[00:10:14]
          LIVE FROM EL PASO COUNTY, TEXAS, THE VETERANS CAPITAL OF THE USA. FROM INSIDE THE ALICIA CHACON 
          [00:10:21]
COMMISSIONERS COURTROOM OF THE ENRIQUE MORENO COUNTY COURTHOUSE. YOU ARE WATCHING THE 
          [1. OPEN MEETING]
          [00:10:28]
EL PASO COUNTY COMMISSIONERS COURT MEETING. GOOD MORNING, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN. TODAY IS MONDAY, JUNE 2ND, 2025. COMMISSIONERS COURT IS MEETING IN REGULAR OPEN SESSION. TODAY WE ARE JOINED BY ASL INTERPRETERS DANIEL GARCIA, MONTSERRAT VILLASANA AND TAMARA MARQUEZ. COMMISSIONER, WOULD YOU LIKE TO INTRODUCE OUR PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE GROUP FOR TODAY? YES. 
          THANK YOU. GOOD MORNING EVERYONE. SO TODAY WE HAVE A TREAT. WE DON'T HAVE STUDENTS WHO ARE LIVE, BUT WE DO HAVE A VIDEO THAT WAS CREATED BY THE FIFTH GRADE STUDENT COUNCIL AND 
          [2. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE]
MILITARY AMBASSADORS FOR WILLIAM DAVID SURRATT ELEMENTARY AT CLINT INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT. SO THIS IS A VIDEO THAT THE STUDENTS WANTED TO DO FOR US. SO I'M VERY EXCITED TO BE ABLE TO SEE IT. OKAY. PLEASE RISE FOR THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE. GOOD MORNING. WE ARE STUDENT COUNCIL FROM WILLIAM DAVIS ELEMENTARY IN CLINTON, TEXAS. BUENOS DIAS. SOMOS EL CONSEJO ESTUDIANTIL DE LA ESCUELA PRIMARIA. WILLIAM DAVID, CIUDAD DE TEXAS. PLEASE STAND FOR THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE AND THE PLEDGE TO THE TEXAS FLAG. EL CAMINO A LA BANDERA Y JURAMENTO. 
          LA BANDERA TEJAS. I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS. ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL. HONOR. TEXAS FLAG I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THEE. TEXAS. ONE STATE UNDER GOD, ONE INDIVISIBLE. PLEASE REMAIN STANDING FOR A MOMENT OF SILENCE. FOR. MOMENTOS DE SILENCIO. FROM THE CUBS AT W.D. SURRATT ELEMENTARY. WE WOULD LIKE TO SAY THANK YOU. WE HAVE SOME AMAZING STUDENTS OUT THERE. THAT WAS GREAT. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING WITH US. 
          APPRECIATE THAT. A GREAT WAY TO START THE DAY. AND NOW WE WILL RECEIVE AN INVOCATION FROM WALLY HOLLY REPRESENTING JOIN US FOR JUSTICE, THE EL PASO CHAPTER OF AMERICANS UNITED FOR SEPARATION OF CHURCH AND STATE. GOOD MORNING. IN A CIVIC PRAYER FOR GOOD GOVERNANCE, WE GATHER IN 
          [3. INVOCATION]
HOPE AND SHARED PURPOSE, CALLING FOR WISDOM AND INTEGRITY IN THOSE WHO LEAD. MAY OUR LEADERS GOVERN WITH FAIRNESS AND FORESIGHT, GUIDED BY THE NEEDS OF ALL PEOPLE, NOT JUST THE PRIVILEGED FEW. GRANT THEM THE STRENGTH TO SERVE WITH HUMILITY, THE COURAGE TO MAKE JUST DECISIONS, AND THE CLARITY TO ACT IN THE BEST INTEREST OF THE FUTURE. MAY OUR INSTITUTIONS REMAIN STRONG AND ACCOUNTABLE, UPHOLDING JUSTICE, EQUITY, AND THE DIGNITY OF EVERY PERSON. LET TRUTH AND TRANSPARENCY GUIDE OUR PUBLIC LIFE AND MAKE COOPERATION RISE ABOVE DIVISION. TOGETHER AS CITIZENS, MAY WE STAY ENGAGED, HOLDING OURSELVES AND OUR LEADERS TO THE HIGHEST STANDARDS AS WE BUILD A SOCIETY ROOTED IN RESPECT, RESPONSIBILITY AND SHARED PROGRESS. LET THIS BE OUR SHARED COMMITMENT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. JUDGE, DO YOU HAVE ANY OPENING COMMENTS YOU'D LIKE TO MAKE? PLEASE. THANK YOU. WELL, WELCOME ALL OF YOU TO OUR COMMISSIONERS COURT. 
          ON BEHALF OF MYSELF AND OUR COMMISSIONERS, TODAY, WE HAVE A COMMISSIONER CORONADO. AND COMMISSIONER BUTLER WILL NOT BE HERE WITH US TODAY. BUT YOU HAVE TWO EXCELLENT OTHER COMMISSIONERS HERE. SO WE THANK YOU, AS ALWAYS TO YOU THAT YOU DO GET TO HEAR AND UNDERSTAND THE GREAT INDIVIDUALS, THE ORGANIZATIONS WE'RE GOING TO BE RECOGNIZING TODAY. I THINK YOU'LL BE VERY APPRECIATIVE AS A COMMUNITY TO HAVE, YOU KNOW, THIS TYPE OF, LIKE I SAID, ASSOCIATIONS AND INDIVIDUALS. SO THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. WE APPRECIATE YOUR TIME. WISHING ALL OF YOU JUST A GREAT MONDAY AND JUST A VERY BLESSED WEEK. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. JESSICA. 
          [00:15:03]
ITEM NUMBER FOUR IS THE CONSENT AGENDA, COMPOSED OF ITEMS FOR A THROUGH FOUR A YOU. WE DO HAVE CORRECTIONS TO READ IN FOR THREE ITEMS FOR ITEM 4GA CORRECTION FOR THE COUNTY ATTORNEY'S 
          [4. CONSENT AGENDA]
OFFICE. APPROVE AND AUTHORIZE THE COUNTY JUDGE TO SIGN THE REQUIRED ENVIRONMENTAL FORMS UNDER THE COLONIAS SELF-HELP CENTER GRANT PROGRAM WITH THE TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND COMMUNITY AFFAIRS TD FOR THE PURPOSE OF CLEARING EXPENSES INCURRED UNDER THE PUBLIC SERVICES CATEGORY. OPINION NUMBER 8026. ITEM FOUR. AND ACTUALLY, I'M SORRY, I'M GOING TO WANT TO PULL THAT ITEM. JUST PULL ITEM FOUR G. YES OKAY. COMMISSIONER OLGUIN. THANK YOU. 
          AND ITEM 4K, WE HAVE A CORRECTION FROM THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE. APPROVE AN AUTHORIZED THE ADDITION OF A TEMPORARY ADMINISTRATIVE SPECIALIST POSITION TO THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE DOMESTIC VIOLENCE UNIT, WHICH IS FUNDED BY THE OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR. FY 2025 CY BURN STATE CRISIS INTERVENTION PROGRAM GRANT AWARD AND WILL EXPIRE ON SEPTEMBER 30TH, 2025. THIS REPRESENTS NO DIRECT COST TO EL PASO COUNTY. FUNDS ARE AVAILABLE IN S, G, G, D A, D V, U 23 PERSONNEL EXPENSES AND ITEM 4AGA CORRECTION FROM THE COUNTY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE APPROVE AN AUTHORIZED THE COUNTY JUDGE TO SIGN THE LEASE AGREEMENT WITH SPECTRUM IMAGING TECHNOLOGIES FOR THE LEASING OF TWO COPIERS FOR THE JAIL ANNEX FROM MAY 31ST, 2025 THROUGH MAY 30TH, 2030. FUNDING IS AVAILABLE IN GENERAL FUND SO JAIL, ANNEX, RENT, LEASES CONTRACT NUMBER 2025 0440. ARE THERE ANY ITEMS MEMBERS OF THE COURT OR PUBLIC WOULD LIKE TO PULL? WE JUST HAVE ITEM FOUR G BY COMMISSIONER. APPROVE PLEASE. WE HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE BY JUDGE SAMANIEGO. DO WE HAVE A SECOND? I'LL SECOND. THE VOTING WINDOW ISN'T POPPING UP. OKAY. WE'VE GOT A SECOND FROM COMMISSIONER. YES, WE HAVE A SECOND FROM COMMISSIONER STOUT. THE VOTING IS OPEN. WE HAVE COMMISSIONER BUTLER ABSENT AND COMMISSIONER CORONADO ABSENT AS WELL. MOTION CARRIES. ITEM FIVE. RESOLUTIONS FIVE A APPROVE AND ADOPT A RESOLUTION RECOGNIZING THE CRITICAL IMPORTANCE OF BRAIN WELLNESS FOR SERVICE MEMBERS AND 
          [A. Approve and adopt a resolution recognizing the critical importance of Brain Wellness for Service Members and Veterans in the El Paso Community.
Ricardo A. Samaniego, County Judge, County Judge's Office, 915-273-3591]
VETERANS IN THE EL PASO COMMUNITY. THANK YOU. YOU WANT TO GO AHEAD AND COME UP? I'LL READ THE RESOLUTION AND THEN WE'LL HAVE YOU SPEAK ON BEHALF OF IT. AS YOU KNOW, BEING THE VETERANS CAPITAL OF THE USA, WE'VE GOT A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF RESPONSIBILITY TO UPHOLD THAT. 
          THAT ENTITLEMENT. SO THERE'S SO MANY THINGS THAT WE HAVE TO DO. I MEAN, OBVIOUSLY WE RECOGNIZE JUST AN INCREDIBLE VETERANS THAT WE HAVE IN OUR COMMUNITY, BUT WE ALSO WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE CLOSE THE GAPS THAT WE DO. YOU KNOW, THAT WE DON'T LEAVE ANY ANYTHING TO LUCK. YOU KNOW, WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR VETERANS ARE PERCEIVED PROPERLY, THAT THEY'RE TAKEN CARE OF. AND SO WE'RE ALWAYS VERY CONSCIENTIOUS OF THAT. SO WE THANK YOU AS A COMMUNITY. AS YOU KNOW, WE'VE ALWAYS SAID, YOU KNOW, HERE IN EL PASO, EVERY DAY IS VETERANS DAY. AND SO THIS IS GIVE YOU AN IDEA OF SOME OF THE THINGS THAT THAT WE DO TO CONTINUE TO MAKE THAT HAPPEN. 
          FOR THOUSANDS OF VETERANS AND SERVICE MEMBERS ACROSS THE UNITED STATES SUFFER FROM THE LONG TERM EFFECTS OF TRAUMATIC BRAIN INJURIES, TBI, AND CHRONIC TRAUMATIC ENCEPHALOPATHY. THAT'S A HARD ONE. ENCEPHALOPATHY. YES. OKAY. THANK YOU. AND WHEREAS THESE INVISIBLE WOUNDS CAN SIGNIFICANTLY IMPACT THE QUALITY OF LIFE OF OUR MILITARY COMMUNITY, MAKE IT IMPERATIVE TO PRIORITIZE BRAIN WELLNESS AS A CRITICAL COMPONENT OF OVERALL HEALTH AND READINESS. AND WHEREAS EL PASO COUNTY, PROUDLY KNOWN AS THE VETERANS CAPITAL OF THE UNITED STATES, IS HOME TO A LARGE AND DIVERSE POPULATION OF ACTIVE DUTY SERVICE MEMBERS, VETERANS, AND THEIR FAMILIES WHO HAVE SACRIFICED GREATLY IN SERVICE TO OUR NATION. WHEREAS THE ADVANCEMENT OF BRAIN HEALTH RESEARCH, EDUCATION, AND SUPPORT INITIATIVES IS ESSENTIAL TO HONORING THE SACRIFICE AND ENSURING THAT OUR COMMUNITY REMAINS A NATIONAL LEADER IN CARE AND ADVOCACY FOR MILITARY POPULATION. WITH EL PASO COUNTY RECOGNIZES THE IMPORTANCE OF SUPPORTING EFFORTS THAT FOSTER COLLABORATION BETWEEN LOCAL STAKEHOLDERS, HEALTH CARE INSTITUTIONS, VETERANS ORGANIZATIONS, AND FEDERAL AGENCIES TO ADVANCE RESEARCH, RAISE AWARENESS, AND PROVIDE 
          [00:20:01]
COMPASSIONATE CARE RELATED TO BRAIN WELLNESS. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED THAT THE EL PASO COUNTY JUDGE AND COMMISSIONERS COURT DO HEREBY ACKNOWLEDGE THE CRITICAL IMPORTANCE OF BRAIN WELLNESS FOR SERVICE MEMBERS AND VETERANS AND EXPRESSED THEIR COMMITMENT TO SUPPORT THE COMMUNITY BASED NATIONAL EFFORTS THAT ADVANCE RESEARCH, EDUCATION AND CARE IN THIS FIELD. LET THIS RESOLUTION STAND AS A TESTAMENT TO EL PASO COUNTY'S CONTINUED LEADERSHIP, ADVOCACY, AND UNWAVERING SUPPORT FOR THE HEALTH AND WELL-BEING OF THOSE WHO SERVE AND HAVE SERVED. 
          SIGNED THE SECOND DAY OF JUNE 2025, WE HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE BY JUDGE SAMANIEGO, SECOND BY COMMISSIONER OLGUIN. THE VOTING IS OPEN. MOTION CARRIES. WELCOME. THANK YOU. 
          GOOD MORNING. GOOD MORNING, JUDGE SAMANIEGO. COMMISSIONERS. DISTINGUISHED GUESTS, SERVICE MEMBERS AND VETERANS. AND EVERY PROUD RESIDENT OF EL PASO COUNTY. MY NAME IS CAMILLE CAMACHO. I AM A PEER AND FAMILY EDUCATOR, BUT I'M ALSO COME FROM A PROUD MILITARY FAMILY. MY GRANDFATHER SERVED IN THE KOREAN WAR. MY SON IS A US ARMY VETERAN AND I WAS A MILITARY SPOUSE FOR 21 YEARS. THESE EXPERIENCES HAS HAVE GIVEN ME A DEEP UNDERSTANDING OF MILITARY LIFE'S CHALLENGES AND STRENGTHS. IT IS A TRUE HONOR TO STAND BEFORE YOU TODAY IN A COMMUNITY THAT EXEMPLIFIES STRENGTH, RESILIENCE AND PATRIOTISM, QUALITIES THAT SHINE MOST BRIGHTLY IN OUR VETERANS AND SERVICE MEMBERS. TODAY, WE GATHER TO RECOGNIZE THESE BRAVE INDIVIDUALS AND TAKE A MEANINGFUL STEP FORWARD IN SUPPORTING THEIR LONG TERM HEALTH AND WELL-BEING. OUR NATION, COUNTLESS VETERANS AND SERVICE MEMBERS SILENTLY CARRY THE WEIGHT OF INVISIBLE WOUNDS, AND THEIR IMPACT IS VERY REAL. THAT IS WHY THIS RESOLUTION MATTERS. BY ADOPTING THIS STATEMENT, EL PASO COUNTY, KNOWN WITH PRIDE AS THE VETERANS CAPITAL OF THE UNITED STATES, IS SENDING A CLEAR MESSAGE AND A UNITED MESSAGE. WE SEE YOU, WE SUPPORT YOU, AND WE ARE COMMITTED TO YOUR CONTINUED WELLNESS. WE ARE SAYING THAT BRAIN HEALTH IS NOT A SECONDARY ISSUE. IT IS CENTRAL TO HONORING THE SACRIFICES MADE TO SERVE OUR COUNTRY. THIS RESOLUTION IS NOT JUST WORDS. WORDS ON A PAGE. IT IS A PLEDGE, A PLEDGE TO ADVOCATE FOR BRAIN WELLNESS, A PLEDGE TO SUPPORT RESEARCH, EDUCATION AND COMPASSIONATE CARE. A PLEDGE TO ENSURE THAT THE EL PASO REMAINS AT THE FOREFRONT OF EFFORTS TO SERVE OUR MILITARY FAMILIES, FAMILIES WITH DIGNITY, RESPECT AND LEADERSHIP THEY DESERVE. WE ALSO RECOGNIZE AND APPLAUD THE MANY INDIVIDUALS AND ORGANIZATIONS ACROSS OUR REGION. MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS, RESEARCHERS, ADVOCATES, AND COMMUNITY LEADERS WORKING TIRELESSLY, TIRELESSLY TO BUILD A FUTURE WHERE EVERY VETERAN AND SERVICE MEMBERS HAS ACCESS TO THE SUPPORT THEY NEED. WHILE WE WON'T HAVE THAT TIME TO NAME ALL OF THEM TODAY, WE PROUDLY WALK ALONGSIDE THEM AND OFFER OUR GRATITUDE AND PARTNERSHIP IN THIS VITAL MISSION. SO TO EVERY SERVICE MEMBER, VETERAN AND FAMILY WHO CALLS EL PASO HOME, THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR YOUR COURAGE, RESILIENCE AND ENDURING COMMITMENT TO THIS COUNTRY. PLEASE KNOW THAT THIS COMMUNITY, YOUR COMMUNITY, STANDS WITH YOU AND WILL CONTINUE TO LEAD WITH PURPOSE, COMPASSION AND ACTION. LET THIS RESOLUTION BE MORE THAN RECOGNITION. LET IT BE A CALL TO ACTION AND A REMINDER THAT HERE IN EL PASO, WE DO MORE THAN 
          [00:25:04]
HONOR OUR HEROES. HEROES. WE CARE FOR THEM, WE FIGHT FOR THEM, AND WE BUILD A FUTURE WHERE THEIR WELLNESS IS A SHARED RESPONSIBILITY AND A LASTING PRIORITY. THANK YOU, THANK YOU. 
          CAMILLE. THANK YOU. OUR VETERAN OF THE YEAR. GOOD MORNING. JUDGE. COMMISSIONERS. GUEST I AM DEBORAH WAKEFIELD. I'M THE EL PASO VETERAN OF THE YEAR. BEING A VETERAN, THIS PARTICULAR ORGANIZATION I BEGAN WITH THEM HAVE SUPPORTED THEM AND THE MEANING THAT IT HAS FOR ME AS A VETERAN. A LOT OF OUR VETERANS HAVE BEEN INJURED IN DIFFERENT WAR TIMES. BUT WHAT YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND IS WE CAN GET INJURED WITHOUT BEING IN WAR. WE CAN BE JUMPING AROUND PLAYING, WE CAN BE RUNNING, AND WE CAN HAVE A FIELD ISSUE AND WE CAN FALL DOWN AND WE CAN HURT OUR HEAD. AND IN OUR HEAD IS WHERE OUR BRAIN IS. AND TO BE ABLE TO SAY YEARS LATER, WHEN WE CAN IMPACT SOMEONE BY BEING ABLE TO SEE THE BRAIN AND SEE THE INJURY OR THE DAMAGE THAT'S DONE OVER THE YEARS, IT'S LIKE AGENT ORANGE YOU DON'T KNOW UNTIL TEN, 20 YEARS LATER. AND SO NOW THAT WE HAVE A COMPANY THAT'S WILLING TO FIND THESE BRAIN ISSUES AND IDENTIFY THEM AND BE ABLE TO TREAT OTHER VETERANS PRIOR TO THEM PASSING AWAY. SO IT'S VERY MEANINGFUL THE WORK THAT THEY DO. IT'S VERY TEDIOUS. IT'S NOT EASY TO EXTRACT A BRAIN FROM A PERSON THAT'S DECEASED. THE AGE LIMITS ARE 18 TO 61. SO YOU HAVE A SERIES POPULATION AND IT'S ALMOST LIKE ORGAN DONOR. YOU HAVE TO ASK THE FAMILY WITH RESPECT, TO BE ABLE TO GET THAT PERSON'S BRAIN AND SEE WHAT THAT VETERAN WENT THROUGH AND WHAT THE CAUSE OF DAMAGE IS IN THAT BRAIN. SO WITH ALL DUE RESPECT, HATS OFF TO SPARKS. FOR ALL OF THEIR WORK HERE AND IN THE OTHER STATES THAT THEY HAVE THIS PROGRAM. THANK YOU. AND THANK YOU FOR LETTING ME GIVE MY PART. IF YOU NOTICE ANY TIME SOMEONE'S HERE, DEBO SAYS, I'M WORKING WITH THEM. SO I HAVEN'T SEEN ANY ORGANIZATION THAT YOU DON'T HAVE A TOUCHPOINT WITH. SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH. JUDGE. I'M REALLY TRYING TO FIND THEY KEEP CALLING ME TO COME DO STUFF, SO OKAY. YOU'RE MAKING IT HARD TO. AND CAMILLE, ANYBODY ELSE GOING TO BE SPEAKING OR HAVE YOU. YES, TONY. JAVIER DO YOU WANT TO? JUST QUICK. THANK YOU. JUDGE. 
          COMMISSIONERS. EL PASO COUNTY, THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT FOR US. I'M JAVIER BARLETTA. SORRY. I WORK FOR THIS PROGRAM AND I'M REALLY ADVOCATE ON THAT. I REALLY BELIEVE THAT THIS IS SO MEANINGFUL NOT ONLY FOR SERVICE MEMBERS BUT THE WHOLE COMMUNITY. SO THANK YOU FOR SUPPORTING US AND THANK YOU FOR BEING PART OF THIS. WE REALLY BELIEVE ALL SERVICE MEMBERS DESERVE THE BEST FOR THE REST OF THEIR LIVES. SO THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU. JAVIER. TONY, ANY ANYTHING ELSE YOU WANT TO ADD? GOOD MORNING. JUDGE AND COMMISSIONERS, ANTOINETTE HUNT, VETERAN COUNTY SERVICE OFFICER I JUST WANT TO THANK SPARK FOR WHAT THEY DO. THEIR RESEARCH IS HELPING VETERANS SO THAT MAYBE IN THE FUTURE WE CAN TREAT AND MAYBE CURE SOME OF THESE ILLNESSES TO THE BRAIN. AND IT'S A PRETTY BIG DEAL. AND ALSO THE SPARK TEAM, I KNOW THAT WE HAVE TWO PEOPLE, BUT THEY CAME WITH THIS WHOLE TEAM AND IMMEDIATELY CONTACTED ME AND CAME AND SPOKE TO THE VA AND FULLY IMMERSED HIMSELF INTO THIS VETERAN COMMUNITY. SO THEY REALLY, REALLY JUMPED IN THERE WITH BOTH FEET. AND I JUST WANT TO THANK THEM FOR WHAT THEY DO. THANK YOU. WELL, VERY, VERY CAMILLE AND JAVIER, YOU KNOW, AS SOON AS I MET THEM, YOU COULD SEE THE PASSION YOU HEARD CAMILLE TALK ABOUT. YOU KNOW, HOW SHE FEELS AND THE IMPORTANCE OF MAKING IT REAL AND NOT JUST SOMETHING THAT'S ON PAPER. AND THAT'S THE IMPRESSION I'VE GOT. ONE OF THE BIGGEST COMPLIMENTS THAT I THINK WE RECEIVE FROM THEM IS THAT THEY FEEL THAT THIS COMMUNITY ALLOWS ITSELF WHERE WE COULD START HERE AND THEN TAKE IT TO OTHER COMMUNITIES WHERE PERHAPS IT'S MORE DIFFICULT. BUT BECAUSE WE ARE THE VETERANS CAPITAL AND WE'RE VERY CONSCIENTIOUS ABOUT THE RIGHT THINGS TO DO, IT IS A COMMUNITY THAT LENDS ITSELF. SO THERE'S MORE AND MORE ORGANIZATIONS AT A NATIONAL LEVEL THAT WANT TO START IN EL PASO BECAUSE OF THE TYPE OF COMMUNITY THAT WE HAVE, THE LOVE AND CARE WE HAVE FOR VETERANS MAKES IT EASIER FOR THEM TO THEN GO SOMEWHERE ELSE WHERE THEY MIGHT BE A LITTLE BIT MORE RESISTANCE. THE SECOND ONE TIME I ALSO WENT VETERANS. WE STARTED THAT OUR RECRUITMENT WAS EXTREMELY LOW HERE IN EL PASO, AND IT'S NOW ONE OF THE HIGHEST RECRUITMENT IN THE IN THE MILITARY IN THE NATION FROM EL PASO. AND I THINK IT'S BECAUSE 
          [00:30:05]
WE STARTED HONORING VETERANS AND IT MADE OUR YOUNG PEOPLE FEEL GOOD ABOUT GOING INTO THE SERVICE. WHEREAS BEFORE, YOU KNOW, YOU WERE HEARING A LOT OF CONTROVERSIAL THINGS ABOUT JOINING AND WHETHER OR NOT YOU'RE GOING TO BE APPRECIATED WHEN YOU GOT BACK. AND I THINK WE'VE PROVEN THAT WHEN VETERANS LEAVE AND COME BACK, THEY'RE VERY WELCOME HERE. AND WE THANK YOU BECAUSE IT'S AN AREA THAT, TO ME WAS NEW AS AN AREA HADN'T THOUGHT ABOUT AS TO THE IMPACT IT MIGHT HAVE, AND THEN NOT BEING ABLE TO FIND OUT, YOU KNOW, TO HELP OTHERS. AND THIS RESEARCH IS GOING TO BE EXTREMELY VALUABLE. SO THANK YOU TO ALL OF YOU FOR DOING THIS. 
          AND I HOPE THE COMMUNITY REALIZES THAT WE ARE GETTING A LOT OF TRACTION IN BEING THE VETERANS CAPITAL. NOBODY HAS CHALLENGED IT. I MEAN, WE'VE THIS IS OUR THIRD YEAR AND WE'RE DOING SO MUCH GREAT THINGS LIKE WHAT YOU'RE HEARING TODAY FROM SPARKS AND THAT MAKES IT EVEN BETTER. SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH I APPRECIATE THAT. THANK YOU. 
          ITEM FIVE BE A PROVEN ADOPT A RESOLUTION RECOGNIZING DESERT RESCUE 915 AND WILD WEST 4X4 FOR THEIR ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP AND STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIP TO PRESERVE EL PASO COUNTY'S DESERT 
          [B. Approve and adopt a resolution recognizing Desert Rescue 915 and Wild West 4X4 for their environmental stewardship and strategic partnership to preserve El Paso County's Desert Lands.
Ricardo A. Samaniego, County Judge, County Judge's Office, 915-273-3591]
LANDS. RICK AND CARLOS, YOU WANT TO COME UP HERE? THIS PARTICULAR RESOLUTION IS VERY SPECIAL BECAUSE ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE'RE BEGINNING TO SEE IS THAT GOVERNMENT IS BEING MORE AND MORE LIMITED, AS YOU'VE SEEN WITH THE NEW ADMINISTRATION, SOME OF OUR FUNDS ARE BEING CUT BACK. AND SO THERE'S SORT OF A CALL TO ACTION OF MAKING SURE THAT, YOU KNOW, I HATE TO STEAL FROM OUR PRESIDENT KENNEDY, WHO SAID IT'S NOT WHAT YOUR COUNTRY CAN DO FOR YOU, BUT IT'S WHAT YOU CAN DO FOR YOUR COUNTRY. SO I'M CHANGING THAT TO COUNTY. OKAY. SO IT WILL BE MY QUOTE. 
          OKAY. JUST JUST IN CASE. NO, BUT REALLY THIS IS A VERY IMPORTANT THING IN TODAY'S WORLD. I FIRST GOT SOME INFORMATION FROM LUPE CABRERA ABOUT THE KIND OF WORK THAT THEY'RE DOING. AND IT'S NOT ONLY WHAT THEY DO, IT'S WHAT THEY DO AFTERWARDS, ALONG WITH AND YOU'LL SEE THAT THAT A LOT OF THE COMMISSIONERS HAVE BEEN. YOU'VE WORKED WITH COMMISSIONER BUTLER AND SOME OTHERS. SO THE IDEA IS TO BRING THE COMMUNITY TOGETHER AND TAKE CARE OF THEMSELVES, YOU KNOW, TAKE CARE OF OUR OF OUR OWN COMMUNITY. THAT SORT OF HAPPENED IN THE PANDEMIC. WE DECIDED THAT WE WERE GOING TO FOLLOW THE SCIENCE AND STOP LOOKING AT THE POLITICS. AND EVERYTHING THAT HAPPENED IN OUR COMMUNITY CAME TOGETHER IN THE SAME WAY. DURING THE WALMART TRAGEDY, OUR COMMUNITY CAME TOGETHER. WE WENT FROM A VERY DIFFICULT TIME TO HAVING A BEAUTIFUL HEALING GARDEN THAT IS NOW, YOU KNOW, A PLACE FOR HEALING, A PLACE FOR MEDITATION, AND ALSO A PLACE FOR OTHER COMMUNITIES. UNFORTUNATELY, THAT GO THROUGH THIS, THEY CAN SEE EXACTLY HOW YOU CAN COME OUT STRONGER INSTEAD OF WEAKER. AND SO THESE TWO GENTLEMEN, AS YOU'LL SEE, HAVE TAKEN IT UPON THEMSELVES AND THEIR ORGANIZATION TO DO SOME GREAT THINGS FOR THE COMMUNITY. BUT OBVIOUSLY IT'S A CALL TO ACTION, BEAUTIFY OUR COMMUNITY. AND THERE'S SO MANY TOUCH POINTS BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE, YOU KNOW, COMPANIES HAVE A DIFFICULT TIME COMING TO A 
          [00:35:05]
CITY OR A COUNTY THAT DOESN'T TAKE CARE OF ITSELF. IT'S NOT BEAUTIFIED YOU THAT YOU KNOW THAT WE DON'T CARE. THAT'S NOT GOING TO HAPPEN. SO WE HAVE THESE GREAT COMPANIES WANTING TO COME TO EL PASO BECAUSE OF INDIVIDUALS LIKE YOURSELF. SO I'LL READ THIS AND THEN WE'LL HAVE BOTH OF YOU SAY SOME WORDS. WHEREAS DESERT RESCUE 905, A DEDICATED AND COMMITTED NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION ROOTED IN EL PASO COUNTY, HAS LED THE CHARGE IN RESTORING AND PROTECTING OUR UNIQUE DESERT LANDS THROUGH TIRELESS VOLUNTEER ACTION, ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION, AND PUBLIC AWARENESS. WHEREAS DESERT RESCUE 905, IN COLLABORATION WITH WILD WEST 4X4, A COMMUNITY DRIVEN OFF ROAD ORGANIZATION, HAS SUCCESSFULLY MOBILIZED HUNDREDS OF VOLUNTEERS AND OFF ROAD ENTHUSIASTS TO ADDRESS THE GROWING ISSUE OF ILLEGAL DUMPING AND ENVIRONMENTAL NEGLECT ACROSS OUR REGION. WHEREAS THESE ORGANIZATIONS HAVE GONE BEYOND CLEANUP EFFORTS BY FOSTERING A CULTURE OF ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP, PRIDE AND PUBLIC ACCOUNTABILITY, ENCOURAGING RESIDENTS TO TAKE OWNERSHIP OF THE NATURAL SPACES THAT DEFINE THE CHARACTER AND BEAUTY OF THE EL PASO COUNTY. AND WHEREAS, DESERT RESCUE 905 AND WILD WEST 4X4 ARE SPEARHEADING A MAJOR DESERT CLEANUP EVENT, COLLABORATING WITH OTHER LOCAL NONPROFITS, COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND VARIOUS EL PASO COUNTY AGENCIES TO REMOVE WASTE, RESTORE NATIVE TERRAIN, AND PROMOTE ENVIRONMENTAL ACCOUNTABILITY. AND WHEREAS, THIS LARGE SCALE EVENT STANDS AS A SYMBOL OF WHAT IS POSSIBLE WHEN CIVIC MINDED ORGANIZATIONS AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT WORK IN UNISON FOR THE BETTERMENT OF THE LAND THAT WE ALL SHARE. WHEREAS DESERT RESCUE 905 EFFORTS DEMONSTRATE THE URGENT NEED FOR FORMAL SUPPORT AND LONG TERM PARTNERSHIP WITH THE COUNTY OF EL PASO TO CONTINUE THESE IMPACTFUL CLEANUP EFFORTS AND EXPAND RESOURCES FOR YEAR ROUND DESERT CONSERVATION. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED THAT THE EL PASO COUNTY JUDGE AND COMMISSIONERS COURT DO HEREBY FORMALLY RECOGNIZE AND COMMEND DESERT RESCUE 905 AND WILD WEST 4X4 FOR THEIR OUTSTANDING CONTRIBUTIONS TO ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP, COMMUNITY COLLABORATION, AND THE PROTECTION OF EL PASO'S COUNTY CHERISHED DESERT LANDS. SIGNED THE SECOND DAY OF JUNE 2025. WE HAVE A MOTION BY JUDGE, BY JUDGE SAMANIEGO, AND SECOND, BY COMMISSIONER OLGUIN TO APPROVE. THE VOTING IS OPEN. MOTION CARRIES. THANK YOU. AS YOU CAN SEE, WE VERY MUCH APPRECIATE WHAT YOU'RE TRYING TO ACCOMPLISH. ONE OF THE THINGS BEFORE THEY SAY A FEW WORDS IS THAT THE IDEA IS THAT THEY WORKED WITH SOME OF THE OTHER COMMISSIONERS ALREADY, BUT TO GET THAT KIND OF SUPPORT, THAT IF IT'S IN COMMISSIONER STOUT'S AREA, THERE'S A QUICK PARTNERSHIP, THERE'S NO DOUBT THEY'LL UNDERSTAND WHAT'S GOING TO TAKE PLACE, OR IF IT'S WITH COMMISSIONER CORONADO ON THE OTHER SIDE OF TOWN, THAT THERE'S A QUICK PARTNERSHIP WITH EACH ONE OF THE COMMISSIONERS. AND SOME WAY, SOMEHOW I'LL TRY TO SUPPORT IT FROM AN OVERALL STANDPOINT. BUT I THINK THIS IDEA OF PARTNERSHIP IS VERY VALUABLE IN TODAY'S WORLD. SO, RICK, I'LL LET YOU GO FIRST. 
          AWESOME. THANK YOU SIR. GOOD MORNING EVERYBODY. MY NAME IS RICK FLORES. I'M WITH DESERT RESCUE 905. WE'RE A NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION BASED IN EL PASO, TEXAS, AND WE'RE SERVING NOT ONLY THE CITY OF EL PASO, BUT THE COUNTY OF EL PASO. OUR MISSION IS SIMPLE BUT POWERFUL, RESTORING OUR DESERT ONE CLEANUP AT A TIME. AND IF YOU'VE BEEN OUT TO THE DESERT, ANYBODY GOES OUT THERE, YOU KNOW THAT OUR HANDS ARE FULL, BUT WE'RE READY FOR THE CHALLENGE. WE'RE DEDICATED TO FIGHTING ILLEGAL DUMPING, PROMOTING ENVIRONMENTAL AWARENESS, AND PROTECTING THE BEAUTY OF OUR DESERT LANDSCAPES THROUGH EDUCATION. BOOTS ON THE GROUND CLEANUP EFFORTS AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT. THIS MORNING, I WANT TO TAKE A MOMENT TO RECOGNIZE TWO INCREDIBLE INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE HELPING US GROW THIS MISSION. I'M GOING TO START, FIRST OF ALL, WITH COUNTY COUNTY JUDGE RICARDO SAMANIEGO. THE OTHER DAY YOU CALLED ME, AND I WAS REAL SURPRISED AND VERY HAPPY TO HEAR FROM YOU, SIR. THANK YOU FOR BELIEVING IN OUR COMMUNITY LED INITIATIVES LIKE OURS. YOUR LEADERSHIP AND SUPPORT FOR GRASSROOTS EFFORTS GIVES US THE FOUNDATION WE NEED TO GROW AND SERVE THE PEOPLE OF EL PASO COUNTY MORE EFFICIENTLY. ALSO, I'D LIKE TO RECOGNIZE LUPE CABRERA OF WILD WEST 4X4 AND PRO BILL 91 FIVE. THOSE WHO RECENTLY JOINED FORCES WITH ME. HER IMPACT HAS BEEN IMMEDIATE FROM HELPING ORGANIZE OUR FIRST LARGE SCALE CLEANUP ON JUNE 28TH, WHICH IS COMING UP TO SECURING SPONSORSHIPS. HER ENERGY AND INITIATIVE HAVE BROUGHT A NEW LEVEL OF MOMENTUM TO OUR WORK. WE'RE EXCITED AND GRATEFUL TO HAVE HER ON BOARD AS PART OF THE 
          [00:40:02]
DESERT RESCUE 905 FAMILY. ALSO, LASTLY, I WANT TO RECOGNIZE ANOTHER GROUP CALLED SUN CITY PICKERS. THEY'RE A GROUP THAT GOES AROUND ON A WEEKLY BASIS TO DIFFERENT PARKS AROUND TOWN, INCLUDING HORIZON AND THE COUNTY, AND THEY HAVE CLEANUP EFFORTS WEEKLY. SO I WANT TO SHOUT OUT TO THEM TO SUN CITY PICKERS ONE MORE TIME AT DESERT RESCUE 915. WE BELIEVE THAT EVERY EFFORT COUNTS. EVERY PIECE OF TRASH REMOVED, EVERY PERSON EDUCATED, EVERY PARTNERSHIP FORM COUNTS WITH SUPPORTERS LIKE JUSTIN AND LUPE CABRERA. WE'RE NOT. WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO WORKING WITH THE COMMUNITY AND THE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS IN THEIR RESPECTIVE PRECINCTS. 
          THANK YOU ALL FOR STANDING WITH US AS WE CONTINUE RESTORING OUR DESERT ONE CLEANUP AT A TIME. 
          THANK YOU VERY MUCH, CARLOS. BARRAGAN, PRESIDENT OF WILD WEST 4X4. I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO ALL PRESENT HERE, ESPECIALLY YOU, MR. SAMANIEGO, SAN DIEGO, FOR GIVING US THE OPPORTUNITY TO JUST SHOW WHAT WE CAN DO AND SHOW THAT OUR COMMUNITY COMES TOGETHER. IT'S NOT JUST ABOUT HAVING FUN AND PLAYING IN THE DESERT. IT'S ALSO WHAT'S AFTER THE FUN. THAT'S CLEANUP. THAT'S PUT IT BACK THE WAY IT WAS. LEAVE IT EXACTLY HOW IT SHOULD BE CLEAN. WITH YOUR EFFORTS AND OUR EFFORTS TOGETHER AND YOUR APPROVALS, WE'LL BE ABLE TO MAKE THAT VISION A SUCCESS. THAT'S ALL I HAD. THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU. IF YOU NOTICE, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT PEOPLE FOCUS ON CLEANUP, CLEANUP, CLEANUP, ONE OF THE BIG DIFFERENCES THAT THEY'RE ALSO TRYING TO CHANGE THE CULTURE OF NOT DUMPING BECAUSE YOU DON'T WANT TO JUST BE PICKING UP BECAUSE PEOPLE ARE DUMPING. BUT TO CHANGE THAT MENTALITY. AND I KNOW THERE'S ONE ONE ASPECT IS VERY IMPORTANT IS LAW ENFORCEMENT. BUT I THINK WHAT'S MORE AND MORE IMPORTANT IS THAT SOMEONE DECIDES NOT TO DUMP, BUT WE ALSO HAVE TO GIVE THEM OPTIONS. FOR EXAMPLE, MATTRESSES. NOBODY WANTS TO PICK THEM UP. YOU CAN'T DONATE THEM. IT'S ILLEGAL TO DONATE MATTRESSES, SO PEOPLE ARE STUCK AND DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO WITH IT. AND THEY FIGURE THE OPTION THEY HAVE IS THROWING IT IN THE DESERT. SO WE ALSO HAVE TO PROVIDE MEANS TO AVOID THAT. BUT THIS IDEA OF A CULTURE, OF A COMMUNITY, AND I DON'T THINK THERE'S ANY COMMUNITY THAT WOULD BE MORE CAPABLE OF SAYING, WE'RE NOT GOING TO DUMP INSTEAD OF WE'RE GOING TO BE CLEANING EVERY TIME SOMEBODY DUMPS. I THINK THIS IS EL PASO IS ABLE TO DO THAT. SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH. 
          AND CRYSTAL, I KNOW YOU'VE GOT SOMETHING TO PRESENT. THANK YOU. JUDGE AND COMMISSIONERS, CRISTOBAL GUZMAN FROM COMMISSIONER BUTLER'S OFFICE. JUDGE THANK YOU FOR PRESENTING THIS RESOLUTION. WE HAVE WORKED WITH RICK FROM OUR VERY FIRST CLEANUP IN MONTANA VISTA. SO THANK YOU TO THAT. AND THANK YOU TO RICK AND WE HOPE TO COLLABORATE WITH YOU. KEEP PARTNERING UP IN THE FUTURE WITH YOU. SO WE WANTED TO GIVE YOU THE CERTIFICATE ON BEHALF OF THE OFFICE. YOU WANT TO GO AHEAD. AND YEAH. THANK YOU. YES. THANK YOU. OF COURSE. SO WE'LL COME UP THERE AND TAKE A PICTURE WITH YOU. KNOW, THANK YOU, THANK YOU. 
          OKAY. SO THE CERTIFICATE ON BEHALF OF CRYSTAL AND COMMISSIONER BUTLER, THE CERTIFICATE IS HEREBY PRESENTED TO RICK FLORES IN RECOGNITION OF YOUR OUTSTANDING DEDICATION TO COMMUNITY SERVICE THROUGH DESERT RESCUE 915, CONTRIBUTING TO THE EDUCATION, PRESERVATION, AND RESTORATION OF EL PASO'S NATURALLY BEAUTIFUL DESERT LANDSCAPES. JACKIE BUTLER, COMMISSIONER. THANK YOU. 
          [00:45:22]
ITEM FIVE C APPROVE AND ADOPT A RESOLUTION DECLARING JUNE 2025 AS PRIDE MONTH IN EL PASO COUNTY, TEXAS, AND RECOGNIZE THE LIGHTING OF THE STAR ON THE MOUNTAIN IN PRIDE COLORS DURING 
          [C. Approve and adopt a resolution declaring June 2025 as Pride Month in El Paso County, Texas, and recognize the lighting of the Star on the Mountain in Pride Colors during Pride Week, June 18-25, 2025.
David Stout, Commissioner, Precinct 2, 915-273-3559]
PRIDE WEEK JUNE 18TH THROUGH 25TH, 2025. AND GOOD MORNING. GOOD MORNING. I HAVE THE DISTINCT HONOR OF BEING ABLE TO READ THIS RESOLUTION. WE HAVE SOME GUESTS THAT HAVE JOINED US AT THE PODIUM. WE'LL HEAR FROM YOU ALL IN JUST IN JUST A FEW SECONDS. BUT JUST WANTED TO MAKE A COUPLE OF COMMENTS. IT WAS IT WAS ONLY ABOUT 30 YEARS AGO IN THE 90S THAT WE SAW. YOU KNOW, FIRST GAY LEADING CHARACTER ON A NETWORK TELEVISION SHOW, RIGHT? IT WAS ONLY TEN YEARS AGO THIS MONTH THAT THE SUPREME COURT, IN A 5 TO 4 DECISION, RULED THAT GAY COUPLES COULD GET MARRIED. 
          THESE ARE WITHIN OUR LIFETIME, JUST AS IT WAS ONLY WITHIN THE LIFETIME OF SOME OF US THAT WOMEN WERE ALLOWED TO HAVE THEIR OWN BANK ACCOUNT, OR A BLACK PERSON COULD LEGALLY MARRY A WHITE PERSON IN CERTAIN STATES. THAT BEING SAID, YOU KNOW, WE NEED TO CONTINUALLY FIGHT TO ASSERT BASIC RIGHTS THAT SO MANY TAKE FOR GRANTED, BUT THAT MINORITIES OF ALL KINDS FIND CONSTANTLY ABRIDGED. AND NOW WE ARE SEEING ATTACKS ON TRANS PEOPLE. EVERY DAY WE HEAR POLITICIANS IN OUR STATE. MAKING COMMENTS ERRONEOUSLY, THAT THERE IS ONLY A MAN AND A WOMAN. AND WHEN SCIENCE TELLS US THAT BIOLOGY IS ENDLESSLY COMPLEX, PEOPLE ARE ENTITLED TO THEIR BELIEFS, BUT THEY'RE NOT ENTITLED TO ERASE THE FACTS AND THE TRUTH. SO I THINK, MORE IMPORTANTLY, WE CAN'T STAND BY AND LET PEOPLE BE ERASED. AND AS LONG AS I'M HERE AND I THINK AS LONG AS THIS COMMISSIONERS COURT IS HERE, YOU KNOW, WE VALUE THIS COMMUNITY, THE LGBTQ PLUS COMMUNITY. AND FINALLY, I ALSO WANT TO THANK COMMISSIONER HOLGUIN FOR LEADING THE SPONSORSHIP EFFORT TO MAKE THAT STATEMENT VISIBLE TO EVERYONE VIA THE STAR OF THE MOUNTAIN COMMISSIONER, WOULD YOU LIKE TO SAY ANY WORDS BEFORE I READ THE RESOLUTION? THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER STOUT. YOU KNOW, IT MAKES ME SO INCREDIBLY PROUD TO BE ABLE TO WORK WITH ALL OF YOU. 
          YOU KNOW, IT'S SO IMPORTANT FOR OUR LGBTQ PLUS COMMUNITY TO KNOW THAT WE STAND WITH THEM. WE ARE HERE, WE WILL ALWAYS BE HERE, AND WE WILL CONTINUE TO BE HERE. WE ARE SADLY FACING SOME INCREDIBLY CHALLENGING TIMES RIGHT NOW, BUT WE WILL GET THROUGH THEM AND WE WILL GET THROUGH THEM TOGETHER. SO I'M JUST INCREDIBLY PROUD TO BE A PART OF A COMMISSIONERS COURT THAT UNDERSTANDS HOW IMPORTANT IT IS TO STAND, TO STAND WITH AND STAND UP FOR ALL OF OUR RESIDENTS. AND I AM INCREDIBLY HUMBLED TO BE ABLE TO PLAY A SMALL ROLE IN THAT. THANK YOU ALL FOR EVERYTHING THAT YOU DO EVERY DAY, BECAUSE YOU ARE THE TRUE HEROES. YOU ARE THE ONES WITH COURAGE GOING OUT THERE EVERY SINGLE DAY. PLEASE KNOW THAT WE APPRECIATE ALL OF YOUR WORK, AND WE WILL NEVER BE ABLE TO THANK YOU ENOUGH FOR WHAT YOU DO FOR THE MOST VULNERABLE AMONG US. SO THANK YOU FOR THAT. THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER STOUT, FOR EVERY YEAR MAKING SURE THAT WE BRING FORTH THIS RESOLUTION HONORING PRIDE AND ALL OF OUR ACTIVITIES HERE LOCALLY. IT'S SO IMPORTANT THAT WE MAKE SURE THAT NO COMMUNITY FEELS THAT THEY ARE NOT SEEN, THAT THEY ARE NOT WELCOMED, THAT THEY ARE NOT VALUED. SO THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER STOUT, AND THANK YOU ALL FOR ALL OF YOUR WORK. THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER LOGAN. THANK YOU COMMISSIONER. OKAY, I'LL GO AHEAD AND READ THE RESOLUTION AND THEN WE CAN HEAR FROM OUR OUR ESTEEMED GUESTS. IT STATES WHEREAS INDIVIDUALS WHO IDENTIFY AS LESBIAN, GAY, BISEXUAL, TRANSGENDER, QUEER, INTERSEX, ASEXUAL, PLUS LGBTQIA+ ARE INTEGRAL MEMBERS OF OUR COMMUNITIES AT THE LOCAL, STATE AND NATIONAL LEVELS. AND WHEREAS THE MONTH OF JUNE SERVES AS A TIME OF REMEMBRANCE AND REFLECTION MARKING THE ANNIVERSARY OF THE STONEWALL UPRISING IN NEW YORK CITY, AN EVENT WIDELY RECOGNIZED AS A PIVOTAL MOMENT IN THE LGBTQIA+ RIGHTS MOVEMENT WHEN COMMUNITY MEMBERS STOOD AGAINST VIOLENCE AND INJUSTICE. AND AS JUNE IS WIDELY RECOGNIZED BY THE LGBTQIA+ COMMUNITY AS PRIDE MONTH, WITH NUMEROUS CELEBRATIONS AND DEMONSTRATIONS, INCLUDING PRIDE ADULT NIGHT ON JUNE 18TH AT LA NUBE, WITH 20% OF EVERY TICKET SALE AND 
          [00:50:05]
DONATION GOING DIRECTLY TO EL PASO SUN CITY PRIDE SCHOLARSHIP AND COMMUNITY FUND. AND WHEREAS, STARTING JUNE 18TH, THE EL PASO STAR ON THE MOUNTAIN WILL BE LIT UP IN OFFICIAL PRIDE COLORS UNTIL JUNE 25TH. AND WHEREAS THESE CELEBRATIONS SERVE NOT ONLY TO RAISE AWARENESS AND VISIBILITY, BUT ALSO TO HONOR THE HISTORICAL STRUGGLES AND ACHIEVEMENTS OF THE LGBTQIA+ MOVEMENT, OFFERING AN OPPORTUNITY FOR REFLECTION, UNITY AND CONTINUED ADVOCACY. 
          AND WHEREAS WE EXPRESS OUR UNWAVERING SUPPORT FOR THIS COMMUNITY IN EL PASO, AFFIRMING THEIR RIGHT TO LIVE OPENLY AND FREELY AND FROM DISCRIMINATION, AND PROUDLY RECOGNIZE THIS YEAR'S PRIDE MONTH THEME, FABRIC OF FREEDOM, AS A CALL TO UNITY AND CELEBRATION OF THE COMMUNITY'S VIBRANCY. AND NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, THAT THE EL PASO COUNTY JUDGE AND COMMISSIONERS COURT RECOGNIZES AND CELEBRATES THE LGBTQIA+ COMMUNITY FOR THEIR ONGOING CONTRIBUTIONS AND SACRIFICES WITHIN THE SOCIAL, POLITICAL AND ECONOMIC FABRIC OF OUR REGION. 
          SIGNED THIS SECOND DAY OF JUNE 2025, THE HONORABLE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS COURT, WE HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE BY COMMISSIONER STOUT, SECOND, BY COMMISSIONER OLGUIN. THE VOTING IS OPEN. MOTION CARRIES. WELCOME. WHO WOULD LIKE TO BEGIN, CHRIS. ALL RIGHT. GOOD MORNING, COMMISSIONERS. PLEASE INTRODUCE YOURSELF. THE RECORD CHRIS FRANK, PRESIDENT OF EL PASO SUN CITY PRIDE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU AGAIN, COMMISSIONER STOUT, FOR LEADING THIS RESOLUTION YET AGAIN AND COMMISSIONER, FOR SPEARHEADING AND HELPING US LIGHT THE STAR RAINBOW. JUST A LITTLE EDIT ON THE RESOLUTION. WE WERE ABLE TO LAST MINUTE IN THE LAST FIVE HOURS OF THE DEADLINE, RAISE ALL $12,000 TO LIGHT THE STAR ALL MONTH OF JUNE. SO IT WORKED. AND AGAIN, IT'S THANKS TO THE HELP OF THE BORDERLAND RAINBOW CENTER COMMISSIONER OLGUIN. JUST EVERYONE, EVERYONE WHO HAS DONATED IN THE COUNTY AND EL PASO STRONG. THAT'S THAT'S WHAT YOU CALL IT. RESOLUTIONS LIKE THIS ARE INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT, ESPECIALLY IN TODAY'S POLITICAL CLIMATE. OUR LGBTQ PLUS COMMUNITY, PARTICULARLY THE YOUTH, IS UNDER INCREASING ATTACK. CURRENTLY, THERE'S LEGISLATION BEING SIGNED ON GOVERNOR GREG ABBOTT'S DESK TODAY TO BAN ALL QUEER CLUBS ON IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS THAT JUST CAN'T, THAT WE CAN'T STAND FOR THAT ANYMORE. SO TODAY'S RESOLUTION IS ESPECIALLY IMPORTANT BECAUSE IN THE FACE OF SUCH HARMFUL EFFORTS, RESOLUTIONS LIKE THIS SEND A POWERFUL MESSAGE THAT EL PASO COUNTY STANDS FOR A SAFE, INCLUSIVE AND WELCOMING HOME FOR LGBT, LGBTQ, PLUS INDIVIDUALS. 
          THANK YOU FOR BEING CHAMPIONS FOR EQUALITY AND YOUR CONTINUED SUPPORT FOR THE LGBTQ EL PASOANS. THANK YOU. GOOD MORNING JUDGE. COMMISSIONERS. MY NAME IS AMBER PEREZ. I AM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF BORDERLAND RAINBOW CENTER. FIRST AND FOREMOST, I WOULD LIKE TO THANK YOU FOR THIS RESOLUTION, THE IMPORTANCE OF THIS. I KNOW THAT, YOU KNOW, AND THAT'S THE REASON THAT WE'RE HERE TODAY, IS THAT THERE ARE SO MANY HERE, EVEN WITHIN OUR OWN COMMUNITY, WHO STILL FEEL AS IF THEY HAVE NOWHERE TO GO. IT'S LIKE AND MOMENTS LIKE THIS ALLOW THEM TO SEE THAT THIS IS THEIR HOME. THEY ARE JUST AS WELCOME HERE. THERE ARE TWO THINGS THAT THE JUDGE SAID TODAY THAT HAVE REALLY RESONATED WITH ME. ONE WAS THE FACT THAT THE COUNTY HAS DECIDED IN DIFFERENT TIMES TO NOT POLITICIZE THINGS. RIGHT. AND THIS IS ONE OF THOSE MOMENTS WHERE WE'RE NOT POLITICIZING THE LGBTQ PLUS COMMUNITY, WE'RE NOT POLITICIZING LIVES. YOU'RE JUST DOING WHAT'S RIGHT, PERIOD. AND THE SECOND THING THAT REALLY STOOD OUT WAS ABOUT THE CHANGE IN CULTURE, RIGHT? BECAUSE THAT SPEAKS TO THIS IDEA OF LIKE, WE'RE NOT GOING TO POLITICIZE AN ENTIRE GROUP OF INDIVIDUALS, THEIR THEIR LIVES. AND EL PASO COUNTY, ESPECIALLY, HAS ALWAYS BEEN A PLACE THAT HAS BEEN A BEACON OF HOPE. THAT HAS BEEN A LIGHT IN THE DARKNESS. THAT IS SOMETIMES WHAT TEXAS KIND OF DOES. TEXAS DOES ITS OWN THING. AND EL PASO SAYS, YOU KNOW WHAT? WE'RE GOING TO TAKE CARE OF OUR OWN. AND THIS IS ONE OF THOSE MOMENTS WHERE YOU REALLY ARE TAKING CARE OF YOUR OWN. EARLIER YOU SPOKE, YOU HONORED ALSO THE VETERANS AND SHE SPOKE. AND I FOUND IT VERY MOVING. SHE SPOKE ABOUT THE FACT THAT IT'S ABOUT MAKING SURE THAT THIS IS ALSO ACTION. IT'S LIKE AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I HOPE THAT SHE KNOWS AND SHE SEES IS THAT WE KNOW FOR A FACT THAT THE COUNTY DOESN'T JUST PUT OUT RESOLUTIONS OR PROCLAMATIONS, IT STANDS BY THEM, AND IT DOES THE WORK THAT IT NEEDS TO DO TO SAY THAT THEY ARE ACCEPTING TO THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY. SO ONCE AGAIN, I WOULD LIKE TO THANK YOU FOR THIS. THIS IS INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT. AND TO ANY OF OUR TRANS YOUTH OUT THERE OR QUEER YOUTH, I WANT THEM TO SEE THIS AND SEE THAT THEIR LEADERS ARE SAYING, YOU ARE WELCOME HERE, YOU ARE VALID AND YOU ARE SAFE. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THAT. 
          THANK YOU. GOOD MORNING. GOOD MORNING. I JUST WANTED TO SAY I'M RACHEL SCOTT, EL PASO SUN 
          [00:55:02]
CITY PRIDE. I'M LOSING MY VOICE. I'M CONSTANTLY LOSING MY VOICE. SO IT MIGHT GO OUT BEFORE I CAN FINISH. BUT I WANTED TO SAY THIS YEAR'S THEME FOR EL PASO CITY PRIDE FOR PRIDE MONTH IS NOT ALL HEROES WEAR CAPES, AND WE HAVE THREE RIGHT IN FRONT OF US. WE THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING THAT YOU'VE DONE TO HELP US PUT THIS MESSAGE OUT THERE, THIS MESSAGE OF LOVE THAT IS NEEDED NOW MORE THAN EVER. SO THAT'S ALL I WANTED TO SAY. THANK YOU, THANK YOU. GOOD MORNING. MY NAME IS MARGARITA MARTINEZ. I'M THE CURRENT PRESIDENT OF P-FLAG EL PASO. P-FLAG IS A NATIONAL ORGANIZATION THAT WAS BORN IN THE 70S IN NEW YORK CITY, AND IT SUPPORTS THE LGBT COMMUNITY, THEIR FAMILIES AND FRIENDS. WE HAVE OVER 400 CHAPTERS ALL OVER THE UNITED STATES, AND WE HAVE ONE HERE IN EL PASO. SO WE ARE VERY GRATEFUL FOR THIS. AS A MOTHER OF LGBTQ YOUNG LADY, I FEEL VERY GRATEFUL FOR THIS RESOLUTION TO BE ABLE TO SEE THE PRIDE FLAG AS A SYMBOL OF EMBRACEMENT OF DIVERSITY IN OUR CITY. WE ARE VERY GRATEFUL, ESPECIALLY IN THESE TIMES WHERE OUR COMMUNITY, WHERE OUR FAMILY MEMBERS ARE UNDER ATTACK. SO THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU. 
          HELLO. GOOD MORNING. MY NAME IS GABRIEL ZAPATA. I'M A MEMBER OF PFLAG. AND ALL THAT I HAVE TO SAY IS THANK YOU FOR THIS RESOLUTION. THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT. THANK YOU. AND THANK YOU SO MUCH. BECAUSE AS I SAID EARLIER, LIKE IN THEIR CASE, THAT THIS IS A COMMUNITY THAT SHOWS OTHER COMMUNITIES AND A LOT OF COMMUNITIES LOOK TO US TO SEE WHAT WE DO, AND IT GIVES THEM A SENSE OF COURAGE. AND SO I, YOU KNOW, I. REALLY THAT THAT YOU'RE THINGS CAN CHANGE AND ADMINISTRATION HAS A DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVE. BUT THEY THEY STILL HAVE TO DEAL WITH EL PASO. YOU KNOW EL PASO COMES TOGETHER. IT'S NOT JUST EASY FOR ANYONE. I'VE EVEN SEEN THAT SOMETIMES THEY STAY AWAY FROM EL PASO AND THEY GO AFTER OTHER COMMUNITIES BECAUSE WE COME TOGETHER. AND SO AS MUCH AS THOSE THINGS HAVE CHANGED, AND AS I'VE SAID OVER AND OVER, THOSE THINGS THAT WE FELT WERE ALREADY WE HAD ACCOMPLISHED THOSE THINGS. WE DIDN'T HAVE TO BE FIGHTING FOR THEM ANYMORE. AND TO SEE THAT SORT OF COME UP AGAIN JUST DOESN'T MAKE SENSE. BUT THEY COULD CHANGE. BUT AS LONG AS YOU DON'T CHANGE AND THE COMMUNITY DOESN'T CHANGE, THAT MAKES A HUGE DIFFERENCE. SO THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU'RE TRYING TO ACCOMPLISH, NOT ONLY FOR YOURSELF, BUT FOR A LOT OF INDIVIDUALS THAT FEEL VULNERABLE DURING THIS TIME AND CONCERNED ABOUT THE FUTURE. I THINK THIS COMMUNITY CAN CAN SORT OF HELP MEDIATE THAT DISCOMFORT AND THAT STRESS THAT IS TAKING PLACE. SO THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU'RE DOING. THANK YOU. COMMISSIONER STONE. I ALSO HAVE TO SAY THANK YOU JUST FOR ALL THE WORK THAT THAT EACH OF YOU DO IN YOUR ORGANIZATIONS AND MAKING SURE THAT THAT WE ALSO ARE, ARE HELD ACCOUNTABLE AND THAT LOCAL ELECTED OFFICIALS AND STATE ELECTED OFFICIALS. I KNOW THAT AT THE STATE IT'S MUCH MORE DIFFICULT. THERE'S LOTS OF A LOT MORE UGLINESS GOING ON AT THE STATE CAPITOL, AND IT SEEMS LIKE EVERY LEGISLATIVE SESSION IT GETS IT GETS EVEN WORSE. I THINK THERE WAS A BILL. I DON'T I DON'T THINK IT I DON'T THINK IT PASSED. BUT I HAVE THE FIRST PRIDE FLAG THAT WAS EVER FLOWN ON TOP OF THE COUNTY COURTHOUSE HANGING IN MY OFFICE. AND THAT IN THAT BILL WOULD PROHIBIT ME FROM IF THAT BILL PASSED, I'M STILL NOT TAKING IT DOWN. BUT, YOU KNOW, IT'S JUST RIDICULOUS THAT THAT THAT THAT THIS DAY AND AGE, WE HAVE TO WE HAVE TO FIGHT THESE FIGHTS. BUT IF, IF NOT FOR YOU ALL, WE WOULDN'T HAVE. I THINK THE COURAGE AND THE DRIVE TO DO SO. AND SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR ALWAYS STANDING WITH US. AND I'M SO HAPPY TO STAND WITH YOU. I WANT, I WANT EVERYBODY, YOU KNOW, IN THE LGBTQ COMMUNITY TO KNOW THAT I SEE YOU. I'M HERE FOR YOU. YOU KNOW, YOU HAVE A FRIEND IN MY OFFICE AND YOU WILL ALWAYS HAVE A FRIEND IN MY OFFICE. AND LOVE IS LOVE, Y'ALL MEANS ALL. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU. IF I COULD JUST. BEFORE WE TAKE A PHOTO, ALSO GIVE A HUGE THANK YOU TO MY TWO STAFF MEMBERS, OSCAR AND JAVIER. WHO ARE NOT ONLY VERY PROUD MEMBERS OF THE LGBTQ PLUS COMMUNITY, BUT WHO ARE STAUNCH STAUNCH ADVOCATES FOR THAT COMMUNITY AND ARE JUST INCREDIBLE, INCREDIBLE, INCREDIBLE STAFF MEMBERS. SO I WANT TO THANK THEM FOR ALL OF THEIR HARD WORK, FOR BEING ABLE TO COLLABORATE IN THIS INCREDIBLE EFFORT WITH ALIGNING OF THE STARS. THANK. YOU FOR THAT. 
          [01:01:25]
LET ME JUST. SAY. ITEM FIVE APPROVE AND ADOPT A RESOLUTION DECLARING THE MONTH OF JUNE 2025 AS IMMIGRANT HERITAGE MONTH IN EL PASO COUNTY, TEXAS. COMMISSIONER 
          [D. Approve and adopt a resolution declaring the month of June 2025 as Immigrant Heritage Month in El Paso County, Texas.
David Stout, Commissioner, Precinct 2, 915-273-3559]
STOUT. ALL RIGHT. PROUD TO BE ABLE TO ALSO HAVE SPONSORED THIS THIS RESOLUTION. WE HAVE MEMBERS OF OUR IMMIGRANT RIGHTS COMMUNITY HERE. WE HAVE MELISSA LOPEZ, THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF ESTRELLA EL PASO. I MAY SANTILLAN FROM HOPE BORDER INSTITUTE WITH WITH SOME SOME OF HER TEAM ANNABELLE, UTEP, MSW STUDENT AND ANGELICA RODRIGUEZ, UTEP, MSW STUDENT, AND PAOLA RAMIREZ, UTEP, MSC STUDENT. THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH FOR JOINING US. AND THE OTHERS. WE CAN HAVE YOU INTRODUCE YOURSELVES WHEN WE WHEN WE FINISH READING THE RESOLUTION. 
          THERE'S JUST LOTS TO SAY ABOUT THIS ONE AS WELL. POLICY THAT IS BASED ON LIES IS JUST BAD POLICY ON ITS FACE. AND IMMIGRANTS ARE NOT A PUBLIC SAFETY THREAT. THEY ARE NOT A HEALTH THREAT. THEY ARE NOT A THREAT. FULL STOP. THE DISGUSTING LIES FROM SO MANY POLITICIANS ARE SUCH A LOW POINT FOR THIS COUNTRY AND CANNOT STAND. BUT THERE IS MUCH DANGER IN OUT OF CONTROL FEDERAL AGENCIES IN THE SURVEILLANCE AND PRISON AND INJUSTICE SYSTEMS THAT ARE BEING RAMPED UP. TOO MANY OF US ARE LIVING WITH THAT DAY TO DAY. AND I'M GOING TO READ AN EXCERPT FROM AN ADMINISTRATIVE UPDATE THAT WE RECEIVED ABOUT A YEAR AGO, BECAUSE THIS IS WHO WE ARE AS A COMMUNITY, AND THESE ARE OUR AMERICAN VALUES. AND WE'LL KEEP FIGHTING FOR OUR VALUES. THE UPDATE WHICH CAME FROM WHICH CAME FROM A BETSY ABOUT WORK THAT OUR OFFICE OF NEW AMERICANS WAS DOING. IT SAID A FAMILY OF SIX WAS ENCOUNTERED IN EL PASO, SEPARATED, PROCESSED AND RELEASED WITHOUT THEIR 19 YEAR OLD SPECIAL NEEDS SON. FOR SOME REASON, THE 19 YEAR OLD SON WAS ON HIS WAY TO THE RIO GRANDE VALLEY TO BE REPATRIATED BACK TO COLOMBIA. WE'RE NOT EXACTLY SURE WHAT TRANSPIRED, WHY THE SEPARATION HAPPENED, OR WHY THE 19 YEAR OLD SPECIAL NEEDS SON WAS SCHEDULED FOR REPATRIATION WITHOUT HIS FAMILY. THE FAMILY REFUSED TO LEAVE EL PASO WITHOUT THEIR SON, SO SACRED HEART ALLOWED FOR AN EXTENDED STAY. AND THROUGH OUR STRONG PARTNERSHIPS, ALFONSO, WHICH IS ONE OF OUR STAFF AT THE OFFICE OF NEW AMERICANS, WORKED WITH OUR CUSTOMS AND BORDER PROTECTION CONTACT CONTACT TO STOP THE DEPORTATION AND BRING HIM BACK TO BE TOGETHER WITH HIS FAMILY EVERY DAY. THE FAMILY CALLED ALFONSO AND HE REASSURED THEM THAT THINGS WERE MOVING ALONG. ON MARCH 4TH, 2024, THE YOUNG MAN WAS RELEASED TO THE MIGRANT SERVICES PROCESSING CENTER AND WAS QUICKLY TAKEN TO SACRED HEART CHURCH TO BE REUNITED WITH HIS FAMILY. IT WAS AN EMOTIONAL REUNIFICATION, SO I DO WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO OUR OFFICE OF NEW AMERICANS AND THANK YOU TO THE COURT FOR STAYING STRONG. AND THANK YOU FOR TO OUR BEAUTIFUL COMMUNITY, FOR ALSO BEING HELPERS AND PUSHING US TO STAY STRONG. SO I'M GOING TO GO AHEAD AND READ THE RESOLUTION, AND THEN WE CAN HEAR FROM OUR GUESTS, THE RESOLUTION STATES. WHEREAS EL PASO COUNTY IS A PROUD BORDER COMMUNITY, A PLACE WHERE 
          [01:05:06]
LANGUAGE, CULTURE, FAMILY TIES AND SHARED HISTORY FLOW FREELY ACROSS THE RIO GRANDE. THE PEOPLE OF THIS REGION ARE SHAPED BY GENERATIONS OF MIGRATION, TRADE AND RESILIENCE THAT LONG PREDATE TODAY'S BORDERS. AND WHEREAS OVER 80% OF EL PASOANS ARE PROUDLY OF MEXICAN DESCENT, AND IN EL PASO'S CULTURE REMAINS INSEPARABLE FROM THAT LEGACY TODAY, MEXICAN TRADITIONS, FOOD WAYS, MUSIC FESTIVALS, AND FAMILIAL NETWORKS CONTINUE TO DEFINE DAILY LIFE, CIVIC VALUES, AND REGIONAL PRIDE ACROSS THE COMMUNITY. AND WHEREAS EL PASO HAS WELCOMED IMMIGRANTS FROM ACROSS THE GLOBE WHO HAVE JOINED OUR COMMUNITY AS OUR NEIGHBORS, BUSINESS PARTNERS, TEACHERS, DOCTORS AND FRIENDS, HELPING TO SHAPE THIS CITY'S DIVERSE IDENTITY AND RICH CULTURAL FABRIC FABRIC FOR THE BETTER. AND WHEREAS EL PASO'S HISTORY AS A GATEWAY TO THE NORTH HAS BEEN KEY TO THE REGION'S LEGACY OF WELCOMING NEWCOMERS, CREATING A MOSAIC OF CULTURAL TRADITIONS THAT CONTINUE TO ENRICH THE COMMUNITY AND MAKE IT ONE OF THE MOST DYNAMIC REGIONS IN THE NATION. AND WHEREAS THE LEGACY OF IMMIGRANTS OF BOTH TODAY AND THE PAST CONTINUES TO INSPIRE FUTURE GENERATIONS TO PURSUE, PURSUE OPPORTUNITY, EQUALITY AND JUSTICE, REINFORCING OUR SHARED COMMITMENT TO INCLUSIVITY AND DIGNITY FOR ALL. AND WHEREAS THE COUNTY OF EL PASO AFFIRMS THAT ALL IMMIGRANTS AND THEIR FAMILIES, REGARDLESS OF STATUS, MAKE SIGNIFICANT CONTRIBUTIONS TO ENTREPRENEURSHIP AND ECONOMIC GROWTH AND EMBODY THE VALUES OF HARD WORK, FAMILY, AND PERSEVERANCE THAT DEFINE THE AMERICAN DREAM. AND WHEREAS FEDERAL ACTIONS AND RHETORIC AIMED AT CRIMINALIZING MIGRANTS AND THEIR FAMILIES, MILITARIZING THE BORDER AND UNDERMINING BASIC CIVIC RIGHTS THREATEN TO ERODE TRUST, ENDANGER LIVES, AND DESTABILIZE FAMILIES, THESE ACTIONS DO NOT REFLECT THE VALUES OF EL PASO COUNTY. AND WHEREAS IMMIGRANT HERITAGE MONTH IS NOT JUST A CELEBRATION OF IMMIGRANTS, BUT A TRIBUTE TO THE CENTURIES LONG STORY OF EL PASO ITSELF AND MEXICAN AMERICAN, INDIGENOUS AND BORDERLANDS COMMUNITY THAT REFUSES TO BE DEFINED BY WALLS, FEAR OR SCAPEGOATING. AND NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, THAT EL PASO COUNTY JUDGE AND COMMISSIONERS COURT OFFICIALLY RECOGNIZE JUNE AS IMMIGRANT HERITAGE MONTH IN EL PASO COUNTY, CELEBRATE THE RICH MEXICAN HERITAGE AND BINATIONAL IDENTITY OF THE REGION ROOTED IN CENTURIES OF MIGRATION, FAMILY TIES, AND CULTURAL EXCHANGE. 
          ACKNOWLEDGE AND HONOR THE CONTRIBUTIONS OF ALL IMMIGRANT COMMUNITIES FROM ACROSS THE GLOBE, WHOSE PRESENCE IN EL PASO HAS SHAPED THE CITY'S GROWTH AND CHARACTER. AFFIRM THE COUNTY'S CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHT AND MORAL RESPONSIBILITY TO SPEAK OUT AGAINST UNJUST POLICIES THAT HARM IMMIGRANT AND BORDER COMMUNITIES AND REMAIN COMMITTED TO BUILDING A SAFE, JUST, AND INCLUSIVE COMMUNITY WHERE IMMIGRANT CONTRIBUTIONS ARE HONORED AND PROTECTED, AND WHERE EVERY RESIDENT, REGARDLESS OF HERITAGE, ETHNICITY OR IMMIGRATION STATUS, IS TREATED WITH DIGNITY. SIGNED THIS SECOND DAY OF JUNE 2025, THE HONORABLE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS COURT, WE HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE BY COMMISSIONER STOUT, SECOND BY JUDGE SAMANIEGO. THE VOTING IS OPEN. MOTION CARRIES. THANK YOU. GOOD MORNING. MELISSA. MY NAME IS MELISSA LOPEZ. I'M THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF ESTRELLA DEL PASO, KNOWN FOREVER BY COMMISSIONER OLGUIN AS DIOCESAN MIGRANT AND REFUGEE SERVICES. ALTHOUGH WE'RE GOING ON OUR SECOND YEAR WITH A NEW NAME. SO AT SOME POINT IT HAS TO CHANGE. I WANT TO THANK, YOU KNOW, THE THREE OF YOU IN PARTICULAR FOR YOUR SUPPORT OF OUR WORK, YOUR SUPPORT OF IMMIGRANTS IN THIS COMMUNITY. YOU KNOW, WE ARE INCREDIBLY BLESSED TO BE IN THIS COMMUNITY AT THIS TIME. IT'S A DIFFICULT TIME, BUT WE'RE LUCKY TO BE HERE WHERE WE HAVE SO MUCH SUPPORT AND SO MANY PEOPLE WILLING TO STAND UP FOR WHAT'S RIGHT AND STAND UP FOR WHO WE ARE. YOU KNOW, THERE'S A COUPLE OF GREAT BLESSINGS IN MY LIFE. 
          IN PARTICULAR, I'M GRATEFUL THAT MY GRANDPARENTS, YOU KNOW, IMMIGRATED TO THE UNITED STATES WHEN MY MOM WAS THREE. I'M GRATEFUL BECAUSE THAT GAVE ME THE LIFE THAT I HAVE, BUT MORE GRATEFUL THAT THEY BROUGHT WITH THEM THE BEAUTY OF THEIR CULTURE, THE BEAUTY OF THEIR LANGUAGE, THE BEAUTY OF OUR FAMILY AND OUR FAMILY TRADITIONS THAT ARE NOT TRADITIONS OF THE UNITED STATES, ALTHOUGH THEY'RE THEY'RE A MEZCLA, RIGHT. THEY'RE A THEIR COMBINATION OF THOSE THINGS. THE REALITY IS, IS THAT THEY'RE TRULY ROOTED IN OUR MEXICAN HERITAGE. AND THAT'S WHAT MAKES THIS COMMUNITY AND THIS COUNTRY GREAT, IS THAT WE TAKE WHAT WE HAVE HERE, WE BRING NEW IDEAS TO IT, AND WE MAKE IT EVEN BETTER. AND I THINK THAT, YOU KNOW, THE SERIES OF 
          [01:10:06]
RESOLUTIONS THIS MORNING IN PARTICULAR, SPEAK TO THE BEAUTY OF THIS COMMUNITY. IT'S NOT JUST THAT WE WELCOME IMMIGRANTS, WE WELCOME VETERANS, WE WELCOME THE LGBTQ PLUS COMMUNITY. WE WELCOME, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE WHO ARE TRYING TO DO GOOD IN OUR COMMUNITY AND CLEAN UP OUR DESERTS. THAT MAKES US WHO WE ARE. AND THE FACT THAT THAT THIS COURT CONTINUES TO COMMIT TO, TO DOING THAT, YOU KNOW, THROUGH THE OFFICE OF NEW AMERICANS WHO, YOU KNOW, STEPHANIE ALFONSO ALFONSO ALWAYS BRINGS LAUGHS TO EVERY COMMUNITY MEETING THAT WE'RE IN. AND I APPRECIATE HIS HUMOR. BUT, YOU KNOW, THE OFFICE OF NEW AMERICANS DOES INCREDIBLE WORK. AND WE'RE REALLY GRATEFUL THAT YOU ALL CONTINUE TO SUPPORT THEIR WORK AND CONTINUE TO SUPPORT EVERYTHING THAT THEY DO. 
          YOU KNOW, ON A PERSONAL NOTE, I ALMOST 18 YEARS AGO IN AUGUST, I WAS HIRED TO BE THE, YOU KNOW, A STAFF ATTORNEY AT DIOCESAN MIGRANT AND REFUGEE SERVICES. AND I PERSONALLY BELIEVE IT'S THE BEST DECISION THAT COMMISSIONER EVER MADE. SOME MIGHT DISAGREE, BUT I'M I'M INCREDIBLY GRATEFUL TO BE WHERE I AM IN THIS MOMENT AND STILL BEING ABLE TO DO THIS JOB BECAUSE IT'S HARDER THAN IT'S EVER BEEN. WE ARE FACING UNPRECEDENTED ATTACKS. I'M SURE THAT I'M ON SOME WATCH LIST OR ANOTHER AT THIS POINT, BUT I REFUSE TO SIT IDLY BY AND WATCH ATTACKS ON OUR COMMUNITY, ATTACKS ON ON ME AND MY FAMILY, AND FOR PEOPLE TO MAKE TO FRANKLY TELL LIES ABOUT WHO WE ARE AND WHAT WE BRING TO THIS COMMUNITY. SO I'LL CONTINUE TO STAND UP, BUT I APPRECIATE THAT I'M NOT STANDING ALONE. I APPRECIATE THAT I HAVE, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE STANDING WITH ME, AND I APPRECIATE THAT WE HAVE THE SUPPORT OF THE COURT. THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU, THANK YOU. WELCOME. HI. GOOD MORNING. GOOD MORNING, JUDGE SAMANIEGO AND COUNTY COMMISSIONERS. THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER STOUT, JUDGE SAMANIEGO AND THE ENTIRE COURT FOR THIS RESOLUTION. THE MONTH RECOGNIZING THE MONTH OF JUNE IS IMMIGRANT HERITAGE MONTH. THIS ACT IS NOT SIMPLY SYMBOLIC, IT IS A MEANINGFUL AFFIRMATION OF THE VALUES THAT DEFINE EL PASO COUNTY DIGNITY, COMPASSION, RESILIENCE AND COMMUNITY. HERE IN EL PASO, WE KNOW WHAT IT MEANS TO LIVE AT THE HEART OF THE OF AN IMMIGRANT STORY. OURS IS A REGION SHAPED BY GENERATIONS OF PEOPLE WHO CROSS BORDER SEEKING SAFETY, FAMILY, FREEDOM AND OPPORTUNITY. FROM OUR FOOD TO OUR FAITH TRADITIONS, FROM THE VIBRANCY OF OUR NEIGHBORHOODS TO THE LABOR THAT KEEPS THIS REGION STRONG. IMMIGRANTS ARE NOT JUST PART OF OUR COMMUNITY, THEY ARE OUR COMMUNITY. THIS RECOGNITION COMES AT A CRITICAL TIME IN OUR COUNTRY'S HISTORY, WHEN IMMIGRANTS FROM ALL BACKGROUNDS, THOSE SEEKING ASYLUM, AS WELL AS THOSE WHO HAVE CALLED THIS COUNTRY HOME FOR DECADES, ARE BEING CRIMINALIZED AND SCAPEGOATED FOR POLITICAL GAIN. 
          WE ARE SEEING POLICIES THAT AIM TO BLOCK, PUNISH OR PUSH AWAY THOSE WHOSE ONLY CRIME IS THE PURSUIT OF SAFETY AND A BETTER LIFE. AND YET, THROUGH ALL OF THIS, COMMUNITIES LIKE OUR PASO ARE TURNING THE TIDE. THAT IS WHY YOUR LEADERSHIP MATTERS SO DEEPLY. I WANT TO EXTEND MY HEARTFELT THANKS TO THE COMMISSIONERS COURT AND EL PASO COUNTY STAFF FOR YOUR TIRELESS ADVOCACY AND UNSHAKABLE COMMITMENT TO JUSTICE. THANK YOU FOR WELCOMING ASYLUM SEEKERS WITH CARE AND HUMANITY. THANK YOU FOR ADVOCATING AND SUPPORTING SOLUTIONS THAT REFLECT THE VALUES OF OUR BINATIONAL, MULTICULTURAL COMMUNITY. THANK YOU FOR PARTNERING WITH NGOS, SHELTERS, AND ADVOCATES NOT ONLY TO SUPPORT PEOPLE ON THE MOVE, BUT TO UNDERSTAND AND CALL OUT THE DEADLY CONSEQUENCES OF POLICIES THAT DEHUMANIZE AND DETER YOUR WORK. AND THIS RESOLUTION REMINDS US THAT ANOTHER WAY IS POSSIBLE THAT EL PASO CAN BE AND IS A MODEL FOR WHAT MORAL, MORAL LEADERSHIP LOOKS LIKE AT THE BORDER. THANK YOU FOR ENSURING EL PASO CONTINUES TO LEAD WITH CONSCIENCE AND HEART. THANK YOU. GOOD MORNING, JUDGE AND COMMISSIONERS. MY NAME IS ANABEL MORALES. I'M A RECENT GRAD FROM THE SOCIAL WORK MASTER'S PROGRAM AT UTEP. I AM MYSELF AN IMMIGRANT. I WAS BROUGHT HERE WHEN I WAS ONE BY MY PARENTS WHO WERE 19 AND 20. SO FOR ME, IT'S VERY IMPORTANT THAT YOU ALL ARE HIGHLIGHTING THIS AND THAT YOU ARE GIVING THE IMMIGRANT COMMUNITY IN EL PASO THIS RECOGNITION. MY PARENTS DREAMED OF SOMETHING MORE FOR THEIR CHILD, AND THE ONLY WAY TO DO THAT WAS TO IMMIGRATE TO EL PASO 
          [01:15:06]
IMMIGRANT HERITAGE. HERITAGE MONTH IS NOT JUST A SYMBOLIC RECOGNITION, BUT A REFLECTION OF MY LIVED EXPERIENCE. IT'S ABOUT HONORING THE JOURNEY OF PEOPLE LIKE MY PARENTS, WHO NAVIGATED UNFAMILIAR SYSTEMS, CARRIED THE WEIGHT OF SACRIFICE, AND NEVER STOPPED BELIEVING IN THE POWER OF OPPORTUNITY. IT'S ABOUT THE STRENGTH IN OUR HOMES, THE LOVE IN OUR FAMILIES, AND THE PERSISTENCE THAT CARRIES THROUGH BARRIERS, BORDERS AND BIAS. GROWING UP IN EL PASO, I ALWAYS UNDERSTOOD THAT BEING AN IMMIGRANT ISN'T SOMETHING SEPARATE. IT'S CENTRAL TO WHO WE ARE HERE. IT'S THIS COMMUNITY RAISED ME. IT TAUGHT ME WHAT MUTUAL SUPPORT, CULTURAL PRIDE AND RESILIENCE REALLY LOOK LIKE. AND NOW I TRY TO GIVE BACK WHAT WAS GIVEN TO ME DIGNITY, COMPASSION AND ADVOCACY. RECOGNIZING IMMIGRANT HERITAGE MONTH HONORS ALL OF US WHO COME FROM SOMEWHERE ELSE, BUT CHOSE TO PLANT ROOTS, TO SERVE OTHERS, AND TO MAKE THIS COUNTRY BETTER. 
          IT TELLS YOUNG PEOPLE LIKE I ONCE WAS, THAT THE STORY MATTERS AND THAT THEY BELONG HERE. THANK YOU FOR THIS RESOLUTION AND FOR AFFIRMING THAT IN EL PASO, IMMIGRANT HERITAGE IS NOT ONLY CELEBRATED, BUT CHERISHED. THANK YOU. GOOD MORNING. COUNTY COMMISSIONERS COURT IN THE EL PASO COMMUNITY MEMBERS I AM ANGELICA RODRIGUEZ, A FIRST GENERATION UTEP STUDENT FROM THE BACHELORS OF SOCIAL WORK, AND I'M GOING TO START MY MASTER'S THIS SUMMER. THIS RECOGNITION IS MORE THAN JUST WORDS ON AN OFFICIAL DOCUMENT. IT IS A STATEMENT THAT SHOWS OUR BEAUTIFUL BORDER COMMUNITY THAT WE SEE, HEAR AND CELEBRATE THEM. AS A UTEP STUDENT LEADER, I HAVE BEEN FACED WITH MANY OBSTACLES THAT OFTENTIMES NO OTHER UNIVERSITIES HAVE TO ENCOUNTER. 
          I'VE HAD STUDENTS ASK ME IF REGISTERING FOR CLASSES IS SAFE ANYMORE. I'VE RECEIVED PICTURES OF ICE OR LA MIGRA ON CAMPUS WITH STUDENTS ASKING ME WHAT SHOULD I DO? WE'VE HAD STUDENTS, SPECIFICALLY. TEN INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS HAD THEIR VISAS REVOKED IN EARLY APRIL, ESPECIALLY IN OUR DEPARTMENT. WE HAVE TO DO INTERNSHIPS THIS YEAR. WE'VE ENCOUNTERED INTERNSHIPS WHERE OUR STUDENTS ARE FACED WITH, WOULD I GO INTO THIS WITH LOVE AND PASSION, KNOWING THAT POLICIES ARE GOING TO CHANGE, FUNDINGS ARE GOING TO BE CUT, AND AS SOCIAL WORKERS, WE DO STAND WITH NOT ONLY OUR VALUES TO ADVOCATE FOR THIS EL PASO COMMUNITY, BUT FOR OURSELVES AS WELL. THIS RESOLUTION MAKING JUNE AS IMMIGRANT HERITAGE MONTH SHOWS THE EL PASO COMMUNITY THAT WE WILL CONTINUE TO USE OUR VOICES, RESOURCES, AND POWER TO OVERCOME ANY OBSTACLES WE FACE. 
          I THANK YOU TODAY NOT ONLY FOR BEING THE VOICE OF THE EL PASO COMMUNITY, BUT FOR STANDING ALONGSIDE WITH ALL OF US. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME. THANK YOU. WELCOME. GOOD MORNING COMMISSIONERS. MY NAME IS PAOLA RAMIREZ SANTOS. I'M A RECENT MASTER OF SOCIAL WORK GRADUATE FROM UTEP, AND I JUST WANTED TO TAKE THE TIME TO THANK YOU ALL FOR SUPPORTING THIS RESOLUTION. 
          THIS RESOLUTION COULD NOT HAVE COME AT A BETTER TIME BECAUSE FEAR BASED POLICIES AND ANTI-IMMIGRANT RHETORIC ARE BECOMING ALL TOO COMMON. IT'S DISHEARTENING TO FEEL LIKE WHO WE ARE AND WHERE WE HAVE COME FROM IS SOMETHING THAT WE NEED TO HIDE. BUT NOW MORE THAN EVER, WE NEED TO HOLD ON TO THE VERY THINGS THAT MAKE US UNIQUE OUR LANGUAGE, OUR TRADITIONS, OUR VALUES. IMMIGRANT HERITAGE MONTH IS NOT JUST ABOUT CELEBRATING OUR CULTURE. IT ALSO MEANS THAT WE ARE HONORING THOSE WHO CAME BEFORE US. IT'S ABOUT RECOGNIZING THOSE WHO HAVE FAMILIES HERE, BUILT LIVES HERE, AND CREATED A FOUNDATION FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS. MY FATHER WAS ONE OF THOSE PEOPLE. HE CAME TO THIS COUNTRY NOT JUST TO WORK, BUT TO GIVE, TO BUILD SOMETHING LASTING. HE WANTED TO GIVE US OPPORTUNITY. HE OPENED THE DOOR TO MANY FIRSTS IN MY FAMILY. BECAUSE OF HIM, I WAS ABLE TO BECOME THE FIRST PERSON IN MY FAMILY TO SERVE IN THE MILITARY, A FIRST GENERATION COLLEGE GRADUATE AND THE FIRST IN MY FAMILY TO EARN A MASTER'S DEGREE. I CARRY WITH ME THE PRIDE AND VALUES HE INSTILLED IN MY FAMILY. EL PASO UNDERSTANDS WHAT IT MEANS TO CARRY THIS PRIDE WITH US. I THINK IT'S WHAT HAS MADE OUR COMMUNITY SO RESILIENT. TIMES LIKE THESE CAN BE DISCOURAGING, BUT EL PASO HAS NEVER LET ITSELF BE DEFINED BY WALLS OR FEAR, AND IT NEVER WILL BE. THANK YOU TO THE OFFICE OF NEW AMERICANS FOR THEIR CONTINUOUS SUPPORT OF OUR COMMUNITY. AND THANK YOU AGAIN, COMMISSIONERS, FOR THIS RESOLUTION. THANK YOU. WE DO HAVE MEMBERS FROM OUR OMA. IF Y'ALL WOULD LIKE TO COME UP AND INTRODUCE YOURSELVES. AND IF YOU HAVE ANY WORDS YOU CAN SHARE. THANK YOU. WELCOME. HI, MY NAME IS ELISA. I WORK WITH THE OFFICE OF NEW AMERICANS. THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. GOOD MORNING. JIMENEZ. COMMUNITY SERVICES WITH THE OFFICE OF NEW AMERICANS. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. 
          STEPHANIE BLACKMON. ALSO WITH THE OFFICE OF NEW AMERICANS. THANK YOU, THANK YOU. HELLO. 
          CONSUELO LOPEZ, TRABAJO PARA LA OFICINA DE NUEVOS AMERICANOS. GRACIAS. THANK YOU. HI. MY NAME 
          [01:20:07]
IS PAULA BARQUERO. AND I'M ALSO WITH THE OFFICE OF NEW AMERICANS. THANK THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR IT'S INTERESTING TODAY WE'VE SEEN SOMETHING VERY SIMILAR AND THAT IS THAT OUR COMMUNITY FEELING THE RESPONSIBILITY THAT MAYBE OTHER COMMUNITIES DON'T FEEL, IT'S ALMOST LIKE FIGHT FOR YOURSELF KIND OF MENTALITY. AND WE DON'T DO THAT. WE'RE NOT GOING TO LET ANYBODY FIGHT FOR THEMSELVES. YOU KNOW, WE COME TOGETHER. I KNOW COMMISSIONER STOWN, COMMISSIONER OLGUIN HAVE BEEN EXTREMELY ACTIVE IN TRYING TO MAKE SURE THAT THAT WE SEE THE CONTRIBUTION. AND, COMMISSIONER STULTZ, IT'S SOMETHING VERY IMPORTANT THAT IS THAT THOSE LIES HAVE TO BE CHALLENGED. AND I KNOW WE'RE DOING STUDIES WHERE WE'RE SHOWING SIGNIFICANT, SIGNIFICANT DIFFERENCE FROM WHAT'S OUT THERE, THE NARRATIVES THAT ARE OUT THERE TO THE REALITY OF WHAT REALLY HAPPENS. YOU KNOW, THE CONTRIBUTIONS THAT IMMIGRANTS MAKE IS JUST UNBELIEVABLE. AND WE HAVE TO CONTINUE TO DO THAT. WE ARE THE LAST STRONGHOLD. YOU KNOW, I DON'T KNOW IF, YOU KNOW, IT'S SO EASY. IT'S I USED TO BE HESITANT TO SAY WE'RE THE LAST STRONGHOLD. AND I THOUGHT SOME COMMUNITY WAS GOING TO CHALLENGE US AND SAY, NO, WE'RE WE'RE THE LAST. BUT NOBODY, NOBODY DOES THAT BECAUSE WE'RE SO MUCH MORE HOMOGENEOUS IN THE WAY WE LOOK AT THINGS. IT'S THERE'S VERY, VERY LITTLE I THINK WE'RE LIKE, LIKE THINKERS IN EL PASO. WE BELIEVE IN CERTAIN THINGS AND THE MAJORITY OF PEOPLE BELIEVE IN THEM. SO WE'RE VERY FORTUNATE THAT WE DON'T HAVE THE 6040 KIND OF SITUATION GOING ON. I THINK WE, YOU KNOW, WE MAKE UP OUR MINDS THAT WE'RE GOING TO BE WE'RE GOING TO PROTECT INDIVIDUALS THAT ARE VULNERABLE, AND THEN WE COMMIT TO IT. AND SO I'M VERY PROUD OF THAT AS A COMMUNITY. AND I THINK MORE AND MORE WE'RE BEGINNING TO SEE THAT WHAT WE DO HERE KEEPS THE BAR HIGH. IF WE DROP OUR GUARD, IT DROPS THAT. AND THEN MORE COMMUNITIES FEEL THAT THEY HAVE THE RIGHT TO BE LESS. SO THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU DO, COMMISSIONER STOUT. IT'S A GREAT RESOLUTION AND WE THANK YOU FOR MAKING SURE THAT WE DO STAY STRONG TO OUR FAMILY VALUES AND TO OUR COMMITMENT TO IMMIGRANTS THAT HAVE COME INTO OUR COUNTRY, ALL OF US, AND AS A MATTER OF FACT. SO THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER. I JUST WANT TO SAY THANKS. JUST ECHO THOSE THOSE SENTIMENTS AND SAY THANK YOU TO THE ORGANIZATIONS IN THIS COMMUNITY THAT WORK SO HARD DAY IN AND DAY OUT, INCLUDING THOSE HERE IN EL PASO COUNTY AND OUR OPERATION IN OUR IN OUR OFFICE OF NEW AMERICANS. YOU KNOW, IT'S ONE OF THE ONE OF THE DEPARTMENTS THAT I'M MOST PROUD OF AND THAT, YOU KNOW, I REALLY JUST AM IN AWE OF THE WORK THAT THAT'S DONE AND, YOU KNOW, DON'T KNOW WHAT WE WERE DOING BEFORE WE HAD THAT DEPARTMENT. YOU KNOW, I DON'T KNOW WHAT WE DID WITHOUT Y'ALL, BUT THANK YOU TO EVERYONE WHO CAME AND SPOKE AND FOR THE WORK THAT YOU DO IN THIS COMMUNITY. IT'S GREATLY APPRECIATED. 18 YEARS. 
          THANK YOU. WELL, IF YOU DON'T. 
          [01:25:06]
I WAS GOING TO RUN OUT. HE SAID, I HAVE TO GIVE YOU THAT. 
          ITEM NUMBER SIX IS PUBLIC COMMENT. WE DO HAVE TWO SPEAKERS SIGNED UP FOR PUBLIC COMMENT. 
          OUR FIRST SPEAKER IS MISS ELIZABETH CRAWFORD. AND JUST AS A REMINDER, THERE IS A FIVE 
          [6. PUBLIC COMMENT]
MINUTE TIME LIMIT FOR PUBLIC COMMENT. I APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK THIS MORNING. WELCOME, ELIZABETH IN PERSON TODAY. THANK YOU. I APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY. IN JOHN TEN, WE HAVE THE WORDS OF THE LORD JESUS RECORDED REFERENCING THE ENEMY OF OUR SOULS. AND THEN SPEAKING OF HIMSELF, JESUS SAID, THE THIEF COMES ONLY TO STEAL AND TO KILL AND TO DESTROY. I AM COME THAT THEY MIGHT HAVE LIFE AND THAT THEY MIGHT HAVE IT MORE ABUNDANTLY. I WANT TO START THIS TOPIC WITH A VERY HARD AND VERY PERSONAL ACCOUNT, BECAUSE I WANT TO MAKE IT CLEAR THAT MY MOTIVE IS NOT HATE OR CRUELTY. MY MOTIVE IS LOVE. IN FEBRUARY 2021, I FIRST CAME TO EL PASO. IN MAY 2021, I WENT TO VISIT MY SISTER AND HER FAMILY IN PHOENIX AT THE END OF JUNE. THE NEXT MONTH, I RECEIVED WORD FROM MY SISTER TELLING ME THAT MY NEPHEW HAD DIED WITH A SELF-INFLICTED GUNSHOT WOUND. MY NEPHEW IS 19 YEARS OLD. FROM A HUMAN PERSPECTIVE, MY NEPHEW HAD EVERYTHING GOING FOR HIM. HE WAS GOOD LOOKING, POPULAR ON A SPORTS SCHOLARSHIP AT A UNIVERSITY IN HOBBS, NEW MEXICO. ACCORDING TO MY SISTER, HE HAD GOTTEN INVOLVED IN A VERY BAD RELATIONSHIP WITH A YOUNG LADY UP IN PHOENIX. WHEN SHE BROKE UP WITH HIM, HE LOST HIS MIND. IT WAS TRAGEDY UPON TRAGEDY, THE ENTIRE INCIDENT, THE MOST DISTURBING PART OF THE TRAGEDY FOR ME HAS BEEN WHAT I WAS TOLD PRECEDED IT. THERE IS A LIE THAT HAS BEEN CIRCULATING FOR DECADES IN MANY OF OUR EVANGELICAL CIRCLES THAT BASICALLY EMBOLDENS PEOPLE TO GO THE ROUTE OF SUICIDE. THAT LIE IS THAT IF SOMEONE WHO PROFESSES TO BE A CHRISTIAN COMMITS SUICIDE, HE OR SHE WILL GO STRAIGHT TO HEAVEN, WILL FORFEIT REWARDS FOR NOT FAITHFULLY SERVING CHRIST, BUT WILL GO STRAIGHT TO HEAVEN. ONLY GOD KNOWS THE HEART OF A PERSON AT THE MOMENT OF DEATH, AND FOR SURE, SALVATION IS GOD'S GUARANTEED GIFT TO ALL WHO REPENT AND TRUST IN CHRIST THE SAVIOR. EVEN IF IN A FINAL MOMENT AT THE VERY LAST SECOND. 
          YET THE WAY OFTEN GETS PRESENTED IN MANY EVANGELICAL CIRCLES IS LETHAL. INSTEAD OF WARNING PEOPLE THAT A CASUAL ATTITUDE TOWARDS SUICIDE IS A SIGN THAT HE OR SHE VERY POSSIBLY MAY NOT GENUINELY KNOW CHRIST, SUICIDE OFTEN GETS WHITEWASHED AND INTERPRETED BY MANY YOUTH IN EVANGELICAL CIRCLES AS THE EASY WAY OUT OF LIFE PROBLEMS. THE FAST TRACK TO HEAVEN. IN REALITY, IN MANY CASES, IT IS A FAST TRACK TO HELL. THE EVANGELICAL CHURCH, MANY IN MY CIRCLES OF FRIENDSHIP AND FAMILY, HAS FOLLOWED OUR MAINSTREAM CULTURE AND MINIMIZING THE SERIOUSNESS OF SELF-MURDER BEFORE OUR HOLY GOD. THERE IS ANOTHER AREA IN WHICH A NUMBER OF ONCE EVANGELICAL CHURCHES HAVE CAVED IN TO THE BELIEFS OF MAINSTREAM AMERICAN CULTURE, THE PRIDE MOVEMENT IN FIRST CORINTHIANS SIX, THE APOSTLE PAUL, UNDER THE INSPIRATION OF GOD'S HOLY SPIRIT, WROTE THESE WORDS TO THE CORINTHIAN CHURCH. FIRST CORINTHIANS SIX KNOW YE NOT THAT THE UNRIGHTEOUS SHALL NOT INHERIT THE KINGDOM OF GOD? BE NOT DECEIVED. NEITHER FORNICATORS, NOR IDOLATERS, NOR ADULTERERS, NOR EFFEMINATE, NOR ABUSERS OF THEMSELVES WITH MANKIND, NOR THIEVES, NOR COVETOUS, NOR DRUNKARDS, NOR REVILERS, NOR EXTORTIONERS, SHALL INHERIT THE KINGDOM OF GOD. AND SUCH WERE SOME OF YOU. 
          BUT YOU ARE WASHED, BUT YOU ARE SANCTIFIED, BUT YOU ARE JUSTIFIED IN THE NAME OF THE LORD JESUS CHRIST, AND BY THE SPIRIT OF OUR GOD. GOD'S HOLY WORD TEACHES THAT HOLY MATRIMONY IS ONE MAN COMMITTED TO ONE WOMAN FOR LIFE. TO WARN SOMEONE OF WHAT THE SCRIPTURES TEACH IS NOT HATEFUL, IT IS LOVING, AND TO WARN SOMEONE OF THE CONSEQUENCES OF SIN WITHOUT PRESENTING HOPE OF TRANSFORMATION IS ALSO HATEFUL. NOT LOVING. THERE IS AMAZING HOPE FOR TRANSFORMATION OF LIFE TO LIVE LIFE GOD'S WAY. THAT HOPE IS FOUND IN THE PERSON AND WORK OF THE LORD JESUS CHRIST. WE'RE TOLD IN SECOND CORINTHIANS 517 THEREFORE IF ANY MAN BE IN CHRIST, HE IS A NEW CREATION, OLD THINGS ARE PASSED AWAY. BEHOLD, ALL THINGS ARE BECOME 
          [01:30:02]
NEW. THANK YOU ELIZABETH. THANK YOU. OUR SECOND SPEAKER WE HAVE SIGNED UP FOR TODAY IS MR. PIERRE ANDRE ZARRAGA. GOOD MORNING PIERRE. GOOD MORNING JUDGE. WELCOME. THANK YOU SIR I APPRECIATE THAT. AND THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME. IT'S ALWAYS A LEARNING EXPERIENCE FOR ME TO BE UP HERE. YOU ALL KNOW ME, JUDGE, COMMISSIONERS FELLOW, MY DEAR FELLOW, EL PASOANS. AND GOD BLESS MY DEAR FELLOW AMERICANS. GOD BLESS YOU ALL. EL PASO COUNTY, MY HOME COUNTY. 
          LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, YOU ALL KNOW ME AS A CANNABIS LOBBYIST. I'VE TRIED FOR NUMEROUS YEARS, NUMEROUS YEARS TO WORK WITH THE COUNTY, AND WE'VE HAD SOME SUCCESSES WITH NOT LEGALIZING CANNABIS, BUT DECRIMINALIZING CANNABIS. IT'S NOT WHERE WE SHOULD BE BECAUSE OF THE COST EFFECTIVENESS. I'M THINKING THE ECONOMY, RIGHT. AND SO I'M HERE TODAY TO CONTINUE FIGHTING FOR THE LEGALIZATION OF CANNABIS, BUT NOT AS A LOBBYIST, NOT EMERALD STAR GLOBAL INDUSTRIES. 
          BUT THIS TIME I'VE TRANSITIONED MY WORK, MY LOBBYING EFFORTS INTO A POLITICAL PARTY. I'M FEC APPROVED NOW, JUDGE, YOU COULD GET ON TO FCC.GOV TYPE IN PPC OR THE AMERICAN POLITICAL PARTY COMMITTEE AND OR MY FULL NAME, PIERRE ANDRE SAGA, AND YOU'LL SEE THAT I AM FEC APPROVED. I HAVE MY FEC IDENTIFICATION NUMBER AS A CANDIDATE FOR PRESIDENT FOR THE OFFICE OF PRESIDENT. AND I ALSO HAVE FEC IDENTIFICATION NUMBER FOR. SO I'M WELL WITHIN FEDERAL LAWS TO RUN AND CAMPAIGN FOR THE OFFICE AS PRESIDENT. AND I WANT TO DO SO THAT I CAN LEGALIZE CANNABIS AND ORGANICS. SO I'M HERE TODAY TO JUST SHARE THIS. I THINK, VALUABLE INFORMATION WITH MY FELLOW EL PASO COUNTY GOVERNMENT. GOVERNMENT. I AM A FEDERAL CANDIDATE. SO AND I AM WORKING WITH DEVELOPING OTHER LAWS THAT SUPERSEDE COUNTY, STATE AND EVEN THESE THESE US FEDERAL LAWS. BUT MY PRIMARY FOCUS IS ON THE LEGALIZATION OF CANNABIS. AND I WANT TO USE THOSE TAX FUNDS TO STREAMLINE AND ALLOCATE TO FIRST RESPONDERS, MILITARY, POLICE, FIRE DEPARTMENT, EMTS, AND REALLY RAMP UP FOCUS ON RAMPING UP OUR NATIONAL SECURITY ALONG THE BORDER. AND YES, THIS INCLUDES BORDER PATROL AND CBP. I ONLY HAVE A FEW MINUTES HERE, AND THAT'S OKAY. I KNOW YOU ALL HAVE OTHER ORDERS OF BUSINESS, AND I'LL LET YOU GET BACK TO THAT HERE IN A COUPLE MINUTES. BUT THIS IS JUST AN INVITATION TO ALL OF YOU DEMOCRATS, REPUBLICANS ALIKE, TO COME CHECK IN WITH ME. I'M WORKING. I'M DOING A LOT OF WORK, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, ON SOCIAL MEDIA, INSTAGRAM. AND I'M STICKING ONLY TO AMERICAN CORPORATIONS. ONLY AMERICAN, AMERICAN, AMERICAN, AMERICAN. SO YOU WON'T SEE ME ON TIKTOK. YOU WON'T SEE ME ON ALL THESE FOREIGN CORPORATIONS. IT'S ALL AMERICAN. META META META META META. IF THERE'S ANY AMERICAN PUBLIC CORPORATIONS IN THE NEWS MEDIA FIELD, WE'RE WORKING WITH YOU AS WELL. BUT IT HAS TO BE ALL AMERICAN. AND I'M JUST INVITING YOU TO COME CHECK ME OUT ON SOCIAL MEDIA SO THAT YOU I HAVE MORE TIME THERE, JUDGE. SO I'M RENDERING MORE LEGAL INFORMATION AND THAT'S WHAT IT IS, LEGAL INFORMATION FOR YOU TO GRAB AHOLD OF EL PASO COUNTY AND SAY, HEY, YOU KNOW WHAT? WE'RE GOING TO POSSIBLY I MEAN, THAT'S YOUR DECISION, BUT I'M INVITING YOU TO JOIN APC, BECOME MEMBERS. I'M RECRUITING MEMBERS. I NEED TO GET MY NAME ON THE BALLOTS. SO I DO NEED AN ELECTORAL COLLEGE, AND I DO HAVE A VP CANDIDATE. SHE'S WELL KNOWN, BUT THAT REQUIRES A BASICALLY, I'M HERE ON BEHALF OF MY VP AND THE ELECTORAL COLLEGE, AND I WOULD LIKE TO EXTEND FIRST INVITATIONS TO EL PASO COUNTY TO JOIN APC AND SEE IF WE COULD REVAMP OUR COUNTRY. STREAMLINING EVERYTHING, DISSOLVING POLITICAL PARTIES. LET'S LET'S FOCUS ABOUT, YOU KNOW WHAT? WE OPENED UP TODAY'S MEETING WITH THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE. WE WANT THE AMERICAN FORM OF GOVERNMENT, NOT THE REPUBLICAN FORM OF GOVERNMENT, NOT THE DEMOCRATIC FORM OF GOVERNMENT, THE AMERICAN FORM OF GOVERNMENT. SO IF WE CAN FOCUS ON THAT HERE, I THINK WE CAN MAKE HISTORY AND FOCUS ON OUR ECONOMY, GET OURSELVES OUT OF DEBT, AND THEN INVEST, REINVEST IN OURSELVES LEFT AND 
          [01:35:06]
RIGHT, BUT AMERICAN AND THEN AGAIN, REVAMP THAT NATIONAL SECURITY. SO WITH THAT, I'LL LEAVE YOU HERE. LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, THANK YOU FOR MY FEW MINUTES. GOD BLESS YOU AND I HOPE WE CAN WORK TOGETHER. TAKE CARE. THANK YOU PETER. APPRECIATE IT. THANK YOU, THANK YOU. GOD BLESS YOU. GOD BLESS. THAT COMPLETES ALL THE SPEAKERS. FOR PUBLIC COMMENT. WE'D LIKE TO GO AHEAD AND MOVE TO ITEM EIGHT. BOARD APPOINTMENTS. ITEM EIGHT A APPROVE THE APPOINTMENT OF ANTONIO BERNAL TO THE EL PASO COUNTY EMERGENCY SERVICES DISTRICT NUMBER TWO, ESD NUMBER TWO, FOR THE UNEXPIRED TWO YEAR TERM ENDING DECEMBER 31ST, 2026. GOOD MORNING, JUDGE AND 
          [A. Approve the appointment of Antonio Bernal to the El Paso County Emergency Services District No. 2 (ESD #2) for the unexpired two-year term, ending December 31, 2026.
Betsy C. Keller, Chief Administrator, County Administration, 915-273-3600]
COMMISSIONERS MICHELLE COCHRAN WITH COUNTY ADMINISTRATION. I APOLOGIZE. MR. BERNAL WAS GOING TO TRY TO MAKE IT WITH US IN PERSON TODAY, BUT I DON'T SEE HIM HERE. BUT AS YOU RECALL, YOU INTERVIEW, YOU POSTED THE VACANCY FOR THIS POSITION, RECEIVED APPLICATIONS AND INTERVIEWED MR. BERNAL A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO. HE HAS MET ALL OF THE REQUIREMENTS TO BE APPOINTED TO THIS POSITION. I'M SORRY. GO AHEAD. WE HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE APPOINTMENT BY COMMISSIONER STOUT. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER OLGUIN. THE VOTING IS OPEN. MOTION CARRIES. THANK YOU ALL. THANK YOU. ITEM NINE COUNTY ADMINISTRATION NINE A RECEIVE A PRESENTATION AND DISCUSS AND TAKE APPROPRIATE ACTION REGARDING THE SALE, USE AND POSSESSION OF FIREWORKS FOR 
          [A. Receive a presentation, and discuss and take appropriate action regarding the sale, use and possession of fireworks for the July 4th, 2025 period.
Melissa Carrillo, Deputy County Administrator, County Operations, 915-273-3582]
THE JULY 4TH, 2025 PERIOD. AND I BELIEVE WE ARE ASKING FOR THIS ITEM BE POSTPONED ONE WEEK. WE HAVE A MOTION BY COMMISSIONER STOUT TO POSTPONE. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER OLGUIN. THE VOTING IS OPEN. COMMISSIONER STOUT, YOUR VOTE. MOTION CARRIES. ITEM NINE. B RECEIVE A PRESENTATION. 
          DISCUSS AND TAKE APPROPRIATE ACTION REGARDING EL PASO COUNTY'S 89TH TEXAS LEGISLATIVE 
          [B. 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]
AGENDA AND VALUE STATEMENT, AND PROVIDE DISCUSSION AND INPUT REGARDING FEDERAL LEGISLATIVE ITEMS FOR THE 119TH CONGRESS. FIRST MANAGER TODAY WITH THE LAST 89TH LEGISLATIVE SESSION UPDATE. TODAY IS SINAI DAY, THE LAST DAY OF SESSION, AND WE SURVIVED. WE HAVE JUST A FEW UPDATES BEFORE BEFORE OUR OFFICIAL WRAP UP. I KNOW THERE'S A LOT OF BILLS THAT WE WERE TRACKING. A LOT OF EL PASO COUNTY PRIORITIES THAT I BELIEVE ARE LOBBYING TEAM WILL BE IN EL PASO IN PERSON TO PRESENT WITH ME IN A COUPLE OF WEEKS, BUT FOR NOW, I JUST WANTED TO GIVE A QUICK JUST HIGHLIGHT SOME OF THE ITEMS THAT PASSED THIS SESSION AND THAT ARE OF INTEREST TO THE COUNTY. IF I COULD GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE PLEASE. SO AS I SAID, TODAY IS THE 140TH DAY, MEANING TODAY IS THE END OF THE 89TH LEGISLATIVE SESSION. OVER THE WEEKEND, THE BUDGET WAS APPROVED FOR THE NEXT TWO YEARS. IT WAS A 338 BILLION BUDGET. A LOT OF ITEMS ALSO FOR EL PASO IN THAT BUDGET, ITEMS TO THAT. I KNOW THAT THAT THE COURT HAS BEEN TRACKING THAT I WANT TO JUST MENTION THAT THEY DID NOT PASS OUR HB 19 AND SB 1024, AND THESE ARE RELATED TO GEO BONDS AND CERTIFICATES OF OBLIGATION. THEY THEY BOTH DIED IN IN THE PROCESS. SO THEY DIDN'T MAKE IT EVEN AS AMENDMENTS. AND WE WERE WATCHING TO SEE IF ANY OF THE LANGUAGE ON ANY OF THESE BILLS MADE IT ON AS AN AMENDMENT TO ANOTHER BILL. AND NONE OF THAT HAPPENED. SO I THINK WE CAN ALL KIND OF BREATHE RELIEF. BUT YEAH, I KNOW THOSE TWO WERE A LOT OF WORK, AND I, I WANT TO THANK AGAIN, MISS BARBARA PARKER, FOR COMING ALL THE WAY TO AUSTIN TO TESTIFY AGAINST SENATE BILL 1024 AND ONE OF THE LAST HEARINGS. I THINK ALL THOSE CONVERSATIONS THAT WE HAD ALSO VISITING OFFICES AFTER SHE TESTIFIED AND JUST RELAYING OUR POSITION, I THINK THAT REALLY HELPED COLLECTIVELY THE EFFORTS FROM OTHER COUNTIES AS WELL. SO THANK YOU AGAIN, BARBARA, FOR TESTIFYING ON ON THAT ONE. I WANT TO HIGHLIGHT THESE THREE BILLS THAT CHANGE IN CONFERENCE COMMITTEE, AS YOU KNOW, WHEN LEGISLATION IS APPROVED BY A CHAMBER. AND THEN IT GOES TO THE 
          [01:40:03]
OTHER CHAMBER IN IN THE OTHER CHAMBER DOESN'T AGREE WITH ANY WITH, WITH ANY OF THE AMENDMENTS THAT WERE PUT IN OR THE LANGUAGE THEY HAVE TO BOTH APPOINT A COMMITTEE OR MEMBERS TO A COMMITTEE THAT THEY CALL A CONFERENCE COMMITTEE TO IRON OUT THE DIFFERENCES AND COME TO A COMPROMISE IN THE LANGUAGE OF LEGISLATION. AND THERE'S A LOT OF BILLS THAT ARE OR WHERE OVER THE WEEKEND, TIED UP IN CONFERENCE COMMITTEE, I WANT TO HIGHLIGHT JUST A LITTLE BIT OF WHAT HAPPENED WITH SENATE BILL EIGHT, WHICH IS, AS YOU MIGHT RECALL, THE MANDATORY 287 G AGREEMENTS. WE HAD WORKED THROUGHOUT SESSION WITH, WITH OUR SHERIFF'S OFFICE AND WITH THE CHAIRMAN OF THE MEXICAN AMERICAN LEGISLATIVE CAUCUS, WAS REALLY PUSHING BACK ON THE ORIGINAL LANGUAGE AS SB EIGHT WAS FILED. AND WE MADE SOME SUGGESTIONS ALONG WITH OTHER ADVOCATES AS WELL, NOT JUST EL PASO COUNTY, BUT LIKE A GROUP OF STAKEHOLDERS TO SEE IF WE COULD DETERMINE THE LEAST HARMFUL MODEL OF THE 287 AGREEMENTS, WHICH IS A WARRANT SERVICE MODEL. AND THEN THAT WENT ON AS AN AMENDMENT ON THE HOUSE FLOOR. ONCE SB EIGHT REACHED THE HOUSE, IT WENT ON AS AN AMENDMENT. THE BILL ALSO HAD LANGUAGE TO GIVE REIMBURSEMENT, SO IT HAD A GRANT. THERE'S A GRANT PROGRAM COMPONENT OR THERE WAS A GRANT COMPONENT AND THEN A REIMBURSEMENT COMPONENT. AND SO AS SB EIGHT WAS PASSED OUT OF THE HOUSE, THE SENATE DID NOT LIKE THOSE AMENDMENTS. AND SO THEY APPOINTED A CONFERENCE COMMITTEE. AND UNFORTUNATELY, DURING THAT CONFERENCE COMMITTEE, THESE AMENDMENTS WERE REMOVED. AND SO THE FINAL CONFERENCE COMMITTEE REPORT AND THE FINAL LANGUAGE ON THE BILL DOES NOT HAVE THE REIMBURSEMENT COMPONENT. THIS WAS VERY DISAPPOINTING, AS YOU MIGHT ALSO BE DISAPPOINTED ON THE GRANT AMOUNTS WHERE THE GRANT AMOUNTS WERE INCREASED, BUT THE REIMBURSEMENT COMPONENT WAS REMOVED. AND SO I WILL SHARE THE FINAL LANGUAGE AS SOON AS THE GOVERNOR SIGNS IT. BUT THIS IS ALREADY OVER IN IN THE GOVERNOR'S DESK AND AWAITING SIGNATURE. I WOULD ANTICIPATE THAT IT WOULD BE A BIG THAT HE'S PROBABLY GOING TO WANT TO DO A BIG CEREMONY TO SIGN THIS BILL, BUT BUT YEAH, I THINK IT WAS JUST THE WHOLE WEEK OF LIKE BACK AND FORTH AND INTO THE FINAL LANGUAGE AND THEN SEEING THE LANGUAGE ON FRIDAY NIGHT, I THINK WE WERE ALL PRETTY DISAPPOINTED THAT THEY TOOK AWAY SOME OF THE PARTS OF THE BILL THAT HAD MADE IT LESS HARMFUL. 
          AND IT HAPPENED IN A CONFERENCE COMMITTEE, SENATE BILL 293. IT HAS THE SAME FATE. IT'S BEEN BACK AND FORTH. THIS IS THE BILL REGARDING JUDICIAL PAY. AND THE HOUSE DID NOT CONCUR WITH THE SENATE AMENDMENTS. IT WAS SENT BACK. SO OVER THE WEEKEND AND EVEN AS LATE AS YESTERDAY, THERE WAS A NEW CONFERENCE COMMITTEE APPOINTED BECAUSE THE FIRST CONFERENCE COMMITTEE CAME UP WITH SOME RECOMMENDATIONS. AS YOU KNOW, THE JUDICIAL PAY IS LINKED TO THE LEGISLATORS RETIREMENT BENEFITS. SO THEY WHEN THEY RETIRE, WHEN LEGISLATORS RETIRE, THEY GET PAID AS MUCH AS THE AS THE JUDGES DO. AND THERE WAS SOME DISAGREEMENTS ABOUT WHETHER THAT SHOULD BE THE CASE OR NOT. SO REMOVING THAT LINKAGE BETWEEN LEGISLATORS PAID TO THE JUDICIAL PAY, AND THAT'S WHERE IT'S TIED UP IN THE CONFERENCE COMMITTEE. OUR OWN REP, SPEAKER MOODY, WAS APPOINTED. AND IT IS MY UNDERSTANDING THAT JUDGE PEREZ HAS BEEN IN TOUCH WITH HIM TO LET HER LET HIM KNOW SOME OF THE CONCERNS FROM THE JUDGES AND WHAT THEY WOULD LIKE TO SEE ON THE FINAL BILL THAT WE HOPE WILL BE PASSED TODAY, IF IT HASN'T ALREADY. I HAVEN'T REALLY KEPT TRACK BECAUSE I'VE BEEN LISTENING TO COMMISSIONERS COURT AND JUST DIDN'T WANT TO MISS MY PRESENTATION, BUT I THINK IN OUR OFFICIAL WRAP UP PRESENTATION, WE WILL FOR SURE SHARE THAT FINAL LANGUAGE. AND WHATEVER HAPPENS IN THE CONFERENCE COMMITTEE AND WHATEVER IS PASSED BY THE LEGISLATURE, IF ANYTHING. AND LASTLY, SENATE BILL 2753, THIS IS A BILL, VERY COMPLICATED BILL REGARDING ELECTIONS ADMINISTRATION. INITIALLY, WE OPPOSED IT WHEN THIS WAS FIRST HEARD IN THE SENATE, EL PASO COUNTY, MYSELF AND A LOT OF OTHER COUNTIES, WE OPPOSED IT. 
          AND THEN SOME LANGUAGE WAS ADDED AGAIN, SOME AMENDMENTS TO MAKE IT LESS HARMFUL. BUT THEN WHEN THEY WENT TO THE CONFERENCE COMMITTEE, I THINK THE CONFERENCE COMMITTEE MEMBERS COULD NOT AGREE ON ON SOME OF THAT LANGUAGE. AND I KNOW OUR ELECTIONS ADMINISTRATOR, MISS LISA WEISS, HAS BEEN ALSO FOLLOWING THIS CLOSELY AND BEING COMMUNICATING NOT JUST WITH ME, BUT LIKE WITH HER ASSOCIATION, THE CONCERNS AND TRYING TO MAKE A PUSH FOR THESE IMPLEMENTATIONS TO NOT GO INTO EFFECT THIS YEAR, BUT TO GO INTO EFFECT UNTIL 2027, TO GIVE US ENOUGH TIME TO PREPARE FOR THESE VERY SUBSTANTIVE CHANGES ON ON ELECTIONS. I ALSO WANT TO HIGHLIGHT SOME OF THE BILLS THAT ALREADY PASSED, BUT THAT HAVE BEEN REALLY CONTROVERSIAL AND HAVE HAD THERE'S BEEN QUITE A FEW PROTESTS AT THE CAPITOL, INCLUDING ONE THIS PAST 
          [01:45:03]
SATURDAY, YOU PROBABLY HAVE HEARD ON THE NEWS THAT SB THREE IS A TOTAL BAN ON THC PRODUCTS, AND THIS IS EXPECTED TO BE SIGNED BY THE GOVERNOR AGAIN, PROBABLY IN A BIG CEREMONY. WE DON'T KNOW WHEN THAT WILL BE. SENATE BILL TEN, THIS IS A MANDATE TO HAVE THE TEN COMMANDMENTS IN CLASSROOMS, IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS. ALSO A BILL THAT A LOT OF THE MINORITY IN THE HOUSE WAS PUSHING FOR AMENDMENTS TO MAKE IT MORE INCLUSIVE. SO SOME AMENDMENTS INCLUDED HAVING ALSO TEACHINGS FROM FROM OTHER RELIGIONS ALSO IN SCHOOL. NONE OF THESE AMENDMENTS WERE TAKEN UP. AND THE BILL AS IS, IS JUST MANDATING THAT THE TEN COMMANDMENTS ARE DISPLAYED IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS. THERE'S ALREADY LAWSUITS AWAITING TO BE FILED AFTER THIS ASSIGNED, FROM WHAT I'VE HEARD. BUT BUT YEAH, THIS ONE IS ALREADY ON THE GOVERNOR'S DESK. AND THEN I KNOW THIS WAS HIGHLIGHTED EARLIER TODAY DURING THE PRIDE MONTH RESOLUTION, BUT HOUSE BILL 229 IS ONE OF THE OF THE WORST ANTI LGBTQ PIECES OF LEGISLATION THIS SESSION. THIS IS A REQUIREMENT FOR STATE DOCUMENTS TO REFLECT THE SEX ASSIGNED AT BIRTH. IT ATTEMPTS TO DESCRIBE THAT THERE ARE ONLY TWO SEXES AND THEY DON'T ALLOW FOR ANY, LIKE OTHER SEXES OR NOTHING. THAT IS NOT A BIOLOGICAL SEX. SO I KNOW THIS WAS A BIG FIGHT, BUT THIS ONE WAS ALREADY PASSED AND IT'S ON THE GOVERNOR'S DESK. DO WE HAVE ANY QUESTIONS ON ANY OF THESE BILLS? IF NOT, I'LL GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE. I WANT TO HIGHLIGHT SOME OF THE STATE BUDGET ITEMS THAT MADE IT IN. AS I SAID EARLIER, IT'S ONE OF THE LARGEST BUDGETS APPROVED IN IN RECENT YEARS FOR TEXAS, 51 BILLION FOR PROPERTY TAX RELIEF. MOST OF THAT WILL GO TO COMPRESSION AND TO KEEPING THE PROPERTY TAXES THAT WERE DONE OR APPROVED LAST SESSION, THEN 8.5 BILLION FOR PUBLIC SCHOOLS WAS ALSO APPROVED IN THE BUDGET, THEN 1 BILLION ASIDE FOR THESE VERY ALSO CONTROVERSIAL SCHOOL VOUCHER PROGRAM, 1 BILLION FOR COMMUNITY ATTENDANCE PAY INCREASE TO $13 AN HOUR. 
          INITIALLY I THINK THE TALKS WERE TO DO THIS AT $14 AN HOUR, BUT THEN IN CONFERENCE COMMITTEE THIS CAME UP. THEY CAME INTO THIS COMPROMISE TO INCREASE IT TO $13 AN HOUR. AND THIS IS PAID THROUGH THE STATE'S PORTION OF MEDICAID, THEN 10 BILLION FOR ENERGY, WATER AND BROADBAND INFRASTRUCTURE. THERE'S SOME BALLOT PROPOSALS THAT WE WILL SEE IN THE NOVEMBER BALLOT. AND IF APPROVED BY VOTERS, 1 BILLION OF THESE TEN PER YEAR, STARTING IN 2027 AND FOR THE NEXT 20 YEARS, WILL GO TOWARDS SECURING THE STATE'S WATER SUPPLY. THERE WAS ALSO 100 MILLION IN THE STATE BUDGET FOR CHILD CARE SCHOLARSHIPS, AND THEN EIGHT AND A HALF IN FUNDING FOR PUBLIC SCHOOLS, INCLUDING SALARY INCREASES FOR TEACHERS, SPECIAL ED TEACHER PREPARATION AND OPERATIONAL COSTS. NEXT SLIDE PLEASE. NOW THE EXCITING PART, SOME EL PASO ITEMS ON THE BUDGET THAT MADE IT. I THINK THIS IS ONE OF THE BEST SESSIONS FOR EL PASO THAT I'VE SEEN MYSELF. AND IT INCLUDED 65 MILLION FOR A COMPREHENSIVE CANCER CENTER TO TOWARDS THE COMPLETION OF THE CANCER CENTER, 50 MILLION FOR THE PSYCHIATRIC CENTER, AGAIN CONTINUING WITH WHAT WAS APPROVED LAST SESSION, 20 MILLION FOR A UTEP MINING ENGINEERING PROGRAM, 14 MILLION FOR AN EL PASO WATER AUGMENTATION PROJECT, 10 MILLION FOR THE DOWNTOWN PLAZA PROJECT. 
          AND THIS IS ONLY IF APPROVED BY BY FEDERAL PROJECTS. SO THIS IS NOT SECURED UNLESS THIS IS THIS IS NOT GOING TO BE GIVEN UNLESS THERE IS APPROVAL FROM FEDERAL FUNDING. THEN 8 MILLION FOR UTEP COLLABORATION WITH NASA, 7 MILLION FOR THE WIDER TRAMWAY DEVELOPMENT, 5 MILLION TO THE EL PASOANS FIGHTING HUNGER FOOD BANK AND 2 MILLION FOR THE RIO VISTA FARMS RESTORATION IN SOCORRO. SO A LOT OF GOOD ITEMS FOR EL PASO. IF I COULD GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE. LASTLY, I JUST WANT TO HIGHLIGHT SOME BILLS FROM OUR TRACKER THAT WERE ALREADY SENT TO THE GOVERNOR OR THAT WE'VE BEEN TRACKING CLOSELY AND THAT ARE WORTH MENTIONING RIGHT NOW. BUT AGAIN, I WILL COME BACK ALONG WITH OUR LOBBYING TEAM IN A COUPLE OF WEEKS TO GIVE A VERY LIKE A MORE THOROUGH PRESENTATION OF EVERYTHING THAT WE TRACKED AND EVERYTHING THAT WE WORKED ON. 
          BUT I KNOW FOR NOW, THESE THESE BILLS ARE OF CONCERN TO THE COUNTY. SO I JUST WANT TO HIGHLIGHT THEM AS WE NIGHT BY HUFFMAN. THIS IS THE LIKE AN OMNIBUS BAIL REFORM BILL. AND 
          [01:50:04]
IT'S ALREADY BEEN SENT TO THE GOVERNOR. IT WAS SENT YESTERDAY. AND AGAIN WE'RE WAITING PROBABLY A BIG CEREMONIAL SIGNATURE EVENT. THEN HB NINE BY MEYER. WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THIS EXTENSIVELY INITIALLY WAS FILED AS A 250,000 PROPERTY TAX EXEMPTION, AND IT WAS LOWERED TO 125. AND IT'S ALREADY BEEN SENT TO THE GOVERNOR. HE HASN'T SIGNED IT YET, THOUGH IT WAS SENT A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO. THEN HOUSE BILL 21 BY GATES. THIS IS THE HOUSING FINANCE CORPORATIONS OR WHAT THEY CALL THE TRAVELING HFCS, OR LIMITING THEM TO THE BOUNDARIES AND HAVING ADDITIONAL STANDARDS THEY MUST MEET WITHIN TWO YEARS. THIS IS THIS WAS ALSO SENT TO THE GOVERNOR AND HASN'T BEEN SIGNED YET. THEN SENATE BILL 651 BY WEST. THIS IS FOR OUR VETERANS SERVICE OFFICER TO ALLOW THEM TO REPORT TO A DESIGNATED COUNTY EXECUTIVE INSTEAD OF REPORTING TO THE FULL COMMISSIONERS COURT. THIS IS AN INITIATIVE FROM DALLAS COUNTY THAT WE WORK VERY CLOSELY WITH, AND THAT WE'RE VERY EXCITED THAT IT PASSED. NEXT SLIDE PLEASE. THEN SENATE BILL 1079 BY SENATOR WEST. THIS ONE GRANTS AUTHORITY FOR COUNTIES TO DISPOSE OF SENSITIVE MEDIA DEVICES SAFELY. 
          THIS WAS ALREADY SIGNED BY THE GOVERNOR WILL BE EFFECTIVE SEPTEMBER 1ST. HOUSE BILL 1109 BY REP. VANDIVER EXEMPTS COUNTIES FROM MOTOR FUEL TAXES ALSO SIGNED BY THE GOVERNOR, AND BECAUSE THIS ONE RECEIVED MORE THAN TWO THIRDS OF APPROVAL IN THE CHAMBERS, IT IS EFFECTIVE SOONER THAN SEPTEMBER 1ST. IT WILL BE EFFECTIVE JULY 1ST. SENATE BILL 1173 BY PERRY. THIS ONE INCREASES THE PURCHASING BID FROM 100,000 TO SORRY, IT INCREASES IT TO 100,000 INSTEAD OF 50,000. IT WAS PASSED WITHOUT THE GOVERNOR'S SIGNATURE AND IT WILL BE EFFECTIVE SEPTEMBER 1ST. 
          AND THEN I KNOW WE BOTH WE WORKED A LOT ON THIS. THESE TWO BILLS, SENATE BILL 1450 AND HOUSE BILL 23, AND THESE WERE THIRD PARTY REVIEW OF DEVELOPMENT DOCUMENTS. BOTH OF THEM ENDED UP DYING COMMITTEE AFTER REALLY HARD FOUGHT BATTLES. I KNOW OUR PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT HELPED A LOT IN AMENDING THEM, PROPOSING NEW LANGUAGE, TRYING TO NEGOTIATE, ESPECIALLY WITH THE DEVELOPER COMMUNITY THAT WAS REALLY PUSHING FOR LANGUAGE ON THESE BILLS THAT WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN EVEN DOABLE FOR THE COUNTY. AND SO I THINK THERE'S GOING TO BE A LOT OF WORK LEFT FOR THE INTERIM. SO WE CAN BECAUSE THIS IS FOR SURE GOING TO COME BACK NEXT SESSION. BUT I HOPE THAT IN THE INTERIM, WE ARE INCLUDED IN THOSE STAKEHOLDER MEETINGS AND THOSE GROUPS TO COME TO A FAIR COMPROMISE, WHICH I THINK IS WHAT WE DID THROUGH THE HOUSE WHEN HB 23 WAS ON THE HOUSE AND WE OFFERED AMENDMENTS TO MAKE IT, TO MAKE IT LESS, LESS HARMFUL AND MORE, MORE DOABLE. BUT THEN WHEN IT REACHED THE SENATE, THEY WANTED TO REMOVE ALL OF THOSE AMENDMENTS. AND THAT'S WHERE WE REALLY HAD TO TALK TO OUR SENATORS, TALK TO THE MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE, AND TELL THEM, LIKE, THE IMPACT THAT THIS WOULD HAVE HAD IF IT HAD PASSED. SO, AGAIN, I THINK WE CAN ALL LIKE JUST, YOU KNOW, GIVE A JUST BE RELIEVED THAT THIS THAT THIS DIDN'T PASS AND THAT BUT AGAIN THAT WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO PROBABLY WORK A LOT DURING THE INTERIM TO, TO SEE WHERE WE CAN COMPROMISE. I THINK THIS IS MY LAST SLIDE, BUT I WILL ENTERTAIN ANY QUESTIONS. THERE'S NO MOTION TODAY. I MEAN, OBVIOUSLY THE SESSION IS OVER. 
          WE ARE HOPEFUL THAT THERE WILL NOT BE A SPECIAL SESSION. THERE WERE SOME BILLS THAT ALSO DIED. 
          THE DENIAL OF BAIL FOR UNDOCUMENTED IMMIGRANTS. THAT ONE DID NOT MAKE IT. AND I THINK THE OTHER DENIAL OF BAIL TO REPEAT OFFENDERS ALSO ENDED UP NOT PASSING. SO AGAIN, I THINK I THINK IT WAS OVERALL A AN OKAY SESSION. I DON'T WANT TO SAY IT WAS GREAT BECAUSE WE DIDN'T PASS A LOT OF THINGS THAT WE WOULD HAVE LIKED, BUT I DO THINK THAT WE STOPPED A LOT OF LEGISLATION THAT WAS HARMFUL AND THAT WOULD HAVE TIED OUR HANDS OR STRAINED OUR BUDGET. AND I THINK OVERALL, WE DID REALLY WELL. AND I AM REALLY PROUD OF OUR LOBBYING TEAM FOR THEIR SERVICES, FOR THEIR RELENTLESS DEDICATION AND LIKE TRACKING THINGS, HELPING US COMMUNICATE WITH MEMBERS AND REALLY LIKE HIGHLIGHTING EL PASO COUNTY'S POSITION, ESPECIALLY OUR BUDGET TO THE LEGISLATORS. 
          SO I THINK OVERALL IT WAS IT WAS GOOD THAT THAT WE WERE ABLE TO STOP SOME OF THOSE BAD THINGS FROM HAPPENING COLLECTIVELY WITH OUR OTHER FELLOW COUNTIES AND ALSO BRINGING HOME LIKE A LOT OF FUNDING. I THINK OUR DELEGATION DID A GREAT JOB IN SECURING ALL THAT FUNDING FOR EL PASO. SO I ALSO WANT TO HIGHLIGHT THEIR WORK AND THANK THEM. BUT YEAH, THIS IS JUST A QUICK RECAP OF SESSION AS OF TODAY. THANK YOU LISA. YOU DID AN AMAZING JOB. VERY CONSISTENT, VERY DEDICATED. 
          [01:55:03]
SO WE'RE VERY, VERY APPRECIATIVE OF HOW YOU KEPT IN TOUCH WITH ALL OF US. APPRECIATE THAT. 
          JUDGE. YES. I ASK YOU A QUESTION. THANK YOU. HI, ELISA. WHAT ABOUT THE BILL THAT WOULD HAVE WEAKENED OUR ABILITY TO ENFORCE THE SUBDIVISION ORDERS THAT WE WERE AFRAID MIGHT LEAD TO A PROLIFERATION OF COLONIAS AGAIN. WHAT HAPPENED WITH THAT? YEAH. THANK YOU FOR ASKING, COMMISSIONER. I SHOULD HAVE INCLUDED IT HERE SINCE IT WAS SUCH A HEADACHE THE ENTIRE SESSION. IT DID NOT PASS. IT DIED IN THE CALENDARS COMMITTEE. SO. YES. AGAIN, ANOTHER THING THAT IT WAS ON THE CALENDAR. BUT THEY THEY TOOK OUR AMENDMENTS SO WE WOULD HAVE IN THE NEGOTIATED LANGUAGE THAT ACTUALLY MIKE PACHECO WAS OUR LOBBYIST. MIKE PACHECO DID A GREAT JOB IN SECURING THAT AMENDMENT ON THERE. SO IT WOULD IT WOULD HAVE MADE IT SO IT WAS ONLY FAMILIAL DIVISIONS. AND SO IT WAS NOT GOING TO BE AS HARMFUL, BUT IT ENDED UP DYING ON THE CALENDARS DEADLINE. SO IT DIDN'T PASS. GOOD. THAT'S GOOD TO HEAR. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. AND THEN THE OTHER ONE. YEAH. THANK YOU. THERE WAS ANOTHER ONE TOO THAT WAS ONLY BRACKETED TO CAMERON COUNTY. AND WE WERE WATCHING IT CLOSELY BECAUSE WE THOUGHT THAT BRACKET COULD EASILY COME OFF ON THE HOUSE FLOOR THROUGH A QUICK AMENDMENT. IT ALSO DIED ON THE CALENDAR DEADLINE. SO I WAS ALSO VERY RELIEVED WHEN THAT HAPPENED. GOOD, GOOD GOOD. THANK YOU. YES OF COURSE. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? I JUST I JUST WANT TO REAL QUICK. THANK ELISA AND OUR LOBBY TEAM. YOU KNOW, I SPENT I SPENT A LOT OF TIME AT THE LEGISLATURE, AS I TYPICALLY DO. AND THEY WERE VERY HELPFUL TO ME AND I THINK TO, TO ALL OF OUR STAFF THAT TRAVELED TO, TO AUSTIN TO, TO PARTICIPATE IN, IN TESTIFYING. AND I KNOW THAT ESPECIALLY THE LAST COUPLE OF WEEKS. ELISA WAS WAS WORKING ON AMENDMENTS IN LATE NIGHTS AND VERY EARLY MORNINGS AND I, I GOT A CALL FROM ADAM HAINES FROM COOK TO TELL ME HOW HOW, HOW MUCH HE WAS APPRECIATIVE OF THE WORK THAT SHE DID WITHIN THE GROUP OF, YOU KNOW, ELISA'S HOMOLOGOUS EMPLOYEES IN OTHER COUNTIES. YOU KNOW, THEY THEY HAVE A GREAT TEAM. BUT SHE'S SHE'S BEEN A GREAT ADDITION. AND SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH, ELISA, FOR, FOR ALL OF YOUR HARD WORK ON BEHALF OF EL PASO COUNTY DURING THE SESSION, YOU KNOW, IT LOOKS IT LOOKS LIKE WE DIDN'T FARE TOO TERRIBLY. THERE PROBABLY ARE A NUMBER OF UNFUNDED MANDATES THAT THAT ARE GOING TO BE WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO DEAL WITH I'D LIKE IN THE NEAR FUTURE FOR US TO BE ABLE TO KIND OF QUANTIFY THAT SO THAT WE CAN MAKE SURE THAT WE MAKE THE PUBLIC KNOW THAT OUR BUDGET'S GOING UP, IF WE'RE GOING TO RAISE TAXES BECAUSE OF IT. NOT SAYING WE ARE, BUT THAT THE PUBLIC NEEDS TO KNOW, YOU KNOW, HOW MUCH, HOW MUCH MORE MONEY WE'RE HAVING TO SHELL OUT, WHETHER IT'S ELECTION STUFF, WHETHER IT'S THE JUDGE'S PAY, WHETHER IT'S, YOU KNOW, EXEMPTIONS THAT THAT WE LOSE MONEY FROM, WE REALLY NEED TO I THINK HAMMER HOME THAT THAT INFORMATION BECAUSE YOU KNOW, I THINK I THINK IT'S UNFAIR FOR US TO BE FOR US TO BE. OR FOR THE PUBLIC TO BE TOLD THAT WE'RE WE'RE THE ONES THAT ARE CULPABLE FOR THE FOR THOSE INCREASES IN OUR COUNTY BUDGET. JUDGE, IF I MAY ALSO PIGGYBACK OFF OF WHAT COMMISSIONER STOUT WAS JUST SHARING ABOUT THE WORK THAT HAS BEEN DONE OVER THIS SESSION. SO SEVERAL DEPARTMENTS HAVE BEEN TRACKING BILLS AND HAVE BEEN TRYING TO STAY ON TOP OF MANY BILLS. AND THEN ELISA, I MEAN, WE REALLY SHE IS ONE PERSON AND THERE AS YOU, WE HAD A RECORD NUMBER OF BILLS FILED THIS YEAR. THERE HAS BEEN EXTENSIVE WORK AND I HAVE RECEIVED SO MANY COMPLIMENTS, NOT JUST INTERNALLY, BUT FROM, FOR EXAMPLE, CHIEF ESPARZA ABOUT HOW HELPFUL ELISA WAS. IT'S IF YOU'VE NEVER TESTIFIED BEFORE, IT CAN BE NERVE WRACKING AND HAVING A FRIENDLY FACE. WHO DOES SUCH AN AMAZING JOB? IT'S NERVE WRACKING AFTER YOU DO IT 20 TIMES TO SO IT CAN BE VERY NERVE WRACKING. BUT ELISA IS SUCH A CALM, CALMING AND SUPPORTIVE FORCE. I HEARD FROM CHIEF MEDINA, CHIEF ESPARZA, EVEN JUDGE PEREZ, WHO WAS THERE AND WAS ADVOCATING ON ONE ISSUE IN IN ADVERSE TO OUR INTEREST. SHE EVEN SAID, YOU KNOW, I HAD TO BE CONSCIENTIOUS TO NOT PUT ELISA IN A PREDICAMENT, BUT JUST HER HELPING ME NAVIGATE WHERE TO GO, YOU KNOW, WAS SO, SO COMFORTING AND SUCH AN EXCELLENT LEVEL OF SERVICE. AND SO, ELISA, IN ADDITION TO TRACKING ALL THE BILLS, BEING SUCH A WELCOMING PERSON TO ALL OF US WHEN WE COME TO AUSTIN, YOU, YOU JUST YOU'RE REMARKABLE AND I REALLY APPRECIATE YOU. AND WE'RE ALWAYS 
          [02:00:01]
HARD ON YOU WHEN THERE'S LIKE, WHERE ARE WE ON THIS? WHERE ARE WE ON THAT? BUT YOU, YOU KEEP YOUR CALM, KEEP YOUR COOL. WE REALLY APPRECIATE YOU. THANK YOU ALL. AND IT WAS A PLEASURE WORKING THIS SESSION ALONGSIDE ALL OF YOU AND ALL OF THE DEPARTMENTS THAT ARE SO COMMITTED TO JUST SERVING THE PUBLIC. AND THEN I KNOW THAT SOMETIMES IT'S DISAPPOINTING TO HEAR THAT THE LAW IS GOING TO CHANGE IN SUCH A DETRIMENTAL WAY. AND SOMETIMES WHEN WE DON'T GET THE THINGS THAT WE NEED, IT'S DISAPPOINTING. BUT I THINK I THINK COLLECTIVELY WE DID WE DID WELL, I THINK IT COULD HAVE BEEN, IT COULD HAVE BEEN MUCH WORSE. AND OVERALL, I THINK EL PASO IS GOING TO BE OKAY FOR TWO MORE YEARS. AND, AND ON THE FUNDING PIECE, I DO THINK THAT'S, THAT'S SOMETHING WE SHOULD CELEBRATE. AND WE SHOULD DEFINITELY THANK OUR DELEGATION FOR THEIR WORK BECAUSE WE ARE GETTING A LOT OF PROJECTS THIS, THIS SESSION. AND SO JUST KEEP WORKING WITH THEM FOR, FOR THE NEXT ONE AND SEEING IF WE CAN INCLUDE OTHER THINGS THAT, THAT WE ALSO NEED IN THE COUNTY. BUT BUT THANK YOU. AND THANK YOU, BETSY, FOR SAYING ALL OF THAT. 
          IT MEANS A LOT. YEAH, I THINK WE WOULD BE REMISS IF WE DIDN'T THANK THE DELEGATION, ESPECIALLY REP GONZALEZ, WHO IS VICE CHAIR OF APPROPRIATIONS, WHO I THINK HAD THE VAST MAJORITY OF THOSE ITEMS THAT WERE WINS FOR EL PASO COUNTY IN THE IN THE HOUSE, IN THE HOUSE BUDGET AND DID DID SO MUCH, SO MUCH WORK TO KEEP THOSE THINGS IN THROUGHOUT THE SESSION AND DURING THE CONFERENCE AS WELL. JUST AMAZING, AMAZING WORK. AND YEAH, IT WAS IT WAS A GOOD SESSION FOR THE CANCER CENTER. YOU KNOW, I THINK THAT'S GREAT. WE'RE GOING TO NOW THAT WE HAVE THE BOND MONEY FOR THE CANCER CENTER, WE HAVE THE I THINK THE REST OF THE FUNDS THAT WE NEED FOR THAT FOR THAT PROJECT TO BE ABLE TO FINALLY COME TO FRUITION. I THINK FOR A WHILE THERE, WE WERE SCARED THAT WE MIGHT NOT GET THE MONEY FOR THE. FOR THE PSYCH CENTER, FOR THE PSYCH HOSPITAL. BUT THAT ENDED UP COMING TO FRUITION AS WELL. SO, SO LOTS OF LOTS OF GOOD WINS FOR OUR, OUR COUNTY AND FOR OUR COMMUNITY. SO KUDOS TO THE TO THE TO THE TO OUR DELEGATION. AND JUST TO FOLLOW UP ON THAT, I THINK IT WOULD BE NICE IF WE SENT THEM A THANK YOU LETTER, OFFICIALLY THANKING THEM FOR ALL OF THEIR HARD WORK ON BEHALF OF EL PASO COUNTY AND ALL OF THE RESIDENTS OF EL PASO. SO IF POSSIBLE, COULD WE DO THAT? COULD WE SEND THEM A THANK YOU LETTER? ABSOLUTELY. YOU CAN ALSO TAKE ACTION AND I'LL DRAFT THE LETTER. OKAY. YEAH I'D LIKE TO MOVE THAT. WE SEND A THANK YOU LETTER TO OUR DELEGATION FOR ALL OF THEIR EFFORTS THIS LEGISLATIVE SESSION. YEAH. AND AT THE EL PASO DAYS, THEY WERE SO COMPLIMENTARY TO OUR DELEGATION. IT WAS JUST SO PROUD TO HEAR PEOPLE FROM OTHER COMMUNITIES, FROM DIFFERENT LEVELS, ACKNOWLEDGING THE FOCUS OF OUR DELEGATION, OUR SENATOR AND REPRESENTATIVES WORKING TOGETHER. IT WAS JUST A CONSTANT THAT MADE US FEEL REALLY PROUD TO BE ABLE TO DO THAT, TO HEAR THAT. SO THANK YOU. WE HAVE A MOTION BY COMMISSIONER OLGUIN TO SEND A LETTER TO THE DELEGATION, SECOND BY JUDGE SAMANIEGO. THE VOTING IS OPEN. FINALLY, COMMISSIONER STOUT, THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONTRIBUTIONS AND TESTIMONIALS AND YOUR PARTICIPATION. WE FEEL VERY COMFORTABLE WHEN YOU'RE THERE BECAUSE YOU CLEARLY UNDERSTAND THE PROCESS. WE APPRECIATE THAT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. JUDGE WOULD LIKE TO GO AHEAD AND MOVE TO ITEM 13 FROM PUBLIC WORKS. ITEM 13 A RECEIVE A PRESENTATION FROM THE PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT REGARDING THE US ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY SOLAR FOR ALL GRANT PROGRAM, INCLUDING AN OVERVIEW OF THE CITY OF EL PASO'S PLANNED 
          [A. Receive a presentation from the Planning & Development Department regarding the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Solar for All grant program, including an overview of the City of El Paso’s planned implementation and the designation of the City’s Sustainability Department as the lead recipient of the Texas Energy Poverty Research Institute (TEPRI) administered grant.
Michael McElroy, Director, Planning and Development, 915-273-3330]
IMPLEMENTATION AND THE DESIGNATION OF THE CITY'S SUSTAINABILITY DEPARTMENT AS THE LEAD RECIPIENT OF THE TEXAS ENERGY POVERTY RESEARCH INSTITUTE ADMINISTERED GRANT. 
          WELCOME. THANK YOU. GOOD MORNING. JUDGE. COMMISSIONERS WITH THE PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT. I'M ACCOMPANIED WITH MISS DENISE RODRIGUEZ, MY COLLEAGUE, AND ALSO MICHAEL MCELROY AND OUR FEARLESS LEADER, MISS PALACIOS. OVER THERE IN THE BACK. I'LL JUST GIVE YOU A QUICK HISTORY ON THIS PRESENTATION BEFORE WE GO INTO PRESENTATION BACK ON SEPTEMBER 11TH, 2023. ITEM 12 PRESENTATION WAS CHRISTIAN MARTINEZ. MR. MARTINEZ PRESENTED TO THE COURT THE GRANT OPPORTUNITY FROM THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY ABOUT THE SOLAR FOR ALL PROGRAM. AND AFTER THE PRESENTATION, THE COURT DIRECTED STAFF TO GO AHEAD AND PROCEED WITH SUBMITTING TWO APPLICATIONS, ONE WITH THE CITY AND ONE WITH THE HARRIS, COUNTY 
          [02:05:01]
TIPPERARY. SO THAT'S THE QUICK BACKGROUND ON THIS ONE. I'M GOING TO GO AHEAD AND TURN IT TO MISS DENISE, TO GO OVER THE WHOLE THING WITH YOU GUYS. THANK YOU. I APOLOGIZE FOR THAT. I FORGOT TO INTRODUCE OUR ACKNOWLEDGE TO CITY STAFF MEMBERS FERNANDO AND OMAR MARTINEZ WHO ARE HERE ON THE. MIKE AND JEFFREY. GOOD MORNING. JUDGE. COMMISSIONERS DENISE RODRIGUEZ WITH THE PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT, UTILITY INFRASTRUCTURE DIVISION. AND I'M HERE TO PRESENT THE SOLAR FOR ALL GRANT AND ITS IMPLEMENTATION THROUGH A COUNTY CITY PARTNERSHIP. I'D LIKE TO HIGHLIGHT THAT THIS EFFORT ALIGNS DIRECTLY WITH THE COUNTY'S STRATEGIC GOAL NUMBER FIVE, WHICH IS TO PROMOTE REGIONAL COLLABORATION. AND THE PROGRAM ALSO FALLS UNDER THE STRATEGIC GOAL FOUR, WHICH IS TO ENHANCE GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE. 
          AGAIN, JOINING ME TODAY IS FERNANDO GARGANO, WHICH SENIOR PROGRAM MANAGER PROGRAM MANAGER WITH THE CITY OF EL PASO. WE HAVE OMAR MARTINEZ, ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF LEGISLATIVE AFFAIRS WITH THE CITY MANAGER'S OFFICE. AND ONLINE WE HAVE DOCTOR KATHY JACQUES WITH THE TEXAS ENERGY POVERTY RESEARCH INSTITUTE, AND THEY ARE HERE TO SUPPORT THE PRESENTATION, AS WELL AS TO ADDRESS ANY QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE. THE SOLAR FOR ALL COALITION WAS FORMED TO ADDRESS THE ENERGY INEQUITY AMONGST TEXANS LOW INCOME TEXANS BY PROVIDING ACCESS TO SOLAR ENERGY, REDUCING UTILITY BILLS, AND DEVELOPING WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT. THE COALITION IS LED BY THE HARRIS COUNTY, AND THEY HAVE MEMBERS WHICH INCLUDES DALLAS COUNTY, CITIES OF SAN ANTONIO, WACO, AND. AUSTIN, AS WELL AS TAPRI AND OTHER ENERGY CLEAN ENERGY ADVOCATES. HARRIS COUNTY WAS AWARDED 245 $49.7 MILLION IN JULY OF 2024 UNDER THE GREENHOUSE GAS REDUCTION FUND, AND THIS IS TO SUPPORT SOLAR AND ENERGY STORAGE FOR LOW INCOME HOUSEHOLDS, WHICH IS ONE OF THE COALITION MEMBERS IS A SUBAWARDEE OF UNDER HARRIS COUNTY LEADS. THAT PLAYS A CENTRAL ROLE IN ADMINISTERING THE GRANT FOR THE SOLAR FOR ALL PROGRAM, AND THEY ARE A SUB RECIPIENT OF HARRIS COUNTY. THEY WERE AWARDED OVER 21 MILLION TO SUPPORT THE SOLAR FOR ALL GRANT, WHICH SPEAKS A LITTLE BIT. OVER 6 MILLION IS ALLOCATED TO. IS ALLOCATED TO SUPPORT THE COUNTY OF EL PASO. IS RESPONSIBLE FOR PROVIDING TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE AND THE PROGRAM OVERSIGHT, AND WILL ISSUE SUB AWARDS TO EL PASO, LAREDO AND BROWNSVILLE. THE CORE GOAL OF THE PROGRAM IS TO PROVIDE NO COST SOLAR INSTALLATIONS FOR LOW INCOME HOUSEHOLDS, BOTH IN URBAN AND RURAL DISADVANTAGED COMMUNITIES. THE PROGRAM IS PROJECTED TO RESULT IN A 20% REDUCTION IN UTILITY BILLS, TRAINING FOR 20 INTERNS IN GREEN ENERGY BILLS, ENGAGING 1500 COMMUNITY MEMBERS, AND AN ANNUAL EMISSIONS REDUCTION OF OVER 2100 TONS OF CARBON DIOXIDE. HERE, WE'RE LOOKING AT THE PROGRAM SCOPE AND BUDGET. WE AIM TO SERVE 440 HOUSEHOLDS ENERGY SAVINGS OF $300 PLUS PER HOUSEHOLD PER YEAR, AND OVERALL SOLAR INSTALLATION OF 1.5MW IN CAPACITY. THE BUDGET DEDICATES 76%, OR 4.5 MILLION, TOWARDS DIRECT FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE FOR THE SOLAR INSTALLATIONS, AND THE REMAINING FUNDS SUPPORT WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT, OUTREACH AND ADMINISTRATION. THE CITY OF EL PASO WILL MANAGE THE PROGRAM. THEY WILL OVERSEE IMPLEMENTATION THROUGH A THIRD PARTY PROGRAM. MANAGEMENT. THEIR SUSTAINABILITY DEPARTMENT WILL LEAD STAFFING, PARTNERSHIPS AND OVERALL DELIVERY. THE KEY PARTNERS IN THIS EFFORT WILL BE THE CITY OF EL PASO OFFICE OF CLIMATE AND SUSTAINABILITY, NONPROFITS, CBOS, AND OF COURSE, EL PASO COUNTY. GIVEN THE SCALE OF THIS INITIATIVE, THE CITY AND THE COUNTY AGREED THAT THE CITY IS 
          [02:10:02]
BEST SUITED TO LEAD US TERRITORIES. SUBRECIPIENT. THIS DECISION WAS ALSO GROUNDED ON OUR INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT FOR CLIMATE AND SUSTAINABILITY ASSISTANCE AND COOPERATION. THE CITY STAFF WILL PRESENT THIS ITEM TO THEIR COUNCIL ON JUNE 8TH TO FORMALLY CONFIRM THE CITY CITY'S ROLE. WHILE THE COUNTY WILL REMAIN AS A KEY PARTNER, COLLABORATING ENSURING THAT UNINCORPORATED AREAS OF EL PASO ARE BENEFITED AND REPRESENTED IN THE PROGRAM. THE NEXT IMMEDIATE STEPS TO INCLUDE ARE TO FINALIZE THE AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE CITY OF EL PASO AND TO INITIATE THE PROGRAM DESIGN INFRASTRUCTURE OF THE PROGRAM. THE REFINED COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AND WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT STRATEGIES, AND THE PROGRAM IS SET TO BE LAUNCHED IN OCTOBER 2025. THE PROGRAM IS A FIVE YEAR PROGRAM CONCLUDING IN AUGUST OF 2029. IN CONCLUSION, THE SOLAR FOR ALL PROGRAM PROVIDES AN IMPORTANT OPPORTUNITY TO DELIVER ECONOMIC RELIEF, ENVIRONMENTAL BENEFITS, AND WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT. THIS PARTNERSHIP UNDERSCORES HOW REGIONAL COLLABORATION CAN DELIVER TRANSFORMATIVE IMPACT FOR RESIDENTS MOST IN NEED OF OUR SUPPORT. AND THAT CONCLUDES MY PRESENTATION. I'M HAPPY TO TAKE ANY QUESTIONS AND ALSO INVITE MY COLLEAGUES FROM THE CITY AND IF THEY HAVE ANY COMMENTS. I HAD A QUESTION, AND MAYBE THIS IS SOMETHING THAT OMAR COULD ANSWER. SO THE 440 HOUSEHOLDS THAT WE HOPE TO HELP INSTALL SOLAR, HOW ARE THOSE GOING TO BE? IS IT GOING TO BE AN APPLICATION PROCESS? WHAT WHAT IS THAT GOING TO LOOK LIKE? HI. GOOD MORNING, FERNANDO LLANO WITH THE CITY OF EL PASO. SO THERE'S GOING TO BE AN APPLICATION PROCESS. THE INSTALLATIONS ARE GOING TO BE FOR SINGLE FAMILY AND MULTIFAMILY. THE ONLY THE REQUIREMENT TO DEFINE WHO IS ELIGIBLE OR NOT. THE FINANCIAL IS 80% AM I? SO THAT'S GOING TO BE THE THRESHOLD. AND WHAT KIND OF OUTREACH DO WE HAVE IN MIND THAT'S GOING TO BE DONE TO TRY TO MAKE SURE THAT PEOPLE KNOW THAT THIS PROGRAM IS OUT THERE AND ARE TAKING ADVANTAGE OF IT? YES. SO WE'RE GOING TO ENGAGE PROBABLY THROUGH A SUBAWARD AGREEMENT AS WELL WITH LOCAL NONPROFITS, AND WE'RE WORKING ON DIRECTLY WITH TAPRI TO DEFINE WHO IS GOING TO HELP US TO THE MANAGEMENT OF THE OUTREACH AND THE TECHNICAL COMPONENTS. SO IT'S GOING TO BE THROUGH MOST LIKELY STILL TO BE DEFINED THROUGH NONPROFITS IN THE REGION. OKAY. AND FOR THE OUTLYING AREAS OF THE COUNTY, CAN THE COUNTY BE INVOLVED WITH THE IDENTIFICATION OF SOME OF THOSE NONPROFITS? I MEAN, WE'VE FOUND THAT WHEN IT COMES TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE GETTING INFORMATION DISTRIBUTED TO THE COMMUNITY, THERE'S SEVERAL NONPROFITS THAT WE WORK VERY CLOSELY WITH, AND THAT'S ALWAYS SEEM TO BE VERY, VERY SUCCESSFUL. SO CAN I I'M SAYING WE THE COUNTY, BUT PARTICULARLY MY OFFICE, WOULD LIKE TO BE VERY INVOLVED IN, IN THE IDENTIFICATION OF THOSE NONPROFITS IN THE FAR EAST EL PASO AREA, IF POSSIBLY VERY HELPFUL. YEAH, WE'LL WORK WITH DENNIS AND THE TEAM ON THAT. SO THANK YOU FOR THAT. GREAT. THANKS, KATHY. WERE YOU GOING TO SAY SOMETHING I SEE ON THE SCREEN? HELLO. THANK YOU SO MUCH, JUDGE AND COMMISSIONERS. 
          I'M REALLY JUST HERE TO TAKE ANY QUESTIONS THAT DENISE OR FERNANDO CAN'T ANSWER. I'M JUST REALLY PLEASED TO HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO PARTNER WITH THE COUNTY AND THE CITY ON THIS EFFORT. SO IF THERE'S ANYTHING THEY'RE VERY FAMILIAR WITH THE PLAN, BUT IF THERE'S ANYTHING THAT THEY NEED ME TO PIPE IN ABOUT, I'LL LEAVE IT TO THEM. THANK YOU. BETSY, ANY ADDITIONAL COMMENTS FROM ME? I JUST THINK THIS IS A REALLY EXCITING OPPORTUNITY TO EXTEND OUR COMMUNITY. AND IT'S PART OF WELL, WE'VE WE'VE FOCUSED A LOT ON OUR OWN INTERNAL EFFORTS TO BE MORE ENVIRONMENTAL. THIS GIVES US AN OPPORTUNITY TO EXTEND THAT THOSE EFFORTS TO THE COMMUNITY TO PARTICIPATE. IT ALSO IS A GREAT PARTNERSHIP AMONGST ALL THE COMMUNITIES THAT ARE PART OF PART OF THIS APPLICATION. I KNOW WHEN I SEE THE COUNTERPART, MY COUNTERPARTS FROM HARRIS COUNTY AND DALLAS COUNTY, THEY TALK ABOUT HOW EXCITED THEY ARE JUST EVEN TO BE ABLE TO PARTNER TOGETHER, TO BE ABLE TO DRAW DOWN THESE FUNDS AND TO BE ABLE TO DO THESE, THIS FOR ALL OF OUR COMMUNITIES. I WANTED TO DOVETAIL OFF THAT. I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT AGAIN, TO RECOGNIZE THE OUR OUR PARTICIPATION, THE COUNTY'S PARTICIPATION IN ORGANIZATIONS LIKE THE TEXAS CONFERENCE OF URBAN COUNTIES AND NACO, BECAUSE IT WAS CONVERSATIONS WITH HARRIS 
          [02:15:05]
COUNTY AND DALLAS COUNTY THAT WE HAD AS A RESULT OF THOSE MEMBERSHIPS, IN THOSE MEETINGS THAT GOT US INVOLVED IN THIS. OMAR, DID YOU WANT TO SAY A FEW WORDS? GOOD MORNING, COMMISSIONERS AND JUDGE OMAR MARTINEZ WITH THE CITY OF EL PASO COMMISSIONER STOUT ACTUALLY BEAT ME TO THE PUNCH. I WAS ACTUALLY GOING TO GIVE CREDIT WHERE CREDIT IS DUE. 
          CONVERSATION BETWEEN COMMISSIONER STOUT AND COMMISSIONERS IN HARRIS COUNTY THAT ALL OF THIS IS A POSSIBILITY. SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH, SIR, FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP. 
          AND WE'LL BE SURE TO CONTINUE TO KEEP YOUR OFFICE INVOLVED AS THE PROJECT MOVES FORWARD. THANK YOU. ANY MORE QUESTIONS, COMMISSIONER? VERY EXCITING. THANK YOU. WELL, THANK YOU VERY MUCH. APPRECIATE YOUR YOUR WORK. THANK YOU SIR. WE'D LIKE TO GO BACK TO ITEM TEN FROM PURCHASING ITEM TEN A APPROVE AN AUTHORIZED THE AWARD OF RFP 25-002 FIXED ROUTE ADA PARATRANSIT AND DIAL A 
          [A. Approve and authorize the award of RFP 25-002 Fixed Route, ADA Paratransit and Dial-A-Ride Transit Services for El Paso County, Texas to the highest scoring firm First Transit, Inc. dba TransDev Services of Lombard, IL. Purchasing approved on April 13, 2025. Funds are available in SG-GRURALF24-OPERATING EX and SG-GSTARTAS23-OPERATING EXP.
Karen Davidson, Purchasing Agent, Purchasing Department, 915-273-3349]
RIDE TRANSIT SERVICES FOR EL PASO COUNTY, TEXAS TO THE HIGHEST SCORING FIRM. FIRST TRANSIT, INC, DOING BUSINESS AS TRANSDEV SERVICES OF LOMBARD, ILLINOIS. PURCHASING. APPROVED ON APRIL 13TH, 2025. FUNDS ARE AVAILABLE IN S, G, G RURAL F 24 OPERATING EXPENSES AND S G G START A S 23 OPERATING EXPENSES. GOOD MORNING KAREN. GOOD MORNING JUDGE. GOOD MORNING, COMMISSIONERS KAREN DAVIDSON, YOUR COUNTY PURCHASING AGENT. WE'VE INTRODUCED THIS ONCE BEFORE, BUT I THINK WE'RE READY TODAY TO ASK FOR YOUR APPROVAL AND AUTHORIZATION TO AWARD THE RFP FOR FIXED ROUTES, ADA PARATRANSIT AND DIAL A RIDE SERVICES. IT IS GOING TO GO BASED ON THIS RECOMMENDATION TO THE HIGHEST SCORING FIRM, FIRST TRANSIT TRANSDEV. AND WE HAVE GONE THROUGH THE PROCESS OF PRESENTING THIS TO THE MTA BOARD, AND THEY'VE GONE THROUGH THE ANALYZATION, AND THEY ARE RECOMMENDING AS WELL THAT TO AWARD THIS RFP. BUT I HAVE MR. JOSE LANDEROS WITH US THAT CAN ANSWER ANY OPERATIONAL QUESTIONS THAT YOU MIGHT HAVE, AND CERTAINLY ANSWER ANY PROCUREMENT QUESTIONS THAT YOU MIGHT HAVE. WE HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE BY JUDGE SAMANIEGO, SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER OLGUIN. THE VOTING IS OPEN. MOTION CARRIES. THANK YOU, THANK YOU. ITEM 11. AUDITOR 11 A PURSUANT TO TEXAS LOCAL GOVERNMENT CODE, SECTION. 
          [A. Pursuant to Texas Local Government Code § 114.023, 114.024, 114.025 and 114.026, accept the attached presentation and the interim financial report for the month ended April 2025. The interim financial report is located on the internet at: http://www.epcountytx.gov/auditor/publications/monthlyreports.htm .
Barbara Parker, County Auditor, County Auditor's Office, 915-273-3262]
114.023114.025114.024 AND 114.026, EXCEPT THE ATTACHED PRESENTATION AND THE INTERIM FINANCIAL REPORT FOR THE MONTH ENDED APRIL 2025. THE INTERIM FINANCIAL REPORT IS LOCATED ON THE INTERNET AT HTTP COLON. FORWARD SLASH, FORWARD SLASH W W W E P COUNTY. 
          TX.GOV/AUDITOR/PUBLICATIONS/MONY REPORTS DOT. WELCOME. GOOD MORNING JUDGE AND COMMISSIONERS I'M SORRY SHE HAS TO READ ALL OF THAT OUT EVERY TIME. TODAY'S PRESENTATION IS ON THE APRIL 2024 INTERIM FINANCIAL REPORT. THIS IS THE CONDENSED FINANCIAL REPORT THAT WAS PUBLISHED IN THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER. THESE ARE OUR REVENUES THAT ARE SUMMARIZED BY FUND TYPE. GENERAL FUND HAD APPROXIMATELY $13 MILLION COLLECTED IN THE MONTH OF APRIL. THE TOTAL YEAR TO DATE PROPERTY TAXES COLLECTED AS OF APRIL 2025 INCREASED BY $10 MILLION COMPARED TO FISCAL YEAR 24. 
          PROPERTY TAXES IN THE GENERAL FUND INCREASED BY 7.3 MILLION IN TOTAL. THE YEAR TO DATE GENERAL FUND REVENUES COMPARED TO THE SAME PERIOD LAST FISCAL YEAR ARE SHOWN ON THIS TABLE, AND THE TOTAL REVENUE COLLECTIONS HAVE DECREASED COMPARED TO THE SAME PERIOD IN PRIOR YEAR'S COLLECTIONS. THE TOP AREAS INCREASING ARE PROPERTY TAXES, AN INCREASE OF 7.3 MILLION, SALES AND USE TAX AN INCREASE OF 1.4 MILLION. FINES AND FORFEITS. AN INCREASE OF 615,000. TOP AREAS DECREASING ARE. SALES AND USE. STATE MOTOR VEHICLE TAX. IT'S A DECREASE OF $7.5 MILLION. 
          THIS IS A TIMING ERROR. IN 2024, THIS ITEM WAS RECEIVED IN MARCH. WE READ THE COUNTY TAX 
          [02:20:06]
ASSESSOR'S COLLECTION COLLECTOR'S OFFICE RECEIVED IT AT THE END OF MAY. SO THE COUNTY ITSELF HASN'T RECEIVED IT YET, BUT WE SHOULD SEE THAT CORRECTED NEXT MONTH. INTEREST DECREASED BY 2.6 MILLION DUE TO LOWER INVESTIBLE BALANCES AND LOWER RATES. CHARGES FOR SERVICES DECREASED BY 2 MILLION. THERE'S A $2.1 MILLION DECREASE DUE TO THE FEDERAL PRISONERS COMPARED TO LAST YEAR. THE AVERAGE FEDERAL PRISONER BEDS DECREASED FROM 220 TO 132. HOWEVER, THERE HAS BEEN A STEADY INCREASE THROUGHOUT THIS YEAR, AND STARTING OFF THE YEAR, WE WERE AT 70 BEDS AND NOW IN APRIL IT'S AN AVERAGE OF 2.35. THE OTHER FINANCING SOURCES DECREASED BY 1.6 MILLION. 2.5 MILLION WAS DUE TO THE FY 24, $2.5 MILLION HEALTH AND LIFE TRANSFER THAT WAS MADE. INTERGOVERNMENTAL DECREASED BY 793,000. THERE WAS A $1.4 MILLION DECREASE DUE TO THE FEMA REIMBURSEMENTS WE RECEIVED LAST YEAR, AND THERE HAVE BEEN NO REIMBURSEMENTS IN 2025. THERE'S ALSO BEEN A $325,000 DECREASE IN THE COUNTY ATTORNEY REIMBURSEMENTS, AND THERE'S NO REIMBURSEMENTS IN 25. THIS IS AN OVERVIEW OF ACTUAL REVENUE COMPARED TO BUDGET. AS OF MARCH 2025, 58.3% OF THE BUDGET HAS EXPIRED. THE FISCAL YEAR HAS EXPIRED. SO FAR THIS YEAR, GENERAL FUND IS COLLECTED 82.5% OF THE BUDGETED REVENUES. THIS ANALYSIS EXCLUDES THE $83 MILLION THAT WAS DESIGNATED FOR FUND BALANCE RESERVES. BARBARA, BEFORE YOU LEAVE THAT SLIDE, THE SALES AND USE TAX WERE AT 51.4%, BUT WE'RE AT 58% OF THE YEAR HAS LAPSED. IS THAT A TIMING ISSUE OR ARE WE THAT BEHIND BUDGET? THERE IS A TIMING ISSUE BECAUSE AT THE END OF THE YEAR, BECAUSE OF WHEN WE RECEIVE THOSE PAYMENTS, THERE'S ALWAYS A TWO MONTH CATCH UP IN SEPTEMBER FOR THE LAST MONTH OF THE YEAR. SO THERE IS A TIMING ON THAT. THANK YOU. SO THERE'S A THERE'S A ONE MONTH LAG ON WHEN WE RECOGNIZE THE REVENUES. YEAR TO DATE TAXES COMPRISE 93% OF THE REVENUES RECEIVED, 84.6 OF THOSE WERE PROPERTY TAXES. AND THIS SLIDE GIVES US THE THREE YEAR TREND FOR THE ACTUAL REVENUES RECEIVED, AS WELL AS THE TWO LARGEST AREAS. SO THE TOTAL REVENUES ARE ARE THE LINES THAT YOU SEE ON THE CHART. AND YOU CAN SEE THAT THOSE ARE GETTING CLOSER TO EACH OTHER AS THE YEAR PROGRESSES. THE TWO LARGEST REVENUE TYPES ARE THE BAR GROUPINGS. FOR EACH YEAR. YOU CAN SEE THE BUDGET ACTUAL FOR PROPERTY TAXES AND SALES TAXES AS A PERCENTAGE OF BUDGET. THE CURRENT YEAR'S GENERAL FUND TOTAL REVENUE COLLECTIONS INCREASED BY 0.5% COMPARED TO LAST YEAR, AND IS 5.6% GREATER COMPARED TO FISCAL YEAR 2023. 
          THESE ARE THE FOUR INDUSTRIES THAT ARE THE LARGEST CATEGORIES FOR SALES TAX REVENUES RECEIVED. 
          RETAIL TRADE DECREASED BY 6.3% COMPARED TO FY 24. ACCOMMODATIONS FOR FOOD SERVICES INCREASED BY 1.4%. WHOLESALE TRADE DECREASED BY 1.8%, AND INFORMATION INCREASED BY 26.5%. 
          THIS SLIDE SHOWS ALL OF THE EXPENDITURES FOR THE COUNTY BY FUND TYPE. FOR THE MONTH OF APRIL, THE GENERAL FUND RECORDED TOTAL EXPENDITURES OF 35.5 MILLION AND A YEAR TO DATE, TOTAL OF 214.1 MILLION. FOR GENERAL FUND. THIS CHART GIVES US A PICTURE OF THE BUDGET AS A WHOLE, AND BREAKS DOWN EXPENDITURES BY FUNCTION OF GOVERNMENT. 47% OF THE BUDGET HAS BEEN EXPENDED, AND OF THAT PUBLIC SAFETY ACCOUNTED FOR 42.5%, GENERAL GOVERNMENT 27.9. 
          ADMINISTRATION OF JUSTICE 23.6 AND OTHER FUNCTIONS WERE 6%. THE TOTAL GENERAL FUND EXPENDITURES BY FUNCTION ARE SHOWN ON THIS SLIDE, AS OPPOSED TO CATEGORIES THAT WERE ON THE LAST SLIDE. THE PERCENTAGE OF THE YEAR EXPIRED AGAIN IS 58.3%. THE PERCENTAGE OF BUDGET EXPENDED IS 47.4%, AND 
          [02:25:01]
THE FUNCTIONS CLOSEST TO THE 58.3% ARE PUBLIC SAFETY, HEALTH AND WELFARE. ADMINISTRATION OF JUSTICE. THE REVISED BUDGET IN GENERAL GOVERNMENT DOES NOT INCLUDE THE 20.5 MILLION, OR $20.6 MILLION THAT'S DESIGNATED FOR UNFORESEEN EMERGENCIES. GENERAL FUND EXPENDITURES OF APRIL, CATEGORIZED BY PERSONNEL OPERATING CAPITAL OUTLAY AND TRANSFERS OUT, SHOW THAT WE'VE HAVE DECREASED COMPARED TO THE PRIOR YEAR. WE DECREASED IN CAPITAL OUTLAY AND TRANSFERS OUT, AND HAD INCREASES IN PERSONNEL AND OPERATING FOR AN OVERALL DECREASE OF 4.3%. THE PERSONNEL INCREASES ARE PRIMARILY DUE TO PUBLIC SAFETY IN THE AMOUNT OF 5.7 MILLION. AS A RESULT OF INCREASES IN THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT, ADMINISTRATION OF JUSTICE INCREASED 753,000 AND GENERAL GOVERNMENT DECREASED BY 834,000, PRIMARILY DUE TO THE ARPA TRANSFERS THAT WERE DONE FOR COUNTY OPERATIONS AND COUNTY ADMINISTRATION SALARIES. 
          OPERATING INCREASES ARE PRIMARILY DUE TO ADMINISTRATION OF JUSTICE. THIS IS DUE TO INDIGENT DEFENSE AND CAPITAL MURDER COSTS. GENERAL GOVERNMENT INCREASED BY 653,000 DUE TO INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY, AND THAT INCREASE WAS OFFSET BY DECREASES IN GENERAL GOVERNMENT AND NON-DEPARTMENTAL ELECTIONS AND PUBLIC WORKS. NON-DEPARTMENTAL CAPITAL OUTLAY DECREASE IS PRIMARILY DUE TO GENERAL GOVERNMENT PUBLIC WORKS. IT'S NO CHANGE FROM THE PRIOR MONTH WHERE WE REPORTED THE REVISED BUDGET IS $1.4 MILLION LESS THAN LAST YEAR, AND WE'VE HAD NO EXPENSES THIS YEAR. TRANSFERS OUT DECREASED BY 13.5 MILLION. THIS IS A DIFFERENCE FROM LAST MONTH. IT'S PRIMARILY DUE TO THE DECREASE IN THE CIP TRANSFER OUT. LAST YEAR IT WAS 12.3 MILLION AND THIS YEAR IT WAS ONLY 1 MILLION. THIS SLIDE SHOWS US THE GENERAL FUND CHANGES BY GOVERNMENT FUNCTION IN COMPARISON WITH THE SAME PERIOD IN THE PREVIOUS YEAR. THE TOP AREAS OF CHANGE ARE GENERAL GOVERNMENT WHICH INCREASED, WHICH DECREASED, I'M SORRY, BY 17 MILLION OR 22%. PUBLIC SAFETY INCREASED BY 5.6 MILLION 6.5%. ADMINISTRATION OF JUSTICE 1.8 MILLION 3.7% AND THE RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT INCREASED BY 651,000 OR 87.9%. THE LARGE PERCENTAGE IN GOVERNMENT GENERAL GOVERNMENT ONCE AGAIN IS DUE TO THE TRANSFERS OUT FOR THE CIP. NOW, EVERYONE'S FAVORITE SLIDE OUR FUND BALANCE. THE FY 24 PROJECTIONS ARE PRETTY FIRM. 
          WE'RE ALMOST THROUGH WITH THE AUDIT. WE'RE HOPING TO BE DONE BY THE END OF THIS MONTH. 
          PROJECTIONS CONTINUE TO BE UPDATED IF THE AUDITORS FIND ANYTHING, BUT WE THINK THEY'RE STABLE. THEY CURRENTLY INCLUDE GENERAL FUND REVENUES OF 396 MILLION AND EXPENDITURES OF 397.9 MILLION, WITH A PROJECTED GENERAL FUND BALANCE OF APPROXIMATELY 96.2 MILLION. AND THIS WILL LEAVE AN UNCOMMITTED FUND BALANCE AS A PERCENTAGE OF GENERAL FUND BUDGET OF 10.82%. 
          THE FISCAL YEAR 25 PROJECTED FUND BALANCE IS BASED ON PROJECTED REVENUES, AND DIFFERENCES FROM LAST MONTH INCLUDE 1.6 MILLION IN ADDITIONAL REVENUE PROJECTED FOR FEDERAL PRISONERS BASED ON RECENT TRENDS, 1.3 MILLION FOR REIMBURSEMENT OF SALARIES FROM CONTRACTS, AND $1 MILLION FOR THE DISABLED VETERANS EXEMPTION RELIEF FUND THAT WE RECEIVED. 
          EXPENDITURES ARE PROJECTED TO BE 416.9 MILLION, AND THESE ARE BASED ON TRENDS WITH EXPENDITURES AND ADJUSTMENTS THAT HAVE BEEN RECOMMENDED BY THE BUDGET AND FINANCE DEPARTMENT. COMBINED WITH THE UPDATED FY 24 FUND BALANCE, THIS RESULTS IN A PROJECTED FISCAL YEAR 25 FUND BALANCE OF 72.8 MILLION AT THIS POINT IN TIME. ONCE AGAIN, YEARS AFTER 2025 ARE BASED ON A 2% INCREASE IN PROPERTY VALUES AND EXPENSE INCREASES OF 5%. THIS IS THE TABLE OF CONTEXT FOR THE FULL, FULL REPORT THAT'S ON THE INTERNET. AND IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER THEM. SO THE FISCAL YEAR 2024, THAT FIGURE IS PROBABLY PRETTY CLOSE TO FINAL. YES, WE'RE WE'RE VERY COMFORTABLE WITH THAT FIGURE. THE AUDITORS ARE ALMOST FINISHED REVIEWING ALL OF THE FINANCIAL TABLES. THEY STILL HAVE THE NOTES TO LOOK AT. BUT I THINK WE'RE WE'RE GOOD WITH THE NUMBERS THAT WE HAVE, AND THAT SEEMS TO ME MUCH BETTER THAN WE 
          [02:30:02]
WERE EXPECTING. IT IS BETTER. BUT REMEMBER, AT THE END OF EACH YEAR THERE'S ACCOUNTING ENTRIES THAT WE HAVE TO MAKE. AND SO THOSE ACCOUNTING ENTRIES DEPEND UPON OUR VENDORS AND LEASES AND HOW WE HAVE TO ACCOUNT FOR THOSE AND THOSE WE REALLY CAN'T PROJECT AHEAD OF TIME. THANK YOU. OKAY. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? THANK YOU. THANK YOU BARBARA. OKAY. WE HAVE A MOTION TO ACCEPT BY COMMISSIONER STOUT. SECOND BY JUDGE SAMANIEGO. THE VOTING IS OPEN. JUDGE. YOUR VOTE. JUDGE. 
          YES. MOTION CARRIES. JUDGE. BEFORE WE BREAK, COULD WE PLEASE DO ITEM 12 A? I THINK IT WILL BE VERY QUICK. SURE. ITEM 12 FROM HUMAN RESOURCES. 12 A APPROVE AN AUTHORIZE THE UPDATE TO THE EL PASO COUNTY'S HEALTHY LIFESTYLE LIFESTYLE REIMBURSEMENT PROGRAM. POLICY FUNDS ARE AVAILABLE IN I. 
          [A. Approve and authorize the update to the El Paso County’s Healthy Lifestyle Reimbursement Program Policy. Funds are available in IS-HEALTH-HEALTH/DENTAL CLAIMS.
Sam Trujillo, Interim Chief Human Resources Officer, Human Resources Department, 915-273-3520]
HEALTH. HEALTH. DENTAL CLAIMS. GOOD AFTERNOON. I KNOW IT'S STILL FEELS LIKE THE MORNING, BUT WITH THE HUMAN RESOURCES DEPARTMENT, THE PURPOSE OF TODAY'S AGENDA ITEM IS TO SEEK COMMISSIONERS COURT APPROVAL ON THE UPDATES MADE TO THE HEALTHY LIFESTYLE REIMBURSEMENT PROGRAM POLICY. I WOULD LIKE TO NOTE THAT WE PRESENTED THESE UPDATES TO THE FULL BOARD DURING THEIR REGULAR MEETING ON MAY 21ST, 2025, AND THEY RECOMMENDED TO APPROVE THE UPDATES MADE TO THIS POLICY. PRESENTING ON THOSE UPDATES IS OUR WELLNESS COORDINATOR, SENIOR SABIEN SOLIS. I'LL GO AHEAD AND HAND IT OVER TO HIM. GOOD AFTERNOON, JUDGE AND COMMISSIONERS SABIEN SOLIS WELLNESS COORDINATOR SENIOR WITH THE HUMAN RESOURCES DEPARTMENT. I'M EXCITED TO SHARE IMPORTANT UPDATES TO OUR HEALTHY LIFESTYLE REIMBURSEMENT PROGRAM, ENHANCEMENTS THAT REFLECT THE COUNTY'S CONTINUED COMMITMENT TO PROMOTING THE HEALTH AND WELL-BEING OF OUR COUNTY EMPLOYEES. THIS PROGRAM IS DESIGNED TO INCENTIVIZE EMPLOYEES WHO ARE ENROLLED IN ONE OF THE COUNTY'S MEDICAL PLANS TO MAINTAIN AN ACTIVE LIFESTYLE BY OFFERING FINANCIAL REIMBURSEMENT FOR GYM MEMBERSHIPS AT QUALIFYING FITNESS FACILITIES. LET ME BEGIN WITH A BRIEF OVERVIEW. ELIGIBLE EMPLOYEES MAY APPLY FOR REIMBURSEMENT BY PROVIDING FOR KEY ITEMS, A COPY OF THE GYM MEMBERSHIP CONTRACT, TIME AND DATE SPECIFIC ATTENDANCE RECORDS CORRESPONDING TO THE APPLICATION PERIOD, PROOF OF PAYMENT, AND VERIFICATION OF ACTIVE ENROLLMENT IN THE COUNTY'S MEDICAL PLAN. EMPLOYEES CAN APPLY UNDER A SIX MONTH OR 12 MONTH PERIOD, AND THEY MUST MEET MINIMUM REQUIRED NUMBER OF VISITS EACH MONTH. DURING THAT TIME, WE'RE PLEASED TO ANNOUNCE THAT WE'VE INCREASED THE REIMBURSEMENT AMOUNT. EMPLOYEES MAY NOW RECEIVE UP TO $100 EVERY SIX MONTHS, OR $200 ANNUALLY, AN IMPROVEMENT FROM THE PREVIOUS MAXIMUMS OF $90 AND $180, RESPECTIVELY. THIS ADJUST ADJUSTMENT SUPPORTS THE LONG TERM WELLNESS GOALS AND ENCOURAGES EMPLOYEES TO MAKE CONSISTENT WELL-BEING CHOICES. 
          IN ADDITION, WE'VE UPDATED THE PARTICIPATION REQUIREMENTS TO ENCOURAGE MORE MEANINGFUL ENGAGEMENT. TO QUALIFY, EMPLOYEES MUST NOW ATTEND THEIR FITNESS FACILITY AT LEAST 12 TIMES PER MONTH, UP FROM THE PREVIOUS REQUIREMENT OF EIGHT VISITS, WHICH IS ONE ADDITIONAL VISIT PER WEEK. WE'VE ALSO REMOVED FULL TIME EMPLOYEE LANGUAGE AND UPDATED IT TO READ ENROLLED IN A COUNTY MEDICAL PLAN. AS NOW PART TIME REGULAR EMPLOYEES ARE ELIGIBLE FOR MEDICAL BENEFITS. ANOTHER IMPORTANT CHANGE INVOLVES THE APPLICATION PROCESS. PREVIOUSLY, REIMBURSEMENTS WERE SUBMITTED THROUGH OUR WELLNESS PORTAL NAVIGATE. HOWEVER, FOLLOWING OUR TRANSITION TO A NEW CARRIER, WE NO LONGER HAVE ACCESS TO THAT PLATFORM. IN RESPONSE, WE'VE IMPLEMENTED A NEW SMARTSHEET SPACE SUBMISSION PROCESS CREATED IN-HOUSE BY OUR STAFF. THIS ENSURES A SMOOTH AND SECURE WAY FOR EMPLOYEES TO SUBMIT THEIR APPLICATIONS. IN 2024, WE PROCESSED OVER $4,000 IN REIMBURSEMENTS FROM A TOTAL OF 40 APPLICATIONS, AND WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO FUTURE GROWTH. THANK YOU ALL, AND I'D BE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS AT THIS TIME. THANK YOU, THANK YOU. GREAT INCREASE IN BENEFITS FOR FOLKS. YES. THANK YOU, THANK YOU THANK YOU. APPRECIATE THAT. WE HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE BY COMMISSIONER OLGUIN. DO WE HAVE A SECOND SECOND BY JUDGE SAMANIEGO. THE VOTING IS OPEN. MOTION CARRIES. THANK YOU. THANK YOU SIR. JUDGE, WOULD YOU LIKE TO GO AHEAD AND RECESS AT THIS TIME? RECESS? YES. OKAY. 
          COMMISSIONERS COURT WILL NOW RECESS FOR ONE HOUR. IT IS 12:05 P.M. WE HAVE. AFTER ONE. WE TOLD 
          [02:35:08]
THEM. 
          [02:41:41]
DO YOU LIKE THIS LITTLE PARK RIGHT HERE AT ASCARATE PARK? YES, YES. ALL RIGHT. AND I UNDERSTAND WE'RE GOING TO MEET YOUR MOM. IS THAT RIGHT? AND SHE'S KIND OF IMPORTANT IN THE COUNTY, ISN'T THAT CORRECT? SO SHE BRINGS YOU OUT HERE A LOT? NO, NOT ALL THE TIME. NOT NEARLY ENOUGH, MOM. WELL, WE'LL TALK TO HER ABOUT THAT. NOW, IF YOU HAVEN'T BEEN OUT TO A PARK IN A WHILE, YOU. WELL, I KNOW, SHOW ME AROUND IF YOU HAVEN'T. THERE'S A THERE'S AN ALL INCLUSIVE PARK RIGHT HERE. FOR KIDS. THAT MEANS THAT KIDS OF EVERY ABILITY, EVERY TASTE CAN COME AND HAVE A FANTASTIC TIME. I THINK THE BEST PART ABOUT THIS LITTLE PARK RIGHT HERE IS, OF COURSE, ALL THE EQUIPMENT IS BRAND NEW AND IT HAS SWINGS. IT HAS THINGS TO CLIMB ON, IT HAS ANYTHING THAT MAKES NOISE. YEAH, WE'RE GOING THERE NEXT. AND I THINK YOU KNOW WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT. I'M NOT SURE WHAT THAT IS RIGHT THERE, BUT IT'S A LOT OF FUN. A LOT OF FUN. I'VE SEEN THAT. THEY'VE ALSO CHANGED ASCARATE PARK A LOT BECAUSE THEY'VE ADDED BASEBALL FIELDS. 
          DO YOU GUYS PLAY BASEBALL? YES. WHO PLAYS BASEBALL? DIEGO DOES WHAT LUCAS. YOU DO TOO. YEAH. 
          ALL RIGHT I LOVE THAT'S MY. IT'S MY FAVORITE SPORT IN THE WORLD. MY KIDS WHEN THEY WERE YOUR AGE USED TO PLAY THAT TOO. NOW JOINING ME NOW IS THE MOM OF THOSE TWO ADORABLE KIDS THAT YOU JUST SAW, DESIREE GONZALEZ. NICE TO SEE YOU. NICE TO SEE YOU. WOW. IT'S SO BEAUTIFUL OUT HERE. 
          IT IS. DOES THIS GET PACKED DURING THE WEEKENDS AND STUFF LIKE THAT? YEAH. YOU KNOW, ESPECIALLY RIGHT NOW IT'S GETTING WARMER AND THE NIGHTS BEAUTIFUL PARK OUT HERE IT IS. 
          SO. AND THE IMPROVEMENTS ARE JUST BEGINNING. YES I UNDERSTAND WE'RE GOING TO SEE SOME PICKLEBALL COURTS. YES. OKAY. WHERE ARE YOUR SONS. BECAUSE I LIKE TO MAKE NOISE. OKAY. YOU WANT TO GRAB ONE HERE. COME ON, COME ON LUCAS, GRAB ONE. DON'T BE SHY. EVER. OH, YOU WANT MINE? OKAY. GO AHEAD. ARE WE READY? WELL, YOU CAN'T HAVE THEM BOTH. YOU CAN'T HAVE THEM BOTH. THAT'S YOU CRAZY KIDS TODAY THINKING THAT YOU GET THEM ALL. OKAY, DON'T GO ANYWHERE. YOU STAY WITH KTSM NINE NEWS. 
          [02:45:37]
THANK YOU FOR TUNING IN TO KTSM NINE NEWS AT SIX SMALL TOWN SPOTLIGHT. I'M ANDY MORGAN AND I'M MONICA CORTEZ. SO WE ARE COMING TO YOU LIVE FROM THE CLUBHOUSE HERE IN ASCARATE PARK. 
          THAT IS REALLY CLOSE TO THAT. LOOKING AT THE GOLF COURSE THIS ENTIRE TIME, AND IT LOOKS REALLY PRETTY. BUT I WILL TELL YOU THIS, WHEN WE CAME OUT HERE TO RECORD SOME OF THE STORIES, SOME OF THE COMPLAINTS, IF YOU WILL, FROM SOME OF THE PATRONS HERE WERE, HEY, I WANT TO SEE RENOVATIONS COMING INTO THIS PART OF THE AREA. AND OF COURSE, THAT WAS SOMETHING THAT VOTERS PASSED AND APPROVED IN TERMS OF SOME OF THOSE GO BONDS THAT YOU SAW ON THE BALLOT IN NOVEMBER. 
          SOME UPGRADES ARE COMING HERE TO ASCOT PARK. WE'RE GOING TO COVER SOME OF THAT, BUT A LOT TO DO HERE AT ASCOT PARK, THAT'S FOR SURE. WHETHER YOU'RE ON THE LAKE, YOU'RE BOATING, YOU'RE FISHING, WHETHER YOU'RE HERE AT THE GOLF COURSE, WHETHER YOU'RE PLAYING PICKLEBALL. I KNOW YOU GOT TO EXPERIENCE THAT FOR THE FIRST TIME, WHICH IS EXCITING. AS WELL AS THE FAMILY AQUATIC CENTER IS ALWAYS A FAVORITE. ABSOLUTELY. SO I GOT A CHANCE TO SPEAK WITH COUNTY OFFICIALS ABOUT THE RENOVATIONS AND SOME OF THE AMENITIES HERE AT THE PARK. TAKE A LOOK AT WHAT THEY HAD TO SAY. THE PARK WAS COMPLETED IN 1940. 48 ACRE LAKE WITH A LAKESIDE BOARDWALK, PICNIC AREAS, A GOLF COURSE AND PLAYGROUNDS. AND NEARLY A CENTURY LATER, WHILE SOME FEATURES AND ATTRACTIONS HAVE CHANGED, THE PARK'S ORIGINAL DESIGN AND INTENT HASN'T. 
          BEGINNING IN THE MID 1850S, ALL OF THE UNITED STATES LARGER CITIES WERE DESIGNING WHAT THEY CALLED PASSIVE PARKS. IT WAS PLACES WHERE YOU COULD GO, YOU COULD WALK, YOU COULD POSSIBLY RIDE A HORSE, YOU COULD PLAY SPORTS. THE INTENT WAS MULTIPLE USE. AND OBVIOUSLY THAT'S WHAT YOU SEE HERE. NOW BACK IN 2021, EL PASO COUNTY ADOPTED A MASTER PLAN FOR ITS PARKS, ASKING THE COMMUNITY TO SHARE THEIR VIEWS ON WHAT THE PARKS NEEDED, PROVIDING A BLUEPRINT FOR WORK TO BEGIN LOOKING AT AMENITIES THAT WE WILL ADD IN THE FUTURE. NEW AND IMPROVED PICNIC AREAS, THE WALKING AREAS, PLANTING MORE TREES. I THINK WE PLANTED JUST IN THE PAST TWO YEARS. WE PLANTED ABOUT 150 TREES. OVER THE YEARS, ATTRACTIONS HAVE COME AND GONE. RACETRACKS AND DRAG BOATS, RAVES AND FISHING TOURNAMENTS AND OF COURSE, THE CHILDHOOD ICON. MANY EL PASOANS STILL ASSOCIATE WITH THE SPRAWLING PARK, ALONG WITH THE AGE OLD QUESTION WHAT WOULD YOU DO TO GO TO WESTERN PLAYLAND? THE AMUSEMENT PARK'S FORMER FOOTPRINT HAS BEEN UPGRADED, MAKING WAY FOR MORE AND DIFFERENT ATTRACTIONS. WE ARE GOING TO BE REDOING THE AREA RIGHT OVER HERE WHERE WESTERN PLAYLAND USED TO BE. WE'RE CREATING A FESTIVAL AREA. WE'RE GOING TO BE PUTTING IN UNDERGROUND ELECTRIC SO THAT WE CAN BRING IN DIFFERENT SHOWS AND DIFFERENT PROGRAMING. AS FOR THE LAKE, THE UPKEEP AND MAINTENANCE IS JUST THE START. PREVIOUSLY, COUNTY OFFICIALS MENTIONED THEY WOULD HAVE TO DRAIN THE LAKE TO CLEAN IT, BUT COMMISSIONER DAVID STOUT SAYS THEY MAY HAVE FOUND A BETTER OPTION. THERE'S A CLAY LINER AT THE BOTTOM OF THE LAKE, BUT WE'VE FOUND OUT THROUGH ANALYSIS THAT THE LINER IS IN GOOD SHAPE. IT'S INTACT. WE'RE LOOKING AT POSSIBLY DOING NOW IS JUST DREDGING THE LAKE AND CLEANING SOME OF THE GUNK OUT OF THERE. I DON'T THINK WE'RE GOING TO NEED TO DRAIN THE LAKE IN THE END. WHAT MAKES THIS PARK AND THE LAKE SUCH AN IMPORTANT PIECE OF THE SUN? CITY'S TAPESTRY ISN'T NECESSARILY THE AMENITIES, BUT RATHER THE LOCATION. YOU HAVE THE FRANKLIN MOUNTAINS, YOU HAVE THE JUAREZ MOUNTAINS. YOU CAN LOOK AND YOU JUST SEE WHAT A GREAT PLACE WE ARE. I MEAN, IT'S THE COMING TOGETHER OF TWO COUNTRIES, THREE STATES, AND IT'S RIGHT HERE. AND THAT'S PRETTY UNIQUE IN THE WORLD IF YOU THINK ABOUT IT. 
          [02:51:05]
ENJOY THE NATURE. HAVE SOME FUN. LEONARDO IS AN OUTDOOR ENTHUSIAST, AND THE HIKING BIKE TRAIL THAT'S RIGHT AT THE ENTRANCE TO ASCARATE PARK IS HIS NEW FAVORITE SPOT. WE'RE JUST BIKE ALONG THIS TRAIL SOMETIMES. GO ALONG THE PARK. THE PLAYA DRAIN TRAIL IS A UNIQUE TRAIL STRETCHING ALMOST SEVEN PICTURESQUE MILES FROM ASCARATE PARK ALL THE WAY TO CAPISTRANO PARK IN THE LOWER VALLEY. IT'S PART OF THIS LINEAR PARK PROGRAM THAT THE COUNTY AND THE CITY AND THE PASO DEL NORTE HEALTH FOUNDATION HAVE BEEN WORKING ON, COMMISSIONER DAVID STOUT SAYS THE TRAIL IS ONLY A SMALL PART OF A MUCH BIGGER PROJECT, A 75 MILE COUNTYWIDE TRAIL, TO BE EXACT. THE IDEA IS TO IS TO BUILD A LINEAR PARK OR HIKE AND BIKE TRAIL THAT SPANS BASICALLY FROM THE BORDER WITH DONA ANA COUNTY IN NEW MEXICO TO THE BORDER WITH HUDSPETH COUNTY ON THE EASTERN SIDE OF EL PASO COUNTY. THE PASO DEL NORTE TRAIL, WHICH BROKE GROUND IN 2018, AIMED AT DEVELOPING A COUNTYWIDE TRAIL, IS NOW PROMOTING HEALTHY LIVING FOR COMMUNITY MEMBERS. WHEN IT'S NOT SO SUNNY, WE'LL COME HERE TO LIKE JUST GO ON THE BIKES. WHILE THE PROJECT ISN'T COMPLETE, THE TRAILS THAT ARE OPEN ARE METHODICALLY BEING CONNECTED. 
          PIECES OF TRANQUIL TRAILS CONNECTING NEIGHBORHOODS THROUGHOUT COUNTY, SOMETHING STOUT SAYS IS VERY IMPORTANT FOR THE COMMUNITY. YOU KNOW, THE MORE OPPORTUNITIES THAT PEOPLE HAVE, I THINK THE HEALTHIER OUR COMMUNITY IS GOING TO BE. LEONARDO AGREES. THE WINDING TRAILS, NOT ONLY STITCHING THE COUNTY TOGETHER, BUT BRINGING HIS FAMILY CLOSER AS WELL BECAUSE IT MAKES US STRONGER BOND RATHER THAN JUST BEING THERE AT HOME. SUCH A COOL VISION FOR THIS TRAIL. JOINING US NOW IS TIM FULTON, THE DIRECTOR OF PARKS AND RECREATION. TIM, THANKS SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE WITH US. THANK YOU. YEAH. YOU KNOW, AND TIM, WE KIND OF TALKED A LITTLE BIT ABOUT IT AT THE BEGINNING OF THE SHOW. AND THAT WAS, YOU KNOW, OUR VIEWERS, OUR AUDIENCE ARE VERY INVESTED IN ASCARATE. THEY WERE ASKING ABOUT THE LAKE WHEN WE'RE CLEANING THAT. BUT MOST IMPORTANTLY, THEY WERE TALKING ABOUT GOLF COURSES HERE. TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE MAINTENANCE OF IT. SURE. WELL, IT'S A LOT OF MAINTENANCE, AS EVERYONE KNOWS. 
          I MEAN, IT TAKES A LOT OF WATER TO KEEP A GOLF COURSE GREEN, AND THAT'S OUR EXPECTATION. BUT RECENTLY WE HIRED A NEW GOLF COURSE. SUPERINTENDENT BRAD WEISS AND BRAD'S COME IN WITH A TON OF EXPERIENCE. I MEAN, LOTS AND LOTS OF YEARS OF EXPERIENCE. AND ONE OF THE THINGS BRAD IS DOING, HE'S REALLY TRYING TO GET OUR GREENS UP TO PRIMO CONDITION. WE ALSO ARE LOOKING AT OUR FAIRWAYS. WE REQUIRED SOME DIFFERENT MAINTENANCE. OUR FAIRWAYS HAD LOTS OF WEEDS. SO WE WANT TO ADDRESS THAT. THE OTHER THING WE'RE LOOKING AT HOW DO WE MANAGE OUR WATER. SO SOME OF THE THINGS WE'RE DOING IS WE'RE APPLYING PRODUCT TO OUR FAIRWAYS OR GREENS, WHICH WILL HELP THE SOIL ABSORB THAT WATER AND HOLD IT IN BETTER, SO THAT WE HOPEFULLY ARE GOING TO REDUCE THE AMOUNT OF WATER WE'RE USING ON OUR COURSES AND CUT OUR COSTS DOWN MORE AND AT THE SAME TIME IMPROVE THAT MAINTENANCE. CERTAINLY A LOT TO MANAGE A GOLF COURSE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE DESERT. ALSO A LOT TO MANAGE. YOU GUYS HAVE HAD A GREAT RESPONSE. IT SEEMS LIKE FROM YOUR YOUTH LEAGUES AND PLAYING KIDS PLAYING SPORTS HERE AT ASCOT PARK, BUT IN TURN ALSO A LOT OF WEAR AND TEAR ON SOME OF THOSE YOUTH LEAGUE FIELDS. YEAH, YOU KNOW, IT'S GREAT TO SEE BECAUSE OVER AND OVER WE HEAR HOW MUCH TIME OUR KIDS SPEND IN FRONT OF OUR SCREENS. BUT LET ME TELL YOU, THE KIDDOS OUT AT OUR SPORTS PARK, THEY'RE OUT THERE INTERACTING WITH EACH OTHER. 
          THEY'RE LEARNING BASEBALL. AND I MEAN, THAT'S FROM AGES FOUR AND UNDER, ALL THE WAY UP TO OUR 12, ALMOST 13 YEAR OLDS. AND THE GROWTH IS TREMENDOUS LAST YEAR FOR OUR SUMMER LEAGUE, WHICH IS USUALLY OUR OUR SHORTER LEAGUE, WE WERE AT 150. I THINK WE'RE GOING TO HIT 250 TEAMS. THAT'S NOT PLAYERS, TEAMS. SO WE'RE BUSTING AT THE SEAMS AT THE SPORTS PARK. WE'RE TRYING TO 
          [02:55:02]
ACCOMMODATE THIS GROWTH AND IT'S A BIG CHALLENGE. THE OTHER THING WE'RE DOING, WE GOT KUDOS ABOUT HOW WELL WE MAINTAIN OUR SPORTS PARK, BUT THEY WANT TO SEE OUR FIELDS HERE IN THE SKY AT THAT SAME LEVEL. SO BEN VALLEZ, WHO'S OUR MAINTENANCE MANAGER, HIS TEAM AND HIM ARE WORKING TO IMPROVE OUR DIAMOND FIELDS. AND I THINK IF YOU TAKE A DRIVE AROUND, YOU SEE THEY'RE LOOKING BETTER AND BETTER THIS SEASON. ALSO, OUR FOCUS THIS YEAR IS GOING TO BE ON OUR FLAT FIELDS. 
          WE'VE GOT SOCCER PROGRAMS, WE'VE GOT AN INCREDIBLY LARGE YOUTH TACKLE AND TOUCH FOOTBALL PROGRAM THAT A PRIVATE ORGANIZATION RUNS HERE IN THE PARK. AND ANY GIVEN SATURDAY MORNING, THE PARK IS JUST HOPPING WITH LOTS OF ACTIVITY. 
          [03:03:33]
DO YOU LIKE THIS LITTLE PARK RIGHT HERE AT ESCADA PARK? YES, YES. ALL RIGHT. AND I UNDERSTAND WE'RE GOING TO MEET YOUR MOM. IS THAT RIGHT? AND SHE'S KIND OF IMPORTANT IN THE COUNTY, ISN'T THAT CORRECT? YES. SO SHE BRINGS YOU OUT HERE A LOT? NO, NOT ALL THE TIME. NOT NEARLY ENOUGH, MOM. WELL, WE'LL TALK TO HER ABOUT THAT. NOW, IF YOU HAVEN'T BEEN OUT TO A PARK IN A WHILE, YOU. WELL, I KNOW, SHOW ME AROUND IF YOU HAVEN'T. THERE'S A THERE'S AN ALL INCLUSIVE PARK RIGHT HERE. FOR KIDS. THAT MEANS THAT KIDS OF EVERY ABILITY, EVERY TASTE CAN COME AND HAVE A FANTASTIC TIME. I THINK THE BEST PART ABOUT THIS LITTLE PARK RIGHT HERE IS, OF COURSE, ALL THE EQUIPMENT IS BRAND NEW AND IT HAS SWINGS, IT HAS THINGS TO CLIMB ON, IT HAS ANYTHING THAT MAKES NOISE. YEAH, I'M WE'RE GOING THERE NEXT. AND I THINK YOU KNOW WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT. 
          I'M NOT SURE WHAT THAT IS RIGHT THERE, BUT IT'S A LOT OF FUN. A LOT OF FUN. I THINK THAT THEY'VE ALSO CHANGED A SKATE PARK A LOT BECAUSE THEY'VE ADDED BASEBALL FIELDS. DO YOU GUYS PLAY BASEBALL? YES. WHO PLAYS BASEBALL? DIEGO DOES WHAT LUCAS. YOU DO TOO. YEAH. ALL RIGHT. I LOVE THAT SMILE. IT'S MY FAVORITE SPORT IN THE WORLD. MY KIDS, WHEN THEY WERE YOUR AGE, USED TO PLAY THAT, TOO. NOW, JOINING ME NOW IS THE MOM OF THOSE TWO ADORABLE KIDS THAT YOU JUST SAW, DESIREE GONZALEZ. NICE TO SEE YOU. NICE TO SEE YOU. WOW, IT'S SO BEAUTIFUL OUT HERE. 
          [03:05:02]
IT IS. DOES THIS GET PACKED DURING THE WEEKENDS AND STUFF LIKE THAT? YEAH. YOU KNOW, ESPECIALLY RIGHT NOW IT'S GETTING WARMER AND THE NIGHTS ARE BEAUTIFUL. PARK OUT HERE IT IS. SO. AND THE IMPROVEMENTS ARE JUST BEGINNING. YES I UNDERSTAND WE'RE GOING TO SEE SOME PICKLEBALL COURTS. YES. OKAY. WHERE ARE YOUR SONS. BECAUSE I LIKE TO MAKE NOISE. OKAY. YOU WANT TO GRAB ONE HERE? COME ON, COME ON LUCAS, GRAB ONE. DON'T BE SHY. EVER. OH, YOU WANT MINE? OKAY. GO AHEAD. ARE WE READY? WELL, YOU CAN'T HAVE THEM BOTH. YOU CAN'T HAVE THEM BOTH. THAT'S YOU CRAZY KIDS TODAY THINKING THAT YOU GET THEM ALL. OKAY, DON'T GO ANYWHERE. YOU STAY WITH KTSM NINE NEWS. 
          THANK YOU FOR TUNING IN TO KTSM NINE NEWS AT SIX SMALL TOWN SPOTLIGHT. I'M ANDY MORGAN AND I'M MONICA CORTEZ. SO WE ARE COMING TO YOU LIVE FROM THE CLUBHOUSE HERE IN ASCARATE PARK. 
          THAT IS REALLY CLOSE TO THAT. LOOKING AT THE GOLF COURSE THIS ENTIRE TIME, AND IT LOOKS REALLY PRETTY. BUT I WILL TELL YOU THIS, WHEN WE CAME OUT HERE TO RECORD SOME OF THE STORIES, SOME OF THE COMPLAINTS, IF YOU WILL, FROM SOME OF THE PATRONS HERE WERE, HEY, I WANT TO SEE RENOVATIONS COMING INTO THIS PART OF THE AREA. AND OF COURSE, THAT WAS SOMETHING THAT VOTERS PASSED AND APPROVED IN TERMS OF SOME OF THOSE GO BONDS THAT YOU SAW ON THE BALLOT IN NOVEMBER. 
          SOME UPGRADES ARE COMING HERE TO ESCALATE. PARK. WE'RE GOING TO COVER SOME OF THAT, BUT A LOT TO DO HERE AT ASCOT PARK, THAT'S FOR SURE. WHETHER YOU'RE ON THE LAKE, YOU'RE BOATING, YOU'RE FISHING, WHETHER YOU'RE HERE AT THE GOLF COURSE, WHETHER YOU'RE PLAYING PICKLEBALL. I KNOW YOU GOT TO EXPERIENCE THAT FOR THE FIRST TIME, WHICH IS EXCITING. AS WELL AS THE FAMILY AQUATIC CENTER IS ALWAYS A FAVORITE. ABSOLUTELY. SO I GOT A CHANCE TO SPEAK WITH COUNTY OFFICIALS ABOUT THE RENOVATIONS AND SOME OF THE AMENITIES HERE AT THE PARK. TAKE A LOOK AT WHAT THEY HAD TO SAY. THE PARK WAS COMPLETED IN 1940. 48 ACRE LAKE WITH A LAKESIDE BOARDWALK, PICNIC AREAS, A GOLF COURSE AND PLAYGROUNDS. AND NEARLY A CENTURY LATER, WHILE SOME FEATURES AND ATTRACTIONS HAVE CHANGED, THE PARK'S ORIGINAL DESIGN AND INTENT HASN'T. 
          BEGINNING IN THE MID 1850S, ALL THE UNITED STATES LARGER CITIES WERE DESIGNING WHAT THEY CALLED PASSIVE PARKS. IT WAS PLACES WHERE YOU COULD GO, YOU COULD WALK, YOU COULD POSSIBLY RIDE A HORSE. YOU COULD PLAY SPORTS. THE INTENT WAS MULTIPLE USE. AND OBVIOUSLY THAT'S WHAT YOU SEE HERE. NOW BACK IN 2021, EL PASO COUNTY ADOPTED A MASTER PLAN FOR ITS PARKS, ASKING THE COMMUNITY TO SHARE THEIR VIEWS ON WHAT THE PARKS NEEDED, PROVIDING A BLUEPRINT FOR WORK TO BEGIN LOOKING AT AMENITIES THAT WE WILL ADD IN THE FUTURE. NEW AND IMPROVED PICNIC AREAS, THE WALKING AREAS, PLANTING MORE TREES. I THINK WE PLANTED JUST IN THE PAST TWO YEARS. WE PLANTED ABOUT 150 TREES. OVER THE YEARS, ATTRACTIONS HAVE COME AND GONE, RACE TRACKS AND DRAG BOATS, RAVES AND FISHING TOURNAMENTS AND OF COURSE THE CHILDHOOD ICON. MANY EL PASOANS STILL ASSOCIATE WITH THE SPRAWLING PARK, ALONG WITH THE AGE OLD QUESTION WHAT WOULD YOU DO TO GO TO WESTERN PLAYLAND? THE AMUSEMENT PARK'S FORMER FOOTPRINT HAS BEEN UPGRADED, MAKING WAY FOR MORE AND DIFFERENT ATTRACTIONS. WE ARE GOING TO BE REDOING THE AREA 
          [03:10:03]
RIGHT OVER HERE WHERE WESTERN PLAYLAND USED TO BE. WE'RE CREATING A FESTIVAL AREA. WE'RE GOING TO BE PUTTING IN UNDERGROUND ELECTRIC SO THAT WE CAN BRING IN DIFFERENT SHOWS AND DIFFERENT PROGRAMING. AS FOR THE LAKE, THE UPKEEP AND MAINTENANCE IS JUST THE START. PREVIOUSLY, COUNTY OFFICIALS MENTIONED THEY WOULD HAVE TO DRAIN THE LAKE TO CLEAN IT, BUT COMMISSIONER DAVID STOUT SAYS THEY MAY HAVE FOUND A BETTER OPTION. THERE'S A CLAY LINER AT THE BOTTOM OF THE LAKE, BUT WE'VE FOUND OUT THROUGH ANALYSIS THAT THE LINER IS IN GOOD SHAPE. IT'S INTACT. WE'RE LOOKING AT POSSIBLY DOING NOW IS JUST DREDGING THE LAKE AND CLEANING SOME OF THE GUNK OUT OF THERE. I DON'T THINK WE'RE GOING TO NEED TO DRAIN THE LAKE IN THE END. WHAT MAKES THIS PARK AND THE LAKE SUCH AN IMPORTANT PIECE OF THE SUN? CITY'S TAPESTRY ISN'T NECESSARILY THE AMENITIES, BUT RATHER THE LOCATION. YOU HAVE THE FRANKLIN MOUNTAINS, YOU HAVE THE JUAREZ MOUNTAINS. YOU CAN LOOK AND YOU JUST SEE WHAT A GREAT PLACE WE ARE. I MEAN, IT'S THE COMING TOGETHER OF TWO COUNTRIES, THREE STATES, AND IT'S RIGHT HERE. AND THAT'S PRETTY UNIQUE IN THE WORLD IF YOU THINK ABOUT IT. 
          THE NATURE. HAVE SOME FUN. LEONARDO IS AN OUTDOOR ENTHUSIAST, AND THE HIKING BIKE TRAIL THAT'S RIGHT AT THE ENTRANCE TO ASCARATE PARK IS HIS NEW FAVORITE SPOT. WE'LL JUST BIKE ALONG THIS TRAIL SOMETIMES. GO ALONG THE PARK. THE PLAYA DRAIN TRAIL IS A UNIQUE TRAIL STRETCHING ALMOST SEVEN PICTURESQUE MILES FROM ASCOT PARK ALL THE WAY TO CAPISTRANO PARK IN THE LOWER VALLEY. IT'S PART OF THIS LINEAR PARK PROGRAM THAT THE COUNTY AND THE CITY AND THE PASO DEL NORTE HEALTH FOUNDATION HAVE BEEN WORKING ON, COMMISSIONER DAVID STOUT SAYS THE TRAIL IS ONLY A SMALL PART OF A MUCH BIGGER PROJECT, A 75 MILE COUNTYWIDE TRAIL, TO BE EXACT. THE IDEA IS TO IS TO BUILD A LINEAR PARK OR HIKING BIKE TRAIL THAT SPANS BASICALLY FROM THE BORDER WITH DONA ANA COUNTY IN NEW MEXICO TO THE BORDER WITH HUDSPETH COUNTY ON THE EASTERN SIDE OF EL PASO COUNTY. THE PASO DEL NORTE TRAIL, WHICH BROKE GROUND IN 2018, AIMED AT DEVELOPING A COUNTYWIDE TRAIL, IS NOW PROMOTING HEALTHY LIVING FOR COMMUNITY MEMBERS. WHEN IT'S NOT SO SUNNY, WE'LL COME HERE TO LIKE JUST GO ON THE BIKES. WHILE THE PROJECT ISN'T COMPLETE, THE TRAILS THAT ARE OPEN ARE METHODICALLY BEING CONNECTED. 
          PIECES OF TRANQUIL TRAILS CONNECTING NEIGHBORHOODS THROUGHOUT COUNTY, SOMETHING STOUT SAYS IS VERY IMPORTANT FOR THE COMMUNITY. YOU KNOW, THE MORE OPPORTUNITIES THAT PEOPLE HAVE, I THINK THE HEALTHIER OUR COMMUNITY IS GOING TO BE. LEONARDO AGREES. THE WINDING TRAILS, NOT ONLY STITCHING THE COUNTY TOGETHER, BUT BRINGING HIS FAMILY CLOSER AS WELL BECAUSE IT MAKES US STRONGER BOND RATHER THAN JUST BEING THERE AT HOME. THAT'S A COOL VISION FOR THIS TRAIL. JOINING US NOW IS TIM FULTON, THE DIRECTOR OF PARKS AND RECREATION. TIM, THANKS SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE WITH US. THANK YOU. YOU KNOW, AND, TIM, WE KIND OF TALKED A LITTLE BIT ABOUT IT AT THE BEGINNING OF THE SHOW. AND THAT WAS, YOU KNOW, OUR VIEWERS, OUR AUDIENCE ARE VERY INVESTED IN ASCARATE. THEY WERE ASKING ABOUT THE LAKE WHEN WE'RE CLEANING THAT. BUT MOST IMPORTANTLY, THEY WERE TALKING ABOUT GOLF COURSES HERE. TALK A 
          [03:15:01]
LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE MAINTENANCE OF IT. SURE. WELL, IT'S A LOT OF MAINTENANCE, AS EVERYONE KNOWS. 
          I MEAN, IT TAKES A LOT OF WATER TO KEEP A GOLF COURSE GREEN, AND THAT'S OUR EXPECTATION. BUT RECENTLY WE HIRED A NEW GOLF COURSE. SUPERINTENDENT BRAD WEISS AND BRAD'S COME IN WITH A TON OF EXPERIENCE. I MEAN, LOTS AND LOTS OF YEARS OF EXPERIENCE. AND ONE OF THE THINGS BRAD IS DOING, HE'S REALLY TRYING TO GET OUR GREENS UP TO PRIMO CONDITION. WE ALSO ARE LOOKING AT OUR FAIRWAYS. WE REQUIRED SOME DIFFERENT MAINTENANCE. OUR FAIRWAYS HAD LOTS OF WEEDS. SO WE WANT TO ADDRESS THAT. THE OTHER THING WE'RE LOOKING AT HOW DO WE MANAGE OUR WATER. SO SOME OF THE THINGS WE'RE DOING IS WE'RE APPLYING PRODUCT TO OUR FAIRWAYS OR GREENS, WHICH WILL HELP THE SOIL ABSORB THAT WATER AND HOLD IT IN BETTER, SO THAT WE HOPEFULLY ARE GOING TO REDUCE THE AMOUNT OF WATER WE'RE USING ON OUR COURSES AND CUT OUR COSTS DOWN MORE AND AT THE SAME TIME IMPROVE THAT MAINTENANCE. CERTAINLY A LOT TO MANAGE A GOLF COURSE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE DESERT. ALSO A LOT TO MANAGE. YOU GUYS HAVE HAD A GREAT RESPONSE. IT SEEMS LIKE FROM YOUR YOUTH LEAGUES AND PLAYING KIDS PLAYING SPORTS HERE AT ASCOT PARK, BUT IN TURN ALSO A LOT OF WEAR AND TEAR ON SOME OF THOSE YOUTH LEAGUE FIELDS. YEAH, YOU KNOW, IT'S GREAT TO SEE BECAUSE OVER AND OVER WE HEAR HOW MUCH TIME OUR KIDS SPEND IN FRONT OF OUR SCREENS. BUT LET ME TELL YOU, THE KIDDOS OUT AT OUR SPORTS PARK, THEY'RE OUT THERE INTERACTING WITH EACH OTHER. 
          THEY'RE LEARNING BASEBALL. AND I MEAN, THAT'S FROM AGES FOUR AND UNDER, ALL THE WAY UP TO OUR 12, ALMOST 13 YEAR OLDS. AND THE GROWTH IS TREMENDOUS LAST YEAR FOR OUR SUMMER LEAGUE, WHICH IS USUALLY OUR OUR SHORTER LEAGUE, WE WERE AT 150. I THINK WE'RE GOING TO HIT 250 TEAMS. THAT'S NOT PLAYERS, TEAMS. SO WE'RE BUSTING AT THE SEAMS AT THE SPORTS PARK. WE'RE TRYING TO ACCOMMODATE THIS GROWTH AND IT'S A BIG CHALLENGE. THE OTHER THING WE'RE DOING, WE GOT KUDOS ABOUT HOW WELL WE MAINTAIN OUR SPORTS PARK, BUT THEY WANT TO SEE OUR FIELDS HERE IN THE SKY AT THAT SAME LEVEL. SO BEN VALDEZ, WHO'S OUR MAINTENANCE MANAGER, HIS TEAM AND HIM ARE WORKING TO IMPROVE OUR DIAMOND FIELDS. AND I THINK IF YOU TAKE A DRIVE AROUND, YOU SEE THEY'RE LOOKING BETTER AND BETTER THIS SEASON. ALSO, OUR FOCUS THIS YEAR IS GOING TO BE ON OUR FLAT FIELDS. 
          WE'VE GOT SOCCER PROGRAMS. WE'VE GOT AN INCREDIBLY LARGE YOUTH TACKLE AND TOUCH FOOTBALL PROGRAM THAT A PRIVATE ORGANIZATION RUNS HERE IN THE PARK. AND ON ANY GIVEN SATURDAY MORNING, THE PARK IS JUST HOPPING WITH LOTS OF ACTIVITY. 
          [03:25:24]
DO YOU LIKE THIS LITTLE PARK RIGHT HERE AT ASCARATE PARK? YES, YES. ALL RIGHT. AND I 
          [03:25:30]
UNDERSTAND WE'RE GOING TO MEET YOUR MOM. IS THAT RIGHT? AND SHE'S KIND OF IMPORTANT IN THE COUNTY, ISN'T THAT CORRECT? YES. SO SHE BRINGS YOU OUT HERE A LOT? NO, NOT ALL THE TIME. NOT NEARLY ENOUGH, MOM. WELL, WE'LL TALK TO HER ABOUT THAT. NOW, IF YOU HAVEN'T BEEN OUT TO A PARK IN A WHILE, YOU. WELL, I KNOW, SHOW ME AROUND IF YOU HAVEN'T. THERE'S A THERE'S AN ALL INCLUSIVE PARK RIGHT HERE. FOR KIDS. THAT MEANS THAT KIDS OF EVERY ABILITY, EVERY TASTE CAN COME AND HAVE A FANTASTIC TIME. I THINK THE BEST PART ABOUT THIS LITTLE PARK RIGHT HERE IS, OF COURSE, ALL THE EQUIPMENT IS BRAND NEW AND IT HAS SWINGS. IT HAS THINGS TO CLIMB ON, IT HAS ANYTHING THAT MAKES NOISE. YEAH, WE'RE GOING THERE NEXT. AND I THINK YOU KNOW WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT. I'M NOT SURE WHAT THAT IS RIGHT THERE, BUT IT'S A LOT OF FUN. A LOT OF FUN. I'VE SEEN THAT. THEY'VE ALSO CHANGED ASCARATE PARK A LOT BECAUSE THEY'VE ADDED BASEBALL FIELDS. 
          DO YOU GUYS PLAY BASEBALL? YES. WHO PLAYS BASEBALL? DIEGO DOES WHAT LUCAS. YOU DO TOO. YEAH. 
          ALL RIGHT I LOVE THAT'S MY. IT'S MY FAVORITE SPORT IN THE WORLD. MY KIDS WHEN THEY WERE YOUR AGE USED TO PLAY THAT TOO. NOW JOINING ME NOW IS THE MOM OF THOSE TWO ADORABLE KIDS THAT YOU JUST SAW, DESIREE GONZALEZ. NICE TO SEE YOU. NICE TO SEE YOU. WOW, IT'S SO BEAUTIFUL OUT HERE. 
          IT IS. DOES THIS GET PACKED DURING THE WEEKENDS AND STUFF LIKE THAT? YEAH. YOU KNOW, ESPECIALLY RIGHT NOW, IT'S GETTING WARMER. AND THE NIGHTS BEAUTIFUL PARK OUT HERE IT IS. 
          SO. AND THE IMPROVEMENTS ARE JUST BEGINNING. YES I UNDERSTAND WE'RE GOING TO SEE SOME PICKLEBALL COURTS. YES. OKAY. WHERE ARE YOUR SONS. BECAUSE I LIKE TO MAKE NOISE. OKAY. YOU WANT TO GRAB ONE HERE? COME ON, COME ON, LUCAS, GRAB ONE. DON'T BE SHY. EVER. OH, YOU WANT MINE? OKAY. GO AHEAD. ARE WE READY? WELL, YOU CAN'T HAVE THEM BOTH. YOU CAN'T HAVE THEM BOTH. THAT'S YOU CRAZY KIDS TODAY THINKING THAT YOU GET THEM ALL. OKAY, DON'T GO ANYWHERE. YOU STAY WITH KTSM NINE NEWS. 
          THANK YOU FOR TUNING IN TO KTSM NINE NEWS AT SIX SMALL TOWN SPOTLIGHT. I'M ANDY MORGAN AND I'M MONICA CORTEZ. SO WE ARE COMING TO YOU LIVE FROM THE CLUBHOUSE HERE IN ASCARATE PARK. 
          THAT IS REALLY CLOSE TO THAT. LOOKING AT THE GOLF COURSE THIS ENTIRE TIME, AND IT LOOKS REALLY PRETTY. BUT I WILL TELL YOU THIS, WHEN WE CAME OUT HERE TO RECORD SOME OF THE STORIES, SOME OF THE COMPLAINTS, IF YOU WILL, FROM SOME OF THE PATRONS HERE WERE, HEY, I WANT TO SEE RENOVATIONS COMING INTO THIS PART OF THE AREA. AND OF COURSE, THAT WAS SOMETHING THAT VOTERS PASSED AND APPROVED IN TERMS OF SOME OF THOSE GO BONDS THAT YOU SAW ON THE BALLOT IN NOVEMBER. 
          SOME UPGRADES ARE COMING HERE TO ASCOT PARK. WE'RE GOING TO COVER SOME OF THAT, BUT A LOT TO DO HERE AT ASCOT PARK, THAT'S FOR SURE. WHETHER YOU'RE ON THE LAKE, YOU'RE BOATING, YOU'RE 
          [03:30:04]
FISHING, WHETHER YOU'RE HERE AT THE GOLF COURSE, WHETHER YOU'RE PLAYING PICKLEBALL. I KNOW YOU GOT TO EXPERIENCE THAT FOR THE FIRST TIME, WHICH IS EXCITING. AS WELL AS THE FAMILY AQUATIC CENTER IS ALWAYS A FAVORITE. ABSOLUTELY. SO I GOT A CHANCE TO SPEAK WITH COUNTY OFFICIALS ABOUT THE RENOVATIONS AND SOME OF THE AMENITIES HERE AT THE PARK. TAKE A LOOK AT WHAT THEY HAD TO SAY. THE PARK WAS COMPLETED IN 1940. 48 ACRE LAKE WITH A LAKESIDE BOARDWALK, PICNIC AREAS, A GOLF COURSE AND PLAYGROUNDS. AND NEARLY A CENTURY LATER, WHILE SOME FEATURES AND ATTRACTIONS HAVE CHANGED, THE PARK'S ORIGINAL DESIGN AND INTENT HASN'T. 
          BEGINNING IN THE MID 1850S, ALL OF THE UNITED STATES LARGER CITIES WERE DESIGNING WHAT THEY CALLED PASSIVE PARKS. IT WAS PLACES WHERE YOU COULD GO, YOU COULD WALK, YOU COULD POSSIBLY RIDE A HORSE, YOU COULD PLAY SPORTS. THE INTENT WAS MULTIPLE USE. AND OBVIOUSLY THAT'S WHAT YOU SEE HERE. NOW BACK IN 2021, EL PASO COUNTY ADOPTED A MASTER PLAN FOR ITS PARKS, ASKING THE COMMUNITY TO SHARE THEIR VIEWS ON WHAT THE PARKS NEEDED, PROVIDING A BLUEPRINT FOR WORK TO BEGIN LOOKING AT AMENITIES THAT WE WILL ADD IN THE FUTURE. NEW AND IMPROVED PICNIC AREAS, THE WALKING AREAS, PLANTING MORE TREES. I THINK WE PLANTED JUST IN THE PAST TWO YEARS. WE PLANTED ABOUT 150 TREES. OVER THE YEARS, ATTRACTIONS HAVE COME AND GONE. RACETRACKS AND DRAG BOATS, RAVES AND FISHING TOURNAMENTS AND OF COURSE, THE CHILDHOOD ICON. MANY EL PASOANS STILL ASSOCIATE WITH THE SPRAWLING PARK, ALONG WITH THE AGE OLD QUESTION WHAT WOULD YOU DO TO GO TO WESTERN PLAYLAND? THE AMUSEMENT PARK'S FORMER FOOTPRINT HAS BEEN UPGRADED, MAKING WAY FOR MORE AND DIFFERENT ATTRACTIONS. WE ARE GOING TO BE REDOING THE AREA RIGHT OVER HERE WHERE WESTERN PLAYLAND USED TO BE. WE'RE CREATING A FESTIVAL AREA. WE'RE GOING TO BE PUTTING IN AN UNDERGROUND ELECTRIC SO THAT WE CAN BRING IN DIFFERENT SHOWS AND DIFFERENT PROGRAMING. AS FOR THE LAKE, THE UPKEEP AND MAINTENANCE IS JUST THE START. PREVIOUSLY, COUNTY OFFICIALS MENTIONED THEY WOULD HAVE TO DRAIN THE LAKE TO CLEAN IT, BUT COMMISSIONER DAVID STOUT SAYS THEY MAY HAVE FOUND A BETTER OPTION. THERE'S A CLAY LINER AT THE BOTTOM OF THE LAKE, BUT WE'VE FOUND OUT THROUGH ANALYSIS THAT THE LINER IS IN GOOD SHAPE. IT'S INTACT. WE'RE LOOKING AT POSSIBLY DOING NOW IS JUST DREDGING THE LAKE AND CLEANING SOME OF THE GUNK OUT OF THERE. I DON'T THINK WE'RE GOING TO NEED TO DRAIN THE LAKE IN THE END. WHAT MAKES THIS PARK AND THE LAKE SUCH AN IMPORTANT PIECE OF THE SUN? CITY'S TAPESTRY ISN'T NECESSARILY THE AMENITIES, BUT RATHER THE LOCATION. YOU HAVE THE FRANKLIN MOUNTAINS, YOU HAVE THE JUAREZ MOUNTAINS. YOU CAN LOOK AND YOU JUST SEE WHAT A GREAT PLACE WE ARE. I MEAN, IT'S THE COMING TOGETHER OF TWO COUNTRIES, THREE STATES, AND IT'S RIGHT HERE. AND THAT'S PRETTY UNIQUE IN THE WORLD IF YOU THINK ABOUT IT. 
          ENJOY THE NATURE. HAVE SOME FUN. LEONARDO IS AN OUTDOOR ENTHUSIAST, AND THE HIKING BIKE TRAIL THAT'S RIGHT AT THE ENTRANCE TO ASCARATE PARK IS HIS NEW FAVORITE SPOT. WE'LL JUST BIKE ALONG THIS TRAIL SOMETIMES. GO ALONG THE PARK. THE PLAYA DRAIN TRAIL IS A UNIQUE TRAIL 
          [03:35:05]
STRETCHING ALMOST SEVEN PICTURESQUE MILES FROM ASCARATE PARK ALL THE WAY TO CAPISTRANO PARK IN THE LOWER VALLEY. IT'S PART OF THIS LINEAR PARK PROGRAM THAT THE COUNTY AND THE CITY AND THE PASO DEL NORTE HEALTH FOUNDATION HAVE BEEN WORKING ON. COMMISSIONER DAVID STOUT SAYS THE TRAIL IS ONLY A SMALL PART OF A MUCH BIGGER PROJECT, A 75 MILE COUNTYWIDE TRAIL, TO BE EXACT. THE IDEA IS TO IS TO BUILD A LINEAR PARK OR HIKE AND BIKE TRAIL THAT SPANS BASICALLY FROM THE BORDER WITH DONA ANA COUNTY IN NEW MEXICO TO THE BORDER WITH HUDSPETH COUNTY ON THE EASTERN SIDE OF EL PASO COUNTY. THE PASO DEL NORTE TRAIL, WHICH BROKE GROUND IN 2018, AIMED AT DEVELOPING A COUNTYWIDE TRAIL, IS NOW PROMOTING HEALTHY LIVING FOR COMMUNITY MEMBERS. WHEN IT'S NOT SO SUNNY, WE'LL COME HERE TO LIKE, JUST GO ON THE BIKES. 
          WHILE THE PROJECT ISN'T COMPLETE, THE TRAILS THAT ARE OPEN ARE METHODICALLY BEING CONNECTED. PIECES OF TRANQUIL TRAILS CONNECTING NEIGHBORHOODS THROUGHOUT COUNTY, SOMETHING STOUT SAYS IS VERY IMPORTANT FOR THE COMMUNITY. YOU KNOW, THE MORE OPPORTUNITIES THAT PEOPLE HAVE, I THINK THE HEALTHIER OUR COMMUNITY IS GOING TO BE. LEONARDO AGREES. THE WINDING TRAILS, NOT ONLY STITCHING THE COUNTY TOGETHER, BUT BRINGING HIS FAMILY CLOSER AS WELL BECAUSE IT MAKES US STRONGER BOND RATHER THAN JUST BEING THERE AT HOME. THAT'S A COOL VISION FOR THIS TRAIL. JOINING US NOW IS TIM FULTON, THE DIRECTOR OF PARKS AND RECREATION. TIM, THANKS SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE WITH US. THANK YOU. YOU KNOW, AND, TIM, WE KIND OF TALKED A LITTLE BIT ABOUT IT AT THE BEGINNING OF THE SHOW. AND THAT WAS, YOU KNOW, OUR VIEWERS, OUR AUDIENCE ARE VERY INVESTED IN ASCARATE. THEY WERE ASKING ABOUT THE LAKE WHEN WE'RE CLEANING THAT. BUT MOST IMPORTANTLY, THEY WERE TALKING ABOUT GOLF COURSES HERE. TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE MAINTENANCE OF IT. SURE. WELL, IT'S A LOT OF MAINTENANCE, AS EVERYONE KNOWS. 
          I MEAN, IT TAKES A LOT OF WATER TO KEEP A GOLF COURSE GREEN, AND THAT'S OUR EXPECTATION. BUT RECENTLY WE HIRED A NEW GOLF COURSE. SUPERINTENDENT BRAD WEISS AND BRAD'S COME IN WITH A TON OF EXPERIENCE. I MEAN, LOTS AND LOTS OF YEARS OF EXPERIENCE. AND ONE OF THE THINGS BRAD IS DOING, HE'S REALLY TRYING TO GET OUR GREENS UP TO PRIMO CONDITION. WE ALSO ARE LOOKING AT OUR FAIRWAYS. WE REQUIRED SOME DIFFERENT MAINTENANCE. OUR FAIRWAYS HAD LOTS OF WEEDS. SO WE WANT TO ADDRESS THAT. THE OTHER THING WE'RE LOOKING AT HOW DO WE MANAGE OUR WATER. SO SOME OF THE THINGS WE'RE DOING IS WE'RE APPLYING PRODUCT TO OUR FAIRWAYS OR GREENS, WHICH WILL HELP THE SOIL ABSORB THAT WATER AND HOLD IT IN BETTER SO THAT WE HOPEFULLY ARE GOING TO REDUCE THE AMOUNT OF WATER WE'RE USING ON OUR COURSES AND CUT OUR COSTS DOWN MORE AND AT THE SAME TIME IMPROVE THAT MAINTENANCE. CERTAINLY A LOT TO MANAGE A GOLF COURSE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE DESERT. ALSO A LOT TO MANAGE. YOU GUYS HAVE HAD A GREAT RESPONSE. IT SEEMS LIKE FROM YOUR YOUTH LEAGUES AND PLAYING KIDS PLAYING SPORTS HERE AT ASCOT STATE PARK, BUT IN TURN ALSO A LOT OF WEAR AND TEAR ON SOME OF THOSE YOUTH LEAGUE FIELDS. YEAH, YOU KNOW, IT'S GREAT TO SEE BECAUSE OVER AND OVER WE HEAR HOW MUCH TIME OUR KIDS SPEND IN FRONT OF OUR SCREENS. BUT LET ME TELL YOU, THE KIDDOS OUT AT OUR SPORTS PARK, THEY'RE OUT THERE INTERACTING WITH EACH OTHER. THEY'RE LEARNING BASEBALL. AND I MEAN, THAT'S FROM AGES FOUR AND UNDER, ALL THE WAY UP TO OUR 12, ALMOST 13 YEAR OLDS. AND THE GROWTH IS TREMENDOUS LAST YEAR FOR OUR SUMMER LEAGUE, WHICH IS USUALLY OUR OUR SHORTER LEAGUE, WE WERE AT 150. I THINK WE'RE GOING TO HIT 250 TEAMS. THAT'S NOT PLAYERS, TEAMS. SO WE'RE BUSTING AT THE SEAMS AT THE SPORTS PARK. WE'RE TRYING TO ACCOMMODATE THIS GROWTH AND IT'S A BIG CHALLENGE. THE OTHER THING WE'RE DOING, WE GOT KUDOS ABOUT HOW WELL WE MAINTAIN OUR SPORTS PARK, BUT THEY WANT TO SEE OUR FIELDS HERE IN THE CITY AT THAT SAME LEVEL. SO BEN BAEZ, WHO'S OUR MAINTENANCE MANAGER, HIS TEAM AND HIM ARE WORKING TO IMPROVE OUR DIAMOND FIELDS. AND I THINK IF YOU TAKE A DRIVE AROUND, YOU SEE THEY'RE LOOKING BETTER AND BETTER THIS SEASON. ALSO, OUR FOCUS THIS YEAR IS GOING TO BE ON OUR FLAT FIELDS. WE'VE GOT SOCCER PROGRAMS. WE'VE GOT AN INCREDIBLY LARGE YOUTH TACKLE AND TOUCH FOOTBALL PROGRAM THAT A PRIVATE ORGANIZATION RUNS HERE IN THE PARK. AND ANY GIVEN SATURDAY MORNING, THE PARK IS JUST HOPPING WITH LOTS OF ACTIVITY. 
          [03:40:31]
GO AHEAD, COMMISSIONERS COURT HAS RECONVENED TO REGULAR OPEN SESSION. WE ARE ON ITEM SEVEN FROM THE REGULAR AGENDA SEVEN A RECEIVE A PRESENTATION FROM THE FEDERAL RESERVE BANK OF DALLAS. 
          [A. Receive a presentation from the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas.
Melissa Carrillo, Deputy County Administrator, County Operations, 915-273-3582]
VERY GOOD. THANK YOU. MAY I START? VERY GOOD. WELL GOOD AFTERNOON. AND I WANT TO THANK THE COMMISSIONERS COURT FOR INVITING US TO PRESENT A BRIEF ECONOMIC UPDATE ON THE TEXAS ECONOMY AND EL PASO. AND BUT BEFORE I BEGIN MY PRESENTATION, I WOULD LIKE TO MAYBE JUST SAY A FEW SUMMARY OF THE ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES THAT THE FEDERAL RESERVE BANK OF DALLAS CARRIES FOR OUR DISTRICT. AS YOU MAY KNOW, WE ARE ONE OF 12 REGIONAL BANKS ACROSS THE COUNTRY AND WITH THE RESERVE BANKS AND THE BOARD OF GOVERNORS IN WASHINGTON, D.C, WE MAKE THE FEDERAL RESERVE SYSTEM. WE PROVIDE AND PERFORM THE NATION'S CENTRAL BANK, AND WE PERFORM FIVE MAIN RESPONSIBILITIES ON BEHALF OF THE PUBLIC. FIRST, WE SUPERVISE BANKS TO ENSURE THAT THESE THAT THEY ARE SAFE AND SOUND. SECOND, WE PROMOTE THE STABILITY OF THE FINANCIAL SYSTEM AS A WHOLE. THIRD, WE OPERATE PARTS OF THE PAYMENT SYSTEM. SO IF YOU ARE CARRYING BILLS AND COINS IN YOUR WALLETS OR PURSES, AT SOME POINT IN TIME THEY'LL GO THROUGH OUR OFFICE DOWNTOWN EL PASO. FOURTH, WE PROMOTE CONSUMER PROTECTION AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT. AND OF COURSE, FIFTH, WHICH IS THE RESPONSIBILITY WE'RE KNOWN THE MOST FOR. WE CARRY OUT MONETARY POLICY TO PURSUE TWO GOALS ESTABLISHED TO US BY CONGRESS, WHICH IS MAXIMUM EMPLOYMENT AND STABLE PRICES, YOU KNOW, RELATIVE TO OTHER PUBLIC INSTITUTIONS. THE FEDERAL RESERVE HAS TWO ASPECTS WHICH MAKES US VERY UNIQUE. ONE IS WE ARE NOT A CENTRALIZED ORGANIZATION, BUT RATHER A FEDERATED SYSTEM WITH DEEP LOCAL ROOTS ACROSS THE COMMUNITIES, ACROSS THE COUNTRY, AND THEN ALSO MONETARY POLICY RESPONSIBILITIES. THE WAY WE OPERATE, WE'RE AN INDEPENDENT CENTRAL BANK, AND WE BELIEVE THAT'S HOW WE CAN DELIVER OUR BEST IN OUR MISSION AND OUR MANDATE. AND WE REMAIN ACCOUNTABLE TO THE PUBLIC THROUGH ELECTED OFFICIALS, THE DALLAS FED. WE HAVE RESPONSIBILITIES FOR TEXAS, THE NORTHERN PART OF LOUISIANA AND THE SOUTHERN PART OF NEW MEXICO. AND WE HAVE THREE BRANCH OFFICES IN ADDITION TO OUR HEAD OFFICE IN DALLAS. BUT ONE OF THOSE BRANCH OFFICES IS HERE IN EL PASO, JUST A HALF A MILE FROM FROM THIS FROM THIS COURT. SO WITH THAT, YOU KNOW, THE VIEWS THAT I'M ABOUT TO EXPRESS ONLY REFLECT MY VIEWS. AND THEY DON'T REFLECT THE VIEWS OF THE DALLAS FED OR THE FEDERAL RESERVE SYSTEM. AND THE PURPOSE OF TODAY'S MY PRESENTATION IS TO GIVE YOU A QUICK ECONOMIC UPDATE. I'M GOING TO BE PREDOMINANTLY BE BASING THIS AT THE STATE LEVEL, BUT I'M GOING TO BE HONING IN ON SOME POCKETS OF THE PRESENTATION INTO EL PASO. GIVEN THE ONGOING EVOLUTION, I THOUGHT IT WAS IMPORTANT TO HAVE A PERSPECTIVE OF HOW THE STATE'S ECONOMY IS DOING, AND ULTIMATELY THAT'S GOING TO HAVE SIGNIFICANT IMPLICATIONS FOR EL PASO PAYROLL EMPLOYMENT. WHEN WE LOOKED AT THE LABOR MARKET IN TEXAS, WE'VE SEEN THAT IT'S BEEN VERY ROBUST THUS FAR THIS YEAR. WE HAVE DATA THROUGH APRIL. HOWEVER, WHEN WE LOOKED INTO MORE SENTIMENT BASED INDICATORS, WE DO A LOT OF SURVEYS OF BUSINESS LEADERS FROM ACROSS OUR DISTRICT. AND THOSE SURVEYS SUGGEST THAT ECONOMIC ACTIVITY MAY BE SLOWING DOWN AS WE SPEAK. THERE'S A LOT OF UNCERTAINTY, GIVEN THE POLICY CHANGES THAT OUR COUNTRY IS LIKELY TO EXPERIENCE. THERE'S FOUR POLICY FRONTS THAT WE'RE TRACKING CLOSELY. OF COURSE, THERE'S STRAIGHT IMMIGRATION, FISCAL AND REGULATORY POLICY, AND ALL OF THOSE MAY HAVE DIFFERENT ECONOMIC IMPACTS. AND SO THAT'S SOMETHING WE'RE CLOSELY WATCHING. AND OF COURSE, FOR US IN TEXAS, TARIFF POLICY AND IMMIGRATION POLICY ARE VERY IMPORTANT BECAUSE THEY'RE GOING TO DRIVE OR COULD POTENTIALLY HAVE SIGNIFICANT IMPLICATIONS FOR THE ECONOMY. AND IN THIS CHART, YOU'LL SEE THAT TEXAS TYPICALLY GROWS FASTER THAN THE COUNTRY. TEXAS GROWS AT ABOUT 2% PER YEAR, WHILE THE US IS ABOUT JUST NORTH OF 1%. AND WE SEE THAT SO FAR, DATA THROUGH APRIL, WE'VE ACTUALLY ACCELERATED GROWTH IN TEXAS. LAST YEAR, WE GREW BELOW 2%. AND RIGHT NOW WE ARE GROWING THUS FAR THROUGH APRIL AT A 2.6%, WHICH IS PRETTY, PRETTY REMARKABLE. 
          GROWTH. GROWTH IN THE LABOR MARKET IS BROAD BASED. WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE DIFFERENT SECTORS, YOU SEE THAT PRETTY MUCH EVERY SECTOR IS ADDING JOBS. THUS FAR THIS YEAR IN 25. THE ENERGY SECTOR AND THE CONSTRUCTION SECTOR ARE THE ONES WHO ARE GROWING THE FASTEST IN IN THE STATE OF TEXAS, WE ALWAYS COMPARE THE HARD NUMBERS IN THE LABOR MARKET WITH WHAT OUR 
          [03:45:03]
SURVEYS ARE INDICATING. AND LIKE I MENTIONED AT THE BEGINNING, OUR SURVEYS ARE INDICATING THE SENTIMENT IS THAT PERHAPS THE ECONOMY MAY BE SLOWING DOWN. AND SO THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WE'RE WATCHING TO SEE IF WE'RE GOING TO SEE A SLOWDOWN IN THE LABOR GROWTH IN THE MARKET, LABOR MARKET, I'M SORRY, IN THE STATE OF TEXAS, IN THE NEXT COMING MONTHS, MOST OF THE FIRMS ARE TELLING US THAT THEY'RE WAIT AND SEE POSTURE AT THE MOMENT. AND SO WE BELIEVE THAT IF THAT CONTINUES, THAT THAT MIGHT IMPACT THEIR HIRING PRACTICES, AND THEREFORE IT'S GOING TO START SHOWING UP IN THE LABOR MARKET DATA, PERHAPS LATER IN THE YEAR. I HAVE A COUPLE OF CHARTS WHERE I COMPARE LABOR MARKETS IN DIFFERENT METROS. I THINK THE STORY IS THAT SO FAR IN 25, MOST METRO AREAS IN THE STATE HAVE SEEN A PICKUP IN GROWTH IN THE JOBS THAT THEY ARE PRODUCING OR GENERATING THEIR ECONOMIES. AND HERE I'M COMPARING EL PASO TO PEER BORDER CITIES. AND YOU CAN SEE EL PASO. IT'S GROWING AT ABOUT 2.4% THUS FAR THIS YEAR. IN FACT, ACTUALLY LAST YEAR, EL PASO GREW FASTER THAN THE STATE OF TEXAS. AND SO EL PASO HAD A PRETTY SOLID YEAR AS FAR AS JOB GROWTH IN 24 AND ACCELERATED IN 25. WE HAVE WE CAN DISSECT THE LABOR MARKET DYNAMICS IN EL PASO BY SECTOR. AND THE STORY IS VERY SIMILAR, MEANING THAT FOR THE APART, MOST OF THE SECTORS IN THE ECONOMY ARE ADDING JOBS AT A DECENT PACE AND THEREFORE THE LABOR MARKET AS A WHOLE IS GROWING AT ABOUT 2.4%. EL PASO HISTORICALLY GROWS AT ABOUT 1.5%, JUST IN THE MIDDLE POINT BETWEEN TEXAS AND THE US. LOOKING AT THE UNEMPLOYMENT RATE, THE UNEMPLOYMENT RATE HAS PRETTY MUCH BEEN MOVING SIDEWAYS. THE LAST TWO READINGS THAT WE HAVE FOR EL PASO, IT TICKED UP A LITTLE BIT, BUT STILL PRETTY PRETTY LOW LEVELS BY HISTORICAL STANDARDS. THE ONE THING I'LL I'LL MENTION IS THAT WHEN YOU LOOK INTO BROADER MEASURES OF UNEMPLOYMENT RATE, THE SO-CALLED U-6 THAT ECONOMISTS TEND TO LOOK AT AND THAT IS BASICALLY LOOKING INCLUDES ALSO INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE, YOU KNOW, THOSE MARGINALLY ATTACHED TO THE LABOR FORCE AND THOSE THAT ARE WORKING PART TIME FOR ECONOMIC REASONS, BUT WOULD LIKE TO WORK FULL TIME. YOU SEE THOSE BROADER MEASURES OF UNEMPLOYMENT. WE ONLY HAVE THEM FOR THE STATE LEVEL. AT THE NATIONAL LEVEL. YOU SEE THEM OVER THE LAST NUMBER OF MONTHS GRADUALLY MOVING UP. AND THAT'S SOMETHING THAT IT'S WORTH WATCHING BECAUSE THAT COULD HAVE IMPLICATIONS FOR THE LABOR MARKET AND FOR MANY INDIVIDUALS IN OUR COMMUNITIES. TEXAS, AS YOU MAY KNOW, HAS BEEN A MAGNET OF PEOPLE AND BUSINESSES, AND WE'VE SEEN LOTS OF DOMESTIC, DOMESTIC AND INTERNATIONAL MIGRATION INTO TEXAS. AND IN HERE YOU SEE THAT THE NUMBER, THE NET NUMBER OF MIGRANTS COMING INTO TEXAS. YOU WOULD SEE THAT BEFORE THE PANDEMIC, ABOUT TWO THIRDS OF THE PEOPLE MOVING INTO TEXAS CAME FROM WITHIN THE US. DOMESTIC MIGRATION, PREDOMINANTLY FROM THE COASTAL AREAS AND ALSO FROM FROM THE MIDWEST, FROM CHICAGO, NEW YORK, THE EAST COAST, AND, OF COURSE, CALIFORNIA. ABOUT TWO THIRDS OF THOSE WERE DOMESTIC MIGRANTS, AND ABOUT A THIRD WERE INTERNATIONAL IN 22 TO 24. NOT ONLY DID WE SEE A SIGNIFICANT JUMP IN THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE MOVING INTO TEXAS, BUT THE RATIO FLIPPED IN THE LAST THREE YEARS, ABOUT TWO THIRDS OF THE PEOPLE MOVING INTO TEXAS HAVE BEEN COMING FROM ABROAD, AND ABOUT A THIRD COMING FROM FROM WITHIN THE US. AND SO THAT'S NOT ONLY IT'S A SIGNIFICANT CHANGE IN THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE MOVING, BUT IT'S A DIFFERENT COMPOSITION OF THE FOLKS COMING INTO THE STATE OF TEXAS. AS I MENTIONED TO YOU, WE CONDUCT A NUMBER OF SURVEYS WITH BUSINESS LEADERS. AND IN FEBRUARY OF 24, WE ASKED ALL OF THOSE WHO FILL OUR SURVEYS, YOU KNOW, WHAT PERCENTAGE OF YOU DO YOU THINK YOU'RE GOING TO BE LEVERAGING DOMESTIC MIGRANTS? AND THAT HAS STAYED ABOUT 30% FROM 24 TO 25. BUT WHAT HAS CHANGED IS THE APPETITE BY BUSINESS OWNERS AND OPERATORS IN TEXAS TO REALLY LEVERAGE THAT SIGNIFICANT FLOW OF INTERNATIONAL MIGRANTS COMING INTO TEXAS, AND THE PERCENTAGE OF BUSINESSES THAT ARE THINKING OF LEVERAGING INTERNATIONAL LABOR FORCE THAT ARE COMING INTO TEXAS HAS JUMPED ABOUT NINE PERCENTAGE POINTS FROM 24 TO 25. AND THIS IS SOMETHING THAT IS SIGNIFICANT AND WORTHWHILE MENTIONING. LOOKING MORE INTO BUSINESS ACTIVITY. LIKE I SAID, WE HAVE SURVEYS IN HERE. I'M SHOWING YOU IN ORANGE IS THE MANUFACTURING SURVEY AND IN BLACK IS THE SERVICES SECTOR. AND THIS IS JUST THE BROAD INDICATOR FOR EACH OF THE MANUFACTURING AND BUSINESS SERVICES. AND YOU CAN SEE THAT THE ECONOMY IN TEXAS HAS SIGNS OF SLOWING DOWN. IN THE LAST FEW READINGS. WE ARE PARTICULARLY PAYING CLOSE ATTENTION TO THE SERVICE SECTOR. AND THAT IS BECAUSE TEXAS IS PREDOMINANTLY SERVICE ORIENTED. SO THIS COULD HAVE IT COULD BE A LEADING INDICATOR AS TO WHERE WE MIGHT SEE THE ECONOMY DOWN THE LINE. 
          THIS IS LOOKING AT FORWARD LOOKING SENTIMENT. AND AGAIN, WHEN WE ASK BUSINESS LEADERS WHAT'S THE OUTLOOK THAT YOU SEE FOR YOUR BUSINESS AND FOR YOUR SECTOR. AND YOU CAN SEE THAT 
          [03:50:04]
THEY ARE INDICATING THAT THEY ARE NOT AS THEIR OUTLOOK IS DETERIORATING AND HAS BEEN DETERIORATING FOR NOW, 2 OR 3 READINGS UNCERTAINTY. THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WE HEAR OFTEN FROM OUR CONTACTS. AND HERE YOU SEE THE UNCERTAINTY BOTH IN MANUFACTURING AND SERVICES, AND YOU CAN SEE HOW IT HAS REALLY INCREASED OVER THE LAST NUMBER OF READINGS IN OUR SURVEYS. AND OF COURSE, FOR BUSINESS OPERATORS UNCERTAINTY, THIS IS WHERE THEY ARE GOING TO WAIT AND SEE. THEY'RE REALLY DIFFICULT FOR THEM TO MAKE INVESTMENT DECISIONS, EXPANSION DECISIONS, HIRING DECISIONS. SO THAT'S WHY WE ARE HEARING FROM OUR CONTACTS. I KNOW THIS IS SOMETHING THAT YOU'RE CLOSING CLOSELY WATCHING IS, YOU KNOW, SALES TAX REVENUE. AND THEN HERE WE'RE JUST SHOWING GROWTH RATES FOR BOTH TEXAS AND EL PASO. AND YOU CAN SEE IN THE LAST FEW READINGS WE'VE SEEN A SLOWDOWN OR A SOFTENING IN EL PASO. STILL THE LAST READING IS FLAT. BUT THIS IS SOMETHING WE'RE WATCHING. AND OF COURSE THIS IS SOMETHING TO TAKE A LOOK AT IT, PARTICULARLY AS A WAY OF UNDERSTANDING HOW THE CONSUMER IS THINKING ABOUT, YOU KNOW, AND MAKING DECISIONS LOCALLY. FOR SOME REASON, WE WERE AN ANOMALY ON THE SALES BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, WE'RE VERY STRONG DURING THE PANDEMIC. AND WE HAD THAT INCREASE IN SALES TAX. BUT I SEE THAT WE WEREN'T THAT I MEAN, WE'VE PRETTY MUCH FOLLOWED THE REST OF TEXAS. CORRECT? YEAH. 
          WHAT YOU TEND TO SEE IS THAT IN HERE WE DO A THREE MONTH MOVING AVERAGE BECAUSE PARTICULARLY THE SMALLER THE REGION IS, THE MORE VOLATILITY THAT YOU WILL SEE. BUT ONCE YOU SMOOTH OUT, IF YOU WILL, THE SERIES. YES, THE EL PASO DOES FOLLOW VERY CLOSELY THE STATE OF TEXAS. THE ONLY THING I WOULD MENTION IS EVEN THOUGH DURING THE PANDEMIC, THERE WERE CERTAIN ORDERS YOU WERE PUTTING IN PLACE, OUR SALES TAX ACTUALLY STAYED HIGHER THAN THE REST OF THE STATE DURING THAT TIME. SO IT SEEMS LIKE IT WAS A NOT THERE WAS NOT THE DECLINE THAT THE REST OF THE STATE SAW DURING THAT TIME PERIOD, LIKE 2019, WHERE YOU SEE OURS GO HIGHER THAN THE STATE. 
          AND, AND WE'VE, WE'VE SOME OF MY COLLEAGUES HAVE DONE RESEARCH LOOKING PARTICULARLY AT BORDER COMMUNITIES DURING THE PANDEMIC. AND THEY SAW THAT THE CONSUMER, THE HOUSEHOLD DID REALLY WELL ALONG THE BORDER. AND THAT WAS PREDOMINANTLY DRIVEN IN SIGNIFICANT WAYS BY THE TRANSFER PAYMENTS FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AND ALL THE HELP THAT MANY OF THE FAMILIES ALONG THE BORDER GOT FROM FROM COVID RELATED STIMULUS CARES ACT AND PARDON ME, CARES ACT, CARES ACT, INFUSIONS. CORRECT. AND A LOT OF THAT REALLY HELPED BORDER COMMUNITIES WEIGH IN AND HELP WITH HOUSEHOLDS TO MAINTAIN CONSUMPTION LEVELS. I THOUGHT IT WOULD BE IMPORTANT TO SPEND SOME TIME THINKING ABOUT TRADE POLICY. SO WE'RE ASKING, GIVEN THE STATE OF TEXAS IS THE LARGEST EXPORTING STATE IN THE COUNTRY. AND SO WE'VE BEEN ASKING A LOT OF OUR CONTACTS THROUGH OUR SURVEYS, HOW HOW SHOULD THEY ARE PREPARING FOR A POTENTIAL TARIFFS? AND WHAT ARE WHAT ARE THEY THINKING AS FAR AS HOW THEY'RE GOING TO BE REACTING TO IT? SO IN HERE, YOU KNOW, WHEN WE ASKED BUSINESS LEADERS ACROSS TEXAS, SO DO YOU EXPECT THAT HIGHER TARIFFS TO HAVE AN IMPACT IN YOUR BUSINESS. SO WE ASKED THIS QUESTION BACK IN 2018. AND ABOUT A THIRD OF THE BUSINESS SAID THAT YES, THEY DID EXPECT AN IMPACT. AND TODAY THAT NUMBER JUMPED FROM 35% TO ABOUT 60%. SO ALMOST TWO THIRDS OF THE BUSINESS BUSINESS CONTACTS IN OUR DISTRICT ARE TELLING US THAT THEY DO EXPECT AN IMPACT FROM HIGHER TARIFFS WHEN WE ASK THEM, SO WHAT ACTIONS, IF ANY, ARE YOU THINKING OF TAKING IN RESPONSE TO HIGHER TARIFFS? AND HERE YOU SEE THAT THE VAST MAJORITY OF THEM SAY THEY'RE GOING TO BE PASSING COST TO INCREASES TO THEIR CONSUMERS, ABOUT HALF OF THE BUSINESSES OR CLOSE TO HALF THAT. THEY'RE GOING TO BE ABSORBING THOSE, MEANING THEY'RE GOING TO BE SHRINKING THEIR MARGINS. AND THEN YOU SEE THE REST OF THE DIFFERENT EXPLANATIONS FROM FINDING NEW SUPPLIERS AND JUST TRYING TO DIVERSIFY THEIR SUPPLY CHAIN TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY ARE NOT AS IMPACTED WITH THE TARIFFS. BUT I WOULD SUSPECT SOME OF THOSE MAY TAKE SOME TIME FOR BUSINESSES TO BE ABLE TO IMPLEMENT AND PUT THEM IN MOTION. SO WHEN WE ASK THEM, YOU KNOW, WHAT SHARE OF TARIFF COST INCREASES DO YOU EXPECT TO PASS THROUGH CUSTOMERS? ABOUT HALF OF THE BUSINESSES TELLING US THAT THEY EXPECT TO PASS ALL OR MOST OF THE INCREASE IN TARIFFS, AND ABOUT 40%, THEY SAY IT'S ABOUT SOME. AND SO THIS IS THIS IS IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT FOR US AS THE CENTRAL BANK, ONE OF OUR MANDATES IS PRICE STABILITY. SO THIS IS SOMETHING WE'RE CLOSELY TRACKING FOR OBVIOUS REASONS. THE OTHER THING TOO, THAT HAS BEEN INTERESTING IS THAT WE'VE SEEN THAT BUSINESS OWNERS IN TEXAS FEEL THAT THEY HAVE LESS 
          [03:55:06]
PRICING POWER, MEANING WHEN WE ASK THEM, SO HOW COMPARED TO THREE MONTHS AGO, YOU KNOW, HOW HAS YOUR FIRM ABILITY TO PASS PRICE INCREASES TO YOUR CUSTOMERS CHANGED? AND ABOUT 40% OF THE BUSINESSES SAY IT'S BECOMING A LOT HARDER FOR THEM TO PASS THROUGH. AND ABOUT HALF OF THEM SAID THERE'S NO CHANGE. AND ONLY 13% OF BUSINESSES SAID THAT IT'S BECOME EASIER TO PASS HIGHER COSTS. SO TO CONCLUDE. OUR TEAM OF THE DALLAS FED PRODUCES AN ANNUAL FORECAST FOR WHERE WE THINK JOB GROWTH IS GOING TO BE IN THIS PARTICULAR CASE FOR DECEMBER 2025. AND OUR ECONOMISTS ARE SAYING AND BASED ON THEIR MODELING, THAT THE TEXAS ECONOMY WILL GROW AT ABOUT 1.7% IN 2025, THE TREND LEVEL IS 2%. SO THIS WILL BE BELOW TREND LEVEL LAST YEAR. AS A WAY OF REFERENCE FOR 2024, TEXAS ADDED JOBS AT ABOUT 1.4%. SO WE DO EXPECT TEXAS TO CONTINUE TO ADD JOBS, BUT PERHAPS JUST BELOW TREND LEVEL. AND BEFORE BEFORE I CONCLUDE, I THOUGHT I WOULD MAYBE SHARE WITH WITH YOU A COUPLE OF INITIATIVES THAT WE HAVE AT THE DALLAS FED THAT ARE REALLY AIM TO BE ENGAGED IN OUR COMMUNITY AND SUPPORT PARTICULARLY WORKFORCE AND EDUCATIONAL OUTCOMES IN OUR COMMUNITY, AS WELL AS IMPROVED DIGITAL ACCESS. SO THE DALLAS FED WILL HAVE AN INITIATIVE CALLED ADVANCED TOGETHER. THIS IS A MULTI-YEAR GRANT AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE OPPORTUNITY THAT SUPPORTS COMMUNITY AND REGIONAL CROSS-SECTOR PARTNERSHIPS TO THAT ARE WORKING ON IMPROVING EDUCATION AND EMPLOYMENT OUTCOMES. AND IN THIS LAST SERIES THAT WE LAUNCHED, WE ARE SUPPORTING FIVE COMMUNITIES ACROSS TEXAS, AND EL PASO IS ONE OF THEM. AND THE PARTNERSHIP IS CALLED REGION 19 PARTNERSHIP. AND THEY ARE AIMING TO ADDRESS THE SHORTAGE OF INDUSTRY BASED CERTIFICATIONS IN EL PASO BORDER PLEX REGION, IN THE MIDDLE SKILL SECTOR OF ADVANCED MANUFACTURING, ACCORDING TO DATA FROM THE WORKFORCE SOLUTIONS BORDERPLEX. IT'S EXPECTED THAT OVER THE NEXT DECADE, THIS MIDDLE SKILL ADVANCED MANUFACTURING JOBS ARE GOING TO GROW BETWEEN 10 AND 20% IN OUR COMMUNITY. AND SO THERE'S AN ENTIRE CONSORTIUM OF DIFFERENT ORGANIZATIONS LOCALLY THAT ARE AIMING TO WORK TOGETHER TO INCREASE THE PIPELINE OF PEOPLE THAT CAN GET TRAINED IN THE CERTIFICATIONS, TO BE ABLE TO ENJOY ACCESS TO SOME OF THESE JOBS. SO WE'RE EXCITED TO BE PART OF THAT INITIATIVE AND SUPPORT OUR COMMUNITY AND REALLY HELP PEOPLE COME INTO THE LABOR MARKET. THE SECOND ONE, OF COURSE, IS DIGITAL ACCESS. I'LL LEAVE YOU WITH THIS STATISTIC, AND I KNOW ALL OF YOU ARE VERY FAMILIAR WITH THIS. 90 OVER 90% OF TODAY'S JOBS REQUIRE DIGITAL SKILLS, BUT APPROXIMATELY ONLY A THIRD OF THE WORKERS. THIS IS NATIONWIDE, NATIONWIDE DATA, ABOUT A THIRD. THEY DON'T HAVE THE FOUNDATIONAL DIGITAL SKILLS NECESSARY TO, YOU KNOW, TO HAVE THESE QUALITY JOBS. SO IT'S NOT ONLY ABOUT THE SKILLS, BUT ACTUALLY ACCESS TO BROADBAND AND HIGH SPEED, RELIABLE INTERNET. 
          AND SO WE'VE BEEN VERY SUPPORTIVE IN WORKING CLOSELY WITH BORDERPLEX CONNECT, AND WE'VE BEEN DOING THIS WORK FOR NOW, A NUMBER OF YEARS. AND WE BELIEVE THAT'S AN IMPORTANT ASPECT OF THE WORK THAT WE DO IN OUR COMMUNITY TO SUPPORT LOW AND MODERATE INCOME COMMUNITIES. SO WITH THAT, I APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO PRESENT TO YOU AN ECONOMIC UPDATE, AND I'LL BE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE. YOU TOUCHED ON SOME GREAT POINTS, AS WE'RE TRYING TO GET COMPANIES TO COME TO EL PASO, WE ALSO HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT THE ABILITY TO ALIGN WITH WITH WHAT SKILLS THEY NEED. AND SO THAT'S BEEN A HUGE CHALLENGE FOR US TO AS WE LOOK FORWARD, IT COULD BE PRETTY DIFFICULT FOR US COMPARED TO MAYBE SOME OF THE BIGGER COMMUNITIES LIKE DALLAS, WHERE THEY DRAW IN MORE PEOPLE AND HAVE MORE SKILLS AVAILABLE. SO WE'RE EXCITED ABOUT THE GROWTH AND THE KIND OF COMPANIES THAT ARE COMING IN, BUT ALSO CONCERNED AS TO HOW DO WE KEEP UP THE SKILL LEVELS THAT ARE REQUIRED TO ADDRESS SOME OF THESE NEW COMPANIES? YES. AND BASED ON THE RESEARCH THAT MANY OF MY COLLEAGUES ACROSS THE FEDERAL RESERVE SYSTEM HAVE CONDUCTED, JUDGE SAMANIEGO, IT IS INTERESTING, OF COURSE, THE ECONOMIC PILLARS AND THE DRIVERS OF THE REGIONAL ECONOMY, THE SECTORS THAT ARE ALREADY PRESENT, PLAY A SIGNIFICANT ROLE IN WHAT THE FUTURE OF THE LOCAL ECONOMY LOOKS LIKE. BUT WHAT THE RESEARCH HAS ALSO FOUND IS THAT THE PARTNERSHIPS THAT COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS, BOTH PRIVATE, PUBLIC, NOT FOR PROFIT, THIS CROSS-SECTORAL PARTNERSHIPS, IF THEY COME TOGETHER, THE DECISIONS THAT THEY MAKE TOGETHER COLLECTIVELY HAS A LOT OF IMPACT AND COULD HAVE A LOT 
          [04:00:01]
OF IMPACT ON THE OUTCOMES FOR THE LOCAL ECONOMY. AND THAT'S WHY WE WERE SO EXCITED TO BE ABLE TO SUPPORT EL PASO, TO BRING THESE CROSS-SECTOR PARTNERSHIP TO, IN THIS PARTICULAR CASE IS TO ADDRESS ADVANCED MANUFACTURING. WE'VE DONE THIS WORK IN OTHER COMMUNITIES, AND THEY USUALLY START WITH ONE SECTOR, BECAUSE THAT'S WHERE THEY SEE THE GREATEST POTENTIAL AND THE GREATEST CHALLENGE. BUT THEN ONCE THEY LEARN HOW TO BRING THOSE PEOPLE TOGETHER TO THE TABLE, THEN THEY START SHIFTING GEARS INTO OTHER SECTORS. WE ARE DOING THAT WORK. WE'VE BEEN DOING THAT WORK IN ABILENE, AND THEY STARTED MANUFACTURING. NOW THEY'RE GOING IN CONSTRUCTION, HEALTH CARE AND OTHER SECTORS AND HAS PAID LOTS OF DIVIDENDS FOR THAT COMMUNITY. SO THAT'S WHY I'M SO EXCITED THAT PERHAPS THE COMMUNITY, THE WORK WE'RE GOING TO BE DOING HERE LOCALLY WITH REGION 19 IS GOING TO BE SIGNIFICANT FOR OUR COMMUNITY. 
          AND WE COLLABORATE A LOT. I MEAN, WE WORK WITH LAYLA, OBVIOUSLY, AND WE'RE TRYING TO, YOU KNOW, BORDER PLEX AND WE TRY TO ALL COME TOGETHER. AND ABSOLUTELY THAT'S THAT'S PART OF THE STRATEGY TO ADDRESS SOME OF THESE CONCERNS. SO THANK YOU. YOU'RE WELCOME. THANK YOU. ANY QUESTIONS. THANK YOU FOR THE PRESENTATION, MR. CALDWELL. SO THE ON ON THE SLIDES THAT YOU THAT THAT YOU PRESENTED THAT SHOW THE MAKEUP OF I GUESS IT'S FOLKS OR DEPENDANCE ON NON. 
          NATURALIZED BORN OR NON NON-LOCAL BORN INDIVIDUALS. SO WE'RE TRENDING TO BE MORE DEPENDENT ON IMMIGRANT LABOR. IT LOOKS LIKE. BUT WE CONTINUE TO SEE MUCH MORE ANTI-IMMIGRANT POLICY. HOW DO YOU THINK THAT'S GOING TO PLAY OUT IN THE FUTURE WHEN IT COMES TO HOW WE'RE TREATING FOREIGN BORN INDIVIDUALS AND THE NATIONALISTIC RHETORIC AND THE NATIONALISTIC TONE THAT WE HAVE TAKEN, ESPECIALLY IN THE STATE OF TEXAS, HOW IS THAT GOING TO AFFECT OUR ECONOMY? WELL, I MEAN, THE WAY THE WAY WE AT THE DALLAS FED LOOKED AT IMMIGRATION IS THROUGH THE ECONOMIC LENS. AND THERE'S ONLY TWO LEVERS THAT YOU HAVE TO GROW AN ECONOMY. ONE IS YOU INCREASE THE WORKFORCE, THE LABOR FORCE. AND THAT IS USUALLY DONE THROUGH POPULATION GROWTH. AND THAT CAN BE DONE BY NATURAL GROWTH OR BY BRINGING PEOPLE INTO YOUR COMMUNITY. AND THAT'S THE LENS THAT WE TAKE A LOOK AT. OF COURSE, THE SECOND LEVER YOU HAVE IS PRODUCTIVITY GAINS, RIGHT? IF TO THE EXTENT WE ARE BETTER AT WHAT WE DO, THEREFORE YOU'RE GOING TO GROW THE ECONOMY AND HAVE BETTER STANDARDS OF LIVING. SO FOR TEXAS IMMIGRANT MIGRATION TO TEXAS, LIKE I SAID, PREDOMINANTLY HAS BEEN DOMESTIC. THAT'S BEEN A PHENOMENAL TAILWIND FOR OUR ECONOMY. AND SO IF PEOPLE STOP COMING TO TEXAS, THEN INSTEAD OF BEING A TAILWIND, THAT COULD BECOME A HEADWIND. AND SO THAT'S SOMETHING WE'RE CLOSELY TRACKING. BUT I THINK YOUR QUESTION GOES MORE ON THE ON THE PUBLIC POLICY AND POLICY IN GENERAL THAT THE ADMINISTRATION IS TRYING TO SET UP. AND I WILL NOT COMMENT ON THAT BECAUSE THAT'S NOT MY THAT'S NOT MY REMIT. SO BUT BUT THAT'S DEFINITELY THAT'S SOMETHING WE'RE TRACKING. BECAUSE THE MORE PEOPLE COME THE PRESUMABLY THE BETTER THE TEXAS ECONOMY WILL DO. THANK YOU. I, I'M JUST THINKING OF ALL THE DIFFERENT THE PHENOMENON OF FOR EXAMPLE, YOU YOU MIGHT HAVE SOMEONE THAT YOU KNOW, THEIR DOCUMENTED THEIR CITIZENS, BUT THEY MIGHT HAVE SOMEONE IN THEIR HOME THAT ISN'T. BUT WHAT I'VE BEEN HEARING A LOT IS THEY WANT TO STAY AWAY FROM THE BORDER. BECAUSE OF THAT VULNERABILITY. AND SO IT MEANS THAT PEOPLE THAT ARE ELIGIBLE FOR WORK MIGHT BE WANTING TO MOVE AWAY FROM THE BORDER, BECAUSE FOR SOME REASON, EVEN THE MIGRATION, WHEN WE HAD A LOT OF PEOPLE COMING INTO EL PASO, I MEAN, NOT EVEN 1% STAYED IN EL PASO. AND WHEN WE ASKED THEM, ONE OF THEM WAS THEY JUST FELT VERY VULNERABLE ABOUT BEING IN THE IN THE BORDER COMMUNITIES. AND THEN OBVIOUSLY THERE'S BIGGER COMMUNITIES OF VENEZUELANS, COLOMBIANS AND OTHER PARTS THAT DRAW US IN. SO IN SOME WAY, I THINK THE BORDER COMMUNITIES ARE GOING TO BE IMPACTED. LET'S SAY THINGS GET BETTER, BUT I STILL THINK WE'RE GOING TO MISS OUT ON ON THE IMPORTANCE OF MIGRANTS HERE IN OUR OWN COMMUNITY. I MEAN, WHEN OUT OF SO MANY, ALMOST A MILLION THAT CAME THROUGH, NOT EVEN A PERCENTAGE POINT STAYED HERE IN OUR COMMUNITY. SO IN THE LONG RUN, AS WE MAYBE POLICY CHANGES, WE'RE NOT WE'RE NOT GOING TO HAVE THE ACCESSIBILITY TO MIGRANTS THAT OTHER COMMUNITIES MIGHT HAVE, BECAUSE THEY'VE ALREADY MADE THAT MOVE AWAY FROM THE BORDER. IS THERE ANYTHING, ANY, ANY STATS OR ANYTHING THAT SHOWS THAT? YEAH. SO I THINK, YOU KNOW, BASED ON, ON THE CONTEXT AND OUR CONTEXT. AND IF 
          [04:05:02]
I WERE TO COMPILE A SUMMARY OF WHAT WE'VE HEARD THROUGH CONTEXT, AND WHAT WE KNOW THROUGH RESEARCH IS THAT VERIFIES WHAT WHAT YOU ALLUDED TO, JUDGE SAMANIEGO, THAT IS, YOU KNOW, BORDER COMMUNITIES TEND NOT TO KEEP A LOT OF THOSE MIGRANTS. AND THERE ARE TWO MAIN REASONS WHAT I THINK ARE THAT'S THE CASE. ONE IS WHEN IT COMES TO INTERNATIONAL MIGRATION, SAY, CENTRAL AMERICANS AND SOUTH AMERICANS, THEY TEND TO GO AND MOST MIGRANTS TEND TO GO WHERE THERE'S A NETWORK ALREADY. AND SO IF THERE'S NOT A NETWORK OF, YOU KNOW, FAMILY, RELATIVES, FRIENDS IN THE COMMUNITY, IT'S NOT AS ATTRACTIVE THAT IF THERE'S OTHER COMMUNITIES IN THE INTERIOR OF THE COUNTRY. AND SO THAT'S WHY THEY TEND TO GO TO OTHER COMMUNITIES. SO THAT'S ONE REASON IT'S THE NETWORK THAT EXISTS OR NOT DOES NOT EXIST IN ANY GIVEN COMMUNITY. AND FOR THE BORDER COMMUNITIES, THE ADDITIONAL, I THINK, LAYER OF, OF COMPLEXITY FOR, FOR MIGRANTS IS THAT THIS IS WHERE A LOT OF THE ENFORCEMENT IS. AND SO FOR, FOR THEM, BASED WHAT WE HEAR FROM OUR CONTACTS IS THAT THAT PROVIDES SERVICES TO THOSE MIGRANTS, IS THAT IT'S DIFFICULT, MORE DIFFICULT FOR THEM TO BE HERE BECAUSE JUST THE LEVEL OF, YOU KNOW, ENFORCEMENT THAT EXISTS IN OUR COMMUNITY. AND THAT'S WHY THEY TEND TO MOVE AWAY FROM BORDER COMMUNITIES IN EL PASO, IS NOT ALONE. I MEAN, THE SAME STORY WOULD BE TRUE FOR OTHER BORDER COMMUNITIES IN THE TEXAS BORDER AND FOR THAT MATTER ON THE US MEXICO BORDER REGION. SO THOSE I WOULD SUMMARIZE THAT THAT'S WHAT I THINK MOST OF THE QUALITATIVE AND QUANTITATIVE INFORMATION TENDS TO TAKE TAKE US THERE. AND THAT'S THE IRONY. WE APPRECIATE THEM MORE THAN MOST COMMUNITIES, BUT WE MIGHT NOT HAVE ACCESS TO THEM IN THE FUTURE. ALL RIGHT. ANYTHING ELSE? THANK YOU. JUDGE. 
          COMMISSIONERS GO AHEAD. MELISSA. SORRY. NO, I WAS JUST GOING TO SAY JUDGE COMMISSIONERS. MELISSA CARRILLO WITH OPERATIONS. I JUST REALLY WANT TO THANK MR. CORONADO AND HIS STAFF FOR MAKING THE TIME TO COME OUT HERE. IN YEARS PAST, WE WOULD INVITE THEM JUST REALLY TO GO OVER THIS HUGE ECONOMIC OVERVIEW THAT HE JUST DID. TODAY, AS WE GO INTO BUDGET, OUR BUDGET TEAM REACHED OUT AND REALLY THOUGHT THIS WOULD BE A REALLY NICE WAY TO KIND OF SEGUE INTO WHAT IS HAPPENING LOCALLY, WHAT'S HAPPENING AT THE STATE NOW THAT THE LEGISLATURE IS COMING TO AN END? HOW DOES THIS IMPACT THE FINANCES OF EL PASO COUNTY, AND WHAT DOES THIS MEAN FOR US AS WE BUILD YOUR FY 26 BUDGET? SO I JUST REALLY WANT TO THANK MR. CORONADO AND HIS STAFF FOR MAKING THE TIME TO COME SEE US. WE'RE VERY FORTUNATE TO HAVE YOU. YOU'RE WELCOME. AND ANYTHING WE CAN DO FOR YOU. THANK YOU. WE'LL BE HAPPY TO HELP ANY WAY WE CAN. THANK YOU. 
          THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. THANK YOU. APPRECIATE. ITEM 14, BUDGET AND FINANCE BUDGET HEARING AND CORRECTION. ITEM 14 A BUDGET HEARING. RECEIVE A PRESENTATION REGARDING 
          [A. BUDGET HEARING: Receive a presentation regarding various financial and budget information for consideration in the Fiscal Year 2026 Budget.
Melissa Carrillo, Deputy County Administrator, County Operations, 915-273-3582]
VARIOUS FINANCIAL AND BUDGET INFORMATION FOR CONSIDERATION IN THE FISCAL YEAR 2026 BUDGET. 
          GOOD AFTERNOON. JUDGE. COMMISSIONERS MELISSA CARRILLO WITH COUNTY OPERATIONS THIS AFTERNOON. WE ARE FOLLOWING THE PRESENTATION YOU JUST RECEIVED. I'M TURNING IT OVER TO THE TEAM IN JUST A BIT, BUT THEY'RE GOING TO HIGHLIGHT SOME INFORMATION AS IT RELATES TO WHAT'S HAPPENING IN THE FY 25 BUDGET. AND THEN AGAIN, WHAT ARE SOME OF OUR BIG REVENUES. HOW ARE THOSE BEING IMPACTED? HOW DO WE PROJECT THOSE BEING IMPACTED. AND THEN WHAT DOES THAT MEAN FOR FY 26. 
          SO I'M GOING TO TURN IT OVER TO MISS GABY FERRO TO GET US STARTED. GOOD AFTERNOON. COUNTY JUDGE AND COMMISSIONERS GABY FEDER WITH THE BUDGET AND FINANCE DEPARTMENT TODAY. IN THIS SLIDE YOU CAN SEE THE SUMMARY BY QUARTER OF OUR REVENUES AND OUR EXPENDITURES. 
          BY THE END OF QUARTER TWO, WE HAD COLLECTED ABOUT 79.17% OF OUR REVENUE AND EXPENSED ABOUT 39.98%. AS A MATTER OF INFORMATION, BY THE END OF QUARTER TWO, IN FISCAL YEAR 2023, WE WERE ABOUT 39 AND ONLY FOCUSED ON THE EXPENDITURE PART OF IT. WE WERE 39.09% SPENT OF OUR BUDGET. AND IN FISCAL YEAR 2024, WE WERE 41.04% SPENT. SO YOU CAN SEE WE'RE RIGHT ON TRACK ON AVERAGE, WHERE WE SHOULD BE AT THE END OF QUARTER TWO. HISTORICALLY, IN QUARTERS THREE AND FOUR, WE SEE EXPENDITURES COME IN SLIGHTLY HIGHER THAN, THAN THE FIRST TWO QUARTERS, BUT CLOSE ENOUGH TO WHERE WE CAN DOUBLE OUR EXPENDITURE SPENDING. HOWEVER, THIS YEAR WE HAVE BEEN SEEING AN INCREASE ON OUR ON OUR EXPENDITURES. THEREFORE, WE DO ANTICIPATE THAT QUARTER THREE AND QUARTER FOUR OF FISCAL YEAR 25 MIGHT COME IN SLIGHTLY HIGHER THAN IN PRIOR YEARS, AND WE WILL CONTINUE TO MONITOR AND PRESENT AS THESE CHANGES AS WE GET THESE UPDATES. OUR COUNTY AUDITOR EARLIER TODAY PRESENTED ON THE ACTUAL NUMBERS FOR THE MONTH OF APRIL. OUR REVENUE SHOWS THE SAME AT THE 12.98 MILLION, AND OUR EXPENDITURES HERE SHOW SLIGHTLY LOWER BY 30%. BUT AS 
          [04:10:06]
OUR COUNTY AUDITOR MENTIONED, OUR EXPENDITURES FOR APRIL WERE 35.54. REGARDING THE MAIN NUMBERS, WE DO ANTICIPATE THAT BY THE TIME OUR COUNTY AUDITOR REPORTS ON THESE NUMBERS, ON THE FINAL NUMBERS OF IT, YOU ARE GOING TO SEE THEM SLIGHTLY HIGHER, ESPECIALLY ON OUR EXPENDITURE SIDE, BEING THAT THIS NUMBER DOES NOT INCLUDE THE THIRD PAYROLL THAT HIT THIS LAST FRIDAY. ON THE SLIDE, WE SHOW OUR REVENUE, EXPENSE AND RESERVE AMOUNTS. OUR REVENUE IS SHOWN IN THE ALL GREEN ROW. OUR EXPENSES ARE SHOWN IN THE RED ROW AND OUR FUND BALANCE IS SHOWN GREEN WHERE OUR REVENUE WAS COMING IN HIGHER THAN OUR EXPENDITURES, AND RED WERE OUR EXPENDITURES STARTED COMING IN GREATER THAN OUR REVENUE. THIS STARTED IN FISCAL YEAR 23. AND AS WE HEARD FROM OUR COUNTY AUDITOR, AS WELL AS WE'RE CLOSING OFF FISCAL YEAR 24, THESE NUMBERS DO STILL CHANGE. THEY ARE SOME ADJUSTMENTS THAT ARE HAPPENING. AND AS SHE PRESENTED TODAY, WE DO ANTICIPATE FISCAL YEAR 24 REVENUE TO CLOSE A LITTLE BIT CLOSER TO THE 396 MILLION. THE EXPENDITURES AT 397 MILLION, WHICH WILL ADJUST OUR FUND BALANCE CLOSER TO THE 96.2 MILLION AS SHOWN STARTING SINCE FISCAL YEAR 23, IS WHEN WE STARTED GRADUALLY DIPPING INTO OUR FUND BALANCE. AND EVEN THOUGH THESE AMOUNTS DID COME OUT A LITTLE BIT HIGHER THAN OUR ESTIMATED, IF WE DO CONTINUE WITH OUR EXPENDITURE TRENDS AND DO NOT FIND A NEW REVENUE SOURCE AND A NEW REVENUE SOURCE IS NOT IDENTIFIED, WE WILL CONTINUE TO DIP INTO OUR FUND BALANCE. THIS IS JUST A GRAPHICAL DEPICTION OF THE TABLE WE JUST SAW ON THE SLIDE BEFORE. NOW LOOKING INTO OUR BUDGET REGISTERS, THIS SLIDE SHOWS OUR BUDGET REGISTER, WHICH ARE ITEMS THAT THE COURT HAS ALREADY TAKEN ACTION ON, AND THE RESTORING REGISTER. REGARDING OUR BUDGET REGISTER, I DO WANT TO MAKE ONE NOTE THAT LAST GRANT MATCH FOR THE TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, THAT 35,000 THAT IS ACTUALLY AN IN-KIND MATCH. IT IS NOT A CASH MATCH. SO THAT IS SOMETHING THAT WE WILL BE ABLE TO REDUCE AS WE COMPILE OUR FISCAL YEAR 26 BUDGET. THERE HAVE BEEN NO CHANGES TO OUR RESTORING REGISTER. THIS IS WHAT WE FOREWENT IN FISCAL YEAR 25. AND WE KNOW, GIVEN OUR FINANCIALS, THAT WE'RE NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO RESTORE AT THE AMOUNTS SHOWN OR PROBABLY THIS COMING YEAR, BUT WE WILL CONTINUE TO LOOK SO THAT WE CAN RESTORE IN FUTURE YEARS. THESE ARE OUR POTENTIAL FUTURE IMPACTS. THESE ARE ITEMS THAT HAVE NOT COME BEFORE THE COURT, BUT WE DO ANTICIPATE WILL COME TO THE COURT AT SOME POINT. THESE AMOUNTS ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE. AS WE MENTIONED, THEY HAVEN'T COME TO THE COURT BECAUSE THEY'RE STILL BEING LOOKED AT, STILL BEING REVIEWED BY OUR STAFF. HOWEVER, AS WE DID ALREADY START PREPARING OUR FISCAL YEAR 26 BUDGET, SOME OF THESE AMOUNTS ARE INCLUDED ALREADY IN OUR FISCAL YEAR 26, BUT NOT ALL OF THEM. SO WE WILL CONTINUE TO BRING THOSE TO THE COURT'S ATTENTION AS THEY AS THEY COME BY. REGARDING OUR GRANT MATCH APPLICATION REGISTER, THIS IS AS OF THE END OF APRIL. THERE HAVE BEEN NO CHANGES ON THIS ONE, AND THESE AMOUNTS HAVE BEEN INCLUDED AS THE COURT APPROVED FOR THE APPLICATIONS TO BE SENT OUT. WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE KEEP THESE AMOUNTS IN OUR BUDGET SO THAT WHEN THEY DO COME BACK TO THE COURT FOR APPROVAL OF THE AWARD, WE HAVE THAT AMOUNT INCLUDED AS WELL. OUR POTENTIAL COMMITMENTS. THERE WERE NO CHANGES, OUR POTENTIAL COMMITMENTS WITH ALTERNATE FUNDING. THERE WERE NO CHANGES TO THIS REGISTER. IN THIS SLIDE, WE CAN SEE THE SUMMARY OF ALL OF THE BUDGET REGISTERS THAT WE HAVE REVIEWED. PLEASE KEEP IN MIND THAT MANY OF THESE ITEMS HAVE NOT, AND CANNOT BE INCLUDED IN THE FISCAL YEAR 26 BUDGET AS WE'RE PREPARING IT BASED ON HOW OUR FINANCIALS LOOK AT THIS TIME. AND UNLESS THERE ARE ANY QUESTIONS FOR ME AT THIS TIME, I WILL TURN IT OVER TO MISS JESSICA GARZA. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, THANK YOU. GOOD AFTERNOON, JUDGE AND COMMISSIONERS JESSICA GARZA, BUDGET AND FINANCE. AS WE THINK OF OUR CURRENT POSITION AND BEGIN TO TRANSITION INTO FY 26, THIS SECTION OF OUR PRESENTATION WILL FOCUS ON THE OVERVIEW OF OUR MAJOR REVENUE SOURCES, OUR CURRENT FY 25 GENERAL FUND ALLOCATIONS AND ESTIMATES LEADING INTO OUR FY 26 BUDGET. AS YOU CAN SEE ON THIS SLIDE, 85% OF OUR GENERAL FUND REVENUE SOURCES ARE BEING IMPACTED AT THIS TIME, WHICH IS A LARGE DRIVING FORCE BEHIND OUR NEED TO CONTROL EXPENDITURES 
          [04:15:03]
MOVING FORWARD. YOU CAN SEE FROM THE SLIDE, 65% OF OUR GENERAL FUND BUDGETED REGISTERS COMES FROM PROPERTY TAXES, 19% FROM SALES AND USE TAX, AND 1% FROM FEDERAL PRISONER REVENUE. AND AS ALWAYS, BUDGET WORKS CLOSELY WITH THE AUDITOR MONITORING THESE THREE FUNDS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR. JUST A QUICK EDUCATIONAL SLIDE. SALES TAX IN THE STATE OF TEXAS IS AT 0.0825%. WE DO NOT RECEIVE ALL 8.25%. WE ONLY RECEIVE 0.005% OR $0.05 OF THAT AMOUNT. AND I WANTED TO SHOW KIND OF HOW THAT IS DISTRIBUTED HERE IN EL PASO COUNTY, JUST FOR GENERAL PUBLIC PURPOSES OF UNDERSTANDING THAT SALES TAX REVENUE PAID BY OUR CONSUMERS ISN'T CAPTURED BY ONE ENTITY ONLY IN THE COUNTY. AS I MENTIONED EARLIER TODAY BY OUR COUNTY AUDITOR, WE'VE SEEN SIGNIFICANT SLOWING OF SALES TAX SINCE 2021 AND 2022. THIS WAS ALSO REITERATED BY THE FEDERAL RESERVE PRESENTATION. FROM THIS CHART, YOU CAN SEE IT'S DECREASED FROM 16% 21 OVER 2020 TO LESS THAN 1% GROWTH 2025 OVER 2024. WORTHY OF NOTING HERE THAT STATE LAW REQUIRES THAT ANY EXCESS SALES TAX RECEIVED OVER THE PRIOR YEAR MUST BE USED TO PAY DOWN DEBT. THIS MEANS THAT ANY THAT IN YEARS WHEN COLLECTIONS WERE UP, WE COULD NOT USE THAT FOR OUR GENERAL FUND OR FOR OUR RESERVE. THE RESULT IS THAT OUR REVENUE DID NOT INCREASE AT THE SAME PERCENTAGE AS OUR SALES TAX RECEIPT GROWTH. AS YOU KNOW, THE FEDERAL PRISONER REVENUE HAS BEEN DECLINING FROM 20 MILLION IN FY 22 TO 6 MILLION IN FY 24. WE'RE BEGINNING TO SEE INCREASE IN THIS REVENUE TREND FOR 25, WITH THE CURRENT PROJECTION OF 4 MILLION, UP FROM THE BUDGETED AMOUNT OF 2.7 MILLION. HOWEVER, GIVEN OUTCOMES OF THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION, THIS REVENUE SOURCE MAY CONTINUE TO BE AFFECTED AND WE CONTINUE TO MONITOR THAT CLOSELY. 
          ADDITIONALLY, STAFF IS CURRENTLY WORKING WITH THE CONSULTANT TO SUBMIT AN INTERGOVERNMENTAL AGREEMENT THAT MAY INCREASE OUR DAILY REIMBURSEMENT FROM THE CURRENT 101 PER DAY. WE HOPE TO HAVE THAT RATE FINALIZED IN AUGUST OR NO LATER THAN NOVEMBER. HISTORICALLY, THIS HAS BEEN ONE OF OUR TOP REVENUE SOURCES, BUT GIVEN THE DECLINE YOU SEE ON THE SCREEN, OUR TEAM HAS WORKED TO ADJUST FUTURE BUDGETS TO OFFSET THIS SIGNIFICANT LOSS IN REVENUE. 
          SINCE THE REVENUE FROM THE FEDERAL PRISONERS IS OUR THIRD LARGEST SOURCE OF REVENUE, WE TRACK DAILY POPULATIONS CLOSELY. THIS PROVIDES YOU A LOOK AT DAILY NUMBERS SINCE JANUARY AND ILLUSTRATES OUR DAILY NUMBERS ARE SLOWLY INCREASING. ONCE AGAIN, WE WATCH HOW LEGISLATIVE CHANGES MAY NEGATIVELY AFFECT THESE ACCOUNTS IN THE FUTURE. AND AS MENTIONED BY OUR AUDITOR, THE NUMBERS ARE GETTING SOME. THEY KIND OF HIT 300 AND THEN THEY BOUNCE BACK INTO KIND OF THE AVERAGE ABOUT TWO 6270 PER DAY. THIS SLIDE SHOWS YOU WHAT OUR TOTAL APPRAISED VALUES AND TAXABLE VALUES HAVE BEEN FOR THE LAST FIVE YEARS. THIS INCLUDES THE UPDATE ON VALUES GIVEN BY EL PASO CENTRAL APPRAISAL DISTRICT TWO WEEKS AGO. OUR NEXT VALUATION UPDATE IS EXPECTED HERE WITHIN THE NEXT WEEK OR TWO. THE GREEN TREND LINE IS THE ACTUAL REVENUES COLLECTED, EXCEPT FOR TAX YEAR 2024, WHICH IS FY 25 BUDGETED, AND TAX YEAR 2025 IS ESTIMATED BASED ON OUR CURRENT RATE. THIS PROVIDES YOU THE EXEMPTION INFORMATION BASED ON THE PRELIMINARY TAXABLE VALUES ALSO REPORTED BY CENTRAL APPRAISAL DISTRICT. HISTORICALLY, OUR CERTIFIED VALUES WILL BE 4 TO 5% LESS THAN THE PRELIMINARY VALUES AND 2% LESS THAN CERTIFIED IN OCTOBER. 
          WHEN BILLED, WE CONTINUE TO ADJUST THESE AMOUNTS AS REPORTS FROM EL PASO CENTRAL APPRAISAL ARE PROVIDED. BOTH BOTH ON THE TAXABLE VALUES. THE EXEMPTIONS, AS WELL AS PROTESTED VALUES. 
          THIS SLIDE RECAPS OUR TAX RATE INFORMATION THAT WE REVIEWED IN PRIOR PRESENTATIONS. THIS IS JUST ANOTHER LOOK AT OUR MO, OUR MAINTENANCE AND OPERATIONS TAX RATE, AND OUR INTEREST IN SINKING FUND OR DEBT RATE. SO YOU CAN SEE OUR IN THE LIGHT BLUE ON TOP. OUR INS RATE HAS REMAINED PRETTY STEADY AT ABOUT 5% OR $0.05. APOLOGIZE $0.05 OF OUR TOTAL TAX RATE. WE DO EXPECT 
          [04:20:02]
THIS NUMBER BECAUSE OF THE VOTER APPROVED BONDS THAT WILL GO UP THIS COMING YEAR TO SIX AND A HALF CENTS, AND THAT WILL ALSO AFFECT OUR RATE FROM THIS CHART. YOU CAN SEE HISTORICALLY, OUR RATE IS HAS BEEN WAS LOWER THIS YEAR THAN ALL YEARS EXCEPT FOR 2023. AND THEN IT WAS SIGNIFICANTLY LOWER THAN 20 20, 20 2020, 2021 AND 2022. THIS PROVIDES YOU A REALLY HIGH LEVEL OVERVIEW OF HOW OUR TAX RATES ARE CALCULATED. OUR TAX RATES ARE PUT TOGETHER JOINTLY BY OUR TAX ASSESSOR, COLLECTOR'S OFFICE AND OUR COUNTY AUDITOR'S OFFICE. THEY WORK ON THESE CALCULATIONS. 
          THEY'RE CURRENTLY CALCULATED USING A FORMULA THAT'S PROVIDED BY THE TEXAS COMPTROLLER BASED ON STATUTE. AND IT TAKES INTO CONSIDERATION CERTAIN EXPENDITURES THAT WE TAKE DURING THE YEAR TO ARRIVE AT NET TAXABLE VALUES AND TO CALCULATE THE NO NEW REVENUE AND THE VOTER APPROVAL RATE. YOU CAN THINK OF THE FORMULA AS KIND OF LIKE YOUR INCOME TAX RETURN, WHERE YOU START OUT KIND OF LIKE WITH AN INCOME, AND THEN THERE'S ADJUSTMENTS THAT ARE MADE TO IT TILL YOU GET TO YOUR ADJUSTED INCOME, AND THEN YOU GET YOUR FINAL TAX BILL. AT THAT POINT, THE METHODOLOGY WORKS VERY SIMILAR. IT TAKES INTO CONSIDERATION HOW MUCH THE COUNTY HAS SPENT ON INDIGENT DEFENSE, ON JUVENILE PROBATION ACTIVITIES, AS WELL AS OTHER EXPENSES RELATED TO PUBLIC SAFETY. THE FY 25 GENERAL FUND ON THIS SLIDE IS SHOWN BY PROGRAM TYPE. AS YOU CAN SEE, PUBLIC SAFETY IS OUR LARGEST EXPENSE CATEGORY, WHICH INCLUDES OUR SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT, JUVENILE PROBATION, AND CONSTABLE'S PUBLIC SAFETY, FOLLOWED BY THE GENERAL GOVERNMENT CATEGORY, WHICH ALSO INCLUDES OUR GENERAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE ACCOUNTS. OUR RESERVES MAKE UP 5% OF THE GENERAL FUND BUDGET, STATE MANDATED SERVICES, DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES CONTINUE TO MAKE UP MORE THAN 50% OF OUR BUDGET. AND GIVEN THE OUTCOME OF THE 89TH LEGISLATIVE SESSION, WHICH ENDED TODAY, THERE WILL BE ADDITIONAL MANDATES THAT WE EXPECT TO EMERGE. WE WILL CONTINUE TO WATCH THE FINAL IMPACTS AND SHARE THOSE BUDGETARY IMPACTS WITH THE COURT OVER THE COURSE OF THE NEXT FEW MONTHS. ONE OF THOSE IMPACTS LARGER THAT ONE OF THOSE LARGER IMPACTS THAT GABY SHARED ON ONE OF HER SLIDES IS THE JUDICIAL SALARIES, WHICH WE'RE EXPECTING TO IMPACT US BY AS MUCH AS A MILLION AND A HALF DOLLARS MILLION AND A HALF. AND WHEN WE WHEN WE DO THESE TYPES OF PRESENTATIONS, OR EVEN WHEN WE DO BUDGET OR AUDIT THE AUDITOR PRESENTATIONS, CAN WE JUST CONSTANTLY HAVE AT LEAST A COUPLE OF GRAPHS THAT SHOW THE IMPACTS OF THE LEGISLATIVE? WELL, I MEAN, JUST WHAT THE WHAT WHAT THE UNFUNDED MANDATES ARE, WHAT THE AMOUNT IS, WHAT WHAT IT'S BEING SPENT ON JUST SO IT CAN BE CONSTANTLY IN OUR FACE. I WANT IT TO BE IN THE PUBLIC SPACE ALL THE TIME. YES, SIR. YES, SIR. SO, SO THAT IT'S THAT IT'S I MEAN, IT BECOMES COMMON KNOWLEDGE THAT THIS IS THIS IS THIS IS WHAT THE STATE IS FORCING US TO PROVIDE. AND IN SOME WAYS, SOME OF THOSE WHAT WE CAN DO IS WE CAN AT LEAST HAVE A SLIDE THAT SHOWS THEM WE MAY NOT HAVE THE FULL FINANCIAL IMPACTS YET, BECAUSE IT MAY EITHER BE PENDING A DECISION OR IT MAY BE PENDING A VALUATION. AND SO WE CAN HAVE THAT THAT RUNNING LIST OF. BUT I'D ALSO LIKE TO SEE IF WE CAN EVEN LIKE AN ANALYSIS OVER THE LAST TEN YEARS. LIKE HOW MUCH WERE THEY IN 2015 AND WHAT ARE THEY IN 2025. YES. AND BECAUSE I GUARANTEE YOU'RE GOING TO SEE THERE'S, THERE'S, THERE'S GOING TO BE A LINE GRAPH AND IT'S GOING TO GO UP LIKE THIS. AND I WANT THAT TO BE VISUALIZED. YES, SIR. YES, SIR. I JUST WANT TO SAY FOR, FOR THE COURT'S INFORMATION, WE HAVE BEEN WORKING CLOSELY WITH THE COUNTY ATTORNEYS AS WELL, BECAUSE AS WE DERIVE THAT LIST, WHEN WE TELL YOU HISTORICALLY, 52 TO 54% OF YOUR EXPENSES ARE STATE UNFUNDED MANDATES, WE'VE BEEN WORKING WITH THEM TO REVIEW THAT LIST, COMPARE IT AGAINST THE NEW LEGISLATION TO MAKE SURE OUR LIST IS FULLY INCLUSIVE OF ALL UNFUNDED MANDATES. SO THAT NUMBER THAT WE REPORT TO YOU IS ACCURATE. SO WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON THAT AS WELL. SOME OF IT ISN'T JUST UNFUNDED MANDATES. 
          IT'S SOME OF IT IS WHAT THEY'RE DOING IS THEY'RE SHIFTING THE TAX BASE. RIGHT. SO WHEN THEY SAY WE'RE GIVING A TAX BREAK, THEY'RE REALLY NOT THEY'RE SHIFTING IT TO OTHER USERS. SO LIKE THE BILL THAT PASSED THAT GAVE A TAX BREAK ON PERSONAL PROPERTY FOR BUSINESS 125,000. 
          RIGHT. THAT JUST SHIFTS YOUR NO NEW REVENUE TO OTHER PROPERTY OWNERS. SO WHAT WHAT IF 
          [04:25:07]
EVERYTHING ELSE THAT STAYED THE SAME IN VALUES HAD NOT CHANGED? EVERYONE ELSE'S TAXES WOULD GO UP, BUT THEY DON'T. BUT BUT EVERYONE LOCALLY WILL THINK THAT THAT WAS YOU ALL INCREASING THEIR TAXES. BUT IT WAS TRULY THE STATE INCREASING. AND I'D ALSO AT SOME POINT LIKE TO SEE IF WE CAN INCLUDE IN THESE PRESENTATIONS. THE FINES AND FEES THAT WE COLLECT, WE'RE WORKING ON AND HOW MUCH THE STATE SKIMS EVERY SINGLE YEAR, BECAUSE THAT'S, I THINK, ANOTHER PART OF THE STORY THAT WE HAVE TO TELL IS, YOU KNOW, IF WE'RE COLLECTING A VEHICLE REGISTRATION FEE AND WE GET $85 PER LICENSE PLATE, HOW MUCH ARE WE ACTUALLY KEEPING IN OUR COFFERS, AND HOW MUCH IS THE STATE TAKING FROM US? YES, SIR. THANK YOU. AND WE ARE. WE HAVE BEEN WORKING ON TRYING TO PULL ALL THAT INFORMATION TOGETHER SO THAT WE CAN GIVE YOU KIND OF A, A REPORT THAT'S KIND OF ONE SLIDE ISH, BECAUSE RIGHT NOW IT COMES FROM DIFFERENT PLACES, LIKE YOU MENTIONED, TAX ASSESSOR, COLLECTOR, COUNTY CLERK, DISTRICT CLERK, EACH OF OUR COURTS. SO WE'RE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO HOW BEST TO PULL ALL THAT DATA INTO SOMETHING THAT'S A LITTLE EASIER TO UNDERSTAND. YEAH. THANK YOU. I APPRECIATE THAT THIS SLIDE GIVES YOU AN OVERVIEW OF THE PUBLIC SAFETY AND ADMINISTRATION OF JUSTICE PROGRAMS. PUBLIC SAFETY AGAIN MADE UP 35% OF OUR BUDGET AT ABOUT $156.3 MILLION. THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT, JAIL OPERATIONS, JPD CONSTABLE'S, AS WELL AS EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AND AMBULANCE SERVICES ARE INCLUDED IN THIS CATEGORY. ADMINISTRATION OF JUSTICE, AGAIN, IS ONE OF OUR CORE MANDATED SERVICES THAT WE PROVIDE, MADE UP 22% OF OUR BUDGET JUST, WELL, $98.8 MILLION, $98 MILLION. IT'S ABOUT WHAT THAT RUNS OUT TO. THIS SLIDE. YOU'LL SEE CULTURE AND RECREATION MADE UP 2% OF OUR BUDGET AT 10.9 MILLION, AND RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT IS 7.2 MILLION AND MADE UP ALSO 2% OF OUR BUDGET AND RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT. SOMETIMES A LITTLE CONFUSING TITLE, BUT IT INCLUDES ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, OUR AGRILIFE EXTENSION OFFICE, AS WELL AS OUR STRATEGIC UTILITIES DEPARTMENT, WHICH WORKS IN IN PLANNING WATER AND WASTEWATER INFRASTRUCTURE IMPROVEMENTS. 
          HEALTH AND WELFARE MADE UP 3% OF OUR BUDGET AT 13.4 MILLION AND PUBLIC WORKS AT 28.5 MILLION, MADE UP 6%. MANY OF THESE DEPARTMENTS THAT YOU SEE WITH LOW PERCENTAGES ACTUALLY RECEIVE A HIGH PERCENTAGE IN GRANTS. SO MOST OF THEIR THE PROJECTS UNDER PUBLIC WORKS ARE PAID FOR THROUGH GRANTS RATHER THAN FROM OUR GENERAL FUND. GENERAL GOVERNMENT MADE UP 25% OF THE BUDGET AT 111.4 MILLION, AND THIS INCLUDES ALL MOST OF OUR ELECTED OFFICIALS HERE IN THE COURTHOUSE, COMMISSIONERS, DISTRICT CLERK'S OFFICE, COUNTY CLERK, OUR COUNTY AUDITOR, ELECTIONS AND PURCHASING. AGAIN, MANY OF THOSE ARE MANDATED OFFICES AND SERVICES THAT ARE PROVIDED. THIS DEPARTMENT ALSO OR THIS CATEGORY ALSO INCLUDES THE DEPARTMENTS OF COUNTY ADMINISTRATION, COMMUNITY SERVICES, HUMAN RESOURCES, INFORMATION AND BUDGET AND FINANCE. THE RESERVES MADE UP 5% OF OUR BUDGET AT 20.5 MILLION, AND AGAIN AT 5%, WAS SLIGHTLY LOWER THAN WHAT OUR FINANCIAL POLICY CALLS FOR. AND NOW WE GET INTO OUR FY 26 PROJECTION. THIS SLIDE PROVIDES VERY PRELIMINARY ESTIMATES. THE MOST RECENT FUND BALANCE ESTIMATE OF 72.8 MILLION FROM OUR COUNTY AUDITOR, AND A REVENUE ESTIMATE BASED ON OUR CURRENT RATE. THESE AMOUNTS DO NOT YET INCLUDE REIMBURSEMENTS TO THE GENERAL FUND THAT THE AUDITOR CONTINUES TO WORK ON, AS WELL AS ADJUSTMENTS FROM THE EXTERNAL AUDITOR'S OFFICE. IN YELLOW IS THE FY 26 PRELIMINARY BUDGET ESTIMATE AND INCLUDES ITEMS ALREADY APPROVED BY THE COURT, WHICH GABY PROVIDED DETAILS ON EARLIER, AS WELL AS SOME OF THE INCREASES THAT ARE STILL PENDING FROM FROM THOSE REGISTERS AND CONTRACTUAL INCREASES THAT ARE UNAVOIDABLE. AS A REMINDER, OUR REVENUES HISTORICALLY INCREASED BY 2%, WHILE OUR BUDGET HISTORICALLY INCREASES BY 5%. PRESENTLY, WE ARE SITTING AT A RESERVE ESTIMATE OR PROJECTED RESERVE ESTIMATE OF 3.72%. AND THERE ON THE RIGHT YOU CAN SEE TO ACHIEVE A 6% RESERVE GOAL, WE WOULD NEED TO FIND AN ADDITIONAL $10 
          [04:30:06]
MILLION, AND AT 8% ANOTHER IT WOULD. WE NEED TO FIND ANOTHER 19 MILLION TO HIT THAT THOSE PERCENTAGES. AS WE CONTINUE BUILDING OUR FY 26 BUDGET. BESIDES THOSE ALREADY DISCUSSED, HERE ARE SEVERAL AREAS WE EXPECT WILL INFLUENCE OUR BUDGET FOR BOTH REVENUES AND EXPENSES. AS PART OF OUR PROCESS, WE ALSO LOOK AT OPTIONS WHERE WE CAN ACHIEVE SOME TEMPORARY SAVINGS. 
          NO SINGLE OPTION WILL PROVIDE A MAJOR SAVINGS ALONE. HOWEVER, SEVERAL OPTIONS MAY BE USED TOGETHER TO ARRIVE AT A BALANCED BUDGET. ON THIS SLIDE, YOU WILL SEE ACTIONS THAT THE COUNTY IS TAKEN IN PRIOR YEARS, DURING ECONOMIC DOWNTURNS AND HARDSHIPS. HOWEVER, OUR NEXT SLIDE WILL SHOWCASE SOME RECOMMENDATIONS THAT MAY HELP US REALIGN OUR EXPENDITURES WITH OUR REVENUES BASED ON OUR FINANCIAL POSITION AT THIS TIME. HERE ARE SOME OF THOSE MEASURES THAT WE BELIEVE WILL HELP THE COUNTY AS WE ENTER FY 26. AT THIS TIME, I WILL TURN IT OVER TO OUR CHIEF ADMINISTRATOR, BETSY KELLER, TO HELP US WRAP UP THIS PRESENTATION. THANK YOU, JESSICA, AND THANK YOU, GABY AND MELISSA. SO, COMMISSIONERS, I'VE BEEN TALKING TO YOU ALL INDIVIDUALLY ABOUT THE CUTS THAT WE'RE GOING TO NEED. WE'RE GOING TO BE ASKING DEPARTMENTS TO GO BACK TO THEIR FY 26 PROPOSED BUDGETS AND REQUEST A 5% REDUCTION IN THEIR OPERATING COST. THIS DOES NOT IMPACT PERSONNEL. THIS IS SPECIFICALLY IN THEIR OPERATING LINE ITEMS. HR IS ALSO WORKING ON UPDATING THE HIRING WAITING PERIOD. SO YOU'LL YOU SAW ON THAT SLIDE A FEW SLIDES BACK. OUR GOAL IS TO GET TO 10%, BUT TO GET TO AN 8%, IT LOOKS LIKE WE NEED TO REDUCE BY ABOUT 19.1 MILLION IN OUR BUDGET. SO TO DO THAT, WE THE THINGS THAT WE USED TO GO TO CUT, WE CUT LAST YEAR. SO WE CUT OUR CAPITAL LAST YEAR. WE CUT OUR ECONOMIC IMPACT FUND. WE CUT THAT $21 MILLION OUT LAST YEAR. WE DON'T HAVE THAT TO CUT AGAIN. AS A MATTER OF FACT, OUR GOAL IS TO EVENTUALLY RESTORE THAT. BUT UNTIL WE SEE SOME IMPROVEMENTS IN SALES TAX OR AN INCREASE IN PROPERTY TAX REVENUE, WE ARE LOOKING TO REDUCE OUR EXPENSES FURTHER. SO TO DO THAT, WE NEED, I THINK IF WE MOVE TOWARDS THE 8% GOAL, WE WILL PROBABLY END UP CLOSER TO OUR GOAL OF 10%. SO WE'RE LOOKING TO TRY TO FIND ABOUT $18 MILLION IN THE FY 26 BUDGET. TO DO THAT, WE ARE ASKING DEPARTMENTS FOR 5%, AND THEN HR WILL BE WORKING TO BRING BACK THEY THEY'VE SENT ME A DRAFT TODAY, ACTUALLY OVER THE WEEKEND. WE'RE WORKING ON BRINGING BACK OUR HIRING WAITING PERIOD. IT'S NOT A HARD HIRING FREEZE, BUT WE'RE ASKING FOR A LONGER WAITING PERIOD TO FILL VACANCIES. SO WE'RE UPDATING THAT POLICY. THOSE ARE THE THINGS THAT CAN HELP US BALANCE AND REACH TOWARDS OUR 10% OF RESERVE GOAL. THESE THOSE THINGS WILL HELP US AS WE MOVE FORWARD. 
          WE ALSO ARE WORKING ON SOME OTHER POLICIES THAT WE HAVE USED IN THE PAST TO HELP US AGAIN CONTROL OUR OUR BUDGET. SOME OF THOSE INCLUDE NOT ALLOWING DEPARTMENTS TO TRANSFER FROM ONE ITEM LINE ITEM TO ANOTHER, UNLESS THERE'S A MORE RIGOROUS PROCESS THAT SHOWS THAT IT'S AN ABSOLUTE NEED, NOT A WOULD LIKE TO DO THIS. AND SO THOSE ARE THOSE ARE SOME OF THE POLICIES WE'VE USED IN THE PAST THAT WE'LL BE BRINGING BACK FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION, TO HELP US HIT OUR FY 26 BUDGET. THE OTHER OPTION IS WE WILL BE GOING OVER WHAT ARE ALREADY THE TAX IMPACTS. AS YOU KNOW, VOTERS VOTED FOR AND APPROVED A 1.5 CENT TAX INCREASE ON THEMSELVES ALREADY THROUGH OUR GEO BOND. AND SO IF THE COURT DOES A NO NEW REVENUE ON THE NO. WE HAVE TO FIND THAT $18 MILLION IN REDUCTION. IF THE COURT IS NOT GOING TO DO NO NEW REVENUE, IF YOU'RE GOING TO CONSIDER SOMEWHERE BETWEEN NO NEW REVENUE AND VOTER APPROVED RATE, THAT WOULD HELP US OFFSET THAT $18 MILLION. SO WE'LL BE BRINGING BACK MORE INFORMATION ON WHAT THOSE TAX RATES LOOK LIKE AND WHAT THEY WOULD GENERATE. BUT WE'LL NEED SOME POLICY DIRECTION FROM THE COURT. SO THE 5% REDUCTION FROM OPERATIONS FROM DEPARTMENTS WILL ONLY GENERATE SOMEWHERE BETWEEN 2 TO $4 MILLION IN TOWARDS THAT 18 MILLION. WE'RE LOOKING FOR OTHER OPTIONS NOW. SO LAST YEAR THE TAX RATE WAS THE $0.45 IN TOTAL, AND WE REDUCED IT TO 42 THIS YEAR. YES, SIR. WITH BY ADOPTING THE NO NEW REVENUE. YEAH. WE ADOPTED THE NO NEW REVENUE RATE 
          [04:35:08]
AND. THE REASON WE DID THAT WAS TO MAKE ROOM FOR. THE INCREASE THAT WOULD COME ABOUT FROM THE. 
          THREE CEOS IN THE IN THE GEOS. I'M SORRY. THE, THE, THE CAPITAL, THE BONDS. AND SO. 
          EVEN, EVEN IF WE, WE GO TO SOMEWHERE BETWEEN WHERE THE NO NEW REVENUE RATE AND THE VOTER APPROVAL RATE IS, WE CAN STILL STAY BELOW THE 45 PENNIES THAT WE WERE AT LAST YEAR. AND WE SHOULD BE OKAY IF, IF WE IF THAT'S IF THAT IS THAT AN OPTION. IF YOU DID THAT I BELIEVE SO IF YOU IF YOU DID THAT, IF YOU WENT BACK UP TO ABOUT THE 45 CENT TAX RATE, I, I'M REALLY ROUGHLY I ESTIMATE THAT WOULD MAKE UP PROBABLY ABOUT 9 OR 10 MILLION OF THE 18 MILLION WE'RE TRYING TO FIND. OKAY. AND THEN WE WOULD ONLY HAVE TO ASK OUR WELL, WE'D STILL ASK OUR DEPARTMENTS PROBABLY FOR 5%, AND THAT WOULD BE. BUT WE'RE GOING THROUGH RIGHT NOW AND SCRUBBING. WHAT ELSE COULD WE TAKE MONEY FROM? YEAH. AND IT WORRIES ME TOO, THAT, YOU KNOW, WE EVERY YEAR THAT WE DON'T INCREASE THE MINIMUM WAGE, WE FALL FURTHER BEHIND AND WE ERASE ALL OF THE WORK THAT WE'VE DONE, OR AT LEAST I'VE DONE. AND OTHER AND OTHER MEMBERS OF THE COURT HAVE DONE IN THE PAST TO, TO OVER THE LAST TEN YEARS OR, YOU KNOW, EIGHT YEARS OR WHATEVER, TO, TO, TO BRING THAT BECAUSE NOW THE, YOU KNOW, LIVING WAGE IN EL PASO IS $17 AN HOUR. YES, SIR. AND WE'RE NOT EVEN AT 15. RIGHT. WE'RE AT 15 OR RIGHT AT 15. YOUR CONCERN JUST SLIPPING BACK. YEAH. IT'S WE'RE JUST WE'RE JUST RIGHT. THE GROUND THAT WE THE GROUND YOU GAINED. 
          YEAH. SO WE'LL CONTINUE TO WORK ON THOSE TAX RATES AND BRING THOSE BACK FOR A MORE SPECIFIC DISCUSSION ABOUT WHAT THEY WOULD DO AND WHAT THEY'RE LOOKING LIKE. BUT THOSE ARE THOSE ARE THE THINGS THAT WE'RE ABOUT TO ROLL OUT NOW TO DEPARTMENTS ASKING FOR A 5% OPERATIONAL REDUCTION, WHERE WE ACTUALLY HAVE A MEETING THIS WEDNESDAY WITH ELECTED OFFICIALS AND DEPARTMENT HEADS, AND PREPARING FOR A LONGER HIRING WAITING PERIOD. SO RIGHT NOW, WE HAVE A HIRING WAITING PERIOD THAT IF SOMEONE LEAVES, YOU HAVE TO WAIT UNTIL YOU'VE PAID OUT THEIR VACATION. YOU DON'T YOU CAN'T FILL THE POSITION IMMEDIATELY. BUT IN THIS PARTICULAR CASE, WE'RE LOOKING AT SOMEWHERE BETWEEN APPROXIMATELY A 16 WEEK HIRING WAITING PERIOD SO THAT WE CAN HAVE THOSE SAVINGS TO HELP SUPPLEMENT FUND BALANCE, AND THAT WE WOULD RECOMMEND THE COURT CONSIDER IMPLEMENTING SOONER RATHER THAN LATER, BECAUSE YOU'LL START SEEING THOSE SAVINGS TOWARDS YOUR FUND BALANCE SOONER. SO DEPARTMENTS WOULD STILL BE ABLE TO FILL. 
          THEY WOULD JUST HAVE TO WAIT TO FILL. AND HOW DOES THAT AFFECT PRODUCTIVITY AND LEVEL OF SERVICES? I MEAN, IT DOES. I THINK WE HAVE TO GAUGE THAT AGAINST POLITICAL EXPEDIENCY AS WELL. IT DOES. BUT YOU CAN'T MAINTAIN THE SAME. YOU CAN'T MAINTAIN THE SAME LEVEL OF REVENUE AND HAVE YOUR EXPENSES INCREASE AND, AND KEEP OPERATING AT THE SAME LEVEL. YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE TO BRING YOUR EXPENSES INTO ALIGNMENT, AND YOU CAN'T DELIVER THE SAME LEVEL OF SERVICE WITH LESS FUNDING. SO WE JUST WANTED TO MAKE THIS PRESENTATION AND MAKE THE COURT AWARE OF WHAT IT'S LOOKING LIKE. THIS IS ACTUALLY AN IMPROVEMENT FROM WHAT I SAW LAST WEEK. IT WAS ACTUALLY, I THINK THE CLOSER TO 23 MILLION. SO WE'RE WE'RE CONTINUING TO CHIP AWAY AND IDENTIFY INCREASES IN REVENUE. THE ONLY THING I WOULD SAY TO I GO BACK TO THE FEDERAL REVENUE, IT IS NOT SOMETHING WE CAN BANK ON. EVEN WITH THE INCREASED NEGOTIATIONS, BECAUSE OF THE BILLS THAT HAVE PASSED. AND I'VE BEEN LOOKING THROUGH ALL THE BILLS THAT HAVE PASSED. THERE'S GOING TO BE MORE STATE PRISONERS IN OUR JAILS, AND THERE'S EVEN OTHER ONES BESIDES SB NINE. 
          THERE'S OTHER ONES THAT ARE PUTTING MORE RESTRICTIONS AND OBLIGATIONS ON OUR JUDICIARY THAT WILL IMPACT OUR JAIL. SO THERE'S OTHER ONES THAT ARE SMALLER, LIKE LIKE SPECIFIC TO A CRIME OR BUT THOSE IT IS GOING TO IMPACT OUR JAIL. SO WE'RE NOT ALWAYS GOING TO HAVE THE BED 
          [04:40:04]
SPACE. SO THANK YOU ALL. AND ALSO MAYBE CAN WE ALSO LOOK AT. WHEN IS IT NO LONGER SUSTAINABLE TO NOT I MEAN TO STAY AT THE SAME TAX RATE. LIKE AT WHAT POINT ARE WE GOING TO DEPLETE OUR FUND BALANCE COMPLETELY? AT WHAT POINT ARE WE GOING TO HAVE TO START CUTTING POSITIONS? THIS, YOU KNOW, WHILE WE'RE GIVING RAISES TO CERTAIN PEOPLE, WE'RE CUTTING OTHER POSITIONS. 
          YOU KNOW, I MEAN, THERE NEEDS TO BE PUT ON, ON, ON, ON THE, ON THE, ON THE TABLE. ABSOLUTELY. 
          THIS YEAR TO MAKE THESE CUTS, I BELIEVE, I BELIEVE WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO DO EVERYTHING WE CAN TO MAKE THESE CUTS. I'VE TOLD THE TEAM I DON'T WANT I WANT TO DO EVERYTHING WE CAN TO AVOID FURLOUGHS OR REDUCTIONS IN FORCE. I THINK WE CAN DO THAT THIS YEAR. I THINK WE CAN BALANCE THIS BUDGET WITHOUT HAVING TO DO THAT. I THINK IF THINGS DON'T START PICKING UP IN GROWTH OF SALES TAX OR PROPERTY TAX REVENUE OR WE HAVE ENOUGH, WE FIND THAT WE'RE ABLE TO MOVE DETAINEES OUT OF THE JAIL MORE TIMELY SO THAT WE CAN FREE UP MORE BEDS. THOSE THOSE THREE FACTORS, IF SOMETHING DOESN'T CHANGE FOR THOSE THREE FACTORS, WE WILL NOT BE ABLE TO SUSTAIN. 
          WE WOULD NEXT YEAR. WE WOULD HAVE TO IMPACT PEOPLE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. OKAY, BEFORE WE GO INTO EXECUTIVE, WE'LL GO AHEAD AND TAKE THE ITEM THAT WAS PULLED FROM CONSENT. ITEM FOUR G PULLED BY COMMISSIONER OLGUIN. APPROVE AND AUTHORIZE THE COUNTY JUDGE TO SIGN THE REQUIRED ENVIRONMENTAL FORMS UNDER THE COLONIAL SELF-HELP CENTER GRANT PROGRAM WITH THE TEXAS 
          [G. Approve and authorize the County Judge to sign the required environmental forms under the Colonia Self-Help Center Grant Program with the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs (TDHCA), for the purpose of clearing expenses incurred under the Public Services category.  (8023-OP)
Irene Gutierrez, Executive Director, Community Services, 915-273-3485]
DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND COMMUNITY AFFAIRS FOR THE PURPOSE OF CLEARING EXPENSES INCURRED UNDER THE PUBLIC SERVICES CATEGORY. OPINION NUMBER 8026. I HAD SOME QUESTIONS. THIS IS THE ITEM THAT I PULLED. I'M NOT SURE IF IRENE IS GOING TO BE ABLE TO JOIN US. 
          OKAY, GREAT. HI, IRENE. HOW ARE YOU? GOOD. THANK YOU COMMISSIONER. SO THIS IS A GRANT THAT I KNOW. HAS EXPRESSED SOME CONCERN ABOUT US BEING ABLE TO PULL DOWN THE MONEY AND SOME DELAYS IN SOME OF THOSE EXPENDITURES. SO I JUST AND WE HAVE A MEETING COMING UP WITH THEM AT THE END OF THIS WEEK. BUT I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE I UNDERSTOOD A LITTLE BIT OF THE TIMELINE. IRENE. SO I KNOW I'M LOOKING AT THE DOCUMENT. SO I GUESS MY FIRST QUESTION IS THIS DOCUMENT. I'M NOT SURE IF THIS IS THE FIRST. I DON'T REMEMBER SEEING THIS DOCUMENT PREVIOUSLY, BUT THE CONTRACT PERIOD IS DECEMBER 30TH 1 TO 2023. SO I'M WONDERING WHAT THE DELAY IS IN IN THIS DOCUMENT THAT WE'RE SIGNING OFF ON TODAY. IT SEEMS THAT THIS IS SOMETHING THAT SHOULD HAVE PROBABLY BEEN DONE A LOT SOONER. I THINK I KNOW THAT WE HAVEN'T BEEN LISTING ANY EXPENDITURES ON OUR QUARTERLY REPORTS. IS THAT BECAUSE WE HADN'T EXECUTED THIS DOCUMENT? SO THOSE ARE SOME OF THE THINGS THAT I'M TRYING TO UNDERSTAND. YES, MA'AM. THAT'S CORRECT. SO THESE ACTIVITIES SO BECAUSE THIS IS A HUD FUNDED PASS THROUGH GRANT FROM THE FEDS TO THE STATE TO US, WE'RE REQUIRED TO DO ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEWS ON ALL THE PROJECTS AND THE ACTIVITIES THAT HAPPEN IN THIS CONTRACT. IRENE GUTIERREZ, BY THE WAY, FOR THE RECORD, WITH COMMUNITY SERVICES, I APOLOGIZE FOR THAT. SO WE ARE REQUIRED TO DO AN ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW OF ALL THE ACTIVITIES THAT HAPPEN UNDER THIS CONTRACT BECAUSE IT IS A CDBG FUNDED PROJECT. AND SO THERE ARE SEPARATE CATEGORIES FOR THESE ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEWS. THERE'S CONSTRUCTION ACTIVITIES THAT WE WILL BE DOING, WHICH IS REPAIRS, REHABS, MOBILE HOME REPLACEMENT PROJECTS THAT ARE CONSIDERED A CONSTRUCTION ACTIVITY. AND THEN THERE'S ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENSES WITHIN THE CONTRACT, WHICH ARE THESE ITEMS THAT ARE ON ON THIS AGENDA ITEM. AND THESE ARE UNDER A PUBLIC SERVICES CATEGORY UNDER THIS GRANT CONTRACT. THESE DO NOT THEY DON'T REQUIRE THE SAME LEVEL OF ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW AS THE OTHER CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS. AND SO THIS DOCUMENT, THESE DOCUMENTS ARE BEING SUBMITTED FOR YOUR APPROVAL AND CONSIDERATION SO THAT WE COULD GET THEM TO TDHCA FOR THEIR APPROVAL SO THAT WE CAN DRAW DOWN THESE FUNDS. AND THESE FUNDS ARE FOR EXPENSES IN OUR TOOL LENDING LIBRARY AND OUR TECHNOLOGY CENTER EXPENSES. AND SO THESE THESE ARE SEPARATE. WE CAN DRAW DOWN THESE FUNDS FOR THESE ACTIVITIES WHILE WE WAIT FOR THE CONSTRUCTION ACTIVITIES AND THAT ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW TO HAPPEN, WHICH TAKES A LITTLE BIT LONGER. SO I KNOW THAT THE CONSTRUCTION ACTIVITIES, THAT'S MORE OF THE MONEY I THINK TOTAL THAT'S LIKE 315,000 IS THE 
          [04:45:04]
RESIDENTIAL REHAB. AND THEN THE NOT FEASIBLE FOR REHAB, THAT'S 210. SO THAT'S THE MAJORITY. BUT EVEN IN OUR LAST QUARTERLY REPORT I MEAN WE DIDN'T EXPEND ANY FUNDS FOR THE PUBLIC SERVICE PROGRAMS EITHER. AND I GUESS THAT'S MY QUESTION IS THAT WE HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO EXPEND FUNDS BECAUSE WE DIDN'T HAVE THIS DOCUMENT EXECUTED BECAUSE WE HAVEN'T HAD. YES, MA'AM. 
          BECAUSE THIS ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW HADN'T HAPPENED YET. AND WE HAVEN'T SUBMITTED THIS FOR TDHCA REVIEW. AND SO THAT I GUESS THAT'S MY QUESTION, RIGHT? IF THE CONTRACT PERIOD STARTED DECEMBER 31ST OF 2023, WHY HAVEN'T WE DONE IT YET? WE'RE NOW IN. WE RECEIVED THE CONTRACT. I'M SORRY. NO, NO, NO, I WAS JUST GONNA SAY WE'RE JUST WE'RE IN JUNE 2025 NOW. CORRECT. 
          WE RECEIVED THE EXECUTED CONTRACT FROM TDHCA IN SEPTEMBER OF 2024, ALTHOUGH IT'S RETROACTIVE TO DECEMBER 2023, THERE WAS A NINE MONTH DELAY FROM THEM GETTING US THE CONTRACT. THEY BACKDATED IT TO DECEMBER 2023, BUT WE COULDN'T PERFORM OTHER THAN NON COUNTY EXPENDITURE ACTIVITIES LIKE OUTREACH ITEMS THAT THE COUNTY ALREADY PAYS OUR STAFF TO DO. WE WERE ABLE TO DO THOSE THINGS, BUT WE COULDN'T PERFORM ON AN ACTUAL ACTIVITY UNDER THIS CONTRACT BECAUSE WE DIDN'T HAVE AN EXECUTED CONTRACT. OUR AUDITOR'S OFFICE CANNOT SET UP EXPENDITURE ACCOUNTS WITHOUT THAT SIGNED CONTRACT. WE RECEIVED IT. IT TOOK US A MONTH TO GET IT VETTED HERE BEFORE COMMISSIONERS COURT IN THE COUNTY ATTORNEYS. THE JUDGE SIGNED IT WITHIN A 30 DAY PERIOD OF US RECEIVING THE CONTRACT FROM TDHCA, AND WE QUICKLY SENT IT TO TDHCA. THEY TOOK NINE MONTHS TO GET IT BACK TO US EXECUTED. ALTHOUGH THE CONTRACT SAYS THEY EXECUTED IT WITHIN 30 DAYS AS WELL. WE NEVER GOT IT BACK UNTIL SEPTEMBER OF LAST YEAR, AND UNTIL THEN WE COULD START DOING SOME ACTIONABLE ACTIVITIES, IF YOU WILL, ON THIS CONTRACT, WHICH THE FIRST THING WE HAD TO DO WAS HIRE A CONSULTANT TO START DOING THE ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW WITHOUT THAT APPROVED PROCESS, WHICH THE FORMS ARE HERE. PART OF THAT PROCESS IS, IS THESE FORMS WITHOUT THE CLEARANCE AND WITHOUT THE ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW, WE CANNOT EXPEND FUNDS. WE CANNOT DRAW DOWN FUNDS BECAUSE THEY HAVE TO RELEASE THOSE FUNDS. AFTER THE ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW IS COMPLETED. THIS ACTIVITY, THESE FORMS THAT ARE SUBMITTED FOR THIS PUBLIC SERVICE ACTIVITY CAN BE CLEARED BEFORE THE BIGGER ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW. WE HADN'T DONE THAT IN THE PAST. WE'VE NEVER DONE THAT. DURING A RECENT TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE MEETING THAT WE HAD WITH TDHCA, THEY ACTUALLY SUGGESTED, WHY DON'T YOU SEPARATE THIS AND SUBMIT THESE FORMS FIRST, SO THAT YOU CAN AT LEAST DRAW DOWN THE PUBLIC SERVICES ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENSES WHILE YOU WAIT FOR THE LARGER CONSTRUCTION ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW TO BE APPROVED, WHICH IS WHY WE'RE DOING THAT TODAY. WE HADN'T DONE THAT IN THE PAST. WE DIDN'T KNOW THAT WE COULD SEPARATE IT. WE THOUGHT THE ENTIRE ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW HAD TO BE SUBMITTED TOGETHER, AND THAT'S WHAT WE WERE DOING, EXCEPT WE WERE ADVISED BY OUR TDHCA PARTNERS THAT WE COULD SEPARATE THIS AND SUBMIT IT SO THAT WE COULD START DRAWING DOWN IRENE. I'M SORRY, COMMISSIONER. SO IF WE GOT THE APPROVAL IN SEPTEMBER ON THE CONTRACT, THAT'S WHEN, OF COURSE, WE HAVE TO RUN IT THROUGH THE PROCESS. THAT TAKES A LITTLE BIT OF TIME. BUT THEN WE WENT TO HIRE SOMEONE TO DO THE ENVIRONMENTAL. AT THAT POINT. YES, MA'AM. AND HOW LONG DOES THAT TAKE? I MEAN, HOW LONG DID IT TAKE THEM TO DO THIS ON THE TOOLS, AND HOW LONG WILL THE OTHER PART TAKE? SO THE OTHER PARTS ARE ALREADY IN THE END STAGE, AND WE'RE ACTUALLY GETTING READY TO PUT THAT, I THINK ON THE NINTH OR THE 16TH TO GET IT APPROVED, BUT IT HAS TAKEN ABOUT 4 TO 5 MONTHS FOR THE CONSULTANT TO FINISH THE ENTIRE ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW PROCESS. WELL, REALLY, IT'S BEEN LONGER THAN THAT. I MEAN, IF WE RECEIVE THE CONTRACT SEPTEMBER OF 2024, THAT'S TEN MONTHS AGO. BUT IN SEPTEMBER OF 2024, WE RECEIVED IT FROM THEM. WE HAD TO ROUTE IT THROUGH INTERNALLY. CORRECT. WE HAD TO ROUTE IT INTERNALLY, AND THEN WE HAD TO SOLICIT AND CONTRACT THE CONSULTANT. SO THAT TOOK A COUPLE OF MONTHS FOR US TO DO. THEN THE CONSULTANT GOT THEIR SCOPE OF WORK, THEIR NOTICE TO PROCEED TO START. THEN THEY STARTED THE REVIEW PROCESS. I WOULD SAY AROUND DECEMBER IS DECEMBER OF 2024. SO IT'S BEEN ABOUT NOW ABOUT 4 TO 5 MONTHS THAT THEY'VE TAKEN TO COMPLETE THIS ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW PROCESS. AND WHEN WILL WE BE ABLE TO DRAW DOWN THOSE FUNDS? BECAUSE THOSE ARE FUNDS THAT WE'RE GOING TO BE ABLE TO DRAW DOWN, RIGHT. ALL THE WORK THAT THE CONSULTANT HAS DONE AFTER THIS, THESE FORMS GET APPROVED. THEIR THEIR PAYMENT COMES FROM THIS ADMINISTRATIVE PROCESS, THIS PUBLIC SERVICES CATEGORY. SO WE'LL BE ABLE TO DRAW DOWN FROM FROM THAT. OKAY. SO DURING THE NEXT QUARTERLY REPORT WE'LL START SEEING DRAWDOWNS OF THESE FUNDS. BECAUSE THE JANUARY TO MARCH 1ST HAD ZERO MONEY DRAWN DOWN. CORRECT. WE CAN'T DRAW DOWN ANY FUNDS UNTIL THE ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW PROCESS IS APPROVED AND COMPLETED. AND 
          [04:50:01]
TDHCA HAS REVIEWED AND APPROVED THAT PROCESS. AND THEY RELEASED THOSE FUNDS. THEY CALL IT A WE HAVE TO SUBMIT A REQUEST FOR RELEASE OF FUNDS FROM THEM, THEY APPROVE IT, AND THEN WE'RE ABLE TO DRAW DOWN. SO THEN HOPEFULLY BY THE NEXT QUARTERLY REPORT, ONCE TDHCA RELEASES THE FUNDS, YOU'LL SEE SOME ACTIVITY IN THIS CATEGORY, THE PUBLIC SERVICES, BECAUSE THIS IS WHAT HOPEFULLY YOU WILL APPROVE TODAY THAT WE COULD SUBMIT THAT. AND THEN WE CAN START DRAWING DOWN THESE FUNDS, INCLUDING STAFF TIME THAT WE'VE ALREADY INCURRED IN THE COUNTY HAS PAID FOR THE CONSULTANT FEES. WE CAN START PURCHASING THE TOOLS FOR THE TOOL LENDING LIBRARY. WE CAN START PURCHASING ALL THE EQUIPMENT THAT WE NEED FOR OUR TECHNOLOGY CENTER. THOSE ARE THINGS THAT WE CAN START DOING AFTER THESE FORMS GET SUBMITTED AND APPROVED. AND THEN WE CAN DRAW DOWN THOSE FUNDS. AND THEN YOU SAID, WE'LL HAVE THE ENVIRONMENTAL FOR THE CONSTRUCTION PORTION WITHIN THE NEXT COUPLE OF WEEKS. SO THEN WE'LL BE ABLE TO START DRAWING DOWN THOSE FUNDS AS WELL. YES, MA'AM. ONCE WE GET THOSE RELEASES OF FUNDS AND WE START INCURRING ACTIVITIES FOR THOSE, WE CAN START EXPENSING AND DRAWING DOWN THOSE FUNDS. OKAY, GREAT. GREAT. BECAUSE IN THIS PARTICULAR GRANT WE'VE HAD UNUSED FUNDS THAT HAVE HAD TO BE RETURNED OR I DON'T KNOW IF RETURNED. IF WE GOT THEM UP FRONT, WE HAD TO RETURN THEM OR WE JUST NEVER DREW THEM DOWN. CORRECT. FOR THIS GRANT IN PRIOR YEARS IN A PREVIOUS CONTRACT, WE RECEIVED OUR ORIGINAL AWARD OF 700,000. WE SPENT THOSE FUNDS, BUT WE GOT AN ADDITIONAL AWARD OF 500,000 THAT WE COULDN'T SPEND DOWN ON. AND SO WE NEVER SPENT IT. SO WE NEVER GOT IT. 
          BUT IT'S CONSIDERED, I GUESS, OBLIGATED. BUT IT WAS AN ADDITIONAL AWARD THAT THEY GAVE US FROM LEFTOVER FUNDS FROM OTHER CONTRACTS. OKAY. SO THAT'S MY WORRY. I DON'T WANT TO FIND OURSELVES IN A SITUATION WHERE WE'RE NOT DRAWING FUNDS, AND FUNDS ARE BEING OBLIGATED. AND IT DID CONCERN ME WHEN I DIDN'T SEE ANY FUNDS HAD BEEN EXPENDED IN OUR LAST QUARTERLY REPORT. 
          AND I UNDERSTAND THE DELAYS IN THE CONTRACTS, AND HOPEFULLY THOSE DELAYS ARE BEHIND US NOW THAT THE ENVIRONMENTAL IS BEING COMPLETED. BUT I'D LIKE TO SEE THE QUARTERLY REPORTS. COULD WE GET THOSE PLACED ON THE CONSENT AGENDA SO THAT WE CAN KEEP EVERY QUARTER, WE SEE HOW MUCH IS BEING EXPENDED AND DRAWN DOWN, JUST SO THAT WE CAN KEEP ON TOP OF IT. SURE, WE'LL BE ABLE TO SUBMIT THOSE QUARTERLY REPORTS TO THE COURT ON CONSENT IF YOU WISH. I'LL ALSO INCLUDE THEM IN YOUR WEEKLY ONE OF YOUR WEEKLY HIGHLIGHTS THAT BESSIE SUBMITS. I'LL I'LL INCLUDE THOSE QUARTERLY REPORTS SO THE COURT CAN SEE THE PROGRESS. GREAT. WONDERFUL. THANK YOU, THANK YOU. 
          YES, MA'AM. THANK YOU. WE HAVE A MOTION BY COMMISSIONER OLGUIN TO APPROVE. THERE A SECOND. SECOND, SECOND. MINES FROZEN. IT'S FROZEN. OKAY. SECOND. THANK YOU. SECOND BY JUDGE SAMANIEGO. 
          MOTION CARRIES. OKAY, BEFORE WE GO INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION, THERE ARE A COUPLE ITEMS THAT WILL BE POSTPONED AND DELETED. ITEM 15 B, PURSUANT TO TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE SECTION 551.071, RECEIVE LEGAL ADVICE AND CONSULTATION REGARDING THE PELLICANO DRIVE WIDENING PROJECT. COUNTY ATTORNEY'S FILE NUMBER 017823 A, ALONG WITH ITS REGULAR SESSION CORRESPONDING ITEM 16 A DISCUSS AND TAKE APPROPRIATE ACTION IN THE PENDING MATTER AND RECEIVE LEGAL ADVICE AND CONSULTATION REGARDING THE PELLICANO DRIVE WIDENING PROJECT. COUNTY ATTORNEY'S FILE NUMBER 0178238. 
          CAN WE HAVE A MOTION TO POSTPONE THESE TWO ITEMS FOR ONE WEEK? WE'RE NOT VOTING IN EXECUTIVE SESSION, SO. AND THAT'S TO POSTPONE, RIGHT. NOT TO DELETE. YEAH. JUST TO POSTPONE FOR ONE WEEK 15 B AND 16 A CAN WE HAVE A MOTION BY COMMISSIONER OLGUIN. IS THERE A SECOND, SECOND COMMISSIONER STOUTE THANK YOU. THE VOTING IS OPEN. SO THAT'S 15 B AND 16 A. YES. CORRECT. 15 B AND 16 A OKAY. THE PELLICANO STUFF OKAY. COMMISSIONER STOUTE, YOUR VOTE. YES. THANK YOU. 
          MOTION CARRIES. AND ITEM 15 C PURSUANT TO TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE SECTIONS 55 1.071 AND 55 1.0725 DISCUSS LEGAL RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES PERTAINING TO RFP 25002 FIXED ROUTE ADA PARATRANSIT AND DIAL A RIDE TRANSIT SERVICES AND CONTRACT NEGOTIATIONS PERTAINING TO A SUN METRO INTERLOCAL PROPOSAL FOR FIXED ROUTE SERVICES. CAN WE HAVE A MOTION TO DELETE THIS 
          [04:55:05]
ITEM? MOTION TO DELETE BY COMMISSIONER. SECOND BY JUDGE SAMANIEGO. THE VOTING IS OPEN. I VOTE. I THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER. OH I'M SORRY. THANK YOU. MOTION CARRIES. COMMISSIONERS COURT. 
          WE'LL NOW RECESS INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION TO DISCUSS ITEMS 15 A AND D, AS WELL AS 17 A AND 17 B PURSUANT TO TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE SECTION 55 1.07155, 1.0725 AND 551.087 COMMISSIONERS COURT WILL RECONVENE TO TAKE OFFICIAL ACTION. IT IS 2:25 P.M. 
          [05:01:38]
DO YOU LIKE THIS LITTLE PARK RIGHT HERE AT ASCARATE PARK? YES, YES. ALL RIGHT. AND I UNDERSTAND WE'RE GOING TO MEET YOUR MOM. IS THAT RIGHT? AND SHE'S KIND OF IMPORTANT IN THE COUNTY, ISN'T THAT CORRECT? SO SHE BRINGS YOU OUT HERE A LOT? NO, NOT ALL THE TIME. NOT NEARLY ENOUGH, MOM. WELL, WE'LL TALK TO HER ABOUT THAT. NOW, IF YOU HAVEN'T BEEN OUT TO A PARK IN A WHILE, YOU. WELL, I KNOW, SHOW ME AROUND IF YOU HAVEN'T. THERE'S A THERE'S AN ALL INCLUSIVE PARK RIGHT HERE. FOR KIDS. THAT MEANS THAT KIDS OF EVERY ABILITY, EVERY TASTE CAN COME AND HAVE A FANTASTIC TIME. I THINK THE BEST PART ABOUT THIS LITTLE PARK RIGHT HERE IS, OF COURSE, ALL THE EQUIPMENT IS BRAND NEW AND IT HAS SWINGS, IT HAS THINGS TO CLIMB ON, IT HAS ANYTHING THAT MAKES NOISE. YEAH, I'M WE'RE GOING THERE NEXT. AND I THINK YOU KNOW WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT. I'M NOT SURE WHAT THAT IS RIGHT THERE, BUT IT'S A LOT OF FUN. A LOT OF FUN. I'VE SEEN THAT. THEY'VE ALSO CHANGED ASKARI PARK A LOT BECAUSE THEY'VE ADDED BASEBALL FIELDS. 
          DO YOU GUYS PLAY BASEBALL? YES. WHO PLAYS BASEBALL? DIEGO DOES WHAT LUCAS. YOU DO TOO. YEAH. 
          ALL RIGHT I LOVE THAT'S MY. IT'S MY FAVORITE SPORT IN THE WORLD. MY KIDS WHEN THEY WERE YOUR AGE USED TO PLAY THAT TOO. NOW JOINING ME NOW IS THE MOM OF THOSE TWO ADORABLE KIDS THAT YOU JUST SAW, DESIREE GONZALEZ. NICE TO SEE YOU. NICE TO SEE YOU. WOW. IT'S SO BEAUTIFUL OUT HERE. 
          IT IS. DOES THIS GET PACKED DURING THE WEEKENDS AND STUFF LIKE THAT? YEAH. YOU KNOW, ESPECIALLY RIGHT NOW IT'S GETTING WARMER AND THE NIGHTS. BEAUTIFUL PARK OUT HERE IT IS. 
          SO. AND THE IMPROVEMENTS ARE JUST BEGINNING. YES I UNDERSTAND WE'RE GOING TO SEE SOME PICKLEBALL COURTS. YES. OKAY. WHERE ARE YOUR SONS. BECAUSE I LIKE TO MAKE NOISE. OKAY. YOU WANT TO GRAB ONE HERE. COME ON, COME ON LUCAS, GRAB ONE. DON'T BE SHY. EVER. OH, YOU WANT MINE? OKAY. GO AHEAD. ARE WE READY? WELL, YOU CAN'T HAVE THEM BOTH. YOU CAN'T HAVE THEM BOTH. THAT'S YOU CRAZY KIDS TODAY THINKING THAT YOU GET THEM ALL. OKAY, DON'T GO ANYWHERE. YOU STAY WITH KTSM NINE NEWS. 
          [05:05:34]
THANK YOU FOR TUNING IN TO KTSM NINE NEWS AT SIX SMALL TOWN SPOTLIGHT. I'M ANDY MORGAN AND I'M MONICA CORTEZ. SO WE ARE COMING TO YOU LIVE FROM THE CLUBHOUSE HERE IN ASCARATE PARK. 
          THAT IS REALLY CLOSE TO THAT. LOOKING AT THE GOLF COURSE THIS ENTIRE TIME, AND IT LOOKS REALLY PRETTY. BUT I WILL TELL YOU THIS, WHEN WE CAME OUT HERE TO RECORD SOME OF THE STORIES, SOME OF THE COMPLAINTS, IF YOU WILL, FROM SOME OF THE PATRONS HERE WERE, HEY, I WANT TO SEE RENOVATIONS COMING INTO THIS PART OF THE AREA. AND OF COURSE, THAT WAS SOMETHING THAT VOTERS PASSED AND APPROVED IN TERMS OF SOME OF THOSE GO BONDS THAT YOU SAW ON THE BALLOT IN NOVEMBER. 
          SOME UPGRADES ARE COMING HERE TO ASCOT PARK. WE'RE GOING TO COVER SOME OF THAT, BUT A LOT TO DO HERE AT ASCOT PARK, THAT'S FOR SURE. WHETHER YOU'RE ON THE LAKE OR BOATING, YOU'RE FISHING, WHETHER YOU'RE HERE AT THE GOLF COURSE, WHETHER YOU'RE PLAYING PICKLEBALL. I KNOW YOU GOT TO EXPERIENCE THAT FOR THE FIRST TIME, WHICH IS EXCITING. AS WELL AS THE FAMILY AQUATIC CENTER IS ALWAYS A FAVORITE. ABSOLUTELY. SO I GOT A CHANCE TO SPEAK WITH COUNTY OFFICIALS ABOUT THE RENOVATIONS AND SOME OF THE AMENITIES HERE AT THE PARK. TAKE A LOOK AT WHAT THEY HAD TO SAY. 
          THE PARK WAS COMPLETED IN 1940. 48 ACRE LAKE WITH A LAKESIDE BOARDWALK, PICNIC AREAS, A GOLF COURSE AND PLAYGROUNDS. AND NEARLY A CENTURY LATER, WHILE SOME FEATURES AND ATTRACTIONS HAVE CHANGED, THE PARK'S ORIGINAL DESIGN AND INTENT HASN'T. BEGINNING IN THE MID 1850S, ALL THE UNITED STATES LARGER CITIES WERE DESIGNING WHAT THEY CALLED PASSIVE PARKS. 
          IT WAS PLACES WHERE YOU COULD GO, YOU COULD WALK, YOU COULD POSSIBLY RIDE A HORSE. YOU COULD PLAY SPORTS. THE INTENT WAS MULTIPLE USE. AND OBVIOUSLY THAT'S WHAT YOU SEE HERE. NOW BACK IN 2021, EL PASO COUNTY ADOPTED A MASTER PLAN FOR ITS PARKS, ASKING THE COMMUNITY TO SHARE THEIR VIEWS ON WHAT PARKS NEEDED, PROVIDING A BLUEPRINT FOR WORK TO BEGIN LOOKING AT AMENITIES THAT WE WILL ADD IN THE FUTURE. NEW AND IMPROVED PICNIC AREAS, THE WALKING AREAS, PLANTING MORE TREES. I THINK WE PLANTED JUST IN THE PAST TWO YEARS. WE PLANTED ABOUT 150 TREES. OVER THE YEARS, ATTRACTIONS HAVE COME AND GONE. RACETRACKS AND DRAG BOATS, RAVES AND FISHING TOURNAMENTS AND OF COURSE, THE CHILDHOOD ICON. MANY EL PASOANS STILL ASSOCIATE WITH THE SPRAWLING PARK, ALONG WITH THE AGE OLD QUESTION WHAT WOULD YOU DO TO GO TO WESTERN PLAYLAND? THE AMUSEMENT PARK'S FORMER FOOTPRINT HAS BEEN UPGRADED, MAKING WAY FOR MORE AND DIFFERENT ATTRACTIONS. WE ARE GOING TO BE REDOING THE AREA RIGHT OVER HERE WHERE WESTERN PLAYLAND USED TO BE. WE'RE CREATING A FESTIVAL AREA. WE'RE GOING TO BE PUTTING IN UNDERGROUND ELECTRIC SO THAT WE CAN BRING IN DIFFERENT SHOWS AND DIFFERENT PROGRAMING. AS FOR THE LAKE, THE UPKEEP AND MAINTENANCE IS JUST THE START. PREVIOUSLY, COUNTY OFFICIALS MENTIONED THEY WOULD HAVE TO DRAIN THE LAKE TO CLEAN IT, BUT COMMISSIONER DAVID STOUT SAYS THEY MAY HAVE FOUND A BETTER OPTION. THERE'S A CLAY LINER AT THE BOTTOM OF THE LAKE, BUT WE'VE FOUND OUT THROUGH ANALYSIS THAT THE LINER IS IN GOOD SHAPE. IT'S INTACT. WE'RE LOOKING AT POSSIBLY DOING NOW IS JUST DREDGING THE LAKE AND CLEANING SOME OF THE GUNK OUT OF THERE. I DON'T THINK WE'RE GOING TO NEED TO DRAIN THE LAKE IN THE END. WHAT MAKES THIS PARK AND THE LAKE SUCH AN IMPORTANT PIECE OF THE SUN? CITY'S TAPESTRY ISN'T NECESSARILY THE AMENITIES, BUT RATHER THE LOCATION. YOU HAVE THE FRANKLIN MOUNTAINS, YOU HAVE THE JUAREZ MOUNTAINS. YOU CAN LOOK AND YOU JUST SEE WHAT A GREAT PLACE WE ARE. I MEAN, IT'S THE COMING TOGETHER OF TWO COUNTRIES, THREE STATES, AND IT'S RIGHT HERE. AND THAT'S PRETTY UNIQUE IN THE WORLD IF YOU THINK ABOUT IT. 
          [05:11:02]
ENJOY THE NATURE. HAVE SOME FUN. LEONARDO IS AN OUTDOOR ENTHUSIAST, AND THE HIKING BIKE TRAIL THAT'S RIGHT AT THE ENTRANCE TO ASCARATE PARK IS HIS NEW FAVORITE SPOT. WE JUST BIKE ALONG THIS TRAIL SOMETIMES. GO ALONG THE PARK. THE PLAYA DRAIN TRAIL IS A UNIQUE TRAIL STRETCHING ALMOST SEVEN PICTURESQUE MILES FROM ESCALANTE PARK ALL THE WAY TO CAPISTRANO PARK IN THE LOWER VALLEY. IT'S PART OF THIS LINEAR PARK PROGRAM THAT THE COUNTY AND THE CITY AND THE PASO DEL NORTE HEALTH FOUNDATION HAVE BEEN WORKING ON, COMMISSIONER DAVID STOUT SAYS THE TRAIL IS ONLY A SMALL PART OF A MUCH BIGGER PROJECT, A 75 MILE COUNTYWIDE TRAIL, TO BE EXACT. THE IDEA IS TO IS TO BUILD A LINEAR PARK OR HIKING BIKE TRAIL THAT SPANS BASICALLY FROM THE BORDER WITH DONA ANA COUNTY IN NEW MEXICO TO THE BORDER WITH HUDSPETH COUNTY ON THE EASTERN SIDE OF EL PASO COUNTY. THE PASO DEL NORTE TRAIL, WHICH BROKE GROUND IN 2018, AIMED AT DEVELOPING A COUNTYWIDE TRAIL, IS NOW PROMOTING HEALTHY LIVING FOR COMMUNITY MEMBERS. WHEN IT'S NOT SO SUNNY, WE'LL COME HERE TO LIKE JUST GO ON THE BIKES. WHILE THE PROJECT ISN'T COMPLETE, THE TRAILS THAT ARE OPEN ARE METHODICALLY BEING CONNECTED. 
          PIECES OF TRANQUIL TRAILS CONNECTING NEIGHBORHOODS THROUGHOUT COUNTY, SOMETHING STOUT SAYS IS VERY IMPORTANT FOR THE COMMUNITY. YOU KNOW, THE MORE OPPORTUNITIES THAT PEOPLE HAVE, I THINK THE HEALTHIER OUR COMMUNITY IS GOING TO BE. LEONARDO AGREES. THE WINDING TRAILS, NOT ONLY STITCHING THE COUNTY TOGETHER, BUT BRINGING HIS FAMILY CLOSER AS WELL BECAUSE IT MAKES US STRONGER BOND RATHER THAN JUST BEING THERE AT HOME. A COOL VISION FOR THIS TRAIL. JOINING US NOW IS TIM FULTON, THE DIRECTOR OF PARKS AND RECREATION. TIM, THANKS SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE WITH US. THANK YOU. YEAH. YOU KNOW, AND TIM, WE KIND OF TALKED A LITTLE BIT ABOUT IT AT THE BEGINNING OF THE SHOW. AND THAT WAS, YOU KNOW, OUR VIEWERS, OUR AUDIENCE ARE VERY INVESTED IN ASCARATE. THEY WERE ASKING ABOUT THE LAKE WHEN WE'RE CLEANING THAT. BUT MOST IMPORTANTLY, THEY WERE TALKING ABOUT GOLF COURSES HERE. TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE MAINTENANCE OF IT. SURE. WELL, IT'S A LOT OF MAINTENANCE, AS EVERYONE KNOWS. I MEAN, IT TAKES A LOT OF WATER TO KEEP A GOLF COURSE GREEN, AND THAT'S OUR EXPECTATION. BUT RECENTLY WE HIRED A NEW GOLF COURSE. SUPERINTENDENT BRAD WEISS AND BRAD'S COME IN WITH A TON OF EXPERIENCE. I MEAN, LOTS AND LOTS OF YEARS OF EXPERIENCE. AND ONE OF THE THINGS BRAD IS DOING, HE'S REALLY TRYING TO GET OUR GREENS UP TO PRIMO CONDITION. WE ALSO ARE LOOKING AT OUR FAIRWAYS. WE WERE REQUIRED SOME DIFFERENT MAINTENANCE. OUR FAIRWAYS HAD LOTS OF WEEDS. SO WE WANT TO ADDRESS THAT. THE OTHER THING WE'RE LOOKING AT HOW DO WE MANAGE OUR WATER. SO SOME OF THE THINGS WE'RE DOING IS WE'RE APPLYING PRODUCT TO OUR FAIRWAYS OR GREENS, WHICH WILL HELP THE SOIL ABSORB THAT WATER AND HOLD IT IN BETTER, SO THAT WE HOPEFULLY ARE GOING TO REDUCE THE AMOUNT OF WATER WE'RE USING ON OUR COURSES AND CUT OUR COSTS DOWN MORE, AND AT THE SAME TIME IMPROVE THAT MAINTENANCE. CERTAINLY A LOT TO MANAGE A GOLF COURSE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE DESERT. ALSO A LOT TO MANAGE. YOU GUYS HAVE HAD A GREAT RESPONSE. IT SEEMS LIKE FROM YOUR YOUTH LEAGUES AND PLAYING KIDS PLAYING SPORTS HERE AT ASCOT PARK, BUT IN TURN ALSO A LOT OF WEAR AND TEAR ON SOME OF THOSE YOUTH LEAGUE FIELDS. YEAH, YOU KNOW, IT'S GREAT TO SEE BECAUSE OVER AND OVER WE HEAR HOW MUCH TIME OUR KIDS SPEND IN FRONT OF OUR SCREENS. BUT LET ME TELL YOU, THE KIDDOS OUT AT OUR SPORTS PARK, THEY'RE OUT THERE INTERACTING WITH EACH OTHER. 
          THEY'RE LEARNING BASEBALL. AND I MEAN, THAT'S FROM AGES FOUR AND UNDER, ALL THE WAY UP TO OUR 12, ALMOST 13 YEAR OLDS. AND THE GROWTH IS TREMENDOUS LAST YEAR FOR OUR SUMMER LEAGUE, WHICH IS USUALLY OUR OUR SHORTER LEAGUE, WE WERE AT 150. I THINK WE'RE GOING TO HIT 250 TEAMS. THAT'S NOT PLAYERS, TEAMS. SO WE'RE BUSTING AT THE SEAMS AT THE SPORTS PARK. WE'RE TRYING TO ACCOMMODATE THIS GROWTH AND IT'S A BIG CHALLENGE. THE OTHER THING WE'RE DOING, WE GOT KUDOS ABOUT 
          [05:15:05]
HOW WELL WE MAINTAIN OUR SPORTS PARK, BUT THEY WANT TO SEE OUR FIELDS HERE IN THE SKY AT THAT SAME LEVEL. SO BEN VALLEZ, WHO'S OUR MAINTENANCE MANAGER, HIS TEAM AND HIM ARE WORKING TO IMPROVE OUR DIAMOND FIELDS. AND I THINK IF YOU TAKE A DRIVE AROUND, YOU SEE THEY'RE LOOKING BETTER AND BETTER THIS SEASON. ALSO, OUR FOCUS THIS YEAR IS GOING TO BE ON OUR FLAT FIELDS. 
          WE'VE GOT SOCCER PROGRAMS, WE'VE GOT AN INCREDIBLY LARGE YOUTH TACKLE AND TOUCH FOOTBALL PROGRAM THAT A PRIVATE ORGANIZATION RUNS HERE IN THE PARK. AND ANY GIVEN SATURDAY MORNING, THE PARK IS JUST HOPPING WITH LOTS OF ACTIVITY. 
          [05:23:29]
DO YOU LIKE THIS LITTLE PARK RIGHT HERE AT ESCADA PARK? YES. ALL RIGHT. AND I UNDERSTAND WE'RE GOING TO MEET YOUR MOM. IS THAT RIGHT? AND SHE'S KIND OF IMPORTANT IN THE COUNTY, ISN'T THAT CORRECT? SO SHE BRINGS &OU OUT HERE A LOT? NO, NOT ALL THE TIME. NOT NEARLY ENOUGH, MOM. 
          WELL, WE'LL TALK TO HER ABOUT THAT. NOW, IF YOU HAVEN'T BEEN OUT TO A PARK IN A WHILE, YOU. 
          WELL, I KNOW, SHOW ME AROUND IF YOU HAVEN'T. THERE'S A THERE'S AN ALL INCLUSIVE PARK RIGHT HERE. FOR KIDS. THAT MEANS THAT KIDS OF EVERY ABILITY, EVERY TASTE CAN COME AND HAVE A FANTASTIC TIME. I THINK THE BEST PART ABOUT THIS LITTLE PARK RIGHT HERE IS, OF COURSE, ALL THE EQUIPMENT IS BRAND NEW AND IT HAS SWINGS. IT HAS THINGS TO CLIMB ON, IT HAS ANYTHING THAT MAKES NOISE. YEAH, WE'RE GOING THERE NEXT. AND I THINK YOU KNOW WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT. I'M NOT SURE WHAT THAT IS RIGHT THERE, BUT IT'S A LOT OF FUN. A LOT OF FUN. I'VE SEEN THAT. THEY'VE ALSO CHANGED A PARK A LOT BECAUSE THEY'VE ADDED BASEBALL FIELDS. DO YOU GUYS PLAY BASEBALL? YES. WHO PLAYS BASEBALL? DIEGO DOES WHAT LUCAS. YOU DO TOO. YEAH. ALL RIGHT, I LOVE IT. IT'S MY. IT'S MY FAVORITE SPORT IN THE WORLD. MY KIDS, WHEN THEY WERE YOUR AGE, USED TO PLAY THAT TOO. NOW JOINING ME NOW IS THE MOM OF THOSE TWO ADORABLE KIDS THAT YOU JUST SAW, DESIREE GONZALEZ. NICE TO SEE YOU. NICE TO SEE YOU. WOW, IT'S SO BEAUTIFUL OUT HERE. 
          IT IS. DOES THIS GET PACKED DURING THE WEEKENDS AND STUFF LIKE THAT? YEAH. YOU KNOW, 
          [05:25:03]
ESPECIALLY RIGHT NOW, IT'S GETTING WARMER. AND THE NIGHTS BEAUTIFUL PARK OUT HERE IT IS. 
          SO. AND THE IMPROVEMENTS ARE JUST BEGINNING. YES I UNDERSTAND WE'RE GOING TO SEE SOME PICKLEBALL COURTS. YES. OKAY. WHERE ARE YOUR SONS. BECAUSE I LIKE TO MAKE NOISE. OKAY. YOU WANT TO GRAB ONE HERE? COME ON, COME ON, LUCAS, GRAB ONE. DON'T BE SHY. EVER. OH, YOU WANT MINE? OKAY. GO AHEAD. ARE WE READY? WELL, YOU CAN'T HAVE THEM BOTH. YOU CAN'T HAVE THEM BOTH. THAT'S YOU CRAZY KIDS TODAY THINKING THAT YOU GET THEM ALL. OKAY, DON'T GO ANYWHERE. YOU STAY WITH KTSM NINE NEWS. 
          THANK YOU FOR TUNING IN TO KTSM NINE NEWS AT SIX SMALL TOWN SPOTLIGHT. I'M ANDY MORGAN AND I'M MONICA CORTEZ. SO WE ARE COMING TO YOU LIVE FROM THE CLUBHOUSE HERE IN ASCARATE PARK. 
          THAT IS REALLY CLOSE TO THAT. LOOKING AT THE GOLF COURSE THIS ENTIRE TIME, AND IT LOOKS REALLY PRETTY. BUT I WILL TELL YOU THIS, WHEN WE CAME OUT HERE TO RECORD SOME OF THE STORIES, SOME OF THE COMPLAINTS, IF YOU WILL, FROM SOME OF THE PATRONS HERE WERE, HEY, I WANT TO SEE RENOVATIONS COMING INTO THIS PART OF THE AREA. AND OF COURSE, THAT WAS SOMETHING THAT VOTERS PASSED AND APPROVED IN TERMS OF SOME OF THOSE GO BONDS THAT YOU SAW ON THE BALLOT IN NOVEMBER. 
          SOME UPGRADES ARE COMING HERE TO ASCOT PARK. WE'RE GOING TO COVER SOME OF THAT, BUT A LOT TO DO HERE AT ASCARATE PARK, THAT'S FOR SURE. WHETHER YOU'RE ON THE LAKE, YOU'RE BOATING, YOU'RE FISHING, WHETHER YOU'RE HERE AT THE GOLF COURSE, WHETHER YOU'RE PLAYING PICKLEBALL. I KNOW YOU GOT TO EXPERIENCE THAT FOR THE FIRST TIME, WHICH IS EXCITING. AS WELL AS THE FAMILY AQUATIC CENTER IS ALWAYS A FAVORITE. ABSOLUTELY. SO I GOT A CHANCE TO SPEAK WITH COUNTY OFFICIALS ABOUT THE RENOVATIONS AND SOME OF THE AMENITIES HERE AT THE PARK. TAKE A LOOK AT WHAT THEY HAD TO SAY. THE PARK WAS COMPLETED IN 1940. 48 ACRE LAKE WITH A LAKESIDE BOARDWALK, PICNIC AREAS, A GOLF COURSE AND PLAYGROUNDS. AND NEARLY A CENTURY LATER, WHILE SOME FEATURES AND ATTRACTIONS HAVE CHANGED, THE PARK'S ORIGINAL DESIGN AND INTENT HASN'T. 
          BEGINNING IN THE MID 1850S, ALL OF THE UNITED STATES LARGER CITIES WERE DESIGNING WHAT THEY CALLED PASSIVE PARKS. IT WAS PLACES WHERE YOU COULD GO, YOU COULD WALK, YOU COULD POSSIBLY RIDE A HORSE. YOU COULD PLAY SPORTS. THE INTENT WAS MULTIPLE USE. AND OBVIOUSLY THAT'S WHAT YOU SEE HERE. NOW, BACK IN 2021, EL PASO COUNTY ADOPTED A MASTER PLAN FOR ITS PARKS, ASKING THE COMMUNITY TO SHARE THEIR VIEWS ON WHAT PARKS NEEDED, PROVIDING A BLUEPRINT FOR WORK TO BEGIN LOOKING AT AMENITIES THAT WE WILL ADD IN THE FUTURE. NEW AND IMPROVED PICNIC AREAS. THE WALKING AREAS. PLANTING MORE TREES. I THINK WE PLANTED JUST IN THE PAST TWO YEARS. WE PLANTED ABOUT 150 TREES. OVER THE YEARS, ATTRACTIONS HAVE COME AND GONE. RACETRACKS AND DRAG BOATS, RAVES AND FISHING TOURNAMENTS AND OF COURSE, THE CHILDHOOD ICON. MANY EL PASOANS STILL ASSOCIATE WITH THE SPRAWLING PARK, ALONG WITH THE AGE OLD QUESTION WHAT WOULD YOU DO TO GO TO WESTERN PLAYLAND? THE AMUSEMENT PARK'S FORMER FOOTPRINT HAS BEEN UPGRADED, MAKING WAY FOR MORE AND DIFFERENT ATTRACTIONS. WE ARE GOING TO BE REDOING THE AREA RIGHT OVER HERE WHERE WESTERN PLAYLAND USED TO BE. WE'RE CREATING A FESTIVAL AREA. WE'RE 
          [05:30:05]
GOING TO BE PUTTING IN UNDERGROUND ELECTRIC SO THAT WE CAN BRING IN DIFFERENT SHOWS AND DIFFERENT PROGRAMING. AS FOR THE LAKE, THE UPKEEP AND MAINTENANCE IS JUST THE START. PREVIOUSLY, COUNTY OFFICIALS MENTIONED THEY WOULD HAVE TO DRAIN THE LAKE TO CLEAN IT, BUT COMMISSIONER DAVID STOUT SAYS THEY MAY HAVE FOUND A BETTER OPTION. THERE'S A CLAY LINER AT THE BOTTOM OF THE LAKE, BUT WE'VE FOUND OUT THROUGH ANALYSIS THAT THE LINER IS IN GOOD SHAPE. IT'S INTACT. WE'RE LOOKING AT POSSIBLY DOING NOW IS JUST DREDGING THE LAKE AND CLEANING SOME OF THE GUNK OUT OF THERE. I DON'T THINK WE'RE GOING TO NEED TO DRAIN THE LAKE IN THE END. WHAT MAKES THIS PARK AND THE LAKE SUCH AN IMPORTANT PIECE OF THE SUN? CITY'S TAPESTRY ISN'T NECESSARILY THE AMENITIES, BUT RATHER THE LOCATION. YOU HAVE THE FRANKLIN MOUNTAINS, YOU HAVE THE JUAREZ MOUNTAINS. YOU CAN LOOK AND YOU JUST SEE WHAT A GREAT PLACE WE ARE. I MEAN, IT'S THE COMING TOGETHER OF TWO COUNTRIES, THREE STATES, AND IT'S RIGHT HERE. AND THAT'S PRETTY UNIQUE IN THE WORLD IF YOU THINK ABOUT IT. 
          ENJOY THE NATURE. HAVE SOME FUN. LEONARDO IS AN OUTDOOR ENTHUSIAST, AND THE HIKING BIKE TRAIL THAT'S RIGHT AT THE ENTRANCE TO ASCARATE PARK IS HIS NEW FAVORITE SPOT. WE'LL JUST BIKE ALONG THIS TRAIL SOMETIMES. GO ALONG THE PARK. THE PLAYA DRAIN TRAIL IS A UNIQUE TRAIL STRETCHING ALMOST SEVEN PICTURESQUE MILES FROM OSCAR AT THE PARK, ALL THE WAY TO CAPISTRANO PARK IN THE LOWER VALLEY. IT'S PART OF THIS LINEAR PARK PROGRAM THAT THE COUNTY AND THE CITY AND THE PASO DEL NORTE HEALTH FOUNDATION HAVE BEEN WORKING ON, COMMISSIONER DAVID STOUT SAYS THE TRAIL IS ONLY A SMALL PART OF A MUCH BIGGER PROJECT, A 75 MILE COUNTYWIDE TRAIL, TO BE EXACT. THE IDEA IS TO IS TO BUILD A LINEAR PARK OR HIKING BIKE TRAIL THAT SPANS BASICALLY FROM THE BORDER WITH DONA ANA COUNTY IN NEW MEXICO TO THE BORDER WITH HUDSPETH COUNTY ON THE EASTERN SIDE OF EL PASO COUNTY. THE PASO DEL NORTE TRAIL, WHICH BROKE GROUND IN 2018, AIMED AT DEVELOPING A COUNTY WIDE TRAIL, IS NOW PROMOTING HEALTHY LIVING FOR COMMUNITY MEMBERS. WHEN IT'S NOT SO SUNNY, WE'LL COME HERE TO LIKE JUST GO ON THE BIKES. WHILE THE PROJECT ISN'T COMPLETE, THE TRAILS THAT ARE OPEN ARE METHODICALLY BEING CONNECTED. 
          PIECES OF TRANQUIL TRAILS CONNECTING NEIGHBORHOODS THROUGHOUT COUNTY, SOMETHING STOUT SAYS IS VERY IMPORTANT FOR THE COMMUNITY. YOU KNOW, THE MORE OPPORTUNITIES THAT PEOPLE HAVE, I THINK THE HEALTHIER OUR COMMUNITY IS GOING TO BE. LEONARDO AGREES. THE WINDING TRAILS, NOT ONLY STITCHING THE COUNTY TOGETHER, BUT BRINGING HIS FAMILY CLOSER AS WELL BECAUSE IT MAKES A STRONGER BOND RATHER THAN JUST BEING THERE AT HOME. THAT'S A COOL VISION FOR THIS TRAIL. AND JOINING US NOW IS TIM FULTON, THE DIRECTOR OF PARKS AND RECREATION. TIM, THANKS SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE WITH US. THANK YOU. YOU KNOW, AND TIM, WE KIND OF TALKED A LITTLE BIT ABOUT IT AT THE BEGINNING OF THE SHOW. AND THAT WAS, YOU KNOW, OUR VIEWERS, OUR AUDIENCE ARE VERY INVESTED IN ASCARATE. THEY WERE ASKING ABOUT THE LAKE WHEN WE'RE CLEANING THAT. BUT MOST IMPORTANTLY, THEY WERE TALKING ABOUT GOLF COURSES HERE. TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE MAINTENANCE OF IT. SURE. WELL, IT'S A LOT OF MAINTENANCE, AS EVERYONE KNOWS. I MEAN, IT 
          [05:35:04]
TAKES A LOT OF WATER TO KEEP A GOLF COURSE GREEN, AND THAT'S OUR EXPECTATION. BUT RECENTLY WE HIRED A NEW GOLF COURSE, SUPERINTENDENT BRAD WEISS AND BRAD'S COME IN WITH A TON OF EXPERIENCE. I MEAN, LOTS AND LOTS OF YEARS OF EXPERIENCE. AND ONE OF THE THINGS BRAD IS DOING, HE'S REALLY TRYING TO GET OUR GREENS UP TO PRIMO CONDITION. WE ALSO ARE LOOKING AT OUR FAIRWAYS. WE REQUIRED SOME DIFFERENT MAINTENANCE. OUR FAIRWAYS HAD LOTS OF WEEDS. SO WE WANT TO ADDRESS THAT. THE OTHER THING WE'RE LOOKING AT HOW DO WE MANAGE OUR WATER. SO SOME OF THE THINGS WE'RE DOING IS WE'RE APPLYING PRODUCT TO OUR FAIRWAYS OR GREENS, WHICH WILL HELP THE SOIL ABSORB THAT WATER AND HOLD IT IN BETTER, SO THAT WE HOPEFULLY ARE GOING TO REDUCE THE AMOUNT OF WATER WE'RE USING ON OUR COURSES AND CUT OUR COSTS DOWN MORE AND AT THE SAME TIME IMPROVE THAT MAINTENANCE. CERTAINLY A LOT TO MANAGE A GOLF COURSE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE DESERT. ALSO A LOT TO MANAGE. YOU GUYS HAVE HAD A GREAT RESPONSE. IT SEEMS LIKE FROM YOUR YOUTH LEAGUES AND PLAYING KIDS PLAYING SPORTS HERE AT SCOTT PARK, BUT IN TURN ALSO A LOT OF WEAR AND TEAR ON SOME OF THOSE YOUTH LEAGUE FIELDS. YEAH, YOU KNOW, IT'S GREAT TO SEE BECAUSE OVER AND OVER WE HEAR HOW MUCH TIME OUR KIDS SPEND IN FRONT OF OUR SCREENS. BUT LET ME TELL YOU, THE KIDDOS OUT AT OUR SPORTS PARK, THEY'RE OUT THERE INTERACTING WITH EACH OTHER. 
          THEY'RE LEARNING BASEBALL. AND I MEAN, THAT'S FROM AGES FOUR AND UNDER, ALL THE WAY UP TO OUR 12, ALMOST 13 YEAR OLDS. AND THE GROWTH IS TREMENDOUS LAST YEAR FOR OUR SUMMER LEAGUE, WHICH IS USUALLY OUR OUR SHORTER LEAGUE, WE WERE AT 150. I THINK WE'RE GOING TO HIT 250 TEAMS. THAT'S NOT PLAYERS, TEAMS. SO WE'RE BUSTING AT THE SEAMS AT THE SPORTS PARK. WE'RE TRYING TO ACCOMMODATE THIS GROWTH AND IT'S A BIG CHALLENGE. THE OTHER THING WE'RE DOING, WE GOT KUDOS ABOUT HOW WELL WE MAINTAIN OUR SPORTS PARK, BUT THEY WANT TO SEE OUR FIELDS HERE IN THE CITY AT THAT SAME LEVEL. SO BEN VALLEZ, WHO'S OUR MAINTENANCE MANAGER, HIS TEAM AND HIM ARE WORKING TO IMPROVE OUR DIAMOND FIELDS. AND I THINK IF YOU TAKE A DRIVE AROUND, YOU SEE THEY'RE LOOKING BETTER AND BETTER THIS SEASON. ALSO, OUR FOCUS THIS YEAR IS GOING TO BE ON OUR FLAT FIELDS. 
          WE'VE GOT SOCCER PROGRAMS, WE'VE GOT AN INCREDIBLY LARGE YOUTH TACKLE AND TOUCH FOOTBALL PROGRAM THAT A PRIVATE ORGANIZATION RUNS HERE IN THE PARK. AND ANY GIVEN SATURDAY MORNING, THE PARK IS JUST HOPPING WITH LOTS OF ACTIVITY. 
          [05:44:29]
A PROVEN AUTHORIZED THE COUNTY JUDGE TO SIGN THE CHAPTER 381 ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT WITH WIND TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION, CONTRACT NUMBER 2025 0460. GOOD AFTERNOON, COMMISSIONERS. ROBERTO RANSOM, DIRECTOR, EL PASO COUNTY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT. 
          FOR THE RECORD, VERY HAPPY TO BE HERE. TODAY. I PRESENT A CRITICAL STEP AS WE SOLIDIFY OUR 
          [B. Approve and authorize the County Judge to sign the Chapter 381 Economic Development Agreement with Wiwynn Technology Corporation.  (Contract No. 2025-0460)
Roberto Ransom, Director, Economic Development Department, 915-273-3583]
PARTNERSHIP WITH WE WIN TECHNOLOGY GROUP. THIS MARKS A SIGNIFICANT MILESTONE IN THE 
          [05:45:04]
SERIES OF COLLABORATIVE EFFORTS OF THE COUNTY WORKING WITH DIFFERENT ENTITIES, DEMONSTRATING THAT EL PASO COUNTY OFFERS A COMPETITIVE AND INCLUSIVE BUSINESS CLIMATE THAT SUPPORTS INVESTMENT AND ATTRACTS FOREIGN DIRECT INVESTMENT TO OUR REGION. I'D LIKE TO RECOGNIZE THE COLLABORATIVE EFFORTS OF THOSE WHO HAVE WORKED WITH THE COUNTY AND DEVELOP A COMPETITIVE INCENTIVE PACKAGE. I'D LIKE TO START WITH MR. BARELA. THANK YOU SO MUCH, MR. BARELA AND MR. MARCOS DELGADO. SINCE THEY HAVE BEEN OUR ALLIES, THEY REFERRED THIS PROJECT TO THE COUNTY AND THEY HAVE BEEN VERY ENGAGED IN EVERY STEP OF THE PROCESS. SO THANK YOU SO MUCH. APPRECIATE ALL THE ALL THE HELP. AND TO OUR LEGAL DEPARTMENT FOR LAYING THE FOUNDATION FOR THIS PROJECT. 
          THROUGH THEIR GUIDANCE, WE WERE ABLE TO RECEIVE THIS PROJECT IN LESS THAN IN ABOUT
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.