Mar 24, 2025 Commissioners Court Regular

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THE.

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[1. OPEN MEETING]

GOOD MORNING EVERYONE. WELL, TODAY WE HAVE WITH US NOELIA CRUZ, WHO IS A STUDENT AT SOCORRO MIDDLE SCHOOL AND THE DAUGHTER OF OUR ILLUSTRIOUS MAYOR OF SOCORRO, MAYOR RUDY

[2. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE]

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[3. INVOCATION]

LORD, I PRAY FOR JUDGE SAMANIEGO, COMMISSIONER. BUTLER, COMMISSIONER OLGUIN, COMMISSIONER CORONADO, AND COMMISSIONER STOUT. GIVE THEM WISDOM AND UNDERSTANDING TO MAKE THE DIFFICULT DECISIONS THEY NEED TO MAKE AT TIMES, GIVE THEM BOLDNESS AND COURAGE TO VOTE ON MATTERS THAT WOULD BRING YOU GREAT HONOR AND GLORY. I PRAY YOU WOULD PROTECT THEM AND GUIDE THEM. I ALSO PRAY THAT THEIR HEARTS AND MINDS WOULD BE RECEPTIVE AND OPEN TO YOU AND YOUR GUIDANCE. LORD, I PRAY FOR OUR COUNTY EMPLOYEES. I PRAY THAT YOU WOULD PROTECT THEM AND LIFT THEM UP, ESPECIALLY THOSE THAT ARE GOING THROUGH DIFFICULT TIMES IN THEIR LIVES RIGHT NOW.

REMIND THEM THAT IF THEY PUT THEIR TRUST AND FAITH IN YOU, YOU WILL CARRY THEM THROUGH THOSE STORMS. THANK YOU FOR OUR EMPLOYEES. WITHOUT THEM, THE OFFICES WITHIN THIS COURTHOUSE COURTHOUSE WOULD NOT FUNCTION. BLESS THEM, ENCOURAGE THEM AND PROTECT THEM. I PRAY FOR ALL OUR ELECTED OFFICIALS. I PRAY THAT YOU WOULD REMIND THEM THEY ARE HERE TO SERVE AND NOT TO BE SERVED. YOU PUT THEM IN OFFICE AND YOU CAN ALSO REMOVE THEM FROM THEIR CURRENT POSITIONS.

REMIND THEM TO BE HUMBLE, CARING AND HELP THEM TO BUILD THE INDIVIDUALS THAT WORK FOR THEM.

THAT THEY WOULD BE A GREAT EXAMPLE. HELP THEM BE GREAT MENTORS. REMIND THEM THAT WITHOUT THEIR STAFF, THEY WOULDN'T MAKE IT, AND WITHOUT YOU, THEY WON'T MAKE IT. HUMBLE THEM WHEN THEY NEED TO BE HUMBLED. LORD AND LORD, I PRAY FOR THE FAMILIES THAT WERE IMPACTED OVER THE WEEKEND IN LAS CRUCES. WE LIVE IN A FALLEN WORLD, AND I CAN'T EXPLAIN THE FOOLISH EVIL ACTIONS THAT TAKE PLACE. I PRAY THAT YOU WOULD COMFORT ALL THE FAMILIES THAT HAVE BEEN IMPACTED BY THIS EVIL ACT. BLESS THEM WITH A COMFORT THAT CAN ONLY COME FROM YOU.

BRING THEM PEACE DURING THIS DIFFICULT TIME. LORD, NO MATTER WHAT IS TAKING PLACE AROUND THE WORLD, GOOD OR BAD, YOU ARE STILL KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS. YOU ARE IN CONTROL AND ALWAYS WILL BE. FIRST PETER 567 SAYS, THEREFORE, HUMBLE YOURSELVES UNDER THE MIGHTY HAND OF GOD, THAT HE MAY EXALT YOU IN DUE TIME, CASTING ALL YOUR CARES UPON HIM, FOR HE CARES FOR YOU.

GOD BLESS EL PASO, GOD BLESS TEXAS, AND GOD BLESS AMERICA. IN JESUS NAME WE PRAY. AMEN. AMEN.

THANK YOU PASTOR. THANK YOU Y'ALL HAVE A GREAT DAY. THANK YOU YOU. JUDGE, DO YOU HAVE ANY OPENING REMARKS FOR US THIS MORNING? THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. ON BEHALF OF MYSELF

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SO. THANK YOU. AND AS I SAID, WELCOME. WE HAVE SOME GREAT RESOLUTIONS THAT ARE COMING UP.

AND, YOU KNOW, WE'RE ALWAYS SO APPRECIATIVE OF BEING ABLE TO RECOGNIZE WE HAVE SOME GREAT PEOPLE IN THE AUDIENCE ARE REPRESENTATIVE LEHMAN IS IN THE AUDIENCE, AND WE HAVE OUR OUR VETERAN OF THE YEAR IN THE AUDIENCE. AS YOU COULD SEE, JUST A LOT OF SPECIAL INDIVIDUALS HERE. BUT WE HAVE SOME GREAT RESOLUTIONS. SO WISHING ALL OF YOU A GREAT MONDAY AND JUST A VERY BLESSED WEEK. SO THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE TODAY. THANK YOU. ITEM NUMBER FOUR IS THE CONSENT AGENDA COMPOSED OF ITEMS FOUR A THROUGH FOUR Z. WE DO HAVE A COUPLE OF CORRECTIONS THAT WE DO

[4. CONSENT AGENDA]

[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]

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THIS IS A $40 MILLION A YEAR INDUSTRY THAT HAD TO BE OR I GUESS PERMITS WERE HALTED BACK IN THE 77TH LEGISLATIVE SESSION DUE TO A SPREAD OF BOVINE TUBERCULOSIS. THAT HAS IS NOW CLEAR. I KNOW THAT THE TEXAS ANIMAL HEALTH COMMISSION ESTABLISHED A MOVEMENT RESTRICTION ZONE SO THAT PERMITS DSHS COULD NOT ISSUE PERMITS FOR DAIRY DAIRY PRODUCERS IN THE AREA BECAUSE OF THE SPREAD. HOWEVER, THE AREAS ARE NOW CLEAR OF THIS. OF THIS DISEASE AND WHAT HOUSE BILL 1275 DOES IS IT REPEALS THE SECTION THAT WAS CREATED BACK IN THE 77 SESSION FOR HEALTH ISSUES. BUT NOW, SINCE WE'RE CLEAR, WE CAN BRING BACK THESE PERMITS FOR EL PASO AND HUDSPETH COUNTIES. SO I WOULD REQUEST A MOTION TO SUPPORT THIS ITEM. I MEAN, THIS BILL SO MOVED AND WE CAN SEE IT ON SLIDE. I DON'T KNOW IF MY SLIDES ARE UP, BUT THE SLIDES SUPPORTIVE OF COUNTY BUSINESS. IT'S LIKE THE FOURTH SLIDE I BELIEVE NEXT ONE. NEXT ONE. NEXT ONE. THERE IT IS. YES. SO YEAH HOUSE BILL 1275 LIKE I SAID REPEALS THE SECTION OF THE CODE THAT REQUIRES THIS. I SHOULD HAVE SAID LIKE THE DENIAL OF PERMITS FOR THE PRODUCER DAIRIES IN EL PASO COUNTY. THANK YOU ALISA. WE HAVE A MOTION FROM COMMISSIONER STOUT AND A SECOND FROM JUDGE SAMANIEGO. THE VOTING IS OPEN. AND THE MOTION CARRIES. THANK YOU. LISA WILL BE BRINGING YOU BACK ON LATER. OKAY. THANK YOU SO MUCH. HAVE A GOOD DAY. BYE BYE. THANK YOU.

WE'RE GOING TO START TODAY WITH ITEM FIVE G FROM THE RESOLUTIONS POSTPONED FROM MARCH 10TH, 2025.

APPROVE AND ADOPT A RESOLUTION RECOGNIZING EL PASO BOXER STEPHANIE HAHN FOR WINNING THE

[G. (Postponed 3/10/25) 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]

SORRY. WELL, THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THIS IS A VERY SPECIAL BECAUSE YOU KEEP PUTTING US ON THE MAP, STEPHANIE, AND OF COURSE, YOUR SISTER JESSICA AS WELL, THAT OUR FIRST CHAMPION, WORLD CHAMPION HERE IN EL PASO. AND MASTER DAD, THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. SO PRETTY AMAZING. SO I'M VERY I'M VERY PRIVILEGED TO BE ABLE TO READ THIS AND TO THE RECORD WHERE STEPHANIE HAHN HAS ACHIEVED AN EXTRAORDINARY MILESTONE IN HER PROFESSIONAL BOXING CAREER BY REMAINING UNDEFEATED IN TEN PROFESSIONAL FIGHTS AND CLAIMING THE WORLD BOXING ASSOCIATION WOMEN'S LIGHTWEIGHT WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP. WHEREAS ON FEBRUARY 22ND, 2025 AT THE HISTORIC EL PASO COUNTY COLISEUM, STEPHANIE HAN SECURED THE PRESTIGIOUS WBA TITLE WITH A KNOCKOUT VICTORY IN THE FIRST ROUND. COMPLETED IN UNDER TWO MINUTES, SHOWCASING HER EXCEPTIONAL SKILL, ATHLETICISM AND DETERMINATION. WHERE STEPHANIE HAN SUCCESS IS A RESULT OF HER RELENTLESS WORK ETHIC, UNWAVERING COMMITMENT, AND THE STRENGTH OF THE HAN FAMILY LEGACY, A LEGACY THAT HAS SIGNIFICANTLY CONTRIBUTED TO EL PASO'S PROUD BOXING HISTORY.

WHEREAS PRIOR TO HER PROFESSIONAL BOXING CAREER, STEPHANIE HAN MADE HISTORY AT IRVINE HIGH SCHOOL IN 2009 AS THE SCHOOL'S FIRST EVER GIRLS STATE WRESTLING CHAMPION, DEMONSTRATING HER TENACITY AND COMPETITIVE SPIRIT FROM AN EARLY AGE, WHERE STEPHANIE HAN NOW PROUDLY STANDS AS EL PASO'S SECOND WORLD BOXING CHAMPION, BRINGING IMMENSE PRIDE TO HER HOMETOWN AND INSPIRING FUTURE GENERATIONS OF ATHLETES. WHERE STEPHANIE HAN'S SUCCESS HAS BEEN SUPPORTED BY A WARRIOR, EDGE BOXING AND KINGS PROMOTION IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE EL PASO COUNTY COLISEUM, WHICH HAS BEEN INSTRUMENTAL IN KEEPING STEPHANIE'S FIGHTS HERE IN HER

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THANK YOU SO MUCH. YEAH, I'D LOVE TO HEAR FROM JENNIFER. GOOD MORNING. GOOD MORNING. I'M JENNIFER HUNT. FOR THOSE WHO AREN'T FAMILIAR FAMILIAR WITH ME. AND I WAS THE IBF WORLD CHAMPION FOR MANY YEARS. BUT I MUST SAY THAT WE ARE SO PROUD OF STEPHANIE. I MEAN, AS YOU CAN SEE, SHE'S SUCH A BEAUTIFUL PERSON INSIDE AND OUT. SHE IS THE MOST POWERFUL REPRESENTATIVE OF OUR COMMUNITY AS A MOTHER, AS A POLICE OFFICER AND AS A PROFESSIONAL FIGHTER. LIKE WE DON'T CARRY THESE WORDS LIGHTLY. SHE'S PUT IN THE TIME, THE ENERGY, SHE'S SACRIFICED EVERYTHING. AND WE'RE JUST SO EXCITED TO SEE HER NEXT FIGHT. BUT THANK YOU SO MUCH. THIS IS SUCH A GREAT HONOR AND GOD BLESS. THANK YOU. I THINK THERE'S SO MANY, SO MANY DIMENSIONS OF, YOU KNOW, BEING A WOMAN AND SHOWING OTHER WOMEN TO BE STRONG AND RELENTLESS. AND WE HAVE SUCH A GREAT COMMUNITY OF ATHLETES. JUST AMAZING. BUT I THINK THIS WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT THIS AT COMMISSIONERS COURT ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF ROLE MODELING, ESPECIALLY, YOU KNOW, THE PANDEMIC. IT SORT OF SHIFTED A LOT OF INDIVIDUALS, YOUNG PEOPLE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT THINGS, THE UNCERTAINTIES, AND THEY ALWAYS LOOK UP TO SOMEONE. AND I KNOW ALL OF US ARE THE SAME. WE LOOK TO SOMEONE TO SORT OF GUIDE US, BE A BEACON. AND, STEPHANIE, YOU'VE JUST BEEN AN INCREDIBLE BEACON. YOUR PROFESSIONALISM. I HAVE THE VIDEO WHILE YOU'RE GOING UP TO THE TO THE BOXING RING, AND I WANTED TO MOVE OUT OF YOUR WAY BECAUSE YOU, YOU HAD YOU HAD THAT LOOK I GO BUT SHE'S SHE'S GOING TO WIN REALLY QUICKLY ON THIS ONE. SO WE THANK YOU ALSO YOUR DAD. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. I'M SURE THE SUPPORT AND THAT YOU'VE GIVEN THEM AND THE GUIDANCE, WE THANK YOU FOR THAT AS WELL. AND JUST AND ALSO JENNIFER, IF YOU COULD HELP OUT SO MUCH ON THIS ROLE MODELING BECAUSE YOU HAVE SUCH A GREAT STORY TO TELL AND TO TELL AND WHATEVER WE COULD DO, I THINK THE ONLY THING THAT I'M WISH, YOU KNOW, WE DO HAVE A SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT, STEPHANIE, THAT WE WOULD. COVER YOUR EARS. REPRESENTATIVE LEMOINE, I'M TRYING TO RECRUIT HER TO THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT, SO. NO, BUT WE THANK YOU. THIS IS A GREAT HONOR FOR ALL OF US. AND WHEN YOU WIN, THE COMMUNITY WINS AND EVERYBODY WINS. SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH. I REALLY APPRECIATE THAT. JUDGE. REAL QUICK, I JUST WANTED TO SAY CONGRATULATIONS.

AND ALSO ANOTHER FACET OF HER ROLE MODELING IS, IS SHE WAS A FINALIST IN THE MISS SUN CITY PAGEANT THAT I WAS A JUDGE FOR, NOT THIS PAST WEEKEND, BUT THE WEEKEND BEFORE. SO CONGRATULATIONS ON THAT AS WELL. THANK YOU. YEAH. WELL THANK YOU. WE'LL GO.

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[A. Approve and adopt a resolution declaring Saturday, March 29, 2025, as Oro Temple #9 And Oro Court #20 Combined Annual Celebration in El Paso County, Texas. David Stout, Commissioner, Precinct 2, 915-273-3559]

IF Y'ALL WOULD LIKE TO, TO COME UP TO THE PODIUM WHILE I READ IT. I HAVE A COUPLE OF COMMENTS.

JUST WANTED TO ASK YOU ALL. DID YOU ALL DID YOU ALL KNOW JUDGE AND COMMISSIONERS, THAT IN 1969, ORAL TEMPLE NINE WAS THE FIRST ORGANIZATION IN EL PASO TO FURNISH ROOMS FOR THE THEN NEW YWCA ACTIVITY BUILDING. I DIDN'T KNOW THAT. I OBVIOUSLY WASN'T AROUND AT THAT POINT IN TIME, BUT, YOU KNOW, I DID SEE IT IN A NEWSPAPER CLIPPING, AND I'M NOT SURE WHICH BUILDING THAT IS, BUT IT MIGHT BE THE BUILDING HERE ON TEXAS AVENUE. NOW, THE LEADERSHIP ACADEMY. BUT THAT'S JUST THE TIP OF THE ICEBERG. THE RESOLUTION DESCRIBES A LOT OF THEIR OTHER WORKS HERE IN EL PASO. BUT THE ANCIENT EGYPTIAN ARABIC ORDER, NOBLES OF THE MYSTIC SHRINE, FOUNDED IN 1893, IS AN ORGANIZATION WITH A COLLECTIVE MEMBERSHIP OF OVER 25,000 THROUGHOUT THE CONTINENTAL UNITED STATES, CANADA, GERMANY, ITALY, ENGLAND, SPAIN, HAWAII, JAPAN, KOREA, GUAM, THAILAND, PANAMA, AND THE BAHAMAS. THIS BENEVOLENT, CHARITABLE, AND FRATERNAL ORGANIZATION IS DEDICATED TO THE PRINCIPLE OF FOSTERING CIVIC, ECONOMIC, AND EDUCATIONAL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS THROUGHOUT THE WORLD, AND THAT INCLUDES FOR THE PAST 104 YEARS, IF I UNDERSTAND CORRECTLY, HERE IN EL PASO. AND SO WITH THAT, I'LL GO AHEAD AND READ THE RESOLUTION, AND THEN WE CAN HEAR FROM Y'ALL. THE RESOLUTION STATES. JUAREZ ORAL AURAL TEMPLE NINE, NUMBER NINE OF THE ANCIENT EGYPTIAN ARABIC ORDER. NOBLES OF THE MYSTIC SHRINE OF NORTH AND SOUTH AMERICA AND ITS JURISDICTIONS, INC. PRINCE HALL AFFILIATED, WILL HOST THEIR 104TH ANNUAL POTENTATE AND COMMANDERS BALL AND CELEBRATION ON MARCH 29TH, 2025 AT THE WYNDHAM AIRPORT AND CASINO. AND WHEREAS ORO TEMPLE NUMBER NINE, ESTEEMED CHARITABLE AND NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION, HAS A HISTORY OF GENEROUSLY DONATING TO NUMEROUS CHARITABLE CAUSES AS PART OF THEIR ANNUAL PROJECTS.

AND WHEREAS, THE PRIMARY MISSION OF ORO TEMPLE NUMBER NINE IS TO FOSTER BENEVOLENCE AND CULTIVATE GOODWILL WITHIN BOTH THE LOCAL COMMUNITY AND BEYOND. THROUGHOUT THEIR TENURE, ORO TEMPLE NUMBER NINE HAVE ACTIVELY RAISED FUNDS FOR A PLETHORA OF CHARITABLE ENDEAVORS, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, SUPPORTING THE MDA, JERRY LEWIS TELETHON, THE UNITED COLLEGE FUND, CAFE, CHILD CRISIS CENTER, MCCAUL NEIGHBORHOOD CENTER, INITIATIVES FOR CANCER RESEARCH, HOSPICE OF EL PASO, THE SALVATION ARMY, NAACP, NAACP LEGAL DEFENSE FUND, THE SHRINERS HEALTH AND MEDICAL RESEARCH FOUNDATION, PROVIDING UNIFORMS AND TOOLS FOR SCHOOLS AIDING NEW LIFE, CHRISTIAN HOME, THE RONALD MCDONALD HOUSE, THE YWCA TRANSITIONAL LIVING CENTER, AND NUMEROUS OTHER VITAL ORGANIZATIONS SERVING THIS COMMUNITY. AND WHEREAS IN 2024, ORO TEMPLE NUMBER NINE EXEMPLIFIED ITS COMMITMENT TO PHILANTHROPY THROUGH GENEROUS CONTRIBUTIONS TO VARIOUS LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS. THIS INCLUDED PROVIDING CASH DONATIONS TO THE SALVATION ARMY, ASSISTING WITH CURBSIDE DONATIONS FOR THANKSGIVING, AND SUPPORTING THE NATIONAL DIABETES, AMERICAN CANCER SOCIETY AND AMERICAN RED CROSS. FURTHERMORE, THEY GENEROUSLY DONATED TOYS TO THE EL PASO CHILD CRISIS CENTER AND CONTRIBUTED CONTRIBUTED HAMS TO THE EL PASO HOLY ROYAL ARCH THANKSGIVING COMMUNITY DINNER. ADDITIONALLY, THEY EXTENDED THEIR SUPPORT BY DONATING HYGIENE ITEMS TO THE EL PASO JOB CORPS CENTER AND SERVING BREAKFAST QUARTERLY TO THE EL

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MOTION CARRIES. WELL, THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING HERE. THE FLOOR IS YOURS. WELL, THANK YOU, JUDGE AND COUNTY COMMISSIONERS. THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY AND TAKING THE TIME OUT TO PRESENT US WITH A RESOLUTION. I AM CURTIS SMITH, IMPERIAL DEPUTY OF THE DESERT OF TEXAS AND A MEMBER OF ORAL TEMPLE NUMBER NINE. I HAVE WITH ME TODAY THE ILLUSTRIOUS POTENTATE, JAMES PATRICK, AND THE ILLUSTRIOUS COMMANDER, STEPHANIE D ALLEN. AND I'LL LET THEM SPEAK AND INTRODUCE THEIR MEMBERS. THANK YOU. LESSER COMMANDERS. HOWDY, EVERYONE. HELLO, TEXAS. HOWDY. I AM STEPHANIE ALLEN. I'M THE ILLUSTRIOUS COMMANDERS OF ORAL COURT NUMBER 20 HERE IN EL PASO, TEXAS, WHICH IS THE OASIS DESERT OF TEXAS. I GUESS YOU WOULD SAY I'M ACTUALLY THE PRESIDENT OF THE FEMALE SIDE. THAT'S WHAT THE ILLUSTRIOUS COMMANDERS ACTUALLY IS. THIS IS MY FIRST LIEUTENANT HERE, GINA MILLER, AND MY SECOND LIEUTENANT, SHERRI LEAPHART. AND THEN I HAVE WHAT IS YOUR WHAT IS YOUR TITLE? OKAY, SO DAUGHTER SAMUEL, SHE DON'T WANT TO SAY WHAT HER OTHER TITLE IS. AND WHICH PICK? DAUGHTER SAMUEL. PICK. ANYHOW, SORRY. AND THAT'S ALL MY DAUGHTERS. BUT AS HE SAID, WE ARE VERY BENEVOLENT GIVING ORGANIZATION AND WE'RE HERE TO SUPPORT THE COMMUNITY.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU SIR. JUDGE. COUNTY COMMISSIONERS. TODAY, LESSER POTENTATE. JAMES.

PATRICK. TODAY I HAVE THE DISTINCT PLEASURE OF HAVING AGAIN. I'M GOING TO INTRODUCE HIM. I KNOW HE INTRODUCED HIMSELF, BUT THEN PIERCE, DEPUTY OF THE DESERT FOR THE STATE OF TEXAS. CURTIS L SMITH. I HAVE MY DEPUTY OASIS FOR THE OASIS OF EL PASO, STEVEN MONROE. AND THEN I HAVE MY MARSHAL HERE WITH ME, KENT GERALD STOKES. BUT AGAIN, WE DO A LOT IN THE COMMUNITY, AND WE ARE AT PASO. AND I APPRECIATE YOU ALL. THANK YOU. IF YOU INTRODUCE YOURSELVES, EACH ONE THAT WAY WE COULD EACH ONE. OKAY. YEAH. JUST COME BY AND JUST INTRODUCE YOURSELVES.

THANK YOU. GOOD AFTERNOON, JUDGE AND COMMISSIONERS. MY NAME IS. WELL, I WOULD BE CONSIDERED DAUGHTER GINA MILLER, FIRST LIEUTENANT COMMANDERS SIT TO THE RIGHT OF MY COMMANDERS, AND WE WORK TOGETHER TO MAKE TO MAINTAIN WHAT WE DO FOR OUR COMMUNITY. AND WE'RE GRATEFUL TO DO SO. WE'RE ALSO GRATEFUL TO BE HERE TODAY. THANK YOU, THANK YOU. I'M DOCTOR SHERRY LEE, PART TO THE JUDGE AND COMMISSIONERS. THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING US TO BE HERE ON THIS DAY. THANK YOU. I'M HONORARY PAST IMPERIAL COMMANDERS AND PAST DEPUTY FOR THE DESERT OF TEXAS. ANNA HARRIS HOWELL. THANK YOU. GOOD MORNING, JUDGE AND COMMISSIONERS. I AM LUCILLE SAMUEL, HONORARY PAST IMPERIAL COMMANDER, AND I AM THE DESERT TREASURER FOR THE STATE OF TEXAS. THANK YOU. GOOD MORNING, JUDGE AND COMMISSIONERS. I AM STEVEN MONROE. I AM THE DEPUTY OF THE OASIS FOR THE CITY OF EL PASO. AND WE THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING US TO BE HERE TODAY. THANK YOU.

THANK YOU. JUDGE AND COMMISSIONERS. I'M NOBLE. STOKES. CANTRELL. STOKES. I AM THE MARSHAL FOR THE TEMPLE, ORAL TEMPLE NUMBER NINE. AND I APPRECIATE YOU GUYS FOR HAVING US. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. GLAD EVERYBODY. HOW AMAZING, COMMISSIONER STOUT, THANK YOU.

WE ALWAYS LOVE THE FACT THAT WE GET TO LEARN THINGS, BUT YOU HAVE TO TELL THE STORY A LITTLE BIT MORE BECAUSE IT'S AMAZING WHAT YOU DO. HOW BENEVOLENT YOU ARE AND EVERYTHING THAT YOU DO FOR THE COMMUNITY. AND SO I LOVE WHEN WE WERE ABLE TO LET OTHER PEOPLE KNOW. BUT SOMEHOW WE NEED TO HELP YOU TELL THAT STORY A LITTLE BIT MORE, BECAUSE THERE'S SO MUCH UNIQUENESS IN EL PASO AND WHO WE ARE. AND WE ALWAYS TALK ABOUT, YOU KNOW, WE'RE VERY DIFFERENT FROM MOST COMMUNITIES IN THE WAY WE HANDLE SITUATIONS, THE HUMANE WAY WE'VE HANDLED IMMIGRATION. AND BUT EACH ONE OF

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THANK YOU. CONGRATULATIONS. CONGRATULATIONS. CONGRATULATIONS.

CONGRATULATIONS. COMMISSIONER.

THANK YOU.

ITEM NUMBER FIVE. BE A PROVEN. ADOPT A RESOLUTION RECOGNIZING THE 2025 WOMEN'S COMMISSION HALL OF FAME IN EL PASO COUNTY, TEXAS. IT IS MY ABSOLUTE PRIVILEGE AND HONOR TO BE ABLE

[B. Approve and adopt a resolution recognizing the 2025 Women’s Commission Hall of Fame in El Paso County, Texas. Iliana Holguin, Commissioner, Precinct 3, 915-273-3594]

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THE VOTING IS OPEN. WONDERFUL. JUDGE YOUR VOTE. OH. THANK YOU. MOTION CARRIES. WELCOME. GOOD MORNING. GOOD MORNING. I AM ANNA HARRIS POWELL. I'M CHAIR OF THE EL PASO COMMISSION FOR WOMEN.

AND ON BEHALF OF OUR MEMBERS AND THE PHENOMENAL WOMEN THAT STAND BEHIND ME, THAT WILL BE INDUCTED INTO THE EL PASO HALL OF FAME THIS YEAR, WE WANT TO SAY THANK YOU FOR RECOGNIZING US TODAY. WE REALLY APPRECIATED BEING ACKNOWLEDGED BY YOU. I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE OUR 2025 HONOREES INTRODUCE THEIR SELVES, STARTING WITH MISS LUCILLE. I AM R LUCILLE SAMUEL FOR THE PROFESSIONAL CATEGORY. THANK YOU. OUR VERY OWN. GOOD MORNING, JUDGE AND COMMISSIONERS. YES, EL PASO VETERAN OF THE YEAR DEBORAH WAKEFIELD. ALSO HIGHLY HUMBLED AND HONORED TO BE AN INDUCTEE FOR THE MILITARY WOMEN'S HALL OF FAME. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. HI. GOOD MORNING, CHRISTY DOHERTY, AND I'M REALLY GLAD TO BE ON AT A DIFFERENT LEVEL, TALKING TO YOU GUYS, NOT HAVING TO BRING YOU AN ANNUAL REPORT. SO THANK YOU FOR LETTING ME BE HERE TODAY. CEO FOR EMERGENCE HEALTH NETWORK, LOCAL MENTAL HEALTH AUTHORITY. AND I'M FOR HEALTHCARE. THANK YOU CHRISTY.

GOOD MORNING I AM KATHLEEN KATHY FOR SHORT STOUT. I AM BEING HONORED FOR CIVIC LEADERSHIP.

I'M RETIRED FROM UTEP AND I REINVENTED MYSELF. GOOD MORNING, JUDGE AND COMMISSIONERS. MY NAME IS SUSAN GOODELL AND I'M CEO OF EL PASOANS FIGHTING HUNGER. AND I BELIEVE THAT I'M IN THE PUBLIC SERVICE CATEGORY. SO THANK YOU SUSAN. AND ALSO I HAVE TWO OF MY OFFICERS WITH ME. I HAVE MY SECRETARY. COME ON. WELL GOOD MORNING. MY NAME IS NANCY MUNIZ. I'M ELATED BECAUSE SHE TOOK OFF FROM HER JOB TO BE HERE FOR THIS HONOR. AND I REALLY APPRECIATE HER. AND NOW THE PERSON THAT I STAND ON HER SHOULDER HAVE BEEN DOING IT FOR MANY YEARS. THE HONORABLE LILY LEMON. OKAY, WELCOME. GOOD MORNING, JUDGE AND COMMISSIONERS. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. ANNA, THAT WAS VERY NICE.

YOU COULD HAVE DONE THE PRESENTATION FOR STEPHANIE AND JENNIFER AS WELL. ONE DAY. JUST A MINUTE TO SHARE WITH YOU. I'VE HAD THE HONOR OF SERVING ON THE EL PASO COMMISSION FOR WOMEN SINCE 2007. SO THERE'S A LITTLE BIT OF INSTITUTIONAL KNOWLEDGE IN MY BRAIN, BUT IT'S ESPECIALLY PLEASURABLE THAT WE ARE STANDING HERE IN THE ENRIQUE MORENO COURTHOUSE. ENRIQUE WAS A MEMBER OF THE EL PASO COMMISSION FOR WOMEN, AND THAT WE STAND HERE IN THE JUDGE ALICIA CHACON COUNTY COMMISSIONERS COURTROOM. ALICIA IS AN HONOREE IN THE EL PASO COMMISSION FOR WOMEN HALL OF FAME, AND THAT THIS PROCLAMATION WAS PRESENTED BY COMMISSIONER ILEANA OLEAN, WHO IS ALSO A MEMBER OF THE EL PASO COMMISSION FOR WOMEN. AS YOU CAN SEE, THE DIVERSITY OF WOMEN, THESE ARE WOMEN THAT RISE TO THE TOP. THESE ARE THE WOMEN THAT ARE LEADERS IN OUR COMMUNITY, WORK TIRELESSLY TO MAKE IT A BETTER PLACE FOR ALL OF US TO LIVE. I AM ESPECIALLY THANKFUL FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO CONTINUE AND TO SERVE UNDER THE LEADERSHIP OF ANNA HOWELL. AND AGAIN, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR HAVING US TODAY. APPRECIATE IT. THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. WELL, I THINK I KNOW EACH ONE OF YOU AND WHAT YOU DO, AND IT'S JUST AMAZING YOUR CONTRIBUTIONS TO OUR COMMUNITY. I KNOW, SUSAN, WE TASK YOU SO MUCH ON SO MANY THINGS, WHETHER IT'S A PANDEMIC OR ANYTHING THAT HAPPENS, SO MANY PEOPLE THAT DON'T GET TO EAT LIKE THE REST OF US. AND SO

[01:00:06]

BUT WE THANK YOU FOR CONTINUING. WE SAID EARLIER ABOUT BECOMING ROLE MODELS. AND, YOU KNOW, THERE'S SO MUCH TO BE DONE. WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH RESOURCES TO HELP THE MANY PEOPLE THAT DEPEND ON US. BUT WHAT WE DO HAVE IS THAT ROLE MODEL. IF SOME A WOMAN, A YOUNG LADY, LOOKS UP TO YOU AND DECIDES THEY'RE GOING TO BE LIKE YOU, THAT'S ALREADY A HUGE CHANGE. IT'S SORT OF A FORM OF MENTORING. BUT I KNOW YOU MENTOR AS WELL. SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH. AND THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER, FOR WHAT YOU'RE DOING. AND, AND YOUR, YOUR, YOUR PARTICIPATION AS WELL. GREAT RESOLUTION. THANK YOU. THANK YOU JUDGE. AND I HAVE TO TELL YOU ALL, BEING INDUCTED INTO THE WOMEN'S COMMISSION HALL OF FAME IN 2016 WAS JUST AN INCREDIBLE HONOR FOR ME. AND THANK YOU, REPRESENTATIVE LIMON AND MISS HOWELL, FOR GIVING ME THE OPPORTUNITY, OPPORTUNITY TO PARTICIPATE THIS YEAR IN THE SELECTION OF THE HONOREES. AND I HAVE TO TELL YOU, IT WAS ONE OF THE HARDEST THINGS THAT I HAVE EVER DONE. EVERY SINGLE APPLICATION, RESUME, LETTERS OF RECOMMENDATION THAT I READ, I THOUGHT, OH MY GOODNESS, WE HAVE TO HONOR THIS WOMAN. WE WOULD HAVE. IT HAD BEEN UP TO ME. WE WOULD HAVE HONORED ALL LIKE 200 APPLICANTS TODAY. SO IT WAS INCREDIBLY DIFFICULT TO HAVE TO CHOOSE THE HONOREES. BUT I AM SO INCREDIBLY PROUD OF ALL OF YOU AND THANKFUL FOR ALL OF THE WORK THAT YOU ALL DO FOR OUR COMMUNITY EVERY SINGLE DAY. SO THANK YOU FOR LETTING US HONOR YOU. IT'S FRANKLY THE LEAST THAT WE CAN DO FOR ALL THAT YOU'VE DONE FOR US. THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU.

GREG. THANK YOU. YES, YES. HAPPY TO. THANK YOU. CONGRATULATIONS. THANK YOU.

THANK YOU SIR. THANK YOU. OKAY. LET'S SEE. NO NO NO NO I'M FINE, I'M FINE, I'M FINE. NO FINE OKAY. WE'RE HERE A LITTLE BIT. WHERE ARE WE LOOKING? RIGHT HERE. OKAY. ONE. TWO THREE.

ONE TWO.

THREE. ONE MORE. ALL RIGHT. SO. YEAH. LET'S CHECK ON IT AND LET'S. YEAH. ALL RIGHT.

CONGRATULATIONS. YEAH I KNOW, THANK YOU. MY CHURCH I STILL. YEAH. SHE'S. SLEEPING. PROBABLY APPRECIATE IT. THANK YOU SO MUCH. OKAY. WHICH ONE IS NEXT. THANK YOU SO MUCH. I HAVE A FEW WEEKS AGO WHEN I WAS AT THE MARATHON.

[01:05:12]

[C. Approve and adopt a resolution declaring March 2025 as Social Worker Month in El Paso County, Texas. Iliana Holguin, Commissioner, Precinct 3, 915-273-3594]

WHEREAS SOCIAL WORKERS WORK IN ALL PARTS OF OUR SOCIETY, INCLUDING SCHOOLS, SOCIAL SERVICE AGENCIES, VETERANS CENTERS AND GOVERNMENT, HELPING PEOPLE, FAMILIES AND COMMUNITIES SECURE SERVICES AND POLICIES THEY NEED TO THRIVE. WHEREAS SOCIAL WORKERS ARE AT THE FOREFRONT OF PRESSING ISSUES OUR NATION IS ADDRESSING, INCLUDING INCREASED NEEDS FOR MENTAL HEALTH CARE, ESPECIALLY FOR CHILDREN AND ADOLESCENTS, SUBSTANCE USE DISORDER TREATMENT, AND INCREASED ECONOMIC AND POLITICAL DIVISION. WHEREAS SOCIAL WORKERS ARE ONE OF THE LARGEST GROUPS OF MENTAL HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS IN THE UNITED STATES AND ARE PRESSING FOR A SOCIAL WORK INTERSTATE LICENSING COMPACT THAT WILL IMPROVE MENTAL HEALTH CARE DELIVERY IN OUR NATION. WHEREAS SOCIAL WORKERS HELP PROTECT MILLIONS OF CHILDREN FROM ABUSE AND NEGLECT, PROVIDE SERVICES AND SUPPORT WHICH HELP STRENGTHEN FAMILIES THAT ARE UNDER STRESS AND HELP CREATE NEW FAMILIES THROUGH ADOPTION. WHEREAS RESEARCH PROVES THAT THE PRESENCE OF SOCIAL WORKERS IN SCHOOLS, HOSPITALS AND ASSISTED LIVING FACILITIES IMPROVE EDUCATION AND HEALTH OUTCOMES AND QUALITY OF LIFE FOR STUDENTS, PATIENTS AND RESIDENTS, WHEREAS SOCIAL WORKERS CONTINUE TO STAND READY TO ASSIST OUR NATION IN OVERCOMING PRESENT AND FUTURE CHALLENGES, INCLUDING ENDING GUN VIOLENCE, IMPROVING HEALTH CARE AND MENTAL HEALTH CARE FOR ALL, AND URGING LAWMAKERS TO ADOPT IMMIGRATION REFORMS. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED THAT THE EL PASO COUNTY JUDGE AND COMMISSIONERS COURT, IN RECOGNITION OF THE NUMEROUS CONTRIBUTIONS MADE BY AMERICA'S SOCIAL WORKERS, DECLARES MARCH 2025 AS SOCIAL WORKER MONTH IN OFFICIAL RECOGNITION THEREOF, THE COMMISSIONERS COURT OF THE COUNTY OF EL PASO HEREBY AFFIXES THEIR SIGNATURES THIS 24TH DAY OF MARCH, 2025, IN EL PASO COUNTY, TEXAS. WE HAVE A MOTION FROM COMMISSIONER HOLGUIN, A SECOND FROM COMMISSIONER STOUT.

VOTING IS OPEN. MOTION CARRIES. BRIAN. WELCOME, BRIAN. THANK YOU. GOOD MORNING. AND THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER HOGAN, FOR THE RESOLUTION THIS MORNING. AND THANK YOU ALL FOR BRINGING THIS ITEM BEFORE THE COURT TODAY. EVERY DAY, SOCIAL WORKERS EMPOWER MILLIONS OF AMERICANS TO OVERCOME LIFE CHANGING CHALLENGES ACROSS VARIOUS SECTORS. DRIVEN BY EMPATHY. THEY MAKE MEANINGFUL IMPACTS, ESPECIALLY TO CONFRONT SOCIETAL ISSUES. SOCIAL WORKERS ADVOCATE FOR JUSTICE AND SUPPORT THE VULNERABLE. FOR OVER A CENTURY, THEY HAVE SHAPED FAIRER, A FAIRER SOCIETY BY CHAMPIONING ESSENTIAL INITIATIVES LIKE SOCIAL SECURITY, MINIMUM WAGE, A 40 HOUR WORKWEEK, MEDICAL CARE AND EQUAL RIGHTS FOR MARGINALIZED GROUP. THANK YOU FOR RECOGNIZING THEIR EFFORTS THIS MORNING, AND I'D LIKE TO INTRODUCE THE WONDERFUL TEAM OF SOCIAL WORKERS THAT ARE WITH THE DOMESTIC RELATIONS OFFICE THIS MORNING. THANK YOU. GOOD MORNING. GOOD MORNING. THANK YOU. MY NAME IS MARIA CEPEDA AND I'M A SOCIAL WORKER. AND WE REALLY APPRECIATE THIS RECOGNITION ON BEHALF OF THE SOCIAL WORKERS, MY TEAM AND OF COURSE ALL THE SOCIAL WORKERS IN THE COMMUNITY THAT ARE SERVING WITH ALL THEIR HEARTS. THANK YOU, THANK YOU. GOOD MORNING. MY NAME IS ANNALISA FREY FLORES. I'M ALSO A SOCIAL WORKER, BEEN WITH THE DOMESTIC RELATIONS OFFICE FOR 11 YEARS. THANK YOU FOR HAVING US TODAY. THANK YOU.

[01:10:04]

THANK YOU. THANK YOU. I'VE BEEN VERY PRIVILEGED TO HAVE A LOT OF TOUCH POINTS AS A PROBATION OFFICER IN PSYCHIATRIC SOCIAL WORKERS AT THE LA TUNA, DIFFERENT PLACES, AND IT ALWAYS MADE SUCH A BIG DIFFERENCE BECAUSE IT'S MORE OF A CASE WORK KIND OF SITUATION THAT YOU, YOU UNDERSTAND THE, THE WHAT THEY NEED. HOW ARE THEY GOING TO BE ABLE TO, YOU KNOW, GET OUT OF THAT SITUATION OR HELP THEM TO THRIVE IN OUR COMMUNITY. SO I'M VERY THANKFUL. LIKE I SAID, I HAD THE FRONT ROW SEAT AND GOT TO SEE THE, YOU KNOW, THE INTERVENTIONS THAT YOU ALL MAKE.

SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR WHAT YOU DO. AND WE CONTINUE TO NEED SOCIAL WORKERS IN ALMOST EVERY ASPECT OF OUR COMMUNITY. SO THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER, AGAIN, THANK YOU. NO, THANK YOU ALL FOR THE WORK THAT YOU DO EVERY SINGLE DAY AND ESPECIALLY HERE AT THE COUNTY ON ON BEHALF OF OUR RESIDENTS, THANK YOU. AND PLEASE KNOW THAT YOU HAVE OUR OUR GRATITUDE. WE KNOW HOW DIFFICULT IT IS BEING A SOCIAL WORKER, ESPECIALLY DURING TIMES LIKE THESE THAT WE'RE GOING THROUGH RIGHT NOW. AND WE'RE FOREVER GRATEFUL FOR YOUR COMMITMENT TO OUR RESIDENTS.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU AGAIN. THANK.

ITEM NUMBER FIVE D APPROVAL TO ADOPT A RESOLUTION RECOGNIZING THE 40TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE TEXAS ASSOCIATION OF MEDIATORS IN EL PASO COUNTY, TEXAS. COMMISSIONER DEAN. THANK YOU.

[D. Approve and adopt a resolution recognizing the 40th anniversary of the Texas Association of Mediators in El Paso County, Texas. Iliana Holguin, Commissioner, Precinct 3, 915-273-3594]

[01:15:04]

ITEM NUMBER FIVE E APPROVING. ADOPT A RESOLUTION DECLARING MONDAY, MARCH 31ST, 2025 AS

[E. Approve and adopt a resolution declaring Monday, March 31, 2025, as International Transgender Day of Visibility in El Paso County, Texas. Iliana Holguin, Commissioner, Precinct 3, 915-273-3594]

JUDGE. ONE MORE INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT RESOLUTION, ESPECIALLY AGAIN, AS SO MANY MEMBERS OF OUR COMMUNITY ARE SUFFERING THROUGH VERY DIFFICULT TIMES RIGHT NOW. SO IT'S MY PRIVILEGE TO BE ABLE TO READ THIS RESOLUTION INTO THE RECORD AND THEN TO HEAR FROM AMBER AND MICHAEL AND IS AT JULIA JULIA. SO I'LL READ THE RESOLUTION NOW. WHEREAS ON MARCH 31ST, WE OBSERVE INTERNATIONAL TRANSGENDER DAY OF VISIBILITY, A DAY DEDICATED TO CELEBRATING THE LIVES, IDENTITIES AND ACCOMPLISHMENTS OF TRANSGENDER TWO SPIRIT, NON-BINARY, BINARY AND INTERSEX INDIVIDUALS, AND RAISING AWARENESS ABOUT THE CHALLENGES THEY FACE IN SOCIETY. AND WHEREAS, TRANSGENDER TWO SPIRIT NON-BINARY AND INTERSEX PEOPLE, ESPECIALLY WOMEN OF COLOR, CONTINUE TO EXPERIENCE DISCRIMINATION, VIOLENCE AND MARGINALIZATION IN MANY ASPECTS OF LIFE, INCLUDING IN HEALTH CARE, EDUCATION, EMPLOYMENT, AND LEGAL PROTECTIONS. AND WHEREAS, THE TRANSGENDER COMMUNITY HAS FACED A PARTICULARLY ALARMING RISE IN ATTACKS ON THEIR RIGHTS AND SAFETY, INCLUDING EFFORTS TO RESTRICT ACCESS TO HEALTH CARE, ERASE THEIR IDENTITIES IN PUBLIC POLICY, AND HARM THEIR VISIBILITY IN SOCIAL AND POLITICAL SPACES. AND WHEREAS, DESPITE THESE ATTACKS, THE TRANSGENDER COMMUNITY IN EL PASO, THE NATION AND THE WORLD CONTINUES TO EMBODY THE POWERFUL SPIRIT OF RESISTANCE AND TRANSFORMATION, CONTINUOUSLY SHOWING US WHAT IT MEANS TO LIVE AUTHENTICALLY, STAND PROUDLY IN ONE'S TRUTH, AND EMBRACE LOVE AND SOLIDARITY WITH EACH OTHER.

[01:20:01]

GOOD MORNING. JUDGE. COMMISSIONERS. MY NAME IS AMBER PEREZ. I AM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF BORDERLAND RAINBOW CENTER. AND I SAY THIS BECAUSE THERE'S A PLACARD IN FRONT OF ME. I THINK I'VE SAID HELLO OFTEN TO YOU ALL, AS HAVE MY COLLEAGUES. FIRST AND FOREMOST, I WOULD LIKE TO THANK YOU FOR THIS RESOLUTION AND NOT ONLY OUR PROCLAMATION RESOLUTION, BUT NOT ONLY THAT, WHAT I REALLY WANT TO TALK ABOUT TODAY IS THE FACT THAT THE COUNTY CONTINUES TO BE A BEACON FOR THE COMMUNITY AS A WHOLE AND FOR THE QUEER COMMUNITY, AND I CANNOT THANK YOU ENOUGH FOR WHAT IT IS THAT YOU DO AND WHAT YOU DO, KNOWING THAT WHAT WE ARE UP AGAINST, KNOWING THAT THERE ARE THOSE WHO LOOKED AT THESE MOMENTS AND THINK, OH, YOU KNOW, THESE THINGS AREN'T IMPORTANT OR THIS IS NOT A BATTLE WORTH FIGHTING. AND I APPRECIATE YOU BECAUSE THROUGHOUT THESE LAST FEW WEEKS HAVE BEEN INCREDIBLY DIFFICULT ON OUR COMMUNITY AS WE HAVE SEEN DIFFERENT INSTITUTIONS, DIFFERENT ORGANIZATIONS, DIFFERENT ENTITIES SAY THIS IS JUST NOT A BATTLE WE WANT TO FIGHT. AND THE MESSAGE THAT THAT SENDS TO OUR COMMUNITY AND TO THOSE WHO ARE MOST MARGINALIZED. SO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR SEEING THIS AND SAYING NO. THIS IS A PART OF OUR COMMUNITY. WE WILL FIGHT. WE WILL CONTINUE TO BE THAT BEACON TO BE THE PROGRESSIVE COUNTY THAT WE ARE AND TO LEAD BY EXAMPLE. JUDGE, YOU WERE TALKING ABOUT ROLE MODELS EARLIER, AND LET ME TELL YOU THAT THIS COUNTY IS A ROLE MODEL FOR ALL OTHERS. ANYBODY IN THE STATE OF TEXAS OR IN RED STATES SHOULD LOOK TO THE COUNTY OF EL PASO TO SEE WHAT HAPPENS.

IF YOU WANT TO DO THINGS RIGHT, IF YOU WANT TO ACTUALLY SIT THERE AND SAY, EVERY MEMBER OF MY COMMUNITY IS MY COMMUNITY AND I WILL DEFEND THEM BECAUSE YOU ARE NOTHING BUT AN AMAZING LIGHT FOR US ALL. I WAS TELLING MY COLLEAGUES EARLIER THAT WHAT A JOY IT IS TO COME TO COMMISSIONERS COURT, THAT IT IS JUST SO FRIENDLY AND WELCOMING. AND THE SECOND THING THAT I KIND OF WANTED TO TALK ABOUT TODAY WAS THE FACT THAT WHAT YOU DO RESONATES RIGHT, AND THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING AN ALLY IN THESE MOMENTS IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN YOU CAN IMAGINE. AS YOU GO ABOUT YOUR DAILY LIVES. I'M SURE THAT YOU ARE STILL ALLIES WITH US, AND TO PLEASE KEEP YOUR VOICES HELD HIGH, BECAUSE IT IS YOUR VOICES THAT REACH PLACES THAT WE CANNOT AT TIMES. AND I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO INVITE YOU ALL TO OUR RESOLUTION OR PROCLAMATION ON APRIL 1ST AT THE CITY COUNCIL. IF YOU'RE ABLE TO MAKE IT, PLEASE COME OUT. WE NEED ALL THE VOICES POSSIBLE. WE REALLY NEED PEOPLE TO KNOW THAT WE ARE NOT ALONE, BECAUSE IF THEY THINK THAT WE ARE, THEY WILL THINK THAT WE ARE A BATTLE WORTH LOSING. THANK YOU. THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU. WELCOME.

THANK YOU. I WANT TO FIRST START OFF TODAY BY THANKING YOU, JUDGE AND COMMISSIONERS, FOR REALLY, YOU KNOW, STANDING WITH THE TRANS COMMUNITY AND SHOWING THEM THAT WE DO MATTER AND THAT OUR FIGHT IS WORTH, WORTH, YOU KNOW, CONTINUING. AND I THINK THE WORK THAT YOU GUYS ARE DOING TODAY REALLY SHOWS SPECIFICALLY TRANS YOUTH THAT THEY DO MATTER, ESPECIALLY IN A TIME THAT'S AS DIFFICULT AS NOW, WHERE THE TRANS COMMUNITY IS CONSISTENTLY BEING ATTACKED NOT ONLY BY STATE OFFICIALS, BUT FEDERAL NOW AS WELL. SO THIS RESOLUTION REALLY SHOWS THEM THAT THERE IS A LIGHT AND THAT THE COMMUNITY THAT THEY'RE A PART OF DOES LOVE THEM. AND MORE THAN THAT, YOU KNOW, TRANS PEOPLE WILL CONTINUE TO EXIST. WE HAVE EXISTED. WE WILL CONTINUE TO BE PERSISTENT IN FIGHTING, BECAUSE WE DO CARE ABOUT HAVING EQUALITY AND BEING ABLE TO JUST LIVE OUR LIFE THE WAY THAT WE CHOOSE TO, NOT BECAUSE IT IS A CHOICE OR A LIFESTYLE, BUT IT'S BECAUSE IT'S WHO WE ARE AS PEOPLE. AND I THINK THAT'S THE VERY BIG, MOST IMPORTANT POINT FOR THIS RESOLUTION, BECAUSE TOO OFTEN I HEAR THAT THERE ISN'T ENOUGH TRANS JOIN THE COMMUNITY, BUT TODAY SHOWS THAT TRANS JOY DOES EXIST AND THAT THEY WILL BE UPLIFTED AND THEY WILL BE

[01:25:01]

IN THIS.

ITEM. NUMBER FIVE F APPROVE AND ADOPT A RESOLUTION RECOGNIZING APRIL 9TH, 2025 AS EDUCATION AND

[F. Approve and adopt a resolution recognizing April 9, 2025, as “Education and Sharing Day” in El Paso County, Texas. Ricardo A. Samaniego, County Judge, County Judge's Office, 915-273-3591]

[01:30:01]

WHEREAS TO ACHIEVE ITS HIGHEST GOALS, EDUCATION WAS NOT ONLY IMPART KNOWLEDGE, BUT ALSO TEACH THE STUDENTS HOW TO LIVE, FORMING AND STRENGTHENING THEIR MORAL CHARACTER TO MAKE A BETTER LIFE FOR THEMSELVES AS INDIVIDUALS, FOR SOCIETY AS A WHOLE, AND WAS A GLOBAL SPIRITUAL LEADER, RABBI. RABBI. MENACHEM MENDEL SCHNEERSON I GO, I'M HOPING I CAN SAY THAT RIGHT OF RIGHTEOUS MEMORY STRESSED A MORAL AND ETHICAL EDUCATION, EMPOWERS EVERY INDIVIDUAL TO DEVELOP THEIR FULL POTENTIAL IN MAKING THE WORLD A BETTER PLACE. WHEREAS SUCH AN EDUCATION CAN NURTURE THE UNITY OF DIVERSE PEOPLES THROUGH ENCOURAGING INCREASED ACTS OF GOODNESS AND KINDNESS, EMBEDDED WITH THE AWARENESS THAT EVEN A SINGLE POSITIVE ACT OF AN INDIVIDUAL CAN CHANGE THE WORLD AND USHER IN AN ERA OF GLOBAL PEACE, WAS APRIL 9TH, 2025 WILL MARK 123 YEARS SINCE THE RABBI BIRTH, AND THIS YEAR BEGINS THE CELEBRATION OF THE 75TH ANNIVERSARY OF HIS LEADERSHIP OF THE CHABAD LUBAVITCH MOVEMENT. CHABAD IS AN ACRONYM OF THREE HEBREW WORDS FOR WISDOM, UNDERSTANDING, AND KNOWLEDGE. THE NAME LUBAVITCH COMES FROM THE CITY WHICH SERVED AS THE MOVEMENT'S HEADQUARTERS FOR OVER A CENTURY AND MEANS CITY OF LOVE. OF ALL THE ETHICAL VALUES WHICH INFORM OUR CIVILIZATION, NONE IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN LOVE. LOVE OF WISDOM, LOVE OF FELLOWSHIP, AND LOVE OF OUR CREATOR. THESE VALUES WITH THEIR ROOTS IN THE SEVEN NOAHIDE LAWS, HAVE HAVE GUIDED THE CHABAD LUBAVITCH MOVEMENT THROUGHOUT ITS HISTORY.

THEY ARE THE ESSENCE OF EDUCATION AT ITS BEST, AND WE SHOULD BE CERTAIN TO PASS ON THIS PRECIOUS HERITAGE TO OUR YOUNG AMERICANS. WHEREAS EDUCATION AND SHARING DAY IS OBSERVED EACH YEAR AT THE REPS BIRTHDAY. IN RECOGNITION OF HIS OUTSTANDING AND LASTING CONTRIBUTIONS TO EDUCATION, MORALITY AND ACTS OF CHARITY AROUND THE WORLD, A DAY TO PAUSE AND REFLECT ON OUR RESPONSIBILITY TO ENSURE OUR YOUTH HAVE THE FOUNDATION NECESSARY TO LEAD LIVES RICH IN PURPOSE AND FULFILLMENT THROUGH SERVICE AND GOOD WORKS. WHEREAS NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, THAT THE EL PASO COUNTY JUDGE AND COMMISSIONERS COURT CALL UPON GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS, EDUCATORS, VOLUNTEERS AND CITIZENS TO REACH OUT TO THESE, TO THOSE WITHIN YOUR COMMUNITIES AND WORK TO CREATE A BETTER, BRIGHTER AND MORE HOPEFUL FUTURE FOR ALL. WE ALSO DECLARE. WEDNESDAY, APRIL 9TH, 2025 AS EDUCATION AND SHARING DAY.

SIGNED THIS 24TH DAY OF MARCH 2025. WE HAVE A MOTION FROM JUDGE SAMANIEGO AND A SECOND FROM COMMISSIONER CORONADO. THE VOTING IS OPEN. MOTION CARRIES. WELCOME. GOOD MORNING. JUDGE.

COUNTY COMMISSIONERS APPRECIATE VERY MUCH THAT YOU HONOR EVERY YEAR THE REBBE'S BIRTHDAY. BUT THIS IS NOT JUST AS THE REBBE'S BIRTHDAY AS THE REBBE. THE LEGACY THAT REBBE LEFT US ABOUT EDUCATION AND TAKING CARE OF THE REST OF THE WORLD. A PERSON HAS TO KNOW. AND HIS BIRTHDAY IS A TIME THAT GOD GAVE HIM THE MISSION TO THE WORLD. A BABY IS BORN. THE BABY MAKES A NOISE.

THE BABY MAKES A STATEMENT. I'M HERE TO CARRY OUT A MISSION. A BIRTHDAY OF A GREAT RIGHTEOUS MAN IS A TIME. IT'S A MOMENT TO REFLECT UPON IT, TO REMEMBER THE MISSION THAT EACH ONE OF US HAS ON OUR OWN BIRTHDAYS, THAT WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE DELIVER OUR ENTRUSTED MISSION BY GOD TO US AND SHARE EVERYTHING WE CAN WITH OTHERS. I WOULD LIKE TO JUST GIVE YOU THE PRIESTLY BLESSING FOR EVERYTHING YOU DO FOR THE COUNTY, THAT YOU SHOULD BE SUCCESSFUL, AND WE SHOULD HAVE A SUCCESSFUL COUNTY. MAY GOD ALMIGHTY BLESS YOU AND GUARD YOU. MAY GOD SHINE HIS COUNTENANCE UPON YOU AND BE GRACIOUS TO YOU. MAY GOD TURN THIS CONTINENTS TOWARDS YOU AND GRANT YOU PEACE. AMEN. THANK YOU. RABBI. GOOD MORNING, JUDGE AND COUNTY COMMISSIONERS. I'M RABBI LEVI GREENBERG, THE RABBI'S SON. MY PARENTS HAD THE GREAT MERIT TO COME HERE TO EL PASO ON THE DIRECTION OF THE REBBE, TO ESTABLISH A PERMANENT CHABAD PRESENCE. AND 40 YEARS LATER, WE ARE HERE AND CONTINUING THAT WORK TOGETHER, YOU KNOW, TALKING ABOUT EDUCATION AND SHARING DAY, THE IDEA OF SHARING IS THAT EVERY TIME THAT WE SHARE THAT ACTION

[01:35:03]

AND THIS IS A COMMUNITY THAT I THINK THAT WE CAN PUT, YOU KNOW, SORT OF THE SEED. AND WE'VE BEEN HEARING TODAY THAT THIS COMMUNITY REALLY STANDS OUT. VERY DIFFERENT PEOPLE MIGHT NOT REALIZE IT, BUT I GET TO SEE IT. I GET TO SEE PEOPLE THAT COME FROM OUT OUTSIDE OF EL PASO THAT HAVE MORE OF AN APPRECIATION FOR WHO WE ARE SOMETIMES THAN WE DO. SO I GO BACK TO THIS IDEA OF THAT SMALL WHATEVER YOU COULD DO IS A BEGINNING. I ALSO LOVED WHEN YOU WE TALKED ABOUT THE FACT THAT WHEN YOU GET UP IN THE MORNING, YOU'VE BEEN GIVEN ANOTHER OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN THE WORLD. AND I THINK SOME OF US GET UP THINKING THAT IT'S SOMETHING ONE MORE DAY TO DO SOMETHING FOR OURSELVES, BUT IT'S REALLY AN OPPORTUNITY TO DO SOMETHING FOR OTHERS EVERY, EVERY MORNING THAT YOU'RE GIVEN THAT OPPORTUNITY. SO I'VE ALWAYS THANK YOU A LOT. I'VE ALWAYS APPRECIATED YOUR FRIENDSHIP AND WILL CONTINUE TO DO SO. SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

THANK YOU, THANK YOU.

[01:40:24]

ITEM NUMBER FIVE H APPROVE AND ADOPT A RESOLUTION OPPOSING ANY EFFORT BY THE TEXAS LEGISLATURE

[H. Approve and adopt a resolution opposing any effort by the Texas Legislature to eliminate the Countywide Polling Place Program and electronic pollbooks. David Stout, Commissioner, Precinct 2, 915-273-3559]

[01:45:04]

WOULD YOU LIKE TO TAKE PUBLIC COMMENT FIRST? YES. OKAY. WE HAVE MISS CLAUDIA YOLI FERLA JUST FOR PARTICIPANTS SPEAKING IN PUBLIC COMMENT, JUST WANT TO REMIND YOU THAT PUBLIC COMMENT IS LIMITED TO FIVE MINUTES. PLEASE GO AHEAD. WELCOME. GOOD MORNING. BUENOS DIAS. MEMBERS OF THE EL PASO COUNTY COMMISSIONERS COURT. AND THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER STOUT, FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP AND COMMITMENT TO OUR DEMOCRACY. MY NAME IS CLAUDIA FERLA AND I AM A PROUD EL PASOAN AND THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF MOVE TEXAS, A NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION DEDICATED TO BUILDING THE POLITICAL POWER OF YOUNG PEOPLE ACROSS OUR STATE. THE LARGEST AND MOST DIVERSE ELECTORATE IN TEXAS. I AM HERE TODAY TO EXPRESS OUR GRATITUDE FOR THIS RESOLUTION, AFFIRMING THE IMPORTANCE OF COUNTYWIDE VOTING, ESPECIALLY NOW, AS THIS CRITICAL PROGRAM FACES A THREAT FROM THE TEXAS LEGISLATURE THROUGH OUR DEMOCRACY, FROM THE GROUND UP PROGRAM, WHICH IS A PROGRAM THAT WE RUN IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE TEXAS FREEDOM NETWORK AND THE TEXAS CIVIL RIGHTS PROJECT. WE HAVE HELPED SECURE OVER 100 PER VOTER REFORMS IN 12 OF TEXAS MOST POPULOUS COUNTIES, INCLUDING EXPANDING THE NUMBER OF COUNTIES THAT ARE PARTICIPATING IN THE COUNTYWIDE PLACE PROGRAM. YOU KNOW, OUR WORK AT MOVE TEXAS IS ROOTED IN THE BELIEF THAT DEMOCRACY SHOULD BE ACCESSIBLE TO ALL, ESPECIALLY YOUNG PEOPLE, COMMUNITIES OF COLOR AND WORKING CLASS TEXANS WHOSE VOICES HAVE BEEN SYSTEMATICALLY UNDERMINED AND INTENTIONALLY SILENCED FOR TOO LONG. THE CHOICES WE MAKE HERE IN TEXAS RIPPLE AND ECHO ACROSS THE NATION. YOUR LEADERSHIP AND SUPPORT FOR COUNTYWIDE VOTING AFFIRMS WHAT WE ALL DESERVE A DEMOCRACY WHERE EVERYONE'S VOICE CAN BE HEARD. AND THIS IS ESPECIALLY TRUE FOR THE YOUNG PEOPLE OF EL PASO AND THOSE WHO JUGGLE JOBS, SCHOOL, FAMILIES, RESPONSIBILITIES, AND MORE. THEY DESERVE A DEMOCRACY THAT WORKS FOR THEM, NOT AGAINST THEM. AND THE THING IS, IS THAT THE HEARTBEAT OF THE HEARTBEAT OF OUR DEMOCRACY BEATS STRONGEST WHEN ELECTED LEADERS LIKE YOU CHOOSE TO UPLIFT THE VOICES OF YOUR CONSTITUENTS AND HELP BUILD AN ELECTORAL SYSTEM THAT TRULY SERVES THEM. WHEN YOU EMPOWER YOUNG PEOPLE AND WORKING CLASS COMMUNITIES TO HAVE A SAY IN THE DECISIONS THAT SHAPE THEIR LIVES, IT SENDS A POWERFUL MESSAGE THAT THEIR VOICES MATTER, THAT THEIR DREAMS MATTER, AND THAT OUR OUR AND THAT OUR DEMOCRACY IS STRONGER BECAUSE OF THEM. WE ALL KNOW THAT TEXAS IS GROUND ZERO, NOT ONLY FOR THE EXTREMIST POLICIES WE'RE SEEING NATIONALLY UNDER THIS NEW TRUMP ADMINISTRATION, BUT ALSO FOR THE RESILIENCE AND HOPE OF THOSE WHO CONTINUE TO FIGHT BACK FROM ATTACKS ON IMMIGRANTS, LGBTQ PEOPLE, BLACK AND BROWN COMMUNITIES, WOMEN AND THE RIGHT TO VOTE. THESE CHALLENGES ARE RELENTLESS. YET TIME AND TIME AGAIN, TEXAS AND EL PASO HAVE PROVEN TO BE ALSO THE BLUEPRINT OF WHAT IS POSSIBLE WHEN WE CENTER OUR COMMUNITIES, WHEN WE BUILD POWER FROM THE GROUND UP, AND WHEN WE LEAD WITH RADICAL HOPE AND UNSHAKABLE LOVE, THIS MOMENT CALLS UPON US TO GIVE EVERYTHING WE HAVE OUR VISION, OUR VOICES, OUR ORGANIZING, AND YES, EVEN OUR JOY. IT CALLS UPON YOUR COURAGE AND YOUR DEDICATION AS LEADERS WHO BELIEVE IN BUILDING A MORE JUST AND EQUITABLE WORLD FOR EVERYONE IN COUNTYWIDE POLLING LOCATIONS ARE A KEY PART OF THIS VISION A TANGIBLE, PROVEN SOLUTION TO EXPAND ACCESS TO THE BALLOT BOX. YOUR COMMITMENT TO DEFENDING THIS PROGRAM IS NOT JUST AN ACT OF RESISTANCE. IT IS AN ACT OF BUILDING SOMETHING BEAUTIFUL AND LONG LASTING. A TEXAS WHERE EVERY PERSON, REGARDLESS OF RACE, IMMIGRATION STATUS, ZIP CODE, OR BACKGROUND HAS A VOICE AND A FUTURE. YES, THE CHALLENGES WE FACE ARE REAL, BUT SO IS THE POWER IN THIS ROOM.

YOUR LEADERSHIP AND COURAGE ARE ESSENTIAL TO PROTECTING OUR DEMOCRACY, AND FOR THAT, WE AT MOVE TEXAS ARE DEEPLY GRATEFUL. THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE, FOR YOUR COMMITMENT TO THE PEOPLE OF EL PASO, AND FOR YOUR CONTINUED SUPPORT OF COUNTYWIDE VOTING. TOGETHER, I BELIEVE THAT WE CAN CREATE A TEXANS A TEXAS WHERE ELECTIONS ARE ACCESSIBLE TO ALL, AND WHERE THE PROMISE OF

[01:50:02]

IN 2019, THIS COUNTY INFORMED THE TEXAS SECRETARY OF OUR STATE OF OUR INTENT TO PARTICIPATE IN THE COUNTYWIDE POLLING PLACE PROGRAM AS REQUIRED BY LAW. OUR DEPARTMENT, ALONG WITH THE REST OF THE WORLD, HAD NO IDEA WHAT THE NEXT MONTHS OR YEAR WOULD, THAT THE NEXT MONTHS OR YEAR WOULD BRING US INTO THIS PANDEMIC. WE ESTABLISHED OUR COUNTYWIDE POLLING PLACE PROGRAM COMMITTEE, AS REQUIRED BY THE PROGRAM, MADE UP OF MEMBERS OF OUR COMMUNITY FROM DIFFERENT ORGANIZATIONS, AND CONTINUED ON AS PLANNED. AND AS THE RESOLUTION STATED, THAT WAS JUST READ. THE PROGRAM WAS INTRODUCED HERE IN EL PASO COUNTY IN NOVEMBER OF 2020, THAT THAT ELECTION SAW THE HIGHEST RECORD VOTER TURNOUT THAT WE'VE HAD IN RECORDED HISTORY. THIS HAPPENED IN THE MIDDLE OF A PANDEMIC. WHILE EL PASO WAS CONSIDERED A HOT ZONE. WE SAW APPROXIMATELY 12,000 VOTERS CAST THEIR BALLOTS ON ELECTION DAY OUTSIDE OF THEIR PRECINCT. THIS PAST PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION, WE HAD 42,000 VOTERS WHO ON ELECTION DAY, CHOSE TO CAST THEIR BALLOT OUTSIDE OF THEIR PRECINCT, CLOSER TO THEIR WORK, THEIR CHILDREN'S SCHOOL, OR IN OTHER CONVENIENT LOCATION FOR THEM. WE'VE HEARD NOTHING BUT POSITIVE FEEDBACK ON THIS PROGRAM, RANGING FROM SHORTER LINES, MORE PARKING, AND JUST OVERALL CONVENIENCE OF BEING ABLE TO VOTE WHEREVER THE VOTER CHOOSES, JUST AS WE DO DURING THE EARLY VOTING DAYS, WE HAVE ALSO HAD ISSUES OUT OF OUR CONTROL REGARDING POLLING SITES. FOR EXAMPLE, THIS PAST DECEMBER ELECTION, THERE WAS SOME VANDALISM AT ONE OF OUR MOST POPULAR VOTE CENTERS, AND THE POLICE WERE NOT ALLOWING US ACCESS TO THE BUILDING UNTIL THEY FINISHED THEIR PRELIMINARY INVESTIGATION. WE WERE ABLE TO POST A PERSON ON SITE WITH INFORMATION AND DIRECTIONS TO THE THREE NEAREST VOTE CENTERS, MOST WITH LESS WITHIN LESS THAN A MILE, AS WELL AS COMMUNICATE THIS INFORMATION VIA SOCIAL MEDIA, VOTERS WERE ABLE TO FIND NEARBY SITES WITH MINIMAL DISRUPTION. HAD THAT BEEN A PRECINCT BASED SITE, VOTERS ASSIGNED TO THAT LOCATION WOULD HAVE HAD NO OTHER OPTION BUT TO LEAVE AND MAKE TIME TO RETURN IF AND WHEN WE WERE ABLE TO ACCESS THAT BUILDING. WE HAVE HAD SIMILAR SITUATIONS WITH WATER MAIN BREAKS, TRAFFIC ACCIDENTS, ETC. US FROM ENTERING A LOCATION FOR A SMALL AMOUNT OF TIME WHERE WE WERE ABLE TO DIRECT VOTERS WITH, AGAIN, VERY LITTLE DISRUPTION. I CAN'T EMPHASIZE THE IMPORTANCE ENOUGH OF THIS PROGRAM TO OUR EL PASO COUNTY VOTERS. AND WE HAVE AGAIN, ALL WE EVER RECEIVE IS POSITIVE FEEDBACK ABOUT THIS PROGRAM. SO I THANK YOU FOR ALWAYS SUPPORTING OUR DEPARTMENT. AND I JUST HAVE SOME OF OUR MEMBERS WHO'VE MADE THIS HAPPEN WITH WITH MY DEPARTMENT BEHIND ME. AND AGAIN, WE ALWAYS THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT. I JUST WANT TO I HOPE THE PUBLIC UNDERSTANDS HOW SPECIAL YOU AND YOUR TEAM ARE AND WHAT YOU DO AND THE DEDICATION. IT'S JUST AMAZING. WE HAVE A SORT OF FRONT VIEW OF THAT, BUT I DON'T THINK MOST PEOPLE UNDERSTAND JUST YOU TRYING TO ACCOMPLISH THAT. IT'D BE VERY EASY FOR YOU TO SAY, WELL, LET'S WORK KIND OF, YOU KNOW, THAT'S WHAT THEY WANT TO DO. BUT YOU'VE ALWAYS BEEN THAT THAT FIGHTER FOR ACCESSIBILITY TO MAKE SURE. AND, YOU KNOW, I'LL PASS IT ON TO COMMISSIONER OLGUIN BECAUSE I KNOW AS CHAIR OF ONE OF THE PARTIES, IS THAT HER UNDERSTANDING OF THE IMPORTANCE OF ACCESSIBILITY. SO, COMMISSIONER, AGAIN, THANK YOU.

JUDGE, I REMEMBER THE ELECTION NOVEMBER OF 2020. AND JUST WHAT A DIFFERENCE HAVING THE COUNTYWIDE POLLING PLACES MADE. AND YOU'RE RIGHT, I MEAN, IT SEEMS THAT THE PANDEMIC WAS SO LONG AGO, BUT IT REALLY WASN'T. THAT WAS JUST ONE PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION CYCLE AWAY. BUT WE WERE SO WORRIED THAT WE WOULD SEE VIRTUALLY NO VOTER PARTICIPATION DURING THAT MONUMENTAL ELECTION.

BUT COUNTYWIDE POLLING PLACES, NOT ONLY DID THAT NOT HAPPEN, WE SAW THE HIGHEST VOTER PARTICIPATION WE HAD EVER SEEN. SO THIS IS REALLY, REALLY IMPORTANT FOR OUR COMMUNITY. AND I HOPE THAT THE LEGISLATURE LISTENS TO COUNTIES LIKE EL PASO AND DOESN'T MOVE FORWARD WITH

[01:55:03]

YEAH, IT'S SO MUCH MORE PRACTICAL. AND, YOU KNOW, I'VE ALWAYS FELT THAT WHEN, YOU KNOW, IN OUR OWN CAMPAIGNS THAT PEOPLE EITHER DON'T VOTE OR VOTE. AND SO THE ONES THAT HAVEN'T VOTED, YOU HAVE TO FACILITATE IT. AND THEN ONCE THEY VOTE, THEY GET EXCITED ABOUT VOTING, RIGHT? BECAUSE NOW THEY BECOME A VOTER. SO WE I JUST BELIEVE IN THAT BEING ABLE TO BE PRACTICAL, IF YOU'RE GOING FROM ONE PLACE TO THE OTHER, YOU COULD STOP. AND IT JUST TO EACH AND EVERY ONE OF US, IT LENDS SO MUCH THAT SO YOU MIGHT INTRODUCING YOUR TEAM, YOU WOULD INTRODUCE YOURSELVES. A BUNCH OF OUR STAFF IS AT THE WAREHOUSE GETTING BAGS READY FOR THE UPCOMING ELECTION. AS YOU KNOW, WE ALWAYS HAVE ONE. BUT I WAS ABLE TO BRING A COUPLE FROM MY OFFICE. THIS IS MELISSA MARTIN. THIS IS VANESSA CEPEDA. HELLO. ERIKA. MELISSA AND CARLA. SO THESE GUYS ARE ALL IN OUR OFFICE, AND, YOU KNOW, THEY'RE THE ONES THAT WHEN I COME UP WITH THIS IDEA, THESE IDEAS, THEY THEY MAKE IT HAPPEN. THEY MAKE IT HAPPEN ALWAYS. THEY'LL WORK LATE. THEY'LL WORK WEEKENDS. THEY THEY DON'T STOP. AND WE THANK YOU EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU. I KNOW YOU'RE IN THE BACKGROUND SOMETIMES, BUT WE'RE VERY APPRECIATIVE OF WHAT YOU DO AND THE SUPPORT YOU GIVE LISA.

SO THANK YOU. CAN WE TAKE A PICTURE WITH WITH THE RESOLUTION WITH Y'ALL? WORK YOU GUYS DID. THANK YOU. EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU. I KNOW YOU'RE IN THE BACKGROUND SOMETIMES, BUT WE'RE VERY APPRECIATIVE OF WHAT YOU.

THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU. THANK YOU, THANK YOU. AND I ALSO WANT I ALSO WANT TO THANK CLAUDIA YOLI FERLA FOR, FOR CALLING IN AND ALSO FOR HELPING US WITH THIS RESOLUTION AND THE WORK THAT SHE AND HER ORGANIZATION OF TEXAS ARE DOING TO KEEP VOTING ACCESS A THING

[02:00:01]

[6. PUBLIC COMMENT]

THANK YOU SO MUCH. GOOD MORNING. WE'RE TOLD IN GOD'S HOLY WORD IN LAMENTATIONS. THIS I RECALL TO MIND THEREFORE HAVE I HOPE IT IS OF THE LORD'S MERCIES THAT WE ARE NOT CONSUMED, BECAUSE HIS COMPASSIONS FAIL NOT. THEY ARE NEW EVERY MORNING. GREAT IS THY FAITHFULNESS. WHAT HAS HAPPENED AND IS HAPPENING IN OUR NATION IS DECEPTION ON BOTH SIDES. WE ARE TOLD IN GOD'S WORD THAT THE ENEMY OF GOD AND THE ENEMY OF OUR SOULS USES ONE MAIN TACTIC DECEPTION. TWO SIDES RAGING AGAINST EACH OTHER, AND WITHIN THOSE TWO GROUPS, COMMENTS BEING MADE THAT ARE FULL OF DECEPTION.

ONE SIDE SPEAKING OF WOMEN'S REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS, ABORTION IS FREEDOM. ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION AS IF IT WERE A GOOD OPPORTUNITY FOR PEOPLE. THE OTHER SIDE SOME OBNOXIOUS, ARROGANT AND CRUEL STATEMENTS BEING MADE ON THE WORLD STAGE, BRINGING TO MIND THE PHRASE THE UGLY AMERICAN WE AS A NATION ARE IN A MESS. POLITICS ASIDE, I WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK BRIEFLY ABOUT A YOUNG LADY. GABRIELLA MARCH IS OFTEN CALLED WOMEN'S HISTORY MONTH. I WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK ABOUT THIS LITTLE GIRL I MET, GABRIELLA'S MOM, DONNA, OUTSIDE THE ENGLEWOOD, NEW JERSEY ABORTION CENTER. SHE HAD COME TO ABORT THAT DAY. BY GOD'S MERCY, DONNA CHANGED HER MIND. I HAD THE PRIVILEGE OF BEING PRESENT IN THE HOSPITAL WHEN GABRIELLA WAS BORN. HER MOM, DONNA, GIVES ME COMPLETE PERMISSION TO SHARE HER STORY AT THAT TIME. TO THE BEST OF MY UNDERSTANDING, DONNA WAS UNDOCUMENTED. HER SITUATION WAS PRETTY MUCH THE WORST OF THE WORST FINANCIALLY. DONNA IS FROM GUYANA, SOUTH AMERICA. SHE WAS WORKING UNBELIEVABLE HOURS TO SUPPORT THE KIDS. SHE ALREADY HAD. THE CHRISTIAN COMMUNITY STEPPED IN TO HELP. BY GOD'S MERCY, DONNA CHOSE LIFE. SHE WILL BE CELEBRATING HER BIRTHDAY NEXT MONTH. EIGHT YEARS OLD. HER MOM HAS TOLD ME I CAN'T BELIEVE I WAS GOING TO ABORT THIS KID. SHE LIGHTS UP OUR HOME AT THE END OF THE DAY AT THE ENGLEWOOD ABORTION CENTER. STERICYCLE WOULD SHOW UP. WRITTEN ON THE STERICYCLE TRUCK ARE THESE WORDS WE PROTECT WHAT MATTERS. PROTECTING PEOPLE, REDUCING RISK, MEDICAL WASTE DISPOSAL BIOHAZARDOUS WASTE. GABRIELLA IS EIGHT YEARS OLD. EIGHT YEARS AGO, SHE WAS BLACK. SHE WAS THE DAUGHTER OF AN IMMIGRANT. SHE WAS FEMALE. SHE WAS PRECIOUS AND SHE WAS VOICELESS. ON THAT DAY EIGHT YEARS AGO. WHICH CATEGORY ON THE STERICYCLE TRUCK DID SHE FIT INTO? WAS SHE MEDICAL WASTE? WAS SHE BIOHAZARDOUS WASTE? SHE WAS A PRECIOUS LITTLE GIRL IN THE WOMB AND SHE WAS VOICELESS.

PLEASE UNDERSTAND THAT THE ANSWER TO ANGER AGAINST SOME UGLY THINGS BEING SPEWED BY SOME PEOPLE IN LEADERSHIP IN OUR NATION, IS NOT TO RAISE THE FIST AND DEMAND REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS FOR WOMEN, OR TO SIDE WITH GROUPS SUCH AS THE RADICAL BLM MOVEMENT, PLANNED PARENTHOOD NEW YORK CITY WITH THE MARGARET SANGER PLANNED PARENTHOOD, THEY OPENLY ENDORSED MARGARET SANGER.

FOR DECADES, IT WAS A FLAGSHIP PLANNED PARENTHOOD IN MANHATTAN. THEY TRAINED COUNTLESS ABORTIONISTS FOR DECADES. THEY FLAUNTED THE NAME MARGARET SANGER. ALL WE NEED TO DO IS DO A LITTLE BIT OF RESEARCH TO FIND MARGARET SANGER'S HISTORY. SHE SPOKE TO THE KU KLUX KLAN IN NEW JERSEY. SHE MADE HORRIBLE STATEMENTS ABOUT BLACK PEOPLE AND ABOUT TRYING TO ELIMINATE THE RACE. WE ARE THRILLED. JUST LAST WEEK, WE RECEIVED THE STUNNING NEWS THAT HAS LEFT US, AS PRO-LIFERS, OVERJOYED. PLANNED PARENTHOOD THE MANHATTAN PLANNED PARENTHOOD IS CLOSING.

WE ARE SO THANKFUL THAT GOD IN MERCY IS SHUTTING DOWN THIS PLACE IN NEW YORK CITY. MORE THAN HALF OF PREGNANCIES END IN ABORTION. LAMENTATIONS CHAPTER THREE, VERSES 21 TO 23. THIS I RECALL TO MY MIND, THEREFORE HAVE. I HOPE IT IS OF THE LORD'S MERCIES THAT WE ARE NOT CONSUMED, BECAUSE HIS COMPASSIONS FAIL NOT. THEY ARE NEW EVERY MORNING. GREAT IS THY FAITHFULNESS. THANK YOU. THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU ELIZABETH. HAVE A GOOD DAY.

THANK YOU SIR. OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS MR. JORGE IGNACIO PINEDA TARIN. JORGE PINEDA Y A PARTIR

[02:05:13]

SIMPLEMENTE TIENEN COMPRAR MI HIJO EMPUJA A LA NINA. CUANDO LA NINA LE PEGO. DESPUÉS DE ESO. UN SINNER SE SUBIO ARRIBA DEL INCA CON EL PUNO CERRADO. LE PEGO A MI HIJO Y LO TUMBO HACIA EL PISO. ESE SINHA ES SHERIFF EL TRABAJA PARA EL CONDADO DEL PASO. CUANDO YO IBA UN CAMINO ME HABLAN LLEGO HACIA EL LUGAR Y LO PRIMERO Q RECIBO DE PALABRAS ES YO SOY SHERIFF. NADIE ME VA A HACER NADA. EL CUAL SE METTRE EN PROBLEMAS ESTO Y DESDE AHI HA TENIDO MUCHISIMOS PROBLEMAS EN MI VIDA. TANTO PERSONALES TANTO MI FAMILIA TANTO EL NEGOCIO Y INCLUSO ESTADO QUERIENDO CAMBIARME DE CIUDAD. YO VIVO AQUI DESDE LOS CATORCE ANOS, MI HIJO CIUDADANO, MI ESPOSA CIUDADANO TENGO OTRA OTRO HIJO. TAMBIÉN CON MI ESPOSA. YO SOY RESIDENTE. Y EN TODO ESO ES RECIBIDO AMENAZAS DE MUERTE. INCLUSO CON VIDEOS DONDE ME DICEN Q ASI COMO YO LE PUSE CARGOS AL OFICIAL OLGUIN, AL SHARIF OLGUIN, DANIEL A MI ME VAN A ESTAR EN LAS CALLES Y SE VAN A ENCARGAR DE ME APARTE DE ESO ME MANDARON VIDEOS DE PORNOGRAPHY INFANTIL TAMBIÉN.

EXTORTION Y PIDIENDO ME DIEZ MIL DOLARES HAN LLEGADO A MI CASA A TOMAR PHOTOS, VIDEOS HABLABA A LA POLICIA Y ME DICEN Q NO PUEDEN HACER NADA PORQUE ES LEGAL HAN LLEGADO HACIA MI NEGOCIO TAMBIÉN Y LO HAN AFECTADO IGUAL HAN TOMADO. PHOTOS, VIDEOS HAN HECHO PERFILES FALSOS DICIENDO INFORMACION FALSA MIA TANTO DE MI COMO DE MI NEGOCIO AC Q LES QUIERO PEDIR AYUDA DE LA MANERA MAS ATENTA PORQUE YA NO PUEDO. NO DUERMO. QUIERO TRATAR DE UNA VIDA NORMAL. QUIERO TRATAR DE PROTEGER A MI FAMILIA Y SIENTO Q CADA VEZ Q VOY A PEDIR AYUDA HACIA UN LUGAR HACIA LA POLICIA HACIA EL SHERIFF HACIA EL FBI. Y NO RECIBO AYUDA A LA SEMANA PASADA. YO TENIA UNA PRUEBA EN EL DIA CATORCE EN EL PISO DOS PARA LA SENORITA MI MONSIVAIS.

QUÉ ESTA PASANDO CON EL CASO? YO ESTADO MUY ATENTO Y YO ESTADO VINIENDO PARA ESTAR PREGUNTANDO.

QUÉ ESTA PASANDO EL DIA CATORCE YO VOLVI A VENIR Y EL DIA CATORCE. ME DIJERON NO PUEDES VOLVER A VENIR. SI NO TIENES ALGUNA CITA. YO TENGO UN PAPEL. DONDE ME ESCRIBIERON Q PARA EL DIA. CATORCE A MI SE ME VA INFORMER. ALGO A MI SE ME VA A DECIR ALGO Y HOY ES EL DIA Q NO ES RECIBIDO NADA DE NOTICIAS. NO ME HAN DICHO NADA. EL DIA VIERNES ME HABLARON PARA DECIRME DE PARTE DE LA SENORITA MI MONSIVAIS. VAMOS A HABLAR CON TU ABOGADO. YO TODAVIA NO LES HABIA DICHO Q TENIA ABOGADO. YO TENIA ABOGADO UNICAMENTE PARA MI ESPOSA. PERO NO PARA EL CASO DE MI HIJO. YO LE DIJE ESTABA BIEN HABLARON CON ÉL. DESPUÉS DE ESO HABLE CON EL ABOGADO Y LE DIJE ME PUEDE REPRESENTAR EN EL CASO DE MI HIJO. SI YO NO HABIA AGARRADO ABOGADO ERA PORQUE INCLUSO MI ABOGADO DE DIEZ ANOS, ANTERIORMENTE LO CUAL ME DIJO A MI ME COMENTO A ME TE VAN A MATAR. LA POLICIA ES UNA MAFIA. EL GOBIERNO ES UNA MAFIA Y YO VENGO DE FRENTE Y SE LO DIGO SI USTEDES YO NO CREO. ESO DE ESA MANERA SIMPLEMENTE ESTOY PIDIENDO JUSTICIA PARA MI FAMILIA PARA A ME Y LA VERDAD ES DE QUÉ NO ME GUSTARIA CAMBIARME DE CIUDAD PORQUE PARA MI ES UNA CIUDAD SEGURA EN LA CUAL YO PODRIA ESTAR BIEN EN LA CUAL YO PUDIERA EL PARQUE PUDIERA COMER PUDIERA AL CINE Y AHORA TENGO ESTAR VOLTANDO HACIA ATRAS. TENGO ESTAR VOLTANDO HACIA EL LADO. QUÉ VOY MANEJANDO CADA VEZ UN LUGAR Y NO ESTOY A GUSTO. MI FAMILIA NO ESTA GUSTO. ENTONCES LA AYUDA DE LA MANERA MAS ATENTA SI YO TENGO MUCHO CORAJE. PORQUE TENGO EL OJO ES PORQUE SE TENGO

[02:10:03]

CAN YOU RECOMMEND OR ANY AND JUDGE I KNOW. SO YOUR OFFICE HAS BEEN IN CONTACT. I'D BE HAPPY TO SIT DOWN WITH THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE AND FIND OUT MORE DETAILS ABOUT WHY. SURE, THERE'S NOT MAKING THAT CONTACT AND THEN WE WILL WORK WITH JORGE AND CIRCLE BACK TO THE COURT. OKAY? YEAH.

JUDGE, THIS IS CHRISTINA SANCHEZ, EL PASO COUNTY ATTORNEY. I'LL GO AHEAD AND OFFER THAT WITH BETSY AS WELL. SO I HAVE SOME INFORMATION AS WELL. THANK YOU. OKAY. THANK YOU CHRISTINA. THANK YOU BETSY A. GEORGE PARA DARLE DARLE INFORMATION. OH QUÉ ES LO PODEMOS HACER ENTENDEMOS SU SITUATION. NO MAS NECESITAMOS MAS DATOS PARA AQUELLOS PUEDEN AYUDAR AGRADEZCO MUCHO A LA VERDAD. GRACIAS. GRACIAS JORGE.

THIS COMPLETES PUBLIC COMMENT. DO WE HAVE ESTE. GOING ON TO ITEM NUMBER SEVEN A FROM THE REGULAR AGENDA. RECEIVE A PRESENTATION AND TAKE APPROPRIATE ACTION ON THE EMERGENCY SERVICES DISTRICT NUMBER TWO'S FINANCING PLAN. CESAR, I'M SORRY TO INTERRUPT.

WE'RE GOING TO TAKE THAT ITEM AT 1:00 RIGHT AFTER LUNCH. CHIEF ESPARZA WILL JOIN US AT THAT TIME. I'M SORRY. OKAY. THANK YOU. OKAY. AFTER PUBLIC COMMENTS? YES. OKAY. YEAH. WE'RE GOING TO MOVE ALONG TO ITEM NUMBER. TEN. A FROM AUDITOR PURSUANT TO TEXAS LOCAL GOVERNMENT CODE SECTION. 114.023114.024114.025 AND 114.026. ACCEPT THE ATTACHED PRESENTATION AND THE INTERIM FINANCIAL REPORT FOR THE MONTH ENDED FEBRUARY 2025. THE INTERIM FINANCIAL REPORT IS LOCATED ON THE INTRANET AT HTTP COLON. FORWARD SLASH. FORWARD SLASH W W W DOT E P COUNTY. TX.GOV/AUDITOR/PUBLICATIONS. FORWARD SLASH MONTHLY REPORTS DOT HTM. GOOD MORNING JUDGE AND COMMISSIONERS GOOD MORNING. I'M SORRY THAT HE HAS TO READ ALL THAT OUT EVERY TIME. SO TODAY'S REPORT IS ON THE FEBRUARY INTERIM FINANCIALS. THIS EXECUTIVE SUMMARY SHOWS INFORMATION ABOUT REVENUES AND EXPENSES OF ALL FUNDS, AS WELL AS THE GENERAL FUND FOR THE CURRENT YEAR. PLEASE NOTE THAT THROUGHOUT THE PRESENTATION, AMOUNTS HAVE BEEN ROUNDED TO THOUSANDTHS, SO THEY MAY NOT ADD UP AND DOWN THE COLUMNS. IT'S BECAUSE OF ROUNDING. THIS IS THE CONDENSED FINANCIAL REPORT THAT WAS PUBLISHED IN THE SUNDAY PAPER. AND THESE ARE THE REVENUES THAT WERE COLLECTED BY THE COUNTY BY FUND TYPE DURING THE MONTH OF FEBRUARY AND YEAR TO DATE. THE FOCUS ON THIS PRESENTATION WILL EMPHASIZE THE GENERAL FUND, WHICH IS OUR MAIN OPERATING FUND OF THE COUNTY, AND DURING THE CURRENT MONTH, THE GENERAL FUND COLLECTED APPROXIMATELY $35.5 MILLION. TOTAL YEAR TO DATE PROPERTY TAXES COLLECTED AS OF FEBRUARY 2025 INCREASED BY 7.8 MILLION COMPARED TO FY 24. THE PROPERTY TAXES IN GENERAL FUND INCREASED BY 5 MILLION IN TOTAL. YEAR TO DATE. GENERAL FUND REVENUES

[02:15:03]

[A. Pursuant to Texas Local Government Code § 114.023, 114.024, 114.025 and 114.026, accept the attached presentation and the interim financial report for the month ended February 2025. The interim financial report is located on the internet at: http://www.epcountytx.gov/auditor/publications/monthlyreports.htm Barbara Parker, County Auditor, County Auditor's Office, 915-273-3262]

OKAY. SO IT IS GOING BACK UP SLOWLY. YES. BUT SLOWLY IF I COULD JUST ADD TO THAT. SO IT WAS ABOUT THIS TIME LAST YEAR. IT WAS ACTUALLY IN MARCH LAST YEAR WHERE WE SAW OVER 400 ARRESTS BOOKED INTO OUR JAIL. AND THAT REALLY REDUCED OUR NUMBER OF BEDS. AND SO WE HAD A PORTION OF THE YEAR WITH A LARGER NUMBER AND THEN A STEEP DECLINE, WHICH IS IMPACTING THIS YEAR MORE THAN IT IMPACTED LAST FISCAL YEAR. BUT WE SHOULD START CLIMBING OUT OVER THE NEXT FEW MONTHS. THANK YOU. OTHER FINANCING SOURCES DECREASED BY 1.7 MILLION. AND THIS WAS DUE, AS I'VE MENTIONED BEFORE, THE ONE TIME TRANSFER IN FROM THE HEALTH AND LIFE FUND TO REPAY THE GENERAL FUND AND THEN INCREASE DECREASED DUE TO LOWER INVESTIBLE BALANCES AND LOWER RATES. THIS IS AN OVERVIEW OF ACTUAL REVENUE COMPARED TO BUDGET. AS OF FEBRUARY 2025, 41.7% OF THE FISCAL YEAR HAS EXPIRED. SO FAR THIS YEAR, GENERAL FUND HAS COLLECTED 74.9% OF THE BUDGETED REVENUES, AND THIS ANALYSIS EXCLUDES $83 MILLION THAT HAVE BEEN DESIGNATED FOR FUND BALANCE RESERVES. YEAR TO DATE. TAXES COMPRISE 94.5% OF THE REVENUES RECEIVED. 84.6% OF THOSE WERE PROPERTY TAXES. THIS IS A PICTURE OF A THREE YEAR BUDGET AND GENERAL FUND. ACTUAL REVENUE COMPARISON. IT SHOWS THE TRENDS OF THE TWO LARGEST REVENUE SOURCES FOR THE COUNTY PROPERTY TAX AND SALES TAX. THE LINES ON THE CHART REPRESENT TOTAL REVENUES, AND YOU CAN EXPECT TO SEE THOSE GET CLOSER TO EACH OTHER AS THE YEAR PROGRESSES.

AND THE TWO LARGEST REVENUE TYPES ARE THE BAR GROUPINGS FOR EACH YEAR. YOU CAN SEE THAT THE BUDGET TO ACTUAL FOR PROPERTY TAXES AND SALES TAXES, THE CURRENT YEAR'S GENERAL FUND REVENUE TOTAL COLLECTIONS INCREASED BY 0.2% COMPARED TO THE PERCENTAGE OF THE BUDGET LAST YEAR, AND IS GREATER COMPARED TO THE PERCENTAGE OF THE BUDGET FOR 2023. THIS SLIDE SHOWS US THE FOUR LARGEST PARTS OF THE SALES AND USE TAX THAT WE COLLECT. THE FOUR CATEGORIES RETAIL TRADE INCREASED BY 17.4%, ACCOMMODATIONS AND FOOD SERVICES HAVE INCREASED BY 3.8%.

MANUFACTURING INCREASED BY 24.5%, AND WHOLESALE TRADE IS INCREASED BY 14.8%. THIS SLIDE SHOWS ALL THE EXPENDITURES FOR THE COUNTY BY FUND TYPE FOR THE MONTH OF FEBRUARY. GENERAL FUND RECORDED TOTAL EXPENDITURES OF 35 MILLION AND A YEAR TO DATE TOTAL OF 147.5 MILLION. THE TOTAL GENERAL FUND EXPENDITURES BY FUNCTION ARE SHOWN ON THIS SLIDE. THE PERCENTAGE OF THE YEAR EXPIRED, AS I MENTIONED, WAS 41.7%. THE PERCENTAGE OF BUDGET EXPENDED IS 32.5%. LAST

[02:20:07]

THIS SLIDE SHOWS US GENERAL FUND CHANGES BY GOVERNMENT FUNCTION IN COMPARISON WITH THE SAME PERIOD THE PREVIOUS YEAR. THE TOP AREAS OF CHANGE ARE. GENERAL GOVERNMENT 10.9%, PUBLIC SAFETY 5.9%, ADMINISTRATION OF JUSTICE 3.4% AND RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT OF 94.2%. BUT IT WAS ONLY 480,000.

THIS CHART GIVES US A GOOD VIEW OF THE BUDGET AS A WHOLE, AND BREAKS DOWN EXPENDITURES BY FUNCTION OF GOVERNMENT. PUBLIC SAFETY ACCOUNTED, AS I SAID, 43% OF THE YEAR TO DATE EXPENDITURES, GENERAL GOVERNMENT 26%. ADMINISTRATION OF JUSTICE 24.4%, AND ALL OTHER FUNCTIONS COME UP TO 6.5%. THE FY 24 PROJECTIONS CONTINUE TO BE UPDATED AS WE FINALIZE OUR ANNUAL FINANCIAL REPORT. THEY CURRENTLY INCLUDE GENERAL FUND REVENUES OF 390.9 MILLION AND EXPENDITURES OF 398.8 MILLION FOR PROJECTED GENERAL FUND BALANCE OF APPROXIMATELY 90.3 MILLION. THIS LEAVES AN UNCOMMITTED FUND BALANCE AS A PERCENTAGE OF GENERAL FUND FY 25 BUDGET OF 9.41%. THE CHANGE FROM LAST MONTH IS AN INCREASE OF APPROXIMATELY $1 MILLION DUE TO ADDITIONAL REDUCTIONS IN ENCUMBRANCES FOR FY 24, AND THE NUMBERS MAY CONTINUE TO CHANGE UP OR DOWN AS WE CONTINUE TO WORK TO CLOSE THE BOOKS FOR THE YEAR. THE FY 25 PROJECTED FUND BALANCE IS BASED ON THE PROJECTED REVENUES AND EXPENDITURES BASED ON TRENDS, WITH EXPENDITURES AND ADJUSTMENTS RECOMMENDED BY THE BUDGET AND FINANCE DEPARTMENT.

COMBINED WITH THE UPDATED FY 24 BALANCE, THIS RESULTS IN A PROJECTED FY 25 FUND BALANCE OF $67 MILLION. PROJECTED EXPENDITURES FOR FY 25 INCREASED BY 3.3 MILLION DUE TO PERSONNEL EXPENSES. LAST MONTH, OUR PERSONNEL EXPENSES APPEARED LOWER DUE TO THE PORTION OF SALARIES THAT WERE MOVED TO THE ARPA GRANTS. THIS MONTH, WE'RE SEEING THE ACTUAL PERSONNEL EXPENSES COMING IN. ONCE AGAIN. YEARS AFTER 25 ARE BASED ON A 2% INCREASE IN PROPERTY VALUES AND EXPENSE INCREASES OF 5%. AND HAVE QUESTIONS. THIS IS THE TABLE OF CONTENTS FOR THE FULL REPORT THAT'S ON THE INTERNET. I'LL BE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE. THANK

[02:25:12]

NEXT, WE'LL TAKE ITEM NUMBER EIGHT A FROM COMMISSIONERS COURT POSTPONED. MARCH 17TH, 2025.

DISCUSS AND TAKE APPROPRIATE ACTION TO DIRECT COUNTY ADMINISTRATION TO CREATE A NEW

[A. (Postponed 3/17/25) Discuss and take appropriate action to direct County Administration to create a new policy requiring members of the Commissioners Court to provide a report to the Commissioners Court following any trip for County Business within 30 days of return. Ricardo A. Samaniego, County Judge, County Judge's Office, 915-546-2098]

MOTION CARRIES. WOULD YOU LIKE TO GO AHEAD? AND DID YOU RECOMMEND ANYTHING THAT YOU THOUGHT YOU MENTIONED? JUDGE. WE COULD TRY TO GET. I THINK. OR WE COULD GO ON THE BREAK NOW AND JUST IF WE COULD AND THEN GET BACK A FEW MINUTES BEFORE ONE. SO THERE'S SEVERAL ITEMS WE COULD GET TO BEFORE WE GO INTO EXECUTIVE. WE NEED TO GO INTO EXECUTIVE BY AROUND 130, OKAY.

BECAUSE WE HAVE A CONSULTANT ON ONE OF THE ITEMS THAT'S AVAILABLE AT THAT TIME. PERFECT THAT I THINK THE COURT WOULD WANT TO HEAR FROM. JUST RECESS. RECESS. OKAY. COMMISSIONERS, COURT WILL RECESS FOR ONE HOUR. IT IS 11:57 A.M.

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[03:38:49]

[A. Receive a presentation and take appropriate action on the Emergency Services District #2’s financing plan in the amount of $7,580,000.00 to fund the construction of a fire station in Socorro, Texas and purchase two fire trucks. Melissa Carrillo, Deputy County Administrator, County Operations, 915-273-3582]

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[03:39:17]

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7,575,000 OR 80,000 MORE OR LESS PROJECT FUND, AS THE CHIEF STATED FOR THE FIRE STATION, THE TWO TRUCKS, ABOUT 7.5 MILLION ON COLUMN E, WE HAVE THE COMBINED TOTAL DEBT FOR ESD NUMBER TWO, WHICH ALSO ASSUMES THE NEW LOAN WE ARE CONSIDERING. AND THEN WE HAVE THE ESTIMATED TAX RATE FOR NEXT FISCAL YEAR UNDER COLUMN I. AND WE'RE ESTIMATING A TOTAL INS TAX RATE OF ABOUT 3.5 CENTS.

THIS WOULD BE ROUGHLY A $0.01 INCREASE, ASSUMING THE 7,500,000 LOAN GETS AN INTEREST RATE OF 5.5%. WE ARE HOPING THAT THE MARKET FAVORS ON THE ESD. NUMBER TWO SIDE, WE GET A LOWER INTEREST RATE THAN THE FIVE AND A HALF THAT WE USED AS A PRELIMINARY FOOTHOLD. NOW, ON PAGE THREE, WE HAVE THE TIME TABLE. LAST WEEK, THE BOARD MET TO APPROVE THE PLAN OF FINANCE.

THAT WE'RE PRESENTING THIS AFTERNOON. AND WE ARE HERE IN FRONT OF THE COMMISSIONERS COURT TO PRESENT THE SAME INFORMATION ON OR ABOUT APRIL THE 15TH. THE BIDS WILL BE DUE. AND ONCE WE LOCK IN THE INTEREST RATE AND THE PRINCIPAL AND INTEREST PAYMENTS FROM YEAR ONE TO YEAR 15 WILL PRESENT THAT TO THE BOARD ON APRIL THE 15TH. AND IF THAT ITEM IS APPROVED, THE ESD NUMBER TWO WILL RECEIVE THE FUNDS ON OR ABOUT APRIL THE 29TH. AND ON PAGE FOUR WE HAVE THE. DUSTIN ROBERT, YOU'RE WE CAN'T HEAR YOU EVEN THOUGH YOU'RE UNMUTED. SOMETHING HAPPENED WITH YOUR AUDIO. I HAVE IT RIGHT. CAN YOU ALL HEAR ME, SIR? YES, YES. OKAY. CAN YOU HEAR ME NOW? YES, YES. OKAY. I APOLOGIZE ABOUT THAT. SO ON PAGE FIVE HERE WE HAVE ON PAGE FOUR THE COST OF ISSUANCE, ROUGHLY ABOUT 75,000. WE HAVE BOND COUNSEL FEE OF ABOUT 25,000 FOR ROUGHLY ABOUT 37 BEING EXPENSES IN THE PLACEMENT AGENT FOR A TOTAL AMOUNT. COMMISSIONERS COURT OF ABOUT 75,000. AND THE WORKING GROUP FOR THIS LOAN AGREEMENT WOULD BE THE ISSUER.

EL PASO ISD NUMBER TWO. THE HIRING OF FINANCIAL ADVISORS AS A REPRESENTATIVE OF ESD NUMBER TWO BOND COUNSEL JACKSON WALKER, THE BIDDING AGENT, FN FINANCIAL. AND WE HAVE TO BE DETERMINED PURCHASER AND PURCHASER COUNSEL BECAUSE ON ON OR ABOUT APRIL THE 15TH, WE'LL HAVE THE LOWEST INTEREST RATE. SO AT THAT TIME, WHEN WE PRESENTED TO THE BOARD ON OR ABOUT APRIL THE 15TH, WE'LL HAVE THE PURCHASER, WHICH WILL BE THE LENDER AND THEIR LEGAL REPRESENTATIVE, THEIR COUNSEL, AND WE'LL STATE THAT ON THESE TWO LINE ITEMS ON OR ABOUT APRIL THE 15TH FOR THE ESD NUMBER TWO BOARD CONSIDERATION, JUDGE, COMMISSIONER, ANY QUESTION, MR. ESPARZA? NO, SIR.

WAITING FOR COMMISSIONERS. COURT CHIEF. GO AHEAD. NO. IT'S JUST IF YOU ALL HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, JUDGE, YOU WILL BE TALKING A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE VIABILITY OF HAVING ONE. AND JUST SO THE COMMUNITY KNOWS WHAT YOUR INTENT IS, OUR PLAN IS TO BUILD A SECOND SOCORRO FIRE STATION. OF COURSE, SOCORRO IS A SECOND BIGGEST CITY IN EL PASO COUNTY, AND IT IS ONLY BEING SERVED BY

[03:45:01]

IT WOULD IT WOULD JUDGE IT WOULD IT WOULD DEFINITELY LOOK AT IT OFFSET A LITTLE BIT AS FAR AS YOUR INSURANCE FOR THOSE OF THOSE OF THE PEOPLE THAT DO HAVE HOMEOWNERS INSURANCE, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT THEY LOOK AT NOW IS FIVE ROAD MILES FROM YOUR HOME. HOW IS IT THE FIRE STATION, FIVE ROAD MILES FROM YOUR HOME, AND IS THERE FIRE HYDRANTS NEAR YOUR HOME? THOSE ARE THE ONES THAT ARE GOING TO IMPACT YOUR HOME'S VALUES AND YOUR HOAS. YOUR HOME'S INSURANCE COST ALSO IS THERE. DOES IT INCREASE THE POSSIBILITY OF GETTING MORE BUSINESSES IN THAT? IT DOES, AND THAT'S ONE OF THE REASONS WHY WE PLOTTED THAT STATION THERE, BECAUSE, AS YOU KNOW, IN THAT AREA, I THINK WE ALREADY HAVE LIKE 20 WAREHOUSES GOING UP BOTH IN THE CITY AND THE COUNTY AREA IN THE CITY OF SOCORRO. SO AS WE GROW, THAT'S AN EASY ON TO THE FREEWAY. AND EVERYTHING ELSE IS BEING PLOTTED AROUND THE EL PASO COMMUNITY COLLEGE AREA. OKAY. JUST I JUST WANT TO I JUST WANTED TO MAKE A COMMENT. THANK YOU, CHIEF ESPARZA. YOU KNOW, I, I HAD THE PRIVILEGE OF BEING ON THE BOARD OF ESD TWO. SO I KNOW THAT IT'S BEEN IN THE LONG TERM PLANS FOR BUILDING A SECOND STATION IN SOCORRO FOR A LONG TIME. SO I'M GLAD TO SEE IT COMING TO FRUITION. RIGHT. AND IT'S EXPENSIVE FIRE TRUCKS, ALL OF THE FIRE EQUIPMENT IS INCREDIBLY EXPENSIVE. AND I THINK FROM MY PERSPECTIVE, JUST TO GIVE SOME, SOME CONTEXT, THE SOCORRO FIRE STATION AND THE VOLUNTEER FIREFIGHTERS THAT RUN IT IS ONE OF THE BUSIEST FIRE DEPARTMENTS OUT OF THE ESD. SIX VOLUNTEER FIRE FIRE STATIONS. AND IT DOESN'T JUST RESPOND TO INCIDENTS IN SOCORRO. IT RESPONDS TO EVERYTHING IN THE LOWER VALLEY, ESPECIALLY WHERE WE HAVE SMALLER FIRE STATIONS.

IN CLINT FABENS AND SO IT'S IT STRETCHES THOSE RESOURCES REALLY THIN. THE VOLUNTEER FORCE IS

[03:50:01]

THANK YOU, ROBERT, FOR JOINING US. THANK YOU, THANK YOU. JUDGE. COMMISSIONER. MR. ESPARZA, I APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO PRESENT THIS THIS AFTERNOON. I HOPE YOU ALL HAVE A GREAT DAY.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU. DID YOU HAVE A QUESTION? NO, JUDGE, I JUST I KNOW CHIEF ESPARZA IS HERE, AND I HAD AN ITEM ON THE AGENDA REGARDING THE FIRE AND ANTHONY, AND I WAS WONDERING TO SEE IF WE COULD TAKE UP HIS ITEM, THE ITEM, THAT ITEM. SINCE HE'S HERE, WE CAN DO THAT.

THERE'S NO TIME. WE'VE ALREADY MET THE TIMELINE. SO ITEM 14 A IS THE ITEM THAT WE WOULD BE READING IN PERFECT. GO AHEAD. JUST A MOMENT. JUST A MOMENT, SIR. IS ANYBODY. ITEM NUMBER 14 A THE ADDENDUM TO THE AGENDA. DISCUSS AND TAKE APPROPRIATE ACTION CONCERNING THE FIRE THAT

[A. Discuss and take appropriate action concerning the fire that occurred on March 21, 2025 in Anthony, Texas and the challenges.POSTED FRIDAY, MARCH 21, 2025, AT 11:15 A.M. Sergio Coronado, Commissioner, Precinct 4, 915-273-3596]

OKAY, SO MAY PRESENT THEMSELVES NOT JUST FOR THIS ISSUE, BUT THAT ARE RELATED TO SIMILAR CIRCUMSTANCES THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY THAT WE'VE EXPERIENCED WITH THE FIRES, BOTH IN THE LOWER VALLEY AND IN THE UPPER VALLEY IN CANUTILLO, THE COURT HAS THE ABILITY, WITH THE TEXAS OPEN MEETINGS ACT, TO MAKE A MOTION TO MOVE THIS ITEM INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION PURSUANT TO SECTION 551.071. THAT'S TO GET LEGAL LEGAL ADVICE. SO THAT'S WHAT I'M HEARING. COMMISSIONER.

THE COURT CAN MAKE THAT MOTION IF IT WISHES. IF YOU WANTED TO HEAR SOMETHING IN OPEN FIRST YOU CAN AND THEN WE CAN MOVE INTO EXECUTIVE WHATEVER YOU PREFER. YEAH. WE CAN HAVE A LITTLE SUMMARY FROM THE CHIEF IF ALL WE'D LIKE, AND THEN SOME OF THE ISSUES THAT I'D LIKE TO DISCUSS DO DEAL WITH LEGAL QUESTIONS. SO WHAT WE WOULD ASK IS WE'D ASK FOR A MOTION TO TAKE IT INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION, HAVE THE DISCUSSION, THE PORTION, THE OVERVIEW AND OPEN, AND THEN THE COURT COULD EITHER GO INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION AND COMPLETE THIS ITEM AND THE OTHER ITEMS, BECAUSE WE'RE ALMOST AT 130. AND THEN WE WOULD COME BACK FOR ALL THE OTHER ITEMS IN OPEN SESSION.

OKAY. WE HAVE A MOTION TO MOVE THE ITEM INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION FROM JUDGE SAMANIEGO. IS THERE A SECOND? I'LL SECOND. NOT COMING UP. OKAY. VOTING IS OPEN. COMMISSIONER STOUT. THANK YOU.

MOTION CARRIES. BEFORE WE GO INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION. JUDGE, I KNOW WE WERE GOING TO GET A BRIEF OVERVIEW OF WHAT THE INCIDENT WAS CONCERNING ANTHONY, BUT I ALSO THINK YOU HAVE SEVERAL PEOPLE OR PEOPLE HERE WAITING ON ITEM 11 A AND POSSIBLY ONE OTHER ITEM. I DON'T KNOW IF YOU ALL WANT TO TRY TO HEAR THOSE BEFORE WE GO IN, AND I THINK THOSE ARE PROBABLY GOING TO BE PRETTY QUICK. JUDGE I DO TOO. YES, MA'AM. OKAY. ITEM 11 A PUBLIC WORKS APPROVE AND AUTHORIZE THE ACCEPTANCE OF THE FISCAL YEAR 2025 NEIGHBORHOOD IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM PROJECT

[A. Approve and authorize the acceptance of the fiscal year 2025 Neighborhood Improvement Program project award for a proposed veterans memorial in Tornillo, Texas. Michael McElroy, Director, Planning and Development, 915-273-3330]

[03:55:03]

MILITARY BRANCHES IN THE FORM OF SIX SHARP AND CLEAN CUBES, ALL TILTED AND ANGLED DIFFERENTLY TO REPRESENT A VETERAN'S CONTINUOUS AND EVERLASTING LEGACY IN OUR NATION AND COMMUNITY. IN EFFORTS TO ENHANCE THE TORNILLO COMMUNITY, THIS MEMORIAL CREATES A SIGNIFICANT NODE BETWEEN A POPULAR WALK PATH AND COYOTE PARK, MAKING THIS A SEAMLESS EXPERIENCE FOR ALL TO SEE AND REMEMBER. THE GREAT SACRIFICE OUR VETERANS MADE AND CONTINUE TO MAKE FOR OUR COUNTRY. NOW, THE TORNILLO NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION WERE THE ONLY GROUP OR APPLICANT THAT SUBMITTED THEIR SUBMISSION BY THE DEADLINE, WHICH WAS MARCH 1ST. THIS IS A CROSS-FUNCTIONAL REVIEW FROM PARKS PLANNING AND PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENTS THAT WAS ADMINISTERED. WE REVIEWED ALL COMPONENTS AND CRITERIA TO ENSURE A COMPREHENSIVE AND FAIR EVALUATION. WE ENSURED A THOROUGH EVALUATION OF BOTH THE STRATEGIC IMPORTANCE AND PRACTICAL EXECUTION OF THE PROJECT APPLICATION. WE EVALUATED THE FEASIBILITY OF THE PROJECT BY EXAMINING THE PROPOSED BUDGET AND ALLOCATION OF RESOURCES. SO OVERALL, OUT OF 100 POINTS, THE ASSOCIATION SCORED 81.50 POINTS. OKAY, SO THIS PROJECT CAN'T BE COMPLETED WITH THE $125,000. WE DO PRESENT FOUR OPTIONS THAT YOU SEE HERE FROM PROVIDING THE PROJECT AS ENVISIONED, RENDERED TO A MINIMAL AMENITY PROJECT. SO THE LOWEST COST OPTION EXCEEDS THE EXISTING BUDGET. THEREFORE, WE DO RECOMMEND OPTION FOUR. AND SHAWNEE, IF I UNDERSTAND CORRECTLY WITH OPTION FOUR, WHICH MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT IT IS ACCEPTABLE TO THE TORNILLO VETERANS ASSOCIATION, BUT WE CAN POTENTIALLY REDUCE THE MAYBE THE AMOUNT OF THE CONTINGENCY THAT WE'VE SET ASIDE TO TRY TO GET IT TO FIT WITHIN THE AVAILABLE FUNDING. IS THAT CORRECT? THAT'S CORRECT. SO OVERALL, THE NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION SUBMITTED THEIR VISION. RIGHT. AND I THINK IT'S OUR JOB TO MAKE IT COME TO FRUITION FOR THEM. SO I'M AVAILABLE FOR ANY QUESTIONS COMMENTS. AND WE DO HAVE MEMBERS OF THE ASSOCIATION, IF ANY OF THE MEMBERS OF THE COMMISSIONERS COURT HAVE ANY QUESTIONS CAN I SORT OF. TONY, DO YOU MIND SORT OF TO PUT IT IN PERSPECTIVE, DO YOU MIND COMING UP AND. YEAH, YOU KNOW, WE'VE WORKED REALLY HARD TO SORT OF MAKE SURE THAT WHEN ONE SITE IS NOT MOVING AND THE OTHER IS NOT. AND, YOU KNOW, WE'VE WORKED REALLY HARD WITH THE VAP TRYING TO UNDERSTAND, YOU KNOW, WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO ACCOMPLISH. WE'RE VERY EXCITED ABOUT THE ENTHUSIASM THAT THE

[04:00:03]

AND SO THAT WAS THAT WAS THE WINNING APPLICANT LAST YEAR. THIS YEAR, THE WHEN THE NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATIONS SUBMITTED, WHICH THEY'RE NOT WORKING WITH US BECAUSE THEY'RE THEY'RE IN I MEAN, WHEN I SAY THEY'RE NOT WORKING WITH US, THEY INDEPENDENTLY ARE SAYING, THIS IS WHAT WE'D LIKE TO SEE IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD. AND SO THIS IS THE PROGRAM THAT THEY BROUGHT FORWARD AS A PROPOSAL. OKAY. NO, JUST I UNDERSTAND IT BETTER BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, A LOT OF THE THINGS THAT WE'RE TRYING TO ACCOMPLISH IS WITHIN, YOU KNOW, HOW DOES IT SUPPORT THE VETERANS CAPITAL? WE'VE DONE A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF TRACTION. WE NOW HAVE A TRADEMARK FOR IT. IS THERE ANY CONNECTION THAT WE COULD MAKE WITH THE VETERANS CAPITAL? I THINK IF YOU'VE BEEN OUT TO TORNILLO AND YOU'VE BEEN OUT TO THE LOWER VALLEY, THERE'S ABSOLUTELY A GREAT SENSE OF COMMUNITY AND THE VETERANS CAPITAL OUT THERE. WE WERE ABLE TO DO THEIR VETERANS PARADE OR EVENT LAST YEAR, AND I CAN TELL YOU IT'S A REAL HOMETOWN FEEL. SO I THINK, YES, IT ABSOLUTELY SUPPORTS THE VETERANS CAPITAL. AND THIS GRANT FUND WOULD JUST BE SOMETHING TO ASSIST THEM IN GETTING THAT DONE. WELL, I WOULD LIKE TO THAT IT NOT INDIRECTLY SUPPORTS IT, BUT IS THERE ANYTHING WITHIN THE PROGRAM AND JUDGES. YOU KNOW, WE HAVE VERY ACTIVE VETERANS GROUPS THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY, BUT PARTICULARLY IN SOME OF OUR RURAL COMMUNITIES AND THE TORNILLO VETERANS, WHEN THEY LEARNED OF THE OPPORTUNITY TO FORM A NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION, TO BE ABLE TO BRING THESE TYPES OF IMPROVEMENTS TO TORNILLO, THEY JUMPED ON THE CHANCE IMMEDIATELY. AND THEY WENT THROUGH ALL OF THE TREMENDOUS WORK. AND I WANT TO THANK SHAWNEE AND MICHAEL FOR HELPING THEM. THEY DEVELOP THEIR BYLAWS. THEY WENT THROUGH THE ENTIRE PROCESS SPECIFICALLY BECAUSE THEY FELT THAT THIS WAS SOMETHING IMPORTANT TO HAVE IN THEIR COMMUNITY. THEY WERE THE ONLY APPLICANTS THIS YEAR, AND I CERTAINLY BELIEVE THAT IT'S A WORTHWHILE PROJECT THAT SHOULD BE FUNDED. I THINK DEFINITELY IT HAS A HUGE CONNECTION TO OUR VETERANS CAPITAL OF THE U.S, AND I KNOW THAT THE VETERANS IN TORNILLO ARE ALWAYS SUPPORTIVE OF OUR EFFORTS. AND I THINK CERTAINLY THE RENDERING THAT WE SAW IS JUST THE INITIAL RENDERING. BUT CERTAINLY WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE RECOGNIZE THAT. IT ALSO REFLECTS THAT EL PASO COUNTY IS THE VETERANS CAPITAL OF THE USA. SO THOSE ARE THINGS THAT WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO WORK ON. JUDGE. AND I MEAN, I WOULD JUST APPRECIATIVE WE GET THE WEB INVOLVED FROM THE BEGINNING BECAUSE LIKE I SAID, THEY'RE SO EXCITED TO MOVE ON CERTAIN THINGS, BUT WE HAVEN'T GIVEN THEM. THEY'RE INCREDIBLY MOTIVATED. JUDGE. THEY'RE LOOKING FOR WAYS TO HELP THE COMMUNITY AND BRING THEIR VOICES TO THE COURT. SO ABSOLUTELY, YES, WE HAVE OUR VETERANS VETERAN OF THE YEAR. COMMISSIONERS AGAIN, DEBORAH WAKEFIELD, EL PASO VETERAN OF THE YEAR. AS A VETERAN OF THE YEAR, I WOULD LIKE TO SAY THAT I CONDONE AND SUPPORT THIS BILL OR THE PROJECT BECAUSE VETERANS ARE EVERYWHERE. AND IF WE'RE GOING TO BE THE VETERANS CAPITAL OF THE USA, THEN OUR EXTENDED CITIES AROUND US THAT SUPPORT EL PASO, WE HAVE TO BE INCLUSIVE AND VETERANS BEING EVERYWHERE. THEY NEED TO BE RECOGNIZED IN THEIR COMMUNITIES. AND I THINK THE COMMUNITY SUPPORT HONORS VETERANS THAT ARE THAT HAVE

[04:05:03]

HELLO. MY NAME IS MARIO AGUIRRE. I AM MARIO TORNILLO. AND BASICALLY I CAN SAY I WAS BASICALLY BORN AND RAISED IN TORNILLO. GRADUATED FROM TORNILLO. IN 1977. I AM A VETERAN MYSELF BACK THEN, AND I'M STILL BASICALLY BASICALLY CONSIDERED BASICALLY LIKE A PUBLIC SERVANT BECAUSE I'VE BEEN A PUBLIC SERVANT SINCE I JOINED THE MILITARY. BUT ONE THING IS REFERENCING THE LIKE, SOME FOLKS HERE CAME UP AND INDICATED, YOU KNOW, THE IMPORTANCE OF THIS, OF THIS MEMORIAL. AND THOSE FOLKS HAVE ACTUALLY VISITED OUR TORNILLO DURING OUR MEETINGS.

AND I'VE BEEN GETTING I AM ACTUALLY THE PRESIDENT OF THE TORNILLO ASSOCIATION NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION. AND WHEN WE LEARNED OF THIS ASSOCIATION, LIKE COMMISSIONER GAINES STATED, WE JUMPED INTO IT. WE JUMPED INTO IT QUICK, GOT INTO ACTION. SO WE LEARNED ABOUT THESE FUNDS AND WE TOOK ACTION AND JUMPED IN THERE AND APPLY AND APPLY FOR IT. AND THAT'S WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO GET. THIS MEMORIAL HERE IN TORNILLO WILL BE A GREAT MONUMENT, I AGREE.

AND THE LOCATION OF IT, AS YOU CAN SEE WHERE IT'S AT, THE LOCATION OF IT IS PERFECT AS YOU GO IN TO TORNILLO COMING IN FROM I-10, IT'S GOING TO BE VERY VISIBLE. AND WHEN YOU'RE LEAVING TORNILLO GOING UP BY TEN, IT'S GOING TO BE THERE, VERY VISIBLE THE SAME WAY. AND I DO APPRECIATE EVERYTHING THAT THE COUNTY HAS DONE AS FAR AS VETERANS, AS FAR AS VETERANS, YOU KNOW, WE ALL HAVE TO SUPPORT OUR VETERANS. THINK ABOUT OUR FOLKS THAT ACTUALLY PAID THE ULTIMATE PRICE. SO WE HAVE TO CONTINUE TO KEEP THEM IN OUR MINDS, KEEP THAT MESSAGE ALIVE.

WE NEED TO CONSTANTLY EDUCATE OUR YOUNG FOLKS, KEEP THE STORY TOGETHER, KEEP IT IN PLACE AND CONTINUE WITH IT. IT'S A MONUMENT. IT'S IT WOULD ACTUALLY SERVE AS AN EDUCATION TOOL BECAUSE IT WILL ALWAYS BE THERE. HISTORY WILL BE THERE, THE NAMES WILL BE THERE. AND TO ME, AS A VETERAN, I TAKE I TAKE A LOT OF PRIDE AND I WOULD SURE LIKE TO SEE THIS HAPPEN. THANKS AGAIN FOR YOUR GREAT SUPPORT, MR. PAEZ. THANK YOU FOR HIS ASSISTANCE. HE'S A GREAT PERSON IN HELPING OUT COMMISSIONERS. COUNTY JUDGE, I ASK YOU, I ASK FOR YOUR SUPPORT. THIS IS A VERY IMPORTANT PROJECT. LET'S LET'S KIND OF REMEMBER TORNILLO. LET'S NOT LET IT FALL BEHIND. WE'RE A SMALL COMMUNITY AND WE'RE TRYING TO MAKE IT. WE'RE TRYING TO MAKE IT STAND OUT, TRYING TO MAKE THE BEST OF IT. THAT'S REALLY ALL I HAVE TO SAY. THANK YOU. AND AS ELECTED OFFICIALS AND PUBLIC SERVANTS, I THINK WE OWE IT TO OUR VETERANS TO MAKE THAT POSSIBLE. KEEP THEM KEEP KEEP THE MESSAGE GOING, KEEP IT ALIVE. THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MARIO. THANK YOU. BECAUSE SOMETIMES, YOU KNOW, WE NEED PEOPLE TO KNOW, YOU KNOW, HOW IMPORTANT OUR VETERANS ARE.

THERE'S NO ONE BETTER TO ADVOCATE FOR THAT THAN OUR VETERANS. AND THESE PROJECTS REALLY IS A REASON THAT IT'S IT WAS EASY, YOU KNOW, TO FOR US TO SAY WE'RE THE VETERANS CAPITAL OF THE USA. IT'S HARD TO CHALLENGE THE THINGS THAT GENTLEMEN LIKE CARLOS RIVERA, WHAT THEY'VE DONE. I WAS A SATURDAY. I WAS AT THE VIETNAM 50TH ANNIVERSARY. THEY HAD THEY HONORED MY BROTHER AND ANOTHER JEFFERSON, RICARDO IBARRA. BUT IT'S ALWAYS ONGOING AND I DON'T SEE THAT IN ANY COMMUNITY. SO I THANK YOU FOR, YOU KNOW, BEING HERE, TAKING TIME OUT TO, TO, YOU KNOW, TO HELP US MAKE THESE DECISIONS. SO THANK YOU, MARIO. APPRECIATE IT. THANK YOU SIR.

[04:10:01]

ABSOLUTELY CLEANSED, HORIZON, MONTANA, VISTA, CANUTILLO. IT'S AMAZING OF THE OF THE SUPPORT THAT WE GET FROM THEM. WE HAVE MEETINGS AND THEY'RE THERE AND WE NEED HELP. JUST TAKE THE PHONE CALL AND THEY'RE RIGHT THERE. WE APPRECIATE THAT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU MARTY. MISTER RIVERA. YEP. WAS THAT CARLOS MIGUEL? BECAUSE I HAD NOT HEARD YOUR MIDDLE NAME, CARLOS MIGUEL RIVERA. OKAY. THANK YOU. A GREAT FRIEND AND MY PADRINO. MY PADRINO. HE KICKED ME INTO UNDERSTANDING THE VETERANS A LITTLE BIT MORE. SO, CARLOS, THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING THAT YOU DO. I THANK ALL OF YOU. AND FIRST OF ALL, I'M HERE AS PRESIDENT OF THE VIETNAM VETERANS OF AMERICA CHAPTER 574. BUT I'M ALSO A PAST NATIONAL COMMANDER FOR THE AMERICAN GI FORUM. AND. ALSO PRESIDENT AND FOUNDER OF LEGACY OF VALOR, A LOCAL VETERANS ORGANIZATION. BUT ONE OF THE PROJECTS THAT ARE MOST REALLY APPRECIATE THAT YOU ALL HELPED US OUT WITH BEFORE WAS THE BUILDING OF OUR VIETNAM VETERANS MEMORIAL. IN FACT, THIS YEAR IS THE 10TH YEAR SINCE WE ACTUALLY BUILT IT, AND I'M SURE MANY OF YOU WERE THERE BECAUSE I'VE SEEN YOU IN MANY OF OUR VETERANS EVENTS. SO I THANK YOU FOR ALL OF THAT. I'D LIKE TO SAY A COUPLE OF THINGS ABOUT OUR TORNILLO VETERANS IS I WAS TALKING HERE TO THE PRESIDENT. ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I MENTIONED IS THAT WE'RE ALL COTTON PICKERS. YOU KNOW, WE ALL GREW UP PICKING UP COTTON AND CLEANING SOCORRO FABENS, ZANELLI, TORNILLO. I MEAN, WE'RE ALL COTTON PICKERS. BUT IN ADDITION TO THAT, WE WERE ALSO ONION PICKERS. YOU KNOW, WE USED TO SPEND THE SUMMERS IN LAS CRUCES PICKING ONIONS. SO WE KNOW THE COUNTY FROM THE ONE SIDE OF THE COUNTY TO THE OTHER.

AND I REALLY APPRECIATE, YOU KNOW, THE WORK THAT YOU GUYS HAVE DONE. AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I MENTIONED TO OUR TEAM FROM TORNILLO IS THAT HE CAN COUNT ON THE SUPPORT OF OUR VIETNAM VETERANS COMMUNITY TO MAKE THIS HAPPEN. AND AS YOU ALL WERE SUPPORTIVE OF US WHEN WE BUILT OUR VIETNAM VETERANS MEMORIAL, I SAID, AND WE WILL MAKE THAT COMMITMENT TO THE TEAM FROM TORNILLO. WHAT I'D LIKE TO DO IS ALSO SAY THAT WE HAVE A SUPER COMMISSIONER THAT COVERS THAT AREA. I SAID, IT SEEMS LIKE EVERY TIME THAT I GO TO YSLETA, TO SOCORRO, TO CLINT, TO SANELLI, TO FABENS, TO TORNILLO COUNTY COMMISSIONER ELIANA OLGUIN IS THERE. AND I SAID, WE HAVE NEVER HAD A COUNTY COMMISSIONER THAT COVERED THAT DISTRICT LIKE YOU DID. AND I THANK YOU. SO ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I JUST WANT TO SAY IS THANK ALL OF YOU. I THANK THE TORNILLO TEAM BECAUSE THEY HAVE PUT A LOT OF WORK INTO IT. AND I THINK YOU'RE MAKING A WEIGHS A VERY WISE DECISION IN SUPPORTING THE TEAM. I SAID THAT WE'VE HAD WE HAVE MEMORIALS IN EL PASO. WE HAVE MEMORIALS IN CANUTILLO. WE HAVE MEMORIALS IN YSLETA IN SOCORRO. THE SOCORRO ONE IS COMING UP. YOU KNOW, WE JUST BROKE GROUND EARLIER THIS YEAR OR LAST YEAR. AND CLINT HAS HAD THEIR MEMORIAL AS WELL. AND LIKE I SAID, EVERY TIME I GO OUT THERE, YOU'RE THERE. AND I APPRECIATE THAT. AND NOW WHEN WE GO TO FABENS, I KNOW FABENS ALSO HAS THEIR PROGRAM. AND TO COVER TORNILLO, I SAID, WE'RE GOING TO BE COVERED FROM ONE SIDE OF THE COUNTY TO THE OTHER. AND I THANK ALL OF YOU. I SAID, I LOOK FORWARD TO PARTNERING WITH TORNILLO AND BRING ALL OUR VETERANS TO THE ORGANIZATIONS FROM THE CITY TO HELP US OUT. SO THANK YOU FOR THAT, AND THANK YOU FOR TAKING THE LEAD IN MAKING THIS HAPPEN. THANK YOU. THANK YOU CARLOS. APPRECIATE THAT. IF I COULD CONVEY A STATISTIC THAT GENERAL TAYLOR SAYS, THAT WHEN WE STARTED THE VETERANS CAPITAL AND SHOWING OUR COMMUNITY HOW IMPORTANT VETERANS ARE, WE USED TO HAVE ONE OF THE LOWEST RATES OF RECRUITS FROM EL PASO. WE ARE NOW THE NUMBER ONE RECRUITER INTO THE MILITARY OF ALL THE THROUGHOUT THE NATION. AND THE REASON FOR THAT IS THAT BECAUSE WE'RE NOW SHOWING OUR YOUNG PEOPLE HOW IMPORTANT IT IS, AND IF THEY COME BACK, THEY'RE GOING TO FEEL GOOD ABOUT BEING A VETERAN. AND I NEVER SAW THAT. HE TOOK IT TO ANOTHER LEVEL, SAID WHEN WE HAD LOW RECRUITMENT, WE ACTUALLY HAD A NATIONAL SECURITY RISKS. AND IF YOU DON'T HAVE ENOUGH PEOPLE TO

[04:15:02]

THAT'S A HIGHLY RECOMMENDATION. REY IS SO ACTIVE AND YOU KNOW WHAT HE DOES IN SAN ELIZARIO. SO IT'S A VERY GREAT RECOMMENDATION COMING FROM HIM. IS THERE ANYBODY ELSE THAT WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK IN PUBLIC COMMENT FOR THIS ITEM? WELCOME. GOOD AFTERNOON. COMMISSIONERS JUDGE ON BEHALF OF THE. SO I'M THE COMMANDER OF THE MILITARY ORDER OF THE PURPLE HEART LONE STAR CHAPTER 303 HERE IN EL PASO, TEXAS. I'M ALSO THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED AMERICAN VETERANS ORGANIZATION HERE IN EL PASO, TEXAS. AND I'D LIKE TO EXPRESS BOTH SUPPORT FOR TORNILLO VETERANS TO HAVE THIS MONUMENT, BECAUSE I'M TELLING YOU, THESE GUYS ARE WORKING HARD. THEY'RE GREAT VETERANS, AND I THINK THEY DESERVE THAT MONUMENT AS WELL. SO BOTH THOSE ORGANIZATIONS WILL ALSO SUPPORT THAT RECOMMENDATION. THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR TAKING THE TIME. THAT COMPLETES PUBLIC COMMENT FOR ITEM 11 A. JUDGE. JUDGE. YES. COMMISSIONER CORONADO, YOU KNOW, I THINK THIS THIS IS A GREAT PROJECT. I THINK BECAUSE THOUGH THE COUNTY IS THE VETERANS CAPITAL, I THINK ANYTIME THAT THE COUNTY IS CONSIDERING A PROJECT LIKE THIS RELATED TO VETERANS, THAT I THINK IT OUGHT TO GO THROUGH OUR VETERANS ADVISORY BOARD. SO GOING FORWARD, I'M GOING TO RECOMMEND THAT WE DO THAT. THEY COULD ALSO GET THE ASSISTANCE OF THE BAB AND MAKE THE PROJECT PROBABLY EVEN BETTER AND COORDINATE. AND SO I'M JUST SAYING I KNOW THIS IS A NEIGHBORHOOD PROBLEM, BUT IT'S ALSO A VETERANS PROJECT THAT I THINK CORRECTLY SHOULD GO THROUGH THE VALLEY FIRST BEFORE. GREAT. YEAH. IS FOR YEAH. THE VETERANS ADVISORY BOARD I KNOW IS GETTING GOING REALLY STRONG. AND I THINK, YOU KNOW, THEY COULD HAVE BEEN A LOT OF ASSISTANCE TO PROJECTS LIKE THESE. SO I'M JUST RECOMMENDING THAT THAT CAESAR. WE HAVE A MOTION FROM COMMISSIONER OLGUIN AND A SECOND FROM COMMISSIONER CORONADO. THE VOTING IS OPEN.

MOTION CARRIES. THANK YOU. CONGRATULATIONS. THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU. ITEM 11 B, PURSUANT TO SECTION 2.1.2 OF THE EL PASO COUNTY PROPERTY NAMING POLICY, DISCUSS AND TAKE

[B. Pursuant to Section 2.1.2 of the El Paso County Property Naming Policy, discuss and take appropriate action regarding the proposed naming of the skate park located within Agua Dulce Park in honor of Mr. Mario Navarro.  (CC PCT 3). Norma Rivera-Palacios, Deputy County Administrator, Public Works Department, 915-273-3330]

WE'LL HEAR, MR. FLORES. WE'LL HEAR REALLY QUICKLY FROM OUR PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR. AND THEN

[04:20:01]

THANK YOU. WELCOME. THANK YOU. GOOD AFTERNOON JUDGE. PLEASURE TO SEE YOU. AND I'LL JUST SAY I WAS READY TO JUMP UP, YOU KNOW, AND TALK ABOUT THE VETERANS TOO. IT'S AWESOME WHAT YOU ALL HAVE DONE. YOU KNOW, MY UNCLE WAS ONE OF YOUR VETERANS OF THE YEAR, BUT OKAY, I'M GOING TO GET OFF OF THAT ONE. BUT YOU ALL HAVE DONE AN OUTSTANDING JOB. CONGRATULATIONS ON HELPING THE VETERANS. WELL DESERVED. WELL THANK YOU, BUT YES, VERY SAD TO SAY. MY SON WAS KILLED AUGUST 29TH, 22, IN A VERY TRAGIC. HE WAS A CONDUCTOR FOR UNION PACIFIC RAILROAD AND IT WAS A DERAILMENT THAT THAT WAS ACTUALLY A VERY TRAGIC ACCIDENT AT THE HANDS OF SOME VERY CARELESS EMPLOYEES. SO WE THE FAMILY OF COURSE, ARE STILL DEVASTATED OVER IT, BUT THE COMMUNITY HAS WE HAVE HAD PEOPLE STRETCH OUT THEIR HANDS TO US ALL AROUND THE CITY, BECAUSE IT WAS AMAZING HOW MARIO KNEW PEOPLE. HE HAD ONE OF THOSE PERSONALITIES. HE WAS SIX FOUR, SO HE WAS ALREADY WALKING. THE ROOM WAS AN IMPRESSION, BUT HAD ONE OF THOSE SMILES THAT YOU GRAVITATED TO. AND HE LOVED KIDS, KIDS OF ALL AGES. HE'D SEE HIM AT THE SKATEBOARD, THEY'D GO TO CAROLINA, THEY'D GO, MATTER OF FACT, IN CENTRAL EL PASO, THERE IS A STREET CALLED POLLARD, AND THERE IS A LITTLE GRASS AREA, AND THE CITY NAMED THE GRASS AREA BECAUSE IT'S A PARK, NOT A PARK AFTER MARIO NAVARRO. AND ALL IT HAS IS A CEMENT DITCH THAT ACTUALLY BELONGS TO THE WATER COMPANY. KIDS SKATE THAT ALL THE TIME, AND MARIO WOULD BE OUT THERE TRYING TO GIVE. I DON'T KNOW IF YOU CALL THEM CLASSES, BUT SAFETY TIPS ON HOW TO SKATE A DITCH. AND HE SAID, MOM, YOU KNOW, THERE WERE SOME LITTLE KIDS JUST SITTING THERE WATCHING US. AND I'D SAY, COME ON, DUDE, GET UP HERE AND I DON'T HAVE A BOARD. AND HE'D SAY, COME TOMORROW, COME TOMORROW. AND MARIO WOULD TAKE OUT BOARDS. HE'D GO BY MAYBE NOT THE MOST EXPENSIVE, AND HE'D SHOW THEM HOW TO PUT IT TOGETHER. DON'T JUST GO BY A BOARD THAT'S ALREADY GOT THE WHEELS AND THE RODS AND EVERYTHING. HE'D BRING THE STUFF AND TELL A KID, COME, LET ME SHOW YOU HOW YOU'RE GOING TO FIX IT, HOW YOU'RE GOING TO ENJOY THIS FOR FROM NOW ON, DON'T JUST GO TO WALMART AND BUY ONE. THAT'S NOT FUN. YOU HAVE TO LEARN, IN OTHER WORDS, FROM THE SCRATCH UP ON HOW TO DO IT. AND THAT WAS MARIO. HE WAS ALWAYS WITH HIS CHILDREN. MY BEAUTIFUL GRANDSON, 14 YEAR OLD MADDOX, AND MY GRANDDAUGHTER MIA, 13, AND WAS ALWAYS MIA. MATTER OF FACT, SCATES MADDOX DIDN'T GET INTO IT. HE PLAYS GOLF, WHICH MY DAD, MARIO'S GRANDFATHER, STARTED HIM PLAYING GOLF AT FIVE YEARS OLD AND MARIO STARTED SKATING AT FIVE YEARS OLD ALSO.

SO IT WAS A LIFELONG LOVE. AND WHEN HE PASSED, THE IMPACT MARIO NAVARRO HAD WAS RECOGNIZED BY CONGRESSWOMAN ESCOBAR. SHE ELECTED TO FLY A FLAG OVER THE UNITED STATES CAPITOL IN HONOR OF MARIO. THE SIGNIFICANT GESTURE IS UNDERSCORED BY THE PROFOUND INFLUENCE MARIO HAD ON THE COMMUNITY AND BEYOND. IT SERVES AS A POWERFUL REMINDER OF THE DEDICATION, LEADERSHIP, AND LASTING LEGACY THAT MARIO LEAVES BEHIND. SO I RESPECTFULLY ASK YOU TO PLEASE CONSIDER NAMING

[04:25:05]

YES. BEFORE WE GO INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION, I'D LIKE TO READ IN ITEM NINE C FROM COUNTY ADMINISTRATION POSTPONED ON MARCH 17TH, 2025. DISCUSS AND CONSIDER ADOPTION OF A RESOLUTION OF THE COMMISSIONERS COURT OF EL PASO COUNTY, TEXAS, DIRECTING PUBLICATION OF NOTICE OF INTENTION TO ISSUE COMBINATION TAX AND SURPLUS REVENUE CERTIFICATES OF OBLIGATION IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $54 MILLION TO FUND STREET IMPROVEMENTS, UTILITY SYSTEM IMPROVEMENTS, FLOOD CONTROL IMPROVEMENTS, AND HVAC IMPROVEMENTS AT THE FAMILY YOUTH SERVICES CENTER, AND RESOLVING OTHER MATTERS RELATED TO THE SUBJECT. AND WE'D LIKE TO ASK FOR THIS ITEM TO BE TAKEN INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION. AND THAT IS PURSUANT TO TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE SECTION 551.071 TO DISCUSS LEGAL RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES. AND. WE HAVE A MOTION FROM COMMISSIONER OLGUIN AND A SECOND FROM COMMISSIONER BUTLER. THE VOTING IS OPEN.

MOTION CARRIES. COMMISSIONERS COURT WILL NOW RECESS INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION TO DISCUSS ITEMS 12 A THROUGH 12 H. ITEM NINE C AND 14 A PURSUANT TO TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE. SECTION 551.071551.07255, 1.0745 AND 551.087. COMMISSIONERS COURT WILL RECONVENE TO TAKE OFFICIAL ACTION. IT IS 1:58 P.M.

[12. EXECUTIVE SESSION Only the members of the Commissioners Court have a right to attend an executive session, except that legal counsel must be present if the executive session is held pursuant to Government Code section 551.071. In addition to legal counsel, Commissioners Court may include in executive session certain officers and employees if it finds that (1) their participation is necessary to the matter under consideration; (2) their interests are not adverse to the county, and (3) their presence will not waive the attorney client privilege. Generally, the Chief Administrator, Budget Executive Director, County Clerk's representatives, and County Auditor's Office representatives attend the closed session items based on the enumerated criteria, and certain other persons may attend based on the above-listed criteria or as otherwise provided by law.]

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