[00:07:31] LIVE FROM EL PASO COUNTY, TEXAS, THE VETERANS CAPITAL OF THE USA. FROM INSIDE THE ALICIA CHACON [00:07:38] COMMISSIONERS COURTROOM OF THE ENRIQUE MORENO COUNTY COURTHOUSE. YOU ARE WATCHING THE [OPEN MEETING] EL PASO COUNTY COMMISSIONERS COURT MEETING. GOOD MORNING. TODAY IS MONDAY, JULY 28TH, 2025. IT IS 9:38 A.M. COMMISSIONERS COURT IS MEETING IN OPEN REGULAR SESSION TODAY. WE WILL BE JOINED BY TAMMY SEAY OF THE AMERICAN LEGION. EASTWOOD POST 36 FOR THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE. THANK YOU JUDGE. I APOLOGIZE. WE ARE JOINED BY ASL INTERPRETERS DARIO GARCIA AND [PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE] TAMARA MARCUS. PLEASE RISE FOR THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE. MISS. SAY, IF YOU'LL JOIN US AT THE PODIUM, PLEASE. I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS. ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL. TEXAS. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE. HONOR THE TEXAS FLAG. I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE TEXAS ONE STATE UNDER GOD, ONE AND INDIVISIBLE. THANK YOU. NEXT WE WILL HAVE OUR INVOCATION. WE ARE JOINED BY RICKY SMITH, AUXILIARY PASTOR AT DESTINY CHURCH. WELCOME. THANK YOU FOR [INVOCATION] HAVING ME AGAIN. AT THIS TIME, WE'RE JUST GOING TO PRAY. FATHER, IN THE NAME OF JESUS, WE COME BEFORE YOU WITH HEARTS FULL OF GRATITUDE, THANKING YOU FOR THE MANY BLESSINGS THAT YOU POUR OUT OVER OUR CITY, THE STRENGTH OF OUR PEOPLE AND THE RICH DIVERSITY THAT MAKES EL PASO SO SPECIAL. LORD, WE PAUSE RIGHT NOW, AT THIS MOMENT, WITH HEARTS THAT BOTH REMEMBER AND ACHE. AS WE APPROACH THE ANNIVERSARY OF AUGUST 3RD, WE ARE REMINDED OF A DAY THAT FOREVER MARKED OUR CITY WITH SORROW. LORD, WE LIFT UP EVERY FAMILY WHO LOST A LOVED ONE, EVERY FRIEND STILL GRIEVING, EVERY FIRST RESPONDER WHO STOOD IN THE GAP, AND EVERY SOUL IN OUR COMMUNITY WHO CARRIES THE WEIGHT OF THAT TRAGEDY. WRAP THEM IN YOUR PEACE. HEAL THE WOUNDS THAT CAN BE SEEN AND THE ONES THAT LINGER IN SILENCE. REMIND US THAT EVEN IN PAIN THAT YOU ARE NEAR AND [00:10:08] THAT LOVE CONQUERS ALL. FATHER GOD, WE ACKNOWLEDGE THE TENSION AND DIVERSITY IN OUR CITY AND OUR COUNTRY, BUT WE, LORD TRUST IN YOU, THE GOD OF RECONCILIATION AND RENEWAL, LEAD US TOWARD UNITY ROOTED IN RESPECT, WHERE EVERY VOICE AND BACKGROUND ARE HONORED. WE PRAY FOR THIS COUNCIL. GRANT THEM WISDOM, PATIENCE, AND DISCERNMENT. MAY THEIR DECISIONS REFLECT THE SHARED VISION OF A CITY WHERE ALL WHO CALL EL PASO HOME CAN THRIVE. STRENGTHEN THE BONDS THAT HOLD OUR CITY TOGETHER, LORD, AND IGNITE US IN A DEEPER COMMITMENT TO SERVE NOT JUST IN POSITION, BUT WITH PURPOSE. MAY THE WORK DONE HERE TODAY EXTEND BEYOND THIS ROOM, BRINGING HOPE, HEALING AND LASTING IMPACT TO EVERY CORNER OF OUR CITY. IN JESUS NAME WE PRAY. AMEN. THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR YOUR BEAUTIFUL ENERGY. YOU'RE ALWAYS WELCOME. THANK YOU. JUDGE, DO YOU HAVE SOME OPENING COMMENTS FOR US BEFORE WE BEGIN? JUST THANK I JUST WANT TO THANK ALL OF YOU ON BEHALF OF MYSELF AND OUR COMMISSIONERS. WE'VE GOT COMMISSIONER IS GOING TO BE A LITTLE LATE. COMMISSIONER STOUT MIGHT MIGHT TUNE IN A LITTLE LATER. BUT ON BEHALF OF ALL OF US, WE THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. AS YOU COULD SEE, EVERY DAY IS VETERANS DAY HERE AT THE COUNTY. IT'S BEEN A GREAT WEEK. WE HAD THE KOREAN MEMORIAL. I WENT TO TWO DIFFERENT SITES THAT WE HONORING THEM. AND THE KOREAN DELEGATION HAS BEEN EXTREMELY, JUST VERY FAVORABLE AND APPRECIATIVE OF WHAT OUR VETERANS DID IN KOREA FROM BEING A COUNTRY THAT WAS PROBABLY ONE OF THE WORST IN THE ECONOMY, TO NOW BEING ONE OF THE TOP TEN ECONOMIES. AND THEY HAVE ALWAYS BEEN VERY GRATEFUL FOR OUR VETERANS. SO I THANK THEM FOR THAT. SO WE'RE GOING TO HAVE SOME GREAT RESOLUTIONS TODAY. AND SO REALLY APPRECIATE YOUR TIME HERE TODAY AND HOPE YOU HAVE A GREAT MONDAY AND JUST A VERY BLESSED WEEK. THANK YOU. JUDGE. THE NEXT ITEM IS ITEM FOUR CONSENT AGENDA. THE CONSENT AGENDA IS COMPRISED OF ITEMS FOUR A THROUGH FOUR A. WE DO HAVE A CORRECTION TO READ IN FOR. FOR L4L SHOULD READ CORRECTION FOR COUNTY JUDGE'S [CONSENT AGENDA] OFFICE PURSUANT TO TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE SECTION 81.032. APPROVE AND AUTHORIZE THE COUNTY TO ACCEPT DONATIONS OF LABOR OR SERVICES, GIFTS, GRANTS, IN-KIND DONATIONS, BEQUESTS, OR MONETARY DONATIONS IN SUPPORT OF THE HEALING GARDEN AND COUNTY SPONSORED MEMORIAL EVENTS HELD AT THE HEALING GARDEN PARK MURAL AT ASCOT PARK. ARE THERE ANY ITEMS THE COMMISSION OR PUBLIC WOULD LIKE TO PULL? HEARING NONE. I'LL MOVE TO APPROVE. WE DO HAVE. I WOULD LIKE TO PULL ITEM I PLEASE I ITEM I ITEM I IS PULLED BY COMMISSIONER BUTLER. AND I'LL MOVE TO APPROVE THE REST. THANK YOU JUDGE. WE HAVE A MOTION FROM JUDGE SAMANIEGO, SECOND FROM COMMISSIONER CORONADO. THE VOTING IS OPEN. I THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER, AND THE MOTION CARRIES. ITEM FIVE. RESOLUTIONS FIVE A APPROVING. ADOPT A RESOLUTION RECOGNIZING AUGUST 3RD, 2025 TO BE DECLARED AS EL PASO DAY OF REMEMBRANCE IN HONOR IN HONOR OF LIVES LOST AND COMMUNITY [RESOLUTIONS] [A. Approve and adopt a resolution recognizing August 3, 2025, to be declared as "El Paso Day of Remembrance" in honor of lives lost and community resilience in El Paso County, Texas. Ricardo A. Samaniego, County Judge, County Judge's Office, 915-273-3591] RESILIENCE IN EL PASO COUNTY, TEXAS. THANK YOU. CAN I HAVE ALBERTO COMING UP TO THE PODIUM? AND I THINK H.R. IS WELL ON. HELLO, JUDGE. HI. MY NAME IS ALBERTO RUIZ. I'LL GO. OKAY. FIRST I'LL READ THE RESOLUTION AND THEN WE'LL WE'LL GO INTO THAT. SO JUST WANT TO THANK EVERYONE. YOU KNOW THIS IS A RESOLUTION VERY CLOSE TO OUR HEART. YOU KNOW, IT WAS A ONE OF THE MOST DIFFICULT THINGS I'VE EVER EXPERIENCED IN MY LIFE. IN 2019, I WAS JUST STARTING. I WAS IN MY NINTH MONTH OF BEING A COUNTY JUDGE. SO IT'S A LITTLE A LITTLE TRAUMATIC AS TO TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT TO DO. BUT, YOU KNOW, THE COMMUNITY JUST CAME FORTH. IT WAS JUST UNBELIEVABLE THE WAY THEY UNITED AND THEN EVENTUALLY ENDING UP IN THIS BEAUTIFUL HEALING GARDEN THAT JUST WE DON'T EVEN KNOW HOW IT ACTUALLY HAPPENS WHEN YOU SEE IT. IT'S A WORK OF GOD BECAUSE I DON'T I DON'T KNOW IF WE COULD HAVE PULLED IT OFF FROM THE FINANCIAL ASPECTS OF IT TO THE COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT. AND SO THIS IS A VERY SPECIAL RESOLUTION. AND THEN AFTER THEY SPEAK, WE'LL WE'LL INVITE YOU TO WHAT'S HAPPENING ON AUGUST 3RD. SO WHERE'S EL PASO WAS FOREVER [00:15:06] CHANGED BY THE HORRIFIC AND SENSELESS TRAGEDY THAT BEFELL ON OUR COMMUNITY. ON AUGUST 3RD, 2019. THE PAIN WAS FELT IN EL PASO AND ACROSS OUR BORDER ECHOED THROUGHOUT THE NATION AS WE ALL MOURN THE BEAUTIFUL LIVES THAT WERE TAKEN. WHEREAS IN HONOR OF THE SIXTH ANNIVERSARY ON AUGUST 3RD, 2025, UNITED WAY OF EL PASO, THE EL PASO UNITED FAMILY RESILIENCY CENTER AND EL PASO COUNTY WILL PARTNER TO PROVIDE A SERIES OF ACTIVITIES WILL TAKE PLACE AT THE EL PASO COUNTY HEALING GARDEN TO PROMOTE HEALING, PEACE, HOPE AND UNITY. THE DAY OF REMEMBRANCE CEREMONY WILL BE AN EVENING OF REFLECTION, UNITY AND HEALING. TOGETHER, WE WILL COMMEMORATE AND HONOR THE VICTIMS OF AUGUST 3RD, 2019 THROUGH REMEMBRANCE, INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC AND PRAYER. OTHER ACTIVITIES INCLUDE A SOUND BATH SESSION HELD AT ASCOT PARK PAVILION AT 10:30 A.M, AS AS PREVIOUS YEARS, LUMINARIES WILL LIGHT UP THE PARK AND THE HEALING GARDEN AND SYMBOLIZING OUR COMMUNITY'S PATH TO A LONG TERM HEALING. AND WE'RE IN HONOR OF THE MONTH OF UNITY AND HEALING. THE EL PASO COUNTY HUMAN RESOURCES DEPARTMENT AND NATIONAL ASSOCIATION ON MENTAL HEALTH, NAMI INVITES COUNTY EMPLOYEES TO FOR EXPERT LED ONLINE TRAINING COURSES, FOCUS ON MENTAL HEALTH TOPICS, OFFERING VALUABLE INSIGHTS, OPEN DIALOG, AND PRACTICAL TOOLS TO SUPPORT WELLNESS AND CONNECTION. TRAININGS INCLUDE MANAGING A MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS, WORKPLACE MENTAL HEALTH, SELF CARE AND BURNOUT, AND FOCUS ON HEALING AND RESILIENCE. WITH EL PASO COMMISSIONERS, COURT INVITES THE PUBLIC TO JOIN FOR A READING OF THE NAMES CEREMONY BEGINNING AT 8 P.M, WHERE 23 LIGHT BEAMS WILL LIGHT THE EL PASO SKY, INCLUDING THE EL PASO COUNTY ETERNAL FLAME. THROUGH TEXAS GAS SERVICES. GENEROUS CONTRIBUTION IN COORDINATION WITH THE EL PASO COMMUNITY FOUNDATION, THE ETERNAL FLAME WILL FOREVER HONOR VICTIMS, THEIR FAMILY AND OUR ENTIRE COMMUNITY. WHEREAS MORE THAN JUST A MEMORIAL, THE HEALING GARDEN IS A TESTAMENT TO THE UNYIELDING SPIRIT OF UNITY AND RESILIENCE THAT ARISES IN THE FACE OF TRAGEDY, THIS SACRED SPACE SERVES AS A BEACON OF HOPE AND SOLACE WHERE THE COMMUNITY CAN COME TOGETHER, FIND COMFORT, AND DRAW STRENGTH FROM EACH OTHER. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE EL PASO COUNTY JUDGE AND COMMISSIONERS COURT THAT AUGUST 3RD BE DECLARED AS EL PASO DAY OF REMEMBRANCE SIGNED THIS 20TH DAY OF JULY 2025. WE HAVE A MOTION FROM JUDGE SAMANIEGO, A SECOND FROM COMMISSIONER HOLGUIN. THE VOTING IS OPEN. COMMISSIONER BUTLER, THANK YOU. MOTION CARRIES. WELL THANK YOU. JUST A ONE. WANTED TO ADD SOMETHING BECAUSE I KNOW THAT ONE OF THE INDIVIDUALS THAT GOT HURT WAS THE DAUGHTER OF PASTOR GRADY. AND SHE SAYS, DON'T FORGET THAT 24 OF US WERE INJURED DURING THAT TIME. AND SHE ALSO REMINDS ME THAT A LOT OF US WERE INJURED IN ONE WAY OR THE OTHER. EITHER. YOU KNOW, MAYBE YOUR GRANDMA ALWAYS WENT THAT DAY AND DIDN'T GO THAT DAY. AND THEN YOU GO THROUGH THE PROCESS OF UNDERSTANDING WHAT THAT MEANT. AND SO THIS IS A FULL COMMUNITY IMPACT THAT WE HAD. SO BUT I JUST CANNOT BEGIN TO TELL YOU HOW APPRECIATIVE WE ALL ARE OF THE COMMUNITY AND HOW THEY HANDLE SUCH A DIFFICULT SITUATION. SO, ALBERTO, I'LL START OFF WITH YOU, PLEASE. THANK YOU SO MUCH. JUDGE. I AM THE SENIOR DIRECTOR OF COMMUNITY RESILIENCY AT THE UNITED WAY OF EL PASO COUNTY. AND ON BEHALF OF THE UNITED WAY AND EVERY SINGLE TEAM MEMBER FROM THE EL PASO UNITED FAMILY RESILIENCY CENTER, I WANT TO THANK YOU. AND EVERY SINGLE COMMITTEE, COUNTY COMMISSIONER, FOR YOUR CONTINUED SUPPORT, NOT JUST FOR THE HEALING PROCESS SINCE SINCE THE TRAGEDY HAPPENED IN 2019, BUT FOR ACKNOWLEDGING THE IMPORTANCE OF ACTIVITIES LIKE THIS DAY OF REMEMBRANCE, ESPECIALLY AS THE LEGAL PROCEEDINGS CAME TO A CLOSING EARLIER THIS YEAR. WE BELIEVE THAT THIS IS A NEW OPPORTUNITY FOR HEALING. WITHOUT THE UNCERTAINTY OF WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN TO THE PERPETRATOR. SO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR CONTINUED SUPPORT. WE HAVE BEEN IN THIS COMMUNITY FOR SIX YEARS. UNDERSTANDING, LIKE YOU SAID, THAT EVERY SINGLE PERSON WAS TOUCHED OR IMPACTED IN A CERTAIN WAY BY THE TRAGEDY OF AUGUST 3RD, 2019, AND WE HAVE HAD THE HONOR OF BEING ABLE TO SERVE THE COMMUNITY, ACHIEVE THE SKILLS TO CONTINUE WITH THEIR LIVES AND OVERCOME THE TRAUMA THAT COMES AFTER MASS VIOLENCE INCIDENT. AND I DO BELIEVE AND EVERYONE AT THE UNITED WAY AND THE FAMILY RESILIENCY CENTER BELIEVES THAT WE COULD HAVE NOT DONE THIS WITHOUT THE SUPPORT OF THE COUNTY, AND ESPECIALLY WITHOUT [00:20:04] YOUR PASSION FOR MENTAL HEALTH. JUDGE SAMANIEGO, AND WE THANK YOU FOR THAT. AND IF YOU DON'T MIND THE PEOPLE WHO MAKE THIS POSSIBLE, COULD YOU PLEASE STAND UP? BECAUSE EVERY SINGLE DAY THEY COME TO THE OFFICE WITH THE RESOLUTION OF SERVING OUR COMMUNITY AND PROMOTING LONG TERM HEALING. AND THEY'RE ALSO, IN PART, LIKE THEY PUT TOGETHER A DAY OF REMEMBRANCE, WHICH, AS YOU MENTIONED, WILL TAKE PLACE THIS SUNDAY. THE EVENT STARTS AT 630, BUT THE CEREMONY AND READING OF THE NAMES, IT STARTS AT EIGHT. SO IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, PLEASE FEEL FREE TO REACH OUT TO US. ONCE AGAIN, I WANT TO THANK YOU BECAUSE THIS HAS BEEN A COLLABORATION BETWEEN THE COMMUNITY, THE UNITED WAY, AND IT HAS BEEN MAGNIFIED BY THE CONTINUED SUPPORT THAT WE HAVE GOTTEN FROM FROM YOU, JUDGE, AND FROM THIS COMMISSIONERS COURT. THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU. AND THANK YOU FOR RECOGNIZING THE OTHER PART OF YOUR TEAM. WE REALLY APPRECIATE EVERYTHING THAT YOU'VE DONE. WELCOME. GOOD MORNING, JUDGE AND COMMISSIONERS, JULISSA RUBIO WITH THE HUMAN RESOURCES DEPARTMENT. GOOD MORNING. MY NAME IS ISABEL REYES. I'M WITH THE HUMAN RESOURCES DEPARTMENT AS WELL. SO WE ARE YOUR TRAINING TEAM HERE WITH HUMAN RESOURCES. IT IS OUR HONOR TO SUPPORT THIS IMPORTANT RESOLUTION. BEGINNING TODAY AND CONTINUING THROUGH AUGUST 4TH. WE ARE PARTNERING WITH THE NATIONAL ALLIANCE ON MENTAL ILLNESS, ALSO KNOWN AS NAMI, AND THE EMERGENCE HEALTH NETWORK, TO PROVIDE A SERIES OF TRAINING SESSIONS FOR COUNTY EMPLOYEES. NOW, THESE SESSIONS ARE DESIGNED TO PROMOTE MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS, ENCOURAGE SELF-CARE, AND HELP FOSTER SAFE, SUPPORTIVE WORK ENVIRONMENTS. THESE SESSIONS ARE OFFERED VIRTUALLY. WE MAKE THEM ACCESSIBLE FOR ALL COUNTY EMPLOYEES THAT WOULD LIKE TO ATTEND. OUR NEXT VIRTUAL SESSION WILL TAKE PLACE ON WEDNESDAY, JULY 30TH AT 10:30 P.M. VIA TEAMS. EMPLOYEES CAN REGISTER THROUGH NEOGOV, OR THEY CAN EMAIL US AT. HUMAN RESOURCES TRAINING TO HELP WITH ASSISTING AND REGISTERING THEM. WE WOULD LIKE TO EXTEND OUR GRATITUDE TO NAMI AND THE EMERGENCE HEALTH NETWORK FOR MAKING THESE TRAINING POSSIBLE, AND A BIG THANK YOU TO YOU ALL FOR YOUR COMMITMENT TO HELP MENTAL HEALTH AND THE OVERALL WELL-BEING OF OUR COUNTY FAMILY IS DEEPLY VALUED. SO THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU BOTH. YOU KNOW, IT IS A NATIONAL MEMORIAL BECAUSE IT WAS BY THE US CONGRESS AND THE US SENATE. AND I'LL HAVE BETSY TELL THEM A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE LAST RECOGNITION WE GOT A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO THAT REALLY HONORS WHAT WE'VE DONE HERE IN EL PASO. BETSY, YOU WANT TO TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE NATIONAL? YES, SIR. THANK YOU. THE HEALING GARDEN, AND SPECIFICALLY ALSO THE MURALS ON THE BACK SIDE OF THE HEALING GARDEN WERE RECOGNIZED NATIONALLY THROUGH THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF COUNTIES. WE SUBMITTED FOR A ACHIEVEMENT AWARD, AND WE DID RECEIVE SEVERAL AWARDS. BUT THIS PARTICULAR SUBMISSION RECEIVED THE BEST IN CATEGORY AWARD. AND SO IT WAS REALLY IN RECOGNITION OF IT WAS IN ARTS, CULTURAL AND HEALING. AND COMMISSIONER BUTLER AND COMMISSIONER STOUT WERE ON HAND TO ACCEPT THE AWARD AT THE NATIONAL CONFERENCE. AND IT WAS REALLY IN RECOGNITION OF THE UNITY AND THE COLLABORATION AND THE PARTNERSHIP WITH THE COMMUNITY THAT THIS, THAT THIS AWARD WAS GIVEN. AND SO IT WAS A VERY BIG HONOR BECAUSE WE HAVE BEEN SUBMITTING FOR THESE AWARDS FOR AT LEAST TEN YEARS, AND THIS WAS ONLY THE SECOND TIME WE'VE EVER WON A BEST IN CATEGORY AWARD. THERE'S OVER 3000 SUBMISSIONS EVERY YEAR. AND SO WE IT WAS A HUGE HONOR FOR US TO GET THAT RECOGNITION. AND THANK YOU. AND I HOPE YOU DO GET TO SEE THEM. A LOT OF PEOPLE TELL ME THEY SAW IT ON TV AND THEY THINK THEY'VE BEEN THERE, BUT THE EXPERIENCE THAT YOU GET WHEN YOU WALK IN IS JUST IT'S JUST AMAZING. SO REALLY ASK YOU, YOU KNOW, FROM AS MUCH AS WE CAN TO, TO GET PEOPLE TO UNDERSTAND IT'S NOT ONLY WE'VE REALLY LOOKED AT IT AS A VISION OF NOT ONLY ABOUT THE VICTIMS AND THE PEOPLE THAT GOT HURT, BUT ALSO FOR THE COMMUNITY TO MOVE FORWARD AND TO SORT OF USE THAT TIME FOR MEDITATION, REFLECTION, AND THEN GO OUT AND THEN MAYBE SHARE THAT, THAT LIGHT WITH OTHERS. SO IT'S BEEN AN INCREDIBLE OPPORTUNITY FOR OUR COMMUNITY. AND WE THANK GOD THAT WE'VE GOTTEN RECOGNIZED AT THAT LEVEL, BECAUSE IT REALLY DESERVES THAT RECOGNITION. SO IF YOU IF YOU DON'T MIND, IF WE COULD HAVE THE TEAM THAT'S WORKED TOGETHER AND WE COULD TAKE A PICTURE. HERE, YOUR RESOLUTION. [00:25:44] YOU. KNOW. OKAY. ITEM FIVE B APPROVE AND ADOPT A RESOLUTION RECOGNIZING AND HONORING THE AMERICAN LEGION POST 36 ON ITS 105TH ANNIVERSARY. OKAY. YOU WANT TO COME UP, [B. Approve and adopt a resolution recognizing and honoring the American Legion Eastwood Post 36 on its 105th Anniversary. Ricardo A. Samaniego, County Judge, County Judge's Office, 915-273-3591] DAVID? THAT'S WHEN I READ IT. WHOEVER'S WITH YOU IF YOU WANT TO. SO ANOTHER ANOTHER GREAT RESOLUTION HONORING INDIVIDUALS AND ORGANIZATIONS THAT SUPPORT AND DO AS MUCH AS THEY CAN FOR OUR VETERANS. SO I HAVE THE HONOR OF READING THIS INTO THE RECORD WAS AUGUST 10TH, 2025 MARKS THE 105TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE AMERICAN LEGION POST 36, LOCATED IN EL PASO, TEXAS, WAS THE AMERICAN LEGION POST 36 PROUDLY STANDS AS THE OLDEST AMERICAN LEGION POST IN EL PASO COUNTY, REFLECTING A LONG STANDING TRADITION OF SERVICE, PATRIOTISM, AND DEDICATION TO THE COMMUNITY. BY HONORING VETERANS THROUGH MEMORIAL EVENTS, FLAG RETIREMENTS, LOCAL PARADES, AND PATRIOTIC OBSERVANCES. IN CELEBRATION OF THIS MILESTONE, THE POST WILL HOST AN OPEN HOUSE AND MEMBERSHIP DRIVE ON AUGUST 9TH, 2025, IN EL PASO, TEXAS, WELCOMING VETERANS, FAMILIES, AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS TO PARTICIPATE IN HONORING ITS LEGACY WITH THE AMERICAN LEGION IS A FAMILY ORIENTED ORGANIZATION COMMITTED TO SERVING THE COMMUNITY THROUGH PARTNERSHIPS WITH LOCAL SCHOOLS, CITY ORGANIZATIONS, CHARITY GROUPS, AND PROMOTING LEADERSHIP, CITIZENSHIP, PATRIOTISM FOR THE YOUTH THROUGH PROGRAMS SUCH AS BOYS STATE, JUNIOR ROTC, AND SCHOLARSHIP INITIATIVES. WITH THE EASTWOOD POST 36 INCLUDES PROUD MEMBERS WHO HAVE SERVED IN EVERY MAJOR CONFLICT WHICH THE UNITED STATES HAS BEEN INVOLVED, INCLUDING WORLD WAR TWO, THE KOREAN WAR, THE COLD WAR, THE VIETNAM WAR, THE CONFLICTS IN GRENADA AND PANAMA, OPERATION DESERT STORM, THE PERSIAN GULF WAR, AFGHANISTAN, AND THE GLOBAL WAR ON TERROR. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED THAT THE EL PASO COUNTY JUDGE AND COMMISSIONERS COURT RECOGNIZES AND HONOR THE AMERICAN LEGION POST 36 ON ITS 105TH ANNIVERSARY AND EXTENDS ITS HEARTFELT APPRECIATION TO ALL POST MEMBERS, PAST AND PRESENT, FOR THEIR UNWAVERING SERVICE AND SACRIFICE. WE RECOGNIZE AND HONOR ALL VETERANS WHO HAVE SERVED AND CONTINUE TO SERVE OUR NATION, WHILE SOLEMNLY REMEMBERING THOSE WHO MADE THE ULTIMATE SACRIFICE, AND WE EXTEND OUR DEEPEST CONDOLENCES TO THEIR FAMILIES AND LOVED ONES WITH ENDURING GRATITUDE, WE COMMEND THE STRENGTH, PERSEVERANCE, AND COMMITMENT OF ALL VETERANS, BOTH DURING THEIR TIME IN SERVICE AND UPON RETURNING HOME, AND REAFFIRM OUR COLLECTIVE DUTY TO ENSURE THEIR SACRIFICES ARE NEVER FORGOTTEN. WE ENCOURAGE ALL AMERICANS TO REFLECT ON THE LESSONS OF WAR, TO LISTEN AND HONOR THE VOICES OF OUR VETERANS, AND TO WORK TOWARD A FUTURE GUIDED BY COMPASSION, UNDERSTANDING, AND PEACE. SIGN THIS 20TH DAY OF JULY 2025, WE HAVE A MOTION FROM JUDGE SAMANIEGO, A SECOND FROM COMMISSIONER HOLGUIN. THE VOTING IS OPEN. COMMISSIONER STOUT. OH, THERE YOU ARE. THANK YOU. [00:30:01] COMMISSIONER, THE MOTION CARRIES. THANK YOU DAVID. YES. GOOD MORNING JUDGE. MY NAME IS DAVID PORRAS. I'M WITH THE AMERICAN LEGION POST 36. I'M THE IMMEDIATE FIRST VICE COMMANDER, AND I'M ALSO A MEMBER OF THE VETERANS ADVISORY BOARD. AND CURRENTLY I AM THE MEDIA HOST AND PUBLIC RELATIONS OFFICER FOR THE AMERICAN LEGION POST 36. I WANT TO TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO THANK YOU AND YOUR COMMISSIONERS AND YOUR STAFF FOR ALLOWING US TO BE HERE THIS MORNING AND FOR THIS SPECIAL RECOGNITION THAT YOU BESTOW UPON US, ESPECIALLY WANT TO THANK THE STAFF WHO WORKED VERY DILIGENTLY WITH ME IN REGARDS TO THE RESOLUTION AND LITERALLY WALKED ME THROUGH THE STEPS THAT WE NEEDED TO DO TO COME TO THIS RESOLUTION. RIGHT NOW, I'D LIKE TO INTRODUCE MY LEFT IS OUR JUDGE ADVOCATE, TAMMY SAY, ON MY RIGHT IS OUR COMMANDER, JESUS CHUY GANDARA, WHO WILL SAY A FEW WORDS ON BEHALF OF THE LEGION. SO ONCE AGAIN, THANK YOU VERY MUCH. WE'RE VERY APPRECIATIVE. THANK YOU. AND, DAVID, THANK YOU FOR SERVING AS MY APPOINTMENT TO THE ADVISORY BOARD, VETERANS ADVISORY BOARD. AND THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING THAT YOU DO AND THE COMMITMENT THAT YOU'VE MADE TO THAT BOARD. THANK YOU. YES, SIR. IT'S MY HONOR TO WORK WITH YOU AND THE COMMISSIONERS IN THE. THANK YOU, THANK YOU. JUDGE. GO AHEAD. GOOD MORNING. GOOD MORNING. MY NAME IS JESUS CHUY GANDARA. I'M THE COMMANDER OF AMERICAN LEGION POST 36. MISTER SAMANIEGO AND COMMISSIONERS, THANK YOU FOR THIS PROCLAMATION. THE AMERICAN LEGION WAS FOUNDED IN 1919 BY AN ACT OF CONGRESS. IS THE NATION'S LARGEST SERVICE ORGANIZATION DEDICATED TO ADVOCATING FOR THE NEEDS OF VETERANS, SERVICE MEMBERS, AND THEIR FAMILIES. THE AMERICAN LEGION WAS CHARTERED AND INCORPORATED BY CONGRESS AS A PATRIOTIC VETERANS ORGANIZATION DEVOTED TO MUTUAL HELPFULNESS WITH A COMMITMENT OF DESIGNATING MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORT AND PREVENTING VETERAN SUICIDE. THE ORGANIZATION EMPOWERS INDIVIDUALS TO TAKE ACTION AND OFFERS A VARIETY OF PROGRAMS AND RESOURCES TO SUPPORT MILITARY FAMILIES. OVER THE PAST CENTURY, THE AMERICAN LEGION HAS MADE SIGNIFICANT CONTRIBUTIONS TO VETERANS WELL BEING AMPLIFIED, EXEMPLIFIED BY THE RECORD AMOUNT OF VA DISABILITY BENEFITS SECURED IN THE ROBUST PARTICIPATION IN YOUTH GROUPS, FOCUSING ON SERVICE TO VETERANS, SERVICE MEMBERS, AND COMMUNITIES. THE LEGION INVOLVED A GROUP OF WAR WEARY VETERANS OF WORLD WAR ONE INTO ONE OF THE MOST INFLUENTIAL NONPROFIT GROUPS IN THE UNITED STATES. MEMBERSHIP SWIFTLY GREW TO OVER 1 MILLION IN LOCAL POSTS SPRANG UP ACROSS THE COUNTRY. TODAY, MEMBERSHIP STANDS AT OVER 1.6 MILLION AND MORE THAN 12,000 POST WORLDWIDE. THE POSTS ARE RECOGNIZED IN 55 DEPARTMENTS, ONE EACH FOR THE 50 STATES, ALONG WITH THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, PUERTO RICO, FRANCE, LATIN AMERICA, PHILIPPINES. OVER THE YEARS, THE LEGION HAS BUILT ITS IDENTITY BY ACHIEVING HUNDREDS OF BENEFITS AND SERVICES FOR VETERANS, SUPPORTING US ARMED FORCES, AND INSTILLING THE VALUES OF RESPONSIBLE CITIZENSHIP AMONG YOUNG PEOPLE FROM THE NATION. CHANGING OF THE AMERICAN LEGION DRAFTED G.I. BILL TO RELIEF THE VETERANS EXPOSED TO TOXIC CONTAMINATION IN THE SERVICE. VETERANS OF THE AMERICAN LEGION HAVE WORKED FOR OVER A CENTURY TO IMPROVE AND STRENGTHEN THE NATION. THEY SWORE WITH THEIR LIVES TO DEFEND AFTER WORLD WAR ONE. WITH THOUSANDS OF WAR WEARY VETERANS WITH NEUROPSYCHIATRIC CONDITIONS, THE AMERICAN LEGION RAISED AWARENESS OF THE CONDITION, LATER TO BE DEFINED AS POST-TRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDER. THE LEGION'S EFFORTS RESULTED IN THE CREATION OF U.S. VETERANS BUREAU, FORERUNNER TO THE VETERANS ADMINISTRATION, THE FEDERAL VETERANS ADMINISTRATION WAS ESTABLISHED IN 1930 AFTER TIRELESS LOBBYING BY THE AMERICAN LEGION, LONG PROMOTED BY THE AMERICAN LEGION NATIONAL POW, MIA RECOGNITION DAY IS ACCEPTED TO BE RECOGNIZED ANNUALLY ON THE THIRD FRIDAY OF SEPTEMBER. AUGUST 10TH, 2022 PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN SIGNED INTO LAW THE FIRST CLASS HEATH ROBINSON, HONORING OUR PROMISE TO ADDRESS COMPREHENSIVE TOXINS ACT, A HISTORIC MOVE STRONGLY, STRONGLY SUPPORTED AND PROMOTED BY THE AMERICAN LEGION TO PROVIDE HEALTH CARE, SERVICE AND DISABILITY COMPENSATION TO OVER 4 MILLION VETERANS, MOST POST 911 WHO EXPOSED TO TOXIC CONTAMINATION IN THE MILITARY. ON OCTOBER 1ST, 2023, AMERICAN LEGION CREDITED SERVICE OFFICERS SECURED WHAT IS BELIEVED TO ALL TIME ONE YEAR HIGH OF VA BENEFITS FOR DISABLED VETERANS, WITH $18.8 BILLION IN CLAIMS RELATED TO THE PACT ACT. FOR THE 4.8 BILLION INCREASE IN BENEFITS BETWEEN 20 TO 23, THE AMERICAN LEGION POST 36 EASTWOOD HAS OVER 270 MEMBERS, INCLUDING THE AUXILIARY UNIT 36, THE AMERICAN LEGION RIDERS CHAPTER 36, AND SONS OF THE AMERICAN LEGION SQUADRON. ALL THESE GROUPS MEET HERE FOR A VARIETY OF OUTINGS AND EVENTS. THE LEGION SPONSORS SCHOLARSHIPS AND BOYS AND GIRLS STATE PROGRAMS PROGRAMS TO TEACH THE STUDENTS ABOUT US GOVERNMENT. COMMANDER GANDARA AND THE ENTIRE STAFF EXTENDS A WARM WELCOME TO YOU AND INVITE YOU ALL TO JOIN THE ATMOSPHERE AND EVENTS ON ALL PATRIOTIC HOLIDAYS. OUR 105TH BIRTHDAY PARTY WILL BE AUGUST THE 9TH, WITH CEREMONIES STARTING AT 4 P.M. FOOD AND DRINKS WILL BE [00:35:05] PROVIDED, ALONG WITH SPEECHES FROM THE MAYOR, THE STATE OF TEXAS, AND WASHINGTON, DC. DIGNITARIES READING SPEECHES. MUSIC WILL BE PROVIDED BY SAS GROUP. WE ARE LOCATED AT 3730 SHELL STREET. THANK YOU FOR THIS PROCLAMATION, SIR. THANK YOU. YOU'RE OKAY? I'M GOOD. WELL, AS YOU COULD SEE, JUST A HUGE IMPACT, ESPECIALLY WORKING WITH YOUTH AND ROTC. IT JUST SO IMPORTANT IN TODAY'S WORLD, YOU KNOW, THAT WE'VE SEEN HOW THE RECRUITMENT HAS GONE DOWN. YOU KNOW, OUR YOUNG PEOPLE ARE NOT REALLY UNDERSTANDING, YOU KNOW, WHY THEY WOULD GO INTO THE MILITARY. BUT I THINK AS WE HONOR VETERANS, WE'RE BEGINNING TO SEE MORE AND MORE RECRUITS, YOU KNOW, TRYING TO, YOU KNOW, MAKE AN EFFORT TO BE PART OF THE MILITARY. SO I THANK THE THREE OF YOU FOR BEING HERE TODAY. AND IT'S JUST AN HONOR TO BE ABLE TO HONOR YOU ON THIS INCREDIBLE BIRTHDAY THAT'S COMING UP. SO THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU. HAVE SOME OTHER MEMBERS OF OUR LEGION HERE. YES. OKAY. WE'LL COME UP TO THE FRONT. YEAH. GO AHEAD. NO, JUST PARDON ME. JUST BE RECOGNIZED. OKAY. YOU WANT TO? YEAH. PICTURE TIME. YEAH. OH, NO ONE'S GOING TO SPEAK OR ANYTHING. OKAY. THANK YOU. I JUST WANTED TO VERY QUICKLY JUDGE AT OUR CEREMONY, WE WILL HAVE THE SETTING OF THE POW MIA TABLE. IF NONE OF YOU HAVE EVER WITNESSED THAT, WE ASK YOU TO MAKE EVERY EFFORT TO BE THERE. IT IS A VERY SOMBER PRESENTATION, BUT IT TELLS YOU WHAT EVERY ITEM ON THE TABLE OF THE POW MIA IS ALL ABOUT IS VERY SOMBER, BUT IT'S VERY REWARDING. SO HOPEFULLY ALL OF YOU CAN CAN BE AT OUR BIRTHDAY PARTY ON AUGUST THE 9TH. SO THANK YOU SO MUCH. IT'S IF YOU HAVEN'T SEEN THAT CEREMONY, IT'S VERY IT MOVES YOU COMPLETELY. SO THANK YOU. THANK YOU, ACTUALLY GOOD PICTURE. THANK YOU. GOOD. IN FRONT OF. ITEM FIVE SEE APPROVE AND ADOPT A RESOLUTION RECOGNIZING ALLEN GILMER FOR HIS CONTRIBUTIONS AND [C. Approve and adopt a resolution recognizing Allen Gilmer for his contributions and dedication to El Paso County, Texas. Jackie Butler, Commissioner, Precinct 1, 915-273-3594] DEDICATION TO EL PASO COUNTY, TEXAS. THANK YOU. I'LL ASK MR. GILMER TO GILMER TO JOIN US AT THE PODIUM. COMMISSIONER BUTLER. YEAH, YOU, JUDGE, I HAVE THE DISTINCT HONOR THIS MORNING TO RECOGNIZE AN EL PASOAN WHO IS NOT ONLY A CHAMPION FOR OUR COMMUNITY ACROSS THE NATION, BUT HAS GIVEN BACK TO OUR COMMUNITY IN MULTIPLE WAYS. AND CONGRATULATIONS IN ADVANCE, MR. GILMER, FOR YOUR. SUBMISSION TO THE PLAZA FILM FESTIVAL OVER THE WEEKEND. I'LL GO AHEAD AND READ THE RESOLUTION, AND THEN WE'LL GO AHEAD AND HEAR SOME COMMENTS FROM YOU. WHEREAS ALLEN GILMORE GILMER HAS BEEN A DEVOTED EL PASOAN, WHOSE LIFELONG CONNECTION TO HIS HOMETOWN STANDS AS A TESTAMENT TO HIS COMMITMENT TO THE COMMUNITY. AND WHEREAS A PROUD GRADUATE OF EL PASO HIGH SCHOOL, MR. GILMER WAS A DISTINGUISHED MEMBER OF THE FIRST BATTALION, FIRST BRIGADE, BRIGADE, JROTC FOR FOUR YEARS, SHOWCASING HIS LEADERSHIP AND EXCELLENCE DURING HIS YOUTH AND WHEREAS, HE FURTHERED HIS EDUCATION AT RICE UNIVERSITY, EARNING HIS BACHELOR'S DEGREE IN [00:40:04] EARTH SCIENCE IN 1984 BEFORE RETURNING TO EL PASO TO OBTAIN HIS MASTER'S DEGREE IN GEOLOGICAL SCIENCES FROM UTEP IN 1987. HE WAS RECOGNIZED AS AN OUTSTANDING GRADUATE BY BOTH EL PASO HIGH SCHOOL AND UTEP, AND WHEREAS, MR. GILMER CO-FOUNDED DRILLINGINFO, NOW ENVERUS, A LEADING PROVIDER OF CLOUD BASED DATA AND ANALYTICS SOFTWARE FOR THE OIL AND GAS INDUSTRY, WHERE HE SERVED AS CEO AND EVENTUALLY EXECUTIVE CHAIRMAN. HE RECEIVED NUMEROUS AWARDS FOR HIS INDUSTRY LEADERSHIP, INCLUDING LARGE COMPANY CEO OF THE YEAR FOR CENTRAL TEXAS IN 2014, TOP SEVEN NORTH AMERICAN PROSPECT EXPO INFLUENCERS IN 2014, TEXAS OUTSTANDING GEOSCIENTIST IN 2012 BY TEXAS MONTHLY MAGAZINE AND ERNST AND YOUNG ENTREPRENEUR OF THE YEAR IN CENTRAL TEXAS IN 2012. AND WHEREAS IN 2023, THE TEXAS INDEPENDENT PRODUCERS AND ROYALTY OWNERS ASSOCIATION HONORED HIM WITH THE PRESTIGIOUS MR. T AWARD, CELEBRATING HIS OUTSTANDING SERVICE TO THE TEXAS OIL AND NATURAL GAS INDUSTRY, A 20 YEAR SERVICE ON THE ASSOCIATION'S BOARD AS A LEADER LEADING LEADER, GUIDING THE ASSOCIATION'S WORK THROUGH ADVOCACY, EDUCATION AND INNOVATION. AND WHEREAS, BEYOND HIS ACCOMPLISHMENTS IN ENERGY AND DATA ANALYTICS, MR. GILMER HAS EXCELLED IN THE ARTS THROUGH THUNDERBIRD FILMS AND REDBUD STUDIOS, ALL PRODUCTION COMPANIES FOUNDED BY MR. GILMER AND HIS WIFE VERONICA, RICKY RUSHING. MR. GILMER ATTRIBUTES HIS FILMMAKING JOURNEY TO GROWING UP IN EL PASO, WHICH IS REFLECTED IN ALL OF HIS WORK. HIS FIRST DOCUMENTARY DOCUMENTARY WAS DEBUTED AT CIELO VISTA CINEMA, AND THE FIRST FILMED FULL LENGTH MOVIE IN EL PASO. HE PREMIERED AT THE PLAZA. MR. GILMER INTRODUCED NUMEROUS HOLLYWOOD ACTORS AND PRODUCERS TO EL PASO'S CULTURE AND COMMUNITY. HIS LATEST FILM, LONG SHADOWS, PREMIERED AT THE PLAZA CLASSIC FILM FESTIVAL IN EL PASO LAST SATURDAY THIS PAST SATURDAY, JULY 16TH, AND WILL BE IN THEATERS BEGINNING SEPTEMBER 26TH. AND WHEREAS HE REMAINS ACTIVELY ENGAGED WITH UTEP, HAVING DONATED $1 MILLION TO UTEP'S ECONOMY ECONOMIC GEOLOGY PROGRAM AT THE CENTER FOR ENTREPRENEURIAL GEOSCIENCES IN THE DEPARTMENT OF GEOLOGICAL SCIENCES, AND WHEREAS, MR. GILMER'S VARIOUS CONTRIBUTIONS AS A SCHOLAR, INNOVATOR, GEOPHYSICIST, FILMMAKER, AND PHILANTHROPIST HAVE ENRICHED EL PASO'S EDUCATIONAL, CULTURAL AND ECONOMIC LANDSCAPE, EMBODYING THE SPIRIT OF COMMUNITY AND EXCELLENCE. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED THAT THE EL PASO COUNTY JUDGE AND COMMISSIONERS COURT HEREBY RECOGNIZE AND COMMEND ALAN GILMER FOR HIS DECADES OF SERVICE, LEADERSHIP, AND DEDICATION TO HIS HOMETOWN, AND EXPRESSES ITS APPRECIATION FOR HIS CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE VITALITY OF EL PASO. SIGNED THIS 28TH DAY OF JULY, 2025, WE HAVE A MOTION FROM COMMISSIONER BUTLER AND A SECOND FROM JUDGE SAMANIEGO. THE VOTING IS OPEN. I THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER. THE MOTION CARRIES. THANK YOU, MR. GILMER, FOR BEING HERE. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. IT'S THE FIRST ELECTION I THINK I'VE EVER WON. BUT I APPRECIATE IT. COMMISSIONERS. JUDGE WAS A SURPRISE. I'M FORTUNATE TO HAVE OLD AND GOOD FRIENDS THAT NOMINATED ME HERE TO GO DO THIS WHEN I WAS HERE. YOU KNOW, OFTENTIMES YOU HAVE TO LEAVE A PLACE TO REALLY APPRECIATE WHERE YOU CAME FROM. AND AS I LIVED ALL OVER THE WORLD, I STARTED TO REALIZE HOW IMPORTANT EL PASO REALLY WAS TO ME AND WHAT IT WOULD BE TO ANYBODY THAT HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO GROW UP HERE. AND TODAY IS ESPECIALLY IMPORTANT BECAUSE ALL THE VETERANS THAT ARE HERE TODAY, I GREW UP, I WAS IN ROTC IN A TIME WHEN IT WAS NOT POPULAR TO BE IN ROTC, AND I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO MEET GENERAL GENERAL OF THE ARMY OMAR BRADLEY WHEN HE LIVED OUT HERE AT FORT BLISS. AND I ASKED HIM, BECAUSE HE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO LIVE IN THE COMMANDER'S QUARTERS AT ANY BASE, ARMY BASE, US ARMY BASE IN THE WORLD. AND WHY HE CHOSE FORT BLISS TO DO THAT. AND HE SAID, BECAUSE HERE AND I THINK I'VE GOT IT EXACTLY RIGHT, BECAUSE IT STUCK WITH ME FOREVER. HE SAID, BECAUSE HERE IN EL PASO, I GET TO LIVE WITH THE PEOPLE THAT ARE ME. THEY WERE THE PEOPLE THAT LIVED THE PATRIOTISM AND THAT BLED THE PATRIOTISM. AND IT'S NOT AN ABSTRACT CONCEPT. HE GOES, THESE ARE MY PEOPLE. AND I DIDN'T THINK I DIDN'T REALLY REALIZE HOW IMPORTANT THAT WHOLE BACKGROUND WAS UNTIL I LEFT, BECAUSE IT'S SOMETHING THAT DOESN'T EXIST IN A LOT OF OTHER PLACES. AND THE OTHER ASPECT IS JUST THE FOCUS ON EDUCATION. AND LOOK AT WHAT'S HAPPENED WITH UTEP OVER THE YEARS. WHEN I LEFT [00:45:02] EL PASO, UTEP WAS A COMMUTER CAMPUS, AND TODAY IT IS A TIER ONE RESEARCH UNIVERSITY. THAT IS, THAT HAS ACHIEVED THE IMPOSSIBLE. IT'S AN OPEN ADMISSION UNIVERSITY. IT'S A TIER ONE RESEARCH UNIVERSITY, AND IT ACHIEVES RESULTS THAT ARE EQUIVALENT TO A ELITE UNIVERSITY IN TERMS OF GRADUATING PEOPLE GETTING ELITE JOBS WITH GREAT COMPANIES AND GOING INTO ELITE GRADUATE PROGRAMS. SO I JUST FEEL SO FORTUNATE AND SO MUCH OF WHAT I HAVE ACCOMPLISHED WAS BECAUSE OF THE LUCK OF HAVING BEEN BORN IN EL PASO, AND TO BE ABLE TO GO GROW UP HERE, IT'S IMBUED SOMETHING IN ME FOREVER. THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MR. GILMORE. THANK YOU. WE WE'RE SO APPRECIATIVE OF THE FACT THAT THE WAY THAT YOU'VE YOU'VE PLACED EL PASO, THE BEAUTIFUL PART OF EL PASO, PUTTING US ON THE MAP. YOU KNOW, AS YOU KNOW, THE FILM INDUSTRY IS GOING TO BE REALLY IMPORTANT TO EL PASO. WE'RE REALLY TRYING TO GET A LITTLE PIECE OF THAT. AND THERE'S INDIVIDUALS LIKE YOURSELF. BUT ONE OF THE COMMITMENTS THAT I'VE HEARD IS THAT NOT TO ALLOW FILMMAKERS TO PORTRAY US DIFFERENTLY OR THAT REALLY DO NOT PLACES IN THE BEST LIGHT. AND I THINK YOU'VE ALL YOU'VE ALWAYS DONE THAT, YOU KNOW, YOU'VE ALWAYS GONE TO LET PEOPLE KNOW HOW WE REALLY ARE. AND I'VE ALWAYS SAID, YOU KNOW, IT'S NOT WE DON'T WANT YOU TO SEE US HOW YOU BELIEVE WE ARE, BUT HOW WE REALLY ARE. AND YOU'VE DONE THAT. AND I COULD, YOU KNOW, JUST THE LOVE YOU HAVE FOR EL PASO. AND THANK YOU FOR BEING A GREAT AMBASSADOR FOR, FOR THIS COMMUNITY. THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER BUTLER. THANK YOU AGAIN FOR ALL OF THE WAYS THAT YOU GIVE BACK TO EL PASO AND FOR BEING A CHAMPION FOR OUR COMMUNITY. GO AHEAD AND TAKE A PICTURE NOW. THANK YOU. AND. YOU KNOW. I DON'T KNOW IF YOU. IF YOU WANT THOUSAND 270. THREE. THANK YOU. AND AGAIN. YES FOR SURE. ITEM FOUR D APPROVE AND ADOPT A RESOLUTION. I'M SORRY FIVE D APPROVE AND ADOPT A RESOLUTION COMMENDING THE ARMED SERVICES YMCA FOR 160 YEARS OF COMMITMENT TO SERVICE AND RECOGNIZING THE [D. Approve and adopt a resolution commending the Armed Services YMCA for 160 years of commitment to service and recognizing the organization’s more than 100 years of service in El Paso. David Stout, Commissioner, Precinct 2, 915-273-3559] ORGANIZATION'S MORE THAN 100 YEARS OF SERVICE IN EL PASO. COMMISSIONER. STOUT. YES. GOOD MORNING. CAN YOU ALL HEAR ME? OKAY. YES. OKAY, GREAT. WELL, I'M VERY PROUD TO HONORED TO BE ABLE TO PRESENT THIS, THIS RESOLUTION TO THE COURT THIS MORNING, RECOGNIZING THE LONG STANDING WORK OF THE ARMED SERVICES YMCA AND ITS MORE THAN A CENTURY OF EXISTENCE IN EL PASO. WE HAVE LOTS OF NEED IN OUR COMMUNITY, AND UNFORTUNATELY, THAT INCLUDES THE NEED TO SUPPORT ENLISTED MILITARY PERSONNEL FROM PROVIDING FOOD ASSISTANCE TO CLOTHING AND CHILD ENRICHMENT PROGRAMING. AND THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT THE ARMED SERVICES YMCA IS DOING, REALLY HELPING FILL IN THOSE GAPS. AND THIS COMMUNITY IS VERY LUCKY TO HAVE THEM. I RECENTLY WAS ABLE TO GO ON A TOUR OF THEIR, THEIR FACILITY AND, AND REALLY JUST GET A, YOU [00:50:08] KNOW, FIRST FIRSTHAND LOOK AT ALL THE GREAT WORK THAT THEY'RE DOING WITH WITH THE FOLKS THAT NEED THEIR HELP, THAT ARE IN THE MILITARY. SO I'M GOING TO GO AHEAD AND READ THE RESOLUTION. AND THEN WE HAVE OUR GUESTS FROM THE YMCA WITH US TO, TO SPEAK. SO THE RESOLUTION STATES, WHEREAS THE ARMED SERVICES YMCA, AS YMCA WAS ESTABLISHED IN 1861 TO SUPPORT THE MORALE AND WELL-BEING OF MILITARY PERSONNEL AND THEIR FAMILIES DURING THE CIVIL WAR, AND FOR MORE THAN 160 YEARS, HAS REMAINED STEADFAST IN ITS MISSION TO STRENGTHEN OUR MILITARY FAMILY. AND WHEREAS THE AS YMCA IS A NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION COMMITTED TO SERVING JUNIOR ENLISTED SERVICE MEMBERS, ONE THROUGH SIX VETERANS AND THEIR FAMILIES, THROUGH PROGRAMS THAT PROMOTE YOUTH DEVELOPMENT, HEALTHY LIVING, AND SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY, WHILE ADDRESSING THE UNIQUE CHALLENGES OF MILITARY LIFE. AND WHEREAS THE YMCA OPERATES OVER 90 PROGRAM CENTERS AND BRANCHES NATIONWIDE, OFFERING CRITICAL SERVICES SUCH AS EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION, AFTER SCHOOL MENTORSHIP, FOOD ASSISTANCE, MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORT, QUALITY OUTREACH, AND EMERGENCY RELIEF. AND WHEREAS, THE YMCA PROUDLY SERVES BOTH MILITARY AND LOCAL COMMUNITIES THROUGH NO COST MEAL PROGRAMS AND FULLY STOCKED FOOD PANTRIES, PROVIDING VITAL NUTRITION SUPPORT TO FAMILIES IN NEED. AND WHEREAS, THE EL PASO BRANCH OF THE ARMED SERVICES YMCA, ESTABLISHED IN 1921, HAS REMAINED A STEADFAST PARTNER IN SUPPORT OF THE FORT BLISS COMMUNITY AND CONTINUES TO ADAPT AND GROW TO MEET THE EVOLVING NEEDS OF MILITARY AND VETERAN FAMILIES IN THE REGION, AMOUNTING DIRECT SERVICES TO OVER 14,000 FAMILIES IN THE REGION. AND WHEREAS, THE YMCA COLLABORATES WITH MILITARY COMMANDS, LOCAL GOVERNMENTS AND COMMUNITY PARTNERS TO DELIVER ON THE GROUND SUPPORT ENSURING MILITARY AND VETERAN FAMILIES HAVE THE RESOURCES, CARE AND CONNECTIONS NEEDED TO THRIVE. AND WHEREAS PROGRAMS SUCH AS OPERATION HERO, OPERATION LITTLE LEARNERS, OPERATION RIDE HOME AND OPERATION HOLIDAY JOY HAVE MADE A LASTING IMPACT ON THE LIVES OF TENS OF THOUSANDS OF SERVICE MEMBERS, SPOUSES AND CHILDREN EACH YEAR. AND NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, THAT THE EL PASO COUNTY JUDGE AND COMMISSIONERS COURT HEREBY HONORS AND COMMENDS THE ARMED SERVICES YMCA FOR OVER 160 YEARS OF UNWAVERING SERVICE TO OUR NATION'S MILITARY AND VETERAN FAMILIES AND EXPRESSES ITS DEEPEST APPRECIATION FOR THE CONTINUED COMMITMENT, COMPASSION AND COMMUNITY LEADERSHIP DEMONSTRATED BY THE YMCA BOTH NATIONALLY AND HERE IN EL PASO. SO, IN THIS 28TH DAY OF JULY 2025, THE HONORABLE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS COURT, WE HAVE A MOTION FROM COMMISSIONER STOUT, A SECOND FROM JUDGE SAMANIEGO. THE VOTING IS OPEN. MY VOTE IS I THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER BUTLER. COMMISSIONER STOUT, THE MOTION CARRIES. WELCOME, JURY. IT'S A PLEASURE TO BE HERE. WELCOME, JERRY. THANK YOU. YEAH. SO I WANT TO START OFF WITH EVERY DAY IS A GREAT DAY. AND THE VETERANS CAPITAL OF THE USA. AND YOU SEE THAT WITH THE DIFFERENT ORGANIZATIONS THAT ARE GETTING REPRESENTED AND GETTING RECOGNIZED HERE. SO I JUST WANT TO TELL YOU, THANK YOU TO THE COUNTY JUDGE, TO ALL THE COMMISSIONERS. COMMISSIONER STOUT, THANK YOU FOR COMING OUT AND VISITING US AND GETTING THE TOUR OF TO SEE WHAT WE DO. AND I WOULD LIKE TO INVITE EVERYBODY SITTING HERE, BOTH IN FRONT OF ME AND BEHIND ME, AND ANYBODY LISTENING TO COME AND SEE WHAT WE DO AT THE ARMED SERVICES YMCA. IT IS AN INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT MISSION, AND I'M A LITTLE BIT BIASED BECAUSE I SERVED IN THE MILITARY FOR 30 YEARS, AND DURING THAT 30 YEARS, I LOVED IT. IT WAS THE BEST THING. I MEAN, I COULD NEVER IMAGINE A DIFFERENT LIFE, BUT IT CAME WITH CHALLENGES. I KNOW, I KNOW WHY THIS PROGRAM IS SO IMPORTANT BECAUSE I NEEDED THIS PROGRAM WAY BACK THEN, BUT WE DIDN'T HAVE THE SAME AMOUNT OF PROGRAMS AS WE HAVE NOW. WE'RE WAY BETTER FACILITATED TO HELP OUR MILITARY COMMUNITY OUT THERE. THE ARMED SERVICES YMCA IS THE OLDEST MILITARY SERVICE ORGANIZATION IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. IT DID START BACK IN 1861. THERE WAS A BUNCH OF FAITH BASED LEADERS THAT WENT TO ABRAHAM LINCOLN AND SAID, HOW CAN WE HELP OUT WITH THE WAR EFFORT? AND HE SAID, GO PROVIDE COMFORT FOR MY SOLDIERS. AND SO WE BUILT COFFEE WAGONS. WE COMMISSIONED COFFEE WAGONS. WE TOOK THE COFFEE WAGONS OUT THERE AND, YOU KNOW, GAVE THOSE THOSE SERVICE MEMBERS THAT WERE FIGHTING OUT THERE ON THE, YOU KNOW, AN INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT CONFLICT IN OUR NATION'S HISTORY. THEY GAVE THEM A LITTLE BIT OF COMFORT. AND, YOU KNOW, TODAY, YOU KNOW, I WAKE UP EVERY MORNING, I GET A CUP OF COFFEE. BUT BACK IN 1861, COFFEE WAS A COMMODITY. IT WAS A LUXURY. AND SO THAT WAS THAT LITTLE BIT OF SUPPORT THAT WE WERE ABLE TO BRING THAT FOOD. AND THEN SOME OF THE OTHER STUFF THAT WE DID THAT REALLY MADE A DIFFERENCE. AND THAT'S WHAT KIND OF STARTED THE, THE, THE LAST OVER 100, 136 YEARS NOW OF SERVICE TO THE TO OUR GREAT NATION AND TO OUR SERVICE MEMBERS, JUST I'M NOT [00:55:05] GOING TO SIT UP HERE AND SAY A LOT, BUT I WANT TO I WANT TO THROW OUT A COUPLE OF FACTS. 2.5 THAT'S HOW MANY YEARS USUALLY A SERVICE MEMBERS GETS TO STAY IN ONE PLACE. AND MY 30 YEARS, MY WIFE AND I MOVED 18 TIMES, 18 DIFFERENT HOUSES. SHE'S SITTING BACK THERE. SHE'S AN ANGEL. SHE HELPED ME GET THROUGH THE WHOLE THING. BUT BEHIND EVERY SERVICE MEMBER, THERE'S EVEN BETTER. THERE'S A SUPPORT CAST, WHETHER IT'S THEIR SPOUSES, WHETHER IT'S, YOU KNOW, EXTENDED FAMILY, WHETHER IT'S FRIENDS. BUT EVERY 2.5, 61% OF OUR MILITARY SPOUSES ARE LOOKING FOR JOBS. THEY WANT TO BE EMPLOYED IN THEIR LOCAL NEIGHBORHOODS. BUT WE HAVE A 21% EMPLOYMENT RATE. WE SO WE, YOU KNOW, WE OUR PROGRAMS, WE TRY TO HELP PROVIDE RESILIENCY FOR THOSE FAMILIES. 500,000. THAT WAS THE AMOUNT OF POUNDS OF FOOD THAT WE GAVE AWAY NOT ONLY TO THE SERVICE MEMBERS ON FORT BLISS, BUT ALSO OUR VETERANS. WE DO A VETERANS RIDE DRIVE THROUGH EVERY WEEK AND THE LOCAL COMMUNITY ALSO BECAUSE IF SOMEBODY IF THERE'S A NEED OUT THERE AND WE HAVE THE ABILITY TO HELP THEM, WE'RE GOING TO HELP THEM OUT. WHETHER YOU'RE A SERVICE CONNECTED OR NOT, 2000 2000 IS THE AMOUNT OF HOURS OF CHILD WATCH THAT WE GAVE THIS LAST YEAR. SO SINGLE SOLDIERS AND THEIR FAMILIES, OUR SPOUSES COULD GO MAKE THEIR MEDICAL APPOINTMENTS. ALL THESE PROGRAMS ARE COST FREE AND THEY'RE THERE FOR OUR FOR OUR COMMUNITY AT LARGE. ALSO. WE ALSO HELP OUT WITH VETERANS. AS A MATTER OF FACT, WE'RE GOING TO BE LOOKING RIGHT AFTER THIS. I'M GOING TO BE GOING DOING A SITE SURVEY WHERE WE'RE GOING TO POSSIBLY BE ABLE TO OPEN A NEW CHILD, A CHILD'S, WE CALL IT CHILDREN'S WAITING ROOM, WHERE WE CAN WATCH CHILDREN OF VETERANS AND SERVICE MEMBERS ON THE EAST SIDE. SO THAT'S GOING TO BE A GREAT THING IF WE CAN GET THAT OPEN. AND LIKE THEY SAID, 14,000. SO 14,000 SERVICE MEMBERS, THEIR FAMILIES AND THEN PEOPLE IN LOCAL COMMUNITY WERE ABLE TO BENEFIT FROM FROM OUR ALL OF OUR LOW COST, NO COST PROGRAMS. I ONLY HAVE TWO PROGRAMS THAT COST ANY MONEY. ONE IS OUR LODGE. IT'S A LONG TERM STAY KIND OF HOTEL FACILITY WHERE THE SERGEANT MAJORS ACADEMY STUDENTS GET A STAY AT. SO DURING THEIR TIME AT OUR MAJORS ACADEMY, OUR NORMAL MISSION IS REALLY FOR THE EAST, FOR OUR STAFF SERGEANTS AND BELOW OUR E-6 AND BELOW. BUT THE SERGEANT MAJORS ACADEMY STUDENTS HAVE A VERY A LOT OF, YOU KNOW, THEY'RE A VERY SPECIAL GROUP OF PEOPLE BECAUSE THEY'RE THE LESS THAN 1% OF 1% THAT EVER GET TO THAT LEVEL OF RANK IN THEIR IN THEIR MILITARY CAREER. BUT WHEN REMEMBER WHEN I SAID, YOU KNOW, USUALLY ON AVERAGE, A SERVICE MEMBER MOVES EVERY 2.5 YEARS, RIGHT? SO THESE SERGEANT MAJORS, THESE GUYS GO INTO THIS NEXT CLASS RIGHT NOW, ABOUT A YEAR AGO, THEY PROBABLY GOT TO THEIR LAST DUTY STATION. AND THEN THEY CAME UP ON ORDERS. AND NOW THEY'RE GOING TO COME HERE TO FORT BLISS, AND THEY'RE GOING TO BE HERE FOR 11 MONTHS, AND THEN THEY'RE GOING TO GO TO ANOTHER DUTY STATION. AND THEN PROBABLY AFTER THAT, A YEAR LATER, THEY'RE GOING TO GET PICKED UP FOR THE NEXT RANK, WHICH IS COMMAND SERGEANT MAJOR, AND THEY'RE GOING TO MOVE AGAIN. SO IN THREE YEARS THEY COULD POSSIBLY MOVE FIVE TIMES, ALL WITHOUT ANY FAMILY. AND YOU THINK ABOUT ALL THE SERVICE MEMBERS THAT ARE COMING HERE. IF THEY'RE NOT, IF THEY'RE NOT LUCKY ENOUGH TO BE HERE FROM EL PASO. AND THAT'S WHY I DECIDED TO STAY HERE, BECAUSE THE PEOPLE ARE AMAZING AND THE FOOD IS GREAT, BUT THEY DON'T HAVE FAMILIES. THEY DON'T HAVE AUNTS AND UNCLES, THEY DON'T HAVE MOMS AND DADS TO HELP SUPPORT THEM OUT THERE. AND SO THAT'S WHAT WE DO AT THE ARMED SERVICES YMCA. WE TRY TO PROVIDE RESILIENCY FOR OUR SERVICE MEMBERS AND THEIR FAMILIES, AND TRY TO MAKE THEIR EXPERIENCE A LITTLE BIT BETTER. WE WANT TO BE THE HOME AWAY FROM HOME. BUT ALSO, I JUST WANT TO SAY I'M CLOSING THIS OUT NOW IS THANK YOU ALL FOR MAKING THIS A HOME AWAY FROM HOME, BECAUSE NOT ONLY ARE WE THE VETERANS CAPITAL OF THE USA, BUT THIS IS THE MOST FRIENDLY MILITARY CITY THAT I HAVE EVER BEEN IN. AND I'VE BEEN, LIKE I SAID, MOVED 18 TIMES. AND FOR SOME REASON I KEPT ON COMING BACK TO EL PASO. SO THANK YOU SO MUCH. APPRECIATE YOU, JERRY, AND THANK YOU. JUDGE. I JUST WANT TO SAY CAN I RECOGNIZE MY TEAM. SO RIGHT BACK HERE IS ALL MY SOME OF MY EMPLOYEES. I HAVE 27 EMPLOYEES THAT SERVE THAT 14,000 PEOPLE AND MOST OF THEM ARE VOLUNTEERS. COULD YOU ALL STAND UP REAL QUICK? THANK YOU, THANK YOU. AND, JUDGE, YOU'RE ABSOLUTELY. CAN WE CAN WE HAVE THEM COME UP AND JUST INTRODUCE THEMSELVES AT THE MIC? SURE. YES. COME ON UP. I'M MADELINE MCDANIEL AND I'M THE ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT. THANK YOU. MY NAME IS ANNA COLEMAN. I AM THE DIRECTOR FOR THE CHILD DEVELOPMENT CENTER FOR THE ARMED SERVICES YMCA. THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR HAVING US. THANK YOU. I'M ALBERT FLETCHER. I'M THE PROGRAMS MANAGER FOR THE ASYMCA. WELCOME. GOOD MORNING. MARIA CORDERO, LODGE MANAGER. WELCOME. GOOD MORNING, RONALD HICKS, JUNIOR FAMILY CENTER MANAGER. WELCOME. MORNING, ANDREW DANIELS. I'M A VOLUNTEER. WELCOME. VERONICA CARMONA, I'M THE OPERATIONS COORDINATOR. THIS IS MY SON, SEBASTIAN. HI. WELCOME, BOTH OF YOU. WELL, YOU KNOW, I WAS GOING TO SAY, JERRY, YOU'RE THE PERFECT PERSON. I CAN'T TELL YOU. WE'VE ALWAYS HAD A GREAT PARTNERSHIP WITH WITH [01:00:05] JERRY. YOU KNOW, I FEEL THAT A LOT OF THE. WE WERE ABLE TO PROCLAIM THE, YOU KNOW, BEING THE FIRST COUPLE OF USA HAD A LOT TO DO WITH YOUR WORK AND YOUR PARTNERSHIP WITH PAUL, BUT JUST CARING FOR OUR MILITARY IS SO IMPORTANT BECAUSE IT'S I MEAN, I THEY TELL US ALL THE TIME THAT THEY WANT TO COME TO EL PASO, ESPECIALLY IF IT'S THEIR LAST PART OF THEIR OF THEIR TOUR. AND THEN THEY, THEY CHOOSE EL PASO AS WHERE THEY WANT TO BE. AND I DON'T KNOW, IT JUST FEELS SO GOOD WHEN PEOPLE RECOGNIZE EL PASO FOR WHAT IT IS. AND THANK YOU FOR DOING THAT. YOU KNOW, THE MILITARY AND FORT BLISS AND THE ENTIRE MILITARY IS SO IMPORTANT TO US, JUST FROM ECONOMICAL STANDPOINT. BUT THE RELATIONSHIP AND THEN THE RESPECT THAT WE GET FROM THE GENERALS, I MEAN, EVERY SINGLE GENERAL HAS BEEN HERE ALWAYS, YOU KNOW, FORMS THIS GREAT RELATIONSHIP AND THEY ALWAYS SHOW THEIR APPRECIATION FOR EL PASO. SO, JERRY, THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU DO. AND WE APPRECIATE ALL OF YOU AND YOUR FAMILIES AS WELL. SO THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER STOUT. YEP. YOU SAID A JUDGE. THANK YOU VERY MUCH, JERRY AND TEAM, FOR THE AMAZING WORK YOU DO IN THIS COMMUNITY. IT WAS IT WAS GREAT TO BE ABLE TO TOUR WITH Y'ALL RECENTLY. AND YOU KNOW, WE'RE HERE TO TRY TO SUPPORT IN ANY WAY THAT WE CAN. SO Y'ALL KUDOS KUDOS. CAN WE CAN WE TAKE A PICTURE WITH THE RESOLUTION. THANK YOU. PIN PIN PIN PIN. ITEM FIVE APPROVE AND ADOPT A RESOLUTION DECLARING JULY 31ST, 2025 AS EL PASO DOWNTOWN ARTS DISTRICT DAY IN EL PASO COUNTY, TEXAS. ALL RIGHT. CAN Y'ALL HEAR ME? [E. Approve and adopt a resolution declaring July 31, 2025, as El Paso Downtown Arts District Day in El Paso County, Texas. David Stout, Commissioner, Precinct 2, 915-273-3559] YES. HEAR ME. OKAY. OKAY, GREAT. I'M. I'M HONORED TO BE ABLE TO ALSO READ THIS RESOLUTION INTO THE RECORD. I THINK WE ALL ARE VERY PROUD TO BE ABLE TO SUPPORT EFFORTS THAT CELEBRATE EL PASO'S HISTORIC DOWNTOWN. AND AS YOU MAY KNOW, IT'S CRITICAL FOR HEALTHY COMMUNITY TO HAVE HEALTHY COHORT TO INCLUDE DOWNTOWN AND ITS SURROUNDING NEIGHBORHOODS. ONE COMPONENT OF A HEALTHY DOWNTOWN IS THE ARTS YOU FIND THERE AND SUPPORT FOR THE ARTS. SO YES, WE HAVE ART ALL OVER OUR COMMUNITY, FROM MURALS TO SCULPTURES TO THEATER. BUT I THINK IT'S CRITICAL TO HAVE A WALKABLE SPACE IN OUR DOWNTOWN WHERE PEOPLE CAN SPEND A DAY EXPERIENCING ART AND CULTURE WITHOUT HAVING TO DRIVE FROM ONE PLACE TO ANOTHER. AND ALSO A SPACE WHERE WE CAN ENJOY THE BREADTH OF THE ARTS AND CULTURE THAT OUR COUNTY AND OUR CITY OFFER IN THAT SPACE. IS OUR [01:05:03] ARTS DISTRICT, AND I'M HONORED TO BE ABLE TO PRESENT THIS RESOLUTION, RECOGNIZING THE ACCOLADES THAT OUR ARTS DISTRICT RECENTLY. SO GO AHEAD AND READ THE RESOLUTION. AND I THINK I CAN SEE SOME FOLKS THERE AT THE PODIUM. YES, I CAN. WE'LL HAVE YOU. WE'LL HAVE YOU INTRODUCE YOURSELVES WHEN WE WHEN WE. AND WE'LL HEAR FROM YOU ALL. SO THE RESOLUTION SAYS THE EL PASO DOWNTOWN ARTS DISTRICT WAS FIRST DESIGNATED IN 2009. STATE OF TEXAS, FOLLOWING AN 18 MONTH COMMUNITY LED PROCESS AND REAFFIRMED IN 2021 UNDER THE LEADERSHIP OF THE CITY OF EL PASO MUSEUMS AND CULTURAL AFFAIRS DEPARTMENT, IN COLLABORATION WITH. ARTS ADMINISTRATORS AND CIVIC LEADERS. AND WHEREAS, THE EL PASO DOWNTOWN ARTS DISTRICT IS HOME TO A HIGH CONCENTRATION OF INSTITUTIONS, MUSEUMS, PERFORMANCE VENUES, GREEN SPACES, AND BUSINESSES THAT ENHANCE QUALITY OF LIFE, DRIVE TOURISM, AND OFFER DIVERSE, INCLUSIVE SPACES FOR CREATIVITY AND LEARNING. WHEREAS THE DISTRICT ANNUALLY HOSTS OVER 50 EXHIBITIONS, 200 WORKSHOPS AND LECTURES, 70 YOUTH CAMPS, NUMEROUS SYMPHONY AND OPERA PERFORMANCES, BROADWAY TOURS AND MAJOR FESTIVALS ENRICHING THE LIVES OF RESIDENTS AND VISITORS ALIKE. AND WHEREAS, THE DOWNTOWN ARTS DISTRICT CONTRIBUTES SIGNIFICANTLY TO THE ECONOMIC VITALITY OF THE BORDERPLEX REGION, GENERATING AN ESTIMATED $7 MILLION ANNUALLY TO LOCAL HOTELS AND $28 MILLION TO FOOD, LOCAL FOOD AND BEVERAGE ESTABLISHMENTS. AND WHEREAS SINCE ITS DESIGNATION, THE DISTRICT IS EXPERIENCING 142% INCREASE IN HOTEL ROOMS, A 66% INCREASE IN LARGE SCALE EVENTS, OVER $370 MILLION IN DEVELOPMENT, AND A 31% RISE IN PROPERTY VALUES, ALONG WITH $9 MILLION IN COMMISSIONED PUBLIC ART PROJECTS THAT HAVE TRANSFORMED EL PASO'S CULTURAL AND URBAN LANDSCAPE. AND WHEREAS IN 2025, THE EL PASO DOWNTOWN ARTS DISTRICT WAS RANKED NUMBER FIVE IN THE COUNTRY BY USA TODAY AND THEIR READERS, RECOGNIZING THE EXCEPTIONAL QUALITY, VISION AND IMPACT OF THIS UNIQUE CULTURAL DESTINATION. AND NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, THAT THE EL PASO COUNTY JUDGE, COMMISSIONERS COURT DECLARES THE 31ST DAY OF JULY, 2020, PASO DOWNTOWN ARTS DISTRICT DAY, AND ALL RESIDENTS OF EL PASO COUNTY ARE ENCOURAGED TO JOIN AND CELEBRATE THE CONTRIBUTIONS OF THE ARTISTS, CULTURAL INSTITUTIONS AND CREATIVE LEADERS WHO ENRICH OUR REGION'S IDENTITY AND FUTURE. SIGNED THIS 28TH DAY OF JULY 2025, THE HONORABLE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS COURT. WE HAVE A MOTION FROM COMMISSIONER STOUT, A SECOND FROM JUDGE SAMANIEGO. THE VOTING IS OPEN. I VOTE AYE. THANK YOU. COMMISSIONERS. THE MOTION CARRIES. WELCOME. GOOD MORNING. GOOD MORNING, COMMISSIONERS. THANK YOU GUYS FOR HAVING US HERE. IT'S ALWAYS A PLEASURE. MY NAME IS STEPHANIE HERNANDEZ, AND I'M PROUD TO SERVE AS PART OF THE BOARD AND VICE PRESIDENT FOR PROGRESS 321. WE'RE A 501 NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION MADE UP OF PURPOSEFUL, DRIVEN PROFESSIONALS. I'M JOINED TODAY BY MY FELLOW BOARD MEMBER, JUNIOR VASQUEZ, WHO IS ALSO A CO-CHAIR FOR ONE OF OUR ORGANIZATION'S BIGGEST FUNDRAISER, AND MR. EDWARD HAYNES, DIRECTOR OF THE EL PASO MUSEUM, WHOSE LEADERSHIP AND VISION HAS BEEN INSTRUMENTAL FOR US BRINGING ALL THIS TOGETHER AS A WHOLE. WHILE OUR PROGRESS PRESIDENT, JOHN PORRAS, COULDN'T BE HERE TODAY, HE'S OUT OF TOWN ON WORK. TRAVEL. HE IS FULLY SUPPORTING US AND VERY HAPPY FOR US TO BE DOING THIS RIGHT HERE TODAY. WE WANT TO TAKE A MOMENT AND HIGHLIGHT A MAJOR NATIONAL RECOGNITION THAT PUTS EL PASO IN A WELL-DESERVED SPOTLIGHT. EARLIER THIS YEAR, BACK IN MARCH, USA TODAY NAMED THE EL PASO DOWNTOWN ARTS DISTRICT ONE OF THE TOP FIVE ARTS DISTRICTS IN THE NATION. THIS HONOR BELONGS TO OUR COMMUNITY. IT REFLECTS YEARS OF VISION AND LEADERSHIP FROM CULTURAL CHAMPIONS ACROSS THE REGION. WE WANT TO SPECIALLY RECOGNIZE MR. BEN FIVE, WHO COULDN'T MAKE IT TODAY, MANAGING DIRECTOR OF CULTURAL AFFAIRS AND RECREATION OF THE CITY OF EL PASO FOR HIS LEADERSHIP IN GUIDING THE GROWTH AND SUCCESS OF THE DOWNTOWN ARTS DISTRICT. BUT THIS RECOGNITION, BUT THIS RECOGNITION IS ALSO THANKS TO DEDICATED DIRECTORS, STAFF AND CREATIVE TEAMS WHO LED THE SUPPORT OF CORNERSTONE CULTURAL INSTITUTIONS, INCLUDING THE EL PASO MUSEUM OF ART, LA NUBES CHILDREN'S CHILDREN, LA NUEVA CHILDREN'S MUSEUM, THE MUSEUM OF HISTORY, THE MAC, THE MUSEUM OF ARCHEOLOGY, EL PASO LIVE, THE PLAZA THEATER, AND MANY MORE. GOOD MORNING. WE ARE GRATEFUL TO BE JOINED TODAY BY ONE OF THOSE LEADERS, MISTER EDWARD HAYS, WHOSE VISION FOR THE EL PASO MUSEUM OF ART CONTINUES TO INSPIRE CREATIVITY AND ACCESSIBILITY IN OUR COMMUNITY. THE VIBRANCY OF THE DOWNTOWN ARTS DISTRICT CONTRIBUTES TO MORE THAN JUST [01:10:05] CULTURAL ENRICHMENT. IT FUELS ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, BOOST TOURISM, ATTRACTS AND RETAINS TALENT AND BUILDS PRIDE IN PLACE. PROGRESS 321 PROVIDES COMMUNITY AND CONNECTION AND EXISTS TO BRIDGE PEOPLE AND IDEAS IN WAYS THAT MOVE THE REGION FORWARD, WHETHER IT'S THROUGH ADVOCACY, CONNECTION OR RECOGNITION. PROGRESS 321 SERVES AS A PLATFORM FOR COLLABORATION AND FORWARD MOMENTUM, AND WE'RE EXCITED ABOUT THE OPPORTUNITIES AHEAD. WE ALSO WANT TO GENTLY SHARE THAT PROGRESS. THREE, TWO, ONE HAS TWO UPCOMING INITIATIVES LATER THIS YEAR THAT WILL CONTINUE TO PROMOTE CONNECTION, INNOVATION AND LEADERSHIP ACROSS THE REGION. WE LOOK FORWARD TO SHARING MORE IN THE COMING MONTHS. ON BEHALF OF PROGRESS 321, THANK YOU FOR YOUR ONGOING INVESTMENT IN CULTURAL AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT. WE'RE PROUD TO STAND WITH LEADERS LIKE YOU AND WITH MANY INSTITUTIONS THAT HAVE HELPED EARN THIS NATIONAL RECOGNITION. AS WE CONTINUE TO BUILD A REGION FULL OF PROMISE AND PROGRESS. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. GOOD MORNING. IT'S AN HONOR TO BE HERE IN FRONT OF SO MANY VETERANS AND PUBLIC SERVANTS. MY NAME IS EDWARD HAYS, DIRECTOR OF THE EL PASO MUSEUM OF ART. IF YOU HAVEN'T BEEN DOWNTOWN LATELY, THE EXCITEMENT IS ELECTRIC. THE INVESTMENT THAT OUR COMMUNITY LEADERS HAVE HAVE GIVEN TO THIS AREA IS ALLOWING US TO BOOM. SO I ENCOURAGE EVERYONE TO ENJOY OUR THIRD THURSDAYS. NOW WE'RE OPEN THROUGH 8 P.M. EVERY MONTH. ALL THOSE ORGANIZATIONS THAT WERE MENTIONED HERE ARE PARTICIPATING. WE HAVE AN EXCITING FALL FESTIVAL COMING UP WITH THE DIA DE LOS MUERTOS AND WINTERFEST, WHICH HAVE ALL BEEN AWARD WINNING FESTIVALS. SO THE EXCITEMENT IS REALLY CONTAGIOUS, AND I HOPE EVERYONE GETS A CHANCE TO COME DOWN AND ENJOY THIS. I DO WANT TO SHARE ONE LAST FACT HERE ABOUT THE USA TODAY TOP FIVE RECOGNITION. WE ARE BEHIND DALLAS, ONLY BEHIND DALLAS, CHICAGO, SAINT PETERSBURG AND CLEVELAND, OHIO. SO AN INCREDIBLE HONOR FOR EL PASO. SO PLEASE ENJOY THIS. THIS IS YOURS. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE RESOLUTION. THANK YOU. EDITOR. AND THAT SYNERGISM. YOU'RE ABSOLUTELY RIGHT. YOU KNOW, DOWNTOWN WILL ALWAYS BE THE HEART OF ANY COMMUNITY. AND WE THANK YOU BECAUSE PEOPLE GO FOR DIFFERENT REASONS AND THEN END UP SEEING THINGS THAT THEY PROBABLY WOULD HAVE NEVER SEEN. WE STILL HAVE A COMMUNITY THAT DOESN'T COMPLETELY UNDERSTAND THE ART AND THE MISSIONS AND ALL THE THINGS THAT WE HAVE, AND IT'S GOING TO BE A HUGE NASA COMMUNITY TO, YOU KNOW, REALLY STEP FORWARD. BECAUSE IF WE CAN SHOW THAT LOVE, WHY SHOULD OTHER PEOPLE FEEL THAT WAY? SO THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU DO. THANK YOU FOR, YOU KNOW, WE'RE VERY NOW VERY INCLINED AND READY TO SUPPORT THE ARTS. AND, YOU KNOW, WE'RE FORMING AN ARTS COMMISSION. AND WE REALLY FEEL GOOD ABOUT EL PASO AND WHAT IT'S DONE FOR EVERY FOR THE ECONOMY. IT'S BEEN JUST AN INCREDIBLE THING. SO THANK YOU ALL OF YOU. AND PROGRESS 321 YOU CREATE SOME GREAT AMBASSADORS. THEY SORT OF COME BACK LIKE FEEL THINGS OUT AND THEN THEY REALIZE, WOW, YOU KNOW EL PASO IS REALLY AMAZING. THEY HAVEN'T BEEN AROUND. BUT THEN THEY BECOME AMBASSADORS FOR US. SO WE THANK YOU FOR EACH ONE OF YOU WHAT YOU DO FOR US. SO, COMMISSIONER STOUT, BACK TO YOU. YEP. THANK YOU JUDGE. I ECHO THOSE SENTIMENTS. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MISTER HAYES, FOR YOUR WORK AT THE AT THE MUSEUM. THANK YOU TO PROGRESS THREE, TWO, ONE FOR THE WORK THAT YOU'RE DOING. AND, YOU KNOW, PUSHING EL PASO FORWARD AND MAKING SURE THAT WE CONTINUE ON THE RIGHT ON THE RIGHT PATH. IT'S REALLY IT'S GREAT TO SEE ESPECIALLY, YOU KNOW, YOUNG, YOUNG, YOUNG FOLKS GETTING INVOLVED IN THE FUTURE OF THEIR COMMUNITY. SO LET'S GO AHEAD AND TAKE A PICTURE WITH THE RESOLUTION. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER STONE. YES. [01:15:02] I THINK. WE. HAVE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. SO. ITEM FIVE F APPROVE AND ADOPT A RESOLUTION HONORING THE UNITED AMERICAN VETERANS ORGANIZATION FOR THEIR EXEMPLARY SERVICE TO THE VETERANS OF EL PASO COUNTY, TEXAS. COMMISSIONER CORONADO. [F. Approve and adopt a resolution honoring the United American Veterans Organization for their exemplary service to the Veterans of El Paso County, Texas. Sergio Coronado, Commissioner, Precinct 4, 915-273-3596] THANK YOU. JUDGE. COMMISSIONERS. THANK YOU. IT'S REALLY A PRIVILEGE AND AN HONOR TO BE ABLE TO PRESENT THIS RESOLUTION TO THE COURT. YOU KNOW, THE UNITED AMERICAN VETERANS ORGANIZATION EXISTS TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY TAKE CARE OF ALL VETERANS AND WORK FOR ISSUES THAT, YOU KNOW, ARE IMPORTANT TO THEM, AND PARTICULARLY, REALLY QUALITY OF LIFE FOR THE VETERANS, FOR THEIR FAMILIES AND FOR THE COMMUNITY. AND THEY WORK ON ALL ISSUES RELATED TO, YOU KNOW, THE NEEDS OF THE VETERANS. MAKE SURE THAT THEY ARE RECEIVING THEIR BENEFITS. SO THIS IS A REALLY A GREAT ORGANIZATION THAT ENCOMPASSES ALL, ALL OF VETERANS. AND SO I'M REALLY PROUD TO READ THIS RESOLUTION INTO THE RECORD. WHEREAS THE UNITED AMERICAN VETERANS ORGANIZATION HAS PROUDLY SERVED AS A UNIFYING BODY FOR MORE THAN 50 VETERAN SERVICE ORGANIZATIONS AND MILITARY AFFILIATED GROUPS THROUGHOUT EL PASO COUNTY, FOSTERING CAMARADERIE, COLLABORATIVE COLLABORATION, AND SUPPORT AMONG THOSE WHO HAVE SERVED OUR NATION. AND WHEREAS SINCE ITS ESTABLISHMENT IN 1983, THE VA HAS CONTINUOUSLY DEMONSTRATED ITS COMMITMENT TO HONORING OUR MILITARY COMMUNITY BY PLANNING AND ORGANIZING THE LARGEST VETERANS DAY PARADE IN EL PASO COUNTY, AN EVENT THAT BRINGS TOGETHER THOUSANDS OF VETERANS, SERVICE MEMBERS, FAMILIES AND CIVILIANS IN A CELEBRATION OF PATRIOTISM, SACRIFICE AND NATIONAL PRIDE. AND WHEREAS, THE LEADERSHIP AND DEDICATION HAVE ENSURED THAT THE ANNUAL VETERANS DAY PARADE HAS BECOME A CHERISHED TRADITION IN OUR COMMUNITY, PROVIDING A VISIBLE AND HEARTFELT EXPRESSION OF GRATITUDE TO ALL WHO HAVE SERVED IN THE ARMED FORCES OF THE UNITED STATES. AND WHEREAS, BEYOND THE PARADE, THE VEO HAS REMAINED STEADFAST IN ITS MISSION TO ADVOCATE FOR VETERANS RIGHTS, PROMOTE PUBLIC AWARENESS OF VETERANS ISSUES, AND BUILD ENDURING PARTNERSHIPS ACROSS CIVIC, GOVERNMENTAL, AND NONPROFIT SECTORS TO STRENGTHEN THE WELL-BEING OF OUR LOCAL VETERAN POPULATION. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COMMISSIONERS COURT OF EL PASO COUNTY, TEXAS, THAT WE DO HEREBY RECOGNIZE AND COMMEND THE UNITED AMERICAN VETERANS ORGANIZATION FOR OVER FOUR DECADES OF EXEMPLARY SERVICE TO THE VETERANS OF EL PASO COUNTY, AND FOR ITS ENDURING ROLE IN ORGANIZING THE REGION'S LARGEST VETERANS DAY PARADE SINCE 1983. SIGNED THIS 28TH DAY OF JULY, 2025. WE HAVE A MOTION FROM COMMISSIONER CORONADO, A SECOND FROM JUDGE SAMANIEGO. THE VOTING IS OPEN. THANK YOU. COMMISSIONER. COMMISSIONER BUTLER IS ABSENT. THE MOTION CARRIES. OH, SHE VOTES I. THE MOTION CARRIES. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. WELCOME. GOOD MORNING. COMMISSIONERS, FELLOW VETERANS AND RESPECTED MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY. AS THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED AMERICAN VETERANS ORGANIZATION OF EL PASO, IT'S BOTH AN HONOR AND A PRIVILEGE TO STAND BEFORE YOU TODAY AND ACCEPT THIS MEANINGFUL RESOLUTION ON BEHALF OF OUR ORGANIZATION. BEFORE I BEGIN, THOUGH, I'D LIKE TO ASK OUR EXECUTIVE BOARD MEMBERS TO PLEASE JOIN ME AT THE PODIUM. THESE LEADERS REPRESENT THE HEART AND SOUL, AND I BELIEVE IT'S IMPORTANT WE STAND HERE TOGETHER, UNITED, JUST AS OUR MISSION CALLS US TO BE. AT THIS TIME, I'LL LET THEM INTRODUCE THEMSELVES. THANK YOU. RICHARD BRITTON, CHAPLAIN. WELCOME. JENNIFER GRIFFITH, SERGEANT AT ARMS. WELCOME. SECRETARY. WELCOME. THEY SAVED THE BEST FOR LAST. JAMES GREENE, VICE PRESIDENT. WELCOME. AND OUR TREASURER, WILFRED GARZA, IS UNABLE TO ATTEND TODAY. SO EL PASO COUNTY IS THE VETERANS CAPITAL OF THE USA. SO THAT MAKES THE UVO THE HEARTBEAT AND THE SOUL OF THAT PROGRAM, BECAUSE WE'RE THE ORGANIZATION WHO BRINGS EVERYONE TOGETHER. [01:20:01] JUST OVER TWO YEARS AGO, JUST JUST A LITTLE OVER TWO YEARS AGO, WE HAD ABOUT 12 ORGANIZATIONS TOTAL. AND TODAY WE SIT AT ABOUT 55 AND GROWING OF VETERAN ORGANIZATIONS AND COMMUNITY PARTNERS THAT THAT THAT DO THREE THINGS. INFORM, EDUCATE AND CONNECT. THAT IS OUR TRUE PURPOSE TO INFORM THE VETERAN COMMUNITY WHAT IS OUT THERE, WHAT VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES IS THERE? WHAT EVENTS IS THERE? EDUCATE. EDUCATE ABOUT PROGRAMS IN THE COMMUNITY THAT'S GOING TO HELP OUR FAMILIES AND OUR VETERANS, WHETHER IT BE MENTAL HEALTH RESOURCES OR ANY TYPE OF RESOURCES IN THE COMMUNITY AND CONNECT. BECAUSE IF WE IF I DON'T KNOW WHERE TO SEND YOU AND HE DOESN'T KNOW WHERE TO SEND YOU, WELL, WE KNOW TO SEND YOU TO HER. TO HER. RIGHT? THAT'S HOW WE CONNECT. WE LEARN ABOUT ALL THE RESOURCES IN THE COMMUNITY, BRING THEM ALL TOGETHER AND CONNECT AND CREATE THAT LARGE NETWORK. SO THERE'S NO GAPS IN SERVICES, RIGHT? BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT'S WHAT WE TRY TO WORK ON HERE IN THE VETERANS CAPITAL IS FILLING IN THOSE GAPS. AND THE ON THE YOU KNOW, EVERY SINGLE DAY WE TRY TO MAKE SURE THAT WE FILL THEM WITH RESOURCES AND PEOPLE IN THE RIGHT PLACES. AND WE DO TAKE SO MUCH PRIDE IN PUTTING ON THE VETERANS DAY PARADE EVERY YEAR, WHICH I REMIND PEOPLE THAT IT'S NOT JUST THE VETERANS DAY PARADE THAT IS THE VETERANS CAPITAL OF THE USA PARADE, AND WE HAVE TO TAKE PRIDE IN THAT. AND THIS YEAR WE'RE TRYING TO TRYING TO MAKE IT BIGGER THAN EVER AS IT IS, AS WE CELEBRATE 250 YEARS OF AMERICA'S MILITARY. AND THAT IS THE MOTTO CELEBRATING 250 YEARS OF AMERICA'S MILITARY. AND WE'RE VERY PROUD TO ANNOUNCE THAT MANY ORGANIZATIONS WHO GENERALLY HOLD THEIR OWN EVENTS OR HOLD THEIR OWN PARADES THIS YEAR ARE JOINING US AND UNITING AND COMING TOGETHER TO HAVE AN EVEN BIGGER PARADE. SO WE'RE VERY EXCITED. WE THANK YOU SO MUCH. AND ONE OTHER THING I'D LIKE TO DO IS IF YOU'RE A VETERAN ORGANIZATION HERE AND YOU AND YOU ARE PART OF THE UAV, COULD YOU PLEASE STAND UP AND JOIN US UP HERE? COME ON UP, BAB. YOU'RE PART OF IT. 36 CAN YOU SAY YOUR ORGANIZATION? WHICH ONE? SO I REPRESENT THE JEWISH WAR VETERANS. HOLLY HOLLYFIELD VETERANS AT BREAKFAST. THANK YOU. MY NAME IS MIKE BARNES. I'M WITH THE EL PASO COUNTY VETERANS ADVISORY BOARD. I REPRESENT PRECINCT ONE SECOND TO NONE. RICHARD BRITTON. I'M WITH THE AMERICAN LEGION. THANK YOU. GIRIGONDO. I'M WITH THE AMERICAN LEGION ALSO. THANK YOU. ELIZA COX. I'M ALSO WITH GRAY WOLF WARRIORS SOCIETY AND ALSO THE KOREAN WAR VETERANS ASSOCIATION, CHAPTER 249. THANK YOU. AND I'M ALSO THE COMMANDER OF THE MILITARY ORDER OF THE PURPLE HEART. SO THIS IS JUST ONE EXAMPLE. AND I WANTED YOU TO SEE THE UNITY OF ALL THESE VETERANS ORGANIZATIONS SUPPORTING NOT ONLY COMMUNITY, BUT THE VETERANS CAPITAL OF THE USA. SO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THIS HONOR TODAY, AND THANK YOU SO MUCH OF THIS, ESPECIALLY THE CONNECTIVITY COMPONENT OF IT IS JUST SO IMPORTANT. I REMEMBER THAT, TONY, AND THERE'S TONY. TONY. GOOD MORNING. I WAS TRYING TO HIDE IN THE BACK BECAUSE THIS IS REALLY NOT ABOUT ME, BUT THIS IS SUCH AN AMAZING ORGANIZATION. I CAN TELL YOU THAT I HAVE MOST OF THESE PEOPLE ON SPEED DIAL AND THEY HAVE ME ON SPEED DIAL. IT GOES BOTH WAYS, BUT WE TAKE CARE OF OUR VETERANS. AND IF I CAN'T FIND A WAY, ONE OF THEM CAN AND VICE VERSA. SO IT'S SUCH AN AMAZING EVENT. THANK YOU. AND HELPING US BRING EVERYONE TOGETHER, THAT'S SO IMPORTANT. I REMEMBER IN 2019 WHEN WE STARTED THINKING ABOUT VETERANS CAPITAL, AND I'VE ALWAYS SAID WE'RE ALWAYS VETERANS CAPITAL. WE JUST HAD TO PROCLAIM IT. AND THEN IT BECAME SO EASY FOR PEOPLE TO UNDERSTAND THAT. BUT WHAT YOU'VE DONE AND BRINGING EVERYBODY TOGETHER AND SUPPORTING AND SORT OF GIVING A LEGITIMACY TO THE VETERANS CAPITAL, YOU KNOW, WE'RE NO LONGER AFRAID THAT SOMEONE ELSE IS GOING TO SAY, YOU KNOW WHAT? NO, WE'RE THE VETERANS CAPITAL. I MEAN, THERE'S SUCH A BIG GAP BETWEEN US AND ANY OTHER COMMUNITY. AND THIS COMES FROM THE GENERALS. THEY TELL US, YOU KNOW, IT'S A LITTLE EMBARRASSING, BUT WHEN I GO OUT THERE AND THEY SAY THAT THEY HONOR VETERANS, I'LL HAVE TO TELL THEM, YOU KNOW, YOU GOT TO GO TO EL PASO AND YOU'LL SEE THE DIFFERENCE. AND SO THAT IS SO IMPORTANT BECAUSE WHEN WE STARTED, IT WAS DIFFICULT TO GET PEOPLE TO UNDERSTAND THAT. BUT YOUR ORGANIZATION, I THINK THAT THE MOST TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ALL GOT TOGETHER AND MAKE THAT DETERMINATION TO PROCLAIM THE VETERANS CAPITAL OF THE US, AND THEN IT BECAME SUCH A REALITY AND SO FORCEFUL. AND I KEEP SAYING, YOU KNOW, WE STILL GET THE NATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS WANTING TO START THEIR CAMPAIGNS HERE IN EL PASO BECAUSE WE ARE THE VETERANS CAPITAL, AND THERE'S NO DOUBT ABOUT IT. IT JUST FEELS SO GOOD. THE CLOSING OF THE GAPS THAT WAS SO IMPORTANT. ONE WAS RECOGNIZING OUR GREAT VETERANS. THE OTHER ONE WAS CLOSING THE GAPS BECAUSE WE CANNOT BE THE VETERANS CAPITAL IF WE DON'T GET INTO THE [01:25:03] DETAIL OF WHAT VETERANS GO THROUGH, WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE RESPOND TO EACH AND EVERY ONE OF THEM. AND THAT'S WHAT ALL OF YOU HAVE DONE. SO VERY, VERY THANKFUL. SO I PASS IT BACK TO COMMISSIONER CORONADO. THANK YOU, JUDGE AND COMMISSIONERS. YOU KNOW, I JUST WANT TO THANK ALL OF YOU FOR THE WORK THAT YOU ALL DO. YOU KNOW, IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT TO MAKE SURE THAT, YOU KNOW, OUR COMMUNITY, ESPECIALLY OUR GOVERNMENTS, YOU KNOW, STAND BY TO THE COMMITMENT THAT YOU ALL AS VETERANS PUT UP FOR OUR COUNTRY BECAUSE IT'S A LOT OF SACRIFICE, LIKE RICHARD WAS TELLING US, YOU KNOW, THEY GET MOVED THROUGHOUT WHATEVER TIME THAT THEY'RE NEEDED, WHEREVER THEY'RE NEEDED. AND, YOU KNOW, WE JUST NEED TO BE, YOU KNOW, AND I'M GLAD, REALLY GLAD THAT WE ARE SUPPORTING ALL THE VETERANS ORGANIZATIONS. AND NOW, OF COURSE, THE UAV. OH, THAT GETS EVERYBODY TOGETHER BECAUSE WE REALLY NEED TO DO STAND UP AND MAKE SURE THAT WE TAKE CARE OF OUR VETERANS. YOU KNOW, THEY DID ALL THEY COULD FOR US AND FOR OUR COUNTRY. WE NEED TO DO THE SAME. SO THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH FOR ALL YOUR WORK. APPRECIATE Y'ALL. THANK YOU. THANK YOU COMMISSIONER. THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT. YOU WANT EVERYBODY. YEAH EVERYBODY. THAT'S AN IMPRESSIVE. HE CHOSE IT I WANT TO TALK ABOUT THAT. THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU FOR SURE. ABSOLUTELY. THANK YOU. YES. THANK YOU. YES, SIR. I. AT THE END OF THE DAY I. I KNOW. I. YEAH I MEAN. THANK YOU. PLEASURE. THANK YOU SO MUCH I APPRECIATE IT. THANK YOU. YOU GOT IT. YEAH. THANK YOU TONY. YOU'RE RIGHT. ITEM FIVE G APPROVE AND ADOPT A RESOLUTION RECOGNIZING PEPE'S RESTAURANT FOR THEIR EXCEPTIONAL ACHIEVEMENTS AND POSITIVE IMPACT IN THE COMMUNITY. WE HAVE A REQUEST TO POSTPONE THIS [G. Approve and adopt a resolution recognizing Peppe's Restaurant for their exceptional achievements and positive impact in the Canutillo community. Sergio Coronado, Commissioner, Precinct 4, 915-273-3596] RESOLUTION FOR ONE WEEK. IF WE CAN HAVE A MOTION, PLEASE. WE HAVE A MOTION FROM JUDGE SAMANIEGO, A SECOND FROM COMMISSIONER BUTLER. THE VOTING IS OPEN. COMMISSIONER STOUT IS ABSENT. MOTION CARRIES. THANK YOU. OH, THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER. THANKS. MOTION CARRIES. ITEM SIX. PUBLIC COMMENT. WE HAVE TWO INDIVIDUALS SIGNED UP FOR PUBLIC COMMENT. AS A FRIENDLY REMINDER, YOU WILL HAVE FIVE MINUTES TO ADDRESS THE COURT. YOUR TIMER WILL BEGIN AS [PUBLIC COMMENT] SOON AS YOU BEGIN SPEAKING. FIRST, WE HAVE MISS ELIZABETH CRAWFORD ONLINE. GOOD MORNING. ELIZABETH. GOOD MORNING, I APOLOGIZE. GOOD MORNING. GOOD MORNING. THANK YOU. THE UNITED [01:30:12] NATIONS DESIGNATED JULY 30TH AS THE WORLD DAY AGAINST TRAFFICKING IN PERSONS. THE ATTENTION OF THE NATION AND EVEN OUR WORLD IS ON THIS ISSUE WITH THE WHOLE JEFFREY EPSTEIN CASE THAT INVOLVES MANY WORLD LEADERS, WE'RE TOLD IN GOD'S HOLY WORD IN THE BOOK OF PROVERBS THAT RIGHTEOUSNESS EXALTS A NATION, BUT SIN A REPROACH TO ANY PEOPLE. HE TRAFFICKING, HORRIFIC AS IT IS ON ITS OWN, IS NEVER ALONE ISSUE. THERE ARE ALWAYS ACCOMPANYING HORRORS. FOR A MINUTE OR TWO. I WANT TO JUMP CONTEXT AND JUMP CONTINENT TO MAKE POINTS AND THEN TALK ABOUT HERE. IN 1998, I HAD AN INTENSE EXPERIENCE WITNESSING TRAFFICKING. JUST GOTTEN TO BELÉM, BRAZIL, AND AN OLDER VETERAN WORKER THERE, ELKIE FROM GERMANY, INVITED ME TO COME ALONG WITH HER AT NIGHT TO THE CITY SQUARE. FIRST WE SPENT TIME VISITING WITH A TRANSVESTITE COMMUNITY LIVING IN THE PARK. IT WAS A YOUTH TRANSVESTITE COMMUNITY HOMELESS, LIVING ON ONE SIDE OF THE CITY SQUARE. THEY KNEW ELKIE WELL. SHE BROUGHT THEM FOOD, CAUGHT UP WITH THEM, SHARED LOVE WITH THEM IN CHRIST'S NAME. AS WE GOT INTO HER CAR TO PULL OUT OF THE PARK, ELKIE POINTED OUT TO ME WHAT WAS GOING ON IN ANOTHER CORNER. MEN PULLING UP IN CARS, PICKING UP YOUNG GIRLS FOR THE NIGHT, THE TRAFFICKING AND PEDOPHILIA. BRAZIL IS A NATION VERY OPENLY OBSESSED WITH ILLICIT SEX, AND A TRAGIC CONSEQUENCE IS THAT MANY CHILDREN THAT ARE BORN BECOME THROWAWAY KIDS THEMSELVES, OFTEN ON THE STREETS AT A YOUNG AGE. THAT'S BRAZIL, FAR AWAY, ANOTHER CONTINENT. BUT IS IT REALLY SO VERY DIFFERENT FROM HERE? AS WE KNOW, SADLY, AMERICA HAS ALSO BECOME A NATION OBSESSED WITH ILLICIT SEX, WHETHER IT BE ONLINE PORNOGRAPHY OR ANY NUMBER OF BEHAVIORS IN OUR NATION. THE OTHER SOCIAL OCCURRENCE GENERALLY ASSOCIATED WITH TRAFFICKING IS NOT THE EXISTENCE OF CHILDREN LIVING ON THE STREET, BUT ABORTION THROWAWAY CHILDREN. BUT IN THE CASE OF AMERICA, THROWING AWAY THE CHILDREN BY DISPOSING OF THEM BEFORE THEY ARE BORN. ONE NEED ONLY GO UP TO A CITY SUCH AS ALBUQUERQUE OR LAS VEGAS TO SEE THAT THE DRUGS, PROSTITUTION, AND ABORTION ALL THRIVE IN THE SAME NEIGHBORHOODS AND SADLY, TRAVEL ABORTION AMONG EL PASOANS IS RAMPANT, WHETHER IT BE WASHINGTON, D.C, AND THE TRAFFICKING AND PEDOPHILIA OF HIGH RANKING POLITICIANS WITH TIES TO JEFFREY EPSTEIN, OR WHETHER IT BE PEOPLE ENGAGING IN ONLINE PORNOGRAPHY IN THE PRIVACY OF THEIR HOMES, THESE ARE HORRIFIC ADDICTIONS WITH ASSOCIATED HORRIFIC CONSEQUENCES. THERE IS A SOLUTION, ONE DELIVERER, A SOLUTION TO THESE ADDICTIONS. HIS NAME IS JESUS. HE IS THE ONE WHO, DURING HIS EARTHLY MINISTRY, SHOWED COMPASSION TO THOSE ENGAGED IN PROSTITUTION, DELIVER PEOPLE AND COMMANDED THEM TO GO AND SIN NO MORE. IN SPEAKING OF GOD'S DELIVERANCE FROM THE BONDAGE OF SIN, THE PSALMIST WRITES THESE WORDS. PSALM 107, WHEN THERE WAS NONE TO HELP. THEN THEY CRIED TO THE LORD IN THEIR TROUBLE. HE SAVED THEM OUT OF THEIR DISTRESSES. HE BROUGHT THEM OUT OF DARKNESS AND THE SHADOW OF DEATH, AND BROKE THEIR BANDS AND ASUNDER. FOR HE HAS BROKEN THE GATES OF BRASS, AND CUT THE BARS OF IRON IN SUNDER. HE, THE LORD JESUS, IS THE TRUE DELIVERER. THANK YOU SO MUCH AND HOPE YOU HAVE A REALLY GOOD DAY. THANK YOU. YOU TOO ELIZABETH. THANK YOU. THANK YOU SIR. NEXT WE HAVE COMMISSIONER SERGIO CORONADO. COMMISSIONER. THANK YOU. COMMISSIONERS. YOU KNOW, I DON'T KNOW IF I CAN GET THIS IN FIVE MINUTES, BUT WE REALLY HAD SOME GREAT EVENTS THIS PAST WEEKEND. FIRST OF ALL, I WANT TO THANK THE COMMISSIONER'S COURT FOR APPROVING OUR PARKS, BRANCHES AND BOOKWORMS EVENT THAT WAS HELD THIS PAST SATURDAY. GALLEGOS PART. WE REALLY APPRECIATE THE SUPPORT FOR WHAT WAS REALLY A WONDERFUL COMMUNITY EVENT, AND I'LL TALK A LITTLE BIT. YOU CAN SEE THE VIDEO ON THERE. I DON'T KNOW WHO THAT GUY IS COOKING THE HAMBURGERS, BUT WE HAD A VISIT FROM CLIFFORD THE RED DOG, WHO, YOU KNOW, WE WERE YOU KNOW, I THINK HE'S A DISTANT RELATIVE OF MINE, JUDGE. YOU KNOW, HE STANDS FOR KINDNESS, FRIENDSHIP, AND OF COURSE, THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING YOURSELF. I WANT TO GIVE A BIG SHOUT OUT TO 600 ESPN. THEY HAD ME ON THEIR RADIO SHOW FRIDAY AFTERNOON, YOU KNOW. SO A BIG THANK YOU TO ADRIAN BROADDUS FOR HAVING ME ON HIS SHOW. AND HE HELPED US PROMOTE THE TWO EVENTS, WHICH WAS PARKS AFTER SUNSET FRIDAY EVENING AND ALSO PARK. THE BARKS BRANCHES AND BOOKWORMS EVENT SATURDAY. AND WE ALSO TALKED ABOUT, YOU KNOW, THE COMMUNITY SUPPORT OF OUR BOND FOR THE PARKS, THE ANIMAL SHELTER, WHICH WAS A BIG, A BIG SUBJECT THAT WE TALKED ABOUT. SO I WANT TO, YOU KNOW, I REALLY DID WANT TO MAKE AND GIVE A SHOUT OUT TO EVERYBODY THAT WAS INVOLVED. OUR COMMUNICATIONS DEPARTMENT ACTUALLY, FOR PARKS AFTER SUNSET, HARMON FOSTER, YADIRA MORALES, MATEO VALENCIA AND SANDRA FRAUSTO. I ALSO WANT TO THANK EMERGENCY SERVICES DISTRICT NUMBER TWO FOR SPRAYING THE KIDS OUT IN THE PARK FOR OUR SPLASHDOWN. PRECINCT SEVEN, CONSTABLE'S OFFICE, PRECINCT ONE, CONSTABLE'S OFFICE, AND ESPECIALLY THE SHERIFF'S OSCAR AND HIS STAFF FOR COOKING THE [01:35:06] HOT DOGS AND BURGERS THAT EVENING, FOR THE NEXT DAY FOR SATURDAY. I WANT TO THANK OUR COMMUNICATIONS DEPARTMENT, LAURA GALLEGOS, ELIJAH NATIVIDAD, ALEX ORTIZ, DESIREE GONZALEZ, OUR ANIMAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT, KRYSTAL REYES, DOCTOR ALVARO MEDINA, VETERINARY RESIDENT GUSTAVO WILLIS, LEAD OFFICER HERIBERTO MARTINEZ, OFFICER KRYSTAL HERNANDEZ, OFFICER KRYSTAL RAMOS, OFFICER ROBERTO ESTUPINAN, OFFICER ADRIAN LUJAN, OFFICER ERIC AGUILAR AND OFFICER JOHN MURPHY. AND JUST TO LET THE COURT AND THE COMMUNITY KNOW WE RAN OUT OF VACCINES FOR PETS, BUT WE ALSO DID 200 MICROCHIPPING OF PETS THAT THAT MORNING. SO WE HAD A TURNOUT ON SATURDAY OF WELL, WELL OVER 200 PEOPLE SHOW UP FOR THE RESOURCE FAIR AND FOR THE VACCINES AND MICROCHIPPING OF PETS. GREAT SUPPORT FROM THE COMMUNITY. OUR COMMUNITY SERVICES DEPARTMENT ROSALVA HERNANDEZ, MARIA LOURDES GARCIA, MARIA TONY MORENO. CARLOS. REYNOSO, MARIA. REBECCA LIRA, CYNTHIA SUSTHITA FROM OUR PARKS DEPARTMENT, HERMAN FOSTER, SANDRA FRAUSTO, BEN VALDEZ AND GEORGE CORRAL, OUR PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT. SHANI ENRIQUEZ, OUR COUNTY ADMINISTRATION. BETSY KELLER, RAMON BRACAMONTES FROM THE COUNTY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE, ANNA SCHUMACHER AND ERICA ROSALES. WE WANT TO THANK ALSO OUR COMMUNITY PARTNERS, EL PASO PUBLIC LIBRARIES, CONRAD OROZCO, PBS EL PASO FABIOLA TREVIZO VASQUEZ AND VALERIA PEREZ FROM THE CITY OF EL PASO ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES JEANNIE CASTANEDA, JESUS ROSALES AND MARK ESPINOZA AND ANTHONY. DAHULU. AND FROM THE CITY OF EL PASO ANIMAL SERVICES. WE WANT TO THANK JESSICA NAVARRO AND ALSO FROM THE EL PASO COUNTY SHERIFF'S STAFF THAT WERE REALLY VERY, VERY HELPFUL IN HELPING US WITH THE SERVING THE HOT DOGS AND HAMBURGERS. SHERIFF OSCAR UGARTE, SERGEANT DANIEL GUERRERO, DEPUTY FRANCISCO ORTIZ, DEPUTY THOMAS PHILLIPS, DEPUTY ADRIAN LOPEZ, DEPUTY MANUEL CARRO, DEPUTY JACOB LARA, DEPUTY JAIME CHACON AND DEPUTY MICHAEL ESPARZA, AND ALSO PRISCILLA CONTRERAS. WE ALSO HAD PEOPLE FROM THE KEYSTONE HERITAGE PARK AND BOTANICAL GARDENS. RYAN GAGLIO, SYDNEY GAGLIO, LANA MCCALL AND JONATHAN CERECERES FROM THE EL PASO CACTUS AND ROCK CLUB, DOCTOR PAUL HADER AND PETER BESTIE. THE GREEN HOPE PROJECT CANDACE PRINCE AND HER WONDERFUL VOLUNTEER. WE HAD THE MEXICAN CONSULATE THERE. WE THANK APPRECIATE FROM THEM BEING THERE. GUADALUPE RIVERA. HERNANDEZ. JULIO NAJERA I'M ALMOST DONE. AND CHRISTINA FIGUEROA, WE ALSO WANT TO THANK THE BORDER NETWORK FOR HUMAN RIGHTS AND THEIR WONDERFUL VOLUNTEERS THAT WERE THERE. LAURA. AND ALSO, I WANT TO THANK THE VOLUNTEERS FROM OUR PRECINCT AND THE VOLUNTEERS FROM PRECINCT FOUR, LAURA CARBAJAL. CHRISTOPHER CORONADO, JESUS REYNAGA, MAYOR RACHEL QUINTANA, AND I MET ALVAREZ AND EMILY ALVAREZ. I WANT TO ALSO THANK CHANDLER MILLS, CRISTOBAL GUZMAN, KYLA MADRID, YVETTE LOPEZ, AND VIVIAN HERNANDEZ AND OUR FACILITIES TEAM FOR SAVING THE COUNTY'S CARDBOARD BOXES FOR US. THEY WERE USED FOR RECYCLED CRAFT ACTIVITY FACILITATED FACILITATED BY KEYSTONE PARK, WHERE THEY DID ARTS PROJECTS AND DID CACTUSES OUT OF OUT OF CARDBOARD. SO AND THEY WERE ABLE TO TAKE THEM HOME. AND LASTLY, I WANT TO THANK OUR TEAM, STEVEN GARZA, JIMENA GUERRERO, FOR THEIR WORK IN MAKING THIS EVENT POSSIBLE. AND OF COURSE, LASTLY, BUT NOT LEAST, I REALLY VERY MUCH INDEBTED TO MARTY NUNEZ. SHE JUST, YOU KNOW, HITS IT OUT OF THE BALLPARK EVERY TIME ON ON THESE EVENTS. I PERSONALLY WANT TO THANK HER FOR EVERYTHING THAT SHE DOES FOR THIS COMMUNITY. SHE'S JUST A WONDERFUL ASSET TO OUR COUNTY FAMILY. AND, YOU KNOW, SHE'S JUST A MORE THAN A SHINING STAR JUDGE. SHE'S AN EXCELLENT, EXCELLENT MEMBER AND A COMMUNITY ADVOCATE. AND SO AND I AGAIN, I WANT TO THANK EVERYBODY, INCLUDING OUR TEAM AND ALL COUNTY ADMINISTRATION. THEY HELPED IN A LOT OF THIS, A LOT OF THIS FAIR. AND WE HAD A REALLY AN EXCELLENT TURNOUT. SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH. GREAT JOB. AND WHAT COLLABORATION. YEAH WE HAD A LOT OF PEOPLE SHOW UP AND A LOT OF ORGANIZATIONS THAT THAT SHOWED UP. AND IT WAS REALLY WONDERFUL TO SEE. GREAT JOB TO ALL OF YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU JUDGE. ITEM SEVEN REGULAR AGENDA SEVEN A RECEIVE A PRESENTATION FROM THE ANIMAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT REGARDING THE PROPOSED MASS MEDIA COORDINATION BETWEEN LOCAL AND INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS AIMED AT ADDRESSING AND POTENTIALLY [REGULAR AGENDA] [A. Receive a presentation from the Animal Welfare Department regarding the proposed mass media coordination between local and international organizations aimed at addressing and potentially preventing the spread of Rickettsiosis in El Paso County. Further, discuss and take appropriate action to endorse the public education campaign designed to inform and protect communities at risk from the growing threat of Rickettsiosis. Crystal Reyes, Interim Director, Animal Welfare, 915-273-3470] [01:40:03] PREVENTING THE SPREAD OF RICKETTSIOSIS IN EL PASO COUNTY. FURTHER DISCUSS AND TAKE APPROPRIATE ACTION TO ENDORSE THE PUBLIC EDUCATION CAMPAIGN DESIGNED TO INFORM AND PROTECT COMMUNITIES AT RISK FROM THE GROWING THREAT OF RICKETTSIOSIS. HI. GOOD MORNING, JUDGE AND COMMISSIONERS. KRYSTAL REYES, INTERIM DIRECTOR FOR ANIMAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT. BEFORE I JUMP ON THIS, I VERY QUICKLY WANT TO THANK COMMISSIONER CORONADO AND THANK YOU ALL FOR THE SUPPORT. THIS IS REALLY A TESTAMENT TO THE WORK THAT WE DO. IT'S VERY MUCH NEEDED IN EVERY PRECINCT IN EL PASO. SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR ALLOWING US TO BE A PART OF IT. TODAY. I'M HERE WITH OH, I'M SORRY. THERE YOU GO. TODAY I'M HERE WITH COLLEAGUES FROM BOTH THE PUBLIC HEALTH AND THE ZOONOSIS SECTOR. I KNOW DOCTOR OCARANZA IS ON THE LINE WITH US TODAY. AND WE ALSO HAVE REPRESENTATIVES FROM THE TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF STATE. HEALTH, OF COURSE, ARE OUR VETERINARIAN. AND WE HAVE REPRESENTATIVES FROM THE UNIVERSIDAD AUTONOMA DE CIUDAD JUAREZ. WE'RE HERE REQUESTING APPROVAL FOR AN INTERDEPARTMENTAL INTERLOCAL AND INTERNATIONAL MEDIA COORDINATION EFFORT AIMED AT PROTECTING OUR REGION FROM A TICKBORNE DISEASE, CURRENTLY CAUSING SIGNIFICANT PUBLIC HEALTH CONCERNS IN CIUDAD JUAREZ. ADDITIONALLY, I'LL BE SHARING KEY UPDATES FROM RECENT MEETINGS AND CONFERENCES REGARDING THE ONGOING RESPONSE TO RICKETTSIAL DISEASE IN THE REGION. FOR BACKGROUND, OUR DEPARTMENT WAS INVITED TO ATTEND AN INFORMATIONAL MEETING IN CIUDAD JUAREZ TO ADDRESS THE ONGOING OUTBREAK OF RICKETTSIOSIS. HERE IN THE UNITED STATES, IT IS MORE COMMONLY KNOWN AS THE ROCKY MOUNTAIN SPOTTED FEVER. PARTICIPANTS INCLUDED REPRESENTATIVES FROM THE UNIVERSIDAD AUTONOMA, THE COMISION DE PROTECCION CIVIL AND KEY ANIMAL WELFARE STAKEHOLDERS IN THE REGION. THE GOAL OF THE MEETING WAS TO SHARE DATA, DATA, STRATEGIES AND CONCERNS IN JUAREZ SURROUNDING THE OUTBREAK AND TO EXPLORE HOW WE CROSS-BORDER COLLABORATION COULD HELP STRENGTHEN RESPONSE EFFORTS. RICKETTSIOSES AGAIN A TICK BORNE DISEASE, IT CONTINUES TO SPREAD AMONG COMMUNITY MEMBERS IN CIUDAD JUAREZ AND HAS RESULTED IN 27 CONFIRMED DEATHS THIS YEAR. THE DISEASE IS DISPROPORTIONATELY AFFECTING CHILDREN BETWEEN THE AGES OF FIVE AND NINE. EXCUSE ME. EARLY SYMPTOMS SUCH AS FEVER, STOMACH DISCOMFORT, NOSEBLEEDS AND FLU LIKE SIGNS ARE OFTEN MISDIAGNOSED AS COMMON ILLNESSES LIKE INFLUENZA AND SEASONAL ALLERGIES, WHICH LEADS TO DANGEROUS DELAYS IN DIAGNOSIS AND TREATMENT. IN RESPONSE TO THE OUTBREAK, AUTHORITIES IN JUAREZ HAVE LAUNCHED TARGETED FUMIGATIONS IN THE HUMID SOUTHERN NEIGHBORHOODS WHERE TICK POPULATIONS ARE CONCENTRATED. THEY'VE ALSO ROLLED OUT A PHASE ONE OF PUBLIC AWARENESS CAMPAIGNS, WHICH INCLUDES DISTRIBUTING EDUCATIONAL MATERIALS TO PROMOTE TICK AND FLEA PREVENTION, PET VACCINATIONS AND ENVIRONMENTAL CLEANSING. CLEANLINESS. EXCUSE ME? OFFICIALS FROM JUAREZ HAVE EXPRESSED STRONG INTEREST IN ESTABLISHING A BINATIONAL PARTNERSHIP, COORDINATING PUBLIC HEALTH MESSAGING AND OUTREACH IN DISCUSSIONS WITH OUR PUBLIC HEALTH SECTOR AND OUR ZOONOSIS EXPERTS. A JOINT APPROACH WOULD HELP ENSURE THAT RESIDENTS IN OUR BORDER COMMUNITY RECEIVE CONSISTENT INFORMATION AND ACCESS TO PREVENTION RESOURCES. THIS TYPE OF COORDINATION IS KEY TO PREVENTING ANY SPREAD AND IMPROVING HEALTH OUTCOMES ON BOTH SIDES OF THE BORDER. JUST A QUICK NOTE. WE ACTUALLY LAUNCHED THE FIRST, I GUESS TEST TO SEE HOW THE COMMUNITY WOULD RESPOND TO THIS. WE'VE ACTUALLY USED PART OF OUR VACCINE BUDGET FOR TICK AND FLEA PREVENTION, AND IT WAS VERY POPULAR IN THE WEST WAY COMMUNITY FAIR. A LOT OF PEOPLE WERE NOT AWARE THAT THIS IS ACTUALLY HAPPENING. AND BECAUSE THIS TYPE OF RESOURCE IS NOT READILY AVAILABLE, IT WAS JUST VERY MUCH WELCOMED. AGAIN, IN DISCUSSIONS WITH OUR PUBLIC HEALTH AND OUR ZOONOSIS EXPERTS, WE BELIEVE THAT BASED ON WHAT WE LEARNED, SUPPORT A PUBLIC EDUCATION CAMPAIGN IN HIGH RISK AREAS OF EL PASO. WE DO RECOMMEND A LOT IN TORNEO, CLINT, SAN ELIZARIO, FABENS AND CANUTILLO BECAUSE THEY'RE HEAVILY CROPPED. AGAIN, THESE TICK INFESTATIONS ARE IN HEAVILY HUMID AREAS. OF COURSE, ASSIST US IN DISTRIBUTING ACCURATE HEALTH INFORMATION AND FACILITATE ONGOING COORDINATION WITH JUAREZ AND OUR REGIONAL PARTNERS. THESE EFFORTS WILL STRENGTHEN OUR LOCAL RESPONSE AND ENSURE THAT VULNERABLE POPULATIONS RECEIVE THE PROPER INFORMATION AND THE PROPER RESOURCES THAT ARE NEEDED. IN THE GROWING THREAT POSED BY RICKETTSIOSES. WE RESPECTFULLY REQUEST THAT THE COMMISSIONERS COURT APPROVE THE PUBLIC EDUCATION CAMPAIGN TO INFORM AND PROTECT AT RISK COMMUNITIES. WE ASK FOR SUPPORT IN ENHANCING PUBLIC HEALTH MESSAGING EFFORTS, ESPECIALLY IN BORDER COMMUNITIES, BY COORDINATING WITH OUR PARTNERS HERE AND IN CIUDAD JUAREZ. THESE INITIATIVES MUST ADDRESS THE ISSUE COMPREHENSIVELY, MEANING [01:45:02] TARGETING BOTH ZOONOTIC ASPECTS OF THIS DISEASE, WHICH IS THE ANIMAL TO HUMAN TRANSMISSION, TICK AND FLEA CONTROL, AND OF COURSE, PET VACCINATIONS AND THE PUBLIC HEALTH SIDE, WHICH IS EARLY SYMPTOM RECOGNITION, TREATMENT ACCESS AND COMMUNITY EDUCATION. A COORDINATED, CROSS-SECTOR RESPONSE IS ESSENTIAL TO PROTECTING THE HEALTH AND SAFETY OF EL PASO COUNTY. BEFORE I DO, OPEN IT UP FOR DISCUSSION OR ANY QUESTIONS YOU MIGHT HAVE, I WOULD LIKE OUR KEY PARTNERS TO INTRODUCE THEMSELVES AS THEY'RE INSTRUMENTAL IN IN ADDRESSING THE ISSUES AND INVITE THEM TO PROVIDE INSIGHTS OR ANY RECOMMENDATIONS THEY MAY HAVE BASED ON THEIR AREAS OF EXPERTISE, AS THEIR VOICES ARE A CRITICAL PART OF THIS CONVERSATION. SO I DO INVITE DOCTOR OCARANZA, DOCTOR MEDINA, OUR REPRESENTATIVES FROM THE UNIVERSITY AND OUR REPRESENTATIVES FROM THE TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF STATE HEALTH WITH THE DOCTOR. CARRANZA. PLEASE WELCOME DOCTOR CARRANZA. GOOD MORNING. JUDGE. COMMISSIONERS, THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY. AND THANK YOU TO THE ANIMAL WELFARE COMMITTEE FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO PARTICIPATE IN THIS IMPORTANT CAMPAIGN. AS WE MENTIONED OVER AND OVER, THE FOUR DISEASES THAT ARE NO BORDERS. SO THIS IS A PROBLEM THAT HAS BEEN AFFECTING THE PEDIATRIC POPULATION IN CIUDAD JUAREZ. BUT IT CAN DEFINITELY AFFECT OUR POPULATION. AND THANKFULLY BECAUSE OF THE CAMPAIGNS, BECAUSE OF THE EDUCATION, BECAUSE OF THE CONTROL THAT WE HAVE ON THIS AND OTHER DISEASES, WE HAVEN'T SEEN THAT PROBLEM IN EL PASO. BUT DEFINITELY IT IS A PROBLEM THAT WE NEED TO BE ADDRESSING. AND PREVENTION CARRIES LONG WAYS. AND AS ANIMAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT HAS IDENTIFIED THEIR AREAS THAT ARE GOING TO BE AT RISK, AND THOSE ARE THE AREAS THAT WE NEED TO CONTINUE INTENSIFY OUR EFFORTS WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH HAS ALSO LAUNCHED SOME INFORMATION ON MATERIAL AND SOCIAL MEDIA, AND WE WILL CONTINUE TO PARTICIPATE WITH THE ANIMAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT TO ADDRESS THE PROBLEM. AND I WANT TO RECOGNIZE ALL THE ACTIVITIES THAT THEY HAVE DONE THROUGH THE ANIMAL DEPARTMENT AND THE PARTICIPATION AND THE CALL FOR ACTION THAT THEY HAD, INCLUDING THE BRINGING ALL THESE DEPARTMENTS FROM THE CITY, THE COUNTY, AND ALSO INTERNATIONAL TO THE ADDRESS THIS PROBLEM. THANK YOU. DOCTOR. DO YOU MIND ADDRESSING, YOU KNOW, ONCE IF A CHILD IS, YOU KNOW, BITTEN THE CHALLENGES WITH THE MEDICATION SIDE BECAUSE I KNOW I WORKED WITH THE ROTARY AND WITH UMC TRYING TO PROVIDE SOME OF THE MEDICATION. IS THAT SIMILAR OR IS THIS SOMETHING DIFFERENT THAN THAT IS VERY SIMILAR. AND DEFINITELY THE MEDICATION IS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT BECAUSE THEY DON'T MANUFACTURE THE MEDICATION IN MEXICO. SO UMC WAS INSTRUMENTAL IN BEING ABLE TO HONOR THE PRESCRIPTION FOR THE MEDICATION, WHICH ALSO I'VE BEEN ABLE TO ASSIST WITH MAKING THAT HAPPEN. AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, THE PREVENTION ASPECT IS WHAT IS GOING TO HELP TREMENDOUSLY AVOID THOSE CASES AND HAVING LESS MORTALITY. THANK YOU. GOOD MORNING. JUDGE. COMMISSIONERS. ALVARO MEDINA, CHIEF VETERINARIAN WITH THE ANIMAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT. AND I JUST WANT TO FOLLOW UP WITH KRYSTAL AND THANK DOCTOR CARRANZA. HE'S BEEN VERY HELPFUL. AND TO START, I WANTED TO THANK YOU, BECAUSE I REMEMBER WHEN YOU CALLED KRYSTAL AND ASKED HER, WHAT CAN WE DO ABOUT HELPING JUAREZ WITH THIS PROBLEM? SO. THEN KRYSTAL CALLED ME TO HER OFFICE, AND THEN WE CALLED DOCTOR PENA WITH THE UNIVERSITY OF JUAREZ, AND SHE'S BEEN VERY HELPFUL. ALSO, WE HAD A MEETING IN JUAREZ AND SHE TOLD SHE TOLD US WHAT WHAT THEY'RE DOING OVER THERE. AND I WANT TO TALK TO DOCTOR PENA BECAUSE THEY'RE DOING A LOT OF TICK PREVENTION. BUT ALSO WHAT'S GOOD ABOUT JUAREZ IS THEY HAVE A MEDICAL SCHOOL AND ALSO VETERINARY SCHOOL. SO HOPEFULLY WE CAN INVOLVE THE VOLUNTEERS TO GET SOME BLOOD SAMPLES FROM ANIMALS AND MAYBE PEOPLE IF THEY'RE IF THEY'RE SHOWING ANY SYMPTOMS OF THIS DISEASE. AND WE CAN DO THAT WHEN THEY'RE DOING THE CAMPAIGNS DURING THE TICK PREVENTION CONTROL. AND AGAIN, I WANT TO FOLLOW UP ABOUT SATURDAY. WE HAD A LOT OF A LOT OF PETS. AND WE DID VACCINATIONS. VACCINATIONS ARE IMPORTANT BECAUSE THERE ARE SOME DISEASES THAT CAN BE TRANSMITTED FROM DOGS TO PEOPLE LIKE LEPTOSPIROSIS. WE HAVE A VACCINE RABIES OF COURSE, BUT THE MAIN THING RIGHT NOW THAT I WOULD [01:50:04] RECOMMEND IS DURING THE WARM WEATHER MONTHS, LIKE ALMOST ALL YEAR, BUT AT LEAST DURING MAY AND SEPTEMBER START THESE TYPE OF CAMPAIGNS HERE IN EL PASO FOR THE FLEA AND TICK CONTROL. THAT'S THAT'S GOING TO BE THE KEY BECAUSE DOCTOR PENA HAS A LOT OF INFORMATION. SHE'S FOUND, LIKE FOR EXAMPLE, SHE TESTED THE VETERINARIANS THAT HELP THAT VOLUNTEER WITH SPAY NEUTER PROGRAMS IN JUAREZ. AND ABOUT 20% THEY TESTED POSITIVE FOR. ALICEA. AND SO THAT'S THAT'S VERY CONCERNING. BESIDES THE TICK AND FLEA CONTROL, THE PET OVERPOPULATION, STRAY DOGS, THAT'S VERY IMPORTANT. AND OUR DEPARTMENT HAS BEEN VOLUNTEERING IN JUAREZ DURING THE SPAY NEUTER CAMPAIGNS FOR SEVERAL YEARS. SO I'M VERY PROUD OF EVERYBODY HERE. AND. OTHER THAN THAT, THE MAIN THING IS KEEP WORKING REALLY HARD FOR THE NEXT 2 OR 3 YEARS. WHY IS VERY IMPORTANT THE NEXT TWO, THREE YEARS? BECAUSE RIGHT NOW THERE'S A NEW VACCINE. WELL, NOT VACCINE INJECTION, THAT CONTROLS FLEAS AND TICKS FOR ONE YEAR. ALSO IN THE NEXT TWO, THREE YEARS, THEY'RE GOING TO DEVELOP A VACCINE FOR TICKS. AND RIGHT NOW WE HAVE A AN INJECTION FROM SOUTH AMERICA, THE UNIVERSITY OF CHILE, THAT STERILIZES THE DOGS FOR ONE YEAR. SO HOPEFULLY IN THREE YEARS THAT CAN BE PERMANENT. SO WE'LL SEE. BUT IF WE WORK REALLY HARD THE NEXT THREE YEARS, IF WE MEET AGAIN IN THREE YEARS, I THINK WE'RE WE'RE GOING TO BE IN BETTER SHAPE. I DON'T KNOW YOUR OPINION, DOCTOR CARRANZA. DEFINITELY IT IS. IT SEEMS LIKE A SHORT TERM, BUT ACTUALLY, IN REALITY, THIS IS GOING TO BE A LONG TERM GOAL OF HAVING THE CONTROL OF THESE ZOONOTIC DISEASE, THESE VECTOR BORNE DISEASE. AND IT CAN BE EXTENDED TO NOT JUST RICKETTSIA, SOME OTHER INFECTIOUS DISEASES, AS EXACTLY. YEAH. TICKS AND FLEAS. THEY'VE BEEN HERE FOR THOUSANDS MILLIONS OF YEARS. SO WE'RE NOT GOING TO DEFEAT HIM BUT HOPEFULLY KEEP IT UNDER CONTROL. I DON'T KNOW IF THERE'S ANY QUESTIONS. THANK YOU. KNOW APPRECIATE YOUR. SHE GAVE US THESE PAMPHLETS REALLY REALLY NICE. SO THANK YOU DOCTOR. CHEF. WELCOME I'M DOCTOR SUSAN SCHAAF I'M THE REGIONAL VETERINARIAN FOR TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF STATE HEALTH SERVICES REGION 910. SO WE COVER EL PASO ALL THE WAY OUT TO ABOUT SAN ANGELO, RELATIVELY NEW. SO HAPPY TO BE HERE AND MEET EVERYONE. WE JUST WANTED TO COME TODAY TO SUPPORT THIS THIS INITIATIVE. IT IS IT IS IMPORTANT AND SOMETHING THAT WE'RE ALL CONCERNED ABOUT. CERTAINLY WE'VE SEEN AN INCREASE IN ROCKY MOUNTAIN SPOTTED FEVER IN NORTHERN MEXICO AND BEING ON THE BORDER. THERE ARE CONCERNS FOR US BEING AFFECTED HERE AS WELL. RECENTLY, WE PARTICIPATED IN A CDC INITIATIVE TO EDUCATE CLINICIANS HERE IN EL PASO ON THE SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS OF ROCKY MOUNTAIN SPOTTED FEVER. AND TREATMENT AS EARLY TREATMENT IS INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT. BUT, YOU KNOW, FROM A PREVENTION STANDPOINT, THIS TRULY IS A ONE HEALTH ISSUE IN THAT WE CAN PROTECT HUMAN HEALTH BY IMPROVING ANIMAL HEALTH. AND SO REALLY, THE BIG RISK FACTORS THAT WE'RE SEEING FOR ROCKY MOUNTAIN SPOTTED FEVER IN KIND OF THE BORDER REGION ARE, YOU KNOW, POPULATIONS WHERE WE HAVE A LARGE AMOUNT OF FREE ROAMING OR STRAY DOGS AND LARGE TICK POPULATIONS. AND SO THE PREVENTION IS TRULY ONE HEALTH PREVENTION AND CONTROLLING STRAY DOG POPULATIONS AND CONTROLLING TICK POPULATIONS. SO, YOU KNOW, WE ARE HERE TO SUPPORT YOU IN WHATEVER WAY WE CAN. DEPARTMENT OF STATE HEALTH SERVICES. AND IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, HAPPY TO ANSWER. AND WE DID PROVIDE CDC PROVIDED US WITH SOME EDUCATIONAL MATERIALS THAT WE CAN USE IN THIS IN THIS CAMPAIGN. AND DOCTOR SALAZAR WHO'S THE CDC RICKETTSIA SPECIALIST, IS HAPPY TO PARTICIPATE AND PROVIDE US ANY, ANY INPUT OR ANY INFORMATION AND SUPPORT THAT WE NEED. SO THANK YOU, DOCTOR. I'M SO IMPRESSED BECAUSE WE ALWAYS TALK ABOUT REGION. AND I REMEMBER DURING THE PANDEMIC, IT TOOK US SOME TIME TO REALIZE THAT WE HAD TO WORK TOGETHER. I MEAN, WE'RE SO CLOSE. BREATHE THE SAME AIR, YOU KNOW, DRINK THE SAME WATER. AND SOMETIMES WE SORT OF ATTACK OR ADDRESS THINGS SEPARATELY. AND WHAT YOU'RE DOING TOGETHER IS VERY ADMIRABLE. AND WE [01:55:07] APPRECIATE THAT TREMENDOUSLY THAT IT'S A REGIONAL, YOU KNOW, ISSUE. IT'S NOT JUST ONE OR THE OTHER. SO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR WHAT YOU DO. YES, COMMISSIONER CORONADO. YEAH. YOU KNOW, I ALSO WANT TO THANK OUR ANIMAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT. WE TOOK THEY TOOK ADVANTAGE OF SATURDAY'S EVENT TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY MADE PEOPLE AWARE OF THE ISSUE WITH, YOU KNOW, AND PROVIDED SOME FLEA AND TICK CONTROL FOR, FOR PETS. AND SO IT WAS REALLY A GREAT OPPORTUNITY FOR ALL THOSE THAT SHOWED UP IN THE UPPER VALLEY TO BECOME AWARE OF THIS, OF THIS PROBLEM WE HAVE. AND SO I WANT TO THANK YOU AND, AND ALL THE INDIVIDUALS THAT ARE INVOLVED, I FAILED TO MENTION, YOU KNOW, STEVEN GARZA AND JIMENA WHILE THESE INDIVIDUALS, THEY'RE WAITING IN LINE, WE HAD CHAIRS FOR THEM SITTING DOWN. WE WENT AND PROVIDE THE INFORMATION ABOUT ALSO THE FLEA AND TICK CONTROL AND PROVIDED GOT A LITTLE HOT SATURDAY, BUT THEY WERE WE WERE OUT HELPING THEM WITH, YOU KNOW, WATER. AND SO WHILE THEY WERE WAITING TO GET THEIR VACCINES AND ALSO, YOU KNOW, GET THEIR INFORMATION ABOUT FLEA AND TICK CONTROL AND THIS RICKETTSIOSIS PROBLEM THAT WE HAVE. SO I WANT TO THANK THE DEPARTMENT FOR TAKING ADVANTAGE OF THAT AND GETTING. THANK YOU COMMISSIONER. WELL THANK YOU. ANYONE ELSE IS GOING TO. WELCOME. MISS MARGARITA PENA DE LA UNIVERSIDAD AUTONOMA DE CIUDAD JUAREZ. TAMBIÉN SOY PARTE DEL EQUIPO DE TRABAJO DE LA CIUDAD JUAREZ. LA LICENCIADA AVALOS CONJUNTO CON EL PRESIDENTE MUNICIPAL. ESTAN MUY PREOCUPADOS POR LA SITUACION DE LA CIUDAD IN CHIHUAHUA. PRESENTADO MUCHISIMAS MUERTES SOBRE TODO DE NINOS Y HABLAR TAMBIÉN DE LAS ENFERMEDADES PRESENTADO LOS LOS PERROS Y AHORA TAMBIÉN TENIDO ALGO. PERO QUÉ NOS HABLA DEL DEL GRAN PROBLEMA TIENE DESPUÉS DE TENER. PLATICAS CON LAS AUTORIDADES AQUI DEL PASO TEXAS CON KRYSTAL REYES CON EL DOCTOR MEDINA. HEMOS HECHO ALGUNAS ACTIVIDADES COMO FUMIGATIONS DENTRO DE CASAS PARTICULARES COMO DE SONUS. ESTA SPARKS. TAMBIÉN TENEMOS LA PARA LA GARRAPATA, PORQUE ESTAMOS SEGUROS. SI NO HACEMOS ALGO. EL CONJUNTO CON USTEDES EL PROBLEMA GRABAR EL PROBLEMA ESTA VAN AUMENTAR LAS MUERTES. NOS PREOCUPA MUCHO LA SALUD PUBLICA PREOCUPAN MUCHO LOS NINOS DE JUAREZ EL PASO, TEXAS. POR ESO ENTABLADO ESTAS PLATICAS IN ESTAMOS SEGUROS. SI SE TRABAJAR EN CONJUNTO LAS CIUDADES VAMOS A SALVAR MUCHISIMAS VIDAS. MUCHAS GRACIAS. GRAN COLABORACION MUCHO. TENEMOS CON USTEDES. GRACIAS. WE HAVE A REQUEST FOR A MOTION TO APPROVE AND AUTHORIZE THE ENDORSEMENT OF THE PUBLIC EDUCATION CAMPAIGN. WE HAVE A MOTION FROM JUDGE SAMANIEGO, A SECOND FROM COMMISSIONER BUTLER. THE VOTING IS OPEN. MY VOTE IS. I THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER. THE MOTION CARRIES. THANK YOU SO MUCH. MUCHAS GRACIAS. THANK YOU ALL. THANK YOU. CRYSTAL. THANK YOU. ITEM EIGHT COUNTY ADMINISTRATION. EIGHT A RECEIVE A PRESENTATION FROM THE EL PASO SPORTS COMMISSION REGARDING ITS QUARTERLY STATUS REPORT. COMMISSIONERS MELISSA CARRILLO WITH COUNTY OPERATIONS AS TONY [COUNTY ADMINISTRATION] [A. Receive a presentation from the El Paso Sports Commission regarding its quarterly status report. Melissa Carrillo, Deputy County Administrator, County Operations, 915-273-3582] AND JANET MAKE THEIR WAY UP TO THE PODIUM. I JUST WANT TO SHARE FOR THE COURT THAT THIS IS OUR QUARTERLY UPDATE. EXCEPT ONCE A YEAR, YOU DO ALSO RECEIVE AN ANNUAL MARKETING UPDATE THAT'S TO BE RECEIVED SOMETIME IN JUNE. SO TODAY'S PRESENTATION WILL BE THE TWO QUARTERLY UPDATES, INCLUDING YOUR ANNUAL MARKETING UPDATE AS REQUIRED BY THE CONTRACT. WITH THAT, I'LL TURN IT OVER TO MISS JANET VARGAS ANTONIO RODRIGUEZ, WELCOME. GOOD MORNING. WELCOME, TONY. THE [02:00:03] FIRST EVENT WE HAD ON APRIL 6TH WAS IT WAS A CATHOLIC COMMUNITY EVENT, AND IT WAS A PRETTY GOOD TURNOUT. SO ON THAT ON THAT ONE TOO IS IT'S ACTUALLY A TWO DAY EVENT THAT THEY DO. THEY START OFF IN CIUDAD JUAREZ ON SATURDAY, AND THEN THEY COME IN ON SUNDAY AND USE THE COLISEUM AND DO THEIR CATHOLIC RETREAT HERE AT THE EL PASO COUNTY COLISEUM. SO THEY'VE BEEN DOING THAT FOR A COUPLE YEARS. AND APRIL 13TH WE HAD EASTER AT THE COLISEUM AND WE THEY GAVE EASTER BASKETS. WE HAD AN EASTER EGG HUNT. IT WAS A GREAT FAMILY EVENT. THEN APRIL 17TH WE HAD THE NATURALIZATION CEREMONY. THERE WERE ABOUT 600 THAT BECAME US CITIZENS. MAY 4TH, WE HAD OUR SUNDAY FARMERS ART MARKET. THEN MAY 16TH WE HAD HASH AND THAT WAS A SOLD OUT EVENT THERE. OUR ATTENDANCE RATE WAS AT 3350, AND THERE WERE 32 ROOMS OCCUPIED BY THE TOUR ONE NIGHT. MAY 24TH, WE HAD OUR ROCKABILLY MARKET. THEN JUNE 5TH WE HAD OUR BORDERLAND CONNECT, AND THAT WAS IN AN INDUSTRIAL. EXPO. JUNE 6TH WE HAD OUR GRAND, OUR GRAND BY LAZO. JUNE 8TH WE HAD ANOTHER SUNDAY MARKET. AND JUNE 12TH WE HAD ANOTHER NATURALIZATION CEREMONY. THAT ONE WAS ABOUT THAT. ONE WAS ABOUT 700 PEOPLE. JUNE 14TH WE HAD HER FOREVER LEGENDS, THE FATHER'S DAY DANCE WITH SUNNY OZUNA. THEN WE HAD THE SUMMER WINE JUNE 28TH. AND SOME OTHER COMMUNITY EVENTS THAT WE HELD WERE THE COUNTY AUCTION. FIRST TUESDAY OF THE MONTH. WE HAD THE EL PASOANS FIGHTING HUNGER PICKUP SECOND AND FOURTH FRIDAY OF THE MONTH. WE HAD THE ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH IMPACT MEETING JUNE 12TH. THAT WAS IN OUR VIP ROOM, AND THEN WE HAD THE UMC CAR SEAT SAFETY CHECK JUNE 21ST HELD IN THE PAVILION, AND THEN THESE ARE SOME OF OUR UPCOMING EVENTS. BRONCO, YURI, MOLOTOV INTOCABLE, OUR FAVORITE, DISNEY ON ICE, AND CHRIS LAKE. I'LL DO A LITTLE BIT ABOUT SPORTS TOURISM, BUT I'LL GO BACK TO THIS ON BRONCO. THE THING ABOUT BRONCOS, THEY WERE ACTUALLY SUPPOSED TO PERFORM HERE ON AUGUST 3RD, 2019. OBVIOUSLY WE HAD THE SHOOTING AT WALMART, SO THAT CONCERT WAS CANCELED. AND SO THEY'RE ACTUALLY COMING BACK FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE THE TRAGIC INCIDENT. SO IT'S GOING TO BE A SPECIAL NIGHT FOR THEM. THEY DEFINITELY WANT THE COMMUNITY TO COME OUT. AND SO WE'RE GETTING BRONCO BACK UP FOR THAT CONCERT SPORTS COMMISSION. SO COPA DE CAMPEONES BIG EVENT THAT HAPPENED APRIL 4TH THROUGH THE SIXTH. A BUNCH OF TEAMS, NOT ONLY JUST HERE FROM EL PASO, LAS CRUCES, CIUDAD JUAREZ, BUT ALSO FROM OUT OF TOWN. WE GAVE THEM THE SURVEY. THEY THIS IS WHAT THEY KIND OF TURNED INTO. WHAT? THIS IS WHAT THEY TURNED INTO US. THEY HAD A TOTAL TRAVELING TEAMS OF ABOUT 119, INCLUDING NEW MEXICO TEAMS WITH CLOSER PROXIMITY. ESTIMATED TRAVELING TEAMS THAT PAID FOR HOTEL NIGHTS WERE 60 TO 75, SO TOTAL CONFIRMED ROOM NIGHTS WERE ABOUT 950. AND SO YOU HAVE THE TOTAL ESTIMATED ROOM NIGHTS. NOT ALL TEAMS RESPONDED TO THEIR INQUIRY, BUT AS WE'VE TALKED ABOUT TWO. AND WE'LL TAKE AN IN-DEPTH APPROACH STARTING NEXT YEAR IN JANUARY, WE WANT TO ALSO INCLUDE MANY TEAMS ARE STILL USING AIRBNB FOR HOUSING. SO THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS WE'RE LEARNING TO THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, GRAPPLING ASSOCIATION, NORTH AMERICAN GRAPPLING ASSOCIATION. NAGA THAT WAS HELD AT THE EL PASO COUNTY COLISEUM. THOSE TWO DAYS, YOU HAD ROOMS OCCUPIED BY PARTICIPANTS. THEY HAD OVER 605 PARTICIPANTS, RANGING FROM YOUNG KIDS TO ADULTS. SO ABOUT 229 FROM WERE OUT OF TOWN. AND WE ALSO ASSISTED WITH MARKETING THE EVENT SO WE COULD GET MORE PARTICIPANTS, BUT ALSO HELP THEM WITH HOTEL REFERRALS, ESPECIALLY WITH THAT MANY PARTICIPANTS TAKING PLACE AT THAT EVENT. WE DID THE 5 TO 5 HELPED WITH THAT WITH THE SURVIVOR SERIES. THIS WAS ONE THAT WAS VERY INTERESTING, IS THAT I KIND OF TALKED ABOUT IT THE LAST TIME I WAS HERE IS THAT THEY HAD 182 TEAMS. THEY USED FOUR DIFFERENT PARKS THROUGHOUT THE CITY, AND I WENT TO EACH PARK. IT STARTED MY MORNING OFF AT ASCARATE, WENT ALL THE WAY TO VETERANS PARK IN THE NORTHEAST, MADE MY WAY TO THE SPORTS PARK IN THE EAST SIDE, AND THEN WENT BACK TO THE LOWER VALLEY TO THE EL WILLIAMS PARK. AND SO IT JUST SHOWS THE NEED THAT THERE IS A NEED FOR FIELDS. I MEAN, WHEN YOU'RE HAVING YOU'RE HAVING TO GO TO [02:05:01] FOUR DIFFERENT PARTS OF TOWN TO HOST ONE TOURNAMENT WHEN YOU CAN HAVE ONE CENTRALIZED LOCATION FOR THAT. SO ANYWAY, THERE'S A CHANCE FURTHER DOWN THE LINE THAT WE CAN EXPAND OR LOOK FOR AREAS THAT THAT IS ONE THING THAT IS DEFINITELY NEEDED. IS BASEBALL FIELDS HERE, HERE IN EL PASO. AND I THINK WHAT ALSO IS GOING TO HELP TOO, WITH TERMS LIKE THIS, BECAUSE THEY GO THROUGHOUT THE WHOLE DAY, IS OBVIOUSLY WITH THE BOND THAT THEY PUT THE LIGHT IN THERE. YOU'RE GOING TO BE ABLE TO USE THOSE PARKS AT NIGHT. BUT I CAN TELL YOU, EVEN WITH WHEN I WENT TO ESQUERITA THAT MORNING, THEY HAD SOME PEEWEE FOOTBALL GAMES GOING ON, NOT ONLY THE BASEBALL TOURNAMENT AND THEY HAD SOME SOCCER GAMES. SO I MEAN THAT PARKS GETTING USED ALL TIMES OF DAY. SO THAT'S GREAT TO KNOW TOO ON THAT PART. ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE DO TOO, INSIDE THE COLISEUM IS THE RIO GRANDE OBEDIENCE DOG SHOW. IT'S DEFINITELY WHAT YOU SEE. LIKE IN THAT MOVIE. IT'S A DOG SHOW. IT'S AND THEY TAKE IT SERIOUSLY, BUT IT'S A PRETTY COOL EVENT AND IT'S DEFINITELY FUN TO DO. AND YOU HAVE SOME PEOPLE FROM OUT OF TOWN. ONE OF THE BIG PROJECTS THAT WE DID, THANKS TO THEA AND RICHARD CORONA, I MEAN, WITHOUT THEM, THIS JUST WOULD HAVE NOT BEEN POSSIBLE. AND WORKING WITH NFL FOR THE REGION 19 FLAG FOOTBALL, THIS IS ONE OF THE EVENTS THAT WE HAD PRIOR. THE COWBOYS CAME DOWN WEEK BEFORE ONE OF THE PLAYERS ROWDY, AND THEY WERE GIVING OUT FOOTBALLS, FLAGS, ICE CHESTS AND MEETING WITH COWBOYS TEAMS THAT THEY REPRESENT. AND SO WE HAD THAT DEFINITELY A GOOD TIME. DEFINITELY GAMES THROUGHOUT THE WHOLE MONTH BETWEEN APRIL AND MAY. AND SO THEY PLAYED AT DIFFERENT FIELDS FROM I THINK I WENT TO MOUNTAIN VIEW. THERE WERE SOME IN HORIZON JEFFERSON. THEY USED THE SACK A LOT. GREAT FIELD. SO THEY WERE WE WERE DEFINITELY AROUND EL PASO. WE HAD, I THINK THIS ONE HOPEFULLY IT PLAYS MAYBE. I'LL SEND YOU GUYS A VIDEO. THERE WAS SOME VIDEO THERE, BUT WE'LL WE'LL SEND THAT TO YOU. SO YEAH. SO ABOUT APRIL 20TH 8TH TO MAY 20TH, MAY 22ND, ABOUT 56 ROOMS OCCUPIED THROUGHOUT THAT WHOLE WEEK WITH THE NFL OFFICIALS AND SOME OF THEIR DIGNITARIES HERE. THE EVENT WAS SPONSORED BY THE DALLAS COWBOYS, HOUSTON TEXANS, THE NFL, NIKE. I FORGET WHAT NIKE IN THERE. THEY DID THE UNIFORMS ZEBRA SPORTS AND AS WELL AS THE SPORTS COMMISSION. YOU HAD ABOUT EIGHT SCHOOL DISTRICTS WITH 39 HIGH SCHOOLS. SO I MEAN THAT'S JUST EL PASO. SO YOU CAN IMAGINE ONCE WE TRY HOPEFULLY INCLUDE LAS CRUCES AND CIUDAD JUAREZ, YOU MAKE IT AN INTERNATIONAL THING. SO BUT THEY'LL DEFINITELY WE'RE DEFINITELY WORKING ON ALREADY NEXT YEAR TO DO THIS AGAIN. SO IT WAS PRETTY FUN RIGHT AFTER THAT. DURING THAT THEY DO THE WEST TEXAS FOOTBALL OFFICIALS CAMP. SO THAT WAS MAY 22ND THROUGH MAY 24TH. AND ABOUT 624 ROOMS WERE OCCUPIED. THAT'S FROM OFFICIALS THAT WANT TO BE FROM COLLEGE TO THE NFL. THEY COME HERE TO GET THE TRAINING. IT'S ONE OF THE THIRD LARGEST THAT THEY DO IN THE NATION HERE. MEMORIAL SWING, ANOTHER MEMORIAL DAY SOFTBALL TOURNAMENT HAD THERE AT THE SPORTS PARK. AND SO WE HAD ABOUT 56 TEAMS TOTAL, SIX FROM OUT OF TOWN FROM RIO RANCHO, DEMING AND HOLLOMAN, NEW MEXICO. AND I PUT THE LINK THERE BECAUSE, OF COURSE, IF YOU EVER WANT TO GO JUST TO SAY, WHERE IS IT TRUE OR NOT? THE LINKS THERE, YOU CAN SEE WHO'S PLAYING, WHO'S COMING. SO IT SHOWS THERE. AND THEN OBVIOUSLY IF YOU'RE COMING FROM RIO RANCHO AND ALBUQUERQUE, YOU'RE NOT DRIVING BACK THAT SAME NIGHT TO COME BACK SUNDAY MORNING TO PLAY A TOURNAMENT. YOU'RE STAYING IN A HOTEL. IT'S PLAIN AND SIMPLE. AND SO THAT'S WHAT I SAY. THE ONE THING WE'RE TRYING TO JUST FIGURE IT OUT IS YOU'RE DOING HOTEL OR AIRBNB. SO WE'RE WORKING A LITTLE BIT MORE ON THAT TO DO THAT. AND WE'RE ONE OF THE TOURNAMENT SPONSORS FOR THAT TOURNAMENT, AEW WRESTLING. THAT WAS AWESOME. THEY CAME BACK. THEY WERE HERE TWO YEARS AGO. AND SO TONY KHAN, I DON'T KNOW IF YOU GUYS KNOW HIM. HIS FATHER IS THE OWNER OF THE JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS AND SO HE OWNS AEW WRESTLING. SO THEY CAME DOWN, DID ONE NIGHT BUT TAPED ONE, WAS LIVE ON TNT AND HBO MAX ON WEDNESDAY. AND THEN THEY TAPED FOR FRIDAY, WHICH WAS ON TBS AND HBO MAX. SO YOU GET THAT PUBLICITY WHEN YOU HAVE EVENTS LIKE THIS THAT IT'S NOT JUST THEY'RE COMING HERE TO DO A HOUSE SHOW, IT'S LIVE ON TV, AND SO YOU CAN EVEN GO BACK AND WATCH IT ON MAX TWO AND SAY, AND JUST WATCH IT. IT'S JUST SO COOL TO SEE HOW THE COLISEUM LOOKED ON THAT. AND COMMISSIONER, I PUT THAT ONE IN THERE FOR YOU, FOR THE COMMISSIONER CORONADO WITH THE CHAIR. SO WE'LL GET THAT WHEN SHE COMES BACK. AND SO I'LL SEND YOU GUYS SOME OF THAT VIDEO WHEN IT PLAYS. BUT WITH THAT YOU HAD ABOUT 84 FROM NOT ONLY THE WRESTLERS BUT PRODUCTION CREW COME IN. THEY STAYED FOR ABOUT TWO NIGHTS. STAFFING FOR THE EVENT WAS ABOUT 124 PEOPLE. AND THEN IT WAS ABOUT AS YOU SEE THERE, 3650, JUST A SOLD OUT NIGHT OF AEW. AND WE'RE SEEING THAT WITH TNA THAT WE HAD BACK HERE IN MARCH. THEY SOLD OUT BOTH NIGHTS. WE'RE SEEING THAT WITH AEW WRESTLING. SO WRESTLING IS BIG IN EL PASO AND IF YOU BRING IT, PEOPLE ARE GOING TO COME LUCHA LIBRE. WE HAD THIS IN THE PAVILION, I MEAN IN THE JUDGING ARENA. SORRY ABOUT THAT. SO LOCAL LUCHA LIBRE, WE WORK WITH SOME OF THE LOCAL PROMOTERS HERE AND WE HAD THAT IN PAVILION. SO GOOD NIGHT THERE IN THE VIP ROOM WE DID OUR RING [02:10:01] WARS 18 PRESS CONFERENCE. SO GETTING READY FOR RING WARS, THE EL PASO SUMMER CLASSIC. THIS IS ONE PART OF THE COBRAS LEAGUE TWO. IT'S JUNE 13TH THROUGH THE 15TH AND SO FROM THEIR STATS TWO, YOU HAD A TOTAL OF 91 TRAVELING TEAMS TO INCLUDE NEW MEXICO. ESTIMATED TRAVELING THAT PAID FOR HOTELS WAS 45 TO 55, SO TOTAL ROOM NIGHTS COULD BE ABOUT 824. TOTAL ESTIMATED ROOM NIGHTS 1000 TO 1100. SO YOU ESTIMATE THAT OF 45 TO 55 TEAMS, TEN ROOMS PER TEAM, A TWO NIGHT STAY FOR THAT TOURNAMENT RODEO EL PASO THEY'VE BEEN GREAT PARTNERS. THIS IS A THIRD, THIRD YEAR HERE. AND SO THEY'LL BE BACK AGAIN NEXT YEAR. WE'VE ALREADY HAVE A COMMITMENT FROM THEM. WITH THEM THEY COME. YOU HAVE ABOUT 42 INCLUDING THE TOUR ITSELF THAT PUTS ON THE PRODUCTION AND THE RIDERS PERFORMERS. THEY SAY THEY STAY FOR FOUR NIGHTS, SO YOU GET ABOUT 168. STAFFING FOR THE TOTAL EVENT WAS ABOUT 384, AND THEN ATTENDANCE TOTAL FOR THREE NIGHTS WAS ABOUT 12,770. SO DEFINITELY THEY LOVE EL PASO. AND EL PASO LOVES RODEO. SO THEY'RE EXCITED TO HAVE THAT BACK. HTC'S WESTERN NATIONALS ANOTHER SOFTBALL TOURNAMENT. HIGH SCHOOLS. SO ABOUT 30 TEAMS FROM OUT OF TOWN. THIS ONE WAS ABOUT FIVE FROM OUT OF TOWN FROM TUCSON, TUCSON, ARIZONA, ALBUQUERQUE AND LEWISVILLE, TEXAS AND MIDLAND. SO WE HELPED THEM WITH THE HOTEL REFERRALS AND TOURNAMENT SPONSORS. AND SO YOU HAVE THE SPORTS TOURISM NUMBERS AS FAR AS FROM THIS YEAR TO LAST YEAR, WE'RE ABOUT 7561, 14,308 TOTAL LAST YEAR. SO WE'RE GETTING THERE. WE STILL HAVE SOME MORE EVENTS COMING UP. AND SO WE HAVE THAT UPCOMING EVENTS LIKE WE TALKED ABOUT EL PASO GRIND. THEY'RE DOING A BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT HERE IN EL PASO. WE HAVE LUCHA LIBRE COMING BACK LOCAL LUCHA LIBRE. BUT THEY'LL BE HERE IN THE JUDGING ARENA BOXING AT THE LAKE. SO WE'RE ALWAYS LOOKING FORWARD TO THAT EVENT. IT WAS A GREAT SUCCESS LAST YEAR AND IT'S GOING TO BE ANOTHER GREAT SUCCESS THIS YEAR. WE MOVED IT TO SEPTEMBER, SO WE MISSED THE THUNDERSTORMS BECAUSE WE GOT LUCKY LAST YEAR. AND THEN ONE OF THE COOL EVENTS THAT THEY WAS WORKING ON TO THE TEXAS ARM WRESTLING LEAGUE, IT'S THE TEXAS STATE ARM WRESTLING CHAMPIONSHIP THAT'S GOING TO BE HERE IN EL PASO. SO I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO ACTUALLY SEEING THAT EVENT AND SEE SOME OVER THE TOP ACTION GOING ON THERE AT THE I THINK IT'S AT THE BEST WESTERN PLUS. SO WE HAVE THAT. SO YEAH, I MEAN JUST KEEPING BUSY ON ON THOSE EVENTS. WE'LL GET TO MARKETING OR. VERY COOL. SO MARKETING PLAN IS AS I'LL GET INTO THIS AND I'LL TELL YOU SOMETHING, A COUPLE THINGS. WHAT'S HAPPENING TOO IS THAT WE'RE TRYING TO FIND NEW WAYS TO BRING DIFFERENT EVENTS. AS YOU, AS EVERYBODY KNOWS, LIKE THE COLISEUM IS A LOT ABOUT LATIN CONCERTS. THAT'S RIGHT. BACK IN THE 70S, 80S, IT WAS ROCK. NOWADAYS IT'S LATIN. AND SO I CAN TELL YOU, WE'VE LOST ABOUT FIVE CONCERTS. WE LOST TWO, DEFINITELY. THEY JUST CANCELED THE TOUR INDEFINITELY, AND THAT'S BECAUSE OF VISAS WE LOST. SO THOSE TWO, THEY'RE NOT COMING BACK UNTIL THEY GET THE VISAS FIXED. THAT MAY BE NEXT YEAR. HOPEFULLY. HOPEFULLY NEXT YEAR. RIGHT. THE THREE GOT POSTPONED. THEY MOVED THEM FROM THEY WERE SUPPOSED TO BE IN MAY AND JUNE. THEY MOVED THEM TO OCTOBER, NOVEMBER, DECEMBER. AND ANOTHER ONE IS LOOKING THAT WAS SUPPOSED TO MOVE IN OCTOBER IS NOT GOING TO HAPPEN BECAUSE THAT ARTIST IS HAVING TROUBLE WITH VISAS. AND SO IT IS TAKING AN IMPACT. AND THAT'S DEFINITELY STUFF. WE'RE TRYING TO SEE WHAT YOU CAN DO, WHAT ELSE YOU CAN DO. AND THAT'S WHY WHEN JANET WAS TALKING ABOUT YOU DO THAT BORDERLAND CONNECT. YOU DO EXPOS LIKE THAT. WE'RE GOING TO TRY AND BRING ROCK BACK COUNTRY, MORE WRESTLING, AND YOU HOPE THAT IT'S JUST A PHASE THAT JUST HAPPENS JUST THIS YEAR. AND IT DOESN'T CARRY ON LONGER. BUT YEAH, I MEAN WE'RE FEELING THE IMPACT AND IT'S I'LL SAY THE WORD UNFORTUNATE. THERE'S OTHER WORDS. BUT IT'S DEFINITELY UNFORTUNATE. SO THE MISSION STATEMENT TO PROVIDE FOR THE COLISEUM IS TO PREMIERE AN EXCLUSIVE, INCLUSIVE VENUE EXPERIENCE THAT SERVES AS EL PASO'S ENTERTAINMENT HUB, DRIVING COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT, ECONOMIC GROWTH AND, OF COURSE, UNFORGETTABLE MEMORIES. VENUE OVERVIEW IS A HISTORIC MULTI-PURPOSE ENTERTAINMENT VENUE, HOSTS CONCERTS, SPORTING EVENTS, EXPOS, COMMUNITY FUNCTIONS. IT'S LOCATED IN SOUTH CENTRAL EL PASO, MINUTES FROM DOWNTOWN AND THE AIRPORT. THING ABOUT THE COLISEUM TOO, IS IT HAS A STRONG HISTORICAL CULTURAL RELEVANCE AND RECOGNITION. DEPARTMENT GOALS IS TO CONTINUE TO PROMOTE THE HISTORIC COUNTY COLISEUM FOR LIVE EVENTS, ALONG WITH OTHER PROPERTIES ON SITE SUCH AS THE PAVILION, THE PARKING LOT, EVENT CENTER AND JUDGING ARENA. I THINK YOU ALL HAVE SEEN THAT. NOT NOW. WE'RE DOING ART MARKETS. WE'RE USING THE JUDGING ARENA FOR. LUCHA LIBRE. WE HAVE THE ROLLER DERBY, THE PARKING LOT. WE'RE DOING IT FOR COMMUNITY EVENTS. AND SO AND WE CONTINUE TO USE THE COLISEUM FOR ANY EVENT THAT, THAT WE CAN USE IT FOR. SO WE'RE DOING THAT AND IT'S CONTINUING TO BUILD RELATIONS WITH PROMOTERS, OBVIOUSLY, NATIONAL AND LOCAL NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS, SCHOOL DISTRICTS, STAKEHOLDERS AND THE COMMUNITY. I THINK YOU'VE ALL SEEN THAT, TOO, AS WE'VE HAD SOME CONVERSATIONS THERE AT THE COUNTY COLISEUM WITH SOCORRO, AND WE HAD CANUTILLO LAST YEAR. AND SO WE DO THE REGION 19 CHRISTMAS THERE AT THE COLISEUM. [02:15:01] SO YOU'RE SEEING THAT ON A ON A LOCAL LEVEL TOO, THAT IT IS LIKE I'VE ALWAYS SAID WHEN I GOT HERE, IT IS THE PEOPLE'S BUILDING. AND THEN WHAT WE WERE JUST TALKING ABOUT. DUE TO THE CURRENT CLIMATE, LATIN CONCERTS PRESENT SOME UNCERTAINTY. AS A RESULT, WE ARE ACTIVELY EXPLORING A BROADER RANGE OF EVENTS AND CONFERENCES TO DIVERSIFY ITS BOOKINGS AND DRIVE CONSTANT ATTENDANCE, CONSISTENT ATTENDANCE. AND THAT'S WHAT WE'RE WORKING ON. THAT'S ONE OF THE GOALS WE HAVE, AND THAT'S ONE OF THE GOALS THAT WE'RE WE'RE DOING. SO THE GOALS THAT'S WHAT SOME OF THE PICTURES WE TALKED ABOUT IS WE DID A ZETEC, THE CONSTRUCTION COMPANY, THEY HELD THEIR CHRISTMAS BANQUET THERE AT THE COUNTY COLISEUM. THEY DID LIKE A LUCHA LIBRE FOR THE EMPLOYEES THERE, ROCK CONCERTS. WE HAD LAMB OF GOD AND MASTODON. WE CONTINUE TO HOST BEST OF THE CITY. AND THEN YOU HAVE THE WRESTLING TNA AND AEW. AND THEN YOU SEE CHRIS LAKE AND THAT'S MORE EDM. SO DEFINITELY TRYING TO BRING A DIFFERENT, MORE GENRES KIND OF MUSIC TO THE COLISEUM AND DIFFERENT EVENTS. SO MARKETING OBJECTIVES, OBVIOUSLY, THE COLISEUM AIMS TO INCREASE OVERALL ATTENDANCE OVER THE NEXT YEAR BY ATTRACTING A BROADER MIX OF EVENTS AND AUDIENCES, GROW SOCIAL MEDIA BY 25% AND STRENGTHEN THE BRAND VISIBILITY ACROSS EL PASO, JUAREZ, LAS CRUCES, WEST TEXAS, SOUTHERN NEW MEXICO AND ARIZONA, AND MARKETS LIKE TUCSON AND PHOENIX. BECAUSE YOU DO SEE THOSE PEOPLE COMING. IF AN ARTIST IS GOING FROM DALLAS TO EL PASO AND THEN MAYBE TO DENVER, YOU'RE GOING TO GET THE TUCSON AND PHOENIX PEOPLE COMING TO EL PASO FOR THAT. AND YOU SEE IT TOO. SOMETIMES YOU CAN GET THE YOU CAN GET THE REPORTS ON TICKETMASTER OF WHO BOUGHT TICKETS FROM WHERE. SOMETIMES IT'S LEGIT. BUT WHEN YOU SEE LIKE PEOPLE THAT BOUGHT TICKETS LIKE FROM CONNECTICUT OR NEW JERSEY, THOSE ARE MORE YOUR KIND OF PEOPLE WHO ARE BUYING TICKETS TO RESELL THEM. YOU KIND OF TAKE INTO GENERAL LIKE JUST WHAT IS IT WITHIN THE AREA THAT YOU KNOW, WHO KIND OF REALLY MAYBE BOUGHT TICKETS AND WHO KNOWS, MAYBE PEOPLE DID BUY TICKETS FROM NEW JERSEY. YOU JUST DON'T KNOW. BUT IT'S SOMETIMES REALLY UNLIKELY UNLESS IT'S LIKE COLDPLAY THAT EVERYONE'S HERE. RIGHT. BUT SO YEAH, WE'RE LOOKING WE'RE LOOKING AT THAT. AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE WANT TO DO BESIDES SOCIAL MEDIA IS OBVIOUSLY I'M SURE EVERYONE'S BEEN TO VEGAS. AND WHEN YOU LAND IN VEGAS, YOU SEE ALL THE DIGITAL BILLBOARDS AND EVERYTHING HAS EVENTS ON THERE. AND SO THAT'S WHAT WE'RE LOOKING AT DOING THAT HERE. SEE WHAT WE CAN DO AT OUR AIRPORT. BECAUSE MAYBE SOMEONE'S COMING IN FRIDAY O GRUPO FRONTERAS PLAYING AT THE COLISEUM. HEY, I'M GOING TO GO DO THAT. MAYBE WE CAN TAKE THE FAMILY TO THAT OR THERE'S A SUNDAY MARKET. MAYBE WE'LL GO TAKE THE FAMILY TO DO THAT. SO WE'RE GOING TO LOOK AT SEEING WHAT WE CAN DO THERE TO KIND OF JUST BROADEN THAT VISIBILITY TO OF COURSE, THE PROMOTERS WHO DO CONCERTS, DO THEIR OWN COMMERCIALS AND STUFF LIKE THAT, BUT WE DEFINITELY WANT TO HELP THEM. ONE OF THE OTHER THINGS IS IMPROVED CUSTOMER ENGAGEMENT AND RETENTION BY ENHANCING THE GUEST EXPERIENCE BEFORE, DURING AND AFTER EVENTS. YES. SO ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE ALWAYS HEAR IS THE BUILDING'S OLD, BUT IF YOU HAVE THAT ENGAGEMENT YOU GIVE THEM, THEY COME IN AND HAVE A GREAT TIME LIKE THEY DO. WE'VE HEARD IT FOR TNA WRESTLING AND AEW. THEY LOVE IT. EVERYONE'S TALKING ABOUT THE COLISEUM AND I WAS JUST TALKING WITH, I THINK, SOMEONE FROM THE COUNTY JUST EARLIER SAID THAT WHEN THE BOND FAILED, IT FAILED BY 700. LESS THAN 700. SO YOU'RE WE'RE CHANGING THAT IMAGE OF THE COLISEUM NOW AND THAT PEOPLE ARE ACTUALLY SEEING THAT IT'S NOT JUST LATIN CONCERTS. WE'RE DOING MARKETS. WE'RE USING ALL THAT PROPERTY. WE JUST HAD A CONCERT THIS PAST SATURDAY WHERE WE HAD NORTENO. THEY SOLD OUT ABOUT 5000 PEOPLE, AND WE HAD AN ART MARKET GOING ON AT THE SAME TIME DURING THE DAY. SO WE PROMOTED IT AS COME TO THE ART MARKET SHOP, COME TO THE FOOD TRUCKS, HANG OUT AND THEN WALK INTO THE CONCERT. YOU CAN DO THAT. WE HAVE THE PROPERTY. I MEAN, EVEN THE PARKING TO DO THAT TOO, AND HELP AND HELP WITH THE ZOO. SO AND WE'VE DONE IT BEFORE WHERE WE'VE HAD A MARKET, THE RHINOS GAME AND A CONCERT. SO THE PROPERTY THERE IS JUST AMAZING. SO WE'RE GOING TO GET THERE. AND I KNOW, YOU KNOW, WE'RE GOING TO GET THERE. SO IT'S DEFINITELY DOING THAT. TARGET AUDIENCE AS YOU AS WE'VE SEEN, IS THAT EVENT GOERS ARE MAINLY AGES FROM 18 TO 45. LOCAL FAMILIES, LATIN MUSIC, ROCK MUSIC AND LESS AND WRESTLING FANS. AND SO OBVIOUSLY THE SECONDARY IS PROMOTERS, BOOKING AGENTS, SCHOOLS, NON-PROFITS, SPONSORS AND PARTNERS THAT WE WERE TRYING TO WORK WITH AND BRING MORE EVENTS TO THE COLISEUM AND THAT AREA, OUR SWOT ANALYSIS, OUR STRENGTHS, ITS ESTABLISHED BRAND, PRIME LOCATION AND FLEXIBLE SPACE. OUR WEAKNESS. YES IT IS. THE PERCEPTION THAT I JUST TALKED ABOUT IS AN OLDER FACILITY. SOMETIMES THERE'S LIMITED TECH INFRASTRUCTURE INSIDE, BUT OUR OPPORTUNITIES IS IT'S BILINGUAL MARKETING AND IT'S CROSS BORDER PROMOTIONS SPELLED THAT WRONG. BUT I'LL GET THAT ONE. AND OUR THREATS IS JUST A CURRENT SOCIAL MEDIA AND POLITICAL CLIMATE SURROUNDING IMMIGRATION. THAT'S KIND OF WHAT I JUST TALKED ABOUT EARLIER. AS WE MOVE ON TO THE EL PASO SPORTS COMMISSION ESTABLISHED EL PASO AS A LEADING REGIONAL HUB FOR SPORTS, TOURISM AND ATHLETIC EVENTS, LEVERAGING ITS LOCATION, CLIMATE AND CULTURE TO ATTRACT ATHLETES, TEAMS AND FANS YEAR ROUND. OUR TARGET AUDIENCE IS SPORT EVENT ORGANIZERS, YOUTH, COLLEGIATE, PRO-LEVEL AMATEUR ATHLETES AND TEAMS, DOMESTIC AND INTERNATIONAL SPECTATORS AND FAMILIES, TRAVELERS, LOCALS AND REPEAT ATTENDEES. SO KEY FOCUS AREAS IS YOUTH AND AMATEUR SPORTS EXPAND REGIONAL TOURNAMENTS AND SOCCER, BASEBALL, SOFTBALL AND BASKETBALL. ENDURANCE SPORTS. ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WHAT CAME [02:20:04] OUT IS THEY HAD THIS OFF ROADING EVENT OUT THERE AT I FORGET WHERE I THINK YOU KNOW WHERE, BUT I FORGET WHERE THAT AREA IS OUT THERE IN THE COUNTY. GREAT EVENT. THEY HAD A GREAT TURNOUT. IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE WANT TO WORK WITH THEM NEXT YEAR TO DO, BUT ALSO BRING THOSE KIND OF DIFFERENT EVENTS, MARATHONS. WE'VE ALSO TALKED ABOUT CYCLING TOURS, TRIATHLONS AND OBVIOUSLY OFF ROADING BECAUSE WE HAVE THE WEATHER TO DO THAT. WE HAVE THE SPACES TO DO THAT. SO THAT'S ONE THING WE'RE GOING TO BE LOOKING AT DOING, TOO. AND INTERNATIONAL EVENTS LEVERAGE THE PROXIMITY TO MEXICO TO HOST BINATIONAL TOURNAMENTS AND FRIENDLIES OBJECTIVES. IT'S DIGITAL AND SOCIAL MEDIA CAMPAIGNS PROMOTE EL PASO AS A SPORTS CITY IN THE SUN, WITH ATHLETE FOCUSED VIDEO CONTENT AND TESTIMONIALS. TRAVEL AND TOURISM PACKAGES. PARTNER WITH HOTELS AND AIRLINES FOR EVENT FOCUSED TRAVEL DEALS AND BILINGUAL CAMPAIGNS. MARKETING BOTH SPANISH, ENGLISH AND SPANISH FOR CROSS-BORDER PROMOTION. ONE OF THE THINGS WE HAVE DONE IS WE'VE CHANGED OUR WEBSITE IN EL PASO SPORTS COMMISSION. WE MADE IT MORE FRIENDLY THAT WAY. IF YOU HAVE A SUGGESTION, COMMENT. THERE'S ALSO A PLACE WHERE YOU CAN CLICK ON WHERE IT SAYS THINGS TO DO, AND IT IS PRETTY MUCH ANYTHING TO DO IN EL PASO. EVEN GOING TO THE DAIRY WET AND WILD WESTERN PLAYLAND FOR THE ADULTS. SUNLAND PARK MISSION TRAILS. SO WE HAVE ALL THAT WHERE PEOPLE CAN FIND THAT, AS WELL AS IF THEY CLICK ON THE SECTION WHERE IT SAYS HOTELS, YOU CAN CLICK ON THAT AND HEY, IT BREAKS IT DOWN INTO CENTRAL, DOWNTOWN EASTSIDE, NORTHEAST, WEST SIDE. SO IF YOU'RE YOU KNOW WHERE YOU'RE PLAYING, YOU CAN LOOK FOR A HOTEL THERE. AND THE METRICS AND KEY PERFORMANCE HOSTS ABOUT 15 REGIONAL NATIONAL SPORTING EVENTS ANNUALLY GENERATE ABOUT 10,000 SPORTS RELATED OVERNIGHT STAYS PER YEAR. INCREASED SPORTS COMMISSION INQUIRIES BY 30% AND TRACK ECONOMIC IMPACT WITH ESTIMATED TOURISM REVENUE TIED TO SPORTS. AND THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS THAT YOU SAW, SOME OF THE SURVEYS THAT WE'RE DOING WITH PEOPLE ASKING THEM HOW MUCH THEY'RE SPENDING HERE IN EL PASO, WHETHER IT BE ON FOOD, ENTERTAINMENT, HOW MUCH THEY PAY FOR RENT, A CAR, WHERE THEY'RE STAYING, HOW MUCH THEY'RE PAYING FOR A HOTEL. SO WE'RE TRACKING THAT NOW AND IT'S WE'LL DEFINITELY GET THOSE SURVEYS. AND WE KIND OF STARTED THAT WHEN I WAS HERE, WHEN WE WERE HERE BACK IN APRIL, I THINK, OR FEBRUARY 1ST OR THE OTHER. BUT YEAH, THAT'S WHAT WE GOT GOING ON. DEFINITELY A LOT OF EVENTS GOING ON AT THE COLISEUM. WE TAKE A SOMEWHAT A LITTLE BREAK IN AUGUST. SO WE HAVE BRONCO NATURALIZATION CEREMONY. BUT THEN STARTING SEPTEMBER WE KICK OFF AND GO WITH CIRCUS DISNEY ON ICE, A BUNCH OF CONCERTS AND ALL THE WAY TILL THE MID DECEMBER. SO WE LOOK FORWARD TO THAT. SO THANK YOU TONY. I FEEL LIKE YOU'VE EXPANDED THE SCOPE. I MEAN, WE USED TO HAVE SORT OF MORE OF A NARROW SCOPE AND NOW AND ALSO THE RECOGNITION FROM PROFESSIONALS, WHETHER IT'S THE NFL, WHETHER IT'S WRESTLING, WHETHER IT'S I THINK IT'S JUST AN AMAZING THE JOB YOU'VE DONE IN THE MARKETING AREA. AND I THINK ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE'VE PROVED IS THAT THIS THERE'S A LANE FOR THE COLISEUM THAT PRETTY MUCH OURS, YOU KNOW, THAT'S OUR LANE, WHICH, YOU KNOW, WE TALK ABOUT ALL THE OTHER VENUES, BUT THIS ONE JUST SO SPECIAL. AND I KNOW THE BUILDING'S OLD AND ALL THESE OTHER THINGS, BUT ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I REALLY WANT TO THANK ALL OF YOU IS THAT I GET THESE COMMENTS ABOUT HAVING AN EVENT AND THE QUALITY OF SERVICE, THE QUALITY CUSTOMER SERVICE, THE WAY YOU TREAT THEM. IT'S ALWAYS, I KNOW THAT THEY'RE GOING TO COME BACK. SO I THANK YOU FOR THAT. IT MAKES OUR LIFE EASIER. INSTEAD OF HEARING COMPLAINTS, ALWAYS HEAR SOMEBODY REALLY THANKING US FOR WHAT HAPPENS AT THE COLISEUM. BUT THAT ATTENTION TO DETAIL, I HAVEN'T SEEN IT IN EL PASO, LIKE THERE AT THE COLISEUM. SO VERY THANKFUL FOR WHAT YOU DO. THANK YOU. YES, COMMISSIONER. I HAVE A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE OVERVIEW AND THE PRESENTATION. SO I HAVE SEEN THE EXPANSION LIKE THE JUDGE SAID O, OF THE COLISEUM'S ACTIVITIES, BUT I'M CURIOUS ABOUT THE DATA AND THE TRACKING AND ESPECIALLY WHEN IT COMES TO REVENUES, HOW THAT EXPANSION OF ACTIVITIES HAS IMPACTED BUDGETS AND REVENUES FOR THE SPORTS COMMISSION. AND I WANTED TO ASK YOU ABOUT THE SPORTS TOURISM ROOM NIGHTS REPORT. THE COMPARISON BETWEEN FISCAL YEAR 2023 AND 24 AND THIS FISCAL YEAR. I UNDERSTAND THERE'S A FEW MONTHS LEFT FOR REPORTING FOR THIS FISCAL YEAR, BUT IT LOOKS LIKE WE'RE WAY BEHIND LAST YEAR WITH THE NUMBERS. AND SO THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS WE'RE LOOKING AT TOO, BECAUSE WHEN I WAS PUTTING THE EVENTS, IT'S AND IT'S GOING BACK TO SEE HOW MANY EVENTS WE DID LAST YEAR TO THIS YEAR. AND SO THAT THAT NUMBER WILL DEFINITELY I'LL LOOK INTO IT. AND THEN THAT'S WHAT I'M LOOKING INTO. SO I'LL DEFINITELY GET YOU THAT ON THAT PART OF IT. DO YOU HAVE ANY ANY EXPLANATIONS FOR THE BIG DIFFERENCE IN THE NUMBER OF SPORTS TOURISM ROOM NIGHTS FROM LAST YEAR VERSUS THIS YEAR THAT I DON'T? OBVIOUSLY, I WASN'T DOING THE SURVEYS LAST YEAR AND I DON'T BELIEVE WE HAD SURVEYS. WE WERE JUST GOING OUT AND RELYING ON THE ON THE ORGANIZERS. AND SO THIS TIME [02:25:01] WE'VE DONE A MORE PROACTIVE APPROACH APPROACH AND DOING IT OURSELVES. AND THAT'S WHY WE'VE LEARNED ABOUT THE AIRBNBS. SO THOSE NUMBERS TO LAST YEAR COULD HAVE INCLUDED AIRBNBS TO WHERE THESE NUMBERS DON'T INCLUDE AIRBNBS. AND OBVIOUSLY IT'S NOT REALLY A SIGNIFICANT YOU'RE NOT GOING TO HAVE THAT BIG OLD JUMP OF, WELL, ALL THESE AIRBNBS. BUT THAT'S SOMETHING WE HAVE TO LOOK AT. I WOULD JUST I WOULD JUST ENCOURAGE THAT. WE HAVE LIKE FACTUAL DATA HERE BECAUSE THERE'S A BIG DIFFERENCE THAT WE'RE SHOWING. AND IF THERE'S A DISCREPANCY IN HOW THAT DATA WAS COLLECTED AND WHETHER THE VALIDITY OF IT, I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE REPORTING FACTUAL INFORMATION. YES, MA'AM. THANK YOU. COMMISSIONER CORONADO, PLEASE. YEAH. THANK YOU, JANET AND TONY, FOR THAT REPORT. YOU KNOW, I THINK, YOU KNOW, WE SEE SOME OF THE CHALLENGES THAT WE NEED TO ADDRESS. OBVIOUSLY, THE ISSUE OF THE VISAS FOR THESE EVENTS THAT ARE COMING IN FROM, I MEAN, LOSING FIVE CONCERTS THIS YEAR, THAT'S QUITE A BIT OF, OF A PROBLEM FOR US. AND I THINK WE NEED TO GET TOGETHER WITH BOTH. YOU KNOW, I THINK WE NEED TO REACH OUT TO OUR MEXICAN CONSULATE AND MEET WITH THE US CONSULATE ABOUT THOSE ISSUES, AND MAYBE WE CAN HOPEFULLY GET THEM TO HELP US RESOLVE SOME OF THESE ISSUES. NUMBER ONE. NUMBER TWO, I THINK IT'S YOU KNOW, WE REALLY NEED TO ADDRESS THE ISSUE OF THE MAINTENANCE AT THE COLISEUM. WE KNOW THAT THAT, YOU KNOW, CAN PROVIDE SOME KIND OF A DETRIMENT TO, YOU KNOW, REALLY THE USE OF THE FACILITY. AND SO I THINK WE NEED WE REALLY NEED TO SEE HOW WE CAN ADDRESS THAT. AND, YOU KNOW, MAYBE WE CAN LOOK AT, YOU KNOW, OUR BUDGET IS PROBLEMATIC THIS YEAR, BUT MAYBE SEE HOW WE CAN STRUCTURE SOME WAYS TO BE ABLE TO DO THAT. NUMBER THREE, I THINK THE OTHER THING THAT WE REALLY NEED TO TRY AND TAKE ADVANTAGE OF IS TO EXPAND THE AMATEUR BOXING. I THINK THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I THINK WE CAN REALLY DO AT THE COLISEUM, AND WE PAIR IT, YOU KNOW, BY DOING THE BOXING AT THE LAKE, PAIRING DIFFERENT VENUES IN THE COUNTY. ADDITIONALLY, I THINK, YOU KNOW, AS FAR AS THE TOURNAMENTS THAT GO, I THINK IT'S A GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO SEE THAT MAYBE WE CAN EXPAND DIEGO'S PARK TO DO MORE FIELDS THERE. AND I THINK THERE'S A BIG OPPORTUNITY FOR THAT. AND RATHER THAN HAVING FOUR VENUES, MAYBE WE HAVE TWO VENUES THAT CAN DO THAT. I THINK IT'S VERY, VERY FEASIBLE TO DO IF THINGS GO RIGHT. AND WITH OUR NEGOTIATIONS WITH EL PASO WATER AND THEN AND I GUESS REALLY WE REALLY NEED TO I THINK IN ORDER FOR THE SPORTS TOURISM TO PROGRESS AND OTHER EVENTS, I REALLY THINK WE NEED TO FOCUS ON THE COLISEUM, THEIR MAINTENANCE, AND WE ALSO NEED TO FOCUS ON AZKARATE. NOW THAT WE HAVE MONEY FOR IT, WE NEED TO TAKE THAT, YOU KNOW, TAKE THAT ADVANTAGE AND SEE WHATEVER WE HAVE LEFT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE ABLE TO PROVIDE FOR THOSE OPPORTUNITIES AT THE PARK. SO AND THERE'S A GREAT RETURN ON INVESTMENT. YES. IT'S NOT JUST SPENDING, BUT YOU GET SOMETHING IN RETURN. AS YOU SEE, YOU'RE ALWAYS LIMITED. EVERY TIME YOU'RE LIMITED, YOU LOSE THAT REVENUE TO COME IN. SO I THINK WE NEED TO BE VERY SUPPORTIVE ON THAT AS WELL. SO THANK YOU JUDGE. ANYBODY ELSE NOT THANK YOU. THANK YOU THANK YOU GREAT JOB. THANK YOU. JUDGE WOULD YOU LIKE TO RECESS FOR LUNCH. YES. YES. COMMISSIONERS COURT WILL RECESS FOR ONE HOUR. IT IS 11:58 A.M. [02:34:44] YOU KNOW, IT'S GOOD ENJOYMENT, GOOD RELAXATION, GOOD THERAPY COMING OUT HERE AND COPING WITH SITUATIONS AND RELAXATION. IT'S PEACEFUL, IT'S QUIET, IT'S NICE. IN THE SUMMERTIME. IT'S NICE AND COOL DOWN HERE. ABOUT 8:00 IT STARTS GETTING WARM, BUT IT'S NICE AND COOL. COME DOWN HERE, [02:35:04] RELAX FOR A COUPLE OF HOURS BEFORE YOU HAVE TO GO OUT HERE AND FACE THE WORLD. THE BAIT, IT VARIES. YOU KNOW, WHEN I FIRST STARTED OUT HERE, THEY WERE HITTING ON CHICKEN BREAST. THEY STOPPED HITTING ON CHICKEN BREAST. WHAT'S VERY POPULAR IS WEENIE HOT DOG. AND THEN THEY STOP HITTING ON THE HOT DOG. AND THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN THEY START HITTING ON THE SHRIMP, AND THEN IT SLOWS DOWN ON THE SHRIMP. NOW I'M USING SOME STINK BAIT AND IT REALLY STINKS, SO HOPEFULLY WE CAN CATCH SOMETHING WITH SOME STINK BAIT, BUT IT'S GREAT WHEN THE FISH ARE BITING. IT'S GREAT. YEAH, THE TROUT WILL PUT THE HOOK IN THEIR MOUTH AND WHAT YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO DO WHEN THEY PULL ON IT, LIKE THEY PULLED BEFORE. THEN YOU YANK ON THE LINE AND GET THE HOOK SET IN THEIR MOUTH, BUT YOU GOT TO TROUT. IT IS KIND OF HARD FISHING FOR TROUT. LIKE THAT. BUT. YOU. THERE HE GOES. WELL, THE LARGE ONE, THE LARGEST ONE I CAUGHT HERE WAS A 15 POUNDER. YEAH, YOU CAN EAT THEM. I DON'T, BECAUSE I LIKE TO CATCH AND RELEASE. I WOULD IF I WAS GOING TO EAT FISH, I'D EAT THE FISH. AND I'VE BEEN FISHING HERE FOR 60 YEARS. AND YOU LIVE TO FIGHT ANOTHER DAY. I HAD A HARD TIME BELIEVING THAT CARS WERE JUST ZOOMING AROUND THIS PLACE. WE TOOK THEM OUT TO A PARK. WE POKED HIS BRAIN A LITTLE BIT AND THIS IS WHAT HE HAD TO SAY. CHECK IT OUT. WE ARE STANDING ROUGHLY, PROBABLY RIGHT OFF OF TURNS ONE AND TWO FOR EVANS OVAL. IT WAS THE FIRST REALLY MODERN RACETRACK BUILT HERE IN EL PASO. BACK IN 1939, WALTER GOULD DECIDED THAT HE'D HAD ENOUGH OF THE CITY. HE'S RACING OVER IT AT THE RODEO FIELD, WHICH IS NOW THE COUNTY COLISEUM. EVERYBODY WAS COMPLAINING. IT'S TOO LOUD, IT'S TOO DUSTY, HE SAYS. YOU KNOW WHAT? FORGET YOU GUYS. I'M GOING TO GO OUT AND BUILD A NEW SPEEDWAY. AND THIS IS WHERE HE BUILT IT. IF WE'RE STANDING WHERE I THINK WE'RE STANDING, WE'RE RIGHT ABOUT TURN NUMBER ONE. SO TURN ONE AND TURN TWO WOULD COME AROUND HERE. THE BACK STRETCH IS PROBABLY RIGHT ABOUT WHERE THAT PALM TREE IS. AND THEN WHAT WOULD BE THE PITS WOULD BE RIGHT ABOUT WHERE OUR GOLF CARTS ARE. AND THEN THE REST OF THE GRANDSTANDS AND EVERYTHING WILL BE RIGHT HERE. AND BIG SCOREBOARD OVER HERE ON THE NORTH SIDE, WHERE PEOPLE WOULD POKE THEIR HEADS THROUGH AND WATCH THE RACE. WE WERE THE CENTER OF RACING. WE HAD PEOPLE COME FROM ALL OVER TO COME HERE. IT'S SOMETHING TO BE PROUD OF. WE HAVE A RICH RACING HISTORY, WHETHER IT'S QUARTER MILE DRAGSTERS, DRAG BOATS, GRAND PRIX, THERE WERE SO MANY WEEKENDS, SO MANY PEOPLE OUT HERE, NOT JUST THE DRIVERS, BUT THE FAMILIES AND EVERYBODY THAT CAME OUT. IT WAS A VERY VITAL [02:40:04] PART OF THE CITY. EVERY SINGLE TIME YOU HAVE A SPEEDWAY THAT DEVELOPS ON THE ON THE OUTSKIRTS OF A OF A CITY, EVENTUALLY THE CITY IS GOING TO CATCH UP WITH IT. AND THAT'S WHAT HAPPENED. THEY CAME OUT HERE ANOTHER GOOD 20 YEARS, AND THEN THE CITY CAUGHT UP WITH THEM AND THEY HAD TO MOVE AGAIN. I THINK IT WAS A VERY, VERY VITAL PART BECAUSE IT BROUGHT PEOPLE TOGETHER AND THEY SAW THIS SPACE THAT COULD BE USED FOR MORE THAN JUST, YOU KNOW, PAVING IT OVER. THEY MADE A PARK, YOU KNOW, AS SAD AS I AM TO SEE THE SPEEDWAY GO, IT'S A BEAUTIFUL GOLF COURSE NOW, BUT IT IS PART OF THE HISTORY. AND YOU NEED TO HAVE PEOPLE REMINDED ABOUT THAT, THAT, YOU KNOW, SOMETIMES YOU SEE THAT GOLF COURSE OR YOU SEE THAT EMPTY LOT AND IT WAS SOMETHING COMPLETELY DIFFERENT. IT'S STUFF LIKE THAT, YOU KNOW, JUST TAKE A STEP BACK AND LOOK AT IT AND YOU'LL SAY, OH YEAH, THIS IS PRETTY COOL. WELL, ONCE YOU'RE IN A SKATE PARK, YOU'LL NOTICE THAT THERE'S A LITTLE COMMUNITY GARDEN RIGHT HERE. THIS IS WHAT IT IS. IT'S A TEACHING AND DEMONSTRATION GARDEN. WE'RE ACTUALLY ABOUT TO MEET SOMEONE WHO IS KIND OF IN CHARGE OF THIS PLACE, AND IS GOING TO WALK US THROUGH ON HOW YOU CAN ACTUALLY PARTICIPATE. COME ON, LET'S GO MEET HIM. HI. HELLO. RASCON IS HERE WITH US TODAY. EDUARDO, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE WITH US. OF COURSE. TALK TO US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THIS GARDEN. WHAT IS THIS? SO THIS IS BASICALLY TO TEACH THE COMMUNITY HOW THEY CAN ACTUALLY HAVE THEIR OWN BACKYARD GARDEN AND HOW THEY CAN GROW THEIR OWN PRODUCE. SO, EDUARDO, THIS THESE ARE BRUSSELS SPROUTS. YOU JUST. WOW. THESE ARE SO TINY, SO BEAUTIFUL. NOW YOU'RE TELLING ME THAT THIS COMMUNITY GARDEN IS NONPROFIT, CORRECT? YES. AS A NONPROFIT, SINCE WE'RE NOT MAKING ANY MONEY OUT OF THIS ASSOCIATION OR FUNDRAISING, MOST OF THE MONEY THAT WE DO THROUGH FUNDRAISING OR SALES IS TO ACTUALLY HAVE FUNDS AND BUDGET TO REPLACE THINGS THAT ARE HAPPENING AT THE GARDEN. SO THIS IS REALLY UNIQUE PART OF YOUR GARDEN. YOU'RE TELLING ME THAT THIS IS SPINACH, I CAN ACTUALLY EAT THIS. YES. IT SHOULD BE VERY BUTTERY. IT IS ACTUALLY IT'S REALLY GOOD. PERFECT FOR LIKE OMELETS OR FOR LIKE SALADS, SMOOTHIES. YOU DON'T PUT ANY PESTICIDES ON THIS OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT. NO SPRAYING. WE USUALLY TRY TO TELL THE COMMUNITY THAT IT SHOULD BE USED AS A LAST RESORT, BECAUSE THERE'S OTHER PRACTICES THAT YOU CAN APPLY IN YOUR GARDEN TO PREVENT PESTS FROM COMING IN. I WOULD LIKE TO ENCOURAGE EVERYBODY TO START GETTING FAMILIAR WITH THE PLANTS THAT THEY CAN GROW HERE IN THE COMMUNITY. EL PASO CAN OFFER YOU A LOT OF OPPORTUNITY IN TERMS OF GROWING CONDITIONS. HELLO EVERYONE. SAM GUZMAN, HERE WE ARE LIVE AT ASCOT AT THE PARK FOR ANOTHER EPISODE OF SMALL TOWN SPOTLIGHT. A SCOUT AT THE PARK IS HOME TO MANY THINGS. ONE OF THOSE THINGS IS ITS GOLF COURSE. WHETHER YOU ARE A SEASONED PRO OR SOMEONE WHO JUST WANTS TO APPRECIATE WHAT THE OUTDOORS HAS TO OFFER. HERE AT ASCOT AT THE PARK, THE ASCOT AT THE GOLF COURSE MIGHT BE THE PLACE TO BE. CHECK IT OUT. I SCOUTED THE GOLF COURSE IS SPECIAL FOR MANY REASONS. I THINK THE NUMBER ONE THING THAT MAKES A SECURITY SPECIAL. LOTS OF FAMILIES TELL ME. OH YEAH, MY GRANDPA USED TO PLAY HERE. THAT'S HOW I GOT INTRODUCED TO GOLF. IT'S JUST BEEN AROUND FOR SO LONG AND GENERATIONAL. AND THEY'RE LOYAL TO THE GOLF COURSE. GENTLEMEN, HOW ARE WE [02:45:02] PLAYING TODAY? GOOD. YOU'RE GOING THE WRONG WAY. HOLES THAT WAY. ONE OF THE BEST THINGS THAT HAS GOT A DATE THAT WE HAVE TO OFFER IS THE DELTA NINE. THAT'S A SHORTER GOLF COURSE, EXECUTIVE TYPE GOLF COURSE, NINE HOLES. THE PAR FOUR IS A LITTLE SHORTER, BUT IT HAS A PAR THREE AND A PAR FIVE. THAT'S A GREAT THING TO LEARN ON. AND THE WONDERFUL THING ABOUT THAT IS LET'S SAY, YOU KNOW, WE'RE BOOKED ON TEE TIMES. WE HATE TO TELL SOMEBODY WALKS IN THE DOOR. WE DON'T WANT THEM TO GO HOME WITHOUT PLAYING. WE WANT TO FIND THEM A SPOT, YOU KNOW, AND WE'RE VERY ACCOMMODATING GOLF COURSE IN THAT RESPECT. THAT'S A NO NO IN MY BOOK. YOU KNOW I DO NOT WANT THAT GUY DRIVE DOWN HERE AND THEN BE TOLD, OH, WE DON'T HAVE A SPOT FOR YOU. SO WE CAN ACCOMMODATE THAT. THAT GIVES US 27 HOLES. SO WHEN WE HAVE A TOURNAMENT GOING ON IN THE MAIN, WE CAN SEND THEM OVER TO THE DELTA NINE, START THEM OFF, AND THEN THEY CAN JUMP OVER HERE ON THE MAIN WHEN THE TOURNAMENT'S DONE. WE GOT LIGHTED DRIVING RANGE, YOU KNOW, AND WE STAY OPEN TILL 9:00 IN THE SUMMER AND 10:00 ON FRIDAY AND SATURDAY NIGHTS. WE DID ADD SOME BLACK TEES TEN, 12 YEARS AGO ON THIS GOLF COURSE. THAT MADE A HUGE DIFFERENCE. THE GOLF COURSE BEFORE WAS A LITTLE BIT SHORTER FOR CHAMPIONSHIP TYPE PLAYERS, AND ONCE WE DID THAT, WE LENGTHENED IT UP. AND YOU KNOW, WITH THE TECHNOLOGY, THAT WAS GREAT. WHEN I GET TO TALK TO PEOPLE, THAT'S RIGHT UP MY ALLEY. I LOVE THAT, YOU KNOW, I GET TO TALK ABOUT GOLF, I GET TO SIT DOWN AND YOU LEARN SO MANY THINGS. YOU KNOW, YOU GET TO KNOW THE PEOPLE ON A PERSONABLE LEVEL. BEAUTIFUL. I HOPE TO COME OUT HERE ONE DAY AND GET AROUND. IT WON'T BE A GOOD ROUND, BUT IT'LL DEFINITELY BE AN EXPERIENCE. NOW, ANOTHER SPORT SCOTT PARK IS HOME TO IS A SPORT THAT IS QUICKLY BECOMING ONE OF THE MOST POPULAR SPORTS IN THE ENTIRE WORLD. WE'RE TALKING ABOUT PICKLEBALL. SCOTT AT THE PARK IS ONE OF THE MOST POPULAR PLACES TO PLAY HERE IN THE SUN CITY. IT'S GOT FOUR HARD OUTDOOR COURTS, AND AGAIN, IT'S A SPORT THAT IS QUICKLY GAINING MANY, MUCH ATTENTION. AND SCOTT PARK IS THE PLACE TO BE IF YOU'RE LOOKING TO PLAY PICKLEBALL. IT STARTED OUT AS A CASUAL WAY TO GET EXERCISE, AND THEN IT JUST KIND OF SPIRALED INTO AN ADDICTION. OVER THE LAST TWO YEARS, JOHN WOODEN HAS BECOME QUITE THE PICKLEBALL ATHLETE, ALL THANKS TO THESE COURTS HERE AT ASCARATE PARK. THREE ZERO. MY NEXT DOOR NEIGHBOR AND I MET SOMEBODY ELSE THAT PLAYED HERE ON A REGULAR BASIS. AND THEN WE WENT ONE DAY AND THEN IT WAS TWO, AND THEN IT WAS FOUR, AND THEN IT TURNED INTO LIKE 5 OR 6 TIMES A WEEK BECAUSE THERE'S JUST. JOHN CALLS THESE COURTS THE HUB FOR PICKLEBALL IN THE SUN CITY. YEAH. YOU KNOW, IT'S ONLY A COUPLE MILES FROM MY HOUSE, SO IT MAKES THE ADDICTION WORSE BECAUSE I KNOW I CAN GET HERE QUICK. AND SO THIS PART OF TOWN IS PRETTY CENTRAL. PICKLEBALL SUCCESS DOES COME WITH A DOWNSIDE, ACCORDING TO JOHN. THE RELATIVELY NEW COURTS AT ASCARATE ALREADY SHOW SOME WEAR AND TEAR. OVER TIME. IT'S CAUSED THE SURFACE TO CRACK, EVEN THOUGH IT'S FAIRLY NEW. AND SO NOW THEY'RE GOING TO REDO IT BECAUSE IT'S SUCH A POPULAR THING RIGHT NOW. AND JOHN SAYS THE BEST PART OF PICKLEBALL ANYONE CAN PLAY. 002 THERE ARE PLENTY OF PLACES TO PLAY. IT'S FREE ONCE YOU BUY ALL THE EQUIPMENT, AND THERE'S PLENTY OF PEOPLE WHO'LL TEACH YOU HOW TO DO IT. 431 IT USUALLY STARTS OUT RECREATIONALLY FOR MOST PEOPLE AND THEN IT TURNS INTO AN ADDICTION. [02:56:23] YOU KNOW, IT'S GOOD ENJOYMENT, GOOD RELAXATION, GOOD THERAPY COMING OUT HERE AND COPING WITH [02:56:29] SITUATIONS AND RELAXATION. IT'S PEACEFUL, IT'S QUIET, IT'S NICE. IN THE SUMMERTIME. IT'S NICE AND COOL DOWN HERE. ABOUT 8:00 IT STARTS GETTING WARM, BUT IT'S NICE AND COOL. COME DOWN HERE AND RELAX FOR A COUPLE OF HOURS BEFORE YOU HAVE TO GO OUT HERE AND FACE THE WORLD. THE BAIT, IT VARIES. YOU KNOW, WHEN I FIRST STARTED OUT HERE, THEY WERE HITTING ON CHICKEN BREAST. THEY STOPPED HITTING ON CHICKEN BREAST. WHAT'S VERY POPULAR IS WEENIE HOT DOG. AND THEN THEY STOP HITTING ON THE HOT DOG. AND THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN THEY START HITTING ON THE SHRIMP, AND THEN IT SLOWS DOWN ON THE SHRIMP. NOW I'M USING SOME STINK BAIT AND IT REALLY STINKS. SO HOPEFULLY WE CAN CATCH SOMETHING WITH SOME STINK BAIT, BUT IT'S GREAT WHEN THE FISH ARE BITING. IT'S GREAT. YEAH, THE TROUT WILL PUT THE HOOK IN THEIR MOUTH AND WHAT YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO DO WHEN THEY PULL ON IT LIKE THEY PULLED BEFORE. THEN YOU YANK ON THE LINE AND GET THE HOOK SET IN THEIR MOUTH, BUT YOU GOT TO TROUT. IT IS KIND OF HARD FISHING FOR TROUT. LIKE THAT. BUT. YOU. THERE HE GOES. WELL, THE LARGE ONE, THE LARGEST ONE I CAUGHT HERE WAS A 15 POUNDER. YEAH, YOU CAN EAT THEM. I DON'T, BECAUSE I LIKE TO CATCH AND RELEASE. I WOULD IF I WAS GOING TO EAT FISH, I'D EAT THE FISH. AND I'VE BEEN FISHING HERE FOR 60 YEARS. AND YOU LIVE TO FIGHT ANOTHER DAY. [03:00:10] I HAD A HARD TIME BELIEVING THAT CARS WERE JUST ZOOMING AROUND THIS PLACE. WE TOOK THEM OUT TO A PARK. WE POKED HIS BRAIN A LITTLE BIT AND THIS IS WHAT HE HAD TO SAY. CHECK IT OUT. WE ARE STANDING ROUGHLY, PROBABLY RIGHT OFF OF TURNS ONE AND TWO FOR EVANS OVAL. IT WAS THE FIRST REALLY MODERN RACETRACK BUILT HERE IN EL PASO. BACK IN 1939, WALTER GOULD DECIDED THAT HE'D HAD ENOUGH OF THE CITY. HE'S RACING OVER IT AT THE RODEO FIELD, WHICH IS NOW THE COUNTY COLISEUM. EVERYBODY WAS COMPLAINING. IT'S TOO LOUD, IT'S TOO DUSTY, HE SAYS. YOU KNOW WHAT? FORGET YOU GUYS. I'M GOING TO GO OUT AND BUILD A NEW SPEEDWAY. AND THIS IS WHERE HE BUILT IT. IF WE'RE STANDING WHERE I THINK WE'RE STANDING, WE'RE RIGHT ABOUT TURN NUMBER ONE. SO TURN ONE AND TURN TWO WOULD COME AROUND HERE. THE BACKSTRETCH IS PROBABLY RIGHT ABOUT WHERE THAT PALM TREE IS. AND THEN WHAT WOULD BE THE PITS WOULD BE RIGHT ABOUT WHERE OUR GOLF CARTS ARE. AND THEN THE REST OF THE GRANDSTANDS AND EVERYTHING WILL BE RIGHT HERE. AND BIG SCOREBOARD OVER HERE ON THE NORTH SIDE, WHERE PEOPLE WOULD POKE THEIR HEADS THROUGH AND WATCH THE RACE. WE WERE THE CENTER OF RACING. WE HAD PEOPLE COME FROM ALL OVER TO COME HERE. IT'S SOMETHING TO BE PROUD OF. WE HAVE A RICH RACING HISTORY, WHETHER IT'S QUARTER MILE DRAGSTERS, DRAG BOATS, GRAND PRIX, THERE WERE SO MANY WEEKENDS, SO MANY PEOPLE OUT HERE, NOT JUST THE DRIVERS, BUT THE FAMILIES AND EVERYBODY THAT CAME OUT. IT WAS A VERY VITAL PART OF THE CITY. EVERY SINGLE TIME YOU HAVE A SPEEDWAY THAT DEVELOPS ON THE ON THE OUTSKIRTS OF A OF A CITY, EVENTUALLY THE CITY IS GOING TO CATCH UP WITH IT. AND THAT'S WHAT HAPPENED. THEY CAME OUT HERE ANOTHER GOOD 20 YEARS, AND THEN THE CITY CAUGHT UP WITH THEM AND THEY HAD TO MOVE AGAIN. I THINK IT WAS A VERY, VERY VITAL PART BECAUSE IT BROUGHT PEOPLE TOGETHER AND THEY SAW THIS SPACE THAT COULD BE USED FOR MORE THAN JUST, YOU KNOW, PAVING IT OVER. THEY MADE A PARK, YOU KNOW, AS SAD AS I AM TO SEE THE SPEEDWAY GO, IT'S A BEAUTIFUL GOLF COURSE NOW, BUT IT IS PART OF THE HISTORY. AND YOU NEED TO HAVE PEOPLE REMINDED ABOUT THAT, THAT, YOU KNOW, SOMETIMES YOU SEE THAT GOLF COURSE OR YOU SEE THAT EMPTY LOT AND IT WAS SOMETHING COMPLETELY DIFFERENT. IT'S STUFF LIKE THAT, YOU KNOW, JUST TAKE A STEP BACK AND LOOK AT IT AND YOU'LL SAY, OH YEAH, THIS IS PRETTY COOL. WELL, ONCE YOU'RE IN A SKATE PARK, YOU'LL NOTICE THAT THERE'S A LITTLE COMMUNITY GARDEN RIGHT HERE. THIS IS WHAT IT IS. IT'S A TEACHING AND DEMONSTRATION GARDEN. WE'RE ACTUALLY ABOUT TO MEET SOMEONE WHO IS KIND OF IN CHARGE OF THIS PLACE, AND IS GOING TO WALK US THROUGH ON HOW YOU CAN ACTUALLY PARTICIPATE. COME ON, LET'S GO MEET HIM. HI. EDUARDO RASCON IS HERE WITH US TODAY. EDUARDO, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE WITH US. OF COURSE. TALK TO US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THIS GARDEN. WHAT IS THIS? SO THIS IS BASICALLY TO TEACH THE COMMUNITY HOW THEY CAN ACTUALLY HAVE THEIR OWN BACKYARD GARDEN AND HOW THEY CAN GROW THEIR OWN PRODUCE. SO, EDUARDO, THIS THESE ARE BRUSSELS SPROUTS. YOU JUST. WOW. THESE ARE SO TINY, SO BEAUTIFUL. NOW YOU'RE TELLING ME THAT THIS COMMUNITY GARDEN IS NONPROFIT, CORRECT? YES. AS A NONPROFIT, SINCE WE'RE [03:05:03] NOT MAKING ANY MONEY OUT OF THIS ASSOCIATION OR FUNDRAISING, MOST OF THE MONEY THAT WE DO THROUGH FUNDRAISING OR SALES IS TO ACTUALLY HAVE FUNDS AND BUDGET TO REPLACE THINGS THAT ARE HAPPENING AT THE GARDEN. EDUARDO. SO THIS IS REALLY UNIQUE PART OF YOUR GARDEN. YOU'RE TELLING ME THAT THIS IS SPINACH? I CAN ACTUALLY EAT THIS. YES. IT SHOULD BE VERY BUTTERY. IT IS ACTUALLY IT'S REALLY GOOD. PERFECT FOR LIKE, OMELETS OR FOR LIKE SALADS, SMOOTHIES. YOU DON'T PUT ANY PESTICIDES ON THIS OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT. NO SPRAYING. WE USUALLY TRY TO TELL THE COMMUNITY THAT IT SHOULD BE USED AS A LAST RESORT, BECAUSE THERE'S OTHER PRACTICES THAT YOU CAN APPLY IN YOUR GARDEN TO PREVENT PESTS FROM COMING IN. I WOULD LIKE TO ENCOURAGE EVERYBODY TO START GETTING FAMILIAR WITH THE PLANTS THAT THEY CAN GROW HERE IN THE COMMUNITY. EL PASO CAN OFFER YOU A LOT OF OPPORTUNITY IN TERMS OF GROWING CONDITIONS. HELLO EVERYONE. SAM GUZMAN, HERE WE ARE LIVE AT ASCOT AT THE PARK FOR ANOTHER EPISODE OF SMALL TOWN SPOTLIGHT. A SCOUT AT THE PARK IS HOME TO MANY THINGS. ONE OF THOSE THINGS IS ITS GOLF COURSE. WHETHER YOU ARE A SEASONED PRO OR SOMEONE WHO JUST WANTS TO APPRECIATE WHAT THE OUTDOORS HAS TO OFFER. HERE AT ASCOT AT THE PARK, THE ASCOT AT THE GOLF COURSE MIGHT BE THE PLACE TO BE. CHECK IT OUT. IT'S GOT A GOLF COURSE IS SPECIAL FOR MANY REASONS. I THINK THE NUMBER ONE THING THAT MAKES US PRETTY SPECIAL. LOTS OF FAMILIES TELL ME. OH YEAH, MY GRANDPA USED TO PLAY HERE. THAT'S HOW I GOT INTRODUCED TO GOLF. IT'S JUST BEEN AROUND FOR SO LONG AND GENERATIONAL, AND THEY'RE LOYAL TO THE GOLF COURSE. GENTLEMAN. HOW ARE WE PLAYING TODAY? GOOD. YOU GOING THE WRONG WAY. HOLES THAT WAY. ONE OF THE BEST THINGS THAT HAS GOT A DATE THAT WE HAVE TO OFFER IS THE DELTA NINE. THAT'S A SHORTER GOLF COURSE, EXECUTIVE TYPE GOLF COURSE, NINE HOLES. THE PAR FOUR IS A LITTLE SHORTER, BUT IT HAS A PAR THREE AND A PAR FIVE. THAT'S A GREAT THING TO LEARN ON. AND THE WONDERFUL THING ABOUT THAT IS LET'S SAY, YOU KNOW, WE'RE BOOKED ON TEE TIMES. WE HATE TO TELL SOMEBODY THAT WALKS IN THE DOOR. WE DON'T WANT THEM TO GO HOME WITHOUT PLAYING. WE WANT TO FIND THEM A SPOT, YOU KNOW, AND WE'RE VERY ACCOMMODATING GOLF COURSE IN THAT RESPECT. THAT'S A NO NO IN MY BOOK. YOU KNOW, I DO NOT WANT THAT GUY DRIVE DOWN HERE AND THEN BE TOLD, OH, WE DON'T HAVE A SPOT FOR YOU. SO WE CAN ACCOMMODATE THAT. THAT GIVES US 27 HOLES. SO WHEN WE HAVE A TOURNAMENT GOING ON IN THE MAIN, WE CAN SEND THEM OVER TO THE DELTA NINE, START THEM OFF, AND THEN THEY CAN JUMP OVER HERE ON THE MAIN WHEN THE TOURNAMENT'S DONE, WE GOT LIGHTED DRIVING RANGE, YOU KNOW, AND WE STAY OPEN TILL 9:00 IN THE SUMMER AND 10:00 ON FRIDAY AND SATURDAY NIGHTS. WE DID ADD SOME BLACK TEES TEN, 12 YEARS AGO ON THIS GOLF COURSE. THAT MADE A HUGE DIFFERENCE. THE GOLF COURSE BEFORE WAS A LITTLE BIT SHORTER FOR CHAMPIONSHIP TYPE PLAYERS, AND ONCE WE DID THAT, WE LENGTHENED IT UP. AND YOU KNOW, WITH THE TECHNOLOGY, THAT WAS GREAT. WHEN I GET TO TALK TO PEOPLE, THAT'S RIGHT UP MY ALLEY. I LOVE THAT, YOU KNOW, I GET TO TALK ABOUT GOLF, I GET TO SIT DOWN AND YOU LEARN SO MANY THINGS. YOU KNOW, YOU GET TO KNOW THE PEOPLE ON A PERSONABLE LEVEL. BEAUTIFUL. I HOPE TO COME OUT HERE ONE DAY AND GET AROUND. IT WON'T BE A GOOD ROUND, BUT IT'LL DEFINITELY BE AN EXPERIENCE. NOW. ANOTHER SPORT AT THE PARK IS HOME TO IS A SPORT THAT IS QUICKLY BECOMING ONE OF THE MOST POPULAR SPORTS IN THE ENTIRE WORLD. WE'RE TALKING ABOUT. PICKLEBALL AT THE PARK IS ONE OF THE MOST POPULAR PLACES TO PLAY HERE IN THE SUN CITY. IT'S GOT FOUR HARD OUTDOOR COURTS, AND AGAIN, IT'S A SPORT THAT IS QUICKLY GAINING MANY, MUCH ATTENTION AND THE PARK IS THE PLACE TO BE IF YOU'RE LOOKING TO PLAY PICKLEBALL. STARTED OUT AS A CASUAL WAY TO GET EXERCISE, AND THEN IT JUST KIND OF SPIRALED INTO AN ADDICTION. OVER THE LAST TWO YEARS, JOHN WOODEN HAS BECOME QUITE THE PICKLEBALL ATHLETE, ALL THANKS TO THESE COURTS HERE AT ASCARATE PARK. THREE ZERO. MY NEXT DOOR NEIGHBOR AND I MET SOMEBODY ELSE THAT PLAYED HERE ON A REGULAR BASIS. AND THEN WE WENT ONE DAY AND THEN IT WAS TWO, AND THEN IT WAS FOUR, AND THEN IT TURNED INTO LIKE 5 OR 6 TIMES A WEEK. HERE'S JOHN CALLS THESE COURTS THE HUB FOR PICKLEBALL IN THE SUN CITY. YEAH. YOU KNOW, IT'S ONLY A COUPLE MILES FROM MY HOUSE. SO IT MAKES THE ADDICTION WORSE BECAUSE I KNOW I CAN GET HERE QUICK. AND SO THIS PART OF TOWN IS PRETTY CENTRAL. PICKLEBALL SUCCESS DOES COME WITH A DOWNSIDE, ACCORDING TO JOHN, THE RELATIVELY NEW COURTS AT ASCARATE ALREADY SHOW SOME WEAR AND TEAR. OVER TIME. IT'S CAUSED THE SURFACE TO CRACK, EVEN THOUGH IT'S FAIRLY NEW. AND SO NOW THEY'RE GOING TO REDO IT BECAUSE IT'S SUCH A POPULAR THING RIGHT NOW. AND JOHN SAYS THE BEST PART OF PICKLEBALL ANYONE CAN PLAY. 002 THERE ARE PLENTY OF PLACES TO PLAY. IT'S FREE ONCE YOU BUY ALL THE EQUIPMENT, AND THERE'S PLENTY OF PEOPLE WHO'LL TEACH YOU HOW TO [03:10:05] DO IT. 431 IT USUALLY STARTS OUT RECREATIONALLY FOR MOST PEOPLE AND THEN IT TURNS INTO AN ADDICTION. [03:18:01] YOU KNOW, IT'S GOOD ENJOYMENT, GOOD RELAXATION, GOOD THERAPY COMING OUT HERE AND COPING WITH SITUATIONS AND RELAXATION. IT'S PEACEFUL, IT'S QUIET, IT'S NICE. IN THE SUMMERTIME. IT'S NICE AND COOL DOWN HERE. ABOUT 8:00 STARTS GETTING WARM, BUT IT'S NICE AND COOL. COME DOWN HERE AND RELAX FOR A COUPLE OF HOURS BEFORE YOU HAVE TO GO OUT HERE AND FACE THE WORLD. THE BAIT, IT VARIES. YOU KNOW, WHEN I FIRST STARTED OUT HERE, THEY WERE HITTING ON CHICKEN BREAST. THEY STOPPED HITTING ON CHICKEN BREAST. WHAT'S VERY POPULAR IS WEENIE HOT DOG. AND THEN THEY STOP HITTING ON THE HOT DOG. AND THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN THEY START HITTING ON THE SHRIMP, AND THEN IT SLOWS DOWN ON THE SHRIMP. NOW I'M USING SOME STINK BAIT AND IT REALLY STINKS. SO HOPEFULLY WE CAN CATCH SOMETHING WITH SOME STINK BAIT, BUT IT'S GREAT WHEN THE FISH ARE BITING. IT'S GREAT. YEAH, THE TROUT WILL PUT THE HOOK IN THEIR MOUTH AND WHAT YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO DO WHEN THEY PULL ON IT, LIKE THEY PULLED BEFORE. THEN YOU YANK ON THE LINE AND GET THE HOOK SET IN THEIR MOUTH, BUT YOU GOT TO TROUT. IT IS KIND OF HARD FISHING FOR TROUT. LIKE THAT. BUT. YOU. THERE HE GOES. WELL, THE LARGE ONE, THE LARGEST ONE I CAUGHT HERE WAS A 15 POUNDER. YEAH, YOU CAN EAT THEM. I DON'T, BECAUSE I LIKE TO CATCH AND RELEASE. I WOULD IF I WAS GOING TO EAT FISH, I'D EAT THE FISH. AND I'VE BEEN FISHING HERE FOR 60 YEARS. AND YOU LIVE TO FIGHT ANOTHER DAY. [03:21:48] I HAD A HARD TIME BELIEVING THAT CARS WERE JUST ZOOMING AROUND THIS PLACE. WE TOOK THEM OUT TO A PARK. WE POKED HIS BRAIN A LITTLE BIT AND THIS IS WHAT HE HAD TO SAY. CHECK IT OUT. WE ARE STANDING ROUGHLY, PROBABLY RIGHT OFF OF TURNS ONE AND TWO FOR EVANS OVAL. IT WAS THE FIRST REALLY MODERN RACETRACK BUILT HERE IN EL PASO. BACK IN 1939, WALTER GOULD DECIDED THAT HE'D HAD ENOUGH OF THE CITY. HE'S RACING OVER IT AT THE RODEO FIELD, WHICH IS NOW THE COUNTY COLISEUM. EVERYBODY WAS COMPLAINING. IT'S TOO LOUD, IT'S TOO DUSTY, HE SAYS. YOU KNOW WHAT? FORGET YOU GUYS. I'M GOING TO GO OUT AND BUILD A NEW SPEEDWAY. AND THIS IS WHERE HE BUILT IT. IF WE'RE STANDING WHERE I THINK WE'RE STANDING, WE'RE RIGHT ABOUT TURN NUMBER ONE. SO TURN ONE AND TURN TWO WOULD COME AROUND HERE. THE BACK STRETCH IS PROBABLY RIGHT ABOUT WHERE THAT PALM TREE IS. AND THEN WHAT WOULD BE THE PITS WOULD BE RIGHT ABOUT WHERE OUR GOLF CARTS ARE. AND THEN THE REST OF THE GRANDSTANDS AND EVERYTHING WILL BE RIGHT HERE. AND BIG SCOREBOARD OVER HERE ON THE NORTH SIDE, WHERE PEOPLE WOULD POKE THEIR HEADS THROUGH AND WATCH THE RACE. WE WERE THE CENTER OF RACING. WE HAD PEOPLE COME FROM ALL OVER TO COME HERE. IT'S SOMETHING TO BE PROUD OF. WE HAVE A RICH RACING HISTORY, WHETHER IT'S QUARTER MILE DRAGSTERS, DRAG BOATS, GRAND PRIX, THERE WERE SO MANY WEEKENDS, SO MANY PEOPLE OUT HERE, NOT JUST THE DRIVERS, BUT THE FAMILIES AND EVERYBODY THAT CAME OUT. IT WAS A VERY VITAL PART OF THE CITY. EVERY SINGLE TIME YOU HAVE A SPEEDWAY THAT DEVELOPS ON THE ON THE OUTSKIRTS OF A OF A CITY, EVENTUALLY THE CITY IS GOING TO CATCH UP WITH IT. AND THAT'S WHAT HAPPENED. THEY CAME OUT HERE ANOTHER GOOD 20 YEARS, AND THEN THE CITY CAUGHT UP WITH THEM AND THEY HAD TO MOVE AGAIN. I THINK IT WAS A VERY, VERY VITAL PART BECAUSE IT BROUGHT PEOPLE TOGETHER AND THEY SAW THIS SPACE THAT COULD BE USED FOR MORE THAN JUST, YOU KNOW, PAVING IT OVER. THEY MADE A PARK, YOU KNOW, AS SAD AS I AM TO SEE THE SPEEDWAY GO, IT'S A BEAUTIFUL GOLF COURSE NOW, BUT IT IS PART OF THE HISTORY. AND YOU NEED TO HAVE PEOPLE REMINDED ABOUT THAT, THAT, YOU KNOW, SOMETIMES YOU SEE THAT GOLF COURSE OR YOU SEE THAT EMPTY LOT AND IT WAS SOMETHING COMPLETELY DIFFERENT. IT'S STUFF LIKE THAT, YOU KNOW, JUST TAKE A STEP BACK AND LOOK AT IT AND YOU'LL SAY, OH YEAH, THIS IS PRETTY COOL. [03:25:56] WELL, ONCE YOU'RE IN A PARK, YOU'LL NOTICE THAT THERE'S A LITTLE COMMUNITY GARDEN RIGHT HERE. THIS IS WHAT IT IS. IT'S A TEACHING AND DEMONSTRATION GARDEN. WE'RE ACTUALLY ABOUT TO MEET SOMEONE WHO IS KIND OF IN CHARGE OF THIS PLACE, AND IS GOING TO WALK US THROUGH ON HOW YOU CAN ACTUALLY PARTICIPATE. COME ON, LET'S GO MEET HIM. HI. EDUARDO RASCON IS HERE WITH US TODAY. EDUARDO, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE WITH US. OF COURSE. TALK TO US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THIS GARDEN. WHAT IS THIS? SO THIS IS BASICALLY TO TEACH THE COMMUNITY HOW THEY CAN ACTUALLY HAVE THEIR OWN BACKYARD GARDEN AND HOW THEY CAN GROW THEIR OWN PRODUCE. SO, EDUARDO, THIS THESE ARE BRUSSELS SPROUTS. YOU JUST. WOW. THESE ARE SO TINY, SO BEAUTIFUL. NOW YOU'RE TELLING ME THAT THIS COMMUNITY GARDEN IS NONPROFIT, CORRECT? YES. AS A NONPROFIT, SINCE WE'RE NOT MAKING ANY MONEY OUT OF THIS ASSOCIATION OR FUNDRAISING, MOST OF THE MONEY THAT WE DO THROUGH FUNDRAISING OR SALES IS TO ACTUALLY HAVE FUNDS AND BUDGET TO REPLACE THINGS THAT ARE HAPPENING AT THE GARDEN. SO THIS IS REALLY UNIQUE PART OF YOUR GARDEN. YOU'RE TELLING ME THAT THIS IS SPINACH, I CAN ACTUALLY EAT THIS. YES. IT SHOULD BE VERY BUTTERY. IT IS ACTUALLY IT'S REALLY GOOD. PERFECT FOR LIKE OMELETS OR FOR LIKE SALADS, SMOOTHIES. YOU DON'T PUT ANY PESTICIDES ON THIS OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT. NO SPRAYING. WE USUALLY TRY TO TELL THE COMMUNITY THAT SHOULD BE USED AS A LAST RESORT, BECAUSE THERE'S OTHER PRACTICES THAT YOU CAN APPLY IN YOUR GARDEN TO PREVENT PESTS FROM COMING IN. I WOULD LIKE TO ENCOURAGE EVERYBODY TO START GETTING FAMILIAR WITH THE PLANTS THAT THEY CAN GROW HERE IN THE COMMUNITY. EL PASO CAN OFFER YOU A LOT OF OPPORTUNITY IN TERMS OF GROWING CONDITIONS. HELLO EVERYONE. SAM GUZMAN, HERE WE ARE LIVE AT ASCOT AT THE PARK FOR ANOTHER EPISODE OF SMALL TOWN SPOTLIGHT. ASCOT AT THE PARK IS HOME TO MANY THINGS. ONE OF THOSE THINGS IS ITS GOLF COURSE. WHETHER YOU ARE A SEASONED PRO OR SOMEONE WHO JUST WANTS TO APPRECIATE WHAT THE OUTDOORS HAS TO OFFER. HERE AT ASCOT AT THE PARK, THE ASCOT AT THE GOLF COURSE MIGHT BE THE PLACE TO BE. CHECK IT OUT. I SCOUTED THE GOLF COURSE IS SPECIAL FOR MANY REASONS. I THINK THE NUMBER ONE THING THAT MAKES US PRETTY SPECIAL. LOTS OF FAMILIES TELL ME. OH YEAH, MY GRANDPA USED TO PLAY HERE. THAT'S HOW I GOT INTRODUCED TO GOLF. IT'S JUST BEEN AROUND FOR SO LONG AND GENERATIONAL. AND THEY'RE LOYAL TO THE GOLF COURSE. GENTLEMEN, HOW ARE WE PLAYING TODAY? GOOD. YOU'RE GOING THE WRONG WAY. HOLES THAT WAY. ONE OF THE BEST THINGS THAT HAS GOT A DATE THAT WE HAVE TO OFFER IS THE DELTA NINE. THAT'S A SHORTER GOLF COURSE, EXECUTIVE TYPE GOLF COURSE, NINE HOLES. THE PAR FOUR IS A LITTLE SHORTER, BUT IT HAS A PAR THREE AND A PAR FIVE. THAT'S A GREAT THING TO LEARN ON. AND THE WONDERFUL THING ABOUT THAT IS LET'S SAY, YOU KNOW, WE'RE BOOKED ON TEE TIMES. WE HATE TO TELL SOMEBODY THAT WALKS IN THE DOOR. WE DON'T WANT THEM TO GO HOME WITHOUT PLAYING. WE WANT TO FIND THEM A SPOT, YOU KNOW, AND WE'RE VERY ACCOMMODATING GOLF COURSE IN THAT RESPECT. THAT'S A NO NO IN MY BOOK. YOU KNOW I DO NOT WANT THAT GUY DRIVE DOWN HERE AND THEN BE TOLD, OH, WE DON'T HAVE A SPOT FOR YOU SO WE CAN ACCOMMODATE THAT. THAT GIVES US 27 HOLES. SO WHEN WE HAVE A TOURNAMENT GOING ON THE MAIN, WE CAN SEND THEM OVER TO THE DELTA NINE, START THEM OFF, AND THEN THEY CAN JUMP OVER HERE ON THE MAIN WHEN THE TOURNAMENT'S DONE. WE GOT LIGHTED DRIVING RANGE YOU KNOW, AND WE STAY OPEN TILL 9:00 IN THE SUMMER AND 10:00 ON FRIDAY AND SATURDAY NIGHTS. WE DID ADD SOME BLACK TEES TEN, 12 YEARS AGO ON THIS GOLF COURSE. THAT MADE A HUGE DIFFERENCE. THE GOLF COURSE BEFORE WAS A LITTLE BIT SHORTER FOR CHAMPIONSHIP TYPE PLAYERS, AND ONCE WE DID THAT, WE LENGTHENED IT UP. AND YOU KNOW, WITH THE TECHNOLOGY, THAT WAS GREAT. WHEN I GET TO TALK TO PEOPLE, THAT'S RIGHT UP MY ALLEY. I LOVE THAT, YOU KNOW, I GET TO TALK ABOUT GOLF, I GET TO SIT DOWN AND YOU LEARN SO MANY THINGS. YOU KNOW, YOU GET TO KNOW THE PEOPLE ON A PERSONAL LEVEL. IT'S BEAUTIFUL. I HOPE TO COME OUT HERE ONE DAY AND GET AROUND. IT WON'T BE A GOOD ROUND, BUT IT'LL DEFINITELY BE AN EXPERIENCE. NOW. ANOTHER SPORT AT THE PARK IS HOME TO IS A SPORT THAT IS QUICKLY BECOMING ONE OF THE MOST POPULAR SPORTS [03:30:06] IN THE ENTIRE WORLD. WE'RE TALKING ABOUT PICKLEBALL. SCOTT AT THE PARK IS ONE OF THE MOST POPULAR PLACES TO PLAY HERE IN THE SUN CITY. IT'S GOT FOUR HARD OUTDOOR COURTS AND AGAIN, IT'S A SPORT THAT IS QUICKLY GAINING MANY, MUCH ATTENTION AND THE PARK IS THE PLACE TO BE IF YOU'RE LOOKING TO PLAY PICKLEBALL. IT STARTED OUT AS A CASUAL WAY TO GET EXERCISE, AND THEN IT JUST KIND OF SPIRALED INTO AN ADDICTION. OVER THE LAST TWO YEARS, JOHN WOODEN HAS BECOME QUITE THE PICKLEBALL ATHLETE, ALL THANKS TO THESE COURTS HERE AT ASCARATE PARK. THREE ZERO. MY NEXT DOOR NEIGHBOR AND I MET SOMEBODY ELSE THAT PLAYED HERE ON A REGULAR BASIS. AND THEN WE WENT ONE DAY, AND THEN IT WAS TWO AND IT WAS FOUR, AND THEN IT TURNED INTO LIKE 5 OR 6 TIMES A WEEK. HERE'S JUST JOHN CALLS THESE COURTS THE HUB FOR PICKLEBALL IN THE SUN CITY. YEAH. YOU KNOW, IT'S ONLY A COUPLE MILES FROM MY HOUSE, SO IT MAKES THE ADDICTION WORSE BECAUSE I KNOW I CAN GET HERE QUICK. AND SO THIS PART OF TOWN IS PRETTY CENTRAL. PICKLEBALL SUCCESS DOES COME WITH A DOWNSIDE, ACCORDING TO JOHN, THE RELATIVELY NEW COURTS AT ASCARATE ALREADY SHOW SOME WEAR AND TEAR. OVER TIME. IT'S CAUSED THE SURFACE TO CRACK, EVEN THOUGH IT'S FAIRLY NEW. AND SO NOW THEY'RE GOING TO REDO IT BECAUSE IT'S SUCH A POPULAR THING RIGHT NOW. AND JOHN SAYS THE BEST PART OF PICKLEBALL ANYONE CAN PLAY. 002 THERE ARE PLENTY OF PLACES TO PLAY. IT'S FREE ONCE YOU BUY ALL THE EQUIPMENT, AND THERE'S PLENTY OF PEOPLE WHO'LL TEACH YOU HOW TO DO IT. FOUR. THREE. ONE. IT USUALLY STARTS OUT RECREATIONALLY FOR MOST PEOPLE, AND THEN IT TURNS INTO AN ADDICTION. [03:39:39] YOU KNOW, IT'S GOOD ENJOYMENT, GOOD RELAXATION, GOOD THERAPY COMING OUT HERE AND COPING WITH SITUATIONS AND RELAXATION. IT'S PEACEFUL, IT'S QUIET, IT'S NICE. IN THE SUMMERTIME. IT'S NICE AND COOL DOWN HERE. ABOUT 8:00 IT STARTS GETTING WARM, BUT IT'S NICE AND COOL. COME DOWN HERE AND RELAX FOR A COUPLE OF HOURS BEFORE YOU HAVE TO GO OUT HERE AND FACE THE WORLD. THE BAIT, IT [03:40:09] VARIES. YOU KNOW, WHEN I FIRST STARTED OUT HERE, THEY WERE HITTING ON CHICKEN BREAST. THEY STOPPED HITTING ON CHICKEN BREAST. WHAT'S VERY POPULAR IS WEENIE HOT DOG. AND THEN THEY STOP HITTING ON THE HOT DOG. AND THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN THEY START HITTING ON THE SHRIMP, AND THEN IT SLOWS DOWN ON THE SHRIMP. NOW I'M USING SOME STINK BAIT AND IT REALLY STINKS. SO HOPEFULLY WE CAN CATCH SOMETHING WITH SOME STINK BAIT, BUT IT'S GREAT WHEN THE FISH ARE BITING. IT'S GREAT. YEAH, THE TROUT WILL PUT THE HOOK IN THEIR MOUTH AND WHAT YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO DO WHEN THEY PULL ON IT LIKE THEY PULLED BEFORE. THEN YOU YANK ON THE LINE AND GET THE HOOK SET IN THEIR MOUTH. BUT YOU GOT TO TROUT. IT IS KIND OF HARD FISHING FOR TROUT. LIKE THAT. YEAH. THERE HE GOES. WELL, THE LARGE ONE, THE LARGEST ONE I CAUGHT HERE WAS A 15 POUNDER. YEAH, YOU CAN EAT THEM. I DON'T, BECAUSE I LIKE TO CATCH AND RELEASE. I WOULD IF I WAS GOING TO EAT FISH I'D EAT THE FISH. AND I'VE BEEN FISHING HERE FOR 60 YEARS. AND YOU LIVED ANOTHER DAY. I HAD A HARD TIME BELIEVING THAT CARS WERE JUST ZOOMING AROUND THIS PLACE. WE TOOK THEM OUT TO A PARK. WE POKED HIS BRAIN A LITTLE BIT AND THIS IS WHAT HE HAD TO SAY. CHECK IT OUT. WE'RE STANDING ROUGHLY, PROBABLY RIGHT OFF OF TURNS ONE AND TWO FOR EVANS OVAL. IT WAS THE FIRST REALLY MODERN RACETRACK BUILT HERE IN EL PASO. BACK IN 1939, WALTER GOULD DECIDED THAT HE'D HAD ENOUGH OF THE CITY. HE'S RACING OVER IT AT THE RODEO FIELD, WHICH IS NOW THE COUNTY COLISEUM. EVERYBODY WAS COMPLAINING. IT'S TOO LOUD, IT'S TOO DUSTY, HE SAYS. YOU KNOW WHAT? FORGET YOU GUYS. I'M GOING TO GO OUT AND BUILD A NEW SPEEDWAY. AND THIS IS WHERE HE BUILT IT. IF WE'RE STANDING WHERE I THINK WE'RE STANDING, WE'RE RIGHT ABOUT TURN NUMBER ONE. SO TURN ONE AND TURN TWO WOULD COME AROUND HERE. THE BACKSTRETCH IS PROBABLY RIGHT ABOUT WHERE THAT PALM TREE IS. AND THEN WHAT WOULD BE THE PITS WOULD BE RIGHT ABOUT WHERE OUR GOLF CARTS ARE. AND THEN THE REST OF THE GRANDSTANDS AND EVERYTHING WILL BE RIGHT HERE. AND BIG SCOREBOARD OVER HERE ON THE NORTH SIDE, WHERE PEOPLE WOULD POKE THEIR HEADS THROUGH AND WATCH THE RACE. WE WERE THE CENTER OF RACING. WE HAD PEOPLE COME FROM ALL OVER TO COME HERE. IT'S SOMETHING TO BE PROUD OF. WE HAVE A RICH RACING HISTORY, WHETHER IT'S QUARTER MILE DRAGSTERS, DRAG BOATS, GRAND PRIX, THERE WERE SO MANY WEEKENDS, SO MANY PEOPLE OUT HERE, NOT JUST THE DRIVERS, BUT THE FAMILIES AND EVERYBODY THAT CAME OUT. IT WAS A VERY VITAL PART OF THE CITY. EVERY SINGLE TIME YOU HAVE A SPEEDWAY THAT DEVELOPS ON THE ON THE OUTSKIRTS [03:45:08] OF A OF A CITY, EVENTUALLY THE CITY IS GOING TO CATCH UP WITH IT. AND THAT'S WHAT HAPPENED. THEY CAME OUT HERE ANOTHER GOOD 20 YEARS, AND THEN THE CITY CAUGHT UP WITH THEM AND THEY HAD TO MOVE AGAIN. I THINK IT WAS A VERY, VERY VITAL PART BECAUSE IT BROUGHT PEOPLE TOGETHER AND THEY SAW THIS SPACE THAT COULD BE USED FOR MORE THAN JUST, YOU KNOW. GOOD, GOOD AFTERNOON. IT IS. 1:15 P.M. COMMISSIONERS COURT HAS RECONVENED INTO REGULAR OPEN SESSION. WE ARE ON ITEM EIGHT. B RECEIVE A PRESENTATION, DISCUSS AND TAKE APPROPRIATE ACTION REGARDING THE 89TH TEXAS LEGISLATIVE, FIRST CALLED SPECIAL SESSION AND THE 119TH US CONGRESS IF NEEDED. [B. Receive a presentation, discuss and take appropriate action regarding the 89th Texas Legislative 1st Called Special Session and the 119th U.S. Congress, if needed. Melissa Carrillo, Deputy County Administrator, County Operations, 915-273-3582] BUENAS TARDES. GOOD AFTERNOON, JUDGE AND COMMISSIONERS ELISA TAMAYO, GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS MANAGER. AND HERE WITH THE FIRST. SORRY, IT'S BEEN THE FIRST WEEK OF THE SPECIAL SESSION, AND I HAVE A FEW UPDATES ABOUT THE FIRST WEEK. IF WE CAN GO TO THE FIRST SLIDE, PLEASE. THANK YOU. SO WE HAD A FEW HEARINGS THE FIRST WEEK OF THE SPECIAL SESSION. THE FIRST ONE WAS THE SENATE STATE AFFAIRS HEARING, WHERE SB 11, WHICH IS THE ELECTION CRIMES PROSECUTED BY THE AG. IT WAS HEARD AND VOTED OUT OF COMMITTEE, AS WELL AS SENATE BILL 12, WHICH IS A SILENCING OF LOCAL ELECTED OFFICIALS OR TAXPAYER FUNDED LOBBYING, WHICH WAS ALSO VOTED. AFTER EXTENSIVE TESTIMONY, IT WAS VOTED OUT OF COMMITTEE AND PLACED ON THE SENATE INTENT CALENDAR FOR TODAY. IT HASN'T BEEN VOTED OUT. IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING AND WE SUBMIT COMMISSIONER STOUT SUBMITTED WRITTEN TESTIMONY ON THIS. I REGISTERED OPPOSITION ON BEHALF OF THE COUNTY, AND WE JUST THINK THAT THE WHAT WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN WITH THIS WILL PROBABLY BE AMENDED IN THE HOUSE AND NOT IN THE SENATE. THEN THE SECOND HEARING WAS THE SELECT COMMITTEE ON DISASTER PREPAREDNESS AND FLOODING. THIS IS THIS WAS ABOUT THE HILL COUNTRY FLOODS. IT WAS AN EXTENSIVE DEBRIEFING. OVER 12 HOURS OF DEBRIEFING WITH INVITED WITNESSES ON THE HILL COUNTRY FLOODS AND MAKING DISASTER RECOMMENDATIONS FOLLOWING THOSE FLOODS. AND THEN THE LAST ONE WAS, WHICH ARE STILL GOING, THE SENATE AND HOUSE REDISTRICTING COMMITTEES. THEY'VE BEEN HELD IN DIFFERENT REGIONS THAT ARE AFFECTED BY THE NEW MAPS. SO THERE WAS A HEARING IN HOUSTON. THERE'S ONE IN ARLINGTON TODAY, AND THERE'S ONE. THERE WAS ONE IN AUSTIN FOR THE HOUSE SELECT COMMITTEE ON REDISTRICTING. AND THEN THERE'S BEEN OTHER ONES BY BY THE SENATE. I THINK THE LAST ONE WILL BE TOMORROW. AND THE DEADLINE TO REGISTER FOR THAT LAST REDISTRICTING HEARING IS TONIGHT AT 8 P.M. AND THEY WILL BE TAKING VIRTUAL TESTIMONY AS WELL AS WRITTEN COMMENTS. AND ALSO OF NOTE, THERE WAS A RALLY OUTSIDE OF THE CAPITOL IN PROTEST OF THIS REDISTRICTING HAPPENING IN THE MIDDLE OF THE DECADE, WHICH IS UNHEARD OF. YOU KNOW, USUALLY IT JUST HAPPENS EVERY TEN YEARS. WE KNOW THIS IS COMING FROM THE PRESIDENTIAL ADMINISTRATION, AND A LOT OF THE DEMOCRATS LEFT THE STATE ON FRIDAY IN PROTEST, TRYING TO DO SOME SORT OF QUORUM BREAK TO MEET WITH OTHER LEADERS IN CALIFORNIA, IN ILLINOIS, TO TALK ABOUT WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IF THE MAPS ARE REDRAWN TO MAKE THEM A MORE REPUBLICAN MAJORITY AND, AND TO KIND OF TRY TO CREATE A MAJORITY IN THE, IN THE US HOUSE. SO WE ARE WATCHING THIS. THE HEARING TOMORROW WILL BE WITH A FOCUS ON WEST TEXAS AND EL PASO. SO THE PANHANDLE AND EL PASO. AND AGAIN ANYONE IS WELCOME TO TESTIFY AND PROVIDE COMMENTS IF THEY REGISTER BY 8:00 PM TONIGHT AND THEY'RE TAKING VIRTUAL, IT WOULD BE VIRTUALLY. SO ANYBODY CAN CAN TESTIFY FROM ACROSS THE STATE ANY QUESTIONS ON THE HEARINGS OR ANYTHING ON THIS SLIDE. IF WE CAN GO TO THE NEXT ONE, PLEASE. A FEW UPDATES OF THE BILLS OF INTEREST. I DID MENTION SB 12, WHICH IS THE ONE THAT WE'RE MONITORING CLOSELY. THIS IS WELL, LIKE I SAID, IT WAS FILED. IT WAS HEARD AND VOTED OUT OF THE COMMITTEE WITH A LESS THAN A 16 HOUR NOTICE, WHICH AGAIN, THIS IS NOT VERY COMMON. I WAS VOTED OUT OF COMMITTEE THE SAME DAY AND IT WAS VOTED, I MEAN, PLACED ON THE SENATE INTENT CALENDAR FOR TODAY. FOR THE FIRST DAY, I BELIEVE THE BILLS HAVE TO BE AN INTENT FOR THREE DAYS. SO WE'RE WATCHING THIS AND WE'LL SEE WHAT HAPPENS WHENEVER THE SENATE VOTES IT OUT. AND THEN WE'RE WORKING WITH THE HOUSE MEMBERS TO SEE WHAT WE CAN DO TO AT LEAST PRESERVE THE COUNTY'S ABILITY TO HAVE PROFESSIONALS, OR, I GUESS, MEMBERSHIPS IN ASSOCIATIONS THAT HAVE HIRED PROFESSIONALS, SUCH AS THE TEXAS ASSOCIATION OF COUNTIES, THE CONFERENCE OF [03:50:02] URBAN COUNTIES, TEXAS BORDER COALITION, AND ALL THOSE. THEN WE HAVE HB 33. I DON'T THINK I MENTIONED THIS ON MY FIRST UPDATE. I READ ALL THE BILLS, BUT I THINK SOMEHOW I MISSED THIS ONE. AND SO THIS IS BY CHAIRMAN BELL. AND IT REQUIRES POLITICAL SUBDIVISIONS TO GRANT BUILDERS AND DEVELOPERS CREDITS AGAINST WATER AND WASTEWATER IMPACT FEES WHEN THEY BUILD, CONTRIBUTE OR DEDICATE FACILITIES, SYSTEMS OR PRODUCTS THAT DELIVER WATER REUSE, SORRY, WATER REUSE, CONSERVATION OR EFFICIENCY BEYOND STANDARD REQUIREMENTS AND OBLIGATES EACH POLITICAL SUBDIVISION TO ADOPT FAIR, CONSISTENT PROCEDURES FOR CALCULATING AND APPROVING THOSE CREDITS. IT LOOKS LIKE IT MIGHT NOT IMPACT THE COUNTY, AS WE CANNOT IMPOSE IMPACT FEES. BUT YEAH, JUST WANTED TO BRING IT TO OUR ATTENTION. THEN ON THE NEXT SLIDE WE HAVE HB SECOND. NEXT SLIDE, HB 97 BY AGAIN BY CHAIRMAN BELL. THIS ONE ESTABLISHES A PERMANENT JOINT LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEE ON CONSTITUTIONAL ENFORCEMENT TO REVIEW AND DECLARE CERTAIN FEDERAL ACTIONS UNCONSTITUTIONAL BASED ON AN ORIGINALIST INTERPRETATIONS OF THE US CONSTITUTION. SO BOTH CHAMBERS OF THE LEGISLATURE AGREE AND THE GOVERNOR CONCURS. THE STATE WOULD FORMALLY DECLARE A FEDERAL ACTION UNCONSTITUTIONAL, PROHIBITING ITS ENFORCEMENT OR RECOGNITION IN TEXAS. IT ALLOWS COURTS IN TEXAS TO MAKE SIMILAR DETERMINATIONS INDEPENDENTLY AND RESTRICT STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS FROM EXPANDING RESOURCES ON DECLARED UNCONSTITUTIONAL ACTIONS. IT AUTHORIZES THE AG TO DEFEND AGAINST IMPLEMENTATION, AND ENCOURAGES ALL PUBLIC OFFICIALS TO HONOR THEIR OATH TO DEFEND THE CONSTITUTION. THEN WE HAVE HB 103, ALSO BY CHAIRMAN BELL. THIS IS A STATEWIDE PREEMPTION OVER MUNICIPAL OR COUNTY REGULATIONS. I THINK WE SAW SIMILAR BILL OF THIS TYPE OF PREEMPTION DURING THE REGULAR SESSION. SO, YOU KNOW, REFILED AGAIN. NOW IN THIS SPECIAL, IT CREATES A PRIVATE RIGHT OF ACTION ALLOWING INDIVIDUALS OR TRADE ASSOCIATIONS INJURED BY CONFLICTING LOCAL REGULATIONS TO SUE MUNICIPALITIES OR COUNTIES, AND GRANTS THE AG THE AUTHORITY TO INVESTIGATE AND ENFORCE COMPLIANCE THROUGH EXPEDITED LEGAL ACTION. PENALTIES FOR VIOLATIONS INCLUDE WITHHOLDING STATE FUNDS, RESTRICTING THE TAX RATE INCREASES, AND PROHIBITING LOCAL ELECTIONS FOR CERTAIN PERIODS. THEN HOUSE BILL 104, BY ALSO BY CHAIRMAN BELL, LIMITS THE ANNUAL TOTAL EXPENDITURES OF MUNICIPALITIES AND COUNTIES BY CAPPING THE SPENDING GROWTH TO THE GREATER OF THE PREVIOUS FISCAL YEAR'S TOTAL EXPENDITURES, OR THAT AMOUNT ADJUSTED UPWARD BY THE SUM OF THE STATE'S POPULATION GROWTH RATE AND INFLATION RATE, AS CALCULATED BY THE LBB BY THE LEGISLATIVE BUDGET, BOARD EXPENDITURES MAY EXCEED THIS CAP ONLY IF APPROVED BY VOTERS IN A UNIFORM ELECTION, OR IF A STATE DISASTER IS DECLARED AFFECTING THE JURISDICTION, WITH DISASTER RELATED SPENDING CAPPED AT ACTUAL INCURRED COSTS. NEXT SLIDE PLEASE. HB 105. BY TEPPER. I'M SORRY, THIS IS RELATING TO THE ISSUANCE OF CERTIFICATES OF OBLIGATION BY CERTAIN LOCAL GOVERNMENTS. SO AGAIN SOMETHING THAT WE SAW FILED IN THE REGULAR SESSION SIMILAR TO I THINK HB 19 WHICH WAS ON OUR RADAR. AND LIKE I KNOW OUR BOND COUNCIL AND A LOT OF OTHER ENTITIES WERE WERE MONITORING. SO AGAIN, WE'RE KEEPING AN EYE OUT FOR THIS RE FILE. THEN HOUSE BILL 106 BY TEPPER. THIS IS IT REQUIRES THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY DPS TO ENTER INTO AN AGREEMENT WITH THE US DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY WITH DHS UPON REQUEST TO PERFORM DNA TESTING, INCLUDING RAPID DNA TESTS ON INDIVIDUALS DETAINED AFTER CROSSING IN BETWEEN PORTS OF ENTRY ALONG THE TEXAS MEXICO BORDER. ONLY WHEN THERE IS PROBABLE CAUSE TO SUSPECT THE INVOLVEMENT IN HUMAN TRAFFICKING, AND IT SAYS THAT DPS MAY NOT ESTABLISH OR OPERATE THIS PROGRAM UNLESS IT IS FULLY FUNDED BY DHS. THEN HOUSE BILL 107 BY SWANSON. THIS ONE RAISES A REQUIRED VOTER APPROVAL THRESHOLD FROM A SIMPLE MAJORITY TO AT LEAST TWO THIRDS OF THE VOTES CAST IN AN ELECTION, TO ADOPT AN AD VALOREM TAX RATE THAT EXCEEDS THE VOTER APPROVAL TAX RATE. NEXT SLIDE PLEASE. HOUSE BILL 112 BY LOZANO. THIS ONE EXPANDS THE DEFINITION OF RESIDENCE HOMESTEAD FOR PURPOSES FOR THE AD VALOREM TAX EXEMPTION GRANTED TO TOTALLY DISABLED VETERANS AND THEIR SURVIVING SPOUSES, TO INCLUDE CERTAIN PERSONAL PROPERTY USED AS PRIMARY RESIDENCE AND ALL RESIDENTIAL STRUCTURES AND IMPROVEMENTS ON THAT PROPERTY, PROVIDED THAT THEY SHARE IDENTICAL OWNERSHIP AND ARE USED PRIMARILY FOR RESIDENTIAL PURPOSES. AND THEN HOUSE BILL 117, WHICH IS IDENTICAL TO HOUSE BILL 133 BY MORGAN. THIS ONE [03:55:04] LIMITS THE ANNUAL TOTAL EXPENDITURES BY POLITICAL SUBDIVISIONS, SO INCLUDING COUNTIES TO THE PRIOR YEAR SPENDING OR THE PRIOR YEAR SPENDING, ADJUSTED FOR COMBINED POPULATION GROWTH AND INFLATION, WHICHEVER IS GREATER. AND IT ALLOWS POLITICAL SUBDIVISIONS TO EXCEED THIS CAP ONLY WITH TWO THIRDS OF THE VOTER APPROVAL AT AN ELECTION HELD ON A UNIFORM ELECTION DATE. THIS EXCLUDES GRANTS, GIFTS, AND DISASTER RELIEF COSTS FROM THE REVENUE AND THE EXPENDITURE TOTALS, AND IT REQUIRES ANNUAL PUBLIC POSTING OF THE GROWTH RATE CALCULATIONS AND AUTHORIZES THE AG TO ENFORCE COMPLIANCE THROUGH COURT ACTION. SO THESE ARE THE BILLS THAT WE'RE ADDING TO OUR TRACKER THAT WE'RE MONITORING. AND AS SOON AS THEY ARE GIVING HEARINGS, WE WILL BE UPDATING ALL OF YOU AND YOUR STAFF. I ALSO WANT TO MENTION THAT COMMISSIONER CORONADO HAS BEEN AND HIS STAFF HAS BEEN, HAVE BEEN WORKING WITH OUR EXTERNAL GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS TEAM WITH PUMP ON ADDRESSING FIRE HYDRANT ISSUES, THAT TO SEE IF THEY FIT WITHIN THE GOVERNOR'S PROCLAMATION FOR THE SPECIAL SESSION. SO MAKING SURE THAT THAT THE FIRE HYDRANTS ARE UP TO STANDARDS AND READY TO BE USED WHEN NEEDED. WE WE'RE TRYING TO SEE IF THIS FITS WITHIN THE PROCLAMATION AND IF THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WE COULD PASS LEGISLATION ON. AND I DON'T KNOW IF I MISSED ANYTHING. QUESTIONS OR NO. OKAY. WELL, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR KEEPING US UP TO DATE ON THAT, I APPRECIATE THAT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU JUDGE. THANK YOU COMMISSIONERS, YOU TAKE CARE. YOU TOO. BYE BYE. THANK YOU. ITEM EIGHT C DISCUSS HOUSE BILL 1522 AS IT RELATES TO THE NOTICE OF MEETINGS HELD UNDER THE TEXAS OPEN MEETINGS ACT. GOOD AFTERNOON, JUDGE AND COMMISSIONERS. MICHELLE COCHRAN WITH COUNTY ADMINISTRATION. [C. Discuss HB 1522 as it relates to the notice of meetings held under the Texas Open Meetings Act. Betsy C. Keller, Chief Administrator, County Administration, 915-273-3600] DURING THE LAST LEGISLATIVE SESSION, THE STATE PASSED HOUSE BILL 1522, WHICH REQUIRES LOCAL GOVERNMENTS NOW OR ANY BODIES THAT ARE HOSTING PUBLIC MEETINGS TO POST OUR MEETINGS WITHIN THREE BUSINESS DAYS. NOTICE VERSUS THE 72 HOUR POSTING TIME PERIOD THAT WE HAD PREVIOUSLY UNDER THE OPEN MEETING ACT LAW, FURTHER REQUIRES THE NOTICE BE POSTED FOR BUDGET TO INCLUDE A PHYSICAL COPY COPY OF THE BUDGET. UNLESS THE GOVERNMENTAL BODY HAS MADE THE BUDGET CLEARLY ACCESSIBLE ON THE HOME PAGE. SO THOSE ARE THE TWO MAJOR CHANGES THAT THIS HOUSE BILL REQUIRES. AND THE EFFECTIVE DATE FOR THIS IS SEPTEMBER 1ST OF THIS YEAR. SO WE HAVE SOME CONCEPTS WE ASK FOR YOU TO CONSIDER BECAUSE THIS WILL AFFECT, OF COURSE, NOT ONLY OUR POSTING TIME PERIOD, BUT THE TIME PERIOD IN WHICH DEPARTMENTS WOULD HAVE TO ENTER AGENDA ITEMS IN ORDER FOR OUR TEAM TO REVIEW THOSE ITEMS, SUCH AS OUR BUDGET DEPARTMENT, OUR AUDITORS, OUR COUNTY ATTORNEYS, THEY ALL HAVE A PART TO PLAY PRIOR TO THOSE AGENDA ITEMS HITTING YOUR AGENDA. AND THEN OUR STAFF DOES REVIEW THOSE ITEMS FOR GRAMMAR, MAKING SURE THE CONTRACTS ARE GOOD, CHECKING WITH THOSE DEPARTMENTS, SENDING IT BACK AND FORTH. AND THIS THREE DAY REQUIREMENT DOES TAKE OUT A DAY OF REVIEW BECAUSE WE'LL BE IN THE MEETING DURING MONDAY. SO WE DO HAVE TO POST TUESDAYS BY 5 P.M. NOW, WHICH IS UP FROM FRIDAYS AT 9:30 P.M. IS THE CURRENT REQUIREMENT. SO HERE ARE SOME OPTIONS FOR YOU TO CONSIDER TO IMPLEMENT THIS CHANGE IN THE NEXT MONTH. NO CHANGE. WE WOULD LEAVE THE MEETING AS OF MONDAY AT 930. THIS WILL REQUIRE US TO POST THE PRIOR TUESDAY AT FIVE BY 5 P.M, AND THIS WOULD MAKE THE DEPARTMENT DEADLINE THE PRIOR THURSDAY AT 12 P.M. AND THAT GIVES STAFF TIME TO REVIEW THE ITEMS FRIDAY. TO DO SO, MONDAY DEPARTMENTS CAN WORK ON IT. MY STAFF WON'T HAVE MONDAY TO WORK ON THAT, BUT THEN WE CAN FINALIZE THE AGENDA TUESDAY AND POST IT THAT AFTERNOON. WE CAN CONSIDER A DIFFERENT MEETING DAY. WE WOULD STILL, OF COURSE, HAVE TO MEET THE EARLIER DEADLINE REQUIREMENTS. IF THAT IS THE CASE, I'LL SHOW YOU IN JUST A COUPLE OF SLIDES. WE LOOKED UP OTHER LARGE COUNTIES IN TEXAS THAT MEET ON. SOME MEET THE TWO EVERY TWO WEEKS ON A TUESDAY. SOME MEET EVERY TWO WEEKS ON A THURSDAY, WHICH YOU CURRENTLY DO HAVE YOUR SPECIAL SESSIONS ON A THURSDAY, SO THAT MIGHT BE A CONSIDERATION. ANOTHER CONSIDERATION IS TO MEET ONLY EVERY TWO WEEKS. I KNOW THAT THERE ARE CONCERNS WITH THAT BECAUSE OF THE AMOUNT OF ITEMS THAT WE HAVE WEEKLY THAT MAY THAT WOULD PROBABLY MEAN VERY LONG MEETINGS EVERY TWO WEEKS. WE CAN CONTINUE TO MEET EVERY WEEK. AN IDEAS TO ALTERNATE THOSE MEETINGS. SO EVERY TWO WEEKS IF YOU WOULD BE FOR BUSINESS ITEMS AND THEN OPPOSITE TWO WEEKS WOULD BE FOR RESOLUTIONS. SO THAT WOULD TAKE A LITTLE BIT MORE PLANNING ON DEPARTMENT AND STAFF'S TIME TO ENSURE, FOR EXAMPLE, FIRST AND THIRD MONDAYS WOULD BE [04:00:01] RESOLUTION DAYS, SECOND AND FOURTH WOULD BE FOR BUSINESS ITEMS ONLY, AND THAT MAY ASSIST IN PLANNING FOR THE BACKUP FOR AGENDA ITEMS FOR ESPECIALLY FOR THE BUSINESS ITEMS THAT ARE ON THE AGENDA. ANY OTHER IDEAS THAT YOU HAVE? WE'RE OPEN TO HEARING, BUT JUST FOR YOU TO SEE WHAT THIS LOOKS LIKE AND FOR DEPARTMENTS TO SEE WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE ON A CALENDAR. IF WE KEEP MONDAY MEETING, THIS IS OUR DEADLINE. SO FOR EXAMPLE, MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 8TH, WE WOULD HAVE TO POST BY THE PREVIOUS TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 2ND, AND THE STAFF DEADLINE WOULD BE THURSDAY, AUGUST 28TH. SO THIS DOES NECESSITATE PRETTY ADVANCED PLANNING ON DEPARTMENTS BEHALF. BUT IF YOU SEE THE LAST HALF OF THE YEAR, THIS IS JUST THROUGH CALENDAR YEAR 2025. THERE ARE A FEW MONDAYS THAT WE WOULD HAVE TO POST EVEN SOONER BECAUSE OF THE MONDAY HOLIDAYS THAT WE HAVE, OR THE THANKSGIVING HOLIDAYS, SO WE HAVE TO POST THE AGENDA EVEN SOONER ON THOSE WEEKS, WHICH WILL HAPPEN REGARDLESS OF WHEN YOU MEET. WE'LL HAVE TO CALCULATE FOR THOSE DATES, BUT THIS IS JUST TO SHOW YOU WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE AS FAR AS DEADLINES ARE CONCERNED. FOR A MONDAY MEETING, SOME OTHER LARGE COUNTIES IN TEXAS THAT I LOOKED UP QUICKLY. MEETING SCHEDULES DALLAS MEETS THE FIRST AND THIRD TUESDAY OF EVERY MONTH. HARRIS MEETS THE SECOND AND FOURTH THURSDAY WITH SPECIAL SESSIONS AS NEEDED, WHICH OF COURSE WOULD BE AT YOUR WILL AS WELL. BEAR MOSTLY MEETS TWICE A MONTH. THEY HAVE DAYS BLOCKED FOR CONFERENCES LIKE NACO, AND DURING THOSE MONTHS THEY SOMETIMES ONLY MEET ONCE AND THEY SCHEDULE WORK SESSIONS AS NEEDED. I JUST WANTED TO SHOW YOU SOME EXAMPLES OF OTHER COUNTIES IN TEXAS THAT ARE MEETING ON DIFFERENT DATES, DAYS OF THE WEEK OR TIMES. SO HERE ARE THE OPTIONS I REVIEWED. WE ARE SEEKING DIRECTION AT THIS TIME OR THOUGHTS IDEAS, ANY FEEDBACK. BUT WE HAVE A MONTH TO IMPLEMENT THIS. I WOULD LIKE TO GET STAFF ON BOARD WITH THE EARLIER TIMELINE WITHIN THIS NEXT MONTH, JUST TO PRACTICE BEFORE THE LAW GOES INTO EFFECT. I THINK TODAY IS A PERFECT EXAMPLE. YOU KNOW, ALL MORNING WE HAD SEVEN RESOLUTIONS. WE'RE BARELY STARTING. AND THEN SOME OF THE DIFFICULT THINGS THAT REQUIRES, YOU KNOW, YOUR ATTENTION, YOUR ENERGY. AND WE'RE DEALING WITH THESE THINGS IN THE AFTERNOON. SO I MEAN, I'M INCLINED MORE TO THAT HAVING, YOU KNOW, ONE MONDAY RESOLUTIONS AND NEXT MONDAY BUSINESS. AND THEN IF SOMETHING COMES UP, FOR EXAMPLE, DURING THE RESOLUTION MONDAY, THAT WE WOULD BE ABLE TO TAKE A BUSINESS ITEM IF WE HAD TO, AND IT WOULD BE MORE LIKE AN EXCEPTION THAN A RULE. AND THEN THE SAME THING DURING THE BUSINESS, IF THERE WAS A RESOLUTION THAT WAS TIMELY, YOU KNOW, BECAUSE IT WAS, YOU KNOW, IT'S GOING TO HAPPEN THAT WEEK OR WHATEVER, WE COULD PICK IT UP. BUT I THINK WE COULD BALANCE THINGS A LITTLE BIT BETTER. BUT I'M NOT SURE WHAT THE OPINION OF EVERYONE ELSE IS HERE. SO COMMISSIONER BUTLER, THANK YOU JUDGE. THANK YOU MICHELLE. MY I GUESS. WHAT WHAT FROM THE STAFF PERSPECTIVE, WHAT DO YOU THINK IS THE BEST OPTION? BECAUSE YOU GUYS ARE THE ONES THAT HAVE TO GO THROUGH THE PROCESS OF CONFIRMING THE AGENDA. SO. I THINK EVEN THE WAY IT IS NOW IS VERY STRESSFUL FOR STAFF HAVING TO POST BY FRIDAY MORNINGS. SO I KNOW THIS WILL JUST MAYBE EXACERBATE THAT FROM THE STAFF PERSPECTIVE, WHAT IS THE BEST OPTION? THANK YOU COMMISSIONER BETSY. SO IT IS FROM A STAFFING PERSPECTIVE, IT'S GOING TO BE VERY DIFFICULT WITH THE NOTICE. WE WE'VE WE'VE TALKED ABOUT IT BECAUSE ONE OF THE DAYS THAT WE HAVE TO BE PREPARING AND WORKING ON THE AGENDA IS THE DAY WE WILL BE IN COMMISSIONERS COURT. AND SO BECAUSE WE HAVE TO HAVE IT POSTED BY TUESDAY EVENING, BASICALLY. SO USUALLY WE NEED THOSE COUPLE DAYS TO BE GOING THROUGH THE AGENDA AND WORKING WITH DEPARTMENTS ON WHAT'S MISSING, ETC. AND SO IT MAKES IT VERY CHALLENGING. WE WILL DO WHATEVER THE COURT PREFERS, BUT EITHER OPTION THREE OR OPTION FOUR, CHANGING THE MEETING DAY DOES NOT DO ANYTHING FROM A STAFF PERSPECTIVE. WE STILL BECAUSE IT'S THREE BUSINESS DAYS. SO IT DOESN'T MATTER WHAT DAY OF THE WEEK WE'RE GOING TO BE. IN THAT SAME SCENARIO. WE'RE STAFF IS IN A MEETING TRYING TO WORK ON THE NEXT MEETING. SO EITHER OPTION THREE OR OPTION FOUR, THE CONCERN WITH OPTION THREE I KNOW IS THAT WE COULD [04:05:05] HAVE SOME VERY LONG MEETINGS. THAT'S WHY WE THOUGHT OPTION FOUR MIGHT BE A GOOD OPTION. SO YOU HAVE TRY TO GET ALL YOUR RESOLUTIONS AND RECOGNITION ITEMS ON ONE MEETING, AND THEN THE NEXT MEETING WOULD BE NOTHING BUT BUSINESS ITEMS. SO IT WOULD SHORTEN I MEAN IT WOULD BASICALLY EVERY WEEK WE SPEND ABOUT TWO OR 2.5 HOURS ON RECOGNITION RESOLUTION ITEMS. SO IT WOULD GIVE US MORE TIME FOR BUSINESS IN THE OPPOSITE WEEKS IF WE IF WE WENT TO THAT TYPE OF MEETING SCHEDULE. SO THERE WOULD BE ONE THAT WOULD BE SPECIFICALLY FOR THOSE RESOLUTION RECOGNITION. WE MAY HAVE TO HAVE PAID CLAIMS ON EVERY WEEK, BECAUSE GETTING OUR BILLS PAID IS CRITICAL AND TIMING IS CRITICAL. BUT THOSE ARE THOSE ARE THE THINGS THAT WE'VE TALKED ABOUT. CHRISTINE AND I HAVE ALSO TALKED ABOUT WE MIGHT WANT TO POSSIBLY BECAUSE OF THE POSTING. AND, CHRISTINE, I'LL LET YOU TALK ABOUT THIS A LITTLE BIT MORE, BUT BECAUSE IT'S A HARD CUT OFF, THERE'S NO ADDENDUMS, THERE'S NOTHING TO BE ADDED. SO WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT SOME POSSIBLE SOLUTIONS AS WELL. YEAH. THANK YOU. COUNTY JUDGE COMMISSIONERS CHRISTINA SANCHEZ, EL PASO COUNTY ATTORNEY. YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE ISSUES THAT WE TYPICALLY HAVE ON A WEEKLY BASIS HAS BEEN GETTING ITEMS ON, FOR EXAMPLE, BECAUSE OF LITIGATION ISSUES OR ANY EMERGENCY ITEMS THAT COME UP, EVEN THERE'S BEEN SOME CASES WHERE IT'S BEEN LIKE AN HR MATTER AND WE HAVE TO CONSIDER AND GET SOME APPROVAL FROM THE COURT ON SOME ADMINISTRATIVE TIME THAT IS NEEDED. AND SO IT DOES MAKE IT DIFFICULT, I WOULD SAY. I THINK THAT WE JUST HAVE TO BE PREPARED AND I THINK BE A LITTLE BIT MORE THOUGHTFUL ON HOW WE'RE ARRANGING THAT. BUT I WILL SAY A LOT OF THE TIMES, YOU KNOW, WE ARE SCRAMBLING UP UNTIL THAT LAST MINUTE TO GET ITEMS POSTED, RIGHT, BECAUSE OF THOSE KIND OF LAST MINUTE LITIGATION ISSUES. I THINK FROM MY PERSPECTIVE, PERHAPS, I DON'T KNOW THAT IDEA BETWEEN THE ALTERNATE, BETWEEN BUSINESS AND RESOLUTION THAT GIVES US A LITTLE BIT OF THAT BUFFER SO THAT WE HAVE THAT OPPORTUNITY, IF NEED BE, ONLY TO PLACE THOSE EXECUTIVE SESSION ITEMS ON FOR THAT MONDAY. BUT AGAIN, BECAUSE WE ARE STILL DEALING WITH THAT THREE DAY CUTOFF, RIGHT? THE THREE BUSINESS DAYS, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO POST BY TUESDAY. THERE'S NO MORE OF THIS POSTING FRIDAY AS AN ADDENDUM, KNOWING WE COULD STILL HEAR IT THAT MONDAY. AND THEN ALSO PERHAPS AND WE'LL CERTAINLY A COUPLE OF OTHER SUGGESTIONS. I MEAN, I THINK MAYBE SOME CONSIDERATION AND FLEXIBILITY IN MAYBE CALLING ANOTHER SPECIAL MEETING, BUT ALSO I THINK, YOU KNOW, THE WHOLE IDEA AS WELL. WHEN WE HAD CHANGED THE, THE, THE LAW REGARDING THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATIVE DUTIES, I THINK IT WOULD BE HELPFUL TO ALSO FOR THE COURT TO CONSIDER SOME ADDITIONAL AUTHORITY TO BE PROVIDED TO YOUR COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR SO THAT IN THE EVENT THAT THE COURT IS NOT MEETING ON A WEEKLY BASIS, THAT YOU THAT YOU HAVE DELEGATED CERTAIN DECISION MAKING TO YOUR COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR TO MAKE. AND THEN, OF COURSE, WE ALWAYS CAN BRING THAT BACK THAT FOLLOWING WEEK. BUT IT'S JUST I THINK WITH THIS TIME FRAME, WE'RE HAVING TO REALLY THINK THROUGH THOSE LAST MINUTE CONSIDERATIONS. AND ON THAT, IF I COULD ADD TO THE NOTE ABOUT THE ADMINISTRATIVE, THE MANAGERIAL OPERATIONS POLICY, THE EXAMPLE THAT I THINK OF IS WHEN WE DID NOT HAVE A MEETING SCHEDULED FOR ABOUT TEN DAYS BECAUSE OF THE TIMING OF THIS. WHEN THIS ISSUE CAME UP, WE HAD A BILL THAT WAS DUE THAT IF WE DID NOT PAY, WE WERE GOING TO BE CHARGED A $60,000 LATE FEE. AND THE AUDITORS COULDN'T ISSUE IT BECAUSE IT HADN'T BEEN ON A COURT AGENDA AND WE DIDN'T HAVE A MEETING OR QUORUM UNTIL ABOUT LIKE A WEEK AND A HALF LATER. AND SO THAT'S AN EXAMPLE OF WHERE I THINK THE COURT WOULD HAVE WANTED THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR TO AUTHORIZE THE PAYMENT AND THEN PUT IT ON THE NEXT MEETING TO AVOID A $60,000 LATE FEE. ABSOLUTELY. YOU KNOW, AND PUT IT ON THE NEXT MEETING FOR RATIFICATION BY THE COURT. YEAH. COMMISSIONER BUTLER, I JUST JUST THANK YOU FOR YOUR INPUT. MY, MY JUST MY PREFERENCE BASED ON WHAT OTHER LARGE COUNTIES ACROSS THE STATE DO WOULD BE TO HAVE A MEETING EVERY TWO WEEKS, EVEN IF IT'S LONGER TO GIVE US MORE TIME TO PREPARE FOR THOSE. AND I KNOW IT'S GOING TO BE AN ADJUSTMENT AND EVERYBODY'S GOING TO HAVE TO REGARDLESS PUT STRICTER TIMELINES IN PLACE. BUT I THINK THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO REVISIT THE MONDAY MEETINGS ESPECIALLY. I KNOW THAT WITH POSTING, IT'S NOT REALLY GOING TO CHANGE A LOT, BUT WE DO HAVE HOLIDAYS ON MONDAYS THAT WILL MAKE THINGS A LITTLE BIT MORE DIFFICULT WITH THE POSTING. AND, YOU KNOW, IT'S I THINK IF OTHER COUNTIES ARE DOING THEM ON TUESDAYS AND THURSDAYS, WE SHOULD CONSIDER AT LEAST CHANGING THE DAY OF THE MEETINGS AS WELL. COMMISSIONER. I MEAN, I THINK REGARDLESS OF THE CHANGES THAT WE DECIDE TO MAKE, I THINK WE SHOULD ALWAYS HAVE WE SHOULD HAVE A POLICY IN PLACE SPECIFICALLY TO ADDRESS THE EMERGENCY SITUATION THAT YOU MENTIONED. I MEAN, CERTAINLY I THINK ALL OF US WOULD HAVE AGREED THAT THAT BILL SHOULD [04:10:04] HAVE BEEN PAID IN ORDER TO AVOID A $60,000 FEE. SO I THINK REGARDLESS OF THIS DISCUSSION, I MEAN, THERE SHOULD ALWAYS BE SOMETHING IN PLACE FOR EMERGENCY SITUATIONS LIKE THAT. MY PREFERENCE WOULD BE TO CONTINUE MEETING WEEKLY. WE HAVEN'T HAD IT HAPPEN SO MUCH RECENTLY, BUT I REMEMBER WHEN I FIRST TOOK OFFICE, WE HAD MEETINGS THAT WERE GOING ON TO LIKE 7 OR 8:00 AT NIGHT, AND THE LONGER THE MEETINGS WENT, THE MORE DIFFICULT IT WAS. AND SO I JUST I THINK TO YOUR POINT, JUDGE, I MEAN, DEALING WITH A LOT OF ESPECIALLY THESE BUDGETARY ISSUES, IF WE'RE HAVING THESE MUCH LONGER MEETINGS, I THINK THAT'S JUST GOING TO BE EVEN MORE DIFFICULT. SO I WOULD NOT PREFER THE TWO WEEKS. I'D RATHER STICK ON THE WEEKLY SCHEDULE, BUT I FEEL LIKE THERE'S ALSO MORE THAT WE CAN DO TO MANAGE OUR SCHEDULE BETTER. SO, FOR EXAMPLE, I MEAN, I GUESS MAYBE THE OPTION FOR. BUT BUT I FEEL LIKE THERE'S A LOT THAT WE CAN DO TO MANAGE OUR RESOLUTIONS BETTER. SO I, I SEEM TO REMEMBER THAT THE GOAL IS TO TRY TO LIMIT RESOLUTIONS TO NO MORE THAN FIVE. BUT A LOT OF TIMES WE DO GO OVER AND WE HAVE A LOT MORE THAN FIVE. SO MAYBE BETWEEN US WE DO A BETTER JOB OF KIND OF PLANNING THEM. THERE'S SOME THAT HAVE TO HAPPEN ON CERTAIN DAYS BECAUSE WE'RE NAMING THAT DAY, YOU KNOW, WHATEVER IT IS, WE'RE DECLARING IT, BUT MAYBE SOME ARE A LITTLE BIT MORE FLEXIBLE, LIKE IF WE'RE DECLARING SOMETHING TO BE MONTH, YOU KNOW, FEBRUARY AS THE MONTH OF WHATEVER, THAT CAN BE ANYTIME IN FEBRUARY. SO MAYBE THAT JUST REQUIRES A LITTLE BIT MORE PLANNING BETWEEN OUR STAFF TO TRY TO KEEP THE RESOLUTIONS MORE MANAGEABLE. I THINK ANOTHER THING THAT WE CAN DO, I MEAN, IT'S GREAT TO HEAR FROM A LOT OF PEOPLE DURING THE RESOLUTIONS, BUT I KNOW THAT THE GOAL IS ALSO TO TRY TO LIMIT SPEAKERS TO TWO PER PER RESOLUTION. AND A LOT OF TIMES WE DON'T WE DON'T DO THAT. WE LET EVERYONE SPEAK. SO I FEEL LIKE MAYBE WE JUST NEED TO DO A BETTER JOB OF MANAGING THE RESOLUTION SO THAT WE'RE NOT SPENDING ALL MORNING ON RESOLUTIONS AND THEN NOT GETTING TO THE SUBSTANTIVE, SUBSTANTIVE MATTERS UNTIL THE AFTERNOON. YOU KNOW, MAYBE THE GOAL SHOULD BE 930 TO 1030, JUST ONE HOUR FOR RESOLUTIONS. AND THEN WE START ON THE SUBSTANTIVE TOPICS AT 1030. SO I, YOU KNOW, I GUESS OF ALL OF THESE OPTIONS, I DON'T KNOW, I FEEL LIKE IF WE CAN MANAGE OUR SCHEDULE BETTER, WE WOULDN'T HAVE TO CHANGE ANYTHING. IF WE HAVE TO CHANGE ANYTHING, THEN MAYBE ITEM FOUR. BUT I STILL FEEL LIKE WE CAN DO A BETTER JOB OF MANAGING OUR SCHEDULE OURSELVES. BUT DOES THAT LIKE MY CONCERN? BECAUSE I KNOW COMMISSIONER BUTLER ASKED, WHAT'S THE BEST FOR YOU? BECAUSE I THINK WE'RE ALL VERY, YOU KNOW, THOUGHTFUL ABOUT WHAT HAPPENS TO THE BACKGROUND AND SO BUT LET ME HEAR FROM COMMISSIONER CORONADO AND THEN YOU CAN RESPOND TO THAT. THANK YOU. JUDGE, I AGREE WITH COMMISSIONER LEE ON THE ISSUE OF GIVING OUR ADMINISTRATOR AUTHORITY TO PAY EMERGENCY BILLS. THAT GOES WITHOUT QUESTION. IT'S EVEN ASIDE FROM THIS ISSUE. BUT I'M THINKING, YOU KNOW, TO HAVE THEM EVERY WEEK IS STILL GOING TO PRESENT A PROBLEM. WHEN WE HAVE MONDAY OFF, YOU WON'T HAVE THE BENEFIT OF THAT MONDAY. ALSO FOR OTHER STAFF BESIDES Y'ALL WORKING ON PREPARING THESE ISSUES, BECAUSE WE'RE OFF ON MONDAYS AND IT'S PROBABLY HOW MANY MONDAYS A YEAR? FIVE, SIX. SOMETHING LIKE THAT. ON A LABOR DAY, MEMORIAL DAY, LABOR DAY, THERE'S A FEW OTHERS I'M SURE THAT. BUT I THINK WE CAN DO PROBABLY. EITHER NUMBER THREE OR OR NUMBER FOUR AND ALSO HAVE A SPECIAL MEETING LIKE WE DO NOW AND PROBABLY, YOU KNOW, SOMETIME SOME MONTHS WE DON'T HAVE SPECIAL SESSIONS, BUT I'M THINKING THAT WE MIGHT END UP HAVING TO DO A SPECIAL SESSION EVERY MONTH TO COVER ISSUES LIKE EMERGENCY STUFF. I THINK WE USUALLY DO, I THINK HAVE THEM EVERY MONTH. I THINK IT'S BEEN PRETTY RARE THAT WE'VE HAD TO CANCEL, BUT MAYBE NOW WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO HAVE TWO INSTEAD OF JUST ONE. YEAH. OR, YOU KNOW, OR FOR SURE ONE EVERY MONTH THAT WE DO A LOT, WE RESERVE THAT A LOT FOR OTHER PRESENTATIONS AND STUFF. AND SO. THAT'S THAT'S MY THINKING. I THINK WE OUGHT TO DO THAT BECAUSE WE HAVE HAVING TO DO THAT AND POSTING EVERY TUESDAY FOR STAFF IS GOING TO BE A PROBLEM TO HAVE IT EVERY WEEK. I THINK THAT'S GOING TO BE A PROBLEM. SO WHAT DO YOU THINK? DID YOU WANT TO ADD SOMETHING? WELL, HEARING THE CONSENSUS WE AN OPTION OR A CONSIDERATION IS SINCE THIS GOES INTO EFFECT SEPTEMBER 1ST I'M SORRY. COMMISSIONER. COMMISSIONER STOUT. YEAH, SORRY. I'VE BEEN LISTENING IN. I, I WOULDN'T HAVE A PROBLEM WITH WITH KEEPING THE [04:15:05] WEEKLY SCHEDULE. I DON'T, YOU KNOW, I THINK IT WOULD MIGHT BE A GOOD IDEA TO MAYBE CHANGE THE DATE, BUT I DO STILL THINK THAT WE SHOULD HAVE A MEETING EVERY WEEK BECAUSE WE DO GET THINGS DONE. YOU KNOW, IF EVEN IF WE MOVE THE RESOLUTIONS TO ONE WEEK OR, OR EVERY OTHER WEEK, WE'RE STILL GOING TO HAVE A LOT OF, YOU KNOW, OF THE BUSINESS OF THE COUNTY TO, TO DO. AND AGAIN, I WOULD JUST RATHER NOT HAVE TO BE, YOU KNOW, HAVE A 12 OR 14 HOUR COMMISSIONERS COURT MEETING EVERY TWO WEEKS. AND IF THAT, IF THAT ENDS UP BEING BEING THE CASE. SO I WOULD BE HAPPY WITH, WITH KEEPING, KEEPING THE SCHEDULE ONCE A WEEK AND THEN. ALTERNATING WITH RESOLUTIONS AND MAYBE SOME OTHER ITEMS THAT THAT AREN'T AS AS HEAVY, MAYBE SOME PRESENTATIONS OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT, THAT AREN'T, THAT AREN'T THAT AREN'T AS HEAVY. WE CAN WE CAN TALK ABOUT THAT. BUT AND THEN THAT HELPS US ALSO TO MAKE SURE WE'RE ABLE TO PAY OUR BILLS AND. AND JUDGE COMMISSIONER YOU YOU FROZE. WE CAN'T HEAR YOU AT THIS TIME. THANK YOU. COMMISSIONER. YOU FROZE AFTER AFTER YOU SAID YOU WOULD BE OKAY WITH A MEETING WITH RESOLUTIONS, PRESENTATIONS AND PAYING BILLS. THEN YOU CUT OUT COMMISSIONER. YEAH, SORRY. MY SIGNAL IS A LITTLE CHOPPY HERE, BUT BUT I JUST TO SUMMARIZE, I'D RATHER I'D RATHER DO KEEP WEEKLY MEETINGS. I HAVE NO PROBLEM WITH ALTERNATING. EVERY OTHER WEEK BUSINESS AND EVERY OTHER WEEK RESOLUTIONS AND OTHER THINGS THAT MAYBE MAY NOT BE AS HEAVY. AND, YOU KNOW, THAT WAY WE CAN CONTINUE TO, TO HAVE OPTIONS TO, TO GET TO GET EMERGENCY ITEMS ON AS WELL. OKAY. JUDGE, I DIDN'T CATCH THAT. AND I AGREE WITH COMMISSIONER. I THINK WE DO NEED TO DO A BETTER JOB WITH THE RESOLUTIONS. I THINK THAT TAKES UP A LOT OF OUR TIME IF WE, YOU KNOW, KIND OF DO SOME MORE RESTRICTIONS. YOU KNOW, WE WANT TO BE OBVIOUSLY GIVE THEM THEIR DUE RESPECT. BUT I THINK SOMETIMES WE CAN LIMIT. I CAN'T IN OUR OFFICE. I CAN'T TELL YOU HOW DIFFICULT THAT'S BEEN. YEAH I MEAN THEY COME UP AND THEY BRING PEOPLE WANT TO SPEAK AND YOU TELL THEM THAT, YOU KNOW, ONLY TWO PEOPLE, BUT THEN THEY SHOW UP AND THREE PEOPLE SHOW UP AND IT'S SUCH A LIKE, IT'S SUCH A NICE THING THAT WE DO THAT WHEN YOU START RESTRICTING THEM, IT SORT OF TAKES AWAY A LITTLE BIT OF THAT. SO THAT'S WHY I LIKE THE FACT THAT IF WE DID IT ON A ON A MONDAY AND STILL WORK REALLY HARD AT ORGANIZING THE RESOLUTIONS, WE COULD BE A LITTLE BIT MORE PLEASANT ON THAT MONDAY. AND SO THAT WOULD HELP YOU. FOR EXAMPLE, IF WE HAVE NEXT MONDAY, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE RESOLUTIONS THAT HELPS YOU PREPARE FOR THE FOLLOWING MONDAY TO BE ABLE TO POST FROM A RESOURCE PERSPECTIVE, THERE'S NOT GOING TO BE I MEAN, THERE'S GOING TO BE A VOTE ON IT, BUT THERE'S NOT GOING TO BE SIGNIFICANT, LIKE CHANGES, TYPING UP NEW MOTIONS. YOU KNOW, RESOLUTIONS ARE PRETTY STRAIGHTFORWARD. AND SO WE CAN MINIMIZE STAFFING IN HERE. AND THERE'S ALSO NOT THE SAME AS MUCH. THERE'S NOT AS MUCH LIKE CHANGING EMOTIONS OR CHANGING OF MINUTES. YEAH. ON RESOLUTIONS ARE ONE OF THE MOST EASY ITEMS. STRAIGHTFORWARD TO HAVE. SO I MEAN I SORT OF LIKE THAT THAT IDEA JUST TO I MEAN, PEOPLE EVERYWHERE I GO TALK ABOUT THE RESOLUTIONS AND HOW THEY LOVE THE RESOLUTIONS AND HOW RESPECTFUL WE ARE TO THEM. AND SO I THINK IT'S SOMETHING THAT HAS ALLOWED US TO BE IN, IN CONTACT WITH OUR COMMUNITY, PROBABLY MORE SO THAN ANYTHING ELSE. THINK ABOUT EVERY RESOLUTION THAT HAS COME THROUGH HERE, AND WE HAVE THAT RELATIONSHIP WITH THEM. SO I'D LIKE TO I DON'T KNOW, I'D LIKE TO KEEP IT A LITTLE NICER, EASIER AND WITHOUT THE PRESSURE AND THEN GIVING YOU THE OPPORTUNITY TO GET READY FOR THE BUSINESS WEEK. SO, I MEAN, I LIKE THAT OPTION, BUT I DON'T KNOW IF WE'RE GOING TO. SO I'M HEARING I THINK I'M HEARING A CONSENSUS FOR OPTION FOUR. I'M HEARING LET ME JUST CLARIFY, [04:20:02] COMMISSIONER CORONADO, JUDGE AND COMMISSIONER STOUT WERE CONSENSUS FOR OPTION FOUR. YES, YES, YES, I'M OKAY WITH I THINK OPTION FOUR IS FINE. I WOULD ASK JUDGE IF YOU WOULD CONSIDER CHANGING THE DATE TO TUESDAY OR THURSDAY. I KNOW THAT WOULD REQUIRE THE MONDAY MEETING DATE TO TUESDAY OR THURSDAY, JUST TO GIVE US A LITTLE BIT OF A BUFFER AND OUR STAFF FOR THOSE MONDAY MEETINGS THAT ARE GOING TO BE AGENDA HEAVY, DOES THAT WORK FOR YOU? WE DID THE SAME THING AS FOUR, BUT MAKE IT TUESDAY. THAT IS TOTALLY UP TO YOU ALL. CHANGING THE DATE FOR US IS REALLY. WE STILL HAVE THE THREE FULL DAY BUSINESS DAYS POSTING, SO IT'LL STILL RUN INTO WHATEVER DAY WE'RE MEETING IS THE SAME DAY WE'RE TRYING TO WORK ON THE AGENDA AND JUDGE, I. I PERSONALLY WOULD NOT WANT TO CHANGE OUR MEETING JUST BECAUSE IT HAS BEEN SUCH A TRADITION THAT COMMISSIONERS COURT IS ON MONDAY, AND I FEEL LIKE EVERYBODY KNOWS THAT ONCE WE START MOVING TO TUESDAY, I THINK THAT'S GOING TO INTERFERE WITH THE CITY MEETINGS. AND I DON'T THINK WE WOULD WANT TO FIND OURSELVES IN THAT POSITION EITHER. SO I WOULD ACTUALLY PREFER KEEPING THE MONDAY DATE. AND IN THE CASES WHERE IT IS A HOLIDAY, I MEAN, WE DEAL WITH THAT ALREADY. AND THERE'S TIMES WHERE A HOLIDAY IS A WEDNESDAY. I THINK JUNETEENTH THIS YEAR WAS A THURSDAY OR SO. I MEAN, THAT I DON'T THINK HAPPENS THAT OFTEN. I LIKE THIS DIFFERENCE. YEAH. I'D BE AFRAID THAT WE'D FIND OURSELVES. YEAH. IF WE MIX OUR MEETING WITH THE CITY'S MEETING, THAT'S GOING TO BE AN ISSUE. THAT'S A BIG ISSUE. WELL, IF I MAY ADD, SINCE THE CONSENSUS RIGHT NOW IS EVERY OTHER EVERY WEEK, I MEAN, I CAN DEFINITELY SEE THE VALUE IN MAYBE NOT HAVING A TUESDAY MEETING OR MAYBE A THURSDAY MEETING IF YOU ALL ARE WORRIED ABOUT INTERFERING WITH, WITH, OR DOING A MEETING AT THE SAME TIME AS THE CITY. BUT I MEAN, I WOULD DEFINITELY SEE THE VALUE BECAUSE MY STAFF IS STILL WORKING. YOU KNOW, SUNDAYS, SUNDAY AFTERNOONS TO PUT TOGETHER OUR AGENDA REVIEW AND WE REALLY LOSE ONE DAY OF OUR WEEKEND EVERY, EVERY, EVERY WEEKEND. SO, YOU KNOW, I CAN DEFINITELY SEE THE VALUE IN WANTING TO CHANGE THE DATE. WELL, WE CAN PRACTICE THIS FOR NOW AND EVERY FISCAL YEAR. WE DO HAVE TO REESTABLISH THE MEETING FOR THE YEAR AND WE CAN REVISIT IT AT THAT TIME. IF THAT IS A CONSIDERATION THAT THE COURT WISHES TO TAKE. BUT WE CAN IMPLEMENT. JUST KEEP THE WEEKLY IMPLEMENT BUSINESS AND RESOLUTION ALTERNATING. AND THEN AT THE END OF SEPTEMBER WHEN WE BRING IT IT BACK FOR YOUR FISCAL YEAR 2026 CALENDAR, WE CAN DISCUSS THIS AGAIN AND RECONSIDER. AND THE COMMISSIONER SET THE DATE WOULD EASE OFF AT LEAST ONE TIME A WEEK BECAUSE THE RESOLUTIONS, LIKE BETSY WAS SAYING, IS REALLY STRAIGHTFORWARD. SO THAT WOULD AT LEAST EVERY OTHER TIME YOU WOULDN'T HAVE THAT PRESSURE OF THE SUNDAY. BUT I LIKE THE IDEA THAT WE'RE SO USED TO MONDAY. IT'S BECOME SUCH A TRADITION THAT I THINK PEOPLE WE THROW PEOPLE OFF QUITE A BIT. IF WE I TOOK A TOUR OF OUR COUNTY CLERK'S, YOU KNOW, SHE'S BEEN PRESERVING ALL OF OUR OLD RECORDS, AND THIS WAS SEVERAL YEARS AGO, BUT SHE STILL HAS BOOKS FROM LIKE THE 1800S. AND THE MEETINGS WERE ON MONDAYS. I MEAN, IT WAS INCREDIBLE. YEAH. SO YOU SET BY LAW, YOU SET THAT AT THE LAST REGULAR MEETING IN SEPTEMBER. SO YOU SET THE DATE GOING FORWARD FOR THE NEXT FISCAL YEAR. SO CHANGING THE DAY YOU WOULD DO IN SEPTEMBER IF YOU DECIDE TO DO THAT. BUT FOR NOW, WHAT WE WILL DO, BECAUSE THIS IS GOING INTO EFFECT SEPTEMBER 1ST, THIS LAW CHANGE, WE WOULD START WITH THE ALTERNATING WEEKS BETWEEN BUSINESS AND THEN RESOLUTION RECOGNITION ITEMS, PAYING BILLS AND MAYBE SOME OTHER LIGHT ITEMS. SO BUT FIRST WEEK OF SEPTEMBER BECAUSE IT'S LABOR DAY, RIGHT? AND WE MAY NOT MEET THE SECOND WEEK OF SEPTEMBER BECAUSE WE WILL HAVE A SPECIAL MEETING, BUT BECAUSE WE'RE GOING TO HAVE THE CONSTRUCTION GOING ON IN THIS ROOM. BUT BUT IT'LL GIVE US A LITTLE TIME TO GET THIS LINED OUT. AND WITH AFTER A COUPLE WEEKS, YOU'LL THEN SET THE MEETING DATE FOR THE NEXT YEAR. IF YOU ALL WANT TO CHANGE IT, THAT WOULD BE YOUR OPPORTUNITY. OKAY, OKAY. AND SO DO YOU ALL HAVE A PREFERENCE? I THINK I THINK YOU WOULD LIKE GENERALLY THE FIRST MONDAY OF THE MONTH TO BE A RESOLUTION MONDAY, BECAUSE THAT IS WHEN YOU HAVE A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO HAVE COME FORWARD AND THEY WANT A MONTH, A MONTH IDENTIFIED, OR DO YOU PREFER THE LAST MONDAY BEFORE THE NEW MONTH BE A RESOLUTION MONDAY? SO THE FIRST THE FIRST MONDAY, MONDAY, I THINK. OKAY. SO THAT WOULD HELP US JUST DEVISE A SCHEDULE [04:25:05] OF RESOLUTION BUSINESS. OKAY OKAY. THANK YOU. APPRECIATE THAT. NO ACTION FOR ITEM EIGHT. ITEM NINE PURCHASING APPROVE AND AUTHORIZE THE AWARD. RECOMMENDATION OF BID 25021 [A. Approve and authorize the award recommendation of Bid 25-021 Vehicle Fueling Offsite for Gasoline and Diesel for the El Paso County, TX to Southwest Convenience Stores of Brentwood, TN for a total blended average fee of -$0.02 (mark-up fee as indicated in tabulation). Purchasing approved on April 3, 2025. Funding is available in various accounts. Karen Davidson, Purchasing Agent, Purchasing Department, 915-273-3349] VEHICLE FUELING OFF SITE GASOLINE AND DIESEL FOR THE EL PASO COUNTY, TEXAS SOUTHWEST CONVENIENCE STORES OF BRENTWOOD, TENNESSEE, FOR A TOTAL BLENDED AVERAGE FEE OF -$0.02. MARKUP FEE AS INDICATED IN TABULATION PURCHASING APPROVED ON APRIL 3RD, 2025. FUNDING IS AVAILABLE IN VARIOUS ACCOUNTS. GOOD AFTERNOON, JUDGE AND COMMISSIONERS. ASSISTANT PURCHASING AGENT. I'M REQUESTING APPROVAL OF BID 25 OH 21 FOR VEHICLE FUELING OFFSET FOR GASOLINE AND DIESEL TO THE LOWEST RESPONSIBLE BIDDER, SOUTHWEST CONVENIENCE STORES. THEY'RE ALSO KNOWN AS THE DQ STORES. THEY'RE OFFERING A MINUS TWO CENT PER GALLON BELOW THE OP, WHICH IS THE OIL PRICE INFORMATION SERVICE. IT'S A PRICING REPORTING AGENCY, SO SOUTHWEST OFFERS 77 LOCATIONS IN THE EL PASO REGION, AND AWARDING THE LOWEST BIDDER WILL RESULT IN COST SAVINGS FOR THE COUNTY, ESPECIALLY IN COMPARISON TO OUR CURRENT FEE OF $0.07 PER GALLON RIGHT NOW. AND SO I'D BE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE. AND I BELIEVE ALSO WE HAVE MR. STAPLE THERE THAT CAN ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS TO THE SERVICES. THANK YOU. WE HAVE A MOTION FROM COMMISSIONER HOGAN, A SECOND FROM COMMISSIONER CORONADO. THE VOTING IS OPEN. I MY VOTE IS I THANK YOU, JUDGE. THANK YOU. COMMISSIONER. THE MOTION CARRIES. THANK YOU, THANK YOU. ITEM TEN. AUDITOR TEN A PURSUANT TO THE TEXAS LOCAL GOVERNMENT CODE, SECTION 114 .025, THE 2024 COMPREHENSIVE FINANCIAL REPORT IS HEREBY SUBMITTED. GOOD [A. Pursuant to the Texas Local Government Code, §114.025, the 2024 Annual Comprehensive Financial Report is hereby submitted. Barbara Parker, County Auditor, County Auditor's Office, 915-273-3262] AFTERNOON. JUDGE. COMMISSIONERS BARBARA PARKER, YOUR COUNTY AUDITOR, AND TODAY'S PRESENTATION WILL COVER OUR 2025 ANNUAL FINANCIAL REPORT, BETTER KNOWN AS THE ACFA. I ALSO HAVE REPRESENTATIVES FROM GIBSON, REDDICK, PATTERSON HERE WITH US TODAY. THERE ARE EXTERNAL AUDITORS. VANESSA ALARCON IS THE PARTNER AND JOANNA GILL IS THE CPA THAT WORKS ON THE AUDIT. MY PLAN IS TO GO OVER THE AUDIT INFORMATION FIRST, AND THEN I'LL GIVE THEM A CHANCE TO TALK. BEFORE WE TALK ABOUT THE RESULTS OF THE FINANCIALS. SO THE AQUIFER IS DIRECTLY RELATED TO THE COUNTY'S GOAL OF BEING FINANCIALLY SOUND. COUNTY GOVERNMENT. AND TODAY'S PRESENTATION WILL COVER THE EXTERNAL AUDIT RESULTS, THE GOVERNMENT WIDE FINANCIALS AND THE GENERAL FUND INFORMATION. THE AUDIT WAS CONDUCTED IN ACCORDANCE WITH GOVERNMENTAL STANDARDS. THE AQUIFER IS. WE RECEIVED AN UNMODIFIED OPINION THIS YEAR. THAT MEANS THAT THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS ARE PRESENTED FAIRLY IN ALL MATERIAL RESPECTS, IN ACCORDANCE WITH GENERALLY ACCEPTED ACCOUNTING PRINCIPLES. IN THE U.S, THE COMPLIANCE REPORT, BETTER KNOWN AS THE SINGLE AUDIT REPORTS ON MAJOR PROGRAMS AND INTERNAL CONTROL OVER COMPLIANCE REQUIRED BY THE UNIFORM GUIDANCE OF TEXAS AND TEXAS GRANT MANAGEMENT STANDARDS. THIS REPORTS RESULTS HAD A QUALIFIED OPINION FOR GRANTS RELATED TO THE STATE, BPU AND BULLET RESISTANT SHIELD PROGRAMS. ALL OTHER PROGRAMS HAD UNMODIFIED OPINIONS. A QUALIFIED OPINION MEANS THERE WERE DEFICIENCIES, SIGNIFICANT DEFICIENCIES, OR MATERIAL WEAKNESSES IN INTERNAL CONTROL OR COMPLIANCE. DEFICIENCIES MEAN A DESIGN OR OPERATION OF A CONTROL DOES NOT ALLOW THE COUNTY TO TIMELY PREVENT OR DETECT CORRECT NONCOMPLIANCE WITH THE STATE OR FEDERAL PROGRAM. SIGNIFICANT DEFICIENCY IS A DEFICIENCY OR COMBINATION OF DEFICIENCIES THAT IS LESS SEVERE THAN A MATERIAL WEAKNESS, YET IMPORTANT ENOUGH TO MERIT ATTENTION BY THOSE CHARGED WITH GOVERNANCE. A MATERIAL WEAKNESS IS A DEFICIENCY OR COMBINATION OF DEFICIENCIES, SUCH THAT THERE IS A REASONABLE POSSIBILITY THAT MATERIAL NONCOMPLIANCE WITH A TYPE OF COMPLIANCE REQUIREMENT OF A FEDERAL OR STATE PROGRAM WILL NOT BE TIMELY, PREVENTED, DETECTED, AND CORRECTED. THE COUNTY'S FINDINGS ON THE SINGLE AUDIT THIS YEAR ARE CONSIDERED A MATERIAL WEAKNESS. THE FINDING ON INTERNAL CONTROL OVER FINANCIAL REPORTING RELATES TO FINDINGS ON THE STATE PROGRAMS [04:30:03] THAT ARE RELATED TO PROCUREMENT AND PROCUREMENT COMPLIANCE. FOR THE BPU PROGRAM, THE SAME VENDORS WERE USED AS LAST YEAR BECAUSE OF THE PRIOR YEAR FINDINGS, AND THE PRIOR YEAR FINDINGS WERE COMMUNICATED AFTER THE PURCHASES WERE ALREADY CHARGED TO THE PROGRAM. WE DIDN'T GET OUR AUDIT COMPLETED UNTIL LATE UNTIL LIKE AUGUST OF LAST YEAR, SO MOST OF THE FISCAL YEAR HAD ALREADY GONE BY. THE INITIAL CAUSE WAS DUE TO THE DEPARTMENT INITIATING CONTRACTS AND NOT ROUTING THE CONTRACTS TO THE PURCHASING DEPARTMENT DUE TO TIMING, AS I SAID OF THE PRIOR YEAR FINDING COMMUNICATIONS AND IMPLEMENTATION OF THE CORRECTIVE ACTION PLAN, MONITORING CONTROL PROCEDURES WERE NOT PUT IN PLACE UNTIL AFTER THE FISCAL YEAR THAT WAS UNDER AUDIT. IN ADDITION TO THE FINDINGS, WE TYPICALLY GET A MANAGEMENT LETTER WITH RECOMMENDATIONS. THE MANAGEMENT LETTER SUMMARIZES THE PRIOR YEAR COMMENTS AND PROVIDES CURRENT YEAR COMMENTS. AS A REFRESHER, THE PRIOR YEAR COMMENTS RELATED TO THE PROCUREMENT INCLUDED IS INCLUDED WITH STAFF STATUSES. THERE WERE SEVEN PRIOR YEAR COMMENTS. THE FIRST ONE WAS UTILIZING ANOTHER GOVERNMENTAL ENTITY CONTRACT WITHOUT AN INTERLOCAL IN PLACE. THE SECOND ONE WAS INCURRED INCURRING EXPENDITURES AFTER A CONTRACT HAD EXPIRED. THE STATUS OF THESE ARE BOTH INCLUDED IN THE MANAGEMENT FINANCIAL TRAINING THAT WAS KICKED OFF IN PERSON IN OCTOBER OF 2024 AND IS AVAILABLE ONLINE FOR REFRESHERS AND FOR NEW EMPLOYEES. ALSO UNDER PROCUREMENT. THE THIRD COMMENT WAS RELATED TO THE PURCHASING POLICIES AND PROCEDURES, NOT INCLUDING SOME OF THE UNIFORM GUIDANCE REQUIREMENTS. THIS EXISTS AND IS ADDRESSED IN THE CURRENT YEAR. COMMENTS. THE FOURTH COMMENT WAS RELATED TO THE COUNTY INVESTMENT POLICY. THE INVESTMENT POLICY DID NOT IDENTIFY METHODS FOR MONITORING PRICES OR PROCEDURES TO MONITOR RATING CHANGES FOR INVESTMENTS. THIS WAS CORRECTED WITH COMMISSIONER'S COURT APPROVAL ON THE UPDATED INVESTMENT POLICY IN JANUARY OF THIS YEAR. THE FIFTH COMMENT WAS REGARDING A SUBRECIPIENT CONTRACT THAT DID NOT INCLUDE ALL REQUIRED INFORMATION TO COMPLY WITH THE UNIFORM GUIDANCE. STANDARD CONTRACT TEMPLATES ARE BEING DEVELOPED TO ENSURE COMPLIANCE GOING FORWARD. THE SIX PRIOR YEAR COMMENT REGARDING THE LACK OF SIGNATURES BY A SUBRECIPIENT ON A CERTIFICATION FORM WITHIN THE CONTRACT. THIS WAS CORRECTED AND NO SIMILAR INSTANCES WERE FOUND IN THIS YEAR'S AUDIT. THE FINAL COMMENT ON THE PRIOR YEAR REGARDING FINANCIAL REPORTING ACCOUNTING MATTERS. KEY KEY ASPECTS OF IMPLEMENTING GASB 96 REVIEW INQUIRIES WERE NOT MADE DURING THE EVALUATION OF CONTRACTS, AND ONE AGREEMENT WAS INCORRECTLY CLASSIFIED AS LONG TERM. GASB 96 CONTAINS THE ACCOUNTING REQUIREMENTS FOR SUBPOENAS, WHICH ARE SUBSCRIPTION BASED TECHNOLOGY ARRANGEMENTS, AND THE GASB REQUIRES IN-DEPTH REVIEW OF ALL THOSE CONTRACTS, WITH SUPPORTING DOCUMENTATION FOR EVALUATIONS TO BE MADE. LAST YEAR, THE DISTRICT JUDGES APPROVED A SENIOR AUDIT ACCOUNTANT POSITION, WHICH WE DID NOT FILL AT THE REQUEST OF THE COUNTY, AND USE SALARY SAVINGS INSTEAD TO CONTRACT WITH ROBERT HALF FOR THE FISCAL YEAR 24 FINANCIALS. WE NO LONGER HAVE THAT RESOURCE, AND WE PLAN TO HIRE THAT SENIOR POSITION. AND WE'VE REQUESTED ANOTHER AUDIT ACCOUNTANT POSITION FOR FY 26. WE HAVE 11 CURRENT YEAR FINDINGS OR COMMENTS. A FEW OF THE A FEW OF THEM ARE DUPLICATES OF THE PRIOR YEAR DUE TO THE TIMING OF THE AUDIT. AS MENTIONED, UNDER PROCUREMENT, THERE WERE FIVE COMMENTS. THE FIRST RELATED TO ONE VENDOR EXCEEDING THE NOT TO EXCEED AMOUNT OF $50,000 DUE TO A CONTRACT NOT BEING ROUTED TO PURCHASING FOR REVIEW. PURCHASING WILL BE WORKING CLOSELY WITH THE AUDITOR'S OFFICE TO ENSURE PROPER VERIFICATION IS CONDUCTED. TO CONFIRM THAT PROCUREMENT COMPLETION HAS BEEN DONE BEFORE ISSUING PAYMENTS. THE FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT TRAINING ALSO STRESSES FOLLOWING PROCUREMENT GUIDELINES, EVERY PURCHASE SHOULD START WITH PURCHASING. PURCHASING IS ALSO IMPLEMENTED. PROCEDURES TO MONITOR THE THRESHOLD FOR $50,000 FOR VENDORS. THE SECOND COMMENT RELATED TO EXPENDITURES BEING INCURRED AFTER A CONTRACT EXTENSION EXPIRED. THE SUBSEQUENT EXTENSION HAD NOT BEEN EXECUTED. THIS THE RESPONSE TO THIS ITEM IS THE SAME AS FOR THE FIRST ITEM THAT WE JUST DISCUSSED. THE THIRD COMMENT RELATED TO TWO VENDORS EXCEEDING THE $50,000 THRESHOLD. ONCE AGAIN, PURCHASING IS IMPLEMENTED A REGULAR REPORT THAT IS REVIEWED TO ENSURE APPROPRIATE PROCUREMENT METHODS ARE IDENTIFIED. THE FOURTH COMMENT [04:35:03] RELATED TO DIFFERENCES BETWEEN THE INDEPENDENT COST ESTIMATE AT THE BEGINNING OF THE PROCUREMENT AND THE AWARD AMOUNT NOT BEING PROVIDED. PURCHASING IS CONTINUING TO RECEIVE TRAINING ON FEDERAL GRANT REQUIREMENTS AND THE NECESSARY DOCUMENTATION THAT NEEDS TO BE COMPLETED TO BE IN COMPLIANCE. THE FIFTH COMMENT. THE LAST PROCUREMENT COMMENT WAS RELATED TO EXEMPTIONS FROM FORMAL SOLICITATION NOT BEING EVIDENCED IN COMMISSIONER'S COURT MINUTES. THIS INFORMATION NEEDS TO BE INCLUDED IN THE ACTUAL ITEM ON THE AGENDA, NOT JUST IN THE BACKUP OR ON THE CONTRACT. PURCHASING WILL ENSURE THAT THIS INFORMATION IS READ INTO THE RECORD, ESPECIALLY WHEN MULTIPLE PROCUREMENT METHODS ARE USED FOR A SINGLE PURCHASE. BUYERS HAVE BEEN TRAINED ON THIS AND IT WAS ALSO STRESSED IN THE DEPARTMENTS IN THE FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT TRAINING THAT WAS GIVEN. THE SIXTH COMMENT IS IN REGARD TO UNIFORM GUIDANCE COMPLIANCE FOR GRANTS. THE PURCHASING DEPARTMENT HAS INCORPORATED THE STANDARDS AS WELL AS UPCOMING CHANGES IN THE LAW. THE UPDATED POLICIES AND PROCEDURES ARE UNDER LEGAL REVIEW, AND THE PLAN IS TO PRESENT THEM TO COMMISSIONERS COURT APPROVAL BY OCTOBER OF 2025. THERE WERE TWO FINANCIAL REPORTING ACCOUNTING MATTERS COMMENTS. THE FIRST RELATED TO COMPLETED CONSTRUCTION WORK IN PROGRESS PROJECTS NOT BEING CLASSIFIED AS DEPRECIABLE ASSETS. WE OPTED FOR AN ERROR CORRECTION FOR THIS ITEM. THE COUNTY AUDITOR'S OFFICE WILL WORK CLOSELY WITH PUBLIC WORKS AND ACCOUNTS PAYABLE TO ENSURE THE STATUS OF CONSTRUCTION WORK IN PROJECTS, CONSTRUCTION WORK IN PROCESS PROJECTS IS CLEAR. THAT WAS A MOUTHFUL. THE SECOND FINANCIAL REPORTING COMMENT RELATED TO A MAJOR FUND DETERMINATION FOR THE ACFA. THIS IS A PROCESS THAT NEEDS TO BE DETERMINED AT THE BEGINNING OF THE ANNUAL FINANCIAL REPORTING, AND THEN IT NEEDS TO BE VERIFIED AGAIN AT THE END. AS RECOMMENDED, WE'VE UPDATED OUR TEMPLATES AND WILL VERIFY THE MAJOR FUNDS BEFORE FINALIZING THE ANNUAL FINANCIAL STATEMENTS. THE NINTH COMMENT IS RELATED TO PAYROLL. THERE WERE TWO INSTANCES OF ACCOUNT STRINGS NOT BEING UPDATED WHEN EMPLOYEES MOVED TO NEW POSITIONS. LONGEVITY WAS CODED AS REGULAR SALARY. HR HAS ADDED PROCEDURES TO PREVENT RECURRENCE AND INCLUDE REGULAR INTERNAL AUDITS THAT WILL TARGET PROPER CODING AND BETTER COORDINATION BETWEEN HR AND THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE PAYROLL DEPARTMENT. THEY WILL ALSO RESEARCH POSSIBLE WAYS TO AUTOMATE SUCH CODING. THE 10TH COMMENT WAS RELATED TO CENSUS DATA USED FOR FINANCIAL REPORTING. THIS PARTICULAR ITEM IN THE ORIGINAL PRESENTATION THAT WAS ISSUED ON FRIDAY AS BACKUP HAS BEEN CHANGED BECAUSE IT WAS A DUPLICATE OF NINE. SO IT'S BEEN UPDATED. SO THIS ONE RELATED TO CENSUS DATA THAT'S USED FOR FINANCIAL REPORTING. SOME COMMENTS FROM THE 1231 23 REPORT WERE CARRIED OVER FROM THE PRIOR REPORT, AND SOME EMPLOYEE NAMES DIFFERED FROM COUNTY RECORDS. PAYROLL AND HR WILL WORK TO ENSURE BOTH THE COUNTY RECORDS AND THE RECORDS ARE CORRECT. FINALLY, THE LAST COMMENT RELATED TO GRANT REPORTING THERE WERE TWO INSTANCES WHERE PERFORMANCE REPORT APPROVALS WERE NOT PROVIDED. IT WAS POSSIBLE THAT THE WRITTEN EVIDENCE EXISTS IN PRIOR APPROVERS INBOX WHICH WAS INACTIVE. THERE WAS TURNOVER IN THE DEPARTMENT AND THE BUDGET AND FINANCE GRANTS DIVISION WILL WORK WITH DEPARTMENTS TO ENSURE ALL DOCUMENTATION IS KEPT IN A SHARED LOCATION AND IS PROPERLY MAINTAINED AND APPROVED BEFORE SUBMITTING THEM TO THE GRANTING AGENCIES. AT THIS TIME, I'D LIKE TO GIVE THE EXTERNAL AUDITORS A CHANCE TO GIVE YOU A FEW COMMENTS OR ASK ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE ABOUT THE ACTUAL AUDIT, AND THEN I'LL MOVE FORWARD WITH THE ENTITY WIDE AND GOVERNANCE AND GENERAL FUND INFORMATION. GOOD AFTERNOON, HONORABLE JUDGE, MEMBERS OF THE COMMISSIONERS COURT. MY NAME IS VANESSA ALARCON, THE ENGAGEMENT PARTNER FOR EL PASO COUNTY'S INDEPENDENT EXTERNAL AUDIT. I DO WANT TO MENTION BARBARA WENT OVER THE SUMMARY OF THE AUDIT RESULTS, BUT I DO WANT TO MENTION THAT ONE OF THE FINDINGS WAS CORRECTED AND WE DID NOT HAVE A REPEAT FINDING FOR THE DATA COLLECTION FORM. SO WE WERE ABLE TO MEET THE DEADLINE OF JUNE 30TH. THAT WAS SUBMITTED AND ACCEPTED AT THE FEDERAL DATA CLEARINGHOUSE. AND SO THAT FINDING WAS REMOVED AND NOT REPEATED IN FISCAL YEAR 2024. THE OTHER PROCUREMENT FINDINGS THAT YOU ALL HAD, AGAIN, AS BARBARA EXPLAINED, THE VENDORS THAT WERE USED IN FISCAL YEAR 2023 WERE THE SAME VENDORS THAT WERE USED IN FISCAL YEAR 2024. AND PARTLY IT'S BECAUSE OF WHEN THE AUDIT WAS PERFORMED AND WE FOUND THE NONCOMPLIANCE RELATED TO THOSE VENDORS AND PROCUREMENT [04:40:03] THAT TIME HAD ALREADY PASSED. THE PURCHASES FOR FISCAL YEAR 2024 HAD ALREADY TRANSPIRED. AND SO THAT'S WHY THERE WAS A REPEAT OF THAT FINDING. SO WE STILL HAVE A FEW PROCUREMENT COMMENTS AT THE MANAGEMENT LEVEL. BUT WE BELIEVE MANAGEMENT AND WE BELIEVE THAT IN SEPTEMBER THE TRAINING THAT'S BEEN GIVEN, IT WAS SEPTEMBER OF 2024, WITH THE TRAINING THAT'S BEEN GIVEN, WHEN YOUR AUDIT FOR FISCAL YEAR 2025, THAT A LOT OF THAT PROCUREMENT COMPLIANCE WON'T BE REPEATED, OR AT LEAST AT THE LEVEL OF A COMMENT VERSUS AT THE FINDING LEVEL. AND SO THE OTHER THING IS, ON YOUR FINANCIALS, AS BARBARA MENTIONED, IT'S AN UNMODIFIED OPINION. SO IN OTHER WORDS, IT'S A CLEAN OPINION ON YOUR FINANCIAL STATEMENTS THAT THE NUMBERS ARE MATERIALLY STATED. AND OTHER THAN THAT, BARBARA, YOU WENT OVER THE OTHER AUDIT RESULTS. BUT IF YOU ALL HAVE QUESTIONS FOR ME, I'M HAPPY TO SEE ANYTHING FROM YOUR PERSPECTIVE AS TO YOU'RE A LITTLE CLOSER TO THAT THAN WE ARE. YES, SIR. THANK YOU. I DO THINK THIS IS PROVIDED AN OPPORTUNITY JUST FOR US TO ALL BE MORE MINDFUL AS AS WAS EXPLAINED ABOUT SOME OF THE VENDORS AND THE PURCHASES AND BOTH WORKING WITH PURCHASES, PURCHASING. SO LIKE THERE WERE CASES LIKE THERE WAS ONE CASE I KNOW WHERE A DEPARTMENT DID REACH OUT TO PURCHASING, BUT WE DIDN'T GET THE ITEM ON THE AGENDA IN TIME TO IDENTIFY IT AS A SOLE SOURCE OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT. I MEAN, SO IT'S MADE US ALL BE MUCH MORE CONSCIENTIOUS. WE ARE NOW IMPLEMENTING TRAINING. I DO THINK WE CAN EVEN ENHANCE THAT TRAINING EVEN FURTHER, TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE BETTER OUTCOMES, EVEN BETTER OUTCOMES FOR NEXT YEAR. OKAY. THANK YOU BETSY. AND ALSO, TALKING TO THE PREVIOUS POINT OF YOUR MEETINGS AND PREPARING THAT AGENDA, THAT'S ONE OF THE ADDED LAYERS OF REVIEW OF STAFF AND ADMINISTRATIVE TEAM REVIEWING THE AGENDAS, MAKING SURE THAT ANYTHING PROCUREMENT RELATED THAT'S BEING BROUGHT TO YOU ALL OR APPROVAL FOR CONTRACT THAT IT HAS GONE THROUGH THE APPROPRIATE PROCUREMENT CHANNELS, OR IF NOT PULLING THAT OFF SO THAT IT DOES GO THROUGH THE PROPER CHANNELS BEFORE IT GETS TO APPROVAL FOR YOU ALL. SO THAT'S ONE OF THOSE OTHER ADDED LAYERS. MAKES SENSE. AND I ALSO WANT TO MENTION THE TIMING OF GETTING THIS EXTERNAL AUDIT DONE IS INCREDIBLY CRITICAL. WE HAVE SEEN LIKE WHEN YOU WHEN WE DON'T HAVE IT DONE, THERE ARE CONSEQUENCES. AND SO WE DO HOPE GOING FORWARD IS AS THERE ARE MORE REQUIREMENTS PUT ON LOCAL GOVERNMENTS THROUGH THE GATSBY ISSUANCE, THE GOVERNMENTAL ACCOUNTABILITY ACCOUNTING STANDARDS BULLETINS OR BOARD. IT JUST IT'S REALLY MADE THAT TIMELINE DIFFICULT. BUT THAT REALLY DOES PUT US AT RISK OF LIKE GRANTS AND THINGS LIKE THAT. SO IT'S IT IS REALLY CRITICAL THAT WE WORK CLOSELY WITH AUDITOR'S OFFICE AND THE EXTERNAL AUDITOR TO GET THESE AUDITS COMPLETED TIMELY, BECAUSE THE YEAR BEFORE, WHEN IT WASN'T, WE SAW EVEN SOME LIKE HOLDS UNTIL WE GOT IT DONE. THANK YOU BETSY FOR THAT. ANY QUESTIONS. AND THAT'S THE IMPORTANT FOR THE STAFF RESOURCES THAT BARBARA WAS TALKING ABOUT, ABOUT ADDING ANOTHER STAFF ACCOUNTANT OR STAFF AUDITOR. IT HAS THOSE ADDITIONAL GASB STANDARDS HAVE TO BE IMPLEMENTED AND PUT INTO THE FINANCIALS. AND THAT REQUIRES RESEARCH. IT REQUIRES ADDITIONAL JOURNAL ENTRIES AND SO DISCLOSURES. AND SO THAT'S WHERE TO ENSURE THAT THEY HAVE THE PROPER STAFFING RESOURCES TO BE ABLE TO MEET THE CRITICAL DEADLINES OF THE AUDIT. THANK YOU. APPRECIATE THAT. THANK YOU. I WOULD LIKE TO THANK GRP FOR THE WORK THAT THEY DID ON THIS AUDIT. IT MAY SEEM LIKE A LOT OF COMMENTS. THE AUDIT ITSELF WAS UNMODIFIED, BUT THE COMMENTS ARE ALWAYS OPPORTUNITIES FOR US TO MAKE THINGS BETTER. THANK YOU. WE APPRECIATE THAT. THANK YOU. BEFORE I START TALKING ABOUT THE ENTITY WIDE AND THE ACT FOR ITSELF, I WOULD LIKE TO THANK THE STAFF THAT WORKED ON IT. OUR FINANCIAL REPORTING DIVISION. OUR MANAGER IS OUT OF THE OFFICE RIGHT NOW, JAMES UTTERBACK, BUT SOME OF HIS STAFF ARE HERE. I HAVE THEY'LL BE PRESENTING ON ANOTHER ITEM, BUT I HAVE MICHAEL GARRETT AND THANK YOU, ERIKA APRIL. HER MOTHER ALSO WORKS FOR US, BUT IN A DIFFERENT DIVISION. SO APRIL IS ALDI AND LINDA. HEMI IS NOT HERE WITH US, BUT SHE WAS ALSO A CRITICAL PERSON WORKING ON THIS. WE ALSO HAVE DONNA, WHO OVERSAW THE ENTIRE PROCESS AND WORKED AS THE LIAISON WITH THE EXTERNAL AUDITORS, DONNA TEAGUE AND MICHAEL LAMAS, WHO HELPED WITH ALL THE REVIEW AND MAKING SURE THINGS GOT RUN DOWN WHEN WE NEEDED THEM. WELL, THANK YOU AS WELL FROM US. WE APPRECIATE WHAT YOU DO. THANK YOU. SO ON THE THIS IS THE MEAT OF THE FINANCIALS. THE ACT HAS THREE [04:45:03] BASIC PARTS. THE BASIC PARTS BEGIN AT A SUMMARY LEVEL WITH THE MDA AND MOVE TO MORE DETAIL ON THE BASIC FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND REQUIRED SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION. THE BASIC FINANCIAL STATEMENTS INCLUDE ENTITY OR GOVERNMENT WIDE FINANCIALS, FUND FINANCIALS, AND NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS. I THINK I HAD IT ON THE SLIDE EARLIER, BUT I NEGLECTED TO TALK ABOUT IT. BUT WE DID RECEIVE THE GFOA AWARD FOR EXCELLENCE IN FINANCIAL REPORTING FOR FISCAL YEAR 23. AND WE'VE ALSO APPLIED FOR IT FOR FISCAL YEAR 24. FISCAL YEAR 23 WAS THE 35TH CONSECUTIVE YEAR THAT THE COUNTY HAS RECEIVED THAT HONOR. NET POSITION IS TOTAL ASSETS AND DEFERRED OUTFLOWS OF RESOURCES, LESS LIABILITIES AND DEFERRED INFLOWS OF RESOURCES. THE NET POSITION HAS AN INVERSE RELATIONSHIP. AS YOU CAN SEE FROM THIS GRAPH WITH TOTAL PENSION AND OPEB LIABILITIES OVER TIME, NET POSITION SERVES AS AN INDICATOR OF OVERALL FINANCIAL HEALTH FACTORS THAT CAN AFFECT THE PENSION AND OPEB LIABILITY INCLUDE ACTUAL CHANGES AND PROJECTED ASSUMPTIONS OF FUTURE LIABILITIES, INCLUDING EMPLOYER AND EMPLOYEE CONTRIBUTIONS, INVESTMENT EARNINGS, CURRENT PAYOUTS, PROJECTED ACTUARIAL ASSUMPTIONS, PROJECTED EMPLOYEE LIFE EXPECTANCY, LENGTH OF SERVICE, CHANGES IN SALARY OVER TIME, AND PROJECTED EARNINGS OVER TIME. OUR NET POSITION DECREASED FROM 195 MILLION TO 119 MILLION IN 2024. THIS SLIDE SHOWS THE TRENDS FOR THE VARIOUS PARTS OF GENERAL FUND BALANCE. THE COUNTY'S TOTAL FUND BALANCE DECLINED TO 96.2 MILLION. THE ONE PIECE THAT YOU CAN SEE A BIG CHANGE ON IS THE NON SPENDABLE. IT'S THAT SOLID LINE AND IT INCREASED BY 1.1 MILLION BETWEEN FISCAL YEAR 22 AND FISCAL YEAR 24 BECAUSE OF PREPAIDS. PRIOR TO FISCAL YEAR 23, WE REALLY ONLY LOOKED AT IT FOR PREPAIDS. AND IN 23 GOING FORWARD, WE STARTED LOOKING AT THE COUNTY AS A WHOLE. AND WHAT IS THAT? PREPAID PREPAIDS. THOSE ARE ITEMS THAT WE PAY FOR, MAYBE CONTRACT SERVICE CONTRACTS THAT ARE REQUIRED TO BE PAID UP FRONT, BUT WE DON'T GET THE BENEFIT OF THAT CONTRACT UNTIL THE NEXT FISCAL YEAR. OKAY. IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE THAT WE INCLUDE IN THE PREPAIDS? BASICALLY. IT HAS A LOT OF CONTRACTS THAT THEY BRING ON BOARD A LOT OF THESE BIGGER CONTRACTS, AND THAT'S WHERE THEY'LL PAY FOR IT IN ADVANCE. AND THEN EVERY YEAR WE HAVE TO REDUCE WE HAVE TO GO BACK AND SAY THIS, OKAY, WE'VE PAID FOR IT. SO THAT'S AN ASSET TO US. BUT THEN IT'S NOT AN EXPENSE ANYMORE. SO THEN THE NEXT YEAR IT ADDS TO OUR EXPENSES AND REDUCE THE REDUCES THE ASSET AND THE ASSETS SECTION. OKAY. IT'S JUST AN ACCOUNTING METHOD THAT WE HAVE TO THAT WE HAVE TO DO BY GASB. OKAY. THANK YOU. THIS TREND CHARTS THE REVENUES AND EXPENDITURES AND SHOWS BOTH OF THEM CONTINUE TO GROW OVER THE LAST FIVE YEARS. YOU CAN SEE WHERE WE HAD A GAP IN 2023, WHERE EXPENDITURES WERE MORE THAN THE REVENUES. THAT GAP CLOSED A LOT MORE IN 2024. THIS SLIDE SHOWS THE GENERAL FUND TAX REVENUE SOURCES, AS YOU CAN SEE. AND AS YOU ALREADY KNOW, MOST TAX COLLECTIONS COME FROM OUR PROPERTY TAXES FOLLOWED BY SALES TAXES. THIS GRAPH SHOWS ALL OTHER REVENUE SOURCES FOR THE COUNTY. OVERALL REVENUE HAS INCREASED BY 42.7 MILLION, OR 12.1%. CHARGES FOR SERVICES INTERGOVERNMENTAL AND INCREASED AND INTEREST HAVE HAD THE BIGGEST FLUCTUATIONS. THIS GRAPH SHOWS THE TOP THREE FUNCTIONS BY EXPENDITURES BETWEEN 23 AND 24. GENERAL GOVERNMENT INCREASED BY 18.3%, ADMINISTRATION OF JUSTICE 11.2%. AND THIS GRAPH SHOWS ALL THE REST OF THE EXPENDITURE CATEGORIES. OVERALL EXPENDITURES INCREASED 31.3 MILLION, OR 8.5%. THIS SLIDE IS A NEW SLIDE WE PUT ON EVERY YEAR WHEN UMC DOES THEIR ANNUAL AUDIT, THEY ALWAYS TALK ABOUT THE DAYS OF CASH ON HAND. AND SO WE LOOKED AT THAT THIS YEAR. AND THIS SLIDE [04:50:05] COMPARES OUR CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS. THE CASH EQUIVALENTS ARE LIQUID ASSETS INCLUDING WHAT'S IN THE BANK AND OUR INVESTMENTS OUR SHORT TERM INVESTMENTS AT THE END OF THE FISCAL YEAR. AND IT COMPARES THEM TO OUR NEXT YEAR 90 DAY EXPENSES. THIS ALLOWS US TO MEASURE OUR ABILITY TO COVER EXPENSES AT THE BEGINNING OF THE FISCAL YEAR WITH CASH RESERVES. WE ENDED THE YEAR WITH 126 DAYS OF CASH. QUESTIONS. ANY QUESTIONS? NO. THANK YOU, THANK YOU. APPRECIATE. YOU. ITEM TEN B PURSUANT TO THE TEXAS LOCAL GOVERNMENT CODE, SECTION 114.05 RECEIVED THE 2024 FUNDS AND FEES OF OFFICES REPORT. GOOD AFTERNOON, COMMISSIONERS AND [B. Pursuant to the Texas Local Government Code §114.025, receive the 2024 Funds and Fees of Offices Report. Barbara Parker, County Auditor, County Auditor's Office, 915-273-3262] JUDGE. THE FUNDS AND FEES OF OFFICE REPORT WAS APPROVED A COUPLE OF MONTHS AGO BY THE COURT, BUT WE'VE PUT TOGETHER A PRESENTATION TO GIVE YOU SOME DETAILS ON IT, AND MICHAEL WILL BE THE ONE TO PROVIDE THAT PRESENTATION. GOOD AFTERNOON, JUDGE AND COMMISSIONERS. MY NAME IS MICHAEL GUY WITH THE COUNTY AUDITORS. SO AS MISS BARBER SAID THAT IT WAS APPROVED BACK IN JUNE, JUNE 2ND. BUT THE FUNDS AND FEES OF OFFICE REPORT FOR FISCAL YEAR ENDED SEPTEMBER 30TH, 2024. IT REPRESENTS ALL OF THE FINANCIAL ACTIVITY ON A CASH BASIS OF ACCOUNTING FOR THE VARIOUS COUNTY OFFICES. AND THIS IS GOING TO BE AN OVERVIEW OF THE FUNDS AND FEES REPORT. SO THE FUNDS AND FEES REPORT IS DIRECTLY LINKED TO THE COUNTY STRATEGIC PLAN OF BEING A FINANCIALLY SOUND COUNTY GOVERNMENT. SO IN TODAY'S PRESENTATION, I'M GOING TO BE REVIEWING THE COLLECTIONS BY THE DEPARTMENTS AND THE ALLOCATION OF THE FUNDS AND FEES RELATED TO THE ASSOCIATED COURTS, AND THEN WILL BE FURTHER EVALUATING THE DATA BY LOOKING AT A SIX YEAR TREND FOR THESE DEPARTMENTS AND COURTS. AND WE WILL THEN BE REVIEWING THE PORTIONS OF THESE COLLECTIONS THAT ARE COLLECTED BY THE COUNTY AND THAT ARE DISTRIBUTED TO THE STATE. THEN LASTLY, WE'LL BE GOING OVER SOME OF THE MAJOR DIFFERENCES THAT HAPPENED BETWEEN FISCAL 23 TO 20 TO 24. I'D ALSO LIKE TO MAKE A NOTE THAT ALL THE FIGURES THAT ARE GOING TO BE SEEN IN THE TABLES AND GRAPHS FROM HERE ARE GOING TO BE ROUNDED TO THOUSANDS. SO THIS IS OUR FIRST TABLE. IT'S A COLLECTIONS BY DEPARTMENT. IT'S A COMPARATIVE SUMMARY. YOU'RE GOING TO BE SEEING THE 24 FIGURES AND FISCAL 23. THESE ARE ALL THE COLLECTING DEPARTMENTS. SO THEY COLLECT ON BEHALF OF THEMSELVES AND AS WELL AS BEHALF OF THE COURTS. OVERALL, THERE WAS AN INCREASE OF ABOUT. 5.6%, WITH THE LARGEST CONTRIBUTOR BEING THE COUNTY TAX OFFICE, WHICH INCREASED 37 MILLION. AND THE BIGGEST DECREASE THAT WE COULD SEE IS THE COUNTY SHERIFF'S, WHICH DECREASED BY 8.5 MILLION, OR ABOUT 54%. NEXT, WE'LL BE SEEING THE SIX YEAR TREND. I WOULD LIKE TO POINT OUT THAT USUALLY WE WOULD CAPTURE ABOUT FIVE YEARS WORTH OF TREND, BUT THIS YEAR WE WANTED TO CAPTURE 2019 FOR THE SAKE OF SEEING NUMBERS PRE-COVID AND BEING ABLE TO ANALYZE COMPARE TO THAT. SO AS YOU CAN SEE, THESE COLLECTIONS, ONE OF THE LARGEST ONES THAT STAND OUT IS THE DROP IN THE IN THE SHERIFF'S. RIGHT. SO THEY DROPPED THE QUITE SIGNIFICANTLY FROM 21.8 MILLION IN FISCAL 22 TO ABOUT 7.4 AND 2024. AND THE LARGEST REASON FOR THAT IS THE DECREASE IN AVAILABLE FEDERAL BEDS. JUST TO GIVE YOU GUYS AN IDEA, IN FISCAL 22, THE AVERAGE AMOUNT OF FEDERAL BEDS WERE 532. AND IN FISCAL YEAR 24, THOSE AMOUNTS DROPPED TO 160. AND THAT'S GOING TO BE THE BIGGEST DROP THAT WE SEE HERE. SO THOSE ARE THE TOP FOUR OF THE OF THE COLLECTING DEPARTMENTS. NEXT WE'LL BE SEEING THE NEXT FIVE. THIS IS EXCLUDING THE TAX OFFICE. BUT THESE ARE THE LOWER OF THE COLLECTING DEPARTMENT AMOUNTS. AS YOU CAN SEE ONE OF THE BIGGER CHANGES HERE IS THE FINANCIAL RECOVERY THAT INCREASED FROM 1.3 MILLION TO 1.6 MILLION. AND LASTLY OF THE COLLECTIONS, THE COLLECTING DEPARTMENTS IS THE COUNTY TAX OFFICE. AND WE CAN SEE THAT THEY HAVE BEEN STEADILY INCREASING SINCE 2019. NEXT, WE'VE SEEN THE [04:55:01] ALLOCATION OF COLLECTIONS TO THE COURTS. AGAIN, THIS IS A COMPARATIVE SUMMARY BETWEEN 2024 AND 2023. OVERALL, THERE WAS AN INCREASE OF ABOUT 22%. THE ONLY ONE. THE ONLY EXCEPTION WAS THE PROBATE COURTS, WHICH DECREASED ABOUT 77,000. RIGHT HERE. YOU CAN KIND OF YOU COULD REALLY SEE I GUESS THE WHAT WE'RE COMING BACK TO PRE-COVID IN 2019. YOU CAN SEE SOME OF THE NUMBERS LIKE FOR INSTANCE, THIS IS DISTRICT COURT WAS AT 5.1 MILLION IN 2019. AND THEN WE'VE BEEN MAKING OUR WAY BACK UP CLOSER TO THAT AMOUNT. IN 2024. WE CAME TO ABOUT 4.7 MILLION. AND THAT KIND OF IS THE SAME IDEA FOR THE MAJORITY OF THESE, THESE COURTS, BESIDES THE PROBATE COURTS, WHICH HAVE KIND OF JUMP AROUND A LITTLE BIT MORE. NEXT, WE WANT TO BE TALKING ABOUT THE STATE PORTIONS OF WHAT WE COLLECT. SO OFF OF OUR TOTAL COLLECTIONS, A PORTION OF THE GOOD PORTION OF THAT GOES TO THE STATE. SO THIS IS GOING TO BE SHOWING THE STATE PORTIONS. AND THEN OUR TOTAL COLLECTIONS AND THE PERCENTAGES THAT WE'RE GOING TO BE SEEING. SO THE LARGEST, THE LARGEST STATE CONTRIBUTOR, THE LARGEST PORTION GOES TO THE TAX ASSESSOR, THE COLLECTORS. SO THEY COLLECT ABOUT 180 MILLION. SO OUT OF THE 489 MILLION THAT WE COLLECT, ABOUT 36 OR 37% IS ALLOCATED TO THE STATES. AFTER THAT, YOU'LL SEE THE JUSTICE OF THE PEACE, ALL THE PRECINCTS. THEY ARE COMING IN AT ABOUT 31% AS WELL AS THE AND THEN THE DOMESTIC RELATIONS OFFICE, THEY'RE COLLECTING CLOSE TO 68.42%. THIS IS A KIND OF A GRAPH SHOWING WHERE YOU CAN SEE IN BLUE IS THE PORTION OF THE STATE AMOUNTS. OUT OF ALL OUR COLLECTIONS WE SEE IN BLUE IS THE STATE PORTIONS. AND THEN THE ORANGE WOULD BE ALL THE OTHER COLLECTIONS THAT WE MAKE. THE COUNTY. THE TAX ASSESSOR IS ON THE FAR RIGHT, AND THAT'S ON A DIFFERENT DATA SCALE. SO THAT'S WHY WE PUT IT TO THE FAR RIGHT. AND YOU CAN SEE THE LARGE AMOUNT THERE. I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO POINT OUT THAT IN FISCAL 22, DUE TO SENATE BILL 41 OF THE 87TH LEGISLATIVE SESSION, A PORTION OF OUR STATE COLLECTION STARTED GOING DIRECTLY TO THE STATE OF TEXAS THROUGH THE E-FILING SYSTEM. SO THIS MEANS THAT ANY NEW CIVIL FAMILY OR PROBATE CASES THAT WERE BEING PAID STARTED GOING DIRECTLY TO THE STATE AND WERE NO LONGER REPORTED IN OUR RECEIPT REPORTS. SO WE'RE NOT SEEING THOSE ANYMORE. WE DID A COMPARISON JUST TO SEE HOW THAT MIGHT HAVE CHANGED COMPARED TO THIS THIS YEAR. AND WE LOOKED AT FISCAL 21 AND COMPARED IT TO THE COLLECTIONS IN 24. AND OUT OF THOSE, WE SAW THAT THE BIGGEST CHANGE WAS IN DISTRICT CLERK AND DISTRICT COURT COLLECTIONS. THEY REDUCED FROM ABOUT 27.9%. THAT'S WHAT THEY'RE COLLECTING, DOWN TO ABOUT THE 2.5% IN FISCAL YEAR 24. THIS EQUATES TO APPROXIMATELY $1 MILLION REDUCTION IN STATE COLLECTIONS WHEN COMPARING TO FISCAL 24 TOTAL COLLECTIONS, AND THEN OLDER CASES ARE STILL BEING COLLECTED ON BEHALF OF THE STATE. SO OUR FINANCIAL RECOVERY DIVISION, THEY'RE GOING TO BE SEEING THESE THESE STATE PORTIONS. THEY'LL CONTINUE TO COME IN, BUT THEY CONTINUE DECREASING AS THOSE CASES ARE RESOLVED. LASTLY, WE'LL BE TALKING ABOUT THE MAJOR CHANGES AND THE EXPLANATIONS. THESE ARE ALL VARIANCES OF OVER OR UNDER 100,000. ANY ANY MAJOR THINGS THAT CHANGE. I DO WANT TO POINT OUT THAT THESE AMOUNTS THAT WE'RE SEEING ON THE TABLES, THOSE ARE IN WHOLE AMOUNTS, THE WHOLE WHOLE DOLLARS. SO THE FIRST ONE THAT WE'RE SEEING, WE'RE GOING TO FIRST BE GOING OVER THE MAJOR DECREASES IS THE COUNTY SHERIFFS. THOSE ARE THE ONES THAT WE MENTIONED EARLIER THAT DECREASE ABOUT 8.5 MILLION OR 54%, AS I MENTIONED, THAT THAT WAS THE DECREASE IN THE PRISONER MAINTENANCE US MARSHAL COLLECTIONS. AND THESE ARE COMING DUE TO THE INCREASE IN STATE INMATES AND THE ONGOING CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS ARE GOING ON IN THE JAILS. THE NEXT DECREASE THAT WE SEE IS THE SUPERVISION AND CORRECTIONS, AND THAT DECREASED BY 123,000. THIS IS LARGELY DUE TO A RESTRUCTURING OF THE PRETRIAL INTERVENTION PROGRAM. BEFORE, THEY USED TO HAVE SIX MONTHS TO BE ABLE TO GO THROUGH THIS PROGRAM, AND EVERY MONTH THEY'D BE MAKING A PAYMENT. NOW THEY'VE RESTRUCTURED IT TO ALLOW THE PARTICIPANTS TO BE ABLE TO FINISH IT WITHIN ONE MONTH, WHICH REDUCED THE OVERALL COLLECTIONS SO THEY WEREN'T HAVING TO PAY FOR SIX MONTHS ANYMORE. NOW THEY'RE PAYING FOR ONE. NOW THE MAJOR INCREASE IS THE COUNTY TAX ASSESSORS. SO THE THEY INCREASED BY 37 MILLION OR 8%. AND THAT'S DUE TO OUR RATE INCREASES AND THE PROPERTY VALUATIONS INCREASING BY 7.2 BILLION. NEXT IS OUR DISTRICT CLERK, WHICH INCREASED BY 784,000 OR 24%. AND THIS IS DUE TO AN INCREASE IN FINES AND COURT COSTS AND SOME LARGE BOND FORFEITURE. FORFEITURE COLLECTIONS. NEXT IS THE FINANCIAL RECOVERY DIVISION, [05:00:03] WHICH INCREASED BY 27%, AND THAT IS LARGELY DUE TO AN INCREASE IN COUNTY COURT COSTS AND FEES, AND STATE COURT COSTS ALSO INCREASED BY 121,000. THEN LAST ON THIS TABLE IS THE 210TH DISTRICT COURT, WHICH INCREASED BY 66%, AND THE TOTAL CIVIL CASES FILED INCREASED FROM 1078 TO 1680. LASTLY, WE HAVE THE LAST. THE LAST TWO ON THIS SLIDE IS 409TH DISTRICT COURT. AND THAT INCREASED BY 141%. AND THAT WAS PRIMARILY DUE TO AN INCREASE IN CIVIL COLLECTIONS AND BOND FORFEITURES. AND LASTLY, THE COUNTY COURT AT LAW NUMBER SIX, IT INCREASED BY 24%. AND THEIR TOTAL CIVIL CASES FILED INCREASED FROM 1225 TO 1604. THAT CONCLUDES THE PRESENTATION. I'LL BE HAPPY TO TRY ANSWERING ANY QUESTIONS THAT YOU ALL MAY HAVE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. APPRECIATE IT. THANK YOU ALL. THANK YOU. WE WILL TAKE NO ACTION FOR TEN BE. ITEM TEN C PURSUANT TO TEXAS LOCAL GOVERNMENT CODE SECTION. 114.023114.02411, 4.025 AND [C. Pursuant to Texas Local Government Code § 114.023, 114.024, 114.025 and 114.026, receive the attached presentation and the interim financial report for the month ended June 2025. Barbara Parker, County Auditor, County Auditor's Office, 915-273-3262] 114.026 RECEIVE THE ATTACHED PRESENTATION AND THE INTERIM FINANCIAL REPORT FOR THE MONTH ENDED JUNE 2025. GOOD AFTERNOON, COMMISSIONERS MICHAEL THOMAS AND MICHAEL, FIRST ASSISTANT COUNTY AUDITOR. I'M GOING TO BE PRESENTING THE JUNE INTERIM FINANCIAL REPORT. THE PODIUM. THERE'S A LITTLE LEVER THERE JUST TO SEE PEOPLE. THERE YOU GO. IT'S VERY ANGRY WHEN I WHEN I TRY TO DO IT. OKAY. THAT'S BETTER. I GUESS YOU DON'T GET A LOT OF TALK PRESENTERS. OKAY. NEXT SLIDE. THANK YOU. SO ON THIS SLIDE THE EXECUTIVE SUMMARY SHOWS INFORMATION ABOUT REVENUES AND EXPENSES FOR JUST THE GENERAL FUND FOR THE CURRENT YEAR. PLEASE NOTE AGAIN THAT THROUGHOUT THIS PRESENTATION, JUST LIKE IN THE LAST PRESENTATION, THE AMOUNTS HAVE BEEN ROUNDED TO THOUSANDS. NEXT SLIDE PLEASE. THIS SLIDE JUST SHOWS THE CONDENSED FINANCIAL REPORT FOR THE MONTH OF JUNE 2025 THAT WILL BE PUBLISHED IN THE UPCOMING SUNDAY NEWSPAPER. NEXT SLIDE PLEASE. NEXT UP IS OUR REVENUE SECTION. THIS FIRST SLIDE IN THE REVENUE SECTION PRESENTS ALL OF THE REVENUE COLLECTED BY THE COUNTY BY FUND TYPE. THE FOCUS THROUGHOUT THE PRESENTATION EMPHASIZES THE GENERAL FUND, WHICH IS THE MAIN OPERATING FUND OF THE COUNTY. AS YOU CAN SEE, DURING THE CURRENT MONTH, GENERAL FUND COLLECTED APPROXIMATELY $12 MILLION AND YEAR TO DATE, $344 MILLION. ON THIS SLIDE, YOU CAN SEE THE TOTAL YEAR TO DATE PROPERTY TAXES COLLECTED AS OF JUNE 2025, WHICH HAVE INCREASED 11 MILLION COMPARED TO FY 24. OUT OF THIS PORTION FOR GENERAL FUND, WE HAVE AN $8.3 MILLION INCREASE. AND THIS NEXT SLIDE, YOU CAN SEE THE YEAR TO DATE GENERAL FUND REVENUES COMPARED TO THE SAME PERIOD LAST FISCAL YEAR. TOTAL REVENUE COLLECTIONS HAVE DECREASED COMPARED TO THE SAME PERIOD IN PRIOR YEARS. COLLECTIONS. HOWEVER, IT SHOULD BE NOTED THAT FOR THE SALES AND USE TAX FOR STATE MOTOR VEHICLE, WE RECEIVE THE REVENUE ON DIFFERENT TIMES DEPENDING ON THE FISCAL YEAR. THIS YEAR WE RECEIVED IT IN JULY. HOWEVER, WE STILL RECEIVED A LOWER AMOUNT COMPARED TO LAST YEAR. WE RECEIVED APPROXIMATELY 7.2 MILLION COMPARED TO THE 7.5 MILLION THAT YOU SEE THERE FOR LAST YEAR. SORRY, I LOST MY SCREEN. OKAY, IT'S BACK FOR THE OTHER TOP AREAS THAT ARE INCREASING ARE PROPERTY TAXES, WHICH SHOW AN INCREASE OF 8.3 MILLION SALES, AND USE TAXES, WHICH SHOW AN INCREASE OF 1.7 MILLION, FINES, AND FORFEITURES, WHICH SHOW AN INCREASE OF $731,000. OUR AREAS OF DECREASING REVENUE, AS I STATED EARLIER, ARE THE SALES AND USE STATE MOTOR VEHICLE TAX. FOR THE REASON I EXPLAINED EARLIER. INTEREST. WE SHOW A $3.2 MILLION DECREASE DUE TO LOWER INVESTIBLE BALANCES AND LOWER RATES. JUST AS A MATTER OF INFORMATION, THE FEDERAL FUNDS RATE, WHICH IS ONE OF THE BENCHMARK RATES THAT WE USE, HAS DECREASED APPROXIMATELY 100 BASIS POINTS COMPARED TO LAST YEAR, AND CHARGES FOR SERVICES YOU SHOW THAT DECREASE [05:05:01] ABOUT $805,000. MOST OF THIS DECREASE, WELL, ALL OF THE DECREASE IS DUE TO THE FEDERAL PRISONER BEDS, WHICH HAVE DECREASED COMPARED TO LAST YEAR. WE HAVE BEEN SHOWING A SLIGHT INCREASE MONTH TO MONTH THIS FISCAL YEAR, BUT DUE TO LEGISLATIVE CHANGES, WE FORECAST ANOTHER DECREASE IN THE UPCOMING FISCAL YEAR. OTHER FINANCING SOURCES SHOWS A DECREASE OF $1.6 MILLION, AND THIS IS DUE TO A ONE TIME REVENUE TRANSFER FROM THE HEALTH AND LIFE FUND TO COVER THAT INFUSION THAT WE HAD DURING COVID. THE LAST DECREASE THAT WE SHOW IS IN INTERGOVERNMENTAL, WHICH SHOWS A DECREASE OF $896,000, AND THIS IS JUST DUE TO A DECREASE IN FEMA REIMBURSEMENTS, WHICH AGAIN, WERE ONE TIME REIMBURSEMENT LAST YEAR. NEXT SLIDE PLEASE. SORRY. OKAY. I THINK DID YOU SKIP A SLIDE. YEAH. SORRY. YEAH. IF YOU CAN GO BACK A SLIDE I THINK YOU SKIPPED ONE OR. OH IT'S NOT THERE IS IT. I'M NOT SURE. OKAY. ON THIS SLIDE YOU SEE AN OVERVIEW OF ACTUAL REVENUE COMPARED TO BUDGET. AS A MATTER OF INFORMATION, AS OF JUNE 2025, WE'VE GONE THROUGH 75% OF THE FISCAL YEAR. SO FAR THIS YEAR, GENERAL FUND HAS COLLECTED 89.6% OF BUDGETED REVENUES. SO WE'RE WELL ON OUR WAY TO COLLECT OUR BUDGETED REVENUES. AND AGAIN, THIS ANALYSIS EXCLUDES THE $83 MILLION DESIGNATED FOR FUND BALANCE RESERVES. OKAY. NOW NEXT SLIDE. JUST LIKE OKAY WE JUST TALKED ABOUT ALL ALSO 2021 OKAY. THANK YOU. ON THIS SLIDE WE SHOW THE YEAR TO DATE TAXES WHICH COMPRISE 89.5% OF REVENUES RECEIVED. AS YOU CAN SEE, THE MAJORITY OF THE PROPERTY OF THE OF THE TAXES THAT WE'VE RECEIVED ARE RELATED TO PROPERTY TAXES AT 73.8%. THE REST ARE SALES AND USE TAXES AND OTHER TAXES THAT WE COLLECT. THIS SLIDE SHOWS THE TRENDS FOR TOTAL REVENUE AND THE TWO LARGEST REVENUE SOURCES FOR THE COUNTY, WHICH AGAIN ARE PROPERTY AND SALES TAXES. THE LINES ON THE CHART REPRESENT TOTAL REVENUES, AND YOU CAN EXPECT TO SEE THESE GET CLOSER AS WE GET CLOSER TO THE END OF THE FISCAL YEAR. THE TWO LARGEST REVENUE TYPES ARE THE BAR GROUPINGS, WHICH AGAIN ARE SALES AND PROPERTY TAXES. AND AS A PERCENTAGE OF BUDGET, THE CURRENT YEAR'S GENERAL FUND TOTAL REVENUE COLLECTIONS DECREASED BY APPROXIMATELY 1% COMPARED TO LAST YEAR. HOWEVER, THERE'S STILL A LITTLE BIT HIGHER THAN THE FISCAL YEAR 2023. IN THIS SLIDE, YOU CAN SEE THE SALES AND USE TAX COLLECTIONS BY INDUSTRY, WHICH. AND WE HAVE OUR FOUR TOP INDUSTRIES DEPICTED ON THE SLIDE. WE HAVE RETAIL TRADE, WHICH INCREASED APPROXIMATELY 4% COMPARED TO FY 24, ACCOMMODATION AND FOOD SERVICES WHICH INCREASED BY 4%, WHOLESALE TRADE WHICH INCREASED BY 2.3%, AND INFORMATION, WHICH IS THE ONLY ONE THAT SHOWED A DECREASE AT ALMOST 10% DECREASE COMPARED TO LAST FISCAL YEAR. BUT WE HAVE OUR EXPENDITURE SLIDES. THIS SLIDE SHOWS ALL OF THE EXPENDITURES FOR THE COUNTY BY FUND TYPE FOR THE MONTH OF JUNE. THE GENERAL FUND RECORDED TOTAL EXPENDITURES OF $29.8 MILLION AND A YEAR TO DATE, TOTAL OF $285.4 MILLION. FOR THE MONTH OF JUNE, THE GENERAL FUND. AND THIS NEXT SLIDE. THE CHART PROVIDES A PICTURE OF THE BUDGET AS A WHOLE AND BREAKDOWN EXPENDITURES BY FUNCTION OF GOVERNMENT. AS YOU CAN SEE, MOST OF OUR 63.2% OF THE BUDGET HAS BEEN EXPENDED, AND OF THAT, PUBLIC SAFETY ACCOUNTED FOR APPROXIMATELY 43%. GENERAL GOVERNMENT APPROXIMATELY 27%, ADMINISTRATION OF JUSTICE 24%, AND ALL OTHER FUNCTIONS ABOUT 6%. TOTAL GENERAL FUND EXPENDITURES BY FUNCTION ARE SHOWN ARE SHOWN ON THIS SLIDE. THE PERCENTAGE OF BUDGET EXPENDED IS 63.2% LAST YEAR AT 63.5. SO AGAIN, WE'RE RIGHT ON TRACK COMPARED TO LAST YEAR. THE FUNCTIONS THAT ARE CLOSEST TO THE 75% OF THE FISCAL YEAR EXPENDED ARE PUBLIC SAFETY, HEALTH AND WELFARE, AND ADMINISTRATION OF JUSTICE. AGAIN, AS YOU CAN SEE ON THE ON THE CHART, GENERAL GOVERNMENT HAS EXPENDED 52% OF THE BUDGET AND ADMINISTRATION OF JUSTICE HAS EXPENDED 68.8% OF THE [05:10:04] BUDGET. PUBLIC SAFETY HAS EXPENDED 73.2, AND ALL OTHER FUNCTIONS HAVE EXPENDED 47.1% OF THEIR BUDGET. OVERALL, GENERAL FUND EXPENDITURES HAVE DECREASED IN COMPARISON TO PRIOR YEAR. THE BIGGEST DECREASES WE HAVE ARE IN CAPITAL OUTLAYS AND TRANSFERS OUT. HOWEVER, THESE NET WITH INCREASES IN PERSONNEL AND OPERATING FOR A TOTAL OVERALL DECREASE OF 1.3% FOR PERSONNEL, THE INCREASES ARE PRIMARILY PRIMARILY DUE TO PUBLIC SAFETY AND WITH A SLIGHT ALSO INCREASE IN ADMINISTRATION OF JUSTICE FOR OPERATING INCREASES. THEY'RE MOSTLY DUE TO THE GENERAL GOVERNMENT AND THE AMOUNT OF $2.3 MILLION. ADMINISTRATION OF JUSTICE ALSO INCREASED $1.9 MILLION, AND THESE ARE MOSTLY DUE TO INDIGENT DEFENSE AND CAPITAL MURDER COSTS, AND PUBLIC SAFETY SHOWED A DECREASE OF $1.6 MILLION, PRIMARILY DUE TO PROFESSIONAL SERVICES IN THE JAIL FOR MEDICAL JAIL EXPENSES. CAPITAL OUTLAYS SHOWED A DECREASE DUE TO GENERAL GOVERNMENT. PUBLIC WORKS NON-DEPARTMENTAL, FOR WHICH NO EXPENSES HAVE BEEN SUBMITTED AS FAR THIS YEAR. LASTLY, TRANSFERS OUT SHOWED A DECREASE OF $12.1 MILLION AND AS WE'VE EXPLAINED IN PRIOR PRESENTATIONS, THIS IS DUE TO THE DECREASE IN THE CIP TRANSFER OUT. LAST YEAR. WE HAD A $10.4 MILLION TRANSFER COMPARED TO $1 MILLION THIS YEAR. THIS SLIDE SHOWS US THE GENERAL FUND CHANGES BY GOVERNMENT FUNCTION IN COMPARISON WITH THE SAME PERIOD IN THE PREVIOUS YEAR. THE TOP AREAS OF CHANGE AS EXPLAINED IN THE PREVIOUS SLIDE ARE. GENERAL GOVERNMENT, WHICH DECREASED BY 15%, PUBLIC SAFETY WHICH INCREASED BY 7%, ADMINISTRATION OF JUSTICE, WHICH INCREASED BY ALMOST 4%, AND RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT, WHICH INCREASED BY APPROXIMATELY 70%. IN OUR LAST SECTION, WE HAVE OUR FUND BALANCE CHART. THE ALLIGATOR CHART, AS I'VE HEARD IT CALLED BEFORE, THE ANNUAL FINANCIAL REPORT FOR FY 24 WAS COMPLETED. WE CONCLUDED WITH GENERAL FUND RESERVES OF $396 MILLION AND EXPENDITURES ALMOST $398 MILLION FOR GENERAL FUND BALANCE OF $96.2 MILLION. THIS LEAVES AN UNCOMMITTED FUND BALANCE AS A PERCENTAGE OF GENERAL FUND OF FY 25 BUDGET OF 5.69%. THE FY 25 PROJECTED FUND BALANCE IS BASED ON PROJECTED REVENUES OF $392.5 MILLION AND PROJECTED EXPENDITURES OF $410 MILLION, COMBINED WITH FY 24 FUND BALANCE, THIS RESULTS IN A PROJECTED FUND BALANCE OF FY 25 FUND BALANCE OF $78.7 MILLION. SOME OF THE DIFFERENCES FROM LAST MONTH INCLUDE ADDITIONAL REVENUES FOR INVESTMENTS AND FEDERAL PRISONERS. WE ALSO HAD CHANGES DUE TO AN OLS GRANT WHERE BOTH EXPENDITURES AND REVENUES WERE REDUCED BY $2.1 MILLION, AND WE ALSO HAVE DECREASES IN EXPENDITURES OF APPROXIMATELY $1.5 MILLION BASED ON TRENDS, WITH EXPENDITURES WITH ADJUSTMENTS RECOMMENDED BY BUDGET AND FINANCE. WE ARE CURRENTLY REVIEWING POTENTIAL ADDITIONAL EXPENSES THAT CAN BE TRANSFERRED OUT OF GENERAL FUND, AND WE WILL FACTOR THOSE OUT INTO OUR FUND BALANCE ESTIMATE ONCE WE HAVE FIRM NUMBERS. YEARS AFTER FY 25 ARE BASED ON A 2% INCREASE IN PROPERTY VALUES AND EXPENSE INCREASES ON ARE BASED ON A 5% INCREASE YEAR TO YEAR TO YEAR. DUE TO UNKNOWN VARIABLES. IN FUTURE YEARS, IT'S NOT ADVISABLE TO PUT TO PUT TOO MUCH RELIANCE ON THIS FINANCIAL TREND BEYOND FY 25, AS REVENUE STREAMS MAY CHANGE AND THERE COULD BE FUTURE LEGISLATIVE CHANGES. WE WILL CONTINUE TO WORK WITH BUDGET AND FISCAL POLICY TO IDENTIFY SIGNIFICANT EXPENDITURES THAT MIGHT IMPACT RESERVES, AND WE WILL COLLABORATE ON REVENUE PROJECTIONS, WHICH WILL BE ADDRESSED THROUGHOUT THE REST OF THE FISCAL YEAR AND IN UPCOMING FISCAL YEARS. THIS LAST SLIDE SHOWS THE SECTIONS OF THE REPORT THAT IS AVAILABLE ONLINE. AND IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FOR ME, I CAN TAKE THEM AT THIS MOMENT. COMMISSIONER CORONADO, QUESTION. SEEING THAT WE EXPECTED PROBABLY THE FED'S GOING TO REDUCE THE [05:15:02] INTEREST RATES HERE BETWEEN NOW AND THE END OF THE YEAR. ARE WE LOOKING AT SOME OPPORTUNITIES FOR INVESTMENT OF OUR CURRENT FUNDS IN THE FISCAL YEAR TO SEE HOW WE CAN STRUCTURE SOME OF THE TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THAT LOWERING OF THE COST BEFORE IT GOES DOWN? CORRECT. COMMISSIONER, WE'VE BEEN DOING A LITTLE BIT OF LADDERING IN THE SHORT TERM AND THE NOT TOO LONG TERM, AND YOU'LL SEE THE FULL INVESTMENT REPORT IN THE NEXT, NEXT WEEK'S COMMISSIONERS COURT. BUT YES, WE'RE TRYING TO ADDRESS THAT. LIKE I SAID, BY DOING INVESTMENTS IN THE TREASURIES AND OTHER AGENCIES IN ORDER TO PROTECT US FROM THAT RISK IN DECREASING RATES COMING UP. YEAH. HOWEVER, I WOULDN'T PUT A LOT OF CONFIDENCE IN RATES DECREASING RIGHT NOW. IT'S KIND OF LIKE A WAIT AND SEE APPROACH. AND WE'LL HAVE MORE INFORMATION IN THE UPCOMING MONTHS. THANK YOU. THAT'S ALL I HAVE, JUDGE. THANK YOU OKAY. THANK YOU. WE WILL TAKE NO ACTION FOR ITEM TEN. SEE ITEM 11 ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT 11 A POSTPONED JULY 21ST, 2025. DISCUSS AND TAKE APPROPRIATE ACTION TO SELECT TWO MEMBERS OF COMMISSIONERS COURT TO THE MPO INTERNATIONAL BORDER [ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT] CROSSING IVC STRATEGIC PLAN STEERING COMMITTEE A CHRISTIAN, BEFORE YOU GET STARTED, JUDGE, I [A. (Postponed 7/21/25) Discuss and take appropriate action to select two members of Commissioners Court to the MPO International Border Crossing (IBC) Strategic Plan Steering Committee. Roberto Ransom, Director, Economic Development Department, 915-273-3583] DON'T KNOW IF YOU WANT TO WAIT. I KNOW COMMISSIONER BUTLER JUST HAD TO STEP OUT, BUT I KNOW ALL OF YOU ARE VERY INTERESTED IN THIS ITEM. I KNOW SHE SHOULD BE RIGHT BACK. YOU WANT TO GO TO ITEM 12 A, OR IF YOU WANT TO GO TO DELETING 12 B, I THINK WE COULD WAIT JUST A MINUTE FOR COMMISSIONER BUTLER TO RETURN. LET'S GO. LET'S GO TO THE NEXT ONE PLEASE. ITEM 12 HUMAN RESOURCES 12 A APPROVE AND AUTHORIZE THE UPDATES TO THE EL PASO COUNTY ADMINISTRATIVE LEAVE POLICY. OPINION 6022. SORRY, NATALIA. GOOD. THERE WE GO. GOOD AFTERNOON, JUDGE AND [HUMAN RESOURCES] [A. Approve and authorize the updates to the El Paso County Administrative Leave Policy. (#6022-OP) Sam Trujillo, Interim Chief Human Resources Officer, Human Resources Department, 915-273-3520] COMMISSIONERS, NATALIA ZAPATA WITH HUMAN RESOURCES. THE PURPOSE OF THIS POLICY, THIS AGENDA ITEM, IS THE APPROVAL OF THE UPDATES TO THE ADMINISTRATIVE LEAVE POLICY. JUST REAL QUICK. ADMINISTRATIVE LEAVE IS A FORM OF TEMPORARY COMPENSATED LEAVE FROM WORK THAT IS NOT CONSIDERED PRODUCTIVE TIME. WE IT MAY BE USED IN SPECIFIC CIRCUMSTANCES SUCH AS INCLEMENT WEATHER, EMERGENCY SITUATIONS, MANDATORY EAP, WHICH IS THE EMPLOYEE ASSISTANCE PROGRAM SESSIONS WHEN IT HAPPENS DURING WORK HOURS OR WORKPLACE INVESTIGATIONS. SO AS PART OF OUR ONGOING COMMITMENT TO ENSURE THAT POLICIES ARE CURRENT, CLEAR AND REFLECT ORGANIZATIONAL BEST PRACTICES, WE'VE CONDUCTED A REVIEW AND MADE A COUPLE OF CHANGES TO THE ADMINISTRATIVE LEAVE POLICY. THE MOST SIGNIFICANT ONE IS THAT WE ALLOWED GREATER FLEXIBILITY RELATED TO WORKPLACE INVESTIGATIONS. SO SPECIFICALLY, THE POLICY INCREASES THE LEAVE FROM 120 HOURS, WHICH IS THREE WEEKS, WHICH WAS PREVIOUSLY LIMITED JUST TO ANTI HARASSMENT INVESTIGATIONS. AND WE EXPANDED IT TO UP TO 240 HOURS, WHICH IS SIX WEEKS AS RECOMMENDED BY HR FOR A BROADER RANGE OF WORKPLACE INVESTIGATIONS WHICH ALSO INCLUDES ANTI HARASSMENT. SO WHAT WAS HAPPENING, COMMISSIONERS, IS THAT IF DEPARTMENT HEADS ARE ELECTED, OFFICIALS WANTED TO LOOK INTO, FOR EXAMPLE, AN EMPLOYEE MISCONDUCT ISSUE, THEY WERE LIMITED TO THE 40 HOURS. IF IT WASN'T RELATED TO ANTI HARASSMENT. SO THIS THESE UPDATES ARE GIVING OUR DEPARTMENTS GREATER FLEXIBILITY TO ALLOW ADC TO LOOK INTO WORKPLACE MATTERS, ESPECIALLY AS YOU LOOK INTO ITEMS YOU NEED TO GATHER FACTS AND THAT AT TIMES TAKES SOME TIME. ADDITIONAL REVISIONS INCLUDE JUST CLARIFYING THE LANGUAGE ON ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA AND GENERAL IMPROVEMENTS TO THE POLICY LANGUAGE TO ENSURE THAT IT'S CLEAR, CONSISTENT, AND EASIER TO INTERPRET. SO THOSE ARE THE UPDATES, AND WE'RE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS AND SEEKING YOUR FAVORABLE CONSIDERATION. QUESTIONS CONCERNS. BETSY. ANY ADDITIONS? NO THANK YOU. THANK YOU. APPRECIATE IT. WE HAVE A MOTION FROM COMMISSIONER CORONADO, A SECOND FROM COMMISSIONER HOLGUIN. THE VOTING IS OPEN. MY VOTE IS. I THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER. THE MOTION PASSES. ITEM 12. BE A PROVEN AUTHORIZED. THE EL PASO COUNTY HIRING WAITING PERIOD. IMPLEMENTATION POLICY. IMPLEMENTING A 16 WEEK DELAYED HIRING SCHEDULE EFFECTIVE AUGUST 1ST, 2025, AND REPLACE ALL PREVIOUS HIRING FREEZE POLICIES, [B. Approve and authorize the El Paso County Hiring Waiting Period Implementation Policy implementing a 16-week delayed hiring schedule effective August 1, 2025, and replace all previous hiring freeze policies, updates, and amendments. Further, authorize amending the County’s Financial Policies to eliminate the section labeled Hiring Freeze Policy under Section III-Personnel. (OP-8609) Sam Trujillo, Interim Chief Human Resources Officer, Human Resources Department, 915-273-3520] UPDATES AND AMENDMENTS. FURTHER AUTHORIZE AMENDING THE COUNTY'S FINANCIAL POLICIES TO ELIMINATE THE SECTION LABELED HIRING FREEZE POLICY UNDER SECTION THREE, PERSONNEL OPINION NUMBER [05:20:04] 8609, WE HAVE A REQUEST FROM HR TO DELETE THIS ITEM. WE HAVE A MOTION FROM COMMISSIONER SAMANIEGO, A SECOND FROM COMMISSIONER HOLGUIN. THE VOTING IS OPEN. I VOTE AYE. THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER. THE MOTION CARRIES. WE'LL GO FORWARD WITH BUDGET AND FINANCE. 13. BUDGET AND FINANCE 13. A APPROVE AND AUTHORIZE THE TRANSFER OF FUNDING IN THE AMOUNT OF $144,444 FROM THE GRANT MATCH ACCOUNT TO THE PUBLIC DEFENDER SALARIES, AND APPROVE ONE [BUDGET AND FINANCE] [A. Approve and authorize the transfer of funding in the amount of $144,440 from the Grant Match Account to the Public Defender's Salaries and approve one (1) paralegal (PS02-2) position; and one (1) Sr. Trial Attorney (A02-6) position for the Public Defender’s Office being transferred to the regular staffing table from the grant staffing table. These positions are 100% funded in the General Fund now; however, are located in the grant match account. Melissa Carrillo, Deputy County Administrator, County Operations, 915-273-3582] PARALEGAL, TWO TWO POSITION AND ONE SENIOR TRIAL. ATTORNEY A02 SIX POSITION FOR THE PUBLIC DEFENDER'S OFFICE BEING TRANSFERRED TO THE REGULAR STAFFING TABLE FROM THE GRANT STAFFING TABLE. THESE POSITIONS ARE 100% FUNDED IN THE GENERAL FUND. NOW, HOWEVER, ARE LOCATED IN THE GRANT MATCH ACCOUNT. GOOD AFTERNOON, JUDGE. COMMISSIONERS MELISSA CARRILLO COUNTY OPERATIONS. SO THIS IS AN ITEM THAT WE'RE BRINGING TO YOU. I HAVE ESTELLA HOOPER IN OUR IN THE AUDIENCE, WHO'S THE GRANTS ANALYST FOR PUBLIC DEFENDER'S OFFICE. I DO KNOW THAT MISS CHILDRESS WAS GOING TO TRY AND BE HERE IN THE EVENT YOU HAVE QUESTIONS SPECIFICALLY ABOUT THE GRANT, BUT IN GENERAL, THIS IS A GRANT. WHAT WE WHAT WE REFER TO AS A STAIRSTEP GRANT. AND SO MANY YEARS AGO, IN YEAR ONE, OCTOBER 21ST THROUGH SEPTEMBER 2022, WE APPROVED THIS GRANT OR THE COMMISSIONERS COURT APPROVED THIS GRANT, KNOWING THAT EVENTUALLY 100% OF THAT GRANT WOULD BE PICKED UP BY THE GENERAL FUND. SO SINCE YEAR ONE, THAT PORTION OF THE GENERAL FUND HAS PICKED IT UP STAIR STEP OVER TIME, AS WE GO INTO FY 26, WE WILL BE COVERING THIS GRANT. IT'S BUDGETED TO COVER AT 100% FOR AUDITING PURPOSES. AND TO MAKE IT CLEAR, FOR THE RECORD, WE WANTED TO GET THIS ITEM ON THE AGENDA TO BASICALLY ENSURE THAT WE KNOW THE FUNDS ARE AVAILABLE THERE IN THE GRANT MATCH ACCOUNT. AND ALTHOUGH THE ITEM DOES SAY 100% FUNDED, NOW, I WANT TO CLARIFY THAT IT'S ACTUALLY 70% FUNDED RIGHT NOW, BUT WE'RE BUDGETED FOR 100% TO BE FUNDED IN FY 26. AND SO WITH TODAY'S ACTION, WHAT WE'RE ASKING FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION IS TO ENSURE THAT ONCE THAT 100% COMPLETION OF THE STAIR STEP GRANT IS REACHED, THAT WE MOVE THOSE FUNDS FROM THE GRANT MATCH ACCOUNT, WHERE THEY CURRENTLY SIT INTO THE GENERAL FUND ON THE STAFFING TABLE, MAKING THESE POSITIONS SOLID WITHIN THE PUBLIC DEFENDER'S OFFICE. MISS ESTELLA, DID I MISS ANYTHING? SO I DON'T KNOW IF YOU ALL HAVE ANY QUESTIONS. WE HAVE A MOTION FROM JUDGE SAMANIEGO, A SECOND FROM COMMISSIONER CORONADO. THE VOTING IS OPEN. I VOTE AYE. THANK YOU. COMMISSIONER. JUDGE, ARE YOU ABLE TO VOTE? THANK YOU. MOTION CARRIES. THANK YOU ALL. THANK YOU. MELISSA. WE'LL RETURN TO ITEM. 13 ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT. EXCUSE ME. ITEM 11 A I'M SORRY, I'M SORRY 1111 A POSTPONED JULY 21ST, 2025. DISCUSS AND TAKE APPROPRIATE ACTION TO SELECT TWO MEMBERS OF COMMISSIONERS COURT TO THE MPO INTERNATIONAL BORDER CROSSING IVC STRATEGIC PLAN STEERING COMMITTEE. GOOD AFTERNOON. JUDGE. COMMISSIONERS CRISTINA MARTINEZ, MANAGER FOR THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT, HERE TO PRESENT AN OPPORTUNITY BEFORE THE COURT TO PARTICIPATE IN A STEERING COMMITTEE FOR THE INTERNATIONAL BRIDGES INTERNATIONAL BORDER CROSSING STRATEGIC PLANNING EFFORT, BEING LED BY THE MPO. THIS IS A BIT OF BACKGROUND ON. THIS IS AN INITIATIVE THAT STEMMED FROM A JUNE 17TH STAKEHOLDER MEETING FACILITATED BY CONGRESSWOMAN ESCOBAR'S OFFICE, DURING WHICH THE MPO WAS DESIGNATED AND [Item 1] SELECTED TO LEAD THIS COMMITTEE. THE PURPOSE OF THIS COMMITTEE AND THE IBCS OVERALL STRATEGIC PLAN GOAL IS TO DEFINE A SHARED REGIONAL VISION TO STRENGTHEN CROSS BORDER INFRASTRUCTURE, IMPROVE MOBILITY, ADDRESS PRESSING CHALLENGES SUCH AS THE POTENTIAL CLOSURE OF COMMERCIAL OPERATIONS AT BORDER, AND SO THE FIRST MEETING IS CURRENTLY SCHEDULED TO TAKE PLACE NEXT WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 6TH FROM 10 A.M. TO NOON AT THE CHAMIZAL RECREATIONAL CENTER. THE KICKOFF MEETING IS INTENDED TO BE MORE OF A PROTOCOL MEETING. SET UP THE ADMINISTRATIVE THE ADMINISTRATIVE DETAILS WITH REGARDS TO THAT COMMITTEE. AND SO THE COUNTY HAS BEEN INVITED TO PARTICIPATE IN THIS IN THIS COMMITTEE AS A RESULT OF OR IN AN EFFORT TO WANT TO KIND OF REMAIN COMPLIANT WITH THE TEXAS OPEN MEETINGS ACT AND AVOID THE RISK OF UNINTENTIONAL QUORUM. WE ARE SEEKING THE COURT'S DIRECTION TODAY WITH REGARDS TO POTENTIALLY SELECTING TWO ELECTED OFFICIALS TO ATTEND AND REPRESENT THE COUNTY AS PART OF THIS EFFORT. AND SO THAT'S SOME [05:25:06] BACKGROUND, MISS KELLER. I DON'T KNOW IF THERE'S ANY OTHER BACKGROUND I MIGHT BE MISSING. NO, YOU DID A GREAT JOB, CHRISTIAN. THANK YOU. I WOULD SAY, THOUGH, IN ADDITION TO THE OPEN MEETINGS ACT, I THINK THEY HAVE SPECIFICALLY ASKED FOR TWO REPRESENTATIVES. ANYBODY? THAT'S REQUESTING FOR. YEAH. COMMISSIONER STOUT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. JUDGE, I WANTED TO THROW MY HAT IN FOR TO BE TO BE ON THIS COMMITTEE. VOTERS IN MY DISTRICT AND, YOU KNOW, REALLY BINATIONAL AFFAIRS HAS BEEN KIND OF MY BABY SINCE SINCE I WAS, SINCE I WAS ELECTED TEN, TEN YEARS AGO. WE'VE WORKED REALLY HARD, I THINK, OVER THE YEARS TO BE BE MORE INVOLVED BY NATIONALLY AND ESPECIALLY WHEN IT COMES TO TRANSPORTATION INFRASTRUCTURE. YOU KNOW, I'VE BEEN TO MANY OF THE MANY OF THE MEETINGS HERE IN, IN MEXICO REPRESENTING THE COUNTY, PRESENTING ON BEHALF OF THE COUNTY. YOU KNOW, I WOULD REALLY LOVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE ABLE TO SERVE IN THIS CAPACITY. AND I WOULD HOPE THAT IF, IF NOTHING ELSE, YOU KNOW, THE COURT WOULD CONSIDER ALSO MY SENIORITY ON THE COURT. THANK YOU. SURE. ANYONE ELSE? THAT WOULD BE INTERESTING, COMMISSIONER. YES. THANK YOU JUDGE. I WOULD BE INTERESTED AS WELL, SIMPLY BECAUSE THE TORNILLO PORT OF ENTRY IS IN MY PRECINCT. AND SO I'VE BEEN VERY INVOLVED WITH ALL OF THE ACTIVITIES AND THE PROMOTION OF THE PORT OF ENTRY. SO I WOULD BE INTERESTED AS WELL. OKAY. THANK YOU. I JUST HAVE A COMMENT I. WILL BE OUT NEXT WEEK, SO I COULDN'T DO IT IF I WANTED TO, BUT I THINK THE COMMISSIONERS PROXIMITY TO COMMISSIONER AND COMMISSIONER, PROXIMITY TO THE PORTS OF ENTRY IS IMPORTANT. BUT I ALSO JUST WANT TO KEEP AN OPEN MIND THAT, YOU KNOW, ALL OF US HAVE A STAKE IN BINATIONAL RELATIONS AND CROSS BORDER TRADE. MY BACKGROUND IN WORKING WITH THE MAQUILA MAQUILA INDUSTRY AND JUAREZ, I THINK, HAS PROVIDED ME WITH A LOT OF INFORMATION ON HOW THE INDUSTRY WORKS HERE AND THE ECOSYSTEM IN EL PASO AND JUAREZ. AND SO I HOPE, COMMISSIONER STOUT, COMMISSIONER OLGUIN, IF MY INSIGHT COULD BE OF ANY VALUE TO YOU AS YOU GO THROUGH THIS PROCESS, I HOPE THAT YOU'LL REACH OUT AND LET ME PROVIDE SOME INPUT FROM MY PERSPECTIVE. THANK YOU FOR THAT, COMMISSIONER CORONADO. I MEAN, I'D BE INTERESTED TO DO, BUT I WOULD DEFER TO YOU, JUDGE, AND TO COMMISSIONER STOUT. I MEAN, YOU ALL HAVE BEEN SO. BUT EITHER WAY, I'M COMFORTABLE ANYWAY. YEAH, WELL, I'M VERY COMFORTABLE WITH COMMISSIONER, COMMISSIONER OLGUIN, SO THANK YOU, JUDGE. I'M GOOD. SO WE HAVE A CONSENSUS FOR COMMISSIONER STOUT AND COMMISSIONER OLGUIN. OKAY. THANK YOU. WOULD WE NEED A MOTION? WE WOULD LIKE A MOTION. OKAY. WE CAN HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE. COMMISSIONER STOUT. COMMISSIONER AGAIN TO THE MPO, INTERNATIONAL BORDER COMMITTEE, WHITE LIGHTNING AND VALLEY GIRL. NOT A MOTION FROM JUDGE SAMANIEGO, A SECOND FROM COMMISSIONER HOLGUIN. CAN YOU REDUCE THE SCREEN, PLEASE? OH. COMMISSIONER, I THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER STOUT. THE MOTION CARRIES. THANK YOU. JUDGE. COMMISSIONER, LOOK TO BOTH OF YOU. CONGRATULATIONS. YEP. THANK YOU. AT THIS TIME, WE WOULD LIKE TO GO BACK TO THE CONSENT AGENDA ITEM WHICH WAS PULLED THIS MORNING. ITEM FOUR I APPROVE AND AUTHORIZE THE USE OF THE REMAINING FUNDS TO HOST THE FINAL GUN BUYBACK EVENT ON AUGUST 16TH, 2025. THE TOTAL AMOUNT OF $24,498.81 WILL NOT [I. Approve and authorize the use of the remaining funds to host the final Gun Buyback Event on August 16, 2025. The total amount of $24,498.81 will not require any additional funding approval. Further, authorize the recommended budget transfers listed in the backup. Jackie Butler, Commissioner, Precinct 1, 915-273-3594] REQUIRE ANY ADDITIONAL FUNDING APPROVAL. FURTHER, AUTHORIZE THE RECOMMENDED BUDGET TRANSFERS LISTED IN THE BACKUP. JUDGE. I ASKED FOR THIS ITEM TO BE PULLED JUST TO MAKE A STATEMENT ABOUT THE GUN BUYBACK PROGRAM. WELL, A COUPLE OF STATEMENTS. ONE, TO THINK ALL OF THE COUNTY STAFF WHO'VE BEEN INVOLVED WITH THE GUN BUYBACK PROGRAMS AND MAKING SURE THAT THAT WE'RE ABLE TO DO ONE LAST EVENT, IT'S AN INCREDIBLE LEVEL OF TEAMWORK BETWEEN THE AUDITOR'S OFFICE AND PURCHASING ADMIN. MY TEAM, THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE ALL WORKING TOGETHER TO MAKE SURE THAT THAT THESE EVENTS HAVE BEEN SUCCESSFUL. AND THEN JUST ONE COMMENT ABOUT HOW THIS IS GOING TO BE OUR LAST GUN BUYBACK EVENT, PROBABLY EVER, THANKS TO HOUSE BILL 3053, WHICH PASSED IN THE STATE LEGISLATIVE SESSION THIS YEAR, WHICH BANNED GUN BUYBACK EVENTS AT THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT LEVEL. UNFORTUNATELY, I THINK IT'S A IT'S A SHAME TO SEE THE STATE GOVERNMENT TAKING [05:30:03] AWAY THAT OPTION FOR LOCAL GOVERNMENTS TO MANAGE THINGS LIKE GUN VIOLENCE AT THE COMMUNITY LEVEL. SO, SO THIS EVENT ON AUGUST 16TH WILL BE THE LAST ONE THAT WE'RE ABLE TO DO. SAID. WE HAVE A MOTION FROM JUDGE SAMANIEGO, A SECOND FROM COMMISSIONER BUTLER. THE VOTING IS OPEN. I VOTE AYE. THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER. THANK YOU. MOTION CARRIES. BEFORE WE GO INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION, WE HAVE SOME FINDINGS WE NEED TO MAKE FOR 14 C AND 14. E 14 C PURSUANT TO TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE SECTIONS FIVE FIVE, 1.071 AND FIVE FIVE, 1.0725 DISCUSS AND RECEIVE LEGAL ADVICE CONCERNING CONTRACT NEGOTIATIONS WITH THE US MARSHALS SERVICE FOR HOUSING OF [C. Pursuant to Texas Government Code Sections 551.071 and 551.0725, discuss and receive legal advice concerning contract negotiations with the U.S. Marshals Service for housing of federal detainees. Carlos Madrid, Assistant County Attorney, County Attorney's Office, 915-538-2133] FEDERAL DETAINEES. AND CAN WE JUDGE COMMISSIONERS? ASSISTANT COUNTY ATTORNEY ALSO MAKE FINDINGS FOR 14 D IF THAT'S OKAY, JUST DO IT TOGETHER. OF COURSE. THANK YOU. 14 D PURSUANT TO TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE SECTION 551.0725 DISCUSS CONTRACT NEGOTIATIONS BETWEEN EL PASO COUNTY AND HAL MARCUS REGARDING ARTWORK. THANK YOU. JUDGE. COMMISSIONERS ERIC ROSALES AND [D. Pursuant to Texas Government Code Section 551.0725, discuss contract negotiations between El Paso County and Hal Marcus regarding artwork. Betsy C. Keller, Chief Administrator, County Administration, 915-273-3600] GAGLIONE ASSISTANT COUNTY ATTORNEY FOR THOSE TWO ITEMS. STAFF IS ASKING THAT THEY BE TAKEN INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION PURSUANT TO TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE SECTION 55 1.0725. THE COUNTY IS CURRENTLY IN NEGOTIATIONS WITH HAL MARCUS REGARDING THE POTENTIAL ACQUISITION OF ARTWORK, AND THEN ALSO WITH THE US MARSHAL SERVICE REGARDING THE HOUSING OF FEDERAL DETAINEES. THE INFORMATION TO BE DISCUSSED INCLUDES ISSUES INVOLVING BUSINESS AND FINANCIAL INFORMATION RELATED TO THE CONTRACT NEGOTIATIONS, AND THE COURT MUST BE FREE TO DISCUSS THOSE ISSUES WITHOUT UNDERMINING THE COUNTY'S POSITION. THEREFORE, I HAVE DETERMINED THAT DELIBERATION AND OPEN MEETING CONCERNING THESE BUSINESS AND FINANCIAL ISSUES RELATING TO THOSE NEGOTIATIONS WOULD HAVE A DETRIMENTAL EFFECT ON THE POSITION OF THE COURT, IF DISCUSSED AND OPEN. AND WE'RE REQUESTING THE COMMISSIONERS COURT UNANIMOUSLY VOTE THAT DELIBERATIONS IN AN OPEN MEETING WOULD HAVE A DETRIMENTAL EFFECT. AND THAT ALL SAID DELIBERATIONS TAKE PLACE IN CLOSED SESSION. WE FURTHER REQUEST THAT COMMISSIONERS COURT DIRECT THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATION, COMMISSIONERS, COURT REPORTERS TO ENSURE THAT ALL PROCEEDINGS IN CLOSED SESSION BE RECORDED. A COPY OF THESE LEGAL MEMOS HAS BEEN PROVIDED TO THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATION, COMMISSIONERS, COURT REPORTERS TO BE MADE A PART OF THE OFFICIAL COURT RECORDS. IF THE COMMISSIONERS COURT AGREES, WE WOULD NEED A MOTION AND A SECOND AND A RECORDED VOTE AT THIS TIME, PLEASE, WE HAVE A MOTION FROM COMMISSIONER HOLGUIN, A SECOND FROM COMMISSIONER CORONADO. THE VOTING IS OPEN. COMMISSIONER STOUT, ARE YOU? YES. SORRY, I VOTE. I THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER. THE MOTION CARRIES AT THIS TIME. COMMISSIONERS COURT WILL MOVE INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION TO DISCUSS ITEMS 14 A THROUGH 14 D PURSUANT TO TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODES FIVE FIVE, 1.071 AND 551.0725. THE COURT WILL RECONVENE IN REGULAR OPEN [EXECUTIVE SESSION Only the members of the Commissioners Court have a right to attend an executive session, except that legal counsel must be present if the executive session is held pursuant to Government Code section 551.071. In addition to legal counsel, Commissioners Court may include in executive session certain officers and employees if it finds that (1) their participation is necessary to the matter under consideration; (2) their interests are not adverse to the county, and (3) their presence will not waive the attorney client privilege. Generally, the Chief Administrator, Budget Executive Director, County Clerk's representatives, and County Auditor's Office representatives attend the closed session items based on the enumerated criteria, and certain other persons may attend based on the above-listed criteria or as otherwise provided by law.] SESSION TO TAKE OFFICIAL ACTION. IT IS 3:03 P.M. [05:39:20] YOU KNOW, IT'S GOOD ENJOYMENT, GOOD RELAXATION, GOOD THERAPY COMING OUT HERE AND COPING WITH SITUATIONS AND RELAXATION. IT'S PEACEFUL, IT'S QUIET, IT'S NICE. IN THE SUMMERTIME. IT'S NICE AND COOL DOWN HERE. ABOUT 8:00 IT STARTS GETTING WARM, BUT IT'S NICE AND COOL. COME DOWN HERE, RELAX FOR A COUPLE OF HOURS BEFORE YOU HAVE TO GO OUT HERE AND FACE THE WORLD. THE BAIT, IT VARIES. YOU KNOW, WHEN I FIRST STARTED OUT HERE, THEY WERE HITTING ON CHICKEN BREAST. THEY STOPPED HITTING ON CHICKEN BREAST. WHAT'S VERY POPULAR IS WEENIE HOT DOG. AND THEN THEY STOP HITTING ON THE HOT DOG. AND THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN THEY START HITTING ON THE SHRIMP, AND THEN [05:40:05] IT SLOWS DOWN ON THE SHRIMP. NOW I'M USING SOME STINK BAIT AND IT REALLY STINKS. SO HOPEFULLY WE CAN CATCH SOMETHING WITH SOME STINK BAIT, BUT IT'S GREAT WHEN THE FISH ARE BITING. IT'S GREAT. YEAH, THE TROUT WILL PUT THE HOOK IN THEIR MOUTH AND WHAT YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO DO WHEN THEY PULL ON IT, LIKE THEY PULLED BEFORE. THEN YOU YANK ON THE LINE, GET THE HOOK SET IN THEIR MOUTH, BUT YOU GOT TO TROUT. IT IS KIND OF HARD FISHING FOR TROUT. LIKE THAT. BUT. YOU. THERE HE GOES. WELL, THE LARGE ONE, THE LARGEST ONE I CAUGHT HERE WAS A 15 POUNDER. YEAH, YOU CAN EAT THEM. I DON'T, BECAUSE I LIKE TO CATCH AND RELEASE. I WOULD IF I WAS GOING TO EAT FISH, I'D EAT THE FISH. AND I'VE BEEN FISHING HERE FOR 60 YEARS. AND YOU LIVE TO FIGHT ANOTHER DAY. I HAD A HARD TIME BELIEVING THAT CARS WERE JUST ZOOMING AROUND THIS PLACE. WE TOOK THEM OUT TO A PARK. WE POKED HIS BRAIN A LITTLE BIT AND THIS IS WHAT HE HAD TO SAY. CHECK IT OUT. WE ARE STANDING ROUGHLY, PROBABLY RIGHT OFF OF TURNS ONE AND TWO FOR EVANS OVAL. IT WAS THE FIRST REALLY MODERN RACETRACK BUILT HERE IN EL PASO. BACK IN 1939, WALTER GOULD DECIDED THAT HE'D HAD ENOUGH OF THE CITY. HE'S RACING OVER IT AT THE RODEO FIELD, WHICH IS NOW THE COUNTY COLISEUM. EVERYBODY WAS COMPLAINING. IT'S TOO LOUD, IT'S TOO DUSTY, HE SAYS. YOU KNOW WHAT? FORGET YOU GUYS. I'M GOING TO GO OUT AND BUILD A NEW SPEEDWAY. AND THIS IS WHERE HE BUILT IT. IF WE'RE STANDING WHERE I THINK WE'RE STANDING, WE'RE RIGHT ABOUT TURN NUMBER ONE. SO TURN ONE AND TURN TWO WOULD COME AROUND HERE. THE BACKSTRETCH IS PROBABLY RIGHT ABOUT WHERE THAT PALM TREE IS. AND THEN WHAT WOULD BE THE PITS WOULD BE RIGHT ABOUT WHERE OUR GOLF CARTS ARE. AND THEN THE REST OF THE GRANDSTANDS AND EVERYTHING WILL BE RIGHT HERE. AND BIG SCOREBOARD OVER HERE ON THE NORTH SIDE, WHERE PEOPLE WOULD POKE THEIR HEADS THROUGH AND WATCH THE RACE. WE WERE THE CENTER OF RACING. WE HAD PEOPLE COME FROM ALL OVER TO COME HERE. IT'S SOMETHING TO BE PROUD OF. WE HAVE A RICH RACING HISTORY, WHETHER IT'S QUARTER MILE DRAGSTERS, DRAG BOATS, GRAND PRIX, THERE WERE SO MANY WEEKENDS, SO MANY PEOPLE OUT HERE, NOT JUST THE DRIVERS, BUT THE FAMILIES AND EVERYBODY THAT CAME OUT. IT WAS A VERY VITAL PART OF THE CITY. EVERY SINGLE TIME YOU HAVE A SPEEDWAY THAT DEVELOPS ON THE ON THE OUTSKIRTS OF A OF A CITY, EVENTUALLY THE CITY IS GOING TO CATCH UP WITH IT. AND THAT'S WHAT HAPPENED. THEY CAME OUT HERE ANOTHER GOOD 20 YEARS, AND THEN THE CITY CAUGHT UP WITH THEM AND THEY HAD TO MOVE AGAIN. I THINK IT WAS A VERY, VERY VITAL PART BECAUSE IT BROUGHT PEOPLE TOGETHER AND THEY [05:45:03] SAW THIS SPACE THAT COULD BE USED FOR MORE THAN JUST, YOU KNOW, PAVING IT OVER. THEY MADE A PARK, YOU KNOW, AS SAD AS I AM TO SEE THE SPEEDWAY GO, IT'S A BEAUTIFUL GOLF COURSE NOW, BUT IT IS PART OF THE HISTORY. AND YOU NEED TO HAVE PEOPLE REMINDED ABOUT THAT, THAT, YOU KNOW, SOMETIMES YOU SEE THAT GOLF COURSE OR YOU SEE THAT EMPTY LOT AND IT WAS SOMETHING COMPLETELY DIFFERENT. IT'S STUFF LIKE THAT, YOU KNOW, JUST TAKE A STEP BACK AND LOOK AT IT AND YOU'LL SAY, OH YEAH, THIS IS PRETTY COOL. WELL, ONCE YOU'RE IN A SKATE PARK, YOU'LL NOTICE THAT THERE'S A LITTLE COMMUNITY GARDEN RIGHT HERE. THIS IS WHAT IT IS. IT'S A TEACHING AND DEMONSTRATION GARDEN. WE'RE ACTUALLY ABOUT TO MEET SOMEONE WHO IS KIND OF IN CHARGE OF THIS PLACE, AND IS GOING TO WALK US THROUGH ON HOW YOU CAN ACTUALLY PARTICIPATE. COME ON, LET'S GO MEET HIM. HI. EDUARDO RASCON IS HERE WITH US TODAY. EDUARDO, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE WITH US. TALK TO US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THIS GARDEN. WHAT IS THIS? SO THIS IS BASICALLY TO TEACH THE COMMUNITY HOW THEY CAN ACTUALLY HAVE THEIR OWN BACKYARD GARDEN AND HOW THEY CAN GROW THEIR OWN PRODUCE. SO EDUARDO, THIS THESE ARE BRUSSELS SPROUTS. YOU JUST. WOW. THESE ARE SO TINY, SO BEAUTIFUL. NOW YOU'RE TELLING ME THAT THIS COMMUNITY GARDEN IS NONPROFIT, CORRECT? YES. AS A NONPROFIT, SINCE WE'RE NOT MAKING ANY MONEY OUT OF THIS ASSOCIATION OR FUNDRAISING, MOST OF THE MONEY THAT WE DO THROUGH FUNDRAISING OR SALES IS TO ACTUALLY HAVE FUNDS AND BUDGET TO REPLACE THINGS THAT ARE HAPPENING AT THE GARDEN. SO THIS IS REALLY UNIQUE PART OF YOUR GARDEN. YOU'RE TELLING ME THAT THIS IS SPINACH? I CAN ACTUALLY EAT THIS. YES. IT SHOULD BE VERY BUTTERY. IT IS ACTUALLY IT'S REALLY GOOD. PERFECT FOR LIKE OMELETS OR FOR LIKE SALADS, SMOOTHIES. YOU DON'T PUT ANY PESTICIDES ON THIS OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT. NO SPRAYING. WE USUALLY TRY TO TELL THE COMMUNITY THAT IT SHOULD BE USED AS A LAST RESORT, BECAUSE THERE'S OTHER PRACTICES THAT YOU CAN APPLY IN YOUR GARDEN TO PREVENT PESTS FROM COMING IN. I WOULD LIKE TO ENCOURAGE EVERYBODY TO START GETTING FAMILIAR WITH THE PLANTS THAT THEY CAN GROW HERE IN THE COMMUNITY. EL PASO CAN OFFER YOU A LOT OF OPPORTUNITY IN TERMS OF GROWING CONDITIONS. HELLO EVERYONE. SAM GUZMAN, HERE WE ARE LIVE AT ASCOT AT THE PARK FOR ANOTHER EPISODE OF SMALL TOWN SPOTLIGHT. A SCOUT AT THE PARK IS HOME TO MANY THINGS. ONE OF THOSE THINGS IS ITS GOLF COURSE. WHETHER YOU ARE A SEASONED PRO OR SOMEONE WHO JUST WANTS TO APPRECIATE WHAT THE OUTDOORS HAS TO OFFER. HERE AT ASCOT AT THE PARK, THE ASCOT AT THE GOLF COURSE MIGHT BE THE PLACE TO BE. CHECK IT OUT. I JUST GOT TO. THE GOLF COURSE IS SPECIAL FOR MANY REASONS. I THINK THE NUMBER ONE THING THAT MAKES US PRETTY SPECIAL. LOTS OF FAMILIES TELL ME. OH YEAH, MY GRANDPA USED TO PLAY HERE. THAT'S HOW I GOT INTRODUCED TO GOLF. IT'S JUST BEEN AROUND FOR SO LONG AND GENERATIONAL. AND THEY'RE LOYAL TO THE GOLF COURSE. GENTLEMEN, HOW ARE WE PLAYING TODAY? GOOD. YOU'RE GOING THE WRONG WAY. HOLES THAT WAY. ONE OF THE BEST THINGS THAT HAS GOT A DATE THAT WE HAVE TO OFFER IS THE DELTA NINE. THAT'S A SHORTER GOLF COURSE. EXECUTIVE TYPE GOLF COURSE, NINE HOLES. THE PAR FOUR IS A LITTLE SHORTER, BUT IT HAS A PAR THREE AND A PAR FIVE. THAT'S A GREAT THING TO LEARN ON. AND THE WONDERFUL THING ABOUT THAT IS LET'S SAY, YOU KNOW, WE'RE BOOKED ON TEE TIMES. WE HATE TO TELL SOMEBODY THAT WALKS IN THE [05:50:05] DOOR. WE DON'T WANT THEM TO GO HOME WITHOUT PLAYING. WE WANT TO FIND THEM A SPOT, YOU KNOW, AND WE'RE VERY ACCOMMODATING GOLF COURSE IN THAT RESPECT. THAT'S A NO NO IN MY BOOK. YOU KNOW I DO NOT WANT THAT GUY DRIVE DOWN HERE AND THEN BE TOLD, OH, WE DON'T HAVE A SPOT FOR YOU. SO WE CAN ACCOMMODATE THAT. THAT GIVES US 27 HOLES. SO WHEN WE HAVE A TOURNAMENT GOING ON THE MAIN, WE CAN SEND THEM OVER TO THE DELTA NINE, START THEM OFF, AND THEN THEY CAN JUMP OVER HERE ON THE MAIN WHEN THE TOURNAMENT'S DONE. WE GOT LIGHTED DRIVING RANGE YOU KNOW, AND WE STAY OPEN TILL 9:00 IN * This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.