNMENTAL ENTITY THAT'S GOING TO HELP
THEM. 
          AND IF I MAY JUMP IN. OUR STAFF ACTUALLY DID DO A COST BENEFIT ANALYSIS. 
          I KNOW THAT WE WERE LOOKING AT OTHER PROJECTS FOR THE RAISE GRANT,
BUT THIS WAS ONE THAT WAS DEEMED TO BE VERY, VERY IMPORTANT FOR THAT AREA. SO I KNOW THAT OUR STAFF COULD PROVIDE US WITH MORE OF THAT
INFORMATION THAT YOU'RE ASKING ABOUT, COMMISSIONER. BUT YES, I MEAN, THIS IS THESE ARE HOMES THAT ARE ALREADY BUILT. 
          BUSINESSES THAT ARE ALREADY THERE. SO THESE TYPES OF PROJECTS HELP THE RESIDENTS,
THE BUSINESSES BE ABLE TO COME IN AND OUT OF THOSE AREAS. SO THEY'RE ALREADY THERE. 
          AND AS THE COMMISSIONER SAID, THIS IS AN AREA THAT CONNECTS INTO THE CITY. 
          SO I THINK PERHAPS THE CONVERSATION WOULD BE DIFFERENT IF WE WERE TALKING ABOUT AN AREA
THAT WASN'T ALREADY DEVELOPED. 
          BUT THIS AREA IS VERY MUCH ALREADY DEVELOPED. 
          YEAH. I MEAN IT'S DEFINITELY PART OF A LARGER DISCUSSION AND WE NEED TO WE NEED TO HAVE
YOU KNOW, THAT DISCUSSION AND MAYBE IT'S NOT, YOU KNOW,
THAT WE'RE SPURRING BUT SERVING. 
          RIGHT. SO BUT BUT I FEEL LIKE EITHER WAY WE LACK I,
I LACK INFORMATION ON THE, ON THE BUDGET IMPACT. 
          AND YOU KNOW, WE ALSO HAVE RESPONSIBILITY TO OUR EXISTING TAXPAYERS. 
          AND I KNOW THAT SOME OF WHAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT,
COMMISSIONER REGINA, HAS BEEN HELPFUL, BUT I FEEL LIKE IT'S NOT AS NOT AS IN DEPTH AS AS AS I AS I WOULD LIKE. 
          IT'S A LITTLE BIT LIMITED. SO I THINK WE NEED TO SIT DOWN AND HAVE THAT CONVERSATION AND
LOOK AT THESE THINGS. 
          YOU KNOW, AND I UNDERSTAND, BUT WE'RE, YOU KNOW,
TO ME, IT'S IT'S ALSO KIND OF LIKE, IS IT THE CHICKEN OR THE EGG, RIGHT? I MEAN, SO WE HAVE DEVELOPERS BUILDING OUT THERE AND THEN,
YOU KNOW, WE, WE, WE BUILD THESE ROADS BUT AND PUT IN THIS INFRASTRUCTURE, BUT THAT ALSO INDUCES MORE GROWTH AT THE SAME TIME. 
          SO THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER. THIS APPLICATION WILL ACTUALLY BE ON MONDAY'S AGENDA. 
          AND I BELIEVE THAT THE DEPARTMENT HAS A A PRESENTATION UPLOADED. 
          REGARDING KIND OF MORE DETAILS ABOUT THIS, COST BENEFIT ANALYSIS IS ONE OF THE
REQUIREMENTS TO SUBMIT THE GRANT. 
          IT HAS TO MEET A CERTAIN THRESHOLD. OF COURSE,
THE ECONOMIC SITUATION OF THE AREA IS CONSIDERED AS WELL AS TRAFFIC STUDIES. 
          BECAUSE ONE OF THE INTENTS IS TO ALLEVIATE TRAFFIC. 
          AND, AND AS WE WERE PUTTING THIS TOGETHER, I WANT TO SAY THAT THE INITIAL APPLICATION WAS
STARTED PROBABLY THREE YEARS AGO. 
          AND WE DID NOT HAVE ALL THE ELEMENTS TOGETHER. 
          WE DID SUBMIT LAST YEAR. IT SCORED VERY WELL. 
          AND WE'RE REALLY HOPEFUL THAT IT WILL GET FUNDED THIS YEAR. 
          THE MATCH AMOUNT BEING REQUESTED FOR THIS PARTICULAR ITEM,
THAT 8 MILLION IS JUST FOR YEAR ONE. 
          IT IS A THREE YEAR PROJECT. AND SO THERE WILL THERE WILL BE ADDITIONAL GRANT MATCH COMING
IN THE FOLLOWING YEARS FOR THAT. 
          AND WHILE THE APPLICATION ITSELF DID NOT REQUIRE A MATCH,
THE PROJECT ITSELF EXCEEDED THE MAXIMUM AMOUNT WE WOULD WE WERE ABLE TO APPLY FOR, AND SO THE MATCH IS NOT NECESSARILY A 10% OF THE PROJECT. 
          IT'S IN ADDITION TO THE PROJECT IN ORDER TO MAKE SURE THAT WE COMPLETE IT. 
          AND AGAIN WE THAT IT GETS COMPLETED AT TODAY'S DOLLARS,
NOT AT TEN YEARS FROM NOW DOLLARS. 
          AND I THINK THAT WAS ONE OF THE ELEMENTS WHEN WE MET WITH THE DEPARTMENT THAT THEY ASKED
US TO NOT WITH THE DEPARTMENT WITH, WITH THE AGENCY ITSELF. THAT WHEN WE WERE PUTTING THIS TOGETHER TWO YEARS AGO,
THEY ASKED US, WE TO MAKE SURE THE PROJECT WOULD BE COMPLETE BECAUSE THEY DID NOT WANT TO PARTIALLY FUND
A PROJECT. 
          AND AGAIN, IT'LL BE ON FOR MONDAY, AND I'M SURE THE DEPARTMENT WILL HAVE MORE DETAILS. 
          AND THERE'LL BE SOME DETAILS IN THE BACK OF THAT THAT MAY HELP PROVIDE THE INFORMATION
YOU'RE LOOKING FOR. 
          THANK YOU. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? THANK YOU. THANK YOU JESSICA. 
          THANK YOU, JUDGE AND COMMISSIONERS. SO WITH THAT JUST KNOW WE'RE GOING TO COME EVERY MONTH
AND WE CAN PROVIDE THIS PLATFORM TO NOT ONLY LET YOU KNOW WHERE WE'RE AT, 
          [02:35:02]
BUT ALSO TO HAVE THESE TYPES OF DISCUSSIONS. ONE THING I WANT TO MENTION ON THE GRANT SIDE
IS, AS WE WORK ON THIS REDESIGN THAT I'VE CONTINUED TO MENTION TO THE COURT,
WE'VE TALKED ABOUT WHEN WE PUT THESE GRANT APPLICATIONS ON THE COURT'S AGENDA, THAT WE DON'T PUT THEM IN A CONSENT IF THEY HAVE ANY KIND OF A GRANT MATCH,
SO THAT THE COURT CAN HAVE THAT ACTIVE DIALOG BEFORE WE COMMIT FUTURE FUNDING. 
          RIGHT. SO WE'RE WORKING ON REDESIGNING THAT TO GIVE YOU THE PLATFORM AND THE DISCUSSION
OPPORTUNITIES THAT I KNOW THAT YOU'RE LOOKING FOR. 
          SO WITH THAT WE'LL GO AHEAD AND CLOSE OUT. IT'S IT'S EARLY IN THE YEAR. 
          WE DON'T HAVE QUITE A BIT OF PROJECTIONS AT THIS POINT. WE DO KNOW ON THE REVENUE SIDE OUR
TOP THREE REVENUE SOURCES ARE PROPERTY TAXES, SALES TAXES AND OUR FEDERAL CONTRACT. AND ALL THOSE THREE ARE IN PLACE STILL AT THIS
POINT. 
          SO WE'LL BRING YOU MORE INFORMATION AS WE SEE THOSE CHANGES. 
          ON THE EXPENSE SIDE, WE KNOW THAT WE'RE IN A LEGISLATIVE YEAR,
SO WE'RE GOING TO BE WATCHING TO SEE ANY IMPACTS THAT MAY COME FROM THAT. 
          WE'RE GOING TO CHANGE ON THE FEDERAL ADMINISTRATION SIDE. SO WE'RE GOING TO WATCH TO SEE
WHAT IMPACTS COME FROM THAT. AND THEN AGAIN, AS JESSICA MENTIONED, WE REALLY WANT TO LOOK AT FY 26 AS A RESTORATION YEAR AND WHAT WE CAN DO TO RESTORE SOME
OF WHAT WAS CUT TO BALANCE OUR BUDGET STARTING THIS YEAR. 
          SO WE'LL KEEP YOU POSTED. WE'LL WORK CLOSELY WITH THE AUDITORS AND HOPE TO ADDRESS ANY
FINANCIAL QUESTIONS THAT YOU ALL MAY HAVE. 
          THANK YOU MELISSA. THANK YOU JESSICA. APPRECIATE IT. 
          ITEM NUMBER FOUR G. DISCUSS AND RECEIVE DIRECTION ON THE VETERAN PROGRAMS FUNDING POLICY
AND PROCEDURES. 
          GOOD MORNING, JUDGE AND COMMISSIONERS. LORENA RODRIGUEZ FROM COUNTY ADMINISTRATION AS THE
VETERANS CAPITAL OF THE USA. 
          [G. Discuss and receive direction on the Veteran Programs Funding Policy and Procedures.
Betsy C. Keller, Chief Administrator, County Administration, 915-273-3600]
THE COUNTY RECOGNIZES THE SACRIFICES VALUE OF OUR VETERANS AND OUR RICH MILITARY HISTORY. 
          WE HAVE WRITTEN A DRAFT. EXCUSE ME. WE HAVE WRITTEN A DRAFT POLICY AND A SET OF PROCEDURES
FOR THE VETERANS PROGRAMS FUNDING INITIATIVE, AIMED AT SUPPORTING ORGANIZATIONS IN OBTAINING FUNDING TO DELIVER ESSENTIAL SERVICES TO
VETERANS LIVING IN EL PASO COUNTY. 
          BEFORE MOVING FORWARD WITH FORMAL APPROVAL OF THIS POLICY,
WE WOULD LIKE TO PRESENT THIS DRAFT TO THE COURT AND INVITE ANY FEEDBACK OR RECOMMENDATIONS YOU MAY HAVE TO ENSURE THE POLICY EFFECTIVELY MEETS THE NEEDS OF OUR
VETERAN COMMUNITY. 
          SO, AS YOU CAN SEE, THE PURPOSE OF THE POLICY PROVIDING FUNDING,
THE PURPOSE OF THE POLICY OF PROVIDING FUNDING TO VETERAN PROGRAMS INCLUDES HELPING ENSURE THAT THOSE WHO HAVE SERVED IN THE MILITARY RECEIVE THE CARE AND RESOURCES THEY NEED TO
SUCCESSFULLY REINTEGRATE INTO CIVILIAN LIFE IN EL PASO COUNTY. 
          THIS INCLUDES THE MANY ASPECTS SUCH AS ACCESS TO HEALTH CARE,
JOB TRAINING, MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORT, HOUSING, UTILITY AND FOOD ASSISTANCE, AND OTHER SERVICES THAT CAN ADDRESS CHALLENGES FACED
BY VETERANS. 
          THE GOAL IS TO HELP THEM SUCCEED AND BUILD A STRONGER,
MORE RESILIENT COMMUNITY AND THEREBY AVOID NEEDING OTHER REACTIVE COUNTY SERVICES. 
          THE POLICY WILL PROVIDE THE GUIDELINES AND CRITERIA FOR DISTRIBUTING VETERAN PROGRAMS
FUNDING GRANTS. 
          IT WILL BE AN APPLICATION PROCESS ENSURING THAT ALL REQUESTS ARE EVALUATED BEFORE ENTERING
INTO AGREEMENTS FOR SPECIFIC, MEASURABLE SERVICES, AND TO ENSURE FUNDING RECIPIENTS ARE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR PROVIDING
THE AGREED UPON SERVICES WITHIN THE SPECIFIED TIME FRAME. 
          ELIGIBLE ORGANIZATIONS MAY APPLY BY SUBMITTING AN ONLINE APPLICATION TO THE EL PASO COUNTY
ADMINISTRATION DEPARTMENT. 
          THE APPLICATION MUST INCLUDE A DETAILED EXPLANATION ABOUT THE SERVICES PROVIDED. 
          COUNTY ADMINISTRATION WILL EVALUATE THE COMPLETED APPLICATIONS TO DETERMINE TO DETERMINE
WHICH AGENCIES WILL BE RECOMMENDED TO RECEIVE FUNDING. 
          APPLICANTS WHO RECEIVE FUNDING WILL BE REQUIRED TO ENTER INTO A CONTRACT THAT IS LISTED
UNDER SECTION SIX PROCEDURE. 
          NOW, BASED ON AVAILABLE FUNDS, NOT ALL REQUESTS MAY BE FUNDED. 
          FUNDS RECEIVED FROM THE COUNTY MAY BE SPENT FROM DAY TO DAY OPERATIONS,
SUPPLIES, AND OTHER ADMINISTRATIVE COSTS, PROVIDED THAT THAT SUCH COSTS ARE NECESSARY FOR THE PROGRAM BEING PROPOSED. 
          RIGHT NOW, IF YOU LOOK AT THE ELIGIBILITY, WE HAVE DRAFTED IT AS ONLY FOR NONPROFITS,
BUT THERE MIGHT BE REASONS WHY YOU MIGHT WANT TO ALLOW A SCHOOL OR A UNIVERSITY IF YOU WANT TO CHANGE THAT, HERE ARE A COUPLE OF REASONS WHY YOU MIGHT. 
          FOR EXAMPLE, IF THEY HAVE A VETERINARY SCALING PROGRAM FOR VETERANS,
WOULD WE WANT TO ALLOW IT? IF IT'S A FOR PROFIT ORGANIZATION WHO WANTS PARTNERSHIP AND FUNDING TO HELP WITH THAT? IS THERE WHERE WOULD WE DIRECT THEM FOR FUNDING? ANOTHER EXAMPLE, IF IT WAS A PROGRAM LIKE ENDEAVORS,
AND THEY'RE SETTING UP A PROGRAM TO HELP WITH LEGAL SERVICES, 
          [02:40:04]
WHICH IS A NEED HERE IN EL PASO COUNTY FOR OUR VETERANS,
AND THEY ASK US FOR 250 A MONTH TO BUY PASTRIES AND COFFEE FOR THE LEGAL CLINIC. ALSO, IF YOU LOOK AT THE ELIGIBILITY,
THERE IS A PART OF THE LANGUAGE THAT SAYS ORGANIZATIONS MUST BE INCORPORATED BEFORE JANUARY 1ST OF 2024. 
          IF YOU WANT TO CHANGE THAT, WE CAN SAY THAT THE ORGANIZATION HAS AT LEAST BEEN ESTABLISHED
FOR A YEAR, JUST SO THAT WE KNOW THAT IT'S A FUNCTIONING ORGANIZATION AND THAT THEY HAVE A BUDGET. 
          IN THE GUIDELINES, WE ARE ASKING THE COURT TO AUTHORIZE OUR COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR TO MAKE
ADMINISTRATIVE MODIFICATIONS TO THE COMMUNITY FUNDING PROGRAM AND APPLICATION TO ASSIST WITH MAINTAINING PROPER COMPLIANCE WITH APPLICABLE LAWS. 
          VETERAN PROGRAMS FUNDING SHALL NOT EXCEED 3000 PER YEAR TO ANY ONE APPLICANT. 
          HOWEVER, WITH THE AMOUNT BUDGETED FOR THIS INITIATIVE,
WE CAN INCREASE TO 4000 PER YEAR. 
          ALL ORGANIZATIONS WHO ARE AWARDED FUNDING SHALL MAINTAIN COMPLETE AND ACCURATE FINANCIAL
RECORDS OF ALL ITS REVENUES AND EXPENSES PERTAINING TO THE COUNTY. 
          AWARD. FUNDING WILL BE DISBURSED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE FINAL CONTRACT. 
          IF FUNDS ARE NOT SPENT IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE APPROVED PURPOSE,
THE ORGANIZATION WILL BE REQUIRED TO RETURN THE AWARDED FUNDS. 
          NOW IN MAKING FUNDING. FUNDING DETERMINATIONS. 
          THE COUNTY MAY CONSIDER THE FOLLOWING CRITERIA,
AMONG OTHERS. 
          MEETS A NEED IDENTIFIED IN THE VETERANS NEEDS ASSESSMENT. 
          CAPACITY TO MANAGE THE GRANT AND DELIVER THE PROGRAM. 
          COLLABORATION AND PARTNERSHIP. SUSTAINABILITY. 
          ADMINISTRATIVE COSTS. SERVICE TO THE OVERALL VETERAN COMMUNITY OF EL PASO COUNTY. 
          PROGRAMS. IMPACT. ORGANIZATION. REPUTATION. NUMBER OF RESIDENTS WHO WILL BENEFIT FROM THE
PROGRAM AND A COST BENEFIT. 
          COST BENEFIT ANALYSIS. SO WE'RE OPEN TO ANY FEEDBACK OR RECOMMENDATIONS THAT THE COURT MAY
HAVE. 
          YES, COMMISSIONER. SO I AM CONCERNED ABOUT THE ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENT THAT IT BE A
REGISTERED 500 AND 1C3. 
          I MEAN, I UNDERSTAND WHY THAT'S IMPORTANT, BUT MY FEAR IS THAT WE ARE GOING TO BE
EXCLUDING A LOT OF COMMUNITY VETERAN GROUPS THAT HAVE BEEN IN EXISTENCE FOR MANY, MANY, MANY YEARS AND HAVE LONG RELATIONSHIPS WITH THE
COUNTY BUT MAY NOT BE FORMALLY ESTABLISHED. 
          500 AND 1C3 AND I KNOW THAT THAT'S BEEN AN ISSUE. 
          FOR EXAMPLE, THE VETERANS PARADE THAT HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR I DON'T EVEN KNOW HOW MANY
DECADES. 
          PREVIOUSLY WE WERE UNABLE TO HELP THEM WITH THE REIMBURSEMENT OF EXPENSES BECAUSE THEY
WEREN'T A 500 AND 1C3. 
          I THINK WE FINALLY FOUND A WAY TO GET AROUND THAT,
BUT IT WAS REALLY DIFFICULT. 
          AND THAT'S THE TYPE OF ORGANIZATION THAT I FEEL WE DO WANT TO BE SUPPORTING. 
          WITH ANY FUNDS WE MAKE AVAILABLE TO VETERANS GROUPS,
THE AMOUNT ITSELF IS 3000. 
          IT'S A PRETTY SMALL AMOUNT. SO FROM MY PERSPECTIVE,
I FEEL LIKE IT'S GOING TO BE MORE OF THESE SMALLER, COMMUNITY DRIVEN VETERANS GROUPS THAT WOULD BE APPLYING FOR GRANTS OF THAT AMOUNT AND NOT
ENDEAVORS THAT WOULD PROBABLY NEED, YOU KNOW, FOR THE PROGRAMS, BECAUSE THEY ARE SO LARGE,
THE PROGRAMS THAT THEY WANT TO SEE PUT FORTH WOULD PROBABLY REQUIRE A LOT MORE FUNDING THAN THAT. SO THIS SEEMS TO ME TO BE GEARED MORE TOWARDS THESE SMALLER,
COMMUNITY DRIVEN VETERANS GROUPS, BUT AT THE SAME TIME WE'RE PURPOSELY EXCLUDING THEM FROM ELIGIBILITY. 
          SO THAT'S JUST A REALLY BIG CONCERN FROM MY PERSPECTIVE. 
          JUDGE, IS THERE SOME LEGAL REASONING FOR HAVING TO BE A 501 C3 OR. 
          WELL, WHEN WE FIRST SIGHT OR WHEN WE WERE FIRST DRAFTING THE POLICY JUDGE,
WE JUST THOUGHT THAT MAYBE IT WOULD JUST BE TOWARDS NONPROFITS. 
          BUT AS WE WERE REVIEWING THE POLICY WITH OUR CHIEF ADMINISTRATOR,
YOU KNOW, WE WENT ON TO DO OUR RESEARCH AND THINK ABOUT IT, AND WE SAID, WELL, WHY DON'T WE JUST INCLUDE EVERYBODY,
NOT JUST NONPROFITS? SO AT THAT TIME WHEN WE WERE DRAFTING IT, WE THOUGHT,
WE'LL JUST TARGET THE NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS. 
          BUT AS WE WERE CONTINUING DRAFTING THE POLICY,
WE WANTED TO GET YOUR CONSIDERATION TO SAY, WE JUST WANT NONPROFITS OR WE WANT TO INCLUDE ALL ORGANIZATIONS. 
          I THINK COMMISSIONER HAS A REALLY STRONG POINT. 
          WHETHER THAT'S THE ONES WE'RE ALWAYS DEPENDING ON. 
          I MEAN, WE'RE ALWAYS LEANING ON ON THEM TO CONTINUE HELPING US AND SUPPORTING THE VETERANS
CAPITAL, THE PARADES THAT THEY HAVE. AND SO I WOULD ENCOURAGE THAT. 
          I JUST THOUGHT MAYBE THERE WAS SOME GOVERNMENTAL. 
          NO, SIR. OKAY. AND I FEEL THAT THAT SHOULD BE ONE OF THE FACTORS. 
          RIGHT. LOOKING AT THE LONGEVITY OF THE GROUP AND PAST INTERACTIONS WITH THE COUNTY. 
          SO SO I'M NOT SUGGESTING WE JUST, YOU KNOW, OPEN IT UP TO ANYBODY. 
          [02:45:03]
THERE SHOULD BE DEFINITELY SOME MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS. 
          I JUST FEEL THAT REQUIRING THE 500 AND 1C3 STATUS IS GOING TO EXCLUDE A LOT OF GROUPS. 
          MR. BUTLER HAS IT. AND THEN I HAVE A QUESTION AS WELL COMMISSIONER BUTLER THEN
COMMISSIONER. 
          I, I, I UNDERSTAND THE NEED THAT, THAT OUR SMALLER ORGANIZATIONS HAVE. 
          I YOU KNOW MY BACKGROUND IS IS AN IS A NONPROFITS AND EVEN EVEN BIGGER NONPROFITS STRUGGLE
TO TO BE ABLE TO FIND FUNDING AND APPLY FOR FUNDING. HOWEVER I, I THINK THAT THAT IN ORDER TO DO THE DUE DILIGENCE AND,
AND TO ENCOURAGE LONGEVITY, LONGEVITY AND SUSTAINABILITY OF THE, THE, THE VETERANS ORGANIZATIONS THAT THAT NEED
SUPPORT, WE SHOULD, IF NOT A REQUIREMENT, ENCOURAGE THEM TO BE 501 C3. 
          I THINK THAT MAKES FUNDING AVAILABLE IN OTHER PLACES FOR THEM AND AND HELPS TO CREATE
SUSTAINABLE ORGANIZATIONS IN THE POLICY. IT SAYS THIS ISN'T MEANT TO BE LIKE A RECURRING FUND FOR ANY ONE GROUP OR
ORGANIZATION. 
          BUT IF THEY'RE NOT ESTABLISHED 501 C3 ORGANIZATIONS,
HOW DO WE PREVENT THAT FROM HAPPENING? RIGHT. 501 C3 ARE REQUIRED TO HAVE CERTAIN STRUCTURES IN PLACE AND BOARDS IN PLACE SO THAT
THEY CAN BE ABLE TO BE ACCOUNTABLE TO THE FUNDS THAT THEY HAVE AND EXPEND. 
          AND SO I WORRY THAT WITHOUT THAT INFRASTRUCTURE AND ACCOUNTABILITY STRUCTURE,
THAT THAT WE'RE GOING TO FIND OURSELVES IN A POSITION WHERE WE'RE JUST FUNDING CERTAIN EVENTS EVERY YEAR THROUGH THIS, THROUGH THIS PROGRAM. 
          ONE OF THE QUESTIONS I HAVE IS, IS WHY NOT CALL IT A GRANT PROGRAM? BECAUSE THAT'S THAT'S ESSENTIALLY WHAT THIS IS. 
          IS THERE LIKE, A LEGAL REASON THAT WE WOULDN'T CALL IT JUST A A GRANT PROGRAM? YES, I GUESS ASSISTANT COUNTY ATTORNEY. SO IT'S CERTAINLY A QUESTION THAT WE WOULD NEED TO
ANSWER IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE AUDITOR'S OFFICE IN REGARDS TO THE REQUIREMENTS AND PAYMENTS THAT WE WOULD BE LOOKING AT. SO WE CAN CERTAINLY WORK WITH THE AUDITOR'S OFFICE
TO GET THAT, THAT DIRECTION AND ANSWERS FOR YOU, COMMISSIONER. 
          AND THEN JUST ONE OTHER QUESTION THAT I HAD IS UNDER THE CRITERIA YOU SAY,
YOU KNOW, MEETS A NEED IDENTIFIED AND THE VETERANS NEEDS ASSESSMENT. 
          AND THEN IN THE, IN THE YOU KNOW, IN THE INTRO,
WE TALK ABOUT HEALTH CARE, JOB TRAINING AND MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORT, HOUSING, UTILITY FOOD ASSISTANCE AND OTHER SERVICES. 
          IS THERE IS THERE A WAY THAT WE COULD LIST KIND OF LIKE ELIGIBLE CRITERIA ON HERE SO THAT
NOT ONLY FOR OUR PURPOSES AND ACCOUNTABILITY AGAIN, BUT FOR THE, YOU KNOW, BENEFIT OF THE GROUPS OR ORGANIZATIONS THAT ARE LOOKING TO BENEFIT
FROM THIS FUNDING. 
          THEY'LL KNOW, YOU KNOW WHAT, WHAT QUALIFIES AND WHAT DOESN'T. 
          WE CAN DO THAT, COMMISSIONER. SO I GUESS GOING BACK TO THE QUESTION OF THE 500 AND 1C3,
I MEAN, IF WE'RE GOING TO REQUIRE THAT AND WE DON'T WANT TO EXCLUDE A LOT OF THESE GROUPS AND WE
WANT TO ENCOURAGE THEM TO LOOK AT THAT. 
          I MEAN, I THINK FOR ME THE QUESTION BECOMES,
WELL, ARE WE GOING TO PROVIDE ANY GUIDANCE OR ASSISTANCE? I MEAN, I THINK THAT IF A LOT OF THESE GROUPS COULD HAVE EASILY BECOME 501 C3,
THEY PROBABLY WOULD HAVE ALREADY. 
          I IMAGINE A LOT OF THEM JUST DON'T HAVE THE CAPACITY. 
          SO THEN ARE WE GOING TO PROVIDE THAT ASSISTANCE? ARE WE GOING TO HELP THESE GROUPS DETERMINE WHETHER OR NOT THEY CAN BECOME 501 C3? AND IF THEY CAN'T FOR SOME REASON, ARE WE OKAY EXCLUDING THEM FROM THESE TYPES OF FUNDS? I ALSO DON'T AGREE WITH THE STATEMENT THAT THESE FUNDS SHOULD NOT BE SOMETHING THAT WE
CONTRIBUTE, OR WE ALLOW ORGANIZATIONS TO APPLY FOR EVERY YEAR. 
          I UNDERSTAND WANTING TO ENCOURAGE ORGANIZATIONS AND GROUPS TO LOOK FOR DIFFERENT SOURCES
OF FUNDING, BUT TO ME, THAT'S JUST ANOTHER CONSIDERATION WHEN WE'RE APPROVING THE GRANT APPLICATIONS,
MAYBE IT IS SOMETHING THAT WE DO WANT TO FUND EVERY SINGLE YEAR, BECAUSE WE THINK THAT IT IS SOMETHING THAT'S IMPORTANT AND ONGOING FOR OUR VETERANS
COMMUNITY. 
          SO I DON'T FEEL LIKE WE SHOULD FROM THE GET GO SAY THAT IT'S NEVER GOING TO BE SOMETHING
THAT'S FUNDED YEAR OVER YEAR. 
          I THINK THAT THERE MAY VERY WELL BE PROGRAMS THAT MERIT FUNDING EVERY YEAR,
THAT MAYBE THE FUNDING ISN'T AVAILABLE FROM ANYWHERE ELSE. 
          SO I DON'T KNOW IF I WOULD AGREE WITH JUST FROM THE ONSET,
SAYING THIS IS NOT SOMETHING THAT WOULD BE FUNDED EVERY SINGLE YEAR. 
          I THINK THAT'S A QUESTION THAT'S ANSWERED EVERY YEAR THROUGH THE APPLICATION PROCESS. 
          THE VALUE OF WHATEVER THAT ACTIVITY IS. I'VE GOT A I'VE GOT A QUESTION. 
          SO WE'RE CREATING THIS POLICY BECAUSE A NUMBER OF YEARS AGO WE DECIDED TO SET ASIDE,
WHAT WAS IT, $50,000? WHAT WAS THE AMOUNT THAT WE THAT WE THINK I MEAN,
COMMISSIONER, COMMISSIONER ROBINSON, 
          [02:50:04]
I THINK IT WAS HIS PROPOSAL TO TO SET ASIDE MONEY IN THE BUDGET TO HELP WITH SOME OF THE
PARADES. 
          RIGHT? CORRECT. AND THEN AND SO WE'RE SO WE'RE GETTING REQUESTS FROM OTHER VETERAN
ORGANIZATIONS OR VETERANS. 
          VETERAN SERVICE ORGANIZATIONS WITHIN THE COMMUNITY THAT WANT THE COUNTY TO ALSO PROVIDE
SOME FUNDING TO THEM. 
          IS THAT WHY WE'RE CREATING THE POLICY? SO FROM MY RECOLLECTION,
IT WAS INITIALLY 50,000 FOR THE PARADES, BUT THEN NOWHERE NEAR WE DIDN'T SPEND THAT MUCH. 
          CORRECT. SO THEN I THINK THE CONVERSATION WAS THEN LET'S SET ASIDE HALF 25,000 FOR HELP
WITH THE PARADES AND THEN THE OTHER 25,000 FOR OTHER TYPES OF ACTIVITIES. 
          RIGHT. SO THAT'S MY THAT'S THAT'S MY CONFUSION IS ARE WE. 
          SO WE'RE JUST GOING TO BE TAKING WE'RE CUTTING IT IN HALF. 
          SO WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO TAKE $25,000 FOR THE PARADES BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT THEY NEED. 
          AND THEN THE OTHER $25,000 IS GOING TO ADHERE TO THIS POLICY. 
          THAT IS CORRECT. SO FOR THIS BUDGET YEAR, WE BUDGETED 15,000 FOR OUR VETERAN PARADES. 
          AND FOR THIS PROGRAM FUNDING WE SET ASIDE 30,000. 
          OKAY. SO OKAY. SO SO SO THEN THE THE ISSUE OF LIKE THE SAN ELIZARIO PARADE WOULD NOT THEY
WOULD NOT HAVE TO ADHERE TO THIS POLICY BECAUSE THEY'RE ALREADY SET. THE MONEYS ALREADY SET ASIDE FOR THEM. 
          NOT. YES, BUT THE PROBLEM IS, IF THAT SAME GROUP,
THE SAN ELIZARIO VETERANS WANTS TO APPLY FOR SOMETHING ELSE BESIDES THE PARADE. 
          THE PARADE? BUT SOMETHING ELSE. PARADE? BUT SOME OTHER SERVICE THAT THEY WANT TO PROVIDE
FOR VETERANS IN THAT AREA. 
          OKAY. I WAS JUST GIVING THE EXAMPLE THAT WE HAD THAT BE A MAJOR OBSTACLE OR DID HAVE AN
ISSUE WITH THAT. 
          AND SO THEY PARTNERED WITH A NONPROFIT TO ASSIST WITH THAT. 
          SO THEY HAD TO FIND SOMEONE ELSE TO PARTNER WITH TO COLLECT THE MONEY. 
          AND WE JUST I MEAN, TO ME THAT JUST I, YOU KNOW,
I DON'T KNOW IF THAT'S GOING TO BE POSSIBLE FOR THEM TO DO EVERY SINGLE YEAR. 
          YEAH. I MEAN, I DON'T I DON'T HAVE A PROBLEM WITH INCLUDING ORGANIZATIONS THAT AREN'T
NONPROFITS. 
          I UNDERSTAND COMMISSIONER BUTLER'S POINT, BUT I DON'T THINK WE WANT TO AS LONG AS IT'S
LEGAL. 
          RIGHT. AS LONG AS THERE'S NO LEGAL PEOPLE LIKE BARRIER TO THAT. 
          YOU KNOW, I DON'T WANT TO EXCLUDE A GROUP, A NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION,
OR, YOU KNOW, A VETERANS GROUP FROM BEING ABLE TO TO ASK FOR SUPPORT FOR AN EVENT OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT,
THAT OR PROJECT THAT THEY'RE WORKING ON THAT WOULD BE SUPPORTIVE OF VETERANS. 
          AND, AND IT'S LIKE, I THINK, I THINK MAYBE IT'S A GOOD THING WE COULD LIKE TRY TO URGE
THEM TO, YOU KNOW, IF THEY CAN, YOU KNOW, GET, YOU KNOW,
WORK ON GETTING NONPROFIT STATUS AND MAYBE HAVE THE CONVERSATION ABOUT HAVING, YOU KNOW, SOME TYPE OF SUPPORT FOR THAT. BUT I DON'T WANT TO I DON'T REALLY WANT TO
EXCLUDE BE EXCLUSIONARY. 
          AND IT'S WHAT YOU'RE SAYING, COMMISSIONER, THAT YOU'RE GOING TO VET EACH ONE,
AND IT'S NOT LIKE SOMEONE THAT HASN'T BEEN INVOLVED. 
          YOU LOOK BACK AT THEIR HISTORY, HOW SUCCESSFUL THEY'VE BEEN. 
          AND BECAUSE I DO ALSO FEEL UNCOMFORTABLE ASKING SOMEONE TO DO CERTAIN THINGS,
LIKE BEING A I MEAN, THERE MIGHT BE THEIR OWN REASONS THAT WHY THEY'RE NOT DOING THAT CAPACITY,
BEING ABLE TO MANAGE THAT SITUATION. 
          IT'S NOT JUST THE FEE ITSELF, BUT THE STRUCTURE YOU HAVE TO CREATE. 
          AND AND I THINK LIKE WE'VE ALWAYS BEEN VERY INCLUSIVE. 
          RIGHT. AND IF THAT'S THEIR PREROGATIVE AND THEY CAN SHOW THAT THEY'RE GOING TO BE
SUCCESSFUL WITH A $3,000, I THINK THAT'S MORE IMPORTANT THAN ANYTHING ELSE. AND THEN YOU FIGURE OUT,
I MEAN, YOU ALWAYS SAY, YOU KNOW, THERE'S A POSSIBILITY THAT IT WOULD WORK BETTER FOR YOU. 
          LIKE COMMISSIONER BUTLER WAS SAYING, THERE PROBABLY BECOME ELIGIBLE FOR OTHER THINGS. 
          AND I JUST DON'T LIKE TO DIRECT, LIKE YOU HAVE TO HAVE THIS TO HAVE THIS. 
          GOT IT. THAT'S WHERE I, I STRUGGLE WITH. AND I'M NOT SURE WHO WOULD ULTIMATELY MAKE THE
FUNDING. 
          LIKE, LET'S SAY WE GET ALL THE APPLICATIONS WHO WOULD ACTUALLY MAKE THE FINAL DECISIONS,
BUT IT SEEMS LIKE WE WOULD WANT TO BRING OUR VALUE TO BE INVOLVED RIGHT THERE. WE EACH HAVE AN APPOINTEE WHO KNOW THE ACTUAL FUNCTIONING VETERANS
ORGANIZATIONS AND THEIR DIFFERENT AREAS. 
          SO I FEEL LIKE THEIR PERSPECTIVE WOULD BE REALLY IMPORTANT WHEN WE'RE TRYING TO FIGURE
OUT, IS THIS A REPUTABLE PROGRAM? IT'S NOT SOME FLY BY NIGHT, YOU KNOW, WHATEVER THAT JUST POPPED UP. 
          SO I DON'T KNOW IF THAT DISCUSSION HAS BEEN HAD ABOUT WHO WOULD ACTUALLY MAKE THE
RECOMMENDATIONS FOR APPROVAL OF THE GRANTS, BUT I FEEL LIKE IT WOULD BE IMPORTANT FOR OUR APPOINTEES TO FOR THEM TO ADVISE US AND MAKE
A RECOMMENDATION. 
          WE HAD DONE IT AS COUNTY ADMINISTRATION WOULD BE THE ONE TO EVALUATE THE APPLICATIONS. 
          I'M NOT SURE WHAT THE PRIORITIES ARE SET FOR THE VAP. 
          I DON'T KNOW IF THE BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS MANAGER,
MICHELLE COCHRAN, WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK ON THAT, OR OUR VETERANS ASSISTANCE OFFICER. 
          GOOD MORNING, JUDGE AND COMMISSIONERS MICHELLE COCHRAN. WITH COUNTY ADMINISTRATION,
BETSY UPDATED YOU ALL TO HIGHLIGHT A FEW MONTHS AGO THAT WE ARE WORKING ON THE 
          [02:55:07]
DESCRIPTION, THE VETERANS ADVISORY BOARD DESCRIPTION TO REALLY NARROW DOWN WHAT THEIR
FOCUS SHOULD BE. 
          THE LAB WAS ESTABLISHED TO IDENTIFY GAPS IN THE VETERANS COMMUNITY,
AND SO THERE COULD BE A WAY FOR THE LAB TO IDENTIFY MAYBE THE APPLICATIONS FOR THIS PROGRAM,
IF IT'S SERVING A GAP THAT THEY HAVE IDENTIFIED AND HAVE SOME SORT OF CONNECTION THAT WAY. 
          BUT I DON'T KNOW THAT THE VA'S THE APPROPRIATE BODY TO DETERMINE WHO GETS THIS FUNDING,
BUT I THINK THEY MAY HAVE THE ABILITY TO INCORPORATE INFORMATION THEY MAY HAVE FROM THEIR PRECINCTS ABOUT GAPS THAT EXIST. 
          YEAH. I MEAN, I DON'T THINK I WOULD ASK THEM TO DETERMINE,
BUT I THINK THEY'RE AT LEAST AN ADVISORY OPINION OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT WOULD WOULD BE HELPFUL. I AGREE. MAYBE MAKE THE RECOMMENDATIONS. 
          OKAY. I THINK WE CAN WORK ON EDITING THE PROCESS FOR THIS FUN TO INCLUDE AN ASPECT FROM
THE WEB. 
          THANK YOU. MELISSA. JUST JUST A JUST A COUPLE MORE COMMENTS. 
          AND THIS IS MORE SORRY MICHELLE. IT'S FOR SO I DON'T WANT TO BE PROHIBITIVE TO SMALLER ORGANIZATIONS THAT DON'T HAVE A 500 1C3 STATUS. 
          AND I DO THINK THAT MAYBE THERE IS A ROLE FOR THE VA TO PLAY IN SUPPORTING SMALLER
ORGANIZATIONS. 
          AND, AND IDEALLY WE WOULD BE ABLE TO DO THAT TO,
TO TO HELP AND SUPPORT ORGANIZATIONS BECOME MORE FORMALLY ESTABLISHED. 
          I MEAN, FOR OUR NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION PROGRAM,
WE REQUIRE THEM TO HAVE A BOARD AND TO ADOPT BYLAWS AND TO ABIDE BY, YOU KNOW, POLICIES THAT WE WE PUT OUT THAT THEY HAVE TO TO ORGANIZE THEMSELVES AROUND,
BUT NOT 501 C3 DESIGNATION. 
          NO, NO, NO, BUT BUT BYLAWS AND AND AND A BOARD STRUCTURE. 
          RIGHT. AND SO SO I JUST I HOPE THAT WHEREVER WE CAN,
WE CAN BE CONSISTENT IN, IN THE TYPES OF THINGS THAT WE ASK IN RETURN FOR OUR HOUR ARE PROVIDING FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE. AND THEN JUST ON THE ON THE POLICY,
THEN ON PAGE TWO, ON THE SECOND PARAGRAPH TO TO COMMISSIONER OGDEN'S POINT THAT THAT MAYBE WE DO HAVE
RECURRING NEEDS OF, OF GROUPS AND INDIVIDUALS. IT'S THAT SECOND SENTENCE. 
          THE COMMISSIONERS COURT DISCOURAGES AN OVERRELIANCE ON COUNTY FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO
MAINTAIN SUCH PROGRAMS ON AN ONGOING BASIS. 
          MAYBE WE REMOVE THAT JUST TO BE CONSISTENT WITH THE PURPOSE OF THE FUND. 
          THANK YOU. COMMISSIONER. YOU KNOW. JUDGE. 
          YES, I KEEP WANTING TO BECAUSE HE'S. YES. COMMISSIONER CORNELLA YEAH. 
          YOU KNOW, I AGREE IN SOME OF THE THINGS THAT HAVE BEEN SAID,
I THINK THE APP CAN BE USEFUL IN TERMS OF GIVING US, YOU KNOW, OPINIONS ABOUT THE PARTICULAR ORGANIZATION. 
          SOMETIMES WE MAY NOT HAVE IDEA OF HOW INVOLVED THAT ORGANIZATION IS OR WHETHER IT'S DOING
A GOOD JOB. 
          THEY THEY MAY HAVE A BETTER EAR OF WHAT'S GOING ON WITH THAT ORGANIZATION AND GIVE US
FEEDBACK, BUT NOT MAKE THE DECISIONS. I AGREE. AS FAR AS THE ONGOING FUNDING,
YEAR BY YEAR, I THINK WE CAN JUST, YOU KNOW, TAKE THAT ON A CASE BY CASE BASIS. WE OBVIOUSLY WE DON'T WANT TO FUND SOME OF
THEIR YEARLY BUDGET JUST TO FUND THEIR BUDGET THAT THEY NEED. BUT IT'S GOT TO BE FOR SPECIFIC PURPOSES THAT MEETS OUR
REQUIREMENTS. 
          AND SO I, I AGREE WITH THAT. I DON'T THINK WE NEED TO REQUIRE THAT THEY BE 501 C3S,
BUT I, I THINK WE SHOULD REQUIRE THAT THEY HAVE SOME KIND OF STRUCTURE. 
          AND, YOU KNOW, GETTING A 500 1C3 YOU KNOW, IT'S FAIRLY EASY TO APPLY TO INCORPORATE A
NONPROFIT IN THE STATE. 
          THE PROBLEM, THEN, IS SUBMITTING AN APPLICATION TO THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO GET THE 501
C3 STATUS AND A CONTINUING YOU KNOW. 
          ASSISTANCE FROM EITHER AN ATTORNEY OR CPA THAT SOME OF THESE GROUPS MAY NOT HAVE ACCESS TO
OR THE FUNDS TO DO SO. 
          I AGREE WITH THAT. I THINK WE SHOULDN'T BE SO PROHIBITIVE OF THOSE ORGANIZATIONS BECAUSE
OF THOSE ISSUES. 
          IT JUST REQUIRES A LOT MORE FUNDING ON AN ONGOING BASIS FOR THEM. 
          SO I'M IN AGREEMENT. I THINK WE NEED TO TAKE A LOOK AT THE POLICY AND JUST YOU KNOW,
ON AN TAKE THEM IN ON A CASE BY CASE BASIS TO SEE, YOU KNOW, HOW ADMINISTRATION FEELS ABOUT IT. 
          THERE'S SOME ISSUES THAT COME UP AND THEY CAN BRING THEM UP TO THE COURT. 
          EXACTLY. THANK YOU. COMMISSIONER MOLINA. THANK YOU,
JUDGE AND COMMISSIONER. 
          THE RIGHT FEEDBACK. WE WILL TAKE YOUR FEEDBACK. OKAY. THANK YOU. 
          THANK YOU, MR. MICHEL. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. CAESAR. 
          [03:00:06]
ITEM NUMBER FOUR. H. DISCUSS THE PURPOSE AND STRUCTURE OF THE COUNTY'S ARTS. 
          ADVISORY COMMITTEE FOR THE COURT TO CONSIDER THE CREATION OF THIS PILOT COMMITTEE. 
          THANK YOU. GOOD MORNING. I THINK IT IS STILL JUDGE AND COMMISSIONERS,
MICHELLE COCHRAN WITH COUNTY ADMINISTRATION. 
          [H. Discuss the purpose and structure of the County’s Arts Advisory Committee for the Court to consider the creation of this pilot committee.
Betsy C. Keller, Chief Administrator, County Administration, 915-273-3600]
TODAY I BRING BEFORE YOU THE PROPOSAL FOR THE EL PASO COUNTY ARTS ADVISORY COMMITTEE THAT
WE WERE ASKED TO CREATE IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE FUNDING THAT YOU ALL SET ASIDE LAST FISCAL YEAR. TODAY IS FEEDBACK ON THIS PROPOSAL. 
          WE WILL BRING BACK THIS WITH YOUR FEEDBACK INCORPORATED FOR FINAL APPROVAL AT A FUTURE
MEETING. 
          IN THE BACKUP, YOU HAD THE PURPOSE OF THIS COMMITTEE,
AND IT IS SPECIFICALLY STATED THAT THIS PILOT COMMITTEE IS ESTABLISHED TO PROVIDE ADVICE TO THE COUNTY TO ADVANCE AND ENRICH THE ARTS AND CULTURAL ACTIVITIES AND POLICIES WITHIN
EL PASO COUNTY. 
          THE COMMITTEE WILL CONSIST OF FIVE MEMBERS, EACH ONE APPOINTED BY EACH ONE OF YOU. 
          AND THEN WE DO HAVE THE TERM ENDING DECEMBER 31ST,
2026 AS OF RIGHT NOW. 
          THIS IS SIMILAR TO HOW WE SET UP THE BOND ADVISORY COMMITTEE. 
          AND THE REASON FOR THAT IS IN ALL OF OUR RESEARCH ON THE ARTS COMMITTEES,
WHEN IT WASN'T, THE COMMITTEE WASN'T TIED TO A SPECIFIC GOAL OR CONSISTENT FUNDING THAT WAS SUSTAINABLE. 
          IT TENDED TO KIND OF JUST GET OUT OF HAND. AND OTHER COUNTIES THAT WE'VE TALKED TO. 
          AND SO WE TIED IT TO THE FUNDING THAT WE DISCUSSED AND PRESENTED LAST YEAR TO YOU ALL. 
          OF COURSE, THAT IS UP TO YOUR DISCRETION. ONCE IT'S EVALUATED AFTER THIS TIME PERIOD,
YOU ALL CAN GIVE DIRECTION TO CONTINUE THIS COMMITTEE OR IF THE BUDGET ALLOWS, IN FUTURE YEARS, PERHAPS CONTINUING ON AS A AS NEEDED BASIS IF FUNDING IS PROVIDED OR IF
THERE IS A SPECIFIC PURPOSE FOR THE COMMITTEE. THERE ARE STANDARD RULES THAT WE HAVE WITH EVERY COMMITTEE,
SUCH AS OFFICERS, CHAIRPERSON AND VICE CHAIRPERSON, THAT YOU ALL DO HAVE THE DISCRETION TO REMOVE MEMBERS FOR GOOD CAUSE. 
          THE ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS OF LIVING IN EL PASO COUNTY,
WE INCLUDED, OF COURSE, MUST BE NOT IN AGREEMENT. 
          BUT THAT'S DIFFERENT RIGHT FROM OTHER COMMITTEES WHERE,
YOU KNOW, WE WILL RETAIN THE DISCRETION TO REMOVE MEMBERS FOR GOOD CAUSE. 
          I THINK ALL OTHER COMMITTEES RIGHT AT THIS AND IT'S NOT LIKE THAT. 
          RIGHT? CORRECT. SO YOU HAVE WE HAVE OUR STATUTORY BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS THAT HAVE CERTAIN
RULES THAT WE HAVE TO FOLLOW. 
          BUT BECAUSE THIS IS A COMMITTEE OF THE COURT,
WE ARE INCLUDING SOME OF THESE RULES THAT WE'RE ABLE TO, IF YOU APPROVE, TO ADD IN. BUT WE CAN OF COURSE,
YOU DON'T WANT TO KEEP THE SAME. 
          I KNOW IT'S DIFFERENT, BUT I JUST WOULD NOT LIKE SOMEONE TO BE CONCERNED IF THEY SPEAK OUT
OR THEY'RE DIFFERENT FROM THAT, THEY FEEL VULNERABLE ABOUT, YOU KNOW, BEING ELIMINATED FROM THE COMMITTEE OR I SORT OF
LIKE THE OTHER PART BETTER THAT, YOU KNOW, IF YOU, YOU KNOW, UNLESS IT'S FOR I MEAN,
WE HAVE TO GO THROUGH A PROCESS IF WE'RE NOT IN AGREEMENT WITH THE COMMITTEE MEMBER. YES, SIR. WOULD YOU LIKE US TO REMOVE THAT OR. 
          WELL, JUST MAKE IT CONSISTENT WITH THE OTHERS,
IS WHAT I MEAN. 
          I'LL REVIEW THE OTHER COMMITTEES THAT WE'VE SET UP AND AND REVIEW THE RULES FOR THAT. 
          JUDGE? YES. COMMISSIONER CORONADO. YOU KNOW,
THIS MIGHT BE A GOOD OPPORTUNITY FOR ASK ADMINISTRATION TO DO SOME WORK ON, YOU KNOW, A LOT OF THE COMMITTEES THAT WE HAVE THAT YOU KNOW,
TO LOOK INTO MAYBE DOING, LIKE, A SUNSET PROVISION TO MAKE SURE, LIKE THESE COMMITTEES ARE ACTED AND IF NOT BY CERTAIN
TIME, THEY COME UP FOR RENEWAL AND WE DECIDE WHETHER TO RENEW THE COMMITTEE OR NOT. 
          IN THOSE CIRCUMSTANCES, AND JUST TO KEEP TRACK THAT WE ARE ACTIVELY LOOKING AT WHETHER
THEY ARE DOING WORK OR NOT ON A CONSISTENT BASIS. I DON'T KNOW, THAT'S A FEEDBACK YOU GIVE US. 
          RIGHT, MICHELLE? THAT'S CORRECT. JUDGE. AND WE INCLUDED THAT LANGUAGE UNDER SECTION TWO B
UNDER ADMINISTRATION. 
          THE LAST ONE I PUT, THIS COMMITTEE WILL BE SET UP FOR TWO YEARS,
AT WHICH TIME IT WILL SUNSET UNLESS THE COURT FINDS IT WISHES TO EXTEND THE COMMITTEE'S TIME. COMMISSIONER, WOULD YOU LIKE US TO INCLUDE ADDITIONAL LANGUAGE FOR THAT? NO, I THINK THAT'S GOOD. I JUST I JUST THINK THAT'S A IT'S AN OPPORTUNITY FOR NOT JUST FOR
THIS COMMITTEE, BUT TO LOOK AT OTHER COMMITTEES. I DON'T KNOW IF THAT HAVE THE SAME PROVISIONS OR NOT.
THIS WOULD BE THE FIRST ONE THAT WE WOULD INCLUDE THAT PROVISION IN COMMISSIONERS. 
          SO I'D BE HAPPY TO. ALSO, WITH THE JUDGES FEEDBACK,
LOOK AT OTHER COMMITTEES THAT WE HAVE AND SEE IF WE CAN ADD THAT IF THE COURT WISHES TO DO THAT. THANK YOU. 
          [03:05:05]
THE DUTIES ARE RATHER EXTENSIVE ON THIS ONE,
SO I'M NOT GOING TO READ ALL OF THEM. 
          I HOPE THAT YOU ALL HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO REVIEW. 
          WAS THERE ANY FEEDBACK SPECIFICALLY ON THE DUTIES? YEAH. WELL, I'LL LET YOU GO THROUGH THE REST OF THE,
THE PRESENTATION AND THEN I'LL MAKE MY COMMENTS. 
          THAT'S IT. COMMISSIONER. UNLESS THERE ARE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR SPECIFIC THINGS. 
          OKAY. WE JUMPED FORWARD TO ADMINISTRATION, SO. 
          OKAY. SO JUST FIRST OF ALL, I WANTED TO THANK YOU MISS COCHRAN FOR FOR YOUR WORK ON THIS
AND FOR THE GUIDANCE OF PEOPLE LIKE BETSY AND OTHER FOLKS IN THE ADMINISTRATIVE STAFF. 
          I KNOW THIS IS SPENT A LOT OF TIME ON THIS, AND IT'S THOUGHTFUL WORK,
AND IT'S A IT'S A GOOD POLICY. 
          AND, YOU KNOW, THE WORK THAT WE'VE DONE WITH WITH ARPA FUNDS TO TO DEVELOP RESOURCES FOR,
FOR THE ARTS, I THINK IS IS REALLY IMPORTANT. I MEAN, ARTS ARE A CRITICAL TO OUR SOCIAL OR CULTURAL
ASPECTS AND IMPORTANTLY, TO THE POINT OF OUR FOCUS WITH ARPA ECONOMICALLY. 
          RIGHT. AND I THINK THIS COMMITTEE IS PART OF,
YOU KNOW, IT'S PART OF SEVERAL ARPA FUNDED ACTIONS THAT WE'RE TAKING IN REGARDS TO THE ARTS. AND ONE OF THOSE IS THE ARTS MASTER PLAN THAT WE'VE THAT WE'VE TALKED ABOUT. 
          AND SO THIS COMMITTEE IS TO SERVE AS A RESOURCE. 
          AND, AND I THINK ITS ROLE IN THE ARTS MASTER PLAN NEEDS TO BE SPELLED OUT AS PART OF THE
POLICY. 
          OKAY. I THINK THE PURPOSE STATES THAT IT STATES THIS PILOT COMMITTEE IS ESTABLISHED TO
PROVIDE ADVICE TO THE COUNTY TO ADVANCE AND ENRICH THE ARTS AND CULTURAL ACTIVITIES AND POLICIES WITHIN EL PASO COUNTY. BUT I'D ALSO LIKE TO SEE IF WE COULD ADD THE PHRASE
INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, ASSISTING WITH DEVELOPMENT AND IMPLEMENTATION OF THE ARTS MASTER PLAN.
I THINK, YOU KNOW, THAT'S THAT'S GOING TO BE THAT'S AN IMPORTANT ENDEAVOR AND UPON WHICH WE'RE
EMBARKING SOON. 
          AND, AND I AND I THINK WE WOULD BE REMISS IF WE IF WE DID NOT TAP INTO OUR ARTS COMMISSION
TO, TO BE, YOU KNOW, A STRONG PART OF THAT ASSISTING WITH THE DEVELOPMENT OF THAT OF THAT MASTER PLAN. AND THEN UNDER UNDER J IF WE CAN ADD WORK COOPERATIVELY WITH OTHER
COUNTY DEPARTMENTS AND COMMISSIONS, MUNICIPAL AND LOCAL ARTS AGENCIES AND PROMOTING OR THAT'S WHAT IT SAYS. 
          IT SAYS WE'RE WORK COOPERATIVELY WITH OTHER COUNTY DEPARTMENTS AND COMMISSIONS,
MUNICIPAL AND LOCAL ART AGENCIES IN PROMOTING ARTS IN THE COUNTY. 
          BUT I THINK LOCAL ART AGENCIES INCLUDES NONPROFIT OR DIFFERENT GROUPS. 
          SO I JUST WANT TO MAKE IT CLEAR THAT WE THAT WE SAY LOCAL ARTS AGENCIES AND ARTS
NONPROFITS AND GROUPS, IF THAT'S OKAY WITH THE COURT. AND THEN I ALSO THINK WE SHOULD ADD A REFERENCE TO THE ARTS
MASTER PLAN HERE, SO THAT THE ENTIRE THING WOULD, SAY, WORK COOPERATIVELY WITH OTHER COUNTY DEPARTMENTS AND
COMMISSIONS, MUNICIPAL AND LOCAL ARTS AGENCIES AND ART NONPROFITS AND GROUPS IN PROMOTING ARTS IN THE
COUNTY. 
          BUT BUT I'M I'M VERY EXCITED ABOUT THIS. IT'S BEEN I KNOW ONE OF MY BABIES AND IT'S BECOME
ONE OF YOUR BABIES. 
          AND I APPRECIATE YOUR, YOUR WORK AND AND WORKING WITH MY STAFF AS WELL AS BETSY AND ADMIN. 
          AGAIN, YOU KNOW, THERE'S THERE'S MODELS FOR THESE TYPES OF THINGS AND BEXAR COUNTY HAS A
HAS A GREAT ARTS COMMISSION THAT YOU KNOW, NOT ONLY ADVISES I THINK THE COUNTY BUT THEY ALSO THEY ALSO HELP WORK ON PROJECTS LIKE
ATTRACTING MUSIC SHOWS AND FESTIVALS AND, AND OTHER TYPES OF OF BECAUSE WHEN WE THINK OF ART,
SOMETIMES WE JUST THINK OF LIKE PLASTIC ARTS OR, YOU KNOW, PAINTING. BUT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT MUSIC,
MUSIC, ART, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT CULINARY ARTS. 
          WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE VAST ARRAY OF, YOU KNOW,
ACROSS THE SPECTRUM OF, OF ARTS. 
          AND SO YOU KNOW, I SEE THIS AS IS A GREAT STEP FORWARD. 
          AND AS WELL AS WITH THE FUNDING THAT WE'VE PUT THAT WE'VE PUT BEHIND ARTS WITH ARPA AND
HOPEFULLY WE CAN CONTINUE THIS WORK AND YOU KNOW, CREATE MORE YOU KNOW, CREATIVE SPACES FOR, FOR OUR COMMUNITY. 
          AND I THINK THAT ALSO DRIVES ECONOMIC ACTIVITY AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT. 
          SO PEOPLE WILL WANT TO LIVE HERE WHEN WE HAVE LOTS OF ARTS. 
          THANK YOU COMMISSIONER. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. 
          COMMENTS AND YOUR FEEDBACK. I APPRECIATE IT. IF THERE'S NOTHING ELSE SPECIFICALLY THAT
ANYBODY WOULD LIKE TO COVER, I'LL INCORPORATE THIS FEEDBACK AND BRING IT BACK TO A FUTURE MEETING FOR YOUR APPROVAL. 
          AND THEN JUST BE READY FOR ME TO CONTACT YOU FOR YOUR APPOINTMENT. 
          AND IF YOU NEED CLARIFICATION ON EVERYTHING THAT I JUST SPELLED OUT,
YOU CAN TALK TO CITO AND. 
          [03:10:02]
PERFECT. THANK YOU SO MUCH COMMISSIONER. THANK YOU COMMISSIONER. 
          THAT COMPLETES ALL THE ITEMS ON OUR AGENDA TODAY. 
          JUDGE. WELL THANK YOU. I DON'T KNOW IF WE INTRODUCED OUR TRANSLATORS BACK THERE,
BUT. 
          WELCOME. I THINK WE HAVE A NEW MEMBER BACK THERE. 
          I'M SORRY, JUDGE, I FAILED TO INTRODUCE THIS MORNING'S TRANSLATORS. 
          TODAY. WE HAVE KATYA GARCIA WITH US, AS WELL AS TAMARA MARQUEZ. 
          THANK YOU. THANK YOU. AND EVERYBODY ELSE. HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND OR PROMOTION TEAM BACK
THERE. 
          THANK YOU. AND TO ALL THE COMMISSIONERS. GOOD LUCK TO. 
          IT'S GOING TO BE A LITTLE TOUGHER KIND OF WEEK,
BUT I THINK WE WE'VE GOT SOME GREAT IDEAS AND, AND COURAGE AND FAITH THAT WE COULD WORK THINGS OUT FOR OUR COMMUNITY. 
          SO THANK YOU. THIS CONCLUDES TODAY'S MEETING AT 12:11 P.M..
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.