A. Approve and adopt a resolution recognizing April 13-19, 2025, as Public Safety Telecommunicators Week, in El Paso County, Texas. Jackie Butler, Commissioner, Precinct 1, 915-273-3594

[C. (Postponed 04/07/25) Approve and adopt a resolution recognizing Roger Argenis for his outstanding contributions to the local music community. Ricardo A. Samaniego, County Judge, County Judge's Office, 915-273-3591]

LITTLE WHILE. I JUST. IT'S SUCH IT'S SO SUCH A SPECIAL, YOU KNOW, OPPORTUNITY TO BE ABLE WE WE'RE OKAY NOW RIGHT. MICHELLE. WE'RE READY TO. YES, JUDGE. OKAY. BUT LIKE I SAID IT'S VERY SPECIAL BECAUSE, YOU KNOW THERE'S SO MANY THINGS AND WE'LL TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT IT. BUT WHEN AN INDIVIDUAL LIKE ROGER DOES SO MUCH FOR A COMMUNITY AND THEN COMES FROM COMES FROM JUAREZ, YOU KNOW, IN THESE TIMES WHEN WE'RE SORT OF THINKING ABOUT A LOT OF DIFFERENT THINGS THAT, YOU KNOW, ABOUT IMMIGRATION AND THE VALUE THAT WE PLACE ON IT, AND A LOT OF THE VALUE THAT WE DON'T PLACE ON THESE INCREDIBLE INDIVIDUALS THAT COME FROM FROM MEXICO AND OTHER COUNTRIES AND BECOME A GREAT CONTRIBUTOR. SO I'D LIKE TO READ THIS INTO THE RECORD, AND THEN I'LL HAVE ROGER BE ABLE TO TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT ALL HIS EXCITING THINGS THAT HE'S DOING. WHEREAS ROGER ARGENIS IS A GRAMMY WINNING PRODUCER, BILLBOARD CHARTING ARTIST, AND A VISIONARY MUSIC EDUCATOR WITH OVER 20 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE IN THE MUSIC INDUSTRY. OF COURSE, AS A FOUNDER OF SOUNDSTAGE NINE, ROGER HAS DEDICATED THE PAST DECADE TO FOSTERING MUSICAL TALENT AND PROVIDING INVALUABLE MENTORSHIP TO THOUSANDS OF ASPIRING MUSICIANS IN THE EL PASO CIUDAD JUAREZ REGION. WHEREAS THIS PAST JANUARY, ROGER CELEBRATED TEN YEARS OF SERVING THE COMMUNITY THROUGH SOUNDSTAGE NINE, A MILESTONE THAT HIGHLIGHTS HIS UNWAVERING COMMITMENT TO MUSIC EDUCATION AND ARTIST DEVELOPMENT. WHEREAS ROGER AGAIN HIS CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE MUSIC INDUSTRY EXTEND BEYOND EDUCATION, AS DEMONSTRATED BY HIS BILLBOARD CHARTING ALBUM HAPPY SAD, RELEASED IN 2023, WHICH SHOWCASED HIS ARTISTRY AND SONGWRITING PROWESS. WHEREAS HIS DEDICATION TO NURTURING YOUNG TALENT HAS LED TO FOUR GRAMMY NOMINATIONS, CULMINATING IN HIS FIRST GRAMMY WIN AT THE 2025 GRAMMY AWARDS FOR A PROJECT THAT FEATURED AN ELEVATED SOUNDSTAGE NINE STUDENTS. WHEREAS THROUGH HIS LEADERSHIP, SOUNDSTAGE NINE HAS BECOME A CORNERSTONE FOR ASPIRING MUSICIANS, BRIDGING MUSIC EDUCATION WITH REAL WORLD INDUSTRY EXPERIENCE AND MAKING A LASTING IMPACT ON THE CULTURAL AND ARTISTIC LANDSCAPE OF EL PASO. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED THAT THE COMMISSIONERS COURT OF EL PASO RECOGNIZE AND HONOR ROGER HAWKINS FOR HIS OUTSTANDING CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE LOCAL MUSIC COMMUNITY, HIS DEDICATION TO ARTIST DEVELOPMENT, AND HIS CONTINUED EFFORTS IN INSPIRING THE NEXT GENERATION OF MUSICIANS. SIGNED THIS 14TH DAY OF APRIL 2025, WE HAVE A MOTION FROM JUDGE SAMANIEGO AND A SECOND FROM COMMISSIONER STOUT. THE VOTING IS OPEN. COMMISSIONER CORONADO IS ABSENT AND THE MOTION CARRIES. ROGER, WOULD YOU LIKE YOUR WIFE JUST TO COME UP HERE? I KNOW SHE'S BUSY FILMING, SO I

[00:20:04]

DON'T KNOW IF SHE MIGHT HAVE TO PASS IT TO SOMEONE ELSE. HI. THANK YOU. ROGER. AND THEN IF YOU COULD INTRODUCE YOUR BEAUTIFUL CRYSTAL. CRYSTAL? SHE'S. YOU KNOW, I WROTE A LITTLE SPEECH, YOU KNOW, JUST TO SHARE A LITTLE BIT OF WHAT'S IN MY HEART AND. BUT. YEAH, THIS IS MY WIFE. SHE'S A THE FORCE BEHIND, YOU KNOW, OR NOT EVEN BEHIND, BUT BESIDE ME, YOU KNOW, SHE'S. I WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO BE HERE IF IT WASN'T FOR ALL OF HER SUPPORT AND THE PEOPLE IN THIS ROOM AS WELL, THAT THAT ARE HERE WITH ME, YOU KNOW, THEY'RE VERY THEY'RE MY PILLARS. THEY'RE ESSENTIAL TO EVERYTHING THAT THAT WE DO. BUT THANK YOU. COUNTY JUDGE SAMANIEGO AND COMMISSIONERS, I WANT TO EXPRESS WHAT AN INCREDIBLE HONOR IT IS TO BE HERE TODAY, RECEIVING THIS RECOGNITION FROM THE PLACE I WILL ALWAYS PROUDLY CALL HOME FOR THIS. THANK YOU FOR THIS MOMENT. IT MEANS MORE TO ME THAN I CAN EVER PUT INTO WORDS. I'VE SPENT MOST OF MY LIFE CHASING THE DREAM. A DREAM THAT STARTED IN A SMALL ROOM WITH A GUITAR IN MY HANDS AND MUSIC IN MY HEART.

AND LIKE SO MANY ARTISTS, I HAD NO MAP. JUST FAITH, FIRE, AND THE LOVE OF THE PEOPLE AROUND ME. TO MY PARENTS, THANK YOU FOR BELIEVING IN ME WHEN ALL I HAD WAS A VISION. THANK YOU FOR NEVER ASKING ME TO BE ANYTHING OTHER THAN MYSELF. YOU GIVE ME THE SPACE TO DREAM BIG AND THE COURAGE TO PURSUE IT. TO MY WIFE, CRYSTAL, YOU ARE MY GREATEST, GREATEST BLESSING.

YOU'VE STOOD BESIDE ME THROUGH EVERY CHALLENGE. EVERY NIGHT, EVERY LATE NIGHT, EVERY RISK.

AND EVERY HIGH AND LOW. YOU'VE DREAMED WITH ME, YOU'VE CRIED WITH ME AND CELEBRATED EVERY WIN AS IF IT WERE YOUR OWN. YOUR LOVE HAS BEEN THE LIGHT GUIDING ME FORWARD. AND TO MY THREE BOYS, NATHANIEL, LIAM AND ZAYN. YOU ARE MY WHY. EVERYTHING I DO IS TO SHOW YOU THAT WITH PASSION, DISCIPLINE AND HEART YOU CAN BUILD SOMETHING FROM NOTHING. I HOPE YOU ALWAYS CHASE YOUR DREAMS WITH EVERYTHING YOU'VE GOT. TO MY TEAM AT SOUNDSTAGE NINE. THANK YOU FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART. YOU ARE THE SOUL OF THIS PLACE. EVERY LATE NIGHT, EVERY REHEARSAL, EVERY MOMENT YOU'VE POURED INTO OUR STUDENTS. AND OUR MISSION HAS NOT GONE UNNOTICED. YOU'VE BUILT MORE THAN A MUSIC SCHOOL. YOU'VE HELPED CREATE A SANCTUARY, A SECOND HOME, A PLACE WHERE DREAMS ARE NOT JUST ENCOURAGED, BUT BROUGHT TO LIFE. THROUGH EVERY CHALLENGE YOU'VE SHOWN UP, YOU'VE GIVEN ME MORE THAN YOUR TIME, OR YOU'VE GIVEN MORE THAN YOUR TIME. YOU'VE GIVEN YOUR HEART, YOUR LOVE, YOUR RESILIENCE, AND YOUR BELIEF IN WHAT WE DO HAVE BEEN THE DRIVING FORCE BEHIND EVERY SUCCESS WE'VE ACHIEVED. I AM HONORED TO STAND WITH YOU, TO LEARN FROM YOU, AND TO BUILD WITH YOU. THIS RECOGNITION IS FOR ALL OF US BECAUSE WITHOUT YOU, NONE OF THIS WOULD BE POSSIBLE. I LOVE AND APPRECIATE EVERY ONE OF YOU MORE THAN WORDS CAN EVER EXPRESS. TEN YEARS AGO, SOUNDSTAGE NINE WAS JUST AN IDEA, A HOPE TO BUILD SOMETHING THAT DIDN'T EXIST IN OUR CITY. A SPACE WHERE KIDS COULD NOT ONLY LEARN MUSIC BUT LIVE IT, LOVE IT, AND BELIEVE IN THEMSELVES THROUGH IT. TODAY, THAT IDEA HAS TOUCHED THE LIVES OF THOUSANDS OF STUDENTS FROM EL PASO AND JUAREZ AREA, STUDENTS WHO TALK, STUDENTS WHO WALK THROUGH OUR DOORS WITH FEAR AND LEAVE WITH FIRE. STUDENTS WHO REMIND ME EVERY DAY WHY I KEEP GOING EVEN WHEN IT'S HARD. THIS PAST SATURDAY, I WATCHED SOME OF THEM TAKE THE STAGE AND IT HIT ME ALL OVER AGAIN. THIS IS WHY WE DO WHAT WE DO. IT'S NOT ABOUT THE SPOTLIGHT OR THE STAGES. IT'S ABOUT CREATING A SPACE WHERE YOUNG PEOPLE FIND THEIR VOICE AND THEIR WORTH. WINNING A GRAMMY THIS YEAR WAS A DREAM COME TRUE. BUT IT WASN'T JUST A WIN FOR ME. IT WAS A WIN FOR OUR STUDENTS, FOR OUR CITY, FOR EVERY KID WHO HAS EVER DARED TO DREAM BIG IN A PLACE WHERE THE ODDS FEEL STACKED AGAINST THEM, THE MOMENT, THAT MOMENT SHOWED THE WORLD THAT WE WHAT WE ALREADY KNEW, THAT GREATNESS LIVES HERE. TO THE COUNTY OF EL PASO. THANK YOU FOR RECOGNIZING THE POWER OF MUSIC, THE VALUE OF EDUCATION, AND THE HEART OF THIS COMMUNITY. THIS RESOLUTION IS NOT JUST A RECOGNITION OF THE PAST. IT'S A REMINDER OF WHAT IS STILL POSSIBLE. THANK YOU FOR BELIEVING ME IN THIS DREAM AND WHAT WE'RE BUILDING TOGETHER. WE'RE JUST GETTING STARTED. I ALSO WANT TO TAKE A MOMENT TO THANK MY FRIEND LUPITA CABRERA FOR HELPING THIS AND MAKE THIS HAPPEN. SO THANK YOU GUYS SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME AND FOR THIS RECOGNITION. THANK YOU. SEE WHY HE WINS GRAMMYS. YOU CAN TELL, RIGHT? THANK YOU. THANK YOU, AND THANK YOU FOR ALWAYS RECOGNIZING OTHERS THAT HAVE HELPED YOU. BUT I'M SO GLAD THAT WE HAVE ALL THESE YOUNG PEOPLE HERE, BECAUSE EACH ONE OF YOU HAS A DREAM, AND YOU CAN EITHER DETERMINE THAT YOU'RE NOT GOING TO REACH IT, OR

[00:25:05]

YOU'RE GOING TO LISTEN TO SOMEONE LIKE ROGER. THAT WENT THROUGH A VERY DIFFICULT TIME TO BE ABLE TO ACHIEVE THAT, THAT AMAZING DREAM. AND SO I HOPE THAT THAT YOU REMEMBER THAT TODAY, BECAUSE THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR YOU NOT TO JUST HEAR ABOUT SOMEONE OUT THERE, BUT SOMEONE THAT'S RIGHT IN FRONT OF YOU. AND I'M VERY GLAD THAT IT WORKED OUT THIS WAY, THAT WE HAVE THIS INCREDIBLE CHEERLEADERS TEAM THAT ALSO VERY HIGH ACHIEVERS THAT DID SOME GREAT SUCCESS. BUT ROGER, THANK YOU AGAIN. AS I SAID EARLIER, THIS IDEA OF ROLE MODELING IS SO IMPORTANT RIGHT NOW BECAUSE PEOPLE ARE VERY CONFUSED. YOUR UNCERTAINTY, THEY DON'T KNOW WHICH WAY TO GO. AND PEOPLE SORT OF HAVE GIVEN UP A LITTLE BIT ON THEIR DREAMS. SO WE GOT A LITTLE BIT OF WHIPLASH FROM THE PANDEMIC AND COMING OUT OF IT, IT TAKES TIME. BUT LIKE I SAID, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE A BEAUTIFUL COMMUNITY. THANK YOU FOR PUTTING US ON THE MAP. YOU BECOME AN AMBASSADOR. AND WE SAID EARLIER WE NEED AMBASSADORS BECAUSE ALL THESE OTHER NARRATIVES AND I ALWAYS SAY, THESE ARE PEOPLE THAT DON'T KNOW WHO WE ARE. AND IT'S AN INDIVIDUAL LIKE ROGER THAT SHOWS THE WORLD WHO WE REALLY ARE, BECAUSE HE'S A PRODUCT OF THIS REGION AND THE BEAUTIFUL COMBINATION. I MEAN, I JUST LOVE THE COMBINATION OF BEING FROM JUAREZ NOW HERE IN EL PASO, AND IT COMES TOGETHER AND IT'S AN INCREDIBLE, INCREDIBLE EXAMPLE FOR WHO WE ARE HERE IN EL PASO. I DON'T KNOW IF YOUR PARENTS OR ANYONE WOULD LIKE TO SAY A FEW WORDS ON YOUR BEHALF.

YOU'RE VERY WELCOME. I'M NOT SURE. NO. SEND THEM A HUG. OH, GOOD. THIS IS MY DAD. OH, EXCELLENT. HI, DAD. GRACIAS POR LA OPORTUNIDAD. A MI HIJO DE PRESENTARSE AQUI. NO MAS. ME SIENTO MUY ORGULLOSO DE TODO LO VA A HACER TODO AQUI EN EL PASO PARA USTEDES DOS LA FRUTA. LEJOS DEL ARBOL. SO EL ÉXITO DE ÉL. ES PARTE DE USTEDES. EL AMOR HAN DADO E POR ESO SER PADRE ALGUNA RESPONSABILIDAD MUY GRANDE. PERO SABEMOS CASEY SAMURAI CARINO ESTEBAN FRUTOS. SO MUCHAS GRACIAS POR USTEDES. POR SU HIJO. UNA GRAN PERSONA GRANDE CORAZON OKAY MUCHO MAS ÉXITO.

YOU HAVEN'T SEEN ANYTHING YET. THIS IS THE BEGINNING OF AN INCREDIBLE CAREER. AND LIKE I SAID, YOU BECOME AN AMBASSADOR. THE MORE YOU GAIN, THE MORE A COMMUNITY GAINS. SO ONCE AGAIN, THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU, THANK YOU. JUDGE, IF YOU COULD COME UP, WE'LL TAKE A PICTURE WITH YOU.

AND.

THEN YOU CAN. THANK YOU.

[00:30:11]

OKAY. MICHELLE. ITEM FIVE A APPROVE AND ADOPT A RESOLUTION RECOGNIZING APRIL 13TH THROUGH 19TH, 2025 AS PUBLIC SAFETY TELECOMMUNICATIONS WEEK IN EL PASO COUNTY, TEXAS. GOOD

[A. Approve and adopt a resolution recognizing April 13-19, 2025, as Public Safety Telecommunicators Week, in El Paso County, Texas. Jackie Butler, Commissioner, Precinct 1, 915-273-3594]

MORNING, MR. BUTLER. GOOD MORNING EVERYONE. GOOD MORNING, JUDGE AND COMMISSIONERS. I WANT TO ASK SHERIFF. COMMAND STAFF AND LAYLA TO JOIN US AT THE FRONT.

I'M HONORED TO BRING THIS RESOLUTION RECOGNIZING PUBLIC SAFETY, TELECOMMUNICATIONS WEEK AND EL PASO COUNTY FORWARD. THIS WEEK IS ABOUT SHINING A LIGHT ON THE OFTEN UNSUNG HEROES IN OUR PUBLIC SAFETY SYSTEM. OUR 911 DISPATCHERS AND COMMUNICATIONS PROFESSIONALS. THESE INDIVIDUALS ARE THE CALM VOICES IN THE MIDDLE OF CHAOS. THEY ARE THE FIRST FIRST RESPONDERS, THE ONES WHO PICK UP THE CALL WHEN SOMEONE IS EXPERIENCING PERHAPS THE WORST MOMENT OF THEIR LIVES.

THIS RESOLUTION, WHICH I'M ABOUT TO READ, IS JUST A SMALL WAY FOR US TO SAY THANK YOU AND TO RECOGNIZE YOUR HARD WORK AND SACRIFICES, AND TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE INCREDIBLE IMPACT OF THE STRESS THEY ENDURE AND THE LIVES THAT THEY HELP TO SAVE. IT'S A REMINDER THAT BEHIND EVERY SIREN AND EVERY EMERGENCY RESPONSE, THERE IS A VOICE GUIDING US TO SAFETY. I'LL GO AHEAD AND READ THE RESOLUTION AND THEN WE'LL. WHEREAS THE MEN AND WOMEN SERVING AS PUBLIC SAFETY TELECOMMUNICATORS 91911. OPERATORS, DISPATCHERS AND OTHER COMMUNICATION SPECIALISTS ARE DEDICATED TO SAVING LIVES. AND WHEREAS THESE PROFESSIONALS, THE UNSUNG FIRST RESPONDERS, UNSEEN FIRST RESPONDERS PROVIDE CRITICAL ASSISTANCE TO TEXANS IN TIMES OF GREAT NEED AND THEIR SPECIALIZED SKILLS AND CALM PRESENCE ARE INVALUABLE TO THE LONE STAR STATE. AND WHEREAS, THE COMMISSION ON STATE EMERGENCY COMMUNICATIONS WORKS WITH LOCAL AND STATE GOVERNMENTS TO ENSURE RELIABLE ACCESS TO EMERGENCY TELECOMMUNICATION SERVICES. AND WHEREAS, TO HIGHLIGHT THE INVALUABLE ROLE OF PUBLIC SAFETY TELECOMMUNICATORS, THE COMMISSION ANNUALLY DESIGNATES A WEEK IN APRIL FOR AN AWARENESS CAMPAIGN. AND WHEREAS ALL RESIDENTS OF EL PASO ARE ENCOURAGED TO EXTEND THEIR APPRECIATION TO PUBLIC SAFETY TELECOMMUNICATORS THEIR DILIGENT EFFORTS ENSURE THAT HELP IS ON THE WAY WHEN WE NEED IT MOST. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED THAT THE EL PASO COUNTY JUDGE AND COMMISSIONERS COURT HEREBY RECOGNIZE AND CELEBRATE THE WEEK OF APRIL 13TH THROUGH APRIL 19TH AS PUBLIC SAFETY TELECOMMUNICATIONS WEEK IN EL PASO COUNTY, SIGNED THIS 14TH DAY OF APRIL 2025. WE HAVE A MOTION FROM COMMISSIONER BUTLER AND A SECOND FROM JUDGE SAMANIEGO. THE VOTING IS OPEN. COMMISSIONER CORONADO IS ABSENT.

THE MOTION CARRIES. SHERIFF, IS THIS A FIRST TIME UP? YES. GOOD MORNING. BUENOS DIAS. GOOD MORNING, COUNTY JUDGE. COMMISSIONERS OSCAR UGARTE, COUNTY SHERIFF. FIRST OF ALL, I WANT TO THANK COMMISSIONER BUTLER FOR PUTTING THIS RESOLUTION TOGETHER AND COMMISSIONERS COURT FOR TAKING THE TIME AS WELL. TODAY IS A PUBLIC SAFETY TELECOMMUNICATORS WEEK, AND IT'S VERY IMPORTANT, YOU KNOW, BECAUSE EVERY CALL, EVERY DISPATCH THAT GOES OUT THERE, OUR DISPATCHERS ARE THE LIFELINE FOR THIS COMMUNITY. YOU KNOW, THEY'RE CALM DURING CHAOS.

THEY MAKE SURE THAT OUR DEPUTIES AND OUR FIRST RESPONDERS HAVE THE CORRECT INFORMATION TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY'RE SAFE OUT THERE. YOU KNOW, THEY ARE THE LIFELINE FOR OUR COMMUNITY. AND SOMETIMES IN THE LAW ENFORCEMENT COMMUNITY, WE FORGET ABOUT THEM BECAUSE THEY'RE ALWAYS BEHIND THE SCENES. BUT THIS IS THE FIRST PERSON THAT OUR COMMUNITY ACTUALLY GETS TO SPEAK TO, YOU KNOW, AND THEY MAKE A DIFFERENCE FOR THIS COMMUNITY. SO I WANT TO THANK COMMISSIONERS COURT FOR TAKING THE TIME TO RECOGNIZING. AND WE HAVE A NEW SUPERVISOR FOR OUR DISPATCH DEPARTMENT GOT PROMOTED DURING OUR ADMINISTRATION. AND IT'S MISS LAYLA MELENDEZ. SO SHE HAS A FEW WORDS. THANK YOU. THANK YOU SHERIFF. THANK YOU SHERIFF. THANK YOU JUDGE COMMISSIONERS FOR THIS RESOLUTION AND FOR RECOGNIZING THE WORK WE DO AT THE 911 COMMUNICATIONS TEAM.

LIKE THE SHERIFF SAID, MY NAME IS LAYLA MELENDEZ. I AM THE COMMUNICATIONS MANAGER FOR THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE. OUR DISPATCHERS ARE OFTEN THE FIRST PEOPLE SOMEONE SPEAK TO IN AN EMERGENCY LIKE WE ALREADY KNOW. AND THEIR CALM VOICE WHEN PEOPLE ARE SCARED OF THE ONES WHO GATHER, THEY'RE THE ONES WHO GATHER CRUCIAL INFORMATION AND THEY'RE THE LINK, LIKE WE KNOW BETWEEN THE COMMUNITY AND THE FIRST RESPONDERS HEADED THEIR WAY. THIS JOB IS VERY DEMANDING.

IT REQUIRES FOCUS, PATIENCE, AND THE ABILITY TO STAY FOCUSED NO MATTER WHAT'S COMING THROUGH THE LINE. AND OUR TEAM RISES TO THE CHALLENGE EVERY SINGLE TIME. ON BEHALF OF OUR TELECOMMUNICATIONS DEPARTMENT, WE WANT TO THANK YOU FOR TAKING THE TIME TO ACKNOWLEDGE THEIR DEDICATION AND FOR SUPPORTING THE WORK THAT THEY DO. THANK YOU. DO YOU WANT TO INTRODUCE YOURSELVES, PLEASE? JORGE CARDENAS, COMMANDER, SUPPORT SERVICES. JORGE. GOOD MORNING. EMMANUEL SORIA, CHIEF

[00:35:09]

DEPUTY FOR THE LAW ENFORCEMENT. THANK YOU. GOOD MORNING. CHIEF. DEPUTY PATRICK GAILEY, IN CHARGE OF DETENTION. THANK YOU. I'M ANGELIKA DELA CRUZ, TELECOMMUNICATOR. I'M STEPHANIE, ONE OF THE DISPATCHERS. I'M JANET ESTRADA, TELECOMMUNICATOR. THANK YOU. GOOD MORNING. RUBEN SORIA, COMMANDER FOR THE PATROL DIVISION. THANK YOU. GOOD MORNING, COMMANDER JEROME WASHINGTON, CRIMINAL INVESTIGATIONS DIVISION. GOOD MORNING, LIEUTENANT ANDRE.

RIGHT. SUPPORT SERVICES. LIEUTENANT. THANK YOU. LIEUTENANT, THIS IS WAS AT THE POINT WHERE I WOULD TURN AROUND TO MY RIGHT AND LOOK AT COMMISSIONER LEON. CHIEF. AND, YOU KNOW, HE JUST SHOWED US THE TREMENDOUS APPRECIATION FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT, BUT WAS ALSO VERY FOCUSED ON WHAT YOU JUST SAID, AND THAT IS THAT YOU GET THAT FIRST CALL. AND WHEN YOU GET THAT FIRST CALL, IF IT'S NOT HANDLED PROPERLY, IT COULD CREATE PEOPLE GETTING NERVOUS.

IT COULD CREATE, YOU KNOW, IT COULD CHANGE THINGS, BUT YOU ALWAYS REMAIN CALM. YOU TRY TO DO THE BEST THAT YOU CAN, TRY TO STAY IN LINE WITH WHO'S WHO'S THERE. AND YOU'RE ABSOLUTELY RIGHT, SHERIFF, THAT IT'S YOU'RE THE FIRST CALL. SO WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT FIRST RESPONDERS, YOU'RE THERE. YOU'RE THAT FIRST RESPONDERS. AND SO I'M VERY APPRECIATIVE OF THAT SOMETIMES HERE FOR OUR AUDIENCE THAT THERE ARE CERTAIN INDIVIDUALS THAT WE NEVER HEAR ABOUT THAT YOU DON'T KNOW ABOUT. SO WE'RE ALWAYS VERY PRIVILEGED AS PART OF THE COMMISSIONER'S COURT TO LET PEOPLE KNOW WHO NEEDS TO BE APPRECIATED. AND THIS IS A GROUP OF INDIVIDUALS THAT VERY FEW PEOPLE UNDERSTAND UNTIL THEY'RE ON THAT CALL, AND THEN THEY REALIZE HOW IMPORTANT THAT CALL IS AND HOW IMPORTANT IT IS TO BE ABLE TO FEEL THAT CALMNESS, TO BE ABLE TO KNOW THAT THINGS ARE GOING TO BE BETTER, BUT BY MAKING THAT THAT CALL. SO WE THANK YOU FOR PART OF COMMISSIONERS COURT, BUT I HOPE THAT THE COMMUNITY UNDERSTANDS AS WELL HOW IMPORTANT THE ROLE THAT YOU PLAY. AND, SHERIFF, THANK YOU FOR RECOGNIZING THAT YOU HAVE AN AMAZING TEAM AS WELL. SO THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING HERE TODAY AND HONORING THESE INCREDIBLE INDIVIDUALS. SO, COMMISSIONER BUTLER, NO, JUST THANK YOU AGAIN, SHERIFF, AND HAVING ALL OF YOUR COMMAND STAFF HERE REALLY DEMONSTRATES THE IMPORTANCE THAT YOU FEEL ABOUT SUPPORTING OUR TELECOMMUNICATORS. THANK YOU ALL FOR WHAT YOU DO EVERY DAY FOR OUR COMMUNITY. WE REALLY COULDN'T BE SAFE WITHOUT YOU. SO THANK YOU FOR THE ROLE THAT YOU PLAY. THANK YOU, COMMAND STAFF FOR BEING HERE. I'M NOT COMMISSIONER LEON, BUT I APPRECIATE THE STRONG RELATIONSHIP THAT I HAVE WITH OUR SHERIFF AND THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT. SO. SO THANK YOU AGAIN FOR THE HONOR. YOU CARRY THAT WITH YOU AT YOUR HEART. SO THANK YOU. WELL, TAKE A PICTURE.

YEAH, IT'S.

100 AND. IT IS. THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING.

AND.

[00:40:27]

ITEM FIVE BE APPROVED. ADOPTED. RESOLUTION. RECOGNIZING AND CELEBRATING THE AMERICAS HIGH SCHOOL ADVANCED COED COMPETITION CHEERLEADING TEAM IN EL PASO COUNTY, TEXAS. BRING YOUR TEAM.

[B. Approve and adopt a resolution recognizing and celebrating the Americas High School Advanced CoEd Competition Cheerleading Team in El Paso County, Texas. Ricardo A. Samaniego, County Judge, County Judge's Office, 915-273-3591]

COME ON EVERYBODY.

OR ANY OF THE PARENTS HERE BECAUSE THEY'RE WELCOME TO BRING THEM UP HERE. YEAH.

WELL, THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. I'LL READ THE RESOLUTION AND THEN WE'LL HEAR FROM YOU. WAS THE AMERICAS HIGH SCHOOL ADVANCED COED COMPETITION CHEERLEADING TEAM HAS MADE HISTORY AS THE SCHOOL'S FIRST LARGE ADVANCED COED CHEER TEAM, CONSISTING OF EIGHT MALES AND 12 FEMALE STUDENTS. ATHLETES WHO EXEMPLIFY DEDICATION, TEAMWORK, AND SCHOOL SPIRIT. WHEREAS THE TEAM IS COMPOSED OF WELL-ROUNDED STUDENTS WHO ACTIVELY PARTICIPATE IN A VARIETY OF EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES AND ACADEMIC PROGRAMS, INCLUDING FOOTBALL, WELDING, BAND, DECA, AND BIOMEDICAL STUDIES. DEMONSTRATING THEIR COMMITMENT TO BOTH ATHLETIC AND ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE. WHEREAS THIS TEAM MAINTAINS AN IMPRESSIVE COMBINED GPA OF 3.5, REFLECTING THEIR ABILITY TO BALANCE RIGOROUS COURSEWORK, ATHLETIC TRAINING, AND EXTRACURRICULAR INVOLVEMENT WHILE EXCELLING IN ALL AREAS. WHEREAS WITH THE STRONG SUPPORT OF AMERICA'S HIGH SCHOOL ADMINISTRATION AND THE SOCORRO INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT'S ATHLETIC DEPARTMENT, THESE STUDENT ATHLETES HAVE BEEN GIVEN THE OPPORTUNITY TO TRAIN, COMPETE, AND REPRESENT THEIR SCHOOL AND COMMUNITY WITH DISTINCTION, WHEREAS THROUGH PERSEVERANCE, DISCIPLINE, AND UNMATCHED TALENT, THE AMERICAS HIGH SCHOOL ADVANCED COED CHEERLEADING TEAM HAS EARNED FIRST PLACE AT THE ULTIMATE CITY CHAMPIONSHIP, PROVIDING THEMSELVES AS ONE OF THE TOP CHEERLEADING TEAMS IN THE REGION. WHEREAS THE TEAM MOST RECENTLY TRAVELED TO ORLANDO, FLORIDA, WHERE THEY SHOWCASED THEIR EXCEPTIONAL SKILLS ON A NATIONAL PLATFORM AND PROUDLY SECURED FIRST PLACE AT THE PRESTIGIOUS AMERICA'S CUP CHAMPIONSHIP, BRINGING GREAT HONOR TO THEIR SCHOOL DISTRICT AND THE ENTIRE EL PASO COMMUNITY. WHEREAS THESE STUDENT ATHLETES SERVE AS LEADERS AND ROLE MODELS FOR THEIR PEERS, EMBODYING THE VALUES OF ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE, LEADERSHIP, AND COMMITMENT, INSPIRING FUTURE GENERATIONS OF STUDENTS TO PURSUE BOTH ATHLETIC AND ACADEMIC SUCCESS WITH THE COMMISSIONERS COURT RECOGNIZES THE COMMUNITY'S VITAL ROLE IN SUPPORTING THE TEAM'S GROWTH AND SUCCESS, GIVEN THE RESOURCES REQUIRED FOR TRAINING, TRAVEL, UNIFORMS, AND COMPETITION EXPENSES AS THEY CONTINUE TO MAKE AMERICA'S HIGH SCHOOL, THE SOCORRO INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT, AND THE ENTIRE REGION, VERY PROUD. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED THAT THE COMMISSIONERS COURT OF EL PASO HEREBY RECOGNIZES AND COMMENDS THE AMERICAS HIGH SCHOOL ADVANCED COED COMPETITION CHEERLEADING TEAM FOR THEIR HISTORIC ACHIEVEMENT, CONGRATULATES THEM TO ON THEIR RECENT VICTORIES, AND EXPRESSES ITS FULL SUPPORT FOR THEIR CONTINUED SUCCESS IN FUTURE COMPETITIONS. SIGNED THIS 14TH DAY OF APRIL 2025, WE HAVE A MOTION FROM JUDGE SAMANIEGO AND A SECOND FROM COMMISSIONER HOLGUIN. THE VOTING IS OPEN. AND THE MOTION CARRIES NO PROBLEM.

COMMISSIONER, I DIDN'T SEE YOU. I'M SORRY. THAT'S OKAY. WE'RE WAITING FOR YOU. SO THANK YOU.

GO AHEAD. AND IF YOU COULD TELL US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE COMPETITION. GREAT PARENTS, BY THE WAY, THAT ARE VERY SUPPORTIVE OF WHAT YOU'RE DOING. YES. THANK YOU. GOOD MORNING, JUDGE SAMANIEGO, COMMISSIONERS BUTLER, STOUT, HOLGUIN AND CORONADO. MY NAME IS EMILE CHAPARRO. I AM THE FINE ARTS DEPARTMENT CHAIR, TECHNICAL DIRECTOR AND ASSISTANT CHEER COACH AT AMERICAS HIGH SCHOOL. I ALSO SERVE THIS COMMUNITY ON THE EL PASO COUNTY HISTORICAL COMMISSION. EXCELLENT. YEAH. THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH FOR HAVING US HERE TODAY. WE, OF COURSE, ARE VERY HONORED TO BE INVITED AND TO RECEIVE THIS HONOR. AND WE ARE VERY HUMBLED TO BE

[00:45:06]

REPRESENTING OUR CAMPUS DISTRICT AND OUR CHEERLEADING COMMUNITY HERE IN EL PASO. SO AS WE HEARD IN THE RESOLUTION, OUR TEAM HAS BEEN VERY SUCCESSFUL THROUGHOUT THE YEAR. THEY HAVE PLACED FIRST IN EVERY COMPETITION THIS YEAR, INCLUDING HERE REGIONALLY, MOST RECENTLY AT SAW, WHICH IS A REGIONAL CONTEST. AND OF COURSE, AT NATIONALS, WE PLACED FIRST IN OUR DIVISION AT THE AMERICA'S CUP CONTEST, WHICH WAS HELD IN ORLANDO, FLORIDA. AND THAT WAS IN FEBRUARY. IN ADDITION TO SOME OF THE ACADEMIC PROGRAMS, MANY OF OUR ATHLETES ON THIS TEAM ARE MULTIPLE SPORT ATHLETES. SO THEY WE DO HAVE FOOTBALL PLAYERS, WE DO HAVE TRACK. SO WE HAVE VERY WELL-ROUNDED ATHLETES, BUT ALSO THEY ARE SUCCESSFUL IN THE CLASSROOM. I THINK COACH SAID THAT AS OF VERY RECENTLY, THE COMBINED GPA HAS ACTUALLY GONE UP TO A 3.8. SO THESE STUDENTS ARE STUDENTS FIRST AND THEY ARE MODEL STUDENTS WHO ALSO REPRESENT OUR ACADEMIC PROGRAMS, SUCH AS LIBERTAS, WHICH IS OUR LAW MAGNET AT AMERICA'S HIGH SCHOOL, EARLY COLLEGE, FINE ARTS, WELDING, WHAT ELSE? OH, AND BIOMEDICAL. RIGHT. SO A LOT OF OUR STUDENTS, OF COURSE, BEING SUCCESSFUL ON CAMPUS AND BEING READY TO FURTHER HELP OUT THEIR COMMUNITY AS THEY GO ON TO COLLEGE, WE DO HAVE, AS YOU SAID, SOME AMAZING, SUPPORTIVE PARENTS WITHOUT WHOM WE WOULD NOT BE IN THIS ROOM RIGHT NOW.

SO WE DO WANT TO TAKE A MOMENT TO RECOGNIZE OUR PARENTS WHO ARE HERE AND THOSE WHO COULD NOT BE WITH US TODAY BECAUSE THEIR SUPPORT THROUGHOUT THIS ENTIRE COMPETITION SEASON HAS BEEN INVALUABLE AT THE DISTRICT LEVEL. JUST TO NAME A COUPLE OF REALLY SUPPORTIVE INDIVIDUALS.

MR. NUNN IS THE FINE ARTS ATHLETIC DIRECTOR WHO IS EXTREMELY SUPPORTIVE OF THE CHEER PROGRAMS AT OUR CAMPUS AND THROUGHOUT THE DISTRICT, AND, OF COURSE, OUR INTERIM SUPERINTENDENT, MR. JAMES VASQUEZ, ON CAMPUS. MR. NOEL ROBLES IS OUR ATHLETIC COORDINATOR, WHO HAS ALSO BEEN VERY INSTRUMENTAL FOR CAMPUS SUPPORT. OUR ATHLETIC ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL, MISS JOY WOODARD, AND OF COURSE, OUR PRINCIPAL, MISS NANCY TORRES, WHOSE SUPPORT HAS REALLY LAID THE FOUNDATION FOR A LOT OF OUR SUCCESS. AND AS I SAID, I AM THE ASSISTANT CHEER COACH, OUR HEAD CHEER COACH, MISS VERONICA GARCIA, UNFORTUNATELY COULD NOT BE HERE TODAY. SHE IS CHAPERONING ANOTHER ATHLETIC EVENT, BUT SHE DID ALSO WANT ME TO EXPRESS, ON BEHALF OF MYSELF AND HER, HER HEARTFELT GRATITUDE AND HER LOVE AND APPRECIATION FOR ALL OF THE STUDENTS THAT YOU SEE BEFORE YOU AND THE PARENTS WHO ARE ALSO WITH US AND SUPPORTING US ON YOUTUBE AND OUR ENTIRE CAMPUS COMMUNITY. SO WE ARE VERY EXCITED TO BE HERE. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR HAVING US AND FOR THIS RECOGNITION. WELL, THANK YOU SO MUCH. AND I HAVE TO GIVE MY LITTLE TALK ABOUT RESPONSIBILITY, BECAUSE I ALWAYS SAY THAT EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU HAVE SPECIAL TALENTS AND ABILITIES THAT OTHERS DON'T HAVE FOR WHATEVER REASON. YOU KNOW, MAYBE THEY DIDN'T WORK AS HARD. IT'S NOTHING. BUT YOU ACCOMPLISHED THAT, RIGHT? BUT THEN YOU HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY TO BE ABLE TO SHARE THAT, TO KNOW THAT OTHERS NEED YOUR HELP AND THAT THEY CAN GAIN FROM YOUR OWN CONFIDENCE, YOUR OWN ABILITIES, AND TO MENTOR THEM.

YOU KNOW, THERE'S KIDS RIGHT NOW THAT MIGHT FEEL, AS I WAS SAYING, WHEN WITH ROGER, YOU KNOW, THAT THERE'S PEOPLE THERE THINKING, WOW, I HAVE A PASSION. I WOULD LIKE TO DO SOMETHING.

AND THEN HE DOES IT RIGHT BECAUSE OF THE SUPPORT AND THE HELP. SO I THANK YOU. THIS IS QUITE AN ACCOMPLISHMENT. THE BALANCE BETWEEN BEING AN ATHLETE AND A GREAT STUDENT OR A REALLY GOOD STUDENT IS NOT AN EASY TASK, AND YOU HAVE TO GIVE YOURSELF THAT SENSE OF CREDIT, BECAUSE NOT EVERYBODY COULD DO THAT. BUT YOU'RE THE ONE THAT HAS TO FEEL THAT YOU'RE THE ONE THAT HAS TO FEEL THAT SPECIAL. AND WHEN YOU'RE THAT SPECIAL, THEN YOU PASS IT ON AND ALWAYS PASS IT ON. WHEN I MET SOME OF THE PARENTS, AS YOU KNOW, THAT I KNEW YOU WERE GOING TO WIN.

THOSE PARENTS WERE BEYOND THEMSELVES. I MEAN, THEY WERE NOT DOUBTING IF YOU IF YOU GUYS HAD ANY DOUBT THEY DIDN'T. OKAY. THEY, THEY KNEW SOME OF THE ONES THAT I TALKED TO REALLY KNEW WHAT WAS GOING TO HAPPEN AND FELT VERY COMFORTABLE TO, AT THAT POINT, EVEN TALK ABOUT A RESOLUTION BEFORE YOU EVER GOT TO FLORIDA. WE'RE ALREADY TALKING ABOUT A RESOLUTION THAT WAS GOING TO TAKE PLACE, AND EVERYBODY WAS PRETTY SURE IT WAS GOING TO HAPPEN. AND SO HERE WE ARE TODAY. AND SO THANK YOU. THANK YOU REALLY. AND ALSO FOR THE EXTRA THINGS THAT YOU DO FOR THE COUNTY, THE PARENTS REALLY I SAID EARLIER THAT PARENTS WHEN THEY GIVE YOU THAT LOVE, THAT SUPPORT IT REALLY MAKES A HUGE DIFFERENCE. SO THANK YOU PARENTS FOR BEING BEING HERE TODAY, BUT

[00:50:05]

ALSO THE ONES OF YOU, THE ONES THAT COULDN'T MAKE IT. PLEASE LET THEM KNOW THAT WE'RE VERY APPRECIATIVE OF WHAT THEY DO, BECAUSE WHAT THEY DO HELPS THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY. YOU MIGHT NOT KNOW IT, BUT YOUR SUCCESS IS HELPING OUR COMMUNITY IN SO MANY DIFFERENT WAYS. SO THANK YOU. I KNOW THERE'S A LOT MORE THAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN IN YOUR LIVES, AND YOU'RE GOING TO DO SOME GREAT THINGS AS A TEAM, BUT ALSO INDIVIDUALLY. I KNOW YOU'RE GOING TO DO SOME AMAZING THINGS.

SO IF THE PARENTS COULD INTRODUCE THEMSELVES FIRST AND THEN I'LL, WE'LL START WITH ALL THE GO AHEAD. GOOD MORNING TO EVERYONE. THANK YOU GUYS FOR ALLOWING US TO BE HERE AND RECOGNIZING OUR MY DAUGHTER AND OUR OTHER DAUGHTERS THROUGHOUT THE DAY AS WELL. MY NAME IS OSCAR AND I'M SUPER PROUD OF THE AMERICUS CHEER SQUAD. SO THANK YOU GUYS. AND I'M VERY PROUD OF ALL THE CHEERLEADERS. THEY DID AN AMAZING JOB. THANK YOU. YOU GUYS GO AHEAD AND INTRODUCE YOURSELVES AS YOU'RE. OH I'M SORRY I DIDN'T SEE BACK THERE. THERE ARE MORE PARENTS. THANK YOU. DANIELA'S MOM. THANK YOU. GOOD MORNING EVERYONE. MY NAME IS ALEX MENDEZ AND I'M DANIELA MENDEZ. PARENT. OH THANK YOU, THANK YOU. OKAY. YOU WANT TO GO AHEAD AND INTRODUCE YOURSELVES PLEASE. ARE YOU. YES, PLEASE. GOOD MORNING EVERYONE. I AM VIVIAN TREJO'S MOTHER AND I JUST WANT TO CONGRATULATE ALL OF THE CHEERLEADERS BEHIND ME. THANK YOU FOR THAT. THANK YOU. GO AHEAD, INTRODUCE YOURSELVES, PLEASE. YOUR GRADE AND YOUR YOUR GRADE. AND THEN YOUR. YOUR WHAT? WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE IN LIFE? NOT, NOT NOT AS IN A PARAGRAPH. YOUR CAREER PATH, I GUESS. OH, MY NAME IS. MY NAME IS DAVID. AND I'M A FRESHMAN AND FRESHMAN. OH, NICE. THANK YOU. YEAH. MY NAME IS KYLIE SALDANA. I'M A JUNIOR. AND I JUST WANTED TO THANK ALL THESE GIRLS AND ALL THESE GUYS FOR, I GUESS, THIS NEW CONNECTION THAT WE BUILT AND AS A FAMILY. AND THAT'S IT. NO, THINK ABOUT IT. THESE YOU GUYS GO WOW AND CHEER AND THEN YOU'RE THEN YOU'RE SHY. LIKE THAT'S NOT MAKING SENSE TO ME. YOU PRETEND YOU'RE CHEERING, YOU'RE CHEERING AND COME TO THE MICROPHONE WITH ALL YOUR ENERGY. GOOD MORNING. MY NAME IS GIOVANNI LEWIS. I'M A SENIOR AND I'M JUST GLAD THAT WE'RE ALL ABLE TO COME HERE TOGETHER AND SUPPORT OUR COMMUNITY, AND THAT WE'RE ABLE TO SHOW OUR LOVE FOR CHEER AND THAT OUR WINNING THAT SHOWED THAT. THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU. I AM BRIANNA YBARRA. I'M A SOPHOMORE, AND I WANT TO SAY CONGRATULATIONS TO THESE GIRLS AND THESE GUYS BECAUSE THEY REALLY ARE GREAT AND I'M SO PROUD OF THEM. THANK YOU. HI.

GOOD MORNING. MY NAME IS ATHENA MCLAUGHLIN. I'M A JUNIOR. AND I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO EVERYBODY THAT I'VE BEEN ON THIS TEAM WITH TODAY BECAUSE EVERYBODY HAS BEEN AMAZING. AND WE NEVER WOULD HAVE ACCOMPLISHED ANYTHING IF WE DIDN'T COME TOGETHER AS A FAMILY. THANK YOU.

GOOD MORNING. MY NAME IS LUIS SOTO. I'M A SENIOR AND I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO THE COMMISSIONERS AND THE JUDGES FOR THIS HONOR. AND I WANT TO THANK MY TEAM FOR AN AMAZING YEAR.

THANK YOU. GOOD MORNING. MY NAME IS KIA CORTEZ. I'M A JUNIOR, AND I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU FOR NOTICING US. AND THANK YOU FOR THIS WONDERFUL TEAM FOR GIVING ME AN AWESOME EXPERIENCE. AND GOOD JOB, GUYS. THANK YOU. HI. GOOD MORNING. I'M ANAYA NAJERA. I'M A SOPHOMORE AND I JUST WANT TO SAY HOW BLESSED I AM TO HAVE SUCH AN AMAZING TEAM AND HOW BLESSED WE ARE TO BE HERE, BEING RECOGNIZED FOR OUR TALENTS. AND YEAH. GOOD MORNING, SIR, AND EVERYBODY STANDING BEFORE ME.

JOSE BARRAZA, I'M A JUNIOR. JUST WANTED TO SAY THANK YOU ALL FOR THIS RECOGNITION. AND THANK YOU TO MY WHOLE TEAM FOR PUTTING IN THIS HARD WORK AND ALWAYS CARING FOR EACH OTHER. THANK YOU, THANK YOU. GOOD MORNING. MY NAME IS EARL HOLGUIN. I'M A SOPHOMORE, AND I JUST WANT TO SAY, WELL, WHAT EVERYBODY ELSE HAS SAID, BUT THANK YOU FOR YOU GUYS FOR RECOGNIZING US. AND YEAH, I JUST LOVE THIS TEAM. THANK YOU. HELLO. GOOD MORNING EVERYONE. AND I'M A SENIOR. MY NAME IS ELDER GONZALEZ. AND I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO EVERYONE AND FOR GIVING ME THE OPPORTUNITY TO SHOW THAT I'VE, THAT I'M A GOOD THAT I'M A GOOD LEARNER. AND BECAUSE I'VE NEVER DONE CHEER BEFORE. SO DOING IT REALLY CHANGED A LOT IN MY LIFE AS A BASEBALL PLAYER AND A WELDER. SO

[00:55:02]

I HAD TO KIND OF SWITCH IT UP. BUT I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO EVERYONE HERE IN FRONT OF ME, AND THANK YOU FOR RECOGNIZING OUR BEAUTIFUL TEAM. THANK YOU. GOOD MORNING. MY NAME IS ZARINA QUINTERO. I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO THIS TEAM BECAUSE THEY'RE SUCH A SPECIAL THEY'RE SUCH A SPECIAL TEAM THIS YEAR. AND WE PUT ALL OUR HARD WORK AND OUR TALENT TOGETHER TO WIN FIRST PLACE. THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU. HI. GOOD MORNING. MY NAME IS SOFIA LOZANO. I'M A SOPHOMORE, AND I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU FOR GIVING THIS HONOR, FOR REPRESENTING. YES.

AND I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO MY TEAM FOR MAKING SUCH A BEAUTIFUL SEASON IN A GOOD ENVIRONMENT. THANK YOU. HI. MY NAME IS LUNA NEGRETE. I'M A SOPHOMORE. I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO YOU GUYS FOR HONORING OUR TEAM. AND I WANT TO SAY HOW BLESSED I AM TO BE ABLE TO BE ON THIS TEAM WITH THE LOVE AND PATIENCE AND SUPPORT THAT WE'VE ALL HAD. SO THANK YOU, GUYS.

THANK YOU FOR SAYING THAT. HELLO, MY NAME IS DANIELA MENDEZ. I'M A JUNIOR AND AS CHEERLEADERS WE ALWAYS CHEER ON EVERYONE ELSE. SO YOU GUYS RECOGNIZING US TODAY HAS TRULY BEEN AN HONOR. SO I WANT TO THANK YOU ALL INDIVIDUALLY. THANK YOU SO MUCH AND CONGRATS TO EVERYONE FOR YOUR HARD WORK PAYING OFF. IT HAS TRULY BEEN AN AMAZING YEAR. THANK YOU, THANK YOU. CAN WE GET EVERYBODY? WE GOT EVERYBODY HERE. ARE YOU SURE? YEAH. NO THANK YOU. ONCE AGAIN THIS IS VERY, VERY SPECIAL. AND YOU KNOW I'M VERY GLAD THAT THAT WE HAD THAT OPPORTUNITY TO RECOGNIZE EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU. SO DE NUEVO THANK YOU JUDGE. OH.

COMMISSIONER CORONADO, MAY I JUDGE? I FEEL KIND OF A KIND OF A SPECIAL CONNECTION TO ALL AMERICAS BECAUSE MY, MY DAUGHTER TEACHES OUT THERE. ANYBODY KNOW MISS CORONADO IBARRA? YEAH. HAVE YOU TAKEN HER CLASS? SHE'S. SHE'S A TEACHER'S PROFESSIONAL COMMUNICATIONS AND IS PART OF THE LIBERTAD PROGRAM. SO I JUST WANTED TO. SO. AND SHE ALWAYS TELLS ME WHAT, YOU KNOW, ALL ALL THE EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES THAT ARE GOING ON OVER THERE, INCLUDING THE FOOTBALL TEAM AND A LOT OF THE PEOPLE, THE STUDENTS THAT SHE HAS IN HER CLASS THAT PARTICIPATE. SO AND SHE DID TELL ME ABOUT Y'ALL. SO. OH, THANK YOU FOR DOING THAT. HOW MANY SENIORS. MAN YOU GOT A POWERHOUSE GOING FORWARD. MY GOODNESS. YOU'VE GOT A LOT OF SOPHOMORES FRESHMEN. AND SO A LOT OF GREAT THINGS AHEAD OF YOU. AND THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER CORNELL. BUT WE'LL WE'LL COME DOWN OVER THERE. THANK YOU.

YEAH. IT'S A VERY. GOOD JOB. WELDING. MY SON'S A WELDING. WELCOME AND CHEERING GO RIGHT ALONG YOU KNOW. WHAT. I THINK 1130.

THANK YOU. YEAH. WE'RE GOING TO GET ONE WITH APPEARANCE.

[01:00:16]

WHAT A LITTLE YELL GUYS. YEAH. WHO'S YOUR WHO'S YOUR MASCOT. GO WHO. WHAT'S THE MASCOT. GO WHO.

THERE YOU GO. LITTLE LOUDER. THANK YOU. GOOD.

THAT'S FUNNY. WE WANT TO.

HAVE.

A TERRIBLE.

[01:05:08]

ITEM. NUMBER SIX IS PUBLIC COMMENT. WE HAVE ONE SPEAKER SIGNED UP FOR PUBLIC COMMENT. AS A FRIENDLY REMINDER, YOU HAVE FIVE MINUTES TO MAKE YOUR COMMENTS, MISS CRAWFORD. GOOD

[PUBLIC COMMENT]

MORNING. THANK YOU. GOOD MORNING. IN EL PASO, AS THESE RECENT WEEKS, MANY PEOPLE HAVE BEEN LOOKING AND FOCUSING ON THE NEWS, THE CASE OF THE YOUNG MAN WHO COMMITTED THE WALMART MASSACRE, PATRICK CRUSIUS. WHAT STRIKES ME IN THE PHOTOS IS THE LOOK OF STUNNED HORROR ON THE FACES OF THE LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS ACCOMPANYING HIM IN AND OUT OF THE COURTROOM, THE WALMART SHOOTING, THE HORRIFIC, UNSPEAKABLE, UNSPEAKABLY HORRIFIC MASSACRE, THE EYES OF MANY IN EL PASO AND AROUND THE WORLD THIS WEEK ARE ON ANOTHER SLAUGHTER, ONE WHICH TOOK PLACE CENTURIES AGO AND, THOUGH HARD TO COMPREHEND, WAS EVEN MORE HORRIFIC THAN THE WALMART MASSACRE. MOUNT CALVARY, MOUNT GOLGOTHA, THE PLACE OF THE SKULL. WHO DID IT? THE JEWISH NATION. YES, THEY REJECTED THEIR KING, THE GENTILES. YES. THEY DROVE THE NAILS INTO HIS HANDS, RIPPED HIS BODY TO SHREDS. EVEN BEFORE CRUCIFIXION. US? YES. IT WAS OUR SINS FOR WHICH HE DIED.

AND ULTIMATELY THE SLAUGHTER ON MOUNT CALVARY WAS GOD'S MERCIFUL PLAN. THE WRATH OF THE FATHER POURED OUT ON HIS SON JESUS, WHO WILLINGLY GAVE HIMSELF FOR US OUT OF UNSPEAKABLE LOVE, THE LOVE OF THE FATHER, THE LOVE OF CHRIST ON CALVARY, THE SERMON ON THE MOUNT, MATTHEW FIVE SIX AND SEVEN. MOST PEOPLE ARE FAMILIAR WITH THE BEATITUDES WHEN JESUS PROCLAIMED THOSE WHO ARE BLESSED. YET FEW PEOPLE ACTUALLY REALLY GRASP WHAT JESUS SPOKE IN THAT SERMON. IT STRIPS AWAY ANY HOPE OF SELF RIGHTEOUSNESS AND ANY HUMAN ATTEMPT TO EARN ANY FAVOR FROM A HOLY GOD. I LOVE TO USE THE SERMON ON THE MOUNT IN SPEAKING WITH YOUNG LADIES AND YOUNG MEN. AFTER THE CRIME OUTSIDE THE ABORTION CENTERS, BECAUSE THOUGH I'VE NEVER MYSELF HAD AN ABORTION IN A VERY REAL LEVEL, I CAN STILL RELATE. A HOMICIDE ON THE STREET IS MURDER. ABORTION ON DEMAND IS MURDER. ACCORDING TO THE WORDS OF JESUS CHRIST, TO HATE ANOTHER PERSON IN OUR HEARTS IS MURDER.

WHICH ONE OF US CAN SAY WE HAVE NEVER, IN THE SECRET PLACES OF OUR HEARTS, HARBORED THOUGHTS AND FEELINGS OF HATRED IN THE EYES OF ALMIGHTY GOD? NOT A SINGLE ONE OF US IS EXEMPT FROM THE SIN OF MURDER. APRIL IS NAMED ABORTION RECOVERY AWARENESS MONTH FOR THOSE WILLING TO FACE THE REALITY OF ABORTION ON DEMAND AS MURDER, THEN WHAT? PENANCE? JESUS. PLUS PENANCE? NO. THERE'S ONLY ONE ACCEPTABLE SACRIFICE. THE CROSS. THE BLOOD OF CHRIST. HE ATONED.

HE AND HE ALONE. ISAIAH, CHAPTER 53, WRITTEN CENTURIES BEFORE THE COMING OF THE LORD JESUS CHRIST AND THE HEBREW SCRIPTURES, SPEAKS OF THE SUFFERING DEATH OF CHRIST. HE IS DESPISED AND REJECTED OF MEN, A MAN OF SORROWS, AND ACQUAINTED WITH GRIEF. AND WE HID, AS IT WERE, OUR FACES FROM HIM. HE WAS DESPISED, AND WE ESTEEMED HIM NOT. SURELY HE HATH BORNE OUR GRIEFS, AND CARRIED OUR SORROWS. YET WE DID ESTEEM HIM STRICKEN, SMITTEN OF GOD, AND AFFLICTED.

BUT HE WAS WOUNDED FOR OUR TRANSGRESSIONS, HE WAS BRUISED FOR OUR INIQUITIES. THE CHASTISEMENT OF OUR PEACE WAS UPON HIM, AND WITH HIS STRIPES WE ARE HEALED. ALL WE LIKE SHEEP HAVE GONE ASTRAY. WE HAVE TURNED EVERY ONE TO HIS OWN WAY. AND THE LORD HATH LAID ON HIM THE INIQUITY OF US ALL FURTHER DOWN IN THE PASSAGE. YET IT PLEASED THE LORD TO BRUISE HIM. HE HAS PUT HIM TO GRIEF. WHEN THOU SHALT MAKE HIS SOUL AN OFFERING FOR SIN, HE SHALL SEE HIS SEED, HE SHALL PROLONG HIS DAYS, AND THE PLEASURE OF THE LORD SHALL PROSPER IN HIS HAND. HE SHALL SEE THE TRAVAIL OF HIS SOUL, AND SHALL BE SATISFIED BY HIS KNOWLEDGE SHALL MY RIGHTEOUS SERVANT JUSTIFY MANY, FOR HE SHALL BEAR THEIR INIQUITIES. THEREFORE WILL I DIVIDE HIM A PORTION WITH THE GREAT. AND HE SHALL DIVIDE THE SPOIL WITH THE STRONG, BECAUSE HE HAS POURED OUT HIS SOUL UNTO DEATH. AND HE WAS NUMBERED WITH THE TRANSGRESSORS, AND HE BARE THE SIN OF MANY, AND MADE INTERCESSION FOR THE TRANSGRESSORS. THANK YOU SO MUCH, AND I HOPE YOU HAVE A VERY GOOD HOLY WEEK. THANK YOU. YOU TOO, ELIZABETH. THANK YOU. THANK YOU SIR. ITEM SEVEN REGULAR AGENDA SEVEN A RECEIVE A PUBLIC HEALTH UPDATE FROM DOCTOR HECTOR OCARANZA AND DISCUSS EL PASO COUNTY'S PREPARATION AND RESPONSE FOR PUBLIC HEALTH

[REGULAR AGENDA]

EMERGENCIES. GOOD MORNING. JUDGE. COMMISSIONERS. WITH THE RECENT DEVELOPMENTS THAT WE HAVE

[A. Receive a Public Health update from Dr. Hector Ocarranza and discuss El Paso County’s preparation and response for public health emergencies. Betsy C. Keller, Chief Administrator, County Administration, 915-273-3600]

BEEN SEEING IN PUBLIC HEALTH CONCERNING THE MEASLES, A COUPLE OF YOU HAVE OUTREACHED AND MOST RECENTLY, COMMISSIONER OLGUIN ASKED IF WE'D BE GETTING AN UPDATE. AND SO DOCTOR OCARANZA IS ONLINE AND AVAILABLE TO SHARE SOME INFORMATION ABOUT WHAT WE'RE SEEING AND WHAT

[01:10:04]

PREVENTATIVE MEASURES THERE ARE. WELL, DOCTOR OCARANZA, THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE AS ALWAYS. YOU'RE ALWAYS ON TOP OF THINGS AND HAVE BEEN VERY ENCOURAGING AND VERY INSIGHTFUL ABOUT THESE MATTERS.

SO WE'RE VERY HAPPY TO HAVE YOU HERE TODAY. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. AND COMMISSIONERS, IT'S GREAT TO BE HERE WITH YOU AND SPEND SOME TIME TO EXPLAIN WHAT WE'VE BEEN DOING TO PROTECT OUR COMMUNITY AND SENDING THAT MESSAGE OF PREVENTION, WHICH IS ONE OF THE BEST THINGS THAT WE CAN DO, IN PARTICULAR TO THE MEASLES. I KNOW PREVIOUSLY WE TALKED ABOUT COVID, BUT NOW WE'RE GOING TO TALK ABOUT A DIFFERENT INFECTIOUS DISEASE. AND IF I MAY, I'M GOING TO BE SHARING MY SCREEN AND I HAVE THE PRESENTATION READY FOR YOU ALL. DOCTOR OCARANZA AS YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT THESE THINGS, SOME SOME PEOPLE HAVE APPROACHED ME AND MAYBE IT WILL HELP. ONE IS SORT OF A COMPARISON SINCE WE'VE ALL GONE THROUGH THE TO THE PANDEMIC, MAYBE SOME OF THE DIFFERENCES. ONE BEING CURABLE, THE OTHER ONE NOT, AND THAT KIND OF. SO JUST A LITTLE BIT FOR THE COMMUNITY TO HAVE A LITTLE BIT MORE CONFIDENCE. OBVIOUSLY WE WANT THEM TO COME TOGETHER, BUT THEY'RE MAKING A LITTLE BIT OF A CONTRAST WITH A, WITH A PANDEMIC. AND SO IF YOU COULD HELP US SORT OF DISCERN THE DIFFERENCES AS YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT THESE THINGS. YES, DEFINITELY. JUDGE. AND THOSE ARE GREAT QUESTIONS. AND ALSO WE RECEIVED SOME OF THE QUESTIONS IN REGARDS TO THE MEASLES, BECAUSE DEFINITELY A LOT OF THE PEOPLE MIGHT SEEM TO UNDERMINE THE CONTAGIOUSNESS AND THE POSSIBILITY OF COMPLICATIONS WITH THE MEASLES. AND THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE WANT TO CONTINUE PROVIDING THE COMMUNITY WITH THAT KIND OF EDUCATION. AS FAR AS WHAT IS THE MEASLES, WHY WE ARE CONCERNED, HOW CAN WE PROTECT THE COMMUNITY, AND HOW CAN YOU PROTECT YOURSELF AND YOUR FAMILY? BECAUSE DEFINITELY THE PREVENTION IS THE BEST TOOL THAT WE HAVE AVAILABLE BECAUSE THERE IS NO TREATMENT. AND THAT IS ONE OF THE THINGS THAT MIGHT BE A LITTLE BIT ON THE COMMON DENOMINATOR WITH THE COVID THAT INITIALLY WE DID NOT HAVE ANY TREATMENT WITH THIS ONE. AND AFTER BATTLING MEASLES FOR SO MANY YEARS, WE STILL DO NOT HAVE AN EFFECTIVE TREATMENT. AND WE STILL SEE, UNFORTUNATELY, HOSPITALIZATION AND DEATH FROM THE MISSILES, WHICH IS NOT JUST ANOTHER COMMON RASH DISEASE, IT IS SOMETHING THAT COULD TURN SERIOUS. AND IT IS UNFORTUNATE TO SEE THOSE KIND OF SITUATIONS BECAUSE EVERY HOSPITALIZATION, EVERY DEATH IS TOO MANY AND THOSE CAN BE PREVENTED, IN PARTICULAR WITH THE VACCINE. AND THERE'S BEEN QUITE A BIT OF CONTROVERSY WITH THE VACCINE FOR THE MISINFORMATION THAT HAS BEEN SPREAD. AND I'M GOING TO START A LITTLE BIT MORE IN TOUCHING ON THOSE POINTS. AS FAR AS THE CONTAGIOUSNESS OF MEASLES. MEASLES IS ONE OF THE MOST CONTAGIOUS DISEASES THAT WE KNOW NOWADAYS. AND I PUT A COMPARISON WITH OTHER DISEASES WHICH WHAT THE BASIC REPRODUCTIVE NUMBER IS, HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE GOING TO BE INFECTED BY EXPOSING THEM TO ONE CASE OF MEASLES. AND AS WE CAN SEE, IT IS A VERY STAGGERING NUMBER WHERE WE HAVE AN AVERAGE OF 15 PEOPLE THAT CAN BE CONTAGIOUS, INFECTED JUST WITH ONE CASE OF MEASLES. SO COMPARED TO THE SARS-COV-2, WHICH WAS THE COVID 19, WHICH HAS A REPRODUCTIVE NUMBER OF ABOUT 3 OR 2 AND A HALF, WE DON'T SEE POLIO, WHICH THANK GOD THAT WE DON'T SEE POLIO IN THE COMMUNITY. AND IT HAS BEEN ERADICATED FROM THE AMERICAS. BUT THERE'S SOME OTHER CONTINENTS THAT ARE STILL SEEING THOSE THE SAME WAY THAT WE HAVEN'T SEEN SMALLPOX, BECAUSE IT HAS BEEN ERADICATED. AND THE WAY THAT WE ERADICATED THOSE WAS BECAUSE OF THE VACCINATION. THAT IS ONE OF THE IMPORTANT THINGS THAT WE NEED TO CONTINUE MENTIONING. THE VACCINATION HAS BEEN ONE OF THE GREATEST TOOLS THAT WE HAVE IN PUBLIC HEALTH, THAT IT IS A VERY INEXPENSIVE, EFFECTIVE WAY TO CONTROL DISEASES. AND THAT'S WHY A LOT OF THE YOUNG FAMILIES DO NOT SEE THESE DISEASES THAT ARE VACCINE PREVENTABLE BECAUSE OF THE EFFECTIVENESS THAT WE CAN PROVE JUST BY THE REALITY OF THINGS.

AS FAR AS THE VACCINATION. MEASLES CAN INFECT MAINLY THE ONES THAT ARE SUSCEPTIBLE, WHICH INCLUDES A LOT OF THE INFANTS AND INCLUDES THE ONES THAT ARE UNIMMUNIZED OR IMMUNOCOMPROMISED OR IMMUNOCOMPROMISED, MEANING THOSE PEOPLE THAT HAVE A VERY WEAK IMMUNE SYSTEM. AND WHETHER IT IS BECAUSE THEY WERE BORN IN SUCH A WAY OR BECAUSE THEY'RE TAKING MEDICATION, MANY ADULTS TAKE MEDICATIONS THAT ARE COMPROMISED THEIR IMMUNE SYSTEM BECAUSE THEY NEED TO CONTROL SOME OTHER CHRONIC CONDITIONS. AND THAT IS ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE CONTINUE TO LET THEM KNOW. TALK TO YOUR PHYSICIAN. SEE WHAT IS YOUR RISK AS FAR AS ANY OTHER INFECTIOUS DISEASES,

[01:15:02]

BECAUSE THIS ONE IS GOING TO BE ONE OF THOSE INFECTIOUS DISEASES THAT WE NEED TO BE PROTECTING, THOSE THAT ARE IMMUNOCOMPROMISED. IT IS TRANSMITTED VERY EASILY THROUGH AEROSOLS. AND THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN AEROSOLS AND THE DROPLETS IS THE SIZE OF THE PARTICLES. AEROSOLS CAN STAY SUSPENDED IN THE AIR FOR A PROLONGED PERIOD OF TIME, COMPARED TO THE DROPLETS THAT ARE FALLING TO THE TABLES THAT ARE FALLING TO OTHER OBJECTS.

AND THOSE TWO WAYS ARE THE ONES THAT ARE MISSILES ARE GOING TO BE TRANSMITTED, BUT MAINLY THE AEROSOLS THAT CAN STAY SUSPENDED. AND THEY SAID THAT AT LEAST TWO HOURS, EVEN AFTER THE PERSON THAT IS INFECTED WITH THE MEASLES LEAVES THE ROOM. THAT'S WHAT ALSO ONE OF THE FEATURES OF MEASLES BEING ALSO SO INFECTIOUS. AS FAR AS TIMELINE AND THE WAY THAT THIS MEASLES OUTBREAK HAS EVOLVED, IT STARTED IN THE WEST PART OF TEXAS, BUT IT HAD EXTENDED TO THE NEW MEXICO, AND WE HAVE SEEN CASES REPORTED FROM THE STATE OF CHIHUAHUA AND MANY OTHER COUNTIES ACROSS THE STATE OF TEXAS. BUT NOW WE'RE SEEING THAT IT HAS EXPANDED TO OTHER STATES OF THE US. WE HAD THE FIRST CASES OF MEASLES IN EL PASO ON APRIL THE 8TH, AND WE HAD BEEN PREPARING FOR THIS BECAUSE WE'VE BEEN TELLING THE COMMUNITY THAT IT WAS JUST A MATTER OF TIME. EL PASO IS A COMMUNITY THAT'S THAT IS A VERY LARGE TRAVELING HUB FOR MANY PEOPLE AND MANY PEOPLE THAT LIVE IN EL PASO COUNTY. THEY TRAVEL TO THOSE AREAS WHERE WE HAVE THE EPICENTER OF THE OUTBREAK, WHETHER IT'S TO WORK AT THE OIL FIELDS OR VISITING, BUT MAINLY FOR WORK. AND THEY COME BACK TO THEIR FAMILIES ON THE WEEKENDS. WE ALSO SEE A LOT OF FAMILIES TRAVELING FROM THE STATE OF CHIHUAHUA, GOING UP TO DO THEIR SHOPPING TO TRAVELING, ALSO TO WORK IN THE OIL FIELDS.

AND THAT'S WHY WE WERE EXPECTING THESE POSITIVE CASES OF MEASLES IN OUR COMMUNITY. WE SEND A HEALTH ALERT, A HEALTH ADVISORY TO THE HEALTHCARE PROVIDERS IN THE MIDDLE OF FEBRUARY, LETTING THEM KNOW SO WE CAN HAVE THAT CONCEPT ABOUT THE MEASLES, KEEPING IT IN MIND WHEN THEY SEE PATIENTS THAT PRESENT WITH FEVER, RUNNY NOSE, NASAL CONGESTION, CONJUNCTIVITIS, AND A VERY CHARACTERISTIC RASH THAT WE'LL TALK IN A LITTLE BIT. SO FAR AS OF APRIL 11TH, WE HAVE FIVE CONFIRMED CASES OF MEASLES IN EL PASO COUNTY, AND WE NEED TO CONTINUE SENDING THAT MESSAGE. AND I WANT TO TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY BECAUSE THE VOICE FROM YOU, THE ELECTED OFFICIALS, CARRIES A LONG WAYS. AND WE'VE BEEN GREAT PARTNERS IN PUBLIC HEALTH BY SENDING THAT PREVENTIVE MESSAGE TO ALL THE CONSTITUENTS, BECAUSE VACCINATION, VACCINATION, VACCINATION IS THE WAY THAT WE'RE GOING TO BE ABLE TO CONTROL. 2019 WAS THE LAST TIME THAT WE SAW SOME CASES OF MEASLES IN EL PASO, AND THOSE WERE IMPORTED CASES OF MEASLES AND REMAIN AT ONLY SIX CASES, WHICH THEN WE TERMINATED THAT THAT OUTBREAK THAT WE HAD IN EL PASO. THIS NEW SLIDE IS AN EXPLANATION OF WHY THE PEOPLE THAT WAS BORN BEFORE 1957 WERE NOT RECOMMENDING ANY VACCINATION BECAUSE THEY'VE BEEN EXPOSED TO THE MEASLES, THE LIVE VIRUS, AND THEY'VE BEEN GOING THROUGH. THEY LIVED THROUGH MANY OUTBREAKS, AS WE CAN SEE IN THIS GRAPH, SEVERAL VACCINES FOR MEASLES HAVE BEEN APPROVED THROUGHOUT THE TIME. BUT THE MMR VACCINE THAT WE ARE ADMINISTERING RIGHT NOW IS BEEN APPROVED FOR MANY YEARS ALREADY, AND THAT HAS BEEN ONE OF THE MOST EFFECTIVE VACCINES THAT WE HAVE NOWADAYS IN OUR REPERTOIRE OF VACCINES.

INITIALLY, WE RECOMMENDED THAT IT WAS ONLY ONE DOSE, BUT WITH A SPIKE THAT WE HAD THE OUTBREAK THAT WE HAD AROUND 1989. THEN THAT'S WHEN WE STARTED RECOMMENDING A SECOND DOSE OF THE MMR VACCINE. AND WE'LL TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHAT'S A NORMAL IMMUNIZATION SCHEDULE FOR THE POPULATION. MEASLES CAN PRESENT, AS MENTIONED PREVIOUSLY, WITH RUNNY NOSE, NASAL CONGESTION, COUGH, RED EYES AND FEVER. AND THEN THEY'RE GOING TO BE STARTING THE VERY TYPICAL RASH THAT STARTS ON THE FOREHEAD. AND THEN IT SPREADS DOWNWARDS IN A VERY TYPICAL FASHION. WE IN PEDIATRICS SEE MANY OF THE DISEASES OR VIRAL INFECTIONS THAT MANIFEST WITH RASHES. BUT THIS TYPICAL RASH IS VERY DIFFERENT FROM THE OTHER RASHES. AND THAT'S WHY THE YOUR HEALTH CARE PROVIDER, IN PARTICULAR YOUR PEDIATRICIANS, ARE THE BEST TRAINED TO SEE SOME OF THESE RASHES AND ARE ABLE TO DISCERN WHETHER THIS IS GOING TO BE MEASLES OR IS ONE OF THOSE DISEASES IN INFANCY THAT PRESENT WITH A RASH. ONE THING THAT IS IMPORTANT TO NOTE IS THAT MEASLES CAN BE TRANSMITTED FROM SOMEBODY THAT IS INFECTED FOUR DAYS BEFORE EVEN THEY SHOW ANY SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS, EVEN ONCE THEY HAVE THE RIGHTS, THEY CAN CONTINUE INFECTING PEOPLE. AFTER

[01:20:07]

FOUR DAYS OF THE ONSET OF THE RASH. THAT'S WHY THEY EXPOSE A LOT OF PEOPLE ONCE THEY START INCUBATING THE VIRUS AND THEY'RE CONSIDERED INFECTIOUS. ONE OF THE COMPLICATIONS THAT MEASLES PATIENTS CAN HAVE, THE MOST SERIOUS ONE CAN BE MANIFESTED AS PNEUMONIAS. AND THE OTHER ONE THAT IS VERY SERIOUS IS INFLAMMATION OF THE BRAIN CALLED ENCEPHALITIS. THOSE TWO COMPLICATIONS ARE GOING TO BE THE ONES THAT CAN PRECIPITATE DEATH IN PATIENTS WITH MEASLES.

BUT THERE'S ANOTHER COMPLICATION THAT CAN HAPPEN IN THE CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM. BUT IT CAN BE MANIFESTED 1020 YEARS AFTER THEY WERE INFECTED WITH THE MEASLES, WHICH ALSO IS ANOTHER ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE NEED TO MENTION, THAT IT'S NOT JUST TRYING TO GET INFECTED WITH THE MEASLES VIRUS, A GOOD TECHNIQUE TO DEVELOP NATURAL IMMUNITY, BECAUSE YOU'RE GOING TO BE EXPOSING YOURSELF TO END UP IN THE HOSPITAL, AND YOU'RE GOING TO PROBABLY HAVE YOUR CHILDREN. BE HAVING THE POSSIBILITY OF DEVELOPING ANY OF THESE COMPLICATIONS. AS MENTIONED PREVIOUSLY, THERE HAS BEEN MANY INSTANCES OF A VACCINE THAT HAS BEEN APPROVED. ONE OF THE INITIAL ONES WAS AN INACTIVATED VACCINE, WHICH LATER ON WE SAW THAT IT WASN'T AS EFFECTIVE AND WE APPROVED A VACCINATION, THAT IT WAS A LIVE VIRUS. VACCINE ATTENUATED MEANS THAT IT IS A LIVE VIRUS THAT IS NOT FULLY STRONG TO CAUSE THE DISEASE, BUT IT'S GOING TO BE TRAINING THE IMMUNE SYSTEM IN HOW TO DEFEND ITSELF, HOW TO PRODUCE ANTIBODIES. SO WHENEVER WE'RE EXPOSED TO THE VIRUS THAT IS A WILD TYPE VIRUS, WE'LL BE ABLE TO FIGHT IT WITHOUT CAUSING DISEASE IN THE BODY. THAT'S ONE OF THE MAIN MECHANISMS THAT VACCINES WORK IN THE BODY, IN THE WAY THAT WE'RE TRAINING THE IMMUNE SYSTEM. A GOOD ANALOGY THAT MANY TIMES I TELL MY PATIENTS IS THAT WE'RE NOT GOING TO BE JUST GOING TO THE OLYMPICS WITHOUT HAVING A TRAINING IN THE PROPER TRAINING, BECAUSE WE'RE GOING TO BE DESTINED TO FAIL. AND THAT'S KIND OF WHAT CAN HAPPEN WHEN THE BODY IS NOT IMMUNIZED AND YOU ENCOUNTER THIS WILD VIRUSES AND IT'S GOING TO CAUSE DISEASE AND IT CAN CAUSE COMPLICATIONS TO THE BODY. BY 1980, MOST OF THE STATES HAD LAWS THAT WERE REQUIRING THE MEASLES VACCINATION FOR ALL THE CHILDREN GOING INTO SCHOOL. AND BY 1989, THE SECOND DOSE OF THE MMR VACCINE WAS APPROVED BY THE ACIP, WHICH IS THE ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON IMMUNIZATION PRACTICES. OUR COMMUNITY IS WELL PREPARED BECAUSE OF THE CONFIDENCE THAT WE HAVE IN THE VACCINE AND THAT TRUST THAT WE HAVE IN THE HEALTHCARE SYSTEM AND OUR HEALTHCARE PROVIDERS, WHICH ARE DEVOTED AND DEDICATED TO KEEP OUR PATIENTS AND OUR COMMUNITY SAFE AND HEALTHY. OUR VACCINATION RATE, ACCORDING TO THE DEPARTMENT OF STATE HEALTH SERVICES FOR THE KINDERGARTNERS, IS ABOUT 96.37%, AND FOR SEVENTH GRADERS, IT'S ABOUT 98.83%. WITH A VIRUS SUCH AS THE MEASLES VIRUS THAT IS SO INFECTIOUS, WE NEED TO HAVE A VACCINATION RATE GREATER THAN 95% TO BE PROTECTED WITH THE HERD IMMUNITY, AND THAT IS VERY IMPORTANT. BUT EVEN THOUGH WE ENJOY THIS HIGH IMMUNIZATION RATES, EVEN I CAN SAY THAT IT'S ONE OF THE HIGHEST IN THE STATES. WE STILL ARE GOING TO BE SEEING CASES OF MEASLES. WE'RE STILL ARE GOING TO BE SEEING THOSE CASES OF MEASLES ON THE UNVACCINATED OR PARTIALLY VACCINATED PEOPLE. SOME OF THE AREAS THAT WE EXPECT THAT WE'RE GOING TO BE SEEING, CASES OF MEASLES ARE GOING TO BE IN THE INFANTS OR CHILDREN AND ALSO IN THE SCHOOL AGE CHILDREN, WHICH IS WHAT WE'RE SEEING IN THE OUTBREAK THAT WE HAVE AT THE WEST PART OF TEXAS. THE VAST MAJORITY OF THE PEOPLE AFFECTED BY THIS OUTBREAK IS SCHOOL AGE CHILDREN. AND LOOKING AT THE VACCINATION RATE OF OUR SCHOOL DISTRICTS, WE HAVE A VERY GOOD VACCINATION RATE, BUT UNFORTUNATELY, WE STILL HAVE A PERCENTAGE OF THOSE CHILDREN THAT THEIR PARENTS ARE CLAIMING SOME CONSCIOUS OBJECTION. AND UNFORTUNATELY, THAT CONSCIOUS OBJECTION HAS INCREASED FROM THE TIME THAT WE WERE DEALING WITH THE COVID 19 PANDEMIC. THIS IS A HISTORICAL VIEW OF THE NUMBER OF CONSCIOUS OBJECTIONS CLAIMED BY PARENTS, WITH THE STATE SEPARATED BY KINDERGARTNERS, SEVENTH GRADER AND K-12. AND WE CAN SEE THERE WAS A BIG INCREASE, THREE TIME INCREASE FROM 2020 TO 2021 TO THE NEXT YEAR FROM 2021 AND 2022, GOING FROM 0.25% TO 0.78% OF THE CONSCIOUS OBJECTION ON OUR K TO 12 CHILDREN. AND IN EVEN IN KINDERGARTEN, WE WENT UP TO AS HIGH AS 3.75% OF THOSE CONSCIOUS OBJECTIONS. THAT IS CONCERNING TO US, BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT THOSE CHILDREN ARE GOING TO BE PRIME SUBJECTS TO CARRY THE

[01:25:04]

DISEASE AND GET INFECTED WITH THE VIRUS, WITH THE MEASLES VIRUS, THE BEST PREVENTION AND THE BEST STRATEGY THAT WE NEED TO CONTINUE PROMOTING IS THE PREVENTION, HOW WE'RE GOING TO BE PROMOTING HEAVILY ON THE VACCINATION. WE KNOW THAT THE VACCINATION WITH THE MMR IS A VACCINE THAT IS PROVEN TO BE VERY SAFE AND EFFECTIVE. THERE'S BEEN MANY, MANY, MANY SCIENTIFIC STUDIES. THAT HAVE SHOWN THAT EFFECTIVENESS AND SAFETY, ESPECIALLY BECAUSE AFTER AN ARTICLE THAT WAS PUBLISHED SUGGESTED THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN MMR VACCINE AND AUTISM, WHICH NOW HAS BEEN DISCARDED AND THAT HAS NOT BEEN ANY PROOF, THERE IS A CAUSE AND EFFECT BETWEEN THE MMR VACCINE AND THE AUTISM. THAT'S ONE OF THE FEARS THAT MANY PARENTS HAVE THAT IN REGARDS TO THE MMR VACCINE. BUT FOR THOSE PARENTS THAT STILL ARE HESITANT AND HAVE QUESTIONS ABOUT THAT, THEY CAN TALK TO THEIR HEALTHCARE PROVIDERS, THEY CAN TALK TO THEIR PEDIATRICIAN, THEIR DOCTORS. THEY CAN ALSO FIND SOME MORE INFORMATION AT THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH WEBSITE, WHICH WE TRY TO CONTINUOUSLY PROVIDE THAT EVIDENCE BASED INFORMATION SO THEY CAN MAKE THE INFORMED DECISION AND SEE THE EFFECTIVENESS AND THE SAFETY OF THE VACCINE, AND THAT THAT IS THE BEST WAY THAT WE'RE GOING TO BE PROTECTING THEIR CHILDREN AND THEMSELVES. WE ALSO ARE RECOMMENDING AVOIDING TRAVELING TO THOSE AREAS, EXPERIENCING AN OUTBREAK IF THEY DON'T NEED TO BE TRAVELING AND SPENDING TIME THERE IN THOSE AREAS, THEY CAN AVOID THEM. BUT MAINLY WHAT WE'RE DOING NOW THAT WE HAVE CASES, WE ARE ALSO DOING ISOLATION AND QUARANTINE. THE ISOLATION FOR THOSE PATIENTS THAT ARE INFECTED WITH THE MEASLES VIRUS AND QUARANTINE FOR THOSE THAT ARE EXPOSED, THAT HAVE BEEN EXPOSED TO A CONFIRMED CASE OF THE MEASLES VIRUS, WE HAVE PROVIDED RECOMMENDATIONS FOR SCHOOLS AND DAYCARES IN REGARDS TO WHAT THEY NEED TO BE DOING. ONCE THEY HAVE A CASE WITHIN THE SCHOOLS OR DAYCARES, AND WE CONTINUE TO WORK VERY CLOSELY WITH OUR SCHOOL OFFICIALS AND DAYCARES TO PROVIDE THE MOST UP TO DATE RECOMMENDATIONS AND TO PROVIDE THAT SUPPORT THAT WE NEED TO BE HAVING. WE CONTINUOUSLY WORK WITH THEM AND THEIR VERY CLOSE STAKEHOLDERS TO PUBLIC HEALTH AS WE WANT TO CONTINUE BEING FOR THEM. THE ROUTINE MMR VACCINATION SCHEDULE IS FOR EVERY CHILDREN THAT ARE 12 MONTHS TO 15 MONTHS RECEIVED THE FIRST DOSE OF THE MMR VACCINE AND THE SECOND DOSE BETWEEN THE AGE OF FOUR YEARS AND SIX YEARS OF AGE. WE TYPICALLY GIVE IT AT 12 MONTHS AND A FOUR YEAR VISIT, AND THE RECOMMENDATION IS NOT TO PROVIDE ANY BOOSTERS TO THE ADULTS. BUT IF THOSE ADULTS WERE BORN BEFORE 1957, THEY ARE RECOMMENDED TO RECEIVE NO DOSES OF THE VACCINE IF THEY WERE BORN. BETWEEN 1958 AND 1968. PROBABLY THEY RECEIVED ONE OF THE INACTIVATED VACCINATIONS OR VACCINES THAT WERE APPROVED AT THAT DATE, AND THEY CAN RECEIVE ONE DOSE OF THE VACCINE. AND IF FOR THOSE ADULTS THAT ARE UNSURE WHETHER THEY RECEIVE THE VACCINE OR HOW MANY DOSES OF THE VACCINE, THEY CAN COME AND RECEIVE THE VACCINE, IT IS MAKING IT VERY SIMPLE AND EASY PROCESS FOR US TO PROVIDE THE VACCINE TO EVERYBODY THAT REQUEST THE VACCINE. THERE'S STILL SOME CONTRAINDICATIONS TO THE VACCINE AND PEOPLE CAN TALK TO THEIR HEALTHCARE PROVIDER IF THEY'RE CONSIDERED TO HAVE A CONTRAINDICATION TO THE VACCINE, WHICH INCLUDES PREGNANT WOMEN AND THOSE THAT HAVE A SEVERE IMMUNE IMMUNOCOMPROMISE, THOSE THAT HAVE THAT SEVERE IMMUNOCOMPROMISED CONDITION, THEN THEY CAN WAIT FOR THE MMR VACCINE. THERE ARE SPECIAL CIRCUMSTANCES ON HEALTHCARE PERSONNEL AND THOSE THAT ARE INTERNATIONAL TRAVELERS. WHERE MEASLES IS ENDEMIC MAINLY, THERE ARE SOME AREAS IN EUROPE THAT ARE STILL EXPERIENCING LARGE NUMBER OF MEASLES CASES. AND MOST OF THOSE CASES THAT WE SAW IN THE UNITED STATES WERE BECAUSE WERE CASES IMPORTED FROM PEOPLE THAT WERE TRAVELING TO THOSE AREAS. THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH HAS DONE MANY ACTIVITIES FROM THE BEGINNING OF THE OUTBREAK THAT WE SAW IN THE WEST PART OF TEXAS, AND WE ALREADY NOTIFIED OUR HEALTHCARE PROVIDERS WITH THE HEALTH ADVISORY. WE'VE ALSO CREATED SOME INFORMATIONAL MATERIAL THAT IS EASY TO UNDERSTAND FOR THE PUBLIC. AS FAR AS THE SYMPTOMS OF MEASLES. AND WE'VE BEEN WORKING WITH OUR HEALTHCARE WORKERS, WE'VE BEEN ALSO ARE GOING TO DAYCARES TO PROVIDE THAT INFORMATION ON MATERIAL AND EDUCATION. WE'VE ALREADY SPOKEN WITH OUR PARTNERS IN THE SCHOOL DISTRICTS PROVIDING THAT INFORMATION ABOUT THE MEASLES, PROVIDING ALSO THAT INFORMATIONAL MATERIALS SO THEY CAN DISTRIBUTE TO THE PARENTS. AND WE'VE DONE MESSAGING THAT IS

[01:30:01]

BEING DISTRIBUTED THROUGH SOCIAL MEDIA, THE YOUTUBE CHANNEL, WE'VE DONE SOME PSA, AND ALSO WE'VE DONE SOME INTERVIEWS THROUGH THE TRADITIONAL MEDIA. THERE'S A LOT OF INFORMATION OUT THERE ABOUT MEASLES, AND WE WANT TO CONTINUE PROVIDING THE CORRECT INFORMATION AS FAR AS HOW PEOPLE CAN DO. AND THE WAY THAT WE'VE BEEN DOING IT IS BY HAVING OUTREACH EVENTS. WE WERE PRESENT AT BASSETT CENTER PROVIDING VACCINES TO CHILDREN AND ADULTS, AND MAINLY WE PROVIDED QUITE A BIT OF DOSES OF THE ADULT MMR VACCINE, AND IT WAS PROVEN TO BE VERY, VERY SUCCESSFUL CAMPAIGN. WE JUST WENT TO EARTH DAY CELEBRATION, IN WHICH WE ALSO PROVIDED MMR VACCINE AND INFORMATIONAL MATERIAL TO THE PEOPLE ATTENDING THOSE EVENTS. WE HAVE OUR FOUR COMMUNITY CLINICS THAT PROVIDE IMMUNIZATIONS AND NOT JUST THE MMR VACCINE, BUT ALL THE AGE RECOMMENDED VACCINES AND THEY CAN COME AND IN PARTICULAR THE MMR VACCINE, WE CAN GIVE IT TO THE PEOPLE AT NO COST TO THE TO THE PEOPLE. WE TRY TO AVOID ANY OBSTACLES SO THE THEY CAN COME AND RECEIVE THE VACCINE. AND THEY CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION, AT OUR WEBSITE, EPCALC.COM. OR I PUT A SPECIFIC LINK TO THE IMMUNIZATION CLINICS. WITH THE HOURS OF OPERATION AND THE LOCATIONS OF THE CLINIC. AND THIS IS THE EXAMPLE OF HOW WE WERE DOING VACCINES AND WE WERE TALKING TO PEOPLE. I WAS THERE ANSWERING QUESTIONS, ENCOURAGING PEOPLE TO COME AND SEE HOW EASY IT IS TO COME AND RECEIVE THE VACCINE AND DISSIPATE. A LOT OF THE FEAR THAT WE HAVE, ESPECIALLY WITH THE VACCINE, WE WERE EARTH DAY ALSO WITH OUR STAFF, WHICH DID A AN EXTENSION, A EXCEPTIONAL JOB PROVIDING ALL THAT AND WHEN WE WILL CONTINUE PROVIDING THAT SERVICE TO THE COMMUNITY, OUR COMMITMENT IS THERE. AND WITH THE HELP AND ASSISTANCE FROM ALL ELECTED OFFICIALS, WE WILL BE ABLE TO ALSO ACCOMPLISH THAT. AND WITH THAT, I AM HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS. WELL, THANK YOU, DOCTOR CARRANZA. YOU KNOW, YOU AND I TALKED ABOUT HOW IMPORTANT WE HAD SOME GREAT LESSONS THAT WE LEARNED DURING THE PANDEMIC, AND WE CAN'T PUT THEM ASIDE. WE LEARNED THAT FOLLOWING THE SCIENCE IS EXTREMELY HELPFUL. PEOPLE WERE TRYING TO FIGURE OTHER WAYS, BUT WE FOUND OUT THROUGH THE PANDEMIC THAT FOLLOWING THE SCIENCE WAS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT, THAT THOSE ARE THE MOST VULNERABLE, WHICH WOULD BE, YOU KNOW, OVER THE AGES OF 65, WITH UNDERLYING CONDITIONS THAT WE HAVE TO BE VERY CAREFUL AND KEEP AN EYE OUT BECAUSE THAT'S THE MOST VULNERABLE. AND OF COURSE, VERY YOUNG YOUNG CHILDREN. BUT THE ALSO THE VERY IMPORTANT IS SOMETHING THAT YOU'RE DOING NOW. DOCTOR CARRANZA IS GETTING THE WORD OUT. YOU KNOW THAT. REMEMBER HOW LONG IT TOOK US TO GET PEOPLE TO UNDERSTAND WHAT ARE SOME OF THE THINGS THAT WERE HELPFUL, SOME OF THE THINGS THAT WE COULD DO FOR THEM. I'M HOPING THAT NOW WITH AN INCREASE OF BROADBAND THAT WE'RE COMMUNICATING TO, TO MORE INDIVIDUALS, BUT JUST TAKING CARE OF ME, WE SORT OF WAITED A LITTLE WHILE WITH UNDERSTANDING HOW VULNERABLE OUR POPULATION WITH UNDERLYING CONDITIONS ARE, AND SO THOSE SHOULD BE VERY CAREFUL NOT TO BE ANYWHERE WHERE THERE'S THAT INFECTION. AND OF COURSE, THE MASK BECAME, YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE BEST DEFENSES THAT WE HAD TO WEAR THE MASKS WHEN, WHEN PEOPLE GOT ILL AND THE PEOPLE AROUND THEM. SO IS THERE ANY OTHER LEARNING LESSONS, DOCTOR CARRANZA, THAT THAT WE I DON'T WANT IT TO BE IN VAIN OF EVERYTHING WE WENT THROUGH WITH THE PANDEMIC AND EVERYTHING WE LEARNED. SO ARE THERE ANY OTHER LESSONS THAT THAT YOU MIGHT WANT TO SHARE FOR US? WELL, PROPER HYGIENE CARRIES LONG, LONG WAYS, AND THE PEOPLE THAT WANT TO WEAR THE MASKS, THEY CAN CONTINUE WEARING THE MASK BECAUSE THAT'S THE WAY THAT THEY'RE GOING TO PROTECT THEMSELVES. AND THAT IS VERY WELL SAID. JUDGE THAT THE MASK ALSO, MANY PEOPLE SAW IT AS INTRUSIVE, PERHAPS, BUT FOR THOSE INDIVIDUALS THAT HAVE THOSE CHRONIC CONDITIONS THAT ARE NOT VERY HEALTHY BECAUSE THEY'RE BATTLING SOME OTHER CONDITIONS, IT HAS PROVEN TO PROTECT THEM AND REMIND THEM THAT, YES, THEIR HEALTH IS PRECIOUS AND THEY WANT TO SPEND MANY DAYS AND MANY OCCASIONS WITH THEIR FAMILY, AND THAT'S THE WAY THAT THEY'RE GOING TO BE DOING IT. AND I WANT TO TAKE THE OPPORTUNITY NOW WITH YOUR TIME TO REMIND THE PUBLIC, ESPECIALLY WITH EASTER COMING VERY, VERY FAST AND APPROACHING, THAT IF SOMEBODY IS NOT FEELING WELL, PLEASE AVOID GOING TO THOSE LARGE GATHERINGS WHERE THEY CAN INFECT OTHER PEOPLE AND IN PARTICULAR THOSE THAT ARE CONSIDERED AT RISK. THAT IS ONE OF THE MESSAGES THAT WE'RE GOING

[01:35:05]

TO CONTINUE DOING. WE WILL CONTINUE DOING THOSE PREVENTIVE MESSAGES AND TELLING THE PUBLIC THAT WE HAVE PLENTY OF VACCINE AVAILABLE, AVAILABLE, BECAUSE THAT'S THE BEST DEFENSE THAT WE HAVE RIGHT NOW. AND THEY CAN THEY CAN COME AND RECEIVE THE VACCINE. THIS IS THE PERFECT TIMING. AND DON'T WAIT UNTIL SOMEBODY WAS ALREADY EXPOSED. AND THE OTHER LESSONS LEARNED IS, IS JUST THAT HAVING THAT MESSAGING THAT IS GOING TO BE SIMPLE, EASY TO UNDERSTAND, THAT IS GOING TO IS GOING TO CREATE THAT SENSE OF EASE FOR THE PEOPLE TO CONTINUE DOING WHAT THEY NEED TO BE DOING, GOING TO WORK, GOING TO SCHOOL, CONTINUE THEIR EDUCATION AND OTHER ACTIVITIES. BUT IF THEY'RE SICK, THEY NEED TO STAY HOME. WELL THANK YOU TWO, TWO GREAT LESSONS. FIRST OF ALL, THANK YOU TO OUR MEDIA BECAUSE THAT WAS IT WAS TAKING A LONG TIME BEFORE PEOPLE WERE UNDERSTANDING WHAT THEY NEEDED TO DO. BUT YOU MENTIONED TWO VERY IMPORTANT.

THE FIRST OUTBREAK WAS FROM TRAVEL. THE PEOPLE TRAVELING TO WHERE THERE WAS A LOT OF POSSIBILITIES. AND THEN THE SECOND ONE WAS LARGE CONGREGATIONS. THOSE WERE THE TWO THAT REALLY, YOU KNOW, SORT OF CATAPULTED US INTO A VERY DIFFICULT SITUATION. SO, YOU KNOW, IF YOU'RE SICK, AVOIDING LARGE CROWDS AND THEN ALSO NOT TRAVEL TO AREAS THAT ARE THAT COULD BE A POSSIBILITY OR AT LEAST THAT YOU BECOME MORE VULNERABLE. SO ONCE AGAIN, I'LL ASK THE COMMISSIONERS HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? YES. COMMISSIONER BUTLER WILL GO FIRST. THANK YOU.

THANK YOU, DOCTOR OCARANZA FOR THE FIVE CASES THAT HAVE BEEN CONFIRMED HERE IN EL PASO. DO YOU HAVE ANY MORE SPECIFICS? DO YOU DO YOU KNOW WHAT THE AGE GROUPS ARE AND WHAT GEOGRAPHIC AREAS THEY PROVIDE? THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER BUTLER. WE PROVIDED SOME GENERAL INFORMATION BECAUSE WE NEED TO PROTECT THE CONFIDENTIALITY OF THOSE PATIENTS AS WELL. SO MANY TIMES WHEN WE PROVIDE INFORMATION ABOUT THOSE CASES, WE MAY HAVE A GENERAL IDEA OF THE CASES. THERE ARE SOME ADULTS, THERE ARE SOME CHILDREN, AND THE VAST MAJORITY OF THOSE CASES ARE UNIMMUNIZED, WHICH CONTINUES TO MIRROR WHAT WE'RE SEEING ON THE OUTBREAK. AND GAINES COUNTY AND THE WEST PART OF TEXAS AND EAST PART OF NEW MEXICO. THANK YOU. ASIDE FROM THE BREAKDOWN THAT YOU SHOWED US, THE IMMUNIZATION BREAKDOWN FOR THE SCHOOL DISTRICTS, IS THERE ANY MORE DETAILED INFORMATION, MAYBE BY ZIP CODE OR CENSUS TRACK, THAT WE CAN LOOK AT TO SEE WHAT THE IMMUNIZATION LEVELS ARE? YOU KNOW, AT THE COMMUNITY LEVEL, I WILL LOOK FOR MORE INFORMATION.

BUT THE DEPARTMENT OF STATE HEALTH SERVICES, WHICH ARE THE ONES THAT AUTHORIZE THOSE CONSCIOUS OBJECTIONS, THEY BREAK IT DOWN EITHER BY COUNTY OR BY SCHOOL DISTRICT, BECAUSE THOSE ARE GOING TO BE THE ONES THAT ARE GOING TO BE MOSTLY AFFECTED. BUT I WILL I WILL LOOK FOR MORE INFORMATION SO I CAN PROVIDE TO YOU. UNFORTUNATELY, WHEN IT BECOMES THE HEALTH STATISTIC, IF IT'S JUST THE VACCINATION, WE MIGHT SEE JUST VACCINATION RATE PER COUNTY OR OR BY CITY OR MUNICIPALITY. OKAY. THANK YOU. AND THEN ARE DO YOU DOES THE PUBLIC HEALTH DEPARTMENT WORK DIRECTLY WITH OUR HOSPITALS AND CLINICS TO, TO ENSURE THAT THAT EVERYBODY'S PREPARED? YES, MA'AM. WE WORK VERY CLOSELY WITH ALL THE HOSPITALS AND ALSO WITH HEALTHCARE PROVIDERS. AND THE WAY THAT WE COMMUNICATE MESSAGING IS BY RELEASING HEALTH ADVISORIES OR HEALTH ALERTS, DEPENDING ON WHAT WE WANT TO TRANSMIT TO OUR HEALTHCARE PROVIDERS. BUT WE'VE BEEN WORKING VERY, VERY CLOSELY WITH THEM, AS WELL AS WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF STATE HEALTH SERVICES. AND EVEN WE HAVE THAT INFORMAL COMMUNICATION WITH OUR JUAREZ PARTNERS. PASO DEL NORTE REGION IS ONE VERY CLOSE COMMUNITY WHERE DISEASES KNOW NO BORDERS. SO WE NEED TO CONTINUOUSLY HAVE THAT COMMUNICATION WITH ALL THE STAKEHOLDERS. OKAY. AND THEN ONE LAST QUESTION. AND MAYBE THIS IS THIS IS A QUESTION FOR OUR COUNTY STAFF. BUT HOW HOW DOES THE COUNTY STAY INFORMED OF OUTBREAKS AND DEVELOPMENTS IN REAL TIME? GENERALLY WE HAVE CLOSE COMMUNICATION WITH DOCTOR CARRANZA AND DOCTOR CARRANZA. ONCE SOMETHING BECOMES A LARGER OUTBREAK, THERE IS A USUALLY A PUBLIC DASHBOARD. SO YOU MAY RECALL THAT WE HAD A DASHBOARD DURING THE PANDEMIC THAT WAS SHOWING US, AND IT DID BECOME ONCE THERE WAS ENOUGH DATA.

DOCTOR CARRANZA, I KNOW YOU SPOKE ABOUT THE CONFIDENTIALITY CONCERNS, BUT ONCE THERE'S

[01:40:01]

ENOUGH DATA THAT IT DOESN'T IDENTIFY AN INDIVIDUAL, THEN THEY GENERALLY DO START DOING MORE GEOGRAPHICAL BREAKDOWN, LIKE BY LIKE WHAT? ZIP CODE, AGE, GENDER, ETC. SO I IMAGINE THAT IF THIS BECOMES A MORE SIGNIFICANT OUTBREAK, IT WOULD WE WOULD BE ABLE TO GET THAT INFORMATION ESTABLISHED THROUGH A DASHBOARD. WORKING WITH THE CITY AND OEM. WELL THEN THAT THAT BRINGS UP ONE. ONE LAST QUESTION. SO, DOCTOR CARRANZA, ARE THERE PROJECTIONS? I MEAN, WE KNOW HOW INCREDIBLY INFECTIOUS THE MEASLES IS. WE KNOW WHERE IT'S WE'VE HAD OUTBREAKS ALREADY IN OUR COMMUNITY. DO YOU HAVE PROJECTIONS OR BASED ON CONTRACT TRACING? DO YOU ARE YOU ABLE TO FORESEE THIS SPREADING AMONG THE AMONGST THE COMMUNITY AND WHAT PRECAUTIONS OR ARE WE PREPARING THINGS LIKE PUTTING A DASHBOARD TOGETHER TO KEEP THE COMMUNITY INFORMED? DEFINITELY. THE FORECASTING IS A VERY COMPLEX ISSUE, AND WE'VE BEEN WORKING IN COLLABORATION WITH ACADEMIC OF HIGHER EDUCATION, IN WHICH THEY'RE TRYING TO PROVIDE SPECIFIC FORECASTING. THE IN PARTICULAR, THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT AUSTIN CREATED A FORECASTING TOOL WHERE THEY SHOW WHAT WILL BE THE EFFECT OF A CASE OF MEASLES IN THE SCHOOL SYSTEM, DEPENDING ON THE VACCINATION RATE AND THE SIZE OF THE SCHOOL. SO THAT WAY IT WILL PROVIDE AN IDEA TO SCHOOL OFFICIALS AND HOW LIKELY IT IS THAT THEY'RE GOING TO BE HAVING A BIGGER PROBLEM, AND THAT IS WITHOUT HAVING ANY OTHER INTERVENTION. BUT I CANNOT UNDERSCORE ENOUGH THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THE VACCINE AND THE WAY THAT WE NEED TO CONTINUE PROMOTING PREVENTION IN A WAY THAT WE'RE GOING TO BE ABLE TO STOP THE FURTHER SPREAD OF THE VIRUS ACROSS OUR COMMUNITY, AND THAT'S THE BEST WAY TO DO IT. AND SINCE WE FORESEE THAT MANY OF THE CASES ARE IN PARTICULAR WITH THE BEGINNING OF THE OUTBREAK IN WEST TEXAS, HE WAS IN SCHOOL AGE CHILDREN. THAT'S WHEN WE MET WITH ALL THE SCHOOL OFFICIALS TO GIVE THEM AN OVERVIEW OF WHAT WILL HAPPEN GIVEN THAT SUPPORT, BECAUSE WE KNEW THAT THERE THERE'S GOING TO BE CASES WITHIN THE SCHOOL SYSTEM, AND WE PROVIDED WITH THE RECOMMENDATIONS THAT ARE NEEDED TO KEEP THE STUDENTS SAFE AND HEALTHY, AND THEY CAN CONTINUE THEIR EDUCATION ONLY INSTRUCTION AT SCHOOL. SO THAT FORECASTING IS EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO DO. BUT AS MISS KELLER WAS MENTIONING, WE WORK VERY CLOSELY WITH THE COUNTY, AND ONCE WE HAVE THE DATA NECESSARY, WE WILL DEFINITELY DO THE DASHBOARDS SO THE PUBLIC CAN GO AND HAVE A REFERENCE AND MORE INFORMATION AS HOW THIS OUTBREAK IS BEHAVING WITHIN OUR COMMUNITY. THANK YOU DOCTOR. THANK YOU. YES, COMMISSIONER CORONADO, THANK YOU JUDGE. COMMISSIONERS. DOCTOR CARRANZA, YOU KNOW, I'VE BEEN DOING A LITTLE BIT OF THE MATH, SO COUNTRYWIDE, 75% OF THE CASES THIS YEAR ARE IN TEXAS, AND THE BULK OF THEM ARE IN WEST TEXAS. WHAT, IF ANYTHING, IS THE STATE DOING WITH REGARDS TO PROVIDING ADDITIONAL RESOURCES OR ANYTHING ELSE? THE STATE HAS BEEN ABLE TO PROVIDE THE VACCINATION, WHICH IS ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT THINGS, AND THEY WERE ALSO AUTHORIZING US TO USE THE VACCINE AS OUTBREAK DOSES, OUTBREAK DOSES, MEANING THAT THERE'S NOT GOING TO BE ANY ELIGIBILITY OR RESTRICTIONS IN THE WAY THAT WE PROVIDE THE VACCINE TO ANYBODY IN THE STATE OF TEXAS. IN NORMAL CONDITIONS, THE VACCINE, THE VACCINE THAT THE STATE PROVIDES HAVE TO MEET ELIGIBILITY, WHICH IF IT'S A VACCINE FOR CHILDREN, THEY NEED TO BE CHILDREN THAT ARE UNINSURED. THEY CHILDREN THAT ARE COVERED WITH MEDICAID CHIP OR UNDERINSURED, WHICH MEANS THAT THEIR INSURANCE DOESN'T COVER THE VACCINATIONS. THE ADULT SAFETY NET VACCINE IS, AGAIN, FOR THOSE THAT ARE UNINSURED, THE ONES THAT ARE COVERED WITH MEDICARE OR MEDICAID. AND WITH THIS OUTBREAK DOSES, WE'RE ABLE TO PROVIDE THE VACCINE WITHOUT ANY ELIGIBILITY IF THEY COME TO REQUEST THE VACCINE BECAUSE THEY NEED THE VACCINE, WE'LL BE ABLE TO PROVIDE IT. AND THAT IS SOMETHING THAT WE CONTINUE TO HAVE THAT CLOSE COMMUNICATION WITH THE STATE SO WE CAN HAVE THOSE RESOURCES AVAILABLE. WE HAVE PLENTY OF THE VACCINE AND WE CAN REQUEST MORE VACCINE AS WE GO THROUGH THE VACCINE. MINISTER, TO THE PEOPLE HERE IN THE COMMUNITY, WE EXPECT TO CONTINUE TO HAVE A LARGER DEMAND FOR THE VACCINE, AND WE'RE PREPARED TO MEET THAT DEMAND. THE OTHER RESOURCES THAT THE STATE ARE PROVIDING IS THE

[01:45:08]

TESTING THAT IS BEING DONE AT THE STATE LAB, WHICH THEY HAVE THAT CRITERIA TO BE ABLE TO BE TESTED THROUGH THE STATE LAB. AND THE LOCAL HOSPITALS HAVE THAT COMMUNICATION WITH US, SO WE CAN HAVE THAT FACILITATED FOR THEM. OR THE HOSPITALS AND OTHER PROVIDERS CAN SEND THOSE SAMPLES TO COMMERCIAL LABS AS WELL TO GET THE CONFIRMATORY TESTING. THE I WOULD LIKE TO MENTION THAT THE DEPARTMENT OF STATE HEALTH SERVICES REACHED NINE AND TEN, WHICH ARE HOUSED HERE IN EL PASO. THEY'VE BEEN EXTREMELY HELPFUL, AND WE WORK VERY CLOSE TOGETHER IN COLLABORATION, BECAUSE THIS IS NOT JUST AN OUTBREAK IN THE WEST PART OF TEXAS. THIS IS SOMETHING THAT AFFECTS OUR COMMUNITY, AND THAT'S WHAT WE NEED TO BRING ALL THE STAKEHOLDERS THAT WE NEED TO INTO THE TABLE, SO WE CAN HAVE ALL THE RESOURCES AVAILABLE TO THAT COMMUNITY, WHICH HAS BEEN HAPPENING UP TO NOW. OKAY. AND DOES HAS ANY OR HAS THERE BEEN ANY INDICATION EITHER THE INFORMATION THAT YOU'VE GATHERED ABOUT WHY OUR STATE IS PREDOMINANTLY SEEING THESE CASES AND PREDOMINANTLY IN WEST TEXAS, ANYTHING STAND OUT AS TO WHY IT'S HAPPENING HERE? YES. THE STAGGERING NUMBER THAT PROVIDES THE ANSWER TO THAT QUESTION IS THE LOW VACCINATION RATE.

THERE'S A LOT OF HESITANCY AS FAR AS VACCINATION. AND THE YOUNG PARENTS, MANY TIMES THEY GET INFORMATION THAT MAKES THEM DECIDE NOT TO VACCINATE THEIR CHILDREN. THAT IS THE MAIN REASON WHY WE ARE SEEING OUTBREAKS OF MEASLES, NOT JUST IN OUR COMMUNITY OF WEST TEXAS, BUT ALL ACROSS THE COUNTRY. AND IN THE YEAR 2000, WE HAD CONSIDERED MISSILES TO BE ERADICATED AND NOT BEING ENDEMIC. BUT UNFORTUNATELY, AS I AS I SHOWED YOU, THE INCREASE IN THE CONSCIENCE OBJECTIONS TO THE VACCINATION HAS CAUSED THE IDEAL SITUATION FOR INFECTIOUS DISEASES SUCH AS MEASLES TO SPREAD THROUGH COMMUNITIES. AND WHAT WHAT HAS BEEN THE RESPONSE, IN YOUR OPINION, WITH RESPECT TO THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT REGARDING THIS OUTBREAK? WELL, SINCE I DO NOT RESPOND TO THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, I RESPOND TO OUR COMMUNITY, I RESPOND TO THE CITIZENS OF EL PASO. THIS IS WHAT I AM DOING, THE DEPARTMENT IS DOING, AND WE HAVE DONE THE BEST OF OUR ABILITIES TO BRING THAT PREVENTION, WHICH IS THE VACCINE, TO EVERYBODY THAT NEEDS IT AND REQUESTED. WE ARE ABLE TO PROVIDE THAT. WE NEED TO CONTINUE KEEPING OUR COMMUNITY SAFE AND HEALTHY, AND THIS IS WHAT WE WILL CONTINUE TO DO, AND THIS IS OUR COMMITMENT TO OUR COMMUNITY. WE WILL WE HAVE THAT THAT COMMITMENT, AND WE WILL CONTINUE DOING IT. AND DO YOU SEE ANY ASSISTANCE OR IN THE TERMS OF PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENTS OR OTHER RESOURCES THAT HAVE BEEN DIRECTED FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO US? SO FAR, WE HAVEN'T HAD ANY OF THOSE PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENTS FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT. AND WHAT I FOUND THAT IS MOST USEFUL, AND EVEN FROM THE COVID 19 PANDEMIC, IS THE PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENTS THAT WE DO LOCALLY BECAUSE THE PEOPLE IDENTIFY WITH US, THE PEOPLE IDENTIFY WHAT WE'RE DOING FOR THEM, AND THAT HAS PROVEN TO BE MOST EFFECTIVE BECAUSE WE MAY USE SOMETHING THAT THEY CREATED UP IN THE NORTHEAST COAST THAT MIGHT NOT BE APPLIED AND MIGHT NOT BE CULTURALLY COMPETENT, MIGHT NOT BE SOMETHING THAT THE PEOPLE FROM EL PASO CAN IDENTIFY AND RELATE TO. BUT IF WE HAVE JUDGE SAMANIEGO TALKING TO THE PEOPLE AND TELLING THEM COME AND GETTING VACCINATED, THAT WILL CREATE A BIG POOL THAT WILL CREATE A VERY POSITIVE RESPONSE IN THE WAY THAT WE'RE GOING TO BE ABLE TO PROVIDE THAT, THAT PREVENTIVE MEASURE. SO THAT'S WHY I STRONGLY BELIEVE THAT THE MESSAGING THAT WE CAN DO LOCALLY IS GOING TO CREATE THE BEST POSITIVE EFFECT IN THE COMMUNITY. AND IT'S AND THAT'S WHY I AM SO GRATEFUL TO THE COURT, TO THE COUNTY JUDGE, TO THE CITY OFFICIALS, IN THE WAY THAT THEY ALL COME TOGETHER. AND WE ALL HAVE BEEN ABLE TO PROVIDE THAT POSITIVE MESSAGING IN THE BEST INTEREST OF OUR COMMUNITY. THANK YOU DOCTOR. THANK YOU. YOU KNOW, THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER. ONE LAST. THEN IT WILL BE COMMISSIONER STOUT. BUT I JUST WANTED TO ONE OF THE OTHER LESSON LEARNED IS OUR ABILITY TO TAKE CARE OF OUR NEIGHBORS, TO OFFER OUR RESOURCES TO BE UNDERSTAND WHAT THEY'RE GOING THROUGH. AND SO I REALLY ENCOURAGE, AND I KNOW YOU'RE EXTREMELY GOOD AT THIS, DOCTOR CARRANZA, IS THAT SOMETIMES AT THE BEGINNING, WE FELT LIKE THE BRIDGE STOPS EVERYTHING. RIGHT? AND WE HAVE TO WORK TOGETHER.

YOU KNOW, WE BREATHE THE SAME AIR. WE HAVE OUR FAMILIES THERE. AND SO WHATEVER WE COULD DO, I

[01:50:05]

ENCOURAGE ANY RESOURCES, INFORMATION OR EVEN KNOWING WHAT'S GOING ON WITH THEM WOULD BE VERY HELPFUL. AS AS WE LEARNED THROUGH THE PANDEMIC THAT THAT RELATIONSHIP OF UNDERSTANDING THEIR CHALLENGES AND HOW WE COULD HELP AND VICE VERSA. SO JUST AS ALWAYS, JUST ENCOURAGING THAT, COMMISSIONER STOUT. YEAH. JUDGE, I, ALONG THOSE SAME LINES, I WAS GOING TO I WAS GOING TO ASK ABOUT WHETHER OR NOT WE KNOW WHAT THE VACCINE RATES ARE AND WHAT IS IN AND IF WE HAVE A STRATEGY, A STRATEGY TO LOOK INTO HELPING TO VACCINATE PEOPLE IN JUAREZ THAT THAT MAY NEED VACCINES. I REMEMBER IN LATE 2020 WHEN WE STARTED HEARING ABOUT VACCINES BEING AVAILABLE, THERE WERE A NUMBER OF TIMES THAT I BROUGHT UP IN OUR TASK FORCE MEETINGS THAT WE NEEDED TO CREATE A STRATEGY TO VACCINATE PEOPLE IN JUAREZ, AND I WAS LAUGHED OUT OF THE ROOM UNTIL APRIL, WHEN WE SAW SAN DIEGO START VACCINATING PEOPLE IN TIJUANA. AND THEN WE PICKED UP THE, THE IDEA TO START DOING THAT OURSELVES. AND WE DID A LOT. BUT I FEEL LIKE WE COULD HAVE BEEN A LOT BETTER A LOT SOONER. AND SO I DON'T WANT TO BE CAUGHT IN THE SAME POSITION WHERE WE'RE WITHOUT A STRATEGY AND WE FIND OURSELVES IN A DIFFICULT SITUATION. WE WERE LUCKY THAT WE THAT WE WERE ABLE TO DO THINGS AS QUICKLY AS WE DID LAST TIME. BUT I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE A STRATEGY AND THAT WE HAVE ACCESS TO VACCINES THAT CAN BE THAT CAN BE SHARED WITH WITH FOLKS IN JUAREZ. WE DON'T NEED THE SAME THING AS LAST TIME. THANK YOU VERY MUCH, COMMISSIONER STOUT. AND ACTUALLY TOUCHING A LITTLE BIT MORE INTO THAT. WHAT WE TRY TO DO IS ELIMINATE BARRIERS FOR PEOPLE TO COME AND RECEIVE THE VACCINE. AND WE DON'T ASK FOR ANY IMMIGRATION STATUS. WE DON'T ASK FOR WHERE THEY LIVE, IF THEY'RE HERE AT OUR FOOTSTEPS AND THEY NEED THE VACCINE, WE WILL BE PROVIDING THE VACCINE. WE HAVE BEEN VERY CLOSE WITH THE MEXICAN CONSULATE, WITH MAURICIO LARA PONCELA AND CONSUL GENERAL. HE'S BEEN AN EXTREMELY, EXTREMELY FRIEND OF PUBLIC HEALTH, AND WE WANT TO CONTINUE BEING VERY CLOSE TO HIM BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT THERE'S A LOT OF THE POPULATION THAT HAVE ROOTS TIES TO NOT JUST JUAREZ, BUT THE WHOLE STATE OF CHIHUAHUA AND MANY OTHER STATES IN MEXICO. AND IN PARTICULAR, WE'RE EXPECTING AN INFLUX OF PEOPLE REQUESTING THE VACCINE THIS WEEK BEING A HOLIDAY, OR PEOPLE ARE GOING TO BE TRAVELING TO DO THEIR SHOPPING AND THEY'RE NOT GOING TO BE HAVING WORK. THEY'RE GOING TO BE HAVING SOME DAYS THAT THEY'RE GOING TO BE COMING TO US. AND THAT'S WHAT WE NEED TO CONTINUE BEING AVAILABLE AND HAVE THAT AVAILABILITY FOR THOSE THAT COME AND REQUEST THE VACCINE. YEAH, I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE DON'T HAVE THE MENTALITY THAT WE HAD AT THE BEGINNING LAST YEAR AND LATE, LATE 20 OR LAST LAST TIME IN LATE 2020, WHERE WE WHERE WE SAID OR SOME PEOPLE WERE SAYING, WELL, WE HAVE TO HAVE EVERYBODY VACCINATED HERE FIRST AND, AND DIDN'T REALLY WANT TO LOOK AT JUAREZ. AND SO WE NEED TO COME TOGETHER, WHETHER IT'S WITH THE CITY, YOU ALL THE COUNTY. AND WE NEED TO HAVE A STRATEGY. YES, DEFINITELY. AND THANK YOU FOR THAT. AND THAT'S WHY I WANTED TO SEND A MESSAGE TO THAT. WE'RE NOT GOING TO BE ASKING FOR IMMIGRATION STATUS. WE'RE NOT GOING TO BE ASKING FOR ANYTHING ELSE. WE JUST ASK THE PEOPLE TO COME AND GET VACCINATED. THAT IS THE MOST IMPORTANT THING, AND THAT'S THE BEST WAY THAT WE'RE GOING TO BE ABLE TO DO, BECAUSE ONE PERSON THAT WE VACCINATE IS GOING TO PROTECT MANY OTHERS.

AND IT'S AS I MENTIONED, DISEASES KNOW NO BORDERS AND PEOPLE ARE MOBILE, AND WE ALL VISIT FAMILY ACROSS THE BORDER AND VICE VERSA. YEAH. AND ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT INTERNATIONAL TRAVEL RIGHT ON YOUR ON YOUR LIST OF THINGS TO NOT DO IS TRAVEL INTERNATIONALLY WHEN TO PLACES WHERE THERE MAY BE MEASLES OUTBREAKS. BUT THAT'S VERY DIFFICULT FOR A LOT OF PEOPLE IN THIS COMMUNITY. DEFINITELY. OKAY. WELL, DOCTOR CARRANZA, AS ALWAYS, OUR PARTNERSHIP IS AMAZING. WE THANK YOU. AND WHATEVER WE COULD DO TO CONTINUE. I KNOW THERE'S DISCUSSIONS ALSO WITH THE MAYOR TO, YOU KNOW, GO OUT THERE QUICKLY AND, YOU KNOW, DO THE PSA AND DO AS MUCH INFORMATION AS POSSIBLE. BUT AS ALWAYS, YOU'VE BEEN A TREMENDOUS PARTNER AND A GREAT CHAMPION FOR PUBLIC HEALTH. SO THANK YOU, DOCTOR CARRANZA, AND THANK YOU. THANK YOU. AND I APPRECIATE IT. AND THANK YOU, JUDGE. COMMISSIONERS, I REALLY APPRECIATE THE TIME AND ALSO THE COLLABORATION THAT WE'VE HAD OVER THE YEARS. AND I WANT TO ALSO MENTION THE GREAT COLLABORATION AND ASSISTANCE FROM MISS KELLER AS WELL, AND THE COUNTY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE AS WELL. OKAY. WE'RE HERE FOR YOU AS WELL. THANK YOU, THANK YOU.

BYE BYE. BYE BYE. ITEM SEVEN BE DISCUSS AND TAKE APPROPRIATE ACTION REGARDING AN ORDER

[01:55:02]

AUTHORIZING THE ISSUANCE OF EL PASO COUNTY HOSPITAL DISTRICT GENERAL OBLIGATION BONDS IN AN AGGREGATE AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $275 MILLION. BEFORE YOU START. JACOB IS THERE. WE TALKED HE

[B. Discuss and take appropriate action regarding an order authorizing the issuance of El Paso County Hospital District General Obligation Bonds in an aggregate amount not to exceed $275,000,000. R. Jacob Cintron, President & CEO, University Medical Center/EPCHD, 915-521-7600]

TALKED A LITTLE BIT ABOUT SOME OF THE PREPARATION. IS THERE ANYTHING YOU CAN OFFER FROM UMC AS FAR AS IN RESPECT TO WHAT DOCTOR CARRANZA TALKED ABOUT? WELL, I CAN TELL YOU THAT ANYBODY THAT COMES IN WITH, WITH ANY SYMPTOMS FOR MEASLES OR CAN COME TO OUR EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT AND WE'LL, YOU KNOW, TAKE THE PROPER PRECAUTIONS. NORMALLY WHEN YOU DO THAT, IT TAKES A FEW DAYS TO GET THE STATE CONFIRMATION WHETHER A PATIENT HAS MEASLES OR NOT. AT OUR CLINICS, WE OFFER THE MMR VACCINE AS WELL. SO ANY ANYBODY USING OUR CLINICS CAN SEE A PHYSICIAN AND BE ABLE TO GET VACCINATED IF THEY LIKE. DOCTOR CARRANZA AND THE PUBLIC HEALTH DEPARTMENT ARE REALLY EFFECTIVE IN COMMUNICATING WITH US IN TERMS OF ANY OF THESE DISEASES, SUCH AS TUBERCULOSIS, MEASLES, AS YOU SAW IN COVID. AND THEY'RE ALWAYS WILLING TO SHARE INFORMATION WITH US. THEY COMMUNICATE WITH US REGULARLY AS WE TO THEM, AND SO WE'LL CONTINUE TO PUSH ON THAT. I KNOW THAT WHEN I WAS AT A TEACHING HOSPITAL OF TEXAS ADVOCACY MEETING WITH THE BOARD, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WAS MENTIONED BY THE CEO OUT OF THE MIDLAND-ODESSA AREA IS WHAT THEY WERE SEEING IS REALLY PRIMARILY THAT WHERE A LOT OF THE MEASLES OUTBREAK WAS OCCURRING, WAS WITH PEOPLE THAT WERE NOT VACCINATED WITH IT. SO THE IDEA OF EVEN, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE THAT ARE NOW ADULTS THAT MAY QUALIFY FOR A MEASLES VACCINE IF THEY'RE NOT, IF THEY NEVER GOT ONE, IS ALSO A VERY GOOD IDEA TO KEEP CONTROL FROM THE MEASLES CONTINUING TO SPREAD TO AREAS WHERE PEOPLE MIGHT BE VULNERABLE. YEAH. AND UNFORTUNATELY, YOU KNOW, AS WE SAY, HISTORY REPEATS ITSELF BECAUSE WE DON'T LEARN FROM IT. BUT THANK YOU ALL. SO YOU WERE AN AMAZING PARTNER. AND I KNOW YOU'LL STAY CLOSE TO US AND TO DOCTOR CARRANZA. SO THANK YOU FOR THE ADDITIONAL COMMENTS. GO AHEAD. JACOB. SO THANK YOU, JUDGE SAMANIEGO AND OUR COMMISSIONERS. BASICALLY, AS WAS MENTIONED, WE ARE HERE TO REALLY SEEK AUTHORIZATION IN THE ISSUANCE OF EL PASO COUNTY HOSPITAL DISTRICT GENERAL OBLIGATION BONDS IN THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED 275 MILLION. WITH ME TO GO OVER THE PRESENTATION IS MICHAEL NUNEZ, OUR DISTRICT'S CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER, AND PAUL BRADEN FROM NORTON ROSE FULBRIGHT AS WELL FOR LEGAL COUNSEL. SO, MICHAEL. GOOD MORNING, COMMISSIONERS. MY NAME IS MICHAEL NUNEZ, THE DISTRICT CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER FOR THE EL PASO COUNTY HOSPITAL DISTRICT. WAS THERE SOMETHING YOU WERE GOING TO SAY? YEAH. OKAY. THANK YOU. OKAY. SO WHAT WE HAVE HERE, JUST A BRIEF PRESENTATION UPON UPON WHAT THE PLAN IS NOW FOR THE FOR OUR BOND PROJECTS. KEEP IN MIND, BACK IN NOVEMBER 2024, THE VOTERS OF EL PASO COUNTY DID APPROVE UP TO 396.6 MILLION WORTH OF GENERAL OBLIGATION BOND BONDS. NOW, CURRENTLY, RIGHT NOW, THERE ARE IRS RULES AND REGULATIONS. NOW THAT WHEN YOU DO RECEIVE BOND PROCEEDS, YOU NEED TO SPEND MOST, IF NOT ALL, WITHIN WITHIN 36 MONTHS OF THAT. SO SINCE OUR CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS ARE GOING TO LAST THROUGH ABOUT 2031, ABOUT SIX YEARS PROJECTS, WE ARE GOING TO COME IN IN TWO SEPARATE TRANCHES FOR THE FOR THE BOND FUNDS CURRENTLY. RIGHT NOW WE DO PLAN IN THE SUMMER, EARLY JUNE TO GO FOR UP TO 275 MILLION OF GENERAL OBLIGATION BONDS. AND THEN DEPENDING UPON WHEN THE HOW THE CONSTRUCTION DRAWDOWN SCHEDULE GOES. RIGHT NOW WE ARE TARGETING LATE 2027 OR EARLY 2028 TO GO FOR THE REMAINING 121.6 MILLION OF THE OF THE BOND ISSUE CURRENTLY. RIGHT NOW, WHAT THE TIMETABLE IS ON LAST LAST WEEK, THE UMC BOARD OF MANAGERS DID APPROVE THE BOND ORDER UP TO THE $275 MILLION BOND ORDER REQUEST. TODAY. WE ARE WE'RE INTRODUCING. BUT WE CAN ALSO THAT IF AT THE COURT'S WISHES, WE CAN ALSO APPROVE IT AND ADOPT THE ORDER TODAY. AND WE DID HAVE HERE ON AS AN ALTERNATE MEASURE TO COME BACK ON MAY 5TH TO GET THE FORMAL APPROVAL FROM THE COMMISSIONERS COURT FOR THIS BOND ORDER. NOW, CURRENTLY, THE CURRENT TIMETABLE WORKING WITH THE WITH OUR FINANCIAL ADVISOR, HILLTOP SECURITIES, WE DO NOW THAT WE'RE GOING TO BE FINISHING UP OUR SIX MONTH FINANCIAL NUMBERS THROUGH APRIL 30TH HERE, HERE. LATER TODAY, WE WILL BE BE WORKING WITH OUR RATING AGENCIES AND GOING THROUGH THOSE RATING AGENCIES UPDATES. WAS IT DURING THE MONTH OF MAY AND ALSO BE PREPARING THE PRELIMINARY OFFICIAL STATEMENT FOR THE UPCOMING BOND ISSUE? AND THEN CURRENTLY RIGHT NOW WE DO HAVE ON THE CALENDAR IN EARLY JUNE, I THINK RIGHT NOW IT'S JUNE 3RD TO GO TO BOND PRICING. AND THEN PROBABLY ABOUT TOWARDS THE END OF JUNE, WE WOULD ACTUALLY GET THE BOND PROCEEDS. NOW, CURRENTLY, RIGHT NOW WITH THE

[02:00:05]

NOW WHEN WE WERE GOING TO INITIALLY TO THE UMC FINANCE COMMITTEE, AND THEN ONE WEEK LATER TO THE BOARD, WE DID HAVE SOME OF THE BOND SALE FORECAST. NOW THESE ARE AS OF MARCH 26TH.

THAT WILL PROVIDE SOME FURTHER UPDATES WITH WHERE WE ARE, PARTICULARLY WITH WITH A LOT OF THE MARKET INSTABILITY THAT WE HAVE SEEN OVER THE LAST WEEK TO TEN DAYS. BUT CURRENTLY RIGHT NOW, THE BOND PAR VALUE WOULD BE ABOUT 267.5 MILLION. THERE WOULD BE A BOND PREMIUM OF ABOUT 13.5.

NOW KEEP IN MIND THAT THERE ARE TWO PORTIONS TO THIS BOND SALE. THERE'S THE FIRST ONE IS WHAT I'LL CALL THE EQUIPMENT PORTION. THIS WILL BE AMORTIZED OVER TEN YEARS. AND THAT'S ABOUT 78.7 MILLION, WITH AN ESTIMATED ANNUAL DEBT SERVICE OF ABOUT 10.2 MILLION. THIS WOULD RUN THROUGH AUGUST OF 2035. THE SECOND PART OF THE BOND SET WOULD BE WHAT WE CALL THE BRICKS AND MORTAR. THIS WILL BE AMORTIZED OVER A 30 YEAR PERIOD. THAT'S ABOUT 189 MILLION ANNUAL DEBT SERVICE, ABOUT 12.5 MILLION THROUGH AUGUST OF 2055. SO THE TOTAL ESTIMATED ANNUAL DEBT SERVICE CURRENTLY RIGHT NOW IS ABOUT 22.7 MILLION FOR THE FIRST TEN YEARS. AND THEN THE REMAINING 20 YEARS WOULD THEN BE ABOUT 12.5 MILLION THROUGH ABOUT 2055. NOW, CURRENTLY, THE WHAT WE CALL THE ESTIMATED ALL IN TRUE INTEREST COST AND THESE WERE AS OF MARCH 26TH, WAS ABOUT 4.86%. NOW, WE DID HAVE UPDATES FROM HILLTOP SECURITIES LAST THURSDAY, AND THAT HAD RISEN TO ABOUT 5.03%. SO ABOUT A 17 BASIS POINT INCREASE FROM WHERE WE WERE ON MARCH 26TH TO WHERE WE WERE LAST LAST THURSDAY. NOW, FOR PURPOSES OF THE OF THE BOND ORDER, BECAUSE IT IS MORE OF A NOT TO EXCEED WHAT WE ARE, THE ASSUMPTIONS WE DID RUN WAS OKAY. SO THE FIRST BOND ORDER HERE, I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT LET ME GO BACK. THE BOND WOULD BE SOLD WITH BOND INSURANCE. SO LAST YEAR WHEN WE DID DO OUR OUR GENERAL OBLIGATION BOND REFUNDING, WE DID DO WE DID DO BOND INSURANCE. AND THAT WAS AND THAT PROVED VERY, VERY FRUITFUL FOR TO US DURING LAST LAST YEAR'S BOND BOND REFINANCING FOR THE PURPOSES OF THE BOND ORDER, THE NOT TO EXCEED INTEREST RATE.

WE TOOK SOME A COUPLE OF CONSERVATIVE MEASURES. ONE, NO BOND INSURANCE AND THIS WOULD AND THE ALL IN TRUE INTEREST COSTS WENT UP TO ABOUT 5.18%. AND WITH THAT, WE'RE THE SECOND CONSERVATIVE MEASURE WE'RE GOING TO DO ON THE ON THE PROPOSED BOND ORDER. WAS THAT 100 BASIS POINTS TO THAT WOULD BE ABOUT 6.118% CURRENTLY. RIGHT NOW, AS OF LAST LAST THURSDAY, THIS DID GO UP SLIGHTLY TO ABOUT 6.2 6.23%. SO WITH THE SO WITH THE BOND ORDER, IF WE WERE TO ADOPT THAT TODAY, OR IF WE WERE TO WAIT UNTIL UNTIL UNTIL EARLY MAY, IF WE WERE TO ADOPT THAT TODAY, OUR, OUR, OUR FINANCIAL ADVISORS, MAYBE WE COULD WE WOULD RECOMMEND A NOT TO EXCEED JUST TO BE CONSERVATIVE OF ABOUT 7%. BUT CURRENTLY RIGHT NOW, AS THE MARKET CONDITIONS ON THE PREVIOUS SLIDE SHOW AS OF LAST THURSDAY, THAT BE WELL, THIS WAS 4.86, 4.86%. LAST THURSDAY WAS ABOUT 5.5.0 3%. SO SOME OF THE THINGS THAT WE WILL BE LOOKING AT OVER THE NEXT COUPLE OF MONTHS, BECAUSE WE ARE WE'RE ABOUT 60 DAYS AWAY FROM THE BOND SALE, IS OBVIOUSLY RIGHT NOW WITH THE UNSTABLE MARKET DUE TO THE TARIFF DISCUSSIONS. AND AS A TRADE WAR UNFOLDS NOW, THE MARKET DID REACT A LITTLE POSITIVELY ON FRIDAY AFTERNOON AFTER THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION'S 90 DAY PAUSE ON, ON, ON SOME OF THE TARIFFS AND THEN ALSO THE CURRENT TEMPORARY PAUSE ON WHAT THEY CALL THE ELECTRONIC TARIFFS, YOU KNOW, CURRENTLY RIGHT NOW. SO THAT DID HELP OUT THE MARKET ON FRIDAY WHERE WE'VE BEEN OVER THE EVEN JUST THE LAST WEEK THERE WAS ABOUT A 65 BASIS POINT INCREASE JUST FROM MONDAY APRIL 7TH TO FRIDAY APRIL 11TH. SO THAT JUST GOES BACK TO THE TO THE MARKET INSTABILITY. NOW, WE DO HAVE THE UPCOMING FEDERAL OPEN MARKET COMMITTEE MEETINGS CURRENTLY. RIGHT NOW THE EARLIEST ONE IS MAY 3RD AND MAY 4TH. IN SPEAKING WITH HILLTOP SECURITIES LAST WEEK, THERE WAS EVEN SOME DISCUSSIONS OF MAYBE THE FOMC TO MAYBE EVEN TAKE ACTION BEFORE THIS MEETING. CURRENTLY. RIGHT NOW THEY'RE LOOKING AT NOW INTEREST RATES OR INFLATION DID COME DOWN TO ITS LOWEST POINT OVER THE LAST SEVERAL WEEKS, LAST SEVERAL YEARS DOWN TO ABOUT 2.4%. NOW THEIR THEIR WORRISOME IS THAT TO AVOID A RECESSION. BUT THEN AT THE SAME TIME THEY HAVE TO DEAL WITH THE, YOU KNOW, DISCUSSION ABOUT TARIFFS OR WHETHER THAT HAVE AN OPPOSITE IMPACT IN TERMS OF RISING INFLATION. AND THEN CURRENTLY RIGHT NOW WORKING WITH HILLTOP SECURITIES, PARTICULARLY BECAUSE HARRIS HEALTH, THEY THEY ARE GOING OUT FOR THEIR BONDS BOND SALE, THEIR BOND PRICING. THEY CURRENTLY ARE SCHEDULED TO GO IN MID MAY. BUT ONE OF THE

[02:05:01]

ITEMS THAT THEY THAT THE RATING AGENCIES ARE LOOKING AT RIGHT NOW THAT WE WILL ALSO DO IS TO REVISIT THE CONSTRUCTION COST ESTIMATES, PARTICULARLY NOW THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT, YOU KNOW, NOT ONLY THE FIRST THREE YEARS, BUT ALSO OVER THE SIX YEAR TIME PERIOD. SO WITH THAT, I WILL PAUSE AND SEE IF THERE'S ANY QUESTIONS THAT THE COMMISSIONERS COURT MAY HAVE, OR ALSO IF THERE'S ANY LEGAL QUESTIONS REGARDING THE PROPOSED BOND ORDER. PAUL BRADEN IS HERE AS WELL. YES, COMMISSIONER CORONADO, THANK YOU, JUDGE. AND THE PROJECTS THAT YOU ALL ARE CONSIDERING IN THE FIRST TRANCHE, OBVIOUSLY, YOU'VE TAKEN A LOOK AT THOSE THAT MIGHT BE MORE SUSCEPTIBLE TO THE INFLATIONARY RATE. YEAH, WE HAVE I DON'T HAVE THE HERE WITH ME, BUT OUR TEAM I WAS MARIA ZAMPINI OUR CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER. AND THEN AS WELL AS JERRY AIKEN, THEY'VE THEY'VE TAKEN THE TIME AND HAVE GONE THROUGH OVER THE LAST, LAST 3 OR 4 MONTHS IN TERMS OF ALL THE PROJECTS THAT NEED TO HAPPEN, ARE THERE CERTAIN ONES THAT NEED TO HAPPEN FIRST BEFORE SUBSEQUENT ONES CAN ACTUALLY HAPPEN? SO WE DO HAVE A, A, A FAIRLY DETAILED PLAN FOR THE NEXT SIX YEARS. RIGHT. AND, AND I ANTICIPATE THAT THERE WILL BE ALSO A, A CALL DATE ON THE BOND SO THAT WE'RE ABLE TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF REFINANCING DOWN THE ROAD. YES. NORMALLY THAT'S A THAT'S TEN YEARS AS ARE CURRENTLY RIGHT NOW. IF WE WERE TO SELL THEM IN IN 2025, THE FIRST CALL YOUR RATE PENDING THAT THERE'S NO CHANGES IN IN THE CURRENT BOND FINANCING LAWS THAT THAT THAT WOULD BE TEN YEARS FROM NOW IN 2035. ALL RIGHT. AND THAT'S THE EARLIEST THAT THE CALL DATE COULD BE. YES. CURRENTLY. RIGHT NOW, BASED UPON BOND REGULATIONS. YES, YES.

YOU NORMALLY HAVE TO WAIT TEN YEARS BEFORE YOU CAN DO A REFINANCE. RIGHT? THAT'S ALL I HAVE, JUDGE. THANK YOU. YES. A LIST OF THE PROJECT SCHEDULE THAT YOU WERE JUST MENTIONING.

ABSOLUTELY, ABSOLUTELY. WE CAN DO THAT. YEAH, YEAH. AND WE HAVE A BROKEN OUT IN TERMS OF NOT ONLY THE PROJECTS START DATE, END DATE, BUT ALSO IN TERMS OF THE USE OF THE BOND PROCEEDS BY EACH OF THE, YOU KNOW, FOR THE NEXT 5 OR 6 YEARS. THANK YOU. AND FROM THE LEGAL DEPARTMENT, IS THERE ANYTHING ON THAT THAT WE NEED TO KNOW OR SOME OF THE THINGS THAT ARE GOING TO BE COMING UP FROM OUR PERSPECTIVE AND SUPPORTING THAT OR WHATEVER YOU COULD HELP US WITH ON THAT? THANK YOU. JUDGE AND ASSISTANT COUNTY ATTORNEY. SO THE ONLY THING ON THIS ITEM THAT IS, IF YOU ALL DID WANT US TO GO BACK AND REVIEW THIS, FOR EXAMPLE, WITH BOND COUNSEL, WE COULD DEFINITELY DO THAT. IT HAS BEEN REVIEWED BY BY THEIR BOND COUNSEL. SO IF THAT IS SUFFICIENT, SUFFICIENT FOR YOU ALL THAT THAT IS FINE. HOWEVER, THAT WOULD BE ONLY THE ONLY ADDITIONAL THING THAT WE COULD SUGGEST FOR YOU ALL IF YOU ALL DID WANT TO, TO HAVE THAT DONE AND MISS GAGLIONE IS ALSO ON IN THE EVENT, SHE WOULD ALSO LIKE TO ADD SOMETHING. HI ERICA, SEE YOU COMING UP ON THE SCREEN. GOOD MORNING JUDGE. COMMISSIONERS, I WAS JUST GOING TO SAY WHAT MISS SCHUMACHER SAID. IF, IF, IF THE COURT HAS ANY DIRECTION THAT THEY WANT TO GIVE FOR REVIEW, THE COURT CAN DO THAT IF IT WOULD LIKE TO. YEAH. WELL, I THINK WE'VE HEARD SOME THINGS THAT, YOU KNOW, WHATEVER KEEPING US POSTED, ANYTHING WE DO TO BE SUPPORTIVE.

THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT TO THE COUNTY AS WELL. SO WHATEVER WE COULD DO TO SUPPORT SOMETHING AS INCREDIBLE AS WHAT YOU'VE ACCOMPLISHED. SO YOU KNOW, WE'LL AND THEN I KNOW OUR LEGAL TEAM WILL LET US KNOW TO WHAT EXTENT. AND YOU KNOW HOW WE COULD HELP AND SUPPORT. BUT I THINK MORE THAN ANYTHING, THANKING THE COMMUNITY FOR, YOU KNOW, VOTING AND BEING OUT THERE AND UNDERSTANDING THAT WE CAN HAVE WE CAN TALK ABOUT ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, ALL WE ALL WE CAN AND TOURISM AND ALL THESE THINGS. BUT THE FUNDAMENTAL PREMISE OF ANY COMMUNITY IS HEALTH CARE. AND FROM THERE THINGS WILL SUCCEED. WITHOUT THAT, IT'S NOT BALANCED PROPERLY. SO WE THANK YOUR TEAM, EVERYONE AND YOUR TEAM, OMAR, EVERYBODY ELSE THAT'S HERE. AND THANK YOU, JACOB, FOR CHURCH COMMISSION. YOU ALL JUST MAYBE GO OVER REALLY QUICKLY WHAT THE BIG ITEMS THAT ARE GOING TO BE FUNDED WITH THIS BEFORE WE VOTE ON IT. I THINK THAT'S IMPORTANT FOR THE PUBLIC TO KNOW DURING THIS MEETING. YEAH, WE DO HAVE, YOU KNOW, PART OF THE LARGER THE FIRST ONES THAT COME TO MIND ARE GOING TO BE THE BURN CENTER UNIT, THE COMPREHENSIVE CANCER CARE CENTER UNIT, THE ADDITION OF ABOUT 20 PLUS CRITICAL CARE ROOMS, THE CONSTRUCTION OF CURRENT RIGHT NOW OF ABOUT 23, 24 ENDOSCOPY ROOMS. AND THEN WE HAVE SEVERAL OFF CAMPUS ITEMS, SUCH AS A SURGICAL CENTER ON THE EAST AND THE WEST, AND THEN AS WELL AS A ER, GERIATRIC, A GERIATRIC CLINIC IN THE ON THE, ON THE MAIN ON RENTALS. SO THOSE ARE, THOSE ARE SOME TO NAME A FEW. BUT WE CAN, WE CAN GO BACK AND BRING A WHOLE, A WHOLE LISTING AS TO JUST LIKE WAS A COMMISSIONER. YEAH. YEAH. I MEAN THAT WOULD BE GREAT. IT PROBABLY WOULD HAVE BEEN GOOD TO HAVE THAT AS PART OF THE PRESENTATION BEFORE WE VOTED ON. JUST JUST FOR THE PUBLIC'S KNOWLEDGE AND FOR OUR KNOWLEDGE AS WELL. BUT. RIGHT. AND THEN, YOU KNOW, OBVIOUSLY SOME OF THESE THINGS ARE STILL IN NEGOTIATIONS IN TERMS OF PROPERTY WHERE WE'RE GOING TO BUILD CERTAIN THINGS.

BUT IT DOES INCLUDE, FOR EXAMPLE, THINGS ON CAMPUS LIKE THE EXPANSION OF SOME OF OUR

[02:10:03]

TRAUMA ORS FOR OUR ED, CREATING THE 25 BED OBS UNIT ON THE EIGHTH FLOOR TO REDUCE THE WAIT TIME OR HOLD TIME IN THE ER, THE 23 BED OR 2020 TO 23 BED CRITICAL CARE UNIT AS WELL AS THE GERIATRIC CLINIC. SINCE WE OWN THE LAND THAT IS GOING TO SIT ON, WE CAN BEGIN ON THAT FAIRLY QUICKLY. SO THERE'LL BE SOME OTHER THINGS WHERE WE DON'T OWN THE LAND THAT WE STILL HAVE TO NEGOTIATE LOCATION AND, AND PURCHASE, SO THAT SOME OF THOSE WILL BE SORT OF STAGGERED IN SO THAT WE DON'T EXCEED THE THREE YEAR TIME LIMIT ON THE BOND. THANK YOU. YES, COMMISSIONER BUTLER, I AGREE. I THINK JUST JUST FOR THE SAKE OF TRANSPARENCY AND ACCOUNTABILITY, IT WOULD HAVE BEEN NICE TO HAVE A LIST OF PROJECTS THAT ARE GOING TO BE PRIORITIZED WITH THIS FIRST ROUND OF FUNDING. MY QUESTION IS MORE ABOUT THE PROCESS. SO AFTER WE TAKE ACTION ON THE ISSUANCE OF THIS OF THIS ROUND OF THE BONDS, WILL YOU ALL COME BACK TO US AT SOME POINT THIS SUMMER BEFORE THAT FUNDING IS RECEIVED OR, OR IS THERE LIKE WHAT? ARE THERE MORE STEPS TO THIS PROCESS? ONCE WE ONCE WE DO RECEIVE THE COMMISSIONER APPROVAL FOR THE BOND ORDER, THEN WE'LL START THE PROCESS OF WORKING WITH WITH THE FINANCIAL ADVISOR BOND COUNCIL IN TERMS OF ACTUALLY DOING THE BOND PROCESS, THE BOND SALE, AND THEN ONCE AFTER WE DO THE BOND SALE RIGHT NOW, SCHEDULED FOR JUNE, ONCE AFTER THAT, THEN WE WOULD COME BACK TO THE COMMISSIONERS COURT AND, AND GO THROUGH THE PROCESS AND WHAT THE BOND PRICING WAS, WHAT THE FINAL INTEREST RATE CAME OUT TO BE, ETC. AND THEN FROM THEN ON, WE'LL BE WORKING WITH IN TERMS OF, YOU KNOW, AS COMMUNICATION WITH NOT ONLY THE COURT BUT ALSO WITH THE WITH THE COUNTY RESIDENTS AS, AS TO THE PROJECTS AND WHERE WE ARE THROUGHOUT THE PROCESS. WITH THE BOND SALE DOESN'T REQUIRE ADDITIONAL APPROVAL FROM COMMISSIONERS COURT. NO. ONCE WE HAVE THE BOND ORDER APPROVED HERE, THEN AFTER THAT, WE CAN GO FORWARD WITH THE WITH THE BOND PRICING AND BOND SALE. OKAY.

THANK YOU. YES, COMMISSIONER. CORONADO. IN THIS IN THIS ATMOSPHERE AND ONLY YOU HAVE BOND COUNSEL, YOUR FINANCIAL ADVISORS. IT'S MY REQUEST THAT YOU ALL DO THIS AS SOON AS POSSIBLE BEFORE THAT 90 DAY ISSUE COMING UP FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, THE VOLATILITY IN THE MARKET IS JUST COMPLETELY HAYWIRE. AND IF YOU'LL JUST ADVISE US OF HOPEFULLY YOU GET AN UPGRADE IN YOUR RATING FROM THE BOND FROM THE INSURANCE AGENCY, I MEAN, THE RATING AGENCIES. AND SO WE'RE PULLING FOR YOU. THIS IS A GREAT THING THAT YOU ALL ARE DOING. I'M GLAD YOU'RE GETTING OFF THE, YOU KNOW, RUNNING ON THESE PROJECTS BECAUSE THE SOONER WE DO THEM, THE BETTER FOR THE COMMUNITY. NUMBER ONE AND TWO, THE MORE POSSIBLE SAVINGS. SO THANK YOU.

AND ON THE PROPOSED BOND ORDER, THERE'S TWO ELEMENTS OF THAT ARE THE NOT TO EXCEED PARAMETERS.

ONE, IN TERMS OF THE MATURITY DATE WE HAVE ON THERE OF 2055. AND THEN THE SECOND ONE IS GOING TO BE THE INTEREST RATE. SO IF YOU IF YOU DO WISH TO MOVE FORWARD TODAY, I WOULD RECOMMEND THAT WE PROBABLY CHANGE THAT TO 7% JUST TO BE CONSERVATIVE IF YOU WANTED TO TAKE ACTION TODAY.

WE'RE READY. YOU'D LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE. YOU MOVE TO APPROVE. SECOND MOTION BY JUDGE SAMANIEGO. JUST GIVE US ONE SECOND TO GET THAT IN. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER STOUT.

THE VOTING IS OPEN. AND THE MOTION CARRIES. THANK YOU BOTH. BEST OF LUCK. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. YOUR TEAM BACK TO SELL AWAY. THANK YOU. ITEM EIGHT. COUNTY ADMINISTRATION. WE'D LIKE TO SKIP AHEAD TO EIGHT B JUDGE APPROVE ADOPT AND ESTABLISH THE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT BOND PROJECT. INDIVIDUAL PROJECT ACCOUNTS AND BUDGETS AS LISTED AND CONTAINED IN THE ATTACHED

[COUNTY ADMINISTRATION]

BACKUP. GOOD MORNING, JUDGE AND COMMISSIONERS WITH STRATEGIC CAPITAL DEVELOPMENT. THIS ITEM

[B. Approve, adopt and establish the Capital Improvement Bond Project Individual project accounts and budgets as listed and contained in the attached backup. Jose M. Landeros, Deputy County Administrator, Strategic Capital Development, 915-273-3592]

SEEKS THE COURT'S APPROVAL TO FORMALLY ADOPT AND ESTABLISH INDIVIDUAL PROJECT ACCOUNTS AND BUDGETS FOR THE 2024 GENERAL OBLIGATION BOND PROGRAM. AS YOU'LL RECALL, VOTERS APPROVED THIS BOND PACKAGE IN NOVEMBER OF 24 TO SUPPORT A WIDE RANGE PORTFOLIO OF CAPITAL PROJECTS DESIGNED TO ENHANCE PUBLIC INFRASTRUCTURE, INCLUDING MAJOR INVESTMENTS IN PARKS AND RECREATION AND NEW MEDICAL EXAMINER'S OFFICE AND A FIRST TIME COUNTY ANIMAL SHELTER.

ESTABLISHING THESE ACCOUNTS NOW IS A CRITICAL STEP IN ALLOWING DEPARTMENTS LIKE PUBLIC WORKS TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THE DESIGN, PROCUREMENT AND EARLY CONSTRUCTION ACTIVITIES, ESPECIALLY FOR PROJECTS TARGETED IN THE FIRST ISSUE AND CYCLE. THESE ACCOUNTS ALSO ENSURE CLEAR

[02:15:05]

FINANCIAL TRACKING, SUPPORT FUTURE REIMBURSEMENT ELIGIBILITY, AND REINFORCE OUR COMMITMENT TO TRANSPARENCY AND SOUND FISCAL MANAGEMENT. WE RECOGNIZE THAT PROJECT BUDGETS MAY BE ADJUSTED OVER TIME TO REFLECT MARKET CONDITIONS OR SHIFTS IN DEVELOPMENTS, BUT TODAY'S ACTION SETS A FIRM FOUNDATION FOR EXECUTION. THE ACTION WILL STRUCTURE APPROXIMATELY $26 MILLION OF THE AUTHORIZED $155 MILLION TO BE ISSUED OVER THE NEXT TWO YEARS.

WE REQUEST YOUR FAVORABLE CONSIDERATION ON THE ITEM, AND I'M REMAIN AVAILABLE TO ADDRESS ANY QUESTIONS THE COURT MAY HAVE. WE HAVE A MOTION FROM COMMISSIONER LOGAN, A SECOND FROM COMMISSIONER BUTLER. THE VOTING IS OPEN. COMMISSIONER STOUT. AND THE MOTION CARRIES. ITEM EIGHT. C DISCUSS AND TAKE APPROPRIATE ACTION REGARDING THE DESIGNATION OF TWO MEMBERS OF THE COMMISSIONERS COURT TO REPRESENT THE COUNTY AT THE MONTHLY INDEX CHIHUAHUA ASSOCIATION MEETING ON APRIL 24TH, 2025. GOOD MORNING AGAIN, JUDGE AND COMMISSIONERS WITH STRATEGIC CAPITAL DEVELOPMENT. THIS ITEM REQUESTS THE COURT'S DESIGNATION OF UP TO TWO MEMBERS TO REPRESENT THE COUNTY AT THE INDEX CHIHUAHUA ASSOCIATION'S APRIL 24TH MEETING IN CHIHUAHUA. INDEX CHIHUAHUA IS A HIGHLY INFLUENTIAL TRADE ASSOCIATION REPRESENTING MORE THAN 90 LEADING MAQUILADORAS AND EXPORTERS ACROSS NORTHERN MEXICO. THEIR MEMBERS ARE DEEPLY ENGAGED IN CROSS BORDER MANUFACTURING, SUPPLY CHAIN, LOGISTICS AND EXPORT OPERATIONS, MAKING THEM KEY STAKEHOLDERS IN CONVERSATIONS AROUND PORT OF ENTRY UTILIZATION AND REGIONAL COMPETITIVENESS. THE COUNTY HAS BEEN INVITED TO PRESENT TO THEIR MEMBERSHIP TO HIGHLIGHT UPCOMING ENGAGEMENT OPPORTUNITIES AND REINFORCE OUR EFFORTS TO STRENGTHEN CROSS BORDER TRADE. THIS MEETING ALSO ALIGNS WITH OUR BROADER STRATEGY TO CONDUCT A COMPREHENSIVE ANALYSIS OF THE TORNILLO GUADALUPE PORT OF ENTRY THE FOLLOWING WEEK, ON APRIL 29TH HERE IN CIUDAD JUAREZ, ENGAGING INDEX CHIHUAHUA NOW ENSURES THAT WE ARE INCLUDING A CRITICAL COMMERCIAL VOICE, ESPECIALLY THOSE INDUSTRIES THAT ARE MOST LIKELY TO BENEFIT FROM AND UTILIZE THE GUADALUPE PORT OF ENTRY. GIVEN THEIR GEOGRAPHIC LOCATION. THIS ITEM REQUESTS THE COURT SUPPORT AND SELECTING REPRESENTATIVES FROM THE COURT TO ATTEND THIS IMPORTANT MEETING. ON BEHALF OF THE COUNTY, WE'D ASK FOR THE COURT TO HAVE THAT DISCUSSION AND DESIGNATE TWO MEMBERS, AND I'M AVAILABLE TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS THAT THE COURT MAY HAVE. YOU KNOW, I WOULD LOVE TO ATTEND. I HAVE A CONFLICT, SO I WILL NOT SOMETHING THAT IT WOULD BE. IT'S VERY FAVORABLE TO HAVING THE RELATIONSHIPS WITH INDEX, AND NOT ONLY IN THIS SITUATION, BUT IN IN OTHERS. BUT I PERSONALLY CAN'T BE THERE. I HAVE A CONFLICT. I, I WOULD ALSO WOULD HAVE REQUESTED TO BE INVOLVED IN THIS, GIVEN MY BACKGROUND IN WORKING IN BINATIONAL AFFAIRS AND REALLY PUSHING THE COUNTY TO ACTUALLY BE GETTING INVOLVED IN BINATIONAL AFFAIRS. BUT I HAVE A CONFLICT I'M GOING TO BE AT, AT THE WEST TEXAS COMMISSIONERS AND JUDGES ASSOCIATION TRAINING, GETTING MY CONTINUING EDUCATION. SO I WILL DEFER TO SOMEONE ELSE.

BUT IN THE FUTURE, I I'M GOING TO BE ASKING TO BE INVOLVED IN THESE MEETINGS. THANK YOU.

ANYBODY ELSE? SO TRAVEL WOULD BE WEDNESDAY THE 25TH AND THE MEETING ITSELF IS THE MORNING OF THURSDAY THE 24TH. IS THAT CORRECT? YES, MA'AM. SO WOULD BE LEAVING WOULD BE 23RD, LEAVING IN THE AFTERNOON AND THEN RETURNING BY MIDDAY ON THURSDAY. WE'LL BE BACK BY THE. OUR GOAL WOULD BE TO BE BACK BY 5:00 ON THURSDAY. I ALSO HAVE A CONFLICT. I'LL BE AT THE WEST TEXAS COMMISSIONERS AND JUDGES CONFERENCE. I HAVE A CONFLICT ON THURSDAY MORNING AS WELL. I WOULD LOVE TO GO. I'M TESTIFYING IN AUSTIN THAT DAY ON ON THE 24TH IN FRONT OF THE TEXAS TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE REGARDING OUR BYPASS FROM THE EAST TO THE NORTHEAST SIDE. I CAN GO, BUT I HAVE TO BE ASSURED THAT ON THE COMING BACK EARLY THE NEXT DAY, THAT WOULD BE MY ONLY. I HAVE AN EVENT IN THE BREAKFAST MEETING. IT IS ALWAYS A BREAKFAST MEETING. THE LAST TIME WE HAD A DELAYED DEPARTURE, WE HAD LUNCH WITH THE ASSOCIATION'S LEADERSHIP AT THE LATEST QUITE A LITTLE BIT. I THINK THIS TIME WE WOULD GO TO THE BREAKFAST AND THEN HEAD BACK. WE CAN COORDINATE WITH YOUR OFFICE JUDGE TO ENSURE THAT WE CAN MEET THAT SCHEDULE. MY PROBLEM WAS IN THE DAY BEFORE, BUT THAT THAT AFTERNOON I HAVE SOMETHING JUST TO MAKE SURE THAT I CAN GET BACK BEFORE I THINK 330 OKAY. YES, SIR, I THINK SO. AS LONG AS WE LEFT BY NOON, WE'D BE BACK BY BY 330. OKAY. AND WE AND THE MEETING WRAPPED UP AROUND 11 A.M. LAST TIME. OKAY.

AND IF YOU COULD WORK WITH ERIKA, I CAN SEE IF I CAN TRY TO MOVE OR REARRANGE MY CONFLICT JUDGE. AND IF SO, THEN I'D BE HAPPY TO JOIN YOU. OKAY. AND THERE IS A LOT OF VALUE IN

[02:20:01]

MEMBERS OF THE ELECTED BODY ATTENDING THESE EVENTS. COMMISSIONER CORONADO, YOU WERE ABLE TO JOIN US PREVIOUSLY. I THINK THE WEIGHT THAT THE THAT THE TRADE INDUSTRY DEFERS TO ELECTED LEADERSHIP IS SIGNIFICANT. SO I THINK IF THERE'S PARTICIPATION FROM THE COMMISSIONERS COURT, IT WILL MAKE THE MEETING MORE SUCCESSFUL FOR THE COUNTY. SO WE WILL COORDINATE WITH JUDGE YOUR OFFICE AND COMMISSIONER AND THEN SHARE THOSE DETAILS AND THEN REPORT BACK TO THE COMMISSIONERS COURT UPON THE TRIP BEING COMPLETED. OKAY. THANK YOU JUDGE. COMMISSIONERS. THANK YOU. THANK YOU JOSE. NO ACTION FOR ITEM EIGHT C. BETSY, ARE WE READY TO GO TO EIGHT A NOW? YES, PLEASE. ITEM EIGHT A RECEIVE A PRESENTATION. DISCUSS AND TAKE APPROPRIATE ACTION REGARDING EL PASO COUNTY'S 89TH TEXAS LEGISLATIVE AGENDA AND VALUE STATEMENTS, AND PROVIDE DISCUSSION AND INPUT REGARDING FEDERAL LEGISLATIVE ITEMS FOR

[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]

THE 119TH CONGRESS. THANK YOU. BUENOS DIAS. GOOD MORNING, JUDGE AND COMMISSIONERS ELISA TAMAYO, GOVERNMENTAL AFFAIRS MANAGER. JUST THE WEEKLY UPDATE WITH THE 89TH LEGISLATIVE SESSION. I HAVE A FEW ITEMS THAT ARE UP FOR HEARINGS THIS WEEK, SO I WANTED TO START FIRST WITH, WELL, AN UPDATE FIRST. ON THE NEXT SLIDE REGARDING THE BUDGET ON THURSDAY, THE TEXAS HOUSE DISCUSSED AND PASSED THEIR VERSION OF THE STATE BUDGET THAT INCLUDED THREE. WELL, IT WAS A 337,000,000,002 YEAR BUDGET WITH BILLIONS OF DOLLARS TOWARDS TEACHER PAY, BORDER SECURITY AND PROPERTY TAX CUTS. THEY REJECTED A DEMOCRATIC PROPOSAL OR AMENDMENT TO EXPAND MEDICAID IN TEXAS. UNFORTUNATELY, AND THERE WAS SOME HEATED DEBATE OVER SOME PROPOSALS TO CUT UNIVERSITY FUNDING OVER LGBTQ ISSUES. I THINK THOSE ARE THE HIGHLIGHTS OF THE IN GENERAL OF THE BUDGET.

THERE WAS ALSO A PROPOSAL. THERE'S ALSO A PROPOSAL TO SPEND 51 BILLION ON THE PROPERTY TAX CUTS. THAT WOULD INCLUDE 44.5 BILLION TO MAINTAIN TAX CUTS ENACTED SINCE 2019, 3 BILLION FOR ADDITIONAL COMPRESSION OF THE SCHOOL DISTRICT TAX RATES, 3.5 BILLION FOR NEW TAX CUTS.

LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR SUPPORTS RAISING THE HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION, ARGUING THAT IT WAS HARDER TO REVERSE THAN OTHER FORMS OF TAX RELIEF. AND THERE'S ALSO DISCUSSIONS TO RAISE THE EXEMPTION FOR SENIORS TO $200,000 FOR THEIR EXEMPTION. I NOT ON THE SLIDE, BUT I DID DO SOME. I LOOKED AT THE HOUSE BUDGET THAT WAS PASSED ON THURSDAY TO SEE WHAT'S IN IT FOR EL PASO, AND JUST SOMETHING TO HIGHLIGHT, SOME THINGS TO HIGHLIGHT, LIKE FOR EXAMPLE, 20 MILLION FOR A UTEP MINING ENGINEERING PROGRAM, 150 MILLION FOR THE PSYCHIATRIC CENTER. ALSO 65 MILLION FOR THE SECOND PHASE OF THE COMPREHENSIVE CANCER CENTER, 6 MILLION FOR THE TEXAS TECH HEALTH SCIENCES CENTER DENTAL CLINICS, AND 1 MILLION FOR THE BUDGET RIDER THAT YOU APPROVED LAST WEEK, I BELIEVE, FOR THE RIO VISTA FARMS NATIONAL HISTORIC LANDMARK. SO THOSE THINGS WERE INCLUDED ON THE HOUSE VERSION. GO AHEAD. OH, SORRY, I THOUGHT I SOMEBODY WANTED TO ASK A QUESTION. SO THAT'S FOR THE BUDGET THAT PASSED ON THURSDAY. THEY STILL HAVE TO GO TO CONFERENCE COMMITTEE WITH THE SENATE TO SEE TO COME UP WITH A FINAL VERSION.

BUT I WANTED TO GIVE YOU THAT UPDATE, AS IT WAS A LONG NIGHT, A LONG BUDGET NIGHT. THEY WENT UNTIL AFTER TWO IN THE MORNING, I BELIEVE, A LOT OF AMENDMENTS PROPOSED BY BOTH REPUBLICANS AND DEMOCRATS COULD GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE, UNLESS THERE ARE ANY QUESTIONS. OKAY. I WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT A FEW BILLS THAT COULD BE POTENTIALLY HARMFUL TO COUNTY OPERATIONS. AGAIN, A LOT OF THESE BILLS ARE QUICKLY CHANGING AS SOME OF STAKEHOLDERS, INCLUDING OURSELVES, HAVE BEEN SPEAKING WITH SOME OF THE BILL AUTHORS TO SEE HOW WE CAN MAKE THEM LESS IMPACTFUL IN A LITTLE LESS HARMFUL FOR THE COUNTY. SO FIRST ONE, WE HAVE HOUSE BILL 3900 BY YEN. THIS IS RELATING TO INVESTMENTS OF LOCAL GOVERNMENTS, MONEY IN BANKS LOCATED IN THE STATE. IT WOULD REQUIRE 35% OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT OF LOCAL GOVERNMENTS INVESTABLE BALANCE TO BE HELD IN A TEXAS BANK, SO THAT COULD RESULT IN LOWER INVESTMENT EARNINGS, AS BANKS TYPICALLY PAY LOWER INTEREST RATES THAN OTHER INVESTMENT OPTIONS, AND IT WOULD ALSO CAUSE THE COUNTY TO KEEP THE MINIMAL BALANCES IN THE BANK KIND OF SIMILAR. HOUSE BILL 5270 BY CURRY, RELATING TO AUTHORIZED INVESTMENTS BY GOVERNMENTAL ENTITIES. THIS ONE ESTABLISHES NEW REQUIREMENTS FOR PUBLIC FUNDS, INVESTMENT POOLS, INCLUDING TRANSPARENCY, REPORTING, ELIGIBILITY AND

[02:25:03]

RESTRICTIONS ON THE BUSINESS RELATIONSHIP. SO IT WOULD REQUIRE THAT 35% OF THE LGIP OR THE POOL INVESTMENTS BE HELD IN TEXAS BANKS INCLUDES ALSO A PROVISION OF PUBLIC FUNDS IN IN THE PUBLIC FUNDS INVESTMENT POOLS PROHIBITED FROM ENTERING INTO ROYALTY OR SPONSORING AGREEMENTS WITH ASSOCIATIONS AND ORGANIZATIONS PAYING A ROYALTY OR SPONSORSHIP FROM FUNDS OR INTEREST IN INCOME AVAILABLE TO THE POOL. IT MAY. I MEAN, WHAT IT COULD MEAN IS LIKE IT COULD POTENTIALLY NOT ALLOW THEM TO SPONSOR CONFERENCES LIKE THE TEXAS ASSOCIATION OF COUNTIES OR HTML, THE TEXAS MUNICIPAL LEAGUE. THIS ONE HAS NOT BEEN SCHEDULED FOR A HEARING.

HOWEVER, 3500 WAS HEARD IN COMMITTEE THIS MORNING. THEN SENATE BILL 2753 BY HALL. THIS ONE THIS ONE ABOLISHES EARLY VOTING AND TRADITIONAL ABSENTEE VOTING. IT REPLACES THEM WITH A SINGLE VOTING PERIOD THAT BEGINS EIGHT DAYS BEFORE ELECTION DAY, AND ENDS THE DAY BEFORE IT AUTHORIZES COUNTIES TO CREATE VOTING CENTERS IN PLACE OF INDIVIDUAL PRECINCT POLLING PLACES, AND LIMITS THE MAIL VOTING TO A VERY NARROW CATEGORY OF DISABLED VOTERS. THEN HOUSE BILL 755 BY SPILLER. THIS ONE RESTRICTS LOCAL TAXPAYER FUNDED LOBBYING TO CERTAIN QUALIFICATIONS, MOSTLY LIKE IF THE CONTRACT IS NOT PASSED BY A MAJORITY VOTE OF THE GOVERNMENTAL BODY AS A STANDALONE ITEM. IT ALSO REQUIRES THE PUBLISHING OF THE CONTRACT ON THE ENTITY'S WEBSITE. IT REQUIRES DUES BE PUBLISHED THAT ARE PAID TO THE STATE ASSOCIATION, THAT CONTRACTS WITH PERSONS THAT REGISTER AS LOBBYISTS. IT REQUIRES THE PUBLISHING OF THE LEGISLATIVE AGENDA, OR A RESOLUTION SAYING THAT THAT THE COUNTY SUPPORTS OR SUPPORTS THE THESE EFFORTS, AND THEN PROHIBITS THE LOBBYISTS FROM TALKING TO MEMBERS ABOUT AMENDING, LIKE SO, YOU KNOW, GETTING INVOLVED IN IN LEGISLATION, IT WOULD ONLY ALLOW THEM TO EDUCATE BUT NOT GET INVOLVED IN LIKE THE AMENDING OF THE LEGISLATION. AND THEN SENATE BILL 2487 BY PARKER. SORRY, I LOST MY SLIDE HERE. I'M SORRY.

THAT'S ON THE NEXT SLIDE. ALSO CONTINUING. YEAH WITH A HARMFUL BILLS. I WANTED TO SEE IF WE COULD REMOVE THIS ONE BECAUSE I READ IT AGAIN. AND IT'S FOR COUNTIES OVER 1.2 MILLION. SO WE DON'T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT THIS ONE. EL PASO COUNTY WOULDN'T BE CAPTURED ON SENATE BILL 2487, AND I APOLOGIZE. I'M TRYING TO READ AS MANY BILLS AS I CAN, BUT SOMETIMES LIKE THIS ONE, IT KIND OF LIKE I START READING AND I MISS THE BRACKET. SO WE DON'T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT SENATE BILL 2487. BUT THEN ON SENATE BILL 325 BY PERRY, THIS ONE IS RELATING TO COUNTY REGULATIONS OF SUBDIVISIONS AND APPROVAL OF PLAT PLANS OR PLOTS. I KNOW WE'VE BEEN WORKING A LOT WITH PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT TO OFFER AN AMENDMENT, AS THERE'S SOME FLAGS THAT WE HAVE ON, ON THE LANGUAGE AS PRESENTED OR AS FILED. AND I DON'T KNOW IF THERE'S ANYBODY FROM PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT ON THE LINE OR IF ERIC IS ON THE LINE AND WANTS TO SAY SOMETHING. BUT WHAT WE OFFERED WAS, OR WE'RE OFFERING THE BILL AUTHORS TO MAKE IT A MINIMUM OF FIVE ACRES ACRES.

SORRY, BECAUSE WE'RE NOT I MEAN, WE'RE NOT SURE ABOUT THE IMPACTS OF THIS BILL AS IT IS. JUST, HEY, I'M HERE IF YOU NEED ME. ERIC. I'M SORRY. OH, SORRY, I COULDN'T SEE. THANK YOU. THAT'S OKAY. WE CAN COME BACK TO THIS ONE, THIS 3680. GOOD AFTERNOON. I GUESS. STILL. GOOD MORNING.

TECHNICALLY, COMMISSIONERS ERIC MORALES, ASSISTANT COUNTY ATTORNEY. WE'VE BEEN WORKING VERY CLOSELY WITH MICHAEL PACHECO AND LISA TAMAYO ON 3680. THIS IS ONE THAT A LARGELY IS LIMITED TO CAMERON COUNTY. WE HAVE SOME CONCERNS ABOUT IT, BUT CAMERON COUNTY HAS HAD ALL KINDS OF PROBLEMS THAT. WELL, I WON'T GO INTO. THEY'VE HAD ALL KINDS OF PROBLEMS IN ENFORCING SOME OF THEIR MODEL SUBDIVISION RULES. AND SO ESSENTIALLY THEY'RE ASKING TO BE CUT OUT. HOWEVER, WE'VE BEEN WE'VE BEEN CONCERNED THAT THIS BILL COULD BE BROADENED TO INCLUDE OTHER COUNTIES. SO WE'VE BEEN CLOSELY MONITORING IT AND MAKING SOME SUGGESTIONS AS TO HOW TO IMPROVE IT. WE WOULD ANTICIPATE AND IN WORKING WITH THE DIFFERENT GROUPS, THAT IT WILL REMAIN LIMITED TO CAMERON COUNTY. AND IF SO, THEN WE WOULD YOU KNOW, WE OBVIOUSLY WE DON'T WANT TO SUPPORT IT NECESSARILY AT THIS TIME, BUT WE'LL CONTINUE TO MONITOR IT. MONITOR IT. THANK

[02:30:07]

YOU. SORRY. YES, INDEED. DO WE HAVE ANY QUESTIONS ON THAT ONE. YES, SIR. THEN WE'LL MOVE ON TO THE NEXT ONE IS. HOUSE BILL 2287 BY OLIVERSON. OH SORRY, I'M STILL MISSING TWO. TWO MORE IN THE PREVIOUS SLIDE. THERE YOU GO. HOUSE BILL 2287 BY DOCTOR OLIVERSON. THIS IS RELATING TO LIABILITY OF JUDGES AND MAGISTRATES. I HAVE SOME RECOMMENDATIONS THAT ARE. THAT MISS CATHY JONES PROVIDED THIS WOULD RESULT IN. SO I'M JUST GOING TO READ A LITTLE BIT OF HER NOTES. BUT THIS WILL RESULT IN JAIL OVERCROWDING WHEN WE'RE HOLDING JUDGES AND MAGISTRATES PERSONALLY RESPONSIBLE FOR A DEFENDANT'S ACTIONS, IT'S IMPOSSIBLE TO DETERMINE THE ACTIONS OF ANOTHER HUMAN BEING IF SOMEONE IS GOING TO COMMIT A NEW, OFTEN WHILE ON BOND, YOU CANNOT STOP THAT. SO ASKING JUDGES TO BE ESSENTIALLY MIND READERS AND REMOVING THE CONCEPT OF JUDICIAL DISCRETION AND JUDICIAL IMMUNITY. THE SECOND CONCERN IS WHY DOES THIS ONLY APPLY TO PERSONAL BONDS, AS MANY DEFENDANTS ON SURETY OR CASH BONDS COMMIT NEW OFFENSES ON THOSE ON AS THOSE ON PERSONAL BONDS? SORRY, THE BILL WRITER SEEMS TO BE MAKING A STATEMENT THAT PERSONAL BONDS ARE SOMEHOW LESS EFFECTIVE THAN SURETY BONDS, AND WE DON'T KNOW IF THAT'S NECESSARILY TRUE. AND THEN THE LAST CONCERN IS THAT NEW JAILS WILL HAVE TO BE BUILT AROUND THE STATE, AND THERE IS NO ROOM TO HOUSE INDIVIDUALS WHO WILL NOT BE GIVEN PERSONAL BONDS UNDER UNDER THIS LAW. THIS ENTIRE CONCEPT IS NOTHING MORE THAN LIKE FEAR MONGERING TACTICS. AND THEN THERE'S SOME NUMBERS HERE IN 20 ABOUT SORRY ABOUT LAST YEAR, 2024, 88% OF INDIVIDUALS ARRESTED IN EL PASO QUALIFY FOR A COURT APPOINTED ATTORNEY, MEANING THAT THEY WERE 100% OF THE FEDERAL POVERTY LEVEL. SO THEY SIMPLY CANNOT AFFORD MONETARY BONDS. SO THIS WOULD BE ESSENTIALLY POVERTY BASED INCARCERATION WITH THIS BILL. SO THESE ARE SOME OF THE CONCERNS RAISED BY MISS JONES. AND THIS IS UP FOR A HEARING THIS WEEK. SO DEFINITELY SOMETHING WE WANT TO MONITOR AND TALK TO THE AUTHOR. IF THERE'S ANYTHING THAT WE SHOULD ADD I'M SORRY. DO YOU WANT TO GO BACK TO. YEAH I APOLOGIZE ALYSSA. THERE WERE TWO BILLS. SO JUST TO BE CLEAR, SENATE BILL 325 BY PERRY. SENATOR PERRY, THAT ONE WE DO HAVE SOME CONCERNS ABOUT.

AND WE ARE CONTINUING TO MONITOR AND WORK ON ACTIVELY BECAUSE IT WOULD LESSEN THE REQUIREMENTS FOR PLATTING AND IT WOULD ALLOW SUBDIVISION CERTAIN SUBDIVISIONS TO BE DEVELOPED WITHOUT GOING THROUGH THE PLANNING PROCESS. AND THE SENATORS AND THE LEGISLATURES COUNSEL'S ANALYSIS ON THIS ARE NOT CONSISTENT WITH THE LANGUAGE IN THE BILL IS PROPOSED, AND THERE IS A COMPANION BILL THAT GOES WITH IT. 2384 THAT WE ARE ALSO CONCERNED ABOUT. AND I APOLOGIZE BECAUSE THERE WAS ALSO A SEPARATE BILL THAT DEALS WITH 3680 THAT DEALS WITH CAMERON COUNTY. BUT WE ARE CONCERNED ABOUT HOW SENATE BILL 325 AND HOUSE BILL 2384. THANK YOU, ERIC. SO HOUSE BILL 3680 IS THE NEXT ONE. SO WHAT YOU MENTIONED ON ON THIS GOMEZ BILL. YEAH. SO WE HAVE THOSE TWO SENATE BILL 325 AND THEN HOUSE BILL 3680 THAT WE ARE WORRIED ABOUT THE IMPACT, RIGHT. BUT SO WE'RE DONE UNLESS THERE'S ANY QUESTIONS. I KNOW THAT WAS A LITTLE CONFUSING, BUT WE DO HAVE THOSE TWO LAND USE BILLS. AND THEN HERE'S HOUSE BILL 2287 BY OLIVERSON. THAT IS RELATING TO THE LIABILITY OF JUDGES. IF THERE ARE NO QUESTIONS, WE COULD EITHER. COMMISSIONER BUTLER I WAS ELISA I WAS JUST GOING TO ASK IF YOU COULD SHARE WITH US THE AMENDMENT THAT WAS OFFERED BY PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT. YES, ABSOLUTELY. SO ON. SO IT WOULD BE ON SENATE BILL 325. AND THE AMEND, WHAT WE WERE HOPING IS THAT THEY WILL ADD SOME LANGUAGE THAT SAYS FIVE ACRES, LIKE LOTS THAT ARE FIVE ACRES OR LESS. OKAY. AND I CAN ALSO EMAIL THAT TO THE COURT. THANK YOU. LIKE THE LANGUAGE. AT LEAST IT WAS THAT WAS THAT ALL THE BILLS THAT WE YOU'RE ASKING US TO OPPOSE. YES. SO DELETING THOSE THE FIRST ONE ON THE SECOND

[02:35:02]

SLIDE BY PARKER AND THEN ALL THE OTHER ONES, I WOULD SAY IF WE COULD ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO OPPOSE, I HAVE I HAVE ONE MORE. I WANTED TO SEE IF THE COURT WOULD ENTERTAIN PUTTING ON THE LIST. IT'S A HB 3669 BY GILLEN. IT'S ACTUALLY UP TODAY AND. AND HOMELAND SECURITY AND PUBLIC SAFETY AND VETERANS AFFAIRS ON THE HOUSE SIDE. IT'S A BILL THAT WOULD ALLOW, FROM WHAT I UNDERSTAND, I GOT INFORMATION FROM SOME OF THE GROUPS THAT WE'VE BEEN WORKING WITH, LIKE LOCAL PROGRESS. IT WOULD IT WOULD ALLOW CARRYING OF FIREARMS IN COURTHOUSES AND POLLING PLACES, POSSIBLY. AND I THINK THAT THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE SHOULD BE VERY AGAINST. WE SHOULD NOT BE ALLOWING PEOPLE TO CARRY FIREARMS AT POLLING PLACES OR, OR IN COURTHOUSES UNLESS THEY'RE LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICIALS. I'D LIKE TO ADD THAT ONE TO THE LIST. OKAY. SO HOUSE BILL 3669. YEAH, 3669. YEAH. OKAY. I'LL MAKE A MOTION. JUDGE. WE HAVE A MOTION FROM COMMISSIONER BUTLER. ONE SECOND. ONE SECOND. A MOTION FROM COMMISSIONER BUTLER. SECOND FROM COMMISSIONER STOUT. SORRY. OKAY. HOLD ON. AND YOU CAN VOTE. ORIGINAL. OKAY. AND SO JUST JUST TO BE CLEAR, THE THAT THAT BILL CHANGES THE DEFINITION OF FIREARMS IN THE PENAL CODE TO CARVE OUT CERTAIN QUOTE UNQUOTE, LESS LETHAL WEAPONS. SO IT WOULD LIFT THE PROHIBITION THAT CURRENTLY PREVENTS THOSE TYPES OF WEAPONS FROM BEING BROUGHT INTO COURTHOUSES, POLLING PLACES, GOVERNMENT BUILDINGS AND COUNCIL AND COMMISSIONERS COURT MEETINGS, AND COUNTY ATTORNEY.

SORRY, JUST CLARIFYING THAT THE MOTION IS TO SUPPORT THE BILL AS IDENTIFIED ON SLIDE FIVE AND THEN TO OPPOSE THE BILLS IDENTIFIED ON SLIDE THREE, AS WELL AS SLIDE FOUR, IN ADDITION TO HOUSE BILL 3669 AND REMOVING THE FIRST ONE ON THE SECOND SLIDE THAT AND REMOVE. REMOVING HB 5270 BY CURRY. IS THAT CORRECT? NO, THAT'S NOT CORRECT. IT WAS IT WAS ON THE IT WAS I THINK IT WAS LIKE A 24 SB 2487. YEAH. 2487 ON SLIDE FOUR. THANK YOU. DO WE HAVE THAT MOTION CLEAR FOR THE MINUTES? CAN WE REPEAT IT ONE MORE TIME? WE HAD THE OPPOSITION BUT NOT THE SUPPORT. IF YOU COULD JUST WE WOULD BE SUPPORTING BILLS IDENTIFIED ON SLIDE FIVE. AND THEN WE WOULD BE OPPOSING THE BILLS IDENTIFIED ON SLIDES THREE AND FOUR. WITH THE EXCEPTION OF THE REMOVAL OF SB 2487 BY PARKER AND THE ADDITION OF HB 3669. THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU.

JUST ONE MORE TIME. FOR THE RECORD, WE HAD A MOTION FROM COMMISSIONER BUTLER, A SECOND FROM COMMISSIONER STOUT. ALL MEMBERS VOTING I THE MOTION CARRIES. THANK YOU. JUDGE.

COMMISSIONERS, WE ONLY HAVE ONE ITEM FOR EXECUTIVE AND WE DO NOT PROJECT. IT WOULD TAKE VERY LONG TO KNOCK IT OUT. YEAH. THAT'S WHAT WE'RE SAYING. YEAH. AND WE DON'T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT COMING BACK. ITEM NINE, EXECUTIVE SESSION. THE COURT WILL RECESS INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION PURSUANT TO SECTION 551.071. WE WILL RECONVENE INTO REGULAR OPEN SESSION. IT IS 12:09 P.M.

[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.]

THAT. IS.

[02:46:31]

IT TOOK ABOUT THREE YEARS TO TELL THE TRUTH. THE SCAFFOLDING TO SET UP THE SCAFFOLDING FROM

[02:46:36]

ALL THE WAY DOWN, ALL THE WAY TO THE TOP TAKES A WHILE. I, I WAS HERE ACTUALLY, WHEN THEY WERE WHEN MISTER KALIKOW. I WOULD SEE HIM ON A DAILY BASIS BECAUSE WE'D COME IN THROUGH THE FRONT AND COULD SEE HIM ON THE SCAFFOLDING AS HE WOULD INITIALLY WHEN HE FIRST DREW IT BY PENCIL. I THINK EVERY LITTLE SECTION HAS A, HAS A, HAS A STORY. IT'S VERY HISTORIC. IT IS US. AND WHAT A WAY TO CELEBRATE THIS AND COMMEMORATE IT AND KIND OF BRING IT TO LIFE BY WHAT, YOU KNOW, WHAT THE NEW PROJECT IS TO ENHANCE IT. SO WE WILL HAVE QR CODES AVAILABLE ON THE THIRD FLOOR, AND THEY WILL JUST HAVE TO SCAN THE QR CODE AND FOLLOW THE LINK AND AIM THEIR PHONE AT THE CAMERA AND PRESS PLAY. WE WORKED WITH AUGMENT EL PASO TO APPLY THE TECHNOLOGY THEY DIGITIZED OVER 50 FIGURES AND EXTENDED THEIR MOVEMENT. SO THIS MURAL BY ITSELF IS AMAZING. THE TECHNOLOGY BRINGS IT TO LIFE FOR A TRULY SPECTACULAR EXPERIENCE THAT PEOPLE CAN INTERACT WITH.

LEARN ABOUT THE HISTORY AND CULTURE OF THE REGION. IT'S JUST A GREAT TANDEM COMBINATION OF, YOU KNOW, OUR HISTORY AND NOW THE TECHNOLOGY TO AUGMENT IT. SO ABSOLUTELY WONDERFUL. WE'RE THREE, THREE STATES, TWO COUNTRIES, AND THEN WE'RE WE'RE JUST DON'T YOU KNOW, IT'S EVERYBODY. EVERYBODY HAS A TIED. WE PLAYED NOT JUST AN INTEGRAL ROLE IN THE SOUTHWEST AREA BUT THE ENTIRE NATION. WE ORDER HERE. OH YES. DELICIOUS. THAT'S A GOOD COFFEE.

OH IT'S DELICIOUS. WE'RE HAPPY TO SAY THAT YOU CAN COME AND EXPECT TO BE ABLE TO GRAB A REALLY GREAT CUP OF COFFEE AND, AND A TREAT WHILE YOU'RE HERE. AND TO OUR EMPLOYEES, COME CHECK IT OUT. IT'S BEAUTIFUL. THE COFFEE'S DELICIOUS FOR NICOLE. WE PUT A LOT OF THOUGHT AND EFFORT INTO OUR ESPRESSO DRINKS. YOU'RE FAMILIAR WITH LATTES, CAPPUCCINOS, CORTADOS. THAT'S WHAT WE TAKE THE MOST PRIDE IN, IN CRAFTING. AND WE MODIFY OUR MENUS BASED ON THE SEASONS. WE LIKE TO STAY UP TO DATE AND KEEP THINGS FUN. THE FLAVORS THAT WE HAVE ARE HORCHATA, TIRAMISU, AND PISTACHIO. THIS IS A GREAT SERVICE FOR REALLY BOTH THE EMPLOYEES, BUT ALSO THE CITIZENS THAT COME IN TO GET BUSINESS DONE HERE AT THE COURTHOUSE. MY ETERNAL GRATITUDE TO THE EL PASO COUNTY FOR CHOOSING TO WORK WITH A LOCAL BUSINESS. THEY'RE NOT JUST WORDS OF SUPPORT AND LOCAL.

THEY'RE ACTUALLY TAKING ACTION. YEAH. YOU KNOW, I THINK IT'S A IT'S A WIN WIN. IT'S A WIN FOR THE FOR THE COUNTY. IT'S A WIN FOR SUPPORTING LOCAL BUSINESSES. AND THIS IS REALLY DELICIOUS. SO PEOPLE ARE GOING TO REALLY ENJOY IT. FOR LAURA YOUR LATTES.

[02:55:53]

IT TOOK ABOUT THREE YEARS TO TELL THE TRUTH. THE SCAFFOLDING TO SET UP THE SCAFFOLDING FROM

[02:55:58]

ALL THE WAY DOWN, ALL THE WAY TO THE TOP TAKES A WHILE. I WAS HERE ACTUALLY, WHEN THEY WERE WHEN MISTER CALICO. I WOULD SEE HIM ON A DAILY BASIS BECAUSE WE'D COME IN THROUGH THE FRONT AND COULD SEE HIM ON THE SCAFFOLDING AS HE INITIALLY WHEN HE FIRST DREW IT BY PENCIL. I THINK EVERY LITTLE SECTION HAS A, HAS A, HAS A STORY. IT'S VERY HISTORIC. IT IS US. AND WHAT A WAY TO CELEBRATE THIS AND COMMEMORATE IT AND KIND OF BRING IT TO LIFE BY WHAT YOU KNOW, WHAT THE NEW PROJECT IS TO ENHANCE IT. SO WE WILL HAVE QR CODES AVAILABLE ON THE THIRD FLOOR, AND THEY WILL JUST HAVE TO SCAN THE QR CODE AND FOLLOW THE LINK AND AIM THEIR PHONE AT THE CAMERA AND PRESS PLAY. WE WORKED WITH AUGMENT EL PASO TO APPLY THE TECHNOLOGY THEY DIGITIZED OVER 50 FIGURES AND EXTENDED THEIR MOVEMENT. SO THIS MURAL BY ITSELF IS AMAZING. THE TECHNOLOGY BRINGS IT TO LIFE FOR A TRULY SPECTACULAR EXPERIENCE THAT PEOPLE CAN INTERACT WITH.