A. (Postponed 6/9/25; 6/16/25) Approve and adopt a resolution recognizing and commending the 50th Anniversary of Judge William Moody's distinguished service with El Paso County. Ricardo A. Samaniego, County Judge, County Judge's Office, 915-273-3591

[A. (Postponed 6/9/25; 6/16/25) Approve and adopt a resolution recognizing and commending the 50th Anniversary of Judge William Moody's distinguished service with El Paso County. Ricardo A. Samaniego, County Judge, County Judge's Office, 915-273-3591]

DISTINGUISHED SERVICE WITH EL PASO COUNTY. JUDGE MOODY, WOULD YOU MIND COMING TO THE PODIUM, PLEASE? I CAN'T BEGIN TO TELL YOU HOW PRIVILEGED I AM TO SPONSOR THIS

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RESOLUTION. NOT NOT ONLY OUR JUDGE. AS WE ALL KNOW, THE INCREDIBLE WORK ALMOST. I DON'T THINK I'VE EVER HEARD ANYTHING BUT GREAT THINGS ABOUT OUR JUDGE. 50 YEARS OF SERVICE. I THINK IT'S SO EXEMPLARY OF INDIVIDUALS IN OUR COMMUNITY, YOU KNOW, THAT REPRESENT EL PASO WITH SUCH PASSION AND SUCH COMMITMENT AS OUR JUDGE. BUT IT'S ALSO THE FAMILY. THE FAMILY IS SO ENGAGED IN SO MANY ACTIVITIES. YOU KNOW, MOST OF US KNOW OR REPRESENTATIVE JOE MOODY, WHO HAS DONE SUCH AN INCREDIBLE JOB. AND WE THANK YOU ALSO FOR THIS LEGISLATION THAT JUST PASSED AND YOUR HARD WORK JUST INCREDIBLE THE THINGS THAT CAME OUT OF THAT WORK. GREAT DELEGATION. BUT I ALSO WANT TO THANK PERSONALLY, REPRESENTATIVE MOODY. SO I THANK YOU FOR THAT.

AND SO I'LL READ THE RESOLUTION INTO THE RECORD. AND THEN WE'LL HEAR FROM YOU AND SOME OTHERS.

WHEREAS JUDGE WILLIAM EDWARD MOODY HAS DEDICATED OVER 50 YEARS TO THE SERVICE OF JUSTICE, PUBLIC GOOD AND COMMUNITY LEADERSHIP IN EL PASO COUNTY AND THE STATE OF TEXAS, WHERE HE BEGUN HIS LEGAL CAREER IN 1975 AS AN ASSISTANT DISTRICT ATTORNEY IN EL PASO, TRYING OVER FELONY CASES, INCLUDING 50 HOMICIDES. BEFORE HIS 1986 APPOINTMENT AS A 34TH DISTRICT COURT. OVER THE NEXT 34 YEARS, HE WAS ELECTED TEN TIMES, PRESIDED OVER 800 JURY TRIALS, AND HAS SERVED IN KEY LEADERSHIP ROLES, INCLUDING PRESIDING JUDGE OF THE SIXTH ADMINISTRATIVE REGION AND THE EL PASO COUNCIL OF JUDGES TO HELP STRENGTHEN THE JUDICIARY ACROSS WEST TEXAS. AND WHEREAS, JUDGE MOODY HAS BEEN A LEADING VOICE FOR JUSTICE REFORM, HELPING TO CREATE EL PASO'S GENDER SPECIFIC SPECIALTY COURT AND ASSISTING IN THE COUNTY'S VETERANS SPECIALTY COURT, ENSURING THAT OUR MOST VULNERABLE POPULATION ARE TREATED WITH DIGNITY AND SUPPORT AND WITH A LEGAL SYSTEM. WHEREAS HE HAS BEEN A STRONG ADVOCATE FOR JURORS RIGHTS, LEADING EFFORTS TO RAISE JURY PAY TO $40 A DAY FOR SUCCEEDING IN EL PASO COUNTY IN 2001 AND LATER STATEWIDE IN 2005, WHERE HE SERVED AS THE LEAD WITNESS BEFORE THE TEXAS LEGISLATURE.

WHEREAS JUDGE MOODY HAS MADE SUBSTANTIAL CONTRIBUTIONS BEYOND THE COURTROOM, INCLUDING SERVICE WITH THE EL PASO HISTORICAL SOCIETY, GIGI'S PLAYHOUSE FOR PERSONS WITH DOWN SYNDROME, THE EL PASO, THE EL PASO HISTORY MUSEUM, AND OTHER COMMUNITY LEGAL AND CULTURAL ORGANIZATIONS. WHEREAS EFFORTS HAVE LED TO NUMEROUS HONORS, INCLUDING THE HUMANITARIAN AWARD FROM THE BLACK EL PASO DEMOCRATS, THE LIVING LEGEND AWARD 2022, THE OUTSTANDING SERVICE AWARD FROM THE AMERICAN BOARD OF TRIAL ADVOCATES AND EDUCATION IN THE EL PASO DEMOCRATIC PARTY HALL OF FAME. WHEREAS JUDGE WILLIAM MOODY'S DEEP EL PASO ROOTS SHINED THROUGH HIS SERVICE AS A DISTINGUISHED MILITARY GRADUATE OF UTEP, HIS COMMISSION AS A SECOND LIEUTENANT IN THE US ARMY, AND BEING HONORABLY DISCHARGED AS CAPTAIN. THIS REFLECTS A LIFELONG DEDICATION TO BOTH HIS COUNTRY AND HIS COMMUNITY, WHILE BEING A DEVOTED HUSBAND TO MAGGIE MORALES, MOODY, BEING A LOVING FATHER OF FOUR AND PROUD GRANDFATHER OF SEVEN, HE'S NOT ONLY MADE A LASTING IMPACT ON THE LEGAL SYSTEM, BUT HAS ALSO TOUCHED THE LIVES OF COUNTLESS FAMILIES AND INSPIRED FUTURE GENERATIONS OF EL PASOANS NOW, THEREFORE, BE RESOLVED THAT THE EL PASO COUNTY JUDGE AND COMMISSIONERS COURT DO HEREBY FORMALLY RECOGNIZE AND HONOR JUDGE WILLIAM EDWARD MOODY FOR HIS REMARKABLE AND UNWAVERING SERVICE TO THE JUDICIARY AND TO THE WELL-BEING OF THE RESIDENTS OF EL PASO COUNTY AND THE STATE OF TEXAS.

SIGNED THIS 23RD DAY OF JUNE, 2025. WE HAVE A MOTION FROM JUDGE SAMANIEGO, A SECOND FROM COMMISSIONER HOGAN. THE VOTING IS OPEN. I THANK YOU, JUDGE. THE MOTION CARRIES. NO.

THANK ALL OF YOU SO MUCH. GOOSEBUMPS. I WOULD LIKE, IF YOU DON'T MIND, TO HAVE MY FAMILY COME UP. ABSOLUTELY. BE HERE AND SHARE IN THIS WITH ME AND I THINK WE'RE ALL HERE. WE GOT A

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LOT OF CHILDREN AND GRANDCHILDREN, SPOUSES. I GUESS THE LAST TIME I WAS HERE, IT WAS A LITTLE DIFFERENT. THAT WAS WE WERE DOING THE, I GUESS, MY SWEARING IN FOR MY 10TH AND FINAL TERM IN JANUARY, AND IT WAS SNOWING. AND NOW WE COME AND IT'S A LITTLE BIT WARMER TODAY, I NOTICED. SO THE FIRST THING I WANTED TO TALK TO YOU A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WAS SINCE YOU MENTIONED MY MILITARY SERVICE, AND PROBABLY SOME OF YOU HAVE NOTICED WHEN I WALKED IN AND YOU WERE KIND AND YOU DIDN'T SAY WHAT THE HECK, YOU KNOW HAPPENED TO YOU OTHER THAN MY GRANDSON, HE WAS KIND OF CONCERNED ABOUT IT. AND I WISH IT WAS A GREAT STORY, BUT IT IS A LITTLE BIT OF A MILITARY STORY. I WAS, I WAS, I WAS HAVING A NIGHTMARE OR A DREAM ABOUT LEADING SOME MILITARY MANEUVER, AND WE WERE GOING DOWNHILL AND I TRIPPED AND ACTUALLY, I, I FELL FROM THE BED AND I HIT MY HEAD THERE ON THE NIGHTSTAND. AND SO ANYWAY. BUT IT'S NOTHING BAD, BUT IT DOESN'T LOOK VERY GOOD. SO I THOUGHT YOU WERE PLAYING SUPERMAN. JUDGE. SO. YOU KNOW, 50 YEAR MILESTONE.

I THINK WE WERE LOOKING AT IT TO SEE IF ANYONE HAD EVER SERVED 50 YEARS. AND, YOU KNOW, WE COULDN'T FIND ANYBODY THAT HAD SERVED IT. MAYBE THERE HAS BEEN, BUT I DON'T REMEMBER ANY IN 50 YEARS. I'M NOT GOING TO GO OVER EVERY DAY OF IT. IT WOULD TAKE A LITTLE WHILE. BUT THE THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF CHANGES. YOU KNOW, THIS BUILDING, YOU KNOW, THE FIRST OF ALL, JUST STARTING WITH THE BUILDING THAT WAS IN PLACE, I DON'T KNOW, THERE'S A FEW OF YOU THAT REMEMBER, MAYBE LIKE WALTER BOYARSKY AND A FEW OF US AND THE OLD COURTHOUSE, THE 1917 BUILDING, THE YOU KNOW, THE HISTORY. 500 EAST SAN ANTONIO HAS BEEN THE HOME OF EL PASO COUNTY COURTHOUSE SINCE 1881, I BELIEVE THE OLD BUILDING. AND THEN IN 1917, THEY BUILT THE NEW BUILDING, AND THEN THEY BUILD AROUND IT AND THEY MAKE IT INTO THE REALLY A KIND OF A MODERN IDEA OF A CITY COUNTY BUILDING.

AND IT'S ALL A CONGLOMERATION. IT'S A MESS. BUT THEY, THEY IT'S A MAZE TO GO THROUGH. IT WAS A VERY FASCINATING BUILDING. IT HAD ONLY TWO ELEVATORS, BUT THEY ALMOST ALWAYS WORKED BECAUSE THEY, THEY HAD THEY HAD AN ELEVATOR OPERATOR WHEN I STARTED AND SHE HAD A CHAIR AND THEY IT WAS A VERY INTERESTING THING THERE. AND IT WAS, IT WAS ONLY SIX FLOORS TALL, BUT IT COMBINED THE HAD THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT WAS HERE, THE POLICE DEPARTMENT WAS HERE, THE COUNTY JAIL WAS HERE. THE CITY JAIL WAS HERE. THE MAYOR'S OFFICE WAS ON ONE SIDE ON THE SECOND FLOOR. AS YOU GO UP THE STAIRCASE, THE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS AND THE COUNTY JUDGE'S OFFICES WERE ON THE OTHER SIDE. YOU KNOW, THERE WAS THERE WERE ONLY EIGHT DISTRICT COURTS. THERE WERE ONE DOMESTIC RELATIONS COURT, THREE COUNTY COURTS. THE AND I WENT TO WORK ON JUNE 1ST, 1975. I HAD WORKED AS THEY COULDN'T FIND IT, BUT I KNOW I WORKED AS AS AN INTERN WHEN I WORKED A COUPLE OF SUMMERS, WHEN I WAS IN LAW SCHOOL FOR THE COUNTY TAX OFFICE. AND THEN I CAME TO WORK ON JANUARY 1ST, 1975, AND THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE. AND FOR MANY OF YOU IN THE DA'S OFFICE HERE, AND THERE IS ONE OF THEM, MR. REPKA, HE AND I WORKED IN THE DA'S OFFICE THERE. I THINK THERE WERE ONLY TEN LAWYERS. SO AND THERE WAS, THERE WAS AND IT WAS. THAT'S COUNTING THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY. AND THERE WAS MAYBE ANOTHER 10 OR 12 TOTAL EMPLOYEES. TOOK UP A LITTLE SPACE ON THE FOURTH FLOOR, YOU KNOW, BUT IT WAS A VERY CLOSE KNIT GROUP OF PEOPLE. AND REALLY, PEOPLE IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN THE BUILDING ITSELF. I MEAN, WE'VE NOW BUILT A BEAUTIFUL STRUCTURE, BUT WE HAD GREAT PEOPLE THEN. WE HAVE GREAT PEOPLE NOW. IT'S JUST IT'S AMAZING THE AMOUNT OF PEOPLE I CAN'T NUMBER, THE THOUSANDS AND THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE THAT I'VE HAD THE PRIVILEGE TO MEET AND WORK WITH HERE IN THIS BUILDING OVER THESE MANY, MANY YEARS. THE TRANSITION HAS BEEN GREAT. I GUESS I WORKED THE FIRST 11 YEARS IN THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE, AND THEN THE LAST 39 YEARS AS, AS JUDGE OF THE 34TH DISTRICT COURT. IT'S BEEN A WONDERFUL EXPERIENCE FOR BOTH MYSELF AND MY FAMILY. I WANT TO THANK ALL OF THE FRIENDS AND EMPLOYEES AND COLLEAGUES AND JUDGES AND ALL PEOPLE THAT COME HERE TO CELEBRATE THIS WITH ME HERE TODAY. NONE OF IT WOULD HAVE BEEN POSSIBLE WITHOUT THEM. AND THERE'S MANY PEOPLE THAT ARE

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NOT HERE. MANY, MANY PEOPLE IN 50 YEARS HAVE HAVE HAVE PASSED ON. AND I REMEMBER THEM FONDLY TO. GOT GREAT MEMORIES OF THE OLD BUILDING AND THIS BUILDING. WATCH MY CHILDREN AND GRANDCHILDREN GROW UP IN IT. MY FAMILY COME DOWN HERE. GOT SOME GREAT MEMORIES FROM. I REMEMBER JUST BRIEFLY WITH THE CHILDREN. I REMEMBER HOLDING MELISSA WHEN SHE WAS A LITTLE BABY OUT IN FRONT. THERE'S A PICTURE IN FRONT OF THE DA'S OFFICE WHEN SHE WAS FIRST, AFTER SHE WAS BORN. I REMEMBER JOE AND JIM COMING DOWN AND PLAYING IN THE IN THE COURTROOM AND, WELL, EVEN GOING INTO THE JURY BOX WHEN THE PRISONERS WERE THERE AND I, YOU KNOW, AND I TOLD, WAIT A MINUTE, YOU KNOW, THAT'S SUPPOSED TO BE IN THE IN THE JURY BOX WITH ALL THE DEFENSE. BUT THE DEFENDANTS WERE VERY NICE TO THEM, YOU KNOW. SO IT WAS IT WASN'T A PROBLEM. I REMEMBER EMILY, DURING MY SWEARING IN AS JUDGE, CRYING THROUGH THE WHOLE THING AND HAVING TO BE REMOVED, YOU KNOW, SO I CAN. SHE WAS ONLY ONE YEAR OLD AT THE TIME. SO MANY, SO MANY WONDERFUL MEMORIES OF SO MANY WONDERFUL PEOPLE. I WANT TO THANK MY STAFF WHO'S HERE, NOT JUST THE ONES THAT ARE HERE PRESENTLY. IF THEY WOULD RISE, I COULD RECOGNIZE THEM UNLESS THEY'VE ALREADY. I THINK THEY'VE ALREADY GOT THE PARTY READY. BUT I HAVE I HAVE HAD MY I HAVE HAD OTHER OTHER STAFF MEMBERS HERE.

YOU KNOW, I WANT TO I REALLY WANT TO CLOSE. I DON'T WANT TO SPEND A LOT OF TIME ON ALL THIS, BUT I DO WANT TO CLOSE WITH REALLY WHAT I THINK IS MY BEST MEMORY OF THIS ENTIRE PERIOD. I WOULD HAVE NEVER BEEN A COUNTY EMPLOYEE FOR ONE DAY, LET ALONE 50 YEARS, EXCEPT FOR ONE INCIDENT. I WAS I WAS ENGAGED TO MY WIFE AT THE TIME. I HAD GRADUATED FROM LAW SCHOOL, AND I HAD PUT IN AN APPLICATION TO WORK FOR THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE. NOW SHE WAS WORKING IN THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE AT THE TIME IN ONE OF THE SECRETARIAL POSITIONS, AND THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY AT THE TIME, MR. SIMMONS AND I TALKED TO HIM YESTERDAY AGAIN ABOUT THIS BECAUSE HE HE HE ALWAYS HARASSES ME ABOUT THIS ISSUE. AND SO HE HAD A POLICY WITH VERY SMALL OFFICES. I TOLD, YOU KNOW, MARRIED COUPLES COULD BE WORKING IN THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE. NOW, I HAD NOT EVEN TAKEN THE BAR EXAM AT THAT TIME. AND SHE WAS WORKING THERE, AND WE WERE GOING TO GET MARRIED IN, IN NOVEMBER. AND IT WAS JUNE. AND OBVIOUSLY I NEEDED A JOB AND I DID NOT HAVE A JOB. AND SO SHE WENT AND I HAD MADE AN APPLICATION, BUT SHE WENT AND TALKED TO THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY AND ASKED HIM TO HIRE ME. AND HE TOLD HER FLAT OUT, SHE SAID, I DON'T EVEN KNOW THIS GUY. I KNOW YOU, I LIKE YOU, I'D RATHER HAVE YOU THAN HIM, YOU KNOW. SO IF SHE SHE BEGGED HIM, THOUGH I DON'T KNOW IF SHE CRIED OR NOT. IT'S POSSIBLE, YOU KNOW, WE REALLY NEED THAT JOB. AND SO HE WENT AHEAD AND HIRED ME. AND IT WAS KIND OF UNIQUE BECAUSE THERE WERE NO ATTORNEYS POSITIONS OPEN AT THE TIME. AND YOU COULDN'T IF YOU HADN'T, UNLESS YOU HAD YOUR LAW LICENSE, YOU COULDN'T EVEN YOU COULD NOT EVEN ASSIST, EVEN IF YOU WERE WAITING FOR BAR RESULTS OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT. THE LAWS HAVE CHANGED SINCE THEN. SO I ACTUALLY SHE GAVE UP HER SECRETARIAL JOB AND I GOT HER SECRETARIAL JOB. SO IT WAS LIKE, WOW. AND SO I WOULD HAVE NEVER EVEN HAD ONE DAY IN THIS, IN THIS WONDERFUL BUILDING AND MET ALL THESE WONDERFUL PEOPLE.

HAD IT NOT BEEN FOR MANY SACRIFICES BY MANY, MANY, MANY PEOPLE, BUT MAINLY HERS. THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH. FOR THE RECORD, I KNOW MAGGIE'S NOT TYPICALLY, BUT I WOULD LOVE TO HEAR FROM YOU AS WELL. SPEAKER. YEAH, ANYONE ELSE THAT WOULD? JOE. MR. REPRESENTATIVE, WOULD YOU LIKE TO SAY A FEW WORDS? MELISSA WILL SPEAK. MELISSA WANTS TO SAY SOMETHING. GOOD MORNING. GOOD MORNING. I THIS IS OUR FIRST HOUSE. AND I ALSO WORK HERE. I, I VOTE AND I, I VOTE JUDGE PARKER. I VOTED. MELISSA FROM CITY HALL AND THEN. LEGISLATOR JUDGE. THANK YOU,

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THANK YOU. I THINK WE'RE GOING TO HAVE REFRESHMENTS. AND ACROSS IN THE COMMISSIONER'S HALLWAY, IF ANYBODY WANTS TO GO OVER THERE, YOU HAVE ABSOLUTELY. REPRESENTATIVE, CAN I HEAR.

SHE'S TOO SHY? I JUST WANT TO SAY THAT WE APPRECIATE THE RECOGNITION. OBVIOUSLY WE ALL WE ALL GREW. HEARD IT? NO. WE ALL GREW UP IN THIS, IN THIS BUILDING. AND SO TO BE HERE AND THAT IS MICROPHONE. YEAH. GO TO MICROPHONE. OH ANOTHER POLITICIAN SHE'S SHE'S BELIEVE ME SHE GETS WHATEVER SHE WANTS. SO SHE'S VERY GOOD AT THAT. NO JUST JUST A WE OWE A DEBT OF GRATITUDE TO EVERYBODY WHO WHO'S COME COME INTO OUR LIVES THROUGH THIS, THROUGH THIS BUILDING, THROUGH THIS WORK. OBVIOUSLY, OUR OUR FATHER LEADS BY EXAMPLE AND HAS GIVEN OUR GIVEN OUR FAMILY THAT THAT EXAMPLE TO FOLLOW ONE OF ONE OF SERVICE, ONE OF STEWARDSHIP. AND, AND I CAN THINK OF NO BETTER WAY THAN TO, TO HONOR THAT THAN TO RECOGNIZE THE DECADES THAT THAT HE HAS POURED HIS LIFE AND HIS SOUL AND HIS ENERGY INTO THIS WORK. AND THERE ARE THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE THAT HE HAS INTERACTED WITH THAT THAT MAY NOT REALIZE THE IMPACT THAT HE HAD ON, ON THEIR LIVES. AND THOSE ARE NOT JUST THE ATTORNEYS THAT WALK IN THE COURTROOM, BUT THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN VICTIMS, THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN ACCUSED, THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN BEEN HURT, AND THOSE WHO WHO HAVE COME THROUGH THE DOORS OF THIS BUILDING SEEKING JUSTICE IN ALL FORMS. AND I THINK THEY HAVE ALWAYS FOUND A VERY FAIR AND COMPASSIONATE JURIST IN MY FATHER. AND I THINK THAT'S THAT'S THE LEGACY THAT THAT HE HAS BUILT AND ONE THAT WE CAN WORK TO FOLLOW AND TO HONOR OVER THE NEXT 50, 100, 150 YEARS. SO THANK YOU, JUDGE. THANK YOU. COMMISSIONERS, WE REALLY DO APPRECIATE THIS RECOGNITION FOR HIM AND FOR OUR FAMILY. THANK YOU SO MUCH. AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE. I ALWAYS FIND IT INTERESTING THAT WHEN INDIVIDUALS ARE REALLY GOOD AT WHAT THEY DO, THEY'RE HISTORIANS LIKE EMMITT SMITH, KNOWS EVERYTHING ABOUT FOOTBALL KIND OF THING. OUR JUDGE, YOU CAN ASK HIM ANYTHING ABOUT THE HISTORY OF EL PASO. I HAPPEN TO BE. THERE WAS A TOPIC ON THE COLISEUM. OH MY GOODNESS. IT WAS LIKE I WAS READING A BOOK. AND THEN HE GOT INTERVIEWED ABOUT THE COLISEUM. BUT JUST HIS ABILITY TO KNOW ABOUT EL PASO SHOWS THAT KIND OF STRENGTH AND THAT PASSION. SO WE'RE VERY PRIVILEGED. AND I KNOW YOU'RE YOU'RE GOING TO CONTINUE THIS IS THIS IS NOT A GOODBYE THING. IT'S A IT'S NOT A RETIREMENT.

I'VE GOT THREE AND A HALF MORE YEARS. YES, THAT'S RIGHT. I GOT TO GET BACK TO WORK. AND HE'S GOING TO REMIND YOU EVERY MOMENT, RIGHT, THAT HE'S HE'S GOING TO GO AND EXTREMELY HEALTHY. I MEAN, HE WALKS THE DOWNTOWN AREA EVERY CHANCE THAT HE HAS. SO A VERY PRIVILEGED ONCE AGAIN. AND FROM BEHALF OF MYSELF AND OUR COMMISSIONERS AND EVERYBODY HERE AND I SAW OUR DA JUST WALKED IN. SO WELCOME AS WELL, MR. MONTOYA. THANK YOU. SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH, JUDGE, MAY I. COMMISSIONER CORONADO, WHO I'M SURE HAVE HIS EXPERIENCE AND JUST A LITTLE BIT JUDGE, YOU KNOW, I FIRST MET JUDGE MOODY BACK IN 1986 WHEN HE WAS AT THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE. HE HAD RISEN TO BEING THE FIRST ASSISTANT BACK THEN. I WAS APPLIED FOR A JOB IN THE OFFICE AND ENDED UP TAKING A JOB AT THE COUNTY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE. BUT I REFERRED ANOTHER GOOD FRIEND OF MINE WHO'S HERE, PRESENT JUDGE CARLOS CARRASCO, WHO ENDED UP APPLYING FOR THE JOB AND BECAME JUDGE MOONEY'S FIRST PROSECUTOR IN THAT COURT. WHEN HE EVENTUALLY GOT APPOINTED TO THAT COURT. AND, YOU KNOW, I'VE TRIED MANY CASES IN JUDGE MOODY'S COURT, TRIED CASES AGAINST JOE HERE WHEN HE WAS AT THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE. AND I CAN TELL YOU THAT, YOU KNOW, TRYING A CASE IN JUDGE MOODY'S COURT IS VERY, VERY PLEASANT BECAUSE HE'S VERY COURTEOUS. HE'S VERY EVEN KEELED. AND HE TREATS EVERYBODY BOTH SIDES WITH DIGNITY AND RESPECT. AND THAT'S WHAT I APPRECIATE ABOUT BEING IN YOUR COURT, JUDGE. SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR YEARS OF SERVICE AND WE APPRECIATE YOU. THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER. THANK YOU AGAIN.

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WE'RE GOING TO TAKE ABOUT A MAYBE A FIVE MINUTE BREAK AND THEN I'LL BE BACK. BUT THOSE OF YOU THAT ARE HEADED TO THE RECEPTION. COMMISSIONER'S COURT WILL RECESS FOR FIVE MINUTES. WE WILL RECONVENE. IT IS 10:06 A.M.

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JUDGE. STANDBY. DID YOU GET MINE GOING BACK? YEAH. I'M SORRY, MINE IS ALREADY READY BECAUSE.

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OKAY. GO AHEAD. OKAY. COMMISSIONERS COURT HAS RECONVENED INTO REGULAR OPEN

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SESSION. IT IS 10:20 A.M. WE ARE ON ITEM FIVE. RESOLUTIONS. NEXT ITEM IS 55B, APPROVE AND ADOPT A RESOLUTION HONORING VETERANS AT BREAKFAST AND FOUNDER DAN WEBB FOR THEIR OUTSTANDING SERVICE AND DEDICATION TO THE VETERAN COMMUNITY IN EL PASO COUNTY, TEXAS. WELL, THANK YOU. AND HOW

[B. Approve and adopt a resolution honoring Veterans at Breakfast and founder, Dan Webb, for their outstanding service and dedication to the Veteran Community in El Paso County, Texas. Ricardo A. Samaniego, County Judge, County Judge's Office, 915-273-3591]

INCREDIBLE IS THAT? DID I GET THESE TWO RESOLUTIONS THAT TWO AMAZING INDIVIDUALS. AND SO I THANK YOU, DAN, IF YOU DON'T MIND COMING UP TO THE PODIUM AND THEN WE'LL. OKAY. THANK YOU.

WHEREAS VETERANS AT BREAKFAST IS A 501 C3 NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION FOUNDED IN MAY 2010 BY DAN WEBB, A RETIRED ARMY FIRST SERGEANT, TO PROVIDE VETERANS IN THE EL PASO COMMUNITY WITH OPPORTUNITIES FOR NETWORKING, CAMARADERIE AND SUPPORT IN THE TRANSITION OF CIVILIAN LIFE. AND WHEREAS VETERANS AT BREAKFAST HAS SERVED AS A VITAL AND EMPOWERING RESOURCE FOR LOCAL VETERANS BY HOSTING MONTHLY BREAKFAST GATHERINGS, CREATING OPPORTUNITIES FOR PERSONAL AND PROFESSIONAL CONNECTIONS, HONORING THE MEMORIES OF THOSE WHO HAVE SERVED, AND PROMOTING VETERAN FOCUSED PROGRAMS THAT HAVE ENHANCED THE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR VETERANS AND THEIR FAMILIES. AND WHEREAS, THROUGH ITS COMMITMENT TO HONORING AND UPLIFTING VETERANS, VETERANS AT BREAKFAST HAS BUILT A LEGACY OF SERVICE RECOGNIZING DESERVING INDIVIDUALS THROUGH THE VETERAN OF THE YEAR AWARD AND PROVIDING VETERANS WITH A SPACE TO SHARE THEIR EXPERIENCE AND BUILD A LASTING BOND WITH FELLOW SERVICE MEMBERS. WHEREAS DAN WEBB, THE FOUNDER OF VETERANS OF BREAKFAST, HAS SHOWN UNWAVERING DEDICATION TO THE WELL-BEING AND PROSPERITY OF LOCAL VETERANS, PROVIDING LEADERSHIP AND VISION FOR A DECADE AND BEING A SOURCE OF INSPIRATION TO ALL WHO HAVE THE PRIVILEGE OF WORKING WITH HIM. WHEREAS DAN WEBB'S CONTINUED SERVICE TO THE VETERANS COMMUNITY IS DESERVING OF RECOGNITION FOR HIS TIRELESS EFFORTS TO ENSURE THAT THE SACRIFICES MADE BY VETERANS ARE NEVER FORGOTTEN, AND FOR HIS COMMITMENT TO FOSTERING A SENSE OF COMMUNITY PRIDE AND SERVICE AMONG LOCAL VETERANS. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE EL PASO COUNTY JUDGE AND COMMISSIONERS, COURT PROUDLY RECOGNIZES AND HONORS VETERANS AT BREAKFAST FOR ITS INVALUABLE CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE VETERANS COMMUNITY IN EL PASO COUNTY AND BEYOND. FOR ITS SERVICE IN PROMOTING VETERAN RIGHTS, WELFARE AND UNITY, AND FOR PROVIDING A PLATFORM FOR VETERANS TO SHARE, NETWORK AND GROW. EXTENDS ITS HEARTFELT APPRECIATION AND RECOGNITION TO DAN WEBB, THE FOUNDER OF VETERANS AT BREAKFAST, FOR HIS EXCEPTIONAL LEADERSHIP, COMMITMENT AND COMPASSION IN SUPPORTING THE VETERANS OF EL PASO COUNTY. HIS UNWAVERING DEDICATION TO THIS CAUSE HAS NOT ONLY TRANSFORMED THE LIVES OF LOCAL VETERANS, BUT ALSO SET AN EXAMPLE OF COMMUNITY SERVICE FOR ALL RESIDENTS. SIGNED THIS 23RD DAY OF JUNE 2025, WE HAVE A MOTION FROM JUDGE SAMANIEGO, A SECOND FROM COMMISSIONER STOUT.

THE VOTE THE MOTION CARRIES. MR. WEBB. THANK YOU. DON'T MIND. I'D LIKE TO INVITE MY STAFF UP.

ABSOLUTELY. GO ON. AND. JUDGE COMMISSIONERS. YOU PRETTY MUCH SAID IT ALL DURING THE RESOLUTION. BUT JUST AS A RECAP, VETERANS AT BREAKFAST PROVIDES A COMFORTABLE ATMOSPHERE WHERE VETERANS, REGARDLESS OF THEIR BRANCH OF SERVICE, CAN GATHER AND JOIN WITH US FOR A FREE CUP OF COFFEE AND A FREE BREAKFAST. AND THEY CAN SOCIALIZE. NETWORK, RECEIVE INFORMATIONAL UPDATES. AND RAISE COMMUNITY AWARENESS ABOUT ISSUES AFFECTING THE COMMUNITY. THE

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VETERAN COMMUNITY WE MEET. AS THE JUDGE MENTIONED, THE LAST THURSDAY OF EACH MONTH AT 8:30 A.M. AT THE AMERICAN LEGION PASO DEL NORTE. POST 58 AT 4724 VULCAN AVENUE IN NORTHEAST EL PASO. YOU AND ALL THE EL PASO COUNTY CITIZENS OR RESIDENTS ARE, OF COURSE, INVITED. YOU DO NOT HAVE TO BE A VETERAN TO JOIN, AND YOU DO NOT HAVE TO BE A MEMBER TO ATTEND. I WOULD ESPECIALLY LIKE TO INVITE YOU ALL TO OUR ANNUAL AUGUST COOKOUT, AND I BELIEVE THAT CISSY BYRD WILL TALK ABOUT THAT MOMENTARILY. BUT AGAIN, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THIS HONOR. ON BEHALF OF VETERANS AT BREAKFAST. WE CERTAINLY APPRECIATE IT. THANK YOU SIR. APPRECIATE IT.

SAY WHO HE IS. HOW DO YOU SAY YOUR NAME? I'M SORRY. I'M HOLLY HOLLYFIELD, ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT FOR DAN WEBB AND VETERANS AT BREAKFAST. THANK YOU, THANK YOU. GOOD MORNING.

GOOD MORNING, JUDGE AND COMMISSIONERS. MY NAME IS CISSY BYRD. MOST OF YOU KNOW ME, AND I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO SAY SOMETHING ABOUT VETERANS AT BREAKFAST. IT GIVES ME AN HONOR AS A CIVILIAN TO WORK WITH THIS GROUP. I LOVE SEEING THEM EVERY SINGLE MONTH. AND IT JUST DOES SOMETHING TO MY HEART, BECAUSE VETERANS WILL ALWAYS BE IN MY HEART. THEY GET ON MY NERVES, BUT I WILL STILL ATTEND EVERY SINGLE MONTH TO SEE THEM. SHE HAD TO SLIP THAT ONE IN AND RIGHT. AND I AM THE PR ASSISTANT TO MANI AND I'M GOING TO TALK ABOUT OUR PICNIC. IT WILL. I MEAN OUR COOKOUT. SORRY.

IT IS OUR SEVENTH ANNUAL AND WE ARE HONORING OUR VETERANS, STRENGTHENING OUR COMMUNITY, WHICH WILL BE ON AUGUST THE 9TH. SO WE DO EXPECT Y'ALL TO COME AND HAVE A HAMBURGER OR A HOT DOG WITH US. IT WILL BE FROM 12:00 TO FOUR IS AT BIGGS BIGGS PARK ON FORT BLISS. AND REMEMBER, FOR THOSE WHO ARE CIVILIANS, YOU MUST GET YOUR GATE PASS. I ADVISE YOU TO GET IT EARLY BEFORE THAT DAY. SO COME OUT, BE WITH US AND YOU WILL BE INTRODUCED TO OUR VETERAN OF THE YEAR FOR VETERANS AT BREAKFAST. PLEASE JOIN US. THEY'RE GIVING OUT THE FLIERS TO YOU AND ALL OF YOU ARE BACK HERE. YOU ARE DEFINITELY INVITED. BUT LIKE I SAID, REMEMBER ABOUT THE PAST. DO NOT PUT IT ON FACEBOOK BECAUSE THIS IS TO HONOR OUR VETERANS AND YOU ONLY GET INVITED. SO I'M INVITING Y'ALL. SO BE IN. THAT SAID, I WOULD LIKE I SAID, I TRULY I TRULY LOVE THE VETERANS. Y'ALL SUPPORT VETERANS WHENEVER YOU CAN. AFTER ALL, WE ARE THE CAPITAL OF THE USA FOR VETERANS AND WE LIKE TO STAY THAT WAY. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU SUSIE. GOOD MORNING JUDGE. GOOD MORNING COMMISSIONERS. MY NAME IS GLORIA NICHOLSON AND I MET DAN THROUGH VETERANS AT BREAKFAST AND ALSO AT OLD GLORY MEMORIAL. I JUST WANTED TO SAY THAT I GOT THE PRIVILEGE AND HONOR TO DO THE MARCH IN SELMA, ALABAMA, IN MARCH WITH WITH DAN AND MISS PERLA HERE. AND I JUST WANTED TO SAY THAT HE WAS A TRUE GENTLEMAN. HE WAS VERY HOSPITALITY AT HIS HOME, AND WE WERE ABLE TO MEET A LOT OF DIGNITARIES LIKE MARTIN LUTHER KING JR, THE SON. AND SO I JUST WANTED TO SAY THAT DAN IS A VERY GREAT MAN AND WITH HIS WITH HIS HELP TO THE COMMUNITY. THANK YOU ALWAYS, HUSBAND, FOR. CAN CAN I HAVE ONE MORE BOWL? SHE'S THE RECIPIENT OF THE VETERAN OF THE YEAR, SO I'D LOVE TO HAVE HER AND TONY SAY A FEW WORDS BEFORE WE HEAR FROM DAN, AND I'LL SAY THAT. THANK YOU. GOOD MORNING JUDGE. GOOD MORNING, COMMISSIONERS. MISS ANTOINETTE HUNT, WE HAVE A PRESENTATION FOR VETERANS AT BREAKFAST. I'D BE REMISS. GOOD MORNING. ANTOINETTE HUNT, VETERAN COUNTY SERVICE OFFICER. I DO HAVE SOMETHING FOR THE VETERANS AT BREAKFAST IS NOT ONLY GOOD FOOD AND GOOD FUN, BUT THERE'S A LOT OF GOOD INFORMATION. AND THEY DON'T TELL YOU THAT THEY'RE ACTUALLY GOING OUT INTO THE COMMUNITY AND VISITING VETERANS WHO ARE SICK, PRAYING FOR THEM, TAKING CARE OF THEM. AND THAT, TO ME, IS PART OF WHAT THIS VETERANS CAPITAL IS ABOUT. SO I WANTED TO HONOR THEM WITH THEIR OWN BANNER. AND. OH

[01:00:12]

HOW NICE. AND I HOPE TO SEE IT FLYING PROUDLY ON THURSDAY MORNING WHEN THEY JOIN FOR BREAKFAST. CONGRATULATIONS, VETERANS OF BREAKFAST. THANK YOU. SO, JUDGE, WE'RE JUST GOING TO HAVE ONE MORE PERSON SPEAK. THEN I WILL FOLLOW. I JUST WANT TO GIVE HER AN OPPORTUNITY. WHERE ARE YOU? TOBY? THIS IS MY. THIS IS MY FAITHFUL SECRETARY. WHO? WHO, LIKE ME, DON'T KNOW THE WORD. NO. SHE ANSWERED. SHE ANSWERED THE CALL TO EVERYTHING. SHE'S.

SHE'S WILLING AND READY TO SUPPORT IN ANY, ANYTHING AND EVERYWHERE. SO WE WILL HAVE WORDS FROM HER AND I. TOTALLY, TOTALLY AGREE. WELCOME. WELCOME EVERYONE, AND THANK YOU FOR HAVING US. JUST A FEW THINGS ABOUT VETERANS AT BREAKFAST. AS THE SECRETARY, WE REPRESENT A LOT OF GOLD STAR SPOUSES, FAMILY MEMBERS. SO WHEN YOU COME TO VETERANS AT BREAKFAST, YOU'RE ALSO JOINING A FAMILY. WE HAVE A LOT OF RESOURCES THAT SHARE INFORMATION THAT A LOT OF FAMILY AND JUST DEPENDENTS DON'T KNOW ABOUT. SO WHEN YOU COME, YOU CAN ALSO DO PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENTS. A LOT OF THINGS THAT WE'RE WE'RE DOING IS SHARED AMONGST THE UNITED AMERICAN VETERANS ORGANIZATION. WE SHARE WE'RE WE'RE WORKING WITH DIFFERENT AGENCIES. SO IT'S BEING SPREAD THROUGHOUT THE COMMUNITY. WE WORK TOGETHER. AND THERE'S A LOT OF AGENCIES THAT SHARE INFORMATION THAT DIFFERENT. IT'S LIKE, YOU KNOW, HOW WE DO INTER-AGENCY. SO ARMY, MARINE, COAST GUARD, NAVY. NOW WE HAVE SPACE FORCE. SO IT'S A LOT OF DETAILS THAT WE DON'T KNOW ABOUT, ESPECIALLY NEW REGULATIONS AND POLICIES. DAV, VFW, WE ALSO LIKE TO SUPPORT EACH OTHER. SO VETERANS AT BREAKFAST, WE SUPPORT VFW. WE SUPPORT EACH OTHER. SO THERE'S A LOT OF THINGS THAT EVEN TOO WITH WITH THE MAYOR, MAJOR MAYOR LEESER AND EVEN MAYOR JOHNSON, MAYOR JOHNSON, JOHNSON, JOHNSON COMING. JUDGE SAMANIEGO, YOU'VE COME THE DAS. IT'S JUST CONGRESSWOMAN ESCOBAR WHEN SHE COMES AND SHARES ALL THIS STUFF, NEW UPCOMING POLICIES AND REGULATIONS, IT'S JUST SO BENEFICIAL. AND THEN US BEING THE LARGEST NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION, IT IT JUST CONTRIBUTES SO MUCH WITHIN US. IT IT JUST VOLUME OF INFORMATION FOR US. SO JUST WANTED TO SHARE THAT. THANK YOU. AND THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING YOU DO. THIS IS WE DON'T WANT IT TO BE A HIDDEN GEM ANYMORE RIGHT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, JUDGE AND MR. WEBB.

THANK YOU, JUDGE AND COMMISSIONERS, WE ARE WE'RE CERTAINLY HONORED TO BE HERE TODAY. AND WE ARE. WE'RE SO HONORED THAT YOU CHOSE US TO BE PRESENT IN YOUR PRESENCE. I GOT A CALL WHEN I WAS IN ALABAMA AND SAID THERE, THE COUNTY WANT TO GIVE YOU SOMETHING. AND I WAS IN ALABAMA AT THE TIME. AND I SAID, WELL, MAYBE THEY DON'T WANT TO PUT ME IN JAIL, DO THEY? AND I WASN'T THAT DETERMINED WHEN I CAME BACK HOME. SO THEY SAID, NO, THEY WANT TO THEY WANT TO RECOGNIZE YOU AND YOUR, YOUR ORGANIZATION. AND SO I'M, I'M SO PROUD TO NOT JUST BE HERE BUT TO HAVE MY, MY, MY WONDERFUL STAFF AND NOT JUST STAFF, BUT ALL OF THE FOLKS, BUT SOME OF THE FOLKS THAT ARE SITTING BEHIND US WHO SUPPORT OUR ORGANIZATION. YOU KNOW, IT'S THE GREATEST THING BESIDES A VETERAN IS THOSE FOLKS THAT SUPPORT BEHIND THE SCENE, VETERAN ORGANIZATIONS. AND WE'RE SO PROUD. WHAT YOU SEE IS VETERANS WHO HAVE WHO HAVE CAME OFF THE BATTLEFIELD, THEY ARE NO LONGER FIGHTING ON THE BATTLEFIELD. AND I SAID THIS NOT TOO LONG AGO, BUT THEY FIGHT IN OUR NEIGHBORHOODS AND OUR COMMUNITIES OF EL PASO. THEY CONTINUE TO FIGHT. AND WE ARE HONORED THAT YOU HAVE HAD US HERE TODAY TO SHOW THAT YOU SUPPORT THEIR EFFORT AND ALL THE EFFORT THAT THEY DO IN, IN SUPPORTING OUR COMMUNITIES AND OUR NEIGHBORHOODS. SO THANK YOU.

WELL, THEN. ANYONE ELSE THAT WOULD LIKE TO WELL, DAN, WE OBVIOUSLY BEEN A GREAT FRIEND.

YOU KNOW, WE'VE BEEN SINCE I STARTED. YOU KNOW, YOU'VE ALWAYS BEEN VERY SUPPORTIVE OF JUST OF THE VETERANS COMMUNITY. AND I KEEP SAYING THAT, YOU KNOW, BEING THE VETERANS, I FEEL LIKE WE WERE ALWAYS THE VETERANS CAPITAL. WE JUST HADN'T PRONOUNCED IT. WE HADN'T PROCLAIMED IT. WE HADN'T BECAUSE OF GENTLEMEN, LIKE LIKE DAN, LIKE YOU SAID, YOU KNOW, HE'S A GREAT GENTLEMAN. AND THIS IS WE HAVE TO KEEP THINGS GOING. YOU GUYS ARE SO CHARITABLE. WHEN YOU

[01:05:02]

GO TO THE BREAKFAST. I MEAN, IT'S LIKE BEING LIKE LIKE THERE'S A FAMILY, LIKE IT'S SOMEBODY'S WEDDING OR SOMETHING. YOU JUST WALK IN THINKING THERE'S A BIG PARTY THAT'S TAKING PLACE, BUT VERY INFORMATIVE. AND, YOU KNOW, WE'RE VERY SUPPORTIVE OF THAT.

SO DAN VERY DESERVING AND YOU HAVE GREAT FRIENDS AND YOU'LL ALWAYS GREAT SUPPORT. AND THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING THAT YOU DO FOR OUR COMMUNITY AND FOR VETERANS AS WELL. AND WE INVITE YOU, JUDGE AND THE COMMISSIONER, IF YOU HAVE YOUR SLOTS EMPTY ON THURSDAY TO JOIN US, THAT WE CALL THE SEA OF BLUE. AS YOU CAN SEE, WE ARE THE SEA OF BLUE. SO COME ON OUT AND ENJOY BREAKFAST WITH US. BREAKFAST IS FREE. YOU DON'T HAVE TO PAY A PENNY. COME ON. THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU. THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU. OH, YEAH. WE ARE ALL. ALL. YOU HAVE A. GREAT. THANK YOU.

EVERYBODY GET CLOSER BECAUSE YOU LISTEN TO PEOPLE ON THE END. HUGGINS LOVE YOU GOD. GO HIDE IN THE PRESENCE. SURE. YEAH. YOU COME UP FRONT. THERE YOU GO.

HEY, DAN. OKAY. HOW MANY PEOPLE THAT LIVE? FOR YOU? AT THIS TIME? OH.

WATCHING THEM. JUDGES COMPLAINED TO ME. OKAY. ITEM FIVE C APPROVE AND ADOPT A RESOLUTION HONORING THOSE SELECTED TO BE RECOGNIZED BY THE EL PASO ATHLETIC HALL OF FAME AND THE EL PASO SPORTS COMMISSION ON TUESDAY, JUNE 24TH, 2025, IN EL PASO COUNTY,

[C. Approve and adopt a resolution honoring those selected to be recognized by the El Paso Athletic Hall of Fame and the El Paso Sports Commission on Tuesday, June 24, 2025, in El Paso County, Texas. Ricardo A. Samaniego, County Judge, County Judge's Office, 915-273-3591]

TEXAS. TONY. COME ON. COME ON. COME ON, WAYNE.

I'M JUST. REALLY WELL. THANK YOU. HOW FORTUNATE AM I? THIS IS THREE IN A ROW OF GREAT RESOLUTION, SO I'LL READ IT INTO THE RECORD WAS EL PASO ATHLETIC HALL OF FAME WAS FOUNDED IN 1955 TO HONOR THOSE ATHLETES, BOTH MEN AND WOMEN, WHO HAVE BEEN IN THEIR ATHLETIC FIELDS OF ENDEAVOR AND BROUGHT GREAT CREDIT UPON THEMSELVES. AND THE EL PASO COUNTY WITH THE HALL HAS ENDOWED TWO SCHOLARSHIPS AT THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS, EL PASO AND EL PASO ATHLETIC HALL OF FAME

[01:10:03]

HONORS EACH YEAR BY THE RAY SANCHEZ MEMORIAL HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT ATHLETES OF THE YEAR UNDER CURRENT PRESIDENT RUBEN R RAMIREZ, WAS THIS YEAR. THE INDUCTEES ARE BOBBY RODRIGUEZ KIRKLEY, KENDRA CHAMBERS COLEMAN, AND NATALIA ENOJO. IN THE LIVING ATHLETE CATEGORY, COREY HERRMANN IN THE COACH ADMINISTRATOR CATEGORY, YESENIA ALARCON ORTEGA IN THE COACH CATEGORY. JOE MUNICH IN THE MEDIA CATEGORY, SCOTT SMELSER IN THE TRAINER CATEGORY AND LEON WADE IN THE POSTHUMOUS CATEGORY. THE BANQUET WILL BE 6 P.M. ON TUESDAY, JUNE THE 24TH AT THE EL PASO COMMUNITY COLLEGE ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES CENTER, BUILDING A 9050 BY COUNT WITH EL PASO ATHLETIC HALL OF FAME, HAS INDUCTED 416 MEN AND WOMEN INTO THE PRESTIGIOUS ORGANIZATION AND THANKS THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT EL PASO AS THE INDIVIDUAL PLAQUES ARE PROUDLY DISPLAYED IN THE CONCOURSE OF THE DON HASKINS CENTER ON THE UTEP CAMPUS, AND WAS A TITLE SPONSORSHIP OF EL PASO SPORTS COMMISSION UNDER THE LEADERSHIP OF PRESIDENT JANET VARGAS AND SPORTS STRATEGIST TONY RODRIGUEZ. ALONG WITH THEIR DEDICATED STAFF AND ONGOING EFFORTS OF THE EL PASO ATHLETIC HALL OF FAME, CONTINUES TO PROVIDE MEANINGFUL AND LASTING MEMORIES FOR EL PASO, TEXAS, THE STATE, THE REGION, AND THE NATION. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE EL PASO COUNTY JUDGE AND COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OF THE COUNTY OF EL PASO, TEXAS, THAT THE WEEK OF JUNE 23RD, 2025 SHALL BE KNOWN AS THE EL PASO ATHLETIC HALL OF FAME, AND EL PASO SPORTS COMMISSION SIGNED THIS 23RD DAY OF JUNE 2025. WE HAVE A MOTION FROM JUDGE SAMANIEGO, A SECOND FROM COMMISSIONER STOUT. THE VOTING IS OPEN. THE MOTION CARRIES. WELCOME. THANK YOU. JUDGE.

COUNTY COMMISSIONERS, FOR ONCE AGAIN SPONSORING THIS RESOLUTION AS WE HONOR THE CLASS OF 2025 OF THE EL PASO ATHLETIC HALL OF FAME AS WE CELEBRATE OUR 70TH ANNIVERSARY. GOOD MORNING. I'M RUBEN RAMIREZ, PRESIDENT IN 20 AND 22,500, INDUCTEE OF THE EL PASO ATHLETIC HALL OF FAME. I'D LIKE TO THANK OUR TITLE SPONSOR, THE EL PASO SPORTS COMMISSION, ITS PRESIDENT, JANET VARGAS, AND SPORTS TOURISM STRATEGIST TONY RODRIGUEZ. THAT'S WITH US TODAY. I'D ALSO LIKE TO ACKNOWLEDGE BRIAN KENNEDY, A 2022 INDUCTEE OF THE EL PASO ATHLETIC HALL OF FAME, FOR BEING WITH US HERE AS WELL. SPECIAL THANKS TO OUR HALL OF FAME COMMITTEE MEMBERS. VICE PRESIDENT RAY ADAUTO I KNOW HE'S. SECRETARY DONNA CARTER, PARLIAMENTARIAN RON LYMAN, AND OUR IMMEDIATE PAST PRESIDENT, DOCTOR SCOTT STEIN. AND OF COURSE, THE EVER PRESENT MR. EL PASO, WAYNE THORNTON. YES, THIS AFTERNOON, WE WILL ALSO HONOR THE RAY SANCHEZ HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT ATHLETES AND TEAMS OF THE YEAR AT 2 P.M. AT THE EL PASO COMMUNITY COLLEGE ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICES. BUT BEFORE I GO ON, I'D LIKE TO HAVE THE CLASS MEMBERS OF 2025 COME UP AND INTRODUCE THEMSELVES.

PERFECT. WELCOME. HI, JUDGE. HI, COMMISSIONERS. MY NAME IS KENDRA CHAMBERS COLEMAN. I'M THE EIGHT TIME ALL-AMERICAN FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT AUSTIN, FOUR TIME BIG 12 CHAMPION AND THREE TIMES OLYMPIC TRIALS QUALIFIER QUALIFIER IN THE 800M. THANK YOU FOR HAVING US HERE. I NOW LIVE IN HOUSTON, TEXAS WITH MY HUSBAND AND I WENT TO HANKS HIGH SCHOOL WHERE I WAS A STATE CHAMPION. THERE. I WENT TO DESERT VIEW MIDDLE SCHOOL AND I WENT TO LOMA TERRACE ELEMENTARY.

SO EL PASO, YEAH, I BLEED EL PASO. AND I'M JUST SO HAPPY TO BE HERE. I'VE BEEN ABLE TO SEE MY FAMILY AND MY FRIENDS, AND THIS IS A REALLY SPECIAL MOMENT IN TIME FOR OUR FAMILY. MY GREAT GRANDMOTHER IMMIGRATED FROM JUAREZ, MEXICO LONG TIME AGO. AND SO I'M I'M HERE AS A GENERATIONAL IMMIGRANT AND I'M SO PROUD TO BE HERE. I'M HALF AFRICAN AMERICAN AND HISPANIC, AND I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO RUBEN AND TO RAY AND TO EVERYONE WHO PUTS THIS TOGETHER.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU. GOOD MORNING JUDGE. GOOD MORNING COMMISSIONERS. MY NAME IS NATALIA HINOJOSA. I WAS AN UNDEFEATED STATE CHAMPION FROM HIGH SCHOOL. I CONTINUED. I WAS A HIGH SCHOOL NATIONAL CHAMPION, FOUR TIME ALL-AMERICAN. AND THEN I WENT TO OKLAHOMA CITY UNIVERSITY, WHERE I BECAME A NATIONAL CHAMPION AND TWO TIME ALL-AMERICAN THERE AS WELL.

CONTINUED ON TO THE SENIOR LEVEL, WAS AN OLYMPIC TRIALS QUALIFIER AND MULTIPLE WORLD TEAM MEMBERS. SO I BORN AND RAISED EL PASO, PROUD SECOND GENERATION. AND I'M JUST SUPER,

[01:15:01]

SUPER HONORED, THANKFUL TO BE EVEN CONSIDERED, NOMINATED AND FINALLY ACTUALLY SELECTED AND INDUCTED. AND THIS IS SUCH AN HONOR. AND I WANT TO CONGRATULATE EVERYBODY ELSE THAT WAS ALSO NOMINATED AND JUST SUPER PROUD AND BLESSED TO BE HERE. THANK YOU. VERY WELL DESERVED. THANK YOU. WELCOME. GOOD MORNING, JUDGE AND COMMISSIONERS. MY NAME IS YESENIA ALARCON ORTEGA. I'M THE PROUD VOLLEYBALL COACH AT EL PASO HIGH SCHOOL. I ATTENDED EL PASO HIGH SCHOOL AS WELL. SO GO TIGERS. LIKE WE SAY NOW WE TELL OUR YOUNG LADIES CLOSE UP. I CONTINUE TO COACH AT EL PASO HIGH. THIS IS MY I JUST FINISHED MY 25TH, MY 25TH YEAR COACHING.

I BEGAN AT IRVIN HIGH SCHOOL. I ALSO COACHED AT CANUTILLO HIGH SCHOOL AND CURRENTLY AT EL PASO HIGH. I THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR TIME. THANK YOU. THANK YOU SO MUCH. MY NAME IS GO AHEAD. OH, THANK YOU ALL, COMMISSIONER AND JUDGE. I THINK IT'S A GREAT HONOR JUST TO BE HERE. WE DROVE ABOUT 20 HOURS TO GET HERE, TO BE HERE. I LIVE NOW IN WEST LAFAYETTE, INDIANA, IN WHICH NOW I'M A PASTOR. I'VE BEEN A PASTOR FOR ABOUT 20 YEARS NOW, BUT MY BEGINNING YEARS BEFORE THAT WAS HERE IN EL PASO. I WENT TO ROSS, I WENT TO BURGESS, I ENDED UP AT PARKLAND HIGH SCHOOL, AND WHEN I WAS AT ROSS, I WAS A FRESHMAN THERE AND SO FORTH. BUT AT PARKLAND, I BEGAN TO REALLY PLAY AND BEGIN TO UNDERSTAND THAT I HAD A GIFT, AND I FELT THAT GOD HAD GIVEN IT TO ME. AND MY SENIOR YEAR, I AVERAGED 30 POINTS A GAME, PRETTY MUCH. SO ALL DISTRICT, BOTH YEARS, ALL REGIONAL AS WELL. IN COLLEGE, I GOT ALSO GOT PUT IN THE HALL OF HONORS WHERE I WENT TO COLLEGE.

I LED THE NATION IN SCORING AND SO FORTH, AND WENT TO THE BASKETBALL CLASSIC, WHERE THE TOP 20 BALLPLAYERS IN THE NATION WERE VOTED IN. SO A LOT OF GOOD THINGS HAVE HAPPENED. BUT GOD GOT A HOLD TO ME ABOUT MY SENIOR JUNIOR YEAR IN COLLEGE. BUT I THINK IT'S A GREAT HONOR TO BE HERE. I THANK YOU FOR BROTHER RAMIREZ AND WAYNE THORNTON, WHO WAS A FRIEND OF MINE FOR ALMOST GOING INTO GRADE SCHOOL, PROBABLY UP TO NOW AND SO FORTH. WE PLAYED BASKETBALL ON THE COURTS. I REMEMBER PLAYING HERE IN THE CITY. WE WOULD CHALLENGE EACH SIDE NORTH, SOUTH, EAST, WEST, ALWAYS PLAYING, BUT IT WAS ALWAYS FUN AND GREAT. BUT ABOVE ALL, I THANK GOD FOR EVERYTHING THAT'S HAPPENING. I THANK FOR THE OPPORTUNITY. I'M GLAD THAT THEY PUT ME IN. IT'S A GREAT HONOR AND A GREAT PRIVILEGE, AND THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU ARE DOING AS WELL. GOD BLESS YOU. GOD BLESS YOU AND THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU. HELLO, I'M SCOTT SMELSER. I DIDN'T EVEN HAVE MY SPEECH WRITTEN FOR TOMORROW, SO I WASN'T PREPARED FOR THIS, BUT I'M ON THE ATHLETIC TRAINING CATEGORY. I RETIRED FROM EASTWOOD HIGH SCHOOL AFTER 30 YEARS BACK IN 2019. I STILL SUBSTITUTE TEACH. I WAS BORN AND RAISED IN HOUSTON, CAME OUT HERE TO UTEP, HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO WORK UNDER ROSSMOOR COACH HASKINS, COACH FLOYD, THE COEN BROTHERS. SO I'VE HAD TED BANKS AND IT'S A PRIVILEGE TO BE HONORED HERE TODAY. AND I THANK YOU FOR RECOGNIZING US. THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. APPRECIATE IT. HELLO, JUDGE. COMMISSIONERS, THANK YOU FOR HAVING US HERE TODAY. I'D LIKE TO THANK THE HALL. IT'S VERY, VERY HUMBLING AND AN HONOR AND VERY APPRECIATIVE AND THANKFUL. IT JUST SEEMS LIKE YESTERDAY I MOVED HERE FROM CANADA TO PLAY WITH THE BUZZARDS. AND, YOU KNOW, TIME REALLY FLIES. BUT, YOU KNOW, THERE'S HUNDREDS AND HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE I HAVE TO THANK FOR WHERE I AM TODAY AND FOR THIS HONOR. AND I'M A VERY AGAIN, THANKFUL. AND THANK YOU, EVERYONE, FOR HAVING US HERE TODAY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR.

OVER AND ABOVE EVERYTHING THAT YOU DO FOR THIS COMMUNITY. THANK YOU. JUST A QUICK NOTE THAT TWO PEOPLE WERE NOT ABLE TO JOIN US TODAY. ONE OF THEM IS JOE MINCH, WHO IS BEING INDUCTED IN THE MEDIA CATEGORY, AND BRANDI WADE REPRESENTING HER DAD, LEON WADE, WHO IS BEING INDUCTED IN THE POSTHUMOUS CATEGORY. I GUESS AFTER HEARING FROM EACH ONE OF THE INDUCTEES, YOU KNOW WHY THEY'RE GOING INTO THE HALL THIS YEAR. QUITE HONESTLY, THIS IS MY SECOND GO AROUND AS THE PRESIDENT OF THE HALL OF FAME, AND I'VE GOT TO SAY THAT THIS IS ONE OF THE STRONGEST CLASSES THAT WE'VE HAD EVER SINCE I'VE BEEN INVOLVED WITH THE HALL OF FAME SINCE 2005. SO CONGRATULATIONS ONCE AGAIN TO ALL OF YOU. THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING US TO HONOR YOU AND GIVE YOU THE RECOGNITION THAT YOU ALL DESERVE. JUST A QUICK REMINDER THAT TOMORROW NIGHT, WE WILL BE HOLDING OUR 70TH ANNIVERSARY BANQUET. LIKE I SAID BEFORE, AT THE EL PASO COMMUNITY

[01:20:01]

COLLEGE, ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICES. IT'S A SOLD OUT BANQUET, WHICH I'M VERY HAPPY TO SAY THAT WE ARE SOLD OUT. FOR THOSE OF YOU THAT WOULD BE INTERESTED IN WATCHING THE CEREMONY, YOU CAN GO TO KVIA.COM AND THEY'LL BE STREAMING IT LIVE FOR US TOMORROW NIGHT. AGAIN, I WANT TO THANK YOU, JUDGE. COUNTY COMMISSIONERS. COMMISSIONERS. THE EL PASO SPORTS COMMISSION PRESIDENT, JANET VARGAS, AND TONY RODRIGUEZ FOR BEING THERE AND SUPPORTING US. AS ALWAYS, THANKS FOR HAVING US. HAVING US HERE TODAY DURING OUR SEVENTH SEVENTH. GOD, WHY CAN'T I SAY THAT 70TH ANNIVERSARY? AND FOR MORE INFORMATION ON THE HISTORY OF THE HALL OF FAME, I INVITE ALL OF YOU TO GO TO EL PASO ATHLETIC HALL OF FAME. COM THANK YOU ALL AND GOD BLESS. THANK YOU. RUBEN. JUST VERY HEARTFELT THANKS FOR WHAT YOU DO AND KEEPING THINGS MOVING FORWARD.

YOU'VE DONE AN AMAZING JOB IN WAYNE. OF COURSE IF THERE'S SPORTS, IF THERE'S ANYTHING.

WAYNE'S IN THE PICTURE. RIGHT. AND BRIAN ALSO THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONTRIBUTIONS, ESPECIALLY DURING THE TIMES THAT THE COLISEUM KEEPING THINGS MOVING FORWARD. MR. DALTO JUST, YOU KNOW, IT'S SO IMPORTANT FOR US TO HAVE INDIVIDUALS LIKE YOURSELVES. YOU BECOME AMBASSADORS FOR EL PASO. AND, YOU KNOW, MORE AND MORE, WE'RE NOT HAVING TO SAY THOSE BAD NARRATIVES. I THINK LITTLE BY LITTLE WE'VE PUSHED THEM AWAY, AND ALL PEOPLE ARE BEGINNING TO SEE IS HOW WHAT A GREAT COMMUNITY WE HAVE. AND WHEN AN ATHLETE LIKE, LIKE YOURSELVES OR ADVOCATES OF SPORTS, THEN YOU BECOME GREAT AMBASSADORS FOR US. AND THANK YOU FOR THAT. I'M VERY PROUD. MY BROTHER IS IN THE HALL OF FAME. YOU KNOW, I CAN'T TELL YOU HOW PROUD I AM. MY BROTHER IN LAW. MANY MORALES FROM BOWIE, OF ALL THINGS. HE'S ALSO IN THE HALL OF FAME, AND HE WAS THE FIRST FOOTBALL PLAYER IN THE DIVISION ONE. IN FOOTBALL. HE PLAYED IN NEW MEXICO STATE. SO VERY HONORED TO WALK DOWN THE HALLWAYS. AND THE PEOPLE YOU SEE, THERE ARE PEOPLE THAT ARE PART OF OUR LIVES. YOU KNOW, THE COACHES, THE PLAYERS. SO YOU'VE ENTERED THIS VERY, VERY ICONIC KIND OF SITUATION. IT'S JUST A BEAUTIFUL PLACE TO WALK THROUGH. AND YOU'RE NOW PART OF THAT. AND LIKE I SAID, THANK YOU FOR CONTINUING TO BE OUR AMBASSADORS, INDIVIDUALS LIKE YOURSELF THAT NO LONGER LIVE IN EL PASO BUT STILL HAVE THEIR HEART HERE IN EL PASO. WE THANK YOU FOR THAT. SO ONCE AGAIN, THANK YOU EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU FOR JUST HAVING, YOU KNOW, JUST DOING SO MUCH FOR EL PASO IN VERY DIFFERENT WAYS. SO THANK YOU. THANK YOU JUDGE. THANK YOU COMMISSIONERS.

[01:25:48]

ANY. YES. YOU KNOW ABOUT. THANK YOU. OKAY. WE'LL SEE YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU. OF COURSE.

YOU KNOW. THE NEXT ITEM FIVE D APPROVE AND ADOPT A RESOLUTION WELCOMING THE JUSTICES OF THE PEACE AND CONSTABLES ASSOCIATION JPA CONFERENCE TO EL PASO, RECOGNIZING THE WORK OF OUR

[D. Approve and adopt a resolution welcoming the Justices of the Peace and Constables Association (JPCA) Conference to El Paso, recognizing the work of our Sheriff and Precinct 1 Constable in bringing the conference to El Paso, and proclaiming June 23-27, 2025, as JCPA Appreciation Week in El Paso County, Texas. David Stout, Commissioner, Precinct 2, 915-273-3559]

SHERIFF AND PRECINCT ONE CONSTABLE IN BRINGING THE CONFERENCE TO EL PASO AND PROCLAIMING JUNE 23RD THROUGH 27TH, 2025 AS JCPA APPRECIATION WEEK IN EL PASO COUNTY, TEXAS, COMMISSIONER STOUT, THANK YOU. MICHELLE. CAN WE READ IN THE NEXT ONE AS WELL? BECAUSE I'M JUST GOING TO READ THEM BOTH ONE AFTER ONE AFTER THE OTHER. OF COURSE, COMMISSIONER. THANK YOU.

ITEM FIVE APPROVE AND ADOPT A RESOLUTION DECLARING JUNE 23RD, 2025 AS CONSTABLE CHAD JORDAN DAY IN EL PASO COUNTY AND RECOGNIZING HIS SERVICE, LEADERSHIP AND CONTRIBUTIONS TO

[E. Approve and adopt a resolution declaring June 23, 2025, as Constable Chad Jordan Day in El Paso County, and recognizing his service, leadership, and contributions to advancing the mission of the Justices of the Peace and Constables Association (JPCA) throughout the State of Texas. David Stout, Commissioner, Precinct 2, 915-273-3559]

ADVANCING THE MISSION OF THE JUSTICES OF THE PEACE AND CONSTABLES ASSOCIATION JPA THROUGHOUT THE STATE OF TEXAS. OKAY, GREAT. THANK YOU. SO WE WERE ASKED BY THE SHERIFF AND CONSTABLE OF PRECINCT ONE TO SPONSOR THESE RESOLUTIONS SO THAT THEY CAN BE PRESENTED THIS EVENING AT THEIR RECEPTION THERE RIGHT NOW, WORKING ON REGISTRATION AT THE CONFERENCE.

AND SO WE'RE NOT GOING TO BELIEVE BE HERE FOR THIS, BUT WE JUST WANT TO SAY THAT WE'RE GRATEFUL FOR THEIR LEADERSHIP IN BRINGING THE CONFERENCE TO OUR COMMUNITY AND ASSOCIATION WITH THIS MANY MEMBERS. MEETING IN EL PASO HIGHLIGHTS OUR, OUR OUR EFFORTS TO PROVIDE A WELCOMING CITY FOR BOTH BUSINESS, TRAVEL AND TOURISM. SO I'M GOING TO GO AHEAD AND READ BOTH RESOLUTIONS AND THEN. THE FIRST ONE STATES, WHEREAS THE HISTORY OF THE OFFICES OF JUSTICE OF THE PEACE AND CONSTABLES HAS LINKED THEM TIGHTLY TOGETHER SINCE THE EARLY DAYS OF TEXAS, THROUGH THIS CLOSE AND SYMBOLIC WORKING RELATIONSHIP, THE JUSTICE OF THE PEACE AND CONSTABLES ASSOCIATION WAS FORMED IN 1945 TO REPRESENT THE MANY ELECTED OFFICIALS IN THESE POSITIONS, AND WHEREAS THE LARGEST ORGANIZATION OF ELECTED OFFICIALS IN TEXAS, 2091 MEMBERS, THE JPA HAS A UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY TO REPRESENT THE INTERESTS OF JUSTICE OF THE PEACE AND CONSTABLE'S. THEIR MEMBERS CONDUCT CRITICALLY IMPORTANT WORK AT THE GRASSROOTS LEVEL, CAN BE IN THE PUBLIC, CAN BE THE PUBLIC'S FIRST CONTACT WITH GOVERNMENT, LAW ENFORCEMENT, AND THE JUDICIAL PROCESS. THE JUSTICE OF THE PEACE AND CONSTABLES ASSOCIATION OF TEXAS PROUDLY REPRESENTS THE INTERESTS OF THEIR MEMBERS, WHO ARE ON THE FRONT LINES OF THE JUSTICE SYSTEM. AND WHEREAS THE JPC ADVOCATES FOR ITS MEMBERS INTERESTS BEFORE THE TEXAS LEGISLATURE MONITORS INTERIM STUDIES ON RELEVANT ISSUES, TESTIFIES IN COMMITTEE HEARINGS, AND WORKS CLOSELY WITH LAWMAKERS ON BILLS THAT PROMOTE PUBLIC SAFETY, ENHANCE THE INTEGRITY OF THE OFFICES, AND STRENGTHEN TIES WITHIN THE COMMUNITY. AND WHEREAS, THE JPA CONDUCTS AN ANNUAL CONFERENCE THAT OFFERS SIGNIFICANT EDUCATIONAL HOURS FOR ITS MEMBERS WITH A HEAVY FOCUS ON CIVIL AND CRIMINAL LAW TRAINING RELATING TO THE DUTIES OF THE JUSTICE OF THE PEACE AND CONSTABLES, AND OPPORTUNITIES TO MEET AND GREET FELLOW MEMBERS FROM ALL AROUND THE STATE. AND WHEREAS, THE BIDDING PROCESS TO HOST THE JPC ANNUAL CONFERENCE IS HIGHLY COMPETITIVE AS IT PRESENTS A VALUABLE OPPORTUNITY FOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND INCREASED TOURISM THROUGH THE DEDICATED EFFORTS OF THE EL PASO COUNTY CONSTABLE FRANK ALMADA OF PRECINCT ONE AND SHERIFF OSCAR UGARTE. THEIR RESPECTIVE TEAMS AND WITH THE STRONG SUPPORT OF DESTINATION EL PASO, OUR BEAUTIFUL SON CITY PROUDLY ROSE ABOVE FORMIDABLE CONTENDERS INCLUDING HOUSTON, SUGARLAND AND CONROE TO EARN THE PRIVILEGE OF HOSTING THE 2025 JPA ANNUAL CONFERENCE RIGHT HERE IN EL PASO COUNTY. AND NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, THAT EL PASO COUNTY JUDGE AND COMMISSIONERS COURT PROCLAIM THE WEEK OF JUNE 23RD

[01:30:04]

THROUGH JUNE 27TH, 2025, AS JUSTICES OF THE PEACE AND CONSTABLES ASSOCIATION APPRECIATION WEEK SIGNED THIS 23RD DAY OF JUNE 2025, WE HAVE A MOTION FROM COMMISSIONER STOUTE, A SECOND FROM COMMISSIONER BUTLER. THE VOTING IS OPEN. MOTION CARRIES AND THESE RESOLUTIONS ARE SUPPOSED TO BE A SURPRISE. SO DON'T DON'T TELL THEM, OKAY. COMMISSIONER.

COMMISSIONER, I DO THINK WE HAVE JP THREE IN THE AUDIENCE. DO WE? DO WE? I THINK THEY'RE HERE FOR THIS ITEM. ALL ARE HERE. OKAY. I DIDN'T EVEN REALIZE YOU WERE HERE. I'M SORRY. WELL, THEN Y'ALL CAN COME UP, AND IT'S A SURPRISE. DID Y'ALL WANT TO, MICHAEL? YOU AND YOU AND THE TEAM FROM JP THREE TO JOE. WANT TO SAY ANYTHING? THANKS. THANKS FOR POINTING THAT OUT, BETSY. I GUESS IT MUST BE LIKE BLINDER THAN USUAL TODAY. WELCOME, MICHAEL. HI. LET ME JUST. I HAD A FEW NOTES ON HERE. HOLD ON. JUST, YOU KNOW, GOOD MORNING, COMMISSIONERS AND JUDGE. YOU KNOW, ON BEHALF OF SHERIFF. HOGARTH, JUDGE JOSH ACEVEDO AND JOSH, EXCUSE ME. AND CONSTABLE FRANK ARMADA AND ALL THE JUSTICE COURTS, CONSTABLES AND CLERKS IN IN EL PASO COUNTY WHO WORK AND REPRESENT THE JUSTICE COURTS. WE ARE HONORED WITH THIS RESOLUTION, ESPECIALLY HOSTING THE JUSTICE, JUSTICE OF THE PEACE AND CONSTABLE ASSOCIATION ANNUAL CONFERENCE HERE IN EL PASO. BACK THEN, CONSTABLE UGARTE WAS VERY PROMINENT IN BRINGING THIS CONFERENCE HERE.

SO VERY PROUD THAT WE ARE THIS WE ARE NOW HERE AT THIS MOMENT HOSTING THIS CONFERENCE. YOU KNOW, THIS CONFERENCE PROVIDES US WITH THE EDUCATION THAT'S NEEDED WITH FOR WHAT WE DO IN JUSTICE. COURTS ALSO PROVIDE NETWORKING FOR OTHER CLERKS ACROSS THE STATE OF ISSUES THAT ARISE WITH WITH JUSTICE COURTS. AND ALSO, THIS PROVIDES US TO GIVE US THE GREAT EL PASO HOSPITALITY THAT WE ALL KNOW AND LOVE HERE IN EL PASO. YOU KNOW, JUSTICE COURTS ARE A VERY VALUABLE PART OF THE JUDICIAL PROCESS IN TEXAS. YOU KNOW, WE ARE CONSIDERED WHAT'S CALLED THE PEOPLE'S COURTS BECAUSE WE ARE THE MOST ENTRY LEVEL OF JUSTICE COURTS THAT JUSTICE THAT PEOPLE MAY ENCOUNTER DAY TO DAY. MORE LIKELY THAN NOT, MOST PEOPLE WILL FIRST, FIRST, AND MAYBE ONLY TIME THEY EVER GET INTO THE JUDICIAL SYSTEM. JUDICIAL SYSTEM WOULD BE A JUSTICE OF THE PEACE COURTS. AND SO TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE PROVIDING THE SERVICES CONFERENCE IS VERY POWERFUL AND VERY IMPORTANT FOR US. THIS HELPS US EXPAND OUR KNOWLEDGE AND TO MAKE SURE THAT WE PROVIDE FAIR SERVICE TO THOSE THAT COME TO OUR COURT, JUST LIKE MARTIN LUTHER KING SAID IN BIRMINGHAM JAIL, THAT JUSTICE DELAYED IS JUSTICE DENIED. WE MAKE SURE THAT THIS CONFERENCE HELPS US MAKE SURE THAT JUSTICE IS NOT DELAYED OR DENIED TO PEOPLE THAT COME TO OUR COURTS. AND AGAIN, COMMISSIONERS, THANK YOU. COMMISSIONERS AND JUDGE, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THIS HONOR AND THESE RESOLUTIONS. RECOGNIZING THIS WEEK OF HAVING OUR CONFERENCE HERE IN EL PASO. SO THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU, MICHAEL, AND THANK YOU TO YOUR TEAM. I'M SURE GLAD THAT WE FOUND HIM BACK THERE SOMEWHERE. RIGHT. WELL, AND ALSO, I DO HAVE TO THANK OUR COURT COORDINATOR.

IT WAS A BLUE THAT WAS AS WELL. SORT OF. CAN YOU ALL INTRODUCE YOURSELVES? SURE. AND I'LL START WITH OUR COURT COORDINATOR. I'M THE COURT COORDINATOR. ARLENE JUAREZ, ADMINISTRATIVE SPECIALIST. MY NAME IS SARAH MORENO, AND I'M A COURT CLERK. AT AGUIRRE. COURT CLERK. TRACY VALENZUELA, COURT CLERK. RODRIGUEZ AND COURT CLERK. THANK YOU. AND, MICHAEL, YOU'RE YOU'RE ABSOLUTELY RIGHT ABOUT YOU KNOW, IT'S FUNNY HOW YOU DISCOVER CERTAIN THINGS BECAUSE OF CRISIS, BUT BUT DURING THE PANDEMIC, MY UNDERSTANDING OF JP'S AND WHAT THEY DID AND THE RENTAL SITUATIONS AND THE CHALLENGES THAT PEOPLE HAD, AND BEING ABLE TO PUT ASIDE A LOT OF TIMES, YOU KNOW, SORT OF THE DEMAND OF THANK YOU, JUDGE. THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. OKAY.

THANK YOU. NOW WE GOT THE TEAMS COMPLETE. YES. NO, BUT I DO WANT TO THANK YOU. AND LIKE I SAID, I DISCOVERED, YOU KNOW, YOU'VE ALWAYS DONE SOME AMAZING THINGS. BUT DURING THAT PANDEMIC WHAT YOU HAD TO GO THROUGH AND YOU KNOW, PEOPLE LOSING AND, YOU KNOW, SUPPORTING US ON NOT BEING HARSH ON SOME OF THE RENTALS. AND IT'S JUST AMAZING HOW YOU STOOD UP. AND OF COURSE, THE CONSTABLE'S HELPING US AT AT EVERY TURN OF THE CHALLENGE THAT WE HAD, THE VACCINES REACHING OUT TO PEOPLE, IT WAS JUST A WE DISCOVERED SOMETHING VERY VALUABLE IN OUR COMMUNITY, AND IT'S THE JUSTICE OF THE PEACE. AND OF COURSE, HAVING ALL OF YOU AND THE CONSTABLES WORKING TOGETHER. SO WE THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THAT. COMMISSIONER STOUT, THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH FOR YOUR SERVICE AND THE IMPORTANT WORK THAT YOU DO. I HOPE YOU ALL HAVE A GREAT CONFERENCE. THANK YOU FOR BEING I'M SURE YOU'RE GOING TO BE GREAT HOSTS AND LOOKING FORWARD

[01:35:05]

TO HEARING FROM THE JPC ABOUT ABOUT THE AMAZING TIME THAT THEY HAD HERE IN EL PASO. THANK YOU, THANK YOU. JUDGE HERRERA, DID YOU WANT DID YOU WANT TO SAY ANYTHING? JUST BRIEFLY. I CAN'T ECHO ENOUGH, YOU KNOW, THE EFFORTS OF CONSTABLE FRANK ALMADA AND SHERIFF UGARTE, WHAT THEY DID TO BRING IT TO EL PASO, THE GROUNDWORK THAT THEY'VE DONE TO LAY IT FORWARD, TO HAVE A SUCCESSFUL CONFERENCE, THE NUMBERS THAT WE DIDN'T EXPECT TO GET THIS MANY REGISTRANTS. AND WHEN WE DID, WE STARTED SEEING THE NUMBERS COME IN. IT JUST SHOWED HOW EXCITED EVERYBODY WAS TO COME TO EL PASO, TO SEEING OUR WONDERFUL CITY, OUR COMMUNITY, HAVE SOME GREAT FOOD, HAVE A GREAT TIME, AND THERE'S GOING TO BE EVENTS ALL WEEK LONG. AND WE LOVE. IF YOU ALL CAN COME OUT. THANK YOU, THANK YOU JUDGE. IT'S ANOTHER FEATHER IN OUR HAT OF, YOU KNOW, CONFERENCES THAT ARE BEING HELD IN EL PASO THAT WEREN'T BEFORE. AND I DID WORK A LITTLE BIT WITH THE SHERIFF AND TRYING TO IT WAS JUST AMAZING. IT WAS A FULL COURT PRESS. I GOT TO MEET THE PRESIDENT, WHO OF COURSE, MAYBE I COULD SAY THIS HERE, NOT TONIGHT, BUT SHE WANTED HOUSTON AND I DON'T BLAME HER. SHE'S THE PRESIDENT OF THE ORGANIZATION. SO THAT SAYS A LOT ABOUT EL PASO AND ABOUT OUR ABILITY TO HOST CONFERENCES LIKE THIS. BUT THAT MEANS THAT THE NEXT ONE WILL BE A LITTLE BIT EASIER IF WE DO IT RIGHT. YOU KNOW, WE ALWAYS SAY EL PASO. TO KNOW US IS TO LOVE US. A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE GOING TO GET TO KNOW US, AND SOME OF THE NARRATIVES ARE GOING TO BE PUSHED ASIDE BECAUSE WE JUST HAVE A TREMENDOUSLY GREAT COMMUNITY. SO THANK YOU FOR OUR PRIVILEGE. I THINK WHEN HOLLY CAME OUT LAST YEAR WITH THE BOARD AND THEY AND THEY SAW EL PASO, THEY WERE CONVINCED THIS IS JUDGE WILLIAMSON IS SHE'S BECOME A HUGE FAN. SHE'S EXCITED TO BE HERE ASKING QUESTIONS ALL THE TIME ABOUT WHAT THEY CAN DO WHEN THEY'RE OUT HERE. YOU KNOW.

AND PEOPLE MOST AS I TALK GO AROUND AND TALK TO PEOPLE FROM THE STATE. THEY HAVEN'T BEEN HERE IN 10 TO 15 YEARS. SO I SAID, JUST GET READY TO HAVE YOUR SOCKS KNOCKED OFF.

DIFFERENT COMMUNITY. CONGRATULATIONS. THANK YOU, THANK YOU. CONGRATULATIONS.

OKAY, I'M GOING TO READ THE OTHER RESOLUTION BECAUSE WE'RE VOTING ON ON BOTH AT THE SAME TIME. WE VOTED FOR ONE ALREADY RIGHT. THEY'RE THEY'RE BOTH ON THE SAME SAME SAME ONE. SO LET ME LET ME READ IT INTO THE RECORD REAL QUICK. SO IT SAYS WHEREAS THE EL PASO COUNTY COMMISSIONERS COURT IS PROUD TO RECOGNIZE THE OUTSTANDING LEADERSHIP AND PUBLIC SERVICE OF INDIVIDUALS WHO CONTRIBUTE MEANINGFULLY TO THE ADVANCEMENT OF LAW ENFORCEMENT ACROSS TEXAS.

AND WHEREAS, CONSTABLE CHAD JORDAN, WHO SERVES AS CONSTABLE OF HOOD COUNTY AND AS SECRETARY TREASURER OF THE JUSTICE OF THE PEACE AND CONSTABLES ASSOCIATION, JPA BOARD HAS EXEMPLIFIED A DEEP COMMITMENT TO COLLABORATION, PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND PUBLIC SAFETY, AND WHEREAS CONSTABLE JORDAN WORKED CLOSELY WITH SHERIFF AND CONSTABLE FRANK ALMADA TO SUCCESSFULLY BRING THE JPCA CONFERENCE TO EL PASO FOR THE FIRST TIME IN OVER 20 YEARS, AN ACHIEVEMENT THAT HIGHLIGHTS EL PASO COUNTY'S LEADERSHIP IN LAW ENFORCEMENT AND BRINGS VALUABLE TRAINING AND STATEWIDE RECOGNITION TO THE REGION. AND WHEREAS CONSTABLE JORDAN'S EFFORTS REFLECT HIS DEDICATION TO THE STRENGTHENING OF RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN AGENCIES, SUPPORTING THE PROFESSIONAL GROWTH OF PEACE OFFICERS, AND ENSURING THAT COMMUNITIES ACROSS TEXAS BENEFIT FROM SHARED RESOURCES AND BEST PRACTICES. AND NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, THAT EL PASO COUNTY JUDGE AND COMMISSIONERS COURT HEREBY DESIGNATES JUNE 23RD, 2025 AS CONSTABLE CHAD JORDAN DAY IN EL PASO COUNTY AND EXTEND ITS SINCERE APPRECIATION FOR HIS CONTINUED SERVICE, LEADERSHIP AND CONTRIBUTIONS TO ADVANCING THE MISSION OF THE JPA THROUGHOUT THE STATE OF TEXAS. SIGNED THIS 23RD DAY OF JUNE, 2025. WE HAVE A MOTION FROM COMMISSIONER STOUT, A SECOND FROM COMMISSIONER HOLGUIN. THE VOTING IS OPEN. THE MOTION CARRIES. THANK YOU ALL ONCE AGAIN. WE'LL SEE. WE'LL SEE YOU THIS EVENING. RESOLUTIONS IN HAND. HOPEFULLY. IT'S A SURPRISE. THANK YOU COMMISSIONER. THANK YOU JUDGE.

THANK YOU COMMISSIONER. THANK YOU, THANK YOU. GOOD LUCK. ITEM FIVE F APPROVE AND ADOPT A RESOLUTION URGING ALL UNITS OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT TO SUPPORT THE AMERICAN PRINCIPLES OF FAIRNESS, JUSTICE, HUMAN DIGNITY AND EQUALITY AND DUE PROCESS UNDER THE CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS THAT

[F. Approve and adopt a resolution urging all units of local government to support the American principles of fairness, justice, human dignity and equality, and due process under the constitutional rights that are the bedrock of freedom in the Union known as the United States of America. David Stout, Commissioner, Precinct 2, 915-273-3559]

ARE THE BEDROCK OF FREEDOM IN THE UNION KNOWN AS THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. WE HAVE FIVE PEOPLE SIGNED UP FOR PUBLIC COMMENT FOR THIS ITEM, COMMISSIONER STOUT. AND. GOOD MORNING. GOOD MORNING, COMMISSIONERS. I STAND IN SUPPORT OF RESOLUTION FIVE F. MY NAME IS SANDRA JONES. I'M A DEACON IN THE EPISCOPAL CHURCH, SERVING IN THE LOWER VALLEY AT SAINT CHRISTOPHER'S, AND I'VE BEEN A DEACON FOR ABOUT FOUR YEARS AND BEEN IN EL PASO FOR DECADES, MORE DECADES THAN I CARE TO ADMIT. I MY JOB AS A DEACON IS TO BRING THE NEEDS OF

[01:40:06]

THE COMMUNITY TO THE CHURCH, AND HERE TODAY, I'M BRINGING THE NEEDS OF THE COMMUNITY TO YOU, THE COMMISSIONERS. SOME WEEKS AGO, I HEARD ABOUT ICE AGENTS DETAINING PEOPLE AS THEY LEAVE THEIR ASYLUM HEARINGS AT THE FEDERAL COURTHOUSE. AND I HEARD THAT THEY WOULD HAVE THEIR HEARING. THEIR CASE WOULD BE DISMISSED, ICE AGENTS WOULD BE WAITING FOR THEM AND DETAIN THEM FOR DEPORTATION. SO I WENT TO SEE FOR MYSELF. AND IF YOU'LL BEAR WITH ME, I JUST WANT TO TELL YOU A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THAT EXPERIENCE. I'VE BEEN DOING THIS NOW FOR A FEW WEEKS, ALONG WITH A GROUP OF FOLKS FROM FROM A GROUP OF ACTIVISTS WHO WILL SPEAK THEMSELVES. SO I WENT FOR MYSELF AND I WAS I WATCHED AS PEOPLE ARRIVED. I GOT THERE EARLY, AND I WATCHED AS ASYLUM SEEKERS ARRIVED EARLY FOR THEIR CASES. AND THEY'RE EASILY RECOGNIZED. THEY'RE DRESSED IN THEIR BEST, AND THEY HAVE THEIR DOCUMENTS IN HAND, AND THEY'RE EARLY. THEY'RE ALWAYS EARLY, AND THEY ARRIVE WITH FAMILY MEMBERS, AND THEY ARRIVE WITH COWORKERS AND THEIR CHILDREN IN TOW. AND THEY'RE YOUNG COUPLES AND THEIR FAMILIES AND THEIR DAD, ADULT DADS AND ADULT SONS, MOMS, ADULT DAUGHTERS, GRANDDAUGHTERS. ON THIS DAY, I DID NOT GO INTO THE COURTROOM THIS DAY THAT I'M REFERRING TO. RATHER, I WAITED ON THE SEVENTH FLOOR RIGHT DOWN THE STREET HERE, AND I WATCHED.

ALSO, ICE AGENTS ARRIVE. THEY WERE WHEN WE FIRST BEGAN ATTENDING. THEY WERE DRESSED IN STREET CLOTHES, YOU KNOW, GRAPHIC TEES. AND THEY WAITED ON ONE SIDE OF THE ATRIUM NEAR THE ELEVATORS. AND WE, THE COURT WATCHERS, WOULD WAIT ON THE OTHER SIDE. AND WHAT MADE THIS PARTICULAR DAY THAT I'M THINKING ABOUT SO NOTABLE IS THAT THEY WERE MASKED, FULLY MASKED, SOME WITH HEAD COVERINGS, SOME WITH BASEBALL CAPS. THE ICE AGENTS WERE UNIDENTIFIABLE, AND SOME OF THE COURT WATCHERS, INCLUDING MYSELF, I HAVE TO ADMIT, WOULD PHOTOGRAPH THE ICE AGENTS BECAUSE THIS WAS A SCENARIO THAT I IT WAS LIKE I NEEDED TO REMIND MYSELF THAT THIS WAS LATER, THAT THIS ACTUALLY HAPPENED. AND THE ICE AGENTS BEGAN TO PHOTOGRAPH US AS WELL, OR THEY HELD THEIR CAMERAS UP. I ASSUME THAT THAT'S WHAT WAS HAPPENING. I APPROACHED A COUPLE OF THEM AND COMMENTED HOW UNCOMFORTABLE I WAS AS A PERSON OF FAITH, AS A CHRISTIAN, AS A CLERGY PERSON, THAT THAT WE WERE IN THIS US AND THEM SCENARIO. RIGHT? AND THAT I THAT I WANTED THEM TO KNOW THAT THEY ARE IN MY PRAYERS AS WELL. AND ONE REPLIED TO ME, IF WE MET ON THE STREET, YOU AND I WOULD BE HAVING A CONVERSATION. SO FROM ONE COURTROOM SESSION, 11 PEOPLE WERE DETAINED THAT DAY AND ESCORTED TO THE PRIVATE FREIGHT ELEVATOR. AND BY THE TAKEN BY THE FULLY MASKED AND UNIDENTIFIABLE AGENTS. AND I HELD A FAMILY MEMBER AS SHE WEPT AS HER FAMILY MEMBER WAS TAKEN, TAKEN AWAY, SHE WAS INCONSOLABLE. MASKED AGENTS TAKE GOVERNMENT AGENTS TAKE PEOPLE AND A WAY TO AN UNKNOWN PLACE AND IN A MANNER THAT IS BEYOND THEIR CONTROL, AS IF THEY ARE CONVICTED CRIMINALS. AND THIS IS WHERE WE'RE AT. THESE PEOPLE ARE NOT CRIMINALS. THEY'RE SHOWING UP FOR THEIR COURT DATE. THEY'RE TRYING TO DO THE RIGHT THING. THEY'RE TRYING TO COMPLY WITH U.S. LAW HERE IN A COUNTRY THAT ONCE WELCOMED THOSE YEARNING TO BE FREE, THIS IS WHAT IS HAPPENING. THE EFFECTS OF THE ICE DETENTION. I'LL JUST CONCLUDE WITH THIS, AND I THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND BEARING WITH MY STORY, THE EFFECTS AFFECT, THE EFFECTS ARE ON ALL AROUND THE PEOPLE SEEKING ASYLUM AND THE EFFECTS OF ICE DETENTIONS ARE HAVING A GREAT IMPACT ON THIS COMMUNITY AS WELL. I KNOW FAMILIES WHO ARE GRIEF STRICKEN AS THEIR THEIR FAMILY MEMBERS ARE TAKEN AWAY AND THEY DISAPPEAR INTO THIS SYSTEM. AND IT TAKES DAYS AND SOMETIMES WEEKS FOR PEOPLE TO FIND THEM AND KNOW WHERE THEY'RE AT. I BELIEVE THIS IMPACTS THE AGENTS THEMSELVES. I KNOW IT AFFECTS THE GUARDS AT THE COURTHOUSE. IT AFFECTS IT HAS TO AFFECT EVERYONE WHO IS ENCOUNTERING THIS SITUATION. SO I FULLY SUPPORT THIS RESOLUTION,

[01:45:08]

THIS AND I STAND IN IN OPPOSITION TO THIS BRUTAL AND UNJUST PROCESS. I BELIEVE THIS CRUELTY MUST END AS A PERSON WHO FOLLOWS A GOD OF MERCY AND JUSTICE AND OF LOVE. I IMPLORE YOU ALSO, AND I ENCOURAGE YOU TO, AS PEOPLE DEDICATED TO A LIFE OF SERVICE TO THIS COMMUNITY, TO PLEASE CONTINUE THIS GOOD WORK. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND BEING HERE WITH US. APPRECIATE THAT. THANK YOU. JUDGE. BEFORE WE HEAR MORE PUBLIC TESTIMONY, I WANT TO READ THE RESOLUTION INTO THE RECORD. AND THEN WE AND THEN WE CAN CONTINUE ON. BUT I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THE FOR THE TESTIMONY. I THINK IT NEEDS TO BE HEARD MORE AND MORE OFTEN BY MORE PEOPLE. YOU KNOW, THIS IS JUST, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE BEING SNATCHED OFF THE STREETS AND PEOPLE BEING TAKEN, TAKEN AWAY WHILE THEY'RE DOING WHAT THEY'RE ASKED TO BE HAS TO BE DONE, IS, IS JUST UNACCEPTABLE. AND, AND WE ALL NEED TO SPEAK OUT ABOUT IT. YOU KNOW, IT'S. PEOPLE ARE ARE JUST BEING GROUND THROUGH THE GEARS OF AN INADEQUATE INADEQUATE AND NOW MORE THAN EVER, AN INHUMANE IMMIGRATION REGIME. AND SO I KNOW THAT WE HAVE OTHER OTHER SPEAKERS TODAY WHO HAVE ALSO BEEN WITNESS TO THESE STORIES, WHETHER THROUGH THE WORK ON THE GROUND AND IN THE HALLS OF POWER OR THROUGH THEIR PRESENCE IN THE HEARING ROOMS, JUST AS WE HEARD WERE THE FATES OF HUMAN BEINGS ARE DECIDED OFTEN IN MASS AND WITHIN, WITHIN SECONDS. I'M GLAD THAT YOU ALL ARE HERE TO TELL US WHAT YOU'VE SEEN, WHAT YOU'VE EXPERIENCED. AND AS THE RESOLUTION STATES, TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE DOING EVERYTHING THAT WE POSSIBLY CAN TO PROTECT THE RIGHTS OF PEOPLE IN OUR COMMUNITY, NOT JUST BECAUSE OUR WELCOMING VALUES TOWARDS IMMIGRANTS, BUT BECAUSE THIS KIND OF ABUSE OF POWER IS NOT GOING TO STOP WITH WITH IMMIGRANTS. THIS IS AN ADMINISTRATION THAT ONLY A MONTH AGO FAST TRACKED WHITE FARMERS FROM SOUTH AFRICA BASED ON A LIE TO COME TO THE UNITED STATES WHILE TARGETING PEOPLE FOR ENFORCEMENT ACTIONS BY SKIN COLOR, LANGUAGE AND NATIONAL ORIGIN AND MASS ROUNDUPS. AND IF IT CAN BE DONE WITH WITH A CERTAIN POPULATION, IT CAN BE DONE WITH ANOTHER. AND IF THAT SOUNDS ALARMING, WELL, IT'S BECAUSE IT REALLY IS. AND WE CAN'T OVERSTATE HOW PERILOUS THIS MOMENT IS, AND WE CAN'T AVOID NOTICING WHO IS NOW BEING TARGETED. AND WE HAVE TO CONTINUE TO SPEAK OUT. SO I'M GOING TO READ THE RESOLUTION AND THEN AND THEN WE CAN HEAR FROM THE OTHERS. THE RESOLUTION STATES, WHEREAS THE CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES, INCLUDING ITS BILL OF RIGHTS, GUARANTEES DUE PROCESS AND EQUAL PROTECTION UNDER THE LAW TO ALL PERSONS, NOT JUST CITIZENS, REAFFIRMED IN LANDMARK RULINGS SUCH AS ZADVYDAS AND DAVIS 2001. AND EL PASO COUNTY IS STEADFAST IN ITS OATH BOUND DUTY TO UPHOLD THESE PROTECTIONS. AND WHEREAS THE FIFTH AND 14TH AMENDMENTS MANDATE THAT NO PERSON SHALL BE DEPRIVED OF LIFE, LIBERTY OR PROPERTY WITHOUT DUE PROCESS OF LAW, A PROTECTION EXTENDED TO EVERY HUMAN BEING ON AMERICAN SOIL, UNDERSCORING OUR NATIONAL COMMITMENT TO FAIRNESS AND RESTRAINT. AND WHEREAS THE SUPREME COURT HAS LONG AFFIRMED THAT THE CONSTITUTION APPLIES TO ALL PERSONS WITHIN THE UNITED STATES, INCLUDING ALIENS, WHETHER THEIR PRESENCE IS HERE, LAWFUL OR UNLAWFUL, TEMPORARY OR PERMANENT. AND THAT COMES FROM PLYLER VERSUS DOE IN 1982, CEMENTING THE LEGAL AND MORAL RESPONSIBILITY OF ALL LOCAL AUTHORITIES TO TREAT IMMIGRANTS WITH DIGNITY AND JUSTICE. AND WHEREAS THE WRIT OF HABEAS CORPUS ENSHRINED IN ARTICLE ONE, SECTION NINE OF THE US CONSTITUTION PROTECTS AGAINST ARBITRARY DETENTION AND UNDERSCORES THE AMERICAN REJECTION OF UNCHECKED GOVERNMENTAL POWER, OBLIGATING US TO MAINTAIN ACCOUNTABILITY IN ALL ACTS OF RESTRAINT OR RELOCATION. AND WHEREAS TRANSPARENCY AND ACCOUNTABILITY IN THE TREATMENT, DETENTION AND TRANSPARENCY I'M SORRY, TRANSPORT OF INDIVIDUALS WITHIN EL PASO COUNTY IS NOT ONLY A MATTER OF GOOD GOVERNANCE, BUT A CONSTITUTIONAL IMPERATIVE GROUNDED IN THE FIRST AND FOURTH AMENDMENT'S PROTECTIONS OF SPEECH, ASSOCIATION AND FREEDOM FROM UNREASONABLE SEARCH AND SEIZURE SEIZURES. AND WHEREAS THE PRINCIPLE OF RECIPROCITY DUE TO OTHERS, AS YOU WOULD HAVE THEM DO TO YOU, ECHOES NOT ONLY THROUGH SACRED SCRIPTURE, BUT THROUGH THE AMERICAN ETHOS EMBEDDED IN THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE, WHICH ASSERTS THAT ALL MEN ARE CREATED EQUAL AND ENDOWED BY THEIR CREATOR WITH CERTAIN UNALIENABLE RIGHTS. AND WHEREAS THE WEARING OF BODY CAMERAS, VISIBLE NAME IDENTIFICATION AND CLEAR ORGANIZATIONAL INSIGNIA BY ANY INDIVIDUALS INVOLVED IN THE PHYSICAL CUSTODY OR TRANSPORT OF PERSONS IS A NECESSARY SAFEGUARD IN ALIGNMENT WITH THE VALUES OF

[01:50:02]

TRANSPARENCY, DEMOCRATIC OVERSIGHT AND CONSTITUTIONAL ACCOUNTABILITY, AND SUCH INDIVIDUALS MUST NOT WEAR FACE COVERINGS EXCEPT FOR MEDICALLY NECESSARY REASONS, SO THAT THEY MAY BE CLEARLY AND FULLY IDENTIFIED BY THE PUBLIC THAT THEY SERVE. AND WHEREAS THIS RESOLUTION IS A PATRIOTIC ACT OF FIDELITY TO THE SACRED PROMISE OF AMERICAN FREEDOM, WHICH SERVES AS A BEACON TO THE WORLD GUARANTEED BY THE CONSTITUTION. AND NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, THAT EL PASO COUNTY COMMISSIONERS COURT DEMANDS A CLEAR, CONSISTENT, AND CONSTITUTIONALLY SOUND PROCESS FOR THE HANDLING OF INDIVIDUALS, IMMIGRANTS OR OTHERWISE, BY ANY AGENCY OR ORGANIZATION OPERATING WITHIN OUR JURISDICTION, BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT THIS PROCESS MUST INCLUDE TIMELY AND TRANSPARENT NOTIFICATION DETAILING WHO WAS TAKEN UNDER WHAT AUTHORITY, WHERE THEY WERE TRANSPORTED, AND WHY SUCH ACTIONS WERE UNDERTAKEN. AND BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED THAT EL PASO COUNTY COMMISSIONERS COURT URGES EVERY CITY COUNCIL AND COUNTY COMMISSIONERS COURT ACROSS THE GREAT STATE OF TEXAS TO ADOPT SIMILAR RESOLUTIONS REAFFIRMING THE TIMELESS AMERICAN PRINCIPLES OF FAIRNESS, JUSTICE AND HUMAN DIGNITY, AND TO DO SO NOT AS PARTIZANS BUT AS PATRIOTS. SIGNED THIS 23RD DAY OF JUNE, 2025. AND I WANT TO THANK COUNTY JUDGE RUBEN BECERRA FROM HAYS COUNTY, WHO WAS THE FIRST PERSON TO PASS THIS TYPE OF RESOLUTION.

TRAVIS COUNTY PASSED ONE VERY SIMILAR LAST WEEK, AND WE'VE BEEN ASKING FOR A NUMBER OF, OF OTHER FOLKS TO SIGN ON ACROSS THE STATE. SO THANK YOU. THANK YOU. COMMISSIONER. WE HAVE A MOTION FROM COMMISSIONER STOUT, A SECOND FROM JUDGE SAMANIEGO. THE VOTING IS OPEN. COMMISSIONER STOUT. THE MOTION CARRIES AS A FRIENDLY REMINDER FOR ALL THE PUBLIC SPEAKERS. YOU HAVE FIVE MINUTES TO ADDRESS THE COURT. WE WILL BEGIN WITH KATHLEEN STOUT. ARE YOU IN THE AUDIENCE, MA'AM? WELCOME. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. EL PASO COUNTY COMMISSIONERS AND COUNTY JUDGE FOR ALLOWING ME TO SPEAK. AS WAS STATED, I AM KATHLEEN OR KATHY STOUT, RETIRED PROFESSOR OF 40 YEARS HERE. I AM ALSO CO-FOUNDER OF THE COMMUNITY FIRST COALITION OF EL PASO, WHICH WROTE A POSITION PAPER ON THIS TOPIC, WHICH IS SIMILAR TO SOME OF WHAT I WILL TELL YOU. WHY AM I HERE? I SUPPORT RESOLUTION FIVE F ALSO, I AM A WITNESS OF NINE DAYS AT THE FEDERAL BUILDING AND FEDERAL COURTHOUSE. I ALSO ATTENDED TRAINING WITH THE BORDER, IMMIGRATION, LAW AND JUSTICE CENTER, LOCATED AT TRINITY METHODIST CHURCH IN DOWNTOWN EL PASO. WHAT HAVE I OBSERVED? PEOPLE WHO ENTERED LEGALLY INTO THESE BUILDINGS WITH LEGAL STATUS, TEMPORARY PROTECTIVE STATUS, AMNESTY, AND WERE ASKED TO APPEAR AT A LEGAL HEARING DRESSED IN THEIR FINEST CLOTHING, BRINGING CHILDREN, EVEN INFANTS, SOMETIMES WITH THEM, VERY HOPEFUL. WHEN THEY CAME INTO THE BUILDING, THEY ALWAYS CAME EARLY. MOST OF THEM HAD THEIR HOPES DASHED. SOME OF THE JUDGES DISMISSED ALL THE CASES WITHOUT EVEN LOOKING AT THEM ON A CASE BY CASE BASIS.

SOME OF THE JUDGES WILL ORDER AN EXTENSION, BUT THE ONES THAT ARE DISMISSED, THE CASES THAT ARE DISMISSED WILL EITHER FIND THEMSELVES IN DETENTION OR IMMEDIATE REMOVAL FOR DEPORTATION. OF THE FEW JUDGES WHO EXTEND CASES WITH A NEW YEAR, A NEW HEARING DATE, IT'S UNCERTAIN WHETHER OR NOT THEY WILL HAVE THEIR NEXT DAY IN COURT. WHY IS THIS? BECAUSE WHATEVER THE JUDGES DECIDE, ICE AGENTS ARE HOVERING ON THE FOURTH ON THE SEVENTH FLOOR OF THE FEDERAL BUILDING, FIFTH FLOOR OF THE COURT BUILDING, WITH THEIR OWN LISTS, READY TO TAKE PEOPLE AWAY REGARDLESS OF WHAT THE JUDGE DECIDED. WHO ARE THESE AGENTS? WE ARE ALSO, AS VOLUNTEER WITNESSES THERE TO OBSERVE ICE AGENTS AND THEIR BEHAVIOR. AND I MUST TELL YOU, I HAVE BEEN SHOCKED AT WHAT I HAVE SEEN. THEY WEAR NO UNIFORMS. THEY HAVE NO BADGES ON, THEY HAVE NO IDENTIFICATION. THEY ARE LITERALLY DRESSED LIKE GANG MEMBERS, SOME OF THEM WITH BACKWARDS BASEBALL HATS ON. THEY WEAR FACE MASKS OR BANDANAS. THEY ARE CRUDE IN WHAT THEY SAY.

I OBSERVED ONE AGENT WHO WAS WEARING AN EL PASO STRONG T-SHIRT, AND WE ALL KNOW WHAT THAT STANDS FOR. FROM THE MASSACRE IN 2019. I FOUND THAT AWFUL, SACRILEGIOUS. ALMOST.

[01:55:01]

ANOTHER WORE A FLAG BANDANA, AND WHEN ONE OF THE VOLUNTEERS APPROACHED HER, SHE RESPONDED CRUDELY WITH LANGUAGE. FOUR LETTER WORDS THAT I CANNOT EVEN SHARE WITH YOU. GET THE F OUT OF MY FACE. PEOPLE WHO WERE THERE FOR THE HEARINGS RESPOND WITH TEARS, WITH HUGS OF OTHERS WHO MAY HAVE ACCOMPANIED THEM. BUT SOME ARE STOIC, REALIZING THAT THEY MAY BE DEPORTED OR PUT IN ONE DETENTION CENTER AFTER ANOTHER. HERE ON OUT, THEY ARE THEN TAKEN DOWN FREIGHT ELEVATORS AND WHISKED AWAY IN UNMARKED VANS. SO PLEASE, AS I CONCLUDE, SUPPORT RESOLUTION FIVE F FOR DUE PROCESS, FAIRNESS AND BASIC DECENCY. AND PLEASE ENCOURAGE OTHER COUNTIES IN THE STATE TO DO THE SAME. THANK YOU, THANK YOU. DO WE HAVE ANNA REZA IN THE AUDIENCE OR ON THE PHONE? WE'LL GO TO OH THANK YOU. I COULDN'T SEE YOU OVER MY MONITOR I APOLOGIZE DOCUMENT. I WAS JUST SPEAK OFFHAND AND I WROTE SOMETHING. GOOD MORNING. MY NAME. COMMISSIONERS AND COUNTY JUDGE. MY NAME IS ANA REZA. I WORK FOR THE EPISCOPAL DIOCESE OF THE RIO GRANDE. THEIR BRIDGE CHAPLAIN. BASICALLY, WHAT I WAS GOING TO SAY, SOMETHING I GOT BECAUSE YESTERDAY I PREACHED.

AND SO I WAS JUST GOING TO GET SOME OF THE COMMENTS. I PREACHED TO A CHURCH OVER ZOOM FROM MARTHA'S VINEYARD, WHO CONTACTED US BACK IN THE DAY WHEN THEY RECEIVED PEOPLE THEMSELVES AND SAW THE TROUBLE THAT OUR BORDER CITIES HAVE TO GO THROUGH. AND SO I SHARED WITH THEM WHAT WE'VE BEEN DOING. SO AROUND MARCH 20TH, MAY 26TH, WE I CREATED A RAPID RESPONSE GROUP AFTER JANUARY 20TH. AND SO WE'VE BEEN GETTING LIKE SOME SOME WORDS OUT. BUT SOMEBODY IN THE COMMUNITY TOLD US THAT THIS WAS HAPPENING, THAT GUARDS HAD TOLD HER AND SHE HAD GONE AND SEEN IT HERSELF. SO THAT DAY, YOU KNOW, SINCE I WORK FOR THIS DIOCESE AND THAT'S KIND OF MY JOB, I JUST GOT UP AND I CAME DOWN. AND AT FIRST IT WAS CONFUSING BECAUSE THIS WAS OUTSIDE, YOU KNOW, NOW IT'S HAPPENING INSIDE SEVENTH, FIFTH FLOOR, LIKE THEY MENTIONED. AND IT WAS VERY CONFUSING BECAUSE IT WAS JUST LIKE STARTS. AND IT'S ALWAYS THE SAME STILL NOW IT STARTS WITH THREE. THEN THERE'S 8 OR 12 AGENTS. AT ONE POINT THERE WAS ALSO FBI, SO IT WAS UP TO 18 BECAUSE WE HAD HAD AN ACTION OUTSIDE AND THEY GOT NERVOUS. AND I THINK THE NERVOUSNESS COMES BECAUSE THEY'RE DOING SOMETHING THAT'S NOT RIGHT. WHAT WE'VE SEEN, I SAW AN 18 YEAR OLD CUBAN GIRL BE SEPARATED FROM HER MOM IN TEARS. THEY WERE CRYING. AND THE JUDGE, I THINK SOMEONE TOLD ME I WASN'T AT THE COURT, BUT THAT THE JUDGE HAS SAID, YOU'RE OLD ENOUGH NOW AND WE KNOW. I MEAN, IF YOU HAVE 18 YEAR OLD DAUGHTERS, KIDS THAT THEY'RE NOT AND THAT ANYWAYS, THEY ALWAYS NEED THEIR THEIR FAMILY AND THEIR COMMUNITY. THEY DO NOT NEED TO BE IN DETENTION CENTERS. THAT YOUNG GIRL DID NOT NEED TO BE IN A DETENTION CENTER. SO MOM AND BROTHER SEPARATED FROM SISTER AND HER HUSBAND, YOU KNOW, TEARS. THERE. I SAW A MAN COME FROM ODESSA WITH HE WAS THE EMPLOYER, WITH HIS EMPLOYEE TO DRIVE HIM TO HIS COURT. AND HE GOT DETAINED AND HE TOLD THE ICE AGENTS, I UNDERSTAND YOU HAVE A JOB. I UNDERSTAND THAT HE GOES, BUT THIS MAN IS A GOOD PERSON. I'M HIS BOSS. AND I DROVE HIM ALL THE WAY OVER HERE. HE'S A GOOD WORKER. HE GOES, IT'S GOING TO BE SUCH A LONELY RIDE BACK. AND HE CRIED. THOSE ARE THE KIND OF PEOPLE THAT WE'RE GETTING RID OF. GOOD WORKERS, GOOD PEOPLE BEING ARRESTED. IT'S LIKE WE'RE GOING OVER THIS WHOLE COLONIZATION. DAD AND SON. HE WAS AROUND 60 YEARS OLD, GOT DETAINED. HE TOLD ME, YOU KNOW, I HAVE AN ACTIVE ASYLUM CASE. NOTHING SHOULD HAPPEN. AND I'M LIKE, HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN HERE? HE'S ABOUT TWO YEARS. I'M LIKE SOMETHING IN MY HEAD. I SAID SOMETHING COULD HAPPEN. I MEAN, WE'VE GONE WHEN THERE'S TEN, SIX GET ARRESTED, THERE'S 32, 32 GET ARRESTED. AND IT'S SUCH A SHOCK. THEY ARE SHOCKED. WE HAVE TO TELL THEM AND THEY START WORRYING. AND YOU JUST SEE THE PANIC AND THROUGHOUT THE TIME, THEN THEY GET OUT AND ONCE THEIR NAME IS PICKED OUT, THEY ARE JUST IN THIS SHOCK. AND IT'S SCARY. AND I BELIEVE THAT 60 YEAR OLD MAN, I THOUGHT, YOU KNOW WHAT? HE'LL COME DOWN EVEN THOUGH I'VE SEEN IT HAPPEN MANY TIMES. I SAT OUTSIDE AND I SAID, HE'LL COME OUT RIGHT NOW, HE'LL COME OUT RIGHT NOW. AND HE NEVER DID. AND I FELT A LITTLE GLIMPSE, BECAUSE THAT'S JUST SOMEONE I MET FOR TEN MINUTES.

AND I KNOW THEY ARE GOOD PEOPLE. AND THE HOPE JUST DIMINISHED. IT WAS SO SAD. AND WHAT'S HORRIBLE? IT'S OUR TAXPAYER MONEY. THE WAY WE'RE BEHAVING FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE INNOCENT ENOUGH. TOLD THE AGENTS THIS BECAUSE WE HAVE A LOT OF TIME TOGETHER WAITING FOR PEOPLE. YOU KNOW ONE THING, YOU KNOW THAT WE'VE BEEN MOVING AROUND THE AMERICAS FOR CENTURIES. THIS IS JUST A ROOT.

THIS IS COMMON. THIS SHOULD NOT BE CRIMINALIZED. AND WE SAID THAT WE WERE GOING TO GET CRIMINALS, RAPISTS, CRIMINALS, THAT MOM THAT ON FRIDAY A FAMILY OF FIVE GOT ARRESTED. MOM, DAD

[02:00:02]

AND THREE KIDS AGES 10 TO 8. AND IT WAS HEARTBREAKING. I MEAN, I SAW I SEE THE VIDEO NOW THAT I TOOK AND I CRIED STILL BECAUSE I WAS LIKE, WE WERE JUST PRAYING WITH THE KIDS FOR THIS NOT TO HAPPEN AND IT'S HAPPENING. AND I TOLD THEM, YOU ALL CAN STOP. DON'T TAKE THEM. LET THEM FIGHT THEIR CASE OUT HERE. WHY ARE THEY GOING TO BE IN THAT DETENTION? AND I KNOW MOST LIKELY THEY'RE GOING TO GO TO DILLEY AND DILLEY, TEXAS. AND IT'S A HORRIBLE PLACE. THEY NEVER TURN OFF THE LIGHT. IT'S TORTURE. AND IT'S THIS, THIS WHAT'S HAPPENING IN THE COURTROOMS AND WHAT'S HAPPENING IN OUR CITIES AND OUR COUNTRY IS CRUELTY. AND WE NEED TO STOP PEOPLE. THAT'S FAITH. I CALL OTHER PEOPLE OF FAITH TO COME AND JOIN US TO PRAY. I THINK WEDNESDAY, MAYBE THE BISHOP, THE CATHOLIC BISHOP, WILL BE HERE TO PRAY WITH US, AND THEN ALSO TO VISIT PEOPLE THAT ARE BEING DETAINED BECAUSE WE MEET THERE LIKE WE MET THIS MAN. HE'S AFRAID TO GO VISIT HIS WIFE. BUT, YOU KNOW, IF ONE OF US GO, AT LEAST WE CAN DO THAT. ONE ACT OF CHARITY. BUT I SUPPORT THIS RESOLUTION BECAUSE IT REMINDS US THAT WE ALL HAVE RIGHTS AND WE HAVE TO. WE CAN'T DEHUMANIZE PEOPLE BECAUSE WE ARE LOSING CONTROL. SO THANK YOU FOR BRINGING IT TO THE TABLE AND YES, PLEASE, OTHERS TAKE ACCOUNT. THANK YOU. NEXT WE HAVE LINDA CHEW. GOOD MORNING JUDGE COMMISSIONERS. ON A SATURDAY AFTERNOON IN APRIL, I, ALONG WITH TWO OTHER ATTORNEYS, ACCOMPANIED A VENEZUELAN COUPLE, YOUNG VENEZUELAN COUPLE TO THE SIERRA BLANCA CHECKPOINT TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY WOULD BE ABLE TO CLEAR THAT CHECKPOINT SAFELY.

NOW, A FEW WEEKS EARLIER, THIS COUPLE HAD TRAVELED ALL THE WAY, ALL THE WAY FROM THE WASHINGTON, DC AREA TO EL PASO TO APPEAR BEFORE A FEDERAL MAGISTRATE AND THAT FEDERAL MAGISTRATE RELEASED THEM ON THEIR OWN RECOGNIZANCE. AND SO THEY READY TO GO BACK, WENT TO THE AIRPORT, PASSED THROUGH TSA, AND AS THEY WERE BOARDING THE PLANE, ICE CAME AND TOOK THEM OFF THE PLANE, DRAGGED THEM OFF THE PLANE. NOW, THESE PEOPLE WERE LUCKY BECAUSE THEY HAD ATTORNEYS. THEY HAD ACLU ATTORNEYS, IMMIGRATION, NATIONAL IMMIGRATION ATTORNEYS, AND THOSE ATTORNEYS COULD NOT FIND WHERE THEY WERE. THEY WERE CONCERNED. ICE HAD TOLD THEM, I SAID, LIED TO THEM AND SAID, WE'RE TAKING THEM TO ANSON, TEXAS. AND WE'RE THE THOUGHT WAS THAT THEY WERE GOING TO BE DEPORTED TO VENEZUELA. WE LEARNED THAT, IN FACT, THEY WERE STILL IN EL PASO. AND SO WE WERE ABLE WE THEY WERE ABLE TO FILE A WRIT OF HABEAS CORPUS AND THAT WRIT OF HABEAS CORPUS WAS HEARD AND GRANTED. I COMMEND TO YOUR READING THE 37 PAGE OPINION THAT DOCUMENTS THE EGREGIOUS, UNETHICAL AND UNCONSTITUTIONAL ACTS IN WHICH ICE AND HOMELAND SECURITY ENGAGED. AND I COMMEND YOU ALSO TO SEE WHO WHO HEARD THAT CASE AND SIGNED IT. IT WAS OUR OWN DAVID BRIONES, AND, IN MY OPINION, A TRUE JURIST AND A HERO. THE COUPLE DECIDED WE DECIDED THAT, THAT THEY WERE GOING TO DRIVE HOME. THEY WERE TOO AFRAID BECAUSE AIRPLANES MAKE SEVERAL STOPS TO GET TO DC, AS WE ALL KNOW. AND SO IT WAS DECIDED THAT THEY WOULD WE'D GET A DRIVER AND A CAR SO THAT THEY JUST HAVE TO GO THROUGH ONE CHECKPOINT. IT SEEMED MORE SECURE. IT WAS ALSO DECIDED THAT THERE SHOULD BE A CAR FOLLOWING THEM. AND SO MYSELF AND A RENOWNED CRIMINAL DEFENSE ATTORNEY AND A RENOWNED CIVIL RIGHTS ATTORNEY FOLLOWED THE CAR. AND WHILE WE WERE DRIVING TO SIERRA BLANCA, WE BEGAN TO PREPARE FOR THE WORST CASE SCENARIO. WHAT SHOULD WE DO? WE HAD ALL OF OUR DOCUMENTS. HOW SHOULD WE HANDLE? WE BEGAN TO PREPARE. THE CAR. THE COUPLE PASSED THROUGH THE SECURITY CHECK WITHOUT ANY PROBLEMS. WE PASSED THROUGH THE SECURITY CHECK WITHOUT ANY PROBLEMS, AND ABOUT A MILE LATER WE BOTH TURNED OFF TO SAY OUR GOODBYES, WHICH WERE VERY TEARFUL. TEARFUL BECAUSE OF THE RELIEF. WE WERE ALL IN TERROR OF WHAT WOULD

[02:05:04]

HAPPEN, AND THEY HAD ALREADY EXPERIENCED THE TERROR. BUT WE MADE IT ON THE WAY HOME, I REALIZED THAT FOR THE FIRST TIME IN MY LIFE, AND I AM 73 YEARS OLD, FOR THE FIRST TIME IN MY LIFE, I WAS SCARED. I WAS FRIGHTENED IN MY OWN COUNTRY, OF MY OWN GOVERNMENT. THINGS HAVE GOTTEN EVEN WORSE SINCE APRIL OF 2025, AND AS AN EDITORIAL, I WOULD SUBMIT TO YOU THAT IF THE WORK THAT ICE IS DOING IS SO NOBLE, THEN OWN IT. OWN IT WITH TRANSPARENCY, OWN IT WITH ACCOUNTABILITY. TODAY I THANK YOU ALL FOR PASSING THIS RESOLUTION BECAUSE YOU HAVE EMBRACED, RIGHT. YOU HAVE EMBRACED THIS COMMUNITY, THIS COMMUNITY OF OUR NEIGHBORS, THIS COMMUNITY OF OUR CITY, THIS COMMUNITY OF OUR NATION. THIS COMMUNITY OF IMMIGRANTS. HILLEL THE ELDER POSED THREE QUESTIONS TO US. AND I LEAVE YOU THIS MORNING WITH THE LAST QUESTION, IF NOT NOW, WHEN? THANK YOU, THANK YOU JUDGE. NEXT WE HAVE ANGELICA RODRIGUEZ.

WELCOME, ANGELICA. THANK YOU SO MUCH. SO FOR THE LAST THREE WEEKS, YOU GUYS HAVE SEEN ME HERE, WHETHER IT BE RECOGNIZING MY BEING THE FIRST STUDENT TO CHAIR THE NSW BRANCH, ADVOCATING FOR THE INHUMANE TREATMENT OF THE TEN STUDENTS WHO HAD THEIR VISAS REVOKED, AND TO SHARE MY CLASSMATES STORY, WHO WAS PERSONALLY SCARED TO ATTEND. SO TODAY I REALLY WANT TO DISCUSS THE EFFECTS OF WHAT'S HAPPENING TO OUR COMMUNITY. AND AFTER HEARING THE SPEECHES, WE DON'T TALK ENOUGH ABOUT GENERATIONAL TRAUMA. AND THAT STARTS WHEN A FAMILY GOES TO COURT. THEY'RE DOING THE RIGHT THING. AND THEN MOM, DAD DOESN'T COME HOME. AND THAT'S WHERE SOCIAL WORKERS STEP IN. WHETHER IT BE THOSE KIDS ARE LEFT ALONE. WE DON'T THINK OF THE REPERCUSSIONS THAT ARE HAPPENING TO NOT HAVE YOUR MOM AND DAD COME HOME, TO NOT HAVE YOUR SIBLINGS COME HOME. AND THAT'S WHERE GENERATIONAL TRAUMA STEMS FROM. NOT ONLY THAT, WE TALK ABOUT AN AMERICAN DREAM.

THEY COME HERE FOR A DREAM, FOR THE PURPOSE, TO CREATE A BETTER LIFE. BUT WHAT DREAM ARE WE GIVING THEM? FEAR, SCARE? TRAUMA? UNCERTAINTY. THEY COULD DO EVERYTHING RIGHT, BUT YET THEY'RE TARGETED RIGHT NOW. AND IT IS SCARY TO STAND UP HERE AND SAY, I SUPPORT THIS BILL OR I SUPPORT THIS RESOLUTION, OR I'M GOING TO SPEAK UP FOR THIS BECAUSE WE ARE AFFECTED TOO.

I'VE HAD CLASSMATES WHERE THEY'VE BEEN ASKED QUESTIONS THAT I'VE NEVER SEEN ASKED BEFORE, WHETHER IT BE, ARE YOU PRO-IMMIGRATION? ARE YOU NOT WHERE WE SHOULDN'T BE ASKED THOSE QUESTIONS? IT'S ABOUT MY WORK. IT'S ABOUT WHAT I BRING. BUT CURRENTLY, RIGHT NOW, WE ARE SEEING THINGS THAT ARE NEW, THAT HAVE NEVER BEEN FACED BEFORE IN OUR COMMUNITY IS WORKING. YOU'VE SEEN ALL OF THEIR TESTIMONIES. THEY'RE THERE. THE PEOPLE ARE THERE SUPPORTING. AND ALTHOUGH YOU GUYS ARE GIVING THIS RESOLUTION, I ENCOURAGE YOU TO JUST STOP BY AND VISIT. AND IF NOT YOU, SOMEONE IN YOUR OFFICE. BECAUSE I THINK WITH THAT, WE NEED TO SHOW THEM THAT EL PASO COMMUNITY, WE'RE SEEING THEM, WE'RE HEARING THEM, WE'RE SUPPORTING THEM. WE'RE STANDING ALONGSIDE THEM, NOT BEHIND THEM, NOT IN FRONT OF THEM. WE'RE RIGHT NEXT TO THEM, AND WE'RE GOING TO HEAR IT A TIME AND TIME AGAIN. IT'S GOING TO GET WORSE. IT'S GOING TO GET WORSE. EVEN.

THIS YEAR WAS THE FIRST TIME EVER I HAD TO EXPLAIN TO MY SON, WHY IS ICE ACROSS YOUR SCHOOL? AND HIS SCHOOL IS RIGHT AT THE BORDER, AND THEY SAY THAT THEY'RE THERE TO PROTECT, BUT REALLY IT'S SCARY. THEY'RE SCARING THE PARENTS. AND WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN NOW? IT'S GOING TO AFFECT OUR ECONOMY. IF WE ALL KNOW THE SCHOOL SYSTEMS, THEY COUNT FOR ATTENDANCE OF THE STUDENTS ARE THERE. IF THE PARENTS ARE SO FEARFUL, THEY'RE NOT GOING TO SEND THEIR STUDENTS, AND WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN? NOT ONLY THAT, WE'VE SEEN IT IN MY ORGANIZATIONS, AND I WORK FOR MANY THAT THEY'RE ASKING ME AS A BRANCH CHAIR, CAN YOU HOST A WEBINAR? BECAUSE RIGHT NOW THEY'RE ATTACKING OUR WORDING, THEY'RE ATTACKING OUR SOCIAL MEDIA, THEY'RE ATTACKING

[02:10:01]

OUR CONSTITUTION, AND WE HAVE TO CHANGE EVERYTHING OVERNIGHT. BUT HOW DO WE CHANGE IT IF THEY'RE ALSO CUTTING OUR FUNDS? AND ME, AS A STUDENT, I TRY MY BEST AND I ALWAYS TRY TO TELL THEM WE HAVE SUPPORT OF ALL OF OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS, BUT AT THE SAME TIME, WE NEED TO SHOW UP.

AND WHERE DO WE SHOW UP? THE SCHOOLS, AGENCIES, AND OBVIOUSLY THIS RESOLUTION AND I DO UNDERSTAND AND I'LL LEAVE YOU THIS, IS THAT YOU GUYS ARE TAKING A RISK. YOU ARE AND WE SEE IT AND WE APPRECIATE YOU TAKING THE RISK. BUT DON'T LET IT STOP HERE. I KNOW THAT IT'S HARD TO HAVE THOSE MEETINGS, AND I KNOW IT'S HARD TO REALLY COMMUNICATE ON WHAT'S HAPPENING.

BUT YOU GUYS HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY. AND TRUST ME, IF YOU NEED OUR SUPPORT, WE'RE HERE. YOU'VE SEEN IT TIME AND TIME AGAIN. NOT ONLY MY COMMITMENT. I'VE BEEN HERE FOR A MONTH STRAIGHT TALKING TO YOU ABOUT DIFFERENT TOPICS, BUT OUR COMMUNITY, WE HAVE CHATS, WE HAVE EMAILS, WE HAVE COMMUNICATIONS. AND I REALLY DO HOPE THAT YOU GUYS REACH OUT TO US WHEN YOU NEED IT. BUT THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY AND I HOPE YOU GUYS HAVE A GREAT DAY. OKAY. THANK YOU FOR YOUR COURAGE. THANK YOU, THANK YOU. APPRECIATE IT. IS THERE ANYBODY ELSE IN THE AUDIENCE THAT WISHES TO ADDRESS THE COURT THAT COMPLETES PUBLIC COMMENT ON THIS ITEM? JUDGE. COMMISSIONER CORONADO, THANK YOU JUDGE. THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER, FOR BRINGING THIS THIS ITEM TO THE COURT'S CONSIDERATION, YOU KNOW. IT'S KIND OF SAD TO SEE THAT THE IDEALS THAT OUR FOREFATHERS PUT FORWARD ARE REGRESSING INSTEAD OF MOVING FORWARD. YOU KNOW, ONE OF OUR FIRST PRESIDENTS QUOTED A QUOTE FROM HIM IS WE ARE A GOVERNMENT OF LAWS, NOT OF MEN.

AND IT'S SAD THAT THIS CURRENT ADMINISTRATION IS NOT ABOUT THAT IDEAL. YOU KNOW, WE NEED TO DEFEND THE RULE OF LAW, AND WE NEED TO STAND UP AND WE NEED TO DEMAND JUSTICE, NOT FROM JUST OUR ADMINISTRATION, BUT OUR COURTS, OUR CONGRESS, BECAUSE THEY CAN PUT A STOP TO THIS. BUT THERE'S A LOT OF PEOPLE RIGHT NOW THAT ARE JUST HANGING ON THE SCENES, ON THE SIDELINES, NOT STANDING UP FOR WHAT THIS COUNTRY STANDS FOR. AND IT'S SA, EVEN, YOU KNOW, ONE OF OUR SENATORS, SENATOR ALEX PADILLA FROM THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA, WHO SERVES ON THE HE'S A RANKING MEMBER OF THE SENATE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE'S SUBCOMMITTEE ON IMMIGRATION, CITIZENSHIP AND BORDER SAFETY AND THE FIRST LATINA TO SERVE AS CHAIR. HE WAS HANDCUFFED AND DETAINED BY THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION FOR MERELY TRYING TO ASK QUESTIONS ABOUT THE ADMINISTRATION'S POLICY ON IMMIGRATION AND WHAT THEY WERE DOING REGARDING THESE DEPORTATIONS, AND NOT ABIDING BY OUR RULE OF LAW. YOU KNOW, THIS RULE OF LAW IS IMPORTANT TO OUR REPUBLIC. WITHOUT THAT, WE, YOU KNOW, ALL THE IDEALS THAT WE STAND FOR IN THIS COUNTRY STANDS FOR. WE'VE HAD A LOT OF GROWING UP TO DO IN OUR, YOU KNOW, WE PUT FORWARD IDEALS BACK IN THE START OF THIS COUNTRY. AND WE'VE HAD SCARS. THIS COUNTRY STILL HAS SCARS OVER NOT LIVING UP TO SOME OF THOSE IDEALS. AND ALL THIS DOES IS JUST REMOVING THE SCAB FROM THOSE SCARS. IT IS SAD TO SEE THAT WHAT WE ARE KNOWN THE WORLD OVER IS FOR JUSTICE IN OUR SYSTEM, AND IT'S SAD TO SEE THAT THAT IS DETERIORATING, AND WE ARE NO LONGER THAT BEACON ON THE HILL TO STAND FOR JUSTICE. BUT I WANT TO THANK THE COURT FOR STANDING UP. I WANT TO THANK THOSE THAT CAME FORWARD TO COMMENT, BECAUSE IF WE DON'T STAND UP, WE'RE NOT GOING TO HAVE A COUNTRY THAT KEEPS PROGRESSING. WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A COUNTRY THAT IS GOING TO BE REGRESSING, AND WE MAY NOT HAVE THAT COUNTRY ANYMORE. SO IT'S VERY IMPERATIVE THAT WE CONTACT OUR ELECTED OFFICIALS AND ASK THEM JUST IF THEY STAND FOR WHAT THIS RESOLUTION STANDS FOR AND WHAT OUR COUNTRY STANDS FOR. SOME OF THEM NEED TO GET BRAVE AND STAND UP FOR THAT. THANK YOU JUDGE. THANK YOU COMMISSIONER, I REALLY WANT TO THANK YOU FOR THE COURAGE AND I JUST HOPE THAT YOU DO SEND SOME. I CAN'T SPEAK FOR THE COMMISSIONERS, BUT I HAVE NO

[02:15:02]

DOUBT THAT WHAT I'M GOING TO SAY IS, IS PART OF US AS COMMISSIONERS COURT. AND THAT IS WE HAVE SEEN THAT IF YOU DON'T DRAW THE LINE IN THE SAND, IT KEEPS GETTING DEEPER AND DEEPER AND DEEPER. AND I WANT TO THANK COMMISSIONER STOUT BECAUSE THIS IS ONE OF THOSE TIMES THAT WE HAVE TO SHOW, YOU KNOW, AND THANK GOD FOR INDIVIDUALS LIKE YOURSELF, JUDGE CHIU, INDIVIDUALS THAT ARE VERY RESPECTED IN THE COMMUNITY. AND I CAN TELL YOU THAT IT'S SO MUCH IT'S NOT EASIER. BUT WHEN THE COMMUNITY STANDS UP, IT HELPS US AS ELECTED OFFICIALS, WE COULD SPEAK AS MUCH AS WE CAN AND WE COULD DRAW A LINE IN THE SAND. BUT IF THE COMMUNITY IS NOT BEHIND US, IT MAKES IT REALLY TOUGH ON US BECAUSE THEN IT'S US AS IF WE'RE SPEAKING FOR OURSELVES. WE'RE HERE SPEAKING FOR THE COMMUNITY. AND SO WHEN INDIVIDUALS LIKE YOURSELF EXPRESS THE COURAGE WILL SUPPORT THAT COURAGE. I THINK YOU'VE SEEN THROUGHOUT THE YEARS THAT, YOU KNOW, WE'RE ALWAYS OUR COUNTY COMMISSION. I MEAN, OUR COUNTY, OBVIOUSLY THEM AS WELL, BUT OUR COUNTY ATTORNEYS ARE ALWAYS THE ONES THAT THAT, YOU KNOW, TAKE ON THE LEGAL, YOU KNOW, ANYTHING THEY COULD DO LEGALLY, THEY'RE ALWAYS THERE FOR US. I THINK THE PHILOSOPHY OF THIS COURT IS ONE THAT, YOU KNOW, WE'RE DIFFERENT AND WE'RE GOING TO PROTECT THAT DIFFERENCE. AND I'VE ALWAYS SAID OVER AND OVER TIME I HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY OR A PLATFORM IS THAT THIS IS A COMMUNITY THAT CAN GIVE COURAGE TO THE OTHER COMMUNITIES. THEY HAVE DIFFERENT SITUATIONS. THEY'RE A LITTLE BIT MORE CONFLICTED. THERE'S LESS UNITY, BUT THEY'RE WAITING FOR SOME COMMUNITY TO STAND UP. AND THEN YOU COULD FOLLOW SUIT. AND I THINK IT'S THIS COMMUNITY THAT WILL SEE THE COURAGE AND THE STRENGTH AND THE WILLINGNESS NOT TO ALLOW THINGS THAT PEOPLE JUST DECIDE. I MEAN, RIGHT NOW, AT THIS VERY MOMENT, ONE OF OUR BASES IS BEING ATTACKED AS A SORT OF WHAT HAPPENED OVER THE WEEKEND. AND THIS IS AN AMERICAN BASE. THIS IS WHAT WHEN YOU THINK AND ACT IN THAT WAY, THERE'S CONSEQUENCES. AND I THINK WE'RE FACING A LOT OF CONSEQUENCES. AND I JUST THANK GOD THAT, YOU KNOW, EL PASO IS WILLING TO STAND UP AND NOT ALLOW THESE THINGS TO JUST CONTINUE. I KNOW COMMISSIONER LYNN HAS A LOT OF EXPERIENCE IN HER PRACTICE, AND I WOULD LOVE TO HEAR SOME OF THE CHALLENGES AND THINGS THAT SHE HAS. THANK YOU. JUDGE. FIRST OF ALL, THANK YOU ALL NOT ONLY FOR BEING HERE TODAY TO SPEAK ON THIS VERY IMPORTANT RESOLUTION. AND THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER STOUT, FOR BRINGING IT FORWARD, BUT ALSO FOR THE WORK THAT YOU ALL ARE DOING EACH AND EVERY DAY. WHEN YOU'RE STANDING WITNESS TO WHAT TO THE HORRIBLE THINGS THAT ARE HAPPENING JUST A FEW BLOCKS DOWN AT THE FEDERAL BUILDING AND ACROSS THE STREET AT THE ANNEX, WHAT WE'RE SEEING IS, AND WHAT WE'RE ALL REFERRING TO IS THE INCREASED USE OF SOMETHING CALLED EXPEDITED REMOVAL. SO EXPEDITED REMOVAL IS THE ABILITY TO REMOVE SOMEONE WHO IS IN THE US WITHOUT AUTHORIZATION AND WHO HASN'T BEEN HERE FOR AT LEAST TWO YEARS. AND THIS HAS BEEN A PROVISION IN THE LAW FOR MANY, MANY, MANY YEARS. IT'S NOT ANYTHING NEW. WHAT IS NEW IS THAT PRIOR ADMINISTRATIONS REALLY TRIED TO LIMIT THE USE OF EXPEDITED REMOVAL AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE, BECAUSE IT DOES IT DOESN'T GIVE PEOPLE A DAY IN COURT. THEY ARE SUMMARILY REMOVED. IF THEY CAN'T PROVE THAT THEY'VE BEEN HERE FOR TWO YEARS. SO YOU DON'T HAVE THAT ABILITY TO FIGHT YOUR CASE IN IMMIGRATION COURT. SO WHAT WE'RE SEEING NOW UNDER THIS ADMINISTRATION IS REALLY THE OPPOSITE OF WHAT WE'VE SEEN BEFORE. THEY'RE TRYING TO USE EXPEDITED REMOVAL TO THE GREATEST EXTENT THAT THEY POSSIBLY CAN, EVEN IF IT MEANS TERMINATING A PERSON'S LEGALLY ISSUED PAROLE, WHICH IS THEIR PERMISSION TO COME INTO THE US AND PURSUE THEIR ASYLUM CLAIM. AND THEN, OF COURSE, SEEKING TO DISMISS THE IMMIGRATION PROCEEDINGS BECAUSE WHILE THE IMMIGRATION COURT HAS JURISDICTION OVER A CASE, THE PERSON CAN'T BE REMOVED. SO THEY'RE A WAY TO GET AROUND THAT IS TO GET THE JUDGES TO DISMISS THOSE PROCEEDINGS. AND THAT'S WHAT ALLOWS THEM TO DETAIN AND THEN DEPORT INDIVIDUALS WHO MEET THAT CRITERIA OF HAVING BEEN IN THE US LESS THAN TWO YEARS.

JUDGE CHEW, YOUR WORDS WERE VERY IMPACTFUL, PARTICULARLY TO ME, BECAUSE I HAD A VERY SIMILAR EXPERIENCE TO THE ONE THAT YOU DESCRIBED TO US, WHERE JUST A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO, I FOUND MYSELF GETTING OUT OF THE ELEVATOR. I STILL HAVE MANY CLIENTS THAT I'VE REPRESENTED FOR MANY YEARS, AND I'M TRYING TO FINISH THEIR IMMIGRATION CASES. AND ONE OF THESE CLIENTS, WE GOT OFF OF THE ELEVATOR AND IMMEDIATELY WE WERE RUSHED AND SURROUNDED BY IMMIGRATION AGENTS. I TRIED TO EXPLAIN WHO I WAS AND WHAT I WAS DOING, AND THAT MY CLIENT WAS NOT SUBJECT TO EXPEDITED REMOVAL BECAUSE I KNEW EXACTLY WHAT THEY WERE TRYING TO DO. THE AGENTS DIDN'T

[02:20:04]

EVEN ACKNOWLEDGE MY PRESENCE. THEY DIDN'T LOOK AT ME. THEY IGNORED EVERYTHING THAT I SAID.

THEY TOOK PAPERWORK AND WERE LOOKING AT THEIR LISTS. AND AFTER ABOUT 30S, THEY DISMISSED US. AND EVEN THOUGH I KNEW THAT MY CLIENT WAS NOT SUBJECT TO EXPEDITED REMOVAL, CERTAINLY I KNEW THAT I WASN'T SUBJECT TO BEING ARRESTED. IT WAS STILL PROBABLY THE SCARIEST 30S OF MY LIFE. AND LIKE YOU JUDGE, I HAD NEVER FELT THAT FEAR OF MY OWN GOVERNMENT. BUT I DID THAT DAY.

AND IF I FELT THAT FEAR, I CAN'T EVEN IMAGINE WHAT SO MANY OF THESE FAMILIES ARE FEELING EVERY SINGLE DAY. BUT IT MAKES ME SO INCREDIBLY PROUD. EVERY TIME THAT I DRIVE BY THE COURTHOUSE, THE FEDERAL BUILDING, TO SEE YOU ALL OUT THERE, IT MAKES ME SO INCREDIBLY PROUD TO SEE MY COMMUNITY STANDING UP FOR WHAT'S RIGHT. AND I KNOW THAT WE WILL CONTINUE TO DO THAT. JUDGE, LIKE YOU SAID. AND THAT'S WHY I AM PROUD TO CALL EL PASO HOME AND TO CALL ALL OF YOU MY NEIGHBORS.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU. COMMISSIONER, COMMISSIONER, COMMISSIONER BUTLER. THANK YOU, THANK YOU. JUDGE. I JUST WANT TO ECHO EVERYBODY'S COMMENTS THIS MORNING. THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER STOUT, FOR PUTTING THIS RESOLUTION FORWARD. YOU KNOW I. I HAVE FELT THIS SENSE OF DOOM AND, AND FEAR FOR THE LAST FEW MONTHS. BUT SEEING YOU ALL HERE, THE WAY THAT YOU'RE BEARING WITNESS AND, AND SPEAKING OUT AND PROVIDING TESTIMONY IS REALLY GIVES ME HOPE THAT WE'LL BE ABLE TO ENDURE WHAT'S TO COME. AND WE KNOW THAT IT'S GOING TO GET WORSE OVER THE NEXT FEW MONTHS. I KNOW THAT ALL OF THESE ACTIONS ARE ARE FUELED BY BIGOTRY AND HATRED. AND SO WHEN PEOPLE COME FORWARD, IT'S FIGHTING MORE THAN THE STATE AND THE GOVERNMENT. IT'S FIGHTING. I THINK WHAT THE ROOT OF THIS IS, WHICH IS WHICH IS RACISM AND BIGOTRY. PERSONALLY, ONE OF MY FEARS IS AND WE ALL KNOW THAT THERE IS GOING TO BE A DETENTION CENTER THAT IS OPENED AND BUILT HERE IN EL PASO, IN, IN MY PRECINCT AND RIGHT OFF OF MONTANA AND GEORGE DIETER.

KNOWING WHAT WE KNOW ABOUT HOW ICE AND DHS OPERATE, I'M CONCERNED ABOUT. WHAT'S GOING TO TRANSPIRE IN THAT FACILITY, THE LACK OF TRANSPARENCY, US NOT KNOWING WHAT KIND OF CONDITIONS MIGRANTS AND IMMIGRANTS ARE BEING HELD IN IN OUR OWN BACKYARD, NOT KNOWING WHETHER OUR OWN NEIGHBORS ARE GOING TO BE DETAINED THERE OR FOR HOW LONG. AND SO SPEAKING UP AND DEMANDING TRANSPARENCY IS GOING TO BECOME MORE IMPORTANT THAN EVER. SO, SO THANK YOU FOR THE WORK THAT YOU'RE DOING. I'LL DO EVERYTHING I CAN TO SUPPORT YOU AND YOUR EFFORTS. THANK YOU FOR THE OFFER TO LET US COME ALONG WITH YOU. AND THANK YOU TO THE COMMISSIONERS COURT FOR STANDING UP FOR THIS ISSUE. THE IRONY IN, IN EVERYTHING THAT'S TAKING PLACE IN THE NAME OF LAW AND ORDER WHILE. BLATANTLY ATTACKING PEOPLE'S CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS AND BREAKING THE LAW IN ORDER TO DO THAT, IS SOMETHING THAT WE SHOULD ALL BE SPEAKING OUT AGAINST. SO. SO THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR YOUR COURAGE. THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. AND THANK YOU AGAIN, COMMISSIONER STOUT, FOR THIS RESOLUTION. COMMISSIONER STOUT, I JUST WANT TO THANK THE COURT FOR SUPPORTING THE RESOLUTION UNANIMOUSLY. I THINK IT'S I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT FOR THE PUBLIC TO SEE THAT. THANK YOU TO THE MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY WHO DAN AND DAVID ARE OUT THERE DOING, DOING AMAZING THINGS AND HOLDING PEOPLE ACCOUNTABLE AND MAKING SURE THAT WE ALL UNDERSTAND WHAT EXACTLY IS HAPPENING. AND SO I DON'T KNOW IF ANYBODY WOULD LIKE TO COME UP AND TAKE A PICTURE WITH US WITH THE RESOLUTION, BUT I'D LIKE TO HAVE A PICTURE WITH THE COURT AND THE RESOLUTION AND MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY. IF YOU'D LIKE TO JOIN US, YOU'RE MORE THAN WELCOME TO. THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER.

[02:26:02]

COME OVER HERE. YES, YES.

WELL DONE Y'ALL. THANK YOU. POWERFUL STUFF. I WAS LIKE, WOW, THIS SHOULD BE ON THE NEWS I HOPE SO. WE CAN DO LIKE A ANOTHER PRESS RELEASE. SO. WONDERFUL, SO BEAUTIFUL.

THIS IS.

ITEM SIX. PUBLIC COMMENT. WE HAVE ONE INDIVIDUAL SIGNED UP FOR PUBLIC COMMENT OKAY. SO WE'RE GOING TO BE DOING PUBLIC COMMENT. AND THEN WE'RE GOING TO DO MICHAEL. AND WE'LL BE UP HERE AND THEN WE'LL HAVE LUNCH RIGHT AFTER THAT. GO AHEAD ELIZABETH. THANK YOU. THANK YOU SO MUCH.

[PUBLIC COMMENT]

THIS MONTH WE'VE SEEN THE RAINBOW SYMBOL IN THE CITY OF EL PASO. YET WE READ THESE WORDS IN GOD'S HOLY WORD, THE BOOK OF REVELATION. APOCALYPSE IS ABOUT THE GLORY OF THE ONE WHOSE THRONE IS SURROUNDED BY A RAINBOW. THE VERY ONE WHO CREATED THE RAINBOW. REVELATION CHAPTER FOUR JOHN WRITES, AND IMMEDIATELY I WAS IN THE SPIRIT, AND BEHOLD, A THRONE WAS SET IN HEAVEN, AND ONE SAT ON THE THRONE. AND HE THAT SAT WAS TO LOOK UPON LIKE A JASPER AND A SARDINE STONE. AND THERE WAS A RAINBOW ROUND ABOUT THE THRONE IN SIGHT. LIKE WHO LIKE UNTO AN EMERALD. THE FOUR AND 20 ELDERS FALL DOWN BEFORE HIM THAT SAT ON THE THRONE, AND WORSHIPED HIM THAT LIVES FOREVER AND EVER, AND CAST THEIR CROWNS BEFORE THE THRONE, SAYING, YOU ARE WORTHY, O LORD, TO RECEIVE GLORY AND HONOR AND POWER. FOR YOU HAVE CREATED ALL THINGS, AND FOR YOUR PLEASURE THEY ARE AND WERE CREATED. THIS MONTH, THE RAINBOW STAR OF EL PASO OVERLOOKS JUAREZ, BUT THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE JUAREZ MOUNTAIN CONTINUES TO OVERLOOK EL PASO, LA BIBLIA ES LA VERDAD, LEILA. THE BOOK OF REVELATION APOCALYPSE IS, THOUGH THE FINAL BOOK OF THE BIBLE IS A

[02:30:05]

GREAT PLACE TO START READING, TO DISCOVER THE PERSON AND WORK OF THE CREATOR OF THE RAINBOW.

THANK YOU AND I HOPE YOU HAVE A VERY GOOD DAY. THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU ELIZABETH. THANK YOU SIR. JUDGE, WE'D LIKE TO JUMP AHEAD TO ITEM NINE. GRANT APPLICATIONS 9AA PROVEN I APOLOGIZE. THERE'S A CORRECTION FOR THE COUNTY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE FOR THIS ITEM. GRANT APPLICATION A PROVEN AUTHORIZED THE COUNTY OF EL PASO PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT, TRANSPORTATION DIVISION TO APPLY FOR THE FY 25 OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY OF TRANSPORTATION.

SAFE STREETS FOR ALL SF FOR A FUNDING IN THE AMOUNT OF $910,000 CONTINGENT UPON LEGAL APPROVAL. A COUNTY MATCH IN THE AMOUNT OF $182,000 IS REQUIRED AND WILL BE REQUESTED FROM VREF FUNDS. FURTHER APPROVED AUTHORIZE THE COUNTY JUDGE TO SIGN THE ACCOMPANYING DOCUMENTS AS 424 SF 424 A SF 424 B SF424 C SF 424 D SF. DISCLOSURE OF LOBBYING ACTIVITIES AND LETTER OF COMMITMENT. CONTRACT NUMBER 20250499. GOOD AFTERNOON, JUDGE AND COMMISSIONERS. MICHELLE PRETTY MUCH COVERED EVERYTHING. A COUPLE YEARS AGO, THE COUNTY LAUNCHED A COMPREHENSIVE ROADWAY SAFETY PROGRAM FOCUSED ON IDENTIFYING AND DESIGNING IMPROVEMENTS FOR CRITICAL CORRIDORS. THESE ENHANCEMENTS INCLUDE UPGRADED SIGNALIZATION, ENHANCED ROADWAY ILLUMINATION, IMPROVED SIGNAGE AND PAVEMENT MARKINGS, AND TRAFFIC STUDIES SUCH AS STOP AND SIGNAL WARRANT ANALYSIS. TO ENSURE THE PROGRAM'S SUCCESS, THE STRATEGIC DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT AND PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT AND THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE HAVE PARTNERED TO IDENTIFY PRONE ROADS, INTERSECTIONS, AND COMMUNITIES. THIS COLLABORATIVE, DATA DRIVEN APPROACH HAS ALLOWED US TO PRIORITIZE THE MOST CRITICAL SAFETY NEEDS ACROSS THE COUNTY. OUR SAFETY INITIATIVE HAS HAS BEEN IDENTIFIED AND DIVIDED INTO TWO PHASES. PHASE ONE IS FULLY FUNDED AND INCLUDES IMPROVEMENTS AT MOOR AND STRAHAN, MORRELL AND BORDERLAND, EMERALD PASS AND PEYTON, EMERALD SANDS AND EASTLAKE BOULEVARD AND EMERALD PASS AND ROJAS DRIVE. PHASE TWO, WHICH IS THE FOCUS OF THIS GRANT APPLICATION, PROPOSES SAFETY ENHANCEMENTS AT THE FOLLOWING LOCATIONS KINGSWAY DRIVE, VINTON ROAD, SELVA DRIVE, WESTWOOD BOULEVARD, BOSQUE ROAD AT GALLEGOS PARK, LOS MOCHIS, MORRELL AND GATO, STRAHAN AND MORE. PASEO DEL ESTE AND SOUTHWICK. PASEO DEL ESTE AND PEYTON AND KNOCK ME. WE BELIEVE THIS APPLICATION ALIGNS WITH THE SAFE STREETS FOR ALL PROGRAM GOALS, AND SUPPORTS OUR ONGOING COMMITMENT TO SAFER TRANSPORTATION INFRASTRUCTURE THROUGHOUT EL PASO COUNTY. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR TIME, AND I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU ALL HAVE. THANK YOU. YES, SIR. GO AHEAD COMMISSIONER. THANK YOU, MR. REED. I THINK IT'S GREAT THAT WE'RE THAT WE'RE, YOU KNOW, GOING TO GOING TO BE ABLE TO MAKE SOME OF THESE EXPENDITURES WITH GRANT FUNDING. BUT I DID WANT TO I DID WANT TO TALK ABOUT THE FACT THAT THERE'S NOT ANYTHING IN PRECINCT TWO, AND I WANT TO PUSH IN THE FUTURE FOR US TO THINK ABOUT PROJECTS IN THREE PRECINCT TWO. I'M NOT SURE EXACTLY IF THAT WAS PART OF THE GRANT APPLICATION, OR IF IT'S PART OF A. ANOTHER PART OF THE PROCESS. BUT THERE ARE NEEDS IN PRECINCT TWO AS WELL WHEN IT COMES TO THESE TYPES OF THESE TYPES OF EXPENDITURES. AND I JUST WANT TO, TO, TO POINT THAT OUT. COMMISSIONER STOUT, THAT IS SOMETHING THAT I DO HOPE WE CAN HAVE A BROADER DISCUSSION WITH THE CITY ABOUT TOO, AS WELL AS FAR AS LIKE THE OWNERSHIP, TO BE ABLE TO APPLY AND INVEST THE FUNDS, WHETHER OR NOT THE OWNERSHIP OR WHETHER THERE WOULD BE A WILL FROM THE CITY TO GIVE US SOME TYPE OF AGREEMENT SO THAT THAT IS SOMETHING AND IT MAY BE SOMETHING THAT WHEN WE DO HAVE A JOINT MEETING THAT WE PUT ON THE TABLE FOR DISCUSSION AS WELL. AND, COMMISSIONER, IF I MAY INTERRUPT, ALSO LAST YEAR, THE MPO BORDERPLEX ALLIANCE AND THE COUNTY ALSO DID ANOTHER SAFE STREETS FOR ALL, AND WE'RE WORKING ON THAT ONE RIGHT NOW TO INCLUDE ALL THE INCORPORATED AREAS WITHIN THE CITY. AND THAT CALL SHOULD BE READY AT THE END OR THE BEGINNING OF 2026. SO I'M HOPING THAT WE HAVE THAT SYNERGY BETWEEN THE CITY AND THE COUNTY.

ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? THANK YOU. THANK YOU BETTY. SO ACTUALLY, AT THE LAST MPO MEETING THAT WE HAD, THE CITY OF EL PASO IS SUBMITTING PROPOSALS UNDER THE SAFE STREETS FOR ALL AND THE

[02:35:01]

CITY OF EL PASO DID PROPOSE SEVERAL THAT I BELIEVE ARE IN PRECINCT TWO, COMMISSIONER STOUT. BUT I'D BE HAPPY TO GET THAT INFORMATION TO YOU. THAT'S GREAT. AND I MEAN, IF THE CITY IS APPLYING, THAT'S GREAT. BUT I'D ALSO LIKE THE COUNTY TO HAVE SKIN IN THE GAME WHEN IT COMES TO SPINNING AND IN PRECINCT TWO. SO FOR FUTURE, FOR FUTURE REFERENCE. NOTED. COMMISSIONER.

THANK YOU COMMISSIONER. I ALSO MAKE NOTICE THAT THE COUNTY HAS EVEN RECENTLY ASSISTED THE CITY WITH MATCH FUNDING FOR STUDIES THAT INCORPORATE COUNTY WIDE. AND SO WHY WHY IT'S NOTED WHAT YOU'RE SUGGESTING FOR ACTUAL IMPROVEMENTS. BE ASSURED THAT WE DO TAKE PART AND PARTICIPATE AS WE ARE ABLE TO. WE MATCH OUR MONEY WITH OUR WORDS. THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH, COMMISSIONER, FOR OFFERING TO DO THAT. WE HAVE A MOTION FROM JUDGE SAMANIEGO TO APPROVE A SECOND FROM COMMISSIONER BUTLER. THE VOTING IS OPEN. COMMISSIONER STOUT, MOTION CARRIES. THANK YOU. JUDGE, BEFORE WE BREAK, WE FAILED TO CALL COMMISSIONER BUTLER FOR PUBLIC COMMENT. COULD WE GO BACK TO THAT ITEM FOR COMMISSIONER BUTLER'S PUBLIC COMMENT? THANK YOU. JUDGE. ITEM SIX, PUBLIC COMMENT. WE HAVE COMMISSIONER BUTLER. THANK YOU MICHEL. THANK YOU. JUDGE. I WANTED TO TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY, JUDGE AND COMMISSIONERS, TO INTRODUCE MR. JOHN ANDO. HE'S OUR NEW DIRECTOR OF TRANSIT HERE FOR ETA, THE COUNTY'S TRANSIT SYSTEM. WELCOME, MR. ANDO. MR. ANDO NOT ONLY BRINGS A WEALTH OF KNOWLEDGE OVER 25 YEARS OF PUBLIC TRANSIT EXPERIENCE ALL OVER, FROM ALL OVER THE COUNTRY TO THE COUNTIES. ETA. BUT HE ALSO HAS AN UNMATCHED ENTHUSIASM FOR TRANSIT AND TRANSIT OPERATIONS. THE MISSION OF THE ETA IS TO OFFER SAFE, RELIABLE AND ACCESSIBLE TRANSPORTATION SOLUTIONS TO MEET THE UNIQUE NEEDS OF OUR COMMUNITY. FROM THE RURAL CORNERS OF THE COUNTY TO DOWNTOWN. MR. ANDO HAS SPENT TIME IN EL PASO ALREADY AND HAS ALREADY OFFERED INNOVATIVE SOLUTIONS TO SOME OF OUR TRANSIT CHALLENGES. I'M OVERJOYED TO WELCOME MR. ANDO TO ADD TO OUR TEAM, AND THANKFUL TO HAVE A LEADER LIKE HIM WHO UNDERSTANDS THE IMPACT OF EXCEPTIONAL TRANSIT ON A GROWING AND VIBRANT COMMUNITY LIKE EL PASO COUNTY.

SO WELCOME, MR. ANDO TO EL PASO COUNTY. I KNOW YOUR EXPERIENCE AND YOUR PASSION WILL FUEL OUR PATH TO A BETTER FUTURE FOR OUR COMMUNITY. AND I WANTED TO GIVE YOU AN OPPORTUNITY TO INTRODUCE YOURSELF, IF YOU DON'T MIND. WELCOME. THANK YOU. YES. THANK YOU. COUNTY JUDGE AND COMMISSIONERS JOHN ANDO, I'M YOUR NEW DIRECTOR FOR ETA. LOOKING FORWARD TO MAKING ETA THE BEST THAT IT CAN BE. COORDINATE WITH SUN METRO TO MAKE THE RIDE EXPERIENCE SEAMLESS AND PURSUE GRANTS. BRING IN APPROPRIATE FUNDING TO ENSURE THAT WE'RE SERVING THE RURAL EL PASO COUNTY NEEDS AS EFFECTIVELY AS POSSIBLE. AND JUST I LOVE PUBLIC TRANSIT. I'M A USER OF IT, SO ANY WAY I CAN HELP SUPPORT THE COUNTY'S INTERESTS IN TRANSIT, PLEASE LET ME KNOW. I'M DEFINITELY HERE TO DO THAT. THANK YOU. GREAT CHOICE AND WELCOME. WE APPRECIATE EVERYTHING YOU CAN CONTRIBUTE TO THIS IMPORTANT PROJECT. THANK YOU. WERE YOU HERE THIS WHOLE TIME? I'VE BEEN IN ORIENTATION, SO I JUST SNUCK IT THROUGH MARIACHIS, RESOLUTIONS AND NO, YOU HAVEN'T. OKAY, WELL, THANK YOU, BUT WE DO APPRECIATE, YOU KNOW, YOUR WILLINGNESS TO DO THAT. THANK YOU. WELCOME. WELCOME TO EL PASO TOO. THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU.

APPRECIATE YOU. THANK YOU. COMMISSIONERS COURT WILL RECESS FOR ONE HOUR. IT IS 12:09 P.M.

THANK YOU.

[02:44:27]

[02:45:01]

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 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 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. 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. ANDY, 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.

[02:50:04]

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 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.

OIL AND 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 THE 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 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.

[02:55:05]

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 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 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 ANY GIVEN SATURDAY MORNING, THE PARK IS JUST HOPPING WITH LOTS OF ACTIVITY.

[03:06:19]

DO YOU LIKE THIS LITTLE PARK RIGHT HERE AT ASCARATE PARK? YES. ALL RIGHT. AND I UNDERSTAND

[03:06:25]

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 ASCARATE 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, 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 CRAZY. KIDS TODAY THINKING THAT YOU GET THEM ALL. OKAY, DON'T GO ANYWHERE. YOU STAY WITH KTSM NINE NEWS.

[03:10:14]

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. A 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 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 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.

[03:15:42]

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 THE 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 JUST GO ON THE BIKES. WHILE THE PROJECT ISN'T COMPLETE, THE TRAILS THAT ARE OPEN ARE METHODICALLY BEING CONNECTED.

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 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

[03:20:01]

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.

[03:28:10]

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 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

[03:30:04]

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.

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 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

[03:35:01]

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 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 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 JUST GO ON THE BIKES. WHILE THE PROJECT ISN'T COMPLETE, THE TRAILS THAT ARE OPEN ARE METHODICALLY BEING CONNECTED.

[03:40:01]

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 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.

[03:47:50]

GO AHEAD. GOOD AFTERNOON. COMMISSIONERS COURT HAS RECONVENED INTO REGULAR OPEN SESSION. IT IS 1:18 P.M. WE ARE ON ITEM SEVEN. REGULAR AGENDA SEVEN A GRANT AWARD. APPROVE AN AUTHORIZED THE COUNTY JUDGE TO ACCEPT THE FY 25 TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION OPERATIONS SLOWDOWN GRANT IN THE AMOUNT OF $6,999.76 FROM JULY 15TH, 2025 TO AUGUST 6TH, 2025.

[REGULAR AGENDA]

[A. GRANT AWARD – Approve and authorize the County Judge to accept the FY25 Texas Department of Transportation Operation Slowdown grant award in the amount of $6,999.76 from July 15, 2025, to August 6, 2025. A County match in the amount of $1,751.32 is required. Funding is available in GF-CONSTBL4-SALARY-FT REGULAR. (Contract No. 2025-0493) Luis Aguilar, Constable, Constable Precinct 4, 915-273-3503]

A COUNTY MATCH IN THE AMOUNT OF $1,751.32 IS REQUIRED. FUNDING IS AVAILABLE IN G F CONSTABLE FOR SALARY, FULL TIME. REGULAR CONTRACT NUMBER 2025 0493. WE HAVE A REQUEST FOR A MOTION TO DELETE THIS ITEM. WE HAVE A MOTION FROM JUDGE SAMANIEGO, SECOND FROM COMMISSIONER CORONADO. THE VOTING IS OPEN. COMMISSIONER STOUT. I THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER. MOTION CARRIES.

ITEM EIGHT. AUDITOR EIGHT A PURSUANT TO LOCAL TWO, TEXAS LOCAL GOVERNMENT CODE, SUBSECTION 114 .0231 14.0241, 14.025 AND 114 .026. ACCEPT THE ATTACHED PRESENTATION AND THE

[AUDITOR]

[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 May 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]

INTERIM FINANCIAL REPORT FOR THE MONTH ENDED MAY 2025. THE INTERIM FINANCIAL REPORT IS LOCATED ON THE INTERNET AT HTTP COLON, BACKSLASH BACKSLASH WW DOT COUNTY, TEXAS.GOV BACKSLASH, BACKSLASH BACKSLASH. MONTHLY REPORTS DOT. HI BARBARA. WELCOME. GOOD AFTERNOON JUDGE.

COMMISSIONERS. TODAY'S PRESENTATION IS ON THE MAY INTERIM FINANCIALS. THIS EXECUTIVE SUMMARY SHOWS THE INFORMATION ABOUT REVENUES AND EXPENSES FOR THE GENERAL FUND FOR THE CURRENT YEAR. PLEASE NOTE THAT THROUGHOUT THE PRESENTATION, AMOUNTS HAVE BEEN

[03:50:02]