H. Approve and authorize the County Judge to sign and submit the Executive Order Self-Certification response for the AmeriCorps VISTA Grant Number 22VSGTX008, for El Paso County’s Rural Community Development and Digital Library Program. No County match is required. (Contract No. 2024-0895) Irene Gutierrez, Executive Director, Community Services, 915-273-3485

[A. Approve and adopt a resolution recognizing the El Paso High School Mock Trial Team and wishing them well in the upcoming 46th Annual Texas High School Mock Trial Competition in Dallas, Texas. David Stout, Commissioner, Precinct 2, 915-546-2111]

THANK YOU. JUDGE. GOOD MORNING JUDGE. GOOD MORNING COMMISSIONERS. GOOD MORNING EVERYBODY. I'M REALLY HAPPY TO BE ABLE TO PRESENT THIS RESOLUTION. I KNOW IT'S NEAR AND DEAR TO THE HEARTS OF ALL THE LAWYERS THAT WORK HERE IN EL PASO COUNTY COURTHOUSE AND THROUGHOUT EL PASO AND ON THIS DAIS AS WELL. I WANT TO, OF COURSE, RECOGNIZE THE WORK OF COMMISSIONER OLGUIN AND CORONADO ON PAST MOCK COMPETITIONS. AND I WANT TO RECOGNIZE THE WORK OF OUR DISTRICT ATTORNEY, WHO, AS YOU'LL HEAR FROM THE RESOLUTION HIMSELF, TOOK PART IN MOCK TRIAL WHEN HE WAS WHEN HE WAS A YOUNGSTER. WELL, HE STILL IS, BUT WHEN HE WAS A LITTLE BIT YOUNGER. YOU KNOW, LAWYERS ARE ESSENTIAL FOR THE FUNCTION OF OUR DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC NOW MORE THAN EVER. AND SO I HOPE THESE MOCK TRIALS PREPARE YOU AS STUDENTS FOR THE HARD WORK OF DEFENDING OUR DEMOCRATIC INSTITUTIONS. AND I KNOW THAT NO MATTER WHAT TYPE OF LAW YOU END UP WITH AS A CAREER, IF YOU GO INTO THAT CAREER, YOU'LL REMEMBER IT. AND REMEMBER THAT IT'S AN HONOR AND PRIVILEGE TO WORK ON THE ESSENTIAL BUILDING BLOCKS OF DEMOCRATIC SELF-GOVERNANCE, AND THAT EVERYONE IS EQUAL UNDER THE LAW AND DESERVES THE FULL BENEFITS OF THE CONSTITUTIONAL, CONSTITUTIONAL PROTECTIONS THAT MAKE THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AN EXCEPTIONAL COUNTRY. SO WITH THAT PINNING ANY COMMENTS YOU MAY HAVE, I'M GOING TO GO AHEAD AND READ THE RESOLUTION, AND WE'LL GO AHEAD AND HEAR FROM OUR GUESTS. SO IF THE TEAM WOULD LIKE TO COME UP, I KNOW I SEE SOME, I SEE SOME OF THE YOUNGSTERS FROM EL PASO HIGH SCHOOL SITTING THERE. OKAY. THE RESOLUTION STATES. WHEREAS EL PASO HIGH SCHOOL'S MOCK TRIAL TEAM SECURED THE REGION 19 MOCK TRIAL CHAMPIONSHIP AND HAS EARNED A SPOT AT THE 46TH ANNUAL TEXAS HIGH SCHOOL MOCK TRIAL COMPETITION IN DALLAS, TEXAS, ON MARCH 7TH AND EIGHTH, WHERE THEY WILL REPRESENT OUR COMMUNITY AGAINST THE STATE'S TOP TEAMS. AND WHEREAS THE COMPETITION, HOSTED BY THE EL PASO COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE EL PASO YOUNG LAWYERS ASSOCIATION TOOK PLACE OVER TWO DAYS, JANUARY 24TH AND 25TH, 2025, AT THE ENRIQUE MORENO COUNTY COURTHOUSE WITH NINE SCHOOLS COMPETING. AND WHEREAS, THE STUDENT PARTICIPANTS DEDICATED 10 TO 20 HOURS PER WEEK IN PREPARATION, PRACTICING TIRELESSLY DURING WEEKENDS, HOLIDAYS AND EVEN WINTER BREAK TO THE TO DEVELOP THEIR LEGAL ARGUMENTS, ANALYZE CASE FILES, AND BUILD STRATEGIES FOR BOTH PROSECUTION AND DEFENSE. AND WHEREAS, THE COMPETITION REQUIRING EXCEPTIONAL LEGAL SKILL AND TEAMWORK CULMINATED IN A FINAL ROUND IN WHICH EL PASO HIGH SCHOOL PREVAILED IN A SPLIT DECISION AGAINST NORTHWEST EARLY COLLEGE HIGH SCHOOL BEFORE ESTEEMED JUDGES INCLUDING JUDGE DENNIS GARCIA, SAM MEDRANO, AND LINDA PEREZ. AND WHEREAS, THE EL PASO HIGH SCHOOL MOCK TRIAL TEAM'S HARD WORK AND DEDICATION EXEMPLIFY THE SPIRIT OF EXCELLENCE, PERSEVERANCE, AND COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT, AND IS.

AND THIS ACHIEVEMENT SHOWCASES THE TALENT AND POTENTIAL OF THE YOUTH IN OUR REGION. AND WHEREAS THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE WAS HONORED TO SPONSOR THE EL PASO MOCK TRIAL COMPETITION, RECOGNIZING THE VALUE IT PROVIDES TO STUDENTS AND THE LEGAL PROFESSION, AS IT GAVE PARTICIPANTS AN OPPORTUNITY TO GAIN INSIGHT INTO THE LEGAL FIELD, MUCH LIKE THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY HIMSELF DID DURING HIS HIGH SCHOOL YEARS. AND NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE EL PASO COUNTY JUDGE AND COMMISSIONERS COURT THAT THE EL PASO HIGH SCHOOL MOCK TRIAL TEAM IS HEREBY RECOGNIZED FOR THEIR DEDICATION AND VICTORY IN THE REGION 19 MOCK TRIAL CHAMPIONSHIP, AND WE WISH THEM THE BEST OF LUCK AS THEY REPRESENT EL PASO AT THE 46TH ANNUAL TEXAS HIGH SCHOOL MOCK TRIAL COMPETITION IN DALLAS, TEXAS. ON THIS 24TH DAY OF

[00:20:03]

FEBRUARY 2025, THE HONORABLE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS COURT. WE HAVE A MOTION BY COMMISSIONER STOUT, SECOND BY JUDGE MANIGO. THE VOTING IS OPEN. MOTION CARRIES. WHO IS WHO? WHO WHO WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK ON BEHALF OF THE GROUP? DO YOU HAVE HAVE YOU APPOINTED? WE JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU SO MUCH. WE PUT IN A LOT OF HARD WORK TO GET WHERE WE ARE, AND WE'RE REALLY EXCITED TO REPRESENT EL PASO AT THE STATE COMPETITION. THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU. MR. AND OF COURSE, YOU WANT TO COME UP. SO WE HAVE HONORABLE JUDGE SOLIS HERE AS WELL AS JUDGE JED UNTERECKER. I'M SORRY. JED. YES. THANK YOU. WE ARE THE FEARLESS COACHES OF THESE. THIS AMAZING MOCK TRIAL TEAM. IT DOES TAKE A LOT OF TIME AND EFFORT. AND THESE KIDS ARE. THEY COULD PROBABLY BE ATTORNEYS RIGHT NOW. THEY. THEY KNOW THE RULES OF EVIDENCE. THEY KNOW HOW TO DO AN OPENING STATEMENT AND CLOSING ARGUMENT. THEY CAN TRY A WHOLE CASE. SO WE'RE VERY HONORED TO BE ABLE TO TEACH THEM HOW TO BE LITIGATORS. THE STATE COMPETITION, THERE WILL BE 24 REGIONS REPRESENTED. WE REPRESENT REGION 19, OBVIOUSLY, AND LAST YEAR EL PASO HIGH SCHOOL CAME IN THIRD PLACE, TIED FOR THIRD. THIS YEAR WE'RE LOOKING TO WIN THE WHOLE THING AND WE REALLY DO FEEL THAT WE CAN DO IT. BUT WE REALLY ARE HONORED TO HAVE THEM RECOGNIZED AND HAVE THE COUNTY HAVE ISSUE A RESOLUTION ON THEIR BEHALF. YEAH. WE ALSO WANT TO JUST SAY A BIG THANKS TO THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE FOR PUTTING ON THE REGIONAL COMPETITION. THEY DID A GREAT JOB AND THERE WERE OTHER JUST FANTASTIC TEAMS FROM THE EL PASO COMMUNITY. AND WE'RE LUCKY ENOUGH TO GO FORWARD. AND WE WILL WE WILL DO OUR BEST TO DO EL PASO PROUD. YES. THANK YOU. AND I HAVE TO SAY, I'M EXTRA PROUD BECAUSE AS MANY OF YOU MAY KNOW, MY SON IS ALSO A TIGER. SO GO EL PASO HIGH, GO EL PASO HIGH. YES. SO THANK YOU. WE CAN WE CAN WE GET ALL OF THE STUDENTS JUST TO STEP UP TO THE MIC AND JUST INTRODUCE THEMSELVES AND YOUR ROLE. YES.

GOOD MORNING. MY NAME IS MADELINE DEROSA. I PLAY DEFENSE WITNESS. SABEL. HELLO. MY NAME IS CAMILA GUTIERREZ, AND I WAS ONE OF THE ATTORNEYS THIS YEAR. HI, I'M SARAH WALLEN, AND I'M A WITNESS. DEFENSE. I'M SORRY. GOOD MORNING. I'M OLIVIA GUZMAN, AND I'M A WITNESS FOR DEFENSE.

AND ALSO JUDGE SOLIS'S DAUGHTER. OH, YOU FORGOT THE IMPORTANT PART. OH MY GOODNESS. HI. MY NAME IS LAYLA UNTERECKER AND I'M ONE OF THE ATTORNEYS AND ALSO MAYBE RELATED TO SOMEBODY ELSE.

OH MY GOODNESS. THIS IS REALLY NICE. MY NAME IS KELLER MAY. I'M ALSO ONE OF THE ATTORNEYS.

CONGRATULATIONS. HI, I'M ABIGAIL FRANCE, AND I'M THE ALTERNATE TO A WITNESS. GOOD MORNING. MY NAME IS LUCIA. HA. AND I'M A STATE WITNESS. GOOD MORNING. I'M JOSEPHINE KELLY, AND I'M A STATE WITNESS. GOOD MORNING. MY NAME IS OLIVIA NEAL, AND I'M A DEFENSE WITNESS. GOOD MORNING.

MY NAME IS VALERIE FERRARA, AND I'M AN ALTERNATE FOR DEFENSE. GOOD MORNING. MY NAME IS LESLIE RUTLEDGE, AND I AM AN ALTERNATE FOR STATE. GOOD MORNING, I'M ROSS LIPSON. I WAS A CASE ANALYST AS WELL AS AN ALTERNATE. GOOD MORNING. MY NAME IS JORDAN PITTS, AND I WAS TIMEKEEPER.

MICROPHONE, PLEASE. JUDGE, CAN YOU STEP UP TO THE MIC SO WE CAN HEAR YOU? THANK YOU. OH, NO.

JUST YOU MIGHT RECOGNIZE SOME LAST NAMES. FOR EXAMPLE, LESLIE RUTLEDGE RUTLEDGE, HER MOM IS AN ASSISTANT COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY. MISS FARRAH, HER FATHER'S A PLAINTIFF'S ATTORNEY.

MISS O'NEAL, HER FATHER'S WILL'S PROBATE. SO IT'S REALLY EXCITING TO TEACH, YOU KNOW, STUDENTS OF PARENTS WHOSE PARENTS ARE ATTORNEYS. AND SARAH WALLEN. I'M SO SORRY. YES. SARAH WALLEN, WE KNOW HER MOM, JENNIFER VANDERBOSCH. SO IT'S BEEN REALLY GREAT. AND WE ARE LOSING. WE HAVE THREE SENIORS THAT RAISE YOUR HAND THAT ARE SENIORS, SO THEY'LL BE OFF TO COLLEGE AND DOING GREAT THINGS. AND THEN WE HAVE HOW MANY JUNIORS? TWO JUNIORS. NO JUNIORS. AND THEN THE REST ARE SOPHOMORES. SO THE TEAM JUST WILL BUILD AND BUILD EVERY YEAR. THANK YOU JUDGE. AND

[00:25:01]

THANK ALL OF YOU. I MEAN, IT'S NO SECRET THAT WE'RE ALWAYS TALKING ABOUT HOW OUR YOUNG PEOPLE ARE GOING TO BE ROLE MODELS. I SEE SOME OF THE BIGGEST CHALLENGES THROUGHOUT MY LIFE. I'VE SEEN MORE CHALLENGES TO OUR YOUNG ADULTS AS THEY'RE STEPPING UP TO CONFRONT A LOT OF THINGS, A LOT OF CHANGES IN OUR IN OUR COMMUNITIES, A LOT OF DIFFERENT THINGS THAT THEY WERE GOING THROUGH. COMING OUT OF A PANDEMIC. SOME OF YOU HAD SOME EXPERIENCES WITH THAT. AND SO WE'RE VERY PROUD WHEN YOUNG ADULTS LIKE YOURSELF BECOME THE ROLE MODELS AND THAT YOU COULD HELP OTHERS. AND THAT'S A VERY IMPORTANT THING AS AS YOU GO THROUGH LIFE, ALWAYS THINK ABOUT, YOU KNOW, YOU HAVE CERTAIN TALENTS THAT NOT EVERYBODY HAS. YOU HAVE CERTAIN ABILITIES THAT OTHERS DON'T HAVE. AND SO SHARING THEM AND TAKING THE LEAD AND OBVIOUSLY BEING OUR AMBASSADORS IS GOING TO BE REALLY IMPORTANT. YOU KNOW THAT YOU GO OUT AND BECOME AMBASSADORS FOR EL PASO, ALWAYS PRAYING THAT YOU COME BACK SOME WAY. SOMEHOW WE HAVE A TREMENDOUS LEGAL TEAM, AND I KNOW THAT THERE WOULD BE OPEN TO ANY HELP, ANY VOLUNTEERING, ANYTHING, ANY MENTORING, BECAUSE WE'RE VERY PROUD OF OUR LEGAL TEAM AND YOU, YOU REPRESENT AND OBVIOUSLY SOME SOME OF YOUR PARENTS. AND I'LL DO A LITTLE BIT OF BRAGGING HERE, BUT AND I'VE ALREADY ASKED MY SON, HE ACTUALLY FOUR YEARS AGO HE WON THE NATIONAL MOCK TRIALS, HIS SECOND AND THIRD YEAR OF LAW SCHOOL AT TEXAS TECH. AND SO I'VE ALREADY ASKED HIM IF HE'S WILLING TO MENTOR OR LET YOU KNOW A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED IN THAT COMPETITION.

AND HE'D BE MORE THAN GLAD TO DO THAT. IF YOU'RE ABLE TO UTILIZE HIS ABILITY. SO ONCE AGAIN, I THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR WHAT YOU DO REMEMBER. IT TAKES A LOT OF RESPONSIBILITY TO HAVE THE KINDS OF SKILLS AND ABILITIES THAT YOU ALL HAVE, BUT I KNOW YOU'LL DO AMAZING JOB WITH THAT. THANK YOU AND THANK YOU JUDGE. THANK YOU JUDGE. THANK YOU. APPRECIATE IT. CONGRATULATIONS AGAIN. ONCE AGAIN CONGRATULATIONS. AND CAN WE HAVE YOU ALL COME UP AND SHAKE OUR HANDS. AND WE CAN TAKE A PICTURE WITH THE RESOLUTION. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. SO. DO YOU. YEAH. THANK YOU THANK YOU, THANK YOU. GREAT. WE'LL BE WITH YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. SO. WISH YOU WELL. YOU BRING IT HOME. BRING IT HOME. CONGRATULATIONS. THANK YOU. CONGRATULATIONS. THE TROPHY CASE. CONGRATULATIONS. THANK YOU. THAT'S OUR PLEASURE. THANK YOU. ALRIGHT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. JUDGE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. OH, WE. GOT THE JUDGE APPROVED. OH, GOSH. YEAH. COME ON. MORE AND MORE. YOU WANT SOME RESOLUTION? HERE IN THE MIDDLE? THANK YOU.

I'LL FOLLOW UP WITH YOU HERE AND THERE. THANK YOU. NORTHWESTERN. CAN YOU GUYS HEAR THE REST OF THE CREW? YEAH. YEAH. THERE YOU GO. THANK YOU. YEAH. YEAH, WE JUST RAN THE COMPETITION. WELL, THERE'S A TEAM. WELL, THERE'S. THERE'S A WINNER. YOU'RE GETTING RIGHT IN THERE. OUR FEARLESS.

GREAT. I WANT TO. TRY TO. AND I SAY THANK YOU. SO YOU GUYS MEET MY ALMA MATER, THE NORTHWEST EARLY COLLEGE. HIGH SCHOOL. CONGRATULATIONS. BRING THE TROPHY BACK, GUYS. WE'RE WITH YOU. THANK YOU. SO THANK YOU. IF Y'ALL SEE MY SON IN THE IN THE HALLWAYS, GIVE HIM A NUDGE FOR ME, OKAY? ELBOW OR SOMETHING. THE PARENTS. THE PARENTS HAVE REALLY BEEN SUPPORTIVE OF US.

AND UNDERSTANDING THE RIGOROUS PRACTICE SCHEDULE, SO THANK YOU FOR SAYING THAT. YEAH. THANK YOU TO THE PARENTS FOR. ALL THE. WE'D LIKE TO GO AHEAD AND GO TO ITEM FIVE E APPROVING ADOPT A RESOLUTION RECOGNIZING FEBRUARY 16TH THROUGH 22ND, 2025 AS NATIONAL ENGINEERS WEEK IN EL PASO COUNTY, TEXAS. THANK YOU JENNIFER AND TEAM, YOU WANT TO COME UP, PLEASE.

[E. Approve and adopt a resolution recognizing February 16-22, 2025, as National Engineers Week in El Paso County, Texas. Ricardo A. Samaniego, County Judge, County Judge's Office, 915-546-2098]

[00:30:28]

RIGHT. RUBEN. WELL, THANK YOU ALWAYS. MY PLEASURE AND HONOR TO THESE RESOLUTIONS. ANYTHING HAVING TO DO WITH ENGINEERING, WE DEAL WITH ENGINEERING ALMOST IN EVERY ASPECT OF THE COUNTY.

SO VERY PROUD TO READ THE RESOLUTION INTO THE RECORD. IT'S A LITTLE SMALL TYPE. SO LET'S SEE WHAT HAPPENS HERE. WHEREAS FEBRUARY 16TH THROUGH 22ND, 2025 IS RECOGNIZED AS NATIONAL ENGINEERS WEEK TO HONOR THE NATION'S ENGINEERS IN ALL FIELDS WHO USE THEIR KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS AND INNOVATIVE WAYS TO FULFILL OUR SOCIETY'S NEEDS AND ENSURE A DIVERSE AND WELL-EDUCATED FUTURE ENGINEERING WORKFORCE. BY INCREASING UNDERSTANDING OF AND INTEREST IN ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY CAREERS. WHEREAS EL PASO ELECTRIC HAS A FAMILY OF MORE THAN ONE 1100 EMPLOYEES, INCLUDING APPROXIMATELY 123 ENGINEERS DEDICATED TO SERVING THE COMMUNITIES WHERE THEY LIVE AND WORK. AS A REGIONAL ENERGY PROVIDER WITH THE RESPONSIBILITY OF PROVIDING SAFE AND RELIABLE ENERGY TO MORE THAN 460,000 CUSTOMERS, EL PASO ELECTRIC UNDERSTANDS THE CRUCIAL ROLE THEIR ENGINEERS PLAY EVERY DAY IN TRANSFORMING THE ENERGY LANDSCAPE. IN PARTNERSHIP WITH OTHER TEAM MEMBERS, EL PASO ELECTRIC ENGINEERS ARE DESIGNING THE FUTURE THAT WILL ENABLE ELECTRIFICATION, MORE RENEWABLE ENERGY AND A BRIGHTER ENERGY FUTURE FOR EVERYONE. AND WHEREAS 28 PROFESSIONAL ENGINEERS, 18 ENGINEERING ASSISTANTS AND 20 ENGINEERING INTERNS ACROSS TEXDOT EL PASO DISTRICT ARE INTEGRATED IN EACH ASPECT OF THE AGENCY'S WORK, FROM DESIGN, PLANNING, TRAFFIC MAINTENANCE AND CONSTRUCTION. THEY ARE PART OF MORE THAN 1000 ACROSS TEXDOT STATEWIDE, WORKING TIRELESSLY EVERY DAY TO PROVIDE A SAFE, RELIABLE AND INTEGRATED TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM THAT ENABLES THE MOVEMENT OF PEOPLE AND GOODS. WITH EL PASO COUNTY IS HONORED TO EMPLOY SEVERAL TALENTED ENGINEERS WHO CONTRIBUTED ENORMOUSLY TO THE COUNTY'S MISSION TO SERVE OUR RESIDENTS. THE EL PASO COUNTY PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT IS PROUD TO HAVE THE FOLLOWING ENGINEERS AS MEMBERS OF OUR ESTEEMED TEAM.

FERNIE HERNANDEZ, MELINA BANUELOS, LIDIA ARIAS, HAROLD KUTZ, LAURA DOMINGUEZ, GILBERT SALDANA, ROXANNE MEDINA, RICHARD LANE, FIDEL NUNEZ, ARTURO DEL BOSQUE, ANTONIO BUSTILLOS, DENISE RODRIGUEZ WAS A UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT EL PASO COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING, HAD 5055 STUDENTS ENROLLED IN THE FALL OF 2024 AND ITS TEN BACHELOR'S DEGREES AND 17 MASTER'S DEGREES AND SIX DOCTORAL DEGREES TO PRODUCE 815 GREAT ENGINEERS LAST YEAR, MANY OF WHOM ARE HISPANIC FIRST GENERATION GRADUATES WHO GO ON TO BE HIRED BY FORTUNE 500 COMPANIES ACROSS THE GLOBE.

THERE'S ALSO A LARGER REGIONAL AND NATIONAL IMPACT, AS A COLLEGE OF ENGINEERS IS A SIGNIFICANT CONTRIBUTOR TO RESEARCH EXPENDITURES FOR THE UNIVERSITY. THEREFORE, ASSISTING IN SUSTAINING THE UNIVERSITY'S R1 STATUS ACCORDING TO THE CARNEGIE CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM, COURSE ENGINEERS SERVE AS ROLE MODELS AND SOURCES OF INSPIRATION TO OUR STUDENTS AND COMMUNITY TO REALIZE THE POWER OF THEIR KNOWLEDGE. THEY ARE COMMITTED TO WORKING TO PROMOTE A DIVERSE AND WELL-EDUCATED FUTURE ENGINEERING WORKFORCE, AND WILL BE RECOGNIZED WITH THE LIGHTING OF THE STAR ON THE MOUNTAIN, ON I-10 TURBINES AND DOWNTOWN ARCHES ALL IN GREEN, THE COLOR OF ENGINEERING. AND NOW, THEREFORE, IT BE RESOLVED THAT THE EL PASO COUNTY JUDGE AND COMMISSIONERS COURT RECOGNIZES THE WEEK OF FEBRUARY 16TH THROUGH THE 22ND, 2025, AS NATIONAL ENGINEERS WEEK. SIGNED THIS 24TH DAY OF FEBRUARY, 2025. WE HAVE A MOTION BY JUDGE SAMANIEGO, SECOND BY COMMISSIONER OLGUIN. THE VOTING IS OPEN. MOTION CARRIES. WHAT A GREAT LOOKING GROUP. MY GOODNESS. THANK YOU JUDGE. GOOD MORNING, JUDGE AND COMMISSIONERS, AND THANK YOU FOR THE RECOGNITION OF NATIONAL ENGINEERS WEEK. MY NAME IS RAUL ORTEGA AND I'M THE DIRECTOR OF TRANSPORTATION PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT FOR EL PASO DISTRICT. AND WE'RE GLAD TO PARTNER WITH UTEP AND EL PASO ELECTRIC TO CELEBRATE OUR ENGINEERS AND TO INSPIRE NEW ONES. TOGETHER, WE WE'RE CONNECTING STUDENTS WITH

[00:35:05]

ENGINEERS IN OUR RESPECTIVE FIELDS TO SHARE INSIGHTS AND INSPIRATION. AS AN ENGINEER WHO GRADUATED FROM UTEP AND DEVELOPED MY CAREER AT TEXDOT, I KNOW INSPIRING FUTURE ENGINEERS AND NURTURING CAREERS OF NEW ENGINEERS IS OF UTMOST IMPORTANCE. AS YOU MENTIONED, JUDGE, WHILE WE HAVE 28 PROFESSIONAL ENGINEERS IN THE EL PASO DISTRICT INTEGRATED WITH EACH OF OUR AGENCY'S WORK, WE HAVE 18 ENGINEERING ASSISTANTS. WE HAVE 20 ENGINEERING INTERNS, MOSTLY FROM UTEP AND NMSU ACROSS OUR SIX COUNTIES. THEY ARE VIBRANT, DIVERSE AND A YOUNG ENGINEERING ENGINEERING GROUP EMBEDDED IN VARIOUS SECTIONS AND LEARNING MORE ABOUT THE CRAFT AS THEY WORK TOWARDS EARNING THEIR LICENSE. I THANK YOU ON BEHALF OF THEM AND WE APPRECIATE YOUR SUPPORT. AND AGAIN, THANK YOU FOR THE RECOGNITION. THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. I REALLY APPRECIATE THAT. GO AHEAD. SURE. GOOD MORNING. JUDGE. COMMISSIONERS, AND THANK YOU FOR THE RECOGNITION. MY NAME IS ALDO MADRID. I'M THE DIRECTOR OF CONSTRUCTION FOR TEX-DOT EL PASO DISTRICT. I ALSO GRADUATED FROM UTEP. BORN AND RAISED HERE IN EL PASO. AND I REALLY DO UNDERSTAND HOW IMPORTANT IT IS TO HELP DEVELOP OUR YOUNG ENGINEERS. WE HAVE VARIOUS PROGRAMS THAT I THINK ARE REALLY GO A LONG WAY. WE HAVE OUR ENGINEERING ROTATION PROGRAM, WHICH WE ARE ABLE TO EXPOSE OUR ENGINEERS TO DIFFERENT DEPARTMENTS. WE ALSO HAVE A INTERNSHIP PROGRAM WHICH WE WORK WITH OUR LOCAL UNIVERSITY. HERE WE'RE ABLE TO EMPLOY STUDENTS AND EXPOSE THEM TO THE ENGINEERING SETTING. AND WE KNOW THIS GOES A LONG WAY BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, AT THE END OF THE DAY, WE'RE LOOKING TO DEVELOP FUTURE ENGINEERS FOR THE REGION AND FOR THE STATE AS WELL. HERE PRESENT, WE ALSO HAVE OUR ENGINEER DEVELOPMENT GROUP FOR TXDOT. THEY HAVE A FOCUS OF GOING OUT TO LOCAL SCHOOLS. DOING SOME OUTREACH AND HOPEFULLY INSPIRE THE YOUTH TO PURSUE ENGINEERING FOR THE REGION. ONCE AGAIN, THANK YOU FOR THE RECOGNITION. NO, THANK YOU VERY MUCH. FROM EL PASO, FURNY. OUR VERY OWN. GOOD MORNING JUDGE. COMMISSIONERS. ON THIS WITH THE INFRASTRUCTURE SERVICES. I'D LIKE OUR MY FELLOW COLLEAGUES HERE HAVE MENTIONED WE THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY AND THE RECOGNITION OF THIS ENGINEER'S WEEK. BASICALLY, WE RECOGNIZE THAT THE PROFESSION THAT OUR IMPACT HAS ON AS A PROFESSIONAL OF SHAPING THE WORLD AROUND US. WE'RE THE ARCHITECTS OF INNOVATION, THE PROBLEM SOLVERS OF CHALLENGING PROBLEMS. AND BASICALLY THE PIONEERS OF PROGRESSION, CONSTANTLY PUSHING THE BOUNDARIES OF WHAT WHAT'S POSSIBLE. RIGHT. THIS WEEK WE ARE NOT ONLY GLAD TO HAVE THE TIME TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE ACCOMPLISHMENTS, BUT ALSO TAKE TAKE TIME TO BASICALLY INNOVATE AND INSPIRE THE YOUNGER GENERATION OF ENGINEERS COMING FORWARD. RIGHT. WE ACKNOWLEDGE THAT. WE CELEBRATE THE ACHIEVEMENTS OF ALL ENGINEERS FROM THE PAST, THE PRESENT. I'M SURE ALL MY COLLEAGUES HERE AROUND US. CHERISH THE ALL THE STRIVES AND EFFORTS THAT OUR PAST PREDECESSORS HAVE PERFORMED FOR US TO BE ABLE TO BE HERE. AND BASICALLY, YOU KNOW, WE GIVE YOU THE THANKS AND THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE ABLE TO BE HERE AND ACKNOWLEDGE THAT WE STRIVE TO, TO MAKE THE COUNTY BETTER OF EL PASO. THANK YOU. SO WE KNOW FIRSTHAND THE AMOUNT OF EFFICIENCY THAT IS CREATED BY ENGINEERS, THE COST SAVING THAT HAPPENED, THE UTILIZATION OF OUR OF OUR TAX MONEY HAS TO BE DONE VERY WELL. AND WE'RE JUST SO GRATEFUL FOR OUR ENGINEERS THAT WORK FOR THE COUNTY. BUT GO AHEAD, SIR. THANK YOU. MY NAME IS LEWIS EVERETT. I'M THE ASSOCIATE DEAN OF ENGINEERING AT UTEP. I WANT TO THANK YOU, JUDGE AND THE COMMISSIONERS FOR THIS RECOGNITION. I ALSO WANT TO THANK THE OUR SPONSORS, THE ONES THAT SUPPORT US. WITHOUT THEIR HELP, THERE'S WE WOULD BE FAR FROM WHERE WE ARE NOW. I'M ALSO AN ALUM FROM UTEP. AND THE STUDENTS HERE MAKE ME PROUD FOR BEING AN ALUM. THANK YOU AGAIN FOR YOUR FOR YOUR THANK YOU SIR.

APPRECIATE IT. GOOD MORNING. MY NAME IS JESUS CORIA. I'M WITH THE EL PASO ELECTRIC. I'M A SENIOR SUBSTATION ENGINEER. SO I'M HAPPY. THANK YOU GUYS FOR INVITING US. TO CELEBRATE NATIONAL ENGINEERS WEEK. SO ON BEHALF OF THE MANY ENGINEERS THAT WORK EVERY DAY, EL PASO

[00:40:02]

ELECTRIC, IMPROVING THE POWER GRID. I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO ALL THE COMMISSIONERS AND TO THE JUDGE FOR THE RECOGNITION OF OUR PROFESSION. AND BORN AND RAISED IN JUAREZ, A UTEP GRADUATE. I GRADUATED IN 2012. PROFESSIONAL ENGINEER IN THE STATE OF TEXAS. AND I'M REALLY HAPPY TO BE ABLE TO WORK IN A COMPANY THAT HAS A DIRECT IMPACT ON THE COMMUNITY AND THE, YOU KNOW, ECONOMIC, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT. SO THANK YOU AGAIN. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. WE'RE VERY PROUD OF YOU. AND YOU HAVE A VERY ELECTRIFYING CEO, EXTREMELY ELECTRIFYING. SO THANK YOU.

GABBY. WE HAVE DID GABBY, IS GABBY HERE WITH US OR. NO. NO. OKAY. NO. I WANT TO THANK YOU ALL. JUST JUST AN AMAZING. IT'S ONE OF THE PROFESSIONS THAT YOU REALLY TAKE THE TIME TO TRY TO GET OTHERS TO BE EXCITED ABOUT THAT. IT'S JUST AMAZING. MY SON IS AT TEXAS A&M IN ENGINEERING, AND, I MEAN, HE'S GOT MENTORS AND PEOPLE TALKING TO HIM ABOUT HIS SUCCESS. AND I DIDN'T SEE THAT IN TOO MANY OTHER PROFESSIONS. SO I REALLY ENCOURAGE YOU WHAT YOU SAID TO REACHING OUT. I CAN TELL YOU THAT MOST OF US HERE, IF SOMEBODY HADN'T REACHED OUT TO US, MAYBE COLLEGE WOULDN'T HAVE BEEN WHAT WE WANTED OR NEEDED IN LIFE. AND SOMEONE IN MY CASE TALKED TO ME ABOUT GOING TO UTEP AND BEING ABLE TO FOLLOW A CAREER NOT IN ENGINEERING, BUT JUST THIS IDEA OF MENTORING AND REACHING OUT IS VERY IMPORTANT, ESPECIALLY TO IN OUR SITUATION.

I KEEP SORT OF HARPING ABOUT ABOUT COVID AND WHAT HAPPENED, BUT A LOT OF THE STUDENTS SORT OF SKIPPED A LITTLE BIT OF THEIR PROFESSION AND WHAT THEY WANTED. THEY DIDN'T, YOU KNOW, THEY LOSE THE LOST A COUPLE OF YEARS TRYING TO FIGURE THINGS OUT. AND SO THERE'S A LOT OF KIDS OUT THERE THAT WOULD BE AMAZING ENGINEERS. THEY MIGHT NOT KNOW IT AT THE TIME, BUT THANK YOU FOR USING MENTORING AND REACHING OUT TO ESPECIALLY NOW AND HOPEFULLY GO OUT TO THE RURAL AREAS AS WELL. SOMETIMES WE FORGET WE'VE GOT THE BIG INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICTS, BUT WE HAVE SOME AMAZING STUDENTS. AS COMMISSIONER OLGUIN WILL TELL YOU, IN THE RURAL AREAS, AND COMMISSIONER BUTLER. WELL, ALL OF US, EVERYBODY HAS THAT KIND OF OPPORTUNITY. BUT THANK YOU FOR DOING THAT. SO I DON'T KNOW IF ANYBODY ELSE WANTS TO COMMENT. YES, COMMISSIONER.

YOU KNOW, I WANT TO THANK YOU ALL FOR THE WORK THAT YOU ALL DO. AS A FORMER ENGINEERING STUDENT AT UTEP, I KNOW THAT AT THE CORE OF WHAT YOU ALL DO, YOU ARE REALLY THE GUARDIANS OF OUR SAFETY, OUR COMFORT AND OUR WELL-BEING. SO I REALLY WANT TO APPRECIATE ALL THE WORK THAT YOU ALL DO FOR OUR COMMUNITY AND FOR THE STATE AND OUR COUNTRY. SO THANK YOU ALL VERY, VERY MUCH.

AND JENNIFER, SPECIAL THANKS TO YOU. I KNOW YOU'RE ALWAYS COORDINATING AND HELPING US OUT.

STOP HIDING BEHIND THE I HAVE TO I HAVE TO REALLY CREDIT MY MICROPHONE PLEASE. YEAH. IF YOU COULD GET COME UP TO. OKAY. COME UP TO MICROPHONE, PLEASE. MICROPHONE. I'M SORRY. HI. I'M JENNIFER WRIGHT WITH THE TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION. THANK YOU ALL FOR THE RECOGNITION. WELCOME TO THE TEAM THERE. COMMISSIONER BUTLER. I THINK THAT, AS YOU SAID, FIRST LET ME THANK LAUREN, WHO IS THE PERSON WHO RECOGNIZED THAT ENGINEERS WEEK SHOULD BE A THING. WHEN SHE GOT TO TXDOT 5 OR 6 YEARS AGO. THANK YOU. AND I AS AS COMMISSIONER CORONADO, SAID, EVERYTHING FROM TURNING ON YOUR LIGHTS IN THE MORNING TO GETTING IN YOUR CAR AND GETTING TO WORK. THERE'S AN ENGINEER BEHIND IT, AND IT'S REALLY, REALLY A WONDERFUL THING. OUR MENTORING PROGRAM AT TEXDOT IS AMAZING. AND I MEAN, WE HAVE THESE YOUNG ENGINEERS PRESENT. I DON'T KNOW IF ANY OF YOU YOUNG ENGINEERS, ANYONE WOULD LIKE TO SAY A WORD OR TWO AT ALL, BECAUSE I'D BE MORE THAN HAPPY TO STEP AWAY FROM THE MIC. THANK YOU. THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU AGAIN FOR THE RECOGNITION. THANK YOU. JENNIFER. WELCOME. HI. GOOD MORNING EVERYBODY. MY NAME IS JESUS DARUWALA. I'M AN ENGINEERING ASSISTANT WITH TXDOT. AND I'M ALSO HOLD THE CHAIR POSITION FOR ENGINEERING DEVELOPMENT GROUP. SO WE LIKE TO CALL IT EDGE FOR SHORT. SO EDGE BASICALLY WHAT IT IS AND YOU KIND OF HEARD ALREADY IS WE HAVE A ROTATION PROGRAM WHERE WE CAN MOVE ALL OUR ENGINEERING ASSISTANTS TO DIFFERENT SECTIONS. THAT WAY THEY GET TO KNOW THE DIFFERENT TYPES OF THE TRANSPORTATION ENGINEERING. WE ALSO HAVE A MENTORSHIP PROGRAM.

ALL THE ENGINEERING ASSISTANTS. THEY GET ASSIGNED A PROFESSIONAL ENGINEERS TO BE THE MENTOR, TO GUIDE THEM THROUGH THEIR CAREERS. AND THEN WE ALSO HAVE BASICALLY CREATE A LOT OF OPPORTUNITIES FOR THEM TO HELP WITH THEIR DEVELOPMENT AND TO HELP NETWORK AS WELL, NOT JUST

[00:45:02]

WITH PROFESSIONALS ALREADY IN THE CAREER, BUT AS WE MENTIONED, WITH GOING TO SCHOOLS AND DOING OUTREACH PROGRAMS. SO THAT WAY WE CAN HELP INSPIRE AS WE WERE INSPIRED BEFORE. SO WITH THAT BEING SAID, THANK YOU GUYS SO MUCH FOR THIS RECOGNITION. IT'S VERY IMPORTANT TO US AND WE REALLY APPRECIATE IT. THANK YOU. IF YOU WANT TO INTRODUCE YOURSELVES THAT WAY WE GET A GOOD FEEL FOR WHO'S WHO'S WHO. BUT GO AHEAD. GOOD MORNING EVERYBODY. MY NAME IS ASHTON MAJORS. I AM A JUNIOR STUDYING MECHANICAL ENGINEERING AT UTEP. AND I'LL TELL YOU THAT I AM A VERY PROUD ENGINEER, PROUD UTEP STUDENT, AND A LOT OF THAT IS JUST DUE IN PART TO THE SUPPORT I FEEL FROM MY COMMUNITY. I HAVE ALWAYS FELT THAT MY CAREER IS SUPPORTED BY MENTORSHIP PROGRAMS, SUCH AS THE ONES PRESENTED TODAY, AND JUST THE PROGRAMS THAT EXIST ON CAMPUS FOR US AS WELL. SO I JUST WANTED TO COME UP AND SAY THANK YOU SINCERELY. THANK YOU TO ALL OF YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. GO AHEAD. INTRODUCE YOURSELVES. YEAH. THANK YOU. GOOD MORNING.

MY NAME IS ELVA GRAGEDA, AND I'M A TRANSPORTATION SPECIALIST AT THE CONSTRUCTION OFFICE FOR EL PASO DISTRICT. AND I THANK YOU FOR HAVING US HERE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. MY NAME IS DANNY MORENO. I'M A TRANSPORTATION SPECIALIST WITH THE TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION IN THE TRAFFIC SECTION. THANK YOU, THANK YOU. WELCOME. GOOD MORNING. CANTU, TEX-DOT CONSTRUCTION OFFICE. THANK YOU. HI. GOOD MORNING. I'M CARRIE GONZALEZ. I'M AN UNDERGRADUATE STUDENT AT UTEP STUDYING ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING. THANK YOU. HELLO. GOOD MORNING.

MY NAME IS ERIC VARELA. I'M A SENIOR MECHANICAL ENGINEERING STUDENT AT UTEP. THANK YOU. GOOD MORNING EVERYONE. MY NAME IS YOSHIO KOMIYAMA, AND I'M AN ENGINEER ASSISTANT AT THE MAIN INTERSECTION. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. GOOD MORNING EVERYONE. MY NAME IS JONATHAN CONCHA WITH TEX-DOT. I'M AN AREA ENGINEER FOR THE WEST AREA OFFICE. THANK YOU. GOOD MORNING. I'M JEZABEL RAY. I'M AN ENGINEERING ASSISTANT AT TXDOT. THANK YOU. GOOD MORNING. MY NAME IS PAMELA.

I'M ENGINEERING ASSISTANT AT TEXAS AS WELL FOR THE DESIGN SECTION. THANK YOU. GOOD MORNING. MY NAME IS KEVIN HARDY, AND I'M WITH APOLLO ELECTRIC. I'M IN DISTRIBUTION AND DESIGN.

THANK YOU. GO AHEAD. YEAH. GOOD MORNING, COMMISSIONERS LYDIA ARIAS WITH THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT AT COUNTY OF EL PASO. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. AMAZING. GOOD MORNING, COMMISSIONERS MELINA MANUELO, SENIOR ENGINEER WITH PUBLIC WORKS ADMINISTRATION. THANK YOU. GOOD MORNING. LAURA DOMINGUEZ, ONE OF THE COUNTY ENGINEERS AT PUBLIC WORKS. THANK YOU. GOOD MORNING.

MY NAME IS ARTURO DEL BOSQUE, CIVIL ENGINEER WITH PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT. THANK YOU. GOOD MORNING. FIDEL NUNEZ WITH EL PASO COUNTY. THANK YOU. GOOD MORNING, COMMISSIONERS ROXANA MEDINA, A SENIOR TRANSPORTATION ENGINEER. COUNTY OF EL PASO. THANK YOU. GOOD MORNING. ANTONIO BUSTILLOS, PUBLIC WORKS. COUNTY GRADUATE OF UTEP. THANK YOU. GOOD MORNING, COMMISSIONERS.

RICHARD LANE WITH THE CIVIL ENGINEER WITH PUBLIC WORKS. THANK YOU. GOOD MORNING GILBERT.

GOOD MORNING. JUDGE. COMMISSIONERS. GILBERT SALDANA, EL PASO COUNTY PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. DID. DID WE MISS EVERYBODY? NO. BETSY, YOU WANT TO SAY A FEW WORDS ABOUT OUR ENGINEERS? I KNOW WE SHOULD BE EQUAL, BUT WE'LL HAVE SPECIAL ATTENTION TO OUR COUNTY ENGINEERS RIGHT NOW. THANK YOU. BETSY. JUDGE. COMMISSIONERS, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY. OUR COUNTY ENGINEERS, AS YOU ALL MENTIONED, THERE'S NOT MUCH THAT WE DO THAT THEY HAVE NOT TOUCHED. AND IT'S SO OFTEN BEHIND THE SCENES AND WITHOUT CREDIT, I THINK OF EVERYTHING FROM EVERY BUILDING, EVERY PARKING LOT, EVERY PARK, EVERY. AND THEN, OF COURSE, OUR COMMUNITY AMENITIES, STORMWATER, WATER, WASTE WATER, STREETS, SIDEWALKS. I CAN'T EVEN BEGIN TO LIST EVERYTHING THAT OUR ENGINEERS ARE INVOLVED IN.

PLANNING. ZONING. NEIGHBORHOODS. I JUST AM SO PROUD TO WORK WITH ALL OF THESE INDIVIDUALS, AND THIS IS WHAT HELPS BUILD OUR COMMUNITY, AND I APPRECIATE ALL OF THEM. AND THANK YOU ALL FOR RECOGNIZING THEM TODAY. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. HEARING YOU TIP AND ENGINEERING IN THE SAME

[00:50:05]

PLACE. THE ONLY THING PLEASE COME BACK IF YOU KNOW THE YOUNG, YOUR YOUNG PEOPLE. WE'RE GOING TO WORK REALLY HARD FOR ALL YOU YOUNG THAT ARE STILL IN AT UTEP. WE HAD TO WORK REALLY HARD BECAUSE WE'VE BECOME THE BIGGEST AND THE BEST EXPORTERS OF TALENT IN ANY PART OF THE COUNTRY. I HEAR THERE'S MAYBE LIKE 400 ENGINEERS WORKING FOR SOME OF THE AEROSPACE CENTERS. AND SO WE WANT YOU BACK, BUT WE HAVE TO WORK HARD TO MAKE SURE THAT THAT HAPPENS. SO I THANK YOU VERY MUCH. AND I'D LIKE TO I KNOW SOMETIMES YOU HAVE TO LEAVE, BUT I WOULD LOVE IF YOU COULD STAY BECAUSE WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A SPECIAL PERFORMANCE NEXT RESOLUTION, AND WE WOULD LOVE FOR YOU TO BE PART OF THAT AS WELL. SO ONCE AGAIN, THANK YOU VERY MUCH. YOU MAKE US VERY PROUD. AND NOW WE'LL TAKE SOME SOME PICTURES. WE'LL PROBABLY HAVE TO STAND BACK HERE BECAUSE OF THE SIZE. BUT THANK YOU VERY MUCH. CONGRATULATIONS. THANK YOU ALL. THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING YOU DO. THANK YOU. CONGRATULATIONS, EVERYONE. CONGRATULATIONS.

CONGRATULATIONS. GREENFORD. THE RESOLUTION. RIGHT. GREAT. GOOD CALL, GOOD CALL.

CONGRATULATIONS. CONGRATULATIONS. THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU. THANK YOU.

THANK YOU. CONGRATULATIONS. OKAY. THAT SOUNDS LIKE. YEAH. YEAH. EVERYONE TURNS A LITTLE BIT SIDEWAYS. GOOD MORNING. COME ON. YOU GUYS KNOW THE QUINCEANERA? COME ON.

QUINCEANERA POSE, PLEASE. YOU'RE.

INTRODUCING YOURSELF. OH. THANK YOU. SO THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. I DIDN'T HEAR THE PERFORMANCE. THAT WOULD BE KIND. OF. YOU KNOW, WHATEVER. OKAY. I'M GOING TO CHECK TO MAKE SURE, BECAUSE I DON'T WANT HER TO LET ME SEE. ITEM FOUR B CORRECTION FIVE B APPROVE AND ADOPT A RESOLUTION RECOGNIZING FEBRUARY 24TH, 2025 AS JESSICA SACHS DAY IN EL PASO COUNTY, TEXAS. MISTER

[B. Approve and adopt a resolution recognizing February 24, 2025, as Jezzika Sax Day in El Paso County, Texas. David Stout, Commissioner, Precinct 2, 915-546-2111]

STOUT. ALL RIGHT. I HAVE THE DISTINCT HONOR OF BEING ABLE TO READ THIS RESOLUTION INTO THE RECORD. NOT ONLY IS IT AN HONOR, BUT IT'S AN HONOR BECAUSE JESSICA IS A GOOD FRIEND OF MINE, AND I'M HAPPY TO BE ABLE TO RECOGNIZE HER THIS MORNING. I THINK, YOU KNOW, WE WE'VE WE'VE KNOWN FOR A WHILE AND WE'VE WE'VE STARTED TO TALK ABOUT THIS A LOT MORE OVER THE PAST COUPLE

[00:55:03]

OF MONTHS. AND BUT EL PASO IS REALLY A HOTBED FOR ARTISTIC TALENT. WE ARE KNOWN FOR VISUAL ARTS FOR FROM MURALS TO GALLERIES AND CULINARY ARTS. WE'RE ALSO BUILDING A MOTION PICTURE INDUSTRY HERE. AND TODAY WE GET TO CELEBRATE ANOTHER MUSICAL TALENT. WHO IS JESSICA SACHS, WHO PERFORMS HER ORIGINAL MUSIC THROUGHOUT EL PASO AND THE SOUTHWEST. AND SO I'M VERY PLEASED TO WELCOME JESSICA TO THE COMMISSIONERS COURT AND EAGER TO READ THIS RESOLUTION, WHICH JUST BARELY SCRATCHES THE SURFACE OF HER IMMENSE TALENT AND CONTRIBUTION OF LIVE MUSIC HERE IN EL PASO. SO WITH THAT, I'LL GO AHEAD AND READ THE RESOLUTION. IF YOU WANT TO COME UP TO THE PODIUM WITH YOUR SON AND YOUR FATHER, AND THEN WE'LL WE'LL HEAR FROM YOU. THANK YOU.

OKAY. THE RESOLUTION STATES, WHEREAS JESSICA FLORES, KNOWN BY HER STAGE NAME JESSICA SACHS, IS A PROUD EL PASO NATIVE THAT HAS DEDICATED OVER 20 YEARS TO ENTERTAINING AUDIENCES IN HER HOMETOWN AND BEYOND. SHOWCASING HER EXCEPTIONAL TALENT AS BOTH A SAXOPHONIST AND A VOCALIST. AND WHEREAS SHE BEGAN HER MUSICAL JOURNEY AT THE AGE OF 13, MASTERING THE SAXOPHONE AND LATER EXPANDING HER ARTISTRY TO VOCAL PERFORMANCE, CAPTIVATING DIVERSE AUDIENCES AT PUBLIC AND PRIVATE EVENTS ACROSS NEW MEXICO, GEORGIA, TEXAS, AND ARIZONA. AND WHEREAS JESSICA SACHS LATEST SINGLE BAILA CONMIGO, RECORDED IN 2024, FEATURES THREE TIME GRAMMY AWARD WINNING PRODUCER CHRIS DOBBS, A FORMER LONGTIME MEMBER OF THE RENOWNED KUMBIA KINGS AND HAS RAPIDLY GAINED MOMENTUM WITHIN THE TEJANO MUSIC CIRCUIT, EARNING RECOGNITION ACROSS MULTIPLE PLATFORMS. AND WHEREAS HER LATEST MUSICAL ACHIEVEMENTS INCLUDE MAKING TOP TEN CHARTS ON VARIOUS RADIO STATIONS, FURTHER SOLIDIFYING HER IMPACT IN THE ENTERTAINMENT INDUSTRY. AND WHEREAS JESSICA SACHS OUTSTANDING CONTRIBUTIONS TO MUSIC WILL BE HONORED WITH AN AWARD AT THE INAUGURAL WEST TEXAS TEJANO MUSIC AWARDS IN LUBBOCK, TEXAS ON MARCH 22ND, SHOWCASING HER TESTAMENT OF DEDICATION AND TALENT TO THE CULTURAL IMPACT OF EL PASO. AND WHEREAS, THROUGH HER PASSION FOR MUSIC, JESSICA SACHS CONTINUES TO INSPIRE AND UPLIFT THE EL PASO COMMUNITY, REPRESENTING THE CITY WITH PRIDE AND BRINGING ITS RICH CULTURE TO A NATIONAL STAGE. AND NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE EL PASO COUNTY JUDGE AND COMMISSIONERS COURT THAT JESSICA SACHS IS HEREBY RECOGNIZED AND COMMENDED FOR HER EXTRAORDINARY ACHIEVEMENTS IN THE MUSIC INDUSTRY AND HER LASTING CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE CULTURAL LANDSCAPE OF EL PASO.

AND THAT MONDAY, FEBRUARY 24TH, IS HEREBY DECLARED JESSICA SACHS DAY IN EL PASO COUNTY, TEXAS.

SIGNED THIS 24TH DAY OF FEBRUARY, 2025. THE HONORABLE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS COURT. WE HAVE A MOTION BY COMMISSIONER STOUT, SECOND BY JUDGE SAMANIEGO. THE VOTING IS OPEN.

MOTION CARRIES. JESSICA. YES. WELCOME, WELCOME. THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU. WELL, GOOD MORNING, HONORABLE COMMISSIONERS AND ESTEEMED GUESTS. I AM DEEPLY HONORED TO BE HERE TODAY AND SINCERELY GRATEFUL TO THE COMMISSIONERS COURT FOR THIS RECOGNITION. AS A PROUD NATIVE OF EL PASO, IT HAS BEEN A LONG TIME GOAL TO REPRESENT OUR BEAUTIFUL CITY IN A WAY THAT BRINGS PRIDE TO OUR COMMUNITY. THIS MOMENT IS INCREDIBLY MEANINGFUL TO ME. I WOULD NOT BE STANDING HERE WITHOUT THE UNWAVERING SUPPORT OF MY FAMILY, MY PARENTS, WHO SURROUNDED ME WITH MUSIC FROM AN EARLY AGE, WERE NOT ONLY MY FIRST TEACHERS, BUT ALSO MY GREATEST INSPIRATIONS, MY CHILDREN, WHO HAVE BEEN MY BIGGEST CHEERLEADERS, AND EVEN MY LITTLE HELPERS ALONG THE WAY CONTINUE TO FILL MY JOURNEY WITH JOY AND PURPOSE. I ALSO WANT TO EXPRESS MY DEEPEST GRATITUDE TO MY BOYFRIEND AND MANAGER, DOCTOR MARCO CASTRO. HIS BELIEF IN ME HAS NOT ONLY STRENGTHENED MY CONFIDENCE, BUT HAS ALSO PLAYED A PIVOTAL ROLE IN SHAPING MY CAREER. HIS EXPERTISE IN MARKETING AND HIS DEEP PASSION FOR THE ART OF MUSIC ALIGNED PERFECTLY WITH MY OWN DRIVE, MAKING OUR JOURNEY TOGETHER ALL THE MORE REWARDING. SUCCESS IS NEVER ACHIEVED ALONE, AND I AM TRULY BLESSED TO HAVE SUCH AN INCREDIBLE SUPPORT SYSTEM BY MY SIDE. THANK YOU FOR THIS HONOR AND FOR YOUR CONTINUED ENCOURAGEMENT. IT MEANS THE WORLD TO ME. THANK YOU JESSICA. THANK YOU FOR YOUR AMAZING PASSION. IF ANYBODY HAS HAD THE OPPORTUNITY, I'M GLAD YOU'RE GOING TO BE ABLE TO HEAR. BUT JUST YOUR AMAZING PASSION AND YOUR LOVE FOR EL PASO. YOU'RE LIKE THE EXEMPLARY EL PASOAN FROM EL CHUCO, FROM EL PASO, FROM WHATEVER YOU WANT TO CALL IT. BUT IT'S JUST AMAZING BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, YOU PERFORM IN SMALL VENUES, LIKE IF YOU'RE AT CONCERTS AND IF YOU PERFORM AT CONCERTS, LIKE IF YOU'RE IN A SMALL VENUE, IT'S ALWAYS THAT SAME INTENSITY. AND, AND YOU PROJECT THAT THAT LOVE FOR EL PASO, FOR THE PEOPLE. YOU'RE SO GROUNDED. AND WE'RE VERY, VERY, VERY PRIVILEGED AND HONORED TO

[01:00:05]

HAVE YOU AS PART OF OUR EL PASO. AND YOU'RE AN AMAZING AMBASSADOR, ESPECIALLY NOW AS YOU GET TO WHERE YOU SHOULD BE. AND BE ABLE TO PROJECT EL PASO AND BE OUR AMBASSADOR, LIKE, LIKE WE'VE ALWAYS SAID. SO ONCE AGAIN, THIS IS AN AMAZING RECOGNITION. THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER STOUT, FOR RECOGNIZING, OF COURSE, AS YOU SAID, YOUR PARENTS, YOUR FAMILY, THEY BECOME A HUGE PART. AND WE THANK THEM ALSO FOR THEIR PATIENCE BECAUSE YOU HAVE TO PERFORM A LOT. SO ONCE AGAIN, FELICIDADES JESSICA, THANK YOU SO MUCH. VERY HONORED AND PROUD FOR THIS. THANK YOU. COMMISSIONER STOUT. WOULD DAUGHTER OR SON LIKE TO SAY ANY ANYTHING? IT'S ALL ABOUT HER. OKAY. YEAH, I, I WANT TO SAY THAT I THINK THE FIRST TIME THAT THAT I CAME ACROSS JESSICA IS IN MY FIRST OR SECOND YEAR HERE IN OFFICE. WE USED TO DO POP UP GALLERIES IN THE FOYER IN THE IN THE COMMISSIONER'S COURT SUITES, AND WE WOULD BRING IN DIFFERENT TYPES OF ART. RIGHT. SO WE WOULD BRING IN PEOPLE, FOLKS THAT WOULD PAINT, WE WOULD BRING IN A CULINARY ARTIST, AND WE WOULD ALSO BRING IN MUSICIANS. AND SHE WAS SHE WAS ONE OF THE MUSICIANS THAT PLAYED FOR US AT ONE OF THOSE EVENTS. AND SO THAT'S THE FIRST TIME I, I SAW HER AND I HEARD HER. AND OF COURSE, YOU KNOW, I LIKE I LIKE SPENDING EVENINGS LISTENING TO MUSIC.

AND, YOU KNOW, IF YOU'VE EVER GONE OUT IN EL PASO, I'M SURE YOU HAVE HEARD HER PLAY. SHE'S SHE'S EVERYWHERE. I MEAN, IT SEEMS LIKE THERE'S MORE THAN ONE OF HER BECAUSE SHE'S I THINK SHE JUST GOT BACK FROM A TRIP TO TAOS ACTUALLY YESTERDAY. AND SO SHE'S STARTING TO REALLY GET OUT THERE. AND I'M REALLY PROUD OF THE OF, YOU KNOW, HAVING SUCH AN AMAZING EL PASO AND GETTING OUT THERE. AND I MEAN, IF YOU'VE GONE TO ANY OF HER SHOWS, EVERYBODY AT THE END OF THE NIGHT IS UP DANCING. JUST HAVING AMAZING AND AMAZING TIME. SHE REALLY KNOWS HOW TO SING, PLAY THE SAXOPHONE, BUT SHE'S ALSO GREAT AT ANIMATING THE CROWD AND GETTING THEM UP AND DANCING. SO WE'D LOVE TO HEAR YOU PLAY. I'D BE HAPPY TO. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT.

SURE. YEAH. OKAY. SONG IS MY NEWEST SINGLE. IT'S CALLED BAILA CONMIGO, AND IT SAYS BASICALLY DANCE WITH ME. SO I KNOW IT'S EARLY AND MAYBE IT'S A MONDAY, BUT IF YOU REALLY FEEL LIKE DANCING, I WELCOME IT, BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT MUSIC DOES. ALL RIGHT. CHICK CHICK CHICK CHICK CHICK SAX. CRYSTAL. WHOO! YEAH! ESTE NUEVO RITMOS. PEQUENO VALE. TODO MI LA CUMBIA. SABROSA Y ESTA ENSENANDO PARA. TOMA TU PAREJA A LA PISTA MALA TAMBIÉN LA CANASTA BROZA ESTAS EN NOMBRE PARA LA. BAILA CONMIGO? NO POLICIA. UNA SABROSA BAILA CONMIGO. TE QUIERO VER UN SABROSA. BAILAR CONMIGO. NO PARECIA CASAROSA. BAILA CONMIGO. TE QUIERO VER UN DOSA.

DE LAS. DOS. DE NUEVO. RITMO PEQUENO. BAILAR. TODA MI GENTE. LA CUMBIA. SABROSA ESTA ENSENANDO. NOVA PARA A COMO A TU PAREJA A LA PISTA MALA. AMBIENT. A ESTA BUENA. DISFRUTA Y NO.

PARA BAILAR LA. BAILA CONMIGO. NO PARA SER UN. ESTADO DE LA VIDA COMIGO. TE QUIERO VER. LA COSA AMANECER. BAILA CONMIGO NO PARECER UN IS A BOSSA. BAILA CONMIGO. TE QUIERO DE MI SALSA MAMA. MI.

[01:05:34]

SO PARA BAILA. BAILA. BAILA AN. AHORA. VAMOS A BAILAR CONMIGO. TE QUIERO DE UN DE SALAZAR.

WOO! THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH. AMAZING, AMAZING. THANK YOU. I SAW COMMISSIONER GET UP TO. I THOUGHT HE WAS GOING TO GET UP TO DANCE AND GO WALK. PRETTY COOL. THANK YOU DAVID. MR. STOUT SINGS VERY WELL. WE HAVEN'T HEARD HIM SING. HE SENT THE FERNANDEZ. WELL, CAN YOU COME UP SO WE CAN TAKE A PICTURE AND WE CAN GIVE YOU THE RESUME? THANK YOU ONCE AGAIN. THANK YOU. CHALLENGING TO SEE ANYBODY, BUT THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU.

THANK YOU SO MUCH. I APPRECIATE Y'ALL. WOW. THANK YOU.

YEAH.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU. GOOD LUCK. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANKS. THANK YOU. KEVIN. CAN YOU TAKE A PICTURE? YES. YES. OKAY. THANK YOU. DIDN'T USE IT. OKAY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU.

ITEM FIVE. SEE, WE DO HAVE A CORRECTION TO READ IN, APPROVE AND ADOPT A RESOLUTION DECLARING FEBRUARY 2025 AS CERVICAL CANCER AND HPV PREVENTION MONTH IN EL PASO COUNTY, TEXAS. COMMISSIONER

[C. Approve and adopt a resolution declaring March 2025 as Cervical Cancer and HPV Prevention Month in El Paso County, Texas. Iliana Holguin, Commissioner, Precinct 3, 915-546-2144]

OLGUIN. THANK YOU. JUDGE. THIS MORNING. AND IT GIVES ME A GREAT PLEASURE TO RECOGNIZE THE WORK THAT ONE OF OUR AMAZING COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS DOES EVERY SINGLE YEAR FOR OUR RESIDENTS, ESPECIALLY OUR RURAL RESIDENTS WHO WE KNOW HAVE SUCH A DIFFICULT TIME ACCESSING SERVICES. BOTH HEALTH SERVICES AND OTHER TYPES OF VERY NECESSARY SERVICES. SO I'M VERY HAPPY TO HAVE WITH US INDIVIDUALS FROM FAMILIAS TRIUNFADORES. AND I KNOW MARIA IS GOING TO SAY A FEW WORDS. I'M NOT SURE IF DOCTOR CHAVEZ IS ABLE TO JOIN US TODAY OR NOT. SO HOPEFULLY SHE'LL BE HERE SHORTLY. BUT IN THE MEANTIME, I'M GOING TO GO AHEAD AND READ THE RESOLUTION INTO THE RECORD. WHEREAS LACK OF ACCESS AND EDUCATION REGARDING CRITICAL PREVENTATIVE HEALTH CARE AND INFORMATION ON CERVICAL CANCER AND THE HUMAN PAPILLOMAVIRUS VACCINE FURTHER MARGINALIZES VULNERABLE POPULATIONS AND PUTS WOMEN AT RISK FOR DEVELOPING CERVICAL CANCER DUE TO LACK OF KNOWLEDGE, PREVENTION AND ACCESSIBILITY TO VACCINES AND SERVICES IN THEIR COMMUNITY. AND WHEREAS CERVICAL CANCER SCREENING TESTS CAN DETECT CANCER EARLIER, THUS MAKING TREATMENT MORE EFFECTIVE. IN TEXAS, 2048 WOMEN DIED OF CERVICAL CANCER. BETWEEN THE YEARS 2015 TO 2019. AND I'LL PASS. THOSE 63 WOMEN DIED OF CERVICAL CANCER BETWEEN 2015 AND 2019. AND WHEREAS CANCER SCREENING BARRIERS ARE COMMON AMONG THE HISPANIC POPULATION. BARRIERS SUCH AS FINANCIAL RESOURCES, LACK OF INSURANCE,

[01:10:02]

FEAR, A FATALISTIC PERCEPTION OF CANCER. RELIGIOUS OR SPIRITUAL BELIEFS. CONCERNS REGARDING CONFIDENTIALITY, LINGUISTIC BARRIERS, AND STIGMA PREVENT MANY HISPANIC WOMEN FROM RECEIVING EARLY AND ADEQUATE SCREENINGS AND CARE. AND WHEREAS FAMILIAS TRIUNFADORES, INC. IS AN AGENCY THAT ANNUALLY SERVES 5000 WOMEN AND CHILDREN WHO SUFFER GENDER VIOLENCE. AND SINCE 2007 HAVE FOCUSED ON EDUCATION, PREVENTION, AND PHYSICAL AND MENTAL HEALTH NEEDS. IN ADDITION TO ADVOCATING FOR CERVICAL CANCER CARE IN THE REGION FOR UNDERSERVED POPULATIONS. AND WHEREAS, IN 2023, TEXAS TECH UNIVERSITY HEALTH SCIENCES CENTER IN EL PASO CELEBRATED TEN YEARS LEADING CANCER PREVENTION EDUCATION, EARLY DIAGNOSIS, HUMAN PAPILLOMAVIRUS VACCINATION ROLLOUT, AND ACCESS TO TREATMENT AND CARE. UNDER THE PROGRAMS TITLED DE CASA EN CASA AND TIEMPO DE VACUNA IN EL PASO AND HUDSPETH COUNTIES, AND CONTINUES TO PROVIDE CARE AND EDUCATION THROUGH VARIOUS OUTREACH PROGRAMS. AND WHEREAS, THE AMERICAN CANCER SOCIETY HAS BEEN PROVIDING SERVICES 50 YEARS NATIONALLY AND NINE YEARS LOCALLY TO WOMEN WITH CERVICAL CANCER, PROMOTING CERVICAL CANCER SCREENING AND ATTENDING THE NEEDS OF PERSONS DIAGNOSED WITH CANCER. REGARDING FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE, TRANSPORTATION SERVICES, SUPPORT GROUPS, HEADSCARVES, WIGS AND OTHER ADDITIONAL RESOURCES TO LESSEN THE BURDEN ON CANCER PATIENTS AND THEIR FAMILIES. AND WHEREAS, THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT EL PASO, THROUGH THE BORDER BIOMEDICAL RESEARCH CENTER, CUIDARTE EL PASO HPV PROJECT LED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL WORK SINCE 2018, ADDRESSES ISSUES OF HISPANIC HEALTH DISPARITIES AND COLLABORATES WITH A DIVERSE NETWORK OF PARTNERS CONSISTING OF EXPERTS FROM REGIONAL, ACADEMIC, MEDICAL, AND COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS WITH THE GOAL TO ADDRESS HPV RELATED CANCER RISKS IN MEXICAN AMERICAN POPULATIONS. AND WHEREAS, THIS YEAR'S CAMPAIGN, CANCER SCREENING AND CARE AMONG HISPANIC WOMEN IN EL PASO, TEXAS HIGHLIGHTS THE EXPERIENCES OF TEN WOMEN WHO LIVE WITH CERVICAL CANCER TO BRING AWARENESS OF THE CHALLENGES AND BARRIERS FACED BY WOMEN IN OUR COMMUNITY THROUGH A CALL TO ACTION TO PERFORM DECISION MAKERS, TO INFORM DECISION MAKERS AND RAISE AWARENESS OF CANCER PREVENTION IN THE COMMUNITY. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED THAT THE EL PASO COUNTY JUDGE AND THE COMMISSIONERS COURT, IN RECOGNITION OF THE CRITICAL WORK DONE BY FAMILIAS TRIUNFADORES IN COLLABORATION WITH THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT EL PASO, BRC, THE AMERICAN CANCER SOCIETY, AND TEXAS TECH UNIVERSITY HEALTH SCIENCES CENTER, EL PASO PROCLAIMS THE MONTH OF FEBRUARY AS CERVICAL CANCER AND HPV PREVENTION MONTH IN THE COUNTY OF EL PASO, TEXAS, IN AN EFFORT TO URGE ALL PEOPLE TO ACTIVELY PARTICIPATE IN THE EDUCATION AND PREVENTION OF CERVICAL CANCER, HPV VACCINATIO, UPTAKE AND COMPLETION, AND SHARE ACCESS AND CARE, IMPROVE HEALTH CARE SYSTEMS, AND DEVELOP CULTURALLY COMPETENT PROGRAMS TO SERVE HISPANIC WOMEN IN THE US MEXICO BORDER REGION. IN OFFICIAL RECOGNITION THEREOF, THE COMMISSIONERS OF THE COURT HEREBY AFFIX THEIR SIGNATURES THIS 24TH DAY OF FEBRUARY, 2025, IN EL PASO COUNTY, TEXAS. HAVE A MOTION BY COMMISSIONER OLGUIN, SECOND BY COMMISSIONER STOUT. THE VOTING IS OPEN. MOTION CARRIES. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU.

COMMISSIONER. WELCOME. THANK YOU. EXCUSE MY VOICE, PLEASE. THANK YOU, THANK YOU, HONORABLE JUDGE SAMANIEGO. COMMISSIONERS, THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO BE HERE. I APOLOGIZE, DOCTORS AND HER WAY. SO I JUST WANTED TO SAY THAT NO WOMAN SHOULD EVER DIE OF CERVICAL CANCER. DISEASE. THAT ALMOST 100% PREVENTABLE. WE KNOW WHAT CAUSED IT. WE KNOW HOW TO PREVENT IT. SO IF WE GO AND GET AN EDUCATE AND INFORM THE COMMUNITY TO BARCENAS, OUR KIDS AND EARLY AGE 9 TO 17, WE ARE PREVENTING DIFFERENT CANCERS IN WOMEN. AND NOWADAYS WE HAVE THE VACCINATION FOR MEN'S TOO. SO WE ARE ENCOURAGE MEN TO GO AND GET THE HPV VACCINATION. WE NEED TO PREVENT THIS VIRUS AND WE CAN DO IT THROUGH THE TO THE VACCINATION. SO WE KNOW HOW TO DO IT HERE IN EL PASO. CERVICAL CANCER IS A SIGNIFICANT HEALTH CONCERN HERE IN EL PASO, TEXAS, WHERE THE RATE IS HIGHER THAN THE NATIONAL AVERAGE. HOWEVER, HOWEVER, THERE ARE PROGRAMS AND SERVICES AVAILABLE TO PREVENT AND TREAT CERVICAL CANCER. SO I REALLY ENCOURAGE EVERYONE TO GET

[01:15:05]

TOGETHER AND SPREAD THE WORD TO GO AND VACCINATE THEIR KIDS, AND EVEN WOMEN AND MEN. WE DEVELOP THIS COMIC SO. IN COLLABORATION WITH THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS, IT'S IN SPANISH AND ENGLISH. HOW WE CAN. PROMOTE THE VACCINATION. AND THIS TALKS ABOUT A SOCCER GAME FROM CANUTILLO TO SAN ELIZARIO. HOW WE ARE WORKING IN EL PASO COUNTY, ESPECIALLY EL PASO COUNTY. THERE ARE A LOT OF MISINFORMATION ON HPV VACCINATION. SO THAT'S THE REASON WE DEVELOPED THIS COMIC.

HOW CAN YOU KNOW THE LITTLE BOY HE IS? HE WANTS THE VACCINATION. HE'S A VACUNAS VACUNA. LET'S GO.

LET'S GO TO SAN ELIZARIO AND GET THE VACUNA. THE VACCINATION IN THIS HEALTH FAIRS. SO I REALLY ENCOURAGE EVERYONE, IF YOU HEAR THE HEALTH FAIRS, PLEASE GO TO THE HEALTH FAIRS, BECAUSE WE HAVE THE VACCINATIONS THERE AT NO COST. THE VACCINATION RIGHT NOW THAT IS HPV VACCINATION COST $300 AND THEY NEED TWO, TWO VACCINES, ONE AND NINE YEARS OLD WHEN THEY START. AND THEN THE OTHER ONE SIX MONTHS AFTER. SO WE ARE SAVING $600 THERE TO THE PARENTS. SO PLEASE. AND I JUST WANTED TO SAY THANK YOU. THANK YOU. NO, THANK YOU VERY MUCH. I LOVE THE CANUTILLO TO SAN ELIZARIO. I LOVE THAT BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, WE FOUND OUT, OBVIOUSLY, THAT INFORMATION DOESN'T GET TO SOME OF THE RURAL AREAS. AND YOU SAID SOMETHING SO HEARTFELT, AND THAT IS THAT NO ONE SHOULD DIE BECAUSE OF THAT. WHEN YOU'VE DONE, YOU KNOW, WE'VE ADVANCED SO MUCH IN THAT AREA. AND SO WE THANK YOU. WE KNOW HERE WE FIND THAT AWARENESS IS SOMETHING THAT IF YOU LISTEN TO A LOT OF THE RESOLUTIONS AND, YOU KNOW, WHAT WE TALK ABOUT IS MAKING PEOPLE AWARE OF CERTAIN THINGS. AND THAT'S BEEN VERY POWERFUL. SO WE THANK YOU VERY MUCH BECAUSE THAT'S VERY ALIGNED WITH US TO MAKE SURE THAT THAT WE REACH EVERY SINGLE PERSON THAT WE CAN. SO WE THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMITMENT. AND COMMISSIONER OLGUIN, THANK YOU FOR THAT ALWAYS COMMITMENT. AND THE COMIC BOOK IS JUST SUCH A WONDERFUL EXAMPLE OF WHAT A COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS LIKE FAMILIAS TRIUNFADORES DO TO REALLY EDUCATE THEIR COMMUNITIES AND SPREAD THE MESSAGE. SO THIS IS A BEAUTIFUL BOOK. IT'S REALLY GREAT. I HOPE YOU HAVE A LOT MORE SO WE CAN HELP YOU DISTRIBUTE IT. WE HAVE LIKE 5000. THANK YOU. YEAH. THANK YOU. WE ARE GIVING OUT SOME AT HUECO TANKS TO THAT COMMUNITY NEEDS A LOT. THANK YOU FOR THAT. WELL, THANK YOU FOR ALL YOU DO.

MARIA AND BERTA. THANK YOU.

AND.

THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING.

YOU DO. AND.

[01:20:23]

ITEM FIVE D APPROVE AND ADOPT A RESOLUTION RECOGNIZING FEBRUARY 24TH, 2025 AS CARL MCLANEY DAY

[D. Approve and adopt a resolution recognizing February 24, 2025, as Karl McElhaney Day, in El Paso County, Texas. Sergio Coronado, Commissioner, Precinct 4, 915-273-3594]

IN EL PASO COUNTY, TEXAS. COMMISSIONER. CORONADO. JUDGE. THANK YOU. WE POSTED THIS FOR THIS RESOLUTION, BUT I REALLY THINK IT'S. I'M GOING TO DEFER TO COMMISSIONER BUTLER TO READ THE RESOLUTION. WE HAD A REALLY, REALLY LOVELY MEMORIAL CEREMONY FOR CARL LAST WEEK ON FRIDAY.

AND IT'S BEEN A DIFFICULT FEW WEEKS FOR THE COUNTY AND FOR OUR OFFICE. SPECIFICALLY, WE HAVE FELT CARL'S ABSENCE AND HIS LOSS TREMENDOUSLY. AND TO BE HONEST, WE'RE STILL, I THINK, PROCESSING AND. MISSING HIM EVERY DAY. BUT I WANTED TO TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO THANK THE COUNTY STAFF AND THE COUNTY TEAM FOR WRAPPING THEIR ARMS AROUND US OVER THESE LAST SEVERAL WEEKS.

SPECIFICALLY, I WANTED TO THANK A FEW PEOPLE FOR THEIR HELP PUTTING TOGETHER THE CEREMONY ON FRIDAY AND ALSO JUST HELPING OUR OFFICE GET THROUGH THE LAST TWO WEEKS. SO THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER CORONADO AND YOUR STAFF FOR POSTING THE RESOLUTION. I WANT TO THANK CHANDLER IN THE JUDGE'S OFFICE FOR YOUR HELP WITH THE SETUP OF THE CEREMONY AND PUTTING THE PICTURES OF CARL TOGETHER. YVETTE, AS WELL, FOR YOUR HELP WITH THE COORDINATION OF THE SETUP OF THE CEREMONY. BETSY, THANK YOU AND CLAUDIA FOR ALL OF YOUR HELP COORDINATING EVERYTHING. AND CLAUDIA'S HELPING HAND IN EVERYTHING WE DO, BUT ESPECIALLY ON FRIDAY.

THE FACILITIES TEAM REALLY CAME THROUGH AND HELPED US A LOT AS WELL. DAQUAN BARNES IN PURCHASING AND LOGISTICS. HELPED US WITH THE PRINTING OF THE PROGRAMS. AND THE PHOTOS. OUR TEAM AND OUR OFFICE. CRISTOBAL, KAYLA. RYAN. SO AS A LOT OF ACT OF LOVE. IN IN PUTTING EVERYTHING TOGETHER. AND I KNOW HOW DIFFICULT IT'S BEEN AND HOW MUCH, HOW MUCH LOVE YOU PUT INTO IT. SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR, FOR ALL OF YOUR, ALL OF YOUR WORK AND REMEMBERING CARL. THIS RESOLUTION WAS WRITTEN BY MYSELF AND CARLOS MARTINEZ, WHO WAS A CLOSE FRIEND OF CARL'S. AND HE REALLY HELPED IN THOSE FIRST FEW DAYS AFTER CARL'S PASSING TO PUT THIS IN WRITING. AND THIS WAS WHAT WE BASED THE SENATE AND HOUSE RESOLUTIONS OFF OF AS WELL. SO JUST A LOT OF PEOPLE COMING TOGETHER. TO MAKE SURE THAT THAT WE'RE RECOGNIZING CARL. IN A MANNER THAT THAT REALLY. WILL MAKE HIM WILL DO HIM JUSTICE AND MAKE HIM PROUD. AND SO I'LL READ THE RESOLUTION, AND I'VE ASKED ALL OF THE COMMISSIONERS COURT STAFFERS TO BE IN HERE. WE'D LIKE TO TAKE A PICTURE TOGETHER, BECAUSE WE'RE REALLY THE ONES WHO I COUNT MYSELF IN THAT. WHO WORK DAY IN AND DAY OUT TOGETHER. SO THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING HERE AND HELPING US TO REMEMBER CARL.

WE'RE, AS CARL MCELHANEY DEVOTED HIS LIFE TO SERVING THE PEOPLE OF NEW MEXICO AND TEXAS BY WORKING WITH ELECTED OFFICIALS AT THE FEDERAL AND COUNTY LEVELS, BOTH DIRECTLY AND THROUGH HIS WORK AT THE EL PASO CHAMBER, INCLUDING HIS SERVICE WITH CONGRESSMAN BILL RICHARDSON, CONGRESSMAN SYLVESTER REYES, CONGRESSMAN PETE GALLEGO, AND COUNTY COMMISSIONERS CARL ROBINSON, CARLOS LEON, THE CHIEF, AND MYSELF. AND WHEREAS, THROUGH HIS COUNTLESS HOURS OF DEDICATED SERVICE, HE ASSISTED CONSTITUENTS WITH A WIDE RANGE OF ISSUES FROM ADVOCATING FOR INFRASTRUCTURE NEEDS SUCH AS WATER, WASTEWATER AND STREET IMPROVEMENTS IN THE RURAL AREAS OF EL PASO COUNTY, TO CRAFTING POLICY AND MANAGING CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT WORK AND COMMITTEE ASSIGNMENTS, INCLUDING HELPING CONSTITUENTS NAVIGATE FEDERAL AGENCIES. AND WHEREAS, CARL WAS ALSO A MENTOR WHOSE LEGACY EXTENDS BEYOND HIMSELF THROUGH THE MANY COLLEAGUES HE INFLUENCED, MANY OF WHOM BECAME CLOSE FRIENDS AND DEDICATED PUBLIC SERVANTS, INCLUDING TWO FORMER INTERNS WHO NOW SERVE AS A TEXAS STATE SENATOR FOR DISTRICT 29 AND THE EL PASO COUNTY ATTORNEY, AS WELL AS HIS CLOSE COLLEAGUE, WHO WENT ON TO

[01:25:02]

BECOME A COUNTY COMMISSIONER. AND WHEREAS CARL'S LIFE OF SERVICE EXTENDED BEYOND HIS PROFESSIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES AS HE FOUND TIME TO FOSTER, RESCUE AND TRANSPORT DOGS AND CATS AS PART OF ADOPTION EFFORTS IN TEXAS AND NEW MEXICO. AND HE GENEROUSLY VOLUNTEERED HIS TIME WHENEVER POSSIBLE. AND WHEREAS CARL WAS A BELOVED AND DEDICATED SON AND BROTHER TO HIS THREE SIBLINGS, LIZ, JERRY, AND JEFFREY. IN THE LIGHT OF CARL'S LIFE WERE HIS SONS, JACOB AND JONATHAN, OF WHOM HE WAS IMMENSELY PROUD AND SPOKE SO HIGHLY OF. AND WHEREAS HIS EVER GENEROUS, KIND, OPTIMISTIC AND GENUINE, GENUINE SPIRIT FILLED BOTH THE WORKPLACE AND SOCIAL SETTINGS, INSPIRING THOSE AROUND HIM TO LEARN FROM AND EMULATE HIS EXAMPLE AND HIS FAMILY, FRIENDS, COLLEAGUES AND ACQUAINTANCES AND ACQUAINTANCES WILL DEARLY MISS HIM. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED THAT THE EL PASO COUNTY JUDGE AND COMMISSION HEREBY DECLARE.

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 24TH, 2025, AS CARL MCELHENEY DAY IN EL PASO COUNTY TO HONOR THE LIFE AND LEGACY OF A PROUD COUNTY EMPLOYEE, A DEDICATED PUBLIC SERVANT, AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, A DEAR FRIEND. SIGNED THIS 24TH DAY OF FEBRUARY, 2025. SECOND, PLEASE. YOU HAVE A MOTION BY COMMISSIONER BUTLER. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER OLGUIN. THE VOTING IS OPEN. MOTION CARRIES. THANK YOU. COMMISSIONER. I CAN'T TELL YOU HOW PROUD I AM THAT. AND I SAID AT THE MEMORIAL THAT, YOU KNOW, YOU'VE OUR COMMUNITY MOVES QUICKLY, VERY QUICKLY. IT FORGETS TO HONOR THOSE THAT THEY SHOULD HONOR. AND I AM SO PROUD OF HOW CARL HAS BEEN HONORED BY OUR COUNTY FAMILY AND BY EVERYONE, THE COMMUNITY. AND IT'S AN EXAMPLE OF THE WAY WE SHOULD DO THINGS. WE KNOW THAT HOW YOU HONOR THOSE THAT PASS IS A REFLECTION OF THE COMMUNITY THAT YOU LIVE IN. AND SOME COMMUNITIES, YOU KNOW, THIS WOULD HAVE BEEN HERE TODAY, GONE TOMORROW ATTITUDE KIND OF THING.

AND IT'S VERY PAINFUL TO SEE IT, ESPECIALLY COMING, YOU KNOW, BEING BORN AND RAISED IN EL PASO. AND WE REMEMBER HOW SENTIMENTAL AND HOW WE HONORED PEOPLE. AND I FELT LIKE WE'RE LOSING A LITTLE BIT OF THAT. AND IT FELT SAD. SO BECAUSE HE WAS SO HUMBLE, I A LOT OF PEOPLE DIDN'T KNOW A LOT ABOUT HIM. AND LIKE I SAID BEFORE, IS THAT I REALLY THOUGHT, OH, I HOPE HE DOESN'T GO UNNOTICED. AND HE DIDN'T. THE WAY THEY HONORED HIM AND SO, SO MANY DIFFERENT EVENTS AND SITUATIONS. AT THE STATE CAPITOL, YOU KNOW, MAKING IT SENATOR BLANCO HONORING HIM AND ADJOURNING IN HIS NAME, WE YOU KNOW, THERE'S JUST BEEN SO MUCH AROUND HIM, SAYS A LOT ABOUT HIM, BUT IT ALSO SAYS A LOT ABOUT OUR COMMUNITY AND OUR COUNTY FAMILY. THAT THAT WE DO WE'RE NOT GOING TO LET GO OF THOSE HISTORICAL TRADITIONS THAT WE HAVE THAT COME FROM OUR FAMILY VALUES. AND SO I'M VERY PROUD OF EVERYBODY THAT'S DONE EVERYTHING, ALL THE STAFF, YOU KNOW, CHANDLER, CRISTOBAL, EVERYBODY, YVETTE, EVERYBODY, ALL OF YOU. JUST AMAZING HOW YOU CAME TOGETHER. AND I HOPE THIS IS SORT OF AN EXAMPLE OF HOW WE SHOULD BE, BECAUSE WE KEEP SAYING EL PASO IS UNIQUE, AND I'M TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT IT IS THAT MAKES US UNIQUE. AND THAT'S ONE OF THOSE THINGS THAT MAKES US UNIQUE. WE'RE STILL PART OF OUR FAMILY VALUES. SO THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH. AND THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER, FOR THAT. DID ANY OF OUR STAFF WANT TO SAY A FEW WORDS PERHAPS. THANK YOU. BART. MY NAME IS JAVIER PAZ, SENIOR POLICY ADVISOR. I WANTED TO TALK. I DIDN'T HAVE TIME AT THE MEMORIAL BECAUSE WE WERE RUNNING OUT OF TIME. BUT NOT. I WAS A COLLEAGUE, BUT I KNEW HIM AS A DAD. BECAUSE THE FIRST TIME I CAME HERE, I WAS WALKING, GOING INTO OUR MEETING, I MEAN, INTO OUR OFFICE. AND I WAS LOOKING OVER AND I WAS LIKE, THAT'S JACOB'S DAD. AND THE REASON I KNEW HIM AS A DAD IS BECAUSE HIS SON WAS MY STUDENT FOR FOUR YEARS AT CORONADO HIGH SCHOOL. AND SO I GOT TO KNOW HIM FROM THAT PERSPECTIVE. SO I JUST WANTED TO SHARE A LITTLE BIT ABOUT CARL AS A DAD. YOU COULDN'T GET A BETTER PARENT THAN CARL. HE WAS THE ONE THAT THE TEACHERS WOULD FIGHT FOR. HE WAS LIKE, HE'S THE THAT'S THE THAT'S THE DAD WE WANT BECAUSE. NOT BECAUSE WE'D GET A LITTLE STARBUCKS CARDS ALL THE TIME. SO THAT'S ONE OF THE REASONS. BUT HE WAS JUST HE JUST CARED SO MUCH ABOUT JACOB. HE'S THE TYPE THAT WOULD MAKE SURE THAT YOU KNEW HE WAS ALWAYS GOING TO COME TO OPEN HOUSE. YOU KNEW HE WAS ALWAYS GOING TO COME TO EVERY PARENT MEETING. AND BOTH BOTH

[01:30:01]

PARENTS WERE THERE. THEY WERE SO SUPPORTIVE. THEY'RE LIKE YOUR DREAM PARENTS THAT YOU, THAT YOU, THAT YOU WISH THAT YOU, YOU KNOW, TEACHERS HAD BECAUSE THEY WERE SO CARING. THEY WERE HERE.

WHAT DO WE WHAT DO YOU NEED? WHAT DO YOU NEED? HOW CAN WE SUPPORT YOU? HOW CAN YOU? AND IT'S JUST I JUST THOUGHT, YOU KNOW, THAT'S HOW I KNEW HIM. AND I JUST THOUGHT, YOU KNOW, ONE DAY, IF I EVER HAVE KIDS, LIKE I NEED. I NEED TO BE A DAD LIKE HIM BECAUSE HE'S. HE JUST WAS JUST TOP NOTCH. SO I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE TO SHARE THAT THAT PART OF IT. BECAUSE I KNOW WE'VE BEEN TALKING MORE ABOUT COLLEAGUES KNOWING HIM AS A COLLEAGUE, BUT I KNEW HIM THAT WAY TOO, A LITTLE BIT. BUT I REALLY KNEW HIM FOR FOUR YEARS AS A DAD, AND HE WAS JUST AMAZING. SO I JUST WANTED TO SHARE THAT. THANK YOU. I APPRECIATE THAT GREAT INSIGHT.

JUDGE, CAN I MAKE A COMMENT? YES, SIR. COMMISSIONER STOUT. THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER CORONADO AND COMMISSIONER BUTLER FOR DOING THIS. DOING THIS RESOLUTION. YOU KNOW, I I'VE KNOWN CARL FOR MANY, MANY YEARS. HE AND I RAN INTO EACH OTHER, I THINK, WHEN I WAS WORKING FOR SENATOR RODRIGUEZ. AND HE WAS STILL WITH THE CONGRESSMAN'S OFFICE, AND. AND THEN I DON'T REMEMBER IF I IF HE WENT TO THE CHAMBER AFTER THAT. BUT EVER, YOU KNOW, EVER SINCE I MET CARL, I ALWAYS THOUGHT THAT HE WAS JUST THE CONSUMMATE PUBLIC SERVANT. AND, YOU KNOW, I WAS HAPPY TO SEE HIM COME TO THE COUNTY WHEN HE STARTED WORKING FOR COMMISSIONER ROBINSON AND THEN FOR COMMISSIONER LEON. EVERY DAY HE HAD NOTHING BUT POSITIVE THINGS TO SAY, WAS ALWAYS VERY SUPPORTIVE. WAS, WAS, WAS JUST ONE OF THE NICEST PEOPLE YOU COULD COME ACROSS.

ONE OF THE ONE OF THE KINDEST, YOU KNOW, EVEN EVEN IF ME AND HIS BOSSES DIDN'T SEE EYE TO EYE SOMETIMES, HE DIDN'T. DIDN'T LET THAT SHOW ON HIS FACE. YOU KNOW, HE HE HE WAS ALWAYS JUST SEEMED LIKE HAPPY TO SEE YOU. AND I WAS AND I WAS ALWAYS HAPPY TO SEE CARL. AND, YOU KNOW, I REMEMBER SEEING HIM THE LAST DAY HE WAS HERE AT WORK, AND I. AND I WISH I WOULD HAVE I WOULD HAVE SAID A LITTLE MORE TO HIM, YOU KNOW, AND WE DIDN'T KNOW THAT HE WAS GOING TO GO SO SOON. AND I KNOW THAT MY STAFF WILL MISS HIM. AND, YOU KNOW, OUR STAFF REALLY ARE THE MOST IMPORTANT PARTS OF OUR OFFICE. YOU KNOW, WE AS THE COMMISSIONERS AND THE JUDGE ARE ELECTED LEADERS. YES. OUR NAME IS ON THE DOOR, BUT THE WORK IS DONE DAY IN AND DAY OUT. AND THE SACRIFICES THAT ARE MADE BY OUR STAFF, THE LONG HOURS PUTTING UP WITH OUR RANTING AND OUR PERSONALITIES IS, YOU KNOW, JUST AMAZING WORK THAT THEY DO. AND, YOU KNOW, CARL DID THAT WITHOUT BATTING AN EYE AND HE DID IT FOR SO MANY FOLKS AND HAD A PROFOUND, PROFOUND IMPACT ON THIS COMMUNITY, EVEN THOUGH HIS NAME WAS NEVER ON A DOOR. ALL OF THE PEOPLE THAT HE WORKED FOR, NOT JUST HERE IN EL PASO, BUT, YOU KNOW, I REMEMBER HAVING DISCUSSIONS WITH HIM ABOUT WORKING FOR BILL RICHARDSON IN NEW MEXICO. I WENT TO COLLEGE IN NEW MEXICO, AND THAT'S WHERE I GOT MY JOURNALISM START. AND, YOU KNOW, WE HAD LOTS OF LOTS OF FUN CONVERSATIONS ABOUT OUR TIME IN NEW MEXICO. AND, YOU KNOW, I JUST, YOU KNOW, WORDS. WORDS DON'T THEY'RE NOT ENOUGH WORDS TO DESCRIBE WHAT CARL WAS TO THIS COMMUNITY AND TO SO MANY COMMUNITIES AND EACH OF US WHO WORKED WITH HIM AND, OF COURSE, HIS STAFF. AND SO I WANT TO EXTEND MY CONDOLENCES TO HIS FAMILY, TO ALL OF HIS FRIENDS AND THE FOLKS THAT THAT LOVED HIM, LIKE WE ALL DID. THANK YOU. COMMISSIONER. JUDGE, MAY I. OH GO AHEAD. I. GROWN WITH THE STAFF OF COMMISSIONER DAVID STOUT. YOU KNOW, I KNEW CARL FOR ABOUT 25 YEARS, AND I DIDN'T REALLY KNOW HIM. AND I GOT TO KNOW HIM OVER THE LAST 4 OR 5 DAYS, MORE THAN IN ALL THOSE 25 YEARS. AND AS EVERYBODY SAID, THAT'S A BIG PART OF WHO HE WAS.

I KNOW HE MOSTLY WORKED FOR DEMOCRATS, BUT I HONESTLY DIDN'T KNOW IF HE WAS A DEMOCRAT OR A REPUBLICAN OR, YOU KNOW, HE WAS JUST A PUBLIC SERVANT. AND FOR ALL THE YOUNG STAFFERS OUT THERE, EVERYTHING YOU'RE HEARING ABOUT HIM, THAT'S THE MODEL OF HOW YOU WANT TO STAFF YOUR ELECTED OFFICIAL. WITH HIM IN FRONT WITH A VERY EVEN TEMPER. WITH YOUR OWN OPINIONS. NOT SHOWING SO MUCH. I WAS IN A LEADERSHIP CLASS WHERE THEY TOLD US TO ASSUME GOOD INTENTIONS. WE DON'T VERY OFTEN HAVE THE CHANCE TO DO THAT BECAUSE WE'RE SO PRESSED WITH THE INFORMATION WE'RE RECEIVING AND ALL OF THE DIFFERENT CROSSCURRENTS THAT TAKE PLACE IN THESE POLITICAL ARENAS AND, AND A LOT OF TIMES PEOPLE ARE JUST ACTING WITH GOOD INTENTIONS. THEY JUST HAVE A

[01:35:06]

DIFFERENT OPINION. AND CARL TOUCHED ON THAT ONE TIME WHEN HE TOLD ME THAT MOTIVES REALLY MATTER IN WHAT WE DO HERE. THE MOTIVATION MATTERS. IT'S A LOT EASIER TO FORGIVE SOMEONE WHO HAS A DIFFERENCE OF OPINION THAT'S HONEST AND HEARTFELT. THEN, WHEN THERE'S OTHER FACTORS AT PLAY. AND HE WAS VERY GOOD AT TEASING ALL THAT STUFF OUT. IN A PROFESSIONAL MANNER AND AN EVEN TEMPER. AND THE MORE I HEAR ABOUT THIS, THE MORE I LEARN ABOUT THE GUY THAT WAS RIGHT NEXT DOOR TO ME. SO I APPRECIATE ALL OF THESE MEMORIALS, AND I HOPE THAT WE TAKE ALL OF THIS TO HEART AGAIN, ESPECIALLY THE YOUNG STAFFERS. CARL WAS THE WAY YOU DO IT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. COMMISSIONER CORONADO. THANK YOU. COMMISSIONERS. JUDGE. YOU KNOW.

CARL WAS ONE OF THE FIRST ONES WHO, AFTER I FIRST GOT ELECTED, WHO APPROACHED ME AND JUST WAS VERY HELPFUL IN GETTING ME STARTED. AND, YOU KNOW, IT'S JUST A TESTAMENT TO THE BEST THAT WE HAVE IN HUMANITY. I MEAN, HE WAS KIND, APPROACHABLE, EVEN TEMPERED, LIKE EVERYBODY SAYING LEVEL HEADED, HAD A GREAT DISPOSITION AND INTELLECTUAL. AND SO I ADMIRED HIM FOR ALL HIS TRAITS. AND HE'S JUST THE BEST OF WHAT WE HAVE IN OUR FAMILY AND COUNTY FAMILY. AND SO I'M VERY, VERY APPRECIATIVE TO HAVE KNOWN HIM FOR THIS TIME. AND IT'S JUST A ADMIRER OF THE PERSON THAT HE WAS. SO THANK YOU. THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER CORONADO. THANK YOU. THANK YOU AGAIN, JUDGE AND COMMISSIONERS AND BETSY AND ALL OF THE STAFF MEMBERS FOR GIVING US THE SPACE AND THE TIME TO, TO GRIEVE AND TO REMEMBER. CARL. WE'RE GOING TO FEEL HIS LOSS FOR A LONG TIME TO COME. BUT THIS REALLY IT REALLY HELPS US GO THROUGH THAT PROCESS. SO. SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH FROM THE BOTTOM OF OUR HEARTS. AND I KNOW I INVITED COMMISSIONERS, COURT STAFFERS TO TAKE A PICTURE WITH US AS PART OF THE, YOU KNOW, THE WORKING FAMILY. BUT IF ANY OF THE OTHER STAFF MEMBERS WHO WORKED WITH HIM DAILY WANT TO JOIN US, THAT WOULD THAT WOULD BE GREAT. WE COULD TAKE IT UNDER THE THAT PICTURE SO WE COULD. YEAH.

YOU. YOU.

COULD. YOU. KNOW. YOU. YOU. YOU. YOU YOU. WANT. TO. WHO? ITEM NUMBER SIX

[01:40:17]

IS PUBLIC COMMENT. WE DO HAVE TWO SPEAKERS SIGNED UP FOR PUBLIC COMMENT. JUST AS A REMINDER, THERE IS A FIVE MINUTE TIME LIMIT FOR PUBLIC COMMENT. OUR FIRST SPEAKER IS MR. PEDRO SIERRA. WELCOME, PEDRO. GOOD MORNING EVERYBODY. GOOD MORNING COMMISSIONERS. I DON'T KNOW HOW TO START OUT WITH MY CONDOLENCES TO THE TO EVERYBODY HERE. CARL WAS A PERSON WHO HELPED ME OUT IN MY CASE. HE WAS THERE, ALWAYS THERE FOR ME. HE ALWAYS HAD A LITTLE BIT OF TIME FOR ME. SO I WOULD LIKE TO THANK HIM FOR THAT. THANK YOU. AND TO BUSINESS NOW. JUDGE. SOME OF DIEGO, LILIANA AND CORONADO. OF COURSE. STROUD AND BUTLER. GOOD MORNING. MY FIRST TIME TO MEET YOU. SO I WOULD LIKE TO SAY WHAT'S GOING ON WITH MY CASE? WITH EMERGENCE HEALTH NETWORK. THE CASES. I GOT MY SERVICES BACK. BUT THERE WERE NOT COMPLETELY TO THE EXTENT THAT I HAD THERE NOW. PROFILING ME NOW FOR SOMETHING THAT THAT IS NOT GOOD. SO I NEED SOME HELP FROM YOU GUYS. I NEED A LETTER OF A LETTER FROM EVERY SINGLE ONE OF YOU. PLEASE. A LETTER OF. SAY, A CHARACTER, PLEASE.

THEY'RE PROFILING ME. NOW THAT THAT THEY ASKED ME TWO QUESTIONS. IF I EVER TRIED TO COMMIT SUICIDE. AND THEY SAID YES. AND THEY MENTIONED, WOULD YOU EVER HURT SOMEBODY? AND I SAID, YES. AND THEY SAY, WHY? I WOULD ONLY IF SOMEBODY WERE TO ATTACK ME OR IF MY LIFE WAS IN

[6. PUBLIC COMMENT]

DANGER. AND THEY SAID, NOW THAT THEY, THEY, THEY ARE NOT GIVING ME A IN PERSON. WHAT DO YOU CALL IT IN PERSON? CASE MANAGEMENT SERVICES. BECAUSE OF THAT, THEY'RE PROFILING ME. AND I JUST READ THE RULES THAT THEY'RE TOPPED BY ANY SPORT THAT YOU CANNOT TOUCH ANYBODY BECAUSE OF MY BOXING HISTORY. THEY SAY I'M A DANGER TO THEM NOW THAT I MADE A THREAT THAT IS NOT A THREAT TO THEM. SO I GOT TO FIGHT THAT NOW. SO GOING TO OTHER BUSINESSES NOW. I WOULD LIKE TO GO AHEAD AND PRESSURE MISS ANNA PEREZ AND JUDGE ANNA PEREZ, PLEASE. FOR APPOINTMENT. I'M STILL WAITING FOR THAT APPOINTMENT. SINCE JANUARY, FEBRUARY. AND OF COURSE, I WOULD LIKE TO SEE IF WE CAN SPEAK TO MISS. OF THE NEW PERSON WHO TOOK THIS JOB, I THINK IS MISS TROUT, ALSO CINDY STROUT. I WOULD LIKE TO SEE IF WE CAN GO AHEAD AND JUDGE AND LET HER KNOW THAT I NEED TO SPEAK TO HER SO WE CAN GO AHEAD AND MOVE FORWARD ON, ON, ON THE ISSUES THAT WERE THAT WERE LEFT BEHIND. THIS IS JUST THE BEGINNING OF, OF MY SERVICES. I THINK WE NEED TO GO BACK AND CORRECT EVERY SINGLE THING THAT WAS DONE TO ME THAT THE VIOLATIONS, THE HARASSMENTS, THE, THE, THE PUBLIC COMMENTS, THE VIOLATING, MY PUBLIC COMMENTS, THEY DID NOT LET ME INSIDE THE PREMISES. AND I CAN KEEP GOING ON AND ON AND IT'S NEVER GOING TO END. SO WHAT WE WANTED TO DO IS I SPOKE TO MR. SENATOR BLANCO. I SPOKE TO HIM, AND WE WANT TO SEE IF WE CAN PASS A LAW IN LEGISLATURE SO WE CAN GO AHEAD AND HAVE MORE OPTIONS HERE FOR OTHER CONSUMERS WHO ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM THAT I HAVE. SO WE HAVE OTHER, OTHER LOCATIONS WE CAN GO HAVE A THIRD, SECOND OR THIRD OPTIONS. THAT WOULD BE GREAT. FOR RIGHT NOW, THE ONLY OPTION IS EACH AND COVERS ALL OF SOUTHWEST TEXAS AND NEW MEXICO, PART OF NEW MEXICO. SO IF WE CAN OPEN THOSE DOORS FOR OTHER AGENCIES, MAYBE WE CAN HAVE BETTER SERVICES. AND THIS WAY WE CAN CONTROL IT BECAUSE IT'S A MULTI-BILLION DOLLAR INDUSTRY THAT IS GROWING SO FAST, AND WE GOING TO BE ABLE TO CONTROL IT LATER ON SO WE CAN GO AHEAD AND PASS A LAW AND SEE WE CAN GET THE HELP. SO WE CAN FIGURE OUT WHAT'S SO WE CAN HAVE MORE OPTIONS. AND OF COURSE I GOT TO LET YOU KNOW SOMETHING.

IN MY BOXING. I JUST GOT AN AWARD FOR BEING THE OFFICIAL OF THE YEAR WITH NINE MONTHS BEHIND MY IN MY BAG. THAT MEANS I'M THE FASTEST OFFICIAL TO GET THE AWARD. I DID MORE THAN 30 EVENTS THIS YEAR, AND PROBABLY THEY'RE SAYING THAT I'M NUMBER ONE IN THE NATION. I MIGHT BE THE

[01:45:04]

NUMBER ONE OFFICIAL IN THE NATION RIGHT NOW. SO MY GOAL IS TO BRING EL PASO BACK UP AGAIN.

I'M GOING TO BE LEAVING FOR NATIONALS. THIS WEEK. AND THEN THE FOLLOWING WEEK I'M GOING TO GO TO PUEBLO PUEBLO, COLORADO FOR MORE FOR ANOTHER COMPETITION. AND I'M LEVEL ONE OFFICIAL. THAT'S WHAT YOU SUPPOSED TO START. THEY'RE GOING TO TRY TO JUMP ME UP TO LEVEL THREE, WHICH HAD NEVER BEEN DONE BEFORE. BUT THE USA BOXING ERROL CAMPBELL SAW MY WHAT DO YOU CALL IT. MY SERVICES THAT I DID. I WENT OUT TO SAN MIGUEL DE ALLENDE IN MEXICO. I DID, I DID, I DID A INTERNATIONAL EVENT. AND THAT EVENT BROUGHT ME RECOGNITION. I ONLY MISSED ONE OUT OF 60 FIGHTS. THAT MEANS I GOT A 98, WHICH I USUALLY GET MY SCORES UP FROM 96 UP TO 100. AND I'VE BEEN I'VE BEEN DOING IT ALL YEAR LONG. AND THAT'S A ACCOMPLISHMENT THAT I WISH TO SHARE WITH YOU GUYS. AND THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU. GOOD LUCK WITH YOUR WITH YOUR BOXING CAREER. AND THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU'RE DOING. AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR DEDICATION. OH, YEAH. THANK YOU. I HOPE HOPEFULLY I'LL BRING ANOTHER AWARD TO PASO. THIS YEAR HOPEFULLY. IT LOOKS LIKE WE'RE IN THE PATH FOR THAT. AND THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MR. MISTER JUDGE. EXCUSE ME. TAKE CARE. BYE. OUR NEXT SPEAKER, WE HAVE MISS ELIZABETH CRAWFORD. GOOD MORNING. ELIZABETH. GOOD MORNING. THANK YOU. GOOD MORNING. I'M GOING TO TRY TO GET THROUGH THIS ON SICK. I'M GOING TO TRY TO GET THROUGH IT WITHOUT COUGHING. THIS MONTH, AS WE THINK OF THE CONTRIBUTIONS OF BLACK AMERICANS HAVE MADE IN OUR NATION. I WANT TO TALK ABOUT MUSIC ON THE STREET. WE'RE TOLD IN PSALM ONE, BLESSED IS THE MAN THAT WALKS NOT IN THE COUNSEL OF THE UNGODLY, NOR STANDS IN THE WAY OF SINNERS, NOR SITS IN THE SEAT OF THE SCORNFUL. BUT HIS DELIGHT IS IN THE LAW OF THE LORD, AND IN HIS LAW DOTH HE MEDITATE DAY AND NIGHT. AND HE SHALL BE LIKE A TREE PLANTED BY THE RIVERS OF WATER THAT BRINGS FORTH HIS FRUIT IN HIS SEASON. I WANT TO SPEAK ABOUT MISS PRICE.

I MET MISS PRICE IN LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY, IN 2017. SHE INTRODUCED HERSELF TO ME AS SISTER PRICE, ORIGINALLY FROM ALABAMA. I MET HER OUTSIDE THE INFAMOUS BMW ABORTION CENTER OF LOUISVILLE. SHE WAS AN ELDERLY LADY, AFRICAN AMERICAN, FULL OF ENERGY. DAY AFTER DAY, MISS PRICE WOULD GO OUT TO THE SIDEWALK OF THE ONE AND ONLY SURGICAL ABORTION CENTER LEFT IN KENTUCKY. SHE WOULD SING SONGS AND DANCE ON THE SIDEWALK. SHOUT HALLELUJAH. TELL US THAT GOD WAS GOING TO CLOSE THIS PLACE DOWN. MISS PRICE MADE MUSIC ON THE STREET. I'VE LOST CONTACT WITH HER. I LOST HER CELL PHONE NUMBER, BUT I CAN ONLY IMAGINE HER JOY AT FINDING OUT THE NEWS THAT THE E.M.W. ABORTION CENTER HAS INDEED CLOSED. NOT ONLY HAS IT CLOSED, BUT IT'S REPORTED THAT THE BUILDING IS NOW BEING DEMOLISHED. I'D LIKE TO NOW READ THE LYRICS OF SOME RAP PERFORMERS. I'LL EDIT OUT THE PROFANITY. I WANT TO READ SOME OF THEIR WRITINGS. THE LYRICS ARE VERY SAD AND REVEAL A LOT OF WHAT REALLY GOES ON BEHIND THE FACADE OF THE GLAMOROUS SIDE OF WOMEN'S REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS. IT'S AN INDUSTRY THAT INDEED HAS TARGETED BABIES OF COLOR. THE QUOTES I'M GOING TO READ ARE FROM PIPER OF FLIPSIDE, FROM EMINEM. AND FROM JEN GRAY. JEAN GRAY QUOTE. PLEASE ACCEPT MY APOLOGIES. WONDER WHAT WOULD HAVE BEEN TOM BOY RUNNING AROUND? OR A LITTLE TOUGH BOY WITH BEAUTIFUL BROWN EYES? I PAID FOR THE MURDER BEFORE THEY DETERMINED THE SEX. CHOOSING OUR LIFE OVER YOUR LIFE MEANT YOUR DEATH. THAT'S A RAP PERFORMER.

ANOTHER ONE. I'VE BEEN A LIAR. BEEN A THIEF AND A LOVER. BEEN A CHEAT. ALL MY SINS NEED HOLY WATER. FEEL IT WASHING OVER ME. WELL, LITTLE ONE, I DON'T WANT TO ADMIT TO SOMETHING. IF IT'S ALL GOING TO. IF ALL IT'S GOING TO CAUSE IS PAIN. TRUTH IN MY LIFE RIGHT NOW ARE FALLING LIKE THE RAIN. SO LET THE RIVER RUN. I CAN'T KEEP MY LIES STRAIGHT. BUT I MADE YOU TERMINATE MY BABY. BUT I REALLY WOULD HAVE LOVED YOUR SMILE. DIDN'T WANT TO ABORT. BUT I'LL LEAVE THE WORDS OUT. WHAT'S ONE MORE LIE TO TELL OUR UNBORN CHILD? IF I COULD SWIM A THOUSAND LAKES TO BRING YOUR LIFE BACK. I WRITE THAT, BUT INFINITY CAN'T REWIND BACK BY PRIMITIVE MIND WAS STRUGGLING. FORGIVE ME I'M ALL WISHING. IT'S A DREAM ENDING SOON I'VE ACTUALLY ERASED A LOT THAT I'VE BEEN THROUGH. ANOTHER ONE I CAN'T BE, THIS CAN'T BE. THE TEARS STREAMING AND I CAN'T SEE. THEY LAND ME. THEY PUT YOU IN A ROOM WHERE YOU CAN CHANGE INTO YOUR GOWN AND SHOWER CAP.

AND THAT'S WHEN YOU THINK OF LEAVING, FLEEING THE BUILDING. AND THEN THEY CALL YOU AND YOU

[01:50:03]

HEAR THE CALL OF YOUR CHILDREN. THEY COUNT DOWN FROM TEN. NOW YOU WANT TO STOP THEM. THEN YOU WAKE UP IN ANOTHER ROOM WITH PLENTY OTHERS. THEY CALL IT RECOVERY. YOU'RE THINKING WE AIN'T MOTHERS. AND THEN PRESCRIPTION PILLS WRITTEN A SCRIPT WITH CHILLS. I KNOW WHAT I'VE DONE. PLEASE FORGIVE ME. THESE ARE NOT WORDS FROM A PULPIT. THESE ARE WORDS FROM.

FROM THE MUSIC WORLD, FROM RAP PERFORMERS. THE GOSPEL HOLDS TRUE. GOD'S HOLY WORD SAYS, FOR THE WAGES OF SIN IS DEATH. BUT THE GIFT OF GOD IS ETERNAL LIFE THROUGH JESUS CHRIST OUR LORD.

AND THE WORDS OF HOPE BELIEVE ON THE LORD JESUS CHRIST, AND YOU SHALL BE SAVED AND YOUR HOUSEHOLD. ABORTION IS A SCOURGE ON OUR NATION, AND JESUS CHRIST IS THE ONLY HOPE. THANK YOU AND HOPE YOU HAVE A GOOD DAY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. ENJOY YOUR DAY. ELIZABETH. THANK YOU. THAT COMPLETES ALL THE SPEAKERS FOR PUBLIC COMMENT. ITEM SEVEN. PRESENTATION SEVEN A PRESENT A CERTIFICATE OF APPRECIATION TO ALEXANDRA ANELLO FOR HER TIME AND SERVICE AS A JOINT APPOINTEE

[A. Present a Certificate of Appreciation to Alexsandra Annello for her time and service as the joint appointee of the County Judge and the Hospital District Board of Managers to the Emergence Health Network Board of Trustees, from August 13, 2018, to February 9, 2025. Betsy C. Keller, Chief Administrator, County Administration, 915-273-3600]

OF THE COUNTY JUDGE AND THE HOSPITAL DISTRICT BOARD OF MANAGERS TO THE EMERGENCE HEALTH NETWORK BOARD OF TRUSTEES FROM AUGUST 13TH, 2018 TO FEBRUARY 9TH, 2025. GOOD MORNING, JUDGE AND COMMISSIONERS MICHELLE COCHRAN WITH COUNTY ADMINISTRATION. MISS ALEXANDRA WAS ABLE TO JOIN US TODAY, AND SHE HAS GRACIOUSLY SERVED ON THE BOARD FOR THE PAST SIX AND A HALF YEARS. THANK YOU SO MUCH, MICHELLE. THANK YOU SO MUCH, JUDGE AND COMMISSIONERS. IT'S AN HONOR TO BE UP HERE. IT'S BEEN A WHILE. THIS IS MY FIRST TIME IN FRONT OF COMMISSIONER BUTLER.

CONGRATULATIONS AGAIN. I'M ALSO EXTREMELY HONORED TO BE UP HERE ON THE SAME DAY THAT YOU ALL HONORED CARL WITH A K. HE WAS A DEAR FRIEND. AND I THINK YOU'RE ALL RIGHT. WAS REALLY THE BEST OF US. I ALWAYS WONDERED HOW HE STAYED SO KIND AROUND ALL OF OUR NEGATIVITY. BUT HAPPY TO BE HERE. I REALLY WANT TO THANK BETSY FOR RECOGNIZING ME. IT WAS AN HONOR TO SERVE. I WAS APPOINTED BY YOU ALL THE COMMISSIONERS AND THE JUDGE AND UMC, AND I WANT TO TAKE A SECOND TO RECOGNIZE FORMER COUNTY JUDGE RUBEN VOGT, WHO WAS THE FIRST PERSON TO APPROACH ME FOR THIS POSITION, AND AS WELL AS JUDGE SAMANIEGO. I KNOW WE MET MANY TIMES OVER THE YEARS AS THE JOINT APPOINTEE, AND IT WAS A REAL HONOR. I WAS ALSO VERY PRIVILEGED TO WORK WITH MANY COUNTY STAFF, INCLUDING FORMER COUNTY ATTORNEYS MICHAEL WYATT AND GABRIELLA REED. THEY'RE DOING A GREAT JOB OVER AT EIN, AND SO JUST THANK YOU. IT WAS A REAL HONOR. I THINK WE DID A LOT OF REALLY GREAT WORK. COMMISSIONER STOUT ALWAYS GAVE US, ALWAYS PUSHED US TO DO A LOT BETTER AT EIN. HE'S VERY MUCH MISSED IN MY YEAR ON THE BOARD WITHOUT HIM THERE. AND SO JUST AGAIN, THANK YOU AND KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK Y'ALL. THANK YOU. I'LL START OFF WITH COMMISSIONER STONE. DO YOU WANT TO. WELL, CONGRATULATIONS FOR ALL THE GREAT WORK THAT YOU DID, NOT ONLY WHILE YOU WERE ON THE BOARD, BUT BEFORE YOU WERE ON THE BOARD, AND THAT YOU'RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO DO. I KNOW THAT REPRESENTATIVE ANELLO WAS THE REASON WHY SIT EXISTS AT THE CITY BEFORE SHE GOT ON, BEFORE SHE GOT ON BOARD, AND WHICH IS ONE OF THE MAIN REASONS WHY I ADVOCATED FOR HER APPOINTMENT AS WELL. YOU KNOW, SHE WAS INTEGRAL IN, IN IN THAT PROCESS. AND NOW WE HAVE SIT NOT ONLY AT THE CITY BUT AT THE COUNTY AND CONSTABLES OFFICES AND, AND SCHOOLS AND IT CONTINUES TO EXPAND. AND SO I THINK THAT'S DEFINITELY ONE OF YOUR LEGACIES WHEN IT COMES TO ACCESS TO MENTAL HEALTH AND THE WORK THAT YOU DID BEFORE. AND WHILE YOU WERE ON THE BOARD AT, AT EIN, I REALLY ENJOYED THE NUMBER OF YEARS THAT WE SPENT TOGETHER ON THE BOARD AND THANKFUL FOR THE YOUR BEING MY ALLY, WHEN SOMETIMES THINGS WERE NOT AS AS EASY AS THEY COULD HAVE BEEN, AND FOR CONTINUING TO STRIVE TO MAKE SURE THAT THAT ORGANIZATION IS AS GOOD AS IT CAN BE. IT REALLY IS, IS NOT LOST UPON ME. AND I KNOW THAT THEY'LL MISS YOU, BUT I KNOW THAT YOU'LL CONTINUE TO BE AROUND WORKING IN THIS COMMUNITY AND MAKING SURE THAT THESE THINGS CONTINUE TO HAPPEN. SO THANK YOU SO MUCH AND CONGRATULATIONS. THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER, AND I'M VERY EXCITED TO CONTINUE WORKING WITH YOU ALL ON OTHER PROJECTS SINCE THE LAST OF ME. I THINK BEYOND WHAT YOU DID THERE, YOU KNOW, EMERGENCE HEALTH CENTER IS I THINK THERE'S SO MUCH ABOUT YOU AND YOUR ABILITY. PEOPLE SEE YOU AS VERY APPROACHABLE, YOU KNOW, VERY LIKABLE, ALWAYS TRYING TO BE PART OF THE COMMUNITY. AND SO WE MISS YOU AT THAT, THAT DIMENSION AND BEYOND. AND BUT I THANK YOU FOR THAT COMMITMENT. I THINK YOU'RE EXEMPLARY INDIVIDUAL HERE IN OUR COMMUNITY. WHAT WE WOULD EXPECT FROM SO MANY PEOPLE YOU PROJECTED. SO WE'RE VERY PROUD TO HAVE HAD YOU HERE. AND I'D LIKE TO WE'LL BE READ THIS ON

[01:55:02]

BEHALF OF THE COMMISSIONERS. OF EL PASO COUNTY IN RECOGNITION OF ALEJANDRO ANELLO, WITH GRATITUDE FOR YOUR COMMITMENT AND LEADERSHIP AS THE JOINT APPOINTEE OF THE EL PASO COUNTY JUDGE AND THE HOSPITAL DISTRICT BOARD OF MANAGERS TO THE EMERGENCE HEALTH NETWORK BOARD OF TRUSTEES. THE UNDERSTANDING AND SUPPORT YOU BROUGHT TO THE BOARD WAS EXEMPLARY. AUGUST 13TH, 2018 THROUGH FEBRUARY 9TH, 2025. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU.

COMMISSIONER.

ITEM EIGHT FROM THE REGULAR AGENDA. EIGHT A RECEIVE A PRESENTATION FROM HOME AND TAKE APPROPRIATE ACTION REGARDING A REQUEST TO APPROVE A PROPOSED 40 UNIT DEVELOPMENT IN DENTON,

[A. Receive a presentation from HOME and take appropriate action regarding a request to approve a proposed 40-unit development in Vinton, Texas. Further, approve and authorize the County Judge to sign a resolution of support. Joel Bishop, Deputy County Administrator, Justice Support & Community Services, 915-546-2215]

TEXAS. FURTHER APPROVE AND AUTHORIZE THE COUNTY JUDGE TO SIGN A RESOLUTION OF SUPPORT.

GOOD MORNING. COUNTY JUDGE. COMMISSIONERS JOEL BISHOP WITH COUNTY ADMINISTRATION. JUST A BRIEF INTRODUCTION TO THIS ITEM, AND I'LL TURN IT OVER TO HOME. THIS IS THIS IS ANOTHER OPPORTUNITY THAT THAT THE COURT CAN REVIEW BASED ON THE COURT'S PRIOR APPROVAL TO ALLOW HOME TO OPERATE IN THE COUNTY AT THE COURT'S APPROVAL. SEVERAL YEARS AGO. AND WE DID HAVE A RECENT UPDATED AGREEMENT WITH THEM TO DO THIS. SO THEY'RE GOING TO PRESENT ON THIS PROJECT THERE IN VINTON. I JUST WANTED TO POINT THE COURT'S ATTENTION TO AN UPDATED RESOLUTION THAT HAD A LITTLE BIT OF ADDITIONAL WORDING. THAT'S THAT'S IN THE BACKUP FROM OUR COUNTY ATTORNEYS. I WANTED TO THANK THEM FOR DOING A WORKING OVER THE WEEKEND TO MAKE SURE THAT THIS THIS HAPPENED ON SHORT NOTICE. THANK YOU SPECIFICALLY TO ANNA SCHUMACHER. WITH THAT, I'M GOING TO GO AHEAD AND TURN IT OVER TO HOME. VERY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. COMMISSIONER CORONADO. COMMISSIONER HOGAN, MR. STOUT, COMMISSIONER. BUTLER. JUDGE SAMANIEGO, I JUST WANT TO START OUT AND LET YOU KNOW THAT I DID NOT KNOW ABOUT THE PASSING OF MR. CARL MCCRANEY. I MEAN, I CONSIDER HIM A FRIEND. I'VE KNOWN HIM FOR 20 PLUS YEARS SINCE I WAS WITH THE UNIONS. AND HE WAS WITH THE CONGRESSMAN, AND HE WAS ALWAYS A FRIEND AND A CONFIDANT. AND I'M JUST LET YOU KNOW PERSONALLY FROM MYSELF THAT I VERY SORRY FOR HIS PASSING AND I'M STILL PROCESSING. SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU. AND IN REGARD TO THE RESOLUTION OF SUPPORT, THIS IS A REQUEST. AS YOU KNOW, WE ARE NOT ALLOWED TO DO ANY TAX CREDITS IN THE COUNTY WITHOUT AN APPROVAL OF THIS BODY. THERE ARE RURAL TAX CREDITS THAT ARE AVAILABLE, AND THE AMOUNT OF APPROXIMATELY $1 MILLION A LITTLE BIT LESS THAN THAT. BUT IF YOU MAGNIFY THAT BY ACROSS TEN YEARS, IT'S ABOUT $10 MILLION THAT'S AVAILABLE. WE ARE CURRENTLY THE ONLY APPLICATION IN THE COUNTY. IF THIS IS DENIED FOR ANY REASON, IT'S MONEYS THAT WILL NOT COME TO THE COUNTY OF EL PASO AND INSTEAD WILL GO SOMEWHERE ELSE IN THE STATE AS THEY ARE COMPETITIVE. I JUST WANTED TO LET YOU KNOW WE DO APPRECIATE ALL YOUR SUPPORT. AS YOU KNOW, NOT MORE THAN A MONTH FROM NOW, WE'RE GOING TO BE HAVING A GRAND OPENING OVER BY CLINT HIGH SCHOOL AND 44 UNITS, VERY SIMILAR TO WHAT WE'RE GOING TO BE PROPOSING TO YOU TODAY. IT'S A SUCCESSFUL COMMUNITY. IT'S ALREADY LEASED UP. IT IS BEAUTIFUL. AND EVEN THOUGH I DON'T HAVE A RENDERINGS TODAY OF WHAT THIS WILL BE OVER IN VINTON, IT WILL BE EQUALLY STELLAR AND AMAZING. SO JUST AS A QUICK OVERSIGHT AS TO WHAT THIS IS, AND THIS IS ACTUALLY THE FULL PRESENTATION THAT WAS GIVEN TO THE CITY, AND I'M SORRY, THE VILLAGE OF CLINT. I'M SORRY OF VINTON. AND SO I'M GOING TO KIND OF CLICK THROUGH IT A LITTLE BIT QUICK AND KIND OF HIT THE POINTS THAT ARE PROBABLY MORE PERTINENT TO, TO YOU ALL. WE ARE LOOKING AT 40 UNITS, AS YOU KNOW, THE TAX CREDITS, WHEN YOU SELL THEM, YOU YOU GET ABOUT 80, $0.85 ON THE DOLLAR AT THIS POINT IN TIME. AND THEN WITH TRADITIONAL

[02:00:05]

BORROWING OF CONVENTIONAL NOTES AT INTEREST RATES, CURRENTLY AT 4.5, WE'RE DOWN TO ABOUT 40. IN CLINT, WE WERE ABLE TO BUILD ABOUT 44 SINGLE FAMILY HOMES. THESE ARE GOING TO BE ONE STORY UNITS AND IT'S RIGHT OFF CARTER ROAD. CAPTAIN CARTER ROAD AND DONOVAN. SO THE FRONT SECTION IS PLANNED TO BE ALL COMMERCIAL WITH THE BACK SECTION BEING 20 DUPLEX BUILDINGS, OF WHICH THERE WILL BE TWO UNITS IN THERE. ALL OF THEM WILL BE TWO AND THREE BEDROOMS. SO THERE'LL BE MULTI-FAMILY, MULTI-FAMILY UNITS THAT WILL BE BUILT AT THAT POINT. TO THE SOUTH SIDE YOU CAN SEE THE RETAINING POND FOR THE WATER. THIS IS NOT DOING IT JUSTICE. THIS IS JUST A KIND OF A RENDERING OF KIND OF HAVE AN IDEA OF WHAT THE FRONT COULD LOOK AT. THIS WOULD BE PROBABLY MORE REMINISCENT OF KIND OF WHAT WE BUILT ALREADY IN CLINT WITH THE GABLED ROOFS, BECAUSE WE BELIEVE THE WATER SHED IS, IS A LITTLE BIT MORE SUSTAINABLE, BUT YOU CAN KIND OF SEE THE LAYOUTS OF THE ONE AND TWO UNITS ON THESE. AND THE TWO BEDROOM CONCEPTS, IT'S AN OPEN FLOOR PLAN, WHICH IS TRADITIONAL. OR AS ACTUALLY CONSISTENT WITH WHAT WE'RE BUILDING NOW WITH WITH TRADITIONAL FAMILIES. THIS IS FOR THE THREE BEDROOM DESIGNS. AGAIN, THREE BEDROOMS ON BOTH SIDES OF THIS PARTICULAR BUILDING ITSELF. AND THE LOCATION IS NEAR BILL CHILDRESS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL. IT'S GOING TO PUT COMMERCIAL CLOSE TO MULTI-FAMILY AND SPECIFICALLY AFFORDABLE. WE BELIEVE THAT THAT'S A FUNCTIONAL WAY TO MAXIMIZE USE OF THE LAND.

PARTNERING WITH PEOPLE THAT DO EXACTLY THIS. WHEN WE WENT AHEAD AND IN THIS AGAIN, THIS IS AN EXAMPLE OF WHO AND WHAT WE ARE. AS YOU KNOW, WE ARE QUITE LARGE. WE HAVE OVER 13,000 UNITS. WE ARE PARTNERING WITH TROPICANA IN THIS. THEY ACTUALLY OWN THE LAND. WE ACTUALLY WENT TO THE CITY OF CLINT AND TRIED TO PURCHASE LAND. WE WERE DENIED ACCESS. THE CITY OF CLINT DID NOT BELIEVE THAT THE TRAFFIC WAS CONDUCIVE TO WHAT THEY WERE TRYING TO BUILD. HENCE THE REASON WHY WE ACTUALLY MOVED OVER TO VINTON IN ORDER TO DO THIS CONSTRUCTION. JERRY, I'M SORRY, BEFORE YOU MOVE AWAY FROM THIS SLIDE, I JUST HAD A QUESTION ABOUT ONE OF THE STATEMENTS. SO THE PROPOSED COMMUNITY IS NOT PUBLIC HOUSING. SO DOES THAT MEAN THAT AM I OR WHAT DOES THAT MEAN? DOES THAT MEAN THAT AMI IS NOT GOING TO BE CONSIDERED. SO ON DETERMINING OCCUPANCY OR. YEAH NO NO NO NO. SO IT'S AFFORDABLE. SO PUBLIC HOUSING IS ONLY INSIDE THE CITY OF EL PASO. WE'VE ALREADY BUILT ALL OF THAT WITH THE RAD CONVERSION. SO WHAT THIS IS AN ACTION INCREASE OVER THAT NUMBER OF UNITS THAT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT LIMITS US TO HAVE, WHICH IS NO MORE THAN 6432. SO THIS THESE 40 UNITS WILL HAVE A MAXIMUM OF 60% AMI. WE DON'T KNOW RIGHT NOW BECAUSE WE HAVEN'T GONE THROUGH UNDERWRITING HOW MANY UNITS WILL BE AT THE LOWER AMI. AMI IS ADJUSTED MEDIAN INCOME. FOR EXAMPLE THE ONE THAT WE DID OVER IN CLINT. RIGHT NOW TWO OF THE UNITS ARE AT 30% AMI EIGHT OF THEM ARE AT 50% AMI AND THE REST ARE AT 60% AMI RIGHT NOW WE'VE MODELED THIS. WE KNOW IT'LL ALL BE LESS THAN 60% AMI. BUT UNTIL WE GET THROUGH UNDERWRITING, WE DON'T KNOW FINANCIALLY WHAT IT WILL SUPPORT. AS AS YOU KNOW, IT FLUCTUATES WELL AS MANY UNITS THAT WE CAN GET TO 30% AMI AND EVEN 50% AMI WOULD BE GREATLY APPRECIATED. WE ARE ON THE SAME PAGE ON THAT. YES, ABSOLUTELY. AND SO WE'RE LOOKING AT APPROXIMATELY 12 TO $13 MILLION IN DEVELOPMENT ON THIS. AS YOU AS YOU LEVERAGE BOTH THE TAX CREDITS AND A, A COMMERCIAL TYPE OF A OF A LOAN. THERE IS NO TAXES THAT ARE INVOLVED BY THE COUNTY. WE'RE NOT ASKING FOR YOU ANY MONEY. WE'RE NOT ASKING FOR ANYTHING TO COME FROM FROM THIS BODY. THE HOUSING AUTHORITY FOR THE CITY OF EL PASO, NOW CALLED HOME, WILL SHOULDER ALL THOSE RESPONSIBILITIES. THE TENANT SCREENING, THE BACKGROUND CHECKS, ALL OF THE ELIGIBILITY WILL BE DONE. SIMILAR TO WHAT WE'RE ALREADY DOING HERE INSIDE THE CITY AND ALREADY AT THE COMMUNITY OVER IN CLINT. JUST JUST FOR REFERENCE, THIS IS WHAT WE BUILT RIGHT ACROSS FROM THIS, FROM THE HIGH SCHOOL IN CLINT. SO THESE ARE THE 44 UNITS THAT ARE RIGHT THERE. THESE ARE ALL SINGLE FAMILY HOMES. OFF STREET PARKING. AND THEY LEASED UP VERY, VERY QUICKLY. THERE IS A VERY LARGE WAITING LIST FOR THIS COMMUNITY AS WE SPEAK. THIS IS WHAT WE BUILT. SO AS YOU KNOW, IT WAS JUST FARMLAND. AND WE CARVED THIS OUT OF, OF THE FARMLAND AND PUT IT RIGHT NEXT TO A SCHOOL. SO WE THINK IT'S JUST A GREAT PLACE FOR FAMILIES AND FOR PROXIMITY. AGAIN, EXAMPLE OF THE OPEN FLOOR PLAN, THE MODERN AMENITIES, THE PLAYGROUNDS FOR THE CHILDREN.

AND THEN OF COURSE, THE COMMUNITY CENTER THAT CAN BE USED AND RENTED BY BY THE RESIDENTS IF THEY WANT TO HAVE A BAR MITZVAH, YOU KNOW, OR SOME FORM OF PARTY OR BIRTHDAY PARTY OR SOMETHING ELSE. SO AND FOR THOSE OF YOU THAT DON'T KNOW, THIS IS AN AREA WE'RE JUST

[02:05:01]

TRYING TO SHOW OFF OUR OUR BEAUTIFUL MOSAIC THAT WE HAVE RIGHT OVER HERE ABOUT SIX BLOCKS AWAY. AND WITH THAT, I'LL OPEN UP TO ANY QUESTIONS. AND WE RESPECTFULLY ASK FOR YOUR SUPPORT IN THIS PROJECT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. I THINK THIS IS A GREAT PROJECT FOR THE COUNTY.

I'VE SPOKEN TO JERRY OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO, AND I THINK THIS IS A GREAT PROJECT FOR US TO ENTERTAIN AND TO APPROVE. AND SO, YOU KNOW, I THINK THIS IS GREAT FOR THERE'S A LOT OF NEED UP IN THE UPPER VALLEY. AND I THINK THERE'S A LOT OF OTHER OPPORTUNITIES FOR US DOWN THE ROAD IN THAT AREA. AND I'M GLAD THAT THAT JERRY IS TAKING THE INITIATIVE TO DO THIS OUT IN MUCH IN AN AREA THAT'S MUCH NEEDED FOR HOUSING, AFFORDABLE HOUSING. AND, JERRY, I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR THE QUALITY. I MEAN, THERE WAS A TIME THAT WE'D CALL THEM PROJECTS AND THEY LOOK LIKE PROJECTS, AND IT WAS SAD. PEOPLE JUST IT WASN'T RIGHT. IT WASN'T DIGNIFIED. BUT I THANK YOU. EVERY SINGLE ONE. THE QUALITY OF ANY LEVEL OF INCOME COULD LIVE THERE AND FEEL GOOD ABOUT IT, BECAUSE YOU'VE JUST DONE SO MUCH TO THE DETAIL. SO I DO WANT TO THANK YOU FOR THAT, ESPECIALLY GOING INTO SOME OF THE RURAL AREAS I KNOW WE HEARD THIS MORNING FROM SANELLI, AND SO THAT WAS A GREAT WAY TO PUT IT. SO TO VERY SUPPORTIVE. SO AND IT'S GREAT THAT THESE ARE GOING TO BE JUST ONE STORY BUILDINGS. IT'S REALLY GREAT. I WILL MOVE TO APPROVE THE RESOLUTION. I HAVE A MOTION BY COMMISSIONER CORONADO SECOND BY JUDGE SAMANIEGO. THE VOTING IS OPEN. THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT. APPRECIATE IT. MARCH 19TH, 10 A.M. WE'RE DOING A RIBBON CUTTING AT AT AT CLINT. SO IF YOU ALL WANT TO COME OUT WE WOULD LOVE TO HAVE YOU. THANK YOU SO MUCH. COMMISSIONER OLGUIN WILL REMIND US ABOUT THAT. OKAY.

GREAT. THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU. JERRY. THANK YOU. JUDGE. AT THIS TIME, WE'D LIKE TO MOVE OVER TO ITEM TEN B. OKAY. ITEM TEN B FROM COUNTY ADMINISTRATION. POSTPONED FEBRUARY 10TH, 2025. DISCUSS AND TAKE APPROPRIATE ACTION REGARDING THE ALLOCATION, REPROGRAMING AND STRUCTURING OF EXISTING COUNTY DEBT PROCEEDS AND POTENTIAL FUTURE DEBT

[B. (Postponed 2/10/25) Discuss and take appropriate action regarding the allocation, reprogramming, and structuring of existing County debt proceeds and potential future debt issuances, including authorizing the creation of new projects, the removal or modification of previously approved projects, the transfer of funds between eligible issuances, public awareness and outreach of these issuances, and the reallocation of funds within existing projects. Jose M. Landeros, Deputy County Administrator, Strategic Capital Development, 915-546-2159]

ISSUANCES, INCLUDING AUTHORIZING THE CREATION OF NEW PROJECTS, THE REMOVAL OR MODIFICATION OF PREVIOUSLY APPROVED PROJECTS, THE TRANSFER OF FUNDS BETWEEN ELIGIBLE ISSUANCES, PUBLIC AWARENESS AND OUTREACH OF THESE ISSUANCES, AND THE REALLOCATION OF FUNDS WITHIN EXISTING PROJECTS. GOOD MORNING, COMMISSIONERS DONDERO'S STRATEGIC CAPITAL DEVELOPMENT.

THIS FIRST PART OF THE ITEM, TEN B, IS INTENDED TO ALLOW YOU ALL TO HEAR FROM STIFEL. WE PREVIOUSLY DISCUSSED HAVING THEIR ECONOMISTS PROVIDE AN OVERVIEW TO THE COURT ABOUT WHAT THE MARKET IS DOING, WHAT THE OUTLOOK LOOKS LIKE FOR THE NEXT SEVERAL MONTHS. AND SO WE'VE PUT THAT TOGETHER, WORKING WITH THE STIEFEL TEAM AS OUR FINANCIAL ADVISOR. AND WITH THAT, I WILL TURN THE PRESENTATION OVER TO MR. BRAD ANGST WITH STIFEL. THANK YOU. AND, BETSY, I THINK GOOD TIMING, RIGHT? BECAUSE WE NEEDED TO DO THIS BEFORE 12. THANK YOU. GOOD MORNING JUDGE.

GOOD MORNING COMMISSIONERS. THIS IS BRAD ANGST WITH STIEFEL PUBLIC FINANCE. CAN YOU ALL HEAR ME OKAY. YEAH. AND BEFORE YOU BEFORE YOU START, BRETT, THANK YOU FOR JOINING US THERE IN AUSTIN. APPRECIATE IT. YOUR YOUR COMPANY THERE. ABSOLUTELY. ALWAYS OUR PLEASURE TO SUPPORT THE COUNTY AND GREATER EL PASO REGION. SO THANK YOU. I'M JOINED TODAY BY MY COLLEAGUE NANCY ROCA. WE BOTH SERVE AS FINANCIAL ADVISORS TO THE COUNTY AND ALSO MY COLLEAGUE LAUREN HENDERSON FROM OUR ECONOMICS DEPARTMENT. LAUREN IS BASED IN OUR CHICAGO OFFICE. AS PART OF THAT ECONOMICS GROUP. AND SHE'S GOING TO PROVIDE YOU A LITTLE BIT OF A OUTLOOK HERE THIS MORNING.

REQUEST FROM THE COUNTY FOR DEPTH. LOOK AT WHAT WHAT THE ECONOMY MAY HOLD HERE OVER THE COMING MONTHS AND BEYOND. AND SO LAUREN'S BEEN GRACIOUS ENOUGH TO JOIN US. SO WITHOUT FURTHER ADO, LET ME HAVE LAUREN TAKE OVER FROM HERE TO GO THROUGH HER PRESENTATION. THANK YOU, LAUREN.

AND ALSO NANCY. THANK YOU AS WELL. GO AHEAD. LAUREN. LAUREN. CAN'T HEAR YOU. CAN YOU HEAR ME

[02:10:01]

NOW? YES. WE CAN. THANK YOU. LAUREN. PERFECT. WELCOME. I APOLOGIZE. ARE YOU ABLE TO SEE THE SLIDES AS WELL? YES. YES. PERFECT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR EVERYONE. FOR BEING HERE AND GIVING ME THE OPPORTUNITY TO OFFER SOME UPDATED THOUGHTS AND VIEWS ON THE CURRENT STATE OF THE US ECONOMY. BUT STARTING WITH A LOOK AT AT THE FED, AT THE FEDERAL RESERVE. LET'S FIRST TAKE A STEP BACK. BECAUSE REMEMBER, AT THE END OF LAST YEAR AT THE DECEMBER FEDERAL RESERVE MEETING, DESPITE THE LACK OF DISINFLATIONARY IMPROVEMENT, THE FED DID OPT TO MOVE FORWARD WITH A THIRD ROUND RATE CUT. SO TOTALING 100 BASIS POINTS AND CUTS OVER A MATTER OF FOUR MONTHS. BUT AT THE SAME TIME, THE COMMITTEE DID MAINTAIN A RELATIVELY POSITIVE CHARACTERIZATION OF THE US ECONOMY, NOTING BOTH THE UPSIDE RISKS TO INFLATION AS WELL AS THE REALIZATION THAT JUST AFTER THREE ROUNDS OF RATE CUTS, POLICY WAS ALREADY NEARING NEUTRAL. SO EVEN WITH THE ADDITIONAL CUT AT THE END OF THE YEAR, POLICYMAKERS ADOPTED A MORE CAUTIOUS TONE, OPENING THE DOOR FOR NEAR TERM PAUSE. AND THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT WE SAW EXECUTED LAST MONTH, WITH THE FED OPTING TO HOLD RATES STEADY IN A RANGE OF FOUR AND A 3:45 AND A HALF PERCENT. BUT LOOKING AT THE JANUARY FEDERAL RESERVE STATEMENT, THE FED MAINTAINED THE LANGUAGE OF A SOLID ECONOMY WHILE ALSO NOTING THAT THE UNEMPLOYMENT RATE HAS STABILIZED AT A LOW LEVEL. SO SUGGESTING THE COMMITTEE HAS SOMEWHAT ADJUSTED ITS ASSESSMENT OF LABOR MARKET CONDITIONS, MOVING AWAY FROM CONCERNS OF EMERGING WEAKNESS IN THE LABOR MARKET.

POLICYMAKERS NOW APPEAR TO BE CONCEDING TO ONGOING SOLID CONDITIONS IN THE LABOR MARKET.

AND FINALLY, LOOKING AT THE SLIDE HERE, YOU CAN SEE THAT ON THE INFLATION FRONT, THE COMMITTEE CONTINUES TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE STILL STICKY NATURE OF INFLATION, THE STILL ELEVATED LEVEL OF PRICES. THE STATEMENT ACTUALLY REMOVED RECENT WORDING THAT INDICATED THERE HAD BEEN FURTHER PROGRESS TOWARDS THE FED'S 2% INFLATION OBJECTIVE. SO THE TAKEAWAY FROM THE JANUARY MEETING, THE JANUARY FEDERAL RESERVE MEETING. WHILE THIS CERTAINLY WAS A POLICY PIVOT, THE DECISION TO HOLD RATES STEADY WAS WIDELY ANTICIPATED AND HAD BEEN FULLY PRICED INTO THE MARKET FOR SOME TIME. BUT AGAIN, THE UPWARD ASSESSMENT OF THE LABOR MARKET AND THE DOWNWARDS ASSESSMENT OF INFLATION IMPROVEMENT SUGGESTS THE FED IS INCREASINGLY WILLING TO TAKE A PROLONGED POSITION ON THE SIDELINE AS OFFICIALS CONTINUE TO ASSESS THE EVOLUTION OF CONDITIONS, AS WELL AS THE IMPACT OF FISCAL POLICY INITIATIVES. AND AS CHAIR, POWELL HAS NOTED TIME AND TIME AGAIN, ESPECIALLY DURING THE PRESS CONFERENCE, THE FED IS IN NO HURRY TO ADJUST POLICY. IN FACT, THE FED IS LIKELY TO HOLD RATES STEADY WELL BEYOND THIS JANUARY MEETING, MEANING VERY FEW, IF ANY ADDITIONAL 25 BASIS POINT RATE CUTS FOR THE YEAR.

WITH THESE CUTS LIKELY PUSHED OUT TO THE SECOND HALF OF THE YEAR, THERE'S STILL SOME ROOM. I WOULD I WOULD ARGUE, FOR ADDITIONAL RATE CUTS, PARTICULARLY GIVEN THIS IS A FED STILL DESPERATE TO TRY TO PROVIDE RELIEF. BUT WE WOULD HAVE TO SEE THAT DESIRE ACCOMPANIED WITH A CLEAR STALL IN PRICE ASCENSION AND OR A MARKED COOLING IN THE LABOR MARKET TO WARRANT ANY FURTHER RATE CUTS. SO WHETHER IT'S ONE, TWO OR NO FURTHER RATE CUTS THIS YEAR, THE TAKEAWAY WILL EXPECTEDLY BE HIGHER FOR LONGER. I SHOULD SAY. HIGHER, HIGHER.

LONGER RUN REAL RATES. A MORE NORMAL, POSITIVELY SLOPED YIELD CURVE. AND FINALLY, A POTENTIALLY HIGHER NEUTRAL LEVEL OF POLICY. SO A SUBSTANTIALLY ABOVE THE CENTRAL BANK'S FORECAST OF 3%. WHEN WE LOOK AT THE LABOR MARKET FROM A BROAD OVERVIEW, THE FED'S IMPROVED ASSESSMENT OF LABOR MARKET CONDITIONS IS CERTAINLY WARRANTED, AS NOT ONLY DID EARLIER CONCERNS OF EMERGING WEAKNESS FAIL TO MATERIALIZE, BUT BROADLY BROADLY SPEAKING, LOOKING AT THIS CHART, WE CONTINUE TO STILL SEE SIZABLE JOB CREATION ON A MONTHLY BASIS AS WE CONTINUE TO FACE AN ONGOING DIVIDE BETWEEN LABOR DEMAND AND LABOR SUPPLY. AND AGAIN, THIS WILL CONTINUE TO PROVIDE SUPPORT FOR POSITIVE MONTHLY JOB CREATION AND IN SOME CASES, UPWARD PRESSURE OR UPWARD MOMENTUM ON WAGES, WHICH IS NO DOUBT A WELCOME NOTION FOR THE

[02:15:03]

CONSUMER. WITH THAT BEING SAID, THE MOMENTUM IN HIRING HAS SLOWED FROM PREVIOUS YEARS. AS YOU CAN SEE HERE, LOOKING AT THE THOSE RED BARS, THOSE AVERAGE LINES. BUT THE AT 166 AT THE AVERAGE SO FAR CREATED LAST YEAR. THIS IS NOTABLY ABOVE THE EXPANSIONARY PACE OF PREVIOUS CYCLES, WITH THE UNEMPLOYMENT RATE STILL NEAR 4%. SO IN OTHER WORDS, WE'RE STILL EXPERIENCING SOMEWHAT TIGHT LABOR MARKET CONDITIONS. AND ON THE INFLATION FRONT, DESPITE THE FED'S ONGOING ATTENTION, I WOULD ARGUE EVEN DESPERATION FOR A RETURN TO A SUSTAINABLE 2% LEVEL. THIS IS STILL UNLIKELY IN THE NEAR TERM, MEANING IN 2025, AS WE'VE ACTUALLY SEEN SEVERAL KEY METRICS AND COMPONENTS STILL ELEVATED ABOVE THE FED'S 2% TARGET LEVEL. SO LOOKING HERE, FOR EXAMPLE, YOU CAN SEE THAT HOUSING COSTS ALONE REMAIN UP OVER 4% AS OF THE LATEST JANUARY REPORT, WITH THE HEADLINE CPI CONSUMER PRICE INDEX AND PPI PRODUCER PRICE INDEX ACTUALLY ACCELERATING AS OF LATE. SO GAINING MOMENTUM IN THE PAST FOUR MONTHS, WHICH AGAIN IMPLIES A LACK OF DOWNSIDE POTENTIAL FOR FURTHER FED RELIEF, AS WELL AS ADDITIONAL OR AT LEAST ONGOING PRESSURE ON CONSUMERS. BUT SPEAKING OF INFLATION, WE KNOW THAT VARIOUS FISCAL POLICIES STILL HAVE THE POTENTIAL TO PUSH INFLATION EVEN HIGHER. AND AT THIS POINT, LOOKING AT FISCAL POLICIES, WE KNOW THAT THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION HAS BEEN FOCUSED ON A NUMBER OF KEY ISSUES, INCLUDING TARIFFS, TAXES AND IMMIGRATION. BUT THE QUESTION HERE IS HOW WILL THESE POLICIES IMPACT THE ECONOMY? AND THE SHORT ANSWER, AS AS MANY ECONOMISTS WOULD ARGUE, IS, WELL, IT DEPENDS, BECAUSE WHEN YOU LOOK AT TARIFFS, FOR EXAMPLE, THE TRUMP TEAM HAS BEEN CLEAR THAT REGARDLESS OF THE SIZE THAT IS EVENTUALLY IMPLEMENTED, TARIFFS WILL BE USED TO SECURE BETTER TRADE DEALS, OPEN FOREIGN MARKETS TO US EXPORTS, AS WELL AS SECURE COOPERATION ON CURTAILING ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION OR OTHER ILLEGAL MARKETS. BUT OF COURSE, EVEN WITH THE BEST OF INTENTIONS, TARIFFS DO COME WITH COSTS AS MOST OF THE PRICE INCREASE RESULTING FROM TARIFFS OR QUOTAS IS PAID FOR BY THE END CONSUMER. AND THE QUESTION HERE IS THAT MANY PEOPLE ARE ASKING IS ARE TARIFFS INFLATIONARY? AND I WOULD ARGUE NOT NECESSARILY BECAUSE EVEN WHILE A ONE TIME PRICE INCREASE THAT MAY BE UNCOMFORTABLE FOR CONSUMERS ALREADY FEELING THE PAIN FROM YEARS OF ELEVATED PRICES, THIS DOES LACK THE INFLATIONARY IMPLICATIONS OF PERPETUAL UPWARD MOMENTUM IN COSTS. BUT WITH THAT BEING SAID, SAID AN ESCALATING TRADE WAR. WHILE THIS COULD RISK SUSTAINED UPWARD PRESSURE IN PRICES TO THE TUNE OF AS MUCH AS SEVERAL TENTHS OF A PERCENTAGE POINT ON AN ANNUAL BASIS. ADDITIONALLY, ON THE TAX FRONT, WE KNOW THAT THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION HAS BEEN A VOCAL SUPPORTER OF EXTENDING THE TAX CUTS AND JOBS ACT, AS WELL AS REDUCING THE CORPORATE TAX RATE. AND AGAIN, TALKING FROM FROM BOTH SIDES OF THE COIN. AN EXTENSION OF THE TAX CUTS AND JOBS ACT COULD RAMP UP CONSUMER ACTIVITY AND BUSINESS INVESTMENT, WHICH COULD POTENTIALLY RESULT IN UPWARD PRESSURE ON PRICES, AS WELL AS A SIZABLE LOSS IN GOVERNMENT REVENUE TO THE TUNE OF 2 TO $4 TRILLION OVER THE NEXT DECADE. HOWEVER, AT THE SAME TIME, THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION HAS INDICATED A DESIRE TO REDUCE THE SIZE OF GOVERNMENT BY WEEDING OUT WASTE AND INEFFICIENCIES.

SO, IN OTHER WORDS, IF ENOUGH AREAS OR ITEMS ARE IDENTIFIED, THIS COULD OFFSET ANY LOSS IN REVENUES AND POTENTIALLY RESULT IN A PICKUP IN THE LONGER RUN GROWTH POTENTIAL OF THE US ECONOMY. AND FINALLY, THE LAST KEY PIECE OF THE AGENDA IS IMMIGRATION REFORM. AND AGAIN, AS I MENTIONED, LOOKING AT THIS FROM BOTH SIDES OF THE OF THE COIN, ADDITIONAL IMMIGRATION RESTRICTIONS COULD CERTAINLY EXACERBATE THE EXISTING LABOR SUPPLY SHORTAGE THAT WE'RE FACING HERE IN THE US, AS WE STILL HAVE NEARLY 8 MILLION JOB VACANCIES. BUT AT THE SAME TIME, AN EXTENSION, I SHOULD SAY, MORE STRINGENT IMMIGRATION REFORMS COULD ALSO HELP TO REDUCE

[02:20:04]

REPORTED DRAINS ON SOME FEDERAL, STATE OR LOCAL PROGRAMS. SO IN SUMMARY, WHAT DOES THIS ALL MEAN FROM A GROWTH STANDPOINT? WELL, WE CERTAINLY EXPECT GROWTH TO REMAIN POSITIVE IN THE COMING QUARTERS AS CONSUMERS AND BUSINESSES WILL CONTINUE TO SPEND WITH THE RISK OF RECESSION STILL REAL. SO NOT 0% IN OUR FORECAST, BUT STILL SOMEWHAT MUTED AT AROUND 15% OVER THE NEXT 12 MONTHS. HOWEVER, FISCAL POLICY WILL CONTINUE TO SERVE AS A SIGNIFICANT WILD CARD FOR THE ECONOMY THIS YEAR AND FOR THE NEXT SEVERAL YEARS AS A POTENTIALLY AMBITIOUS AGENDA FOR THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION WILL LIKELY RESULT IN A REDUCED TAX BURDEN AND SMALLER SIZE OF THE GOVERNMENT, AS WELL AS ELEVATED TARIFFS AND SIZABLE IMMIGRATION LIMITATIONS. AND THESE WILL LIKELY RESULT IN NUMBER ONE ONGOING POSITIVE GROWTH. NUMBER TWO, PERSISTENT ABOVE TARGET INFLATION. AND FINALLY, NUMBER THREE, GROWING BUDGET STRAINS. AND WITH THAT, I KNOW I COVERED A LOT OF INFORMATION IN A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME. BUT I'D LIKE TO THANK YOU AND OPEN IT UP FOR ANY QUESTIONS IF WE HAVE TIME FOR QUESTIONS. THANK YOU LAUREN. ANY QUESTIONS? ANY COMMENTS FROM ANYBODY? NO, NOT AT THIS TIME. BUT THANK YOU FOR YOUR PRESENTATION AND YOUR INSIGHTS.

WE MAKE A LOT OF DECISIONS AND THESE ARE THINGS WE NEED TO BASE IT ON. SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH JOSE. NO PROBLEM. THANK YOU SO MUCH. AND I SHOULD MENTION IF YOU IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS PLEASE FEEL FREE TO REACH OUT AND WE'D BE HAPPY TO ANSWER THEM. THANK YOU LAUREN. THANK YOU LAUREN BRAD WE APPRECIATE IT. AND NANCY AS WELL. JUDGE. COMMISSIONERS, GIVEN THAT WE STILL HAVE THE REMAINING SECTION OF THE WORKSHOP ITEM AND YOU ALL ARE COMING UP TO YOUR YOUR RECESS, WE'D ASK THAT YOU CONTINUE WITH YOUR AGENDA UNTIL YOU'RE UNTIL YOUR LUNCH RECESS.

AND THEN WE COULD POSSIBLY PICK THAT UP AFTER THE. AFTER YOUR, YOUR LUNCH RECESS. JUDGE, IF I MAY, I'M SORRY. WE DO HAVE SOME PUBLIC SPEAKERS. WE HAVE DOCTOR MARTINEZ FROM CLINT ISD WHO IS HERE IN THE AUDIENCE WANTING TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM. PERHAPS WE CAN HEAR FROM HIM SO THAT HE DOESN'T HAVE TO WAIT UNTIL WE RETURN TO THE ITEM AFTER LUNCH. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. GOOD. GOOD IDEA. THANK YOU. LAUREN. YOU'LL BE ABLE TO STAY ON. HI, BRAD. I THINK SHE MAY HAVE JUST DROPPED, BUT I'M HERE, AND NANCY'S HERE IF WE CAN HELP. OKAY. THANK YOU. WELCOME. APPRECIATE YOU BEING HERE. THANK YOU, MR. CHAIRMAN. DIEGO. GOOD MORNING. MY NAME IS JUAN MARTINEZ. I'M THE SUPERINTENDENT FROM THE CLINTON SCHOOL DISTRICT. I ALSO HAVE WITH ME MR. ANTHONY PRADO, WHO IS THE CHIEF OF OPERATIONS. MR. JAIME SANCHEZ, WHO IS IN CHARGE OF THE. HE'S THE DIRECTOR OF TRANSPORTATION AND ALCANTAR, WHO IS ALSO A SUPERVISOR FOR TRANSPORTATION. IN CASE YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OF THEM WHO WORK DAILY ON ON THESE ISSUES THAT WE WOULD LIKE TO ADDRESS. THANK YOU. SEVERAL YEARS AGO, I GUESS IT'S BEEN MORE MAYBE MAYBE SEVEN YEARS AGO OR SO. WE SUBMITTED A LETTER ON BEHALF OF THE CLINTON INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT REGARDING THE ROAD FROM THAT CONNECTS HORIZON CITY AND MONTANA VISTA AREA KNOWN AS ASUNCION ROAD. BACK THEN, YOU KNOW, IT WAS IT CREATED A POTENTIAL PROBLEM FOR OUR SCHOOLS, MAINLY OUR SCHOOL BUSSES. WE TRANSPORT STUDENTS DAILY. BACK AND FORTH FOR MANY, MANY DIFFERENT ACTIVITIES, INCLUDING ATHLETICS, INCLUDING PROGRAMS THAT WE HAVE FROM SCHOOL TO SCHOOL, OUR SCHOOLS.

OUR STUDENTS ARE ABLE TO GO FROM ONE HIGH SCHOOL TO ANOTHER HIGH SCHOOL THROUGHOUT THE DISTRICT FOR DIFFERENT PROGRAMS. AS WE CANNOT AFFORD TO HAVE ALL OF THE PROGRAMS IN ONE PARTICULAR HIGH SCHOOL, FOR EXAMPLE, AT MOUNTAIN VIEW HIGH SCHOOL, WE HAVE A MEDICAL ACADEMY AT HORIZON HIGH SCHOOL. WE HAVE OTHER PROGRAMS SUCH AS FIREFIGHTING AND ELECTRICAL TRADES AND SO ON. SO STUDENTS ARE ABLE TO GO BACK AND FORTH BETWEEN THE SCHOOLS, AND THIS HAPPENS ON A DAILY BASIS.

WELL, BACK THEN THERE WAS AN ACCIDENT THERE AND ON THAT ROAD. SO WE SUBMITTED A LETTER TO, TO YOU ALL TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT THE ROAD. AND THANKFULLY YOU ALL RESPONDED AND THE ROAD WAS FIXED. IT WAS MUCH BETTER FOR, FOR OUR BUSSES TO, TO BE TRANSPORTING OUR STUDENTS. BUT NOW IT'S BEEN SEVEN YEARS AGO OR MORE AND NOW WE'RE FINDING OURSELVES IN THE SAME SITUATION.

I SENT YOU A PICTURES OF HOW THE ROAD LOOKS. I TRAVEL THIS ROAD PROBABLY FOUR TIMES A WEEK. AND

[02:25:05]

THE CONDITIONS OF THE ROAD IS NOT OPTIMAL FOR OUR BUSSES AND ESPECIALLY WITH WITH OUR LITTLE ONES. THERE WAS RECENTLY AN THEY CAN DESCRIBE TO YOU WHAT HAPPENED. ANOTHER ACCIDENT THAT INVOLVED A PRIVATE VEHICLE RIGHT IN FRONT OF OUR BUS. THAT IT COULD HAVE BEEN ANOTHER TRAGEDY.

THANK GOD NOTHING HAPPENED. BUT THE OUR UNDERSTANDING IS THAT FUNDING WAS ALLOCATED TO FIX THIS ROAD. BUT NOW WITH, I GUESS, SOME BUDGET ISSUES WITH THE, WITH THE WITH YOU ALL THAT THIS FUNDING WILL BE REALLOCATED SOMEWHERE ELSE. WE'RE ASKING YOU WE'RE BEGGING YOU TO PLEASE, INSTEAD OF REMOVING THIS FUNDIN, THAT YOU CONTINUE FUNDING IT AND PERHAPS FIXING THIS ROAD AS SOON AS POSSIBLE, AS IT IS NOT AN OPTIMAL CONDITION. SO IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, I KNOW YOUR TIME IS IMPORTANT. SO IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, PLEASE. AT THIS TIME WE'RE HAPPY TO ENTERTAIN ANY QUESTIONS. WE FIRSTHAND WE TRAVEL THIS ROAD EVERY SINGLE DAY. COMMISSIONER, DO YOU WANT TO ADD TO THAT? YES. NO. I WOULD LOVE TO HEAR FROM SOME OF THE STAFF THAT YOU BROUGHT WITH YOU, DOCTOR MARTINEZ, BECAUSE I THINK IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT FOR THIS COURT AND FOR THE COMMUNITY TO UNDERSTAND THE CONDITION OF THE ROAD. I KNOW THAT YOU HAD DROPPED OFF SEVERAL PACKETS WITH COLOR PHOTOS, AND I HOPE EVERYONE DID RECEIVE THEIR COPY.

BUT JUST AGAIN, TO THANK YOU FOR TAKING THE TIME TO COME DOWN. AS SOMEONE WHO YOU PERSONALLY TRAVEL THIS ROAD, BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY, OUR SCHOOL BUSSES THAT CARRY OUR CHILDREN TO ALL OF THESE VERY IMPORTANT ACTIVITIES. THIS ROAD TO ME IS AN INCREDIBLE SAFETY HAZARD, AND I FEEL THAT THIS COURT NEEDS TO DO WHAT WE DID A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO, WHICH IS COMMIT OURSELVES TO FINDING THE RESOURCES TO REPAIR THIS ROAD. UNFORTUNATELY, THOSE COSTS ARE MUCH HIGHER THAN WE ORIGINALLY ANTICIPATED, WHICH HAS LED TO THIS CONVERSATION ABOUT REPROGRAMING THOSE FUNDS.

BUT I FEEL THAT IT'S ABSOLUTELY IMPERATIVE THAT WE IDENTIFY NEW FUNDS THAT CAN NOW COVER THE ENTIRE COST TO GET THIS ROAD REPAIRED. I DON'T TRAVEL THE ROAD NEARLY AS OFTEN AS YOU DO, BUT EVEN SO, I KNOW HOW BAD OF A CONDITION IT'S IN. BUT LOOKING AT THESE PHOTOGRAPHS, IT'S VERY SAD THAT THIS IS A MAJOR CONNECTOR BETWEEN TWO VERY IMPORTANT AND GROWING COMMUNITIES THAT'S IN THIS TYPE OF, OF STATE. SO I WOULD LOVE TO HEAR FROM SOME OF THE OTHER INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE MORE TECHNICAL KNOWLEDGE OF, OF WHAT OUR BUSSES ARE GOING THROUGH.

GOOD MORNING. GOOD MORNING. MORNING. WELCOME. AS DOCTOR MARTIN MARTINEZ ALLUDED TO, WE HAVE DIFFERENT KINDS OF TRAFFIC, WHETHER IT'S REGULAR SCHOOL BUSSES, SPECIAL EDUCATION BUSSES. WE HAVE THE DISPLACED AND MCKINNEY-VENTO HOMELESS KIDS THAT WE, WE TRAVEL THAT ROAD WITH MANY TIMES A DAY. THAT IS DURING THE DAY AND IT IS UNSAFE DURING THE DAY. ADD A LITTLE A LITTLE BIT MORE ELEMENT ON AT NIGHT. THERE IS NO LIGHTING. SO IT IS EXTREMELY DARK IN THOSE AREAS ESPECIALLY, YOU KNOW, FIVE 530 WE STILL HAVE ACTIVITY BUSSES, TWO TOURING BUSSES GOING BACK AND FORTH AND IT'S EXTREMELY UNSAFE. I CAN TELL YOU THE ONE INCIDENT THAT WE MENTIONED RIGHT NOW IS LITERALLY EVERYBODY THAT ALL THE REGULAR CARS THAT TRY TO USE THE ROAD, THEY'RE ALWAYS SEEMINGLY IN A HURRY. IN THIS ONE INSTANCE, ONE CAR WAS TRYING TO PASS A ONE OF OUR SPECIAL EDUCATION BUSSES AS THEY WERE TRYING TO PASS AND CHANGE LANES. THEY WERE. THEY COLLIDED WITH SOMEBODY, THE ONGOING TRAFFIC. OUR BUS DRIVER DID SEE EVERYTHING, OF COURSE, RIGHT IN FRONT OF HER. SHE PULLED OVER AND NOTHING HAPPENED. OF COURSE WE WERE SAFE, BUT DEFINITELY THE SOME OF THE STUDENTS WERE WERE OBSERVERS OF THIS ACCIDENT AND GOT GOT A BIT SHAKEN. SO IT IS UNSAFE. WE DEAL WITH IT DAILY, MAKING SURE OUR OUR KIDS ARE DOING OKAY, TRAVELING THAT ROAD AND OUR BUS DRIVERS. WE HAVE MECHANICS, WE HAVE SECURITY PEOPLE GOING THROUGH THAT ROAD. IT'S A MAIN ARTERY FOR OUR THREE COMMUNITIES TO BE OR TWO COMMUNITIES TO BE CONNECTED. SO THANK YOU ALL. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. APPRECIATE THAT. ANYTHING TO ADD? I KNOW YOU WORK WITH THE BUSSES DAILY AND YOU TRAVEL FAST. OKAY. GOOD MORNING EVERYONE. GOOD MORNING.

I'M TRANSPORTATION SUPERVISOR TO ADD UP TO THIS. IT'S A NUMBERS THAT EVERYBODY LIKES NUMBERS. SO IT AFFECTS OUR SUSPENSIONS AND OUR BUSSES. REASON WHY? WELL, WE TRANSPORT ALL THE KIDS AND WE WANT TO TAKE THEM IN A SAFE AS POSSIBLE IN THE BUS. RIGHT. SO THIS ONE TIME WE HAD ANOTHER ISSUE WHERE THERE'S NO IT'S A ONE WAY ROAD IN AND OUT. WE HAD AN ISSUE WHERE WE HAD A FLAT TIRE AS WELL. SO WE COULDN'T EITHER GO TO A SIDE OR SAFETY SPOT. WHY? BECAUSE THE ROADS ARE IT'S JUST MAINLY DIRT ROADS. SO IT'S A HAZARD FOR US, FOR OUR DRIVERS. I KNOW WE HAVE A LOT OF PROFESSIONAL DRIVERS INTO THIS, AND THEY'RE ALWAYS WILLING TO PUT THEIR KIDS FIRST. TRUST ME, THAT'S THE FIRST THING WE GET FROM THEM. WHAT ABOUT THE KIDS OR NO, NO SAFETY. SAFETY AT ALL

[02:30:05]

TIMES, RIGHT? BUT LIKE I MENTIONED, THIS ADDS UP TO THE COST, WHICH IS TIRES, SUSPENSION, ESPECIALLY THE ROAD. IT'S BOMBARDED WITH HOLES ALL THE TIME. SO PROBABLY HELP US OUT ON THAT, ESPECIALLY WITH OUR SAFETY FOR OUR KIDS. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. YES. JUST A AND THEN I'LL GO TO YOU. COMMISSIONER. HI. TONY PRADO, CHIEF OPERATIONS OFFICER. WE UNDERSTAND THE CHALLENGES FINANCIALLY. I MEAN, YOU TALK TO ANY SCHOOL DISTRICT AND YOU'LL HEAR. SO WE THOROUGHLY UNDERSTAND. WE JUST HUMBLY ASK FOR YOUR SUPPORT BECAUSE THE ROAD IS IN DIRE NEED OF IMPROVEMENTS. AND YOU SEE THE GROWTH GOING WAY OUT EAST, AND IT'S INEVITABLE THAT IT WILL JUST BECOME EVEN MORE IMPORTANT TO TAKE CARE OF THAT ROAD. THANK YOU. THANK YOU SIR. COMMISSIONER BUTLER. THANK YOU SO MUCH. AND THE REST OF THE CLINT ISD TEAM. I AM A PROUD ALUM OF CLINT ISD, MOUNTAIN VIEW HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATE. I WAS ONE OF THOSE STUDENTS WHO WAS BUSSED BACK AND FORTH BETWEEN MOUNTAIN VIEW AND CLINT AND HORIZON THROUGH ELEMENTARY SCHOOL ALL THE WAY TO HIGH SCHOOL. SO, YOU KNOW, I REMEMBER HAVING TO DRIVE DOWN ASCENSION TO GO TO BAND COMPETITIONS, AND MY MOM WOULD BE LIKE, GO 30MPH. BE REALLY CAREFUL. IT'S TOO DARK, RIGHT? I. MONTANA VISTA IS STILL MY HOME, AND I KNOW SO MANY PEOPLE WHO COMMUTE DAILY ON ASCENSION TEACHER STUDENTS, PEOPLE IN MONTANA VISTA WHO COMMUTE TO HORIZON CITY FOR WORK EVERY DAY.

I DON'T THINK THERE'S ANY DOUBT ON THE COURT ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE AND THE NEED TO FIX ASCENSION. WE KNOW THAT IT'S A IT'S A PRIORITY PROJECT. I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE, YOU KNOW THAT THAT WE'RE WE HAVE THE WHOLE, YOU KNOW. HISTORICAL BACKGROUND ON ON HOW WE GOT TO THIS POINT. AND I KNOW WE'RE GOING TO DISCUSS IT PROBABLY AFTER AFTER THE RECESS MORE.

WITH ROAD AND BRIDGES. BUT THE FUNDING THAT WAS ALLOCATED TO ASCENSION ROAD ISN'T NEARLY ENOUGH TO COVER THE PROJECT RIGHT NOW. THIS FUNDING WAS ALLOCATED TWO YEARS AGO, OVER TWO YEARS AGO THROUGH A TAX NOTE. I REMEMBER VERY CLEARLY I JOINED COMMISSIONER LEON'S TEAM IN AUGUST, AND THIS ITEM CAME UP IN OCTOBER, AND I GOT REALLY EXCITED BECAUSE I WAS LIKE, I KNOW ASCENSION, I CAN HELP WITH THIS. AND I DON'T KNOW IF THE COURT REMEMBERS THOSE OF YOU WHO ARE HERE. COMMISSIONER CORONADO, IT WAS BEFORE YOU WERE ON THE COMMISSIONERS COURT, BUT THE DISCUSSION WAS, DO WE? FIX ASCENSION ROAD AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE BECAUSE IT'S AN URGENT NEED. AND WE HEARD FROM THE DISTRICT THEN ABOUT HOW IMPORTANT IT WAS AND DO IT FOR $10 MILLION, YOU KNOW, TWO LANES EACH WAY, BARE BONES, NO BELLS AND WHISTLES. OR DO WE TAKE A LONGER, MORE EXTENSIVE PROJECT TIMELINE AND REALLY INVEST IN A, YOU KNOW, A LARGER HIGHWAY WITH HIKE AND BIKE TRAILS AND LIGHTING AND, AND MEDIANS AND LANDSCAPING? AND COMMISSIONER LEON VOTED AGAINST APPROVING THE PROJECT BECAUSE HE REALLY THOUGHT WE SHOULD INVEST IN A LONG TERM VISION FOR ASCENSION ROAD, BECAUSE HE RECOGNIZED THE IMPORTANCE OF THAT CONNECTOR BETWEEN MONTANA VISTA AND HORIZON CITY. THE COURT DECIDED TO GO FORWARD WITH THE $10 MILLION TO 2 OR 3 YEAR TIMELINE BECAUSE OF THE URGENCY OF THE ROAD PROJECT. AND NOW WE'RE OVER TWO YEARS INTO THAT, AND WE HAVE A HUGE FUNDING SHORTFALL. AND WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO FUND A PROJECT THAT WILL ADDRESS THE MOST IMMEDIATE NEEDS OF THAT ROAD, BUT NOWHERE NEAR EVEN WHAT WE WERE INTENDING TO DO TWO YEARS AGO. AND SO I ENCOURAGE YOU ALL TO, TO HELP US ENVISION WHAT COULD WHAT WHAT COULD BE ASCENSION IF WE TAKE THE TIME TO DESIGN IT FULLY AND TO FUND IT FULLY VERSUS TRYING TO RUSH A PROJECT WITH NOT AS MUCH FUNDING AS WE NEED? AND THAT WON'T BE OPTIMAL, OPTIMAL FOR THE LONG TERM GROWTH OF THE REGION. AND THAT'S THAT'S JUST ABOUT BEING FISCALLY PRUDENT, RIGHT. SO ARE WE GOING TO BUILD A ONE LANE REBUILD ASCENSION AS ONE LANE EACH DIRECTION BECAUSE THAT'S ALL WE CAN AFFORD. OR CAN WE TAKE A LITTLE BIT MORE TIME, FIND OTHER FUNDING SOURCES AND DO IT RIGHT THE FIRST TIME. AND SO THAT'S THAT'S REALLY THE, THE

[02:35:07]

DISCUSSION I THINK THAT WE'RE TRYING TO HAVE TODAY. IT'S NOT ABOUT WHETHER IT'S AN IT'S AN URGENT NEED FOR THE COMMUNITY AT ALL, OR WHETHER WE NEED TO DO IT FOR THE SAFETY OF EVERYBODY WHO COMMUTES ON ASCENSION EVERY DAY. I THINK IT'S ABOUT HOW DO WE MAXIMIZE THE RESOURCES THAT WE DO HAVE TO BENEFIT THE WHOLE AREA. THANK YOU. WE'LL PUT COMMISSIONER. YEAH. AND I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO THANK OUR STAFF FOR DOING THE BEST THAT THEY CAN WITH THE RESOURCES THAT THEY HAVE AVAILABLE. I KNOW THAT OUR ROADS AND BRIDGES STAFF IS CONSTANTLY TRYING TO PATCH UP SOME OF THESE POTHOLES, BUT IT'S NEVER ENDING, RIGHT? IT'S THAT GAME OF WHAT IS IT? WHACK A MOLE, RIGHT? YOU GET ONE PATCH AND THEN ANOTHER FIVE POTHOLES APPEAR. SO I WANT TO THANK THEM FOR TRYING TO DO EVERYTHING THAT THEY CAN TO TRY TO MAINTAIN THE ROAD AS SAFE AS IT CAN. BUT I THINK WE HAVE TO RECOGNIZE THAT THAT'S JUST NOT SOMETHING THAT WE CAN KEEP DOING EVERY SINGLE DAY. AND I WOULD LOVE TO HAVE BEEN ABLE TO ALLOCATE AND IDENTIFY ENOUGH FUNDING TO MAKE ASCENSION ROAD WHAT IT HAS, WHAT IT COULD BE. BUT I DON'T KNOW IF OUR COMMUNITY CAN WAIT FOR TEN YEARS, 15 YEARS, 20 YEARS TO TRY TO FIND THAT AMOUNT OF FUNDING. IT'S MY HOPE THAT OUR STAFF WILL BE ABLE TO, EVEN IF WE CAN START SMALL, BUT HAVE A SAFE ROAD, EVEN IF IT'S SMALLER THAN WHAT WE WOULD LIKE. BUT IF IT'S SAFE AND THEN BUILD ONTO IT FROM THERE AND ADD SOME OF THOSE GREAT AMENITIES THAT WE WOULD LOVE TO SEE THE TRAILS AND THINGS LIKE THAT. SO IT'S MY HOPE THAT THAT'S THE DIRECTION WE CAN GIVE OUR STAFF. LET'S AT LEAST TRY TO MAKE THIS ROAD SAFE, BUT KNOWING THAT WE'D LIKE TO CONTINUE TO BUILD ON IT IN THE FUTURE AS FUNDING BECOMES AVAILABLE. YEAH, I THINK WE AGREE WITH YOU THAT OBVIOUSLY WE WANT OR THE COMMUNITIES WANT A NICER ROAD, A BIGGER ROAD WITH ALL THE BELLS AND WHISTLES AT THIS TIME. ACTUALLY, ALL I'M ASKING YOU IS JUST WE JUST NEED A SAFE ROAD. WHATEVER HAPPENS IN THE FUTURE, WHATEVER THE PLANS ARE, THAT WOULD BE GREAT, BECAUSE THE GROWTH OBVIOUSLY IS THERE. BUT IN THE CURRENT STAGE, THE WAY THE ROAD IS RIGHT NOW, THERE'S ONE AREA CLOSE, CLOSE TO EAST MONTANA MIDDLE SCHOOL. IT'S VERY NICE, BUT RIGHT AFTER THAT ELECTRICAL, I THINK THERE'S SOME ELECTRICAL LINES THERE. I DON'T KNOW WHAT IT'S CALLED, BUT FROM THAT POINT ALL THE WAY TO HORIZON, IT'S JUST NOT SAFE. SO I'M NOT ASKING NOW FOR EVEN A BRAND NEW ROAD, BUT BASICALLY JUST FIXING THE ROAD BECAUSE IT IS NOT SAFE. OUR BUSSES HAVE TO, YOU KNOW, MEANDER THROUGHOUT THIS. POTHOLES EVERYWHERE, AND IT KEEPS GETTING WORSE AND WORSE AND WORSE. I DO CYCLE THE AREA ALSO IN THE AFTERNOONS OFTEN.

AND I MEAN FORGET ABOUT THE BICYCLES. IT IS JUST OUR BUSSES THAT THAT. BUT I SEE IT FIRSTHAND HOW BAD IT IS. IF WE CAN JUST FIX IT, YOU KNOW, AND USE SOME OF THE FUNDING THAT WAS ALLOCATED, AT LEAST TO FIX IT, THAT WOULD BE FANTASTIC. BUT RIGHT NOW, ALL WE ARE ASKING, I KNOW THAT THE ISSUES WITH FUNDING, SENSE OF PRIDE FOR YOUR SCHOOL DISTRICT THAT WE HAVE.

GOOD FUND BALANCE. WE HAVE A DISTRICT THAT IS VERY CONSCIENTIOUS OF THE TAXPAYERS AND THEREFORE WE HAVE A BALANCED BUDGET. SO WHICH IS UNHEARD OF IN THE ENTIRE COUNTY. BUT WE HAVE A BALANCED BUDGET. AND WE'RE STILL DOING AMAZING THINGS OVER AT MOUNTAIN VIEW HIGH SCHOOL. AND WE'LL INVITE YOU TO SEE THE PROJECT THAT IS COMING UP VERY SOON. IT DOESN'T LOOK LIKE THE SCHOOL THAT YOU WENT TO. WITHOUT RAISING ANY, ANY TAXES. BUT ANYWAYS, GOING BACK TO THE TOPIC, PLEASE JUST DO SOMETHING TO FIX THE ROAD. THAT'S ALL WE'RE ASKING FOR NOW.

THE FUTURE. HOPEFULLY SOMETHING BETTER. BUT FOR NOW, WE JUST NEED TO FIX THE ROAD.

COMMISSIONER CORONADO, THANK YOU, JUDGE AND COMMISSIONERS. YOU KNOW, AND I AGREE WITH COMMISSIONER BUTLER. YOU KNOW, WE REALLY I, I KNOW THIS IS SOMETHING THAT'S, YOU KNOW, THE DIRE NEED, BUT WE ALSO HAVE TO CONSIDER THE BIG PICTURE AND THE LONG RUN AND HOW WE'RE GOING TO BE BETTER ABLE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ADDRESS IT COMPLETELY. RIGHT. YOU KNOW, WITHOUT HAVING TO KICK THE CAN DOWN THE ROAD FOR PART OF IT. BUT COMMISSIONER BUTLER AND I MET WITH WITH THE WATER DEVELOPMENT BOARD THIS LAST WEEK, AND THERE'S AN OPPORTUNITY, I THINK, FOR US TO MAKE AN APPLICATION FOR THE FLOOD INFRASTRUCTURE FUND. I REMEMBER THE LAST TIME WE HAD A PRESENTATION, THERE WAS AN ISSUE REGARDING WATER RUNOFF THROUGH THAT AREA AND THAT THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED. SO WE MET WITH THE INDIVIDUALS FROM THE WATER DEVELOPMENT BOARD, AND THEY POINTED US TO TWO PARTICULAR PROGRAMS THAT WE MIGHT BE. I THINK WE NEED TO APPLY FOR THIS, THE FLOOD MITIGATION ASSISTANCE GRANT PROGRAM AND THE FLOOD INFRASTRUCTURE FROM THE FIFTH.

THE OTHER THING I THINK WE ALSO NEED TO DO IS, AND I KNOW THE MPO IS SAYING THAT THEY DON'T

[02:40:04]

HAVE MONEY, BUT I STILL THINK WE NEED TO PRESS ON THEM THAT THIS IS EXACTLY SOMETHING THAT THEY SHOULD BE INVOLVED WITH. AND I THINK WE NEED TO PRESS THAT SO THAT WE CAN TRY TO ADDRESS THIS IN A COMPLETE, COMPREHENSIVE MANNER. AND SO, YOU KNOW, WE'RE FACED WITH THIS DIFFICULTY, BUT WE HAVE TO ADDRESS IT SOMEHOW. THANK YOU COMMISSIONER. AND I CAN'T TELL YOU. THANK YOU, DOCTOR MARTINEZ. AND FOR YOUR TEAM COMING HERE AND TAKING THE TIME. I CAN'T TELL YOU HOW DIFFICULT IT IS TO SIT HERE AND THINK ABOUT WHEN YOU SAY CHILDREN AND NOT BE SAFE. IT'S JUST A VERY DIFFICULT. AND WE THANK YOU FOR YOUR ADVOCACY FOR THE CHILDREN AND THE SAFETY. SO I'M REALLY HOPING THAT ONE THING DOESN'T EXCLUDE THE OTHER. YOU KNOW THAT IF WE COULD DO SOMETHING WITH RESPECT TO SAFETY AND KEEP THE VISION GOING, YOU KNOW, HOPE THERE'S THAT POSSIBILITY, YOU KNOW, THAT WHATEVER WE DO NOW LENDS ITSELF TO THE BIGGER PICTURE, AND THAT ONE DOESN'T EXCLUDE THE OTHER, BECAUSE I THINK IF THAT HAPPENS, WE'LL BE BACK HERE VERY SOON WITH THE SAME ISSUE. SO I'M HOPING THAT WE'RE ABLE TO DIRECT, YOU KNOW, ADMINISTRATION TO LOOK AT. IS THERE SOMETHING WE COULD DO THAT IS GOING TO SUPPORT THE BIGGER PICTURE? AND HOPEFULLY THAT'S THE CASE. BUT LIKE I SAID, JUST ANYTHING HAVING TO DO WITH SAFETY AND PUTTING CHILDREN WITHIN THE SAME TOPIC IS JUST REALLY HEARTFELT. AND I CAN'T IMAGINE FOR YOU AS, AS AN EDUCATOR AND, YOU KNOW, YOU PROTECT CHILDREN IN SO MANY DIFFERENT WAYS AND HAVE TO SEE THIS. SO WE'RE HOPING THAT WE COULD MITIGATE THAT TOO. AND SO VERY THANKFUL FOR YOU BEING HERE TODAY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU AGAIN FOR YOUR TIME. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU.

JUDGE, WE HAVE AN ADDITIONAL PERSON FOR PUBLIC COMMENT FOR THIS ITEM. OKAY. WE HAVE OSCAR SILVA. HE'S ON THE PHONE. GO AHEAD. SIR. WELCOME, MR. SILVA. BUENOS DIAS EN ESPANOL.

PROBLEMA. SI. NO, NO. NINGUN PROBLEMA. MUCHISIMAS. GRACIAS. BUENO PARA UNA MAYOR. LOS TESTIMONIOS INVIRTIENDO. PORQUE. BUENO SI PASTOR DE UNA IGLESIA EN EL AREA DE AGUA DULCE Y ESA REALIDAD ES DE. SI CIERTAS COMPLICACIONES SOBRE TODO. EN UN PROYECTO INCONCLUSO. ACERCA DE LA INTERSECTION DE ASCENSION Y HORIZON. ENTONCES TENEMOS FAMILIAS DE LA MAYORIA DE DE MONTANA, VISTA DEL AREA ESTE DEL PASO. ENTONCES SI ES UNA REALIDAD ESTA INSEGURO SOBRE TODO ES UNA CRITICA. EN LAS NOCHES. PUES ESTA ESTA. CON MUCHO OSCURIDAD Y TODO EL ENTONCES. SI ESTAMOS MUY INTERESADOS VERDAD. SI LO MAS POSSIBLE REALIDAD POR SEGURIDAD DE LAS FAMILIAS. TANTO CRITICA PERO ES POBLADOS POR AHI SE INTERCOMMUNICATION COMO MONTANA VISTA DEL PASO Y EL AREA DE AGUA DULCE. ESTE DE ASCENSION ESAS PARTS. ENTONCES TENEMOS LA IGLESIA. CON FREQUENCIA Y SI VAMOS LA SEGURIDAD DE ESA REALIDAD. ENTONCES SI SI SE PUEDE PROBAR PROYECTO VERDAD DE HACER LA MAS SEGURA LOS AGRADECEMOS PROFUNDAMENTE.

GRACIAS. NO CONTRARIO. GRACIAS POR SU TIEMPO Y ES ESO PASSION VERDAD PARA HACER LO ESTA POR LA SEGURIDAD DE LOS NINOS MUCHISIMAS. GRACIAS, SENOR SILVA. ANDRES. GRACIAS. JUST FOR THE ENGLISH COMPONENT, I I'LL PARAPHRASE, BUT MR. SILVA WAS TALKING ABOUT THE INCOMPLETION.

AND BECAUSE OF THE INCOMPLETION, THE SAFETY ISSUES THAT ARE INVOLVED IN THAT, AND PRETTY MUCH RESONATES WITH THE DISCUSSIONS WE HAD WITH MR. MARTINEZ AND THE REST OF THE, OF HIS TEAM. SOMETHING THAT OBVIOUSLY, FOR PARENTS IS, IS VERY CONCERNING. THAT THAT WE SAFETY BEING THE MAIN ISSUE AT THIS TIME. BESIDES TRYING TO FIX A ROAD BUT THE SAFETY IS REALLY LEADING THE ISSUE. SO THANK YOU. AT THIS TIME WOULD YOU LIKE TO GO AHEAD AND RECESS? YES. OKAY.

COMMISSIONERS COURT WILL RECESS FOR ONE HOUR. IT IS 12:15 P.M.

[02:46:35]

AND.

SO TODAY WE'RE CELEBRATING THAT THERE WILL BE THREE NEIGHBORHOODS WHO ARE NOW GOING TO GET ACCESS TO WASTEWATER, WHICH IS BASICALLY BEING ABLE TO CONNECT TO THE LOWER VALLEY

[02:50:03]

WATER DISTRICT'S SEWER SYSTEM. WOW. IT'S EMOTIONAL. YOU KNOW, WE'RE FEELING SO HAPPY FOR OUR COMMUNITY, ESPECIALLY FOR ALL THE FAMILIES THAT WE HAVE ON THE IN THE COUNTY. WE KNOW THAT THE SEPTIC SYSTEMS THAT PEOPLE USE ARE MORE THAN 30 YEARS OLD, AND THEY'RE CAUSING CONTAMINATION ISSUES, WHICH ARE A PRIMARY ISSUE FOR PEOPLE'S WELL-BEING AND HEALTH. YEAH, IT'S I WILL BE LIVING WITH ACCEPTING THAT CAN BE A PROBLEM FOR ENVIRONMENTAL COMMUNITIES. AND NOW THAT WE'RE WORKING TOGETHER WITH THE LOWER VALLEY AND THE COUNTY AND GETTING SOME FUNDING FOR GET THIS PROJECT. SO WE'RE SO HAPPY WITH THAT. IT'S ALREADY STARTED. ALL RIGHT. AND IT'S GOING TO TAKE SOMEWHERE AROUND 6 TO 8 MONTHS. SO AT THE COUNTY OF EL PASO, WE DECIDED TO PRIORITIZE THESE TYPES OF PROJECTS, TO BE ABLE TO CONNECT THESE COMMUNITIES TO WATER AND WASTEWATER SERVICES. WE INVESTED ABOUT 40 MILLION OF OUR AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN ACT DOLLARS THAT WE RECEIVED FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IN 2022. WE INVESTED THOSE FUNDS TO BE ABLE TO PARTNER WITH THE LOWER VALLEY WATER DISTRICT, TO BE ABLE TO CONNECT THESE NEIGHBORHOODS. IT WOULD HAVE TAKEN US ANOTHER 15 YEARS TO COME UP WITH THE MONEY TO BE ABLE TO DO THIS. SO WE'RE VERY GRATEFUL TO THE COUNTY FOR HAVING SPONSORED US THROUGH THIS PROJECT. AND THREE. WELL, IT'S GROUNDBREAKING FOR THREE NEW HANGARS. AND THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WE STARTED TALKING ABOUT BACK IN 2013. SO IT'S BEEN A LONG WAYS TO GET HERE. A LOT OF PEOPLE SAY, WELL IT WAS THIS AIRPORT'S LIKE AN OVERNIGHT SUCCESS. WELL MAYBE, BUT IT TOOK 55 YEARS TO GET TO THIS DAY.

WE'RE SITTING ON A GOLD MINE. THIS IS A THIS IS A GEM. SO AS THE YEARS GO ON, YOU'RE GOING TO SEE THAT THIS WILL BECOME A REGIONAL AIRPORT. WE'RE EXCITED. AND I KNOW THIS IS A GREAT OPPORTUNITY FOR THE LOCAL RESIDENTS AND FOR THE ENTIRE COUNTY. SO DURING THE PAST FIVE YEARS, THE COUNTY HAS BEEN SUCCESSFUL IN OBTAINING ABOUT $20 MILLION WORTH OF FEDERAL, STATE AND LOCAL FUNDING TO BE ABLE TO EXPAND SERVICES HERE IN FABENS. SO WITH SOME MONEY FROM THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ADMINISTRATION THROUGH THE CONGRESSWOMAN'S OFFICE, WE WERE ABLE TO OBTAIN A $5 MILLION GRANT WHICH HELPED FUND THE DESIGN OF EIGHT BRAND NEW HANGARS. AND THEN THE CONSTRUCTION OF THREE OF THOSE EIGHT. SO BY THE END OF THIS PROJECT, WE'LL SEE THREE BRAND NEW HANGARS, AND WE'LL HAVE THE DESIGN FOR FIVE ADDITIONAL HANGARS, WHICH WILL BE READY TO BEGIN CONSTRUCTION AS SOON AS THE FUNDING IS IDENTIFIED AND OBTAINED. AND THAT'S CERTAINLY GOING TO BE SOMETHING THAT THE COUNTY IS CONTINUING TO WORK HARD ON TO OBTAIN THE FUNDING TO BUILD THOSE FINAL FIVE HANGARS. SO BY THE END, WE'LL HAVE EIGHT BRAND NEW HANGARS THAT CAN BE USED BY LOCAL PILOTS TO STORE THEIR PLANES. THEY CAN BE BY SOME OF OUR COMMUNITY PARTNERS LIKE UTEP. SO I'M INCREDIBLY PROUD OF ALL OF THE INVESTMENT THAT THE COUNTY HAS MADE IN THESE PAST FEW YEARS, AND THE INVESTMENT THAT I KNOW WE WILL CONTINUE TO MAKE, TO MAKE THE FABENS AIRPORT THE BEST THAT IT CAN BE. SKATEBOARDING IS ONE OF THOSE SPORTS WHERE, YOU KNOW, YOU HAVE KIDS WHO AREN'T NECESSARILY INTO THE TRADITIONAL SPORTS LIKE FOOTBALL AND BASKETBALL, AND THIS GIVES THEM A PLACE TO GO. IT GIVES THEM A PLACE TO DEVELOP A SENSE OF COMMUNITY. WE HAVE AGUADULCE ESTRELLA. GALLEGOS. THIS PARK, IN PARTICULAR ESTRELLA. IT CONSISTS OF NEW SKATE PARKS, A NEW BASKETBALL COURT AND NEW PLAYGROUND EQUIPMENT, WHICH IS MORE OF AN ADVENTURE COURSE. INITIALLY IT WAS JAM PACKED, BUT AS THE EQUIPMENT GETS OLDER, LESS LESS PEOPLE WERE SHOWING UP. BUT NOW WITH THIS NEW EQUIPMENT AND THE NEW BUILD, I CAN ALMOST GUARANTEE YOU IT IS GOING TO BE JAM PACKED. SO WE ALREADY HAVE A SKATE PARK HERE IN AGUA DULCE, AND WE HAVE A BASKETBALL COURT, BUT THEY HAVEN'T BEEN RENOVATED FOR MANY YEARS, SO WE'RE GOING TO COMPLETELY RENOVATE IT AND CREATE A NEW SKATE PARK, A BRAND NEW SKATE PARK. AND THIS IS GOING TO BE A MUCH BETTER DESIGN. IT'S GOING TO HAVE A LOT MORE EXCITING FEATURES TO IT. I THINK IT'S SOMETHING THAT THE COMMUNITY WILL APPRECIATE, BUT IT WILL BE MADE OF CONCRETE, SO WE EXPECT IT TO LAST LONGER THAN I'M GOING TO BE AROUND. YOU KNOW, I KNOW THAT THE YOUTH OF OUR COMMUNITY, AND NOT JUST FROM THE OUTLYING AREAS OF THE COUNTY, BUT INSIDE THE CITY OF EL PASO, ARE GOING TO COME OUT AND ENJOY THIS PLACE AND KNOW IT'S REALLY GOING TO BE A HIT WITH ALL THE YOUNG PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY. SO I'M REALLY PROUD OF THAT. I HELD TWO PUBLIC INPUT SESSIONS WHERE SKATERS TOLD THE

[02:55:01]

DESIGNER WHAT THEY WANTED TO SEE IN THE SKATE PARK. IT'S GOT ALL THE TECHNICAL STREET STUFF. IT'S GOOD FOR BEGINNERS, FOR INTERMEDIATES, FOR ADVANCED. I THINK THERE'S A FIVE STAIR, SO IF YOU REALLY WANT TO CHALLENGE YOURSELF, YOU CAN GAP DOWN FROM THE FIVE STAIR. OR IF YOU'RE OLD AND YOU JUST WANT TO CRUISE AROUND, OR IF YOU'RE YOUNG AND YOU JUST WANT TO LEARN, YOU CAN FLOW AROUND THE WHOLE PARK. AND JUST LIKE ALWAYS, THIS THIS COURT HAS BEEN VERY FRUGAL WITH THE TAX MONEY. AND THIS, IN CONJUNCTION WITH OTHER GRANTS, IS PAID FOR BY GRANT MONEY, GRANT FUNDING THAT'S COMING TO EL PASO. THIS PROJECT WAS POSSIBLE BY A GRANT OF FROM TEXAS PARKS AND WILDLIFE. THE GRANT IS A TOTAL OF 2.8 MILLION, WHICH WOULD BE DISTRIBUTED BETWEEN ALL THE PARKS. SO PARKS HAVE BEEN A PRIORITY FOR THE COUNTY FOR MANY, MANY YEARS. WE UNDERSTAND HOW IMPORTANT PARKS ARE TO OUR COMMUNITIES. OUR CITIZENS ARE, YOU KNOW, OUR CONSTITUENTS DESERVE NO BETTER THAN TO, YOU KNOW, A BEAUTIFUL PLACE FOR THEIR KIDS CAN COME OUT AND ENJOY. I JUST WANT TO THANK EVERYONE WHO STEPPED UP TO THE PLATE TO MAKE THIS HAPPEN.

IT'S GOING TO BE AN AWESOME FACILITY, AND I CAN'T WAIT TO ROLL AROUND WITH THE LOCALS WHEN IT'S DONE. WHAT'S MORE ESSENTIAL THAN WATER AND WASTEWATER SERVICE FOR THE COMMUNITY AND THESE COMMUNITIES HAVE LIVED WITHOUT THIS, YOU KNOW, ESSENTIAL SERVICE FOR, YOU KNOW, FOR DECADES, FIVE DECADES, PROBABLY, AND MANY OTHER COMMUNITIES HERE AS WELL. WE ARE THANKFULLY, THE COUNTY IS WORKING ON OTHER PROJECTS IN THIS COMMUNITY, AS WELL AS THE LOWER VALLEY, TO MAKE SURE THAT WE BRING THESE ESSENTIAL SERVICES TO THE COMMUNITY. TWO, THREE ARE. THIS IS GOING TO BE THE START OF THE FIRST TIME WATER AND WASTEWATER PROJECT FOR SEVERAL COMMUNITIES HERE IN THE CANUTILLO AREA. WE ARE VERY, VERY PROUD. WE'RE VERY FORTUNATE, ACTUALLY, THAT THIS IS REALLY COME TO A FRUITION. THERE WAS FUNDS DEDICATED FOR THESE PROJECTS, BUT THE BIDS CAME IN HIGHER THAN WE EXPECTED. AND THANKFULLY, WITH HELP OF THE COMMUNITY WHO CAME AND ADVOCATED IN FRONT OF COMMISSIONERS COURT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE DEDICATED ADDITIONAL FUNDS SO WE COULD GET THIS PROJECT, YOU KNOW, GOING AND STARTED. OTHERWISE, IF THE COURT HADN'T DEDICATED THIS EXTRA MONEY, WE WOULDN'T BE HERE. AND THIS MAY NOT HAVE HAPPENED. WE'RE VERY, VERY PROUD OF THE WAY THAT THE COMMUNITY CAME TOGETHER TO ADVOCATE, TO GET THE ADDITIONAL FUNDS FOR THIS PROJECT, AND IT WAS JUST A BLESSING. AND WE WANT TO THANK EVERYBODY THAT HELPED IN THIS GETTING THIS EVENT DONE. THIS COMMUNITY DOESN'T CURRENTLY HAVE A PARK. AND THREE. WELL, THIS IS A LINEAR PARK FOR SQUARE DANCE, SOMETHING WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON FOR, YOU KNOW, A LITTLE OVER 12 YEARS. WE INCORPORATED AN AREA FOR THEM TO DO, YOU KNOW, ACTIVITIES, WALK AND LIKE I SAID, ALSO PLACE TO GATHER. SO THIS PROJECT WILL TAKE APPROXIMATELY 150 DAYS. IT CONSISTS OF A LINEAR TRAIL THAT STARTS ON MONTANA AND ENDS ON FRANKIE LANE. AND IT'S A TEN FOOT WIDE TRAIL. SO IT WILL BE A VERY INTERACTIVE TRAIL THROUGHOUT. IT WILL ALSO HAVE NATIVE LANDSCAPING, AND WE'VE ALSO INCORPORATED DRAINAGE. I THINK IT'S GOING TO ADD IT'S GOING TO LOOK BEAUTIFUL. THEY'RE GOING TO THE TRAIL. FOR US TO WALK IS GOING TO BE SAFER FOR US. AN AREA DESIGNATED FOR WALKING, YOU KNOW, WITH YOUR FAMILY. SO I THINK IT'S GOING TO BE SOMETHING, YOU KNOW, A GREAT IMPROVEMENT TO OUR COMMUNITY.

WHY SHOULD PEOPLE THAT LIVE IN THE CITY HAVE MORE ACCESS TO THE BENEFITS OF QUALITY OF LIFE? I'VE BEEN HERE SINCE SINCE I WAS THREE YEARS OLD. I'M 40, SO I'VE SEEN THE WHOLE THING, YOU KNOW? SO THE WHOLE IMPROVEMENT THAT HAS BEEN IN OUR COMMUNITY HAS BEEN REALLY GREAT. FROM STREET PAVING TO THE PARK TO THE LIGHTS TO EVERYTHING YOU SEE OUT HERE. I AM SO GRATEFUL TO THE COURT BECAUSE I'M ONLY ONE VOTE OF FIVE THAT MAKE CAN MAKE THINGS LIKE THIS HAPPEN.

TODAY WE HAVE LIGHTS ON THE LAKE AND IT'S JAM PACKED OUTSIDE. PEOPLE ARE HAVING A GOOD TIME AND REALLY, THIS IS WHAT EL PASO DESERVES. PEOPLE ARE EXCITED ABOUT THE SEASON. THEY'RE EXCITED ABOUT THEIR LAKE. THEY'RE EXCITED ABOUT THE LIGHTS. SO THIS IS A REALLY GOOD NIGHT FOR FAMILIES TO BOND AND TO HAVE A GOOD TIME. TO ONE. SO EVERYONE WAS SO EXCITED. ONE WHEN ALL OF THE LIGHTS CAME ON, THE BEAUTIFUL CHRISTMAS TREE WAS LIT. BUT THEN ALSO WHEN THEY SAW

[03:00:03]

OUR SPECIAL GUEST, WHICH WAS SANTA. SO NOW WE HAVE A LONG LINE OF KIDS WAITING TO TELL SANTA WHAT THEY WANT FOR CHRISTMAS THIS YEAR. AND THAT'S OF COURSE, WHAT WE WANT. WE WANT CHILDREN TO BE ABLE TO COME, TO BE HAPPY, TO SEE SANTA GET THEIR PHOTO WITH HIM, GET TO SEE ALL OF THE BEAUTIFUL LIGHTS. WE WANT THIS TO BE A SPECIAL TIME AND A SPECIAL PLACE FOR OUR FAMILIES HERE IN EL PASO. WHY? DON'T WANT A LOT FOR CHRISTMAS THERE? WE HAVE 70 DIFFERENT LIGHT DISPLAYS. WE HAVE A VARIETY. THERE'S INTERACTIVE LIGHTS AS YOU DRIVE THROUGH. A LOT OF OUR LIGHTS ARE ON DISPLAY OR SOUND ACTIVATED. SO AS WE APPROACH THEM, THEY COME ON. WE DO HAVE A DRIVE THROUGH ALONG A LAKE SO YOU CAN STAY IN YOUR CAR. YOU CAN SEE THE DISPLAYS. I JUST HOPE FOLKS COME OUT AND ENJOY IT. I THINK IT'S A GOOD TIME. I THINK IT'S VERY UNIQUE. WE REALLY WANT TO MAKE THIS A FUN TIME FOR THE FOLKS THROUGHOUT EL PASO COUNTY WHO. THANK YOU. AND THEN THIS IS THE FIRST ONE. OH, I THINK I'M LIKE, EVERYBODY SHOULD COME AND CHECK IT OUT.

IT'S PRETTY PRETTY NICE OUT HERE. MY HUSBAND SAW IT ON SOCIAL MEDIA, SO WE DECIDED TO CHECK IT OUT. AND WE LOVE THE LIGHTS. A LITTLE SET UP FOR THE PICTURES AND IT'S PRETTY PRETTY NICE. RUDOLPH THE RED NOSED REINDEER. ON A VERY SHINY NOSE. AND IT WAS A BEAUTIFUL PLACE.

GOT SOME BEAUTIFUL MUSIC. BEAUTIFUL LIGHTS. INCREDIBLE PEOPLE. WE'RE THE BEST COMMUNITY IN THE COUNTRY AND THE BEST REGION. SO WISHING ALL OF YOU A MERRY CHRISTMAS AND AN AMAZING, AMAZING 2025.

AND.

[03:07:26]

SO TODAY WE'RE CELEBRATING THAT THERE WILL BE THREE NEIGHBORHOODS WHO ARE NOW GOING TO GET ACCESS TO WASTEWATER, WHICH IS BASICALLY BEING ABLE TO CONNECT TO THE LOWER VALLEY WATER DISTRICT'S SEWER SYSTEM. WOW. IT'S EMOTIONAL. YOU KNOW, WE'RE FEELING SO HAPPY FOR OUR COMMUNITY, ESPECIALLY FOR ALL THE FAMILIES THAT WE HAVE IN THE IN THE COUNTY. WE KNOW THAT THE SEPTIC SYSTEMS THAT PEOPLE USE ARE MORE THAN 30 YEARS OLD, AND THEY'RE CAUSING CONTAMINATION ISSUES, WHICH ARE A PRIMARY ISSUE FOR PEOPLE'S WELL-BEING AND HEALTH. YEAH, IT'S I WILL BE LIVING WITH ACCEPTING THAT CAN BE A PROBLEM FOR ENVIRONMENTAL COMMUNITIES. AND NOW THAT WE'RE WORKING TOGETHER WITH THE LOWER VALLEY AND THE COUNTY AND GETTING SOME FUNDING FOR GET THIS PROJECT. SO WE'RE SO HAPPY WITH THAT. IT'S ALREADY STARTED. ALL RIGHT. AND IT'S GOING TO TAKE SOMEWHERE AROUND 6 TO 8 MONTHS. SO AT THE COUNTY OF EL PASO, WE DECIDED TO PRIORITIZE THESE TYPES OF PROJECTS, TO BE ABLE TO CONNECT THESE COMMUNITIES TO WATER AND WASTEWATER SERVICES. WE INVESTED ABOUT 40 MILLION OF OUR AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN ACT DOLLARS THAT WE RECEIVED FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IN 2022. WE INVESTED THOSE FUNDS TO BE ABLE TO PARTNER WITH THE LOWER VALLEY WATER DISTRICT, TO BE ABLE TO CONNECT THESE NEIGHBORHOODS. IT WOULD HAVE TAKEN US ANOTHER 15 YEARS TO COME UP WITH THE MONEY TO BE ABLE TO DO THIS. SO WE'RE VERY GRATEFUL TO THE COUNTY FOR HAVING SPONSORED US THROUGH THIS PROJECT. AND THREE. WELL, IT'S GROUNDBREAKING FOR THREE NEW HANGARS. AND THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WE STARTED TALKING ABOUT BACK IN 2013. SO IT'S BEEN A LONG WAYS TO GET HERE. A LOT OF PEOPLE SAY, WELL IT WAS THIS AIRPORT'S LIKE AN OVERNIGHT SUCCESS. WELL MAYBE, BUT IT TOOK 55 YEARS TO GET TO THIS DAY.

[03:10:05]

THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ADMINISTRATION THROUGH THE CONGRESSWOMAN'S OFFICE, WE WERE ABLE TO OBTAIN A $5 MILLION GRANT WHICH HELPED FUND THE DESIGN OF EIGHT BRAND NEW HANGARS. AND THEN THE CONSTRUCTION OF THREE OF THOSE EIGHT. SO BY THE END OF THIS PROJECT, WE'LL SEE THREE BRAND NEW HANGARS, AND WE'LL HAVE THE DESIGN FOR FIVE ADDITIONAL HANGARS, WHICH WILL BE READY TO BEGIN CONSTRUCTION AS SOON AS THE FUNDING IS IDENTIFIED AND OBTAINED. AND THAT'S CERTAINLY GOING TO BE SOMETHING THAT THE COUNTY IS CONTINUING TO WORK HARD ON TO OBTAIN THE FUNDING TO BUILD THOSE FINAL FIVE HANGARS. SO BY THE END, WE'LL HAVE EIGHT BRAND NEW HANGARS THAT CAN BE USED BY LOCAL PILOTS TO STORE THEIR PLANES. THEY CAN BE USED BY SOME OF OUR COMMUNITY PARTNERS LIKE UTEP. SO I'M INCREDIBLY PROUD OF ALL OF THE INVESTMENT THAT THE COUNTY HAS MADE IN THESE PAST FEW YEARS, AND THE INVESTMENT THAT I KNOW WE WILL CONTINUE TO MAKE, TO MAKE THE FABENS AIRPORT THE BEST THAT IT CAN BE. SKATEBOARDING IS ONE OF THOSE SPORTS WHERE, YOU KNOW, YOU HAVE KIDS WHO AREN'T NECESSARILY INTO THE TRADITIONAL SPORTS LIKE FOOTBALL AND BASKETBALL, AND THIS GIVES THEM A PLACE TO GO. IT GIVES THEM A PLACE TO DEVELOP A SENSE OF COMMUNITY. WE HAVE OUR ADULTS, ESTRELLA GALLEGOS. THIS PARK, IN PARTICULAR ESTRELLA. IT CONSISTS OF NEW SKATE PARKS, A NEW BASKETBALL COURT AND NEW PLAYGROUND EQUIPMENT, WHICH IS MORE OF AN ADVENTURE COURSE. INITIALLY IT WAS JAM PACKED, BUT AS THE EQUIPMENT GETS OLDER, LESS AND LESS PEOPLE WERE SHOWING UP. BUT NOW, WITH THIS NEW EQUIPMENT AND THE NEW BUILD, I CAN ALMOST GUARANTEE YOU IT IS GOING TO BE JAM PACKED. SO WE ALREADY HAVE A SKATE PARK HERE IN AGUA DULCE, AND WE HAVE A BASKETBALL COURT, BUT THEY HAVEN'T BEEN RENOVATED FOR MANY YEARS, SO WE'RE GOING TO COMPLETELY RENOVATE THEM AND CREATE A NEW SKATE PARK, A BRAND NEW SKATE PARK. AND THIS IS GOING TO BE A MUCH BETTER DESIGN. IT'S GOING TO HAVE A LOT MORE EXCITING FEATURES TO IT. I THINK IT'S SOMETHING THAT THE COMMUNITY WILL APPRECIATE, BUT IT WILL BE MADE OF CONCRETE, SO WE EXPECT IT TO LAST LONGER THAN I'M GOING TO BE AROUND, YOU KNOW? I KNOW THAT THE YOUTH OF OUR COMMUNITY, AND NOT JUST FROM THE OUTLYING AREAS OF THE COUNTY, BUT INSIDE THE CITY OF PASCO, ARE GOING TO COME OUT AND ENJOY THIS PLACE AND KNOW IT'S REALLY GOING TO BE A HIT WITH ALL THE YOUNG PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY. SO I'M REALLY PROUD OF THAT. I HELD TWO PUBLIC INPUT SESSIONS WHERE SKATERS TOLD THE DESIGNER WHAT THEY WANTED TO SEE IN THE SKATE PARK. IT'S GOT ALL THE TECHNICAL STREET STUFF. IT'S GOOD FOR BEGINNERS, FOR INTERMEDIATES, FOR ADVANCED. I THINK THERE'S A FIVE STAIR, SO IF YOU REALLY WANT TO CHALLENGE YOURSELF, YOU CAN GAP DOWN FROM THE FIVE STAIR. OR IF YOU'RE OLD AND YOU JUST WANT TO CRUISE AROUND, OR IF YOU'RE YOUNG AND YOU JUST WANT TO LEARN, YOU CAN FLOW AROUND THE WHOLE PARK. AND JUST LIKE ALWAYS. THIS THIS COURT HAS BEEN VERY FRUGAL WITH THE TAX MONEY AND THIS, IN CONJUNCTION WITH OTHER GRANTS, IS PAID FOR BY GRANT MONEY, GRANT FUNDING THAT'S COMING TO EL PASO. THIS PROJECT WAS POSSIBLE BY A GRANT OF FROM TEXAS PARKS AND WILDLIFE. THE GRANT IS A TOTAL OF 2.8 MILLION, WHICH WOULD BE DISTRIBUTED BETWEEN ALL THE PARKS. SO PARKS HAVE BEEN A PRIORITY FOR THE COUNTY FOR MANY, MANY YEARS. WE UNDERSTAND HOW IMPORTANT PARKS ARE TO OUR COMMUNITIES. OUR CITIZENS ARE, YOU KNOW, OUR CONSTITUENTS DESERVE NO BETTER THAN TO, YOU KNOW, A BEAUTIFUL PLACE FOR THEIR KIDS CAN COME OUT AND ENJOY. I JUST WANT TO THANK EVERYONE WHO STEPPED UP TO THE PLATE TO MAKE THIS HAPPEN.

IT'S GOING TO BE A AWESOME FACILITY, AND I CAN'T WAIT TO ROLL AROUND WITH THE LOCALS WHEN IT'S DONE. WHAT'S MORE ESSENTIAL THAN WATER AND WASTEWATER SERVICE FOR THE COMMUNITY AND THESE COMMUNITIES HAVE LIVED WITHOUT THIS, YOU KNOW, ESSENTIAL SERVICE FOR, YOU KNOW, FOR DECADES, FIVE DECADES, PROBABLY. AND MANY OTHER COMMUNITIES HERE AS WELL. WE ARE THANKFULLY, THE COUNTY IS WORKING ON OTHER PROJECTS IN THIS COMMUNITY, AS WELL AS THE LOWER VALLEY, TO MAKE SURE THAT WE BRING THESE ESSENTIAL SERVICES TO THE COMMUNITY. TWO AND THREE ARE GREAT. THIS IS GOING TO BE THE START OF THE FIRST TIME WATER AND WASTEWATER PROJECT FOR SEVERAL COMMUNITIES HERE IN THE CANUTILLO AREA. WE ARE VERY, VERY PROUD. WE'RE VERY FORTUNATE, ACTUALLY, THAT THIS IS REALLY COME TO FRUITION. THERE WAS FUNDS DEDICATED FOR THESE PROJECTS, BUT THE BIDS CAME IN HIGHER THAN WE EXPECTED. AND THANKFULLY, WITH HELP OF THE COMMUNITY WHO CAME AND ADVOCATED IN FRONT OF COMMISSIONERS COURT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE DEDICATED ADDITIONAL FUNDS SO WE COULD GET THIS PROJECT, YOU KNOW, GOING AND STARTED. OTHERWISE, IF THE COURT HADN'T DEDICATED THIS EXTRA MONEY, WE WOULDN'T BE HERE. AND THIS MAY NOT HAVE HAPPENED. WE'RE VERY, VERY PROUD OF THE WAY THAT THE COMMUNITY CAME TOGETHER TO ADVOCATE, TO

[03:15:01]

GET THE ADDITIONAL FUNDS FOR THIS PROJECT, AND IT WAS JUST A BLESSING. AND WE WANT TO THANK EVERYBODY THAT HELPED IN THIS GETTING THIS EVENT DONE. THIS COMMUNITY DOESN'T CURRENTLY HAVE A PARK. AND THREE WELL, THIS IS A LINEAR PARK FOR SQUARE DANCE, SOMETHING WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON FOR, YOU KNOW, A LITTLE OVER 12 YEARS. WE INCORPORATED AN AREA FOR THEM TO DO, YOU KNOW, ACTIVITIES, WALK AND LIKE I SAID, ALSO PLACE TO GATHER. SO THIS PROJECT WILL TAKE APPROXIMATELY 150 DAYS. IT CONSISTS OF A LINEAR TRAIL THAT STARTS ON MONTANA, ENDS ON FRANKIE LANE, AND IT'S A TEN FOOT WIDE TRAIL. SO IT WILL BE A VERY INTERACTIVE TRAIL THROUGHOUT. IT WILL ALSO HAVE NATIVE LANDSCAPING, AND WE'VE ALSO INCORPORATED DRAINAGE. I THINK IT'S GOING TO ADD IT'S GOING TO LOOK BEAUTIFUL. THEY'RE GOING TO THE TRAIL. FOR US TO WALK IS GOING TO BE SAFER FOR US. AN AREA DESIGNATED FOR WALKING, YOU KNOW, WITH YOUR FAMILY. SO I THINK IT'S GOING TO BE SOMETHING, YOU KNOW, A GREAT IMPROVEMENT TO OUR COMMUNITY.

WHY SHOULD PEOPLE THAT LIVE IN THE CITY HAVE MORE ACCESS TO THE BENEFITS OF QUALITY OF LIFE? I'VE BEEN HERE SINCE SINCE I WAS THREE YEARS OLD. I'M 40, SO I'VE SEEN THE WHOLE THING. YOU KNOW, SO THE WHOLE IMPROVEMENT THAT HAS BEEN HAS BEEN REALLY GREAT. FROM STREET PAVING TO THE PARK TO THE LIGHTS TO EVERYTHING YOU SEE OUT HERE. I AM SO GRATEFUL TO THE COURT BECAUSE I'M ONLY ONE VOTE OF FIVE THAT MAKE CAN MAKE THINGS LIKE THIS HAPPEN. TODAY WE HAVE LIGHTS ON THE LAKE AND IT'S JAM PACKED OUTSIDE. PEOPLE ARE HAVING A GOOD TIME AND REALLY, THIS IS WHAT EL PASO DESERVES. PEOPLE ARE EXCITED ABOUT THE SEASON. THEY'RE EXCITED ABOUT THEY'RE THEY'RE EXCITED ABOUT THE LIGHTS. SO THIS IS A REALLY GOOD NIGHT FOR FAMILIES TO BOND AND TO HAVE A GOOD TIME. THREE. TWO ONE. SO EVERYONE WAS SO EXCITED. ONE WHEN ALL OF THE LIGHTS CAME ON, THE BEAUTIFUL CHRISTMAS TREE WAS LIT. BUT THEN ALSO WHEN THEY SAW OUR SPECIAL GUEST, WHICH WAS SANTA. SO NOW WE HAVE A LONG LINE OF KIDS WAITING TO TELL SANTA WHAT THEY WANT FOR CHRISTMAS THIS YEAR. AND THAT'S OF COURSE, WHAT WE WANT. WE WANT CHILDREN TO BE ABLE TO COME, TO BE HAPPY, TO SEE SANTA GET THEIR PHOTO WITH HIM, GET TO SEE ALL OF THE BEAUTIFUL LIGHTS. WE WANT THIS TO BE A SPECIAL TIME AND A SPECIAL PLACE FOR OUR FAMILIES HERE IN EL PASO. GOOD MORNING. I DON'T WANT A LOT FOR CHRISTMAS THERE. WE HAVE 70 DIFFERENT LIGHT DISPLAYS. WE HAVE A VARIETY. THERE'S INTERACTIVE LIGHTS AS YOU DRIVE THROUGH. A LOT OF OUR LIGHTS ARE ON DISPLAY OR SOUND ACTIVATED. SO AS WE APPROACH THEM, THEY COME ON. WE DO HAVE A DRIVE THROUGH ALONG A LAKE SO YOU CAN STAY IN YOUR CAR. YOU CAN SEE THE DISPLAYS. I JUST HOPE FOLKS COME OUT AND ENJOY IT. I THINK IT'S A GOOD TIME. I THINK IT'S VERY UNIQUE. WE REALLY WANT TO MAKE THIS A FUN TIME FOR THE FOLKS THROUGHOUT EL PASO COUNTY TO COME OUT. THANK YOU. AND THEN THIS IS THE FIRST ONE. OH, I THINK I'M LIKE, EVERYBODY SHOULD COME AND CHECK IT OUT. IT'S PRETTY PRETTY NICE OUT HERE. MY HUSBAND SAW IT ON SOCIAL MEDIA, SO WE DECIDED TO CHECK IT OUT.

AND WE LOVE THE LIGHTS. A LITTLE SET UP FOR THE PICTURES AND IT'S PRETTY, PRETTY NICE. THE RED NOSE REINDEER. I'M VERY SHINY NOW. EL PASO IS A BEAUTIFUL PLACE. GOT SOME BEAUTIFUL MUSIC, BEAUTIFUL LIGHTS, INCREDIBLE PEOPLE. WE'RE THE BEST COMMUNITY IN THE COUNTRY AND THE BEST REGION. SO WISHING ALL OF YOU A MERRY CHRISTMAS AND AN AMAZING, AMAZING 2025.

[03:20:15]

THANK YOU.

SO TODAY WE'RE CELEBRATING THAT THERE WILL BE THREE NEIGHBORHOODS WHO ARE NOW GOING

[03:25:03]

TO GET ACCESS TO WASTEWATER, WHICH IS BASICALLY BEING ABLE TO CONNECT TO THE LOWER VALLEY WATER DISTRICT'S SEWER SYSTEM. WOW. IT'S EMOTIONAL. YOU KNOW, WE'RE FEELING SO HAPPY FOR OUR COMMUNITY, ESPECIALLY FOR ALL THE FAMILIES THAT WE HAVE IN THE IN THE COUNTY. WE KNOW THAT THE SEPTIC SYSTEMS THAT PEOPLE USE ARE MORE THAN 30 YEARS OLD, AND THEY'RE CAUSING CONTAMINATION ISSUES, WHICH ARE A PRIMARY ISSUE FOR PEOPLE'S WELL-BEING AND HEALTH. YEAH, IT'S I WILL BE LIVING WITH IT CAN BE A PROBLEM FOR ENVIRONMENTAL COMMUNITIES. AND NOW THAT WE'RE WORKING TOGETHER WITH THE LOWER VALLEY AND THE COUNTY AND GETTING SOME FUNDING FOR GET THIS PROJECT. SO WE'RE SO HAPPY WITH THAT. IT'S ALREADY STARTED. ALL RIGHT. AND IT'S GOING TO TAKE SOMEWHERE AROUND 6 TO 8 MONTHS. SO AT THE COUNTY OF EL PASO, WE DECIDED TO PRIORITIZE THESE TYPES OF PROJECTS, TO BE ABLE TO CONNECT THESE COMMUNITIES TO WATER AND WASTEWATER SERVICES. WE INVESTED ABOUT 40 MILLION OF OUR AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN ACT DOLLARS THAT WE RECEIVED FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IN 2022. WE INVESTED THOSE FUNDS TO BE ABLE TO PARTNER WITH THE LOWER VALLEY WATER DISTRICT, TO BE ABLE TO CONNECT THESE NEIGHBORHOODS. IT WOULD HAVE TAKEN US ANOTHER 15 YEARS TO COME UP WITH THE MONEY TO BE ABLE TO DO THIS. SO WE'RE VERY GRATEFUL TO THE COUNTY FOR HAVING SPONSORED US THROUGH THIS PROJECT. AND THREE. WELL, THAT'S GROUNDBREAKING FOR THREE NEW HANGARS. AND THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WE STARTED TALKING ABOUT BACK IN 2013. SO IT'S BEEN A LONG WAYS TO GET HERE. A LOT OF PEOPLE SAY, WELL IT WAS THIS AIRPORT'S LIKE AN OVERNIGHT SUCCESS. WELL MAYBE, BUT IT TOOK 55 YEARS TO GET TO THIS DAY. WE'RE SITTING ON A GOLD MINE.

THIS IS A THIS IS A GEM. SO AS THE YEARS GO ON, YOU'RE GOING TO SEE THAT THIS WILL BECOME A REGIONAL AIRPORT. WE'RE EXCITED. AND I KNOW THIS IS A GREAT OPPORTUNITY FOR THE LOCAL RESIDENTS AND FOR THE ENTIRE COUNTY. SO DURING THE PAST FIVE YEARS, THE COUNTY HAS BEEN SUCCESSFUL IN OBTAINING ABOUT $20 MILLION WORTH OF FEDERAL, STATE AND LOCAL FUNDING TO BE ABLE TO EXPAND SERVICES HERE IN FABENS. SO WITH SOME MONEY FROM THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ADMINISTRATION THROUGH THE CONGRESSWOMAN'S OFFICE, WE WERE ABLE TO OBTAIN A $5 MILLION GRANT, WHICH HELPED FUND THE DESIGN OF EIGHT BRAND NEW HANGARS. AND THEN THE CONSTRUCTION OF THREE OF THOSE EIGHT. SO BY THE END OF THIS PROJECT, WE'LL SEE THREE BRAND NEW HANGARS, AND WE'LL HAVE THE DESIGN FOR FIVE ADDITIONAL HANGARS, WHICH WILL BE READY TO BEGIN CONSTRUCTION AS SOON AS THE FUNDING IS IDENTIFIED AND OBTAINED. AND THAT'S CERTAINLY GOING TO BE SOMETHING THAT THE COUNTY IS CONTINUING TO WORK HARD ON TO OBTAIN THE FUNDING TO BUILD THOSE FINAL FIVE HANGARS. SO BY THE END, WE'LL HAVE EIGHT BRAND NEW HANGARS THAT CAN BE USED BY LOCAL PILOTS TO STORE THEIR PLANES. THEY CAN BE USED BY SOME OF OUR COMMUNITY PARTNERS LIKE UTEP. SO I'M INCREDIBLY PROUD OF ALL OF THE INVESTMENT THAT THE COUNTY HAS MADE IN THESE PAST FEW YEARS, AND THE INVESTMENT THAT I KNOW WE WILL CONTINUE TO MAKE, TO MAKE THE FABENS AIRPORT THE BEST THAT IT CAN BE. SKATEBOARDING IS ONE OF THOSE SPORTS WHERE, YOU KNOW, YOU HAVE KIDS WHO AREN'T NECESSARILY INTO THE TRADITIONAL SPORTS LIKE FOOTBALL AND BASKETBALL, AND THIS GIVES THEM A PLACE TO GO. IT GIVES THEM A PLACE TO DEVELOP A SENSE OF COMMUNITY. WE HAVE ADULTS. ESTRELLA GALLEGOS. THIS PARK, IN PARTICULAR ESTRELLA. IT CONSISTS OF NEW SKATE PARKS, A NEW BASKETBALL COURT AND NEW PLAYGROUND EQUIPMENT, WHICH IS MORE OF AN ADVENTURE COURSE. INITIALLY IT WAS JAM PACKED, BUT AS THE EQUIPMENT GETS OLDER, LESS LESS PEOPLE WERE SHOWING UP. BUT NOW WITH THIS NEW EQUIPMENT AND THE NEW BUILD, I CAN ALMOST GUARANTEE YOU IT IS GOING TO BE JAM PACKED. SO WE ALREADY HAVE A SKATE PARK HERE IN AGUA DULCE, AND WE HAVE A BASKETBALL COURT, BUT THEY HAVEN'T BEEN RENOVATED FOR MANY YEARS, SO WE'RE GOING TO COMPLETELY RENOVATE THEM AND CREATE A NEW SKATE PARK, A BRAND NEW SKATE PARK. AND THIS IS GOING TO BE A MUCH BETTER DESIGN. IT'S GOING TO HAVE A LOT MORE EXCITING FEATURES TO IT. I THINK IT'S SOMETHING THAT THE COMMUNITY WILL APPRECIATE, BUT IT WILL BE MADE OF CONCRETE, SO WE EXPECT IT TO LAST LONGER THAN I'M GOING TO BE AROUND. YOU KNOW, I KNOW THAT THE YOUTH OF OUR COMMUNITY, AND NOT JUST FROM THE OUTLYING AREAS OF THE COUNTY, BUT INSIDE THE CITY OF EL PASO, ARE GOING TO COME OUT AND ENJOY THIS PLACE. AND I KNOW IT'S REALLY GOING TO BE A HIT WITH ALL THE YOUNG PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY. SO I'M REALLY PROUD

[03:30:02]

OF THAT. I HELD TWO PUBLIC INPUT SESSIONS WHERE SKATERS TOLD THE DESIGNER WHAT THEY WANTED TO SEE IN THE SKATE PARK. IT'S GOT ALL THE TECHNICAL STREET STUFF. IT'S GOOD FOR BEGINNERS, FOR INTERMEDIATES, FOR ADVANCED. I THINK THERE'S A FIVE STAIR, SO IF YOU REALLY WANT TO CHALLENGE YOURSELF, YOU CAN GAP DOWN FROM THE FIVE STAIR. OR IF YOU'RE OLD AND YOU JUST WANT TO CRUISE AROUND, OR IF YOU'RE YOUNG AND YOU JUST WANT TO LEARN, YOU CAN FLOW AROUND THE WHOLE PARK. AND JUST LIKE ALWAYS, THIS THIS COURT HAS BEEN VERY FRUGAL WITH THE TAX MONEY. AND THIS, IN CONJUNCTION WITH OTHER GRANTS, IS PAID FOR BY GRANT MONEY, GRANT FUNDING THAT'S COMING TO EL PASO. THIS PROJECT WAS POSSIBLE BY A GRANT OF FROM TEXAS PARKS AND WILDLIFE. THE GRANT IS A TOTAL OF 2.8 MILLION, WHICH WOULD BE DISTRIBUTED BETWEEN ALL THE PARKS. SO PARKS HAVE BEEN A PRIORITY FOR THE COUNTY FOR MANY, MANY YEARS. WE UNDERSTAND HOW IMPORTANT PARKS ARE TO OUR COMMUNITIES. OUR CITIZENS ARE, YOU KNOW, OUR CONSTITUENTS DESERVE NO BETTER THAN TO, YOU KNOW, A BEAUTIFUL PLACE FOR THEIR KIDS CAN COME OUT AND ENJOY. I JUST WANT TO THANK EVERYONE WHO STEPPED UP TO THE PLATE TO MAKE THIS HAPPEN. IT'S GOING TO BE AN AWESOME FACILITY, AND I CAN'T WAIT TO ROLL AROUND WITH THE LOCALS WHEN IT'S DONE. WHAT'S MORE ESSENTIAL THAN WATER AND WASTEWATER SERVICE FOR THE COMMUNITY AND THESE COMMUNITIES HAVE LIVED WITHOUT THIS, YOU KNOW, ESSENTIAL SERVICE FOR, YOU KNOW, FOR DECADES, FIVE DECADES, PROBABLY, AND MANY OTHER COMMUNITIES HERE AS WELL. WE ARE THANKFULLY, THE COUNTY IS WORKING ON OTHER PROJECTS IN THIS COMMUNITY, AS WELL AS THE LOWER VALLEY, TO MAKE SURE THAT WE BRING THESE ESSENTIAL SERVICES TO THE COMMUNITY. TWO AND THREE ARE GREAT. THIS IS GOING TO BE THE START OF THE FIRST TIME WATER AND WASTEWATER PROJECT FOR SEVERAL COMMUNITIES HERE IN THE CANUTILLO AREA. WE ARE VERY, VERY PROUD. WE'RE VERY FORTUNATE, ACTUALLY, THAT THIS IS REALLY COME TO FRUITION. THERE WAS FUNDS DEDICATED FOR THESE PROJECTS. BUT THE BIDS CAME IN HIGHER THAN WE EXPECTED. AND THANKFULLY, WITH HELP OF THE COMMUNITY WHO CAME AND ADVOCATED IN FRONT OF COMMISSIONERS COURT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE DEDICATED ADDITIONAL FUNDS SO WE COULD GET THIS PROJECT. YOU KNOW, GOING AND STARTED. OTHERWISE, IF THE COURT HADN'T DEDICATED THIS EXTRA MONEY, WE WOULDN'T BE HERE. AND THIS MAY NOT HAVE HAPPENED. WE'RE VERY, VERY PROUD OF THE WAY THAT THE COMMUNITY CAME TOGETHER TO ADVOCATE, TO GET THE ADDITIONAL FUNDS FOR THIS PROJECT, AND IT WAS JUST A BLESSING. AND WE WANT TO THANK EVERYBODY THAT HELPED IN THIS GETTING THIS EVENT DONE. THIS COMMUNITY DOESN'T CURRENTLY HAVE A PARK. AND THREE WELL, THIS IS A LINEAR PARK FOR SQUARE DANCE, SOMETHING WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON FOR, YOU KNOW, A LITTLE OVER 12 YEARS. WE INCORPORATED AN AREA FOR THEM TO DO, YOU KNOW, ACTIVITIES, WALK AND LIKE I SAID, ALSO PLACE TO GATHER. SO THIS PROJECT WILL TAKE APPROXIMATELY 150 DAYS. IT CONSISTS OF A LINEAR TRAIL THAT STARTS ON MONTANA, ENDS ON FRANKIE LANE, AND IT'S A TEN FOOT WIDE TRAIL. SO IT WILL BE A VERY INTERACTIVE TRAIL THROUGHOUT. IT WILL ALSO HAVE NATIVE LANDSCAPING, AND WE'VE ALSO INCORPORATED DRAINAGE. I THINK IT'S GOING TO ADD IT'S GOING TO LOOK BEAUTIFUL. THEY'RE GOING TO WILL THE TRAIL FOR US TO WALK IS GOING TO BE SAFER FOR US. AN AREA DESIGNATED FOR WALKING, YOU KNOW WITH YOUR FAMILY. SO I THINK IT'S GOING TO BE SOMETHING, YOU KNOW, A GREAT IMPROVEMENT TO OUR COMMUNITY. WHY SHOULD PEOPLE THAT LIVE IN THE CITY HAVE MORE ACCESS TO THE BENEFITS OF QUALITY OF LIFE? I'VE BEEN HERE SINCE I'M SINCE I WAS THREE YEARS OLD. I'M 40, SO I'VE SEEN THE WHOLE THING, YOU KNOW? SO THE WHOLE IMPROVEMENT THAT HAS BEEN IN OUR COMMUNITY HAS BEEN REALLY GREAT. FROM STREET PAVING TO THE PARK TO THE LIGHTS TO EVERYTHING YOU SEE OUT HERE. I AM SO GRATEFUL TO THE COURT BECAUSE I'M ONLY ONE VOTE OF FIVE THAT MAKE CAN MAKE THINGS LIKE THIS HAPPEN. TODAY WE HAVE LIGHTS ON THE LAKE AND IT'S JAM PACKED OUTSIDE. PEOPLE ARE HAVING A GOOD TIME. AND REALLY, THIS IS WHAT EL PASO DESERVES. PEOPLE ARE EXCITED ABOUT THE SEASON. THEY'RE EXCITED ABOUT THEIR LAKE.

THEY'RE EXCITED ABOUT THE LIGHTS. SO THIS IS A REALLY GOOD NIGHT FOR FAMILIES TO BOND AND TO HAVE A GOOD TIME. TO ONE. SO EVERYONE WAS SO EXCITED. ONE WHEN ALL OF THE LIGHTS CAME ON,

[03:35:07]

THE BEAUTIFUL CHRISTMAS TREE WAS LIT. BUT THEN ALSO WHEN THEY SAW OUR SPECIAL GUEST, WHICH WAS SANTA. SO NOW WE HAVE A LONG LINE OF KIDS WAITING TO TELL SANTA WHAT THEY WANT FOR CHRISTMAS THIS YEAR. AND THAT'S OF COURSE, WHAT WE WANT. WE WANT CHILDREN TO BE ABLE TO COME, TO BE HAPPY, TO SEE SANTA GET THEIR PHOTO WITH HIM, GET TO SEE ALL OF THE BEAUTIFUL LIGHTS. WE WANT THIS TO BE A SPECIAL TIME AND A SPECIAL PLACE FOR OUR FAMILIES HERE IN EL PASO. WE DON'T WANT A LOT FOR CHRISTMAS. WE HAVE 70 DIFFERENT LIGHT DISPLAYS. WE HAVE A VARIETY. THERE'S INTERACTIVE LIGHTS AS YOU DRIVE THROUGH. A LOT OF OUR LIGHTS ARE ON DISPLAY OR SOUND ACTIVATED.

SO AS WE APPROACH THEM, THEY COME ON. WE DO HAVE A DRIVE THROUGH ALONG A LAKE SO YOU CAN STAY IN YOUR CAR. YOU CAN SEE THE DISPLAYS. I JUST HOPE FOLKS COME OUT AND ENJOY IT. I THINK IT'S A GOOD TIME. I THINK IT'S VERY UNIQUE. WE REALLY WANT TO MAKE THIS A FUN TIME FOR THE FOLKS THROUGHOUT EL PASO COUNTY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. AND THEN THIS IS THE FIRST ONE. OH I THINK LIKE EVERYBODY SHOULD COME AND CHECK IT OUT. IT'S PRETTY PRETTY NICE OUT HERE. MY HUSBAND SAW IT ON SOCIAL MEDIA, SO WE DECIDED TO CHECK IT OUT. AND WE LOVE THE LIGHTS. A LITTLE SET UP FOR THE PICTURES AND IT'S PRETTY, PRETTY NICE. THOSE BIG EARS ARE VERY SHINY NOW. AND IT IS A BEAUTIFUL PLACE. GOT SOME BEAUTIFUL MUSIC, BEAUTIFUL LIGHTS, INCREDIBLE PEOPLE. WE'RE THE BEST COMMUNITY IN THE COUNTRY AND THE BEST REGION. SO WISHING ALL OF YOU A MERRY CHRISTMAS AND AN AMAZING, AMAZING 2025.

YEARS.

[03:42:32]

SO TODAY WE'RE CELEBRATING THAT THERE WILL BE THREE NEIGHBORHOODS WHO ARE NOW GOING TO GET ACCESS TO WASTEWATER, WHICH IS BASICALLY BEING ABLE TO CONNECT TO THE LOWER VALLEY WATER DISTRICT'S SEWER SYSTEM. WOW. IT'S EMOTIONAL. YOU KNOW, WE'RE FEELING SO HAPPY FOR OUR COMMUNITY, ESPECIALLY FOR ALL THE FAMILIES THAT WE HAVE IN THE IN THE COUNTY. WE KNOW THAT THE SEPTIC SYSTEMS THAT PEOPLE USE ARE MORE THAN 30 YEARS OLD, AND THEY'RE CAUSING CONTAMINATION ISSUES, WHICH ARE A PRIMARY ISSUE FOR PEOPLE'S WELL-BEING AND HEALTH. YEAH, IT'S ALL WE'LL BE LIVING WITH. IT CAN BE A PROBLEM FOR ENVIRONMENTAL COMMUNITIES. AND NOW THAT WE'RE WORKING TOGETHER WITH THE LOWER VALLEY AND THE COUNTY AND GETTING SOME FUNDING FOR GET THIS PROJECT. SO WE'RE SO HAPPY WITH THAT. IT'S ALREADY STARTED. ALL RIGHT. AND IT'S GOING TO TAKE SOMEWHERE AROUND 6 TO 8 MONTHS. SO AT THE COUNTY OF EL PASO, WE DECIDED TO PRIORITIZE THESE TYPES OF PROJECTS, TO BE ABLE TO CONNECT THESE COMMUNITIES TO WATER AND WASTEWATER SERVICES. WE INVESTED ABOUT 40 MILLION OF OUR AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN ACT DOLLARS THAT WE RECEIVED FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IN 2022. WE INVESTED THOSE FUNDS TO BE ABLE TO PARTNER WITH THE LOWER VALLEY WATER DISTRICT, TO BE ABLE TO CONNECT THESE NEIGHBORHOODS. IT WOULD HAVE TAKEN US ANOTHER 15 YEARS TO COME UP WITH THE MONEY TO BE ABLE TO DO THIS. SO WE'RE VERY GRATEFUL TO THE COUNTY FOR HAVING SPONSORED US THROUGH THIS PROJECT. AND THREE. WELL, IT'S GROUNDBREAKING FOR THREE NEW HANGARS. AND THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WE STARTED TALKING ABOUT BACK IN 2013. SO IT'S BEEN A LONG WAYS TO GET HERE. A LOT OF PEOPLE SAY, WELL IT WAS THIS AIRPORT'S LIKE AN OVERNIGHT SUCCESS. WELL MAYBE, BUT IT TOOK 55 YEARS TO GET TO THIS DATE.

[03:45:04]

STATE AND LOCAL FUNDING TO BE ABLE TO EXPAND SERVICES HERE IN FABENS. SO WITH SOME MONEY FROM THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ADMINISTRATION THROUGH THE CONGRESSWOMAN'S OFFICE, WE WERE ABLE TO OBTAIN A $5 MILLION GRANT, WHICH HELPED FUND THE DESIGN OF EIGHT BRAND NEW HANGARS, AND THEN THE CONSTRUCTION OF THREE OF THOSE EIGHT. SO BY THE END OF THIS PROJECT, WE'LL SEE THREE BRAND NEW HANGARS, AND WE'LL HAVE THE DESIGN FOR FIVE ADDITIONAL HANGARS, WHICH WILL BE READY TO BEGIN CONSTRUCTION AS SOON AS THE FUNDING IS IDENTIFIED AND OBTAINED. AND THAT'S CERTAINLY GOING TO BE SOMETHING THAT THE COUNTY IS CONTINUING TO WORK HARD ON TO OBTAIN THE FUNDING TO BUILD THOSE FINAL FIVE HANGARS. SO BY THE END, WE'LL HAVE EIGHT BRAND NEW HANGARS THAT CAN BE USED BY LOCAL PILOTS TO STORE THEIR PLANES. THEY CAN BE USED BY SOME OF OUR COMMUNITY PARTNERS LIKE UTEP. SO I'M INCREDIBLY PROUD OF ALL OF THE INVESTMENT THAT THE COUNTY HAS MADE IN THESE PAST FEW YEARS, AND THE INVESTMENT THAT I KNOW WE WILL CONTINUE TO MAKE, TO MAKE THE FABENS AIRPORT THE BEST THAT IT CAN BE. SKATEBOARDING IS ONE OF THOSE SPORTS WHERE, YOU KNOW, YOU HAVE KIDS WHO AREN'T NECESSARILY INTO THE TRADITIONAL SPORTS LIKE FOOTBALL AND BASKETBALL, AND THIS GIVES THEM A PLACE TO GO. IT GIVES THEM A PLACE TO DEVELOP A SENSE OF COMMUNITY. WE HAVE ADULTS. ESTRELLA GALLEGOS. THIS PARK, IN PARTICULAR ESTRELLA. IT CONSISTS OF NEW SKATE PARKS, A NEW BASKETBALL COURT AND NEW PLAYGROUND EQUIPMENT, WHICH IS MORE OF AN ADVENTURE COURSE. INITIALLY IT WAS JAM PACKED, BUT AS THE EQUIPMENT GETS OLDER, LESS LESS PEOPLE WERE SHOWING UP. BUT NOW WITH THIS NEW EQUIPMENT AND THE NEW BUILD, I CAN ALMOST GUARANTEE YOU IT IS GOING TO BE JAM PACKED. SO WE ALREADY HAVE A SKATE PARK HERE IN AGUA DULCE, AND WE HAVE A BASKETBALL COURT, BUT THEY HAVEN'T BEEN RENOVATED FOR MANY YEARS, SO WE'RE GOING TO COMPLETELY RENOVATE IT AND CREATE A NEW SKATE PARK, A BRAND NEW SKATE PARK. AND THIS IS GOING TO BE A MUCH BETTER DESIGN. IT'S GOING TO HAVE A LOT MORE EXCITING FEATURES TO IT. I THINK IT'S SOMETHING THAT THE COMMUNITY WILL APPRECIATE, BUT IT WILL BE MADE OF CONCRETE, SO WE EXPECT IT TO LAST LONGER THAN I'M GOING TO BE AROUND. YOU KNOW, I KNOW THAT THE YOUTH OF OUR COMMUNITY, AND NOT JUST FROM THE OUTLYING AREAS OF THE COUNTY, BUT INSIDE THE CITY OF EL PASO, ARE GOING TO COME OUT AND ENJOY THIS PLACE. AND I KNOW IT'S REALLY GOING TO BE A HIT WITH ALL THE YOUNG PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY, SO I'M REALLY PROUD OF THAT. I HELD TWO PUBLIC INPUT SESSIONS WHERE SKATERS TOLD THE DESIGNER WHAT THEY WANTED TO SEE IN THE SKATE PARK. IT'S GOT ALL THE TECHNICAL STREET STUFF. IT'S GOOD FOR BEGINNERS, FOR INTERMEDIATES, FOR ADVANCED. I THINK THERE'S A FIVE STAIR, SO IF YOU REALLY WANT TO CHALLENGE YOURSELF, YOU CAN GAP DOWN FROM THE FIVE STAIR. OR IF YOU'RE OLD AND YOU JUST WANT TO CRUISE AROUND, OR IF YOU'RE YOUNG AND YOU JUST WANT TO LEARN, YOU CAN FLOW AROUND THE WHOLE PARK. AND JUST LIKE ALWAYS, THIS THIS COURT HAS BEEN VERY FRUGAL WITH THE TAX MONEY. AND THIS, IN CONJUNCTION WITH OTHER GRANTS, IS PAID FOR BY GRANT MONEY, GRANT FUNDING THAT'S COMING TO EL PASO. THIS PROJECT WAS POSSIBLE BY A GRANT OF FROM TEXAS PARKS AND WILDLIFE. THE GRANT IS A TOTAL OF 2.8 MILLION, WHICH WOULD BE DISTRIBUTED BETWEEN ALL THE PARKS. SO PARKS HAVE BEEN A PRIORITY FOR THE COUNTY FOR MANY, MANY YEARS. WE UNDERSTAND HOW IMPORTANT PARKS ARE TO OUR COMMUNITIES. OUR CITIZENS ARE, YOU KNOW, OUR CONSTITUENTS DESERVE NO BETTER THAN TO, YOU KNOW, A BEAUTIFUL PLACE FOR THEIR KIDS CAN COME OUT AND ENJOY. I JUST WANT TO THANK EVERYONE WHO STEPPED UP TO THE PLATE TO MAKE THIS HAPPEN.

IT'S GOING TO BE A AWESOME FACILITY, AND I CAN'T WAIT TO ROLL AROUND WITH THE LOCALS WHEN IT'S DONE. WHAT'S MORE ESSENTIAL THAN WATER AND WASTEWATER SERVICE FOR THE COMMUNITY AND THESE COMMUNITIES HAVE LIVED WITHOUT THIS. YOU KNOW, ESSENTIAL SERVICE FOR, YOU KNOW, FOR DECADES, FIVE DECADES, PROBABLY, AND MANY OTHER COMMUNITIES HERE AS WELL. WE ARE THANKFULLY, THE COUNTY IS WORKING ON OTHER PROJECTS IN THIS COMMUNITY AND AS WELL AS THE LOWER VALLEY TO MAKE SURE THAT WE BRING THESE ESSENTIAL SERVICES TO THE COMMUNITY. TWO AND THREE ARE GREAT. THIS IS GOING TO BE THE START OF THE FIRST TIME WATER AND WASTEWATER PROJECT FOR SEVERAL COMMUNITIES HERE IN THE CANUTILLO AREA. WE ARE VERY, VERY PROUD. WE'RE VERY FORTUNATE, ACTUALLY, THAT THIS HAS REALLY COME TO FRUITION. THERE WAS FUNDS DEDICATED FOR THESE PROJECTS. BUT THE BIDS CAME IN HIGHER THAN WE EXPECTED AND THANKFULLY, WITH HELP OF THE COMMUNITY WHO CAME AND ADVOCATED IN FRONT OF COMMISSIONERS COURT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE DEDICATED ADDITIONAL FUNDS SO WE COULD GET THIS PROJECT. YOU KNOW, GOING AND STARTED. OTHERWISE, IF THE COURT HADN'T DEDICATED THIS EXTRA MONEY, WE WOULDN'T BE HERE. AND THIS MAY NOT HAVE

[03:50:03]

HAPPENED. WE'RE VERY, VERY PROUD OF THE WAY THAT THE COMMUNITY CAME TOGETHER TO ADVOCATE, TO GET THE ADDITIONAL FUNDS FOR THIS PROJECT, AND IT'S JUST A BLESSING. AND WE WANT TO THANK EVERYBODY THAT HELPED IN THIS GETTING THIS EVENT DONE. THIS COMMUNITY DOESN'T CURRENTLY HAVE A PARK. AND THREE WELL, THIS IS A LINEAR PARK FOR SQUARE DANCE, SOMETHING WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON FOR, YOU KNOW, A LITTLE OVER 12 YEARS. WE INCORPORATED AN AREA FOR THEM TO DO, YOU KNOW, ACTIVITIES, WALK AND LIKE I SAID, ALSO PLACE TO GATHER. SO THIS PROJECT WILL TAKE APPROXIMATELY 150 DAYS. IT CONSISTS OF A LINEAR TRAIL THAT STARTS ON MONTANA, ENDS ON FRANKIE LANE, AND IT'S A TEN FOOT WIDE TRAIL. SO IT WILL BE A VERY INTERACTIVE TRAIL THROUGHOUT. IT WILL ALSO HAVE NATIVE LANDSCAPING, AND WE'VE ALSO INCORPORATED DRAINAGE. I THINK IT'S GOING TO ADD IT'S GOING TO LOOK BEAUTIFUL. THEY'RE GOING TO WILL THE TRAIL FOR US TO WALK IS GOING TO BE SAFER FOR US. AN AREA DESIGNATED FOR WALKING. YOU KNOW, WITH YOUR FAMILY. SO I THINK IT'S GOING TO BE SOMETHING, YOU KNOW, A GREAT IMPROVEMENT TO OUR COMMUNITY.

WHY SHOULD PEOPLE THAT LIVE IN THE CITY HAVE MORE ACCESS TO THE BENEFITS OF QUALITY OF LIFE? I'VE BEEN HERE SINCE I'M SINCE I WAS THREE YEARS OLD. I'M 40, SO I'VE SEEN THE WHOLE THING. YOU KNOW, SO THE WHOLE IMPROVEMENT THAT HAS BEEN IN OUR COMMUNITY HAS BEEN REALLY GREAT. FROM STREET PAVING TO THE PARK TO THE LIGHTS TO EVERYTHING YOU SEE OUT HERE. I AM SO GRATEFUL TO THE COURT BECAUSE I'M ONLY ONE VOTE OF FIVE THAT MAKE CAN MAKE THINGS LIKE THIS HAPPEN.

TODAY WE HAVE LIGHTS ON THE LAKE AND IT'S JAM PACKED OUTSIDE. PEOPLE ARE HAVING A GOOD TIME.

AND REALLY, THIS IS WHAT EL PASO DESERVES. PEOPLE ARE EXCITED ABOUT THE SEASON. THEY'RE EXCITED ABOUT THEIR LAKE. THEY'RE EXCITED ABOUT THE LIGHTS. SO THIS IS A REALLY GOOD NIGHT FOR FAMILIES TO BOND AND TO HAVE A GOOD TIME. THREE, TWO ONE. SO EVERYONE WAS SO EXCITED.

ONE WHEN ALL OF THE LIGHTS CAME ON, THE BEAUTIFUL CHRISTMAS TREE WAS LIT. BUT THEN ALSO WHEN THEY SAW OUR SPECIAL GUEST, WHICH WAS SANTA. SO NOW WE HAVE A LONG LINE OF KIDS WAITING TO TELL SANTA WHAT THEY WANT FOR CHRISTMAS THIS YEAR. AND THAT'S OF COURSE, WHAT WE WANT. WE WANT CHILDREN TO BE ABLE TO COME, TO BE HAPPY, TO SEE SANTA GET THEIR PHOTO WITH HIM, GET TO SEE ALL OF THE BEAUTIFUL LIGHTS. WE WANT THIS TO BE A SPECIAL TIME AND A SPECIAL PLACE FOR OUR FAMILIES HERE IN EL PASO. WE DON'T WANT A LOT FOR CHRISTMAS THERE. WE HAVE 70 DIFFERENT LIGHT DISPLAYS. WE HAVE A VARIETY. THERE'S INTERACTIVE LIGHTS AS YOU DRIVE THROUGH. A LOT OF OUR LIGHTS ARE ON DISPLAY. OUR SOUND ACTIVATED. SO AS WE APPROACH THEM, THEY COME ON. WE DO HAVE A DRIVE THROUGH ALONG A LAKE SO YOU CAN STAY IN YOUR CAR. YOU CAN SEE THE DISPLAYS. I JUST HOPE FOLKS COME OUT AND ENJOY IT. I THINK IT'S A GOOD TIME. I THINK IT'S VERY UNIQUE. WE REALLY WANT TO MAKE THIS A FUN TIME FOR THE FOLKS THROUGHOUT EL PASO COUNTY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. AND THEN THIS IS THE FIRST ONE. OH, I THINK I'M LIKE, EVERYBODY SHOULD COME AND CHECK IT OUT. IT'S PRETTY PRETTY NICE OUT HERE. MY HUSBAND SAW IT ON SOCIAL MEDIA, SO WE DECIDED TO CHECK IT OUT.

AND WE LOVE THE LIGHTS. A LITTLE SET UP FOR THE PICTURES AND IT'S PRETTY PRETTY NICE. THE RED NOSE REINDEER. HAD A VERY SHINY NOSE. AND EL PASO IS A BEAUTIFUL PLACE. GOT SOME BEAUTIFUL MUSIC, BEAUTIFUL LIGHTS, INCREDIBLE PEOPLE. WE'RE THE BEST COMMUNITY IN THE COUNTRY AND THE BEST REGION. SO WISHING ALL OF YOU A MERRY CHRISTMAS AND A AN AMAZING, AMAZING 2025.

[03:56:51]

SO GO AHEAD. COMMISSIONERS COURT HAS RECONVENED TO REGULAR OPEN SESSION. WE'LL GO AHEAD AND START WITH ITEM NINE BOARD APPOINTMENTS. NINE A POSTPONE FEBRUARY 10TH, 2025. DISCUSS AND TAKE APPROPRIATE ACTION TO SELECT AN ELECTED OFFICIAL TO FILL THE VACANT SEAT ON THE RIO

[A. (Postponed 2/10/25) Discuss and take appropriate action to select an elected official to fill the vacant seat on the Rio Grande Council of Governments (RGCOG) Dispute Resolution Center (DRC) Advisory Council that was previously held by Commissioner Carlos Leon. Betsy C. Keller, Chief Administrator, County Administration, 915-273-3600]

GRANDE COUNCIL OF GOVERNMENTS DISPUTE RESOLUTION CENTER ADVISORY COUNCIL THAT WAS PREVIOUSLY HELD BY COMMISSIONER CARLOS LEON BETSY. AND HERE YOU ARE. GOOD MORNING. GOOD AFTERNOON, JUDGE AND COMMISSIONERS MICHELLE COCHRAN WITH COUNTY ADMINISTRATION. AS JESSICA READ, THIS ITEM WAS POSTPONED. THE SEAT WAS PREVIOUSLY HELD BY COMMISSIONER LEON. THIS IS FOR THE DISPUTE RESOLUTION CENTER WITH RIO GRANDE COUNCIL OF GOVERNMENTS. I KNOW WE WANTED TO BRING THIS BACK WHEN COMMISSIONER BUTLER WAS PRESENT. PER THE BYLAWS, THE COUNTY HOLDS, ONE OF THE SEATS IN THE COURT IS TO APPOINT AN INDIVIDUAL TO THAT SEAT. THERE ARE SEVERAL SEATS ON THIS COUNCIL. I'M TRYING TO PULL THAT UP FOR YOU. IF YOU'LL JUST GIVE ME ONE MOMENT. BUT IT'S IN THE BACKUP. THAT COMMISSIONER BUTLER, I DON'T KNOW IF YOU WERE INTERESTED IN POTENTIALLY TAKING OVER THAT OR IF ANYBODY ELSE WOULD LIKE TO DO THAT. WHAT THE RIO RIO GRANDE COUNCIL SHARED WITH ME IS IT WAS A NEWER, ESTABLISHED COUNCIL COMMISSIONER LEON WAS ON THEIR OTHER BOARD. THEY ASKED HIM TO SIT ON IT BECAUSE OF THAT RELATION, SO THAT YOU ALL HAVE NOT APPOINTED ANYBODY TO THIS BOARD YET? WELL, I WOULD LOVE TO SEE COMMISSIONER BUTLER. I DON'T KNOW, ARE WE ON? COMMISSIONER BUTLER IS OKAY WITH THAT. I'M OKAY WITH I'M HAPPY TO. YEAH. OKAY. WONDERFUL. THAT'S THE CONSENSUS. THEN IF I MAY HAVE A MOTION TO APPOINT COMMISSIONER BUTLER TO THAT. OKAY. SO MOVED. THANK YOU. JUDGE. MOTION BY JUDGE SAMANIEGO, SECOND BY COMMISSIONER CORONADO. THE VOTING IS OPEN. MOTION CARRIES.

ITEM NINE B. THANK YOU. CONGRATULATIONS, COMMISSIONER. THANK YOU. JUDGE. ITEM NINE B APPROVE THE APPOINTMENT OF THE NOMINEE FROM THE EL PASO SOCIETY FOR HUMAN RESOURCES MANAGEMENT,

[B. Approve the appointment of the nominee from the El Paso Society for Human Resource Management (EPSHRM), Bryan Cleavenger, to the Ethics Commission for the unexpired term ending January 31, 2026. Betsy C. Keller, Chief Administrator, County Administration, 915-273-3600]

BRIAN CLEVENGER, TO THE ETHICS COMMISSION FOR THE UNEXPIRED TERM ENDING JANUARY 31ST, 2026.

GOOD AFTERNOON. COMMISSIONERS. MICHELLE COUNTY ADMINISTRATION. YOU APPOINTED SOMEBODY TO THIS SEAT, CLAUDIA CAMACHO, LAST JANUARY IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT CODE. ONE OF THE FIVE ENTITIES, EXTERNAL ENTITIES THAT ARE APPOINTED TO THE ETHICS COMMISSION INCLUDES THE EL PASO SOCIETY FOR HUMAN RESOURCE MANAGEMENT. MISS CAMACHO HAS RELOCATED OUT OF EL PASO. THEREFORE IS NO LONGER ELIGIBLE TO BE ON THE COMMISSION, AND EPP HAS SUBMITTED BRIAN CLEVENGER AS THEIR NEW APPOINTEE. HE HAS COMPLETED ALL OF THE REQUIREMENTS. I'M NOT SURE IF HE WAS ABLE TO GET OFF OF WORK AND JOIN US ONLINE. THE NAME ONE MORE TIME. I'M SORRY. CLEVENGER WOULD BE A PHONE NUMBER IF HE WAS ABLE TO JOIN MIGUEL. I SEE

[04:00:02]

CLEVENGER ON TEAMS. MISTER CLEVENGER, ARE YOU THERE? YOU'RE MUTED IF YOU ARE THERE. I KNOW HE WAS WORKING SIMULTANEOUSLY, SO HE MAY NOT BE ABLE TO JOIN US LIVE AT THE MOMENT. BRIAN. YES, SIR. JUST FOR SOME BACKGROUND, BRIAN HAS BEEN A LONG TERM MEMBER OF EL PASO. SHERM. HE'S BEEN THE PAST PRESIDENT. I THINK HE'S A GREAT NOMINATION FROM EL PASO SOCIETY FOR HUMAN RESOURCE MANAGEMENT. I AGREE. YOU WANT TO GO AHEAD AND. WE HAVE A MOTION BY JUDGE SAMANIEGO TO APPROVE AND A SECOND BY COMMISSIONER STOUT. THE VOTING IS OPEN. MOTION CARRIES. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU FOR US, MICHELLE. THANK YOU. ITEM TEN COUNTY ADMINISTRATION TEN A POSTPONE FEBRUARY 10TH, 2025. RECEIVE A PRESENTATION. DISCUSS AND TAKE APPROPRIATE ACTION

[A. (Postponed 2/10/25) Receive a presentation, discuss and take appropriate action regarding El Paso County’s 89th Texas Legislative Session Agenda and Values Statements and provide discussion and input regarding the federal legislative agenda. Melissa Carrillo, Deputy County Administrator, County Operations, 915-546-2162]

REGARDING EL PASO COUNTY'S 89TH TEXAS LEGISLATIVE SESSION. AGENDA AND VALUES STATEMENTS, AND PROVIDE DISCUSSION AND INPUT REGARDING THE FEDERAL LEGISLATIVE AGENDA. THANK.

BUENAS TARDES. GOOD AFTERNOON, JUDGE AND COMMISSIONERS. ELISA TAMAYO, GOVERNMENTAL AFFAIRS MANAGER. IT'S NICE TO BE IN PERSON TODAY. IF WE CAN, I'M GOING TO HAVE. WELL, THIS PRESENTATION WILL BE TWO PARTS. THE FIRST PART WILL BE THE STATE LEGISLATIVE UPDATE. AND EXCUSE ME, WE WILL HAVE A FEDERAL LEGISLATIVE UPDATE AFTERWARDS. AND WE CAN HEAR NICE TO HAVE A CLICKER. SO THIS ITEM WAS POSTPONED. SO A LOT OF THE THINGS YOU MIGHT HAVE ALREADY HEARD OF DURING YOUR TIME IN AUSTIN DURING EL PASO DAYS. BUT JUST A REMINDER, THESE ARE THE GOVERNOR'S EMERGENCY ITEMS THAT HE LISTED DURING HIS STATE OF THE STATE ADDRESS. THAT MEANS THAT THESE ITEMS TAKE PRIORITY AND THAT THEY CAN'T BE FAST TRACKED VERSUS OTHER ITEMS THAT ARE NOT ON HIS PRIORITY LIST. NUMBER ONE IS THE SCHOOL VOUCHERS OR SCHOOL CHOICE, AS HE USUALLY CALLS THAT. THE ADDITIONAL PROPERTY TAX RELIEF A GENERAL A GENERATIONAL INVESTMENT IN WATER BAIL REFORM. THESE BILLS HAVE ALREADY BEEN HEARD IN THE SENATE. SOME OF THEM CAREER TRAINING, CREATING TEXAS AND CREATING A TEXAS CYBER COMMAND. THE SENATE FINANCE COMMITTEE HAS HAS BEEN HEARING THE BUDGET IN DIFFERENT HEARINGS, AND THE EDUCATION SAVINGS ACCOUNT, SB TWO, WHICH I KNOW IS OF PRIORITY FOR SOME OF Y'ALL, WAS VOTED OUT OF THE SENATE ON FEBRUARY THE 5TH, AND IT'S ALREADY RECEIVED BY THE HOUSE. ON THE COUNTY'S LEGISLATIVE PRIORITIES. AS YOU CAN SEE ON THIS SLIDE, SOME OF THEM HAVE ALREADY BEEN FILED AND SOME OTHER ONES HAVE BEEN OR ARE STILL IN THE WORKS WITH OUR COUNTY, WITH OUR EL PASO STATE DELEGATION. NUMBER ONE, SETTING THE RESIDENCY REQUIREMENT FOR THE CANDIDATES TO THE MONTH IN FAR EAST EL PASO. IT WAS FILED AS HOUSE BILL 1930 AND ON THE SENATE SIDE AS SB 1028. HOWEVER, IT REQUIRED A POSTING ON THE LOCAL NEWSPAPER, WHICH WE DID LAST SUNDAY, AND IT HAS TO BE POSTED, AND THEN WE HAVE TO SEND THAT PROOF THAT WE POSTED ON THE NEWSPAPER, WHICH WE HAVE ALREADY DONE TO BOTH REP GONZALEZ'S OFFICE AND SENATOR BLANCO'S OFFICE. SO THEY KNOW THAT WE'RE FULFILLING THAT REQUIREMENT, PER THE PARLIAMENTARIANS ON BOTH CHAMBERS. WE DIDN'T KNOW THAT WE HAD TO DO THIS, BY THE WAY. IT WAS LIKE SOMETHING THAT CAME UP AFTER THE SPEAKER WAS ELECTED, AND HE RELEASED A MEMO WHERE HE EXPLAINED SOME OF THE THINGS THAT HE'S GOING TO BE REQUIRING FOR CERTAIN BILLS, CERTAIN LOCAL BILLS. AND THIS WAS ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE HAD QUESTIONS ABOUT BASED ON THAT MEMO. BUT THEN THEY WERE ANSWERED, AND THEN THE PARLIAMENTARIANS CONCURRED AND SAID THAT WE DO NEED THE POSTING. SO WE DID THAT AND THE COUNTY PAID FOR THAT POSTING ON OUR PROVISION FOR THE LAW WITHIN 750FT FROM AN EXISTING WATER LINE. WE HAVE OUR COUNTY ATTORNEYS HAVE BEEN WORKING WITH SENATOR BLANCO'S OFFICE TO FINALIZE THE LANGUAGE, AND WE APPROVED IT. I'M SORRY, MY SLIDES IS NOT FINALIZED YET, BUT IT'S BEEN APPROVED ON OUR END. AND NOW WE'RE JUST WAITING FOR SENATOR BLANCO TO FILE THE BILL. IF HE DOESN'T HAVE ANY MORE QUESTIONS ON THE REQUIRING PARKLAND DEDICATION THROUGH OUR SUBDIVISION ORDER. WE ALSO HAVE A VERY GOOD DRAFT THAT HAS BEEN THAT LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL HAS BEEN WORKING ON. AND OUR LOBBY TEAM HAS ALSO BEEN WORKING WITH SENATOR BLANCO'S OFFICE TO GET THAT APPROVED AS SOON AS WE CAN.

ALSO WORKING WITH ERIK MORALES IN OUR COUNTY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE ON NUMBER FOUR, EXTENDING THE DEADLINE. THE APPLICATION DEADLINE FOR THE COMPTROLLER'S PAYMENTS. IT'S BEEN FILED AS SENATE BILL 899, AND IT HAS ALREADY BEEN REFERRED TO COMMITTEE, WHICH MEANS THAT

[04:05:04]

SENATOR BLANCO CAN REQUEST THE HEARING SOON. AND WE GAVE HIM ON OUR END THE INFORMATION THAT HE MIGHT NEED TO REQUEST THE HEARING. I'M WAITING TO HEAR BACK WHENEVER THAT THAT IS GIVEN, BUT IT HAS IT DOESN'T HAVE LIKE A SUPER LOW BILL NUMBER, SO IT DOESN'T I DON'T KNOW WHEN THIS BILLS WILL BE HEARD, BUT JUST SO YOU KNOW, WE'RE READY FOR WHENEVER THAT HAPPENS. ON THE SCOFFLAW LEGISLATION. I KNOW MISTER GONZALEZ HAS BEEN WORKING ALSO WITH SENATOR BLANCO'S OFFICE ON THE ON FINALIZING THE DRAFT. IT WAS REQUESTED AND LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL CAME BACK WITH SOMETHING THAT MISTER GONZALEZ HAD A FEW AMENDMENTS TO. SO HE'S, YOU KNOW, IN THAT BACK AND FORTH WITH HIS OFFICE. AND I'M HOPEFUL THAT THIS WEEK WE CAN HAVE THAT BACK FROM LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL WITH HIS AMENDMENTS AND THEN HOPEFULLY FILED BY SENATOR BLANCO ON OUR VOTER APPROVED OPTIONAL VEHICLE REGISTRATION FEE. WE APPROVED THE LANGUAGE THAT SENATOR BLANCO SHARED WITH OUR WITH OUR OFFICE AND SAID THAT HOPEFULLY HE WILL FILE IT SOON. I THINK HE HAD SOME QUESTIONS ABOUT THE MPO. WE TRY TO ANSWER THOSE, AND I KNOW THE MPO ALSO NEEDS TO OR I GUESS WE ASK THE MPO ABOUT THIS, AND I'M HOPEFUL THAT THEY WILL PROVIDE THOSE ANSWERS TO HIS OFFICE. ON OUR REIMBURSEMENT TO COVER THE INCREASED COST OF BURIALS. WE ARE STILL WORKING WITH LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL. THE DRAFT WAS A LITTLE BIT TRICKY BECAUSE WHENEVER WE ARE REQUESTING FUNDING, IT BECOMES AN APPROPRIATIONS ASK, WHICH IS ANOTHER PROCESS THAT I WAS NOT SUPER FAMILIAR WITH. SO WHAT WE'RE ASKING THE STATE IS TO CREATE A FUND TO LIKE A GRANT PROGRAM SIMILAR TO LIKE THE SCRAP TIRE PROGRAM THAT VICE CHAIR GONZALEZ HAS FILED IN LAST SESSION AND IN THIS SESSION, AND SENATOR BLANCO AS WELL. SO KIND OF FOLLOWING THAT FORMAT, IT DOESN'T HAVE ANY FUNDING ATTACHED TO THAT, BUT I FEEL LIKE CREATING THE FUND AND THEN GIVING THAT SOME OF THESE PROJECTS ARE USUALLY 2 OR 3 SESSIONS. WE WANT TO START HAVING THOSE CONVERSATIONS AND TRYING TO FIND THE FUNDING EVENTUALLY, AS WE'RE NOT THE ONLY COUNTY THAT HAS SEEN LIKE INCREASED COST ON ON THIS ON THIS SPECIFIC ITEM. SO WE'RE HOPING THAT THAT THE DRAFT WILL BE FINAL. I SPOKE WITH THEM ON FRIDAY WITH THE DRAFTER, AND SHE SAID SHE WAS GOING TO GET ON IT SO THAT WE CAN GET SOME LANGUAGE APPROVED, HOPEFULLY SOON. AND THEN ON THE COUNTY EMPLOYEE FAMILY LEAVE POOL PROGRAM. IT HAS BEEN FILED IN BOTH CHAMBERS AS WELL, AND WE JUST GOT NOTICED THIS MORNING THAT SB TEN ZERO TWO WAS REFERRED TO COMMITTEE. SO WE ALSO WORKING WITH SENATOR BLANCO. WE GAVE HIM THE ONE PAGERS AND INFORMATION THAT WE HAVE, AND HOPEFULLY HE'S ABLE TO REQUEST A HEARING ON THIS.

NUMBER NINE, THE JPD INCLUSION OF CERTAIN OFFENSES. IT WAS FILED BY REP AND JOHNSON LAST SESSION. IT WAS LIKE EL PASO COUNTY LEADING THE THIS LEGISLATION. AND IT GOT PASSED OUT OF THE HOUSE BY SPEAKER PRO TEM MOODY, THIS TIME. REPRESENTATIVE ANN JOHNSON, OUT OF THE HOUSTON AREA, DECIDED TO FILE THE BILL BECAUSE IT BECAME WE GOTTEN MORE SUPPORT FROM STATEWIDE GROUPS AND OTHER COUNTIES. THAT IS NOT JUST EL PASO COUNTY, BUT NOW HARRIS COUNTY. THEY REALLY LIKE OUR LEGISLATION. SO THEY A COALITION OF MORE STAKEHOLDERS GOT BEHIND IT. AND THEN THEY GOT REPRESENTATIVE JOHNSON TO FILE ON THE HOUSE SIDE. WE SHARED WITH SENATOR BLANCO THE LANGUAGE, BUT I KNOW THERE'S OTHER SENATORS ALSO INTERESTED.

SO WE WERE JUST WAITING TO HEAR WHO OR IF IT'S GOING TO BE. SEVERAL SENATORS SIGNING ON TO THE TO THE SENATE VERSION OF THE BILL. NUMBER TEN AND 11 IS OUR COUNTY ATTORNEY'S PROPOSALS. AND I KNOW THAT THEY ALSO WORKING WITH OUR LOBBY TEAM TO GET TO GET THEM FILED. WELL, NUMBER TEN FILED AND THEN NUMBER 11 WAS ALREADY FILED IN BOTH CHAMBERS. BUT TO KIND OF ANSWER THE QUESTIONS THAT WE NEED AND FINISH THE ONE PAGERS AND THE BACKGROUND INFO THAT THEY THAT THEY WILL NEED TO REQUEST THE HEARINGS. AND I DON'T KNOW IF I SHOULD HAVE ASKED IF HE WAS GOING TO BE ON THE LINE OR ERIC, IF YOU HAVE ANYTHING TO ADD ON THIS BILL. BUT FOR WHAT I SEE, THEY'RE MOVING AND MAKING GOOD PROGRESS. OKAY. AND THEN NUMBER 12, I KNOW IT'S THE REGULATION OF THE JUNKYARDS. I KNOW THAT THAT'S SOMETHING THAT ALSO VICE CHAIR GONZALEZ IS WAITING TO HEAR FROM THE COUNTY ONCE WE HAVE AN ORDER AND SOMETHING. SO THIS IS KIND OF ON STANDBY, BUT IT HAS BEEN FILED AND IT IS A COUNTY PRIORITY. SO SOMETHING THAT JUST LIKE INDICATES WHAT WE'RE WORKING ON AND WHAT WE WOULD LIKE TO SEE TO ADDRESS THE PROBLEM. DO WE HAVE ANY QUESTIONS ON ANY OF THE COUNTY PRIORITIES SO FAR? NO. BEFORE YOU LEAVE THOSE, ARE YOU MOVING FROM STATE OR STAYING ON STATE? WE'RE GOING TO THIS IS THE LAST I HAVE ON THE STATE. SO I JUST HAVE TWO THINGS I WANTED TO ADD TO WHAT ALISA HAS PRESENTED. ON FRIDAY, WE SAW REP. PETTUS AT THE CELEBRATION OF LIFE FOR CARL. HE DID MENTION THINGS THAT HE WAS DOING ON HIS OWN. THAT DO

[04:10:05]

IMPACT COUNTY OPERATIONS OR COUNTY BUSINESS. I KNOW HE'S REACHED OUT TO JOEL TO FOR ANYTHING LIKE ON THE BAIL BOND, ANYTHING THAT HE COULD ADD OR OFFER LANGUAGE WISE. BUT HE'S HE'S FILING THOSE ON HIS OWN INITIATIVES. THEY'RE NOT BEING DRIVEN BY OUR AGENDA. BUT HE DID MENTION THAT HE WAS WORKING ON SOME THINGS THAT WOULD BE RELATED TO COUNTY OPERATIONS AND THAT HE'D RUN THOSE BY US. THE OTHER THING I WANTED TO MENTION, AND IT'S GOING TO BE RELEVANT TO SOMETHING WE'RE GOING TO DISCUSS IN EXECUTIVE SESSION, IS THE GOVERNOR'S BUDGET PACKAGE. ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE'VE BEEN TRYING TO WATCH IS WHAT THE GOVERNOR IS INTENDING ON OPERATION LONE STAR, AND IN HIS BUDGET PACKAGE, HE SPECIFICALLY CALLS OUT CONTINUING TO SECURE THE BORDER AND ASKING FOR THE SAME OR INCREASED FUNDING FOR OPERATION LONE STAR. SO JUST WANT US TO KEEP THAT IN MIND, THAT IT DOES NOT SEEM TO BE AN INTENT TO WIND DOWN FROM A BUDGETARY PERSPECTIVE. THANK YOU. ALISA. YEAH. BEFORE WE MOVE ON FROM STATE, I, I JUST WANTED TO TAKE A MOMENT TO THANK YOU, ALISA AND MELISSA AND THE TEAM FOR YOUR SUPPORT DURING EL PASO DAYS. I KNOW IT WAS LIKE A MAD RUSH AT THE END, AND I PERSONALLY GOT THE MOST VALUE OUT OF THE MEETINGS THAT WE WERE ABLE TO SCHEDULE ON OUR OWN. ESPECIALLY WITH THE WATER DEVELOPMENT BOARD AND WITH TDA. SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH. I, I, YOU KNOW, JUST HAVING THOSE MEETINGS ALONE AND WITH, WITH THE MEETINGS THAT I WAS ABLE TO HAVE WITH MEMBERS OF THE DELEGATION MADE THE DAYS IN AUSTIN WORTHWHILE FOR ME. AND, AND WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO PRIORITIZE FOR THE PRECINCT. BUT ON THAT NOTE, I WAS HOPING THAT MAYBE IN THE NEXT COUPLE OF WEEKS, WE MIGHT BE ABLE TO DO AN AFTER ACTION REVIEW ON EL PASO DAYS AND THE COUNTY'S PARTICIPATION IN THAT. YES, ABSOLUTELY. I THINK WE'RE WORKING ON ON THAT. I HAD WE HAVE TWO INTERNS IN GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS THAT ARE REMOTE, BUT THEY'RE WORKING ON SOME DEBRIEFING FOR THE MEETINGS. AND THEN I WANT YOU ALL TO BE ABLE TO HAVE A PLACE TO PUT YOUR NOTES AND, AND ACTION ITEMS FROM EACH ONE. SO I'LL BE SHARING THOSE THROUGH TEAMS. AND THAT WAY EVERYONE CAN CAN PUT IN THEIR NOTES. AND THEN WE CAN FIGURE OUT LIKE HOW TO FOLLOW UP WITH THOSE ITEMS. THANK YOU. COMMISSIONER. COMMISSIONER STOUT. THANKS. I WANT TO DEFINITELY ECHO COMMISSIONER BUTLER'S COMMENTS THAT I APPRECIATE THE WORK THAT YOU DID AND THAT OUR, OUR LOBBY TEAM DID IN PUTTING TOGETHER MEETINGS AND WORKING WITH US AND WITH THE CHAMBER. AND, YOU KNOW, I THINK WE HAD SOME GOOD MEETINGS WITH. RIPENSIA WHICH WHICH IS ONE THAT YOU WHICH WHICH ONE THAT YOU SET UP FOR ME AND THE JUDGE TO TALK ABOUT BROADBAND. THAT WAS A, I THINK, A GOOD MEETING. I THINK ANOTHER, ANOTHER GOOD MEETING. AN EYE OPENING MEETING WAS ONE WE HAD WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY, NEW DIRECTOR, THAT THE SHERIFF AND COMMISSIONER CORONADO AND I, ALONG WITH A COUPLE OF OTHER INDIVIDUALS, ATTENDED. AND I WANT TO GIVE KUDOS TO COMMISSIONER CORONADO FOR, YOU KNOW, TAKING HIM TO TASK AND MAKING SURE THAT THAT HE UNDERSTOOD WHAT WE'RE DEALING HERE WITH HERE IN EL PASO AND IN THE ISSUES THAT WE WANT TO BE CHANGED. I DO WANT TO I DID WANT TO ASK. SO TODAY, I THINK IN THE HOUSE THEY WERE DISCUSSING ARTICLE ONE IN APPROPRIATE IN APPROPRIATIONS. AND THAT'S WHERE OPERATION LONE STAR I THINK WAS, WAS BEING WAS BEING DISCUSSED. AND I, I'M ON SOME GROUP CHATS WITH, WITH SOME, SOME OTHER ADVOCATES THAT ARE, YOU KNOW, TALKING ABOUT OPERATION LONE STAR AND, AND THEY AND THEY DID SAY THAT WHEN THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE WAS ASKED IF THEY WERE GOING TO BE REDUCING FUNDING. NO, THEY'RE GOING TO THEY'RE GOING TO THEY ARE GOING TO CONTINUE TO RAMP IT UP. AND THEY SAID THAT THEY NEEDED TO DO SO BECAUSE THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION STILL NEEDED THE SUPPORT. I ALSO DID SOME SUBMIT SOME QUESTIONS FOR, FOR THEM TO POSSIBLY HAVE MEMBERS ASK. AND I'M NOT SURE IF THEY IF THEY DID SO, BUT I, I POINTED OUT JUST THE SITUATION THAT WE HAVE HERE IN EL PASO. WITH, YOU KNOW, TENS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS BEING SPENT ON OPERATION LONE STAR DETAINEES, BUT VERY LITTLE BEING REIMBURSED. AND ALSO, YOU KNOW, THE QUESTIONS AS TO, YOU KNOW, SINCE THERE IS NO SINCE THERE IS, YOU KNOW, THE NUMBER OF

[04:15:06]

MIGRANT ENCOUNTERS HAVE DECREASED DRASTICALLY. EVEN THE DPS CHIEF SAID SO AND TOLD US THAT THEY WOULD BE DIVERTING DPS OFFICERS AWAY FROM EL PASO BECAUSE OF THE DECREASE IN MIGRANT ENCOUNTERS. YOU KNOW, IT SEEMS TO ME WE SHOULD BE QUESTIONING THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE AS TO WHETHER WE ACTUALLY NEED TO BE CONTINUING TO HAVE. DECLARATIONS IN PLACE, EMERGENCY OR DISASTER DECLARATIONS IN PLACE, SINCE THERE IS, YOU KNOW, SUCH A DECREASE IN IN THOSE, THOSE ENCOUNTERS. AND, AND TO TALK ABOUT, YOU KNOW, IF THEY ARE GOING TO BE INCREASING BORDER QUOTE UNQUOTE BORDER SECURITY FUNDING, CAN SOME OF THAT FUNDING COME TO THE COUNTIES LIKE EL PASO COUNTY, WHO, AGAIN, HAVE SPENT TENS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS AND RECEIVED VERY LITTLE, EVEN THOUGH WE HAVE DECLARED A DISASTER HERE? SO, YOU KNOW, I THINK WE NEED TO CONTINUE TALKING ABOUT THAT AND, AND PUSHING THAT THAT NARRATIVE WITH, WITH OUR WITH OUR DELEGATION AND WITH THE FOLKS THAT ARE IN, IN AUSTIN AS THEY CONTINUE TO TALK ABOUT THE FUNDING AND APPROPRIATIONS. I ALSO WANTED TO. TALK ABOUT A BILL THAT WAS FLAGGED FOR ME THIS MORNING. ELISA, IN OUR IN OUR QC. OH, YES. BRIEF THAT WE HAVE SENATE BILL 504, WHICH IS RELATING TO THE DISCLOSURE OF CERTAIN FINANCIAL INFORMATION BY CERTAIN NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS THAT ENTER INTO SIZABLE CONTRACTS WITH POLITICAL SUBDIVISIONS. I THINK IT WILL BE HEARD ON THURSDAY. AND BARBARA AND I WERE WORKING ON SOME FACTS. AND SENATOR BLANCO SITS IN THAT COMMITTEE. RIGHT. AND SO I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE AND WE I THINK WE NEED TO GET TO IT BOTH ON THE SENATE AND THE HOUSE SIDE. BUT THE MOST PRESSING IS THE SENATE HEARING. THAT'S, THAT'S THAT'S AS YOU SAID, THAT'S ON THURSDAY. YOU KNOW, AS AS I WAS TALKING TO THE QC FOLKS, I DON'T KNOW IF THEY'RE GOING TO BE DROPPING CARDS ON THIS BILL, BUT I THINK THAT WE DEFINITELY SHOULD, BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, WE CONTRACT WITH A NUMBER OF NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS. AND I KNOW THAT THERE'S A THRESHOLD, THERE'S A THERE'S A SPENDING OR I GUESS, AMOUNT OF 500,000. IF IT'S OVER 500,000, I DON'T KNOW IF WE HAVE CONTRACTS OF OVER 500,000 WITH ANY NONPROFITS AT THIS POINT IN TIME. BUT, YOU KNOW, WE NEED TO LOOK AT THAT. AND I THINK, YOU KNOW. TESTIFY OR OR AT LEAST DROP A CARD AGAINST THIS, THIS BILL, BECAUSE WE DON'T WANT TO GET INTO A SITUATION WHERE WE'RE TRYING TO SUPPORT NONPROFITS IN THIS COMMUNITY THAT SUPPORT OUR OUR VISION AND OUR MISSION. AND, AND IF WE END UP, YOU KNOW, CONTRACTING FOR THEIR SERVICES, WHETHER IT'S REENTRY SERVICES, WHETHER IT'S VETERAN SERVICES, WHETHER IT'S WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT SERVICES, LIKE WITH PROJECT ARIBA, FOR EXAMPLE. OR EIN OR, YOU KNOW, JUST THERE'S A NUMBER. OH, I'M SORRY. THE FOOD BANK. FOOD BANK. YEAH. AND SO, I MEAN, THAT WOULD DEFINITELY HINDER OUR ABILITY TO PROVIDE SERVICES AND PARTNER WITH THESE LOCAL NONPROFITS IF, IF FOR IF THIS BILL PASSED AND, AND BASICALLY THE BILL IS ASKING THAT THEY DISCLOSE THEIR SALARIES AND OTHER INFORMATION ABOUT ABOUT THEIR PERSONNEL AND THEIR SALARIES. AND THAT MAY BE SOMETHING THAT NONPROFITS DON'T WANT TO DO. AND SO WE WANT TO WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE PROTECT THAT, THAT, THAT, THAT, THAT ISSUE. AND THEN. I BELIEVE ALSO ON ON. TOMORROW, WE HAVE ARTICLE FIVE IS GOING TO BE UP IN HOUSE APPROPRIATIONS. AND I THINK IT'S ON WEDNESDAY. AND OUR CHIEF JUVENILE PROBATION, CHIEF MEDINA, IS GOING TO BE TRAVELING TO AUSTIN TO TESTIFY ON ON HER BUDGET. SHE JUST MESSAGED ME EARLIER. AND BUT I KNOW THAT THERE WAS SOME. NOTES HERE. SOME ISSUES THAT WE MAY WANT TO TESTIFY ON OR. I DON'T KNOW IF SEND CORRESPONDENCE, BUT.

THERE'S, I THINK, GOING TO BE BE DISCUSSION ABOUT AG PAXTON'S ATTACKS ON LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS LIKE THE ANNUNCIATION HOUSE. OKAY. AND, YOU KNOW, THEY'VE BEEN USING PRETTY OLD PARTS OF

[04:20:01]

THE BUSINESS ORGANIZATION CODE AND LIMITED INVESTIGATORY POWERS THAT HE'S, YOU KNOW. THAT HE HAS TO TARGET FOLKS FROM, YOU KNOW, ENGAGEMENT GROUPS LIKE ANNUNCIATION HOUSE AND OTHERS ACROSS THE, ACROSS THE STATE. AND JUST MAKING SURE THAT WE. DRILL DOWN A LITTLE BIT MORE AND ASK THEM TO. LOOK AT THOSE, LOOK, LOOK, LOOK AT THAT AUTHORITY OR INVESTIGATORY POWERS THAT, THAT THE AG HAS. OKAY. SOUNDS GOOD. THANK YOU COMMISSIONER. I TOOK SOME NOTES ON THIS ITEM SO WE CAN FOLLOW UP AND MAKE SURE THAT THAT WE TAKE ACTION ON THURSDAY. AND ALSO WHEN ARTICLE FIVE IS HEARD TOMORROW. AND I'LL GET WITH YOUR OFFICE TO GET MORE INFORMATION ON THAT AS WELL. OKAY. THANK YOU. I THINK THAT'S ALL I HAD FOR THE STATE. THE STATE. THANK YOU COMMISSIONER. WE'LL MOVE ON TO THE FEDERAL UPDATE. I KNOW I'M I USUALLY WHERE I HAVEN'T GIVEN FEDERAL UPDATES IN THE PAST, AND WE'RE TRYING TO MOVE MORE TOWARDS FOLLOWING AND ENGAGING MORE WITH THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, ESPECIALLY THROUGH THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF COUNTIES WITH NACO. SO I PUT TOGETHER A FEW SLIDES AND JUST OVERVIEW OF THE 119TH CONGRESS THAT JUST STARTED THIS YEAR. AS YOU KNOW, OUR US HOUSE SPEAKER WAS ELECTED. MIKE JOHNSON WAS ELECTED TO THE US HOUSE SPEAKER. THE HOUSE ADOPTED THE RULES IN EARLY JANUARY. AND AS YOU CAN IMAGINE, HAVING THE MAJORITY, THE REPUBLICANS WROTE THESE RULES SOLELY TO DICTATE HOW THE HOUSE WILL BE RUN OVER THE NEXT TWO YEARS, FAVORING A LOT OF THEIR PRIORITIES. THEY'RE PRIORITIZING 12 PARTIZAN BILLS, MOST OF WHICH ARE ALREADY LAW. SO AROUND IMMIGRATION, AROUND LGBTQ RIGHTS AND TRANS RIGHTS. AND THEN THE TWO MEMBERS OF OUR EL PASO DELEGATION, CONGRESSWOMAN ESCOBAR AND CONGRESSMAN GONZALEZ, THEY WERE BOTH APPOINTED TO THE HOUSE APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE. AND CONGRESSWOMAN ESCOBAR REINTRODUCED LEGISLATION TO RENAME THE POST OFFICE AFTER SEGUNDO BARRIO, AFTER SEGUNDO BARRIO HERO. SHE ALSO REINTRODUCED LEGISLATION TO PROTECT HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS. THAT'S LIKE THE MOST RELEVANT THINGS THAT OR SOME OF THE THINGS THAT SHE HAS DONE SINCE THE CONGRESS STARTED A MONTH AND A HALF AGO. CONGRESSMAN GONZALEZ INTRODUCED HIS FIRST BILL, THIS CONGRESS. THE SECURITY FIRST ACT. AND THAT WAS MID JANUARY. AND IT DESIGNATES CARTELS AS FOREIGN TERRORIST ORGANIZATIONS, ESSENTIALLY. AND I SHOULD HAVE PUT A BULLET HERE THAT HE'S ALSO IN THE APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE.

THE ON THE US SENATE SOME UPDATES. THE SENATE PRESIDENT, AS YOU KNOW, IS THE VICE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES, JD VANCE. THE PRESIDENT PRO TEM FOR THE SENATE IS CHUCK GRASSLEY, A REPUBLICAN FROM IOWA. THEN THE SENATE MAJORITY LEADER IS JOHN THUNE. ALSO, REPUBLICAN US SENATE DEMOCRATIC LEADER IS STILL SENATOR CHUCK SCHUMER FROM NEW YORK. AND THE SENATE PREPARED THE TEXT FOR THE TWO BUDGET BILLS. THE FIRST ONE WOULD DEAL WITH BORDER SECURITY, DEFENSE SPENDING AND ENERGY RESOURCES. AND THEN THE TAX BILL TO FOLLOW. THE EXCUSE ME, IT STILL PLANS TO PASS BOTH BILLS USING THE RECONCILIATION PROCESS, WHICH REQUIRES ONLY A SIMPLE MAJORITY. THIS PROCESS REQUIRES AN IDENTICAL BUDGET RESOLUTION FROM THE HOUSE, WHERE SPEAKER JOHNSON HAS WORKED WITH THE HOUSE REPUBLICANS FOR A PLAN ON ON THIS. AND SINCE THEY HAVE BOTH CHAMBERS RIGHT NOW, I THINK WE COULD EXPECT. BUT I'M NOT SURE THAT THIS WILL PASS. ON THE BUDGET, SOME OF THE PUBLIC COMMENTS FROM OUR TEXAS REPS HAVE HAVE BEEN AROUND IMPLEMENTING THE PRESIDENT'S VISION, AS YOU KNOW, AND THEN REPRESENTATIVE CHIP ROY AND THE FREEDOM CAUCUS ADVOCATE FOR SPENDING CUTS. SPEAKER JOHNSON ANNOUNCED PLANS TO RELEASE THE HOUSE BUDGET RESOLUTION IN THE NEXT TWO WEEKS. I THINK ACTUALLY NOW, SORRY, THIS PRESENTATION WAS POSTPONED. SO NOW IT WOULD BE THIS WEEK. THE PRESIDENT RELEASED THEIR BUDGET IN THE MONTH OF FEBRUARY, WHICH WILL GUIDE OUR PREPARATIONS DEVELOPING FOR THE FISCAL YEAR 26 AND IN FISCAL YEAR 25. BILLS STILL NEED TO BE PASSED BY MARCH 14TH TO AVOID A PARTIAL GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN. AND SOME OF THE CONGRESSIONAL PRIORITIES THAT WE ARE RECOMMENDING FOR THE FOR THIS COURT TO SUPPORT. I'M GOING TO TALK ABOUT THESE TWO FROM THE DOMESTIC RELATIONS OFFICE. I'M NOT SURE IF MR. STANLEY IS ON THE LINE, BUT HE HAS BEEN TRACKING THESE TWO ISSUES AND HE SUBMITTED THEM FOR OUR FOR Y'ALL'S CONSIDERATION TO SEE IF WE CAN THROW OUR SUPPORT

[04:25:04]

BEHIND THEM. SO THE FIRST ONE IS A HACK CONVENTION REQUIREMENTS. THE ADMINISTRATION FOR CHILDREN AND FAMILIES. SO CURRENT LAW DOES NOT INCLUDE MEXICO, WHICH LEAVES US UNABLE TO ENFORCE CHILD SUPPORT AGREEMENTS WHEN A PARENT RESIDES AND WORKS THERE. AND THEN THE SECOND ONE IS AGREEMENT WITH OTHER STATES TO RECOGNIZE SOCIAL WORKER LICENSES. THERE'S SOME SERIOUS HURDLES WHEN DOING CUSTODY RELATED EVALUATIONS, ESPECIALLY WHEN A PARENT LIVES IN ANOTHER STATE. THE COURTS IN EL PASO REQUIRE COMPREHENSIVE HOME EVALUATIONS FOR PLACEMENT DECISIONS. THEY NEED ASSESSMENTS OF BOTH THE TEXAS HOME AND THE HOME IN THE OTHER STATE. SO THIS WOULD ADDRESS THAT ISSUE. SO THESE ARE THE TWO PRIORITIES. IS BRIAN ON THE LINE I DON'T WANT TO LEAVE HIM OUT IF HE WANTS TO SPEAK ON. HI MR. STANLEY. GOOD AFTERNOON. BRIAN STANLEY WITH THE DOMESTIC RELATIONS OFFICE. THANK YOU ALISA. THAT'S CORRECT. THERE'S TWO ITEMS THAT WE'RE VERY MUCH INTERESTED IN. ONE IS CURRENTLY THE HAGUE CONVENTION DOES NOT INCLUDE MEXICO AS PART OF REQUIREMENTS FOR INTERNATIONAL CHILD SUPPORT ENFORCEMENT. SO IF AN INDIVIDUAL GOES TO MEXICO, WE CAN'T HAVE ENFORCEMENT. OR IF THE PERSON HAS AN ORDER FROM MEXICO, THEY CAN'T ASK US TO ENFORCE IT OVER HERE. SO THAT CREATES A PROBLEM FOR US OVER HERE IN TEXAS AND ON A BORDER COMMUNITY. WHEN I SPOKE WITH THE FEDERAL CHILD SUPPORT IN 2023 AND ASKED THEM IF THIS WAS SOMETHING THEY WERE CONSIDERING. THEY SAID IT WASN'T ON THEIR RADAR. SO IT'S SOMETHING THAT WHEN ASKED IF THERE WAS ISSUES THAT WE THOUGHT WERE IMPORTANT TO BRING UP, THIS HAS BEEN A LONG STANDING CONCERN WITH CHILD SUPPORT IN TEXAS AND ON ALONG THE BORDER. THE OTHER ONE IS THE SOCIAL WORKER LICENSE. AS LISA SAID, WE HAVE THIS CAME UP DURING COVID WITH INDIVIDUALS PRACTICING ACROSS STATE LINES. OUR COURTS REALLY WANT FOR CONTESTED EVALUATIONS FOR THE SAME PERSON TO DO THE EVALUATION HERE IN TEXAS AND IN THE OTHER STATE. HOWEVER, GOING TO THE OTHER STATE WOULD CREATE A PROBLEM WITH THEIR LICENSE. THE SOCIAL WORK BOARD HAS TALKED ABOUT HAVING A NATIONAL LICENSE. HOWEVER, THAT HAS NOT OCCURRED, AND WE'RE SEEING IF WE CAN GET ANY TRACTION ON GETTING SOMETHING LIKE THAT PASSED WHERE A SOCIAL WORKER COULD GO TO ANOTHER STATE FOR A LIMITED SCOPE TO DO THAT EVALUATION. DO WE HAVE ANY QUESTIONS ON THAT FOR MR. STANLEY, ON THOSE TWO PRIORITIES? BUT I DO HAVE NOT ON THOSE THINGS. BUT I DO HAVE SOMETHING I WANTED TO ADD TO THE FEDERAL. THANK YOU. BRIAN. THANK YOU. APPRECIATE IT. WE'LL MOVE ON TO THE OTHER SLIDE, WHICH IS THE REST OF THE PRIORITIES. AND THEN YOU CAN TAKE ACTION ON ALL OF THEM OR INDIVIDUALLY. HOWEVER THE COURT PLEASES. BUT THESE ARE SOME FEDERAL PRIORITIES THROUGH NACO THAT THAT WE'RE TRYING. SOME OF THEM ARE CARRYOVERS FROM THE 118TH CONGRESS, AND SOME OF THEM HAVE ALREADY BEEN REFILED IN THIS 119TH CONGRESS. BUT THE FIRST ONE, I WOULD SAY WE SHOULD ADOPT A VALUE STATEMENT AROUND REFORMING FEMA AND INVOLVING REPRESENTATION FROM NACO IN THIS PROCESS TO REPRESENT THE INTEREST OF COUNTIES. THE SECOND ONE IS SUPPORT THE FEMA LOW INTEREST PAYMENT RELIEF ACT, WHICH WAS IN THIS CONGRESS. IT HAS BEEN REFILED AS H.R. 153. IT IS ALSO CALLED THE POST-DISASTER ASSISTANCE ONLINE ACCOUNTABILITY ACT, AND IT WOULD IT PROPOSES THE CREATION OF AN ONLINE REPOSITORY TO STREAMLINE AND CENTRALIZE REPORTING REQUIREMENTS FOR RECIPIENTS OF FEDERAL DISASTER ASSISTANCE. AND THE OBJECTIVE IS TO ENHANCE TRANSPARENCY, IMPROVE EFFICIENCY, AND REDUCE ADMINISTRATIVE BURDENS FOR ENTITIES MANAGING DISASTER RECOVERY EFFORTS. THE NUMBER THREE, A RESOLUTION SUPPORTING THE WATER RESOURCES RESOURCES DEVELOPMENT. IT'S ALSO CALLED THE EVERY DROP COUNTS ACT. NOW FILED IN THIS CONGRESS AS THE AS H.R. 33 EIGHT TO AMEND THE INFRASTRUCTURE INVESTMENT AND JOBS ACT TO INCREASE SURFACE, GROUND, SORRY, SURFACE WATER AND GROUNDWATER STORAGE AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES. IT WAS FILED BY REP JIM COSTA, A DEMOCRAT FROM CALIFORNIA, AND IT HAS BIPARTISAN SUPPORT. THEN WE HAVE NUMBER FOUR SUPPORT THE FIX OUR FORESTS ACT. ALSO FILED IN THIS 119TH CONGRESS AS H.R. 471 BY REP. BRUCE WESTERMAN. AND HE'S A REPUBLICAN FROM ARKANSAS. AND THE BILL WOULD IMPROVE FEDERAL AND TRIBAL FOREST MANAGEMENT TO REDUCE WILDFIRE RISKS AND ENHANCE RESILIENCE. IT DESIGNATES HIGH RISK FIRE MANAGEMENT AREAS, ESTABLISHES AN INTERAGENCY FIRE CENTER FOR FIRE BEHAVIOR ASSESSMENT, STREAMLINES NEPA, NEPA, ENVIRONMENTAL

[04:30:01]

REVIEWS FOR FOREST PROJECTS, AND CREATES INTERAGENCY STRIKE TEAMS TO EXPEDITE REGULATORY PROCESSES. THEN WE HAVE RESOLUTION TO SUPPORT SORRY SUPPORT THE RESOLUTION ON REDUCING GRANT REQUIREMENTS. ALSO FOR COUNTIES. IT WOULD BE H.R. SORRY, H.R. 314. ALSO FILED IN THIS 119TH CONGRESS. IT WOULD REQUIRE EXECUTIVE AGENCIES TO REDUCE COST SHARING REQUIREMENTS FOR CERTAIN GRANTS WITH CERTAIN NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS BY 25% AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES. IT'S ALSO A BIPARTISAN RESOLUTION. NUMBER SIX, AND THIS WAS AN INTERIM RESOLUTION ON EQUITY IN PRETRIAL HEALTH COVERAGE. SO THIS IS CARRY OVER FROM THE 118TH CONGRESS. I DON'T THINK IT'S BEEN FILED IN THIS ONE YET. BUT IT WOULD ALLOW OTHERWISE ELIGIBLE INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE IN CUSTODY PENDING DISPOSITION OF CHARGES, PRETRIAL DETAINEES TO RECEIVE HEALTH CARE BENEFITS THROUGH MEDICARE, MEDICAID, THE CHILDREN'S HEALTH INSURANCE PROGRAM, AND THE DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS. THEN WE HAVE THE INTERIM RESOLUTION, TRANSPARENCY AND UNFUNDED MANDATES. THIS IS FROM THE 118TH CONGRESS. IT WILL CARRY OVER TO THIS ONE. AND AS SOON AS IT GETS FILED, I'LL LET YOU KNOW. BUT IT IS A RESOLUTION. SO COUNTIES CAN CITE THE ISSUES THAT COUNTIES ARE INCREASINGLY BURDENED BY UNFUNDED MANDATES, AS YOU ALL KNOW, THAT STRAIN LOCAL RESOURCES AND LIMIT OUR ABILITY TO DELIVER ESSENTIAL SERVICES. SO THIS BILL PROPOSES AMENDMENTS TO THE UNFUNDED MANDATES REFORM ACT OF 1995, REQUIRING THE OMB, THE OFFICE OF MANAGEMENT AND BUDGET TO ESTABLISH ANNUAL LIMITS ON THE TOTAL AMOUNT OF ADDITIONAL UNFUNDED REGULATORY COSTS THAT FEDERAL AGENCIES MAY IMPOSE. THE OBJECTIVE IS TO ENHANCE OVERSIGHT AND CONTROL OVER THE ECONOMIC IMPACT OF FEDERAL REGULATIONS. ENSURING THAT NEW REGULATORY COSTS ARE CAREFULLY MANAGED AND DO NOT UNDULY BURDEN BURDEN. SORRY STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS.

THEN A RESOLUTION THAT WASN'T FILED LAST SORRY WAS FILED IN THE 118TH CONGRESS, BUT IT HASN'T BEEN FILED IN THIS ONE. BUT IT WOULD INCENTIVIZE LANDLORDS FOR AFFORDABLE, AFFORDABLE HOUSING. IT WOULD SHORTAGE, SORRY. IT WOULD ADDRESS THE SHORTAGE OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING UNITS, PARTICULARLY FOR VETERANS. AND THEN NUMBER NINE, SUPPORTING THE SURFACE TRANSPORTATION REAUTHORIZATION ACT, FUNDING FOR TRANSPORTATION PROJECTS. DO WE HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? NO. CAN I SHOULD WE GET A MOTION TO APPROVE THESE ITEMS PLUS THE DRO ITEMS? YEAH, I CAN I'LL I'LL MAKE THAT MOTION. I WANTED TO COMMENT ON SOMETHING ELSE THAT'S COMING UP AS WELL. THIS WEEK YOU WANT TO GO AHEAD AND DO THAT BEFORE THE MOTION. OR WE CAN VOTE ON THIS IF YOU WANT. AND THEN AND THEN WE CAN TALK ABOUT THE NEXT. SO CAN WE GET A MOTION. THEY'RE WORKING. YOU'LL SEE DIGITALLY IN JUST A SECOND. CAN I JUST I JUST MAKE A COMMENT, JUDGE. I KNOW AT LEAST COMMISSIONER STOUT AND I WILL BE AT NACO THIS NEXT WEEKEND TO HEAR FROM AND TALK TO OTHER COUNTIES ABOUT SOME OF THE CHALLENGES THEY'RE FACING. YOU KNOW, I, I THINK NACO IS A GREAT ORGANIZATION TO FOLLOW. OBVIOUSLY THEY HAVE THE PLATFORM TO BE ABLE TO RAISE THESE CONCERNS, BUT THERE'S A LOT THAT ARE SPECIFIC TO EL PASO COUNTY.

AND IT FEELS LIKE EVERYTHING AT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT LEVEL IS VERY UNSTABLE AND TENUOUS. SO EVEN THESE I FEEL LIKE, WHAT'S THE LIKELIHOOD THAT ANY OF THIS. WILL BE APPLICABLE DURING THIS NEXT CONGRESSIONAL SESSION? I GUESS WE'LL HAVE TO WAIT AND SE. AND HOPEFULLY WE'LL HAVE MORE INFORMATION FROM NACO ON WHAT THEIR OUTLOOK IS. BUT AS WE PROGRESS AND WORK WITH OUR CONGRESSIONAL REPRESENTATIVES, I'D LIKE TO SEE MORE SPECIFIC ISSUES RELATED TO THE BORDER AND HISPANIC COMMUNITIES INCLUDED IN OUR LEGISLATIVE PRIORITIES. COMMISSIONER, THAT'S A REALLY GOOD POINT. AND WE DO HAVE THIS IS SOME OF THE PROPOSED FEDERAL PRIORITIES, THESE NINE. BUT WE ACTUALLY ALREADY LAST WEEK ADDED SOME OTHER ONES. SO WE'LL BE BRINGING BACK SOME MORE THAT ARE VERY BORDER SPECIFIC. EVEN TALKING ABOUT LIKE THE ADVOCATING FOR THE ASYLUM PROCESS, YOU KNOW, THAT SHOULD BE, I THINK, SOMETHING THE COURT CONSIDERS ADDING AS ITS FEDERAL PRIORITIES. THERE ARE SEVERAL OTHER PRIORITIES THAT WE TALKED ABOUT. EVEN SOME OF THE PAROLE

[04:35:06]

PROGRAMS FOR WHAT THEY CALL PAROLE PROGRAMS FOR IMMIGRANTS FROM CERTAIN COUNTRIES. THERE'S THINGS THAT WE HAVE DISCUSSED LAST THURSDAY, I THINK IT WAS WITH CONGRESSWOMAN ESCOBAR STAFF. AND WE I EXPECT THAT WE'LL BE BRINGING MORE OF THOSE BACK. AND EVEN SOME OF THESE MAY HAVE WORDING CHANGES ONCE WE GET THROUGH NACO. SO THESE HAVEN'T BEEN VOTED ON BY NACO YET. BUT THEY'RE THEY'VE BEEN DISCUSSED IN COMMITTEES. THEY MAY GET CHANGED OR TWEAKED SLIGHTLY, BUT WE WOULD BRING THOSE CHANGES BACK TO THE COURT. BUT RIGHT NOW THESE ARE SOME OF THEIR THE PRIORITIES. BUT I AGREE THERE ARE SOME THAT ARE MUCH MORE SPECIFIC. AND THE JUDGE HAS AN ITEM TO DISCUSS AS WELL. REGARDING THE HOUSE RESOLUTION THAT ALISA WAS TALKING ABOUT ON THE BUDGET. CONGRESSWOMAN ESCOBAR HAS ALSO REACHED OUT ABOUT SOME CONCERNS WITH THAT AND WOULD LIKE US TO APPROVE SENDING SOME LETTERS BOTH TO HER AND TO CONGRESSMAN GONZALEZ, URGING THEM TO VOTE NO ON THAT RESOLUTION. AND SO WE HAVE SOME INFORMATION TO DISTRIBUTE ON THAT. BUT WE COULDN'T AGREE MORE THAT THERE ARE SOME THAT ARE VERY THAT WILL BE MORE SPECIFIC TO OUR REGION. THAT SHOULD BE AND TRANSPORTATION AND CERTAIN THINGS THAT WOULD BE VALUABLE FOR US TO EVALUATE. AND ON THAT. I'VE BEEN WORKING WITH THE ASSOCIATION OF HISPANIC COUNTY OFFICIALS, AND WE'VE GOT 4 OR 5 RESOLUTIONS THAT THAT HAVE TO DO WITH IMMIGRATION AND, AND BORDER ISSUES THAT WE'RE GOING TO BE SUBMITTING IN IN COMMITTEES AT NACO FOR HOPEFULLY FOR PASSAGE.

BUT WHETHER OR NOT NACO AS A WHOLE SUPPORTS THOSE ITEMS, WE DEFINITELY NEED TO, I THINK AS, AS A COMMISSIONERS COURT, ADD THOSE TO OUR TO OUR AGENDA. AND I THINK THERE'S FIVE RESOLUTIONS THAT WE DECIDED TO PRESENT AT DIFFERENT IN DIFFERENT MEETINGS THAT CAME THROUGH THE IMMIGRATION REFORM TASK FORCE, BUT BUT CAME FROM THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF HISPANIC COUNTY OFFICIALS THAT I'VE BEEN WORKING WITH. SO. SO I WAS GOING TO I WAS GOING TO MENTION THE SAME, PROBABLY SOME OF THE SAME, THE SAME POINTS THAT THAT THAT YOU JUST BROUGHT UP, BETSY ABOUT THE ABOUT THE HOUSE, ABOUT THE HOUSE RESOLUTION AND THE BUDGETING. I THINK THAT WE DO NEED TO SEND THAT LETTER. I MEAN, LETTERS TO OUR, OUR. OUR DELEGATION. YOU KNOW, BECAUSE THE, THE, THE WAY THINGS ARE LOOKING IS THAT THEY'RE GOING TO BE CUTTING, YOU KNOW, BILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN MEDICAID. AMERICAN, THE ACA PREMIUM ASSISTANCE. THEY'RE GOING TO TRY TO REPEAL THE IRA, THE INFLATION REDUCTION ACT, STUDENT LOAN PROGRAMS, INCOME DRIVEN REPAYMENT, PELL GRANTS, HEAD START, SCHOOL LUNCH, SNAP BENEFITS FOR GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES, THE CONSUMER FINANCE PROTECTION BUREAU, AND JUST A LOT OF TAX CUTS FOR THE RICH AND CUTTING INTO TAN FIN OTHER, OTHER TYPES OF PAYMENTS FOR FOLKS THAT WOULD THAT WOULD BENEFIT HERE LOCALLY. AND SO I 100% AM IN FAVOR OF CRAFTING A LETTER TO SEND TO BOTH CONGRESSWOMAN ESCOBAR AND CONGRESSMAN GONZALEZ. I DID HAVE A CONVERSATION WITH HIS STAFF THIS WEEKEND. AND HE DID TELL ME THAT THAT CONGRESSMAN GONZALEZ DOES HAVE SOME CONCERNS, ESPECIALLY WITH THE MEDICAID PROVISION AND ALSO PELL GRANTS AND SOME OTHER THINGS. SO, YOU KNOW, THERE'S A VERY SMALL MARGIN TO HAVE SOMETHING PASSED IN CONGRESS BECAUSE THE DIVISION BETWEEN DEMOCRATS AND REPUBLICANS. AND SO IF WE CAN, YOU KNOW, URGE OUR, OUR REPUBLICAN MEMBER THAT THAT REPRESENTS PART OF EL PASO COUNTY TO SUPPORT US AND, AND, YOU KNOW, HELP US FIGHT AGAINST, YOU KNOW, SOME OF THESE CUTS, YOU KNOW, THAT WOULD THAT WOULD, I THINK, BE VERY BENEFICIAL AND HELP TO STOP SOME OF THIS. JUDGE, MAY I GO OVER THE HANDOUT OR DO YOU WANT TO GO OVER SOME OF THESE CUTS. YEAH, I JUST I GUESS A LITTLE BIT OF BACKGROUND, YOU KNOW, CONGRESSWOMAN ESCOBAR HAS SAID THAT, THAT WE'VE BEEN SORT OF LENIENT WITH OUR REPRESENTATIVE GONZALEZ HERE, THAT, YOU KNOW, SOME OF THE THEY'RE HAVING THESE TOWN HALL MEETINGS AND THEY'RE BEING, I MEAN, VERY AGGRESSIVE ABOUT, YOU KNOW, WHY THEY'RE SUPPORTING. THEY'RE NOT STANDING UP. AND SO SHE ENCOURAGED THAT WE PARTICIPATE WITH CONGRESSMAN GONZALEZ AND TRY TO SEE IF WE COULD GET MEETINGS WITH THEM AND TRY TO CHALLENGE, BECAUSE IT'S A VERY EASY. RIGHT. I MEAN, HE'S

[04:40:04]

GOT A SMALL PART OF OUR, YOU KNOW, OF WHAT HE REPRESENTS. BUT I THINK WE SHOULD BE, YOU KNOW, EQUALLY OUR VOICE AND OBVIOUSLY SHOWING SUPPORT FOR THE BILL THAT BETSY IS GOING TO TALK ABOUT. BUT IT'S BEEN IT'S VERY OBVIOUS THAT, YOU KNOW, WE'RE NOT YOU KNOW, THEIR THEIR ACTIONS ARE MUCH STRONGER THAN OUR VOICES. AND SO SHE'S ENCOURAGING THAT WE BECOME MORE ACTIVE, HAVE, YOU KNOW, TOWN HALL MEETINGS AND MAKE SURE THAT WE SUPPORT, YOU KNOW, THAT WE SHOW THAT WE'RE VERY INTERESTED AND WE HAVE TO DO THINGS BEFORE THEY HAPPEN, BECAUSE ONCE THEY START GOING IN THAT DIRECTION, THEY'RE REALLY DIFFICULT TO TURN AROUND. BUT AND I THINK SHE'S RIGHT THAT GONZALEZ HASN'T SENT SENSED THE URGENCY OF OUR COMMUNITY. AND THAT THERE'S TIMES WHEN IT LOOKS LIKE HE'S GOING IN ONE DIRECTION AND THEN DOESN'T END UP VOTING IN OUR SUPPORT, SO THAT WHEN THAT HAPPENS THAT WE ARE ABLE TO CHALLENGE, YOU KNOW, THOSE ACTIONS. SO AND THIS IS THIS IS TIME IS OF THE ESSENCE OF THIS BECAUSE I THINK THEY'RE VOTING ON THURSDAY OR TOMORROW I THINK TOMORROW. SO YEAH WE NEED TO MAKE SURE WE GET THAT DONE SENT TO THEM BY TODAY OR LATEST TODAY OR TOMORROW. AND WE COULD SEND SOMETHING. YOU CAN EACH SEND SOMETHING INDIVIDUALLY OR WE CAN ALSO SEND SOMETHING ON BEHALF OF THE COURT. IF YOU ALL TAKE ACTION TODAY TO DIRECT US TO, TO DO SO. BUT BASICALLY THE FY 25 BUDGET RESOLUTION, THE CONTINUING RESOLUTION RIGHT NOW WOULD INCLUDE $880 BILLION IN CUTS TO ENERGY AND COMMERCE. AND WHAT A LOT OF PEOPLE DON'T RECOGNIZE IS THAT INCLUDES MEDICARE, MEDICAID, THE ACA PREMIUM ASSISTANCE, THE IRA REPEAL, EDUCATION AND WORKFORCE IS 8 OR $330 BILLION IN CUTS, WHICH INCLUDES STUDENT LOAN PROGRAMS, INCOME DRIVEN REPAYMENT PROGRAMS, PELL GRANTS, HEAD START SCHOOL LUNCHES. SO THERE'S SIGNIFICANT SNAP IS ON THE TABLE WITH AT LEAST $230 BILLION IN CUTS UNDER THE AGRICULTURAL COMMITTEE. THE OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE IS LOOKING AT GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEE RETIREMENT BENEFITS AND CHANGES TO THE FEDERAL WORKFORCE.

TRANSPORTATION AND INFRASTRUCTURE. FINANCIAL SERVICES. NATURAL RESOURCES. AND THE WAYS AND MEANS. AND SO THESE ARE SOME OF THE AREAS THAT ARE OF CONCERN. AND ALSO WHY THEY'RE ENCOURAGING US TO SUBMIT LETTERS TO OUR REPRESENTATIVES, ASKING THEM TO VOTE AGAINST THESE PROPOSED CONTINUING RESOLUTIONS. AND THEY WOULDN'T JUST AFFECT THE COUNTY, BUT OUR HOSPITAL DISTRICT AS WELL, BECAUSE UNDER WAYS AND MEANS, IT TALKS ABOUT MEDICARE PAYMENTS TO PROVIDERS AND CUTS TO PREMIUM PREMIUM ASSISTANCE. I MEAN, THAT'S I THINK WOULD WOULD, WOULD BE DETRIMENTAL TO OUR COUNTY HOSPITAL DISTRICT. SO I THINK, JUDGE, WE SHOULD UNLESS THE COURT WANTS TO DO INDIVIDUAL LETTERS, I THINK WE SHOULD. I THINK IT WOULD BE MORE IMPACTFUL IF WE HAVE A UNANIMOUS VOTE TO SEND ONE LETTER ON BEHALF OF THE ON BEHALF OF THE WHOLE COURT.

YEAH. AGREED. YEAH. OKAY. WE HAD A MOTION FROM COMMISSIONER STOUT TO APPROVE THE VALUE STATEMENTS.

SECOND, BY COMMISSIONER CORONADO. THE VOTING IS OPEN. OH. MOTION CARRIES. THANK YOU FOR ALL YOU DO. AND THEN THERE WILL BE A DIFFERENT FOR THE LETTER. VOTE FOR THE LETTER.

OKAY. AND ALSO I GOING TO TRY TO HAVE MY STAFF SET UP A MEETING WITH REP GONZALEZ. I KNOW THAT WE WON'T BE ABLE TO PROBABLY DO IT WITHIN BETWEEN NOW AND TOMORROW, BUT SINCE WE'LL BE IN DC FOR NACO NEXT WEEK, I ALREADY TALKED TO HIS STAFF TO LET HIM KNOW THAT WE'D BE INTERESTED IN MEETING WITH WITH THE REP IN PERSON, IF THAT'S POSSIBLE, IF HE'LL GIVE US AN AUDIENCE. AND SO I'M HAVING MY STAFF TRY TO SET THAT UP AS WELL. WE'VE REQUESTED A MEETING. MY STAFF HAS ASKED FOR REQUEST A MEETING WITH HIM AS WELL. ARE YOU GOING TO NACO? NO I'M NOT, BUT YOU CAN TAKE THE LEAD ON THAT. I'LL BE GOING TO DC IN MARCH AND I'M REQUESTING A MEETING AS WELL. SO HOPEFULLY HE'S HEARING FROM ENOUGH OF US. YEAH, WE'LL TAKE IT SERIOUSLY. YUP. THANK YOU.

WHO WAS THAT LETTER? THE LETTER? NO, WE HAVEN'T TAKEN. WHAT WAS THE MOTION FOR? CAN WE GET A

[04:45:08]

MOTION TO SUBMIT A LETTER TO CONGRESSMAN GONZALEZ? PREFERABLY EITHER LATE TODAY OR FIRST THING EARLY TOMORROW. THE EXPRESSING THE COURT'S OPPOSITION TO THE CONTINUING RESOLUTION. WHICH I BELIEVE IS H.R. 14 OR. YEAH, HOUSE CONTINUING RESOLUTION 14, ESTABLISHING THE CONGRESSIONAL BUDGET FOR THE UNITED STATES. AND RATHER THAN SAYING SPECIFIC, I THINK IT WOULD BE BEST TO SAY, WITHOUT KNOWING THE IMPACTS AND THE TYPES OF PROGRAMS THAT IT WOULD BE CUTTING THAT WOULD BE DETRIMENTAL TO OUR COMMUNITY, BECAUSE I DON'T THINK THEY'VE IDENTIFIED SPECIFICALLY HOW THEY WOULD DOLE OUT THOSE CUTS. BUT IN GENERAL, SAYING WE OPPOSE HOUSE, PLEASE VOTE NO FOR HOUSE CONTINUING RESOLUTION 14, BECAUSE IT INCLUDES SO MANY VITAL PROGRAMS FOR OUR COMMUNITY, AND WE CAN GO INTO MORE DETAIL. BUT THAT WILL BE THE GENERAL, I THINK, IF WE THERE'S ANY EXAMPLES THAT I MEAN, IT DOESN'T HAVE TO BE COMPREHENSIVE, BUT EXAMPLES OF THINGS THAT WILL BE I THINK THAT WILL MAKE A STRONGER CASE TO OUR CONGRESSMAN ABOUT SPECIFIC IMPACT, IF THAT'S POSSIBLE TO DO TODAY. YES, MA'AM. WE HAVE A MOTION BY JUDGE SAMANIEGO, SECOND BY COMMISSIONER STOUT. THE VOTING IS OPEN MOTION TO SEND THIS LETTER TO BOTH CONGRESSMAN GONZALEZ AND CONGRESSWOMAN ESCOBAR. ITEM TEN BE POSTPONED. FEBRUARY 10TH, 2025. DISCUSS AND TAKE APPROPRIATE ACTION REGARDING THE ALLOCATION, REPROGRAMING AND

[10. B - Pt. 2]

STRUCTURING OF EXISTING COUNTY DEBT PROCEEDS AND POTENTIAL FUTURE DEBT ISSUANCES, INCLUDING AUTHORIZING THE CREATION OF NEW PROJECTS, THE REMOVAL OR MODIFICATION OF PREVIOUSLY APPROVED PROJECTS, THE TRANSFER OF FUNDS BETWEEN ELIGIBLE ISSUANCES, PUBLIC AWARENESS AND OUTREACH OF THESE ISSUANCES, AND THE REALLOCATION OF FUNDS WITHIN EXISTING PROJECTS. GOOD AFTERNOON, COMMISSIONERS JOSE, WITH STRATEGIC CAPITAL DEVELOPMENT. THE PURPOSE OF TODAY'S ITEM IS TWOFOLD. IT'S TO CONTINUE THE COURT'S CONVERSATIONS ABOUT YOUR CAPITAL PLANNING EFFORTS AS IT RELATES TO A NUMBER OF ISSUES THAT WE'VE PRESENTED OVER THE LAST SEVERAL WEEKS. DURING TODAY'S AGENDA ITEM, WE'RE LOOKING FOR THE COURT TO TAKE ACTION TO REPROGRAM SOME EXISTING DEBT PROCEEDS. YOU CAN SEE THAT ON YOUR SCREEN HERE THAT WOULD FUND THE IMPROVEMENTS AT THE FAR EAST. MONTANA, CORBIN, ZAMBRANO. AND THERE'S A TYPO THERE. IT SHOULD BE THE ANNEX. AND SO THESE ARE THE PROJECTS THAT WE'VE IDENTIFIED THAT HAVE EXTERNAL FUNDING. THE FAR EAST MONTANA IN THE ANNEX PROJECTS HAVE EXTERNAL FUNDING TIED TO THEM. AND THERE'S AN ISSUE OF TIMING, ESPECIALLY AS IT RELATES TO HOW MUCH THE FUNDING THAT WE HAVE WOULD BUY US. AND SO THERE'S A NEED TO CONTINUE THAT CONVERSATION. THE COURT HAD THIS CONVERSATION BACK IN JANUARY. THERE'S NO FORMAL ACTION TAKEN AT THAT TIME TO DO SO. THIS WOULD MEAN SHIFTING FUNDING FOR ASCENSION ROAD AND FIRST AVENUE STORMWATER PROJECT TO A SPRING 2025 DEBT ISSUANCE. THE COURT AGAIN, THIS IS A CONTINUATION OF YOUR PREVIOUS CONVERSATION. AND SO THIS WOULD BE FUNDED BY DOING SO AND ALSO BY IDENTIFYING FUNDING THROUGH PROJECTS THAT ARE BEING ADMINISTRATIVELY CLOSED OUT. BECAUSE THE PROJECTS ARE COMPLETE AT THIS TIME. AND THEN THE SECOND ITEM THAT WE WOULD LIKE, DIRECTION OR FORMAL ACTION FROM THE COURT ON TODAY WOULD BE TO DISCUSS WHAT THE SPRING 2025 DEBT ISSUANCE LOOKS LIKE. WE WERE INITIALLY PROPOSING BACK WHEN WE WERE ENGAGED IN OUR BOND PLAN BOND PLANNING PROCESS. AND THE BOE RECOMMENDED A $75 MILLION CERTIFICATE OF OBLIGATION IN 2025. THAT WOULD BE FOLLOWED UP WITH A $100 MILLION COE IN 2028. WE HAD A PROJECT LIST. THAT PROJECT LIST HAS BEEN AFFECTED BY THE RESULTS OF THE ELECTION. AND SO ALL ELIGIBLE, ALL PROJECTS ARE ELIGIBLE IN 2028.

BUT NOT ALL, BUT NOT NOT ALL PROJECTS ARE ELIGIBLE IN 2025. AND AS A RESULT OF THAT, WE ARE ASKING FOR THE COURT TO GIVE US DIRECTION ON WHAT THAT DEBT INSTRUMENT ISSUANCE SHOULD LOOK LIKE. YOU'VE HEARD DIFFERENT SCENARIOS FROM STIFEL THAT INCLUDE DOING A MAXIMUM CO, DOING A COMBINATION CO AND TAX NOTES, ACCOUNTING FOR SOME OF THE PROJECTS THAT ARE PENDING WITH WATER DEVELOPMENT BOARD. SOME OTHER GRANT APPLICATIONS THAT HAVE BEEN SUBMITTED THAT MIGHT REQUIRE GRANT FUNDS MATCHING FUNDS FROM THE TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION, STATE INFRASTRUCTURE BANK. AND SO ALL OF THOSE SCENARIOS ARE ARE IN THE NEXT COUPLE OF

[04:50:02]

SLIDES. AND THEN THE LAST DISCUSSION THAT WE WANT THE COURT TO HAVE IS WHAT OUR PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT AND OUTREACH LOOKS LIKE. THE COURT HAS BEEN VERY DELIBERATE. BEGINNING IN 2022 WITH YOUR ENGAGEMENT ON DEBT ISSUANCE, IRRESPECTIVE OF WHAT TYPE OF ISSUANCE THAT WAS. AND SO WE WANT TO PRESENT AND HEAR FROM THE COURT ON WHAT THAT CAN LOOK LIKE MOVING FORWARD. THERE WAS A BIT OF A DISCREPANCY IN BETWEEN THE BACKUP. AND SO THIS IS WHAT WAS ORIGINALLY POSTED ON THE AGENDA. THE AND THIS IS DESCRIBED IN AN EXCEL FILE THAT IS ALSO ATTACHED TO THE AGENDA ITEM. BUT THIS SHOWS WHERE THE PROJECTS ARE BEING DEPROGRAMMED WHAT IS BEING CLOSED OUT AND THEN WHAT IS BEING PROGRAMED. YOU CAN SEE THERE IT'S JUST SHY OF APPROXIMATELY $17 MILLION, $6 MILLION FOR THE ANNEX SAYS EACH. AND THEN THERE'S A BALANCE OF ABOUT 2.6 2.7 MILLION THAT'S SET ASIDE FOR CORBIN SAMBRANO THAT, AGAIN, WOULD BE NOT TO CONSTRUCT THE ENTIRE SITE, BUT TO MAKE SOME IMPROVEMENTS TO THE AREA. SO IT'S A USABLE GREEN SPACE AT THE SITE. SO THE SITE DOES NOT LIE FALLOW. AFTER THE DEMOLITION IS COMPLETE. SO I'M GOING TO CHANGE TO THE NEXT SLIDE, WHICH SHOWS THE WHAT THOSE UPDATED AMOUNTS ARE. YOU CAN JUST SEE HERE THERE'S SOME SLIGHT REDUCTIONS IN THE AMOUNTS FOR LIKE THE PLANNING SOFTWARE. WE'RE LEAVING A BALANCE OF ABOUT $15,000 TO ALLOW THE PLANNING DEPARTMENT TO HAVE THAT IN THE EVENT THAT THEY NEED ANYTHING DURING THE IMPLEMENTATION PHASE FROM NOW UNTIL ABOUT JUNE. IF THEY DON'T, THAT FUNDING WILL END UP BEING SWEPT BACK INTO THE CONTINGENCY ACCOUNT. BUT YOU CAN SEE HERE THAT EVERYTHING REMAINS RELATIVELY THE SAME. YOU STILL HAVE $6 MILLION FOR THE ANNEXES EACH, AND THEN 2.6 FOR CORBIN ZAMBRANO. THE BIG FUNDING. THE REASON WHY THIS MAKES SENSE AGAIN IS BECAUSE ASCENSION IS BEING DEPROGRAMMED FROM COE 23 A. THE STORMWATER THE STORMWATER PROJECT IS BEING DEPROGRAMMED FROM TAX NOTE 23 C AND IF THE COURT PROCEEDS WITH THIS REPROGRAMING OF FUNDS, WE WOULD ASK THAT THOSE TWO PROJECTS BE INCLUDED ON ANY SPRING 2025 DEBT ISSUANCE, AS THOUGH BOTH PROJECTS ARE READY TO MOVE FORWARD TO CONSTRUCTION. AND THIS WOULD ENSURE THAT THOSE PROJECTS CONSTRUCTION TIMELINES ARE NOT DELAYED OR AFFECTED. WE'RE ALL WE'RE ALL THOSE PROJECTS ON THE ORIGINAL LIST THAT WERE APPROVED, THAT WERE BROUGHT TO US BY THE BOAC THAT WE PUT OUT. THE ASCENSION AND STORMWATER WERE ALREADY FUNDED, BUT WE'RE ASKING THAT THEY BE MOVED OUT SO THAT WE CAN USE THOSE OLD PROCEEDS TO FINANCE THOSE PROJECTS. SO THEY WEREN'T ON THE LIST BECAUSE THEY WERE WE THOUGHT THEY WERE ALREADY FUNDED. RIGHT. AND SO, AGAIN, IF THE COURT IS GOING TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THAT. THE REPROGRAMING, THAT WOULD MEAN THAT YOU WOULD ADD APPROXIMATELY $18.5 MILLION TO YOUR SPRING 2025 DEBT ISSUANCE. SO WHATEVER FINANCE TOOL AND AMOUNT THE COURT IS LOOKING AT DOING IN 2025, YOU WOULD BE STARTING WITH THIS 18.5 MILLION ALREADY IN PLACE, BECAUSE THOSE PROJECTS, AGAIN, REQUIRE THE FUNDING AND NEED THE FUNDING AT THIS TIME. SOME OTHER DISCUSSIONS THAT THE COURT HAS HAD AT YOUR LAST WORKSHOP WERE TO INCLUDE FUNDING FOR UNPAID ROADWAYS AND SHORT LINE WATER EXTENSION PROGRAM.

AND ALSO TO EVALUATE SCENARIO D, WHICH WAS ONE OF THE FOUR SCENARIOS THAT STEEPLE HAD ORIGINALLY PRESENTED TO INCREASE THE LOAN AMOUNTS FOR THE WATER DEVELOPMENT BOARD. SO HERE'S THE FOUR SCENARIOS. THEY'VE BEEN UPDATED BY STIFEL BASED ON THE LAST CONVERSATION WE PREVIOUSLY HAD. YOU SEE THAT OPTION A IS A $90 MILLION COE. THERE WOULD BE NO ROOM FOR THE LOANS THAT WE HAVE DISCUSSED, AT LEAST NOT TO FINANCE THEM UNDER THE FIVE CENT LIMIT. RIGHT. SO IT'S IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT SCENARIOS A, B, C, AND D ARE ALL FINANCED IN A TAX NEUTRAL WAY. THEY DO NOT PROJECT TO INCREASE THE COUNTY'S DEBT SERVICE TAX RATE. IT WOULD ALL REMAIN FLAT AT $0.05. THIS IS AGAIN, IS THE RESULT OF THE COURT'S FINANCIAL FORECASTING AND PLANNING WHEN IT COMES TO DEBT. THAT GOES BACK SEVERAL YEARS, WHERE WE HAVE MAINTAINED A FIVE CENT DEBT SERVICE TAX RATE TO FINANCE ESSENTIAL PUBLIC PURPOSE PROJECTS. USING THAT SAME FIVE CENT MAXIMUM, THE COURT COULD ALSO DO SCENARIO B, A $35 MILLION TAX NOTE ONLY. YOU COULD LOOK AT A COMBINATION OF COS AND TAX NOTES, WHICH WOULD BE ABOUT APPROXIMATELY $50 MILLION IN PROCEEDS. THAT WOULD

[04:55:03]

BE SCENARIO C AND THEN SCENARIO D, WHICH IS THE ONE THAT WE ARE RECOMMENDING IS A $52 MILLION COE. THIS GIVES US THE CAPACITY TO STILL EXECUTE $42 MILLION IN FLOOD INFRASTRUCTURE FUND LOANS FROM TEXAS WATER DEVELOPMENT BOARD. THOSE THAT AMOUNT REFLECTS THE PROJECTS THAT ARE RANKED THE FIRST AND SECOND HIGHEST THAT ARE MOST LIKELY TO RECEIVE FUNDING IN THIS NEXT FUNDING CYCLE. ALSO LEAVES ROOM FOR A $12 MILLION STATE INFRASTRUCTURE BANK LOAN FROM TEXDOT. AND THIS IS THE TO THE POSSIBLE FUNDING THAT'S GOING TO BE NECESSARY FOR A GRANT MATCH AND SHORTFALL FOR THE BOB HOPE EXTENSION. RIGHT THERE OFF OF LOOP 375 AND BOB HOPE. AND THAT SCENARIO ALLOWS FOR THOSE TO MOVE FORWARD. IT DOES REQUIRE A 30 YEAR REPAYMENT STRUCTURE.

SOME OF THE MODELS THAT WE'VE SEEN PREVIOUSLY HAVE GONE FROM 20 TO 25 YEARS. AND SO THE DEBT SERVICE DOES INCREASE. THE TOTAL DEBT SERVICE DOES INCREASE UNDER THOSE. BUT THIS WOULD ALLOW THE COURT TO MOVE THAT 18.5 MILLION INTO THERE. AND THEN THERE'D STILL BE A BALANCE THAT WOULD ALLOW THE COURT TO FINANCE APPROXIMATELY $33 MILLION WORTH OF PROJECTS. AND THE FIRST TIME WATER AND SEWER PROJECTS THAT WERE PRIORITIZED BY BOAC HAVE BEEN PRIORITIZED BY PUBLIC WORKS. AS YOUR TOP FOUR PRIORITIES ON YOUR PROJECTS. AND SO, POTENTIALLY, THAT 52 MILLION COULD FINANCE CLEAN DRINKING WATER. SAFER ROADS AND CRITICAL FLOOD CONTROL PROJECTS FOR OUR NEIGHBORHOODS. AND SO THAT WOULD BE WHAT IS BEING RECOMMENDED FOR THE COURT TO CONSIDER GIVING STAFF DIRECTION. AND THAT DIRECTION WOULD COME IN THE FORM OF NOT A MOTION BUT JUST A CONCURRENCE. THAT SCENARIO D IS WHAT YOU ALL WOULD LIKE TO SEE. WE WOULD BEGIN WORKING WITH OUR FINANCIAL ADVISOR AND BOND COUNSEL ON STRUCTURING A NOTICE OF INTENT. AND THEN WE WOULD PLACE THAT ON THE MARCH 10TH COMMISSIONERS COURT AGENDA. AND THAT WOULD BEGIN, IF APPROVED, THE 45 DAY TIMELINE, THAT WOULD THAT WOULD ALLOW US TO ENGAGE THE PUBLIC AND SHARE INFORMATION ABOUT WHAT THOSE PROJECTS INCLUDE. AFTER THOSE 45 DAYS ARE UP, THE COURT WOULD THEN CONSIDER AUTHORIZING THE SALE. THAT IS ALSO THE POINT IN TIME WHERE THE PUBLIC MAY SUBMIT A PETITION TO THE COUNTY TO REQUEST OR TO FORCE THAT THE FINANCE PLAN EITHER BE DISCONTINUED OR SENT OUT TO VOTERS FOR APPROVAL. AND SO THAT WOULD HAPPEN IF THERE IS NO PETITION SUBMITTED, THE COURT AUTHORIZES A SALE. AND THIS IS IN ALIGNMENT WITH OUR OUR FINANCE PLAN AND OUR ISSUANCE TIMELINE FOR THE GEO BONDS. AND SO WE'D BE ABLE TO TAKE BOTH OF THOSE ISSUANCE TO MARKET AT THE SAME TIME. A COUPLE ARE BOND RATING MEETINGS AND OTHER ELEMENTS. COORDINATE THEM CLOSELY. THERE'S SOME THERE'S A LITTLE BIT OF EFFICIENCY GAIN THERE. BUT NOT A LOT ON THE FINANCIAL SIDE. BUT THAT WOULD ALLOW US TO MOVE THAT FORWARD.

THE PROCEEDS WOULD BE AVAILABLE SOMETIME IN THE SUMMER. CAN I ASK YOU A QUESTION, JOSE, ABOUT THE AMOUNTS. SO OPTION D, THE AMOUNT WAS ORIGINALLY AT 14 MILLION. BUT WE FEEL COMFORTABLE BRINGING THAT DOWN TO 12. SO WE TALKED TO BRAD A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THAT. AND WE DID BRING IT DOWN TO 12 FOR NOW. ONCE WE HAVE THE MAV IN PLACE FOR THIS YEAR AND FOR NEXT YEAR, THAT LOAN IS LIKELY DEPENDING ON WHEN THE PROJECT IS EXECUTED, WE MIGHT BE ABLE TO JUST NATURALLY BRING THAT BACK UP TO THE 14 THAT WAS ORIGINALLY IDENTIFIED. AND IF NOT, THERE MAY BE SOME AMENITIES THAT ARE SCALED BACK IN THE PROJECT TO MAKE THE TO MAKE THE MATH MAKE SENSE, BECAUSE THAT MAY BE THAT'S OUR FINANCIAL CONSTRAINT. OKAY. BUT THAT MAY BE ABLE TO COME BACK UP TO 14 MILLION IN THE CONVERSATIONS WE HAVE WITH PEOPLE, IT'S JUST HARD TO KNOW WHAT NEXT YEAR LOOKS LIKE EXACTLY. BUT TRADITIONALLY WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO WE ALWAYS COME BACK TO THE COURT IN THE SUMMER WITH A LITTLE BIT OF AN ADJUSTMENT TO OUR. WE'VE DONE SOME SMALL TAX NOTE ISSUANCES, AND THAT WOULD PROBABLY BE SOMETHING THAT WE CAN KNOW HAVE A FIRMER UNDERSTANDING OF IN THE SUMMER. THANK. OH I'M SORRY. CAN I JUST ASK? I JUST HAD ONE MORE QUESTION. I'M SORRY. NO. AND THEN I WAS GOING TO ASK THE CHANGE FOR THE CO AMOUNT. SO IN THE BACKUP FOR THE LAST MEETING WHEN WE WERE GOING TO HAVE THE DISCUSSION, IT WAS THAT 50 MILLION. BUT NOW IT'S AT 52 MILLION. YES, MA'AM. AND THE 52 MILLION WILL INCREASE TO ACCOUNT FOR THOSE FIRST TIME WATER AND SEWER PROJECTS. SO WHEN WE WERE LOOKING AT THE PRIORITIZED LIST OF PUBLIC WORKS THAT GIVEN US, IT SHOWED WHAT THE AND LOOKING AT THE POSSIBILITY OF US AND FIRST AVENUE COMING INTO PLACE.

WE WERE ACCOUNTING FOR THAT 18.5 MILLION AND THEN THE FOR WATER AND SEWER PROJECTS COMING IN AT ABOUT 33.5 MILLION. AND THAT'S WHAT BRINGS US UP TO THE 52 MILLION. SO THE 50 DIDN'T ACTUALLY REPRESENT THE MAXIMUM AMOUNT OF CAPACITY WE HAD BECAUSE WE HAD ALWAYS BEEN

[05:00:02]

TALKING ABOUT 50. AND I THOUGHT THAT THAT WAS JUST WELL, THAT'S BECAUSE ALSO WE WERE LOOKING AT THE TOTAL 90 MILLION. CORRECT, JOSE. AND NOW YOU HAVE 2 MILLION LESS ON THE CIP LOAN, RIGHT? YES, MA'AM. SO WHAT WHAT OUR DISCUSSION WAS, IF THE COURT WAS ONLY INTERESTED IN A CO, YOUR MAX WOULD STILL BE 90. BUT THEN THE ANALYSIS THAT STIFEL RAN SAID, IF WE WANTED TO ACCOUNT FOR LIKE 40 MILLION IN LOAN, 41,000,000IN LOAN 40 MILLION OR EXCUSE ME IN FIF LOAN FOR 14 MILLION. AND SEB, WHAT IS THE MAX DEAL LOOK LIKE. AND IT CAME OUT TO 50. AND SINCE WE REALIZED WE WERE SO CLOSE TO THE TOP FOUR PROJECTS, THE DIRECTION TO STIFEL WAS, CAN WE GET TO 52 AND HOW DOES THAT LOOK? AND THIS IS THE THIS IS THE MODEL THAT THEY CAME UP WITH. OKAY. SO THE AND IT HAS TO DO WITH HOW MUCH SOME OF THE INTEREST COST ON SOME OF THESE. YES. AND THIS IS ONLY POSSIBLE BECAUSE THE REPAYMENT STRUCTURE IS BEING EXTENDED OUT TO 30 YEARS. RIGHT. TO BE ABLE TO CAPTURE THIS AMOUNT OF DEBT, BECAUSE YOU DO SAVE A SUBSTANTIAL AMOUNT WITH A ZERO INTEREST LOAN. RIGHT. AND SO THAT REALLY INCREASES THE AMOUNT OF PRINCIPAL THAT WE HAVE. BUT THIS AMOUNT IS ONLY CAPABLE IF YOU'RE ABLE TO MATCH THE WATER DEVELOPMENT BOARD AND SEB LOAN TIMELINES, WHICH ALLOW US TO AMORTIZE THAT DEBT OUT TO 30 YEARS. THANK YOU COMMISSIONER.

THE TOTAL WOULD BE UNDER OPTION D WHICH RECOMMENDING IS 106 ROUGHLY. THANK YOU ALL. YES.

YES, SIR. OKAY. THE QUESTION I HAVE IS, THOUGH THE COURT HAD DISCUSSED PUTTING IN THE CEO'S ANOTHER 750,000 FOR PARKS, TREES AND. WHEN WE WERE DISCUSSING AND WE PUT HALF OF IT, IT WAS A MILLION AND A HALF THAT THE COURT HAD BASICALLY AGREED ON, BUT HALF OF IT WAS IN THE GEOS AND THE OTHER HALF IN THE CEO'S. IS THAT IN HERE? THAT IS NOT IN HERE. OKAY. THE GREENWORKS INITIATIVE, THAT AND SO WE BROKE WE HAD DIVIDED THE GREENWORKS PROPOSAL IN HALF BY 750 AND 750 BETWEEN THE CEO AND THE CEO. AND THEN IT WAS PROPORTIONATELY DIVIDED AMONG THE DIFFERENT PROPOSITIONS. SO THE FULL 750 IS NOT AVAILABLE UNDER THE GEO THAT HAS BEEN APPROVED. AND WE WOULD NEED TO FIND AN ALTERNATIVE FUNDING SOURCE TO STILL MOVE THAT FORWARD THROUGH HERE, JUST BECAUSE THESE ARE THE MAXIMUM CONSTRAINTS TO DELIVER ALL THOSE PROJECTS. OKAY. WE ARE WE ARE WORKING ON IT WOULD NOT BE OUR DIRECT GRANT, BUT WE ARE WORKING WITH THREE, THE THREE, THE THREE QUALIFYING MUNICIPALITIES TO TRY TO PULL DOWN SOME WITH YOUR OFFICE, WITH SOME CLIMATE FUNDING FOR SOME CLIMATE GREENERY GRANTS. THERE'S A SEVERAL MILLION DOLLARS THAT WE MIGHT BE ABLE TO TAKE ADVANTAGE. IT WOULDN'T COME DIRECTLY TO THE COUNTY. IT WOULD COME TO THE THREE MUNICIPALITIES IF THEY ALL THREE APPLY. BUT IT WOULD BE ALSO ANOTHER MECHANISM TO GET SOME GREENERY. OKAY, I, I MEAN, EVENTUALLY I THINK I STILL LIKE TO SEE THAT WE FUND EVEN EVEN IF WE DO GET THAT OTHER GRANT. I THINK OUR PARKS ARE REALLY IN NEED OF INVESTMENT AND, AND I'M OKAY THAT WE CAN TRY AND FIND ALTERNATIVE FUNDING DOWN THE ROAD. I JUST THINK THAT THE COURT HAD COMMITTED TO DOING THAT, AND I THINK WE SHOULD, EVEN IF WE CAN'T DO IT THIS, THIS ROUND. BUT I THINK WE OUGHT TO WE OUGHT TO DO THAT. YES, SIR. AND THIS IS REALLY JUST A RESULT OF THE REARRANGING OF THE PUZZLE PIECES AS A RESULT OF THE. NO, THE ELECTION. NOW, WHAT HAPPENS IF WE DON'T IF WE DON'T HAVE THE ENTIRE AMOUNT FOR THE MONEY THAT WE HAVE TO MATCH FOR THE WATER DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS THAT ARE PENDING, ARE WE GOING TO BE ABLE TO SWITCH THOSE, OR ARE WE GOING TO JUST USE IT ALL, PERIOD. IN THE IN THE EVENT THAT WE DO NOT RECEIVE AN AWARD FROM THE WATER DEVELOPMENT BOARD? IN OTHER WORDS, IF WE DON'T RECEIVE THEM ALL. OH YES, SIR. SO IF WE DON'T RECEIVE THEM, WE WOULD WORK WITH WITH STIEFEL ON RESTRUCTURING THAT. AND THAT WOULD PROBABLY BE OUR RECOMMENDATION AT THAT POINT, WOULD BE TO DO A SHORT TERM TAX NOTE ISSUE TO MANAGE OUR TAX RATE AT $0.05. AND THAT MIGHT CREATE THE OPPORTUNITY FOR THE GREEN WORKS TO START TO BE REPLENISHED AND SOME OTHER ESSENTIAL PURPOSE PROJECTS MOVING FORWARD SO THAT THEY ALL GET FUNDED. BUT RIGHT. WE WERE VERY SUCCESSFUL THE FIRST TIME AND THAT'S THAT'S TO THAT WORK IS THE RESULT OF THE WORK THAT'S DONE UNDER MISS PALACIOS AND HER TEAM IN PLANNING AND COLLABORATIVELY WITH PUBLIC WORKS. AND SO THAT AND MY UNDERSTANDING, VERY GOOD. WE HAVE A VERY GOOD FEELING THAT THOSE FIRST TWO PROJECTS ARE GOING TO BE PART OF THE FIRST TWO OUT THE DOOR, AND THAT SERVES THE STUDY AREA AND THE SOCORRO STUDY AREA. AND THE NEXT TWO WOULD SERVE A SECOND ONE IN SOCORRO AND THEN ONE IN THE EAST

[05:05:02]

MONTANA AREA. AND MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT THAT'S GOING TO BE COMING FAIRLY SOON FROM THE DECISION. YES. YES, SIR. YEAH. WE'RE LOOKING I THINK SOMETIME IN SPRING IS WHAT MR. AL-SARRAJ INDICATED. AND THEN FROM THE TIME THAT WE DO THAT, WE HAVE ABOUT A YEAR TO EXECUTE THE AGREEMENT AND THEN A YEAR THEREAFTER IS WHEN OUR DEBT SERVICE KICKS IN. SO WE DO HAVE A CHANCE TO STRUCTURE THOSE, WHICH IS WHY THERE'S A IT'S A LITTLE BIT HARD TO PICTURE WHAT MAY HAPPEN IN 18 MONTHS, HOW IT AFFECTS WHAT WE'RE DOING TODAY, WHICH IS WHY THERE'S SOME THERE'S A LITTLE BIT OF FLEXIBILITY POTENTIALLY IF OUR MAV CONTINUES, IF OUR TAX BASE CONTINUES TO GROW WITH THAT CIB LOAN AS WELL, COMING IN AT 12, LIKELY BEING ABLE TO COME UP TO 14 TO MEET THE FUNDING WE WOULD NEED FOR BOB HOPE. OKAY. THANK YOU COMMISSIONER. THANK YOU.

YES, COMMISSIONER. QUESTIONS. SO I'M I'M. I NEED SOME CLARITY ON SO I UNDERSTAND THE DEPROGRAMMING AND THE REPROGRAMING OF PRIOR ISSUANCES FOR PROJECTS THAT WERE ON THAT WERE ON THE LIST. BUT THAT OR NOT NOT THAT WE'RE ON THE LIST, BUT BUT FOR EXAMPLE THAT. THAT LIKE. YEAH THE ANNEX, THE SENIOR NUTRITION KITCHEN AND THE CORBIN ZAMBRANO CENTER. BUT WHEN IT COMES TO ON THE NEXT PAGE, ARE THERE WHAT PROJECTS AND WHAT AMOUNTS WITHIN THOSE PROJECTS ARE WE TALKING ABOUT ISSUING DEBT FOR IN THE FUTURE THAT WE'RE NOT PART OF THE ORIGINAL LIST THAT WE WERE WORKING OFF O, THAT THAT WAS VETTED THROUGH A VERY PUBLIC PROCESS, A VERY TRANSPARENT PROCESS, A PROCESS THAT WE, YOU KNOW, INTENTIONALLY CREATED TO HAVE TRANSPARENCY.

WHAT PROJECTS AND WHAT ARE THE AMOUNTS THAT ARE BEING ADDED TO THIS NOW THAT WEREN'T THERE BEFORE? SO UNDER THE COE, THE FIRST FOUR PROJECTS, SO UNDER THE COE, YOU HAVE THE 18.5 MILLION OF THE EXISTING THAT ARE BEING PROPOSED TO BE SHIFTED INTO THE NEW ISSUANCE. RIGHT? SO THOSE PROJECTS WERE ALREADY IN PLACE THAT WERE NOT. THAT'S THE DEPROGRAMMING AND THE REPROGRAMING. THAT'S CORRECT. YES. SO THAT WOULD BE US AND ZION ROAD AND FIRST AVENUE.

CANUTILLO. SO THOSE ARE EXISTING PROJECTS THAT ARE PROPOSED TO BE SHIFTED INTO THIS NEW ISSUANCE.

ROUNDING OUT THAT POTENTIAL 52 MILLION WOULD BE THE WATER AND SEWER. AND THOSE WERE VETTED THROUGH THE BOQ PROCESS AND RECOMMENDED BY BOAC. THE 42.1 ON THE FIF LOAN AND THE 12 MILLION FOR THE CIB LOAN. THOSE AMOUNTS WERE NOT INCLUDED IN THE PLANNING PROCESS, BUT IN THE INTEREST OF TRYING TO MAINTAIN THOSE APPLICATIONS AND FUND THEM UNDER THE $0.05 ESSENTIAL PUBLIC PURPOSE LIMIT. THOSE ARE. THAT'S WHERE YOU SEE SCENARIO D THERE. THERE IS A POSSIBILITY, IF THE COURT WANTED TO GO UP TO THE FULL 90, TO STILL EXECUTE THOSE LOAN AGREEMENTS, BUT IT WOULD RAISE THE DEBT SERVICE RATE ABOVE THE $0.05. AND SO IT'S OUR RECOMMENDATION THAT GIVEN THE WORK THE COURT'S DONE, AND GIVEN THAT THOSE PROJECTS ARE ESSENTIAL PUBLIC PURPOSE PROJECTS THAT HAVE OUTSIDE FINANCING ASSISTANCE AVAILABLE, THAT THEY BE PART OF THE FIVE CENT PROGRAMING DISCUSSION, AND THAT THAT WE LOOK AT A SCENARIO THAT INCLUDES THEM. SO THOSE THREE PROJECTS POTENTIALLY WERE NOT INCLUDED OR VETTED BY THE PROCESS. AND CAN CAN YOU EXPLAIN? WHAT THOSE WHAT THOSE THREE WHAT THOSE THREE PROJECTS ARE. SORRY, JOSE. YES, SIR. YES.

SO THE LARGEST ONE IS ABOUT A $40 MILLION STORMWATER PROJECT IN THE IT'S ACTUALLY 59 MILLION, BUT IT'S POTENTIALLY AN $18 MILLION GRANT AND A $40 MILLION LOAN FROM THE TEXAS WATER DEVELOPMENT BOARD TO FINANCE THE STUDY AREA AS PART OF THE STORMWATER MASTER PLAN. AND THAT IS THE AREA THAT WAS HIT VERY HARD BACK IN 2006 ON THE WESTERN SIDE OF THE MOUNTAIN. AND SO THAT WATERSHED AFFECTS A NUMBER OF HOUSES AND BUSINESSES THAT THAT BEGIN NEAR THE MOUNTAIN COME ALL THE WAY DOWN TO, TO PORTIONS OF CANUTILLO. AND SO IT'S A IT'S A HUGE AREA. THERE'S A LOT OF BENEFIT TO IT. AND IT'S BEEN RANKED AS ONE OF THE AS THE COUNTY'S HIGHEST AND MOST COMPETITIVE PROJECT. THE SECOND ONE IS IN THE SOCORRO STUDY AREA, WHICH INCLUDES A LOT OF THE WATER, THE WATER THAT WORKS ITS WAY FROM NORTH OF I-10, SOUTH OF I-10 INTO SOCORRO. SO A LOT OF THAT IS BECAUSE SOME OF THE DEVELOPMENT TO THE NORTH THAT DOESN'T CAPTURE STORMWATER, BECAUSE THERE WERE NO RULES IN PLACE WHEN THAT WAS DEVELOPED, THAT WATER FINDS ITS WAY DOWN INTO THE AREAS. AND THE SOCORRO AREA INCLUDES. I'M NOT I'M NOT SURE WHICH SPECIFIC PROJECT THIS

[05:10:03]

WOULD INCLUDE FUNDING FOR, BUT IT GOES FROM EVERYTHING FROM SPARKS AND THE ARROYO THAT COMES THROUGH SPARKS DOWN INTO SOCORRO, ALL THE WAY OUT TO COKER AND WORSHAM ROAD, WHICH IS OFF OF NORTH LOOP, WHERE THERE ARE SOME HOUSES THAT HAVE BEEN COMPLETELY BURIED IN SEDIMENT AS A RESULT OF SOME OF THOSE ARROYOS. SO A LOT OF LOSS OF PROPERTY DAMAGE AND PROPERTY DAMAGE IN THAT AREA. AND THEN THE LOAN IS THE GRANT APPLICATION THAT THE COURT APPROVED A FEW WEEKS BACK TO AS PART OF IT WAS FORMERLY THE RES GRANT, BUT I THINK IT'S BEEN RENAMED TO THE BUILD GRANT. THAT PROGRAM AND THAT PROJECT IS TO CONNECT BOB HOPE FROM LOOP 375 TO MISSION RIDGE BOULEVARD TO SERVE THAT GROWING AREA IN THE EAST EL PASO AREA, HIGH COST FOR A SHORT ROADWAY SPAN, AND THAT A LOT OF IT HAS TO DO WITH THE TOPOGRAPHY IN THE AREA AND SOME OF THE STORMWATER CONSIDERATIONS THAT THE DEPARTMENT IS HAVING TO MANAGE IN THAT AREA. BUT THAT IS THAT 12 MILLION INCLUDES A POTENTIAL MATCH TO STATE TO FEDERAL FUNDING, AS WELL AS A SHORTFALL, BECAUSE THE FUNDING THAT WE ARE APPLYING FOR WITH THE BUILD PROGRAM IS NOT SUFFICIENT TO ACTUALLY FUND THE ENTIRE ROADWAY PROJECT. OKAY. AND SO ABOVE ON THE ON THE AMENDMENTS AND REVISIONS. SO YOU WE HAD THE EXPLANATION OF THE 16 MILLION FOR ASCENSION AND THE 2.5 FOR THE FIRST AVENUE STORM AND THEN THE T.W. TEXAS WATER DEVELOPMENT BOARD, F I F LOANS.

WHAT'S THE UNPAVED ROADWAYS AND SHORTAGE LINE? IS THAT WHAT THE LOAN WOULD BE FOR? NO, SIR. SO THAT WAS A THAT WAS AN ITEM THAT THE COURT HAD BROUGHT. COMMISSIONER BUTLER HAD PRESENTED THAT DURING OUR FIRST WORKSHOP A FEW WEEKS AGO. RIGHT NOW, THE AS AS IT STANDS, THE 52 MILLION IS YET TO BE PROGRAMED. AND WHAT GOES INTO THAT CEO STAFF RECOMMENDATION IS THE 18.5 MILLION FOR THOSE TWO TOP PROJECTS. AND THEN ALL THE WATER IN THE SEWER PROJECTS. BUT THAT IS, AGAIN, THE COURT'S ULTIMATE DECISION TO DECIDE WHAT ENDS UP IN THAT $52 MILLION. AND THE COURT WAS HAVING PENDING A FINAL DECISION ABOUT WHETHER THERE WAS GOING TO BE FUNDING DESIGNATED FOR UNPAID ROADWAYS OR FOR A SHORT LINE WATER EXTENSION PROGRAM FOR THE COUNTY'S USE MONTANA WATER SYSTEM. BUT WE DON'T HAVE ANY FIGURES ASSOCIATED WITH THOSE. I SEE THAT ON THE THEY'RE LISTED ON THE PROJECTS ON THE LIST OF PROJECTS CONSIDERED BY THE BOAC, EVEN THOUGH THEY WEREN'T CONSIDERED BY THE BOAC, BUT THERE'S NO MONEY AMOUNTS ASSOCIATED WITH THEM. DO WE HAVE ESTIMATES? DO WE HAVE DATA? DO WE KNOW HOW MANY MILES OF UNPAVED ROADWAYS OR HOW MANY SHORT LINE WATER EXTENSIONS? I BELIEVE THAT THE PUBLIC WORKS TEAM, COLLECTIVELY ACROSS ALL THE DEPARTMENTS INFRASTRUCTURE AND PLANNING, WAS WORKING ON COMPILING THAT. I DON'T KNOW IF MISS PALACIOS, IF THEY'VE HAD A CHANCE TO FINISH COMPILING THAT INFORMATION. ON NUMBER OF UNPAID ROADS. OKAY. AND THOSE WERE MY REQUESTS TO BE INCLUDED. AND I APPRECIATE THE COURT CONSIDERING THOSE I, I KNOW THERE ARE MUCH MORE URGENT NEEDS, AND I DON'T WANT TO ADVOCATE THAT THESE, YOU KNOW, BE PRIORITIZED OVER WATER, WASTEWATER, STORM WATER PROJECTS AT ALL. I APPRECIATE THEM BEING INCLUDED FOR FUTURE DISCUSSIONS AND MAKING SURE THAT THOSE THOSE ISSUES ARE PRIORITIZED WITH, YOU KNOW, AS WE AS WE HAVE FUTURE DISCUSSIONS ABOUT NEEDS, INFRASTRUCTURE, NEEDS IN THE COMMUNITY, WE HAD REALLY, REALLY SOME REALLY GOOD CONVERSATIONS IN AUSTIN ABOUT THE SHORT LINE WATER EXTENSION ISSUES. AND I, I FEEL VERY HOPEFUL THAT THERE ARE ALTERNATIVE SOURCES OF FUNDING FOR THAT. ESPECIALLY. I DO THINK THAT WE SHOULD PAY MORE ATTENTION TO ROADWAYS AND WHERE WE CAN SUPPLEMENT OUR, OUR, OUR FUNDING FOR THAT TO MAKE MORE OF OUR ROADWAYS SAFER HERE AROUND THE COUNTY. BUT BUT FOR NOW, I JUST APPRECIATE THOSE BEING INCLUDED IN THE LIST. I DON'T ANTICIPATE THEM BEING PART OF THE FUNDING OF THE PROJECT LIST FOR THIS ROUND OF FUNDING. YEAH. THANK YOU. JUDGE. THE. THAT WAS WHAT I WAS GOING TO ASK IS ABOUT THE PARTICULAR AMOUNT THAT HAS BEEN DEDICATED TO THE FAR EAST MONTANA ANNEX. IS THAT GOING TO BE SUFFICIENT? I BELIEVE SO. SO THIS IS A THIS IS A AGREEMENT WITH THE DEVELOPER THAT WE THAT HELPED ESTABLISH THAT HAS ESTABLISHED THAT THE THREE PUBLIC IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT CONVERSATIONS WITH THE COUNTY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE, WORKING WITH MR. ERIC MORALES, WE HAVE AN

[05:15:04]

AMENDMENT TO THE EXISTING AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE COUNTY AND THE DEVELOPER THAT WOULD ALLOW THE DEVELOPER TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THAT PROJECT. THERE WAS ALREADY $4 MILLION SET ASIDE IN THAT. SO YOU HAD THE SIX. THAT'S TEN. YOU HAVE THE BENEFIT OF THIS BEING A PRIVATE LED DEVELOPMENT WHERE THE DEVELOPER WILL SECURE THE CONTRACTOR AND THE DESIGN CONSULTANT, AND THEN WE EFFECTIVELY BECOME THE COUNTY, THE CLIENT AND MISS PALACIOS AND HER TEAM ENGAGED TO DESIGN THE FLOOR PLAN AND ALL THE EVERYTHING ELSE THAT GOES WITH, WITH HAVING A BUILDING.

AND THEN THEY BUILD THAT OUT. AND SO IN THE VERY PRELIMINARY CONVERSATIONS THAT WE'VE HAD WITH THE DEVELOPER, HE'S INDICATED THAT THIS SHOULD BE MORE THAN SUFFICIENT TO BUILD OUT THE SPACE. OKAY. BECAUSE BECAUSE TO ME, THAT WAS PROBABLY REALLY ONE OF THE PRIORITIES. I MEAN, I CAN'T FORESEE THAT WE HAVE A ANNEX FOR THE JUDICIAL AND LAW ENFORCEMENT PROCESS IN A MOBILE HOME. I TO ME, JUST WE NEED TO REALLY MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE ENOUGH MONEY FOR THAT. THAT TO ME IS A PRIORITY. IT'S, YOU KNOW, IT'S ONE OF THE TOP THREE THINGS WE'RE REQUIRED TO DO. AND WE REALLY NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE CAN GET THAT DONE. AND OF COURSE, WE'VE HEARD FROM THE COMMUNITY AND THE NUMBER ONE THING ON THEIR LIST, EVERYBODY RECALLS, WAS WATER ISSUES. THAT WAS THEY TOLD US IT WAS NUMBER ONE ON THEIR LIST. AND WE'VE HEARD FROM OUR COMMUNITY ABOUT WATER ISSUES. SO WE JUST NEED TO KEEP THAT IN MIND. THANK YOU. JUST ONE MORE COMMENT, JUDGE.

AND I THINK, YOU KNOW, I THINK LOOKING AT WHAT'S BEING PRIORITIZED AND EVEN WITH THE WITH THE POTENTIAL LOANS FROM THE STATE AND THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, THIS IS THIS IS WATER AND ROADS, WATER, WASTEWATER, STORM WATER AND ROADS THAT, THAT WE'RE, WE'RE TRYING TO FUND. AND IT'S NOT EVEN A FRACTION OF COVERING THE A FRACTION OF THE NEEDS THAT THAT WE HAVE ACROSS THE COUNTY WHEN IT COMES TO WATER AND WASTEWATER AND STORMWATER. AND SO AS MUCH AS WE CAN. KEEP THAT IN MIND, ESPECIALLY, YOU KNOW, WITH THE TAXPAYERS AND THE VOTERS THAT WE'RE DOING EVERYTHING WE CAN TO ADDRESS BASIC, BASIC INFRASTRUCTURE NEEDS NOW AND INTO THE FUTURE IS, I THINK, CRITICALLY IMPORTANT, THIS PROCESS. THANK YOU. COMMISSIONER. MOVING ON NOW TO WHAT THE OUTREACH LOOKS LIKE. IF THE COURT IS GOING TO CONSIDER THE ANY OF THE OPTIONS THAT WERE IN THE PREVIOUS SLIDE, CONTINUING IN THE TRADITION OF PUBLIC MESSAGING AND OUTREACH, AS COMMISSIONER CORONADO ALLUDED TO, ONE OF THE FEEDBACK ITEMS THAT WE HEARD DURING OUR POLLING AND FOCUS GROUPS LAST YEAR WAS THAT WATER AND SEWER ARE HIGH PRIORITY. THERE'S ALMOST A MORAL IMPERATIVE THAT THE COURT WORK ON THESE ISSUES ON BEHALF OF YOUR CONSTITUENTS. AND SO THAT WOULD BE THE MESSAGING. WE WOULD COME BACK, WORK WITH MISS CARRILLO AND DOCTOR GALLEGOS ON WHAT THAT STRUCTURE LOOKS LIKE SO THAT WE CAN BE PREPARED FOR PUBLIC MEETINGS AND SHARING OUT OF INFORMATION ON THIS. AND THEN WE WOULD ALSO WORK TO FIGURE OUT HOW WE CAN PROVIDE UPDATES ON THE WORK THAT WE ARE DOING WITH REGARD TO THE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM BOND, WHICH WAS APPROVED BY VOTERS IN NOVEMBER. AND SO THE PROPOSAL THAT IS IN FRONT OF YOU AT THIS TIME IS HAVING MEETINGS, SENDING OUT INFORMATION TO RESIDENTS.

THIS IS THE ESTIMATED COST AND WHAT THAT COULD LOOK LIKE. RECOMMENDING SENDING THIS OUT TO RESIDENTS AT LEAST THREE TIMES SO THEY CAN BE AWARE OF WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE. WE WOULD NEED TO WORK ON DEVELOPING WHAT THE OUTREACH SIZE AND THE LIST OF VOTERS AND RESIDENTS WOULD LOOK LIKE, SO THAT WE CAN SHARE THAT OUT AND THEN ALSO SHARE INFORMATION OUT VIA TEXT MESSAGING. SO THESE ARE JUST SOME OF THE VERY PRELIMINARY CONCEPTS THAT COMMUNICATIONS HAS BEEN WORKING ON AT THIS TIME. BUT AGAIN, ALL IN THE INTEREST OF SHARING THE MESSAGE OF FISCAL PRUDENCE, IN THE SENSE THAT WE'VE BEEN AT $0.05 BY DESIGN AND WE'VE NOT RAISED THE TAX RATE THROUGH THE ISSUANCE OF CEOS OR TAX NOTES AND THE NUMBER OF YEARS. ANY FEEDBACK OR QUESTIONS ON ON THIS SLIDE? DO WE DO IS IT LIKE A MOTION THAT YOU NEED AT THIS POINT FOR ANY OF IT OR. YES, THE MOTION THAT WE RECOMMEND IS TO APPROVE THE REPROGRAMING OF THESE EXISTING PROCEEDS AS LISTED HERE IN THE BACKUP. AND THAT INFORMATION WAS WAS ATTACHED TO IN AN EXCEL FILE TO THIS, THAT WOULD ALLOW US TO SHIFT THE FUNDING AROUND. AND THEN AFTER THAT, IF THE COURT

[05:20:03]

TAKES ACTION ON THAT DIRECTION WOULD THEN BE TO. PICK A SCENARIO. AND AGAIN, OUR RECOMMENDATION IS SCENARIO D AND THAT ASCENSION AND FIRST AVENUE STORMWATER PROJECT BE INCLUDED IN THAT $52 MILLION. AND WE WILL FINALIZE THE LISTING OVER THE NEXT SEVERAL WEEKS. NOW, IN TERMS OF MEETING DATES, WE DO HAVE THIS ITEM POSTED FOR THE COURTS ON THURSDAY FOR THIS THURSDAY DURING YOUR SPECIAL SESSION. WE ARE NOT GOING TO POST ANYTHING ON THE THIRD.

GIVEN THAT COMMISSIONERS STOUT AND BUTLER, MRS. KELLER AND I WILL BE OUT AT NACO. AND SO WE WILL POST THE NEXT AGENDA ITEM FOR THE COURT'S DISCUSSION ON MONDAY, MARCH 10TH. SO I'M GOING TO BE OUT IN DC ON MARCH 10TH. WOULD IT BE POSSIBLE TO POST FOR THE 17TH? YES. JUDGE, I'D LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION. SORRY. I'M SORRY, COMMISSIONER BUTLER. IF I COULD JUST MAKE A COUPLE OF COMMENTS BEFORE WE MOVE TO THE MOTION. I JUST WANTED TO FIRST OF ALL, THANK COMMISSIONER CORONADO FOR SOME IDEAS THAT HE HAD WHILE WE WERE HAVING THE DISCUSSION ABOUT ASCENSION REGARDING OTHER POTENTIAL FUNDING. SO I WAS LOOKING INTO THE DIFFERENT GRANT PROGRAMS THAT MIGHT POTENTIALLY BE AVAILABLE. AND UNFORTUNATELY, I DON'T FEEL TOO OPTIMISTIC ABOUT IT. SO THE FEMA FLOOD MITIGATION ASSISTANCE GRANT THAT YOU MENTIONED, UNFORTUNATELY, THAT'S THROUGH FEMA AND THE NOFO WAS ACTUALLY JUST VERY RECENTLY PULLED BY THE ADMINISTRATION BECAUSE IT IS A FEMA FUNDED PROGRAM. SO WE DON'T ACTUALLY KNOW WHEN THOSE FUNDS FOR THE NEXT FOUR YEARS, WE DON'T KNOW IF THOSE FUNDS ARE ACTUALLY GOING TO BE AVAILABLE. THE FLOOD INFRASTRUCTURE FUND THAT CYCLE, THE APPLICATION CYCLE IS ALREADY OVER. WE KNOW WE HAVE SEVERAL PROJECTS THAT HAVE ALREADY BEEN SUBMITTED. WE'RE HOPEFUL THAT OUR TOP TWO SCORING PROJECTS ARE GOING TO GET CHOSEN, BUT WE ACTUALLY HAVE THREE MORE PROJECTS ON TOP OF THAT THAT HOPEFULLY WILL GET CHOSEN THE FOLLOWING CYCLES. SO I DON'T REALLY FORESEE THAT AS A POTENTIAL SOURCE OF FUNDING FOR US. AND I ALSO WENT AHEAD AND I REACHED OUT TO EDUARDO CALVO AT THE MPO REGARDING WHAT IT WOULD TAKE TO MOVE UP ASCENSION IN THE MTP. SO RIGHT NOW IT'S CURRENTLY LISTED IN THE MS. 2050 TP. SO IT'S IN THE PLANNING DOCUMENTS, BUT THERE'S OF COURSE NO FUNDING ASSOCIATED WITH IT. IF WE WANT TO AMEND THE DOCUMENTS AND MOVE UP THE PROJECT, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO GO THROUGH THE CONFORMITY PROJECT ALL OVER PROCESS ALL OVER AGAIN, WHICH CAN TAKE MANY YEARS TO GO THROUGH. SO RIGHT NOW WE'RE GOING THROUGH THE CONFORMITY PROJECT FOR SOME OTHER AMENDMENTS THAT WE APPROVED. AND IT'S ALREADY BEEN PROBABLY A YEAR AND A HALF. AND THOSE ARE STILL PENDING APPROVAL. SO EVEN ASSUMING IF THEY STAY WHERE THE PROJECT STAYS, WHERE THEY ARE NOW, I MEAN, IT'S WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE 2050 MTP AND MOVING IT UP IS NOT GOING TO BE AN EASY FEAT. SO AGAIN, I'M ADVOCATING FOR THE FUNDING FOR ASCENSION IF WE'RE GOING TO REALLY REPROGRAM THE FUNDING THAT HAD ALREADY BEEN ASSIGNED FOR THIS PROJECT, THEN I WOULD WANT SOME ASSURANCE THAT IT IS GOING TO, IN FACT, BE INCLUDED IN OUR NEXT DEBT ISSUANCE FOR THE AMOUNT THAT'S NEEDED. WE HEARD FROM THE SUPERINTENDENT THIS MORNING.

THEY WANT A SAFE ROAD. EVERYONE WOULD LOVE TO HAVE THE FULL ASCENSION THE WAY THAT WE ENVISIONED IT, BUT AT THIS POINT, IF WE CAN AT LEAST GIVE THOSE COMMUNITIES A SAFE WAY TO TRAVEL BACK AND FORTH, THEN WE'RE DOING WHAT WE CAN. AND ACCORDING TO MR. CALVO, AT THE MPO, WE CAN LEAVE THE PROJECT EVEN IF THE COUNTY MOVES FORWARD WITH THE FUNDING THAT WE'RE CONSIDERING, WE CAN STILL LEAVE ASCENSION ON THE MTP AND EXPAND THE PROJECT AT A FUTURE DATE. SO SEEK FEDERAL FUNDING TO CREATE THE ROAD THAT WE WANT TO CREATE, BUT NOT AT THE EXPENSE OF LEAVING IT THE WAY IT IS NOW. JUDGE. COMMISSIONER. ANOTHER. THERE'S ONLY A ONE OTHER OPPORTUNITY IN THE LEGISLATURE'S ONE OF THEIR PRIORITIES THIS YEAR FROM NOT JUST THE LEGISLATURE OR THE GOVERNOR. AND THAT IS THEY'RE WANTING TO DO A MAJOR WATER INFRASTRUCTURE PLAN FOR THE ENTIRE STATE. AND WE'RE HOPING THAT THAT, YOU KNOW, THE WATER DEVELOPMENT BOARD TOLD US THAT IT WAS ANYWHERE FROM 60 TO 100 BILLION. OBVIOUSLY, THEY'RE NOT GOING TO TAKE THAT ALL IN ONE TRANCHE IN ONE LEGISLATIVE SESSION, BUT I'M HOPING THAT THEY ARE GOING TO DEDICATE MONEY THIS SESSION FOR THAT. AND THAT MIGHT BE AN OPPORTUNITY ALSO FOR US TO TRY AND DO THAT. I MEAN, YOU KNOW, AND I REALLY APPRECIATE THE WORK. I HAVE A COMPLETELY EVERY, EVERY SESSION, YOU KNOW, I'M ASTOUNDED BY HOW DIFFICULT OUR LEGISLATIVE DELEGATION HAS IT OVER THERE.

AND WE JUST APPRECIATE ALL THE WORK THAT THEY DO TO TRY AND GET US AS MUCH FUNDING AS POSSIBLE.

AND SO AND I KNOW IT'S GOING TO BE DIFFICULT, BUT YOU KNOW WHAT? MY HAT'S OFF TO OUR DELEGATION

[05:25:04]

AS FAR AS THE COMMITTEES THAT THEY'VE BEEN ASSIGNED TO. AND OF COURSE, REPRESENTATIVE MOODY, WHO'S, YOU KNOW, ONLY THE FIRST TIME IN HISTORY OF THE STATE THAT THERE'S BEEN A SPEAKER PRO TEM FOR THREE SESSIONS IN A ROW, AND THAT'S JOE MOODY. MARY'S BEEN APPOINTED TO THE, YOU KNOW, GREAT COMMITTEE, RIGHT. THE MONEY COMMITTEE, WHAT I CALL. AND SO I'M HOPING THAT THEY'RE ABLE TO DO GOOD FOR US. I KNOW THEY'RE WELL RESPECTED. OTHERWISE THEY WOULDN'T BE APPOINTED AS HIGH UP AS VICE CHAIRS AND CHAIRS OF THESE COMMITTEES. AND SO WE REALLY APPRECIATE THEIR WORK, AND I'M HOPING THAT WE CAN MAKE SOME HEADWAY INTO THAT. BUT. THANK YOU SO MUCH, COMMISSIONERS. I HAVE A MOTION FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION REAL QUICK. SO THE 16 MILLION FOR US IS JUST FOR THE BARE MINIMUM, OR THAT'S FOR THE BARE MINIMUM, BARE MINIMUM FOR A TWO LANE ROAD INSTEAD OF THE FOUR LANES THAT WE WOULD HAVE WANTED. BUT BECAUSE OF THE MOVEMENT OF THE GAS LINE, WHICH ALSO HAVE TO BE, OF COURSE, TAKEN INTO ACCOUNT WHEN THE MPO REDOES ALL OF ITS FIGURES, BECAUSE THAT WILL CHANGE THE COST. I MEAN, THE COST HERE WAS ASTRONOMICAL. YEAH. 17 MILLION IS WHAT THEY HAVE IN THEIR COST. AND THERE'S NOWHERE I MEAN, THAT'S GOING TO BE NOWHERE NEAR WHAT IT IS BECAUSE OF THE GAS LINE. SO THE GAS LINE ISN'T ALLOWING US TO RIGHT NOW REALISTICALLY CREATE THE FOUR LANE ROADWAY THAT WE WOULD HAVE LIKED TO CREATE. BUT THE HOPE WOULD BE THAT IN THE FUTURE, AS THE PROJECT MOVES UP THROUGH THE MPO PRIORITY LIST, THAT EVENTUALLY WE MIGHT BE ABLE TO GET THE AMOUNTS OF FUNDING THAT WE NEED TO ACTUALLY BUILD ON THE ROAD AND MAKE IT A FOUR LANE. SO WHAT'S THE WHAT'S THE MOTION THAT WE'RE VOTING ON? THE RECOMMENDED MOTION FOR THE COURT'S CONSIDERATION WOULD BE TO APPROVE AN AUTHORIZED REPROGRAMING OF DEBT PROCEEDS, AS CONTAINED IN THE BACKUP AND PRESENTED BY STAFF, FURTHER DIRECT STAFF TO INCLUDE ASCENSION ROAD AND FIRST AVENUE STORMWATER PROJECT IN THE COUNTY'S SPRING 2025 DEBT ISSUANCE. I'LL MAKE A MOTION.

I'D LIKE TO COMMENT REAL QUICK BEFORE BEFORE WE ACTUALLY BEFORE WE ACTUALLY VOTE. AND. Y'ALL HAVE HEARD ME SAY THIS MANY TIMES IN THE PAST, YOU KNOW, I REALLY I REALLY WOULD HOPE THAT THE COMMISSIONERS COURT WOULD LOOK AT WHEN WE'RE DOING THESE, THESE PROJECTS AND DEBT ISSUANCES ABOUT EQUITY AMONGST PRECINCTS. AND, YOU KNOW, I'M, I'M BEING ASKED TO SUPPORT $100 MILLION, $100 MILLION. IS THAT WHAT'S THAT 106, $106 MILLION IN, IN IN DEBT FOR NOTHING IN MY PRECINCT. AND LAST WEEK WE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO GO TO THE VOTERS TO ASK FOR ADDITIONAL FUNDING FOR THE COLISEUM. AND NOT ONE MEMBER OF THIS COURT VOTED IN FAVOR OF THAT. I WANT I WANT TO BE ON THE RECORD AND POINTING THAT OUT. I DO BELIEVE THAT A NUMBER OF THESE PROJECTS ARE WORTHWHILE AND THAT ARE NEEDED, BUT I ALSO NEED THE COURT TO UNDERSTAND THAT WHEN WE INVEST IN THESE PROJECTS, WE ARE PUTTING A FUTURE BURDEN ON, ON, ON, ON TAXPAYERS AND, AND EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THESE PROJECTS, JUST LIKE THE COLISEUM WHEN IT WAS FIRST BUILT, IT IS EXPECTED THAT THESE THESE PROJECTS WILL HAVE TO BE MAINTAINED IN THE FUTURE AND WILL NEED UPDATES IN THE FUTURE. AND I SINCERELY, SINCERELY HOPE THAT YOU KNOW, THIS ACT OF GOOD FAITH ON MY BEHALF IS HELPFUL FOR THIS COURT TO, IN THE FUTURE, CONSIDER SOME EQUITY WHEN IT COMES TO PRECINCT TWO, BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, IT REALLY IS IMPORTANT FOR MY CONSTITUENTS TO BE ABLE TO SEE INVESTMENT ON BEHALF OF THE COUNTY IN THEIR IN THEIR NEIGHBORHOODS AND IN THEIR PROJECTS THAT ARE, THAT ARE, THAT ARE IMPORTANT TO THEM AS WELL. AND, YOU KNOW, I'M NOT GOING TO BELABOR THE POINT REGARDING THE COLISEUM. I LAID OUT MY ARGUMENTS LAST WEEK. BUT, YOU KNOW, I SINCERELY HOPE THAT THAT THE COURT WILL CONSIDER PRECINCT TWO CONSTITUENTS IN THE FUTURE WHEN IT COMES TO SPENDING THAT THEY PAY FOR. THEY PAY THEY I MEAN, EVERY SINGLE TAXPAYER WITHIN MY DISTRICT IS WITHIN THE CITY LIMITS. AND THEY ARE THEY ARE SUBSIDIZING EVERYTHING THAT'S HAPPENING IN ALL OF YOUR, YOUR, YOUR COMMUNITIES AND YOUR FOR YOUR CONSTITUENCIES. AND I THINK DESERVE TO HAVE A FAIR SHAKE AT FUNDING WHEN IT COMES TO COUNTY PRIORITIES. SO I AM

[05:30:02]

GOING TO SUPPORT THE ITEM. BUT I SINCERELY HOPE THAT WE CAN BE SERIOUS ABOUT IN THE FUTURE.

LOOKING OUT FOR PRECINCT TWO AS WELL. THANK YOU COMMISSIONER. WE HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE BY COMMISSIONER BUTLER, SECOND, BY COMMISSIONER CORONADO. THE VOTING IS OPEN. MOTION CARRIES.

THANK YOU. JUDGE. COMMISSIONERS. AND JUST TO BE CLEAR THEN, ON THE DIRECTIONS, NO FORMAL ACTION. YOU HEAR THAT SPRING 2025 ISSUANCE? WE ARE RECOMMENDING SCENARIO D WHICH WAS THAT 52 MILLION THE LOANS IS THEIR CONCURRENCE TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THAT. WOULD YOU ALL LIKE ANY DISCUSSION ON YOUR THURSDAY AGENDA FOR THIS ITEM. BECAUSE THIS THIS IS THIS IS POSTED FOR THURSDAY. OKAY THEN. SO THE NEXT TIME YOU ALL WILL SEE THIS WILL BE ON MARCH 10TH AND 17TH, 17TH. EXCUSE ME. AND THAT WILL BE THE NOTICE OF INTENT. APOLOGIZE, COMMISSIONER.

YEAH. SO WE WILL WORK ON THAT AND PROVIDE YOU ANY UPDATES IN THE INTERIM VIA THE HIGHLIGHTS.

THANK YOU JUDGE. COMMISSIONERS. THANK YOU JOSE. ITEM 11 PURCHASING 11 A POSTPONED FEBRUARY 10TH, 2025 APPROVE AND AUTHORIZE THE PURCHASE OF COUNTYWIDE NETWORK EQUIPMENT LEASING FOR THROUGH THE INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY DEPARTMENT USING TIPS CONTRACT 210101 AWARDED TO SEQUEL DATA SYSTEMS, INC. OF AUSTIN, TEXAS, IN THE AMOUNT OF $2,610,864.71, AND DER CONTRACT DER KPO 533 AWARDED TO SIMMONS INDUSTRIES, INC. SUMMONS. SUMMONS FINANCIAL SERVICES OF SUGARLAND, TEXAS, FOR $2,897,900.46. LEASING OF NETWORK EQUIPMENT FUNDING IS AVAILABLE IN GENERAL FUND ITD, RENTAL RENT, LEASES, HARDWARE PURCHASING, APPROVED PURCHASING APPROVED JANUARY 30TH, 2025. GOOD AFTERNOON KAREN, WELCOME. GOOD AFTERNOON. GOOD AFTERNOON, COMMISSIONERS KAREN DAVIDSON, COUNTY PURCHASING AGENT. AND WE'RE BRINGING THIS ITEM TO YOU TO APPROVE AND AUTHORIZE THE PURCHASE FOR COUNTY WIDE. WHAT WE'VE DONE IN THE PAST IS WE PURCHASED THIS INFRASTRUCTURE EQUIPMENT, WHICH INCLUDES ALL OF OUR NETWORK SWITCHES AND ROUTERS. WE'RE MOVING IT TO A LEASE MODEL, WHICH I THINK WILL BE MORE FINANCIALLY, WILL BE

[A. (Postponed 2/10/25) Approve and authorize the Purchase of Countywide Network Equipment Leasing 4 through the Information Technology Department using TIPS Contract 210101 awarded to Sequel Data Systems Inc. of Austin, Texas in the amount $2,610,864.71 and DIR Contract DIR-CPO-5033 awarded to Summus Industries, Inc/Summus Financial Services of Sugar Land, TX for $2,897,900.46 (leasing of network equipment). Funding is available in GF-ITD-RENT/LEASES-HARWARE. Purchasing approved January 30, 2025. Karen Davidson, Purchasing Agent, Purchasing, 915-273-3349]

BETTER IN THE LONG RUN FOR THE COUNTY AS A WHOLE. BUT OUR EQUIPMENT, OUR CURRENT INFRASTRUCTURE, EQUIPMENT OF THIS NATURE IS AT THE END OF LIFE AND WE'RE NOT ABLE TO SERVICE IT ANYMORE. SO WE ARE ASKING FOR YOU TO AUTHORIZE THIS PURCHASE USING A COOPERATIVE METHODOLOGY TO SQL DATABASE AND TO SUMMON FINANCIAL SERVICES OF SUGARLAND, TEXAS, FOR THE 2,897,946. AND THIS WILL ALLOW US TO REFRESH THE EQUIPMENT AS NEEDED. IT WILL ALSO BRING US INTO COMPLY WITH THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE INFORMATION SYSTEM SECURITY STANDARDS, AND WE'LL BE ABLE TO UPDATE ALL OF OUR EQUIPMENT SINCE IT IS LEASED AS NEEDED. I DO HAVE I-T-D ON THE PHONE IF YOU HAVE ANY OPERATIONAL QUESTIONS, AND I CAN CERTAINLY ANSWER ANY OF YOUR PROCUREMENT QUESTIONS. I. HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE BY JUDGE SAMANIEGO. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER BUTLER. THE VOTING IS OPEN. MOTION CARRIES. THANK YOU. ITEM 11 B POSTPONE FEBRUARY 10TH, 2025. APPROVE THE AWARD. RECOMMENDATION OF BID 25005 AS NEEDED. PAVING EMULSION MATERIAL

[B. (Postponed 2/10/25) Approve the award recommendation of Bid 25-005 As-Needed Paving Emulsion Material for the El Paso County, Texas (FY2025) to HF Sinclair Refining & Marketing LLC of Albuquerque, New Mexico for an estimated total cost of $1,548,000.00 (unit price as indicated in tabulation). Purchasing approved on January 20, 2025. Funding is available in SR-R&B-ROAD RESURFACING. Karen Davidson, Purchasing Agent, Purchasing, 915-273-3349]

FOR THE EL PASO COUNTY, TEXAS TO SINCLAIR REFINING AND MARKETING, LLC OF ALBUQUERQUE, NEW MEXICO, FOR AN ESTIMATED TOTAL COST OF $1,548,000. PURCHASING APPROVED ON JANUARY 20TH, 2025. FUNDING IS AVAILABLE IN SR R&B ROAD RESURFACING. GOOD AFTERNOON AGAIN, JUDGE AND COMMISSIONERS KAREN DAVIDSON, COUNTY PURCHASING AGENT. THE NEXT THREE ITEMS WE HAVE FOR YOU TODAY IS GOING TO BE FOR ALL OF OUR ROAD AND BRIDGE. THIS IS A COMPETITIVE BID. WE PUT IT OUT FOR COMPETITIVE BID, AND WE'RE ASKING FOR YOU TO APPROVE THE AWARD RECOMMENDATION FOR AS NEEDED, PAVING EMULSION MATERIAL, AND IT WILL BE AWARDED TO H. SINCLAIR REFINING AND MARKETING FOR AN ESTIMATED 1.5 MILLION 448,000. THERE IS A UNIT PRICING IN THIS TABULATION, SO IT IS BASED ON USAGE BY OUR ROAD AND BRIDGE DEPARTMENT. BUT THIS WAS A COMPETITIVE BID AND THEY'RE THE LOWEST RESPONSIBLE BIDDER. AND WE'RE ASKING FOR YOU TO APPROVE THE AWARD. I'M HERE TO ANSWER ANY OF YOUR PROCUREMENT QUESTIONS. BUT OF COURSE WE HAVE MR. FERNEY HERNANDEZ ON THE LINE TOO, IN CASE YOU HAVE ANY OPERATIONAL QUESTIONS. I'VE GOT A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS, JUDGE. IT'S GOOD TO SEE THAT THAT THE TWO OF THE THREE HERE, I GUESS YOU HAVEN'T READ IN C AND D YET, BUT THEY'RE LOCAL LOCAL OUTFITS THAT THAT WON THE BID. I'M JUST WONDERING

[05:35:09]

ON ITEM B HOW MANY HOW MANY LOCAL FIRMS COMPETED FOR THAT? TWO, SIR. OKAY. THERE WERE TWO JOB MATERIALS AND THERE WAS ONE OTHER ONE OUT OF SPRING, TEXAS, BUT THERE WERE TWO ON ITEM. OH, LET ME LET ME APOLOGIZE. THERE WERE TWO ON ITEM B AND NOBODY NOT MISSPOKE. THERE WAS H SINCLAIR FROM ALBUQUERQUE, NEW MEXICO, AND QUALITY EMULSIONS FROM MESA, ARIZONA. THERE WERE NOT A LOCAL FIRM, SIR. OKAY AND OKAY. AND THE ALBUQUERQUE FIRM ONE THAT'S THAT'S BEST VALUE FOR THE COUNTY, I GUESS. YES, YES. ALSO BETSY OR. ARE WE WHEN WE'RE WHEN WE'RE GOING OUT FOR THESE BIDS, ARE WE LOOKING AT ANY RECYCLED MATERIALS? I MEAN, MAYBE I'M ASKING AT THE WRONG TIME BECAUSE WE'RE ALREADY AWARDING THE BIDS, BUT THAT'S SOMETHING THAT I'VE ASKED ABOUT MANY TIMES. AND, YOU KNOW, I WANT TO UNDERSTAND WHAT WE'RE DOING TO TRY TO, TO TRY TO USE RECYCLED MATERIALS FOR THESE ROAD PROJECTS. BERNIE. GOOD AFTERNOON. JUDGE, COMMISSIONER FOR ITEM B, WHICH IS THE EMULSION, IS A BYPRODUCT OF THE PETROLEUM MANUFACTURING. SO THERE'S ONLY THERE'S THREE LOCAL VENDORS THAT WE'VE USED IN THE PAST ON A SAY 15 YEARS. RIGHT.

THERE'S A HOLLYFRONTIER OUT OF ALBUQUERQUE. QUALITY EMOTIONS THAT HAVE BEEN PROVIDING THE OUR OIL FOR THE LAST I BELIEVE IT WAS FOUR CYCLES AND THEY'RE OUT OF I'M SORRY ARIZONA. THEY DO HAVE A LOCAL BATCH PLANT THAT WAS LOCATED IN SANTA TERESA, AND THAT'S WHERE WE'VE BEEN GETTING OUR MATERIAL FROM THE LAST, THE LAST FOUR YEARS. AND THEN, OF COURSE, THERE'S ONE IN LUBBOCK AS PART OF THE RECYCLING OR REMANUFACTURING OF THE PRODUCT. I BELIEVE THEY DO USE A RECYCLING, BUT WE DON'T SPECIFICALLY REQUEST THAT JUST BECAUSE THE MANUFACTURING PROCESS THAT IT GOES THROUGH. SO THE EMULSION THAT WE USE IS A BYPRODUCT OF THE GASOLINE PRODUCTION THAT THEY DO THEY DO PRODUCE. AND SO IT'S THE OIL THAT WE USE FOR EMULSION IS THE RESIDUE THAT'S DONE BASED ON THE, I'M SORRY, DIESEL FUEL PRODUCTION. RIGHT. SO WHAT COMMISSIONER IS SPECIFICALLY ASKING ABOUT FERNIE IS USING RECYCLED MATERIALS IN OUR PAVING. RIGHT. HE'S ASKING I BELIEVE ON ALSO FOR ITEM C, DID WE INCLUDE IN OUR PROPOSAL AN OPTION FOR THEM TO BID RECYCLED PRODUCTS? YES, MA'AM. AND THAT'S IN THE OVERLAY PROJECT, WHICH IS THE NEXT ITEM THAT'S GOING TO BE HEARD. SO THAT ONE DOES HAVE A SPECIFIC LINE ITEM FOR REGULAR VIRGIN BASED MAC CYCLE, A CYCLE AND THEN ALSO A RECYCLED COMPONENT. SO WE DO HAVE BOTH OPTIONS. AS YOU KNOW, WE'VE DONE THE RECYCLED OPTION FOR THE LAST, I WANT TO SAY SINCE 2019.

WE STARTED REQUESTING A RECYCLED BID BID PRICE ON THOSE. AND WE WERE DOING AN ANALYSIS TO SEE WHAT WHAT THE DIFFERENCES BETWEEN THE VIRGIN MATERIAL VERSUS THE RECYCLED MATERIAL.

AND SO FAR DURING OUR ANALYSIS, WE HAVEN'T FOUND ANY SIGNIFICANT DIFFERENCE THAT THAT PROHIBITS US FROM USING THE RECYCLED OR THE VIRGIN MATERIAL. UNFORTUNATELY, WE DID FIND THAT THERE IS A FLUCTUATION BETWEEN PRICING, BETWEEN THE RECYCLED AND THE VIRGIN BASED ON AVAILABILITY AT THE TIME. AND SO THAT'S WHY WE WE'VE KEPT THE BOTH OPTIONS AS A UNIT BID PRICE ITEM, SO THAT WE CAN HAVE THE ABILITY TO GO BACK AND FORTH BETWEEN EACH ONE OF THOSE. BUT THAT'S ON OUR OVERLAY PROJECT, WHICH IS ITEM NUMBER D, I BELIEVE. THANK YOU. YES SIR. IT IS D WELL I'LL LET YOU READ IN THE OTHER ITEM SO WE CAN TALK ABOUT THAT I GUESS. OKAY. SO ITEM 11 C POSTPONED FEBRUARY 10TH, 2025 APPROVE THE AWARD. RECOMMENDATION OF BID 25006. UP TO 20,000 TONS OF PAVING ROCK GRADE F AND UP TO 12,000 TONS OF PAVING ROCK GRADE C FOR THE EL PASO COUNTY, TEXAS TO JOBE MATERIALS LP OF EL PASO, TEXAS, FOR AN ESTIMATED TOTAL COST OF $1,231,200. PURCHASING APPROVED ON JANUARY 20TH, 2025. FUNDING IS AVAILABLE IN SR, R&B ROAD RESURFACING AND ITEM 11 D POSTPONED. FEBRUARY 10TH, 2025 APPROVED THE AWARD RECOMMENDATION OF BID 25008. FY 2025 ROAD AND BRIDGE PAVING PROJECT FOR THE EL PASO COUNTY, TEXAS TO Z TECH CONSTRUCTION, INC. OF EL PASO, TEXAS, FOR AN ESTIMATED TOTAL COST OF

[05:40:04]