Mar 10, 2025 Commissioners Court Regular

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LIVE FROM EL PASO COUNTY, TEXAS, THE VETERANS CAPITAL OF THE USA. FROM INSIDE THE ALYSSA CHACON

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[1. OPEN MEETING]

[2. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE]

HONOR THE TEXAS FLAG. I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THEE. TEXAS. ONE STATE UNDER GOD, ONE AND INDIVISIBLE. THANK YOU VERY MUCH AND HAVE A WONDERFUL DAY. WE ALSO WANT TO THANK MR. SALAS, YOUR TEACHER AND DOCTOR AGUAYO, THE PRINCIPAL. THANK YOU BOTH. AND YOU HAVE A WONDERFUL DAY.

THANK YOU FOR BEING WITH US. THANK YOU. JUDGE. THANK YOU, YOUR HONOR. THANK YOU. THIS MORNING, WE'LL RECEIVE AN INVOCATION FROM MISS PAM FERRONE.

[3. INVOCATION]

KEEP THEIR HEARTS TENDER TOWARD THE NEEDS OF THE PEOPLE THEY SERVE. FOR IN ROBERT PROVERBS 29 TWO, WE ARE TOLD, WHEN THE RIGHTEOUS ARE IN AUTHORITY, THE PEOPLE REJOICE. BUT WHEN THE WICKED MAN RULES, THE PEOPLE GROAN. WE SEEK YOUR BLESSINGS FOR ALL COUNTY EMPLOYEES WHO FAITHFULLY SERVE THE PEOPLE OF EL PASO, WHETHER OUR NEEDS ARE PUBLIC OR PRIVATE, YOU ARE AWARE OF EACH ONE. LET US SEEK YOUR FACE AND FIND THE ANSWERS TO OUR DEEPEST, HEARTFELT NEEDS. AWAKEN YOUR SPIRIT IN US, OH LORD. TAKE US BACK TO THE COVENANTS MADE BY OUR FOREFATHERS AT THE FOUNDING OF THIS NATION. REMIND US OF THE MAYFLOWER COMPACT, OUR FOUNDATIONAL COVENANT MADE BY THE PILGRIMS BEFORE THEY EVER SET FOOT ON THIS LAND. A COVENANT MADE WITH YOU TO ESTABLISH CIVIL SOCIETY AND A COMMITMENT TO YOUR WILL IN THEIR NEW WORLD. FATHER, WE ASK YOU TO RESTORE FREEDOM TO THE PEOPLE OF THIS NATION. WE SPEAK LEVITICUS 2510. THE SCRIPTURE IMPRINTED ON THE LIBERTY BELL, WHICH DECLARES, PROCLAIM LIBERTY THROUGHOUT ALL THE LAND UNTO ALL THE INHABITANTS THEREOF. WE PROCLAIM LIBERTY TO THE CAPTIVES. WE PROCLAIM LIBERTY TO

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LET HIM RETURN TO THE LORD, AND HE WILL HAVE MERCY ON HIM AND TO OUR GOD, FOR HE WILL ABUNDANTLY PARDON. FOR MY THOUGHTS ARE NOT YOUR THOUGHTS, NOR MY WAYS, YOUR WAYS, SAYS THE LORD. FOR AS THE HEAVENS ARE HIGHER THAN THE EARTH, SO MY WAYS ARE HIGHER THAN YOUR WAYS, AND MY THOUGHTS HIGHER THAN YOUR THOUGHTS. FOR AS THE RAIN COMES DOWN AND THE SNOW FROM HEAVEN, AND DO NOT RETURN THERE, BUT WATER THE EARTH, AND MAKE IT BRING FORTH AND BUD, THAT IT MAY GIVE SEED TO THE SOWER, AND BREAD TO THE EATER. SO SHALL MY WORD BE THAT GOES FORTH FROM MY MOUTH. IT SHALL NOT RETURN TO ME VOID, BUT IT SHALL ACCOMPLISH WHAT I PLEASE, AND IT SHALL PROSPER IN THE THING FOR WHICH I SENT IT. FOR YOU SHALL GO OUT WITH JOY, AND BE LED FORTH IN PEACE. THE MOUNTAINS AND THE HILLS SHALL BREAK FORTH INTO SINGING BEFORE YOU, AND THE TREES IN THE FIELD SHALL CLAP THEIR HANDS, INSTEAD OF THE THORN SHALL COME UP THE CYPRESS TREE. AND INSTEAD OF THE BRIER SHALL COME UP THE MYRTLE TREE. AND IT SHALL BE TO THE LORD FOR A NAME, FOR A SIGN THAT SHALL NOT BE CUT OFF. MAY THE LORD OUR GOD, CREATOR OF THE UNIVERSE, ADD HIS BLESSING TO HIS WORD. AMEN. AND SO BE IT. AMEN. THANK YOU, MRS. FERRONE. I JUST WANT TO THANK YOU ALSO FOR WE HAVE A RESOLUTION FROM COMMISSIONER STOUT FOR DEPUTY HERRERA AND FERRONE FAMILY HAS BEEN SO SUPPORTIVE TO THE FAMILY, AND WE THANK YOU FOR THAT. YOUR SON AND YOUR HUSBAND, EVERYONE HAS PULLED IN AND MADE IT A LITTLE BIT MORE COMFORTING FOR THE FAMILY. SO THANK YOU, MRS. FERRONE. THANK YOU. JUDGE, DO YOU HAVE SOME OPENING REMARKS FOR US THIS MORNING? YEAH, THANK YOU VERY MUCH. ON BEHALF OF MYSELF AND OUR COMMISSIONERS, WE THANK YOU. WE'RE GOING TO HAVE COMMISSIONER OLGUIN LATER ON VIRTUAL. BUT THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. IT'S ALWAYS SUCH A PLEASURE GETTING TO, YOU KNOW, SHOW OFF OUR RESOLUTIONS AND THE GREAT THINGS PEOPLE DO AND ORGANIZATIONS. AND SO THANK YOU FOR THAT. WISHING YOU ALL JUST AN AMAZING MONDAY AND A VERY BLESSED WEEK. THANK YOU. ITEM NUMBER FOUR. EXCUSE ME. JUST SOMETHING VERY QUICK. SO THIS SPRING, MY OFFICE IS PROUD TO JOIN BORDERLAND CRUSADERS AND HEARTS OF GOLD EL PASO TO SERVE A DROP OFF LOCATION FOR THEIR EASTER BASKET WILL BE IN MY OFFICE. SO IT'S OFFICER LEON LERMA AND HIS WIFE. CRYSTAL MADE ME AWARE OF THIS OPPORTUNITY. IF YOU HAVE A CHANCE BETWEEN NOW AND EASTER TO DONATE AN EASTER BASKET, YOU'LL BE SUPPORTING FAMILIES IMPACTED BY CHILDHOOD CANCER. AND THANK YOU AGAIN FOR LERMA AND YOUR AND YOUR WIFE. AND GOD BLESS THEM FOR MAKING THIS EFFORT. SO WE APPRECIATE DOING THAT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU SIR. ITEM NUMBER FOUR IS THE CONSENT AGENDA COMPOSED OF ITEMS FOR A THROUGH FOUR A. WE DO HAVE A CORRECTION TO READ IN FOR ITEM NUMBER FOUR E ITEM FOUR E SHOULD READ, APPROVE AND AUTHORIZE THE COUNTY JUDGE TO SIGN AN OUTSIDE

[4. CONSENT AGENDA]

ARE THERE ANY OTHERS? IF NOT, I'LL MOVE TO APPROVE. WE HAVE A MOTION FROM JUDGE SAMANIEGO, A SECOND FROM COMMISSIONER CORONADO. THE VOTING IS OPEN. COMMISSIONER CORONADO. THANK

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WE'RE GOING TO BEGIN WITH ITEM NUMBER FIVE. C APPROVE AND ADOPT A RESOLUTION RECOGNIZING THE FIFTH ANNUAL DEPUTY, PETER JOHN HERRERA. FIVE K MEMORIAL RUN WALK TO BE HELD SUNDAY, MARCH

[C. Approve and adopt a resolution recognizing the 5th Annual Deputy Peter John Herrera 5k Memorial Run/Walk, to be held Sunday, March 23, 2025, and declaring it Deputy Peter John Herrera Day in El Paso County, Texas. David Stout, Commissioner, Precinct 2, 915-546-2111]

COMMISSIONER STOUT. GOOD MORNING JUDGE. GOOD MORNING COMMISSIONERS. GOOD MORNING EVERYBODY. I'M HONORED TO BE ABLE TO READ THIS RESOLUTION. AND WE PRESENT THIS RESOLUTION.

WITH MANY EMOTIONS. YOU KNOW, WE'RE VERY SOMBER UNDER THE GRAVITY OF THE MOMENT. WE GRIEVE WITH DEPUTY AND DEPUTY HERRERA'S LAW ENFORCEMENT FAMILY, WITH HIS EL PASO FAMILY AND WITH EACH OTHER. WE ARE REDEDICATING OURSELVES TO THE MISSION OF KEEPING EVERYONE SAFE, TO LIMITING THE ABILITY OF BAD PEOPLE TO DO BAD THINGS, AND TO PROTECT AND SERVE THIS COMMUNITY. WE'RE GRATEFUL FOR DEPUTY PETER JOHN HERRERA'S SERVICE. THIS IS NOT A MOMENT THAT ANY OF US WOULD WOULD CHOOSE, BUT IT'S A MOMENT THAT WE FACE WITH RENEWED DEDICATION TO EACH OTHER AND OUR COMMUNITY. AND SO I'M GOING TO GO AHEAD AND READ THE RESOLUTION. BUT FIRST, I JUST WANT TO TAKE A MOMENT OF SILENCE, OF SILENCE TO PRAY FOR DEPUTY HERRERA. BADGE NUMBER 4928.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THE RESOLUTION STATES, WHEREAS DEPUTY PETER JOHN HERRERA DEDICATED HIS LIFE TO SERVING AND PROTECTING THE EL PASO COMMUNITY, DEMONSTRATING UNWAVERING BRAVERY AND COMMITMENT TO PUBLIC SAFETY. AND WHEREAS DEPUTY PETER JOHN HERRERA TRAGICALLY LOST HIS LIFE IN THE LINE OF DUTY IN 2019 DURING A TRAFFIC STOP IN SAN ELIZARIO, LEAVING BEHIND A LASTING LEGACY OF COURAGE, SERVICE AND SACRIFICE. AND WHEREAS, THE EL PASO COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE WILL HOST THE FIFTH ANNUAL DEPUTY PETER JOHN HERRERA FIVE K MEMORIAL RUN WALK ON SUNDAY, MARCH 23RD, 2025 AT ASCOT AT THE PARK, 6900 DELTA DRIVE, BRINGING TOGETHER COMMUNITY MEMBERS, LAW ENFORCEMENT AND SUPPORTERS TO HONOR HIS MEMORY. AND WHEREAS THE MEMORIAL RUN WALK NOT ONLY PAYS TRIBUTE TO DEPUTY HERRERA'S SACRIFICE, BUT ALSO RAISES FUNDS FOR THE DEPUTY PETER JOHN HERRERA SCHOLARSHIP FUND, WHICH SUPPORTS EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES FOR DESERVING STUDENTS IN OUR COMMUNITY. AND WHEREAS THE EVENT FOSTERS COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT THROUGH SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES INCLUDING DIAMOND, PLATINUM, GOLD, SILVER, BRONZE BADGE SPONSORSHIPS ALSO ALLOW ALSO ALLOWING LOCAL BUSINESSES AND INDIVIDUALS TO CONTRIBUTE TO THIS MEANINGFUL CAUSE. AND WHEREAS EVENTS LIKE THE DEPUTY PETER JOHN HERRERA FIVE K MEMORIAL RUN WALK STRENGTHEN THE BOND BETWEEN LAW ENFORCEMENT AND THE COMMUNITY, PROMOTING UNITY, REMEMBRANCE AND HOPE FOR A BRIGHTER FUTURE. AND NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, THAT THE EL PASO COUNTY JUDGE AND COMMISSIONERS COURT PROUDLY RECOGNIZE THE FIFTH ANNUAL DEPUTY, PETER JOHN HERRERA. FIVE K MEMORIAL RUN, WALK AND ENCOURAGE ALL MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY TO PARTICIPATE, SUPPORT AND HONOR THE LIFE AND LEGACY OF DEPUTY PETER JOHN HERRERA. BADGE NUMBER 4928 SIGNED THIS 10TH DAY OF MARCH 2025. THE HONORABLE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS COURT. WE HAVE A MOTION FROM COMMISSIONER STOUT AND A SECOND FROM JUDGE SAMANIEGO. THE VOTING IS OPEN.

AND THANK YOU. MOTION CARRIES. WELCOME. THANK YOU. WELL, SORRY. REAL QUICK. MY NAME IS COMMANDER JEROME WASHINGTON WITH THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH, SIR, FOR THOSE FOR THOSE KIND WORDS. WHAT I CAN SAY IS THIS EVENT IS MORE THAN JUST A RACE TO US. THIS IS A WAY FOR US TO HONOR PETE'S LEGACY AND ENSURE THAT HIS MEMORY ENDURES. WE ECHO EVERYTHING YOU SAID, AND WE HOPE THAT EVERYONE COMES OUT AND ALSO AND JOINS IN THE RACE AND HELPS US TO REMEMBER AND KEEP HIS MEMORY ON, NOT JUST FOR THIS FIFTH YEAR, BUT CONTINUING ON UNTIL WE'RE LONG GONE. SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH. NOW, COMMISSIONERS, I'D JUST LIKE TO EXTEND OUR SINCERE GRATITUDE ON BEHALF OF THE EL PASO COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE. YOU GUYS HAVE DONE A LOT FOR US AND US HONOR KEEPING PETE'S NAME HIS LEGACY GOING. AND I COULDN'T THANK YOU GUYS ENOUGH FOR LETTING US HONOR PETE AND KEEPING HIS NAME IN REMEMBRANCE. THANK YOU GUYS.

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YOU KNOW, I DON'T THINK I'VE EVER SEEN THE CAMARADERIE THAT I LEARNED A LOT ABOUT LAW ENFORCEMENT AND HOW THEY SUPPORT THEMSELVES. IT'S JUST BEEN FROM THE DAY THEY'RE AT THE HOSPITAL.

THOSE TWO AND A HALF DAYS, WHAT EVERYBODY WENT THROUGH. A LITTLE BIT OF A SIGN, THAT OF RECOVERY AND THEN HAVING TO DEAL WITH THE TRAGEDY OF LOSING SUCH AN AMAZING. BUT, YOU KNOW, I ALWAYS SAY, AND I'M VERY CLOSE TO THE FAMILY, BUT I ALWAYS SAY THAT JUST THIS THE WAY THE FAMILY HAS HANDLED IT, THE WAY YOU HAVE SUPPORTED, YOU KNOW, THROUGHOUT THE FIVE YEARS AND UP TO THIS TIME HAS JUST BEEN PRETTY ADMIRABLE. AND I THINK THERE'S COMFORT COMES FROM WHAT YOU'VE DONE TO THE FAMILY. I THINK IT WOULD HAVE BEEN VERY MUCH MORE DIFFICULT IF YOU GUYS HAD NOT COME TOGETHER. AND IT HAS JUST BEEN SO IMPRESSIVE TO SEE THAT FROM BEGINNING TO END. MY STAFF CHALLENGED THEM. THEY'LL BE THERE FOR THE HOPEFULLY RUN, NOT TOO MUCH WALK AND COMBINATION OF THE TWO. SO WE THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU DO. AND I THINK THIS IS WHAT EL PASO IS ALL ABOUT, IS THAT WE HONOR OUR FALLEN HEROES. YOU KNOW, WE KNOW HOW TO DO THAT. AND WE COME TOGETHER. AND I THINK IT'S A THE UNIQUENESS OF OUR COMMUNITY THAT, THAT YOU'RE DISPLAYING WHEN YOU DO THIS. SO THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH FOR, FOR DOING THAT. COMMISSIONER STOUT. ONCE AGAIN, THANK YOU VERY MUCH TO YOU ALL FOR THE SUPPORT THAT YOU'VE PROVIDED TO THE FAMILY OF DEPUTY HERRERA AND FOR CONTINUING TO KEEP OUR COMMUNITY SAFE. I THINK THAT WE DON'T THANK YOU ALL ENOUGH, AND THIS IS A WAY THAT WE CAN CONTINUE TO DO THAT. SO CAN WE TAKE A PICTURE WITH THE RESOLUTION WITH YOU? COMMISSIONER? I'LL ASK HIM. TO.

AND.

ARE YOU ARE YOU GOING TO GO ALONG? I'M GOING TO BE. I'LL DO MY BEST. I'LL DO MY 7:00. EXCUSE ME. SORRY. IT'S TIME TO GO. YES. ALL RIGHT.

ITEM NUMBER FIVE A APPROVE AN ADOPT A RESOLUTION CELEBRATING THE RETURN OF TNA WRESTLING TO

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[A. Approve and adopt a resolution celebrating the return of TNA Wrestling to El Paso at the El Paso County Coliseum and recognizing March 14-15, 2025, as TNA Wrestling Days in El Paso County, Texas. David Stout, Commissioner, Precinct 2, 915-546-2111]

SO IT'S BEEN AWESOME TO HAVE TESSA HERE. MIKE SANTANA WAS ALSO HERE THIS WEEK. HE WENT BACK HOME. SO BEFORE WE GET TO THAT, I JUST WANT TO READ SOMETHING THAT HE WROTE ON THAT HE POSTED ON HIS INSTAGRAM PAGE. HE GOES BACK HOME AFTER AN AMAZING THREE DAYS REPRESENTING TNA WRESTLING DURING OUR MEDIA TOUR IN EL PASO. CAN'T TELL YOU HOW SPECIAL IT WAS TO GET TO KNOW THE CITY AND ITS PEOPLE THE LAST FEW DAYS, THE HOSPITALITY AND KINDNESS EVERYONE SHOWED TO US WAS TRULY SPECIAL. I'M THANKFUL THAT WE GOT TO BRING THESE. WE GET TO BRING THESE AMAZING SHOWS TO THE COMMUNITY. TRULY PASSIONATE PEOPLE AND EVEN MORE CITY. AND EVEN MORE CITY WHO ARE SUCH GREAT HISTORY OF PRO WRESTLING. STARTING WITH THE GREAT GUERRERO FAMILY. THOUGH I'VE WORKED HERE BEFORE. THIS TIME AROUND WILL BE EXTREMELY SPECIAL BECAUSE I WAS ABLE TO MEET AND CONNECT WITH SO MANY AMAZING PEOPLE WHO ARE HYPED ABOUT NEXT WEEK'S SHOWS. I WANT TO SEND A HUGE SHOUTOUT TO ALL THE MEDIA OUTLETS THAT HAD US ON THEIR PLATFORMS. TO ROSS FOR HIS HARD WORK AND DEDICATION, AND TO THE EL PASO COUNTY COLISEUM FOR THEIR AMAZING WORK WITH TNA. EL PASO HAS MY HEART. SO HE WAS HERE. HE'LL BE BACK ON ON THURSDAY, GET READY FOR FRIDAY AND SATURDAY AND SO WE LOOK FORWARD TO HAVING YOU ALL OUT THERE. BUT ROSS IS HERE, SO HE'S

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YOU KNOW, TNA WRESTLING, SOME OF YOU GUYS MIGHT NOT KNOW. WE'VE BEEN AROUND FOR 24 YEARS. WE ARE EVERY THURSDAY NIGHT ON ACCESS TV. ACCESS TV IS THE OLD MARK CUBAN CHANNEL. AND I'LL SAY PERSONALLY WHEN IT WAS ANNOUNCED, EVEN INTERNALLY, HEY, WE'RE GOING TO EL PASO IN MARCH.

I'M LIKE, THAT'S AWESOME. LIKE I USED TO LIVE RIGHT UP THE ROAD IN LAS CRUCES. SO THIS IS KIND OF A HOME GAME FOR ME. I'M THRILLED TO BE HERE. AND THE STUFF WE'VE DONE WITHIN THE MEDIA, THE COMMUNITY IS JUST AMAZING. AND I GOT TO SAY THAT, YOU KNOW, I TEXTED WITH OUR PRESIDENT THIS MORNING, I SAID, THESE TWO SHOWS WILL BE THE BEST ATTENDED TWO DAY SHOWS FOR TNA WRESTLING IN THE PAST TEN YEARS. WE'RE GOING TO HAVE MORE PEOPLE THERE WHO PURCHASE TICKETS ON FRIDAY NIGHT THAN ANY SHOW IN THE UNITED STATES IN THE PAST TEN YEARS, SO WE ARE THRILLED TO BE IN EL PASO. A LITTLE BIT ABOUT TNA. AS I SAID, WE'VE BEEN AROUND FOR 24 YEARS. ANY PRO WRESTLER YOU PROBABLY CAN IMAGINE HAS WORKED FOR TNA WRESTLING OVER THE YEARS. NAMES LIKE HULK HOGAN, RIC FLAIR, KURT ANGLE, MICK FOLEY, KEVIN NASH, CODY RHODES, HECTOR GUERRERO, CHAVO GUERRERO JR AND AS I THINK YOU GUYS HAVE HEARD, CHAVO GUERRERO WILL BE IN THE RING AT THE COUNTY COLISEUM THIS SATURDAY NIGHT, SO WE'RE THRILLED FOR THAT. I KNOW THAT I PERSONALLY AM THRILLED, AS I KNOW TESS IS WE ARE GOING TO HAVE TO MAKE ONE STOP OVER THE NEXT COUPLE OF DAYS. I APOLOGIZE, I DON'T KNOW THE EXACT I KNOW IT'S SOMEWHERE NEAR THE SPAGHETTI BOWL AND I APOLOGIZE. I DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU GUYS ARE GOING TO PROBABLY CHUCKLE AT ME THAT I DIDN'T KNOW. WE WANT TO GO SEE THE GUERRERO, THE EDDIE GUERRERO MURAL. THAT MEANS A LOT TO ME PERSONALLY. I WORKED WITH EDDIE BACK IN WCW. I KNOW IT MEANS A LOT TO TESSA, BUT IT MEANS A LOT TO OUR COMPANY. AND I GUARANTEE YOU, THERE'S A MURAL INSIDE THE MUSEUM. INSIDE THE COLISEUM. I WILL BET THAT EVERY SINGLE ONE OF OUR WRESTLERS WILL BE TAKING A PHOTO AT THAT MURAL, AND THEN THEY'LL ALSO BE SAYING, HEY, THAT PHOTO YOU PUT ON SOCIAL MEDIA OUTSIDE, WHERE IS THAT? WE WANT TO GO THERE. SO AGAIN, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR HAVING US IN YOUR CITY. I CAN'T SPEAK ENOUGH ABOUT THE COUNTY COLISEUM. OMAR AND TONY HAVE BEEN LITERALLY AMAZING. EVERYTHING WE'VE NEEDED. I THINK I COULD SAY BECAUSE I DEAL WITH ALL THE VENUES WE GO TO, THE BEST VENUE WE'VE WORKED WITH AT LEAST IN THE LAST TEN YEARS. AND THAT'S ONLY BECAUSE I'VE BEEN DOING THEM WITH FOR TEN PLUS YEARS. SO OMAR, TONY, WHEREVER TONY'S AT, THANK YOU VERY MUCH. IT'S BEEN AMAZING. SO AT THIS POINT, I'D LIKE TO TURN IT OVER TO ONE OF OUR GREAT TNA WRESTLING STARS. LET'S WELCOME TESSA BLANCHARD. HOLD ON ONE HOLD ON ONE SECOND. I HAVE TO DO A SPECIAL INTRODUCTION. OH, THERE YOU ARE. WE CANNOT WE CANNOT DO WE CANNOT HAVE THIS WOMAN HERE WITHOUT THIS TYPE OF INTRODUCTION. SO, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN. PLEASE, I CALL YOUR ATTENTION TO THE CENTER OF THE COURTROOM. HAILING FROM CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA, THE UNDENIABLE DIAMOND TESSA BLANCHARD. WOW. YOU. HEY, IF THIS DOESN'T WORK OUT, YOU COME ON OVER TO TNA WRESTLING. I'M JUST SAYING. NO, NO, KEEP HIS DAY JOB. KEEP IT. WE NEED HIM HERE. JUDGE AND COMMISSIONERS, THANK YOU SO MUCH. MY NAME IS TESSA BLANCHARD, AND I AM PROUD TO STAND HERE TODAY AS A THIRD GENERATION WRESTLER. I AM THE DAUGHTER OF WWE HALL OF FAMER TULLY BLANCHARD. I AM THE GRANDDAUGHTER OF SOUTHWEST CHAMPIONSHIP WRESTLING FROM THE TERRITORY DAYS IN SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS. JOE BLANCHARD AND STEPDAUGHTER OF NWA LEGEND MAGNUM T.A. WELL, I AM A FORMER TNA KNOCKOUTS CHAMPION. I AM A FORMER AND FIRST EVER FEMALE TO WIN THE TNA WORLD HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP, AND WRESTLING IS IN MY BLOOD. IT'S MY PASSION, IT'S MY PURPOSE. AND TODAY WE'RE GOING TO CELEBRATE SOMETHING TRULY SPECIAL. IT'S AN HONOR TO WITNESS MARCH 14TH AND 15TH. OFFICIALLY REPRESENTED AS OR RECOGNIZED AS TNA WRESTLING DAYS. AND REALLY, IT'S A TESTAMENT TO THE LEGACY OF THIS COMPANY AND THE IMPACT THAT IT'S HAD ON THE WORLD OF PROFESSIONAL WRESTLING. TNA HAS ALWAYS BEEN ABOUT PUSHING BOUNDARIES. IT'S ABOUT BEEN ABOUT BREAKING LIMITS AND PROVING THAT THIS SPORT IS MORE THAN JUST COMPETITION. IT'S A WAY OF LIFE FOR A LOT OF US. LUCHA LIBRE, LUCHA LIBRE RIGHT HERE. WE'RE AT THE BORDER, SO IT'S EXCITING TO BE HERE THIS FRIDAY AND SATURDAY, MARCH 14TH AND 15TH WE WILL BE AT THE EL PASO COUNTY COLISEUM. THE FANS ARE IN FOR SOMETHING TRULY

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LIKE YOU SAID BEFORE, SHE'LL BE PERFORMING LIVE AND WALKING MYSELF TO THE RING WITH HER NEW SONG UNDENIABLE FOREVER THAT JUST CAME OUT. BUT THESE TWO NIGHTS ARE GOING TO BE PACKED WITH THE BEST WRESTLING ON THE PLANET, AND YOU GUYS DON'T WANT TO MISS IT. I ALSO WANT TO GIVE A HUGE SHOUT OUT TO OMAR AND TONY AT THE EL PASO COUNTY COLISEUM. IT'S BEEN INCREDIBLE WORKING WITH THEIR STAFF, ALL THE HARD, HARD WORK THAT THEY'VE PUT IN TO MAKING THIS EVENT POSSIBLE, YOUR SUPPORT AND YOUR DEDICATION. IT MEANS EVERYTHING TO US AND WE'RE GRATEFUL TO BRING TNA TO SUCH A PASSIONATE CITY. BEFORE WE BEFORE WE LEAVE TOO, I WANT TO SAY THIS CITY HAS BEEN SO HOSPITABLE. IT'S BEEN SO AMAZING GETTING TO INTEGRATE WITH THE COMMUNITY, VISITING PLACES SUCH AS THE CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL, GETTING TO SPEAK WITH SOME KIDS WHO MAKE OUR PROBLEMS IN REAL LIFE LOOK SO MINUSCULE, GETTING TO SEE THEIR FAMILIES AND JUST WATCHING WHAT THEY'RE GOING THROUGH. BUT TO OFFER A LITTLE BIT OF HOPE OUTSIDE THOSE FOUR WALLS. GETTING TO VISIT THE CANDELA MEMORIAL IN THE WALMART PARKING LOT, AND GETTING TO SPEAK WITH SOME OF THE FAMILY MEMBERS AND SOME OF THE SURVIVORS. IT REALLY PUTS A LOT OF THINGS IN PERSPECTIVE, AND IT MAKES EVERYTHING THAT WE'RE DOING SO WORTH IT. ROSS SPOKE A LITTLE BIT ABOUT HOW HOW THIS CITY HAS BEEN SO WELCOMING TO US. YOU'VE REALLY JUST OPENED UP, OPENED UP YOUR ARMS TO US, AND TO HAVE MARCH 14TH AND 15TH BE TNA WRESTLING DAYS TO BRING TNA WRESTLING TO SUCH A PASSIONATE AND HOSPITABLE AND WELCOMING CITY AND COMMUNITY. IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE REALLY CAN'T PUT INTO WORDS. I THINK IT IT MAKES EVERYTHING THAT WE'RE GOING TO DO NEXT FRIDAY AND SATURDAY, OUR PAY PER VIEW, OUR TELEVISION TAPINGS. I THINK IT MEANS A LITTLE BIT MORE TO EACH AND EVERY ONE OF US NOW. SO THANK YOU GUYS SO MUCH FOR HAVING US. THANK YOU GUYS SO MUCH FOR THIS HONOR. IT MEANS IT MEANS THE WORLD TO US AND TO OUR COMPANY. THANK YOU VERY MUCH, OMAR. BEFORE I MAKE SOME COMMENTS, GO AHEAD. OS IS TO LOVE US, RIGHT, JUDGE? YES. AND TNA TOTAL NONSTOP ACTION IS TOP NOTCH WRESTLING. AND PART OF PART OF THAT EVENT IS GOING TO BE THE CROWD. THE WRESTLERS FEED OF THE CROWD. SO LET'S PACK THE PLACE. WE STILL HAVE TICKETS ON SALE. ROSS ALREADY SAID WE HAVE THE BEST ATTENDANCE. LET'S MAKE IT BIGGER RIGHT NOW. LET'S LET'S SHOW WHAT, WHAT, WHAT WE WANT AND THEN WE WANT THEM BACK. YOU KNOW, LET'S, LET'S, LET'S SHOW OUR SUPPORT FOR THAT. SO I WANT TO INVITE EVERYBODY AND I WANT, I WANT TO EXTEND THE INVITATION TO EVERYBODY WHO'S LISTENING. LET'S PACK THE PLACE. IT'S GOING TO BE TWO DAYS OF NONSTOP ACTION OKAY. SO THANK YOU SO MUCH. AND WHAT BETTER WAY TO REPRESENT WOMEN'S MONTH THAN TO HAVE THE CHAMP RIGHT HERE? TESSA. TESSA BLANCHARD WITH WITH US AND DOING ALL ALL THE TOURS THAT SHE DID IN EL PASO. THANK YOU SO MUCH. WELL, THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. AND, YOU KNOW, WE ALWAYS SAY GET TO KNOW US, TO LOVE US. AND THE SYNERGISM THAT WRESTLING BRINGS TO US. YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE UNIQUENESS IS HOW WE BRING THIS REGION TOGETHER. AND NOTHING BRINGS US TOGETHER LIKE WRESTLING AND BOXING THERE AT THE COLISEUM. IT'S SO ICONIC. THE INDIVIDUALS THAT HAVE BEEN THERE, IT'S JUST AMAZING. AND SO WE'RE VERY FORTUNATE. THE KIND WORDS THAT YOU'VE SAID, YOU KNO, TONY OMAR, I MEAN, YOU NEVER HAVE ANY DOUBT THAT IF SOMEONE IS WANTING TO UTILIZE THE COLISEUM, WHETHER IT'S JUST FOR COMMUNITY FOR THROUGH THE PANDEMIC, THE VACCINES TO THINGS LIKE, LIKE THIS TODAY, I WAS VERY FORTUNATE. I GREW UP WITH SAL GUERRERO AND CHAVO, CHAVO GUERRERO AND MANDO AND ALL OF THIS. AND I GOT TO KNOW GORY GUERRERO AS WELL. AND SO JUST GET VERY EXCITING TO BE ABLE TO BRING SOMETHING HERE TO, TO EL PASO. I'M JUST GOING TO ASK YOU FOR JUST A SMALL LITTLE FAVOR. AND I WAS WONDERING IF YOU COULD POSTPONE THE EVENT BECAUSE I'LL BE TRAVELING. AND SO IF IT'S NOT TOO MUCH, I, YOU KNOW, WE COULD JUST GO AHEAD AND MAKE IT FOR THE FOLLOWING WEEK BECAUSE I. I'LL BE MISSING OUT. I MEAN, I'LL BE MISSING OUT WHEN YOU'RE SAYING THAT, I FELT LIKE, OH, MY GOD, YOU KNOW, THIS IS BRINGS BACK SO MUCH. AND SO WE THANK YOU. EL PASO IS WORKS REALLY HARD AT AT BEING DIFFERENT FROM WHAT THE WORLD THINKS IT IS.

NARRATIVES THAT DON'T ARE NOT, YOU KNOW, NOT JUSTIFIED A LOT OF FALSE NARRATIVES. AND WHEN YOU

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SO WE THANK YOU WHOLEHEARTEDLY FOR WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN. AND COMMISSIONER STOUT, THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THIS TO US AND BRINGING THE RESOLUTION. THIS IS AN EXCITING TIME AND A PIVOTAL FOR EL PASO TO HAVE HAVE YOU HERE AS WELL. SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH. JUDGE. JUDGE COMMISSIONER 111 SECOND. COMMISSIONER, COMMISSIONER, JUDGE, COMMISSIONER STOUT DON'T WANT TO BE CALLED THAT THIS WEEK. HE WANTS TO BE CALLED WHITE LIGHTNING. AND TONY SAID HE WAS GOING TO NICKNAME ALL THE COMMISSIONERS AND THE JUDGE. BUT I THINK COMMISSIONER BUTLER SHOULD BE DINAH COMMISSIONER STOUT, NOT WHITE LIGHTNING SHOULD BE THE MISSING LINK. A BLAST FROM THE PAST AND I'LL BE THE BUSHWACKER JUDGE. I'M GONNA LET YOU CHOOSE YOUR OWN NAME.

THE ONLY EL VATO DE LA JEFE WOULD BE MY. GET THE TABLE. LET MARIO. THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU SO MUCH. SIR. GREAT. THANK YOU, THANK YOU. WE SEND THE. OH, THERE YOU GO.

THANK YOU.

OH, BY THE WAY, TESSA'S GOING TO TAG ME IN FRIDAY SO I CAN DO THE CHAIR BIT ON TONY. I'M GOING TO GET THE CHAIR, SIR. THANK YOU. SEE YOU. ITEM NUMBER FIVE. BE APPROVED. ADOPT A RESOLUTION HONORING THE MOST RECENT INDUCTEES INTO THE EL PASO BLACK HALL OF FAME. COMMISSIONER

[B. Approve and adopt a resolution honoring the most recent inductees into the El Paso Black Hall of Fame. David Stout, Commissioner, Precinct 2, 915-546-2111]

EL PASO IS NOT EXTREMELY DIVERSE. BY THE NUMBERS. WE ARE OVERWHELMINGLY HISPANIC AT 85% OF THE POPULATION, WHICH A MUCH LARGER MEXICAN CITY ACROSS THE STREET FROM US. BUT WE ARE DIVERSE BY OUR HISTORY AND OUR NATURE. A BLACK MAN WAS PART OF THE FIRST EXPEDITIONARY EUROPEAN CARAVAN TO PASS THROUGH THE PASS OF THE NORTH. CHINESE WERE ESSENTIAL TO THE BUILDING OF THE RAILROAD THAT OPENED THE PASS OF THE NORTH TO AN INFLUX OF MIGRANTS FROM THE REST OF THE UNITED STATES. MIDDLE EASTERNERS HELPED SUPPLY OUR NEEDS AS A GROWING COMMUNITY, JUST TO NAME A FEW OF THE ETHNICITIES AND NATIONAL ORIGINS THAT ARE PART OF OUR STORY AS THE ELLIS ISLAND OF THE SOUTHWEST. SO IT REALLY IS A PLEASURE FOR ME TO PRESENT AND READ THIS RESOLUTION, WHICH

[00:50:01]

WHEREAS EL PASO BLACK HALL OF FAME HAS BEEN ESTABLISHED BY BLACK EL PASO VOICE TO HONOR AND RECOGNIZE INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE MADE SIGNIFICANT CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE COMMUNITY, ENCOURAGING UNITY AND INSPIRATION. AND WHEREAS THE INAUGURAL CLASS OF INDUCTEES INCLUDES 17 DISTINGUISHED LEADERS WHO HAVE SHAPED EL PASO'S CULTURAL, CIVIC AND PROFESSIONAL LANDSCAPE, EMBODYING THE SPIRIT OF EXCELLENCE AND DEDICATION. AND WHEREAS THESE INDUCTEES HAVE DEMONSTRATED REMARKABLE ACHIEVEMENTS IN VARIOUS FIELDS, LEAVING LASTING IMPACTS ON THE COMMUNITY AND INSPIRING FUTURE GENERATIONS. AND WHEREAS MAJOR GENERAL EDWARD GREER, ONE OF THE ARMY'S FIRST BLACK GENERAL OFFICERS AND DISTINGUISHED MEMBER OF THE INAUGURAL CLASS, SADLY PASSED AWAY ON JANUARY 29TH, 2025, AT THE AGE OF 100, LEAVING BEHIND A LEGACY OF SERVICE AND LEADERSHIP THAT WILL CONTINUE TO INSPIRE FUTURE GENERATIONS. AND NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, THAT EL PASO COUNTY JUDGE AND COMMISSIONERS COURT PROUDLY RECOGNIZE THE INAUGURAL EL PASO BLACK HALL OF FAME INDUCTION AND HONOR THE 17 INAUGURAL INDUCTEES FOR THEIR OUTSTANDING CONTRIBUTIONS AND ACHIEVEMENTS, INCLUDING THE POSTHUMOUS RECOGNITION OF MAJOR GENERAL EDWARD GREER. AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT THE MONTH OF MARCH 2025 IS OFFICIALLY CELEBRATED AS INAUGURAL EL PASO BLACK HALL OF FAME INDUCTION MONTH IN EL PASO COUNTY, TEXAS, INSPIRING UNITY, PROGRESS, AND THE CELEBRATION OF BLACK EXCELLENCE IN OUR COMMUNITY. THE INAUGURAL CLASS IS MARIANNE BENNETT, RETIRED EDUCATOR AND COACH. SHERRY COLEMAN, PROMINENT BUSINESSWOMAN AND COMMUNITY ACTIVIST. EDWARD GREER, ARMY MAJOR GENERAL. POSTHUMOUS FRANCIS HILLS, RETIRED SUPERVISORY MATHEMATICIAN, SYSTEMS ANALYST AT FORT BLISS AND COMMUNITY VOLUNTEER CYNTHIA D HORTON, A LEADER IN BUSINESS, MENTORSHIP AND COMMUNITY. AARON JONES, NFL FOOTBALL PLAYER, SUPPORTER OF YOUTH INITIATIVES AND COMMUNITY PHILANTHROPISTS ALVIN JONES, FORMER NFL PLAYER, SUPPORTER OF YOUTH INITIATIVES AND COMMUNITY PHILANTHROPIST JUAN LAWSON, THE FIRST BLACK PHD PROFESSOR AT THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT EL PASO AND ESTEEMED FAITH LEADER. AND DANA PITTARD, RETIRED ARMY MAJOR GENERAL AND FIRST BLACK COMMANDING GENERAL OF FORT BLISS CFS. DUSTY RHODES, A RETIRED ARMY LIEUTENANT COLONEL AND CITY OFFICIAL, SIGN THIS 10TH DAY OF MARCH 2025, THE HONORABLE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS COURT. WE HAVE A MOTION FROM COMMISSIONER STOUT AND A SECOND FROM JUDGE SAMANIEGO. THE VOTING IS OPEN. COMMISSIONER STOUT, THANK YOU. MOTION CARRIES. WELCOME. THANK YOU TO THE COMMISSIONERS COURT. JUDGE AND EVERYONE FOR THIS RESOLUTION. IN HONOR OF THE INAUGURAL INDUCTEES. THIS WAS IMPORTANT FOR US TO DO. IT'S BEEN A PLAN IN THE MAKING FOR SEVERAL YEARS. WHEN I FIRST GOT HERE IN EL PASO AND WANTED TO PARTICIPATE IN BEING A PART OF ELEVATING THE BLACK COMMUNITY IN EL PASO, AND I CAME HERE AS A MILITARY FAMILY MEMBER IN 96 AND WANTED TO LEAVE. BUT THEN I GOT INVOLVED IN THE EL PASO COMMUNITY AND SAW THAT THERE WAS DEFINITELY A NEED HERE TO ELEVATE THE COMMUNITY AND FOR US TO UNDERSTAND THOSE WHO PAVED THE WAY FOR US, AND THAT'S WHAT WE WANTED TO CONTINUE TO DO. THIS YEAR WAS THE FIRST TIME WE WERE ABLE TO DO THAT, AND IT'S BEEN AN HONOR GETTING TO KNOW SOME OF THOSE WHO WHO DID PAVE THE WAY. THIS BEING OUR FIRST YEAR, WE PLAN TO DO THIS EVERY YEAR, AND WITH NEXT YEAR BEING WHERE WE INDUCT EIGHT INDIVIDUALS, NOT AS MANY AS THIS YEAR, BUT WE DID WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE SET THE SET THE STANDARD FOR THOSE WHO, AGAIN, DID PAVE THE WAY. AND IT'S BEEN AN HONOR JUST LISTENING TO THE STORIES THAT SOME OF THEM HAVE BEEN ABLE TO TELL, AND TO INCLUDE BISHOP JOHNNY WASHINGTON AS ONE OF THE PROMINENT LEADERS WITH THE NAACP FOR MANY YEARS. AND WE WANT TO BE ABLE TO TELL THE TELL THEIR STORIES. AND THIS IS ONE WAY THAT WE'RE GOING TO BE ABLE TO ASSIST WITH THAT, TO CARRY ON THE LEGACY AND TO ACKNOWLEDGE THOSE IN CHRONOLOGICAL ORDER, THOSE WHO HAVE MADE A DIFFERENCE HERE IN EL PASO AND CONTINUE TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE HERE IN EL PASO. SO WE THANK YOU FOR HONORING THEM. AND I'M GOING TO HAVE ONE OF OUR KEY MEMBERS OF OUR BLACK EL PASO VOICE, WHO IS ALSO AN ARMY RETIRED ARMY VETERAN, CURTIS SMITH, WHO DOES A LOT HERE IN THE COMMUNITY AND HELPS US TO CONTINUE TO SHARE THE IMPORTANCE OF BLACK EXISTENCE, ESPECIALLY DURING THIS TIME IN OUR NATION WHERE OUR HISTORY IS WANTING TO BE ERASED. SO IT'S UP TO US TO

[00:55:04]

[01:00:06]

JUDGE. EXCUSE ME. I JUST WANTED TO THANK YOU ALL ONCE AGAIN FOR ALL THAT YOU DO FOR, FOR THIS COMMUNITY AND FOR UPLIFTING THIS BEAUTIFUL AND AMAZING CULTURE AND THE AMAZING HISTORY, THE ALL OF THE THINGS THAT THAT YOUR COMMUNITY HAS, HAS BROUGHT TO EL PASO. AND, YOU KNOW, I'M JUST I'M JUST HAPPY TO BE TO BE PART OF THIS AND BE ABLE TO SPONSOR A RESOLUTION LIKE THIS. AND I WILL CONTINUE TO SUPPORT YOU ALL AS LONG AS I CAN. THANK YOU SO MUCH. AND YOU HAVE TO GIVE THEM YOUR CANDY.

YEAH, LET'S DO IT.

ITEM NUMBER FIVE D APPROVE AN ADOPT A RESOLUTION RECOGNIZING AND HONORING THE SERVICE OF SERGEANT MAJOR CURTIS LEE BROWN IN EL PASO COUNTY, TEXAS. WELL, SPEAKING OF GREAT, INCREDIBLE

[D. Approve and adopt a resolution recognizing and honoring the service of Sergeant Major Curtis Lee Brown in El Paso County, Texas. Ricardo A. Samaniego, County Judge, County Judge's Office, 915-273-3591]

[01:05:04]

SERGEANT MAJOR BROWN IS AN INSPIRATION OF THOSE WHO CURRENTLY BEAR THE BURDEN OF DEFENDING OUR NATION. SIGNED THIS 10TH DAY OF MARCH 2025, WE HAVE A MOTION FROM JUDGE SAMANIEGO AND A SECOND FROM COMMISSIONER OLGUIN. THE VOTING IS OPEN. MOTION CARRIES.

WELCOME. THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. IT IS SUCH AN HONOR TO BE HERE. MY NAME IS RENATA BROWN. I AM SERGEANT MAJOR CURTIS BROWN'S DAUGHTER. IT IS AN HONOR. IT IS A PLEASURE. I THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. I THANK YOU FOR THE PROCLAMATION. AND I HAVE LEARNED SO MUCH FROM MY FATHER OVER MY X NUMBER OF YEARS. HE IS A MAN OF HONOR, INTEGRITY, GRATITUDE, LOVE. AND AFTER AFTER HIM BEING ON THIS EARTH FOR 100 YEARS, IT IS A PLEASURE TO BE HIS DAUGHTER. LIKE YOU SAID, HE HAS SERVED HIS COUNTRY. HE HAS SERVED HIS COMMUNITY AND IT IS JUST. IT IS JUST GRATITUDE THAT I STAND HERE TODAY. HE COULD NOT BE HERE THIS MORNING, BUT HE THANKS YOU FOR GIVING HIM THIS PROCLAMATION. AND THE FAMILY THANKS YOU. AND WE HONOR HIM. WE HONORED HIM ON. SATURDAY AND HE IS JUST SO EXCITED. TEN DECADES. IT'S JUST LIKE, YOU KNOW, HE SAYS IT IT WENT BY FAST. AND I CAN IMAGINE FOR SOMEONE WHO'S GONE THROUGH 17 PRESIDENTS, YOU KNOW, FOR HIM THAT IS A LIFETIME. IT'S A IT'S JUST A LIFETIME OF SERVICE. AND WHEN I LOOK BACK ON MY LIFE WITH HIM, YOU KNOW, I CAN'T EVEN COUNT THE NUMBER OF PRESIDENTS THAT THAT, THAT I'VE, YOU KNOW, VOTED FOR.

HE CAN NAME EVERYONE FROM CALVIN COOLIDGE. AND I WAS LIKE, CALVIN COOLIDGE, YOU KNOW, I HAVE TO LOOK BACK ON THE DATE OF CALVIN COOLIDGE. BUT HE IS AN HONORABLE MAN AND A MAN OF DEEP FEELING, A MAN OF GOD. AND WE JUST THANK YOU. THE FAMILY THANKS YOU FOR THIS PRIVILEGE OF. OF WHAT? WHAT YOU HAVE DONE FOR HIM. AND WE JUST WE JUST THANK YOU VERY MUCH. WELL THANK YOU. IT'S OBVIOUS THAT THE FRUIT DOESN'T FALL FAR FROM THE TREE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. JUDGE.

COMMISSIONERS. WELL, I'M SORRY, I'M A LITTLE LOUD. THANK YOU FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY. I AM THE POST

[01:10:01]

AND I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU. ONE THING THAT WAS LEFT OUT OF THE RESOLUTION, AND I APOLOGIZE BECAUSE I KIND OF WROTE IT, BUT THE RESOLUTION SHOULD HAVE SAID THAT HIS DEDICATION TO THE SERVICE AND HIS COUNTRY WENT ABOVE HIS OWN PERSONAL GRATIFICATION AND WANTS. IN 1949, CURTIS RETIRED SERGEANT MAJOR CURTIS BROWN TRIED OUT FOR THE CHICAGO CUBS AND MADE THE TEAM, BUT HE HAD JUST RE-ENLISTED AND HE SAID, YOU KNOW, I'D RATHER SERVE MY COUNTRY THAN PLAY PROFESSIONAL BASEBALL FOR THE REST OF MY CAREER. THAT SHOULD SAY ENOUGH.

AND MISTER OMAR SAID, SOMETHING IS TO KNOW HIM, TO LOVE HIM OR TO KNOW. YEAH. TO KNOW CURTIS IS TO LOVE CURTIS. AND THE MOMENT YOU MEET THIS GENTLEMAN, IT'S THERE. HE'S LOOKING YOU IN THE EYES. HE'S HE'S CONVERSING WITH YOU. AND THAT BOND IS, IS ALMOST IMMEDIATELY. AND I'VE SEEN IT OVER A DECADE NOW. I'VE BEEN YOU KNOW, I'M SAYING CORRESPONDING WITH CURTIS BROWN AND I DO CALL HIM DAD. I ALSO CALL HIM BROTHER, I CALL HIM WE'RE IN THE SAME FRATERNITY TO, YOU KNOW, CALL HIM ALL THESE TITLES. BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY, HE'S CURTIS BROWN. HE'LL TELL YOU I'M CURTIS BROWN AND THAT'S IT. I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU AGAIN. IT'S AN HONOR TO BE ABLE TO GO AND PRESENT THIS TO HIM IN A COUPLE HOURS, BECAUSE I KNOW HE'S HE'S TIRED. HE'S TIRED.

HE'S BEEN GOING SINCE, WHAT, MONDAY LAST WEEK WITH ALL THE FAMILY IS GERMANY. FAMILY CAME IN. IT'S GOING TO BE A BEAUTIFUL DAY TODAY. WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO HONOR THIS MAN THAT GAVE SO MUCH FOR THIS COUNTRY. THANK YOU. AND THANK YOU BOTH FOR THOSE BEAUTIFUL WORDS. YOU KNOW, LINDA MAYS WAS THE FIRST TO BRING THE TENSION TO ME ABOUT SERGEANT MAJOR OR COMMAND SERGEANT MAJOR AND WAS NOT ABLE TO BE HERE BECAUSE SHE'S UNDER THE WEATHER. BUT I THANK HER AS WELL TO THAT. WE GET TO KNOW THIS INCREDIBLE GENTLEMAN, AND I FELT VERY JEALOUS THAT I SAW THE MAYOR WAS WITH HIM. AND SO NOW I HAVE TO MAKE EVERY EFFORT BECAUSE I HAVE NOT. I THOUGHT I'D BE ABLE TO MEET HIM TODAY, BUT I'LL MAKE EVERY EFFORT TO MEET HIM IN PERSON. AND JUST TO THANK HIM, I MEAN, THOSE ROLE MODELS ARE EXTREMELY IMPORTANT. WE'RE LOSING MORE AND MORE ROLE MODELS. OUR COMMUNITIES SORT OF, OR OUR SOCIETY IS GOING IN A DIFFERENT DIRECTION. AND THEN WE COULD SORT OF ALLUDE TO INDIVIDUALS LIKE, LIKE, LIKE, LIKE YOUR FATHER TO SHOW WHAT IT MEANS TO NOT ONLY ARE THEY INCREDIBLE DURING THE SERVICE AND THE MILITARY, BUT AFTER THEY LEAVE THE MILITARY, THEY BECOME, YOU KNOW, JUST VERY VALUABLE TO US BECAUSE THEY'RE ABLE TO HAVE THE KIND OF LEADERSHIP AND THE KIND OF TRAINING THAT MOST PEOPLE DON'T HAVE. AND THANK GOD THAT, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE THAT GET RECOGNIZED LIKE HIM. AND THEN HE SHARES THAT INFORMATION, SHARES THAT KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE WITH THE REST OF THE COMMUNITY. WE'RE VERY HONORED BY BY THAT.

SO WE THANK YOU. THANK YOU BOTH FOR BEING HERE. I LOOK FORWARD TO GETTING TO MEET MEET HIM IN PERSON. IT'LL BE A GREAT HONOR FOR MYSELF. SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU.

MR. YOUR HONOR.

[01:15:15]

[E. Approve and adopt a resolution recognizing El Paso Boxer Stephanie Han for winning the WBA Lightweight Title and maintaining her unbeaten record of 10-0. Ricardo A. Samaniego, County Judge, County Judge's Office, 915-273-3591]

JUDGE, YOU'D LIKE TO POSTPONE THIS ITEM FOR TWO WEEKS. OKAY. WE HAVE A MOTION FROM JUDGE SAMANIEGO AND A SECOND FROM COMMISSIONER OLGUIN. THE VOTING IS OPEN. SHE TOO WAS UNDER THE WEATHER, SO WE'LL POSTPONE. COMMISSIONER BUTLER HAS STEPPED OUT OF THE MEETING. MOTION CARRIES. ITEM NUMBER SIX IS PUBLIC COMMENT. WE HAVE THREE SPEAKERS THIS MORNING FOR PUBLIC COMMENT. WE'D LIKE TO START WITH MISS ELIZABETH CRAWFORD. I'D JUST LIKE TO REMIND ALL SPEAKERS FOR PUBLIC COMMENT THAT PUBLIC COMMENT IS LIMITED TO FIVE

[6. PUBLIC COMMENT]

GOOD MORNING. THANK YOU. GOOD MORNING EL PASO AS WE KNOW IN MARCH IS CELEBRATING MARCH AS WOMEN'S HISTORY MONTH IN MARCH, JEWISH COMMUNITIES AROUND THE WORLD AND LOCALLY CELEBRATE PURIM. IT'S A REMEMBRANCE OF THE ACCOUNT OF THE BOOK OF ESTHER IN THE HEBREW SCRIPTURES, ONE OF THE MOST FASCINATING BOOKS IN THE BIBLE. ESPECIALLY INTERESTING BECAUSE THE NAME OF GOD IS NOT DIRECTLY MENTIONED EVEN ONCE BY THE HAND OF GOD'S PROVIDENTIAL PROTECTION OF HIS PEOPLE, IS THE THEME OF THE BOOK. FROM START TO FINISH, GOD'S PEOPLE, THE JEWS WERE ONCE AGAIN IN CAPTIVITY BECAUSE OF THEIR SIN, LIVING UNDER GOD'S PUNISHMENT, THIS TIME UNDER PERSIAN RULE AND THE YEARS AROUND 400 BC, BEFORE CHRIST'S ADVENT, THE YOUNG JEWISH LADY ESTHER WAS RAISED UP TO BE QUEEN, AND HER RELATIVE MORDECAI HAD ADVISED HER TO HIDE HER JEWISH IDENTITY. THE MAN MORDECAI BOLDLY REFUSED TO BOW DOWN TO THE EVIL LEADER HAMAN, AND SUBSEQUENTLY HAMAN SET IN MOTION A PLOT TO DESTROY ALL THE JEWS IN THE KINGDOM. AT THE RISK OF HER LIFE, QUEEN ESTHER WENT BEFORE KING AHASUERUS TO PLEAD FOR THE LIVES OF HER PEOPLE. GOD MIRACULOUSLY SAVED THE JEWS FROM DESTRUCTION, AND THE ENEMIES OF ISRAEL WERE THEN DESTROYED. I WANT HER TO JEWISH PERSON, SAY, IF YOU WANT TO UNDERSTAND THE JEWISH CELEBRATIONS AND THE BLUEPRINT OF THE JEWISH FESTIVALS, HERE'S A SUMMARY. IT'S HAPPENED OVER AND OVER AGAIN. PEOPLE SET OUT TO DESTROY THE JEWS. GOD INTERVENED. ISRAEL HAS BEEN SPARED. WE REMEMBER AND WE CELEBRATE AS THERE'S AN AWESOME ACCOUNT OF THE LORD'S INTERVENTION IN HUMAN AFFAIRS.

ONE OF THE KEY VERSES OF THE BOOK OF ESTHER IS ESTHER 414. ESTHER'S RELATIVE, MORDECAI, CHALLENGES HER WITH THESE WORDS, FOR IF YOU ALTOGETHER HOLD YOUR PEACE AT THIS TIME, THEN SHALL THERE ENLARGEMENT OR RELIEF AND DELIVERANCE ARISE TO THE JEWS FROM ANOTHER PLACE. BUT YOU AND YOUR FATHER'S HOUSE SHALL BE DESTROYED. AND WHO KNOWS WHETHER YOU ARE COME TO THE KINGDOM FOR A TIME AS THIS FOR SUCH A TIME AS THIS. GOD RAISED UP ESTHER TO STOP THE GENOCIDE OF THE JEWS.

THROUGH THIS WOMAN'S HEROIC DEEDS. ISRAEL WAS NOT WIPED OUT. ISRAEL WAS MIRACULOUSLY SAVED.

LAST, WHILE I HAD THE PRIVILEGE OF SPENDING A LITTLE TIME IN FLORIDA AND MET A YOUNG LADY, KIERA FROM ORLANDO, KIERA, 20 YEARS OLD, SMART, GIFTED, COULD GO ANY ROUTE SHE CHOSE. SHE IS CHOSEN TO GIVE HER LIFE TO SAVE LIVES IN FLORIDA. ABORTION WAS ON THE NOVEMBER BALLOT. IF PASSED, AMENDMENT FOUR WOULD HAVE ENSHRINED ABORTION TILL BIRTH INTO THE FLORIDA CONSTITUTION. KIERA AND HER BROTHER, ALONG WITH MANY OTHER PRECIOUS PEOPLE FROM FLORIDA AND ALL OVER THE COUNTRY, SAID ABSOLUTELY NOT. KIERA WORKED TIRELESSLY TO GET THE WORD OUT, TO VOTE NO ON AMENDMENT FOUR AND TO SAVE THE BABIES. SHE SET ASIDE MONTHS OF HER LIFE TO THIS AND HER BROTHER, A YOUNG MAN WHO LIVED IN ANOTHER PART OF FLORIDA, FUNDED MUCH OF THE EFFORT. INTERESTINGLY, THERE WAS ANOTHER MAN, MICHAEL, WHO LIVES IN THE PENSACOLA AREA OF FLORIDA. HE HAS ROOTS IN EL PASO, AND INTERESTING IS RELATED TO A US LEGISLATOR FROM EL PASO WHO IS ANYTHING BUT PRO-LIFE. BUT MICHAEL WORKED DAY AND NIGHT FROM HIS END OF FLORIDA TO PREVENT THIS PRO-ABORTION AMENDMENT IN FLORIDA. BY GOD'S MERCY, AMENDMENT FOUR FAILED.

THE AVALANCHE OF ABORTION HAS BEEN HELD. BACK IN FLORIDA. I TEXTED KIERA LATELY TO ASK IF SHE WAS OKAY THAT I SPEAK ABOUT HER. AS MARCH IS DESIGNATED AS WOMEN'S HISTORY MONTH, SHE TEXTED ME BACK. SHE WASN'T OPPOSED TO IT, BUT SHE THOUGHT I HAD MUCH BETTER CHOICES OF YOUNG LADIES TO SPEAK ABOUT AS SHE HAS NEVER SAVED A BABY. SHE WAS REFERENCING THE SIDEWALK TEENS WHO GET TO SAVE BABIES FIRSTHAND. I COULDN'T BELIEVE HER ANSWER, AND I TEXTED HER RIGHT BACK, KIERA, GOD HAS USED YOU TO SAVE COUNTLESS BABIES. I CAN'T BEGIN TO IMAGINE HOW MANY BABIES LIVES WILL BE SAVED THIS YEAR THROUGH THE WORK AGAINST THE ABORTION TILL BIRTH LEGISLATION. THE WORDS OF CHRIST IN MATTHEW 16 DESCRIBE WHAT TRUE DISCIPLESHIP LOOKS LIKE. THESE

[01:20:04]

OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS DON SHELTON. GOOD MORNING. HOW ARE YOU? GOOD MORNING, MR. SHELTON. THANK YOU, THANK YOU. THE REASON I'M CALLING IS BECAUSE I CAME ACROSS AN ARTICLE THIS PAST WEEKEND, AND I JUST READ THE SUBTITLE TO YOU. I JUST WANT TO KNOW IF THE COUNTY IS GOING TO EXPLAIN THIS LATER ON. IT SAID THE EL PASO CARRIES OVER 1 BILLION IN NON VOTER APPROVED CERTIFICATES OF OBLIGATIONS. EACH VOTER WHO LIVES IN EL PASO COUNTY OWES $1,371 AND 50, EXCUSE ME, $0.54 IN NON VOTER APPROVED DEBT. AND THOSE WHO LIVED IN THE CITY LIMITS OWE AN ADDITIONAL $484.38 PER PERSON. FIRST OF ALL, I WANT TO KNOW IF THAT'S TRUE. AND SECOND OF ALL, HOW DID THIS COME ABOUT? AND LASTLY, WHAT'S THE RESOLUTION ON THIS? AND ONE MORE POINT ON FOOTNOTE I'D LIKE TO MAKE IS WHEN YOU GUYS WERE TALKING ABOUT THE COLISEUM A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO, I NOTICED THAT MR. COMMISSIONER DAVID STOUT WAS TAKING REALLY ABRASIVE ACTION TOWARD IT, AND HE WAS DISPLEASED ON SEVERAL COMMENTS MADE TOWARD HIM ABOUT IT. I THINK HIS ACTIONS WERE A LITTLE BIT UNPROFESSIONAL, AND HE SPOUT FOR A VERY LONG TIME IN REGARDS TO THAT. I WOULD HOPE HE WOULD RECONSIDER AND THINK ABOUT THE REASONING. WHAT HE'S DOING IS IT'S EXPENSIVE, AND I DON'T BELIEVE THAT THE PEOPLE IN EL PASO ULTIMATELY CAN AFFORD THIS. AND I'VE NOTICED MYSELF, WHO'S RETIRED MILITARY AND A SUBSTITUTE TEACHER, NOTICED A LOT OF TEACHERS ARE NOT RESIDING HERE ANYMORE BECAUSE IT'S TOO MUCH, TOO EXPENSIVE, AND THEY LIVE ELSEWHERE. AND I NOTICED THAT A LOT OF CITIZENS THAT ARE HAVING TO DO THAT FROM EL PASO MOVING OUT. SO I THINK THE TAXATION NEEDS TO BE CURBED A LITTLE BIT IN ORDER TO SAVE CITIZENS FROM LEAVING THIS EL PASO. AND I COME TO GROWN TO LOVE EL PASO. I'M NOT FROM THE UNITED STATES. I'M FROM FROM SPAIN. AND I ENLISTED IN THE ARMY FOR 23 YEARS. SO I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU GUYS ARE REALLY THINK ABOUT WHAT WE NEED TO DO TO IMPROVE EL PASO, BUT NOT, YOU KNOW, KEEP ON TAXING IT. THAT'S ALL I REALLY HAD TO SAY. I KIND OF SPOUT A LITTLE BIT TOO LONG, BUT I APPRECIATE YOU ALLOWING ME TO SPEAK TO YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME, SIR. APPRECIATE IT. OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS MISS MARCY CHAVEZ. WELCOME, MRS. CHAVEZ. GOOD MORNING. GOOD MORNING. I'M HERE TO SPEAK ABOUT OUR UTILITIES AS AS A RESIDENT OF EL PASO. AND AS WE ALL KNOW, THE UTILITIES JUST KEEP RISING AND RISING AND RISING TO THE FACT THAT PEOPLE THAT LIVE UNDER FIXED INCOME CAN'T AFFORD IT ANYMORE. YOU GO AND SPEAK TO THESE UTILITIES.

AND I'M SAYING NOW ALL THREE. HE USED TO BE JUST WATER AND ELECTRIC COMPANY. NOW THE GAS COMPANY HAS GOTTEN ON BOARD WITH THEM WITH THE RIDICULOUS AMOUNTS OF DOLLARS THAT THEY'RE CHARGING US. I'VE BEEN PAYING SINCE LAST YEAR, 200, 300, 400 ON WATER ELECTRIC, WHERE NOW THE BILL HAS GONE UP TO $1,000 ON A RENTAL HOUSE AND A SMALL HOUSE BECAUSE I DON'T LIVE IN A BIG HOUSE. MY POINT TO ALL THIS IS THAT IT IS NOT RIGHT THAT HERE WE ARE HAVING REPRESENTATIVES, YOU KNOW, OF GOVERNMENT, AND THIS IS NOT TAKEN INTO CONSIDERATION OF TAKING IT UP TO WHOEVER YOU ALL NEED TO TAKE IT UP TO. I HAVE THIS BILL THAT I JUST PAID AND ALL THESE FEES THAT GOD ONLY KNOWS WHERE THEY COME FROM OR WHY WE'RE PAYING FOR THEM. FOR EXAMPLE, COST OF GAS $75.16.

OKAY. CUSTOMER CHARGE $36.54. LOOK AT THE AMOUNT THAT I'M PAYING ON FEES OTHER THAN VERSUS

[01:25:06]

SO I WOULD APPRECIATE IT IF YOU CAN LOOK INTO THIS MATTER BECAUSE IT'S GETTING VERY RIDICULOUS. THEIR FEES I'M TALKING ABOUT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MRS. CLOVIS.

ITEM NUMBER SEVEN A FROM THE REGULAR AGENDA TO CONSIDER AND ACCEPT THE WRITTEN APPLICATION FOR THE INCORPORATION OF A HOUSING FINANCE CORPORATION PURSUANT TO TEXAS LOCAL

[A. Consider and accept the Written Application for the Incorporation of a Housing Finance Corporation, pursuant to Texas Local Government Code Section 394.011(a). Betsy C. Keller, Chief Administrator, County Administration, 915-273-3600]

[01:30:01]

JUST FOR THIS ONE. OKAY. AT THIS TIME, COMMISSIONERS COURT WILL RECESS INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION TO DISCUSS ITEM SEVEN, A PURSUANT TO TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE, SECTION 55 1.071, COMMISSIONERS COURT WILL RECONVENE TO TAKE OFFICIAL ACTION. IT IS 11:01 A.M.

[7A-1 - Into Executive Session]

[01:35:16]

[01:40:03]

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 AND AS WELL AS THE LOWER VALLEY TO MAKE SURE THAT WE BRING THESE ESSENTIAL SERVICES TO THE COMMUNITY. TWO AND THREE. 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 THE 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'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 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, THE 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. SO 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

[01:45:03]

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. I DON'T WANT A LOT FOR CHRISTMAS WHERE 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. AND THEN THIS IS THE FIRST ONE. OH, I THINK I LIKE 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, THE LITTLE SET UP FOR THE PICTURES. AND IT'S PRETTY PRETTY NICE. RUDOLPH THE RED-NOSED REINDEER. HAD A VERY SHINY NOSE. AND EL PASO IS A BEAUTIFUL PLACE. WE 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.

THANK.

YOU.

[01:52:49]

WE'RE SITTING ON A GOLD MINE. THIS IS A THIS IS A JAM. 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

[01:55:06]

CESAR. GO AHEAD. COMMISSIONERS COURT HAS RECONVENED INTO REGULAR OPEN SESSION. WE ARE ON ITEM NUMBER SEVEN A CONSIDER AND ACCEPT THE WRITTEN APPLICATION FOR THE INCORPORATION OF A HOUSING FINANCE CORPORATION PURSUANT TO TEXAS LOCAL GOVERNMENT CODE SECTION THREE,

[7A-2 - Consider and accept the Written Application for the Incorporation of a Housing Finance Corporation, pursuant to Texas Local Government Code Section 394.011(a). Betsy C. Keller, Chief Administrator, County Administration, 915-273-3600]

IT IS A NONPROFIT CORPORATION. THE FIRST ACTION THAT WOULD BE REQUIRED TO MOVE FORWARD IS TO ACCEPT THE WRITTEN APPLICATION OF THE INCORPORATION OF INCORPORATION FOR THE HOUSING FINANCE CORPORATION, AND THIS IS BEING SUBMITTED BY COUNTY JUDGE SAMANIEGO, COMMISSIONER OLGUIN, AND MISS BETSY KELLER. THE LAW REQUIRES THAT IT BE DONE BY THREE INDIVIDUALS OVER THE AGE OF 18 THAT ARE RESIDENTS OF THE COUNTY, AND SO, THEREFORE, YOUR FIRST ACTION TO ESSENTIALLY INCORPORATE WOULD BE TO ACCEPT THE WRITTEN APPLICATION FOR INCORPORATION. WE HAVE A MOTION FROM JUDGE SAMANIEGO AND A SECOND FROM COMMISSIONER CORONADO. VOTING IS OPEN. MOTION CARRIES. ITEM OKAY. ITEM NUMBER SEVEN BE. RESCIND THE COMMISSIONERS COURT ORDER OF MARCH 3RD, 2025 PERTAINING TO ITEM NUMBER EIGHT A FOR THE SELECTION OF THREE INDIVIDUALS TO INCORPORATE THE HOUSING FINANCE CORPORATION AND DESIGNATE A REGISTERED AGENT.

[B. Rescind the Commissioners Court Order of March 3, 2025 pertaining to Item No. 8A, for the selection of three (3) individuals to incorporate the Housing Finance Corporation and designate a registered Agent.  Further, designate County Judge Ricardo Samaniego, Commissioner Iliana Holguin and Chief Administrator Betsy Keller as the incorporators of the El Paso County Housing Finance Corporation and designate the Chief Administrator to serve as the Registered Agent. Betsy C. Keller, Chief Administrator, County Administration, 915-273-3600]

[02:00:02]

[C. Pursuant to Texas Local Government Code Section 394.011(b), approve and authorize the County Judge to sign the Resolution finding that formation of the El Paso County Housing Finance Corporation is wise, expedient, necessary, and advisable and further approve the form of the proposed articles of incorporation of the corporation.  Finally, approve and authorize any other actions necessary, required, or prudent in connection with the formation, organization, and operation of the housing finance corporation, including the filing of the Articles of Incorporation. Betsy C. Keller, Chief Administrator, County Administration, 915-273-3600]

THE MAJORITY OF THE PROPERTIES THAT ARE GOING TO BE PART OF THIS PROJECT, DO WE KNOW WHERE THEY'RE. DO WE KNOW WHERE THEY'RE LOCATED? THE MAJORITY OF THEM ARE WITHIN THE CITY OF EL PASO. THEY'RE INSIDE. INSIDE THE CITY? YES. AND BUT I BELIEVE MAJORITY OF UNITS, WE HAVE THAT BREAKDOWN. GIVE ME ONE SECOND.

PRECINCT ONE HAS 1523 APARTMENTS. PRECINCT TWO HAS 2302 APARTMENTS. PRECINCT THREE HAS 650. PRECINCT FOUR HAS 654. THAT'S THE NUMBER OF AFFORDABLE UNITS BY PRECINCT. WE HAVE A MOTION FROM JUDGE SAMANIEGO AND A SECOND FROM COMMISSIONER CORONADO. THE VOTING IS OPEN.

[02:05:04]

[D. Approve and adopt the Bylaws of the El Paso County Housing Finance Corporation. Betsy C. Keller, Chief Administrator, County Administration, 915-273-3600]

THANK YOU. JUDGE AND COMMISSIONERS. ITEM NUMBER EIGHT A COUNTY ADMINISTRATION. RECEIVE A PRESENTATION, DISCUSS AND TAKE APPROPRIATE ACTION REGARDING EL PASO COUNTY'S 89TH TEXAS LEGISLATIVE AGENDA AND VALUE STATEMENTS, AND PROVIDE DISCUSSION AND INPUT REGARDING FEDERAL LEGISLATIVE ITEMS FOR THE 119TH CONGRESS. GOOD MORNING. ALISA. YOU'RE ON MUTE.

YOU'RE MUTED ALISA. SORRY. HI. GOOD MORNING, JUDGE AND COMMISSIONERS. ALISA TAMAYO, GOVERNMENTAL AFFAIRS MANAGER. WE HAVE A PRESENTATION WITH TWO, TWO, TWO PARTS. ONE IS THE STATE LEGISLATIVE SESSION AND THE OTHER ONE IS THE FEDERAL UPDATE. SO I'LL TRY TO RUN THROUGH THEM AS AS FAST AS I CAN BEFORE LUNCH. JUST SOME GENERAL UPDATES. THE DEADLINE TO FILE BILLS IS THIS FRIDAY, MARCH 14TH. MOST OF OUR COUNTY PRIORITIES HAVE ALREADY BEEN FILED BY OUR STATE DELEGATION. WE ALSO HAVE ALL THE HOUSE COMMITTEES BEGAN HOLDING ORGANIZATIONAL HEARINGS LAST WEEK. THE HOUSE APPROPRIATIONS SUBCOMMITTEES BEGAN THEIR HEARINGS ON FEBRUARY THE 24TH. AND THESE ARE JUST SOME RELEVANT UPDATES FROM FROM THOSE SUBCOMMITTEE HEARINGS. OF RELEVANCE. DPS HIGHLIGHTED THEIR FOCUS ON INCREASING INVESTMENTS IN ADULT PROTECTIVE SERVICES. DSHS EMPHASIZED THE NEED FOR ADDITIONAL FUNDING FOR VACCINE AND IMMUNIZATION. EDUCATION. WE HAD SOME GOOD UPDATES FROM THE VIDEO AND FROM TXDOT. ON THE BEAD GRANT FUNDING. I KNOW CHRISTIAN IS WORKING ON THIS FOR THE COUNTY. AND THEN TEXAS PROVIDED SOME UPDATES ON SOME LEGISLATION FROM LAST SESSION AND WHAT THEY WILL BE WORKING ON THIS SESSION TO FIX. WE CAN GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE PLEASE. THESE ARE SOME HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE STATE OF THE JUDICIARY THAT WE HAD ON FEBRUARY THE 26TH. I KNOW THIS WAS AFTER MY LAST UPDATE TO YOU ALL, AND SO JUST SOME HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE STATE OF THE JUDICIARY. BASICALLY, CHIEF CHIEF JUSTICE BLACKLOCK CALLED ON LAWMAKERS TO PRIORITIZE THE JUDICIAL SALARIES, AND HE REITERATED THAT THE BASE PAY FOR DISTRICT JUDGES HAS NOT BEEN RAISED SINCE 2013. HE ALSO ASKED TO TIGHTEN RESTRICTIONS WHEN A DEFENDANT CAN BE LET OUT ON BAIL, AND SAID THAT THIS IS A THIS IS NECESSARY TO SUPPORT LAW ENFORCEMENT. AND LASTLY, HE CALLED FOR CHANGES TO REEVALUATE THE CURRENT PRACTICES WITHIN THE CHILD WELFARE SYSTEM JUST TO ALLOW FAMILIES TO STAY TOGETHER MORE EASILY. AND SAYING THAT THE COERCIVE POWER OF THE STATE WOULD DESTROY A FAMILY, THAT SHOULD NEVER BE OUR FIRST INSTINCT. NEXT SLIDE PLEASE. THERE'S SOME BILLS OF INTEREST THAT I KNOW SOME OF YOU HAVE DISCUSSED AND HAVE INTEREST IN. BUT I'M GOING TO START WITH HOUSE BILL NINE. AND THIS WAS RELATING TO AN EXEMPTION FROM AD VALOREM TAXATION OR A PORTION OF THE APPRAISED VALUE OF TANGIBLE PERSONAL PROPERTY. A PERSON PERSONAL PROPERTY THAT A PERSON

[02:10:04]

COMMISSIONER. LISA. IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING THAT THE COOK DID NOT TAKE A POSITION ON THIS AT THE MEETING. YES. THAT'S CORRECT. THEY THEY WERE TESTIFYING NEUTRALLY ON THE BILL. SO NOT SUPPORTING, NOT OPPOSING. BUT AGAIN, WORKING WITH THE BILL AUTHORS. AND YEAH, THEY PROVIDED SOME CONTEXT AND INFORMATION ON BEHALF OF THE COUNTIES. AND WE EL PASO COUNTY DID NOT TAKE A POSITION. WELL, YOU KNOW, I'VE BEEN IN TOUCH WITH OUR CENTRAL APPRAISAL DISTRICT. AND IF THIS GOES THROUGH, IT'S GOING TO KNOCK OFF ABOUT $7 MILLION TO THE COUNTY IN TAX REVENUE. EVERY YEAR. COMMISSIONER, IF I MAY INTERJECT, MELISSA CARRILLO COUNTY OPERATIONS. THAT IS ABSOLUTELY CORRECT. COMMISSIONER. IN IN REACHING OUT WITH CENTRAL APPRAISAL, THAT IS THE ESTIMATES AT THIS POINT IN TERMS OF THE IMPACT OF HOUSE BILL NINE. ONE OF THE THINGS I JUST WANTED TO INFORM THE COURT ABOUT, THROUGH SPEAKING WITH ADAM HAYNES, THE CAC EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, WHAT HE HAS EMPHASIZED IS THE REASON THEY REMAINED NEUTRAL ON THIS PARTICULAR BILL IS BECAUSE THEY'RE WAITING OUT ON ANOTHER PROPERTY TAX BILL THAT MAY COME INTO PLAY THAT HAS YET TO BE DRAFTED, AND SO THEIR GOAL IS TO REMAIN NEUTRAL SO THAT THEY CAN WORK TO OPPOSE THE OTHER BILL. OF COURSE, THAT'S ALL UP IN THE AIR. IT HAS YET TO BE FILED, SO WE DON'T KNOW. BUT ANOTHER THING THAT MISTER HAYNES HAS COMMUNICATED IS THAT BY BY THE IMPACTS THAT ARE IMPACTED ON THE 6 TO 7 MILLION OF HB NINE, THAT IDEALLY THE NO NEW REVENUE RATE CALCULATION, THAT CENTRAL APPRAISAL WOULD HAVE TO RECALCULATE THIS YEAR WOULD INCORPORATE A CHANGE SO THAT IT WOULD INCREASE TO ALLOW FOR THE LOSS OF THE 6 TO $7 MILLION IF HB NINE DOES PASS. SO IT'S A SHIFT. AND THOSE WERE THE WORDS THAT MISTER HAYNES USED IS IT'S A SHIFT. NOW, OF COURSE, YOU COULD LOOK AT IT AND SAY, WELL THOSE IMPACTED BY HB NINE THAT ARE SAVED. ON IF YOU HAVE A HOME THAT OWNS A PERSON, RUNS A BUSINESS IN THEIR HOME, THEY WOULD BE EXEMPT, BUT THEN THE NO NEW REVENUE RATE WOULD CHANGE FOR RESIDENTS WHO DO NOT OPERATE A BUSINESS WITHIN THEIR HOME. SO THAT'S WHERE THE SHIFT OCCURS, RIGHT. AND YOU KNOW, WE JUST WE JUST SAW ABOUT A PREVIOUS BILL TO INCREASE THE SALARIES OF THE JUDGES STATEWIDE, WHICH I AGREE WITH BUT HAVEN'T BEEN GIVEN A RAISE. AND THEN NOW THEY'RE LIMITING US IN, YOU KNOW, RAISING ANY ADDITIONAL REVENUE AND HAVING TO GO OUT TO THE VOTERS TO DO THIS WHEN THEY'RE SAYING, HEY, WE'RE GOING TO PASS THIS ON TO YOU, BUT YOU BETTER. YEAH, I THINK. WE SHOULD SEND A LETTER TO THE, TO THE COMMITTEE MEMBERS AND LET THEM KNOW THAT, THAT, THAT WE'RE OPPOSED TO IT.

WE CAN WE CAN WE CAN DO THAT. WE CAN COMMUNICATE WITH THEM AT ANY AT ANY POINT DURING THE SESSION.

AND WE CAN CATCH THIS ON WHEN IT COMES TO THE SENATE AS WELL AND TALK TO THE SENATE. BUT I THINK THE YOU KNOW, THE COOK THIS IS PART OF. AN OVERALL LARGER STRATEGY WHEN IT COMES TO TRYING TO PROTECT COUNTIES AND SOME OF THE OTHER BILLS THAT MIGHT BE COMING DOWN, LIKE LIKE MELISSA STATED. AND SO I THINK IT THIS IS WHY WE HAVE THESE WE'RE MEMBERS OF THESE TYPES OF ORGANIZATIONS BECAUSE SOMETIMES WE CAN USE THEM TO WORK ON THESE THINGS AND, AND KIND OF SHIELD US. AND AT THE SAME TIME WE CAN DO OUR OWN THING. RIGHT? I THINK THAT'S THE, THE BEST WAY TO, TO DESCRIBE WHAT'S, WHAT'S HAPPENING HERE. BUT I THINK WE SHOULD BE OPPOSED TO HB NINE.

AND, AND I THINK WE SHOULD ASK ELISE AND OUR TEAM TO, TO DRAFT A LETTER AND SEND IT TO THE COMMITTEE MEMBERS. WERE YOU SURPRISED, COMMISSIONER? NOT GETTING THE SUPPORT OR. NO. I MEAN, IT'S SOMETHING THAT. THAT I KNOW I WASN'T I WASN'T SURPRISED ABOUT IT. I MEAN, I, I

[02:15:05]

YEAH. WHAT I'M SAYING IS, IS THAT SUPPLEMENT WHERE WE HAVE TO INCREASE THEM. IS THAT ALSO GOING TO BE SHIFTED TO THE INCREASE TO THE NO NEW REVENUE RATE OR NOW BECAUSE IT'S AN INCREASE NOW, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO GO OUT TO THE VOTERS BEFORE WE DO THAT. YEAH. I MEAN I MEAN, I AGREE, BUT THEY NEED THEY NEED AN INCREASE IN THEIR SALARY. BUT NOW THAT PUTS US IN A BIND THAT WE CAN'T EVEN WE WON'T GET OUR CERTIFIED VALUES TO AUGUST 1ST. WE DO OUR BUDGET BEFORE THAT. SO WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO? TWO BUDGETS AND THEN HAVE TO GO OUT TO THE VOTERS IN NOVEMBER FOR ANY INCREASE AND THEN SEND OUT NOTICES AGAIN, AN EXTRA COST. I YOU KNOW. YEAH. YEAH. I MEAN IT'S MORE, MORE, MORE UNFUNDED. YEAH. YEAH. THAT'S WHY I THINK BOTH OF THEM ARE DETRIMENTAL TO THE COUNTIES. AND WE OUGHT TO WE OUGHT TO STAND UP TO IT. I AGREE. CAN I ASK A QUESTION REALLY QUICKLY? I AGREE THAT WE NEED TO OPPOSE HB NINE. BUT, LISA, CAN YOU GIVE US A LITTLE BIT MORE INFORMATION? WHAT ARE THE DISCUSSIONS THAT ARE HAVING HAPPENING REGARDING THE AMOUNT? BECAUSE I YOU MENTIONED THAT YOU DON'T THINK IT'LL PASS WITH THE CURRENT AMOUNT THAT'S IN THE BILL, BUT WHAT ARE SOME OF THOSE DISCUSSIONS THAT ARE HAPPENING? YEAH. SO I'VE HEARD THAT IT'S GOING TO BE A LOWER AMOUNT THAN THE $250,000, BUT NOTHING IS FORMAL YET. AND I CAN CONFIRM WITH WITH QC TO SEE WHAT THEY HAVE HEARD ABOUT THIS. AND AS SOON AS I GET THAT INFORMATION, I'LL MAKE SURE THAT YOU ALL ALSO RECEIVE THAT. BUT YEAH, THAT WAS THE INITIAL AMOUNT WAS $250,000. AND THEN I THINK IT'S LOWER. YEAH. NOW WE NEED TO OPPOSE IT FOR SURE. AND LISA DID THAT. DID THE BILL PASS OUT OF COMMITTEE LAST WEEK OR WAS IT LEFT. NO, IT'S GOING TO BE VOTED OUT. TODAY IS WHAT WE'RE HEARING. SO HOW I MEAN HOUSE WAYS AND MEANS WILL BE MEETING TODAY. AND THEN I'LL LET YOU KNOW HOW THAT VOTE GOES. OKAY. YEAH. SO I MEAN, I THINK SO THAT IF WE WANT TO BE ON THE RECORD, THEN WE NEED TO SEND A LETTER OR HAVE YOU DROP A CARD. IS THERE A POSSIBILITY TO DROP A CARD IN THE HEARING TODAY? THERE IS NOT GOING TO BE HEARD AGAIN. IT WAS ALREADY HEARD LAST WEEK, BUT THEY WILL VOTE IT. IT SOUNDS LIKE THE COMMITTEE MIGHT VOTE IT OUT OF COMMITTEE TODAY. BUT AS YOU KNOW, LIKE WHEN THEY THEY VOTE, THEY DON'T HAVE HEARINGS ANYMORE. WHAT WE COULD DO IS WE COULD WRITE A LETTER AND THEN SEND IT TO OUR DELEGATION TO LET THEM KNOW THAT WE OPPOSE. YEAH. SINCE OUR DELEGATION AND THE MEMBERS OF THE OF THE COMMITTEE, I THINK. RIGHT. YES. YEAH, WE COULD DO THAT. I THOUGHT OF THE DELEGATION, SINCE THEY WILL BE VOTING FOR THIS ON THE HOUSE FLOOR AT SOME POINT. YES. SO, YEAH, WE COULD DEFINITELY DRAFT A LETTER FOR HOUSE MEMBERS. YOU KNOW, THE OTHER THING THAT WE NEED TO CONSIDER, BETSY, HOW MUCH IS OUR HOW MUCH IS OUR COMMITMENT TO THE SHERIFFS ASSOCIATION FOR THE SALARIES FOR THIS YEAR COMING UP THAT THAT THAT ARE NOT IN THE BUDGET,

[02:20:04]

AND WHICH DOESN'T TAKE INTO ACCOUNT THE INFLATIONARY RATE OR THE CONSUMER PRICE INDEX, WHICH THEY'VE GIVEN US OVER THE PAST. WHAT ABOUT THREE, 3.5% FOR THOSE ISSUES TO GO UP TO THE NO NEW REVENUE RATE? NOW THEY'RE GOING TO TAKE THAT AWAY. RIGHT. AND THEN I ALSO JUST WANT TO MAKE MAKE IT CLEAR THAT, I MEAN, IF THE BILL IF HB NINE PASSES AS, AS WRITTEN AND IT AND IT DOES HAVE THE 250,000, I MEAN, I GUESS WHATEVER, WHATEVER LEVEL IT MAY, IT MAY PASS, EVEN THOUGH I THINK IN THE BILL IT TALKS ABOUT LETTING US. THE NO NEW REVENUE RATE GO UP RIGHT WITHOUT WITH IT'S STILL GOING TO BE A TAX INCREASE, EVEN THOUGH WE'RE GOING DOWN TO THE QUOTE UNQUOTE, NO NEW REVENUE RATE, WHICH IS TYPICALLY NOT SUPPOSED TO BE CONSIDERED AN INCREASE IN PROPERTY TAXES. BUT IF THIS BILL PASSES AND WE HAVE A NEW NO NEW REVENUE RATE THAT'S CALCULATED BASED UPON OUR LOSS, IT WILL BE AN INCREASE IN TAXES EITHER WAY. SO I THINK, YEAH, WE NEED TO HAVE A LETTER SENT AS SOON AS POSSIBLE TO THE COMMITTEE MEMBERS AND OUR DELEGATION BEFORE THE BEFORE THE COMMITTEE MEETS TODAY, AND THEN WE CAN CONTINUE TO TRACK THE BILL AND WORK WITH OUR WITH WITH ELISE AND OUR LOBBYISTS TO CONTINUE TO INFORM THE MEMBERS ABOUT THIS, THIS BILL AND HOW DETRIMENTAL IT WILL BE TO OUR, OUR, OUR TAXPAYERS. AND, ELISE, I KNOW TIME IS OF THE ESSENCE BECAUSE IT'S ALREADY ALMOST 1:00 THERE. BUT I DO THINK THE KEY POINTS I'M HEARING FROM THE COURT, THE MAJOR CONCERNS ARE THIS WILL THIS BILL WILL TRANSFER TAXES FROM BUSINESSES TO RESIDENTS, RESIDENTS, WHICH HURTS EVEN MORE HERE. A SIGNIFICANT ISSUE IN EL PASO, RIGHT. BECAUSE WE'RE NOT MAJORITY, RIGHT? WE'RE NOT LIKE ANY OTHER COMMUNITY, 70% OF OUR RESIDENTS, BEAR, OUR RESIDENTS BEAR 70% OF THE TAX BURDEN AS IT IS. AND THIS IS JUST GOING TO INCREASE THAT. AND WE'VE WORKED SO HARD OVER THE YEARS TO TRY TO BRING IN MORE CORPORATIONS AND BALANCE THAT OUT. BUT WE'VE BEEN MOVING IN IN THE WRONG DIRECTION. IT'S STILL AND IT'S GOING TO MOVE US EVEN MORE IN THE WRONG DIRECTION. SO PLUS IT DOESN'T ALLOW FOR INFLATIONARY COSTS. OKAY. THANK YOU. WE NEED TO TAKE ACTION ON THE LETTER. OR WE CAN ACTUALLY TAKE ACTION ONCE WE FINISH ALL THE OTHER ITEMS, IF THAT'D BE OKAY WITH THE COURT. YES. GO AHEAD LISA. THANK YOU. OKAY. AND THEN THE NEXT BILL THAT I HAVE ON MY UPDATE IS HOUSE BILL 21. THEN IT CREATES A PROCESS TO END THE HOUSE. I KNOW WE WERE JUST TALKING ABOUT OUR OWN HOUSING FINANCE CORPORATION.

BUT THIS BILL WOULD CREATE A PROCESS TO END HFCS FROM INVESTING IN PROPERTIES OUTSIDE OF THEIR BOUNDARIES. NEXT SLIDE. SO I KNOW THAT I WENT OH SORRY. PREVIOUS SLIDE. I THINK WE'RE AND. SO SORRY I DON'T KNOW WHY I HAVE HB 21 ON MY SIDE. OKAY. ON SB 17 I JUST WANTED YOU ALL TO BE AWARE ON. THIS IS PROHIBITING CERTAIN FOREIGN NATIONALS FROM PURCHASING PROPERTY IN TEXAS. I KNOW THAT WAS OF INTEREST TO SOME MEMBERS OF THE COURT, SO I WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT THAT'S THAT'S IN OUR RADAR AS WELL. ELISA, IF WE CAN EXPAND UPON THAT, BASICALLY WHAT THIS PARTICULARLY IS TRYING TO DO IS CREATE TRYING TO CREATE. THIS HAS BEEN LOOKED INTO BY THE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE OVER THE LAST YEAR, LOOKING AT COUNTRIES THAT ARE BASICALLY NOT NOT CONSIDERED OUR ALLIES, AND MAKING SURE THAT THEY'RE NOT BUYING UP LARGE SWATHS OF PROPERTY, ESPECIALLY AROUND MILITARY INSTALLATIONS OR IN UNITED STATES. SO THAT'S WHAT I BELIEVE THIS BILL IS TRYING TO PROHIBIT. IT'S SPECIFIC COUNTRIES. IS IT STILL. THAT'S

[02:25:01]

SO WE WILL BE TRACKING UNLESS THE UN. UNLESS YOU TAKE ACTION TO SUPPORT OR OPPOSE OR, OR WORK. BUT I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT IT'S IN OUR RADAR. THEN WE HAVE SENATE BILL 689 THAT IS RELATING TO THE IMPLEMENTATION OF DEI INITIATIVES BY CERTAIN GOVERNMENTAL ENTITIES. I KNOW WE DON'T HAVE A DEI OFFICE, BUT I KNOW THAT THIS IS SOMETHING THAT IS ALSO PART OF OUR VALUES. SO I WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE THAT ON OUR RADAR. THEN WE HAVE SENATE BILL 985. THAT WAS HEARD LAST WEEK. AND IT IS RELATING TO THE COMBINATION OF CERTAIN ELECTION PRECINCTS. SO IT COULD POTENTIALLY SAVE US MONEY. AND I SPOKE WITH OUR ELECTIONS ADMINISTRATOR LAST WEEK WITH MISS WEISS, AND WE DROPPED A CARD IN SUPPORT OF THIS BILL. IS THAT THE ONE THAT REDUCES THE NUMBER OF ELECTION SITES COUNTYWIDE? SO LAST SESSION AND THERE WAS A BILL AND I FORGOT THE NUMBER THAT DID THAT. AND THIS ONE IS TRYING TO FIX SOME OF WHAT HAPPENED LAST SESSION. THIS ONE COMMISSIONER WOULD ADDRESS WHEN THERE'S 500 OR LESS REGISTERED VOTERS IN A PARTICULAR PRECINCT, EVEN IF THE POPULATION IS AS MUCH AS 250,000, IF THERE'S ONLY 500 REGISTERED VOTERS, IT ALLOWS THE COMBINATION OF PRECINCTS TO ENSURE THAT THRESHOLD IS MET. THERE'S SOME CONCERNS ABOUT IT REDUCING ACCESS TO VOTING, AND IT'S AN OPTION. IT'S A MAY, NOT A SHELL. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU BETTY. AND THEN LAST ON THIS SLIDE I HAVE A HOUSE BILL 247. THAT IS RELATING TO THE TAXATION OF BORDER SECURITY INFRASTRUCTURE. ALSO WE THIS IS ON OUR LIST OF TRACKING AND ANALYZING TO SEE HOW MUCH IT WOULD COST OUR COUNTY, IF ANYTHING. THIS IS THIS GIVES AN EXCEPTION TO PROPERTY TAXES TO ANYONE WHO ALLOWS LIKE BORDER SECURITY MEASURES TO BE BUILT ON THEIR PROPERTY FOR THAT PROPERTY. WE DON'T I DON'T KNOW THE DETAILS YET OF HOW MUCH IS IT? JUST LIKE SO MANY FEET WITHIN THE WALL OR SO MANY FEET WITHIN THE BARRIER? OR IS IT THE ENTIRE PROPERTY? BUT THIS WOULD ALSO HAVE A NEGATIVE IMPACT ON OUR PROPERTY REVENUE. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU BETSY. IF WE COULD GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE, UNLESS THERE'S ANY QUESTIONS ON ANY OF THESE BILLS, WE CAN GO TO THE NEXT ONE. SENATE BILL 2010 IS RELATING TO THE AUTHORITY OF A POLITICAL SUBDIVISION TO ESTABLISH AND OPERATE A GUARANTEED INCOME PROGRAM. SO I KNOW WE HAD DONE SOMETHING SIMILAR WITH OUR ARPA FUNDING. AND SO JUST WANTED TO FLAG THIS FOR YOU ALL AND LET YOU KNOW THAT WE'RE TRACKING SENATE BILL 2010. SO WE ENDED UP NOT DOING THE PROGRAM, BUT WE HAD ORIGINALLY PLANNED TO, BUT THEN A LAWSUIT ENTAILED. AND SO BUT THIS WOULD PROHIBIT BEING ABLE TO DO IT BY STATE LAW. YEAH. I MEAN, I THINK WE SHOULD FLAT OUT OPPOSE THIS BILL. YEAH. I MEAN, WE SHOULD HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO CHOOSE WHAT WE WANT TO DO. I ALSO WORRY WHAT THEY'LL END UP DEFINING AS A GUARANTEED INCOME PROGRAM. YEAH. LIKE EXPANDING THE DEFINITION OVER TIME TO MAKE IT WHERE IT'S HARD TO DO ANY KIND OF GENERAL ASSISTANCE. I JUST DON'T KNOW WHAT IT WOULD MORPH INTO. AND WE HAVE HOUSE BILL 406. RELATING TO THE NOTIFICATION OF THE EXECUTION OF CERTAIN LOCAL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENTS BY A MUNICIPALITY OR COUNTY TO OUR LOCAL WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT BOARD. SO THIS IS A BILL BY ONE OF OUR DELEGATION MEMBERS, REP CLAUDIA ORDAZ, WHO NOTIFIED US THAT SHE WAS GOING TO BE FILING THIS BILL. BUT I WANTED TO FLAG IT AS BEING PART OF OUR DELEGATION. JUST SOMETHING THAT WILL BE HEARD THIS WEEK, AND WE'LL HAVE A HEARING ON THURSDAY, I BELIEVE. AND THEN THE LAST ONE I KNOW, COMMISSIONER STOUT, YOU WANTED US TO DISCUSS THIS TO POTENTIALLY VOTE FOR, TO SUPPORT THE SENATE BILL FIVE AND ITS CORRESPONDING RESOLUTION TO CREATE THE DEMENTIA PREVENTION AND RESEARCH INSTITUTE OF TEXAS. THIS IS A PRIORITY FROM THE LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR. SO IT HAS A LOT OF SUPPORT. AND IT WOULD PUT AND I DON'T HAVE THE EXACT FIGURE IN FRONT OF ME, BUT SUBSTANTIAL FUNDING FOR DEMENTIA PREVENTION IN TEXAS. WHAT'S WHAT'S THE WHISKEY. DID I SKIP A

[02:30:08]

ABSOLUTELY. AND THIS IS A THIS WOULD BE A CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT. SO IT WOULD BE PUT ON THE ON THE BALLOT FOR NOVEMBER. BUT YES, I 100% AGREE WITH THAT. CORRECT. YEAH. THEN IF IT GETS APPROVED BY THE VOTERS IN NOVEMBER, THEN THEY WOULD ESTABLISH THE FUND WITH SB FIVE OR AS ESTABLISHED ON SENATE BILL FIVE. THEY ALSO HAVE TO CREATE A BOARD. AND SO MAKING SURE THAT THERE'S REPRESENTATION FROM EL PASO ON THE BOARD IS GOING TO BE IMPORTANT. SO IT'S JUST THE BEGINNING I UNDERSTAND THERE'S THERE HAVE BEEN ISSUES WITH THESE KINDS OF FUNDS FOR OUR COMMUNITY IN THE PAST. THAT'S A GOOD CONCERN, COMMISSIONER. AND WHAT I COULD DO IS OR WE COULD ALSO SEND A LETTER LATER ON IF THE BILL, ONCE THE BILL IS APPROVED BY BOTH CHAMBERS, SEND A LETTER TO STATE LEADERSHIP, MAYBE THE LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR, AND LET THEM KNOW THAT WE WOULD LIKE TO SEE EL PASO OR WEST TEXAS REPRESENTATION ON THAT BOARD. IF THAT'S SOMETHING THAT THE WAY IT'S OUTLINED NOW, I BELIEVE, IS IT'S THREE APPOINTEES BY THE GOVERNOR, THREE BY THE LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR, AND THREE, I THINK BY THE HOUSE, THE SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE. RIGHT. MAYBE IT'S JUST A LETTER SAYING WE SUPPORT IT AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO PARTICIPATING IN REPRESENTING EL PASO'S INTERESTS. YEAH, ABSOLUTELY. IT DOES SAY THE COMMITTEE MEMBERS MUST REPRESENT THE STATE'S GEOGRAPHIC AND CULTURAL DIVERSITY. THAT'S GOOD TO KNOW.

AND I FEEL LIKE I SKIPPED A SLIDE. UNLESS WE WANT TO TAKE ACTION ON THE I DON'T KNOW HOW WE DO THIS ON EACH ITEM INDIVIDUALLY OR AT THE END OF THE PRESENTATION. WE DO HAVE ONE MORE SLIDE. LET ME FINISH THE SLIDE. OH, OKAY. SORRY. THIS IS WHERE YOUR HFC ONE WAS ON THE ON THE BOTTOM OKAY. SO WE HAVE HOUSE BILL 188 ON THIS ONE. THIS MORNING WE HAD FIRE CHIEF ESPARZA HERE IN AUSTIN. AND WE WENT OVER BEFORE GOING TO THE COMMITTEE HEARING FOR HIM TO TESTIFY. HE WAS PLANNING TO TESTIFY IN OPPOSITION OF THE BILL. OF THE BILL, NOT BECAUSE HE OPPOSES FIREFIGHTERS GETTING CANCER SCREENINGS. I THINK THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE ALL SUPPORT. BUT THERE WAS NO OR AS THE AS THE BILL IS WRITTEN RIGHT NOW, IT DOESN'T HAVE ANY FUNDING ATTACHED TO IT. SO WE STOPPED BY THE BILL AUTHOR'S OFFICE TO LET THEM KNOW THAT WE WOULD BE OPPOSING BECAUSE WE JUST DON'T HAVE THE FUNDING OR ISD'S DON'T HAVE THE FUNDING TO PROVIDE THESE SCREENINGS. AND BASED ON WHAT THE STATE OF LOUISIANA RECENTLY DID, WHICH IS SAME THING, MANDATE PREVENTION OF CANCER SCREENINGS FOR THEIR FIREFIGHTERS. EACH SCREENING IS AROUND $1,500. SO WE DEFINITELY DON'T HAVE THE OR DON'T HAVE THE BUDGET FOR THIS. AND IN SPEAKING WITH THE BILL, AUTHOR. REPRESENTATIVE BUMGARDNER, HE TOLD US THAT HE WAS GOING TO CHANGE THE BILL LANGUAGE FOR IT SAYS POLITICAL SUBDIVISIONS, AND HE'S GOING TO CHANGE IT TO MUNICIPALITIES AS HTML. SAID THAT THEY WERE GOING TO BE FUNDING THIS OR SOME OF THIS.

AND IN THEIR CONVERSATIONS WITH THEM, WITH THE LEGISLATURE. SO I THINK AFTER HEARING FROM MISTER REPRESENTATIVE BUMGARNER THAT HE'S GOING TO CHANGE IT TO MAKE SURE THAT ESD'S ARE NOT MANDATED

[02:35:04]

AND IF THERE ARE ANY AMENDMENTS THAT COULD AFFECT THE COUNTY, I WILL COME BACK AND LET YOU KNOW.

SORRY. ANY QUESTIONS? OKAY. AND THEN SENATE BILL 293 IS THE ONE THAT WE WERE DISCUSSING EARLIER ABOUT. IT HAS A LOT OF THINGS ON THE BILL, BUT IT HAS THE JUDICIAL SALARIES. BUT IT ALSO HAS A NOTICE OF REPRIMANDS. AND YOU KNOW, I THINK IT'S A VERY COMPLEX BILL. IT'S NOT JUST LIKE ONE THAT I THINK WE SHOULD STRAIGHT UP SUPPORT OR OPPOSE. BUT IT HAS A LOT OF LAYERS, I THINK, ON ON THIS LEGISLATION THAT WE ARE TRACKING, AND I THINK IT'S GOING TO HAVE IT MIGHT HAVE SOME AMENDMENTS IN THE PROCESS. SO I'LL MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE ANALYZING THE LATEST VERSION OF THIS BILL AND UNDERSTANDING HOW IT AFFECTS THE COUNTY. AND THEN ON THE LAST BULLET HERE, WE HAVE A BUDGET WRITER. FROM THAT HHC HAS ON THE BUDGET. SO THE APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE, THE HOUSE APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE HAS BEEN DISCUSSING THIS. AND SO I WAS HOPING THAT WE COULD DISCUSS HOW THIS AFFECTS UMC AND THE COUNTY. AND I KNOW SOME OF SOME OF YOU MIGHT, MAY HAVE DISCUSSED THIS WITH ONE OF OUR REPRESENTATIVES OR WITH SEVERAL.

I'M NOT SURE, BUT I THINK IF WE. YEAH. JUDGE. LISA. JUDGE. COMMISSIONERS. ERIC ROSALES, ASSISTANT COUNTY ATTORNEY, IF THE COURT WOULD LIKE YOU COULD MAKE A MOTION TO MOVE JUST THE DISCUSSION ON THIS BUDGET WRITER INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION PURSUANT TO 551.071 OF THE TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE. THIS IS LEGAL ADVICE. YOU COULD WE COULD TAKE THAT UP WITH THE REST OF THE EXECUTIVE ITEMS LATER. AND, ALISA, YOU COULD CONTINUE WITH THE ANY OTHER ACTION YOU MIGHT NEED FOR THIS ITEM. OKAY. SOUNDS GOOD. WE'LL TAKE IT INTO EXECUTIVE LATER. THANK YOU. THEN WE NEED TO MOVE ON. WE'RE GOING TO TAKE A MOTION TO TAKE THAT SECTION INTO EXECUTIVE LATER.

YEAH, I'LL MAKE THAT MOTION. WE HAVE A MOTION FROM COMMISSIONER STOUT AND A SECOND FROM JUDGE SAMANIEGO TO MOVE THIS ITEM INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION. VOTING IS OPEN. I VOTE YES. THANK YOU.

COMMISSIONER. MOTION CARRIES. BEFORE WE MOVE TO THE TO THE FEDERAL. IS THAT WHERE YOU WERE GOING, ALISA? YES. WE WANTED TO MOVE OVER TO THE FEDERAL. I THINK IT WOULD BE GOOD TO TAKE A MOTION ON THE STATE ITEMS. AND I BELIEVE THE ONLY ITEM THAT WE HAVE, IF WE COULD PULL BACK THE SLIDE WITH THE ITEMS. SO IF THERE'S ANYTHING THE COURT WANTS TO SPECIFICALLY TAKE ACTION ON, WE CAN TAKE DIRECTION. BUT THE ONE ITEM THAT I DID HEAR TAKING ACTION ON WAS ACTUALLY GO DOWN.

I'M SORRY, HB NINE. AND THAT'S A MOTION FROM THE COURT TO SEND A LETTER TO BOTH THE COMMITTEE MEMBERS AND OUR DELEGATION OPPOSING THIS LEGISLATION. OPPOSING THIS BILL. YEP. I'LL MAKE THAT MOTION. IF WE WANTED TO OPPOSE HB 247, IS THAT A SEPARATE MOTION? IF YOU ALL WANT TO TELL US TO DROP A CARD, OR DO YOU WANT TO SEND LETTERS? I THINK DROPPING A CARD WOULD WOULD BE SUFFICIENT. SO THE ONES YOU ALL WANT TO DROP A CARD ON PROTESTING OR WE CAN TAKE DIRECTION FROM YOU ALL SEPARATELY AND GO THROUGH ALL OF THEM. THE ONES THAT YOU ALL ARE OPPOSED. WE HAVE A MOTION FROM COMMISSIONER STOUT, A SECOND FROM JUDGE SAMANIEGO. VOTING IS OPEN. MOTION CARRIES. OKAY, NEXT. PUT THAT SLIDE BACK UP, PLEASE. SORRY, TEAM. SB 689. WOULD THE COURT LIKE TO OPPOSE? YES. THEIR CONSENSUS TO OPPOSE.

[02:40:11]

247. IS THERE A OPPOSITION? I THINK THERE'S A CONSENSUS. OKAY. WHAT WHAT IS IT. IT'S JUST JUST THE ACTUAL INFRASTRUCTURE OR PART OF THE LAND WITH THE LAND. THE LAND THAT IT SITS ON. THE OWNER DOES NOT OWN THE INFRASTRUCTURE. THE INFRASTRUCTURE IS GENERALLY BEING BUILT BY THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT. RIGHT. AND SO BUT IF IT'S ON YOUR LAND, YOU'RE GETTING A PROPERTY TAX EXEMPTION IS WHAT THE BILL PROPOSES. I HAVE NOT READ HOW MUCH LIKE AGAIN, I HAVEN'T READ HOW FAR. AND I DON'T THINK THE IMPACT IS GOING TO BE SUBSTANTIAL IN EL PASO COUNTY. BUT I THINK THIS IS AN EFFORT ON THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT'S SIDE THROUGH THE STATE TO MAKE IT EASIER FOR THEM TO BUILD BORDER INFRASTRUCTURE IN PLACES THAT ARE PRIVATELY OWNED AND HAVE THEY'RE GOING TO BE COMPENSATED FOR IT, AREN'T THEY? ARE THEY BUYING? THEY'RE EITHER GOING TO PUT IT ON THE LAND AND PAY THEM RENT, OR THEY'RE I DON'T KNOW WHAT IT'S THEY'RE THEY'RE GETTING AN EXEMPTION FROM THE APPRAISED VALUE OF THE PROPERTY OWNED BY THEM THAT ARISES FROM THE INSTALLATION OR CONSTRUCTION. THEY'RE GETTING AN EXEMPTION FROM THE TAXATION OF THE APPRAISED VALUE OF THE BORDER SECURITY INFRASTRUCTURE THAT'S INSTALLED OR CONSTRUCTED. THEY'RE GETTING AN EXEMPTION FROM THE TAXATION ON LAND THAT HAS BEEN DEDICATED BY RECORDED EASEMENT FOR SAID LAND. AND THE FISCAL NOTE ON IT, AND I IMAGINE THEY'RE PUSHING. WELL, THIS IS A VERSION OF THE BILL. SO THEY DON'T HAVE TO GO THROUGH THE EMINENT DOMAIN PROCESS, WHICH IS ITSELF LENGTHY AND COSTLY. YEAH, I THINK WE SHOULD OPPOSE IT AS WELL. AND THEN NEXT PAGE. OKAY. SO IS THERE THERE'S CONSENSUS TO OPPOSE HB 247. YES. YES. OKAY.

NEXT PAGE. 2010 OPPOSE SENATE BILL 2010 FOR THE GUARANTEED INCOME. HB 406 IS REQUIRING US TO NOTIFY IF WE ENTER A 381, WE HAVE TO NOTIFY OUR LOCAL WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT BOARD.

THAT'S OUR THAT'S OUR DELEGATION'S BILL. WE SHOULD SUPPORT THAT ONE. I THINK IT'S A NO BRAINER TO SUPPORT IT. OKAY. SO SUPPORT THAT ONE AND THEN SUPPORT THE CREATION OF THE DEMENTIA PREVENTION AND RESEARCH INSTITUTE OF TEXAS. OKAY. YES. NEXT SLIDE. HB 198. RIGHT NOW AS WRITTEN OPPOSED, BUT WITH AN AMENDMENT WHERE THERE'S FUNDING TO COVER THE COST. WE'D SUPPORT.

YES. YES. OKAY. HB 21 I THINK WE SUPPORT. SB 293. I WOULD SAY THAT WE DON'T TAKE ACTION ON THIS ONE UNTIL WE KNOW THE FINAL LANGUAGE AND HOW MUCH IT'S GOING TO COST AND ALL THE DETAILS, BUT I COULD I'LL DEFER TO YOU, BETSY. I NEED TO READ IT MORE THOROUGHLY. I SAY HOLD OFF AND I'LL GET THE FINAL LANGUAGE AS SOON AS IT'S POSTED. IF THERE'S A COMMITTEE OR IF THEY DO AMENDMENTS. BUT I ANTICIPATE THIS BILL WILL CHANGE. YEAH. OKAY. AND THEN THE BUDGET WRITER WILL BE DISCUSSING IN EXECUTIVE SESSION. WE CAN DISCUSS IT, BUT I THINK WE SHOULD BE OPPOSED TO THE BUDGET WRITER. IT I MEAN, IT WOULD COST OUR HOSPITAL DISTRICT $1 MILLION OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT. TO. GO BACK. RIGHT? RIGHT. AND BID IT OUT AGAIN. RIGHT. OKAY. JUST AS A REMINDER, WE CANNOT SUPPORT OR OPPOSE BUDGET WRITERS, BUT WE COULD SEND A LETTER SO WE JUST DON'T DROP CARDS ON. THEY DON'T DO. USUALLY HEARINGS ON THE WRITERS. SO WE COULDN'T SUPPORT OR OPPOSE WITH JUST DROPPING A CARD. BUT WE CAN TAKE MORE ACTION IF WE WANT TO SEND A LETTER. YEAH. ELISA, DO YOU KNOW, IS UMC SENDING A LETTER OR WHAT ACTION ARE THEY TAKING? YOU WOULD THINK? I BELIEVE WE HAVE. LET ME SEE IF RUBEN VOTES ONLINE. I MEAN, I THINK WE SHOULD DEFINITELY

[02:45:06]

PERFECT. THANK YOU. YEAH. I MEAN, UNLESS THEY HAVE ANOTHER. IF THEY DON'T WANT US TO GET INVOLVED, THEN, THEN WE WON'T. BUT IT SEEMS TO ME WE SHOULD SUPPORT WHATEVER THEY. ARE. YOU JUDGING COMMISSIONERS? RUBEN VOGT, CHIEF ADVOCACY OFFICER FOR THE EL PASO COUNTY HOSPITAL DISTRICT. I BELIEVE THE QUESTION WAS IF WE WERE SENDING A LETTER IN OPPOSITION TO THE WRITER THAT HAS BEEN PROPOSED, WE'RE NOT SENDING A FORMAL LETTER. LETTER. WE HAVE MADE ROUNDS WITH EVERY MEMBER OF OUR DELEGATION AND OTHER MEMBERS WHO ARE INTEGRAL TO THE PROCESS AND THE WRITER.

SO WE STAND IN OPPOSITION. YEAH. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. SO I THINK THAT'S THAT'S AND WE CAN JUST GIVE DO WE NEED TO VOTE ON IT OR IS JUST GIVING DIRECTION? YOU WANT TO SEND A LETTER? IS THAT WHAT YOU SAID? OKAY. SO WE'D ASK FOR A MOTION. TO SEND A LETTER OPPOSING THE BUDGET WRITER AS PRESENTED. AND IS THAT SUPPORTING UMC? I MEAN, YOU WOULD BE OKAY WITH US DOING THAT OR IS THERE ANY THAT DEFINITELY SUPPORTS THE POSITION OF THE HOSPITAL DISTRICT? AS WE AS WE HAVE SHARED WITH OUR DELEGATION AND OTHER MEMBERS OF THE LEGISLATURE, I THINK AS WAS REFERENCED, IT WOULD COST SHOULD PROCUREMENT HAVE TO OCCUR, WHICH IS WHAT THIS WRITERS END GOAL IS, IS TO DEFUND THE PROCUREMENT PROCESS FOR THAT PROCUREMENT ITSELF. AND SO TO HAVE TO RE PROCURE WOULD COST UPWARDS OF CLOSE TO $1 MILLION FOR HAVE TO HAVE TO SUBMIT A RE PROCUREMENT BID FOR THAT. SO IT'S JUST ANOTHER UNFUNDED MANDATE ON COUNTY HOSPITALS.

WE HAVE A MOTION FROM COMMISSIONER STOUT, A SECOND FROM JUDGE SAMANIEGO. THE VOTING IS OPEN. I THINK. COMMISSIONER ELGIN. THANK YOU. MOTION CARRIES. SO THAT CONCLUDES THE STATE UPDATES. DO WE MOVE ON TO THE FEDERAL UPDATES? THANK YOU. OH, THERE WAS ONE MORE STATE UPDATE ABOUT TAX ABATEMENT FOR REINVESTMENT ZONE. OH YES. MY APOLOGIES. SO THIS IS AN FYI ON A BILL THAT OUR DELEGATION IS WORKING ON. SO REPRESENTATIVE VINCE PEREZ CONTACTED US AND SAID HE'S THINKING ABOUT FILING A BILL THAT WOULD ALLOW THE FIVE TAXING ENTITIES IN EL PASO ISD BOUNDARIES TO PROVIDE A TAX ABATEMENT TO PROPERTY OWNERS WHO PURCHASE PROPERTIES IN OLDER NEIGHBORHOODS, SO IT WOULD ENCOURAGE RENOVATION OF OLDER HOMES, AND IT WOULD ENCOURAGE YOUNG FAMILIES TO LOCATE IN THE AREAS WHERE SOME SCHOOLS ARE CLOSING. THIS HASN'T BEEN FILED YET. THE LAST TIME I CHECKED AND BUT WE IF HE DECIDES TO FILE THE LEGISLATION WE COULD SUPPORT, OR WE COULD WORK WITH HIS OFFICE. BUT I WANTED TO MAKE HE WANTED TO MAKE US ALL AWARE OF THIS.

ELISA, IS THAT ABATEMENT JUST ON SCHOOL TAXES OR IS IT OR IS IT ON ALL PROPERTY, ALL PROPERTY TAXES? IT SEEMS LIKE THE WEIGHTS. OH, SORRY. GO AHEAD. FIVE ENTITIES. OKAY. OH, YEAH.

IT SAYS THE FIVE TAXING. OKAY. SORRY, I DIDN'T READ IT. NO, NO, SORRY, I COULDN'T HEAR. YEAH. SO I CAN SHARE THE LANGUAGE. I THINK THAT WOULD BE HELPFUL TO IF WE SEND THE LANGUAGE AND IF WE HAVE ANY CONCERNS, I THINK WE CAN WORK WITH HIS OFFICE TO COMMUNICATE THOSE. OR. AND THEN ONCE IT'S FILED, WE COULD ALSO THROW OUR SUPPORT BEHIND IT OR POSITION, YOU KNOW, NOT OPPOSITION BECAUSE I DON'T THINK WE SHOULD OPPOSE ONE OF OUR DELEGATIONS BILLS, BUT WE SHOULD WORK WITH HIS OFFICE IF THERE ARE ANY CONCERNS. THANK YOU. GREAT. THANK YOU SO MUCH. NO QUESTIONS ON ON THE STATE UPDATE. OKAY. WE CAN MOVE ON TO THE FEDERAL UPDATE. THANK YOU.

[02:50:04]

I KNOW WE HAD REVIEWED SOME OF THEM LAST DURING THE LAST UPDATE. AND I KNOW SOME OF YOU ATTENDED THE LEGISLATIVE CONFERENCE IN DC WHERE WE WERE ABLE TO GET MORE INFORMATION ON SOME OF THESE. BUT I WANTED TO PUT THEM ON HERE. AND THEN I KNOW WE'RE GOING TO BE WORKING ON A CONGRESSIONAL OR A FEDERAL LEGISLATIVE AGENDA, SO I'LL MAKE SURE THAT THAT WE INCLUDE YOUR PRIORITIES AND THAT WE WORK WITH NACO AS WELL. IF WE WANT TO SUPPORT ALL OF THESE PRIORITIES.

DO YOU WANT ME TO GO OVER THEM, BETSY? IT'S UP TO THE COURT. WE CAN GO OVER THESE IN MORE DETAIL. HOWEVER, I DO THINK ONE OF THE THINGS I'VE HEARD FROM MEMBERS OF THE COURT IS IN ADDITION TO WHAT NACO IS FOCUSED IN ON, THEY FOCUS IN, AT A AT A BROAD POLICY LEVEL. SO FOR A NONPARTISAN POLICY LEVEL, ISSUES THAT IMPACT ALL COUNTIES, THERE MAY BE OTHER ISSUES THAT ARE SPECIFIC TO EL PASO COUNTY THAT WE THAT WE ARE ADVOCATING FOR, EITHER DIRECTLY WITH OUR REPRESENTATIVE OF CONGRESS OR REPRESENTATIVES FROM CONGRESS. BOTH CONGRESSMAN GONZALEZ AND CONGRESSWOMAN ESCOBAR. BUT WE DON'T HAVE ANY OTHER FORM OF FEDERAL REPRESENTATION AT THAT AT THAT LEVEL, JUST TO MAKE THE COURT AWARE. SO IF THERE WAS SOMETHING SPECIFIC WE WANTED TO ADVOCATE FOR AT A FEDERAL LEVEL, WE DO NOT HAVE ANOTHER MEANS OTHER THAN OUR DIRECT RELATIONSHIP WITH OUR REPRESENTATIVES. SO JUST AS A REMINDER, BECAUSE I'VE HEARD FROM SOME MEMBERS OF THE COURT ABOUT THAT, ABOUT ADVOCATING SPECIFICALLY FOR OUR NEEDS AND WHETHER OR NOT WE SHOULD HAVE A RESOURCE DEDICATED TO THAT. I'LL ALSO SHARE THAT IT WAS VERY CHALLENGING, LIKE I DEBATED HAVING ELISA AT NACO WHILE THE STATE LEDGE WAS GOING ON BECAUSE THINGS WERE HAPPENING HERE SO QUICK, AND WE ONLY HAVE THAT ONE RESOURCE DEDICATED TO BOTH FEDERAL ADVOCACY AND I MEAN, SEVERAL OF US GO AND DO OUR OWN ADVOCATING AND GET OUR OWN INFORMATION, BUT WANTED TO SHARE THAT WITH THE COURT AS WELL. SO IF THERE'S ANYTHING SPECIFIC THE COURT WOULD LIKE TO DISCUSS, THERE ARE SOME OTHER NACO PRIORITIES THAT ARE NOT ON THE SCREEN. SO FOR EXAMPLE, WE DISCUSSED IN SOME OF THE SOME OF THE COMMITTEES WE DISCUSSED ISSUES RELATED TO IMMIGRATION. WE DISCUSSED ISSUES RELATED TO. SORRY PENSIONS. THERE'S MULTIPLE TOPICS THAT NACO COVERS EVEN BEYOND WHAT WE SEE HERE ON THE SCREEN. ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE, WHICH MAY BE PART OF ACCESS TO TECHNOLOGY SOLUTIONS, THE PROTECTION AND SECURITY OF ELECTED OFFICIALS, LOCAL ELECTED OFFICIALS, SO MANY ISSUES THAT THAT THAT THEY COVERED A BROAD LEVEL. THANK YOU BETSY. DO YOU HAVE YOUR NEXT SLIDE OR IS IT JUST THE SLIDE FOR THE FEDERAL PRIORITIES? ELISA. I THINK I THINK IT'S JUST THE SLIDE FOR THE FEDERAL PRIORITIES. AND THEN THERE'S SOME UPDATES ON ON THE LIKE CONGRESSIONAL UPDATES ABOUT WHAT IS HAPPENING. I KNOW WE HAD DISCUSSED LAST MEETING THE CONGRESSIONAL BUDGET RESOLUTION THAT HAS A LOT OF TAX CUTS SPECIFICALLY FOR PROGRAMS LIKE SNAP AND MEDICAID. AND SO I WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT THAT WE CONSIDER THAT I KNOW THAT IS CHANGING ALSO. AND CONGRESSWOMAN ESCOBAR SAID THAT SHE WAS GOING TO BE SHARING WITH OUR WITH US SOME OF THE MAIN CONCERNS ONCE THE FINAL BUDGET IS CLOSER TO ADOPTION, SO WE CAN WORK WITH OUR DELEGATION, OUR U.S. SENATORS AND OUR CONGRESSMEN AND LET THEM KNOW HOW THIS WOULD IMPACT EL PASO. SPECIFICALLY. I ALSO WANTED I KNOW ALL OF YOU ARE AWARE, BUT THAT TRUMP GAVE THE STATE OF THE UNION ADDRESS, AND THEN WE HAD A SENATOR, I'M SORRY. SENATOR ELISSA SLOTKIN GAVE THE DEMOCRATIC RESPONSE, AND WE CAN GO INTO DETAIL ON THAT. BUT I THINK WHAT I REALLY WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT IS THE CONGRESSIONAL BUDGET RESOLUTION AND HOW WHAT THE PROCESS LOOKS LIKE. SO ONCE THE BOTH BOTH CHAMBERS COMPLETE THEIR RESPECTIVE PROPOSALS AND I KNOW WE HAD THE HOUSE ONE LAST TIME, BUT THEN LEADERSHIP HAS TO AGREE ON A PROCESS TO RECONCILE THOSE DIFFERENCES BETWEEN THE TWO VERSIONS. AND THEN WHEN THIS HAPPENS IS WHEN CONGRESSWOMAN CONGRESSWOMAN ESCOBAR AND WE CAN WORK WITH BOTH OF THEM. ALSO, CONGRESSMAN GONZALEZ, TO SEE HOW THIS WOULD IMPACT EL PASO COUNTY SPECIFICALLY. AND I THINK I HAD SOME SUGGESTED ACTION ON THE NEXT SLIDE TO WORK WITH OUR LOCAL STAKEHOLDERS AND WELL, TO TWO UPDATES ON TWO POTENTIAL LETTERS THAT WE COULD SEND, BUT ONE OF THEM RELATING TO THE BUDGET IS IF WE WANT TO WORK WITH OUR LOCAL STAKEHOLDERS, LOCAL MUNICIPALITIES AND OUR

[02:55:07]

EXACTLY. OKAY. I WANT TO MAKE SURE WE CAUGHT THAT A JOINT LETTER WITH THE CITY, WITH ALL OF THE MUNICIPALITIES WITHIN EL PASO COUNTY. OKAY. AND OUR HOSPITAL DISTRICT. TO INCLUDE CITY OF SOCORRO? CERTAINLY. YES. AND THE HOSPITAL DISTRICT, THE CITY OF EL PASO AND UMC HORIZON VINTON. AND I DON'T KNOW IF WE NEED IF WE WANT TO TRY TO INCLUDE, LIKE EIN AND OTHER CARE PROVIDERS THAT ARE SAFETY NET, THAT COULD BE IMPACTED BY THE CUTS IN MEDICAID OR THE FOOD BANK, FOR EXAMPLE. WELL, SHOULD I THINK TAXING ENTITIES JUST DO TAXING ENTITIES BECAUSE THEY'RE ALL WE'RE GOING TO MAKE IT REALLY EXHAUSTIVE, I THINK, AND SOME OF THESE ARE GOING TO NEED TO GET IT ON THEIR AGENDAS. SO IT'S GOING TO TAKE US A LITTLE BIT OF TIME TO GET THIS COMPLETED. OKAY. WE HAVE A MOTION FROM COMMISSIONER STOUT, A SECOND FROM JUDGE SAMANIEGO.

THE VOTING IS OPEN. THE MOTION CARRIES. THANK YOU JUDGE. THANK YOU COMMISSIONERS. THANK YOU LISA. GREAT WORK. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. HAVE A GOOD DAY. THANK YOU. JUDGE. COMMISSIONERS, BEFORE WE BREAK, IS IT POSSIBLE TO DO ITEM TEN A THE GRANT APPLICATION? ALL OF THEM. JUST TEN A WE HAVE STAFF HERE FOR TEN A. BUT THEN WE WON'T BE SUPPORTING LUBY'S WHILE THEY'RE WAITING. ITEM NUMBER. HAVE TO GO EAT AT LUBY'S. YEAH, YOU STILL HAVE TO. ITEM NUMBER TEN, A GRANT. APPLICATIONS. GRANT. APPLICATION. APPROVE AND AUTHORIZE THE EL PASO COUNTY

[A. GRANT APPLICATION - Approve and authorize the El Paso County Sheriff's Office to apply for the Office of the Attorney General (OAG), FY2026-2027 Victim Coordinator and Liaison Grants (VCLG) Services in the amount of $99,000.00 for a two-year project from September 1, 2025, to August 31, 2027. Further, approve and authorize the County Judge to sign the accompanying Resolution and Statement Supporting the Submission of the application. No match is required by OAG, but a match in the amount of $145,610.00 is required by the department to sustain the program. Funding is available in GF-SOCRIVIC-XFEROUT-GRNT MATCH. (Contract No. 2025-0225) Oscar Ugarte, Sheriff, EPCSO, 915-538-2006]

[03:00:05]

THERE IS NO MATCH REQUIRED BY THE GRANT. HOWEVER, THE COUNTY FUNDS ARE NEEDED TO COVER THE REMAINING PART OF THIS BASE SALARY AND FRINGE BENEFITS IN THE AMOUNT OF $70,149 TO ONE YEAR AND 75,461 FOR THE SECOND YEAR, WHICH IS A GRAND TOTAL, OF COURSE, OF 145 $610. AND AS I'VE SAID BEFORE, IT'S A VERY IMPORTANT PROJECT, NOT JUST BECAUSE OUR BODY HERE, BECAUSE IT IS VERY IMPORTANT TO US THAT WE HELP OUR CRIME VICTIMS. IT IS ALSO A REQUIREMENT BY THE STATE, WHICH I THINK THEY DO AN AWESOME JOB AND WE CANNOT DO WITHOUT HER. BUT WITHOUT FURTHER ADO, MISS GLADYS. THANK YOU. GOOD AFTERNOON, COMMISSIONERS AND COUNTY JUDGE. TO FURTHER ADD ON WHAT THE GRANT ENTAILS. THE GRANT WILL COVER MY POSITION, WHICH IS THE FULL TIME CRIME VICTIMS LIAISON, WHICH IS A CRITICAL POSITION THAT IS DEDICATED TO DELIVERING SERVICES TO VICTIMS OF CRIME, IMPACTFUL SERVICES THAT THEY NEED, ESPECIALLY AFTER THAT TRAUMATIC EVENT. EACH YEAR, THIS ROLE HELPS VARIOUS VICTIMS FROM ANYWHERE FROM 600 TO 600 AND 70 TO 700 VICTIMS, PROVIDING ESSENTIAL SUPPORT SUCH AS CRISIS INTERVENTION, ACCESS TO INFORMATION AND SOCIAL SERVICE REFERRALS, FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE THROUGH THE TEXAS CRIME VICTIMS COMPENSATION PROGRAM, JUSTICE ADVOCACY, PERSONAL SUPPORT, AND A CONTINUAL FOLLOW UP THAT CAN THAT CAN LAST FOR SEVERAL YEARS. THE CRIME VICTIMS LIAISON POSITION, WHICH IS MINE, WILL ACTIVELY ENGAGE. I ENGAGE WITHIN THE COMMUNITY BY DELIVERING PRESENTATIONS. I PARTICIPATE IN VARIOUS COMMUNITY FAIRS, AND I HOST VARIOUS TRAININGS WITHIN THE COMMUNITY AND WITHIN THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT. SO IT IS A VITAL ROLE, YOU KNOW, TO EDUCATE WITHIN THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT AND WITHIN THE OUR COMMUNITY. THAT'S LIKE I SAID, IT'S A POSITION THAT'S NOT JUST BENEFICIAL, IT'S ESSENTIAL FOR EMPOWERING VICTIMS AND FOSTERING A SAFE, SUPPORTIVE COMMUNITY.

THANK YOU COMMANDER. ONE LAST THING TO ADD. OBVIOUSLY, OUR GOAL OVER THE NEXT FEW YEARS IS TO ABSORB THESE POSITIONS INTO THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE. OUTSIDE OF THE GRANT FUNDING, WE TRY TO USE THE FUNDS, BUT AS TIME GOES ON, WE WOULD LIKE TO ABSORB THOSE POSITIONS BECAUSE NOT ONLY HER, IT'S ALSO HER STAFF AS WELL. AND WE BELIEVE IT IS VERY IMPORTANT TO OUR ROLE IN THE COMMUNITY.

THANK YOU. AND THIS IS ALREADY FUNDING THAT'S SET ASIDE IN THE BUDGET. CAN I MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE? SO JUST WHERE YOU SAY IT'S SET ASIDE, THIS IS WHAT WE'VE ALREADY I BELIEVE WE'VE ALREADY BEEN FUNDING TO OPERATE THIS OPERATION. WE HAVE A MOTION FROM COMMISSIONER BUTLER, SECONDED BY JUDGE SAMANIEGO. VOTING IS OPEN. AND MOTION CARRIES. THANK YOU BOTH. THANK YOU. ALL THREE OF YOU. THANK YOU. GREAT INITIATIVE. THANK YOU. APPRECIATE IT. I'D LIKE TO TAKE A RECESS, JUDGE. YES. OKAY. COMMISSIONERS COURT WILL RECESS FOR ONE HOUR. IT IS 12:35 P.M.

[03:09:31]

[03:10:08]

[03:15:02]

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 AND AS WELL AS THE LOWER VALLEY, TO MAKE SURE THAT WE BRING THESE ESSENTIAL SERVICES TO THE COMMUNITY. ONE, TWO, THREE. 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 A FRUITION. THERE WAS FUNDS DEDICATED FOR THESE PROJECTS, BUT THE BIDS CAME IN HIGHER THAN WE EXPECTED. AND THANKFULLY, WITH THE 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'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 A 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 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. FOR 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. I DON'T WANT A

[03:20:08]

SO AS WE APPROACH THEM, THEY COME ON. WE DO HAVE A DRIVE THROUGH ALONG ASCARATE 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. 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, THE LITTLE SET UP FOR THE PICTURES. AND IT'S PRETTY, PRETTY NICE. RUDOLPH THE RED NOSED REINDEER HAD A VERY SHINY NOSE. EL PASO IS A BEAUTIFUL PLACE. WE'VE 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.

[03:27:04]

[03:30:03]

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 AND AS WELL AS THE LOWER VALLEY, TO MAKE SURE THAT WE BRING THESE ESSENTIAL SERVICES TO THE COMMUNITY. TWO AND THREE. 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 A FRUITION. THERE WAS FUNDS DEDICATED FOR THESE PROJECTS, BUT THE BIDS CAME IN HIGHER THAN WE EXPECTED. AND THANKFULLY, WITH THE HELP OF THE COMMUNITY WHO CAME AND ADVOCATED IN FRONT OF THE 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'S JUST A BLESSING. AND WE WANT TO THANK EVERYBODY THAT HELPED IN THIS GETTING THIS EVENT DONE. FOR THIS COMMUNITY DOESN'T CURRENTLY HAVE A PARK AND THREE WELL, THIS IS A LINEAR PARK FOR SQUARE

[03:35:01]

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. GO. 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. I 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. AND THEN THIS IS THE FIRST ONE 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, THE LITTLE SET UP FOR THE PICTURES. AND IT'S PRETTY PRETTY NICE. RUDOLPH THE RED NOSED REINDEER. HAD A VERY SHINY NOSE. EL PASO IS A BEAUTIFUL PLACE. WE'VE 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.

[03:44:37]

[03:45:06]

WE'RE SITTING ON A GOLD MINE. THIS IS A THIS IS A JAM. 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 AGUA DULCE. ESTRELLA. GALLEGOS. YEAH. 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 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

[03:50:03]

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 AND AS WELL AS THE LOWER VALLEY, TO MAKE SURE THAT WE BRING THESE ESSENTIAL SERVICES TO THE COMMUNITY. TWO AND THREE. 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 THE 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'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 A 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 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, THE 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. FOR ME. TWO ONE. GO. 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

[03:55:03]

SO AS WE APPROACH THEM, THEY COME ON. WE DO HAVE A DRIVE THROUGH ALONG ASCARATE 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. 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, THE LITTLE SET UP FOR THE PICTURES. AND IT'S PRETTY, PRETTY NICE. RUDOLPH THE RED NOSED REINDEER HAD A VERY SHINY NOSE. EL PASO IS A BEAUTIFUL PLACE. WE'VE 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.

[04:02:10]

WE'RE SITTING ON A GOLD MINE. THIS IS A THIS IS A JAM. 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

[04:05:04]

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 AND AS WELL AS THE LOWER VALLEY TO MAKE SURE THAT WE BRING THESE ESSENTIAL SERVICES TO THE COMMUNITY. TWO AND THREE. 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 A FRUITION. THERE WAS FUNDS DEDICATED FOR THESE PROJECTS, BUT THE BIDS CAME IN HIGHER THAN WE EXPECTED. AND THANKFULLY, WITH THE 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'S JUST A BLESSING. AND WE WANT TO THANK EVERYBODY THAT HELPED IN THIS GETTING THIS EVENT DONE. FOR THIS COMMUNITY DOESN'T CURRENTLY HAVE A PARK AND THREE WELL, THIS IS A LINEAR PARK FOR SQUARE

[04:10:07]

THEY'RE EXCITED ABOUT THE LIGHTS. SO THIS IS A REALLY GOOD NIGHT FOR FAMILIES TO BOND AND TO HAVE A GOOD TIME. FOR 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. I 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. 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, THE LITTLE SET UP FOR THE PICTURES. AND IT'S PRETTY, PRETTY NICE. RUDOLPH THE RED NOSED REINDEER HAD A VERY SHINY NOSE. EL PASO IS A BEAUTIFUL PLACE. WE'VE 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.

[04:16:20]

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

[04:20:01]

[04:25:04]

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 AND AS WELL AS THE LOWER VALLEY, TO MAKE SURE THAT WE BRING THESE ESSENTIAL SERVICES TO THE COMMUNITY. ONE, TWO AND THREE. 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 A FRUITION. THERE WAS FUNDS DEDICATED FOR THESE PROJECTS, BUT THE BIDS CAME IN HIGHER THAN WE EXPECTED. AND THANKFULLY, WITH THE HELP OF THE COMMUNITY WHO CAME AND ADVOCATED IN FRONT OF THE 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'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 A 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 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

[04:30:05]

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, THE LITTLE SET UP FOR THE PICTURES. AND IT'S PRETTY PRETTY NICE. RUDOLPH THE RED NOSED REINDEER HAD A VERY SHINY NOSE. EL PASO IS A BEAUTIFUL PLACE. WE'VE 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.

[04:37:16]

[04:40:05]

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 AND AS WELL AS THE LOWER VALLEY, TO MAKE SURE THAT WE BRING THESE ESSENTIAL SERVICES TO THE COMMUNITY. TWO AND THREE. 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 THE HELP OF THE COMMUNITY WHO CAME AND ADVOCATED IN FRONT OF THE 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'S JUST A BLESSING. AND WE WANT TO THANK EVERYBODY THAT HELPED IN THIS GETTING THIS EVENT DONE. THIS

[04:45:06]

I AM SO GRATEFUL TO THE COURT BECAUSE I'M ONLY ONE VOTE OF FIVE THAT MAKE CAN MAKE THINGS LIKE THIS HAPPEN. AND 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. GO. 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. I 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 ASCARATE 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. 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, THE LITTLE SET UP FOR THE PICTURES. AND IT'S PRETTY, PRETTY NICE. RUDOLPH THE RED NOSED REINDEER HAD A VERY SHINY NOSE. EL PASO IS A BEAUTIFUL PLACE. WE'VE 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.

[04:54:49]

[04:55:06]

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 GOLDMINE. THIS IS A THIS IS A JAM. 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 AGUA DULCE. ESTRELLA. GALLEGOS. YEAH. 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 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

[05:00:01]

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 AND AS WELL AS THE LOWER VALLEY, TO MAKE SURE THAT WE BRING THESE ESSENTIAL SERVICES TO THE COMMUNITY. TWO AND THREE. 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 THE HELP OF THE COMMUNITY WHO CAME AND ADVOCATED IN FRONT OF THE 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 A 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 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. SO 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

[05:05:02]

OUT THERE. THANK YOU. AND THEN THIS IS THE FIRST 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, THE LITTLE SET UP FOR THE PICTURES. AND IT'S PRETTY PRETTY NICE. RUDOLPH THE RED-NOSED REINDEER HAD A VERY SHINY NOSE. EL PASO IS A BEAUTIFUL PLACE. WE'VE 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.

[05:10:35]

[12. REGULAR SESSION]

[A. Discuss and take appropriate action regarding pending litigation styled United States v. Texas, No. 24-50149, County Attorney’s File No. 0165-23-PL. Bernardo Cruz, Assistant County Attorney, County Attorney's Office, 915-273-3247]

[B. Discuss and take appropriate action regarding litigations AFGE v. OPM (No. 3:25-cv-01780) and Medina v. Planned Parenthood South Atlantic (No. 23-1275). Bernardo Cruz, Assistant County Attorney, County Attorney's Office, 915-273-3247]

SECOND BY COMMISSIONER STOUT. THE VOTING IS OPEN. MINE'S NOT OPENING. I VOTE I, COMMISSIONER BUTLER, I MINDSET COMING UP, I VOTE. I THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER CORONADO. COMMISSIONER STOUT, I THANK YOU. MOTION CARRIES. ITEM 12 C DISCUSS AND TAKE APPROPRIATE ACTION REGARDING LITIGATION. STYLED FUND TEXAS CHOICE ET AL. VERSUS JOSE GARCIA GARZA, IN HIS OFFICIAL CAPACITY

[C. Discuss and take appropriate action regarding litigation styled Fund Texas Choice, et al v. Jose Garza, in his official capacity as District Attorney of Travis County, Texas, et al; Civil Cause No. 1:22-CV-00859-RP; County Attorney case number:  0075-23-LD. Jed Untereker, Assistant County Attorney, County Attorney's Office, 915-273-3247]

[8A-2 - ]

[05:15:02]

I'VE PREPARED A PRESENTATION FOR YOU ALL REGARDING THE MONTANA VISTA COMMUNITY CENTER. THAT, AND I WANT TO GIVE YOU A LITTLE BIT OF HISTORICAL BACKGROUND ON HOW THAT CAME ABOUT, THAT LAFAYETTE OPERATES THE MONTANA VISTA COMMUNITY CENTER IN THE EARLY LATE 90S, EARLY 2000.

THERE WAS A NONPROFIT THROUGH SOME FAITH BASED ORGANIZATION THAT BUILT TO COMMUNITY CENTERS ONE IN SPARKS, ONE IN MONTANA VISTA, WITH THE PURPOSE AND PARTNERING WITH THE TEXAS A&M COLONIAS PROGRAM, WITH THE PURPOSE OF HAVING THESE FACILITIES WITHIN SOME OF THESE DISTRESSED COMMUNITIES AND UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES SO THAT THERE COULD BE SERVICES GIVEN TO THOSE COMMUNITIES THAT DIDN'T OTHERWISE RECEIVE THEM. AND THE PURPOSE OF THAT WAS TO THEN TRANSFER THEM OVER TO THE COUNT, SO THAT THE COUNTY CAN EXECUTE SOME OF THESE AND IMPLEMENT SOME OF THESE SERVICES IN THOSE COMMUNITIES. SO THEY BUILT THESE TWO CENTERS IDENTICAL, AND THEN THEY TRANSFERRED THE OWNERSHIP TO THE COUNTY OF EL PASO. AND SO AT THAT TIME, I THINK THE COUNTY WAS GOING THROUGH SOME FINANCIAL CRISES. WE COULDN'T FULLY OPERATE THEM TO ITS FULL POTENTIAL. AND SO THE COUNTY ENGAGED IN A RFP PROCESS TO TRY TO FIND A NONPROFIT LOCALLY THAT COULD OPERATE THOSE CENTERS AND PROVIDE THOSE SERVICES, AS THOSE BUILDINGS WERE INTENDED TO SERVE. AND IN THE EARLY I BELIEVE, 2004, WE ENGAGED IN A RFP FOR BOTH CENTERS. HOWEVER, DURING THAT TIME AND, YOU KNOW, MY RESEARCH IS A LITTLE SKETCHY, I COULDN'T FIND A LOT OF INFORMATION. BUT AT THAT TIME, THE SHERIFF AT THAT TIME WANTED TO REPURPOSE THE SPARK CENTER FOR SORT OF LIKE A SUBSTATION, IF YOU WILL, OR SOME COMMUNITY POLICING PURPOSE WITHIN SPARKS.

AND SO WE REMOVED THAT FROM THE RFP AND ONLY RFP, MONTANA VISTA. AND SO LAFE RESPONDED TO THAT RFP AND OTHERS TOO. BUT WE ENGAGED IN A CONTRACT WITH LAFAYETTE IN 2005 AFTER THEY WERE GIVEN THE A BID FOR THAT CENTER. THE TERMS OF THAT AGREEMENT WAS AN ORIGINAL FIVE YEAR TERM WITH THREE EXTENSIONS TO RENEW EVERY FIVE YEARS. SO A TOTAL OF 15 YEARS POTENTIALLY TO EXTEND WITHIN THAT FIRST TERM. WE ENGAGED IN SEVERAL RENEWALS. WE'RE NOW IN THE LAST RENEWAL, THE LAST YEAR OF THAT LAST FIVE YEAR RENEWAL. THAT CONTRACT EXPIRES THIS SEPTEMBER 2025 WITH LAFAYETTE. AND SO I'M BRINGING THIS TIMELINE TO YOU TO GIVE YOU AWARENESS OF THAT. AND I WANTED TO GIVE YOU KIND OF THE STATUS OF THAT AGREEMENT RIGHT NOW, OVER THE LAST 20 YEARS, LAFAYETTE HAS PROVIDED SEVERAL DIFFERENT SERVICES TO INCLUDE FACILITATING SNAP AND MEDICAID BENEFITS TO THE COMMUNITY, AEROBICS CLASSES, CIVIC AND ENGLISH CLASSES, CITIZENSHIP CLASSES. AND IT'S BEEN SPORADIC THROUGHOUT THE 20 YEARS. AND WE ALSO HAVE AND HAVE CONTINUED TO ENGAGE IN OUR SENIOR NOONTIME MEAL PROGRAM IN THAT FACILITY. AND LAFAYETTE HAS FACILITATED THE USE OF THAT BUILDING FOR THAT. LAST YEAR IN OCTOBER, THEY APPROACHED US ABOUT MAKING A LARGE INVESTMENT INTO THE COMMUNITY CENTER. THEY WANTED TO BRING FIBER OPTIC CABLING AND NETWORK TO THE BUILDING, WHICH IS A LARGE INVESTMENT FOR THEM. AT THAT TIME. WE MENTIONED YOUR LEASE IS ABOUT TO EXPIRE AT THE END OF THIS YEAR. WE WEREN'T SURE IF WE WANTED TO GIVE THEM THAT NOTICE AND LET THEM KNOW IN THE EVENT THEY STILL WANTED TO MAKE THAT LARGE INVESTMENT INTO THE BUILDING. WE REQUESTED A MEETING WITH THEM JUST TO DISCUSS THAT INVESTMENT WITH THEM, AND TO LET THEM KNOW THAT THE EXPIRATION OF THE OF THEIR LEASE WAS UP IN SEPTEMBER OF

[05:20:04]

IT HAS COLLAPSED, SO IT NEEDS COMPLETE REPLACEMENT. THE WATER HEATER ALSO NEEDS TO BE REPLACED IN THE BUILDING. THE FIRE PANEL IS NOT UP TO CODE. WE'VE BEEN TOLD IT'S NOT REQUIRED TO BE UP

[A. Receive a presentation, discuss and take appropriate action regarding El Paso County’s 89th Texas Legislative Agenda and Values Statements and provide discussion and input regarding Federal legislative items for the 119th Congress. Melissa Carrillo, Deputy County Administrator, County Operations, 915-546-2162]

[A. Discuss and provide direction to staff regarding the future use and purpose of the Montana Vista Community Center currently being operated by Centro de Salud Familiar La Fe under a services agreement with the County of El Paso. Irene Gutierrez, Executive Director, Community Services, 915-273-3485]

YES, MA'AM. RIGHT. THE ONLY BRICK AND MORTAR BUILT BUILDING IS A MONTANA VISTA COMMUNITY CENTER. BEHIND IT YOU'LL SEE A STRUCTURE THAT IS ALSO A PORTABLE BUILDING THAT WAS DONATED TO US TO THE COUNTY SEVERAL YEARS AGO. IT'S ACTUALLY THAT'S THE PORTABLE BUILDING THAT NEEDS SOME REPAIRS, THE HVAC UNIT AND THEN THE REST OF THE BUILDINGS ARE ARE, AS COMMISSIONER BUTLER MENTIONED, ALSO MANUFACTURED BUILDINGS. THAT'S THE ENTIRE FOOTPRINT. ALL OF THAT IS OWNED BY THE COUNTY. SO I WANTED TO PRESENT SOME OPTIONS FOR YOU IN ADVANCE OF THE LEASE EXPIRATION IN SEPTEMBER. AND THE REASON I WANTED TO DISCUSS IT, BECAUSE OUR BIDDING PROCESS IS TAKING WITHIN 4 TO 6 MONTHS. IF WE WERE TO ENGAGE IN ANOTHER OPERATIONAL SERVICE CONTRACT WITH ANY OTHER NONPROFIT, WE WOULD HAVE TO GO FOR AN RFP TO DO THAT. WE CAN'T EXTEND ANOTHER LEASE ARRANGEMENT WITH LAFAYETTE. THEIR ENTIRE CONTRACT EXPIRES ON SEPTEMBER 30TH, SO THEY'VE EXERCISED ALL THEIR EXTENSIONS AVAILABLE ON THEIR ORIGINAL CONTRACT IN 2005.

AND SO ANY OTHER OPERATIONAL CONTRACT WOULD HAVE TO UNDERGO AN RFP. AND SO IT IS TAKING ABOUT 4 TO 6 MONTHS. SO I WANTED TO BRING SOME OPTIONS TO THE COURT SO THAT WE CAN HAVE SOME TIME TO REPAIR AND TO PREPARE AN RFP PACKAGE, SHOULD THE COURT WANT TO GO THIS OPTION. AND WE CAN START ENGAGING IN AN RFP PROCESS. IF THIS IS AN OPTION FOR YOU ALL. AGAIN, THE TIMELINE IS 4 TO 6 MONTHS. WE HAVE TO CONSIDER, YOU KNOW, COSTS FOR BUILDING MAINTENANCE AND UTILITIES. PROPERTY INSURANCE COULD BE INCLUDED IN AN RFP. OR WE COULD RETAIN THAT AND PAY FOR THAT. RIGHT NOW, THE AGREEMENT WITH LAFAYETTE, THEY PAY FOR ALL UTILITIES. IF THE BUILDING NEEDS ANY MAINTENANCE, THEY PAY FOR THAT MAINTENANCE. THEY COVER ALL THAT THE COUNTY DOES NOT. AND SO

[05:25:04]

NOT SURE THAT IT WOULD BE WISE MOVING FORWARD TO MAKING A THIRD PARTY RESPONSIBLE FOR TAKING CARE OF OUR BUILDINGS. BUT IRENE, IF I COULD JUMP IN ON THERE LIKE LIKE HAVING AN AGREEMENT THAT THEY PAY THEIR UTILITIES AND THINGS LIKE THAT SEEMS REASONABLE. BUT WHAT WE HAVE FOUND OVER TIME IS WHENEVER WE HAVE ALLOWED MAINTENANCE TO BE PURELY PROVIDED, IT SEEMS LIKE WE WALK AWAY AND EXPECT MAINTENANCE TO BE UP TO OUR STANDARDS. AND THAT IS NOT ALWAYS THE CASE, WHICH ON THE PREVIOUS SLIDE SHE SHOWED YOU, THERE'S LIKE 40 SOMETHING THOUSAND DOLLARS OF IMMEDIATE REPAIRS. BUT REALISTICALLY OVER $370,000 TOTAL OF REPAIRS THAT ARE NEEDED TO BRING THAT BUILDING UP TO WHAT WOULD BE OUR BASIC STANDARDS. AND SO IN ANY CASE, WE RECOMMEND THAT WE CONTINUE TO IN IN ANY FACILITY, CONTINUE TO MAINTAIN THAT RESPONSIBILITY OF THAT MAJOR MAINTENANCE. AND ONE OTHER QUICK THING TOO, IS WE DON'T KNOW. WE DON'T HAVE A FULL LEGAL ANSWER YET. IF THE COURT DID WANT TO RENEW WITH LAFAYETTE AND UPDATE THE TERMS, WHETHER THERE'S ANY PROVISION OTHER THAN AN RFP TO DO THAT, SINCE OUR NONPROFIT LEGAL WAS STILL RESEARCHING THAT, BUT WE DON'T KNOW THAT THERE'S AN EASY WAY OF DOING THAT. BUT THERE MAY BE WE DON'T KNOW. SO WE KNOW THE IMPACT IT WOULD HAVE ON THEM IF THEY. SO LAFAYETTE OCCUPIES THE ENTIRE BUILDING AND OPERATES IT. WE THE BUILDING IS DESIGNED FOR A BUNCH OF DIFFERENT LIKE OFFICE SUITES. THERE IS JUST ONE LARGE AREA THAT'S THE DINING HALL AND THE KITCHEN, WHERE OUR SENIOR NUTRITION PROGRAM IS HOSTED IN THAT FACILITY. AND SO LAFAYETTE COULD STILL, UNDER A FACILITIES USE ARRANGEMENT, STILL BE IN OUR FACILITY PROVIDING SERVICES IN ONE OF THE OFFICE SUITES. AND SO I, YOU KNOW, IF THEY WANT TO CONTINUE BEING IN MONTANA VISTA, IF THIS WAS AN OPTION FOR YOU ALL, WE WOULD GO OUT FOR AN RFP, SELECT SOMEONE ELSE. THEY COULD STILL BE THERE. WE DO THAT WITH OTHER FACILITIES, OTHER COMMUNITY CENTERS WHERE WE HOST A BUNCH OF DIFFERENT NONPROFITS, ORGANIZATIONS THROUGH A FACILITIES USE AGREEMENT, AND THEY COME AND BRING SERVICES FOR A DAY, A COUPLE OF DAYS, ONCE A MONTH, REGULARLY WHEN THEY RESERVE A ROOM SO THOSE THINGS CAN STILL BE DONE WITH LAFAYETTE. COMMISSIONER BUTLER, WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS? WELL, I WAS GOING TO SAY, I THINK, YOU KNOW, I REVIEWED THE LEASE AGREEMENT WITH LAFAYETTE, AND IT'S VERY, VERY BROAD AND OPEN ENDED IN TERMS OF THE SERVICES THAT THEY'RE ASKED TO PROVIDE THE COMMUNITY. AND WE DO COMMUNITY SERVICES HAS TRACKED THEY'RE REQUIRED TO REPORT THEIR DATA BACK TO THE COUNTY. AND IF YOU LOOK AT THE NUMBERS AND THE DATA OVER THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS. I THINK IT'S FAIR TO SAY THAT THE BUILDING HAS BEEN UNDERUTILIZED. THE HIGHEST NUMBERS THAT LAFAYETTE HAS IS RELATED TO OUR SENIOR NUTRITION PROGRAM THAT THAT WE PAY FOR AND HOST. AND SO THEY COUNT THAT AS PART OF THEIR DATA, THEIR DAILY DATA TRACKING. AND THEY JUST THEY JUST HAVEN'T BEEN EXTREMELY ACTIVE. THAT'S NOT TO SAY THAT THEY COULDN'T USE SPACE IN LAFAYETTE. I THINK, YOU KNOW, THEY PROBABLY COULD AND WOULD WANT TO RETAIN A PRESENCE IN MONTANA VISTA. BUT BASED ON THE DATA, IT DOESN'T IT DOESN'T SHOW TO ME THAT THEY'RE FULLY UTILIZING IT WOULDN'T BE A HUGE IMPACT IF WE. AND THIS, I THINK, IS IF YOU SEE THIS PICTURE OF THIS BUILDING, IT REALLY IS THE NICEST BUILDING. IT'S REALLY NICE OF ALL THE BUILDINGS WE HAVE OUT THERE. IT HAS A LOT OF OUTDOOR SPACE AND THEN IT HAS THAT WHOLE LIKE PORTABLE ON THE SIDE THAT RIGHT NOW HAS COMPUTERS IN IT. IT'S SUPPOSED TO BE LIKE A COMPUTER LEARNING LAB, BUT IT'S NOT UTILIZED AT ALL BECAUSE IT DOESN'T HAVE HVAC. RIGHT? RIGHT. AND IT NEEDS THE WINDOWS NEED TO BE REPLACED. THERE'S A THERE'S WATER THAT'S INTRUDING INTO THE BUILDING THROUGH THE WINDOWS, AND THERE'S A DRAFT THAT'S COMING IN. SO THAT'S WHY THAT PORTABLE IS NOT BEING USED AT THE MOMENT. AND THIS IS A GOOD THANKS. IT'D WHO PUT THIS UP. IT'S A GOOD KIND OF CLOSE UP FRONT VIEW OF THE BUILDING. IT IS IT IS IN GENERALLY GREAT SHAPE BEING THAT IT'S ABOUT 2025 YEARS OLD. AND SO. BUT COMMISSIONER BUTLER IS CORRECT. A LOT OF THE USE THAT IS HAPPENING IN OUR CENTER THERE IS THROUGH OUR SENIOR NUTRITION PROGRAM, AND A LOT OF THE PROGRAMING THAT IS HAPPENING RIGHT NOW THROUGH LAFAYETTE HAS DECREASED SINCE COVID. I THINK THEY'VE STRUGGLED TO REENGAGE THE COMMUNITY IN SOME OF THOSE

[05:30:01]

WE'D ALLOW YOU WILL ALLOW YOU TO USE A CERTAIN SPACE. YOU CAN ASK US TO USE THIS ROOM. THE SENIOR NUTRITION AREA, LIKE TURN THE CARDS. I MEAN, WE CAN GO OUT FOR RFP. AND WORST CASE IS WE DON'T GET ANYTHING AND THEN YOU'LL BE BACK IN THAT NEGOTIATING POSITION. AND, YOU KNOW, WE'RE PARTNERS. SO, YOU KNOW, I FEEL LIKE GIVE THEM AN OPPORTUNITY TO SAY THESE ARE THE THINGS WE WOULD LIKE TO SEE. BUT BUT YOU HAVE TO CHECK TO SEE WE HAVE THAT OPTION ON THE CONTRACT. WE HAVE TO GO TO RFP. SO FINALLY ON THIS SLIDE, AS I MENTIONED, ONE OF YOUR LAST CONSIDERATIONS FOR THIS OPTION WOULD BE MAKING THAT INVESTMENT TO BRING UP THE BUILDING AND FIX IT. THE COST OF THE REPAIRS AND DEFERRED MAINTENANCE WOULD BE A TOTAL OF ABOUT 80,000. IMMEDIATELY. I THINK WE WOULD THE COUNTY WOULD, WOULD PROBABLY HAVE TO INVEST THE 41,000. AS I MENTIONED IN THE PREVIOUS SLIDE. LET ME JUST SHOW YOU THE HIGHLIGHTED STUFF. WE SHOULD PROBABLY INVEST THAT ALREADY BECAUSE IT'S IMMEDIATE NEEDS, BUT TO BRING IT UP TO CERTAIN STANDARDS, THE COURT WOULD HAVE TO INVEST 80,000 TO FIX IT UP SO THAT WE COULD MAKE IT MORE APPEALING FOR AN RFP PROCESS OR SOME PROPOSAL TO WANT TO TAKE IT OVER. YOUR NEXT OPTION WOULD BE TO RECLAIM THE

[05:35:05]

[05:40:06]

AND SO I DO HAVE A NUTRITION SERVICES COORDINATOR THAT GOES THERE ONCE A WEEK. AND SO SHE'S THERE FOR PURPOSES OF ENSURING THAT OUR NUTRITION, OUR MEALS SHOW UP ON TIME, THAT OUR SENIORS ARE REGISTERED, THAT WE'RE REASSESSING, THAT WE'RE SIGNING NEW SENIORS TO THE MEAL PROGRAM. AND SO WE DEDICATE ONE ONE DAY OUT OF THE WEEK. AND SO THAT IS SOMETHING THAT WE DO ALREADY. WE'RE THERE ONCE A WEEK. AND SO WE CAN CONTINUE. WE HAVE KIND OF EXPLORED OPTIONS.

AS BETSY MENTIONED, OUR GENERAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM IS MAINLY HOUSED AT OUR FAMILY YOUTH SERVICES CENTER ON DELTA. WE'VE EXPLORED MAYBE ONCE A WEEK HAVING ONE STAFF THERE, ENGAGING THE COMMUNITY ON ANY PUBLIC ASSISTANCE THAT THEY MAY NEED SO THEY DON'T HAVE TO DRIVE ALL THE WAY TO DELTA. AND SO WE'VE DONE THAT ON OCCASION FOR OTHER CENTERS. WE COULD DO THAT HERE.

OUR LIBRARY SERVICES WERE A LITTLE STRAPPED WITH STAFF. WE ONLY HAVE THREE STAFFERS, BUT WE CAN CERTAINLY LOOK INTO HOW WE CAN KIND OF STRETCH THEM TO GO AND EXTEND SOME SERVICES AT MONTANA VISTA. SO THAT COULD BE A TEMPORARY SORT OF OPTION FOR YOU ALL. AS COMMISSIONER BUTLER MENTIONED, SORT OF PHASING IN UNTIL WE CAN UNTIL THE COUNTY IS IN A MORE FISCAL SHAPE TO BE ABLE TO INVEST EVERYTHING THAT NEEDS TO BE INVESTED OR, OR WE COULD LOOK FOR GRANTS AS WELL, OR TO LOOK FOR SOME, SIMILAR TO HOW WE HAVE STARTED. SOME OF WHAT AGUA DULCE HAS IS GRANT BASED, AND A LOT OF WHAT WE HAVE THERE IS ALSO COMMUNITY BASED. I DON'T THINK EVERYONE REALIZES HOW MUCH LIKE THE COMMUNITY HELPS RUN OUR OUR CENTER THERE. A LOT OF IT IS THE COMMUNITY KEEPS US, KEEPS EVERYBODY OPERATING IN LINE AND TAKING CARE OF EQUIPMENT AND TAKING CARE OF THE FACILITY. AND LOOKS LIKE THERE MIGHT BE SOME MIDDLE GROUND THERE TO WITH. I AGREE WE HAVE TO EXPLORE, LOOKING INTO MAYBE HAVE US SOME SPACE AND KEEP LAFAYETTE THERE IN THE MEANTIME. THANK YOU BECAUSE I AGREE, WE PROBABLY, YOU KNOW, MONTANA VISTA NEEDS SOME MORE

[05:45:02]

BUT WE CAN CERTAINLY START WORKING ON THAT. THE COURT I'M SORRY, COMMISSIONER, WOULD YOU WOULD YOU ALL BE AMENABLE TO A SMALLER FEE AGREEMENT? WHEN I SAY A SMALLER, SMALLER OCCUPATION OF THE BUILDING AGREEMENT WHERE THEY CONTINUE TO HAVE SERVICES THERE? BUT WE WOULD JUST WE WOULD CONTROL THE BUILDING MORE AND THEY WOULD HAVE SERVICES THAT THEY'D BE MAYBE OUT OF AN AREA

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.